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The ratings are out of 10, this is a constant throughout the tables. For the color-coding system used by the ratings, see this page.
Additionally, episode numbers are listed by what number they aired as in the US, not by what they were produced as.
Below, in the ratings and note columns my opinions are contained; you are free to disagree with them (and even tell me so) as long as you do so in a civil manner. Oh, and don't try to tell me my opinions are "wrong" (that's a major pet peeve of mine); they're not objective fact, they are subjective opinion and therefore cannot be wrong.
Also, feel free to ask me why I rated each episode as I did, though not too much (I'm only one guy!)

Season one[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
Friendship is Magic, part 1 1 1 9
Friendship is Magic, part 2 2 2 9
The Ticket Master 3 3 6
Applebuck Season 4 4 6.5
Griffon the Brush Off 5 5 5.5 I hate Gilda*
Boast Busters 6 6 8 trrrrrrrrrrrixie!
Dragonshy 7 7 7
Look Before You Sleep 8 8 8
Bridle Gossip 9 9 8.5
Swarm of the Century 10 10 7.5
Winter Wrap Up 11 11 6.5 Mostly due to the song
Call of the Cutie 12 12 7.1 Rating went up
Fall Weather Friends 13 13 4
Suited For Success 14 14 9
Feeling Pinkie Keen 15 15 6.7
Sonic Rainboom 16 16 9
Stare Master 17 17 8 Rating went up
The Show Stoppers 18 18 8 I love the CMC, even if it
doesn't always show up in the
ratings for their episodes
A Dog and Pony Show 19 19 8.5
Green Isn't Your Color 20 20 9
Over a Barrel 21 21 6.5
A Bird in the Hoof 22 22 9
The Cutie Mark Chronicles 23 23 9.5
Owl's Well That Ends Well 24 24 8
Party of One 25 25 10 Hooray for crazy Pinkie!
The Best Night Ever 26 26 7 Mostly due to the song

Season two[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
The Return of Harmony Part 1 1 27 10 Discord is awesome
The Return of Harmony Part 2 2 28 10
Lesson Zero 3 29 10 Hooray for crazy Twilight!
Luna Eclipsed 4 30 9 Luna's triumphant return
Sisterhooves Social 5 31 8
The Cutie Pox 6 32 7
May the Best Pet Win! 7 33 9
The Mysterious Mare Do Well 8 34 6.5 Mouse-over, please
Sweet and Elite 9 35 9
Secret of My Excess 10 36 9
Hearth's Warming Eve 11 37 8.25
Family Appreciation Day 12 38 8.75
Baby Cakes 13 39 9.3
The Last Roundup 14 40 10 Original; the edited version
gets an 8.5
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 15 41 8.5
Read It and Weep 16 42 9
Hearts and Hooves Day 17 43 9.9 Watching the leak was fun, lol
A Friend in Deed 18 44 8 Mostly due to the song
Putting Your Hoof Down 19 45 7.9 Honestly, this ep is like a reverse Hancock to me: craptastic first part, great second part
It's About Time 20 46 10
Dragon Quest 21 47 8
Hurricane Fluttershy 22 48 10 I love Rainbow Dash-Fluttershy
interactions
Ponyville Confidential 23 49 9
MMMystery on the Friendship Express 24 50 8 Rating went down
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 25 51 10 The first episode to
"break the scale", so to speak

well, it was
A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 26 52 10 Contains easily the
best song of the series

Season three[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
The Crystal Empire - Part 1 1 53 9 Rating went down; just didn't like them as much as I used to
The Crystal Empire - Part 2 2 54 9 Sombra is a pretty crappy villain, though
Too Many Pinkie Pies 3 55 9 The first episode from
Dave Polsky that I enjoyed
One Bad Apple 4 56 9.5 Babs Seed was a nice addition
(the song was pretty great too)
Magic Duel 5 57 9.8 Trixie's triumphant return
Sleepless in Ponyville 6 58 10 I especially love Luna's role in the episode
Wonderbolts Academy 7 59 9.2 It was fun watching the leak, lol
Apple Family Reunion 8 60 8.9 The song's not all that great, but oh well
Spike at Your Service 9 61 6.9 Rating went down
Keep Calm and Flutter On 10 62 7.2 For having a premise written by a
15-year-old, it's pretty good
Just for Sidekicks 11 63 8.1 I love all the interactions in this one
Games Ponies Play 12 64 7 If only this one could've lived up to the previous episode
Magical Mystery Cure 13 65 9 I like this episode

Equestria Girls (limited theatrical release/TV) film(s)[]

Film title Number Rating Notes
My Little Pony Equestria Girls 1 8 It was definitely enjoyable
My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks 2 9.5 Far and away a better movie than the first
My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games 3 9.3 Seemed as good as the second movie, though not quite as strong (but still pretty darn good, with some fantastic music)
My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree 4 9 I'll be honest - I was a little underwhelmed by the movie, and still don't like the romance aspect. However, everything else was pretty solid (the story of Gaea Everfree, Gloriosa having to save Camp Everfree from Filthy Rich and turning to the residual Elements, etc.)

Season four[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 1 66 9.5 I dunno if it was just my warped mind, but this kinda seemed like a dirty episode to me
Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2 2 67 9.5 Really loved Discord's role; glad to see he's still a troll, even if he's not an antagonist
Castle Mane-ia 3 68 10 About my only complaint was that there was no Bloody Tears soundalike background music
Daring Don't 4 69 9 The reveal that A.K. Yearling is actually Daring Do herself is a bit much to swallow, but other than that, really solid ep
Flight to the Finish 5 70 8.5 One of the sweeter episodes of the series; some of the humor was forced
Power Ponies 6 71 10 Oh man, the superhero send-up was a riot, though I was hoping for more "mane" puns from the Mane-iac. Ah well, ya win some, ya lose some
Bats! 7 72 8.8 Merriwether, you have officially redeemed yourself for your mediocrity in season two, in my eyes
Rarity Takes Manehattan 8 73 8 Lampshade Hanging is brilliant
Pinkie Apple Pie 9 74 10 There's just something about having a comedically unaware party that makes family squabbles so much funnier
Rainbow Falls 10 75 8.3 Not the best episode, but the triumphant return of Derpy was great
Three's a Crowd 11 76 9.5 Ah, now this was a fun episode; but then episodes with Discord tend to be
Pinkie Pride 12 77 10 Not that season four needed it, but Weird Al definitely provided a great injection of energy, which is always great
Simple Ways 13 78 10 Excellent; Tabitha and Ashleigh clearly had fun
Filli Vanilli 14 79 10 If not for Pinkie Pie, this would've been my new favorite of the season
Twilight Time 15 80 10 It certainly did not disappoint (Sweetie Belle using magic? Awesome!)
It Ain't Easy Being Breezies 16 81 8 Natasha Levinger continues to impress
Somepony to Watch Over Me 17 82 8.8 Very, very funny, but a bit too exaggerated at times
Maud Pie 18 83 9 It certainly was fun; deadpan humor from this show is rare, so it was even more of a treat
For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils 19 84 10 Dream exploration is a great, great thing
Leap of Faith 20 85 10 It definitely was ^^
Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 21 86 10 I swear I'm not trying to inflate these ratings - I really do love these episodes that much
Trade Ya! 22 87 8 A little more schlocky at points, but really loved the parallel storylines thing
Inspiration Manifestation 23 88 9 Funny, definitely very funny (marshmelodrama is best melodrama)
Equestria Games 24 89 7.5 Wish there had been more focus on the games; oh well
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1 25 90 11 Holy hell, what a great finale
Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2 26 91 11 What an improvement over Sombra Tirek was

Animated shorts[]

Short title Short pool Rating Notes
Music to My Ears RRP 8 Kinda glad Vinyl didn't speak; fine for what it was
Guitar Centered RRP 8.5 Who knew Dash and Trixie could shred like that?
Hamstocalypse Now RRP 8 Seeing this short almost reminds me of the time I was way into Hamtaro; must've been the hamsters
Pinkie on the One RRP 8.75 How perfect that Pinkie's a drummer; totally fits her personality
Player Piano RRP 9 Definitely entertaining to watch Rarity get the Diamond Dog humans to carry her and her piano around
A Case for the Bass RRP 9 Somehow, human Flim and Flam ended up looking exactly like I expected them to
Shake your Tail! RRP 7.5 It's alright, though not really anything special
Perfect Day for Fun RRP 7.5 Same as the above
Life is a Runway RRE 7 Some neat visuals but overall pretty bland
My Past is Not Today RRE 8.6 Some really good visuals (especially Sunset's phoenix transformation) and also a much more inspired song
Friendship Through the Ages RRE 8.2 I didn't really remember it, but it was actually better than I was expecting (also, lol, the beginning piano chords kind of reminded me of Blumenkranz)
The Science of Magic FG 9 Science and magic collide - and what a collision it is, haha! (I especially liked the Rainbow goop in the isolation booth with Sunset at the end - and it's also a good setup for one of the key plotlines of the movie)
Pinkie Spy FG 8.9 Pinkie's antics are entertaining as ever, and seeing her consistently messing up Rainbow's efforts to spy on Crystal Prep was both incredibly funny and cringeworthy
All's Fair in Love & Friendship Games FG 9 Yep, best friends and nothing more. Uh-huh. Sure. Anyway, it was silly how quickly they turned on one another, but the montage was absolutely hilarious, and a Kill la Kill reference in there to boot?
Photo Finished FG 9 Photo Finish was hilariously invasive, and I've gotta say, it's kinda weird seeing a high schooler with that hair. Also, poor Luna.
A Banner Day FG 8.6 Some interesting interplay between some archetypal background humans, I've gotta say (and then Vice-Pincipal Luna trolls 'em good at the end)

Season five[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
The Cutie Map - Part 1 1 92 10 An excelent beginning to the season
The Cutie Map - Part 2 2 93 10 And an excellent conclusion, too - I feel we haven't seen the last of Starlight Glimmer
Castle Sweet Castle 3 94 8 Funnier than I was expecting - but also quite good (and the ending was as feel-tastic as I was hoping for)
Bloom & Gloom 4 95 10 Well, a CMC got their cutie mark - I can't believe I didn't think of her (XD) - still, an excellent episode, easily the best of the new season thus far
Tanks for the Memories 5 96 8 Oh man, all those faces, all over the episode - Rainbow Dash was quite expressive in this one, and the episode certainly called for it
Appleoosa's Most Wanted 6 97 8 The CMC seem to be more and more mature each time we see them, plus Sweetie Belle using magic (both of which are certainly quite welcome)
Make New Friends but Keep Discord 7 98 9.5 A very righteous episode - helped me clear out my chakras and sense the aura of my TV (righteous, man)
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone 8 99 9.8 Made me like Gilda (which is one hell of an accomplishment)
Slice of Life 9 100 9 The vignettes were kind of disjointed - but they were so good it doesn't affect the episode too much
Princess Spike 10 101 7.5 It was alright - pacing was off and moral was kind of strange
Party Pooped 11 102 8.6 Yaks were one-note and conflict seemed kind of forced - but Pinkie Pie pretty much made up for everything
Amending Fences 12 103 10 This episode was every bit as great as I expected it to be - no, even better
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? 13 104 9 A very good episode to end the first half of the season - Sailor Big McIntosh was ridiculously great
Canterlot Boutique 14 105 8.7 A good episode to open up the second half of the season
Rarity Investigates! 15 106 8.5 The ending was a little disappointing and expected, but the rest of the episode was absolutely fantastic (also, 6 writer credits? That's gotta be a new (academy) record! (twismile)
Made in Manehattan 16 107 9.5 Just like how Friendship Games confirmed for me that Josh Haber was my favorite of the new season four writers, this episode confirmed for me that Noelle Benvenuti is very high up there as well
Brotherhooves Social 17 108 9 A surprisingly sweet episode - Polsky seems to continue to be hit-or-miss
Crusaders of the Lost Mark 18 109 10 See my comment here - the little I can write in this column can't do this episode justice
The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows 19 110 9 After 2-3 straight episodes of feels, it was nice to get one that was straight up comedy
Hearthbreakers 20 111 8.4 Getting to finally meet the rest of Pinkie's family was a treat
Scare Master 21 112 8.9 Pretty good episode - there were a number of really funny gags and moments, and I like how Fluttershy progressed by the end of the episode - but at the same time, her characterization throughout most of the episode was pretty frustrating for me
What About Discord? 22 113 7.9 Something else, it seems
The Hooffields and McColts 23 114 8.2 Weakest map episode, but it was alright
The Mane Attraction 24 115 9 A fine swan song for Amy Keating Rogers in the world of pony, as well as some excellent songs
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1 25 116 11 Wow, I think it's safe to say this is easily the darkest the show has ever gotten (thus far)
The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2 26 117 11 Starlight's redemption was great, if a little rushed, and her motivations were understandable, if a little childish

Season six[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
The Crystalling - Part 1 1 118 9 Very relaxed pace, but really liked Starlight's role
The Crystalling - Part 2 2 119 9 It's almost like Haber looked at how insane and dark the previous two parter was, and intentionally made this one very relaxed (still good)
The Gift of the Maud Pie 3 120 8.6 Some great interactions and faces in this one
On Your Marks 4 121 9.5 Definitely lived up to its potential - takes the CMC in a new, exciting direction (one that I'm a big fan of)
Gauntlet of Fire 5 122 9.3 Princess Ember was great, easily the best Spike episode yet, some minor pacing problems throughout
No Second Prances 6 123 9.6 A really good episode, with some on point humor and great interactions - Starlight and Trixie's friendship is a great one
Newbie Dash 7 124 8 Rainbow Crash, how surprising - but an overall solid episode for Rainbow finally joining the Wonderbolts
A Hearth's Warming Tail 8 125 10 For such a simple concept (a ponified version of A Christmas Carol, somewhat), it's easy to tell they had a lot of fun making this - the songs especially are really great
The Saddle Row Review 9 126 9.5 Not at all what I was expecting (actually, kind of like On Your Marks in that way - also in that it's very good) - humor was spot on
Applejack's "Day" Off 10 127 8.2 Great moral and great to see Applejack and Rarity interact like that, but some bizarre pacing
Flutter Brutter 11 128 9.2 A really good episode with a solid moral (and it's something I've struggled with at various points in my life), a strong characterization of Fluttershy, and a somewhat unlikeable yet sympathetic character in Zephyr Breeze
Spice Up Your Life 12 129 8.5 Solid episode, with a good song, and the return of the Cutie Map!
Stranger Than Fan Fiction 13 130 9.2 Quibble is entertaining, and I loved his chemistry with Rainbow Dash - a solid midseason premiere
The Cart Before the Ponies 14 131 8.6 What was there I definitely liked (including seeing the CMC siting at school with their cutie marks and Sweetie Belle using magic so often) - I just wish there had been more of it
28 Pranks Later 15 132 9.5 Looks like (thankfully) my doubts about it being simply Mare Do Well 2.0 were completely justified - this was a pretty darn fun episode
The Times They Are A Changeling 16 133 10 Who knew Spike befriending a changeling could be so damn compelling?
Dungeons & Discords 17 134 9 Solid, not to mention funny interactions (similar to Confalone's previous episode, though not quite as solid) - very entertaining
Buckball Season 18 135 8.8 I definitely liked how much Ashleigh and Andrea ended up talking to themselves, haha - solid moral, pretty entertaining (and certainly much better than Fall Weather Friends)
The Fault in Our Cutie Marks 19 136 9.9 It did not disappoint - aside from a song that's not that memorable, I can't really think of anything to complain about in this episode (Gabby was fun and the Crusaders were very well-characterized, plus the moral was great)
Viva Las Pegasus 20 137 9 Too bad there wasn't another Flim Flam song, but other than that, this episode was definitely entertaining (it was definitely nice to see Flim and Flam put their conning skills to good use)
Every Little Thing She Does 21 138 9.5 It wasn't (exactly) Lesson Zero 2.0, but that's okay - it was still a great, funny episode (with some nice development for Starlight to boot!)
P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View) 22 139 8.2 Particular highlights for me were the animation and Pinkie's portrayal in Applejack's story
Where the Apple Lies 23 140 8.2 No Apple parents or baby Apple Bloom (among other things)? Ah well, such is life
Top Bolt 24 141 8.6 Solid episode, all the way through. Really loved the dynamic between Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail - also, since this is Twilight's map episode, the only map episode I felt was an improvement over its season 5 counterpart.
To Where and Back Again - Part 1 25 142 10 Great setup - who ever thought a team up of Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord would ever happen?!
To Where and Back Again - Part 2 26 143 10 Excellent teamup, some great snappiness to the dialogue in acts 1 and 2, Trixie's and Discord's arguments are hilarious, a great, foreboding atmosphere in the Changeling hive, and a transformation for the Changelings that I actually quite like!

Season seven[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
Celestial Advice 1 144 9 Excellent lowkey season debut - did a really good job of not feeling like a second part was necessary - and great characterization for Celestia (also, the Twilight fantasies were pretty hilarious)
All Bottled Up 2 145 9.5 Weak B-plot held this one back a little, but on the other hand, excellent interaction between Starlight and Trixie (even though I don't ship it, I could see why people would, especially after this one), and the song tune was fun (even if the lyrics were kind of generic and actually kind of eye-rolling - though I get the feeling that was the point)
A Flurry of Emotions 3 146 8.2 Harmless fun, nice to see Flurry Heart again, the guard/artist friend of Shining Armor was pretty funny (and unfortunately I've forgotten his name) - basically, my feelings on this episode can be summed up as "solid but unspectacular"
Rock Solid Friendship 4 147 10 I was originally gonna rate this 9.9 and come up with some minor, stupid quibble to justify that .1 off, but I genuinely couldn't think of anything, so there ya go - some on-point characterization for Maud here (I love the way that she's written - where it's clear that she's showing some emotion, but not so much that it feels out of character or strange for her), and she and Starlight have a great, natural feeling chemistry (heck, even Pinkie's antics found that sweet spot of being endearing and memorable without going too far into the annoying territory) - some notably excellent, mature dialogue as well
Fluttershy Leans In 5 148 7.9 Excellent characterization for Fluttershy, and Big Daddy McColt was a nice callback, but it was hampered by a weak conflict and overall dull story - in other words, a mixed bag
Forever Filly 6 149 9 I think this episode tackles the topic of the inevitable passage of time, nostalgia, and growing up quite well - it is definitely very sweet, and I love the parallel stories told (though I prefer the one with Sweetie Belle and Rarity slightly, for obvious reasons)
Parental Glideance 7 150 8.6 This is a good episode, that just misses out on being great, by having a fatal lack of nuance in the lesson (or it might be there, but it's not stated clearly enough - I dunno, haha)
Hard to Say Anything 8 151 7.2 Some of the dialogue felt a little flat, and in a first for me, Feather Bangs was more cringe than I remember him being - but also some good humor and the song is definitely entertaining
Honest Apple 9 152 8 Strange - kinda feels like the lesson was a little forced, and Applejack acted horribly in the second act (most egregiously removing the feathers from that hat), but lots of entertainment here (from guitar Rarity to Strawberry Sunrise), so overall, this episode is stupid, but entertaining
A Royal Problem 10 153 10 I think this episode might be my favorite of the season - I mean, you get an episode involving the Royal Pony Sisters, two of my favorite characters, interacting with Starlight Glimmer (who is also one of my favorite characters - in fact, she's my second favorite now), and have some funny interludes with Twilight Sparkle (still my favorite), and it would be a contender for favorite episode of the season right then and there - but then you have to add in the fact that there is excellent fleshing out of Celestia's and Luna's characters here, in addition to their relationship, Starlight getting called by the map (which is a nice touch), and the great, surprising reveal of Daybreaker (in addition to other stuff not mentioned here) - have I made it clear how much I love this episode already? It really was the first episode of season seven to make me say "woah" and take notice.
Not Asking for Trouble 11 154 8.2 Fairly amusing, and some fun characterization for Prince Rutherford, but what a strange choice of episode to have as the hiatus lead-in, considering how much better the surrounding episodes (specifically, 10, 12, and 13) are
Discordant Harmony 12 155 9.5 A great episode featuring Discord - there was some really great randomness, and I loved the concept that being too stable and harmonious would cause him to literally fade away - a very fun episode
The Perfect Pear 13 156 10 Finally, Applejack's parents are revealed - what a sweet, emotional episode this is. I love all the parallels between the Apple siblings' parents and them (parallelism is a trope that I absolutely love, in general), and how the story is told among the different ponies makes sense. And oh man, that song - easily the best song of season 7. I didn't get emotional (or even close) on first watch, but subsequent rewatches have definitely allowed more of the impact to hit home. I especially like how the show gets as close as they possibly can (without directly saying it) to confirming that Bright McIntosh and Pear Butter are dead
Fame and Misfortune 14 157 10 A great, hilarious, (often) accurate, and loving "take-that" aimed at the fandom (specifically, the brony fandom, but it could honestly apply to just about any fandom) - which, based on this place, deserves it more often than not, with a pretty great and meaningful song to boot
Triple Threat 15 158 9 Great to see Thorax and Ember interact like that, and be so useful to strengthening each other's weaknesses as leaders - also interesting to see Spike get called by the map for causing his own friendship problem and then "fixing" it, haha (also, I totally ship Embrax now)
Campfire Tales 16 159 8.6 Yeah, the framing story feels fairly meager (although it is nice to see the CMC hanging out with their big sisters again - in that way, it reminds me of Sleepless in Ponyville, which is never a bad episode to remind me of), but the legends themselves are pretty neat, and make sense as to why they would be each pony's favorite
To Change a Changeling 17 160 9 Enjoyable seeing more of the changelings again, and seeing how the hive had changed since the season 6 finale (although I guess it's now just the place that's called the hive and the changeling citizenry is now the "pack"? Idk) - also, Pharynx was hilarious, and the way that Thorax finally convinced him to transform made a lot of sense
Daring Done? 18 161 8.9 I'm a bit ashamed that I had forgotten how I knew it was Caballeron - he's pretty painfully obvious, and to be fair, had he not tried to take Rainbow Dash with Pinkie and AK Yearling right off to the side, his plan might have actually succeeded! However, nice Daring Do episode, a nice Egyptian twist on the legend this time, and Somnambula is great (also, it's kinda nice seeing Pinkie be something of the voice of reason while Rainbow Dash gets distracted by her rabid fangirl-ism)
It Isn't the Mane Thing About You 19 162 9 Such an odd, funny, and entertaining episode, with a surprisingly good lesson (about inner confidence translating into outer confidence)
A Health of Information 20 163 9.6 I really enjoyed the sense of urgency underlying the episode - I think a lot of it had to do with how driven Fluttershy was portrayed - which was understandable, given her guilt over Zecora being sickened. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the swamp, and how unique it was made to feel by the Cajun/bayou-esque background music (and how that applied to the legend of Meadowbrook)
Marks and Recreation 21 164 8.9 More entertaining than I remember (I remember it being somewhat dry) - though the lesson was every bit as good as I remember (it being that it's beneficial to try stuff, so you can find things you enjoy doing, even if it's not what you're meant to do with your life - and who knows, that might just be how you find what you are meant to do with your life). The reason why it's an 8.9 and not a 9 is because Rumble is just a bit too over-the-top and irritating
Once Upon a Zeppelin 22 165 9.3 A really nice, mature lesson (about self-care, and knowing where to set your boundaries), is the main highlight of this one - although it was nice to see Iron Will again, and Star Tracker was just so hilariously awkward in his interactions with Twilight - heck, it was enjoyable seeing Twilight getting to shine again
Secrets and Pies 23 166 8.9 I think that, now that I knew what to expect, I was able to enjoy this episode more. I was torn on whether to give it a 9 (because of how ridiculous and fun it was) or an 8.8 (because of the numerous easy ways that this could have been resolved in a less ridiculous way), so I decided to split the difference
Uncommon Bond 24 167 9.3 A great episode, with a great lesson (about how you don't have to have all that much in common with your friends, as long as you enjoy each other's company and get one another) - it was very interesting (though it made a lot of sense) to see Sunburst hit it off so immediately with Starlight's friends (I guess that's another thing they had in common - taste in friendship). If I had one critique about this episode, it's that it's a little on the dull, slow side, but that hardly ruins the enjoyment
Shadow Play - Part 1 25 168 9 The storytelling flaws unfortunately kind of drag this one down, but it's very interesting to see Starlight, of all ponies, forced into being the voice of reason, since Twilight is too busy fangirling over Star Swirl - also a nice touch to have Starlight have poor hornwriting (considering my incredibly poor handwriting, it's another way I can relate to her)
Shadow Play - Part 2 26 169 9 Thankfully, the storytelling flaws aren't as apparent here, and I love the touches with the worldbuilding (the parallels between the Pillars and the element-bearers) - in particular, I loved Star Swirl's characterization (and based on Celestia's line in MMC, it makes a lot of sense). The final conflict is kinda rushed, but it's a forgivable flaw

Equestria Girls specials[]

Special title Number Rating Notes
Dance Magic 1 8.2 Some great characterization for Equestria Girls Rarity - also nice to see the Shadowbolts again, and while the conflict was obvious, it still felt worthwhile in the end - it made sense for them to all work together to their strengths
Movie Magic 2 7.9 Telegraphed stuff just a bit too much, and as a result felt very obvious, but it was still entertaining enough (also apparently the in-universe actors can't act?!) - Juniper's idea to sabotage the movie in hopes of getting cast as Daring Do is nonsensical from a rational standpoint, but from a teenager's viewpoint, I can see it making total sense
Mirror Magic 3 8.6 The stuff with Juniper and the mirror is not too terribly interesting, but that's more than made up by the interactions between Sunset and Starlight (seriously, who didn't want to see that?), as well as Starlight's human form being actually pretty cool (also, pretty funny joke toward the end)
Forgotten Friendship 4 9.6 Great, intense stuff - Wallflower is a pretty sympathetic villain, much needed reunion between Sunset and Celestia, some great humor, in addition to everything I mentioned in the comment here
Rollercoaster of Friendship 5 9 Feels a bit derivative of Mirror Magic (although the twist it puts on that is hilarious and unexpected), and the villain can be grating (though sadly realistic as far as minor Internet celebrities go), but some great character moments in here, and also Rarijack and (minor) FlutterDash
Spring Breakdown 6 9.2 It feels strangely like a mix of good Nick Confalone and bad Nick Confalone, as far as the writing goes - when the jokes hit, they are great, and the stuff in Equestria is awesome - but then there are plenty of jokes (namely cutting back between Sunset Shimmer, Sci-Twi, and EG Rainbow Dash relaxing in the Castle of Friendship and having that juxtaposed with the others who remained in the human world) that seem to go on for too long - on the whole, stronger than RoC, but can't touch Forgotten Friendship
Sunset's Backstage Pass 7 9.8 I love Groundhog Day-type stories in general, so of course I would love this one - but I think this special just gets so much right - from doing a great job of showing Pinkie and Sunset being in the wrong for various things (and doing it while playing off their character flaws), to a nice appearance from the Dazzlings, showing how they've changed (although knowing this was the last special, and so probably their last appearance, does temper that quite a bit), to just nailing the emotions so well, and even the lesson is great. Also, the song is quite catchy

Wide theatrical release film(s)[]

Film title Number Rating Notes
My Little Pony The Movie 1 9.6 The story can suffer from rushed pacing, and it's a shame there are too many new characters (don't really have a chance to flesh them out, except in the comics) - but they are very likable, and everything else is supremely enjoyable (the animation is a real treat to look at throughout, and the music in general - both score and songs, with the actual orchestra - is excellent) - emotionally true, great character arcs for both Tempest and Twilight, surprisingly profound role for Pinkie in the story, the voice acting is perhaps the best it's been in the series, both from the regulars as well as the celebrity guest stars, who do an admirable job of really fitting into the series (they really get into their characters, rather than it being a case of them stepping into a recording booth and then collecting a paycheck)
Same in name as the 1980's movie, but so, so much better.

Season eight[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
School Daze - Part 1 1 170 10 Just a whole lot of fun - the Young Six, especially, are a welcome addition
School Daze - Part 2 2 171 10 Starlight makes a great guidance counselor, the Young Six continue to have great chemistry, and bigotry is tackled in an unexpectedly head on way. What's not to love?
The Maud Couple 3 172 8.8 Y'know, on rewatch, basically all my problems with the episode disappeared - except Mudbriar. Didn't particularly care for him, but I'm at least warming up to him
Fake It Til You Make It 4 173 8.8 A bit uneven, but still quite entertaining - resolution is incredibly rushed, but the termination scene is great - and frankly anything involving Fluttershy's characters is great (especially Hipstershy - the slang is so cringe it's hysterical)
Grannies Gone Wild 5 174 8.2 A mostly okay episode, nothing spectacular, aside from the references in the background
Surf and/or Turf 6 175 10 The one but of criticism I have about this episode is the fact that Scootaloo's and Sweetie Belle's fight seems a little silly and over the top. Everything else is excellent
Horse Play 7 176 10 After the feels of the last episode, it was nice to get one that was just a pure burst of fun - some really great lines in this one too. Celestia was excellent, and all the other characters were pretty great too - nice to see the Young Six again
The Parent Map 8 177 9 It was nice to be introduced to at least Starlight's dad and Sunburst's mom, and I appreciated how the conflict of old vs. new turned out to just be a massive red herring
Non-Compete Clause 9 178 9 It was definitely hilarious seeing Applejack and Rainbow Dash being so unnaturally deferential to each other, and there were some pretty funny gags in the cold open - other than that, this rating is for the Young Six. Loved 'em.
The Break Up Break Down 10 179 9.3 A bit of a cliched storyline, but the execution (of three simultaneous plot threads) is where this one shines
Molt Down 11 180 9.5 A low key episode, but a nice one - Spike is growing up, and it feels natural, and also nice use of Smolder and Zecora, among others, many other great things, just see my comment
Marks for Effort 12 181 10 Doesn't quite claim the crown as my favorite of the season, but it sure does come close. Maybe I'm biased because I love the CMC, and Starlight Glimmer, and the School of Friendship, but this episode absolutely flew by, especially once Cozy Glow showed up (also, totally called that the CMC would be tutors by the halfway point)
The Mean 6 13 182 9.3 Well, it was a nice, but ultimately futile, attempt by Chrysalis to get revenge - fun interactions abound in this episode, particularly between the Mean 6 and Mane 6 and then also the Mean 6 and Chrysalis
A Matter of Principals 14 183 9.6 Discord was being a complete and total troll - and it made sense (since he's not good with talking about his feelings, but he felt left out) - also, great role for Starlight, and the Young Six, though limited, were great too
The Hearth's Warming Club 15 184 10 Such an entertaining, touching episode. Some nice backstory on the Young Six (especially Gallus, poor guy), and some nice worldbuilding as well. The chemistry between the Young Six is ever present.
Friendship University 16 185 9 Ah, so it was just because he happened to pass through Las Pegasus - and Neighsay was involved, but not directly other than giving accreditation, I suppose. A fun enough episode - nice to get another Flim-Flam song; even if the plot-line seems like a rehash of their previous episodes, and the whole thing feels fairly insignificant. I did love the disguises, especially Twilight's, and how everyone aside from Rarity (and that one pony) weren't convinced by it.
The End in Friend 17 186 8.8 An alright episode - nothing stands out too much, and it kind of feels like a retread of Uncommon Bond, but did enjoy the references to previous episodes, and while the students weren't used that much, it was nice to see them.
Yakity-Sax 18 187 8.6 Funny enough little episode - feels thin in the content area; also, Pinkie's reaction is a little over-the-top, but the approach used by her friends could've used a little more nuance
Road to Friendship 19 188 10 Didn't get to see Saddle Arabia - but that's really the only knock I can make about this episode. Great interactions between Starlight and Trixie, a catchy song, and numerous hilarious moments make this episode a standout in an already strong season
The Washouts 20 189 10 Well, Lightning Dust certainly returned, and it was refreshing to see that she had learned something from her experience at the Wonderbolt Academy - just probably not what she should have learned. Also, great interactions between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo (including a mature-though-still-egotistical performance from the former), and the comedy was on-point (particular standouts were the Spitfire rant and Short Fuse) - also, perhaps confirmation that Scootaloo has given up on trying to fly solely using her own power
A Rockhoof and a Hard Place 21 190 10 The pony-out-of-time story was handled as well as I'd hoped it would be, good to see the other pillars again, great comedy, some nice feels (and development of Yona) at the end, great comedy throughout, and overall just a really fun and heartwarming episode
What Lies Beneath 22 191 10 Some great characterization for the Young Six (especially Silverstream, Smolder, and Ocellus), a great format (cutting back and forth between the threads felt wholly natural), and confirmation that Cozy Glow is up to no good - this episode lived up to my expectations completely, which is rare
Sounds of Silence 23 192 10 Autumn Blaze is the real star of this episode - so charming, and with a great song. Also, the lesson is great, the whole eastern feel to things is nice, and the kirin are a great addition to the lore of Friendship is Magic
Father Knows Beast 24 193 9.2 The Smolder and Spike interactions were great (they're the reason why it's a 9.2 instead of a 9), and overall, I didn't hate Sludge as much as most people seemed to
School Raze - Part 1 25 194 11 Fantastic animation, does an incredible job of setting the mood, does just enough to keep you guessing as to whether the true big bad is Neighsay or Cozy Glow - also, really loved the scenes without music (since the show doesn't do them that much)
School Raze - Part 2 26 195 11 A believable turnaround from Neighsay, Cozy Glow is entirely credible, convincing, and impressive as a villain (not to mention more than a little terrifying), and yay, we get more of the Young Six! Speaking of which, as always, they were an excellent part of this two-parter

Friendship is Magic special(s)[]

Special title Number Overall number Rating Notes
My Little Pony Best Gift Ever 1 196 9.6 Some great moments for all the Mane Six to shine, some great expressions (pudding), and overall a really solid work. The second song is definitely better than the first (and I like "Hearth's Warming Eve is Here Once Again" more than it, as a note), and Fluttershy's characterization, in particular, seemed to take more cues from her season 1 form than I would have liked (though Spike going back to crushing so hard on Rarity is not far behind that) - also, the reindeer are certainly a nice addition
My Little Pony: Rainbow Roadtrip 2 N/A 8.8 A bit slow paced (seems like it might have been stretched out to reach an hour), but a very charming special, with a relatable problem - and it was a good idea to not have it be the work of some evil villain or anything. The songs are nice, and that proposal at the end, while expected, was still kind of shocking. The new characters (especially Kerfuffle) are all enjoyable and likeable. The animation and direction show that the next series (assuming it's happening) will be in solid hands with Boulder Media at the helm, instead of DHX

Season nine (final season)[]

Episode title Number in season Overall number Rating Notes
The Beginning of the End - Part 1 1 197 10 One heck of a way to kick off the final season in earnest - the League of Villains (especially Cozy) is great, and nice to finally get Sombra some personality
The Beginning of the End - Part 2 2 198 10 I honestly didn't know how this one was going to go until the end - loved that ominous, foreboding atmosphere the episode exuded (I felt there was a real sense of desperation). On the downside, the ending is a bit of a letdown, but not as much as it could have been, and not enough to drag the episode down as a whole
Uprooted 3 199 9.2 I liked the episode quite a bit, especially upon re-watch, but it still felt like the episode had quite a bit of padding in the middle, like it might have been a struggle to get it up to 22 minutes - but this could go up, as I'm warming up to it more and more
Sparkle's Seven 4 200 9.2 Much more focused and integrated into the overall story than Slice of Life, but as a consequence, less madcap fun - I still slightly prefer this, however. Really good ideas from all the actresses, but Cathy's idea for Spike was by far the best.
The Point of No Return 5 201 9 Twilight is her usual adorkable self, nice to get an episode focused on her, with a significant role by Spike - in some ways, feels like a slightly less memorable version of Amending Fences
Common Ground 6 202 9 I wasn't as much a fan of this episode originally, but upon re-watches I understood the emotions more, and felt everything was more cohesive than I originally thought
She's All Yak 7 203 9.2 I was frankly disappointed with the lack of Gallstream, and that originally colored my opinion on the episode - but it's a really good episode, even without that (Yona is great in this one)
Frenemies 8 204 10 I was basically expecting nothing from this episode (I was way more excited about the reveal next week) - and so this episode completely and totally blew me away - definitely the best episode of the first half, but it was close
Sweet and Smoky 9 205 9.7 My day was made, and my satisfaction was immeasurable, when Garble was revealed to be Smolder's brother. Fun interactions all around, and since reforming Garble never bugged me, I was able to enjoy Fluttershy, Ember, and everyone else here - my one complaint is that the plot threads coming together was frankly kind of sloppy, and has been done way better in FiM
Going to Seed 10 206 8.6 A fairly basic episode, but I enjoyed the lesson - also, it seems like William Anderson was aware that this was a fairly middle-of-the-road episode, because he really stepped up his scoring game
Student Counsel 11 207 10 Do I get (partial) credit for kind of predicting Silverstream would be one of the main drivers of the conflict? Answer: no. Anyway, what a fun episode - and some great chemistry among the rag-tag group. This is one of those episodes that just completely and totally works - also, Maud and Mudbriar were probably the funniest part of the episode (can't believe I said that) - and a good lesson about work-life balance
The Last Crusade 12 208 9.5 Not a breakup, but almost certainly a finale to CMC-centric episodes (that whole CMC-appreciation sequence in the end definitely points to that) - and definitely a fitting one. Introducing Scootaloo's lesbian aunts into the show was something I predicted would never happen (in this case, I couldn't be more happy to be wrong!) - it does that and introduces her parents! It's fitting, if a bit of a copout, that they would be portrayed as they are here
Between Dark and Dawn 13 209 10 Wow! A strong contender for best episode (and song) of the first half, but I feel it comes up just short (in both categories) to Frenemies. Loved the portrayal of the princesses, love their relationship (they clearly care for each other, even if they can't help being complete opposites in a lot of key ways), and love the animation here. The plot with the princesses is so great, in fact, that it completely makes up for the weak, almost-seemingly pointless B-plot of the Swannifying.
The Last Laugh 14 210 9.5 I loved the lesson in this episode - about how, if you try to hard to please others, you'll end up losing sight of what pleased you, and it'll end up eventually with no one being pleased; or it could be that even small, simple things like bringing a smile to the people around you can be a worthwhile purpose in life. Also, the song was pretty great
2, 4, 6, Greaaat 15 211 8.9 This is a weird one - Rainbow Dash is in-character, I feel, but highly exaggerated, and she can be so unpleasant in this one. On the other hand, Smolder is great, so is sports-fan Celestia, and heck, the rest of the cheer squad is too. Also, I really liked how Twilight is becoming more and more like Celestia
A Trivial Pursuit 16 212 9.2 So many great Twilight faces and Twilighting moments in this one. I can't help but feel this episode acts as a finale for those moments, considering the next episode - and that's fine, this was a fitting finale. Other than that, a bit of a basic episode, and this was one of the rare ones where Twilight got on my nerves just a bit (it really doesn't happen often)
The Summer Sun Setback 17 213 9.8 Like a lot of recent Vogel episodes, this one is fairly busy - and like those episodes, it does a bang up job following the various plot threads, weaving them together into a compelling narrative. It certainly made me much more excited for the finale, and really gives the sense of urgency, that the finale is right around the corner - with the Princesses stepping down, Grogar off to find... whatever it is he found, and his legion trying to learn to use the Bewitching Bell to betray him
She Talks to Angel 18 214 9.6 A very fun episode that adds a nice depth to Fluttershy and Angel's relationship - it was fascinating what we learned about Angel, in particular. Getting to see more of the sanctuary, as well as what goes on there, was also nice
Dragon Dropped 19 215 9.5 The reasoning for Spike befriending Gabby made a lot of sense, and it was nice that she was able to get one last speaking role in the series - it was also really great how the series addressed Rarity kind of taking advantage of Spike, and then taking him for granted
A Horse Shoe-In 20 216 10 I wish the new writer who wrote this had gotten to work on more episodes, because this just got so much right, from the characterization of Starlight, to the conflict between her desires and Trixie being a poor match for what she wants her to be, and everything in-between. Also, might have the funniest ending to any episode of the series
Daring Doubt 21 217 9.5 I like the lesson here, of needing to be open to an honest dialogue so that you can understand other perspectives of an issue (obviously emphasizing the honest part), and the antics with the truth talisman are very entertaining. Ahuizotl's role is maybe a bit of a retcon, but I think it just needs a little creativity to see how it works
Growing Up is Hard to Do 22 218 7.5 This frankly feels like a holdover from an earlier season (and apparently they had wanted to do a grown-up CMC episode earlier but Hasbro wouldn't allow it?). This is a fun, enjoyable episode, but the issues I've had with Ed Valentine episodes (frankly, with the exception of The Fault in Our Cutie Marks and Flight to the Finish, a bit) are out in full force - namely, the somewhat forced humor and very in-your-face presentation of the lesson. I don't think I would be grading it so harshly except for the fact that it's one of the very last episodes of the series, and so I would expect it to be better. I frankly consider The Last Crusade to be the true CMC finale, while this is more just a curiosity
The Big Mac Question 23 219 10 I knew what it was gonna be about even before I read the summary - having said that, this was the absolute perfect episode to head into the finale on. Loved the return of the mockumentary format (was nice to see The Saddle Row Review wasn't a one-off), and it was fun and sweet to see how much everyone cared. The little thing in the background with Lyra and Bon Bon was great, and overall, I just really enjoyed this one, knowing it was going to be the last standard episode before the finale. Even though it's not my favorite episode of the series, I was almost tempted to let it break the scale (even if it's not a finale) simply because of what it meant.
The Ending of the End - Part 1 24 220 11 I was actually spoiled on the twist of Grogar being Discord, but I honestly didn't believe it, so when it happened, I was still surprised - definitely in-character for him. It was nice to see the seeds of doubt planted by the villains take root in the cracks amongst the different pony races, and see their powered up forms (with Chrysalis's being the most unexpected). Also, getting to see Starlight kick some major flank was just awesome
The Ending of the End - Part 2 25 221 11 Again, getting to see Starlight be awesome was, well... awesome. Also, good to see Discord attempting to redeem for his horrible, horrible mistake. Twilight's doubt really hit home for me, and was understandable. Finally, it was so great to see that huge group come together to fight a common enemy. Just epic. The villain trio getting turned to stone seemed a bit harsh, but I wonder if that topic will be broached in the season 10 comics.
The Last Problem 26 222 11 Just an absolutely perfect series finale, about as great as we could expect. The story of Twilight's move to Canterlot really hit home, since it was clearly talking about how things would never quite be the same now that the series is over, and the disastrous coronation was a nice bit of levity in the episode. I also enjoyed, once again, the explicit parallels being drawn between Twilight and Celestia (as well as Luster and past Twilight). It certainly seems like Equestria is a lot more open to other cultures now, which is nice. Also, was not expecting Pinkie Pie to be the one, in the end, to end up in a canonical relationship (as I don't consider AppleDash or Fluttercord to be). And just so many feels, from the memory book, to the cry when Twilight is readying to move, to "The Magic of Friendship Grows". Oh lord, "The Magic of Friendship Grows" - an absolutely perfect end to a truly magical series. I still can't get through that ending chord in the music, with the book finally closing, without breaking down.

Overall season ratings[]

The ratings are my feelings on the season as a whole - they are not an average of the ratings of the individual episodes.

Season number Rating Notes
1 7 A pretty decent start to the show, establishes the characters we've all come to know and love. Second half is much better than the first, overall (I personally think the series started getting better with Suited For Success).
2 8.5 A much better season overall than the first, but still a little uneven (still a bit too many "boring", dud episodes - though there are fewer of them so they're more balanced out)
3 7.5 Too bad it's a truncated season - probably would have scored higher if it was a full length season (as there was only one episode I really consider a "dud", which extrapolates to two for a full season, less than either season that came before)
4 9.5 Now here's where things really started getting good (continuing storyline, excellent episodes, what's not to love?)
5 9.9 And continued to here (how funny, with my two favorite episodes this season, one contains something I had never even known I wanted before, while the other contained an event I had been pining for since the beginning)
6 9 A definite step back in quality from seasons 4 & 5, but still very solid (and still with some episodes, like A Hearth's Warming Tail and The Saddle Row Review, that became instant classics)
7 9.3 Some really excellent episodes this go around - the things holding it back are basically the fact that I feel that this has one of the weaker season finales (though that's relative, as you'll be able to tell from the score), as well as the fact that overall, it just didn't quite have the same "wow" factor as 4 & 5
8 10 Lots of movie references throughout, nice that the songs had a real orchestral backing this time, and the School of Friendship is a great setting. However, the standout from this season is the Young Six - they are easily the best part of the season, and I can't wait to see more from them. Also, that stretch during the second half of the season might be the best the show has ever been
9
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