(Song Used: Love Meth - Korn)

This episode is one of the most controversial in the show’s history. Those who love it regard it as wonderfully entertaining episode that brings a really enjoyable antagonist back and makes it so we get more of Discord in the future and more of John De Lancie. While those who don’t like it as much either didn’t think it was necessary to bring Discord back, ruins the character we enjoyed in Return of Harmony, never found the appeal of Discord’s character in the first place, or they are bothered by some rather troubling implications you could take from the episode where the ponies consider using a reform AKA a Mind control spell to reform him. Not to mention Celestia being incredibly cryptic when asked why they are even releasing Discord. I think we’ve had at least one good answer since then but for a while we didn’t quite have any in-universe reason for it. Personally I have no qualms with Discord being reformed as Season 4 and Season 5 shows that he’s still the jerk that he needs to be to retain the fun of his character. But I definitely understand that this episode definitely rushed it. And because it took a while for Season 4 to arrive people that weren’t too fond of the episode were too scared we’d suddenly have the goody-goody Discord that we seemed to see in the final minute of the episode when he eventually reappeared. But thankfully that wasn’t the case and he was still as fun to watch as ever. 

I personally think more good then bad has come out of this episode, but it was definitely a rather awkward way to do it. They might as well have just said they wanted Discord back because they were able to get John De Lancie to come back more often then they thought they would at one point (Because back in Return of Harmony it was thought to be just a one time celebrity guest appearance ala Weird Al as Cheese Sandwich in Season 4. Though Weird Al has expressed interest in returning in the future). Because let’s be honest, that’s probably the reason this episode was made. I think the episode has it’s value enough to get to this spot in the countdown but it’s definitely one I could see people argue it should be way lower then it is (or higher in some cases)

I feel this is going to be another of those episodes that many will say I put too low. As by all means this is one of the most popular and well-known Rarity episodes in the series. And some would say it’s one of the best in the entire series. I have no doubt that this is a classic episode from the first season. And is the only episode Charlotte Fullerton did really, really good. Considering this is the lowest ranked of the solo Rarity episodes that’s actually a compliment to how consistent that most Rarity episodes are (That’s not counting episodes she’s paired with characters anyway). I think it’s probably lower then it probably should be because to be honest it’s not an episode that entertains me as much. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not boring. But like I said when talking about Apple Family Reunion that even more flawed episodes that are exciting in some way may have a better chance at a higher ranking then an episode with harder to spot flaws that didn’t entertain quite as well cause this is a more of a personal list. I personally enjoy other Rarity episodes that came after much more then this one. 

This was the first episode that started a bit of theme for Rarity episodes where it can be an allegory for an artist. Where the rest of the ponies represent the different types of people who may be somewhat annoying regarding commissions. Like Rainbow saying it needs to be cooler without really explaining what that means. Or Twilight getting every small detail correct. And while it appeals to the person getting it, since it ends up being shown in a fashion show it is criticized heavily and because Rarity is unfortunately caught up with the credit/blame for it, it saddens her to the point of being bed-ridden thinking she’ll forever be a laughing stock in the industry she’s most interested in. It’s only thanks to her friends that turn it around by getting Hoity Toity to give them one last chance as they use the original dresses Rarity made for them that they initially were hesitant about. And with Fluttershy’s knowledge of dresses that was revealed in the episode they even manage to make one themselves for Rarity. And when Hoity Toity is shown them, he is utterly shocked it’s from the same designer and instantly makes a 180 and decides to support Rarity’s work. It’s also kinda neat that it’s like in an arc with Ticket Master and the Season 1 finale since the dresses return for the Gala. 

Again I’ll understand if you think I put it in too low. But as it is, it still makes the Top 10 of Season 1 as it certainly deserves that much. Though for me, Suited for Success isn’t even the best Rarity episode in the first season. And that episode happens to be the next one.

Initially Rarity is a character that gets kinda mixed responses from those who are getting in the show. It may take a while for a character like her to grow on others. Sometimes Suited for Success is the episode where Rarity finally grows on them. But for some others like myself, it is this episode that showed us how fun and enjoyable Rarity can be. The way she manipulates the Diamond Dogs was hilarious and heck Rarity wasn’t even the only great part of the episode. While this isn’ really a Spike episode this is one of the first times he feels like he has a big role. And he even has a hilarious daydream that almost made him kiss Applejack (Which I’m certain started a ship between them anyway). 

But the comedic Whining scene that’s the significant scene of the episode and by the time the Mane 6 had come to “rescue” Rarity it actually seem like they save the Diamond Dogs from Rarity from how much the Dogs are willing to give them Rarity back. The episode taught us not to underestimate Rarity in more ways then one. And from then on Rarity episodes tended to always be a joy to watch.

*I imagine this will be many a Rarity fan’s reaction to Suited for Success being #64…

This is yet another episode the CMC attempt to get their Cutie Marks, but this is one where it turns out rather fun. Where they attempt to get it in journalism, though unfortunately for them their boss is Diamond Tiara, who makes them look for juicy stories that start out as half-truths to full-on lies (And blackmailing that she’ll reveal embarrassing things about them if they don’t). And when their alias has been found out, they’ve been shunned by the many ponies they wrote something about. The scene where they walk around but the Mane 6 want nothing to do with them is heartbreaking but understandable. (Though Applejack talking like Big Mac, and Big Mac suddenly being talkative when scolding the CMC is a very memorable switcheroo they performed) Luckily they do turn things around by printing a full-on apology, and they eventually get Cheerilee to fire Diamond from her position. 

It’s definitely one of the better episodes that involve all the CMC front and center though if you put into account the Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo solo episodes it’s definitely not Top 5 of any CMC at all involved episodes. But back when it was new it was certainly one of the better CMC episodes in the show.

When most people talk about time travel in relation to FiM these days, it’s mainly in relation to the most recent finale. But of course this wasn’t the only time in the show that time travel magic was shown. Even if it wasn’t quite on the same level. It’s About Time has Twilight travel a week to try to warn herself not to worry herself though because the Time Travel spell doesn’t last very long she fails to get the message and it just ends up being one big time loop. Where Twilight’s own attempt to calm herself down is what causes her to get paranoid about the future. It’s an enjoyably quirky episode where we at least get one more episode of Twilight overreacting to events after Lesson Zero even if course she doesn’t bring things to quite that level. A fun note about the episode is that’s it’s possible that Cerberus’s appearance could be where Tirek managed to escape from Tartarus  leading into the Season 4 Finale. Now I doubt they had that planned from the start when they wrote It’s About Time, but it’s a neat way of connecting things. 

Though as much as I do enjoy the episode it did kinda make me facepalm the moment she went back in time, even if that was just meant to be because it completes the time loop. Though ironically it probably handled the concept of time travel better then The Cutie Re-Mark did as a time loop is a time loop, not much complexity to it there. While the Cutie Re-Mark had full-on changing events of the past and an attempt at a butterfly effect kind of thing. There will probably never really be a true perfect Time Travel story (Even Back To The Future had it’s situations where something happened that should of caused a paradox) though so suspension of disbelief’s pretty much a given. Especially when this time travel is in a land of magical talking ponies. At least It’s About Time has it a bit simplified