A few months ago, I posted my tops and bottoms of season five. Please read if you have the time.

 

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Season 6’s first half has concluded. As a result, time to list the tops and bottoms up to this point, each of which may change once the season finale (likely) airs in the fall. Because we’re only twelve episodes in, the lists/categories are much shorter, and the full list is subject to change.

 

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Episodes

 

Bottom-3 episodes:

 

3: No Second Prances

 

If not counting Manehattan Mysteries, NSP has easily Trixie’s best characterization in the series. Starlight Glimmer’s path to comprehending the Magic of Friendship progresses, initially for the worse and later for the better. But there are three problems here, two of them related to characterization. Twilight and Celestia are really out of character here. Celestia has manners, so to visibly act like she wants nothing to do with Twilight’s party or anyone else there is incredibly rude of her. Twilight’s reserved judgment and lack of will to trust Trixie is fine, but given how she and Trixie parted on good terms, there’s no reason for her to sabotage their friendship together. The climax implicated that Trixie was attempting to kill herself, while Twilight and Starlight watched. Guys, she’s attempting a trick she can’t do on her own, and she’s not in the right of mind. Do something the second she tries to enter the cannon!

 

2: Flutter Brutter

 

There aren’t many episodes where it becomes very difficult for me to sit through at any point. Flutter Brutter eclipses Princess Spike as the most difficult. And the biggest reason is because Zephyr Breeze takes everything that I hate about a character and amplifies it. He’s a complete creep towards Dash, obnoxious, a combination of the diva and freeloader stereotypes, completely destroys his parents’ prized possessions with complete disregard for importance, and manipulates her friends just to get out of very simple tasks.

 

Despite being a major hate sink, the episode flips its tone upside-down to suggest that he deserves sympathy. If he was likable, not a stereotype, and actually tried his best to succeed, then his efforts when he does succeed will feel far more rewarding. On top of that, the morals (fearing failure and fearing his or her first step towards doing something) are fantastic, but attaching a freeloader stereotype to it to suggests that everyone who lives with their parents are as lazy as him when in fact it’s not even true. And the overall quality of this episode is such a shame because Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are excellently characterized.

 

1: Newbie Dash

 

Easily the worst episode of the season, and the rest of the season will have to do a lot to get this bad. Rainbow Dash’s sensitivity to the trauma-triggering insult makes a whole lot of sense, but she’s far more rational than to willingly force Scootaloo into taking part of a task in which she should know she can’t do. Once more, the Wonderbolts are assholes; when they call her “Rainbow Crash,” they don’t hint friendly banter, but nagging, which in turn worsens the training for the event. Ever single “nickname” was incompetence-laden and not verbally pleasing. Lastly, the moral of tolerating and embracing hazing “because it’s good fun” is one of the worst of the entire show.

 

On top of this, this is a milestone episode: Rainbow Dash officially joins the Wonderbolts. Joining the Wonderbolts has been her lifelong dream, which she stated midway in FIM, Part 1. It’s a major change in the status quo! If this was a common slice-of-life episode, then the quality of the writing won’t sting. But this is like Equestria Games or Spongebob’s Truth or Square: Newbie Dash reminds the audience that she’s joining the Wonderbolts and how important her dream is. You can’t separate it from the episode.

 

Dishonorable mention: Spice Up Your Life.

 

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Top-3 episodes:

 

3: Gauntlet of Fire

 

The three main flaws in this entire episode are Garble still being a stereotypical bully, Celestia and Luna being plugged in as mouthpieces for exposition, and thrusting in Twilight and Rarity to merely be the vessels to force the audience into a reaction. Aside from that, the rest of episode easily overcomes the three flaws in many ways, particularly four huge strengths.

 

Dragon Quest helped destroy dragon lore, but GoF changed that by making the dragon race competent and not a sexist representation of society.

 

Spike, Ember, and Torch are really well-written here. Factually, this is Spike’s best role in a Spike-centric episode: Instead of writing him as that usual “Spike-is-a-buttmonkey/idiot/scapegoat” role, Lewis and Songco treat him like an intelligent, competent character and use his strengths to both win the tournament and bridge the relationship between ponies and dragons.

 

Neither concept of masculinity nor femininity are written to be better or more important than the other. Princess Ember and Spike have qualities considered “masculine” and “feminine,” respectively, but both sides of the conflict are treated as equally valid, and characters can still keep these concepts while still developing and understanding the other side.

 

Instead of treating Dragon Land as being completely inferior than Equestria, the ponies and dragons are written to being able to understand and learn from each other.

 

2: The Saddle Row Review

 

Compared to the more-heavy-handed works over the past three seasons, this was a huge change of pace and the status quo. TSRR forgoes the traditional FIM formula and parodies the traditional reality TV format by cutting the story into the ReMane Six and Plaid Stripes answering questions from Buried Lede, who in turn writes a review for Rarity’s Manehattan boutique branch, Rarity for You. The sharp dialogue, lighthearted tone, and excellent timing of their jokes makes this episode one of the funniest of the series. To read more about my analysis of the comedy and dialogue, click here.

 

1: A Hearth’s Warming Tail

 

There are two minor weaknesses here: the story is very bare, and the pacing early was rushed. Yet, compared to the rest, it’s so small. FIM is more than a storytelling medium. It’s an animation and sound medium, too. And the animation, music, and set design compensate the story. Applejack, Pinkie, and Luna are excellent choices to represent the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, respectively. Graphics/set design is well crafted and gorgeous! Apparently, so much time was spent on perfecting the complex animation and special effects, and the time was definitely well spent. And oh, my God, the songs are amazing! Each of them told a story in themselves and helped progress the episode smoothly, especially Luna’s Future.

 

Honorable mention: On Your Marks.

 

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S6 episode ranking (in order):

1. A Hearth’s Warming Tail: A
2. The Saddle Row Review: A
3. Gauntlet of Fire: A-
4. On Your Marks: B+
5. The Crystalling: B
6. Applejack’s “Day” Off: C
7. The Gift of Maud Pie: C-
8. Spice Up Your Life: C-
9. No Second Prances: F
10. Flutter Brutter: F
11. Newbie Dash: F
    

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Top-13 episodes (in order, updated):

1. The Best Night Ever
2. Crusaders of the Lost Mark
3. Amending Fences
4. Sisterhooves Social
5. The Cutie Map
6. Party of One
7. Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
8. Pinkie Pride
9. Suited for Success
10. Lesson Zero
11. Sleepless in Ponyville
12. A Hearth’s Warming Tail
13. The Cutie Re-Mark
    

Honorable mentions: Flight to the Finish, The Saddle Row Review, The Return of Harmony, The Cutie Mark Chronicles

 

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Bottom-13 episodes (in order, updated):

1. One Bad Apple
2. Bridle Gossip
3. Newbie Dash
4. Dragon Quest
5. The Crystal Empire
6. Rainbow Falls
7. Princess Spike
8. The Mysterious Mare Do Well
9. Owl’s Well That Ends Well
10. The Show Stoppers
11. Flutter Brutter
12. Putting Your Hoof Down
13. Appleoosa’s Most Wanted
    

Dishonorable mentions: Trade Ya!, Daring Don’t, Boast Busters

 

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Moral

 

Bottom moral:

 

Newbie Dash: Even if what he or she says insulted you or hurt your feelings, as long as it’s in “good fun,” everything is okay.

 

Everything about this episode was tied down to the Wonderbolts hazing Dash “in good fun,” Dash feeling emotionally hurt by it, and later accepting it on hurtful excuses. You’re entitled to not participate in an activity or culture if you feel uncomfortable about it. It’s okay to tell your peers, “Your culture is destructive, and it makes me uncomfortable. Please keep me out of it.” No one is entitled to be bullied! Even worse, this episode centers on hazing, which some municipal governments outlawed because people were injured or killed. Many attempted suicide because the psychological scars from hazing haunted them. These “rituals” ranged from being beaten up to raped. This moral invalidates her feelings and says that hazing of any kind is okay. It’s not okay and not worthy of any false praise!

 

Dishonorable mention: N/A

 

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Top moral:

 

Flutter Brutter: Sometimes the hardest part of your idea is your first move. You don’t know where it’ll go or if you’ll like it in the end. The fear of the unknown is real and valid.

 

In the beginning of a Joy of Painting episode (the 17^th series, IIRC), Bob Ross decided to let go of his realistic approach to landscape painting because often people don’t know what to do before laying that brush on the canvas. Their give is fearful, which represses their ability to lie out their ideas. It’s normal to have this fear. It seems like Zephyr not only feared failure, but also feared the unknown. Unfortunately, Zephyr’s so horrendously executed that the moral itself loses its weight.

 

Honorable mention: Working hard and trying your best doesn’t mean refusing to spend quality time with others (A Hearth’s Warming Tail).

 

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New Characters

 

Characters that appeared on screen prior to S6 (even when in the background) don't count, so no Sunburst.

 

Bottom new character:

 

Zephyr Breeze. Worst. FIM character.*

 

 

 

 

Dishonorable mention: Zesty Gourmand (stereotype of critics).

 

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Top new character:

 

Princess Ember. An embodiment of a character with qualities society calls “masculine,” but not a character written to be flat or a stereotype of “masculine” people or characters. Despite not featuring any of the physical qualities of a leader Torch expects, she’s a dragon with intangible, tangible, and mentally strong qualities. People male or female can relate to her conflict and desire not to let her species/culture down.

 

Honorable mention: Tender Taps.

 

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Mane 8 (includes Spike and Starlight)

 

Bottom M8 character:

 

Applejack. Newbie Dash is one of the worst episodes of the entire show, but it’s less to do with Dash’s characterization and more with everything else. Thus far, AJ’s had only one prominent role in an episode: Applejack’s “Day” Off. Here, she was fine in the first half, but when she revealed her tedious method into feeding the pigs, she looked really dumb and incompetent. ADO is as average an episode as FIM ever had, but this was a bad look on her.

 

Dishonorable mention: Rainbow Dash.

 

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Top M8 character:

 

Spike. Give me less episodes with higher-quality roles than a character who surfaces so much with more average or poor roles. Spike’s lone bad role this season was his usual buttmonkey status in Newbie Dash. Other than that, he’s had his best season. The Crystalling, Gauntlet, ADO, and Tail are all episodes with respectable roles at worst and excellent roles at best.

 

Honorable mention: Starlight Glimmer.

 

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Full M8 rank (in order):

1. Spike
2. Starlight Glimmer
3. Fluttershy
4. Pinkie Pie
5. Rarity
6. Twilight Sparkle
7. Rainbow Dash
8. Applejack
   

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Moment:

 

Bottom-2 moments:

 

2. Starlight and Twilight watch Trixie enter the cannon. The worst part of these implications occurs after falling out. Starlight Glimmer knows that Trixie isn’t in her right frame of mind when she presses on with the trick knowing she can’t do it on her own. Meanwhile, both Twilight and Starlight sit and watch. Trixie’s life’s in danger! Help her before she tries a trick that’ll kill her!

 

1. The Wonderbolts reveal to insulting her out of “good fun.” Seriously? Seriously?! The Wonderbolts pull this shtick on her, rub it in her face to remind her not to screw up, and they had no idea that the more she heard it, the worse Dash became. And at the end, they reveal that they do it to everyone. Protip: Just because everyone does it and others have worse insults than “Rainbow Crash” doesn’t dismiss the Wonderbolts of their insolence!

 

Dishonorable mentions: Zephyr destroys her parents’ prized possessions; Zephyr’s tantrum in the forest.

 

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Top-2 moments:

 

2. The Cutie Mark Crusaders disband for the day. Apple Bloom struggles to find any hobby she can enjoy while not being with SB or Scootaloo. Her belief that the CMCs were no more pushed her into trying something interesting. Dancing (and helping Tender Taps earn his Mark) was a turn of events to help her grow more into her own. None of this would happen if session wasn't dismissed.

 

1. Spike interrupts his story so he and Starlight can locate Sunburst. The little dragon doesn’t have a very positive record, but his role firmed here. It marked how much he grow, how proud he is of his job, and most importantly, how he and Starlight began to forge a close friendship.

 

Honorable mention: Sunburst reveals to not being a wizard; Rarity’s “NO SPOILERS!”.

 

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What I want for the second half of Season 6:

 

This is what I wrote for my Season 5 review:

What I want for Season 6:

 

Continued growth for Starlight. Re-Mark implied an addition of Starlight as part of the Mane cast, and The Crystalling further enforces that notion. Of every character introduced thus far, she's the best candidate to be a part of the team. She's learning the true Magic of Friendship, has a close friendship with Spike now, and will learn more later this season. Don't be surprised if she comes into her own following the season finale.

 

Better characterization for Spike and Rainbow Dash. The Crystalling was his best characterization since Lesson Zero. Less of him being a butt of jokes and more of him as a legitimate character who belongs with the Mane cast. Also, better characterization of Dash as a lead. If I want to compare her episodes to Spike's, I want the comparison to be a positive, not negative!

 

Cut down on the stereotypes. They're a shortcut and a major flaw in this show. If you're going to use stereotypes, then why the hell should I believe you care about the quality of your work? This show is supposed to teach people (especially kids) that people are more than just false representations, but this show sometimes screws this up badly. Put in some effort into your tropes!

 

A more consistent quality of work. This show's good, but it's also really inconsistent sometimes. You have good work, and then you have work that flops so badly. Does it need to be perfect? No. But it deserves better. More consistent effort into high-quality work.

 

Watch out for unfortunate implications. I hammer this all the time. Unfortunate implications are terrible because of the unintended real-life consequences they could have on us as an audience. The fact that kids are impressionable is one key reason why the "it's a kids' show" strawman fails miserably. Poor execution, poor wording, a terrible moral, you name it. Season five did better, but it can also do better.

 

What I wrote applies today. But here are more.

 

Higher quality roles for Twilight and Applejack. Twilight’s out-of-characterization in No Second Prances really hurt the episode and damaged her credibility as the Princess of Friendship. AJ in ADO was smart in one role, stupid the next, stretching her very thin.

 

More insight to the Twilight/Starlight dynamic. Starlight may be TS’s pupil, but the relationship between them hasn’t evolved so much. Currently, it’s still at the fringe. Starlight’s friendship with SG’s more developed than with Twilight.

 

Better execution of the serious and gray material. Spice Up Your Life, No Second Prances, The Crystalling, On Your Marks, Newbie Dash, Gauntlet of Fire, and Flutter Brutter are all considered the more serious episodes this season. Only three of them (The Crystalling, On Your Marks, Gauntlet of Fire) are good. Whatever the quality, the ideas within them range from decent to great, but there’s little polish. More consistency in the quality.

 

Continuation of Spike’s character. After five seasons, it looks like the show finally has consistent characterization and use for Spike. I believe it has something to do with Haber (who wrote Spike well in the past, including Simple Ways, Friendship Games, and Re-Mark). His earlier Spikabuse status is kept to a bare minimum, and it hopefully finally goes away in the second half.

 

More exploration of Equestria outside of the usual places. Its theme is Exploring Equestria. The areas explored: Manehattan (twice), Canterlot, and Dragon Land. Dragon Land is the “newest” land explored. Thus far, season five follows the theme better than here.

 

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Verdict:

 

Season five is my favorite of FIM and may be the best of the show. So far, season six is a disappointment, and it’s either tied or just under the fourth as second-worst season so far. Ones like The Saddle Row Review, A Hearth’s Warming Tail, and Gauntlet of Fire are excellent, but ones like No Second Prances, Flutter Brutter, and Newbie Dash really hold the season back. Unlike season five, there are lot of early changes to the status quo, but if you’re going to break it through, then execute it well. So far, the executions are very inconsistent with Newbie Dash being easily the worst of them all. Now, does this mean season six is bad right now or won’t get better? No. S6 is average, and the second half could improve it. We’ll just have to wait and see.