Episode review: S5E19: "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows"

There: proof that ponies really are marshmallows

After last week's episode brought one of the longest arcs in the history of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to a close, we were all expecting something a bit more straightforward this time round. Well, as straightforward as you can get when Pinkie Pie is at its centre! This was the first episode to be written by G. M. Berrow (credited as Gillian M. Berrow, but I'm using the old tag for convenience). While her Pinkie chapter book isn't one of my favourites in that series, I was eager to see what she could do with a cartoon script.

For the most part, I think Berrow did a good job. This episode could have been a very humdrum filler instalment, but in fact it was a bit more than that. The big announcement – that Cadance and Shining Armor will become parents – had been so widely hinted/spoiled that it wasn't really much of a surprise any more. That being so, I think the decision to make it explicit very early on was a good one. A shame for Pinkie that she couldn't do the same!

Whenever there's a new writer on FiM, you wonder whether they'll take a little while to get into the swing of things. I do think there are a couple of rough edges here, with some slightly clunky dialogue on occasion (mind you, the last episode had that, too) and I wish Mr Cake had referred to his wife as "Cup", or at least "Cup Cake", which would have sounded a bit more natural. Still, things do settle down fairly quickly, and I didn't keep thinking, "Ooh, new writer".

Who was it said that Discord had to be behind this somewhere?

The focus was on Pinkie Pie being weird, and – as Rainbow Dash lampshaded – she took that aspect up to 11. I tend to be leery when that happens, as we all know how badly Pinkie can be flanderised into "Ms Crazy Pony" from time to time. There are many other aspects to her character! We do at least see some of those here, such as the pride she takes in her baking early on, as well as her quick-wittedness during the slightly rushed scavenger hunt.

Talking of which, we really need an episode in which Twilight and Shining Armor go all-out on the adorkability front. Anyone who's read the "Neigh Anything" comic arc will recognise the nerd Shiny we see in this ep, and it's greatly amusing. Even the horse noises! Mind you, I am a little disappointed that Spike's only significant contribution to the episode is destroying a mint copy of what looks awfully like Action Comics #1: he's another character who has had a bit of a raw deal in recent times.

Any comic fans out there who can identify the cover on the bottom?

There are a considerable number of nice touches around the edges of this episode. Whether it's Derpy appearing with Dinky (it's been a while!) or Fluttershy's inevitable friendship with at least one albino squirrel, they mostly hit the mark, though Mayor Mare seems to have been affected nearly as badly as Pinkie by having to keep the big secret. I would have liked to have seen the Royal Crystal Train again, though, as it had such an impressive design. I hope it hasn't been consigned to history!

Twilight's reaction about becoming an ant aunt is also very nice, although the "Applejack's birth certificate" scene seems rather odd. Nothing wrong with it in itself, but why specifically AJ? After the little reference to her parents last time, is something being set up regarding her family? Odd as it sounds to say this, I really hope they're not going to turn out to be alive later in the series. I think that would be a disappointment given the sure handling of their (presumed) death.

Scootaloo probably carries off the new cutie mark best of the CMC

That aside, this is an enjoyable episode, if not a particularly earth-shaking one. Even "Princess Skyla", assuming she does get that name, has been trailed in toy terms for several years. (Although I don't much care for "Baby Cakes", it might be nice to have an episode in which Twilight turns the tables on her sister-in-law by foal-sitting Cadance's child.) Anyway, I think Ms Berrow did a solid job in her show debut, certainly enough to make me hope she'll handle another one (or more?) in season six.

Best quote: Pinkie Pie: "Albino squirrel!" Fluttershy: "Where? Is it Albert?"

Yays

• Rarity turning the tables on Pinkie's "FOREVER" routine
• Shining Armor being a nerd (and with Twily)
• Pinkie Pinball – someone make this!
• Rainbow lampshading Pinkie's extreme weirdness
• Pinkie's Donald Rumsfeld homage
• Derpy and Dinky together in the background
• Fluttershy knows at least one albino squirrel. Of course she does
• Featherweight speaks!

Neighs

• The "going to pieces" joke was a tad OTT even for Pinkie
• One or two bits of slightly awkward dialogue
• Why would Mr Cake call his wife "Mrs Cake"? She has a name!
• Aw, I wanted to see the Crystal Train again
• Mayor Mare's scene was just odd
• That bloody massive Back to the Future graphic

★★★