Thoughts on Season 1 Episodes

So, I've been thinking that since Season Nine is due in a couple of weeks and is the last one, I suppose we should go back and visit my opinions of seasons past (barring 7 and 8, since I did those). I've been watching the show since 2011, and I only joined this site and the fandom in 2014 because a certain episode gave me inspiration (we'll cover that later), so, why shouldn't I? I mean, it's only fair that I give my thoughts on every episode of the show, even if they're short.

So, without further ado... Season 1.

1. Friendship is Magic
~ Funny story, before I got into the show, I'd catch some snippets of it as my sister was watching, and somehow I conflated this episode with Boast Busters and thought Trixie was Nightmare Moon. Quick, someone write a fic about Nightmare Trixie!

Now, I thought this was a decent opener that introduced the characters well enough, even if it's pretty corny. Though, Applejack's Honesty test was weird; seriously girl, what's stopping you from telling Twilight that Rainbow and Fluttershy will catch her? But, whatever, Rainbow Lasers and a cool backstory automatically put this over G3 (which... I didn't like, too cutesy for my taste, blegh).

2. The Ticket Master
~ Eh? S'alright, I guess? Though, it's interesting that there was a little story arc in Season 1 leading up to the Grand Galloping Gala.

3. Applebuck Season
~ Hey, look, it's the first episode I ever saw, and the episode that kept on airing each time I sat down to watch the show. Mildly annoying, but it did kind of lead me to take a liking to Applejack, because I have a soft spot for dependable yet stubborn cowpokes, and I can relate to the lesson of being too proud to ask for help (even if my problem is also compounded by shyness ). And I was amused by the shenanigans that occurred in the episode, especially the bunny stampede.

So, yeah, it was a good enough episode to pique my curiosity about the rest.

4. Griffon the Brush Off
~ I find this episode... weird. So the story at first seems to be a story about pranking and setting up for things going too far... and then suddenly Gilda shows up and it's about the difference between good and bad friends? Wha?

Not to mention, I found Pinkie a little irritating during the first half, especially at the part where she keeps butting in on Rainbow and Gilda catching up. Seriously, Pinkie, they haven't seen each other in a long time, let them catch up and have their fun, and that could have been a good lesson on giving your friends space when they want to hang out with other friends. But then the narrative warps itself to put her in the right by making Gilda a jerk. Sigh...

5. Boast Busters
~ You already read my anecdote on how I thought Trixie was Nightmare Moon.

As funny as Trixie is with her over-the-top ego (before it became irritating thanks to future appearances as Starlight Glimmer's friend), so much of this episode is just dumb. From the heckling, to treating Trixie like a villain rather than just a nuisance (Spike, you don't need to get worked up over Trixie, Twilight doesn't need to prove herself to some stage magician), to the mustaches, to Snips and Snails...

Yeah, it's a more consistent story than the previous episode, but this feels like watching a drama set in preschool.

6. Dragonshy
~ Honestly, if dragons were real, I'd be really scared of them, too, so, you can't blame Fluttershy for being scared. Which makes it that much more awesome when she yells at the dragon and makes him cry.

Though, this episode is a little weird in hindsight given the dragon culture we've been given in later seasons.

7. Look Before You Sleep
~ I give it an "Eh." Though Twilight being dumb at the climax earns it an extra "Uuuuugggghhhhh". It does make me crave s'mores, though.

8. Bridle Gossip
~ The Poison Joke has some of the funniest side effects I've ever seen. I remember when first seeing it, Flutterguy caught me off guard and I died laughing. And then I died again when she sang the Evil Enchantress Song.

Also, I thought it was kind of neat that they added a zebra to the show. Too bad they barely do anything with Zecora.

9. Swarm of the Century
~ AKA the episode where Pinkie needed to learn that other ponies can't read her mind, but didn't. Though, I do want to know the story behind Pinkie's knowledge on how to get rid of them. And the shenanigans were a lot of fun to watch.

Also, whenever I think of parasprites, I think of the Gameloft game where they just kept swarming no matter what I did.

10. Winter Wrap Up
~ Just looking at the title gets the song stuck in my head.

Solid episode. Also, I can't help but think that Tomato would relate to Twilight in this episode.

11. Call of the Cutie
~ Meh. I could barely remember this episode. Only thing I remember is, "All you have to do is take a cup of flour, add it to the mix..."

12. Fall Weather Friends
~ Hey, remember when Rainbow Dash and Applejack's rivalry was fun? I still get a kick out of Applejack breaking that bell-ringer.

13. Suited for Success
~ I admit, I wasn't a big fan of Rarity before this episode. But then she started singing and showing off her arts, and it spoke to my inner artist and got me to actually connect with her (though it still took me a bit to figure out how to write her, given my lack of interest in fashion (though designing dresses is kind of fun) and high society stuff). Plus, she's best drama queen.

And looking at those dresses made from the meddling... it's hard not to laugh at them. Lesson learned, let the artists do their thing!

14. Feeling Pinkie Keen
~ The unintended messages that half the fandom gleaned from this makes this episode a little uncomfortable to watch for me (I say this as a religious person). Not to mention that Twilight sucked at the scientific method in this episode. And Pinkie Sense was reduced to twitchy tail in future episodes. And that 'doozy' was so lame. Not quite an episode I enjoy watching.

But Twilight turning into Rapidash is always epic.

15. Sonic Rainboom
~ Quotable intro, seeing Cloudsdale for the first time, THE FREAKIN' SONIC RAINBOOM, the relatability of Dash's stage fright... yeah, I love this episode. Though, Rarity's gaudy makeup haunts my nightmares.

16. Stare Master
~ Lots of fun moments, but it is annoying that the Crusaders seem a little dumb and hyper in this episode.

17. The Show Stoppers
~ Unpopular opinion, even if this episode is a little frustrating and kind of stupid, I wish these hinted talents were what their cutie marks were for, instead of being a shortcut in other ponies' cutie mark journey and just being the ultimate cutie mark sages (bleck, BITE ME). I think these talents would have made for more interesting stories post-marking, because canon post-mark Crusaders are so. Stinkin'. BORING.

18. A Dog and Pony Show
~ I could have sworn this episode was earlier in the season.

I think it's weird that Rarity got out of the situation by whining. Also, with the MLP movie making anthropomorphic cats a thing and their representative (Capper) being best non-pony for me, I'm a little miffed that the anthro dogs we get are these idiots. GIVE US A FUNCTIONING NATION OF DOGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SMART AND LIKABLE YOU COWARDS.

19. Green Isn't Your Color
~ Meh, okay episode. Photo Finish is hilarious, though.

20. Over a Barrel
~ I'm not even going to touch the allegory, I just have fun because it's a wild western ride and is full of great jokes. Though Pinkie's song is dumb (I know, that's the point, but it's still dumb).

Can we have Little Strongheart back in the series sometime? She's cool.

21. A Bird in the Hoof
~ Oh, hey, another episode I have trouble remembering without looking it up.

22. The Cutie Mark Chronicles
~ So, why isn't this the penultimate episode of the season?

Anyway, I love backstory episodes, and this one is no different. All the stories and how they were connected were great. I still prefer the theory that Applejack left because her world was shaken by her parents' deaths (stinkin' Where the Apple Lies screwing that up), and I'm still miffed that instead of choosing one of the two perfectly good Pie sisters shown here, they had to create a new one to be Maud and shove her in. Still, that's not this episode's fault, it's still really good.

23. Owl's Well That Ends Well
~ Oh, another forgettable episode that I only remember because I watched a review on it.

24. Party of One
~ I remember back in the day, I used to be a little scared of Pinkie because of stupid fan works... and this episode. Hoo boy, is this episode creepy! Thankfully, looking back on it has me appreciating how well it established Pinkie's insecurities about whether she's loved or hated by her friends and how she attaches her identity to parties. That is why Pinkamena worked in this episode... and not in Yakity-Sax where suddenly a stupid musical instrument is her entire life and nothing else matters (sheesh, I gave Cheese Sandwich a better reason to be upset and run away over his accordion getting smashed).

25. The Best Night Ever
~ Considering most of the finales after this were about stopping epic Equestria-enders from... ending Equestria, this one's a little weird for being more slice of life and not world-changing in any way. But, hey, I really enjoy this episode and how it builds up to the insanity at the climax... especially Fluttershy's bit, oh my.

And with that, that's season one. Simple, rough around the edges, and kind of corny. But it still had its charm.

And thus, I bid you good night, and see you all next time when I talk about my thoughts on Season 2.