Trixie: The Great and Powerful Paradox

I tried to wrap my head around the most paradoxically likeable character in all of "Friendship is Magic", by way of one Starlight Glimmer and a heaping helping of the philosophy of magic. Come watch me relive my inner magic nerd as we try to figure out what draws people to the Great and Powerful Trixie!
0:00 - Introduction
1:08 - The Paradox of Magic
4:32 - Boast Busters & Magic Duel
6:12 - Forgiveness
7:02 - Starlight Glimmer
8:28 - Rough Edges
9:57 - Manehattan Mysteries
Thumbnail and sprites by Beatlinked
Music by Canvas
Magic Castle by Eryn Erikard

[@zavexcapricious2519]

Something to remember about magic in equestria, is the unicorns like Twilight and Starlight are an EXCEPTION, not the rule. We learned early on from Twilight that most most unicorns only know simple levitation and a small amount of spells related to their cutie mark. The point of Trixie's act isnt too match the small percent of unicorns that can do those magical feats, its to show off magic in a flashy way that 90% of unicorns couldnt do, basically showing them something they'd see as advanced magic without having to have a cutie mark in it like Twilight or Starlight

[@Chara_Dreemurr1]

Honestly that sounds kinda... sweet?

[@jeromy5501]

​​@@Chara_Dreemurr1 like a trick... Humm

[@phantomlogic6940]

Shortly after Starlight and Trixie became friends, I started really loving Trixie. I also immensely looked forward to episodes starring both Starlight and Trixie.

[@TheDanteEX]

It's the new dynamic. I also felt the same way about Maud and Starlight and the students during the last two seasons. I actually found most of the episodes focusing on the Mane 6 to be some of least enjoyable episodes near the end. I feel like they were trying to put the Mane 6 in situations they were way too mature for. Especially in season 8 where there's TWO episodes where two of the Mane 6 stop being friends and one where one of the Mane 6 ditches her friends to live in isolation. I know it sounds dramatic, but I feel like those episodes are insulting to their own characters and how far they've come. Starlight only had like 5 episodes dedicated to her in season 6 (7 if you count the two-parters as separate), when the whole season seemed to build up Starlight learning friendship. So it doesn't feel earned when she graduates at the beginning of the next season. And I'm the biggest Starlight fan. I feel the same way with the students. There's about the same amount of episodes dealing with the students (5) in a season where the School of Friendship is the thing that's fresh. Fortunately, there's a lot of episodes dealing with the school and not the students directly, so that helps, but there's also too many episodes with premises that feel like they could have dropped in season 2, and the show was just past that point. They'd rather do another Rainbow vs Applejack episode again instead of exploring SIX new characters. I know a big part of that is fear. Fear that the audience isn't going to enjoy watching characters they didn't get into the show for in the first place. But the Mane 6 can always be present without being the focus and needing to learn the aesop. They should be TEACHING the lesson every time. They should all be past the point of learning friendship lessons as often, I feel. And little disagreements and arguments are fine, that's a part of friendship. But they kept taking them to the extremes and having them calling off their friendships as if it were fragile. It blows my mind the more I think about it since they're supposed to be "the poster-ponies for friendship".

[@NerdKirby]

I love Trixie so much, she's become one of my favorites after watching the full series, so it's great to see what other people have to say about her.

[@xrayfisg]

When talking about everypony's magic, twilight is the exception. Her cutie mark is magic and the most non-magic cutie mark ponies can do is like, pick things up and use them (like a pair of scissors)

[@banquo0]

Somehow every trait that would be insufferable embodied in a person you know in real life seems to work for this horse. I certainly can appreciate how far she's come since her introduction. I can't say I'm a fan of hers, but ive come a long way from downright hating her when i started watching the show. At rhe very least, I've got some context as to why people enjoy her character so much thanks to you.

[@DrMoonRose]

Im shocked no one has said it but isnt it explicitly stated that a unicorns magic is based off of their cutie mark? With that said her being a magician isnt out of the question bc it's definitely not normal for a unicorn to know how to teleport easily and such (i mean look at how exhausted rarity was in the finale from throwing that boulder)

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

Trixie is a great character who deserves a lot more love. Speaking of characters who deserve more love...don't hate Discord just because the writers decided to be lazy and throw away all the positive changes they'd made to his character just so they could use him as the fall guy for the last episode. If anyone's an example of judging someone harshly based on past negative behavior despite having become a better being it's him.

[@SD2006]

Discord is my favourite "villain" character. Yes, I do agree that his character got a bit.. shit on, let's say. But if we ignore that, then he's the best (in my opinion) 😁

[@yondaime500]

Since Celestia gives such Dumbledore vibes in season 1, I always thought of Trixie as a reference to Gilderoy Lockhart by association.

[@efrandsen72]

A unicorns horn will show when magic is being used, so not seeing Trixie's horn the glow could mean something.

[@Theta40]

The way the show portrays it, it appears that unicorns have a various levels of magical aptitude, and most unicorns are only capable of basic telekinesis and nothing more. Rarity for example can use telekinesis and one spell to locate jewels, and that appears to be it. Telekinesis appears to be a basic skill taught to all unicorns, but any magic more complex than that requires dedicated study and practice. Just like most everyone can use their hands to pick up an object, but in order to sew, paint or play the piano requires actually specifically learning the skill. So I can see it as possible that an average unicorn can find skilled feats of magic impressive, just like an average Pegasus can find highly skilled flying impressive.

[@RonTaco]

Trixie is one of my favourite characters. What I like most about her is that her emotions come so naturally. That’s a great quality for an animated character. She appears to _be_ frightened, glad, sad or angry rather than appearing to _be_ _acting_ that way. For example in ‘To Where and Back Again - Part 1’ Thorax makes her really skittish and she displays it in a funny but believable way. Kudos to Kathleen Barr and the animators! What I also like - maybe due to the fact that I’m European and I like ‘shades of grey’ - is that she is in between good and evil. That’s how most real people are. Cartoon characters tend to be either good with some flaws or bad with some flaws. She never becomes fully ‘good’ but remains moderately good with a lot of flaws. I can relate to that. She feels more real to me than other characters.

[@vulpinitemplar5036]

To answer your question stage magicians offer feats of magic as a form of entertainment, magic is common is Equestria but it's mainly used for trivial quality of life things like carrying objects so the novelty alone of someone traveling from place to place to entertain with magic fits right in.

[@MarianneStudios]

Surprised you didn’t include Flurry Heart in that first list, hehe. I have always loved Trixie, not only has she been a fantastic initial foil to Twilight but is genuinely both sweet and charismatic within the later seasons! 💙

[@DaisyAzuras]

She actually made me cry for her so that right there makes her a deeper character.

[@czerkitka141]

Im what episode?

[@DaisyAzuras]

@@czerkitka141 almost every episode with both Trixie and glimmy together. Trixie becomes vulnerable around Glimmy. They both do.

[@coyotix]

is this a take colder than antarctica? yes. am i gonna say it anyway? yep. trixie and starlight are very much so written like a couple learning that dating isn't all cuddles and kisses, and i love it

[@LiIacAster]

I'm glad I've read that comic! Trixie has been my favourite for most of the time I was a fan of FiM and I really enjoyed the comic too!

[@PeacePetal]

Hi.

[@mikdietz8840]

i just wanna say the narration and background music choice in this is so satisfying and fitting, makes for a great listen in the background of drawing Trixie fanart! :3

[@flomstuff-kk7fn]

I think the reason ponies like Trixie's shows is because, A, like you said, presentation, but also, when one 3rd of your population can do magic, its more impressive when you know they don't, because it seems more relatable

[@henrykcabak7979]

I love her and starlight so much i would shoot a person for more episodes with them

[@GrimDrago]

The biggest thing I always wondered about the character is; Why is she a unicorn? Like this always just goes through my mind when she's onscreen. It would've be way more interesting if she was an earth pony. Especially in her first two appearances.

[@badoomching]

0:03 For me I'm thinking Rarity, Photo Finish, Trixie, Starlight and Rainbow Dash

[@kactilove5543]

I really agree, but i think photo finish would be more of an honorable mention because most of the time when shes extra shes just being loud, rarity pulls out a whole couch😭

[@RemViolet]

Trixie is 1 of my 3 favorite characters tied. And of those 3 she has possibly some of the most relatable traits for me. I genuinely enjoy her a lot as a character, and I feel she gets pretty overhated, I dont know many characters nearly as polarizing as her. I want to either do a panel or a video some day in defense of her, because I feel she gets less credit than she should. Though your video already covers a lot of what makes her great already!

[@4zy1]

would love to see that video ngl had an idea like that myself, she gets way too much shit

[@SkydreamPony]

Regarding why Trixie does stage magic when Twi can teleport and magically poof in facial hair, it's because most unicorns do not have that level of power. Rarity for example can find gems and do basic telekinesis. She can't teleport or cast spells the way Twi can. Kind of like how if Usain Bolt can earn an Olympic medal, why can't I? I'm not an Olympic runner. If Twi can teleport, why can't Trixie or Rarity? They're not the element of magic with a cutie mark in magic itself. It took Starlight going through magic lessons with Trixie to get her to do a teleport that still went wrong in terms of destination, and Trixie couldn't believe she'd done an actual spell. Though Sweetie Belle can teleport in season 9 when she gets aged up...maybe she's stronger than we thought...

[@michellegeller813]

Waaaaay super off toppic, but jumping into a cement mixer actually sounds really fun. Dangerous, but fun.

[@WeirdWonderful]

I still don't understand how Starlight spends that one whole episode banging on about how bad nepotism is when it's LITERALLY how she got the job in the first place, and she never acknowledges it XD

[@czerkitka141]

LITERALLY THAT IS SUCH A GOOD POINT

[@WeirdWonderful]

@@czerkitka141 Also, all the people teaching at the school have 0 academic background and just got in cause they are Twilight's friends. If that is sufficient criteria to work at the school, then Trixie ironically has better credentials than the people Starlight interviews, cause we don't know if they even have friends.

[@gum7863]

yep love me a bit of trixie, she is great....oh and powerful.

[@Calpsotoma]

Trixie is a Bard in a world of Wizards.

[@Darksoulpoetry]

The bulk of us "old school" bronies always loved/hated boast busters. We loved it cause it gave us Trixie. We hated it because she was the "atangonist" who's whole job is boasting, telling tales, and selling grand illusion. She's being attacked for her litteral job. Luckily I think it was Larson, gave us our second trixie episode in season three. Cathartic and fun! and this time Trixie WAS a villan, if fueled by her possesion of the Alicorn amulate. Glad new fans get it too!

[@stormshadowproductions1660]

She is my favorite character

[@nynthes]

im so excited for that ranking of all episodes if you're actually doing that

[@gatorgoatjohnny]

Should be out in mid-late December! There's not a ton of it left.

[@DaisyAzuras]

I love Trixie. When she’s with Glimmy all the best things start happening.

[@ThatOneTigerdeer]

Never enuff of the Trix! 💜 Cool fact that she never discovered her full magic powers. Maybe she`s WAY more powerful than we know! :o

[@fvvcccc4307]

She has revealed her abilities and yes, she is much more powerful than everyone thinks. Just remember how, at the first appearance, she changed Rarity's mane, which starlight could not do

[@oneovertwo1186]

Asking what's the point of a magician in Equestria is like asking what's the point of an acrobat on Earth

[@PrKo]

rly like your analysis vids

[@TheAllSeeingEye2468]

Magic is op but what Trixie does takes effort

[@DinoTamer-22]

Talking about the magicians in a magic world section of the video. Did you forget the part where twilight specifically says that most unicorns magic is specific to their talents and only a very small minority have magic AS their special talent? Not every unicorn is like twilight and starlight. I’m willing to bet before Trixie met twilight she honestly thought she was more powerful than anyone else because her special talent is magic wheres other unicorns wouldn’t have as much variety of magical talent as her.

[@fvvcccc4307]

Doesn't she have a talent for stage tricks, not magnesium?

[@Secret_Moon]

I don't know why people keep saying Trixie was not at fault, and it was actually the mane 6's for everything happened in Boast Busters. The issue is not that she boasted or tried to make a persona on stage, the issue is that she was lousy at it, boasting way too obviously and got called out by some of her audience (which they had absolutely every right to do), and worse, she took that personal and then used tricks and cheats to gaslight, humiliate and bully those questioning her out of the place. It was a common tactic of an obvious bully and that's why I hated her. The mane 6 did nothing wrong there. They commented on her lousy performance with skepticism as they had any right to as her audience, accepted her challenge (stress that it was _her_ challenge), got cheated on and humiliated in front of the crowd and they actually took it, not trying to get back at her in any way. The Ursa Minor coming to town was absolutely the consequence of Trixie's own boasting. Had the mane 6 not been there, it would have still happened all the same. And somehow they were responsible for Trixie losing her house? She got what she deserved.

[@4zy1]

I don't think being a bit of a loudmouth warrants having your life ruined/becoming homeless. If the Mane 6 didn't like her show they could've left instead of making a scene about it. Also, "The Ursa coming to town was absolutely the consequence of Trixie's own boasting." No, it was the two dumbass kids that don't know common sense. By your logic, if I tell a kid that Santa is real and they go to the North Pole and die of hypothermia it's my fault. You also didn't mention that she helped defend Ponyville from the Ursa instead of just running away.

[@youre1671]

ah yes she deserved having her life ruined because she lied a little good grief

[@KidPrarchord95]

I don't think I can defend their rather ruthless criticism of a show that was, whether good or bad, still literally free to watch.

[@ThatLilFloofer]

I am a hardcore trixie x starlight shimmer shipper they’re so perfect lol

[@tagmadelineh]

My top 5 "extra" ponies are completely different. Trixie, Discord, Rarity, Photo Finish, and Adagio Dazzle

[@LiIacAster]

10:03 love this comic

[@Surikaat]

Not related to the topic at all. I loved the background music I was vibing to it the whole time while also listening to you.

[@gatorgoatjohnny]

By my buddy Canvas, she's super talented. :)

[@Surikaat]

@@gatorgoatjohnny Thank you! Just finished your cutie count video and found her channel in the description. Love all your videos btw :)

[@astarteswillum5259]

I'm not really a fan of the show but I love Trixie.

[@crowpond3665]

So you’re saying Trixie is the Megamind of MLP Says I who is only a third through the video as of typing this

[@Rainbow_Sish_Kabob]

Trixie is interesting when you compare her to another redeemed villain: Discord. Trixie was initially a controversial character who became more respected with time, while Discord went the opposite route

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

Huh? Discord was a villain who became a changed being as time went by. Even in the last episode the only reason he disguises himself as Grogar is because he thought it would help. He's not a bad guy.

[@Rainbow_Sish_Kabob]

@@ZiddersRooFurry I meant in the fandom. Very few people have a problem with Trixie, but it seems like it's almost trendy to hate Discord.

[@master106]

BEST PONY!!!!!

[@joseluisrivera99]

I love her, she is my favorite fraud.

[@xXpuppybreathXx]

can someone help me out... id rlly like to read all the comics but i feel my google searches don't help :-p

[@UmSteven]

throughout the show i HATED Trixie, but the more i hear ab headcanons and ppls personal thoughts on her, the more i think i have come to love her dearly as much as i do the other ponies fr

[@freakthecentipede2743]

I mean, the villains almost always are the best characters. Personally my favorite is Discord, but hey

[@CosmicWavS]

To sum it up: Trixie is great because she's based

[@youre1671]

"trixie kinda sucks" wrong

[@SmokeTheHorsehog]

So, why is it that you enjoy Trixie, but hate Discord? I can tell you my reasoning as to why I agree with that sentiment, but I want to know yours.

[@gatorgoatjohnny]

I don't think I outright *hate* Discord any more. Honestly, he didn't click with the cast until "Dungeons and Discords", and until then, I felt like his character was largely spinning his wheels. I really wish the show had set him up with Spike and Big Mac a couple seasons earlier.

[@SmokeTheHorsehog]

@@gatorgoatjohnny At least to me, Discord clicked even less, by the time the last few seasons rolled around. Yes, some of it was meant to cover up the ending twist with Grogar, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. Combine getting so meta that his Fourth Wall breaking is just lampshade hanging, and make him an even bigger jerk than ever before, again, at least in my opinion. I'd specifically like to highlight two episodes: 1. His "test" of Starlight in A Matter of Principals involved him causing mayhem that, best case scenario, would have just made the students miserable, interrupted or disrupted the flow of classes, but worse case scenario, could have gotten people hurt, if not killed (even though none of them did get killed, as far as we're shown), and not to mention caused plenty of property damage. And this led to Starlight trying to KILL Discord, only to keep trolling her until she managed to get his reasoning. 2. Even though Twilight managed to shut Discord up in The Summer Sun Setback, once the Legion of Doom showed up right under his nose, he remains oblivious to the situation despite being there at the same time, AND essentially goes "I'm not helping, because you need character development" and peaces out. This isn't even bothering to mention just how they made him somehow even more uncharacteristically malicious in the G5 comics.

[@Lunablues23]

Ship

[@saintzeroinfinity]

🪄

[@alexbaldes]

how is Twilight Sparkle a extra character isn't she the main character

[@baffledbrandon3132]

I get how Rarity and Trixie are "extra", but how the fuck are Twilight Sparkle, Bulk Biceps, Cheese Sandwich, and Pinkie Pie "extra?"

[@oniko.mp3]

Just a thing I’ve noticed- why does every quirky white guy late millennial - early gen z go through a magic trick phase XDDD This and ancient history and/or a 20th century historical event (including 9/11 cuz close enough)

[@gatorgoatjohnny]

Thinking about my Criss Angel phase makes me want to turn to stone. 2006 was a rough year for me.💀

[@vicious3526]

As per youtuber DWK, trixie is just starlights alcoholic, druggie girlfriend, where normally, twilight is an f up, but twilight and co. normally fix her mess ups, but when it's just trixie and starlight, the fun dynamic is that starlight that she has to be the adult in the relationship and it's hilarious.

[@Calicodiamondcreeper]

AND HIS WIFE BY EXTENSION I LOVE THAT

[@FH4Player6397]

Rarity is my wifu but I also love Trixie as my second wifu and Twilight Sparkle as third and final wifu. I will flat out ignore the dumb "tRixIe iS tRaNs" headcannon. In my opinion Trixie is a straight female and so is the rest of the mane 6/7. I love your videos Gator! Keep them coming!

[@4zy1]

Unbelievably based. I wish more people would just respect characters the way they are.

[@wormtime5695]

can you make a video why youre the biggest discord hater xD i genuinely wanna watch

[@gatorgoatjohnny]

My relationship with Discord would be like an hour long, it's a true love hate relationship. No other character on the show has my opinion changed so much on.

[@fvvcccc4307]

Teleport is not at the level of the average unicorn. This is the level of a strong unicorn, it is unlikely that there will be at least 100 of them in the entire series The first appearance is terrible not only because of the mediocre performance. The very idea is disgusting. Boastfulness is not bad. It would be much better to show the boaster as actually doing everything he boasted about and who in the end would not fall face down in the dirt. Even from a moral point of view, such an episode would have been better. Dr. Stone did a great job with the Trixie-like characters.

[@MajoraWaffle]

transbian magician horse my beloved

[@4zy1]

please stop

[@MajoraWaffle]

@@4zy1 stay mad, trixie is a trans icon and happily married to starlight glimmer

[@FH4Player6397]

​@@MajoraWaffle*Not trans and straight

[@MajoraWaffle]

oops looks like i've made the heteros upseteros

[@beanbagburrito]

#TRIXIESWEEP

[@bowser3017]

2:19 She can't be trans. No stallion in the show has a rounded muzzle like the mares. Yes, there are mares with a rectangular muzzle, but there are no stallions with a rounded muzzle. There is pony Rumble, but he is only a foal and his appearance may change after puberty

[@gatorgoatjohnny]

So mares can have square muzzles, but stallions having rounded muzzles is just impossible? Seems a little fishy.

[@bowser3017]

@@gatorgoatjohnny it’s just according to the canon there is not a single adult stallion with a rounded muzzle. All the ones that come to my mind are stallions created in the fandom

[@MrConredsX]

She's dead in G5 and thats the way i like her

[@4zy1]

💀