Hearth's Warming Special! | My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic REACTION + Discussion
Added 2024-11-06 03:39:49 +0000 UTC
Comments
Yes a jam packed episode that shows how this holiday can be expressed and shown. It was well rounded with the messages, feeling, music, and jokes! Good old fashioned mane 6 shenanigans
Ed
2024-11-11 01:36:35 +0000 UTCYes that is true about starlight! And there’s something sweet about it just being a mane 6 only episode. Just focusing on their gift giving odyssey. Everyone already know about rarity was hilarious 😂 I still love the derpy and rarity rivalry 😂😂😂 Loved seeing the reindeer!! Just didn’t seem like a family place is all 😂 Fluttershy hitting that rock. Unforgivable. Same as their acting 🤣 I love for Fluttershy’s side comments You’re right how genius they connect all the plot points of pinkie, Twilight, and RD/Discord together! I love how you explained rarity’s growth of giving and generosity! She’s been fantastic since S5. AJ and Fluttershy’s story also along very well with one another. Fluttershy is to naive 😭. And discord still with his trickery of course You’re right saying it’s one of the best episodes of hearts warming. If this is the last time we get one, it went off with a bang!
Ed
2024-11-11 01:33:33 +0000 UTCAs we get closer to christmas, we get to see the final Hearth's warming Eve of MLP. And its quite the big one... and without further ado... - Some notes/thoughts/facts: - It was aired first at Discovery Family in 2018, October 27 and later November 25 on Netflix. You aren't that far off watching it 😅 And later it got a DVD release. Such a gorgeous view on Ponyville: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/cd/Ponyville_covered_in_snow_MLPBGE.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20181029174027 The Student 6 go on winter break and are out of the way... ...Starlight and Trixie go off on the road to Hearth's Warming... ...and we get to experience this special, especially with the Mane 6 in focus! And they begin to sing the song "One More Day" at the beginning about the holiday stress of getting all their presents together. "Shop! Pay! Box! Wrap! Bow! Repeat!" - perfect showcase about commercial Christmas! Oh my, the whole Apple and Pie gang is together... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/6/61/Pinkie_meets_with_Pie_and_Apple_families_MLPBGE.png ...even Grand Pear is there and they are all celebrating together! 🥰 Even Sugar Belle! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/cd/Big_Mac_kissing_Sugar_Belle%27s_forehead_MLPBGE.png https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/e/e4/Marble_Pie_heartbroken_over_SugarMac_MLPBGE.png Ah poor Marble Pie, but as they are possibly Cousins now it was bound to not work out... Well if it isn't "A Charlie Brown's Christmas"! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/73/Foals%27_tiny_Hearth%27s_Warming_tree_falls_over_MLPBGE.png Oh look, another reference (Buddy from the 2003 film Elf): https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/5/5e/Elf_pony_appears_being_chased_by_raccoon_MLPBGE.png ...and he disturbed Lyra and Bon Bon, who have neat clothing themselves... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/1/1f/Lyra_and_Sweetie_Drops_at_Hearth%27s_Warming_MLPBGE.png Nearly everyone is here: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/c7/Ponies_singing_together_in_Ponyville_square_MLPBGE.png https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/0/05/Twilight_Sparkle_flying_past_Rarity_MLPBGE.png - She has no name, but was first introduced in "Appleoosa's Most Wanted" and seen throughout. Twilight's holiday frenzy is in full swing, stirring up chaos as she gets all of the Mane 6 tangled in her plans. You know Twilight is in a hurry when she's teleporting around instead of walking! But AJ, ever the mother figure of the group, recognizes this "traditional holiday meltdown" and steps in to calm her down. She proposes a brilliant idea: the "Hearthswarming Helper." Instead of each of them getting multiple presents for all their friends, they'll each draw a cutie mark from a hat and get just one gift for that pony. A perfect solution? Pinkie Pie: [sighs] "Fine. I will only buy one present for my secret Hearthswarming Helper buddy." - she is not happy with that, but we all know how that will end, right? 😏 Nah... Starlight is on her way with Trixie. It was a deliberate choice to keep this story focused solely on the Mane 6. Plus, leaving Trixie alone would have been really sad. 😥 Spike: "Great! So, uh, who do you—?" Applejack: "I don't have Rarity." Spike: "What?! That's not who I—!" Applejack: "Uh-huh." - 😂 Spike: "Oh. Welp, gotta go! Wish me luck!" Twilight Sparkle: "With shopping?" Spike: "Well, yeah! If everypony's only getting one gift, we have a ton of responsibility to make sure it's extra-special good." - Dang it Spike, you shouldn't have said that! 😅 And there she is, spiraling again... Maud: "Don't rock it 'til you try it." - "Rock-in-a-Box" 😂 Spike: "Pinkie!" Pinkie Pie: "I don't have Rarity!" 🤣 And Rainbow has a really hard time to figure out what Flutters wants, as she isn't really decisive with her likings and ends up buying a candle... ...But Discord isn't having it - Discord in candle form is a reference to the character Lumière from Disney's Beauty and the Beast! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/7/73/Discord_appears_as_Rainbow%27s_candle_MLPBGE.png - https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/f/f5/Profile_-_Lumiere.jpeg Rainbow Dash: "I tried asking her what she likes, but she likes everything." Discord: "Well, she says that, but her real friends know what she actually likes." Rainbow "Dash: I've known her a lot longer than you have." Discord: "Then you must surely know that lit candles around adorably flammable animals make her nervous, don't you?" - That's surprisingly observant... And here we are again, the Rainbow Falls Hearth's Warming Craft Fair. And the Flim Flam brothers are peddling 'Holly the Hearth Warmer', yet another scam of a product... Flim: "A truly awesome friend who deserves something twenty percent cooler than any other gift out there?" Fluttershy: "That sounds just like her!" - How did they know about the 20% meme?! The Yaks! BEST AT AVERYTHING, admitting the top secret fact that they are not good with giving gifts... Prince Rutherford: "Best gift givers up northern pass, where sky shimmers and glows. There, secret gift giver grove." - 😮 OMG! Derpy! And she talks! after 4 seasons we get to hear Derpy's voice again! - It's even more funny if you know that Rarity, who talks to Derpy, they both have the same VA... Oh Derpy... not again with your misdelivering packages... Discord's roundabout ways are always amusing to me... Twilight Sparkle: "The ideal gift for Pinkie Pie needs to be A – unique, B – specific to her personality, and C – food-based. What is a unique food? Cupcakes? Nah. Cookies? Nope. Pies? Pastries? Pudding? [gasps] Wait! [echoing] Puuuuuuuuuuuudding!" https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/9/92/Twilight_Sparkle_derp_%22pudding%21%22_MLPBGE.png - Now they are trying really hard to create their own memes, huh? 🤣 Fluttershy: "Holly the Hearth's Warmer doll. Isn't she sweet?" https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/0/0e/Holly_the_Hearth%27s_Warmer_doll_MLPBGE.png ...no? - All your bits? omg... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/e/ed/Pistachio_descends_the_ladder_MLPBGE.png - Rarity made Pistachio so happy with that hat! I also love his color - it suits his name perfectly. Plus, he's thrilled to know Rarity, which makes it even better. Twilight Sparkle: "The recipe for Chancellor Puddinghead's magical pudding was filed under 'Magical Spells', not 'Recipes'." - I am not sure if a recipe that is in the spell-section, is such a good idea for anyone to eat... Cadence, Shining Armor and Flurry Hart! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/4/46/Shining_Armor%2C_Cadance%2C_and_Flurry_arrive_MLPBGE.png - Isn't her costume hecking adorable!? Shining Armor: "Decorations not up. Frazzled mane. Determined look. I've seen this before. What are you obsessing about this time, Twily?" - He knows her too well 😅 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/a/ae/Pinkie_Pie_pulling_herself_by_the_anchor_MLPBGE.png - Nope... Nooo... - just typical Pinkie stuff... 😏 She was greeted and expected by three fascinating magical reindeer, each a reference to the Santa Claus mythos with his legendary flying reindeer - possibly hinting at a new tribe altogether. These three are known as the "Gift Givers of the Grove": Aurora, Bori, and Alice. Together, their names form a clever nod to the "aurora borealis", also known as the Northern Lights. I absolutely love that! Additionally, they seem to possess powers connected to the past, present, and future, evoking the spirits from "A Christmas Carol." https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/a/af/Bori_introduces_herself_MLPBGE.png Aurora: "The best gift is more precious than gold, but it cannot be sold." Bori: "When it breaks, it's not ended, for quickly it's mended." Alice: "It can never be bought yet is easily sought." - True! And noone knows what it is, even Pinkie doesn't at first. You are seriously asking, if there are people who spend Christmas in vegas? 😅 - There are some who especially go there at Christmas... Flim: "You want to get something that really stands out." Fluttershy: "I do." Applejack: [groans] Flam: "And when you tell your friend you got them the hottest gift in Rainbow Falls, what'll they say?" Fluttershy: "Woo-hoo"? - Oh Fluttershy... sometimes you are too pure for the world... Oh noo, Fluttershy is mad! She hits a stone in frustration, and is even concerned for it. While searching for the Winterchilla, Discord and Rainbow Dash briefly appear dressed as Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow from the G.I. Joe franchise. https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/4/4f/Discord_perched_on_a_tree_branch_MLPBGE.png - also it's cute... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/9/9d/Winterchilla_under_a_cone_of_light_MLPBGE.png Fluttershy and AJ's acting abilities are superb! You can't even tell they are just performing 🤣 But they reach their goal and teach us about the uniqueness of presents and the person you are gifting for... Rarity in the meanwhile decided to let Pistachio have the fedora but ends up having no present for AJ... Rarity: "The hat is indeed for somepony very special. And I couldn't bear to see him part with it." - wholesome... and she even invites him to the Fashion Week in Manehattan! Applejack: "It probably ain't what they're expectin', but we still got these. >Yay<." Fluttershy: "Don't do that." - Aj just mocked Fluttershy 😂 Aje, Flurry Heart is literally stirring up trouble again! And Cadence is holding a bag of flour and no one bats an eye... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/9/91/Cadance_smiling_with_understanding_MLPBGE.png - The resulting pudding is alive! Shining Armor: "Let me guess. You got super worried about making sure the present was perfect and went all Twily-nanas, didn't you?" - Twily-nanas... 🤣 Turns out the WinterChilla turns into a WinterZilla at night... and with the tampered recipe a pudding-flood was created... leading to an unexpected turn of events... Like mother... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/d/d7/Cadance_swoops_to_Rarity%27s_rescue_MLPBGE.png ...like father... Sick moves! https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/1/11/Shining_Armor_flips_and_blasts_pudding_MLPBGE.png - Cadance suddenly remembers why she fell for Shining Armor in the first place. You can't deny that the romance between these two royals is as genuine and enduring as friendship itself. 🥰 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/cc/Cadance_blushing_at_Shining_Armor_MLPBGE.png Ultimately, after a little nudge from Discord, Fluttershy convinces the Winterchilla to behave, while Pinkie 'sacrifices' herself and receives the perfect gift from the reindeer to calm the pudding. And, as it turns out, Discord orchestrated part of it... setting Fluttershy up as the hero of the day. Who would have expected that?" - I love how it all came together! 😅 And Spike got a song as the present, that was originally directed to Rarity, but is also applicable to everyone... and it turns into the amazing song "The True Gift of Gifting" sung by Twilight and her friends... Some good remixes were made: Foozogz XMasMix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfxcWEKHkIw JTH Remix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-utOBVdOB4 At least Trixie and Starlight had a better time together than the last time they traveled around... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/5/54/Starlight_and_Trixie_drinking_hot_cocoa_MLPBGE.png Wholesome... https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/0/04/Celestia_and_Luna_on_the_balcony_together_MLPBGE.png https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/6/6e/Yaks_celebrating_Snilldar_Fest_MLPBGE.png https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/1/12/Changelings_celebrating_Hearth%27s_Warming_MLPBGE.png Alice: "And so it worked out, And a lesson was learned, there's no need to obsess; Gift-giving is simple as long as you recall: Friendship is the best gift of all." - a lesson some need very much to learn... --- Reflecting on the "Best Gift Ever" special, I find it to be one of the most heartwarming and cleverly designed episodes of the series. The story centers around the Mane 6 and Spike as they navigate the familiar but always tricky holiday dilemma of finding the perfect gift. This time, they've opted for a "Hearth's Warming Helper" exchange, where each character is assigned a friend to shop for. This premise not only sets up the episode's plot but also creates a natural showcase for each character's unique traits and personality as they try to honor their assigned friend. One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this special was its focus on the main characters - the Mane 6 - without too many references to newer characters or ongoing plots from other episodes. This focus felt like a return to the heart of the earlier seasons, where the Mane Six's camaraderie was central to the storyline. The special's scenes, with each pony embracing the challenge of finding the right gift, recall the friendships and bonds that first drew fans to the series. There's something comforting in the simplicity of watching these familiar characters interact without the weight of new conflicts or an expanding cast. Twilight Sparkle, as usual, approaches her task with research and earnestness. When assigned to Pinkie Pie, she decides to create a special pudding based on an ancient recipe (or spell) by Chancellor Puddinghead, which sounds perfectly fitting for Pinkie's love of sweets and history. However, her plans spiral out of control as the pudding goes awry due to an adorable but unfortunate mishap with Flurry Heart. It's so like Twilight to turn a simple gift into a grand project she obsesses over, and this playful chaos feels very true to her character. Pinkie Pie, assigned to find a gift for Twilight, brings her own brand of enthusiastic dedication. She ventures all the way to Yakyakistan, seeking guidance from the enigmatic Gift Givers of the Grove, a trio of magical reindeer who are experts in gift-giving. The gift they offer Pinkie is a mystery at first, but it's clear that they see something deeper in the exchange. Pinkie's journey for the "perfect gift" for Twilight not only speaks to her sense of adventure but also to her trust in the mystical elements of friendship and giving, adding a layer of magical charm to the episode. Rarity's story reflects her generosity and her eye for detail. She's assigned to find a gift for Applejack, and she decides on a custom hat made by a famous designer from Manehattan. But due to a mix-up, the hat ends up at Sweet Acorn Orchard, where a young colt named Pistachio receives it instead. What I love here is how Rarity, recognizing Pistachio's appreciation for fashion, ultimately lets him keep the hat, feeling that it's destined to inspire his creative dreams. This is such a beautiful moment for Rarity, as it captures her understanding of the deeper meaning of generosity and her support for others' dreams. Applejack's task of finding a gift for Spike takes her, along with Fluttershy, to the Rainbow Falls Hearth's Warming Craft Fair. There, they cross paths with the ever-scheming Flim and Flam, who are selling cheaply made "Holly the Hearth Warmer" dolls. Applejack exposes their scam but, unfortunately, is left empty-handed for Spike. This storyline has a nice touch of humor while highlighting Applejack's honesty and commitment to authenticity, even when it puts her in a bind. Fluttershy's journey, on the other hand, is more reflective. She initially drew Rarity as her recipient but ended up trading with Spike to give her gift to Rainbow Dash. Unfortunately, she's swindled into buying a poorly made doll from Flim and Flam. Without a meaningful gift for Rainbow, Fluttershy's softer approach contrasts nicely with the intensity of the holiday rush, and it feels genuine to see her discomfort with the commercial side of Hearth's Warming. Rainbow Dash's attempt to find a unique gift for Fluttershy shows her impulsive, high-energy approach as she tries to get infos about the perfect gift for her, but cant' make anything out of Fluttershy's preferences. Luckily with Discord's help, she ends up capturing a Winterchilla, a small creature that Discord believes is perfect for Fluttershy's love of animals. Unbeknownst to Rainbow, the Winterchilla transforms into a monstrous Winterzilla after dark, adding a wonderfully chaotic twist to the gift exchange. Rainbow's well-intentioned mistake, orchestrated by Discord, is not only funny but also captures her impulsive yet caring side. Spike's heartfelt efforts to be Rarity's gift-giver create a touching subplot. He trades assignments with Fluttershy so he can give a gift to Rarity, ultimately crafting a song to express his appreciation for her. The sincerity and vulnerability he shows while performing it is one of the sweetest moments in the special, highlighting how meaningful simple gestures can be. When the Mane Six and Spike gather for the gift exchange, it predictably descends into chaos. Twilight's pudding becomes an uncontrollable blob due to Flurry Heart's accidental meddling, and the Winterchilla transforms into a rampaging Winterzilla. In this frantic scene, we see how each character's quirks and misadventures come together in a wildly entertaining and heartwarming way. What ultimately brings the episode to a beautiful resolution is the way their gifts complement each other, even if unintentionally. Pinkie's mysterious present from the reindeer turns out to contain the exact ingredients needed to stabilize Twilight's pudding, saving the day. Meanwhile, Fluttershy, true to her gift with animals, is the only one able to calm the transformed Winterzilla, bringing peace back to the scene. And Spike's song reminds them all that the true essence of Hearth's Warming isn't in the gifts themselves, but in the love and friendship they share. For me, "Best Gift Ever" is one of the most heartwarming and cleverly crafted episodes in the series. It's got that perfect holiday vibe - beautiful visuals, winter outfits, and all those festive designs that just pull you right into the Hearth's Warming spirit. The humor and charm of this episode really hit the mark, with so many great references and playful moments that make it memorable. One of my favorite parts was seeing Discord's role. He feels totally in character here: chaotic but still grounded in his friendship with Fluttershy. His whole plan with the Winterzilla was hilarious, especially the way he stirred things up with Rainbow Dash while knowing Fluttershy could tame the creature. It's such a perfect blend of his mischief and loyalty, and it added a ton of fun to the episode. I also loved the way each character's journey was unique but all came together so naturally at the end. Pinkie's quest to find Twilight the "perfect gift" led her to the three magical reindeer, the Gift Givers of the Grove. These reindeer were a fantastic addition - mysterious and wise, with that magical holiday touch! Plus, the way Pinkie's gift ended up as the missing ingredient for Twilight's runaway pudding was such a clever resolution. It was great to see how their individual stories tied together to save the day in true MLP style. And of course, the episode couldn't resist poking fun at consumerism. I mean, Flim and Flam couldn't pass up a chance to run yet another scam, this time with their cheap holiday dolls! It's a funny and relevant reminder that the heart of Hearth's Warming isn't about buying or commercialism, but about friendship and generosity. The music also stood out to me. The first song captured that typical holiday stress of finding gifts, while the last one reminded everyone of the true meaning behind giving, which was beautifully heartfelt. Spike's song for Rarity and Twilight taking it up with the rest was such a sweet moment - it really pulled at your heartstrings and reminded us that it's the simple, sincere gestures that mean the most. Overall, "Best Gift Ever" brings all these elements together: humor, heart, and the true magic of friendship. It's a perfect holiday message - friendship is the greatest gift, and sometimes the best gifts are the ones that come from the heart, not the store. It's a timeless, feel-good reminder of what My Little Pony is all about. - Good ending there Ed, and you are absolutely right, it was a great special! - Thanks for reacting! 💙
DeViruZz.eXe
2024-11-10 12:19:00 +0000 UTCAnd the reindeer are very awesome, new characters we haven’t seen yet in mlp
Pinkie_applepie
2024-11-09 10:45:56 +0000 UTCThis special is amazing, my much my favorite harthswarming episode, the message was great, even emotional at the edm with spike and rarity and realizing it’s okay to be not good at gifting as long as you give from the heart and actually care, friendship is the greatest gift of all not commercialism or capitalism, consumerism, great message for mlp to explore, the music was great, also I loved hearing derpy talk more hasn’t heard it in awhile, also I just loved all the humor, pretty perfect episode!
Pinkie_applepie
2024-11-09 10:44:49 +0000 UTCIt’s a little low but i still can watch and listen! so you don’t have to if that’s to much work! also I was using my AirPods which have a lower sound now using my wired I can hear a little better.
Pinkie_applepie
2024-11-06 12:53:22 +0000 UTCOh really? Sounds normal on my end. I can reupload with higher volume if others have problems with it as well
Ed
2024-11-06 12:20:09 +0000 UTCBefore I watch this, the volume is pretty low, can’t hear the show very well
Pinkie_applepie
2024-11-06 08:46:53 +0000 UTC
