Friendship is Card Games: Honest Apple · 10:43am Jun 4th, 2017
This week, we look at a very accurate rendition of what would happen if you asked me to judge a fashion competition. Let’s face it, asking a big name in fashion to design you an outfit is a bit like asking a big-name architect to build you a house; it’ll look unbelievable—hopefully in a good way—but it won’t even pretend to be practical.
Of course, one can go too far in the other direction…
At this point, both Rarity and Spike know she’s exploiting his infatuation with her. And both seem to be fine with that. Okay then, I guess.
I do like how Rarity’s paying her success forward. She never forgot her roots or how hard it was getting started. Indeed, that she can call in ponies she tried so hard to impress back in Season 1 shows how far she’s come.
Also, we get a rare case of seeing Pinkie insert things into her mane-based personal hyperspace pocket rather than simply extract them.
“Futur” is a legitimate French translation of future. Wanted to be sure there.
When even Pinkie Pie says a proposed plan doesn’t make sense, you should probably rethink said plan. Also, shouldn’t Rarity have cleared this with Applejack before getting the fliers printed?
Heh. Reference to the Apples’ hat and bow closet. Though shouldn’t Applejack have a few Rarity originals to call her own? Surely she didn’t use them all for rags.
Applejack? Is there something you'd like to tell us?
Yes, one would expect Applejack to have a reputation for honesty after she wielded and later became its physical manifestation.
I’m not sure what Pinkie was groaning at. I suspect it was the ponified idiom.
“Ponies have cups of tea! She didn’t need to bring oats in to this.”
Curious to think that Apple Bloom would be the sibling with fashion familiarity, but it does make some sense. She probably spends more time with Sweetie Belle than Applejack does with Rarity, and given the staggering breadth of experience brought by the Crusade, Apple Bloom likely knows a little about almost everything. Mostly about how not to do it, but that’s more than AJ can claim.
That said, I do have to wonder why Mac and Jack even let Apple Bloom begin the work day wearing that hat.
Photo Finish shouting “KISS! KISS!” is one of the more entertaining parts of the episode. I can see that being appropriated for all kinds of things. “I FAINT!” was pretty good too, but it doesn’t have the wealth of out-of-context potential.
I see Coco’s first name is still verboten. (Or, on a Watsonian level, perhaps she's simply calling herself "Miss Pommel" to enhance her personal mystique.) Still, good to see her continuing to make progress herself… though I do wonder about Rarity being out of the loop in fashion news. You'd think she'd want to stay on top of things, or that Coco would've written her.
Yeeeaaah, Applejack is really poorly suited for judging this. After all, pony fashion is a luxury. Put another way, it’s a lie. It says, “This superfluous fabric is definitely worth your hard-earned money.” No wonder she recoils at it.
Am I the only one who thought of Unicorn Frappucinos when I saw Starstreak’s mane? Granted, after writing a story about them, I’m probably a bit sensitive to the color scheme. Also, his cutie mark seems to be one of the most abstract ones we've seen... or just one with an incredibly outré color scheme.
I am frankly astonished that we don’t already have Inky Rose/Moonlight Raven shipfics.
Okay, I’m sure there are plentiful ways to distress fabric, but I’m pretty sure driving nails into it isn’t one of them. Then again, I’m no fashionista.
Seconds after Rarity finished rocking out, her tail vanished, her mane shrank, and her ears became tiny semicircles that moved to the sides of her head. Twilight was unavailable for comment. (Hey, if it works for human Rainbow Dash…)
Wow, Applejack. Rude. Even if you think the feathers are pointless ornamentation, you still destroyed hours of work. (That said, they couldn’t have been as well-stitched as Hoity thought if they came off with one vigorous shake.)
Applejack isn’t wrong about fashion being ridiculous, but you don’t say that to half a dozen people who’ve dedicated their lives to it.
Insistently defending her opinions just because they’re hers. Can you imagine how insufferable human Applejack must be in Internet debates?
Interesting to note that Strawberry Sunrise isn’t a new character. She was training back during ”Hurricane Fluttershy”. This is just her first speaking role.
Also, I have to admit, while I enjoy apples, I do prefer strawberries.
And so Applejack comes to understand why Honesty is only part of Harmony and not the whole thing. All things in moderation, especially moderation.
So… why didn’t Inky Rose take to the air when she was trying to escape?
I do love how, while the other two contestants smile during Applejack’s apology, Inky Rose just frowns less. No wonder, given her later attempt to smile.
You kind of have to feel sorry for Ponyville’s construction workers this season. First they get asked to help with an animal sanctuary that has no actual buildings, and now there’s a stage that doesn’t know if it wants to exist.
Hmm. Applejack helping with the sewing machine jam brings “Magical Mystery Cure” to mind. Perhaps Rarity had hoped that AJ’s brief time trying to run the Boutique would make her more sympathetic to the contestants.
I do love how Pinkie Pie can be counted on for precisely timed distractions.
Personally, I’d have given the win to Starstreak. Complain though I may, I wholeheartedly endorse the right of the artist to realize their visions, especially if that means draping models in truly ridiculous outfits. What can I say? I'm a fickle audience.
In all, this one was interesting, especially given the combination of lesson and plot. Applejack learning the finer points of tact feels like something that would’ve been more appropriate earlier in the series, but the circumstances needed to get us to this point wouldn’t have worked before Rarity started really making it big. On the other hand, we do get to see AJ’s hesitation to say anything at first. It’s a slow burn; only as she grows into the role does she truly embrace her inner asshat.
All told, I had fun with this one. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but entertaining. Of course, that’s just my opinion. Now, let’s see how our judges react to this round’s offerings:
Dumbfound 1W
Instant
Target player can’t cast spells with even converted mana costs this turn. Creatures that player controls with even converted mana costs can’t attack this turn. (Zero is even.)
Some things are just too odd to process.
Shared Success 1W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.
Fabulosity 2WW (2WW: If this enchantment isn’t fabulous, put a gem counter on it and it becomes fabulous.)
When Shared Success becomes fabulous, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control other than enchanted creature.
Staunch Utilitarian 1W
Creature — Pony Advisor
Players can’t cast Aura or Equipment spells or activate equip abilities.
The only beauty she recognizes is the kind she sees when she looks back on a hard day’s work.
2/2
Elaborate Vision 2WW
Enchantment
Enchanted creatures you control get +2/+2.
Fabulosity 4WW
When Elaborate Vision becomes fabulous, for each creature you control, you may put an Aura card from your hand or graveyard onto the battlefield attached to that creature.
Judges’ Favor 4W
Sorcery
Will of the council — Starting with you, each player votes for a nonland permanent you control. Put a divinity counter on each permanent with the most votes or tied for most votes. Each of those permanents has indestructible as long as it has a divinity counter on it.
Futurist Perspective U
Enchantment
You may look at the top card of your library. (You may do this at any time.)
Fabulosity 3UU
As long as Futurist Perspective is fabulous, you may play the top card of your library.
Ridicule 1U
Sorcery
Goad target creature you don’t control. That creature’s activated abilities can’t be activated until your next turn. (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)
Draw a card.
Sleep on It 1U
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast Sleep on It, tap and exert an untapped creature you control. (That creature won’t untap during your next untap step.)
Draw two cards.
There are many forms of meditation.
Mirror Belle 1UU
Creature — Pony Spellshaper
UU, T, Discard a card: You may choose new targets for target spell.
”I don’t look half as ridiculous as you’re going to feel.”
1/1
Cathartic Shredding 2U
Sorcery
Multikicker—Remove a verse counter from a Song you control. (You may remove any number of verse counters from among Songs you control in addition to any other costs as you cast this spell.)
Target player puts the top seven cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, then puts the top two cards of that library into that graveyard for each time Cathartic Shredding was kicked.
Efforts Undone 2U
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand. If that permanent has a counter on it, put it on top of that player’s library instead.
”Hang on, I think I missed a few.”
—Applejack, Bearer of Honesty
Figuratively Literal 2U
Enchantment
When Figuratively Literal enters the battlefield, manifest the top card of your library. (Put it onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it’s a creature card.)
Whenever an instant or sorcery card is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may cast that card without paying its mana cost.
Grotesque Ensemble 1B
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -1/-1 for each enchantment you control.
Fabulosity 3B
When Grotesque Ensemble becomes fabulous, enchanted creature’s controller sacrifices it.
Gloomy Outlook 1BB
Enchantment
Black creatures you control get +1/+1.
Fabulosity 3BBB
When Gloomy Outlook becomes fabulous, destroy all nonblack creatures.
To see Inky Rose’s favored palette, shut your eyes.
Dusky Shroud 2BB
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +X/+X, where X is your devotion to black. (Each B in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
“How much blacker can an ensemble get? None. None more black.”
—Hoity Toity, arbiter of fashion
Fine Distinction 2BB
Sorcery
Search your library for up to two cards with the same name and reveal them. Put one into your hand and the other into your graveyard. Then shuffle your library.
”An eye for fashion leaves the whole world blind.”
—Applejack, Bearer of Honesty
Strike the Set 3RR
Sorcery
Destroy target land. If that land was nonbasic, its controller sacrifices a land.
In Ponyville, collateral damage is an expected part of the construction process.
Curse of Practicality 2G
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
At the beginning of enchanted player’s upkeep, that player sacrifices an artifact or enchantment.
”May you tear apart your greatest works to replace a rusty plow blade.”
Gather the Herd 5G
Sorcery
Search your library for a Pony card, a Pegasus card, and a Unicorn card. Reveal those cards and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Applejack can wrangle anything, including her own kind.
Avatar of Honesty 6GG
Creature — Avatar
Avatar of Honesty costs 1 less to cast for each instant card and card with flash in your opponents’ graveyards.
Trample, hexproof
Play with your hand revealed.
8/8
Icon’s Sedan Chair 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature has: “Tap another untapped creature you control: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.”
Equip 1
For ponies with more important things to do than walk.
Unwieldy Headgear 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +3/+3.
Fabulosity 4
Equipped creature can’t attack unless Unwieldy Headgear is fabulous.
Equip 2
Inky Obsidian 4
Artifact
Black spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
T: Add B to your mana pool.
Cold, jagged fragments of bygone passion resonate with the more morbid ponies of Equestria.
Distressed Look 2(wb)
Enchantment
When Distressed Look enters the battlefield, return target artifact or enchantment card from a graveyard to the battlefield. If you do, Distressed Look becomes an Aura with enchant artifact or enchantment. Attach it to that permanent.
When Distressed Look leaves the battlefield, enchanted permanent’s controller sacrifices it.
It was nice to see Photo Finish again. She had some amusing moments.
Especially when you consider that clothing is optional in their society. It's not hard to see why she thinks the whole industry is ridiculous. But, yeah, she did cross the line when she said that out loud to all of the fashion designers.
I agree. It doesn't seem like as much of a character regression as, say “Cart Before the Ponies” or “28 Pranks Later.” Plus, it feels plausible that it might have been a long time since anyone called AJ out on being too honest or tactless. It was a good lesson for her. Not one of my favorites, but not a bad episode by any stretch.
This is why I think it's long since gone far, far beyond "infatuation." I think he's courting her, for real. And it's possible that the writers have even noticed the point that Spike expresses his love for Twilight by working as her assistant; and would logically express his love for Rarity in the same manner.
I would think 'sacrifices' needs to be changed to 'exiles'. Seems more thematically appropriate.
Ooh! Cathartic Shredding looks like it'll be a great alternate victory condition for my prospective Bant song deck.
And Figuratively Literal makes blocking manifest creatures even more dangerous. As in, Joke's on you, that "creature" was actually Pthisis!"
Kinda want to use Gather the Herd to search up three alicorns.
Ironic that AJ was the one who made Unwieldy Headgear fabulous, in this case.
4557670
That's definitely one of the better interpretations of the exchange.
4557676
Not necessarily. Once the perception of the object goes from "distressed" to "tattered," you throw it out again. AJ has a point.
4557813
I admit, I am stupidly pleased with myself for finding a way to write the phrase "Whenever an instant or sorcery card is put into your graveyard from the battlefield," in a context where it actually makes sense.
Also, now I'm picturing Applejack as the most hooves-on majordomo imaginable:
"Git along, li'l princess! We got us a four o' clock press conference at the western garden!"
"Can't we stop for just one little scone?"
"I said git! Hee-yah!"
(shocked royal horse noises)
4557970
*Snerk*
And then there's the fact that you just know she'd get away with it.
I only write straight, but let me tell you, this was absolutely one of my first thoughts when I saw Inky.
Regardless, I think something needs to be written for these two. Raven is a goth who appreciates fashion; Inky is a goth who creates high-end goth fashion; the universe will not be complete until these two interact somehow.
Part of me is thinking that Rarity wanted to let all three ponies win in the first place. It almost looked as if she had chosen AJ because she couldn't make up her mind......
I thought it was a bit funny that poor Starstreak got shredded for practicality when Bauhaus (for which he was, IMHO, clearly a representation) as a movement was heavily based on joining design and functionality together.
But then again, when the baseline is nothing at all, justifying something per definition superfluous as practical is a pretty tough sell anyway.
Frankly, Appulhoers' turn playing Simon Cowell seems to highlight a real problem putting herself in non-farmpones' mostly-absent shoes. Psychological needs (and fancy-schmancy duds for the odd hootenanny) are a thing too, and even if High Art(C) creations/creators may strike one as head-scratchingly bizarre, who got banished and made her Regent of Ascetic Tailoring Thought?
Which may well have been a job title back when Starlight was running Equaltown into the dirt. Dismissing projects & circles that don't fit one's lifestyle as frivolous anti-necessities is just a skosh myopic...which actually gels rather well with the singlemindedness we've seen from AJ in prior episodes. Irritating but plausible scenario & personality clash(es).
4558050
By far the best explanation I've heard for adding Applejack to the panel... though I will note that Rarity made her decision before she started asking for participants.
4558562
Don't be ridiculous. Naming somepony "Regent of Ascetic Tailoring Thought" would designate them as somehow distinct from and implicitly better than the others. Two weeks in the Propaganda Hut.
4558562
Mental myopia is AJ's major malfunction. It comes from the detrimental habit of assuming that she's right about most things.
4561275
Nailed it. Hatpony can get durn near as high on herself as RD; it’s just usually expressed in a lower-key Downhome Wisdom(C) fashion (urgh), and as such slips right under friends & neighbors’ radar.
4561311
Which made things a damned sight easier for the people at the Lunaverse to turn her into a well-intentioned but annoying hindrance.
4561321
Yep, sanctimonious streaks are heinously easy to weaponize when one’s plot calls for a gadfly (or horsefly).
Oh, right, that script-flip series which makes Elements outta Trixie & a background-pone squad.
4557970
Figuratively Literal is indeed fun. I did not enjoy Manifest too much, but I think it solves my problems with it. I’m also enjoying how Curse of Practicality gives internal balance to this episode’s cards - which, on the whole, make me want to pull out the ol’ Krond deck.