S04E20: For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils

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Re: S04E20: For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils

Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:01 pm

That episode was great. Not too much funny about it but it had sweet moments, a great Luna appearance and a good retelling of a classic story.

Speaking of which...
:amazed: No! This isn't happening! Oh, this is maddening agony! Wait! Actually!
:amazed: Harkening back to the dead Dash's lecture,
:sweetiefrown: I still am expecting a final specter!

:moonie: BOO! YOU'RE GONNA DIE! WITH NO ONE TO LOVE YOU AND NO ONE TO CRY!
:plonk: Image :)
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Postby MochaBean (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:02 pm

Nothing earth shattering with this one, but it was cute and the dream sequence was well done. :milkshake:
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Postby The Outlander (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:02 pm

Wow, Cutest episode 2012, 420 Sweetie Belles e'rry day.
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:03 pm

They foreshadowed the dolphins thing during the nightmare sequence, which was a nice touch.

Nice to Sapphire Shores again.

(and yes, it's "toils" as spelled on-screen)
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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:03 pm

:speakest: SCENE CHANGE! *stomp*
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Postby Strangest Letter (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:03 pm

:amazed: "I prefer show tunes"

Yeah, episode was nice.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:03 pm

Oh man. Another great episode, especially the second act. Sweetie Belle's fifth birthday (man, she looked like a Breezie back then) and the rest of that dream were so sad. :fluttersmith:
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Postby drunkill (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:03 pm

The CMC in first act were the best. Best horsie theater since Hearts Warming Eve.

:anticipation: :cooliebelle: :scootawoo:
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Postby Frith (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:04 pm

Yeah, that was amazing episode :allears:
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:05 pm

One thing I noticed that we never really saw the play, so we don't know what it was like although we can guess from what the others said.

Storyboard artists are Cory Toomey and John Young. Great job, you guys! :party:
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Postby Picklepaige (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:05 pm

I think this just outdid Rarity Takes Manehattan as my favorite episode this season. Oh man, this was great. The sisters, Luna, Sapphire Shores, everyone was at their best.
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Postby MochaBean (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:06 pm

Bravinim wrote: :amazed: "I prefer show tunes"

Possible destiny foreshadowing? :smirk:
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:07 pm

Mr. Big wrote:One thing I noticed that we never really saw the play, so we don't know what it was like although we can guess from what the others said.

We did see Sweetie Belle's one line of it. Really, it wasn't important to see the whole thing; that one line and the set and direction of the play were so awful that I think we can all imagine how it went. And hey, Sweetie Belle actually realized how bad it was.


But still, I do wonder if there were further scenes from the play that got cut out as the script was being edited.
MochaBean wrote:Possible destiny foreshadowing? :smirk:

That felt like another one of Dave Polsky's incidental lines, like Scootaloo talking about how she looks sad in pictures back in Twilight Time. They're small details, but I think they really add a lot to any character.
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Postby Dexanth (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:08 pm

It was a cute episode, and such.
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Postby The Outlander (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:08 pm

MochaBean wrote:Possible destiny foreshadowing? :smirk:


For all we know about the Pony world, Show Tunes could just be the name of her favorite artist. :-P
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:08 pm

Pony knocking it out of the park again. Great episode.

I loved the dream sequence, it got pretty freaky in parts. Luna was definitely no nonsense, with her hoof stomping and all, but still she helped out Sweetie with the headdress. I think she wants to make very sure ponies learn thier lesson, but is willing to help when they do. She didn't disappoint. :speakest:

Nice to see Spike in a scene where he dosen't mess up. :spike101:
Last edited by PonyHag714 on Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
:speakest: The fun has been doubled!
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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:09 pm

:ohboy: I just got attacked by a giant cloud shaped like my sister! Is this a dream?
:unenthused: What do you think?
:amazed: Did you see what Discord did to Ponyville that one time? I don't know what to believe anymore.
:speakest: Fair enough.


I like this bit:


:ohboy: You have to let me in! I'm Sapphire Shores's designer's sister!
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Postby InC (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:10 pm

Cool episode Polsky, the visuals were the best part :ohboy:
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Postby Venusy (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:11 pm

That was pretty good, definitely liked the visuals in the dream sequence. Though while the dolphin might have been Sapphire's lucky animal, I don't think it helped with what the visuals of the headdress will look like to the audience. :v:
EDIT:
InC wrote:Cool episode Polsky, the visuals were the best part :ohboy:

:lol:
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Postby Rarietty (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:11 pm

"Level of cuteness" is my main critera for what seperates a good episode from a great one so I'm simply really impressed that they were able to fit so much adorableness into one episode. Great job.

However, Luna did feel a bit too much like "deus ex machina pony" though, and she was kind of disappointedly boring. You could even tell that Tabitha didn't even bother with Luna's voice by the end. Her personality was non-existent. I guess I could say the same about all of the episodes she's appeared in besides Luna Eclipsed though, so I guess it's not this specific episode's problem. But still, I miss M.A. Larson's Luna. :cry:
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Postby Wonkadoo (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:13 pm

I was actually not that impressed with the dream sequence, which I found overly talky. The ending made up for it, though.

Also, Sweetie Belle had a legitimate complaint about the costumes. It's very possible for one part of a production to overwhelm the rest, to the detriment of the show as a whole.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:13 pm

:unenthused: I too have a sister who can outshine me sometimes.

:gotcha: Oh you...
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Postby RudeCyrus (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:15 pm

Cute episode. Luna best princess.
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Postby LardLad3545 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:16 pm

An interesting episode for sure. Not terribly funny, which is interesting considering it's a Polsky episode, but it also didn't try to be. That and it delivered on the feels. It kept me guessing at every turn as to what the resolution would be like. Honestly, I thought SB wouldn't make it in time, and the headdress would fall apart, considering they showed Sapphire beforehand being not a total horsebitch like she was in the nightmare, but that wouldn't have taught any lesson. Soooo overall, lovely episode. Can't wait to watch again later today.

I also still stand by my idea from a few days ago. We NEED a West Wing pony episode centering around the princesses. You have your orders, DHX. I expect you to carry them out with grace and style. :gotcha:
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Postby DarkMatter (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:17 pm

Super cute episode. Sweetie Belle was kind of a jerk but she did learn her lesson and the dream sequence was really well done! I also like that Sweetie Belle enjoys show tunes, further cementing her as best CMC. :cooliebelle:
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Postby Highbrow Dash (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:18 pm

Eh, it was no Sisterhooves but it was fun enough. It must suck to be Luna and have people think they're dreaming every time they run into you :v:
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Postby HuffyTheMagicDragon (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:19 pm

Cute episode. Not quite "Sisterhooves" or "Sleepless", but solid. Sweetie Belle learns that she is being the worst sister thanks to divine intervention. A fun idea, but perhaps played a bit too... straightforward? Everything happened pretty much exactly as expected based on the synopsis and such. Nothing terribly exciting. Feels almost like Luna made things too easy.

Still, it was enjoyable, mostly due to cuteness factor. And good art. I really liked the dress designs and parts of the dream sequence, like cloud Rarity. And CMC shenanigans are always enjoyable. Now we know Apple Bloom is sassy AND classy, and has her sister's Earth Pony Strong prehensile tail.
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Postby SoundMonkey44 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:24 pm

10/10. Freakin loved it! Polsky is really on A role this season!! :allears: :awesomedash:
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Postby Applepie (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:25 pm

Some impressive animation but I am still waiting for episodes that will impress more than Pinkie Pride and Filli Vanilli.

Not a much emotion and drama as I waited for, but it was good to have Luna and Sapphire Shores back.

9/10
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Postby LardLad3545 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:25 pm

So after the few little tidbits, am I the only one who wants to hear a Sapphire Shores song now? We haven't heard anything even close to having as much sub-bass as whatever the hell was playing had. I also liked the effect they put on the music during the scenes outside the building. It's the little details. :allears:
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:27 pm

Maybe the one thing I can nitpick about is the dolphin stitching. It's cute and all that Sweetie helped fix it beyond just redoing the normal stitching, but... why was it needed? SShores could have just been fine with the delay instead of annoyed and I don't think anyone would have complained. Use some of that extra time to let the apology/forgiveness stick even more, they did great considering they only had 10-15 sec at the end of the episode to do it, but we really ran up against the wall there.

On the other hand, how nice it was to see Sweetie developing some similar traits to Rarity.
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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:32 pm

Rarietty wrote: But still, I miss M.A. Larson's Luna. :cry:


I know ... I know ... :fluttersmith:

We can't have slightly mad 'playing to the rafters' character of Luna Eclipsed because it would completely detract from the episode, but I'd like to at least have a little bit of eccentricity after having lived on the moon for a thousand years.

:ohboy: Princess Luna! Is this still a dream?
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:smirk: What, are you a Sapphire Shores fan, too?
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Postby InC (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:33 pm

Rarietty wrote:However, Luna did feel a bit too much like "deus ex machina pony" though, and she was kind of disappointedly boring. You could even tell that Tabitha didn't even bother with Luna's voice by the end. Her personality was non-existent. I guess I could say the same about all of the episodes she's appeared in besides Luna Eclipsed though, so I guess it's not this specific episode's problem. But still, I miss M.A. Larson's Luna. :cry:


With Meghan describing the current comic book arc as "badass", there might be some chance of Luna getting just a little bit closer to Larson's characterization of her. Comic Luna is a direct continuation of her Luna Eclipsed self and is all around awesome, so I wouldn't mind that. :allears:


Cute episode, though Luna made things to straightforwardly easy, I feel. Or rather, it didn't leave enough room for character interaction/conflict to really reach Sisterhooves' level. Still a solid episode, it had the two best horses. :vogue: :ohboy:
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Postby Snow Drift (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:33 pm

Sapphire shores was mentioning how the whole incident was bad luck and she didn't want a headdress associated with bad luck, showing she has a heavily superstitious streak, however the addition of the dolphin stitch, her favorite animal that shows up often in her dreams, was seen as a good portent so she accepted the headdress.

Thats how I see it anyway.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:36 pm

I was almost hoping Sapphire Shores would give the "fame costs" speech to the ponies she was dancing with. :v:
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:39 pm

I was actually quite pleased with Luna's characterization in this episode. Not only would Wacky Awkward Luna have taken away from the generally serious tone of this story, it also would've felt strange considering how long it's been since Luna Eclipsed. The way she was here was a very fine middle ground between that and the Mopey Crybaby Luna that we've seen a few times.
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Postby Pocket (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:43 pm

LardLad3545 wrote:So after the few little tidbits, am I the only one who wants to hear a Sapphire Shores song now? We haven't heard anything even close to having as much sub-bass as whatever the hell was playing had.

It sounded distinctly like a pastiche of "Poker Face" to me.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:44 pm

Still no sign of Celestia this season. :saddershy:

:memories: At least Cheerilee was back.

Good episode. I agree that the more mellow tone of Luna at the end came off strange. I think that comes mostly from reading the comics and enjoying her energy there. A good episode, but I don't think it was quite up there with Luna's last dream visit.

:ponder: And why would the play have been watched by nothing but adults and none of the school kids...
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Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:44 pm

I personally thought Luna was really good and provided a nice air of maturity to the episode theme.
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Postby Swift (?) » Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:46 pm

Having just read the latest comic issue from Cook/Price, with lots of hilariously eccentric and old-timey Luna, her appearance here stands out to me as disappointingly bland. :pinkieshrug:

They pay lip-service to Luna's past issues with Celestia in one line, but I would have liked some more heart-to-heart between her and Sweetie Belle about that. Like maybe Luna sharing some specific memories about Celestia that Sweetie Belle could relate to her relationship with Rarity? I'm not sure, but I would have liked a more of a personal connection there between Luna and Sweetie.

And it's too bad that Luna had none of her old quirks from Luna Eclipsed (and the comics, particularly Cook/Price's). She didn't explicitly in Sleepless in Ponyville either, but her foreboding, dramatic dialogue ("But they must be faced, or the nightmares will continue", "face your feeeaaaaaaars") still felt like it fit decently well within that characterization.

Otherwise, the episode was enjoyable. The dream sequences were neat visually, and I think this was a realistic post-Sisterhooves conflict for Sweetie Belle and Rarity to have and was handled very well (Sweetie's jealous ranting and her impressions of Rarity were great). I'll probably need to give it a re-watch later (when I'm not distracted by the chat).

InC wrote:With Meghan describing the current comic book arc as "badass", there might be some chance of Luna getting just a little bit closer to Larson's characterization of her. Comic Luna is a direct continuation of her Luna Eclipsed self and is all around awesome, so I wouldn't mind that. :allears:


That's actually reassuring to hear, and nice to know that Meghan has read (at least some of) the comics. :allears:
Last edited by Swift on Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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