Wow, this episode was... different. I enjoyed it a lot for what I think it was supposed to be by the makers. It looks to me like a deep bow of recognition to the fandom by the makers of the show and that is something really positive, especially given how little many other franchises seem to care for their audience
I have read few, but rather heated views by some bronies who despise the episode. While I understand some of their points, I'm afraid that it was based on a very different kind of expectation they had for this episode.
One can legitimately argue that this episode could be seen as kind of jumbled, lacking a constant central theme and giving many snippets without a really solid plot.
However, this is an episode that should not be seen detached from "the context" and that context in my view is the fanwork of all the years. Somebody who doesn't know MLP or even someone who only ever watched the series but didn't check out all the fanart, fanfiction etc. would probably be understandably confused by this episode. This is in many ways an episodes for the bronies rather than for the original target audience
SPOILER ALERT (just some random thoughts and impressions)
- I very much enjoyed seeing Derpy (I'll stick to that name) in a speaking role and I found her voice in this episode a lot more fitting than the one in the last roundup (I got to admit I had thought Derpy to be a colt because of the voice in the last roundup.
- I generally enjoyed the concept of dragging some of the background characters a bit more into the spotlight. I heard some fans complaining about the mane6 being pushed aside in this episode (and admittedly the door of the celebration being pretty much shut into their faces was a little rude) but I think after 99 episodes mostly focused on them (or the CMCs) it is not much of a loss to see an episode dedicated to the other poines. Some fans expressed fear that there may be intentions to produce more episodes focused on background ponies rather than the mane6. I like the mane6 a lot and would not want to see them discarded, but I don't think the prospect of episodes focused on other ponies as well to be that kind of abandoning of the mane6 which some fans seem to fear. I'm open minded about giving a little more spotlights to the many ponies often shown but in many cases never even named in the show.
- I enjoyed hearing more of Lyra and Bonbon, but Bonbon as a secret agent was one of the big WTF moments for me and admittedly one I found a bit over the top (being more specific than many of the things which were aluded to but were still kept vague enough so it wouldn't smash up too many headcanons) :huh:
- How did the love eating changeling get invited? That one will certainly spawn a lot of fanfiction etc. (and in turn I expect it was probably spawned by fanfictions already existing).
- It was kind of hilarious to see that apparently the ponies of Ponyville by now consider the mane6 battling evil monsters on the town square just a slice of daily live while "THE HORROR" is seen in a damaged flower or the like (I kind of wonder though whose home it was that was destroyed by the bearbeething).
- It's interesting to see that all four known princesses of Equestria (with the exception of the one that was busy battling monsters) attended the wedding of two donkeys at least one of whom is known to have shunned society for most of his life. This is a monarch really close to the people
By now I have passed page 250 of my fanfiction "Lessons in quirks".
