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At long last we've made it to the 100th episode of our favorite horse cartoon. MLP:FiM has either 221 or 222 episodes depending on if you count the holiday special, and next week we're finishing on episode 111 — so we are indeed rapidly approaching the midpoint.
The rest of this post may contain spoilers.
What's the chef cookin' tonight?
Slice of Life
...The 100th episode. Written by our beloved M.A. Larson of Twilicorn fame, this episode is basically a long series of contemporary fandom in-jokes mainly related to various background character designs. This episode may or may not be completely incomprehensible to anyone not in the particular cultural context of bronies in 2015, but I'll try to guide you through it if I can.
The Cinemare Sins video for this episode, interestingly enough, doesn't actually spend much time nitpicking it, mainly focusing on briefly explaining the fandom references, and giving it a sin tally of -29. Maybe I should show that as an explainer? Or maybe somepony else has a better idea.
Princess Spike
...In which Twilight needs to eep and Spike, accordingly, gets to take over for her. In typical Spike Episode fashion, he creates a big mess. This episode is not remembered particularly fondly but hey it's worldbuilding for how government works in Equestria so it's got that going for it. I guess it's got floral worldbuilding achoo- I mean too. There's also a Very Subtle Fargo Referenc™ in this episode.
Party Pooped
...Is our introduction to the nation of Yakyakistan and the yaks who live there. They're gonna become much more relevant later, but for now, Pinkie Pie has failed to entertain a yak delegation, and this may or may not have triggered a war.
Amending Fences
...Is an episode based on two throwaway lines from S1E1 "Friendship is Magic, part 1" — yeah, remember that, the very first episode of this show? Back when I didn't even make separate posts for Pony Night? Good times!
But yeah, this episode introduces us to Moon Dancer (spacing varies), who was only mentioned by name back in episode 1. She was one of Twilight's friends back in Canterlot, and in true "the axe forgets what the tree remembers" fashion, Moon Dancer was really impacted by Twilight's sudden disappearance. Many fans were touched by this episode, I remember, although at least one fan was bewildered by the peculiar blend of two phrases in the title.
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
...Is an episode about a creature that turns dreams into nightmares, and the efforts that Princess Luna and the ponies of Ponyville must take to stop it. This episode contains the first Very Subtle Sailor Moon Referenc™ of this season, the next one being in "Scare Master" two weeks from now.
And yes, this episode's title is itself a Very Subtle Blade Runner Referenc™.
Canterlot Boutique
...Is one of the episodes I remember being cited as a moment where one of the Mane Six fulfilled her dream and has to move onto a new character arc. This episode came out in 2015, and by 2017 a number of bronies were already saying that all the Mane Six had completed their arcs, and then the show ended in 2019.
You might be able to tell from the title that this is the episode where Rarity finally gets to open up her {own clothes store in Canterlot,|WHY ARE YOU BUYING SOUP AT THE CLOTHES STORE?!} managed by the new character Sassy Saddles. Sassy will be seen again next week, and will have a few more appearances after that, but not many.
This episode has some commentary on fast fashion and whatever, and also has surprisingly enough this week's only musical number, the very catchy "Rules of Rarity". I have a fond memory related to that song but I don't think I can share it for opsec reasons.
This episode also very briefly features an incidental pony unofficially known as Whoa Nelly, who was, alas, the subject of some number of fatphobic jokes in the fandom, at the same time as she was apparently also used as a mascot by bronies pushing for fat acceptance pog. A picture of Whoa Nelly was seen in the background of one of last week's episodes, too.
Content warnings
- Child briefly shown in dubious working conditions (Slice of Life)
- Child is reprimanded and just generally has a pretty lousy time (Princess Spike)
- Allergies / sneezing (Princess Spike)
- Settler-colonial aesthetics (Party Pooped)
- Mongol-coded characters portrayed as unintelligent brutes (Party Pooped)
- Characters fall from a considerable height (Party Pooped)
- Two ponies are conjoined (Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep)
- Psychological self-punishment (Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep)
- Fast fashion: unnecessary waste and workers' alienation (Canterlot Boutique)
- Potential fatphobia (Canterlot Boutique)
♫ Uniting nations at the speeeed of liiiiight ♫
[epic sax solo]
♫ Station of the '20s — TV☆3SIS! ♫
i think im busy every saturday until the end of august
It's a shame that you won't be able to come because there's a lot of good episodes, alas, such is life. Are you thinking you'll just try to keep up / catch up on your own time, or is there something you'd like me to do?
yea ill for sure catch up! if i have any specific thoughts ill post it in here too