Them's Seeing Ponies

Bridle Gossip is a weird one, mainly because fan opinion on it seems to be divided based on whether one takes issue with the episode's structurally awkward 'tell, don't show' approach or focuses on the hilarity of the episode's gags (some of S1's most memorable gags actually stem from the joke'd M6). It's similar to "Feeling Pinkie Keen" and "MMMystery on the Friendship Express" (both hailing from the Faust era, which is the only point in the show's history where this specific type of episode existed prominently) in that regard.

I've watched the marathon consistently from its genesis earlier this month; the 30th's episode should be "A Bird in the Hoof" (which I just finished watching).

Having now watched "Over a Barrel" for the first time in four years, I can understand the complaints that a number of fans pinpoint within it, mainly the ham-handed execution of the main conflict (I was amused by the ending battle's slapstick, but it felt too goofy when set into the conflict's context) and Pinkie being far dumber than usual (albeit in a different way from her post-S3 flanderization). Asides from those two elements, however, I actually kind of appreciate the show's willingness to experiment with a surreal Spaghetti Western-style atmosphere, creating a unique experience which (mostly) redeems the episode's troubled narrative core. It's pretty much an unorthodox example of a 6/10 episode to myself.

My thoughts on the majority of season 1 thus far: Friendship is Magic: a fun (and surprisingly emotional in regards to the climax) introduction to Twilight and the Remane Five dominated by relatable character writing and hilarious gags (many of them strongly reminiscent of the best "Foster's" or PPG gags) which enable the overall charming air to absolve the occasional cheesiness of the episode's dialogue and the rushed pace of most of the second part. The Ticket Master: more great Faustian comedy (the Benny Hill chase scene) and well-written characterization interspersed between an extremely basic conflict. Enjoyment seems to be based on whether you are willing to focus on the episode's positives over its more tedious elements. Applebuck Season: the first flickers of AKR's later greatness emerge, with a number of highly enjoyable scenes (the bunny stampede in particular) despite the redundancy of the AJ fatigue scenes. Griffon the Brush-Off: Gilda borders on a stereotypical jerk jock at times, but this is Pinkie (and Dash) at (their) finest - I still cannot believe how much I miss S1 Pinkie's more quirky and subdued personality over her later (more exaggerated) self. Boast Busters: a ton of structural sloppiness and flimsy writing (including Dash and AJ being debatably more antagonistic than the episode's designated antagonist), but at least it gave us Trixie. Dragonshy: the predecessor to S3-5's tone and characterization. One of the most hilarious episodes of the season (the preparation montage is an absolute riot) and surprisingly nuanced in its portrayal of both Fluttershy (don't even get me started on how awesome the climax is) and Dash. S1 often seems to be more detailed than many fans tend to give it credit for, and this episode is a shining example of why. Look Before You Sleep: a shining example of why AJ/Rarity episodes tend to be lower-quality; despite fleeting moments of decency, the conflict is way too basic for its own good/to carry a full 22 minutes. Bridle Gossip: an awkward case of 'tell not show' is salvaged by the sheer hilarity of the joke'd M6 ("I don't wanna talk about it"). Swarm of the Century: a refreshing reminder of M.A Larson's greatness after three (technically) seasons of his absence, mainly due to the absurdity and borderline self-referentiality of the dialogue. Winter Wrap Up: the eponymous song is deservedly acclaimed, but the remainder of the episode is pretty dry. Call of the Cutie: a solid introduction to the CMC and Diamond Tiara/Silver Spoon. Fall Weather Friends: far more entertaining than I recollected (despite Twilight being shoehorned in for no reason other than to incessantly remind viewers of the moral, although the show WAS E/I-rated at the time). Suited for Success: a huge leap forward for both Rarity and the show itself. After 13 episodes largely bereft of great Rarity moments (she definitely feels like a typical mandated 'feminine' character in many early S1 episodes), watching her portrayed in such a complex and dignified manner is a breath of fresh air and elevates her to among the most nuanced of the M6. Feeling Pinkie Keen: one of the show's funniest. What if she exploded... and then EXPLODED AGAIN?! Sonic Rainboom: the climax is definitely the highlight of the episode. The sequence building the tension to the culmination of the Rainboom itself is one of S1's most impactful moments. Stare Master: not much to note on this one save for the CMC being mostly generic child characters and another well-written Fluttershy climax (albeit it feels like a slight letdown after "Dragonshy"). The Show Stoppers: a tedious 22-minute compilation of the CMCs behaving like dull child characters. A number of scenes in the second act are fine and the song is a S1 highlight, but the remainder feels very disposal and obligatory. A Dog and Pony Show: the second leap forward for Rarity - I honestly love her chemistry with the Diamond Dogs in addition to the way in which the episode structures the revelation of her surprisingly savvy and intellectual thinking skills. Not to mention the multitude of great comedic moments like Spike's infamous "NOOOOO!!!!" and Twilight neighing during the final charge. Green Isn't Your Color: another hit from Meghan McCarthy, particularly in regards to the surprising mileage they mine from the relatively simple conflict (S1 is a master of this skill). A memorable experience that will stick with me FOREEEVERRRR (mmm, juicy). With most of S1 covered and discovered to be a superior experience to my memories, I can now conclude that I am anticipating the forthcoming... wait, "Over a Barrel"'s next? Well...

From my experience from witnessing reception to S2-8 following airing: Feeling Pinkie Keen (split between fans who derided the episode for its incredibly clunky moral and the camp who believed the heavy flaws of the moral in question were absolved by the episode's comedy) Over a Barrel (take a guess why) May the Best Pet Win! (divided between fans who viewed it as an important and uniquely constructed character study for Dashie and the alternate camp, who considered the episode to push Rainbow's treatment of the animals too far) A Friend in Deed (mostly centered on Pinkie's behaviour; some believed her to be flanderized into a destructive stalker (which she kind of is within the episode outside of 'The Smile Song'), whilst others had little issue with her. I assume this is due to differing fandom perceptions of Pinkie's character/boundaries) Ponyville Confidential (a brutally honest fable with a powerful message or overly mean-spirited for its own good?) A Canterlot Wedding (the episode which began the mass fandom splintering of 2012-14, with most complaints centered on the concept (including Cadance and Shining Armor both having a fairly bland character and appearing from nowhere) being indicative of the show 'selling out' and becoming a 'typical girls' show) The Crystal Empire (decent premiere or underwhelming with awkward M6 shoehorning and a weak villain?) Keep Calm and Flutter On (mainly focused on Fluttershy's motivations - some found her treatment of Discord here to border on uncharacteristically manipulative, albeit this was rapidly overshadowed by the oncoming Twilicorn storm) MAGICAL MYSTERY CURE (it earned the caps for a reason) Daring Don't (noted for defictionalizing Daring Do and pushing the show's boundaries of reality further than the previous seasons had indicated) Power Ponies (criticized for its overt absurdity (keep in mind that this was only a year or so following S2, which remained relatively grounded by the standards of the FiM universe), its random focus on Spike and the cliched plot, leading to the episode being viewed as a wasted opportunity, although others managed to gleam enjoyment from it) Filli Vanilli (the most controversial Pinkie characterization in the entire series) It Ain't Easy Being Breezies (compelling character progression for Fluttershy or childish with an overtly toy-centric third-act twist (the M6 transforming into breezies)?) Equestria Games (dependent on individual perception of Spike's handling here) Tanks for the Memories (I recall two main camps of fan in this case - the camp praising the episode for its depiction of grief and the camp criticizing the episode's portrayal of Dashie as overreactionary and a karma Houdini) Slice of Life (a fairly obvious example) Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? (particularly due to the awkward moral vs. the shower of fanservice and references in the third act) The Cutie Re-Mark (in regards to Starlight's reformation) The Crystalling (due to Flurry Heart being 'the first alicorn ever born' in addition to obligatory apprehension over the talent drain post-S5 leaving us with Josh Haber as story editor, considered ominous as Haber was not a particularly popular writer at the time compared to the departures (AKR, Larson, etc.)) No Second Prances (Twilight's behaviour was a major sticking point for many here) Newbie Dash (up there with MMC as the show's defining 'controversial status quo mashers') Flutter Brutter (Zephyr Breeze is a heavily divisive character in general) Every Little Thing She Does (focused on Starlight's questionable behaviour and the extent to which the fandom believed it to be justified) To Where and Back Again (fans at the time held issue with the changeling reformation and the focus on Starlight over the M6 (mainly due to the contrived capturing of the six), yet others were appreciative of the chemistry between Trixie and Discord) Fame and Misfortune (pretty much asked for its own controversy, considering its critical eye was directed specifically at the fandom) Shadow Play (mainly due to the PoS's impotency and Star Swirl's depiction) Father Knows Beast (dependent on whether issue was taken with the entire episode ultimately being a cop-out) School Raze (revealed extensively by recent threads)

I actually agree with the Starlight point to some extent, at least until a number of recent episodes redeemed her slightly to me. Whilst she was incredibly prominent in S7, her character traits were often either inconsistent, detrimental to the episode's thematic points or nonexistent, eventually reaching the extent where she began to feel more like a plot tool/excuse for the writers to focus on a character other than the mane six (I notice that we seem to be receiving a number of those character types lately). Thankfully we have the Student Six now, whose arcs are slightly less directionless/clunkily handled, but S7 Starlight was ultimately one of the reasons that I don't hail S7 as great like a number of fans around here seem to.

Actually, I did mention it within my list, so you don't appear to be entirely alone in your opinion.

Ah yes, I forgot about "Hearts and Hooves Day". The third act in general of the episode is one of the best sequences in the Faust era (particularly Big Mac's unstoppable physical prowess), which is a pretty considerable achievement in light of "Feeling Pinkie Keen", "Party of One" and "Lesson Zero".

Why was the spam account created exactly? Was it formed under Nightmare Glim's own accord or through another user?

The funniest episodes of the show to me are chiefly concentrated around seasons 1-5, mainly because I prefer the charming 'classic-cartoon' style comedy of S1-2 and M.A Larson's borderline self-referential absurdity over the broader awkwardness of the Lady Writers' style or Haber's more generic drier humour (although season 8 is home to some of the most consistent comedy on the show in a while now). My list would read as follows: - Swarm of the Century ("we just need to build an exact copy of Ponyville right over there!") - Feeling Pinkie Keen (the random slapstick that befalls Twilight in the second act is golden and is enough to absolve much of the bad taste of the episode's painfully awkward moral) - Party of One (Pinkie Pie at the peak of her comedic powers. Considering that the "they're not so bad" scene is pretty much a staple of the show by this point, I shouldn't need to elaborate why) - Lesson Zero (of course) - The Last Roundup ("NOPONY BREAKS A PINKIE PROMISE!" Ah S1-2 Pinkie, how do I love thee?) - Read It and Weep (the chase scene is an incredible comedy sequence and one of the main reasons behind my continued preference for the show's earlier style) - It's About Time (basically an entire episode devoted to M.A Larson's comedic sensibilities) - MMMystery on the Friendship Express (worth inclusion for Pinkie's visualizations, even if she does border on overly dumb at times) - Three's a Crowd (worth including for the comedy tour de force that is the "Glass of Water" sequence) - Pinkie Pride (a rare narrative which balances hilarity and genuine sentiment in a near-perfect equilibrium) - Maud Pie (an acquired taste, but I appreciate the show experimenting with different comedic sensibilities) - Testing, Testing, 123 ("THAT'S THE RAPPIN' HIST'RY OF THE WONDERBOLTS!") - Make New Friends but Keep Discord (basically a montage of spectacular Discord moments) - Slice of Life (good-natured goofiness and absurdity at its finest) - Party Pooped (features a unique blend of visual comedy and absurd dialogue which gives the episode a fresh aesthetic despite its narrative shortcomings) - Rarity Investigates! (the Lady Writers' strengths (stronger focus on character motivations and the comedy arising from alluding to and blurring those motivations and quirks) compressed into a memorable outing) - Discordant Harmony (the best Discord episode of seasons 6-8. That should significantly explain its inclusion here) - Secrets and Pies (the ultimate guilty pleasure, a farcicle of awful narrative structure and characterization filled with glorious comedic moments) - Horse Play (obvious decision. Possibly the most hilarious episode since season 5). - On the Road to Friendship (another surprisingly non-contrarian choice).

"Newbie Dash" is a weird one for me, mainly because I somehow have a strange liking (albeit a mild one) for the episode despite clear awareness of its flaws, including its awkwardly conveyed moral, which I suspect failed due to the episode's inability to place its implications into more specific contexts (I can actually kind of understand the moral's application to a military/showcase squadron such as the Wonderbolts, and as CMD noted above, the moral's clunky execution is lessened by its surprisingly dark focus). Even the underwhelming atmosphere of the episode, although they could have attempted a little more to add a few sporadic triumphant moments, fits the episode's main themes to some extent. In the end, I'm about as confused on my opinions as you are on your own - it's a heavily troubled episode structurally, yet in some ways I actually appreciate the episode's attempts to create a deliberate disappointing aesthetic and utilize it to push Dashie's character (whose past achievements have frequently been showcased within the more grandiose air of "Sonic Rainboom" or "Wonderbolts Academy") forward. It's the definition of ambivalence from my perspective. I also happen to consider "Parental Glideance" to be overrated (largely because I felt that the episode overemphasized the irritation of Dashie's parents (in addition to the frustrating oversaturation of Scootaloo screaming in the first act)) despite its story harbouring a fair amount of solidity and insight to the extent of easily exceeding such levels displayed in "Newbie Dash". Opinions definitely are a strange and inexplicable entity sometimes.

I assume that he simply desires to create an 'epic' atmosphere by involving as great a number of characters as possible into the finale's narrative. It does create a pretty overstuffed final product ("School Raze", in which the CMCs were overlooked more than they had any right to), but it at least is derived from an understandable aim.

Not to mention that the show has yet to either canonize Cadance's backstory from "Crystal Heart Spell" or formulate their own. Considering that the show has provided us with the Pillars, the in-depth nature of the Tree of Harmony, etc. lately, one would think that they would at least expand upon Cadance's past (or Spike, Celestia and Luna's for that matter), but I guess the creative team's vision on this is different.

The majority of criticism directed towards Cadence seems to be a result of the writers' current refusal to develop her significantly, which renders her character far emptier than it had any right to after six seasons. In all fairness, Cadence was pretty vehemently hated by a sizeable section of the fandom back when ACW first premiered in 2012, but that was under different logic ("they're having a royal wedding with a pink alicorn princess! AGGGH! It's turning into a stereotypical kid's show!" seemed to be the main reaction from the more vocal bronies of the period).

I don't exactly hate "Surf and/or Turf" but found it to be a little too fluffy for my tastes. Yes, the plot was centered on a number of interesting concepts and the worldbuilding was creative (actually some of the most creative in the entire show), but it never felt as if anything was really at stake or if there are really even that much of a conflict. The narrative revolves around Terramar basically overthinking the consequences of his own decision as well, which felt a little like a cop-out to me. Different strokes, I guess.

Why were references to the movie apparently one of S8's issues? I considered them to be mostly understandable (although I confess to liking the movie more than a considerable number of people around here seem to) but I can see the issues regarding continuity lockout. As for season 8 itself, whilst not among the better seasons (1, 2 and 4 for me), I consider it to be about on par with S5 and a notable step up from the relatively bland S6 and the ambitious-but-unsatisfying S7 (although I suspect that the latter isn't exactly a popular opinion around these parts). Whilst the highs (save for "Horse Play" and a small number from the second half) were far from the show's greatest, the duds were certainly a 'softer-hitting' denomination of bad as opposed to the more nefarious rancidity of S6 ("Flutter Brutter", "The Cart Before the Ponies", "28 Pranks Later", "P.P.O.V") and S7 ("Fluttershy Leans In", "Hard to Say Anything", "Honest Apple", "Daring Done?")'s lows (although Fake It and NNC were undeniably awful). The second half was additionally an improvement over the first, but nonetheless never even attained the level of S4's high (despite increased consistency). Personal season ranking: S2 > S4 > S1 > S5 > S8 > S7 > S3 > S6 Top 5: "Horse Play", "Marks for Effort". "The Mean Six", "The Hearth's Warming Club" ("But it could've FALLEN IN THE FIRE!"), "On the Road to Friendship" Bottom 5: "Fake It 'Til You Make It", "Surf and/or Turf" (what a nothing of an episode), "The Parent Map" (pretty blah), "Non-Compete Clause", "A Matter of Principals"

I don't dislike "To Where and Back Again" to the extent that others around here do (it's sort of contrived despite a few shining moments of character chemistry) but I wouldn't say it's even close to the level of "Twilight's Kingdom", which, while prone to painting its strokes a little too broadly at times, has a distinctly cinematic atmosphere unlike any other episode. The pacing and inclusion of a number of surprisingly dramatic and high-stakes scenes (aided by the more ambitious storyboarding and cinematography) certainly contributes to this. I also happen to be one of the few people around here who isn't overly fond of "Shadow Play". Yes, it has some complexity to its plot, but it suffers from poor pacing and overt seriousness despite the PoS's lack of... well, activity. I understand that the episode is attempting to focus on averting a conflict as opposed to resolving one that has already begun, but it doesn't justify how incredibly seriously the episode takes the plot, which adds a sense of almost 'trying too hard' from my perception.

In what way? Is your question criticizing the introduction of the Student Six and others during S6-8 (which would crowd out the mane six)?

It's a challenging pick between S1 and S4's finales, but I guess I'll go with "The Best Night Ever". "Twilight's Kingdom" is a better episode, but BNE is a superior finale in that it near-impeccably illustrates the growth in the mane six's characterizations over the first season whilst augmenting the experience's viewability with a ton of amazing humour ("you're...going...to LOVE ME!!!") and a number of memorable song sequences which leave the viewer with that warm, comfortable sensation characteristic of Faust-era episodes. It's a great experience despite its simplicity, and is certainly deserving of the recent spike in appreciation it has received as of late (I recall reception towards it souring around S4 or so due to the cinematic nature of the finales at the time, but I guess the fandom perception/criteria for them has modified significantly since "The Crystalling").

Pinkie is the greatest strength of "Griffon the Brush-Off" by a considerable margin. Whilst the plot is kind of cliched and Gilda borders on a generic jerk jock at times, the story is pumped with such humour (I'm missing the lighthearted wackiness and slapstick of the Faust era more with each passing episode), enthusiasm and surprisingly unique implications on Dash's character (particularly her confident exterior vs. her more directly emotional interior, a facet of her which I feel is often neglected or exaggerated to the extent where it becomes more frustrating than necessary in subsequent seasons) that I discovered myself enjoying it more than I recalled. Subtlety is actually a major strength of S1: later seasons feature mature subject matter directly out in the open of their narrative landscape, which is fine, but somehow creates a less unique sensation than S1's treatment of the mane six's underlying facets (which are frequently implied instead of directly shown to the audience, creating a more natural tone and adding to that ultra-specific Faustian charm), which results in one of the most detailed and nuanced portrayals of the M6 across any season of the show (S2 and S4 debatably rival this (despite the latter's treatment of Pinkie), but I'll cross that bridge sometime later this year). In this particular context, I feel that Pinkie (out of all the mane six) has suffered the most regression/flanderization since the show's inception. Whilst most episodes past S3 or so portray Pinkie as an insane, ultra-hyperactive cartoon gag machine with huge emotional canyons, her depiction during S1 is far more 'human' (what tall, fleshy two-legged thing?) by comparison; Pinkie is not an overexaggerated, perpetually screaming maniac ("Rainbow Falls", "Filli Vanilli") but a quirky, fun-loving optimist who indulges in simple pleasures and goofy wordplay, which ultimately places her gags into a more 'charming' (and genuinely funny) light in that the audience is allowed to relate to Pinkie more. I miss when the show dialled back on exaggeration sometimes.

The mane six have fallen a little to the wayside recently (particularly during S8, largely due to the focus on the Student Six), but I nonetheless consider them to be the main selling point of the show (and the initial cause of the show's rise to popularity).