My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - "Ponyville Confidential" - Talkback [03/31]

[The Huntsman]

Today @ 1:00 PM ET on The Hub

I have nothing more to say about this episode.

In order to become the gossip columnists for their school paper, the Cutie Mark Crusaders adopt the name ‘Gabby Gums,’ but when they land the job, their happiness is cut short by the pain they cause to other ponies with their hurtful stories.

[nakak]

It's a CMC episode, which means it's gonna be LOL-worthy.

I just wanna see what kind of stories they're going to print about the main characters. It's worth it just for that.

[The Nameless]

I don't have high hopes for this one. I never really cared for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but I only started disliking their episodes with "Hearts and Hooves Day" (which I thought was stupid and is in fact among my least favorite episodes of the entire series, though it does have its moments).

[King9]

Psyched for this one. I really think it's going to be hilarious.

[Don_East]

I have low expectations for this one, after last week's epic episode making it a hard act to follow, the stock plot this episode is packing, & the fact this makes the fourth episode centering on the CMC, giving them the most focus episodes this season and only Hearts & Hooves Day have surpassed my Meh Tier.

[LostAnarchist]

Unless a good writer is on this one, not a lot of confidence/greatness is inspired here - even if the aim is comedic.....

There's the risk most of everyone will act with OOC jerkiness, with how things will wrap themselves up. Also, I'm still up in arms about who's in charge of this paper - that alone has "bad writing" written all over it.

The CMCs are only truly likable when episode s actually develop them and not make them out to be screw-ups.

[The Huntsman]

Kids nowadays(especially in America wth how bad things are IRL around here and getting worse) can't afford to consistently screw up, period!

Hate to do an IRL-statement here, but the stench of truth cannot be ignored.

It can and it should. You need to stop using every post as an opportunity to rant about unrelated things.

[LostAnarchist]

You need to stop using every post as an opportunity to rant about unrelated things.

I fixed it, but yeah - I'll hold off my concerns until the show comes on.

[Particle_Beam]

I have low expectations for this one, after last week's epic episode making it a hard act to follow, the stock plot this episode is packing, & the fact this makes the fourth episode centering on the CMC, giving them the most focus episodes this season and only Hearts & Hooves Day have surpassed my Meh Tier.

Everytime a character gets a few episodes one after the other, people lament that they get too much focus time.

[TnAdct1]

Everytime a character gets a few episodes one after the other, people lament that they get too much focus time.

In the case of the CMC, it's kinda justified in the fact that the involvement of the characters (more specifically, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo) is a result of Executive Meddling (not that big of a problem if the right writer is there) and the aforementioned comment about this being the fourth episode being focused on them (fifth, if you include Sisterhooves Social).

For me, this is a "wait and see" episode, as the episode's plot (and the preview clips) suggest that the show is sticking to the typical formual of a "gossip" episode without bringing anything new to the table (a la how most of Dragon Quest ending up being your typical peer pressure episode).

[Don_East]

Everytime a character gets a few episodes one after the other, people lament that they get too much focus time.

Uh, actually if you break down the episodes into separate categories, the CMC in fact have the most focus episodes with four. Compare that to the mane 6 which have either 2 or 3 each.

[nakak]

I felt it was a solid episode. Rarity's hypocrisy, that fat kid finally speaking, and Big Macintosh's Silent Bob moment surprised me.


I was expecting them to end with the paper publishing an embarrassing story on Diamond Tiara, but the public apology was a nice touch.

[Hypeathon]

I felt it was a solid episode.

And in a moment, we'll see what everybody else thinks. Oy...

[bluenowait]

Even though it was a quick name drop, should I mark "Trixie Returns" on the bingo board?

[Kookamunga]

A rather "meh" episode.


Most of these CMC episodes just feel too cliche but I suppose that's because they're for the younger audience.

Diamond Tiara's voice sounded really different this episode. Is it a new actor or puberty?

There were at least pretty good moments from the Mane 6 like Rainbow Dash denying a hooficure, most of Rarity's scenes, and especially that bit of role reversal with Applejack and Big Macintosh. And he apparently still has Twilight's Smarty Pants doll!

Interesting little nod to Trixie. Wonder what sort of secrets they got from her. :anime:

[nakak]

Is it a new actor or puberty?

I think it's the same. Chantal Strand (DT's actress) is actually an adult. They only use kid actors on the CMCs.

Anyone found it interesting that Spike joined the other ponies at the spa? Way back in episode 3 he wouldn't be caught dead there, but I guess after nearly fifty episodes he decided to accept the fact that all of his friends are girls and embrace it.

[army128]

This feels like an awesome episode. Lots of quick continuity bits here, and did you hear Big Mac talk with actual words and Applejack speaking like him? That was priceless. The ending was good too, instead of the CMCs ruining Diamond Tiara for what they put up with, they decided to end the suffering by both the victims and the CMCs with an apology letter.

And in a moment, we'll see what everybody else thinks. Oy...

I see nothing wrong with this one. The pony talkback threads here are very pessimistic over everything and won't lighten up. Don't be bothered with such comments.

[Hypeathon]

I see nothing wrong with this one. The pony talkback threads here are very pessimistic over everything and won't lighten up. Don't be bothered with such comments.

I just wish I could get what is everyone's problem with the cutie mark characters. I mean, fine. There's corporate meddling. And I honestly feel like there could just be a spin-off series instead if there's going to be a cutie mark episode every few episodes. But the irritation with the characters and their existance is what I'm trying to wrap my head around. And it seems to keep sourcing back to this high awareness that Hasbro is "meddling" with the show. Were the stories in episodes with the CMCs in them REALLY affected THAT much by Hasbro that the stories themselves cease to be interesting or something?

[Bunai]

c/p my wiki comment
list viewing, no real detail.

*Diamond Tiara, her voice is less whiny in the Ponyville Confidential episode. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing, but it is odd listening to her without it.

*The problem could have been solved simply by telling Cheerliee, but it is a "learn from mistake" episode.

*Ponies are light skinned underneath their coats... which is disturbing.

*First Rainbow is ashamed of being viewed as an "egg head" for reading, now she is ashamed of being viewed as a "softy" because of a hooficure?
=_= seriously, even Applejack got over the reject-all-things-girly-girl.

*LOL @ role switch on Applejack and Big Mac

[Kindness King]

Good episode.


I love Chantal Strand, but I don't like Diamond Tiara (which is fine, because I'm not supposed to ). Glad to see her get her comeuppance at the end. She did sound very different in this episode though, maybe because it was a different episode director than who she usually works with?


I loved Rainbow Dash's reluctance to have her hooves done. Usually, she's not too tomboyish to do other girl stuff with the others, but it makes sense she'd draw the line somewhere. Pinkie admitting she's a party animal cracked me up. Big Mac's speech made my jaw drop for a moment, that was good.


I also love how different this was than other shows that run a gossip episode in that instead of going on power trips until the last minute, the CMCs felt guilty about it and were blackmailed into continuing. The apology letter coming from them was also different and well done.