The Best and Worst of Season 5.

I said over a month ago that I prmised I would share my personal best and worst of Season 5. Well, this is kinda that, but a little different.

I'm gonna check back with each episode and rate it on a scale of one to ten, and give my honest thoughts on each.

So without further ado, here is:

Shadowmane PX-41's

Best

And

Worst

of Season 5!

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The Cutie Map: 8.9/10

Now, I was shocked when this episode came out, but I've gotten over it, and I'm ready for my personal feelings about it. This episode struck a new dark tone for Friendship is Magic. If such things like communism and propaganda can be in a childish show like My Little Pony, then I don't really know what to believe in anymore.

But it did keep me going for the ride, and I was especially pleased with how well each of the characters was portrayed. Even Starlight herself was an intriguing villain from the get-go. An average unicorn who has the power to erase Cutie Marks all of her own power, who later returns with even more power than before for the finale. Her morals are good, I'll admit, but she went about them the wrong way, and she ultimately got everything she deserved from her debut.

Castle, Sweet Castle: 8.8/10

This episode was a chuckle-fest with a deep meaning and a great message. It showed that even though your house gets destroyed or taken away from you, the memories still linger, and there's always room to make new memories. I adored it, and I think you should too.

Bloom and Gloom: 6.7/10

I originally hated this episode for being repetitive, but then I noticed that it had some interesting growth for Applebloom and the CMC. Sometimes we will get things we never really wanted or cared about, but that doesn't mean that you should change who you really are in the process.

I also hated this episode for the two different and contradicting morals it had, but I've changed since then.

Tanks for the Memories: 9.8/10

This episode. This episode right here is the epitome of Rainbow Dash characterization. It's shown that she's not always the competitive and athletic mare we know she is, and that she deeply cares for things close to her. She tried everything she could to stop Tank from hibernating, but she eventually caved and decided that it was time for him to go.

Appaloosa's Most Wanted: 8.6/10

This episode was an average one at first, until I made it to the explanation of Troubleshoes' Cutie Mark. It turns out that sometimes, ponies can follow different destinies despite having a Cutie Mark that can hold them down at times. This was one of my personal favourites for the whole Cutie Mark Magic thing they had going this year.

Make New Friends, but Keep Discord: 8.5/10

I liked this episode for the humourous value of it. Discord's performance was top-notch here. We also got to see his actual house for once, which is another great part of world building. But that was overshadowed with his constant attempts to out Tree Hugger and get him back with Fluttershy.

Also, we had the Smooze.

The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone: 8.6/10

Being the first Cutie Map episode that wasn't a two-parter, Lost Treasure of Griffonstone was a nice episode that gave us some more world-building, lore, and new griffons. It spent half of the time showing Pinkie teaching Gilda to bake real Griffon Scones, with Rainbow Dash trying to get the missing Idol of Boreas.

With Gilda's reformation in this episode, I can bet we'll see her again somewhere down the line.

Slice of Life: 8.8/10

I know that this was meant to be a joke episode, but I actually had fun with it. It just goes to show you that even the staff know that we exist, and that we deserve a bit of a one-off.

Princess Spike: 8.4/10

Of Spike episodes in this show this was one of my personal favourites. It showed that Spike does care about Twilight, and even though he made the mistake, he owned up to it, apologized, and helped everyone get back on track.

Unlike a certain someone who doesn't belong on this website for his repulsive behaviour and abuse of power as an admin...

Party Pooped: 2.3/10

WHY?! I don't even have to come up with words to describe this episode! It's horrible!

Amending Fences: 9.9/10

Wow. This episode took us right down to the roots of the show and deeper. Showing us Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Moondancer in the spotlight in place of Twilight's friends. I loved each and every one of the characters on display here, as well as their characterizations.

Here's to hoping that Moondancer and her friends come back another year to grace us once more...

Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?: 9.0/10

Dream episodes are a mixed bag in any kind of show, but this one stood out because of the Tantabus's backstory, as well as Luna's connections with it. The dreams were quirky at times, and we even got to see some possible character building out of what we seen in each of the Main Six's dreams-turned-nightmares.

Canterlot Boutique: 8.8/10

I think it's safe to say that by this point, Kelly Sheridan has already crafted a legacy as being one of 2015's most active new voice actresses. Doing the roles of Starlight, Misty, Indigo from Friendship Games, and even Sassy Saddles here. But actress aside, I really did enjoy this episode, and it taught me a valuable lesson about how repetition does eventually ruin something.

Rarity Investigates: 8.4/10

Another Rarity episode in a row? That's a surprise. But anyway, Rarity Investigates was a good mystery episode with a gripping story and a shocking twist at the end of it all. How the characters were portrayed (Rarity herself especially) was also a nice touch, and I could see so many more mystery fanfics being inspired by the feels, settings, and drama from this episode.

Also, smooth jazz for the win.

Made in Manehatten: 8.5/10

Another Rarijack episode takes centre stage after all this time. Both our gals take a trip to Manehatten to see Coco from last year, and to help out with the revival. Not just is it a great return episode, but it proves that if things are too hard, simply simplify it and you should do just fine. That's a rare message for people these days, and will be sure to inspire more and more mini-conventions like UK Ponycon to earn more popularity.

Brotherhooves Social: 7.9/10

This episode pulled me in with how Big Mac cared for Applebloom and her success at winning a blue ribbon at the Sisterhooves Social, and kept me going all the way. Not only was he characterized the most here, but his dialogue went through the roof with this one. It's a charming little episode to sit down, enjoy, and to take your mind off of the sadness of the world around you.

Crusaders of the Lost Mark: 10/10

Never before has an episode slammed up a perfect ten for not being a finale. But for what this episode brought, it definitely deserves that praise. Not only did we see Diamond Tiara in an entirely different light, but we also got to see her completely change her tune and have the CMC get rewarded with their own Cutie Marks for it.

It's an end-of-an-era episode that really paints a bright future for all five of our favourite fillies.

The One Where Pinkie Knows: 4.6/10

I wanted to like this episode. I really did. But I just feel like with what it showed, that it was a Pinkie Pie torture porn in a way. Now, there's a lot of scenes that could have been cut and the episode would have flowed a lot smoother, but I think that in general, she should have said that it was a secret and that it couldn't be spoiled. There's no shame in admitting you have a secret to keep, and it lifts the burden if your friends understand and try to help you out.

On the other hand, it's interesting to note that Cadence is now expecting.

Hearthbreakers: 8.9/10

Ahh, Christmas before Halloween. It's one of my new favourite traditions. But seriously, this episode was good festive fun for any fan of christmas. The way the Pie Family was introduced was a nice change of pace. Especially with Limestone and Marble's personalities in relation to Pinkie and Maud's personalities.

Scare Master: 8.8/10

I don't see why this episode garnered negative reviews. Alright, I personally admit that some of the writers do not know how to write Fluttershy well, but I think that this episode is proof that she can be written right. The very fact that she suffers from samhaniophobia is another good bit of character development for her, and that anyone can suffer this if they have a bad experience with the holiday.

What About Discord: 8.6/10

Ahh, Discord. Your humour never ceases to amaze me. Now, this episode was one I liked because it doesn't need to follow a certain storyline. It proves that even without one, an episode can still stand alone as great material to tide us over for a good 22 minutes.

The Hooffields and Mccolts: 8.3/10

OK, this episoe was basically Romeo and Juliet without the star-crossed lovers, but I still found it entertaining. One side can't harvest food, the other side can't build. It's a good show that does give off a slight influence of nature VS urban development. The resolution was also nice, and Twilight's growth here shows that books can't always help you solve problems.

The Mane Attraction: 9.0/10

So many good things came from this episode. We had Rara, we had humour, we had a new jerk to hate. It was just so well done ine very regard, and I think that Lena Hall should do a lot more episodes with Rara in the future.

This was also the episode that made me like Applejack as a character for once. Hard to believe, I know.

The Cutie Re-Mark: 11/10

OMFG, I cannot fathom how intense this finale was. Now, I know that the whole time-rewriting cliche is so old hat, but this episode does it very well for what it has to work with. Starlight Glimmer being able to travel backwards in time to prevent the Sonic Rainboom again and again showed that she's not just a villain, but a powerful one who shouldn't be taken lightly. It also shows that people with grudges will eventually seek revenge on the person who inflicted them their hurt just to even up the odds.

Not only was the story intense, but we got to see Starlight's backstory, which, I will admit, is one of the best villain backstories I've ever heard. Declaring war on Cutie Marks just because her friend left her when he got his? That's some dark stuff, man. But finally, we got to see her reformed, which is still causing a contraversy in the fandom even today.

And what side am I on? Well, I can't really answer that question now, since I'm too busy writing Shadowed Bolts.

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Whew. That was a long best and worst, huh?

Well, I'm finally done with Season 5: the Season of Forgiveness and Redemption.

Here's to Season 6 and beyond, ladies and gentlemen...