Ranking the Zipp Storm Episodes/Specials (From Worst to Best) · 4:04pm Sep 14th, 2023
Ever since Make Your Mark debuted last year, many have been arguing and claiming that Zipp has become the true main character of G5. And it's not hard to see where that argument comes from, Zipp (along with Pipp) has been featured prominently in a lot of G5 media, to the point where I daresay she's become the new Sunset Shimmer of the group. Yet despite that, if we're only going on Make Your Mark, Zipp has only had four episodes/specials where she for sure has been the focus. Which ones have done her justice, whereas which ones (if any) have been bad for her? Well, let's find out.
4. Portrait of a Princess (Chapter 2, Episode 3)
Why it's on the bottom: Zipp is the very model of unsympathetic and insufferable here. She can't even be bothered to say hello to her mother, and wants to just outright skip everything to do with Portrait Day even though it's not really her decision to make. It's not like she wants to focus more on solving the mystery of Twilight's message either. Much of the episode is just her acting like a poor man's Rainbow Dash, complaining about doing anything girly no matter what. And we're supposed to find her sympathetic when she admits she was just looking for an excuse to get out of Portrait Day with Pipp and Queen Haven? Sometimes, you have to suck it up and do things you don't like to do. Plus, Zipp kind of owes her mom for letting her stay in Maretime Bay instead of being trained to take over the throne.
3. The Jinxie Games (Chapter 4, Episode 3)
Why it's not on the bottom: Putting aside the confusion of how we already had this plot point in a Tell Your Tale episode and whether that means Tell Your Tale is or is not canon, this subplot does at least give Zipp an opportunity to be a detective again. But we the audience probably side with Hitch in that there's nothing to really get worked up about or concerned about. Still, Zipp taking Pipp's concerns seriously is a nice touch, showing that they do appreciate each other despite their differences. But the Tell Your Tale episode that their subplot was lifted from placed much more focus on their uncomfortableness with their mom dating Alphabittle, whereas here they do have a bit of shock and disgust but it's quickly resolved. But hey, at least Zipp is sympathetic here.
2. Make Your Mark Special a.k.a the Make Your Mark Pilot (Chapter 1)
Why it's not on the top: Much like Zipp, this special wanders around in uncertainty for most of its run time. I get that it was a second pilot of sorts for G5, and even assuming this was always meant to be Zipp's story first and foremost, they really needed to spend less time on Zipp waiting for things to happen while her friends just fool around and do nothing. Yes, Zipp hasn't officially become a detective or private investigator yet, but if she's so worried she shouldn't be standing around and waiting for something to happen. Zipp does start to gain points once she tries to bring her concerns to her friends and emphasize what she's found out. And the plot about her not wanting to take over the throne from Queen Haven is interesting. At the very least, though, they needed to give Zipp something to do so that at least the time focused on her doesn't amount to just waiting for something interesting to happen.
1. Hoofdunit? (Chapter 2, Episode 7)
Why it's on the top: This shows off Zipp at her detective best. The episode really isn't hamstrung by her taking a while to solve the mystery. The real issue stems from the fact that they gave away the twist by showing Pipp finding and reburying the lantern. That should've been saved for the end when Pipp confesses. Plus, Pipp's decision was not really hers to make, the lantern belong to Sunny and I'm pretty sure Sunny would've at least liked to be consulted before Pipp decided to prolong the mystery for the sake of her sister. About the only thing to really find fault with Zipp here is her basically interrogating the Pippsqueaks for no good reason. Even if she suspects their involvement, she has no reason to be harsh on them without proof they were up to anything. It's just too bad that we haven't seen her do a whole lot of detective or investigative work since this episode. This episode showed off Zipp at her best as a character.
And there you have it, come back tomorrow when we'll look at and rank all the episodes and specials focusing on Pipp Petals, the weak link in the G5 cast.
I can already tell that unlike Sunny and Hitch with The Cutie Mark Mix-Up, Zipp and Pipp won't share the same worst episode.