Episode 3:The Ticket Master...Willy Ponka and the Pony Factory

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HELLOOOOO all you ponyfolk! And welcome again to Cultures Compendium of Reviews. I am of course Culture Shock. Your guide to everything cultural in Equestria and beyond. For those of you who are new to this place let me break things down real quick. On this blog we take popular media and break it down into bits to analyze key elements that stand out. As like last time these reviews are NOT based on fact but rather on my own personal opinion or opinions of others. If you disagree with some things said here please feel free to leave a comment below on what I left out or made a mistake on. Last but not least be sure to sub to this blog if you want to see more content and be sure to leave suggestions of what you would like me to review. Anyways enough slacking. ONTO THE REVIEW!XD

Today we review season 1 episode 3 entitled The Ticket Master. And no they did not mean the annoying audio recording you get when you want to buy a ticket over the phone or from the lifeless vendor at a theater. Right off the bat with this episode we get a pop culture reference that nopony noticed.The golden tickets.A fun reminder of the well known classic Charlie and the Chocalate Factory.With that bit of nostalgia we also recieve this episodes moral problem.Twilight has been given a special invitation to one of the biggest events in Equestrian culture.The Grand Galloping Gala.Now as a lot of fans already now the show in its run has shown that Equestria is home to many large and small scale gatherings almost on a daily basis.The bulk of which is usually hosted either in Canterlot or in Ponyville.The biggest event of course being the Summer Sun Celebration but we'll cover that in a future review.With that being said this is where the issues begin....

Now its not oblivious that everypony wants to be somepony special or go somewhere special.This episode more than proves that everypony has a dream like that.However...even if its for the right reasons there are limitations to achieving such dreams.The writers for this episode literally missed them by a mile.Twilights friends overstepped those boundaries by trying to kiss up to her.All for the honor of a gold ticket.While it didn't diminish the episode it do the one thing that makes a fan turn on a character.It brought out the negative side to each character and put them in a bad light.For starters each character seemed to jump the gun and assume Twilight would play favorites and pick them to go.That whole idea goes against the shows message of love and friendship.And that in my book is just not kosher.

To start of the problems we have Rainbow and Applejack.Now just pairing these two together for a prize like that just spells a headache in the near future.Most of all Rainbows desire highlights her WORST feature of all.Her ego.While idolizing the Wonderbolts is okay Rainbows whole dream scenario wasn't.It mainly involved her stroking her ego by trying to one-up her own idols and steal the spotlight that they work to earn.There is no I in team Rainbow and nopony would idolize someone who showboats.Also I'm not fully sure she should be the Element of Loyalty considering how she blew Aj off just to nap in a tree.What she does to get Twilights extra ticket is even worse.I'm all for staying dry in rainy weather but the needs if the ponies come before the few.

I can't really fault Aj much for her reasoning.She's not acting greedy since the money earned goes towards the right funding.I mean Granny Smith really needed that hip.But what I can fault is abusing honest hospitality for personal gain.Even though those dishes did sound mouthwatering....

Now you would think those two would be enough for one episode right?...Eeenope.After Twilight manages to settle things between Rainbow and Aj for a while she and Spike head into town for a nice lunch.Unfortunately when you're friends with a logic breaking bubble gum pony things are never easy.Now Pinkie's initial response is at least more humorous than the others.The thing that makes it bad is that later she obliviously makes things worse by spilling the beans about the Gala ticket....IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN!That's what made Pinkie intolerable for a lot of fans.Sure the bubblegum mare is the living embodiement of her element but that can only go so far.One thinks that perhaps Surprise Surprise was originally a beta design for the party pony.

Moving on from that we get a healthy dose of posh from everyones favorite marshmallow,Rarity.Now characters like Rarity aren't that hard to explain.As stated in my first review they tend to be judged solely on appearance.That however is not the case here.Rarity's whole reason behind going to the gala is more of a combination of ego and way to many romance novels.More importantly for a mare who works with the uppercrust of Equestria she should know better than to fantasize about a pony she probably never met before personally.What's worse is that she abused her own generosity in the hopes of achieving that dream.Though I will say this...Spike in old european was the funniest part of this episode.XD

Finally we reach my number two pony if the show,Fluttershy.Now this pony you honestly can't fault.Fluttershy is just not that obsessive.Plus she knows she can see the royal garden whenever she wants.I mean she IS one of the Element bearers now so Celestia wouldn't turn such a pony down.Plus nopony can say no to such a cute face.However the biggest issue is she's made to look like a pushover by the real culprit Angel Bunny.While Fluttershy does eventually grow out of this I can't help but feel a little bad that she was ever like that.Then again considering who her parents are its easy to guess why she was ever so fragile to begin with.

Finally we get to the victim in all of this.Poor defenseless Twilight.Now I'm sure a lot of you are asking "But Culture,Why bring her up?".Well I'll tell you why and it has to be the biggest solution to this episode.Twilights fault is her overthinking and overanalytical mentality.True bronies know the lengths this mare's insanity has gone as well as know what peer pressure can cause.But even with the others breathing down her neck Twilight surely knew the answer....Once again thats a big Eenope.The entire episode Twilight is racking her brain for answer thay should have come to her from the start.For starters Twilight knows how kind Celestia can be to her.All she had to do was ask for four more tickets.Secondly how hard is to write a letter kindly refusinf the invitation?ITS NOT!But considering the writers needed to fill 30 minutes we get treated to a decent amount of bribery,butt kissing,and mud slinging.Meh.

My final thoughts on this episode?Personally I can't call it bad episode mostly since its only the 3rd episode I've rewatched.While the flaws were bad they didn't neccessarily bomb the episode.As far as rating goes I give The Ticket Master a solid 6/10.

Alright everpony!I hope enjoyed that review.As always don't forget to rate,sub,and comment down below.Before I sign off I'd like to wish everypony out there a Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.As always I'm Culture Shock,your guide to all things cultural in Equestria and beyond,saying KEEP CALM AND BRONY ON!PEACE! // Thumbnail art by Jowybeanstudios. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for more.//