My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

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My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by RogueIce »

Since the other thread would have hit page 10 with this post anyway, fuck it here's a new one.

First up, got some synopses for the first three episodes of season 4:
Spoiler
Season 4 Episode 1
Title: Princess Twilight Part 1
Synopsis: Now a Princess, Twilight Sparkle's Summer Sun Celebration plans are put on hold when Princesses Luna and Celestia go missing.
Air Date: November 23, 2013

Season 4 Episode 2:
Title: Princess Twilight Part 2
Synopsis: In order to save Equestria from the Everfree Forest, Princess Twilight and friends must bring their Elements to the Tree of Harmony.
Air Date: November 23, 2013

Season 4 Episode 3
Title: Castle-Mania
Synopsis: While in Luna and Celestia's old castle, the ponies are convinced it is haunted by the Pony of Shadows.
Air Date: November 30, 2013
I'm not sure if S4E03 is a continuation of the opening two parter or not. Might be. Also:
Spoiler
I wonder if the opening is where we see that Nightmare Moon flashback from the animatics, or if that comes later.
I'm guessing the castle for Ep3 will be the one from the series premiere? Be cool to see it back in action.
Tree of Harmony, eh? More world building, hooray!
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Crossroads Inc. »

Spoiler
celestia AND Luna go missing and the ponies most bring the elements together to save the day

. Ok REALLY ? Did the writers just run out of ideas for two parters now??
I saw some sketches if other ep ideas from seas 4. But the synopsis of the opening two parter. Well call me skeptical
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by SirNitram »

Spoiler
....Saving it from a forest? Dafuq?
That being said, John De Lancie as Discord getting a song is going to cushion that nicely.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Mr Bean »

SirNitram wrote:Spoiler
....Saving it from a forest? Dafuq?
Spoiler
That forest has always been more than normal a normal forest. Not only is Luna old castle contained within but freaky shit happens there on a regular basis and magic abounds. Who knows what will come out of that dark wood?
Cross my fingers for either Undead Starswirl or Lavos

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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by LadyTevar »

Well well well... A white potion that allows a person to view the past.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Ralin »

I like the implication that there's going to be an overarching quest/plot this season. People have wondered from the beginning what the show would look like if they did that.

The Nightmare Moon vs Celestia fight was awesome.

Interesting that they removed the Elements of Harmony. Wish the Discord episode had been better so that his staying on his best behavior would be a little more believable, but oh well.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Crossroads Inc. »

Personally, I felt al that is needed to make Discords being "good" a bit more believable is for him to just say something like "Well, helping you tends to be more fun then screwing with you." Or, something...

As for the episode... I like that they gave up the elements, basically giving UP a plot device so they can't just use it on every bad guy that shows up. Also over arching story arc is something I have very high hopes for, could be very good, or very bad.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Ralin »

Did anyone else get the impression that this was the first Summer Sun Celebration since Luna returned? Because if that's true than it truncates the timeline of the show a lot more than most fan theories.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Lurks-no-More »

Ralin wrote:Did anyone else get the impression that this was the first Summer Sun Celebration since Luna returned? Because if that's true than it truncates the timeline of the show a lot more than most fan theories.
Yes, a lot of people. They're all wrong, as we've seen two winters in the show, and Celestia never says that this is the first SSC after Luna's return.

What she says is, paraphrasing, that this is the first SSC she's looking forwards to, as it will now celebrate Luna's return instead of Nightmare Moon's banishment, and Luna will participate in the ceremony.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by LadyTevar »

I loved the way Twilight launched herself through the "twilight phase", where Moon and Sun were equidistant from the horizon. Very interesting how they're working to show her 'between' the two.

Also, the Tree of Harmony had Moon and Sun insignia on it. Interesting, isn't it.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by RogueIce »

Quiz time! Which Element belonged to which Princess?

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I think it's as follows:

Celestia
Magic (obviously)
Kindness
Generosity

Luna
Honesty
Laughter
Loyalty

Loyalty and Kindness could be switched; it's a little difficult to tell the difference between RD and Fluttershy's colors.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Kuja »

I found it delicious.

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Very delicious.

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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Wild Zontargs »

RogueIce wrote:Quiz time! Which Element belonged to which Princess?
You are correct, from what I can see. Also remember that Magic == Friendship, so Celestia has the most touchy-feely ones, with Luna having the more nuanced ones. Fits in with the "good cop, bad cop" image they seem to have going for them.
Kuja wrote:I found it delicious.
Go ahead, tell me the animators didn't know what they were doing.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by RogueIce »

Ugh can we not image spam this thread please? Go hunt around in AMP for the Pony image thread if you feel you must.
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The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Crossroads Inc. »

Not to mention Rule34 Suggestive pics... I mean.. YUCK 0_0

Back to actually show Discussion...
I have to say it was refreshing for the "Villain" not to be another bad guy, but basically a plot hatched by Discord all the way back before he was turned to stone.
Also, I have to say I was VERY pleased with how they handled Discord in this, much better then the previous Fluttershy episode.
He really is turning more and more into a "Q" type personality, basically a "I am not EVIL, but it doesn't mean I can't be a Dick to everyone" ;P
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Irbis »

Lurks-no-More wrote:Yes, a lot of people. They're all wrong, as we've seen two winters in the show
What two winters? If you mean Winter Wrap Up and HWE, was there any indication it wasn't just one winter shown out of order?
and Celestia never says that this is the first SSC after Luna's return.

Wait, are you saying Luna skipped 2 of them already for no reason and it never occurred to Celestia it is no longer sad but happy occasion, since that revelation seems to be fresh? :wtf:

Naah, I agree, that was a big plot hole. That should have been addressed way back in S2, otherwise the only way it makes sense is S1-4 being just one year.
LadyTevar wrote:Also, the Tree of Harmony had Moon and Sun insignia on it. Interesting, isn't it.
I think that was weakest point of the episode. So, who is on tree? Princesses? Cadance is missing. Bearers of elements? No, 5 of them are just generic crystals. There IMGO shouldn't been any insignia on it.

As for Cadance, is it me or there were 5 or so occasions where Twilight is told she is last hope, as if everyone forgot there is someone much older, stronger, and actually experienced in leading the country? :x
RogueIce wrote:Quiz time! Which Element belonged to which Princess?
I think the episode pretty much said: whoever grabs one, gets to use one. Celestia uses all 6 without any problem at all.
Crossroads Inc. wrote:Also, I have to say I was VERY pleased with how they handled Discord in this, much better then the previous Fluttershy episode.
He really is turning more and more into a "Q" type personality, basically a "I am not EVIL, but it doesn't mean I can't be a Dick to everyone" ;P
I'd even say they are trying to retcon that episode away only keeping rough status (Discord pretending to be reformed for laughs) from it. Good, the less episodes written by 12 year olds, the better :x

Incidentally, that scene with Fluttershy declaring to Discord 'we don't have weaponized magic anymore, but we have GROUP HUGS!' was terribly cringeworthy. Not only was it meaningless, wasn't she supposed to be his friend? Even to the point of giving him the element before? She was about last person able to make such a threat! :?

Same with Pinkie, she loved Discord before he 'repent', now he is supposedly good guy, and Pinkie is RD-level aggressive towards him? Did I miss episode making these two hate him?
Ralin wrote:I like the implication that there's going to be an overarching quest/plot this season.
We had that in S3, with the book. It was what, 4 seconds of connection between just two episodes? :wink:
The Nightmare Moon vs Celestia fight was awesome.
Maybe it will finally kill that annoying 'goddesses' fanon, too.
Interesting that they removed the Elements of Harmony.
Uh, what stops them from borrowing the elements for 5 seconds, again? And why Celestia just thrown the elements on the ground directly above the tree for a millennium instead of giving them back herself? Did she took a nap and forgot?
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by RogueIce »

Irbis wrote:As for Cadance, is it me or there were 5 or so occasions where Twilight is told she is last hope, as if everyone forgot there is someone much older, stronger, and actually experienced in leading the country? :x
They addressed that one: she's over in the Crystal Empire doing her thing. Given the Crystal Heart and the level of magic implied in that land from the season 3 opener, I would assume it's Pretty Important that she stay there in person, and couldn't go over to Canterlot or fill in for Celestia forever.
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We rise with noble intentions,
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by bilateralrope »

RogueIce wrote:
Irbis wrote:As for Cadance, is it me or there were 5 or so occasions where Twilight is told she is last hope, as if everyone forgot there is someone much older, stronger, and actually experienced in leading the country? :x
They addressed that one: she's over in the Crystal Empire doing her thing. Given the Crystal Heart and the level of magic implied in that land from the season 3 opener, I would assume it's Pretty Important that she stay there in person, and couldn't go over to Canterlot or fill in for Celestia forever.
You don't need to assume that Cadance can't leave the Crystal Empire. Just that any communication would take too long when there is a crisis right now. Which isn't much of an assumption when the only communication method we have seen that's faster than a courier is Spike's link with Celesita.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Irbis »

RogueIce wrote:They addressed that one: she's over in the Crystal Empire doing her thing. Given the Crystal Heart and the level of magic implied in that land from the season 3 opener, I would assume it's Pretty Important that she stay there in person, and couldn't go over to Canterlot or fill in for Celestia forever.
First, suggestion, maybe change thread title?

Is it important enough for Mane 5 to tell Twilight to buzz off? :wtf: Sombra, the only reason it was dangerous, is pretty much dead, and besides, Shining can take care of guarding it. Or hell, just take it with Cadance, single pony could lift it.
bilateralrope wrote:You don't need to assume that Cadance can't leave the Crystal Empire. Just that any communication would take too long when there is a crisis right now. Which isn't much of an assumption when the only communication method we have seen that's faster than a courier is Spike's link with Celesita.
We know from S3 pet episode it takes less than half to third a day to go to CE and back, by train. Can't they send it in express mode with only one wagon attached?
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by bilateralrope »

Irbis wrote:We know from S3 pet episode it takes less than half to third a day to go to CE and back, by train. Can't they send it in express mode with only one wagon attached?
Assuming that they have a train at the station and there are no other trains on the track to get in the way, how much would that reduce the travel time by ?

Since I don't know enough about trains to answer that, I'll assume it halves the travel time. That's still a third of a day to get a reply. Twilight is available immediately. Which puts Twilight in charge unless Cadance sends back conflicting instructions.

Which Cadance might not do, as Twilight has the better track record at saving Equestria, and would probably know more about the Everfree forest than Cadance. Even if that knowledge is limited to knowing that Zecora is an expert on it.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Irbis »

bilateralrope wrote:Since I don't know enough about trains to answer that, I'll assume it halves the travel time. That's still a third of a day to get a reply.
That is still more than enough time to have Cadance on site long before Mane 5 told Twilight to get lost. The more I think, the dumber that scene was - you're going to fight unknown villain, but make sure you don't have all elements if need arises? You don't even ask Twilight for her own to have it on hand to cure tree? Really, that whole trip was completely pointless without someone taking all 6 elements, what they expected to accomplish??
Which Cadance might not do, as Twilight has the better track record at saving Equestria
Ending of S2, beginning of S3, Cadance beats Twilight 2 for 2. Better? :wink:
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by RogueIce »

Irbis wrote:First, suggestion, maybe change thread title?
Past the Edit window, so I can't.

I will agree having the Mane 5 tell Twilight to leave was a little odd. Sure she's the only Princess left; presumably Cadance can't rule the Crystal Empire from Canterlot? I don't really know. But that's what the guard pony said so I'll go with it.

It did seem out of character for them. I'd like to think it was residual magic from the seeds subtlety splitting them up. I can only submit that it seemed odd how quick AJ and RD turned on each other when they realized their mistake. That's pure speculation with almost nothing to back it up, though.
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We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)

"On and on, through the years,
The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Ralin »

Irbis wrote: Uh, what stops them from borrowing the elements for 5 seconds, again? And why Celestia just thrown the elements on the ground directly above the tree for a millennium instead of giving them back herself? Did she took a nap and forgot?
Presumably because the vines will start up again immediately.

And even if they can borrow them, venturing into the Everfree Forest to get them is a whole lot more difficult than heading down to the library to pick them up.
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by RogueIce »

Yeah. That barrier lasted for however many thousand or so years before it gave out? Probably not something the tree will recover from in the short term. Sure it looks all pretty and stuff, tribute to the powerful magic of the Elements, but I imagine it does need some time to "recharge" as it were.

Plus, it may not even give the Elements out anymore. After all, it did give them the Mystery Box of Mystery, maybe the Tree figures that's good enough? Or it doesn't want to risk a repeat of this problem so it'll hang on to the Elements for another thousand years or so.

Essentially, we don't know that they even can recover the Elements now.

Episode 3 - Spoilers Ahead

So on to the newest episode! I thought it was fun. I figured the "Shadow Pony" was going to be Pinkie, given how the rest of the Mane Five were accounted for. I like the hint that there really is a Shadow Pony or...something...in the castle, though. A future plot hook, perhaps? Also nice way to continue the arc without it being an overwhelming focus of the episode. Clearly this is (mostly) Twilight's thing and her friends are living their lives as they will. Good to see Twilight is staying in her library in Ponyville, at least for the time being. And apparently RD and AJ's little "conflict" from the opening is continued here, or at least they've got their competitive spirit on full display. Wonder if this will also be a theme during the season?

Overall a nice, light, fun episode to follow on from the premiere, but still has plenty to keep the arc story going. I like it. Next week looks like a more slice of life episode, and Rainbow Dash centric. Yay!
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"How can I wait unknowing?
This is the price of war,
We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)

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The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
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Re: My Little Pony Season 4 (starts 11/23/2013)

Post by Irbis »

Ralin wrote:And even if they can borrow them, venturing into the Everfree Forest to get them is a whole lot more difficult than heading down to the library to pick them up.
But last two seasons they were not in library, but in Celestia's treasury - which bite them in the ass multiple times in past seasons. Really, Celestia not giving them back and just letting them rot for a millennium first on the ground then on the shelf looks really sloppy and uncaring.
RogueIce wrote:Essentially, we don't know that they even can recover the Elements now.
Well, if the writers wanted to convey that, maybe they shouldn't show us Celestia/Luna simply grabbing the elements from the slots they rest in? It really looks like anyone can just pull them out.
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