oh I didn't realize the thread was for registered users only, let me share some highlights:
SO HEY who wants some extended critical analysis of a show about cartoon horses? I know I sure do.
Alas, episode 13 hasn't broadcast in my time zone yet so I'ma be talking about "Call of the Cutie." For the record, this is all from the perspective of someone who is both a feminist and MTF transgender. Yeah, I know, opening the fucking door for queerbashing here, but I might as well just cop to being a fag straight up.
So the first thing that strikes me about Call of the Cutie is that it's about puberty, specifically female puberty. And not, like, 'maybe about puberty' or 'sorta about puberty.' It's about a young girl who is getting teased by older, more physically developed peers about her lack of physical development, and all the shame and envy caused by such. Let us be blunt: cutie marks are the pony equivalent of boobs. The metaphor is so blindingly, staggeringly obvious that I cannot fathom the notion that this was somehow accidental. The writers knew exactly what they were getting into.
Shows that attempt to discuss puberty typically fail miserably, usually for one of two reasons. One, they give it a sappy moral at the end that completely defangs the impact of the actual discussion going on. If not that, then they're so frank and upfront about the actual biological stuff that it comes off like one of those goofy, creepy sex-ed tapes they make you watch in middle school. It's been rare to see so-called 'serious media' tackle puberty without looking like morons, much less cartoons. So why the hell can the show with talking sparklehorses get away with it?
First off, it uses metaphor rather than awkwardly dancing around the subject. It gets discussed in detail and in-depth in the show, but because they're using different words and a similar-but-different actual biological process, they get around the squick factor and are able to approach it without people sniggering at shit they're not supposed to. Secondly, it doesn't try and make it a Very Special Episode: it's still really funny with lots of genuinely sweet character moments, and doesn't go overboard with the saccharine stuff. For example, in the end, the two ponies who tease Apple Bloom through most of the episode? They don't magically learn their lesson at the end. They're still just cranky, smug bitches, because guess what, bullies exist and they don't really go away just because you defy them. They're still gonna be cruel jerks and you have to learn not to let it bug you too much.
And Apple Bloom? She doesn't just GET a cutie mark in the end because she learned some nonsensical lesson about how you only get things if you don't want them too much. She still really wants it, and she's still gonna keep looking for ways to get it: what she learned was not to let people get to her because she doesn't have it YET. What she got from the experience was friends who have the same goal, and the same issues, and they're gonna work together and help each other out and be supportive. OH MY GOSH ACTUAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
The fact that we can get such a frank, mature, and above all ENTERTAINING discussion of an issue most shows won't even touch is staggeringly cool. The fact that it has adorable technicolor ponies is just icing on the cake. On the other hand, the fact that it TOOK a show about aforementioned ponies to get this across does not really speak all that well about how smart the media thinks we are overall.
Back from Toys R us.
Got a box set of princess Celestia, twilight sparkle, apple jack, pinkie pie and spike. Also got me a rarity because rarity is just fabulous.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I wanna know why the baby pony teacher gets her own Mcdonalds toy! Also those pony's are lying to their next generation! Everyone knows your cutie mark 90% of the time has everything to do with your name, not what you enjoy or whatever. What you end up being and enjoying seems to have everything to do with your name most of the time! Pinkie Pie and Rarity are an exception but I'd like to see Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash be born with each others name. That sure as hell wouldn't work! I'd LOVE to see Apple Blossom end up with a big fat orange on her rear end but that ain't gonna happen. Stop lying to your children, Poniiiiiiiies.
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