One big DVD set, 26 episodes, pizza coming in an hour and a fridge full of beer. It’s time to get this party of one started!

First, a quick summary of the package and quality. The cover looks just like the pictures you’ve seen, the Mane 6 (plus Spike and Angel) standing around more or less randomly on a background shot of Ponyville. The green iris of Fluttershy’s left eye is missing and something about her tail doesn’t look quite right. (At least they fixed her wing, though.) The other ponies fare a little better, especially Rarity. The back side illustration is similar: Mane 6 in other random poses on a different background.

Taking off the slipcover and opening the regular-sized DVD case, we have a composite illustration on the inside that is noticeably better. The four discs are secured in two double-sided clear plastic mounts, all with different pictures on them. Disc 1 has Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Disc 2 has Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy. Disc 3 has Princess Cadance and Spike, which is odd because the former wouldn’t appear until the end of Season 2. Disc 4 has an equally strange picture of Celestia, who is so small she looks like an alicorn filly. Her mane and tail are not translucent and are missing the variety of colors we see on the show.

But it’s what’s on the inside that really counts, and I fire up the DVD player. The main menu has “play all” as well as an episode selection--good. Fortunately the sound and widescreen picture quality are beyond reproach, at least for DVD…and on that note it’s time to review what’s really important: the show. The following is a list of random observations as the mad marathon begins!

*I’ve got my Rainbow Dash shirt and wristband plus my Apple Bloom necklace on as Episode 1 starts. Gotta be prepared.

*“I think she’s more interested in books than friends,” an anonymous pony says of Twilight Sparkle, like it’s a bad thing. xD (Hey, at least books can’t hurt you.) BTW, when will we meet the anonymous Moon Dancer, whose party Twilight shunned so she could study to save Equestria?

*The first of many obtuse or misleading Celestia responses to get Twilight to come to Ponyville. At least here she had a good reason. Twilight meets the ponies. Naturally Applejack makes an awesome first impression, she’s Applejack. First sighting of the Apple family as well as the almighty Bloom and her first line, “Aren’t you gonna stay fer brunch?” Man, Michelle Creber was ten when she said that line.

*DASHIE! Still as funny and awesome as ever in her first appearance. Twilight’s poofy hair actually looks good now that I see it again. Even Spike says it’s pretty like that. First sighting of a Rarity! “I’m in the zone, as t’were.” Spike is lovestruck the whole time and I know where he’s coming from. Fluttershy’s first scene touches me as deeply as ever. Twilight seems oddly jealous of her fascination with Spike (which we haven’t seen since).

*And of course, Pinkie’s first party complete with hot sauce on a cupcake. OK, I’m seriously gonna try something like that. Time for some Tabasco sauce on a snack cake! ……

*…Ewwwww. And now I desperately need the first beer to wash that taste out of my mouth.

*Summer Sun Celebration and there’s no princess. “This can’t be good,” Twilight frets. (Actually it’s just the kind of stunt Celestia would pull in hindsight.) Instead our guest of honor is the much cooler NIGHTMARE MOON! OMG, I’m marking out for her. First sighting of the CMC as the three of them tremble in fear.

*Episode 2, which means it’s time to giggle at the Ghostlies! It’s not one of my favorite musical numbers but it’s a preview of the greatness that would come later in the series.

*Damn, remember that scene where Rarity bites off one of the effeminate dragon’s razor-sharp scales, and the show plays like she stabbed him with it?? Twilight: “Rarity, what are you—” *SLICE* Dragon: “Ohhhhhhhh!!” *falls over* So many LULZ. That is seriously my favorite moment in this episode.

*Pizza Hut arrives as the dragon helps the ponies cross the river!

*And lo, the divine Rainbow Dash flew to the top of a cliff where she was tempted—and did not give in. I love you, Dashie.

*Twi vs. Nightmare! “You’re kidding. You’re kidding, right?” Moon’s best line. Twilight does her first teleport and it’s clearly a strain on her. She would get much stronger later on. Here come the rest of the Mane 6!

*Too bad THE NIGHT could not LAST FOREVERRRR…but Nightmare Moon is still favorite villain. AJ admits she thought Twilight was “Just spoutin’ a lot of hooey” when Twilight started talking about friendship=power. I like that about her. And Pinkie breaks the 4^th wall for the first time! Wow, that started early.

*Daaamn, you’ve gotta try these stuffed pizza rollers from Pizza Hut. And their whole dinner box. It’s Episode 3 and Twilight is hungry too. That’s OK, Twi, you can share!

*AJ: “I’d give my left hind leg to go to that Gala.” Twi: “Okay, I’ll get a saw.” O_o Wait, I think I heard that wrong.

*You know, we never actually saw what RD does during the Buccaneer Blaze, just that it generates lightning.

*The Ticket Master is a better episode than I remember. It really served its purpose in solidifying the Mane 6’s personalities.

*Applejack’s first great moment: saving Ponyville from a cow stampede. She’s exhausted for the rest of the show, though. Hey, AJ was the first pony besides Twilight to get an episode just about her! What are her fans complaining about again?!

*Poor AJ, too stubborn to accept any help until the end. I suspect that I’ll look something like her before this marathon is over... xD