The best episode to introduce someone to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic?

[Leemaster777]

So, I've recently told one of my friends about my... "fascination" with FiM. It went about as well as can be expected:

"Uh, are you gay? It's totally cool if you are, but are you?"

...yeah, didn't go well. Anyways, I'm trying to convince them to watch an episode, and I'm trying to think which episode would be best to introduce them to the show. Since, as we all know, the first two episodes... kinda suck. Or at least, don't give a very good impression of show.

Right now, I'm thinking episode 7 (Dragonshy), might be a good place to start. So, what episode do you guys think would be the best starting place? Oh, and for extra discussion value, where did YOU start watching the show at? (I started with the first episode myself, thankfully I was able to stick with the show past the first two-parter).

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I think the two part pilot is seriously underrated; I started with it, and I quite enjoyed it. The third episode is the early one that I found boring, and it keeps getting recommended, when really, if people are going to go to the first good episode after the pilot, they need to watch Applebuck Season.

Just let them have their own thoughts and let their own curiosity let them explore if they want. Trying to introduce something to a fellow peer usually comes off as forcing an activity upon someone especially when it comes to the basic premise of "I like this show and so should you".

Don't bother and if they find you sitting there and watching the show and they stick around then let them. That is the only exception to the rule because you are already involved in the activity. But if you've seen the entire series, then why are you watching the same episodes over and over again?

I agree with this, but I think most of the time when a brony suggests a starting episode to someone, it's because they either asked what would be a good episode to start with, or they saw an episode and didn't like it. What confuses me is all the people who say the pilot is terrible. It's not, it's just clear from the start that the target audience is little girls -- which it is, but that doesn't mean grown men can't enjoy it as well. Same thing with Disney princess movies, or to expand it to cartoons in general, Spongebob Squarepants and Phineas and Ferb. The way I see it, if someone doesn't like the pilot episode of FiM, they aren't likely to enjoy the rest of the series, either.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Whatever episode this came from:
God, I want a girlfriend just like Fluttershy. Crazy and all.

... ... ...Uh, or just show him Party of One. Whichever.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Er...double post. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[La Barata]

They did a study on equestria daily on which it was. Party of One won (lolrhyme)

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/poll-results-best-starting-episode.html

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

They did a study on equestria daily on which it was. Party of One won (lolrhyme)

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/poll-results-best-starting-episode.html

I think that's perfect, especially if the person has no idea what's different about the show. Just a normal girly kids cartoon about parties and generic stuff like that... Then suddenly OH GOD WHY HAS SHE GONE SO CRAZY?!?

 

[Laser Priest]

They did a study on equestria daily on which it was. Party of One won (lolrhyme)

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/poll-results-best-starting-episode.html

Gotta agree with this.

I started from the beginning and it was nice to get used to all of the characters before I saw it, but I like to think that I have an open mind. If someone goes in expecting a silly little kids show, Party of One is a fun way to show them otherwise.

 

[Uratoh]

Be very, very careful about trying to 'push' MLP on to others...I've been completely burned on it before I even saw an episode. Watching a couple I think I might have liked it if my friends and peers hadn't been so...aggressive...in pushing it. The others are completely right in letting him come to the show, or not, on his own. The last thing you wanna do is to irritate your friend over it.

 

[Baneat]

Friendship is magic, why, because it's the start of the series and if you have to justify cherry picking an episode because you're afraid the person is too close minded give up already.

 

[Fiad]

Not into the show myself, but going to throw something out. Not the first episode. As it did not sell it for me. Made me not even want to continue watching. Was hard enough making it as far in as I did. Went into it with an open mind thinking that if so many people liked it, it had to have something good. Watched the first episode and it turned me off completely.

 

[trollax]

Um this may not mean anything for the fact that i hate the show, but maybe have them find it themselves one of my reasons i hate it is because it was forced on me and no i'm not unbaised i watched a few before it was forced on me.

 

[A Weary Exile]

Griffon the Brush-off or Party of One, undoubtedly. Fall Weather Friends, Applebuck Season, Dragonshy and Over a Barrel are also good choices.

Avoid anything that centers around something "Girly" (Fashion show, slumber party, etc.) at all costs, it would give them the impression that it's pandering to little girls even if those episodes are hilarious anyway (Green isn't your Color, Dress for Success, Look Before you Sleep, and so on).

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Personally, episode 4 (Apple season) was the one that sold me.

It had plenty of hilarious moments (baked bads, some good twilight sparkle sarcasm).

 

[Kopikatsu]

They did a study on equestria daily on which it was. Party of One won (lolrhyme)

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/poll-results-best-starting-episode.html

I think that's perfect, especially if the person has no idea what's different about the show. Just a normal girly kids cartoon about parties and generic stuff like that... Then suddenly OH GOD WHY HAS SHE GONE SO CRAZY?!?

Spoiler

It is kind of ironic that all of the main characters have basically had complete breakdowns in season 1 alone. SAYS SOMETHIN' ABOUT GIRLS, AMIRIGHT? I still love them, though. (YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN TWILIGHT SPARKLE AND FLUTTERSHY. I WON'T LET YOU.)

Joking aside, yeah. It's still interesting.

 

[souper soup guy]

I would recomend go by your friends tastes, i.e. if you think rainbow dash would be their favorite, show them sonic rainboom, if they might like pinky show them party of one. Just try to tater to their particular tastes.

 

[Seef]

Well, this thread convinced me to watch an episode, after watching the pilot and being dissapointed, but then figuring, "hey, it's the pilot, it hasn't gotten the kinks out yet". Well, I settled on Party of One, as it was voted the best introductory episode, and I have to say that all I liked about it was a line or two from Spike and the Rocky impression. I didn't find the craziness interesting. Maybe it's because I went in expecting the second coming of Animaniacs. Or hell, maybe I just don't enjoy the show.

why am I telling all of you people this? It doesn't matter at all. Any why am I still typing. Good god, the show has got to me.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Maybe it's because I went in expecting the second coming of Animaniacs.

Well there's your problem; it's more like the second coming of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, or on a good day, The Powerpuff Girls. Animaniacs probably had an even larger following of adults back in the day, and with good reason. (Seriously, do a Usenet search sometime; it's pretty interesting.)

The show is good, but like most good things (Final Fantasy VII, Half Life, Star Wars...) it's so heavily revered by its fans that newcomers can't help but be disappointed.

 

[DuelLadyS]

The first one I saw was the one with the Parasprites... it's not a bad place to start. I'm with everyone who says don't force it, though... you'd be better off pointing out the large adult (and straight) male fanbase, and let them poke around Youtube or On Demand while no one's around to see what the hubbub is. Otherwise, you might forgo a total episode and cherry-pick clips instead... you might have a hard time getting them to sit through Party of One's opening song and cute pony party before getting to the meat of the Rainbow Dash chase and the total breakdown. So, just jump to the breakdown. Whatever you do, don't press.