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Season 7 4/15 - 10/28/2017
10 min read
And there's another season done. Really, seven seasons, 169 episodes and a movie. Couldn't imagine that back in the summer of 2011 when I binged on Season 1 and waited the long month of August for Season 2 to start. But here we are now.
Overall, this was quite the enjoyable season. More standout episodes than Season 6, less "Meh" episodes than prior seasons, but more "enjoyable, but forgettable" episodes than prior seasons as well. However as I said during the thoughts on Season 6, it has more to do with me than the show. I'm still finding it at the same level of quality it's had all along, but my general interest has faded since the heydays of Seasons 2-4. I'm glad it's continuing through Season 8 and another movie, but we're at the point where it can end at anytime and I'd be satisfied. And this is coming from a long time "Simpsons" fan (I stopped watching around Season 21 and when I catch clips of later eps, I am not impressed. The earlier episodes up through about Season 14 (but especially Seasons 3-9) still bring very fond memories and larger laughs). So yeah. At this rate, it'll probably be once again me who leaves before the show does. But what can you do? And unless Gen 5 is really frickin' amazing, this will just be the anomalous decade of my life where I liked Ponies.
Anyhoo, onto Season 7. As I said, more "Enjoyable, but forgettable" eps than prior seasons, so I guess I'll just put my thoughts on my Top 10.
1. Episode 10 "A Royal Problem" 6/10/2017
I don't care what the general consensus flips flops as, I have always loved Starlight Glimmer. She's definitely my favorite addition to the cast and her episodes are always among my favorites. And this one tops it. Mostly because not only do we get neurotic Starlight (who's just as funny as neurotic Twilight), finally, finally after 7 seasons of waiting, we get a largely Celestia-centric episode. Best Princess finally gets to shine and show more of how normal she actually is instead of the paragon she's thought to be/usually shown as. My favorite bit is how her and Luna react to Starlight saying that the friendship problem she's there to solve is between them. Luna reacts with a loud "EXCUSE ME?!", but Celestia's is even better with a "Beg pardon?" in a tone that says "Bitch, what did you say?" And then her sarcastic apology to Luna about not appreciating Luna's duties. Yes, Celestia was the best in this episode, especially as Daybreaker, finally canonizing the all the "What if Celestia had gone evil" timelines and OCs that have flitted about since Season 1. And from the way she played it, it sounded like Nicole Oliver hadn't had that much fun in a role since "Hearts and Hooves Day" with Cheerilee's sickeningly love talk. This one definitely tops the season with neurotic Starlight, not-so-perfect Celestia, and even bonus neurotic Twilight.
2. Episode 2 "All Bottled Up" 4/15/2017
Now since Season 6 there is another reason why Starlight eps are usually among my favorites. Starlight herself is always great, but where Starlight is, usually another pony is around her. A Great and Powerful pony. Naturally, I refer to Starlight's #1 BFF Trixie. Yet another character I've always loved. Trixie always makes everything better. "Boast Busters" is an overall "Meh" episode, except for every second Trixie is onscreen. "Magic Duel" would be the top episode of Season 3, were it not for "Sleepless in Ponyville" and "No Second Prances" is not only the best episode of Season 6, but one of my top faves overall. So, yes, I love me some Trixie Lulamoon. And pairing Starlight up with Trixie was a stroke of genius and this ep showed how great of a double act they are, between Starlight having a mental breakdown and Trixie not really caring. And Trixie gets the best lines. Top one? Celebrating her teacup magic by lifting Starlight's forelegs and saying in mock whisper cheer "Yay Trixie! You're the best at magic and having good hair!" Indeed, Starlight and Trixie sharing the spotlight is always a great thing.
3. Episode 22 "Once Upon a Zeppelin" 10/7/2017
If it involves the parents of the Mane 6, it's going to be a good time. And here we see where that Sparkle insanity comes from. Twilight Velvet provides the crazy, while it's Night Light who's the reason Shining and Twilight are the huge dorks that they are. For not sharing any Sparkle blood, Cadance is the most normal member of that family. Can't say I was too onboard with the whole cruise thing being a scheme by Iron Will, but it served it's purpose of getting the Sparkles together. I would really love another episode with them again. Truly, the best family.
4. Episode 7 "Parental Glideance" 5/20/2017
Another entry in the "Mane 6 parents make everything better". This time we meet the Dash's. Dash was the last to have any family introduced in any way (well, there was that guy in "Games Ponies Play" everyone thought was her dad, but that was for lack of any other answer. I think it's just random family member now, or it could just be an early design for Bow Hothoof, her actual dad) and from them, we can see why. The main thing Dash loves is attention and Bow Hothoof (her dad) and Windy Whistles (her mom) deliver that in abundance. And that's putting it mildly. Their entire house seems to be a Shrine to Rainbow Dash. Probably for the best that Dash is an only child (seemingly. Makes more sense than her having a neglected sibling and why she's quick to adopt Scootaloo as her sister). Still, their extreme eagerness to show support for their daughter was great and with the addition of fangirl Scootaloo (these three seem to be the only ponies who love Dash more than she loves herself) and it was a great one.
5. Episode 13 "The Perfect Pear" 8/5/2017
You may be starting to notice a pattern here, but once again "Mane 6 parent=Awesome". And this time we get the answer to one of the series biggest mysteries: who were Applejack's parents? And the answer is a pair (or pear. Ha.) of star-crossed lovers. For years, the fans have been making jokes about the hatred the Apple family must have for pears, and here we see it's canon. And it is heartbreaking. As well as heartwarming in the end. I know that many are calling this the best episode of the season (and some say series), but for me, I like the above 4 a little more. Probably because they were heavy on laughs, while this one was heavy on feels. I still have to take the moment to talk about my favorite aspect that many don't focus on and that is that AJ has probably one of the more badass lineages. I mean come on, her maternal grandfather is none other than Captain James Tiberius Motherfucking Kirk. Yes, William Shatner guest voices in his one as Grand-Pear, the father of the Apple sibling's mother. So overall, this was a good one and a touching tale of Apples and Pears.
6. Episode 14 "Fame and Misfortune" 8/12/2017
I love it when series get meta and this episode is the writers kind of getting off their chests what they've been thinking about the fans these last 7 years (in a sort of nice way, but it's not that complimentary). Best part was the "fans" confronting Fluttershy about how she "always learns the same lesson" and her flipping out over it. I mean sure, I had that issue do and am glad that the series is kind of moving away from the standby of "Fluttershy mans up" (it made for good episodes in "Dragonshy", "Stare Master", "Putting Your Hoof Down", and "Hurricane Fluttershy", but then we also got "Bats!" (song, notwithstanding) and "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" and the formula wore itself thin), but yeah. I dug that scene. I also loved the end where the Mane 6 sing a song and it...changes nothing. Fans are still arguing outside Twilight's castle. Very, very accurate.
As a final note, for her specific fandom misery, no pony talks shit about the true Best Pony Rarity. Rarity is the best, no questions.
7. Episode 17 "To Change a Changeling" 9/2/2017
Another entry in the Starlight/Trixie double act. This time we catch up with Thorax and his attempts to make the Changelings cuddlier. And it seems to be working, except for his brother Pharynx deciding that he'd rather still take after dear old mommy Chrysalis. Still, great to delve into Changeling behavior again and continue the great pairing of Starlight and Trixie.
8. Episode 15 "Triple Threat" 8/19/2017
You know what episodes used to be the weakest each season? Spike's. You know what episodes aren't anymore? Spike's. I did always like the little dragon as a character throughout the show even if his own spotlight eps were pretty "Meh". But now he's had a good long string of them. And this one carries forward from two of those pretty good ones. We've Thorax checking in with Spike after "The Times They a-Changeling" and Ember from "Gauntlet of Fire". Now aside from the take on the cliched plot of "Two Timer Date", this was still great. We had Ember trying to be nice (and failing) and Thorax being neurotic about his leadership abilities until the two meet and figure each other's problems out. While Spike loses his mind over how to entertain both of them and finding that the map's calling him for a Friendship problem.
9. Episode 24 "Uncommon Bond" 10/21/2017
Yay! Another Starlight ep! And this time, she tries to play catch up with her old BFF Sunburst. And then finds that not really keeping in contact with your old friends since you were kids means you might have less in common as adults. Common problem and executed nicely, between Starlight finding out that Sunburst really is as big a nerd as Twilight, Trixie stealing him to her assistant/test dummy, and Maud, well, Maud charming him in her own unique way.
And the solution to the whole problem is "Only kids play tabletop games. Adults LARP".
10. Episode 3 "A Flurry of Emotions" 4/22/2017
Cadance and Shining being exhausted new parents and Twilight's adventures in the conflict between Babysitting and Rigid Schedule making. Makes for a fun episode.
And now, the remaining 16 episodes in the order I found them in relation to each other:
11/12. Episodes 25/26 "Shadow Play Part 1/2" 10/28/2017
13. Episode 8 "Hard to Say Anything" 5/27/2017
14. Episode 23 "Secrets and Pies" 10/14/2017
15. Episode 6 "Forever Filly" 5/13/2017
16. Episode 4 "Rock Solid Friendship" 4/29/2017
17. Episode 18 "Daring Done?" 9/9/2017
18. Episode 21 "Marks and Recreation" 9/30/2017
19. Episode 12 "Discordant Harmony" 8/5/2017
20. Episode 19 "It Isn't the Mane Thing About You" 9/16/2017
21. Episode 11 "Not Asking for Trouble" 6/17/2017
22. Episode 9 "Honest Apple" 6/3/2017
23. Episode 16 "Campfire Tales" 8/26/2017
24. Episode 20 "A Health of Information" 9/23/2017
25. Episode 1 "Celestial Advice" 4/15/2017
26. Episode 5 "Fluttershy Leans In" 5/6/2017
All of them have their moments, but compared to the top 10 up there, not enough to climb out of "Enjoyable, but forgettable". But still, a pretty good overall season. I'd rank it 4th behind Seasons 4, 2, and 6.
Until the Spring!
(Oh and I also saw the movie as well. Great songs, great new characters (Tempest, Capper, and the Storm King in that order), but overall story wise, didn't feel like it was anything beyond a usual season finale. Still a pretty good flick nevertheless.)
Overall, this was quite the enjoyable season. More standout episodes than Season 6, less "Meh" episodes than prior seasons, but more "enjoyable, but forgettable" episodes than prior seasons as well. However as I said during the thoughts on Season 6, it has more to do with me than the show. I'm still finding it at the same level of quality it's had all along, but my general interest has faded since the heydays of Seasons 2-4. I'm glad it's continuing through Season 8 and another movie, but we're at the point where it can end at anytime and I'd be satisfied. And this is coming from a long time "Simpsons" fan (I stopped watching around Season 21 and when I catch clips of later eps, I am not impressed. The earlier episodes up through about Season 14 (but especially Seasons 3-9) still bring very fond memories and larger laughs). So yeah. At this rate, it'll probably be once again me who leaves before the show does. But what can you do? And unless Gen 5 is really frickin' amazing, this will just be the anomalous decade of my life where I liked Ponies.
Anyhoo, onto Season 7. As I said, more "Enjoyable, but forgettable" eps than prior seasons, so I guess I'll just put my thoughts on my Top 10.
1. Episode 10 "A Royal Problem" 6/10/2017
I don't care what the general consensus flips flops as, I have always loved Starlight Glimmer. She's definitely my favorite addition to the cast and her episodes are always among my favorites. And this one tops it. Mostly because not only do we get neurotic Starlight (who's just as funny as neurotic Twilight), finally, finally after 7 seasons of waiting, we get a largely Celestia-centric episode. Best Princess finally gets to shine and show more of how normal she actually is instead of the paragon she's thought to be/usually shown as. My favorite bit is how her and Luna react to Starlight saying that the friendship problem she's there to solve is between them. Luna reacts with a loud "EXCUSE ME?!", but Celestia's is even better with a "Beg pardon?" in a tone that says "Bitch, what did you say?" And then her sarcastic apology to Luna about not appreciating Luna's duties. Yes, Celestia was the best in this episode, especially as Daybreaker, finally canonizing the all the "What if Celestia had gone evil" timelines and OCs that have flitted about since Season 1. And from the way she played it, it sounded like Nicole Oliver hadn't had that much fun in a role since "Hearts and Hooves Day" with Cheerilee's sickeningly love talk. This one definitely tops the season with neurotic Starlight, not-so-perfect Celestia, and even bonus neurotic Twilight.
2. Episode 2 "All Bottled Up" 4/15/2017
Now since Season 6 there is another reason why Starlight eps are usually among my favorites. Starlight herself is always great, but where Starlight is, usually another pony is around her. A Great and Powerful pony. Naturally, I refer to Starlight's #1 BFF Trixie. Yet another character I've always loved. Trixie always makes everything better. "Boast Busters" is an overall "Meh" episode, except for every second Trixie is onscreen. "Magic Duel" would be the top episode of Season 3, were it not for "Sleepless in Ponyville" and "No Second Prances" is not only the best episode of Season 6, but one of my top faves overall. So, yes, I love me some Trixie Lulamoon. And pairing Starlight up with Trixie was a stroke of genius and this ep showed how great of a double act they are, between Starlight having a mental breakdown and Trixie not really caring. And Trixie gets the best lines. Top one? Celebrating her teacup magic by lifting Starlight's forelegs and saying in mock whisper cheer "Yay Trixie! You're the best at magic and having good hair!" Indeed, Starlight and Trixie sharing the spotlight is always a great thing.
3. Episode 22 "Once Upon a Zeppelin" 10/7/2017
If it involves the parents of the Mane 6, it's going to be a good time. And here we see where that Sparkle insanity comes from. Twilight Velvet provides the crazy, while it's Night Light who's the reason Shining and Twilight are the huge dorks that they are. For not sharing any Sparkle blood, Cadance is the most normal member of that family. Can't say I was too onboard with the whole cruise thing being a scheme by Iron Will, but it served it's purpose of getting the Sparkles together. I would really love another episode with them again. Truly, the best family.
4. Episode 7 "Parental Glideance" 5/20/2017
Another entry in the "Mane 6 parents make everything better". This time we meet the Dash's. Dash was the last to have any family introduced in any way (well, there was that guy in "Games Ponies Play" everyone thought was her dad, but that was for lack of any other answer. I think it's just random family member now, or it could just be an early design for Bow Hothoof, her actual dad) and from them, we can see why. The main thing Dash loves is attention and Bow Hothoof (her dad) and Windy Whistles (her mom) deliver that in abundance. And that's putting it mildly. Their entire house seems to be a Shrine to Rainbow Dash. Probably for the best that Dash is an only child (seemingly. Makes more sense than her having a neglected sibling and why she's quick to adopt Scootaloo as her sister). Still, their extreme eagerness to show support for their daughter was great and with the addition of fangirl Scootaloo (these three seem to be the only ponies who love Dash more than she loves herself) and it was a great one.
5. Episode 13 "The Perfect Pear" 8/5/2017
You may be starting to notice a pattern here, but once again "Mane 6 parent=Awesome". And this time we get the answer to one of the series biggest mysteries: who were Applejack's parents? And the answer is a pair (or pear. Ha.) of star-crossed lovers. For years, the fans have been making jokes about the hatred the Apple family must have for pears, and here we see it's canon. And it is heartbreaking. As well as heartwarming in the end. I know that many are calling this the best episode of the season (and some say series), but for me, I like the above 4 a little more. Probably because they were heavy on laughs, while this one was heavy on feels. I still have to take the moment to talk about my favorite aspect that many don't focus on and that is that AJ has probably one of the more badass lineages. I mean come on, her maternal grandfather is none other than Captain James Tiberius Motherfucking Kirk. Yes, William Shatner guest voices in his one as Grand-Pear, the father of the Apple sibling's mother. So overall, this was a good one and a touching tale of Apples and Pears.
6. Episode 14 "Fame and Misfortune" 8/12/2017
I love it when series get meta and this episode is the writers kind of getting off their chests what they've been thinking about the fans these last 7 years (in a sort of nice way, but it's not that complimentary). Best part was the "fans" confronting Fluttershy about how she "always learns the same lesson" and her flipping out over it. I mean sure, I had that issue do and am glad that the series is kind of moving away from the standby of "Fluttershy mans up" (it made for good episodes in "Dragonshy", "Stare Master", "Putting Your Hoof Down", and "Hurricane Fluttershy", but then we also got "Bats!" (song, notwithstanding) and "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" and the formula wore itself thin), but yeah. I dug that scene. I also loved the end where the Mane 6 sing a song and it...changes nothing. Fans are still arguing outside Twilight's castle. Very, very accurate.
As a final note, for her specific fandom misery, no pony talks shit about the true Best Pony Rarity. Rarity is the best, no questions.
7. Episode 17 "To Change a Changeling" 9/2/2017
Another entry in the Starlight/Trixie double act. This time we catch up with Thorax and his attempts to make the Changelings cuddlier. And it seems to be working, except for his brother Pharynx deciding that he'd rather still take after dear old mommy Chrysalis. Still, great to delve into Changeling behavior again and continue the great pairing of Starlight and Trixie.
8. Episode 15 "Triple Threat" 8/19/2017
You know what episodes used to be the weakest each season? Spike's. You know what episodes aren't anymore? Spike's. I did always like the little dragon as a character throughout the show even if his own spotlight eps were pretty "Meh". But now he's had a good long string of them. And this one carries forward from two of those pretty good ones. We've Thorax checking in with Spike after "The Times They a-Changeling" and Ember from "Gauntlet of Fire". Now aside from the take on the cliched plot of "Two Timer Date", this was still great. We had Ember trying to be nice (and failing) and Thorax being neurotic about his leadership abilities until the two meet and figure each other's problems out. While Spike loses his mind over how to entertain both of them and finding that the map's calling him for a Friendship problem.
9. Episode 24 "Uncommon Bond" 10/21/2017
Yay! Another Starlight ep! And this time, she tries to play catch up with her old BFF Sunburst. And then finds that not really keeping in contact with your old friends since you were kids means you might have less in common as adults. Common problem and executed nicely, between Starlight finding out that Sunburst really is as big a nerd as Twilight, Trixie stealing him to her assistant/test dummy, and Maud, well, Maud charming him in her own unique way.
And the solution to the whole problem is "Only kids play tabletop games. Adults LARP".
10. Episode 3 "A Flurry of Emotions" 4/22/2017
Cadance and Shining being exhausted new parents and Twilight's adventures in the conflict between Babysitting and Rigid Schedule making. Makes for a fun episode.
And now, the remaining 16 episodes in the order I found them in relation to each other:
11/12. Episodes 25/26 "Shadow Play Part 1/2" 10/28/2017
13. Episode 8 "Hard to Say Anything" 5/27/2017
14. Episode 23 "Secrets and Pies" 10/14/2017
15. Episode 6 "Forever Filly" 5/13/2017
16. Episode 4 "Rock Solid Friendship" 4/29/2017
17. Episode 18 "Daring Done?" 9/9/2017
18. Episode 21 "Marks and Recreation" 9/30/2017
19. Episode 12 "Discordant Harmony" 8/5/2017
20. Episode 19 "It Isn't the Mane Thing About You" 9/16/2017
21. Episode 11 "Not Asking for Trouble" 6/17/2017
22. Episode 9 "Honest Apple" 6/3/2017
23. Episode 16 "Campfire Tales" 8/26/2017
24. Episode 20 "A Health of Information" 9/23/2017
25. Episode 1 "Celestial Advice" 4/15/2017
26. Episode 5 "Fluttershy Leans In" 5/6/2017
All of them have their moments, but compared to the top 10 up there, not enough to climb out of "Enjoyable, but forgettable". But still, a pretty good overall season. I'd rank it 4th behind Seasons 4, 2, and 6.
Until the Spring!
(Oh and I also saw the movie as well. Great songs, great new characters (Tempest, Capper, and the Storm King in that order), but overall story wise, didn't feel like it was anything beyond a usual season finale. Still a pretty good flick nevertheless.)
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Season 6 3/26 - 10/22/2016
17 min read
You wouldn't think that seven months would fly by as fast as they did, but then here we are. So Season 6 of MLP is done now. I'd have to say ultimately it felt more like Season 1 or 2, in that there weren't really any "Meh" episodes, but only a few really stand out ones and the rest were just pretty average. Now I wouldn't say that was a knock against the show. It's more my own feelings towards it now. As far as I'm concerned, it's at the same level of quality it's always been. However, I guess after 5 years of watching it (I started in July 2011, feels so long ago now), it's now just another one of those "shows I watch" than anything else. But that's just me. I still set aside time each Saturday to watch, I still love seeing the characters I love, I still collect artwork on DA, but compared to where I was with it in 2013-2014...yeah, it's lessened a bit. But again, that's just me, not the show itself.
Anyways, here's my breakdown of Season 6 and my order of episodes from Favorite to Meh (I have never actually hated an episode, so the worst you're going to get from me is "Meh. It had it's moments, but yeah, there are better ones").
1. Episode 6 "No Second Prances" 4/30/2016
What does it take to make a great episode? Somepony Great and Powerful. Somepony like...The Great and Powerful Trixie! Now "Boast Busters" itself is actually pretty far down on my list, but Trixie has always been one of my all-time favorite characters. And this episode continued to show why. Her reformation at the end of "Magic Duel" (all the way back in Season 3) is still shown to be genuine, but she's still Trixie, arrogance and all. I absolutely loved how she and Starlight interacted and how Twilight may be forgiving, but it's not like she's completely forgotten about her history with Trixie. Really, this was the top of the season and makes it very high on my list of "All Time Favorites" (really. The only episodes ranked above it are "The Return of Harmony" and "Sleepless in Ponyville"). Although, it does face very stiff competition from #2...
2. Episode 11 "Flutter Brutter" 6/4/2016
Throughout the series we've seen the families of the Mane 6. Twilight's got her older brother Shining Armor, Rarity's younger sister Sweetie Belle, AJ's the middle child between Big Mac and Apple Bloom, and Pinkie's got her sisters Limestone, Maud, and Marble (Dash is apparently an only child). All of them are pretty driven individuals who have pretty good relationships with each other. And now we meet Fluttershy's younger brother Zephyr Breeze and boy does he break the mold. In addition to be her younger brother (Shining and Big Mac are both the older ones), the guy's a complete fuck-up who has probably the worst relationship of all them with his sister. And I love it. From his excuses to why he's not working to his constant flirting to a very unhappy Dash, he was absolute gem every time he was onscreen. And really, it was his poor relationship with Fluttershy that I loved the best. She says it herself "He's my brother and I love him, but...". So Flutters' family was great. Now we just need more with Dash's (right now, all we got is a guy who's probably her dad, but even that's not concrete).
3. Episode 8 "A Hearth's Warming Tail" 5/14/2016
Aside from the fact we're getting a Christmas episode in the middle of May (But hey, last season we got one on the onset of winter in April and the Christmas episode then aired the week before both Halloween and an episode about Halloween), this was another great one. Sure it's our favorite Christmas trope in the good old "Another Christmas Carol", but it was definitely the best take on it since 2010 "Doctor Who" Christmas Special. I especially loved Starlight playing the Scrooge role and who were the Ghosts (AJ is Past, Pinkie is Present, and Luna is Future) and it does get one over on Scrooge with Snowfall Frost's (the in-story Scrooge character portrayed by Starlight) fate. Instead of just dying alone, she's literally responsible for a frozen apocalypse. Now unlike past seasons, I didn't find the songs in this seasons episodes too great (a few exceptions though) but this one contained the best ones. Hard to pick a favorite. Starlight's villain song (which was a great return to the villainous Starlight of Season 5), AJ's past song and Pinkie's metaphorical and literal Present song, and then Luna's "Enjoy your frozen future" one, all amazing. So really, there is an order between these top 3, but there's only minor things that put each one over the other.
4. Episode 17 "Dungeons & Discord" 8/27/2016
Now Trixie is one the components of a great episode, but there is another who can deliver them. And that's our favorite Next of Kin to Chaos (to quote Captain Picard. He apparently knew what was up with Q) Discord. Even more so than "Three's a Crowd" and "Make New Friends, But Keep Discord" this further hammers in Discord's role of the "Friend Nobody Likes" (except for Fluttershy. And the feeling's mutual) since "Keep Calm and Flutter On". Yep, he may be reformed, but that doesn't change the fact that he's just a jerk. So once again, wall to wall hilarity as he tries to impose his idea of what Guy's Night should be to an uninterested Spike and Big Mac who only want to play the Equestrian version of D&D. Kind of reminds me of Halloween 2008 aka the night my (at the time) 10 year old sister learned that real teen guys aren't like they are on Disney Channel. Yep, it's Halloween, a Friday, and me and the rest of my 19 year old buddies just want to stay in and play some Risk to her utter confusion (especially since our 17 year old brother actually was off doing those party things).
5. Episode 25/26 "To Where and Back Again" 10/22/2016
To me, this contained the workings of what makes for a great finale. As per prior episodes, we've got Trixie, we've got Discord, and there's one other character who truly made it. My favorite villain from the series, Queen Chrysalis. About time she returned for a villainous scheme. Sure we got her in a bad future in last season's finale, but in the main timeline she's just been biding her time since her defeat in Season 2's finale. Since then, she was the only villain who wasn't purged (Nightmare Moon), reformed (Discord and Starlight), imprisoned (Tirek), or just plain killed (Sombra) and now she's back. And unintentionally preying on Starlight's insecurities. I will say that a point in it's favor is that it's no longer Twilight's job to save Equestria this time. Hell, Twilight is only in the first act of the first episode. And it isn't even up to the Mane 6 either. This time, Equestria's salvation lies in what could be called their version of the Suicide Squad: Starlight, Trixie, Discord, and Thorax (more on him when we get to "The Times They Are A-Changeling"). So yes to me it was the ultimate formula: Starlight + Trixie + Discord + Chrysalis = Awesome sauce.
6. Episode 21 "Every Little Thing She Does" 9/24/2016
Starlight's gotten a lot of flack ever since she turned to the side of good. Biggest refrain is "Knockoff Sunset Shimmer" (interestingly, their paths of like/dislike are very different. When Sunset was a villain, she was hated but became loved when she turned good and for Starlight, it's the opposite: liked when evil, not so much when good), but this episode shows the difference. Sunset took charge over her insecurities and actually truly earned her friendships. Starlight still bows to her insecurities and when charged to just do simple tasks with the rest of the Mane 6 just goes back to what she knows best: brainwashing. Starlight goes full Sorcerer's Apprentice and learned the first rule of computing "They won't do what you want, only what you tell them". Was Starlight better evil? Hard to say. "The Cutie Map" is definitely one of the best premieres and it was largely in part due to her villainous role, but you know what? I love seeing awkward Glim Glam try her hoof at friendship. It's really like...Season 1/2 Twilight. Huh. So that's what they were going for here...
7. Episode 13 "Stranger Than Fan-Fiction" 7/30/2016
And this episode showed why I largely stopped visiting Equestria Daily and Derpibooru. It was because of guys like Quibble Pants. "Oh yes, I absolutely love the series, but here's everything that's wrong with it." Oh how I abhor fans like that. Yeah, I'm Dash's side: "It was awesome then and it's still awesome now". As soon as he said about the last 3 books in the Daring Do series (oh I see what you're doing there...) "Yes, I know they exist I just prefer to think they don't" I rolled my eyes and said "Oh great. One of the those guys". We've all met them. Still it was a great episode. Still doesn't answer the question raised in "Daring Don't" of how does Daring Do being real fit in the rest of the Equestria, but at least they were consistent in the Yearling/Daring Do connection and it was still an entertaining episode. And while guys like Quibble Pants are annoying in real life, at least he and Dash learned "You have your opinion, I have mine, but at least we agree we like the series in general". If only some of those real life guys could learn that...
8. Episode 9 "The Saddle Row Review" 5/21/2016
In which Rarity experiences the opposite problem she had in "Canterlot Boutique": where everything went far too well in Canterlot, things completely go to Tartarus in Manehatten. Pretty much all to say about it, but it was hilarious watching everything go wrong and how the Mane 6 tried to fix it.
9. Episode 20 "Viva Las Pegasus" 9/17/2016
Once again, the Map's back and we get our team-up episode. Starring in this one is AJ and Fluttershy, the rarest combination of the Mane 6. Seriously. Those two rarely seem to interact, but it is hard to notice until you get episodes like this. Anyhoo, this one was pretty damn entertaining, especially with the addition of AJ's arch-enemies, the Flim-Flam Brothers. Shame they didn't get a song this time, but whatever. While they themselves are entertaining, can't say too much for their episodes ("SSCS6K" and especially "Leap of Faith"). Thankfully, this broke that pattern. Somewhat. Still good though.
10. Episode 18 "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks" 9/10/2016
Just because they got them now, the CMC train keeps rolling. Now they have their purpose (essentially Cutie Mark therapists) and this time it's put to the test: let's see if they can get one for a species that can't. CMC remain in top form in this ep and we even get a great new character in Gabby the Griffin. She's just so bubbly and full of energy. I never really cared for Griffins that much throughout the series, but I really loved Gabby. I really hope she shows up again.
11. Episode 3 "The Gift of Maud Pie" 4/2/2016
Maud Pie. What else needs to be said? No matter the episode, she steals it (okay, I actually liked Limestone more in "Hearthbreakers", but it certainly wasn't for lack of trying on Maud's part). And this one was no different. More Maud is always a great thing.
12. Episode 16 "The Times They Are A-Changeling" 8/20/2016
Normally I'm pretty dismissive of Spike episodes. Over the last 5 seasons, they've always fell at the bottom for me (sole exceptions: "Secret of My Excess", "Power Ponies", "Inspiration Manifestation", and "Equestria Games"). Not so this season. The little dragon had a great showing. And here we get another great new character: Thorax, the Good Changeling. Guess this disproves once and for all the long held fan theory that the Changelings are literally insects under the control of their Queen. They have their own thoughts and Thorax doesn't want to be evil. But even he can't quite fight his instinct to devour love and the rest of Equestria can't get over the evil horde that invaded back in Season 2. Thankfully, Spike shows that even a "Changeling can change" and Thorax is welcomed to the Crystal Empire by the two ponies who really have issues with Changelings, Cadance and Shining. Not too many laughs in this one, but a lovely episode nevertheless.
13. Episode 23 "Where the Apple Lies" 10/8/2016
I guess one really would have an aversion to lying when the last it happened it spiraled so out of control it almost lead to one's brother losing a leg. Young AJ spins a web of lies and learns why not to to the extant that she becomes the literal embodiment of Honesty and we discover why the Apple Family enforces Big Mac's monosyllabic vocabulary. Only real disappointment is that we didn't get to see the Apple Parents. They must have been alive then if Flithy Rich is only engaged, meaning that Diamond Tiara hasn't been born yet meaning that neither has Apple Bloom. Oh well, laughs all around and young AJ is just too damn adorable.
14. Episode 5 "Gauntlet of Fire" 4/16/2016
Or as I like to think "Dragon Quest" done right. First indication that Spike episodes are going to be good this season. While it still shows that Dragons are kind of jerks by nature, it does so better than "Dragon Quest". And it even showed that they can overcome it with the addition of another great new character: Princess Ember or as she's also known Princess TsunDragonWaifu. As if Spike wasn't shipped enough. At least this time it's with another dragon.
15. Episode 22 "P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)" 10/1/2016
In the big book of standard cartoon plots, "Rashomon style" ranks high. Still, it's more entertaining than the other big two ("Save Your Life, I'm Your Slave" and "Body Swap". We've already seen the first in "Spike at Your Service" and still have really yet to see the 2nd). Here we get the disastrous three hour tour of a boat ride for AJ, Pinkie, and Rarity and how they completely misremember everything that happens to them. Best part being Pirate!AJ. Just reminds me of Caboose from Red vs. Blue view of Sarge: "Yar, I be having a southern accent!". And after hearing their accounts and what actually happened, it seems to me that Pinkie was the one who got it more accurately. Excuse me I have to fight my inner RariJack shipper how AJ and Rarity got it so wrong...
16. Episode 15 "28 Pranks Later" 8/13/2016
In which Dash learns "Act like a bitch, be treated like one" (for like the 5th time). Still, your pranks seemingly causing a zombie apocalypse is pretty good payback.
17. Episode 12 "Spice Up Your Life" 6/11/2016
The first of the Map episodes for this season and this time it's Rarity and Pinkie off to Canterlot to help a failing restaurant. Much like "Stranger Than Fan-Fiction" I liked how it told off critics with "Listen, just because you don't care for it doesn't make it bad and everything shouldn't bow to appeal to your tastes". Add in a cool Bollywood-esque song and a pretty decent episode is produced.
18. Episode 14 "The Cart Before the Ponies" 7/30/2016
In which AJ, Rarity and Dash attempt to live vicariously through Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Plus Cheerleader!Cheerilee! In a way they seemed to learn from "Show Stoppers" and go do what they're good at and want to do. Meanwhile, it's their older sister's (well, honorary one in Scoot and Dash's case) who push them into something else. Pretty decent song, even if it's not too memorable.
19. Episode 19 "Buckball Season" 9/3/2016
First two acts, pretty average. Third act, wins solely because of Fluttershy's freak out. "And we don't want to be in the zone because the zone sounds like a terrible place!"
20. Episode 10 "Applejack's Day Off" 5/28/2016
Hey kids let's learn about efficiency! Outside of appealing to the aforementioned RariJack shipper, not much else for this ep. Could have been better if it was "Twilight tries and fails to do AJ's chores while AJ tries and fails to relax Rarity's way", but instead we get "Twilight learns Sweet Apple Acres is incredibly inefficient and AJ gets antsy without something to work on". So, yeah. Meh.
21. Episode 4 "On Your Marks" 4/9/2016
Really only down this far because how early it aired. Wasn't all that meh, but a lot better episodes aired after it. And it appears that Apple Bloom is like her sister in getting antsy if there's nothing to work on.
22. Episode 7 "Newbie Dash" 5/7/2016
Man, the Wonderbolt's are jerks. But here's where Dash finally achieves her dream from Season 1. Yep, she's now a Wonderbolt. And that's it really. The Wonderbolts themselves are jerks and Dash has now joined them (in being a Wonderbolt, not a jerk). Plus it triggers those who are sensitive to bullying by having them give Dash a nickname that reminds her of her own experiences with bullies. Still, this episode does contain the hilarity of Dash imitating the rest of the Mane 6 giving a nice look into how she views them. Her best was her doing Rarity.
23. Episode 1/2 "The Crystalling" 3/26/2016
In a way, it seemed like a remake of "The Crystal Empire": Mane 6 go to Crystal Empire and have to something with the Crystal Heart while keeping a dark force at bay. Still, points for it being a literal force of nature and not Sombra 2.0. But yeah. Not a particularly strong premiere, especially after last seasons. Once again, kind of like "The Crystal Empire". Some pluses would be Sunburst and the real beginning of Starlight's character arc this season. And we get the birth of Shining and Cadance's foal (about time after 4 years of marriage) Flurry Heart, who if you think about it, was the real villain of this episode (okay, it's really stretching it. But it was her crying that broke the Crystal Heart and caused the storm to start descending on them, so...). But yeah. Pretty meh. Outside of Starlight and Sunburst though. Ship! Ship! (or I would if I wasn't too busy indulging in my love of Yuri and shipping Starlight and Trixie instead. "I don't always partake in shipping, but when I do, it's Yuri").
24. Episode 24 "Top Bolt" 10/17/2016
At least it took 24 episodes for an episode to air to make it this low. It's just Twilight and Dash's map mission, nothing more. I did like the running gag of Dash being summoned back to the Wonderbolt's base almost immediately after she just left it and Vapor Trail was adorable and great. But other than those, not much else.
And that's Season 6. Some really standout ones, but mostly a lot of average ones. But again, that's how it's coming off to me. I don't see a dip in quality, but instead a dip in my own interest. Oh well. It's been 5 years of watching.
Now what will I do with my Saturdays before Season 7 presumably starts in March/April (if the pattern holds and if there is a Season 7)? Well, "Doctor Who" is still another year off. Looks like it's just going to be "RWBY" until February or so.
Anyways, here's my breakdown of Season 6 and my order of episodes from Favorite to Meh (I have never actually hated an episode, so the worst you're going to get from me is "Meh. It had it's moments, but yeah, there are better ones").
1. Episode 6 "No Second Prances" 4/30/2016
What does it take to make a great episode? Somepony Great and Powerful. Somepony like...The Great and Powerful Trixie! Now "Boast Busters" itself is actually pretty far down on my list, but Trixie has always been one of my all-time favorite characters. And this episode continued to show why. Her reformation at the end of "Magic Duel" (all the way back in Season 3) is still shown to be genuine, but she's still Trixie, arrogance and all. I absolutely loved how she and Starlight interacted and how Twilight may be forgiving, but it's not like she's completely forgotten about her history with Trixie. Really, this was the top of the season and makes it very high on my list of "All Time Favorites" (really. The only episodes ranked above it are "The Return of Harmony" and "Sleepless in Ponyville"). Although, it does face very stiff competition from #2...
2. Episode 11 "Flutter Brutter" 6/4/2016
Throughout the series we've seen the families of the Mane 6. Twilight's got her older brother Shining Armor, Rarity's younger sister Sweetie Belle, AJ's the middle child between Big Mac and Apple Bloom, and Pinkie's got her sisters Limestone, Maud, and Marble (Dash is apparently an only child). All of them are pretty driven individuals who have pretty good relationships with each other. And now we meet Fluttershy's younger brother Zephyr Breeze and boy does he break the mold. In addition to be her younger brother (Shining and Big Mac are both the older ones), the guy's a complete fuck-up who has probably the worst relationship of all them with his sister. And I love it. From his excuses to why he's not working to his constant flirting to a very unhappy Dash, he was absolute gem every time he was onscreen. And really, it was his poor relationship with Fluttershy that I loved the best. She says it herself "He's my brother and I love him, but...". So Flutters' family was great. Now we just need more with Dash's (right now, all we got is a guy who's probably her dad, but even that's not concrete).
3. Episode 8 "A Hearth's Warming Tail" 5/14/2016
Aside from the fact we're getting a Christmas episode in the middle of May (But hey, last season we got one on the onset of winter in April and the Christmas episode then aired the week before both Halloween and an episode about Halloween), this was another great one. Sure it's our favorite Christmas trope in the good old "Another Christmas Carol", but it was definitely the best take on it since 2010 "Doctor Who" Christmas Special. I especially loved Starlight playing the Scrooge role and who were the Ghosts (AJ is Past, Pinkie is Present, and Luna is Future) and it does get one over on Scrooge with Snowfall Frost's (the in-story Scrooge character portrayed by Starlight) fate. Instead of just dying alone, she's literally responsible for a frozen apocalypse. Now unlike past seasons, I didn't find the songs in this seasons episodes too great (a few exceptions though) but this one contained the best ones. Hard to pick a favorite. Starlight's villain song (which was a great return to the villainous Starlight of Season 5), AJ's past song and Pinkie's metaphorical and literal Present song, and then Luna's "Enjoy your frozen future" one, all amazing. So really, there is an order between these top 3, but there's only minor things that put each one over the other.
4. Episode 17 "Dungeons & Discord" 8/27/2016
Now Trixie is one the components of a great episode, but there is another who can deliver them. And that's our favorite Next of Kin to Chaos (to quote Captain Picard. He apparently knew what was up with Q) Discord. Even more so than "Three's a Crowd" and "Make New Friends, But Keep Discord" this further hammers in Discord's role of the "Friend Nobody Likes" (except for Fluttershy. And the feeling's mutual) since "Keep Calm and Flutter On". Yep, he may be reformed, but that doesn't change the fact that he's just a jerk. So once again, wall to wall hilarity as he tries to impose his idea of what Guy's Night should be to an uninterested Spike and Big Mac who only want to play the Equestrian version of D&D. Kind of reminds me of Halloween 2008 aka the night my (at the time) 10 year old sister learned that real teen guys aren't like they are on Disney Channel. Yep, it's Halloween, a Friday, and me and the rest of my 19 year old buddies just want to stay in and play some Risk to her utter confusion (especially since our 17 year old brother actually was off doing those party things).
5. Episode 25/26 "To Where and Back Again" 10/22/2016
To me, this contained the workings of what makes for a great finale. As per prior episodes, we've got Trixie, we've got Discord, and there's one other character who truly made it. My favorite villain from the series, Queen Chrysalis. About time she returned for a villainous scheme. Sure we got her in a bad future in last season's finale, but in the main timeline she's just been biding her time since her defeat in Season 2's finale. Since then, she was the only villain who wasn't purged (Nightmare Moon), reformed (Discord and Starlight), imprisoned (Tirek), or just plain killed (Sombra) and now she's back. And unintentionally preying on Starlight's insecurities. I will say that a point in it's favor is that it's no longer Twilight's job to save Equestria this time. Hell, Twilight is only in the first act of the first episode. And it isn't even up to the Mane 6 either. This time, Equestria's salvation lies in what could be called their version of the Suicide Squad: Starlight, Trixie, Discord, and Thorax (more on him when we get to "The Times They Are A-Changeling"). So yes to me it was the ultimate formula: Starlight + Trixie + Discord + Chrysalis = Awesome sauce.
6. Episode 21 "Every Little Thing She Does" 9/24/2016
Starlight's gotten a lot of flack ever since she turned to the side of good. Biggest refrain is "Knockoff Sunset Shimmer" (interestingly, their paths of like/dislike are very different. When Sunset was a villain, she was hated but became loved when she turned good and for Starlight, it's the opposite: liked when evil, not so much when good), but this episode shows the difference. Sunset took charge over her insecurities and actually truly earned her friendships. Starlight still bows to her insecurities and when charged to just do simple tasks with the rest of the Mane 6 just goes back to what she knows best: brainwashing. Starlight goes full Sorcerer's Apprentice and learned the first rule of computing "They won't do what you want, only what you tell them". Was Starlight better evil? Hard to say. "The Cutie Map" is definitely one of the best premieres and it was largely in part due to her villainous role, but you know what? I love seeing awkward Glim Glam try her hoof at friendship. It's really like...Season 1/2 Twilight. Huh. So that's what they were going for here...
7. Episode 13 "Stranger Than Fan-Fiction" 7/30/2016
And this episode showed why I largely stopped visiting Equestria Daily and Derpibooru. It was because of guys like Quibble Pants. "Oh yes, I absolutely love the series, but here's everything that's wrong with it." Oh how I abhor fans like that. Yeah, I'm Dash's side: "It was awesome then and it's still awesome now". As soon as he said about the last 3 books in the Daring Do series (oh I see what you're doing there...) "Yes, I know they exist I just prefer to think they don't" I rolled my eyes and said "Oh great. One of the those guys". We've all met them. Still it was a great episode. Still doesn't answer the question raised in "Daring Don't" of how does Daring Do being real fit in the rest of the Equestria, but at least they were consistent in the Yearling/Daring Do connection and it was still an entertaining episode. And while guys like Quibble Pants are annoying in real life, at least he and Dash learned "You have your opinion, I have mine, but at least we agree we like the series in general". If only some of those real life guys could learn that...
8. Episode 9 "The Saddle Row Review" 5/21/2016
In which Rarity experiences the opposite problem she had in "Canterlot Boutique": where everything went far too well in Canterlot, things completely go to Tartarus in Manehatten. Pretty much all to say about it, but it was hilarious watching everything go wrong and how the Mane 6 tried to fix it.
9. Episode 20 "Viva Las Pegasus" 9/17/2016
Once again, the Map's back and we get our team-up episode. Starring in this one is AJ and Fluttershy, the rarest combination of the Mane 6. Seriously. Those two rarely seem to interact, but it is hard to notice until you get episodes like this. Anyhoo, this one was pretty damn entertaining, especially with the addition of AJ's arch-enemies, the Flim-Flam Brothers. Shame they didn't get a song this time, but whatever. While they themselves are entertaining, can't say too much for their episodes ("SSCS6K" and especially "Leap of Faith"). Thankfully, this broke that pattern. Somewhat. Still good though.
10. Episode 18 "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks" 9/10/2016
Just because they got them now, the CMC train keeps rolling. Now they have their purpose (essentially Cutie Mark therapists) and this time it's put to the test: let's see if they can get one for a species that can't. CMC remain in top form in this ep and we even get a great new character in Gabby the Griffin. She's just so bubbly and full of energy. I never really cared for Griffins that much throughout the series, but I really loved Gabby. I really hope she shows up again.
11. Episode 3 "The Gift of Maud Pie" 4/2/2016
Maud Pie. What else needs to be said? No matter the episode, she steals it (okay, I actually liked Limestone more in "Hearthbreakers", but it certainly wasn't for lack of trying on Maud's part). And this one was no different. More Maud is always a great thing.
12. Episode 16 "The Times They Are A-Changeling" 8/20/2016
Normally I'm pretty dismissive of Spike episodes. Over the last 5 seasons, they've always fell at the bottom for me (sole exceptions: "Secret of My Excess", "Power Ponies", "Inspiration Manifestation", and "Equestria Games"). Not so this season. The little dragon had a great showing. And here we get another great new character: Thorax, the Good Changeling. Guess this disproves once and for all the long held fan theory that the Changelings are literally insects under the control of their Queen. They have their own thoughts and Thorax doesn't want to be evil. But even he can't quite fight his instinct to devour love and the rest of Equestria can't get over the evil horde that invaded back in Season 2. Thankfully, Spike shows that even a "Changeling can change" and Thorax is welcomed to the Crystal Empire by the two ponies who really have issues with Changelings, Cadance and Shining. Not too many laughs in this one, but a lovely episode nevertheless.
13. Episode 23 "Where the Apple Lies" 10/8/2016
I guess one really would have an aversion to lying when the last it happened it spiraled so out of control it almost lead to one's brother losing a leg. Young AJ spins a web of lies and learns why not to to the extant that she becomes the literal embodiment of Honesty and we discover why the Apple Family enforces Big Mac's monosyllabic vocabulary. Only real disappointment is that we didn't get to see the Apple Parents. They must have been alive then if Flithy Rich is only engaged, meaning that Diamond Tiara hasn't been born yet meaning that neither has Apple Bloom. Oh well, laughs all around and young AJ is just too damn adorable.
14. Episode 5 "Gauntlet of Fire" 4/16/2016
Or as I like to think "Dragon Quest" done right. First indication that Spike episodes are going to be good this season. While it still shows that Dragons are kind of jerks by nature, it does so better than "Dragon Quest". And it even showed that they can overcome it with the addition of another great new character: Princess Ember or as she's also known Princess TsunDragonWaifu. As if Spike wasn't shipped enough. At least this time it's with another dragon.
15. Episode 22 "P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View)" 10/1/2016
In the big book of standard cartoon plots, "Rashomon style" ranks high. Still, it's more entertaining than the other big two ("Save Your Life, I'm Your Slave" and "Body Swap". We've already seen the first in "Spike at Your Service" and still have really yet to see the 2nd). Here we get the disastrous three hour tour of a boat ride for AJ, Pinkie, and Rarity and how they completely misremember everything that happens to them. Best part being Pirate!AJ. Just reminds me of Caboose from Red vs. Blue view of Sarge: "Yar, I be having a southern accent!". And after hearing their accounts and what actually happened, it seems to me that Pinkie was the one who got it more accurately. Excuse me I have to fight my inner RariJack shipper how AJ and Rarity got it so wrong...
16. Episode 15 "28 Pranks Later" 8/13/2016
In which Dash learns "Act like a bitch, be treated like one" (for like the 5th time). Still, your pranks seemingly causing a zombie apocalypse is pretty good payback.
17. Episode 12 "Spice Up Your Life" 6/11/2016
The first of the Map episodes for this season and this time it's Rarity and Pinkie off to Canterlot to help a failing restaurant. Much like "Stranger Than Fan-Fiction" I liked how it told off critics with "Listen, just because you don't care for it doesn't make it bad and everything shouldn't bow to appeal to your tastes". Add in a cool Bollywood-esque song and a pretty decent episode is produced.
18. Episode 14 "The Cart Before the Ponies" 7/30/2016
In which AJ, Rarity and Dash attempt to live vicariously through Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Plus Cheerleader!Cheerilee! In a way they seemed to learn from "Show Stoppers" and go do what they're good at and want to do. Meanwhile, it's their older sister's (well, honorary one in Scoot and Dash's case) who push them into something else. Pretty decent song, even if it's not too memorable.
19. Episode 19 "Buckball Season" 9/3/2016
First two acts, pretty average. Third act, wins solely because of Fluttershy's freak out. "And we don't want to be in the zone because the zone sounds like a terrible place!"
20. Episode 10 "Applejack's Day Off" 5/28/2016
Hey kids let's learn about efficiency! Outside of appealing to the aforementioned RariJack shipper, not much else for this ep. Could have been better if it was "Twilight tries and fails to do AJ's chores while AJ tries and fails to relax Rarity's way", but instead we get "Twilight learns Sweet Apple Acres is incredibly inefficient and AJ gets antsy without something to work on". So, yeah. Meh.
21. Episode 4 "On Your Marks" 4/9/2016
Really only down this far because how early it aired. Wasn't all that meh, but a lot better episodes aired after it. And it appears that Apple Bloom is like her sister in getting antsy if there's nothing to work on.
22. Episode 7 "Newbie Dash" 5/7/2016
Man, the Wonderbolt's are jerks. But here's where Dash finally achieves her dream from Season 1. Yep, she's now a Wonderbolt. And that's it really. The Wonderbolts themselves are jerks and Dash has now joined them (in being a Wonderbolt, not a jerk). Plus it triggers those who are sensitive to bullying by having them give Dash a nickname that reminds her of her own experiences with bullies. Still, this episode does contain the hilarity of Dash imitating the rest of the Mane 6 giving a nice look into how she views them. Her best was her doing Rarity.
23. Episode 1/2 "The Crystalling" 3/26/2016
In a way, it seemed like a remake of "The Crystal Empire": Mane 6 go to Crystal Empire and have to something with the Crystal Heart while keeping a dark force at bay. Still, points for it being a literal force of nature and not Sombra 2.0. But yeah. Not a particularly strong premiere, especially after last seasons. Once again, kind of like "The Crystal Empire". Some pluses would be Sunburst and the real beginning of Starlight's character arc this season. And we get the birth of Shining and Cadance's foal (about time after 4 years of marriage) Flurry Heart, who if you think about it, was the real villain of this episode (okay, it's really stretching it. But it was her crying that broke the Crystal Heart and caused the storm to start descending on them, so...). But yeah. Pretty meh. Outside of Starlight and Sunburst though. Ship! Ship! (or I would if I wasn't too busy indulging in my love of Yuri and shipping Starlight and Trixie instead. "I don't always partake in shipping, but when I do, it's Yuri").
24. Episode 24 "Top Bolt" 10/17/2016
At least it took 24 episodes for an episode to air to make it this low. It's just Twilight and Dash's map mission, nothing more. I did like the running gag of Dash being summoned back to the Wonderbolt's base almost immediately after she just left it and Vapor Trail was adorable and great. But other than those, not much else.
And that's Season 6. Some really standout ones, but mostly a lot of average ones. But again, that's how it's coming off to me. I don't see a dip in quality, but instead a dip in my own interest. Oh well. It's been 5 years of watching.
Now what will I do with my Saturdays before Season 7 presumably starts in March/April (if the pattern holds and if there is a Season 7)? Well, "Doctor Who" is still another year off. Looks like it's just going to be "RWBY" until February or so.
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Season 5 4/4/2015 - 11/28/2015
12 min read
So Season 5 of MLP:FIM has ended. Weird, feels like just yesterday I was waiting for it to start and now the wait for Season 6 begins. Of course, I can remember the ancient days of waiting for Season 2 to start back in the summer of 2011, so the cycle begins anew. Sucks that it'll be another year or so before Season 6 starts, but I'm not surprised. Having it begin airing in November of 2016 brings the airdates back in line with the other seasons. But again, still sucks. At least I've got other series to watch in the meantime (even if "Doctor Who" ends it's season next week with only the Christmas special 3 weeks later until that comes back in another year).
Now what did I think of Season 5? I very much enjoyed it. Season 2 remains my favorite season of the show, but Season 5 nicely fits second, being just a hair better than Season 4 in my opinion. Probably because Season 4 had 3 episodes that I didn't strongly care for ("Twilight Time", "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" and "Leap of Faith"), while Season 5 had only one ("Princess Spike"). The premiere was the best one since Season 2's and the finale was also excellent (but not to the level of the premiere nor Seasons 2 and 4's finales).
Here's how I would rank the season (episodes ranked relative to one other):
1. Episode 9 "Slice of Life" 6/13/2015
Sure it was wall to wall fan service, but that was not a bad thing whatsoever. You gotta do something special for the 100th episode and this delivered. Loved the focus on the background ponies. Derpy was hilariously adorable and I loved all her interactions with the Doctor. And he wins for them not only giving him a British accent, but even kind of having him sound like David Tennant a bit (complete with an "Allons-y!"). Lyra and Bon-Bon were great as "best friends" ("Riiiight." "I don't believe you!") and the whole "Agent Sweetie Drops" bit was so out of nowhere that it was hilarious. And Octavia proves she is most metal pony. All in all, that episode was great. After all, where else am I going to see a semi-canon crossover between "Doctor Who" and "The Big Lebowski"?
2. Episode 20 "Hearthbreakers" 10/24/2015
The Pies are the best family. Enough said. Maud continued to be in top form where her deadpan emotionless responses to everything and we finally got some canon personality and names for the other two sisters. Limestone's great in her whole pushy, angry, and possessive personality and Marble's just completely withdrawn into herself. I couldn't get enough of all their interactions.
3. Episode 12 "Amending Fences" 7/4/2015
Good old Proto Six (Twilight, Moondancer, Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and Lyra). Reminded me of the times I've gotten together with my old High School buddies. Minuette was my favorite of the old friends. Just so perky and happy. No wonder she's friends with Pinkie.
4. Episode 7 "Make New Friends, But Keep Discord" 5/16/2015
Really, you can't go wrong with a Discord episode. As Celestia says, the God of Chaos always livens things up whenever he's around. And this was no exception. His petty jealously over Fluttershy's new friend was hilarious. And so was aforementioned new friend, Treehugger. Stoner Pony is best. "We can't say she's high all the time, but she totally is". Maud though wins for best line in the episode.
Discord: "This is the most basic of jokes!"
Maud: "You're the most basic of jokes."
Sick burn Maud.
5. Episode 1/2 "The Cutie Map" 4/4/2015
Best season premiere since "Return of Harmony" in Season 2 (but then, that was Discord's debut). I particularly loved how it deviated from the standard season premiere formula of "Twilight gathers the rest of the Mane 6 to battle some ancient evil that Celestia had thought she dealt with a thousand years ago". Here, Twilight's no more important than the others, the Mane 6 as group aren't the ones who stop the villain, and best of all, the villain is some ancient all powerful evil from a millennium prior. Instead, she's just a run of the mill average pony who's one of the more sinister villains. Starlight Glimmer, who keeps her communist utopia a utopia through brainwashing and rhetoric, always with a pleasant smile and voice. Really her mix of small town mayor/cult leader makes a bit scarier than a God like Tirek, just because there really are people like that.
6. Episode 18 "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" 10/10/2015
The impossible happens. Twice. Diamond Tiara finally gets some character development after 5 years of being a complete and total bitch first off. But then the real "Never thought this would happen yet" occurred. The CMC finally get their Cutie Marks. There's 5 years of development finally fulfilled. Add some pretty damn good songs (but can you expect less from Daniel Ingram?) and it makes for a real memorable episode
7. Episode 16 "Made in Manehatten" 9/26/2015
RariJack episode. Nothing more needs to be said. Ever since "Look Before You Sleep", you get AJ and Rarity together for an episode and you've got gold.
8. Episode 5 "Tanks for the Memories" 4/25/2015
As off as it was to have an episode about the onset of winter airing at the end of April (let's not even get into "Hearthbreakers", the Christmas episode airing a week before Halloween, which had a Halloween episode actually air on it), it still was great. The song "I'll Fly" was one of the best, as befitting the first actual Dash solo song and Dash's desperate attempts to stave off winter just she can have more time with her pet were both hilarious and adorable.
9. Episode 17 "Brotherhooves Social" 10/3/2015
It's hard being a good brother. It's even harder when your little sister clearly prefers another one of your siblings (oops, did I just project my own situation here?). Only one thing to do to prove that you'd do anything for them. Go full drag queen. Every word out of "Orchard Blossom's" (Big Mac in a dress) was hilarious. You can tell that Peter New hadn't had that much fun doing Big Mac since "Hearts and Hooves Day" where he had to speak in mushy sentences (of which you can tell Nicole Oliver as Cheerilee was also having a blast). Better since outside of one pony, no one was fooled by the drag act, they just let it slide as they've got "a loose definition of what constitutes a sister".
10. Episode 25/26 "The Cutie Re-Mark" 11/28/2015
The season finale. As I said, not quite as good as the premiere, but still excellent. Loved the return of Starlight and how she pulled the classic villain temper tantrum of "I'll go back in time to fuck up the hero's life so they can't fuck up mine". Her sheer pettiness was great (especially when we got to see her backstory. So simple, but as they say in the episode, one little thing can have a catastrophic effect). And then there were the different timelines. I certainly didn't expect Sombra or Chrysalis to show up again, but there they were! And Nightmare Moon was more sinister than she had been in quite a while. Only timeline I'd have liked to see is a Trixie ruled one. That could have replaced the Flim Flam Brothers one, but whatever. As for the ending, well, I did like it, but I'll like it more if they follow up on it in Season 6. We'll just have to wait and see (a fucking year).
11. Episode 21 "Scare Master" 10/31/2015
Sure, "Fluttershy overcomes a phobia" episodes are as common as "Fluttershy mans up" episodes for her, but this one was still great. I loved her phobias getting the better of her during the party and her first attempt at scaring the Mane 6, before her true successful attempt. Plus she acknowledged that she gave it try, didn't like it very much, so she'll sit these group outings out. A pretty good lesson to learn.
12. Episode 19 "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows" 10/17/2015
Took them almost four years of marriage, but Shining and Cadance are finally having a foal. Yeah, we all pretty much guessed that from the synopsis, so it was great that the focus was not what the surprise was, but how Pinkie's going to keep it in. A nice callback to "Green Isn't Your Color" where Pinkie kept guilttripping Twilight into not blabbing secrets (although there it would have been for both Rarity and Fluttershy's benefit) and now she finds it's not so much fun being on the other side. Meanwhile, Nerdy Armor is best. But then, he's a Sparkle. Just being cooler than his sister means he's still a total dork.
13. Episode 24 "The Mane Attraction" 11/21/2015
Great songs, great new character in Rara, and it was just a good episode with Applejack. Not much else to say.
14. Episode 15 "Rarity Investigates" 9/19/2015
Part 2 of the Rarity Trilogy (3 straight weeks of Rarity-centric episodes. Finally they made up for her not having a single one during Season 3). Haven't Rarity and Dash interact this much since "Sonic Rainboom" in Season 1, but they make a good duo. Not as good as AJ and Rarity, but whatever. And of course, Rarity can't do anything without fabulous costume changes!
15. Episode 8 "The Lost Treasure of Griffinstone" 5/23/2015
It was good to see Gilda back for the first time since Season 1 and Dash's impersonation of Twilight was hilarious, but yeah. Not much else to this episode.
16. Episode 13 "Do Princesses Dream of Enchanted Sleep?" 7/11/2015
Enjoyable and I liked the different dreams (especially Dash's) and the ending was great. But other than that, yeah. Probably depends on just how much you like Luna. I'm more of a Celestia and Cadance guy. Never hopped on the Season 1 "Woona" hype. I did like "Luna Eclipsed" but that was just a good episode in general. So yeah, I've got no real strong feelings towards the Princess of the Night.
17. Episode 22 "What About Discord?" 11/7/2015
Probably the weakest Discord episode. He was still in top form and it marked a good return of Neurotic Twilight. Plus I really resonated with the lesson of "Sometimes your friends do stuff without you so you shouldn't worry too much about it", having been in Twilight's position many times. But still, it just was pretty average overall.
18. Episode 14 "Canterlot Boutique" 9/12/2015
Part 1 of the Rarity Trilogy (Part 3 was "Made in Manehatten"). Sassy Saddles was great character in how her business sense clashed with Rarity's and "Rules of Rarity" is probably the best song to come out of the season (only behind "In Our Town" from the premiere), but overall there wasn't too much else to the episode. The Goth pony at the end was hilarious though.
19. Episode 23 "The Hoofields and McColts" 11/14/2015
Twilight finally gets called by the map! And that's about it really. Twilight's neurotic behavior carried the episode and that's all I can really say about it.
20. Episode 3 "Castle Sweet Castle" 4/11/2015
This is really only down here just because of early in the season it aired. Nothing wrong with it, but there was just episodes I liked more that aired after it. The song was good and I liked how the rest of the Mane 6 argued over how to decorate Twilight's castle, but again, that's just it. I'd still recommend the episode though.
21. Episode 4 "Bloom and Gloom" 4/18/2015
I find that every time I rewatch it I end up liking it more, but not by all that much. Of the "CMC and Luna Trilogy" ("Sleepless in Ponyville" for Scootaloo, "For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils" for Sweetie Belle" and this for Apple Bloom) this is the weakest. Shame, as "For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils" is one of my favorite episodes of Season 4 and "Sleepless in Ponyville" is my favorite episode period (and a counter for anyone who says Season 3 really sucked). But yeah, this feels more like it was ticking Apple Bloom off the checklist. But then, after the finale it does bring up something interesting in how gaining a Cutie Mark could lose you your friends...
22. Episode 11 "Party Pooped" 6/27/2015
Best things about it are both Pinkie and Twilight's sanity slipping, but not falling off completely. I find that the Yaks are stand-ins for certain fans in that no matter how hard something was put together and how well done it is otherwise, they're going to shit all over it because it isn't "perfect" in their minds. Pinkie's line of "Even Fluttershy set them off! FLUTTERSHY!" is quite accurate towards that interpretation.
23. Episode 6 "Appaloosa's Most Wanted" 5/2/2015
Some good slapstick and the clearest episode in establishing the finishing of the CMC's arc in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", but otherwise, eh.
24. Episode 10 "Princess Spike" 6/20/2015
Any episode would have paled following "Slice of Life", even more so when it's a Spike episode. I like the guy, but his episodes more often than not, they're kind of "Eh". "Owl's Well That Ends Well" and "Dragon Quest" are at the bottom of the overall episode list for me. I can't say what it is that makes this so, but it happens. Sole exception being of course "Secret of My Excess". That was a good one. But yeah, this one was no different. Plus it was another "Reassure him he's important" episode, which we've seen a whole bunch of times and was done better in "Power Ponies" and "Equestria Games". Best parts of the episode were sleepy Twilight and Cadance. Other than that, this is really the only episode in Season 5 that gets my thumbs down (but it doesn't make into my bottom ten overall, so that's something).
So that was Season 5. "Slice of Life" and "Hearthbreakers" make it into my Top 10 overall episodes and the season as a whole was great, although not as much as Season 2.
Welp, now to wait the endless year until Season 6 starts. Oh boy...
Now what did I think of Season 5? I very much enjoyed it. Season 2 remains my favorite season of the show, but Season 5 nicely fits second, being just a hair better than Season 4 in my opinion. Probably because Season 4 had 3 episodes that I didn't strongly care for ("Twilight Time", "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" and "Leap of Faith"), while Season 5 had only one ("Princess Spike"). The premiere was the best one since Season 2's and the finale was also excellent (but not to the level of the premiere nor Seasons 2 and 4's finales).
Here's how I would rank the season (episodes ranked relative to one other):
1. Episode 9 "Slice of Life" 6/13/2015
Sure it was wall to wall fan service, but that was not a bad thing whatsoever. You gotta do something special for the 100th episode and this delivered. Loved the focus on the background ponies. Derpy was hilariously adorable and I loved all her interactions with the Doctor. And he wins for them not only giving him a British accent, but even kind of having him sound like David Tennant a bit (complete with an "Allons-y!"). Lyra and Bon-Bon were great as "best friends" ("Riiiight." "I don't believe you!") and the whole "Agent Sweetie Drops" bit was so out of nowhere that it was hilarious. And Octavia proves she is most metal pony. All in all, that episode was great. After all, where else am I going to see a semi-canon crossover between "Doctor Who" and "The Big Lebowski"?
2. Episode 20 "Hearthbreakers" 10/24/2015
The Pies are the best family. Enough said. Maud continued to be in top form where her deadpan emotionless responses to everything and we finally got some canon personality and names for the other two sisters. Limestone's great in her whole pushy, angry, and possessive personality and Marble's just completely withdrawn into herself. I couldn't get enough of all their interactions.
3. Episode 12 "Amending Fences" 7/4/2015
Good old Proto Six (Twilight, Moondancer, Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and Lyra). Reminded me of the times I've gotten together with my old High School buddies. Minuette was my favorite of the old friends. Just so perky and happy. No wonder she's friends with Pinkie.
4. Episode 7 "Make New Friends, But Keep Discord" 5/16/2015
Really, you can't go wrong with a Discord episode. As Celestia says, the God of Chaos always livens things up whenever he's around. And this was no exception. His petty jealously over Fluttershy's new friend was hilarious. And so was aforementioned new friend, Treehugger. Stoner Pony is best. "We can't say she's high all the time, but she totally is". Maud though wins for best line in the episode.
Discord: "This is the most basic of jokes!"
Maud: "You're the most basic of jokes."
Sick burn Maud.
5. Episode 1/2 "The Cutie Map" 4/4/2015
Best season premiere since "Return of Harmony" in Season 2 (but then, that was Discord's debut). I particularly loved how it deviated from the standard season premiere formula of "Twilight gathers the rest of the Mane 6 to battle some ancient evil that Celestia had thought she dealt with a thousand years ago". Here, Twilight's no more important than the others, the Mane 6 as group aren't the ones who stop the villain, and best of all, the villain is some ancient all powerful evil from a millennium prior. Instead, she's just a run of the mill average pony who's one of the more sinister villains. Starlight Glimmer, who keeps her communist utopia a utopia through brainwashing and rhetoric, always with a pleasant smile and voice. Really her mix of small town mayor/cult leader makes a bit scarier than a God like Tirek, just because there really are people like that.
6. Episode 18 "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" 10/10/2015
The impossible happens. Twice. Diamond Tiara finally gets some character development after 5 years of being a complete and total bitch first off. But then the real "Never thought this would happen yet" occurred. The CMC finally get their Cutie Marks. There's 5 years of development finally fulfilled. Add some pretty damn good songs (but can you expect less from Daniel Ingram?) and it makes for a real memorable episode
7. Episode 16 "Made in Manehatten" 9/26/2015
RariJack episode. Nothing more needs to be said. Ever since "Look Before You Sleep", you get AJ and Rarity together for an episode and you've got gold.
8. Episode 5 "Tanks for the Memories" 4/25/2015
As off as it was to have an episode about the onset of winter airing at the end of April (let's not even get into "Hearthbreakers", the Christmas episode airing a week before Halloween, which had a Halloween episode actually air on it), it still was great. The song "I'll Fly" was one of the best, as befitting the first actual Dash solo song and Dash's desperate attempts to stave off winter just she can have more time with her pet were both hilarious and adorable.
9. Episode 17 "Brotherhooves Social" 10/3/2015
It's hard being a good brother. It's even harder when your little sister clearly prefers another one of your siblings (oops, did I just project my own situation here?). Only one thing to do to prove that you'd do anything for them. Go full drag queen. Every word out of "Orchard Blossom's" (Big Mac in a dress) was hilarious. You can tell that Peter New hadn't had that much fun doing Big Mac since "Hearts and Hooves Day" where he had to speak in mushy sentences (of which you can tell Nicole Oliver as Cheerilee was also having a blast). Better since outside of one pony, no one was fooled by the drag act, they just let it slide as they've got "a loose definition of what constitutes a sister".
10. Episode 25/26 "The Cutie Re-Mark" 11/28/2015
The season finale. As I said, not quite as good as the premiere, but still excellent. Loved the return of Starlight and how she pulled the classic villain temper tantrum of "I'll go back in time to fuck up the hero's life so they can't fuck up mine". Her sheer pettiness was great (especially when we got to see her backstory. So simple, but as they say in the episode, one little thing can have a catastrophic effect). And then there were the different timelines. I certainly didn't expect Sombra or Chrysalis to show up again, but there they were! And Nightmare Moon was more sinister than she had been in quite a while. Only timeline I'd have liked to see is a Trixie ruled one. That could have replaced the Flim Flam Brothers one, but whatever. As for the ending, well, I did like it, but I'll like it more if they follow up on it in Season 6. We'll just have to wait and see (a fucking year).
11. Episode 21 "Scare Master" 10/31/2015
Sure, "Fluttershy overcomes a phobia" episodes are as common as "Fluttershy mans up" episodes for her, but this one was still great. I loved her phobias getting the better of her during the party and her first attempt at scaring the Mane 6, before her true successful attempt. Plus she acknowledged that she gave it try, didn't like it very much, so she'll sit these group outings out. A pretty good lesson to learn.
12. Episode 19 "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows" 10/17/2015
Took them almost four years of marriage, but Shining and Cadance are finally having a foal. Yeah, we all pretty much guessed that from the synopsis, so it was great that the focus was not what the surprise was, but how Pinkie's going to keep it in. A nice callback to "Green Isn't Your Color" where Pinkie kept guilttripping Twilight into not blabbing secrets (although there it would have been for both Rarity and Fluttershy's benefit) and now she finds it's not so much fun being on the other side. Meanwhile, Nerdy Armor is best. But then, he's a Sparkle. Just being cooler than his sister means he's still a total dork.
13. Episode 24 "The Mane Attraction" 11/21/2015
Great songs, great new character in Rara, and it was just a good episode with Applejack. Not much else to say.
14. Episode 15 "Rarity Investigates" 9/19/2015
Part 2 of the Rarity Trilogy (3 straight weeks of Rarity-centric episodes. Finally they made up for her not having a single one during Season 3). Haven't Rarity and Dash interact this much since "Sonic Rainboom" in Season 1, but they make a good duo. Not as good as AJ and Rarity, but whatever. And of course, Rarity can't do anything without fabulous costume changes!
15. Episode 8 "The Lost Treasure of Griffinstone" 5/23/2015
It was good to see Gilda back for the first time since Season 1 and Dash's impersonation of Twilight was hilarious, but yeah. Not much else to this episode.
16. Episode 13 "Do Princesses Dream of Enchanted Sleep?" 7/11/2015
Enjoyable and I liked the different dreams (especially Dash's) and the ending was great. But other than that, yeah. Probably depends on just how much you like Luna. I'm more of a Celestia and Cadance guy. Never hopped on the Season 1 "Woona" hype. I did like "Luna Eclipsed" but that was just a good episode in general. So yeah, I've got no real strong feelings towards the Princess of the Night.
17. Episode 22 "What About Discord?" 11/7/2015
Probably the weakest Discord episode. He was still in top form and it marked a good return of Neurotic Twilight. Plus I really resonated with the lesson of "Sometimes your friends do stuff without you so you shouldn't worry too much about it", having been in Twilight's position many times. But still, it just was pretty average overall.
18. Episode 14 "Canterlot Boutique" 9/12/2015
Part 1 of the Rarity Trilogy (Part 3 was "Made in Manehatten"). Sassy Saddles was great character in how her business sense clashed with Rarity's and "Rules of Rarity" is probably the best song to come out of the season (only behind "In Our Town" from the premiere), but overall there wasn't too much else to the episode. The Goth pony at the end was hilarious though.
19. Episode 23 "The Hoofields and McColts" 11/14/2015
Twilight finally gets called by the map! And that's about it really. Twilight's neurotic behavior carried the episode and that's all I can really say about it.
20. Episode 3 "Castle Sweet Castle" 4/11/2015
This is really only down here just because of early in the season it aired. Nothing wrong with it, but there was just episodes I liked more that aired after it. The song was good and I liked how the rest of the Mane 6 argued over how to decorate Twilight's castle, but again, that's just it. I'd still recommend the episode though.
21. Episode 4 "Bloom and Gloom" 4/18/2015
I find that every time I rewatch it I end up liking it more, but not by all that much. Of the "CMC and Luna Trilogy" ("Sleepless in Ponyville" for Scootaloo, "For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils" for Sweetie Belle" and this for Apple Bloom) this is the weakest. Shame, as "For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils" is one of my favorite episodes of Season 4 and "Sleepless in Ponyville" is my favorite episode period (and a counter for anyone who says Season 3 really sucked). But yeah, this feels more like it was ticking Apple Bloom off the checklist. But then, after the finale it does bring up something interesting in how gaining a Cutie Mark could lose you your friends...
22. Episode 11 "Party Pooped" 6/27/2015
Best things about it are both Pinkie and Twilight's sanity slipping, but not falling off completely. I find that the Yaks are stand-ins for certain fans in that no matter how hard something was put together and how well done it is otherwise, they're going to shit all over it because it isn't "perfect" in their minds. Pinkie's line of "Even Fluttershy set them off! FLUTTERSHY!" is quite accurate towards that interpretation.
23. Episode 6 "Appaloosa's Most Wanted" 5/2/2015
Some good slapstick and the clearest episode in establishing the finishing of the CMC's arc in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", but otherwise, eh.
24. Episode 10 "Princess Spike" 6/20/2015
Any episode would have paled following "Slice of Life", even more so when it's a Spike episode. I like the guy, but his episodes more often than not, they're kind of "Eh". "Owl's Well That Ends Well" and "Dragon Quest" are at the bottom of the overall episode list for me. I can't say what it is that makes this so, but it happens. Sole exception being of course "Secret of My Excess". That was a good one. But yeah, this one was no different. Plus it was another "Reassure him he's important" episode, which we've seen a whole bunch of times and was done better in "Power Ponies" and "Equestria Games". Best parts of the episode were sleepy Twilight and Cadance. Other than that, this is really the only episode in Season 5 that gets my thumbs down (but it doesn't make into my bottom ten overall, so that's something).
So that was Season 5. "Slice of Life" and "Hearthbreakers" make it into my Top 10 overall episodes and the season as a whole was great, although not as much as Season 2.
Welp, now to wait the endless year until Season 6 starts. Oh boy...
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"...I keep a busy schedule trying to fit them in." - "Mr. Bad Example" Warren Zevon
Stolen from
Greed
Total: 2
Total: 5
Total: 2
Total: 5
Envy
Stolen from
Greed
[ ] I have never given to charity
[] I feel the need to have the latest in technology.
[] I own more than one computer, tablet, or smartphone
[x] I always ignore people asking for donations
[ ] I have no problem spending a large amount of money on a electronic
[x] I never offer to pay for lunch
Total: 2
Gluttony
[x] I hate sharing my food
[x] I eat more than I need
[ ] I eat when I'm not hungry
[x] I've gotten thirds or more
[x] I eat a lot of packaged, processed, or fast foods
[x] The first place I go to at an event is to where the food is
Total: 5
Wrath
[ ] I lose my temper a lot
[ ] I've broken things out of anger
[x] I've wished death, injury, or misfortune to others
[ ] I'm always willing to fight someone if I feel the need
[ ] I prefer violent video games to all others
[x] I support the saying "An eye for an eye"
Total: 2
Sloth
[x] I avoid work whenever possible
[x] I avoid exercise as much as possible
[x] I always sleep in when I can
[ ] If the remote isn't close to me I give up and watch whatever is on
[x] Going to the bathroom is such a "walk"
[x] If I could stay in bed all day I would
Total: 5
Lust
[x] I own or bookmarked pornographic content
[x] Sex is usually on my mind
[ ] I keep a condom with me just in case
[ ] I've had sex with more than one person
[x] I masturbate at least once a week
[ ] I don't have to be in a relationship with someone to have sex with them
Total: 3
Pride
[ ] I would never accept charity or hand-downs
[x] I have lied to keep myself from looking bad
[ ] I'll defend my or my family's honor/reputation by any means
[x] I hate having to apologize
[x] I can't look the other way when someone insults me
[x] I hate and avoid admitting I'm wrong / or I believe I'm never wrong
Total: 4
Envy
[ ] I have fallen out with a friend because they owned something I wanted
[ ] I hate it when my partner talks to the opposite sex
[x] I can't stand people who are more popular than me
[x] I think I deserve more than what I have
[ ] I only hang around with people less attractive than myself
[x] I hate seeing happy couples
Total: 3
Results
[ ] 0-6; Saint
[ ] 7-12; In danger
[] 13-18; Tainted
[ ] 19-24; Sinful
[x] 25-30; Likely end up in hell
[ ] 31+; Spawn of Satan
"I have every expectation that my final prayer will go unheard and my failed deathbed confession will not move the Mighty Lord. And I know that I'll be sorry when He slams St. Peter's Gate, but I'll dive right into damnation with a smile upon my face!" - "Straight to Hell" Great Big Sea
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Fandom ABCs
7 min read
Been a while, but there hasn't been much for me to steal work off of.
Stolen from
.
A:Your current OTP
Since the series just ended a month ago and I'm still feeling pretty high off of it becoming canon: Korrasami (Korra/Asami from "Legend of Korra")
B:A pairing you initially didn’t consider but someone changed your mind
Pinkie/Braeburn
Never would have crossed my mind, but I read a pretty good fanfic that featured it.
C:A pairing you wish you shipped, but just can't.
FlashLight (Flash Sentry/Twilight)
I used to initially, but after the 2nd film where his role was even more superfluous than in the first one (if such a thing was even possible), I just can't anymore.
D:What was the first thing you ever contributed to a fandom?
I used to take part in "Pony Kombat" with some OCs I created for potential fanfics but backed out after they weren't well received. I see the point, but still feel that in the greater context of the story they were from it wouldn't have been the case.
E:Have you added anything stupid/cracky/hilarious to your fandom, if so, what?
I'm just a casual fan enjoying the work.
F:What’s the longest you’ve ever been in a fandom? What fandom was it?
I'd have to say "Star Wars" since I was 8 in 1997.
G:What was your first fandom?
"Star Wars" as above, but I'd have to say the first fandom I've participated in would be "The Simpsons".
H:Do you prefer real-life TV shows or animated TV shows?
I have a slightly higher preference towards animation. Kind of showed during a trip to LA where we saw one of the sets for "Community" and I didn't care, but geeked out completely upon visiting Disney Animation Studios.
I:Has tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why?
Don't spend enough time around Tumblr, but I think my love of "Doctor Who" might be lessened.
J:Name a fandom you didn’t care/think about until you saw it all over tumblr.
"Sherlock" maybe. But I'm hearing better things about "Elementary"...
K:How do you feel about the other people in your current fandom(s).
Specifically towards Pony, but I feel it's applicable to all.
The question was asked "Are you burned out on Pony?"
My answer was: "Burned out on the show? No. Burned out on dealing with fans? Yes."
L:Your favorite fanartist/author gives you one request, what do you ask for?
Because I'm kind of obsessed with it, probably something Korrasami related.
M:A person who got you into a fandom and what fandom they pulled you in to.
Closest answer I can give is my father getting me into "The Simpsons" when I was younger.
N:Your favorite fandom (for the people; not the thing you fangirl over).
That's hard. Probably still Pony, as the asshats weren't as numerous, just more annoying.
O:Choose a song at random, what ship does it remind you of?
The song "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" by Toby Keith is probably my main Korrasami song, mostly because of the line "They're all watching us now, they think we're falling in love. They'd never believe we're just friends" kind of reminds me of how the last 2 seasons of the show went.
P:Invent a random AU for any fandom (we always need more ideas).
A better humanized world for MLP than the High School bullshit we actually got.
Q:A ship you’ve abandoned and why.
As mentioned above, FlashLight. He's really just sticking around for forced ship teases. Really, I had three big problems with the first film (1. the wasted potential of Sunset Shimmer. 2. the superfluousness of Flash Sentry and 3. That it had to be set in High School) and his role was only number 2 of them. Then the 2nd film somewhat fixes problems 1 and 3, but makes his superfluousness even worse. Whole theatre I was in when I watched Rainbow Rocks booed when he first showed up and he only became bearable acting like a dick under the Siren's spell.
R:A pairing you ship that you don’t think anyone else ships.
So far, I've only run into a handful of people that ship Mako/Kuvira in "Legend of Korra" (nothing onscreen to go by, but there's an odd charm to the pairing_)
S:What's a headcanon you have?
Despite what the comics say and kind of what's shown onscreen, I believe that Luna's turn to Nightmare Moon was due to a spell hit on her by Discord before his defeat, but she dealt with it until she and Celestia fought Sombra and she gazed into his mirror that shows you your worst nightmare that the turn was complete. Really despite the show showing otherwise, I like to think that she looked like Nightmare Moon before she decided eternal darkness was the way to go (not that I have too much of a problem with what was shown onscreen).
T:What are your favorite male/male ships or female/female ships?
In MLP at least, I have none. Plenty of yuri ships: RariJack, OctaScratch, FlutterDash, Twixie (Twilight and Trixie) and LyraBon are at the top.
U:What are your favorite male/female ships?
The biggest would have to be Doctor/Derpy (which is kind of strange, because in "Doctor Who" proper I don't like shipping the Doctor with anyone, not even his canonical wife!), but I'm also really fond of CheeriMac (CheerileexBig Mac. Despite what others say, "Hearts and Hooves Day" is one of my favorite episodes), SoarinxDash (which I actually like slightly more than FlutterDash) and DisLestia (DiscordxCelestia. From the moment he said "Did you miss me Celestia? I missed you..." I, like others, immediately knew that those two used to be together)
V:Do you have any 3-way ships? If so, what?
I'm too traditional for that. I just like monogamy too much to include someone else.
W:5 favorite characters from 5 different fandoms.
MLP: Rarity
LoK: Asami
GoT: Stannis (I see a lot of myself in the guy)
DW: 11th Doctor (Over time, I really grew to love how Matt Smith played the character. Say what you will about the actual stories, but how he balanced "Lovable goofy young guy" with "World weary old man" was phenomenal. To me at least)
DC Comics: Hal Jordan (I love "Green Lantern" most of all in DC and Hal is just my favorite of them)
X:3 OTPs from 3 different fandoms.
Korrasami (LoK. Luck out there because it's canon), BatmanxCatwoman (he may have had a son with Talia, but I still believe that the love of Bruce Wayne's life is and forever will be Selina Kyle and vice versa (even including the "having a kid" part, but Helena Kyle/Bradley is no longer a part of the New 52), and yeah, from MLP DoctorxDerpy is my favorite pairing (even though I like to add extra tragedy to the romance as I feel that the Doctor there is specifically the Tenth and he's got two more regenerations ahead of him...)
Y:A fandom you’re in but have no ships from.
Numerous ones. MLP, Korra, and DC are the only ones I really have active ships in.
Z:What's a ship that you want to ship publicly, but everyone on tumblr hates it so you keep your mouth shut about it?
More "No shipping" period and that's with the Doctor from "Doctor Who" proper. As I said, I like MLP Doctor/Derpy, but I don't like the actual Doctor with anyone. Outside of the TARDIS, I kind of only think that the real personal love of his life was whoever was Susan's grandmother.
Stolen from
. A:Your current OTP
Since the series just ended a month ago and I'm still feeling pretty high off of it becoming canon: Korrasami (Korra/Asami from "Legend of Korra")
B:A pairing you initially didn’t consider but someone changed your mind
Pinkie/Braeburn
Never would have crossed my mind, but I read a pretty good fanfic that featured it.
C:A pairing you wish you shipped, but just can't.
FlashLight (Flash Sentry/Twilight)
I used to initially, but after the 2nd film where his role was even more superfluous than in the first one (if such a thing was even possible), I just can't anymore.
D:What was the first thing you ever contributed to a fandom?
I used to take part in "Pony Kombat" with some OCs I created for potential fanfics but backed out after they weren't well received. I see the point, but still feel that in the greater context of the story they were from it wouldn't have been the case.
E:Have you added anything stupid/cracky/hilarious to your fandom, if so, what?
I'm just a casual fan enjoying the work.
F:What’s the longest you’ve ever been in a fandom? What fandom was it?
I'd have to say "Star Wars" since I was 8 in 1997.
G:What was your first fandom?
"Star Wars" as above, but I'd have to say the first fandom I've participated in would be "The Simpsons".
H:Do you prefer real-life TV shows or animated TV shows?
I have a slightly higher preference towards animation. Kind of showed during a trip to LA where we saw one of the sets for "Community" and I didn't care, but geeked out completely upon visiting Disney Animation Studios.
I:Has tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why?
Don't spend enough time around Tumblr, but I think my love of "Doctor Who" might be lessened.
J:Name a fandom you didn’t care/think about until you saw it all over tumblr.
"Sherlock" maybe. But I'm hearing better things about "Elementary"...
K:How do you feel about the other people in your current fandom(s).
Specifically towards Pony, but I feel it's applicable to all.
The question was asked "Are you burned out on Pony?"
My answer was: "Burned out on the show? No. Burned out on dealing with fans? Yes."
L:Your favorite fanartist/author gives you one request, what do you ask for?
Because I'm kind of obsessed with it, probably something Korrasami related.
M:A person who got you into a fandom and what fandom they pulled you in to.
Closest answer I can give is my father getting me into "The Simpsons" when I was younger.
N:Your favorite fandom (for the people; not the thing you fangirl over).
That's hard. Probably still Pony, as the asshats weren't as numerous, just more annoying.
O:Choose a song at random, what ship does it remind you of?
The song "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" by Toby Keith is probably my main Korrasami song, mostly because of the line "They're all watching us now, they think we're falling in love. They'd never believe we're just friends" kind of reminds me of how the last 2 seasons of the show went.
P:Invent a random AU for any fandom (we always need more ideas).
A better humanized world for MLP than the High School bullshit we actually got.
Q:A ship you’ve abandoned and why.
As mentioned above, FlashLight. He's really just sticking around for forced ship teases. Really, I had three big problems with the first film (1. the wasted potential of Sunset Shimmer. 2. the superfluousness of Flash Sentry and 3. That it had to be set in High School) and his role was only number 2 of them. Then the 2nd film somewhat fixes problems 1 and 3, but makes his superfluousness even worse. Whole theatre I was in when I watched Rainbow Rocks booed when he first showed up and he only became bearable acting like a dick under the Siren's spell.
R:A pairing you ship that you don’t think anyone else ships.
So far, I've only run into a handful of people that ship Mako/Kuvira in "Legend of Korra" (nothing onscreen to go by, but there's an odd charm to the pairing_)
S:What's a headcanon you have?
Despite what the comics say and kind of what's shown onscreen, I believe that Luna's turn to Nightmare Moon was due to a spell hit on her by Discord before his defeat, but she dealt with it until she and Celestia fought Sombra and she gazed into his mirror that shows you your worst nightmare that the turn was complete. Really despite the show showing otherwise, I like to think that she looked like Nightmare Moon before she decided eternal darkness was the way to go (not that I have too much of a problem with what was shown onscreen).
T:What are your favorite male/male ships or female/female ships?
In MLP at least, I have none. Plenty of yuri ships: RariJack, OctaScratch, FlutterDash, Twixie (Twilight and Trixie) and LyraBon are at the top.
U:What are your favorite male/female ships?
The biggest would have to be Doctor/Derpy (which is kind of strange, because in "Doctor Who" proper I don't like shipping the Doctor with anyone, not even his canonical wife!), but I'm also really fond of CheeriMac (CheerileexBig Mac. Despite what others say, "Hearts and Hooves Day" is one of my favorite episodes), SoarinxDash (which I actually like slightly more than FlutterDash) and DisLestia (DiscordxCelestia. From the moment he said "Did you miss me Celestia? I missed you..." I, like others, immediately knew that those two used to be together)
V:Do you have any 3-way ships? If so, what?
I'm too traditional for that. I just like monogamy too much to include someone else.
W:5 favorite characters from 5 different fandoms.
MLP: Rarity
LoK: Asami
GoT: Stannis (I see a lot of myself in the guy)
DW: 11th Doctor (Over time, I really grew to love how Matt Smith played the character. Say what you will about the actual stories, but how he balanced "Lovable goofy young guy" with "World weary old man" was phenomenal. To me at least)
DC Comics: Hal Jordan (I love "Green Lantern" most of all in DC and Hal is just my favorite of them)
X:3 OTPs from 3 different fandoms.
Korrasami (LoK. Luck out there because it's canon), BatmanxCatwoman (he may have had a son with Talia, but I still believe that the love of Bruce Wayne's life is and forever will be Selina Kyle and vice versa (even including the "having a kid" part, but Helena Kyle/Bradley is no longer a part of the New 52), and yeah, from MLP DoctorxDerpy is my favorite pairing (even though I like to add extra tragedy to the romance as I feel that the Doctor there is specifically the Tenth and he's got two more regenerations ahead of him...)
Y:A fandom you’re in but have no ships from.
Numerous ones. MLP, Korra, and DC are the only ones I really have active ships in.
Z:What's a ship that you want to ship publicly, but everyone on tumblr hates it so you keep your mouth shut about it?
More "No shipping" period and that's with the Doctor from "Doctor Who" proper. As I said, I like MLP Doctor/Derpy, but I don't like the actual Doctor with anyone. Outside of the TARDIS, I kind of only think that the real personal love of his life was whoever was Susan's grandmother.
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