Episode spoilers - The Hearth's Warming Club/Best Gift Ever

You know, I've come to dislike Christmas. This is unfortunate because as a kid, it was my favorite time of year. I never believed in Santa Claus mind you, but he was my favorite mystical sort of fellow and the Christmas specials.... gosh, the christmas specials would always give me a warm feeling. I just loved the feel of it. However, the years have not been kind to me. Personal/family problems nearly every Christmas compounded by actually working retail so hello everyone, I've probably had to stock your bloody food and gifts while breaking my back for it.

However, it still has a place in my heart. Even if I don't celebrate it, the Christmas specials are always a joy. MLP is no different and all of it's winter holiday specials have been gold in my opinion. These two were no exception. So I've decided to group them up into a blog of their own. It also helps me clear up both episodes at once.

- Club

I didn't care for the school six. I've said it before. I'll say it again. Aside from Ocellus, who I absolutely adore for a good number of reasons, I find them either sometimes enjoyable or just aggravating to watch. It's the CMC all over again but a bit worse. Then this episode came along and well.... It really made me warm up to them. I got to see them interact, discuss their cultures and traditions, and it's just a good time all around. It made me fall in love with the school six and while they still aren't among my favorite characters, they are still entertaining.

As for cultures, here we go.

- Yaks celebrate a winter holiday for smashing.... I guess it's unique, even though they already do that a lot. I guess it's special smashing. Also, again, the episode does seem to indicate there are many more yaks then shown. At least that's how I see it, otherwise the yaks still hold no real way to sustain that bloody war way back that they almost declared.

- Pony holiday the same, so our pony six is small and nothing much added.

- Dragons like to tell stories and have competitions for the best story. That's actually pretty neat and something some cultures really prided on, storytellers and keepers of their faiths. As well, the story that's told, about how kindness is a weakness and others will betray you, really shows the heart of the dragon culture's problem. I hope they can fix that with time although it'll be hard given how old dragons can be.

- Changelings have adopted Hearth's Warming Eve but have hilariously got it so wrong. Made me laugh. I love the new lings.

- Griffons celebrate a winter holiday where they at least try to make good with themselves.

- Hyppogryphs and Seaponies celebrate a three day holiday, which is honestly unique.

One day is to thank the ocean for saving them from the Storm King

second day is to celebrate the storm king's defeat

and the third is to get a gift from the ruler

Of course, I'd imagine that this might change with time. Even though they do travel between the ocean and the sky each day, as the two populations diverge, it could very well be that they might take a day to themselves. Also, the gift giving might just be a federal deposit or something.

The holiday is interesting, it's the timing that's way off. Now you see, a holiday is often put into place around the time of significance. The Fourth of July was misplaced a tad due to forgetfullness but still, it's done around the same time. Same for a lot of holidays. Why do I bring this up?

Well winter holidays are celebrated in a ton of areas for a good reason. It's something cultures created as a way of congratulating themselves for surviving another harsh winter and hoping they survive the next.

The problem with the placement of this holiday is that they were liberated in what appeared to be, the summer. Or at the very least, no where near Hearth's Warming Eve. It makes no sense to move it all the way forward just to have it take place at the very same time as another nation's holiday that has nothing to do with your independence. I know I'm harping on this, and the holiday is unique and I like it, but it makes no sense to have it here. The only reason it is here is so Silverstream NEEDS to go home like everyone else.

Oh yeah, someone ruined a room. It's why Twilight and Rainbow are interrogating the school six. It's Gallus. He confesses when he sees everyone else fighting. Why did he do it? Well obviously he's a jerk.....

Wait, he doesn't have a family and was doing it because he desperately didn't want to be alone for the holiday like almost all of his life....

Gosh darn it mlp, that got to me. Yeah, Gallus had a bloody good reason. That and his hometown sucks so I can see why he wouldn't want to go back. Also, it was nice to see Gilda baking. I still don't like Gilda but it was a nice touch.

Then the other school six decide to stay through the holidays to be with Gallus. Another nitpick, I'm guessing they decided to do this in spite of their families. I guess Gallus is more important... I know it's a mean thing to nitpick but they are pushing them aside for an important holiday. I don't hate it mostly because I'm sure Twilight will let the families know quickly enough and it's just one time.

So overall, a good episode with only a couple of nitpicks.

(Gift)

Then we come to Best Gift Ever.

This will be a shorter review. It's a good special. I find it unique in that it's the only real special MLP has ever had as in it's not a season episode but a two parter length style short. Makes me wish G4 did that more often between seasons but they are doing Equestria Girls so that's not possible. *le sigh*

The story is basically the MLP version of the christmas gift. You know the one, where the people get the other person a gift they don't need. (Which was silly in the original version since, you know, you can regrow your hair.) It works basically the same way. It's nice and cute. Discord was fun and his own 'gift' was well received by Fluttershy. She's definitely a beast master at this point. There's not a ton to say about it other then it's just a good holiday special. Funny how little I really need to discuss. There's nothing new about the holiday added. Just a fun little story taking place here. Nothing to gripe about or to really go over. So yeah, I liked it.

So that was it. Two good holiday specials that I did really enjoy. Hopefully I can get out the other reviews soon enough. (And sorry about the short length of Best Gift Ever. Just didn't have a lot to say about it.)