Spoiler
Well, it's official. They never made a good Daring Do episode. By the time we got to the end of this trainwreck of a subplot, the story had to twist itself into so much of a knot to solve itself pretzels are saying "That looks like it hurts" seeing it.
All right, you probably know this, but I hate the "Daring Do is real" subplot. And sure enough this series have proven me right time and again this was a mistake. She and her world doesn't gel with the world of Equestria. And the justifications to try to slam this square peg through a round hole only cause more trouble.
Well, it all came to its traumatic conclusion today, and once again the writers broke out the contrivances to just bring this all to a conclusion. Since we're behind the spoiler tag here, I'm going to put this simply. Daring Do's rival writes a book from his perspective, tricks Fluttershy to become one of his grunts, is reformed by being her presence, and we find out Nostril Eyes has been after both of them because they're stealing the artifacts he's supposed to be guarding. Everyone is now good and the Daring Do subplot is done.
You know, they had an interesting idea here with the fact Daring Do is not an unbiased source of her adventures. No one is stopping her from embellishing, omitting, and outright lying. Of course, that would mean Rainbow Dash would have to wrong and we can't have that now can we.
I need to find something genuinely good to say about this episode. Uh, um, it's over. Yeah. There you go.
Spoiler
What took the cake in this episode was the cheap reference humor I have come to loathe in MLP FiM. Why on Earth was that Caballeron alter ego a pony version of the Game of Thrones author, Geaorge R. Martin? Yeah, I know, for jokes. Because Daring Do also uses an alter ego that reminds us of Joanne K. Rowling. But just... why is that funny. Why is that fun? :P
It would be different if she was the author of Cherry Trotter, but Daring Do herself is an Indiana Jones knockoff, so... sigh. Just a bunch of refs thrown together and bam! World building! I guess...
Anyways, that's my nitpick.
I think it's good they closed the Daring Do stuff with the theme of her being a thief and having to end it. FiM could be culturally insensitive but at least some writer was like "hey maybe a pony shouldn't steal artifacts from a different culture, she is supposed to be a hero" :lol:
Spoiler
What took the cake in this episode was the cheap reference humor I have come to loathe in MLP FiM. Why on Earth was that Caballeron alter ego a pony version of the Game of Thrones author, Geaorge R. Martin? Yeah, I know, for jokes. Because Daring Do also uses an alter ego that reminds us of Joanne K. Rowling. But just... why is that funny. Why is that fun? :P
It would be different if she was the author of Cherry Trotter, but Daring Do herself is an Indiana Jones knockoff, so... sigh. Just a bunch of refs thrown together and bam! World building! I guess...
Anyways, that's my nitpick.
I think it's good they closed the Daring Do stuff with the theme of her being a thief and having to end it. FiM could be culturally insensitive but at least some writer was like "hey maybe a pony shouldn't steal artifacts from a different culture, she is supposed to be a hero" :lol:
Spoiler
And not to mention often wrecking the ruins that she takes the artifacts from. Actual archeologists would wretch at Daring Do and Caballeron's actions as well as attitudes that the rare artifacts are all that matter.
And the author references are also stupid. I agree there.
Here's my thought on how they should have handled Daring Do way back with Daring Don't.
Daring Do's author is an actual archeologist named Compass Rose. The reason her book was being delayed is because she was called out to a dig on short notice so she had to table her writing. Rainbow Dash and the ponies learn of this because Twilight Velvet is her publisher (so the reference in the comic fits with the show), and Rainbow Dash thinks Compass Rose being an archeologist means she's actually Daring Do and her stories are real. So, she drags the group to the dig.
Compass is irritated by the intruders. Rainbow Dash fangirling doesn't help matters. Compass Rose looks like Daring Do because she serves as a model for the artwork. However, she is a real archeologist who carefully digs through sites looking for materials from ancient civilizations. When she mentions how it helps them learn how they farmed, their relationship with nature, their festivals, and their fashion and jewelry; this interests Applejack, Flutter, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity respectively. They offer to help with the dig, and get to work.
Rainbow Dash can't believe the writer of Daring Do can be so boring. She believes this is all to keep her adventure secret. Especially since Map Legend, someone who looks like her rival, is also on the dig.
Rainbow Dash treats him as suspicious. However, her interference finally gets to Compass Rose and she blows up that Daring Do isn't real. She created Daring Do as a romanticized version of her life as a means to relieve stress, help fund her studies, and get ponies interested in archeology. Map Legend is the base for Daring's rival because the two were Friendly rivals in college and he does the first proofread of her manuscripts.
Rainbow Dash shuts up as she explains this is her real work and it's very important. By learning about the past, they gain a better understanding of themselves. Like this dig is actually of an arena for a sport. Her findings here would also help her finish her novel since Daring and her rival would captain teams in the sport with the winner getting the artifact and loser being put in mortal danger. Realizing this, Rainbow Dash actually starts helping. They uncover what Compass was looking for, a mural depicting the sport played. Rainbow Dash recognizes it as her favorite sport and never knew how old it was. Compass explains many of the modern games come ancient roots.
With a new understanding of archeology, Rainbow Dash and company leave. I would also make this the start of a story arch for Rainbow Dash where she becomes disillusioned with the Wonderbolts due to the attitudes of the squadron and begins to take growing interest in archeology. It would be a good lesson for little kids that sometimes your dreams change and you can find yourself in a place you never imagined.
But that would be me.
I actually kinda liked the message of this one.
Spoiler
Listening to all the sides in anything can be really important. Rainbow was so focused on her love for DD that she never considered what Fluttershy was saying about DD’s competitor. I liked the fact that FS was open to listening to Cabaleron and Aoizotl (sp?) explain themselves. It was kind of a perfect message for this current time.
That being said, really? More reformed villains? I can’t wait til this series ends and we can stop having love and friendship forced down our throats. It’s not as bad as Steven Universe in that regard, but it’s close.
Spoiler
So many questions in this ep: What message are they trying to teach kids here? Stealing is okay as long as you then have a noble cause? Why would Fluttershy knowingly go along with an obvious nemesis of Daring Do? Why is AK Yearling concerned about being found out when the book has already been released? Why didn't Ahuizotl actually give chase when they were running away with the artifact? Why are we even reforming book villains? Isn't the whole point of them being bad to make the book interesting?