The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: lonewolf on October 06, 2019, 04:09:53 PM

Title: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: lonewolf on October 06, 2019, 04:09:53 PM

The last new episode to air on a Saturday morning has happened. Overall I give it an 8/10.

Spoiler

I figured it would just be Discord who messes things up, but Spike, the CMC's, and Mrs. Cake had a part too. It starts out, and seems like they're talking to the people watching the show, but it turns out they were telling Applejack how everything went wrong.  In the though we got to see Mac and Sugar get married where his parents did, complete with Mayor Mare.

Mrs. Cake mentions Octavia and Bulk Biceps went on a date at one point (I'm sure that went well  :lol: ).
And Granny Smith pulls a full blown Star Trek reference.

Some screencaps:
General Discord has returned.
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Where nopony has gone before..
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They're back:
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Three Amigos ref'!
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SPIKE!
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SWEETIE BELLE!
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No ideas Spike.
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DISCOOOOOORD!
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But there was a brief scene where in the background an event fans have been waiting for happened. There's no denying it now:

Spoiler

When finally. I look inside your eyes and see....

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And of course "some people" aren't too happy about it.

Especially since in the very last episode, there's a pic' confirming it: (spoiler for final ep')

Spoiler

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Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Carrehz on October 06, 2019, 04:25:00 PM

LyraBon! :lovey: They're adorable, omg.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Al-1701 on October 06, 2019, 04:44:03 PM

Spoiler

Well, this should confirm to everyone that you shouldn't trust Discord with ANYTHING!

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on October 06, 2019, 05:19:03 PM

I love this one! The framing is neat and it's nice to see a thread tied up

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Zapper on October 07, 2019, 03:43:15 AM

Spoiler

Well of course Octavia went on a date with Bulk. All Brony faves have to end up together in their little background pony universe but one lesbian couple is enough so Octavia was pushed together with that 'roided out horse even tho it makes no sense.

Sorry, too negative? Let me add more... I simply hate that Bulk Biceps character :P He doesn't even look like a pony. He looks like something Adult Swim would come up with as an MLP parody.

Edit: I just thought of something that would have made the episode cuter. Instead of tiny rings they could have had bracelets. Rings were cute when Cadance and SA married because both have horns and they placed the ring on the horn. That was really clever.
But from an in-universe perspective, pegasi and earthlings wouldn't need these horn rings. They would have their own piece of jewelry customized for them. Like I said a bracelet or a necklace (NOT a horn ring on a necklace). If you want to overthink it... and I love to overthink things... it's just another unicorn custom the unicorns expected the other ponies to abide by :lol: Ruling class and all. It's just sooo easy to read it like that when you establish a wedding ring being made to go on a horn :P

And btw... anyone noticed the Cakes have no rings? Gasp! Did they just take off their horn ring necklaces because they don't believe in unicorn symbols? Or the symbol of marriage in general? Is that why Mrs. Cake was so nervous when pointed out she had unicorn and pegasi foals? She took off her ring to cheat? Yaaas. The conspiracy theories write themselves :lol:

(Sarcasm was used, don't take it all too seriously)

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: lonewolf on October 07, 2019, 05:35:08 AM

Quote from: Zapper on October 07, 2019, 03:43:15 AM

Spoiler

Well of course Octavia went on a date with Bulk. All Brony faves have to end up together in their little background pony universe but one lesbian couple is enough so Octavia was pushed together with that 'roided out horse even tho it makes no sense.

Sorry, too negative? Let me add more... I simply hate that Bulk Biceps character :P He doesn't even look like a pony. He looks like something Adult Swim would come up with as an MLP parody.

Actually that was completely out of left field. I only found one piece of art with those two paired up. I think the writers just  did it as a joke.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Zapper on October 07, 2019, 06:46:36 AM

Quote from: lonewolf on October 07, 2019, 05:35:08 AM

Quote from: Zapper on October 07, 2019, 03:43:15 AM

Spoiler

Well of course Octavia went on a date with Bulk. All Brony faves have to end up together in their little background pony universe but one lesbian couple is enough so Octavia was pushed together with that 'roided out horse even tho it makes no sense.

Sorry, too negative? Let me add more... I simply hate that Bulk Biceps character :P He doesn't even look like a pony. He looks like something Adult Swim would come up with as an MLP parody.

Actually that was completely out of left field. I only found one piece of art with those two paired up. I think the writers just  did it as a joke.

It doesn't need to be serious shipping for me to dislike it. That Bulk pony was getting on my nerves the monent they brought him back. He started working at the spa, he was featured in the trivia night episode as Fluttershy's partner. He was in EqG (and looked even more terrifying as a human). He is just bringing out the worst in me :lol:

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: MJNSEIFER on October 07, 2019, 07:37:17 AM

And in goes the final nail for canon CheeriMac - not that it matters, because fanon exists.  I hope at least some bronies who ship ponies who are not ever going to be together in canon now will realise that (there's a chance the whole "ruined headcanon" thing is meant to be taken as a joke, but it's hard to tell with that side of the brony fandom.)

Spoiler

I'm fine with LyraBon being either a friendship or romantic ship, and find either believable (there is such thing as a "romantic friendship" so they could have easily have had that, but that image of them proposing to each other looked really cute, and those characters do mean something to me, and they are definitely perfect together in my opinion, however you see their relationship, so I'm happy for them.   :lovey:

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Pinkie21 on October 07, 2019, 08:21:23 AM

I thought it was a nice ending for Big Mac.  It would have been better if the side characters didn’t get such a huge focus throughout this series, but I’ll take a family member of a main character over some random fan favorite background pony. 

Spoiler

Of course the fandom is more excited about Lyra and Sweetie Drips than anything else.  I don’t know why they’re such a huge deal for people when they get no speaking time, but whatever. 

I liked the nod to the Apple parents.  That was so sweet, and I love that Big Mac has obviously talked about his folks to Sugar Belle. 

Now, best of all...only one more week til this series and fad are finally done!

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: MJNSEIFER on October 07, 2019, 08:34:49 AM

I hope that part about it being a fad is a joke.

Spoiler

Speaking for mostly myself on Lyra and Bon Bon, they were two of the first background ponies that the fandom took to, so I think there's a sentimental and nostalgic attachment to them - that's certainly what it is to me in any case.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on October 07, 2019, 08:52:36 AM

The fandom at large has always tended to focus on background gags, I feel? At least while the show is still new. I think the most fitting comparison would be The Last Roundup. I was going to compare it to Flutter Brutter as well but I don't think that's fair (there was no fanon for Epona as a pony previous to the appearance).
I won't be watching the finale live but I'm waiting for G4 to wrap up, I am so hype for G5 it's unbelievable.
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Before I graduate, please!

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Zapper on October 07, 2019, 09:14:41 AM

Quote from: Pinkie21 on October 07, 2019, 08:21:23 AM

Spoiler

Of course the fandom is more excited about Lyra and Sweetie Drips than anything else.  I don’t know why they’re such a huge deal for people when they get no speaking time, but whatever.

They are "insert your fanfic here" characters just like Muffin, Octavia, DJ, Time Turner, and so on... apart from Sweetie (who is in-show called BonBon) all of them had their characters shaped by the brony fandom. Even DJs eye color was decided by fans, it's nuts.

Buuut I have no issue with LyraBon because it organically evolved in the background. It was shaped by fans but at least it was not forced like

Spoiler

PinkieCheese - also demanded by certain fans but was never hinted at in-show until it finally popped up in the very last episode of S9.

We saw them always spending time together in BG and sometimes they would do romantic stuff like giving gifts for Hearts and Hooves.
 
But compare them to Scootaloo's aunts who were not even allowed to have an explicitly romantic gesture towards each other whereas there have been three dedicated wedding episodes to m/f couples and lots more m/f romance plots.

LyraBon finally being official is like getting a lifeboat in a sea of carefully hidden gays like the aunties or Steven Magnet. Parents can't tell kids that these two female ponies are sisters or just fashionable because now we actually saw them propose :lol:
(Even tho some people in this thread say it could be a "romantic friendship" proposal mwahahaha)

Mac/Sugar Belle was obvious but LyraBon was not.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Carrehz on October 07, 2019, 12:33:16 PM

On LyraBon - I'm shallow, I just like their designs and think they look cute together. :p I don't watch the show (but I watch the threads sometimes... I like seeing everyone's reactions ^^ Plus it's nice to know what y'all mean when you mention X/Y/Z character/plot development/etc, ya know?), but there's so many backgrounders with lovely designs...

edit: (to clarify - Big Mac/Sugar Belle is cute, too. I love weddings, I love flowers, I love love!!)

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: TJgamer on October 07, 2019, 02:34:41 PM

Big Mac has been through a lot of crap over the years. From love poisons to sibling neglect, he's gotten the short end of the stick numerous times. But now all that has paid off; he is finally married and can now settle peacefully with his new love. You did good, big guy. You did good.
 :lovey:

Alright, enough of my sap, the episode itself was mostly silly shenanigans ensuing. It's very similar to "The Saddle Row Review", with its reality TV structure and goofy antics.

I do like how the CMC acknowledge that they really need to stop getting involved in Big Mac's personal life since it always backfires. I've been saying that for a long time.  >_<  At least they're trying to make up for it.

You gotta love Mrs. Cake. She keeps getting closer to having a heart attack.  :lol: Actually, this is probably the most involved in a plot she's ever been since... well, ever.

Spike burning up the pastries was pretty funny and, like he said, probably a good thing.

That said, what exactly was Sugar Belle's plan again? Was she wanting Big Mac to eat through all 22 apple deserts to get the message? Maybe she's into more chunky stallions, if you know I mean.  ;)

Discord was his usual self. I do love the apple gremlin creatures he made. On that note, when the fused monster relayed the message to Sugar Belle, I have to wonder if even for a split second Sugar Belle was thinking what the honeymoon with this abomination would be like.  :blink:

And yes, we all got the Star Trek reference. Ha ha.  :P

This was a fun slice of life romp with a very sweet ending. And a fitting one for the being the last normal standalone episode.

And now, the time has come. Up next is our final story in Equestria.
 :|

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Pinkie21 on October 07, 2019, 04:52:07 PM

Yeah, I kinda would have rather have seen some real relationship stuff with Scoot’s aunts in that one episode, rather than two fan favorites having a forced background romance throughout the whole series that tries to take away from the focus of the story.  Honestly, I’m really more surprised that so many people (not all, but a loud many) actually are focused more about ponies like Lyra and Sweetie Drops (I refuse to call her by her fan-given name) than actual characters that matter.  Honestly, I’m thrilled that they didn’t pair up Mac with some random fan favorite.  But, his pairing with Sugar Belle actually makes a world of sense to me.  Their meetup made sense, they kept their personality traits throughout their relationship, while growing somewhat around one another.  Aside from my gripes, I liked the actual marriage/wedding between Big Mac and Sugar Belle.  Definitely a really sweet ending (or beginning, technically) to such an adorable pair.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Al-1701 on October 07, 2019, 06:03:17 PM

It's the problem with bronies and the staff's willingness to placate them.

Also, Hasbro is not about to jump all in on a lesbian relationship.  The LGBT community is willing to patronize something that doesn't necessarily give them representation (especially something where romance is purely tangential), but the right wing freaks will flip out at even the hint of a same sex couple.  The latter group is thankfully dying out (but still prevalent enough to make the more skittish shy away from going too deep into LGBT representation) and the lifestyle of the former is becoming more accepted and understood as normal.  Sweetie Drops and Heartstrings has been a cop out for years and the bronies are willing to give the staff all the praise for it.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Carrehz on October 07, 2019, 06:19:51 PM

yeah, as much as I think they're cute together, I'm not that fond of the "last-episode lesbians"... thing that cartoons have been doing recently, either. It's sorta cheap/weak-willed, you know? "Oh, the show's ending, it doesn't matter what we do or if there's any controversy about it, let's put in some lesbians" But at the same time, well, it's something. It's a step in the right direction... I mean I remember when we had to put up with stuff like the Sailor Moon dub's "cousins" and the like. Things are changing, but change doesn't happen overnight, especially not with issues like these.

Plus (I'm not sure how to word this or if I'll explain it correctly, but here goes) I feel like there's a difference between shows that are just starting, and shows like FiM that have been on-air for... how long now, like ~10 years? ...a lot has changed in the world since FiM first started - I can't imagine them doing the LyraBon marriage thing when the show first started, for example. So I can sort of understand why longer-running shows would be more hesitant with stuff like this. Hopefully we'll see more gay characters that aren't "last episode"-type deals in future shows. :)

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: HollowZero on October 07, 2019, 06:56:10 PM

I always thought Lyra and the yellow ones forced relationship was eye-rolling. Bronies took "oh they're standing next to each other, they're gonna kiss" fangirlism to a whole new level.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Al-1701 on October 08, 2019, 02:20:07 AM

That's true.  It started being that a boy and girl could not be in a platonic friendship, there had to be romance there.  Now, even two people of the same gender can't be in a platonic friendship, there has to be romance there.  People can spend a lot of time together not be in a romantic relationship, but I guess the shippers need to be appeased.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: MJNSEIFER on October 08, 2019, 08:55:42 AM

^ Yes, we do.   :silly:

In seriousness though, I can see how it happened as Lyra Heartstrings was already one of the ponies that bronies noticed, and if Bon Bon wasn't already, she soon would be for that exact reason.  It was simply noticing that they were being shown together a lot, so our imaginations got working - they must at the very least be friends, but some took that further.

I am aware, and I'm sure most people are, that characters can simply be friends, but there's just something really cute about best friends ending up as lovers - it doesn't have to happen, it's just cute when it does, in my opinion.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on October 08, 2019, 10:17:45 AM

I am a ravenous shipper and must be appeased!
It would've been sweet to see more interaction at the forefront to further justify it. Maybe as a B plot of an episode, or something? Work one of the mane 6 in there. Oh well, no use crying over ended shows.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: TJgamer on October 08, 2019, 12:45:59 PM

Just a reminder, Hasbro is a toy company that is wanting to sell their products worldwide (correct me if I'm wrong). This is why they like to play it safe.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Shadowperla on October 08, 2019, 01:02:15 PM

Quote from: HollowZero on October 07, 2019, 06:56:10 PM

I always thought Lyra and the yellow ones forced relationship was eye-rolling. Bronies took "oh they're standing next to each other, they're gonna kiss" fangirlism to a whole new level.

Quote from: Al-1701 on October 08, 2019, 02:20:07 AM

That's true.  It started being that a boy and girl could not be in a platonic friendship, there had to be romance there.  Now, even two people of the same gender can't be in a platonic friendship, there has to be romance there.

I agree with that; also, people start to apply that "principle" to other real people, and it's just so disgustingly solipsist.

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Carrehz on October 08, 2019, 02:33:33 PM

Quote from: TJgamer on October 08, 2019, 12:45:59 PM

Just a reminder, Hasbro is a toy company that is wanting to sell their products worldwide (correct me if I'm wrong). This is why they like to play it safe.

-nod- I nearly made the exact same point in my previous post but decided against it since I didn't want to ramble too much. I don't necessarily agree with the practice of adding gay characters into the show when it's ending and it "doesn't matter" if their presence elicits controvery, or what-have-you... but I do understand why it happens.

I'm sure the specific pairing of Lyra/Bon Bon is a nod to the fans, but I was wondering last night if there was a bit of a "we can have a gay couple in the show now, so why not" element to them getting *married*. if that makes sense. (Dammit, I had this better worded in my head last night, now I can't for the life of me think how to put it and have it make sense! I hate it when that happens.)

Title: Re: The Big Mac Question (S9E23)
Post by: Ponyfan on October 13, 2019, 04:17:54 PM

I really liked this episode. I think Big Mac and Sugar Belle are a good couple and it was nice how Big Mac had told Sugar Belle about his parents. I enjoyed seeing Night Glider, Party Favor and Double Diamond at the wedding.

I also wondered if Sugar Belle thought the giant apple monster was in love with her.




Ponyfan