CREATORS ATTACKING THE FANDOM!! | My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 7 Episode 14 REACTION + Discussion
Added 2024-09-18 22:51:43 +0000 UTC
Comments
Ahhh this was his final episode? Man… what a legend Wow wow wow. What meta commentary, self aware, and a way to discuss, tackle, and critique the fan base. Everything about this was brilliant. The way the book is a metaphor for the show and the reception, criticism, and everything is directly discussing the fan base’s short comings. I can’t say I’ve ever watched an episode like this maybe besides the ghost train episode of Ricky and Morty but this still supersedes that. I was shocked by the inclusion of the cast since you guys have said these things or how people did say it and even me saying things on my journey. But also just super self aware. Yeah you know this was going to hurt people’s feelings. It was inevitable. And yes starlight the mvp!!! But that song and ending with the kids and leaving the crowd was perfection. The song makes the characters, the kids is the positivity and impact of the series, and letting the crowd be there is the climate of all fan bases as the discourse will go on regardless. And yes it is quite ironic how the fan base gets so negative and attacks to a show that is suppose to eliminate that and aid with entirety of socializing and friendship. Think it’s just the personal fan base love that overtakes since personalities, emotions, and differences clash. No problem! I’m glad you got to vent out your frustration with the fan base and these topics. It’s always insightful reading the info and your thoughts! This and perfect pear back to back…. Wow…
Ed
2024-10-12 06:53:18 +0000 UTCOh well, this is an interesting episode... and that is quite an understatement... - Some notes/thoughts/facts: - I love the designs of Toola Roola and Coconut Cream: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/4/44/Toola_Roola_and_Coconut_Cream_hugging_S7E14.png I want that Spell! Cleaning yourself in 1 second flat! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/4/46/Twilight_Sparkle_projects_a_magical_barrier_S7E14.png After three seasons, we finally see the return of the Friendship Journal - and this time - they fulfill its original purpose: publishing it for others to read and learn from! Thats a new face... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/7b/Twilight_Sparkle_looking_very_annoyed_S7E14.png I can't even imagine how awful it must have smelled with all the spoiled food inside... But I love the personal touch each of the Mane 6 brought to their lessons 😅 Well... there you have it... each one got their own book as you originally thought, or predicted? 😄 Starlight Glimmer: "I learned the spell years ago when I needed to make copies of a certain— [long pause] [clears throat] ...manifesto." - Yeah... we are talking about Starswirl's time-travelling spell here 😅 Yes, you can purchase the "Friendship Journal", but it is actually part of the original book titled The Journal of the Two Sisters, from which the concept originated. The first half of the book contains the original stories of Celestia and Luna, while the second half features the contents of the Mane 6's "Friendship Journal": https://www.amazon.com/Little-Pony-Chronicles-Princesses-Friendship/dp/0316282243 - There are a lot of books of this universe and this one was really well made. "I wonder how this goes wrong..." - You absolutely had no idea... 😏 Its so popular, it gets displayed on the big billboard of Manehattan: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/d/d0/Friendship_journal_on_Manehattan_billboards_S7E14.png - the CMC's are getting popular... well okay... "I wonder if they take the lessons the wrong way" - you still had no idea 😅 - Its going downhill from here... And here is where the magic... erm, tragic happens... Ponies from Fillydelphia who wants an autograph, because its a book written by a (seemingly) popular princess... for their collection... This unicorn was another Make-A-Wish Character btw.: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/70/Out_of_Town_Pony_%22all_the_way_from_Fillydelphia%22_S7E14.png A snobbish pair of ponies (Diamond Cutter and Lavender Bloom) who hate on Rarity: "I only wish they'd left Rarity out. She clearly doesn't belong in that book with the rest of them." - You are right, this is definitely a hint on the fandom, well at least at those who disliked her and maybe wanted to cancel her... Starlight Glimmer: "Go ahead. I'm gonna have a chat with these two." - Oh my... these both are f***ed 🤣 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/8/8a/Starlight_Glimmer_approaches_brunch_ponies_S7E14.png Tigger-pounce! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/8/8a/Pinkie_Pie_excitedly_tackling_Twilight_S7E14.png Pinkie is too hilarious... hilarious beyond any reason in the eyes of some... - and yes a hint of typecasting... Sassaflash: "Hah! Classic Pinkie! Oh, she's even funnier in real life!" Pinkie Pie: "You've known me for years!" - The worst part is, these are all residents of Ponyville... they do know her very well... 🙄 Princess Erroria: "I wipped out all the Twilight Spawkle lessons 'cause they were getting in the way of the good ones." - And next are the Twilight hater and the Rainbow fanatics... Funfact, "Princess Erroria" is a placeholder name by the fandom, because she was seen as Alicorn once due to an animation error: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/8/8e/Princess_Erroria_Alicorn_error_S02E03.png - I wonder if her speaking role here was on purpose, because her name is obviously a wordplay on said animation error and it was given by fans, thus representing them in a way in this episode... genius move or coincidental? 😅 Princess Erroria: "Aw, we don't wanna hear her bowing lessons! Come on! Tell us again about when you met Dawing Do!" - with that it's official: Rainbow revealed that Daring Do does in fact exists! At least she didn't mention A.K.Yearling being her alter ego... Princess Erroria: "We can't get enough of it! Come on, you don't want to disappoint your fans!" - Manipulating and guilt-tripping... yeah that happened... Lemon Chiffon: "We wanna know why Fluttershy keeps learning the same thing over and over again! Be assertive already!" - That's not how it works. Overcoming fears is challenging; it's not something you just face once and it all falls into place. No, it takes hard work and often requires multiple encounters to truly overcome. Also, she did progressively change, but I'll elaborate on that later. Also, this is the most assertive I have ever seen her: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/d/dc/Fluttershy_criticizing_Lemon_Chiffon_S7E14.png https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/e/e9/Rarity_gone_deranged_S7E14.png - Rarity: "I don't know! I'm stress-sewing!" 🤣 Applejack: "[panting] I need a hundred blankets, and I need 'em now! Sorry, Twilight." Rarity: "Right away, pony-who-still-likes-me!" 😂 Applejack: "I don't need nothin' fancy." Twilight Sparkle: "What's the matter, Applejack?" Applejack: "I'm popular, Twilight! I'm popular, and I don't like it one bit!" - While Rarity is cancelled, AJ is very popular... yepp, sounds about right... 😅 Applejack: "Yeah, you know, all the stuff about how friends are like family and whatnot?" Twilight Sparkle: "Can't you get rid of them?" (Yeah do a mass murder AJ! JK! 😋) Applejack: "And kick out my own family?!" - AJ's lesson about how friends can be like family backfired on her, as she values family so deeply that she can't bring herself to deny even "self-declared family members". However, in this case, the definition of family has been stretched far too wide - and it's something she really shouldn't accept. Yes, I know it was an exaggeration. 😅 Twilight Sparkle: "It's bad everywhere. I thought I was doing something good. I thought I was helping. How could our friendship journal have led to so much... anti-friendship?!" - This must be the exact question the show's creators asked themselves... I'm wondering the same thing - how was, no still, is that even possible?! Rarity: "My emotions, darling! Stress couture!" https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/1/1a/Rarity_%22my_emotions%2C_darling%21%22_S7E14.png - She somehow always has the best lines! 🤣🤣🤣 M.A. Larson once mentioned that he loves writing Rarity's dialogue because she has the most potential for hilarious, over-the-top lines. 😅 Starlight Glimmer: "Okay, so maybe they are having a hard time with it. That doesn't mean you did anything wrong." Twilight Sparkle: "Yes, I did! Releasing the journal was my idea, and it backfired in ways I could never have imagined!" Starlight Glimmer: "It's not your fault. It's everypony else's! They're just focusing on the wrong things..." - absolutely! Reporter Pony: "What I mean is, some ponies would argue that it doesn't seem believable that the six of you would be friends." - wow... just wow... Reporter Pony: "Well, sure. I read this journal cover to cover, and I have to say your character would have been much more interesting if she'd stayed in Canterlot." - This is absolutely infuriating and deeply insulting! 😡 It's practically blasphemy against Princess Celestia, considering it was her idea..! 😏 Pearly Stitch: "Twilight was better before she got wings!" - wow... thats a reference to the very hot topic of the fandom back in 2012/2013... I absolutely understand your reaction... everyone was flabbergasted by any of these references... This is the first time Twilight used her royal canterlot voice... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/3/3c/Twilight_Sparkle_yelling_loudly_at_the_ponies_S7E14.png I love the song "Flawless", its such a great poppy and beautiful song with a great message. There are some nice Remixes of it: Aurelleah Hybrid Orchestral Electro Remix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0o0Z8maw4U JTH Glitch Remix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmiuoSyx4B0 Twilight Sparkle: "So you see, everypony? None of us ever claimed to be perfect. Without our flaws, there wouldn't be any friendship lessons to learn. Without our flaws... there probably wouldn't be any friendships at all." - Exactly! But no one listens... This is yet another negative example of the fandom. Starlight Glimmer: "Girls! I found two ponies who have something I think you should hear." - MVP Starlight strikes again! - With the help of two little fillies: Coconut Cream: "Yeah, our friendship? Well, we were having trouble until we read your journal. It showed us that friends can go through all sorts of tough times and come through stronger than before." Toola Roola: "It's made us better friends than we've ever been!" Twilight Sparkle: "Oh, I can't tell you how much it means to hear that. Thank you for telling us. We've had a tough couple of days, but knowing we've helped fillies like you..." Applejack: "It makes everythin' we've been through worth it." Rarity: "Absolutely. Fads come and go. Friendship is forever." - As you mentioned, Ed, sometimes all it takes is one person to be positively influenced in the way you intended, and that can make a well-meaning idea truly successful. And here is the lesson of the day: Fluttershy: "And we can't change the way other ponies think about us. But we can change how we let it affect us." Pinkie Pie: "Or how we don't let it affect us!" Twilight Sparkle: "Stay in the friendship moment, Applejack. They can wait a little longer." - no imminent solution... that's new and absolutely believable. 😄 All the in-between jokes are again on point in this episode... 😁 --- M.A. Larson did it again! Though "Fame and Misfortune" marked his final contribution to the series, he remains one of the best writers, as we've mentioned before. He delivered some of the most memorable episodes, many of which became fan favorites and were heavily referenced in memes as Larson's work often had a significant impact on the show's canon, with his episodes directly or indirectly influencing others, even those written by different writers. He was also responsible for some of the most dramatic moments, including the literal destruction of parts of Equestria. And let's not forget that he introduced us to Starlight Glimmer by writing "The Cutie Map" episodes where she debuted as a villain, paving the way for her most beloved redemption-story arc... Also M.A. Larson was well aware of the fandom, as he was an active member himself. He frequently attended conventions and absorbed the community's impressions. It's hard to believe it was just a coincidence that this particular episode was released during the weekend of one of the biggest conventions there was, "BronyCon". This timing provided a perfect opportunity for many well-known creators and reactors to flock together in their hotel rooms to record their reactions during the event. One of the most popular reactions might have been this one ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtjLFwVN5L4 ), if you are interested. 😁 However, while he tackled in "Stranger Than Fan Fiction" the fandom culture at large, this episode is a more direct approach to the MLP fandom itself, addressing the intricacies and conflicts within the fanbase. "Fame and Misfortune" cleverly reflected real-life criticisms from the fandom, making it one of the greatest and entertaining meta-commentary on fan behavior and debates. Ponies within the show misinterpreted these friendship-lessons, dismissed them as nonsensical fiction, critiqued specific character traits or story developments or even questioned the very authenticity and existence of certain characters, disregarding the essence of the show's moral lessons. One of the most fascinating aspects was the way it tackled common fandom grievances. Take the debate about Twilight's transformation into an Alicorn - there's a segment of the fandom that argues it undermined Lauren Faust's original vision, claiming Twilight was better before her ascension. I understand where they're coming from, as there was a noticeable shift in her personality, now bearing the mantle of a princess and a role model as such. I always felt the transition was handled well, especially in Season 4, which effectively portrayed her insecurities. Character growth is essential for any show to avoid stagnation, and Twilight's and Starlight's arcs were a great example of that. 🤩 Another point of contention in the fandom that the episode addresses is Rarity. Early on, many criticized her for being too "stuck up" or too much of a "drama queen." These fans missed out on the richness of her character, which developed beautifully over time. Her journey from being perceived as vain to a deeply nuanced and generous character is one of the reasons I grew to appreciate her so much. Perhaps her early reception had also to do with her appeal to the younger, more fashion-focused audience - but her journey into a well-rounded character was satisfying to watch. Pinkie Pie has often faced criticism for being an over-the-top comedic relief character that often broke the 4th wall, with some viewing her as too one-dimensional. This perception isn't entirely accurate, as we've seen before that she has a deeper side, occasionally revealing her insecurities and emotional struggles when her actions don't turn out as she intended. After all, no one can be happy all the time, which has led to many unsettling depictions of her by the fandom. While some are intriguing, others are simply not... 😒 Then there's Fluttershy. She has always unfairly been a bit of an easy target for fan criticism. To claim that she didn't evolve over the course of the series is both inaccurate and unfair. While it feels like her character may not have had as much of the spotlight as the others, her development, though subtle, was meaningful and steady. Fluttershy's growth was handled with care and patience. She started as a character that was afraid of everything, but gradually learned to depend on her friends and assert herself in different situations. Episodes like "Hurricane Fluttershy" showed her gaining confidence, and in "Filli Vanilli," she faced her fear of public embarrassment, learning to gradually overcome her stage fright. Her growth required small, steady steps and I appreciated how her fears were tackled with depth and nuance, showing us this character progression. By the later seasons, Fluttershy had developed into a far more confident pony, able to handle dangerous or unfamiliar situations with poise. - To claim that Fluttershy didn't change is to ignore these important milestones. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash's bravado and sheer "awesomeness" have long made her a well liked fan favorite, just as Applejack's simple, grounded and honest nature makes her beloved as the dependable "mother" figure of the group. This episode was indeed a noticeable and bold commentary on the more toxic elements of the MLP fandom. Some fans saw the episode as a critique of the extreme negativity within the fanbase, including complaints about Twilight's transformation or how characters like Discord and Starlight weren't punished enough for their past actions. The portrayal of how fans nitpick every little aspect of the show, from character development to unresolved plot points (like the ongoing mystery of whether Applejack and Pinkie Pie are related), felt strikingly true. Thus the episode was certainly stirring up the fanbase. And while some appreciated the humor, honesty and self-awareness, others felt mocked. I found it remarkable how some viewers couldn't grasp the irony of the situation. For a show centered on friendship, the hostility within the fandom over minor disagreements was surprising, and frankly, disappointing. The fact that some fans resist the natural progression and growth of characters is baffling, given how essential character development is to storytelling. However, some fans took it way too seriously, interpreting it as a personal affront. The saying "biting the hand that feeds you" was tossed around, but I think that misses the point and personally, I think the episode hit just the right audience - those who complained about it in a toxic manner were also likely the ones it was poking fun at. 😏 M.A. Larson later had to clarify that the episode wasn't intended as an attack, but rather as a lighthearted jab at the fandom. He also explained that he didn't write it entirely out of his own accord, as the premise had already been determined beforehand. He also wasn't particularly excited about it, because he knew this would result in such a reaction... Luckily, most people knew how to handle this episode with the humor it deserved - otherwise, my faith in humanity might have died right then and there... 😅 Anyway, personally, I found the indirect criticisms towards the fandom fair. The show called out unreasonable behavior without being overly harsh, and I loved how it balanced acknowledging its mistakes while not letting every piece of fan feedback dictate the direction of the show. And as much as I wish, I could say this was the end of it, things unfortunately got worse with the introduction of the new MLP Generation 5 series (MLP: TYT and MLP: MYM) which followed after the conclusion of Generation 4 (MLP: FIM). It's by far not a pleasant situation - though some of the criticism are deserved. Still, certain reactions have way to much crossed the line, as they sometimes do in any clash of opinions. It escalated into a full-blown storm till today 😑. However, I'll spare you the details - unless, of course, you're really curious and want to hear about it on Discord someday... I won't blame you 🙂 Anyhow, to come back to the episode itself, Starlight Glimmer was once again a real standout of the episode. Once again, she came through as the MVP, doing everything in her power to help her friends, even bringing Toola Roola and Coconut Cream back to lift their spirits and prevent them from spiraling into guilt and despair. This touching moment, and symbolic of the show's overarching message on friendship shown by two fillies, who started off arguing, but were able to find common ground thanks to the lessons from the friendship journal was a great way to bring the episode full circle. It sent a strong message to the fandom: despite all the negativity, friendship and understanding can still prevail. The song "Flawless" was the perfect capstone to the episode. While catchy and fun, it reminded us that no one is perfect, and that flaws are what make characters interesting. One-dimensional characters aren't appealing, and the Mane Six are far from that, making them more relatable and reminding us that character development is always a work in progress. The episode's open-ended conclusion, where the Mane Six learned to let go of the townsfolk's criticisms without changing their minds, was a brilliant choice. It felt realistic, and I loved how it conveyed the central lesson: the Mane Six can't control others' opinions or please everyone, but they can decide how they let it affect them. However, one aspect of the episode that I found slightly lacking was the overwhelming focus on the negative side of the fandom. While that's understandable given the subject matter, it would have been nice to see some of the positive aspects and contributions of the fan community acknowledged as well. I also missed Spike's presence - since he contributed to the Friendship Journal, it felt odd not to include him in the story. All in all, though, "Fame and Misfortune" was a standout episode. It was self-aware, cleverly written, and unafraid to tackle difficult topics. The message that you can't let others' opinions define you was well-delivered. The introduction of Toola Roola and Coconut Cream was a shining beacon of hope amidst the negativity. Their gratitude to the Mane Six for helping them strengthen their friendship was a heartwarming reminder that, despite the negativity, the journal - and by extension, the show - was still making a positive impact on people's lives. Even in the face of criticism, the show's core message of friendship remained strong, and that's what matters most. In the end, while the episode may also have divided a part of the fandom, it succeeded in delivering a sharp, funny, and insightful commentary on the nature of criticism and the importance of staying true to oneself amidst it all. --- Sorry, this part of the fandom has been a sore spot for me till today, so I really appreciate that your reaction helped calm me down and gave me the space to finally vent about it. On another note, I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction to this episode once again. - I love your perspective, and your self-reflection on your initial opinions about certain characters was insightful. It gave me a lot to think and write about. - Thank you very much for that! 💙 - P.S.: Here is an example of one of those "Thanks M.A. Larson"'s memes: https://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/752/906/aad.png
DeViruZz.eXe
2024-10-03 14:54:33 +0000 UTCI agree! They like the vibe and comfortability but it seems they don’t apply it or completely disregard it. Yeah getting defensive and attacking isn’t what this show represents at all so it’s very hypocritical. People change at different. CRAZY concept that people don’t understand. Oh I did catch that but it was in my head and I think I just said “oh okay I got it”. But that was brilliant! The message and intention is there BUT people will still argue, complain, and the whole nine yards. It was wonderful and I had a feeling this episode was going to rough many feathers. Dang. That’s vile. 😭 Oooh Larson wrote this? Ooooof course. Just denial as you said, a company agreeing to tackling the fans? No way that would’ve been an idea from the higher ups. Just aware writers! Yes I agree!! I wasn’t here for this but this episode was just amazing meta commentary and awareness. They were in-tune and help no punches. Amazing!
Ed
2024-09-19 07:21:51 +0000 UTCReally?! Oh wow. That’s so cruel 😭😭 True but I think those issues are more for all cartoons with the age but the bronie commentary would have been good. Yes I remember also not being the biggest of rarity but she’s grown so much since then. Fluttershy’s criticism shook me!! A brilliant song and way to cap off the entire episode! I agree! It was an awesome way to show that minus the noise, it’s about who you are impacting and tell you vs the constant noise and arguing. Incredible episode!!! More shows gotta do this
Ed
2024-09-19 07:14:04 +0000 UTCAbsolutely brilliant meta commentary here. The most mind-blowing thing to me about this fandom is how many people in it don't seem to know a damn thing about friendship. I've seen fans be downright hostile to each other. I've seen fans complain that the reformed villains in this show (especially Starlight) weren't sufficiently punished for the things they did (to hell with forgiveness, huh?). I've seen people complain about the characters changing (god forbid anyone actually grows). The episode touches on all of this so well. But then you missed the most brilliant part of all. When they sang the song to try to get the crowd to understand, and instead it had no effect? That was this episode correctly predicting its own reception. The fandom didn't learn a damn thing from this episode. Some people were actively butthurt about it. I've seen some entitled brony Karens use the phrase "biting the hand that feeds you" to refer to this episode. I've even seen some people claim that this episode's writer M. A. Larson said that he was pressured by Hasbro into writing this episode. Absolute bullshit. There is no way that this level of brilliance was written under duress. If he did in fact say that I'm positive it was probably just to shoo away some of these idiots. Absolutely incredible episode, and everyone who's upset about it because they're in it deserved it.
sjones17515
2024-09-19 04:02:21 +0000 UTCAlso there was a whole ton of mlp analyst reaction channels it’s always poking fun at them too, lol the collectors to so many collectors in the fandom
Pinkie_applepie
2024-09-19 02:10:39 +0000 UTCThis episode is the ultimate meta episode, how the fans feel about this episode? well some feel attacked lol some welcome it, definitely mixed, fun fact this episode was also released during a bronycon weekend purposely so the fans would watch it in the hotel at the con everybody says they did that on purpose which do I believe, there’s certain things i wish they would’ve brought up like how some people think the shows just for kids or some people think it’s just for girls would’ve been kinda hard for them to tackle gender norms and stereotypes maybe with the book, they could’ve brought some the other side of the haters up, lol 😆 I did see myself in a few but I love rarity at the beginning of the fandom there was a lot of rarity haters which wasn’t me, some people do hate twilight with wings, lol I personal like both twilights I do feel they are kinds different if you go back watch her before and after, it’s true apple jack is very popular, fans will cosplay apple jack and rainbow dash, all of them really but those are two the most popular to cosplay ponies, also people asking if apple jack and pinkie pie are related lol I can’t believe they brought that up 😭😂 and fluttershy learning the same lessons it’s just incredible haha nobody expected this episode, the song is very liked popular it’s amazing, also the ending where two ponies came together and found positive is a reference to how some fans have made friends through the show and it’s helped lots of peoples lives for the better and that’s all that matters as long as it helps some people and people find inspiration and love it, it doesn’t matter about the negativity because that will always there when it comes to fandoms and stuff like that , it really is a brilliant message in the episode.
Pinkie_applepie
2024-09-19 01:57:15 +0000 UTC
