spoiler Episode 608 Title and Synopsis

[Marimo 555]

A Hearth's Warming Tail

 

Starlight Glimmer has a case of the holiday blues, so Twilight tries to help cure her by reading one of her favorite Hearth Warming’s Eve stories, A Hearth’s Warming Tale.

 

Airing May 14th, 2016

 

http://tvschedule.zap2it.com/tv/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic/EP013304160136

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Quick question, how does the passage of time work in Equestria?

 

We already know that moons in Equestria are hard to determine, so how does time work? Did a whole year really pass? 

 

Other than that this episode could be adorable. It looks like that episode of a cartoon where a story is told and the characters are cast as certain roles in the episode. They already did this in the first Hearh's Warming Eve episodes and many shows have done this. It's a cool concept.

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Not looking forward to this one, honestly, though the book might be interesting

 

Also Christmas in May?

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

Glad to see they're working Starlight into the other episodes instead of using her as a premiere/finale piece. Interesting that we're getting a Christmas episode in May this time, considering the last one was in October. This one sounds like it'll be pretty good, considering I could relate to Starlight's social anxiety in the premiere, I could see no different in her issues around the holidays. Makes me wonder what exactly "A Hearth's Warming Tale" is about, though, or if it's an adaptation of another story.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Wind Chaser

[PiratePony 8,486]

Hopefully if this is a continuation tale of the first Hearth's Warming Eve, Chancellor Puddinghead issues a formal apology for calling unicorns snobs.

 

[EQ_Theta 468]

Something tells me either time flies too quickly in Equestria or Celestia loves to mess with the calendar. Either way, this episode could be good or it could fall flat. More waiting and seeing, I guess.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,162]

I dunno; I'm liking the setup for this. Looks like it could be a very heartwarming showing.

[Megas 27,919]

The episode sounds really cute, though it sounds really early considering it's a Christmas episode.

 

Also I wonder if we'll be hearing that HWE song from the Toy Fair here?

[Scootalove 10,689]

I do hope one of these Hearth's Warming Eve stories involves an old interaction with Celestia as a young filly on Hearth's Warming morning. Better grab the popcorn!   

 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

And now a third Hearth's Warming Episode...

[Mesme Rize 15,687]

That sounds like a very cute setup. I wonder what Starlight actually thinks about the holidays. Also, i am glad she spends time with my other favorite pony.

 

But seriously...

 

Hearts Warming eye?

 

IN MAY? O_o

 

inb4starlightbashthread

[Crusaders Forever 88]

I do hope one of these Hearth's Warming Eve stories involves an old interaction with Celestia as a young filly on Hearth's Warming morning. Better grab the popcorn!   

 

 

Well there is only one thing Discord can say

Edited April 6, 2016 by Crusaders Forever

[VengefulStrudel 1,495]

Sounds like a pretty sweet and heartwarming episode, looking forward to it~ Also, hooray for more Starlight!

 

Though, first we had a Christmas episode in October, and now in May?

[cmarston1 5,960]

So we get another Starlight Glimmer episode this early in the season.

Well I guess she really does make this a mane 7.

I thought No Second Prances was going to be a diet Sunset Shimmer episode, but instead we get the third Heartswarming Eve episode as one of her episodes.

Could be interesting.

Also at this point, I have given up at trying to find out the timeline at the show. A christmas episode this early in the season really mixes things up. Especially seeing how last season we had one.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,699]

Didn't they say something about christmas dragons this season or something for the HWE episode?
I kind of expect a Christmas carol type episode due to this (The story being somepony visited by the dragons of christmas present, past and future).

 

 

So we get another Starlight Glimmer episode this early in the season.

Well I guess she really does make this a mane 7.

I thought No Second Prances was going to be a diet Sunset Shimmer episode, but instead we get the third Heartswarming Eve episode as one of her episodes.

Could be interesting.

Also at this point, I have given up at trying to find out the timeline at the show. A christmas episode this early in the season really mixes things up. Especially seeing how last season we had one.

They could always have both No second prances AND a hearth's warming tale be starlight glimmer episodes: They've had Back to back episodes for other ponies before after all.

[snowflame 189]

Quick question, how does the passage of time work in Equestria?

 

We already know that moons in Equestria are hard to determine, so how does time work? Did a whole year really pass? 

 

Other than that this episode could be adorable. It looks like that episode of a cartoon where a story is told and the characters are cast as certain roles in the episode. They already did this in the first Hearh's Warming Eve episodes and many shows have done this. It's a cool concept.

 

 

The episodes do not have to cover same amounts of time. I assumed originally that if season 4 premiere was 1 year after season 1 premiere and there had been 26+26+13 episode at that point that maybe after season 6 halfway mark another year could have passed. It is exciting that there is a confirmation that there has been 2 years at least at this point.

[cmarston1 5,960]

Didn't they say something about christmas dragons this season or something for the HWE episode?

I kind of expect a Christmas carol type episode due to this (The story being somepony visited by the dragons of christmas present, past and future).

 

 

They could always have both No second prances AND a hearth's warming tale be starlight glimmer episodes: They've had Back to back episodes for other ponies before after all.

 

That is also an interesting possibility, however one that I don't really want to see happen.

I would rather have No second Prances be a Diamond Tiara episode focusing on development post COTM.

While the premiere did make me like Starlight Glimmer's new personality I guess, unlike Rarity I don't like her enough to want to see back to back episodes focusing on her.

Despite that, this episode still sounds at least somewhat interesting.

[M'gann M'orzz 745]

Didn't they say something about christmas dragons this season or something for the HWE episode?

I kind of expect a Christmas carol type episode due to this (The story being somepony visited by the dragons of christmas present, past and future).

 

 

They could always have both No second prances AND a hearth's warming tale be starlight glimmer episodes: They've had Back to back episodes for other ponies before after all.

Wouldn't even be back to back, Episode 7 is a Dash episode, so even if Ep 6 is Starlight it's only close proximity not back to back.

 

But yeah... Christmas in May... apparently? Probably should of held this one back for later in the season, unless it happening early is important for Starlight's character development or something.

[Truffles 2,033]

I kind of expect a Christmas carol type episode due to this (The story being somepony visited by the dragons of christmas present, past and future).

 

After seeing so many opinions that this ep is likely to be a "Christmas Carol" redux, it seems likely the so-called Christmas Dragons will indeed be representing the three ghosts.

 

Spike could be drafted into service for HWE Present, maybe Garble for HWE Past, and maybe the green dragon from "Owl's Well..." for HWE Future.

 

 

Of course, with a Dragonlands episode coming up, there could be a lot of new dragons introduced that might get used instead.

[Marimo 555]

After seeing so many opinions that this ep is likely to be a "Christmas Carol" redux, it seems likely the so-called Christmas Dragons will indeed be representing the three ghosts.

Mind explaining this to me? Why is it that people just guessing it'll be based on a Christmas Carol make it seem likely that it'll be based on a Christmas Carol? It'd be like if someone hid a coin under a cup without anyone seeing what kind it was, and a lot of people guess it's a penny. It doesn't make the coin seem likely to be a penny, it's just the most popular theory.

 

The "Christmas Dragons" thing doesn't mean anything either. In a Christmas Carol, the naming convention isn't "Christmas Ghost", it's "Ghost of Christmas *insert time period here*". Usually when something is prefixed with Christmas, it's usually more decorative or something, like "Christmas tree" or "Christmas lights". Not to mention, the  usage of the term was probably just used as shorthand in EqD's writeup, and they weren't even shown in something that implies it's taking place in the story, it was taking place during a song where everyone in Ponyville was setting up for Christmas. That seems more likely to be part of the real world, either before or after the story, than something taking place within the story.

 

Finally, the setup is that Twilight is reading Starlight a story because she has "a case of the holiday blues". Christmas Carol is about reevaluating yourself based on your past, present, and future actions, which is why it's usually used to apply to someone who's misbehaving and makes them be a better person. It's not the first thing you pull out when you're trying to cheer someone up.

[Allen 1,389]

Here comes another Hearth's Warming Eve (Christmas name in December for ponies) episode, it's airs on/at May 14^th, 2016!
 
I say it's the third Hearth's Warming Eve episode of the Friendship is Magic series. The first was "Hearth's Warming Eve" the 11th episode of the 2nd season in December 17^th, 2011; the second was "Hearthbreakers" the 20th episode of the 5th season in October 24^th, 2015; and the third will be "A Hearth's Warming Tale" by that day.
 
Also on that day after the episode airs, my friend who plays the cello along with me in the orchestra will graduate from high school.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Allen

[Truffles 2,033]

Mind explaining this to me? Why is it that people just guessing it'll be based on a Christmas Carol make it seem likely that it'll be based on a Christmas Carol? It'd be like if someone hid a coin under a cup without anyone seeing what kind it was, and a lot of people guess it's a penny. It doesn't make the coin seem likely to be a penny, it's just the most popular theory.

 

The "Christmas Dragons" thing doesn't mean anything either. In a Christmas Carol, the naming convention isn't "Christmas Ghost", it's "Ghost of Christmas *insert time period here*". Usually when something is prefixed with Christmas, it's usually more decorative or something, like "Christmas tree" or "Christmas lights". Not to mention, the  usage of the term was probably just used as shorthand in EqD's writeup, and they weren't even shown in something that implies it's taking place in the story, it was taking place during a song where everyone in Ponyville was setting up for Christmas. That seems more likely to be part of the real world, either before or after the story, than something taking place within the story.

 

Finally, the setup is that Twilight is reading Starlight a story because she has "a case of the holiday blues". Christmas Carol is about reevaluating yourself based on your past, present, and future actions, which is why it's usually used to apply to someone who's misbehaving and makes them be a better person. It's not the first thing you pull out when you're trying to cheer someone up.

 

The title "A Hearth's Warming Tail" just seemed structurally similar to the title "A Christmas Carol" in that you have matching articles and subjects. It by no means is definitive but it was enough for me to at least think the idea had merit. Also when I first saw it it was listed as "Tale" and not "Tail". The play on words does complicate things a bit, I admit.

 

Also I recall (maybe incorrectly - I can't remember now) seeing the Christmas Dragons leak mentioning there was 3 of them, which is how many ghosts there were in "A Christmas Carol". So that was another correlation that make it seem like the episode would be doing an homage to the classic story.

 

The thing about Starlight is she has been a bad guy, so maybe she feels like she's undeserving of any HWE cheer because of her past actions, so Twilight could tell the story of another bad pony that deserved redemption and finally got it, fitting it with the holiday theme. I could see this cheering up Starlight if she can relate to the antagonist in the tale.

[sweetolebob18 728]

Way back as long ago as season 1 we had out of sequence episodes.  For example Winter Wrap Up (E11) came before Fall Weather Friends (E13) & that HAS to be wrong.  The 1st 3 seasons are all scrambled together.  It looks like seasons 5 & 6 may be as well.