Best (and Worst) of Season 8 · 7:32am Oct 23rd, 2018
Another season in the bag, let's see what I liked best (and least) about it!
Best New Character
Gallus
While a part of me is tempted to put the entire Student Six forward, I went ahead and finally thought about which one of them I liked best. Gallus inched out a win over the other five. His motivations in Hearth's Warming Club were especially touching.
(Runner-up: Yona)
Best Song
A Kirin Tale
A Kirin Tale wins because it's simply one of the best moral lessons in the entire show; you have to take the good with the bad, and deal with the bad in healthy ways that don't harm others.
(Runner-up: Friendship Always Wins)
Most Unexpected Moment
Spike's Wings
Early on in the show's run, it was speculated that if Spike kept his greed under control, he'd theoretically remain a baby dragon for his natural lifespan. Then as the years passed, MLP's dragon lore got refined a bit, and we got what is, personally, the best Spike episode yet, a great coming of age story where dragon and pony culture once again clashed.
Hardest Heartstrings Puller
Gallus' Confession
Probably the most touching scene this season. Not only was it great character development for Gallus, it also sadly showed that Gilda's and Gabby's efforts to change griffon culture have been largely ineffective so far.
Best Face
Starlight and the Empathy Cocoa
I am thoroughly convinced Starlight has liquor in one of her desk drawers to put a little more empathy into her cocoas.
Best Background Gag
Rick and Morty in 'Grannies Gone Wild'
I know just enough about Rick and Morty that I'm fully aware that the show isn't for me, that you certainly don't need a high IQ to understand it, that its fanbase is rabid for szechuan sauce, and that Rick Sanchez is probably capable of making a portal to Equestria to ride a roller coaster in Las Pegasus.
Cutest Character
Cozy Glow
Now before I'm accused of heresy, I'd like to clarify; I'm genuinely curious if as many fans would have seen Cozy coming if Season 8 wasn't plagued with all the leaks we had here. An absolutely fucked worldwide airing schedule meant that even if you were only marginally involved in this eight-year old online fanbase, avoiding spoilers was a rather challenging endeavor.
Rumors are still going strong that Season 9 will be Friendship is Magic's last, and I doubt we've seen the last of this psychopathic filly... If she really is a pony, I'm not 100% convinced of that yet.
Worst Episode
Non-Compete Clause
Just continues to prove that if there's an award at stake, imaginary or otherwise, Applejack and Rainbow should not have anyone under their watch. Ever.
The Student Six saved what little could be salvaged from this train wreck, using their ingenuity to learn a friendship lesson completely by accident. Rainbow and AJ learned nothing as they continued bickering as we faded to the credits.
Worst Character (Or Perhaps Best Antagonist)
Sludge
Alright, I mean this in the best possible way, because if you create a character to be hated, and the fans react accordingly, then you absolutely did your job. The freeloading, lying slob inches one out over the xenophobic Chancellor. Because his song also fucking sucked.
(Runner-up: Chancellor Neighsay)
So what say all of you? Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments!
Chancellor Neighysay was quite a bigot, the last episode did a good job of tripping him up and realising how stupid his mindset was. In fact I think Cozy was meant to be Chyrsalis at some point but they changed it to better fit the moral of the season.
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I think everyone was thinking Chrysalis because that was the first animatic we were shown of Season 8.
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Um I didn't see that animatic
This. All of this. I agree 100%
120% totally agreed.
Pretty good list for the most part. I'm actually curious why Yona is runner up for best new character. I like her and she's adorable, but she didn't get nearly the same development that Gallus got in "The Hearth's Warming Club" or Silverstream got in "What Lies Beneath" with her fear of the Storm King.
If you ask me, the worst episode of season 8 was "A Matter of Principals" for destroying any likability Discord had, but that's just my opinion. Other than that, I can respectfully agree that Sludge needs to just hide in a gemless cave and die alone.
That, and the rest of the list is pretty good as well.
Well when it comes to the best new character, I have to go with Yona. She is absolutely adorable and I have grown to like the yaks a lot since "Party Pooped." For runner up I'd have to say Autumn Blaze. It is a shame that this will likely be the only time we ever see her.
Worst character: Sludge easily. Neighsay is an asshole but he isn't completely useless like Sludge is. I'll be honest, I think Sludge is far worse than Svengallop and he truly is an awful character.
Now I didn't exactly hate any of the episodes in this season but Non-Compete Clause did seem weaker than the others. Only once have I ever truly hated an episode and that was "Uncommon Bond" in season seven.
A Kirin Tale was a great episode, along with a great song....and yes Cozy Glow is adorable.
Now regarding Spike, I wasn't expecting that either. Poor Spike in the end though, Rarity taking advantage of him.
I don't think I'd really argue with that list tbh. Pretty much spot on.