@ Kegi: Possibly, but then why does AJ know about her being bullied. From what we see she doesn't have any one on one time with Babs for her to tell her and she seems like she'd be pretty reluctant to talk about it. The most logical reason for me is that Bab's parents told her when they asked her to look after her for a couple of weeks.

True enough... but what causes the lunar cycle, anyways? That might go a ways to explaining if it is or isn't different.

@Psi: That's what I mean; they should have given her a stronger Applejack-style reaction rather than just making a more reserved version of something we've already seen with other characters.

@Spike episode: The summary makes it sound like the whole "Dragon Code" thing is something Spike stumbled over and decided to follow on his own, without any other dragons around.

Babs' parents were already looking for a new school for her while she was in Ponyville, because they're Good Parents

Anyways, have some feels

As for a Spike episode to focus on dragon culture, that ship passed last season.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:22:08 PM by Calnos

@Kegi In real life, the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth cause the cycle as the moon passes in and out of the Earth's shadow. With the way Equestrian cosmology may or may not work, there's no telling how it could be outside of the fact that we very rarely, if at all, see the moon not be full.

Given that the phases of the moon are probably managed manually, I'm not even sure if the moon =~ month thing even holds true here.

I think if anything it'd hold more true. Since the seasons and years are handled manually maybe they've even got a nifty easy metric system for it. Make it easier to keep track of.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:34:54 PM by Badwolfwho

Well, it's sure to be orderly and consistent, but that doesn't mean it has to be a month.

Japnese Teeth: I noticed each character sort of has a defining scenario that brings out a distinct characteristic and some of their better plots:

Twilight is neuroses based. Just put her in a situation she isn't 100% in control of and she'll slowly crack trying to remedy it.

RD is ego driven. She just needs to be placed in front of a plausible (and sometimes unwilling) audience and she'll become intent on getting their full attention.

Fluttershy is meek so just needs a somewhat intimidating or oppressive crowd.

AJ, in early episodes at least, was tempremental and had a tendancy to hold a grudge. Her setup is similar to Twilight's in that she just needs an environment that doesn't co operate with her, however where Twilight would endlessly continue in vain to 'educate', AJ would more likely have an 'eye for an eye' treatment and quickly resort to her enemies own level in an Escalating War.

I suppose the episode may worked better if as said, the Apples were more than just slightly befuddled and began to conflict with her, provoking her defensive temper.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:40:52 PM by Psi001

Perhaps a longer time has lapsed between the episodes then a week and all references to that week were just Leaning on the Fourth Wall. That could explain why there was a reunion in the premier episode.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:40:34 PM by MorningStar1337

Have we actually seen the moon in a phase other than full? The only times I remember it is when Luna is hanging out up there, and it was full on both those occasions.

Also they're probably more cautious after Derpygate.

well Boast Busters, The beginning and end of Owl's well that ends well, The Best Night Ever, The Return Of Harmony pt2 (Thought that may not count due to Discord) and Luna eclipsed had some parts set at night and i'm pretty sure the moon was visible in most if not all of them.

Hearts and Hooves day had a funeral but i was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it thing. I don't think the writers don't to reference the concept of death much in this show.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:46:35 PM by MorningStar1337

@Psi: I mostly agree, although I'd say that AJ's situation is more about her stubbornness; she gets herself convinced that she has to do something, and she sticks to that course of action long past the point that she should know better. Although I do agree that the episode would have been better if the rest of the family had butted heads with her a bit more.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:46:40 PM by JapaneseTeeth

It's harder to classify stubborness, since a large majority of the whole cast's dilemmas are caused by being completely bull headed about something. As said, Twilight's situations are often caused because she refuses to understand why others aren't the exact same level as her ("WHY WON'T ANYPONY LISTEN TO ME?!?") while RD won't have others not thinking she's awesome. Ever.

I use temprement for AJ because it seems a more distinct reason for her stubborness, because someone offends or aggrivates her which makes her refuse to back down. Her two duo episodes with another pony are basically another pony pissing her off and starting an Escalating War. Even in Applebuck Season, she seems slightly motivated to spite Twilight for indirectly belittling her by saying she is incapable, while she steals the show in Bridle Gossip due to becoming The Napoleon. Even looking at 'stubborn AJ' episodes like The Last Roundup and Fall Weather Friends, I tend to notice they are still cases of another character mostly holding up the story until AJ's defensive temper is set off, then it becomes her spotlight again.

I think her more laid back attitude after Season One may be a reason they struggle to make more roles for her in this case, since a big drive in her personality was being a bit of a hot head.

edited 22nd Dec '12 7:14:35 PM by Psi001

Just thought I'd leave this here again for feedback◊. I'm still experimenting with the basic hog design.

Fanon wise, although their leaders and some other gifted individuals can be very cunning, your average Hog is all dumb muscle. Easily outclasses a pony in physical strength and sheer ferocity, but are so stupid, that fake pig nose Pinkie has and a bad put on accent is all you need to fool them into thinking you're one of them.

edited 22nd Dec '12 6:51:52 PM by ApplelightLimited

I've never heard the term moon used to refer to anything other than a month (or lunar cycle, close enough). It's just standard fantasy talk.

A moon cycle is about a months time.

You mean her dad literally became a star?

Applejack's parents are two of the stars that released Nightmare Moon

QUICK! TOP FIVE EPISODES! READY, GO!

1. Canterlot Wedding Part 2

2. SPICE

3. SPICE

4. SPICE

5. SPICE

edited 22nd Dec '12 7:21:27 PM by SuperGex

@JT: They are the true villains of the series.

edited 22nd Dec '12 7:22:23 PM by edvedd

I say she ate her parents.

@edvedd

No man, I'm tellin' ya, it's Silver Spoon who's the real villain of the show.

Do you like it? Do you like it, AJ? I call it....Mr and Mrs Apple chili....

edited 22nd Dec '12 7:23:35 PM by Psi001