S02E08: The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well

[FuriousXJorgeShe's not a tree, Dashy.]

They used Pinkie sense because it sounds like spidey sense and this is a superhero parody episode, and there aren't many other ways to show how Pinkie could act as a superhero when Applejack is physically the more impressive earth pony. It doesn't call for deep analysis.

I also feel like some folks think they were all kind of being assholes to Dash in how they taught her not to brag but I saw it more on the level of a prank/practical joke. They wanted to help people (because they recognized Dash was doing good) and teach Dash a lesson at the same time. I don't get the sense they really would have let her hang out to dry much longer than after she busted them. The corollary of the idea that Fluttershy is too sensitive to be pranked is that someone like Dash can take it in good humor.

[MordjaLYRA is the cool pony who likes to hang out. You can find most of the cool ponies with her. LYRA can just chill and do whatever and totally relax. "Take it easy" is the LYRA motto, for example, that's how laid back she is.]

The real tragedy of this episode is that it didn't introduce everyone's favourite character GEROMY.

[Mr. BigBrush is mightier than pen.]

Well... then why don't they air them out of order, like a NORMAL network. :i'mkiddingidon'treallyblamethehub:

It'll happen with the upcoming "Hearth's Warming Eve". It'll be the 37th episode broadcast, but production-wise it's episode #39 (it's a Holiday episode, hence its early airing).

[RagnarThe fact that there is quite definitely nothing at all out there, yet it is visiting anyway, is of some distress to those who care about such things.]

Admittedly I haven't watched the episode more than once like some of you, so my reaction may be less considered than it should be, but I definitely liked this episode. No, it isn't the greatest episode of anything ever, but it was fun and it looked great. I hate the delivery for every moral this show has ever had, so this particular one was nothing new to me.
I'm wondering if the Livestreams obscuring the details has anything to do with the negative responses. I watched it on Youtube in an okay resolution and enjoyed it. For me the fun was in the visuals. the Mare-Do-Well's costume is fucking awesome. That baby is hilariously goofy-looking. The cloud-swimming is cool. The puff of cloud Dash blows out of her mouth is neat. AJ fighting the photo shoot and all the body language between Dash and her there is expressive and funny. Then there's the dam, there's the construction zone, there's the Mare-Do-Well leaping from rooftop to rooftop in her intro... and, just, damn the Mare-Do-Well is cool. Damn.
And I'm just glad to see that Pinkie Sense is canon. Pinkie dodging that pot at the end was clunky and I may have rolled my eyes, but the writer wanted Pinkie Sense (for some reason that we don't have enough information to determine, no matter how plausible any bit of conjecture might seem, Headless Horse ) and that means demonstrating how it works to the new viewers.
I would have absolutely loved this episode if it were written differently. As it is, I only like it a lot. My biggest disappointment is that we will never see the Mare-Do-Well again.
PS the person who saved the balloon was totally Spitfire, can I get a hell yeah for the Spitfire cameo

[Lazy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubYCTSK50fw
Well, that's a thing.

[AramekYour MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue."So you're saying..."Your brain is about 20% tumor.]

That's me every Saturday morning.

"Skyrim break, time for "

[rudecyrusStill the best pony :3]

Watched this episode in glorious HD, noticed a lot of funny expressions and little things I didn't before. Still don't like the episode itself.

[DavyinatogaEw, will you please just stop posting already so I can stop having to look at it?]

And oddly, I don't mind that the lesson was being forcefully pounded into her by her friends; that's a departure from everything in the past, but I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with a little tough love in a situation like this.

If it was any other pony, it wouldn't have worked at all. Rarity and Fluttershy require a lot more tact, Twilight and Applejack would do better to figure it out for themselves, and all of them (including Pinkie) would have figured things out sooner.

Re: Merriwether Williams:
Don't forget that FiM is produced in 22-minute episodes. This is long-form writing for Williams, she's used to throwing stories together to fit within half that time. Though most episodes (of at least Spongebob, can't say for the others) feature dialogue from the storyboard artists, many episodes do have writers that contribute to what the boardist produces. Not only are the segments credited to Williams from the golden age of Spongebob, they happen to be some of the best joke-heavy episodes of the series ("Sailor Mouth," "Prehibernation Week," and "Band Geeks" topping that list). Williams is also good at keeping characters to established traits, which kind of shows in this episode (though not entirely to the positive traits everyone's come to expect). Expect some more Polsky-esque episdoes from her, but give her another episode or two to get a handle on adding emotional weight to the story.

[BHHammyTOY SPECIAL 3AVAILABLE AT ALL WALBOGS]

Re: Merriwether Williams:
Don't forget that FiM is produced in 22-minute episodes. This is long-form writing for Williams, she's used to throwing stories together to fit within half that time. Though most episodes (of at least Spongebob, can't say for the others) feature dialogue from the storyboard artists, many episodes do have writers that contribute to what the boardist produces. Not only are the segments credited to Williams from the golden age of Spongebob, they happen to be some of the best joke-heavy episodes of the series ("Sailor Mouth," "Prehibernation Week," and "Band Geeks" topping that list). Williams is also good at keeping characters to established traits, which kind of shows in this episode (though not entirely to the positive traits everyone's come to expect). Expect some more Polsky-esque episdoes from her, but give her another episode or two to get a handle on adding emotional weight to the story.

This actually explains a -lot-.

I'll be a little less torches-and-pitchforks next time, but I'm still gonna be wary next time I see her name on the opening credits.

[WylieCIDER CIDER CIDER]

Yeah, it actually does. If there's one criticism I have for our new writer, it's this: She seems to have read the Cliff's Notes for the show bible, and not the actual document itself. Viz:

Twilight: Amazing magic user, values book study
Applejack: Strong, athletic, foil for Dash. Apples.
Pinkie Pie: Go watch Feeling Pinkie Keen.
Rarity: Fashion pony
Fluttershy: Can fly, doesn't say much
Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash's #1 fan

I mean, if that was all you knew about pony, and you had to write an episode, you could conceivably come up with the script for Mare-Do-Well, or something much like it. There's so much more to these characters, though, and that's what was missing in this episode.

I must say, though: I really liked the way the episode looked, even while I wasn't entirely happy with the story it was telling me. Folks like Sibsy on the art end of things are really doing amazing work every single week, and the show looks amazing because of it.

[MordjaLYRA is the cool pony who likes to hang out. You can find most of the cool ponies with her. LYRA can just chill and do whatever and totally relax. "Take it easy" is the LYRA motto, for example, that's how laid back she is.]

Twilight: Amazing magic user, values book study
Applejack: Strong, athletic, foil for Dash. Apples.
Pinkie Pie: Go watch Feeling Pinkie Keen.
Rarity: Fashion pony
Fluttershy: Can fly, doesn't say much
Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash's #1 fan

Well, she pinned that one down at least.

[SlateSlabrock]

I wonder if there's anything to be read in the fact that the CMC clubhouse is being retasked as the Rainbow Dash Fan Club HQ.

They have to rent the Loyal Order of Fillies hall out on weekdays to cover all their ziplining/hang-gliding/loopty-hooping bills.

The real tragedy of this episode is that it didn't introduce everyone's favourite character GEROMY.

The big mac...... HASS the doll

So when they make the decision to bring a big concept like that back in, it feels (to me) like they need to treat it "right"—i.e. they need to frame the story around its reintroduction with appropriately large scale, giving it the full due of attention and respect, which is what they did with Luna Eclipsed.

I disagree. Pinkie has always had whatever quasi-supernatural powers are funny for an episode, so although it's weird for them not to mention Pinkie Sense at all outside of two episodes, I'd rather not have them make a big deal out of it. If they had to treat all her "only when it's funny!" powers as straight-up canon, then she's as fast as Rainbow Dash, can teleport, can defy gravity, can see the future, can sense extra-dimensional beings, and probably more. I love a good callback, but treating Pinkie Pie seriously really breaks her character's role in the story.

[Whitenoise PosterI am going to eat this entire oak tree because I am a powerful wizard!]

That whole opening scene felt "off" to me in some weird, indefinable way. Maybe it was my burning hatred of Snips and Snails though (STOP GIVING THEM LINES DAMN IT).

I can't wait till they star in their own episode, including song.

[machchunk]

I can't wait till they star in their own episode, including song.

And Snips' singing voice is done by Tom Waits

[Stuff]

I am loving how people are saying that RD actually was writing her autobiography because of how Spike = RD.

[Whitenoise PosterI am going to eat this entire oak tree because I am a powerful wizard!]

I disagree. Pinkie has always had whatever quasi-supernatural powers are funny for an episode, so although it's weird for them not to mention Pinkie Sense at all outside of two episodes, I'd rather not have them make a big deal out of it. If they had to treat all her "only when it's funny!" powers as straight-up canon, then she's as fast as Rainbow Dash, can teleport, can defy gravity, can see the future, can sense extra-dimensional beings, and probably more. I love a good callback, but treating Pinkie Pie seriously really breaks her character's role in the story.

Most of me thinks that directly acknowledging all the crazy non-pinkie sense stuff she does would be a bad idea. But a small part of me wants to see them do their own version of the roger rabbit handcuffs gag with her.

[Pocketis she just gonna go booty booty]

They used Pinkie sense because it sounds like spidey sense and this is a superhero parody episode, and there aren't many other ways to show how Pinkie could act as a superhero when Applejack is physically the more impressive earth pony.

Well, there are, but they would all require addressing the real elephant in the room, her general ability to bend reality. Obviously that's not going to happen.

[FuriousXJorgeShe's not a tree, Dashy.]

Well, there are, but they would all require addressing the real elephant in the room, her general ability to bend reality. Obviously that's not going to happen.

The Pink Lantern?

v Yeah, agreed.

[Superstring]

Yeah, it actually does. If there's one criticism I have for our new writer, it's this: She seems to have read the Cliff's Notes for the show bible, and not the actual document itself. Viz:

Twilight: Amazing magic user, values book study
Applejack: Strong, athletic, foil for Dash. Apples.
Pinkie Pie: Go watch Feeling Pinkie Keen.
Rarity: Fashion pony
Fluttershy: Can fly, doesn't say much
Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash's #1 fan

I mean, if that was all you knew about pony, and you had to write an episode, you could conceivably come up with the script for Mare-Do-Well, or something much like it. There's so much more to these characters, though, and that's what was missing in this episode.

I must say, though: I really liked the way the episode looked, even while I wasn't entirely happy with the story it was telling me. Folks like Sibsy on the art end of things are really doing amazing work every single week, and the show looks amazing because of it.

I don't think this is very fair. This was a Dash spotlight episode, so of course there wasn't time to go in-depth on the other characters.

[Boom]

Just to preface this, I'm not going to try to keep saying the Pinkie Sense nod was pandering or anything—this is just an academic point I'm going to try to address.

I remember someone, pretty sure you, pointing out in an earlier thread something about the Rainbow Dash pushing around a little cloud like she had done in the series pilot as an example of the way the creators were reintegrating cool world-building elements that feel by the wayside during the first season, and I took it as another one of those things. Luna needed an episode, but Pinkie sense is not that earth-shattering as the time the librarian literally saved the world, is it? I feel it's closer to the creators remembering Twilight can teleport. It's like when you pick up the phone to call your aunt and she calls you while it's in your hand, pinkie-pie is just really adept at that, and not getting hit on the head with potted plants and doors.

Maybe pinkie sense will make more appearances later in the season and be folded into the universe? I couldn't guess. It's esoteric enough at the moment that they felt they had explain to the audience what it was (in a cute way, that "iz alright" makes me smile), so they may like it as an idea but fear they'd have to re-introduce it EVERY TIME. Its illogical nature makes it tough for this... Pinkie Sense can very easily act as a kind of Chekov's Gun, becuase if someone doesn't understand what is it or misses a cue, Pinkie would just acting in a peculiar way without any clear reason to. But if it was presented confidently enough... I dunno, I'm eager to find out if and how we'll see any more of it this season. They could have her say "twitcha twitcha" maybe, but what if someone is about to go skating on too thin ice? Like how would you even know, it's not all about falling objects you know.

Yeah, it actually does. If there's one criticism I have for our new writer, it's this: She seems to have read the Cliff's Notes for the show bible, and not the actual document itself. Viz:

Twilight: Amazing magic user, values book study
Applejack: Strong, athletic, foil for Dash. Apples.
Pinkie Pie: Go watch Feeling Pinkie Keen.
Rarity: Fashion pony
Fluttershy: Can fly, doesn't say much
Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash's #1 fan

I mean, if that was all you knew about pony, and you had to write an episode, you could conceivably come up with the script for Mare-Do-Well, or something much like it. There's so much more to these characters, though, and that's what was missing in this episode.

Aww I agree that this hardly seem fair. RD absolutely dominated this episode, and Rarity and fluttershy speak literally two lines a piece, but when the characters did appear on screen they behaved like they should have. I remember thinking while watching it that Twilight acted perfectly twlightly when talking about that fantastic mare. I just bring it up because I feel the writing in this episode was valid and she be considered as such because there are cool things in it. Like for example, I thought this scene and the following cloud scene (which was pitch perfect imho), and I suppose the whole episode, shows that RD isn't just cocky and all about going fast and being rainbows, but has need to be appreciated that's a lot stronger than all the other characters, which I didn't really think of as part of her character before. But that may be me uh, projecting, as that's a trait I see in a lot of real live cocky people, but you know, more cartoonish here obviously


Anyway, I liked this episode, but I like all the episodes. It faltered in some ways as a story and ended up less compelling than it should have been, maybe because of the sequence and editing. I've been re-watching many of these scenes to pull frames for .gifs and things and they are ALL very fun to watch on own. And I do want to add that the reveal that the masked mare is actually her friends may seem tedious to an adult but I'd bet that kids would find that extraordinarily clever, and I'm not trying to imply they are dumb when I say that.

[Boom]

I disagree. Pinkie has always had whatever quasi-supernatural powers are funny for an episode, so although it's weird for them not to mention Pinkie Sense at all outside of two episodes, I'd rather not have them make a big deal out of it. If they had to treat all her "only when it's funny!" powers as straight-up canon, then she's as fast as Rainbow Dash, can teleport, can defy gravity, can see the future, can sense extra-dimensional beings, and probably more. I love a good callback, but treating Pinkie Pie seriously really breaks her character's role in the story.

Nah I don't really agree that's what pinkie sense is, it's more persistent. As Faust said in one of her DA posts (I think?) the basic idea was "knee's achy, gunna rain" which is a kind of funny ability, and suits Pinkie's character well. I could see "pinkie sense" being a fit for Applejack, had things gone that way, despite her character not being nearly as silly.

[Pony Factory Factorysugoi]

Most of me thinks that directly acknowledging all the crazy non-pinkie sense stuff she does would be a bad idea. But a small part of me wants to see them do their own version of the roger rabbit handcuffs gag with her.

They did, right in Feeling Pinkie Keen! Note the cuffs.

[Ashenai You're dorkin' up the skies, Twilight Sparkle.]

I dunno, I'm eager to find out if and how we'll see any more of it this season. They could have her say "twitcha twitcha" maybe, but what if someone is about to go skating on too thin ice? Like how would you even know, it's not all about falling objects you know.

Not all about falling objects, but from what we've seen, Pinkie Sense is a pretty specific set of signals. She doesn't see the future, exactly, she just sees certain aspects of it. Whether something is about to fall, whether there's an alligator in the bathtub, whether somepony is about to get muddy, etc. It's not really spidey sense, it's much weaker than that.

Its use in this last episode meshed perfectly into the established world because hey, in that situation, things were falling, and that was what she needed to see in advance.

Anyway, it's a fun ability and fits Pinkie's character well, and I actually like it better than her ability to move at the speed of funny. I hope they do use it more. They don't have to waste time explaining it every time, either; if they use it enough, it'll just become a part of her character, like the randomly bursting into song.

[CuckooMy only regret is that I have Ponitis]

Eh, I enjoyed this one even if Rainbow Dash came off as a little abrasive. Still ranking it higher than the CMC episode. I do agree that it didn't carry much emotional weight and the plot was very typical Saturday Morning Cartooney. Despite this, as obvious as who the Mare Do Well was as an adult, as a kid it would have blown my fucking mind.
It also had some fun gags and the Batman TAS poster/90s Batman throwback music during the chase sequence had me laughing the entire time.

My only complaint really is having 2 Rainbow Dash episodes in a row, particularly ones where she runs around being a jerk before getting knocked down a peg. She's awesome and all, but I want to see more of everyone else. Especially Fluttershy.

[The DoctorTurner Of All Things Timey Wimey]

Eh, I enjoyed this one even if Rainbow Dash came off as a little abrasive. Still ranking it higher than the CMC episode. I do agree that it didn't carry much emotional weight and the plot was very typical Saturday Morning Cartooney. Despite this, as obvious as who the Mare Do Well was as an adult, as a kid it would have blown my fucking mind.
It also had some fun gags and the Batman TAS poster/90s Batman throwback music during the chase sequence had me laughing the entire time.

My only complaint really is having 2 Rainbow Dash episodes in a row, particularly ones where she runs around being a jerk before getting knocked down a peg. She's awesome and all, but I want to see more of everyone else. Especially Fluttershy.

I still don't think Rainbow Dash was all that much of a jerk last episode. She sought out a pet to suit her personality. Every other pony (except really Fluttershy) clearly did the same thing when getting their pets. They might not have gone to her extremes, but I don't see it as being a jerk.

[HollowThis place needs a miracle.]

To avoid the massive goonery, I'm gonna come out and say this.

Sibsy, Ms. Williams, and whomever else may have been reacting to the negativity about the new episode: There will always be people you can never please. Especially on the internet. It's hard but don't pay them any attention.

I really enjoyed the episode and can't even fathom why people are raging about it so hard. The gags were funny, the main cast showed up, a background pony had a few lines, and there was a Batman TAS reference. What's the problem here? I can understand hating Rainbow Dash and disliking the episode because it focuses on her, but to me she was portrayed in an exaggerated fashion, making it hilarious.

I do admit though that her fanclub reminded me of the internet, and RD herself reminded me of a deluded internet "celebrity", so I was amused. I also admit I didn't watch the pet episode since it sounded awful, so I didn't get a double dose of Dash.

I think people are just coming to the realization of how annoying RD is.

[Opposing FarceDon't you smile at my faceSpit on my backDo you kiss your mother with a mouth like that?]

To avoid the massive goonery, I'm gonna come out and say this.

Sibsy, Ms. Williams, and whomever else may have been reacting to the negativity about the new episode: There will always be people you can never please. Especially on the internet. It's hard but don't pay them any attention.

I really enjoyed the episode and can't even fathom why people are raging about it so hard. The gags were funny, the main cast showed up, a background pony had a few lines, and there was a Batman TAS reference. What's the problem here? I can understand hating Rainbow Dash and disliking the episode because it focuses on her, but to me she was portrayed in an exaggerated fashion, making it hilarious.

I do admit though that her fanclub reminded me of the internet, and RD herself reminded me of a deluded internet "celebrity", so I was amused. I also admit I didn't watch the pet episode since it sounded awful, so I didn't get a double dose of Dash.

I think people are just coming to the realization of how annoying RD is.

We've had a good amount of conversation about what exactly some of us didn't like. I mean I can't blame you for not wanting to read our obnoxiously long walls of text but it's not like there's no reasoning involved.

[reidransom]

I also admit I didn't watch the pet episode since it sounded awful, so I didn't get a double dose of Dash.

But you've watched it since, right? Because you really should watch it, even if only for the song. Also it is quite good overall, IMO, even if it sounds a bit silly based on the synopsis.

[Boom]

I think people are just coming to the realization of how annoying RD is.

I didn't care for her before but she's become like my favorite character after these two episodes

We've had a good amount of conversation about what exactly some of us didn't like. I mean I can't blame you for not wanting to read our obnoxiously long walls of text but it's not like there's no reasoning involved.

If you're going to register for the my little pony forum you might as well post.

[Momar]

Y'all are crazy. This episode goes high up in my book. Though I'm more of a 'visuals' person.

As the request list is extremely short, I might to a Mavatar-Theatre-style dump for it.

[AramekYour MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue."So you're saying..."Your brain is about 20% tumor.]

I liked this episode a lot because is tied with for my favourite pony.

I hope to one day get an episode with both of them. Like, we've seen them hang out a tiny bit, like Rarity tricks Dash into modelling some foofoo dress, and Dash gets "So bored!"

[GlaziusHe finds himself through the martial arts discipline of Nokando, which he says hardens the body and turns the mind inward.]

Not all about falling objects, but from what we've seen, Pinkie Sense is a pretty specific set of signals. She doesn't see the future, exactly, she just sees certain aspects of it. Whether something is about to fall, whether there's an alligator in the bathtub, whether somepony is about to get muddy, etc. It's not really spidey sense, it's much weaker than that.

Its use in this last episode meshed perfectly into the established world because hey, in that situation, things were falling, and that was what she needed to see in advance.

Anyway, it's a fun ability and fits Pinkie's character well, and I actually like it better than her ability to move at the speed of funny. I hope they do use it more. They don't have to waste time explaining it every time, either; if they use it enough, it'll just become a part of her character, like the randomly bursting into song.

I realize that pulling out RPG mechanics to justify a story element is at best extremely silly, but Pinkie Sense is pretty consistent with the crazy perception stunts in FATE-engine games, up to and including becoming aware of things you'd normally have to carefully investigate for with no real idea how you worked out they were important.

[blasmeisterIt is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world.]

I liked this episode a lot because is tied with for my favourite pony.

I hope to one day get an episode with both of them. Like, we've seen them hang out a tiny bit, like Rarity tricks Dash into modelling some foofoo dress, and Dash gets "So bored!"

Both Dash/Rarity episodes and Pinkie/Fluttershy epsiodes are high on my wishlist for the rest of this season

[numsOic]

While we're still dumping our opinions on the episode, upon rewatching it's better. Pretty much like every single season 2 episode so far. One thing I noticed is that Rainbow Dash actually started out surprised by the attention and acted modest about her heroism in the beginning, and then it got to her head. Considering her personality and the way non-friend ponies were all like HOLY SHIT YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE RAINBOW DASH, that makes more sense and is slightly more complex character-wise than "Rainbow Dash is arrogant".

Something still doesn't sit with me about the way the episode is set up with the disasters and why Rainbow Dash only now became the local superhero, assuming that kind of thing happened in the past, and if it didn't, why now? It just feels more like forced plot fodder than believable world-building.

[In West FillydelphiaSCHWEIIIN]

Something still doesn't sit with me about the way the episode is set up with the disasters and why Rainbow Dash only now became the local superhero, assuming that kind of thing happened in the past, and if it didn't, why now? It just feels more like forced plot fodder than believable world-building.

I just pretend that this episode was directly after the discord 2 parter. Where the remnants of Discord's city planning had resulted in a downhill pathway being cut off, someone's hot air balloon getting a tiny (but growing) puncture, and an old folks home that had been lifted into the air becoming structurally weak after being planted back down. The kid falling down the well was just unlucky.

In other words, yeah I agree.

[Geomancing]

Mayor was TOTALLY in on the other five ponies' plan to knock Rainbow down a peg. No doubt about it.

"Hey, looks like we have a new superhero! Let's call her this name that I came up with on the spot right now, honestly! No need for that multicolored one anymore."

[BHHammyTOY SPECIAL 3AVAILABLE AT ALL WALBOGS]

I liked this episode a lot because is tied with for my favourite pony.

I hope to one day get an episode with both of them. Like, we've seen them hang out a tiny bit, like Rarity tricks Dash into modelling some foofoo dress, and Dash gets "So bored!"

This.
Rarity/AJ working off of each other works very well for obvious reasons, but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of these two interact. it could make for some really hilarious bits.
Plus, they seem to be the two ponies of the mane six with the stronger character flaws- they should stick together.

I just pretend that this episode was directly after the discord 2 parter. Where the remnants of Discord's city planning had resulted in a downhill pathway being cut off, someone's hot air balloon getting a tiny (but growing) puncture, and an old folks home that had been lifted into the air becoming structurally weak after being planted back down. The kid falling down the well was just unlucky.

Considering how, chronologically, the first season feels all mixed-up, this isn't quite -as- much of a stretch as one would first believe. Heck, I'll probably tell myself that and move on.
But yeah, I agree with the initial poster as well.

[itinerant nomadSurprise Pedantry!]

Mayor was TOTALLY in on the other five ponies' plan to knock Rainbow down a peg. No doubt about it.

"Hey, looks like we have a new superhero! Let's call her this name that I came up with on the spot right now, honestly! No need for that multicolored one anymore."

The mayor needs a new hero as a distraction from her diverting funds from the nursing home inspection budget and her half-built awesome ski ramp to nowhere.



One thing Rainbow Dash is missing these days is Wonderbolt fever.
Joining them or seeking their recognition was one of her most strongly recognizable ambitions last season, and one she had brief tastes of. Don't tell me she peaked in season one!
That is a difference I'm picking up on in the last two episodes versus some of the earlier ones like Sisterhooves and Lesson Zero, which had one or more emotional desires that were immediately apparent.

Last season, it gave RD a more grounded motivation than the latest episodes, where she took on a cause on a whim or it falls in her lap. May the Best Pet Win did showcase her enthusiasm, and the latest her tendency to get wrapped up in herself, but it does feel like this jet-fueled pony is in a bit of a holding pattern. I'm waiting for another moment like her reaction to being invited to tag along with the Wonderbolts at the Gala.

[GlaziusHe finds himself through the martial arts discipline of Nokando, which he says hardens the body and turns the mind inward.]

Something still doesn't sit with me about the way the episode is set up with the disasters and why Rainbow Dash only now became the local superhero, assuming that kind of thing happened in the past, and if it didn't, why now? It just feels more like forced plot fodder than believable world-building.

You know what really would have made this for me?

This whole sequence was Rarity making sure her design was hyper tough and aerodynamic enough to work on Rainbow Dash too. Maybe this is just my soft spot for superheroes talking.

[Headless Horse]

One thing Rainbow Dash is missing these days is Wonderbolt fever.

I can almost imagine these episodes' scripts being deliberately written to avoid mentioning the Wonderbolts because of a perception among the writing staff that her Wonderbolts fixation was becoming a cliché.


^^^ Nah, that's your soft spot for Edna Mode talking.