The first episode was kinda boring though. After I watched it I didn't go back to the show for like 4 months.

OVERLY NEGATIVE PAGETOPPER

edited 18th Jan '12 8:50:57 PM by Bluespade

Bluespade: Really? I guess it might have just been me. I was enthralled as to how automatically likable the characters were. That takes skill.

Actually, Applebuck season is my best bet for an intro episode.

It can be that way if you can immediately penetrate the "girl's show" stigma, but if you don't it really doesn't do much to hook you.

It wasn't the girl's show thing. I didn't give a flying fuck about that.

To be sure the first two episodes are in a lot of ways an Early Instalment Wierdness

edited 18th Jan '12 9:02:28 PM by FallenLegend

Not really. They repeat the same formula for season 2. It doesn't seem to fit the typical definition of that trope.

I actually really really WANTED to like the show when I gave it a try. But I felt like it wasn't really worth watching at first: better than your average kids cartoon, but not worth my time. But I kind of kept up with the show on the outskirts of the fandom, keeping track of the characters and such, until it got to the point where I figured I should give it another try. I liked the second episode pretty well, although I thought the ending was way too corny. After that, well, I can't say I was hooked right away, but none of the episodes were bad enough to make me stop watching, and after 5 or 6 more eps I could truly call myself a fan.

Yeah, but that's the thing that most people are skeptical about when it comes to this show. If you go into the first episode expecting something girly, it comes off as girly. I had to be prodded by half the internet exploding with pony fever to watch it, so I was already well informed of it's quality. My brother is rather likely to hear the theme song and just turn it off out of embarrassment.

edited 18th Jan '12 8:59:32 PM by PerpetualLurker

I'd say either Applebuck Season or Dragonshy. They're more ensemble oriented, so he can get a good feel for all the cast members pretty quickly, and they probably have some of the more universally appealing plotlines. Bridle Gossip and Lesson Zero are great, but they work a lot better if you're already familiar with the characters. I'd actually advise against starting him off with a Rarity episode, especially if you want to get away from the girliness aspects. She's easily the girliest pony, and that might not give him the best impression of the series.

edited 18th Jan '12 9:01:47 PM by JapaneseTeeth

Since I consider myself a feminist, the only thing that biased me was that it was a kid's show.

Which it definitely is. It's just a rather good one.

The fact that they repeated the formula in Season 2 is probably the only thing keeping it from being called Early Installment Weirdness.

I personally have a rather deep fondness for the first two episodes since they were the ones that hooked me. Still, there are better episodes to use for introductions, I would go with Bridle Gossip like others have suggested.

edited 18th Jan '12 9:01:05 PM by Mio

I actually still skip the opening about 80% of the time.

That's true. But the first tow episodes aren't really a good repreentative of what the show is about...most of the time

I still love them for sure

edited 18th Jan '12 9:05:17 PM by FallenLegend

Okay, I'm hitting the sack. See you all tomorrow.

Are you still taking recommendations, Lurker? Swarm of the Centuries I think is one of the closest to Looney Tunes humor, and one of the least girly episodes. Follow up with Lesson Zero, I think Twilight snapping at the end of Swarm can be proper context for fully appreciating her going off the deep end in Zero.

Night, Jteeth.

Good night JT!

I am also going to bed see ya guys!

Swarm of the Century is another good idea, though I'm leaning toward Applebuck Season more at this point. We'll see how it works out.

I'm heading off to bed, thanks for the help guys. Night

I actually liked the Season 1 premiere episodes. I like epic stuff like that, even if Nightmare Moon was a rather ineffective villain.

So, anyone have a preference for the weakest episode of Season 2 so far, aside from the premiers?

Lesson Zero (I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion).

Oh yeah... that one was pretty weak too.

edited 18th Jan '12 9:42:34 PM by Bluespade

I think your most common answer will be MMDW. Which I agree with, personally.

I myself didn't much like "Cutie Pox" and "Best Pet". Both of them had their moments, yes, but they didn't really click with me the way the other Season 2 episodes have.

Objectively? MMDW for characterization issues. This is the first time I've known the setting to be mis-characterized.

On personal level of just something being meh? Cutie Pox. It's...there.

I totally forgot about Cutie Pox. Probably cause I watched it while wrapping Christmas presents.