I was pretty happy with last week’s episode of MLP:FIM, and I really liked Moondancer as a character.

I’ve mentioned it before here malimarthemage.deviantart.com/… but I enjoy that the show has some good foil characters to compare and contrast with Twilight as the main protagonist, not only who she is as a person but also her title and responsibilities. These include not only ponies like Trixie, Sunset Shimmer, and Starlight Glimmer but also the Princesses.

Characters like Trixie, Sunset Shimmer, and Starlight Glimmer provided alternate attitudes and philosophies which were external conflicts for Twilight. However Moondancer provided a “what if” scenario, forcing Twilight to reflect on her own actions rather than those of others. It showed that every event has positive and negative consequences, no matter how important they may be (like saving the world).

I feel that the episode could have easily been very average with the moral being the difference between true and false friends. I was happily surprised that it instead focused on this more self-reflective conflict, and one that looked back so far in the events of the show (all the way back to the first episode!). It developed Twilight a bit more and gave more insight into her pre-Ponyville past, which I’m always interested in.

Also, I know some people don’t like Moondancer’s design because she’s basically just a re-colored Twilight, but I think that adds to her character. She really seemed to look up to Twilight and it makes sense that she would emulate her somewhat. Though I liked her hair a little better when it wasn’t up in a ponytail.

Art © me.

Moondancer and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic © Hasbro.