Ranking the 23rd episodes

[KH7672 1,604]

Almost done with the rankings as we get to the 23rd episodes where even more than the 22nd these episodes were either end of season events or not. May not be as disliked though but we'll see.

1. The Cutie Mark Chronicles- The quintessential Mane 6 episode of Season 1 and whether it's the individual personalities in the flashbacks, to the stories themselves, to the Crusaders as the framing device. This is such a solidly put together episode.

2. The Big Mac Question- The final episode before the shows big showdown and finale and there is so much heart in this secondary character arc. From the sentiments of Big Mac and Sugar Belle. To the inclusion and muddled contribution of Spike, Discord, Mrs. Cake and the Crusaders. It's such a solid episode ending on a high note for every character involved.

3. Ponyville Confidential- The episode to utilize Diamond Tiara to her fullest antagonistic potential and it is fantastic. On top of the Crusaders getting a serious lesson in gossip and slander and handling it with tact and grace.

4. Where the Apple Lies- The Apple family really had grown on me at this point and getting to see to only a different side of Applejack but Big Mac too is such a delight and the growing lies just keep the entertainment up. Plus is it me or is Spoiled Rich oddly tolerable in this flashback which is another positive I wasn't anticipating.

5. Sounds of Silence- Let me get the low reasoning out of the way and that's the continuous trend of Fluttershy being the better of who she's paired with. But I'm no stick in the mud because Autumn Blaze really is the life of this episode. Both her personality and song can't ruin my issues with other characters and is what keeps this episode up.

6. Secrets and Pies- Pinkie gets to be energetic, sluthy, and sympathetic in her endeavor to understand Rainbow Dash and Rainbow Dash even shows a caring side just not in the best way. Although I won't lie and say it might be a little too over the top, but still entertaining.

7. Inspiration Manifestation- A fine Spike and Rarity episode, with even a little Owlowiscious, with a great lesson for Spike and some nice opportunity for Rarity to be over the top. Although all this mostly happens in the third act and the other two especially the first is kinda dull.

8. The Hooffields and McColts- It's a fine episode but the Hooffields and McColts themselves just aren't very memorable. It's the weakest of the Season 5 map missions but It's not bad.

[Megas 27,742]

Fuck this one was actually pretty hard thinking of the top episodes

1) Cutie Mark Chronicles - both a good origin of all the mane 6, but also what brought them together. Not just one of the best but one of the most important
2) Sound of Silence - Autumn Blaze is just amazing, that she singlehandedly makes this one of the best S8 episodes
3) Screw it, Secrets And Pies - This is a really dumb episode but dammit, it has no right being as fun as it was
4) Where the Apple Lies - A good exploration of why AJ is honest about everything
5) Ponyville Confidential - Diamond Tiara is goes from being a shallow bitchy bully to a full on tyrant and it's actually fun to watch. Unfortunately a lot of the episode can get pretty uncomfortable
6) Inspiration Manifestation - Rarity going crazy can get pretty funny, but otherwise it's pretty meh
7) Hoofields And McColts - Just a really boring episode that makes Twilight screw up constantly only to let Fluttershy fix everything

[Thrond 3,263]

Controversial opinions ahoy!

1. The Cutie Mark Chronicles - I think these flashbacks are really charming, and I'm always glad to see the mane six's past. That they were brought together by Dash's Sonic Rainboom is a fun coincidence... do not want to consider it much more than that. It's one of the few CMC episodes that I like from the first two seasons, but maybe that's because they're barely in it. 
2. Inspiration Manifestation - I usually like Spike episodes, and I liked this one in particular because it directly addressed his crush on Rarity. I was honestly surprised to see the show bring it back after this. Plus, possessed Rarity was pretty funny and actually kinda intense. 
3. Hoofields and McColts - I think this episode is funny, and I like its quirky way of suggesting Twilight expects too much of herself because she's a princess. She seems almost egotistical in this one and I find that hilarious. Only problem is that I think the ending is too cutesy. 
4. Secrets and Pies - The immaturity of the characterization in this one gets on my nerves a little bit, but it's also really clever underneath that. I think all of the dialogue in this is hilarious, and then there's crazy stuff like Pinkie imagining Dash as an evil pie-hating monster. I mean that's just great. 
5. The Big Mac Question - Pretty funny, though I think all of the characters should have known better than to make the decisions they did here. This one has a solid flow but I'm not entirely convinced by the moral, because it kinda looks like the reason everything turned out okay is just because the stakes weren't that high to begin with. Still, it's kinda fun.
6. Where the Apple Lies - I really wish this show weren't so predictable, and as much as I admire this for showing a different side of Applejack and Big Mac, I think it has some weird implications. What happened to Applejack's open-mindedness after this? She seemed pretty dedicated to tradition by the time the series started. But I really do like the idea. 
7. Ponyville Confidential - It's refreshing that the CMC weren't seeking their cutie marks for once, but there's a cynical tone to this one that I don't really like. The CMC gladly embarrass their friends and family for some time in the spotlight, and everyone else is a hypocrite... I dunno, I don't wanna see these characters in that light. 
8. Sounds of Silence - This episode is annoying. I don't like the forced peril at the end, and I don't like Fluttershy being dumb or Applejack having no patience for her, but most of all I don't like Autumn Blaze. I just wanted her to shut up. 

[Will Guide 21,362]

Well, my personal favorite is the popular vote so far. I always love episodes that reveal more of our character's origin. The Cutie Mark Chronicles is one I love to rewatch over and over for such reason.

And in Will Guide's experience, being able to personally and secretly witness Twilight's Entrance Exam behind an invisibility bubble, is a much better experience than flashbacks or TV screen. That little adventure ties in with the S5's finale episode. It warms my heart as Will Guide to see Baby Spike for the first time and see in person the Sonic Rainboom that would bring the Mane 6 together wheter they knew it or not 

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

Damn, I just skipped a lot of episode ranking (I didn't visit this site as often as I used to), and now we are near the end again. Oh well...

1. The Cutie Mark Chronicle - This ep is very very important, you must not skip it. It is where the mane 6 started and Rainbow Dash is the one who started everything, how cool is that? And they bring this up again in Cutie Remark to empathize how important RD's attempt to save her best friend in SONIC SPEED was.

2. Secret & Pies - The funniest episode of season 7 and the actual last good Pinkie Pie episode in term of comedy. This ep is just so much fun to watch that you forgot how dumb the plot really is. This ep just has season 1 vibes that lost in the late stage of the show.

3. Sound of Silence - The answer is simple, it's Autumn Blaze who sold this ep to me. This character just have so much energy in her that I want a friend like this in real life. This character is like Pinkie, she's talking a lot but unlike Pinkie Pie, she didn't talking nonsense.

 

ok, ok don't get mad at me, Pinkie. I still love you... for different reasons.

4. Ponyville Confidential - This ep has Diamond Tiara in her perfect form, I have to say Diamond Tiara has some leader qualities in this ep. CMC suffering their consequences is harsh which is very rare in the show like this, I like it. 

5. Inspiration Manifestation - Crazy pony is always fun and crazy Rarity never cease to amaze me. This is another good episode for Spike and I don't think there is any bad Spike episodes of season 4.

6. The Big Mac Question - The reveal and the wedding are what sold this ep for me, they tied with the Perfect Pear really well. The first 2 acts are meh, I feel bored watching it. It has Saddle Row Review kind of storytelling but Saddle Row is much more entertaining with back and forth between characters, they should raise the stakes more and improve the comedy. This ep has hearts, I appreciate that.

7. Where the Apple Lies - A very predictable episode and very unoriginal story but still pretty good for anyone who has interesting in AJ's little backstories. (AJ's best stories usually come from her past anyway)

8. Hoofield & McColts - Very weak episode of season 5, I don't have much this to say about it. 

[Sparklefan1234 171,960]

The Cutie Mark Chronicles & Inspiration Manifestation are my two favorite 23rd episodes.

 

Ponyville Confidential is my most hated episode in all of Friendship is Magic. 

[Here No Longer 5,276]

1. Inspiration Manifestation (Probably one of the best of if not the best of all the Rarity or Spike episodes)
2. The Cutie Mark Chronicles (I don't like this as much as others do, but it's still a fairly good episode. Would be better if Scoots wasn't so f***ing annoying) 
3. Secrets and Pies (Very middling episode)
4. Sound of Silence (AJ needed to get her @$$ kicked, just saying)
5. Ponyville Confidential (My opinion on this one has really soured over time...)
6. Hoofields and Mccolts (Really glad I missed it the first time around, it's pretty bad)
7. Where the Apple Lies (I vote lobotomy.)

 

Needless to say, 23rd episodes are rarely good.

Edited October 31, 2019 by Spider Demon

[Rushing cash 836]

I can't decide, so many great episodes...lets start with the best ones

The cutie mark chronicles is giving much needed backstory about the main 6, and just a fun episode to watch. Inspiration manifestation is a really good spike episode and generous evil crazy rarity is awesome. Secrets and pies, its such a funny episode, its an stupid episode with ridiculous story and plot but crazy pinkie is just too good with her shenanigans. Sounds of silence is my second favorite season 8 episode and just a really good overall episode with best species finally appears. The big mac question is such a lovely ,funny and sweet episode with not only big mac married sugar belle but LYRA AND BONBON PROPOSED TO EACH OTHER! These episodes were amazing, I just can't decide which is slightly better between those.

Where the apple lies, although it brings some problems regarding the apples age, I mean its after their parents died so applebloom is supposed to be there and she is the same age as diamond tiara but apparently her parents did not have her yet? Other than that this episode is so fun, it has a nice story and really entertaining moments.

The rest are either decent or even mediocre, nothing terrible through. 

[Oleks 1,993]

1-2. The Cutie Mark Chronicles, The Big Mac Question – I equally love these episodes, the former is fundamental to the lore, the latter is just very satisfying and well-made. I only voted for The Big Mac Question, because it had fewer votes.
3. Sounds of Silence – I wish we had more Kirin episodes, and I hope to see this race have a more prominent role in G5.
4. Where the Apple Lies – an interesting episode that gave us some rather unexpected backstory. If only all the main characters had episodes like this one at some point.
5. Ponyville Confidential – this one had a lot of funny moments, and revealed some peculiar secrets. I still don’t understand how Equestrian typewriters work though.
6-8. Inspiration Manifestation, The Hooffields and McColts, Secrets and Pies – not among my favorite episodes, but I can’t say I really dislike any of them.
 

[Js250476 1,367]

Oh jeez a ton of great episodes this collection has. Cutie Mark Chronicles is a classic and a great origin story for the Mane 6. Where the Apple Lies is a great flashback and lore episode for Applejack and Big Mac (even provides more Derpy lore) Sounds Of Silence is awesome from Autumn Blaze alone. And The Big Mac Question blew my mind away from the awesome useage of characters and highly emotional wedding for Big Mac (made me much more sentimental then I expected) 

[Cash In 22,456]

1. Sounds of Silence (S8) - It has Autumn Blaze, so it wins by default.
2. The Big Mac Question (S9) - Wraps up the Big Mac x Sugar Belle arc nicely. Nothing felt forced or rushed and the humour was on point.
3. Ponyville Confidential (S2) - I loved this one solely because Diamond Tiara is the equivalent of a mob boss. The rest of the episode has issues, but I get some entertainment value in this one.
4. The Hoofields and McColts (S5) - Yeah? I liked this one. Not perfect, but I enjoyed it.
5. Where the Apple Lies (S6) - Teenage Big Mac carried this episode for me.
6. The Cutie Mark Chronicles (S1) - Good origin story, but I don't really like this one as much as other people.
7. Secrets and Pies (S7) - This was an odd episode. 
8. Inspiration Manifestation (S4) - I didn't really get this episode. I felt like I was on an acid trip.

Edited October 3, 2021 by Cash_In

[ChB 18,557]

Sound of Silence. I really enjoyed that one, whereas the others were either above average or "meh."

[bigbertha 414]

1. The Cutie Mark Chronicles

2. Ponyville Confidential

3. The Big Mac Question

4. Where the Apple Lies

5. Sounds of Silence

6. Inspiration Manifestation

7. The Hoofields and McColts

8. Secrets and Pies 

[Astralshy 27,089]

And here's my list :> I don't hate any of these episode, just my fav order 

1. The Cutie Mark Chronicles
2. Ponyville Confidential
3. Sounds of Silence
4. The Big Mac Question
5. Secrets and Pies 
6. Inspiration Manifestation
7. Where the Apple Lies
8. The Hoofields and McColts