The Three Season Comparison

[SteelEagle]

The following is a bunch of lists and comparisons. The first is an episode by episode comparison. I want to see what everyone else does and maybe we can figure out where this is all headed!

Friendship Is Magic - Part 1 (Mare in the Moon) vs The Return of Harmony - Part 1 vs The Crystal Empire Part 1

Friendship Is Magic - Part 2 (Elements of Harmony) vs The Return of Harmony - Part 2 vs The Crystal Empire Part 2

Crystal Empire songs were better and generally I liked a it a lot. However, Discord's greatness pushes him ahead in the second part.

The Ticket Master vs Lesson Zero vs Too Many Pinkie Pies

I didn't like The Ticket Master all that much, same with TMPP. Lesson Zero was funny and crazy.

Applebuck Season vs Luna Eclipsed vs One Bad Apple

The first really good episode of the show faces off, and is defeated by, Luna Eclipsed. It was close, but Luna as a character was so cool that it edged out. One Bad Apple is the weakest of the bunch.

Griffon the Brush-Off vs Sisterhooves Social vs Magic Duel

Good Pinkie and Dash as well as cool antagonist, but over time, Sisterhooves has grown on me. The dynamic is wonderful and carries it. Magic Duel was a lot of fun, but the focus was too narrow.

Boast Busters vs The Cutie Pox vs Sleepless in Ponyville

Trixie? Hah, Scootaloo and Good Sister Dash!

Dragonshy vs May the Best Pet Win! vs Wonderbolts Academy

Great song helps it barely overcome Dragonshy, which I think is better constructed. Wonderbolts Academy is close, but the song again helps it edge out.

Look Before You Sleep vs The Mysterious Mare Do Well vs Apple Family Reunion

Loved RarJack here. Also, Mare-Do Well is weakest episode in S2. Reunion is fun, but Look Before You Sleep remains the best.

Bridle Gossip vs Sweet and Elite vs Spike at Your Service

The first episode where MLP really came into its own. Sweet and Elite was close and Spike at Your Service was solid, but Bridle Gossip wins out.

Swarm of the Century vs Secret of My Excess vs Keep Calm and Flutter On

I didn't really like Secret of My Excess or Keep Calm and Flutter On(love that title!), but Swarm of the Century is a solidly fun episode.

Winter Wrap Up vs Hearth’s Warming Eve vs Just for Sidekicks

Hearth's Warming Eve was okay, but WWU had a great song and I think better plot.

Call of the Cutie vs Family Appreciation Day vs Games Ponies Play

Neither is a strong episode, but FAD has some good world building and general fun times. Games Ponies Play manage to scratch a win out.

Best Night Ever vs A Canterlot Wedding Part 2 vs Magical Mystery Cure

A Canterlot Wedding Part 2 remains the superior finale despite a spirited effort by Magical Mystery Cure.

Results- Season 1 has 12 episodes win their slots, Season 2 has 11, Season 3 has 3.

The second is the three season individual episode ratings.

Season 1

[colour=#282828]1- Friendship is Magic Part 1- Mare in the Moon 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]2- Friendship is Magic Part 2- Elements of Harmony 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]3- Ticket Master- 6/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]4- Applebuck Season- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]5- Griffon the Brush-Off- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]6- Boast Busters- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]7- Dragonshy- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]8- Look Before You Sleep- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]9- Bridle Gossip- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]10- Swarm of the Century- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]11- Winter Wrap-Up- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]12- Call of the Cutie- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]13- Fall Weather Friends- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]14- Suited for Success- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]15- Feeling Pinkie Keen- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]16- Sonic Rainboom- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]17- Stare Master- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]18- The Show Stoppers- 6/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]19- A Dog and Pony Show- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]20- Green Isn't Your colour- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]21- Over a Barrel- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]22- A Bird in the Hoof- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]23- The Cutie Mark Chronicles- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]24- Owl's Well That Ends Well- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]25- Party of One- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]26- Best Night Ever- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]210/260.[/colour]

Season 2

[colour=#282828]1- Return of Harmony Part 1- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]2- Return of Harmony Part 2- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]3- Lesson Zero- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]4- Luna Eclipsed- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]5- Sisterhooves Social- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]6- Cutie Pox- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]7- May the Best Pet Win!- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]8- The Mysterios Mare Do Well- 5/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]9- Sweet and Elite- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]10- Secret of My Excess- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]11- Hearths Warming Eve- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]12- Family Appreciation Day- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]13- Baby Cakes- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]14- The Last Roundup- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]15- Super Cider Squeezy 6000- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]16- Read it and Weep- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]17- Hearts and Hooves Day- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]18- A Friend Indeed- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]19- Putting Your Hoof Down- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]20- It's About Time- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]21- Dragon Quest- 7/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]22- Hurricane Fluttershy- 9/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]23- Ponyville Confidential- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]24- MMMystery on the Friendship Express- 8/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]25- A Canterlot Wedding Part 1- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]26- A Canterlot Wedding Part 2- 10/10[/colour]

[colour=#282828]210/260.[/colour]

1- The Crystal Empire Part 1- 9/10

2- The Crystal Empire Part 2- 8/10

3- Too Many Pinkie Pies- 7/10

4- One Bad Apple- 7/10

5- Magic Duel- 8/10

6- Sleepless in Ponyville- 9/10

7- Wonderbolts Academy- 8/10

8- Apple Family Reunion- 8/10

9- Spike at Your Service- 8/10

10- Keep Calm and Flutter On- 6/10

11- Just for Sidekicks- 9/10

12- Games Ponies Play- 8/10

13- Magical Mystery Cure- 10/10

105/130

Result- All three seasons grade out the same, with the first two seasons have a higher variety and S3 having more consistency. (Odd, considering how inconsistent it seemed.)

Final OP list is the list of all episodes, best to worst.

1- The Last Roundup

2- Suited For Success

3- A Canterlot Wedding Part 2

4- Sonic Rainboom

5- Party of One

6- Luna Eclipsed

7- A Dog and Pony Show

8- Magical Mystery Cure

9- A Canterlot Wedding Part 1

10- Lesson Zero

11- Fall Weather Friends

12- ROH P2

13- Bridle Gossip

14- Winter Wrap-Up

15- Sleepless in Ponyville

16- Crystal Empire Part 1

17- ROH P1

18- Over a Barrel

19- Sweet and Elite

20- Sisterhooves Special

21- Green Isn't Your colour

22- Just for Sidekicks

23- Hurricane Fluttershy

24- The Cutie Mark Chronicles

25- Applebuck Season

26- Boast Busters

27- Look Before You Sleep

28- May The Best Pet Win

29- Crystal Empire Part 2

30- Spike at Your Service

31- Dragonshy

32- Swarm of the Century

33- Stare Master

34- Magic Duel

35- Hearts and Hooves Day

36- It's About Time

37- Wonderbolts Academy

38- Griffon the Brush-Off

39- Read it and Weep

40- Ponyville Confidential

41- Apple Family Reunion

42- MMMystery on the Friendship Express

43- Games Ponies Play

44- Friendship is Magic Part 2

45- One Bad Apple

46- Call of the Cutie

47- Best Night Ever

48- A Friend Indeed

49- Cutie Pox

50- Feeling Pinkie Keen

51- Hearths Warming Eve

52- Super Cidey Squeezy 6000

53- Dragon Quest

54- Putting Your Hoof Down

55- A Bird in the Hoof

56- Owl's Well That Ends Well

57- Family Appreciation Day

58- Secret of My Excess

59- Friendship is Magic Part 1

60- Too Many Pinkie Pies

61- Baby Cakes

62- The Show Stoppers

63- Keep Calm and Flutter On

64- Ticket Master

65- Mare Do Well

So, there are the first few lists and comparisons. More will come! In the mean time, what about you? What is your list of best or worst episodes, ratings for seasons, comparisons and contrasts?

[RarityDash]

All right. Let's do this again...

Friendship Is Magic - Part 1 (Mare in the Moon) vs The Return of Harmony - Part 1 vs Crystal Empire - Part 1

I still think that Return of Harmony wins. It feels bigger and it's refreshing to see Discord be so devious.

Friendship Is Magic - Part 2 (Elements of Harmony) vs The Return of Harmony - Part 2 vs Crystal Empire - Part 2

Crystal Empire's climax was the most satisfying for me. I dunno. Also love the song at the end.

The Ticket Master vs Lesson Zero vs Too Many Pinkie Pies

Lesson Zero is hilarious. The other two are good episodes, but Lesson Zero is an excellent episode.

Applebuck Season vs Luna Eclipsed vs One Bad Apple

Time has changed this one for me. I appreciate Luna Eclipsed, but I dunno. Applebuck Season just seems to hold up with me better now.

Griffon the Brush-Off vs Sisterhooves Social vs Magic Duel

This is pretty close to a three way tie for me. I adore all of these. After letting it stew for a season of pony, Sisters has to win though. As much as I love Gilda, Sisterhooves has so much heart to it. It's irresistible.

Boast Busters vs The Cutie Pox vs Sleepless in Ponyville

Boast Busters was fun but now that we have Magic Duel we have a better Trixie episode. Sleepless is a winner.

Dragonshy vs May the Best Pet Win! vs Wonderbolts Academy

Find a Pet is one of my favorite songs.Both the others are kind of middling, episodes sparse on laughs.

Look Before You Sleep vs The Mysterious Mare Do Well vs Apple Family Reunion

Between Look Before You Sleep and Apple Family Reunion it's close. Both are very good AJ episodes. Sleep wins because it's also a good Rarity episode and she is best pony.

Bridle Gossip vs Sweet and Elite vs Spike at Your Service

Spike at your Service is my favorite Spike episode and I do love Zecora, but Rarity Singing still is better than pretty much anything.

Swarm of the Century vs Secret of My Excess vs Keep Calm and Flutter On

Swarm is a fairly perfect example of everything that makes the show great. Keep Calm is more to my tastes though. it's everything I want Fluttershy to be about. Discord kills it too. Funny, ceaselessly entertaining and perhaps setting the stage for something big.

Winter Wrap Up vs Hearth’s Warming Eve vs Just for Sidekicks

I still feel WWU is an average episode wrapped around an awesome song. All of them are kind of average, but Hearth's Warming Eve is the boldest and most ambitious I think, which wins it a point.[/colour][colour=#222222]

Call of the Cutie vs Family Appreciation Day vs Games Ponies Play

Games Ponies Play wins handily. It's a thoroughly exciting, fun episode. Family Appreciation was good, but not memorable. Call of the Cutie is a weak episode.

Fall Weather Friends vs Baby Cakes vs Magical Mystery Cure

This is no contest really (which is why I'll compare finale's later ). Between S1/S2, it's still not much of a contest, as Fall Weather Friends is handily a better episode.

Suited for Success vs The Last Roundup

Last Round Up still wins, though it's still close. it's really unfair that these two got slotted together. Makes me with Season 3 had had just one more episode at least; episode 14 seems to be lucky.

Feeling Pinkie Keen vs The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000

Song makes this still win.

Sonic Rainboom vs Read It and Weep

Sonic Rainboom always comes on top. RariDash.

Stare Master vs Hearts and Hooves Day

No change here either. Stare Master is not great. Hearts and Hooves is adorable.[/colour][colour=#222222]

The Show Stoppers vs A Friend In Deed

Gotta go with the better song.

A Dog & Pony Show vs. Putting Your Hoof Down

Rarity still wins.

Green Isn't Your colour vs. It's About Time

Now, here's a reversal. After sitting on it a year, yes the ambition in time is great and it has some amazing moments, but Photo Finish and Rarity are just both so great to watch. It's incredibly close, but I'd now give Green the slight edge.

Over a Barrel vs Dragon Quest

Barrel still barrely wins. (Oh, god that was terrible... )

A Bird in the Hoof Vs. Hurricane Fluttershy

What I see here is two mediocre Fluttershy episodes. Bird has Celestia though, so that makes it win. Celestia is magic.

The Cutie Mark Chronicles VS Ponyville Confidential.

year later and I still think PC is the best CMC episode.Chronicles is amazing too, but gotta give the edge to Confidential

Owl's Well That Ends Well vs MMMstery on the Friendship Express

Stlll a landslide win here.

Party of One vs A Canterlot Wedding Part 1

Party of One is a good episode. Both episodes of Canterlot Wedding are untouchable.

Best Night Ever vs A Canterlot Wedding Part 2 vs Magical Mystery Cure

The finale comparison is pretty impossible.I would give it to Magical Mystery Cure on the strength of its songs... but I think Chrysalis love wins out in the end. Gah, it's close though.

[/colour]

[colour=#222222]

Brings me to: S1 - seven wins, S2 - fourteen wins, S3 - five wins. Not exactly a fair comparison since Season 3 has half as many episodes, but comparing only the first half of the first 2 seasons it's 2/6/5 for S1/S2/S3 wins.

Now, for full season reviews:

1- Friendship is Magic Part 1- Mare in the Moon 7/10

2- Friendship is Magic Part 2- Elements of Harmony 8/10

3- Ticket Master- 7/10

4- Applebuck Season- 8/10

5- Griffon the Brush-Off- 10/10

6- Boast Busters- 7/10

7- Dragonshy- 6/10

8- Look Before You Sleep- 9/10

9- Bridle Gossip- 8/10

10- Swarm of the Century- 8/10

11- Winter Wrap-Up- 7/10

12- Call of the Cutie- 4/10

13- Fall Weather Friends- 8/10

14- Suited for Success- 10/10

15- Feeling Pinkie Keen- 7/10

16- Sonic Rainboom- 10/10

17- Stare Master- 5/10

18- The Show Stoppers- 5/10

19- A Dog and Pony Show- 9/10

20- Green Isn't Your colour- 8/10

21- Over a Barrel- 6/10

22- A Bird in the Hoof- 7/10

23- The Cutie Mark Chronicles- 9/10

24- Owl's Well That Ends Well- 5/10

25- Party of One- 8/10

26- Best Night Ever- 9/10

195/260.

1- Return of Harmony Part 1- 8/10

2- Return of Harmony Part 2- 8/10

3- Lesson Zero- 9/10

4- Luna Eclipsed- 8/10

5- Sisterhooves Social- 10/10

6- Cutie Pox- 5/10

7- May the Best Pet Win!- 8/10

8- The Mysterios Mare Do Well- 5/10

9- Sweet and Elite- 8/10

10- Secret of My Excess- 7/10

11- Hearths Warming Eve- 7/10

12- Family Appreciation Day- 7/10

13- Baby Cakes- 5/10

14- The Last Roundup- 10/10

15- Super Cider Squeezy 6000- 8/10

16- Read it and Weep- 9/10

17- Hearts and Hooves Day- 9/10

18- A Friend Indeed- 7/10

19- Putting Your Hoof Down- 8/10

20- It's About Time- 8/10

21- Dragon Quest- 6/10

22- Hurricane Fluttershy- 6/10

23- Ponyville Confidential- 9/10

24- MMMystery on the Friendship Express- 8/10

25- A Canterlot Wedding Part 1- 10/10

26- A Canterlot Wedding Part 2- 10/10

203/260.[/colour]

[colour=#222222]

Season 3:[/colour]

1- The Crystal Empire Part 1- 8/10

2- The Crystal Empire Part 2- 9/10

3- Too Many Pinkie Pies- 7/10

4- One Bad Apple- 5/10

5- Magic Duel- 9/10

6- Sleepless in Ponyville- 9/10

7- Wonderbolts Academy- 6/10

8- Apple Family Reunion- 8/10

9- Spike at Your Service- 8/10

10- Keep Calm and Flutter On- 10/10

11- Just for Sidekicks- 7/10

12- Games Ponies Play- 9/10

13- Magical Mystery Cure- 10/10

105/130[colour=#222222]

Season 3 actually wins if that score is doubled. Not that that's fair exactly. Less episodes means it had less filler, i think, which meant less room for bad episodes.[/colour]

[colour=#222222]

And the full list looks like this:[/colour]

[colour=#282828]1- Sonic Rainboom[/colour]

[colour=#282828]2-The Last Roundup[/colour]

[colour=#282828]3- A Canterlot Wedding Part 2[/colour]

[colour=#282828]4- Suited for Success[/colour]

[colour=#282828]5- Magical Mystery Cure[/colour]

[colour=#282828]6- Sisterhooves Social[/colour]

[colour=#282828]7- Griffon the Brush-Off[/colour]

[colour=#282828]8 - Keep Calm and Flutter On[/colour]

[colour=#282828]9- A Canterlot Wedding Part 1[/colour]

[colour=#282828]10 - Ponyville Confidential[/colour]

[colour=#282828]11- Lesson Zero[/colour]

[colour=#282828]12 - Magic Duel[/colour]

[colour=#282828]13- Games Ponies Play[/colour]

[colour=#282828]14- Look Before You Sleep[/colour]

[colour=#282828]15- Read it and Weep[/colour]

[colour=#282828]16- A Dog and Pony Show[/colour]

[colour=#282828]17- Hearts and Hooves Day[/colour]

[colour=#282828]18- The Cutie Mark Chronicles[/colour]

[colour=#282828]19 - Sleepless in Ponrville[/colour]

[colour=#282828]20 - Crystal Empire Part 2[/colour]

[colour=#282828]21 - Best Night Ever[/colour]

[colour=#282828]22 - Sweet and Elite[/colour]

[colour=#282828]23 - Return of Harmony Part 1[/colour]

[colour=#282828]24 - Crystal Empire Part 1[/colour]

[colour=#282828]25 - Applebuck Season[/colour]

[colour=#282828]26 - Friendship is Magic Part 2- Elements of Harmony[/colour]

[colour=#282828]27 - May the Best Pet Win![/colour]

[colour=#282828]28 - Green Isn't Your colour[/colour]

[colour=#282828]29 - It's About Time[/colour]

[colour=#282828]30 - Apple Family Reunion[/colour]

[colour=#282828]31 - Return of Harmony Part 2[/colour]

[colour=#282828]32 - Luna Eclipsed[/colour]

[colour=#282828]33 - Fall Weather Friends[/colour]

[colour=#282828]34 - Party of One[/colour]

[colour=#282828]35 - MMMystery on the Friendship Express[/colour]

[colour=#282828]36 - Super Cider Squeezy 6000[/colour]

[colour=#282828]37 - Putting Your Hoof Down[/colour]

[colour=#282828]38 - Swarm of the Century[/colour]

[colour=#282828]39 - Spike at your Service[/colour]

[colour=#282828]40 - Bridle Gossip[/colour]

[colour=#282828]41 - Hearths Warming Eve[/colour]

[colour=#282828]42 - Feeling Pinkie Keen[/colour]

[colour=#282828]43 - Ticket Master[/colour]

[colour=#282828]44 - A Bird in the Hoof[/colour]

[colour=#282828]45 - Boast Busters[/colour]

[colour=#282828]46 - Just for Sidekicks[/colour]

[colour=#282828]47 - Winter Wrap-Up[/colour]

[colour=#282828]48 - Friendship is Magic Part 1- Mare in the Moon[/colour]

[colour=#282828]49 - Too Many Pinkie Pies[/colour]

[colour=#282828]50 - Family Appreciation Day[/colour]

[colour=#282828]51 - A Friend Indeed[/colour]

[colour=#282828]52 - Secret of My Excess[/colour]

[colour=#282828]53 - Over a Barrel[/colour]

[colour=#282828]54 - Wonderbolts Academy[/colour]

[colour=#282828]55 - Hurricane Fluttershy[/colour]

[colour=#282828]56 - Dragon Quest[/colour]

[colour=#282828]57 - Dragonshy[/colour]

[colour=#282828]58 - One Bad Apple[/colour]

[colour=#282828]59 - The Mysterious Mare Do Well[/colour]

[colour=#282828]60 - The Show Stoppers[/colour]

[colour=#282828]61 - Baby Cakes[/colour]

[colour=#282828]62 - Stare Master[/colour]

[colour=#282828]62 - Cutie Pox[/colour]

[colour=#282828]64 - Owl's Well That Ends Well[/colour]

[colour=#282828]65 - Call of the Cutie

[/colour]

[elsporko]

Hurricane Fluttershy is the best episode. Any list that says otherwise is wrong

[MyLittlePonyTales]

If there were 26 episodes in season 1 and season 2, and only 13 in season 3, how did you break them up to compare?

[SteelEagle]

If there were 26 episodes in season 1 and season 2, and only 13 in season 3, how did you break them up to compare?

In direct comparisons, took the first 12 as well as the finale. In numerical comparison, Season 3 had 130 possible points as opposed to 260, so it's easy to multiply.

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Oh, okay. Guess that makes sense. 'Cause I saw the openers and the finales in there, and was confused as to why there were still only 13 comparisons.