I suppose it makes sense that Dash would get that extra hour in the |
Happily, it's a hit! This has a good deal to do with the fact that it's one of Rainbow Dash's best episodes of late. Now, unlike some reviewers, I like "Newbie Dash", but I'd place "Stranger than Fan Fiction" higher. The writers take Rainbow's friendship with Daring Do, her devotion to A. K. Yearling's books and her love of real-life action, and run with it to great effect. We already know how much of an action hero she can be, after all, so we believe this too. Dash can be a real pain sometimes, but this time around we're most definitely on her side throughout.
This looks scarily like the UK PonyCon 2015 venue's main entrance :P |
The Daring Do convention we're shown is inspired by the real-life San Diego Comic-Con, which perhaps explains why it's so much bigger than any con I've ever been to. Even so, there's a lot I recognised and chuckled at, from the somewhat variable cosplay outfits, through the pointless arguments to the... interesting merch sold at some vendors' stalls. It's a shame that we don't get to see a bit more of the event, though: I'd love to know what panels a Daring Do con might offer, and given the title of the episode a little fanfic reference (like the one in "Spike At Your Service") would have been nice.
Only somepony as brave as Daring Do could resist running for the hills at that face! |
There aren't that many things here that I really don't like. It's maybe a little bit convenient that the monster just happens to be exactly behind a very weak wall at the end, and one or two of Rainbow's facial expressions seem a little bit exaggerated – shades of "Castle Mane-ia" at times. I'm rarely entirely keen on episodes that shiptease as much as this one did. And, yeah, let's say nothing at all about that merch stand, eh? But there's nothing really bad here, and any little niggles are more than outweighed by the good stuff. Not least a solid, relatable moral of the sort FiM does best.
I shall be sorely disappointed if someone hasn't made this cosplay within a month |
Best quote: Daring Do: "How did I miss that?" Quibble: "I've been asking myself that ever since Book Four!"
Yays
- Very funny almost throughout
- Quibble Pants is a pain, but isn't just stupid
- Fun yet affectionate convention/fandom digs
- Excellent, if standard, moral
- Patton Oswalt's brilliantly improvised talk over the end credits
- Rainbow Dash is at her most relatable
- Would it have quite the same impact on non congoers?
- No sly reference to G. M. Berrow's DD books? Missed opportunity!
- Poor Twilight gets a bit of a raw deal
Rainbow was sooo good in this episode :). So many wonderful facials expressions. And her cockiness was definitely dialed down, to the point where she showed real humility. I wish we could have had this version of her in 'Newbie Dash'.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, way back in S2 I was getting sick of Rainbow in mid-season... and then I got to "Read It and Weep" and she started redeeming herself again. Clearly Daring Do episodes have that ability!
DeleteLoved this episode to death! The humor was both broad and sly, and the dynamic between the three main characters was excellent. The Aztec-style temple, murals, and monster were a delight. I'd give it a full five stars.
ReplyDeleteGah, I meant to mention the Aztec designs! It's at the top of four-star territory for me, and it may end up being revised when I do the end-of-season rankings. Depends how it goes on rewatching a few times.
DeleteWe want to see an aftermath where twilight made it to the daring do convention.
ReplyDelete