Key episodes, that you would recommend?

[whitemagemog 21]

So I am trying to get to grips with the idea of the MLP fandom, as part of my research I'd like to watch a good bit of the show and understand the themes and ideals involved. I'm watching from the beginning right now but I can't say I'll be able to watch every single episode. So I am wondering what episodes stick out for you as a good representation of the show? These don't have to be your favourite, you just need to feel like they are good at nailing what MLP: FiM is about. The first two episodes seemed to get the ideals down well but I don't wanna make any assumptions! 

Some feed back would be appreciated, thanks for your time. 

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

Season One has some great character moments for each character.

Applejack: Ep 4 Applebuck Season

Fluttershy: Ep 7 Dragonshy

Rarity: Ep 14 Suited for Success

Rainbow Dash: Ep 16 Sonic Rainboom.

Pinkie Pie: Ep 21 Party of One

Twilight Sparkle: Actually, I don’t think she has any one outstanding episode performance, but she’s pretty solid all season, so I think it balances out. Maybe just watch Ep 11, Winter Wrap Up for her, it’s has the best song of the season.

And of course, top it off with the finale, Ep 26, Best Night Ever, the only Slice of Life finale in the show so far.

 

[Ivan The Adorable 304]

I think basically start from the season 1 premiere and watch a few in sequence there if you want to understand what attracted the fandom to begin with,

Theres not much of a right answer after that. The show has little internal continuity in non-premiere/finale episodes and the random slice of life and general character building is what most stayed for.

I think you could pick some of the character episodes as the above poster mentions, and maybe follow up with the season 1 finale and then the Season 2 premiere to get the appeal to remaining fans in a nutshell.

[DonMaguz 1,023]

If you're planning to watch several episodes from different seasons I would also recommend: 'The Call of The Cutie' (Ep. 12) and 'The Cutie Mark Chronicles' (Ep. 23).

[whitemagemog 21]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'll make sure I see them all

[Hierok 11,831]

46 minutes ago, ShootingStar159 said:

Season One has some great character moments for each character.

Applejack: Ep 4 Applebuck Season

Fluttershy: Ep 7 Dragonshy

Rarity: Ep 14 Suited for Success

Rainbow Dash: Ep 16 Sonic Rainboom.

Pinkie Pie: Ep 21 Party of One

Twilight Sparkle: Actually, I don’t think she has any one outstanding episode performance, but she’s pretty solid all season, so I think it balances out. Maybe just watch Ep 11, Winter Wrap Up for her, it’s has the best song of the season.

And of course, top it off with the finale, Ep 26, Best Night Ever, the only Slice of Life finale in the show so far.

 

Do you really think Pinkie Pie has her most iconic moments in party of one? Isn't Griffon the brush off a better one for her?

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

16 minutes ago, Hierok said:

Do you really think Pinkie Pie has her most iconic moments in party of one? Isn't Griffon the brush off a better one for her?

Within Season one, absolutely her most iconic. Griffin the Brush Off has a party theme, but the focus during Party of One is more on Pinkie Pie and what makes her who she is. They are both fantastic episodes, but I think Party of One does a better job with her.

Edited November 2, 2017 by ShootingStar159

[Adamgreen 1,129]

For me, 'The best Night ever' was the first episode I always thought about to represent the show with it's characters and slice of life, but that normally isn't everyone's cup of tea  

[Toon4Thought 274]

"The Cutie Mark Chronicles", "Suited for Success", "Hurricane Fluttershy", and "Sisterhooves Social" are all really good ones to start with.

[Adderbane 121]

It might be helpful to have more details about your research, which would let us give more relevant recommendations.

 

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

Season 1: 

Friendship is Magic

DragonShy

Winter Wrap Up

Sonic Rainboom

A Dog and Pony Show

The Cutie Mark Chronicles

The Best Night Ever

Season 2:

Return of Harmony

Lesson Zero

Luna Eclipsed

Sweet and Elite

It's About Time

Hurricane Fluttershy

A Canterlot Wedding

Season 3:

The Crystal Empire

Magic Duel

Too many Pinies

Sleepless in Ponyville

Keep calm and Flutter On

Magical Mystery Cure

Season 4:

Princess Twilight Sparkle

Flight to the Finish

Power Ponies

Bats

Pinkie Pride

Maud Pie

Inspiration Manifestation

Twilights Kingdom

Season 5:

The Cutie Map

Castle Sweet Castle

Tanks For the Memories

The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone

Amending Fences

Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep

Rarity Investigates

Crusaders of the Lost Mark

The Mane Attraction

The Cutie Remark

Season 6:

The Crystalling

Gauntlet of Fire

A Hearths Warming Tale

No Second Prances

Stranger than Fan Fiction

The Times they are a Changeling

Every Little Thing she does

To Where and Back Again

Season 7:

Celestia Advice

Rock Solid Friendship

A Royal Problem

Discordant Harmony

The Perfect Pear

Fame and Misfortune

Campfire Tales

Daring Done

A Health of Information

Secrets and Pies

Shadow Play

 

I tried narrowing each season down to 6-10 episodes to make the best MLP experience. It is probably the list I would send someone who wants to watch MLP but is intimidated by nearly 200 episodes. This way it is narrowed down to about 70

 

Edited November 2, 2017 by Ryanmahaffe

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

29 minutes ago, Ryanmahaffe said:

Season 1: 

Friendship is Magic

DragonShy

Winter Wrap Up

Sonic Rainboom

A Dog and Pony Show

The Cutie Mark Chronicles

The Best Night Ever

Season 2:

Return of Harmony

Lesson Zero

Luna Eclipsed

Sweet and Elite

Hurricane Fluttershy

A Canterlot Wedding

Season 3:

The Crystal Empire

Magic Duel

Too many Pinies

Sleepless in Ponyville

Keep calm and Flutter On

Magical Mystery Cure

Season 4:

Princess Twilight Sparkle

Flight to the Finish

Power Ponies

Bats

Pinkie Pride

Maud Pie

Inspiration Manifestation

Twilights Kingdom

Season 5:

The Cutie Map

Castle Sweet Castle

Tanks For the Memories

The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone

Amending Fences

Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep

Rarity Investigates

Crusaders of the Lost Mark

The Mane Attraction

The Cutie Remark

Season 6:

The Crystalling

Gauntlet of Fire

A Hearths Warming Tale

No Second Prances

Stranger than Fan Fiction

The Times they are a Changeling

Every Little Thing she does

To Where and Back Again

Season 7:

Celestia Advice

Rock Solid Friendship

A Royal Problem

Discordant Harmony

The Perfect Pear

Fame and Misfortune

Campfire Tales

Daring Done

A Health of Information

Secrets and Pies

Shadow Play

 

I tried narrowing each season down to 6-10 episodes to make the best MLP experience. It is probably the list I would send someone who wants to watch MLP but is intimidated by nearly 200 episodes. This way it is narrowed down to about 70

 

You might want to include Its About Time in season 2, since it ties so importantly into the season five finale.

Edited November 2, 2017 by ShootingStar159

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

1 minute ago, ShootingStar159 said:

You’d want to include Its About Time in season 2, since it ties so importantly into the season five finale.

Season 4 moreso but yes you are right, I will edit it in.

[Tacodidra 61,199]

I think the list posted by @Ryanmahaffe is pretty comprehensive. I'd add "Griffon the Brush Off" and "Boast Busters" for continuity reasons, and possibly "Wonderbolts Academy" as I consider it an important episode for Rainbow Dash's character development.

[Thrond 3,263]

I too will mostly go with @Ryanmahaffe's list, although I'd probably put more episodes from the first two seasons and fewer from the later ones, and a list of my personal favourites would probably look fairly different. Ultimately, I think the second, third, and fourth season are all fairly similar, whereas the others are all subtly but noticeably distinct. I would personally add season 1's "Fall Weather Friends," "Suited for Success," and "Party of One," as well as 2's "The Last Roundup," and 3's "Wonderbolts Academy." 

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

14 hours ago, Tacodidra said:

I think the list posted by @Ryanmahaffe is pretty comprehensive. I'd add "Griffon the Brush Off" and "Boast Busters" for continuity reasons, and possibly "Wonderbolts Academy" as I consider it an important episode for Rainbow Dash's character development.

I was trying to compile a list that was more just enjoyable episodes than anything else, if someone watches these and really enjoys them, they can watch the rest and the continuity will fit even better.

 

11 hours ago, AlexanderThrond said:

I too will mostly go with @Ryanmahaffe's list, although I'd probably put more episodes from the first two seasons and fewer from the later ones, and a list of my personal favourites would probably look fairly different. Ultimately, I think the second, third, and fourth season are all fairly similar, whereas the others are all subtly but noticeably distinct. I would personally add season 1's "Fall Weather Friends," "Suited for Success," and "Party of One," as well as 2's "The Last Roundup," and 3's "Wonderbolts Academy." 

I initially didn't want to have so many for the later seasons, but it just kinda came naturally.

[whitemagemog 21]

Thanks for the list, I'm doing the research for the purpose of correcting my own ignorance on the show/ as a way to understand the fandom abit better. I watched the first seven episodes so far but I'll admit that I'm having difficulty keeping myself coming back so I think I'll switch to the recommended list! You're all very sweet for helping me out

[Castle Bleck 19,375]

According to Downfall!Hitler, watching the Season 1 premiere first (which I did) is a must:

 

 

[Adderbane 121]

3 hours ago, whitemagemog said:

Thanks for the list, I'm doing the research for the purpose of correcting my own ignorance on the show/ as a way to understand the fandom abit better. I watched the first seven episodes so far but I'll admit that I'm having difficulty keeping myself coming back so I think I'll switch to the recommended list! You're all very sweet for helping me out

If you want to understand the fandom, you may want to look at some of the fan works too.  Here's a couple significant ones.

Lullaby for a Princess

Save Derpy

In my opinion, the first season was a bit boring at times, but it does a lot of important characterization work.

[whitemagemog 21]

On 06/11/2017 at 8:24 PM, Adderbane said:

If you want to understand the fandom, you may want to look at some of the fan works too.  Here's a couple significant ones.

Lullaby for a Princess

Save Derpy

In my opinion, the first season was a bit boring at times, but it does a lot of important characterization work.

I'll definitely take a good look into these! Thanks for the help

On 06/11/2017 at 6:01 PM, The Artist Formerly Known As A.V. said:

According to Downfall!Hitler, watching the Season 1 premiere first (which I did) is a must:

 

 

lmao what even is this? xD

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

2 hours ago, whitemagemog said:

I'll definitely take a good look into these! Thanks for the help

lmao what even is this? xD

It’s a German film, about the final days of WWII. This scene turned into a meme, where you make up translations so Hitler is ranting about whatever the creator wants. It’s been around a few years now.

[whitemagemog 21]

8 minutes ago, ShootingStar159 said:

It’s a German film, about the final days of WWII. This scene turned into a meme, where you make up translations so Hitler is ranting about whatever the creator wants. It’s been around a few years now.

Oh, I'm not up with the memes but its funny I'll give you that.