Celestial Advice, various thoughts · 6:33pm Apr 15th, 2017
It's finally here, this new season! Now I can get my weekly fix of ponies. 
Twilight Sparkle has come a long way since she was a student, and now, she's even taken on a student of her own in a field she'd never imagined she'd spend her life pursuing. Of course, it's time to present her student with a path of her own. Interestingly, this is is a set of two independent episodes. I wonder what's up with that? I figure there's something else the writers were working on, like the official movie that'll be coming soon. Still, this was very welcome. Now, let's delve into this first part of the new season beginning!
—I'm pleased to see Sunburst. Looks like he's still his studious self given his mane.
—I've been waiting for an episode featuring Celestia extensively for a long while now. Especially one that explicitly focused on her. And now we're getting so much more of her self revealed. I appreciate this. Feelings, and heartache!
—The transformed 'lings seem to be integrating into pony society pretty well, or at least in Ponyville. Their voices seem to have adapted into something more usual as well, so the lack of hunger probably plays into that as well. Although, since Thorax had a normal voice even before Spike met him, and the other drones did not, either I'm overthinking it or Thorax really was a "special" changeling before he ascended.
—"Her fate rests on your butt"? Not "withers", which would be a more appropriate expression? Discord is still as much of a prankster as usual, but he and Twilight seem to get along still. Even if she's not quite intimate with him yet. Apropos, the girls seem incredibly trusting of his words, despite his notoriously dickish nature at times. I mean, he's been growing as a person, but he's still prone to messing with his friends. That's odd.
—Changelings, despite formerly being a species that formerly replaced and manipulated ponies into loving them for emotional sustenance do not seem to understand expressions, but maybe they're just taught to second-guess things, as is appropriate for manipulators. On that note, they don't seem to have lost their ability to take on others' forms.
—In spite of said re-integration, at least according to the simulation spell, they naturally have certain problem-solving tendencies that need to be addressed. 
Which makes sense, considering who their ruler was. I still hope at the time that I write this that there isn't just one queen and one hive.
—I see Twilight's fits of neurotic paranoia is still an issue she needs to work through. Maybe that's why her ability to think under the pressure is impaired. I can very much relate to handling stress horribly. EDIT: HOLY CRAP, TWILIGHT. YOU NEED MEDS FOR THIS CRAP. Twilight's mind is a scary place, but that honestly should be expected at this point with everything she's been through over the course of the series. It's a surprise she doesn't have PTSD and appropriate counselling.
—It could just be my recent delve into stories about mums, but Twilight's overprotectiveness of Starlight is... concerningly similar to that of a mum. What is it with mentors are caring for your students like your children?! 
But it's lovely.
—Celestia is either a tease, or genuinely doesn't know how her subjects view her. I wonder what's she's up to nowadays?
—Twilight worrying about Starlight in the Dragonlands seems strange to me, considering Starlight isn't exactly an average unicorn. Her magical power is ridiculous, and she fought Twilight herself to a standstill. Maybe dragons are magically resistant then, or formidable for some other reason? (I can't recall if something like that was ever mentioned before.) But yeah, Garble trying to kill Starlight seems very in-character, but that's... him. His viciousness borders on psychopathy, but it doesn't really seem to be all that common in the dragons, despite their often dislike for ponies. Although Twilight's response to Spike's rebuttal seems to suggest they at least are unaware of the case of dragons versus magic.
—Celestia's laughter is the greatest thing. The interaction between them now that they're equals is wonderful. And she's such a mum to Twilight.
—The Ponyville Chronicle takes note of Trixie, Discord and Starlight. Whatever enchantment keeps Twilight and her friends relatively ignorable doesn't work on them, evidently. Or Discord noted it and dealt with it.
—Speaking of Discord, I notice the tendency of writers to write him a bit more maliciously. I don't really appreciate that, but it was at least nowhere near the tragic character assassination that was that certain episode about "bonding."
—He seems to have taken a liking to Starlight. Oooh, friendships! He's still retaining the lesson about having multiple friends.
—I just finished the episode, which evidently seems to deal with Twilight's fears and insecurities as a mentor and sheds some light on her relationship with Starlight. It incidentally seems to serve as a nice parallel to Starlight's role in the series so far. And I appreciate that it gives Twilight some time back into the protagonist role. The former hero, and the new hero, their stories being written even now. <3 And as you live there really are things yet to learn.
—There was a picture of Celestia and Discord on Twilight's mirror! And they seem very friendly! Yes, bonding!!
atleast someone likes starlight
4497426
I feel she has a wealth of potential we haven't quite tapped into yet. And while her inclusion could have been handled better, she's a pretty likable pony to me.
4497513 i know and people say she's over powered no you people don't know the meaning of overpowered
4497516
Well, unicorns in general seem rather versatile.
4497519 and than starlight battled twilight into a stand still twilight is more powerful hell all twilight need to do is just hone her magic
Various picks from this episode's soundtrack!
This just cements it further. Another all-time favourite for me.