Rating:
Finally, a writer who gets me! Dave Polsky offers an exposé of celebrity
culture in Twilight Time, and his efforts definitely hit home. I can understand how Twilight felt after I
moved out to California. You spend years
working in obscurity and nobody gives a shit, then suddenly one thing turns
around and now they won’t leave you alone.
People think that being famous can just rub off on you, and fine, that’s
true for some. But I had to work hard
for this and still do, yet Americans again always want something quick and easy
that isn’t either. Twilight Sparkle
hasn’t really been a celebrity on the series, but she probably should be given
the whole princess thing. This episode
essentially documents her “discovery”, which means she won’t be able to hide in
the library anymore. Oh, how I wish I
could too. The Cutie Mark Crusaders try using
a tenuous connection to the mane six to increase their rock-bottom popularity
at school, while fashion bloggers Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon just want to
be in the orbit of anyone who could promote their status. Polsky’s lucky not to get sued for these
depictions, because I know certain people who are exactly like what we see
here. I’m not dumb enough to name them,
but his disdain is shared. Such is the
life we choose. I suppose. Although I’d
never give back the perks, being famous is far from the care-free life most
people think it must be. Having money is
nice, but that only makes bloodsuckers sprout up around you. Unlike any other episode of the series,
Twilight Time knows this.
Apparently being a princess is no different from a doctoral
candidate, because Twilight is stuck having to TA for a few hours per week. The Cutie Mark Crusaders probably aren’t
ideal students, but Twilight doesn’t have much choice given the town’s
population. They’re studying potions,
moving magic, and assembling things (don’t know, but apparently this is an
important skill), and naturally none are going well. Twilight needs the credits though, so she’s
persevering.
For some reason, the episode skips how this arrangement was
started, and concentrates on the schoolyard drama that constantly follows our
lovely trio. Diamond Tiara is wowing the
class by having her butler perform gymnastic moves, which is a clear allegory
for ghost writers and film composers who need orchestrators. Sweetie Belle has enough of the taunting, and
name drops Twilight after admitting Rarity strangely wants nothing to do with
her (*cough* Sisterhooves Social).
Thanks to Twilight’s sudden change in status, the two bullies are
suddenly very interested in her and simply must come along to the next session
(ugh, the amount of times I’ve seen this happen).
Naturally Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon act like excited
fangirls around Twilight, and think everything about her is a perfect stylistic
choice (books are so in this
year). The Cutie Mark Crusaders have to
continue their lessons despite having visitors, but the rest of the scene is
surprisingly cut. I guess nothing
interesting happens, because the bullies spread their brush with greatness to
the rest of the class, who also all want in.
Instead of being respectful, they turn into paparazzi who hound Twilight
at the local burger shop. Mercifully for
her, the best shots of food all over her face are missed, but they still take
plenty along with soliciting autographs for later resale.
After a successful “catch a glimpse of Twilight” outing, the
Cutie Mark Crusaders enjoy invites to all of Ponyville’s red carpet
events. Unfortunately, this is at the
price of everyone actually getting to meet the princess. The Crusaders are stalked on the way toward
Twilight’s place, but she only thinks they’re there for a lecture class. None of the Crusaders have done their
homework though, so Twilight soon sends everyone home for the day. Taking a page out of my book, the Crusaders
quickly finish their work in class, which prompts a Willy Wonka moment from the
professor. “So shines a good deed in a
weary world”, indeed. Moved by the
flower in her hair, Twilight announces lessons can resume, but only if the
Crusaders promise to be more discreet.
Finally (and for the first time), My Little Pony feels like it is becoming an actual good
series. Twilight Time is basically a
filler bottle episode, yet Polsky mines the premise to sustain interest and
find some solid lessons. Granted, these
aren’t going to be understood by any of the kids watching, but they’re still
living in an incredibly celebrity obsessed culture. People change when they’re confronted by the
famous, and that’s shown clearly by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon suddenly
assigning Twilight a high importance where she previous had none. Is Twilight any different from before? Not really, outside of the wings (which she
barely uses). But now she has fans and
paparazzi and students even though she’s never taken an education class. Perception is truly reality, and this is
elegantly shown here.
Not much room is available for characterization, so they’re all
basically arranged into large groups (much like Twilight does in the
library). The Crusaders are outsiders
who dream of being popular and famous someday, but lack the wherewithal to
achieve their goal. Tiara and Spoon
enjoy their top spot on the popularity pyramid, but need to attach themselves
to others since they don’t have any actual talent. The other pony classmates have neither
popularity, talent, nor ambition, and are just looking for cheap and quick get
rich strikes that take as little effort as possible. Then there’s Twilight, the talented celebrity
that had fame thrust upon her and is essentially being forced to play a game
which she has no desire to partake in.
The princess endures this admirably well, although how much was just to
preserve her own image is open for speculation.
Personally, I think Twilight accepts things a bit too well,
although since many people out here who would act the same way, it can’t count
as a criticism. The Crusaders sometimes
feel like a unit again, sometimes not, but they do show some
individuality. Only Sweetie Belle’s
course of study makes sense, but the three choosing wrong talents to explore is
something of a theme consistently shown throughout the series. They have their moments, but nothing much
counts as spectacular.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon again have little depth, but
at least that’s something of a point this time.
It’s doubtful they would revere Twilight so much after she’s basically
been a nerd until this season, but again, I’ve seen this behavior happen before
to many people. Sometimes fame is more
about cachet, and it affects how everyone treats you. Can’t say I’m surprised the class would
follow their lead like they do.
Pipsqueak makes a strange return, but his removal from the one-off list
adds a bit more depth to his previous appearance in Luna Eclipsed. He acts as the voice of the entire class,
which is a decent role that probably couldn’t have been filled better by anyone
else.
Twilight Time is somewhat lightweight and has
characterization issues (not necessarily wrong choices, although different from
usual), but otherwise it does as good a job with the premise as could be
expected. Polsky definitely has an
insider’s perspective even if he’s not that well-known himself, and his
criticism on our culture is accurate and precise without being too absurd. He finds the right tone for this episode, and
that elevates it instead of what could have happened. Even if Twilight Time isn’t the strongest
fourth season outing, it demonstrates that the series has finally turned a
long-awaited corner. That he nails my
(and many others’) experience so accurately only counts as a plus.
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