MLP:FIM The Washouts S8 Ep20

This episode was written by Nick Confalone, who has been boarding for the show since Season 5. It was storyboarded by Kaylea Chard (Who has been boarding for the show since season 3) and Nicole Wang (Who has been boarding for the show since the 1st season). I this episode Scootaloo becomes obsessed with a new team of daredevil flyers called The Washouts led by Lighting Dust.


*Slight spoilers coming*

This is an enjoyable episode, however it is not one of the season's best. It has a good story and some funny moments (especially Spitfire's scene and Twilight becoming a fan of The Washouts). However what I was disappointed in here was the depiction of Lighting Dust. In her first episode (Wonderbolts Academy), despite how reckless she was, she seemed more misguided than anything else. She seemed to truly consider Rainbow Dash her friend and at the end seemed hurt when Rainbow told on her. She definitely did not seem like somepony who would actually risk a child's life to put on a good show and not care. The way she is here certainty feels less interesting than the previous depiction of her. Also in this episode how Rainbow Dash acts towards the beginning of this episode is not at her most likable. Later on she is worried about Scootaloo's safety and this is much more likable, but at first she seems to be a little mean to Scootaloo for the simple fact that the foal is looking up to someone else as well. This kind of feels pretty mean spirited.


Still this episode has one of the show's most touching moments, when Scootaloo tells Rainbow Dash, he will never be as good as her, because she can't fly. The emotion in this scene is so real and heartfelt, that it easily makes up for the episode's short comings.

-Michael J. Ruhland