My Little Pony Revisited: Season 4, Episodes 8-13

So far, season four has been off to a flying start. Let's see if it can keep up the goodness we've got so far.

Rarity Takes Manehattan

Written by Dave Polsky

Throughout My Little Pony's nine-year run, Tabitha St. Germain and the writers of the show have always managed to find a way to ham up Rarity's personality. This episode is a good example - if not the quintessential example - as to why.

The premise is fairly simple; Rarity enters a fashion show in Manehattan but a competitor named Suri Polomare steals Rarity's fabric design after asking to use a swatch. It still works out because there's enough humor to hide the fact that the story is a bit on the thin side. (That's how SpongeBob gained his success.) Much of it comes in the second act with Rarity over-dramatizing that her generosity ruined her and forces her friends to fashion new dresses at the last minute. Not gonna comment as to how the hotel reacted to some of their property going missing; mostly suspension of disbelief.

But it's not just Rarity who shines. Rainbow Dash gets a funny moment by lampshading suddenly breaking into song just before Rarity does so herself, and another when even she is shocked by Applejack's brutal honesty. Heck, even the taxi driver and bell pony both repay Rarity's generosity at points; nice to know that not everybody in the big cities is a jerk.

Oh yeah, and speaking of whom, Suri Polomare's just plain unlikable, any way you slice it. Deceitful, manipulative and even a bully to Coco Pommel, it's no wonder Suri is hated by many, and why you feel sympathy for Coco. Suri is pretty much the anti-Rarity. Good thing Coco ditched her right there and then at the end.

Overall, another episode this season with a message that holds up now like it did then. Maybe better.

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

Pinkie Apple Pie

Written by Natasha Levinger

Another great episode. It shows that despite all the arguing families can get into, they still look out for each other... unless one particular member is a bad apple, but still. When I first watched it five years ago, and I'm not sure why, but I thought Goldie Delicious was a male given that she was voiced by Peter New. It sounded very convincing to me.

It's also one of those episodes where the humor shines. For once, Pinkie isn't annoying to the point you want to slap her and it was great how she maintained optimism despite the stressful journey. Even funnier was Big Mac getting increasingly annoyed about Applejack nagging him about the jalopy and (later) his indignant reply about being accused for overloading it.

Rating: Excellent (9/10)

Rainbow Falls

Written by Corey Powell

The penultimate episode to the Equestria Games arc and it's... an odd one, come to think of it.

I do like the message the episode displays about being loyal to your close friends, but the way it was conveyed throughout the episode made it feel more like it about honesty as opposed to loyalty. I mean, Spitfire and Fleetwood straight up lie about Soarin's injury and abandon him in favor of Rainbow Dash. That being said, it led to a great moment for him - even though he didn't say anything calling them out - being displeased with his teammates. Mind you, that's more on the animators than Corey Powell.

And whilst on the subject of the Wonderbolts, how did Spitfire forget what she had learned back in Wonderbolts Academy, one season ago? It's almost as if the episode is confused as to whether it wants to follow continuity or be more self-contained.

Speaking of, whilst it was great to see Fluttershy be more eager to partake in the relay race (though that would be forgotten about in a few episodes' time, but I digress) and even had some good chemistry with Bulk Biceps, it's just strange that they're portrayed at pathetic fliers when episodes before and since showed they were capable fliers.

Also, this is minor, but I'll mention it anyway. Rainbow Dash said four teams would qualify for the Games, and yet five are present for the ceremony.

There were still good character moments like Twilight being a sort of conscience towards Rainbow Dash, as well as the latter's hilariously half-baked attempt at avoiding choosing between teams. Heck, I still think it's great she knows how to look our for her teammates and even for rival teammates as well.

Nitpicking aside, I thought this one was alright. It's got good character moments for the most part and moves two arcs (the Equestria Games, the Keys of Friendship) forward, but it's riddled with inconsistencies and plotholes so it's only fair to give it a rating based on those factors.

Rating: Okay (6/10)

Three's a Crowd

Written by Meghan McCarthy and Ed Valentine

Beginning with this episode and Princess Twilight Sparkle, Discord has become something of a semi-regular in the series, usually having two appearances per season. In the fourth season, he had five appearances (if we split both the premiere and finale in half), and this is his third.

As a spoiler for season five, this is What About Discord? done better for the following reasons:

1. Discord is punished for his actions. He fakes being sick just to screw with Twilight and Cadance during the latter's visit and plays the price for it when a sand worm spits all over him, making him sick for real.
2. The Mane Six's roles didn't feel out of place. In WAD?, they all felt interchangeable with each other, but here, they actually display more character when suspecting Discord. (I have my own issues with Pinkie, but more on that later.)
3. The humor never comes off as condescending, nor does it treat the audience like they're idiots. (Again, more on that later.)

Similarities aside, let's talk about what Three's a Crowd does on its own merits, shall we?

One thing that stuck out even on first viewing is how more laid-back Cadance is when not on royal duty. It's understandable why she'd be like this; running an empire can be a bit dull and every once in a while, just get out and do something. It's also the first time (excluding the first Equestria Girls film) that she and Twilight didn't do their "sunshine, sunshine" dance upon meeting each other - maybe it's due to the presence of the royal guards and Twilight's friends? Not sure if that was the intention or simply how I interpret it.

When it comes to Discord's "blue flu", some people have drawn comparisons to the Genie in Aladdin (1992 version, by the way; even if Will Smith does the role justice, he still pales compared to Robin Williams) and his song "Friend Like Me". I can see why with "Glass of Water" - performed by supporting character voiced by a big-name voice actor, crazy visuals with lots of shout-outs, but all in all, an overall sense of fun.

The only annoyance I have with this episode, again, is Pinkie Pie. First it's when she acts like Fluttershy is never coming back to Ponyville (a la Wonderbolts Academy), and the other when chasing a balloon on railway tracks. That's a big no-no in the safety department! Imagine if a train had come by, and Pinkie wouldn't be throwing parties after that.

The pink problem aside, it's another great episode out of season four, and the build up to Fluttershy's key episode was nice. However, the next episode on the list is something else altogether...

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

Pinkie Pride

Story by Jayson Thiessen
Written by Amy Keating Rogers

It's safe to say that I've been extremely critical with how Pinkie Pie has been handled in recent years, but even in the show's early days, she wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree there either. But in the midst of bad episodes like Swarm of the Century, Yakity-Sax, Secrets and Pies, and especially A Friend in Deed, Pinkie still had starring roles like this one that were worthy gems.

What can I say that hasn't been said already? This is Pinkie Pie at her best, mostly because she isn't portrayed as an idiotic Designated Hero who stalks a newcomer for no reason or puts her feelings toward some dumb instrument over her friends' concerns. Here, she felt... right.

To be honest, I don't think this episode wouldn't have been great if it hadn't been for Cheese Sandwich playing off against her. He's probably one of the few characters - if not, the only character - who could've played her off in this episode. His arrival in Ponyville initially makes Cheese come off as a sort of Wild West-type bad guy, but there's a nice twist where he turns out to be a genuinely nice guy. Sure, it could be seen from a mile away given the cold open in Appleloosa, but it's not something that ruins the moment entirely.

It's when Cheese reveals his backstory that his character shines; if it hadn't been for a young Pinkie, he wouldn't have become the stallion he is today. It's one of those backstories that does what it needs to do in making a character actually sympathetic without forcing it down your throats.

I could talk more about this episode, but I think enough people (myself included) have given this high praise so let's move on.

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

Simple Ways

Written by Josh Haber

Josh Haber can write some real clunkers, but when he's good, he makes a potential contender for one of the season's top ten fan favorites.

Like Castle Mane-ia, it's a fairly simple plot that relies on humor to carry it through. Especially the third act when Applejack and Rarity act like flanderizations of their respective selves in an escalating war, culminating with Rarity's mud rant.

That being said, it happened because Rarity crushed on Trenderhoof, someone who's basically a predecessor to Timber Spruce, only with an even duller personality but his crushing on Applejack is cringeworthy. But in fairness, it's only within a shorter timeframe and Applejack rejected him, so maybe I can forgive that. But since Big Mac made a cameo, it kind of makes you wonder why AJ didn't think about telling him about Trenderhoof so he could scare him off. I saw a fan art that did just that.

That issue aside, I still enjoy the episode for what it is, and the moral about being yourself, despite the overuse to the point it's meaningless, was easy to grasp and a lesson Rarity needed to learn.

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

MLP Episode 905: The Point of No Return

Well... the last season nine episode review was far more controversial and sparked more discussion than I initially imagined! I am genuinely sorry for those who liked it and felt like my thoughts on the previous episode rubbed you the wrong way, but just because one person didn't agree with you, that doesn't really give you the right to be a jerk to them. I'm not the only person who felt that way towards Sparkle's Seven (or Twilight's Seven, I can't really tell nor do I care) if you look at the comments on my journal for said episode on DeviantArt, so if a person doesn't enjoy what you do, don't get fussy about it. That person is not ruining your life - I'm looking at you, Justin Riley! - and they have the right to disagree with your views. It's a non-issue.

Okay, now that I got it out of my system, here's my review for The Point of No Return.

The Point of No Return

Written by Gillian M. Berrow

When are the writers of season nine going to produce an episode that's actually worth giving a second watch?

This episode is the absolute nadir of the writers ripping off older episodes when they don't have any ideas. Give or take, this episode is a blatant retreading of Amending Fences! I'm serious. It copies the episode point for point and does everything worse.

First off is Moon Dancer's presence; I mention it first because I care about that the least. In Amending Fences, it was shown that she was upset over Twilight not turning up at her party and the latter also felt bad for letting her friend down. Here, we don't get a glimpse of Moon's personality or her friendship with Twilight. Swap her out with anypony else, and the plot would remain the same.

What makes it worse is how hyped up everyone was for her to appear, only to make a meaningless speaking cameo! I genuinely think Moon Dancer was included just to pander to the older fans.

In fact, it's a similar problem that Sparkle's Seven had with Zephyr Breeze... sort of. At least there, they tried giving him a purpose so Rainbow Dash could distract him. Though it was still fruitless for Zephyr to appear in the long run, but I digress.

The point is, if you're going to include a fan favorite, they need to have a reason to appear in a particular episode, this one included. They can't just be featured solely to make fans go "Oh my gosh, it's Derpy!" or words to that effect. And you can't tell me that "they probably didn't have any ideas for Moon Dancer in seasons 6-8" especially since each season has 26 episodes to work with! There's no excuse to not include her in episodes between Amending Fences and this one! (And no, mentions do not count.) If you can't come up with good roles for a character, then don't use them!

Wow, I talked about Moon Dancer's role way more than I thought...!

Back to the episode, the other two points it rips off Amending Fences (though Moon Dancer's wasn't exactly plot relevant here, but that's not the point) are the flashbacks to the first episode of the show and Twilight making amends with an old friend. With Amending Fences, they based it off a seemingly random line in Mare in the Moon and tied it into the main story really well. Heck, continuity was down to the presence of Minuette, Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts!

In this episode, it felt like the attempt at tying it to Mare in the Moon was pulled right out of their collective backside to maintain a sense of continuity.

And as for the third point? It felt as though the reconciliation between Twilight and Dusty Pages (the librarian) was written the way it did to make the Princess of Friendship feel special, which means the moral - nobody's perfect - whilst okay, feels ultimately contrived.

I haven't even begun to talk about The Point of No Return on its own merits. It's yet another case of Twilight freaking out over something completely unimportant, because we've never seen that type of story before(!) I'm honestly convinced they didn't have any ideas for this episode to begin with. It's further cemented by the fact Twilight freaks out about turning up at a library. She went inside the same library in Forgotten Friendship and turned out fine! Unless Equestria Girls as a whole is non-canon or it was tacked on to pad this episode to 22 minutes. However you view it, neither option is off the table.

Final Thoughts

I've been watching the show since 2013, and I've seen a lot of bad episodes with things that irritated me. Last year, I thought The Mean 6 was the absolute worst episode the series had put out, but The Point of No Return proved me wrong.

To be honest, I feel like I put far more effort into this review for The Point of No Return than the entire crew did into this episode. It's a blatant re-hashing of an older episode, the moral feels incredibly forced, and the plot and characters are insipid. The whole thing feels forced and, overall, completely pointless.

If you can't tell, I'm angry. For the last season of the series, it's supposed to be enjoyable and go out big, and so far, it's failing to impress. But I'm also disappointed. Not for myself, but for Gillian Berrow since it's her last episode in the series. I also feel bad that all the effort put into the visuals, music and voice acting was completely wasted on this miserable failure, for it's officially earned the title of the worst ever episode in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Rating: Atrocious (-10/10)

My Little Pony Revisited: Season 4, Episodes 1-7

I said a while back that if season nine wasn't impressing me that much, I'd review seasons four through six alongside it. So far, season nine hasn't really put out an episode that could actually stand up on its own, least of all Sparkle's Seven, which prompted me to remind myself of what a good episode actually is.

That being said, let's get to revisiting the fourth season of My Little Pony! Does it really hold up at being the best in the show, or is it an overstatement?

Princess Twilight Sparkle

Written by Meghan McCarthy

When it comes to a big story arc with an even bigger finish, you normally wouldn't expect something big to kick things off, would you? Friendship is Magic (the episode, not the show as a whole) was an okay start to the first three seasons as a whole, whilst Magical Mystery Cure - although not necessarily big in terms of scale - was a strong finish. And in between, we had The Return of Harmony, A Canterlot Wedding, and The Crystal Empire, all great two-parters in their own right.

Admittedly, Princess Twilight Sparkle doesn't have the same scope as the aforementioned two-parters, but it still plays an important role in the Friendship is Magic lore.

Case in point, it gives off a bit of expanding to Celestia's battle against Nightmare Moon a millennium previous. When she uses the Elements against her sister, you can see the tears in Celestia's eyes. She knows she's banishing her sister (even if it isn't at this point) to the moon, but what other choice did she have? She was thinking about her subjects' well-being.

Before that, a few plunderseeds Discord "accidentally" spilled onto the ground (I say it like that because he implied his plan back then didn't work the way he intended) couldn't grow around the Tree of Harmony, so it took even longer for them to finally cause havoc. So Discord did cause trouble, but back when he was a troublemaker.

The way the two flashbacks (three if we include Celestia and Luna giving up the Elements) were tied into the main story was very clever and showed there is a sense of continuity in the series.

Speaking of, notice how Celestia implied that it was the first Summer Sun Celebration following Luna's return? That meant that all three seasons took place within a single year, albeit probably not in a specific order. I've even read about a brony trying to make sense out of the three seasons and re-ordering them into a specific timeline; read this to check out the details. It's a very good read.

As for the story itself, it starts off fairly normal, even for a premiere. However, the moment Celestia gets caught by a plunderseed's vine, and then she and Luna turn up missing, you know something is wrong. It really catches you off guard.

Apart from the flashbacks and saving the Tree of Harmony from the plunderseeds, there's not much else to talk about storywise, but the funny moments do conceal the slow pacing very well like Big Mac trying to fight a vine and Spike using Twilight as transport; the latter's even funnier in hindsight if we bring Molt Down into consideration.

However, a few jokes did fall flat like how childish and oblivious Pinke could be at times, especially with the coloring book.

And whilst I'm on the subject of storytelling issues, why bother sending Twilight back to Ponyville? It almost feels like they wanted to stretch the second half out to fill the runtime. Even if it's for tension, it's still pointless, however valid Applejack's reason might have been. Yeah, they lampshade it, but that doesn't make it less of an issue!

Problems aside, it's still fairly solid for a premiere. More so since the revival of the Tree of Harmony hints at what is to come for the next 22 episodes and the finale.

Rating: Excellent (9/10)

Castle Mane-ia

Written by Josh Haber

Speaking of buildups...!

Sure, this one didn't have the complexity of the previous episode, but it still holds up in its own right. I mean, there are three plots going on at the same time - Rainbow Dash and Applejack competing to find out who the Most Daring Pony is, Rarity looking to restore the tapestries of the old castle, and Twilight and Spike looking to research the chest by the Tree of Harmony - and yet they're all tied together in the end by a clever twist with Pinkie and the organ.

Fun fact: A couple of plot threads would later lead to two season seven episodes - the infamous Fame and Misfortune and the lore-based Shadow Play.

Rating: Good (8/10)

Daring Don't

Written by Dave Polsky

Well, this is going to be interesting...

Surprising as the twist was about A.K. Yearling actually being Daring Do herself, I'm not going to dwell on that too much. As usual, I prefer to talk about the episode on its own merits.

Rainbow Dash is certainly relatable here. We've all wanted to meet our heroes at some point, hoping they'll meet our expectations, only to find out they aren't as perfect as you'd expect them to be. You've probably been through at one instance, I'm sure.

There's not really much to talk about in terms of story, but the humor does shine like Twilight and Dash's enthusiasm upon seeing the real Daring Do herself, as well as Rainbow trying to restrain herself when wanting to help her. Heck, even the battle between the Mane Six and Ahuizotl's minions was fun.

Speaking of, one joke that felt more cringe-worthy than funny was the Foe Yay moment between Daring Do and Ahuizotl. Rainbow's expression didn't really help much.

And instead of one message for this episode, there's two; one for Rainbow Dash - don't put your idols too high on a pedestal (something I know all too well as of late) - and the other for Daring Do - it's okay to ask for help sometimes. That was great.

Rating: Excellent (9/10)

Flight to the Finish

Written by Ed Valentine

When I first reviewed the episode, I simply thought it was good, but nothing really amazing. Rewatching this, however, I felt it deserved more.

I'll start off with the message; it's one of the best the show has ever conveyed. Play to your own strengths. Don't let your disability bring you down, physical or mental. As someone who is autistic, that is something the world should know.

Scootaloo here is so enthusiastic about being a flag carrier that when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon bring up her flight disability, it crushes her. It only takes Rainbow Dash and her friends to make her realize that it shouldn't matter much to her. In fact, the episode relies heavily on emotion; anger towards the bullies for mocking a person's disability, sadness for the victim that they feel worthless because of said disability, and a sense of triumph when they come out on top in the end.

On a side note, whilst rewatching the episodes for re-reviews, it occurred to me why I didn't feel Crusaders of the Lost Mark held up anymore; it forces you to sympathize with a bully (Diamond Tiara) who had no redeeming qualities to begin with. But I'll get to that soon enough.

Back to this specific episode, there's the song. It is yet another of the show's best. The reason for that is because it makes you root for the Crusaders throughout (even if you aren't a fan of them) and you just can't resist singing along. (I know I couldn't!) I don't talk about music that much since it's a default setting for this series, but it's still nice to talk about songs like "Hearts as Strong as Horses" once in a while.

To end this specific review on a funny note, can I have an episode with Rainbow Dash and Miss Harshwhinny together? I mean, come on. Their chemistry is absolutely hilarious, especially when the latter tries to get Dash to maintain professionalism, and at the end, there's a role reversal between them. Whoever decides to take on the challenge, I reckon you could create gold with these two!

Overall, this is a Top 10 contender for season four, so there's only one rating it could possibly get from me.

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

Power Ponies

Written by Meghan McCarthy, Charlotte Fullerton, and Betsy McGowen

So far, we've got three Excellent episodes and a Good one. No stinkers thus far. Can this episode continue that good streak?

Well, it does and yet at the same time it doesn't. Apart from deconstructing Spike's butt-monkey status by this point in the series, it doesn't really hold a huge impact on the series in the long run. It was fairly ironic that Spike mocked the character that he ended up portraying in the comic book world. But other than that, there's nothing really to talk about. It's just... there.

Rating: Good (7/10)

Bats!

Written by Merriwether Williams

Here's another rather interesting episode, especially as it's Merriwether Williams' last contribution to the series (when it first aired, Meghan McCarthy was credited by accident). Was it a good send-off, especially when compared to the likes of Mare Do Well and Dragon Quest?

I think it was. It's one of the show's darkest episodes, much of that can be attributed to the visuals in play. Like the music, I don't talk about the animation as it's a standard by this point, but they set the tone perfectly, especially in the third act when Flutterbat attacks her friends. If the visuals weren't as scary as they were, then the story wouldn't have left a big impact.

Speaking of impact, there's Fluttershy and Applejack's argument to whether they should get rid of the bats or give them sanctuary. Both sides have a point; Fluttershy presents a more human... uh, sorry, pony side to them, but Applejack is afraid that they'll ruin Sweet Apple Acres' business, especially given that they're a link in the economy chain.

Whilst they may have their points, they weren't exactly 100% right either. Fluttershy didn't really bring AJ's perspective into consideration and sort of fell to peer pressure, and Applejack, valid as her reasons were, didn't really consider that the bats could also infest other apple orchards in Equestria.

Some may be tempted to consider the argument through song as all black and white. As I've just said, I don't agree with that stance. Well, not entirely, at least. There is some gray in the debate.

That being said, how is it that the seeds the bats spit out again grow apple trees back stronger than ever? It's never really explained how this works and just feels like it was put out there as an afterthought to show a more sympathetic side towards them. Also, even if the apples were sucked dry, wouldn't the trees still be able to grow more?

A bit of re-writing is in order, but the positive aspects outweighed the negative aspects for me. The messages about listening to both sides of the argument and not putting pressure on your friends were both useful for kids to learn.

Rating: Excellent (9/10)

MLP Episode 904: Sparkle's Seven

Welp, back to mediocre territory we go. And it's only the 200th episode of the series?

Sparkle's Seven

Story by Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, Tara Strong, and Cathy Weseluck
Written by Nicole Dubuc and Josh Haber

Yes, apparently, this is episode 200 if we count Best Gift Ever as one. Without it, it's only episode 199. But like the aforementioned holiday special, it's a case of hype overshadowing the story itself. And it's a boring, slow-paced slog.

There is so little to remember or even enjoy. Literally, I felt nothing when watching it.

"Oh, but Shining Armor got to play a major role! That's a good thing, right?" Well... no. Because it took seven seasons since his debut for him to actually do anything! If they really weren't that bothered about expanding on his character until now, then what was the point introducing him to begin with?

This has been a problem which has festered in the series since season three. Characters getting introduced and then barely getting any screentime - or mentioned at all - following their debut stories. Babs Seed, Coco Pommel and Moon Dancer are a few examples that spring to mind. They've developed side characters like Big Macintosh and have done a great job with him since Brotherhooves Social, so why not expand on the aforementioned three?

And speaking of characters, this episode demonstrated how little the Mane Six have left to display. Their arcs are just about finished at this point; Rarity's expanding her business, Rainbow Dash is a Wonderbolt, Fluttershy has become more assertive, and heck, Twilight will be taking over for Celestia and Luna soon. Applejack's been perfectly content with her home life, but Pinkie Pie? Yeah, I'm not sure what else they can do with her.

This is why I liked what they did with the Young Six during the last season and Uprooted; they actually feel like they could be natural replacements for the Mane Six. Or at least, get a spinoff dedicated to them.

I haven't even begun to talk about the story yet. That's because it gives me very little to talk about. Shining Armor challenges Twilight for some cardboard crown and sets up a series of traps so she couldn't get by? Really? That's all there is at stake? Not some dangerous villain, a natural disaster, or even a terrorist attack? Instead, it's some crown that should've been thrown away by now? That's possibly the most stupid way to celebrate 199 200 episodes!

The only thing I could take from this episode is never overlook your friends. But... other episodes have taught that theme and produced a far more satisfying end result. Also, is it just me, or are they shoving Starlight further into the background?

Final Thoughts

A few days ago, I wrote a status update on DeviantArt concerned that there would be trying to handle many ideas into a 21 minute timeframe. I don't know how well they were handled, but the main bulk of the story is barely anything to write home about, and only affirms my frustrations that the writers are out of ideas. Sorry to say this, but Sparkle's Seven was all hype, no substance; combine that with main characters who've run their course, and you'll be left wishing you had chocolate cake instead of rice cake.

Rating: Terrible (-3/10)

MLP Episode 903: Uprooted

Last week, we saw the Tree of Harmony destroyed at the hooves of King Sombra. This week, we're going to find out the repercussions of said destruction. And since the Young Six are involved, this should be good, right?

Uprooted

Written by Nicole Dubuc

Well, it was, but it's still not giving me relief about the well of writing running dry. Was it really necessary to copy the conflict from Castle Sweet Castle (coincidentally, also the third episode of its season) for this one?

Actually, that doesn't really do this episode justice at all, and it's kind of harsh from me, in fairness.

This episode's heart is in the right place. Given their connection to the Tree of Harmony from What Lies Beneath and School Raze, the Young Six were absolutely fitting for the lead role. I really liked them during season eight, and if anything, it did the school setting way better in one year than the Equestria Girls spinoff ever did in five. That's mostly because A) they don't reuse the same story over and over again to the point it becomes predictable, and B) each character stands out when it comes to personality.

But back to this episode, there isn't much to say story wise. As I've said, it's Castle Sweet Castle with a different group of characters and different tree being honored after destruction. And the message about teamwork isn't really new either; the more you use it, the less meaningful it becomes to the point it's almost condescending.

That being said, the shared dream between all six was random yet funny at the same time, and it's also ironic that given the reputation of her kind, Yona is the one who talks sense into the others about how the Tree should be honored. It's no wonder she's my favorite of the group.

Also, did anyone get the idea that the Young Six are one day going to become the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony? It makes sense (sort of) for Sandbar to be the new bearer of Magic, and I can easily see Silverstream being Laughter. For the others, Gallus fits Loyalty bringing The Hearth's Warming Club into consideration, as does Yona with this episode and A Rockhoof and a Hard Place and Ocellus in pretty much every one of her appearances. The only oddity was Smolder as Generosity; maybe she's trying to break the mold of dragons being greedy, I don't know?

Final Thoughts

Complaints aside, this was a really good episode and it fit the Young Six perfectly. The story flowed naturally and the theme - despite sort of losing it's meaning after learning it for the umpteenth time - was solid. However, I felt the lack of originality held it back from being truly amazing.

Rating: Excellent (9/10)

MLP Season 9 Premiere: The Beginning of the End

We knew this day was coming. It was inevitable, but this year, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic approaches its final season, and a couple of years down the road, we will be heading towards Generation 5. Season nine's got a lot to live up to, especially with School Raze and Best Gift Ever failing to impress. Can the first episode of the final season start things off strong, or is it a sign the show should've ended earlier?

The Beginning of the End

Written by Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco

It's... better than I thought it was going to be, but at the same time...

Well, here's the thing - we saw hints of it during seasons six and seven, and season eight made it a bit more obvious. The writers haven't really addressed the issue that's been plaguing the show for the past three seasons; a fair number of stories have felt similar to ones we'd seen in the first five seasons, and heck, even within six through eight. And this one had elements that reminded me of Princess Twilight Sparkle, The Crystal Empire (it didn't really help much that I had recently re-reviewed said episode), The Crystalling and even The Movie.

At least, that's during the second half.

The first half is where the premiere really shines. Despite that it's yet another instance of Twilight freaking out, it was funny how her friends lampshade it. Being around her for nine years (or, if you go by real time in universe, at least five) must've made them used to her freakouts.

I do think it's also worth pointing out that Twilight taking over for Celestia and Luna is a concept that Lauren Faust had intended when she was on board, so it looks as though her vision is finally being realized. It's nine years in the making, and it's on the writers to not mess this up.

What's also on the writers is how the remaining villains are handled. Some fans want them to reform, even though we've seen quite enough already, and many since Sunset Shimmer have been half-baked at best and pointless at worst since they never appeared again after their reformation arcs.

However small Grogar's role was, he leaves enough impact to make you wonder what he's planning for Equestria. Heck, even Tirek and Chrysalis are intimidated by him! Side note, it's funny how not even they like Cozy Glow.

But the MVP for the bad guys was undoubtedly Sombra. He was extremely overconfident about conquering Equestria by himself and it eventually leads to his second downfall. He first tries ruling the Crystal Empire again but is quickly defeated within the first half of the premiere. You'd think that'd be it right there...

...except he's got another plan and ends up destroying the Tree of Harmony. I wonder how that is going to impact the remainder of the season.

But I don't think I can talk about this episode without mentioning Discord's presence. Yeah, much of his appearances are random, but what did you expect from him? It's the final battle against Sombra that he really shines; faking his death just to give the Mane Six the confidence boost they need. Though admitting it out loud does make the ending feel anti-climactic.

As does Twilight admitting she's not ready to take over for Celestia and Luna, come to think of it. It almost makes you feel a bit defeated like nothing was achieved in the long run. Except that the ending with the remaining villains hints at what may be to come for the series finale...

Final Thoughts

Overall, there isn't much to take from this premiere. The plot as a whole is blatantly unoriginal, but I feel the character moments and the ending theme about admitting mistakes salvage it for the most part. It's just... there.

But where can season nine go from there? I honestly think it could go either way at this point; it could improve on its writing and give us some shining gems, or it may continue to rehash ideas and do nothing with them. I personally hope it's the former, especially if the show is to end out big.

Good luck with this last season, Hasbro; something tells me you'll need it.

Rating: Okay (6/10)

My Little Pony Revisited: Season 3, Episodes 8-13

This is going to be interesting! (Side note: I'm reviewing these episodes based off of production order.)

Just for Sidekicks

Written by Corey Powell

So now we come to the first episode of the infamous Equestria Games Arc. And... there's honestly very little to talk about. In fact, it barely clings onto mediocrity.

Spike very much brings the problem of needing gems upon himself since he (rather stupidly) snacks on them whilst baking a gem cake. And then he's back to square one at the end with no gems. I'd let the slow pacing off the hook for the humor, but it's hit or miss at best. That being said, at least Owlowiscious and the other pets seem to agree with the fanbase about Angel being awful.

Rating: Okay (4/10)

Apple Family Reunion

Written by Cindy Morrow

I've got one word to describe this episode; nice. It's great to learn about the traditions of the Apple family, especially when hearing about them from Granny Smith. And it's also got its funny moments like Big Mac sneaking a fritter for himself and adorable moments like the flashback with baby Applejack.

And then there are the sad moments; there's the hinting about Applejack's parents no longer being around through two shooting stars, and whilst this one has nothing to do with the episode itself, it's the last major role Babs Seed had. She got a mention in Bloom and Gloom, but after that, nothing. She deserved more than what she got.

Rating: Good (8/10)

Spike at Your Service

Story by Dave Polsky
Written by Merriwether Williams

I read that Rarity was going to be in Applejack's place in this episode, which may explain the former's lack of lead roles in season three. Honestly, it was probably for the best that Applejack got the part instead. Had it been Rarity instead, I think this episode would've gotten a worse reception than it already does.

The episode's conflict is built up very well with Spike accidentally causing the hot air balloon to become a runaway and when he runs into the Timberwolves, Applejack saves him from getting hurt, and he thinks he owes her big time.

It does make sense (sort of) that he'd want to return the favor to Applejack, but it ends up feeling borderline obsessive, even for him. Also, when did he have a noble dragon code? It's never been mentioned in past episodes. If this was during season one, it'd be reasonable, but three seasons in? It's absolutely baffling, to say the least.

As a matter of fact, everyone else in this episode is in character for the most part, which can't really be said for the likes of Secrets and Pies. That being said, Applejack's half-baked command to Spike about delivering a pie is funny.

The climax was just plain ridiculous, even by MLP's standards. It just goes from being a fake rescue to a real rescue when the Timberwolves come in, all because of their breath, which the fake didn't have. It almost makes the episode more predictable than it really is.

Nitpicking aside, I thought it was okay for the most part. The plot isn't really that interesting, but the portrayal of the characters (minus Spike) and theme in general salvage things for the most part. It's kind of weak overall.

Rating: Okay (6/10)

Keep Calm and Flutter On

Story by Teddy Antonio
Written by Dave Polsky

On the other end of the scale...!

It's one of the show's cornerstone episodes for sure, but also one of the best, as well as one of the funniest. It all comes down to the dynamic between Fluttershy and Discord, one of the best of the series; he's a bit less of a troublemaker, and she's a lot more assertive, but that doesn't mean there's something else going on...!

I don't even know where to start with the humor; the dinner scene, Applejack's argument with the beaver, Discord tormenting Angel (especially since the latter's a complete brat), it rarely ever stumbles.

There's still the heartwarming moments such as Discord being surprised that Fluttershy considered him a friend, and just as he's about to have his way, he realizes that he doesn't want to lose it over his selfishness. Yeah, he did go to the side of good in the end, but Discord can still be a troublemaker if he wants to be. That's one part of him that'll never change, and let's hope it stays that way.

Although her character shone throughout seasons six through eight, this episode was where Fluttershy's development really kicked off. Granted, she still has shades of being a doormat here, but even then, she knows where a line needs to be drawn when is comes to Discord's mannerisms and help him become a better draconequus.

Overall, a great episode from start to finish.

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

Games Ponies Play

Written by Dave Polsky

And back to average territory we go. Much as it's nice to have an episode take place the same time as another, this one... didn't have much going on. It's a typical mistaken identity episode, to say the least. Other than a bit of character growth for Twilight about keeping calm as opposed to freaking out, there's very little about this episode that's memorable. It's just... there.

Rating: Okay (5/10)

Magical Mystery Cure

Written by M. A. Larson

I'm saying this outright; this is season three's absolute best, no hyperbole. It's genuinely difficult for me to decide the best part about it.

Originally, this was going to be a two-parter finale like A Canterlot Wedding, but re-watching it, I can't really see it working for this episode. Everything about the story flowed very well; not a single second felt wasted, nor did it make the viewer feel like they were stupid. It left you guessing what happened next.

How the Mane Six ended up with the wrong cutie marks added to tension Twilight was feeling; she accidentally caused them to switch destinies and had to help them get back to normal. Plus, the situations the Mane Six landed themselves in were funny.

Of course, I can't really talk about this episode without mentioning the songs, can I? All of them are good, but "A True, True Friend" is the absolute best of the bunch; I even sang along to it when re-watching it. "Celestia's Ballad" came a close second, however; I was even close to crying when listening to it. That's how beautiful it is.

But it's the ending that really gets me; if that really had been the finale to the show as planned, I'd have been okay with that. We followed Twilight's journey to learning about friendship from day one, and it feels as if her journey is coming to a close and a new one is just beginning. It's almost like high school graduation.

Magical Mystery Cure was the point were the show really began to improve for the better. It was growing up and began to take its own path; some choices were questionable at best, but they gave us future gems like Pinkie Pride, Twilight's Kingdom, Amending Fences, A Royal Problem, The Perfect Pear, and The Hearth's Warming Club (the latter three of which I've covered, the former three I will soon).

All of these and more owe their mere existence to this episode, but the sad thing is how overlooked it's become in recent years. It deserves every bit of love it can get. That's why I love this episode.

Rating: Excellent (10/10)

Final Season Ranking: Good (8/10)