DVD Review: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Friends Across Equestria

Bronies and Pegasisters, a new collection of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes is now available for your enjoyment.  Friends Across Equestria contains five episodes, all from the series’ fifth season, including the show’s one hundredth episode (holy moly!). All of your favorite ponies are here, as well as Discord and Countess Coloratura.

“Make New Friends But Keep Discord”

Discord (John de Lancie) is hanging out with his good friend Fluttershy for their weekly tea, but is upset to learn that she has invited a new friend, Tree Hugger (Nicole Oliver), to an upcoming gala rather than extending the invitation to him. This episode shows us Discord at home, where he sulks about not being invited, and where mail is difficult to deliver (that’s probably my favorite scene). Discord eventually receives his invitation, but his choice of guests is not applauded by the ponies, though the main problem is his jealousy regarding Fluttershy’s friendship with Tree Hugger. After all, he is only beginning to learn about the magic of friendship. There is a reference to the comedian Gallagher, and a hilarious moment when Tree Hugger looks into another dimension.

“Slice Of Life”

“Slice Of Life” is the series’ one hundredth episode, and it’s an interesting episode in which a mistake on wedding invitations sets up a series of events involving some of the show’s supporting characters. “Oh, the horror! The horror!” A musical scene goes on too long, but there are lots of cute moments in this episode, like the delightful pondering of the alligator.

“Amending Fences”

Twilight Sparkle goes back to Canterlot to mend things with those she knew before she moved to Ponyville and learned about the magic of friendship. She goes to apologize to her old friends and reconnect with them, including one who has given up on the idea of friendship. Twilight rightly enlists the aid of the always-delightful Pinkie Pie. “We’ll need fifteen bags of confetti.”

“Made In Manehattan”

Rarity and Applejack are summoned by the map to go to Manehattan. Rarity is overjoyed, but Applejack is less thrilled with going to the big city, where things move rather fast. “Butter my biscuits, I can barely cross the street in this town.” They learn they must help revive the spirit of community in the city by bringing back its outdoor theatre tradition. It’s a sweet episode, and there is a cute reference to the Peanuts cartoons.

“The Mane Attraction”

Pinkie Pie has booked a big pop sensation for the town’s music festival. Applejack hasn’t heard of her, which shocks the others; more shocking is that Applejack was friends with her before she became a star. Applejack is sad to see how stardom has changed her, but it is at least partly the fault of her manager, who makes ridiculous demands on Pinkie Pie. Lena Hall provides the voice for Countess Coloratura (known to Applejack as Rara).

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Friends Across Equestria was released on March 1, 2016 through Shout! Factory. The DVD includes a bonus sing-along of “The Magic Inside,” a song from “The Mane Attraction.”