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MLP: FiM "Slice of Life"

Hey, guys! Today, for my second post, I'm reviewing the 100th episode of MLP: FiM, "Slice of Life!" I've actually reviewed this before, on this very blog before I remodeled it, but I decided to redo it for my second post.

In this episode, they add in countless references, both to earlier episodes and to things completely separate, make head-canons truly canon, and cover the background characters especially, making the Mane Six(Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash) the background characters for one amazing episode.

I won't go in too deep, but I will describe the highlights. The episode is based around the hurried planning of a wedding for two donkeys, Matilda and Cranky Doodle, who we witnessed reunited back in season two, their episode being the eighteenth in the season, "A Friend in Deed." I don't like the way they made Matilda the stereotypical fussy bride for this episode, but the rest really made up for it.

Picture on the right taken from Deviantart.*

Left: David Tennant on "Doctor Who."

The first highlight is in the beginning, right after the opening theme song, when Derpy is at the cafe, confiding in the background character, Dr. Hooves. Now, as a Whovian, this was a very big moment for me, as it was for all of the other Whovians who watch this show. The character, based off of the Doctor, the main character of a sci-fi series called Doctor Who, had never before, in-show, been made canon as just that! However, they hinted at it when Derpy, at the cafe, called him "Doc." Additionally, in the next scene, they reveal his British accent and interest in time travel, both which further proves that he is, indeed, a Timelord.

Steven Magnet in episode 1,

season 1

Moving on to more highlights, we meet Steven Magnet, the sea monster from the very first pilot, my personal favorite character in all of the show. In his debut episode, he lost one side of his magnificent mustache. Luckily, Rarity stole one of his scales, using it to slice off her tail, with which replaced his mustache. In "Slice of Life," Steven plays Cranky Doodle's "best beast," surprising Matilda with the fact that he is, indeed, a sea monster.

In the next scene, we see the musicians, DJ Pon-3 and Octavia Melody, in their shared home. The highlight of this is their magical ride through Ponyville, accidentally picking up guests for the party on the way.

Here comes the really magical part, my favorite of the entire episode. They have their positively epic music backing up their ride through town, ON A SET OF SPEAKERS. I kid you not.

But suddenly, they crash, and in the reflection of Gummy's eye, we see them all soaring through the air, slow-mo, with these amazing words in the background:

"What is life? Is it nothing more than the endless search for a cutiemark? And what is a cutiemark, but a constant reminder that we're all only one Bugbear attack away from oblivion... *zoom in on Gummy's eye* ...And what of the poor gator? Flank forever blank, destined to an existential swim down the river of life to, an unknowable destiny? *Gummy licks his eyeball*"

It's amazing, I know. Which is why it is my favorite part of the episode.

Left: Derpy

Right: Dr. Hooves

Back to Whovian fun time! Dr. Hooves arrives at the wedding, and wearing--yes!--the iconic scarf, extremely long and multi-colored, of the Fourth Doctor! Yes! Another big moment for us Whovians, of course, and a great fashion statement on his part. But, more importantly in that moment, he says the line the the Tenth Doctor so loves to say:

"Allons-y!," meaning "lets go!" in French.

Left: Steven Magnet

Right: Cranky Doodle

Now for the very last highlight! As I said earlier, in his debut episode, one side of Steven Magnet's lost mustache was replaced by Rarity, who used one of Steven's scales to slice off her tail. Now, during the ride through town, Cranky Doodle, famously bald, was knocked out of the way, his toupee falling from his head. Now he is worrying about having to say his vows while bald, and guess what? Steven Magnet, his best beast, takes one of his very own scales and slices off one side of his mustache for a toupee, a great reference to the first pilot, one only us devoted viewers understood.

Overall, this is a wonderful episode! I strongly suggest you watch it, even if you've never watched any of the show before. I think it is definitely safe to say that this is by far the best episode in the history of this show. I realize now that by describing all the "highlights," I basically described the entire episode, but that's alright! All these deserved to be mentioned, and there were even a few more moments I neglected to describe! But, alas, something must be left to surprise.

Thanks so much for reading! Please like, share, follow, comment--anything you think my posts deserve!

The Alice McKinley Series

Hey, guys! This first post is about the wonderful Alice McKinley Series. Written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, this 28 book series follows Alice McKinley from the age of 8 to 60.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

I began this series a couple years ago, starting with Alice in Rapture. I was positively captivated, and I read several other additions to the series, but not at all in order. This fall, however, I decided to re-read the entire series, and in order this time. I haven't actually read the three prequels yet, but that doesn't matter much for this post.

I did not know I was going to be writing this review, or I would have written a short review for them all, but this will have to do. I'll just make it mainly about the last book, my all time favorite: Now I'll Tell You Everything.

"The Agony of Alice", book #1

It starts with Alice leaving for college. Now, having known Alice for several years, and having read her entire life from 6th grade and on directly prior to reading this book, this was a reasonably emotional moment(although it was practically nothing in comparison to the rest of the book, emotion-wise!). Skip through the next few years and she's getting engaged, and I'm crying, and it is so, so beautiful, especially at 3 am. Skip through some more to the last chapter, and its 3 am on the next night, and I actually got up and got a couple tissues in preparation. Skip forward about two sentences and I'm crying some more, and it's pretty much a repeat of the following for the rest of the book: read, blubber, blow my nose, read, blubber, blow my nose, until the end of the book when every last tissue is soaked and its late and I'm thinking, how did I ever think a book was amazing before this? Yeah, that's pretty accurate.

"Alice in April", book #5

Alright, Now That I'm Done Describing My Soaked Tissues, lets move on to the actual review! This
review is actually copied from my Goodreads account, but it's all good! Read on, my friend!

"There should be a special six star rating for the best of books.

Basically, I thought I'd seen it all. I thought I'd cried as much as I ever would at books, laughed, smiled, felt. Well, I was seriously wrong. I cannot properly put into words the connection I feel to these books, to Alice. I cannot explain the reasons for which I cried so very much during the last chapter especially, but also so much during the 14th chapter, a chapter I loved so dearly. I'm not sure I'll ever read the three prequels, and if I don't, it won't it won't be because I am not a devoted fan and reader. No, it will be because I don't feel I need to. It will be because this magnificent final addition was enough for me. It will be because I already applaud and admire Phyllis, and I don't need three more books to tell me that she has done an amazing thing that she deserves to be and, hopefully, is recognized for. And so, I say to you, Phyllis: THANK YOU. You have honestly touched my heart more than you could ever know, and I am certain that there are MANY others girls--and boys(who knows?)--who feel the same way."

"Now I'll Tell You Everything",
book #25

Now I'll Tell You Everything is sweet, memorable, touching, and a remarkable final addition to an amazing series. I strongly suggest that you read them all, and in order, to such an extent that I would honestly be furious if you read it first. On the other hand, it is so good that it just might suck you in more than Starting with Alice or The Agony of Alice could, and maybe it would drive you to read the rest, but still: honor Phyllis, please!

"*Taken from Wikipedia: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (born January 4, 1933) is an American writer best known for children's and young-adult fiction. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel quartet Shiloh (a 1992 Newbery Medal winner) and for her "Alice" book series, one of the most frequently challenged books of the last decade."

You can also view a full list of the books here, on Goodreads.

Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed reading this article, please comment and tell me so!