https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wILFddYxKOM

In 24 hours, ladies and gentlemen, it begins once again.

Well, looks like I'll be coming back from my hiatus from anime for this season. Lupin III, Digimon Adventure Tri, S2 of Danna, and Nagato Yuki-chan all have my attention.

#WINNING

Season 1's premiere: Great
Season 2's premiere: Pretty Great
Season 3's premiere: Not as great but still great in its own way.
Season 4's premie- F*yay*ING.... GENIUUUUSSSSSS!!!!!

Tomorrow isn't far away
Tomorrow is the judgment day
Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store!

One more dawn...

One more day...

ONE DAY MORE!

Brace yourself.

Ponies are coming.

I think for me the question is more what don't I like about the show or the fandom. The show itself is phenomenal. The content the fandom has created is astounding. The charity work we've funded and done is inspiring. All this in spite of still having so many detractors who rail against us and try to discount what's been done by pointing at the darker parts of the fandom. But show me a fandom that doesn't have those kind of elements in them. I defy anyone to be able to do so. It doesn't change all the good that's come about from this show and this fandom.

And folks, we are still growing. This ride is still FAR from being over.

This was a pretty interestingly crafted episode with more solid morals to it. Yes, morals. Multiple. This was an episode with more than one lesson packed into it. More on that later.

This was the first episode to introduce another race to Equestria in Griffons, though it did so through a not-so-exemplary member of their race. Gilda is clearly more interested in mischief as well as having friends who will either aid her in her exploits or help her put up a front of innocence. Rainbow Dash is blind to this for a long time until the party Pinkie throws for Gilda where she shows her real self to everyone. What's interesting about how this plays out is prior to the start of the party sequence, Pinkie teases that she's going to go to "extreme measures, Pinkie Pie style." Given her earlier mischief with Dash in the episode, this misleads the viewer into thinking she's going to prank Gilda up and down. The reality, however, is all the pranks that happen are Dash's doing and Pinkie simply wanted to try and infuse some positivity into Gilda. This was a brilliant execution and our first look at what Pinkie is really all about as a character. Clearly she's come a long way from her G3 incarnation.

As for the lessons? As I said before, great ones. Sometimes your friends will be friends with people you're not keen on, but rather than trying to make that other person look bad and "out" them you should just continue to be the good friend you are. The other person will either come around, or your friend will start to notice the differences and take care of matters themselves. On top of that, there is a secondary lesson about being judgmental and how that can lead to misconceptions about others. Granted that Pinkie suspicions about Gilda are validated, she had to learn to give Gilda the benefit of the doubt until she got actual proof of her misbehavior.

Overall a great episode that establishes more development for Pinkie, Dash, and Twilight on top of adding another touch of depth to the world of Equestria.

This is easily one of my favorite episodes of S1 and a great lesson once again. There is nothing wrong with being unique, having great talents, or celebrating those facts. But there is a not-so-fine line between being proud of yourself and being a braggart. Among the secondary characters we were introduced to in S1, Trixie was easily the standout earning a bit of a cultish following based on her style, charm, and sheer confidence in herself. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't something of a Trixie fan myself. She's not my favorite pony by far, but among the secondary/background characters she's easily tops.

With this episode things got back on track for the series after The Ticket Master. We start to get a closer look at the rest of the "Mane 6" as they came to be known with Applejack. AJ's never been my favorite of the group, but she's still an incredibly admirable and good character. Her greatest strength is also her greatest flaw: Her pride. She takes so much pride in herself and being someone others can turn to for help that she neglects herself some. Unfortunately for Ponyville, this meant that she went without sleep trying to do Sweet Apple Acres' harvest, and the town paid for her hubris. The lesson at the end is a solid one. It is great to be dependable, but friends - real friends - are there for you to lean on when you need them. It is not a sign of weakness to do so.