S04E22: Testing Testing 1, 2, 3

Episode, movie, and comic book discussion threads are kept here once they have been released.

Moderators: Perrydotto, Dexanth, Venusy, Wayoshi

Re: S04E22: Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:29 pm

Tailspin wrote:When MLP does it, I see it as more "Well, I made a joke about rap becuase Pinkie is random and she raps, for some reason, so that's funny".


Well, that's how you see it. Humour is one of those things that all depends on how you look at it. I see it as "children's cartoon satirises and otherwise spoofs cliches of cartoons of a previous generation".
:plonk: Image :)
ROBOT B9
User avatar
Round and round and round she goes, where she'll stop, nobody knows :pinkietoot:
Semper Pie
Joined: Mar 27, 2012
Location: Albir, Spain
Gender: Male

Postby SoundMonkey44 (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:31 pm

Yeah the whole thing is pretty self aware IMO, altered aspect ratio, VHS quality visuals. It's a tribute to the cheesiness of the past with a character that loves doing silly things *and a nice cameo for an awesome DJ*
Image
Sunset Shimmer is BEST Hu-Mane!!
SoundMonkey44
User avatar
Ain't Got No Sense, No Sense At All.
Joined: Feb 04, 2013
Location: The South West
Gender: Male

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:38 pm

Richy33 wrote:And it is from Pinkie Pie...Someone we could clearly see doing this sort of goofy thing... She has proven to be quite random and we could clearly write it off as some goofy thing she did.


To be honest, I'm real tired of the writers "Pinkie is random, so we'll just use her as a anything goes joke dispenser" approach to writing her.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:39 pm

I don't feel like she acts like that at all and never really has in any episode. There is always a method and a roundabout reason to her silliness.
:plonk: Image :)
ROBOT B9
User avatar
Round and round and round she goes, where she'll stop, nobody knows :pinkietoot:
Semper Pie
Joined: Mar 27, 2012
Location: Albir, Spain
Gender: Male

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:40 pm

There are several episode where she just yells random words for no reason.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:41 pm

Tailspin wrote:
To be honest, I'm real tired of the writers "Pinkie is random, so we'll just use her as a anything goes joke dispenser" approach to writing her.

I feel like she does that sort of thing because it's who she is. While I definitely do think there have been times (particularly in much of S3, especially GPP) where she and her wackiness have just been used as a tool instead of as a character trait, this doesn't feel like one of those times.
Image
Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Joined: Mar 02, 2013
Location: TN
Gender: Male

Postby Wylie (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:44 pm

In Pinkie's defense, musical learning is a valid thing. Just try to recite the alphabet without singing your way through the "elemenopee" part.

I don't think she's being a random joke dispenser here- she's actually trying to help Rainbow, where her friends' methods seem to have failed. She's got a solid motivation, and she's acting in her friend's interest- she's just doing it in her own way.

Which seems to be what all the rest of them are doing. Rarity apparently learns by putting together fashion shows, for some reason. Why is that not random?

Tailspin wrote:There are several episode where she just yells random words for no reason.

[citation needed]
Last edited by Wylie on Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ImageImage :fancyhat:
Wylie
User avatar
Rarity's Roughnecks
Joined: Jun 08, 2011
Gender: Male

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:46 pm

Wylie wrote:[*citation needed]


Off the top of my head that episode with Babs. She yells about lettuce.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:48 pm

That was literally just a one minute scene with her plus the silliness of it was referenced with Applebloom's "seriously?" reaction.

Plus, Pinkie can drive a float and chill in the back at the same time. Can you do that? :-P
:plonk: Image :)
ROBOT B9
User avatar
Round and round and round she goes, where she'll stop, nobody knows :pinkietoot:
Semper Pie
Joined: Mar 27, 2012
Location: Albir, Spain
Gender: Male

Postby Wylie (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:48 pm

Which was a joke about lettuce, which was what the float she was driving was made out of. It was a reach of a joke, sure, but it wasn't just Pinkie sticking her head into frame and yelling a random catchphrase.
ImageImage :fancyhat:
Wylie
User avatar
Rarity's Roughnecks
Joined: Jun 08, 2011
Gender: Male

Postby Wayoshi (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:52 pm

Wylie wrote:[citation needed]

This very episode, in the EW clip. There's no reason she needs to yell there.
Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluttershy
Stare Masters
Joined: Oct 26, 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Gender: Male

Postby SoundMonkey44 (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:53 pm

Wayoshi wrote:This very episode, in the EW clip. There's no reason she needs to yell there.


She's getting Rainbows Attention silly. :-P

Edit: After this ep officially airs we need Pinkie Pie Rapper & Vinyl Scratch emotes!
Image
Sunset Shimmer is BEST Hu-Mane!!
SoundMonkey44
User avatar
Ain't Got No Sense, No Sense At All.
Joined: Feb 04, 2013
Location: The South West
Gender: Male

Postby InsertAuthorHere (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:24 pm

The clips are okay. The thread discussion has convinced me this episode will suck as hard as Regular Show. So there's that.
InsertAuthorHere
User avatar
Joined: Apr 03, 2013
Gender: Male

Postby Ransom (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:54 pm

PonyHag714 wrote:Pinkie's studying song reminds me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsIiQJZk3xE

It reminded me of this:

BTW, does someone have the lyrics to the Pinkie Rap?
Ransom
User avatar
Joined: Mar 24, 2012
Gender: Male

Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:04 pm

Ransom wrote:BTW, does someone have the lyrics to the Pinkie Rap?

Even the wiki is having trouble transcribing them, but there's that for now.
Image
Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Joined: Mar 02, 2013
Location: TN
Gender: Male

Postby SoundMonkey44 (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:05 pm

InsertAuthorHere wrote:The clips are okay. The thread discussion has convinced me this episode will suck as hard as Regular Show. So there's that.



Regular Show is AWESOME! :twiright:
Image
Sunset Shimmer is BEST Hu-Mane!!
SoundMonkey44
User avatar
Ain't Got No Sense, No Sense At All.
Joined: Feb 04, 2013
Location: The South West
Gender: Male

Postby DerFurShur (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:16 pm

Wayoshi wrote:Sorry, but whoever said AKR is not the best of S4 is just plain wrong.


That was me and I stand by it Filli Vanilli was good, in spite of having a bad Pinkie portrayal, and Pinkie Pride is an average episode that's overhyped to hell and back.

For me this season has been about Polsky and Haber
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
DerFurShur
User avatar
Joined: Nov 01, 2013
Location: Tennessee, US

Postby Applepie (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:18 pm

That was some awesome teasers.
Pinkie Pie: So, you see this here? This, um, this is um, a big, round room. It's known for its roundness, and bigness, and did I mention that it's round?
Applepie
User avatar
Mr. the Dragon
Joined: Jun 18, 2012
Location: Yakyakistan
Gender: Male

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:19 pm

As far as I'm concerned Haber is the best writer this season.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby DerFurShur (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:23 pm

Tailspin wrote:As far as I'm concerned Haber is the best writer this season.



I give it to Polsky mostly cause of RTM and FWtSBT, TT was a pretty solid episode, and his only real dud for me was DD, and he still has one left that could go either way.

Haber did great with CM, SW was pretty good, and LoF was also good, he's definitely my favorite out of the new writers.

I'll give AKR credit for finally writing an episode I loved (FV) but again it's has a black mark on it that holds it back and PP really has become the most overrated episode I've ever seen.
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
DerFurShur
User avatar
Joined: Nov 01, 2013
Location: Tennessee, US

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:29 pm

To be honest, I didn't know what Polsky wrote. :v:

But anyway, Haber did real good, I liked all three episodes.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby DerFurShur (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:38 pm

So I guess I should comment on the subject relevant to the thread. I was really hoping for some good moments of Dash and Twi being played off each other, so I'm glad that one clip delivered just a small sample of what I hope will be more.

Also Pinkie's rap wasn't terrible, and AKR finally got that rap song out of her system, and Pinkie does make the most sense to do it. She hasn't done any random bursting into song moments since Season 2.

All in all this episode is shaping up to be pretty good, only tomorrow will tell
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
DerFurShur
User avatar
Joined: Nov 01, 2013
Location: Tennessee, US

Postby HuffyTheMagicDragon (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:48 pm

Haber and AKR both knocked it out of the park this season. I'd probably give the edge to Haber, but I'm a bit biased toward his episodes because Applejack.

I wasn't going to watch the clips this week, but I couldn't resist seeing how cringeworthy the rap might be. And after watching it... yeah, that was a thing. :ngh: At least it was relatively short.

The other two clips were pretty darn great though. Rarity's look at Applejack... Dash and Twi teasing each other about flying... :gotcha: So I have hopes for the rest of the episode.
Image
HuffyTheMagicDragon
User avatar
Nature is so fascinating! :allears:
Applejack Aces
Joined: May 01, 2011

Postby The Outlander (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:03 pm

I'm gonna make this post in direct reply to Tailspin, and I'm going to say that you're completely missing the fucking point. Pinkie's rap is such a hardcore parody of those old edutainment rap songs that I was cringe-giggling my way to Tartarus and back. They deliberately lowered Pinkie's sound quality just for that clip. They shot it in 4:3 aspect ratio. They had stupid choreography and nonsensical, stereotypical "hood" style imagery in the background. If that isn't your definition of a well executed self-aware parody, I have no idea what set of standards you're following. Not only was it a well executed one, it was in my opinion the absolute best parody of edutainment rap songs I've ever seen. It was like going through a portal and experiencing absolutely everything meticulous crafted to be identical to the way it used to be.

Another thing, at least add caveats when you say something that's potentially polarizing, like "I'm mostly dissapointed that it ended up being regular bad and not the kind of bad you can enjoy ironically." Like, at least tag an "imo" on there. Those statements aren't facts, and making them appear to be facts is asking for an argument. I get that you don't like a lot of things about the show, but I really feel like your posting lately has been an overreaction to the general positivity on these forums, and you feel like your message won't get through or something unless your posts are as clipped down, negative, and polarizing as possible.

I understand that you're unhappy, just please be a little more considerate of other people next time you post, because seriously, seeing people unhappy with the show for what I see as entirely the wrong reasons upsets me.
Kate wrote:there are as many female characters in the base game as there are Cole McGraths
The Outlander
User avatar
Oh Barry~
Rarity's Roughnecks
Joined: Oct 21, 2012
Location: Bradford, PA

Postby Wayoshi (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:08 pm

I think (and hope) we're all on the same page that the execution of the parody was great. The varying opinions are coming from one's tolerance for a fairly stock cliche joke to make in a cartoon. I think for some also, this is coming across as AKR inserting something she's wanted over making it feel organic in pony (honestly for me, it's Pinkie, it's so ridiculous I thought it was OK if not great in fitting in. But towards the end when she's standing on her back legs, that was definitely uncanny valley).

Anyways, we're spending a bunch of thread on ultimately a 45 second sideshow in what looks like a classic S1-like setup for an episode.
Last edited by Wayoshi on Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluttershy
Stare Masters
Joined: Oct 26, 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Gender: Male

Postby The Outlander (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:15 pm

Wayoshi wrote:I think (and hope) we're all on the same page that the execution of the parody was great. The varying opinions are coming from one's tolerance for a fairly stock cliche joke to make in a cartoon.


He said he was fine with Regular Show's takes on the subject, though. I haven't seen that show in a couple years, but I liked what I saw quite a bit. I'll see if I can find Regular Show's rap-parody song(s) and try to figure out what was so different about them.
Kate wrote:there are as many female characters in the base game as there are Cole McGraths
The Outlander
User avatar
Oh Barry~
Rarity's Roughnecks
Joined: Oct 21, 2012
Location: Bradford, PA

Postby Rarietty (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:21 pm

I'm just shocked that all of the discussion here is about the idea of Pinkie rapping in an obvious parody instead of what she's rapping about or why she'd start rapping in the first place.

The idea of Pinkie rapping about Wonderbolts history reminds me of the time that I made up a cheesy rap in a high school French class to help me remember certain words for a vocab test. That's how I think that this will play out. Pinkie offers to help Rainbow, so instead of telling Rainbow, "hey, write a catchy song, it works," Pinkie over does it/misses the point and raps quickly, confusing RD rather than helping her. The 90s parody adds to this idea because it makes Pinkie's rap less audible and more gaudy and confusing.
Image
Rarietty
User avatar
And then, I ate all the peaches in the orchard. And that farmer was so angry...
Rarity's Roughnecks
Joined: Jul 07, 2012
Location: One Million Years Dungeon
Gender: Female

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:22 pm

The Outlander wrote:Like, at least tag an "imo" on there.


I've stated this before, but everything I say is always IMO, unless what I'm stating is objective fact, it's my opinion.

Also

Wayoshi wrote:I think for some also, this is coming across as AKR inserting something she's wanted over making it feel organic in pony


This.

I can talk all I want, but here's my main problem.

The Outlander wrote:
He said he was fine with Regular Show's takes on the subject, though. I haven't seen that show in a couple years, but I liked what I saw quite a bit. I'll see if I can find Regular Show's rap-parody song(s) and try to figure out what was so different about them.


Regular show is show completly built on being as 80s and 90s as possible. It does something like that, it's what you'd expect from the show.

Here it's just comes of as some gag that the writer just HAD to insert because I don't know, she wanted ponies to rap for some reason.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby Just Scuds (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:36 pm

brakeless wrote:episode.jpeg

Image

:twiright: blah blah blah blah blah blah

:grumpydash: I'm going to chew my leg off so help me god if it gets me outta here.


:excite: Now comes the tricky part. You see here, the words go left to right. Buuuut you turn the pages right to left!

:twiright: Ya got it?
Just Scuds
User avatar
:twiright: Yup, that was my idea.
You're welcome.
Fashion Queens
Joined: Feb 14, 2011

Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:11 pm

Wayoshi wrote:But towards the end when she's standing on her back legs, that was definitely uncanny valley

That animation, including the Pinkies in the background, actually came straight out of Don't Copy That Floppy (1:44 or so):


And I thought Pinkie Pie dancing like that was cute. :pinkieshrug:
Image
Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Joined: Mar 02, 2013
Location: TN
Gender: Male

Postby Sailor Yue (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:59 am

Image
Hub Network
Shhhh. Quiet, everypony! Rainbow Dash is studying for a VERY important test tomorrow. ‪#‎MLPSeason4‬
Image
PayPal for stuff sailoryue@me.com
Sailor Yue
User avatar
Pttttl
Joined: Nov 12, 2012
Location: Nowhere. Certainly not in that tree.
Gender: Female

Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:03 am

:-/ It's the oldest trick in the book...wear dark glasses so the teacher can't tell you're sleeping. :awkward:
:party: A pony, a plan, a canal...Panamare!
PonyHag714
User avatar
You know my name.
Joined: Mar 18, 2013
Location: Oromareocto, Canterda
Gender: Male

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:16 am

You know, I really wonder why I go off on these kind of dumb angry tangents that end up doing nothing and explaining nothing and make me feel like a complete dumbass afterwords. I apologise for my behavior.

I'm gonna try and explain my basic problem with this gag.

Whenever this show does something like this rap video, or Discord's pop culture referances or dumb out of nowhere stuff like Bulk Biceps in Rainbow Falls or does episodes like Daring Don't. It all makes the show feel very empty and insincere, it makes it looks less like the show it established itself to be in seasons 1, 2 and heck even 3, which is something along the lines of a character driven fantasy adventure/sitcom and more like you're run-of-the-mill generic cartoon. It's like HAR HAR we just had Pinkie be a mix between Flava Flav and Run DMC and rap a shitty song in shitty quality with shitty music, ain't that hilarious.

To me it's not, to me it's trying way too hard. It's insincere. It would've been funny if it was what I was originally expecting - a dumb rap song with no self awareness and complete sincerity. But that would've been a great moment of utter stupidity that I would just love. You know, because it's just so dumb you can't help but enjoy it. So bad it's good as they say.

This? With VHS quality, 4:3 screen ration and crappy lyrics? It's something from another show, it lacks the self awareness of THIS show, what this show is about and what kind of gags this show pulls off. It feels like a writer just shoving something in because they just HAVE to do it because it's oh so hilarious. As a gag it doesn't flow. You pull this off as a short video and dump it on hasbro's official chanel, you got no problem from me.

But this doesn't feel like this dumb pony show, it's some other cartoon, it's this dumb thing that's just there and feels like it's from somwhere else, you know? It stops being this pony show and being some show with ponies.
Last edited by Space Ghost on Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby Headless Horse (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:26 am

So why is a Yakety Sax doorway chase scene okay then?

Not just "okay", but frequently held up as a prime example of the show's humor at its best?
Headless Horse
User avatar
The yoke is strictly ornamental
Faithful Students
Joined: May 23, 2011

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:30 am

Headless Horse wrote:So why is a Yakety Sax doorway chase scene okay then?

Not just "okay", but frequently held up as a prime example of the show's humor at its best?


It flows with the show. If you don't know what Yakety Sax is or ever watched Scooby Doo, it's just a silly chase scene with funny music. The door gag is funny by itself, Scooby Do just ruined it 'cause they used it in every episode.

The rap video is something you would make and put on youtube then share with everyone else, then put it in Anthology. It really isn't funny, it's only funny if you're immersed in the kind of cynical attitued of making fun of Don't Copy That Floppy or countless PSAs and 80s/90s cartoons. It looks like something the fandom would spit out. It's out of place.
Last edited by Space Ghost on Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:31 am

If we'd gotten what you were expecting, Pinkie Pie just singing a rap like she randomly sings so many other songs, then I think I would've just been annoyed. It's things like the VHS filters on the video and audio and the horrid late '80s clothes and graphical aesthetic that made it funny for me. That sort of care shows that it wasn't just AKR ramming through something she liked but that the rest of the gang also liked it and wanted to make it good. Cutaway humor isn't something doesn't often come up, but crazy animated sequences to go along with songs definitely do appear a lot, so making one as modern as this feels like a joke in and of itself.
Image
Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Joined: Mar 02, 2013
Location: TN
Gender: Male

Postby PictishBeast (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:33 am

The first two clips were A-1 top tier pony. The third clip was the worst thing I've ever seen.

I get that Pinkie's rap is a self-aware parody of late '80s-early '90s rap, particularly the kind of family-friendly rap you'd see in a cartoon. I appreciate how faithful the patterned backgrounds are, and how the aspect ratio and camera swivels fit the theme, and how the outfits, accessories, and style of rapping pay homage to that era. It didn't go over my head. In some other context I'd give a cheesy extended pop-culture reference like that extra points for authenticity.

But what the hell is a cheesy extended pop-culture reference doing in this show? :gonkity:

EDIT:
Tailspin wrote: It looks like something the fandom would spit out.


Ignore everything I said up there and replace it with this, tia
Last edited by PictishBeast on Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
PictishBeast
User avatar
Character Select: Winter Nickel
Abilities: Cynicism lv1, Ennui lv1
Inventory: Turnip
Diamond Dusters
Joined: Aug 12, 2012
Gender: Male

Postby Space Ghost (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:37 am

PictishBeast wrote:The first two clips were A-1 top tier pony. The third clip was the worst thing I've ever seen.

I get that Pinkie's rap is a self-aware parody of late '80s-early '90s rap, particularly the kind of family-friendly rap you'd see in a cartoon. I appreciate how faithful the patterned backgrounds are, and how the aspect ratio and camera swivels fit the theme, and how the outfits, accessories, and style of rapping pay homage to that era. It didn't go over my head. In some other context I'd give a cheesy extended pop-culture reference like that extra points for authenticity.

But what the hell is a cheesy extended pop-culture reference doing in this show? :gonkity:


This entire thing.
Space Ghost
Applejack Aces
Joined: Mar 28, 2011

Postby PictishBeast (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:40 am

Tailspin wrote:
This entire thing.


aww me and tailspin are samezies :allears:

Seriously though I really liked the other two clips and have a good feeling about this episode. That whole rap sequence though, holy shit
PictishBeast
User avatar
Character Select: Winter Nickel
Abilities: Cynicism lv1, Ennui lv1
Inventory: Turnip
Diamond Dusters
Joined: Aug 12, 2012
Gender: Male

Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:43 am

So as Tailspin said, "an Anthology clip" actually seems to explain this pretty well. :-P

Also, people really hold up Bird in Hoof's chase scene as top-tier humor for this show? That strikes me as odd.
Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluttershy
Stare Masters
Joined: Oct 26, 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Gender: Male

Previous Next

Return to Pony Media Release Threads

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 1 guest