Living the Fourth every day

Fluttershy  is my favorite pony, as you could tell if you read my list. As I mentioned before, my list is based on relatability in large part, as well as qualities I like. So why do I like Fluttershy? 

Many argue that she is just there looking cute. I won’t lie, her sitting there being cute did kind of influence my decision, pushing her just past applejack. 

I relate largely to Fluttershy in a few ways. For example, I believe it was Bronycurious who had a problem with Fluttershy lying to Rarity about her dress. She was willing to lie, saying she liked it when in fact she had the most problems of anyone. Now I ask, haven’t you done this to friends in the past? I know I have. There are times when you know your friend worked hard and you hate to say anything negative about what they did. Whether or not its acceptable is a different discussion, but it is relatabl, at least to me.

Another way I relate to Fluttershy is I am not a big fan of social interaction. I prefer to spend time with animals to spending time with people, the exception being my close friends. The way I see Fluttershy is that she feels the same way. 

Another thing we see from the Iron Will Episode is that she avoids any confrontation, even when she is being pushed around. Again, I feel the same way. I avoid confronting people because I can just deal with it.

The main difference between her and me is that even when I am scared I do not react as much as her. I try to hide my feer from others and suffer silently. In Dragonshy we can see that despite being very scared she goes along with her friends, making it clear to them she doesnt want to. Here is another relatable point, if my friends want to do something I don’t want to I will sometimes tell them I dont want to, but I will still go along because they are my friends and I care about them. (I just wish I had that stare for emergency situations).

I think I like Fluttershy the most because in many ways I feel I can relate the  most to her. She does not necessarily have values I like, other than Kindness and caring for animals and friends, but she is very relatable (and cute).

I agree with Digibrony, this episode isnt great. Although I do like digibronys videos, my analysies are very different from his for the most part, but not so much this one. 

My main problem with the episode is how the characters act, all of them. Yes Trixie is bragging and annoying, but she is there for entertainment, not as a serious threat (yet). The biggest one was Applejack. She is, as pointed out by many, the most level headed of the group, and yet she is the first one to challenge Trixie. Yes, I agree with them her bragging was annoying, but thats when you just walk away and ignore her. 

I am not surprised Fluttershy was not there. In this episode she may have acted the most logically. I belive she is there in one scene, but she obviously leaves the show, most likely to avoid confrontation. 

An interesting point about this is how unicorns magic works. It would be awesome if they explained it more. 

As I said, this is quite similar tothe analysis by Digibrony (an Bronycurious), so I will just end it here. Nothing new is being said really. 

Heres the video

Uh oh, This is the episode Digibrony complains about…

0:17 Only 25? I thought Twilly could do a lot more

0:24 Its funny, Spike makes it obvious a few times he is in love with Rarity, but in a later episode he says its a secret.

1:31 Twilights special talent IS magic.

2:27 You would almost expect someone so “Great and Powerful” to have her own announcer.

2:45 Raritys problem is the boasting

3:04 AJ complains that its not the talent, its showing it off thats the problem

3:14 *Facepalm*

3:20 Changes her mind because AJ looks mad? Thats odd

3:25 NEIGHHHH Sayers

3:53 Thinking your a show off? Trixie has fireworks going, and your afraid challenging her would show YOU as boastful?

4:48 Shut the hell up, Snips and Snails.

5:54 It seems really odd that AJ would be the first to react to Trixie, challenging her.

6:50 Dashie has great lines in this episode

7:27 Great comeback, Trixie.

8:08 *facepalm* Wow, Rarity

8:38 How the hell did that sheet change colors?

9:04 Wow, Spike. Aren’t you trying to impress her?

9:13 Rarity indirectly insulted someone. 

9:46  Well she isnt the element of Honesty…

12:00 You are being kind of stupid now Twilight, then again, you never have had friends before really.

12:58 WOW, Snails just did a spell to cast light. That seems like an odd spell to be able to do.

15:22 Well it looked impressive.

16:46 So apparently breaking reeds makes music,

17:22 Golly, Don’t ya know…

18:17 Well at this point you cant help but notice Pinkie and Fluttershy have been missing the whole time

18:37 Magic is a part of who you are. Um, its also part of who Trixie is, she just happens to brag about it. 

19:47 What lesson does she need to learn, exactly?

20:18 I don’t get why Twilight does number 25, it doesnt make sense.

Before I go into a character-by-character personal reflection about them I figured it would be good to put an overview of my thoughts. My opinions of the mane 6 are a bit different than most of the people I have seen, Bronycurious and Digibrony being specific examples. This can be explained by how we are looking at them. They are looking largely at character development and behavior while I am looking at relatability. 

First off, my list of mane 6 ponies is:

6. Rarity

5.Rainbow Dash

4.Pinkie Pie

3.Twilight Sparkle

2.Applejack

1. Fluttershy (Note, Appleack and Fluttershy could be easily swaped)

I was talking to a friends brother about favorite ponies. He said Rarity. When I asked for an excplenation he was very hesitant because he didnt want to sound self centered. Eventually he explained it was because he related to her most. 

Personally I think that is the best reason to have a favorite pony, the one you relate to the most. So my reasoning on why the ponies are where they are on the list is based on relateability and how their morals match with mine. 

These posts should not interfere with the normal episode reflections. They will be separate and come out throughout this week.

This episode was never really too special to me. I dont know why, but this is one of those episodes I dont really like too much, and do not re watch too often. That being said, I think there were some cool things in the episode as I rewatched it.

Something I have been trying to do more lately is understand why I like and dislike certain episodes. I think in large part it has to do with the charecters involved. Gilda being one of the main characters in this episode, it is easy to understand why it has never really been special to me. 

I think the party, though fairly late in the episode, is my favorite part. The odd thing is I like this for reasons that are different from my normal reasons for liking an episode. I like the subtle background things, like RDs face implying she set up the dribble cup, or the songbird choir that Fluttershy is conducting. 

I think the most important part of this episode is that Rainbow Dash realizes that although she is friends with Gilda, that does not mean that she should always defend Gilda. 

I think that Gilda is kind of suppose to represent how RD use to be. Rainbow Dash is seen by a lot of people as an overconfident jerk who is kind of self centered. Even in the beginning of the episode they imply this by her avoiding Pinkie. 

The cool thing about this episode is that Rainbow Dash realized she was wrong and corrected herself. A lot of people speculate that Gilda may come back in season 4 and be redeemed. 

I think that will only really work if Gilda realizes she is in the wrong, kind of the way RD may have in this episode. 

The video

0:18 Twilight is reenacting how I feel sometimes when my grandfather is telling me stories when I’m on my computer.

2:56 Obviously very clear RD finds Pinkie annoying, and I kind of relate to that.

speaking of my first comment, my grandfather just started talking to me…

3:55 Spike having hiccups may be confusing the princess.

4:34 Pinkies Hiccups are really weird

4:49 Directly told Pinkie that she thinks shes annoying.

5:28 Quite a launch from a sneeze

5:59 Wait a minute, this isnt Zap Apple season…

6:32 It surprises me that RD would be the one who wants to prank Fluttershy, since they are such close friends.

7:58 We can already see a big difference between Gilda and RD. Gilda expresses her dislike for the chant, and RD wants to do the chant.

9:06 Gilda has a wing-boner a lot.

10:16 Where the hell does Pinkie get all this? Oh, right…Its Pinkie…

11:29 I get Twilights assumption that Pinkie is jealous  but its pinkie. Pinkie is friends with everyone. 

13:21 NOBODY FUCKS WITH FLUTTERSHY YOU BITCH!

13:43 No, Poor Fluttershy!

14:00 Thanks for being on my side Pinkie.

14:25 It seems odd that Fluttershy wouldnt say anything about Gilda, but I can kind of see that. I might do the same

14:35 I wonder what Fluttershy was going to say, I assume she didnt see Pinkie was there when Gilda was mean to her, but I dont know. 

14:42 The first mention of age at all. Fluttershy is a year older than Pinkie

15:34 Pinkie would be difficult to try to argue with.

15:55 I love how she is using an effet that is normally just symbolic of something being hot for  an actual purpose, not just symbolic for viewers to see.

15:58 The subtle hint that RD is doing these pranks. I like that it is implied very subtly, rather than outright or not at all.

16:40 Something I never noticed before, the songbird choir is in the background, so they dont just get together for big princess events. Cool continuity.

16:47 Wouldnt that have a chance of keeping them lit or sending them to Princess Celestia, Spike?

16:53 Twilight starting to show concern that Gilda may actually be a jerk.

16:56 Gilda’s face here!

17:24 Spike!

17:30 At least RD is starting to show some concern about Gildas attitude.

17:47 Again, arguing with Pinkie must be difficult.

18:17 I wonder if Dash noticed Gildas behavior there.

18:53 Dash first appears angry

19:30 I think Gilda just said what we were suppose to think was the case. 20:00 When Gilda doesnt know what to say. 

20:20 It appears RD has learned that she was unaware of a friends behavior. 

20:42 You don’t say, Twilight.

I like this episode in a way. I can relate to AJ in a way. My aunt and I were talking about this today. Even when it would not inconvenience anyone we hate to accept help from anyone. I find it hard to ask for help. For me it isnt so much about pride, but the fear of bothering someone. I dont like to make people unhappy, so I will give myself a lot of extra work if it means no one else will be bothered having to do anything. Even when my grandfather offered to let my aunt and me take an ice chest somewhere we both wanted to say no initially, just because we get someone else involved, even if it doesn’t add any work for them. Its a quality we almost all have to some extent, and is something we should work on, because most people dont mind helping, and for me, I feel bad if I cant help someone. 

The video

0:20 Ouch. Kind of wonder what Big Mac did to injure himself

0:50 Fancy Mathematics 

1:02 I get that AJ wants to show Big Mac she can handle it, but do it all on her own is a bit extreme and ridiculous. 

2:18 Pinkie would be entertained by this

2:52 My reaction exactly, Twi

3:27 The rope is magically untied from the cows neck.

4:38 Shes been gone all week

4:50 strengthening what we know about Twilights organization obsession 

5:37 I find it really weird that Fluttershy would interrupt 

6:05 RAGE QUIT!

6:44 First time we see AJ is really tired.

7:06 Yea, being tired does weird things to you.

7:31-7:43 a 12 second segment where the only noise was metal dragging… Awesome

8:42 Did you really need to teleport twilight. 

9:02 The relatives were there for the Apple family reunion, meaning from S1e1 to Apple Family Reunion it has been 100 moons, meaning we can accurately (probably) estimate how much time has passed.

9:23 Yea, thats what its like being tired. Things dont make sense.

9:57 Why is RD standing on a fence post?

10:20 Yea, have the overtired pony do something dangerous, you know because tired judgments of things and coordination are awesome.

11:03 Ouch. That all has to really hurt

11:54 Kind of nonchalant for someone crashing into your house.

12:58 I dont like seaweed either

14:00 Chocolate Rain!

14:25 All this is another great showing of how being tired really clouds your judgement.

15:16 How the hell is the worm alive after being baked in an oven?

15:40 I love that. Falling asleep while doing things. I know that feeling.

17:12 fatigue leading to frustration.

18:26 Bunny Stampedes are terrifying. 

18:46 A HORRIBLE DISASTER. IT WAS……BUNNIES!

19:23 I like the Alliteration 

19:46 So tired she forgot about half the farm

20:11 The lesson.

20:36 Yea I think Twilight just said “Scre you, I am WAY better at your job than you are”

Here is the video

Also, sorry this is after my reflection, the post didnt actually post. The internet here isnt the greatest, so yea.

0:15 Thats an interesting bet, Big Mac.

1:23 Right Celestia, you want your student to learn about friendship, you know she has 5 important (and together, powerful) friends, but only send her 2 tickets. Perhaps the point was to teach her a lesson. This gets into what digibrony talked about with how much Celestia actually intends

2:35 It always seemed odd to me that AJ wanted to get to the GGG for sales, not because thats what she want to sell apples in Canterlot, but because she wants to go to a party basically for that.

3:11 Im guessing AJ isnt concerned about Big Mac wearing a girdle any more. 

3:41 How do the Wonderbolts produce smoke? Or do I want to know?

4:04 Buccaneer Blaze: so awesome it cant be shown on camera. We can assume it has to do with lightning though.

4:46 The first display of how competetice RD and AJ are. 

5:50 Golden Bats

6:37 So much physics breaking in one scene!

7:13 well it does make sense that Pinkie and Rarity want to go. Why would Pinkie assume she was going though?

7:45 An audience with Princess Celestia. Yea, you will never the that opportunity again *sarcasm*

8:35 Damn Angel. Also the first time Spike and Angle have a conflict. Maybe thats why they hate each other later on. 

8:54 Fluttershy wanting to go to a social event. That is quite odd. What I like thought is she said if you havnt invited anyone else. Even if she is not sincere she has already shown more consideration than everyone else.

9:14 I was going to say she will never get the opportunity to go to Canterlot Garden again, but since everything will only be in bloom on that one day it makes a bit more sense.

10:28 Oatmeal? I thought they were talking about the GGG

10:35 Whiney Rarity. Maybe thats part of why I dont really like her (compared to the rest of the Mane 6)

11:37 no one is considerate that there might be a dragon. I dont know why they would ever predict that as happening.

12:35 No, not at all, Twi

13:14 Angry Sarcastic Twilight

14:03 Poor Spike

14:25 Its odd that she was falling for this until Rarity mentions the GGG

14:30 Yeah, what a coincidence. 

15:22 Its kind of funny she only clarified one desert was not her relative  but not ALL the other foods. 

16:00 Twilights surprise at Fluttershy being manipulative shows how odd it is. I agree.

16:47 Pinkie!

17:00 that looked like it hurt

17:08 She has a point. At least everyone else tried to be subtle.

17:45 classic chase scene

18:23 She didnt know that was going to happen, so she hasnt learned to control her magic fully yet

18:48 the first real lesson

18:57 The second real lesson

19:06That shows how good of friends those 3 are to be willing to give it up when they realized their mistake

19:11 Rarity never said she would give it up if it would help Twilight, she just appologized.

19:18 One of my problems with RD is this kind of stuff

19:23 at least she realized, but she couldnt quite admit it

20:28 I do love AJs response there

20:45 Celestia was obviously prepared and hoping that Twilly would realize.

21:18 Aj is awesom. That look