Season 6 Episode Discussion [Speculation/Theories/Beware of Spoilers]
Poison Trail 
Final rating:
1- Saddle Row Review
2- Stranger than Fanfiction
3- Gauntlet of Fire
4- There and Back Again
5- A Hearth’s Warming Tail
6- The Times are a Changeling
7- Buckball Season
8- Dungeons and Discords
9- Top Bolt
10- The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
11- Spice Up your Life
12- 28 Pranks Later
13- On Your Marks
14- The Gift of The Maud Pie
15- The Crystaling
16- Viva Las Pegasus
17- P.P.O.V
18- Newbie Dash
19- Where the Apple Lies
20- Flutter Brutter
21- The Cart Before the Ponies
22- Every Little Thing She Does
23- Applejack’s Day Off
24- No Second Prances
Top Bolt set out to portray an issue I can painfully relate with: that seeing oneself dependent to another which takes you for granted results in a very unhealthy relationship that’s bound to eventually implode. Too many times I’ve taken decisions not for myself, but for someone else out of fear of losing them. It was quite a deep lesson…. buuuut the episode showcased my two least favorite of the mane 6, and ramped up the reasons why up to eleven. Few episodes forces me to skip past parts which cringe factor is through the roof, this episode was one of em with all the “Awesome-O Dash” and “Study-O Twilight” moments. On the other hand, these are the Wonderbolts I’ve wanted to see for a long time, none of that “Designated Insensitive Jackass to make RD Look Better” crap.
So in the end, bit above average despite all the cringe due to how deep the lesson turned out to be.
As for the season itself… I really dunno. It feels like a rating is unnecessary at this point, seasons all have their ups and downs. This season was known for having an amazing start, likely the best in the series with consistent above-average episodes and a few gems thrown in, but then the mid-season came and the opposite happened, only recovering near the end. It was the Recovered Trainwreck season, basically.
1- Saddle Row Review
2- Stranger than Fanfiction
3- Gauntlet of Fire
4- There and Back Again
5- A Hearth’s Warming Tail
6- The Times are a Changeling
7- Buckball Season
8- Dungeons and Discords
9- Top Bolt
10- The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
11- Spice Up your Life
12- 28 Pranks Later
13- On Your Marks
14- The Gift of The Maud Pie
15- The Crystaling
16- Viva Las Pegasus
17- P.P.O.V
18- Newbie Dash
19- Where the Apple Lies
20- Flutter Brutter
21- The Cart Before the Ponies
22- Every Little Thing She Does
23- Applejack’s Day Off
24- No Second Prances
Top Bolt set out to portray an issue I can painfully relate with: that seeing oneself dependent to another which takes you for granted results in a very unhealthy relationship that’s bound to eventually implode. Too many times I’ve taken decisions not for myself, but for someone else out of fear of losing them. It was quite a deep lesson…. buuuut the episode showcased my two least favorite of the mane 6, and ramped up the reasons why up to eleven. Few episodes forces me to skip past parts which cringe factor is through the roof, this episode was one of em with all the “Awesome-O Dash” and “Study-O Twilight” moments. On the other hand, these are the Wonderbolts I’ve wanted to see for a long time, none of that “Designated Insensitive Jackass to make RD Look Better” crap.
So in the end, bit above average despite all the cringe due to how deep the lesson turned out to be.
As for the season itself… I really dunno. It feels like a rating is unnecessary at this point, seasons all have their ups and downs. This season was known for having an amazing start, likely the best in the series with consistent above-average episodes and a few gems thrown in, but then the mid-season came and the opposite happened, only recovering near the end. It was the Recovered Trainwreck season, basically.
Dustcan 
Dogs
You know I like how Top Bolt’s friendship problem wasn’t about two people fighting. Instead it was the opposite: that the two people’s interactions had too little conflict to the point where they were self-destructively codependent. It was an interesting change of pace.
Lord WyrmSpawN 
Put Out to Pasture
Also, before I forget, this line:
“You won’t improve if you don’t know that you need to.”
Might be the most unambiguously true thing ever said on this show.
“You won’t improve if you don’t know that you need to.”
Might be the most unambiguously true thing ever said on this show.
Miss Shy 
You're going to love me.
…Wait a fucking second, the episode talked about cider and it still aired.
Magma_ERuptiOn
I read this shit?
@Miss Shy
Odd mentions of it can survive, in WTAL it was mentioned pretty much throughout.
Odd mentions of it can survive, in WTAL it was mentioned pretty much throughout.
Dustcan
Dogs
@Magma_ERuptiOn
That and as Silver Quill mentioned the end of the episode has Granny Smith offering Applebloom some cider. So to the UK it would run afoul with underage drinking laws.
Edit:Ninja’d
That and as Silver Quill mentioned the end of the episode has Granny Smith offering Applebloom some cider. So to the UK it would run afoul with underage drinking laws.
Edit:Ninja’d
Miss Shy
You're going to love me.
Might as well. My tentative full episode ranking for Season 6.
- Gauntlet of Fire
- Saddle Row Review
- Flutter Brutter
- Stranger Than Fan Fiction
- Buckball Season
- The Gift of the Maud Pie
- The Times They Are a Changeling
- No Second Prances
- A Hearth’s Warming Tail
- P.P.O.V.
10. Top Bolt - Viva Las Pegasus
- Dungeons and Discords
- To Where and Back Again
- Spice Up Your Life
- The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
- The Cart Before the Ponies
- Newbie Dash
- Where the Apple Lies
- Applejack’s “Day” Off
- 28 Pranks Later
- The Crystalling
- On Your Marks
- Every Little Thing She Does
Hey, not only is Dash not a complete jackass or idiot, the Wonderbolts aren’t utter cunts! That’s already two things the episode has going for them! This is the best Rainbow Dash episode this season, because the other two were Newbie Dash and 28 Pranks Later…fuck.
Just like last season, Dash and her partner have different methods of solving the problem. But unlike Griffonstone, Dash is only partially wrong with Twilight. And they do try each other’s ideas, but it’s clear the answer is something else, which they get to by speaking from the heart.
I have a single sibling, so I can’t directly empathize with either Sky or Vapor, but I have quite a few friends with too many siblings or none at all that don’t get enough attention or too much attention from their parents respectively, so I can at least sympathize with them. It’s an unhealthy relationship, but not because one’s good and one’s evil or both just keep fighting, but one is unwittingly relying on the other. That’s something I didn’t expect the show to talk about, and they handled it very well.
I’m glad that there’s no obvious antagonist this map episode. Unlike Zesty or Gladmane, Sky and Vapor aren’t bad or manipulative, just friends that came under too much tension until they snapped. It gives them much more character, and are more memorable that way.
Heh, the map episodes this season solved most of the map problems from last season.
Fluttershy having more use than “Talk to animals”
Twilight actually being used for something.
Rainbow Dash not being seen as completely wrong.
The last pair not just being shoved into a problem for no reason.
While the episode is not bad by any means, it’s not something spectacular. There are a few funny moments and good lines, but nothing that could really beat PPOV’s exaggerations, Hearth’s Warming Tail’s songs, or the complete lack of Spike-bashing.
Except for that one face Twilight makes, but that’s only for memes.
It’s a well above-average episode, soared above my expectations, and it’s a pretty good way to end the season before the finale.
I mean we already saw the finale earlier, but…uh…
Anonycat 
Okay, I guess.
@Pepsi Twist
It was probably the best episode of the entire season.
No over ambitious plot, no gimmicks, no meme overdose, etc. Just a solid conflict, 2 nice new characters, good character interaction and a nice resolution.
In fact, I wish this season’s writing could have been more like this episode.
It was probably the best episode of the entire season.
No over ambitious plot, no gimmicks, no meme overdose, etc. Just a solid conflict, 2 nice new characters, good character interaction and a nice resolution.
In fact, I wish this season’s writing could have been more like this episode.
Kanye West
Thicc Thighs Connoisseur
Looking back at Applejack’s “Day” Off makes me sad. The only good thing to come from that episode was wrinkled Rarity.
Loira 
Smolder is a cutie
@Anonycat
I thought it was pretty average tbh, I think there’s been plenty of better episodes this season, just my opinion anyway.
Also, the one thing that bothered me about this episode is that it’s so hard for them to just be honest with the guy and give him support going forward, instead going the route of “hoping” that he doesn’t catch wind of the truth and just carries on, I can forgive them because their hearts are in the right place, but yeah.
I thought it was pretty average tbh, I think there’s been plenty of better episodes this season, just my opinion anyway.
Also, the one thing that bothered me about this episode is that it’s so hard for them to just be honest with the guy and give him support going forward, instead going the route of “hoping” that he doesn’t catch wind of the truth and just carries on, I can forgive them because their hearts are in the right place, but yeah.
Anonycat
Okay, I guess.
@Lokizade
We already know this series cannot ever follow any logic or the episodes would not last 22 minutes.
Personally I disliked all episodes except for this one and buckball one, simply because everything was so light and low profile unlike other episodes where the excesive animation detail becomes overwhelming or the convoluted plot/nods/celebrities shoutout made everything hard to follow and relate.
I disliked Stranger than Fanfiction because I had zero idea about who was Quibble’s VA and half of the episode’s charm was hanging on that.
We already know this series cannot ever follow any logic or the episodes would not last 22 minutes.
Personally I disliked all episodes except for this one and buckball one, simply because everything was so light and low profile unlike other episodes where the excesive animation detail becomes overwhelming or the convoluted plot/nods/celebrities shoutout made everything hard to follow and relate.
I disliked Stranger than Fanfiction because I had zero idea about who was Quibble’s VA and half of the episode’s charm was hanging on that.
Loira
Smolder is a cutie
@Anonycat
Fair enough, you like the more low profile, down to earth episodes, that’s cool.
And I get that they needed to stretch the episode out by having some additional complexity to things and all, some episodes work a lot better than others with their storylines, but I didn’t like that Twi and RD might have gone ahead just fine with sweeping the truth under the rug if Sky had just improved by himself, rather than actually giving him the truth he should know, and then moving on, supporting him and helping him to improve.
If the truth hadn’t have come out and he’d just improved without ever knowing where his “previous skill” came from, then the episode would have been on my shit list along with What About Discord, thankfully Vapor Trail told the truth rather than bottling it up forever, but I would have expected Twi and RD to do this at some point, maybe they were going to rather than trying to sweep it under the rug, but we’ll never know.
Fair enough, you like the more low profile, down to earth episodes, that’s cool.
And I get that they needed to stretch the episode out by having some additional complexity to things and all, some episodes work a lot better than others with their storylines, but I didn’t like that Twi and RD might have gone ahead just fine with sweeping the truth under the rug if Sky had just improved by himself, rather than actually giving him the truth he should know, and then moving on, supporting him and helping him to improve.
If the truth hadn’t have come out and he’d just improved without ever knowing where his “previous skill” came from, then the episode would have been on my shit list along with What About Discord, thankfully Vapor Trail told the truth rather than bottling it up forever, but I would have expected Twi and RD to do this at some point, maybe they were going to rather than trying to sweep it under the rug, but we’ll never know.
Loira
Smolder is a cutie
@Anonycat
Personally speaking I’ve enjoyed most of the season, but that element of this episode was kind of nagging at my mind a bit when I finished it, wanted to get it off my chest.
I’m not angry at the girls, their hearts were in the right place and all, they wanted to help, but as far as the writing goes I think things could have been a bit different in some ways to avoid having this somewhat morally questionable vibe I’m feeling as far as their actions go as I described above, it doesn’t sit right with me.
Personally speaking I’ve enjoyed most of the season, but that element of this episode was kind of nagging at my mind a bit when I finished it, wanted to get it off my chest.
I’m not angry at the girls, their hearts were in the right place and all, they wanted to help, but as far as the writing goes I think things could have been a bit different in some ways to avoid having this somewhat morally questionable vibe I’m feeling as far as their actions go as I described above, it doesn’t sit right with me.
Amber
I finally watched the two-parter.
I think I’ve said it before, but I’m not really a fan of the idea of the changelings being reformed, I did like the idea of Thorax being an anomaly, though. But well, Chrysalis is still out there plotting revenge.
On the other hand, I’m pleasantly surprised how it was Starlight, along with Trixie, Discord and Thorax the ones that saved the day. Trixie and Discord’s banter was one of my favorite things out of it.
To be honest, I’ve been liking Starlight more during this season. Along with Fluttershy’s being a bit more assertive.
I think I’ve said it before, but I’m not really a fan of the idea of the changelings being reformed, I did like the idea of Thorax being an anomaly, though. But well, Chrysalis is still out there plotting revenge.
On the other hand, I’m pleasantly surprised how it was Starlight, along with Trixie, Discord and Thorax the ones that saved the day. Trixie and Discord’s banter was one of my favorite things out of it.
To be honest, I’ve been liking Starlight more during this season. Along with Fluttershy’s being a bit more assertive.
Anonycat
Okay, I guess.
@Lokizade
My issues with this season are the excesive use of character derailment/idiot plots to justify an episode not being resolved on 5 minutes and the absurd number of new characters added at the expenses of the original ones, which have been waiting during 6 seasons for some satisfactory developing or closures.
Celestia, Luna, Spike, Zecora, for example. Or secondary characters like the Cakes, Cheerilee, Diamond Tiara/Silver Spoon and such, who were used as nothing but props while on past season their interactions with the main cast made the entire show look more lively.
As I’ve said a few times already, I’m particularly sore about how Diamond Tiara’s change of heart was one of the best parts of the past seasons, and instead of her new life being used and explored here, she got like, two? silient background cameos and that’s all.
Or how the writers went for fancy stories demanding modern earth lookalike locations while lots of things that have been constantly introduced through the series (Saddle Arabia and it’s horses, for example) remain as nothing but an unused footnote literally years after their introduction.
My issues with this season are the excesive use of character derailment/idiot plots to justify an episode not being resolved on 5 minutes and the absurd number of new characters added at the expenses of the original ones, which have been waiting during 6 seasons for some satisfactory developing or closures.
Celestia, Luna, Spike, Zecora, for example. Or secondary characters like the Cakes, Cheerilee, Diamond Tiara/Silver Spoon and such, who were used as nothing but props while on past season their interactions with the main cast made the entire show look more lively.
As I’ve said a few times already, I’m particularly sore about how Diamond Tiara’s change of heart was one of the best parts of the past seasons, and instead of her new life being used and explored here, she got like, two? silient background cameos and that’s all.
Or how the writers went for fancy stories demanding modern earth lookalike locations while lots of things that have been constantly introduced through the series (Saddle Arabia and it’s horses, for example) remain as nothing but an unused footnote literally years after their introduction.
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