Road to Season 6: Season 5

If you haven't read the previous post click right here.

If Season 3 was underrated and Season 4 was overrated, I've to say that this one is in between. I think it's the best after Season 2 and, like that one, it deflates toward the end and has the same pros and cons I've complained in the past, to this problems I have to add one that, to my surprise, no one talks about and it's one of its biggest problems: Meghan McCarthy's absence in the entire season. But enough chit-chat, let's start.

The Cutie Map (both parts): The references to communism are respectful and threating, the fact that now tertiary characters have to save Equestria is interesting, but the star of the show is Starlight Glimmer herself. One of the best villains in the series. 4/5.
Castle Sweet Castle: I feel like this has a lot of wasted potential, even if the conflict is understandable, this is more notorious in the Library's visit scene. 4/5.
Bloom and Gloom: The weakest of the CMC's-Luna episodes, by far because of its repetitiveness. But still a good one. 4/5.
Tanks for the Memories: Cindy Morrow comes back after her absence in Season 4 with her best episode since Sisterhooves Social, the peak of the plot is the next scene because both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash do a role reversal:

5/5.
Appleoosa's Most Wanted: The CMC's take a step backwards in their characterization and its pacing is a bit slow, but it give us a hint of what will come next, also Troubleshoes has a lot of charisma. 3/5.
Make New Friends But Keep Discord: Discord and Fluttershy's interactions are hilarious and the Smooze has its own charm, unlike Tree Hugger who feels like a bad hippie stereotype. 4/5.
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone: I haven't seen a case in which a character, who was probably the most hated one in the show, becoming one of the favorites so quickly, welcome back Gilda. Also more Pinkiedash FTW. 4.5/5.
Slice of Life: This one is in everyone's list and most commonly in the Top 3. Not mine, all I can see here is cheap fanservice, funny and entertaining but still cheap. I'd expand this in the future to tell you why I think this is the most overrated episode in the entire series, but for now I can only say 2/5.
Princess Spike: Spike lost the remaining respect I have to him here, but to its credit it's not that bad compared to his previous entries. Even with good performances by Cadance and Fancy Pants, it remains as a bad episode. In summary the little dragon hits rock bottom for the third time in a row. 2/5.
Party Pooped: When the only thing you can remember is a quick joke about quesadillas, you know something is wrong. 1/5.
Amending Fences: Larson has always seemed to me as a very mediocre hit-or-miss writer, but here he redeemed himself thanks to exploring Twilight's past, giving Minuette a charm and bringing us Moon Dancer, a third Twilight clone, yes (the first one was Sunset Shimmer and Trixie became one in Magic Duel), but she has a personality of her own. Plus this scene:

One of the best in the entire series. Good bye Larson, we'll miss you. 5/5.
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?: This one is very controversial for Luna's issues and I can understand them, but it has its own entertainment. As a side note, I was beginning to piss off with Lyra and Bon Bon, don't get me wrong: I don't have a problem with them being officially a couple, but when you constantly reference them and place them in the spotlight it becomes very tiresome. 3/5.
Canterlot Boutique: The conflict is very understandable and sometimes it feels a little depressive: sell your soul just for having a job. Unfortunately Sassy Saddles it's too similar to Suri in many ways and the fact that the episode make us think that she's a villain isn't favoring her. 4.5/5.
Rarity Investigates!: It took the show 3 more seasons to develop a good thriller episode and 4 to gave us a Rarity-Rainbow Dash episode, it was totally worth it. Sadly Wind Rider is so forgettable and the plot itself too predictable. 4.5/5.
Made in Manehattan: It mixes the comedy of Rarity Investigates! and the slice of life of Canterlot Boutique so perfect that even I could stand Coco who finally has a more active role unlike her previous appearance. Curiously of all the Rarity episodes in this season, this is the best done but ironically the one I like the least, don't understand why. 4.5/5.
Brotherhooves Social: The ending is the only thing that saves this episode. It's not a bad one but it feels so normal, like I said the ending makes this episode go from "Meh" to "good". 4/5.
Crusaders of the Lost Mark: Overrated. I know, this is an important episode for the entire series because of this:

And the first two times I watched this I cried, but it hasn't aged well. This is for a character involved here: Diamond Tiara. I have nothing against her being reformed, but... why do they pick the most cliché plot device of the book? (I know character development is important and all, however can we have a bully character who is bad just because of it for once?) 4/5.
The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows: Another good comedy and coming from a writer who's a veteran and a newcomer to the show at the same time it's amazing. 4/5.
Hearthbreakers: The dynamic between the Apples and the Pies saves this episode because, in reality, it's a rehash from much better previous entries. Also this episode confirms Maud Pie as my favorite Pie sister because both original sisters didn't amazed me- Limestone is a tsundere who needs to go to anger management and Marble... REALLY, DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER FLUTTERSHY CLONE WHO'S MORE FLANDERIZED THAN HER?! 3.5/5.
Scare Master: Speaking of flanderizing, all what defined Fluttershy and all her progress throughout the entire series went to fuck here. This is the reason why I degraded both Dragonshy and Filli Vanilli and the Flutterbat gimmick doesn't save this disappointment. 1/5.
What About Discord?: I'm not going to pretend that this is a good episode because it isn't: the majority of the jokes don't work, the abuse to Twilight isn't funny, both Spike and Zecora do little to the plot, Discord is more used as an animation tool rather than a plot tool, the moral is forced, etc. However I found something intriguing about it, it's not a guilty pleasure but I don't hate it neither. I'd like to expand why the most called Worst episode of the show is not that bad as the rest says but for now 1.5/5.
The Hooffields and McColts: Joanna and Kristine were my favorite newcomers in the writer department by far. Although this is their laziest episode it has some value. 3/5.
The Mane Attraction: For me it's too soon to title this the best Applejack episode but I can see why: Applejack the entire season is out of her comfort zone, Rara is another welcome addition to the show and, of course, this scene:

Probably the best song in the series. Good bye Amy, we'll miss you. 4.5/5.
The Cutie Re-Mark (both parts): How many plot holes and incoherences can you find here? Not too mention Starlight's reformation and her character becoming... A FOURTH TWILIGHT CLONE?! Probably the worst finale of the series. Not the worst anymore, but it's still awful. 3/5.

Top
10. Canterlot Boutique
9. Bloom and Gloom
8. The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows
7. Make New Friends But Keep Discord
6. Rarity Investigates!
5. The Mane Attraction
4. Crusaders of the Lost Mark
3. The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone
2. Tanks for the Memories
Honorable Mention: Castle Sweet Castle, Made in Manehattan, Heartbreakers
1. Amending Fences

Season Average Score: 3.4/5

Every journey has to end sooner or later, I hope you enjoy it and see you at Season 6.