Talk:The Crystal Empire - Part 2/@comment-5398923-20121111225721

Everything about the first two episodes defied my expectations. I thought the writers and artists did a great job of delivering a whole new palette of emotions, atmospheres, and themes. I'd dare to say that it scared me more than any other two-parter in S1 and S2. Some people are complaining about the lack of King Sombra's presence, but I believe that it was deliberate and allowed the writers to focus on the culture and vitality of the Crystal Ponies.

The scene that felt the most contrived was the one where Twilight is packing in anticipation of the test. Other than that, it was done pretty tastefully, especially the Ballad.