(Song Used: Let’s Get This Party Started - Korn)

While Discord has made a few good appearances since Keep Calm and Flutter On this is the only episode I feel like I can truly say is a Discord episode. I feel that in every other Discord related episode, Twilight and/or Fluttershy have a more significant role in the episode. Discord’s mainly an object of which to overcome in episode’s he’s involved in. But it’s different in this episode where for once it’s Discord that has something to overcome and learn the only other time you can say Discord has a moment like that is Twilight’s Kingdom. And it’d be an immense stretch to consider that a Discord episode even if he does have a rather big role. Because when it comes to the Two-Parters it is always Twilight focused (The only two-parter I think is a Mane 6 episode all-around is The Cutie Map since despite them acknowledging that Twilight is a princess and everything. Twilight doesn’t feel she has any more a significant part then any of the others. It could be argued Fluttershy is more major then Twilight in that episode). All the Mane 6 may have a good part of their own in nearly every two-parter. But what I think makes up a true Mane 6 episode is when each and every one has their little major part of the episode (Best Night Ever is usually the best example off the top of my head defining what makes a true Mane 6 episode).

But enough about this subject, this is absolutely the best post-Keep Calm and Flutter On Discord slice of life episode yet. With all the craziness you’d expect from a Discord episode, a fun return of the Grand Galloping Gala, and even a new character to enjoy watching. Tree Hugger is just one of the most chill ponies we’ve ever seen, the only moment we really see her somewhat upset is at the end but understandably so since Discord almost sent her to another dimension just because he was jealous since Fluttershy choosing her over him for being the +1 for the Gala. This episode also featured the return of The Smooze. Which was simply an amalgamation of similar purple slime creatures that smothered a lot of the Pony lands of G1. Though this time the Smooze is not even evil, just a green blob that has an insatiable appetite for shiny things that makes it grow. All it takes is for some interesting hums and neighs from Tree Hugger to calm it down. There’s just so many hilarious moments from Discord and many of the other characters, even Maud gets to return and even sass Discord at one point. It’s also fun to see Celestia still likes to have a little fun now and then, she knew Discord would liven up the party just like the Mane 6 did in their first gala.

Now if only we’d get a Celestia episode at one point so we can for once explore a little more into a character that’s been really needed some more screentime lately. I think by now Luna has almost as much as if not more screentime in total.

Before talking about the episode it probably should be important to address probably one of the most infamous things from the early fandom regarding Pinkie. And that’s the the fanfic Cupcakes. I did not fully read it back then, and I still haven’t to this day. But it’s definitely something that’s certainly left a legacy whether that’s good or bad. I doubt Grimdark fics really hit as big without that fanfic. Though it should be noted that it was made prior to Party of One’s original airing date. But after Party of One, all Cupcakes related stuff featured Pinkie in the signature flat mane look. Though you also have to remember that it takes a while even just one episode to be made. It’s very likely when they wrote Party of One it was before they knew they’d have the fandom they would have and certainly never thought would be the subject of such a gruesome fix. When the episode was new, there were people freaking out and getting flashbacks to reading the fix. It didn’t help that the one pony that is chosen to fetch Pinkie out and thus the only pony to see insane Pinkie in all it’s creepiness alone is Rainbow. Which if you’re new to the fandom and never heard of Cupcakes (I’d say you’d be pretty lucky) was the unfortunate victim in the fiction. But it’s all just one huge coincidence. But it’s probably thanks to Party of One that Cupcakes got even bigger press then it already did.

But now getting to the episode itself, it is very much well deserves a pretty classic status in the fandom. The only real nitpick I ever had with the episode is that for some reason in the episode the town is pretty barren, besides I think like two or three background ponies at the start. The only ponies we see in the episode are literally just the Mane 6 and the Cake family. It just comes off as a little odd. It’s not a big deal as either way it’s not important, but I just thought it kinda sticks out. Regardless, scenes like Pinkie going insane, as well as Applejack’s attempts to ward Pinkie away from the barn remain absolute classic moments from the first season. Early on it is kinda odd that Pinkie would forget her own birthday, but perhaps Party Pooped kinda answered that. With how likely she has to remember so many birthdays for everypony she meets she probably has a hard time keeping track of when it’s time for her own because for all we know she has several parties to plan around the same time. Heck it should be noted that she remembered her pet Alligator’s more then her own. Does she even have to remember all of Fluttershy’s animals? Has to be taxing on her mind if so.

The episode also seems to imply that the Main 6 are Pinkie’s main real friends other then her family. Because if she were truly big friends with everypony in town she may not feel like it impacts her much if 5 ponies doesn’t want to hang out with her yet cause not everybody in a town will be ready for parties. As things stand, it’s an episode that surely won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Unintentional and uncomfortable reminders of a certain fanfic not withstanding

Here we are on to yet another classic from the first Season. Everything from the opening “Yay” scene to the Sonic Rainboom itself has deeply been ingrained within this fandom. It’s also one of the first episodes to show Rainbow has some secret insecurity issues. Despite how high and mighty she acts most of the time, when things start looking dim she really starts to get into self-doubt. Even early on she shows a little room for nervousness, which only gets bigger and bigger especially when Rarity with her glamorous butterfly wings manages to get her in the competition (This unfortunately doesn’t come too long after Suited for Success so for those watching in order, skeptics of Rarity, sometimes even if they were impressed by Rarity in that episode. They may go back to disliking her at least temporarily because of this episode). Rainbow thinks the judges will be too awe-inspired by Rarity’s wings and goes as far as curl into a fetal position and also tries to avoid her turn by switching her number around. And when she finally is pushed out she bucks under the pressure and messes up a lot. But then when the time came, Rarity went a little too high and her wings burnt to a crisp in the ol’ story of Icarus style and starts plummeting to the ground. The Wonderbolts attempt to save her but in her flailing, she manages to knock out both of the pegasi trying to save her. So Rainbow now has to get into gear and save three ponies from sure death.

And it’s the heroic adrenaline within Rainbow that allows her to perform the coveted Sonic Rainboom, something important she did as a filly that would come back in another M.A. Larson episode in Season 1.. Ever since then Rainbow has been seen able to perform it on a whim. If you already saw Rainbow as pretty cool before this episode, then you absolutely loved her afterward. She may be far from the nicest pony and yes there are even moments fans of her may want to give her a slap or two. But there’s no denying that it’s episode like her that really show us a better picture of what Rainbow truly is, or at least what she’ll be at her most ideal.

I know two of the bottom 3 episodes of the show were centered around her, but I never fault Rainbow Dash as a character for that. And there’s a reason Rainbow became my new 2nd favorite pony by the end of Season 4. And that’s thanks to a few more Rainbow Dash episodes we still have yet to get to. So while this isn’t my favorite Rainbow Dash episode in the series, this is still a very much deserved spot for such a really awesome episode from the first season.

While you could argue there’s still another Rarity focused episode to get to if you’ve been seeing what episodes are still to come by process of elimination (That episode will be in the next part in fact, but it’s not credited even as a half Rarity episode). This is the highest Rarity focused episode. Also funny enough it was the only solo Rarity episode for a while, because after it aired there wouldn’t be another Rarity episode until Season 4. Rarity finally gets her chance to live it up with the Upper Class of Canterlot society. But she also knows Twilight is having her birthday party in Ponyville soon, and she doesn’t want to miss it. But as she’s invited to more activities with the Canterlot Elite, she’s afraid missing even one event will prevent her from getting any farther in the dream life she had for herself at one point. And it gets to the point where Rarity has to choose between attending Twilight’s birthday, or the next important event.

Now some don’t like what Rarity does in the episode (It should be noted that Rarity is not the element of Honesty here however), but she tries to tell a white lie by saying Opal is sick. However Rarity gets a surprise when upon opening her door, Twilight and her friends arrive. They decided to move the party to Canterlot so Rarity can participate anyway, not knowing this makes it even harder for Rarity. Because now she feels like she has to walk in-and-out of Twilight’s party and Fancy Pant’s garden party without garnering the suspicion of either side.. And it results in some really funny shenanigans as Rarity keeps finding the right excuses to walk between the two parties. But all goes to hell for her when her friends decide to crash the fancy party, resulting in a more subdued but may as well be yet another moment where the Main 6 ruin the fanciness of a big Canterlot party.

Despite this, when the snob ponies start questioning who those Ponies are. Rarity stands up for them despite knowing it could very well ruin her reputation forever with the Canterlot Elite. Luckily for her, the person running the party Fancy Pants is actually a cool dude and says in his own words that Rarity’s friends have a rustic charm about them. And while it makes some of the Elite (Especially Jet Set and Upper Crust) hyprocites, suddenly they like them too. It’s a very sweet (and elite? hohohoho) episode. And all this along with the song we got, is the best time I’ve ever had watching a Rarity episode.

How funny is it that the 26th episode of the series overall happens to also be #26 on this list? We’re at the point now where (Well there’s still a few Two-Parters to get to. So it would really be more) watching all the episodes left in the countdown would make the best possible Season marathon according to my personal views. And if you’re watching it from 26th to whatever the other 25 are, what better way to start with what was an absolute great end to the first season. I know I’m not as big of a fan of Season 1 as some others are. As heck there’s only one more Season 1 episode left in the countdown (And there’s still at least a few more from every other season to get to, even Season 3).

But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the humble beginnings that were brought. And I have no doubt in my mind Best Night Ever in particular is one of the best episodes from the first Season for sure as it is the de facto example of what an episode that focuses on all six in the same episode and manage to pace it all perfectly that it still flows together perfectly. Each pony gets what they initially hoped for only for things to go wrong one way or another. Either through a whimper like Celestia being too busy greeting guests to spend proper time with Twilight and Applejack only getting one paying customer the whole night or through an outright bang where Fluttershy goes full rage mode when her talent is failing to give her the time she wanted with the animals she wanted. People still call it something like Cutie Mark Failure Syndrome where if somehow a pony fails at performing their special talent, they go insane.

While I would say despite crazy moments like Flutterrage, every following finale for the exception of Season 5’s would outdo this episode on both epic, heartwarming and/or insane levels of things happening. That doesn’t mean I think it’s a bad finale, as I feel it was a great end to a very humble first season. Some fans kinda miss the more humbler times in the show, where we weren’t expecting some sort of big fight against a powerful villain for the next two-parter or some big change to the status quo to come out of the finale. And I can certainly respect the feeling, as long as they understand in turn why I like seeing some of the big stuff that happens in later episodes. And it’s not like every episode left are all crazy-fests, there’s still some decidedly more humble episodes left to get to.

But it should be noted by now that there’s still some of the other Finale’s to get to yet. And when we get there, I’m going to explain the heck out of why I enjoy having more of a bang out of an ending of the season. Flutterage itself was a pretty big bang considerably back then, but for a while it got bigger and bigger. So while Best Night Ever isn’t Best Episode Ever in this list, it’s at a very respectable spot that I hope everyone will appreciate.