Unpopular opinion time

@Background Pony #0675  
https://derpibooru.org/search?q=oc%3Ahide

@PonyPon
 
I think I just didn’t see the mean spiritedness in it that others saw. I thought it was harmless ribbing.

@Spinny  
I find it kind of funny how incredibly split Twilight’s Kingdom is.
 
Either you think it’s one of the most amazing episodes ever or it’s a disgrace to the series. There seems to be no in the middle.

@rdibp  
I’m pretty in the middle :p
 
I thought it was fun, but it had lots of flaws, and there are better finales out there

@rdibp  
It’s not a disgrace to the series but it is incredibly overrated. Sure the “DBZ Fight” was fun but that’s about it. It just Crystal Kingdom’d all over again for the sake of Twilight Sparkle by making Celestia give wtf? decisions.

@kztxl7  
Looking back at the episode, the fight with Twi and Tirek wasn’t THAT impressive.
 
I mean the animation was really good and all, but I wouldn’t put it on DBZ levels.

@kztxl7  
What are some elements of the show and episodes that you enjoyed?

@Spinny  
I think Tommy Oliver made a good point on the fandom in his last MLP video at least. Some Bronies can’t handle negativity.

@Mike  
I am offended by this statement.

@DanielTepesKraus  

Perhaps because she was also the only one who actually did speak out. I don’t recall seeing anyone else from the group Rainbow was with showing up to complain about what was going on, after all.
 
 
@DanielTepesKraus  

Except her meeting to ask why she wasn’t lead took place before any of the stuff that put others at risk had occurred.
 
 
@DanielTepesKraus  

I’d argue they make it pretty clear she isn’t 100% on board with what’s going on. In fact I feel that issue is kind of a big point of the episode. If you forget the whole military-esque academy training situation for a second, the episode is very much about the inner struggle Rainbow Dash has to go through to decide what she ultimately wants. To be the kind of pony she already is, or the one she’s always dreamed of being. And seeing her decide that no dream or amount of prestige is worth compromising who she is at heart elevates the episode for me considerably.
 
 
@rdibp  

I think overall it’s a pretty good story myself. What I like best about it, though, are some of the little things it gave us. Like the fact that Celestia apparently has visions. And some of the things the episode suggests about how magic works.

@Nightweaver20xx  
Between Season 1-4? Looking back isn’t that much impressive. Did a good job setting up MLP. Changelings were the only thing that I’m truly biased for between them.
 
It’s Season 5~7 I really loved. Mainly because they started expanding on the actual side cast and expanding the world. The finales in my opinion were much better because two of them were “Let’s not blast the bad guy away with magic power and call it friendship” but solved it with some actual conflict resolution. And it was incredibly nice seeing some competency in heroes that apparently aren’t chosen by destiny.
 
Season 5 hit me with Amending Fences. Season 6 bringing great Spike episodes, particularly Gauntlet of Fire as well as reintroducing Changelings I loved Stranger than Fanfiction. Season 7 bringing The Perfect Pear and A Royal Problem. I like that male characters are slowly becoming more prominent.

@Mike  
some people can’t handle negativity. i’ll never understand why the negative attributes of a human being automatically become credited to a group he or she is only a part of by virtue of liking something.
 
@Background Pony #A32F  
that’s true, but they were also the victims rather than the instigators.
 
true, but she wasn’t willing to go in for another meeting. she was more than willing to burst in and whine about how she didn’t get to be the leader, but she’s not willing to go in and point out that bad shit is going on? it’s not like spitfire snapped at her and said “don’t bother me again” or anything like that; she was actually amazingly chill for a drill sergeant who just had a subordinate burst in and demand better treatment.
 
again, true, but i’m calling her out as a bad leader who put herself above and beyond the well-being of whose who rely on her and even basic right or wrong, not that it wasn’t reasonable behavior for her. saying she’s a bad leader isn’t insulting her character in any way, even twilight has pretty piss-poor leadership skills. i’m calling it out because she was rewarded for “being a leader” and promoted to a leader position when she did nothing to exemplify herself as a leader, did numerous things to show how bad of a leader she actually is, and was honestly deserving of punishment rather than reward for her actions.
 
to put it another way, what did she do in that episode to not only deserve to not be punished, but to also be praised and rewarded as a leader?

@Background Pony #A32F
 
Actually, I consider Celestia and Luna’s “visions” to be one of TK’s many flaws. Exactly where were her visions when Chrysalis impersonated Cadence, or when Sombra returned? It’s absolutely bullshit that she suddenly has an ability to sense danger ahead when she evidently did not before, and they sure as hell don’t stop her from making shit decisions that get her captured and all her subjects drained of their magic.

@kztxl7  
Fair enough. Those are some good episodes.

Am I the only one who liked Twilight’s Kingdom and Fame & Misfortune?

@Ilovemyoozik
 
Um, no? There are loads of people who love both of those episodes.

@Background Pony #2586  
I know that, I’m judging by the passive agressiveness of this thread. I’d like to know who in this thread likes both.

@Ilovemyoozik  
I like both episodes a lot, I just think Twilight’s Kingdom is overhyped, but I still enjoyed it

@Megas75  
Out of the two, my favorite is Fame & Misfortune. Just the fact that it was a giant FUCK YOU towards the rabid side of the fandom amused me so much. I got amused even further by the reception.

@Spinny  
Misinterpreted visions and prophecies are a staple in fantasy. We also don’t the reliability, frequency, and scope of Celestia’s visions. Are they something she has had for a long time, or did they start (or restart) when Luna returned, or when Luna regained her powers? Can she normally tell them apart from regular dreams without Luna’s assistance? Are they precise, generic, metaphorical, or some kind of dadaistic experience? Are they related to important events, or does she get random visions of Sweetie Belle eating ice cream?
 
During A Canterlot Wedding, for example, Celestia could have had visions about “a lurking threat” and “love solving everything”. She puts the guards on high alert and decides to expedite the wedding of Cadance and Shiny (which would also neatly explain the short notice with Twilight’s invitation). So Chryssi has replaced the bride? Doesn’t matter. Both visions are still correct in the end.
 
During the Sombra crisis, remember Luna’s lingering gaze on Twilight when she is departing for the Crystal Empire? Perhaps sending Twilight to meet the problem ‘alone’ was tied to a vision, but Luna believed Celestia interpreted it poorly or tried to force the outcome she considered most likely. “The youngest student shall save the day.” Surprise, Spike gets to be the hero.
 
What if she has a vision of “cake”? Does she eat a delicious cake, or is it time to take Pumpkin Cake as her new personal protégée?
 
Visions can be used to explain almost anything, and using them often as a storytelling tool has always felt lazy to me. It also wouldn’t be very smart of Celestia to make her every decision based on visions. Everyone gets to decide for themselves whether Celestia is smart or not.
 
I’m guilty of liking the competent and inscrutable Celestia better than lucky and daft Celestia.

@Spinny  
true. they gain new abilities and powers out of thin air only to still be useless as hell!

@Ilovemyoozik  
Fame and Misfortune is hilarious.

@Ilovemyoozik  
I liked both of them

@Ilovemyoozik  
remember that this thread is the unpopular opinion thread. that is, the stuff stated here really should be assumed to not be the opinions of the whole. even people pointing out elements of an episode they don’t like doesn’t necessarily mean they disliked the episode.
 
seriously, one of my favorite things is when i’ll say “the worst part of this episode [insert silly plot element here]” and someone will point and squeal “nitpicker”, without realizing that if that is the worst thing i can say about an episode then it’s probably in a pretty good place overall.
 
@Ilovemyoozik  
ironically, i’ve actually noted quite a handful of “rabid” fans actually defending that episode. either they don’t care they’re being riffed or think “glad that’s not aimed at me” or who really knows.

@DanielTepesKraus
 
It’s possible some of them can laugh at themselves.
 
I do, all the time. Sometimes, when I find a mirror, I point and laugh for hours.