Hello & welcome back to Trotting through Life and it's been a while since this blog has been 20% cooler but that is about to change as we pick back up with A Dash of Awesome as we look at Dash's season 3 episode, Wonderbolts Academy. This episode is key in setting up Dash's dream and later achievement of becoming a Wonderbolt. While the audience had known that this had been Rainbow's dream since season one, this episode provides us with the first step towards seeing the blue pegasus reach her dream. And as we will see throughout the other Wonderbolts episodes, you can easily break them up as Before & After's. With this one clearly falling in the Before category and while that is important, there is something more important about this episode, it's the first episode that forces Dash to grow up. And that comes from Lighting Dust we will discuss throughout this review but Bliss is a Mirror/Foil Character to Dash. Which S. Alex Martin defines as...
This is arguably the simplest of the devices. Foil characters share few or no values or traits. Maybe one character is lazy and boring, and his best friend is energetic and a go-getter. These are foil characters. Put them together, and they’ll highlight each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The most common foil characters are the heroes and villains, who stand for different values and want to achieve separate goals.
Mirror characters are used for a similar purpose. They tend to share several qualities and are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Common mirror characters embark on parallel plots, sometimes to achieve a single goal, which tests them and highlights their traits in different ways.
Now, we've seen this before with Sunset Shimmer but a key difference between Dust and Sunset and is that Sunset has been allowed to grow beyond being a mirror to Twilight whereas was a one-off character and has yet to reappear on the show. My best guess for this is that a character that the writers have never felt the need to return to besides a cameo in Parental Glideance and she has appeared in the IDW comics.
Which brings me to another point about Lighting Dust and why her character isn't important to the overall story but rather what she is. I know that's a bit confusing but let me clarify, Lighting Dust as a character doesn't matter in the grand story but rather what she represents is important as in many ways, she is the last test before Dash becomes a Wonderbolt. Obviously, the tests don't stop once Dash becomes a Wonderbolt and some might even argue that they get harder. But Dust is one of the most important tests for Dash to face before she can become a Wonderbolt. With this outta the way, let's get into the plot section.
The Plot
The episode opens in Ponyville as Dashie is waiting for her invitation letter to Wonderbolts Academy and while she is sure that she'll be accepted, the Pink Party Pony is far more nervous and this is a subplot that we will touch upon briefly but it is a fun subplot that does merge nicely with the A story.
After the break, we see Dash arrive at the academy and Spitfire gives the recruits a dressing down that that Drill Instructors are known for saying that they do not have what it takes to be Wonderbolts but Dash says she'd never quit and then she has the recruits fly a hundred laps and this is when Dust and Dash meet and get along and head to the mess hall to grab lunch and it seems as though, they are going to become fast friends.
After their break, we see the recruits training on a device called the Dizzitron and this is the first sense, where we get the sense of Dust's recklessness as she has Spitfire to full power and while that does leave Spitfire impressed, the audience starts to see that Dust is a bit self-centered. And we really get more of a sense after this, Spitfire pairs up the ponies to fly as pairs and she puts Dash and Dust together. With Dash as wingpony and Dash goes and asks Spitfire about this and Spitfire says that they'll make a good team. Though things don't go exactly that great as Dust flies so fast, that Dash clips her wing but Spitfire and is still left impressed.
After this, Spitfire has the recruits fly the famous Obstacle Course and even tells them to not worry about winning but that is all Dust cares about and this is where Dust's carelessness starts to creep out even more but it is put on full display during the last challenge.
The last straw comes in a training exercise where the pairs are required to clear clouds from the sky. Even though Rainbow Dash points out that the pair are way ahead, Lightning Dust proposes that they work together to make a tornado, a tactic that will blow away their competition. Recalling Spitfire's comment that Lightning Dust pushes herself more, Rainbow agrees to the plan. Though the tornado is initially successful in clearing the clouds, Lightning Dust loses control of it and the tornado ends up whirling off-course. At this moment, Rainbow's friends show up in the Twinkling Balloon to deliver the care package.
(Huh, who knew the Hot Air Balloon had a name) And this is an important moment as this is where Dash questions herself and goes to see Spitfire and tells her that if Dust is what they expect of Wonderbolts, she's not so sure that she wants to be a Wonderbolt and Dash is ready to give up on her dream but things take a turn for the better right before Dash leaves.
Spitfire: Rainbow Dash! How dare you storm out of my office without giving me a chance to respond?! The Wonderbolts are looking for the best flyers in Equestria, but you were right. Being the best should never come at the expense of our fellow ponies. It's not just about pushing ourselves. It's about pushing ourselves in the right direction. You've shown that you're capable of doing just that. You're no wingpony, Rainbow Dash, you're a leader.
So, this episode is important for Dash as it shows how far she has come to get to her dream and as I stated, Dust is the last obstacle before joining the ranks of Wonderbolts as Dust is what a more reckless and careless Dash would be. And yes, to a certain extent, Dash has been careless and reckless in some of her endeavors but she has gotten better since this episode.
Characters
Just going to focus on Dash and Dust here. And with that outta the way, let's begin.
Rainbow Dash voiced by Ashleigh Ball
As we've discussed throughout this review, this is an important episode for Dash as she finally gets to show that she has come in the show's first three seasons towards getting her dream and showing that she has matured while still being the same pony that fans love. And while she may have matured in certain areas, we will see that Dash still has some maturing left to do.
Lighting Dust voiced by Britt Irvin
As we've brought up throughout this review, Dust is the counterpoint to Dash and is in many ways sued to show how far Dash has come since the first time that we met her and I think that her presence could also be used to help quash the theory that Dash is too careless. Which really isn't the case and rather Dust shows what that pony would really look like. And that brings us to Dash's element, Loyalty. We see that Dash is willing to put the well-being of others, whereas, for Dust, it's all about me and what she wants.
My Final Thoughts
This is a huge episode for Dash as it shows what she has to go through for her dream and that she is willing to put it aside at points, which makes her getting dream all the stronger. And even though, we see her on the road to her dream, this is far from the last time that we will see Dash's dream. Join me next time as we look at Rainbow Falls.
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