The Crystalling - Discussion

Enjoyed watching it, but like you said, feels a bit like a rehash of previous plots. Don't really feel like it's "world building," either. Also, most of the ponies were rather one-note (or no-note), personality wise. How often are we gonna see Pinkie Pie being overly excited about a party or something? Or Twilight micromanaging? And the other Mane 6's personalities hardly registered at all (aside from maybe Applejack and Rainbow Dash's, like once or twice). There was really no time to devote to any of them to make them more interesting, but that which the time was devoted to wasn't all that interesting, either... Sunburst is slightly awkward. Shining Armor is goofy. The Princesses are very regal. What is Starlight Glimmer's personality even, though? It felt like characters' roles (who weren't Starlight or Sunburst) could've been almost interchangeable, except in predefined places.

Enjoyed having the show back: the art style, the expressions on the ponies' faces, the cuteness, etc. However, this one felt like something was missing. I wish I could love 'em all, but if I were trying to convince someone that FiM is more than just a show for little girls, I wouldn't point them to these two episodes to start out with (nah, I'd probably show them something like "Make New Friends but Keep Discord" from last season. That episode was awesome.)

On the plus side, there weren't any spontaneous musical numbers.

Cynicism is easy.

I thought it was a great premiere.

"See? He can be a real sweetheart once you get to know him."-Fluttershy

My Little Pony does The Dark Crystal. Hell, even choosing the purity Crystal looked like the choose the real Crystal shard scene, and the Purity Crystals LOOKED like the Crystal Shard.

"I'm taking Mary home."
"You're what?"
"Mary's taking me home."
"Better."

I'd say more than just nice world building, I'd say well done subtle world building. The Crystal Heart is empowered by the Crystal Ponies and vice versa. So the Crystal Heart was once an ordinary crystal that grew in power, and over time, it made the ponies become Crystal Ponies. All this without ever really spelling it out directly. The Princesses not being born Alicorns... This is the kind of world building I want, not "where can we explore next?" and, "what new character can we introduce next?" I still want my Mayor Mare episode, but I think that is a lost cause.

As to repetitive, I think you will find that there are only so many stories to tell and types of lesson to learn. Criticize the telling, not the retelling.

Yes, Starlight and Sunburst were the highlights of the episode, along with Shining Armor(yay for Shining Armor getting character development!) Starlight and Sunburst's issues of embarrassment at the way your life has unfolded and the shame of others having done more with their life than you was a relatable(and is a new moral for the show), and I liked it. I found Flurry Heart to be annoying myself, and questioned why they didn't know the unicorn foal power reigning in spell. Why isn't it a common spell?

Lastly, did you notice the Changeling at the end? Perhaps the finale has been revealed with this.

Flurry Heart was horribly over-powered and over-competent.

How on earth is a newborn capable of flawless teleportation, something it took Twilight several seasons to master... despite her being both powerful AND skilled in magic?

Flurry Heart = Puff from "Fairly Oddparents", nuff said.