Ranking the Applejack Episodes (From Worst to Best) · 8:20pm Feb 26th, 2019
Time to round out the original mane six roster with the only character to retain her name from the original drafts of the show, and sadly also the mane six member with the infamous reputation for being a "background pony" by fans. Apparently even Hasbro is having trouble with her, because there's talk of turning her into a bad girl from the wrong side of the tracks for G5. Naturally, given the fact that she tends to get the most throwaway episodes of the bunch, it's going to be difficult to rank them all. But I'm gonna try my best.
Applejack actually has a total of 25 episodes, putting her ahead of Rarity (Fluttershy is ironically the mane six member with the fewest amount of focus episodes). The same rules as all the previous rankings apply, my personal opinion is involved so please respect it, and we're considering how the episodes function as an Applejack episode and not just how they are overall. Plus, we're only counting episodes where Applejack clearly has a role and a presence in relation to the story, so episodes where she appears but doesn't contribute to the overall story or moral (such as "Family Appreciation Day" or "Appleloosa's Most Wanted") won't qualify.
25. Non-Compete Clause (Season 8, Episode 9)
Why it's on the bottom: Applejack has a lot of bad episodes as of the past few seasons, deciding which one was the worst of the bunch was a tough decision. But I think this one deserves to be in dead last because of the fact that it specifically acknowledges Applejack should be above this kind of competitive behavior. I can sort of buy it from Rainbow Dash (she's easily goaded) but not Applejack, especially not when it puts the students lives in danger and she does NOTHING about it! Applejack is always the most levelheaded of the group, so it takes a lot to expect us to believe she would stoop to the kind of lows we see here.
24. Honest Apple (Season 7, Episode 9)
Why it's not on the bottom: At least this episode tries to explain why Applejack would do the things she does. But I still absolutely refuse to buy the fact that she would tear up a contestant's dress right in front of them or say to Rarity's face that fashion is ridiculous. That isn't Applejack, that's Rainbow Dash masquardering as Applejack and doing a poor job at it! True, Applejack does eventually learn her lesson and apologize, but in order to do she has to kidnap the judges and the contestants and tie up the contestants! Who in their right mind would believe a word she says after that?!
23. Look Before You Sleep (Season 1, Episode 8)
Why it's in the bottom three: Applejack has a reason to be in this episode and it would make sense for her to butt heads with Rarity, but the arguing is not only childish but un-even. Aside from the beginning of the episode, every time there's an argument Applejack is clearly in the wrong. That makes it hard to truly sympathize with her character. Yes, she lives on a farm. But that doesn't mean she doesn't know the importance of washing your hooves before you come inside or chewing with your mouth closed. Farmers are not completely stupid, in fact farmers have a lot more direct knowledge about things like plants and animals than most people do (farmers are also usually more weatherwise since weather tends to affect them directly).
22. The Cart Before The Ponies (Season 6, Episode 15 in production order/14 in airdate)
Why it's so low: There's no excuse for Applejack's behavior in this episode. She knows by now that Apple Bloom once feared being kicked out of the family if her cutie mark wasn't apple related. So here she is, unintentionally throw gas onto that previously put out fire by taking over completely and telling Apple Bloom that she doesn't have a choice. It also doesn't make sense for her to be driving the cart, considering there's nothing unique or special about it. What keeps this from being lower is the fact that Applejack isn't the only one with bad behavior and the CMC could've and should've refused to even race the carts.
21. Applejack's "Day" Off (Season 6, Episode 11 in production order/10 in airdate)
Why it's in the bottom five: The Applejack on display in this episode is the result of a writer seeing "Family Appreciation Day" and deciding to make Applejack do similar crazy things but lacking any understanding as to why Granny Smith's strange ways worked. There was no reason at all for Applejack to fall into the routine she did. Once the fence was fixed and didn't squeak anymore there was no reason at all for her to add more steps to a routine that was just fine the way it had originally been. If the episode had begun with her doing all those crazy steps, then you could've at least handwaved it as her going crazy from working on the farm nonstop. The saddest thing is, this episode displayed a great opportunity for Applejack to get off the farm and define herself. She could've been employed by the spa to help with repairs and make sure things keep running smoothly. But of course that's all just thrown away on an episode that's all about wasting your time. And this is not the last Applejack focus episode to do that.
20. P.P.O.V (Pony Point of View) (Season 6, Episode 22)
Why it's not in the bottom five: Yes, Applejack is the only one who partially admits to having caused some of the problems on the voyage and she's the one we'd expect to be the most upset about it all. But it still makes no sense at all for her to think so poorly of her friends, especially Pinkie Pie who she is a distant cousin to (possibly). Applejack has to know that her friends aren't like that, and considering it's supposed to be a thing that she never lies the fact that she clearly does so makes zero sense. And since when was Applejack of all ponies the one to seek out adventure? It kind of feels like she was a last minute addition to the episode.
19. Where The Apple Lies (Season 6, Episode 23)
Why it's low: While it is nice that they established a framing device for the episode and showed us a younger Applejack, the entire episode is one big waste. It's the classic "Liar revealed" type of story we've seen over and over again, not just in the show but in fiction in general. The episode's beginning and end aren't even tied together, the flashback just comes into play suddenly and then it's not even connected to what Apple Bloom did in the pre-title sequence. But the biggest thing that renders this episode a waste is the lack of any sort of mention of the Apples' parents, to the point where the writers had to go on social media afterwards and state where they were (like they couldn't have just thrown in a line or two stating that fact).
18. Somepony to Watch Over Me (Season 4, Episode 17)
Why it's higher than it deserves to be: Even if one applies the "dead parents" angle to this episode (which appears to be the case now) it still makes very little sense for Applejack to get so overprotective of Apple Bloom to the extent she actually starts babying her sister over one accident. It's not OOC for her to worry about Apple Bloom so much, but it is definitely character exaggeration to make her feel like Apple Bloom is an idiot who can't do anything if Applejack isn't there to protect her. Yet what makes Applejack let her mane down and allow Apple Bloom more independence is the very thing that should in fact make her more concerned, Apple Bloom sneaking off and almost getting eaten by a chimera. But even then, all it would've taken to resolve the episode without a conflict was for Applejack to call up one of her other friends and have them check on Apple Bloom (Rarity or Pinkie Pie would probably be available).
17. Made in Manehattan (Season 5, Episode 17 in production order/16 in airdate)
Why it's not as low as it should be: The only thing anyone even remembers this episode for is Applejack losing her hat (which considering the episode directly below this one it probably isn't her original hat, I like to think she swaps out the original if she's going to be in environments where she can't guarantee the original's safety), which is really saying something when this is supposed to be a map mission between her and Rarity. The episode spends so much time trying to do something with Applejack, but it just wastes its time showing her out of her element and in over her head. The only scenes she actually contributes to are the group scenes when she's reigning in a dramatic Rarity and correcting a naive Coco.
16. Apple Family Reunion (Season 3, Episode 8)
Why it's in the bottom ten: Again, the "dead parents" angle could probably explain a little bit about why Applejack acts the way she does, but even then it doesn't completely make sense for her to be the one making these kind of mistakes. This episode is among the first ones to convey that the writers don't know what to do with Applejack and just throw her into whatever random scenario they can think of. At least she got to actually sing a song though, and the initial plot of her taking over reunion planning from Granny Smith was nice.
15. Sounds of Silence (Season 8, Episode 23)
Why it's in the middle: When the episode isn't focused on Autumn Blaze, it's trying (and failing) to make you care about Applejack's point of view. She gets so much focus compared to Fluttershy, but just about all of it is her trying to force things. She refuses to listen to Fluttershy, tries to force answers out of the kirin, and refuses to consider Fluttershy's point of view. If not for her befriending Autumn Blaze she would've contributed nothing at all to the episode. The only time she displays understanding is when she picks up on Autumn Blaze's hesitation about the silence spell the kirin have imposed on themselves, and that's right before the song.
14. Hearthbreakers (Season 5, Episode 20)
Why it's not higher: Applejack basically admits to what she should've done all along, and thus when she resorts to the drastic option of taking over the Pie family's traditions and imposing her own it becomes hard to sympathize with her. She was really the only one who at all didn't like the way the Pie family was celebrating, and the rest of the Apple family were trying their best to get along. Heck, Granny Smith for some reason knew of the significance of Houlder's Boulder and yet she never told Applejack that because there wouldn't be a plot otherwise. Even at the beginning Applejack back hoofedly scoffs at the way Twilight and Spike celebrate Hearth's Warming because it's not the way she does it.
13. Bats! (Season 4, Episode 7)
Why it's not in the top twelve: Really, Applejack was completely in the right to want to rid the orchard of the vampire fruit bats. They were directly threatening her crops and her family's way of life. But the episode insists on painting her as in the wrong for doing so, suggesting that Fluttershy (who can't talk to the bats and get them to cooperate) is right. In fact, this is an episode that should've featured her family and not the mane six, but they're all written out. And the sacrifice Applejack makes wasn't within her rights to do so (she didn't grow the apple herself).
12. Leap of Faith (Season 4, Episode 21 in production order/20 in airdate)
Why it's in the top twelve: It is an interesting moral dilemma that Applejack is presented with here. She could tell the truth and risk ruining Granny Smith's happiness, or she could keep quiet but risk Granny Smith pushing herself and getting hurt. The problem is that they never really show how Applejack's honesty could be a bad thing, because it's her lack of honesty that causes problems (and even then it's Flim and Flam are who using her honesty against her, not Applejack herself). And considering what happened with "It Ain't Easy Being Breezies" this episode's moral makes Applejack come across as pretentious and judgemental. She never truly has to make a tough decision, because by the time she comes clean Granny Smith has already endangered herself and Applejack of course isn't going to risk another incident.
11. The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 (Season 2, Episode 15)
Why it's in the top half: It's really not Applejack's fault that the episode is so bad in my book. In fact I appreciate her commitment to playing by the rules even if it means she doesn't win, despite knowing what's at stake. Really, the problem is that she and her family have terrible business practices that the episode blatantly ignores, and they never try to negotiate a better deal with Flim and Flam. But when Granny Smith wagers the farm in a cider making contest, Applejack just stands there and lets it happen rather than tell Granny to reconsider.
10. Pinkie Apple Pie (Season 4, Episode 9)
Why it's in the top ten: It's fitting that this episode would be about family, because family is a big part of Applejack's character. What makes it work is that we see Applejack's connections with each of her family members, and it shows that her signature stubbornness may be a necessary tool for survival in a family that can be just as hot headed sometimes. Through it all though she tries her best to grin and bear it, but she's willing to admit her family isn't perfect. I can't put it any higher though since Applejack is sharing the spotlight with quite a few other characters.
9. Spike at Your Service (Season 3, Episode 9)
Why it's in not in the top ten: In terms of an Applejack episode it's actually pretty good. It's a conflict that Applejack would reasonably have (trying to tell someone that she doesn't want them serving her, but afraid to hurt their feelings and make them feel like they're not helpful). Yes, it's well known by now that it was originally going to be a Rarity episode but Meghan McCarthy had it changed to Applejack when she thought Rarity came across as too mean. It's not known if that change made the episode better or worse and we probably never will know. Once again, Applejack displays saint like patience even when Spike is causing her trouble (albeit indirectly).
8. The Last Roundup (Season 2, Episode 14)
Why it's not higher: It's easy to forget that this is an Applejack episode, not just because of the Derpgate controversy but also because Pinkie Pie absolutely steals the spotlight in every single scene she's in. And not only do we see Applejack try to weasel her way out of a promise she made, but also find out that just because she didn't win any prize money she was willing to run away from home and abandon her family without even asking them if they were okay with it. Yeah, we do get memorable scenes such as the homage to I Love Lucy and the chase scene towards the end. And it's understandable why Applejack would get annoyed with her friends for pestering her about something she doesn't want to talk about. It's also a shame that until "Appleloosa's Most Wanted" this is the last we'd see of Applejack's rodeo career (and when it reappeared it was in an episode so poorly written that we never saw it again).
7. Fall Weather Friends (Season 1, Episode 13)
Why it's so high: At least Applejack is willing to admit she tripped and fell. Applejack embodies what it means to be a good sport and a good loser. In fact I find it odd that she's the only one who at all took issue with Rainbow Dash's blatant cheating in the Iron Pony Competition when Rainbow wasn't trying to hide it. All in all it's just a good grudge match between her and Rainbow Dash that evolved into a friendly rivalry for future episodes. It's really saying something when the show has tried twice to unsuccessfully recreate the mojo of this episode.
6. Sisterhooves Social (Season 2, Episode 5)
Why it's not in the top five: We're getting into the really good stuff here, folks. And not surprisingly just about all of the ones appearing so high on the list are the ones where Applejack is sharing the spotlight with somepony else. She really and truly is at her best when she can play off of someone else. However, she doesn't come into play in this episode until a good chunk of the episode. And even then it's clear that she's not the one who needs to learn a lesson, Rarity is. What makes this her episode is how she helps Rarity to learn that lesson. Though you have to wonder if it was really necessary for Applejack to hold her breath that long, as opposed to just slipping out of the mud and walking away when nopony was looking.
5. Simple Ways (Season 4, Episode 13)
Why it's in the top five: The back and forth between Applejack and Rarity is hilarious and a joy to watch, but it takes a while to get to it. Prior to that the spotlight is mostly on Rarity, with Applejack just being on the receiving end of Trenderhoof's advances. And yet despite her best efforts, he can't take the hint that she's not into him. Perhaps the biggest boost to this episode is that it reminds us that Applejack does in fact get fashion. She can dress up and act fancy if necessary, and in this case she's doing it to remind Rarity of who she is.
4. The Perfect Pear (Season 7, Episode 13)
Why it's not in the top three: This episode is all about the Apple parents and how they met and fell in love. That's not to say Applejack and the rest of the Apple siblings don't have a role to play though, because they do. In fact it's Applejack who takes it upon herself to confront Grand Pear and find out why he came back to Ponyville from Vanhoover. We also get hints of how both her parents affected her upbringing. From her dad she got her appreciation and reputation for honesty, and from her mom she got her love of music. It's all implied though, we never get to see the Apple parents be actual parents.
3. Viva Las Pegasus (Season 6, Episode 20)
Why it's in the top three: It would've been easy to make Applejack in the wrong for not considering the Flim Flam brothers a friendship problem and to make the episode all about her refusing to trust them at all. But it instead took the high route, treating her bad blood with the Flim Flam brothers properly and even showing that the map specifically planned for it so as to have her uncover the true friendship problems. Yet even after it's clear that getting Flim and Flam back together is necessary to take down Gladmane, Applejack still isn't completely on board with it. The only thing to hold against her is the whole "You never lie" thing, it's a plot point that feels very arbitrary considering we have seen Applejack lie before.
2. The Mane Attraction (Season 5, Episode 24)
Why it's not number one: As great as Applejack is in this episode, it's her being used as a proper straight man character. While it shows how her stubbornness can be both a blessing and a curse, the true focus is on Rara a.k.a Countess Coloratura and her manager Svengallop. The spotlight is on Applejack but it's clear the one who needs to learn a lesson is Coloratura herself. Applejack is largely there so the audience has someone to relate to in the conflict, and to uncover Svengallop's bullying ways. Applejack doesn't really learn anything new in this episode, it's more a showcase of her character in a supporting role that just happens to have the spotlight shined on it.
1. Applebuck Season (Season 1, Episode 4)'
Why it's on the top: It's really saying something when Applejack's very first outing as a character is considered her best. In her first outing she overcomes her single greatest character flaw, her stubbornness. Because she overcomes that flaw so early into the show's run the writers already face the problem of how they're going to give her conflicts now that she can no longer be goaded into doing things. This episode is all about Applejack taking on more than she can handle and refusing to admit she needs help, even as she causes more and more problems for everyone around her. It's also one of the episodes that showcases how much her voice has changed, in Season 1 and early Season 2 it was basically just Ashliegh Ball's Rainbow Dash voice with a Southern twang, whereas by the end of Season it had deepened to become what it is now. All the other strong Applejack episodes are ones that aren't focused directly on her or have her sharing the spotlight directly with someone else. This is the only time where she's in the spotlight directly and doing a good job. So for those reasons I'm putting this episode at number one.
And there you have it, come back tomorrow when we'll rank the Spike episodes.
My personal ranking:
Where the Apple Lies
The Mane Attraction
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
The Last Roundup
Applejack’s “Day” Off
Applebuck Season
Apple Family Reunion
Leap of Faith
If I were to include Non-Compete Clause, I'd actually put it just above Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
5020417 Exactly why is "Where the Apple Lies" number one?
5020435
Because I feel like it's a rather believable explanation as to why AJ is the way she is now (even taking into account discrepancies between how the episode presents her and how we've seen her in other episodes).
Plus it's just a lot of fun.
Even though AJ is my favorite pony, she deserved episodes that were more decent.