The Round Stable

(?) · by **Headless Horse** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:42 pm

Oh god I'm supermechagodzilla :gonkity:

In any case, that's just one little thing that bugged me about the episode, and it only did so on a very meta level. I thoroughly enjoyed the episode and was pretty much head over heels at seeing Larson flexing his irreverence muscles in a new context we haven't seen him work with before. Definitely among the top three CMC eps for me--maybe the best of all, especially if you don't count Sisterhooves.

Oh hey someone start a poll now that we're done with CMC eps for the season.

(?) · by **Mr. Big** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:17 pm

Headless Horse wrote:Oh hey someone start a poll now that we're done with CMC eps for the season.

Got it

(?) · by **kefkafloyd** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:22 pm

Aramek wrote:And while "it is just a kid show!" is a bit of a cop out when discussing it, there isn't a lot of ammo one can use when faced with legitimate literary analysis and the level of thematic criticism we've come to expect (and heartily appreciate/enjoy) from HH. While I think we can all agree the deep examination of the show itself is indeed a fun exercise in understanding it, it is hard to respond to/rebuke such a deep level of "professional criticism" when we're distracted by the fact it is a magic pony show.

Not to say the show should be immune to criticism/deconstruction, but, to paraphrase an old PA strip, sometimes, for those of us who are on the outside (of the ability to truly levy professional critiques upon the show), it can seem like criticizing a cat just because it doesn't bark.

That's a fair cop, Aramek. The flipside is that you would expect other people to not give you grief for not wanting to look too deep into it (and, as far as I know, in public posts nobody has). I'm not saying that you or Yarma (or anyone else) can't enjoy the show the way YOU want to and share it here either. Everybody's got their own opinions and, so long as they're not breaking the rules, they're free to share them. You're free to respond or not.

I read some sports forums where there is a definite split between "the stats guys" and "the guts guys" and I see the same kind of dynamic here sometimes. But these guys often come together because of their shared common interest, like the Red Sox, and it's their interactions and opposing viewpoints that bring so much life and character to the forum. They might not agree on everything, but they do know when to call somebody out and when to just let something that doesn't interest them slide.

Oh god I'm supermechagodzilla

Supermechagodzilla's posts in the Speed Racer thread were, perhaps, some of the best things I've ever seen in a CD thread. I didn't know it at the time, but I've come to appreciate them like a fine wine. I can't go toe-to-toe with SMG on movies, but it doesn't mean I should go into the thread and go "man just sit back and enjoy the flashy colors," you know?

(?) · by **Adelor Lyon** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:53 pm

Headless Horse wrote: At least they weren't chain-smoking and writing gossip about each other to game the deadlines.

Stolen from Reddit. Rainbow's killed me. :ohboy:

(?) · by **Aramek** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:55 pm

kefkafloyd wrote:That's a fair cop, Aramek.

Good Cop.

Bad Cop.

Fair Cop.

And we're really not trying to give anyone grief for enjoying the show. Negative, constructive criticism is always under a lot more scrutiny, naturally, because we all try to verify whether or not the criticism is valid and fair.

Stolen from Reddit. Rainbow's killed me.

Ponies and Smoking. I can die happy. :allears:

(?) · by **kidcoelacanth** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:30 pm

Yarma wrote:it even had the CMC being good/funny

They're always that though????

(?) · by **Aramek** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:48 pm

Did you make this?! :starity:

(?) · by **Isaak** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:59 pm

Just now I caught it a second time and I can talk about it. Totally late to the party... but the party's still going :yay:

I mean... it is right? :v:

Re: Criticizing a children's show.

Yes, it's a children's show, it's My Little Pony even. But I don't see how that makes it any less deserving of in-depth analysis. Or in other words, bar people from taking apart the thing they love so much, discussing it and trying to understand what makes it so good. This is how people learn about creating exciting and immersive worlds and even learn a few things about themselves.

The subject just so happens to be Friendship is Magic.

If Lauren Faust and co had approached My Little Pony with that same preconception, "it's just a children's show", it would've been just been that and we wouldn't be here right now. That general line of thought is something that really irks me: "It's just a hamburger, it can't be special.", "It's just football, people run around and kick a ball.", "It's just a car, four wheels and a steering wheel.", "It's just rapmusic, always about guns and money.", "It's just a videogame, it's probably about blowing things up.", "It's just a PMV, I'll just mash something together and call it a day.", "It's just fanfiction, it's all crap.", "Oh look, we have to make another ad, well... let's follow the bulletpoints, be completely and utterly boring and have no fun at all."

No, no they're not just that, they can be so much more than that. They can be wonderful things and have a profound impact on people's lives, having an influence in ways the creator or the consumer didn't even think of. The people who understand this, people capable of setting aside these preconceived notions conditioned by society and strive to make something excellent each and every time, those are the people who upset the general order and make the things that we love.

(?) · by **Artificer** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:30 pm

I liked this episode. :pinkieshrug:

I don't think the gags were out of the ordinary or anything.

(?) · by **Pink Himalayan Salt** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:52 pm

Isaak wrote:Yes, it's a children's show, it's My Little Pony even. But I don't see how that makes it any less deserving of in-depth analysis. Or in other words, bar people from taking apart the thing they love so much, discussing it and trying to understand what makes it so good. This is how people learn about creating exciting and immersive worlds and even learn a few things about themselves.

There's a difference between "eh whatever it's just a children's show" and "I think you're looking too deep into this, it's just a children's comedy cartoon."

(?) · by **Scuderia Ferrarity** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:59 pm

Wonkadoo wrote:Behaving like a wannabe tycoon is exactly what we ought to expect from her.

That high-backed chair that's practically dwarfing her is part of it.
It's cliche to have her spin around so that it faces away from anyone talking to her, but My Little Tycoon.

Artificer wrote:I liked this episode. I don't think the gags were out of the ordinary or anything.

I still think there's a bit of self mockery here. Or at least they went a bit meta. The half hearted CMC high five is part of it. The opening ends with them covered in newspaper shreds and mud for some reason. The G&PT mention out of nowhere. Twilight's leg holder, callback gags like licking cucumber off eyes or talking while a masseuse is pounding ones back. They really hammed up the 'Ponyville closing their doors and windows to the CMC'.
Celestia - just like us. I think that's a joke on "Celebrities are just like us."

Just a little meta.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled Pony season, already in progress. :allears:

(?) · by **Headless Horse** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:04 pm

And Big Mac. Don't forget Big Mac.

Most meta joke of the season. :iamapony:

except maaaaaybe the horn-smack. I tell ya, Larson loves fucking with the universe, and he just let it all out at once here.

(?) · by **Mordja** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:07 pm

Scuderia Ferrarity wrote:We now return you to your regularly scheduled Pony season, already in progress.

And already near over. :gonkity:

(?) · by **Scuderia Ferrarity** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:17 pm

My my my! What an entrance! :smirk:

: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic - Season 2, Episode 23 - Ponyville Confident_2012-04-02_10-23-59.png (117.96 KiB) Viewed 1234 times

I mean, it's immediately ridiculous, but so spot-on...
:facehoof:

Of course, Hugh Hefner's trademark.

Spike, you're a baby dragon and we're your pony friends ... not your bunnies.
:lol:

Bunnies? What?!! I don't know what you're talking about!
:facehoof:

Spike, go to your room!

...

:dearcelestia:

Dear Princess Celestia, I never thought anything like this would ever happen to me.....

(?) · by **Isaak** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:21 pm

Pink Himalayan Salt wrote:There's a difference between "eh whatever it's just a children's show" and "I think you're looking too deep into this, it's just a children's comedy cartoon."

Point taken. Excuse my rampant idealism, it manifests itself when certain chords get struck :modesty:

(?) · by **kidcoelacanth** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:29 pm

Aramek wrote:

Did you make this?!

yes

(?) · by **Artificer** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:21 pm

Scuderia Ferrarity wrote:

I had almost expected you to have photoshopped Nigel Thornberry in.

Thank God you didn't.

(?) · by **samsquamsch** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:02 pm

So much has been said, it's been extra-entertaining reading through this thread.

I'll just say that I found Spike's casual/spiteful/off-hand mention of the force field great. Twilight can time-travel, defeat giant space bears, and put up impenetrable force fields; it's almost to the point of ridiculousness with how strong unicorn magic is, but I still hope to see more of it. Should Equestria suffer planet-devastating war, I'm sure unicorns will be fine and set everything right within a day.

I dunno, something about there being a force field spell in a show about magic ponies, and it being used to keep away three yellow journalists, just struck me funny.

(?) · by **Crow** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:15 pm

samsquamsch wrote:So much has been said, it's been extra-entertaining reading through this thread.

I'll just say that I found Spike's casual/spiteful/off-hand mention of the force field great. Twilight can time-travel, defeat giant space bears, and put up impenetrable force fields; it's almost to the point of ridiculousness with how strong unicorn magic is, but I still hope to see more of it. Should Equestria suffer planet-devastating war, I'm sure unicorns will be fine and set everything right within a day.

I dunno, something about there being a force field spell in a show about magic ponies, and it being used to keep away three yellow journalists, just struck me funny.

I thought this was a really funny joke, too. It's so much overkill for Twilight to do. It's like going after a mosquito with a bazooka.

(?) · by **Headless Horse** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:25 pm

ALL the ponies' ways of dealing with the CMCs were just spectacularly funny.

I'm a little disappointed that we didn't see what Pinkie did with their spurious accusation of party addiction. :gah:

(?) · by **Artificer** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:28 pm

Pinkie at least accepted that it was true. :pinkieshrug:

(?) · by **Mordja** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm

Hemoglobin wrote:

I thought this was a really funny joke, too. It's so much overkill for Twilight to do. It's like going after a mosquito with a bazooka.

I also love the irony of it. After being accused of elitism, she literally shuts herself off from the rest of the town. :gotcha:

(?) · by **jaybud4** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:56 pm

Headless Horse wrote:writing gossip about each other to game the deadlines.

SCOOTALOO: FLIGHT FAILURE OR CHICKEN?
Chicken. -XOXO AB
:nngh:

(?) · by **PhoolCat** (?) » Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:04 pm

Mordja wrote:I also love the irony of it. After being accused of elitism, she literally shuts herself off from the rest of the town.

Nah, it's only impervious to the CMC - Twi's too conscientious and too clever to not set it to filter out "undesirables" only.

(?) · by **Highbrow Dash** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:38 am

Pink Himalayan Salt wrote:
There's a difference between "eh whatever it's just a children's show" and "I think you're looking too deep into this, it's just a children's comedy cartoon."

Saying that the CMC didn't act like children or that Diamond Tiara's poster is "immersion breaking" isn't in-depth analysis. It's just missing the point.

Other than stuff like that I don't really care if people overanalyse, it's fun to read sometimes :pinkieshrug:

(?) · by **Mechanical Ape** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:21 am

Sweetie Belle reciting, with absolutely no enthusiasm, "You've been reading this column to get the latest dirt and the hottest buzz," may be the most unintentionally amusing thing in the episode. :crack:

(?) · by **itinerant nomad** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:11 am

Scuderia Ferrarity wrote:That high-backed chair that's practically dwarfing her is part of it.
It's cliche to have her spin around so that it faces away from anyone talking to her, but My Little Tycoon.

I'd say Bond villainess in training.

Manes Bond: "Do you expect me to talk, Diamond Tiara?"
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die. Teehee."
:smirk:

I still think there's a bit of self mockery here. Or at least they went a bit meta. The half hearted CMC high five is part of it. The opening ends with them covered in newspaper shreds and mud for some reason. The G&PT mention out of nowhere. Twilight's leg holder, callback gags like licking cucumber off eyes or talking while a masseuse is pounding ones back. They really hammed up the 'Ponyville closing their doors and windows to the CMC'.
Celestia - just like us. I think that's a joke on "Celebrities are just like us."

The mud and strips came about because their boat came apart in the stream and they had to drag themselves out of there.

I'd say the Celestia gag was a way to show she wasn't made of pure dignified unobtanium.

(?) · by **Durandal** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:50 am

Adelor Lyon wrote:

Just wanna chime in and say I can't stop laughing at this

(?) · by **Wonkadoo** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:09 am

My headcanon on Tailgate is that Fluttershy lost part of her tail in a traumatic bunny-feeding incident. :gotcha:

(?) · by **PhoolCat** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:40 pm

Wonkadoo wrote:My headcanon on Tailgate is that Fluttershy lost part of her tail in a traumatic bunny-fire incident.

I'm so sorry :flutterdear:

(?) · by **Tailspin** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:51 pm

Stop mixing up FiM and FiW canon. :rainbert:

(?) · by **PhoolCat** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:47 pm

Tell that to Studio B! :gotcha:

(?) · by **Lobst** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:07 pm

Here, have a bunch of disconnected observations, starting with this one: I would gladly accept Featherweight/Truffle Shuffle as replacement token colts over Snips/Snails any day. They're so cute

At least two laugh-out-loud moments in this one: "But Namby Pamby was a great editor!" and the moment where Spike nonchalantly takes the second cucumber slice out of RD's digestive tract. Both of these are rapid-fire moments that require you to look back in a "wait -- what?" kind of way and consider exactly what's going on. As much as I love season 1, this kind of stuff couldn't have happened in it.

Definitely an episode for the fans, since they don't go into very much detail about what the whole cutie mark situation is about, and we as viewers have no clue what Featherweight's special talent is. (Pillow tester?) Not that I'm complaining, of course!

I've said it before, but I absolutely love the direction they've taken with the story beats in both this episode and Hurricane Fluttershy. It's all about making sure kids are aware of the power language has to hurt others, and to avoid using it harmfully whenever possible. This in particular is driven home by Big Mac speaking full lines about why the CMCs should feel sorry about what they've done, capped off by a GO AWAY delivered with so much anger I felt it from here.

Also, Diamond Tiara as J. Ponah Jameson was great -- possibly the best use they've made of her yet -- BUT IT SURE ISN'T NEWS

(?) · by **SlateSlabrock** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:21 pm

The only immersion-breaker for me in this episode was how many odd voices there were. Rarity's accent slips a bit during the part they showed in the commercials, all those overly-mature colts in the schoolyard...

On the other hand, I went back and watched Call of the Cutie, and Diamond Tiara's voice only changed in letting a little more of the adult slip through when she's yelling than when she was being catty. :pinkieshrug:

(?) · by **Mechanical Ape** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:52 pm

I was going to assemble a 5 Best Rarity Moments from this episode, but then it turned out I had way more than five.

However, "The gilded pages of your betrayal!" deserves special mention. Rarity is just so great. God save the drama queen, long may she reign. :vogue:

(?) · by **Wayoshi** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:55 pm

Mechanical Ape wrote:However, "The gilded pages of your betrayal!" deserves special mention.

This probably isn't worth anything, but CC (which had "rudes" wrong I think I mentioned earlier in this thread) had "Look at the pages..."

I need to use CC when watching animation, sometimes some dialogue just zips right by me. Finding more and more of these errors is bugging me.

(?) · by **numsOic** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:17 pm

Mechanical Ape wrote:Rarity is just so great. God save the drama queen, long may she reign.

*rein

(?) · by **Lazy** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:22 pm

Lobst wrote:Here, have a bunch of disconnected observations, starting with this one: I would gladly accept Featherweight/Truffle Shuffle as replacement token colts over Snips/Snails any day. They're so cute

This, please.

(?) · by **numsOic** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:28 pm

I hope Fatkid appears more often. That is all.

And gets a non-shitty name. (Seriously? "Truffle Shuffle"?)

(?) · by **rudecyrus** (?) » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:56 pm

numsOic wrote:I hope Fatkid appears more often. That is all.

And gets a non-shitty name. (Seriously? "Truffle Shuffle"?)

I'm hoping for Roly Poly :v:

The Round Stable

S02E23: Ponyville Confidential

Re: S02E23: Ponyville Confidential

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