My Little Pony LVI:S Has Left the Playground!

[TheAmishPirate]

S3 Opener:

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I decided to do something different this time, and purposefully put down my super-critic hat while I was watching it, and just soak in the episode. And you know what?

I absolutely loved it.

It didn't feel nearly as rushed as the other two-parters, the songs were that musical-style that I adore, and seeing all the new environments and locales was amazing. Sure, Sombra needed clearer goals, and the whole test set-up needed work, and there were certainly some angles that I wished they'd explored (wouldn't it have been awesome to have a bit more about the penalties of Twilight using "Sombra's dark soul-crushing magic of doom" instead of, y'know, Friendship magic ), and the writing ain't so hot in some places in retrospect, but while I was watching it? I got caught up in the adventure, and the ride was fantastic. Sometimes, there's something to be said for treating a story like an emotional experience, and putting aside pure logic for the moment.

...welp! That's long enough without the over-thinking hat!

Back to nitpicking!

A few things:
1) Did anypony notice Cadence's cutie mark change at the end?

2) LUNA.

THAT BOOK.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT BOOK.

GAH.

3) Sombra as a primal force of darkness was awesome. I loved how he had to shadow-propogate himself from crystal to crystal in order to move anywhere. I can't wait to see what the fandom does with this guy.

4) The banter between the mane six was great. I wanted to smack RD when she got carried away with the jousting, but then proceeded to d'awww my heart out when Fluttershy gave her the sad puppy-dog eyes.

5) Sombra sounds like an old-school D&D Wizard.

"I cast Sombra's Leeching Resolve!"

Just...augh, so much good stuff in these. I'ma be riding a pony high for days now.

[Dirtytabs]

7 pages from when I last visited yesterday.
Glorious, glorious.

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Still not sure what Sombra is or why he's around. An impending evil in the form of a laughing head? But ah well.
Shining Armor's hair did not change with crystalization. :(

[Pokonic]

Okay, episode:

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It could be split into two parts: wacky fun with the mane six and the whole "saving of the empire".

The former is better than the latter. Applejack had great lines, as well as Rarity. Pinkie was...Pinkie. Fluttershy was adorable. Dash was good as well, and the jousting scene was one of the better parts of the episode.


The actual plot was iffy, however.Somber was potent, but could have been replaced with, say, a magical storm spirit without much change. There's also some question to what he was, exactly: he was a unicorn, and he was certantly evil before the whole "thrown into the frozen north" deal, but he was a cloud. Of evil. Who controled gems. In some vauge manner.

Still, one must love anything which seems to be a throwback to Aku.


And on why the Heart was on the top of the tower: it was a empire full of earth ponies. Going on the roof of the highest building in the general area would be cray-cray.


Also, did not like the songs.


Still, cuddly sheep. Look at it.



Crack Idea: Somber is a former student of the Necromancer known as Grogar, better known to equestrians as the Goat. The sheep are secret servants of Somber, and as such none are seen to be scared when he returns.

After all, they are used to cities magicaly teliporting in and out of reality.

The horrifying horse-faced Pinkie has already been gif'd

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Ahhhh! It returns!

So on the actually more interesting and less faux-terror inducing bite of Season 3 add preview I think is pretty clear:

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These are Arabian horses clearly.

A poll in the ponyverse has already mentions Saddle Arabia too.

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Of course, the realy question is: will there be camels?

Also, to avoid the connotations with the star&moon clearly visible on the males clothing, associated with Luna in some fashion?

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- Product of Extensive Unicorn- Earth Pony interracial romance, ala Bretons from Elderscrolls.

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Do I have to say it?

Interracial romance means nothing in the ponyverse. Nothing. A unicorn and a earth pony has as much chance of having three foals, each of a different subspecies, as they do having either all unicorns or all earth ponies. "Race" does not apply when one is talking about ponies. You don't get half-unicorns, only unicorns or earth ponies.

Well, yes. Also, research papers are immensely fun.

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I thought the Crystal Empire was the source of good spirits in Equestria, and that it had to be protected so that the rest of Equestria could be of good cheer. Also, "a thousand years" could just be a way of saying "a good long while", but I think it's an odd coincidence that Sombra's original defeat (heavily implied to be by Celestia and Luna) coincided, relatively speaking, with the creation of Nightmare Moon.

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History:

Somber gets thrown into the icy north, but not before casting his "worst fear" spell on Luna, which is of ponies totaly abandoning her night.

I think one could take it from there.

To be honest I prefer the Royal wedding as a 2 parter, the songs are simply so awesome; but I agree the premier isn't bad.

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Btw, am I the only one who kinda prefers the crystal ponies look when they are more depressed? I don't like the implications; but their happy, cut-gem looks doesn't appeal that much to me. >_> <_< I am little weird like that.

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Yeah. Something about sad, down-on-there-luck ponies is interesting, considering how we are used to Ponyville. Do they have any names yet? I mean, the ones actualy voiced. I honestly liked the first one's voice, in particular.

[TheAmishPirate]

One more thing! [/uncle]

(S3 Opener)

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There's an animation bug when Twilight, Shining, and Cadence are coming onto the balcony. Shining Armor's horn is magically healed for one shot, then suffers a sudden relapse.

EDIT:

(More S3 Opener):

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Cadence! I choose you!

EDIT AGAIN (IT KEEPS HAPPENING):

Some S3 opener head-canon:

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My Head Canon

The reason Celestia doesn’t want Luna to go help Twilight is because King Sombra is the one who corrupted Luna into becoming evil and being needed to be banished in the first place!

That is why Luna looks so angry at Twilight, because Twilight is taking away the ability for Luna to get revenge on the King. King Sombra was in rule 1000 years ago, and Luna was banished for 1000 years, so the events took place around the same time.

source

My response to linked comments about Sombra: I'm of the impression that Sombra was just as much of a threat as the other villains, he was simply defeated by the MacGuffin before he could actually start wreaking havoc.

[Toastkart]

It was, overall, a good episode.

episode spoilers:

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The first song felt kind of out of place. It was also kind of lame. Yeah, it kind of needed to be there to get the full effect from the ending song, which was good, but unlike most of the show's songs, it wasn't catchy or overly enjoyable.

King Sombra had a really good visual design. It's too bad he was a very lackluster villain. He spent most of the episode(s) as a maniacally laughing head. I didn't really feel any kind of menace or threat from him.

I really enjoyed that this episode required the mane six to work together, something I felt a lot of s2 episodes were lacking. The banter, antics, gags, and schemes were top notch.

As cool as Shining Armor's javelin throw was, I'm really hoping that the Shining Armor/Princess Cadence power of love duo doesn't become a staple of the show.

The climax was a little weak. But then, given the format of the show, it's intended audience, etc. I'm not all that surprised or disappointed. I think there could have been room for Twilight to take a more active role in the climax, even after giving Spike the Heart.

[Draconi Redfir]

Just watched the episode(s) on youtube. Pretty good. Though i have one question...


WTF is Gak?

[MCerberus]

Just watched the episode(s) on youtube. Pretty good. Though i have one question...


WTF is Gak?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickelodeon_Toys#Gak


Episode re: villain

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Somber might actually be secretly the most competent of the bunch. Slowly and methodically crush his way to victory. Don't reveal your plans or anything, and make no long-winded speeches.

edit- and 'pizza' scented gak is, if I remember my childhood correctly, the most foul-smelling substance known to man

[Eakin]

Okay, episode:

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Still, one must love anything which seems to be a throwback to Aku.


Still, cuddly sheep. Look at it.

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I'm glad I wasn't the only one who associated the guy with everypony's favorite red and black shapeshifting master of darkness, who was evil for the sake of being evil

As for the many different colors of sheep, I assumed that they were all different hues but I might be seeing a pun where there isn't one

[CrnivorousMeece]

You miiiight want to get rid of that post before a mod gets to it. I understand that linking to youtube eps direct isn't allowed on the boards.

Thanks for the heads up I had no idea *phew* that could have been disastrous.

[MCerberus]

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I'm glad I wasn't the only one who associated the guy with everypony's favorite red and black shapeshifting master of darkness, who was evil for the sake of being evil

As for the many different colors of sheep, I assumed that they were all different hues but I might be seeing a pun where there isn't one

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I'd just like to point out that he wasn't evil for the sake of evil,
he was evil.
Cosmically.
He was the surviving chunk of the being created with the universe as a black hole of malice

[BlasTech]

Just watched the episode(s) on youtube. Pretty good. Though i have one question...


WTF is Gak?

Appears to be a joke related to the advertising going on during the premiere, similar to how Magneto managed to photobomb the Grand Galloping Gala.

Not-s3 related epic art. (Kinda scary)

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[thubby]

s3

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small thing really, but apparently touching horns is something akin to a hug if we go by luna/cele scene toward the end

[t209]

Season 3

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Cadance Missile, away.
Shining Armor: Cadance Missile Launcher Mk.1
Cadance: Better throwable person than Gimli and Hinjo.

What's next, Drop Pods?

[Draconi Redfir]

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So does anybody else ship the crystal king with the changeling queen yet?

[Eakin]

Just watched the episode(s) on youtube. Pretty good. Though i have one question...


WTF is Gak?

The new "took an arrow to the knee," apparently

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I'd just like to point out that he wasn't evil for the sake of evil,
he was evil.
Cosmically.
He was the surviving chunk of the being created with the universe as a black hole of malice

Well, I meant more in terms of story impact (why is he evil? Because he's evil!) but I guess I need to go brush up on Samurai Jack if I forgot that.

[t209]

The new "took an arrow to the knee," apparently

I've wanted to say this,
"I used to be a brony like you, then I took a gak to the knee."

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"I used to be an evil king, then cadance took the crystal heart.

[Balmas]

Appears to be a joke related to the advertising going on during the premiere, similar to how Magneto managed to photobomb the Grand Galloping Gala.

Not-s3 related epic art. (Kinda scary)

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Nightmare Chrysalis. I like.

Also, spot the Ditzy!


Most amusing picture tag I've found so far today was

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"Wife Caber," with four different entries.

[Tiki Snakes]

Man, once I've seen the premiere I'm going to have some serious reading to do, catching up here. Heh.

Now that takes me back.

[HalfTangible]

I usually watch these on iTunes.

I can't find them on iTunes.

I'm a sad raccoon =(

[Deadly]

My final thoughts on the two-parter after rewatching and pondering a bit

That is all

[zimmerwald1915]

My final thoughts on the two-parter after rewatching and pondering a bit

That is all

Re-watching you say? This is possible now?

[Deadly]

Re-watching you say? This is possible now?

Well, yes, it's been up on youtube for a few hours.

[zimmerwald1915]

Well, yes, it's been up on youtube for a few hours.

Shame on me for not checking youtube. Thanks.

[t209]

Nightmare Chrysalis. I like.

Also, spot the Ditzy!


Most amusing picture tag I've found so far today was

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"Wife Caber," with four different entries.

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Gimli vs Cadance vs Lord Hinjo
Who is the best ammunition to be tossed? They shall be thrown to ye enemy and they shall proceed to beat the snot out of it.
Gimli's edge- Dwarf
Cadance's edge- Range
Lord Hinjo- a wolf and katana

[Anarion]

My final thoughts on the two-parter after rewatching and pondering a bit

That is all

Couple thoughts

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I think that King Sombra really wasn't that strong. Sure, if he had made it to take over the whole Crystal Kingdom, things would have sucked for a while, but I get the sense that the mane 6 could have come back, grabbed the elements of harmony and taken care of the problem.

And that's also why I think this was a test. It was a serious situation, but Celestia made a judgment call that this was something within Twilight's power to handle on her own and therefore gave her the task. This wasn't a mass-panic reality-destroying problem, it was a small area subject to a powerful threat that would have been annoying to remove if not preempted as he was here.


As for Twilight's destiny, my only advice is to not worry. It's in the category of things that we can't know and can't affect right now, and thus far I've been pleased with the quality and storytelling of the show's writers. So we'll just have to trust that they have a good idea in store.

[CrnivorousMeece]

Couple thoughts

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I think that King Sombra really wasn't that strong. Sure, if he had made it to take over the whole Crystal Kingdom, things would have sucked for a while, but I get the sense that the mane 6 could have come back, grabbed the elements of harmony and taken care of the problem.

And that's also why I think this was a test. It was a serious situation, but Celestia made a judgment call that this was something within Twilight's power to handle on her own and therefore gave her the task. This wasn't a mass-panic reality-destroying problem, it was a small area subject to a powerful threat that would have been annoying to remove if not preempted as he was here.


As for Twilight's destiny, my only advice is to not worry. It's in the category of things that we can't know and can't affect right now, and thus far I've been pleased with the quality and storytelling of the show's writers. So we'll just have to trust that they have a good idea in store.

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Actually I'd have to agree with your Sombra theory. After all he didn't seem all that effective. More of a spooky story to tell Crystal foals at night.

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Gimli vs Cadance vs Lord Hinjo
Who is the best ammunition to be tossed? They shall be thrown to ye enemy and they shall proceed to beat the snot out of it.
Gimli's edge- Dwarf
Cadance's edge- Range
Lord Hinjo- a wolf and katana

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NOBODY TOSSES A DWARF!

[Spamotron]

S3 Speculation:

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If Twilight's "destiny" is alicornification I'm not sure it'll make much of a difference for the kinds of stories they can tell in season 4. She's already so versatile and powerful as just the most gifted unicorn in history that adding Pegasus and Earth Pony abilities on top of it isn't that much of an upgrade. As a rule the kind of problems the girls go up against can't be solved with raw power or an obscure spell anyway. To ponies who know who she is she already speaks with Princess Celestia's authority even if Twilight herself doesn't realize that. So again being a princess won't change her interactions with the local ponyvillians or her friends all that much. But it does change how strangers react to her which opens up new story possibilities that didn't exist before.

[Dirtytabs]

Most amusing picture tag I've found so far today was

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"Wife Caber," with four different entries.

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That means Shining Armor gets points for keeping Cadance facing 12 o'clock when she landed. Not that he was competing with anypony.

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Gimli vs Cadance vs Lord Hinjo
Who is the best ammunition to be tossed? They shall be thrown to ye enemy and they shall proceed to beat the snot out of it.
Gimli's edge- Dwarf
Cadance's edge- Range
Lord Hinjo- a wolf and katana

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"NOBODY TOSSES A DWARF."
Edit: Aaaaand took too long to find the sound clip.

[Pendulous]

S3 Speculation:

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If Twilight's "destiny" is alicornification I'm not sure it'll make much of a difference for the kinds of stories they can tell in season 4. She's already so versatile and powerful as just the most gifted unicorn in history that adding Pegasus and Earth Pony abilities on top of it isn't that much of an upgrade. As a rule the kind of problems the girls go up against can't be solved with raw power or an obscure spell anyway. To ponies who know who she is she already speaks with Princess Celestia's authority even if Twilight herself doesn't realize that. So again being a princess won't change her interactions with the local ponyvillians or her friends all that much. But it does change how strangers react to her which opens up new story possibilities that didn't exist before.

Dream of Alicornication.

Dream of Alicornication.

Anyone? No? Never mind.

[Deadly]

Couple thoughts

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I think that King Sombra really wasn't that strong. Sure, if he had made it to take over the whole Crystal Kingdom, things would have sucked for a while, but I get the sense that the mane 6 could have come back, grabbed the elements of harmony and taken care of the problem.

And that's also why I think this was a test. It was a serious situation, but Celestia made a judgment call that this was something within Twilight's power to handle on her own and therefore gave her the task. This wasn't a mass-panic reality-destroying problem, it was a small area subject to a powerful threat that would have been annoying to remove if not preempted as he was here.

S3

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That may be true, but I still think Luna's thing here is that she's more serious and concerned about it than Celestia, and that calling it a test was a little odd. Maybe not very odd, but a little.

Also, I'm not sure that backup plan would actually work. If they failed, wouldn't they probably be kept slaves by Sombra and thus be unable to go back and get the Elements? And we know that apparently Celestia and Luna can't use them anymore, which may be why Luna think it's better if she went: If she fails and is captured, at least there are still the Elements as a last resort.

Slightly related, it kinda seems like Celestia is still the one calling all the shots and Luna doesn't have much say. Any thoughts on this?

Couple thoughts

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As for Twilight's destiny, my only advice is to not worry. It's in the category of things that we can't know and can't affect right now, and thus far I've been pleased with the quality and storytelling of the show's writers. So we'll just have to trust that they have a good idea in store.

S3

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That argument is starting to bother me. Sure, we can't do anything about it, but we can't do anything about earthquakes and hurricanes either, that doesn't mean we shouldn't worry about it.

The writers are not perfect either. They have done things that have not been all that great in the past. Nothing really bad, sure, but the longer the show goes on the greater the chance it'll take a bad turn. I love the show, I don't want to see it ruined, and the fact that I have no power at all to prevent it only makes it worse. It's like watching a car speeding towards a cliff and being unable to do anything. Sure, maybe the driver will notice in time, but you can't know, all you can do is hope like hell.