Welp! Here I am! Another analysis thingy on the week when Fallout 4 has been released. Is anyone there? Cool! I think I can bash out an article without bothering anyone. Timing is wonderful! Because, I haven't got anything conclusive on this one. Community Post #148 Overthinking Princess Big Mac So, there was an episode that's passed us by that was a little...eh, let's say suspect. I talk about episode 17 of Season 5; Brotherhood Social. Now, I'm sure you'll look at the title of this and go: "Ohmigosh, Turok the Fox! How could you think Big Mac wants to be a giiiiirl?! Are you thinking he's trans? That's what you're thinking! You did that thing about how weird gender-neutral things sound and now you think Big Mac likes dressing in dresses. You're reading too much into it, lolololololol." And I'll have to stop you there, Imaginary-Reader-That-Confused-Me-For-A-First-Person-Shooter-About-Killing-Dinosaurs because I'm not directly talking about crossdressing here. What I want to understand is why this was the plan in the first place. But yes. I'm totally looking too hard at this. Why not? Everyone else is playing Fallout 4. I can do whatever I like. Now, I heard a few complaints about the episode when it aired. A few people calling it pretty uncomfortable for transgendered or even gender questioning people as the story of the episode apparently demanded Big Mac to be in drag. A few of my friends that saw it, couldn't make it through the episode as soon as Big Mac appeared on screen. I mean, they did not even ride it out, hoping it would get better They just saw the episode and switched it off going: "Yep! That's enough for me! I'll just make my own episode with all the plushies I own instead! Pikachu can finally propose his love to Pinkie Pie while Nightmare Moon does the catering. BETTER THAN HEMORRHAGING FROM HOW HARD I'M CRINGING RIGHT NOW!" "Pikachu! I choose you too!" Now, they have a point. This is an embarrassing misstep for the MLP team. Not exactly because it's insulting to transgendered people but because it's not a very well told joke. I mean, they concoct this little situation that actually gives Big Mac a large and understandable motivation to try and help Applebloom when she can't enter the social. It's a little out of nowhere but it does fit as he's reminded of how much Applebloom looked up to him. It's a strong enough motivation that might get him to attempt something daring in a desperate bid to garner a little limelight for once. It's not a bad set up at all. It kinda makes sense that Big Mac would be totally up for the whole Mrs Doubtfire thing, which the angle they want to go for. He's not thinking clearly and is just leaping on any opportunity he has to get back in Applebloom's affections. It's dumb and he acknowledges it and it's pay off is one of the sweetest moments in the show. But him in drag is stupid. Robin William's character was coming up with a desperate way of getting to see his kids without anyone knowing because he was afraid he wasn't being allowed to see them enough. In this, Big Mac doesn't just ask one simple question so that the rules could be bent a little. I'd have more outrage if this was a thing Big Mac has always wanted to do (it doesn't seem likely) or did more often than once (he not even been shown to dress up as a mare, in real life (we'll get to that)) because that would be far more targeted at a trans-character. Even so, this is so cringe-worthy. And not in a way that works as other episodes have done, like Rarity trying to impress Trenderhooves. This one is coming in with a big thud as it flounders with one of the more awkward depictions of the character. Every joke is at the expense of Big Mac's ruse failing at every turn. He breaks things by mistake because of his size, his 'womanly voice' is over the top, his supposed strength seems on the level of Superman as he ploughs through what's supposed to be quite hefty looking wooden objects and yet he can smash through everything like it was polystyrene even though he's supposed to be just a delicate little mare. This isn't funny. It's the same joke over and over and, as an older viewer, I've seen this stuff done before. Exaggerating it doesn't help because it's not insightful or clever. It has nothing to say other than 'point and laugh'. Thankfully, the only difference here between this and Mrs Doubtfire is that the 'Liar's Reveal' only uncovers that Big Mac needn't have bothered as they'd likely have allowed him to compete anyway! Sure, being a stallion is an advantage so, they would have likely imposed some handicaps or something. I dunno. I giant rock to pull as well? If you found this uncomfortable or offensive, yes, I get it. If you were pissed off at this, fine. I totally see it. I can't get that same level of bile even though I consider myself gender questioning simply because Big Mac's motivations aren't to transform himself to feel more comfortable, but to impress Applebloom. Like I said, they're trying the Mrs Doubtfire shtick but it's falling right on it's flank as soon as that element begins. They tried! It's not mean-spirited, it's an accidental interpretation. I take more offence at it being lame, poorly thought out and even misguided. Peter New even defended the show, stating that it was meant to be about how far Big Mac is willing to go to please his sister. I'll agree with him there. Though, my question is: Why would Big Mac try and do this immediately? After all, this is a big, dumb idea. He is told that the Sisterhooves Social has a loose definition of what counts as a 'sister'. They say as much at the end that he would have been allowed to compete as is. He needn't have dressed up and acted like an idiot, especially as not a soul brought the disguise! The simple answer is that Big Mac wanted to fill in for Applejack and get some of that admiration for once. After all, he's no hero. He sings a little and performs with the Pony Tones but he's not a hero like Applejack. He's not destined for anything. And the heartbreaking thing is that Big Mac might have known this for a while. Episode 13, Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? We're nearing the end of this magical battle to try and contain an evil creature designed to give Princess Luna nightmares as a way of punishing herself for becoming Nightmare Moon all those centuries ago. We're suddenly in a dream where the entirety of Ponyville has been affected by it and now, the ponies have to figure out a way of beating back the beast before it can spread nightmares to all of Equestria. Pan down to Big Mac, where we get a 'Magical Girl' transformation sequence where he transforms into an alicorn princess. He then flies off to use his own magic to help save the day. We were just coming off the high that was Episode 100. We were not ready. So...why that? Well, let's throw our overthinking caps on! We've dug this far, let's see how big a hole we can make! Simply put, it might imply that this is a little more telling than telling a throwaway gag on the same sort of lines as Brotherhood Social. 'Ha-ha! Instead of one of the female characters transforming, it's Big Mac!' It works better than that entire episode because it's far shorter, so has less chance to get quite as obnoxious. Though, it is a cool surprise! It's just sort of a thing, really. But it does make you wonder why that? He's a guy, right? Why wouldn't he try for a gun or a sword like how Spike imagines himself saving Rarity? He's likely seen people like Shining Armour, the Royal Guards and such. Why not become big, beefy and...I dunno, covered in laser-guns? Like how Spike would. And we know why Spike imagines himself like this. It's for the Bruce Campbell Chin! The honest answer is that, I really don't know. But then again, when you live in a land where the most powerful creatures you can think of are not only female but people you've seen or met or talked to a number of times, wouldn't you think of them first too? If I had to point to anything in the show, it's the current writers attempts at keeping some element of Lauren Faust's innate feminist touches going within the show. Maybe. Probably. I dunno, I haven't finished pulling this out of my arse yet so, let's see where this leads. My guess based on the very little we've had to actually be around Big Mac is that being an Alicorn is his first thought when it comes to a Power Fantasy. He's called upon to think of something that could fight off a monster and he thinks of an Alicorn; the real, actual source of unfathomable power, prestige and luxury as the race appears to be exclusively made into royalty. These are all things Big Mac doesn't have in his life as a farm worker but he knows would be perfect for fighting monsters because his sister's friend Twilight did that only a while back with Tirek. Still, he's generally surrounded by dirt, apples and livestock. He just works, apparently. He's respected but, we have to assume there's something appealing to Big Mac about having magic, wings and a sparkling apple tiara. This hasn't shown to irk Big Mac at all so far, but we don't get to see anything about what he thinks ever until Brotherhood Social. And that's the thing, why did he pick this plan? Yeah, it's to fill in for Applejack. But did he try and fill in for every aspect of Applejack? Which is pretty hard considering she's practically a superhero when she feels like she needs to be one. Maybe there's something going on in that stallion's head that he's not telling anyone. What? Honestly, I have no idea. We don't have the information right now to piece anything conclusive together. The obvious answer is to suggest that Big Mac wants to be more feminine but then, why only magic up the trappings of a Princess? Why not become a female in the process too? Maybe it's just Big Mac wanting to be more than just a farm worker? Maybe he's getting a little jealous of his sister and wants a little adventure for himself? He's surrounded by examples of heroic ponies. Maybe that's his reference point for such things. Besides, I doubt Hasbro want a trans character in their show. They got bitten because they gave lines to Derpy Hooves and they won't even categorically state what happened to Big Mac's parents. Not even a cursory 'They're Dead' even though you could totally still write that in! Heck! Last week, I came up with what I think could be a pretty good idea for how to go about it. Remember: Disney has dead parents everywhere but didn't get any stick for it until it became a weird pattern. Hasbro allowed a functioning cult and Steven Magnet - a character coded gay so hard I think they're only a step away from draping a feather boa around his shoulders - into the show but throwing in anything relating to politics just gets parents angsty because heaven forfend that TV should introduce new ideas or challenge in anyway... I'm grumbling like an old man again... I do think that just too little definite clues to suggest exactly what Big Mac's deal is. I ask anyway because I like the character and it does feel like they want to give him a little more limelight. I ask this because it's the two biggest and most notable things in recent memory that he's done. Are we leading up to things to come with all this malarkey? I don't know. But, like me, we'll totally be watching a little harder, with a little more idea of what to look for. I'm sure if Big Mac was more than he was letting on, Peter New would find some way of telling us. - Recommended Reading So I checked in on The Legend of Zelda: A Pain in the Arse. Uhh...What? Link is a pink bunny? Derpy Hooves is not only human but dressed like Black Widow? Zelda needs a bucket when speaking to people? Maybe you can make more sense of it than I can. Lost Sanity has boldly stood up and said that 'Discord being reformed is really dumb'. And I get his point. BUT! Remember that Discord is based on Q from Star Trek. And Q grew to understand and even approve of humans and the crew of the Enterprise over time despite being an unlikable, omnipotent pain in the arse that looked down on anything that couldn't teleport across a room as well. My guess is that they're sort of following the same trajectory with his spiritual brother Discord. The difference here is that Discord is a sort of selfish and arrogant ally that has plenty to learn. Therefore, plenty of episodes with him in. Which I'm more than happy to see. So...This is kinda cool. I keep spotting little references too. Like how the comic Spike destroyed in the room Twilight created for Shining Armour was a pony version of the first ever Superman comic. Go look! Just...Just, what?! Many Conservative Christians in America have gotten into a hissyfit. Not over gun crime or violence in media or over some gay rights law. But *squee!*ing Starbucks cups. Even worse? I read the article and some Conservative MP from England has even joined in to say how immoral and Christian Hating the cup change is supposed to be even though it really isn't because it's a bloody cup! I really want to know what cabbage-brained twit they got to spout the line because, believe me, there's plenty that could have done it. This is cute. Maybe I should try it too... Morphin' Brony's been making music again. See what he's made this time. Just...Just read this horrifying tale of crime from Mister Asmodeus. Right! I'm back to writing reviews and other things! I went nice and obvious with Splatoon! Which is pretty much my favourite game right now. But my other favourite game got a blog post too with Deck Doctor #2 which is all about Crystal Decks, Eccentric Decks and Ponies inflating. New ones will be up soon. Lastly, if the music doesn't satisfy and the new avatar he's got freaks you out, then Morphin' Brony has an unofficial Everypony Android app for you. I've tried it out and it's not bad at all. Though, as a programmer myself, I do know that it's just an HTML viewer with a few buttons to take you directly to certain places rather than a dedicated app but, it's only version one! And it works lovely for what it is. It's not going to replace Tapatalk for people but... Like...Just wow! That's so cool that you'd make an app. Heck! Anyone that can program for Android? Talk to Morphin'! Maybe you can improve this thing and actually make a really awesome app for every member to use! We'd errect some sort of monument to that if you did. Heck! I'd be willing to to come to your house and bring 'well done' scones, or something. Just...That would be awesome! Anyway, that's it for this week! Potato-Faced Nick Cage says 'See you in your nightmares!'
