Comic Review - Friends Forever #19 · 4:42pm Aug 5th, 2015
Rarity and the Cakes. An odd coupling but hey, that's what FF is all about, character interactions the show hasn't or can't give us normally.
Let's begin with a look at the staff. Writer, Christina Rice, hit or miss at this point, but she's riding high after the last Friends Forever so this may work. Artist, Brenda Hickey, did Sombra's issue and Friends Forever #15, got no complaints about her. And colorist... Heather Breckel!? *cue Psycho strings* For those who don't remember, she's the woman who doesn't know how many colors rainbows have. I'm joking; spoiler alert, the colors in this issue are fine.
We open on a wedding, with the groom thanking Rarity for the gown and the Cakes for the cake. I guess the wedding planner who was in charge of them doesn't deserve gratitude. The Mane Six all praise Rarity's work, and Twilight makes the off-hand remark that the cake and the bride's gown match, almost as if the Cakes and Rarity coordinated. Um, wouldn't they have? I'm not an expert on planning weddings, but I'm sure there would be some sort of communication between them; weddings tend to have a theme, or at least an aesthetic, that they would each have to keep to. Again, shouldn't there be an overall wedding planner that coordinated all this?
Rarity laughs and says it is indeed like they worked together. Suddenly she's struck with a vision; what if they did work together? They could open a one-stop wedding boutique that could cover everything, they'd be famous through Equestria! Good joke here as Twilight snarks Rarity isn't actually talking to her anymore. And then two panels wasted where Spike asks Rarity to dance and she says yes without thinking, then says no because she has to get to work. Come on, the guy already gets humiliated enough, cut him some slack. I do note however, Twilight's smile indicating she's shipping these two.
The next day Rarity is pitching the business idea to the cakes. Mr. Cake is hesitant, they already have their hooves full with normal orders and the twins, but Rarity reminds him such a business would attract a higher tier of clientele, and therefore, more money. Mrs. Cake admits they could use a bit of extra cash, and thus it's settled. Mr. Cake confirms they really are equal partners in this endeavour, and Rarity agrees, why wouldn't they be?
Hmmm, this doesn't bode well. Ms. Rich, you were good last time, don't slip into the character derailment that plagued your main series debut. Aaaand next page, Mrs. Cake points out how Rarity sometimes acts when she doesn't get her way, and Rarity pours on crocodile tears that gets her to shut up. Ho boy, getting a sinking feeling. I know pony, comic or show, isn't always the most original with its plots and morals, but come on, I should not be able to call the whole story on the fourth page of a twenty-five page comic. Rarity has already made plans to draw up a publicity campaign to run in Canterlot as she heads over to get supplies. The Cakes question if maybe something smaller as a trial run would be better, but Rarity scoffs they have to go big if they dream big.
At a fabric shop in Canterlot, Rarity tells the merchant her idea, and another pony says it sounds great. Behold; Touring Wind, editor of Modern Mare magazine and a very influential fashion pony. Rarity gushes over her and hugs the merchant, and then stammers yes, she's heard of her now and then. Good joke, two points. Naturally, Touring Wind is interested featuring the business in her magazine, and Rarity tells her it's in Ponyville. Touring makes a crack about visiting the country and summons her aide, Bright Bridle, to schedule her in. Of course, the only appointment she has in the next three months is this Friday, for one day. Rarity protests that only gives them four days, but Touring sniffs that maybe she shouldn't come, and Rarity relents.
Rarity gets home, with more humor at Spike's expense as he met her at the train station to carry her mountain of parcels. At the boutique, she finds Applejack there with a couple, Ginger Gold and Apple Crisp. They're getting married and were gonna have a simple ceremony at the farm, but Applejack sold them on Rarity's business. And the wedding is this Saturday!
Okay, three things. First, I can't see Apple Crisp's cutie mark to confirm, but judging from the name, I think it's safe to say he's an Apple. And Ginger Gold has a heart-shaped apple as her cutie mark. Are we implying Kissing Cousins here? Second, no wedding could be planned and pulled off in a week. Weddings take months to plan, it would probably take a week alone just to find a venue, decorate it, and get the cake and gown made and on-time. This is simply unreasonable for AJ and her cousins to spring this on Rarity, what if they were busy handling another client already? Third - this scheduling conflict isn't a conflict. Focus on the business and Touring Wind will see to herself when she comes and sees how good a job Rarity has done in a short timeframe.
Ah, that's the problem, Rarity gets carried away. She swiftly overrules the couple and the Cakes on what the wedding will entail, proving she's a terrible wedding planner because, IMHO, a wedding planner should give the couple what they want and not what the planner thinks they should get. A thought occurs to me at this point, but I'm gonna save it for the end. In a montage over the next three days we see Rarity take control of everything as the Cakes try to keep up with her.
Friday, Touring Wind has arrived, and fun joke here were she says she was impressed at meeting a pony who can play ten instruments. Spike, of course, is carrying her mountain of suitcases. Touring Wind demands to see Rarity at once, ignoring Spike's attempts to get her to go to the inn. At the shop Rarity protests she's busy and can't handle Touring at the moment, but again Touring won't take no for an answer. In the shop, Ginger Gold is kneeled over with red spots; she's allergic to strawberries, and Rarity had the grand idea to make the cake strawberries. Again, didn't she run the cake idea by the bride and groom, or even ask if they have food allergies? Then there's a crash and Touring goes into another room where the Cakes are having trouble getting their chocolate waterfall to work.
Touring Wind storms out intent on leaving tomorrow, and Rarity breaks down into tears as she realizes everything has fallen apart. Suddenly, Ginger Gold is better! Mrs. Cake says Pumpkin is allergic to strawberries but keeps eating them, so they keep a jar of a remedy around and it fixed Ginger up in seconds. How dramatically convenient. The cake is a bust, but the Cakes have cupcake batter ready to go, since they figured the cake would go bust. Rarity asks why they didn't tell her, and they remind her she doesn't like taking "no" for an answer. Rarity asks how the two can be so calm and confident when everything is going wrong. "We have twins!" Compared to taking care of kids, this is nothing. Again, good joke. The cakes get Rarity out to work on the gown while they handle the baking.
The next morning, Touring is waiting for her train when the Cakes come and ask her to give Rarity a second chance. Touring is somewhat willing, but she has a train to catch. Spike to the rescue! He ties himself to the tracks and holds up a protest sign to delay the train. More fun with Railroad Spike. The Cakes take Touring to Rarity's boutique and show off the stunning gown, which is based on Rarity's initial design but stripped down to be more practical and not as gaudy. Then they head over to Sweet Apple Acres where everything is great. Touring is impressive, Rarity apologizes, the Cakes forgive her, and she muses perhaps they can try this another time.
This issue... meh. The character derailment isn't quite as infuriating as Ponyville Days, because yeah, Rarity does get carried away with herself sometimes. Still, she is acting like a major control freak in this issue and doesn't listen to anypony who tries to reason with her. Other than his awesome moment at the end, Spike is just there to be the butt of jokes, the Mane 6 never reappear after the opening scene, and the Cakes do nothing but get bossed around by Rarity until the last five pages.
So, that earlier thought? This issue could be substantially improved with one simple change.
Replace the Cakes with Pinkie Pie.
The Cakes were a poor choice for this story, other than the "we have twins!" joke, they bring nothing to the table in terms of story or character. I like the Cakes fine, but they're secondary players in this issue. This issue is all about Rarity and the Cakes are her co-stars, which shouldn't be in Friends Forever, the spin-off series about characters interacting in new ways. But Pinkie Pie? We know she's a party planner, of course, and has planned weddings as seen in Slice of Life and A Canterlot Wedding. Get rid of Touring Wind, who just exists to add more drama to a story that doesn't need it, and bring in Pinkie Pie as Rarity's business partner.
Suddenly, Rarity's control issues make more sense, she probably wouldn't trust Pinkie to take a wedding seriously and would feel she has to keep her under control, while Pinkie, who really is a good friend and a good party planner, would be more concerned with making the bride and groom happy and giving them the wedding they wanted. Then when Rarity's plans fall apart, Pinkie is there to save the day because she's Pinkamena Diane Pie, and for the love of Celestia, she is not gonna let her party plans fail! Thus Rarity learns to appreciate Pinkie's talents and see her as an equal, and Pinkie teaches Rarity that even silly ponies like her know when it's time to get serious.
We haven't really had Rarity and Pinkie interact one-on-one that often, even in the show to the best of my recollection, so they could totally do a Friends Forever with the two of them, and this story idea would be better served with them than Rarity and the Cakes. I would totally like to see a good author run with this idea of the two becoming business partners. Or hell, maybe I will.
Overall, nothing here is standout bad, but it's definitely not standout good, either. What saves the issue from being a total waste is some good jokes here and there, but there aren't enough to recommend a read. I say skip it and wait for Discord and Luna next month.
I hate this issue because it cements Rarity as being flanderized in the comics. This whole issue's conflict was set up because Rarity wanted more fame and glory for herself. For the last time, writers, Rarity is NOT Mr. Krabs. She is not completely greedy and self obessed! Stop treating her as such and start writing her properly!
3296823 This is from the same company that brought us morally bankrupt Twilight. They probably greenlight anything at this point.
3297173 Which is a shame considering how they were on top of the world last year. How do you go from producing gold like The Return of Chrysalis and Reflections, to stuff like Can't Argue with Elks and Everyone's Flanderized?
3297212 If anything, Reflections was the beginning of the end so to speak.
Also a combo of laziness and the show itself growing up in a way.
3297273 I think the beginning of the end was The Cattle Rustlers Arc, as it started the flanderization of Rarity and Twilight's morally bankrupt compass, then came the infamous Equestria Girls Holiday Special, and things just went downhill from there.
Yeah, it sucks that the show is growing up, but the comics are refusing to do the same. You would think they'd appreciate not being labeled primary canon, as it would give them more freedom. But it seems like the opposite is true, now that they don't have to obide by canon, they seem to think they need to play it as safe as possible and just be predictable.
3297282 They actually have to abide by show rules. They were rejected from doing anything with Gilda because Griffonstone was coming up.
3297316 I thought the show staff said the comics weren't canon?
3297319 That's up in the air honestly. What the comics can't do is intrude on things that the show has planned in the forseeable future. Like Gilda and Griffonstone in general.
3296823 Do you think that this comic might wind up being a candidate for any Accusation Fics?
3848739 Oh, I hope so.
3848837 Who do you think would be the best person to get mad at Rarity for what she did in this comic?
3849065 Probably either Applejack, since Rarity almost poisoned one of her cousins, or Twilight seeing as she might be one of the only ones Rarity would actually listen to.
3849246 You know, I've been tempted to write an accusation fic that involves the following:
1. Rarity will be yelled at by BOTH Applejack AND Twilight Sparkle for what she did, not to mention that the latter two might possibly end their friendships with her for what she did to Ginger Gold with that strawberry cake as well as being a terrible wedding planner by being such a control freak; some Element of Generosity she is.
2. Not only will AJ and Twilight cut ties with Rarity, but her sister Sweetie Belle might disown her as well once she finds out.
3. There's also the matter of her reputation as the finest clothing designer in Equestria becoming damaged and/or destroyed once word gets out about her actions during the preparations for Ginger Gold and Apple Crisp's wedding.
4. Princess Celestia is probably going to have some choice words with Rarity about her selfishness when she overruled the couple and the Cakes on what the wedding should entail. Not only that, but I think she should strip her of her Element of Generosity.
Are these good ideas for an accusation fic, or am I just being a jerk to Rarity for what she did in this comic?
4546297 The first part at least feels warranted, Twilight and Applejack chewing out Rarity for her selfishness. Everything else feels excessive, even considering how bad Rarity was.
4546385 So with the exception of Applejack and Twilight chewing out Rarity for her selfishness, I guess my ideas are just suited for those people who are rather childish and immature about Rarity's behavior, huh?