[Season 3] Episode 7: Wonderbolt Academy... Where the winners Train

HELLOOO EVERYBODY and welcome to Cultures Compendium of Reviews! As always, I am Culture Shock. Your guide to all things cultural in Equestria and beyond. In todays review, we learn how there's a difference between wanting to be the best and aspiring to be it. However, there are a few rules to go over before we get started. First off, all content within this blog is expressly the opinion of its author. It does not, nor should it ever, reflect the overall opinion of the fandom. Lastly, if any of you notice ANY mistakes, be it typos or otherwise, please don't hesitate to let me know. With that said, let's begin. Shall we?

Wonderbolt Academy is the 7th episode of season 3 and the 59th episode in the overall series. Written by Merriwether Williams, the story follows Rainbow Dash on her first day at Wonderbolt Academy. After receiving her invitation to join the prestigious Wonderbolts Academy Rainbow Dash jets off to start her journey to Wonderbolt stardom. Along the way she meets a fellow rookie named Lightning Dust with a lot to prove and an ego to match. But when Rainbow gets listed as a wing pony she's left questioning if she's really Wonderbolt material. Can she make the cut? Or will the academy's standards be her undoing?

Before I get started, I'd like to point out how I'm not the biggest Rainbow Dash fan. Usually her overinflated ego is often the downfall of most of her episodes. And that's the primary issue I've had with her character. Which is why, to my surprise, I actually felt a bit of empathy for her in this episode. Not only did this episode positively influence her character, it did so by pitting her against someone with an ego twice the size of hers and an attitude to match. I applaud Merriwether for portraying Lightning Dust as such an emphasized mirror image of Rainbow. And I also applaud her for the how she stitched it altogether in the end. It truly painted a positive picture for the prismatic speedster and in a great way.

What I respect most of all in this episode is how it's lesson directly deals with ones ego and how it can often overshadow our own insights while trying to achieve our dreams. It's okay to aim for the top while striving to be the best. But even the best know when to slow down and take notice of what's going on around them. Acknowledging your limits and how far you have to overcome them is the first step to achieving your dreams. Being able to do so without hurting the things care most about is the second one.

Now as far as flaws go I'd like to address the elephant in the room. Or more preferably, Spitfires credentials as an instructor. I can support wanting your recruits to be the best and all. But there's a difference between motivating through fear and blind optimism as opposed to motivating through encouragement and wisdom. Being able to put yourself on the same level as those who rely on you is a perfect aspect for any leader or instructor in this case. And frankly, it wouldn't have been the linchpin that started this whole fiasco in the first place. All that aside, I still think this was a more fitting episode for Rainbow Dash as it did give her a lot of room to develop more as a character. I just wish they kept it that way for the rest of her episodes as well.

Alright! This concludes todays review. I honestly enjoyed this episode regardless of its character focus and recommend it to all my readers and supporters. I give Wonderbolts academy a 9.5 / 10. Hope you guys enjoyed the review. Be sure to leave a like if you did. Also, don't forget to follow us for more updates. Got a suggestion for a review? Leave it in the comments section down below. This has been Culture Shock, your guide to all things Cultural in Equestria and beyond, saying KEEP CALM AND BRONY ON!! PEACE!!