What Order Do The Episodes Belong In?

[sweetolebob18 728]

After my last post, the thread vanished into hyperspace so I'm reposting.  I supposes it's a Blessing In Disguise, it gets rid of all the old posts.  What I need is a blessing that isn't so damn well disguised!

 

ASSUMPTIONS

The EQ year is the same as the Earth year.  So are the phases of the moon & the length of the seasons.

 

The 1st 3 seasons take place over just 1 year.  Someone named Corpulent Brony compiled a list of "how many days in each episode?".  I've lost the html address, but luckily still have a copy.  According to him, all the episodes are about 220 days out of about 270 days (Hearth's Warm Eve is the only Winter episode, so Winter days are unavailable)

 

IRL, the seasons change gradually.  In EQ, it is like changing a TV channel.  One day you are out picnicking & the next you've got 3 ft. of snow & can ice skate.  In Spring, it is the other way around.

 

The Apple Family gathering in episode 1 is NOT an official gathering.  In  Apple Family Reunion, Granny Smith says they happen every 100 moons.  I'm going with "Granny was right & Wikipedia was misinformed"

 

Except in Fall Weather Friends, the artists do not show the leaves as having changed colors.  This either means "no Autumn episodes" (not physically possible) or "the artists just didn't show the leaves having changed" (my choice)

 

According to "Ask Princess Twilight", Twilight mas born "Mid Spring"  IMO, this probably means "mid to late April"  Surprisingly, this is important in placing some episodes

 

FOR NON AMERICANS

 

The calendar says otherwise, but here in the USA we consider Summer to run from Memorial Day (last Monday in May) to Labor Day (1st Monday in September).  All of June is considered Summer, all of September is considered Autumn.  Thus, you can have Summer events before the Summer Sun Festival & Autumn events before the Running of the Leaves

 

School is 180 days, Monday to Friday.  About 9 months, with several breaks & holidays & a 3 month Summer Vacation (least of any industrial nation).  Depending on the state, it runs August to May or September to June  

 

I'm going to have to leave gaps & go back later.

 

THE TIME LINE

*15-25 years before the pilot  The Mane 6 are born.  I went into this in "How Old Are The Mane 6?" Briefly, in Apple Family Reunion, they show AJ's baby pictures.  That would be 3 reunions (25 years ago).  That makes her 26 at that time & 25 during the pilot. Dash probably turned 18 shortly before Wonderbolt's Academy.  This makes her 17 during the pilot.  Twilight was applying for school during Cutie Mark Chronicles.  This makes her 5 (Magic Kindergarten) or 6 (1st grade) at that time & 15 or 16 during the pilot.  The others are in between these ages.

*10 years before pilot.  Events of Cutie Mark Chronicles.  1st Rainboom, Spike hatched, Mane 6 get Cutie Marks   This is just my best guess.  This makes AJ 15 when she hitch hiked to Manehatten, the same age Twilight was when she went to Ponyville. (Yes, Twilight has to be the pony equivalent of Einstein or Newton to do all she did in 1 year.  IMO, she is.)  You make it longer than that, Twilight is older on her trip but AJ younger on hers.  This is my best compromise.  Last Round Up, Apple Bloom says AJ has been local rodeo champ for 10 years.  This means she started shortly after returning & was 15 or 16 at the start of her championship run.

*8-12 years before pilot.  Cutie Mark Crusaders born.

*several years before pilot.  Pinkie and Fluttershy come to Ponyville.  IMO, they become friends with Rarity.

*2 (or more) years before pilot.  Putting Your Hoof Down.  Fluttershy writes it after Lesson Zero, but IMO this was a flashback episode.  Mostly for time considerations but also because Pinkie seems to know Fluttershy better than Dash does in Griffon the Brush Off.

*several months before the pilot.  Dash moves to Ponyville (possibly because she was put in charge of Ponyville weather team).  In Pinkie's Pride, Dash tells Pinkie she moved to Ponyville on her birthday.  21 candles on the cake. 19 for age, 2 for anniversary (Artistic license -there are no unseen candles)

*Summer of year 1.  After school lets out Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle (travelling w parents?) or both move to Ponyville (they meet in Call of the Cutie)

YEAR 1

*June 20-22 Friendship is Magic S1 E1 & E2 3 days (counting clean up)

*June 23-24 Bridle Gossip S1 E9 2 days Twilight has never heard of Zecora, it must be within 30 days.  I'm putting it 1st because no one has said "We're being terrorized by an Evil Enchantress!  Help us, Obi Wan Twilight, you're our only hope!"

*June 25-26 Boast Busters S1 E6 2 days Nobody pushes Twilight to challenge Trixie, showing she doesn't have much street cred yet. +Magic Duel implies a fairly long time from BB

*June 27-28 Griffon the Brush Off. 2 days Start of friendship between Dash & Pinkie, it must be pretty early. However,  Pinkie asks Twilight for help. It can't be the 1st Twilight must have done something to inspire trust. 

*June 29-30 Look Before You Sleep.  2 days Start of friendship between Rarity & AJ it must be an early episode.  The cancelled rain last week was because of events in the pilot.

 

IMO, Swarm of the Century was scheduled so Princess Celestia could meet the Element Holders, Bird in the Hoof was the do over for the cancelled visit & there were 1 or 2 adventures in between.

 

*July 1-2 Swarm Of The Century  E1 S10 2 days

*July 3-4 Feeling Pinkie Keen E1 S15 1 or 2 days Near the start of their relationship because Twilight hasn't yet learned to just accept Pinkie

GAP?  Possibly Mysterious Mare Do Well or MMMystery on the Friendship Express.  Have to rewatch them & check

*July  Bird In The Hoof S1 E22 1 day

GAP

Events fit better if you assume school in EQ lasts from August to May, so I'm going with that.

*1st week in August  Call of the Cutie S1 E12. 2 days The CMCs have not yet met despite being in the same class, has to be the start of the school year.  There is a brief cameo of them being together during the pilot, I've heard Hasbro says that is a mistake.

*2nd week in August Ponyville Confidential S2 E23. The school paper is getting started, has to be no later than this. Corpulent Brony lists this as 9-11 days based on stories in paper.  However, this is a small town school paper.  IMO, it is probably a weekly & lasts until sometime in October, with other adventures occurring during this time.

*August Staremaster S1 E 17  Fluttershy hasn't met the CMCs yet, so this is an early episode.  Possibly, it occurs during Apple Buck Season If not, probably 2nd weekend in August (1st being Call of the Cutie)

According to Wikipedia, apple harvest is mid August to late October.  The best time to transplant Apple trees is Autumn (if there is no winter freeze) or Spring (if there is).  Apple Trees should NOT be transplanted if they are bearing fruit, so the apples on the tree must be artistic license -to show it is an apple tree.

 

Looked up the times for several Cider Festivals.  Early October is by far the most common time.

 

Lesson Zero has to be after Call of the Cutie (CMCs are playing together) but before Super ....6000 (AJ wrote the report).  If it is after Apple Buck Season, the problem is that there has to be 2 or 3 adventures during that time. The problem with that is that Apple Jack is in more episodes than any other character.  During the 1st 3 seasons she is in all but 4.  It makes sense that Hurricane Fluttershy is in Spring (reservoir would be fullest), so that leaves Dragon Quest.

 

*mid to late August.  Apple Buck Season  S1 E4 14+ days  Start of apple harvest .

*mid August Stare Master S1 E17  2 days During Apple Buck Season

*late August Dragon Quest S2 E21 5 or 6 days during Apple Buck Season

*September 8 Lesson Zero  S2 E3 1 day but a week after last post

Gap

*September  Ticket Master S1 E3 1 day  Fluttershy is trying to suck up by Spring Cleaning.  Twilight says "It's Autumn"  This puts the Gala at either Oct 21 or (IMO) Nov 21.  Obviously, this episode must be before that so it is at least September.

*Sept 20-21 Fall Weather Friends S1 E13 2 days

*Sept 22-26 Over A Barrel S1 E21 4 or 5 days Autumn is the best time to transplant apple trees

Gap

*Oct 1-3 Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000  S2 E15 3 days Cider Festivals are usually early October

 

In Dog & Pony Show, Saphire knows who Rarity is but Rarity is surprised by this. Green Isn't Your Color would explain this.  The extra business led to Sister Hooves Social

 

*Oct 4-13 Green Isn't Your Color S1 E20 8-9 days

*Oct 14-15 Dog and Pony Show S1 E19 1 or 2 days depending if you think the trip was the same day as the order.

*Oct 16-17 Sister Hooves Social S2 E5 2 days

Gap

*Oct 31 Luna Eclipsed S2 E4 1 day

Edited June 19, 2015 by sweetolebob18

[SilverComet 170]

Applejack was still a filly when she traveled to Manehattan and saw the Sonic Rainboom of S1E23 (even his "big brother" MacIntosh did not seem to have more development than Fluttershy).

The idea of Applejack being a full grown adult (while the others are still teenagers) is unnecessary.

 

Equestria is still in the Middle Ages; so anyone able to form their own family (reproduction) is by default an adult; having the same responsabilities and rights under the law than what is expected for someone today in their mid 20´s [this was the "headcannon" of Lauren Faust and Amy Keating Rogers for the stories in the "bible of the show", even before S1].

 

Also:

 

Apple Bloom: Hope so? I know so! After all, you're the ten-time rodeo champion of Ponyville!...

Source: 

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/The_Last_Roundup

 

Applejack participated on 10 different rodeos all over Equestria (this one in S2E14 happens somewhere between Canterlot and Dodge Junction). There certainly must be one in Ponyville too (if is not precisely part of the "Iron Pony competition" of S1E13).

 

In conclusion: Applejack is not 10 years older than the rest, but probably younger than Fluttershy.

 

- - - - -

 

Fluttershy: Oh, well, hello Twilight. I hope you don't mind, but we're all doing a little spring cleaning for you.
Twilight Sparkle: It's summer.
Fluttershy: Oh, well, better late than never, right? It was Angel's idea.

 

Source: 

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/The_Ticket_Master

 

- - - - - -

 

 

- - - -

Spike: [clears throat] "Hear ye, hear ye . . . The Grand Galloping Gala to be held in . . . on the 21st day of, eh, yadda yadda yadda . . ." 

Source: 

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/The_Ticket_Master

 

 

Also:
 

Twilight Sparkle: Uh, no . . .  Princess of the Fall Formal?
Principal Celestia: It's Canterlot High's big Fall dance.
Twilight Sparkle: Like the Grand Galloping Gala.

Source:

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/My_Little_Pony_Equestria_Girls

 

Then:

The Grand Galloping Gala is the celebration of the end of the Summer, just at the equinox of September 21st.

 

[Canterlot High School´s planet and Equestria do not have to be "in sync" with the seasons; much more because in the later they are done manually ; but the "concept" of Fall is the same on both].

Edited June 22, 2015 by SilverComet

[Daring_Do 552]

A good long post on a topic I've wondered about - I'll likely read this later. For now, though, I was skimming the start, and... What's "Ask Princess Twilight"? If that's some kind of tumblr ask blog, I'm pretty sure it's fanmade.

Edited June 19, 2015 by Knight Dash

[sweetolebob18 728]

"Ask Princess Twilight" is one of the threads in the "Ask A Pony" subsection of the Cloudsdale Colosseum section of the forums.  IDK how official it is, I just sort of assumed it was an official answer section.

 

The GGG can't be Sept 21, that has to be the Running of the Leaves in Fall Weather Friends.  This means either Oct 21 or Nov 21.  If the Gala wasn't after Dog & Pony Show, Rarity wouldn't have been surprised Saphire knew who she was.  By that time she had already had a fashion show (Suited For Success) and the events of the Gala probably made headlines in every tabloid in EQ.  Not enough room in Oct, has to be November.

 

The remaining episodes I've got dates for

 

*November 2-6 Sleepless In Ponyville  S3 E6 3-4 days Luna is patrolling dreams, so it's after Luna Eclipsed.  She isn't very good, yet, so it's probably early.  Probably a weekend camp out.  I was in the Boy Scouts (in Penn) & we did camp outs that time of the year (I didn't say it was a good idea, just that we did it)

*November 7-20 Suited For Success S1 E14 Corpulent Brony says 7-15 Days.  Like most guys, I've never used a sewing machine in my life, I've NO flaming clue how long those dresses would take, I'll take his word.  I'm putting this after Dog and Pony Show because Spike was able to get Hoity Toity to come to the fashion show & he probably wouldn't have come if Rarity was a complete unknown.

*November 21-22 Best Night Ever S1 E26 1 or 2 days (depends if you think it broke up before midnight, or not)

*November 23-25 Party of One S1 E25 2-3 days I've seen claims that Pinkie was very disappointed about the Gala & this was to cheer her up.  Makes sense to me.

*November 26-27 Owl's Well   S1 E24 The CMCs are together, Twilight lets Spike write the report so it is after Lesson Zero, Twilight tells Owlicious he can stay because the night is cold.  I'm just putting it here because there is room.

*Winter Hearth's Warming Eve S2 E11 1 day

*March 20-21 Winter Wrap Up S1 E11 2 days

YEAR 2

*June 9-16 One Bad Apple S3 E4 5-7 days School seems to be out & they are making a float for the Summer Harvest Festival.  This or Magic Duel is probably the last episode before MMC

*June 17 or 18 Magical Mystery Cure  S3 E13 1 day?  If you assume these events took only 1 day, then Fluttershy gave up very easily & the farm being so run down & Rarity's boutique being shuttered were exaggerations  -artistic license.  Takes place a day or 2 before Princess Twilight

*June 19-22 Princess Twilight.  Twilight says "2 days to Summer Sun Festival" 

EQ Girls probably takes place a few days later because Twilight is still with Celestia in Canterlot

*Late August (or later)  Apple Family Reunion S3 E8 1 day (probably a weekend event) Has to be after One Bad Apple.  Babs is happy with her new school, has to be August or later & after this year's Apple Buck Season.  Probably after  Flutterbats as well because AJ doesn't tell Fluttershy the bats scared her family & wrecked her barn. This episode is the best argument for "it had to be more than 1 year"  Spike & the other Mane 6 have cameos helping prep, Twilight does not.  Thus it could be this late.

 

This is about half the episodes, but it is the easy half.  The rest is going to be hard  I welcome any comments

 

IMO, the episodes with Cadence & Shining Armor probably take place a few months apart.  Thus, I'd put Canterlot Wedding (3 days?) in the fall (the CMCs are there) & Games Ponies Play (2 days) in Spring but I'm unsure of Crystal Empire (4days?) Spring or Autumn?

 

Spring episodes probably include

Hearts & Hooves Day  (1 or 2 days) Just seems a Spring thing

Hurricane Fluttershy (4-8 days) Reservoir would be fullest then, it seems to make sense

It's About Time  (7days)  Twilight has a vague warning & a preposterous story, yet everyone unhesitatingly drops everything & busts their ass on her unsupported say so.  She must have enormous street cred as a wizard & that means a solid record of accomplishment

Magic Duel  (2-3 days) Trixie's story implies a great deal of time since Boast Busters

Sweet & Elite (6-8 days) Takes place over Twilight's birthday & I'm going w "Mid Spring" + Rarity says months to Gala

Return of Harmony (1 day?) AJ has a flashback to the Running of the Leaves, so it is after that + number of letters seems to fit Spring better

Keep Calm & Flutter On  (1-2 days) Has to be after ROF, obviously

Secret of My Excess (4-13 days)  Spike tries to steal the CMCs scooter, so it is after Call of the Cutie.  Spike hatched when Twilight applied for Celestia's School, so probably May or June

Last Round Up (8-10 days) so probably after Lesson Zero Wikipedia says cherries are harvested April to August. 

Family Appreciation Day (7 days) Apples are harvested mid August to late October.  Zap Apples come before that & school is in session, so it must be Spring

May The Best Pet Win (1 or 2 days) Dash says it is her 1st Winter with Tank, this must happen in Spring

This is about 62 out of 87 days, so it is possible.  The other episodes, no ideas where they fit so any suggestions are welcome.

Edited June 20, 2015 by sweetolebob18

[Daring_Do 552]

I took a look at the forum you mentioned. Going by the other threads in there... Yeah, I'm pretty sure this isn't official by any means.

[SilverComet 170]

I always had the heacannon that "some episodes" belong to alternate timelines.

It solves inconsistencies and depresurize the ammount of days available in the right seasons (a restriction impossed from the animation stage more than from the scripts) without the need of superposing events or adding extra years.

 

Is not much about the episodes ´s scripts being done by different writters; but more like the fact that not all of them "did the research" before giving wrong characterizations for the benefit of the story [FiM is a character driven show; not an episodic "did that, done; now forget" like the Simpsons].

 

As an example (with public apologies an everything) is the first episode of Merriwether Williams  "The Mysterious Mare Do Well" [s2E08]. She admitted that her writting work for this episode started after consulting the "Bible of the Show" of Lauren Faust & Amy Keating Rogers and watching the pilot because it was part of her contract as a new writter for FiM.

Then she look for details of the town´s schematics (witch were established in other "already done", rejected and "next season" scripts) for what should (or not) be added ; instead of watching the show and learning about the characters beyond what is in their "bio".

 

The problem is what is "cannon" to one timeline and what is not. 

 

It would be funny if the "first Future!Twiligth" was from some of those alternate realities; with her intent to fix her own timeline from something "really awfull" not working at all for her; but somehow being successfull for the "Groucho Marx Twilight" giving a speech to the town.

[Then this "second Future!Twilight" messing up a third timeline by asumming it was "herself" (or a perfect past duplicate) the one receiving the same lecture; when it was a divergent one with a different mindset.]

Edited June 22, 2015 by SilverComet