Curate, connect, and discover
I finished the first two episodes in season 8 of FiM. Oh my gosh??? They were so well written??? (School Daze, part 1 and 2).
I genuinely enjoyed these so much. I loved the commentary on very real issues that our society faces. The most obvious one was racism, with Chancellor Neigh Say making comments like “go back to your kind” and “these creatures”. This was written in an impactful way that resonated with me.
The Chancellor was allowing his stereotypes and prejudice to rule people as a threat, which is something every kind of minority can relate to. In one scene, Princess Celestia tells the Chancellor that, at one point in pre-equestrian history, the different kinds of ponies also treated each other the same way. They fought because of their differences, instead of allowing themselves to embrace them and coexist with one another regardless. The way that the writers addressed this was written effectively and in a realistic way. Especially when the students got into a fight. They were raised on stereotypes, and they had to de-program their brains to see that their differences didn’t have to be barriers to friendship. Literally the best kids show ever.
I’m gonna be honest, when I first heard about the whole Twilight-opening-a-school-of-friendship thing, I was skeptical. After all, doesn’t treating friendship like lectures take the value out of it? BUT THEY ADDRESSED THIS!! In fact, it was heavily based around exactly that. It’s such a good parallel to the effects of the American public education system (I can’t speak on private schools and other country’s policies since I haven’t experienced or educated myself on the topic). The students spent hours going from class to class, sitting through lecture after lecture. They got bored, antsy, frustrated, but most importantly, they didn’t learn anything! Because that isn’t an effective way to educate people, especially children with tons of energy. This is so so accurate to my experience in school, where I succeeded by putting in minimal effort. Showing my teachers what they wanted without actually caring about my education. Guys I love this show.
Also. This parallel. My heart. My itty bitty little pony filled heart.
This is an official Thorax appreciation post because he is SUCH a little guy!!!
I love to see his character growth. He truly was just a selfless changeling who wanted friends. And he learned how to make them, and inspired the rest of his colony. Not only that, but we also get to see him grow as leader of changelings and his friendship with spike develops and I think it’s so wonderful how many details we get about his character.