S07E17: To Change a Changeling

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S07E17: To Change a Changeling

Postby Wayoshi (?) » Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:49 pm

Starlight Glimmer and Trixie try to get Thorax's brother Pharynx to accept the new way by sharing love and transforming so he doesn't undermine Thorax's leadership, and that the hive will ultimately accept him.


This thread is for discussion of the episode. This episode airs at 11:15 Eastern / 8:15 Pacific on Saturday, September 2!

Official preview clips and images are okay to post, as is speculation about the episode.
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Postby DerFurShur (?) » Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:24 pm

Conformity is magic
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:39 pm

Another story with Starlight away from the others. Can't say I'm looking forward to this one.

And Spike should be going.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:53 pm

The Doctor wrote:And Spike should be going.

Eh, after this got set up in Triple Threat, I'd rather Spike not be present here. This is Thorax's problem to solve, so if Spike were here to be a hero then he'd make Thorax look weak and ineffectual.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:13 pm

Starlight hasn't been in the spotlight in recent episodes, playing more of a background role, so I don't mind her taking a bigger role here. Image

I also look forward to more Trixie, plus Thorax and the Changelings in general. Image
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Thu Aug 31, 2017 3:16 am

Starlight is being used more as she is an open ended character with no real set personality quirks aside from guilt over her past mistakes. All the other main characters had their story arcs completed and we explored almost everything we could with resolving their flaws. Now we have to expand outward to come up with new and better friendship related problems to solve.

If we ever did move away from exploring friendship problems, we could get some really interesting adventure episodes. But I don't know if we will ever take that route to be honest. But it would be cool if we went back to G1 roots.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Thu Aug 31, 2017 4:23 pm

This episode is going to be adorable and I want to pick up and hug every single changeling.

DerFurShur wrote:Conformity is magic

Unironically agree.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:33 pm

I'd like Pharnyx to keep his present appearance, even after he sells out sees the light. I like the theory that he started to change with the others, but then rejected Thorax and remained stuck partway.

Image You make him sound like a clog in the sink.

:evil: I'll get the Drano.
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Postby Applepie (?) » Thu Aug 31, 2017 10:08 pm

I hope for a map call.
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Fri Sep 01, 2017 12:38 am

How many unicorns does it take to change a changeling? :amazing:
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I turned myself into a music box, Starlight!

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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Fri Sep 01, 2017 5:05 am

ImageSo if day can turn to night, and the darkness turn to light, then why can't we imagine a changeling can change?

:wingsright: Celestia and Luna can raise the sun and moon on their own, but historical records indicate a team of unicorns were needed prior to their assumption of that duty.

:yikes: That's not exactly what I--

:ponynet: Now, historical records indicate that the team assigned by Princess Platinum consisted of six unicorns, including Starswirl the Bearded. Since most unicorns would not have his magical talents, we can assume two or three other unicorns would need to take his place. Also, since unicorns in modern times are not trained for such a task, a safety margin of at least 50% would be prudent. Let's double the number of unicorns, just to be sure. So, Spike, a team of sixteen unicorns should be sufficient to change a changeling.

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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 2:14 am

Mechanical Ape wrote:How many unicorns does it take to change a changeling? :amazing:

I donno, how many unicorns does it take to change a changeling?
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 2:58 am

Well, it takes two unicorns to change a whole pack of changelings. Two unicorns, along with one changeling, and the god of chaos.
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:46 am

Fizzbuzz wrote:Well, it takes two unicorns to change a whole pack of changelings. Two unicorns, along with one changeling, and the god of chaos.

I don't get the joke.
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Postby RudeCyrus (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 5:06 am

Soft Snow wrote:I don't get the joke.
:-I

Ending of last season.
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 12:15 pm

RudeCyrus wrote:Ending of last season.

If you have to explain the joke then its not funny.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 3:41 pm

:v: With special guest star, Strong Bad, as Pharynx.
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Postby Adelor Lyon (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 3:42 pm

All these changelings sound so goofy; I bet the recording sessions were hysterical.

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That was a fun episode.
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Postby drunkill (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:02 pm

My Little Pony: Violence is Magic.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:06 pm

That was better than I expected. Story was kind of bland, but Trixie's non-stop burns made up for it.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:08 pm

I liked it. The plot was kind of lightweight but it's another one of those episodes where the characters in it made it enjoyable.

I had no problem with Pharnyx's new color scheme. It's a nice break from the bright green. orange. etc.

The Changelings learned fast from Trixie (panic mode.) Image

I always like the flashbacks.

Great pep talk by Starlight. Image
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Postby Aramek (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:09 pm

That was so fucking adorable. All their voices were hilariously wiener-y.

Pharynx and Trixie ruled.

So many good Trixie faces going to come from this one.

"HE JUST KEEPS MAKING SPEARS!"

Also, good to finally see a pro-bullying episode. Aramek approved.
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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 Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:10 pm

That was an incredibly sweet episode. Leadership is not easy by any means; even when it's just something like me resolving issues here on TRS, I know how hard it is to do that when you know there's good in someone but that person isn't showing it. I admit, I've even had to give up on at least one person before, but I've also seen people choose to start doing good and made themselves and their community better for it. I'm glad FiM is doing lessons like this, that you should do all you can to help your friends and loved ones to be their best in life.

Starlight's and Trixie's banter is always a delight, too.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:13 pm

Could have used more Trixie/Starlight smooching.
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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 PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:25 pm

Starlight certainly used her knack for firey, angry speeches to her advantage. Image
Last edited by PonyHag714 on Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby DerFurShur (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:26 pm

Episode was pretty meh, to be expected when it's nothing but characters I don't care about.

At least they finally made a Changedling design that looks ok.
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Postby VGAddict (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:35 pm

Has Thorax had more development than Spike?
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:39 pm

VGAddict wrote:Has Thorax had more development than Spike?

No. I mean, Thorax has only existed as a character since the middle of last season, whereas Spike is one of the show's main characters.
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Postby VGAddict (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:51 pm

Fizzbuzz wrote:No. I mean, Thorax has only existed as a character since the middle of last season, whereas Spike is one of the show's main characters.


But he hasn't had any development.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:59 pm

I think Spike has. He used to be kind of klutzy and almost like comic relief, and this season we've seen him as a responsible, efficient assistant, even keeping Twilight on track when she gets distracted "A Flurry Of Emotions". :here:
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Postby VGAddict (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 5:04 pm

PonyHag714 wrote:I think Spike has. He used to be kind of klutzy and almost like comic relief, and this season we've seen him as a responsible, efficient assistant, even keeping Twilight on track when she gets distracted "A Flurry Of Emotions". :here:


But he's always been a responsible, efficient assistant.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 5:20 pm

I suppose. Maybe it just stood out for me in AFOE, but that's just me. :pinkieshrug:
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Postby RudeCyrus (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 5:43 pm

Yay, a Starlight/Trixie episode. The character interactions made this good.
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Postby Chronos30 (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:18 pm

Can't believe we got an episode where the only character from season 1 was Trixie.
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Postby adiwan (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:29 pm

I cannot pinpoint why I feel that way but my guts say that it's a "meh" episode without thinking too much into.
It borders between "don't care" and "it had decent moments that are counter-measured by less stellar moments".

Pharynx was a bit too contrived character to make the plot work. He was more a bully than he needed to be, or at least a different type I guess.
It rubbed me the wrong way with the "stop hitting yourself" in the flashback and then in the fight against the maulwurf.
I didn't know that in the pony universe AC has an effect on magic like in Dungeons & Dragons. Otherwise it wouldn't make much sense that Starlight had no chance against that creature.
On the other hand the portrayal of the wussy changeling hive and its hugbox mentality was good in a comical sense.

At the end of the day I'll probably ignore this episode whenever I will rewatch the season.

By the way: The creature is really called "maulwurf" here? If so then there is a piece of trivia for you: Maulwurf is German for mole. "Maul" is German for mouth (referred to an animal mouth or used in a derogatory sense) and "wurf" is German for toss. A mouth-tosser. Whenever a mole digs out of its mole hill it tosses the earth with its mouth.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:35 pm

Chronos30 wrote:Can't believe we got an episode where the only character from season 1 was Trixie.

I still can't believe Trixie has become such a major part of the show. I mean, the crew must've known she was interesting because I expect Magic Duel started getting planned for before the fandom really took off with her, but even then I didn't expect to see her this much after that. Not that I mind, as I do think she works quite well now.
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Postby Applepie (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:22 pm

I also think the episode was meh
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Postby Captain Rufus (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:06 pm

Was full of Trixie being awful. Thus it was a good bit of cartoon.
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Postby Captain Rufus (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 9:13 pm

Aramek wrote:Could have used more Trixie/Starlight smooching.


DWK legit recaps are not canon. While amusing they are very Chan like and are thus not to be considered canon because they are unpony. :twiright:
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sat Sep 02, 2017 10:35 pm

This is the same writer who had a poor debut episode in Honest Apple, and seemed to barely know the characters then. Harder to tell with a secondary character plot here, but I thought this wasn't much better.

I might be entirely mixing this up with fan canon, but I thought fact one about the Changelings: they're ALL siblings of each other, under Chrysalis as the mom. How can you mess that up? :-/

I was looking forward to the Starlight/Trixie dynamic in this episode, but it was pretty stale today. Trixie had a few good lines but Starlight pretty much had none, then even gave up on Pharynx briefly. Preface it with the acknowledgment it goes against new!Starlight all you want, but that felt like poor characterization to me. And the plot resolution was literally the classic, super humorous, "WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOURSELF" gag.

I am done with Lappin already, two episodes in. If he writes the one remaining ep I'm looking forward to this season (Zeppelin) that would make me sad.
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