Make Your Mark Specials Ranking (G5 Spoilers!)

This should be a pretty straightforward and easy to do list. I probably also don't need to put up a spoilers tag for this one, but I'm going to cover my bases just in case there are those who haven't kept up to date with Make Your Mark. And as always, this is just my personal opinion, though I imagine my opinion on the overall rankings is probably very similar to the majority of the fandom's right now. In any case, please respect it.

3. Make Your Mark Special/Make Your Mark Pilot (Make Your Mark, Chapter 1)
Why it's on the bottom: This is either the second or third pilot for G5, depending on whether you consider the events of Tell Your Tale to be canon (it seems to go in contradictory directions, sometimes it looks like it's supposed to be canon and other times it looks like it's not supposed to be canon). The animation is probably the least controversial thing about this special, even though it's a noticeable downgrade from A New Generation: It's to be expected with a lower budget and the ponies do still express themselves fairly well anyway. The bigger problem is that for a majority of this special, nothing really happens. It spends all its time on Zipp waiting for something to happen. It feels more like it's showing off different setpieces, most especially the Brighthouse. Then, when a climax finally does happen, it comes so abruptly into the third act that there's not enough time for a proper resolution. In the end, Zipp ends up being the only character with a fuctioning brain, everyone else acts like they lost brain cells. And sadly, in terms of pacing and conflict, the specials haven't really improved since then.

2. Winter Wishday (Make Your Mark, Chapter 3)
Why it's in the middle: If the first special was basically a toy commercial for the Brighthouse, this is basically a toy commercial for the Marestream. It's all about flying from one setpiece to the next with hardly any time spent on anything of substance. The main plot is that Sunny wants to spend the holiday with her friends, only to find out that they each have their own traditions they've done and want to do. So Sunny basically forces them all to just rush through their traditions so they can do what she wants to do. Then, after a pointless scene of the Marestream being buried in snow only for the lantern to basically expose it anyway, they throw in a climax of the unicorns unintentionally casting blizzards by saying "Frosty Shivers". And everyone once again looks stupid for not noticing the obvious when the unicorns horns glow everytime they say "Frosty Shivers". The saddest thing of all is, Tell Your Tale ended up having an episode where Sunny was baking with Alphabittle, which ended up being a much better story that offered actual hints about characterization. They also took the liberty of explaining just where the heck Misty and Opaline were during all of this. So Tell Your Tale ended up doing this special better.

1. Bridlewoodstock (Make Your Mark, Chapter 4, Episode 1)
Why it's on the top: If nothing else, the improved animation and ponies other than Zipp being worried or concerned about something is a sign of progress. Pipp is really the only one who still feels like she doesn't notice the obvious or just dimisses it. If this was taking place before "Winter Wishday", maybe her ignorance of the unicorns' beliefs would feel valid. But we the audience and Pipp both know better. It is kind of nice to see Pipp taking the lead, trying to organize everything. Even so, the majority of the special is spent entirely on the set-up, once again feeling like they're just rushing from setpiece to setpiece. Even the title is pointless because there's no real nod to the famous rock concert, and we don't get a lot of musical references. It's just there to be there. And as nice as it was to have a special take place primarily in Bridlewood, you could have the setting be almost anywhere and nothing of substance would be lost, we don't get any further lore or visit any locations we've yet to see. And although Alphabittle appears in this special, he doesn't speak a line. The celebrity guest star might as well be wasted since her role amounts to almost nothing, but at least she actually gets to sing. Being the best of the worst isn't exactly anything to write home about. I feel like they need to stop doing these specials if they can't figure out how to make them engaging. Maybe a special focused on Misty, Hitch or Izzy could break the trend?

Well, there you have it. I'll probably do another wishlist for G5 on Monday since it was recently announced that we've got more of Make Your Mark and Tell Your Tale on the way for later this year, albeit with no release dates set in stone.