Suggested episodes for a new fan?

[SawmillTurtle 56]

Okay, so I guess it's no secret at this point that I'm new to the fandom and am trying to catch up. Problem is, there's a LOT of catching up to do and the following problems have arisen:

 

-I do not have Discovery Family (nee The Hub nee Discovery Kids) so I cannot watch episodes as they air, which would solve so many problems.

 

-I obviously do not have the DVDs. I have been streaming episodes over the internet one by one, starting in Season One, but the problem is that we have a bandwidth limit on our internet. If I continue this way, I will surely exceed it. There are over twenty episodes in Season One alone (twenty-eight, if I remember correctly).

 

I have been of the mindset of not wanting to miss anything, which is the result of being a big fan of serial dramas like Lost and Breaking Bad, where if you miss more than five minutes of the series you'll be confused forevermore. But this isn't Lost or Breaking Bad; this is My Little Pony. It probably wouldn't hurt anything to skip episodes not important to the plot.

 

So I have come up with an idea I call "Abridged FiM." I could get caught up a lot faster and save a lot of bandwidth if I watch episodes where key events happen and save the others for when I can afford to order some DVDs off of Amazon.

I know that Discord shows up in the first two episodes of Season Two (which I have been eagerly awaiting) and (thanks to the stupidity of doing a YouTube search) I know that at a later point in the series Spike makes his feelings for Rarity known. I am also aware (due to foolishly looking at the MLP Wiki) that Twilight Sparkle becomes princess before Season Four (HOW???).

 

 

But what are other key events? Which episodes should I watch to get caught up quickly without angering our internet service provider? I want to be able to engage in discussion. I want to write fanfiction and browse forum posts without having to worry about major spoilers. I obviously don't need to hear every song that Pinkie Pie sings (which she does often) at the current time. That will come later.

 

If you guys could help me build a list of key episodes, I would appreciate it so much.

 

-Turtle

[Moonlight 7,288]

Some key point episodes include:

 

Season 1:

• The Cutie Mark Chronicles
• Party of One
• The Best Night Ever

Season 2:

• The Return of Harmony 1 and 2 (which are the Discord episodes)
• Lesson Zero
• Secret of My Excess (the Spike crush episode)
• Hurricane Fluttershy
• A Canterlot Wedding 1 and 2

Season 3:

• Magical Mystery Cure (which is the Princess Twilight episode)

Season 4:

• Princess Twilight Sparkle 1 and 2
• Bats!
• Pinkie Pride (My personal favorite and it also seems to be one of the more hyped up episodes)
• Twilight's Kingdom 1 and 2

They all are either some of the higher rated episodes or the most talked about and they all include some key points. Nothing big really happens in Pinkie Pride but it's one of the highest rated episodes of the show.

Edited November 4, 2014 by WheatleyCore

[SawmillTurtle 56]

Thanks. I'll begin my list with these. That really condenses the series down, doesn't it? Haha.

 

-Turtle

[PROJECT: Simon 3,955]

Lesson Zero will show you how Twilight is twisted

[Rainboom Dash 1,056]

The Return of Harmony is a great starter. It has a lot of characterization and settles the tone/focus of the show nicely.

[PROJECT: Simon 3,955]

The Return of Harmony is a great starter. It has a lot of characterization and settles the tone/focus of the show nicely.

Its was very depressing 4 me ;/

[sweetolebob18 728]

I would also go with Winter Wrap Up (season 1), Nightmare Night (episode 30 S2E4) & Feeling Pinkie Keen (season 1)(not too important, but hilarious).  If you are a Rarity fan,  A Dog & Pony Show is the best of R's episodes (season 1).  The CMC episodes are more for the little Pegasisters (except the Chronicles, which has the most back story of any episode)

 

Dash's best is probably Testing 1, 2, 3... (season 4) or the one where she joins The Thunderbolts (season 3, sorry, I'm bad at name & can't recall the title)

 

Pinkie's 2 best would be Too Many Pinkie's (Episode 55, S3E3) & Pinkie's Pride (S4).  I disagree about their importance.  The events in these 2 episodes show Pinkie being reformed & becoming more mature, more aware of the consequences of her actions.  She has become Pinkie Lite & turned her dial down from 11 to 8.

 

Apple Jack, well she has good episodes but not great ones.  Her best is probably the one where Pinkie thinks she is a member of the Apple family & they go on a road trip (Was that Pinkie Apple Pie?)

 

Fluttershy's best are Hurricane Fluttershy & the one they drag her up the mountain to face the Dragon (season 1, again, sorry I can't recall the title)

 

Episode 65 is IMO, a flawed jewel.  The 1st 15-16 minutes are excellent, the last 5+ suck.  I don't object to Twilicorn, it's just nothing really happens & it takes away time from exploring the nature of cutie marks, etc.  It was originally designed as a possible series finale &, ironically, it would have been a GREAT series finale, my only real complaint would have been it should have been a 2 parter

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad Hasbro renewed, I just wish they had done so sooner so the episode could have redone the last 6 minutes.  It is, however, critical to understanding season 4.

 

There are 91 episodes (13 for season 3, 26 for the others)

 

I do apologize for my poor memory.  I should have checked the episode list before answering this, I just thought I could rely on my memory.  My mind isn't what it used to be (then again, it never really was).  As to watching MLP, I go with Lewis Carrol (Alice in Wonderland, etc)

"In my youth" said he,

"I feared it might injure my brain.

But now that I'm sure that I have none,

I do it again and again."  

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

Great suggestions all around, but the absolute must for episode viewing is "The Mysterious Mare Do Well".

[SawmillTurtle 56]

Wow, these are all really great suggestions. I've already watched all the eps from the previous list, so I will go back and watch the others that have been suggested since then.

 

Thanks a lot!

 

-Turtle

[Yoshi89 5,293]

I suggest "Call of the Cutie" which, of course, introduces the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the concept of cutie marks.

[ElectricBeat 39]

You mentioned you knew Spike had feelings for Rarity, two of the episodes that show that are The Secret Of My Excess and A Dog And A Pony Show. And Party of One is cray-cray. Love it.

[newfrickinshow 100]

Well when it comes to season 4 I would probably recommend a certain five episodes.

 

Rarity Takes Manehattan

Rainbow Falls

Pinkie Pride

It Isn't Easy Being Breezies

Leap of Faith

 

They help lead you into the MUST SEE finale that is Twilight's Kingdom.

[SawmillTurtle 56]

Well when it comes to season 4 I would probably recommend a certain five episodes.

 

Rarity Takes Manehattan

Rainbow Falls

Pinkie Pride

It Isn't Easy Being Breezies

Leap of Faith

 

They help lead you into the MUST SEE finale that is Twilight's Kingdom.

 

 

Oh, I already saw the finale, and I agree that it is MUST SEE. That battle scene at the end? Freaking epic. In fact, it was that episode that officially sealed the deal and moved me from casual fan to hardcore brony. I freaking LOVE this show now! I was telling my bf about the finale and the battle scene and he's like "There's battle scenes?!" Oh yes. Yes there are. And that one in particular rivalled anything done in anime. As far as traditional children's animation, that was probably the coolest thing I've ever seen done. I even thought about it for over an hour, trying to think of any children's show where two characters faced off against each other, threw energy waves and caused mushroom clouds and epic fireballs. Couldn't think of a single one.

 

 

Think I need to change my banner, haha.

 

-Turtle

[Gernia 691]

If you want a place to watch episodes, I can recommend Dailymotion, though I'm not sure if your internet can handle it (but it does have nearly all the episodes).

 

As for episodes them self, I can also recommend "Mmmystery on the Friendship Express" from Season 2. Admittedly, it serves no purpose to the overall arc, but I thought it was really funny.

[Jammo 986]

Hurricane Fluttershy is the most well rounded episode that shows the shows strengths. People often say Lesson Zero but that episode really relies and knowing who Twilight is before her breakdown can be truly understood or appreciated. It may even leave a bad impression as a result, despite being a great episode.

 

Hurricane Fluttershy has a mix of laughs, emotion, great characterization, pacing. Just great scene after great scene. It stands well on it's own as a first watch where as a lot of the ones people are mentioning greatly benefit from knowing who these characters are. (Return of Harmony isn't as impactfull when it's characters you just met being corrupted)

[Adorkable 2,737]

It's not a problem if you don't have the channel, they're all on the internet for your viewing pleasures. ^^

To answer your question, some of my favorites are: Applebucking Season, Winter Wrap Up, Lesson Zero, Sleepless in Ponyville, Magical Mystery Cure. Then all of Season 4 if you haven't sen it yet. ^^

[sweetolebob18 728]

For starting fans, these are probably the most important.  Not the best, not necessarily the ones I like, just the ones to follow what is going on.

 

Friendship is Magic S1 E1 & E2 The pilot.  It gives you the Mane 6, Spike, Celestia, Luna, Nightmare Moon, + "Why is Twilight in Ponyville?" & "Why do they get stuck with all the crap jobs?"

Cutie Mark Chronicles S1 E23  This gives you the Cutie Mark Crusaders, How Cutie Marks Work & Why the Crusaders Want Them + probably has more backstory than all the other episodes combined.

Return of Harmony S2 E1 & E2  1st appearance of Discord (IMO by far the best) + some of the best scenes in the series & good character interaction

Canterlot Wedding S2 E25 & E26 introduces Cadence & Shining Armor, Chrysalis & the Changelings (yes this is the only episode the last 2 are in, but they are in a lot of fics & IMO are a good enough villain, they'll be back) + Twilight at her worst (1st part) & best (part 2)

For character

Dash Sonic Rainboom S1 E16  some of Rarity's worst behavior + 1st Rainboom

Fluttershy, either Dragonshy S1 E7 (1st Flutter Stare) or Hurricane Fluttershy (Better episode) S2 E22

Magical Mystery Cure S3 E13 Critical plot elements for understanding season 4

Rarity For Whom The Sweetie Bell Toils Rarity at her best, explores relationship w her family & Saphire Shore, good Luna episode as well.  Be aware, this is NOT Sweetie's typical behavior.

Pinkie & Apple Jack Pinkie Apple Pie This isn't quite the best for either of these 2, but it is very good for both of them +shows AJ's relations w her family

Twilights Kingdom S4 E25 & E26 This is essential to understanding "What happened to the library?" & understanding their current relationship w Discord + by far the best fight sequence in the entire series

Yes, this leaves some gaps but this is a kid's cartoon show, not The X Files or Lost.  You'll pick it up.  It gives the 10 most used characters & many of the minor ones + understanding Cutie Marks