S07E04: Rock Solid Friendship

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Re: S07E04: Rock Solid Friendship

Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 1:56 am

I doubt that Fluttershy wants to be a tree and knows fabric minutae, Scootaloo looks sad when she doesn't smile, and Twilight is afraid of quesadillas are things that anyone had planned before the episode in which they appeared. Sometimes random little quirks can become the most memorable things about a character.

Also I love that Starlight doesn't merely like kites; she is a kite nerd. :gotcha:

Unrelated, but although Maud and Fluttershy have no common interests, I bet they would enjoy each other's company sitting together in complete silence. They could have a Tuesday Quiet Time.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 1:57 am

Perpetual Lurker wrote:Even if it wasn't, so what? It's a nice little character detail that makes Starlight seem more well rounded and grounded, IMO.

Think I didn't make my point clear, since I 100% agree with this.

All I was trying to say re: kites is that people are posting kite images in Starlight's room from Season 6 and acting like it's a master plan. It 99% isn't. :pinkieshrug:

My confusion is that I don't think was there time before S7 writing for Confalone to see a S6 ep and find random kites in her room and stick that potential story nugget in his back pocket.
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Postby Marimo (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 2:04 am

Wayoshi wrote:Think I didn't make my point clear, since I 100% agree with this.

All I was trying to say re: kites is that people are posting kite images in Starlight's room from Season 6 and acting like it's a master plan. It 99% isn't. :pinkieshrug:

My confusion is that I don't think was there time before S7 writing for Confalone to see a S6 ep and find random kites in her room and stick that potential story nugget in his back pocket.

Actually it's the other way around. According to Jim they planted kites in her room in season 6, knowing about this episode.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 2:07 am

Wayoshi wrote:Apparently his only episode this season, surprisingly.


Yeah, bit of a bummer. Still, I'll take one episode per season over none.

Marimo wrote:Actually it's the other way around. According to Jim they planted kites in her room in season 6, knowing about this episode.


Oh, that's neat! I love stuff like that.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 2:23 am

Marimo wrote:Actually it's the other way around. According to Jim they planted kites in her room in season 6, knowing about this episode.

Dang, alright then. :yay:
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Postby Rainbow Crash (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:31 am

I understand all the complaints about constantly bringing up Starlight's past, but this was the first time that it bugged me. I think that Starlight used to bring it up all the time herself as a self-deprecating response because she wasn't confident in her ability to socialize. However, in 'All Bottled Up' it seemed like she had moved on from that after she got annoyed and angry when Trixie brought it up. After her outburst at Trixie (through Granny Smith, of course), I thought that was a sign that it was time to bury that topic, but I guess not.

Otherwise good ep
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Postby Marimo (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:36 am

I was fine with them bringing it up this episode, since they at least added that scene of Starlight and Maud meeting each other. It was funny and kind of adds a bit more detail on the history of her plan.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:41 am

Marimo wrote:I was fine with them bringing it up this episode, since they at least added that scene of Starlight and Maud meeting each other. It was funny and kind of adds a bit more detail on the history of her plan.


Exactly this. It wasn't brought up out of the blue for a five-second gag this time, it actually had a proper reason for being there. It was a weird little moment that connected Maud and Starlight.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:40 am

Octavia wrote:Image


:nnngh: This came off as really mean, rather than funny.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:58 am

The Doctor wrote:
:nnngh: This came off as really mean, rather than funny.


I dunno, I don't think Pinkie meant to hit her in the head. And she got free pizza out of it anyway, which I feel is fair compensation.

Unless it was some weird Pinkie flavour.

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Postby Durandal (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 5:43 am

This was a really well-written episode. What actually made me think this was "Aaaaaah! You're wearing the slippers!" - I liked it because it's implying some backstory that the audience is not aware of, yet it's still a totally natural thing for Pinkie to say in that situation. A lot of small touches like that which textured each character and made it feel more like they have their own life going on when the camera isn't on them.

Also the puns. The pun game in this episode was on maximum overdrive, I swear.
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 5:56 am

The B.S.F.F. slippers? Those were a running gag throughout the episode. :pinkieshrug: I loved that line because of Pinkie's delivery, though.

I wonder if Maud got into standup after heckling Discord at the Gala.
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Postby Durandal (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:16 am

ah well ok then I was doing ballet with a baby at the time so I probably missed some details here and there
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 9:54 am

Pinkie brings it up on the train.

:saycheese: You're moving to Ponyville! We'll live together and get bunk beds and I'll make up fuzzy slippers that say, "Best Sister Friends Forever," although I probably can't fit all those words on a slipper, so maybe just, "B.S.F.F.," but we don't have to decide right now because we'll be together all the time b'cause when it come to Ponyville, the Doctor is in!

But I like that the episode had a bunch of little moments outside of the basic moral like that. See also:

:maud: I'm also considering Ghastly Gorge.
:-) Hahahaha, classic Maud sense of humor. You should do standup!
:maud: I do. But that wasn't a joke.
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Postby Doctor Wheeze (?) » Sun Apr 30, 2017 1:50 pm

Starlight Glimmer and Maud is the pairing I never knew I wanted. I'm really enjoying the growth of Starlight's friend group with bit characters from previous episodes. It's a good way to use those characters, and it helps Equestria feel like more of a place. Feels much more natural than, for example, Twilight going on an adventure with and befriending the first five ponies she meets in a new town (not that they could have spent six episodes introducing all the characters in season 1).

We're at six now (if Discord counts), so I wonder if there'll be any more added for symmetry reasons. I hope there'll be an episode where Starlight has to introduce two of them to each other and is nervous about them getting along; that would be pretty relatable.

On the one hand, this is sort of starting to become the Starlight Glimmer Show, but on the other they're at least doing a pretty good job at the Starlight Glimmer Show.
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Postby Ransom (?) » Mon May 01, 2017 2:31 am

I quite enjoyed this episode!

It does look more and more like Starlight and these new ponies, Maud, Trixie, etc. seem to be slowly working their way into full mane character status, Mayberry R.F.D. style (wonders if anyone gets this reference).
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Mon May 01, 2017 3:03 am

Although I wouldn't want to forget that fundamentally, this is a Pinkie episode and a darned good one. :)

Okay, back to Maud: I still do not know whether she can really shred a wicked guitar or if it's standard Maud deadpan. Neither would surprise me. And that's the magic of Maud! :maud:
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Mon May 01, 2017 4:21 am

Maud and Starlight bonding over their shared loathing of Pinkie Pie, Image

Also who in the audience even gets Clapper jokes, what is this, 1989
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Mon May 01, 2017 4:45 am

I wonder if anyone caught the kite terms Starlight spouted out. SLK is "single-line kite" and AOI is "angle of incidence", all real kite terms.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Tue May 02, 2017 2:48 am

Hasbro hasn't posted this episode on any of the usual digital services yet. :ohrarity:
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Tue May 02, 2017 4:01 am

Wow, really? And Canada is going to get farther ahead...
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Postby Octavia (?) » Tue May 02, 2017 3:57 pm

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Postby Frith (?) » Wed May 03, 2017 1:23 am

The episode was decent. Maud isn't my favorite character but I liked how much character development she got here and I really liked the bond between her and Starlight. But on the negative side, the moral wasn't particularly interesting and Pinkie was really annoying at times.
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Postby Captain Rufus (?) » Wed May 03, 2017 6:16 am

Octavia wrote:Image


This is a deep ass cut here.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu May 04, 2017 8:11 am

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Thursday's better than never, I guess. :-I
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sat May 06, 2017 8:22 am

Belated screenshots!

Stone architecture with thatched roofs and lancet windows are an interesting choice.
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Yabba-dabba-doo!
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WOOOO!
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EEEEEEE!
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.....hm. :wat:
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whoops
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Pinkies! Pinkies everywhere!
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sat May 06, 2017 8:34 am

The hills are alive with the sound of music!
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That's our boy Spike! Whatta guy!
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"Here's an image macro! I'm sure you'll need it sometime!"
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Probably should've asked Maud to actually walk along with you.
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:cry:
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Princess Twilight's Friendship Rainbow Kingtom Playset! Only $39.99! While supplies last!
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*record scratch* That's me: Pinkie Pie. You're probably wondering how I got into this situation.
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:pcstare: Run.
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They're already grinning ear to ear. Deep lore questions.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sat May 06, 2017 8:41 am

"Tom, I don't get you."
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The rest of the market is food. Are these giant asparagus spears?
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Welcome to the best cave in Equestria! I'm surprised the Diamond Dogs haven't discovered this yet.
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Old technology.
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Must be a Polaroid.
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The way these gems grow out of the ground reminds me of toadstools.
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Is this racist?
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Maud... has curlers?
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SOON.
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Last edited by SlateSlabrock on Sat May 06, 2017 8:54 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sat May 06, 2017 8:53 am

Me, in about six hours.
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THiS IS YOUR COURTESY WAKE-UP CALL
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Just one of those days.
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Oh, also, Starlight's room has a tree theme.
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I think these ravens have pompadours.
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I ain't afraid o' no ghost.
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The Dark Souls of friendship.
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Long... live... the Pink.
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Rock campfire. Rock dinner. Rock lantern? And a nice mattress.
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Boulder's earning his keep!
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I really like this shot. Please excuse the kite strings; they weren't cooperating.
Also, Maud made hers out of sticks and just kinda steps on the line.
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Bag End, Bagshot Row, Ponyville.
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She's wearing the slippers!
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Postby Ransom (?) » Thu May 11, 2017 3:30 am

Apparently, that kite nerd jargon Starlight threw around is real. SLK=Single Line Kite and AOI=Angle of Incidence.

It's odd, but for such a well known hobby I've never really heard much about 'hard core' kite enthusiasts.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Thu May 11, 2017 2:29 pm

I like that she has a hobby that requires a lot of attention and control.

She's got the need to control things, so good she has a socially acceptable outlet for it.
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Postby PictishBeast (?) » Mon May 15, 2017 9:48 pm

Aramek wrote:Image


Limestone is literally the best

I've always been wary of Maud episodes because it would be so easy for the writers to go full brony memebait, but this was fantastic.

Great, great episode. Best-ever :maud: characterization.
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Postby PictishBeast (?) » Mon May 15, 2017 10:30 pm

Mr. Big wrote:I wish they cool it with the exposition about how Starlight used to be a dictator.


See, I like that they keep referencing it.

The "bad guy is now a good guy" trope always seems fakey--not because it's impossible for a villain to have a change of heart, but because the heroes will never actually trust them again once they do it.

I might be reading too much into it, but the show seems to be playing with the realistic fallout from Starlight's redemption:
  • Everybody constantly mentions how Starlight ran a cult or how she nearly caused the end of the world through time travel shenanigans (often it's Starlight herself, because this is her guilt albatross)
  • Starlight really doesn't seem to be all that close with any of the Mane 6 (except maybe Twilight) despite a season of forced integration
  • Starlight only seems to be making genuine friends with the kind of people who don't care about her past. So far that includes fellow supervillains (Trixie) and the socially clueless (Maud).

This strikes me as weirdly realistic.

And I find that I like Starlight 1000% more when she isn't trying to impress Fluttershy or something.

e: Think how much it would suck if the writers were "welp, she's an ensemble character now" and wrote her into PPOV, for instance. Starlight will never really be one of the gang. When that happens to you, wtf are you supposed do? I think the Trixie and Maud eps are a good way to establish a competing dynamic.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Mon May 15, 2017 10:49 pm

Aramek wrote:I love you very much Pictish.
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby PictishBeast (?) » Mon May 15, 2017 10:57 pm

I am now Aramek-curious :hoers:
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Mon May 15, 2017 11:16 pm

PictishBeast wrote:This strikes me as weirdly realistic.

And I find that I like Starlight 1000% more when she isn't trying to impress Fluttershy or something.

e: Think how much it would suck if the writers were "welp, she's an ensemble character now" and wrote her into PPOV, for instance. Starlight will never really be one of the gang. When that happens to you, wtf are you supposed do? I think the Trixie and Maud eps are a good way to establish a competing dynamic.

This is all true and I'll even give you it's a realistic fallout, but it doesn't mean for a cartoon it's entertaining or effective to keep going to the same joke. Also I don't think real people would keep bringing an awkward past up out loud every other encounter.

The way they've not integrated Starlight but have is definitely good. Forcing things makes episodes like Every Little Thing She Does awkward, less of that please.
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Postby PictishBeast (?) » Mon May 15, 2017 11:40 pm

Image You're back!

:maud: mmm-hmm

Image For good?

:maud: mmm-hmm
:maud: This doesn't mean we need to start talking about feelings, does it?

Image heh...no way.

I have never identified more completely with ponies than I have in this episode
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Postby Ransom (?) » Tue May 16, 2017 4:40 am

Aramek wrote:I like that she has a hobby that requires a lot of attention and control.

She's got the need to control things, so good she has a socially acceptable outlet for it.

Hmm, good observation, hadn't thought of it from that angle.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Tue May 16, 2017 12:36 pm

I think about Starlight a lot.

Wait...
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby Nicotico (?) » Tue May 16, 2017 11:52 pm

This is some neat insight I haven't seen elsewhere.
Besides Pinkie being very much over the top (more than her usual self), this episode is pretty great.
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