Season five was essentially chopped into two halves because
of horrendous scheduling by Discovery Family, and whether coincidental or not
it fell into this grouping. The first
marked M.A. Larson’s story editor debut, and (aside from two missteps) featured
surprisingly strong efforts which often explored dissatisfaction with cutie
marks. Many were offbeat and
experimental, but despite public opinion, this was My Little Pony’s best 13-episode stretch so far. That includes Larson’s own contributions,
which explored many fan-developed background characters who are no less worthy
of screen time than the main ones. The
second part belonged to Meghan McCarthy, and was unsurprisingly high on events
(Crusaders getting their marks, Cadance pregnant, two holidays and two map
episodes, plus a near space-time continuum unraveling) but low on quality. No exploration of any first half themes was
attempted, and characterization (with one notable exception) stayed at a bare minimum. These episodes make up the biggest “meh”
stretch of any season and almost all of them are largely disappointing. After missing season four, Larson again
demonstrated his status as My Little Pony’s
best writer. He saved McCarthy’s
convoluted opener and penned his two strongest scripts which celebrated series
history while still pushing it forward.
Dave Polsky joined him with two unappreciated and underrated character
episodes that looked at two equally misunderstood ponies and treated them humanely. No one else remotely had a good year, whether
the writers were returning (Amy Keating Rogers, Cindy Morrow, Natasha Levinger
(ugh), and sadly Noelle Benvenuti) or newly added (only Joanna Lewis and
Kristine Songco created passable work; the others all deserve pink slips). This produced a very frustrating season which
showed plenty of early promise before flaming out in rather boring fashion. After such a sustained horrid stretch, My Little Pony appears to be in peril,
having exhausted both good ideas and writers.
Season five’s overall feel therefore remains negative, but its best
moments cannot be forgotten and are unquestionably series high points.
Top 5
1. Slice Of Life
My Little Pony’s
100th episode concentrated on background ponies, which led some to criticize
it as being glorified fanfiction. M.A.
Larson knew what he was doing though and effectively made his points. Using Cranky and Matilda’s wedding for a
backdrop, he jumps around between various characters while they prepare for
this event despite most of them rarely if ever having lines before. Our main ponies are busy battling another
huge monster, but the focus remains on these “extras” throughout.
Larson said he decided to just go crazy with this concept,
and that isn’t a joke. But it works
because the animators followed him and packed Slice Of Life full of details you
won’t notice the first time through. The
episode is much more than a fandom celebration though, since Larson
demonstrates how every pony thrown into each scene as filler actually live their
own lives. And this is similar to how
you never think that whoever happens to be at the store or wherever leads an
equally developed life. Even if
forgotten later, My Little Pony momentarily
ceased being about six characters and became a community. Larson made this manufactured world feel
vibrant, and showed that episodes need not contain any mane six members to be
interesting. None of this would be as
effective if Slice Of Life wasn’t also so much fun, and it always feels completely
focused despite an intentional mess.
There are so many good moments that smiling throughout is almost
impossible.
While nowhere near a representative episode, Slice Of Life
is still the best one produced throughout My
Little Pony’s first five seasons. It is practically a definitive 21st
century outing due to being impossible without fan contributions, but Slice Of
Life’s joy also cannot be ignored. No
other choice exists for the top spot, and that so many fans prefer Crusaders Of
The Lost Mark’s average mess to this is mind-boggling.
2. Amending Fences
Amending Fences suffers from an awkwardness also found in
Luna Eclipsed, and is definitely more uneven than its counterpart. Larson pushes through these problems with
excellent characterization, continuity, and many superior moments. Taking one throwaway moment from the pilot
(and possibly research left over from Slice Of Life), he crafts a story
featuring Twilight’s “old friends” from Canterlot who she hasn’t seen or spoken
with in years. Most of them happily hang
out again, but Moondancer (who was only mentioned but never seen) has no such
desire. Twilight must work hard to
repair these lost friendships, even though she isn’t quite prepared enough for
this task.
Surprisingly few episodes of My Little Pony actually deal with problems relating to friendship. Younger viewers may not realize that they will
eventually lose contact with some friends, and reconnecting via social media
doesn’t always cure these issues.
Sometimes trying isn’t enough, and certain people will remain lost for
various reasons. Larson understands
there’s not always an easy answer.
Amending Fences’ first half solidly explores parts of this problem,
but the episode takes off with Moondancer’s introduction. Instead of just being Twilight’s clone, she
develops her own introverted personality as someone who was hurt once and now
practically drifts through life. Since
friends have only caused her pain before, she does without them now. While Moondancer’s snarky attitude can be
grating at times, her depiction as a hurt loner is eerily accurate.
Even if the dinner and library scenes are less effective (excepting
Moondancer’s admission that her studying isn’t leading anywhere) and the plot
took some exposition to set up, Amending Fences proves Slice Of Life’s
assertion that My Little Pony’s
background characters are equally interesting.
Larson finished a forgotten plot thread and took chances just by
creating this episode, but they paid off in an effort quite unlike anything
else in season five. Despite some rough
parts, there is no more realistic episode either, and Moondancer is absolutely
the most compelling new character. While
not nearly perfect, Amending Fences’ achievements can’t be dismissed.
3. Brotherhooves Social
The various four-star episodes are of similar quality and
could almost be ordered any way. My
first nod goes to Brotherhooves Social, which was the lone second half bright
spot and an unexpected inclusion. This
sequel to the horrendous Sisterhooves Social finds a much better sibling
dynamic, and actually addresses transgender issues in a children’s show without
seeming too weird, creepy, or preachy.
The episode may make that second part seem slightly ambiguous, but
writer Dave Polsky and voice actor Peter New expressed later that it unquestionably
was their intention.
Applejack gets called away by the map (as seen in Made In
Manehattan), and consequently cannot attend this year’s social. Apple Bloom is heartbroken until Big Mac
surprisingly steps in, but he does so as “cousin Orchard Blossom” instead of
himself to fit the theme. With no
practice and Big Mac’s masculine traits, this goes poorly and results in them being
disqualified from the final obstacle course due to poor sportsmanship. Their subsequent conversation finds the two
growing closer together despite not winning anything.
Most of Brotherhooves apparently plays as another slapstick
drag comedy, but that isn’t really true upon further inspection. In a short time, Polsky hits much of the (MtF
here) trans experience, including a wildly different feminine personality,
uncomfortableness with your body, people calling you out for being a “man in a
dress”, others awkwardly ignoring the obvious, and some who actually find you
attractive. After Big Mac’s princess
dream four episodes earlier, this development actually makes sense given his
quiet withdrawn nature and commitment to work he doesn’t necessarily like. Kids won’t realize they’ve seen these concerns,
but this approach neatly solves how to do so without too many unwanted
questions.
Polsky treads a fine line with the slapstick though, which
has produced understandable criticism given its tropeyness. And Big Mac’s “unmasking” is practically
reused from Appleoosa’s Most Wanted’s similar ending. Big Mac and Apple Bloom’s final scene redeems
these problems though, as he contributes great development for “background”
characters who appear in many episodes but are rarely the focus. Brotherhooves may not be great, but seeing
the episode as anything but a landmark is hard given what it accomplishes in
spite of quality.
4. The Cutie Map
No matter who was responsible for the script, The Cutie Map
definitely stands as season five’s boldest outing. Our ponies are sent to a strange village where
everyone has an equal sign cutie mark and are oddly “happy”. They soon find themselves trapped when the
village’s leader Starlight Glimmer steals their cutie marks, making them
literally mere shadows. An ill thought
out plan restores everyone’s marks, but Starlight Glimmer gets away, which
certainly doesn’t foreshadow a later appearance.
Larson likely wrote the final draft, but he struggled
against McCarthy’s story that had her typical features. This means Larson did a strong job in arguing
for diversity, but too many silly moments still remained (especially the
balloon bridge and final chase sequence).
He also played up the mane six’s own diversity, which showed your
friends need not necessarily be similar.
The Cutie Map also stands against communism and other “equality”
movements, which is surprising for a children’s show but well argued
nevertheless. Society really does only
work because people aren’t all the same.
McCarthy’s contributions (another retcon villain and easy
ending) hurt, and the developments (map and Starlight Glimmer’s escape) turned
out to be busts. Season five didn’t have
too many adventures for all six ponies, and The Cutie Map stands out for its
spirit and subject matter. Even the
production number (“In Our Town”) was decent, but this episode could have been
better. McCarthy’s story and Larson’s
issues didn’t fit together, but few of the succeeding episodes matched its
quality and willingness to push forward.
5. Appleoosa’s Most Wanted
On Equestria Daily, 2,793 people voted for Crusaders Of The
Lost Mark as season five’s top episode.
Appleoosa’s Most Wanted received 11.
I hate to say the community is full of idiots, but three of their top eleven
are in my bottom five. Like its prequel
Over A Barrel, Polsky’s Appleoosa is extremely underrated and practically
ignored for reasons I’ll never understand.
Instead of a proper sequel, Polsky used some of his Appleloosa ponies to
create an excellent character episode that likewise doesn’t go where you’d
think.
Applejack will take Braeburn’s place in an upcoming rodeo since
he injured his left front leg, but everyone is on alert since the outlaw
Trouble Shoes apparently has planned a terrorist attack for this very
event. After almost getting sent home,
the Crusaders try catching Trouble Shoes themselves so they can compete and
earn their marks. After finding him,
Trouble Shoes proves to be nothing more than an extremely unlucky klutz. He’s always loved rodeos, but couldn’t
participate because of an unlucky upside down horseshoe cutie mark. The Crusaders quickly realize Trouble Shoes
craps comic gold and is a perfect clown.
Despite no rehearsal, he puts on a great routine and receives absolution
for his alleged crimes once the Crusaders admit they weren’t kidnapped.
Appleoosa’s foreshadows our “favorite” ponies getting their
cutie marks in crusading, but this supposed talent is shown much more
effectively here. Trouble Shoes remains
a compelling creation since he wasn’t actually an evil villain and really just
needed someone to point him toward the right career. Being a clown isn’t his dream job, but he can
still participate in rodeos while living better than his current loner
existence. Polsky earnestly addresses
the question (vocalized two episodes earlier in Bloom And Gloom) of what if you
hate your cutie mark, and he finds a neat (although purposely not perfect)
solution. Like the previous Appleloosa
episode, this one features plenty of characterization and a conflict seen from
both sides, but the plot never remotely feels rehashed. Appleoosa’s Most Wanted unquestionably stands
with the season’s strongest episodes, and how it remains forgotten and derided
is unfathomable.
Honorable Mention: Bloom
And Gloom, The Lost Treasure Of Griffonstone, Canterlot Boutique
Bottom 5
5. Tanks For The Memories
Tank’s not dying.
He’s right there and perfectly fine in Do Princess Dream Of Magic
Sheep. Hibernation isn’t the same as
dying. He’ll just sleep for a boring few
months anyways. All of this nonsense
about Tanks For The Memories being about a friend dying and the five stages of
grief is bullshit. If you want him dead,
then boot his ass off for good and let everyone miss him later on. Putting this crap in the top ten is absurd
when Tanks doesn’t remotely accomplish its supposed goals.
Rainbow Dash plans on spending all winter with the pet she
didn’t originally want and otherwise barely cares about, but becomes
heartbroken upon learning he will be hibernating instead. By “heartbroken” I mean she ignores Tank’s
constant yawns and turns into a complete idiot who almost kills everyone in
Ponyville. Finally Dash helps bury him
in the snow to start hibernating where
he’s forgotten and dies nope, winter is over and he’s fine.
Some five-minute YouTube video shouldn’t feature a more
interesting story and compelling characters than one written by professionals,
but Cindy Morrow couldn’t beat an amateur improvising. Dash’s behavior never makes any sense, and
she suffers no consequences for her near-disastrous actions. While trying to be important, Tanks stays
entirely inconsequential since these events are never referenced again and he
reappears unharmed several episodes later.
After actually developing Rainbow Dash in Read It And Weep, Morrow
regresses her with a literal ball of stupid.
Maybe another writer could have made Tanks For The Memories decent, but
Morrow earned the rating she deserved for what actually appears on screen (and
not what most bronies apparently thought they saw).
4. What About Discord?
Discord had an awful year and is wearing out his
welcome. Even quickly appearing in The
Cutie Re-mark went poorly, but his two proper episodes were much worse. The “better” one almost finds a decent moral,
but its surrounding episode feels like one unfunny in-joke. Twilight spends three days organizing her
books (again) and surprisingly misses out on everyone having a great time with
Discord. She’s secretly pissed and tries
recreating these events to understand why their jokes are funny, but obviously
this never happens because they’re not.
After finally admitting she’s jealous about missing out, Discord says he
actually planned this whole thing to teach Twilight a lesson. Then they all make fun of him.
Apparently the creators purposely kept viewers in the dark,
but this never produces any positive effect.
Instead, we’re stuck with too many stupid gags and the mane six acting
like terrible friends throughout. No one
has any empathy, and Neal Dusedau’s whole point is undermined when they all
make fun of Discord with their own in-joke
A much better episode could have
been made with this premise, but Dusedau didn’t come close to creating it. All he produced was a painfully unfunny
script which did very little.
3. Scare Master
What if Fluttershy did the scaring? Yeah, that will work. Natasha Levinger decided Fluttershy would be
afraid to leave her house on Halloween, and then was apparently surprised when
this plot thread didn’t produce an entire episode. Also, nobody cares that Fluttershy isn’t
joining in and they don’t try helping her.
Of course, we soon see why since Fluttershy finds irrational fears in
every single activity. The second half
finds her creating frights instead, which goes terribly at first and then too well
later on upon Angel’s consultation.
Fluttershy concludes by deciding she learned nothing and that reading under
her bed was a much better way to spend the night. Why does this episode even exist then?
Levinger’s take actually aired on Halloween, but it doesn’t
add anything which wasn’t already seen in Luna Eclipsed. Her Fluttershy acts unbelievably timid, and any
scary moments oscillate between too dumb and too much for a children’s
show. Other weird lapses exist, and the
episode should be removed from canon since it never feels right and Fluttershy
admits she was better off staying at home.
Scare Master stands as nothing more than a mashup of Luna Eclipsed and
Filli Vanilli, while missing both of their strengths.
2. Princess Spike
Airing right after Slice Of Life, Princess Spike was a gut
punch of reality that My Little Pony
will never be consistently good.
Ironically, it deals with similar themes but comes off as incredibly
hollow. Twilight went without sleep for
three days to help prepare a big diversity summit, while the important
princesses got plenty of rest and didn’t do much of anything. Don’t believe me? Just watch Cadance pass the buck off while not
lifting a damn hoof until she absolutely has to later on. After Twilight collapses from exhaustion,
Spike must make sure she isn’t disturbed, which couldn’t happen anyways because
Twilight is literally dead tired (don’t believe me again? A cardinal perches on her horn and starts
tweeting, but Twilight never even notices as she keeps snoring). The various delegates at this summit want
rulings on certain disputes, but none of the other princesses could possibly be
bothered to help out their tired comrade.
So Spike takes certain liberties which naturally results in one huge
final disaster.
A “different communities working together” diversity message
barely registers against the main plot of Spike again being an idiot. Dusedau undermines that unoriginal message by
having the disaster come from decisions made before Spike started abusing his
power. Plot elements exist solely to
create this calamity, and every delegate is only a cultural stereotype which
Dusedau never even bothered naming. Few
episodes leave so little impact, and Princess Spike barely counts as one. Watching Spike do dumb things for 15-20
minutes and then apologize never had any appeal, but Dusedau couldn’t come up
with anything else. That he also
pretended his shit script ended in Slice Of Life’s community moral is
borderline offensive.
1. Make New Friends But
Keep Discord
How the fuck did this make Equestria Daily’s top ten? Ooh, Tree Hugger is so great, it has the
Smooze. Who gives a shit? Levinger decided another Grand Galloping Gala
is happening today, and then had Discord pout about not receiving an invitation
before destroying the event once he arrives.
Discord creepily only cares about getting Fluttershy’s attention, but she
feels completely out of character with oddly smug dialogue. Despite the Smooze (a first generation My Little Pony villain) leaving his goo
over everything and stealing many precious items, Celestia laughs off this
disaster because it’s more interesting (much like she did in The Best Night
Ever). Sure.
Levinger’s script is a parade of terrible and poorly thought
out moments. Fluttershy’s strange
attitude, Tree Hugger making marijuana canon (“bliss out!”), the Crusaders
shouting in unison, Rarity awkwardly walking off screen because she’s “naked”,
Discord’s bad comedy, Celestia becoming incapacitated by some gunk on her horn,
and Tree Hugger almost getting sent to a live-action dimension are all just
awful. Tree Hugger emulates hippie
stereotypes while the Smooze has no personality traits and just absorbs stuff,
so both new characters are busts.
Discord is overbearingly annoying and clingy while Fluttershy acts like
a heartless bitch, which means the returning characters aren’t any better. Season five produced many poor episodes that
shouldn’t have been made, but none of them inspired as much pain as Make New
Friends. How this could be anywhere but on
a bottom list is unimaginable since I’ve run out of words to describe its poorness. An utter failure which should also be removed
from canon has no business inspiring many bronies’ admiration. Shame on anyone who voted for this trash.
Dishonorable Mention:
The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows, The Hooffields And McColts, The Mane
Attraction
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