I don’t even count Spike at your Service since Dave made the story. But it was ultimately Williams that wrote it. And Games Ponies Play is average as you can get. And the rushed ending wasn’t Dave’s fault. I actually agree that Feeling Pinkie Keen is entertaining in a few ways. I just still think it’s one of the weaker episodes of Season 1. Better then Boast Busters, Look Before You Sleep, and Owl’s Well That Ends Well overall. But probably somewhere in the 20-16 area in terms of where it places among all 26 episodes. Over the Barrel was better then Pinkie Keen but I think it still doesn’t crack into the Top 13 still. While in Season 3 his first somewhat good episode was Too Many PInkie Pies as it was probably the best Pinkie was portrayed since Party of One up until Pinkie Pride came along. Mixed feelings on Keep Calm and Flutter On, and I already stated my thing on Games Ponies Play in this same answer. While in Season 4 he’s done pretty darn well. Every one of his episodes were good in my opinion. Even the ones I have somewhat mixed feelings about with Daring Don’t. It just feels like to me he’s certainly improved
That’s just different thoughts/opinions. There are people who can like the lesser liked episodes of the show despite it’s problems. And even the most loved episodes of the show can bit nitpicked to death. It all depends on how entertained you are throughout the episode. You can say these are Guilty Pleasure episodes. In each of the seasons my guilty pleasure episodes are the following. Season 1: Show Stoppers. Season 2: MMMystery at the Friendship Express (I think that one counts, I thought the episode was pretty funny though I think some people called bullshit about how Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow all ate the cake even though they knew it was Pinkie’s mission to get it to Canterlot safely). Season 3: Keep Calm and Flutter On (I kinda say this because I have a bit of love/hate relationship with the episode xP Like far more intense then for Daring Don’t) And Season 4: Somepony to Watch Over Me which you know why from what we’ve talked about.
However I generally agree with the consensus that Mare-Do-Well and Spike at your Service are the worst episodes of their respective seasons.
I’m gonna disagree as I feel like Applebuck is the first really good episode of the series myself. It was the first perfect example of the comedy that this show is capable of. While perhaps it may not be as good as some of the good episodes of later seasons. I still think it is a really good Season 1 episode. On an entertainment value standpoint, it may be the best of the first half of Season 1 for maybe the exception of Dragonshy. I think the only problem I’d say the episode had is that afterward it’d take a while before we’d get a substantial Applejack solo episode. And even that’s in dispute because some say in both AJ episodes in Season 2 she’s overshadowed by other characters for one reason or another (Last Round-Up = Derpy talking and the ensuing drama around the whole censorship, and to a lesser extent Pinkie, Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 = The Flim Flam brothers and there Monorail Man style song) and while Season 3 did provide two legitimately Applejack focused episodes. They were either so average it’s boring (Apple Family Reunion), or one of the worst episodes of the show (Spike at your Service). At least Season 4 however legitimately did both get episodes that focused on her and most of the episodes she had a big role in an episode were pretty good. One of the good things about Season 4 is we got a lot of more Applejack characterization, where until Season 4. Applejack’s only flaw seemed to be stubbornness and her dependability in episode where she isn’t actually the main focus. Unlike the others of the Main 6 there didn’t seem too much room for Applejack to grow as a character and we kept asking ourselves if Applejack’s character arc was basically already finished by the fourth episode of the show since the writers didn’t seem to know where else to go with Applejack afterward. And it’s a big reason why Applejack is the least popular of the Mane 6. Her biggest character development up until Season 4 was done within the first 4 episodes of the show. So it’s hard for a fan of the show to choose AJ as their favorite if the character doesn’t seem to have any more goals other then continuing to live as they’ve already have for a while now.
(You had many asks so I’m going to just compile them all in this one post. Your comments/questions will be in bold)
its-homerj: Also I actually thought that “Look Before You Sleep” is at least a better episode compared to “Applebuck Season” and “Boast Busters”. Largely because, of how entertaining and funny the exchanges between the characters and interactions are, as well as how it even served as good character development for both Applejack and Rarity.
We’ll just disagree on this. I personally kinda found Rarity and AJ’s arguing a bit annoying. And I already mentioned my problems with Twilight’s portrayal in the episode. It’s true that if you suspend your disbelief a bit that Twilight always wanted to have a sleepover when 7 episodes ago she had no interest in Friendship. That it can be pretty funny seeing what Twilight does in the episode. But I do wish that Twilight was at least a little smarter. I still stand she should of at least tried to help with the tree that crashed into the window instead of keeping her eyes glued to a book. Yes, Twilight’s favorite objects are books. But that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t go “By the book” all the time. That’s only something I’d expect out of Twilight if she weren’t a multi-dimensional character. Like I said, it seems like something a clone Twilight made from the Mirror Pool would do. Not the actual Twilight.
its-homerj: I also thought that the worst episodes of Season 1, in my opinion, are actually worse than even the bad episodes of Season 2. Which is saying a lot considering that season had the infamous “Mysterious Mare-Do-Well”.
I don’t really think so. Even though there are some Season 1 episodes I’m not a huge fan of. I can understand why they could be objectively better then some of the worst of later seasons. Mare-Do-Well was nearly a complete mess with perhaps the only shining moment I can think of is the brief moment where Rainbow is sad and alone on a cloud. In all of the episodes I don’t like too much in Season 1 there are at least a few more then one thing I like about them. Like for Boast Busters, I do love the scene where Twilight takes care of the Ursa Minor. And the one scene where Twilight conjures up a door and Spike goes through the door thinking it’s the exit only for him to open it back up and for both of them to have the most priceless faces xD And as much as I don’t like most of Boast Busters. Without it, Magic Duel wouldn’t have been made. And Magic Duel is like the direct opposite. It’s one of my favorites of the series.
its-homerj: Though I also respectfully disagree with how you regard M.A. Larson as the best writer of the series. Because, in my opinion, that honor actually goes to Dave Polsky, mostly due to how he’s a great comedic writer.
Eh, I think Dave Polsky is definitely the most improved writer. But I think he has to have another solid performance in Season 5 to really have any chance at becoming my favorite writer. And M.A. Larson just wrote a lot of episodes that I loved. Larson Episodes I enjoyed a lot: Sonic Rainboom, Cutie Mark Chronicles, Return of Harmony, Secret of my Excess, Magic Duel, and Magical Mystery Cure. While I don’t think all of Larson’s episodes are that great. I think Swarm of the Century wasn’t that good of a showing for him. And I find Luna Eclipsed a tad overrated in some ways. And while I did like episodes like It’s About Time and Ponyville Confidential. I don’t find them nearly as great as the ones I listed that I really liked. But considering M.A. Larson wrote 3 of my 9 Favorite episodes of the series (Even if Meghan takes up 4 episodes in my list. So technically by all means Meghan should be my favorite. But I think I still prefer Larson a little bit more for a few more reasons. That said Meghan is a definite second.) Cutie Mark Chronicles and Magical Mystery Cure are just two episodes that I love to death even among my 9 favorites. Even if I feel Seasons 1 and 3 are the bottom two seasons, those two episodes are something I could gush over for hours upon end that not even a lot of Season 2 and Season 4 episodes can say the same.
This is something I thought I’d do for a little bit. Give my personal thoughts on each of the seasons of Friendship is Magic. Starting with of course the first one. Find it all after the break. Just a forewarning though, if you’re one that loves the first season to the point it’s your favorite. I should tell you that I think it’s the weakest of the three 26 episode seasons and I explain why I feel that way. I like all of the Seasons, even the controversial Season 3. But I thought I’d share how I think of each of the seasons we’ve had to give a proper perspective on my thoughts toward each one. Another, I should give is that this might be a bit of a long post. Not as long as my thoughts on the Season 4 Finale was, but almost.
I actually did give that one a watch. I’m glad Josh enjoyed it. Even if a few of the plotholes he mentioned with the episode he mentioned was addressed by Mr. Enter too. But yeah. Both good to know that they both have positive thoughts about the episode.
It might be the only one I watch still though. I don’t think I want to risk seeing him possibly tear apart an episode that I enjoyed alot. I’d have to know in advance what he really thought of a particular episode before watching. Any reviews that tear apart my favorite episodes tend to not give me a happy feeling at the end. I checked out Digibrony’s view of the Finale without knowing how he felt and that was just the last straw. His whining about the tree being replaced with the castle, Celestia’s clearly desperate plan, not to mention his scathing thoughts on the “Play Your Part” song just made me angry.
It’s cute, but I think even the staff and/or Hasbro knows it probably won’t go anywhere more substantial then a one-sided crush. Poor Spike seems too young for Rarity usually. And in Equestria Girls, he’s a dog when Rarity’s a Human. Not good implications if you ask me… (That said, I know Spike being a dog was kind of to fit with the story more. But either way maybe the Magic Mirror Portal to the human world is just kinda racist against dragons or something :V
Though some of the unfortunate implications in Dragon Quest may explain it when the ponies themselves are kinda judge all dragons too harshly)
I don’t really have alot of ships that I’m into.
Though if the April Fools update wan’t enough of an indicator. I have grown a bit of a soft spot for TwiDash ever since Season 3 ended.
It is but unless you remove the ie. It doesn’t exactly make a fun name that’s a well-known product or object. Like Twinkie or ApplePie does.
That said that hasn’t stopped me from thinking of this sometimes…

I think Twinkie (Twi & Pinkie) and Discolight (Twi & DIscord) personally has an even better portmanteau shipping name. Flashlight is the name of an object, Twinkie is a popular dessert, and Discolight just makes me think of Twilight and Discord dancing to Disco together xD
(Hey they’ve danced to Tango in Three’s a Crowd. Disco may not be far behind)
Oh honorable mention to ApplePie (Applejack X Pinkie) as well
If there’s anything regarding FlashLight that I wouldn’t mind seeing happen even though I dislike the shipping. Is the Human Flash Sentry finding out the girl he fell for in the first movie was actually a pony.
I would love if in Rainbow Rocks. Even if say it’s the human Universe Twilight in that movie. Flash asks the HuMane 5 why (human) Twilight doesn’t recognize him.. Imagine like Human RD having to say something like “Uh… Flash, there’s something you should really know about the Twilight you met last year…” and Flash’s shocked reaction afterward.
That’s literally the only thing I’d love to see done with Flash Sentry.