S05E18: Like a good Fan Fic.

I just saw last week's episode. I was waiting for the fansub to come out (so my sister can jump in), so I didn't see it until now.

It was pretty damn good.

While I had some minor spoilers (Namely, that Diamond Tiara becomes kinda likable.), holy fuck, I wasn't ready for the ending.

My opinion of the plot, I made it obvious in the title, but it deserves some expansion. The progressive was almost ripped straight out of many fics I've read (DT has an abusive mom, she and the CMC become friends, Silver Spoon gets tired of Diamond Tiara's bullshit and tells her to get lost), but I felt the execution was pretty well done, if not perfect.

Then the CMC get their Cutie Marks. My sister somehow knew this before me, despite the fact that she neither visits fansites (I prefer it that way, too much smut for an 8 year old.) nor speaks English fluently (hence, the fansubs). She told me, and I didn't believe her. I honestly expected this to happen, but in the season finale, not halfway through the season. Now, I just hope the writers don't decide to hit the reset button and undo all this, mainly because I got kinda sick of DT just having "bi-dimensional spoiled bitch" as her whole damned characterization. Please, don't fuck this up.

Now, it isn't perfect. It's main flaw is the absurdly fast pace the plot has. This episode would've benefited from having more run time. The other main flaw would be a lack of foreshadowing. This episode's flaws are shared by Magical Mystery Cure and Yuri Kuma Arashi. That's kinda odd. Seriously, would it kill the writers to give DT some nice moments before her Heel Face Turn?

Still, those flaws do little to reduce the good parts of the episode. Ultimately, I give it an 8.8. Great, but not perfect.

Also, this episode just fucked my idea for the ending for White Blossom, as it hinged on Sweetie Belle getting her Cutie Mark while singing to Fluttershy. Still, this sort of thing is the reason we have an Alternate Universe tag.