Ranking the CMC Episodes (From Worst to Best)

The CMC weren't even originally going to be in the show, they were supposed to star in their own spin-off series per Lauren Faust's wishes, but Hasbro shot the idea down in favor of the CMC appearing in the show. Now, eight seasons (soon going on to nine) later that decision seems to have been a wise one. In fact, I'd say the CMC have for the most part gotten off better compared to the mane six and Spike, though there has definitely been an issue of the show not knowing what exactly it wants to do with them now that they've gotten their cutie marks.

This list is going to be a little bit different, there are a total of 30 CMC episodes (which are defined as episodes where they contribute to the story and/or are crucial to the moral, so episodes like "Just for Sidekicks", "Campfire Tales", and "The Break Up Break Down" will not qualify) but we're going to split them into a few different categories. There's CMC group episodes, in which the CMC as a trio are the focus. And then there are three individual episode categories, one for each CMC member (Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo). So first we're going to rank the episodes in those separate categories, and then we'll quickly put them all together at the end (trying to explain how all 31 episodes end up where they do would get repetitive really fast). As always, this list is purely the result of my personal opinion so please respect it.

We'll start with the CMC group episodes, there are a total of 14 episodes that qualify as group episodes (meaning that half of the CMC's focus episodes are actually focused on them as a group).

14. Stare Master (Season 1, Episode 17)
Why it's on the bottom: I know that the CMC are child characters and children don't always think things through the way adults do, but they are not stupid and unconcerned for their own safety. In fact, most children tend to trust the word of grown-ups when they say not to do something or go somewhere. Here, the CMC are completely ungrateful to Fluttershy and just run rampent with no remorse. Their antics are supposed to be cute and endearing, but they come across more as annoying. The real kicker is how beyond stupid they are. When Fluttershy tells them a cockatrice has the head of a chicken and they see two chicken heads pop up in a bush, they don't think anything of it. But in the end what gets them to behave is not anything Fluttershy does, they're just impressed by her stare.

13. The Show Stoppers (Season 1, Episode 18)
Why it's not on the bottom: "They can NOT be this stupid!" - Mr.Enter. That pretty much sums up the entire episode, the CMC are completely oblivious to what's right in front of them. And we the audience knowing what their special talents are supposed to be doesn't make the CMC missing the obvious funny, it makes the whole episode a chore to get through. What's even worse is that they completely gloss over a much better episode idea, the CMC fixing up the old clubhouse. And to top it all off, when the CMC eventually did get their cutie marks they were not at all related to the talents they displayed in this episode.

12. Appleloosa's Most Wanted (Season 5, Episode 6)
Why it's in the bottom three: At first this episode tries to be a rehash of the tired old "Gotta find our cutie marks" plot that the CMC had begun to move on from as early as Season 2. When it finally drops that in favor of them helping Troubleshoes, the episode delves right into the realm of "Unfortunate Implications" by trying to explain luck and implying that some people are just born to be laughed at. But while the CMC get punished for what they did to help Troubleshoes, no one else gets any punishment at all for not keeping a better eye on them.

11. Marks for Effort (Season 8, Episode 12)
Why it's so low: While the CMC do eventually get better (to the point where we the audience sympathize completely with them when Twilight becomes OOC for the sake of shoehorning in a conflict) they start out the episode kind of unfavorably and unlikeable. When they're not allowed to get into Twilight's School of Friendship they start doing all kinds of selfish things to try and get in: Shirking their chores, pleading nonstop to their big sisters, blabbing secrets about their big sisters that they promised not to share, even staging a fight that is predictably poorly acted. After that though, the focus shifts to the CMC helping Cozy Glow and not much else really happens. Even the CMC becoming friendship counselors at the school ends up amounting to nothing in the grand scheme of things. When they're next a part of the school they're just so Cozy Glow can lock them in a broom closet, despite the synopsis implying that the CMC were gonna help save the day (and what was so wrong with it being a CMC/Student Six finale, I would like to know?).

10. One Bad Apple (Season 3, Episode 4)
Why it's in the bottom five: More like one bad episode, right? It's not entirely the CMC's fault what happens here, though this episode loses points for going the predictable route of "telling makes you a tattletale" that we've seen so many times before. But when the CMC finally decide to take any sort of action against Babs Seed for bullying them, they're painted as being just as in the wrong even though Babs has already been bullied at home and Applejack never told the CMC this fact. And then the episode destroys its intended moral about how telling an adult will make everything okay, because it shows Applejack doing nothing in the face of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's bad behavior.

9. On Your Marks (Season 6, Episode 4)
Why it's in the top ten: Like the CMC itself this episode kind of drifts about aimlessly for a while with no clear direction. It isn't until it decides it wants to be about the CMC doing things on their own that it really starts to pick up. The bit towards the end where Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle help Apple Bloom with Tender Taps is nice, but even then it probably would've been better to see the focus on them instead of Apple Bloom considering her plot didn't go anywhere until roughly the third act or so.

8. The Cart Before The Ponies (Season 6, Episode 15 in production order/14 in airdate)
Why it's higher than it deserves to be: It's not the CMC's fault this episode leaves a bad taste in your mouth, they're just along for the ride like we are. But at no point do they try to stick up for what they want, go to Cheerilee, or even flat out refuse to race in the carts their big sisters have rigged up. Where the episode ends is kind of where it should've begun, really. An entire episode centered around the derby race would've been so much more enjoyable.

7. The Fault in Our Cutie Marks (Season 6, Episode 9 in production order/19 in airdate)
Why it's in the top half: Even though Scootaloo sort of takes the leadership position here the focus is still very much on the CMC as a group. Yes, they do parallel Gabby's struggle to Scootaloo's (wanting something that may not be possible and refusing to give up despite the odds), but the CMC are still very much a group here. In this case they're serving as a role model and a mentor for Gabby. Gabby herself is kind of polarizing, at times you can really relate to her and at other times she can get kind of grating.

6. Marks and Recreation (Season 7, Episode 22 in production order/21 in airdate)
Why it's not in the top five: I still can't stretch my suspension of disbelief enough to believe that the CMC would be able to run a camp all by themselves with no adult supervision, especially considering some of the things they're doing (archery and canoeing) and I don't think it would've taken much to use one of the CMC's big sisters or even Fluttershy or Starlight as a helper/supervisor. Plus, Rumble isn't exactly being subtle about being bad, so when the CMC find out that's what he's been doing it sorts of come across as them not noticing the obvious. And it's ultimately Thunderlane who really comes in to help them solve the problem (and more or less become the supervisor), not that the CMC weren't trying before.

5. Twilight Time (Season 4, Episode 15 in production order)
Why it's in the top five: You're never too old to have a bad idea, and this episode is living proof of it. It marked the first signs of maturation for the CMC, physically and mentally (they had arguably started to sound a bit older in "Flight to the Finish" but I think it was here that it started becoming obvious). This is also when Sweetie Belle began to take interest in magic, something she hadn't really done up to this point in the show. The CMC's decisions feel reasonable here, and Twilight makes a good mentor for them. But the episode suffers from one glaring problem, it's contrived to set the CMC up for failure at the worst possible moment.

4. The Cutie Mark Chronicles (Season 1, Episode 23)
Why it's not in the top three: I ultimately consider this to be more of a CMC episode since they're the ones who set the story into motion and set out to try and learn. In fact there's really not much of a moral here, the episode kind of hastily throws one in at the very end and even admits it's pretty cheesy. The CMC get some good banter in in between the stories, though Scootaloo's thick headedness that was supposed to be meta comes across as annoying.

3. Ponyville Confidential (Season 2, Episode 23)
Why it's in the top three: It would've been easy to hate the CMC for what they do here, especially once their gossip column starts getting out of control. But the episode does a good job of keeping them relateable, showing that they do feel kind of bad about it and do try at least twice to back out of it. By showing us the CMC's thought process we see things from their perspective, which is probably why the scene where everyone in town turns on them is so hard to watch. It's because we the audience know the towns ponies don't. Plus, compared to previous endevors, the CMC actually stick to this one for a while instead of just giving up when they don't get their cutie marks right away from it.

2. Hearts and Hooves Day (Season 2, Episode 17)
Why it's not on the top: This was the first time the CMC did something without it tying into cutie marks somehow. They're just trying to play matchmaker for Cheerilee the only way they know how. And when they realize their mistake they do their best to try and correct it and solve it on their own. The only issue I have is that the love poison recipe never should've been in the book to begin with. Of course the CMC had no way to know the potion was going to work too well, there was never anything to indicate that was the case. But like Scootaloo put it, their hearts and hooves were in the right place.

1. Crusaders of the Lost Mark (Season 5, Episode 19 in production order/18 in airdate)
Why it's on the top: Really, how could I not put this episode in the number one spot? Not only did the CMC get their cutie marks in this episode but they also proved to be the bigger ponies in this situation, willing to help out Diamond Tiara even after all she'd put them through and done to them over the years. They in fact act not unlike shoulder angels for Diamond, trying to steer her down the right path and keep her from succumbing to her inner demons. Them getting their cutie marks is just the icing on the cake, but where one journey ends another begins.

Now it's on to the Apple Bloom episodes, there's a total of 10 episodes featuring her including 2 from before the CMC were established.

10. The Cutie Pox (Season 2, Episode 6)
Why it's on the bottom: Apple Bloom's depression comes right out of nowhere and gets hastily resolved. But the biggest problem is that this episode is crammed full of filler and scenes that drag on and on for way too long. The tacked on moral about patience gets completely thrown out the window not even five minutes after it is established, which raises the question of why they even bothered to bring it up.

9. Bridle Gossip (Season 1, Episode 9)
Why it's not on the bottom: A great deal of this episode never would've happened had Apple Bloom simply kept her mouth shut and not wandered away. What's even worse is that she leaves Applejack in her shrunken state in the middle of the Everfree Forest without even a promise to come back for her. And yet somehow she manages to befriend Zecora and learns of what she needs, all because even Twilight suddenly starts believing in curses. It's actually kind of a shame that Apple Bloom never hung out with Zecora more often, particularly with her potion making skills that were hinted at in "Twilight Time" and then only once or twice eluded to again.

8. Family Appreciation Day (Season 2, Episode 11 in production order/12 in airdate)
Why it's in the bottom three: There's a really big contrivence in the room that brings this episode down. The pony who makes Apple Bloom start questioning her grandmother and start considering her an embarrassment, is Diamond Tiara. The same Diamond Tiara who's been shown to clearly be bullying Apple Bloom over her blank flank. So why would Apple Bloom believe the pony who's been bullying her? Wouldn't it make more sense for one of her friends to implant the idea? Then of course the episode is spent on Granny Smith being an embarrassing grand parent until the very end, when we learn that she has her reasons. That's when Apple Bloom actually starts to do something, standing up for her grandmother when Diamond Tiara berates her.

7. Somepony to Watch Over Me (Season 4, Episode 17)
Why it's in the bottom five: For most of the episode, Apple Bloom is on the receiving end of Applejack's character derailment and exaggeration, to the point where she's being babied by Applejack despite pleading with her big sister to stop. And what was Apple Bloom's crime that warranted her having to suffer all this? Nothing. She'd already taken care of all her chores and responsibilities. And we find out later that Applejack could've easily gotten any of her friends to check up on Apple Bloom. Yet when Apple Bloom decides to sneak out and do the pie delivery on her own (and nearly gets eaten as a result) that is somehow what warrants Applejack not to be so overprotective of her.

6. Bloom and Gloom (Season 5, Episode 4)
Why it's not in the top five: This is a dream episode that takes the longest to reveal itself as a dream episode. Meanwhile, although Apple Bloom's fears are justified it's hard to tell whether anything truly makes sense within the nature of her dreams or if any of this at all existed before. Plus, Applejack could've at least tried to consul Apple Bloom and reassure her that her worries were unfounded. Plus, the episode suffers from abruptly discarding Babs Seed and raising a lot of questions it isn't prepared to answer.

5. On Your Marks (Season 6, Episode 4)
Why it's in the top five: It shifts to an Apple Bloom episode roughly halfway through, and it kind of proves that Apple Bloom can't hold the spotlight on her own as a result. She spends a good deal of time just moping around, trying everything and anything and getting distraught when it doesn't pan out. Then it changes things up by introducing Tender Taps and the dance school, yet even then they make it obvious it's a cutie mark problem. It's a shame too, because if they'd invested more time in this it'd probably be easier to get invested.

4. Pinkie Apple Pie (Season 4, Episode 9)
Why it's not in the top three: It's easy to forget that Apple Bloom is part of the episode when there's so many other characters already sharing it and the focus is mostly between Pinkie Pie and Applejack. What makes this an Apple Bloom episode is the concept of family, which is just as important to Apple Bloom as it is to Applejack. And I think it's safe to say she's the one who got along the easiest with Pinkie Pie, largely because they're both playful and cheerful. But of course, there is the "licious" rhyme which dates Apple Bloom's presence just a little.

3. The Perfect Pear (Season 7, Episode 13)
Why it's in the top three: Apple Bloom is the one who kicks the plot into motion for this episode, she's the first one to meet Grand Pear and the one who brings home the pear jam, not to mention the one who asks why the Apples and the Pears have a feud in the first place if Grand Pear was so nice. With the introduction of Bright Macintosh and Pear Butter, we see that Apple Bloom got her dad's coat colors and her mom's sense of helping others discovery their destiny. When all is said and done, Apple Bloom is the one who tells Grand Pear that nothing's keeping him from being with his grand kids.

2. Brotherhooves Social (Season 5, Episode 18 in production order/17 in airdate)
Why it's not on the top: Yes, it's really more of a Big Macintosh episode than an Apple Bloom episode. And especially early on Apple Bloom gets kind of irritating and annoying. Even if she looks up to Applejack more than Big Macintosh, she's acting like this is the first her sister's ever been called away for something important or that this is the first time she'll miss a Sisterhooves Social because of it (even though we already know there's one she missed out on). What helps to make up for it is the ending, when she tells Big Mac that she's proud of him no matter what and that she admires the fact that he was willing to go to such great lengths just to compete with her. That's a really touching moment.

1. Call of the Cutie (Season 1, Episode 12)
Why it's on the top: A.k.a the pilot for the CMC spin-off that never materialized. Apple Bloom is the star of this episode from start to finish, though it is kind of interesting to note that she was seen cowering alongside Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at the end of "Friendship is Magic, Part 1" (though at the time we had no idea who those fillies were and probably it was like Derpy in that it was a layering error or something along those lines). In fact, an interesting detail to note is that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo originally appeared in the classroom scene, but an animator noticed this and recolored them so as not to create a plot hole. Apple Bloom's antics never get tiring, in fact she displays a bit of foresight in concluding her talent is gonna be apple related. Ultimately, the fact that it's her biggest role in the spotlight in the entire show is what puts this on the top for her.

Now for the Sweetie Belle episodes, she has only 4 to her name (a shame, rather).

4. Surf and/or Turf (Season 8, Episode 6)
Why it's on the bottom: Even if the CMC as a group get called by the map, it's only Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo who truly get any kind of focus during the conflict. Sweetie Belle takes the side of Mount Aris (or rather the harmonizing heights), but it feels so sudden and jarring, especially when she and Scootaloo decide to just stop talking to each other over their disagreement. If anything, Scootaloo's argument was stronger since she was basing it on Seaquestria as a whole and not just one part of Mount Aris.

3. For Whom The Sweetie Belle Toils (Season 4, Episode 20 in production order/19 in airdate)
Why it's in the top three: For the three big Sweetie Belle episodes, picking which ones to put where was a real challenge. Ultimately, this one ends up here largely for two reasons. Early on Sweetie Belle can kind of come across as ungrateful. And you have to wonder how Sweetie Belle could still not be aware that her big sister gets all worked and worried over the littlest of things, considering Sweetie stole Rarity's diary and published it.

2. Sisterhooves Social (Season 2, Episode 5)
Why it's not on the top: Even if she meant well Sweetie Belle did cause a lot of problems that could've been avoided had she simply asked Rarity first (though in some cases Rarity should know better than to leave valuable objects out where her little sister could get access to them). Plus there's the little detail about her parents that aside from one or two cameos we have never seen since (their entire creation feels kind of like an after thought). But we can't ignore the fact that this episode spawned arguably the most memorable creation during the glory days of Friendship is Witchcraft: Sweetie Bot's Big Race.

1. Forever Filly (Season 7, Episode 6)
Why it's on the top: They grow up so fast these days, don't they? Much like with Rarity in this episode it would've been so easy to make Sweetie Belle in the wrong for not wanting to spend any time with Rarity. But she's gladly willing to do so, she just doesn't like being treated like a little filly because that's not who she is anymore. Even then the worst she does is tell Rarity off and leave her to think, she's surprisingly mature about it. In fact it's because she's so mature that she's able to help explain the moral and get Rarity to realize what she's been doing wrong. Sweetie Belle has definitely picked up a lot of her sister's emotional maturity, which is something to be proud of.

And now for the Scootaloo episodes, she gets 5 which is one more than Sweetie Belle.

5. Parental Glideance (Season 7, Episode 7)
Why it's on the bottom: I sincerely hope that with Season 9 they will finally put that Scootaorphan theory to rest and definitively give her some kind of family to come home to (and I'm talking a happy family, it doesn't necessarily need to be her aunts). Putting that aside, you could've had an enjoyable and even kind of cute episode of Scootaloo meeting and bonding with Rainbow Dash's parents, but instead you've got an obnoxious episode that will test your patience. Especially when Scootaloo witnesses what Rainbow Dash's parents are doing yet acts surprised and offended when Rainbow tells them off for it. Not having supportive parents doesn't make up for the opposite end of the spectrum.

4. Surf and/or Turf (Season 8, Episode 6)
Why it's not in the top three: The implications are that Scootaloo is siding with Seaquestria because swimming feels just like flying to her (how can something be so adorable and yet so sad), and yes fans have made comics poking fun of a problem that would probably result from being underwater all day. Interestingly, the song "Your Heart is in Two Places" features a new singing voice for her, supposedly because Madeline Peters moved to the U.S. recently or something (though I don't know if that's true or where she moved to).

3. Flight to the Finish (Season 4, Episode 5)
Why it's in the top three: The first ever solo Scootaloo focus episode and it came almost two whole seasons after her fellow CMC members each got an episode to themselves back to back. Scootaloo definitely shines here and I think this is when she started to become more of her own character instead of just a younger Rainbow Dash. The only downside is that they kind of tiptoed around the subject of whether or not Scootaloo was disabled. Something the next episode would more or less clear up.

2. The Washouts (Season 8, Episode 20)
Why it's not on the top: This episode more or less confirms that Scootaloo is disabled (though they don't outright say it) and will never fly, though I still think they have ways of getting around that if they really want to (and considering Bulk Biceps I think they'd be hard pressed to justify why Scootaloo can't fly but he can). However, I do have to deduct points for Scootaloo being so thickheaded. It's perfectly clear that the Washouts do not care about safety at all, and that Lightning Dust is nursing a grudge against Rainbow Dash for the events of "Wonderbolts Academy". She's told numerous times why joining the Washouts is dangerous (especially considering she has no formal stunt training). But I do like that they show her willing to step out of Rainbow Dash's shadow and seek an opportunity to define herself, so if they want to more or less end Scootaloo's character arc there I won't mind it so much.

1. Sleepless in Ponyville (Season 3, Episode 6)
Why it's on the top: Scootaloo finally got her own focus episode, even if she ended up sharing it with Rainbow Dash to an extent. It's also the first of the LunaxCMC dream episodes and Luna's appearance here was definitely a surprise. The existence of the dream realm has subsequently helped to explain some of the initial confusion regarding her role here. And with Scootaloo, they really do a lot to make you relate to her conflict. Including the heart warming part where she tearfully confesses to Rainbow Dash about her fears, and Rainbow not only reassures her that she was afraid too once upon a time but also offers to become Scootaloo's big sister. They've really come a long way since this development, to the point where Rainbow Dash has founded a fanclub specifically for Scootaloo (meaning it's all come full circle).

And now to rank all the CMC episodes, all 30 of them.
30. Stare Master (Season 1, Episode 17)
29. The Show Stoppers (Season 1, Episode 18)
28. The Cutie Pox (Season 2, Episode 6)
27. Bridle Gossip (Season 1, Episode 9)
26. Appleloosa's Most Wanted (Season 5, Episode 6)
25. Marks for Effort (Season 8, Episode 12)
24. One Bad Apple (Season 3, Episode 4)
23. Family Appreciation Day (Season 2, Episode 11 in production order/12 in airdate)
22. Somepony to Watch Over Me (Season 4, Episode 17)
21. Parental Glideance (Season 7, Episode 7)
20. Bloom and Gloom (Season 5, Episode 4)
19. The Cart Before The Ponies (Season 6, Episode 15 in production order/14 in airdate)
18. On Your Marks (Season 6, Episode 4)
17. Pinkie Apple Pie (Season 4, Episode 9)
16. Surf and/or Turf (Season 8, Episode 6)
15. Marks and Recreation (Season 7, Episode 22 in production order/21 in airdate)
14. Twilight Time (Season 4, Episode 15 in production order)
13. The Perfect Pear (Season 7, Episode 13)
12. Brotherhooves Social (Season 5, Episode 18 in production order/17 in airdate)
11. Call of the Cutie (Season 1, Episode 12)
10. The Cutie Mark Chronicles (Season 1, Episode 23)
9. Flight to the Finish (Season 4, Episode 5)
8. Ponyville Confidential (Season 2, Episode 23)
7. The Washouts (Season 8, Episode 20)
6. For Whom The Sweetie Belle Toils (Season 4, Episode 20 in production order/19 in airdate)
5. Sisterhooves Social (Season 2, Episode 5)
4. Sleepless in Ponyville (Season 3, Episode 6)
3. Hearts and Hooves Day (Season 2, Episode 17)
2. Forever Filly (Season 7, Episode 6)
1. Crusaders of the Lost Mark (Season 5, Episode 19 in production order/18 in airdate)

Whew, and there you have it. Come back tomorrow when we'll rank the Starlight Glimmer episodes.

Comments

[superfun]

Here are my personal rankings:
Group:
Crusaders of the Lost Mark
Marks for Effort
Surf and/or Turf
Marks and Recreation
The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
Hard to Say Anything
Hearts and Hooves Day
Ponyville Confidential
Twilight Time
The Show Stoppers
Cart Before the Ponies
Stare Master
One Bad Apple
Appleoosa's Most Wanted

Individual ones (I just have mine as one singular list to make it easier):
The Washouts
Brotherhooves Social
Flight to the Finish
On Your Marks
Forever Filly
For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils
Sleepless in Ponyville
Bloom and Gloom
Sisterhooves Social
Call of the Cutie
Family Appreciation Day
The Cutie Pox
Somepony to Watch Over Me