Thrond

"Lost Mark" is both terrific and one of the biggest examples of the show straining against its own limitations. That one feels incredibly rushed, and yet because all the emotional beats are so thoughtful and long-overdue, it works. 

'Lost Mark' was definitely rushed to some respect, but yes, it does feel very genuine.

Back to season 8, 'Horse Play' definitely feels similar to a season 2 episode. There are some discrepancies (such as Starlight and the Student Six's presences), but the simplicity and intangibles (character interactions and the frequency, pace and tone of humour probably contribute to this) of the episode gives it an innocent earnestness that I find incredibly refreshing to me, and when you add in various little touches such as Celestia and Twilight's scene at the climax and the inclusion of the French actor ponies (who feel very in-line with the tertiaries from the earlier seasons, as in, unlike characters such as Terramar, they could conceivably inhabit the same universe/show) give it a distinctly 'Faustian' tone (that breezy and lighthearted but surprisingly subtle and emotional watching experience that leaves you feeling satisfied afterwards). It's not perfect, but it's the most enjoyable FiM has been in a while for me (although I liked 'The Perfect Pear', I will admit it is a little more 'sedate' by comparison).

I honestly like "Horse Play" as much as my favourite season 2 episodes, like "The Last Roundup" or "Hurricane Fluttershy." I've spent many years dismissing Faust's influence on the show, but maybe "Horse Play" is closer to what it would have been like if she had stayed on. 

I like a lot about "The Perfect Pear" but I feel like its total refusal to acknowledge the parents' death robs it of a lot of specificity, and the flashback romance story is sort of cliched by comparison to the emotional subtleties of the framing story. I like it a lot but I'm still confused as to what the big deal is about it.