Friendship is Magic's Wall of Shame (Seasons 1-4) · 3:26am Feb 12th, 2015
I'm still waiting for a Season 5 airdate, before I do my "Top Twenty Five Best Episodes of FiM" and "Top Ten Most Disappointing Episodes of FiM" (and remember that disappointing does not necessarily mean bad).
To help prepare for that, let's take a look at the times when this show has missed the mark and dropped the ball. It's important to recognize what doesn't work, as much as its important to recognize what does work. Keep in mind that the episodes that appear here, are here because of my personal opinion. And it's worth mentioning that by no means do I mean to insult the creative talent responsible for the show.
With that in mind, let's get things started.
Boast Busters, Written by: Chris Savino (Season 1, Episode 6)
What went wrong?: It's a good thing that this remains one of the worst episodes of the show, and that for the most part it has never gone down to this level of insulting. The most obvious problem is that our so called "antagonist" looks like a saint compared to the behavior of 3 of our so called "protagonists". Just because you say we should hate someone or like someone, does not mean that's always going to be the case. You have to give us a reason to hate or like a character, or else you risk making the audience sympathize with the wrong character. There's also Snips and Snails, who are completely idiotic and probably the worst characters to ever be included in the show. And a subplot that goes absolutely nowhere, while Spike continuously gets on your nerves.
Look Before You Sleep, Written by: Charlotte Fullerton (Season 1, Episode 8)
What went wrong?: Fullerton's episodes tend to suffer from having one, or in this case, several elements shoe horned in tell to a story. And nowhere is this more obvious and insulting, then right here. The only explanation given in this episode, is where Spike is and why he's not part of the plot. Other than that, any and all attempts at logic are non-existant. Twilight is debatedly OOC, and Applejack and Rarity are acting like their younger siblings just because of something that they can't see eye to eye on. I know this episode was written to give the animators and voice actors a break, but that's still no excuse for having such a contrived plot that has plot holes everywhere you look.
Bridle Gossip, Written by: Amy Keating Rogers (Season 1, Episode 9)
What went wrong?: This episode is hurt largely by Lauren Faust's lack of subtelty, which makes it so that Zecora looks absolutely suspicious even as the story claims that there's nothing to be concerned about. Pinkie Pie and Applejack are OOC with their behavior towards Zecora, and with Applejack's character type it provides some very unfortunate implications. But the biggest problem is Twilight, and her sudden flip flop from not believing the rumors, to flat out supporting them. The moral is a good one to teach, but the way it's executed completely destroys it. The comedy is really good, but the story is a complete failure.
Feeling Pinkie Keen, Written by: Dave Polsky (Season 1, Episode 15)
What went wrong?: The elephant in the room is the poorly worded moral, that sparked a debate over something that the episode wasn't trying to teach. What it was trying to teach was good, but it didn't go about teaching in the right way. The implications presented unfortunately hurt the story, and even when they aren't around Twilight comes across as kind of mean spirited. The comedy is really good, and very memorable, but as the above entry showed good humor and jokes will only get you so far. As for Pinkie Pie, she might be more enjoyable if she didn't say things that she should outright know Twilight would take offense to.
Stare Master, Written by: Chris Savino (Season 1, Episode 17)
What went wrong?: For the first episode to feature the CMC after they were formed, they sure didn't do a good job of making Hasbro's decision to scrap their planned spin off show look like a wise one. The CMC are incredibly stupid, and don't even care for their own safety. The logic behind "The Stare" doesn't even really work for this episode (Bats! at the very least provided a more reasonable in universe explanation), and Twilight has her biggest shoe horned role of Season 1 present here. Even though this was an improvement over his last work, it seems like Chris Savino wasn't a good choice for the show.
The Show Stoppers, Written by: Cindy Morrow (Season 1, Episode 18)
What went wrong?: Cindy Morrow's weakness is comedy, and nowhere is it more obvious then in this episode. Show us what the CMC's talents are at the beginning, and then having them fail to notice said talents isn't funny, it just makes the CMC look stupid. But not the funny kind of stupid from Seasons 1-4 Patrick Star from Spongebob Squarepants, or Homer Simpson/Peter Griffin before their respective shows declined and fell out of style, I'm talking about the annoying and insulting kind of stupid shown in Seasons 6-9 of Spongebob Squarepants. The montage is pointless, and the only good thing to come out of it is the background music. The song does cringe comedy correctly, but the ending is outright insulting by making it seem like the CMC haven't learned their lesson.
Green Isn't Your Color, Written by: Meghan McCarthy (Season 1, Episode 20)
What went wrong?: There's never an explanation given for Photo Finish's revelation that she wants to work with a model and not a fashion designer, and Pinkie Pie's behavior is anything but funny. There's a difference between teasing someone with things that you know a character would never do, and implying that a character or characters will do such things as murder someone. And the whole secret keeping thing is used just to keep the story progressing. But if a story can be resolved so easily, then it needs to be rewritten. Don't hint at the right answer and then show why the characters aren't trying it.
Over A Barrel, Written by: Dave Polsky (Season 1, Episode 21)
What went wrong?: This episode feels like a stoner comedy, and it's dragged down not by how weird it feels, but by how unbelievably the characters act. Pinkie Pie especially acts like a complete idiot, and yet the episode seems to play it for laughs. The buffalo are another prime example of something hindered by Lauren's lack of subtelty, and although it hints at the moral half way through, the episode actually resolves its conflict in the most insulting way possible. It's another example of what happens when you scarifice story for comedy. Thanks the stars above that Dave has improved leaps and bounds in the time since this episode.
A Bird in The Hoof, Written by: Charlotte Fullerton (Season 1, Episode 22)
What went wrong?: The jokes are okay, but sometimes fall flat. The plot is contrived, and incredibly clunky. And the ending, though not the worst out there, is rather medicore. All in all, this episode spends most of its time with the sick bird, and attempts to use gross out humor. Unfortunately, gross out is another area that this show isn't really suited for. And considering what Spongebob has done with it in episodes like "The Splinter" and "House Fancy", it's probably for the best if this show stays away from gross out humor.
Owl's Well That Ends Well, Written by: Cindy Morrow (Season 1, Episode 24)
What went wrong?: This story attempted to tell a story from Spike's POV, but in doing so it made the mistake of assuming that Spike's torment was justified and hillarious. This is the perfect example of why turning the universe against a character just because you can is a bad idea. It leads to a character that The Mysterious Mr.Enter has dubbed "Megward The Wizard", a character who exists solely to be tormented for no good reason. There's also the problem of making the mane six's affections look incredibly petty, and the animators ignoring a plot hole that turns Owlowiscious into a Gary Stu. To top it all off, this episode's potrayal of Twilight is likely what led to the start of fics attempting to correct what they have dubbed "Spike Abuse" and it's a problem that will hopefully be eradicated in Season 5, now that the writers consider him part of the main cast.
Season 1 Episodes Failed: 10/26
The Cutie Pox, Written by: Amy Keating Rogers (Season 2, Episode 6)
What went wrong?: For as much as I harp on about their problems, I can't consider "The Return of Harmony" and "Luna Eclipsed" bad episodes or even guilty pleasures. They are the prime example of episodes that I still like, but I feel like I should like them a lot more yet can't bring myself to do. This episode, on the other hand, is an episode that I am perfectly comfortable with placing on this list. This episode is nothing but filler after the first couple of minutes, and it should NOT have been an episode at all. All attempts at jokes either fall flat, or get milked for more than they're worth and end up ruined. And the ending is the perfect example of why you should not and can not make jokes about your moral. It just makes it seem like your characters haven't learned their lesson, or you're begging for the moral to be misinterpreted.
The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, Written by: Merriweather Williams (Season 2, Episode 8)
What went wrong?: You all knew this would be on the list, it is the episode that everyone thinks of when they think of a bad FiM episode. At this point, there's really nothing I can say about it that I haven't said before about why it's so bad. I've already pointed out the OOC behavior of Rainbow Dash, the OOC behavior of her friends, the bad concept behind Mare-Do-Well, and the ending that not only beats the moral over your head but also makes it seem like the focus character hasn't learned her lesson. Accusation fic after accusation fic has been written to try and correct this episode, and it shouldn't have to be that way.
Hearth's Warming Eve, Written by: Merriweather Williams (Season 2, Episode 11)
What went wrong?: This episode involves the mane six putting on a play, and nothing else happens. The big problem is that the episode raises far more questions than it answers, but it also has the mane six acting like a-holes off stage with absolutely no provacation what-so-ever. A much better plot could've been Fluttershy dealing with stage fright, or showing how the titlular holiday is celebrated. Alas, wasted opportunity is wasted.
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, Written by: M. A. Larson (Season 2, Episode 15)
What went wrong?: *Sigh* Must I sound like a broken record? M. A. Larson is the fan favorite writer, and for the most part his writing is pretty solid. It's just unfortunate that he slipped up so badly here, and that he didn't just fail but failed miserably. Much like The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well I've already pretty much talked about what this episode got wrong, and what should've been fixed. For better or for worse, it remains my least favorite episode of the entire show and one of the few that I can't even begin to imagine what they were going for.
It's About Time, Written by: M. A. Larson (Season 2, Episode 20)
What went wrong?: Just like "The Cutie Pox" and "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" this episode has an outright terrible ending. The problem is a little more justified this time around, since time travel is a very complicated type of plot that is difficult to execute flawlessly. Even the best time travel stories will usually have some sort of plot hole, or something that is just confusing beyond all belief. And the saddest part is, it would've taken very little to fix the ending. Just give the time travel some sort of justifcation, instead of making it seem pointless.
Dragon Quest, Written by: Merriweather Williams (Season 2, Episode 21)
What went wrong?: The implications and the sexist undertones are what kills this episode. It's really sad when G1 of all places did this plot, and did it better. The mane six are complete a-holes, and the opening is probably one of the worst ones in show history (tied with The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000"and Just For Sidekicks). The moral, or at least the attempted moral, is a good one. But even with characters like Garble and Crackle, this episode still falls apart. The fact that Putting Your Hoof Down had and still does have, a mixed reception only indicates that Merriweather Williams really didn't get off to a good start. And it seems like, she still has a long way to go before she can truly move past failures like this and The Mysyerious Mare-Do-Well.
Season 2 Episodes Failed 6/26
One Bad Apple, Written by: Cindy Morrow (Season 3, Episode 4)
What went wrong?: I fail to see how Cindy Morrow could show all the different aspects of bullying in her previous works, and yet somehow fail completely when tackling the issue head on. Yes, telling an adult is something that should be done as soon as things start getting out of hand. But the moral spits in the face of times when the adults don't take action, or are the ones doing the bullying in the first place. Claiming that standing up to a bully makes you as bad as a bully, and that its okay to be a bully if you're being bullied by someone else, only further ticks people off. Sometimes, you have to fight back against a bully because some people won't learn their lesson until they realize that their actions can have negative consequences. To top it all off, the character introduced could've been replaced with two exisiting characters, and the story probably could've worked out better. Cindy Morrow, please make sure that if you ever try the bullying episode again, you take the time to better understand it and present a solution that can actually work.
Spike At Your Service, Written By: Merriweather Williams and Dave Polsky (Season 3, Episode 9)
What went wrong?: This pairing was doomed from the start, since the two writing styles clashed horribly with one another. Then there's the fact that Spike's character is butchered horribly for the sake of the story, and the plot is predictable to the point where there was no way it could've been done with any degree of originality. On top of that, this episode seem to disregard "Crystal Empire Part 2" while potentially remembering "Dragon Quest". There's some good humor, and it comes pretty close to being a great Applejack episode, but Applejack isn't the focus character. The original draft with Rarity probably sounded better, though who knows for sure how it would've turned out?
Games Ponies Play, Written by: Dave Polsky (Season 3, Episode 12)
What went wrong?: The word of the day is, forced. That easily sums up much of the dialogue in this episode, and its attempt at doing a "The Inspector's Coming" type of plot with the classic case of misunderstanding and mistaken identity. Many of the scenes feel pointless, and the dialogue doesn't make sense except when it comes from Shining Armor, Cadence, or our main characters when they're not required to keep the plot moving. I know they planned it intentionally to avoid overshadowing "Magical Mystery Cure", but it certainly didn't kick off the Equestria Games mini arc all that greatly.
Season 3 Episodes Failed 3/13
Bats!, Written by: Merriweather Williams (Season 4, Episode 7)
What went wrong?: So close and yet so far, that's how I define this episode. In some aspects, it came pretty close to being Merriweather's best work yet, such as when it provided a great song and a good explanation for Fluttershy's stare. Flutterbat was good, despite the fact that they spoiled the revelation. But on the other hand, by throwing the mane six into a conflict they didn't belong in, having Applejack's character feel stale, and using some bad logic to justify Fluttershy's position, as well as making Applejack scarifice something that wasn't necessarily her choice to make, it just doesn't feel good enough to deserve my praise.
Rainbow Falls, Written by: Corey Powell (Season 4, Episode 10)
What went wrong?: What a fall from grace for a writer who had so much potential, and an editior that previously seemed to be doing a good job. Not only did this episode single handedly kill the Equestria Games mini arc, and drag Corey Powell's name through the mud, but it also destroyed Meghan McCarthy's reputation as a story editior. Because I'm having a hard time seeing how she could've just accepted this as it was, there were a lot of things that she should've at least demanded an explanation of. The writing choices here don't make any sense, and either demonize or flanderize all of the characters except for Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Bulk Biceps, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Soarin. It also suffers from "Double Rainboom Syndrome" by having all of its highlights in the background. Even the return of Derpy Hooves isn't enough to save this episode.
Three's A Crowd, Written by: Meghan McCarthy and Ed Valentine (Season 4, Episode 11)
What went wrong?: The episode gets off to a bad start by throwing in some Spike abuse for the brief amount of time he's on-screen. After that, it absolutely destroys Pinkie Pie's character for a joke that isn't funny even in the slightest. After a rude remark from Rainbow Dash, we come to the main problem of the episode. The mane six's treatment of Discord. Subtelty is not kind to this episode, and it makes it seem like the mane six could care less if Discord was actually sick, because they expect him to change who he is to stay in their good books. When we get to the plot, 11 minutes in, we get a great Discord song, but the implications don't improve as Twilight lies to Cadence about how she treats Discord, and Cadence throws Shining Armor under the bus to make Twilight feel better. If "Magic Duel" was the example of what to do when fans want to see more of a character, then this episode is the example of what NOT to do when fans want to see more of a character.
Filli Vanilli, Written by: Amy Keating Rogers (Season 4, Episode 14)
What went wrong?: Amy didn't deserve the death threats she got for Pinkie's potrayal in this episode. As bad as it was, the death threats only made what we were upset about get ignored and made us look immature and ungrateful. Pinkie Pie's incredibly OOC potrayal aside, this episode stretches the suspension of disbelief way too far, and makes Fluttershy backpedal for the sake of a moral. So writers, if you weren't prepared to have Fluttershy learn to stand up for herself and overcome her self doubt, then why did you write "Putting Your Hoof Down" and "Hurricane Fluttershy" in which those flaws were adressed and corrected?
Somepony To Watch Over Me, Written by: Scott Sonneborn (Season 4, Episode 17)
What went wrong?: Applejack may not have been OOC, but her concern for Apple Bloom definitely came out of nowhere. The climax of the episode should've been the beginning of the episode, and the moral is broken beyond all belief. Not to metion, Apple Bloom does not deserve the treatment she recieves in this episode. And when she actually does something dangerous and stupid, the episode treats her as being in the right. Much like "Look Before You Sleep" a little explanation would go a long way towards fixing this mess.
Trade Ya, Written by: Scott Sonneborn (Season 4, Episode 19)
What went wrong?: The dialogue in this episode is clunky, at least until the plots get going. We have a somewhat funny RariJack plot that could've done with a slight touch up, a TwiPie plot that needed a better ending, and a FlutterDash plot that shoe horned in a moral that it didn't need. Fluttershy's kindness and lack of a backbone are what this plot should've addressed, not Rainbow Dash realizing how important a friend is in comparison to a book. The moral should've been, if you feel like you're being taken for granted you should say something or you're likely to be stepped on again and again. It also wouldn't have hurt to see Spike bargining with his comic, instead of shoving his story into the background and not outright acknowlodging it.
Season 4 Episodes Failed 6/26
Total Episodes Failed 25/91
Actually, the pawing at the ground is a hostile act for horses, also, it's an episode against racism, not that subtle.
At least you pointed that Twilight was being a dick as well pinkie was being a jerk in return. my verdict this episode was made on drugs oh wait that was another episode I rather disliked. Twi and Pinks were being OOC i really love these two paired together though. Funny i am listening to we didnt start the fire by billy joel as i type this.
This episode was written on drugs. its stupid and the six were being jerks. Nothing more to add but they were all acting like they forgot about lessons they learned about friendship and started yelling at each other over what? something that could have been negotiable! I am not polition but if I were to share a house or land with someone we would compromise and be civil not act like idiots on drugs. Normally I would defend pinkie when she does random crap but i cant here and it seems like season one pinkie wasnt as great as i rememeber her to be? gee I thought season three and season four was her worst portrayal when not in focus.
I only liked it because of the flim flam brothers other then that everyone was being downright annoying.
As for mysterious mare do well that episode was just your average superhero episode every kid show in the history of kid shows have done a million times over.
I can't see Scoots with a scooter or dancing cutie mark it just won't fit her, if she was talented at those shed of gotten a mark by now, but its not her destiny, but there is word she might get a cutie mark with a flower and a butterfly, of course that's a rumor.
To me "Feeling Pinkie Keen" is a guilty pleasure but the moral could have been polished more.
Snips and Snails are more or less the 'Big the Cat' of FiM so I agree that they are idiotic.
The "Owl's Well" episode made me feel bad for Spike.
"The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" was such a irritation and nothing more than an episode to make Rainbow Dash look bad.
Even though I liked that they added world building in "Hearth's Warming Eve" I can see the flaws that you mentioned.
I still hate "Spike At Your Service" with such a burning passion and even if Rarity was in the role of Applejack, I would have hated this episode even more.
The CMC may have acted stupid and childish in early episodes, but in my opinion they are getting better. I guess "Ponyville Confidential" saved them from so much hate. Or did it? dun dun dunnn!
"Games Ponies Play" wasn't great but I enjoyed the comedy at the very least.
I liked "Bats!" and Applejack could've been more understanding but alas it is as it is.
"Rainbow Falls" I thought had a good moral in my opinion and I understand the confusion and flanderization of characters. Way to kick off the Equestria Games arc, guys.
"Three's a Crowd" gets a 6 from me. The Mane Six were jerks to Discord, I didn't like the song that much and Shining Armor was no where to be seen. I do however enjoyed the action sequence with the Tatzlwurm but that still wasn't enough to like this episode.
"Filli Vanilli" I can understand the hate it gets for Pinkie Pie's portrayal and treatment of Fluttershy but aside from that I knew the moral they were trying to put out there. But the reception was shocking for me to hear. I don't hate this episode, but the writer Amy Keating Rogers doesn't deserve all of these stupid death threats from hardcore bronies. She's just doing her job just like everyone else at Hasbro, Nintendo, Disney etc. I know this is a cartoon and I shouldn't take it so seriously just because of one little measly thing that happened.
"Somepony to Watch Over Me" isn't really my favorite so I'll let it pass.
I didn't like "Trade Ya" because I felt the moral wasn't executed properly.
Great list overall. Can't wait to see the disappointing list as well as the top twenty five.
2789925
The death threats over filli vanilli made fluttershy my kryptonite for a while the attacks on pinkie did not help at all.
mysterious mare do well was a stupid superhero episode if wanted to watch something with superheros i would watch superman tas. Other then that Dash even though i felt bad for her i thought she kinda deserved it since someone needed to knock that ego of hers down a notch please dont kill me.
owls well ends well was boring and it made spike look bad.
spike at your service more insult to spike's character.
bats made applejack a stereotypical farmer who enjoys killing innocent animals just to protect her stupid crops she can easily grow back.
2789957
"Welcome to Hasbro Studios. We develop characters I think. Hey, Ray."
"What the F**K IS A SPIKE?!" Ray asked.
JonTron reference FTW!
2789994
Jontron is god. that is all.
2790000 Up there with Nostalgia Critic, Completionist, Johnny, MrEnter and AnimatedJames that's for sure.
I'm not entirely sure that Trixie was ever meant to be more than a situational antagonist. In fact, I look at that whole episode as proof of the fact that "heroes" don't always get along with one another, though in the IDW comics stories, she's now become a friend of Rainbow Dash's (one of the Ponies she clashed with the most in "Boast Busters," and also the one with whose Humanoid analogue the Humanoid Trixie is currently the fiercest rival). I look at Trixie as an obnoxious heroine, but nevertheless a heroine.
To the point that I don't like her being written warm and cuddly. Trixie is fundamentally good, but she's not in the least bit warm or cuddly; she maintains a front of defiance against and superiority to the whole world and all the other Ponies in it, which she is willing to drop only at times and only with a very few Ponies. That's her problem -- she's difficult for most Ponies to personally like, and she overdoes her act when she's not on stage. I characterize her as capable of love, but only with great difficulty, and only toward someone for whom she has immense respect.
She's stubborn, and in fact this is one of her great virtues. If Trixie thinks it's worth it, she will stand up to almost anypony or anything, even mad gods, rivals above her power level, or a whole coven of Shadow Mages. On the other hand, while she's brave in confrontation, she's absolutely terrified of humiliation: her default mode for dealing with embarrassment is to toss one of her trademarked smoke bombs and get the hell out of Dodge -- or where ever she is at the time. This is not always the best approach to deal with complex emotional issues or social errors.
See An Extended Performance for an explanation of the character of my favorite mildly-sociopathic little blue unicorn.
This is a very early episode, and it highlights something poignant about Twilight's character -- she's a an awesomely brilliant and powerful mage, but she had few friends growing up, and there's a lot of normal stuff she never did as a filly which she has only the most formal notions of how to do now, even though she's a mare full-grown. She lost a normal childhood and adolescence, as the price of becoming the kind of living magical super-weapon who could free Princess Luna from the Nightmare, take on Discord in a battle of wits and will, or hold the power of three other Alicorns and wield it to fight Tirek the Undying to a standstill. That's rather sad, if one considers what this means.
As for AJ and Rarity -- remember that they are old friends (the connection in their fillyhood probably being AJ-->Rainbow Dash-->Fluttershy-->Rarity) and they are very familiar with, and very annoyed by, one another's quirks. (An even better exploration of this is "Simple Ways"). One of the reasons they both come off as so immature in the episode is that this is probably far from the first time they've gotten on each other's nerves this way, and the first time it happened they were probably both blank-flanks. They've gotten set on a pattern with one another.
They like each other too, as is very obvious in some other episodes (most notably the end of Crystal Empire, and how they make up at the end of "Simple Ways"). They just are capable of falling into an old pattern of childish quarreling, with each other. Humans can be like that too.
I think one of the points of "Bridle Gossip" is that it shows a difference in the degree to which the characters are cosmopolitan. The reason why Twilight Sparkle is the most willing of the Mane Six to accept Zecora is that she has been raised at Court in the national capital of Canterlot, and she is very much aware of the fact that she lives in a world which contains sapients of all shapes and colors of sizes,. Applejack and Pinkie Pie are the two most parochial members of the Mane Six; they can't fly, and neither is very much interested in national or international affairs. (Applejack is emotionally tied to her land, and Pinkie Pie grew up in an incredibly-rural backwater).
This is another early episode, and the Mane Six haven't yet adjusted to the fact that being national heroines may require diplomacy.
As for Twilight Sparkle switching around to their attitude, this highlights a point about Pony psychology compared to human. They're herd creatures, and psychologically the Mane Six is a "herd." This means that it's harder for one of them to hold out against the disagreement of the majority, even if the majority is being unreasonable, than it might be for Humans. But then, Humans don't always stand up well to this sort of pressure, either.
"Feeling Pinkie Keen" is important because it demonstrates very explicitly what was already implied by PInkie's successful Giggling At The Ghosties, namely that Pinkie has real power, and it's a really strange sort of power. Notice that Twilight didn't actually give up on trying to understand it ... she just realized that Pinkie's secrets defend themselves, and a direct analysis of them might trigger a response that could inadvertently kill her. That was also important, as Twilight finally recognized the limits of her own power and methods -- an important lesson for Twilight if she's to become one of the main Defenders of the Realm.
"Stare Master" confirmed that what Fluttershy had already done in "Dragonshy" was no accident, and it's an important part of the the show's Fluttershy arc (what I've been buliding my own "Flutterarc" on) in that it demonstrates that Fluttershy has really amazingly awesome psychic powers. Basically, the Mane Six are meta-ponies, which isn't obvious if one only watches the Slice of Life episodes. They're a superhero team without the costumes. (Though not because Rarity wouldn't try to give them all costumes, if they'd let her).
My explanation for Fluttershy's possession of the Stare is simple. It's the very same power that Queen Chrysalis uses on Shining Armor, and she has it for the same reason. Fluttershy's a lost Royal Caste Changeling. Though I don't think this is what the shows' writers necessarily believe.
Safety? I know not this strange tongue you speak, outlander. They're kids. They imagine themselves immortal, especially when their gang's all together.
2790009
Indeed!
2790542 You can defend everyone's actions in "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well"?
2791864 I still feel like the mane six should've at least attempted to talk to Rainbow Dash about what they clearly thought was a problem. I'd be pretty furious if my friends decided to teach me a lesson and destroy my reputation, as opposed to telling me what I was doing wrong. If the mane six had talked to Rainbow Dash, and she ignored them, then their behavior probably would've been justified. As it was written however, such is not the case.
2791989 Except Mare-Do-Well was blatantly Mary-Sueish. The whole flying aspect was used soley to make Rainbow Dash feel insignificant. Same goes for the strength display, since Twilight's magic could've easily stopped the carriage in less time than Applejack's back hooves which again were used solely to make Rainbow Dash feel insignificant. If it were someone like Trixie or Princess Luna, it would be justified, but making Mare-Do-Well the mane sx flat out kills the concept.
I guess the moral of this story is for the show to hire better writers.
Even some of us on here could write some of those episodes better than the show's writing team.
2792820 Most of the writers listed here are pretty good, they just sometimes make mistakes. But writers like Merriweather Williams and Scott Sonneborn, who repeatedly struggle, should potentially consider leaving the show.