MLP Review: School Raze

All of the magic in Equestria has stopped working for some reason. The Mane Six suspect Tirek and head to Tartarus to get some answers. Meanwhile, eager helper Cozy Glow is being left in charge because Starlight is helping the Mane Six as well (even though she was instructed to go to Celestia if she saw something). The Young Six have their suspicions of Cozy Glow and Neighsayer arrives because he thinks that a) Twilight and her friends have gone off on an adventure and b) believes the non-pony students are responsible for the disappearing magic, so he usurps the school.

Sandbar fakes turning on his friends to get the Cutie Mark Crusaders to help and we get a lot of answers. Tirek is pen pals with Cozy Glow who has taken some artifacts to trap the magic in Equestria and Starlight.

So, Sandbar and the CMC help free the others and then Neighsay after he realizes Cozy’s plot. Meanwhile, Tirek admires Cozy’s plan, but think about the fact that the Mane Six are trapped with him and magic is the only way out. The creatures in Tartarus still have some magic left and the Mane Six harness it to escape. Meanwhile, the Tree of Harmony saves the Young Six and they in turn save Equestria and Cozy’s manipulations are exposed. She gets sent to Tartarus and we are likely going to continue this in Season Nine.

Two things that put this two-part finale near the levels of “To Where And Back Again” (not a compliment). Neighsay suddenly shows up and where in the hoof does he get the idea that Twilight and her friends are going on some adventure willy nilly? Unless, it was Cozy’s plan all along to draw him in and then get him out of the way.

Then, there is Cozy’s ambitions. They are somewhat unclear. She says that Friendship is “power” and having all the power will get her all the friends and rule Equestria. They are likely going to revisit that like how they tracked to Starlight’s past in “The Cutie Re-Mark”. I’ve heard another theory, but we’ll see if it comes true in Season Nine. And yes, why would they put Cozy Glow near Tirek in Tartarus other than the story needing that to explore next season?

The Young Six have been very good introductions this season even if some of the episodes they were in were subpar. This finale unfortunately ends up on the lower end in comparison to other season finales with only “To Where and Back Again” and “Best Night Ever” being below it. It’s not that any of the finales have been totally awful, but on the other side of this are “A Canterlot Wedding” and “Twilight’s Kingdom” which are two of the best episodes of the series and two other top tier finales in “The Cutie Re-Map” and “Shadow Play”.

As for Season Eight as a whole. Again, we have a concept with promise thanks to the Young Six, but we sort of come to point where we don’t know what to do with some of the characters who have been here for awhile. Shining Armor was conspicuously absent this season even though he was in the titles (as was Flurry Heart for the most part). Cadance and Luna barely got any time themselves.

As for the episodes, it was slow to get off but was getting better towards the end. Yet, the finale does leave a couple of things to be desired. However, the Young Six were a great addition to the series and will likely be key in Season Nine. We do have an interesting villain in Cozy Glow and fans will be interested in a team-up with Tirek. Chrysalis is still out there as well. We’ll see what happens in Season Nine. Two things are certain: 1) the show will celebrate its 200th episode and 2) “Best Gift Ever” comes in two weeks.

See you then!


1. Twilight’s Kingdon (S4)
2. A Canterlot Wedding (S2)
3. The Cutie Re-Mark (S5)
4. Shadow Play (S7)
5. Magical Mystery Cure (S3)
6. School Raze (S8)
7. To Where and Back Again (S6)
8. Best Night Ever (S1)

1. Sounds of Silence
2. The Hearth’s Warming Club
3. Surf and/or Turf
4. Grannies Gone Wild
5. What Lies Beneath

20. The Maud Couple
21. The Mean 6
22. Non-Compete Clause
23. The Parent Map
24. Yakity-Sax


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