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