Keep in mind, he used to watch a show about a young woman who lead a double life as the world's biggest rock star with the help of a supercomputer that could cast illusions. It was the original Hannah Montana, except with an evil rock group who attempted to murder the lead character several times.
After the jump, he'll break down another episode and discuss what makes it good, what makes it bad, and what makes it just outright crazy. This week's theme? The backstabby world of professional modeling.
...yeah, hopefully we get another action episode soon.
I've never seen a single episode of any of the "top model" or "next hottest design star" shows or anything even remotely similar to that. I think I watched a Food Network show where they had to feed models once, but beyond that, I know absolutely nothing about what it takes to draw clothes on paper, make them out of cloth, and somehow make them unique from everybody else's designs.
You'd think there would only be so many ways you can wrap fabric around someone before the world runs out of ideas.
Anyway, our episode begins with Fluttershy and Rarity meeting up at a spa for what's apparently a weekly get-together, one that's been going on long enough that Rarity simply calls for "the usual" and a ridiculous amount of stuff happens. I've discussed before my interest in how the characters interact, whether they'd be friends outside of saving the world or whether they never really did anything together until Twilight Sparkle arrived. It's rather interesting seeing that Rarity and Fluttershy get along so well, though it might come from the earlier episode where we learned that Fluttershy's knowledge of fashion and showing rival's Rarity's.
We get to see two ponies in a sauna complete with another pony pouring water on hot rocks, and I'll admit I have no idea how those two got into their robes, or why they even need them considering they're almost always not wearing anything that covers what the robe covers. I always feel a little uncomfortable when I see things that aren't humanoid wearing clothes, because it suddenly makes me wonder if the animals are "ashamed" of their private parts like I was taught Adam and Eve were after eating the apple.
Then again, I'm probably over-thinking this.
So Rarity was stopped in the street by a character named "Photo Finish" an- okay, I have to comment on this. One thing that bugs me about this show is that they make such a big deal out of cutie marks and how they seem to indicate what someone is really good at, but then you have names like "Rainbow Dash" or "Photo Finish" or "Carrot Cake" and "Mrs. Cup Cake" (so what was her maiden name if her first name was "cup?"). These seem to indicate pretty well what a character will likely spend the rest of their lives doing, like if some parent named their kid "Barber Haircut" or "Auto Mechanic."
Of course, I think it's a given that if you name your kid "Sapphire" or "Kristyl" or "Destinee" odds are she'll be a stripper.
Where was I?
Oh, right. Spa.
So Photo Finish is so impressed by a hat that Rarity made that she wants to stop by and take pictures of other things Rarity has done, as well as a few photos of the shop. However, she needs a model for her fashions, and her number one pick is Fluttershy. Fluttershy, in a move that I actually connected with on a few levels, does her best to push it off that there must be someone else who would be better, someone else would be more graceful, someone else could really use that opportunity more than her, but Rarity talks her into it.
After the title sequence, we see Rarity trying to make sure that Fluttershy's first outfit is eye-catching enough to work or Photo Finish. Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Spike are all helping, and it becomes pretty apparent pretty quickly that Fluttershy isn't really enjoying herself.
Oh, by the way, a huge spoiler happens here. I know, I won't ruin it, but it turns out that Pinkie Pie is serious when it comes to making and keeping promises. Per her, "losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever."
Oh, and out of nowhere, Spike winds up wearing a t-shirt of Rarity with a giant heart on it. Again, clothing on characters that typically don't wear clothes just weirds me out.
We're then immediately interrupted by Photo Finish again who announces she's found the next big fashion star, and there will be a big photo shoot in the park the following day.
Don't get ahead of me here, I know, it's pretty easy to tell where this is going.
So Rarity and Fluttershy show up at the park the next day an- ...really? Pants and a jacket? But- I don't- ....man, this is just really, really weird.
So Photo Finish shows up, Rarity expresses how happy she is that her fashions will be so huge, and here's where we all saw this was coming: Photo Finish doesn't want Rarity and her fashions. Photo Finish wants Fluttershy. Fluttershy is more than happy to turn it down, but Rarity refuses to let her give up such a huge opportunity.
Back at her shop, Twilight and Pinkie Pie express sympathy for Rarity, who seems to be handling it in her usual melodramatic self (complete with hooded black cloak to sulk in), and just wants to be left alone.
Fluttershy, meanwhile, starts doing fashion shows, and quickly winds up on magazine covers, show premieres, doing advertisements, and being chased by fans and paparazzi down the street (and even in the air. Flying ponies, right?) Rarity, of course, focuses on the popularity and glamour, while Fluttershy seems completely overwhelmed by the whole experience.
Rarity confides in Twilight how jealous she is, making Twilight promise to not tell Fluttershy. Fluttershy then shows up, and winds up confiding with Twilight just how much she hates the whole thing and wishes her life would go back to normal, except she's afraid it would hurt Rarity's feelings since Rarity continues to act so proud of her. When Twilight feels tempted to spill the beans, she winds up getting one of the most surreal Pinkie Pie moments ever as she's reminded of what happens when you break a promise.
Twilight thinks she's found a loophole, however. If Fluttershy blows her next big show, she'll be "kicked out" of the fashion world. She could never do it on her own, so Twilight figures a little "magical interference" might help out. Sure enough, at Fluttershy's next show, Twilight's magic makes Fluttershy trip, fall, stretch strangely, roll around, and even bark like a dog.
You have not seen insanity until you've seen a pony magically forced to pick its own nose. It's pure madness.
Rarity comes back to talk to Fluttershy backstage after Fluttershy is essentially booed off the stage, and the two of them confess their feelings (about Fluttershy modeling, you sickos) to each other. Fluttershy tells Photo Finish she quits, the two get to resume their weekly trips. A happy ending for everyone!
The Good:
It's always great to see Fluttershy. I honestly think she has the most personality of all of the main characters hidden away behind that meek and timid demeanor. We've seen her stressed, happy, protective, distraught, affectionate, fierce, ecstatic...a whole range more than we've seen from some other characters. She still ranks as my favorite character on this show (...y'know, if I was going to have a favorite character on a kids show...which would be ridiculous, right? Right?) and these glimpses into her world are appreciated.
Rarity also comes off a lot less of what she was in the last episode, since she's willing to acknowledge how wrong it is to be jealous of her friend, when most shows would just have her get consumed with jealousy and do something terrible before realizing what she became.
Also, it's nice to hear a pony with an accent that isn't Applejack's country twang.
The Bad:
I won't lie. It has a character I like seeing starring in it, but this episode will probably rank down towards the bottom of my list. I have no interest in the world of fashion and modeling, and where an earlier episode actually made the process of making clothes somewhat interesting, seeing what happens once you're standing on a runway bores me to tears.
Also, Pinkie Pie, if you've got two friends who have a secret from each other, but those secrets are driving the friends apart, I'm pretty sure you're allowed to help them express them without worrying about being a terrible person. Get off Twilight's case, already!
Overall:
As I said above, this episode probably ranks near the bottom of my list of "what order did Erik enjoy these episodes." Really, I get that they can't all be fighting monsters and saving the world, since it is a show about girl ponies, but it was simply "meh" to me.
It is an important lesson, though, and one that I think carries through to adulthood since I wind up hearing a lot of gossip wherever I am. I've always felt that if a person ever has a problem with something I do, I'd much prefer them simply tell me about it. I won't think they're being mean if they tell me something is annoying, or something I do drives them crazy. I'd simply work to accomodate that and try to find some kind of balance.
So, yeah, it seems we've hit a low point, episode-wise. What do we have next?
...oh god, I referenced this one back towards the start of this whole thing. We have the characters trying to bring peace between cowboys and a buffalo tribe over tribal lands.
...this is either going to be truly epic or the biggest animation disaster of all time.
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