MLP:FiM S3E12 - "Games Ponies Play" - Grading & Discussion

[Count Zero]

By the way, I'm mightily excited we got to see Dashie's Dad. Also, Doctor Whooves is in the crowd in Cloudsdale in the beginning of the episode. I approve.

[Gep Malakai]

"Rainbow Dad" needs to be his name.

This is the first episode in quite a while that I've watched twice on the same day. Haven't done that since, oh, Magic Duel, I think. Good times. Goooooood times.

[J. Allen]

It's a fun, breezy episode.

[Gep Malakai]

J. Allen wrote:

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It's a fun, breezy episode.

It reminds me a bit of the energy in The Last Roundup, where they keep gags and character beats coming at you fast. That style works really well for this show.

Plus, I'd have a hard time pinning this down as a Rainbow, Rarity or Twilight episode – and that's a good thing. They haven't used an A/B/C story structure in a long, long time and I missed it. The show is better when it juggles multiple character arcs as opposed to focusing on one pony and using the others for exposition or killing time.

[J. Allen]

Gep Malakai wrote:

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It reminds me a bit of the energy in The Last Roundup, where they keep gags and character beats coming at you fast. That style works really well for this show.

Plus, I'd have a hard time pinning this down as a Rainbow, Rarity or Twilight episode – and that's a good thing. They haven't used an A/B/C story structure in a long, long time and I missed it. The show is better when it juggles multiple character arcs as opposed to focusing on one pony and using the others for exposition or killing time.

As a longtime fan of both the Monty Python series', and the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker movies, I heartily agree!

[Peach Wookiee]

Count Zero wrote:

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By the way, I'm mightily excited we got to see Dashie's Dad. Also, Doctor Whooves is in the crowd in Cloudsdale in the beginning of the episode. I approve.

That is so cool! So now we know where she got her mane from! And I wonder if her mom is in the picture. If not, we know she was raised by her dad.

[Chemahkuu]

Loved every part of the episode, and the final touch of connecting to last weeks. A

[TrekAlliance92]

On first watch, I would have given this one a "B," but upon second watching, I'm bumping it up to an "A." Another great episode!

I liked who many of the characters had lots to do and good comedy. Pinkie was the comedy highlight for me, with the hilarious "Nooo!/Yessss!" dramatic running gag, her acting completely goofy to distract the "not"-inspector, and her squee after offering Cadence a cinnamon bun. Rarity was in great form first for her love the spa, then for her pushing Twilight away when trying to fix the headdress. It was cool to see Rainbow's father in the flashback, and her falling into the dome while Rarity thinks she hears something was really funny (I also got a kick out her saying "and, we're walkin'). Twilight being (mostly) calm was keeping in recent character development, and cute to boot. And, while AJ and Fluttershy didn't have too much to do, they were perfectly in character.

The guest pony was unique in that she got such a large focus. She was a nice, appealing character that was well-acted and had some unique quirks (for this show, at least) like being claustrophobic and nearly outrunning RD on land when getting free. I also got a kick out her flirting with Shining Armor--something you don't see much on this show often either. (The chase scene also had some great music from Will Anderson to boot.)

The linking with "Sidekicks" was fun at the beginning and the end.

A solid "A" right up there with "Crystal Empire, "Too Many Pinkie Pies" and "Magic Duel" for my favorites of the season. Now, I'm looking forward to the season finale!

[J. Allen]

I also have to agree about Twilight being in control, and it being adorable, especially the scene later where she's practically hyperventilating in an effort to keep that control.