Friendship is Card Games: Scare Master · 12:28pm Nov 1st, 2015
Who’s a silly iTunes? You’re a silly iTunes!
Who is? You is! Apple Inc.
Leaking episodes and not getting the memos.
Who is? You is! Apple Inc.
Yeah, thanks to that mix-up, I was able watch yesterday’s episode as unanalytically as I ever can. I already had The Liveblog That Time Forgot waiting in the wings.
Fluttershy’s Nightmare Night survival necessities appear to be books, pillows, a teddy bear, a light source, a few flowers, a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter… and what appears to be a respectable stack of canned food. I assume the can opener is behind the books.
Changelings are now a Nightmare Night costume. See what happens when you’re not content to lurk in the shadows, Chrysalis? Your entire species becomes a laughingstock.
Fluttershy, you were just talking to a spider. Why do they scare you now?
Granny, you know that Fluttershy never goes out on Nightmare Night. Why are you giving her a terrifying sales pitch?
I have to assume Twilight arranged a suitably ominous thunderstorm for the castle. I wonder if she helped install it.
Kudos to Spike for trying to edge Fluttershy just a little out of her comfort zone. That’s how we grow, boys and girls. Heck, there’s even a few later continuity nods to “Filli Vanilli” to underscore that point.
Only Pinkie could pull off a scary story around balloons.
Really? “Mannequin” literally means “little man.” Well, the original Flemish “manneken” does. My point is, “ponnequin” is a much better term for Rarity’s dress models (says the person who insists on using it.)
I choose to believe that Dash’s incredulity comes from concern for Fluttershy.
Sweetie Belle, you probably could’ve picked a better place to TP. Especially since your costume may have gotten beheaded in the Prench Revolution. (That being said, I do love Apple Bloom dressing up as a duck designed by committee. Platypodes are awesome. And Wonderbolt Scootaloo makes an amusing counterpoint to Shadowbolt Dash. Also, how fortunate are we that the leaked episode had the Crusaders in costume? Imagine the shitstorm that would’ve rained down if that had gotten spoiled… though given the production order, it’s possible that they might not have had them in this episode, in which case, continuity error averted.)
Shoo be damn, Rarity. Calm your tail.
Fluttershy has apparently seen enough horror movies to recognize the common perils. Or she’s just thought about it for a long, long time.
Going by Dash’s costume, Equestria either has a space program or hard science fiction, inasmuch as science fiction can be hard by our standards in a magical world. Also, I strongly suspect that Twilight is a very specific, obscure Pegasopolitan general.
Wow. It’s a very good thing Luna never saw Pin the Horn on Black Snooty during "Luna Eclipsed." That’s straight-up lèse-majesté.
Oh, Fluttershy. It’s one thing to try to expand your boundaries, but you have to be able to know when you’re going beyond what you can handle. As she said in “Filli Vanilli,” baby steps.
Wait, Twilight, what are you thinking? 
I admit, Fluttershy trying to sound intimidating is actually kind of adorable. As is Rarity and Applejack pushing Pinkie across the bridge to Fluttershy’s cottage.
To be fair, Fluttershy is aiming for some sensitive spots with Rarity and Pinkie. She’s just being very gentle on the approach.
Is this happening? Is this seriously happening? Am I really looking at five ponified anime characters in the show? Has Fluttershy been an otaku this whole time, or did she just get Pinkie to raid Derpibooru?
(Also, the existence of Evangelion, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and Ranma 1/2 in Equestria raises quite a few questions. After all, the latter two explore gender norms, while the formermost… The formermost. Need I say more? Heck, even Sailor Moon implies the existence of other planets in the local solar system, much as Dragonball implies the existence of some version of Journey to the West.)
Pinkie! At least wait until you’re out of earshot. Though I suppose she meant it as a compliment.
Angel has carte blanche to terrify the horses. This is going to end in trauma.
The horse mask returns. At least this time, it’s animated. I suppose in Equestria, it’s the equivalent of a gorilla mask.
And then my avatar was canon. 
Applejack, stop trying to sound brave. You’re just embarrassing yourself. (Or is this meant to be a subtle Wizard of Oz reference?)
Holy spawn of Dagon!
Twilight. You can teleport. You’re probably also terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. I’ll give it a pass.
… Oh! Never mind. (Also, the sounds make it pretty clear what the Deep One actually is.)
Either Fluttershy’s been sucking on one of Bonbon’s voice changers, or she got Luna in on this. Seriously, where’d the throaty laugh come from?
I have to wonder how those wingsocks affect Fluttershy’s flight. Not too terribly, obviously, but it seems like they should have had some impact. Feathers exist for a reason. Also, colored contacts are canon.
I really like how peripheral vision was an essential part of Angel’s costume. Using perception and psychology was a very nice touch.
It’s a good lesson at the end: Being friends doesn’t mean you have to everything together if you don’t enjoy those activities. “Friendship isn’t mandatory” is a valuable lesson in and of itself.
Also, some people feel this episode reset Fluttershy’s character development, but ask yourself, how many years has she been cowering in fear of Nightmare Night? How long has it been ingrained in her psyche that this night is the most terrifying of the year? This wasn’t a reset; this went above and beyond Fluttershy at her most terrified. She was so keyed up and paranoid that she was finding potential danger even things she'd normally enjoy because they were happening on Nightmare Night. It's almost Pavlovian. See jack o' lanterns, break out in cold sweat.
Of course, as Borg noted, that isn’t the case now. As Fluttershy said at the end, she isn’t afraid anymore. Fluttershy’s growth in this episode is subtle, but definitely there. She isn’t hiding from Nightmare Night anymore. She’s opting out. It’s a very important distinction.
Now, reach your hand into the box. Is that cold spaghetti, or is it my own brains!?
Pegasopolis Centurion 2WW
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying, double strike
Equestria’s early years weren’t nearly as idyllic as the fables make them sound. The young nation had to fight for its survival for years.
2/1
Lingering Vestiges 5W
Creature — Spirit
Flying
When Lingering Vestiges dies, put three 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield.
Souls that have made the effort to return the world of the living have no intention of leaving it again.
3/3
Disconcerting Stare U
Sorcery
Look at target player’s hand. Put the top three cards of that player’s library into his or her graveyard.
”When in doubt, add more eyes.”
—Ditzy Doo
Brightscale Seapony 3U
Creature — Unicorn Merfolk
Whenever Brightscale Seapony attacks, you may tap or untap another target creature.
Narwhals aren’t the only horned creatures in Ungula’s seas.
3/2
End the Masquerade 4UU
Sorcery
Turn all face-down creatures face up. (If an instant or sorcery would be turned face up this way, reveal it, then leave it face-down.)
”Funny. You didn’t look Krosan.”
Piscine Abomination 5U
Creature — Fish Horror
Trample
Whenever a creature dies, target player puts the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Its gurgling howl is indistinguishable from the sound of your brain dribbling out through your ears.
4/5
Night Lepus 1B
Creature — Rabbit
3B: Target player discards a card. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Dark inspiration can take hold in any mind.
1/2
Unquiet Boneyard 2B
Enchantment
Whenever a nontoken creature dies, you may pay B. If you do, put a 1/1 black Skeleton creature token onto the battlefield with “B: Regenerate this creature.”
Earth pony burial rites began as a way to ensure their departed kin would stay departed.
Swooping Throatripper 2BB
Creature — Pegasus Vampire
Flying
Whenever Swooping Throatripper attacks, target creature defending player controls gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
She considers herself too dignified to suck.
2/2
Massive Mummy 5B
Creature — Pony Zombie
Whenever a creature card is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, if Massive Mummy is in your graveyard, you may exile that card. If you do, return Massive Mummy from your graveyard to your hand.
4/4
Traumify R
Sorcery
Target creature you don’t control can’t block this turn.
Overload 3R (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of “target” with “each.”)
Roller Damsel 1RR
Creature — Pony Citizen
If Roller Damsel didn’t attack during your last turn, it can’t attack unless you pay 2.
If Roller Damsel attacked during your last turn, it attacks this turn if able unless you pay 2.
Inertia is a harsh mistress.
3/3
Two-Headed Hatchling 2R
Creature — Dragon
Menace
1R: Two-Headed Hatchling gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
Ungulan dragons mutate radically with every generation.
2/2
Whipsilk Spider 2G
Creature — Spider
Reach
T: Target creature loses flying until end of turn.
There are countless reasons why it’s a bad idea to fly near the Everfree.
1/3
Trusted Farmhoof 2G
Creature — Pony Citizen
At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Trusted Farmhoof.
”Everypony knows there’s no such thing as hengstwolves.”
3/2
Orchard Stalker
(G) Creature — Cat
Provoke (Whenever this creature attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block it if able.)
At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player cast two or more spells last turn, transform Orchard Stalker.
Technically speaking, she wasn’t wrong.
4/4
Void Suit 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +1/+3.
When equipped creature is exiled, its owner may cast the exiled card for as long as it remains exiled.
Equip 3
It's one thing to boldly go where nopony has gone before. It's quite another to make it back.
Pony Placards 3
Artifact Creature — Pony Construct
Flash
Defender
”Unexpected guests are never fun, but at least these don’t eat much.”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
0/5
Survival Necessities 3
Artifact
Flash
Sacrifice Survival Necessities: This turn, damage that would reduce your life total to less than 1 reduces it to 1 instead.
”Never underestimate the power of peanut butter.”
—Trixie Lulamoon, traveling performer
Ponnequin Poltergeist 4
Artifact Creature — Construct Spirit
3: Target noncreature artifact becomes an artifact creature with power and toughness equal to its converted mana cost in addition to its other types until end of turn.
For the first time, Rarity regretted her gift for realizing inner beauty.
2/2
Rumbling Entrance RG
Enchantment
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, it gains haste and trample until end of turn.
Some first impressions are craters.
Wall of Silk GW
Creature — Wall
Defender
Reach
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to Wall of Silk by creatures without trample.
0/4
Spellweaver Skeleton 1UB
Creature — Unicorn Skeleton
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Exile two cards from your graveyard: Regenerate Spellweaver Skeleton.
Some horns keep casting long after the ponies have died.
2/1
Ditzy, Royal Stand-In 2WU
Planeswalker — Ditzy
+1: Until end of turn, up to one target creature gets +1/+1, gains flying, and becomes a Pony Pegasus Unicorn in addition to its other types.
-1: Scry X, where X is the number of Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns you control.
-7: You get an emblem with “Creatures you control get +2/+2, have flying, and are Pony Pegasus Unicorns in addition to their other types.”
3
Watcher Flock 2GW
Creature — Bird
Flying
Whenever an opponent casts a black spell, you may cast a creature card from your hand.
Their song denies the darkness any chance of stealth.
2/2
Haunted Corn Maze
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
2W, T: Remove target attacking creature from combat.
A pegasus once tried to fly out of it. They still haven’t found the body.
It was a good episode and I liked it.
I like to think the anime references had a characterizing purpose: these are Fluttershy's old favorite mangas.
When I noticed that my first thought was "the leak was planned all along"
Remember that in Luna Eclipsed she dressed as a scarecrow
Big Jim (I think it was him) tweeted that next time maybe she'll be the tin man.
Not quite as good as Luna Eclipsed, but still a fun one. I was slightly disappointed to find that Shy cannot turn into a bat at will (especially since she still had the fangly tooth.) but her prank game was so strong it was Pinkie level. I would almost think she asked Discord for advice. (Not help. Advice.)
Nice association between Twilight and Spengler.
It was a good, funny episode, with a nice moral.
One little thing that I especially liked was Pinkie on rollerskates: she rolls around throughout the whole episode, sometimes pushed by other ponies, sometimes careening off-screen into something, and it's never forgotten about even though it's mostly a background thing. I like that kind of attention to detail.
When I first watched this eppie, I came to the realization about each aniime gale, they are each sort of lie her best friends.
Usagi- Pinkie Pie (Really happy, able to make friends with anyone)
Utena- Rarity (In a fancy school)
Bulma-twilight (ery intellegent and technically a princess...she married Vegeta)
Ramma- Dash or Applejack (badass fighters)
The only one I can't think of is Rei, but that is only because I have never watched Evangaliion
I think you could give Roller Damsel haste and it would still be balanced. Because without haste you'll always have to pay the 2 for the first attack whereas with haste it wasn't on the battlefield your previous turn so could have neither attached nor not have attacked and you decide which way the inertia goes.
Trusted Farmhoof gets all of my yes. We need more therianthropic felines. More therianthropic anything really.
Sadly Survival Necessities can only save you from damage, if someone is sucking out your life directly you still die. If you want it to be a catch all "I'm not dead yet!" thing you need to add in "You can't lose the game this turn and your opponents can't win the game this turn. " à la Angel's Grace.
Ditzy makes alicorns now? I'm alright with this.
Not really a whole lot to comment on this time around, most are pretty decent cards but nothing really stood out to me.
It's a little weird that nobody notices pony JEM.
This was a good episode.
Although when I saw Angel got a crazy look on his face and Fluttershy on the tree, I started thinking that Angel had a different idea in mind. But it was the next best thing, a costume of Flutterbat.
Of the six of them, she seems to have the most time to think through the implications of things. Everyone else is too damned busy to psyche themselves into turning nothing into something. Heck, one of the others is so busy, she never has time to make a costume that isn't mostly office supplies.
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NYEH HEH HEH!
At first I wasn't sure why you specified "you don't control" on Traumify, but then I remembered there are ways to cast sorceries at instant speed.
My inner pedant likes the term hengstwolf.
Void Suit kind of boggled my mind for a minute or two.
Ditzy's second ability is kind of weird. Does it count each creature with one or more of the appropriate types only once?
Watcher Flock is cool. Solid sideboard card
3512348
Fluttershy just doesn't seem like the manga-reading type to me. Clearly, I am wrong.
And I have to admit, I completely missed the potential Wizard of Oz running gag with Applejack's costumes until you pointed it out.
3512395
She may have actually gotten a little help from Discord. After all, where did the skeletal Granny Smith come from?
3512607
Agreed. It's always nice to see the animators have fun.
3512624
Honestly, the member of the Mane Six closed to Rei would probably be Fluttershy herself. Both are quiet and rather alluring in their aloofness. Of course, Fluttershy isn't nearly as broken as Rei, and I mean that in multiple senses of the term. Seriously, Evangelion being a thing in Equestria carries a lot of messed-up baggage.
3512689
Roller Damsel: I'm afraid you're mistaken about the interaction with haste. After all, Roller Damsel definitely didn't attack the turn before it entered the battlefield. Mind you, I'm not sure how it would work if you somehow got one out during your first turn...
Ditzy, Royal Stand-In: Flavorwise, it's a blend of pegasus magic, illusions, and cardboard. But it still works.
3512843
Well, she's only onscreen for a few seconds, and most people are probably going to focus on the CMC.
3513193
)
I'm still convinced that the paper bags were an elaborate symbolic commentary on the absurdity of a society of habitual nudists celebrating a holiday by putting on clothes. (At least, that's what she'd tell anyone who asked.
3514209
Traumify: The do or don't control rider just feels customary on overload cards. Though it's true that there are ways to make others' combats interesting in multiplayer games.
Ditzy, Royal Stand-In: The ability only counts them once, much like how Honorable Scout's ability will only give you 2 life for a black and red creature.
3514428
3514428 Aye, but she was right next to pony Sailor Moon cosplay in the beginning.
3514428 Great. She'd be Farnsworth saying "Those words I strung together make a sort of sense."
3514694
Well, speaking personally, I just didn't recognize her at the time. Jem was never really my thing.
3515338
Here's what I would've used for the Sideboard of Harmony story. (Probably not going to now. We'll see.)
3515517 That slaps me on the knee!!!
3514428
Another running joke, maybe, that I just realized.
In Luna Eclipsed Spike dressed as a dragon. In Scare Master Spike dressed as two dragons