Thoughts on Season 3 finale (massive spoilers, if haven't seen it yet)

Been a while since I did one of these that actually wanted to (wanted to do one for last week's first, but played around this last week and never saw it a second time since with schedule currently, as supposedly missed lot of things according to different review; so thought it might be inappropriate and wanted to do this ASAP, pretty much, since usually tend to go a bit in-depth about how I've felt with seeing episodes on Season 3 that I've commented on for the first time (to my best recollection)), cause I saw a few episodes in a row leaked early. Yes, I know it was rushed (but so are a lot of episodes, so please no "it was rushed as fuck" or equivalent comments), but not sure why it should matter, when it's been 22 minutes as long as it's aired so far.

Anyway, pardon my language but I fucking LOVED this episode. Right away, it jumped into Twilight Sparkle doing a single about life in Ponyville, which while disconcerting given what the episode would be about, it was catchy and lovely. And she was quite interesting, getting the waiter pony from Season 1 to join in with her dancing at one point (possible new ship? Plus, we see some Canterlot ponies for some reason), up until she got soaked. I had thought for sure WOULD be Dash like she accused, but right away, we see it was Rarity, jumping into the main plot!

And we jump from there to Twilight visiting all of her friends, seeing them VASTLY different from their normal selves, but in some ways the same as well, I suppose. Rainbow Dash being a veterinarian and acting more like Fluttershy, when she has hyper critters; Fluttershy being a pony who tries to bring joy and happiness, but fails to do so and is more like sad Pinkie/Pinkamena; Pinkie Pie being an applebucker but more like her sad/angry stuff; and finally, Applejack being a dressmaker, but a horrible one at that. So really the only ones whose species that didn't swap jobs were Pinkie doing Applejack's and Rainbow Dash doing Fluttershy's. Anyway, moving on.

We get ANOTHER song in an already interesting episode, detailing how sad everypony is with their supposed new roles, after Twilight realizes what she did (though thought she merely cast the spell unknowingly while speaking the words, in a brief flashback) and apparently says that any past method of restoring things to normal wouldn't work. And yet, nopony never questions things as they are currently, other than Twilight and Spike, since Applejack has a family on the farm and Pinkie has the Cakes, etc. Which is... weird, but eh, it wasn't something that really detracted from the episode for me, personally (much anyways). Needless to say, I was blown the fuck away at this point (pardon language again ), as I quite literally said and thought the song was fitting of the moment prior to commercial. Then Twilight decides to mope, but after a few words from her number-one assistant (GO SPIKE! ), she decides to mare up and help remind them of their TRUE selves that were swapped thanks to Elements of Harmony changing colors to represent different pony who would bear the mark of the Element.

So, going to Fluttershy first, we arrive at Dash's temp cottage only to see her about to be eaten by the animals! So after Twilight feeds some excuse about how she can't do it, only Fluttershy can, she manages to find her former/true talent for speaking to animals and understanding them; then when a magic surge surrounds Fluttershy, she places her actual element on her and restores her memories! Needless to say, was a bit... simplistic, but given the show's nature, it seemed to fit and shouldn't have been surprised, I guess. Anyway, we get ANOTHER jaunty song with each of the ponies having their true talents returned to them and I am also surprised by how many songs this episode ALONE is getting by this point!

So anyway, after a bit of time, each of the ponies have their talent returned to them and Twilight Sparkle figures out the supposed correct words to end the spell Star Swirl the Bearded started but couldn't finish. The words went over my head and not sure what they meant, since Twilight didn't really cast any sort of magic on herself to fix her friends'. Not to mention, thought she already fixed/finished the spell. But apparently, the episode isn't over yet, about to be thrown for a twist and boy, are we! After finishing the spell's words and writing them down, Twilight sets off a chain reaction with the Elements of Harmony that zap her and make her vanish before her friends in the library! She meets with Celestia in some sort of dreamscape world with a catalog of her events in the series, including scenes she imagined (such as going back to Magic Kindergarten and Spike pulling on projector screen like thing to end it ). And then, we get CELESTIA of all ponies singing about her future! And afterwards, Twilight's magic(?) bursts forth from her chest and surrounds her, then when she reappears to her friends, she's became an alicorn! Must say, am quite surprised and satisfied, more like 'wow' (as in kinda speechless); especially considering all the hype I had heard or something, and had expected this to go different with her ascension, but am happy! And as expected, she's not THAT different right off the bat, shows off her bookworm-ish qualities, in wanting a book to know what to do next. Only you would say that, Twilight... only you. And surprised at how fast the writers have her friends bow down to her, including her former mentor/teacher.

Anyway, after not much more time, we get Twilight's coronation as Equestria's newest princess, with her family and friends, and maybe her own guards (four mares with the same appearance, more or less). And for the FIRST TIME (not counting the wedding or previous episode sorta with Cadence), we see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna wearing CLOTHES! After thanking her teacher and friends, she embraces her apparently now-to-be destiny, getting some encouraging words from Shining Armor's brief appearance in this (thought he was jealous when he cried and called them Liquid Pride (thanks to Anonymous Pegasus, may never be able to think of those words in same way again when I re-watch this, as already did so once ), since he's a Prince as well (but only in title) and yet not an alicorn like his little sister, despite being the older sibling and having worked his way up the ranks and such) and her friends, before they supposedly part ways for the time being. One final song, and then that's the end of it, with an ending theme darting back to end of when the Mane 6 were getting their cutie marks back.

Anyway, despite lot of Season 3 being somewhat iffy for me, this episode MORE than made up for it and henceforth, shall be my new favorite episode! I was LITERALLY joyful the whole episode, pretty much! Will be pretty hard to top this in Season 4 (or other seasons possibly), I think, considering how they set the bar pretty high, even if a lot of things were unaddressed. Such as what Twilight will be Princess of, if Spike will be with her, etc. Oh, and apparently an alicorn automatically has complete mastery of his/her inherent flight skills, if the brief stint at the end is to be taken seriously. So there may go any teaching fics with Rainbow/Fluttershy or someone else trying to teach her how to use her new feathery appendages. Not sure if her horn is longer, but her mane does look longer and such. And not sure if the supposed ascension to alicorn secret involves solving one of Star Swirl the Bearded's unfinished spells, or figuring out/learning and displaying the characteristics of friendship as Twilight has (more likely that). Since essentially said/implied Twilight was the first pony to do so, if Cadence wasn't an ordinary pony who turned into an alicorn later on like supposed aunties, if wasn't born an alicorn.

Now that Season 3 has ended, even if uncertain still about the supposed Equestria Girls spin-off, with Mane 6 coming to our world and becoming humans on an adventure, after spell or something gone wrong; I think I have slight faith (even if dunno if will be looking forward to it as much, depending on what happens) in what will happen in the future for My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. And some of the questions that mentioned being unanswered will be done in beginning of Season 4, at least. And I look forward to seeing how the Mane 6's lives will be different as a result of having Twilight be crowned a Princess and not(?) in their lives as much anymore.

Oh, and in other news: nothing really to report. Gonna hopefully take care of some things behind in soon, and get back to/start writing again soon. But not making any guarantees at this time, exactly.

Comments

[Nitronus Prime]

The season three finale is my favorite stand alone episode of the entire season. I had my mouth fully open with flys invading after hearing the sad song. I couldn't believe that this show had done something like this. The songs were fun, catchy, and very emotional. And I'm the kind of guy who loves continuity so having little connections to other episodes was pretty great. As a note, I watched all 64 episodes in a row before watching this episode and I get emotionally connected with this show pretty easily so you could easily assume what my reaction was to Celestia's song and the Nostalgia Hallway. I didn't hear a word from Celestia when I saw the clips, I was that blown away. At first, Alicorn Twilight was a bit of a neutral idea for me. I didn't hate it but I wasn't looking forward to it. After this episode though; BRING ON THE PRINCESS OF FRIENDSHIP MOFOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only problem I have with this episode were the plot holes (ie: How did the apples grow back so quickly? Why weren't Big Mac and Applebloom helping harvest the apples? Why did all of the ponies act like this was all normal except for Twilight and Spike? etc.) but that's a small nitpick. The pacing for me didn't feel quick or rushed, it felt like it was actually 22 minutes without it dragging on or going to quickly. Glad to see someone else who loves this episode. Only episode that I probably like more than this one is The Crystal Empire (transformers sound used three times, Luna, Spike getting the hero role which is something I've always wanted, Twilight launching her house in the air, Sombra, Pinkie's Fluttershy costume, Pinkie Spy, Pinkie's temper tantrum over the flugelhorn, the songs, crystal ponies, Twiley, etc.). There was absolutely nothing that I didnt' like about the Crystal Empire but this episode definitely made me proud to be a part of this fanbase and makes me glad that I didn't go through with killing myself before I started watching this show.

[TheWanderingPikachuPony]

869632
Wow, that's a lot more than I think I wanted to know. Sorry you felt so depressed or lonely or whatever that wanted to commit suicide, before you discovered the show (or it started airing, if started watching it when it first came out, I didn't but I quickly fell in love with it).

I was honestly confused by what you meant by Nostalgia Hallway, if you weren't referring to a user on here by name of Nostalgia Schwartz (who write an ali Twilight/Shining Armor incest clop recently) or something else, but I realize you were referring to about when they showed the on-screen moments of episodes, though was honestly surprised when they showed FLASHBACKS of what-ifs (like Twilight in Magic Kindergarten, before Spike broke the 4th wall dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Spike_lolface.png ) and not sure if showed other moments not relating to Twilight (as some episodes was barely in or not at all). And yeah, Celestia singing was one of the most SURPRISING moments of the series to date, I think I can say when it happened when I saw it the first time.

I did address that somewhat and question as you may have seen, even though it didn't bother me as much during the first time I saw it (but afterward, needing to see some parts to address in my review here), cause I was SO eager and joyful the whole time it was on, practically! And yeah, have to assume Equestria/Sweet Apple Acres is rich with magic, with how fast they can harvest kinda. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/sillyfilly_Applejack.png

Well, you and I seem to be in a minority, apparently. As far as LOVING the episode with little to personally complain about. And assume you know as I do, that it's not over yet! Not the series, but the whole alicornification (for lack of a better term) thing, since there's a 2-parter planned to happen in the upcoming 4th season. Which hopefully addresses more about Twilight's new future as a Princess, what she'll rule over, etc. Confused by what you mean about Transformers sound (from the series Transformers, which was done by Hasbro, if not still), but yeah, I liked the Crystal Empire 2-parter first of Season 3 eps, even though didn't do a review for that one first, but for Too Many Pinkie Pies instead (others I skipped cause didn't like 'em as much and a few were leaked early that I saw prior to Hub's airing cause couldn't hold off, etc).

Of course, I love ali Twilight now, but I don't have MANY plans for her or to modify any ideas I have yet to do with her already being an alicorn as far as romance or whatever, rather than having her as a unicorn. But can only wait and see what the future holds! And will continue to wait and see what future episodes and seasons(?) have planned for our favorite cast of colorful ponies!