Community Post #165 The Episode that might drive somepony INSANE So, there was another idea I didn't include in my last Community Post on possible Discord ideas. Because this one is a little looser. It doesn't have to include him but it can if you'd like. Also, I'm almost certain it'll never be an episode idea. The very intention here is to be as weird as possible. This idea attempts to take 'Lesson Zero' and give it a metaphysical twist that Lovecraft might look at and nod approvingly. In concept, it's an idea that could slowly drive a character mad as their place within an entire universe is not only revealed to them but they, and they alone, are privy to this information. They must carry the knowledge alone with no way of proving their words true. It's a meta-concept that I'm planning on turning into a possible snapping point for whoever's caught in it. About time we had a good freak-out, ay? The idea is simple: We reveal that the victim is a cartoon character to the victim themselves. Yes. Self-awareness to the point of knowing almost as much as the audience but the gag here is that it's presented like a curse that only becomes more apparent as time goes on. I know meta stuff has been done before and it's stupidly hard to do right because you have to effectively give exactly zero damns about anything you're doing and just roll with it to keep it entertaining. Deadpool can tell you that once you let this particular genie out of it's bottle you can't just go back to normality. It's all or nothing with something like this. It's potentially dangerous to a show that flirts with the fourth wall. You smash it and you'll been poking your head out and commenting on real life events for the rest of the shows episodes. That and Linkara will shoot you for smashing through is chosen perch if you touch the Fourth Wall. About 8% will get that... Some might think that a premise like this would work best with Twilight Sparkle at the helm. They would be wrong if it were to be a TV episode. Fan Fic? Do what you like. You haven't got marketing and executives to please. And explain that you've written paranoia into one of their highly marketable characters. Reason one, when the line between viewer and real life has been crossed and it's Twilight referencing how cool Doctor Strange was but couldn't get over how it was like having Sherlock play Doctor Gregory House, you have to alter her character to accommodate the influx of new knowledge. She knows more than she ever thought she would now, and that sort of thing alters someone deeply. Two, that sort of knowledge alters someone deeply because now they know their purpose is as a thing of entertainment. As far as they know, their entire lives are being ogled by hundreds of people around this world. Deadpool just goes through life with maximum sass and unbridled disinterest in anything but things that seem fun. He's kinda not real, who cares? Do you think Twilight would do the same? I don't think so. The neurotic, dorky, chronic high-achiever is more likely to put on some attempt to be more entertaining to those watching than achieve maximum '*squee!* it' like Deadpool. Yeah, I'll believe this more. If I were to create this horrible monstrosity? The main focus would be some rando that had been suddenly afflicted with this terrible malady. Probably doing things normally and then suddenly they've got this portal to our reality in their head and they've no idea how to close it. Quickly, they're getting uncomfortable and shaky, dropping references to other people the ponies don't know or being able to predict the future because everything followed a well known trope. That sort of thing. Ok, why? What could you do with it? Well, what about poking fun at the characters we know. You have a character that's got a brand new perspective on everything around them. Why not use that to ask some fundamentals? Where do Cutie Marks come from? Why do only talking ponies get them and not, say, very astute racoons? Or the myriad of other talking, clearly intelligent creatures? Do Cutie Marks actually have any influence on someone or does it manifest as a result of a pony's talent? Can a pony revolt against their Cutie Mark? Why are Alicorns not only a thing but where do they come from? How did Celestia and Luna become Alicorns? Where they born? Were there Alicorn before Celestia and Luna? What happened to Applejack's Parents? What happened to Scootaloo's Parents?! What about Fluttershy's family?! Or Rainbow Dash's? Why did Twilight's Castle? Yes, no grammar for that one. Just everything about Twilight's Castle is supposed to be just accepted but what? Bon-Bon is a secret agent? WHY ISN'T THAT FOCUSED ON? Oh my god! You have David Tennant Pony. Why doesn't he have more screen time?! SERIOUSLY? Oh! The cultist is still walking around and you have a portal to another dimension! Why aren't you using this to go to other places?! Other than Hasbro desperate to fight back against that 'Monster High' thing or whatever. Go to Cybertron. Go to the Littlest Petshop. Go to Ooo. Go to Pokemon. I would kill to see Fluttershy charm her way into being a Pokemon Trainer. I'm just lost in my own little world now, huh? Rainbow Dash as a Pokemon Trainer? It would be like Ash only with some personality other than 'dweebie idiot'. I like Pokemon for Jessie and James strictly. They were awesome. Why not a show about them? Pictured: Jessica Nigri as what Rainbow Dash as a Pokemon Trainer Should look like. I would watch! Back on track, most of these questions are episodes all on their own! And a half-crazed nutcase with the rough knowledge base of a YouTube commenter could help that. Or at least set up for later episodes that discuss them in deeper detail. Preferably without adding 'First!' immediately after. But you've also got some neat gags, like referencing the older generations: Rainbow Dash: "Why're you looking at me like that?" Crazy Meta-Horse: "Since when could you fly?" Referencing previous works of the other actors: Crazy Meta-Horse: "It's OK! Twilight has a chainsaw. That was her right?" Crazy Meta-Horse: "OK, Discord: what did you do if the Continuum made you look like that?" A hint if you spell 'Subtlety' with a SLEDGEHAMMER! And...umm... Crazy Meta-Horse: "Hey look! I can date this episode! I love me some Ed Sheeran. No idea who that is! Ha-ha-haaa!" Shining Armour: "Flurry Heart won't stop crying. I've tried everything and nothing works! I'm running out of options!" Crazy Meta-Horse: "Have you thrown your wife at the baby?" A plot? Simple: cure the crazy pony. It's probably a good idea to slowly reveal what this poor pony is actually doing slowly throughout the episode so this could then benefit from the Mane Six just travelling together. Being a little concerned but definitely weirded out by the random things coming out of their charge's mouth. Possibly more so when they correctly predicts the outcome of an argument or an avalanche or just happens to know Fluttershy's deep, dark secret. ...Knowing her, it's that she secretly loves easy listening or forgot to tip a waiter once. "Do it again and I will set fire to your shoes." They reach the place or the doctor they need and the pony returns to her normal life, changed and scarred by the experience for they has seen beyond the vale. No longer are they satisfied with these shadows now that they've been allowed to see beyond the cave. They know we're watching. Always, we're watching. An entire world, infinitely larger than our own, starring in. Watching us all with invisible eyes. Everywhere. Always. My Little Pony! I never knew what friendship could be! My Little Pony! Until you shared it's magic with me! This is numero uno in the reasons why this won't become an episode. What I have here is a Twilight Zone episode written by someone that wants to see how many existential nightmares they can create in one go. A decent amount of this really is just jokes and comments to try and upend a few uncomfortable or untouched aspects of what we know. After all, the number of questions I have about this show are daunting but I always want to see this show try something new and unexpected. I like it the most when it does that. At it's best, Friendship is Magic is thoughtful and charming but it always has a few tricks up it's sleeve to make you remember it. Whether that be Pinkie Pie turning into a Gen 1 pony for a moment to suddenly Dragonball fight between Twilight and Tirek to Twilight has crashed unexpectedly. Not to mention the odd musical number that will. Not. Ever. Leave. Your. Brain. I will be able to hum 'Art of the Dress' and 'This Day Aria' until the day I die and I'm OK with that. Though, I could be proven wrong. I could be proven right. Dumber shows have gone full meta and turned out something memorable. Your mileage may vary. I'm siding with proven right because numero dos in the reasons this wouldn't be an episode would be the possible subtext. After writing this thing and thinking about it, it's really hard for me to not see a mental illness/detachment from reality thing in there too? This could be a warning for those that attempt this idea in a Fan Fiction. Maaaaybe you could explore it if you had the time but I feel a thirty minute cartoon about colourful ponies doesn't have the breathing room to do anything other than crush the issue into the dust. Fan Fic, Comic or Book but not really TV. But how to handle it if you did try it? Do what MLP does and link it to a real world issue. The best I can think of is the danger of being absorbed by pandering media or the desire to flea reality in favour of a new one that promises better. Yes! That Otaku thing you've heard of. I have met many a person that would want to dive into a world and not emerge again, the glint of the fantasy too tempting. Ah! We've caught them in the middle of morning prayers to their One True Pairing. Perhaps this rando pony is stuck in a crap job sorting...nuts. Or files papers. And, saddest of all, has a cutie mark in it. Suddenly! They're a conduit for another world! Suddenly they know things, way more than they should or could have ever. Suddenly, she's incredible! Slowly, it consumes her until the Mane Six/Twilight are called in to deal with her. Either she's buried herself in the knowledge of her new connection or no longer giving a single care about anything. Why eat? Why work? Why move? It's just giving animators more to do! That could be a heavy conflict. I keep thinking of ways to play with this idea but I'm gonna end there. I hath done enough. Tyro awaaaaayyyy! - Site News So, we've revamped the Art Finder Thread. We're also thinking of doing a few more finder threads for other things like reviewers or frequent serious topic starters or news linkers. That sort of thing. What do you think? - Recommended Reading Donald Trump won. I'll admit, I'm one of the guys that's on the 'WHAT?! AH! REAGAN 2.0!" because this is a reality show host and businessman that's blundered his way into being one of the most watched men in the world. Of course, our resident vocal Trump supporter @Ridley Wolf has started a discussion on this. Because it's important. I want this guy to prove us all wrong and I don't live in the country. I don't know what that says about my society and UK politics but it's an important topic so please talk about it here. I'll go back to whether or not to split from the EU. Bored? Like Jo-Jo's Bizarre Adventure? I found a Stand generator. Seems like it's a little random but you might get a giggle out of some weird song allowing the generation of custard or something. For more stuff I'm doing: you can now hire me to write for you. Patreon didn't seem right but this Fiverr thing might work out. Not that I'll stop writing; just a way of supporting what I do, should you wish to. Welcome back @Heartfelt Furret. We were all issued a challenge recently by a one @RetroGalicia recently. The challenge? Make a creepy game in honour of Luna Game's 10th Anniversary...Wait. My guess is that this is supposed to be a big heads up so that you can build your masterpiece in time for 2021 when the game will have actually reached 10 years old as opposed to the 5 years it's currently at if it was released in 2011. This appears to be legit enough so try it if you'd like. Could be fun. Retro, please get in contact with us to tell us more! Speaking of games, @royron32 made something quick and simple where Pinkie Pie jumps from balloon to balloon. For a quickie Gamemaker thing, I've seen worse though it's physics are a little weird and it becomes brutal when 'evil' balloons that hurt you are introduced. Still, I salute the fellow game dev! Yes, I tried it! It's legit too. Relax. @Blackened Blue wants to introduce us to another underrated album. Anyone heard of After Words? If not, then this Atlanta-Based band from the late 80's might interest. Lastly...I don't know. I don't know @Mister Asmodeus but keep doing it. - Post-Season Survival Guide It's about that time, again. As per before, I will be suggesting things to try out while the next season is being made. Any suggestions you'd like to offer up should be sent via PM to me (@Tyro D. Fox ). Heroes of the Storm seems all right. I'm being asked to get into this game by some friends because they enjoy this sort of thing and, I have to admit, I'm starting to feel it. I'm not the best! I'm likely no better than the guy you leave alone to apply pressure in the vain hope the team will ignore my to my slow push across the map. But I like the art style, I'm getting to know and like the more DOTA 2 vibe (which I honestly kinda prefer over League (sorry! <3)) as you pick new traits and abilities over time. It reminds me of Awesomenauts, a game I am usually thoroughly awful at. But it's Free to Play so it qualifies for here. I'm jiving on it more than I thought I would even without the fact that I can play as LiLi, an adorable panda girl that heals with the power of tea. I don't know any of the characters outside of Overwatch but I'm still enjoying this from it's mechanics alone. Plus, Free to Play elements don't seem egregious to me. Get a pick of random characters to try every day, earn in game currency or pay to unlock all the characters. Pretty fair. It gets a pass. I like Todd in the Shadows, OK? His reviews I like and I love CineMadonna because it appeals to my nature to want to learn about bad movies and how they work. The Madonna angle was just a through-line that made it work. With that in mind, I can't help but be fascinated by One Hit Wonderland too. I can't help it. It is great. I get a little knowledge on something I didn't know much about and a history lesson about the world these often strange songs grew up in. Favourites include 'Float On', 'Blue' by Eiffel 65 and 'Word Up' by Cameo. Worth a look too! Along the same line, I've been getting into Chez Lindsey because analysis and unusual knowledge are my thing. Even so, Loose Cannon is both highly entertaining and like a small Media Studies lesson just on how this one character has progressed through history. I eat this stuff up and then top it off with the Video Essays. Top quality smarty-pants stuff from the once Nostalgia Chick. OK...I can't think of anything else. Catch ya next time!
On the forums perhaps. Though, I don't see many people advocating the same support as yourself so you qualify as 'vocal' by default I'm afraid.
I think the art thread finder is great, no bias to the fact I started the new one or anything... >.> <.<
I asked people to check out some YouTube channels I like. I think you can have some bias because it looks great.
Well my loyal subjects, bring me milk and cookies, force it though the tv screen, go on give it a good throw.
that was funny, soo funny, we need a new admin since our last admin computer broke. i put my name in the hat, the voting has now closed i am your new admin
