Amending Fences
Twilight Sparkle returns to Canterlot to mend broken friendships.
"Amending Fences" is the 103rd episode of *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic*, airing as the eleventh installment of season five on June 13, 2015. M.A. Larson wrote the script, and Jim Miller directed. Critics and fans praised the story, in which Twilight Sparkle travels back to Canterlot to seek forgiveness from former friends she abandoned without a proper farewell.
In the plot, Twilight is relaxing after a week of princess duties when Spike reminds her of how neglectful she was before moving to Ponyville. Realizing she cannot even recall her old friends' names, she decides to visit Canterlot that night. The next day, she and Spike meet Minuette, who is thrilled to see them. Minuette arranges a lunch with Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts, where Twilight apologizes for leaving without saying goodbye, and the three happily reconnect. Afterward, they visit their old school, where Twilight asks about Moon Dancer. She learns that Moon Dancer has become a total recluse after Twilight skipped her first party the day before moving, and remains furious. The group goes to Moon Dancer’s house, but she greets them rudely and slams the door. Over several days, they spy on her; Minuette explains that Moon Dancer had been growing more social but lost touch after the party. Moon Dancer continues to avoid Twilight and rebuffs all efforts to rekindle friendship, even after a dinner with the others. Twilight returns to Ponyville overnight to fetch Pinkie Pie, enlisting her to throw an apology party. The party triggers an emotional breakdown in Moon Dancer, who lashes out at Twilight, expressing heartbreak and betrayal. But when she realizes Twilight has brought others who already care for her, Moon Dancer forgives her and accepts her friendship.
Moon Dancer was designed by illustrator Kora Kosicka. In an interview with Equestria Daily, writer M.A. Larson noted that a scene where Twilight goes to Princess Celestia to resign as Princess of Friendship because of what she did to Moon Dancer—and Celestia responds that it is never too late to repair a broken friendship—was cut due to time constraints. Larson said he thought it was a nice scene, but with only 22 minutes, it was an easy cut.
According to Nielsen ratings, the episode was watched by about 0.17 percent of American households, or 283,000 viewers. Fan site Equestria Daily noted a drop in viewership, likely because it a
- Series
- My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
- Season
- 5
- Episode
- 11
- Overall
- 103
- Release Date
- June 13, 2015
- Writer
- M.A. Larson
- Director
- Jim Miller
Lore & Background
The episode begins with Twilight Sparkle relaxing in the Castle of Friendship after a busy week of princess duties. Spike reminds her of the neglectful friend she used to be before moving to Ponyville. Twilight, who no longer remembers the names of her old friends, decides to take a night trip to Canterlot to rekindle those friendships. The next day, she and Spike visit Minuette, who is delighted to see them, and they have lunch with Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts. Twilight apologizes for leaving without saying goodbye, and the trio is happy to reconnect. They then learn about Moon Dancer, who has become a total recluse after Twilight skipped her first party the day before her move. Moon Dancer remains furious and rebuffs all of Twilight's efforts to reconcile, even after a dinner with their old friends. Twilight returns to Ponyville to get Pinkie Pie, who throws another party as an apology. The party causes Moon Dancer to have an emotional breakdown, but she eventually forgives Twilight and accepts her friendship.
Reader's Guide
The episode is notable for its emotional depth and exploration of regret and personal growth. Moon Dancer was designed by illustrator Kora Kosicka. Writer M.A. Larson revealed in an interview that a cut scene involved Twilight going to Princess Celestia to give up her role as Princess of Friendship, with Celestia responding that it is never too late to repair a broken friendship; the scene was removed due to time limitations. According to Nielsen household ratings, the episode was watched by approximately 0.17 percent of American households and had 283,000 viewers. Fan-website Equestria Daily noted a drop in viewers, possibly because the episode aired right on top of a major US holiday. Daniel Alvarez of Unleash the Fanboy gave the episode a 10 out of 10, praising the voice acting and the climax. Screen Rant ranked it fifth best according to IMDb, with a rating of 9.2 out of 10. The Entertainment Nut ranked it as the best episode of Season 5, praising how Larson successfully retconned a minor event from the first episode. Sherilyn Connelly, author of Ponyville Confidential, gave the episode an A+ rating. Liza Arustamian of Startefacts ranked it among the top five episodes that prove My Little Pony is perfect for adults, noting its themes of regret and personal growth.
Did You Know?
- Moon Dancer was designed by illustrator Kora Kosicka.
- A scene where Twilight goes to Princess Celestia to give up her role as Princess of Friendship was cut due to time limitations.
- The episode was watched by approximately 283,000 viewers according to Nielsen household ratings.
- The Entertainment Nut ranked 'Amending Fences' as the best episode of Season 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the episode 'Amending Fences' about?
Twilight Sparkle returns to Canterlot to apologize to the friends she left behind when she relocated to Ponyville without a proper goodbye. After Spike points out how neglectful she was, she struggles to even recall their names and sets out to reconnect.
Which season and episode number is 'Amending Fences'?
It is the eleventh episode of Season 5, making it the 103rd installment of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic overall. The episode first aired on June 13, 2015.
Who wrote and directed 'Amending Fences'?
M.A. Larson wrote the script for the episode, and Jim Miller directed it.
What is the central conflict in 'Amending Fences'?
Twilight realizes she abandoned her Canterlot friends without explanation and feels guilty about the neglect. The story follows her efforts to track them down and mend those broken bonds.
Why do fans often cite 'Amending Fences' as a standout episode?
Critics and viewers praised it for its focus on guilt, accountability, and the effort required to repair friendships after a long absence. It is frequently highlighted as one of the more emotionally grounded, character-driven stories in the series.
More in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes 1-24
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