MLP:FIM Campfire Tales

This episode introduces us to two new writers for the show Barry Safchick and Michael Platt. The episode was storyboarded by Roxana Beiklik and Aynsley King, both of who started boarding for the show with the season 4 premiere.


This episode has the CMC being told three different stories from their big sisters. With this the episode does vary in quality depending on the story. The first story is rather weak. There is little interesting and the whole thing just feels rushed. The second story is by far the best. This story features compelling characters, a great sense of atmosphere and a great ending. This story also features the best animation of the three including a quite exciting action sequence. The third story is rather entertaining but nothing that special, it definitely could have been better if more time was devoted to it. Along with the second story one of the highlights of this episode is just the interactions between the CMC and their big sisters between the stories. This includes some good humor and excellent character writer. One of the things that makes this show special is that we love seeing certain characters interact with each other. Each of the main characters make the other ones stronger. This is especially true of the interactions between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. There is something about these two characters together that is very heartwarming. You can see how much they truly care about each other completely.

-Michael J. Ruhland.      

MLP:FIM Triple Threat

This marks the second episode written by Josh Hamilton (the first one being Parental Glidance). The story board artists are Nicole Wang (who has been boarding for the show since season 1) and Dave Wiebe (who has been boarding for the show since the first episode).

This episode while not on par with Josh Hamilton's first episode is still quite entertaining. The story is very predictable and it is never hard to see how it is going to end. Despite this though there is enough fun here to make up for this. While some jokes fall flat here, the ones that work are quite funny. It is delightful to see Spike doing a Twilight like freak-out (and have Twilight try to calm him down), Ember not be able to tell the difference between Twilight and Starlight, and especially Ember eating Twilight's house (and of course the somewhat reprise of this joke with Derpy later on). The animation retains the high quality set by this series. Most importantly though the characters are always very likable and relatable throughout this episode.

Not one of the show's best episodes, but entertaining all the same.

-Michael J. Ruhland 

MLP:FIM Fame and Misfortune

This episode was written by M.A. Larson, who has been writing for this show since the first season. It was storyboarded by Cory Toomey (who has been boarding for the show since the second season) and Thalia Tomlinson (who has been boarding for a show since the fifth season).

This is a very self aware episode of the show and this is both its major asset and fault. This does not feel like an episode of this show. By acknowledging and even parodying the show's fandom, it no longer feels like we are in Ponyville, but in our real world. While this has been done in shows like The Simpsons for a while, it feels weird to see this here. Maybe that is because even though there is a lot of comedy, this is still a fantasy show first and foremost. An episode that purposely speak to the show's audience and more specifically the show's internet crazy audience in a self satirical way just has an odd feel to it. None of this means it is a bad episode however as it is not, but it just feels kind of out of place in a show like. On the other hand this is really funny episode. Most of the jokes hit home perfectly and do get quite good laughs. The satire is never mean spirited by just allowing the audience to laugh at its self. On top of this satirical comedy there is also quite a bit of character based comedy and this works quite well as well. With all the self referential humor the best joke was probably Starlight reveling why she knew the spell to copy a book. That joke feels perfectly in character with starlight and is on of the best examples of dark comedy this show has ever done.

Simply put this is an excellent episode but it does feel out of place compared to the rest of the show.

-Michael J. Ruhland  

MLP:FIM A Perfect Pear

The second of today's episodes was written by Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco. They started writing for the show in season 5 and are currently the show's story editors. The episode was boarded by Jae Harm (his second episode. The first was Parental Glidance) and Kaylea Chard (who has been boarding the show since the third season). It features the guest voices of William Shatner and Felicia Day.

I won't give much away so this will be a brief post. This episode is something we have all been waiting for and it delivers quite well. The story itself is quite clichéd and something every cartoon watcher has seen. However this story works better than it has in most other cartoons, because we care about the characters and what is going on. Because of this the story almost feels new. The story is also told expertly and is actually really touching at times. That is all I am giving away, definitely watch this one.

-Michael J. Ruhland.

MLP:FIM Discordant Harmony

So we come back to new My Little Pony and we could not have come back stronger. Our first new episode was written by MIchael P. Fox and Wil Fox. This is the fifth episode they have written. Preceding it was The Gift of Maud Pie, Apple Jack's "Day" Off, P.P.O.V and Forever Filly. The episode was storyboarded by Marta Demong and Desirae Salmark (this is both of their second episode boarding for. Forever Filly was the first).


This is an excellent episode and probably the funniest one of the season yet. All the jokes hit home very well. Discord is certainty nicer in this episode than he has been in any other so far, but this is also one of his funniest episodes. Discord trying to be normal is a very funny idea and it is done very well here. Just as funny is all his originally ideas for the tea party (the piñata is especially funny). The animation is nice and crisp and the characters are very relatable. I have a special fondness for Discord and Pinkie episodes, because they have a very cartoony sense of humor that is missing in many TV cartoons today. Just a delightful episode and one that definitely should not be missed.

-Michael J. Ruhland.