Top 25 Episodes of MLP: FiM Season 1 – #22 – Episode 20: Green isn’t your Colour
Summary
The episode begins with Fluttershy and Rarity attending their weekly get together at the local spa. Rarity regales Fluttershy with how, on the way over, she was stopped by a famous fashion photographer named Photo Finish, who apparently liked the hat Rarity was wearing (I thought it was ugly as sin when I saw it but who am I to judge the fashion choices of a race of multicoloured equines) and wants to come over to Rarity’s boutique and take some photos. Rarity is of course ecstatic as this could be the big boost she needs for her career, but she needs somepony to model for her, so she asks Fluttershy. Fluttershy is at first hesitant, but after some pleading from Rarity she agrees to do it.
Later at the boutique, Rarity has Fluttershy in a… ummm… “dress”… and is making a few minor alterations to it with the help of Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Spike. Spike is going out of his way to try and help Rarity as much as he can, even going so far as to turn himself into a pincushion for her. While he, Twilight, and Pinkie are out of earshot, he makes the other two promise to keep a secret, and then confesses to no one’s surprise but Pinkie’s that he has a crush on the fashionista pony. Twilight tries to point out that everyone already knows that but Pinkie scolds her and practically threatens her to keep her promise to Spike.
Photo Finish takes this moment to arrive and before Rarity can even voice a greeting Photo gets right to work taking pictures of Fluttershy. Fluttershy tries a few poses that Rarity is suggesting behind Photo Finish’s back but Photo voices her dislike of them and Fluttershy, out of shame, sinks into a more closed off position that Photo Finish DOES like. This goes only a few more rounds before Photo decides she’s done then packs up and just walks out. The group at first thinks that they’ve some how disappointed the Photographer but just as Rarity is beating herself up over it, Photo Finish zooms back in and informs them that she’s found the next Fashion Star and that she wants another photo shoot the next day in the park.
Rarity and Fluttershy turn up at the designated time and place and they get Fluttershy into an… Elvis impersonator suit? Photo Finish shows up and disapproves of the outfit and decides she’ll pick what Fluttershy wears. Rarity is confused by this since it’s not one of her designs, but then Photo Finish scoffs at her and says that Fluttershy is her star, not Rarity. Rarity is understandably upset, but she still wants Fluttershy to model for Photo Finish and be the star that Rarity can’t be. Spike, Twilight, and Pinkie swing by the Carousel Boutique to ask how the photo shoot went and when they hear what happened they try to console her, but she just shoos them out.
Fluttershy, meanwhile, is getting her Fashion Show debut, and after only a few moments of introvertness on stage everypony present starts cheering for her and over night she becomes a sensation and her face gets slapped on everything, much to Rarity’s irritation when she sees Applejack selling Fluttershy Apples (whhyyy?) and Rainbow Dash pulling a banner for Fluttershy Carrot Juice. Fluttershy isn’t enjoying the attention she’s getting anymore than Rarity does as she’s soon being mobbed by fans and the paparazzi wherever she goes. She tries hiding out in Rarity’s boutique and the two decide NOT to tell each other how they feel about this situation, and instead say how much they like where Fluttershy is right now. Photo Finish bursts in and drags Fluttershy out for a press conference, barely giving her time to tell Rarity that she’ll be at the spa at their usual time.
Photo Finish has other plans though, and right after the press conference she pushes Fluttershy off to yet another event, making her miss her spa trip with Rarity. Rarity ends up waiting for a while at the spa, and when Twilight walks in she vents some of her frustration to Twilight, then makes her promise not to tell Fluttershy that she’s become jealous of her and her fame. Rarity decides she’s waited long enough and leaves wearing a new outfit while Twilight takes her turn in the hot tub. Just as Rarity leaves, however, Fluttershy finally arrives, but after seeing that Rarity is no longer there she starts venting her frustrations to Twilight, making Twi make yet another promise not to inform the opposite party of Fluttershy’s plight. Twilight, wanting to try and fix all of this, tries to tell Fluttershy what Rarity told her, but Pinkie pops out of a sponge basket and warns her about breaking her promises with a murderous look and a half.
As Twilight and a disguised Fluttershy walk down the street, they talk about Fluttershy just quitting and ending her career as a model. Fluttershy thinks she can’t just quit because she still believes that it’s what Rarity wants for her, but points out that if everypony didn’t like her so much than Photo Finish wouldn’t want her as a model anymore. After an accident causes Fluttershy’s disguise to fall off and she once again gets mobbed by her fans, Twilight goes to Pinkie Pie and describes her plan to make ponies stop liking Fluttershy so that she can leave.
At Fluttershy’s next Fashion Show, Twilight uses her magic to make Fluttershy lose control of herself, making her flail about, act like a dog, and so on. The plan seems to work as everypony in the audience is booing at her and demanding she leave the stage, even Photo Finish is starting to have second thoughts, that is until Rarity steps in and starts cheering for Fluttershy. The other ponies are in disbelief that anypony would enjoy such a display, until they see who it is and what they’re wearing and come to the conclusion that this is some sort of fashion expert or something (I mean how can Rarity NOT give off the air of a Fashion Professional when she’s dressed in one of Lady Gaga’s rejected outfits). The crowd immediately does a 180 and starts cheering along with Rarity, thwarting all efforts by Twilight and Fluttershy.
Fluttershy and Twilight meet back in the dressing room and Fluttershy mopes over how much she wishes Rarity didn’t want her to be a model while Twilight starts having a spaz attack over trying to keep herself from revealing her friends secrets. Rarity enters and finally tells Fluttershy how jealous she is, and then Fluttershy confesses to Rarity that she never wanted to be a model in the first place. Fluttershy and Rarity apologize to each other for keeping their feelings a secret from each other, and then Fluttershy tells off Photo Finish as the two walk out, and all the while Twilight is still spazing out. The episode ends with Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike taking a trip to the spa and Twilight dictating her letter to the princess.
This is the last episode of the season where an episode’s writing annoyed me to a great extent. I may get annoyed by things later, but at the very least I can say that I’m at least being annoyed by things when the ponies aren’t doing things out of character, like what happened in THIS episode.
Artistic Design and Animation
Other than a few new locals, like the Spa and where ever the fashion shows take place, and a few new background ponies and a side character to use with the “Canterlot Elite,” there’s not a whole lot in terms of new this episode. It’s the same quality of Art and Animation we’ve come to expect from the last 19 episodes. Though if there is a standout in this episode it has to be the eccentricness of Photo Finish, both in her design and her movements.
Humor
I feel bad for not considering this a funny episode. Like “Feeling Pinkie Keen” I guess I’m just so wrapped up in the bad parts that it’s hard to appreciate when this episode is being funny, and it DOES have some genuinely funny moments. Pinkie, of course, is a constant source of comedy with her random and admittedly kind of terrifying habit of popping out of the most unexpected places and shouting FOREVER at Twilight, or just giving her an evil stare. I also have to give props yet again to Photo Finish, as her overdramatic and quick movements, as well as her thick accent and speech pattern, are great for a laugh.
Continuity and World Building
As I said, there’s a bit of out of characterness in this episode, particularly from Rarity. You can’t tell me that with how well she and Fluttershy get along, and with how long they’ve had to have known each other to get to that point, that Rarity would not have realized how uncomfortable Fluttershy would have been getting all this attention, or notice how terrified she looked when she was trying to hide in the boutique from all those fans and photographers, it just doesn’t make sense. Fluttershy I can sort of understand didn’t want to speak her mind, but the fact that she went along with it for so long is also a bit out of character for her, I mean all those ponies snapping pictures of her at fashion shows and on the red carpet and at interviews should have sent her heading for the hills. This is Fluttershy we’re talking about! The pony who’s afraid of her own shadow!
Photo Finish… she bugs me. Even with the way she moves and the way she speaks, she just seems like one of those people who think they know what other people should or shouldn’t like, and despite the fact that she has nothing related to them, I can’t help but be reminded of a pair of reality show hosts who think they can tell people what not to wear. Also the fact that she calls Fluttershy “her star” makes it feel like she’s claiming Fluttershy as her own, like she’s saying “I’m going to make this pony famous, and she’s going to make me rich!”
Story Structure
At first the episode seems to move at a good pace, focusing mostly on Fluttershy and Rarity and their interactions with each other. But then it sort of hits the brakes and spins its wheels for a while when Fluttershy starts getting famous, like creators where trying to fill in the space between the Fluttershy’s first Fashion show and her last one. Besides that, this is also another “Lack of Communication” episode, where at least some follow up questions here and there would have fixed everything, like “do you enjoy getting attacked in the street by photo happy ponies?” or “do you really think I enjoy having my face on everything but the kitchen sink?” Talk to each other for the love of Celestia!
Moral
The moral was basically, “Be willing to keep a secret, but don’t feel like you have to hide your opinions from your friends.” Much like with “Over a Barrel,” good moral, less than good execution. They were practically spelling out how the problem could be fixed if the two ponies involved would just be honest with each other, but worse yet it felt like they had to change these characters somewhat in order to get to that lesson.
Overall Feelings
I would almost describe this episode as boring, but only because I knew where this episode was going and they did nothing for about half the episode to keep it interesting. It DID have some good laughs, but those only seemed to be between Twilight and Pinkie who, quite frankly, had nothing to do with what was going on. Twilight only seemed to be there to be the one who tries to fix the mess, but this was a Fluttershy and Rarity episode, so let it be about them and let them fix it, even if they were completely oblivious to how to fix it.
All in All, not a good episode, communication problems make me grind my teeth in frustration, and I’ll wear whatever is comfortable and if you don’t like it than you can go straight to the moon!
Summary
The episode begins with Fluttershy and Rarity attending their weekly get together at the local spa. Rarity regales Fluttershy with how, on the way over, she was stopped by a famous fashion photographer named Photo Finish, who apparently liked the hat Rarity was wearing (I thought it was ugly as sin when I saw it but who am I to judge the fashion choices of a race of multicoloured equines) and wants to come over to Rarity’s boutique and take some photos. Rarity is of course ecstatic as this could be the big boost she needs for her career, but she needs somepony to model for her, so she asks Fluttershy. Fluttershy is at first hesitant, but after some pleading from Rarity she agrees to do it.
Later at the boutique, Rarity has Fluttershy in a… ummm… “dress”… and is making a few minor alterations to it with the help of Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Spike. Spike is going out of his way to try and help Rarity as much as he can, even going so far as to turn himself into a pincushion for her. While he, Twilight, and Pinkie are out of earshot, he makes the other two promise to keep a secret, and then confesses to no one’s surprise but Pinkie’s that he has a crush on the fashionista pony. Twilight tries to point out that everyone already knows that but Pinkie scolds her and practically threatens her to keep her promise to Spike.
Photo Finish takes this moment to arrive and before Rarity can even voice a greeting Photo gets right to work taking pictures of Fluttershy. Fluttershy tries a few poses that Rarity is suggesting behind Photo Finish’s back but Photo voices her dislike of them and Fluttershy, out of shame, sinks into a more closed off position that Photo Finish DOES like. This goes only a few more rounds before Photo decides she’s done then packs up and just walks out. The group at first thinks that they’ve some how disappointed the Photographer but just as Rarity is beating herself up over it, Photo Finish zooms back in and informs them that she’s found the next Fashion Star and that she wants another photo shoot the next day in the park.
Rarity and Fluttershy turn up at the designated time and place and they get Fluttershy into an… Elvis impersonator suit? Photo Finish shows up and disapproves of the outfit and decides she’ll pick what Fluttershy wears. Rarity is confused by this since it’s not one of her designs, but then Photo Finish scoffs at her and says that Fluttershy is her star, not Rarity. Rarity is understandably upset, but she still wants Fluttershy to model for Photo Finish and be the star that Rarity can’t be. Spike, Twilight, and Pinkie swing by the Carousel Boutique to ask how the photo shoot went and when they hear what happened they try to console her, but she just shoos them out.
Fluttershy, meanwhile, is getting her Fashion Show debut, and after only a few moments of introvertness on stage everypony present starts cheering for her and over night she becomes a sensation and her face gets slapped on everything, much to Rarity’s irritation when she sees Applejack selling Fluttershy Apples (whhyyy?) and Rainbow Dash pulling a banner for Fluttershy Carrot Juice. Fluttershy isn’t enjoying the attention she’s getting anymore than Rarity does as she’s soon being mobbed by fans and the paparazzi wherever she goes. She tries hiding out in Rarity’s boutique and the two decide NOT to tell each other how they feel about this situation, and instead say how much they like where Fluttershy is right now. Photo Finish bursts in and drags Fluttershy out for a press conference, barely giving her time to tell Rarity that she’ll be at the spa at their usual time.
Photo Finish has other plans though, and right after the press conference she pushes Fluttershy off to yet another event, making her miss her spa trip with Rarity. Rarity ends up waiting for a while at the spa, and when Twilight walks in she vents some of her frustration to Twilight, then makes her promise not to tell Fluttershy that she’s become jealous of her and her fame. Rarity decides she’s waited long enough and leaves wearing a new outfit while Twilight takes her turn in the hot tub. Just as Rarity leaves, however, Fluttershy finally arrives, but after seeing that Rarity is no longer there she starts venting her frustrations to Twilight, making Twi make yet another promise not to inform the opposite party of Fluttershy’s plight. Twilight, wanting to try and fix all of this, tries to tell Fluttershy what Rarity told her, but Pinkie pops out of a sponge basket and warns her about breaking her promises with a murderous look and a half.
As Twilight and a disguised Fluttershy walk down the street, they talk about Fluttershy just quitting and ending her career as a model. Fluttershy thinks she can’t just quit because she still believes that it’s what Rarity wants for her, but points out that if everypony didn’t like her so much than Photo Finish wouldn’t want her as a model anymore. After an accident causes Fluttershy’s disguise to fall off and she once again gets mobbed by her fans, Twilight goes to Pinkie Pie and describes her plan to make ponies stop liking Fluttershy so that she can leave.
At Fluttershy’s next Fashion Show, Twilight uses her magic to make Fluttershy lose control of herself, making her flail about, act like a dog, and so on. The plan seems to work as everypony in the audience is booing at her and demanding she leave the stage, even Photo Finish is starting to have second thoughts, that is until Rarity steps in and starts cheering for Fluttershy. The other ponies are in disbelief that anypony would enjoy such a display, until they see who it is and what they’re wearing and come to the conclusion that this is some sort of fashion expert or something (I mean how can Rarity NOT give off the air of a Fashion Professional when she’s dressed in one of Lady Gaga’s rejected outfits). The crowd immediately does a 180 and starts cheering along with Rarity, thwarting all efforts by Twilight and Fluttershy.
Fluttershy and Twilight meet back in the dressing room and Fluttershy mopes over how much she wishes Rarity didn’t want her to be a model while Twilight starts having a spaz attack over trying to keep herself from revealing her friends secrets. Rarity enters and finally tells Fluttershy how jealous she is, and then Fluttershy confesses to Rarity that she never wanted to be a model in the first place. Fluttershy and Rarity apologize to each other for keeping their feelings a secret from each other, and then Fluttershy tells off Photo Finish as the two walk out, and all the while Twilight is still spazing out. The episode ends with Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike taking a trip to the spa and Twilight dictating her letter to the princess.
This is the last episode of the season where an episode’s writing annoyed me to a great extent. I may get annoyed by things later, but at the very least I can say that I’m at least being annoyed by things when the ponies aren’t doing things out of character, like what happened in THIS episode.
Artistic Design and Animation
Other than a few new locals, like the Spa and where ever the fashion shows take place, and a few new background ponies and a side character to use with the “Canterlot Elite,” there’s not a whole lot in terms of new this episode. It’s the same quality of Art and Animation we’ve come to expect from the last 19 episodes. Though if there is a standout in this episode it has to be the eccentricness of Photo Finish, both in her design and her movements.
Humor
I feel bad for not considering this a funny episode. Like “Feeling Pinkie Keen” I guess I’m just so wrapped up in the bad parts that it’s hard to appreciate when this episode is being funny, and it DOES have some genuinely funny moments. Pinkie, of course, is a constant source of comedy with her random and admittedly kind of terrifying habit of popping out of the most unexpected places and shouting FOREVER at Twilight, or just giving her an evil stare. I also have to give props yet again to Photo Finish, as her overdramatic and quick movements, as well as her thick accent and speech pattern, are great for a laugh.
Continuity and World Building
As I said, there’s a bit of out of characterness in this episode, particularly from Rarity. You can’t tell me that with how well she and Fluttershy get along, and with how long they’ve had to have known each other to get to that point, that Rarity would not have realized how uncomfortable Fluttershy would have been getting all this attention, or notice how terrified she looked when she was trying to hide in the boutique from all those fans and photographers, it just doesn’t make sense. Fluttershy I can sort of understand didn’t want to speak her mind, but the fact that she went along with it for so long is also a bit out of character for her, I mean all those ponies snapping pictures of her at fashion shows and on the red carpet and at interviews should have sent her heading for the hills. This is Fluttershy we’re talking about! The pony who’s afraid of her own shadow!
Photo Finish… she bugs me. Even with the way she moves and the way she speaks, she just seems like one of those people who think they know what other people should or shouldn’t like, and despite the fact that she has nothing related to them, I can’t help but be reminded of a pair of reality show hosts who think they can tell people what not to wear. Also the fact that she calls Fluttershy “her star” makes it feel like she’s claiming Fluttershy as her own, like she’s saying “I’m going to make this pony famous, and she’s going to make me rich!”
Story Structure
At first the episode seems to move at a good pace, focusing mostly on Fluttershy and Rarity and their interactions with each other. But then it sort of hits the brakes and spins its wheels for a while when Fluttershy starts getting famous, like creators where trying to fill in the space between the Fluttershy’s first Fashion show and her last one. Besides that, this is also another “Lack of Communication” episode, where at least some follow up questions here and there would have fixed everything, like “do you enjoy getting attacked in the street by photo happy ponies?” or “do you really think I enjoy having my face on everything but the kitchen sink?” Talk to each other for the love of Celestia!
Moral
The moral was basically, “Be willing to keep a secret, but don’t feel like you have to hide your opinions from your friends.” Much like with “Over a Barrel,” good moral, less than good execution. They were practically spelling out how the problem could be fixed if the two ponies involved would just be honest with each other, but worse yet it felt like they had to change these characters somewhat in order to get to that lesson.
Overall Feelings
I would almost describe this episode as boring, but only because I knew where this episode was going and they did nothing for about half the episode to keep it interesting. It DID have some good laughs, but those only seemed to be between Twilight and Pinkie who, quite frankly, had nothing to do with what was going on. Twilight only seemed to be there to be the one who tries to fix the mess, but this was a Fluttershy and Rarity episode, so let it be about them and let them fix it, even if they were completely oblivious to how to fix it.
All in All, not a good episode, communication problems make me grind my teeth in frustration, and I’ll wear whatever is comfortable and if you don’t like it than you can go straight to the moon!
