The King's Top 10 Favorite MLP Episodes · 9:16pm January 22nd
Hello, subjects. We went over your King's least favorite episodes, so let's move on to the positive side. Here's my favorite MLP episodes. Same rules as the previous list: specials, movies, and such are fair game. If it makes me feel strongly enough, it can be on the list. Also, not unlike the list of characters, this list was significantly harder to nail down than the previous. Turns out that, as far as the good episodes go, there's less that really stick out to me as the bad ones do. There's just more good in the show than bad, and it really challenged me to pick out the ones that stand out to me the most in a positive way. Even after going over the list, I'm still not totally certain on placement. So, the list is a bit rough. Still, I think it sets the ground neatly.
Now, let's get on with the list.
10. SISTERHOOVES SOCIAL
We've already established that Rarity is queen, so let's start off with probably her best role in the early seasons. This episode has some truly beautiful moments; from Rarity seeing Sweetie Belle's drawing and realizing her failings as a big sister to the sisters coming together in the end. This episode is a crucial point for both Rarity and Sweetie Belle's characters and is one of the most memorable of the early seasons.
9. FOR WHOM THE SWEETIE BELL TOILS
And here's Rarity and Sweetie Belle again. This episode goes to a pretty dark place as it explores Sweetie's resentment and feelings of inferiority in regard to Rarity as well as the consequences of acting on those feelings as Luna shows Sweetie. It's a very deep episode that explores a side of the characters we don't see often and goes to a dark place to show it.
8. SLEEPLESS IN PONYVILLE
As I've said before, in the early seasons, Rainbow Dash was not a likable character at all. There are two episodes that signify the turn of her character; Hurricane Fluttershy and Sleepless in Ponyville; both episodes that explore the relationship she holds with both her surrogate sisters; Fluttershy and Scootaloo specifically. I chose to go with the episode that firmly establishes the sisterhood between RD and our favorite underdog. From the antics of the older sisters camping together to the story of Scootaloo trying to deal with her fear to the beautiful resolution of RD taking in Scoots; it's a glorious episode.
7. DO PRINCESSES DREAM OF MAGIC SHEEP
Three Luna episodes in a row; surprising she wasn't in my Top 10 favorite MLP characters. One thing I always loved about MLP (well, good MLP at least) is the respect it has for it's audience and the willingness to explore dark themes. Themes like depression and self-harm, for instance. Luna punishing herself because she can't forgive herself for her mistakes; it's a very dark story that many can relate to. The message of learning to forgive yourself and find peace is a powerful and important one. And the art we get to see with the dreams of everypony is a great bonus; from Scoots being able to fly to Big Mac getting to be a magical girl like his sister to Lyra and Bonbon being Lyra and Bonbon.
6. A ROCKHOOF AND A HARD PLACE
Speaking of dark themes, this is easily the darkest episode in the series. Dealing with themes of depression and finding one's place is one thing, but suicide? No one would have thought they would go that far, but they did. A story of an old man, detached from the world, struggling to find meaning and asking Twilight to, for all intents and purposes, help him commit suicide because he can't find anything else for him. And just as dark, Twilight agreeing to it because she can't figure out how to help him. The episode of course ends with a hopeful message showing that anyone can find a place in the world, but boy did they go far with story up to it. And I respect the show so much for that.
5. BROTHERHOOVES SOCIAL
This one is just really funny. Cringe comedy is a hard thing to get a handle of and MLP definitely has had ups and downs with it; this is the biggest of it's ups with it. Big Mac dressing in drag and entering the Sisterhooves Social to help Apple Bloom and make her proud is just nonstop hilarity. And the ending is incredibly sweet and always brings tears to my eyes.
4. A NEW GENERATION
I did say that movies were fair game. Say what you will on everything that followed, but G5 got off to a great start with this flick. It was always gonna be hard to sell people on the next Gen with G4's popularity, but this movie did a good job for it; with it's beautiful animation, colorful cast of characters, touching story, and catchy songs; I could watch this over and over again.
3. CRUSADERS OF THE LOST MARK
There are very few moments in MLP as satisfying as the CMC finally getting their cutie marks. This episode marked the end of a story arc that lasted five seasons. The CMC accomplishing their goal of getting their cutie marks, Diamond Tiara's motives and redemption, the elder sister's relationship with the three; it was the climax of FIM's longest story arc, and it couldn't have been much more satisfying.
2. THE PERFECT PEAR
Oh, man; this episode his hard. We finally got the story of Applejack's parents. We get to see their Romeo and Juliet style romance, and the impact they left behind. We see how Granny Smith lost not one, but two children, and how Grand Pear never got to reconcile with his daughter. We see the effect these two characters we never got to explore for most of the series impacted it's most prominent family. It's a very emotional story and went so much harder than anyone could expect. I can't think of any other episode to call the best in the main show.
1. RAINBOW ROCKS
The movie that put Equestria Girls on the map and made it something worth investing in. The fantastic songs, the Dazzlings being the best antagonists, Sunset's perfect redemption arc; this story has a very personal place for me. It solidified Sunset as the character that would become my favorite and brought in the Dazzlings who stood out to me greatly. Heck, this movie was the basis for my first fic on this site and the first story I ever published; and it continues to inspire me, both creatively and personally.
While The Perfect Pear is the best episode of the series, Rainbow Rocks was the product that touched me the most.
So, there's my favorite episodes. Do you agree with my list? Of course, you don't. So, let me know what your favorite episodes are. Have a nice day!
Oh, and here's a statistic for the episodes:
Season 2: 1
Season 3: 1
Season 4: 2 (including Rainbow Rocks)
Season 5: 3
Season 7: 1
Season 8: 1
G5: 1
You know, for a personal favorite, I have to go with a Spike episode, the one where it’s the Olympics for Equestria. It was nice to see a story arc culminate, and to see Spike face down his self doubt there. Apologies if I can’t remember the name off the top of my head, but it was a nice episode.
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That would be Equestria Games; and yeah, it's always nice to see Spike be the hero. My favorite Spike episode is Gauntlet of Fire, which I considered for the list.
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Gauntlet of Fire… The one where he goes to the Dragon Lands to get that one thing that makes a new dragon lord?
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That's the one.
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Eh. It could go well for other people, I see why with Spike doing something related to his lineage and overcoming the odds, but that felt like a tangential achievement. Something he had to do, but wasn’t fully invested in.
With the Equestria Games Spike felt fear and nervousness over everything, and then shame and imposter syndrome when he found out he didn’t light the fire. The end of the episode really made it seem like he overcame his shortcomings, and became stronger and braver along the way.
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That's a very good point. I may have to go over the episode again.