A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1

Season 2 started off great and very promisingly, very much like how Season 1 started off. The season did vary post-"Luna Eclipsed", thankfully more hits (the best being "Sisterhooves Social", "A Canterlot Wedding Part 2" and "Hurricane Fluttershy") though than near-misses (four episodes particularly are disappointing, "The Mysterious Mare Do Well", "Hearts and Hooves Day", "Putting Your Hoof Down" and "Dragon Quest", but still don't consider any of them unwatchable, more average at best).

The season ended on a very good/great, if not quite flawless, note with the two part finale "A Canterlot Wedding". While preferring the darker, more emotionally varied and meatier second part, Part 1 is still very good indeed with a lot of fantastic things. As well as a couple of not too major annoyances that are thankfully outweighed by what works so well. Both parts are among the best episodes of the second season and a fine way to end it.

Will start with the not so good things first. Personally didn't really buy how quickly and easily Twilight was turned upon. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, which did attention grab but was also too abrupt.

Cadance's true intentions were obvious far too early and in so obvious a way that it makes Twilight's turn upon even more unconvincing.

However, the animation is great with both parts of "A Canterlot Wedding" being among the season's and show's best looking episodes. Part 2 is even better looking, but the atmosphere and attention to detail looks great here in Part 1. The music is full of atmosphere and character, the song "BBBFF" saying a lot about the characters singing them. The writing is some of the season's best, amusing, tense and affecting. Especially with Cadance and Twilight.

Moreover, Twilight's character writing is just fascinating and her arc has a big emotional core that is genuinely poignant. Cadance is a great character and Celestia's character writing is her most interesting in a long time. Authoritative and vulnerable, while proving herself useful. It was great to see everybody seeming genuinely concerned. The voice acting is terrific, especially from Tara Strong.

In a nutshell, very good but the second part is better. 8/10

never thought i would say this about My Little Pony but this episode is surprisingly epic.

*note: this is the same review as in Part 2*

Story: Twilight finds out her brother Shining Armor is engaged to be wed to Celestia's niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenca, know to Twi as Cadence, her old baby... er, Fole-sitter. however, there's something off with Cadence. something only Twi is seeing but nobody else is and by the time everyone does find out, it'll be too late as a War breaks out, placing the world in danger. for the 3rd time in a row.

Animation: the animation is like as it was for the entire series so not much to say there. what did surprise me is that they put in Violence in My Little Pony. Violence. something nobody saw coming.

Music: as always, the music is awesome and this 2-parter features the only songs i like in the entire show: This Day Aria and Love is in Bloom. This Day Aria is the villains song and is surprisingly dark and epic, like a villain song from a Disney Movie. Love is in Bloom plays at the end and is catchy as heck. i'm still humming it.

final verdict: to be honest, i went in expecting a sappy romance like the Notebook or Titanic(before the iceberg). i did not, however, expect that plot twist and the world being put into danger again. this Season Finale surprised me and will you.

also, this is a good episode to show friends or family and let them see why Grown Men are liking this show. who knows, may turn them into Brony's and Pega-sisters.