RJ Writing Ink

Jay’s Month of Screams, Day 6- My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Due to the impending finale of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, I’ve gotten the show stuck in my head. All day. Since I’m doing a Halloween Special a day, I figured I’d roll with it and watch one from the show.

In this season five episode, Fluttershy decides to try and face her biggest fear: going out on Nightmare Night. All her friends are thrilled about it, but the poor thing’s still too scared to enjoy the holiday.

So, instead of getting scared, Fluttershy decides it would be better to be the scarer. After a failed first attempt, Fluttershy manages to do the impossible and scare the daylights out of her friends! Despite this, she decides she can’t go through with making her friends feel like they’re in actual danger. Nightmare Night is just not for her in the end, and she goes back to staying in her cottage.

Not My Cup of Tea

As much as I enjoy the show, it’s hard to see something like My Little Pony as scary even at its most tense moments. It’s still a kids show, so it has to restrain itself. Regardless, I was impressed with how scary an experience Fluttershy made for her friends. If I got chase by a giant monster or attacked by a giant bat in a haunted maze, I’d be scared too. In a good way.

I guess I’m the end, MLP Halloween specials aren’t for me; kind of like how Nightmare Night isn’t for Fluttershy. It was still worth trying, and a fun way to prepare for the show’s series finale.

By the way, IDW’s continuing the show in comic book form. Happy Halloween!

Click here to see the FANDOM Article I did for Halloween last year.

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My Thoughts on Disney’s Upcoming Magical Show

Ever since Gravity Falls came to an end, fans have been searching for the cartoon that could be called its successor. I already said that Amphibia could potentially be the next Gravity Falls, but there’s an upcoming show that could also fit the bill. That show would be The Owl House, and this year’s New York Comic Con gave us our best look at it yet.

I’ve never been one to pass up on good cartoons, and my gut tells me The Owl House will be good. With New York Comic Con over, I’m giving you my thoughts on the show I’m calling a fusion of Gravity Falls and Star vs. The Forces of Evil.

Dana Terrace, Creator of The Owl House

The Owl House is the brainchild of Dana Terrace, who’s got her fair share of experience working with Disney. She was a storyboard artist on Gravity Falls, which ties into the whole “successor” thing I mentioned. After that, she served as a director on the DuckTales! reboot. Since I like both shows and know how awesome they are, I know her creation will live up to the hype.

As another tie-in to Gravity Falls, Dana is also dating the creator of that show, Alex Hirsch. Between the two of them, this will be an amazing cartoon.

Synopsis

The show revolves around Luz, a normal, teenage human girl who accidentally stumbles on a portal into the demon world. There she befriends a rebellious witch named Eda and decides to become her apprentice so she may learn magic herself. This is in spite of the fact that she has no talent for magic, and most of the Demon World’s inhabitants don’t like humans.

According to the Wikipedia page, the show’s a horror-comedy. While our first look does have a hint of the macabre, I’m getting more of a comedy vibe, not that I’m complaining.

The Main Characters

Now then, let’s take a look at our three main characters and what we know about them

Luz

This is Luz, our heroine and main character, voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles. She’s described as self-assured, normal human girl who gets sucked into the Demon World. Apparently she had a hard time fitting in with other people back home, so while she’s a little scared of her new world, she takes to it quickly.

I don’t know much about Luz right now, but from I’ve seen, I like her. She seems fascinated by her new world and eager to learn as much as she can about it. She also seems knowledgeable on myths, which should serve her well in her new surroundings. Her sense of adventure seems to mirror other recent female Disney protagonists. I don’t know much about her voice-actor, but I think she has potential based on what I’ve seen. I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble she gets in.

Eda

This lady is Eda, voiced by Wendie Malick. I thought her voice sounded familiar, and there’s a reason. Turns out, she played Chicha, Pacha’s wife in The Emperor’s New Groove (good times.) Eda’s a rebel and the owner of the titular Owl House. She uses it as a self-described place to hide “from the pressures of modern life. And the cops. And ex-boyfriends.” The wanted poster in her living room indicates she’s not joking about the cops. That’s a lot of zeros.

If I had to sum up in one word, it would be sassy. She’s snarky and sarcastic and seems to have a low tolerance from other people’s crap. She just does what she wants and loves her freedom. According to news from NYCC, she’s the kind of mentor who will shove you into the deep end. Why am I being reminded of Grunkle Stan right now?

King

This is King, voiced by none other than Alex Hirsch. According to the show, he was, in fact, once the King of Demons. After getting trapped inside a diminutive state, he became Eda’s roommate as he finds a way to regain his powers. His newest obstacle may be Luz, who finds him absolutely adorable.

Gravity Falls, Star Vs Fusion

Like Amphibia, which was also created by a Gravity Falls alumni, The Owl House is like a western Isekai. Whereas Amphibia seems to take after Gravity Falls sense of adventure, The Owl House leans heavily on the supernatural side. The fact that it takes place in a world of magic and monsters reminds me a bit of the setting of Star vs. In fact, I bet Janna from Star would feel right at home in this world.

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I actually see a lot of Gravity Falls and SvTFOE in the title and end credits. The opening credits, with its lack of dialogue and showing off the characters and setting, reminds me a lot of Gravity Falls.

Then we have the end credits, showing Luz walking through the settings in the demon world back to the Owl House. It reminded me a little bit of the end credits from the first two seasons of Star vs The Forces of Evil, but with an aura of supernatural mystery.

In short, it has some of the best aspects of both shows.

A Show to Be Watching Out For

A new decade is approaching, and The Owl House seems set to ring it in on Disney Channel. With an interesting premise and exceptional people working on it, I think this will be a cartoon to watch out for. In fact, The Owl House and Amphibia could end up becoming the two big cartoons to watch out for on Disney in 2020. The Owl House premieres in January 2020, and i have every intention of writing about it!

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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Series Finale Review

Looking back on this decade of animation, I think few shows have been as successful as My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. This cartoon took a toy line and turned it into something amazing. A sprawling and complex world rivaling decades old. A spin-off series of films, specials, comics, merchandise, and a theatrical movie. Additionally, there’s an actual Brony Convention. In other words, this show about a bunch of ponies has done an incredible job of becoming successful.

All good things must come to an end, though, lest they end up like The Simpsons. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic had a phenomenal run, but it’s time has finally come. However, it manages to end on one massive note, as Twilight and her friends face their biggest challenge ever.

The Triple Threats Plan

While everyone prepares for Twilight to be crowned ruler of Equestria, the villainous trio of Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow has been working from the shadows. They’ve sown seeds of discord between Equestria’s inhabitants, turning everyone against each other while they make their move. They then turn on Grogar and use his own bell to drain his power. Although, it was never Grogar, but Discord.

Discord had seen how Twilight was unsure of herself as Equestria’s ruler. Therefore, he brought back all her enemies so she could beat them and get the confidence she needed. I get what Discord was trying to do, and this is in his character, but it still seems like a bad idea. Plus, it seems a bit of a cop-out, introducing this ancient foe only for him to be a red herring.

However, the finale more than makes up for the red herring as the Mane Six has to throw everything they have at the villains. The resulting fights are suitably epic and filled with action and amazing, and each of the heroes gets a moment to shine.

There Will Always Be Problems

I don’t want to spoil the ending, but for those worried that it will end with the bad guys redeemed, don’t fret. The villains don’t change their ways in the 11th hour, something the show even acknowledges. No matter how great things get, there will always be people in the dark trying to wreck everything. However, there will also be people ready to stand up for what’s right. With all of Equestria united as one, light and friendship overcome darkness one last time.

The question is, what now?

Epilogue and Final Lesson

The final episode takes us into the future with all the people’s of Equestria thriving under Twilight’s leadership. Yet one of her top students questions the importance of friendship, since it seems like Twilight rules alone. In other words, how do friends stay friends when things change in their lives. It’s a very real-world problem we’ve all had to face at some point. That’s the final lesson Friendship is Magic tried to teach its fans: learning to let go and accept change.

Thankfully, I think the show does a good job of explaining it. Even if things in their lives can change, and they might not always have time for each other, friends can still find ways to be together. In Twilight’s case, she and the Mane Six promised to meet once a moon as a Friendship Council to run Equestria. Additionally, it gives us a look at how the Mane Six have changed:

• Pinkie Pie married Cheese Sandwich and has a kid (no surprise there)
• Rainbow Dash and Applejack may or may not be a couple.
• Fluttershy might be living with Discord.
• Rarity aged gracefully.

They all have been busy, and so has Equestria, but they still make time for each other. So the final lesson the show has to teach it’s viewers is about change. People’s lives can change and they may not have as much time as before, but if they’re willing to put in the effort, they can stay friends. Plus, there are always more friends that people can make, and more bonds to forge. Not to sound corny, but that’s what makes friendship magic.

Bookends

In the final moments of the finale, the show gives us one final song that bookends the way the show started. When Twilight’s student wants to learn more about friendship, Twilight knows where to send her. She brings her to Ponyville, where she learned the magic of friendship all those years ago. It’s symbolic of how the show began, and also gives us a final, important lesson.

The kids who have been with the show from the start will be teens and young adults by now. Part of being an adult is passing on what you learned to the next generation. That’s what Twilight and her friends do in the show’s final moments, and what the show wants it’s fans to do with the show’s lessons.

Final Thoughts

Am I sad that My Little Pony is over? I am. I may not have gotten into it as some people, and my interest did wane over time, but I can appreciate what the show teaches people. In this world filled with so much strife, it’s better to make friends instead. The show may be over, but the lessons live on. The lessons, and the merchandise

This won’t be the end of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, though, not by a long shot. Hasbro’s already moving forward with the upcoming Generation V of the franchise, and I hope they keep the fun and magic that fans have come to expect.

So, the finale may not have entirely perfect, but I think it was enough to satisfy me. For those who want more of Equestria, worry not. Hasbro has another MLP:FIM film in the works. In the more immediate future, though, it was announced at NYCC that the comics would be giving us a Season 10 of the show. The show may be over, but this won’t be the last we see of Twilight Sparkle or the magical land of Equestria.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Dr. Seuss

I Give My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Series Finale a Solid 4.5/5

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