Crusaders of The Lost Mark Review (Warning!: Prepare to have your mind blown!) · 5:56pm Oct 10th, 2015
Well, that happened.
I don't know if there are any words that can describe just how mind blowing and amazing this episode is! If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out!
This episode was penned by Amy Keating Rogers, and oh boy were the stakes high for this one. But she pulled it off, and she pulled it off so well! The only sad thing is, this isn't her swan song, she's still got one last episode left, and I don't think she or anyone else is ever going to be able to top this!
So, what's the story? Well, let's find out!
We open up with a song, as the Cutie Mark Crusaders realize they've run out of ideas. But Apple Bloom inspires them with "We'll make our mark", and yes, this episode is a musical not unlike "Magical Mystery Cure" and "Pinkie Pride" ("Filli Vanilli" doesn't really count, seeing as all the songs except for one were performed on stage, and music was a big part of the episode).
Then, Pipsqueak comes bursting in, announcing that he's going to run for Student Body President, and wants the CMC to be his campaign managers. They agree, and it's off to the campaign trail against Diamond Tiara.
Pipsqueak announces his intent to get the school playground fixed, due to the beating it suffered when Twilight was facing off against Tirek. And we all know how much of a fight that was.
Diamond Tiara declares her intent to run against Pipsqueak in the song "Vote for Pip", which channels the theme of change from Obama's 2008 campaign. Fortunately, Pipsqueak intends to keep his promises, while Diamond Tiara reveals that her mother is Spoiled Rich, who is part of the school board.
The votes are tallied, and Pipsqueak wins. But Diamond Tiara steals a page from Al Gore and demands a recont, rather than let her go through with it, however, Cheerilee lets Diamond Tiara see the results for herself. And Pipsqueak won by one vote. Who cast that faithful one vote, you might ask? None other than Silver Spoon, who's tired of Diamond Tiara's bratty behavior, and terminates their friendship. And no, I'm not making that up!
Despite not having earned their cutie marks in campaign management, the CMC set off to see if Diamond Tiara is alright. It turns out that Spoiled Rich is quite cruel, berating Diamond Tiara for her failure, and telling her to stop hanging out with those less fortunate than her. This violates the canon of the fanfic I tagged this blog post with, but I can easily rectify it. Whenever the sequel comes out (which probably won't be until 2016), I'll explain that Spoiled Rich is Diamond Tiara's step mother (if you read the tagged fic, you'll know what happens to her original mother).
Diamond Tiara gets her own song in "I want to shine", when she calls herself a diamond in the rough. But although they're very similar in emotion and theme, I still have to give the upper hand to "Pinkie's Lament". Sorry, Diamond Tiara, but you just can't top something as amazing as this.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders feel very bad for Diamond Tiara, and the next day, they offer to let her hang out at their clubhouse. She tries to act like she doesn't care, but accepts the offer anyway. At the clubhouse, when she sees the CMC's numerous attempts to earn their cutie marks, she admits to being jealous of them since they don't have to be defined by their cutie mark.
Just then, Pipsqueak arrives, and reveals that he's in trouble. The school board refused to lend the money for the new playground equipment, and Pipsqueak doesn't have any money to cover the expenses. Seeing an opportunity, Diamond Tiara runs off, with the CMC confronting her in "This isn't the way", trying to keep her from turning to the dark side.
(Sorry, but I had to make that joke.)
Diamond Tiara arrives at the school, and the CMC urge her to make the right decision. And then, Spoiled Rich arrives, and demands that Diamond Tiara leave the CMC at once. But Diamond Tiara stands up to her mom, tells her off, and sends her to Filthy Rich with a note. Said note is to ask Filthy Rich to donate the money for the new playground equipment. And as the playground is put together, Diamond Tiara gets another song in "Diamond Tiara Takes Charge", as she realizes that her cutie mark symbolizes her talent for leadership, and she finally realizes what makes a good leader.
But if you thought the surprises ended there, you're wrong! The CMC realize that they can help others earn their cutie marks, and rediscover what their cutie marks mean, and with a surge of energy, they obtain their cutie marks. They look like badges, but each one has a different symbol inside it. Apple Bloom's is an apple with a heart inside it, Sweetie Belle's is a star with a musical note inside it, and Scootaloo's is a wing with a lightning bolt inside it. And true to form, Pinkie Pie hosts their cutecenera, in the song "You've done good", meaning that the circle is now complete. When they first met at a cutecenera, the three bonded over not having cutie marks, and now their friendship has been redefined, as they have discovered what their special talents are.
And that's the story, so do you see yet why this probably the best episode of the show? It's everything anyone could've ever wanted out of a CMC episode, and a Diamond Tiara redemption episode. It had wonderful music, a very nice moral, and some outstanding character growth. It even ended with a new picture being taken in front of the CMC's clubhouse, which may or may not become the new photo in the intro. Words cannot do this justice, even though I have no quarrels with giving it an A+. "Simple Ways", you've been topped at last! Season 5, you've truly hit your stride now!
Next week, we've got another episode bumped up from production order, "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows", in which Pinkie Pie has to keep a secret involving Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, with the secret likely being that Cadence is pregnant. This episode will mark G. M. Berrow's debut as a writer, and I wish her good luck. This episode is going to be a tough act to follow.
An awesome ep all around.
3457836 Amen.
3457846 Also, you were right when you said words cannot do enough to describe the sheer awesomeness of this ep.
This is definitely the best episode of the series.
It managed to not only make Diamond Tiara likable (which still feels odd to say), but it also caused her to jump from being the only character on the show I hate to one of my top ten characters of the entire series (although she's not top five material quite yet (and I doubt I'll ever like her as much as Scoots, Rainbow, or Cheese Sandwich)). And that's impressive.
And the CMC finally getting their marks literally made me squee, which no other episode (not even Pinkie Pride, which has actually been dethroned as my favorite episode of the series) managed to do.
Now I'm hoping for a Diamond Tiara and Discord song in a later episode.
3457846 uh hey I think you made a mistake you see Pip didnt win by 1 vote, Diamond only got 1 vote (herself)
3458019 Really? I thought they said Pipsqueak won by one vote, with the deciding vote being Silver Spoon.
3458074 not it was Diamond Tiara that got 1 vote
Skepticism was raised around this episode initially, but in the final result, ''Crusaders of the Lost Mark'' has helped MLP:FIM cement itself not only as one of the greatest programs on cable television (as it's not on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox) but as one of the most outstanding television programs that Americans have seen since 1939, when the late David Sarnoff of RCA introduced America to all-electronic television at the 1939–40 New York World's Fair. From this point forward, ''Crusaders of the Lost Mark'' shall become the standard by which all succeeding episodes of this program will be judged.
3458087 I don't know if that's a good idea. When you set the bar that high, it's kind of hard to come even close. It would be like comparing every 2-D Disney movie to The Lion King, or every 3-D Disney movie to Frozen and Big Hero 6.
3458097 The last line indeed might be correct for some people.
3458074 uh no sorry, i mean how would diamond know if silver made the tie breaker, besides it adds up.
Cherilee - thought there would be no point to add up the votes as it was a landslide with tiara getting 1 vote only
SIlver spoon - if diamond only got 1 vote from herself it makes sense that no one else voted for her
3458115 Oh, I see.
Hands down...BEST CMC EPISODE EVER!!! Ahem, I'll calm down now.
Silver leaving Diamond, that was FOUR years worth the wait and even Diamond finally acted nice for once. This is going straight into my top ten favourite episodes when I do a revise after Season 5 finishes!
3458087 Hyperbole...literally the best thing ever!
Looking forward to The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows, I've been waiting for that one the most.
THIS EPISODE!
This episode made me smile so much. In fact I don't think I've ever smiled so much since... well... since. If this isn't Amy's swan song before leaving the show then I don't know what is. All I can say is, this is one of her best love letters so far in any of her works. Diamond Tiara, I now love her as a well developed character and the ending is simply the best thing ever. The song at the end and the outro. I don't know what to say. This episode is a 9.9/10. I might start to change my Slice of Life rating to 9.5 seeing how great this episode was.
This episode sure did gave me plenty of surprises.