S05E08: The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone

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Re: S05E08: The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone

Postby Headless Horse (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 12:51 am

Fizzbuzz wrote:Like, the "naked" Rarity joke from the last episode is something that I don't think would've been very funny or would've even made it into the script back in S1, but with the decreasing horsiness of the show's characters over time, the idea of ponies wearing clothes has become normal enough to where that joke actually has some impact now.


Notwithstanding the variant on the same joke in Best Night Ever? :gotcha:


E: Actually it was kinda more self-referential in BNE, where it was deliberately poking fun at the show's premise and how aware the characters are of their own "horsiness". Whereas here, yes, they feel more like they're just chapter-and-verse cartoon characters, who would all react similarly in that situation. It's as if being too self-effacing at this point would feel like the show still isn't sure of its own footing or how tongue-in-cheek it wants to be.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 12:56 am

Headless Horse wrote:
Notwithstanding the variant on the same joke in Best Night Ever? :gotcha:

Well, that episode didn't take it to the point where she stood upright and covered herself much like she would if she were a human. :smirk:
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Postby Aramek (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 1:04 am

On and beyond Pinkie being awesome, specifically, it was the "You've got amazing hair" thing. :3: Pinkie must be really proud of her hair, and wishes more ponies would compliment her on it. And that's adorable. Like, even more so because she's an Earth Pony, which means a combo of trying to do that shit with hooves, and being more natural than styled, akin to Rarity's hair.

Manes. :3:
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 1:07 am

Headless Horse wrote:E: Actually it was kinda more self-referential in BNE, where it was deliberately poking fun at the show's premise and how aware the characters are of their own "horsiness". Whereas here, yes, they feel more like they're just chapter-and-verse cartoon characters, who would all react similarly in that situation. It's as if being too self-effacing at this point would feel like the show still isn't sure of its own footing or how tongue-in-cheek it wants to be.

This show still has room for some of those sorts of meta jokes, like that one where this episode cut to Pinkie Pie's faux old-timey advertisement for baking powder. It's just that jokes about horsiness can only go so far nowadays, since back in S1 Lauren Faust was still there to push extremely hard for those sorts of things, whereas in the time since, FiM's characters have gotten to where they mostly only act like horses whenever it'd be funny to do so (like how Tree Hugger mixed some whinnying into her chanting to calm the Smooze). The show can't make fun of itself quite that hard since it no longer goes that far, but it can make fun of where it is now, as with what happened to Rarity.
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 1:20 am

I guess the question is, are the jokes really less "horsey" as a result of Lauren's departure, or is it more because the show is in its fifth season now and making the same flavor of self-referential jokes as it did back in S1 would feel kind of awkward?

No show can maintain exactly the same texture as it goes through its lifecycle, even if it tries. And like you say, it's not like they've dispensed with the equine humor; they've just made an effort to do different kinds than they've done before.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 1:20 am

I like some more horsy stuff. Like Pinky baking. The mouth guard was great.

Last weeks meditative whinnying might be the greatest horse thing ever in the show.
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Postby Seven Seas (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 4:31 am

I just realized

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that this would have been the third time the Smile Song was featured in an Amy Keating Rogers episode. :lol:

I'm going to miss AKR's way with Pinkie. :fluttersmith: Though the other writers this season have been doing an unusually good job with her, so maybe it's Pinkie's time to shine again!
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Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 6:11 am

There's just something about that idea of a no singing policy that is just so funny for me. The sign only makes it funnier.
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 6:17 am

There are two additional things I took from this episode

1. Pinkie really does have a "turn the other cheek" attitude. Throughout "Griffon the Brush Off" and parts of this episode, Gilda was very rude to Pinkie, pushing her away, yelling at her, etc. But she never gave up on her. She believed she can change, and she eventually did, even if it took 5 years and 94 episodes for this to happen.

2. Is it just me, or that Griffon leaving Dash to die because she didn't have any money left was the darkest thing to happen in this show? Like, wow. There's lack of empathy, and there's THIS. :starity:
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Postby Strangest Letter (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 6:34 am

Bakertoons wrote:Is it just me, or that Griffon leaving Dash to die because she didn't have any money left was the darkest thing to happen in this show?

It probably would have gotten my vote if cyclops goats decaying skull didn't show up later.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 9:56 am

Headless Horse wrote:I guess the question is, are the jokes really less "horsey" as a result of Lauren's departure, or is it more because the show is in its fifth season now and making the same flavor of self-referential jokes as it did back in S1 would feel kind of awkward?

No show can maintain exactly the same texture as it goes through its lifecycle, even if it tries. And like you say, it's not like they've dispensed with the equine humor; they've just made an effort to do different kinds than they've done before.

I think it's a bit of both. Without Lauren Faust around, the show doesn't take quite the same pains as it did in S1 to constantly remind the viewers that the characters are ponies. Without that level of explanation of the characters, self-referential jokes about horsiness will fall flat since it isn't really that big of a deal for the show anymore.
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 10:27 am

Oh hey, was it my imagination or do the griffons use the word "everygriffon"? :smirk:
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 10:31 am

Headless Horse wrote:Oh hey, was it my imagination or do the griffons use the word "everygriffon"? :smirk:

No, you didn't imagine things.

Surprised it took this long for someone to notice :smirk:
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Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 11:35 am

Headless Horse wrote:Oh hey, was it my imagination or do the griffons use the word "everygriffon"? :smirk:


Ha, missed that. That's a awesome bit of worldbuilding there.
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Postby Niels Olof (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 7:23 pm

As for horsiness, they did wait until last season (Filli Vanilli) to make a “this pony that is hoarse” joke... That shows commendable restraint on the part of the writers. Still waiting to see the ponies graze some day... :allears:

This is now the episode I have watched the most times this season. Good to see Gilda again (redeemed, no less), and good to see some epic (if somewhat unexpectedly run-down) world building.

It seems obvious that the Map will send out specific teams for specific problems and this hopefully will address the issue of some full ensemble episodes, where some characters seemed bolted on rather than strictly necessary for the plot to be resolved. This particular episode’s problem required a baker and a damsel-in-distress, and that was just what the Map sent.
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 8:25 pm

I was quite gladdened to see that Griffonstone was run-down, actually. "Worldbuilding" kind of has an implicit feeling for me of "awesome epic kingdom with really cool backstory and sweet visuals of cool new locations"; and having that be turned on its head by doing all the cool backstory stuff but showing us instead a nation of impoverished, stingy, dismal people was quite a shocker.

Know what it reminded me of? Stumbling onto places like the Southern Air Temple or Ba Sing Se in ATLA.
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Postby Niels Olof (?) » Tue May 26, 2015 9:34 pm

This episode played well with expectations. RD expected a Quest, was called on it by Gilda (I will try, but it will not be easy to work “typical pony hero complex” into daily conversations), still went on it, and ended up providing the Hero (Gilda) with the impetus to save her and, in the process, herself.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Wed May 27, 2015 12:54 pm

So I just realised two things. Firstly, the entire continent that Griffonstone sits on is absent from the Cutie Map in the season premiere. Secondly, Rainbow and Pinkie's train ride to Griffonstone must've been an exciting one, given that there's an ocean between there and most of Equestria.

:fluttershock:
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Postby Thaddeus (?) » Wed May 27, 2015 1:40 pm

It's like the train in Spirited Away. :allears:
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Postby acksed (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 1:10 am

Mic Roe Pony wrote:It's like the train in Spirited Away. :allears:

:wingsright: "Who's got two wings and enchanted the train with levitation magic? This gal!"
:rainbert: "Rarity, you look ridiculous."
:vogue: "I'm going to ignore that comment out of a desire to help you."
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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 4:14 am

Agh. Finally saw this. You can tell an A tier episode by the number of pages when the week end is up.

By Connery's Beard, a Last Crusade Reference! :awesomedash:


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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 4:50 am



phew. Glad I'm not the only one who saw it right off. :lol:
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PonyHag714 wrote:.:awesomedash: :party: We're going on a great adventure!

:excite: What do I get to do?

:here: Paperwork.

:-/ Seriously?

:dearcelestia: Princess Celestia says it can't wait.


:excite: :"Welllll if you think you're up to it, you can design the cover of the guidebook I'm putting together for Dash and Pinkie's quest!"
:dearcelestia: :"I'll give it a shot!"

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:awkward: :"You're a real Ponycasso, Spike. The griffin's torso looks like it's coming out of the side of her hips, and it looks like she's got two arms on one side of her body."
:here: :"Twilight wanted my artwork. She got it."
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Postby Chaos Sonic (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 5:07 am

ROBOT B9 wrote:King Grover. All I can think of is the muppet.

My first thought was actually Grover Cleveland. :v:

I rather liked this episode, despite forgetting that there was even an ep this week. :v:
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 8:07 am

Scuderia Ferrarity wrote:Agh. Finally saw this. You can tell an A tier episode by the number of pages when the week end is up.

That doesn't completely hold up for Bloom and Gloom, seeing as how the site was down over almost that entire weekend.
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 10:27 am

Chaos Sonic wrote:My first thought was actually Grover Cleveland. :v:


Grover Cleveland Alexander :jingo:



I always thought it was kinda funny how the Muppets managed to coopt a few names that were once reasonably common and now that's the only association anybody has for them. Unless you're a fan of obscure modem protocols.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 10:39 am

PaulloDEC wrote:So I just realised two things. Firstly, the entire continent that Griffonstone sits on is absent from the Cutie Map in the season premiere. Secondly, Rainbow and Pinkie's train ride to Griffonstone must've been an exciting one, given that there's an ocean between there and most of Equestria.

:fluttershock:

Hmmmm...

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You're right; it's missing! It's also supposed to be in the background of this shot of Our Town:
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Although while we're at it, that frosty ancient tower-looking thing doesn't really bear any resemblance to the actual place they visited. I guess it might be those specific mountains, with the desert conveniently on the far side out of view.

I thought it would've been here:
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Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 12:46 pm

Maybe more parts of the map will be released as the episodes go on. Sort of like the hub world in a Kirby game. :v:
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 1:06 pm

:twasnothin: The Cutie Map...it's the iOS of Equestria.
:speakest: The fun has been doubled!
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu May 28, 2015 6:12 pm

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Postby Frith (?) » Fri May 29, 2015 3:17 am

I really liked this episode. I think this was great redemption episode for Gilda.

Pinkie's and RD's characterizations were spot on. Especially Pinkie was really great in this episode. Pinkie and RD seem to have really good chemistry together and I hope they will have more episodes together in the future.

It was nice to see Gilda again in a speaking role after almost five year hiatus and I really liked the direction they went with her in this episode. I think this episode gave quite good explanation why she behaved so badly in Griffon the Brush Off. The environment where she lives is quite awful. The (very cute) flashback scene showed why RD and Gilda became such good friends and that's why I was really happy that she reconciled with RD at the end.

I really hope this wasn't the last episode where she will appear.
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Postby Corpy (?) » Sat May 30, 2015 6:09 am


I appreciate this
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Postby ROBOT B9 (?) » Sat May 30, 2015 6:17 am

Frith wrote:I really liked this episode. I think this was great redemption episode for Gilda.

Pinkie's and RD's characterizations were spot on. Especially Pinkie was really great in this episode. Pinkie and RD seem to have really good chemistry together and I hope they will have more episodes together in the future.

It was nice to see Gilda again in a speaking role after almost five year hiatus and I really liked the direction they went with her in this episode. I think this episode gave quite good explanation why she behaved so badly in Griffon the Brush Off. The environment where she lives is quite awful. The (very cute) flashback scene showed why RD and Gilda became such good friends and that's why I was really happy that she reconciled with RD at the end.

I really hope this wasn't the last episode where she will appear.


I think that if this is all tying into a big finale, we might see her reappear then.
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