Road to Season 6: Season 3

If you haven't read the previous posts, click right here. Without further ado, let's continue.

I don't fully understand why everyone thinks this is the worst season of the show. I've some theories:

1. Its length: With only 13 episodes, there's no chance of doing mistakes, but like season 2 this one went downhill when we reach the second half, but we'll get to that later.
2. No one really liked the new characters (with one exception), they'll take them years to have support, respect and love from the community.
3. The Elephant in the Room we all now know.

But it also has its peak points like more development for some characters, returning fan favorites, good balance between good comedy and slice of life and new stuff to deal, sadly this was also the point that decided which fans stayed watching the show and which ones left, all this plus the previous mentioned facts make this into probably the most underrated season of the show.

The Crystal Empire (both parts): With both Shining Armor and Cadance carrying the problems I mentioned early plus an uninteresting setting, wasted potential and perhaps the laziest mayor villain in the show, this is a weak opening. But to its credit the action scenes are pretty good, the door scene is very tense and Spike does something useful defeating the villain. 3/5.
Too Many Pinkie Pies: After too many fails in his previous entries, Dave Polsky gets a bullseye here with a great comedy. 4/5.
One Bad Apple: Obligatory bullying episode, too bad for Babs Seed but the song is catchy. 2.5/5.
Magic Duel: Using Zecora and the return of Trixie wanting revenge saves this episode a little because it feels so generic and normal. 3/5.
Sleepless in Ponyville: A great beginning for the CMC's-Luna trilogy, with tiny good moments for the Apple and Diamond sisters and of course this scene:

5/5.
Wonderbolts Academy: Rainbow Dash recovers from making a fool of herself in the previous season, Lightning Dust becomes one of the most memorable minor villains in the show and this scene:

5/5.
Apple Family Reunion: Although it's pretty normal one compared to the others, it's enjoyable viewing Applejack trying to please her entire family, not to mention the song is great. 4/5.
Spike at Your Service: The beginning of the end for Spike, no comments. 2/5.
Keep Calm and Flutter On: Another overrated entry. I know this is fan favorite because of being the beginning of Fluttercord, but let me explain: I can forgive the fast pacing, I can forgive the rush plot, I can forgive the bad comedy thanks to the good drama, I can even forgive the forced ending, however the one thing I can't forgive to this episode is that it failed me in something the show never disappointed me before: the animation. From the show standarts it's bad, really bad (basic animation movement, blurry backgrounds and disordered pasting are the top of the iceberg ONLY), but Trollestia is awesome. 2.5/5.
Just for Sidekicks: Corey Powell confirms himself as the best new writer of the show, taking the Mane 6 away was a great movement so everyone, from Spike and the pets to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Zecora, can shine. It has a bit of a slow pacing, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. 4/5.
Games Ponies Play: Predictable as hell, so contrasted with the preceding episode. Both Peachbottom and Harshwhinny are not very memorable and the jokes barely work. 2/5.
Magical Mystery Cure: The plot is great, the concept is great, the animation is great, the music is great, the ending is great, Twilight grows as a character. But there's one little big problem with this episode: the script itself. It leaves so much to be desired, you can watch it without seeing the previous seasons and nothing would change because it did whatever it wanted with the concept of the show, it has a crass amount of plot holes and incoherences for a 20-minute episode, the spell is a misused MacGuffin, the main problem is weak and confusing and the solution is quick and forced. But... did I like the episode? ...Yes, because it proved that the writers can do whatever Hasbro and DHX want. 3/5.

Top (by default, so no honorable mention)
10. Keep Calm and Flutter On
9. Spike at Your Service
8. Magic Duel
7. Games Ponies Play
6. One Bad Apple
5. Apple Family Reunion
4. Too Many Pinkie Pies
3. Just for Sidekicks
2. Wonderbolt Academy
1. Sleepless in Ponyville

Season Average Score: 3.3/5.

Oh boy, the next one... the big one...