History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS9E16ATrivialPursuit

* OffModel: Twilight's facial expressions continue to grow more and more exaggerated and off-model as she grows more obsessed and neurotic.

* SanitySlippage: Twilight losing her mind over a facts based game + Creator/TaraStrong's hammyness while losing her mind + deranged animation = hilarious.

* CompanyCrossReferences: The episode title and the Trivia Trot logo are based on the board game ''TabletopGame/TrivialPursuit'', which, like ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' is owned by Creator/{{Hasbro}}.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Twilight is relieved that Applejack and Rainbow Dash aren't paired together because "Team [=AppleDash=] is basically unstoppable". This is likely a reference to the [=AppleDash=] ship, which is implied ([[https://derpibooru.org/images/2642528 and later confirmed]]) to become canon in the series finale.

** Maud and Mudbriar are quick to brag about categories they know the answers to.

* NoExceptYes: Invokved when Twilight arrives at the contest.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Twilight is relieved that Applejack and Rainbow Dash aren't paired together because "Team [=AppleDash=] is basically unstoppable". This is likely a reference to the [=AppleDash=] ship, which is implied ([[https://analytics.twitter.com/mob_idsync_click?slug=C54Ahq58Nb&idb=AAAAEIBeJE_JpJ53X2sYzfX2e5SfRrAaj6BqQhS_437yg_ovyj7kpBKlrv2ZaFGzL087Ny9C4cmWypNSR-K8_3I8QP1G_F9SOZxjwSOdgmE8GEeYt54Sa8S8D761W6F7_pZzEWPtoQcEg2pQqiqEaIKMxPwR2EkdDYwDqUC8kBEWdN-W8Wp21JbTN4wXKKDL1lTf0a5WP0oRGyNlw7gxNcfgkfqoym1Rss0KGijYH5eEV89baeCGozy3vehfBBqnCiwdLvJb_Ppxnobbj8oV4_4HDg&ad_tracking=false&tailored_ads=false and later confirmed]]) to become canon in the series finale.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Twilight is relieved that Applejack and Rainbow Dash aren't paired together because "Team [=AppleDash=] is basically unstoppable". This is likely a reference to the [=AppleDash=] ship, which is implied (but not confirmed) to become canon in the series finale.

* TemporarilyExaggeratedTrait: Twilight's SuperOCD traits reach an absolute extreme here; she ''starts out'' the episode in "Lesson Zero" mode. She freaks out more here than when informed [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS9E1TheBeginningOfTheEndPart1 she'd replace Celestia]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Twilight is relieved that Applejack and Rainbow Dash aren't paired together because "Team AppleDash is basically unstoppable". This is likely a reference to the AppleDash ship, which is implied (but not confirmed) to become canon in the series finale.

* SanitySlippage: Twilight losing her mind over a facts based game + Creator/TaraStrong ‘s hammyness while losing her mind + deranged animation = hilarious.

* SanitySlippage: Twilight losing her mind over a facts based game + Creator/TaraStrong ‘s hammyness while losing her mind = hilarious

* ShoutOut:
** The episode title and the Trivia Trot logo are based on the board game ''TabletopGame/TrivialPursuit'', owned by Hasbro.
** The music played when Pinkie Pie's name is dropped into the bowl is the same stinger music used in ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire''.

* ConflictBall: Twilight and Pinkie fall behind in the competition because Twilight keeps trying to coach Pinkie on answering and proper conduct, allowing other teams to ring in first. During the break, Twilight contemplates just answering the questions herself, and Spike also brings up this idea, but Twilight instead decides to start {{Rules Lawyer}}ing the other teams to get them penalized, and then does the same to Pinkie to get her disqualified so Twilight can pair up with Sunburst instead. Sunburst then picks up the Ball when he decides Twilight is too frazzled to be trusted and starts fighting with her over the bell to keep her from ringing in.

* ConflictBall: Twilight and Pinkie fall behind in the competition because Twilight keeps trying to coach Pinkie on answering and proper conduct, allowing other teams to ring in first. During the break, Twilight contemplates just answering the questions herself, and Spike also brings up this idea, but Twilight instead decides to start {{Rules Lawyer}}ing the other teams to get them penalized, and then does the same to Pinkie to get her disqualified so Twilight can pair up with Sunburst instead. Sunburst then picks up the Ball when he decides Twilight is too frazzled to be trusted and starts fighting with her over the bell to keep her from ringing in.

* CompetitionFreak:
** Twilight is obsessed with becoming Trivia Trot three-time champion ''before'' the competition starts. It gets so bad that she sets up Pinkie to be disqualified because Twilight believes she is dragging her down.
** Sunburst also falls into this, being obsessed with his perfect answer streak.
** Rainbow Dash and Applejack's competitive nature between each other is once again on full display when they wind up on opposing teams.

** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E26ShadowPlayPart2 Ghastly Gorge used to be a cavern before it was eroded into a gorge]].
** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E14StrangerThanFanFiction The number of holes in Daring Do's hat]].

* VillainProtagonist: Twilight is this in this episode, treating Pinkie like a burden and tricking her into getting disqualified.

** Twilight treats Pinkie like a burden and refuses to let her answer any questions after she gets the first one wrong. Even when the questions are about cupcakes, something Pinkie is an expert on, Twilight refuses to let her answer.