MLPFIM S6E03 - "The Gift of the Maud Pie" - Grading & Discussion

[Amaris]

Episode Title: "The Gift of the Maud Pie"
Air Date: April 2nd, 11:00 AM Eastern Time (3:00 PM GMT/UTC)

Summary: "While in Manehattan looking for the ideal location for her new store, Rarity has to help Pinkie Pie find the perfect gift for her sister, Maud – without Maud finding out."

Live Streams:
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REMEMBER: NO OPEN SPOILERS UNTIL 3 PM ET (7 PM GMT)

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Ruminations:
We're going back to Manehattan! This time, Pinkie Pie is searching for the perfect gift for Maud. I think many of us love Maud, I know I do, and we're excited to see her show up again. She's definitely one of my favorite secondary characters, and I'm curious to see how Pinkie Pie handles the pressure of finding the "perfect" gift. I'm expecting frizzy hair, a party cannon, and lots of streamers. What are your thoughts for this episode? As always, vote in the poll and give me your thoughts and opinions on the show!

EPISODE TRAILER (possible spoilers):

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[Kemaiku]

She panics for 20 minutes, gets her a rock, end of episode. I mean really, what other ending is there going to be here?

 

[Count Zero]

I'm mostly excited about the possibility of the Mad Men ponies showing up. Pony Joan can be seen in the 30 second clip that's been released. But Pinkie Pie teaming up with Rarity also sounds like an interesting combination. So I'm really looking forward to this episode.

 

[Amaris]

She panics for 20 minutes, gets her a rock, end of episode. I mean really, what other ending is there going to be here?

Of course! Still, the fun will be in how she arrives at that conclusion.

I'm mostly excited about the possibility of the Mad Men ponies showing up. Pony Joan can be seen in the 30 second clip that's been released. But Pinkie Pie teaming up with Rarity also sounds like an interesting combination. So I'm really looking forward to this episode.

I'm certain we'll see some Mad Men action, and hopefully some other New York references.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

It wasn't a rock and I loved the episode. A+!

 

[Kemaiku]

Well I mean being the only coin purse shop in an entire city must mean you do enough business to close it up for months, leaving a paper note on the outside of the door in a crime ridden, windy and wet city without worrying. I guess?

And just Maud, for once, lighten up.

Since when does Pinkie only have that one party canon? she's had at least two since season 1, said "cannons" several times and EQG Pinkie has at least 5?

"5ever"

Leave that 4chan/gamer bullshit language at the door please. And in 2013 where it came from.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

^Chem, Manehatten isn't Manhattan. And Maud is Maud. Lightening up for her is accepting a candy necklace or present from her sister. She may not show a wide range of facial expressions, but we can figure when she's happy for her.

 

[Amaris]

I'm going to post here what I posted over at Brony Kingdom.

*** SPOILERS ***

I love this episode! As I'm sure you all know, I adore Maud, and consider any episode with her in it to be a success, and that has held up to this point, as far as I'm concerned. First we see Pinkie and Rarity on the train to Manehattan, and we do get our shot of Neal and Del (Planes, Trains & Automobiles), which made me giddy, and then there we are, Manehattan itself. I love the idea that Rarity's business is growing to the point where she wishes to open a boutique in downtown Manehattan.

Of course, the real fun is that we get to see Maud, and I was just as excited as Pinkie Pie to see her appear. So it's not a birthday gift for Maud (as I thought), it was instead a day the sisters set aside to spend time with one another, and have a gift exchange at the end of the day. I don't know about you, but I love that idea, and I love that this show promotes the idea of the closeness of family, even if our families can't be as awesome as the ones in the show. *sigh*

Anyway, so they go out on the town, Pinkie having enlisted the aid of Rarity to help her find that right gift for Maud. After some sightseeing (and a great shot of the Statue of Friendship), Pinkie finds the perfect gift for Maud: a rock pouch. It wasn't a rock, surprisingly, though it was rock related. Of course, it does suck that the shop owner's store is closed, and the owner on vacation. I mean, why not hire someone to keep the store open when you're the only rock satchel retailer in town? Then again, this is Equestria, and while it seems a lot like our world in some respects, in others their is a counter logic that gets followed, so not much to be done about that.

After Rarity tries to find a great alternative gift for Pinkie to give to her sister, and strikes out, a random (somewhat seedy) stranger passes by, and happens to be wearing such a rock pouch. Pinkie makes the effort to buy it from him, and succeeds, though she has to trade him her most treasured party cannon to do it. Of course, while she misses it terribly, she loves her sister more, and agrees to the trade. It's sweet to see Maud open her gift and you can tell that she appreciates the gift (trust me, you can tell), but she's upset when she finds out (from an easily persuaded Rarity) that Pinkie gave up her prized cannon to get it.

I love how Maud immediately sets out to retrieve that cannon. I love that when she meets the seedy stranger (using "Maud Sense" which runs in the family), her stony gaze and placid expression unnerves him (with Rarity's help of course) to where he returns the trade. Pinkie Pie gets her cannon back.

So now, Rarity is a part of the tradition (according to Pinkie Pie) and aside from a momentary fret about having to buy gifts and having only a year to find the perfect one, we get to the heart of the lesson: It's not the gift that matters, it's the love expressed in the giving of the gift, and that message is just perfect. I love it so much.

The only downside to the episode, for me anyway, is that Maud doesn't get her rock pouch. Yes, she loves her sister dearly and the pouch doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but I'd like for Maud to have the pouch. Personally, I feel Rarity could make her an even better pouch than what was in the store, and it would be nice to imagine that this is what happened later on.

So, all things considered, taking into account the story, the message, the characters (♥ Maud), and the awesome expressions (best face goes to Maud this episode), I give this episode an "A". Slice of life is my thing, and this episode does it just right.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I think Rarity will make her that bag. "Maud, darling, since we're in Manehatten and I'll be designing new couture, please let me make Pinkie's gift to you. Pinkie, this is free of charge!" A montage of fabric gathering and sewing follows and then a smiling Pinkie gives her sister the bag.
"Thank you, Rarity!"

 

[Amaris]

I think Rarity will make her that bag. "Maud, darling, since we're in Manehatten and I'll be designing new couture, please let me make Pinkie's gift to you. Pinkie, this is free of charge!" A montage of fabric gathering and sewing follows and then a smiling Pinkie gives her sister the bag.
"Thank you, Rarity!"

*slides into head canon* Works for me!

 

[Count Zero]

A nice story. Solid A for me. Yeah, nothing big happened but I liked the half-touristy, half-purpose trip through the city by the 3 ponies. The inclusion of the map was a nice touch, too. Rarity becoming part of the Pie sisters ritual was good.

I got a little distracted by the Mad Men ponies in the background. They showed up pretty often - well, Peggy and Joan at least. At one point we also saw Rarity's competitor from "Rarity takes Manehattan" in the background, I think.

 

[Kemaiku]

Suri was there for a few frames, Maud even checked her out at one point.