Season VI Review

I have been really busy with the holidays and so there has been zero progress on At Twilight since I posted the first two chapters. My apologies for that. I hope to get chapter 3 done shortly (January/February) into the New Year. Until then, please have this season overview after the break. Or return to your scheduled silence if you don't care.

For those who are new here, this is just a quick look back at the previous season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It's meant to give my impressions of the season over all rather than any major, specific topics or points of discussion. As such, this post is usually a little lacking in terms of comedic value, so if you don't care about my thoughts, then this would be the time to leave.

~Episodes~

Opening Episode: The Crystalling

Of all the premiers I have seen from this show, I would have to say this one was one of the weaker ones that I have seen. Given that it centers around a new addition to the Royal Couple of Shining Armour and Princess Cadance (both of whom are still not much better than cardboard yet), it tends to carry a "babies make everything worse" vibe as said newborn is the cause of the crisis in the first place. Coupled with a boring "mutual avoidance of the truth by old buddies" B-Plot and you have a recipe for bland. The only exception to this we see is that Celestia and Luna are actually ACTIVE for once and, while only able to minimally stall the onslaught of nature, still manage to contribute to the solution in the end. FUCKING FINALLY!!! It's still better than Elements of Harmony from season one though.

Noteworthy Episodes

Gauntlet of Fire

A Spike Episode that doesn't suck, we were also introduced to our first-ever not-spike, not dickbag dragon character in Ember; daughter of (former) Dragon Lord Torch and friend to shippers everywhere who were weirded out by inter-species Spike pairings. We learned a fair bit about dragons and their (lack of) governance and succession. While that might not sound exciting, making them all literally RUN for office was a nice change of pace as they had to outwit, outlast and outplay their rivals (and no, I haven't watched Survivor since season 2).

Newbie Dash

Rainbow Dash achieves her life-long ambition of becoming a full-fledged Wonderbolt... and then promptly makes an ASS out of herself when an old nickname is dug out and makes her feel inadequate and thirsty to prove them all wrong, which only makes things worse. Probably the most controversial episode of the season, many called the actions of the Wonderbolts bullying while others, myself included, saw it as merely a coincidence and a call to something that happens in real life all the time with militaristic units. This episode shows us that, no matter how far we come, there is always a bit of growing up to do.

The Saddle Row Review

Rarity opens her third boutique, this time in the heart of downtown Manehattan to a rave review. This episode is remarkable in the way the story is told through flashbacks, but not in any sort of obnoxious ways as well as very candid and in-character viewpoints on how the same event transpired to their eyes. It's a fun little character-driven episode with plenty of memorable moments for all involved; even the incidental characters. A brief appearance from Coco Pommel (... or MISS POMMEL as she has to be called because Coco Channel is an uptight b***) is always a welcome addition to any Manehattan episode.

Stranger than Fanfiction

The fact that Daring Do and A.K. Yearling are the same pony, and both exist in the world of Equestria never really went anywhere after it was first revealed in Season Four. However, if this is the sort of episode we can expect from this, than I welcome it. Rainbow Dash meets up with an equally fanboyish stallion named Quibble Pants, but they row with each other when they are disgusted by each others mutual tastes in the books they like. Eventually, after an adventure with Daring, they come to accept one another's preferences and agree to disagree, but in a friendly manner. I can't help but feel that this episode was an ever so slight and loving jab at the older adult fanbase for the show, and fandoms in general. I've never been to a convention or a meetup or anything, but I don't doubt that the staff took inspiration from the BronyCons and GalaCons etc when crafting the backgrounds.

The Times they are a Changeling

Motherbuzzing Thorax. I could say just that and most people would know what I mean. But just for the sake of it, in this episode, Spike befriends a rogue changeling named Thorax who abandoned his hive after the events of A Canterlot Wedding and was drawn to The Crystal Empire by the love the crystal ponies have for Flurry Heart. It's an episode about prejudice and overcoming it for the sake of greater understanding and friendship. We also learn a little bit about changelings, and it leads into the finale.

Dungeons and Discords

Any episode with Discord/John DeLance is a noteworthy episode. The energy and fun he brings to the show in his role is infectious and always a blast to watch and this is no different. This is also the first/only episode of the series to focus nearly exclusively on male characters! In this one, Spike, Big Mac and Discord are put together for a 'guys night' only their ideas on what a guys night is are radically different from one another. Spike and Mac want to stay in and play a DnD analog called "Ogres and Oubliettes". Eventually, after much bickering, they come together and have fun, using the game and a bit of discord's talents.

Every Little Thing She Does

Friendship is Mind Control shows us that even after lots of progress is made, someone can still regress if they find an easier solution to something. Starlight Glimmer, after falling behind on her friendship lessons, decides to do them all at once, but uses a little mind control when things start to get out of hoof. This, naturally, makes a big problem even worse, espeically when Twilight subverts a common trope and returns home before the problem is fixed. Of course, everything is made right in the end, but that doesn't stop this episode from being an enjoyable ride along the way.

Closing Episode: To Where and Back Again

Same as last season, we end off on an interesting high note as all the heavy hitting characters are simultaneously kidnapped and replaced by an old foe: Chrysalis and the Changelings. Queen Bug-a-boo makes a grand and threatening return and the only ones standing in her way is a rag-tag group of reformed villains lead by the reluctant Starlight Glimmer. Together, they infiltrate the hive, show the Changelings that sharing is caring and overthrow a despot while putting Thorax in charge as king! Although, it makes me feel kind of mad to see the mane six reduced to the level of damsels in distress along with Sunbutt and Moona who reprise their roles are useless once more. *Sighs* I guess Starlight learning that being a leader is okay is worth it... for now.

~Characters~

This season a whole swath of characters were added, mostly incidental, but most of them memorable nonetheless. From Thorax and Gabby the Griffon to Saffron Masala and her father Corrander to the dynamic duo of Sky Stinger and Vapour Trail, this season introduced a lot of memorable and unique side characters into the show lore. Even villains and antagonists returning and new got some much deserved love with the likes of the Flim Flam Brothers, Garble, Zesty Gourmand, Gladmane and Dr. Caballeron. Although they may not have been given more depth than they may have last season, it's still nice to see creative, unique new characters get their moments in the spotlight. I hope several of the ones I have listed, and many others that I have not, come back in future seasons and, perhaps, get some room to grow.

~Songs~

Outside of the season's musical episode, I was rather surprised by the apparent lack of songs. Apparently Daniel Ingram has been working on the Movie so that could explain the dearth in music this season, even if it is of great quality. All-in-all, not counting reprises, there are only 8 songs this season, meaning for my top five I only needed to cut three of the A Hearth's Warming Tale's (said musical episode) songs to make a proper list. With that said, here are my Top Five Songs of Season Six!

Keep in mind, this list is horribly biased to my own personal tastes.

5) Out On My Own

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4) Say Goodbye to the Holiday

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3) Can I do It On My Own?

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2) Luna's Future

1) It's Gonna Work

[youtube=RU7wZhqjgKk]

~Animation~

Every season, the animation staff at DHX and Top Draw do an amazing job improving their craft and creating new and inventive ways of bringing scenes together. It's a little hard to compliments them further at this point. At the end of every seasons, I like to go back and watch just any random season one episode and I can say that season six is almost indistinguishable from the first (well, for a number of reasons, but animation is the first obvious one). So, kudos, folks! I look forward to seeing what the future holds and hope for some more creative, inventive cinematography!

~Conclusion~

Season Five, I call the Platinum Season since it set a new bar in terms of overall quality and story. While my arbitrary ratings put season six above season five by a marginal amount, I would not say it's better than the previous. If anything, I would say they are the same quality wise. They just do things a touch differently. Like I said, this season was one of expanding the cast of the series, even if marginally. While I don't think Starlight Glimmer will be in the Mane Cast next season, I wouldn't say no to seeing more of her, or Thorax or any of the other characters we've met this season. Although... I will always be waiting for my Celestia/Royal Sisters Episode. Until then, I guess I will have to make do with what we have and hold out for Season Seven.

Overall, adding up all my arbitrary scores together, I would rate Season Six a whopping 840/1000! It had a great Spike Episode, added a bunch of new and fun characters/villains to the mix, brought back Queen Bug-a-boo and didn't have her be as BIG of a gigantic moron and made changelings/Thorax somehow seem adorable. Jury is still out on their 'reformed' designs though. Sadly, I feel some of the mane six, especially Twilight, were given the shaft in terms of any development or screen time. Ah well.

So, next time is going to be my New Year's post, but, after that, I want to try and get out chapter three of the new story. Or, I might finally bite the bullet and review EQG: Friendship Games if only for adorkable Human Twilight. *Shrug* Until then, this is Ciroton saying "2016 is going to be known as the 'Game of Thrones' year with it's celebrity body count. Rest in Peace, Carrie Fisher."

Comments

[lordofmyth]

tis a good season, it was.

also yeah, i sooo want a celly and lulu episode >_<.... though while they make em useless so many times, they always try to go with a means that both is of a considerable extreme to subdue them, and often they cannot be repeated.
same this time around. something that absorbs any magic cast, that is not of a certain type, would definitely put a stop to many powerful beings. and the destruction of the device prevents anypony from just doing it again.

have hopes for season 7 when it comes out......... expecting that the opener might have to do with miss cuddlebaby the destroyer, also known as flurry heart.
with starlight, thorax, and flurry, they either had to somehow combine all three together or just two. and i think they made the right choice with just thorax and starlight.........

also chrysalis plan was terrible XD. true she would sitll have the ponies captive, but there is no way anyone would fall for those dopplegangers for long. hell in the crystal north their plot was already falling to pieces. ponyvilel would not last very long, especially when the animals maul not fluttershy. and i would just LOVE to see the desperation of whatever changeling imitating celestia would be in to not get caught XD.