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stachehand · 2 years ago

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A year later, it's finally time for the follow-up!

Seasons 6 to 9:

Season 6, Episode 1: The Crystalling, Part 1

The pacing at the start, while fine as a reintroduction to Starlight, feels like it's got a ball & chain on it's ankles. Sunburst is BARELY introduced, not helped by his surprising emotional constipation. Also, remember Lesson Zero?

Season 6, Episode 2: The Crystalling, Part 2

Some kingdom folk you saved, Spike. Now, Sunburst's personality proves appealing and advances Starlight's arc through a funny bait-and-switch. Flurry Heart's alicornhood was basically shock value that brought about some dumb choices.

Season 6, Episode 3: The Gift of the Maud Pie

Maud expresses the most powerful emotions through only her words, she practically steals this show by the balls. Also, it's interestingly subversive to see this kind of present-on-present story illustrated through a FRIENDLY rivalry.

Season 6, Episode 4: On Your Marks

It seemed they made an unwarranted slight against the CMC's pre-established hobbies. Besides that, they were close to the finish line, and they made a random plot swerve just to reiterate their revelation and proud declaration from last season.

Season 6, Episode 5: Gauntlet of Fire

Spike was THE definition of a noble dragon in this. One of his finest roles in any episode. Twilight and Rarity brought some welcome levity with their convenient set of disguises, and Ember? What a wholesome sweetheart with a rough exterior!

Season 6, Episode 6: No Second Prances

So, Twilight actually learned NOTHING about controlling her student's friendship education, AND she's a willful liar? Furthermore, is the SCALE of wrongdoings not important to mention? The start of StarTrix chemistry's a small victory then.

Season 6, Episode 7: Newbie Dash

Odd how despite the continuity nods, there's not really an arc of putting aside pride to open up about the "Crash" name's personal effects. Thankfully, the Wonderbolts are all in-character and have some amusing frivolity to their professionalism.

Season 6, Episode 8: A Hearth's Warming Tail

Certainly another feel-good recommendation for a Christmas viewing list. It goes about how you'd expect an adaptation of A Christmas Carol to, and sings it's heart out while giving us TWO song bookends, in two different ways, to boot.

Season 6, Episode 9: The Saddle Row Review

Don't these ponies know about Help Wanted ads? I should figure they especially do. On the plus side, the interview cutaways never disrupt the plot too much. Characters reflecting after the heat of the moment has long passed is also fun.

Season 6, Episode 10: Applejack's "Day" Off

I think the ending resolution would have made a bit more sense if Twilight was shown trying the complicated methods, but then aiming for efficiency, BEFORE opining about Applejack's time management. Feels as slow as the spa day itself.

Season 6, Episode 11: Flutter Brutter

It's GENIUS for Fluttershy to have someone (not villainous) in her regular life who angers her, and by that someone's abuse towards the Harmony concept she stands for. I just wish Zephyr Breeze had more going for his potential for success.

Season 6, Episode 12: Spice Up Your Life

There'd be grounds for Rarity's smug idea with the restaurant, if she wasn't already exposed to THEIR qualities, and clearly feigning her fondness for the fancy fare. Seems like denial that isn't addressed. Nice song and lesson, at least.

Season 6, Episode 13: Stranger Than Fan Fiction

Quibble Pants certainly reflects how mean-spirited some critical fans of fiction can get in their passion, but he avoids being gross or total dead weight in the story. They also get about the maximum mileage out of the convention.

Season 6, Episode 14: The Cart Before the Ponies

One: why are the big sisters so tyrannical AND oblivious? Two: why didn't the CMC just trade sisters for a day from the beginning? Three: have all the competitors had too much to drink before the race? A few giggles aside… lame.

Season 6, Episode 15: 28 Pranks Later

The third act plays out like a G-rated creepypasta! I don't think the moral correlated with Rainbow's exact deeds, where she was showing no signs of restraint for practical joking. But, Pinkie gets to use her townwide connections more. Neat!

Season 6, Episode 16: The Times They Are A Changeling

My only criticism here is that the song number at the end is rather repetitive, which is no good for it's heartwarming message. The rest hits the nail on the head on one thing: fame is well worth sacrificing for what's right.

Season 6, Episode 17: Dungeons & Discords

I mean, Dungeons & Dragons, a game where anything can be done, and a character who CAN do anything with a mere, quick thought? It's like grilled cheese and ketchup! Discord's also kind of precious when he's a little bit pathetic. Y'know?

Season 6, Episode 18: Buckball Season

An unlikely character expansion and promoting the value of curbing worries go a long way. But, I scratch my head at the workings of the training program, and the conclusion wound up downplaying the teaching on skills for different reasons.

Season 6, Episode 19: The Fault in Our Cutie Marks

Gabby, you're too adorable and pure for even THIS world! Better yet, they manage to cleverly tell when victories can be part of failure born of an impossibility. Sadly, Twilight became a premise and setup without a punchline.

Season 6, Episode 20: Viva Las Pegasus

The way the antagonist sows strife between the ponies in his employ is so vague as to make the extent I can hate him… incomplete, I guess? As for Flim & Flam, seeing them doing honest business for a change freshens up their characters.

Season 6, Episode 21: Every Little Thing She Does

Starlight makes THIS big a relapse, and we ain't gonna talk about it? The story's BEGGING for addressment of die-hard habits. Perhaps some tougher love as well. Gotta admit, though, I get a kick out of the pop culture quotations.

Season 6, Episode 22: P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)

I'm a sucker for a Rashomon story's meta comedy, so here's a big win. But, the ponies' grudges feel over-the-top when you consider their accounts are tied together by a LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENT they CAN'T blame on each other.

Season 6, Episode 23: Where the Apple Lies

This did NOT need to be an origin for Big Mac's speech pattern. The episode acts like it's all about how much he says, rather than his point. Goes to show that any idea needs the right execution. Could've easily squeezed THAT lesson in.

Season 6, Episode 24: Top Bolt

See? Was putting a usable point on both sides so hard? What really helps the plot along is Rainbow using her observational memorization to aid in the resolution. Besides that, I sensed a "fake friends" metaphor between Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail.

Season 6, Episode 25: To Where and Back Again, Part 1

All setup and no act progression make episode a dull boy! And man, that village scene felt like a passive-aggression assault. Cutting losses feels like a genuinely good tip. Serious Discord and rascally Trixie save the day.

Season 6, Episode 26: To Where and Back Again, Part 2

What a status quo change between creature clans, and it's dropped! Also, they win by just doing something really hard? Oh well, Starlight's arc pays off in an organic full circle, and everyone uses what they have competently.

Film 4: Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree

Although bits and pieces of this movie seem more born from contractual obligation than legit purpose, nothing breaks the sweet deal of the gang coming to terms with magic fully entering their otherwise normal human lives, or the music.

Season 7, Episode 1: Celestial Advice

I enjoy this expansion on Celestia's character and the equally pleasant and funny scenario for Twilight to discover the warts beneath her clean mental image, parallels and all. Though, it only HALF follows up on the preceding season finale.

Season 7, Episode 2: All Bottled Up

Aside from this episode's odd, cluttered, anthology-like structure, it's a successful test of a recent friendship's endurance. Starlight at the end set a fine precedent for her firm hoof as a hero going forward. The resolution was sweet, also.

Season 7, Episode 3: A Flurry of Emotions

Sheesh, these are pretty dang relatable dilemmas that play out, both on Twilight's end and on Shining Armor and Cadence's side. While the different spin on a babysitting story is appreciated, much of the runtime bores with it's padding.

Season 7, Episode 4: Rock Solid Friendship

There's a good storyline going on here about friends in the making of two worlds, buried beneath odd progression choices. Maud's bonding with Starlight feels disconnected in the grand scheme of things, and Pinkie's a stupid scene thief.

Season 7, Episode 5: Fluttershy Leans In

Genius resolution, but the friends who recommended the experts CONFRONTING them on breaking their trust (or catching the red flags) would've been better narratively. That, and paying mind to the other side of the "artist's vision" coin.

Season 7, Episode 6: Forever Filly

There's the nitpick of the "growing up and interests evolving with time" lesson being lessened only by the show's refusal to update the CMC's designs in physical age, but no BIG gripes. The parallel plotlines click nicely, and are so wholesome!

Season 7, Episode 7: Parental Glideance

They had SOMETHING, but then lost me by treating Rainbow Dash as the bad guy. It's made only worse by her tirade being weak for all the history of her parents being more her overzealous cheerleaders than, well, her PARENTS. Long gags, too.

Season 7, Episode 8: Hard to Say Anything

Pretty amusing for the most part. Big Mac gets over the top for HIS character, though on the other hand, for a repeat nuisance, Feather Bangs could've been a HUNDRED times more obnoxious. A blessing worth counting. Sugar Belle's alright.

Season 7, Episode 9: Honest Apple

A lesson about brutal honesty and how it needs moderating? All good. Not so much attaching it to a story where a character who KNOWS hard effort AND it's value doesn't recognize it in another line of work, and adds nothing of worth to the field.

Season 7, Episode 10: A Royal Problem

It's got everything to make it work. A sense of dread from the sisters' conflict, in-character steps into each other's shoes, a use of established abilities that brings the twists and turns into the plot, and Starlight shutting Twilight up.

Season 7, Episode 11: Not Asking for Trouble

That's subversive; rather than the proud swallowing their pride, it's worked around. It only offers small bits of yak lore, makes their way of living questionable, and is paced slowly, but Pinkie Pie and Rutherford formed a fun bond.

Season 7, Episode 12: Discordant Harmony

A great dive into Discord's insecurities about his friendship with Fluttershy. His change into a common gentleman was a very natural descent, and came with a grim, but interesting catch. It brought quite a creative side out of Fluttershy.

Season 7, Episode 13: The Perfect Pear

Easily the show's best romantic story! The relationship between the Apples' parents makes it all the more tragic we'd never see them speak to their children. Just as gracefully illustrated was the pointlessness of rivalries. Perfect indeed!

Season 7, Episode 14: Fame and Misfortune

Son of a bitch it's more asinine than I recalled! The total lack of savviness in basically making the Mane 6's DIARY public, and the testament to how HIGHLY Ponyville views these gals leaves the bitterest taste in the mouth! Boneheads!

Season 7, Episode 15: Triple Threat

Thorax and Ember trading advice, and Ember's confusion with pony customs, make the episode. The plot of keeping them apart, however, feels like an arbitrary conflict. Annoying to watch nobody take the truthful route, and blame one for it all.

Season 7, Episode 16: Campfire Tales

As far as mythos dumps go, each of the three legends spoken are solidly structured and maintain the appropriate parallels to their respective narrators. The resolution is quite a dumb convenience. Also, Fly-ders are gross and shouldn't exist!

Season 7, Episode 17: To Change a Changeling

Pharynx adds dimension to the changelings' reformation they hadn't shown before, and the mirrored half-dysfunctional relationships between him and Thorax as brothers and Starlight and Trixie as friends are heartfelt and equally funny.

Season 7, Episode 18: Daring Done?

Glad the history lesson about Somnambula was there, or this episode would've sucked outright. It gets confused on lore along with it's OWN backstory, and Rainbow Dash enters weak-dumb-damsel-in-distress mode out of nowhere to contrive a climax.

Season 7, Episode 19: It Isn't the Mane Thing About You

Geez, Zecora, why don't you pay attention while you brew? It's also kind of ludicrous that magic can't surmount the challenge of growing hair, but the journey of regaining confidence is cathartic, and the punk style's cool.

Season 7, Episode 20: A Health of Information

Once Twilight and Fluttershy get to the swamp area, the story's progression from there gets a little messy in places. The moral of taking care of yourself WHILE you take care of others is a strong message, and realistically depicted.

Season 7, Episode 21: Marks and Recreation

Everyone in this episode needs to calm the hell down about Cutie Marks, especially the CMC, who are fanatical and even PATRONIZING throughout! Oh, and it would've helped to know Rumble's background earlier! Thunderlane cannot save THIS!

Season 7, Episode 22: Once Upon a Zeppelin

I can definitely see the appeal when it comes to certain parts. Twilight's struggle and her family's enjoyment are well and good, but some poor discernment and forethought, AND Iron Will's character rewrite sullied what was nearly gold.

Season 7, Episode 23: Secrets and Pies

The whiplash of going from classic Pinkie behaviour to obsessively defining insanity, then just accepting Rainbow's lying, even with the knowledge she let most of her lovingly baked goods go to waste. Some feeling sparing. So dang muddled.

Season 7, Episode 24: Uncommon Bond

They showed the cold reality of how distant Sunburst has grown from years of separation, and gave him plenty to do with the featured side characters. It's quite good, aside from Starlight's narrow vision for pastimes. What even was THAT scene?

Season 7, Episode 25: Shadow Play, Part 1

It's very rewarding to see the legends told earlier this season tied together, but there's too much exposition before the midpoint, some superfluous. The relic hunt ESPECIALLY shows in it's pacing that it wasn't made for half an episode.

Season 7, Episode 26: Shadow Play, Part 2

How satisfying to see something new with the Elements! However, the Pillars and Stygian's story reveals a bit of wrong on both sides, but they act like there isn't. Plus, even the ladies wrote the guy off? Points for the Dazzlings cameo!

Special 1: Equestria Girls: Dance Magic

A pretty nice stand-alone story that gives a fair bit more nuance and likeability to the Crystal Prep students, not to mention some closure to their headbutting with Canterlot High. The titular song's also great beyond the earworm factor.

Special 2: Equestria Girls: Movie Magic

A rudimentary mystery backed by a few extraneous time fillers, and a culprit who has a simple enough goal to empathize with, but confusing motivations, considering their generous position. Human Twilight was the biggest heroine THIS round.

Special 3: Equestria Girls: Mirror Magic

Starlight carried this chapter! Her speech on thinking about the present moment and remembering what you have is wise and reinforces her differences from Sunset AND Twilight. Just one cost: the oversimplification of Juniper Montage's arc.

Film 5: My Little Pony: The Movie

Starting off: every musical number, from the bouncy to the dramatic, hits the correct beats, more than half the main cast plays that static character role effectively, and the energy of the whole movie leaves a feel-good tingle when all is done.

Tempest Shadow's an intimidating and multi-faceted villain, to the point she's like an eerily real symbol of the old and jaded folk. The other celebrity-voiced characters range from fun to just feeling unneeded (Grubber). The Storm King was disappointingly underused.

The pacing's leaps at points convince me that the runtime needed 10 or 15 more minutes. Lastly, the third act breakup is super forced, and Tempest doesn't commit to her pre-reformation ideology, going by the supposed "deal". Overall, warts and all, it's a grand time!

Special 4: Equestria Girls: Forgotten Friendship

Yep. Though it ain't perfect, they NAILED the reunion of Sunset and Celestia! It's a stealthy parallel to Wallflower Blush's grim point of view. Also, this contains what may be Trixie's most likeable usage across the whole series.

Season 8, Episode 1: School Daze, Part 1

Their attempt at saying "higher ups' by-the-book thing bad" was terribly confused by the main character's inane decisions that sharply swerved away from their honest intent. It's a conflict driven by an overall lack of common sense. Geez!

Season 8, Episode 2: School Daze, Part 2

The Student 6 are instant winners in their chemistry, but tragically, they cannot get out of the shadow casted by obliviousness from the adult characters, and the most damn arbitrary two-parter antagonist Friendship is Magic has EVER had!

Season 8, Episode 3: The Maud Couple

"Pinkie Pie is Brain-Dead: The Episode" is an apt title for this, because she can't see past the veil of her hypocrisy, and is portrayed like a spoiled, possessive brat. Mudbriar's gratingly repetitive, but he didn't justify the bad attitude.

Season 8, Episode 4: Fake It 'Til You Make It

On one hand, it's fun to watch Fluttershy get creative with salesperson personas and the raccoons play a large role, but on the other… you can't just give the "pretending" handwave to what are conscious choices. Where's the damage?

Season 8, Episode 5: Grannies Gone Wild

YouTube Poop-ass title aside, there's a valuable note to take here on how seniors are only as old as they feel themselves. Applesauce really concerns me, though. Amusing, but hindered by that "Really? That easy?" kind of cop-out ending.

Season 8, Episode 6: Surf and/or Turf

Go away, Twilight. You're taking too much screen time from the characters in the limelight. Oh well, just a little wrinkle in a heartfelt and entertaining story that speaks of the heart in home, and that choices don't have to be complicated.

Season 8, Episode 7: Horse Play

Why is Applejack the ONLY one stressing the truth solution when Spike, Starlight and Rainbow have been through this type of scenario? Worse, way to get the "no acting talent" memo ahead of time and let the all-TOO-effective fiasco run it's course!

Season 8, Episode 8: The Parent Map

The reconciliation of Starlight and Sunburst and their parental figures is strongly handled by making the harsh honesty nothing to regret, and the perfect reasoning. However, the first half is driven sloppily by poor friendship perception.

Season 8, Episode 9: Non-Compete Clause

Maybe this would've been the time to acknowledge some of the main characters as not belonging in a school job? Applejack and Rainbow Dash didn't do anything but dangerously BUMBLE their way into a test of the students' (fine) cooperation!

Season 8, Episode 10: The Break Up Break Down

A solid misunderstanding-based story that makes me root for the romance, and Discord even gets an arc about mortal matters. They could've progressed the plot without the CMC's mix-up, though. Investigation wouldn't have hurt, either.

Season 8, Episode 11: Molt Down

I welcome Spike speaking with another young member of his species, and the character advancement that comes by the end of this. That's alright. Not so much when the episode brings bits to a point I have to think "Okay, I get it! Move along, guys!"

Season 8, Episode 12: Marks for Effort

The CMC have piss-poor motivation for wanting School of Friendship education, and sudden contempt for THEIR school, Twilight can't tell a student messing around from a genuine effort, and Cozy Glow's betrayal to her coaches is downplayed!

Season 8, Episode 13: The Mean 6

Thanks for making 7+ seasons of friendship look doubtful! Oh yeah, and reducing Chrysalis to THIS, because of implied insanity? I appreciate that, too! I always wanted these good ponies to look like punchable asses compared to the evil clones! /s

Special 5: Equestria Girls: Rollercoaster of Friendship

I think they put too much extra effort into making the antagonist someone who needs to shut up over fine tuning the story. It gets hilarious, but sadly evens that out with some rift contrivance and an unearned reformation.

Season 8, Episode 14: A Matter of Principals

Discord returns to his villainous roots, and WINS (sort of)! It's nonsensical that they don't consider he's just being petty, knowing Spike's past with him, and it's maddening that they present the idea of hiring teachers for nothing.

Season 8, Episode 15: The Hearth's Warming Club

This is the time the Student 6 needed! The recollections of their clans' holiday traditions are really cute, not to mention funny, and the conclusion to the "Whodunnit?" element makes on point use of lore that was long-untouched.

Season 8, Episode 16: Friendship University

Sheesh, this is boring. The oldest trick with Flim & Flam is pulled while their current most interesting aspect is mostly overlooked, Twilight just lets herself get blackmailed way too easily, Star Swirl feels near-extraneous… snore.

Season 8, Episode 17: The End in Friend

Sure is the friendship fallout from The Movie in here, and it's instigated by the lighting of gas! What did Rarity and Rainbow have to prove so badly? Strangely, it takes a clever turn away from the mean-spirited stuff in the second half.

Season 8, Episode 18: Yakity-Sax

They took Pinkie from a brain-dead dope to an egotistical shit! Not helped by how the episode insinuates it's bad for her friends to have called out the bad noise making AT ALL! It's like suffering a screeching child and admitting defeat to them!

Season 8, Episode 19: Road to Friendship

Getting a mixed message. While the close to home depiction of stress by traveling and their doofy antics are something to enjoy, I can't fathom how this duo never felt like they underprepared, or Starlight having friendship entitlement.

Season 8, Episode 20: The Washouts

First a conflict that's driven by Rainbow feeling oddly insecure about a position where she ain't got jack to prove, and then a revelation from Scootaloo based on something the antagonistic force wasn't subtle about. Confusing, yet pretty fun.

Season 8, Episode 21: A Rockhoof and a Hard Place

It hits that personal spot in the sight of everyone Rockhoof knew growing and advancing to great heights in life without him, though the episode could've used more Pillar support and less time-filling gags and delayed epiphanies.

Season 8, Episode 22: What Lies Beneath

An interesting journey through a bunch of common fears, from the childhood frights to the dumb and irrational. If I have any gripes, it's that Ocellus' trial doesn't say much beyond something surface-level. Plus, intimidation tactics much?

Season 8, Episode 23: Sounds of Silence

That whole part before the ending solution needlessly recycled information dumps and came off as a convenience-inconvenience hybrid, but I can look past it for how they handled the anger management plot and the smart bit of Chekhov's Gun.

Season 8, Episode 24: Father Knows Beast

They gave time between Spike and Smolder the shaft to redo the plot of Spike wanting to feel like his species, and at similar levels of incompetence as last time. Spike shouldn't buy into this fat jerk's game when he's been where HE went.

Season 8, Episode 25: School Raze, Part 1

I'll commend the villain bait-and-switch keeping things fresh, and the building on Tartarus. I ain't so generous towards Neighsay proving himself a loser in the hierarchy, or the silent retcon to magic. BTW, screw that one Twilight line!

Season 8, Episode 26: School Raze, Part 2

Horribly waste the CMC's one time to shine in a finale, give the desperate, hateful tool a desperate, dumb redemption, paint one of the show's best villains as a freaking pushover, AND write idiocy by plot demand, will you!? What a mess!

Special 6: Best Gift Ever

What a palate cleanser! They drew a full circle for the storyline and crafted a seamless journey full of charisma, sacrifice, entertaining headbutting and total nerdiness. The few patches of yellow snow have no effect on this intelligent Christmas tale.

Special 7: Equestria Girls: Spring Breakdown

I want to break down at the misplaced regrets and the out-of-nowhere casual pause the story has when there's supposed to be an emergency. Also, they misrepresent The Movie, SOMEHOW. The beginning and ending are better than the middle.

Season 9, Episode 1: The Beginning of the End, Part 1

I don't get making Sombra a hammy villain when three are literally right over there. Or NOT using the Crystal Empire's power again. But, for it's cute trope awareness and exciting cliffhanger, those things can be overlooked.

Season 9, Episode 2: The Beginning of the End, Part 2

They made the stakes higher and more personal than they've EVER been, and gave the Mane 6 a revelation they NEEDED to hear. If only there weren't the issues of the pacing, Discord's implicit ulterior motive and lore muddling.

Season 9, Episode 3: Uprooted

Yona is the perfect voice of reason! The episode constantly wins me over in the transition from the students' appropriately childish plans to their ultimate compromise. The ending also builds off their connection with the Tree of Harmony up to now.

Season 9, Episode 4: Sparkle's Seven

A strong teaching of how the least obvious option is sometimes the most, including what WAS the most obvious at first. Spike's relationship to Twilight's family was finally cleared up for a sweet character arc, and a crafty ending twist, too.

Season 9, Episode 5: The Point of No Return

The message of perfection's impossibility and how much it can leave you feeling stuck is clear and valuable, but what it takes for the story to reach that life lesson is a severe sense of zigzagging with needlessly mean-spirited bits.

Season 9, Episode 6: Common Ground

Quibble Pants maintaining his character development? Cool! A nerd trying only to be seen by a child as more than a joke or inferior replacement to their lost parent? VERY cool! Rainbow's actions and speeches? They leave me a very confused man.

Season 9, Episode 7: She's All Yak

Hmm, maybe if Twilight had told her friends about making the ball an open invite to the outside clans? Seems silly to neglect THAT thought! Yona and Sandbar's thing is cute, but I didn't come out of this fully convinced of their compatibility.

Season 9, Episode 8: Frenemies

No complaints here! Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow make for a hilarious vitriolic trio. Never a dull moment in witnessing their respective strategies, and deigning to cooperate, only to find themselves enjoying the helping hands. It was humanizing.

Season 9, Episode 9: Sweet and Smoky

What is this, a comedy? Garble's time with Spike feels like they never left Season 2, they try to give the guy an embarrassing (and random) secret, but have him bullied WITHOUT revealing it, and glorify a Chekhov's Gun for a redundant reason.

Season 9, Episode 10: Going to Seed

How do you miss a guy looking so exhausted and in bad need of backup? Applejack would recognize Big Mac's condition. Aside from that and a rushed turn, the Apple sisters are very precious. Rediscovering the child within is a touching journey.

Season 9, Episode 11: Student Counsel

They're really exacerbating the problems with the School of Friendship and actively doing nothing about them. The story, still, does provide an effective deception and a gripping danger dodging scene. Oh yes, and Maud completes this episode.

Season 9, Episode 12: The Last Crusade

Crazy to imagine Scootaloo's goodwill with her long-absent parents, but it's easy to care less about that when the mom and dad are chill, all the emotions spark true, and they pay respects to the Cutie Mark Crusaders' historical importance.

Season 9, Episode 13: Between Dark and Dawn

Celestia and Luna bitching at each other is feeling like imagination bankruptcy by now. Also, I cannot buy that Twilight would give her former mentor so little credit, believing she had no pragmatism in running Equestria for centuries.

Special 8: My Little Pony: Rainbow Roadtrip

Massively wholesome character stuff with a simple story that manages to justify the extra runtime. At the core is an important, wise moral on how when old traditions run dry, it's worth reminding why they were traditions to begin with.

Special 9: Equestria Girls: Sunset's Backstage Pass

A wonderful sub-series closes out on some high-energy insanity, a surprisingly vital-to-the-story decoy, prime cuteness, and "villains" whom, though barely existent for most of the special, deliver one HECK of a banger! Thanks!

Season 9, Episode 14: The Last Laugh

Weird Al's range shined from performing a joyless and desperate Cheese Sandwich, and swapping right back to his usual upbeat and enthusiastic self again. I can appreciate the story all set in a more optimistic corporate environment, as well.

Season 9, Episode 15: 2, 4, 6, Greaaat

See, this is what happens in a story when you write a character around IT. It created a flaw in Rainbow Dash that gaslights us about the years spent establishing her. They also ended this plot on a note that paints an awfully bleak picture.

Season 9, Episode 16: A Trivial Pursuit

As funny as Twilight's lunacy is in theory, it isn't to see her obsess over another trivial (no pun intended) goal, and flaunt this snobby prima-donna conduct to everyone, friends included. Sunburst's repetitive padding didn't help either.

Season 9, Episode 17: The Summer Sun Setback

Twilight's growth hit the ideal spot. If only a visible road there preceded this episode. The villains perfectly performed to their strengths, but they expect me to fathom that the last leg of their trip was free of further obstacles?

Season 9, Episode 18: She Talks to Angel

I'm getting the strangest marriage counseling energies here. It's amusing to hear Angel Bunny speak English when in a pony's body, although I think this conflict comes off as one-sided, especially with an animal character so intelligent.

Season 9, Episode 19: Dragon Dropped

Spike and Gabby feel like an obvious duo; shocking it took so long to put them together. I just dislike how they framed it as some love triangle. Why Rarity is suddenly the one so wanting of Spike makes no sense. It speaks ill of their bond.

Season 9, Episode 20: A Horse Shoe-In

I'm rather amazed that Trixie's stunt near the end didn't raise concerns about the School's safety. It's great how she unintentionally gives some things of worth to the students until that point. The last minutes are where some iffiness is.

Season 9, Episode 21: Daring Doubt

What the actual hell are they talking about?! Why is Fluttershy airheaded about peaceful approaches, and with such petty, unapproachable people? How'd this hole-filled, last minute villain's empathetic background spawn? Rushed redemption much?!

Season 9, Episode 22: Growing Up is Hard to Do

The ONE time the CMC could grow up with their voice actresses! It's a story that's entertaining in it's (familiar) simplicity. Coming of age is an art, in a sense. However, there's that outdated feel to the kids' characterizations.

Season 9, Episode 23: The Big Mac Question

Lots of kicks to get out of this long comedy of errors and in-character Discord shenanigans. They just look kind of silly by TRUSTING Discord with an innocent gesture, not to mention there's a strange absence of some supporting players.

Season 9, Episode 24: The Ending of the End, Part 1

Okay, to start positive: Rarity strenuously throwing debris is charming. So is Pinkie's Party Bazooka. But oh my googly GOD, Cozy Glow's special brand of villainy is gone, and the action feels like it was pencilled while blind!

What they meant to be Twilight making a hard and heartbreaking choice came out more as idiotic and cowardly, knowing her abilities! Plus, did anyone remember who Discord was when they agreed upon that plot twist which, beyond a convenience for the stakes, is WORTHLESS?!

Season 9, Episode 25: The Ending of the End, Part 2

My time watching a cartoon season and appreciating it's developments has NEVER been more fulfilling! /s How OLD is this script?! Why did the villains get great showings before, and then wind up reduced to lackadaisical twats?!

Some bits I WANT to like, but there isn't enough genuine relief to not feel insulted and mortified by all the rapid stupidity, obviously haphazard progression, unearned "payoffs", and those fucking vomitous lines from Applejack and Twilight in the midpoint! I HATE this!

Season 9, Episode 26: The Last Problem

Truthfully, it's a bit of a ways off from a grand masterpiece. I blame some elements that felt meaningful in earlier stories, but pointless here, and those character decisions that stretch the premise of the Mane 6 overworking to absurdity.

Nonetheless, a natural conclusion was drawn finely in this final status quo upheaval, they didn't miss a beat on the poignancy of the change these friends must cope with, everything's still wide open for the imagination, and the outro song? Exceptional. Ideal end point.

My My Little Pony Episode Opinions (Part 1)

Ever since the beginning of this year, i've been rewatching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, though have been extremely slow in getting to the seasons past the third. I mean, the year's almost over and I still have four more to watch. On Twitter, i've made a thread dedicated to opining about each episode I revisit, which is to include not only the main show, but also all of the Equestria Girls films and specials, the 2017 theatrical film, and the Christmas and Rainbow Roadtrip specials. Currently, I have done everything up to the end of Season 5. Also, I should note that i'm leaving out shorts and music videos for the sake of keeping things streamlined.

Anyway, here's my long list of thoughts i've constructed so far in the tweets, with the character limit Twitter allowed:

Season 1, Episode 1: Friendship is Magic, Part 1

The humble beginnings. It doesn't waste time in providing the foundations of our main characters, and is also an informative preview of what can be expected out of the show besides world-threatening conflicts. Ideal start point.

Season 1, Episode 2: Friendship is Magic, Part 2

Everyone contributes organically to the climax setup, and none of it feels rushed despite the time limit. I can also give Nightmare Moon props for her proactivity. Too bad about Spike being mostly sidelined at the end, though.

Season 1, Episode 3: The Ticket Master

Cute seasonal setup episode with fun visuals, though my favourite part is how one character has the end goal of financially supporting her folks in mind for attending, while the others have reasons more hedonistic or thirsty as F in nature.

Season 1, Episode 4: Applebuck Season

This episode speaks to me louder now than it did way back then. I have to question how much it was going to take for Applejack's friends (besides Twilight) to notice how out of it she clearly was by her actions, but it's a barrel of laughs.

Season 1, Episode 5: Griffon the Brush Off

Pinkie Pie in top form. New person got poisonous attitude? Use a party! Although, I wonder if her "she might give it back" comment about Gilda stealing that apple (and then eating it) was made because Gilda's a bird. Imagine THAT scene.

Season 1, Episode 6: Boast Busters

Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity's attempts to upstage Trixie feel like natural end results, though the episode SORELY overlooks Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy in the matter. Also, Spike gets repetitive. Trixie? Delightfully theatrical entrance!

Season 1, Episode 7: Dragonshy

As our first exposure to dragon mannerisms and power outside of little Spike, it's pretty intriguing. Even better, it took the first big steps in the right direction for Fluttershy's character. Sadly, Angel Bunny's would only get worse from here.

Season 1, Episode 8: Look Before You Sleep

Gotta have an episode to remind me what kind of cartoon i'm rewatching. Seriously though, it never gets too sickly sweet, thanks to the entertaining antagonism. But was staying at Twilight's house REALLY the only option for BOTH ponies?

Season 1, Episode 9: Bridle Gossip

The effects of the Poison Joke flower were the REAL stars of this episode. Also pre-Cutie Mark Crusaders Apple Bloom. I think most of us can agree it's odd how Twilight is skeptical for most of it, then changes her tune at surface-level stuff.

Season 1, Episode 10: Swarm of the Century

Parasprites are terrifying and gross creatures that shouldn't exist. Pretty darn convenient that the Andrea Libman-voiced pony who ISN'T the animal caretaker knows about these things and how to remove them. Proves her intellect well.

Season 1, Episode 11: Winter Wrap Up

The song is still lovely, and the resolution plays to one of Twilight's greatest strengths. Nice use of Chekhov's Gun. However, I can't help thinking the disaster could've been avoided if a moment was taken to remember "Oh yeah, telekinesis."

Season 1, Episode 12: Call of the Cutie

Someone needed to call out Twist for her betrayal. Where's the justice? That aside, this episode makes one thing perfectly clear about Apple Bloom: she ain't her sister, and this road of self-discovery begins by stepping out of her shadow.

Season 1, Episode 13: Fall Weather Friends

A case where Applejack and Rainbow Dash butt heads in the heat of competition, and fun stuff is done with it. I love how it has a dash of The Tortoise and the Hare at the end, just because they could do it. All they need is a rematch.

Season 1, Episode 14: Suited For Success

Art of the Dress is still a masterwork. Twilight and the others are lucky that Rarity didn't hold their "looking the gift horse in the mouth" (as the ending lesson put it) against them. Also, I guess Spike's a ghost here. Do NOT miss out!

Season 1, Episode 15: Feeling Pinkie Keen

I enjoy me a round of cartoon slapstick, and this episode doesn't disappoint there, though I feel the Pinkie Sense could've been handled a bit differently in hindsight. Like, imagine it's a condition Pinkie has that's cured by "doozies"?

Season 1, Episode 16: Sonic Rainboom

It demonstrates one of the fantastical feats one of the heroines can pull off outside of cartoon logic. And Libman's acting chops. One thing i'll say is that you can probably get to the competition with about half the scenes leading up to it.

Season 1, Episode 17: Stare Master

I think Twilight's motivations could've been ANYTHING to get her in the petrified state, but the Cutie Mark Crusaders, like the children they are, are likable in their never-ending activity bouncing off Fluttershy. The Stare's quite an anomaly.

Season 1, Episode 18: The Show Stoppers

An unfortunate aftereffect of this episode is the running gag it'd attach to the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a good while to come. Within the episode itself, the talent show kind of comes off as an element as random as the montage escapades.

Season 1, Episode 19: A Dog and Pony Show

Seriously, what MLP fan doesn't love Rarity getting under the Diamond Dogs' skin with her squeaky whining? One part I find a bit nonsense was Twilight going "But only Rarity finds gems.", and one second later: "Wait, Rarity taught me."

Season 1, Episode 20: Green Isn't Your Color

FUN FACT: this was the first FiM episode I properly watched, so I have a bias in calling it one of my absolute favourites. Fluttershy's situation is why I never want to have celebrity status, but I also identify with Rarity's plight.

Season 1, Episode 21: Over a Barrel

Now Applejack and Rainbow Dash deny others their chance to speak for themselves in a potential compromise, and they aren't called out for it as much as they SHOULD be. Worse: one of the earliest examples of Pinkie being outright brain-dead.

Season 1, Episode 22: A Bird in the Hoof

For a molting bird, Philomena was quite a crafty little stinker, wasn't she? Sure produced some good laughs in the climax. I appreciate the ending revelation making sense of Celestia leaving her sickly pet behind, the conflict's catalyst.

Season 1, Episode 23: The Cutie Mark Chronicles

A wholesome anthology-type episode where everything meets up neatly in the middle. The circumstances are very conveniently coincidental, yet they still defy the whole common "it was your destiny" trope in a strange sort of way.

Season 1, Episode 24: Owl's Well That Ends Well

The beginning's on the nose, and you'd swear that Owlowiscious WAS threatening Spike's position with his 24-hour presence. It gets pretty ridiculous thanks to a lack of desperately-needed communication. Also, this image here, man!

Season 1, Episode 25: Party of One

The story mixes brilliantly deceptive foreshadowing in the prologue, a believable insecurity in Pinkie, a hilarious demonstration of vocal range from Libman, and a great moral on knowing your best friends like the back of your hand. Perfection!

Season 1, Episode 26: The Best Night Ever

Strong start, then it swerves into nonsense country. First season finale: main protagonist is barely in the plot. Fluttershy gave us a funny freakout, make no mistake, but at what cost? Finally, the ending is depressing in numerous ways.

Season 2, Episode 1: The Return of Harmony, Part 1

A magnificent introduction to Discord. What made his plan to corrupt the heroes brilliant is that he did it while their friendship was still young, and they organically behave like how they characteristically would on bad days.

Season 2, Episode 2: The Return of Harmony, Part 2

Spike got to be a plot convenience. Now, one thing I think could've been tweaked in this episode is the memory spell deal. Twilight's friends may have easily had their true selves restored by their unity in the last few minutes.

Season 2, Episode 3: Lesson Zero

Still a hilarious episode, and the funniest Twilight's freak-outs ever got. But besides it's humour, the show wouldn't have moved forward as much without it. Also, those ponies are totally jealous of Spike's purple unicorn friendship seniority.

Season 2, Episode 4: Luna Eclipsed

One has to wonder how much of a break Luna was taking since her previous appearance to have this out-of-touch position here. No matter, though. This episode is interesting for how it shows Twilight, a student, becoming the master for a night.

Season 2, Episode 5: Sisterhooves Social

It's not only cute, but important. First, it goes to show that cutting someone out of your life doesn't simply begin with a declaration. Second, it's essentially every good sibling's childhood fabrication of a good guy & bad guy scenario.

Season 2, Episode 6: The Cutie Pox

Here's a good message: there's no reward in taking the easy way out, because the easy way out doesn't really exist (or at least doesn't have to). Although, if the titular disease is that widely known, shouldn't the signs have been seen sooner?

Season 2, Episode 7: May the Best Pet Win!

I do not get why Fluttershy doesn't object more to Rainbow's snubbing of Tank. He's a good boy, that tortoise. With how present he was, it would've been a plot twist to NOT have him get the win. Pretty strange episode here, I must say.

Season 2, Episode 8: The Mysterious Mare Do Well

My god, the staggering lack of self-awareness of one simple fact they demonstrate: EVERYONE'S got an ego, just in differing sizes. I think they wanted too much for Rainbow Dash to be seen in the wrong by the lengths of her idiocy.

Season 2, Episode 9: Sweet and Elite

I need to pay my respects to this episode for playing with the old "liar is a liar who's revealed as a liar in the end" type of story a little. We got a genuinely charming minor character out of it. Pure wholesomeness permeates the runtime.

Season 2, Episode 10: Secret of My Excess

Growing pains ahoy! Spike got a well-told lesson about giving from the heart over taking because of temptation, but since his species is mysterious at this point, bit of a time waster to consult the local PONY healthcare first, Twilight.

Season 2, Episode 11: Hearth's Warming Eve

Always a good watch around Christmas. It's history lesson on the show's main setting is easily digestible, yet a bit complex, and the in-universe casting is perfect. I think all that's missing is an appearance from Twilight's parents.

Season 2, Episode 12: Family Appreciation Day

So, the entire town of Ponyville, not just that one big apple orchard, owes it's existence to magic fruit? That's oddly specific. Also odd how a more direct rescheduling method stares at everyone right in the face, and no one saw it.

Season 2, Episode 13: Baby Cakes

Isn't it weird how Pinkie seems to have realizations of how in over her head she is, yet basically proceeds with her old strategy anyway, and just never uses what she learns as she goes along for the sake of the obvious end episode moral? Crazy.

Season 2, Episode 14: The Last Roundup

Applejack had a pretty realistic reaction to her failure, and what's more, her skill in loophole exploitation is a devious dimension to her honesty streak. Cartoon antics aside, it's mature writing. Also, something something Derpy's voice.

Season 2, Episode 15: The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000

The fact nobody in town got to know what the Flim Flam Brothers' cider tasted like BEFORE the quality control cancellation lessens their threat a bit. Nonetheless, the ending deconstructed the lesson formula hilariously.

Season 2, Episode 16: Read It and Weep

If you ever need an episode of this show that's a confidence booster when you don't know how to come out about something you've grown smitten with, this is the one. Or just watch Rainbow be likeable while trying to maintain her street cred.

Season 2, Episode 17: Hearts and Hooves Day

Besides how the conflict came about from someone neglecting to mention an important detail to the CMC, and maybe too much of the sugary lover names, this is a funny step outside the Cutie Mark obsession comfort zone. A cute song, too.

Season 2, Episode 18: A Friend in Deed

The Smile Song is still the ultimate feel-good song. The story that follows it has a heartwarming Chekhov's Gun payoff, but the lesson Pinkie should've learned was the importance of minding her personality around someone new and unfamiliar.

Season 2, Episode 19: Putting Your Hoof Down

By the end, i'm left puzzled as to why they'd overlook the detail where assertiveness turned into needless aggression. It should have some slightly bigger repercussions than what happens, as hilarious as Fluttershy's loud rampage is.

Season 2, Episode 20: It's About Time

This is an episode of it's time. The audacity to poke fun at all the bogus doomsday predictions that used to run rampant, and put Twilight in the position of an overanxious believer. So much she forgot that she lived in the royal city once.

Season 2, Episode 21: Dragon Quest

If this episode just had a few elements added on to it, like some female dragon characters, and interactions with the seasoned adults, it'd come off less like a "cute and girly good, rad and boyish bad" story mixed in with the intended message.

Season 2, Episode 22: Hurricane Fluttershy

You can tell the show's beard is growing here. They tactfully handled the childhood bullying trauma and fit it seamlessly into a lesson about even the tiniest things having difference-making potential. Fluttershy really defined courage.

Season 2, Episode 23: Ponyville Confidential

What's admirable about this story is that regardless of anything that compels the CMC to go through with their hurtful journalism, they are still accountable for their actions and need to earn forgiveness. And voice-of-reason Rarity.

Season 2, Episode 24: MMMystery on the Friendship Express

This was specifically written and drawn to give us dessert cravings, I swear. Besides the fun film homages, if they wanted the mystery factor, it was hurt by both the nighttime silhouettes having the distinct pony shape.

Season 2, Episode 25: A Canterlot Wedding, Part 1

There were quite a handful of questions that Twilight could've easily brought up if she were to have any chance of helping her case about "Cadance". Shining Armor needed better explaining, too. But dang, does it strike the heart.

Season 2, Episode 26: A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2

The second half of this two-parter went hard. The song, This Day Aria, went hard. The villain, Chrysalis, went hard. The action went hard. Lastly, it opened the gateway for villain returns and other family stories. What a finish.

Season 3, Episode 1: The Crystal Empire, Part 1

It gets off to a slow start, not helped by a song number, but they nicely pulled off the long-lost kingdom angle with traumatized amnesia victims clashing against the eye candy environment. Nobody feels out-of-character, either.

Season 3, Episode 2: The Crystal Empire, Part 2

King Sombra, for his limited screen time, is a believable threat, like a smart cross between a posthumous antagonist and a cataclysmic force. That aside, parts of this episode play out like novel narration, and it's kind of funny.

Season 3, Episode 3: Too Many Pinkie Pies

Goes to show there's only room for one of any iconic character. They earned points for making not an episode with Flanderization, but an episode that fires a shot at Flanderization. Then points are lost for an overly-elaborate solution.

Season 3, Episode 4: One Bad Apple

Someone I know put it best about the CMC's revenge stunt, long ago: "That's not bullying, that's retribution." The song's serviceable, but what's bothersome in this story is the surprising lack of adult presence, and some bits of underreacting.

Season 3, Episode 5: Magic Duel

There was more smoke & mirrors magicianry than in Trixie's debut, oddly. It's an overall good time with a spectacular antagonist comeback, except for that uncharacteristic display of cowardice from Fluttershy when her friend's life depends on her.

Season 3, Episode 6: Sleepless in Ponyville

Hey, it's an animated look into a child's patterns and emotional weakness, topped with an unofficial adoption on the spot. This is why Scootaloo is my favourite CMC. One note: I never saw Sweetie Belle's sour note as a continuity fail.

Season 3, Episode 7: Wonderbolts Academy

The academy scenes are great, Lightning Dust is a fun foil to Rainbow, but the stuff with Pinkie and co. needed to be shortened, as the ending's a little rushed. Twilight or Applejack could've quickly come up with the care package idea.

Season 3, Episode 8: Apple Family Reunion

I doubt it was at all intentional, but the way I see it, there's a bit of dark comedy to the overtones of Applejack's reunion arrangements, and that's got me feeling uneasy. Worse, not enough Babs Seed time to warrant her reappearance.

Season 3, Episode 9: Spike at Your Service

Many fans hate this episode, but I can't. It's so bad, it's great. Although, it'd be funnier if the Dragon Code was just a shopping list, and nobody realized it. Speaking of what-ifs, surprised Rarity didn't have a big fit of jealousy.

Season 3, Episode 10: Keep Calm and Flutter On

I always found the pacing in this episode fine for such a big shake-up to a character. It worked because Discord had a believable layer added to his chaotic nature, but also, in the end, everyone knows his redemption has just begun.

Season 3, Episode 11: Just for Sidekicks

If Spike was reminded that he could always go digging for more gems, and Angel Bunny wasn't portrayed as unaccountable, despite his clear sentience, I wouldn't scratch my head at this. At least Zecora remembers the threat greed poses.

Season 3, Episode 12: Games Ponies Play

It's too convenient that nothing about inspecting the games or the name "Ms. Harshwhinny" manages to leave anyone's mouth around the excitable visitor they mistake for the inspector, until near the end. Said visitor's likeable, good thing.

Season 3, Episode 13: Magical Mystery Cure

Sure, it feels like there's a missing episode to this plot, but the song numbers are beautiful and Twilight is properly rewarded for her initiative and knowledge. If you can call this an amnesia episode, it actually gets amnesia right.

Film 1: My Little Pony: Equestria Girls

If it isn't dragging it's feet because of obligatory world-building or Twilight forgetting obvious concepts, it's got me questioning some of the characters' awareness. Bop of a song, cute interactions, messy story. Less ideal start point.

Season 4, Episode 1: Princess Twilight Sparkle, Part 1

The episode draws you into the mystery it's setting up, and pulls cunning misdirection. But, something I thought about now: why don't they use Spike's letter-sending fire to try getting a lock on where the Royal Sisters are?

Season 4, Episode 2: Princess Twilight Sparkle, Part 2

Cons: undercooked Nightmare Moon background, and Twilight's friends deciding to send her home too easily. Pros: Discord being a fun stinker in mentor tactics, and the lesson of a friendship lasting beyond where it started.

Season 4, Episode 3: Castle Mane-ia

A serviceable episode that provides a logical follow-up to the retired formula of the past seasons, but otherwise it doesn't do anything of interest with this historical setting but the golden age horror homages as obligatory as the title pun.

Season 4, Episode 4: Daring Don't

The twist in this episode makes sense with the compact in-universe lore of the character in question, and what it comes with is a subversive, but still relatable take on the "never meet your heroes" cliché. Just one thing: remember it for later.

Season 4, Episode 5: Flight to the Finish

This undoubtedly went some personal. psychological places for kids, because for all the right reasons, this is pretty sad to watch, comical bits aside. Nothing to complain about, other than the status quo blatantly butting in at the end.

Season 4, Episode 6: Power Ponies

You gotta laugh at Fluttershy having a rage fit, but if you're gonna paint your story like Spike's friends aren't taking his comic knowledge or instructions very seriously, make more use of that leeway you have with an enchanted book's powers.

Season 4, Episode 7: Bats!

The very real dangers of peer pressure and the very real problem of pest infestations and how to control them, all in one episode. Dang, what a juggling act. That impresses me. Though, you'd expect a balance in the characters seeing sides at the start.

Season 4, Episode 8: Rarity Takes Manehattan

A smart piece of commentary on switching environments and giving out trust. It's easy to understand Rarity almost sacrificing her ethics and devolving into one of the dog-eat-dog city folk, after simple goodness came back to bite her.

Season 4, Episode 9: Pinkie Apple Pie

It exemplifies the best of a family dynamic. When they drive each other up the wall, but nobody gets hurt in any fashion and they resolve the tension on their own, they're functional. Additionally, Pinkie was funny and smart this go-around.

Season 4, Episode 10: Rainbow Falls

Fundamentally awkward story for Rainbow Dash's "key". It shouldn't be that exciting for her to fly with the Wonderbolts. She already does! Yet despite the repeated continuity nod, that detail is conveniently ignored. Plus: that's not Spitfire!

Season 4, Episode 11: Three's A Crowd

If they didn't spend so much time saying Discord had a (fake) problem, Twilight and Cadance's bonding could've been more interesting. Why WOULDN'T Cadance want a fully peaceful day with Twilight after the craziness in the past two seasons?!

Season 4, Episode 12: Pinkie Pride

What an episode to air on my 20th birthday! Cheese Sandwich steals the show, and we see a case of a prideful person who doesn't aim to upstage anybody. The live-action shots are gags straight out of SpongeBob, and I love them for that. Perfect!

Season 4, Episode 13: Simple Ways

Goofy, but meaningful. Goes to show that when you think you can change yourself to someone else, you need an accident for your true character to re-emerge. A love triangle was a useful plot device, even. You wouldn't expect that normally. LOL

Season 4, Episode 14: Filli Vanilli

Plot convenient continuity nodding and a realistic take on facing your fears for the win! As for Pinkie's bit, I can say it was fine for one time, but when it's repeated, especially in succession, it's just writing her as a brain-dead babbler.

Season 4, Episode 15: Twilight Time

And there's our special lesson on how association can possibly be a curse, even if, for a short time, it looks like a blessing. It just could've been heavier on the show over the tell. On another note: how about some justice for Randolph, huh?

Season 4, Episode 16: It Ain't Easy Being Breezies

I find it fascinating to see how an act of goodwill can still come from someone betraying their biggest moral trait. That's a strong message. That said, the ending solution feels comically convenient, and the problem puzzling.

Season 4, Episode 17: Somepony to Watch Over Me

Oh, you poor idiot plot. Applejack can't be bothered to remember outside helpers until the worst moment, and I don't get why they bothered characterizing the chimera. That song cancellation gag and action scene were good, though.

Season 4, Episode 18: Maud Pie

I love Maud. Absolutely adorable in her monotone, and a positive example of how emotions and opinions can come from different reactions than the expected. A few nitpicks in character and scenario writing, but otherwise a lovely, must-see episode.

Season 4, Episode 19: For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils

Once again, Rarity and Sweetie Belle carry an important story. It's a familiar feeling, seeing the older sibling as a villain, leading to a touching revelation by the perspective shift. An anti-revenge note also don't hurt.

Season 4, Episode 20: Leap of Faith

A balanced take on the matter of well-meant lies versus difficult truths, because while everyone obviously needed to hear the latter, the former brought vital details of body and spirit to light which might've been forgotten about otherwise.

Season 4, Episode 21: Testing Testing 1, 2, 3

I'm all for them passing down THIS kind of knowledge. The idea of how one can achieve it without consciously trying to exercise their intelligence. Not so much for most things that pay off starting as spells of incompetence. Oh well.

Season 4, Episode 22: Trade Ya!

It goes pretty swimmingly for a bit. I'd say the setting had some amusing escalation. But then one subplot seems to skip a beat, and the ending conflict feels too last-minute and easily avoidable to get invested in. Now, who wants chicken dippers?

Season 4, Episode 23: Inspiration Manifestation

The moral of Spike's journey: if you are friends with someone, even love them, and you're willing to call them out for their mistakes (which they recognize), that's a testament of a true bond. The lesson's progression was on point.

Season 4, Episode 24: Equestria Games

Did we necessarily need an Olympics backdrop and episodes building up to the event to tell THIS story? It's simply a (fine) lesson on expectation and celebrity mortality. Also, that dumb, long gag should've had a comedic (and quick) cutaway.

Season 4, Episode 25: Twilight's Kingdom, Part 1

It gets so much right as a first part. It presents the reality of pep talks being great, but not always certain to heal an insecurity immediately, creatively utilizes Chekhov's Gun, and establishes Tirek as a cool force of nature.

Season 4, Episode 26: Twilight's Kingdom, Part 2

The fight had no reason to go that anime, and I love it! Icing on a cake layered by a show-stealing villain, two congruent arc conclusions, thrilling stakes, and how it ends with an unapologetic, radical restructuring! Fecking! A!

Film 2: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

What can I say besides that Sunset had a realistic and rewarding redemption, I laughed, they cohesively built drama off a wound from the original's conflict, the villain songs are the sickest beats in this franchise, and more?! It's… ART!

Season 5, Episode 1: The Cutie Map, Part 1

You wouldn't think MLP would use it's cute image to thinly disguise a light psycho-thriller. Pinkie's uncharacteristic behaviour actually works to a pretty humorous benefit. Though I scratch my head at the town's self-sustainment means.

Season 5, Episode 2: The Cutie Map, Part 2

The heroes pulled some airtight manipulation and deception, and Starlight Glimmer's self-interest reveal is an effective spot to leave her in for what's to come. Her secret is revealed by an odd convenience, but nothing story-breaking.

Season 5, Episode 3: Castle Sweet Castle

Massively poignant episode that respectfully handles the pains of leaving home forever and adapting to a new place of residence, paired with a heartfelt tribute to the show's continuity and previous status quo. Ingenious resolution there.

Season 5, Episode 4: Bloom & Gloom

The first nightmare sequence captures the eerie similarity to reality real dreams have to a T. Babs Seed being mentioned, but absent is strongly felt, though. Like, "should've probably had physical presence" (in dreamland) felt. That's just me.

Season 5, Episode 5: Tanks for the Memories

While I respect this children's cartoon's creative take on the 5 Stages of Grief, they egregiously overplay how much of a change Tank's hibernation really is. "This isn't good-bye. It's just good-bye 'til next time." - remember that?

Season 5, Episode 6: Appleoosa's Most Wanted

Everyone's pointed out how the writer forgot what makes a Cutie Mark manifest, but I found it rather annoying that the CMC weren't quick to stand up for the poor alleged criminal. Also, i'm lost on the comedy of his self-harm. Yipes.

Season 5, Episode 7: Make New Friends but Keep Discord

Following from Discord's redemption arc, it highlights just how little he's been offered a hand in friendship to react how he does. Spoiled, close-minded, and still a fun scene stealer. But, Smooze is gross and superfluous.

Season 5, Episode 8: The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone

Quite a bold twist to take former friends who couldn't possibly ever restore the goodwill between each other, but manage to because of a little hidden nostalgia for happiness they never stopped valuing. Gold among the junk.

Season 5, Episode 9: Slice of Life

It's an insane train ride of fan service, not much motivation behind it but that, but dang does it demonstrate the setting's inherent goofiness and cement it as a lived-in place. Part of me thinks the Mane 6 characters should've been excluded.

Season 5, Episode 10: Princess Spike

Spike really doesn't just come off as a kid enjoying getting cool stuff in this, but uncomfortably tyrannical. Adding on, Twilight being treated as the center of the kingdom, the one with all the answers, is ludicrously sudden and incredible.

Season 5, Episode 11: Party Pooped

I see the aim of the moral, how the journey can mean more than the destination, but I think another message is to be taken away from this episode. That is insanity. Constant, predictable actions leading to predictable, and repetitious, results.

Season 5, Episode 12: Amending Fences

They did a great job resolving the loose end of Twilight's forgotten friends, and stating that the mistake of one shouldn't make others tied to that person accomplices in hurting somebody. If Twilight just wasn't so forward, it'd be perfect.

Season 5, Episode 13: Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?

Besides how creepy it is that Luna's been secretly doing this self-punishment thing ever since she reformed, the reveal behind the Tantabus's origin is handled in such a blasé manner. Points for creative action, though.

Season 5, Episode 14: Canterlot Boutique

The rejected altered dress deserved a happy ending, damn it! I thought that Sassy Saddles was such a self-centered, callous person, her turn at the end was too little, too late. They even confused workplace depression with pride. So dumb.

Season 5, Episode 15: Rarity Investigates!

This is definitely something you watch more for the fun film noir homages than the actual mystery, but it does have value in teaching the importance of heeding details. Very smart use of Rarity's character, and her dynamic with Rainbow.

Season 5, Episode 16: Made in Manehattan

It's hilarious that the problem they needed to mend literally stumbles into them from the sky. Prime plot convenience. But hey, I can respect when they pay respects to the simpler ways to help people. Also Coco Pommel, that cinnamon bun.

Season 5, Episode 17: Brotherhooves Social

The ending makes for a genuine and heartwarming sibling moment. I know that sense of inferiority born from a relation to someone with great achievements. But why put minutes of generic, awkwardness-peppered comedy in front of it, guys?

Season 5, Episode 18: Crusaders of the Lost Mark

They pulled off the most original way they could've closed out the CMC's longest-running plotline. I don't find that Diamond Tiara's abrupt shift in sympathy eliciting hurts that story too much. The songs won me over on it easily.

Season 5, Episode 19: The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows

Boy, was this a heavy allegory for spoilers, and what joys in the world are worth not having spoiled for you. Surprisingly, a scene lasting seconds effectively humanized Shining Armor more than his wife. Hobbies give you life.

Season 5, Episode 20: Hearthbreakers

A good moral on how the important thing about someone's yearly traditions is that they're happy with them, and what does the same for you should harmonize with them. What thwarts it a bit is Applejack's uncharacteristic disregard for consent.

Season 5, Episode 21: Scare Master

Now that's a twist, to say that if you don't want any part in an activity, even if it reveals talent you didn't know you had, you're under no obligation to regularly invest your time in it, even for friends. Also, relevant episode is relevant.

Season 5, Episode 22: What About Discord?

Did this episode WANT things to be left up to viewer interpretation? Whatever the case, it sure paints the ponies (not named Twilight) as oblivious to the comedic Rule of Three, and somehow, Twilight is insane AND sympathetic. Awkward.

Season 5, Episode 23: The Hooffields and McColts

It feels weird to have an environmentalism story sneak up on you when the focus has been so hard on a petty conflict over minor annoyances, but I can roll with it here. What's more odd is a big cake is baked without Pinkie Pie.

Season 5, Episode 24: The Mane Attraction

Rara made me want to joyfully cry, and I would give her all my love and protection! Seamless transition from an extravagant concert parody to a number straight from the heart. Top-tier, without question! BTW, send Svengallop to Tartarus.

Season 5, Episode 25: The Cutie Re-Mark, Part 1

And Starlight's revealed self-interest is brought to the forefront, bringing a finely executed strategy. Aside from that, the exposition gets annoyingly on the nose and long-winded. Could've spared some details. This image, though.

Season 5, Episode 26: The Cutie Re-Mark, Part 2

No point to exploring more than one alternate future when there are no obstacles. It's padding, exacerbated by Twilight being so slow and her telekinesis neglect. And why did young Starlight just stand there all glum? The nonsense!

Film 3: Equestria Girls: Friendship Games

Human Twilight differed from the pony version enough to justify her story. The Shadowbolts are fine rivals, though a few seem to come from a little underuse of the pre-existing character roster, and they get shafted hard at the very end.

#my little pony #friendship is magic #mlp g4 #animation #wildbrain #hasbro #opinions #rewatching

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