School Of Friendship - Blog Posts

Do I have a RANT for you all.

I just finished watching S8 E16, “Friendship University” and the entire thing seems kind of silly to me! First of all, I was really hoping that Flim and Flam would actually aim to do better after they began running the resort in Las Pegasus. But at the same time, cons have been their thing their entire lives so it’s kind of refreshing to see people who aren’t particularly evil, they’re just kind shit and annoying as hell. But moreover, why would ANYONE, pony or otherwise, want to attend their school?

Excessive rant ⬇️

Obviously Flim and Flam are professional con artists and they did make a few good points. The legendary Starswirl the Bearded was attending their school (and using his studying as “motivation” or whatever for other students) and the school was located in a bustling city, Las Pegasus, with more opportunities than the small town that is Ponyville. This school was also accredited.

But even so!!! Twilight is the Princess of Friendship. She is an alicorn. ROYALTY. Not only is she Head Mare of her school, but it was endorsed by Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria. On top of this, the professors at her school are the other 5 of the mane 6. The school is literally ran and managed by the group of friends who saved equestrian MULTIPLE times. They published their friendship journal that got spread all throughout the lands. The school is wildly successful! Why would anyone ever choose Flim and Flam’s school when they could be taught under the literal Princess of friendship? Please make it make sense. I just think it’s silly. Anyway.

On a similar note, I think other schools of friendship across the lands isn’t such a bad idea! It would make spreading the magic of friendship a lot easier and the education more accessible to all kinds of creatures! I think it would be cool if this was an idea further explored in the series.

When I tell you I was NOT ready for the your mom joke-

“Who is the princess of friendship? YOUR MOM???”

S8, E12 “Marks for Effort”

+ some honorary screenshots because they’re silly

I finished the first two episodes in season 8 of FiM. Oh my gosh??? They were so well written??? (School Daze, part 1 and 2).

I genuinely enjoyed these so much. I loved the commentary on very real issues that our society faces. The most obvious one was racism, with Chancellor Neigh Say making comments like “go back to your kind” and “these creatures”. This was written in an impactful way that resonated with me.

The Chancellor was allowing his stereotypes and prejudice to rule people as a threat, which is something every kind of minority can relate to. In one scene, Princess Celestia tells the Chancellor that, at one point in pre-equestrian history, the different kinds of ponies also treated each other the same way. They fought because of their differences, instead of allowing themselves to embrace them and coexist with one another regardless. The way that the writers addressed this was written effectively and in a realistic way. Especially when the students got into a fight. They were raised on stereotypes, and they had to de-program their brains to see that their differences didn’t have to be barriers to friendship. Literally the best kids show ever.

I’m gonna be honest, when I first heard about the whole Twilight-opening-a-school-of-friendship thing, I was skeptical. After all, doesn’t treating friendship like lectures take the value out of it? BUT THEY ADDRESSED THIS!! In fact, it was heavily based around exactly that. It’s such a good parallel to the effects of the American public education system (I can’t speak on private schools and other country’s policies since I haven’t experienced or educated myself on the topic). The students spent hours going from class to class, sitting through lecture after lecture. They got bored, antsy, frustrated, but most importantly, they didn’t learn anything! Because that isn’t an effective way to educate people, especially children with tons of energy. This is so so accurate to my experience in school, where I succeeded by putting in minimal effort. Showing my teachers what they wanted without actually caring about my education. Guys I love this show.

Also. This parallel. My heart. My itty bitty little pony filled heart.