The Worst (or Controversial) My Little Pony Episodes

Just wanted to clarify a few things
1. As I stated some episodes on this list I actually enjoyed, but for whatever reason thought it was big enough of a let down to put in this video i.e. Equestria Games and Celestial Advice. The only episode of this show i genuinely hate is 28 pranks later (and the crystallizing but those didn’t make it on to the list)
2. If you like these episodes, that’s more than okay, that’s great :] I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind on something they enjoy, I just figured I’d add my inputs from the perspective of someone with both childhood nostalgia for the show but also as someone who at the time was very active in the Brony fandom and understood a lot of the controversies of the show. This analysis is mostly from a fandom perspective

[@THS_Station]

I love how in the thumbnail Spike’s biggest crime is being Spike, little guy is absolutely hated by the writers.

[@2bdaqueen268]

Understandable, he could get reaaaaal grating at times especially when it came to Rarity

[@virus-eiiz]

i absolutely love him tbh i get so shocked whenever i remember how much people dislike him 3:

[@LabMatt]

​@@2bdaqueen268When rewatching MLP, I treat the episodes about Spike crushing on Rarity the same way I treat the Gravity Falls episodes about Dipper crushing on Wendy: if there's nothing else of interest going on, skip

[@TheBubbleEater]

I mean spike is the crude humor character. Constantly burping. Most annoying voice. Even more burping. Has a crush on an adult, glutton, and very power-hungry imo (cough cough, that one episode in the early seasons where he begged for stuff cause its his birthday, and when he did twilight's tasks for the kingdom and ruined that statue made of crystals) It ends up making me skip as many scenes that include him as possible.

[@TheFrogFromOasis]

​@@TheBubbleEater tbh it wasn't spikes fault though it was his dragon urges

[@Elantic_Romance]

I think racism with Zecora was handled a lot better because at the end of the episode, the mane 6 learn to not judge a book by its cover and to get to know someone before jumping to conclusions. Racism is rooted in fear; you can't predict what/who you don't know and historically, it has led to certain groups being lashed out on.

[@rainpooper7088]

I also did think it was kind of clever that they had the ponies be intimidated by Zecora scratching the ground with her hooves. In real life, this is a common threat display in most ungulates, except the ones living in dry areas where they have to scratch the ground to dig for water. You know, like a zebra. It's a misunderstanding that weirdly checks out.

[@CyanideOwl]

I mean. The stereotype is there for a reason.

[@Not_a_Norm1e]

​@@CyanideOwl You missed the whole point. You should honestly go watch the whole series again because you seem to be lacking in friendship and kindness.

[@P1nkMantis]

@@CyanideOwl oh no no no no anyone commenting something racist on this channel is gonna get drawn pregnant >:|

[@Roryzcreationstation]

​@@CyanideOwlrope and chair

[@esmetheexpressohyena9337]

I think my problem with 28 pranks later is that the lesson is “you shouldn’t prank if nobody is laughing” instead of “Treat people how you want to be treated” because some people are okay with jump scare pranks and some aren’t. But I agree that rainbow dash is wildly out of character here.

[@GaryNac]

Or it can be argued that you shouldn't be pranking if people are simply laughing at as opposed to laughing with however all and all this episode at least for a brief actually made me hate Rainbow Dash however I don't think that the idea of the episode was necessarily terrible I think it's more of a matter of Rainbow Dash in particular acting way out of line and proportion and if it was some other pony or individual doing this type of stuff to people/ponies I would have been more so fine with it granted I'm totally fine with Rainbow Dash not being some perfect saint of a character but alot what was done by Rainbow Dash in 28 Pranks Later,seemed a little bit too carried away for a character like Rainbow Dash.

[@FiveStarEdgyness]

Tbh it's probably better it was specifically "Don't prank if the one getting pranked isn't laughing"/or as Rarity put it; her "needing to put in the effort of doing pranks the pony she's targeting ACTUALLY likes instead of what SHE THINKS is funny". Cause if it was said to "treat others how you wanna be treated" then I'm sure she would've went with "Well THESE pranks are what I'D WANT" which is exactly what she did,, SHE would have wanted others to prank her as much as she pranks them/to the same extent- Which is what everyone else DIDN'T want- But that's just what I thought! I def see where you're coming from tho!!

[@esmetheexpressohyena9337]

@@FiveStarEdgyness I think the others should have let rainbow know the pranks that they are okay with and which are not so it could be more specific,I don’t think telling her that she was basically a lazy pranker is enough,but this is a character downgrade,season one rainbow would never.

[@esmetheexpressohyena9337]

@@FiveStarEdgyness And not all pranks have to be enjoyable for everyone,you just have to know what people are okay with.Also the pranks rainbow dash are doing isn’t pranks,they are down right dangerous! She could have somebody killed! Remember In griffin the brush off,rainbow and pinkie pie pranked all of their friends,it was harmless and in good faith,and their friends even laughed,she even agreed not to prank flutters,why would she threaten her life now.Completely out of character,retconing,And that’s not rainbow dash.

[@1800PAlN]

I think the idea "treat people how YOU want to be treated" is flawed inherently because it lacks communication, as some have pointed out. I much prefer "treat people how THEY want to be treated", which is closer to what you were trying to say with certain people being okay with pranks and others not.

[@chaoticneutral7976]

The one that introduced Rainbowdash's parents is pretty bad. Once again, FIM displays the real problem that Dash's parents are overbearing and make their daughter, who is rightfully frustrated, the one to be in the wrong. They were setting off fireworks at her show, which could have seriously hurt someone, so they're lucky they only got a slap on the wrist for such a hazard. Worst part is how they guilt-tripped her, with Scootaloo even there to side with them. Like, they had one of her soiled diapers saved, no wonder she wanted to get so far away from them, they were constantly violating her boundaries.

[@P1nkMantis]

@@chaoticneutral7976 yessss that was so frustrating. RD really was not in the wrong for setting boundaries at HER place of work I felt awful for both RD and Scoot there, her parents were pretty manipulative and both of them have awful parental figures in opposite ways. Absolutely depressing

[@NickTheChoco]

The fact that they framed her diaper creeped me out 💀. Like who the heck keeps their child's diaper in a frame

[@Skylar_glasser]

Ikkkk right, that episode is my least favorite one ever, it shouldn't even exist in my opinion. And they didn't even apologize to RD. In fact, I hate her parents more than any other character in the show, and Scootaloo is one of my least favorite now too.

[@eu3801]

Oh now i rmb that episode made me so mad…

[@ClownHoundII]

​@@NickTheChocoMy mom keeps the first baby tooth I lost. It's not the same but still a little weird. Parents do crazy thinks to "remember their little baby".

[@quimicalkirby]

THE THUMBNAIL CENSORING SPIKE WITH HIS OWN NAME IM CRYING😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@P1nkMantis]

@@quimicalkirby Being Spike is the worst atrocity you can commit

[@StarswirlStar]

@@P1nkMantis ...Spike is my favorite character, lol; same with Discord, and Shining Armor -- I'm a guy, and just love the guy characters

[@P1nkMantis]

@@StarswirlStar haha lmao yeah thats fair I actually enjoy spike most of the time, especially his relationship with twilight Also yes discord is peak that is factual you are the best

[@StarswirlStar]

@@P1nkMantis Haha, thanks -- Discord's very "aware" attitude in the writing is honestly why I watched Season 6 and above... If it wasn't for him, my journey with MLP probably would have ended with that season

[@ineed.vanillacake]

same here. after rewatching it years later I appreciate him a lot more!

[@dapa7752]

The problem with 2,4,6 great is RD called cheerleading useless while back in season 1, Sonic Rainboom she literally wanted her friends to cheers for her and help Fluttershy to cheers for her

[@P1nkMantis]

@@dapa7752 real, she should know better than anyone that cheerleadings important in hyping up the performers

[@StarswirlStar]

@@P1nkMantis I think the writers in Season 6 and onwards needed to regress the character's progress in order to keep the show entertaining... :/

[@P1nkMantis]

@@StarswirlStar absolutely depressing how they try to simultaneously mature them to make them mentors and regress them I know old habits die hard but LORD lmao

[@StarswirlStar]

@@P1nkMantis So many franchises do that :/ Sadly

[@funcoolfunfun]

To be fair, there's a difference between cheering and cheerleading. Cheering is just enthusiastic yelling. Cheerleading is much more involved.

[@coyotix]

The thumbnail reminds me of that one pokémon video that censored the characters with "racist" "demon" and "woman"

[@Astro.biology]

woman 😭

[@estherhazina889]

Being too "woman"?? Which one??

[@Error-li6hx]

Misogynia

[@500_moths_in_a_trenchcoat]

@@estherhazina889 misty

[@estherhazina889]

@@500_moths_in_a_trenchcoat thank you)

[@vinxy7150]

One episode that really pissed me off was "Once Upon a Zeppelin" because what do you MEAN we're supposed to be mad at Twilight for understandably getting overwhelmed by her fans to a point where she misses a huge event with her family??? I would crash out too 😭

[@dani-Gryff]

For real!!! I felt SO angry i'm that one😂

[@playdoh658]

The cheerleading episode is especially strange because the rainboom episode showed how important cheer is to rainbow

[@nameynamd9212]

There's some room in the support being from close friends rather than strangers

[@playdoh658]

@ you mean her students she sees daily?

[@nameynamd9212]

@@playdoh658 There's a closeness between a teacher and their students, but it usually doesn't reach as far as close friends(unless she's opened up to her students, it's closer to good students than the psuedo parent-kid relationship seen sometimes, like with Scootaloo). There's maybe a closeness if the idea of them eventually moving forward in their life pops up, but it's the first group of students and unlike with like Tank for example, she doesn't look over them mostly alone(besides Gallus, which she saw, the rest of the students have a stable family relationship as well)

[@melisalovin5052]

I hope you and your family are well but GIRL that disclaimer felt like the Wattpad era when writers will say “Sorry for the short chapter I was kidnapped and then found while my grandma had a heart attack, next week as usual❤” 😭

[@P1nkMantis]

Its the curse of any content creator

[@HugeEPICandPJOfan]

And then, just like the writers, they gave one of the best analysis on the episodes ever

[@heycanitellyousomething]

Lol I learned recently that there is a joke on Twitter about "The AO3 writer curse", hell I watched a lady do an entire video and spent a loooong time reading some of the Authors Notes, and some are absolutely wild. 😂

[@hardenedclay8840]

Im a hardcore rainbowdash fan and i agree with every criticism youve made, both in general and about her. I feel like her bad episodes are so bad because the writers push her negative personality traits too far in order to make the stakes for the episode higher to make them more entertaining, which makes her very occ and mean during these episodes. And its usually always the rainbowdash episodes because she is arguably the one with the most flaws of the mane 6.

[@nerdatello]

YES THIS EXACTLY shes also my fave and it hurts that so many of her episodes are so . Like that 😭

[@pierrotlehonque5084]

that clip of discord eating paper fucked up my elementary school years since my friend dared me to eat paper and it caused a strange paper eating addiction

[@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t]

That sounds like pica, which is a type of ED. A lot of different animals can have it, from humans, to cats, to horses.

[@pierrotlehonque5084]

@@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t it could be that, I've heard it often can be comorbid with autism and ocd which I have, but I haven't had paper eating troubles for 5 years so I probably won't worry too much

[@P1nkMantis]

@@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t real, i got pica and i make jokes about how Discord eating whatever the hell he wants is everyone with picas dream

[@Ich-Existiere-Nicht]

​@@P1nkMantis I think I developed Pica and I had to think about the scene of Discord eating Paper so often.💀💀 I was honestly surprised to find out how many people could relate.

[@blabbilizer]

@@FrozEnbyWolf150-b9t I have it :(

[@NotD-kp3by]

The fandom making Scoot an orphan has been so ingrained in my mind i forgot she has parents in the canon of the show. Especially in the context of a kids show, like the found family shes formed in Ponyvile is important and valid as any other family in the which is good to tell kids but also Scoot is like 10 years old at most right?? What her parents and aunts are doing to her is textbook child neglect, which is weirdly permitted by the show? You really shouldn't tell kids that your guardians living you for years on end is okay, they should have just made her an orphan or sm

[@misspinkpunkykat]

When she was first introduced, I thought she was Rainbow Dash's little sister. Applebloom is Applejack's little sister, Sweetie-Belle is Rarity's little sister and eventually I excepted for Pinkie-Pie and Fluttershy to have a little sister to come join the CMC. I think I stopped watching regularly around season 4 when you could no longer watch the show on You Tube and I didn't have access to the Hub/ Discover Family for a while.

[@kittycandy_art]

2:27 i never knew the reason people didn't like the episode was because of everyone else. I always hated it because of how Dash was acting. Like i felt so bad for fluttershy, she looked like she was going to have a panic attack, and she knows how sensitive she is, so like why did she do that 😭

[@P1nkMantis]

@@kittycandy_art i agree i agree i agree i agree hard agree Many many people think its hypocritical for them to scare her when she didnt want to be but also like dont dish it out if you cant take it Only episode that made me cry out of anger cuz it hit so so hard as a kid with severe anxiety and relatively bad friends back when it aired

[@kittycandy_art]

@P1nkMantis SAME, I don't understand why people would be mad at the others when they were literally just doing what dash was doing to them. I'm also really shy, and I get scared easily, I also hate getting pranked, so I'd be just as pissed with Dash. Dash really needs to learn boundaries, which is weird cause I feel like she always had boundaries, just not in that episode.

[@rainpooper7088]

It bothered me that Rainbow Dash literally stated in a season 1 episode that Fluttershy can't take any pranks and refused to pull them on her, in fact Gilda going after Fluttershy was how Pinkie knew she was terrible. This is just a blatant contradiction, it's like Rainbow somehow *unlearned* things she already knew just for this lesson.

[@lou9635]

It's because a lot of people wants to relate more with Rainbow than the others. She is the cool, badass, and sporty one. The others are: farm girl, shy soft, nerd, crazy energetic, and fashion. Which have their fans, but rainbow is the favourite because she's the cool extrovert. And cool extrovert do pranks even if it's not funny for the pranked

[@30ratsstackedinatrenchcoat91]

YES, THIS!!! ​@@rainpooper7088

[@liiil8492]

The colonialism thing in MLP get worse when you think about it 😭 ponies being racist what the hell. The things that the show presents as good or ideal turn out to be horrible or poorly executed.

[@MouetteRoquefort]

"we going to make a school to teach friendship to all the others species because only ponies know how to make friends apparently"

[@liiil8492]

@MouetteRoquefort "We gonna teach these savages friendship. We're their saviors!"

[@epkoda]

​@@MouetteRoquefort I'M SO GLAD I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICED!!! you can really tell this show is made in the usa because as a non-american I was weirded out by episodes concerning race 😭 like what do you mean the ponies just went and settled in bison territory???? apparently Equestria isn't their home either? I found that so strange as a kid lol

[@MouetteRoquefort]

@@epkoda like ponies are the only one with real towns an litteraly move the sun and moon x)

[@epkoda]

@@MouetteRoquefort and the way all white ethnicities (white american, french, italian, etc.) are represented by ponies but POC-coded characters are other species... and then the show makes ponies "superior" to everyone (like you said in your comment, apparently only ponies who know about friendship and have to teach other races their pony ways 💀💀💀) like *what* also is it just me or does the portrayal of griffins give antisemitic vibes?

[@RoyalVartist]

I have a lot of critique on Parental Glideance and other RD/ Scootaloo episodes I dunno. Obviously Scoot is a child and a somewhat neglected one at that, but RD is still valid in feeling her parents are too overbearing. The entire episode was pointing the finger at RD for being in the wrong but truthfully her parents need to understand or have at least taught her boundaries. And also, RD is not Scootaloo's guardian... it's not RD's job to always be the strong adult and rolemodel for her (I also do have critque about the Washouts episode..)

[@P1nkMantis]

@@RoyalVartist i do agree with that! Parental Glidence annoyed me because RDs feelings were definitely valid there too

[@jasperjazzie]

honestly it feels like a lot of the rd-centric episodes are either her being super unlikable for no reason or her being made to apologize when she didn't really do anything wrong, and there's no inbetween.

[@katethevampire]

It really bums me out that a lot of Spike episodes aren't that good since I actually really like him as a character!

[@steampunk-llama]

He and Rainbow both suffer the problem of being written so weirdly in most of their solo eps, and I honestly think it’s just because the writers don’t really know how to write them in a compelling way that’s not in a supporting role :(

[@meeplol145]

Exactly! I really like Spike as well and like one episode around him, Power Ponies, but I feel like others are pretty meh? Edit: and I like the episode where Spike struggles to say no or just to tell Rarity what she’s doing is awful when she turns Ponyville into a huge crystal and golden city.

[@kendrikkahler7944]

Fr though! Justice for Spike! Bro deserved so much more in a lot of his episodes!😭

[@kryzie]

I kinda hate inspiration manifestation actually. I hate how they try to frame the lesson as "be honest with your friends" when spike was literally manipulated. ​@meeplol145

[@kryzie]

Like, the book controlled Rarity, someone spike loves and clearly looks up to. Of course he's going to listen to her. It almost seemed like the episode was blaming him for "not being honest" when he was placed in a tough situation.

[@NotTheGodOfWar]

Was anyone else bothered by the Royal Wedding episode where all of Twilights friends turned against her when she tried to tell them about how weird Cadance was acting? They barely attempted to hear her out, and not once did she get an apology from them when it was revealed that Chrysallis was taking Cadance’s place.

[@littlejenfranc]

Yes!!! I remember been so angry as a child when i first watched. It didn't make any sense, like, they would rather trust someone they just met instead of a long-time friend? And precisely Twilight! The most trustworthy.

[@nameynamd9212]

It wasn't anything big, but there were apologies after getting captured before the changelings were pushed out of Canterlot. As for in the moment, Shining Armor's "reaction" probably swayed the opinions of everyone there, and some of the lack of thought on the matter being to their jobs in the wedding. Without seeing what she did and that there was a potential threat to Canterlot(from what Shining Armpr said), there isn't much to go off of.

[@M0ONCommander]

The friendship is witchcraft plot of Twilight wanting to marry her not biologically related brother always struck me as more memorable

[@tanandalynch9441]

FINALLY. Like I keep saying they all acted so out of character towards her and I get brushed off. Twilight has known Cadence since she was little. If she says something is off then something is 100% off. Like you'd think that Fluttershy, being the Element of Kindness if nobody else would try to give her the benefit of the doubt. Celestia also decided to not give Twilight the benefit of the doubt either. Like that's your student and you're not even gonna attempt to listen and use a spell to see if she's telling the truth?

[@tanandalynch9441]

​@@nameynamd9212 Okay but if someone like Twilight is saying Cadence is evil, why did nobody, not even Celestia, take her aside to ask for more information and try to use idk a unravel disguise magic spell or something? Worst case it doesn't actually work and Cadence is just rude Best case (which did happen) is Twilight was right the whole time Her friends literally didn't even TRY to hear her out and see if there was any way to test this.

[@Itzjamberoni]

I am native American and the whole colonization episode ANGERS ME like if you’re gonna teach history DO IT ACCURATELY this doesn’t just apply to hasbro/mlp but schools aswell. I have heard that people are being taught more about my ancestors culture and history but clearly it isn’t enough.

[@kerroseir4764]

the most they do is the trail of tears then ignore everything else with manifest destiny

[@luckyduckyfluffy9674]

You know during mare do well nobody talks about their ability to fly and do magic implying they are an alicorn but it's literally never brought up Like Dashie says "well at least she can't fly" then she sees mare do well fly after displaying magic and it's never talked about

[@P1nkMantis]

@@luckyduckyfluffy9674 that’s always bothered me too lmao

[@Asha-mj1ud]

I saw it as rd being too focus on her jealousy to notice that detail.

[@luckyduckyfluffy9674]

@Asha-mj1ud I agree but I at least expect some background pony to call attention to it or something

[@cosmic_seabunny]

Yeah Rainbow Dash is one of my favorites and seeing her being so Toxically masculine makes me angry. It’s also not uncommon for lesbians or any female that doesn’t “identify with femininity” (tomboys, etc) to act this way and it hurts that it isn’t talked about enough. Now I’m not gay or transgender but I’m also not the shy girl type so I resonate more with Rainbow Dash and those episodes are just insulting.

[@P1nkMantis]

@@cosmic_seabunny it breaks my heart because when she isnt being awful she is literally the best thing on the planet Absolutely loved her in Flutter Brutter She doesnt let anyone shit talk her friends I wish they didnt do such weird stereotypical decision making with her writing

[@cosmic_seabunny]

@@P1nkMantis Agreed! I think someone the writers made a great example of a healthy more domineering female character is Sunset Shimmer! She has a lot of Tomboy moments and even some moments where she acts more “typically masculine” but she does it without being toxic or bringing down any of the characters. I hate to be that person but I think when the writers wanted to make her and Applejack end game they assumed they had to make her “stronger” or something of that nature. Stereotyping is a rookie writer’s worst weakness and I think they focused too much on making her the “gay character” and leaned into the non feminine side waaayyy too much! (Especially since there’s examples of good characters like that already.) The fact that it was only near the last season that these episodes happened just gives me that feeling, which sucks cause she’s a good character just the was and WAY more chemistry with AJ before hand. Just my speculation though.

[@P1nkMantis]

@ hard agree I love love sunset and applejack, great examples of healthily “masc” or even like futch female characters Aside from rainbow rocks i fcking adore Equestria Girls rainbow because she comes off as less “toxic” and more like shes bantering with her friends. She just seems more natural there to me Ironic how the objectively worse written series in this francise writes Rainbow as more enjoyable than the main series Makes me think of what couldve been with main series her :( They did my girl so dirty

[@KazeStarlight]

I didn't understand anything about that comment.. 💀

[@Spiderlass]

​@@KazeStarlight they're saying that they think rainbow dash is a negative representation of a girl who's a little more masculine. They think she plays into harmful stereotypes occasionally and isn't a good role model for girls that are tomboys.

[@MaizeSnallygaster]

Over a Barrel may not seem the most pro indigenous episode, but it is important to take it in perspective with real life. The Buffalo have been campaigning for their land back for like a year, and they got full decision making power over it. In real life indigenous activists have been working for decades to achieve half as much, so when it is put into perspective it is actually a major victory. The major goal of the land back movement isn’t to just kick out everybody and take over, land back means that they want to own the land and have the use of that land be determined by them. The buffalo ended the episode with control of all the land, they are simply just leasing it out to the settlers in return for compensation. The only real thing that I’ve seen indigenous people take issue with is that everyone else gets to be a magical unicorn or a fire-breathing dragon; meanwhile, the indigenous fans are left as brown buffalo with feathers in their hair, though the episode only showed one tribe in it so it doesn’t mean that every buffalo has to look like that. I mean, they are shown to have natural brown fur, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t give your O.C fur dye and extravagant jewels.

[@_kaleido]

that’s actually kind of an interesting point, kind of depressingly realistic for MLP

[@Angels-vq7rz]

Yess thank you!!

[@meowsticsuki]

omg thank you. i could never put it into words

[@P1nkMantis]

I definitely do understand and its totally fine to like the episode, i just want to explain a little bit more of my reasoning While I understand the sentiment, my primary issue with the episode is it tackling a very serious topic in a much more trivial way than it needed to be. I dont mean that they sort of dumbed it down for kids. They do other episodes that tackle serious topics in really good ways This specific one was set up as though neither group was “in the wrong”, the settlers needed to survive and the issue was easily settled. It sort of perpetuates the little thanksgiving stories we’re told as kids in america about how the pilgrims and natives all ate together and it was very peaceful and nice I dont know how to word it, but what i do know is im a very very big american history buff and the colonization of this land was unfortunately atrocious, and as I stated in the vid, canada, which my little pony is based in, was as bad if not worse in the treatment of the natives Enslavement, 🍇, genocide, feudalism, I really do understand the sentiment but the settlers in the episode arent the kin of ancestors that came a long time ago and have nothing to do with what happened such as people in North America today, theyre first generation settler and I think they couldve gotten their moral in an episode that didnt involve a very very horrific part of our history

[@meowsticsuki]

@@P1nkMantis i see what you’re saying i completely get that. i’m not too much into history but i do know the general things that did play out, tysm for expanding on what you said in the vid! i’m not great with words so i don’t wanna get too much into it but i see your point i do honestly think im biased cause mlp is my favorite show growing up though

[@ktostam35]

11:34 what's worse? This is exactly like that one episode where she becomes a bookworm too. "Haha you're so lame for reading" and then gets character development, except that was handled better. The writers seem to love making her a toxic guy

[@hithere5039]

Honestly, it's crazy to me that the episode with Rainbow Dash honestly sort of creepy parents aren't mentioned. And the lesson of that episode was that their behavior is okay because they're her parents. What a terrible lesson

[@yamihikarilightdark9]

And “other people have it worse, so your feelings are invalid”

[@MouetteRoquefort]

the mane 6 regressed a lot in the late seasons sadly :/

[@anfani6839]

Glad to see I am not the only one who noticed this

[@sillyfilly_brony]

It’s sad the writers did that, mlp is written by many writers so I was wondering why this happened ?

[@MouetteRoquefort]

@@sillyfilly_brony i think its hard to developing characters and make them interesting for 9 seasons also most of them acheving their dreams (rarity boutique, rd was a wonderbolt...)

[@sillyfilly_brony]

@ yeah It’s crazy mlp ran for 9 season definitely an awesome achievement for a show, and I agree I guess they regressed them a little bit especially aj and rd, pinkie didn’t really change a lot, and I think rarity got better and more interesting same with fluttershy, although I liked fluttershy since episode one, to me peak mlp was definitely season 3, 4 and 5.

[@nameynamd9212]

​@@sillyfilly_bronyAt least some of the problems could be from the abundance of writers and their visions/ideas on things clashing with each other at times

[@ladydjiv]

I always thought Spike deserved better. Everyone treats him like a servant and then gets upset with him when he has wants, or makes decisions and make a mistake. They constantly make him have “important adult responsibilities”, so when he thinks he can make semi-adult decisions, b/c he keeps being expected to be one, they destroy him over it. Then tell him he’s just a baby. Which he is, but why do they treat him like a personal assistant if he’s just a baby? And I always took issue with how many times they tell him he’s SOOO lucky to be there with ponies, instead of big mean terrible dragons. And I’m sorry, but RD has always had a terrible ego and she’s always put down her friends in a way that never sat right with me. And never learns from it.

[@lkunehoo]

I agree I agree! Spike is a baby, and that episode when they went to see dragons made me physically cringe. It felt so messed up? Like you’re insulting dragons while having a baby dragon and saying things like “well you’re different from other dragons” like wha…since Spike was semi raised by ponies they’d think they’d question why the dragons they see at least act this way? Is it due to different cultures? Because clearly it isn’t in their nature to act this way. and at the end of the episode it’s how to be a pony instead of how to be a better version of you as you grow or something…I definitely didn’t like how that episode ended at all. I thought rainbow definitely had this overconfidence. Which makes sense due to her upbringing. Though I don’t think she put down her friends, at least not intentionally. A lot of it seemed light hearted from what I remember? Do you have some examples? But honestly my problem with her overconfidence is that when it’s Trixie showing off is terrible, but with rainbow dash they just don’t care all too much it seems? Like they sometimes get annoyed, but they never act like they did with trixie? I mean it makes sense they are friends so they could be blindsided, but the fact that it has never been seriously addressed seems weird to me.

[@Ziz-The-Fox]

the most hated episode for me is the one where i think it was rarity and rainbowdash get into a fight and then realise they have nothing in common and BREAK UP OVER IT??? its in like season 7 or 8 too so its like at the end of the season, and i HAAAAATE it because they had been through so much and they always said their friendship was unbreakable, but then one fight mad them break up for like weeks i think it was. they diddnt speak to eachother for so long until the others forced them to become friends again, like all those other seasons for what??

[@THEEEE_Ouma_Kokichi]

Also another notice: Rarity and Apple jack have ZERO in common. They bicker over it and even get into a fight in Twilight's first sleepover, even though they do still bicker sometimes they've put their differences to the side and stay friends no matter what. They made up in a day in that episode, that was earlier in the series. But rainbows and Rarity's break up ends for weeks?... 😭Friends argue sometimes, but it can be fixable. So that confused me very much 😭 I'd like to think anything after season four isn't canon bye

[@ME0WMERE]

the second half of that episode felt kinda nice, like a season 1 episode. But it was season 8! (Episode 17 if you're curious.) It was so out of place. And the first half just felt _wrong._

[@L.G.127]

The amount of r@c!sm hide in kid cartoons you get when you get older💀

[@silly.meekoo]

I love how, half the episodes are spike episodes 😭

[@jharmond3874]

28 pranks later is generally terrible because I thought RD already learned to not prank ponies like Fluttershy who are more sensitive to scares because of what Pinkie taught her in the first Gilda episode. The moment Pinkie said no, RD respected that and moved on.

[@heeeeresmaverick]

I hate 'the end in friend' so much, its like the writers realised they had completely neglected the rainbow dash/rarity duo so much so they just thought "lets just do 'look before you sleep' 2 electric boogaloo" but at the point in the series it makes no sense for the them to be acting that way 😭😭😭 not to mention there have been plenty of moments to show rd and rarity are still close friends despite the fact that they're so different/haven't been focused on. as a raridash fan it really hurt, especially after the great episode that was 'rarity investigates', which had some GREAT moments of the two together 💔

[@andrewsanusi8462]

No cause I hate that episode as well, the two have known each other for years at that point so for them to start questioning their entire friendship at that point over a few arguments just made no flipping sense.

[@Looona_fan]

Spike suffering at every opportunity because the writers love to torture him.

[@Foxy_editzs]

funny how you put spike his own name on the thumbnail makes me think that the writers giving him the meg treatment from family guy

[@P1nkMantis]

@@Foxy_editzs they really do

[@agentmothman]

The thumbnail is giving that one ninjago slideshow with Cole being "alive but gay" lmao

[@nerdatello]

LMAO YEAH (its really funny to scroll thru the comments on that video to see how many people are pissed off that its basically canon and meanwhile nearly everyone on tumblr Rejoiced because weve been saying this for years WHFJSKFND)

[@so-xf6ph]

@@nerdatellowait this is actually canon!?

[@ccondelli]

The one where discord messes with the school and endangers the students while Starlight is acting headmare is pretty bad too. Discord completely traumatizes the students and almost kills them and Starlight has to apologize?!! His character development goes out the window, these aren't just harmless chaotic pranks. I get he felt left out, but he could've just told Starlight that!

[@P1nkMantis]

I really freaking agree with that. Based on like every other characterization Discord would totally pull shitty pranks but he’d never actually endanger anyone, thats like his one moral highground Despise that episode

[@ccondelli]

@P1nkMantis Yeah! I think the episode could've been improved if he just did pranks like what he did with Trixie, interrupted/disrupted the classes and played chaotic pranks like that, but didn't actually endanger anyone. Starlight could've gotten frustrated and banished him, and then an apology would've been more warrented, because banishment may be a bit harsh instead of just talking to Discord if he was just doing silly pranks, but it's not too harsh when he's genuinely traumatizing kids!

[@ccondelli]

@@P1nkMantis Also thanks so much for responding, your channel is great! :)

[@crafty9953]

Ugh, that episode bothered me so bad. They always made the characters who didn’t have to apologize, apologize

[@nameynamd9212]

The apology is more so in recognizing the situation won't change unless someone makes a step in the right direction(as far as I've seen, there's frustrations on Discord, and given a similar reaction with Treehugger, as well as his switch from changing bad habits than making good onds, the problen on who's apologizing seems intentional to convey a lesson)

[@sammmmmp1455]

As much as with the scootaloo parents episode it would feel better to see them rightfully told they're wrong. For kids who are actually in this situation and watch the show, the last thing they'd want to see is a message to say their parents are horrible people. Maybe when they're out of the situation. But while they're in it? It's not comforting and it's barely validating. All it does it hurt

[@P1nkMantis]

Yeah thats a really good point. I really wish they just avoided this episode all together

[@sammmmmp1455]

@@P1nkMantis I get that

[@SilverNut_]

2:47 LMAOO NOT THE LESBIAN DOSMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS 💀 ( Hope you are doing better after those things happened :] )

[@P1nkMantis]

Thank you, really appreciate it :) definitely been recovering, its been good :D Happy thanksgiving if you celebrate btw

[@SilverNut_]

@P1nkMantis that good to know :DDD ( I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but if you do happy thanksgiving :DDD)

[@digglesgiggless]

15:05 the validation i felt hearing this get brought up, i remember getting so much secondhand embarrassment watching this ep and not really understanding why when i was younger. it's sad because it really didn't feel like spike ever *grew* as a character throughout the whole series, he never gained much individuality or unique characteristics, or if it was implied he would he didn't seem to hang onto them. only until the plot REQUIRED he literally grew up for the finale did it feel like he had some newfound confidence in himself.

[@lkunehoo]

Owe I agree I agree. I think it would’ve been nice to have a few episodes centered around spike discovering himself more and keeping that with him as a character. Actually it would’ve been cool after that owl episode Twilight could’ve guided spike a little better. Like maybe have him do far less work like far less. I mean it’s still a baby he should be having fun and having more friends his age you know? Actually I think an episode like that could really teach certain kids who are able to have that privilege be able to just be kids. Honestly I feel like they could’ve done a lot more lessons without reverting their characters back to square one for the plot (though for some situations it makes sense to revert back to old habits and such which would also be an interesting episode)

[@RoyalVartist]

I suppose in addition to issues with Spike episodes I have many issues with Discord episodes as well. Discord is a seriously toxic friend and yet they dismiss it because "he's learning" and "he did it with good intentions" it doesnt change the fact that he pushes his friends' buttons very intentionally. Sending them into panic attacks, putting the entire country in danger, or even just to stir up drama or single out another character for shxts and giggles (gaslighting Twilight and somewhat isolating Fluttershy on multiple occassions)

[@lou9635]

I cut some slack to Discord because this is literally the first time he experiences friendship. I see him like an overpowerful child in term of friendship, and children can be very cruel and destructive for their own amusement. But if that saves a bit the character, it doesn't save the episode because most of the time you can see the authors dismissing the "lesson learnt" part because they want to keep Discord as he is, more fun. So, he's a bit static compared to the others.

[@Lessaragirly]

Well he is the lord of chaos if he isn't chaotic he will start disappearing

[@PeeperSnail]

An episode that never sat right with me was Tanks For The Memories. It’s clear that the entire episode is an allegory for a pet dying, so the callous response from the rest of the Mane 6 to Rainbow’s very obvious grief left a bad taste in my mouth.

[@Cyber1CanDy]

It's so nice to hear someone else enjoys Applejack! I love her

[@Cyber1CanDy]

Also it's fun to pretend discord is telling us about these episodes

[@flvtterbutter]

💀

[@velais]

i used to associate myself with "not like other girls trope" because of my sympathy towards her

[@yvettezilla]

Also my personal headcanon is that dashie is autistic, I see her a lot in myself as a diagnosed autistic person. She doesn't seem to pick up on social cues that well, acting disrespectful to her students because she doesn't like cheerleading. I feel like she genuinely doesn't mean to be rude but has issues putting on a mask for things she dislikes, like myself. I'm better now but as a younger girl I absolutely hated anything girly. I hated bright pink, dolls, and fashion. I remember my auntie gifting me a doll and I was very upset, as my special interest was dinosaurs (still is) and was VERY clear I did not want anything girly. Of course, I was seen as rude and a brat, but it's purely cus I couldn't mask being happy about something I hated. I'm rambling but yeah. I don't mind girly stuff now and actually enjoy it. I believe Dash has a hard time putting on a mask or understanding when she's being socially inappropriate (continuing to do pranks).

[@catbatrat1760]

"and was VERY clear I did not want anything girly." Wait, you told her this before or after? Because if you told her, and she just did it anyway, then yeah, I can totally understand being like "DUDE!!!!!!"

[@straawberryfieldsforever]

I think it's more ADHD

[@Maddie-sn7yt]

I also HATE the rainbow dash cheerleading coach episode. Especially since she BEGS Fluttershy to cheer her on in an earlier episode and constantly cheerleads and also needs reassurance. Like, did the Fluttershy episode about the tornado mean nothing?? like... it pissed me off so much that I stopped watching the show for a while

[@MJN_SEIFER]

Yeah, Dashie knows that cheering is important - I wonder if whoever wrote that episode just looked at the character sheets and saw that Dashie is the "tomboy" and just thought "Oh, so she hates girly things, got it." and didn't bother to check anything else. It only takes a few early episodes to get that Dashie never had anything against girly things - she even seems to be proof that you can be a tomboy and still like feminine things, I've never seen any proof that she didn't, but even if that she was like that, she has still shown that she gets why cheering was important.

[@vampires4life]

i think the worst episode is matter of principals, 100%, the moral of that episode is “if u struggle w/ communication, gaslight somepony into thinking theyre the problem! thats a GOOD thing to do” it makes me so fuckin angry

[@vampires4life]

also any spike/rarity episode is so uncomfortable

[@nameynamd9212]

The disagreement on who's apologizing seems to be universal, which I feel makes the lesson on problems where resolution can't come if neither side acts on it, even if the culpable side isn't the one to do it

[@M0ONCommander]

the episode really read as abuse apologia. probably the most dangerous resolution I saw in any episode. The fact they don't even address Discord putting the student's lives in danger. Starlight was entirely justified in banishing him to the shadow realm + that laser was just badass

[@lukelichtenthal5407]

@@M0ONCommander As Much as I hate Starlight, I agree that she was not the worse thing in this episode!!

[@Roryzcreationstation]

MLP after mischaracterizing my favorite characters and turning them into complete assholes (Rainbow Dash. What have they done to you)

[@Roryzcreationstation]

It feels like reading warrior cats all over again and watching my favorite characters get ruined by writers

[@P1nkMantis]

@@Roryzcreationstation me when i enter the mischaracterizing MLP characters competition and the show writers walk in

[@hylianevalink]

I can explain why the characters feels so different in later seasons and why it seems some of their growth are retconned or never called back to The original writing team was there only up to Season 3, afterward it was mostly people that came (even sometimes interns/apprentices) that wrote one or two episodes for a season and there was no more real continuity/coherence in character growth. Especially for details/callbacks to season 1 that they were probably not aware of. It sucks but it can somewhat "excuse" the writing, imagine writing for someone else's character that you are not entirely used to and wasn't there to know since the start.

[@Agoraphobia2763]

Ah yes, the worst mistake ever... Spike.

[@purrfect_kitty5322]

Personally I love Spike, but they hardly wrote his character in a way that fully made sense. My favorite Spike parts are where he feels like he's not good enough and he realizes that despite being different he is important. The problem is the show plays him off more a joke instead of a character who's growing up and discovering himself. Twilight always reminds him and the audience that he's a baby dragon, but we don't really see him learning from his lessons like you'd expect.

[@catbatrat1760]

0:40 This footage was so perfectly chosen and synced

[@catbatrat1760]

Continuing to watch, I noticed that you used a LOT of Discord clips to accompany what you're saying. Is that just because he's frickin' great and everyone loves him, or because he has so many different expressions due to just completely hamming it up all the time (like, literally every second of screentime the dude gets is a blast to watch)?

[@P1nkMantis]

@@catbatrat1760both :D Its a combination of a lot of things 1. Hes my absolute favorite character 2. I see myself a lot in him so it just made since to use him as an insert for my own words 3. He has some of the most varied, expressive animation in the show. Genuinely i will watch scenes with him in it frame by frame to catch all of his expressions because they are so good

[@vacantgalaxies]

I think the revenge prank in 28 Pranks Later was perfectly justified. One of Dash’s “pranks” was dropping a boulder on Big Mac and I feel like no one touches on how dangerous that was. That could’ve been manslaughter (or is it ponyslaughter?) if it missed. Out of character or not, the base of their prank being one of Dash’s pranks “backfiring” is perfect

[@yamihikarilightdark9]

While the reaction was extreme, I at least felt like it wasn’t undeserved. I can see why some people would dislike it though. Plus Dash had a huge step back in character development just to cause a problem.

[@AnthonyGotterminated]

1:02, Upbeat happy music with the text saying your bro almost died, perfect 😎👍👍👍

[@P1nkMantis]

@@AnthonyGotterminated IF he had died it’s definitely what he wouldve wanted Probably wouldnt wanna be remembered through a MLP video tho lol

[@hearmeout1767]

I once heard of a funeral that played upbeat celebratory music because it's what the dead person wanted

[@Constellaphile]

Its not... I think you need to actually look into that song's lyrics..

[@P1nkMantis]

@@Constellaphile my loved ones were really bout to be mangled

[@AnthonyGotterminated]

@ I know the lyrics

[@ferretqueen2908]

What's weird is how often Spike is the voice of reason in other episodes when Twilight is being her neurotic perfectionist self, but in his own episodes, he's a deeply insecure bumbling idiot. Scootaloo's parents are negligence incarnate and their existence alone makes me angry. Also, I'm surprised Magical Mystery Cure isn't on this list. I find the most annoying thing about this episode is that the spell thing feels like such a non-issue, especially compared to other times of losing cutie marks. All they show is that the Mane 6 stink at doing each other's chores. There doesn't really seem to be much of a problem. But somehow Twilight fixing a simple mistake she made accidentally is what earns her wings and not the other times she's saved the world? Honestly I think it would've been better if she got her wings after fighting Tirek.

[@liudoesthings]

“Ironic for a Canadian cartoon,” well..natives all over turtle island experienced similar / the same things all over whether the USA or Canada or Latin America etc

[@P1nkMantis]

@@liudoesthings lol as i put on the thing i was being sarcastic cuz canadas crimes were totally horrific

[@liudoesthings]

@ sorry I didn’t see that 😭

[@P1nkMantis]

@@liudoesthings dont worry bout it :]

[@Mrcleanfrfr]

​@@P1nkMantis And they still treat indigenous and brown people horribly over there 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@P1nkMantis]

Just in case someone didnt see the desc :] Just wanted to clarify a few things 1. As I stated some episodes on this list I actually enjoyed, but for whatever reason thought it was big enough of a let down to put in this video i.e. Equestria Games and Celestial Advice. The only episode of this show i genuinely hate is 28 pranks later (and the crystallizing but those didn’t make it on to the list) 2. If you like these episodes, that’s more than okay, that’s great :] I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind on something they enjoy, I just figured I’d add my inputs from the perspective of someone with both childhood nostalgia for the show but also as someone who at the time was very active in the Brony fandom and understood a lot of the controversies of the show. This analysis is mostly from a fandom perspective

[@Parasolhyena]

11:48 I think there would be some value in telling kids that some people are going to look down on certain hobbies, especially a lot of feminine ones, but I think the execution to it has to be done well to make a story like that work... and don't use a main character as the strawman for it. Maybe i'm too bleak but I think it can be a good lesson if you keep it light. Kids should know that not everyone is going to be a good person and despite that there will be people who support what you do even if not everyone does. I think it was stupid to ever use rainbow as the one for this though, Big one because shes a main character and the other because essentially what the wonderbolts do is intense aerial gymnastics. If the story really had to use her though... use her alongside someone else who can be the actual villain, have her be reluctant and clearly not really get cheerleading and you can tell she doesn't think it's a sport but she's more then happy to teach. Then make her episode lesson be that she realizes she should have stood up for the kids more against whoever the actual hypothetical villain is, whether she understands the sport or not, it is something the kids want to do and she supports them.

[@crafty9953]

“I think it can be a good lesson if you keep it light.” Honestly that’s best way to put it, and it summarizes this whole show. This show had great lessons, but man it got really heavy and felt like they would just brush over it. Especially the school of friendship seasons. Some lessons could’ve been great if they had done it correctly and kept it light. Instead, they usually made the person in the right be in the wrong (like Twilight when she wanted to spend the cruise relaxing, or Rainbow Dash with her parents), and always made it so heavy.

[@nameynamd9212]

​@@crafty9953The Rainbow Dadh one I get, but I didnt get that idea with Twilight(at most, it'd be to Iron Will), as it was more directed to an idea rather something more concrete like an individual

[@nameynamd9212]

I'd have to rewatch the episode to say more, but making a strawman would create a different lesson than to "respect the interests of others" idea in the episode

[@Dreamheart101]

I personally hate Flutter Brutter. The portrayal of Fluttershy's brother completely ignores the real, debilitating impacts of mental illness and make him out as the lazy, selfish stereotype. It would have been nice to showcase his side and show him actually wanting to help and care about others. Perhaps showcase him messing things up when he does try to explain why he's so afraid in the first place. The sentiment that he just had to try in the end felt like a slap in the face.

[@fruity4820]

I can't even remember that episode, Fluttershy has family?!

[@Dreamheart101]

@fruity4820 Yes, yes she does! A mother, a father, and a brother. The brother from this episode becomes a soft reoccurring character who has a crush on Rainbow Dash. He actually joins the guard at some point and the mane 6 use that to break into Canterlot Castle during the episode where they were testing the security. (Luna appointed Fluttershy's brother on purpose for this exact reason, knowing he wasn't a capable guardpony). Her father likes collecting and keeping the clouds from his time in the factory (which Fluttershy's brother destroyed) and her mother likes gardening (which Fluttershy's brother also destroyed).

[@bluesoda840]

Honestly, i've always found forced that she did have a sibling but whatever.

[@yassified_toenail_clippings]

I both liked and disliked that episode. Mostly bc of how much I relate to her brother. While I did get mad for him bossing his parents around, I understand that he acted that way bc his parents failed to set boundaries. I don't really like how fluttershy was onto him for not trying things while also assigning him new jobs every single time he failed, which is funny bc that was the one thing fluttershy complained about to begin with. But I do appreciate that fluttershy tried to give him simple tasks and wasn't too harsh on him. Apart from the fact that she said "can't live with me until you work" bc jobs can be really hard to find, especially if you're mentally ill. I think fluttershy should've addressed his behavior more than "get a job". I do appreciate that their family wasn't toxic about his actions/status, and they encouraged him to do what he likes. I may not be as loud as him but I do relate to him a lot, whether that makes me immature or not idk.

[@destroyerofyorks]

I'm sorry, but even as somebody who struggles quite a bit with motivation and is possibly ND, I think it's crazy to say that criticising a legitimately lazy character is ableism. It's kinda like when people get upset over narcissistic or manipulative characters and claim they are negative stereotypes of people with personality disorders. It just comes off as excusing bad behavior to me. Flutter Brutter is just lazy, you can be a lazy person and not have ADHD or some for neurodivergence, just like how you be an awful, vindictive person without having BPD or Bipolar. In other words, unless the writers explicitly imply or state that a character has a disorder, I'm not gonna hold them accountable for an execution they weren't even going for in the first place.

[@tammymomoftwo]

Always hated the episode with scoots parents Cuz like First off Screw that, this child is clearly an orphan Have you looked at her? That’s not a child with parents Plus What amazing representation for children who grow up in the foster care system Being bounced around families One day she’s with her aunts But when they can’t keep her It’s back to the system she goes Another thing It would have been great to see how this world handles orphans And lastly You can’t tell when someone you go to school with is or is not an orphan Kids are the same no matter their home life And that wouldn’t have made scoots any less of an incredible and strong and amazing kid And it’s not as if dead parents aren’t something this show can touch on Apple bloom doesn’t have parents She’s raised by her brother, sister, and grandma Her parents are like, very extremely dead And what a wonderful connection that would have made for apple bloom and scoots Maybe a chance to show that not all kids without parents wish theirs were still around Maybe a good opportunity to show that some kids loose their parents And some kids get left by their parents And even if their opinions on those adults no longer with them differ They can bond over the absence of them all the same And ya they could have sugar coated it like they do with the Apple family parents usually But that can still make the message clear And okay Fine Scoot has parents Well clearly they’ve completely abandoned their very small child for some reason So when they return and act as if nothing is wrong all the characters should come to defense and say that if they wanna take scoots they’re gonna have to prove they won’t just abandon her again And either they’re gonna fail at proving they can be responsible parents Or they’re going to have a moment where they realize they’ve forced their small child to raise herself and be raised by strangers And they’ve never actually known her And as such, they don’t deserve to be her parents And then either they choose to stay, to be better, to try their best to get to know their child and be proper parents And maybe we have some episodes about them being overprotective because they still see her as the baby they left behind instead of the strong girl she’s grown up to be And they have to learn that yes, they need to be proper caring parents But because they WEREN’T there for her before She has grown stronger And now they can’t act like that never happened and try to raise her like any other kid Because she’s not the kid the left She’s bigger now And they can’t take back that gap between them They can’t take that step because it’s too late And they need to accept that There’s no more raising their little girl But they can raise the girl they came back to Or alternatively The parents realize they’ve given up their rights to BE her parents And they allow the people who have raised their child to continue doing so But maybe… they’ll write more? Maybe visit a little more often But they aren’t her parents anymore Or if they are They aren’t her caretakers Others will raise her They gave up that right when they left her the first time It’s not right for them to take it back now But nah Actually, let’s have an episode about how they’re wrong for wanting to take their kid with them Not cuz they abandoned her Or because she doesn’t want to leave But because this town NEEDS this toddler Or else shit might actually start breaking And we need to continue to put the weight and problems of others onto this small girl And that’s why she’s gotta stay here

[@Jenkinsmum]

"28 Pranks Later" is definitely based on MLP Tales "The Impractical Joker". I've never understood how Rainbow Dash could escalate from okay pranks in "Griffon the Brush Off" to mean-spirited pranks that caused some injuries to some of those ponies. Wishful thinking that a changeling impersonated her for several episodes. I think in too many episodes Spike is the butt of the joke and not really getting the credit he deserves. "Spike at Your Service" is the only time we see the Dragon Code and doesn't seem to apply to other dragons we see. And as for Rainbow Dash and AJ, they keep rivalling no matter what lessons they learn (or don't learn in the long run). I'm not even sure Dashie lives up to her element of loyalty. Personally I think that the mother pony in "Mysterious Mare Do Well" should be jailed for child negligence, letting her baby fall twice. Even though Dashie gets some slack in spite of her bragging, Trixie is not afforded the same slack and treated as an outcast. And why does Mare Do Well look like a changeling? "Over a Barrel" isn't the only time that seems indicate that ponies seem to think they are more important than any other creature.

[@yamihikarilightdark9]

I think Spike made up his own Dragon Code. He’s a kid surrounded by and raised by a different species. He’s not gonna really know real dragon society outside books and tales. He’s like a young sidekick and little brother that liked to imagine being a strong hero, or a knight. (The diamond dogs ep and shared dream ep). He also prides in his own work ethic as Twi’s #1 assistant. Like making up your own knights code of honor even though you’re only 14.

[@tanandalynch9441]

Another episode is Once Upon A Zeppelin. Twilight is so excited to do things with her family but is forced to do a meet and greet with fans And when it's time for the one thing she desperately wanted more than anything to do, which was view a comet shower she'dost likely never get to see, she misses it because NOBODY REMINDED HER And when the pony who won that lottery thing got rightfully yelled at for "Practically standing on my tail!" As she put it, she's made to be the bad guy and is forced to apologize Sure her family put on their own version of the comet show she wanted to see, but they knew the whole time what she was there for and not a single person bothered to check on her to remind her Twilight (And flurry because she's a literal infant) are the only two in this episode that didn't suck

[@Harudodo]

I clicked for the thumbnail. Misogyny, colonization, S P I K E had my CACKLING. And now I shall stay for what I assume to be slayer commentary Edit: I’m only halfway done and you’ve earned a sub, I can see you doing great things in the future :D my only suggestion would be formatting this video as “bad to worst” instead of starting with the worst, as it helps retain watch time. Though since this was originally a full ranking video it makes sense why it didn’t end up that way

[@kumatorahaltmanndreemurr]

I stopped watching the show halfway through season 5 waaayy back in the day. I’m downright flabbergasted to learn that Scootaloo had parents this whole time 😭

[@SeashellSoda]

I hate how much hate Spike gets because I love him and most of his episodes.. Y'all forget he's literally just a baby😭

[@yassified_toenail_clippings]

Exactly like he's not gonna logic everything

[@FunkyArtt]

“Misogyny” “Colinization” and then there’s just “spike”

[@EmeralBookwise]

The fact Appleloosa is actually returned to in multiple episodes without any corresponding follow up on the Bufflo, not even as background cameos is absolutely tragic, only making the ending of Over a Barrel all the more egregious for the likely unintentional implication that just like real native Americans, despite all promises of sharing the land, the settler ponies still forced them off. As for Scootaloo's parents, introducing them as characters in the final season was just a dumb mistake. Don't get me wrong, it was always a bit messed up that the fans took the absence of any on screen parents as implying Scootaloo was an orphan, when it could have always been the case that Scootaloo's parents were just ordinary and unimportant citizens of Ponyville. It would have been so much better if the episode would have just focused on the Aunts introduced in the same episode instead. It would have been a good compromise, not completely bulldozing all the orphan speculation, but still showing that Scootaloo has a loving family to take care of her.

[@nameynamd9212]

The lack of their inclusion could also just be a way to avoid more controversy on how that interpretation was viewed

[@WyvernoftheStars]

13:35 We do see the buffalo in a place other then Return of Harmony, although it is very short. In S4E12, Pinkie's Pride, we see Cheese Sandwich at the edge of Appleoosa with the Buffaloes celebrating a party he presumable hosted. Twilight also accidentally teleports onto a herd in Twilight's Kingdom Pt2 And, some buffalo can be seen laughing at Trouble Shoes in Appleoosa's Most Wanted Apart from that, they do not appear anywhere else in the show, which is quite sad.

[@P1nkMantis]

@@WyvernoftheStars ah, thank you, must’ve missed them. Thanks for letting me know, ill keep an eye out for them on ny next watch through :D

[@preo3514]

28 pranks later was probably the episode that scared me the most. In my opinion both sides were kinda bad. I think rainbow dash went too far but so did everyone else. Wouldn’t it be better if people idk just ignored her or that her friends didn’t want to be with her?

[@P1nkMantis]

@@preo3514 they didn’t want to be around her, that was the issue. It was like borderline harassment

[@preo3514]

@@P1nkMantis wouldn’t it just be better to ignore her like what everyone did to the crusaders when they wrote the gossip news?

[@lou9635]

​@@preo3514The crusaders weren't chasing people around or breaking into houses for a good laugh, they cared about what the others thought about her that was their motivation for doing the bad thing in the first place. And they are childs! Rainbow Dash is an adult harassing everyone around because that makes her laugh. Ignoring her won't stop her because she doesn't care about the others' reactions.

[@AkuBeatz]

@@preo3514its easier to ignore kids than an adult in a place of power (elements of harmony yk)

[@yvettezilla]

Over a barrel was literally the first episode i ever saw of mlp fim, its one of my favorites purely for the nostalgia factor. As a kid i never picked up on how bad it was (mainly cus i didn't know about american history, im not American) nowadays i can see its problematic but ill still hold it in a special place of my heart lol.

[@denjidenji9162]

As a kid I used to really like it cause Braeburn was one of my favorite characters lol, I still quite like him so I feel I can never fully hate it for that, but it's definitely not the best haha

[@abiliv-lf9tz]

All the dragon racism episodes jus 😭Eugh

[@fowyingahviyiff1878]

Legit why is season 6ish onwards just “hey let’s do more rainbow dash character assassination” like plsss she was my favorite growing up and finding out coming back to the fandom the direction her character went has me pissed (I only saw through season 4, and until like yesterday i thought there were only 6 seasons)

[@dark-X-wolf177]

28 pranks later was my fav episode as I child, I loved the combo of revenge and terrifying outbreak of something, which is probably why I love Mlp infected AU’s like false alicorn syndrome so much

[@starkiller1289]

Never really got into the show but I am aware of a Spike centered episode that was basically "your not a dragon because you don't act like one also, your race is inherently greedy and evil and the ability for you to grow up (gem gathering) is morally wrong because it only feeds the negative aspects of your race and makes you cruel." Sure Spike is comic relief but "lessons" like that really shouldn't be taught don't recall if the ponies even apologized for accidently offending him. It also implies he's gonna be (physically) a baby forever because of how dragons work.

[@lukelichtenthal5407]

Oh God that episode was such a train wreck.

[@MJN_SEIFER]

To be fair, the greed thing was probably some phenomenon that made him grow rapidly - it's not properly explained, but I never got that he wouldn't grow normally eventually - he also was never a "baby" outside of flashback "Baby Dragon" is a figure of speech, for want of a better word. I may be wrong, but you might also be including "Dragon Quest" if you remember characters saying that Spike didn't act like a dragon - in my opinion, the point is, he doesn't need to listen to the bullies, he's the dragon he wants to be (and I always took the point of that episode to be "You're a guy who like girly things, like My Little Pony? That's more than okay!")

[@Silly-Sunshine1]

I heard "When you're-" at the start and I'm mad it didn't play.

[@P1nkMantis]

@@Silly-Sunshine1 im so sorry it was there originally but it got copyrighted :(

[@princesscadance197]

With 28 Pranks Later, my general belief has been that sometimes, someone just needs to get their rear end figuratively kicked to get the message to sink in. There are some people who just will not learn, no matter how much you lecture them and how seriously and from the heart you do so. So sometimes a more direct and often less-than kind approach is necessary, to hopefully shock them into opening their eyes by having the same thing done unto them.

[@eva-naiyatorian8573]

The Spike Slander Is Real 😂

[@P1nkMantis]

@@eva-naiyatorian8573 i love the guy but maaaan the writers dont

[@catbatrat1760]

Oh, shit, I didn't even THINK of the "could easily overpower you" part of her pranks and stuff... geez

[@itz._.izzygcuh]

LMAOOO NOT SPIKE BEING CENSORED 😭😭🥀💔💀💀🙏🏼

[@SmokeTheHorsehog]

17:12 I just want to mention a couple moments in The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well that conflict with this statement. Obviously, there's the Mane Six clearly seeing that Dash is irritated with their banter on their alter ego, and yet keep going on with it anyway. But the point I feel most people miss is, as Dash tries to feel better about the fact that she can fly, they (specifically Fluttershy) speed right past her in the air just to spite her for her comment.

[@sillyobjectz]

Can we please talk about how this video is exactly 22 minutes 22 seconds

[@o.m9514]

I don’t like it when people criticise female characters for being vengeful, but would sympathise and accept a male character that does the same thing. They always say that it is “out of character” for them when they really mean that they should always be agreeable, “kind” and complacent at all times, And they should always suppress their feelings and never act one it. It makes me very angry.

[@Leeann-ys1jk]

I don’t like CMC episodes; At least the episodes that have the three fillies being tortured throughout an episode focusing on them. Oh boy, where do I begin, let me start with Ponyville Confidential. Yes, I understand what the CMC well, technically and mostly Diamond Tiara did was wrong but everyone else played a role on the Gummy Gums Column being popular. Like, where is Cheerilee in all of this? Sure she punished Diamond Tiara for abusing her power and blackmailing the CMC at the end of the episode, but why didn’t she checked the newspapers? Rarity also was hypocritical in that episode she snooped through Sweetie Belle’s saddle bag and she even supported Gummy Gums and told her friends to not get angry unless if they’re the ones being gossiped. And once everyone found out Gummy Gums were the crusaders how do they respond? They shunned them and refused to talk to them and even the Mane 6 treated the CMC like if they’re adults with Rainbow pouring rain on them and Twilight setting a forcefield to keep them out and Big Mac and Applejack flat-out disowned Applebloom. Marks For Effort: Cozy Glow failed the test on purpose and Twilight accused the CMC for teaching her the wrong things about friendship and she permanently banned them from her school like you guessed it, she treated the fillies. like if they’re adults! Not to mention she refused to hear their side of the story and she didn’t even apologized and she just gave them their diplomas. One Bad Apple: Babs bullied them throughout the episode, plain and simple, and she joined their club when she doesn’t even deserve it. Cart Before The Ponies: This episode is actually more suited for Spoiled Rich since that sounds so much like her. This episode is also an example why character regression and Aesop Amnesia in a show with character development NEVER works. In fact MLP FiM is supposed to focus on developing their characters but they keep using those two sins. The episode just feels like if Applejack, Rainbow and Rarity flat-out hated their sisters and possibly still hold a grudge on them for the Gabby Gums incident. And when I mean they hated their little sisters I mean they were only caring about their carts being wrecked and not checking if the CMC were okay after the crash, not to mention they refused to listen to them and even tried to live through them during the episode. Also, Cheerilee punished ALL the adults when she should’ve punished the Mane 3 for breaking the rules of the Applewood Derby. And wanna know something about Marks For Effort, One Bad Apple and Cart Before The Ponies? The CMC were way too forgiving during those episodes. I get that kids tend to forgive too quickly, but kids should learn not to forgive too quickly, and they should learn when to NOT forgive in certain situations. In fact they should’ve have that as their character development as a sign of maturing and realize the Mane 6: especially their respective sisters aren’t the best ponies to look up to, and adults can be jerks. I know Babs isn’t technically an adult but they would cut her a bit of slack since she’s a child and was bullied herself, but she does need a long time to redeem herself. Besides, the CMC are school-aged and even have an episode dedicated with Sweetie Belle outgrowing her interests

[@crafty9953]

One Bad Apple really frustrated me. I get the lesson they were trying to teach, but they did it SO poorly. It basically just said “if someone’s bullying you, they probably got bullied or they have a lot going on in their life, so it’s okay.” I HATE that excuse. I genuinely think it should’ve been Babs who apologized and explained her situation. I hate that the CMC had to apologize for all these things, when it was usually someone else’s fault

[@lukelichtenthal5407]

@@crafty9953 I agree. And it's not just this show that has that problem. Not one show I've seen that has this situation can ever get it right!! The Only one that comes close was maybe Malcolm in the Middle, where in the episode Ida loses a leg, Lois apologizes to Francis for all the years of mistreatment. And even then, it didn't automatically fix everything because that's not how real life is!!

[@jasperjazzie]

​​@@crafty9953not only that but the whole "if you retaliate against your bully that means you're just as much of a bully as they are" thing rubs me the wrong way. sure you shouldn't resort to violence unless you absolutely have to, but sometimes that's all you can do, and it doesn't make you "just as bad" it's not even like babs was just copying diamond tiara and silver spoon to fit in, she was being even worse to the cmc than they ever were, at least dt and ss stuck to verbal insults instead of getting physical, so it really doesn't make it feel like she was just doing what she thought she had to in order to avoid being the target.

[@meowsticsuki]

i love how much spike episodes are in here lmao i have a very love hate relationship with his character

[@cathygrandstaff1957]

Princess Spike was annoying because so many of the issues Spike was blamed for were also bad decisions other people made. The water pipes need fixing? What idiot held off on fixing the pipes until the day of a major conference? Those things should have been handled weeks ago. Trees needing to be trimmed has the same issue, if that was a problem it should have been handled days before the conference. Twilight needs sleep? Twilight should have been ensuring she got enough sleep so she wouldn’t be useless for most of the conference day. It doesn’t help that most of Spike’s truly selfish abuses of power (like the portrait) have absolutely no negative repercussions while the decisions he makes to help others are the ones that backfire. My headcanon is that Scootaloo’s parents obviously have a job relating to dangerous equestrian creatures and had left Scootaloo in Ponyville because they didn’t want her getting eaten. This isn’t a great decision on their part but maybe they don’t have a lot of choices. Now though she’s either old enough they figure she can stay out of trouble or they’ve been posted to a safer assignment so they decide to come collect her because it isn’t exactly easy for them being separated from their daughter. Honestly I wonder how tyrannical the job system in Equestria is since they accept “I can’t be with you I have a job” as a given.

[@andrewdiaz3529]

This show has a lot of episodes full of racism plots where racism isn't the problem to be solved; The problem is people resisting racism. Its a shame how the most recent generation show turned out because I was actually hoping they would do better with non-ponies this time around, show off how that multi-species equestria that was shown at the end of fim worked, but they didn't.

[@nonctm777]

You mastered the art of making thumbnails that people wanna click on, that "Spike" censor made me choke

[@PyroPikmin500VivianShadowGirl]

I love how you use Discord as if you're talking or something. It's clever

[@julymiller7456]

I don't know who said Cheerleading isn't a real sport, but it totally is. Sam, my favorite spy, called it a girly girl sport. At least she had a little more decency than Rainbow in that particular episode.

[@lukelichtenthal5407]

Im my opinion the characters who suffered the worst flanderization were Twilight and Pinkie. Twilight because of her ego and, Pinkie because of not respecting that not everyone likes that same things she does as well as not being able to handle the slightest bit of criticism. Do I even need to bring up Yakkity Sax?

[@deathxanamon7211]

Spike was actually doing really, really good in Princess Spike. He only starts abusing power after cadence puts the idea in his head because she was thinking he was abusing power. When all he was doing, he's helping twilight to fulfill duties that ponies wanted her expertise on because they didn't want some 'random dragon' to help. The reason those trees fell on that pipe was because he was trying to help twilight sleep, so he told the ponies cutting them down to stop. Besides that, he was actually doing really good. Before the pipe broke, cadence told him that he should stop abusing power and he did.

[@queenchespin]

Love your use of discord he's so funne

[@sapphiremoonaj]

the one about spike learning that his dragon code is sadly basicly disproven in a episode in season 8 or 9

[@sadgirl7321]

Spike: *gets censored with his name*

[@yoinkysploinky57]

Honest to God, right hand on the Bible, rainbow dash would NEVER hate on cheerleaders. SHE LITERALLY COACHED FLUTTERSHY ON HOW TO CHEER BECAUSE SHE CONSIDERS IT IMPORTANT TO THE SPORT!!! Plus, rainbow dash loves feminine things! And she restrained herself from pranking fluttershy in SEASON ONE!! FOH man #notmyrainbowdash

[@teapunkin7076]

The use of Gypsy Bard in a video about controversial MLP episodes is comedy gold

[@saphirestorm7952]

Yeah, the song that everyone mistakes for saying a slur yet is talking about the breed of horse, so everyone talks about it, yet meanwhile ignores the song that actually says a slur

[@---Melody---]

​@@saphirestorm7952which song actually says a slur?

[@saphirestorm7952]

@@---Melody--- Pinkie's Brew, it'd normally be fine since she's referring to herself but I don't think the voice actor is Romani which just kinda elimates the sentiment. It'd have been fine if she had a Romani va, some Romani people refer to themself that way like my friend for example, but it doesn't work having a character refer to themself as such and the va not being Romani themself

[@Skylar_glasser]

My least favorite episode is parental glidance cause it has an awful ending, like RD wasn't even remotely bad in that episode. I absolutely hate her parents and scootaloo now though.

[@KlaviceGavin]

I’m convinced RD was intended to be a stallion but they changed her gender at the last second. Because having a woman mansplain is much less toxic than a man, amirite?

[@skedadle7686]

derby racers - another very uncharacteristic one. what season was it, like 7? that's wayyy too late in the show for aj to keep being stubborn and apathetic, rarity to bully sweetie belle AGAIN, and dash to... well. ok, maybe dash never learns. at least the 3 got what they deserved at the end. but still kinda uncomfortable how LONG the cmc's put up with their antics

[@cryptosuchus2445]

Thinking about it and watching this, "2 4 6 Greaaat" might be my least favorite episode in the series. To have Rainbow Dash be so mean to children so late in the series is wild. Especially considering her past behavior. Like, what the Crusaders did for the Equestria Games was basically a cheer routine and she was so hyped for it. And, though it was flawed, her encouragement for the buckball team, Fluttershy in "Hurricane Fluttershy", and the Ponyville team for the Equestria games. Like it doesn't just seem like a step back in character development, it seems worse than her past handling of similar situations.

[@Lastbourne]

I agree that Rainbow Dash got what he deserved Non compete clause is the only time I ever yelled at my TV to tell characters to shut up, it was better when they weren't trying to fake it Discord was being downright terrible to Fluttershy Rainbow Dash contradicts her S1 episode when she needed Fluttershy to cheer her on The Last Crusade, Scootaloo parents suck, what else can I say Personally my least favorite episodes are The Mean Six, Growing up is hard to do and a Trivial Matter

[@Citruslimeade]

Okay but does anyone remember the episode where rarity chose applejack, photo finish, and some other dude(I forgot sorry) to judge ponies clothing for a contest. Then applejack goes out of her way to simplify and insult their clothing!! I don’t understand why they set the episode this way and it made me rethink applejack’s character and I wish hasbros could have scrapped this episode or maybe written it better.

[@StarswirlStar]

I feel like with your rankings, I think if I had watch other shows, I'd probably agree with u But since I just started watching MLP this summer completely blind, I loved almost every single episode from this show because to me, it was so novel Even that fight between Twilight and Pinkie in the movie, but now with ur perspective I get why you'd dislike it; honestly, everything Season 6 and above felt like the series at its worst....especially "A Trivial Pursuit" :/ Especially that episode...... (I'm a huge TwiPie fan, personally) This was the first western TV show I watch completely, instead of YT videos for most of my childhood, haha (I'm in my early 20s now) Thank you for sharing ur thoughts about these, PinkMantis -- I honestly thought these episodes were just funny or simple "happily ever after" which maybe I'm braindead, because that is fun to me, but with ur perspective, I see things in a new light

[@P1nkMantis]

@@StarswirlStar i totally absolutely adore this show with all my heart and i think the fact that even things i considered to be bad epiaodes at the time can still be thoroughly enjoyed Its just a testament to how amazing MLP was that at its lowest it was still a high tier cartoon Hope you enjoyed the vid :]

[@StarswirlStar]

@@P1nkMantis I definitely get what u mean, and I remember when I saw a YT video mentioning MLP and then looked at it for the first time I'm a guy, so my first thought was its probably some girly "rainbow and sunshine" cartoon for little girls But then I saw someone uploaded the entire show and was amazed at the amount of episodes That and how curious I was made me take the plunge And here I am now, haha; I love MLP for its lore, a lot :) And a met a girl who loves MLP as much as me, she thinks its cool I just watched it for the first time...she wants to watch Equestria Girls with me, so I haven't touched it yet I did enjoy your video, cause we get to chat about the show we both appreciate so much!