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One of the central themes of the early seasons was stewardship.  Ponies need nature.  Nature needs them.  And ponies need each other.  In order to successfully maintain the basic needs of the ecosystem and of the community, everypony has to labor together harmoniously.  

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Twilight's Kingdom.  The episode that cranked pony to 11. From alicorn princesses in chains, to the destruction of the Golden Oak Library, to the giant Dragonball fight in the end. Keys. Trees. Musical numbers. The second redemption of Discord. A shiny new castle.

Everything about this episode screamed ambition. Go big or go home.

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I have been writing these essays for almost a decade now, and for most of that time, it has been in the back of my mind that I would one day like to compile them into a book. After the show ended, and I started my series of "re-watch" essays, the format and structure of such a book started to suggest itself. I secretly decided that, once I finished analyzing Season 4, I would compile those essays, and publish them.

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This Saturday marks the eight year anniversary of the release of Chapter 1 of Hooves of Fate. It's been a wild journey so far. At the time of its release, Twilight Sparkle had just gotten her wings only a few weeks before. That finale felt miles away from where the show had started, but looking back now, it's like ancient history. Hooves of Fate has been around almost as long as the show has. Wild, isn't it?

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School Daze marked a fundamental shift in the show for myriad reasons, and not just the obvious ones.

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When first I saw School Daze (the Season 8 premiere), I thought, "who the buck is the Equestrian Education Administration" and why do they have so much power?" Rewatching it now almost three years later, I find myself thinking the exact same thing.

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Filly Vanilli is an interesting episode. It starts with the Mane Six accidentally overhearing Fluttershy's singing voice. They are so enamored of its beauty, that they pressure her to sing in public. Of course, Fluttershy has stage fright and is far too nervous to even dream of it. 

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