Poll MLP:FIM S09E12 - "The Last Crusade" (Spoilers)

[Amaris]

Episode Name: "The Last Crusade"
Air Date: June 15th, 2019 @ 10:30 AM (ET)

Where You Can Watch Live:
Spazz
Otaku Ascended Live
Brony Network
Brony State
Brony TV
S&B Network

Summary: "Unexpected visitors to Ponyville threaten to break up the Cutie Mark Crusaders forever."

Ruminations: This is the episode where we meet Scootaloo's aunts. This caused a minor stir among people who don't think kids should see two mares as an official married couple in a children's show. That stir will be ignored moving forward, because I think it's fantastic, and it's about damn time.

On to the episode!

 

[Amaris]

**SPOILERS**




So we finally got to see Scootaloo's parents (and her Aunts Loft and Holiday who are clearly BEST FRIENDS). It felt a bit shoehorned in, to be honest, because we've gone 9 seasons without seeing them, and then we're told that they've just been away for a while. I am glad, however, that they decided to address the issue, though I'm not sure I like how they played it out.

This would have been a great opportunity for a lesson on what happens when your friends have to move away. Meetings and partings are just one aspect of life, and while I love the CMC, we're closing in on the end of the series. This would be a great teaching moment. Instead, Scoots gets to stay, her aunts move to Ponyville, and her parents are still heading off to Shire Lanka (that's what it sounds like they call it anyway).

As for her parents: Scoot's dad (Snap Shutter) is clearly an Aussie, which explains why her aunt sounds like an Aussie, too, though it took a few extra seconds for me to place it because I'm not used to that kind of an accent being used in Equestria. Her mom (Mane Allgood) sounds a bit midwestern US, but my ears could have been playing with me.

It was nice to see them, of course, along with her aunts, but it just seemed so convenient on every level. I know we're running low on time, but a real change could have happened here, and it was rejected in favor of keeping things the same, even at the end of the series.

Now, all of that aside, I did tear up when her parents arrived, and when the CMC thought they were being disbanded. I mean, the first order of business was to cry, and we all did. The little celebration was nice, and I think Diamond Tiara shed a tear as well. It just kind of felt a bit off and definitely rushed. This would have made a good two-parter slice of life, but I guess they wanted to avoid that.

Still, a good episode, and it finally answered a question many of us had regarding the disposition of Scootaloo's parent situation. Now we know, and all those Scootaloo orphan fanfictions will just have to stay in the realm of fantasy (I still think "A Taste of the Good Life" is the best Scoots fanfic).

This episode gets a solid B from me.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I went with an A+. The episode played out much as others have where the Fellowship might be disbanded, but it wasn't just mentioned and quickly resolved in thirty seconds. The whole episode was about the possibility. And because the CMC are presumably the same age as the Mane Six when they went off to seek their fortunes, it's also possible that Scoots could've argued to find a place to stay in Ponyville on her own.

I like that her parents really did take her status into consideration toward the end of the episode. So often, when a family moves, it's the adults that say it's for the best. But what if it really isn't?

And now, about the aunties. Not many newer fans would realize why Lofty's look was changed from the comics to the show, but the character of Lofty in G1 was voiced by Susan Blu, an openly lesbian woman. G4 Lofty in the show bears a resemblance to her G1 counterpart's voice actress. It's rather sweet, I think, and I love how the two aunties were handled. They just were, rather than "LOOK AT THE LESBIAN AUNTIES!!"

 

[Amaris]

I went with an A+. The episode played out much as others have where the Fellowship might be disbanded, but it wasn't just mentioned and quickly resolved in thirty seconds. The whole episode was about the possibility. And because the CMC are presumably the same age as the Mane Six when they went off to seek their fortunes, it's also possible that Scoots could've argued to find a place to stay in Ponyville on her own.

I like that her parents really did take her status into consideration toward the end of the episode. So often, when a family moves, it's the adults that say it's for the best. But what if it really isn't?

And now, about the aunties. Not many newer fans would realize why Lofty's look was changed from the comics to the show, but the character of Lofty in G1 was voiced by Susan Blu, an openly lesbian woman. G4 Lofty in the show bears a resemblance to her G1 counterpart's voice actress. It's rather sweet, I think, and I love how the two aunties were handled. They just were, rather than "LOOK AT THE LESBIAN AUNTIES!!"

Indeed. The furor over TEH LESBIAN PONES from media outlets was bigger than the actual event, and I love that the show runners took the time to make it as normal, everyday living rather than something out of the ordinary.

Plus, we all know Lyra and BonBon did it first.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I love that everything just is in Ponyville. And if people take a step back, they could draw their own conclusion because unless someone's doing a major PDA, who'd know if they were close friends or lovers?

 

[Amaris]

I love that everything just is in Ponyville. And if people take a step back, they could draw their own conclusion because unless someone's doing a major PDA, who'd know if they were close friends or lovers?

I’d gladly live in Ponyville if I had the choice.