Vote for the Best and Worst Episodes of Season 9!

[Music Chart Fan 819]

Now that Season 9 has officially finished airing, what do you think were the best and worst (or, if you prefer, your favorite and least favorite) episodes of the season? In the poll above, you can vote for as many or as few episodes for each question as you wish, although many people traditionally have given a top 5 and bottom 5. At the bottom of each question, there is also a "None / Prefer not to answer" option. Also, feel free to post and explain your choices. Later on, I'll post the top 5 episodes that I liked most this season. Thanks for voting!

[Rushing cash 845]

Top 5:

1. The beginning of the end- best 2 parter in the series.
2. The ending of the end- the best finale in the series
3. The last problem- amazing end to the series, couldn't have asked for something better.
4. Frenemies- a villains episode!
5. The last crusade or between dark and down 

bottom 5:

1. Uprooted- its not terrible, but I didn't like it.
2. The last laugh- very disappointing episode 
3. Sweat and smokey- its pretty mediocre
4. Dragon droped- its decent
5. 2,4,6, greaaat or trivial pursuit- I like both episodes, but there are a lot better ones.

Its was a great season, I would say there were 4 or 5 10\10 episodes, 6 or 7 9\10 episodes, 2 8\10 episdoes, 6 or 7 7\10 episodes, 2 or 3 6\10, 1 5\10 and another 1 of 4\10.

One of the best seasons, if not the best. Definitely up there with seasons 5 and 7.

[Thrond 3,272]

Best:

1. The Point of No Return - Really funny episode which provides a neat twist on Twilight’s perfectionism by initially seeming to validate it.
2. Frenemies - This is really funny, just one great joke after another, and focusing exclusively on the villains is a delightful change of place.
3. Common Ground - I really enjoyed how Rainbow just wanted to help but still got to learn something, and I find Quibble’s earnest struggle to understand sports really endearing and relatable.
4. Sparkle’s Seven - Really funny fanfic you’ve got there. Plus it’s great to see Spike’s place in Twilight’s family acknowledged.
5. Growing Up is Hard to Do - Yeah, yeah, it’s out-of-place, I know. I still think this is really sharp otherwise.

Worst:

1. Dragon Dropped - This makes it look like Rarity only cares about Spike because he does work for her, and that’s kinda messed up.
2. 3, 2, 1, Greaaat! - Who actually wants to watch Dash be this rude? I mean she’s always been lazy, but she puts in 110% effort where it counts. Extra points for half-decent moral.
3. A Trivial Pursuit - Weird faces and screaming does not equal a funny cartoon. 
4. The Summer Sun Setback - I really don’t feel like this was the best time to try protecting Twilight’s feelings, and I think the idea that she should be more calm than her friends is just awful. Glad they didn’t stick with that.
5. Sweet and Smoky - There were already two other episodes this season with this exact same moral, and they were way more interesting. 

[BastementSparkle 20,335]

Best: Frenemies. This was just a really great and fun episode. Finally getting to see things from the villains point of view was a really cool, and despite them still being evil this episode did a great job of making them comedic and even humanizing them a bit. I found myself a lot more attached to the trio of this episode and just enjoying them as characters much more (Maybe a little too much for my liking, based on what happened later.) but nonetheless this was just a really good episode.

Worst: The Last Problem. Unpopular opinion time, but I really, really don't like this episode. Twilight has to leave her friends behind, we jarringly jump like 20 years into the future where everything we knew about Equestria is radically different, spend a lot of the episode with much older versions of the characters we're unfamiliar with, and get a very definitive ending that tries it's hardest to beat it into your skull just how over the show is. By skipping so much, this episode completely shattered the illusion that life in Equestria would continue on without us, and to me, it denied me any real sense of closure. I feel like I wasn't given the chance to say goodbye to the characters I love as I knew them, it really feels like they moved on without even saying goodbye to me. This episode just hurt to watch, and I feel like it's an episode that just takes things away without giving anything of value back. The ending of the show is already really sad, and this episode just twisted the knife as hard as it could.

 I know a lot of people are really gonna disagree on this one, cause pretty much everything I hate about this episode is something someone else loves. But I watched the leaks, I've had a long time to think over this episode and my feelings on it and I haven't warmed up to it one bit, if anything my frustration at it has only grown. I really wish I could love this episode like so many others do, but this episode is just bitter without any sweet to balance it.

Edited October 16, 2019 by BastementSparkle

[JH24 385]

Best:

She's all Yak: Heartwarming and wholesome.

Dragon Dropped: Very relatable. I experienced something similar and fell in the trap of jealousy.

The Last Problem: An emotional and memorable ending to a series that has been a part of me for almost 10 years.

 

Worst: 

Sweet and Smoky: Was not a fan of Garble's change, especially because I still didn't find him sympathetic enough after all he did to Spike.

2, 4, 6, Great... Rainbow Dash at her worst. 

 

Edited October 17, 2019 by JH24

[Thrond 3,272]

On 10/15/2019 at 5:44 PM, AlexanderThrond said:

Best:

1. The Point of No Return - Really funny episode which provides a neat twist on Twilight’s perfectionism by initially seeming to validate it.
2. Frenemies - This is really funny, just one great joke after another, and focusing exclusively on the villains is a delightful change of place.
3. Common Ground - I really enjoyed how Rainbow just wanted to help but still got to learn something, and I find Quibble’s earnest struggle to understand sports really endearing and relatable.
4. Sparkle’s Seven - Really funny fanfic you’ve got there. Plus it’s great to see Spike’s place in Twilight’s family acknowledged.
5. Growing Up is Hard to Do - Yeah, yeah, it’s out-of-place, I know. I still think this is really sharp otherwise.

 

Wait, I can’t believe I forgot Going to Seed. Put that one at #3; I really love its gentle vibe, and Applejack’s character arc of reconnecting with childhood imagination is something I found really endearing. 

[Sparklefan1234 185,198]

Best (In My Opinion)

1. Going to Seed: The only episode this season where I felt relaxed because there weren't any HUGE stakes. 

2. Between Dark And Dawn: Luna & Celestia bonding is nice to see. 

3. Beginning of the End: An exciting start to the final season of Friendship is Magic.

 

Worst (In My Opinion)

1. The Last Problem: I felt like this was "just another episode" instead of a FINAL episode. I think the fact that they MMC'd it also hurt it. 

2. The Last Laugh: I thought this was *extremely* disappointing considering the characters that were involved in this episode. 

3. Dragon Dropped: I thought this whole episode was weird & cringeworthy. 

 

[Here No Longer 5,289]

Note that I have only seen through "2,4,6 Greaaat"

 

Top 3:

1. Student Counsel
2. the Beginning of the End
3. Common Ground

 

Bottom 3:

1. 2,4,6 Greaaat
2. Sweet and Smoky 
3. Going to Seed

Edited October 18, 2019 by Spider Demon

[Rushing cash 845]

10 minutes ago, Spider Demon said:

Note that I have only seen through "The Last Laugh"

 

Top 3:

1. Student Counsel
2. the Beginning of the End
3. Common Ground

 

Bottom 3:

1. 2,4,6 Greaaat
2. Sweet and Smoky 
3. Going to Seed

So how did you rate "2,4,6 greaaat" than? 

[Here No Longer 5,289]

10 minutes ago, Rushing cash said:

So how did you rate "2,4,6 greaaat" than? 

I got the order of those switched up for some reason, my bad. Partially because I watched 2,4,6 first for some reason...

Edited October 18, 2019 by Spider Demon

[Dark Qiviut 22,656]

Quote

What do you think were the BEST episodes of Season 9?

I voted every single episode with at least an A- (paired down here), and there are twelve altogether.

1. The Big Mac Question: A+
2. The Last Crusade: A+
3. Sparkle's Seven: A+
4. The Last Problem: A
5. Dragon Dropped: A
6. The Summer Sun Setback: A
7. Between Dark and Dawn: A
8. Common Ground: A
9. Frenemies: A
10. She's All Yak: A-
11. The Last Laugh: A-
12. The Point of No Return: A-

Quote

What do you think were the WORST episodes of Season 9?

246G is the only bad episode all season (no failures, either), so it gets that vote. (I originally voted for Ending Of and Growing Up as well, but removed them.)

[Sondash Studios 4,879]

Probably my top favorite was the beginning of the end since Sombra's return was just gold and so rewarding after waiting so long.

And for my least favorite... probably 2, 4, 6, Greeaat or whatever its called. It wasn't that bad but it didn't attract me much.

[Cash In 23,414]

My favourites were Sparkle's Seven, The Point of No Return, Going to Seed and The Summer Sun Setback. Least favourite is between Sweet and Smoky and 2, 4, 6, Greaaat. Those were awful.

Edited October 14, 2021 by Cash_In

[Lucky Bolt 35,250]

All of season 9 was epic! But, if I had to choose just two for best and worst, I'd say....

The Last Problem is my favorite by far, while I'd say the worst is 2, 4, 6, Greaat. 

[Megas 28,368]

Best - Sparkle's Seven felt like a good celebration of the show and its characters, which is unsurprising given it was made by the VAs

Worst - 246Great made me drop S9 completely and curse the writers, which sorta goes without saying

[FirePuppy 739]

I honestly cannot imagine why Frenemies got most votes for best, since that episode doesn't have any of the fans' favorite characters -- unless, of course, their favorite characters are the villains.

[Music Chart Fan 819]

All right, as I've done for most of the previous seasons, I've compiled what I think are my favorite episodes this season. It's weird to think that this is the last time I'll be doing this for this show. It's good to have a record of my taking stock of the episodes I most liked from each season, and to go back and see the previous episodes that I overall liked the most. So, for the final time, here are, not necessarily in rank order, what I believe are the five episodes I most liked in Season 9.

The Big Mac Question (Episode 23): Many of the callbacks and symbolism around the proposals and the wedding were nice, and I liked that both of them were making plans to propose to each other. I also liked the back-and-forth between Spike and Discord, and I relate to Discord's mixture of sarcasm and cynicism, even while he does ultimately care and help out in his own way. And I think that there are a couple of good lessons here. The first is about how "the most romantic things are usually the simplest". And the other is that Big Mac and the Apple siblings can remember, look up to, and strive to emulate their parents in the good things that they did, but the Apple siblings should also remember that their parents weren't perfect in every single way, and they sometimes just had to do their imperfect best to overcome challenges in their own lives.

Sparkle's Seven (Episode 4): As I mentioned before, I don't relate to or buy into the sibling rivalry premise between Twilight and Shining Armor, but there are other scenes and aspects of this episode to like. I liked Rainbow's and Rarity's working together and the callbacks to Shadow Spade and "Rarity Investigates!". Rainbow's "seducing" Zephyr at Rarity's insistence is amusing (although indulging his fantasy that Rainbow has secret feelings for him may not be good in the long run). Spike's and Fluttershy's working together was also good. It was cool that Spike and Luna made a secret pact to trick everyone. And it was nice to see Twilight and Shining Armor confirm Spike as their sibling that they've always had.

Dragon Dropped (Episode 19): I might have liked this episode, at least in part, for some "wrong" reasons. I can't help being amused at and thinking of sarcastic responses to a lot of the melodrama of this episode - particularly Rarity's getting distraught at Spike's lack of attention to her, not doing work for her, and having plans that don't involve her. I also found Rarity's attempts to "seduce" Spike away from Gabby amusing, even as those things demonstrate that Rarity knows what Spike likes. Twilight's having to deal with Rarity's fainting couches is funny, and her looking out for Spike is always nice to see. Gabby generally makes a pretty good showing. And I prefer to see the ending of this episode as Spike's moving past his previous blind idolization of and crush on Rarity, and into a more healthy friendship.

A Horse Shoe-In (Episode 20): I liked the simple, practical problem that's being worked on in this episode - Starlight's conducting interviews to find a vice headmare or headstallion - and the fairly reasonable process by which Starlight tries to find a suitable candidate. The struggle that Starlight goes through about keeping Trixie in the running, despite her underperformance, is understandable. Octavia, Dr. Whooves, and Big Mac put in generally good showings. It's kind of nice to see Trixie stick up for Gallus. And I think the eventual choice of Sunburst as vice headstallion is a pretty good one. I was (and still am) skeptical about Trixie's being the student counselor, but, based on the final episode, Starlight, Sunburst, and Trixie seem to have done a good (or at least good enough) job with the School of Friendship.

The Last Problem (Episode 26): I certainly have my issues with this episode (though I would still be interested to read what @Truffles thinks). But I think it's an interesting idea to have a student of Twilight's be in a similar position to how Twilight was at the beginning of the show, with Twilight thus being in a good position to relate and to reach out in an effective way (although I wish Luster Dawn were a little less insufferable and simplistic in her dismissal of friendship). I think it's good to see that Twilight is concerned about how different things will be when she's coronated and moves to Canterlot. It's also an interesting idea to have the rest of the Mane Six bury themselves in the work of preparing for the coronation in order to take their minds off of the impending big changes and uncertainty (although I wish the rest of the Mane Six weren't quite so bluntly dismissive of Twilight's concern before it all comes spilling out just before the train ride). Finally, it's bittersweet to see what most of the main characters have done with their lives, and think about how far they've come from when they started.

[Flash-Magnus 16]

I am claim the season 9 is worst just like the season 8 because didn't show another characters from the IDW comic again just like the season 7 to united the Universe of MLP:FiM but Grogar (not Discord) has a good past story and many people want to hear anything story about him and Gusty the Great in more than thousand year ago before Luna and Celestia was born. Yeah Grogar and Gusty is the best charcaters but the story is still unclear in the season 9, that is the problem even though many people are interested in their stories and so am I.

[Rushing cash 845]

I am surprised to see sparkles seven is tied as number 1, didn't know people liked this episode that much.

Edited November 15, 2019 by Rushing cash

[Miss 6,241]

Frenemies!!!! Glad many people agree it is the best, also glad many people agree "2,4,6 Greaaat" is the worst. 

However, surprised Uprooted, Sweet and Smoky, and Dragon Dropped all have so many votes when I thought Uprooted and DD were some of the best episodes this season, and Sweet and Smoky was good and not as bad as 

Sparkle's Seven, Going to Seed, and Daring Doubt (not that these are bad, but not as good as Sweet and Smoky)

[Rushing cash 845]

13 minutes ago, Misscellanio said:

Frenemies!!!! Glad many people agree it is the best, also glad many people agree "2,4,6 Greaaat" is the worst. 

However, surprised Uprooted, Sweet and Smoky, and Dragon Dropped all have so many votes when I thought Uprooted and DD were some of the best episodes this season, and Sweet and Smoky was good and not as bad as 

Sparkle's Seven, Going to Seed, and Daring Doubt (not that these are bad, but not as good as Sweet and Smoky)

Frenemies is awesome, no surprise there, the fandom loved this episode to bits. The fandom disliked 2,4,6, greaaaat majorly, it gets as much hate as non compete clous from season 8, even though I kinda like this episode. I am surprised that so many people disliked trivial pursuit, its tied with sweet and smoky which a big part of the fandom hated(while TP is a problematic episode, as an episode by itself its enjoyable, to many memes but I can't say I don't enjoy the episode). I expected a better reception to dragon dropped as well, I though it was an alright episode but the fandom seemed to like it. 

 

[Miss 6,241]

9 minutes ago, Rushing cash said:

Frenemies is awesome, no surprise there, the fandom loved this episode to bits. The fandom disliked 2,4,6, greaaaat majorly, it gets as much hate as non compete clous from season 8, even though I kinda like this episode. I am surprised that so many people disliked trivial pursuit, its tied with sweet and smoky which a big part of the fandom hated(while TP is a problematic episode, as an episode by itself its enjoyable, to many memes but I can't say I don't enjoy the episode). I expected a better reception to dragon dropped as well, I though it was an alright episode but the fandom seemed to like it. 

 

I personally also think TP is at the bottom of the barrel this season. I still like it, but Twilight is an asshole. Very funny, but that's all it really has going for it. 

[Rushing cash 845]

1 minute ago, Misscellanio said:

I personally also think TP is at the bottom of the barrel this season. I still like it, but Twilight is an asshole. Very funny, but that's all it really has going for it. 

Its definitely one of my least favorite episodes this season, it was enjoyable but this season had a lot of better episodes. The interactions between the characters what really made the episode for me.

[Prince Firemane 309]

To be honest, I really didn't like this season at all. The entire overarching storyline of the season, preparing Twilight to rule Equestria solo after Celestia and Luna retire, is one that I really don't like because it came completely out of nowhere. Celestia seemed to just want to retire on a whim because she's bored and doesn't seem to take into account the sheer enormity of the ramifications on Equestria and the world at large that abdicating the throne will have after a solid millennium of ruling. The idea of exchanging power in Equestria is so completely foreign to the populace and Rarity acknowledges that fact. It would be one thing if Celestia and Luna were giving up just the throne, but they're giving up the sun and moon as well; literally turning their backs on their cutie marks in the name of retirement. There are so many unanswered questions about the entire storyline and the entire thing is brought about by Celestia giving in to an alarmingly shortsighted whim. Are Celestia and Luna reaching the end of their lives? Will their functional immortality continue even through retirement? If so, will they demand the throne back once they get bored again? Did Luna give up dreamwalking as well? I could go on. 

Like I said, I really didn't like this season because of its principle storyline. I was pretty much apathetic to the rest of the season and as such, it was hard to choose my most liked/disliked, but I think I did it.

The Beginning of the End was an amazing opener and is perhaps my favorite of the entire series. The stakes were higher and more grand and it was one of the few times I was on the edge of my seat in this series. I loved seeing favorite villains return and I really liked the showcase of just how effective a force Sombra really is when at his prime, something only alluded to in The Crystal Empire. 

Naturally, The Ending of the End bookends the opener in an amazing way as well. Though I have to take points away for the reveal of Discord being Grogar the entire time as Grogar was someone built up to and should've been explored more. But like with The Beginning of the End, I was left on the edge of my seat the entire time and was genuinely worried for the Mane Six's wellbeing and very survival more than once.

However, I didn't enjoy the other episodes as much and those like Sparkle's Seven, Frenemies and Between Dark and Dawn are episodes I only really mention my enjoyment of because of jokes or bits of character moments in these episodes. Shining Armor and Twilight play off each other really well and so do Celestia and Luna. But I was delightfully surprised just how much I enjoyed the dynamic between Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow. Which is especially surprising to me personally because I detest Cozy Glow, but I found her rather enjoyable amongst her fellow villains.

Episodes like Dragon Dropped and The Point of no Return are ones I disliked because of Rarity and Twilight having to learn some pretty basic lessons. Rarity should know better than to think Spike wants nothing to do with her after making a new friend. Twilight shouldn't be allowing her neurotic fears get the best of her. Again. Especially when she's on the cusp of ruling an entire nation.

Uprooted deserves special mention to me because while the episode is alright in a vacuum, it furthered a multi-season plot involving the Student Six that was completely dropped after this episode. It was plainly obvious from the beginning of season 8 onwards that the Student Six were intended to be the third iteration of harmony. The Pillars fostered friendship amongst the pony races, the Mane Six spread that friendship all over Equestria and the Student Six were plainly intended to evolve that friendship to include the species from all over the world. The even went so far as to forge a personal connection with the spirit of the Tree of Harmony and even resurrected it in an image befitting them. Clearly they were meant for more. But nothing more came of it. That's it.

A Horse Shoe-In is an episode I thoroughly detest because it's yet another episode that once again showcases that Trixie and Starlight both are the absolute fucking worst and are equal parts in the most hideously abusive relationship this series ever offered and once again, we're just supposed to be okay with that. Sunrise, sunset.

My least favorite episode of not only season 9, but the series as a whole has to be The Last Problem. There is nothing redeemable in this episode to me I didn't enjoy a single moment of it. The fact is, it's the only episode of the entire series that I genuinely hate. I've never before seen an episode of the series so completely spit on the show's entire theme: friendship, apparently, is not magic after all. Twilight rules without the rest of the Mane Six and they've drifted apart and moved on. The soul-shattering fact of the matter is that their friendship is over and we all know it. Despite all the lip-service to the idea of maintaining friendships, we all know that when you have close friendships for years that literally change your life for the better, getting together at most ((depending on the deliberately ambiguous length of 'a moon')) once a month just simply isn't enough. Anyone who had a best friend in high school that they saw less and less of after graduation knows this. And if that weren't enough, this episode confirms the worst fear that the fandom has had for the last six years: Twilight will indeed outlive her friends. Point. Blank. Period. It's just such an awful note to leave the series on, I really don't understand how anyone can enjoy it let alone call it their favorite episode. I won't begrudge anyone who does of course, but still.

All in all, I really didn't enjoy this season as a whole. There were five that I enjoyed that were worth mentioning but I have to be honest, I struggled to find them. The series didn't go out with the bang I wanted, but instead whimpered to the finish line and I lament that this was the way such an amazing, influential series came to its end.