Equestria Girls: Rollercoaster of Friendship

- Some notes/thoughts/facts: - An app that can swap visual appearances by sucking things into it seems kinda interesting, however, that these are just projections is also a downer... except, if you like that or how they will never change their state... then its perfect... Its sweet how Applejack cheers for Rarity to take the job, while she herself got rejected. Applejack: "Heh-heh. All right. I probably shouldn'ta quit my old job this mornin', huh?" - Really AJ? I didn't take you for being this reckless 😑 Yes, Snapgab is kind of Instagram No Ra-Ra wasn't absorbed by her fame, She was given a fake image by her former Manager, but was still herself. Really Rainbow..? - WHY!? https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/6/6d/Rarity_introduces_Rainbow_Dash_EGROF.png B-Y-B-B... "Be yourself but better" seems to be a nice slogan... but Vignette betrayed that by not following it herself... With Karaoke, Fluttershy sings herself in front of people, while as a Rainboom-Member she sings together with her Friends, who mostly have the focus on them. That is a difference. Applejack is annoyed by Rarity's starstruck behavior and feels jealous of Rarity's new friend. That moment when Rarity asks AJ about her frowny eyebrows could have been the perfect opportunity for AJ to explain her problem. But resolving things that easily would have felt too convenient. Besides, AJ isn’t one to talk much about her own troubles... She rarely opens up, at least not until those troubles grow into something much bigger. Vignette Valencia: "Everyone in the band has a new role. It's part of my BOLD, NEW VISION! All caps, Helvetica, sixty-five. "Fluttershy: Bad Girl". Spiked hair, ripped tights. I've already commissioned an A-list graffiti/sneaker artist to tag up a custom guitar. How do you feel about skulls? B.Y.B.B." - I am very anxious about that... what is she doing to Fluttershy? Vignette Valencia: "Of course! Getting what I want is what I do best, sweetie." 👀 Fluttershy got sucked in to the void!? Fluttershy: "Ooh! And do you mind if I eat this salad? I'm feeling stressed." - understandable... Twilight Sparkle: "Guess who just mapped out a perfect projectile trajectory taking into account propulsion, gravity, and aerodynamic drag! This gal! Betcha thought I forgot about friction, air drag, and veering initial velocities. Well, guess what. I didn't!" Sunset Shimmer: "What she said!" - Yeah! What they said! ☝ https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/0/07/Twilight_giving_another_ticket_to_Flim_EGROF.png https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/b/b9/Little_girl_coughing_out_loud_EGROF.png Welp... she resembles Megan a Human friend of the G1 ponies who appeared sometimes: http://mylittlewiki.org/w/images/2/2c/Megan_escapekatrina.jpg "IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PARAKEET!!!!!" 🤣 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/9/97/Sunset_%22it%27s_not_about_the_parakeet%21%22_EGROF.png Pinkie as a Fun-Inspector... why didn't we see that coming before? - And it's even a real thing!? Vignette Valencia: "I have a bold new vision for the Rainbooms that you are going to love! The Throwbacks! Capital T, #TBT, Throwback Today. Or for short, T.C.T.H.T.B.T.[T.B.T.], pronounced "ta-ca-ta-ca-ba-ta"!" - Vignettes acronyms are getting wilder and wilder... Vignette Valencia: "Rainbow Dash: '50s Sockhop Sweetheart! Poodle skirt, adorable blonde hair. How do you feel about shaving your head? I only ask 'cause you'll definitely have to do it for the wig." - What the hell, is she on a trip here? What is she planning with our girls?! "YOU'RE NOT SPECIAL!" might not have been the best choice of words - adding "...to her." could have softened the blow significantly. But the entire argument between them is a perfect example of a miscommunication driven by their intertwined, yet opposing desires. It was fascinating to see it unfold. Vignette Valencia: "The Throwbacks, formerly known as the Rainbooms." - Wow... wtf... Vignette Valencia: "Like, trapped in the internet as zeroes and ones or erased from existence or something?" - now she admitted that she might have killed them? Rarity's move to use her magic as a shield was a really good idea. Reconciliation moment with Rarity and Applejack, finally! The plot-twist with the digital-void just being a white room was somewhat disappointing, but somehow funny at the same time... But it still poses a real thread, as it bears the possibility that Vignette dislikes the watching crowd and teleports them all into it at the same time... That song by Vignette is eardrum-destroying... i really hated that... I like their new Pony-Up designs: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/1/1d/Equestria_Girls_in_Friendship_Power_forms_EGROF.png Vignette Valencia: "But, B.Y.B.B..." Rarity: "It's not a bad thing to want to be better, but not at the expense of other people. And especially not your friends." - There we have it! And yeah that was quite the light-show... but I doubt that the majority would see this as anything else than effects and smokes or something like that - especially in times of AI... - and it also would be taken as a kind of a publicity stunt in a way... And we get a nice song "Photo Booth" to close this Special. It was neat. Here, have an Ice Angel Remix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhj4sq573H8 That ending was very sudden... but that's the official Channels fault 😑 --- Rollercoaster of Friendship is one of the later entries in the Equestria Girls series, and while it brings its fair share of fun moments, it falls short in a few areas. This special places a spotlight on Rarity and Applejack's friendship with Vignettes social media obsession and ambition being central themes. While it has some memorable character moments, particularly in the relationship dynamics between the main cast, the villain and overall plot leave something to be desired. The story takes place at Equestria Land, a theme park where Rarity lands a job as a fashion designer for an upcoming parade. Meanwhile, the rest of the Humane 7 are there to have fun and enjoy the attractions. Conflict arises when Rarity becomes wrapped up in her work, largely influenced by her new boss, Vignette Valencia, a social media star obsessed with curating the perfect image. Vignette, armed with a magic phone that can teleport people into a seemingly digital void, begins using it to manipulate the Rainbooms for her own self-centered goals. Applejack, feeling sidelined by Rarity's new job and friendship with Vignette, becomes increasingly frustrated. The special centers on their growing tension and eventual reconciliation, alongside the rest of the Humane 7 stepping up to stop Vignette's plans in the end. The friendship of Rarity and Applejack is put to the test when Rarity becomes caught up in the excitement of her new job and the attention from Vignette. Applejack, known for her honesty and down-to-earth nature, feels neglected and overshadowed. Their emotional conflict mirrors the highs and lows of a rollercoaster, which fits perfectly with the theme park setting. Applejack's frustration builds until it becomes impossible to ignore, but she struggles to communicate her feelings directly, a trait consistent with her character throughout the series. Rarity, on the other hand, is dealing with her own insecurities about her job and Vignette's growing influence, which blinds her to Applejack's feelings. This conflict is a relatable exploration of how friendships can be strained when personal ambitions and external influences get in the way. Vignette Valencia is the central antagonist of the special, and honestly, she's the most obnoxious villain of the series so far. Her entire persona revolves around her obsession with social media fame and curating a "perfect" online image. While her magic phone, capable of teleporting people into a void, is an interesting concept, her motivations feel shallow and one-dimensional. Vignette's character is clearly meant to be a commentary on the pressures of social media, but it doesn't go far enough in addressing the deeper issues. Her slogan, "B-Y-B-B... Be Yourself But Better", is ironic because she doesn't practice what she preaches. Instead, she demands everyone around her fit her narrow idea of what "better" looks like. - However, what bothered me most about Vignette is how easily she is forgiven at the end. While she was influenced by Equestrian magic, her obsession with fame and disregard for others still felt like it should have had more serious consequences. The fact that she endangered people - without fully understanding what her phone was doing - was brushed aside too quickly. This left me feeling unsatisfied with her resolution, as she was forgiven far too easily without much of a lesson learned. The Humane 7 all play their part in this special, but not all of them have equally interesting arcs. Rainbow Dash adopting Fluttershy's fear of roller coasters was amusing, all while Sunset Shimmer and Twilight provided some comic relief with their attempts to beat a rigged carnival game. It's interesting how Sunset's frustration with the game brought out traces of her old temper. Their dynamic was fun. - Pinkie Pie as the Fun Inspector was the most spot-on subplot, as it fit her character perfectly. It was funny and surprisingly helpful for Applejack to get into the surveillance-room of the amusement park, which let her witness Vignette's attempt to overtake the Rainboom's and uncover her true nature. The core message - that it's okay to want to improve yourself, but not at the expense of others, especially your friends - is solid. Rarity's arc shows the dangers of getting too wrapped up in ambition and forgetting about the people who matter most. Applejack's role as the voice of reason highlights the importance of honesty in maintaining friendships. However, while the message about balancing ambition and friendship is clear, the commentary on social media could have gone deeper. It just briefly touches on the idea of online personas and the pressure to appear 'perfect' for an online audience. Given that it was released in 2018, when social media was just starting to gain widespread traction - less popular and certainly less toxic than it is today - it captures an early glimpse of these emerging dynamics. One of the more disappointing elements was the plot twist with the void. Initially, we're led to believe that Vignette is trapping people in some kind of cyberspace or digital void, which sets up some interesting stakes. The reveal that it was just a white room felt underwhelming, although it was somewhat funny. However, the threat remained, as the room was still far too small to contain the impending chaos. Vignette's plan to zap every parade viewer into that confined space simultaneously could have easily ended in tragedy... In the end while this special is, in my opinion, the weakest of the Equestria Girls specials, it still offers plenty to enjoy. The conflict between Rarity and Applejack is well-executed, their emotional journey - particularly the tension and eventual reconciliation - was satisfying to watch, though I do wish Applejack had addressed her feelings sooner to avoid the dramatic buildup. The sub-plots were entertaining and added a lot of humorous character dynamics, from Sunset and Sci-Twi's carnival game, Rainbows struggle with rollercoasters, to Pinkie Pie's role as the Fun Inspector. These moments gave the story some extra depth and kept it engaging. The girls new Pony-Up designs were a visual highlight and I really enjoyed the song “Photo Booth” at the end - it was a good way to wrap things up. In the end, despite its flaws, Rollercoaster of Friendship was still fun to watch, and it had enough heart, humor, and memorable moments to make it a worthwhile addition to the Equestria Girls series. - Thank you for watching it - I enjoyed it 💙

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