Hmm. Don't Overdo It!

[the_gneech]

You need a light touch with the whole "train to Crazytown" angle. Don't lose the character just to make the gag! You'll do more damage than good in the long run.

-The Gneech

Comments

[athelind.livejournal.com]

I thought they walked that line pretty closely this time. The Train to Crazytown's route all seemed a logical outgrowth of the character's quirks -- and they did a nice job of reminding the viewer of those quirks in the opening -- but since we've seen pretty much every mane character RIDE that train, there was something of a sense of formula about it.

Still, I thought they did a fun job of deconstructing their own tropes while reinforcing them.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Well, they overdid Twilight's quirks, too. Instead of being a meticulous and organized socially-awkward geek, she was an OCD psychopath.

See also http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Flanderization ...

-The Gneech

[rowyn]

Naw, it's a classic case of Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome. Whenever a pony fails at their primary talent, they go batshit insane. }:)

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

Patient Zero - Twilight Goes Bats. *ahem*

More and more I think the comment I saw about S1E1 stating that "All the ponies in this town are crazy!" being predictive is far closer to the truth than we may be led to believe.

I mean each character has a fatal flaw, the town has already been shown to be bigoted at the very least, and each new challenge seems to highlight something not quite right with Ponyville and possibly Equestria.

Granted this is a kids cartoon but it's also being produced with older kids and even adults in mind so maybe an over-arc in the background that only adults would notice just for the heck of it.

{Discord}So...that said...I'm going to sit back and enjoy the chaos...{/Discord} ;-)

[athelind.livejournal.com]

You know, there's a long stretch between "Not Utopia" and "Dark Lovecraftian Dystopia".

Ponies have unexamined prejudices that turn out to be really stupid when you examine them? That episode ends with everyone realizing that, yeah, when all the facts are in front of you, they WERE being really stupid, and are suitably embarrassed and apologetic about it all.

That sounds substantially LESS dark than our world. Maybe Equestria doesn't have Fox News.

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

A very good point. :-)

And for the record I shudder what Equestria would be like with Fox News involved.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Generation 3?

[carlhh.livejournal.com]

Well, in the writer's defense, the whole story has to be crammed into 22 minutes +/- a few seconds. Another infamous flip-out would've been a little more realistic if it got a little more screen time.

[jamesbarrett.livejournal.com]

I saw only one real flaw with this episode....not enough Pinkie Pie! :p Otherwise, I thought it made sense, even if Twilight did flip out again. But she flipped out over something Twilight-y, and the others had the right reaction. Oh, whew, we thought it was something serious. hehe. This was actually an important lesson in friendship.


oh, and btw, it didn't have enough Pinkie Pie ;)

[athelind.livejournal.com]

So, was there enough Pinkie Pie?

[jamesbarrett.livejournal.com]

apparently not! -Frisk

[applejinx.livejournal.com]

I think they were jes' setting the new 'crazytown borders' :)
If ALL the episodes end up like that, I'd complain right along with you, but I'd bet cash money that they won't- it's just this season's Party Of One, right up front this time.
You know they've set up more serious episodes in the future? Twilight's reaction to losing her 'specialness' of bein' the only one reporting to Celestia will not be a zany reaction. Lesson Zero worked on so many levels and foreshadowed so many things...

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I just keep thinking of this:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Flanderization

I don't want mah ponies to go that way!

-The Gneech

[kensterfox.livejournal.com]

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES TWI A DULL PONY.
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES TWI A DULL PONY.
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES TWI A DULL PONY.
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES TWI A DULL PONY.
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES TWI A DULL PONY.
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES TWI A DULL PONY.