AlbaTross

They could start by doing a better follow-up to FiM that captures the essence of what made it so special while simultaneously doing something new and different (preferably while also not having any direct ties to any previous series). I'm somehow doubting we will be getting that until at least G6 though.

As pretty much everyone else has said, I much prefer Spike, because he's an actual character. I think Sparky vs Flurry Heart would be a much more fair comparison, but at the end of the day, I'm not a big fan of baby characters. Heck, while FiM at least had the sense to make Flurry a minor side character, Sparky is like what if Flurry ended up living permanently with her aunt and ruined the majority of episodes Twilight was in, and yes, the presence of Sparky is certainly bringing Hitch down a few notches as a character for me. I could deal with such a character being around for the odd episode once in a while, but the archetype simply doesn't lend itself well to being a series mainstay of any kind. Moreover, I can't think of a single series where introducing such a character improved ratings, but if anyone can come up with an example you're welcome to let me know. What's worse is, we're not actually all that far into the series, and usually baby characters are introduced much later on in a series much later to try and introduce a new element to a series that's already peaked and has since started to descend downwards, so I can't help but see Sparky's introduction as a bad sign. I get that he was introduced because Spike, but I think there are much better ways that this series could have added a tribute to FiM. I think such an objection is fair, to an extent, as it is very much true that we have 9 seasons (or 8 and 1/2 if you want to get technical) of FiM, while we only have so much of G5, and FiM certainly benefitted from character development, and just having people such as the writers and Ingram refine their craft over time. Conversely, G5 has only just started. Also, while people often criticize nostalgia for being blind, I have certainly noticed its polar opposite in recent years that appears to be equally blind, which is a bias in favour of what's new and current, even if it's in progress, and for that reason, I prefer to wait until a work is completed to give it a proper analysis. I think some degree of comparison is fair though, as not only was it inevitable that a new MLP would be compared to what came before, but this series is literally force-tied to the previous one, with the film even hitting us over the head with references. Of course comparisons were going to happen. Additionally, it's not unreasonable to expect that a new series would benefit from what was learned with FiM, as even though a new studio is handling G5, Hasbro should have at least observed some of what went well with FiM, and what didn't. The real problem I think people have with G5 (I certainly do) is that while FiM most certainly jumped the shark multiple times over the course of its run, it seems that G5 jumped the shark pretty much immediately, and has only done so further as it has progressed even as far as it is now. Force-tying what should have been a completely unrelated series certainly didn't help, as it created a foundation that feels unnecessarily fanficy, and it really didn't need to be that way. To make matters worse, I for one think the series peaked with A New Generation, and has descended even further from what I personally think was a pretty low hill to begin with. Very little time and effort has been put into developing the characters since, and there's a poor balance IMHO of overarching plot vs episodic plots, which seems like an effort to cash in on an aspect of what made FiM popular, without a proper understanding of why. TBH, Sparky is only one in multiple ways in which this series has jumped the shark, and while FiM certainly wasn't at its strongest in season 1, I still think it set a better foundation than what we're seeing so far with G5, and while I'll be happy to be proven wrong, there are certainly signs that G5 will never hold a candle to FiM. So, sure, I'll give it a shot for now, as it is certainly fair to do so, and sure, I'll reserve my final judgement until the series has concluded, but there is still room to analyze the foundation that has been set so far.

Agreed, there is more than one way in which this episode could have been handled better. Personally, I really like the idea of Pipp being put in a situation where she has to think of a solution herself, and I thought that was where the episode was going. Alternatively though, yes, the Pippsqueaks would have been helpful in getting her out of that situation, so being gaslighted by her sister didn't exactly help. There are certainly worse episodes IMHO, but I think this one had the potential to be one of the better ones if it had gone in a different direction, plus I would have welcomed some character development for Pipp. Oh well, I suppose that's too much to ask from this series.

This episode had a promising start, though it turned pretty quickly into silly slapstick. Also, how did Pipp survive being baked? Still, this episode is fine for what it is, so it gets a pass from me. Well, a G5 quality pass anyways.

Maybe Pipp's male associate whose name I don't care enough to learn took care of him. If so, there's an even more derivative parallel episode to be had here.

This one's alright IMHO. It treads similar ground to Baby Cakes, and even a previous episode in this very series, but there's no Sparky, and no Misty. Opaline only makes a very brief cameo. This is not the episode to make me fall in love with a series that at best I feel is redundant, but it's not bad per se. I really feel that keeping the animals from destroying things would be easiest if they just didn't live in the Brighthouse, especially since Hitch doesn't even live there. Perhaps the Mane Five should think of that. Then again, that would result in fewer formulaic options for a redundant plot, so perhaps that's why they writing allows them to take up residence there.

I can see that comparison, especially with the pilot film for G5 literally called "A New Generation". Still, do you really think G5 has the potential to one day be "in many ways superior" to FiM? As it stands, I'm still waiting for it to excel in even one way over FiM. I suppose the odds of at least the latter are higher than zero though, hence why I'm still here. Hopefully Chapter 3 will continue to improve things.

Interesting slapstick episode, I suppose. I'm not huge on Sparky, so I definitely prefer the previous one, but I suppose this one earns points for atmosphere if nothing else. It's definitely the Misty and Opaline Show now for better or worse. At least we got a Posey cameo again, though I feel bad every time her garden gets ruined. So...not my favourite episode, but it's far from the worst.

I will agree that Sunny dressing up as Nightmare Moon was a fun choice. You are correct too that we probably shouldn't just settle. However, I'm at the stage where I'll take anything that hooks me even a little. It's certainly going to take more than small touches to keep me invested long-term. Then again, I'm still here for now. Clearly there is enough going on with G5 for me to at least one to stick with it for the time being. I even think it has some potential to be decent in its own right. Still, I certainly question more choices made with this series than not. So, I'll take a reasonably entertaining short. It's not that deep, but it's a start.

Agreed. Heck, I've been known to actually like Mary Sues in the past. The problem is there's very little here to actually latch onto with Sunny. Who is Sunny outside of friendship? We know full well who Twlight is when she's not with her friends. Apparently the series has since doubled down on her being the smoothie pony, but that still doesn't satisfy me as that's her job. I guess she worked towards building a community garden, and other community initiatives, but that still doesn't tell me what she would do with her time when she's not at work, involved in the community or with her friends. I suppose having her friends live with her is an excuse for us to not be shown that, but even that can't cover up the lack of character development. While the others are underdeveloped too IMHO, at least they have more in the way of personality. Sunny just ends up playing off of whoever she's paired with, which granted, can work sometimes for the sake of a story, but I find that the series is more interesting when episodes aren't about her, which probably isn't a great thing for the main character of a series. Besides, let's not forget that Sunny isn't perfect, because the movie clearly showed she has her own biases and prejudices. Of course, that movie rewarded her without her having to actually face up to that, and the series went on to forget that side of her entirely.

That there was. I don't actually have anything against modern pop music, but FiM's music spanned a number of genres, and tried to be unique every time. Also, if it was just a case of the songs being modern pop music, it wouldn't have been quite as bad as it is here. The real problem I have is it's the same kind of music, because at least 90% of it is just Pipp singing, and it's not even a case of her singing different kinds of songs either. It's even a running gag that she just rearranges her existing songs, but it's less funny to me when it actually overstays its welcome. Sure, I don't mind Pipp's singing, but there needs to be some variety. If it's in character for her to do most of the singing due to her being an actual celebrity in her world, then at the very least some effort should be put into making tracks for her that sound different enough. That one song she sang to attract Sparky's attention, and this one here are a small improvement, but I fully expect the series to go back to her singing the same stuff over and over. On the other hand, even that's an improvement over replaying that same cringe bunny hop song over and over again, so maybe this Nightmare Night song is the best we can expect from this series, and we should just accept what we can get.

I think we got the best song so far, mostly because it tries. I don't think it's quite on par with the stuff we got with FiM and EQG, but it's a start. It probably would have gotten repetitive if it hadn't been interrupted though. TBH, I'm sensing the series is ironically going to start getting more repetitive now that it's trying to have more of a storyline. I do like Misty and Opaline, but if every episode is going to be this, it's going to get real formulaic, real fast. I did think the formula of helping ponies learn how to use their magic to improve their lives was becoming old hat, but at least those episodes are spread out, while Opaline and Misty's antics appear to be here to stay indefinitely. Also, part of me thinks it would have been more interesting if the episode could actually just be about Nightmare Night, and some subplot related to that, such as Jazz's uncertainty over what costume to pick. I did like that Misty accidentally helped her out though. All in all, it's an interesting enough episode; not the best, but far from the worst.

Well, on a positive note, I'm still here. I was fully expecting to watch an episode or two, decide that G5 is trash that's unlikely to get much better, and make tracks. As it stands...I'll keep watching for now. I don't think MYM or TYT will ever reach the level of being a show that really sticks with me, but I can see myself watching through it once and being reasonably entertained...for the most part. I'm definitely more invested in the villain subplot than I thought I would be, though I'm kind of torn on how I feel about there being a pair of antagonists present throughout, as it kind of overshadows the rest of the series for me. At least FiM allowed for breaks between the main plot so it could be mostly off-episodes that are more slice of life, albeit with fantasy elements. Here, it's pretty much a given that the villains will appear in every episode going forward. Early on it seemed as though they didn't do a ton, but as the "chapter" progressed, they had more and more involvement, and I was intrigued for a time as to where things would go. Unfortunately, I also don't think episodes 7 and 8 upped the ante enough to live up to the hype that previous episodes (especially episode 6) created. I get the sense that that's intentional, as there is clearly at least going to be a chapter 3, and the writers don't want the story to be over too quickly. However, I am starting to be concerned that this particular plotline will overstay its welcome before too long. Also, I'm wondering if MYM is the Opaline and Misty show, as I do have to wonder if there are plans for after their arc wraps up. Anything that follows will have more of a sequel vibe, I think, than something that feels like a logical continuation. It's certainly doable, mind you, and it's not as if the staff behind this series really care if it gets repetitive. I am having a bit of a similar problem with the Mane Five. I think they all have some kind of defining moment, some more than others, and none are at their worst IMHO. On the other hand, as the chapter progressed, I started to notice that pretty much all of them could use some more development, or at the very least, it would be nice if we could get more in the way of fresh material from them. I really hope they don't all end up just being one-note. Speaking of one-note, Sparky may hamper future appearances from Hitch. Baby characters in general aren't known for being very dynamic characters, and while I certainly think the series is trying to give Sparky some more variety than simply having him run off and engage in various antics, I really don't know if there is a ton that can be done to make him more interesting. Clearly TYT won't even give us a break from either Sparky or the villains, so I guess we had best get used to both. Also, why does it seem that Zipp is the only pony who really cares about...let's just say plot related things? Hearing from Twilight Sparkle and forewarning about a villain seems like something all of the Mane Five would be focused on, including the bloody cop in the group, but no, Zipp is the only one who actually cares. Speaking of the Twilight appearance, while I don't know if it's intentional, the clear laziness of not even bothering to use aged Twilight actually puts me at ease, as it essentially means that the Equestria of G5 can't possibly be the Equestria of FiM. I'm ok with such an implication, as I would much prefer G5 to be in an alternate universe for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that I now no longer have to be upset that it invalidates FiM. So...thank you G.M. Berrow and others for caring so little about how to properly tie the two series together that you inadvertently made it impossible for them to actually be in the same universe. So...I'll be back for Chapter 3. I really hope it's not all downhill from here, but I guess we will wait and see.

Eh...I'll give this one some props for not being the usual type of "oh no, Sparky!" episode, and I suppose there is some tension here. I really hope Hitch isn't going to always come with a side of Sparky from now on. I'm actually starting to appreciate his fondness for animals, even though it was poorly built up in the beginning. However, baby characters in my experience are net neutrals at best, and detriments to a show at worst. Such characters usually come into a series in the later seasons, so I don't think it's a good sign that Sparky has been introduced so early on. With that said, at least the shenanigans were kept to a minimum, and are done differently than usual. We do get freakout Hitch, who is definitely not my favourite Hitch. How did he think dressing up like a child trying to dress up like a superhero and doing a Batman voice was going to bring Sparky back? Props to the VA for having to say "Operation Glitterbomb". I think he did all he could with that line. Izzy is only moderate annoying, and I think she makes a Pinkie reference here. It's a Season 1 reference too, which is good because only Season 1 of FiM is on Netflix right now. Hopefully more will be added back soon. Zipp is practical as usual. Sunny is right as usual. I'm kind of glad Pipp got to do something useful for a change though, other than using her influencer position to drum up support, which is admittedly useful, but we've seen that from her before. I guess Chapter 2 isn't the end of the season, as the story is still going. Ummm...yeah, this one's not my favourite episode, but I suppose it's not my least favourite either. Much like Episode 7, I don't think it lives up to the hype either, but here's hoping Chapter 3 delivers.

Hmmm...this one is mixed for me. On one hand, it stars Zipp. As I've said before, screw the rest of the cast, the show should be about her. On the other hand, her whole narration routine is really starting to get old IMHO, meaning she's not as far better off than the rest of the one-note cast as I used to think. On the other hand, we got to see her cool gear again, and that's some nice continuity from TYT. Izzy is ok in this one, as is Pipp, even though one would think Pipp would have at least left more clues rather than letting her sister continue freaking out all episode, glowing cutie mark or not. Hitch is kind of pointless in this episode, and Sunny freaking out doesn't really amount to anything either. At least Sunny isn't portrayed as perfect, so I'll take it. I do think there's a bit of a hype train derailment with this episode. It was built up by the last one, and I really don't think it lives up to the hype. Props for continuing the story of the last episode, but I really don't think it's the Part 2 this arc needed. Also, why didn't Misty just take the lantern? I get dropping it for a minute to avoid being detected, but burying it was a terrible plan. She literally could have just gone back and taken it, and that would have really upped the ante for the story going forward. Of course, this episode clumsily builds up to the next one, with Opaline just moving to the next thing, so I guess I'll head over to that discussion to share my thoughts on that one.

For an obligatory sleepover episode, I think this one is alright. I don't mind that Hitch is absent for most of this one, and I'm especially glad that Sparky is, so I consider it a net positive. Once again, Sunny and Pipp are kind of just there. Izzy isn't super annoying for a change, and we did get to learn a bit more about her. Sure, she's kind of pulling an A Friend in Deed, and when she is, it's every bit of cringe as it was with Pinkie, but the episode doesn't go as far with it. We actually have more interaction with Misty, at least, and Zipp is still being the only character who's aware of any goings-on. As this episode actually moves the plot along, I think, it's definitely one that has payoff for the villains. Up until now, Opaline and Misty felt a bit unnecessary. Only in the previous two episodes did they actually have any hand in what was happening, and even then, in the previous episode they just got lucky, and weren't actually involved in the main plot. However, now we're actually seeing stuff happen so hopefully it builds up to something good. I'm actually a bit interested to see where this is going, especially since Netflix gave me the synopsis for episode 7. I am a bit iffy about the stories about how Equestria went to heck, but I'm glad they're just left as unconfirmed stories. I'm going to ignore that one comic that I saw scans of. If the show actually does give us a full explanation of what allegedly happened to force-tie these two series together, I can't imagine it will be all that good. Still, it's not that big a part of this episode, and I was invested in the plot for a change. I guess I'll give this one as close to a thumbs up as I can muster for a G5 episode. It's not Shakespeare, but I think it works, for the most part.

Well, I guess this type of episode is one G5 had to try, though if they're going to rehash something done better in FiM and the comics, they really ought to try harder. Sunny and Hitch just seemed out of character...though I suppose what's in-character for both of them is whatever is convenient for the plot, so I guess I can't really say that. While I'm glad Sunny isn't portrayed as just a pure saint for a change, it really seemed to me that the fighting between these two started at the drop of a hat. It's not as if Opaline cast some Siren-type spell, so it seemed to just come out of nowhere. I can understand two longtime friends having an argument, but there just isn't a precedent with these characters that would make it believable, like it was with Celestia and Luna. Maybe it would have been too obviously plagiarized if it happened to the Pegasus Sisters, but at least I would have believed it if it was them. Izzy and Pipp both had their usual annoying switches in the on position, and they played off of each other in the worst possible way too. Once again, Zipp was the only decent character. I'm glad Sparky wasn't too annoying, though apparently his dragon magic can do whatever is convenient for the plot, so whatever I suppose. For the positive, I guess Opaline actually getting into the Brighthouse does move the plot forward. Even though the plot was forced, I do appreciate Sunny and Hitch learning to appreciate one another. Still...not one of the stronger episodes, I'm sorry to say.

I've seen episode 4, and while I definitely think it's better than the first of this "chapter", I don't think it's as strong as the previous two. I suppose it's a good thing we got another episode that tried to develop Sunny's character, as goodness, she needs it. However, it doesn't really IMHO. She has always been the everypony who's a saint, and this episode really leans into the latter. Almost everypony else is one-note as usual, and only really cares about her being an alicorn. As for Pipp, I'm starting to think she's in serious need of development too. I get that she's the social media pony who's all about likes and whatnot, but it seems every arc she gets has something to do with that. She's still my second favourite Mane Five pony for now, but that probably speaks volumes more about what I think of most of the rest. Unlike Sunny she does have personality, and she's not super annoying like Izzy. After giving it some thought, there are really only three factors, I think, which are keeping Pipp in my number two spot. Hitch would probably overtake her as my second favourite if he was consistently written like he is two episodes prior. That there is little consistency with him, and I definitely see more bad writing for him, keeps him firmly in third. Pipp's association with Zipp really helps. I also think she's the best waifu material this series has to offer. If it wasn't for those three things, I think she would definitely be in third for me. Perhaps if she was allowed to have a whole episode to herself, and not share the spotlight, especially in what's clearly the secondary subplot, perhaps that would do wonders for her. As it stands...I really wish this were the Zipp show, as she's the only one I think I could watch for an extended period of time, and even she has her issues. Ok, Opaline and Misty actually did something. I guess the goal was to convince Sunny to go over to the dark side, and want to co-rule Equestria? Nah, she's too altruistic for that. I didn't really feel like the stakes were that high here, as I never thought there would be any chance of her falling for Opaline's plan. It also didn't involve putting a curse on Sunny or something, but rather just amounted to trying to directly convince her. Eh...I still don't think the whole villain sideplot is going anywhere. On the plus side, Sparky isn't as annoying as usual. Maybe it's because he's being used as a means to an end here than as an actual central plot focus. He's still very one-note though. Yeah...I think this particular episode is mid at best. Hopefully the next four episodes are better.

I finally saw the third episode! I think this one is even better than the last, and that one got as close as a glowing review as I can give for this series. I'm still holding out for a 10/10 or even a 9/10...or 8/10? I don't think we're getting that with this series though, so I'll take what we can get. I like the sister dynamic, and they are my top two Mane Five ponies, so I'm glad we got an episode about them. I like that their personalities clash, but they come together in the end. I like that we got a largely musical episode, and the songs aren't overly cringe for a change. No Sparky or forced quirky Hitch or Izzy? Heck yeah! Bland horse is here, but one good thing about her is she can be adapted to fit any plot, so she works here, and although she's bland, she's not annoying. Queen Haven is good in this episode too. Of course, the episode isn't without its problems. I'm glad Misty actually did something for a change, but I legit thought the flower would be cursed or something. Sure, she got the sisters trapped in a cave, but then she didn't think of a plan for what to do with them afterwards? I'm looking forward to seeing what Opaline does, so there's that. Zipp should have been far more critical of a random photo, especially since she fancies herself a detective. She's still the only pony who seems to care about things one would think would be of concern to the entire Mane cast, hence proving why she's the best pony in this series, but even she can be a bit dense sometimes, to the point where I can't help but think the world they're in is screwed. As for Pipp, of course her annoying switch had to be toggled, and she was more concerned with her social media profile than anything. On one hand, her annoying side irks me far less than Izzy's and Hitch's, and the sister dynamic as a whole is probably the best developed of all character relations in this series, but this episode lays it on too thick for me. With that said, it did pay off in the end as it lead to a good sister moment, so I can't be too annoyed about it. All in all, while far from perfect, I think this is as close as it gets with this series. Hopefully future episodes will keep this momentum going.

Ok, I'm glad this episode doesn't spoil episodes 3-6 of Chapter 2 of MYM. With that said, this episode just reinforces why I hate baby characters, and while I kind of liked Hitch's overreaction to Sparky's care and safety in his MYM episode, it's cranked up to 11 here, and it's way overboard for me, along with Sparky's antics. Of course we get forced quirky Izzy as well. Also, it seems the forced villains aren't going to be absent in TYT either. I figured that series would at least be where we could catch a break from them. All in all, not my favoutite episode. I'll have to make a point of continuing with MYM to see if it improves.

Discount CMCs confirmed? I don't know about that, and I don't know if I want the series to try that, as I find it hasn't worked out great when Mane Five characters have tried too hard to emulate FiM characters. I think the series is far better off when it doesn't try to be FiM, as first off, it can't, and secondly, it does have the ability to provide unique moments we wouldn't have had in the arguably superior series, and therefore be something with its own identity that at least has something to offer in its own right, even if it rarely elevates it past something worth watching once and moving on.

Ok, while I'm not in love with this episode or anything remotely close to that, I will say my opinion here is more positive than negative. First off, Twilight's holo-recording didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. In fact, that it features a clearly younger Twilight means that it can't possibly be the Twilight from the FiM finale, which means that this series is clearly set in some alternate universe rather than the mane one, and I for one am grateful for that, as the forced ties to FiM bother me a lot less now that I know it doesn't actually invalidate FiM, and should I decide to make my exit, I can simply ignore G5 as having nothing to do with the actual conclusion of FiM. Surprisingly, I'm still here. I only watched up to this episode so far, but it's definitely an improvement over the first. IMHO, this might actually be the best thing Hitch has starred in since the first half of ANG. I seem to be a lot more critical of his character than most, as I don't feel his gender is a get out of jail free card for bad writing (SNS). I will say, he doesn't annoy me here. He's by far the most inconsistently written of the Mane Five IMHO, but the quirky side touched on here is one that works as a believable character flaw in the type of character I perceive Hitch to be, or at least I believe is when Hitch is at his best for me. I like when he's a down-to-Equestria, voice of reason, no-nonsense cop, and I wish we got a lot more of that. Sure, I think the episode lays it on a bit thick, and goes a bit overboard, but I do genuinely believe a character like Hitch would try to solve problems on his own, and would seek quick and practical solutions in the interest of keeping everypony safe. Even when he's just going around banning magic though, he annoys me far less than when the series tries to make him another Pinkie type character. Seriously, what's up with that? He's not a fifth wheel, as he's often portrayed either. Sure, he's the last character in the intro, and I'm sure we may continue to see the occasional moment where he's absent, as he still doesn't live with his filly friends, but episodes like this one certainly help make him feel like a valued member of the cast. One minor criticism is, I do think the resolution came a bit too quickly, and I have to wonder if touching the Earth Pony crystal made Hitch change his mind, or if it altered his mind a little, as the latter notion is a bit controversial to me. As I mentioned prior, I do think the episode made him a bit too blind to logic and reason, even for somepony as hyperfocused as he was, and then, the resolution occurred, just like that. Still, I'm glad all the Mane Five ended up coming together and joining hooves with him while he used his magic to solve the problem at hand. Still, I greatly prefer this direction for Hitch as a character, and if he was always written like this, he may be a shoe-in for my second favourite pony of the Mane Five. As it stands, I think Pipp still holds onto my number two spot, as she's much more consistently written, and I'm sure forced quirky Hitch will be back before too long. Speaking of Pipp, I certainly don't think this is her best episode. Serious threats to safety were happening, and she was talking about filters? I know she's the social media pony, but this episode lays it on a bit too thick for me. At least she still brings personality to the table, and doesn't annoy me in spite of that. Sunny's here being the voice of reason again, and...none of it makes her a more interesting character. Zipp is there too, encouraging scientific observation. Her role her isn't all that significant, but it works for the story. I have to say, Izzy and Sparky even annoy me less here than in the previous episode. I don't know why, as Izzy literally just disregarded Hitch's rules and let Sparky go on a rampage, which Sparky does, but I somehow find them more tolerable in this episode. I wouldn't call myself a big fan, especially not of Sparky, but hey, it's something. Speaking of, I actually do like that Hitch goes all legalistic and OCD just like Twilight, list-keeping and all. I think that actually compliments the side of his character emphasized here, which I feel the series should do more often. I even think he's a much better representation of Twilight than Sunny, who's just "friendship" with no defining personality traits that come with it. Once again, we have our Sailor Moon villains. While the gag about maniacal laughing in proper unison made me chuckle a little, I think these two take away more from the show than they add, I'm sorry to say. I do hope there's good payoff for them, and I get the sense there will be (don't spoil later episodes for me if you have seen them), but I really don't like that they're ever present throughout all the episodes. I am someone who does actually like the more action/adventure oriented season premiers and finales of FiM, but they work IMHO because they break up an otherwise slice of life series, and only take up four episodes plus maybe a handful of others that tie directly into the overarching plot of the season, while the majority of episodes in a season are just slice of life. While this does appear to be a mostly slice of life series with minor incidents that threaten public safety, being constantly reminded that there's a villain watching is just a bit too much even for me, and I'm assuming this is going to be the case for all of the episodes. It really doesn't help G5 feel like the simpler series it's apparently trying to be. All in all though, I hope to see more episodes like this one. I still most certainly think G5 can't hold a candle to FiM, and I definitely see it more as a series I will watch through once than one I'll obsess over, but I can at least respect a series that maintains some degree of quality like I've seen here. I doubt it does, and I'll certainly be pleasantly surprised if that's the case, but I'll wait and see as I watch more episodes.

Ok, for the good, this episode avoided the route of trying to be yet another pilot, and yet it somehow gave me a much clearer impression of what to expect from the series going forward than anything we've seen so far. This episode isn't my favourite though. I've only seen up to the second episode so far, but this one is just super cliche, and not really all that interesting IMHO. Izzy is moderate annoying in this one. I've seen much worse from her though, so I'll let it slide. I think the series lays it on too thick with her forced quirky side, and although I think she wears it better than Hitch, she's practically the forced quirky character, and...yeah, it's more miss than hit for me. Speaking of Hitch, we get forced quirky Hitch here too. Also, Sparky is somehow the most annoying of the demon babies I've seen in a MLP property, and that's saying a lot considering he had to dethrone the likes of Flurry Heart. I really hope that appearances from Hitch and Sparky don't bring out the worst in one another going forward, as I think it's a detriment to both characters. With that said, my impression for the next episode might be surprising. In this episode though, I really can't help but feel that Sparky is a waste of animation and thought. The writers didn't really try that hard with his name either. MLP's latest demon baby practically intros every episode too, so that's a great sign. Pipp is alright in this episode, though is once again the center of what should be a meme highlighting how vapid and shallow the thought process behind this series seems to be (the other being "*squee* Ponies!" from one of my least favourite TYT episodes). Her arc here isn't all that special though IMHO, and neither she nor Izzy really get that much development here. It's probably not a good sign that Pipp is still my second favourite. Sunny is the everypony/friendship pony/voice of reason, but she still comes across as the blandest character of the bunch. Zipp is once again proving to be the least annoying and closest this series gets to a decent character, so I have no issue with her appearance here. Heck, because we got forced quirky Hitch, she ends up doing more investigation than the actual cop, go figure. Discount Queen Beryl and her henchpony only serve to further highlight that being more slice of life was never actually G5's flaw. I really don't feel like they add much, if anything, to the story here, and it feels like they're just biding their time for payoff later. I'll have more to say about them later. All in all, there's nothing here that lowers my opinion of G5 as a whole, but there's nothing here that changes my mind about it either. It just comes across as a sterilized show for kids. To be fair, a lot of modern media just comes across as sanitized follow-ups to what came before; MLP's latest series is just carrying on that tradition. A lot of people seem to like that sort of thing, so all the power to them, but while it entertains for a while, which probably means it does its job, I really don't see much of it sticking with me long-term like much of FiM has.

As others have said, tying G5 to G4 was the worst possible idea, especially since the writers never had any intention of properly tying the lores together. At best it's a talking point that has little bearing on the actual show, and at worst it's a giant middle finger to fans of G4, so thanks Hasbro. Beyond the connection to G4 though...I just think G5 needs better writing, including proper character development and even proper world building. Having more plot should certainly help, but I really hope it ends up being good. Better music would certainly help too, but the writing is my main issue right now. It's important to note that I do not think G5 is a lost cause, as I do think it still has potential, and TYT has certainly helped establish that much. I'm not expecting that potential to be realized, but there's certainly a possibility that MYM can turn things around. As it stands, G5 currently lacks much in the way of substance for me. I think my number one wish is for it to end up being at least half as good as G4 in at least one aspect. I don't know what the odds of that happening are, but I'll at least give it a chance for the time being.

This one is fine, and Pipp is definitely still my second favourite Mane Five pony. However, it's also very much an episode for the target audience that does very little for me. At least it's not super cringe, so I'll give it that.