Applewood Follies
- Story by Ted Anderson, Art by Tony Flecs
"Pfft, yeah. I mean a movie about us. Who'd be interested in that? 'Sides the 3D looks so fake too."
"Twilight and friends are surprised to learn that a film is being made about them! When the story turns out to be less than accurate, the group decides to make their own film! But will they be able to agree on the same artistic vision?"
Tropes:
- Call-Back: Twilight's friendship journal (published in "Fame and Misfortune") is being made into a film.
- Continuity Nod:
- The School of Friendship is briefly mentioned.
- In Applewood, the names "Daring Do", Sapphire Shores" and "Coloratura" are seen on the walk of fame.
- When the Mane Five arrive at the studio, they find a scene being filmed that is based on the events of "Over a Barrel". When Rarity takes over production, she directs scenes from "Look Before You Sleep", "Friendship is Magic - Part 2" and "Sonic Rainboom".
- The inanimate objects Pinkie made friends with in "Party of One" appear in her part of the film.
- Rarity's part of the movie is loosely based on the events of "A Bird in the Hoof", but with Film Noir aspects, akin to "Rarity Investigates!".
- In Applejack's part, she is dressed up as Mistress Mare-velous, and recounts events from "Applebuck Season" and "Swarm of the Century".
- In the end, the audience believes the movie was meant to be a comedy, like the Cutie Mark Crusaders' performance was believed to be in "The Show Stoppers".
- It's All About Me: Applejack's part of the film is basically her bragging about how she's Ponyville's greatest protector, and that the town would "fall to pieces" without her.
- Le Film Artistique: Pinkie Pie's segment of the film.
- Never Trust a Trailer: Despite the official summary, Twilight doesn't appear in this issue.
- Self-Serving Memory:
- While directing the scene based on "Look Before You Sleep", Rarity claims that event was about Applejack learning to respect her insistence on proper manners.
- Applejack's part of the movie reeks of this, with her claiming to be the "thin orange line" between the forces of evil and the civilized world.
- Shout-Out:
- One of the movies advertized in Applewood is "The Third Mare" by Horse N. Wells.
- Another is "Singin' in the Reins".
- The movie's director, Wormer Horsehooves, is modelled after real-life director Werner Herzog.
- Whole-Plot Reference: This comic's premise seems to be based on the third issue of the Harley & Ivy miniseries, where Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy take over the production of a movie about themselves, and end up winning an Oscar.
- Written-In Absence: Twilight Sparkle is too busy with the School of Friendship to attend.
