My favourite episode has always been (and probably always will be) Look Before You Sleep. As far as I'm concerned that was as close to the perfect slice of life episode as the show has gotten since it started. I feel that all three characters in the episode are portrayed perfectly and all three grew in that episode because of it. Two ponies who, at this point in time, hang out mainly because of a mutual friend but who don't really see eye to eye on a lot of things are forced to hang out with aforementioned friend. That's it. The entire episode builds on the characters of these three ponies and how their characters work out in this setting. And it's more than enough.

Grand adventuring is great and all, but I love slice of life. We have had some slice of life episodes and we have had some slice of life moments that were really great as well. One example was in the Season three opener. Rainbow Dash's "It's just a castle" comment, Rarity's reaction to that and AJ's and Rainbows reaction to that. And then in the second episode, AJ's "Nice things are more special if they remain a Rarity." Or something, I know it's not the exact quote. It's not necessary for the episode. It really doesn't add anything to it. But it adds so, so much to the characters. It really shows how much they have grown as a group of friends. It's a couple of seconds each, but they are some of my favourite moments of the show and I wish we would see more of that.

Anyway, in comes Maud Pie. And its so deliciously slice of life. Pinkie has her older sister visiting, a pony she always looked up to and who has always been there for her, and she wants her friends to love her as much as she does, and her to love her friends as much as she does. That's it. And it's more than enough. There wasn't a single moment where I thought "this could have been done better" or "that was unnecessary" or something that bothered me. There really weren't any moments that made me go "Oh My Gosh, that was the best thing ever!" either, but there didn't need to be any. The episode doesn't try to be anything it is not, and does everything it needs to do. In my opinion, we haven't seen a slice of life episode like this in a while. I don't think it's quite as strong as Look Before You Sleep, but it might very well be the second best when it comes to slice of life for this show. For me, without a doubt, the best episode of the season so far.

Maud Pie herself... Yeah, I digged her. A lot. And anyone else who was reminded of the Squirrel family from Rocko's Modern Life?

So. who loved this episode as much as I did. and who prefers the more grand episodes? Discuss! You know, if you want.