Seasons 1-3 re-watch and discussion: My thoughts/opinions/feelings

[Harpuia 68]

Basically, I'm re-watching mlp seasons 1-3 and posting my thoughts on each episode this thread.

 

Friendship is Magic: Part 1 - Holy nostalgia. I've seen the S1 opener called one of the weaker episodes, and I can sort of see why but I also don't see much wrong with it. I enjoyed all of the character's introductions with Rainbow Dash's being my favorite and Applejack's being my least favorite. Character interaction felt natural, there were some good jokes thrown in there and it definitely had me smiling. Honestly if the series opener had been just this but with all the Nightmare Moon stuff cut out, I'm not really sure if it'd be any better or worse.

 

Grade: B

 

Friendship is Magic: Part 2 - Overall, I don't quite like this one as much as the first part. It's fairly straightforward; the mane six have to find the element's of harmony while also dealing with Nightmare Moon's trials, all of which can only be beaten by a trait that one of the mane six have. It's predictable, but it works and for the most part the trials and their solutions are pretty entertaining. We also got a catchy song, which is nice. Add in a satisfying conclusion, some good jokes and dialog, a cool villian, and you've got a pretty decent set-up for the rest of the series.

 

Grade: B-

 

Ticket Master - Being the first "real" episode of FIM, it's gets very little wrong and does a lot of things right. At first I thought it was going to feel forced that all six of these characters with vastly different personalities would all want to go the same place, but the reasons that they all give seem fairly convincing. I really enjoyed Twilight's skepticism/cynicism towards her friends' favors and it made for some really funny/clever dialogue (Fluttershy's "Yes, we are doing this for the ticket" really made me crack up).

 

Grade: B+

 

The reason I'm not doing this as a blog or anything is because I want to see some discussion here. I want to see what YOU, the brony community, think of these episodes. 

Edited June 13, 2014 by Harpuia

[LZRD WZRD 1,929]

I was also going to rewatch the show now that I'm out of school. As it stands right now, I see season 1 as the weakest season (particularly the first few episodes). Although I haven't rewatched too many episodes, so this should be interesting

[Pastel 7,630]

Why don't you post in the season discussion sections? They're made for that.

[Harpuia 68]

Why don't you post in the season discussion sections? They're made for that.

Earn't those just for discussing the individual seasons though? 

[Pastel 7,630]

Earn't those just for discussing the individual seasons though?

No, there's a topic for each episode.

 

EDIT: Oh, if you want to review episodes from different seasons at once, then forget what I said.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Blobulle

[Stellafera 3,836]

Ticket Master - Being the first "real" episode of FIM, it's gets very little wrong and does a lot of things right. At first I thought it was going to feel forced that all six of these characters with vastly different personalities would all want to go the same place, but the reasons that they all give seem fairly convincing. I really enjoyed Twilight's skepticism/cynicism towards her friends' favors and it made for some really funny/clever dialogue (Fluttershy's "Yes, we are doing this for the ticket" really made me crack up).

 

Grade: B+

 

Thanks for bringing that episode to my attention. Ticket Master really doesn't get as much credit as it deserves for its comedy and setup of the Gala arc. Just looking around the script...

 

 

 

Rarity: The princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew: the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot. 

 

Twilight Sparkle: Rainbow Dash, were you following me?

Rainbow Dash: No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. 

 

Pinkie Pie: And then I said, "Oatmeal, are you craz--" oh.

 

Savoir Fare: Have you made your decision?

Twilight Sparkle: I CAN'T DECIDE!

Spike: Twilight, he just wants to take your order.

 

Twilight Sparkle: Rainbow, you're not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing me extra special favors, are you?

Rainbow Dash: Me? No no no, of course not.

Twilight Sparkle: Uh-huh.

Rainbow Dash: Seriously, I'd do it for anypony.

[Hard cut to frantic background characters caught in the downpour]

 

Applejack: I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple Brown Betty. Uh, the dessert, not my auntie.

 

Fluttershy: Oh no, I'm doing this because you're my very best friend. Right Angel?

[Angel glares]

Fluttershy: Oh, yes, we are just doing this for the ticket.

 

Pinkie Pie: Oh, you didn't know? Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!

Ponies, in unison: The Grand Galloping Gala?

[offscreen: Have I ever told you how much I love your mane?]

[offscreen: I'll wash your dishes.]

Daisy: Would you like any help with your gardening?

Shoeshine: I have a cartload of extra carrots.

[offscreen: I'll paint your cart.]

 

Applejack: Twilight, sugar, I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you, and if it helps, I don't want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won't feel bad, I promise.

Fluttershy: Me too. I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful.

Pinkie Pie: And me too. It's no fun upsetting your friends.

Rarity: Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did.

Rainbow Dash: Yes! That means the ticket is mine.

 

Spike: [reading from Celestia]

"My faithful student Twilight,

Why didn't you just say so in the first place?"

 

 

[Harpuia 68]

Thanks for bringing that episode to my attention. Ticket Master really doesn't get as much credit as it deserves for its comedy and setup of the Gala arc. Just looking around the script...

 

 

 

Rarity: The princess would be so taken with the style and elegance that she would introduce me to him, her nephew: the most handsome, eligible unicorn stallion in Canterlot. 

 

Twilight Sparkle: Rainbow Dash, were you following me?

Rainbow Dash: No. I mean, yes. I mean, maybe. Look, it doesn't matter. 

 

Pinkie Pie: And then I said, "Oatmeal, are you craz--" oh.

 

Savoir Fare: Have you made your decision?

Twilight Sparkle: I CAN'T DECIDE!

Spike: Twilight, he just wants to take your order.

 

Twilight Sparkle: Rainbow, you're not trying to get extra consideration for the extra ticket by doing me extra special favors, are you?

Rainbow Dash: Me? No no no, of course not.

Twilight Sparkle: Uh-huh.

Rainbow Dash: Seriously, I'd do it for anypony.

[Hard cut to frantic background characters caught in the downpour]

 

Applejack: I got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple Brown Betty. Uh, the dessert, not my auntie.

 

Fluttershy: Oh no, I'm doing this because you're my very best friend. Right Angel?

[Angel glares]

Fluttershy: Oh, yes, we are just doing this for the ticket.

 

Pinkie Pie: Oh, you didn't know? Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!

Ponies, in unison: The Grand Galloping Gala?

[offscreen: Have I ever told you how much I love your mane?]

[offscreen: I'll wash your dishes.]

Daisy: Would you like any help with your gardening?

Shoeshine: I have a cartload of extra carrots.

[offscreen: I'll paint your cart.]

 

Applejack: Twilight, sugar, I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you, and if it helps, I don't want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won't feel bad, I promise.

Fluttershy: Me too. I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful.

Pinkie Pie: And me too. It's no fun upsetting your friends.

Rarity: Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did.

Rainbow Dash: Yes! That means the ticket is mine.

 

Spike: [reading from Celestia]

"My faithful student Twilight,

Why didn't you just say so in the first place?"

 

 

Yeah, I was surprised by exactly how funny the episode was. All the jokes were just really well-timed and none of them fell flat to me. I didn't really find many of the season 4 eps to be very funny, so maybe the humor was just better in the earlier seasons, I dunno. 

[Harpuia 68]

I would've done this yesterday but my allergies were kicking my ass and impaired my ability to do any actual critiquing. Anyways, I've got three more episodes watched and here are my opinions.

Applebuck Season - I find it ironic that the first character-focused episode we got was an Applejack one, and it's the episode where Big Mac has his largest speaking role. Not gonna lie, this episode is pretty rough around the edges. The main problem here is that it relies on the same joke of Applejack being too tired to do anything and it's just not that funny for the most part. The plot isn't very interesting either so it really needed humor to be entertaining and without that it just sort of falls flat. In addition, the character interaction (something I think MLP usually excels at) wasn't as interesting or amusing as it was in the previous three episodes. There's a few funny moments and there's nothing that really screams "this is awful" so I'll say it's just a very average episode rather than a bad one.

Grade: C-

Griffon The Brush Off - I like this episode slightly more than I do Applebluck Season, but it still mostly garners the same "meh" reaction from me. You can't really discuss this episode without talking about Gilda. I like her design, voice, and what her personality COULD have been like if she was written better. I can't really say there's much else about her that's interesting or entertaining. I don't really know what to write here besides "meh". Very few jokes that made me smile or laugh, and nothing that really stood out to me or captured my attention.

Grade: C

Boast Busters - I really wasn't looking forward to this. First of all, the entire idea behind this episode is just infuriating to me. Trixie is a goddamned stage magician, she's supposed to be boastful! It's like complaining about a fire performer or a circus acrobat for being a show off. Not only that, but the mane six were heckling her. When you're on stage and someone is heckling you, you're supposed to deal with them harshly and put them in their place. Not only that, but the mane six were just beyond unlikable in this one and that includes Rainbow Dash's hypocrisy. It becomes even more infuriating when the writers make Trixie's stage personality her actual personality and it's just all so stupid. Also, this episode introduced Snips and Snails and that is just unforgivable. Unlike the last two episodes that were forgettable but not bad, this one just screams "This is awful!". The only redeeming quality I can think of is one kinda funny joke in the beginning

Grade: D-

Unfortunately, none of these episodes can match Ticket Master or Friendship is Magic in either comedy or overall writing, but perhaps the next bunch will fare better. As always, discussion is encouraged.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Harpuia