Rating:
Viva Las Pegasus might be more filler, but at least it’s
enjoyable and does something. The Map
sends Applejack and Fluttershy to Vegas…and they’re pissed. Despite not partaking in any festivities
(just as well for a children’s show), they were the right ones sent. With gambling also wisely ignored, Pegasus
concentrates on backstage issues regarding several performing shows, with an
interesting twist. Kevin Burke and Chris
“Doc” [why]at’s script admittedly has problems, but also a story which develops
and reveals as it goes along. And they
discuss how friendship, always an instrument of good in My Little Pony, can be used for evil. Much of what happens is delightful, including
appearances by Siegfried and Roy, “big old” Elvis (as the main baddie), and two
familiar swindling brothers whose surprising argument may or may not be why
Fluttershy and Applejack are there.
Burke and Wyatt have some dialogue problems (more clichés and Elvis
stand-in Gladmane doing too many “uh-huh-huh”s), didn’t name several important
backstage characters (two of whom are referred to multiple times as “director”
and “star”), and offer an uninspired resolution that seems less likely to have
worked than the original plan. But their
script is also well-structured and watchable, which can’t be said for most
season six efforts. Pegasus isn’t great,
but Burke and Wyatt explored an issue which most people probably didn’t even consider
existing. Not that questioning
everyone’s sincerity was necessary for Ponyville, but it’s a valid concern
given how Gladmane manipulates friendship for his personal gain. “Watchable” shouldn’t really be the bar
episodes are judged on, but Pegasus doesn’t drag or contain wasted moments
(such as montage filler songs) like previously aired outings do. Perhaps Pegasus would have barely been a
footnote in other seasons, but it rates among season six’s best outings despite
the flaws.
In what was habitual for season six though, Burke and Wyatt
wasted their teaser. Few people wouldn’t
anticipate Applejack’s response to Fluttershy’s assertion that Vegas “isn’t as
bad as [they] thought” with “it’s worse.”
I’m sorry, I mean it’s not their “cups of tea”. Appearing in Las Pegasus via a background
change wasn’t exactly original either.
Applejack and Fluttershy enter the first hotel they come
across, and quickly find their friendship problem. But they don’t know that yet, so it sounds
like a carnival barker doing his spiel rather than introducing the episode’s
main characters. He also points out a
golden statue of the hotel’s owner, Gladmane, which suggests Applejack and
Fluttershy will spend some time tracking him down. About ten seconds later though, he finds them
and already knows who they are. Twilight
dealing with fame in season four has now spread to her friends as well. Feeling completely out of their element,
Fluttershy and Applejack happily accept his tour.
Gladmane introduces them to the ponies they heard about earlier,
but they don’t remember and meet everyone for the first time. Fluttershy loves Siegfried and Roy’s prairie
dogs (mercifully no tigers), and each pony glows when speaking of Gladmane. As Fluttershy observes, there aren’t any apparent
issues, although they soon find one once the tour ends. Two familiar voices immediately sour
Applejack’s mood despite clearly sounding different than usual. Flim and Flam are working the barker booths
now, but they start viciously arguing.
Fluttershy realizes this is probably their friendship problem, but
Applejack sharply responds to whether they should help them with “absolutely
not!”
Having seen nothing else wrong, Fluttershy remains convinced
this must be the problem, but Applejack isn’t and pushes on. She returns backstage and finds the various
acts arguing amongst each other.
Suddenly discovering more than one issue is unusual, and a quick
investigation reveals these conflicts all benefit Gladmane since his talent
won’t leave for other venues. Fluttershy
also learns from the various animals around that he has been lying to all three
“couples” to perpetuate more fighting. Requiring
a confession out of him for proof, Applejack finally admits they maybe need Flim
and Flam back together.
The brothers continuing arguing at first, but reunite when
they realize Applejack “never” lies (well, hardly ever) and must be being truthful
about Gladmane’s activities. They settle
on the “high-roller hustle”, which involves Fluttershy dressing up as
“Impossibly Rich”; a pretend relative of Diamond Tiara’s father Filthy. Flim advises Gladmane that she is scouting
for her own new hotel and will likely hire away his entertainment. Flam’s current closeness to her suggests he
will also depart. Gladmane appears
extremely displeased with these developments.
Concluding their tour, “Impossibly” “asks” (she “whispers”
her responses to Flim or Flam so her voice won’t be recognized) Gladmane what
his secret to keeping such great talent is.
Applejack and Flim are ready with a microphone, but Gladmane announces that
he simply treats his employees like friends.
After unmasking Fluttershy, Gladmane admits to knowing the whole time
while laughing and gloating about his victory.
Applejack and Fluttershy stop by Gladmane’s office one last
time before leaving to admonish him for such nefarious practices. Fortunately, he turns around and looks out
his window while explaining they are the only ponies who discovered his
secret. Monologing about his plans to
completely control Las Pegasus through pretend friendship precedes Applejack
pointing out that Fluttershy has been holding down the button on his
intercom. This was their actual plan,
not any of that stuff with Impossibly Rich, and Gladmane’s assembled
entertainment acts all hear his confession.
Now completely ruined, the Flim Flam Brothers take over his casino…for
their own nefarious purposes, and much to Applejack’s chagrin.
Despite many new almost certainly one-off ponies, Burke and
Wyatt’s characterization is excellent.
They take time developing every little group, and even make an effort in
differentiating between Flim and Flam.
We’re left with a sense of history for characters who didn’t previously
exist before this episode, unlike Shining Armor or (oh god) Zephyr Breeze. Not naming the various acts can’t really be
forgiven though (Siegfried and Roy’s official names are Trainers 1 & 2),
but Burke and Wyatt showed careful consideration of their new ponies. Granted we don’t learn too much about them
either, but they did well with limited space.
Applejack and Fluttershy were no worse either. Both expressed their different displeasure
for Las Pegasus, and got along even while clearly not fitting in. Notably, Applejack showed strong anger upon
encountering the Flim Flam Brothers again, and it didn’t let up even though
Fluttershy pointed out they were there specifically to solve a friendship
problem. This is understandable
considering their previous history together (Super Speedy Cider Squeezy, Leap
Of Faith), and it’s refreshing that she didn’t forgive them so easily, or even
at all. 1
Fluttershy may not spectacularly stand out, although she
also keeps cool in her new scary environment.
Having to act as Impossibly Rich was certainly unexpected, but she never
gives away her identity in front of someone who she already met. Her ability to converse with animals was also
useful and not inappropriate considering whose act she was helping. Some Fluttershy episodes (Scare Master) have
had her so paralyzed with fear as to be unwatchable, but Wyatt and Burke
avoided this pitfall by having her make meaningful contributions.
Most My Little Pony
villains are introduced or telegraphed as such, but Gladmane doesn’t seem like
one for quite some time. Sure the gold
statue is ominous and his personality feels slightly sleazy, but he also didn’t
have to show our mane ponies or his customers kindness. Gladmane is clearly more complex than the
ending suggests, which makes that silly way he was fooled through monologing
disappointing (Applejack and Fluttershy would have gone home failures if he doesn’t
turn around). “All part of the plan”
doesn’t really work here because they couldn’t be sure what he would do. Clearly Gladmane’s deception is so thorough
that he wouldn’t likely vocalize his actions to anyone. Obviously no resolution exists without this
happening, but one still wonders if the ending couldn’t have been handled
better.
Little things like that add up enough to prevent Viva Las
Pegasus from having a better rating. At
least everyone did well and there aren’t too many weak points, but an “insignificant”
episode needed more polish for higher marks.
After the clichéd but sometimes effective The Times They Are A
Changeling, Burke and Wyatt surprisingly showed more promise than any other
season six staff writer here. Instead of
failing hard (Ed Valentine, Dave Rapp), they did about as much as possible with
a premise that promised little. Map
episodes were usually wastes before, but Pegasus found something slightly memorable. That may not be much overall, but it
absolutely feels welcome given the climate.
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