>>12786
>>12787
>>12788
It seems like we have similar feelings but you have a higher level of enjoyment. I think you explain the core conflict better than I do though. Not much I can add to this one other than nod in agreement.

>I would be prepared to accept either explanation, that it is a smoke alarm or that it is just an illustrative sound effect.
I hadn't even thought of it! And yeah, I think I agree.

>Sheep
Trying to make that work, outside of your proposed language barrier. I raise you Applebuck Season. Thinking about it though, the hooved animals can talk,and we've had cows talk before too. We have had them treat other animals like normal animals which required herding and playing on their psychology (Rabbits and Parasprites comes to mind). Even with rabbits (also in Applebuck Season) where Fluttershy can talk to animals, they are still animals who behave like animals here. So my way I can make it make sense is that maybe the cow example I am thinking of is from Applebuck Season, where the cow tells Applejack that her heard got startled by snakes. Even with their apparent higher sentience instinct and animal psychology play a large roll and maybe the sheep aren't always (or universally) so easy and cooperative.