I’m sorry if I disappoint anyone by this, but I’m afraid I didn’t really like this episode that much. It’s not worst episode ever material but it’s probably the lowest I’ve felt about an episode since Tanks for the Memories. So just a forewarning that if you liked this episode feel free to stop reading this now if you don’t like hearing criticism towards an episode you liked. Or if you do read it anyway, I hope you can fairly understand my criticisms.

Let me start with saying that I felt this episode had great potential as ever since Magic Duel, Trixie’s grown on me as a character that’d be really fun to return sometime. And for whatever problems I had with the episode it has nothing to do with the idea for the episode. It’s more to do with the execution of it. Near the end of this I might explain to you guys an alternate scenario where the synopsis is otherwise the same but the scenario I say is quite different from what happened in the episode.

I think my first problem is Twilight’s modesty seems to have been thrown out the window. Something that (ironically, given that was Trixie’s debut episode) was established in Boast Busters. Even considering the attempt to excuse it by having it Twilight trying to impress Princess Celestia. It seems awkward to me that at this point of the show Twilight is prioritizing her image in front of Celestia over being a good friend/student. I know the intent is to show that Twilight as a teacher is flawed, but I don’t feel it was the right way to go about that. When I start talking about my alternate scenario for this episode I’ll explain what I think would still make it so it gets the point across that Twilight is learning herself what it takes to teach friendship personally but entirely avoids nearly bending Twilight’s need to impress Celestia to almost out-of-character levels, and other things I found odd about this episode.

This is a minor thing, but wow Starlight can make a cake by… fusing everything required to make the cake… including the utensils… I’m not so sure I would take a bite of that cake even if it looks like it came out alright when Pinkie gave it a try. I just find that weird, and I feel it could annoy those who feel the Earth Ponies are naturally better at food-making then the other species if Unicorns are capable of just making Cakes like that. Even when I have Genie Twilight able to create food out of thin air I made sure to nerf it by saying the food tastes bland compared to naturally made ones. So for Starlight being able to simply whip up an actually edible and delicious cake is rather sudden. It’s definitely something that may drive those who already feel Unicorns are kinda OP nuts similar to how Starlight can levitate herself like in Cutie Re-Mark.

Though I’ll still give credit when it’s due. Stuff like a spell that makes Big Mac talk more, Rainbow Dash’s reaction to Starlight not knowing about Spitfire and/or the Wonderbolts, and Angel the bunny (Who normally treats everybody, even Fluttershy like crap) actually really likes Starlight were excellent jokes and/or character moments. “It’s a working title” I’d say is also a pretty good running gag too.

But upon Trixie coming into the scene a problem arises regarding if you put into considering everything Trixie and Starlight have done in the past. It’s just plain and simple that what Trixie has done of her own free will is nothing compared to what Starlight has done. Hell, I’d even say if Trixie did everything she did in Magic Duel without the context of it being the result of an evil amulet corrupting her. Starlight’s actions would STILL be worse then what Trixie’s done. (Just by a lesser margin). Yet it seems like Twilight and perhaps most of Ponyville (Heck, I think because of that Trixie would disagree with Starlight saying that Ponyville is supposed to be the most friendliest place in Equestria) seems to treat Trixie like she did things worse then what Starlight’s done. Starlight does not get the ponies whispering right in front of them or suspicious stares that Discord gets in the show (Or for another example, Sunset in Rainbow Rocks). I understand that Ponyville was hit more directly with Trixie’s actions and are largely unaware of what Starlight’s done. But even so, that still doesn’t exactly excuse Twilight’s actions.

Another problem I have is they include Celestia in… buuuuuuuuut she hardly does anything in the episode other then be the plot device that pressures Twilight. If they have to use Celestia, they could have at least had her express a concern about what’s been going on with Twilight and Starlight. But instead she speaks no words and just sits at the table for the entire time she’s there. Considering how long Celestia had known Twilight you’d think she’d at least speak up knowing Twilight’s having one of those days again.

At the very least Starlight and Twilight manage to make up but during the ending scene is something that’s honestly a little scary to see in this show: Attempted suicide. Even if obviously Starlight and Twilight was there on the hill and likely would of saved Trixie regardless or not if Starlight wanted to be friends again. Just the fact alone that Trixie still went with performing the dangerous trick knowing Starlight may not come to save her is incredibly dark material and something I could easily see be a possible awkward conversation when talking about this episode in the future in a similar vein to “Were the mirror clones in Too Many Pinkie Pies truly non-sentient and/or needed to be mass-murdered like they were?” cause man is that dark. It doesn’t help that it feels like something that could drive someone to such desperate measures with the fact that everyone even those who reaches out to be your friend gets angry with you and thus they feel friendless, alone, and no one who truly cares about them. I’m not even saying it’s really an entirely bad thing about the episode, but it’s certainly something I would say might bother some people. Trixie would have likely been saved no matter what, but just the very idea is all that’s needed to go to such dark corners. It’s a very touchy subject.

And now I think it’s time to explain the alternate scenario that I mentioned earlier. It still follows what the core sypnosis was, and Twilight still learns a lesson from it all. I am not saying it was bad for Twilight to be learning from this as realistically teacher-student relationships, in-particular ones pairs usually have them learn from each other. I am just saying how there was a better way for Twilight to learn something then what we got in the episode

First of all, scratch Celestia out of the episode entirely. She wasn’t much use in the actual episode aside from being the plot device that pressures Twilight. I know I said earlier that they could have at least had Celestia express her concerns with Twilight. But either have Celestia help out and/or at least try to help, or don’t use her at all. 

Make the need for Starlight to find a new friend simply a challenge/mission that Twilight herself gives to Starlight. This makes it more of an actual personal thing between Twilight and Starlight rather then connect it to Twilight’s obsession with impressing Celestia, the intention of Starlight meeting a new friend would feel less selfish of Twilight. Cause as it stands now, it feels like Starlight only got to meet Trixie just because Twilight wanted to impress Celestia.

Starlight eventually finds Trixie in her search similar to what happens in the episode. Twilight is concerned about the friendship with each other because even though she knows Trixie has improved since she was last here. Twilight knows Trixie is a rather polarizing character, afraid that Trixie’s quirks that turn away potential friends could rub off on Starlight. This would make sure Twilight actually has a good point rather then it implying Twilight doesn’t want Trixie ruining things in front of Celestia more so then actual concern about Starlight as a friend. 

But quickly Trixie and Starlight start to prove Twilight wrong by showing how well they really do get along. Starlight explains what she finds are positive qualities about Trixie, some of those qualities Twilight notices are things that others would consider pet peeves. Twilight learns that while there are certain quirks to some people that would make people incompatible, that is not necessarily the case for everybody. It’s also be sort of a metaphor for how in the fandom how Trixie has a big following where people like her for some of the same reasons others may dislike her. So Twilight gets a new appreciation for Trixie herself. The episode likely ending with them laughing together and/or hugging it out as a new happy trio of mutual friends.

That way it would bring the interesting parts of the episode on display while completely removing or otherwise shrinking the issues I had mentioned throughout these thoughts. I also understand though that the episode could of been worse. I definitely think as is it’s in the lower half of how they could of executed it. But there were parts of the episode they got right enough to prevent a disaster. I feel so far that this episode is what Tanks of the Memories was for me in Season 5, what this one is for Season 6. They’re both episodes that at face value are ok episodes, but I just have glaring issues here and there I can’t wrap my head around them. I’m truly sorry if you heavily disagree with me, but I just wasn’t feeling everything about the episode. It had some legitimately funny moments and lines for sure and I do want to stress that I don’t think it’s anywhere near the worst episode of the show. I just hope you understand where my criticisms are coming from.

Anyway, next episode is going to be huge for Rainbow Dash fans. It’ll be very interesting how things play out there. Seeya soon for that ^^