The Last Crusade (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)

"The Last Crusade"
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode
Aunt Holiday (left) with Auntie Lofty, who is holding a quilt with her wings that contains various cutie marks
Aunt Holiday (left) with Auntie Lofty (right), who has broken through her creative block with inspiration from the Cutie Mark Crusaders
Episode no.Season 9
Episode 12
Directed byDenny Lu and Mike Myhre
Written byNicole Dubuc
Original air dateJune 15, 2019 (2019-06-15)
Running time22 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (season 9)
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"The Last Crusade" is the twelfth episode of the ninth season of animated children's television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic as well as 207th episode overall. Directed by Denny Lu and Mike Myhre and written by Nicole Dubuc, in the episode, Snap Shutter and Mane Allgood, who study exotic wildlife and are Scootaloo's parents, come home. Despite being overjoyed by their return, Scootaloo soon finds her parents plan to take her with them as they move to Shire Lanka for their work. Desperate, the Crusaders devise several strategies to keep Scootaloo in Ponyville. The episode premiered on Discovery Family on June 15, 2019, and garnered recognition and acclaim as the first Friendship Is Magic episode to feature homosexual characters.

Plot

While the Cutie Mark Crusaders—Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle—are hanging out at Scootaloo's house, she gets a postcard saying that her parents, Snap Shutter and Mane Allgood, are coming home. Snap and Mane travel widely for their work studying exotic wildlife, which others believe to be "impossible", and Scootaloo is often left in the care of her aunts Holiday and Lofty, among others. Although initially excited to see them, Scootaloo becomes dismayed when her parents tell her of their plans to take her with them as they relocate to Shire Lanka. The desperate Crusaders come up with various plans to help Scootaloo stay in Ponyville, but Snap and Mane sell their house and continue to make preparations to move. Their ideas include: creating a make-believe beast for her parents to study instead, which fails due to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle falling out of its costume; showing that they are an inseparable trio with their near-identical cutie marks, which does not succeed as Snap notices features that distinguish them; binding themselves together with magic, which lacks success as they find it hard to walk; and chaining themselves to the house's "For Sale" sign, which proves unsuccessful as the sign is quickly moved.

Eventually, Scootaloo and the Crusaders take a train to her aunts' houses as a trip to Shire Lanka is only available once a month, meaning her parents will have to leave without her or risk missing the train. During the visit to Holiday and Lofty, they learn that they helped Lofty to break through her creative block, inspiring her to make a Crusaders-themed quilt. Upon the Crusaders' return to Ponyville, Scootaloo brings her parents to a town-wide celebration of the former group. Snap and Mane allow Scootaloo to stay in Ponyville, recognizing the importance of her work with the Crusaders. Holiday and Lofty decide to move to Ponyville so they can look after Scootaloo.

Background

Nicole Dubuc smiling while holding her Writers Guild Award with her left hand
Nicole Dubuc (pictured) and Michael Vogel came up with introducing lesbian characters through Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty.

"The Last Crusade" received recognition for being the first Friendship Is Magic episode to feature homosexual characters: Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty are lesbians.[1][2] The characters first appeared in the My Little Pony book Ponyville Mysteries: Riddle of the Rusty Horseshoe.[3] Michael Vogel, a writer and producer of the show, denied any hints that the two might be sisters, leading to fans labeling them as a couple. Vogel later confirmed that they were a "cute couple". The Friendship Is Magic fandom has also commonly shipped same-sex couples.[4][5]

Later, Vogel and showrunner Nicole Dubuc came up with the idea of introducing a lesbian couple to the series with the aunts and Hasbro approved.[4] According to Julie Duffy of Hasbro, after highlighting various types of families in the series over its nine seasons, they hoped to "help [...] provide kids and fans from all backgrounds an opportunity to identify with our characters and learn from their stories".[6]

Broadcast

Prior to its airing on June 15, 2019, in the United States on Discovery Family, the episode aired in Europe.[7] Coincidentally, the episode aired during PRIDE Week in the United States.[5] On Treehouse TV, June 23, 2019, in Canada.[8][9]

Reception

According to Yahoo!, "many [...] have commended the show for its inclusivity."[10] Romper listed Friendship Is Magic one of the "20 Amazing Shows With LGBTQ+ Characters To Watch With Your Kids" because of Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty.[11] Similarly, The Globe and Mail featured the show as one of its parents' picks in "family programs that showcase LGBTQ+ representation".[12] According to Jackie Blackmore, who voices Aunt Holiday, she has received an "explosion of love" from fans, including being given artworks.[8]

Australian conservative political activist Lyle Shelton objected to the decision to make the characters lesbian, however. On Twitter, he stated: "It's a brave new world folks & we need to push back while we can. Sitting outside politics is no longer an option for conservatives."[5][10]

References

  1. ^ Ali, Rasha (June 13, 2019). "'Cute couple!' My Little Pony introduces lesbian ponies Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "My Little Pony Introduces Its First Lesbian Characters with Same-Sex Couple Making Their Cartoon Debut". People. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Payne, Ed (June 13, 2019). "My Little Pony brings same-sex couple to latest episode". KKCO. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Strapagiel, Lauren (June 12, 2019). "There's Going To Be A Lesbian Couple On My Little Pony". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Harmon, Steph (June 13, 2019). "My Little Pony brings lesbians to Equestria – just in time for pride week". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Italie, Leanne (July 31, 2019). "LGBTQ representation in children's TV is growing: 'We're talking about the love of a family'". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Same-sex couple featured on My Little Pony for first time". WIAT. June 13, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Ahearn, Victoria (June 19, 2019). "Vancouver's Jackie Blackmore on voicing a lesbian aunt in My Little Pony". CTV News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (June 21, 2019). "Vancouver's Jackie Blackmore on voicing a lesbian aunt in My Little Pony". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Donnelly, Erin (June 13, 2019). "My Little Pony cartoon praised for introducing lesbian couple — but some critics call it 'sick'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Kenney, Jamie (June 5, 2021). "20 Amazing Shows With LGBTQ+ Characters To Watch With Your Kids". Romper. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Bhandari, Aparita (July 6, 2021). "Parents' Picks: From Sesame Street to a sci-fi series, family programs that showcase LGBTQ+ representation". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.