What makes a good episode?

[Ganondox 899]

I've noticed that often when people are rating an episode as good or bad, the judgement is made based upon different factors. For this poll, this is only asking what you find most important for individual episodes, not what you like most about the series as a whole. 

[FizzyGreen 909]

I believe the plot is the most important one, because he is kind of the base. An episode without a good plot is like a pizza without the bread.

Characters and humor are also very important and they make the episode seem alive.
 

Spoiler

 

Again, comparing it to food, it's like all the nice ingredients on a burger, like, if the plot it the meat then the characters are like the salad, the cheese and the tomatoes. And the humor is the awesome sauce you should have on every burger.

 

So yes. While the most important aspect IS the plot to me, i still believe a "good" episode has all of those things in it. Actually, that might also be what makes a "perfect" episode.

[Rawzy 1,302]

one that has lots of glitter ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[cmarston1 5,962]

I don't believe it is just one of these, but a combination of good characterization, an interesting premise, and some decent humor that make an episode enjoyable.

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

 

Lots of Twilight. I mean a lot of Twilight. The episode has to star Twilight... best pony to have a shot at greatness.

The episode could be about her just standing there blinking and doing nothing and I would still rate it a 10.

Seriously... for me it is a combination of those things... you need all of them in sync to make the episode come to life and keep you invested in the overall show. Of course since no two people can agree on the best kind of plot, character or even what is funny.... this never happens for the whole fandom.

[Lunarpalette 2,175]

Fluttershy. Fluttershy always makes an episode better. That and an interesting storyline to follow. And minimal cheesy moments. That's what I think very simply.

[honk friend 1,985]

I apparently watch MLP for vastly different reasons than most of the people here, the type of people who analyze and review each episode at least. I don't really think of MLP as up there with the likes of Adventure Time and SVTFOE, as in, very story-focused with lots of plotlines that are explored over multiple episodes or seasons. I find it hard to enjoy much of the episodes past seasons 1 and 2 because I feel like they're much more plot-focused than character-focused. I mean, honestly, there's probably a lot more nuance as to why I dislike seasons 3 onward than just that, but I don't think there was a single episode in season 1 that I disliked.

I've seen a lot of my favorite episodes described as "poorly written" but I feel a lot of those criticisms that really tie in to the overall description of "poorly written" aren't really glaring issues when you watch the show for the same reason I do.

[Ganondox 899]

15 hours ago, cmarston1 said:

I don't believe it is just one of these, but a combination of good characterization, an interesting premise, and some decent humor that make an episode enjoyable.

The question isn't what makes an episode enjoyable, but what an episode good. If they're the same thing to you, that's fine, just clarifying the point. 

13 hours ago, Kitty~ said:

I apparently watch MLP for vastly different reasons than most of the people here, the type of people who analyze and review each episode at least. I don't really think of MLP as up there with the likes of Adventure Time and SVTFOE, as in, very story-focused with lots of plotlines that are explored over multiple episodes or seasons. I find it hard to enjoy much of the episodes past seasons 1 and 2 because I feel like they're much more plot-focused than character-focused. I mean, honestly, there's probably a lot more nuance as to why I dislike seasons 3 onward than just that, but I don't think there was a single episode in season 1 that I disliked.

I've seen a lot of my favorite episodes described as "poorly written" but I feel a lot of those criticisms that really tie in to the overall description of "poorly written" aren't really glaring issues when you watch the show for the same reason I do.

Since when was Adventure Time plot focused? At the point I am in it it's still just silly disconnected episodes. I've always considered pony to be the more serious show. 

15 hours ago, GrimGrimoire said:

 

Lots of Twilight. I mean a lot of Twilight. The episode has to star Twilight... best pony to have a shot at greatness.

The episode could be about her just standing there blinking and doing nothing and I would still rate it a 10.

Seriously... for me it is a combination of those things... you need all of them in sync to make the episode come to life and keep you invested in the overall show. Of course since no two people can agree on the best kind of plot, character or even what is funny.... this never happens for the whole fandom.

Sometimes plots are just plain bad, same goes with characterization. That's what I had in mind when I wrote this, people agreeing on the same weaknesses, but placing different emphasis on them. 

[Jeric 46,876]

There is no correct answer to this question as the OP noticed, we all evaluate episodes and content in general based on out own tests of what is considered quality. I have different tests for different mediums and even within different genres in each medium, but the prominent criteria in television is character driven for me. Characterization and most importantly character interactions. I almost look at the episodes of this show scene by scene and find myself focused on the actual interactions and dialog. Plot, conflict, rising and falling action, climax, resolution, and cadence/pacing are all crucial, but its interactions between the characters or the character and their environment than drives my interest. 

[Thrond 3,266]

When rating episodes, I tend to put humour first and plot last, if only because a funny episode with a weak plot is still funny, whereas a well-plotted episode with weak humour is just boring. Characterization helps a lot with making an episode fun or resonant, and we largely watch this show for its great characters, but I'm more willing to accept an episode with good humour and weak plot or characters than any episode with weak humour, if only because those are easier to watch. But I score episodes on all three (as well as morals) for a reason, because all of those matter to me. It's just that good humour can carry an otherwise underwhelming episode more easily, whereas even pathos can fall flat without a good enough plot. 

[Goat-kun 2,530]

Humor > Characters > Plot >> LolSoRandom >> Lessons

 

Also Nicolas Cage. He makes everything better.

[GiFTGewEhrSCHutzen-4 8,831]

What makes a good episode, you ask? Hmmm, for me personally it would have to be a good plot, the humor, pop culture references, and of course, favorite MLP characters' appearances. That's what makes a good episode if you ask me.