"So the town was founded by the department of education?" Given that one of Starlight's slogans is "No Pony left behind", maybe. Also, Starlight's VA is the voice of Barbie. Which is kinda creepy.

Sunset Shimmer Starlight Glimmer Seafood Dinner Soulless Sinner Spiteful Winner Swirly Spinner? Shuffle-And Shimmy?? Samosa Skinner???????

"I can't even make country-isms no more!" I'm Texan... that hurt me quite a bit when Applejack said that. xD

To be fair, Discord, Sunset, and Luna weren't "forced" to be their friends. The rainbow-laser-thing can't do that. They all became friends *afterwards*, and it even took awhile for Discord to be reformed. Tirek being a prime example of someone who got hit by it and is still probably evil.

Technically the main six didn`t have the intention of forcing friendship when they used the elements of harmony, more so they were subduing a threat and the friendship was a bonus

"The town was founded by The Department Of Education?" Exactly Cell, Exactly. Every child in school that has any general intelligence will agree.

What is this "Except for the Colors" stuff? Everypony shown with an Equal Cutie Mark is clearly shown to have their color visibly dulled, to the extent where Equal Fluttershy and Equal Sugar Belle look white in their primary colors. It is pretty close to the level of color drain that each of them started out at when the Mane Six were Discorded in Season 2.

It's probably my favorite premiere as well. Also, I think there might have been a bit of Animal Farm in there.

0:12 Let's analyze the Mane 6's expressions in this one second of time. Rarity: What's going on? Fluttershy: OH NO OH GOD OH JESUS Twilight Sparkle: I AM SO AWAKE RIGHT NOW Applejack: Did I remember to turn off the lights at home? Rainbow Dash: Meh. Pinkie Pie: About to fart but realized bad thing is happening

The "friendship cannon" doesn't force friendship on someone, it's powered by friendship. It is a straight up smack down machine. Whether or not the villain becomes their friend has to do with the reason they became a super powerful villain and how they deal with being defeated.

Fluttershy was never my favorite, but when she started saying how wonderful the place was she dropped down the list pretty fast, but then she redeemed herself by completing her mission and then some. Good job Flutters you back to number 10 on my list.

For all those who watched the episode and thought it showed the follies of egalitarianism as a philosophy, the whole point is that the town wasn't really egalitarian at all, it just seemed that way. It actually consisted of a rigid hierarchy with one person on top and everybody else subordinate, even though they were convinced that they were really free. At the end, the town actually seems to become truly egalitarian as the townsfolk become able to trust in each other because of their differences rather than deferring to a leader above them who tries to stamp their differences out. I see the theme as more unity-in-uniformity vs. unity-in-diversity rather than egalitarianism vs. anti-egalitarianism.

"It's not criminal to be an individual!"-Marco Diaz, St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses April 3, 2019, 9:16am

I actually read Harrison Bergeron *after* watching this. So I read the first sentence and shouted "Well, crap. Starlight Glimmer took over." xD

“So basically the town was founded by the department of education?” No no no, that comes LATER! Don’t worry (:

Damn I wish I could like this video more then once! ... wait a second! I ahve about a dozen channels! Be right back! _clicking the thumbs up an unfair amount of times later_ okay - were have I been? Oh yeah - not joining the "best premiere ever"- club right now, but it was pretty amazing and I might come around eventually (especially if the premise of a new even better season spanning arc gets fullfilled) But I sure did love that review of yours - gave me some real good laughs on the way ^^

A better title would be “Welcome to Ba Sing Se”

I choose to call this town equilibrium.

I agree this premier was fantastic! I wonder where the league of friendship will venture next

I'm amazed the premier managed to establish so much world building opportunities, character building and interaction with the main six and the villagers, and we got a season long story arch that doesn't have a set in stone goal like the key box in season 4, but a journey that we're left in the dark and eager to find out where we go next. We know it has something to do with the other mystic items but that's it. We don't know what happens until it happens. The Villain is also a step in the right direction. Her views on cutiemarks are interesting but the only one issue I have with her is her back story and motivations. I mean why does she hate cutiemarks? She says they cause conflict but without any evidence of this from either her own or the villagers experience, we're left without reason behind this villain. I hope this gets explained more throughout the season. Oh and Balloon binoculars and bridges?! I Ship It!!!!

"Fanfiction writers, to your stations!" That's my cue!

It was a great start to the season. And it seems Equestria is a diskworld. I'll keep my eye out for death trotting around. But a serious question. Did she have a bigger plan for the cutie marks?

I'm glad I discovered your channel. Your reviews are a refreshing change from all the other people I've seen. Funny, yet insightful. Looking forward to your next video.

Excellent work with this review. You single-handedly changed my outlook on it. I also think its pretty chilling to have someone who can remove cutie marks loose in equestria. I wonder if they will have this villain being chased from one place to another this season.That would be something new. XP

I love your incredibly loud and enthusiastic method of reviewing. It's a nice change of pace from the more mellow reviewers I've seen.

No one praised this episode better than you, Cell Spex. Your review really did this justice. November 17, 2017, 2:38pm

FINALLY! SOMEBODY SAID IT! I am SO glad I'm not the only one who thought about the Equalists invading Equestria while watching this episode! you have just read my mind!

The rainbow is hart magic to help them see the beauty in friendship

This was a creepy episode Like I fricking witnessed a cult at 7 But oh god this was a good episode

Just found your channel thanks to this video! Watched through most of your videos and loved them all! You are remarkably entertaining with truly intelligent opinions that I agree with! Fantastic work! Here's hoping you do a review for each MLP FIM episode this season!

Great episode, well written, and well paced. So worth the wait!

I'm eager to see which places the Mane 6 go to next since this premiere was so awesome! Personally, it was worth the wait! :3

JeeeeeZus it's been a while since I've seen your pony design. Anyway, yes, YES, YES. FAVORITE Season opening by far! Most unique, funniest, and I love how many different facets of different issues they're able to talk about in ways that are a) subtle (for this show anyway) and b) CREEPY AS SHIT. Yes, the "countryisms" line was hilarious. I'm not sure what else to say beyond I'm 100% with you on this. Like, literally 100%. Though I guess I COULD say Sugar Belle's introduction was my favorite overall scene. And yeah, this is slowly growing to be one of my favorite all around episode.

2:21 "So the town was founded by the department of education" HA! Exactly what I thought after the line "No pony left behind" LOL. I was also thinking that the pegasus and unicorn ponies still having different physical abilities might be a secret metaphor for "you can never have complete equality"

omg thank you for that starlight reference omg that was my favorite thing when I was little. this episode was like the Jonestown of mlp, I'm honestly still shook, after what, three years?

Absolutely fantastic premier, and a much needed message for a lot of current idiocy we're dealing with as a society. So, so glad this episode happened. ^__^ 10/10

I thought this premiere was really good too! One literary reference I had in the back of my mind was Animal Farm, with the communism feel and the leader blatantly bending their own rules that had seemingly good intentions at first

Absolutly fantastic episode. Watched it with several other Bronies and we all agreed that this episode was one of the best premiers ever. This is going to be a fantastic season. Next episode is a Slice of Life but from what I can tell, its a very important one.

Very clearly, it's Our Town. (Okay, it's not directly stated, but a name like Our Town actually fits the philosophies that Starlight Glimmer created. . . . that's what I'm going to believe.)

As for my thoughts on the episode, I thought it was really good. The "perfect, creepy utopia" plotline has always been a personal favorite of mine, and I think they did it really well here. It's usually very disturbing, but mostly in a good way. The comedy was pretty good: Pinkie having to eat all the muffins was really funny, as well as the part with Fluttershy trying to leave Starlight's house to go to the cutie mark vault. It's also a real nice change of pace to have the Mane 6 NOT be the ones to ultimately save the day. (Technically anyway.) Also, I *love* Pinkie's characterization in this episode. Her going all Metal Gear Solid in the beginning, and her constant looks of suspicion in the first half, are fucking hilarious. And considering Pinkie is all about smiles and making people happy, it's perfectly in character for her to be suspicious of how unsettling-ly cheerful everyone is. And of course, being a huge Fluttershy fan, seeing her get to go all solo in the 2nd half of this episode was really cool. :) The song was... all right, but it did at least have a purpose in terms of the story, so I can't harp on it too much. The moral it taught was a really good one as well. Because, honestly, if friends never had disagreements, their friendships would be incredibly boring. I was also really surprised to see that Scott Sonneborn helped write this episode, though that might explain some of the humor. (Since Trade Ya had some funny moments, and while I hate Somepony to Watch Over Me, the song fakeout in that episode was really funny.) Overall, a great start to the season. I'd say, for now anyway, it's tied with Return of Harmony for my favorite season premiere. I'm liking where this season is going so far. The Mane 6 have basically become the Pony, Friendship equivalent of the Knights of the Round Table, and I find that pretty awesome. I have high hopes for the rest of the episodes here. :)

Well with the case of Princess Luna/Nightmare Moon and Sunset Shimmer, my headcannon is that the Elements of Harmony function like the Sword of Shannara in the book of the same name by Terry Brooks, which (SPOILER FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T READ THE SWORD OF SHANNARA BY TERRY BROOKS) forces the one who it is used upon (as well as the user for the sword) to face the truth about themselves. Once they face that truth, I suspect they naturally begin to feel remorse for their actions and actively try to change their ways to be more amiable to others. As for why the EoH banished Nightmare Moon to the Moon the first time around and turned Discord into stone both times, I was at first at a loss for this inconsistency until someone else suggested that those instances might have been subconsciously self-inflicted because they refused to face the truth in that they would rather banish themselves/turn to stone rather than face the truth. This is not true for the Rainbow Power it seems, as it only depowered Tirek and shattered the Dazzling's amulets, which leads me to believe that Rainbow Power is a simple power nulifier.

Great review, and while it wasn't the greatest Season Premier for the show, I say it did its job greatly. Also, if Wikipedia is to be believed, episode 6 of this season takes place in AAAAAAAppleoosa. Something to look forward to.

I think you nailed all of them, really. My favorite season opener is still 2. I just love Discord that much.

I wonder what the CMC would think of this place after talking to the residents. They seem to think getting their cutie mark is a way for them to know exactly what they want. But obviously, that was the source of confusion for these ponies. I really hope we revisit this town with the cmc

I found the premiere 'okay'. But then again, I finished watching Attack on Titan that same day so my focus and emotions were all over the place. XD great video, helped a lot to see the episode more in depth. The speaker bit reminds me of one of the worlds in Alice Madness Returns, after playing for a few minutes it really gets on people's nerves haha

Can we plz acknowledge how much Starlight changed?! She went from stubborn and assertive to just plain boring. I get She is now ‘nice’ and on the good side, but her personality is gone

This was a brilliant episode.

Oh my gosh thank you thank you thank you I have been trying to find that Vonnegut story for almost 20 years but couldn’t remember who it was by or what it was called…

You have yourself a new sub...loved the video.

I agree with you, this was an amazing premeir and it is my favourite as well, it was wroth the eleven month long hiatus, it really was, oh and, nice references.

The way you described Starlight kind of reminded me of Lord Business.

Celly, I love your snarky attitude when you review things. Would you mind reviewing more mlp stuff?

CellSpex: Oh, my God! *Shows picture of the God of all ponies: Princess Sun Butt*

It's my favorite season premiere so far, I really hope Starlight come back this season, there's so much potential.

... HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET THIS SO FAST!?!?!?!? I LOVE IT! pretty good review and yes one of the best season openers even when it was the most "mellow" (not world destroying treat, just a pretty disturbing one) Also three random things to note: 1) You'll never let go the "forcing friendship is wrong" bit now do you? xD (althought it is fair in Sunset Shimmer's case... in the first movie) 2) Speaking of Sunset Shimmer... why do i think our Amon expy for the season is how they WANTED to make Sunset Shimmer in the first movie but for obvious reason *cof*HASBROWANTSTOSELLTOYS*cof* they couldnt? i mean Starlight has a freakin army there (at least that's how the song sounded to me) 3) I'll give it 3 episodes before we go somewhere else... i really REALLY hope im close

Took me a while to get that "don't look in the fireplace" joke. God that was a long time ago...

Another thing I hope is that when they head to the next place, they will show more characters to help and it will prove that this is avenger with ponies as they will make friends and they form teams. We got one so whats to say we won't get another. FRIENDSHIP ASSEMBLE!

Wow, its been so long since i have seen this show. I should really start watching it again.

I saw a lot of the Dai Li and the Manchurian candidate in this. Also, could be I'm just playing borderlands 2 right now, but that loudspeaker reminded me of the area with the robots.

*gasps* Celly-pony is back! :D

Great review!

When it comes to starlights village I call it star cove but I'm not gonna lie meadowbrook actually kind of kind of sounds like an intresting name

Good review. I thought this one was a nice nod to all of the themes and new angles brought up, but I didn't think it dove particularly deep into them (not enough for me to say it was the greatest premiere yet, anyway). But I will give it points for being less-rushed than at least half the other premieres, for as much as it tried to cover.

It was a good episode. Glad that they were able to pull it off and yes to all of it. Also awesome job Scott Sonneborn & M.A. Larson & Meghan McCarthy

I was thinking of "Welcome. Welcome to City 17 You have either chosen or been chosen..." @ 5:30

Thank you so much for ACTUALLY SAYING CULT not many mlp reviews say that.

You can think Paleo for telling me about you. Excellent video.

I’m SO GLAD I’m not the only one that likes this premiere

IT'S CONFIRMED! CELLSPEX HAS A FACE! lol. Seriously I love this video!!! Your Oc reflects your vibrant personality. I loved the visual foreshadowing in this video. I should have guessed something was up when you see that Starlight's colors are still bright. There's gotta be a connection between her and Twilight since their names and patterns are similar.

I sure hope the whole season is like this

Great review!! :D

"Crystal vein playset" okay I think that beats the "middle finger castle"

board of education, brilliant! I always felt the cutie Mark does not represent one's talent, but is a reflection of their heart, does this mean it can't change? If you pay attention cadence's does in fact change when she assumes the title of Crystal Princess. so in theory, In order for the cutie Mark to change the core of who you are has to change. so I believe the spell that removes the cutie Mark might actually, take a piece of their very sold and the = enforces regulation on physical and mental prowess to a certain extent..... pretty dark stuff If you think about it. Also, "tweets make no sense to me" Also "starlight has a Eva weapon! starlight has a Eva weapon!"

I am planning to help the writing staff continue Friendship is Magic past Season 9 with my literal season's worth of ideas to contribute to the show, in part by doing more with the Equal 4. One of these ideas is to give Flower Flight (a pink pegasus background pony from this episode with sea green hair) an episode and flesh out her character. She tells Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy why she gave up her cutie mark and how furious she felt when Starlight turned out to have a fake equal cutie mark. She became good friends with Double Diamond. Unlike Party Favor, Sugar Belle and Night Glider, who doubted being equal, Flower Flight and Double Diamond adjusted to equalization pretty well after losing their cutie mark until they learned the truth about Starlight Glimmer thanks to Fluttershy. I also want to have Ashley Tisdale from Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch voice Flower Flight. July 1, 2019, 9:07pm

I have to completely agree. I loved this episode, and I thought the fact that they finally gave the background characters and especially the males, something to do. Party Favor was my favorite of the town ponies.

I thought the premiere was boring and average, but the lesson and ending was good. There were a few good jokes and it's probably a good thing that the villain wasn't beat by rainbows. Maybe we're get a more adventure oriented season with new places, but who knows we could be stuck in ponyville for 10 episodes like you said. Also thanks for pointing how no one did anything to stop the theft of their cutie and Cellie thank you very much for not going COMMUNISM, COMMUNISM, COMMUNISM, it's getting annoying. You even found a much better comparison, a cool movie about equality that I never heard of before, you're awesome Cellie. This premiere didn't get to me to like ponies as much as I used to, I'll still watch the next episode and any pony reviews you continue because I'm not into pony reviews/analysis as much as I used to, but you're still great at it.

5:27 I can't stop thinking "the it is in control" from the original wrinkle in time movie

When reviewing this episode, Keg Standard and Phantom Horn expressed their apprehension that this episode shows a trend to have the Mane 6 be treated as superheroes rather than characters with personal issues to overcome. That's a pretty legitimate concern, I think, but for me two things that really helped put me at ease are a) this felt more science-fictiony than action-adventure, sort of like classic Star Trek, and that helps push the world-building and philosophy-debate aspects above the mindless villain-punching. Also b) it was the rest of the ponies that actually saved the day, which suggest that heroics are something that commoners in Equestria will still engage in, which helps keep the mane 6 from feeling overpowered. Also, I've been preaching everywhere how I love that by having the townsfolk save the day instead of the mane 6, the writers did a better job promoting the idea of equality as something believable and desirable than Starlight Glimmer's little experiment ever did.

OH MY GOD! ANOTHER PERSON MADE AN AMON REFERANCE! YES OH MY GOD! YES! YEEES!

What if Starlight is one of the ponies of disharmony? and later on we see other ponies like Starlight on the main six's travails. O.O

This has been bugging me for days: How can I see Starlight Glimmer as a tragic villain? I can understand her hiding her cutie mark and having a break down when her plans fall apart, but up until that point there's nothing hinting at her being a misguided individual. She constantly patronises everyone she talks to, almost like she's talking to her pets. She does terrible things without showing any empathy and wears a smug grin while she does it. If these are subtle hints at a dark troubled past and a delusion of righteousness I fail to see it.

Well I was thoroughly creeped out by all the staring wide eyes and grins, and I was kinda amazed by the pony who could build a functioning bridge out of balloons! As far as references, the one thing that I thought of was IT from A Wrinkle In Time, particularly the part of the song where Starlight corrects the one pony that's out-of-synch, which just makes me think of the boy who bounced his ball out of synch with the others who gets taken away. At least there wasn't a pony with red eyes.

Cellspex: Oh my God, DON'T LOOK IN THE FIREPLACE!! *Soldier pops out* LOOK IT UP!

I think that this episode was as good as the return of harmony, which was my favourite two parter (in fact, my favourite story) in the entire series.

"The one with the cult" mood

this episode taught me to love again. i really wish i was kidding.

omg your so hilarious. I love it. ^^ Subbing to you right now!

So YOU WERE RIGHT! :D They *did* go somewhere else, and it was _within_ the first ten episodes! Griffinstone! Good call! And it *was* Nineteen Eighty-Four: "Freedom is Slavery" "War is Peace" "Truth is Ignorance" "Love is Hate"

Wait, you watch Discovery Family for MLP and not Hub? Be right back. * runs around screaming * I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE!

The Mane 6 are all on a great Friendship Crusade to bring the magic of Friendship all along Equestria!

season 5 of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic sure did start out with a BANG!

That room with the message on repeat is definitely 1984. I'm should know cause I was a stagehand in our theater's production of the play 1984.

I was really intreiged that they didn't reveal anything about starlight a backstory That's something they've never done before and I like that it gives us room to speculate

AMERICA? FROM HETALIA? OH MY GOD!

CellSpex I really enjoyed this episode too! This season is gonna be really exciting! Are you gonna review every episode?

This is everything that The MLP Movie should have been and wanted to be. April 1, 2019, 12:55am

You know that part where he breaks the glass with the stick, it's a apple commercial reference

congrats! you got your wish! Season 5 episode 8- The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone Synopsis- Rainbow Dash and Pinkie pie are called by the map to the ancient kingdom of Griffonstone but have conflicting ideas as to what problem they have been called to fix. Thanks to equestria daily

I love the Story of the Blanks reference.

Interrupt a friendship speech? This show is finally growing up!