GILDA’S BACK, BABEH! It’s been four seasons! That’s longer than Sapphire Shores and Trixie! Now we just need Hoity Toity to make another appearance. Though I honestly wish we had Prince Blueblood in another speaking role first.
Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash get called by the map to go to the legendary city of Griffonstone. Twilight graces us with LORE! GLORIOUS LORE!
The griffons used to be greedy treasure hoarders until King Grover (and not THAT King Grover) found the Idol of Boreas, which gave all griffons pride. Twilight stays behind since the map only called Dash and Pinkie there, but she gives them a guide telling them what sights to see while they’re at Griffonstone.
It turns out it has now turned into a dump.
Also, Gilda’s there.
Gilda tells them that Griffonstone hasn’t had a king in years, and the Idol of Boreas is no longer there. Her Grampa Gruff explains that the last king, Guto, lost the Idol when the giant beast Arimaspi attacked and stole it, then fell into the Abysmal Abyss.
Dash thinks the map brought them there to retrieve the Idol of Boreas and bring pride back to the griffons, while Pinkie thinks… friendship.
Gilda is selling Griffon Scones that taste terrible. She hopes to earn enough money to leave Griffonstone permanently. Pinkie improves the recipe so it’s edible. Meanwhile, Dash gets injured and trapped in the Abysmal Abyss (with chaotic winds that make it impossible for her to fly in or out of). Pinkie finds out and gets Gilda to help after asking her to remember a time when they were friends.
Gilda goes down the abyss to save Rainbow Dash, but also notices the Idol of Boreas. She decides to let it go and save Dash instead, and a friendship is rekindled. With Pinkie Pie’s improved recipe, Gilda’s Griffon Scones are also much more appealing, and she shares one with another Griffon named Greta, and presumably, Gilda will share the message of friendship throughout Griffonstone.
Overall, probably one of the best episodes of the series, and it’s nice to FINALLY get another map episode in this season.
Well, this was a no-contest. Pinkie Presenter!
Origin: The short baking powder commercial Pinkie presents near the end of the episode.
Everypony (and griffon) was great in this episode. It’s hard to choose, especially since no one really jumped out as especially great, so… let’s just say the Best Pony of the week is Sonata Dusk.
Okay, okay, if I had to pick someone… Gimme Moore. She wasn’t actually named, so it’s a fan name, but damn… that’s a great name.
She’ll leave you to die if you can’t pay her.
Silfoe’s “Griffonstone in the Morning” is impressive, if a bit lacking in show-accurate details. To be fair, it looks a lot more organic and realistic than the show’s version.
Quite a few good works of fanart for this episode, but honestly not much variety or volume compared to other episodes. A vast majority of them were just young Gilda during the flashback and predictable GildaxGreta porn (and if it isn’t humanized, I’m not interested). But I do loves me some scenery porn.
The next episode is”Slice of Life,” the 100th episode of the series, and one that focuses on Background Ponies rather than any of the Mane Six. It’s the one we’ve looked forward to for months… and we have to wait two more weeks for it. Ugh!