S3, Ep10: “Spike at Your Service”, **Spoilers*Spoilers*NOBLE DRAGON CODE!*Spoilers*Spoilers** Options

[TM2-Megatron]

Timber Wolves are awesome! And Spike killing one with a tiny pebble was just funny, but so believable.

Maybe being unusually large made it more fragile despite being more ferocious-looking; or it could be, being newly-formed, whatever magic that animates the wood it's made out of hadn't had time to saturate all the new material that was drawn out of Everfree for its creation. On the whole, a decent episode with some cute moments. But having Spike be such a klutz, when he's previously been shown to do a very competent job helping Twi with physical chores, seemed a bit out of character.

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say AJ shone this episode, but she was more interesting than usual. However, I thought Rarity's appearances in the story were funnier than all the AJ/Spike bits put together. And of course the best thing about the episode,

(IMG:http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1925/moustache.png)

[Fnu Aw]

Snapping Twilight out of a trance by misaligning one little thing is one of the funniest moments of the season. Her friends have her all figured out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)

[Cabooceratops]

I like how it looks like Spike scribbled down his "Noble Dragon Code" onto an index card in his spare time.

Even has a poorly drawn picture of himself on it!

[Fnu Aw]

Pretty much all the animation here was awesome.

[Nayuki]

Loved the rendering on the timberwolves. Was that CG animation? They looked a lot better here than in "Family Appreciation Day" where they were kinda flat.

Yes, the timberwolves this time around were done in 3D (except for the big one, he was still 2D).

[Destron D-69]

can't say it was the best spike episode.. but it was okay for what it was...

kinda want the butt scratch animation to flourish... the "omg feels" face on Applejack was hilarious

[TM2 Dinobot]

I like how it looks like Spike scribbled down his "Noble Dragon Code" onto an index card in his spare time.

Even has a poorly drawn picture of himself on it!

My thoughts as well. And Spike says "MY Nobel Dragon Code." not "THE Nobel Dragon Code."

[DrSpengler]

Loved the rendering on the timberwolves. Was that CG animation? They looked a lot better here than in "Family Appreciation Day" where they were kinda flat.

Yes, the timberwolves this time around were done in 3D (except for the big one, he was still 2D).

Cool! Was that a first for the series? I just can't think of any other moments in the series where characters were rendered in fully 3D or anything else, for that matter.

[Scavgraphics]

AHA

I figured out the source of our "malware" problem.

Guardian Prime, change the imagehost of the chat image, as that's the site that's giving everybody grief.

...
Done! I've put the chat image in a new home at my photobucket. Let me know if that fixed it. I'll fix it in the previous episode thread too.

I've updated the index thread picture and paste code. Wonder what freeimagehosting did to frost whoever.

I slept thru pony...I think my beagle tampered with the alarm clocks.

[Nayuki]

Loved the rendering on the timberwolves. Was that CG animation? They looked a lot better here than in "Family Appreciation Day" where they were kinda flat.

Yes, the timberwolves this time around were done in 3D (except for the big one, he was still 2D).

Cool! Was that a first for the series? I just can't think of any other moments in the series where characters were rendered in fully 3D or anything else, for that matter.

First time we've had a 3D character, but the second time we've used 3D in the show (first time was the Dizzitron in Wonderbolt Academy).

[Fnu Aw]

I approve of beasts from Everfree being rendered in 3D. It makes the pace a bit more eldritch.

[BB Shockwave]

Indeed, I noticed too that this is the first time 3D was used in the series... and it looked quite natural.

The story was a quite generic "repay-the-debt-by-saving-life" story, but what made it awesome were the great character moments - Twilight being almost Ultra Magnus-levels of an OCD neat-freak (she notices stuff being misaligned from the other end of the room?), Fluttershy's quite reasonable idea (figures she's the only one to think of that), Pinkie's hair-brained scheme (and moustache), Rarity's lessons in how to be a damsel in distress (and Spike's crush on her was not forgotten either), Rainbow Dash's idea for a novel (and Rarity's reaction)... It was perfect.

I wonder what Timberwolves are, actually... maybe the forest's magic animates them, or are they sentient plantlife like shambling mounds? It's a mystery why they'd want to eat ponies, considering they are made of wood... but apparently they need to breath as well? I kinda felt bad for them being destroyed, but apparently they can regenerate quite easily.

Oh, and this scene... sooo reminded me of when Courage the Cowardly Dog says "This shouldn't happen to a dog!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)

(IMG:http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/BB_Shockwave/My%20Little%20Pony%20-%20Friendship%20is%20Magic/This_shouldnt_happen_to_a_Timberwolf.jpg)

But still, this is the quote and picture of the day:

(IMG:http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/BB_Shockwave/My%20Little%20Pony%20-%20Friendship%20is%20Magic/Moustache.jpg)

"I'll wear this moustache..."

[BlitzwingHaz]

Poor Rarity getting made to eat that pie too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)
The quirky character animations are the main thing I like about this show.

[Don_East]

Why is it that Merriwether's better episodes are the ones where she's just adding action & dialogue to someone else's story? Seriously, so far the episodes that she took half the credit for. Though this would've worked better if Polsky was the writer because he never stretches out a joke as much as MW. I'm sorry Merri, remind me, is Spike a klutz? I still don't get it yet. Then again, unlike most Bronies the only time I ever had an issue with Polsky's writing was "Over A Barrel", to me the debates over his other episodes felt like reading into a kids cartoon too much. In fact I'm willing to say that he's one of my favorite writers, at least my favorite for Fluttershy right now and I look forward to KCAFO.

So then that they went with this "you saved my life so I'll be your servant" plot and it's because of this "Noble Dragon Code". (Which they never define as either a real thing or Spike making it up, I mean the card implied he made it up but Twi's line about dragons caring about honor implies that nobility is common among dragons) But they didn't explain why Spike didn't do this after the previous times he had to be saved. I mean shouldn't he, since they also saved his butt from danger, also be the servant of Owlowiscious, Rainbow Dash (and technically Fluttershy), & Princess Cadence (and technically Shining Armor)? They should've done what they did in "Hurricane Fluttershy" to explain why Fluttershy had troubles flying despite previous episodes, mention an offscreen event that's similar to those & give a reason for it.

Speaking of Fluttershy, am I the only perplexed with Fluttershy walking Winona in the background? I dunno, it felt like it was set up for a later scene that didn't happen. Like Applejack tells Spike that she never needs help only for Fluttershy to show up, telling her that Winona is all tired out from the walk AJ asked 'Shy to do for her since she was busy with the farm & Spike gives this "oh really?" face to AJ.

One of the more subtle problems (IE nitpicks) I have with Williams' episodes is how some characters appear in an awkward & almost illogical fashion. You know, Rarity behind the counter at the Sugar Cube, Rarity & Dash showing up at the library the same time, etc. Here there's two that stand out: Rainbow Dash popping in at Carousel Boutique and Fluttershy literally walking into a scene.

One moment I did like was how Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy give each other a hoof bump after Spike said Dashie's roar was spot on. That was adorable, I don't care what anypony else think.

The CGI bothers me, mostly because it looks so cheap looking. A lot of CGI in these 2D shows look very weak. I get it's easier to animate a vehicle or monster in CGI rather than drawing it but when it looks like our heroes just need to do to defeat it is pulling the plug on the computer providing the animation.

In the end, "Spike At Your Service" gets a B- . It has some entertaining moments & kept my attention unlike last week's, but it felt by the numbers & lacking that MLP magic.

[BB Shockwave]

Considering how little Spike really knows about his kind, I'm thinking he probably just made it up.

He is a lot like Worf and his ideas about klingon honor, in this regard. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

[TM2 Dinobot]

Then again, maybe he read about honor, made up the card, and will forget about i by next week. he is a baby dragon, after all.

[Light Warrior]

Speaking of Fluttershy, am I the only perplexed with Fluttershy walking Winona in the background? I dunno, it felt like it was set up for a later scene that didn't happen. Like Applejack tells Spike that she never needs help only for Fluttershy to show up, telling her that Winona is all tired out from the walk AJ asked 'Shy to do for her since she was busy with the farm & Spike gives this "oh really?" face to AJ.

I meant to comment on that too, actually. I thought it was kind of strange, but I imagine Fluttershy probably volunteers to take care of the other ponies' pets when they're busy, so she was probably walking Winona as a favor for Applejack (similar to how she took care of Opal for Rarity in Stare Master).

Speaking of pets, whatever happened to Owloysius and Peewee? I know we saw the former very briefly in Magic Duel, but we haven't seen Peewee since his debut. I'm sure we'll see them in Just For Sidekicks.

This post has been edited by Light Warrior: Dec 29 2012, 05:11 PM

[Fnu Aw]

Why is it that Merriwether's better episodes are the ones where she's just adding action & dialogue to someone else's story? Seriously, so far the episodes that she took half the credit for. Though this would've worked better if Polsky was the writer because he never stretches out a joke as much as MW. I'm sorry Merri, remind me, is Spike a klutz? I still don't get it yet. Then again, unlike most Bronies the only time I ever had an issue with Polsky's writing was "Over A Barrel", to me the debates over his other episodes felt like reading into a kids cartoon too much. In fact I'm willing to say that he's one of my favorite writers, at least my favorite for Fluttershy right now and I look forward to KCAFO.

I'm more inclined to blame Polsky for making Spike such a klutz, not Williams. It seems more like Polsky's style. His episodes tend to be on the zany/slapstick side. Plus it's established that Spike is a good cook, and Williams is usually pretty good about continuity details like that.

One of the more subtle problems (IE nitpicks) I have with Williams' episodes is how some characters appear in an awkward & almost illogical fashion. You know, Rarity behind the counter at the Sugar Cube, Rarity & Dash showing up at the library the same time, etc. Here there's two that stand out: Rainbow Dash popping in at Carousel Boutique and Fluttershy literally walking into a scene.

I never noticed a problem there. There was a huge line at Sugar Cube, and the Cakes didn't seem to be around, so it's perfectly logical for Pinkie Pie to get someone she trusts to help out, and she surely wasn't going to pick Applejack again. Rarity and Rainbow Dash showed up at the library at the same time because they were on their way to get breakfast somewhere and decided to invite Twilight. I'll give you that there's no explanation for Rainbow Dash popping in at the Carousel Boutique, but how much reason does there need to be? She may have just felt like saying hi. As for Fluttershy walking into a scene, she probably got curious when she saw the giant stack of rocks that wasn't there that morning.

One moment I did like was how Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy give each other a hoof bump after Spike said Dashie's roar was spot on. That was adorable, I don't care what anypony else think.

Now that we agree on.

The CGI bothers me, mostly because it looks so cheap looking. A lot of CGI in these 2D shows look very weak. I get it's easier to animate a vehicle or monster in CGI rather than drawing it but when it looks like our heroes just need to do to defeat it is pulling the plug on the computer providing the animation.

I think it adds to the freakiness of the timberwolves. They look like they don't belong in this show, which seems suitable for creatures that live in a place that's considered unnatural.

This post has been edited by Fnu Aw: Dec 29 2012, 05:40 PM

[Light Warrior]

Speaking of hoofbumps, I liked the "hoof"bump that Spike did with AJ.

Also, is it just me or is anyone else bothered when terms like "anypony" and "everypony" are used to describe non-ponies? Those terms were used in A Friend in Deed in reference to Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda, and they were used here to describe Spike. Also, Spike can't exactly "lend a hoof." I know, minor nitpicks, blah blah blah...

[BlitzwingHaz]

Not in Spike's case imo since he has been brought up around Ponies and uses their language. Although he does make a big thing about his being a dragon too..

I don't Fluttershy's entrance into the scene needs explaining since that tower of rocks would be visible from a distance.
I like Rarity prodding the pipe as if she doesn't know what to do and doesn't want to pick it up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif)

This post has been edited by BlitzwingHaz: Dec 29 2012, 07:42 PM