I didn't think that this episode handled it's moral in a particularly anvililious way. No more than it does the rest of the time. If we're going to start complaining about how the show delivers morals, then we might as well stop watching.

I was actually referring to people distaste towards the trope, not the episode.

You guys catch this?◊

edited 24th Nov '12 5:49:56 PM by VeniVidiPony

Bon bon wants kids

I hadn't noticed the bowtie.

edited 24th Nov '12 5:50:37 PM by Lopiny

I have an idea why some people seem to have such a big problem with Babs, like saying how she got away scot-free and stuff. I think it's a lack of empathy. Not that I can completely fault them, I can see how being the victim of bullying can tempt you into thinking of bullies as categorically bad people.

But when you shove someone into a box, it becomes that much easier to fall into the trap of seeing only what you want to see, and rationalizing everything else away. That, or ignoring the subtler nuances outright.

Think of how it would change if we did the whole episode from Babs' perspective. If we started from a scene of her being mercilessly teased for her lack of cutie mark. It's like Apple Bloom in Call of the Cutie, except Babs doesn't even have a Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle to fall back on!

There have been many times in this very series where the spotlight character does something wrong or has the wrong attitude about things, and has to make amends. But what makes them different from Babs? If the show were about her, and her life in Manehattan, wouldn't that make her the protagonist? How would that change the way you see the events of One Bad Apple?

(On a tangential note, a title card already? That was fast.)

edited 24th Nov '12 5:53:09 PM by KylerThatch

Distinctive enough that I find it actually more improbable that the resemblance is an accident, or that nobody noticed it during the production process.

edited 24th Nov '12 5:54:42 PM by JakesBrain

I did think the moral was bit too goody goody in the end, albeit maybe more for the expostion and bad jokes, but there are worse episodes.

It was an okay episode, and we saw a TEENY bit more Divergent Character Evolution from the Cutie Marks (more Genius Ditz moments from Sweetie Belle in both areas of the trope).

If there's a key complaint it's that maybe they could have done more to portray Babs as a Jerkass Woobie, I like we finally got a sympathetic antagonist in the show, but she goes a bit too erratically from remorseless prick to little sweetie. And like Kyler said, she almost comes off as a bit of a Karma Houdini because of it, especially since the CMC pretty much take full blame and beg for her forgiveness afterwards. Might have worked to show some subtle showings of conflict or remorse in her acting or expressions for a good build up for example.

edited 24th Nov '12 5:53:55 PM by Psi001

Babs is like a bunch of Rats in a box.

Pay attention to her body language. The clues are everywhere.

Running around and eating each other out of desperation?

edited 24th Nov '12 5:55:04 PM by TheFreeman

I saw her insecurities at the start, but after she reverts to bullying, she seems pretty much one note smug jerk until the climax.

@Psi They show up again when she takes over the clubhouse and participates in the secret handshake type thing DT & SS do.

edited 24th Nov '12 5:58:02 PM by PerpetualLurker

@Kyler: Well that's certainly more gracious then what I've been wanting to say for the last few hours.

What exactly do you mean by that? I see you throw that term around a lot and it's kind of starting to bug me.

Right they do what they need to to survive

Bad seed bad seed.

From Kyler: "Think of how it would change if we did the whole episode from Babs' perspective. If we started from a scene of her being mercilessly teased for her lack of cutie mark. It's like Apple Bloom in Call of the Cutie, except Babs doesn't even have a Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle to fall back on!"

FANFIC WRITERS! TO YOUR STATIONS! *cue 60s Batman transition*

edited 24th Nov '12 6:01:54 PM by Suland

@Mio: I've had the benefit of sleep and a nice shower, I guess.

You know what I want to see? A fic about what happens when she goes back to Manehattan.

edited 24th Nov '12 6:02:42 PM by KylerThatch

Babs blew it.

Or maybe the CMC visiting her at Manehattan.

Oh the humaneity!

Possible origin of Scootaloo.

Ye Gods.

@Mio: Goody goody, as in a bit overmoralistic and saccharine.

@dRoy: How about no. =P Neither Fluttershy nor Mac are old enough, for starters.

@droy: Well you are Half right... she's Pinkie just go with it and live longer.

edited 24th Nov '12 6:15:02 PM by HeroShepherd

@Red Savant - I know, I don't think that's what happened either. Nevertheless, it is fun to think about. XP

A very alluring insertion of ponies in real life photo.