New and Latest Episode Thread

[ph00tbag]

I really liked this episode a bunch. The animation in particular was top-notch.

Really, though, I just like the dynamic between Rainbow Dash and Twilight. As time has gone on, I feel like they've grown really close as friends, and regard each other as primary confidants. This episode really strengthens that point of view for me. I've always felt that the one on one dynamics of this show are what really make it for me, and the episode gives lots of that, too.

I agree it's most likely, but they might serve some other purpose in the episode other than being the actual keys.

I don't disagree, but I use "key" as a shorthand, since whatever happens, they will be the direct logical precursors to the keys. But rather than waste time typing that out, they're just the keys.

[Gnarrkhaz]

Am i the only one who didn't like this episode at all? In fact i'd go so far as to say it's one of the worst of the whole series.

First of all the premise of learning how to learn is just boring but that's just the set up so no big deal.

The drama between Twilight and Rainbow Dash felt very unnatural. Why would Rainbow Dash blame Twilight for not being able to teach her efficiently? I see they've come a long way as friends...

A lot of what the characters do just makes no sense whatsoever anyway. Why is Rainbow Dash totally relaxed not knowing the history of the Wonderbolts although the test is coming up and then after realizing she doesn't know shit she's totally baffled? That is asinine. Who the hell uses...clothing to teach stuff? I've never heard of that. Did Rainbow Dash seriously expect to pass Twilight's test with the answers she gave? Why does Pinkie rap? I don't get it. Why didn't they just use a "normal song" instead of faking a music video that's not even there. Why do Owlowiscious and Spike join Rainbow Dash in fooling around during class? That seems out of character to me. And most importantly of all: Why the hell is Rainbow Dash such a bitch shooting spitwads at Twilight!?

Also why did this episode need those rewind effects? It seemed unnecessary to me.

There were also some minor annoyances in the way the characters talked but i can't remember it and i'm not watching this again, at least not now.

I think the only thing i liked were some of the facial expressions but most of it was just not good...like...at all!

[Stuntddude]

the premise of learning how to learn is

One of the most relatable and fundamental human endeavors?

just boring

Oh. Okay, then?

Why does Pinkie rap?

Wait, have... are you even familiar with Pinkie? Do you even watch the show? Why would you even ask a question like that?

Why do Owlowiscious and Spike join Rainbow Dash in fooling around during class?

One is a kid and the other is a pet. Honestly, it seems like you're just trying to make up things to find wrong about the episode. All the stuff you mentioned either had really obvious answers/explanations, or are thinks that are 100% subjective and not even anything wrong with the episode. I respect that there are plenty of legitimate criticisms to make about the episode, as with all episodes, but you're just not making any of them.

[CitricAcid]

I can answer a few of your questions for you:

Why would Rainbow Dash blame Twilight for not being able to teach her efficiently? I see they've come a long way as friends...

Because Rainbow Dash believes she can't be wrong. And in the event it appears that she is wrong, it must actually mean someone else is wrong. It's in her personality/worldview.

Why is Rainbow Dash totally relaxed not knowing the history of the Wonderbolts although the test is coming up and then after realizing she doesn't know shit she's totally baffled?

She's relaxed, because she's not used to being stressed. She's used to being awesome at everything and the mindset that comes with it. Realizing that she isn't awesome at this comes as a shock. (I've been guilty of this in the past.)

Who the hell uses...clothing to teach stuff?

Rarity apparently. That seemed a bit forced to me, but it did make for some fun colorful eye candy for the audience. I may be able to draw a parallel, though. I once had a class where I had to memorize a bunch of stuff word-for-word. In order to do that, I used music. I would write little tunes, so I could sing the words I needed to memorize to myself. It helped. And since music falls under the "Art" category, it is conceivable that someone could utilize a different art form--like fashion--to help them learn.

Did Rainbow Dash seriously expect to pass Twilight's test with the answers she gave?

This goes along with your second question, though it is a bit more extreme of an example. RD isn't used to needing the correct answers to be awesome. She's used to using her style and attitude to be awesome, and being correct has never been a contributing factor to this. Again, she's simply unaware of the necessary mindset.

Why does Pinkie rap?

See my answer to your third question. Also because Pinkie.
Also here's some even better examples of using songs to help one memorize things.

Why do Owlowiscious and Spike join Rainbow Dash in fooling around during class?

Spike is immature, so he will have a natural tendency to fool around. I agree that it is out of character for Owlowiscious. He should be much more responsible than that.

Why the hell is Rainbow Dash such a bitch shooting spitwads at Twilight!?

This is harder for me to justify. However I just got done watching a Game Grumps episode where they talked about how they express their love by telling each other to f* off. This is similarly alien to me. Also Patrick did it to Spongebob that one time. I get the feeling that this sort of behavior represents a personality type that I've just simply never encountered.


I wasn't a huge fan of this episode, but now that I've taken this time to analyze it for you, I think I enjoy it a bit more. My own learning style is closest to Applejack's "You mean you don't already know?" -style. Pay attention in class and do the homework and you'll be fine. Try to cram everything into your brain the night before, and I really don't have any advice to give.

[Stuntddude]

Paying attention in class and doing the homework is really difficult for some people, myself included, because it simply isn't remotely interesting to me (and, presumably, the aforementioned other people). Classes and homework ultimately feel like a waste of time, and that's certainly not an unfounded feeling, given how much time they take and how little I ever actually learn from them, whether or not I'm paying attention. Simply put, the current way that the school system set up only actually works well for a very few people, while the rest of us are left out to dry, so to speak.

[Gnarrkhaz]

things that are 100% subjective and not even anything wrong with the episode.

I don't think i even need to explain to you why your reasoning here is invalid.

Why would Rainbow Dash blame Twilight for not being able to teach her efficiently? I see they've come a long way as friends...

Because Rainbow Dash believes she can't be wrong. And in the event it appears that she is wrong, it must actually mean someone else is wrong. It's in her personality/worldview.

Why is Rainbow Dash totally relaxed not knowing the history of the Wonderbolts although the test is coming up and then after realizing she doesn't know shit she's totally baffled?

She's relaxed, because she's not used to being stressed. She's used to being awesome at everything and the mindset that comes with it. Realizing that she isn't awesome at this comes as a shock. (I've been guilty of this in the past.)

I'm sure you can explain everything somehow and make it sound reasonable but that's not the point. These things make Rainbow Dash completely unsympathetic, more than ever before and that's my main gripe. Sure, she's always had a lot of bad character traits but for the most part they kind of enrich her even if nothing good comes out of it. They're quirks and so far i've enjoyed them for the most part but in this episode i simply cannot resist the urge to punch her in the face for her behaviour and supidity. It threw me off.

Did Rainbow Dash seriously expect to pass Twilight's test with the answers she gave?

This goes along with your second question, though it is a bit more extreme of an example. RD isn't used to needing the correct answers to be awesome. She's used to using her style and attitude to be awesome, and being correct has never been a contributing factor to this. Again, she's simply unaware of the necessary mindset.

I can't see how someone can be so "unaware of the necessary mindset" when they're facing a test that you don't see the need to actually study for the damn thing. Again, it's too extreme which in turn made me incapable of investing myself in it.

Why does Pinkie rap?

See my answer to your third question. Also because Pinkie.

My problem is not with her rapping (although...), it's more about the music video. It came out of nowwhere and was really offsetting (just like the rewind effect). I'm not sure if that was really necessary. In the grand scheme of things this is a nitpick though.

Why the hell is Rainbow Dash such a bitch shooting spitwads at Twilight!?

This is harder for me to justify. However I just got done watching a Game Grumps episode where they talked about how they express their love by telling each other to f* off. This is similarly alien to me. Also Patrick did it to Spongebob that one time. I get the feeling that this sort of behavior represents a personality type that I've just simply never encountered.

I actually like these kinds of relationships. Hell, me and my brother have been doing this ever since i can remember. My mother always thinks we are arguing but we're not. It's just the slightly more rough, sarcastic tone we are used to. In the early episodes i noticed that being the case with Twilight and Spike also. I loved that! But sadly the creators apparently forgot about it and didn't follow up on it. Here, however it seems dickish because Twilight obviously doesn't appreciate it.

My main gripe for why i dislike this episode can be summed up in one word (although granted, i might have to rewatch it to refine my stance): Extreme. RD is just too extreme to be relatable. She's a dick to Twilight and she's oblivious to the most basic stuff like the need to study for tests. Frankly i didn't care if she passed the test or not. She had her chance to join the Wonderbolts numerous times now. She took those chances so there's nothing inherent in her like shyness or something similar that prevented her from doing so and in turn could make the viewer feel sympathetic for her. No, she took the chances...but nothing came out of it and at this point i just don't care about it anymore.

Like everything else in this series this storyline is stagnating. There's no story development. It's not that kind of series, however it appears it wants to be and that annoys me. Unless the creators change something drastically for future seasons which they should have done for season 4 already *coughprincesscough* this series is going to die a slow and painful death. I'm not exactly looking forward to season 5.

But then, that's what you get when you watch a childrens' cartoon.

[Gnarrkhaz]

Classes and homework ultimately feel like a waste of time, and that's certainly not an unfounded feeling, given how much time they take and how little I ever actually learn from them, whether or not I'm paying attention.

For perspective: A lot of work in life seems to take a shit ton of time and effort when you see what little you get out of it. Also just wait until you've been out of school for a couple of years and realize that you've forgotten a good chunk of it because you don't need it. Then you can talk about wasting time.

But now i'm just bitter. The lack of a good MLP episode definitely gets to me.

[itroitnyah]

Speaking of that, school and wasting time, I actually brought this up to my Dad, who for some reason seems to always have a good response to what I have to argue about.

So I said, "The education system should be reformed so that in the early years you're learning the basics, middle school you're experimenting around with various subjects to help decide what you like to do, and high school you get to pick classes based solely on what you want to do in life." And you know what he said? Well, he said, "No, that wouldn't work, because students can often change their minds about what they want to study and do when they get out of school. Often times students don't even know what they want to be. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a lawyer. Then that went away and now I'm doing math all day long. We need students to be taking a wide variety of classes because they don't know what they want to be or do, or their minds will change."

And that is exactly why high school classes are not a waste of time, even if you'll never use the subject in your life.

[ph00tbag]

The drama between Twilight and Rainbow Dash felt very unnatural. Why would Rainbow Dash blame Twilight for not being able to teach her efficiently? I see they've come a long way as friends...

This is in Rainbow Dash's nature. She's confrontational and inconsiderate, and when stressed, averse to accountability. See: Mysterious Mare Do Well, Boast Busters, Fall Weather Friends, Read it and Weep, etc.

A lot of what the characters do just makes no sense whatsoever anyway. Why is Rainbow Dash totally relaxed not knowing the history of the Wonderbolts although the test is coming up and then after realizing she doesn't know shit she's totally baffled? That is asinine.

Again, this felt totally natural for Rainbow Dash to me. She's just the type to procrastinate on this sort of thing. See: Mare in the Moon. She hadn't given thought to the depth of how fucked she was until it dawned on her that her that she might not get to follow her dream.

Who the hell uses...clothing to teach stuff?

Rarity. Rarity does.

Did Rainbow Dash seriously expect to pass Twilight's test with the answers she gave?

She didn't care. Practice Tests hold no meaning for her, because the lecture/study/test loop doesn't educate Rainbow. That's the point of the whole episode. While that loop may work for Twilight, Dash is more of an observe/orient/decide/act loop type of learner. None of Twilight's questions had anything to do with that process.

As I see it, the opposite is your problem. You either excelled within the lecture/study/test loop, or adapted your learning style to work within that loop fairly seamlessly. I know I fall in the latter camp. I usually absorb and retain information and apply it. I struggled with the lecture and study aspects of the industrial education system, but because application closely resembles testing, I excelled at school because I could work with the only part of the loop they evaluated.

But with the knowledge that Rainbow Dash simply doesn't learn the same way, maybe you can try her horseshoes on for a bit. Take your frustration with her, and imagine feeling that same frustration with Twilight's teaching methods. You want to punch Rainbow Dash in the face? Well, now you know why Rainbow Dash was shooting spitballs at Twilight.

Why does Pinkie rap? I don't get it. Why didn't they just use a "normal song" instead of faking a music video that's not even there. Why do Owlowiscious and Spike join Rainbow Dash in fooling around during class? That seems out of character to me.

Because it's funny?

And most importantly of all: Why the hell is Rainbow Dash such a bitch shooting spitwads at Twilight!?

I like to see a lot of this as Rainbow Dash reverting to her antics back in school. I know this is more headcanon, but I imagine she struggled in school, and probably sought attention through misbehavior since she couldn't get it through academic excellence. Since she always achieved her goals with acting up, this is how she's learned to cope with the stress of learning.

[Callenby]

I like your theories, ph00t. You think a lot more deeply about this than I do.

[Gnarrkhaz]

Watched the episode again:

The "Whoa, whoa, what?"-comment by RD is kind of funny.

Again, i like how the ponies make faces but it happens a bit often.

Overall i still stand by what i said. I don't care how RD's behaviour fits her and how much sense it all actually makes. It doesn't change the fact that it's depicted in an extreme way resulting in her being unbearable. I could nitpick some more stuff but what's the point. What frustrates me even more is how i should be able to relate to her very much so.

[Gnarrkhaz]

Practice Tests hold no meaning for her, because the lecture/study/test loop doesn't educate Rainbow. That's the point of the whole episode. While that loop may work for Twilight, Dash is more of an observe/orient/decide/act loop type of learner. None of Twilight's questions had anything to do with that process.

This doesn't make sense to me. Why should Twilight's questions have to do anything with RD's learning process? Twilight was just quizzing RD on what she actually knows, doesn't matter how she learned it. Those were probably the same questions that were asked in the actual test. In fact Twilight said: "If you had taken the official test today..." And, after all, RD passed that one.

Again, i see no explanation for why she would actually believe her answers are correct. It's pretty dumb.

But with the knowledge that Rainbow Dash simply doesn't learn the same way, maybe you can try her horseshoes on for a bit. Take your frustration with her, and imagine feeling that same frustration with Twilight's teaching methods. You want to punch Rainbow Dash in the face? Well, now you know why Rainbow Dash was shooting spitballs at Twilight.

Yes. I did in fact understand the episode. The problem isn't that i don't understand her motivations, it's that she over reacted, in that case not unrealistically so but definitely in a way that makes her seem like a bitch.

[Gnarrkhaz]

@eery: I know what you're saying but i still can't take her confidence in giving the answers seriously. Not only are they silly (although that's minor because after all they live in a not quite as much yet still pretty silly world) but she should have known that Twilight's methods clearly didn't work so there's no reason to believe she was ready for the test.

[Gnarrkhaz]

What are you saying, twilight dont know the right answers? She couldnt teach dash that way cuz she didn't respond to that sort of lecture, this doesnt mean the answers were wrong.

No, of course the information Twilight gave RD was correct but her methods didn't work. I didn't say anything else. We actually agree on this.

Maybe i should repeat the original question: Why did RD believe the answers she gave in the quiz with Twilight were correct?

With that premise maybe reread what i wrote before your last post.

[ph00tbag]

Yes. I did in fact understand the episode. The problem isn't that i don't understand her motivations, it's that she over reacted, in that case not unrealistically so but definitely in a way that makes her seem like a bitch.

Well, again, not exactly out of character for Rainbow Dash. She's highly inconsiderate, not necessarily because she doesn't care about others, but because she projects her own toughness onto others, and can't imagine them being offended by things she considers innocuous, and even inclusive.

Maybe i should repeat the original question: Why did RD believe the answers she gave in the quiz with Twilight were correct?

She didn't. She just had so little concern for the value of the quiz that she considered her answers to be of equal value to the correct answers. In particular, I interpreted her shock at the final score to be more at Twilight actually intending for Dash to take the test seriously, not that the answers themselves were wrong.

[Stuntddude]

I don't think i even need to explain to you why your reasoning here is invalid.

Well, for starters you could at least try to put forth something instead of being generally a lazy dickbag. But I digress. Some people can't stand to simply admit, "I don't feel up to defending my opinions now and/or don't think it's worth my/your time" and be done with it, it seems. Oh well.

[Stuntddude]

<justification of the current education system>

Sure, but that's not really a good justification, because being forced to take classes on things you earnestly despise does nothing to prepare you for a potential change of heart about your career choice, and it's basically a blatant "fuck you" to any and all students who have even the slightest certainty about the career paths they want to go into. People should be trained in the basics of all subjects, for sure - but that's what elementary and middle schools ought to be for. It's just incredibly weak reasoning to say, "well, people may change their minds, so we'd better deliberately stop them from pursuing their interests and try to impose a completely one-size-fits all education system on everyone!"

[itroitnyah]

Well, yeah, but you still get to pick out some of the classes. You need to take classes that will be beneficial in some ares (such as math classes), classes on modern day politics so you know about that, classes about science so that you understand the world around you a bit better, english classes so that you don't have just plain 6th grade english, and a lifes issues class so that you know how to do shit you don't learn in other classes. That leaves you some independence with whatever other classes you may want. My dad went from wanting to be a lawyer to wanting to do math the rest of his life. If there's a better way to set up our education system so that people can take the classes they want, but also not need to go back to school for a really long time should they change their minds, go ahead and suggest it to the government. Or here. Lel.

[ganondox]

I wasn't a huge fan of this episode, but now that I've taken this time to analyze it for you, I think I enjoy it a bit more. My own learning style is closest to Applejack's "You mean you don't already know?" -style. Pay attention in class and do the homework and you'll be fine. Try to cram everything into your brain the night before, and I really don't have any advice to give.

I'm also an Applejack, people would probably think I'm a Twilight Sparkle, but I hate studying as much as Rainbow. However, I just found it hilarious how Rainbow Dash reduced Applejack's learning style to apples.

Like everything else in this series this storyline is stagnating. There's no story development. It's not that kind of series, however it appears it wants to be and that annoys me. Unless the creators change something drastically for future seasons which they should have done for season 4 already *coughprincesscough* this series is going to die a slow and painful death. I'm not exactly looking forward to season 5.

This is the one point I agree with you with, and the biggest problem I have with Twilicorn. It just doesn't go anywhere, when it's clear it's supposed to. People said Twilight was going to be the same after the change so it wasn't bad; actually, that's the problem with the change. It's completely superficial. Twilight is a princess now, and......so what? While I liked much of Season 4, the series has really extended past it's run, and it's really do for if not series finale, then a major change. Slapping wings on a character is not a major change, it's a waste of a potential major change.

[Gnarrkhaz]

I don't think i even need to explain to you why your reasoning here is invalid.

Well, for starters you could at least try to put forth something instead of being generally a lazy dickbag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYkODsWfngE

All the stuff you mentioned either had really obvious answers/explanations, or are thinks that are 100% subjective and not even anything wrong with the episode.

That was your original quote and to me it sounds like you're saying that subjective reasons to like or dislike something are invalid. Different people can obviously like and dislike the same thing and both be correct as long as they can put forward valid arguments.

[itroitnyah]

I enjoyed this episode.

But I gotta say, watching it in fullscreen on youtube then going over to the other tabs I have open just felt weird. Because, it feels like everything's compressed together.

[Coloriot]

In this week's episode, we learned about the evils of capitalism!

[ph00tbag]

Pinkie Pie was super annoying this episode.

Rest of it was pretty good, though. I really liked Rarity and Applejack's interactions.

[ExoBassTix]

I FINALLY caught up with my friend. Watched ep. 14 u/i 22 I believe.
That episode in which Twilight learned that someone can have an entirely different way to learn things was, to me, instantly the best episode yet of the whole series. Kinda because I have a way of learning that I yet have to develop (as in, good luck getting me to pass a test on history without making me a hollow shell or destroying me) (all I know is that music is the key).
Loved it so much.

I also loved the Sweetie Belle and CMC episode. Because from now on I like Sweetie Belle so much more. Seriously though, why have I not seen it before? She's like super duper awesome or something.

That episode in which AJ was continuously watching over Applebloom made me itch. I very much dislike it because if it was me in Applebloom's place, I would've completely lost it. AJ you bitch.

There is one thing though that still bothers me in almost every episode. They do a lot of things (talking, walking, petting animals etc.) having their eyes closed for so friggen long!!!
That's one of the things I really dislike xD

EDIT - how could I forget this. My friend laughed pretty hard when at that best episode that dude who gave Rainbow Dash the test stamped the test with a star saying "100%", asking me if I could make a .gif in which the star is replaced with that "you tried" star.
Made me laugh pretty hard. If someone can make this happen, I'll love you forever.

[itroitnyah]

Spike is such an idiot, haha. Owlicious is great though. best pet award twenty-forever.

But nah, this episode was actually pretty awesome. I loved it.

Also, some things about the episode:

Spoiler Rarity sucks at designing carts: