spoiler For those who've seen "Scare Master"

[Silver Stream. 708]

I am sorry to bring this up now, but I really can't wait to discuss this episode because I seriously enjoyed it. If you haven't seen the leaked episode, I wouldn't suggest reading any further than this since this does contains spoilers. As a matter of fact. I will wait till my next reply to begin the discussion. For now, I am wondering how many of you have seen it?

[Rawzy 1,302]

Yep, I saw it, the day that it got leaked onto dailymotion

[Ruddboy Olaf 10,628]

I watched it 2 days ago. It was okay. But,I mostly liked it for it's visuals.

[Lil Pip 775]

It was different. Can't say its a top ten but it was idk, average?

[Silver Stream. 708]

The reason why I see it as one of the best episodes if because I'm fairly proud of Fluttershy. She isn't the BEST pony in my opinion, but she is certainly the most interesting character out of the full cast. She struggles more than anyone....and if there was ever an episode that had such a deep and meaningful lesson, it's this one. 

 

It shows that she is growing. She's beginning to push through her fears and actually channel them into something better. I know she's had many episodes in the past that is similar, but this is the first one where she actually carries her past lessons and uses them to help her with a new chapter in her journey to recovery. I call it recovery because she does have bad anxiety and suffers from it everyday. Maybe even a few other illnesses can be included in the mix, but I won't go into details with that subject. 

 

And even after finding a way to be a part of Nightmare Night..and actually being good at it...she politely declines to ever do it again because it isn't something she enjoys. This is a pony who's making a very adult decision to not be pressured into participating in something that "isn't their cup of tea" as she stated it. The lessons from "Bats", "Filli Vanilli" and "Putting your hoof down" were all implemented in this episode beautifully. I know from a more broad point of view, it's an average episode, but I like to take closer looks when it comes to Fluttershy episodes because they teach more than others. 

[Lil Pip 775]

True she had some development, but it was sorta cut and dry, predictable. Not much conflict that didn't resolve in a simple way, but maybe its what she needed because larger conflict could make her go back into her shell.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

It was alright I guess. Nothing too special.

[Mesme Rize 15,692]

Totally agree. I also really enjoyed the episode and although it was established early in the series that Flutters wasn't much of a doormat anymore, she finally overcame one of her biggest phobias.

[Lil Pip 775]

What I meant by go back in her shell is, if its an exaggerated scenario that only prepares her for dire scenarios to be more vocal, not the common ones which she ha d more difficulty with.

[Rawzy 1,302]

 if there was ever an episode that had such a deep and meaningful lesson, it's this one. 

I've heard from heaps of people, mainly youtubers, that the moral that came from this episode, was one of the better ones.

[Silver Stream. 708]

Maybe it's just me, but predictable would be the last thing in how I'd describe the episode. Perhaps, yeah it's true you already know that Fluttershy was behind the huge scare she gave the mane 5, but what really slapped me in the face was how she decided to NOT continue like that in the future. They came up with a very convenient solution to her participating in a dark celebration (well not dark....but basically Halloween) and she decided what was best for HER and not for THEM 

 

There are so many ways to interpret that. One way is religiously. I was raised in a Christian home where we weren't even allowed to celebrate Halloween. When I got older, my folks decided to loosen up and allow my sister and I to go to Halloween parties and actually celebrate it. Despite the possibility of my folks being a huge part in some celebrations and it being harmless, they would always politely decline because they knew themselves well enough to know that Halloween isn't something they do. No offense on anyone, but that's how it was.

 

Another way is that is taught this lesson: You don't always have to do EVERYTHING your friends do. BEcause there will come a time when they'll participate in things you're not comfortable with. And despite them having so many good reasons in why you should do it with them, you'll have to stand up for yourself and have them understand "Yo it's fun and all, but it's not me" 

 

While it might not have been the MOST EPIC episode in the season, it's the most insightful. And that's what wins my vote....not in how epic an episode can be, but in what it teaches and how it was executed. I'll even say this was better than the recent CMC episode in general. Sure their finale was beautiful and amazing...but episode wise, Scare Master is what I'm leaning on 

Edited October 13, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[MLPFanatic34 3,241]

I saw it several hours after it was leaked, my friend messaged me on Skype and told me.

[Steve Piranha 29,496]

It was fine, but if you won't be missing of much compared to these latest  episodes and seemingly the upcoming ones, I think the most you'll miss are the costumes, and DERP , disguised as Twi 

[UnknownFry 169]

I have, and I find it to be one of the better episodes this season as far as the overall moral is concerned.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

I saw it about a day or so after the leak and it was an episode that I really enjoyed. It is another episode that shows how much they are improving more and more with character expressions and facial animations. Also, those costumes were neato, definitely than what I expected. I think one small gripe is that the characters got a bit too scared at some points, considering all they have been through in the show, but honestly I think that is a nitpick, they have to get the point across and with that, I think they did it well. It is a wonderful Halloween episode definitely and it had many cute moments. It also has an absolutely awesome ending with a great moral as well. I love that Fluttershy spoke for herself and decided what would be best for her. She tried something new, experienced it, and realized that it was not for her. I love that, it is such a great thing to see when many cartoons would just have the character start doing that new thing that they would not do before. The moral was awesome and handled so incredibly well and that adds to how much I love this season for the moral aspect. They have been nailing it this season, for the most part.

 

I think this was one of the really good episodes so far this season. ^.^ those that have not seen it are in for a treat. Or perhaps...a trick or treat? Ha, I am so not funny.

[M'gann M'orzz 745]

I have, it was pretty good, but leaking right after the phenominal Rarity Investigates meant that I kinda overlooked it I guess.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,750]

I think it was good episode, not only because Fluttershy is my favorite but the whole episode was good in my opinion.Not best but good.  

[cider float 2,539]

Meh I was hoping for a good moral but it blew a bit at the end.. I mean this was a good opportunity to actually use Fluttershy's fear as something that inspires others to be scared in Nightmare Night. This episode didn't do justice, but kind of expected in Season 5.

 

[PROJECT: Simon 3,955]

It was pretty hilarious xD 

[Flutterstep 47,332]

I didn't really think much of the episode. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it; I'd say its above average, especially in comparison of the recent Season 5 episode, which have been amazing.

[Silver Stream. 708]

I Agree it was a good opportunity, but refusing was both surprising and insightful. She doesn't like Nightmare Night...but this time it's not from fear but simply because she knows herself we'll enough to understand scaring people isn't something she enjoy no matter how good she's at it.

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Okay saw this when it first was leaked and I've got to say it's taken me awhile to get a barring on this episode.  

 

Overall it's a good episode but it's a differentiated episode, as in it only gets good once I've reached a certain time marker, and that marker is when Fluttershy enters Twilight's castle. Before that I really dislike as I very much disdain it when the writer decide to make Fluttershy into Scooby-Doo, like the roof scene in Cutie Map, her dangerous mission outfit in Magic Duel and ironically enough (I am using ironic correctly, right?) her appearance in Luna Eclipsed.  There is a difference between being shy and anxiety prone and being a coward, writers!  Only exception I make is when a dragon is involved since that was an established phobia. Okay but moving past the bad beginning, the rest of the episode is great, though it really picks up in my eyes once Twilight suggest Fluttershy scare everyone else.  I mean I really enjoyed the tea-party because it plays up adult fears and the ending moral and Fluttershy deciding not to want to scare her friends was fantastic! I also liked how Fluttershy concerns about the costumes were used as a Chekhov's Gun in the third act. 

 

So really bad beginning in my eyes but it becomes really good with time.