Ranking the Pinkie Pie Episodes (From Worst to Best), Version 2 · 1:47pm Sep 8th, 2019
Pinkie Pie has now gotten her last focus episode of the entire show, there are no more episodes focusing on her. Season 9 has been an interesting time for her, for a while it seemed like a triumphant return to form for her, but now she's kind of been stuck in the position of "Good when the spotlight's not on her". And she now has 28 focus episodes to rank, the most of any mane six member to thus far gain an update. So let's see how her two new episodes stack up, and whether any episodes changed position. Here's the first version, from February.
28. Yakity Sax (Season 8, Episode 18 in production order/14 in airdate)
Why it stayed on the bottom: Thankfully, Season 9 didn't see Pinkie sink to quite this level of selfishness and stupidity, though as we'll soon see in the latter department it came awfully close. Pinkie Pie was unbelievably selfish in this episode, and what's even worse is that they never explain why she's so attached to that yovidaphone. To say nothing of the blatant fanservice in the return of Pinkamina that contributes nothing to the plot.
27. A Trivial Pursuit (Season 9, Episode 16)
Why it's not on the bottom: The ONLY reason why this episode doesn't eclipse "Yakity Sax" as Pinkie's worst performance is because her initial showing up and deciding to enter the trivia contest is something that's in character for her. She thinks it's fun and since the teams are chosen at random she has no way to know she'll get assigned to Twilight's team. It's just that from there the episode goes out of its way to make her as scatter brained as possible, to try and justify what Twilight does later on in the episode. Pinkie was never this stupid, she's shown in multiple episodes that she can concentrate and focus, and that she knows things! The saddest part of all is that she's so scatterbrained she doesn't even realize Twilight deliberately got her booted off the team.
26. Secrets and Pies (Season 7, Episode 23)
Why it moved up: It only really moved up by not being second to last, that's it. Otherwise, everything about this episode is the same as it is before. Detective Pinkie Pie was great to see again, but everything else about this episode was garbage. They even try to justify what Rainbow does by implying that if she told Pinkie the truth Pinkie wouldn't have listened. Which is an absolute insult to Pinkie Pie's character considering she values the happiness of others and some episodes even show that she can tell when others are pretending to be happy.
25. Swarm of the Century (Season 1, Episode 10)
Why it moved up: Again it only really moves up because it's not in the exact position it was before. Pinkie does sort of try to explain herself here, and the bigger fault is on the rest of the mane six for not asking obvious questions like "What's a parasprite?" or "Why are you gathering so many instruments?". In this case though, most of the episode is spent on leaving us in the dark as to Pinkie's intentions, and when they finally show us what she's been up to it's too little too late to make up for the way her friends have treated her.
24. P.P.O.V (Pony Point of View) (Season 6, Episode 22)
Why it moved down: Maybe it makes a little bit of sense for Rarity, and maybe Pinkie's holding a slight grudge for what happened in "Spice Up Your Life" but it still doesn't feel like it's in character for her to think so lowly of her friends. And it's definitely not in character for even her to remember something that clearly didn't happen. Plus, she already shared the spotlight with Rarity twice in Season 6, so why was she brought back for a third outing with Rarity?
23. Gift of the Maud Pie (Season 6, Episode 3)
Why it moved down: Rarity's inclusion feels like it was done solely to give Pinkie someone to bounce dialogue off of, as if the writers for whatever reason think that putting Pinkie into an episode alone and having her talk to herself is a bad thing. It's something that no other mane six member ever seems to get burdened with. Plus, the episode only partially follows the plot for which it is named, and Pinkie's attachment to her party cannon is very sudden, done solely for the sake of conflict.
22. The Maud Couple (Season 8, Episode 3)
Why it moved way down: The entire first act is a waste, it doesn't accomplish anything that we didn't already know from previous episodes. Heck, the second act ends up showing the same thing anyway when Pinkie complains to Starlight about Mud Briar, so why did we need the first act for anything other than to pad out the run time? And they're definitely pushing Pinkie's flaws here, at times she feels in character but at other times it feels like they're exaggerating for the sake of the story. Much like "Swarm of the Century" though, Pinkie is the one owed an apology and she doesn't get it (Maud shouldn't have been lying to Pinkie all those years and Mud Briar could've tried to not be so obnoxious toward Pinkie).
21. A Friend in Deed (Season 2, Episode 18)
Why it moved way down: "The Smile Song" is the highlight of this episode for Pinkie Pie. She spends all the stuff immediately prior to it just reinforcing what we already know. And then after the song she spends the episode more or less being a stalker to Cranky Doodle Donkey for no real reason other than he doesn't want to be her friend. At times she comes across as good natured and well meaning, but more often than not it just feels creepy and annoying.
20. Buckball Season (Season 6, Episode 19 in production order/18 in airdate)
Why it moved up: Even if Pinkie Pie is sharing the spotlight a lot, she makes the most of what she has. It's kind of interesting to see her in a sports jersey and with her mane in two pigtails (don't ask me how much she got it tied that way). I know that she would care more about having fun than competing, but I don't know if I buy her becoming absolutely terrible the moment Applejack and Rainbow Dash put pressure on her. And as funny as the role reversal between her and Fluttershy is, it's still kind of a shame that this is the closest we ever got to a proper FlutterPie episode (along with their subplot during "Rainbow Roadtrip").
19. 28 Pranks Later (Season 6, Episode 16 in production order/15 in airdate)
Why it moved up: Pinkie Pie shows a surprising amount of character growth here, as she remembers what constitutes a funny prank and what doesn't. But it isn't until a good ways into the episode that she really shines. She's originally on Rainbow's side during the whole pranking spree, but she still agrees to talk to Rainbow Dash and try to convince her to stop. It's really not her fault that Rainbow doesn't listen. However, I sort of have to question if her decision to stage a zombie prank was really the best way to teach Rainbow a lesson. it could've easily backfired.
18. Not Asking for Trouble (Season 7, Episode 11)
Why it moved down: Yak episodes are apparently very unpopular with the fandom, and with episodes like this I can see why. Though Pinkie Pie does get a chance to shine here, I feel like she could've and should've pointed out how the children were starving. That's really something you'd expect her to bring up. And there are a couple of moments where she just kind of does her own thing that the episode tries to make funny, but more often than not it isn't.
17. Rock Solid Friendship (Season 7, Episode 4)
Why it moved down: I can buy Pinkie being overly excited about Maud potentially moving to Ponyville, and getting carried away. Though I don't know if I can buy her doing some of the stuff she does here (trapping Maud and Starlight underground to force them to bond is a definite stretch as is tying cowbells around their necks so she can track them). Yes, unlike a lot of other instances she learns her lesson and apologizes. And apologizing and trying to fix what you broke is what any good character should try to do. But even then the episode really flourishes in the moments when Maud and Starlight are hanging out together, before Pinkie tries to insert herself into the situation. Also, why was Starlight in the wrong for telling Pinkie that she was ruining things? It was the truth, and Pinkie needed to hear it.
16. Daring Done? (Season 7, Episode 17 in production order/18 in airdate)
Why it moved down: It's moving down to make way for another episode to be added. Plus, this is only partially Pinkie's episode. I do find it kind of jarring that she originally cares about Daring Do's well being and privacy than Rainbow Dash. It's really rare to see Pinkie with her priorities in order. I know why they did it, to try to tie her to Somnambula. And I'm not complaining. But even when Pinkie's in character there are times when she seems a little too naive, and the leap of fate bit brings back some unfortunate implications.
15. Feeling Pinkie Keen (Season 1, Episode 15)
Why it moved down: Same as pretty much every episode from here on, only really moving down so another episode can be added. Everything I've said before still stands. As a Pinkie Pie episode this one actually isn't bad, there's some good comedy and Pinkie feels in character. But when we learn that she knew of Twilight's injuries it does kind of make her look mean spirited to not say anything or even check that Twilight was okay.
14. MMMystery on the Friendship Express (Season 2, Episode 24)
Why it moved down: Pinkie Pie's accusations are funny but they do come out of left field. The bigger problem though is that this "mystery" is only one because we the audience never get to see the clues. We're as in the dark as Pinkie is until Twilight shows us what she's found. It would've been nice if Twilight at least let Pinkie see the clues, while still keeping it vague about what they were. Thankfully, Pinkie getting to solve a second mystery towards the end mostly makes up for it.
13. Griffon the Brush Off (Season 1, Episode 5)
Why it moved down: While Pinkie does get a really good showing when she stops to consider if maybe she's wrong about Gilda, the episode takes a while to signal that this is the perspective we're focusing on. Prior to that we have Pinkie Pie stalking Rainbow Dash for whatever reason, Pinkie and Rainbow pranking ponies, and Pinkie trying to keep up with Rainbow and Gilda after Gilda wants to hang out. Once the spotlight is shone on Pinkie though, things pick up fast. Her party is a clever twist since you think she's trying to expose Gilda, but in fact she was being sincere and wanted to befriend Gilda. Gilda just made that impossible.
12. The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone (Season 5, Episode 8)
Why it moved down: It's kind of jarring that Pinkie isn't at least a little weary of Gilda even after all the time that's passed. But I think that's a testament to her character in that it takes a lot for her to stay mad at anyone for any length of time. And she ended up knowing the solution to the problem without knowing it. However, I do have to deduct points for her moment of stupidity when she throws herself down the cliff to rescue Rainbow Dash. That's not heroic, that's suicidal.
11. Spice Up Your Life (Season 6, Episode 13 in production order/12 in airdate)
Why it moved down: Pinkie's only mistake here was not communicating to Rarity her intentions (though why wouldn't she assume Rarity knew what their objective was? Pinkie kept making valid points about why Zesty Gourmand's standards weren't worth following). Her sales pitch for the Tasty Treat was fine, it just wasn't what the Canterlot ponies needed to hear when they were too hooked on Zesty's approval and rating to determine what to try and not to try. Pinkie really carries the group here, she makes the most effort to succeed, even more than Saffron. Though I don't know how Pinkie thought she could pack the restaurant full of ponies in such a short amount of time.
10. Baby Cakes (Season 2, Episode 12 in production order/13 in airdate)
Why it moved down: If there was anypony who needed to learn this moral about responsibility, it was definitely Pinkie. Even then she wasn't completely awful at taking care of the twins. She made an honest effort to try and take care of them properly. But she definitely bit off more than she could chew by trying to handle things on her own just to prove a point. There is a bit of a moment of stupidity from Pinkie though when just after changing the twins diapers, she goes downstairs to greet what she thinks are the Cakes while leaving the twins unattended and while having a diaper on her head and another on her rump. You have to wonder why Twilight wasn't surprised even the slightest by that.
9. The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows (Season 5, Episode 21 in production order/19 in airdate)
Why it moved down: This episode really seemed to more or less confirm that Pinkie's relationship with the Cakes is like a second family, Lauren Faust even said that they love her like a daughter and from the way they interact with her it's easy to see that. Some say this episode might have been better if Pinkie didn't blurt out what the surprise was, but as Silverquill pointed out in his review of the episode that would've made it harder for the story to work since we wouldn't be able to understand why Pinkie's keeping the secret. It's nice to see that Pinkie practices what she preaches, but I would've liked a callback to her forcing Twilight to keep secrets in "Green Isn't Your Color".
8. Hearthbreakers (Season 5, Episode 20)
Why it moved down: Pinkie's family can be a bit one note, but what we see of them here is nice. They don't seem hostile to Pinkie and it seems like she probably did enjoy her time on the rock farm. She just ultimately couldn't quite live out her full potential on the rock farm. It's kind of a shame that this was the most we ever got to see of Pinkie interacting with either of her other sisters, Limestone and Marble deserved better.
7. Maud Pie (Season 4, Episode 18)
Why it moved down: There's a bit of a mood whiplash moment when Pinkie's mane and tail partially deflate after she's told her friends can't befriend Maud, and then the next scene she's suddenly back to her cheerful, bubbly self. And while it's true that Pinkie put pressure on everypony to bond, each of the mane six tried to do one on one sessions with Maud and still couldn't find something they had in common. What that something was ended up feeling like a bit of a stretch, being friends with someone because you're friends with their friends/family is a little odd. Pinkie gets her moments to shine though, particularly with Maud. They do enough to sell us on this sibling bond.
6. Too Many Pinkie Pies (Season 3, Episode 3)
Why it moved down: This conflict is one that Pinkie was probably bound to have at some point, trying to make time between her friends and not being able to fulfill every obligation or potential for fun. The resolution is what kind of hurts this episode, especially since while status quo says they got all the clones you just never know for sure. And I'm bummed we never got a follow-up to that one possible clone that got away that we saw in "The Saddle Row Review". Still, Pinkie was great in this episode, who would've imagined we'd see an existential crisis from her?
5. Pinkie Apple Pie (Season 4, Episode 9)
Why it moved down: Family is definitely something that Applejack and Pinkie Pie have in common, and Pinkie plays off of each family member well (especially Apple Bloom, kind of a shame that was the last time they'd really interact together). But as great as she is she's sharing the spotlight with the whole Apple family. And her character does briefly slide a bit when she gets distracted by pretty paper. It's thankfully over with very quickly.
4. Party Pooped (Season 5, Episode 11)
Why it moved down: It's this episode that established just how important Pinkie Pie is to Ponyville, showing that her parties aren't just something she plans spur of the moment. She is hyper organized and serious about them, and she collects data all the time to use for planning them. That revelation does happen while she's out of town though, and before that she's mostly been spending this episode trying to please the yaks (who are very one note). Still, considering some of the things we'd seen in seasons prior, it was nice to have the rest of the mane six reassure Pinkie that they cherish her and don't want her to leave.
3. The Last Laugh (Season 9, Episode 14)
Why it's in the top three: I think this is a good enough placement for it. If you can look past how sudden Pinkie's doubts about her place in Equestria are, this episode is pretty good. It's a welcome return to form for her, a triumphant return to the spotlight. And it shows her at her best, trying to make others laugh and smile. I do wish they'd let her check up on the gag factory though, so at least then we'd get the sense that this episode did more than just kind of leave her in the same place that she was. But I think that's a testament to the fact that Pinkie Pie didn't need some big character arc, and unlike Applejack it wasn't because the writers didn't know what to do with her. *Sigh* if only this was her last focus episode instead of "A Trivial Pursuit".
2. Party of One (Season 1, Episode 25)
Why it stayed the same: The top two spots haven't changed, and at this point anything I could say about this episode would be repeating myself. I've talked about it so many times already and brought up so many things about it that to go on and on about them would just be redundant. Long story short, not only was this episode surprisingly dark, but it also put a new spin on a cliche plot that had been done to death (the forgotten birthday/surprise birthday story).
1. Pinkie Pride (Season 4, Episode 12)
Why it stayed on the top: What else can I say about this episode that I haven't already said? It's Pinkie at her best, and it came at a time when she definitely needed it. This is the Pinkie Pie performance that puts all others to shame. And I still ship her with Cheese Sandwich. This episode and "The Last Laugh" practically make this ship sail itself.
And there you have it, come back tomorrow when we'll update the rankings for the Sunburst Episodes.
My ranking:
As always, any episode I don't include, I consider them to more feature Pinkie rather than star her
5117894 I'm surprised "Yakity Sax" is higher than "Griffon the Brush Off".
5117929
Someone else explained Yakity Sax in a way that makes it more bearable
5117936 May I have a link to that explanation?
5117943
It was shortly after the episode aired, but the short version is that it was more about Pinkie and the support of her friends, rather than Pinkie's love of the instrument
5117946 Well that only kind of works, because Pinkie's friends basically told her she was bad and to stop playing. They didn't try to make her take lessons.