Shadow Play - Part 1 | |||
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Season №: | 7 | ||
Season episode №: | 25 | ||
Overall episode №: | 168 | ||
Original airdate: | October 21, 2017[aired early in Canada] October 28, 2017 (Discovery Family) | ||
Story by: | Josh Haber | ||
Written by: | Josh Haber and Nicole Dubuc | ||
Storyboard: | Kaylea Chard and Jae Harm | ||
Featured characters: | Pillars of Old Equestria:
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See also | |||
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation | |||
Episode guide | |||
Previous Uncommon Bond | Next Shadow Play - Part 2 |
Shadow Play - Part 1 is the twenty-fifth episode of season seven of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the one hundred and sixty-eighth overall. It is the first part of a two-part season finale.
In this first part, Sunburst discovers Star Swirl the Bearded's lost journal, and Twilight Sparkle becomes obsessed with saving him from a thousand-year-old prison.
Production
This episode premiered on Canada's Treehouse TV channel on October 21, 2017, seven days prior to its scheduled airing on Discovery Family with Josh Haber credited as the only writer. The writing credit was edited to include Nicole Dubuc when the episode aired on Discovery Family. It was originally scheduled to premiere on Polish television channel MiniMini+ on October 20, 2017, eight days prior to its scheduled airing on Discovery Family.[1]
The episode was leaked online on October 7, 2017.[specify]
Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco came up with the idea of bringing back the Pony of Shadows.[2]
According to episode co-writer Josh Haber, the show staff originally planned for the finale to premiere before the release of My Little Pony The Movie.[3]Summary
Star Swirl's lost journal

The Pillars of Old Equestria vs. the Pony of Shadows.

Sunburst discovers the lost journal of Star Swirl the Bearded.
The Pillars' sacrifice

What the Pillars of Old Equestria left behind.
The ponies travel to the ancient temple of Ponhenge and find several rock formations with magical runes carved into them. When Twilight places Star Swirl's journal on one of the rock platforms, it activates an old holographic recording of Star Swirl, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus, Somnambula, and Mage Meadowbrook. In the recording, the Pillars of Old Equestria use talismans of the elements they each represent to seal away the Pony of Shadows, sacrificing themselves in the process.
Trapped in limbo

"I think I understand Star Swirl's spell!"
In order to accomplish this, the Mane Six need to retrieve the magical artifacts and talismans that the Pillars used to imprison the Pony of Shadows: Rockhoof's shovel, Mistmane's everlasting flower, Flash Magnus' shield, Mage Meadowbrook's mask, and the blindfold Somnambula wore during the trial of the sphinx. The Cutie Map suddenly activates and shows the Mane Six where to find these items.

The Cutie Map points the way forward.
Shadows rising

The Pillars' artifacts are brought together.
When the rest of the Mane Six return with the talismans, Twilight arranges them and Star Swirl's journal in a hexagonal pattern on the rock formations of Ponhenge. Twilight, Starlight, and Sunburst then use their magic to cast Star Swirl's spell, and the magic between the six talismans successfully releases the Pillars of Old Equestria from limbo. When Star Swirl the Bearded regains consciousness and Twilight—starstruck at meeting her magical idol—tells him what she and her friends have done, Star Swirl becomes instantly distressed. He demands they undo what they've done and put them back, but Twilight says they can't.

The Pony of Shadows is released!
- "You cannot bring only the Pillars back!"
- — Star Swirl the Bearded
Quotes
- For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.
- Rainbow Dash: Uh... So, the Pony of Shadows was really real?
- Applejack: All those legendary ponies were real, too? And they went off with Star Swirl to face the Pony of Shadows, and then none of them were ever heard from again?
- Pinkie Pie: Uh, yeah. Weren't you listening?
- Sunburst: Solving a thousands-year-old mystery could take forever! Think of the research! The re-reading! The re-re-reading!
- Starlight Glimmer: [reading] "Hearg sylfum se Ponhenge". What's that?
- Twilight Sparkle: The Temple of Ponhenge?! You can read that?!
- Starlight Glimmer: The hornwriting's pretty sloppy, but it's nowhere near as bad as mine. [reading] "Toward dol grimlic of Fola Firgenbeorg"?
- Sunburst: "At the base of Foal Mountain"...
- Starlight Glimmer: [reading] "User endemest scield".
- Twilight Sparkle: [gasps] "Our last stand".
- Twilight Sparkle: Star Swirl!? I... I've wanted to meet you my whole life! I can't believe you're here!
- Pinkie Pie: [to Twilight] Well, you did ask for a magical explanation.
- Twilight Sparkle: Star Swirl and the rest of the Pillars sacrificed themselves to save Equestria.
- Starlight Glimmer: It's amazing to think one of the greatest mysteries of Equestria was solved with a musty old book from an antique shop.
- Sunburst: But I wouldn't say the mystery's solved. Star Swirl's spell was one of the most powerful feats of magic in all of history. It'll take years of study before we fully understand it.
- Twilight Sparkle: I think I understand Star Swirl's spell!
- Rarity: Darling, your diorama!
- Twilight Sparkle: I made more!
- Applejack: You'd be savin' all the Pillars, right? A-And they disappeared ages ago.
- Twilight Sparkle: That's the thing about limbo. It isn't one place or another. It's in between, so time stands still. If we can pull them out, it'll be like they never left.
- Professor Fossil: I love old legends as much as anypony. But a pony strong enough to save a village from rushing lava with a shovel is... preposterous.
- Professor Fossil: I can't believe you just did that. Y-You saved us!
- Applejack: I bet if you told somepony else the story, it might sound... [gasps] "preposterous".
- Rarity: Perhaps it just seemed like your gardens were worthless. But a little pruning can work wonders. Of course you will have to look after more than just one flower now.
- Garble: Lord Ember only commanded us to be nice to ponies. She never said anything about pony-loving dragons.
- Garble: Hey! That's mine!
- Spike: Finders keepers, remember?
- "Billy": See, because that's what you said to them when they first showed up—
- Cattail: You know, you didn't have to help with this. I would've lent you the mask anyway.
- Fluttershy: I know. [giggles] But I couldn't leave without helping.
- Pinkie Pie: This old blindfold was stuck in the drain.
- Daring Do: Weren't you looking for a blindfold?
- Pinkie Pie: Oh, yeah!
- Twilight Sparkle: I can't believe I'm gonna meet Star Swirl the Bearded! You know, outside of my dreams.
- Starlight Glimmer: I'm all for pushing the envelope, obviously, but this is pretty out there for you, Twilight.
- Sunburst: What's "out there" about saving the most legendary ponies of all time from a thousands-year-old prison?
- Starlight Glimmer: Well... nothing when you say it like that. Unless "the most legendary ponies of all time" knew what they were doing, and we shouldn't mess with it.
- Twilight Sparkle: You and the others have been trapped in limbo for over a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho—
- Star Swirl the Bearded: What?! No, no, no, no! You must undo what you've done!
- Pony of Shadows: [laughing evilly]
Gallery
References
- ↑ TV Schedule for MiniMini+ (Polish). Teleman. Retrieved on 2017 October 9.
- ↑ Josh Haber (2017-10-28). Big thanks to @lady_writers for thinking to bring the Pony of Shadows back for the #MLPSeason7 finale.. Twitter. Retrieved on 2017 October 28.
- ↑ Josh Haber (2017-10-29). @EpicMuttonChops Plan was for S7 finale to air before movie, but schedule didn't work. Not sure how much time has passed, but you'll def see where S8 falls.. Twitter. Retrieved on 2017 October 29.
Episodes, films, and animated shorts |
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Season one | |||
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Episode 1 Friendship is Magic, part 1 | Episode 2 Friendship is Magic, part 2 | Episode 3 The Ticket Master | Episode 4 Applebuck Season |
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Episode 5 Griffon the Brush Off | Episode 6 Boast Busters | Episode 7 Dragonshy | Episode 8 Look Before You Sleep |
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Episode 9 Bridle Gossip | Episode 10 Swarm of the Century | Episode 11 Winter Wrap Up | Episode 12 Call of the Cutie |
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Episode 13 Fall Weather Friends | Episode 14 Suited For Success | Episode 15 Feeling Pinkie Keen | Episode 16 Sonic Rainboom |
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Episode 17 Stare Master | Episode 18 The Show Stoppers | Episode 19 A Dog and Pony Show | Episode 20 Green Isn't Your Color |
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Episode 21 Over a Barrel | Episode 22 A Bird in the Hoof | Episode 23 The Cutie Mark Chronicles | Episode 24 Owl's Well That Ends Well |
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Episode 25 Party of One | Episode 26 The Best Night Ever |
Season two | |||
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Episode 1 The Return of Harmony Part 1 | Episode 2 The Return of Harmony Part 2 | Episode 3 Lesson Zero | Episode 4 Luna Eclipsed |
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Episode 5 Sisterhooves Social | Episode 6 The Cutie Pox | Episode 7 May the Best Pet Win! | Episode 8 The Mysterious Mare Do Well |
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Episode 9 Sweet and Elite | Episode 10 Secret of My Excess | Episode 11 Hearth's Warming Eve | Episode 12 Family Appreciation Day |
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Episode 13 Baby Cakes | Episode 14 The Last Roundup | Episode 15 The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 | Episode 16 Read It and Weep |
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Episode 17 Hearts and Hooves Day | Episode 18 A Friend in Deed | Episode 19 Putting Your Hoof Down | Episode 20 It's About Time |
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Episode 21 Dragon Quest | Episode 22 Hurricane Fluttershy | Episode 23 Ponyville Confidential | Episode 24 MMMystery on the Friendship Express |
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Episode 25 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 | Episode 26 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 |
Season three | |||
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Episode 1 The Crystal Empire - Part 1 | Episode 2 The Crystal Empire - Part 2 | Episode 3 Too Many Pinkie Pies | Episode 4 One Bad Apple |
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Episode 5 Magic Duel | Episode 6 Sleepless in Ponyville | Episode 7 Wonderbolts Academy | Episode 8 Apple Family Reunion |
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Episode 9 Spike at Your Service | Episode 10 Keep Calm and Flutter On | Episode 11 Just for Sidekicks | Episode 12 Games Ponies Play |
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Episode 13 Magical Mystery Cure |
Season four | |||
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Episode 1 Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 | Episode 2 Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2 | Episode 3 Castle Mane-ia | Episode 4 Daring Don't |
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Episode 5 Flight to the Finish | Episode 6 Power Ponies | Episode 7 Bats! | Episode 8 Rarity Takes Manehattan |
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Episode 9 Pinkie Apple Pie | Episode 10 Rainbow Falls | Episode 11 Three's A Crowd | Episode 12 Pinkie Pride |
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Episode 13 Simple Ways | Episode 14 Filli Vanilli | Episode 15 Twilight Time | Episode 16 It Ain't Easy Being Breezies |
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Episode 17 Somepony to Watch Over Me | Episode 18 Maud Pie | Episode 19 For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils | Episode 20 Leap of Faith |
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Episode 21 Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 | Episode 22 Trade Ya! | Episode 23 Inspiration Manifestation | Episode 24 Equestria Games |
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Episode 25 Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1 | Episode 26 Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2 |
Season five | |||
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Episode 1 The Cutie Map - Part 1 | Episode 2 The Cutie Map - Part 2 | Episode 3 Castle Sweet Castle | Episode 4 Bloom & Gloom |
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Episode 5 Tanks for the Memories | Episode 6 Appleoosa's Most Wanted | Episode 7 Make New Friends but Keep Discord | Episode 8 The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone |
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Episode 9 Slice of Life | Episode 10 Princess Spike | Episode 11 Party Pooped | Episode 12 Amending Fences |
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Episode 13 Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? | Episode 14 Canterlot Boutique | Episode 15 Rarity Investigates! | Episode 16 Made in Manehattan |
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Episode 17 Brotherhooves Social | Episode 18 Crusaders of the Lost Mark | Episode 19 The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows | Episode 20 Hearthbreakers |
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Episode 21 Scare Master | Episode 22 What About Discord? | Episode 23 The Hooffields and McColts | Episode 24 The Mane Attraction |
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Episode 25 The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1 | Episode 26 The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2 |
Season six | |||
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Episode 1 The Crystalling - Part 1 | Episode 2 The Crystalling - Part 2 | Episode 3 The Gift of the Maud Pie | Episode 4 On Your Marks |
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Episode 5 Gauntlet of Fire | Episode 6 No Second Prances | Episode 7 Newbie Dash | Episode 8 A Hearth's Warming Tail |
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Episode 9 The Saddle Row Review | Episode 10 Applejack's "Day" Off | Episode 11 Flutter Brutter | Episode 12 Spice Up Your Life |
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Episode 13 Stranger Than Fan Fiction | Episode 14 The Cart Before the Ponies | Episode 15 28 Pranks Later | Episode 16 The Times They Are A Changeling |
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Episode 17 Dungeons & Discords | Episode 18 Buckball Season | Episode 19 The Fault in Our Cutie Marks | Episode 20 Viva Las Pegasus |
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Episode 21 Every Little Thing She Does | Episode 22 P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View) | Episode 23 Where the Apple Lies | Episode 24 Top Bolt |
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Episode 25 To Where and Back Again - Part 1 | Episode 26 To Where and Back Again - Part 2 |
Season seven | |||
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Episode 1 Celestial Advice | Episode 2 All Bottled Up | Episode 3 A Flurry of Emotions | Episode 4 Rock Solid Friendship |
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Episode 5 Fluttershy Leans In | Episode 6 Forever Filly | Episode 7 Parental Glideance | Episode 8 Hard to Say Anything |
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Episode 9 Honest Apple | Episode 10 A Royal Problem | Episode 11 Not Asking for Trouble | Episode 12 Discordant Harmony |
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Episode 13 The Perfect Pear | Episode 14 Fame and Misfortune | Episode 15 Triple Threat | Episode 16 Campfire Tales |
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Episode 17 To Change a Changeling | Episode 18 Daring Done? | Episode 19 It Isn't the Mane Thing About You | Episode 20 A Health of Information |
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Episode 21 Marks and Recreation | Episode 22 Once Upon a Zeppelin | Episode 23 Secrets and Pies | Episode 24 Uncommon Bond |
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Episode 25 Shadow Play - Part 1 | Episode 26 Shadow Play - Part 2 |
Season eight | |||
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Episode 1 School Daze - Part 1 | Episode 2 School Daze - Part 2 | Episode 3 The Maud Couple | Episode 4 Fake It 'Til You Make It |
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Episode 5 Grannies Gone Wild | Episode 6 Surf and/or Turf | Episode 7 Horse Play | Episode 8 The Parent Map |
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Episode 9 Non-Compete Clause | Episode 10 The Break Up Break Down | Episode 11 Molt Down | Episode 12 |
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Episode 13 | Episode 14 | Episode 15 | Episode 16 |
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Episode 17 | Episode 18 | Episode 19 | Episode 20 |
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Episode 21 | Episode 22 | Episode 23 | Episode 24 |
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Episode 25 | Episode 26 |
Feature films | |||
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Equestria Girls | Rainbow Rocks | Friendship Games | Legend of Everfree |
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My Little Pony The Movie |
Equestria Girls specials | |||
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Dance Magic | Movie Magic | Mirror Magic | Forgotten Friendship |