Ok, I would like to point out that you just completely missed the point. There was no Deus Ex Machina ending. As a matter of fact, it was the complete opposite! They day wasn't won from something that popped up at the end out of nowhere, but, something that was already there before the episode even began, with long, dedicated magic training.
See, the whole reason why the changelings were launched away like that was because Shining Armour released his force field. At first, he was too drained, but, then, Cadence charged him back up again as soon as she could reach him. Also, "The Magic of Friendship" was never bested by "The Power of Love". The Mane 6 were unable to get to the Elements of Harmony because there were thousands of changelings that overwhelmed them. However, Cadence got a clear shot at getting to Shining Armour. You're looking way too hard for symbolism in all the wrong places, when what's actually happening is completely literal, physical stuff.
Also, Team Fortress 2 references? Really? "Pushing a mine cart" isn't a TF2 reference any more than it's a reference to Indiana Jones or Donkey Kong. And sandwiches aren't a reference to it any more than... anything else that happens to have sandwiches. Also, there were not any shape-shifting spies. Did anything the changelings were doing look anything remotely like spying? No. They were not out stealing information. They were on the assault. If anything, they were shape-shifting soldiers.
The episode wasn't perfect, but, the specific things you're accusing it of are just... illogical.
See, the whole reason why the changelings were launched away like that was because Shining Armour released his force field. At first, he was too drained, but, then, Cadence charged him back up again as soon as she could reach him. Also, "The Magic of Friendship" was never bested by "The Power of Love". The Mane 6 were unable to get to the Elements of Harmony because there were thousands of changelings that overwhelmed them. However, Cadence got a clear shot at getting to Shining Armour. You're looking way too hard for symbolism in all the wrong places, when what's actually happening is completely literal, physical stuff.
Also, Team Fortress 2 references? Really? "Pushing a mine cart" isn't a TF2 reference any more than it's a reference to Indiana Jones or Donkey Kong. And sandwiches aren't a reference to it any more than... anything else that happens to have sandwiches. Also, there were not any shape-shifting spies. Did anything the changelings were doing look anything remotely like spying? No. They were not out stealing information. They were on the assault. If anything, they were shape-shifting soldiers.
The episode wasn't perfect, but, the specific things you're accusing it of are just... illogical.
