User Reviews

Pinkie Pie is undoubtedly my favorite character in "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic," so it might seem I am inclined to rate this episode high due to that fact. Still, I think this is the best episode they have put together so far in the fourth season.

This episode has everything that has made me love this version of My Little Pony. It contained a heart warming message of friendship. It introduced a new and fun character (played by the great "Weird Al" Yankovic). More than anything, it did not have a cliché plot.

So Cheese Sandwich, an orange pony who acts like Clint Eastwood when he's serious and acts like his voice talent Weird Al Yankovic when he is not, hears about Rainbow Dash's "Birth-aversary" coming up. Rainbow chooses him to throw her party, leaving Pinkie feeling left out. Pinkie Pie must then find a way to not only feel better about herself but to make one of her best friend's party completely unforgettable.

The one thing that stood out the most for me, though, was that this episode did not go with a predictable and cliché outcome concerning the conflict. I won't say more, but by the end of this episode, I was warmly smiling because I was genuinely touched by what happened. If "My Little Pony" continues producing episodes like this, its legacy will live on forever.

"Pinkie Pride" is a perfect example of Pinkie Pie being a great character when she's funny and likeable, with writing that plays to her strengths and doesn't exaggerate her flaws. Personally do like her generally, though she actually is not my favourite of the Mane 6, and she does have great episodes centered around her. But there are some episodes before and since where she didn't do much for me and where the writing for her was problematic.

Season 4's "Pinkie Pride" is not one of the episodes where she doesn't work and her writing is problematic. This is one of the show's finest examples of Pinkie Pie being fun, likeable and easy to relate to. If there has to be a prize for the best Pinkie Pie-centric episode, "Pinkie Pride" gets my personal vote. It is also one of the best episodes of Season 4, other high points being "Rarity Takes Manehattan" and the season finale two parter. Despite liking the season very much on the whole, few episodes fit my definition of "not being able to find anything wrong with it". "Pinkie Pride" is one of those episodes.

The animation is terrific. Not just typically rich in background detail, very vibrant and atmospheric in colour and with character designs that never look awkward or ugly, but it is also very inventive. A lot goes on visually but it doesn't feel cluttered and is done imaginatively. Also absolutely loved the songs, there are many and all of them work and never does it feel like there are too many. They are very catchy and full of a wide range of emotions, as well as not stopping the flow of the narrative and being necessary to and moving forward what goes on.

Loved the writing as well, a seamless mix of humour and drama in a way that's very clever, lots of fun and has heart and soul. The dialogue is very intelligently written and has a natural rhythm, didn't find it chaotic at all. The story is always absorbing and is full of energy, a lot happens but it doesn't make the mistake of other "very eventful" 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" episodes of feeling too rushed or trying to cram in too much in a short space of time that brought the still in many ways impressive "Magical Mystery Cure" down.

Cheese Sandwich is a revelation of a character, very cool, nice comic timing and the character has development and goes on a journey rather than being a one-dimensional missed opportunity, one that has flaws but is also easy to like regardless. One of my favourite secondary characters of Season 4 and of the early seasons easily. "Pinkie Pride" contains some of Pinkie Pie's best and most interesting character writing, this is an episode that doesn't overdo her silliness or make her annoying. She is amusing but the decision to tone her down and bring a more emotional and empathetic side was appreciated and worked wonders, it made her endearing and impossible to dislike.

Voice acting is great, Andrea Libman cannot be faulted as Pinkie Pie and Shannon Chan-Kent sings beautifully (even if the differences between Pinkie Pie's speaking and singing voices are too obvious, the only thing that may distract some but not me that much). Weird Al Yankovic sounded as though he was having fun.

Overall, brilliant and gets my vote as Pinkie Pie's best episodes, one of the standouts of Season 4 and come to think of it also one of the show's best. 10/10

This episode is full of surprises first surprise was Weird Al" Yankovic voicing Cheese sandwich. Second surprise is how much songs are in this, they are all great I think this episode has the most songs in a single episode than the whole series! 3rd surprise is how funny it is definitely the funniest episode of season 4. This episode is definitely worth a watch and keeps me coming back to it check this episode. You will be surprised!