SPOILERS? Mariusioannesp Reviews: "To Where and Back Again Parts 1 and 2" · 7:23am Nov 3rd, 2016
WARNING!!! The following contains SPOILERS for the MLP’s season finale “To Where and Back Again”.
Now, without further a-road-goes-ever-on-and-on-do, here is my review of “To Where and Back Again”.
Starlight Glimmer is invited by the residents of the town she ruled with an iron hoof for their annual Sunset Festival, and she’s rather nervous about it. Her best friend the Great and Powerful Trixie joins her for moral support. Unfortunately, Starlight is unable to go through with it and returns to Ponyville forthwith. However, Starlight notices something odd about her friends. She soon discovers that her friends and all the princesses have been kidnapped and replaced by Changelings. Yes, the Changelings are back! Now, it’s up to the ragtag group of Starlight, Trixie, Discord, and Thorax to save their friends and all of Equestria. Will Starlight learn that she has what it takes to be a real leader?
So what’s the verdict?
Well, it had all the makings of a great finale, but didn't quite hit the mark in my opinion. But, it was still better than I thought it would be. It’s definitely got that going for it.
So yeah, I liked it. For the most part.
We begin with Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer organizing some books when Twilight brings up how much Starlight has come as her student and friend. Starlight tries to play it off as all Twilight’s doing, but Twilight assures Starlight that she’s responsible for the pony she’s become. That’s when Spike notices that something appears to be approaching the castle, and it’s coming in hot! 
It’s Derpy! And she’s wearing that uniform she was wearing in the background of “Crusaders of the Lost Mark” last season. She’s here to deliver a letter that Twilight just assumes is for her, but it’s actually for Starlight.
There you have it folks. It’s absolute confirmation on the show itself that Derpy is in fact what we’ve always imagined her to be. Derpy is in fact a mail carrier. That’s the best part of this episode right there.
Anyway, what Starlight received was an invitation from the residents of “Our Town” to attend their annual Sunset Festival. Starlight isn’t happy about this at all. Soon enough, Starlight is back at Our Town where she runs into her old friends Double Diamond and Party Favor. 
Despite inviting her, they’re not happy to see her at all. They didn’t think she’d show because why would she think they’d want her there. Then everypony just laughs derisively at her. 
Oh my gosh. There’s that face again.
It was just everywhere this season. 
Suddenly though, it’s the middle of night and guess who shows up. 
It’s Princess Luna! Turns out this is all a dream, and Luna’s here to calm Starlight’s nightmare. Luna’s advice to her is to discuss the anxiety she is experiencing about seeing her old friends with the Mane 6 as they’ve helped Luna herself the same way. Luna tells Starlight that she sees a lot of herself in Starlight. Hoo boy. Luna is one of the most beloved characters in the Brony fandom. Starlight is not. I’m sure Starlight’s detractors will love hearing Luna compare her favorably to herself. But that is neither here nor there. Luna walks back to the moon and Starlight awakens from the Dreaming. 
The next day, Starlight acting on Luna’s advice discusses her anxiety with the Mane 6. Rarity assures Starlight that since she apologized to them and they accepted, everypony has moved on. Starlight though is worried because the ponies of Our Town don’t know how much she’s changed or perhaps Starlight hasn’t changed as much as she thinks she has. Rainbow Dash assures Starlight that she is a totally different pony now because before she was awful. Fluttershy also adds that they wouldn’t have invited her if they didn’t want to see her, and Pinkie Pie tells would be bad to skip out on a party you were invited to. Twilight suggests that Starlight bring a friend with her to provide moral support. 
Twilight clearly has somepony in particular in mind as the friend Starlight should choose.
So, the friend Starlight chooses is The Great and Powerful Trixie! 
Yes, Trixie is back for the first time a second time in the same season. You can hate on Starlight all you want, but if she’s the excuse for having more Trixie, than more power to them. Either way, Trixie is just loving passive-aggressively rubbing it in Twilight’s face that Starlight chose her over Twilight.
Twilight’s not handling it too well.
Twilight feels the need to tell Spike that she meant herself. 
Yeah Twilight, we all know you meant yourself.
Trixie keeps rubbing it in Twilight’s face while rubbing her actual face in Starlight’s face. 
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends….
Not handling it well at all.
So, Starlight and Trixie are off, and soon enough, they are overlooking the place where this all began, Our Town. 
Starlight just wants to blend in with the crowd, just a pony enjoying the festival with her best friend and probable lover. Trixie agrees to that and promises to have her flank if things go south. But it’s not just any promise. It’s a Great and Powerful Promise! 
So, Starlight and Trixie make their way to Our Town where they run into Double Diamond and Party Favor. In real life though, they as well as the other townsponies like Sugar Belle are legitimately glad that Starlight has come. 
Starlight even gets a little teasing from Trixie for being so afraid to come back. 
They wonder if Starlight will be staying the whole week because they have events planned for each day. They even want her advice on things like their banner and for her to participate in events like judging the baking competition, planning routes for a relay race, determining the order of acts in the talent show, and a Unicorn fireworks show. All this attention causes Starlight to freak out. 
Trixie quickly extricates Starlight from this situation and makes haste to exit. 
Starlight and Trixie are on their way back to Ponyville talking about what happened. Starlight wasn’t expecting them to have her take charge again. Given her history, she doesn’t think she should be trusted to lead anything. Huh. I wonder if that’s significant for this episode’s plot. Anyway, Trixie understands, but she thinks the best thing is just to move on and forget your past. Trixie even secretly admits to Starlight that even Trixie’s made mistakes. This is important. 
Starlight and Trixie arrive in Ponyville and run into Pinkie. However, Pinkie acts a bit more strangely than usual. She doesn’t seem to know what Starlight is talking about when she explains why she’s back early from the festival. In fact, she seems to barely recognize Starlight. 
Starlight then runs into Applejack and Rarity, who she questions over Pinkie’s odd behavior. They don’t find anything odd with her. Either way, Starlight explains to her friends what happened, and they burst out in derisive laughter, showing none of the sensitivity they showed before.
Then Rainbow and Fluttershy show up and coldly escort Applejack and Rarity away. 
Now Starlight knows something’s up. She rushes to the Castle of Friendship but finds she can’t open the door herself. Spike only talks to her through a slot in the door and insists she has to make an appointment to talk to Twilight because she's a princess. 
Twilight tries to play off Spike’s rudeness as him skipping his nap or a meal. Twilight asks how Starlight is doing, and Starlight tells her what happened at Our Town. Twilight then gives her some rather surprising advice. She says Starlight should basically end her friendship with her old friends back at Our Town and never have anything to do with them again. 
Starlight doesn’t really buy this, but Twilight then goes off to a secretive meeting with the rest of the Mane 6. 
Later that night, Starlight goes to bed and finds herself in another nightmare. This time, Twilight and her friends angrily confront Starlight over returning to Our Town even though she told her never to do so. 
Starlight just knew it didn’t seem right. But that’s not the only thing that’s wrong. Princess Luna appears making Starlight realize that it’s all just a dream. However, Luna seems to be having a problem staying put. 
Luna relays to her the message that she and Princess Celestia have been captured by Changelings and that they need help! Luna can’t hold on to the Dreaming much longer, and so it suddenly collapses. 
Starlight then awakens with a fright now that she knows the Changelings are back! 
Starlight sneaks out of the castle and goes to Trixie. 
Peanut butter crackers? You know who really liked peanut butter crackers? The human Trixie from Equestria Girls! These humans and their corresponding ponies are more alike than we think.
Well, Starlight finally rouses Trixie from her sleep.
I think it’s adorable Trixie sleeps with a starry night cap similar to her usual magician’s hat.
Either way, Starlight warns Trixie that they’re in danger, but then figures she should probably confirm that Trixie is actually Trixie. Starlight forces her to tell her again the secret thing she told her before, and so Trixie admits reluctantly again that sometimes Trixie has made mistakes. Once confirmed, Starlight tells Trixie how the princesses have been captured by Changelings. Trixie immediately thinks to go to Twilight about this, but Starlight suspects it might be too late for that.
Starlight and Trixie presumably sneak back into the castle and spy on the Mane 6 and Spike in the throne room. 
There, they unfortunately confirm Starlight’s suspicions. 
I must say, this is really cool. I hope we get to see more of these magical scarab Changeling communicators in the future. You know, despite what happens later on. More on that later.
More importantly, it’s Queen Chrysalis! She is officially back!
Queen Chrysalis insists that she can’t take them seriously when disguised so she has them drop them. During the Changeling infiltrators’ report, we get the jist of their master plan. These Changelings have replaced the Mane 6 and Spike and have taken control of the castle. Another group in Canterlot have taken and replaced the princesses. Now, with all the most beloved ponies in Equestria taken off the table, nothing can stop Chrysalis this time! 
Starlight causes the door to the throne room to creak, catching the Changelings’ attention. 
Starlight hides Trixie and her with some kind of camouflaging spell. 
One of the Changelings seems to kind of smell them.
But they escape notice, much to Trixie’s relief. 
Starlight and Trixie regroup at Trixie’s wagon. Trixie is in quite the panic over all this. This is princess-level stuff, and they’ve gotten all the princesses already! 
Starlight, this isn’t the time to start feeling up the mare you want to do it with!
Starlight figures since Chrysalis didn’t mention having captured Princess Cadance, she might still be safe, and they can still get to her at the Crystal Empire before the Changelings do. However, there is no help from the Crystal Empire as they are informed by one of their friends from there. 
It’s Thorax!
Trixie starts to panic again at the sight of a Changeling so Starlight seals her in a magical soundproof bubble. 
Starlight almost immediately notices that Thorax’s wings are different. They’re much more sparkly than a typical Changeling’s wings. I wonder if that’s important. 
Then, Starlight realizes what if this isn’t Thorax, but another Changeling pretending to be Thorax. Thorax proves himself by turning into Twilight and reciting part of her speech from “The Times They Are A Changeling.” Now that she’s certain of Thorax’s identity, Starlight explains to Trixie how Thorax is a reformed Changeling, and that he’s on their side. 
Despite that, Trixie is still a little hesitant to have Thorax near her. 
Either way, Thorax informs them that the Changelings have already taken Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and even Flurry Heart. Sunburst sent him to get Twilight’s help, but it’s too late for that. This is the only time Sunburst will be mentioned in this episode. In fact, he doesn’t even show up. 
Now, this is quite the predicament. Trixie and Thorax are turning to Starlight for what to do, but she doesn’t know what to do. There has to be somepony who could handle this despite that all the most magically powerful ponies have already been taken. Then, they are reminded that some-Draconequus always gets left out whenever ponies talk about powerful magic. Now, who would that be? 
It’s Discord! And he thinks they’re quite the combination of secondary characters. I love it when Discord gets meta like that.
Starlight questions whether Discord is really who he says he is. He proves himself be creating chaos around them, making flowers dance and turning trees into cuckoo clocks and the like. 
Discord doesn’t seem too interested as Starlight explains how the Changelings have kidnapped and replaced all the princesses. 
That is, until she mentions that they’ve taken all Twilight’s friends as well. That means of course that they took Fluttershy. 
Now with Discord all in, he immediately teleports them all to Fluttershy’s location. However, instead of finding Fluttershy, they find this. 
Welcome to the Changeling Kingdom!
Discord’s confused as to why they ended up where they are rather than where he intended them to be. Thorax tries to explain, but Discord ignores him. Starlight suggests they come up with a plan before moving forward, but Discord balks at the suggestion because he can do anything. 
They don’t need anything else because they have him. Here, we see some of that arrogance Discord displayed in “Dungeons and Discords” earlier this season. Trixie would like if they had a Draconequus with half a brain along with his magic. Discord questions why Trixie’s even there because they’re not going to be able to defeat the Changelings with her stage magic. 
I like how Discord and Trixie immediately have a belligerent relationship.
Discord then conjures himself as winged pig as a steed and flies off to Fluttershy’s rescue. 
However, he finds that the pig and all his magical accoutrements disappear once he crosses the border into the Changeling Kingdom. Thorax finally is allowed to explain that nothing but Changeling magic works in the Changeling Kingdom because Chrysalis’ throne is made of an ancient dark stone that absorbs all other magic like Changelings absorb love. Without magic, Starlight’s not sure what to do, but she thinks someone should come up with a plan. No one else does so Starlight is forced to come up with something. Starlight confirms with Thorax that destroying the throne would allow them to use their magic. Starlight decides their best course of action is to go to the Changeling hive, and since they won’t have any magic, they’re going to have to walk. Discord’s not too happy about all this. As they make their way to the hive, Starlight suggests they come up with a code word so that they can make sure they are who they say they are. Trixie suggests “klutzy Draconequus” after Discord trips and falls.
Soon enough, Starlight and her squad have reached the gates of the Changeling hive. 
They’ve redesigned the Changeling armor, and I must say, it looks awesome. I wonder if we’ll ever see it again considering how this episode ended. More on that later.
Thorax leads the others through an entrance in the side. 
And then we get for the first time a look inside a Changeling hive.
They also find that the entrance they came through disappeared. Turns out, a Changeling hive is constantly changing and shifting like Changelings themselves. It’s total chaos if you’re not a Changeling. Discord however thinks it’s just decent chaos and not total chaos.
As they make their way through the hive, Discord wants to confirm that he’ll have is magic back once they destroy the throne. Starlight answers that if Thorax is right, then yes. Discord doesn't find this reassuring. Then, Trixie asks how they are going to destroy the throne in the first place. Starlight doesn't know. Trixie doesn’t find this reassuring. Discord and Trixie start bickering over how useless to their mission the other seems. Starlight then chews them both out because she’s barely holding it together, and it would be nice if they could at least be more helpful. They’re contrite and willing to help, but Starlight doesn't even know how they can. They’re all equally as useless without magic, but at least Thorax knows where they’re going.
That’s when Thorax lets them know that they're lost. Trixie defeatedly resigns themselves to being captured by Changelings and having their loved sucked out or whatever disgusting thing Changelings do. She inquires with Thorax how often do Changelings get hungry. According to Thorax, Changelings are always hungry, but he hasn't been hungry since he met Spike and made a few friends. This piques Starlight’s interest, and she confirms that Thorax stopped going hungry around the time his wings changed. I wonder if this is important.
Discord however is not interested in any of this because he has a Fluttershy to save, and he makes this known at the top of his lungs. Discord’s screaming attracts the attention of some Changelings. Then they hear what Thorax recognizes as a Changeling patrol coming their way. Now, Discord agrees that they need a plan. Trixie doesn’t know what they’re going to do without magic because it’s not like her illusions can save them. This gives Starlight an idea. Trixie and Thorax impersonating Trixie use her smoke bombs to make it look like Trixie is teleporting all around the Changeling patrol. They manage to successfully lead the Changeling patrol away from the others. Once they do so, Trixie returns, and they confirm her doppelganger is Thorax with their codeword “klutzy Draconequus”. Discord thinks they need a new codeword. Though they successfully avoided the Changelings, they still don’t know where they’re going. Starlight notes that two of the Changelings in the patrol went off in an entirely different direction. Thorax recalls that when there’s an intruder in the hive, they go to protect the queen.
Eventually, they reach the entrance to Chrysalis’ chambers. 
They’re going to have to go in there, but they won’t get past the guards without a distraction. Normally, Discord is the most distracting thing he can think of, but he doesn’t have his magic. Starlight begs to differ.
Discord goes up to the Changeling guards and starts doing stand-up at them!
He even has a little microphone he got from Trixie's bag. 
Though it’s not clear where the rimshots that accompany his punchlines come from if Discord doesn’t have his magic.
Discord manages to lead the Changeling guards away, and Trixie finds it absolutely ridiculous that it worked. Discord loses the guards and is happy to have such devoted fans. There’s Discord being meta again. Then, Discord just so happens to come across Fluttershy.
The very pony Discord came to rescue all by herself with her tail trapped under a rock right there when he’s become separated from the group. Discord of course is Genre Savvy enough to smell this setup from a mile away. However, this Fluttershy doppelganger ups the ante by crying, understanding why he shouldn’t trust her. Then suddenly there’s a legion of Fluttershys all crying and claiming to be the real one!
Discord looks like he’s on the verge of a breakdown over all this.
Thorax is concerned about waiting for Discord any longer. After spotting him and Trixie, the hive will soon be swarming with guards. But for Starlight, they’ll need Discord if they manage to destroy the throne. Suddenly, Discord is back claiming to know the way to the throne, but he doesn’t respond to the codeword when Trixie begins it. Of course, they know Discord’s been captured and this Discord is a Changeling. This Discord is about to lead them down a tunnel, but Thorax recognizes this as a Changeling trick meant to lead them to a swarm of Changelings lying in wait. He advises going down the other tunnel. Trixie tells them that she’ll handle this and to be ready to make a break for the other tunnel. Starlight objects because she can’t lose Trixie as well as Discord on top of being without magic. Wait, she can't lose Trixie. I'm sure that's just because they're such great friends and not anything more than that. Trixie though assures Starlight that even though she’s afraid to be in charge, she is really good at it. She doesn’t need magic to figure out what to do next because she got them this far with Trixie’s illusionist skills and Discord’s annoying personality. With that, Trixie uses one of her magic tricks to capture the Changeling and send Starlight and Thorax on their way. Of course though, Trixie gets captured herself. 
Eventually, Starlight Glimmer makes it Chrysalis’ throneroom.
There she finds hanging from cocoons on the ceiling her friends and the kidnapped princesses. 
She also finds Discord and Trixie as well. 
But that’s not all who’s there. 
Queen Chrysalis has finally appeared! I don’t think she’s ever been as creepy and bug-like as she is in this moment. Not only that, there’s a whole legion of Changelings there who quickly subdue Starlight. 
There she is glued to the floor with Changeling goo, just like they were in “A Canterlot Wedding” way back at the end of Season 2. 
Chrysalis starts monologuing about how Starlight’s little squad was all that’s left and no pony else is coming for them. She didn’t even bother replacing Starlight because she thought she was inconsequential. Well, to many Starlight is, but she still has her fans. Now, Starlight is the only one who’s left. Starlight notes that Thorax is still out there. Chrysalis doesn’t want to hear about Thorax, and she assures Starlight that once he’s found, she’ll show him what happens to those who betray the hive. And she doesn’t have far to look. Turns out, Starlight is actually Thorax in disguise! 
These guys are not happy to see Thorax again.
Starlight meanwhile has been trying to destroy Chrysalis’ throne with a rock. 
Chrysalis reveals that her master plan was to take and replace all the most beloved ponies in Equestria so that her drones can absorb all the love meant for them and bring it back to the hive so they’ll be able to feed for generations. Everypony will be doing what she says for she will be running Equestria behind the scenes. Starlight tells Chrysalis she doesn’t have to do all that because Thorax has found another way. Chrysalis refuses to accept that because the hunger of Changelings cannot be satisfied.
Starlight further tells Chrysalis that Thorax managed to share love by making friends. Now, he doesn’t have to feed. They all don’t have to live their lives starving all the time.
The Changelings actually consider what Starlight has to say. This might be significant. 
Chrysalis though continues to be stubborn. She’s the queen of the Changelings, and she’s the one who decides what’s best for her subjects. Starlight responds that she knows what it’s like to lead by fear and intimidation and want everyone to do as you say. And she learned it was wrong. A true leader doesn’t force those in their charge to deny who they are, but celebrates what makes them unique and listens when one of them finds a better way to do things. 
Now, that’s a lesson I can stand behind!
Chrysalis instead is going to make an example of Thorax by sucking up all his love thereby showing her subjects what it really means to be a leader. 
This is the first time we’ve seen a Changeling feed on love on the show itself. It’s remarkably similar to what we saw in “The Return of Queen Chrysalis” comic.
Thorax can’t hold on much longer and feels his love start slipping out of him. Starlight realizes that sharing love is what made Thorax different in the first place so he should just share all his love with Chrysalis. When Thorax does so, he blasts Chrysalis away!
It’s a lot like “A Canterlot Wedding” when Shining Armor and Cadance blast the Changelings away with their love. The very thing that Chrysalis needs to survive is also her greatest weakness.
This also has quite an effect on Thorax. He immediately mutates into…. This thing. 
Starlight offers Thorax’s evolution as what it looks like to give love freely instead of take it. All the Changelings follow suit and begin their evolutions as well.
Chrysalis’ throne, damaged from her being blasted into it, subsequently explodes. 
That moment when you realize you’re boned.
The Changelings have now all evolved into their new forms. 
The Princesses and all Starlight’s assorted friends and such are also freed from their cocoon-y prisons. 
Discord finally finds Fluttershy. 
I’ve never been one for the Fluttercord, but this episode presents a compelling argument.
Starlight finds Twilight and explains how they were able to defeat Chrysalis without magic and as a result, they managed to reform the Changelings. 
Princess Luna even congratulates Starlight for how far she’s come.
Chrysalis emerges from the rubble of her throne only to come face to face with the Elements of Harmony, five Alicorn princesses, some very powerful Unicorns, Discord, and Thorax and her now reformed Changeling drones. 
Starlight makes a final overture of friendship to Chrysalis. She tells Chrysalis how she sought revenge after the Mane 6 defeated her, but Chrysalis doesn’t have to. Chrysalis can still be the leader the Changelings deserve. 
Oh here we go. Once again, MLP reforms yet another villain. Chrysalis is one of the last of the villains. They’re leaving the Mane 6 with nary a rogues gallery. 
What?!
They did Nostalgia Critic. The writers actually learned! Or at least one of them did. More on that later.
Chrysalis vows revenge on Starlight Glimmer and runs away. She escapes reformation to evil it up another day. Muahaha! Mine is an evil laugh!
Princess Celestia speaks to Thorax as the new leader of the Changelings concerning improving relations between their respective races. However, it’s probably for the best that the Changelings remain in the Changeling Kingdom for now. Now since Discord is glad to be with them here at the end of all things, he invites everyone to a celebratory tea at Fluttershy’s house. Starlight though as a different suggestion.
Back at Our Town, Starlight shows up again. Her old friends are surprised to see her again, given how she ran off like she did. 
Starlight confesses that after how she used her magic on them, she was afraid that being in a leadership position would mean relapsing into the pony she used to be. But sometimes there isn’t a choice, and you have to step up. That’s another lesson I can stand behind! Starlight realizes that she has changed, and she can handle being in charge whether she’s saving Equestria or helping her friends at the Sunset Festival. Speaking of friends, Starlight has brought a few of her other friends with her. 
The ponies of Our Town are delighted to have Starlight back as well as her friends.
As the rest of Starlight’s group go off to enjoy the festival, Discord and Trixie hang back. Discord admits that Trixie isn’t as bad as he thought she was, even offering to add some chaos to her magic act if she’s interested. Trixie’s retort regarding flying pigs causes Discord to conjure some flying pigs that they then race through the village on. 
In the end, Rainbow wants someone to catch them up on what they missed.
Well, that’s definitely everything, but it feels like there’s something missing.
Oh yeah. This is the first finale that didn’t have any sort of musical number in it. Perhaps it was forgone in an effort to further emphasize the epic adventure.
This episode was written by Josh Haber and Mike Vogel. Given that, it’s not at all surprising that this episode focuses so much on Starlight Glimmer. As I said before, Mr. Vogel seems to have a hard-on for Starlight Glimmer. Also, Mr. Haber is pretty much the architect of Starlight Glimmer’s arc of development this season. He wrote last season’s finale “The Cutie Re-Mark” where Starlight was reformed and this season’s premiere “The Crystalling” where Starlight had her first friendship lesson. It can be seen from this that Haber is one who is willing to reform villains, particularly compelling ones. That can be seen here with the Changelings being reformed. However, Queen Chrysalis was able to escape this fate. My guess is that this is Mr. Vogel’s doing. As I’ve said in my previous reviews of his episodes, Mr. Vogel has been watching the fandom for some time as Hasbro’s VP of development. He’s familiar with what the Brony fandom likes and dislikes. He may be aware of how tired we’ve become of seeing compelling villains get reformed. This then leads to the unprecedented situation seen in this episode. We have the Changelings as a whole reformed, but Chrysalis isn’t. Frankly, that’s the best we could hope for in a situation like this. It could be said that in this case Mr. Vogel served as a check on Mr. Haber to prevent some of the issues in the finale that might get on the fandom’s nerves.
The episode’s title of course is a reference to J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit, which is also known by the lengthier title The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. The allusion to Tolkien’s novel indicates the more epic scope intended by this episode. The episode’s plot does bear a similarity to that of Tolkien’s novels. This episode involves a group of individuals from different races traveling to a dark land where they defeat a great evil. This is what happens in The Hobbit as well as The Lord of the Rings.
It’s interesting that Starlight’s squad is composed entirely of reformed villains. (Though it is kind of hard to see Thorax as a reformed villain. “The Times They Are A Changeling” indicates that he was never big on the whole being evil thing.) In a way, this can be seen as the moment where these former villains prove their worth as heroes in their own right. What’s also interesting is that this is the fourth two-part episode Discord has appeared in. In fact, Discord has at least made an appearance in every finale since Season 4. Not to be completely outdone, this is also Starlight Glimmer’s fourth two-part episode. This is just Trixie’s first two-part episode, but her fourth very welcome appearance overall.
We also finally got a look at the Changeling Kingdom and the inside of a Changeling hive. We learned about the dark stone that formed Chrysalis’ throne that prevented other creatures from using their magic. We learned how Changeling hives themselves change shape like Changelings do. It was also confirmed that Thorax isn’t the only drone that can speak. We also learned a little more about the extent of Changelings’ shape-shifting ability. Apparently, Changelings can even take the form of a Draconequus like the one that disguised itself as Discord. I had always thought that a Changeling’s shape-shifting was illusory in nature, you know. However, given what we saw “The Times They Are A Changeling” and in this episode. It seems that Changelings’ shape-shifting might actually be physical. Knowing all this now, it’s kind of disappointing that the Changelings as we’ve known them might be gone now.
Honestly, I’m not sure why the Changelings had to change form like that. I understand that it’s an external indicator that the nature of Changelings as mostly evil creatures have been changed. I think a better statement would have been made by not having them change form. In a way, having them change like this undercuts the lesson of “The Times They Are A Changeling”. Plus, if you look closely at the Changelings in their new forms, some of them still have horns and wings, but some now lack horns, lack wings, or lack horns and wings. I guess this is meant to parallel the various types of ponies. You know, Alicorn, Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth ponies. It is kind of discomfiting that some of these Changelings appear to have lost a number of their limbs though they don’t have to worry about going hungry again. I don’t know about you, but I would not trade one of my limbs for the prospect of never being hungry. That is unless Changelings’ hunger for love was more spiritual than physical. In that case, there’s a long history of martyrs who have sacrificed not just limbs but their whole lives for the chance to be spiritually satisfied. There’s that at least. Still, I hope this aspect of the Changelings’ new design was just an oversight, and they’ll all go back to having wings and horns.
There’s some speculation that the Changelings’ name might change as well in reflection of their new nature. Perhaps they’ll call them Flutter ponies, and they’ll be FIM’s version of them. But then, it’s a possibility they still don’t have the rights to use most of the things from G1. Maybe they could call them “Flutterlings” instead. Or perhaps they’ll stick with the Changelings origins in Faerie lore and call them “Glamourlings”. That’s assuming they’ll still have shape-shifting abilities. That remains to be seen.
Given Thorax’s new status as king of these reformed Changelings, it makes sense why his name is Thorax to begin with. As I said in my review of “The Times They Are A Changeling”, it was confirmed that the Changeling from “Slice of Life” was named Kevin, and I presumed that it is the case that all Changeling drones have such generic, Minion-like names. Well, Thorax has a name more similar to Chrysalis’ name because it was his destiny to become ruler of the Changelings just like Chrysalis was. I still suspect Changeling drones still have those more generic sounding names.
As I said before, it seems kind of upsetting that after we’re first introduced to so much about Changeling hives and the Changeling Kingdom that the Changelings as we know them cease to exist. Or have they? Chrysalis escapes at the end of this episode, vowing revenge against Starlight Glimmer. It could be possible that Chrysalis could start a whole new Changeling hive. This might not be the last time we’ve seen these kinds of Changelings. I imagine this’ll be the case if the reformed Changelings are given a new name. I think that would be best we could hope for.
What’s also interesting is that Starlight had to defeat Chrysalis without magic. Over the course of her development, we see that Starlight has a bit of a dependency on magic. To then see Starlight successfully take on Chrysalis with only her wits and the various skills of those in her squad is quite a bit of growth on her part. Also, Starlight learns how to be a leader. Throughout this episode, Starlight’s past as a totalitarian dictator hangs over her head. She avoids being in charge of anything out of fear that she'll relapse or prove that she’s still that same pony she used to be. Even as the situation becomes dire with no one else to turn to, Starlight tries to avoid being the decision maker. But when she’s forced to do so, Starlight discovers she has quite the knack for it. After starting out as despot, Starlight finally learns how even she can the right kind of leader when she needs to be.
As for what I didn’t like, I find it odd that Starlight Glimmer is the main focus. The Mane 6 barely figure in this episode, spending most of it captured by Chrysalis. Now, I admit, I wasn’t too fond of seeing Starlight reformed in last season’s finale. I know Starlight’s presence this season has been divisive among fans. I am not among those who hate Starlight Glimmer. More than anything, I am apathetic towards her. I just never expected to see her this much. This finale is the culmination of having such a focus on Starlight throughout the season. It could only result in the Mane 6 themselves, the very center of MLP, being shuffled off to the side in a season finale.
On a lesser note, Thorax undergoes a rather rushed development. Thorax was just introduced in one episode in the second half of this season as a Changeling wanting to experience friendship. Now, he is the king of a whole new kind of Changeling. Like I said in my review of “The Times They Are A Changeling”, I was hoping to see Thorax face difficulties overcoming his Changeling instincts. Here, we find out he hasn’t felt hunger since he started making friends. I mean, it could still be possible that Thorax and his new reformed Changeling brethren could still experience relapses or something. This really isn’t something to be too upset about though. Thorax is just a secondary character, and a recently established one at that. I just think these developments are a bit too hasty and much more could have been done with his character.
Part of me wanted to see Thorax take part in Spike and Big Mac’s gaming guys’ night. I mean, he still could now, especially since he’s now on friendly terms with Discord.
Overall, “To Where and Back Again” was a decent finale. All the elements were there for a truly great finale, but they just weren’t executed as well as they could have. Like with season premieres, MLP hasn’t had a great season finale in quite a while, not since Season 4. Perhaps we should resign ourselves to the possibility that the days of MLP’s great two-part episodes are behind us. But, we got another season coming up next spring. I remain hopeful that we will be seeing great two-part episodes again.
What did y’all think of “To Where and Back Again”?
Well, here we are again at the end of another season and the end of another season’s worth of mostly late reviews. Just so you know, I haven’t actually seen Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree yet. I had wanted to watch and review it before the Discovery Family premiere, but it seems to have gotten the drop on me. That review will be coming sometime next week. After that, as is my habit, there will be a retrospective for Season 6 and a new set of predictions for Season 7. Other than that, I don’t know. There probably won’t be much until next spring rolls around. I want to focus more on writing fanfiction and my YouTube channel Mariusioannesp. You can check that out if you’re interested seeing and hearing more from me. Anyway, I’d just like to say thank you again for reading my inane and frankly tedious ramblings about My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. I hope we can continue this journey for the seasons and movies to come.
God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless Equestria.
I understand your issues but I personally loved this finale.