S03E12 Games Ponies play

[Cptadder]

Got off to a late start, the opening of this episode made me think it was a repeat of last weeks for a second

[Cptadder]

The opening we saw leaked like we have been seeing them was nice, but as noted I thought it was last week's episode for a minute
And the very first commercial is a spoiler for next week.

And back
Pinkie is AJ new hat, I'll skip the joke
Hmm someone's TK has gotten better
I love the fact RD is the voice of doom so far
And Twilight has calmed down a whole lot.
And RD is surprisingly into this
Calling the Twist now, the inspector is not the pony the meet
And yep wrong pony, pantsuit Pony is left on the station

Second oart
Roll with punches
And now Twilight has a new be calm expression
And Rarity is highly amusing
Lol Pinkie your so random
Lol Dash sliiiiiiiiiiiiiid off the window

And back
And surprise it's Rain Dash episode kinda
And The Empire gets the games, Dubai will have to wait until next year
"That face "aaaalmooost"

So yes it was a surprise two part episode, my thoughts in a minute.

[Cptadder]

So the games pony play, a case of mistaken identity when the inspector pony gets left behind and a random yokel gets the tour meant for her. On the one hand the simple fact they never once asked her name bugs me, nor the fact they did not even know her coat or mane colors. You put that much time into your greeting but not spend two minutes making sure you know something more than her name?

On the flip side this episode like it's twin Just for Sidekicks had so many great visual moments. The little calming gesture Twilight has adopted, the way Dash slides down the glass of the spa. The little ticks the animators put in for the ponies like Rarity's expressions as she over reacts. So my thoughts it was nice seeing Cadence and Armor again but ultimately this was a forgettable episode and Just for Sidekicks was better. However as part of a two part it does work well, who does not love the fact of what's going wrong for both parties at the same time. Spikes dilemma is simpler and funnier but the Games Ponies Play has several good moments.

So final thoughts, it's a middle of the pack episode, on a top ten list of season 3 it would end up between the six and sevens spots. In the all time MLP episode rankings it's in the thirties. Not by any means bad but the mistaken identity inspector thing has been done better before, I'm partial to the Prussian folk tale version myself.

[RoboRed]

Dash is a foalnapper. It's canon.

[Necr0maNceR]

Was that supposed to be Rainbow Dash's dad in the flashback? If so, I wasn't really a fan of his design. It just seemed like a poor knock off of Rainbow Dash's design. Of course, I only had a few seconds to look at it. Maybe if his character is expanded upon, it will turn out that his design works with his character or something?

[IncoherentOrange]

Though the general plotline is hardly new, this was an entertaining episode, full of Pinkie Pie ad-libbing: "...Known for its... roundness!" and Rainbow Dash sliiiiiiding. Rarity was used well in this instance, and her lines were humorous. The appearance of Spike and the gem-throwing near the end and beginning as we expected was also fun. Not bad, though its predictable plotline was a little irksome.
Also, looks as though Rainbow has confirmed parent. Next up is the Twipocalypse, which will undoubtedly be fun.

[RoboRed]

I, for one, welcome our new lavender winged overlord.

[Aonee]

For my two cents, I think they should have switched when this and Just for Sidekicks aired. Would have been awesome to have that cliffhanger/spoiler in there, and leave us waiting for two weeks what happens.

[jacky2734]

Causing hijinks by mistaking a nobody for an important special guest, there's a trope for that.

But in the Mane 6's defense, what kind of recognizable description is "having a suitcase with flowers on it"? Seriously, that kind of luggage pattern cannot be that uncommon. You would have at least thought that they'd have been given a description of her Cutymark, you know, that one unique feature that EVERYPONY is guaranteed to have.

I also have to wonder, why didn't the mane 6 go sparkly again? It seems to me that that would have been a good promotion for whatever crystal empire toys they're still trying to sell.

So, The mare they did give the tour to, did anyone catch her name? Kinda have to wonder a bit about her, if she's got such a bad case of claustrophobia that she can't stand being in the grand halls of a humongous palace, than how the heck did she stand being in a cramped train for God knows how many hours?

And one more note on the season finale promo, if Rarity got Rainbow Dash's Cutymark, than does that mean RD got Rarity's Cutymark. I'm predicting that there's going to be many a "Rainbow Dash always dresses in style." uttered.

[Formis_Fluttergod]

So, I was right all along about this being "Different perspective Episode 11". I'm quite pleased with myself, because at least someone has to be.


As for the episode, it was predictable, but it was fun with many hilarious moments, and predictability is not really an issue given the nature of the show, is it?

Was that supposed to be Rainbow Dash's dad in the flashback? If so, I wasn't really a fan of his design. It just seemed like a poor knock off of Rainbow Dash's design.

Well, if nothing else, I could always point out that the Rainbow hair had to come out of somewhere. Genetics, duh.

And I agree that the order of the two episodes would have been probably better the other way around, cliffhangers keep the audience. I'm also interested in the Pony they were entertaining all day instead of the inspector, how she got claustrophobic for example?

[Guest]

What better way to communicate that she wasn't an orphan than the have her on the back of the only other rainbow-maned pony in equestria?

I think her being on the back of any pony would have communicated that.

[jacky2734]

What better way to communicate that she wasn't an orphan than the have her on the back of the only other rainbow-maned pony in equestria?

I think her being on the back of any pony would have communicated that.

So if she had been standing on, say, Celestia's(who also happens to have a rainbow mane) back, it would have meant that she was the Princess's daughter?

[Guest]

What better way to communicate that she wasn't an orphan than the have her on the back of the only other rainbow-maned pony in equestria?

I think her being on the back of any pony would have communicated that.

So if she had been standing on, say, Celestia's(who also happens to have a rainbow mane) back, it would have meant that she was the Princess's daughter?

That is conclusion I believe the bronies would jump to, yes. But you missed the point.

[jacky2734]

Oh no, I got the point, I just thought I'd make a smartass comment.

[Moodyman90]

I'm also interested in the Pony they were entertaining all day instead of the inspector, how she got claustrophobic for example?

I'm ripping this directly off from TV Tropes, but she mentioned that she was a mustang which are known to be a normally wild breed of horses use to wide open spaces.

I'm not sure how people develop claustrophobia to be honest. It always seems to be one of those fears some people just have. Still, I can throw out a few guesses.

Prank gone wrong, or a game of hide and seek where she ended up locked in a closet or small shed for a few hours.

[Valikdu]

[voice="60's Walter Koenig"] This plot was invented in Russia! [/voice]

Was a fun episode. And Twilight seems to have leveled up and received a panic management skill of some kind, that's useful.

[Formis_Fluttergod]

I'm also interested in the Pony they were entertaining all day instead of the inspector, how she got claustrophobic for example?

I'm ripping this directly off from TV Tropes, but she mentioned that she was a mustang which are known to be a normally wild breed of horses use to wide open spaces.

I'm not sure how people develop claustrophobia to be honest. It always seems to be one of those fears some people just have. Still, I can throw out a few guesses.

Prank gone wrong, or a game of hide and seek where she ended up locked in a closet or small shed for a few hours.

Interesting, I didn't catch that little detail.

As for the claustrophobia, yeah, I think it's usually some traumatic experience like that in small spaces, or something you're simply born with.

[jacky2734]

I still don't get how that mustang held it together in a cramped train car for who knows how long.

[Moodyman90]

All I got for that Jacky is rule of funny and plot convenience. I mean, she seemed cool in the royal spa place with her head sticking through that hole in the table and being able to look at nothing but the floor. But then she had to be so she could talk to the Games Inspector and put in a good word.

Unless she has a great control over it by telling her self "I'm only going to be in here for so long." while in the palace she was at the mercy of our loveable main character and she didn't know how long it would be before she was out in the open.

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