My Little Pony Friendship is Magic

[Snowstalker]

My main problem with Dragon Quest is that it just seems unfair to Spike. It solves nothing about how he felt treated like a baby and/or servant by the Mane 6, nor did he learn anything about his background (can he not learn about his past while living with Twilight?)

 

[Snowstalker]

Well, I watched all the episodes, but didn't bother to write analysis after each one. Feel free to ask about any of my decisions.

Mare in the Moon vs. Return of Harmony 1
Elements of Harmony vs. Return of Harmony 2
Ticket Master vs. Lesson Zero
Applebuck Season vs. Luna Eclipsed
Griffon the Brush-off vs. Sisterhooves Social
Boast Busters vs. The Cutie Pox
Dragonshy vs. May The Best Pet Win!
Look Before You Sleep vs. Mysterious Mare Do-Well
Bridle Gossip vs. Sweet and Elite
Swarm of the Century vs. Secret of My Excess
Winter Wrap-up vs. Hearth's Warming Eve
Call of the Cutie vs. Family Appreciation Day
Fall Weather Friends vs. Baby Cakes
Suited for Success vs. The Last Roundup
Feeling Pinkie Keen vs. Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Sonic Rainboom vs. Read It and Weep
Stare Master vs. Hearts and Hooves Day
The Show Stoppers vs. A Friend in Deed
A Dog and Pony Show vs. Putting Your Hoof Down
Green Isn't Your Color vs. It's About Time
Over a Barrel vs. Dragon Quest
A Bird in the Hoof vs. Hurricane Fluttershy
The Cutie Mark Chronicles vs. Ponyville Confidential
Owl's Well That Ends Well vs. MMMystery on the Friendship Express
Party of One vs. A Canterlot Wedding 1
The Best Night Ever vs. A Canterlot Wedding 2

Season 1: 12
Season 2: 14

The hardest to decide were Cutie Mark Chronicles vs. Ponyville Confidential, Green Isn't Your Color vs. It's About Time, and A Dog and Pony Show vs. Putting Your Hoof Down.

 

[SonicMario]

We're actually not too different so far in our choices Snowstalker. Of course I'm not exactly done (But I almost am) yet so I still can't recap it quite yet. Anyway...

Spoiler: A Bird in a Hoof Vs. Hurricane Fluttershy

Alright a pair of Fluttershy episodes this time. A Bird in a Hoof against Hurricane Fluttershy.

Obviously the big comparison is that Fluttershy is the star of the episode. Though there's barely any other comparisons between the 2 that I can think of. Twilight plays a rather decent role in both. But other then that you're hard pressed to find differences between an episode where Fluttershy takes care of Celestia's Pet and the other where she tries to overcome a traumatic past to help Rainbow Dash. So let's head right into this one.

A Bird in a Hoof is a rather interesting episode. As Celestia is invited to a public eatery at Sugarcube Corner that leaves everyone around her too nervous to actually do anything other then look nice for the Princess. Poor Celestia must hate it when all of her subjects don't bother partying with her in case she'd be offended with them acting normal. Though the episode begins with Fluttershy at her house where Angel reminds her that she's late (Which places a rather clever Alice in Wonderland reference). Before Fluttershy gets there we see Rainbow make some funny faces at the guards testing to see if they'll even move which gets no reaction whatsoever which bores Rainbow. When Fluttershy comes in though not knowing she's allowed in yet the Guards raise their Wings until Twilight assures them that Fluttershy's allowed. Speaking with her Twilight is noticably very nervous as is everyone else. Applejack can barely eat even though she is Hungry, and Rarity brought her fancy dress and is making sure to stay away from anything that could stain it. The only one that's not the tiny bit nervous is Pinkie Pie but she makes everyone ELSE more nervous. After a bit of Tea shenanigans, Fluttershy is introduced to a sickly Philomena. Which when Celestia is called out for some duties, Fluttershy steals the bird and takes Philomena to her cottage to take care of her. She tries many things to see if it will get in a better condition such as bed rest, tries to give it medicine, a bath, etc. all don't do a thing as the Bird loses more feathers every few seconds. Twilight later arrives and is just entirely worry-stricken when she sees Philomina. And as usual with matters with the Princess, Twilight overreacts and warns Fluttershy that she could be banished for this crime. After they successfully get the Guards out of suspicion Twilight forces some of the treatment that Fluttershy intended to give Philomina but Flutters just wasn't assertive enough to make the bird do it. Force-feeds the medicine, places a clone, and tries to force-feed the soup too. Which drives the bird crazy and what ensues is another Benny Hill chase accompanied by the same music that played in the Ticket Master with added Scooby-Doo doors. Then of course at a statue the bird loses all it's feathers and falls off and freakin' burns into ashes onscreen. I mean it gets better as soon as the Bird comes back as a Phoenix but damn they showed a Bird turn into ashes at a time they still had the e/i rating. Twilight and Fluttershy apologize to the Princess but of course the reveal is that Philomina was a Phoenix. Which was something when I first watched this I didn't expect actually but on the rewatch it made sense. The bird was actually kinda funny though sometimes the fact the eyes were always derped were the funniest parts while Philomina was sick. Though the chase scene was entertaining. I'd say it's average for FiM certainly not the best but nowhere near the worst either.

Now for Hurricane Fluttershy. Oh boy I love this episode, within just the opening you get 2 references to older episodes with the Mule from Applebuck Season and this one might be more subtle but Fluttershy disguising as a tree which brings to mind "I'd like to be a tree" from Over a Barrel (Coincidental that episode was done today as well.). After the opening you get a classic throwback to some of those 50's videos complete with lazy animation and lower-quality camera. Anyway the big deal is of course that Rainbow Dash invites every Pegasus in Ponyville to get training for a job they were given to get water up into Cloudsdale from the local reservoir. Rainbow Dash wants every single Pegasus to be at the top of their game so they can possibly beat Fillydelphia's record. Fluttershy is incredibly insecure and afraid that her trying will just lead to embarrassment. It's related to tramatic experiences she had as a filly (More filly flashbacks. Yay!) where she was laughed at by other Pegasi kids. So much so that it still affects her even in her age now which is something that I think should be known by everyone. Experiences with bullies, especially repeated times don't go away as soon as people aren't kids anymore. A cruel enough Bullying could lead to lifetime trauma. Fluttershy tries to get out of by acting sick or injured for Dash, but her friend sees through them and Fluttershy has to admit that she just can't because of her experiences as a filly. Rainbow's saddened face is eventually what guilt-trips Fluttershy to at least try. Which at the training field we see many Pegasi exercising and flying (I can't help but sometimes mistake the wings holding those weights as like an extra pair of hooves). Where we have Twilight in charge of a device that can measure Wing power as there is a specific number in which Water can be spouted to Cloudsdale this becomes pretty important. Fluttershy comes around a tad reluctantly and starts flying, when 2 of them start laughing she instantly is made very nervous and goes in even slower. Wingpower count being 0.5. Fluttershy is then affected more by the laughing when a suddenly spooky huge amount of eyes surround her in a nightmare sort of setting. She runs off crying and Dash goes to try to bring her back. This scene is so gutwrenchingly heartbreaking especially when Fluttershy turns around with so much tears drifting down her face. Going further when she's still crying in the forest seeking comfort from all her animal friends which does help her alot. She perks up and then comes a training montage which I found incredibly cool, the rock music, the Animals putting on and off the Pony masks, and the Animation (Though really the animation for this particular episode was really, and I mean REALLY top-notch). Now Fluttershy then returns to the track to show off. Normally cartoons like this would have the character like Fluttershy somehow do an amazing amount of Speed and be completely able to help. But in Friendship is Magic, Fluttershy does do almost 3x better then she did last time. But that's not saying much since she did only .5 the first time. Dash tries to cheer her up by saying that it's a huge improvement but Fluttershy sounds off on Rainbow on how she'd feel if everybody else was over 10 and she was stuck at about 2. So Fluttershy once again runs off. Then the moment arrives for the tornado and Twilight is checking the list of present ponies. 8 of them are too sick to do the job, one of them being Thunderlane a pony Rainbow's been sounding off at for coughing. Without those Pegasi, Twilight tells Rainbow she might not have enough wingpower to even make a tornado. Much less the record. Rainbow decides then to forget the record and just have every Pegasi give all they've got to get Water for Cloudsdale. Which was awesome to see Rainbow immediately swallow her pride like that in order to do what's important. The Pegasi go for an attempt but it falls short of making it. Rainbow rallies for a 2nd try, though Twilight warns that too much could seriously hurt some of the Pegasi. Dash doesn't give up and they start up again, Fluttershy comes back to what she says is Moral Support though as the Pegasi get closer and closer, Twilight begs Fluttershy to join in. Twilight says some more words including "Do it for yourself!" which prompts Fluttershy to go in. Inside the tornado she actually beats even her 2.3 speed but she still needs to go a little faster to complete it, the laughing comes back but this time she doesn't let it get to her. She bucks it in the face by going faster then she's ever gone before and breaks the mininum required. Leading to a successful launch of water. After which leads to a celebration that congratulates Fluttershy and a wingfive between her and Rainbow. There's just so much they pack into this episode that outshines even a majority of the entire series' episodes. Hurricane Fluttershy is one of the few episodes that can make fans legitimately cry in sympathy for a fictional character. You know a series has made it big when it gives you "the feels" and I'm glad that Friendship is Magic has managed to do it here. The fact Fluttershy was bullied also can gain some sympathy from those who went under similar situations when they were kids. This was just an awesome episode. The only big complaints I've seen is that this episode was boring to some. And I highly don't see how this was boring. Hurricane Fluttershy is just one of the best episodes of the series.

So yeah, no contest Hurricane Fluttershy wins this one. A Bird in a Hoof was neat introducing Phoenixes. But there's just no possible way in my mind that A Bird in a Hoof is better then Hurricane Fluttershy. I think anyone would be hard-pressed to think of any possible reasons on how it was better. Because Hurricane Fluttershy just had everything you could ever want in a Friendship is Magic episode. So again. No Contest. Season 2 wins this point and thus with point #14 it's no longer possible for Season 1 to tie or Win. Season 2 has clinched my score. Though of course I'll still go on with the next few episodes left. Season 1 is just playing for honor at this point.

Season 1: 8
Season 2: 14

I'll have to double post to add Chronicles Vs. Confidential. Exceeded the limit if I tried to add it with this last one

 

[SonicMario]

Spoiler: Cutie Mark Chronicles Vs. Ponyville Confidential

Ok now, the last Cutie Mark Crusader episodes of each season are here. Cutie Mark Chronicles and Ponvyville Confidential.

There's actually quite a bit of similarities between these 2 episodes. There's just minor differences in terms of the circumstances. They're both written by M.A. Larson, both contain a role played by both the CMC and the Main 6, and both contain the CMC looking for stories. Difference being in Chronicles is they're looking for Cutie Mark Stories while in the other they're looking for Newspaper stories. And not a really huge note but both episodes contain the words "Namby-pamby stories". However if you've known me a while, you should probably be forewarned that this isn't going to be much of a contest.

Because I absolutely love Cutie Mark Chronicles. It's still far and away my favorite episode out of all of Season 1. You have the cuteness of the Main 6 as fillies, the backstories, the added depth, and the overall importance of the flashbacks. This is just an awesome episode all around. The episode goes first with CMC using a Zipline only to fall and get covered in Tree sap. Thinking of more ways how to earn their Cutie Mark. They get the idea of asking other ponies how they got their's. If I had to have a complaint about this episode, it's that Scootaloo is kinda annoying since all she wants to hear is Rainbow Dash's story and the lack of respect for the other 5. I would have been highly disappointed with this episode if all we got was Rainbow's story and no one else which would've of been what happened if Scootaloo got what she wanted. Luckily she doesn't until the very end so we get to hear from all the rest first. Starting with Applejack where we learn she didn't always want to be a farm filly. She tried out living in the Big city but realizes she's in a place where her country roots make it harder for her to fit in and living with Rich ponies that don't even know what Roosters were wasn't going to go well at all. This does add depth to AJ because it means at one point as a filly she didn't want to do the farmlife that she did but realizing the grass is greener on the other fence and seeing an inspiring rainbow point all the way home she realized that she really does enjoy the Family buisness and misses Big Mac and Granny Smith. So she heads back home and gets her cutie mark. Then they bump into Fluttershy who out of all the other 5 is most direct and even a part of Rainbow's story. Which excites Scootaloo enough for her to want to listen. Filly Fluttershy (Which even if she's sort of skinny was still adorable) shows she was an even weaker flyer. When she falls she is made fun of by some of the same bullies from Sonic Rainboom (In colt form of course), in which Rainbow comes by to defend Fluttershy. At the race, Fluttershy is the flag girl, and as the racers zip by it surprises her and she spins off her cloud and starts falling down to the earth below until she is saved by (What some would call Dark Matter) Butterflies and she discovers the wildlife below. Which she sings "So Many Wonders", which is a cute song yes though nothing I'm crazy about. She notices an immediate connection with her and the Animals, and after an explosion scares the animals Fluttershy reassures them and gets her cutie mark. Next is Rarity's which doesn't really make as much sense at first what with Rarity just wanting to make costumes even better for a simple school play which for some reason was the start of her career it seems. But nonetheless it's hilarious seeing her get magic-dragged to "Her destiny" which initially to her chagrin looks like it's a Rock which her reaction is lol-worthy. Though once again an explosion comes in, cracks the rock, and suddenly jewels are revealed inside. Rarity then uses them for the play (Which to be honest I don't quite get how it makes it that much better other then more shine) and Rarity gets her Cutie Mark. And then comes my favorite part of the entire episode: Twilight's Flashback. Where Twilight attends the Summer Sun Festival to see Celestia raise the su-

OH MY GOSH SO FREAKING CUTE! oh whoops I'm sorry. Got a little carried away for a second there. Anyway after seeing Celestia perform the magic of raising the sun, Twilight is inspired to keep learning all she can about magic. Which she does by rea-

OH MY GOSH SHE'S READING SO CUTE LIKE! Oh uh, apologies. After which we learn that her parents enrolls her into a special school for gifted Unicorns. Wait a sec...

OH MY GOSH PARENTS! TWILIGHT'S PARENT'S! AND TWI DOING THAT CUTE FILLY DANCE. HNNNNG. *cough* Hehe, I might be going a little too insane over this. Anyway, Twilight head on over but she has to pass an entrance exam. Which happens to be hatching an Egg. Unfortunately she has some huge trouble with it and trying everything she can to hatch it, but it's no use and it looks like she's going to fail. And suddenly that explosion hits and WHAM

FULL ON AVATAR STATE ACTIVATED...Oops wrong show. But yes the shock awakens Twilight's hidden power within her tiny filly body and it's going mad. Not only does it hatch the egg, it enlarges Baby Spike, levitates the judges, and turns her parents into potted plants. Luckily Celestia was there to undo it. Celestia shows her admiration for Twi's raw power and tells her she's going to take her under her wing much to the surprise of young Twilight. And her cutie mark is also revealed and sh-

OH MY GOSH SO CUTE! JUMPING AROUND CELESTIA WHILE YELLING YES OVER AND OVER AGAIN! *ahem* Well anyway that ends Twilight's flashback as we go on to Pinkie's. Got a little overexcited over there with that last scene. It won't happen again... well maybe I can't exactly promise that but regardless. Onto Pinkie, you could debate that this wasn't her real story that if you ask her how she got her cutie mark another time she's say a completely different story much like what the Joker has said about his past in that last Batman film. Though until this is confirmed we're just going to have to assume it's the real story. Anyhow Pinkie Pie seemed to have grown up on a rock farm (Perhaps a better term would be an Amish miner?) where there wasn't much to get excited about. But then Pinkie Pie sees a rainbow after a shockwave messes up her mane and she says that's the first time she's had so much joy. And she immediately set to give other ponies a similar feeling, her first act being throwing a party for her family. Which succeeds in bringing them a smile to their face though right before we learn that Pinkie has a longer name Pinkamina Diane Pie which has become the nickname for Straight-haired Pinkie. With Pinkie Pie done, Scootaloo finally gets what she's been dying for and gets to Rainbow Dash where we're told about the story of the race for the honor of Fluttershy (I gotta say Rainbow's voice cracks are especially cute). Sometime during the race Rainbow falls behind and she has to pick up speed fast or she'll lose the race. That's when she performs the Sonic Rainboom for the first time in her life and easily wins the race and gets her cutie mark. Giving a wow the CMC, though suddenly the rest of the Main 6 pitch in that the Sonic Rainboom helped get them their Cutie Marks too. Putting in a special connection before most of them even met. It's a bit cheesy, but I think it can be forgiven in the fact that these are the Elements of Harmony. The connection had to happen much like how Rarity herself had been destined by her horn. Noted at the end when Twilight and Spike are making the letter, bonus of Spike even lampshading how cheesy it is. But regardless, this was a very important episode. It was going to be difficult to kind of fit in a story for all 6 in a 22 minute show but they did it pretty well and again it's still my favorite Season 1 episode of all time. It just has everything I could ever want in a FiM episode.

Onto Ponyville Confidential. Where the CMC show dissapointment that another classmate has got their cutiemark before them. But they see the oppurtunity of becoming a part of the schools newspaper. Attempting to get their marks for Journalism. However the bad news comes around when Diamond Tiara ends up being the director and thus their boss on what they report. And she wants real juicy stories. And their initial work isn't quite enough for her. She kicks them out to make them get a better one, which comes in the form of Snips and Snails who have their bottoms stuck because of Bubble Gum. So they get Featherweight (Who is basically the Camerapony for most of the episode) to take a picture and their first gossip column is published under the name Gabby Gums. However they have trouble finding a similar story just based around the schoolgrounds. Though once Rarity snoops into Sweetie's bag and discovers the page she laughs to herself and while Sweetie's a tad angry that she did so, Rarity tells her that she found the Gossip pretty entertaining. Inspiring Sweetie to tell Apple Bloom and Scoots to expand beyond Schoolgrounds. So they begin discovering gossip on other ponies such as the Cake Family, Trixie (No picture shown), and even Princess Celestia. Though at the spa, Twilight gets the sense that the gossip could turn out for the worse eventually. At the sametime Rainbow comes by to greet her friends at the spa, Rarity invites her to take a hooficure. At first she's reluctant but then for at least a little while she risks it but as the Spa pony got a little closer with the shaver she rejects it but not before Featherweight took a picture. The CMC also kinda realize what their gossip could be doing to Ponies but they must continue in order to get their cutie marks. So they still do more though unfortunately this particular batch starts to get really personal with Rainbow at the Spa, Fluttershy having Tail extensions, Twilight being a Canterlot snob, Lazy Applejack, etc. Rarity assures that it's all for fun until she finds that parts of her diary has been published in which she vows revenge on whoever Gabby Gums who she ends up finding out was Sweetie and her friends. And she tells her a thing or 2 (As much as it was a bit hypocritical of her as of a few minutes ago). After the ordeal the 3 try to quit, but in response Diamond Tiara blackmails them into getting more stories or else she'll publish embarrasing stuff about them. When the 3 girls got their story I thought it was going to be that they did a story on Diamond, especially since Diamond didn't really give a good look at it. But they went with something better: An apology letter from "Gabby Gums" to everyone. Nonetheless, Diamond is furious about the little loophole and tries to get ready to print the CMC's embarrasing photos when she is demoted by Cheerilee to part of the Printing Press and Featherweight becomes the new director. Though back a little earlier, the scene where everybody is giving the cold shoulder to the CMC is incredibly sad. But it made for a good transition to the Apology scene and the good ending we get. This episode is a nice one, though I think you know what's coming here.

Cutie Mark Chronicles wins in a landslide. This isn't even close. I liked Ponyville Confidential. But it just doesn't compare to the importance of Cutie Mark Chronicles. In fact I'm going to go into every single detail on why I love Cutie Mark Chronicles more that yo-

...
Nevermind. Filly Twilight Season 1 and Cutie Mark Chronicles win this round quite easily

Season 1: 9
Season 2: 14

 

[Snowstalker]

I chose CMC over PC for several of those reasons, but I will say that Ponyville Confidential has 2 things that I love: Julius Caesar and the best still image in the entire series.

 

[Smashley]

I'll do this too, though I have no real easy way to do them side by side so if I ever did do that, it could change.

Mare in the Moon vs. Return of Harmony 1
Elements of Harmony vs. Return of Harmony 2
Ticket Master vs. Lesson Zero
Applebuck Season vs. Luna Eclipsed
Griffon the Brush-off vs. Sisterhooves Social
Boast Busters vs. The Cutie Pox
Dragonshy vs. May The Best Pet Win!
Look Before You Sleep vs. Mysterious Mare Do-Well
Bridle Gossip vs. Sweet and Elite
Swarm of the Century vs. Secret of My Excess
Winter Wrap-up vs. Hearth's Warming Eve
Call of the Cutie vs. Family Appreciation Day
Fall Weather Friends vs. Baby Cakes
Suited for Success vs. The Last Roundup
Feeling Pinkie Keen vs. Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Sonic Rainboom vs. Read It and Weep
Stare Master vs. Hearts and Hooves Day
The Show Stoppers vs. A Friend in Deed
A Dog and Pony Show vs. Putting Your Hoof Down
Green Isn't Your Color vs. It's About Time
Over a Barrel vs. Dragon Quest
A Bird in the Hoof vs. Hurricane Fluttershy
The Cutie Mark Chronicles vs. Ponyville Confidential (still haven't seen PC, can't really vote here)
Owl's Well That Ends Well vs. MMMystery on the Friendship Express (I never got the hate on OWTEW, I liked it)
Party of One vs. A Canterlot Wedding 1
The Best Night Ever vs. A Canterlot Wedding 2

Season 1: 12
Season 2: 13

 

[Snowstalker]

I don't hate Owl's Well at all; it's just sort of a dull episode in my opinion. I liked Spike's attempts to find a quill (lol, a quills and sofas store), but it can't beat Sherlock Pinkie and Con Mane.

 

[Nabber]

Mare in the Moon vs. Return of Harmony 1
Elements of Harmony vs. Return of Harmony 2
Ticket Master vs. Lesson Zero
Applebuck Season vs. Luna Eclipsed
Griffon the Brush-off vs. Sisterhooves Social
Boast Busters vs. The Cutie Pox
Dragonshy vs. May The Best Pet Win!
Look Before You Sleep vs. Mysterious Mare Do-Well
Bridle Gossip vs. Sweet and Elite
Swarm of the Century vs. Secret of My Excess
Winter Wrap-up vs. Hearth's Warming Eve
Call of the Cutie vs. Family Appreciation Day
Fall Weather Friends vs. Baby Cakes
Suited for Success vs. The Last Roundup
Feeling Pinkie Keen vs. Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
Sonic Rainboom vs. Read It and Weep
Stare Master vs. Hearts and Hooves Day
The Show Stoppers vs. A Friend in Deed
A Dog and Pony Show vs. Putting Your Hoof Down
Green Isn't Your Color vs. It's About Time
Over a Barrel vs. Dragon Quest
A Bird in the Hoof vs. Hurricane Fluttershy
The Cutie Mark Chronicles vs. Ponyville Confidential
Owl's Well That Ends Well vs. MMMystery on the Friendship Express (I liked them equally, but MMM felt like it's morale was shoehorned onto the end, IIRC)
Party of One vs. A Canterlot Wedding 1
The Best Night Ever vs. A Canterlot Wedding 2

Season 1: 7
Season 2: 19

 

[Snowstalker]

Also, it's worth noting that my favorite episode is Party of One, and not just for the surface reasons (insane Pinkie, Gummy); I think it's an excellent character introspection, the more I think of it.

 

[Magikrazy]

I don't think it's really fair pitting the worst Season 1 episode against one of the best Season 2 episodes.

 

[SonicMario]

I don't think it's really fair pitting the worst Season 1 episode against one of the best Season 2 episodes.

It's based on the order that they aired. It's not purposefully done to put the worst of one season against the best of the other. It's just how they aired.

 

[Magikrazy]

I don't think it's really fair pitting the worst Season 1 episode against one of the best Season 2 episodes.

It's based on the order that they aired. It's not purposefully done to put the worst of one season against the best of the other. It's just how they aired.

I know, it just bugs me somewhat.

 

[IceShadow1199]

I watched it once, I don't like it too much, I only like the pony's design and nothing else. Cause, I think I'll become gay if I like it o.o

I'm not saying that to offend any fans of this show, just saying.

 

[Weasel]

Cause, I think I'll become gay if I like it o.o

I am a melting pot of straight, my good sir.

 

[SonicMario]

I watched it once, I don't like it too much, I only like the pony's design and nothing else. Cause, I think I'll become gay if I like it o.o

I'm not saying that to offend any fans of this show, just saying.

I'm sorry but what the f**king hell really makes you think simply watching a show/cartoon will make you gay?

 

[Smashley]

Cause, I think I'll become gay if I like it o.o

I really hate it when people say stuff like this...

 

[IceShadow1199]

My ex-friend told me that, but I think I was wrong all the time.... Sorry guys.

 

[Smashley]

still, wasn't really a good idea to post that.

 

[IceShadow1199]

I know it wasn't but I still like the show.

 

[Magikrazy]

I watched it once, I don't like it too much, I only like the pony's design and nothing else. Cause, I think I'll become gay if I like it o.o

Because watching a TV show can totally change your sexuality.

Unless you mean you'll turn gay for the ponies, as in you'll get an unhealthy obsession for them (although I don't really like that saying being used).

 

[IceShadow1199]

Not, I didn't mean gay for the ponies. I can't believe I fell for what my friend said.

 

[SonicMario]

Yeah that's kind of a contradiction to what you said first in here. But just understand whether you like or don't like the show. Your ex-friend is very misinformed. Watching a show (Even as something with a girly reputation as My Little Pony) isn't going to turn anyone gay. Homosexuals, Bisexuals, and Heterosexuals are born that way. There's nothing that happens later on life that makes them the other way.

 

[IceShadow1199]

Okay, thanks for making it better for me, Northern. I guess things are just what they are.

 

[Smashgoom202]

Also, this:

It's nice to see some factions of the public media that DOESN'T demonize us.

Edit: So there's this series called Extra Credits, and they talk about video games and how to improve the medium. This week they talk about games that are "hard-boiled" and how they handle "maturity":

http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/hard-boiled

What's this have to do with Ponies? Well, mid-way through, they mention being mature enough to accept what you like, even though it's socially accepted that doing so would noramlly be immature. And they have a picture of DustyKatt, the world's manliest Brony. Awwww yeah. 8)

 

[SonicMario]

Oh almost forgot

Spoiler: Owl's Well That Ends Well Vs. MMMystery on the Friendship Express

Alright, the last one before we get to the last day in terms of my comparisons. As the next time, I'll be doing the Canterlot Wedding 2-parter against the last 2 episodes of Season 1 in the same day. But for now Owl's Well That Ends Well Vs. MMMystery at the Friendship Express.

Not too many similarities but... In both episodes, Twilight plays an important supporting role. Both also have a reference to the moustached villains with capes. With Spike Dastardly and Pinkie's Imagination spot for Gustave. But other then maybe having the focus character think things that aren't the truth (Though Spike's is a little more serious). Not much else. So let's start up this one.

Owl's Well That Ends Well is an interesting episode. It's the first ever Spike-focused episode unless you count A Dog and Pony Show as an episode of his. And the reaction to it ever since has been kinda lukewarm. Perhaps it's because it's stuck in the middle where before it is the amazing Cutie Mark Chronicles while after it is the absolutely crazy Party of One that it kinda gets forgotten. Though the obvious reason is just that Spike isn't as nearly as popular as the Main 6 are. He's a good character for sure, and the show wouldn't be the same without him but he clearly doesn't get as much love as the Main 6 does. Which while I agree that Spike isn't as nearly worth it as much as any of the Main 6, he's still a important member of the cast and in the top characters in the show I'd place him anywhere between 7 and 10. If it's #7, the Main 6 are the only characters better then Spike. But enough about him on to the episode. Where we see Spike get a little egotistic when Twilight starts calling him her #1 Assistant, it goes on as the others give Spike gifts and compliments (The way he gets kinda greedy almost seems like a precursor for Secret of my Excess). At a nighttime picnic Spike does anything he can for the members of the Main 6. Until after a meteor shower (Which features the CMC, the last we see of them in Season 1) they find Spike all tuckered out in the bowl (Inspiring Pinkie to make an alcoholic reference "The punch has been spiked"). Back at the Treebrary, with Spike in bed. Twilight discovers Owliscious (If I spelled it wrong sorry, but I'm copying and pasting because it's going to be a pain in the butt to type that name over and over.) Twilight uses the Owl's help to finish something. In the morning, Spike wakes up and worries that he overslept but Twi shows him Owliscious. Now what's kinda problem with this episode is that later on Twilight says Owliscious is nocturnal. Yet for much of the episode, the owl is fully awake in the Daytime. I understand that it's for more time to make Spike think that the owl is trying to replace him but it seems no point in saying the Owl was nocturnal if earlier in the episode the Owl was clearly doing active stuff in the daytime. Anyway what comes on then, Twilight enters some trouble. And Spike tries to fix it. But Owliscious always seem to either get it faster, or do a better job at it. Frustrating Spike to the point that he tries to make Owliscious look bad (Complete with evil costume). What I like about this scene is that with the toy mouse and ketchup that it confirms that the world still has flesh and blood. We're most likely not going to see real blood in the show, but because of Spike trying to fake it we know that the Ponies and everything are living creatures and not rubber toys or anything like that. I know we can pretty much assume the same things just by the fact that they run and they sweat and they feel pain. But it basically averts that inside the Ponies are made out of candy or something silly like that. Spike tried to simulate a bloody, gorey mess. I suppose a bad thing about it is that it justifies some of the Grimdark fanfics out there. But otherwise I'm pretty sure it's surprising to see even a simulation of that in My Little Pony. Moving on, Twilight comes back and is not amused at all at Spike's attempt to blame Owliscious and scolds him. Spike goes back to sleep a little bit later but then Twilight wakes him up showing a burnt book. Again Spike is scolded, but a little more serious. She leaves very much like a dissapointed Mother regarding her son. And what happens as a result is Spike thinks Twilight no longer loves him, resulting in him moving away from home. He finds a cave in the Everfree forest to live in thinking it's riches of jewels have been undisturbed until the real owner of the cave (A giant green dragon which I forgot actually spoke). Spike tries to cut a deal but clearly Spike is in the Dragon's territory and if he doesn't run he's going to be killed. Luckily Owliscious and Twilight come to save him. The owl in particular using his small size to distract the Dragon and Twilight to give Spike a getaway as fast as she can gallop. Owliscious then helps guide them out of the forest out of the reach of the Dragon and escapes successfully. Back near Ponyville, the 2 apologize for their actions. And in one of the sweetest moments, Twilight says to Spike that no one could ever replace him. A real heartwarming ending. This episode might technially be the first one where Twilight doesn't write the letter, as she lets Spike do so even if he falls asleep in the middle of it. It's a really nice episode for Spike fans, and while I love the Spike and Twilight relationship dynamic it does has some flaws to it. But it is at least on a more emotional level then the episode it's going against. However it pales in one factor.

And that's Humor. MMMystery at the Friendship Express is an episode you can just sit back, relax, and laugh throughout most of the episode. With the episode beginning with the Main 6 escorting a cake that took some hard work by the Cakes. Going as far as getting Twilight to make a shield (Ya know from Ponyville Confidential on there seems to be 2 examples of Shield spells being used before we get to the Finale where we meet Shining Armor where his talent is making huge ones of those. Maybe there was a little more foreshadowing then we thought?) to protect the cake along the way to the Train. In the beginning Pinkie talks about how delicious her cake looks to her friends (With the episode's Red Herring Applejack even almost putting a hoof on it.). After which the Bakers come in with their desserts. You have Gustave the Griffon with Eclairs, Pony Joe with (what else) Donuts, and Mulia Mild the Mule with a Chocolate Moose mousse. An argument breaks out and when the Bakers head out Pinkie tells her friends that she's suspicious that the bakers will try to sabotage the cake and asking if they could help her guard it. They all however don't think Pinkie has anything to worry about and head to sleep leaving Pinkie to guard it alone. At night Pinkie's suspicions however turn out a little bit correct as someone (or at least she thinks it's only one) comes by. Pinkie chases the culprit but whoever it is gets away. She sees the conductor and for a little bit the blinds are turned out and Pinkie can't see anything. Pinkie Pie then goes to sleep thinking the danger has been averted. Twi wakes up and notices part of the cake is missing, which causes Pinkie to scream. And right here the mystery parody begins. Pinkie starts accusing the other 3 with ridiculious imagine spots. With an evil dastardly Gustave, a slick Spy Pony Joe, and a Ninja Mulia (All 3 are especially funny to watch). And Twilight tells that it makes no sense whatsoever and Twi suggests that they need to find clues and evidence. After which Pinkie asks how come the Bakers' food weren't taken a bite out of and even starts to compliment on how delicious it was like she did with her friends for the Cake. When they reach the end of a dark tunnel. Suddenly the treats did get a bite taken out of. And Pinkie is left even more clueless. What I kinda like about this episode is the Dynamic done with Twilight and Pinkie. I would explain it but I think my friend Appleshy did it better then I could. I'll just say that in this episode it shows that these 2 have come a long way since Feeling Pinkie Keen. Anyway Twi and Pinkie go to gather evidence, albeit Twilight doesn't actually show them to Pinkie or the Viewers until the group is gathered together again. Though the obvious reason is because the evidence would of made the actually rather clever twist too early. I didn't expect Rainbow, Fluttershy, AND Rarity to be the culprits and that's a good thing. Before the episode I was afraid that Pinkie simply took bites of it in her sleep, and I like that I was actually surprised. Because be honest, this show doesn't tend to have many surprise endings. I also love the touch on Rarity with the Mane over one eye, I thought it was simply as a parody of that type of suspect with the bangs over one eye. Never knew it was actually going to be plot relevent. And as much as it wasn't nice of them, they just gave in to the desire to take a bite. And all 3 of them apologized. The merged cake at the end looked pretty neat, even if Pinkie just eats it all.

This is actually a tough decision. Owl's Well had more overall drama and emotion, but at the same time MMMystery was hilarious and entertaining. Well to break it, I'll jude decide between the 2 like I did with Green Isn't Your Color and It's About Time. Which one if both were on TV but I could only watch one. And of these 2, that would be MMMystery on the Friendship Express. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Owl's Well that Ends Well what with the Spike and Twilight interaction. But on an entertainment scale I much prefer MMMystery. Those imagination spots are something I'd like to see more then seeing Spike being desperate. So Season 2 gets the last single episode point before we head into the finale(/s)

Season 1: 9
Season 2: 15