My Little Pony Season 4: Priness Twlight Sparkle Review

So, I just finished watching the first two episodes of My Little Pony Season 4 entitled: Princess Twlight Sparkle.

Well, I have to say: not too bad.

First off: MAJOR SPOILER ALERT. Do not read anymore if you have not watched the episode.

Twlight, getting used to duties as a new princess, is saddened that she must stay in Canterlot rather than returning to Ponyville with her friends. Shortly after, a strange set of dark roots start growing all over the land from the Everfree Forest, Princess Celestia and Luna disappear, and the sun and moon both appear in the sky at once. The friends reunite, and, suspecting Discord is responsible, summon him. They learn, though, that this is not his doing (at least directly).

Zecora appears, forced out of her home, and she gives Twlight a potion that will let her see into the past. We see the battle between Celestia and Luna when Luna become Nightmare Moon, and we see the two royal sisters imprison Discord. We also see a new aspect of the series: The Tree of Harmony. It was from this tree that the elements came from.

The friends go to the forest to find the tree. Fearing for Twlight, the friends send her away saying she must remain safe if the other princesses don't return, as the land still needs a ruler. Saddened, she leaves. Discord, seeing her return, chides her for not staying loyal to her duties as a princess and going into danger with her friends. Offended by the comments, Twlight returns to the forest and her friends.

Upon discovering the Tree of Harmony, Twlight realizes they must return the elements of Harmony to stop the dark vines growth. The friends pretest, citing how the elements brought them together, they are used to defend the land, and they are used to ring in Discord if he gets out of line. Twlight says that their friendship will always endure, and, reluctantly, they return the elements to the tree (which is nearly tangled in the vines). Upon the elements returning, the tree glows in brilliance, and the all the vines vanish from the land. Princess Luna and Celestina are freed from their prisons just next to the tree and congrat the six on how difficult it was to give up the elements. We see the tree grow an additional set of vines, and a jewel box appears with 6 locks. Twlight does not know how to open it, but Celestia says that it will certainly be the 6 of our main ponies who will find the way.

After leaving, Discord notes how the elements are gone, but Fluttershy warns against him going nuts again, and forces him to help clean up. He agrees, and, through flashback, reveal that it was his black seeds that were growing. The magic still held within the Tree of Harmony after the elements were gone must have contained his roots for many years until now.

My reaction? Not quite the episode I was expecting. I like how it recapped the main events of the last three years. We saw Nightmare Moon and Discords initial defeats, and we also introduced a new aspect: The Tree of Harmony. I like how the friends are concerned about the changes that are coming, as it reflects how even viewers feel as the series moves forward. Things are going to change. Twlight is a Princess, the Elements of Harmony are back with the Tree of Harmony, and we have that mysterious box with 6 locks. All in all, I enjoyed it. I look forward to the next episode and what the season has to bring.