Twilight Sparkle Reviews: The Inner World (Spoiler-Free!)

The Inner World is a puzzle-based point-and-click adventure game created by Studio Fizbin.

I may not be the best pony to talk about games, but this particular one seems more like a novel than a game. It’s an interesting story, planted firmly in surreality with a few holes peering int reality, but over half of the game’s time is devoted to expanding the story. There are multiple phases of dialogue for the player to explore that don’t do much except add to the tale and provide some excellent comedy. As the Princess of Friendship and the (former) head (and only) librarian of the Golden Oak Library, I can appreciate a good story better than anypony. And to be honest, the story itself is good. It’s a humorous glimpse into a strange, yet charming, world filled with impossible characters and a wonderful air of fantasy. If it wasn’t for the puzzles, it could almost pass as a visual novel. The puzzles themselves are nothing to shake a hoof at. Some of them require pink pony levels of logic, while others are more tame and rational. In all honesty, I prefer the ones that are rational. Having to pull Pinkie Pie into my house and have her solve certain puzzles for me was…….disheartening. Fortunately, once you comprehend the game’s unique way of thinking, the puzzles become a lot easier. And for those who just want to get through it without spending ten minutes on puzzles, an in-game walkthrough is provided. But if you’re going to enjoy the game for its story, you have to at least somewhat enjoy it for its animation as well. The frequent cut scenes are visually decent. The style of animation suggests something childish, yet the game is clearly intended for older audiences due to its mature humor and swearing. All in all, I’d recommend this game to anypony/anyone who can appreciate a surreal setting, enjoys puzzles, and adores games with interesting storylines.

Fan Fiction Resources

Some helpful resources for brand new authors. Note: These aren’t writing tips, just some helpful resources for those trying to write their first MLP fan fiction or trying to improve those they’re already working on.

1. Pony Creator

http://generalzoi.deviantart.com/art/Pony-Creator-v3-397808116

Trying to figure out a look for an original character in your fan fiction? For inspiration, try hitting the “Random” button and see what pops up. Or try looking through the hairstyles, eye types, etc. and put something together yourself.

2. Pony Name Generator

http://pony.namegeneratorfun.com/

Thinking up pony names can be a struggle, simply because they’re not like human names. While there is a plethora of websites that can give you human names, finding pony names is nearly impossible….unless you use a Pony Name Generator. Randomizing works best if you’re just desperate for a name.

3. List of ponies

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_ponies

In case you’ve forgotten a name and need it in a hurry. This list also includes the offical names of several background ponies that you may not know.

Opinion: My Little Pony References in Video Games

onies are everywhere. Ever since My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic became popular with adults, the amount of “ponified” content has skyrocketed. A lot of non-fans find this to be annoying, as they complain about ponies being “everywhere”. They are mainly talking about fans crossing over ponies with things that have nothing to do with ponies. But it’s not that bad, is it? It’s easy to ignore… However, something else has awakened along with this pony trend. Although this isn’t nearly as rampant as the ponification, sometimes video game designers will put specific nods to the fandom or the show into their games, even if said game has otherwise nothing to do with ponies. Usually these nods to the show or fandom are so obscure that only people who have watched a lot of the show or are deep into the fandom will even recognize them as such. But when these little nods are brought to the attention of non-fans who happen to enjoy that particular game, they tend to become upset. The question is: Is putting these little “shout-outs”, if you will, to the show and the fandom in games enjoyed by fans and non-fans alike going too far with the pony trend?

Shortest answer: Yes and no. It’s not bad, exactly, as these references to the show will only be recognized by fans in the first place. Non-fans can’t really complain unless they somehow stumble across the information. And even if they do, does it really effect the game that much? A character saying “20% cooler”, one of Rainbow Dash’s signature lines, doesn’t change the gameplay at all. If a non-fan happens to find out what show it’s from, it’s their own fault if they get annoyed at it being included. Video games, especially popular ones, tend to make references to all sorts of franchises. Why should My Little Pony, flavor of the year, be neglected? Nevertheless, there’s another side to this. An article on HorseNews.com pointed out that the reason video game makers do this is simply to remain relevant. It’s not them supporting Bronies, saying they like the show, or anything like that. They just want to make the game even more popular by leaping on the new “it” things. Just like how The Simpsons has started “upgrading”, for lack of a better word, to fit in with the new generation. In nearly every episode, one of the characters uses their own version of an iPad, iPhone, etc. In earlier seasons, the characters used generic flip phones that clearly didn’t belong to any particular brand. It was around the twenty-second season that this changed. In the case of video games, it’s pretty much the same thing.

Bigger question: Should video games stop doing this? Is it just mindless pandering? While it is mindless pandering in a sense, there’s no good reason for them to stop. The references don’t impact how good or bad the game is, especially since a lot of players aren’t going to understand them. And, in a smaller sense, finding these references can be a bit of a treat for certain Bronies. It makes it clear that others, or at least video game designers, acknowledge that they exist without treating them like deplorable outcasts.

Why do people like making ponies scary?

Cupcakes. Rainbow Factory. Cheerilee’s Garden. “Smile HD”. What do all of these have in common? They’re scary/gory representations of the characters we’ve grown to love. These fan works are either loved or hated by the fandom and outsiders at large. Quite a few fans consider these types of things to be horrendous and disgusting, while others applaud them. So why the fascination with making cute, cheerful characters scary? What do blood and guts add to the beautiful, ideal world of Ponyville?

Bronies aren’t the first, nor will they be the last, people to do this to characters. Five Nights at Freddy’s, one of the most recent and well-known horror games, takes animatronic animals and turns them into murderers for the premise of the game. Granted, the animatronics in the first game aren’t what would be considered “cute”. The second game, however, features several new designs that make them look more kid-friendly and even cute to a lot of people. The old designs are still there, but the new, more adorable, animatronics are still after the main character of the game. A lot of people in the FNAF fandom have taken the scary characters and sexualized them or made them cute through certain fan works, which is pretty much the reverse of Cupcakes or “Smile HD”. Horror games are known for taking things we would in real life consider innocent or cute, such as little girls, babies, or dolls, and turning them into horrifying monsters.

But why do some Bronies do it with the adorable characters of MLP:FIM? Because horror is popular for a reason. A lot of people enjoy being scared. Why else would there be such a huge market for good horror games like Five Nights at Freddy’s, DreadOut, and Nightmare House 2? If there weren’t a lot of people, gamers and otherwise, who liked to be scared, the entire horror genre would have died out. Turning innocent ponies into terrifying monsters is the same as turning little girls or dolls into terrifying monsters: It’s unexpected, it’s twisted, and it appeals to those who love everything about horror. In such a diverse fandom, there are bound to be a plentiful amount of horror fans who, despite loving the show for what it is, like seeing their favorite characters perverted into the same creatures they’ve come to know and love in various popular horror games.

Of course, some people are going to complain about it. Just like Rule 34, some people don’t like to see it and will become uncomfortable or enraged when they do. The solution? Tag your stuff accordingly. There’s not much you can do about YouTube or any of those big sites, but if you post a grimdark fan fiction or something of that nature, remember to put it in the proper category so only people who enjoy grimdark will find it. It’s the best way to stop people complaining about “disgusting” MLP:FIM fan works: Just make sure those who aren’t into the stuff probably won’t stumble across it by accident, thus they have no reason to make a fuss.

Art can be found here:  http://elana-louise.deviantart.com/art/My-Little-Pony-Cupcakes-2-378154474

Why Tirek’s Plan Almost Worked (A Theory)

Why was Tirek one of the best MLP villains? The majority of the fans were impressed by how through his plan was. He did everything right, from befriending Discord to biding his time before he struck. Unlike Queen Chrysalis, Nightmare Moon, and Discord, he did not make the mistake of underestimating his foes. He made sure to gain as much power as possible before he faced the princesses with the intent of stealing their magic. If the Tree of Harmony hadn’t provided the Mane Six with Rainbow Power, Tirek certainly would have won in the end. They didn’t have anything to go up against him: Twilight had just given him her alicorn magic, Discord’s magic had also been taken away, nopony in Equestria could aid them, the Elements of Harmony were gone, and Tirek was now the most powerful being in all of Equestria. But why did Tirek neglect making the same mistakes that led to the defeat of the other villains? What made him special, besides the fact that he appeared in G1? It’s simply that, unlike him, the other villains were too objective-guided. Their plans weren’t thought out too much because they mainly concerned themselves with the end result. To break it down a little:

Queen Chrysalis wanted food for her subjects. She kidnapped Princess Cadence and masqueraded as her to feed herself and, as an extension, take control of Shining Armor for her own ends. The simplicity of the plan and her naïve assumption that nothing could stop her shows that she didn’t take the time to consider alternate possibilities. She thought that it was enough to keep the Mane Six away from the Elements and make sure that her Changelings got into Canterlot. Unlike Tirek, she didn’t allow space for variables because the objective was the only thing important to her.

Discord only wanted to turn Equestria into a place of pure chaos. He had a lot of time to formulate a better plan while encased in stone, but he instead spent those centuries brooding over his fate. By the time he escaped, he only wanted revenge. If he actually used a bit more of his brain power, he probably could have made himself undefeatable. On the other hoof/hand, Discord enjoys jerking others around. It’s possible that he simply didn’t care and it was all a game to him.

Nightmare Moon was a creature of pure bitterness. Her goal was to shroud the land in eternal night and nothing more. Perhaps, somewhere deep down in the less corrupted part of Luna’s mind, she was hoping to be defeated and turned back to her original self.

Before anyone asks, I’m not going to touch on Sunset Shimmer or the Dazzlings. The latter I’ll be dealing with in another post.

Ponies ready for Nightmare Night! (Fanart Spam)

by brianblackberry

by rulette

by brianblackberry

by beavernator

by PixelKitties

http://pixelkitties.deviantart.com/art/Nightmare-Nights-Request-Andrea-Libman-410826153

Quickie Reviews: Season 3

Episode 1-2: The Crystal Empire

Synopsis: Princess Celestia gives Twilight Sparkle a test: She must figure out how to protect the Crystal Empire from the wrath of King Sombra, the cruel unicorn king who used to rule it.

Pros:

-Good songs

-New pony race introduced

-Funny Pinkie Pie antics

-Continuity

-Heroic Spike

-Excellent moral

-Good villain design

-New location

Cons:

-Non-threatening villain

-Somewhat slow start

-Twilight’s stupidity

Trivia: King Sombra is the first, and so far the only, villain to die.

Episode 3: Too Many Pinkie Pies

Synopsis: When Pinkie Pie can’t have fun with all of her friends at once, she uses the Mirror Pond to make duplicates of herself. But these brainless clones wreak havoc in Ponyville, prompting Pinkie’s friends to search for the real one among the fakes.

Pros:

-Pinkie Pie episode

-Good moral

-Character development

-Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie interaction

-Interesting dilemma

-Excellent Pinkie Pie antics

Cons:

-Obvious plot device

-Stupidity of Twilight Sparkle

-Questionable morality

Trivia: The real Pinkie Pie is a shade darker than the clones from the Mirror Pond.

Episode 4: One Bad Apple

Synopsis: Applebloom’s cousin Babs comes to visit, but the CMC are discouraged when she chooses to befriend Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

Pros:

-Great voice-acting

-Catchy song

-CMC episode

-Good Pinkie Pie antics

-Possible foreshadowing

-New character introduced

-Continuity

Cons:

-Unrealistic resolution

-Bad moral

-No real consequences for the antagonists

Trivia: Babs’s strong Brooklyn accent and her line in a later episode (“Forgetta about it!”) is most likely a reference to The Sopranos.

Episode 5: Magic Duel

Synopsis: Trixie returns, this time sporting an amulet that enhances her powers and has caused her to become even more corrupted. She challenges Twilight to a magic duel and, with the power of the Alicorn Amulet, triumphs.

Pros:

-Continuity

-Return of Trixie

-Character development

-Demonstration of how Twilight’s magic has advanced

-Return of Zecora

-Rule 63 Applejack

-New land revealed

Cons:

-Questionable moral

-Fluttershy abuse

-Origins of Alicorn Amulet never explained

-Quick resolution

Trivia: Trixie trapping the entire town in a dome could be a reference to The Simpsons Movie, as well as the classic novel “Under The Dome” by Stephen King.

Episode 6: Sleepless In Ponyville

Synopsis: Scootaloo is thrilled to attend a camping trip with Rainbow Dash and hopes to adopt her as a sister figure. However, she becomes the victim of her own fears after a scary story. She is more scared of revealing her fears to Rainbow Dash than the fears themselves.

Pros:

-Scootaloo episode

-Character development

-Heart-warming Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo interaction

-Continuity

-New relationship formed

-Unexpected Princess Luna

-Good moral

Cons:

-Lazy Rarity

-Convenience

Trivia: Rainbow Dash’s scary story about the “Olden Pony” resembles a well-known type of horror story in which someone steals from a dead person and the person comes back as a ghost to recover what was pilfered from them.

Episode 7: Wonderbolts Academy

Synopsis: Rainbow Dash is accepted into the Wonderbolts Academy, but finds herself paired up with a reckless pegasus named Lightning Dust.

Pros:

-Rainbow Dash episode

-Continuity

-Pinkie Pie antics

-Return of Spitfire

-Return of many background ponies

-Good moral

-Appropriate consequences

Cons:

-Rather forced happy ending

-Somewhat forced moral

-Twilight neglecting to rescue everyone with her magic

Trivia: Many fans were surprised at Spitfire’s behavior, compared to her friendly behavior at the Grand Galloping Gala. The simple explanation is that she was being her usual amiable self at the Gala. At the academy she was acting the part of the strict drill sergeant for the benefit of the students.

Episode 8: Apple Family Reunion

Synopsis: Applejack is put in charge of the annual Apple Family reunion. Her determination to make this their best reunion ever ends up inadvertently ruining the fun of everyone.

Pros:

-Applejack episode

-Catchy song

-Apple family expanded

-Return of Babs

-Continuity

-Excellent Apple family interaction

-Decent lesson

Cons:

-Applejack’s stupidity

-Many southern stereotypes

-No Braeburn lines

Trivia: Aunt and Uncle Orange, last seen in “Cutie Mark Chronicles”, are among the family members gathered in the photograph taken in front of the barn.

Episode 9: Spike At Your Service

Synopsis: After Applejack saves Spike from a pack of Timberwolves, the latter decides he owes her a life debt.

Pros:

-Spike episode

-Applejack and Spike interaction

-Return of the Timberwolves

-Excellent comedy

Cons:

-Spike abuse

-Spike’s stupidity

-Predictable

-Enemy overcome too easily

Trivia: The Timberwolves have the same magical aura as Queen Chrysalis, but there does not seem to be a connection between the two.

Episode 10: Keep Calm and Flutter On

Synopsis: Discord is released from his stone imprisonment on Princess Celestia’s orders. She believes that the Mane Six, especially Fluttershy, will be able to reform the former villain and convince him to use his magic for good.

Pros:

-Continuity

-Return of Discord

-Discord and Fluttershy interaction

-Excellent Discord antics

Cons:

-Unrealistic resolution

-Passive aggressive Fluttershy

-Questionable morality

-Somewhat bad moral in context

Trivia: This episode marks the beginning of Discord’s ascension into a recurring character, although this is his last appearance of the season.

Episode 11: Just for Sidekicks

Synopsis: When the Mane Six travel to the Crystal Empire to meet the head of the Equestria Games, Spike is left to tend to all of their pets in exchange for gems. He finds out quickly that the animals are more trouble than he could have anticipated, particularly mischievous Angel Bunny.

Pros:

-Spike episode

-Continuity

-Equestria Games arc established

-Spike and CMC interaction

-Season 2 callbacks

-Zecora

Cons:

-Rather boring

-Cliche storyline

-Spike abuse

-Animal abuse

-Angel Bunny’s cruelty

Trivia: There are many Season 2 callbacks in this episode. Big Macintosh and Cheerilee are seen walking side by side, a reference to “Hearts and Hooves Day”. The nerdy pony that Rarity manipulated in “Putting Your Hoof Down” is glimpsed. Screw Loose, the fan-made name for the mental patient pony, from “Read It And Weep” is seen as well.

Episode 12: Games Ponies Play

Synopsis: The Mane Six are meant to impress the Equestria Games inspector, but they accidentally pick up the wrong pony at the train station. Meanwhile, Rarity fills in for the hairdresser that canceled on Princess Cadence.

Pros:

-Continuity

-Filly Rainbow Dash

-Comedic sub-plot

-Excellent Rarity scenes

-Great voice-acting

-New character introduced

Cons:

-The stupidity of the Mane Six

-Forced happy ending

-Somewhat lackluster writing

-Unrealistic conclusion

Trivia: Supposedly there was a different, more plausible ending planned for this episode, but it was lost during production.

Episode 13: Magical Mystery Cure

Synopsis: After performing a spell, Twilight Sparkle finds that all of her friends’ Cutie Marks have been switched and so have their true selves. This causes havoc in Ponyville as the Mane Six try to adjust to destinies that do not belong to them.

Pros:

-Great songs

-Interesting problem

-Excellent voice-acting by Tara Strong

-Continuity

-Vinyl Scratch cameo

-Princess Celestia sings

Cons:

-Problem solved too quickly

-Feels like a two-parter

-Arguably too many songs

-Obvious marketing ploy

-Princess Luna’s bad dress design

Trivia: Originally, according to Lauren Faust’s original vision, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were going to be the only alicorns in the series. This is one of the reasons Twilight Sparkle becoming an alicorn was looked down upon by a great deal of the fandom. However, Twilight Sparkle becoming a princess, was planned from the very beginning.

Quickie Reviews: Season 2

Episode 1-2: The Return of Harmony

Synopsis: Twilight and her friends are confused by the bizarre events happening all over Ponyville, such as cotton candy clouds and the rabbits growing long, giraffe-like legs. Princess Celestia traces these events back to Discord, an old foe who has returned to wreak havoc on Equestria after escaping his stone imprisonment.

Pros:

-Introduction of an excellent returning villain

-Superb voice acting by John De Lancie

-Interesting storyline

-Excellent animation

-Well-paced

-Comedic interactions between the Mane Six

-Creative visuals

Cons:

-Spike abuse

-Resolution too fast

-Predictable parts

-Over-confident Discord

Trivia: Discord’s personality was modeled after Agent Q from “Star Trek”, the character played by John De Lancie. As a result, the staff convinced John De Lancie himself to do the voice of Discord for the show.

Episode 3: Lesson Zero

Synopsis: Twilight Sparkle’s paranoia gets the best of her when she realizes that she has not yet sent a friendship letter to Princess Celestia for this week. Horrified, she is determined to solve a friend’s problem by the end of the day. But with the lack of problems in Ponyville, she slowly descends into insanity over the thought of being tardy.

Pros:

-Excellent voice acting by Tara Strong

-Relatable dilemma

-Several surprises

-Superb comedy

-Character development

-Plot development

-Great Spike and Twilight interaction

Cons:

-Twilight’s friends out of character during one scene

-Lesson somewhat forced

-Unfortunate implications of spell used

Trivia: Originally, this episode was going to be the season premiere. But due to “The Return of Harmony” being pushed back to the season two opener when it was meant to be the season one finale, “Lesson Zero” ended up being the third episode of the second season.

Episode 4: Luna Eclipsed

Synopsis: Nightmare Night, a Halloween-esque holiday dedicated to Nightmare Moon, is greeted enthusiastically by the citizens of Ponyville. When Princess Luna herself shows up, she has trouble fitting in with the ponies that are convinced she is still Nightmare Moon.

Pros:

-Halloween episode

-Character expansion

-Continuity

-Beautiful character design for Princess Luna

-Return of Zecora

-Spooky, but not too spooky, atmosphere

-Season 1 callbacks

Cons:

-Questionable morality of celebration

-Stupidity of Twilight Sparkle’s friends

-Bits of the story disregarded for lesson to work

-No explanation for Luna’s new design given

-Frustrating Pinkie Pie antics

Trivia: Princess Luna is voiced by the same person who voices Rarity.

Episode 5: Sisterhooves Social

Synopsis: Rarity’s younger sister Sweetie Belle is forced upon her while their parents take a vacation. Sweetie Belle proves to be enthusiastic, but disastrous in her methods of helping her busy older sibling. Furious, they denounce each other as sisters after a disagreement over the Sisterhooves Social. It is only after Sweetie Belle “adopts” Applejack as her older sister that Rarity realizes her mistake.

Pros:

–Character expansion

-Great lesson

-Heartwarming ending

-Character development

-Sweetie Belle episode without the CMC

-Unexpected conclusion

-Realistic behavior

-Relatable conflict

Cons:

-Rarity’s behavior in the beginning

-Obviously random “sister pairs” at the social

-Missed chance for a song

Trivia: During the race, “Applejack’s” eye color is clearly different from her usual one, hinting that it is actually Rarity.

Episode 6: The Cutie Pox

Synopsis: Apple Bloom is yet again depressed over her lack of a cutie mark. She descends into the forest and runs into Zecora after an accident. Realizing that Zecora has potions for anything, Apple Bloom brews up a concoction to give her a cutie mark. Instead, it gives her a rare disease called “cutie pox” that causes several cutie marks to appear all over her body and forces her to perform every talent that comes with the cutie marks.

Pros:

-Apple Bloom episode

-Zecora

-Interesting plot

-Movie reference

-Character expansion

-Consequences deserved

Cons:

-Idiocy of Ponyville citizens

-Cutie Pox never fully explained

-Full consequences not received

-Spike’s behavior

Trivia: The cutie mark that appears on Apple Bloom when she starts speaking French is a “fleur-de-lis”. The fleur-de-lis is a common French symbol.

Episode 7: May The Best Pet Win!

Synopsis: Rainbow Dash realizes that she is the only pony in her circle of friends without a pet. She holds a competition to choose one, but her friends worry that she doesn’t truly understand what a pet needs and what she should look for in an animal companion.

Pros:

-Character development

-Good episode for Rainbow Dash fans

-Comedic antics from the turtle

-”Ride of the Valkyries” used as background music

-Mane Six perfectly in-character

-Excellent song

-Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash interaction

Cons:

-Predictable outcome

-Animal abuse

-Random unneeded dream sequence

-Rainbow Dash’s behavior during the competition

Trivia: Tank’s flying contraption is powered by the same magical aura seen around the tickets in the season one episode “The Ticketmaster”.

Episode 8: The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well

Synopsis: Rainbow Dash’s ego inflates dangerously as the town begins to praise her as a hero after several valiant rescues. Her superiority complex is challenged by the appearance of a new hero called “The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well”. She struggles to remain on top, but this masked hero seems to have powers that she herself does not.

Pros:

-Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo interaction

-Plethora of superhero references

-A few good jokes involving Rainbow Dash

-Good design for the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well

Cons:

-Character development ignored

-The Mane Six out-of-character

-Lesson falls flat due to events surrounding it

-The questionable behavior of the Mane Six

Trivia: Rainbow Dash’s catchphrase (“Never fear! Your friendly neighborhood Rainbow Dash is here!”) is a reference to “Spiderman”.

Episode 9: Sweet and Elite

Synopsis: While staying in Canterlot, Rarity has to choose between impressing the rich, influential elite or completing a favor she promised to a friend. She chooses the former, leading her into a tangled web of lies.

Pros:

-Good Rarity episode

-Well-performed and well-written song

-Interesting visuals

-Improved clothing designs

-Great voice-acting

Cons:

-Rarity’s behavior in the beginning and middle

-Missed opportunity for interaction between Rarity and Prince Blueblood

-Animal abuse

-Few consequences

Trivia: Counting the “Becoming Popular” montage, this episode features the most outfit changes in a single episode.

Episode 10: Secret of my Excess

Synopsis: Spike’s birthday rolls around, prompting all of his friends and other acquaintances to give him presents. The excessive amount of presents causes his greedy dragon nature to kick in. He begins hoarding everything he can get his claws on, growing rapidly all the while. Zecora explains that Spike is maturing at a faster rate than he should due to his hoarding. If he does not curb his instincts, he will become a huge ferocious monster.

Pros:

-Spike episode

-Very sweet Spike and Rarity interaction

-Information about dragons

-Good designs for each stage of Spike’s maturity

-Wonderbolts cameo

-Continuity

Cons:

-Manipulative Rarity

-Spike abuse

-Birthday episode, but date or age never mentioned

Trivia: Surprise is among the Wonderbolts who show up to fight a rampaging full-grown Spike.

Episode 11: Hearth’s Warming Eve

Synopsis: To celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve, a Christmas-like holiday, the Mane Six participate in a play about the founding of Equestria.

Pros:

-Mythology

-History of their world expanded

-Christmas episode

-Fantastic animation

-Mane Six in-character during the play

Cons:

-Incorrect definition of “wendigos”

-Random resolution

Trivia: Private Pansy refers to Commander Hurricane as “sir”, leading many to believe that Commander Hurricane is a male. However, “sir” is often used to refer to a high-ranking officer regardless of gender. Private Pansy confirms by her use of the word “her” in reference to Commander Hurricane that she is indeed a female.

Episode 12: Family Appreciation Day

Synopsis: The Zap apples, a special magical type of apple, appear on the farm. Due to the harvest, Applejack and Big Macintosh can not attend Applebloom’s school for Family Appreciation Day. Applebloom is forced to bring in Granny Smith, but worries that her eccentric grandmother might embarrass her.

Pros:

-Good moral

-Granny Smith episode

-Unique visuals

-Origin of Ponyville revealed

-Very good “method to their madness” resolution

-Diamond Tiara punished for her actions

-Excellent designs for the Timberwolves

Cons:

-Cheerilee’s stupidity

-Diamond Tiara’s cruelty

Trivia: The coloring and the effects used in the flashback are made to resemble an old-fashioned movie.

Episode 13: Baby Cakes

Synopsis: Mr. and Mrs. Cake welcome a pair of twins into their family. Pinkie Pie is excited at having two new foals to play with. But when she volunteers to babysit the newborns, she is oblivious to how different responsibility is from playtime.

Pros:

-Decent moral

-Pinkie Pie antics

-Realistic lesson and storyline

-New characters

-Possible foreshadowing

Cons:

-Cliche ending

-Cliche storyline

-Unfortunate implications of Mr. Cake’s explanation

Trivia: Rarity does not give an excuse for why she cannot babysit the twins. In “Stare Masters” and “Sisterhooves Social”, it is implied that Rarity dislikes caring for young children.

Episode 14: The Last Roundup

Synopsis: Applejack departs Ponyville to compete in a rodeo in order to earn money to fix up town hall. Her friends and family are startled to receive a message telling them that she will not be returning to Ponyville. Worried and confused, her friends go looking for Applejack. Their search leads them to a town called Dodge Junction where Applejack has been employed on a cherry farm.

Pros:

-Hilarious Pinkie Pie antics

-Good Applejack episode

-Decent moral

-Rarity and Pinkie Pie interaction

-Wild West references

-”I Love Lucy” reference

-Funny chase scene

Cons:

-A little predictable

-A bit dull

-The determination of the Mane Six to meddle

-Fluttershy slightly out-of-character

Trivia: To date, this episode spawned the most controversy of any episode of the series. The trouble began when the writers became aware of one of the fan-named background characters. Due to her crossed eyes and “wonky” expression, a blonde-maned mare normally seen in the background was given the name “Derpy Hooves” by fans. The writers decided to include the name and give Derpy a speaking role in this episode. Unfortunately, soon after the episode’s initial airing, iTunes demanded that the episode be censored by changing Derpy’s name and correcting her eyes for fear of offending anyone. The episode was edited and a “censored” version, in which Derpy’s eyes are fixed, her voice is less deep, and her name is not used was aired. But these changes sparked an even bigger controversy from the fandom itself. Hasbro was flooded with complaints from fans who thought Derpy’s censorship was unfair and was sending a bad message to the little children that watched the show. Many fans saw the censorship as Hasbro trying to appease a few concerned mothers who didn’t want their children exposed to something as harmless as a possibly disabled pony who, in reality, was never even confirmed to be disabled in the first place. Hasbro made amends by releasing a limited edition Derpy Hooves figurine, complete with her crossed eyes. However, Derpy was once again confined to the background and it was not until Season 4 that she received a significant role in an episode.

Episode 15: The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000

Synopsis: Apple cider season rolls around, but the Apple family cannot keep up with the huge demand. Two businessponies known as “Flim” and “Flam” arrive in Ponyville with a contraption that can make enough cider for all the citizens. They end up challenging the Apple family to a competition to see which of them can make the most cider in an hour.

Pros:

-Hilarious Rainbow Dash antics

-Catchy song

-Decent lesson

-Apple family interaction

-Good minor villains

-References

Cons:

-Applejack’s bad business sense

-Character stupidity

-No actual letter to Celestia

Trivia: The Flim Flam Brothers’ Song parodies “The Music Man”.

Episode 16: Read it and Weep

Synopsis: Rainbow Dash ends up in the hospital after a failed trick. Twilight Sparkle gives her a book to read, but she shuns the idea. Struck by boredom, she finally decides to give reading a try. To her amazement, Rainbow Dash discovers that she actually likes reading. Unfortunately, wary of being mocked due to her own former mockery of reading, she cannot tell her friends.

Pros:

-Good moral

-Relatable dilemma

-Character development

-Realistic hospital scenario

-Indiana Jones references

-Interesting story-within-a-story

Cons:

-Slow first act

-Predictable ending

-Cliche lesson

-A few cliché scenes

Trivia: Daring Do, the title character in the book Rainbow Dash enjoys, is a recolored version of Rainbow Dash herself.

Episode 17: Hearts and Hooves Day

Synopsis: The Cutie Mark Crusaders are saddened when they discover that Cheerilee does not have a “special somepony” for Hearts and Hooves Day. They take it upon themselves to find her a coltfriend and eventually settle on Big Macintosh. But when simply putting them in romantic situations doesn’t spark a relationship, the CMC resort to using a love potion.

Pros:

-Valentine’s Day episode

-CMC episode

-More sceentime/lines for Big Macintosh and Cheerilee

-Character development

-Extremely good lesson

-Funny interactions between Big Macintosh and Cheerilee

Cons:

-Some annoying interactions

-Twilight Sparkle out-of-character

-Convenient plot device employed

-Rather forced-sounding lines from Twilight

Trivia: Applebloom distracts Big Macintosh by helping him pick out a wedding ring for Cheerilee, even though ponies do not normally wear wedding rings. Mr. and Mrs. Cake, the only married couple in the show, have never been seen with rings.

Episode 18: A Friend in Deed

Synopsis: Pinkie Pie desires to become friends with a cranky donkey, but he resists all of her attempts.

Pros:

-Pinkie Pie in-character

-Hilarious interactions between two contrasting character types

-Extremely good song

-New character introduced

Cons:

-Missed opportunity for a better lesson

-Moral could easily be taken the wrong way in context

Trivia: A version of the song “Yankee Doodle Dandee”, which is referenced many times in the episode, is played over the ending credits.

Episode 19: Putting Your Hoof Down

Synopsis: Tired of being a doormat, Fluttershy takes assertiveness lessons from a minotaur named Iron Will. The training backfires and turns her into an insufferable bully.

Pros:

-Fluttershy episode

-Character development

-Great Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy interaction

-Hilarious one-shot character

-Mythology

-Good lesson

Cons:

-Cruel Fluttershy

-Angel Bunny’s behavior

-Manipulative Rarity

-Out-of-character townsponies

-Somewhat forced happy ending

-Misfired blame

Trivia: Iron Will’s general attitude and many of his poses parody Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

Episode 20: It’s About Time

Synopsis: Twilight Sparkle is visited by herself from the future. Future!Twilight informs Twilight that a disaster is coming on Tuesday, but is unable to give anything specific. Twilight’s desperation to prevent the disaster escalates to the point of near-madness.

Pros:

-Greek mythology

-Time travel episode

-Great Pinkie Pie humor

-Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle interaction

-Minimal Spike abuse

-Character development

Cons:

-Rather predictable

-Unexplained Princess Celestia cameo

-Naive Twilight Sparkle

-Completely pointless “disaster-proofing”

Trivia: The title of this episode has two meanings. “It’s About Time” refers to the fact that this episode is mainly about time travel. It also refers to the fact that there was such a long gap between this episode and the previous one, so it was “about time” it was aired.

Episode 21: Dragon Quest

Synopsis: To find out who he is, Spike tries to connect with other dragons.

Pros:

-World expansion

-Information about dragons

-Continuity

-New dragon designs

-Good lesson

-More phoenixes

Cons:

-Annoying teenage dragons

-Spike abuse

-Overprotective Mane Six

-Missed opportunity for a fight

-Stereotypes

-Rainbow Dash out-of-character

Trivia: The phoenixes in this episode have slightly different designs compared to Philomena from “A Bird in the Hoof”.

Episode 22: Hurricane Fluttershy

Synopsis: Past instances of bullying leave Fluttershy unable to help the pegasi create a tornado to lift water up to Cloudsdale.

Pros:

-Good Fluttershy episode

-Excellent moral

-Realistic portrayal of bullying

-Character development

-Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy interaction

-More pegasi

-Excellent animation

Cons:

-Unhelpful Spitfire

-Bon-Bon (and others) temporarily pegasi

-Unrealistically weak Fluttershy

Trivia: One of the animals helping Fluttershy overcome her fear of performing wears a Derpy Hooves mask.

Episode 23: Ponyville Confidential

Synopsis: The CMC try to join the school newspaper, but Diamond Tiara rejects their first attempts at compelling articles. It is only when the three ponies turn to exposing ponies and their secrets that they receive spots on the paper. Unfortunately, their stories about the private lives of ponies soon escalate to hurtful rumors and fabricated “scoops”.

Pros:

-Good lesson

-The Cutie Mark Crusaders in-character

-Mane Six not shoe-horned in

-Comedic Mane Six interaction

-Rarity and Sweetie Belle interaction

-Big Macintosh speaks

Cons:

-Overreaction of townsponies

-Few consequences for Diamond Tiara

-Irresponsible Cheerilee

-Hypocritical Rarity

-Cliche plot

-Cliche moral

Trivia: Gabby Gums writes an article claiming that the mayor dyes her mane. Later in the episode, Mayor Mare is glimpsed clearly in the middle of doing just that.

Episode 24: MMMystery on the Friendship Express

Synopsis: Pinkie Pie and her friends are tasked with transporting a cake to a baking contest. In the middle of the night, a mysterious pony ruins the cake by taking several bites out of it. Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle investigate to uncover the culprit.

Pros:

-Numerous references

-Hilarious Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie interaction

-Engaging mystery

-Somewhat surprising conclusion

-Return of Donut/Pony Joe

-New characters

Cons:

-Fluttershy out-of-character

-Predictable in many parts

-Brief Pinkie Pie cruelty

Trivia: The episode title and the solution to the mystery is a parody of “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie. The episode also contains references to Sherlock Holmes, “Kill Bill”, and the James Bond movies.

Episode 25-26: A Canterlot Wedding

Synopsis: Twilight Sparkle’s older brother Shining Armor is getting married, but Twilight does not trust his bride-to-be. When she attempts to prove that this mare is not as innocent as she seems, she ends up earning the scorn of everypony.

Pros:

-An actual battle

-Breathtaking and well-performed song

-Old Disney vibes

-Good villain design

-Princess Celestia being useful

-Mythology

-Beautiful animation

-Great lesson

-Excellent changeling designs

Cons:

-Two new characters abruptly introduced

-The stupidity of the villain

-Obvious plot holes

-Arguably non-evil villain

-Villain and minions not really defeated

-Spike’s stupidity

Trivia: During “This Day Aria”, a note known as a “deceptive cadence” is used when the fake Cadence is singing. Daniel Ingram, the series composer, has confirmed that this was deliberate and it has been pointed out by many fans who are knowledgeable about music.

Spotlight on Fan Art #4 (Double Feature!) “I’m so pathetic…” and “Don’t use your fancy mathematics…”

These beautiful pieces of art are by QuizzicalKisses, a very talented artist.  http://quizzicalkisses.deviantart.com/

This is far from his best work, but these are the two pieces I’ve chosen to put in the spotlight today.

http://quizzicalkisses.deviantart.com/art/I-m-so-pathetic-263846378

There is much to be said about the flawless shading, the gorgeous lighting, and the general beauty of this piece.  However, I will steer away from well-ventured territory and talk about the vibe of this piece.  In this piece of artwork, Rarity gives off a powerful 1940s’ movie vibe.  She looks the part of the typical damsel in an old detective film, right down to the outfit and the carefully drawn beauty of the face.  Maintaining the same ladylike grace and attractiveness of Rarity in her pony form when transitioning her into a human is of the utmost importance.  The artist has done this perfectly.  Not to mention this piece has a realism to it, as if one could reach through their screen and feel the soft material of Rarity’s robe.  The most impressive detail is the hair.  It’s unkempt, yet dignified and echoing the hairstyle of Rarity’s pony self.  Rarity’s gently seductive pose only makes this piece all the more enjoyable.  Overall, this is a great example of a talented artist and his skill for creating the best to reflect our beloved pony characters.

http://quizzicalkisses.deviantart.com/art/Don-t-you-use-your-fancy-mathematics-331973639

This image is bursting with all the vibrant personality of the country.  At the center is a girl named Applejack with hair like straw and plain, yet beautiful, features.  She looks as if she should be the cover of a magazine about farming.  The artist has done a surprisingly good job with Applejack’s freckles, making them subtle yet most certainly there.  The lustrous emerald of her eyes is made twice as lovely by the amount of detail in the pupils themselves.  One could almost believe this is a photograph, rather than the work of mere artistic tools and experienced hands.  The illusion is only spoiled by the expected strokes and blurs here and there that indicate the work of a paintbrush.  However obvious it is that this is not a photograph, it is the most gorgeous Human!Applejack I have ever seen.

Spotlight on Fan Art #3: “Princess Twilight Sparkle” by KittenSeitz

                             

Original: http://kittenseitz.deviantart.com/art/Princess-Twilight-Sparkle-355173114    

If there’s a common flaw with humanized versions of pegasi characters that include the wings, it’s the tendency to make the wings themselves look terribly out of place, especially when they’re outstretched.  In this magnificently detailed work, this problem has been avoided.  The wings are not so overwhelming large as to overshadow the actual person, nor are they small.  They are just the right size and, although they do still look a little strange on Princess Twilight Sparkle’s human body, they are well-drawn and lovely.  The nice amount of detail in the face, the perfect adaption of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s coronation dress for her human counterpart, and the perfect shades of her hair make this piece nearly flawless.  The one thing in the picture my eyes keep coming back to is the throne.  It has a unique design that is both beautiful and intimidating, much like Princess Twilight Sparkle herself in this picture.  She has the appearance of a calm, cool, and collected ruler with all the harshness of an evil queen, but the motherly instinct of a softhearted princess.  Of all the Human!Princess Twilight Sparkle fan art out there, this is one of the best.