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Cuddlepug β MLP FiM: S4 E13 - Simple Ways Review
Published: 2014-02-09 13:24:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 5832; Favourites: 63; Downloads: 140
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Review of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 4, Episode 13: "Simple Ways"Final score: A-
Previous review (Season 4, Episode 12):
Next review (Season 4, Episode 14):
These episodes are all rated in the context of the show - therefore, if I give an episode a score, it is in relation to how it compares to the standard set by the show itself and not external factors.
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Comments: 76
Definitely a weak episode, and Trenderhoof just makes me throw up. I'd give it a D+.
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Trenderhoof was nothing but a forced plot device. and no, i'm not buying the fact that he's "straight"
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He is my least favourite character, and the way he would continuously latch onto Applejack when she was so clearly sick of him just made me gag.
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he's a gay creep. i don't why the writers forced Rarity to have the hots for him
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It totally tortured all the Sparity fans, too. And it's painful to see someone besides Flim flirting up Applejack.
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yeah. AJ's hot. we all know that. but why did they make Trenderhoof such a creep? for comedy? 'cause for the most of episode, it's not all that funny
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I almost died laughing when Rarity yelled "I LOVE BEING COVERED IN MUD!"
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The worst episode of Season 4. Bottom of the Season 4 barrel.
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I'm glad you liked this episode. I sure did. I was laughing my ass off when Rarity was acting like a "country" girl and AJ was acting like Rarity. I know people hate on this episode for being too safe and I can see where they're coming from, but playing it safe isn't always a bad thing. Big Hero 6 kinda plays it safe and is predictable, but it's too much fun to pass up for me to bash it. The saving grace for this episode was Rarity and AJ working off each other.
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I honestly quite agree with it playing too safe. At times it's pretty easy to tell what happens next. Especially whenever it focuses on the love triangle and on Trenderhoof marveling at Applejack and her country-girl charm that lured him. Since Trendhoof has a thing for the country bumpkin. Pretty predictable how this will end up... And we all know what the resoulion of Applejack's and Rarity's big switch will be.
Big Hero 6 does mentions puberty and Baymax also mentioned almost nearly mentioned ...something... D: before Hiro stopped him. (Good thing too for me because despite being asexual I liked Hiro since I was 12 but romantically and not sexually attracted unlike his fangirls and being the only crush I've had/have...) I admit it's pretty predictable with a rather bland villian, and the rest of the characters not being that interesting unless you've actually read the comics the movie is based on and I feel the movie tried a little bit too hard as a hero movie. But I honestly really enjoyed it and it is one of my most favorite Disney films so far along with some of the modern ones like Tangled or classics like the Hunchback of Notre Dame or any of the classic Disney Princess mvoies. And it's been long since I've found a Disney movie I liked that wasn't Disney Princess and way too fun to bash.
Also, I quite agree that Rarity and Applejack's simple but constant ways (bad pun intended) to work each other off was one of the best things and highlights of the episode, in my opinion at least. :3 It was interesting to see once more of Applejack and Rarity work each other off like this like in "Look Before You Sleep". And all this for a annoying clingy superstar in Ponyville. Also interesting to see Rarity's internal conflict with the switch to win over Trendhoof.
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Yeah, Big Hero 6 is one of my favorite modern Disney movies with Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled. (It could be slight personal bias since I feel culturally connected to it being Japanese myself, but I digress.) Hunchback is one of my favorite Disney Renaissance films; probably third place to Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
A lot of things in MLP are based on people's varying levels of tolerance.Β Some are okay with TV/films playing it safe, others aren't. Some people downright hate Rainbow Dash's brashness and take-crap-from-nobody personality, but I'm willing to put up with it for her kawaii moments.
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I feel like the only girl in my all classes and almost my whole grade who likes Big Hero 6, Tangled, and Wreck-It-Raplh being my favorite moderns while everyone else is singing Let It Go (and I actually like Frozen a little bit). I personally quite relate with it as well and I've always been interested in Japanese culture and it's history. Especially after learning about more of it in a history book. And I quite related well with Hiro. In fact I related with him so much that it might be one of the reasons I developed a crush on him when I was 12 and still have it because of how relatable he is making him pretty close for me. Also why I have a romantic attraction rather than sexual attraction being asexual (Also for the fact how awesome he is at bot-fighting! O.o I've been interested in robotics and animationrics and stuff like that for a little bit but man, I want my own megabot now!) Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King were two of the most Disney Renaissances that I grew up with most. Though I can't believe I didn't see Hunchback any sooner and until I was 12.
That's quite true. I personally prefer it whenever TV/films or even games play it safe if it's done right and flows well with the story. And Rainbow Dash's stupid and often rebellious personality does quite annoy me but due to her kawaii moments and her likable moments when she's being true to herself and her element or shows some character development makes me both love and hate her as a character.
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I like Frozen a lot, but I'm one of those people who thinks it's overrated. People call me crazy, but I always have to clarify to them that just because it's overrated, doesn't mean it's necessarily bad. Michael Bay's Transformers movies are overrated and bad. Frozen is overrated, but good. I like Hiro because he is smart, but still has the impulsive mentality of a teenager. I just hope people will recognize my Hiro cosplay of a blue hoodie, red robot shirt, and brown cargo shorts when I go to a convention this weekend.
That's interesting that you developed a sort of cartoon crush on Hiro. (Not making fun of you asΒ I had a few cartoon crushes.) I know some girls go nuts for Zuko from Avatar or Aladdin, but Hiro's a new one. I'm heterosexual, so I won't understand your position.
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For Frozen, I quite like it but find it overrated as well but I think it's pretty well done. It does have plot holes but it's good in my opinion and I actually like let it go but my sister is pretty obsessed with it and with Elsa (I prefer Anna for her personality. Probualry my fourth relatable/favorite fictional character behind Rapunzel who's behind Rarity and Hiro.) It's one of my favorite modern Disney movies behind Wreck It Ralph. I agree with Micheal Bay, I hate his transformers and he killed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for me.
That's one of the another things I quite like about Hiro. I've been like that since I was 11 and all. Everyone tells me I'm creative with big ideas and to use my head but I try to. Yet nothing ever works out for me and often I have both artist and writer's block. And I just want to be myself and do some fun stuff. Similar to Hrio's situation. Also, he does have other fangirls and girls who like him but I wouldn't consider myself a fangirl personally though. I've met girls that were nutty over Zuko and Aladdin and a few of my friends do (one of my school friends used to like Finn from Adventure Time when she was eightβthen her mom said "you know he's not real, right?" She told me her mom ruined her childhood that way.)Β
I don't think you or anyone needs to be in my position to understand for me. It's simple, I just relate to him well. Even if he wasn't my only crush I've ever had he'd still tie with Rarity in second place as one of my favorite fictional characters. The more relatable for me; the better!Β
(In fact, I used to have Philophobia: the phobia of falling in love because I think love is sweet and I've been in a shipping phase when I was 11 and first started shipping in MLP but I don't want it for myself.
I'm actually being sexually harassed in class right now because I'm getting forced to like a boy I hate in my class but my principal is covering it for me as of now.Β
And being asexual already I grew Philophobia. Then came Big Hero 6...
Can I see your cosplay just for fun? Once I wanted to cosplay Rainbow Dash once with Hiro's hoodie and T-shirt and with Rainbow's hair as a wig and Equestira Girl's Rainbow Dash's skirt and shorts under her skirt. XD
Too bad I'm Asian-Indian/Muslim though and not white or else I'd get hate and get comments like "You're not mweant to cosplay because of your skin-color!!!1!!"
Also this is the most interesting and fun conversation I've ever had, just to randomly add.
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Simple ways in my honest opinion is the worst that season 4 can do. Mostly because its just a safe episode with some stupid moments but in the end I can't feel anything. This episode is more empty then Three is a crowd and I do feel something there. This I can't.Β
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Oh yes I meant F-
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Oh boy, this episode.
To tell you the truth, I REALLY don't like to see romance in MLP. This episode got lucky this time, but I was too afraid to enjoy this episode.Β
Plus Rarity was more desperate than with Blueblood.Β
C
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Any episode where Rainbow has almost no lines is great for me.
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Kinda harsh don't ya think? Sure, she has her Rainbow "Douche" moments, but her tough and brash attitude is usually a front.
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It seems that any episode involving Rarity gets a good score. Am I the only one that sees this?
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It's because Rarity is the most nuanced character. She has a personality that Faust admitted would usually land her as a villain in other shows. She's generous half the time, but she's not afraid of charming others to get what she wants; she has a sense of design that applies to almost everything she does; and she's the kind of girl who is very conscious about her looks, but will admit her own shortcomings. Seeing her react and work off of the other mane 6 is a lot of fun. That's why I liked "Simple Ways."
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Most MLP fans have their favorite pony. So you areΒ going to get some shipping in their grading system.. So no you are not the only one who noticed that his scoring favors Rarity.. If it been me I'd giveΒ it C- at best because they were not acting like themselves at all..
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Didn't he just mention why, like, in the first paragraph?
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If I would rank this episode I would give it an average because there isn't anything special about it. Any spotlight on Rarity is welcomed for me and her voice actress does a terrific job with her character but that alone isn't enough to make the episode special.
"...nervousness overcomes her,Β extra dimension to a character whoΒ has previously been almost unwaveringly confident."
Her nerves overcomes her in sever occasions with other characters, this was established before and nothing extra. I wouldn't call her being shy in one scene an extra dimension to the character either as she retrains her usual self throughout all her interactions with Trenderhoof. She also displayed no shy characteristics while interacting with Prince Blue Blood (granted he was being a douche but the first conversation was normal)
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Something I loved about this episode was how much it illustrated Rarity and Applejack's character growth since Look Before You Sleep. In that episode, they were at each other's throats and were like oil and water. But in this episode, while they were still in opposition, they didn't get to the same extremes as LBYS. No personal insults were hurled, and they acted more like friends than before.
It's the same thing that happened in last week's episode, with Pinkie Pie not falling into a total depression when it was clear she wasn't wanted, which contrasts to how crazy she became in Party of One.
The writers seem to be trying to keep up the slow character development, and in my opinion, that's a great thing for this show.
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Overall, I liked this episode, but I felt Rarity should've acknowledged Spike's feelings toward the end.
Β
Great reviews by the way, I always look forward to reading them.
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Thanks for the feedback, friend. Hopefully the show will continue to explore Rarity/Spike as a thing, although I doubt it'll ever be more than what it is right now.
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Oh wow, I would have thought you would have given this episode an F, considering how I've seen a lot more people hate it.
I personally enjoyed it, probably even more than Rarity Takes Manehattan.
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Why do people not like it? Seems alright to me.
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Maybe the idea of Rarity acting like a country girl, but I thought that was fun to watch.
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This may or may not seem super unrelated but I notice I'm starting to dislike Rarity's dresses. I'm not a fan of the whole ring on the horn thing. But I have to say Rarity is getting loads of attention this season and Pinkie Pie as we'll. characters I feel like they've been ignoring for the past three seasons. I'm not a big fan of Apple Jack but she did pretty good this season
I think Pinkie's going back to her old self, her excitement was obviously justifiable. I'm glad Derpy is actually getting a hell of a lot more screen time, and you can actually see her. XP hope it means we'll be seeing a full episode with her? *keeps fingers crossed*
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I think the reason is that after Lauren Faust left the show, other people had to design Rarity's outfits and haven't come close to Lauren's designs.
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Quite possibly it. But she dose have some nice ones
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I see I see. This is probably why
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Still can't see the reviews (even on my laptop; I think my eyes are broken) but I did enjoy Β several points in this episode. The love triangle was awesome, particularly when it was obvious such a shallow pony wouldn't like AJ or Rarity like they deserved after such a short time of knowing them, which led to him being a little flat, but in a way that enhanced the lesson. Applejack really rocked the dress, and the concept of Pinkie being ultimately Β ok with Rarity getting to plan a party and not her shows she still remembers last week's lesson.
The thing I disliked was Rarity's accent. While I know it was for laughs, it annoyed me because a Southern accent is born of relaxation, not force. Then again I get upset when AJ misuses y'all (it's a plural pronoun, come on, never use it to address one pony!), so my nitpicking my just be a matter of personal pride.
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Your words are a matter or pride, like Scar's.
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While I enjoyed the episode a great deal--Spike's look at the audience cracked me up!--I found Trenderhoof to be a really bland and boring character, especially coming off of Pinkie Pride's Cheese Sandwitch.Β It just seems like the writers had so many missed opportunities with him.Β Thankfully, Applejack's and Rarity's wonderful banter really carried the episode for me.
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I do like that part with Spike and Rarity too. When he looked at the camera,he was basically saying: "Is she for real?" I died laughing. Easily my favorite part of that episode.
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I suppose he wasn't there to be especially likeable - he was there to drive a wedge between AJ and Rarity.
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I guess, but they could have at least made him more interesting.Β Hell, Blueblood would be more preferable to Trenderhoof.Β He was just kinda...there.
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Did anyone else find it amusingly apt when Trenderhoof pointed toward Derpy when he said "the unappreciated"?
Also...Rarity's cowgirl accent = LOL!
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Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this!
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I enjoyed it too. It really was well done.
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Well,I feel as though this episode was amusing. I liked all the different expressions, such as Applejack's pouty expression in that dress or when Rarity was saying how she loves mud. Plus, Rarity's country outlook was hilarious. Her overalls and mane was funny, but what really set me off was her country accent. Reminded me of Forest Gump a little 
Other than that, I felt as though Spike could've had a bigger role in this. He could've told her something like " Anypony who can't notice you shouldn't even know your name". Plus, they were playing on the stereotypes of country folk and hipsters quite a bit. Overall, this was a fine episode. I'm glad to see Mayor Mare. Here's hoping for a great second half of the season. Cheers!
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Good lad. Enjoy your second half, happy Wario.
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I give this an A. I personally found the character interaction to be great and reminds me a lot of the sleepover episode. The moral was pretty good and the love romance between the three was funny. Also spikes reaction made me laugh.
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