MLP:FiM S4 E3 - "Castle Mane-ia" Grade & Discuss

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Amaris, Nov 29, 2013.

?

Grade & Discuss

Poll closed Dec 13, 2013.
  1. A

    10 vote(s)
    90.9%
  2. B

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. C

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. D

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. F

    1 vote(s)
    9.1%
  1. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Episode Title: "Castle Mane-ia"
    Air Date: Nov. 30th, 2013

    Summary: "Twilight and Spike are sent by Celestia to the ruins of her old castle for research, and unknown to each other, the rest of the ponies find their way there as well. Meanwhile, trap doors, secret passages and a dark presence known only as the Shadow Pony await them"

    Live Streams:
    BronyState Theaters
    Brony Network
    Xyro's HD Stream
    World of Equestria

    REMEMBER: DO NOT POST SPOILERS UNTIL AFTER 1:00 PM EST (6 PM UTC/GMT)

    =-

    So, who's ready for some pony? Make sure to watch, grade, and discuss! :D
     
  2. Trekker4747

    Trekker4747 Boldly going... Premium Member

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    Aren't we supposed to make singular threads for TV series instead of episodic ones? If we have one for The Walking Dead, Agents of Shield and others I think you can make one for your little pony cartoon.
     
  3. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    We did this last year and Bonz was fine with it.
     
  4. Trekker4747

    Trekker4747 Boldly going... Premium Member

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    I'm just asking. Because it was suggested to me in the AOS thread that I should keep it to one thread rather than making a new thread every episode. The Walking Dead and some other series have series threads rather then episodic ones.

    Why does this get a pass?

    If it's okay to make episode threads then I just might start making them again for AOS.

    ETA:

    In fact, from Timby right here in my AOS thread:

    LINK
     
  5. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    What I'm saying is that this is part of an agreement we (the Brony community) made with T'Bonz last year. Your mileage may vary.
     
  6. Trekker4747

    Trekker4747 Boldly going... Premium Member

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    Then I call bullshit.
     
  7. Peach Wookiee

    Peach Wookiee Cuddly Mod of Doom Moderator

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    Trekker, Bonz is okay with it. Relax. :)
     
  8. Trekker4747

    Trekker4747 Boldly going... Premium Member

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    It's a matter of equality. I'm told to keep the AOS discussion to one thread as it's not felt to warrant one for each episode but this cartoon DOES?!
     
  9. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Take it somewhere else please, Trekker, and not this thread.
     
  10. Taylirious

    Taylirious Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I for one cannot wait! Probably late this afternoon. ;)
     
  11. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah, if the livestreams look like they're going to breakdown again, I'll just have to wait for a Youtube link, which we can probably expect around 2:30-3:00 PM (EST) later today.

    I know absolutely nothing about this episode beyond the summary given above, though I hear that the episode was leaked sometime back. Sometimes it's hard not to watch those, but I think it's for the best that I've waited. This episode looks like it's going to be lots of fun. :D
     
  12. Taylirious

    Taylirious Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Well the S4 premiere was awesome. I don't want to bump it but it was A+. :adore: usually all the SAT toons I have to wait till late afternoon cause I don't have cable. :(
     
  13. Gepard

    Gepard Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Well, from one of us who watched this leak....this is also an awesome episode. /mlp/ – you know, the place that doesn't like anything – granted Josh Haber "Based" status on the strength of this episode and the awesomeness of his twitter feed.

    So it's got that going for it.

    Quoting myself from the TNZ thread:

    So many thoughts after this.


    • AJ and Dash competitiveness is back
    • continuity porn left right and center
    • adorable ponies doing adorable things
    • antics driven by strong personalities
    • more lore and worldbuilding
    • season villain teased
    • subtle and complex moral at the end

    It...it feels like season 1 all over again. Can it be? Has Meghan pulled it off?

    Oh, and I'm almost certain that
    the season villain will be TRIXIE. It appears to be her hat and cloak seen in silhouette at the end. And with the information from AJ that some of Nightmare Moon's magic stayed in Equestria... (Other suspects are Starswirl the Bearded and even Zecora, but that really looks like Trixie's hat to me.)

    Holy shit.
     
  14. Kemaiku

    Kemaiku Admiral Admiral

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    Edit: You know what, you aren't worth it Trekker. Next time, just PM a mod, otherwise drop it.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2013
  15. Peach Wookiee

    Peach Wookiee Cuddly Mod of Doom Moderator

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    I'm watching part two of the season premiere before the new episode comes on and I'm still amazed the Hub let them get away with showing Celestia get shot onscreen, complete with the bloodcurdling scream.

    The new eppie: Solid A.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2013
  16. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I had similar thoughts to Gep.

    Loved it! AJ and Rainbow Dash are back to their old competitive ways, Fluttershy is just as ridiculously cute as ever, Rarity is as snarky and sarcastic as she was back in Season 1, Pinkie is hilariously random, but not overly so, and Twilight had a nerdgasm over the old books in the library. If there were Castlevania references, I didn't get them, but then I haven't played much of the game. It doesn't matter, though, because this episode is filled with fun gags, great atmosphere, and a nice pile of continuity. So far I've been very impressed with Season 4.

    By the way, it looks like there won't be an HD link, according to Xyro, ContendID is catching it all, probably due to the leak. I have had no success finding one, so I watched the low quality version.
     
  17. Kemaiku

    Kemaiku Admiral Admiral

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    Loved the episode, the humour, the writing, a lot more setups for the rest of the season.

    Which by the way is likely the book Spike is holding in the opening credits, their new combined journal, which seems to be whats replacing the letters to Celestia. I like it, after concerns about how they'd replace it.

    A lot of Applejack/Rainbow Dash in this episode, Megan was teasing about the "hoof around the shoulder" moment, I loved the look on Dashes face. ;)

    They've been continuing this slump for Pinkie where they've essentially started outright making her stupid which I don't appreciate. Her turning up at the organ was a no brainer.

    But the separate groups meeting up was a great moment and nicely setup throughout the episode. Twilight back in full geek mode and mentions of little Woona playing around the castle.

    The final reveal, the cloaked figure, the oval face, the yellow eyes, is exactly how they first revealed Zecora. So this could well be a Zebra, who would have had access to potions to hurt or disable the Tree of Harmony last week to allow Discord's vines in.
     
  18. Peach Wookiee

    Peach Wookiee Cuddly Mod of Doom Moderator

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    My theory is that it's Starswirl. Since everything is on a 1000 year or so timer... how long ago was Hearth's Warming?
    As for Pinkie... She's not stupid. She's just very, very high on sugar. And remember, she will fall downstairs as long as it's for a laugh.
     
  19. Gepard

    Gepard Vice Admiral Admiral

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  20. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Oh, thank Celestia! I'm happy to get it in any viewable resolution, but seeing it full screen on my PC would be so much better. Thanks for the link, Gep. :D

    @Chemy - Pinkie doesn't bother me. She's random. It does seem they've amped up her randomness, but I'm okay with that, because at the end of the day, she makes me laugh. I guess I'm one of the few who didn't suspect it was her until the reveal, at which point my brain clicked on and reminded me that the other five were there. For a while, I suspected Zecora, as she is a resident of the Everfree, but then I wondered why she would be playing the pipe organ.

    @Peach - I had the same thought. I have expected him to show up at some point in the series. It would be interesting to see him show up now.

    Anyhoo, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the atmosphere in this episode was great, and I loved how things came together the way they did.

    As a side note, I love how Fluttershy is occasionally assertive, and then frightened all to Tartarus and back seconds later. :lol: