MLP:FIM A Hearth's Warming Tale

This is the first episode written by Michael Vogal. Michael Vogal has been part of the production crew since the second season, but this is the first time he ever written an episode. This episode was storyboarded by Megan Willis (who started storyboarding earlier this season) and Sabrina Alberghetti (who has been boarding for the show since the first season).

This episode is a Christmas episode. This may be a weird time for a Christmas episode, but I never complain about getting more Christmas into my life. This episode is the obligatorily A Christmas Carol episode. Which is strange considering For Whom the Sweetie Bell Tolls was essentially A Christmas Carol episode as well. While I like that episode a bit more, I still quite enjoyed this episode.

Probably my favorite thing about this episode is the song numbers. This songs were written by Michael Vogal (lyrics) and Danny Ingram (music). These songs are excellent. Applejack's song is a country song. I mention this because whenever this show does a country song it is fantastic and this is no exception.

Also the humor in this episode is spot on. Pinkie as the Ghost of Hearths Warming Presents is very funny. The ponies setting up for the big day leads to some great visual humor, especially with Derpy.

The only real problem with this episode is that it seems quite rushed. To do A Christmas Carol with a framing story just could use more time. All the spirits seem to go as soon as they come. The reasons this is a problem are that the we have seen some many great cartoon versions of A Christmas Carol and that this episode was so entertaining we wish it could have spent more time with each little thing. However everything else is quite good so you can easily get over this fault.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hearths Warming.

-Michael J. Ruhland

MLP:FIM Newbie Dash

Today's episode is the first episode to be written by David Rapp, and he has already proven himself to be a good writer for this show. He co-wrote this episode with Dave Polsky, who has been writing for the show since season one. This episode was storyboarded by Emmett Hall (who started storyboarding for the show in season 2) and Thalia Tomlinson (who started storyboarding for the show last season).

For such a big deal as (slight spoilers, it happens before the theme song) Rainbow Dash becoming a Wonderbolt, this episode feels like a smaller episode. After the theme song there are no big reveals, and no huge plot points. While this might disappoint some I think it is the perfect way to do this episode. They have been building up to this for so long, that would be hard for anything really elaborate, or anything that feels big, to be anything but a let down. The relatively small feel of this episode also works so well, because it is handled so great. Rainbow is at her most likable in this episode, and it is obvious that both Dave Polsky and David Rapp really understand her character.

One scene that needs an especial call out is when Rainbow imitates her friends in front of the Wonderbolts. The animation and voice work in this scene is fantastic. She not only sounds like the other ponies, but she looks and moves like them too. She adapts the way the other characters walk. Vocal wise they don't sound like Alisha Ball imitating the characters, but rather like Rainbow Dash imitating the characters. Even when she does Applejack (who is also voiced by Alisha Ball) it doesn't sound like Applejack, but rather like Rainbow Dash imitating Applejack. That is really impressive and must be hard to pull off. This scene is truly a fantastic scene in a quite good episode.  

-Michael J. Ruhland

MLP:FIM No Second Prances

This was the third episode written by Nick Confalone, who has proven himself to be a really good writer already. His previous episodes were Party Pooped and Hearthbreakers. This episode was storyboarded by Ed Baker and Mincheul Park (who started boarding for the show last season).

Ok I can't fully talk about this episode without mentioning a certain spoiler (sorry I usually try to avoid that). Anyway this episode is about Starlight Glimmer becoming good friends with the great and powerful Trixie. This episode is easily my personal favorite Trixie episode (it is probably also my favorite episode of the season so far), which is saying much with how much I love Magic Duel. This two characters are just written very well here. Their friendship is very believable, and the two have great chemistry. Again I just love how well written and likable Starlight Glimmer has been so far this season. Her stress about her past is extremely relatable. I notice a lot of similarities between her and Twilight, but the writers make that work to their advantage and they are still clearly different characters. Also Twilight's feelings about this friendship are very well handled. Even though we disagree with what she does in this episode, we really like her because we can see where she is coming from. Speaking of Twilight her facial expressions are perfect in this episode.

The humor in this episode is spot on. Their is not one joke in here that doesn't work. Some of the jokes just raise a smile, while others are laugh out loud funny, but it all works perfectly.

This episode was originally going to be called Old Dog New Trixie (according to writer Nick Confalone on twitter)but the name was changed to No Second Prances to keep the revel of the character a secret. Also the scene where Derpy hits the sign was just written as "Derpy waves" in the script but was changed by supervising director Jim Miller, and the storyboard artists (this information again comes from Nick Confalone's twitter).

Anyway fantastic episode and probably my favorite of the season so far.

-Michael J. Ruhland

MLP:FIM Gauntlet of Fire

This episode was written by the writing team of Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco. They started writing for the show last season. This is the fourth episode of the show these two have written (the other three being Castle Sweet Castle, Rarity Investigates, and The Hooffeilds and McColts). Both have worked together on every episode they have written. They have already proven themselves quite good writers for the show, especially with this episode and Rarity Investigates. They had already proven that they are very good at writing for Twilight and Rarity, not only do they still show that talent very well here, but they also show they are just as good at writing for Spike, in fact this might be my favorite Spike episode. This episode was storyboarded by Michelle Ku and Tim Maltby.

Also of very important to the success of this episode is the fantastic background work. Having an episode take place in the dragon world allows for some fantastic artwork that you could not see in every episode. This is heavily due to the layout and background artists, who are two many to list here, but all did an amazing job. This is probably one of the best visually looking episodes of the show.

Also in this episode we get quite a good new character Ember. She is very likable and personally I want to see her again. She is also very well voiced by Ali Milner.

-Michael J. Ruhland

MLP:FIM On Your Marks

Note: This picture is from the wrong episode, but it is Scootaloo. Therefore awesome

This is an episode I've been wanting to see since I started watching. That is an episode involving what happens after the CMC get there cutie marks, and it is handled quite well. It was written by Dave Polsky and Josh Harber. I personally really like the idea of a writer from the first season, Dave Polsky being a writer for such a big episode, like how Amy Keaton Rodgers wrote Crusaders of the Lost Mark.

While this may not be the funniest episode of the show as some of the jokes are quite predictable, it still has some good laughs like Applebloom learning to dance and Scootaloo teaching her friends to scooter. However what really makes this episode work is it follows through with a great idea and treats it very well and quite maturely. It doesn't hurt that I love these characters and always wanted to see them do more such things in the future. The message here is quite great and come naturally from the characters. Again it works because these are such great characters. What also helps here is just little character moments that didn't need to be there but help so much, such as the improvement of Sweetie Belle's magic and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle being caught up in looking at their own cutie marks. This was also our first song for the season and it is quite good.

This morning's storyboard artist were Hanna Lee (who has worked for the show since Season 2) and Ward Jenkins.

-Michael J. Ruhland

MLP:FIM The Gift of Maud Pie

This episode introduced us to two new writers, Mike P. Fox and his brother Will Fox. Both of whom make a very impressive debut at writer for this show. I am quite excited to see what they write in the future. The co-wrote this episode with Josh Harber, who has been a writer for the show since the 4th season, and is now also the shows story editor. This episode is still directed by Jim Miller, Denny Lu, and Tim Stuby, who do just as fine of a job here. This episode was storyboarded by Cory Toomley (who has been one of the shows storyboard artists since season 2) and Elie Kilmos.

What really make this episode is Maud. I just love this character so much, and Ingrid Nilson's vocal delivery just enhances every joke that comes out of her mouth. Of course the other Pinkie Pie and Rarity are just as great as ever as well. Pinkie's overreactions and Rarity's imitations of Pinkie are just perfect.

This episode is also a very clever take on the O. Henry story that inspired the title. Speaking of that the title alone is very clever and one of my favorite episode titles.

-Michael J. Ruhland

MLP:FIM The Crystalling Parts One and Two

The season 6 premiere of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic features a few changes in the credits. First off this the first episodes that Tim Stuby was credited as a director. He has previously worked for the show as an animator, an animation director, and as a layout artist. These episodes' other directors were Jim Miller (who became a director for the show in season 4) and Denny Lu (who became a director mid-season 5). These episodes was written by Josh Harber (who became one of the show's writer in season 4). Josh Harber has also been promoted to story editor with these episodes.

While this may not be the shows best season premiere, it was a darn good one. It may have been a bit predictable, but it was fun and well made enough that it easily comes over that small fault. The characters are of course just as lovable as ever (which is the main reason this show is so loved). The animation is quite good, including little animation touches that just make the episode so much better, including the baby's attachment to Pinkie Pie, and Sunburst's glasses tipping off and him putting them back on a few times.

What really makes this episode though is the writing of Starlight. With spoilers for the season 5 finale, this series proves again it really knows how to write for reformed characters much better than most shows do. We have seen this previously with Luna, Discord and Sunset Shimmer. With Starlight this is done just as well. She is struggling with getting over her past, but also doesn't want to disappoint her new friends. This is relate able and gives the character a new depth.

Overall a good start to what will hopefully be a great season, and crogratz to Tim Stuby and Josh Harber who do great with their new positions.

-Michael J. Ruhland