Complaining about a lack of good, new, family oriented television? All new TV is trash? This is what you're looking for. There's a certain kind of innocence, much of the show has a vibe that is reminiscent of old Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies cartoons. The show is currently uninfected by the PC-virus, and was displayed in spades with the Season 5 premiere. Yes, it is wrapped in a cute, pastel shell. But it has depth.
So without further adieu, introducing My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic.
The show shares absolutely nothing with the previous generations, other than the name.
The show features high quality animation, strong character definitions and development, superb voice work, excellent songwriting, and writing in general.
Songwriting? Much, much of the show absolutely features music. Watch this, "This Day Aria", from "A Canterlot Wedding" S2E26. Think: Disney
Largely, I want to share this wholesome, friendly, and highly entertaining show with friends. It would be wonderful to discuss things with an exclusively conservative point.
So, about the show:
The world is far too rich and involved to give a decent summary any justice. So for the satisfaction and encouragement to watch the Season 5 premiere, I will try for a brief summary of the setting, cast, and general plot.
Friendship is Magic is set in the nation of Equestria; part of a world filled with mythological creatures ranging from phoenixes to Cerberus. Equestria itself is analogous to North America, its cities and locations featuring horse related puns on names such as Manehattan and Fillydelphia. The capital is Canterlot.
![](http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120811193358/mlp/images/thumb/1/12/Map_of_Equestria_online_version_2012-08.jpg/800px-Map_of_Equestria_online_version_2012-08.jpg")
Equestria is [now] a triarchy with elected local governments, and largely populated by the three tribes of ponies. The three tribes being pegasus, unicorn, and 'earth' pony. Equestria itself is the embodiment of "E Pluribus Unum," in that the population consists of highly individualistic, specialized talents that are prominently displayed as a cutesy named symbol known as a 'cutie mark'. This talent is generally a specified ability, with broad implications that aide in one's profession. Largely the message is still one's individualistic nature, working for themselves and volunteering as they see fit for others, leads to harmony and success.
The three tribes:
In a play depicting the founding of Equestria, from left to right, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity are all representing the early conflicting governments of pegasi, unicorns, and 'earth' ponies.
Pegasi have wings, fly, and exhibit an inherent magic of air and water manipulation which leads to the ability to control weather.
Unicorns have overt control of magic, exhibiting telekinesis, transmutation, teleportation, and a wide variety of other fantasy depictions of mythological ability.
'Earth' ponies have strength, endurance, and a connection to the environment and living things.
There is a fourth type, extremely rare, and depicted as a ruling type. The alicorn, which is the embodiment of all three tribes.
Left to right, Princesses Luna, Celestia, and Cadence.
Princess is the highest title in Equestria. There are no queens and kings. Luna and Celestia rule Equestria proper. Cadence rules the Crystal Empire, and affiliated region in the far north. Not depicted is Twilight Sparkle, the recently ascended and newest member of the ruling triarchy of Equestria proper.
Cast:
Left to right. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Fluttershy. These six, also known as the 'Mane 6' are the primary characters of the show.
Pinkie Pie is an 'earth' pony. She has a bubbly, hyperactive personality. An intense need to make others happy, and largely makes a career in baking pastries and throwing parties. She is the only one allowed to exhibit cartoon physics on a regular basis.
Rainbow Dash is a pegasus. She is brash, impulsive, and shoots her mouth off regularly without regard for consequence. Also highly athletic and motivated for physical achievement, she is the fastest pegasus in Equestria. She has aspirations to join the elite stunt team known as the "Wonderbolts" and currently makes a living as the manager of the Ponyville Weather Bureau.
Rarity is a unicorn. She is prim, prissy, and proper, reminiscent of Scarlet O'Hara. She also sports a fake accent, evidenced by it not being present in her parents and sister. She works as a fashionista and seamstress.
Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn in this image. Introverted, nerdy, and a prodigy, she was tapped at a young age to be Celestia's personal student. A studied shut in, the show itself opens with Celestia kicking her out to "Go make friends." Her overwhelming natural power and ability eventually led to her ascension to alicorn, where she also gained the title of Princess and completing the triarchy.
Applejack is an 'earth' pony. She is practical, hard working, and honest to a fault. She runs the family farm Sweet Apple Acres, land bestowed to the Apple family generations ago from Celestia. The success of the farm led to the development of Ponyville around it.
Fluttershy is a pegasus. Timid, introverted, and very quiet, she makes a living as an unofficial veterinarian, primarily as an animal caregiver.
The Season 5 Premiere:
Unsure of what to do with Twilight's new castle, the castle itself calls them to a remote region of Equestria for an unknown purpose. When they arrive, they find a small, seemingly unremarkable and happy village. A village where every pony has the same cutie mark, a total impossibility. As they investigate they find the village is not as happy as it seems.
This two-part episode goes completely all-out on both subtle and unsubtle, creepy overtones of forced equality, imprisonment, and stagnation. Harrison Bergeron, Anthem, Animal Farm, 1984, all elements are present and wrapped up in a neat package that makes it easy to understand for children. Any conservative worth their salt would watch this episode with their kids. The episode is impactful on its own, but would make a greater statement if one was more familiar with the show and had seen all or many of the previous episodes and understood the individualist nature of it.
The episode has sparked a lot of discussion on fan sites, including, obviously, a lot of ire from the lefty fans. Many of whom are busy trying to split hairs the nature of communism, fascism, totalitarianism, and separating them from economic theory. Its all rather amusing.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2. "Cutie Markless" Full 1080p resolution.
If you're still not sure about committing yourself to the full episode, at least watch the one song of the episode.
In Our Town, 1080p resolution.
