Scoring Each Season of Friendship is Magic (Season 5)

[Thrond 3,263]

1 hour ago, TheAnimationFana said:

You're right. But "The Cutie Re-Mark" has to be the bleakest episode of the show.

Indeed, though I favour "The Cutie Map" in that regard, because its dark content is a little more grounded. I still think the opening of the second part, where we see the mane six confined in a stone cell, their personalities magically altered, propaganda blaring at them, all without background music, may well be the most disturbing moment in all of Friendship is Magic. 

[imawesome 449]

11 hours ago, AlexanderThrond said:

Indeed, though I favour "The Cutie Map" in that regard, because its dark content is a little more grounded. I still think the opening of the second part, where we see the mane six confined in a stone cell, their personalities magically altered, propaganda blaring at them, all without background music, may well be the most disturbing moment in all of Friendship is Magic. 

I think I like both equally. (haha equally) Which is funny, because I've never liked a finale and premiere the same in MLP: FiM, except in this season. 

I really liked Spike's role in "The Cutie Re-Mark", especially with how poorly he was handled in the season. I also appreciated how much the staff experimented with the ideas presented. However, I wish that it wasn't just Twilight and Spike exploring through those new worlds, I would have really enjoyed seeing the rest of the Mane 6's reactions meeting with their new selves. Quite a missed opportunity in my book. 

With "The Cutie Map", the Mane 6 all had things to do, and it was nice seeing their differing reactions to the village. The mood and tone was also a strong highlight. What I think fell flat in this one was how Starlight Glimmer was handled. The concept of her in general was good, but now look at her in Season 8. All original aspects of her personality washed away, instead of in Season 6, where she developed into a better pony, but kept her personality (which was one of the highlights in the season for me). Maybe that's a flaw for Season 8 instead of this finale, but I still wish they matched closer. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

Just now, imawesome said:

I think I like both equally. (haha equally) Which is funny, because I've never liked a finale and premiere the same in MLP: FiM, except in this season. 

I really liked Spike's role in "The Cutie Re-Mark", especially with how poorly he was handled in the season. I also appreciated how much the staff experimented with the ideas presented. However, I wish that it wasn't just Twilight and Spike exploring through those new worlds, I would have really enjoyed seeing the rest of the Mane 6's reactions meeting with their new selves. Quite a missed opportunity in my book. 

With "The Cutie Map", the Mane 6 all had things to do, and it was nice seeing their differing reactions to the village. The mood and tone was also a strong highlight. What I think fell flat in this one was how Starlight Glimmer was handled. The concept of her in general was good, but now look at her in Season 8. All original aspects of her personality washed away, instead of in Season 6, where she developed into a better pony, but kept her personality (which was one of the highlights in the season for me). Maybe that's a flaw for Season 8 instead of this finale, but I still wish they matched closer. 

I feel that Starlight's personality has remained intact throughout the series.

[imawesome 449]

6 minutes ago, TheAnimationFana said:

I feel that Starlight's personality has remained intact throughout the series.

How?

In almost all episodes now, we don't even see a glimpse of her power-hungry, control freak persona. (Only in "A Matter of Principals" did we get that, but that episode sucked.) She's almost always now that empathetic counselling adviser, which is a role I never wanted her to fill. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

Just now, imawesome said:

How?

In almost all episodes now, we don't even see a glimpse of her power-hungry, control freak persona. (Only in "A Matter of Principals" did we get that, but that episode sucked.) She's almost always now that empathetic counselling adviser, which is a role I never wanted her to fill. 

Being power-hungry isn't her defining character trait. Her impulsiveness is. 

[imawesome 449]

1 minute ago, TheAnimationFana said:

Being power-hungry isn't her defining character trait. Her impulsiveness is. 

In what way was she impulsive in the premiere or finale, the first two times we saw her? 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

 

5 minutes ago, imawesome said:

In what way was she impulsive in the premiere or finale, the first two times we saw her? 

Her whole motivation for being a villain and wanting to remove other people's cutie marks was prompted by her friend leaving her because he got a cutie mark. Then, in the finale, when Twilight shows her that her plan to alter time won't work for her, she tries to destroy Starswirl's time spell out of spite.

 

[imawesome 449]

2 minutes ago, TheAnimationFana said:

Her whole motivation for being a villain and wanting to remove other people's cutie marks was prompted by her friend leaving her because he got a cutie mark. Then, in the finale, when Twilight shows her that her plan to alter time won't work for her, she tries to destroy Starswirl's time spell out of spite.

 

Okay, I'll give you that.

But being power-hungry and a control freak were still major parts of her personality. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

Just now, imawesome said:

Okay, I'll give you that.

But being power-hungry and a control freak were still major parts of her personality. 

Traits that she still showcases in Seasons 6,7, & 8.

[imawesome 449]

1 minute ago, TheAnimationFana said:

Traits that she still showcases in Seasons 6,7, & 8.

Okay, I get Season 6, I feel like they handled her character well in that season. 

In Seasons 7 and 8, though? The only episodes where she has those characteristics would be "A Matter of Principals" and "On the Road to Friendship". 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

7 minutes ago, imawesome said:

Okay, I get Season 6, I feel like they handled her character well in that season. 

In Seasons 7 and 8, though? The only episodes where she has those characteristics would be "A Matter of Principals" and "On the Road to Friendship". 

Season 7:

- Bottles up her anger and possesses others to try and attack Trixie after she sells the Cutie Map.

- Brutally honest with Pinkie being meddlesome regarding her and Maud Pie.

- Swaps the royal sisters' cutie marks in order to break up a fight between them.

- Goes after two random ponies after they attack Rarity.

- Out of desperation, turns Sunburst and herself into children in an effort t rekindle their friendship.

Season 8

- Basically tells Twilight to screw the rules when the EEA shuts the school down.

- Is initially intrigued when Cozy Glow reveals that she intentionally failed her test.

- Forcefully breaks up Rarity and Rainbow Dash to stop their bickering.

Among other examples.

[imawesome 449]

22 minutes ago, TheAnimationFana said:

- Bottles up her anger and possesses others to try and attack Trixie after she sells the Cutie Map.

- Brutally honest with Pinkie being meddlesome regarding her and Maud Pie.

- Swaps the royal sisters' cutie marks in order to break up a fight between them.

- Goes after two random ponies after they attack Rarity.

- Out of desperation, turns Sunburst and herself into children in an effort t rekindle their friendship.

Season 8

- Basically tells Twilight to screw the rules when the EEA shuts the school down.

- Is initially intrigued when Cozy Glow reveals that she intentionally failed her test.

- Forcefully breaks up Rarity and Rainbow Dash to stop their bickering.

A handful of these are minor examples, and the rest don't exemplify the traits I mentioned above. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

To each their own, I suppose.

[imawesome 449]

@TheAnimationFana Yeah, I guess I'm kind of on the fence when it comes to Starlight. 

[Sparklefan1234 172,273]

My Little Pony Season 5 gave us:

1. Amending Fences
2. Castle Sweet Castle
3. Hearthbreakers
4. The Mane Attraction
5. Canterlot Boutique
6. Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
7. Made in Manehattan 
8. Detective Rarity!

I would say Season 5 is pretty awesome overall. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

1 minute ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

My Little Pony Season 5 gave us:

1. Amending Fences
2. Castle Sweet Castle
3. Hearthbreakers
4. The Mane Attraction
5. Canterlot Boutique
6. Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
7. Made in Manehattan 
8. Detective Rarity!

I would say Season 5 is pretty awesome overall. 

Don't forget "Crusaders of The Lost Mark". That episode alone would justify Season 5's existence, even if everything else was poor (Which it most certainly was not.)

[Sparklefan1234 172,273]

1 hour ago, TheAnimationFana said:

Don't forget "Crusaders of The Lost Mark". That episode alone would justify Season 5's existence, even if everything else was poor (Which it most certainly was not.)

 

I'm not a CMC fan which, is why I didn't list "Crusaders of The Lost Mark".  It is an important episode though. 

Edited January 4, 2019 by Sparklefan1234

[ggg-2 3,553]

Brotherhooves Social was definitive for Big Mac's character development.

[RulesofRarity 493]

I use to blindly hate this season due to the introduction of Starlight and the mess that was Do Princesses Dream Magic of Sheep? However, looking at it now I'd honestly say it was better than Season 4. Each of the Mane 6 are likeable here with Rarity, Twilight and especially Fluttershy being the break out stars. Like seriously, Fluttershy becomes the character that she was intended to be this season and it is amazing!

[bigbertha 415]

I greatly dislike this season. Most of the episode attempting to be more mature and emotional fall flat and instead show a lack of maturity. Too many episodes try to tackle seriously subject matter and end up having to dumb them down and remove all nuance from the situation while many others are simply badly written or really boring. Or all three. There are a few highlights, but even those aren't "best of the series" material while the worst episodes are some of my least favorites.

Something I will say though is that the technical aspects are the best they've ever been here. The atmosphere in some episodes is fantastic and the visuals are generally more dynamic than before, though I still prefer the simpler and more cartoony style of seasons 1-3, but I guess that's just personal preference. 

BEST: Make New Friends But Keep Discord, The Cutie Re-Mark, The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows, Bloom and Gloom 

WORST: The Mane Attraction, Princess Spike, Crusaders of the Lost Mark, Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

Well, you can't please everyone, especially not the purists.

[bigbertha 415]

33 minutes ago, TheAnimationFanatic said:

Well, you can't please everyone, especially not the purists.

I wouldn't say I'm a purist. A purist is close minded and denies any quality in later seasons. I don't deny that there are episodes I really like in later seasons. In fact, I enjoyed The Cutie Re-Mark and Bloom and Gloom a lot more on rewatch compared to my first time through. A purist wouldn't have admitted they liked them.

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

40 minutes ago, bigbertha said:

I wouldn't say I'm a purist. A purist is close minded and denies any quality in later seasons. I don't deny that there are episodes I really like in later seasons. In fact, I enjoyed The Cutie Re-Mark and Bloom and Gloom a lot more on rewatch compared to my first time through. A purist wouldn't have admitted they liked them.

I just don't get how anyone can dislike some of the episodes on your "worst" list. But hey, to each his own.

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,596]

Pending on how Season 9 turns out, this is arguably the best season of the show. Nearly episode is either hilarious, dramatic, exciting, or some combination of the three. It has the most thought-provoking premiere with "The Cutie Map" and finale with "The Cutie Re-Mark". 

Edited April 7, 2019 by TheAnimationFanatic

[Them's Seeing Ponies 282]

Hasn't S9 aired only two episodes thus far though?