What would be the worst episode to watch first?

[34908734bdjofh73 61]

Games Ponies Play

 

 

I remember one of my favorite youtubers, ADoseOfBuckley watched this first and he wasn't amused in the slightest. Honestly, I have never laughed at the show...not even a chuckle, so this episode made things worse. I understand they wanted a funny episode before the Twilicorn transformation....but it could have been better. 

 

I also showed my friend, The Show Stoppers, for her first episode..I have regretted it ever since. She watches the show with me, but isn't a brony...but that episode was an awful first impression. 

You bought Nerd Rants too? Great series, aDoseOfBuckley can be rude and bias at times.

 

 

I agree with the "Games Ponies Play" as well.

[Double Jump 9]

 

 

Probably, because it's "girly" and "mundane" It differs why people watch the show. I myself whatch it partly because it's about girls doing their girly stuff. Real stuff: not just shopping, gossip, and boys. So I have no problem with a "girly and mundane" episode. In my list Ticket Master falls into "remarcable episode" category. It's important (it shows other sides of Mane Six and early problems of getting together as a group) and enjoyable.

 

Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh!

You, my friend...SO MANY BROHOOFS! You're right, this show has true female character interactions, which is why I love it!

[Blue Moon 6,341]

Well, they shouldn't watch any of the Part 2 episodes for obvious reasons.

 

However, for normal episodes, I think Spike at Your Service or Magical Mystery Cure would be the worst choices. Spike at Your Service is a pretty dull episode, and for Magical Mystery Cure: they wouldn't know what was going on, and wouldn't really care either as they don't know the characters.

[Super Derpy 535]

Let's see. Probably "Spike At Your Service". For one it was my least favorite episode to date. A person who has never watched the show before would have no idea what is going on. And the episode basically just sucked.

[Wingnut 6,991]

This is a nifty twist on the usual theme (normally people ask for the best episode to show newbies).

 

I agree with most of what has been written so far and I would like to add A Friend in Deed to that list.  For those who still harbor images of the '80s MLP cartoon and perhaps subsequent generations, it opens with the Smile Song and that's a terrible first impression.  Also, Pinkie Pie's obsession with making Cranky smile is a bit too reminiscent of other saccharine girl cartoons. 

[True Rarity 1,240]

Probably the second episode... maybe the first one, or "A Friend in Deed". "The Show Stoppers" might not have been a good one to watch first, either. Here are the reasons why:

 

In the second episode, the serpent (and all the excessive laughter after Pinkie's song) ticked me off. While the sea serpent was complaining, my dad walked in... it wasn't a very good first impression since I was the one who wanted to watch the show.

 

The first one's not as bad as the second, but it's still a little strange.

 

In "A Friend in Deed", Pinkie Pie is quite annoying, and donkeys just don't seem to fit in FiM.

 

Then there's "The Show Stoppers". I was watching that one when my mom came in, and, needless to say, the look she gave the television was not an approving look.

[cmarston1 5,959]

Any episode where the mane 6 or any of the characters act ooc.

Like boast busters which is universally hated and the mane 6 should have realized Trixe was a stage preformer and was putting up an act though got a little too caught up in it. (Also RD and early Rarity have no room to talk about being arrogant.) (Though I don't really hate this episode just find it meh)

Or Ponyville Confidential where they are emotionally crippling to the Cmc MMDW where Rainbow is atrocious as in her worst performance to date and the lesson has to spilled out to her and specifically told to the audience like where morons.

Lastly any Spike episode besides Secret of My Excess and maybe Dragon Quest (Which I liked it just wasted the potential to give Spike an origin story) would be awful first impressions as Spike at your Service makes him idiotic and bumbling and had nothing of value to it and very few people like Just for Sidekicks which lots of episodes are way better.

Edited September 6, 2013 by cmarston1

[spaghettinoodles 298]

Any of the Spike or CMC episodes, since they don't represent the main ponies and the episodes about the CMC or Spike tend to be filler (excluding The Cutie Mark Chronicles).

[Double Jump 9]

You know, as far as "worst episodes to start with," it seems like most of us would agree that a lot of episodes in Season 3 really fit the category. Looking through those episodes, I might have to go with Sleepless in Ponyville as the least bad episode to start on in Season 3.

 

Don't get me wrong, some of my favorite moments from the whole show are in that season and I love a story that builds on previous events. However, maybe Season 4 should bring a few brand new concepts into play. Then, if you're unfamiliar with the show and feel like starting on a recent episode, you'll still enjoy it and feel compelled to go back and watch previous episodes.

[Koelath 445]

universally hated

 

very few people like Just for Sidekicks

You sure do seem to know a lot about the majority opinions of a fanbase of countless individuals all across the planet...Curious. Art thou a witch?

 

Anyway, the worst episode to start on would be Keep Calm And Flutter On or any other continuity-based episode.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Koelath

[Zygen 6,066]

Hmm, I have no idea actually.

 

However I imagine a more girly episode may detour some people from the show. Even something that's a good episode, like suited for success, but to non fans seems more girly.

 

I can't think of any episodes non fans who are first watching the show may dislike for the initial girly theme.

 

I actually didn't watch suited for success my first watch through of mlp, because of the title.

 

And well I learned don't judge a book by its cover well that day...

[H.P. Lance 138]

For an abundant range of reasons that, for each respective episode, are hopefully more obvious than Spike at Your Service's mastery of halving the fun before defecating on most of what's left, I would avoid/steer clear of/beat with a stick all of the following types of episodes:

 

/) Any that feature a mouthy, narcissistic antagonist; their themes regularly oppose the joy of watching the main characters bond through life's other, more relatable hardships, endured with each other rather than through an egocentric pain in the butt. Griffon the Brush Off and Boast Busters spring to mind.  <<Draconequus exempt.

 

/) CMC episodes aren't representative of the main characters, and the CMC themselves are unfortunately often used as a plot device to simply highlight how things should not be done. They always learn their lessons, sure, but the trio sometimes seem deliberately irresponsible. Questionable first impressions ensue.

 

/) Rarity-centric episodes can be difficult to enjoy until the passage of time finally reveals to you exactly how beautiful her character is. Until then, Suited for Success and Sweet and Elite should be stuffed behind a cupboard, with Games Ponies Play rightfully suffocating underneath.

 

/) Anything that comprises the words Magical, Mystery and Cure. Probably at the same time.

 

Of course, most of this has already been covered by fellow members.  As for the recommended episode(s) to watch first, I'd thwack on The Return of Harmony for a 40-minute masterpiece, where John de Lancie's performance complements the Mane Six perfectly. A single episode might be Winter Wrap Up: great idea, solid song, all beautifully executed.

 

On an unrelated note, this thread has highlighted to me that although we all adore the show and its optimistic values, we are still perfectly capable of taking near enough any of the 65 episodes and critically ripping them to shreds for all their flaws...even if it pains us to acknowledge them.

 

So while you're mulling over which episodes would be an abomination to show a newcomer, make sure there's one more thing which that newcomer doesn't see: this thread.

[notdog1996 315]

I could name a few that I think could turn someone away from the series.

 

-''Dragonshy''  Someone actually suggested it to my brother and he hated it.  Now he annoys me all the time because he says he tried it so he has all the rights to bash the show.

 

-''Look before you sleep'' The ending made me cringe.  The rest of the episode wasn't that bad but for a first episode, no.

 

-Any continuity episode because it wouldn't have as much impact.

 

Can't think of any others at the moment.

[MichaelxXxTrixie 433]

Probably all of the spike centered episodes. You have to already be a Brony to be capable of appreciating those episodes in my personal opinion.

[CornBreadGang 514]

So many good episodes... And I have to pick a bad one...

Oh yeah, who could forget The Ticket Master? It's not bad in any sense of the word, but it seemed a little too... Girly. I know some may argue with me, but think about it. Six girls fighting over a ticket to a gala. It had too quick and easy of a resolution, as well, in my opinion.

[Double Jump 9]

 

 

On an unrelated note, this thread has highlighted to me that although we all adore the show and its optimistic values, we are still perfectly capable of taking near enough any of the 65 episodes and critically ripping them to shreds for all their flaws...even if it pains us to acknowledge them. So while you're mulling over which episodes would be an abomination to show a newcomer, make sure there's one more thing which that newcomer doesn't see: this thread.

 

Yeah, I'm starting to think you're right. Admittedly, I started this thread partially because I was curious to see if anyone experienced or witnessed a more awkward first impression of the series than my friend had.

 

MLP is now and might always be my favorite TV show. There's not a single episode I wouldn't watch anytime, anywhere. I'm not blind to the show's flaws, but I find them charming rather than upsetting.

 

That being said, from now on I'll try being careful not to make a thread that could be fodder for unnecessary criticism. I want to encourage people to watch the show, not turn them off to it.

[H.P. Lance 138]

MLP is now and might always be my favorite TV show. There's not a single episode I wouldn't watch anytime, anywhere. I'm not blind to the show's flaws, but I find them charming rather than upsetting. That being said, from now on I'll try being careful not to make a thread that could be fodder for unnecessary criticism. I want to encourage people to watch the show, not turn them off to it.

 

 

I wasn't trying to suggest that this thread is a sham, my friend! It's a valid topic, and my comment about newcomers not seeing it was more of a joke than anything else.

 

And I absolutely agree with you. I love watching any and all of the episodes; the show is packed with so much charm, passion and an overwhelming number of positives that the negatives pale in comparison. It's just that it simply takes time for a new brony to become accustomed to the style of the show and to not be ashamed of watching it, so it's better that those little negatives stay under wraps until the sheer quality wins them over and they adore the show as much as you and I.

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

I'm not really sure. I do know that my friends first episode was the season 3 finale, which according to him got him hooked. Anyways there are some episodes out there that wouldn't make the best first episode choices. I think a good example would be an episode that focused on solely one character. For example, if you have never seen the show and you see Hurricane Fluttershy, you may not end up wanting to watch more of the show. You could also end up wanting more, but it depends on the individual.

[Dusknight Haze 161]

... But the amount of musical numbers could also be a problem, as some people are often put off by songs in cartoons, and if our viewer is one of those people, we wouldn't want to give them the impression that every single episode is basically song after song.

 

Hm, I don't know about that. The songs in the show are one of the reasons why I didn't dismiss it as somewhat childish fare that didn't deserve my time; the great majority of them are well-written, sung, and have good melodies.

 

Some of them are even good as musical numbers alone, regardless of their origins from a television show. 

 

Back to the topic, I propose the Ticket Master also as a very weak episode that had a super predictable outcome.

 

In fact, the first three episodes are complete missteps relative to the rest of the series and if you don't have diligence when starting out from them I wouldn't be surprised if we are missing a bunch of fans for that reason.

[Guest]

The last episode. TV shows should always be watched in order, therefore it makes the least sense to watch the last episode first.

[Anadu Kune 668]

I would say Magical Mystery Cure. Its ones of the few episodes that draws heavily upon continuity. It does so directly and obviously as well as subtly, to a point where even many avid members of the fan base missed references. As well as the fact that this is a major event an a arch that had been built upon for three seasons. There are many scenes that wouldn't carry any emotional weight because the viewer wouldn't know who these characters were or the intricacies of their relationships. 

I started the show by watching the first two episodes and would say its a great way to introduce the show. It does a great job of introducing six whole characters, whilst introducing you to an entire fantasy world, whilst on top of all that telling you a single story of good vs evil and establish the relationship of those characters. I think the reason that the first two episodes dont come off as great now is because the characters are being introduced. They dont have that developed relationship we know now. However for introduction purposes I think its a great start. 

[Dewdlz 938]

Umm this: 

 

(don't read if you haven't seen the end of Season 3, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!)

 

 

Probably the episode at the end of Season 3 where Twilight turns into an Alicorn.

 

 

Haven't seen Season 3 and read it anyway?! Don't blame me!

 

[Alex Z 848]

Look Before You Sleep would probably be the worst episode to show to someone first because of the premise.

Edited November 9, 2014 by CrazyMrLunaDash

[CC_Maud_Pie 6,431]

Don't show episodes where Twilight becomes or is already an alicorn princess. I would prefer showing people the first two episodes or anything between the first two episodes and the season 1 finale because that's how I got into the show.

[PROJECT: Simon 3,954]

Tirek episode. Its so depressing. And makes me angry