Sonic5421

Seeing this episode for the first time, it was interesting that the Tree of Harmony chose Starlight for this mission involving sorting out the friendship between Celestia and Luna as their relationship was being strained by not respecting how difficult the other sister's duties were or what they were doing to try to help each other out in some way.

When Starlight took a desperate gamble and swapped their cutie marks for 24 hours, her nightmare showed just how fearful she was that doing so would only drive both sisters further apart and cause both of them to succumb to their Dark Sides and not only give birth to Nightmare Moon again, but also bring out Celestia's evil side of Daybreaker as well.

Plus, it seems like the way Starlight puts it at the end when Celestia and Luna's cutie marks return to normal, perhaps the spell she cast was still in effect for a few more hours, but the Tree of Harmony itself reverted the cutie marks back because of Celestia and Luna's ties to it and Starlight having succeeded in her mission. That's my theory.

Still, this was a great episode for the Royal Sisters, gave them plenty of development and characterization, introduced us to a possible Dark Side for Celestia to counterpart Nightmare Moon, and easily, and mostly in my honest opinion, makes up for how they were treated in To Where and Back Again with the rest of the Royal Family and Mane Six.

This episode definitely earns a 10/10 from me as my score, and I'm hoping to see more of Celestia and Luna be treated like this instead of like plot devices and needing to be rescued all the time in the future.

While it was nice to see both old and new faces in this episode, I'm not sure I enjoyed how Applejack gave her honest opinion regarding the designers' work before being given a reality check by a friend of Rarity in seeing how one's opinion, no matter how honest, should always consider the time, effort, and love that a person puts into their work before jumping to conclusions.

It wasn't until Applejack was given a dose of her own medicine that she truly realized her error and was deeply remorseful for her actions, and even worked as hard as she could to make it up to Rarity, the critics, and the designers.

I mostly enjoyed this episode, despite some cringe-inducing moments for me, and give it an 8/10. Plus, it was nice to see Photo Finish's eyes for the first time since she normally keeps them hidden behind her glasses whenever we see her previously. Also, after further thought, I did love the one dress from Lily Lace that Applejack modeled for her.

The one above was a screenshot.

This is the full vector without part of the dress cut off by the screen.

Applejack doesn't look half-bad in Lily Lace's dress. I really like her in it.

I have to admit, I liked this episode very much. Not only is it another Crusaders episode, but Big Mac got some dialogue other than his usual vocabulary, and it was a good chance for Sugar Belle to have a separate episode from the ones she's been in with Night Glider, Double Diamond, and Party Favor.

Plus, it seems now that any pairings that the fandom had regarding Big Mac and ponies like Cheerilee and Marble Pie have been shot down since Sugar Belle returns Big Mac's feelings after he redeemed himself by building her a new display case for her desserts. Also, the Crusaders even got another client with helping Feather Bangs with the three mares who have been swooning over him all episode.

All in all, I enjoyed this episode, and I'll give it a 9/10 for my score.

I was worried about missing this episode because of a cousin's wedding today, but fate made it so I could still watch it myself and give my thoughts on it before going to my cousin's wedding.

This was a great episode to introduce Rainbow Dash's mom and dad and see how, while you might be embarrassed by your parents, you need to understand that they love you deeply and are proud of you, no matter what little special event in your life is worth celebrating by them. Also, it seems as if Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts have mellowed out regarding Rainbow Dash's parents and their celebrating as we saw Spitfire and the others fly away from Rainbow in annoyance when they were younger, but when they saw Rainbow's parents in the present, Spitfire and the others looked to be a lot more used to it, even if it went a little extreme in some cases, but their expressions, such as Fleetfoot's in the locker room as she walked away, and their teasing of Rainbow about as well, was priceless to see.

Great episode for Rainbow and Scootaloo, and I give it a 10/10 for my episode score.

10 hours ago, Triskie said:

I thought she was handling the gift for their wedding. Remember the episode "Slice of life" where Luna said "I handled the gift for Cadence and Shining Armour"? 

Yeah, perhaps she was busy getting the gift and was away from Canterlot when everything with Chrysalis went down. Would make sense why Chrysalis goes after her the second time with the rest of the Royal Family and Mane Six in To Where and Back Again.

She's started to grow on me following the start of Season 7.

This was a great episode centered around Rarity and Sweetie Belle while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo helped out Zippowhill with her dog she adopted back in Filli Vanilli. While I understand Rarity's concern that she still treats Sweetie like she's still a little filly, it was thanks to Sweetie showing Zippowhill that Ripley was a grown dog now and no longer a puppy that Rarity realizes that Sweetie has grown up herself and has different interests now from what she had back in her younger days.

A great bonding episode for the two unicorn sisters, and I give it a 10/10 for my rating. Plus, I loved Rarity in that flower costume, even when she scratched and scuffed it up a bit while in the bushes overhearing Sweetie talk about Ripley.

I'm glad we'll be seeing the Shadowbolts again, possibly even Dean Cadence as well. Not to mention finally seeing Sunset as a unicorn again when she heads back to Equestria and meets Starlight Glimmer for the first time.

Just saw the episode myself, and I really enjoyed it. Fluttershy really took charge and showed that the lessons she learned from Iron Will have really helped her come out of her shyness, she took charge when the experts didn't do as she asked, she put her hoof down when her friends had their own ideas, and we got to see an old friend in McColt Family patriarch Big Daddy McColt as he helped Fluttershy build the sanctuary to her designs with help from the Mane Six, the Crusaders, Big Mac, and Starlight, making Dr. Fauna very happy as well.

This episode definitely earns a 10/10 from me for Fluttershy and her love for animals fulfilling her dream of an animal sanctuary for them, especially seeing some animals we've never seen yet like the giraffe and the sloth.

My enthusiasm seemed to wane a bit because of the last two seasons, especially with what happened in To Where and Back Again, but with how many characters like the Royal Family are finally getting some development in Season 7, my enthusiasm for the show has been renewed for the time being.

Sounds like Thorax is going to have to try and become friends with Ember so as to avoid the dragons retaliating against the reformed Changelings for what they did back in To Where and Back Again under Chrysalis.

And if Spike acts as a middleman for brokering peace and friendship between the reformed Changelings and dragons, this will be an interesting episode.

So we finally get an episode dedicated to Celestia and Luna following Celestia's development in Celestial Advice, and we might get a little dose of them seeing how it feels to be doing the other sister's job and other duties thanks to Starlight. Sounds like a good episode to me.

Very impressive, to say the least, and at least she lives closer to Pinkie and can continue her studies on rocks and the other stuff involved in them, including minerals, sediments, erosion, and all that stuff.

I really liked this episode. We got to see Maud again, graduating and getting her degree, her family, including her parents and her other sisters, Limestone and Marble, and some backstory involving Maud unintentionally helping Starlight in her bid to get rid of cutie marks before her reformation, and how Starlight and Maud find some common ground with things they like, while Pinkie proves to be too proactive in trying to convince Maud to move to Ponyville, resulting in Maud dropping a bombshell on her by choosing Ghastly Gorge instead.

Once Starlight reveals to Pinkie the truth of her actions are what drove Maud away and had her chose the gorge over Ponyville, Pinkie apologizes, asks for a second chance, and upon asking Boulder for his two cents, Maud agrees to move to Ponyville, setting up her new home in the beautiful cavern she and Starlight found earlier.

Very nice episode, so I give it a 9/10.

Judging from how so many people in the Brony Community like them, and wondering what became of them after losing their pendants that provided them their powers, I also wonder if we'll see Adagio, Aria, and Sonata again, whether they've reformed for the better and want to use their restored powers for good like Star Swirl hoped, or like Chrysalis, are seeking revenge on the Rainbooms at costing them everything but their lives, those being their powers, the gems, and their adoration.

I'll probably catch it on opening weekend at the earliest as I don't think I'll be able to make the premiere night.

On 4/22/2017 at 0:03 PM, Kyoshi said:

Despite a tad rushed resolution (Not an issue really), this episode did go beyond any expectations I would have had and I am pleasantly surprised. The whole 'baby chaos' concept wasn't overdone here and when it all got crazy Flurry had a real motivator. Spike was fantastic here, with all of his quips and wanting to get things done and, dun dun! The proper Twily and Flurry bonding I was wanting since season 6 finally arrived! Worth the wait, it was actually cute. :3

So yeah, I will fully admit I was wrong for doubting this episode like I did. It was handled really well, especially since this is the first time Flurry got major screen time in like, almost a year or so? Consider me happy.

Yeah, this really made up for how she was treated in the Season 6 finale as Flurry Heart and her parents got a lot of screen time in this episode, along with some character development, and bonding time between Flurry and Auntie Twilight.

On 4/22/2017 at 11:59 AM, cmarston1 said:

Even Shining Armor and Cadence ended up being portrayed decently here as well.

Yeah, they got some good development, and I do love how while one minute they wanted to get Flurry Heart off of their backs for a while, looking at Spearhead's art reminded them so much of her that they missed her dearly, and Spearhead was totally fine with allowing them to leave early to go back to her, understanding their feelings after seeing how his art spoke to them.

Flurry may run them ragged, but Cadance and Shining Armor still love her very deeply.

On 4/22/2017 at 10:10 PM, Chucklehead Tom said:

I know, but I haven't seen them that ragged since Flurry was born.

I know, kind of nice they brought that look back for Cadance and Shining Armor at the start of A Flurry of Emotions before having them revert back to their regular looks for the rest of the episode.

5 hours ago, Chucklehead Tom said:

 

I dont understand how Flurry could have given S.A. and Cadance that much trouble during a train ride.

Actually, I think that's their worn down look that they had after her birth back in The Crystalling. Even with her magic in better control, she's still running them ragged.

This was a good episode for Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart to have their first major speaking appearance this season. We got some comedy out of Pinkie Pie, especially with being prepared for putting together apology packages, Flurry Heart was being the same mischievous tyke she wants to be, and we see just how much Cadance, Shining Armor, and Twilight care for Flurry Heart, especially after Twilight yelled at Flurry Heart and hurt her feelings and frightened her.

Everyone learned a valuable lesson from this regarding Flurry Heart and finding time to spend quality time with her and warn Twilight in advance of an impending babysitting duty, and I really liked the episode.

I give this episode a 9.5/10. I would give it a perfect 10, but something about Pinkie's apology logo just did not click with me.

On 4/15/2017 at 11:52 AM, C. Thunder Dash said:

Ok...Celestia now officially has the best laugh! That laugh was just adorbs!! 

Agreed. The new writers for Season 7 gave us some character development that was long overdue after Celestia's treatment in recent seasons like Season 6.

I'm not sure where my post on my favorite episodes here, if I even posted one, is situated, but I'm adding Celestial Advice to the list as Celestia got some well-deserved character development there that was a long time coming, and after how she was treated in To Where and Back Again, she certainly deserved it.

On 4/15/2017 at 11:42 AM, Batbrony said:

Celestia's already gotten better treatment than she got in all of S6... seriously. 

That I'm willing to fully agree with. Celestia had this a long time coming, especially after her treatment in To Where and Back Again with the rest of the Royal Family and Mane Six.

Okay, after watching the first episode of Season 7 with Celestial Advice, that episode, for the most part, redeemed To Where and Back Again somewhat in my eyes with making up for Celestia's treatment there by having her in a more active role here as Twilight turned to her for advice, and we get to see some character development for Celestia that probably had been a long time coming.

It may not have been a full Celestia-themed episode, but it still made up for To Where and Back Again as Nicole Oliver really gave Celestia a workout here. I loved her laugh as we've never heard Celestia laugh that heartily before, and some backstory regarding Celestia's point-of-view regarding sending Twilight to Ponyville back in the season premiere. One look at the Mare In The Moon, and Celestia tearfully knew what she had to do. She even spoke to Mayor Mare about it, and got a first-hand look at the Element of Harmony bearers that would become Twilight's best friends as well. Then we get her paranoia about what Twilight might encounter in Ponyville, such as the Manticore or Tartarus, and her heartbreak when she finally watched Twilight leave to begin the Summer Sun Celebration preparations in Ponyville. Truly a heartwarming moment between the Princess of the Sun and the Princess of Friendship.

Also, glad to see that we still got that awards ceremony to thank Starlight's Suicide Squad for having helped save the Mane Six and Royal Family from Chrysalis and turned one of Equestria's most feared enemies into one of their most powerful allies as well, and everyone was there to celebrate, including Mayor Mare, Double Diamond and the others from Starlight's old village, Cadance and Shining Armor with Sunburst, the Crusaders, and a few of the reformed Changelings as well. They seem to be doing a pretty good job making amends with everypony and integrating into pony society.

As for the second episode, All Bottled Up, it was nice to see the Mane Six taking some time to go on a Friendship Retreat to Manehattan while Trixie and Starlight looked after the castle. Also, nice to see how when Starlight loses her temper at Trixie, it manifests as a red storm cloud that she tries to control before resorting to bottling it up, which only drains her physically and magically, so when the bottle breaks and infects Bulk, Granny Smith, and the jeweler with her anger, Trixie suffers the inevitable wrath before Starlight regains enough strength to recall it and give Trixie a good tongue-lashing ending in her famous "QUIET!!!" look from The Cutie Map.

Either way, Starlight and Trixie reaffirm their friendship won't be broken by things like anger and ignorance, the Mane Six enjoy themselves while getting a reality check about songs being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and things went pretty well in this episode.

I think I'll give Celestial Advice a 10/10 for really making up for Celestia's treatment in To Where and Back Again, and a 9.5/10 for All Bottled Up as we got some nice banter regarding Trixie and Starlight.

Not a bad way to start off a fresh season of Friendship is Magic after what I thought of the previous season finale.