S06E25-26: To Where And Back Again

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Re: S06E25-26: To Where And Back Again

Postby Ransom (?) » Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:53 pm

Oh yes, the replaced Mane Six was one of the things I liked the best. You could tell they had done their research and were trying to play their part, but because they lack that actual 'Friendship' element, and because Starflight was so recent an addition they didn't have much info on her I guess, you could tell things were off. Wouldn't have minded drawing that bit out more actually.

I'm imagining the other Changeling Princesses doing their bit as well...actually, those were still out 'in the field' at the end of the episode right?

That must have been some scene when the ponies all returned. Assumming Chrysalis didn't rush there first to gather them
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu Nov 03, 2016 1:16 pm

This is my new favorite shot:

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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu Nov 03, 2016 1:27 pm

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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Thu Nov 03, 2016 1:42 pm

Thinking about it now, I almost wish PPOV didn't use the joke about Rarity saying "darling" a lot, since it would've been hilarious if the changeling impersonating her in this episode had used it every other word.
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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Thu Nov 03, 2016 2:45 pm

Thank you, Slate. Image


Somewhere there's a Changeling acting school that takes creatures that have been raised in a hive and teaches them to adlib a well known pony around Ponyville.


:vogue: Isn't that just the most darling little chambray dress you have on! I simply must know where you bought that darling thing, darling!
Image No! No! It's all wrong! Fix your posture, your character over-enunciates, and for Celestia's sake she doesn't say darling all the time!
Image It's really hard to get into the groove of this one while standing around in this hive. Could we make this place up to look like a seamstress shop?
Image .... if it helps the invasion, go for it.
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Thu Nov 03, 2016 4:06 pm

Image Okay, for this exercise we need suggestions for: a pony, a job, and a setting.
Image How about Daring Do, as a cowboy, at a class reunion?
Image Did I hear STUPID TWILIGHT SPARKLE, as a MEDDLING INTERLOPER, BURNING IN PONY HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY?
Image No, I --
Image BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Nov 03, 2016 4:09 pm

This is great. :evil:

Liking all the new smilies, Chrissy in particular. Image
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Postby Dexanth (?) » Tue Nov 08, 2016 10:04 pm

I've kinda resisted commenting further on the finale for a while, but, honestly?

90% of it is great. But the 10% I hate I hate so much that it still eats at me. And it really sucks because I want to like it and can't because I have this stupid uncontrollable visceral reaction that is dumb and irrational and it still makes me unreasonably upset. And that sucks.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Wed Nov 09, 2016 5:13 pm

Can you clarify what is in your 10%? :ponder:
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Postby Aramek (?) » Wed Nov 09, 2016 5:42 pm

Wayoshi wrote:Can you clarify what is in your 10%? :ponder:

Starlight didn't just Dr Doom all of the changelings.
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Postby Dexanth (?) » Fri Nov 11, 2016 10:55 pm

Wayoshi wrote:Can you clarify what is in your 10%? :ponder:


I've went over it exhaustively in the spoiler thread but :

1. I think the antimagic throne is stupid, and an example of bad writing - they wanted to use Discord, but can't have Discord save the day, so contrived a reason to nullify basically the most powerful character in the show. Like, that literally only exists to neuter him (And to a lesser degree Starlight).
2. The Alicorn Uselessness Effect - It started with Celestia, spread to Luna, then Cadance, and now it's hitting Twilight too; basically, that the characters in the show who should be the most capable have become to the least, to the degree it's a fandom joke now and has been for years. This episode was an especially egregious use of it.
3. Characters becoming objects rather than possessing agency - This is more of a social commentary bit, but the show is also resorting to tropes it avoided in the past. None of the characters abducted do anything meaningful to save themselves. You could replace them with an important magic artifact and have the same degree of necessity in the end. The only role any of them play is Luna who gets to deliver the 'Bad guys are here, we're kidnapped, save us!' plea. And it's okay to utilize 'X is captured and needs assistance' from time to time but this one crosses a line for me.
4. All of the above is ultimately in service to one thing : letting Starlight Glimmer shine. I like Glimmy. A lot. She's awesome. But this episode is a shining example of the Mary Sue effect, where every other character is struck with crippling uselessness syndrome so that the burden of salvation falls on Starlight. The Mane 6 & Princesses are kidnapped; Discord can't do magic; Sunburst stays home for some reason and only sends Thorax. And Starlight? She's crippled by 'What if I turn evil again? I shouldn't lead anybody!' when everyone else both in & out of the world recognizes her capabilities for leadership and is constantly begging her to step up. Use Starlight as a protagonist, totally, but don't do so in a way that forces everyone else to be mere props.

So yea. That's the 10% I talk about, where there's all this effort dedicated to creating a 'Now Starlight and the Suicide Squad save the day!' scenario, at the cost of everyone else.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Fri Nov 11, 2016 11:40 pm

Dexanth wrote:3. Characters becoming objects rather than possessing agency - This is more of a social commentary bit, but the show is also resorting to tropes it avoided in the past. None of the characters abducted do anything meaningful to save themselves. You could replace them with an important magic artifact and have the same degree of necessity in the end. The only role any of them play is Luna who gets to deliver the 'Bad guys are here, we're kidnapped, save us!' plea. And it's okay to utilize 'X is captured and needs assistance' from time to time but this one crosses a line for me.


And Luna's warning was totally unnecessary since Thorax delivered the exposition a few minute later. And it also kind of makes the Princesses getting taken out look even worse, because, by using magic, they don't even try to say the Changelings brought some magic McGuffin rocks with them. Not that it would have made it any better.
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Postby Yolostar (?) » Sat Nov 12, 2016 12:16 am

I enjoyed this fun story in this children's cartoon show.
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Postby Ransom (?) » Tue Jan 03, 2017 4:54 pm

You know...about the Changlings that replaced Luna and Celestia...


Did anyone ever ask what they planned to do when the time came to raise the sun or moon?

I guess if leeching Shining Armor was enough to put Chrysalis at Celestia's power level then presumably soaking all the royal love ought to give them enough power to do it themselves. Although the idea of Chrysalis having to basically threaten Celestia into continuing the cycles appeals the part of me that loves drama.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:20 pm

I think they could probably take on the abilities of whoever they copy. If not, I guess Chrissy would indeed have to threaten the Princesses into it.

Image I order you to raise the sun and moon...or else!

Image :unenthused: And if we refuse?

Image I'm working on that.
Image You can't deny the prize, it may never fulfill you.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:40 pm

It's been written that, before the days of Celestia and Luna, six unicorns working together could exert enough magical force to move the sun and moon, but it was so difficult that anyone participating would eventually run out of magic. I wouldn't be surprised if Chrysalis ordered some of her changelings into a similar situation, assuming her troops had enough magic among them to produce the same effect.
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Postby Ransom (?) » Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:19 pm

PonyHag714 wrote:I think they could probably take on the abilities of whoever they copy. If not, I guess Chrissy would indeed have to threaten the Princesses into it.

Image I order you to raise the sun and moon...or else!

Image :unenthused: And if we refuse?

Image I'm working on that.


Unfortunately, with the Mane 6, Cadance, etc all captured she would have a hostage to threaten.

Gosh I'm imagining a really darker episode aren't I? :gonkity:
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:20 pm

No you're just putting thought into the episode.


:gotcha: Something the writers couldn't bother with.
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Postby Ransom (?) » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:10 pm

The Doctor wrote:No you're just putting thought into the episode.


:gotcha: Something the writers couldn't bother with.


Yeah...I try not to get too upset about it but I've been disappointed in the handling of Celestia also. Well at least with her being caught offscreen you can headcannon the event it as anything that might be fair to your eyes. :pinkieshrug:

My own :gonkity: idea is that a changeling posed as a returning Sunset Shimmer.
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