art by StarBlaze25

I will admit that I have been slow in writing this Afterthoughts in large part because I don’t have a whole lot to say about this episode. However, what I have to say is good.

“Rock Solid Friendship” was another solid episode in what is clearly an excellently crafted season. And once again, while one of the Mane Six is the focus, we are getting a lot of attention paid to characters outside the normal focus of the cast. As I mentioned before, I welcome this. And I suspect they are setting up a “Starlight and friends” circle of characters that they could focus on for individual episodes much like they do the CMC. If that is the case, then who would be a more welcome addition to that circle than Maud Pie?

The dynamic between Maud Pie and Starlight in this episode was deeply fun to watch, and the friendship building between them felt true. I felt so heartbroken for Starlight in her bedroom scene (“Friendship lesson… learned?”) while at the same time cheering on her blunt honesty with Pinkie Pie. It was what Pinkie needed to cut through her illusion and show her what she was actually doing. (Plus, her wake-up crash was laugh-out-loud cute.) Have I mentioned that I really love Starlight Glimmer as a character?

Pinkie Pie was extra super annoying in this episode, but that was the point. And that annoying behavior was presented in a way that felt totally in-character, and echoed issues she has had in the past without simply duplicating them.

art by AssasinMonkey

The upshot of the episode is that Maud Pie, despite Pinkie Pie’s antics, is moving Ponyville-adjacent. And that gives the writers excuse to give us a lot more Maud Pie. This is a most welcome development!

As a side note: I know a lot of episodes have been leaked or aired in elsewhere, but I am holding off on watching each episode until it airs in the United States. I don’t want to watch them early and leave myself with an artificial hiatus as a result. I am also hoping the best quality Dailymotion videos will be available afterwards, as I use them to re-watch the episodes while working up my Afterthoughts.

This does mean that my Afterthoughts for each episode will be delayed at least long enough for me to see them in their natural television habitat. However, if any of you can recommend really good, HD-quality videos of the episodes that I haven’t seen yet (“Forever Filly” and “Parental Glideance”), I would appreciate the links. Thank you!

art by DocWario

This episode gives us a lot of insight into Maud Pie. She feels different and alone, so much so that she is willing to pursue a less fulfilling career if the trade-off is friendship with someone (outside of her family) who she really connects with.

I can empathize with this, as I’m sure many of you might. How many of us have turned down opportunities because they would require the sacrifice of solid local friendships? How many would be loathe to uproot if it meant you would trade being able to see people you care about and whose company enriches your life for being a stranger in a strange land? Granted, in the modern era of super-communication, this is far less of a worry than it was twenty years ago. (Some of my dearest friends are people I have only known online.) But for many, it is still a concern… at least enough that we can understand what Maud Pie is feeling.

Maud Pie’s description of rocks was a real eye-opener, both for us and for Starlight. (“They’re beautiful and strong, but they don’t judge you or make you feel less than in any way.”) And Starlight echoed Maud Pie’s reason for loving rocks in her own description of Maud. (“She accepts me for who I am…”) Again, this was a beautiful story of blossoming friendship.

Pinkie Pie was a trainwreck in the middle of that story. The intended lesson here seems to be a middle-ground between the lessons of “Maud Pie” and “Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3” – people have different ways of doing things, even when it comes to something as seemingly universal as becoming friends; and no matter how experienced you are in something, it doesn’t mean your experience and knowledge will apply to another or your methods will be what they need. You have to be willing to let people do things their own way, within the boundaries of reason and safety.

art by CutePencilCase

I have worked in the same job for eleven years, becoming the most valued employee for my particular job’s requirements because I excel at them. This means that I am often tasked with training new employees who will be covering my job while on vacation or otherwise absent. Long ago, I learned a version of the lesson that Pinkie Pie learned this episode: while I can instruct people on what needs to be done, show them how I do it and give them the tools that I use, I have to then step back and let them find what works for them best. Trying to force my methodologies on others is counter-productive. Just because it works for me doesn’t mean it will work for them.

There is, however, a secondary lesson here about the arrogance and peril of inserting yourself into a situation. This is what Pinkie Pie keeps doing. And while she may be operating under the best of intentions (actually, her motivations are more than a little selfish, but that’s beside the point), her presence is an interference. She hinders when she tries to help, and inevitably she is the cause of the very thing she is trying to prevent.

Coming to another’s aid when help is needed is one of the most beautiful things a person can do. And in the case of imminent threat, you don’t often have time to sit and ponder. But in the vast majority of cases, you do and you should. Double-check your own motivations, and assess if your help is truly wanted or needed. The line between intervention and interference is usually there to see if you make the effort to look.

art by Asika-Aida

Random Facts about Kites:

This episode was a cornucopia of callbacks to past episodes. The gem cave from “Gauntlet of Fire”. Ghastly Gorge from “May the Best Pet Win”. The flashback to the founding of Our Town. The origin story of Twilight’s Castle. Countess Coloratura from “The Mane Attraction” releasing a new album. And so many more.

Limestone Pie is just done with Pinkie Pie’s antics.

Pinkie Pie’s imitation of Maud was fun.

Maud Pie does stand-up comedy. That is so perfect. (And recalls her reaction to Discord’s comedy performance in “Make New Friends buy Keep Discord”.) I can totally picture this, especially as in my childhood, my favorite comedian was Steven Wright, and his comedy style was essentially that of Maud Pie.

“I like to fill my tub up with water, then turn the shower on and pretend I’m in a submarine that’s been hit.”

“What are you doing now?” “Talking to you.”

I am pleased that they got chartreuse right.

Maudelina Daisy Pie!

Starlight loves kites. She really loves kites. (And I love how this was hinted at back in “To Where and Back Again” with the décor of her room.)

On that note (with thanks to Applegeek): SLK stands for single line kite. Spars are the frame of the kite. AOI is the angle of incident: the angle the kite takes compared to the wind direction.

The Maud/Starlight backstory was brilliant. As was Pinkie Pie’s reaction… and the ensuing cover-up. “Tell! No! Pony!”

I also loved the shopping scene with Maud Pie casually mentioning ruling Equestria with the right rock. Starlight’s reaction was perfect! And Maud was legitimately spooky.

I love that Pinkie Pie’s clichéd attempt to trap Starlight and Maud together is almost immediately thwarted as both Starlight and Maud are casually capable of escaping a collapsed cave.

I also love that the “BSFF slippers” that Pinkie Pie is raving about the whole episode actually make an appearance at the end. I’m convinced there is someone in Ponyville who makes custom slippers. We’ve also seen Rainbow Dash in Tank slippers and vice versa.

Pinkie Pie and Maud Pie in bed together.

“Jalapeño red velvet omelets sound gross. I-I just can’t.” Best line. (Starlight’s perfectly-delivered “Oops” at the loss of the cowbells was a close second.)

Derpy gets hit in the head with a pizza, but doesn’t mind because Yay! Free pizza!