Background Pony #B6C8

@Background Pony #CCF1
I think MMDW should have shown the other characters talking to Dash, yes; the fact that it would have had zero effect means it’s a minor complaint rather than an episode-breaking major writing flaw, though.

@whatever4096
The moral in “Princess Spike” absolutely does not flow from the rest of the episode, though; all the damage that happens in the climax happens because of what Spike did when he was still prioritizing “make sure Twilight gets rest” over “get attention, respect, and all sorts of other good stuff from my position as backup Twilight”.

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whatever4096

@Background Pony #CCF1
I’d agree with that assessment for MMDW. Princess Spike was pretty boring to me. I wouldn’t say it was all that bad, just not entertaining to me.

So far to me, every single season has had some stinkers and some gold. That’s true of any TV show. If the majority of the episodes entertain me, I’d call that a successful show. I don’t really see the point of analyzing MLP too deep. The show is still hugely entertaining to me, but it’s still a show primarily aimed at kids when all is said and done. There’s a certain limit to what you can expect. I do think it’s very important that the morals being taught in some episodes need to flow well and be solid though.

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Background Pony #3F39

@TexasUberAlles

The contrivance is the other characters don’t try and talk to Rainbow.

Maybe learn to read past the part that triggers your compulsion to talk down to anyone who holds a different opinion.

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TexasUberAlles

@Background Pony #CCF1
_{~giant contrivance}~
At what point exactly does “a giant contrivance” become “a pattern of behavior so well-established that deviating from it would be considered out of character”? ‘Cuz I got some bad news for you about how the rest of the Mane Six dealt with Rainbow Dash’s damage all the way up to– and occasionally beyond– Testing, Testing, 1-2-3. Dash had long since made it perfectly clear that her head was only slightly less neutroniumesque than AJ’s when it came to listening to advice or modifying her own dumbassery; there was a whole episode dedicated to her inability to process valuable life lessons unless practical FX are involved.

@Hebbocake

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anonymous_user_08sept20

@TexasUberAlles
full

full

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Background Pony #3F39

Retardedness of the macro aside, this guy explains why mmdw is bad in general far better than anyone else I’ve seen:

@Goobington

Princess Spike is an objectively bad episode that I actually really enjoyed. The thing about Aesops is that the moral is supposed to flow organically from the events of the story. If Spike had just done his job and not taken advantage of his position, the tree branches would have still fallen, the water line would have still broken, and the summit would have still flooded. None of the bad things that happened are a result of Spike misusing his position.

I think mean-spiritedness is fine as long as it’s done with purpose, which is part of why I liked PPoV and F&M. I think the characters having mean opinions of each other in PPoV works. Not only is the idea that these cute horses perceive their friends as mean-spirited caricatures really funny, but it’s in service to the moral. A moral about assuming bad things about others doesn’t carry much weight if we don’t actually get to see he sorts of bad things you can assume.

Characters being flawed and having behaviors that need correcting is fine; that’s the whole point of having a show that teaches morals. MMDW doesn’t work because it hinges on a giant contrivance, the other characters don’t try and talk to Rainbow, and rather than correcting the behavior, what they do just encourages Rainbow further. It’s not just bad writing, it’s friendship-ruiningly bad life advice. 28PL on the other hand, is this kind of story done right. Being a troublemaker is part of Rainbow’s character. The other characters actually do confront her about her actions. Making Rainbow believe she caused the zombie plague forces her to actually think about the consequences of her actions, which is what they’re trying to accomplish.

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Eeveeinheat

@TexasUberAlles
Aren’t opinions wonderful?

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TexasUberAlles

@Eeveeinheat
Nah, it’s still one of the best of Season 2.

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Eeveeinheat

Kind of still is the worst episode, though.

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Background Pony #B6C8

@TexasUberAlles
If they have, it apparently hasn’t been uploaded here. I think the field’s wide open for you if you want to take that idea and run with it.

@EyeGuy
Just to make things clear, one guy saying the worst episode of the series happened two and a half seasons ago, in the middle of a season he loves despite that episode, is, to you, proof that the newer seasons are worse?

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Background Pony #BB26

full

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EyeGuy

Dreading Season 9

@Background Pony #048D

@EyeGuy
I love season five, but it had what was, to me, indisputably the worst episode of the show so far. What the bloody blue blazes does that prove?

It proves that the newer seasons are worse than the older ones, which is a sign that the show is going through SpongeBob syndrome and needs to be cancelled.

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TexasUberAlles

@Ebonysdagger
Why would a fire breathing scale bound dragon run from living wood?

@Background Pony #048D

This image is blocked by your current filter - click here to display it anyway
your current filter.

Did anybody ever make one where Princess Celestia is going about her business in Canterlot and SUDDENLY TIMBERWOLF? I could see one like that ending with her writing a letter to Spike reminding him that she’s asked him to stop emailing her things that scare him.

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Background Pony #B6C8

Yeah, a lot of people have memory problems.

@martianmister

Princess Spike is the worst.

@EyeGuy
I love season five, but it had what was, to me, indisputably the worst episode of the show so far. What the bloody blue blazes does that prove?

@Ebonysdagger

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TexasUberAlles

You mean the way legions of butthurt Rainbow Dash fanboys screamed and whined like petulant manchildren because an episode dared to lampshade one of her most basic and obvious character flaws?

Yeah, that sucked.

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Ebonysdagger

Happy Introvert

I remember liking that episode personally. Any episode where they deflate Dash’s ego gets my okay. The worst episode to me was Spike at Your Service. Why would a fire breathing scale bound dragon run from living wood?

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Background Pony #E145

@EyeGuy

It’s 52 against 117 and counting. Gee, what are the odds?

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Background Pony #5D8A

@EyeGuy
You find it suspicious that people take jobs that offer more money.

You find it suspicious that the show hasn’t been canceled yet.

You find it suspicious that anyone still likes the show.

You find anything that doesn’t confirm your bias suspicious.

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Background Pony #BB26

@EyeGuy
So it’s not normal for episodes that are far more recent in memory than ones from 6 years ago to get more attention and be discussed more?

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Jarkes

GOKAAAAI... SILVER!

@EyeGuy

As a matter of fact, yes it is.

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EyeGuy

Dreading Season 9

@Jarkes
But is it your least favorite episode of the whole show?

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Jarkes

GOKAAAAI... SILVER!

@EyeGuy

I literally said that MMMMystery on the Friendship Express, a season 2 episode, was worse than this.

Seriously, dude, just… stop.

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EyeGuy

Dreading Season 9

I can’t be the only one who finds it suspicious that if you ask someone what their least favorite episode is, it’s NEVER from Seasons 1 or 2. It’s ALWAYS from a more recent season.

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ApplejackFan204

Awesome dude

Fame and Misfortune is even worse than this.

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Officer Hotpants

Literally3HitlersInACoat

Was that episode controversial?

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