Episode Lookback: The Crystalling (Parts 1 & 2) · 7:32am Apr 1st, 2016
I have to say, it feels good to have some new pony. And the new season looks promising so far. Larson and co. are not letting up with the world building at all.
Sorry about this being a little late this week. The earliest I was able to catch the episode was on Tuesday, and it takes at least two more days for me to arrange my reaction into a cohesive post. Also I've dropped the old 'Monday Blog' title because of how rarely it actually occurred on a Monday. I always tried to put it on Monday but that hasn't worked out so well with how my schedule has changed.
Check on after the break for my thoughts on the episode. And as always, Spoilers~
I quite enjoyed these episodes. Not only do we get Starlight's first friendship lesson and some character building for her [1], we also get some much welcomed world building. We now have a new tradition for the Crystal Empire, a Crystalling; an ancient tradition that is described by Spike to help enforce and strengthen the Crystal Heart, and we find out what happens when the Crystal Heart is destroyed.
In this episode the mane six are preparing for the Crystalling of Cadance and Shining Armour's new foal. Twilight is also busy preparing a lesson plan for Starlight.
At least they're not more books.
And by the looks of it we have another six seasons worth of lessons to look forward to. In before Starlight Gilimmer, Princess of uh, cutiemark-stealing-time-travelling-becoming-goodness?
We get another poke at Starlight's sense of direction.
Starlight, pls. You think we've forgotten?
And that's essentially the setup for this two-parter.
Now the first component of this episode's plot is Starlight's friendship lesson. Rather conveniently we find out that Sunburst, Starlight's old fillyhood friend, actually lives in the Crystal Empire. Twilight sees this as the perfect opportunity for the two to meet and rekindle their old friendship. Something that Starlight is less than enthusiastic about.
Luckily for her, as soon as they arrive at the Empire they find Shining Armour completely exhausted by the baby. Twilight decides it best to cancel the lesson so that they can help Shining Armour prepare for the Crystalling.
BUT NEVER FEAR! THE GREAT AND HELPFUL SPIKE IS HERE!
Spike very helpfully offers to take Twilight's very detailed, can't possibly fail, checklist and can carry on with the lesson without her.
(never mind that he knew that Starlight didn't want to do this)
Whilst they go off to do their thing, and Starlight does everything in her power to delay the inevitable...
Totally not shoe-horning in a Starlight eats popcorn gif
... the mane six go off to see the baby.
And ohmygosh my favourite part has to be the baby. I know a lot of people didn't like her, and probably still don't, but she just stole the show for me. Everything she did was adorable from the very first moment that she was on screen, from the Pinkie-face hugging to the goos as she flies around the library destroying everything.
1. Did she destroy the castle? Possibly.
2. Did she endanger the entire crystal kingdom? ...maybe.
3. Did she look cute as fudge whilst doing it? Hell yeah she did.
So whilst they're trying to wrangle the baby she invariably ends up destroying the Crystal Heart and setting us up for Part 2!
Wait so do all Alicorns get the Canterlot Voice or something?
Without the Crystal Heart to protect them the Crystal Empire is at the mercy of the wild winter north and clouds immediately start rolling in to cover everything in snow.
Rainbow Dash simply scoffs at this and makes a move to go out and bust those insolent storm clouds into submission, but is quickly stopped by Celestia and warned that these are wild clouds. The weather up north acts of its own accord and attempting to use physical force on them would be futile.
Then she and Luna go out and to use physical force to keep the clouds at bay.
And now to condense the remaining 20 minutes into 2 sentences because I can't possibly recount everything without going ever so slightly insane 
Starlight manages to patch everything up with Sunburst (no help from Spike), and brings him in to repair the Crystal Heart. They put the pieces together and use the do the Crystalling ceremony to fix it. He also give Cadance a spell to curb the baby's magical outbursts, and everypony goes home happy. 
Oh, and the baby gets named. McFlurry Heart.
Overall I think it's a strong start to the new season. It's obvious that the writers have a clear direction they want to take the show in, with Twilight taking up the role of a mentor and having to teach Starlight all of her old lessons.
Given how the episode ends I get the feeling that the McFlurry Heart won't have much affect on how the show progresses besides being the first newborn Alicorn of Equestria. It's likely we won't even see her again until the end of the season [2].
The reuniting of Starlight and Sunburst was also touching and added a good bit of depth to her character. Something that was sorely lacking in the Season 5 finale.
In the end I'm going to give this episode a good/10, and minus 2 for the baby bait gives us a solid ok/10.
Bonus Notes:
I did plan a gag about Starlight being lost in the castle for ~40 minutes, but decided to cut it at the last minute for fear of disapproval.
[1] Did I mention she got a new mane style? She did. I like it. Much more distinct from Twilight's.
[2] Though I'd very gladly be wrong.
