Redo review: Season 1

Now that the series has finished, I find it properly to re-review all episodes from the show since I want to explain myself more about why I consider them good, bad or decent about them (at least from Seasons 1-5, since my original opinions have changed over the years now feel dated). This will be a long journey, so prepare yourselves. As a final note, this review will assume you've already seen the show, so spoilers ahead.

Mare in the Moon/Elements of Harmony

For a pilot episode, Friendship Is Magic has offered a good depth of a story, and I will admit it was quite the way to start the show off. The first thing that makes it detailed with its story was how the first part was narrated about the events of an entire millennium ago, being when Celestia sadly had to banish her sister up and into the moon for her evil form of Nightmare Moon. As for the second part, the best part was towards the end when the Mane 6 finish off the episode's antagonist. So overall it's one of Season 1's finest episodes, if slightly a little flawed with a few plot holes in-between the middle of this two part storyline and a bit of unoriginality within this episode's villain. But bottomline, this is still a great one. 3/5.

The Ticket Master

The Ticket Master never managed to make its plot a rubbish piece of nonsense for MLP's first season and second overall episode plot-wise thanks to its charming humor, fantastic plot pacing, and a wonderful moral of friendship to deliver a message that truly speaks to all and really knows how to teach audiences something important about friendship. The most creative thing about it has to be the development of the main characters showing what they represent with their cutie marks and what they plan to do at the gala. I feel the writing though does feel and sound a bit bland between one character and other, but I'll still call its pros a grace for its episode. Pinkie's song around the 2/3 of the episode wasn't exactly something great and was rather nothing of real concern but the chase is funny and the other generous favors Twilight's other friends tried to do for her was a surprise factor (besides Rarity). I feel it could have done better though if cramming every character's way off helping Twilight for their own reasons to go to the gala weren't a little too rushed in the plot, but I'll be fair and say: It's good one. 4/5.

Applebuck Season

This is an episode I can call good enough to be recommendable for rookie bronies and pegasisters who are just now getting started with watching the show. In my eyes, this episode has lost the WOW factors, but this doesn't mean it's something bad. The episode's plot, writing, animation (at its time, though it's gotten even better and more detailed over the years), and message. The plot wasn't exactly special for one of the first episodes, and although it’s still good, it’s a bit flawed for Applejack's stubborn behavior that got old really fast after it kept going on, but the good thing about it was how humorous enough it was to make me laugh really hard. The voice acting has been done greatly even though the script felt just decent and was bit flawed for Applejack's lines of confusion during her communications with Twilight most of the time. The message was great to learn about not biting off more than you can chew, which it was delivered again in Stare Master but I felt this episode was more bearable. So while it's not one of my favorites of the show anymore as I said, Applebuck Season is a fine installment of and you have to give it credit for any positives that you can find about. 4/5.

Griffon the Brush-Off

I used to call it one of the worst of the series but Griffon the Brush-Off is rather okay to me nowadays while hardly any from what or who I've heard of have called it good. The story is no longer horrible, but plenty of corny script lines and upsetting acts of mean-spiritedness is what keeps this from being an episode I can give somewhat of a good rep to. The worst part of the script has to come from Gilda throughout when she commonly uses the word "lame" and plenty of insulting names only a brat would call his/her friends/family who annoy him/her before maturity. Gilda's acts weren't all understandable at first, but now I can sympathize with her for some backstory she got just 4 and a half years after this nonsense (more on that later). In all fairness for her though, Gilda did at least have a concept I can call clever since she's..., well, a griffon. The first few minutes despite a bit of Pinkie's annoyingness to Rainbow Dash were enjoyable with the creative pranks they pulled off on their friends were inspirational for me to pull off someday even though I've never done so just yet. The moral was done reasonable enough but nowadays, sometimes it feels both nonsensical and forgettable which is a flaw that has plagued other MLP plots after this (and not before it since it's only one of the very first episodes of the show). If those blots were fixed up, it would have been at least bearable, but for me, it's better left forgotten. 2/5.

Boast Busters

I've never been a fan of Trixie, to this date I’m still wondering why everyone likes her and puts her on their favorites. And when it comes to her introductory episode I'm just trying to think more positive about it. So while it still is not average enough to make my good or okay categories, I'll consider myself neutral towards since after an episode's plot when showoffs change for their own good, like what Trixie did at the end, even if Snips' and Snails' moments aren't anything logical since this more about Trixie than anypony else. I might be just neutral towards her now, but considering her motivations of jerkiness are understandable at times, it shouldn't necessarily be a bad thing that sometimes (if not always) even those "all's well that ends well" endings are just enough for me to give episodes like this one a break. 1/5.

Dragonshy

Fluttershy might be my second least favorite of the Mane 6, but that doesn't mean she has episodes about her that are all that bad. This episode gave great character development and, for one shining moment, Fluttershy brought something good; her bravery when she stands up for her friends towards the end. She weirded me out in very beginning due to how weak and cowardly she was, and it still bugs me today, but at least she has done great things that have impressed me. Delivering its moral greatly within the episode's pacing, Dragonshy's friendship lesson about not losing faith in your friends is one lesson that reminded me to do the same thing when it comes to situations like when the Mane 6, and especially Fluttershy take care of the giant smoke-snoring dragon. There were plenty of hilarious moments as well, while some moments in 2/3 of the plot were cliché, but those scenes of how they climbed up that mountain (and survived) are really good. With superb writing, an enthralling storyline, and a great moral for all ages to learn from, Dragonshy provides true enjoyably that anypony can experience. 5/5.

Look Before You Sleep

Although it's hardly a delightfully clever idea, Look Before You Sleep is partially messed up for me, while still likable on occasion, for its bogged down pacing of its story, immature and lazy script by both Applejack and Rarity, and its lack of memorability due to its near strong flaws of making it dull. I’ll admit my favorite part was the pillow fight between Rarity and Applejack, and it does provide a bit of good humor albeit both attitudes, but has still done well for the rest of the time and is worth a chuckle when looking past most of its grudges. I could watch it again despite being imperfect, but since the show has obviously made better plots than this, it's one of the last few okay episodes I'd give a re-watch. The lack of a premise in this episode (since its plot is just a slumber party-themed one) is another flaw. But I will give another charm for its message about embracing each other’s differences even though you don't have much common (sometimes) and that it did speak to me a little though other shows have done it in a much better way. Having its fair share of both positives and negatives though, is not that bad, but not quite okay enough to be one of my favorites. 3/5.

Bridle Gossip

It did do a good job in providing good humor from the Mane 6 thanks to the whole poison joke effects on during the middle of the plot (the funniest for me being Flutterguy), however, the rest of the time the episode failed miserably to be top notch enough as a good one (but it’s decent enough to not necessarily be a bad one either) from my view. Zecora does make an epic entrance for her first time we're introduced to her in the cold open sequence but the Mane 6 falsely accusing her of their side effects was an aspect of the plot that really just got on my nerves. As I said though, my biggest problem with this mediocrity is the corniness of its plot about making a filly looking wiser and more intelligent than SIX ADULTS. In all fairness though Bridle Gossip's humor was, again, very funny along with Pinkie Pie's song being sung by Flutterguy towards the very end, and the ending was okay in its own right with the exception of the moral that delivered okay enough about not judging a book by its (or somepony by his/her apperance). It's worth a watch to those who love its ideal storyline, but for some like me who find it just downright bland won't consider giving it a shot. 3/5.

Swarm of the Century

I consider this pointless and one of those episodes I should consider awful for all the negative points everyone makes on it. If I could praise it, I'd call it a watchable plot, pointless or not. So there's a lot for me to consider when re-judging an episode but as for this one, I'll cut it some slack for how I can pretty much take any of its pointlessness considered by others. 1/5.

Winter Wrap-Up

Honestly speaking; if there was anything I'd have to call this episode it would be heart-warming. For its musical note of the song of the same name, great animation and visuals of the scenes of snow, wonderful script and voice acting, and powerful plot points. My favorite part about the song may very well have to be the situation in which it plays in. While there's not much humor to say the least, the blending of going from one main character to another and the various parts the characters played in the event of Winter Wrap Up was one of the finest moments from Season 1 and one of my personal favorites. It does include one of the best plots centered around a certain weather season, and in this case winter (duh). I don't have many grudges to point out about this achievement other than how hard it was to sit through part of Twilight's part of being shunned by her own friends, but that's not a major effect on the narrative nor the episode in general. And while it's not her best episode she's ever written in terms of the whole show, it shows how intelligent she can be with her episodes...at times. 4.5/5.

Call of the Cutie

The episode that started it all with the Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting each other was at first a not-so-good installment for how cruel Diamond Tiara was at first but once I re-watched it after several praises by members of the fandom, Call of the Cutie became one of my personal favorites of this 1st season. It might be their first episode centered around them (well, mainly Apple Bloom). The episode's great pacing, fantastic animation, powerful moral, and nice personalities that the other characters proved is what makes up for most of the con of how hard it can be at times for me to watch more than once. My favorite scenes of the whole thing may very well have to be Rainbow Dash's part on helping Apple Bloom and the very end when Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stand up to defend her. While it's not a masterpiece, this episode has shown that it can fix up any clichés it might have had if it weren't for the fine writing and brilliant ideal pacing progress. One of the most underrated episodes of the entire series. 5/5.

Fall Weather Friends

Though it received fairly decent reviews and ratings from fans, Fall Weather Friends is yet another episode that deserves a better rep and much more positivity than it already has gotten. First off, the humor was a real charm and the performances of the main characters (though Rarity was only a background character for this episode) felt great and the plot felt entertaining what with the marathon race when you get to see Applejack and Rainbow Dash cheat against each other though Twilight's sluggish movement of being in last place until everypony else tires out felt a bit awkward for the big moment of a race. Putting any grudges aside, I also must point out that the moral admitted by both Applejack and Rainbow Dash was great about being good sports. The episode's script was good, and the good and enjoyable parts about it were Pinkie Pie and Spike's commentary on the marathon were great if slightly forgettable along with a lack of humor. Gorgeousness aside, this is a true surprise of Season 1 and if you don't think it's that good, then maybe you should reconsider watching again thinking only about its pros and not any cons you have with it. 4/5.

Suited for Success

The first episode to be primarily about Rarity (meaning that the episode focuses mostly on her), Suited for Success I thought at first was just okay but when re-watching it, I felt I should be a little more generous enough. Though it does give great fascinating visuals of Rarity's original dresses (and not the embarrassing ones that her friends desired) and a spectacular presentation of them towards the very end, the episode has also sprinkled a magic dose of goods via Rarity's catchy song that she sang after the intro. The dialogue throughout has been done very well too, although Hoity Toity's accent at times feels rather bizarre for me to listen to. So you could say I like it and at the same time have a hard time watching most of it. But the positivity in this episode is backed up for development in Rarity's character and the moral of not to look a gift horse in the mouth was done greatly as well in all fairness. 4.5/5.

Feeling Pinkie Keen

Season 1 didn't have the most amount of awful episodes and had none that I gave a perfect rating to either. I once panned Feeling Pinkie Keen because of it’s religiously moral on learning to make your own choice of religion and beliefs, and just ignored the rest of the actual episode when I criticized the moral only. So even if I still despise the moments of Twilight getting hurt, the whole concept is what I'll give actual praise to, and that its plot feels like some impressive B-Movie, especially the look of the Hydra since it's the cool type of Greek Mythology. More or less, I would call it bad, but since I've been far too harsh on it, it's for the best that I should starting looking a lot more clearly at stories and not just morals of MLP episodes from now on. 2/5.

Sonic Rainboom

With its wonderfully paced execution, it delivers impressive scenes and moments of Rainbow Dash practicing, and at the very end performing her rainboom which makes it one of my favorite moments in this series. Along with great personalities the characters have shown off, even when Rarity was a showoff throughout most of the story, the episode did provide the amazing ideal concept design of the home of Pegasi known as Cloudsdale that also stood out as one of Season 1's best ideas to give to the show. Unlike Boast Busters though, the whole showoff attitude from a character like Rarity wasn't all mean-spirited and was in fact a result of how it's okay to make characters act like showoffs sometimes. Aside from that, the episode did provide some very hilarious humor at times from beginning to end, the most humorous being both Fluttershy's weak cheers in the cold open sequence and Pinkie Pie "tasting a rainbow". The bullies weren't likable at first, but when changing their attitudes for her towards the end they did become decent characters for a plot all about Rainbow Dash. The moral of keeping your hooves on the ground and always being there for your friends was delivered excellently like with other good morals from good episodes, and with that said, Sonic Rainboom is pure entertainment that you'll have a real blast watching (with popcorn). 4.5/5.

Stare Master

Both the Crusaders and Fluttershy have had good episodes, although among me and some others, those of which I don't of consider this episode really to be a tad bit overrated if not highly. My cons with it for that matter have to be the moments when the Crusaders were like an annoyance to Fluttershy as at times kids like, them are difficult to control and that the moral was delivered in a more unrewatchable way for how annoying the plot was at times. Skipping the two categories that are spot on with the episode as always, Stare Master does have great moments like Fluttershy's weird but powerful stare, especially against the cockatrice creatures, if slightly a bit bizarre to watch sometimes. The humor was pretty decent for my standards, but the pacing just felt cliché. The song that the Crusaders sang was stupid lyrics-wise, but I'll admit that their voices were excellent to hear when forgetting about the song in general. With everything aside, thanks to its good-enough humor, okay plot and mediocre moral of not biting off more than you can chew. Overall, it's more of a decent installment. 3/5.

The Show Stoppers

It's hardly ever been praised, thanks to its lack of real humor, clever originality, and rather stupid attempt for the CMC’s to get their marks, the plot itself just felt down flat onto its face and just could not get back up to make up for its mistakes. My biggest annoyance with this though has to be the atrocious song of the CMC’s, the rushed plot and pointless idea of volunteering for a talent show reeks of anything resembling an interest factor, though admittedly it does add somewhat of a little development and personality to the Crusaders. Although I usually call MLP's sound design to be one of its usual spot on elements in its own manner, this episode's music due to the Crusaders' ear-bleeding song alone ruined that department half the time. Though it did at least try to tell a story of the CMC’s trying to earn what they’ll get in Season 5, it still falls flat for how cliché and really boring its plot was, and in my case for how nonsensical its message was, and I think it's best just move on and forget about this nonsense. 1/5.

A Dog and Pony Show

Now that I think more about it, A Dog and Pony Show is now an episode I'll consider to be one of my favorites of Season 1. The first thing that makes a great experience is its narrative and how ideal it was for the main characters' rescuing quest for Rarity, fabulous fantasy of Spike as a knight fighting off the dogs (and ending right before he and Rarity kiss), and how the narrative delivers a message of how sometimes ladylike people can handle themselves even as damsels in distress. The script and moments of the Mane 6 finding Rarity also back it up and make for some of my favorite character traits in an MLP episode, specifically Spike's and Rarity's, but still, they're all wonderful. Hardly any memorable humor was included like Spike's fantasy but still some to laugh at. So in conclusion, I highly recommend this one to any Rarity fans, one of the funniest episodes of Season 1. 5/5.

Green Isn’t Your Color

At first I considered Green Isn't Your Color to be something just mediocre due to no real moments of Rarity shining and rather focusing more on Fluttershy as a whole for most of the run time. But when I gave it a re-watch after I've read positive reviews on it, I gave it something more than just what it was to me when I first went through it. The episode did provide haunting humor from the other main characters, mostly from Pinkie Pie, a good moral of learning to share your feeling with friends and not keep them a secret, and some good pacing albeit not-so-creative plot for my taste. It might not be one I'd revisit, but still good stuff. 4/5.

Over A Barrel

This episode is proof that everyone really can learn from his mistake. The message is a powerful one, even now, about being rational and reasonable with one another, and looking at both sides. Ain important gray area to take into consideration. Some reviews like Joshscorcher's can make good statements on the episode, and for those good points by him and Lily Peet, I'll give say, it's fantastic with its moral, plot, and great character traits even if I'm feeling just neutral for the buffalo tribe. 4/5.

A Bird in the Hoof

I just can't call it good because A Bird in Hoof feels a lot more boring to me than it does entertaining. Taking care of a sickly bird like Celestia's phoenix Philomena was absolute boredom because Fluttershy's attempts to cure her have all failed and never really helped the bird which is the most uninteresting part of the whole plot to watch. The boringness of the episode might be its downsides, but to give it some credit, it did have a good concept to Philomena's true form as shown at the end and the beginning started out nicely, but the message of asking for permission to help a pet of somepony (like Celestia) didn't come across well enough for me. The graphics were great, the script was...meh, the voices have been done on a good note, but other than all of that, the rest of the episode is still pretty forgettable when you try thinking about it more clearly. Though a good layout at times, the episode itself is just better left forgotten for its boring factor, and that's why it's one the weakest efforts of not just Season 1, but the series in general. 1/5.

The Cutie Mark Chronicles

It's not every time the show gets an episode right, but in this case it's been done right. The Cutie Mark Chronicles is one of the best episodes of the show in my eyes thanks to its detailed backstories of all six of the series' main characters and how their backstories all have a connection with each other. Which brings me to the episode's moral: "Having a special connection with your friends even if you haven't met them before time back then." For connecting six various backstories together, it actually makes sense see how Rainbow Dash's first Sonic Rainboom lead to the one small source of the other five main characters' cutie marks as to causing the thing they needed to earn them and live up to their calling in life when they were younger fillies. However, the episode has a lot of flaws that makes me admit it hasn’t aged well over the years: the Cutie Mark Crusaders not getting some attention during the story's pacing between all of the backstories, despite mainly focusing on them in the opening sequence showing how they began searching (just and only) for Rainbow Dash (and her story), makes them feel more like a plot tool instead of characters. Also, the episode gets very repetitive after a while because the format is the same throughout the entire plot: CMC’s ask one of the Mane 6 about her origin story, flashback, the backstory is about something related to the Sonic Rainboom, they get bored and search for the next one. 3/5.

Owl’s End That Ends Well

One of the most controversial episodes of the season. If you were to ask me, though? I thought it was alright. Spike’s conflict is comprehensible because he takes pride in being Twilight's number one assistant and it's clear he appreciates the attention the Mane 6 give him. But when Owlicious appears, he believes Twilight doesn't love him anymore. However, Spike did come off a bit petty in trying to make Owlicious bad and, although it’s understandable why he does it, it looks childish and immature. So, is it really one of season one's worst? I don't think so. But it's far from unwatchable and Spike and Owlicious do have good moments together in future episodes. That said, this isn't one of those episodes I'd re-watch that often, except maybe for some humorous moments. 3/5.

Party of One

The episode that made me both laugh and creeped out at the same time, it does deserve a spot among all of the good episodes in this friendship-teaching series. With a wonderful plotline, quirky but lovable acts from Pinkie Pie, a great "always expect the best and never assume the worst" moral and interesting plot, it's certainly great enough to be one of my Top Five favorites of this season. A little nitpick I had with this piece work in its plot was how Pinkie forgot about her birthday while trying to focus on Gummy's after-birthday party. Aside from that, I consider this an MLP classic and the best Pinkie Pie episode to date (I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing) . 5/5.

The Best Night Ever

A problem I’ve had with MLP over the years is that, when it comes to tell a slice of life story or a simple moral, it intends to go well and it’s spectacular, but when it comes to being “epic” or pretend to be “epic”, it’s not necessarily bad per se but don’t tend to be a strong. For this finale I'd say I used to call it not all that good at first but looking only at its positives after I re-watched it’s now in my book a good episode with some quality of true charm if flawed a bit. It may now be one of my personal favorites of Season 1. One of the best things about this episode has to be its wonderful plot, seeing how the other Mane 6 got to the Gala to do what they wanted to separately though it truly did suck that we never got to any part of Spike other than the very end when he just stood at the donut shop for the rest of plot. The humor was great to say the least, specifically Fluttershy's "YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE ME!" which was a true plus to the episode itself. The writing was nice along with the characters although Prince Blueblood as whole just ruined most of Rarity's part for me, but the rest of the characters' parts, mostly Fluttershy's hilarious animal snatching was the main stand out from my perspective. I have to say doesn't really work entirely for me, but sometimes friends really can make the worst of times into something pretty great. Putting the flaws I have The Best Night Ever aside, this Season 1 chapter is still proof that it really can be a charming finale to a great season. 4/5.

Overall Season Rating: 3.4/5.