I'll always miss that library, I don't care about how "nice" the castle is. I mean...it's just too big for one girl and her dragon, heck its to big for the shool house fillys and there family's too!
Yah. Also, could it be the strange returning of cadence magic be why she was able to have an alicorn? I mean it wasn't celestia giving the power this time, so what if twilight messed it up a bit?
To be honest, yes, Discord knew of a fourth alicorn. And yes, he could've easily blown that fact to Tirek. However....Discord is the embodiment of chaos. He IS chaos. He's not supposed to act the way you expect him to nor is he obligated to say anything. He's similar to Ultron who was savvy enough to recognize that Tony was trying to find out what he wanted Vibranium for and didn't fall into the cliche villainous monologue like we've learned to expect from villains. You expected Discord to act on his knowledge because that's what villainous team-ups do in just about every other fictional story that doesn't involve Chronic Backstabbing Disorder. The fact Discord didn't blow the fact that there was a fourth alicorn to Tirek is in character for him and makes perfectly logical sense because he's averting a stereotype.
Twilight vs Tirek: One of the greatest fight scenes I've ever seen, EVER. I stand by this point. This episode might just be one of the best things I've seen in cartoon history. And I'm not even a brony.
Dadgeta (the Dragon Ball Super Vegeta) would be proud of Twilight's aggression and her being set off by the protectiveness of her home and pet. Because Twilight cuts loose in that fight!
Every time Tirek tried to drain the Princesses' magic, all I could think was "By the power of poor oral hygiene!". I mean SERIOUSLY! He was breathing in their faces!
If Bronies didn't exist, I wonder how the show would have evolved and what kind of popularity would have the show had without them, would it just be another underrated gem of a children's show that no one knew about? Would the show have turned out differently? Would we even get episodes like this with out the brony support? So Many Questions...
Ante Vistica 1: you come to a video that OBVIOUSLY going to have bronies on it (this is like someone trying to become a vegetarian and going to the all you can eat steak and pork chop house) 2: Its not that hard, I've learned to deal with that everytime I go to Pokemon videos with Gardevoir fans (PS: Google Gardevoir SafeSearch Off to see something worse, I dare you! >:-D)
Discord is the Kid Icarus Hades of this series. Every other character is just "Blah blah" and he comes in and actually has a discernible and rather funny personality.
Jerry Peet OMFG! yeah the fanboys are sooo annoying........but maybe it is because I haven't played all that much metal gear myself, but what do you mean by "metal gear style storytelling" ?
..this is an awesome episode. imagery blows out of the water, but Tirek himself is awesome. i love how he turned discord around to work for him- Discord was getting the stiff end of most interactions, and Tirek managed to get at that. i bet ya chaos spirits want nothing chaining them down, and the possibility of having that freedom he once had back was quite the fishing line to dangle. soemtimes all you want is a big direct baddy. Tirek nailed it. one of my favorites in this show.
one thing on that check list, villain not killing when they have the chance, I noticed that during the fight scene when tirek lifts twilight into the and throws her in the mountain. I was saying "why didn't you just drain her of the alicorn magic right then and there??? instead he tries killing her by throwing her into a mountain. if she's dead I'm not sure you get the magic!!!!
well, maybe to an extent he couldn't take the magic from Twilight, sure for a moment he had her in his Clutches, but because Twilight was kinda going on Instinct something was preventing Tirek from taking her magic, so he was possibly trying to make twilight lose her Focus or even straight up knock her out so he could Take her magic, but they were on Equal Footing, meaning Twilight wasn't getting Knocked out so easily, and Tirek wasn't faulting with power either, its even why he admit, even with all the power he took from every Pony even Discords magic, he couldn't get ahead of Twilight, as he said in the episode "we're at an Impass", so the only way he could get the magic was for Twilight to basically give it up, trading all the Alicorn Magic she has for her friends
About Twilight not researching the chest: she was researching it in the library during Castle Mane-ia, and in Twilight Time you can see a diagram of the chest on one of the walls in the library.
***** Well the last we saw of it was Twilight Time... Maybe she took a break. Also, the Rainbow Power thing isn't really much of a Deux ex Machina, since it doesn't really come out of nowhere. We all saw it coming from the beginning of the season, so can't say it wasn't expected. Anyway, EPIC episode, and a funny review!
When josh started talking about twilight's old home and how it's gone and all the memories that were made in it I started to cry. I've been watching this show way to long
"How is this flower not dead?" That had me sliding out of my chair man........ cause like an ass I didn't even catch that for the fact that she had that thing for ....I'm guessing weeks...... (nice)
8:04 OBJECTION! in previous episodes she has shown interest into the opening of the box it was why she went to the castle in castle-mania to find a potential way to open the box and in an couple episodes you analyzed it was shown in the background
No. More like Adamantium dipped in Platinum, coated with a Bronze, Silver, and Gold and then sprinkled with Orichalcum, Mythril, and Cobalt. But otherwise, golden to say the least.
I just realized something about the whole getting-rid-of-magic plotline..... What about Cadence? She's not an immortal alicorn - Tirek shouldn't know about her because she wasn't around 1,000 years ago. Why didn't they split the magic between Cadence and Twilight and send them off to different parts of Equestria? That way, even if Tirek found one of them, he wouldn't have all of the alicorn magic, and there'd be someone left to defeat him.
I can't recall whose video I saw this from, but it pointed out that Tirek escaped from Tartarus (or however the hell you spell it), and who guards the gates of Tartarus? That Cerebus (3 headed dog) that left its post in "It's About Time" Where Twilight gets a visit from her future self. So if you think about, Tirek most likely escaped his imprisonment in Tartarus when Cerebus had left his post, and if you think it about, I believe that was a Season 1 episode. Tirek had all that time to roam about Equestria and find out on things he had missed out on in the past 1000 years.Yes, Cadence wasn't around 1000 years, but you have to take into account that Princess Cadence didn't come around until Season 3. Tirek could've been around at the right place and the right to find out about Cadence. Which is most likely made Celestia come to the conclusion that Tirek had not known about Twilight yet.
Cuz it seems just like every other pony that exists in Equestria, apparently no one knows THE SIX PONIES THAT SAVED THEIR LIVES AND HOMES ON A REGULAR BASIS
I now consider you the lead expert of the show. You always see the subtleties, the more mature sublines, and the main focus as though you were there when the episode was being created, and you were there *in* the episode as the characters. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were an executive of the show. And besides that, you never risk losing your point for the sake of a joke. I'm sure that in the elements of internet entertainment, you'd be a fair shot for the element of reviews
I've been a fan of Josh's videos for a while, but I honestly think 15:30 through 16:56 may be the best work Josh has ever done in any of his videos, which is saying a LOT. Seriously incredible job, Josh.
Wait wait wait! That medalion that Twilight recieved was the one that Terik's brother was wearing. Perhaps Tirek killed him and took his powers and that's why we don't see him? I know Celestia said he went home but maybe Tirek said that to her?
But would she have really believed Tirek? Besides, Scorpan tipped the princesses that Tirek was stealing magic, maybe he told them that he wanted to go home, and they let him because he tipped off on his brother
You know, Josh, if people keeps taking a shot for anything in every review, the comments will probably be flooded with drunks. And I'd be surprised. 0_o Also I actually thought that Discord's alliance with the bad villain was actually his plan all along. You know pull a double betrayal on the bad guy by another bad guy. He didn't tell Tirek about the box, which I had expected he would but didn't so that led me to think he was buying time for Twilight to figure out how to use the box since...THAT WAS HIS INTENTION like in the first half! Maybe I'm putting too much expectation on the master of trickery. Still it would mean he's that manipulative on the side of good if that was played out like that. Great vid anyway, Josh.
Ore it was a REALY failed attempt of him to redeem Tirek. I mean youre Therey IS intresting but he was realy shoked when Tirek batrayed him. Maybe he tried to redeem Tirek because if he was on there side he would be an IMENSLEY Powerfull alley.
7:59 No she's not just now looking into the box. Twilight and Spike's trip to the castle in _Castlevania_ was specifically to find information on the box. Then in _Twilight Time_ we can see a picture of the box hanging on the wall in the library - along with the Twilight's notes.
I thought Tirek's voice sounded a bit deeper than Meramon's. But since you were the one that mentioned Digimon references out the wazoo, take a look @17:27! Me: "BEHOLD THE UNSTOPPABLE POWERS OF VENOMMYOTISMON!!!"
Okay, about those so-called two parter cliches, let's see which of them are actually used in each of the two-parters: Okay, the two-parters we have to choose from are: 1: Friendship is Magic 2: Return of Harmony 3: A Canterlot Wedding 4: The Crystal Empire 5: Princess Twilight Sparkle 6: Twilight's Kingdom...Okay, this one doesn't really count, since it's obvious they're all present here. (Formula is as follows ---- Item - names of two-parters the cliche is used in.) Sappy Musical Number - A Canterlot Wedding; The Crystal Empire (2/5) New Villain - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; A Canterlot Wedding; The Crystal Empire (4/5) 1000-year-old something - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; The Crystal Empire (3/5) Celestia delegates to Twilight - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; The Crystal Empire; Princess Twilight Sparkle (4/5) Twilight tries to do it alone - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; Canterlot Wedding; Crystal Empire (4/5) (I don't think the season 4 opener counts, since Twilight wanted to do it together with her friends.) Useless Guards - All of the above (point taken here) Useless Princesses - Canterlot Wedding; Crystal Empire; Princess Twilight Sparkle (3/5) (Celestia wasn't exactly useless in either of the first two; she knew Twilight would succeed in the pilot episode, due to the visions reveal in this one, and she saved Twilight with those conveniently timed letters via Spike in Return of Harmony. She was far from useless there!) Villain not killing - Canterlot Wedding only (Nightmare Moon never really got the chance to kill, Discord's nature wasn't exactly for killing, but instead tormenting, Sombra was kinda stuck by Cadence's love shield, and Princess Twilight Sparkle didn't have a villain.) Deus Ex Machina - None of the above, not even this episode!!! (each of the solutions was given at least two scenes of explanation [the elements of harmony, Cadence's love powers, the Crystal Heart, the Tree of Harmony] or were already explained before [Spike's living fax machine ability]. And the box was given a scene towards the beginning, so it was obviously plot-relevant in this episode, and was built up throughout the season (albeit not directly)! Closing with a crappy pop song - Canterlot Wedding only (1/5) Overall, Josh, that argument is invalid.
Tirek is an awesome villain and I actually thought he was played y John Dimaggio when ever he shouted. Good review and I'm still laughing at some parts
Yeah, It pretty much was. It was G1 Transformers instead of Science Fiction you had a Majority Fantasy element with the Friendship attached. Just watched The Pilot of G1 MLP in it's entirety could show you that.
MrKennyWilliams I did watch the pilot, it's not horrible but more or less what you'd expect with a few awesome 80s bits chucked in - the rest of G1 is EXACTLY what you'd expect, G1 Transformers had a little more going on then the base portrayals of what Hasbro thought little boys wanted - not much - but not to the insulting level G1 MLP had. Let's not mince words here, G1 MLP was awful...better then G2 and G3 though.
Well, about your complaint that Twilight was just now looking in to the box is not completely true. In the beginning of the episode Twilight Time in the background you can see a board that show that Twilight has been checking out the box.
Deus ex Machina: a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability or object. That's not a Deus ex Machina, Josh. It's literally been built up for the whole season.
I think he's talking about the necklace that Discord gave Twilight was the deus ex machina. Kinda did come out of no where, and we didnt even get to feel the full feeling of that scene cuz we get AJ buttin in sayin "think thats the last one?" its a sentimental scene that got killed by apple horse.
But the necklace didn't come out of nowhere either. It didn't have as much buildup as the box of castle seeds, but it still didn't come out of nowhere.
LunaBear Except it was brought up previously when Tirek gave it to Discord. It wasn't a Deus Ex Machina either, it was a Chekov's Gun: An object that is part of the set or the story, but is inconsequential and overlooked, until it is brought up as an important plot point later (The original version being that in a play, if there is a gun onstage in the first act, someone WILL shoot something at some point)
10:19 and 13:12 Thank you for pointing that out. Yes Discord is a troll but none of the Mane 6 (sans Fluttershy) treat him with anything other than hostility. Them acting all surprised that he turned on them, is like poking a Tiger with a sharp stick then acting shocked when it attacks.
So I'm looking back at the list Two-Parter Cliches (3:40), and I just realized most of them apply to the new movie. The only ones we didn't get are "Something From 1000 Years Ago Resurfaces" and "Villain Not Killing When They Have the Chance". Maybe it's just a McCarthy thing.
I think my mind has just exploded........... ................................................................ ................................................................ FROM AWSOME!!!
Casey s It's not though. A big part of a Deus Ex Machina is that the solution comes *out of nowhere*. And it doesn't. It was there all along for everyone to see and it was hinted at it being the solution multiple times.
I think it was just Josh being funny, but for everyone else, I don't think they actually know what a Deus Ex Machina is. It's something that comes out of NOWHERE, that we have NO prior knowledge of or any possible hints towards. None of the 2-parters have that. If anything, the only possible Deus Ex Machina the show had was in the Season 2 Finale when Cadance and Shining Armor beat Chrysalis, but even that's believable, considering how powerful those two are. The Crystal Heart was built up to be this all powerful source of magic, so having that defeat Sombra in the Season 3 Premiere didn't come out of nowhere. We knew it was going to save the day. If ANYTHING, you could say the Elments of Harmony themselves is a Deus Ex Machina, considering all the other 2-parters end with that. But even that would be wrong. The Elements of Harmony are literally introduced in the first minute of the show and told right away that they are the most powerful things in the world. We even have the backstory of the Tree of Harmony to know a little more about them, and since the tree created them, it must be even more powerful than the elements themselves. Combined with the elements once again, we could assume that anything that came from the tree would be all-powerful source of magic, like the box. So, when all of that is told to you right up front, it's kinda hard to call it a Deus Ex Machina at all.
Metaknightkirby2 (sorry for the late reply) Josh was joking when he said that because the fandom likes to piss and moan over deus ex machias in the show (both legit deus ex machinas and plot devices fans claim them to be). In actuality, the keys and box are McGuffins (plot devices that exist and are present, though not relevant, throughout the story and serve no purpose until a pivotal part of the story, i.e. the glasses in Transformers or the elemental stones in Fifth Element).
Well, while the box itself was foreshadowed, the CONTENTS were not. If say, a giant elephant burst out of the box and stepped on Tirek before flying off into space, that would be a deus ex machina no? Same thing here. They built the box up for a season but the contents of the box were something that could not have been predicted, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else, and only really served to magically fix every problem they had.
Great review Josh. Season 4 is also now my favorite season as well, and do not understand the hate Digi gave towards it. Just, I dont think something being built up all season is a Dues Ex Machina, and theres a theory about how Discord had a plan about Alicorn Twilight all along. But anyways, this is one of my favorite Mlp reviews.
God damn, this (imo) was the best season finale ever! This is so good, it even reaches critical acclaim in my eyes. THIS IS THE BEST EPISODE EVAAAHHHH!!!!! Btw, isn't it sad when a 2-parter episode of MLP: FiM is a lot better than those big-budget mainsteam Transformers movies from Micheal Bay? Shameful, absolutely shameful. -_-
6 years later + plus the show ended and it’s still the best season finale of the show let alone best season 🤧 also,,, the clip you edited just made me realize that the mane 6 floating above tirek and sending him to tartarus is the happy version of aang nearly murdering ozai-
I don't care if this will start a flame war, TIREK HAS THE BEST INTRODUCTION EVER. Seriously, I don't consider myself a brony, since I never enjoy an entire episode. The reason for this is that I find it annoying how few things are portrayed in a serious light. Tirek is introduced like a villain should be, appearing like something unknown and threatening. Even better is his "friend or foe"-line, which I think really marks him as a villain. It's also good how he manipulates Discord, though I think they should have exploited it more.
+August Giæver Despite being a brony myself, I've found I'm having trouble fully enjoying the more recent episodes. They're good overall...but SO MUCH CRINGE!
Ok I have to ask what is the spiderman/captain america clip from? Also if Celestia had a vision of her own defeat leading to Twilight taking another step to her destiny it would explain some of her choices and why Luna was mysteriously absent from the first wedding. Still that is a harsh way to teach your protege. Does kind of match up with Obi Wan letting Vader kill him in star wars though.
Allow me to do my Chester A. Bum impression. OMG! This is the greatest episode I've ever seen in my life! You also did a great review of this Fiery Joker (or Commander Firebrand if you want to be called that way). We better get ourselves ready for the next season.
I loved the finale. Only one thing bugs me and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that thinks this: Why are the other Princesses not allowed to be as awesome as that? All we really see them portrayed as are as incompetent buffoons or as victims of the Worf effect to make a villain look awesome or powerful. That was all their powers combined and used by somepony who only had the barest idea how to use them. I'd love to have seen Luna and Celestia get to look awesome....and Cadance.
nerdyvids1 Trope named from a Star Trek character. The character in question was "a mighty warrior" and so villains often took him down in some way or another to show that they were to be feared. tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheWorfEffect
Apparently Tirek can only steal the magic of someone weaker than him. That is why had to level grind, instead of immedeately draining Celestia or Discord. Pooling all the princess magic into a single pony would make it harder to steal. I guess the in universe explanation for picking Twilight is because she is a fast learner and she would have more time getting used to the super magic.
I remember watching this video originally on the last day of ninth grade. Or, what was SUPPOSED to be my last day of ninth grade, but I stayed home because there was literally NO REASON for me to go to school that day. I didn't have any exams left, so I stayed home and watched every single one of Josh's MLP reviews.
Umm Tirek could also know that there is a fourth alicorn princcess by looking at the stained glass of EVERY THING the main six had to go though, INCLUDING TWILIGHTS TRANSFORMATION INTO AN ALICORN PRINCESS! SO CELESTIA, BEFORE YOU GIVE UP YOUR MAGIC AND GIVE IT TO TWILIGHT, DESTROY THE WINDOW WHERE SHE BECAME AN ALICORN!
Jessica Bisnoff I like to be more optimistic. After all, despite the mistakes we've seen Celestia make, she's still one of the wisest ponies on the show.
2:08 Sooooo... Maretonia is Gondor? White (or, in this case, gold, which have also been used) on black, tree and star motif, yeah, that is definitely Gondor
8:18-ish. No, Josh, this episode is not the first time Twilight looked into the box. Or did you forget Twilight's excuse for being at the Castle of the Two Sisters during the events of Castle Mane-ia. Also, there is one two-parter that didn't follow all of your cliches: Return of Harmony. Discord's debut is the only two-parter that doesn't have a song. All other cliches apply.
hibandgeek50 That's a bit more subtle. Didn't notice that when I was watching the episode. But yeah, the box was in the background for most of the season, but it wasn't completely ignored.
The box is not a deus ex machina. If it was shown since the first episode, and even had an arch revolving around it, it does not come out of nowhere, or a deus ex machina. Still, great review. One of the best out there, and probably the funniest one I have seen. Best wishes and regards from Argentina.
I noticed something about the vision inconsistency: it kind of works like it did for Vakama from Bionicle. During his time as a Toa Metru, he got visions all the time, some of them at inconvenient time. Then after the Karzahni plant dies (long story), Vakama has no visions ever again, which could have helped him realize the presence of the Visorak and maybe prevent him from rushing straight into a trap and getting his team mutated into half-beasts
For once, I would like to see a major villain that's eerily relate-able, maybe somewhat sympathetic. It doesn't have to be a tragic villain, but they need to have motives I can understand. Someone who provides a moral dilemma to the main cast and the audience in turn because defeating them means that, at worst, they could be taking away their very reason for living, and even worse if they aren't willing to find some way to make up for it. I may be in the minority here, but most of the super-villains in this show have turned out to be the most generic I've seen in every show growing up, and it's exhausting. Tirek is a great villain, but by himself he's completely two-dimentional as a character (see Writing With Jane). He wants to steal Equestrian magic, his over-confidence led to his downfall, but he didn't have a clear motivation. He had nothing else to gain from world domination, not even comfort for losing his brother since he resents him. It can be argued that Discord uses his magic to cope with feeling of loneliness, but we only find out about his friendless life when he becomes a side character. AnthonyC has an episode dedicated to the Changeling dilemma, so I needn't say anything else. Luna is a sympathetic character, but was hinted to be controlled by malicious forces with no ulterior motive, so Nightmare Moon isn't. And now to quote CloudCuckooCountry on his analysis of Frankenstein as to why I love sympathetic and tragic villains so much: "Nevertheless the two key contentions of the tale remain intact throughout: the first is that society will always drive things away by their superficial appearance before they have actively learned anything about them - established by the monsters' rejection by any person who sees him; the second is that the greatest danger in human culture is not the monsters we can see, but the monsters in ourselves - the monsters that are content to withhold sympathy to anything we deem alien, and inadvertently creating the monsters we can see through our inability to address them in the way they need to be."
I meant powerful sympathetic villains, not evil for the sake of awesome. You can't learn a thing from them. And what's up with ponies and swords anyway? It's bad enough the show gave them spears, but swords?
Well, it's utterly bonkers but... The Tirek of Equestria's past is pulled through a hole in time and universe, and has his ripped from him half-way leaving him with the body of a feeble old man. The Tirek of the other world is the head of a large and wealthy corporation, and is visibly stronger. Through convenience, these two meet and Equestrian Tirek enlists the help of his other self to find his magic and a way back to his own world. Not only is Tirek interacting with himself from a different world, but also from a different state of health, AND a different time.
I couldn't help but giggle when Josh inserted the dbz audio clips over the fight scene. My childhood combined with something i throughly enjoy now was just to much to bear.
11:51 "why the royalty is so frikkin incompetent?" Well, jeez, because they are royalty, obviously. What would you expect from someone, who got their position of power not due to their skill and wits, but by a birthright?
Believe it or not, (you probably will) one of the things I liked most about these episodes was Discord's development. A lot of people thought that his reform was shallow, and it was. One could argue that was part of the reason for his betrayal.
"Villain not killing when they have the chance." *Checked* Who said that was Tirek's motive? He just wants energy, not lives. It's not like he just kills everypony he takes energy from.
This was fun to watch! The intro and the "drunk princesses" joke gave me a good chuckle. You made a lot of good and interesting points too. Thanks for sharing this with us! ^_^ I wonder why Tirek wasn't deported to his homeland and imprisoned there instead of in Tartarus. The guy's a prince according to one MLP comic, so one would think that his king father would have some say in deciding the penalty for his son's crimes. I wonder how trials work in the MLP world…
okay that's cool ^_^ I like making people laugh right pinkie? making cupcakes, having parties, killing ponies-- I mean playing pin the tail on the pony
Seriously, Josh? I avoided spoilers easily. I just didn't go on the MLP section of Memebase. Seriously, this stuff isn't all that hard to avoid as long as you keep a close eye on what your friends try and tell you. Also, 8:23 "I am the law!"
I don't care what else happened in this, THAT BATTLE WAS AMAZING!!!
R.I.P.
Twilight's Library
Season 1 - Season 4
The Lava Legend DAM YOU TIREK
I'll always miss that library, I don't care about how "nice" the castle is. I mean...it's just too big for one girl and her dragon, heck its to big for the shool house fillys and there family's too!
The Golden Oak Library will forever be remembered💛🍃
When I watch the episode of myself I had to pause for a second because I was crying.😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I won’t miss the library it was so lame 😒
"Sir, I think the princesses are drunk again"
I just died
Yah. Also, could it be the strange returning of cadence magic be why she was able to have an alicorn? I mean it wasn't celestia giving the power this time, so what if twilight messed it up a bit?
@@ambermargheim5726 It's possible!
To be honest, yes, Discord knew of a fourth alicorn. And yes, he could've easily blown that fact to Tirek. However....Discord is the embodiment of chaos. He IS chaos. He's not supposed to act the way you expect him to nor is he obligated to say anything. He's similar to Ultron who was savvy enough to recognize that Tony was trying to find out what he wanted Vibranium for and didn't fall into the cliche villainous monologue like we've learned to expect from villains. You expected Discord to act on his knowledge because that's what villainous team-ups do in just about every other fictional story that doesn't involve Chronic Backstabbing Disorder. The fact Discord didn't blow the fact that there was a fourth alicorn to Tirek is in character for him and makes perfectly logical sense because he's averting a stereotype.
Very good, but how do you explain Twilight not warning her friends not to trust him when she had the chance?
That, and Tirek was very deceiving with his choice of words.
Jana Lybarger DISCORD is the definition of a loose cannon. He'd probably turn on Tirek on a whim.
darkruler64 Easy. Benefit of the doubt.
Twilight vs Tirek: One of the greatest fight scenes I've ever seen, EVER.
I stand by this point.
This episode might just be one of the best things I've seen in cartoon history. And I'm not even a brony.
im almost convinced this was an anime fight scene
Dadgeta (the Dragon Ball Super Vegeta) would be proud of Twilight's aggression and her being set off by the protectiveness of her home and pet.
Because Twilight cuts loose in that fight!
I can stand by that
MasterJakeStudios this is the season that brought me to the fandom.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Budokai
Every time Tirek tried to drain the Princesses' magic, all I could think was "By the power of poor oral hygiene!". I mean SERIOUSLY! He was breathing in their faces!
+dracothedrangonful he was inhaling.. not exhaling-_-
+Sunset Soldier I was making a joke
o, right. sorry.
Too bad the storm king already beat him into their magic in the movie!
"SMELL MY BREATH, HUUURRRAAA, HUURRRAAA, IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL BREATH *IN EQUESTRIA!!!!!* "
If Bronies didn't exist, I wonder how the show would have evolved and what kind of popularity would have the show had without them, would it just be another underrated gem of a children's show that no one knew about? Would the show have turned out differently? Would we even get episodes like this with out the brony support?
So Many Questions...
If bronies didn't exist, I'm pretty sure the show would've ended after season 2. Just a guess
Ante Vistica you know there is a thing called ignoring
Ante Vistica
1: you come to a video that OBVIOUSLY going to have bronies on it (this is like someone trying to become a vegetarian and going to the all you can eat steak and pork chop house)
2: Its not that hard, I've learned to deal with that everytime I go to Pokemon videos with Gardevoir fans (PS: Google Gardevoir SafeSearch Off to see something worse, I dare you! >:-D)
Ante Vistica
I dare know I know about cloppers, but what the do is none of me business and I will not judge (out loud anyway)
We probably wouldn't have had the awesome DBZ inspired fight sequence.
Discord is the Kid Icarus Hades of this series. Every other character is just "Blah blah" and he comes in and actually has a discernible and rather funny personality.
When this video got the Firelord Ozai bit, I actually fistpumped and shouted 'YES!'
you're damn right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and you weren't the only bender doing so :D
I've never seen DBZ, so i didnt understand why people kept saying it was a DBZ fight. i saw it as aang vs ozai.
Jerry Peet OMFG! yeah the fanboys are sooo annoying........but maybe it is because I haven't played all that much metal gear myself, but what do you mean by "metal gear style storytelling" ?
Jerry Peet That sounds more like Naruto than DBZ.
..this is an awesome episode. imagery blows out of the water, but Tirek himself is awesome. i love how he turned discord around to work for him- Discord was getting the stiff end of most interactions, and Tirek managed to get at that. i bet ya chaos spirits want nothing chaining them down, and the possibility of having that freedom he once had back was quite the fishing line to dangle.
soemtimes all you want is a big direct baddy. Tirek nailed it. one of my favorites in this show.
OK, Great review, Josh, but you left us with a gigantic plot hole of your own.
HOW THE F*yay*K DID YOU SURVIVE THAT NUKE!?
Magic or Bad Writing.
Pick your poison.
I'm going with that he used his own explosion to counteract the nuke's explosion.
Daniel Scharn My favorite poison is cyanide.
He hid in a refrigerator, obviously
zgSHADOW bathroom, i guess
one thing on that check list, villain not killing when they have the chance, I noticed that during the fight scene when tirek lifts twilight into the and throws her in the mountain. I was saying "why didn't you just drain her of the alicorn magic right then and there??? instead he tries killing her by throwing her into a mountain. if she's dead I'm not sure you get the magic!!!!
well, maybe to an extent he couldn't take the magic from Twilight, sure for a moment he had her in his Clutches, but because Twilight was kinda going on Instinct something was preventing Tirek from taking her magic, so he was possibly trying to make twilight lose her Focus or even straight up knock her out so he could Take her magic, but they were on Equal Footing, meaning Twilight wasn't getting Knocked out so easily, and Tirek wasn't faulting with power either, its even why he admit, even with all the power he took from every Pony even Discords magic, he couldn't get ahead of Twilight, as he said in the episode "we're at an Impass", so the only way he could get the magic was for Twilight to basically give it up, trading all the Alicorn Magic she has for her friends
About Twilight not researching the chest: she was researching it in the library during Castle Mane-ia, and in Twilight Time you can see a diagram of the chest on one of the walls in the library.
And yet she acted like it was the first time she started looking into it in this episode...
*****
Well the last we saw of it was Twilight Time... Maybe she took a break.
Also, the Rainbow Power thing isn't really much of a Deux ex Machina, since it doesn't really come out of nowhere. We all saw it coming from the beginning of the season, so can't say it wasn't expected.
Anyway, EPIC episode, and a funny review!
***** Is this the video you sent for Doug Walkers audition?
***** and we probaly wont ever understand why she did that but oh well
+Crossreviews I actually drew those forms for a comic I was making (that I scrapped in favor of a written fanfic over on FimFiction).
Never again.
When you said "I CAUGHT A FISH THIS BIGGGGG!" I cracked up.
Everyone keeps saying rainbow power is like mega evolution
I say it's super saiyan 3 with that hair
It's both.
This whole episode was a fairly obvious tribute to DBZ in more ways than one. Tirek is almost exactly like Cell.
They have to go through Super Saiyan & Super Saiyan 2 before they can become Super Saiyan 3's.
2:31 Josh used shadow ball it's super effective!
When josh started talking about twilight's old home and how it's gone and all the memories that were made in it I started to cry.
I've been watching this show way to long
"How is this flower not dead?" That had me sliding out of my chair man........ cause like an ass I didn't even catch that for the fact that she had that thing for ....I'm guessing weeks...... (nice)
18:15 My god, I was NOT expecting that.
8:04 OBJECTION! in previous episodes she has shown interest into the opening of the box it was why she went to the castle in castle-mania to find a potential way to open the box and in an couple episodes you analyzed it was shown in the background
"i think the Princesses are drunk again."
lol
The fight seen with the DBZ sound effects was fucking gold!
No.
More like Adamantium dipped in Platinum, coated with a Bronze, Silver, and Gold and then sprinkled with Orichalcum, Mythril, and Cobalt.
But otherwise, golden to say the least.
I just realized something about the whole getting-rid-of-magic plotline..... What about Cadence? She's not an immortal alicorn - Tirek shouldn't know about her because she wasn't around 1,000 years ago. Why didn't they split the magic between Cadence and Twilight and send them off to different parts of Equestria? That way, even if Tirek found one of them, he wouldn't have all of the alicorn magic, and there'd be someone left to defeat him.
I can't recall whose video I saw this from, but it pointed out that Tirek escaped from Tartarus (or however the hell you spell it), and who guards the gates of Tartarus? That Cerebus (3 headed dog) that left its post in "It's About Time" Where Twilight gets a visit from her future self. So if you think about, Tirek most likely escaped his imprisonment in Tartarus when Cerebus had left his post, and if you think it about, I believe that was a Season 1 episode. Tirek had all that time to roam about Equestria and find out on things he had missed out on in the past 1000 years.Yes, Cadence wasn't around 1000 years, but you have to take into account that Princess Cadence didn't come around until Season 3. Tirek could've been around at the right place and the right to find out about Cadence. Which is most likely made Celestia come to the conclusion that Tirek had not known about Twilight yet.
LunaBear Ooh, that's true...
LunaBear But if he'd heard of Cadence then why would he not of heard of the 6 ponies who had at that point saved the world 2 times?
Cuz it seems just like every other pony that exists in Equestria, apparently no one knows THE SIX PONIES THAT SAVED THEIR LIVES AND HOMES ON A REGULAR BASIS
LunaBear You're saying that as if that happens in real life...
i think it's safe to say now that twilight's tree was destroyed a certain somepony won't be running out of brony tears for a long long time
The Firelord Ozai bit had me rolling, but the Ten Commandments part had me too. Another great review!
I now consider you the lead expert of the show. You always see the subtleties, the more mature sublines, and the main focus as though you were there when the episode was being created, and you were there *in* the episode as the characters. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were an executive of the show. And besides that, you never risk losing your point for the sake of a joke. I'm sure that in the elements of internet entertainment, you'd be a fair shot for the element of reviews
I've been a fan of Josh's videos for a while, but I honestly think 15:30 through 16:56 may be the best work Josh has ever done in any of his videos, which is saying a LOT. Seriously incredible job, Josh.
Finally, a review that gives the library's destruction more than a passing mention!
Mr Enter would like a talk with you.
andrewkful
Who?
Scootaboom Studios Only the greatest MLP reviewer ever!
Scootaboom Studios Mr. Enter hes reviews the show as well and even reviews othere shows that are wounderful and just peices of trash……
Ross Pit: shark hunter
Never heard of him
Wait wait wait! That medalion that Twilight recieved was the one that Terik's brother was wearing. Perhaps Tirek killed him and took his powers and that's why we don't see him? I know Celestia said he went home but maybe Tirek said that to her?
But would she have really believed Tirek? Besides, Scorpan tipped the princesses that Tirek was stealing magic, maybe he told them that he wanted to go home, and they let him because he tipped off on his brother
You know, Josh, if people keeps taking a shot for anything in every review, the comments will probably be flooded with drunks. And I'd be surprised. 0_o
Also I actually thought that Discord's alliance with the bad villain was actually his plan all along. You know pull a double betrayal on the bad guy by another bad guy. He didn't tell Tirek about the box, which I had expected he would but didn't so that led me to think he was buying time for Twilight to figure out how to use the box since...THAT WAS HIS INTENTION like in the first half! Maybe I'm putting too much expectation on the master of trickery.
Still it would mean he's that manipulative on the side of good if that was played out like that.
Great vid anyway, Josh.
Ore it was a REALY failed attempt of him to redeem Tirek. I mean youre Therey IS intresting but he was realy shoked when Tirek batrayed him. Maybe he tried to redeem Tirek because if he was on there side he would be an IMENSLEY Powerfull alley.
That makes sence.
12:36 “Sorry Tirek but the princess is in another castle” Nice Mario reference Josh. Lol 😂
7:59 No she's not just now looking into the box.
Twilight and Spike's trip to the castle in _Castlevania_ was specifically to find information on the box.
Then in _Twilight Time_ we can see a picture of the box hanging on the wall in the library - along with the Twilight's notes.
"Ham incoming!"
The ham sayeth.
I thought Tirek's voice sounded a bit deeper than Meramon's. But since you were the one that mentioned Digimon references out the wazoo, take a look @17:27!
Me: "BEHOLD THE UNSTOPPABLE POWERS OF VENOMMYOTISMON!!!"
Okay, about those so-called two parter cliches, let's see which of them are actually used in each of the two-parters:
Okay, the two-parters we have to choose from are:
1: Friendship is Magic
2: Return of Harmony
3: A Canterlot Wedding
4: The Crystal Empire
5: Princess Twilight Sparkle
6: Twilight's Kingdom...Okay, this one doesn't really count, since it's obvious they're all present here.
(Formula is as follows ---- Item - names of two-parters the cliche is used in.)
Sappy Musical Number - A Canterlot Wedding; The Crystal Empire (2/5)
New Villain - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; A Canterlot Wedding; The Crystal Empire (4/5)
1000-year-old something - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; The Crystal Empire (3/5)
Celestia delegates to Twilight - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; The Crystal Empire; Princess Twilight Sparkle (4/5)
Twilight tries to do it alone - Friendship is Magic; Return of Harmony; Canterlot Wedding; Crystal Empire (4/5) (I don't think the season 4 opener counts, since Twilight wanted to do it together with her friends.)
Useless Guards - All of the above (point taken here)
Useless Princesses - Canterlot Wedding; Crystal Empire; Princess Twilight Sparkle (3/5) (Celestia wasn't exactly useless in either of the first two; she knew Twilight would succeed in the pilot episode, due to the visions reveal in this one, and she saved Twilight with those conveniently timed letters via Spike in Return of Harmony. She was far from useless there!)
Villain not killing - Canterlot Wedding only (Nightmare Moon never really got the chance to kill, Discord's nature wasn't exactly for killing, but instead tormenting, Sombra was kinda stuck by Cadence's love shield, and Princess Twilight Sparkle didn't have a villain.)
Deus Ex Machina - None of the above, not even this episode!!! (each of the solutions was given at least two scenes of explanation [the elements of harmony, Cadence's love powers, the Crystal Heart, the Tree of Harmony] or were already explained before [Spike's living fax machine ability]. And the box was given a scene towards the beginning, so it was obviously plot-relevant in this episode, and was built up throughout the season (albeit not directly)!
Closing with a crappy pop song - Canterlot Wedding only (1/5)
Overall, Josh, that argument is invalid.
I think it was a joke.
Accentuate the Negative
Technically Princess Twilight Sparkle did have a 1,000 year old something, as discord planted those seeds more than 1,000 years ago. Just saying.
MarioAndLuigi3602 *opens mouth, about to answer, thinks, puts hand down*.......point granted...
Tirek is an awesome villain and I actually thought he was played y John Dimaggio when ever he shouted. Good review and I'm still laughing at some parts
3:20 "Princess Luna raises the moon, Princess Celestia raises the sun, and you [Cadence] raise my brother's..."
No regrets
And to think, Tirek was actually from Generation 1!
Implying that G1 was bad.
G1 is pretty much the Equivalent female version of G1 Transformers.
I never said that ._.
MrKennyWilliams No...it really wasn't...
Yeah, It pretty much was. It was G1 Transformers instead of Science Fiction you had a Majority Fantasy element with the Friendship attached. Just watched The Pilot of G1 MLP in it's entirety could show you that.
MrKennyWilliams I did watch the pilot, it's not horrible but more or less what you'd expect with a few awesome 80s bits chucked in - the rest of G1 is EXACTLY what you'd expect, G1 Transformers had a little more going on then the base portrayals of what Hasbro thought little boys wanted - not much - but not to the insulting level G1 MLP had.
Let's not mince words here, G1 MLP was awful...better then G2 and G3 though.
Well, about your complaint that Twilight was just now looking in to the box is not completely true. In the beginning of the episode Twilight Time in the background you can see a board that show that Twilight has been checking out the box.
Deus ex Machina: a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability or object. That's not a Deus ex Machina, Josh. It's literally been built up for the whole season.
I think he's talking about the necklace that Discord gave Twilight was the deus ex machina. Kinda did come out of no where, and we didnt even get to feel the full feeling of that scene cuz we get AJ buttin in sayin "think thats the last one?" its a sentimental scene that got killed by apple horse.
But the necklace didn't come out of nowhere either. It didn't have as much buildup as the box of castle seeds, but it still didn't come out of nowhere.
LunaBear Except it was brought up previously when Tirek gave it to Discord. It wasn't a Deus Ex Machina either, it was a Chekov's Gun: An object that is part of the set or the story, but is inconsequential and overlooked, until it is brought up as an important plot point later (The original version being that in a play, if there is a gun onstage in the first act, someone WILL shoot something at some point)
Nick Wright this is why I do not call it a deus ex machine, I call it a magical mcguffin
Deus ex Machina: Lit: God in/from the machine.
"All I do is... smile and wave."
Ask Skipper, that's all you need to do.
10:19 and 13:12 Thank you for pointing that out. Yes Discord is a troll but none of the Mane 6 (sans Fluttershy) treat him with anything other than hostility. Them acting all surprised that he turned on them, is like poking a Tiger with a sharp stick then acting shocked when it attacks.
So I'm looking back at the list Two-Parter Cliches (3:40), and I just realized most of them apply to the new movie. The only ones we didn't get are "Something From 1000 Years Ago Resurfaces" and "Villain Not Killing When They Have the Chance". Maybe it's just a McCarthy thing.
I think my mind has just exploded...........
................................................................
................................................................
FROM AWSOME!!!
Also, how is something they've been building up for an entire season a Deus Ex Machina?
Isn't that staple for every season finale thus far?
Casey s
It's not though. A big part of a Deus Ex Machina is that the solution comes *out of nowhere*. And it doesn't. It was there all along for everyone to see and it was hinted at it being the solution multiple times.
I think it was just Josh being funny, but for everyone else, I don't think they actually know what a Deus Ex Machina is. It's something that comes out of NOWHERE, that we have NO prior knowledge of or any possible hints towards. None of the 2-parters have that. If anything, the only possible Deus Ex Machina the show had was in the Season 2 Finale when Cadance and Shining Armor beat Chrysalis, but even that's believable, considering how powerful those two are. The Crystal Heart was built up to be this all powerful source of magic, so having that defeat Sombra in the Season 3 Premiere didn't come out of nowhere. We knew it was going to save the day. If ANYTHING, you could say the Elments of Harmony themselves is a Deus Ex Machina, considering all the other 2-parters end with that. But even that would be wrong. The Elements of Harmony are literally introduced in the first minute of the show and told right away that they are the most powerful things in the world. We even have the backstory of the Tree of Harmony to know a little more about them, and since the tree created them, it must be even more powerful than the elements themselves. Combined with the elements once again, we could assume that anything that came from the tree would be all-powerful source of magic, like the box. So, when all of that is told to you right up front, it's kinda hard to call it a Deus Ex Machina at all.
Metaknightkirby2 (sorry for the late reply) Josh was joking when he said that because the fandom likes to piss and moan over deus ex machias in the show (both legit deus ex machinas and plot devices fans claim them to be). In actuality, the keys and box are McGuffins (plot devices that exist and are present, though not relevant, throughout the story and serve no purpose until a pivotal part of the story, i.e. the glasses in Transformers or the elemental stones in Fifth Element).
Well, while the box itself was foreshadowed, the CONTENTS were not. If say, a giant elephant burst out of the box and stepped on Tirek before flying off into space, that would be a deus ex machina no?
Same thing here. They built the box up for a season but the contents of the box were something that could not have been predicted, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else, and only really served to magically fix every problem they had.
12:55 Say hello to this evening's nightmare folks.
Great review Josh. Season 4 is also now my favorite season as well, and do not understand the hate Digi gave towards it. Just, I dont think something being built up all season is a Dues Ex Machina, and theres a theory about how Discord had a plan about Alicorn Twilight all along. But anyways, this is one of my favorite Mlp reviews.
God damn, this (imo) was the best season finale ever! This is so good, it even reaches critical acclaim in my eyes. THIS IS THE BEST EPISODE EVAAAHHHH!!!!!
Btw, isn't it sad when a 2-parter episode of MLP: FiM is a lot better than those big-budget mainsteam Transformers movies from Micheal Bay? Shameful, absolutely shameful. -_-
6 years later + plus the show ended and it’s still the best season finale of the show let alone best season 🤧 also,,, the clip you edited just made me realize that the mane 6 floating above tirek and sending him to tartarus is the happy version of aang nearly murdering ozai-
I don't care if this will start a flame war, TIREK HAS THE BEST INTRODUCTION EVER. Seriously, I don't consider myself a brony, since I never enjoy an entire episode. The reason for this is that I find it annoying how few things are portrayed in a serious light. Tirek is introduced like a villain should be, appearing like something unknown and threatening. Even better is his "friend or foe"-line, which I think really marks him as a villain. It's also good how he manipulates Discord, though I think they should have exploited it more.
+August Giæver if you're not a brony what's your pic for? XD
Because I still haven't created a new profile pic from the time I considered myself a brony, and even then it was seriously outdated
fair enough
+August Giæver Despite being a brony myself, I've found I'm having trouble fully enjoying the more recent episodes. They're good overall...but SO MUCH CRINGE!
18:01 You do realize that, by definition, something with a season long buildup/forshadow cannot be a deas ex machina.. right?
for the bronies on the petetion thing ITS NOT LIKE THE TREE OF HARMONY ITS A REGULAR TREE
Ok I have to ask what is the spiderman/captain america clip from?
Also if Celestia had a vision of her own defeat leading to Twilight taking another step to her destiny it would explain some of her choices and why Luna was mysteriously absent from the first wedding. Still that is a harsh way to teach your protege. Does kind of match up with Obi Wan letting Vader kill him in star wars though.
The 4Chan joke was the best joke yet of your series, Josh, well done.
Gwen Fireheart What's 4chan?
The dark place of the internet, my friend.
Random downloading place kinda like media fire except infested with viruses, I presume?
Nope. Not even close. It's a forum where trolls breed and fuckers reign supreme.
I looked it up... Oh gosh... I instantly exited out of the site. I was thinking of 4shared BTW
Allow me to do my Chester A. Bum impression. OMG! This is the greatest episode I've ever seen in my life!
You also did a great review of this Fiery Joker (or Commander Firebrand if you want to be called that way). We better get ourselves ready for the next season.
14:53 It was also a way for Hasbro to make a quick 13 bucks!!
I'm surprised Josh didn't touch on Discord's development when discord gave twilight the final key
I loved the finale. Only one thing bugs me and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that thinks this: Why are the other Princesses not allowed to be as awesome as that? All we really see them portrayed as are as incompetent buffoons or as victims of the Worf effect to make a villain look awesome or powerful.
That was all their powers combined and used by somepony who only had the barest idea how to use them. I'd love to have seen Luna and Celestia get to look awesome....and Cadance.
Worf effect?
nerdyvids1 Trope named from a Star Trek character. The character in question was "a mighty warrior" and so villains often took him down in some way or another to show that they were to be feared.
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheWorfEffect
EvilCleric I know who Worf is (seen almost every episode of TNG and a lot of DS9) I just wasnt aware the trope had a name
Apparently Tirek can only steal the magic of someone weaker than him. That is why had to level grind, instead of immedeately draining Celestia or Discord. Pooling all the princess magic into a single pony would make it harder to steal.
I guess the in universe explanation for picking Twilight is because she is a fast learner and she would have more time getting used to the super magic.
13:38 You missed an opportunity to show a clip of Rick Perry.
5:25 What make's you think the visions are consistent?
I remember watching this video originally on the last day of ninth grade. Or, what was SUPPOSED to be my last day of ninth grade, but I stayed home because there was literally NO REASON for me to go to school that day. I didn't have any exams left, so I stayed home and watched every single one of Josh's MLP reviews.
12:42 he missed... twice... wow
This was the best review from you yet. The timing was perfect and the critique was spot on. Cheers to you!
An Avatar the last air bender and a dragon ball z reference in ONE VIDEO
Josh......i think i love you
And multiple Digimon references to boot!
7:10 - That'll be your reward at the end of Hell Temple in La-Mulana 2. Lemeza turns into an Alicorn.
15:13 ... you got to be kidding me
Fanboys in a nutshell.
Unfortunately no.
4:11 that pony is carrying oranges, if Applejack sees him with those oranges she'll go crazy!
Umm Tirek could also know that there is a fourth alicorn princcess by looking at the stained glass of EVERY THING the main six had to go though, INCLUDING TWILIGHTS TRANSFORMATION INTO AN ALICORN PRINCESS! SO CELESTIA, BEFORE YOU GIVE UP YOUR MAGIC AND GIVE IT TO TWILIGHT, DESTROY THE WINDOW WHERE SHE BECAME AN ALICORN!
Jessica Bisnoff I like to think that she did destroy it, but then Discord repaired it and lied about not doing anything with it.
+funcoolfunfun
Or Celestia could has forgotten and she has become a total idiot
Jessica Bisnoff I like to be more optimistic.
After all, despite the mistakes we've seen Celestia make, she's still one of the wisest ponies on the show.
+Jessica Bisnoff or knowing how brutish force is Tirek he would start to destroy things like the forest when he was at his full power
2:08
Sooooo... Maretonia is Gondor? White (or, in this case, gold, which have also been used) on black, tree and star motif, yeah, that is definitely Gondor
8:18-ish. No, Josh, this episode is not the first time Twilight looked into the box. Or did you forget Twilight's excuse for being at the Castle of the Two Sisters during the events of Castle Mane-ia.
Also, there is one two-parter that didn't follow all of your cliches: Return of Harmony. Discord's debut is the only two-parter that doesn't have a song. All other cliches apply.
"Discord's debut is the only two-parter that doesn't have a song." What about Princess Twilight Sparkle?
codyfan15 It didn't? Forgot about that. I just assumed that it did. My bad.
***** Don't forget Twilight Time. There was a picture of the box on the wall, looking like a blueprint
hibandgeek50 That's a bit more subtle. Didn't notice that when I was watching the episode. But yeah, the box was in the background for most of the season, but it wasn't completely ignored.
The box is not a deus ex machina. If it was shown since the first episode, and even had an arch revolving around it, it does not come out of nowhere, or a deus ex machina. Still, great review. One of the best out there, and probably the funniest one I have seen. Best wishes and regards from Argentina.
OMG that Twilight vs Tirek fight. Made me laugh so hard!!!XD
Ok that picture Xian made is still as awesome as his other works. Yet another fantastic review Josh. I hope to see more from you!
10:16 Finally someone said it
I noticed something about the vision inconsistency: it kind of works like it did for Vakama from Bionicle. During his time as a Toa Metru, he got visions all the time, some of them at inconvenient time. Then after the Karzahni plant dies (long story), Vakama has no visions ever again, which could have helped him realize the presence of the Visorak and maybe prevent him from rushing straight into a trap and getting his team mutated into half-beasts
For once, I would like to see a major villain that's eerily relate-able, maybe somewhat sympathetic. It doesn't have to be a tragic villain, but they need to have motives I can understand. Someone who provides a moral dilemma to the main cast and the audience in turn because defeating them means that, at worst, they could be taking away their very reason for living, and even worse if they aren't willing to find some way to make up for it.
I may be in the minority here, but most of the super-villains in this show have turned out to be the most generic I've seen in every show growing up, and it's exhausting.
Tirek is a great villain, but by himself he's completely two-dimentional as a character (see Writing With Jane). He wants to steal Equestrian magic, his over-confidence led to his downfall, but he didn't have a clear motivation. He had nothing else to gain from world domination, not even comfort for losing his brother since he resents him.
It can be argued that Discord uses his magic to cope with feeling of loneliness, but we only find out about his friendless life when he becomes a side character.
AnthonyC has an episode dedicated to the Changeling dilemma, so I needn't say anything else.
Luna is a sympathetic character, but was hinted to be controlled by malicious forces with no ulterior motive, so Nightmare Moon isn't.
And now to quote CloudCuckooCountry on his analysis of Frankenstein as to why I love sympathetic and tragic villains so much:
"Nevertheless the two key contentions of the tale remain intact throughout: the first is that society will always drive things away by their superficial appearance before they have actively learned anything about them - established by the monsters' rejection by any person who sees him; the second is that the greatest danger in human culture is not the monsters we can see, but the monsters in ourselves - the monsters that are content to withhold sympathy to anything we deem alien, and inadvertently creating the monsters we can see through our inability to address them in the way they need to be."
I meant powerful sympathetic villains, not evil for the sake of awesome. You can't learn a thing from them.
And what's up with ponies and swords anyway? It's bad enough the show gave them spears, but swords?
I just made it for yt acount I...I...I really don't know what to say to that.
Right...Right...Thanks for sharing though.
Well, it's utterly bonkers but...
The Tirek of Equestria's past is pulled through a hole in time and universe, and has his ripped from him half-way leaving him with the body of a feeble old man.
The Tirek of the other world is the head of a large and wealthy corporation, and is visibly stronger.
Through convenience, these two meet and Equestrian Tirek enlists the help of his other self to find his magic and a way back to his own world.
Not only is Tirek interacting with himself from a different world, but also from a different state of health, AND a different time.
Yeah I don't think the show will ever go in that direction
I loved season 4 because it seemed like it was the first one to mess around with the usual kids show formula (with particular props going to BATS!)
13:31 Saw that coming since the previews.
13:22 DIGIMON REFERENCE!!!! Holy shit, Josh, you are my favorite person alive right now! Digimon is BACK, baby!
15:33 now entering EPIC MODE!!
I couldn't help but giggle when Josh inserted the dbz audio clips over the fight scene. My childhood combined with something i throughly enjoy now was just to much to bear.
11:51 "why the royalty is so frikkin incompetent?"
Well, jeez, because they are royalty, obviously. What would you expect from someone, who got their position of power not due to their skill and wits, but by a birthright?
6:20
"It seems the seal on the Thousand Year Door weakens every 1000 years.
And, unfortunately, this year might be the 1000th. Bad luck, huh?"
6:57 I'M MARY POPPINS Y'ALL!!!!!!!! ...Marvel
Believe it or not, (you probably will) one of the things I liked most about these episodes was Discord's development. A lot of people thought that his reform was shallow, and it was. One could argue that was part of the reason for his betrayal.
14:23 God, I love that face.
Josh! Great fan! Have you reviewed May the Best Pet Win? That's one of my favorites!
"New villain" you sure?
Tirek may not be new to the entire MLP franchise, but he is new to FiM, so he's half new.
In his defense, I wouldn't blame him for never watching Gen 1.
"Villain not killing when they have the chance." *Checked*
Who said that was Tirek's motive? He just wants energy, not lives. It's not like he just kills everypony he takes energy from.
14:11 Torpedoes ready sir!
This was fun to watch! The intro and the "drunk princesses" joke gave me a good chuckle. You made a lot of good and interesting points too. Thanks for sharing this with us! ^_^
I wonder why Tirek wasn't deported to his homeland and imprisoned there instead of in Tartarus. The guy's a prince according to one MLP comic, so one would think that his king father would have some say in deciding the penalty for his son's crimes. I wonder how trials work in the MLP world…
lol nice Mary Poppins moment discord
2:21
Remember season 2 episode 2?
Spike, you're Rainbow Dash now!
*_do I sence a brony?_*
Your avatar matches your comment hilariously.
okay that's cool ^_^ I like making people laugh right pinkie? making cupcakes, having parties, killing ponies-- I mean playing pin the tail on the pony
Finally, someone else picks up on how Celestia sleeps in her regalia.
Awesome episode.
Yay Josh knows about Digimon :D
6:03 that digi burn though
Seriously, Josh? I avoided spoilers easily. I just didn't go on the MLP section of Memebase. Seriously, this stuff isn't all that hard to avoid as long as you keep a close eye on what your friends try and tell you.
Also, 8:23 "I am the law!"
I get clips from Facebook pages. To me they're not spoilers, they just add to the excitement.
I think he was over dramatizing it for comedic purposes. Nobody ever accused Josh of being subtle.
13:46 tirek is a traitor? when did tirek betray someone, besides, y'know... discord.
Easily...my Favorite episode of MLP:FiM! :D
16:49 all the magic in equestria
I bet most of the explosion is from rainbow dash from that sonic rain nuke :P
Equestria is weak