Top 10 Times My Little Pony Friendship is Magic & Equestria Girls Tackled Serious Issues

“One Bad Apple”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders struggle with being picked on by their classmates, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. But things get more personal when Apple Bloom’s cousin, Babs Seed, comes to town and starts ridiculing them as well. However, the issue isn’t black and white. It turns out that Babs had bullies of her own back home, so she lashed out to avoid getting hurt. Fortunately, the four fillies make amends in the end. This episode really highlights the nuances of bullying from several angles. It’s not as simple as being a bad apple.

“Lesson Zero”
Twilight Sparkle is horrified when she realizes she hasn’t sent a letter to her mentor, Princess Celestia, in over a week. Her panicking causes her to believe she’ll be sent back to magic kindergarten if she doesn’t finish her assignment. Her friends shrug off her concerns, and she eventually ends up causing chaos trying to find a friendship problem to solve. We might want to chuckle at Twilight’s exaggerated reactions, but her anxiety is no laughing matter, even if the issue seems trivial. It's an important message to send about listening to your friends and not letting small problems turn into large ones.

“My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree” (2016)
Following a rough patch during the Friendship Games, “Legend of Everfree” sees Sci-Twi having made friends with Sunset Shimmer and the gang. She’s in a much better place than she used to be — or so it seems. The memory of Midnight Sparkle and her past misdeeds haunts her. Even with all her new friends, Twilight feels more isolated than ever and is petrified of using any magic at the risk of letting Midnight out again. Anyone who’s endured a traumatic experience can sympathize with Twilight’s predicament, made worse by her own feelings of guilt. Thankfully, her best friends show their support and help her move past her trauma to save the day.

Various
Taking care of others is important, but several Pony adventures remind us that it’s also critical to take care of yourself. In “Once Upon a Zeppelin,” Twilight learns the importance of knowing your limits and setting boundaries when she misses most of her family’s vacation trying to make everypony happy except for herself. “A Health of Information” reminds Fluttershy to keep an eye on her own health while trying to cure Zecora of a rare sickness. “The Last Laugh” shows the horrors of burnout when the normally bubbly Cheese Sandwich loses his laugh. Hearing Weird Al sound so deflated is just unnerving.

“Inspiration Manifestation”
Rarity has fallen into a creative funk and needs help finding her mojo. Wanting to help, Spike finds an enchanted book that gives her the creative juices she needs — at least, that’s how it seems at first. Slowly, Rarity becomes more dependent on the book, using it to try and “beautify” Ponyville. She neglects eating and sleeping, obsessed with her newfound inspiration. Spike knows what she’s doing is wrong, but he’s too afraid to tell her to stop. The story parallels how people might struggle with substance use disorders, a serious topic for the show to tackle. However, it sends a valuable message about health and friendship.

“Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?”
In the show’s first storyline, the Mane Six manage to defeat the insidious Nightmare Moon and turn her back into the benevolent Princess Luna. Eventually, she’s welcomed back with open hooves. But in “Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?” we learn that not every pony has left the past in the past. Luna is still punishing herself for Nightmare Moon’s misdeeds. The episode shows that guilt is a powerful emotion which can deeply affect people, sometimes even pushing them to endanger themselves. Fortunately, Luna has friends to help guide her on the first step to forgiving herself.

“Surf and/or Turf”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders are summoned to the home of the Hippogriffs to help young Terramar with a problem. His father and mother live in separate places, Mount Aris and Seaquestria. He can’t decide which he’d rather live with. While the word is never mentioned, this sticky situation resembles a child with separated parents. Thankfully, Terramar’s parents assure him that he doesn’t have to choose between them; he can continue living in both areas for as long as he wishes. It’s a magical twist on a tricky subject that many children have to confront.

Various
Equestria may just be one of the most magical, harmonious places anypony (Pony way of saying ‘anybody’) could live. However, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had its fair share of prejudice. “Friendship is Magic” shows viewers the earliest days of the bitter feuds between unicorns, Earth ponies, and pegasi, as well as the issues with elitist, rich ponies of today. One of the first examples shown in the series was “Bridle Gossip,” where the citizens of Ponyville assume the worst out of newcomer Zecora because she’s a zebra. Thankfully, the Mane Six learn why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, bigotry doesn’t magically go away so easily, as the nasty Chancellor Neighsay demonstrates in season eight.

“Flight to the Finish”
Scootaloo and the Cutie Mark Crusaders are elated to be auditioning for the job of flag carriers at the Equestria Games. As usual, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon try to bring their spirits down. They mock Scootaloo for her small wings and inability to fly. The young pegasus’ confidence is shattered. She becomes convinced that she’ll hold the Crusaders back because of her physical disability. Thankfully, the Crusaders and her hero, Rainbow Dash, remind her that the true strength of their performance is their friendship. Scootaloo may not be able to fly, but she triumphs in the end.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Principal Cinch Blackmails Her Student Just to Win a Competition

Anyone with Severe Stage Fright Can Sympathize with Fluttershy’s Fears

Twilight Learns the Hard Way the Folly of Trying to Be Perfect

Camp Everfree Is at Risk of Being Torn Down by a Rich Businessman

Patton Oswalt Guest Stars in an Episode Inspired by His Family

“Tanks for the Memories”
Winter is coming and Rainbow Dash is excited to spend it with her pet tortoise, Tank. However, Tank needs to go into hibernation, and Dash is distraught over this news. Grief-stricken and desperate, she attempts to prevent winter so she doesn’t have to say goodbye to her beloved pet. Unfortunately, all her efforts are in vain, and she tearfully has to accept that she will be spending the icy season alone. Death and grieving are both heavy, difficult subjects to tackle gracefully in a kids’ cartoon. And yet, “Friendship is Magic” approached the theme in a creative manner without having any character die.


What do you think was the Ponies’ heaviest topic to cover? Let us know in the comments.