I think the reason the villagers accepted Starlight's philosophy is the same reason people join cults. They are so lonely and desperately want to feel a sense of purpose and appreciation. Starlight gave them that so they were willing to follow her blindly but deep down were scared of disappointing her and being kicked out, thereby losing the connection they so badly want even though it is not actually real
one reason why I think Flutters liked the town, was because her home town, Ponyville, treated her, not equal, lets say. Like a doormat. And because of her shyness, hence her name, she didn't bother doing much about her dorrmatness. But, because everybody, by first glance, were treated equal, she liked it, that's why she liked the town. Just my thought.
To me; TRUE equality and friendship is found through finding common ground, in spite of everyone's differences. It's like Homer Simpson once said. Some of us don't eat pork, others don't eat shellfish...but ALL of us love chicken
I honestly love episodes like the season 5 premier. And when I say that, I mean that I can appreciate the episodes that are heavily focused on high tension situations and and more serious tone. It creates some intrigue and really makes you ask some questions afterwards ^.^
As one blind watcher/review observed on Fluttershy's initial reaction she is someone who has been bullied, pushed around, ignored or forced into things all her life because tends to just go with the flow (even her friends will kind of use this on rare occasions.) I can see why she would be so open to this town at first, the odd smiles aside it comes off as a very safe town, all be it one with a different culture. She was just giving them the benefit of the doubt like she did with Discord, here it did not work out so well however.
I believe that starlight believes in her philosophy, she just couldn't unequal herself because she had to unequal every other pony and she is the only pony with this kind of magic that she got from her special talent. Which you'd think her actual cutie mark would be an equal mark but slightly different or with a little magic sparkle or something like that.
tyandaga, there is a spoiler on Starlight returning in the end of Season 5. Also I guess its supposed to be like a Trixie and discord lesson. They do their evil ways but then learn in the future what they have done. Discord never had a friend and Trixie was a bragger. But Starlight was just using candy to get friends and brainwashed them. But we may never know
Yay! Been looking forward to this ^^ very well done for your first episode review :D I find it interesting you're confused as to why ponies fell for the town. You noticed Fluttershy really liked the town incially, she's shy and liked to avoid confrontation. Then there's the pony at the bakers asking why ponies with differences get along. Maybe this indicates the ponies that were attracted to the town were similiar to Fluttershy in nature, not to mention presumably had difficulties in building bonds? Also yay fanart appearance :D
Imjustananimal You bring up some interesting points. I don't really think that Fluttershy was thrilled with the town, but rather being polite as she naturally is. Then again, Starlight's charisma was shown to be excellent throughout the episode, so I believe that she was pretty much the main draw for everyone to join.
Imjustananimal Exactly. I was worried for a bit that Futtershy would fall victim to the Cult, but thankfully Twilight was able to use this against Starlight.
Tyandaga No, Shy seemed to be generally interested in the town, if only because of how polite, and nice, and kind everypony was. No arguing, no disagreeing, no confrontation. I can totally see Shy wanting to learn more and just enjoy that. Plus, the town is basically a cult, and cults are really good at getting people to fall for their pitch even when they should know better.
Tyandaga, Fluttershy did notice. She was just trying to be polite. Proof: Fluttershy points out the group shouldn't be arguing in front of there 'friends'. And she doesn't want to join them as she covers her mouth in guilt whenever she follows the plan to accept her limitations fakely. Fluttershy also seems like she is hiding something if we make a guess from her personality shown from other episodes we can make a guess she's angry and afraid in her head. Oh yeah, Fluttershy tries to dump a bucket of water on Starlight. Sounds familiar to me, oh yeah. Return of Harmony, whenever Fluttershy lost her element. Isn't Fluttershy de-saturated?
Tyandaga oh yeah, where are my manners? Excuse those faces, I didn't mean them in rude ways from what it seems to look like for me.And I forgot my proof, editing the comment now.
Also I think it would be cool/interesting if there was an antagonist group that represented the Elements of Disharmony to oppose the mane six. Anybody agree? And I find it kind of odd that magic and laughter are considered elements of harmony, but not patience. Patience is very important to have and I think it would be interesting if the writers ever make a character that represents patience. One of my ocs actually funny enough represents patience. He's an antagonist, but he is super patient, so that is one positive thing about him.
Elements of Disharmony: Element of Magic = Element of Technology Element of Honesty = Elemental of Deceit Element of Generosity = Element of -Hording- Greed Element of Loyalty = Element of Distrust Element of Laughter = Element of Despair Element of Kindness = Element of Cruelty
When I saw The Cutie Map on tv I freaked out so much! I was like. "Omg! Omg! Its here!!! Omg! MOM! DAD! BRO! LOOK!" My brother threw a ball at me, I think he didn't care.. I loved this episode! When I was watching it I said. "Its a lot like the book, The Giver.." Have you read the The Giver? You should, its a really great book. :)
Well, they have very, very harsh rules, kinda. They don't know the pass, and pretty much all pain is gone, all color is gone, they only see in black and white, most of their feelings are gone, there no love,no hate. They also can't pick who to get married to. They have kids picked out for them. The book is great, and it kinda reminds me of this episode!
I enjoyed the premiere. It was a strong episode, and it had a lot to offer in terms of world-building and story. Plus, there were a lot of subtle things that really made the episode pop. Like, I couldn't help but notice the fact that the "Our Town" ponies smiled so broadly that their mouth movements looked creepy; very "uncanny valley." But yes, I really liked it. Good review; I appreciated the commentary about Machiavelli (which is something I hadn't considered). And you were able to cover a lot of information in a relatively small amount of time. A few small suggestions, though: first, try to include more opinion/analysis with the summary, as I'd like to hear more about what you thought, rather than simply what the episode was about (as the viewer has presumably already seen it). Second, try streamlining your script a little; some parts could have been phrased differently to say the same thing with fewer words. But otherwise, good presentation, good style. Keep at it.
To me, season 5 opener was OK but, it seemed like the episodes gave us a little more than we are letting on. Like for instance, if the main six are supposed to represent the elements of friendship and harmony because of their bonds with each other, haven't we seen others do the same? And in the season 5 opener i do believe that those friends that helped the main six get their cutie marks back also represented friendship. Do you think if something happened to the main six that there could be other ponys who could take their place?
Nice way to avoid copyright. Flip the footage around XD In my opinion, Starlight is one of the best villains in the entire show. She's not a giant monster or god of chaos. Instead, she's down to earth and on the same level as the other characters. It makes her a very interesting character, and I hope she comes back later on in the season. She pretty much NEEDS to.
GeekySteven She's certainly set up to make a return, but perhaps not in any short amount of time ;p. Who knows, maybe as a final season episode, she makes a return? Who knows?
I believe that in the beginning Starlight was actually friendly and nice towards all the other ponies, but over time slowly became corrupted and became power hungry.
Another point worth making is that she likely physically cannot remove her own cutie mark. SHe needs HER magic to remove the marks, in using the spell on herself, she'd be unable to finish the spell because the power her mark gives her is needed to remove the mark, she'd be stuck in a perpetual loop of trying to remove it and the spell failing as her magic tried to falter from the marks removal, causing it to snap back into place.
I just discovered your channel but I am really enjoying your reviews and other videos so far that I took about an hour out of my day just to watch all of them in row so keep up the good work and I can't wait for your future videos! :) P.S. Love your reindeer OC and your explanation to why you chose it! :)
When Starlight's Cutie Mark was exposed to the entire town revealing her as a fraud, it reminded me of that movie "The Interview" when the leader of North Korea was exposed for the fraud he is. I thought that was a nice subtle hint to how we should be taking down bad guys, rather than war. :)
I say. That maybe....while looking back on the episode. That maybe the villagers were there. Before Starlight came and rose to power.And the town was founded long before Starlight.
I don't think (or at least don't want to) that Starlight Glimmer didn't remove her cutie mark because she didn't believe on her philosiphy but because if she did so, nopony could make more ponies equals anymore. She sacrifices her sameness in order to make everypony else the same. She is technically a martyr. This can also explain why she freakout and get angry at the end (the only part that I really don't like). At the end of the episode, she get angry when she says that everypony will be happy if they are all the same and somepony responds "Except for you" because she's being villainized by the same ponies she sacrificed all for. She's angry because nopony can see all that she've had to do for the sick of sameness. She've done everything so everypony can be the same, she's willing to be the only different if that means everypony will be the same. That last might sound a bad thing, but look what happens if I change some word: She's willing to be the only "miserable" if that means everypony will be "happy". I'm not saying I support her ideology, I'm just saying that I can see what she is really going through.
Another philosophy added to the bag! I love it! Thanks for the 2 cents. What did you think of the facial expressions of this episode and the mention of the 8 magical items of MeadowBrook?
Zodia195 As far as facial expressions, did you mean by the villagers, or the whole cast of characters in general? For the villagers, I thought those facial expressions were just downright creepy ;p. And for the cast as a whole, I really liked the animators job with the facial expressions and emotions; top notch! The 8 magical items seemed neat, but I don't really know if there's much worth mentioning just yet. I mean, now that I think about it, there's no doubt that we could see those come to play later on (that'd be neat!), but right now, they seem like just a legend of sorts that maybe gets mentioned once or twice. Fingers crossed ^.^
ForNoGoodReason Discord was fairly charismatic, but he also relied heavily on his magical abilities. While Starlight proved she was an adept magic user, she's certainly not as powerful as Discord, and as such, had to rely on her speech more heavily.
The one scene with R.D noticing she isn't flying as fast as she used too. I belive the writers did that just so they could have the towns folk have a part in the story line to save the main 6.
9:56 Did you forget about the brainwashing room? Everyone in that town, including Starlight, didn't seem to mind forcing others into that room. Considering that one line we get from the villagers when they first entered the town, they don’t even count forcing others to give up their cutie marks and then brainwashing them in that one room to even count as "having trouble". As if doing all that to other ponies is considered normal and a peaceful way to live your life. Did anyone else noticed that none of the villagers even apologized to the main six for putting them through all that crap.
Starlight reminds me of the LOK villain, Amon as they both are obsessed with spreading their version of equality. Also they both keep their abilities hidden from their followers, that is until they were exposed for the frauds they are. Also Starlight steals the talents of other ponies and their cutie marks while Amon uses bloodbending to take away a bender's bending. Pretty similar stuff.
Very nice video. Thank-you for sharing your thoughts on this episode. I'm really liking the videos you've done so far. I look forward to seeing what you decide to talk about next.
That sounds awesome! I look forward to seeing it then and hearing your thoughts. (That also reminds me I seriously need to get caught up on the comics.)
I for one found this very unique from what we've been given so far, mostly because of Starlight (who I like relating to Amon from the legend of Korra series)
Neon-sphinx foster Me too. I'd also relate her to the main villain from 'The Stepford Housewives'. And a lot of other people have already pointed out things from 'Animal Farm' and '1984'.
Yeah I know! I always love the villains with a silver tongue rather than just strength. And as for relation: it's staggering! Both tried for equality but just wanted power. Both disguised themselves with body paint Both were exposed thanks to water And both know a extremely deadly trick to strip one of their unique abilities! I know, crazy :3
I believe the season four ending pretty much summed up that cutie marks are what gives ponies their power, but I don't understand why they have = signs instead of just a blank flank if their were blank flanks when Tirek took away the magic from the ponies.
we of course find out in later episodes that starlight did indeed belive whole heartedly in her own dogma, her reason for not subjecting herself to the same lay simply in the fact that without her magic she had no way to further expidite the process...while starlight is very good at many types of magic, enchanting is 'not' one of them, since the staff of sameness was a sham she needed her magic to continue to remove cutie marks.
my little pony has my cutie mark in the show!!!XD at 4:27,the microphone with music notes, can be seen but the cord is longer and the handle of the microphone is a different color.
3:21 ^ That scene with the one pony dancing out of rhythm reminded me very strongly of the scene in A Wind In The Door, a book where a teenage girl goes on a quest with the boy she has a crush on and her little brother, in order to find her missing father. They track him to a planet where everybody moves in coordination, seemingly has no mind of their own, and seems to be perfectly happy. Meg(the girl) and her friends come across a little boy who is bouncing his ball out of coordination from the other children. His mother notices and hurries him inside with a worried look on her face. When I saw this, I was reminded of the book. (spoilers!) Some other parallels are Starlight Glimmer and IT. IT is a force that brainwashes the residences of IT's planet(To put it simply.) There is a dark force/timer in the background that threatens humanity/ponykind. I loved the episode AND the book, and I enjoyed finding these points. Anyway, I'll stop blathering on. Peace!
Well, decent review. Might be a tad over excited, might try slowing down just a little. But overall pretty good. Already wrote massive walls o text for this ep, so short version, it was good. The change of pace in villain was nice, and a two parter that wasn't Twi focused was also good. Loved the Friendship Four saving the day, while still making the actions of he mane 6 matter. As to specif things you brought up I haven't seen.. the Machiavelli connection. Interesting, but it goes a bit further now that you have me thinking about it. Not just "the ends justify the means" but also his second most favorite, and very very VERY misused and understood quote. "It is better for a Prince to be feared then loved." Which everyone knows, but there is actually quite a bit more to it that is always forgotten. ""And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."" The ideal, is not to be feared rather then loved. But to be both feared AND loved. And only if you cannot have both, should you choose fear. Starlight has both. The citizens love her. Beleive in her message. Beleive in her. Yet at the same time, fear her. Those that doubt, that have any issues, like the ones ion the basement, are to scared to act out agsint her. While still respecting her overall. it's pretty much exactly the type of thing Machiavelli was promoting. The ideal system for a ruler to have. The issue, is she, like so so so SO many others who use the quote to justify themselves, or as a plan of action, forget the line immediately after that. "Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared whilst he is not hated." Starlight failed there. When her lie was revealed, when she tried to justify it. Went to far and verbally attacked those that loved her, believed in her. When it became clear she was just using them. That she felt all were equal.. but she was more equal then others. They went from loving her, and fearing her. To hating her, and it all fell apart. So her whole plan, everything about her situation and rise and fall... it really was something straight out of Machiavelli. Didn't think of that but.. nice catch and it really works. And as to the symbolic gesture with the staff being used to smash the vault. it's even more powerful, and more symbolic when you know what that scene was inspired by. Or at least so way to similar to for it to be a coincidence. Look up Apple's '1984' commercial.
I always thought that the only reason starlight didn't take her own cutiemark away was because she felt the need to get rid of everyone's cutiemark first and couldn't do that without her magic talents. maybe if she succeeded then she would finally take her own cutiemark away?
+Fandom Lord I doubt she would have actually, looking back on the episode ;p. In the end, there would be no reason for her to get rid of it, if she could always hide it with paint x3
What I find very interesting is that star light says "they will see what "we"are really trying to accomplish." Notice that I put a quote on "we" Who's we? Where did she get the staff? And why does she want to be just like hitler or the Templars, "order is needed" that kind of thing. Guess we have to wait and see! :3
Tyandaga im glad you mentioned army. I actually believe this was a sort of army, because when you view the episode in the begining, Starlight speaks on Twilight's appearance being that of a alicorn, saying something along the lines of "once they see a princess has joined our town, equestria will *finally* understand what we are trying to do." which implies that she had tried and/or was working on taking over other parts of equestria
Tyandaga Actually, Machiavelli never actually said 'The ends justify the means". The closest to this is as quoted: "Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, because it belongs to everybody to see you, to few to come in touch with you. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them; and in the actions of all men, and especially of princes, which it is not prudent to challenge, one judges by the result. For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on." And even then, some believe that he was joking, since "The Prince" is seem as a parody work. I'm quite versed in such a random subject as misquotes :). Then again, I strive to educate myself in as much as possible, of any subject.
NaokoTheDragonKnight Ohp, my bad! That's what I was taught in school, so I guess I have to go give a good yell at my philosophy teacher xD. I probably shouldn't have used the words "and I quote", so in future that's something I'll look out for ^.^
It's totally different from prevous premiere-episode, but still really good. ..but i think making this episode PREMERE EPISODE was not a good idea. (sorry for potental errors, my english suck)
Exactly! Personally i started saw that "epic factor" after multiple seeing episode's. The most importent fact which i saw..actually i hear that sound system and voiceacting. Attention to detail about the sound and animation. For example flutter of wings.
Well I think this will be a returning villain (in my case these are villains that will return later in the MLP series). Season 5 finale? How many seasons will this show have?!?!?
im confused how Starlight transferd the cutie marks of the mane 6 to jars the first time we saw it removed was in the vault then later on in the jars remember in the last part of this episode when double diamond broke the vault the cutie marks came back wouldnt that mean when Starlight was transfering the mane 6 cutie mark they shpuld have returned to the mane 6??
I would never be able to get used to those smiles.... EVER. Anyway, I think we will be seeing Starlight again. If you notice in one of the recent episodes... (*cough couch* AMenDinG FEnCES)... you see Starlight hiding her face with a newspaper. Most think the animators got lazy, but I think she is going to return at the end of the season, or another to take the mane sixes cutiemark. Possibly, she could even make a time traveling spell to make sure the mane six never got their cutiemark or even meet each other. Which leads to her ruling over all of the ponies without any pony else interrupting and even leading her to rule Equesteia!
How could anyone just find a stick that looks like that in the desert? What kind of tree would that come from? I mean seriously, it looks more like it was carved to look like that, but hey, fictional universe. Maybe they just have some really cool trees in the desert. Even if there isn't any trees in the desert. (Unless you count cacti, I guess.)
It would have been impossible to find Starlight because she was heading for a confusing cave complex. And, to be honest, I was convinced for a while that she got lost in there and died.
It's to avoid false copyright claims in reviews. It makes it hardly for the automated system to find the video clips. It's an unfortunate reality that some of us on youtube have to face, because robots decide what fair use is or isn't :s
If you want a quick summary of the story I have it actually posted on my channel and it is "prism Sketchtalk episode 1 the cutie map" I will send a link and warning my voice was kinda sucky
Billy Conrad Well it was established by Sugar Bell that she was able to use her magic to lift up a pen and paper to take their orders, so general magic use was apparently fine in the village ;p
Hoofball - A particularly unattractive form of football practiced by Heart of Midlothian. It involves the hoof, a long punt up the pitch by either the goalkeeper or defenders, making sure that the ball travels at least 40 yards in the air. Typically Hearts employ the hoof around 50-60 times per game. Spectators watching hoofball on a regular basis suffer from a variety of complaints; depression and neck ache from staring at the sky for 90 minutes are the two most common.
1:24 since he said there were trading cards I’m assuming baseball but their hooves and their feet are the same thing so thinking it’s American football makes complete sense
