Talk:No Second Prances/@comment-10390252-20160430170953

Well, that was a lot different from what I was expecting! Trixie didn't turn up until half way through but, after that I think that she was handled very well. She was funny and well-characterised. We get several new layers to her personality demonstrated and we finally get her special talent explicitly spelled out in canon. So, we can finally put that old argument about her being a 'fake' to rest - Her special talent is stage magic.

It's interesting that Trixie is still carrying around the wound of Boast Busters and being humiliated in that way. It's also interesting that she is also carrying around her penetence for Magic Duel. It was smart of the writers to realise that she thus makes an interesting foil and 'reform buddy' for Starlight. I'm glad that they didn't lobotomise Trixie and make her all goody-two-shoes. She's still mischievious, abraisive and proud and this makes Twilight's uncertainty as to whether she is trustworth make sense.

If I have a peeve, it is that they keep on resetting Starlight and playing up her anxieties. I'm hoping that this episode sees that character trait laid to rest and her to be more confident in herself in future episodes.

'''My overall rating...? 8/10''' - I've given it the same mark as Gauntlet of Fire although I like Gauntlet more because the work done on the characterisation of Trixie and making sure that Twilight's fears make sense.

My hope for the future? When we next see Starlight, she's spent a few months on the road with Trixie and is something of a more sociable pony. I'm also hoping that Trixie's return to Ponyville will be the start of her being a more regular guest character.