Found myself really liking the first part of Season 2's two part finale "A Canterlot Wedding". It wasn't perfect, with how quickly and easily Twilight being turned upon not being completely easy to buy, the cliffhanger being abrupt (though still interesting) and Cadance's true intentions being obvious too early. At the same time, it was very well animated and scored, was exceptionally well written and had some of the season's best characterisation, including Twilight and Celestia being the most interesting they've been in a while.
To me, Part 2 is even better and such a great way to end a mostly good if inconsistent second season. The not so good things are fewer and not as big and the good things being more numerous and even more fantastic. "A Canterlot Wedding Part 2" is darker. It is more emotionally varied. It is more intense. And the storytelling and characterisation is even meatier. From personal opinion, it is one of the best episodes of Season 2 and among 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic's' better two part season finales. For any fan of the show it is in my mind a must.
Although the animation is great in Part 1, it is even better in Part 2 as more of it stands out. The more nightmarish scenes are visually stunning and suitably unsettling. The character design for Chrysalis is awesome, her transformation being freaky as heck. Again the songs are memorable, among the best of the season and show, and say a lot about the characters singing them. "This Day Aria" is epic in every sense.
Once again, the writing is affecting and has tension without being all doom and gloom. The taunting is quite unnerving. The story is even more compelling than in the first part, with a good deal of intensity, some subtle dynamics and a touching re-encounter with Twilight and Cadance. Chrysalis to me is easily one of the show's best villains, with her awesomely nightmarish character design and Kathleen Barr's voice acting (who clearly had a ball playing her).
Like with Part 1, Twilight is still fascinating and her arc even more poignant. The action is adrenaline thumping and the story always compels and as intense as 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' has gotten. Tara Strong and Kathleen Barr provide perfectly pitched voice work.
My only issue that struck me on first watch of "A Canterlot Wedding: Part 2" is the rushed climax.
Can see too where one of the reviews is coming from when saying that the episode could have shown as to whether Twilight's friends were sorry for their treatment of her.
Overall, great end to Season 2 and superior to the still very good first part. 9/10
