Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Royal Problems (s07e10)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)
Dear Princess Luna,

Today I watched a play titled Royal Problems. It depicts the time Starlight was sent to help solve a friendship problem between you and your sister. The play has received negative press from ponies who feel the premise sounded too far fetched. But I went in with an open mind.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: A Health of Information (s07e20)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Zecora contracts an illness known as Swamp Fever, prompting Fluttershy and Twilight to head out and fine a cure. Another episode with a strangely “classic” feel, I neither hate or love it. For the most part, the basic story is fine. There are no major flaws, but a lot of little things that hinder it.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Secrets and Pies (s07e23)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

This episode wants to be Party of One and Mmmystery on the Friendship Express, but it fails. The premise is too vapid for any sort of drama, and the comedy is stilted and repetitive. Pinkie discovers a pie she baked for Rainbow Dash thrown into the garbage. Wondering why Rainbow would waste food, she recalls that she's never actually seen Dash eat any pies she's made.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Non-Complete Clause (s08e09)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Non-Complete Clause is essentially a more annoying version of Fall Weather Friends. Where that episode succeeded, Clause fails. Maybe upon another watch I will find more to praise, but even so, it is the first bad episode of the season.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Uncommon Bond (s07e24)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Starlight worries that Sunburst has more in common with her friends than with her. This is yet another blah episode, that's not so much bad as it is sort of empty. It certainly drags out its length with not one, but three montages, and a nonsensical schmaltz ending a la Once Uoon a Zeppelin. But it is far from the worst.

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Friendship is Magic review by Obake

I am reviewing episode 20 first, as I have had trouble finding a decent version of 19.

(SPOILERS!)

The Washouts is all over the place, starting quite bad, only to mellow out. I appreciate parts of the episode. The rest...not so much.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: The Parent Map (s08e08)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Surf and/or Turf (s08e06)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

The map calls the Crusaders and Twilight to Mount Aris, where half of the seapony population now live as regular hippogriffs. The other half still live in Seaquestria.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Once Upon a Zeppelin (s07e22)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

I think I just watched an episode where the writers pine for vacation. Not kidding.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: It Isn't the Mane Thing About You (s07e19)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

It Isn't the Mane Thing About You is a strange case. Tonally, it feels like an episode from seasons 1 or 2, with a few modern era things thrown in. There's not much to say about it other than its mostly fine, save bad pacing.

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Friendship is Magic review by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

This would be the strongest of the school episodes, were it not for a few choice line of dialogue and strange ending. To be fair, the ending may turn out to be part of a bigger plot involving the season's villain, in which case it makes somewhat more sense.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Molt Down (s08e11)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Since I have a full schedule this afternoon, I figure getting this review out early would be a good idea. Hence, I haven't had time to find a completed version of the episode, only the leaked version, which should suffice.

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Friendship is Magic review by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

This is yet another episode with a botched message. Discord tricks the Mane 6 into going on a fake map quest, so he can harass Starlight at the school. Twilight put Starlight in charge, not bothering to hire more teachers while the Mane 6 are away. Quite a massive oversight. But it is the least of the episode's problems.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Horse Play (s08e07)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Twilight gives Celestia the leading role in a play, despite Celestia's lack of acting talent. Already this comes off weird. Celestia's been a ruler for over a millennium, presumably having talked to thousands of crowds, yet can't get her voice right on stage. I'll give it a slight pass, but this season has had a lot of awkward story beats with characters.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: The Mean Six (s08e13)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Multiple sources have called this one of, if not the, worst episodes of season 8. Given the "yak" in the title, I was expecting a lot of annoyance and/or boredom. There indeed was some annoyance. But not as much of a disaster as I anticipated.

Yakity-Sax is bad, but The Mean Six is worse. Sax at least has a few funny moments in its favor.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Fake It Til You Make It (s08e04)
by Obake

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Honest Apple (s07e09)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

Rarity chooses Applejack as one of the judges for her latest fashion contest. That last sentence sounds ridiculous, but the episode offers a reasonable excuse: Applejack has a keen eye for practicality, something regular judges tend to lack. When she finally accepts the offer, it is believable. The setup is quickly established, and everyone is in character. The first few scenes are great.

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[youtube=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4tZzXzIBc4k]

17:46 You can see Derpy with bandages around her eyes! Poor thing! I wonder what happened... I bet there'll be a lot of fanfiction about this coming.

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I'm here! Thanks for starting things out

Friendship is Magic Review by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

The End in Friend is in an odd place. It has the same issues as many recent episodes. At the same time, it also hearkens back to the feel of earlier seasons, particularly in regards to its moral. The episode is like an unpolished leftover from season 02.

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Friendship is Magic first impressions review: The Maud Couple (s08e03)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!))

Pinkie must learn to cope with Maud's new boyfriend. This episode is more interesting in premise than execution.

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