History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E3LessonZero

* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the first season, the animators often used anime-esque abstract backgrounds for close-ups, to get around the fact they had to create all of the art assets from scratch and didn't have time to create unique background plates for each shot. In this, the first episode of season 2[[labelnote:*]]"The Return of Harmony" was ''produced'' as part of season one[[/labelnote]], when an abstract backdrop appears behind Twilight, Spike pushes it out of the way, signifying to the audience that the show now has the resources and time to focus on creating a more unique and dynamic style.

* RuleOfThree: Sweetie Belle really likes Smarty Pants' mane. [[BlatantLies Really]].

* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the first season, the animators often used anime-esque abstract backgrounds for close-ups, to get around the fact they had to create all of the art assets from scratch and didn't have time to create unique background plates for each shot. In this, the first episode of season 2[[labelnote:*]]The Return of Harmony ''was produced as part of season one''[[/labelnote]], when an abstract backdrop appears behind Twilight, Spike pushes it out of the way, signifying to the audience that the show now has the resources and time to focus on creating a more unique and dynamic style.

'''Twilight Sparkle:''' Bad? ''Bad?!'' Of ''course'' it's bad! I'm [[OncePerEpisode supposed to send Princess Celestia a letter every week telling her a lesson I've learned about friendship!]] Not every other week! ''Not every ten days!'' '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis EVERY! SINGLE! WEEK!]]'''

With dusk fast approaching, Twilight [[InsaneTrollLogic gets an idea]] -- since she can't ''find'' a problem to solve, she'll have to ''make'' one. Taking an old doll of hers, she tries to get the Cutie Mark Crusaders interested in it, hoping to create an AppleOfDiscord situation. Unfortunately, the kids simply don't care for the tattered old doll, so Twilight uses a spell to [[ArtifactOfAttraction make it irresistible to everyone who sees it]]. It works at first...

...but things spiral out of control when more and more ponies spot the doll and immediately find it irresistible. Soon the entire town is fighting for it, which keeps Twilight from getting a clear line-of-sight to cancel the spell.

** And Twilight's "Clock! Is! TICKING!"

%%* EverybodyLaughsEnding
* EverythingMakesAMushroom: When Rainbow Dash decides to apply the Sonic Rainboom as a ''demolition charge''. The cloud is ''rainbow-colored''.
* EverythingsBetterWithPlushies: Inverted, since the plushie in question has a spell put on it by a frazzled Twilight Sparkle that causes all of Ponyville to start fighting over it. [[DoubleSubversion Double Subverted]] thanks to Big Mac.

** Rainbow Dash bursts in to stop the Princess from punishing Twilight and somersaults for no apparent reason other than to look awesome.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: It's an aesop comedy without the aesop, so Twilight panics.

* TheReveal: Before this episode, Twilight has been sending Friendship Reports once a week, suggesting each episode during the past season took place during a different week.

** Rarity gets one: dubbing things the! WORST! ''POSSIBLE!'' '''THING!''' and crying, "why me!"

* BackToSchool: Twilight is scared that this will happen to her.

** Not to mention Princess Celestia's entrance.

* BrokenSmile: Twilight, toward the end of her breakdown, so... very... often...

* CircleOfShame: During Twilight's vision about being sent back to Magic Kindergarten.

* CoolShades: Rainbow Dash during the picnic.
* CreepyCircusMusic: Particularly when Twilight introduces Smarty Pants to the CMC.

* CryingWolf: Rarity, even acknowledging it the last time.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The episode is an examination of what happens when someone in a show where AnAesop is taught OncePerEpisode finds themselves without any lesson to learn. It's not pretty.

** Big Mac secretly does love that little pony doll.

* EmpathicEnvironment: A windmill and ''the sun'' tick and move like the hands of a clock. And this only starts happening the moment Twilight realizes she'll be tardy; at least two establishing shots before show the windmill moving normally.

* FelonyMisdemeanor: The whole episode! Twilight thinks being tardy is the worst thing ever and Celestia will [[DisproportionateRetribution send her back to Magic Kindergarten]]. And then there's [[LargeHam Rarity]] overreacting to ''everything'', starting with a missing ribbon.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Twilight when she realizes how out of control her "Want-It, Need-It" spell has become.

* PetTheDog: In a way... Rarity's the only one who asked Twilight if something was bothering her and seemed pretty concerned.

* PsychologicalHorror: After pulling this off creepily in "Party of One", they outdo themselves to make a truly frightening episode.

* RunningGag: In ''spades''.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: In the first season, the animators often used anime-esque abstract backgrounds for close-ups, to get around the fact they had to create all of the art assets from scratch and didn't have time to create unique background plates for each shot. In this, the first episode of season 2[[labelnote:*]]The Return of Harmony ''was produced as part of season one[[/labelnote]], every time a painted backdrop appears Spike pushes it out of the way or rolls it up like a shade, signifying to the audience that the show now has the resources and time to focus on creating a more unique and dynamic style.

* AdultFear: A friend whom you know and trust suddenly having a mental breakdown and approaching your younger sibling (or other child relatives) in a secluded area with malicious intent.

* AdultFear: A friend whom you know and trust suddenly having a mental breakdown and approaching your children in a secluded area with malicious intent.

** A more minor one afterwards, Spike's expression after Celestia blabs about him bringing her to check up on Twilight practically reads "Uh oh, busted!" As it turns out, however...

They're {{Edit War}}ring over that trope!\\

* ComedicSociopathy: In her mad search for a friendship problem to solve, Twilight reacts with glee when she thinks Rarity is having a crisis, and again when she thinks Rainbow Dash is angry at Applejack.

* ProperlyParanoid: Spike ''immediately'' calls Celestia for help once he realizes how downhill Twilight's situation is going. It was a pretty good move, preventing what could have been a major
catastrophe, and preventing Twilight from being ''really'' sent back to magic kindergarten.

* ProperlyParanoid: Spike ''immediately'' calls Celestia for help once he realizes how downhill
Twilight's situation is going. It was a pretty good move, preventing what could have been a major
catastrophe, and saving Twilight's place as Celestia's student.

!!Tropes present in this episode (YMMV tropes can be found [[YMMV/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E3LessonZero here]]):

* AffectionateGestureToTheHead: Twilight Sparkle delivers a pat on the head to Rainbow Dash when she tries to figure out the Pegasus' reason for being angry with Applejack. Turns out there was no interpony conflict to begin with.
* AmbidextrousSprite:
** The overhead shot of the picnic seems to confirm that, yes, a pony's cutie mark is on both sides of a pony's rear. Before, there was much debate as to whether this was true or not (due to being made in Flash, where sprites are easily flipped to signify change in direction). And shown to be mirrored on both sides, eg., Rainbow Dash's bolt moves down and towards her rear regardless of which side you look at her.
** Spike apparently is completely ambidextrous as he's shown writing with both his left and right hands throughout the episode.

* AppleOfDiscord: Twilight tries to use her old Smarty Pants doll as one of these. It works after she uses a "Want-It Need-It" spell on it. [[GoneHorriblyRight Far too well]]. Said doll was working as such even before the spell in question (although not as Twilight intended), see FailedASpotCheck below.

** When Spike licks the cake frosting his tongue is clearly forked. In previous episodes, his tongue was the same as everyone else's.

-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' Rainbow must be angry with Applejack! She must hate her guts! ''[hoofclap]'' How wonderful!
* BearsAreBadNews: Parodied. Fluttershy appears to be fighting a bear ([[BewareTheNiceOnes complete with the snapping of the neck]]), but she's just giving it a massage.
* BigBallOfViolence: There are nearly a dozen ''simultaneous'' Balls of Violence. It would be easier to name characters that ''weren't'' in one in this episode.
** Special mention goes to a pair of background ponies that exist as part of the Background 6 (the six most popular of the [[EnsembleDarkhorse background characters]]). [[ThoseTwoGirls Lyra and Bon Bon]] get their own ball. No one else.

** Rainbow Dash's first actions to demolish Applejack's barn are karate-like in nature, and thus why she likely knew of the local dojo in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E12CallOfTheCutie Call of the Cutie]]". Fluttershy may also be a student.

** The "spark of friendship" in Twilight's eyes, from the climax of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony The Elements of Harmony]]", is outright abused here.

-->'''Rarity:''' Ugh, what a drama queen! ''[{{beat}}]'' Relatively speaking.

* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Twilight develops a very extreme case of this, insistant on finding a friendship problem to solve.

** When crazed Twilight sticks her head out of the bush near where the CMC are, the bird's nest on her head turns into the one she made in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E11WinterWrapUp Winter Wrap Up]]". Could be taken as a case of PropRecycling given the Flash-based nature of the show.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The episode is an examination of what happens when someone in a show where AnAesop is taught OnceAnEpisode finds themselves without any lesson to learn. It's not pretty.

* DeusExMachina: Twilight, the only pony who isn't affected by the ''Want It, Need It'' spell on Smarty Pants, can't remove it because every pony that sees it just adds another body to the brawl over it. Instead, Princess Celestia removes it herself upon her DramaticEntrance to Ponyville. If you accept the fanon regarding Celestia's divinity that means the problem was ''literally'' removed by the abrupt intervention of a deity.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: A group of children are playing normally when suddenly they are approached by [[AdultFear a disheveled, mentally-unstable figure obsessed with "friendship" and offering them toys]].

** Big Mac secretly does love that little pony doll

* EverybodyLaughsEnding
* EverythingMakesAMushroom: When Rainbow Dash decides to apply the ''Sonic Rainboom'' as a ''demolition charge''. The cloud is ''rainbow-colored''.

*** Maybe because she'd then have to find a way to share it between '''seven'''?

''[everypony else stares at Rarity and her fainting couch]''\\

* BigBrotherInstinct Spike constantly tries to calm Twilight over her SuperOCD breakdown, and ultimately calls Princess Celestia after her neurotics worry him more and more.

* LostAesop: While the other ponies learn that they should take their friends' worries seriously even if they think the concern is trivial, Twilight Sparkle doesn't seem to have learned (or at least doesn't ''say'' she has learned) not to let trivial concerns get the better of her.
** On the other hand the Aesop is mentioned alongside the former in their letter to Celestia, while not by Twilight herself, she is among those making it at the time, implying she agrees with it. It would explain however why the Aesop was [[AesopAmnesia repeated]] in Twilight's next spotlight episode, which she definitely gets the jist of that time.

--->'''Princess Celestia: [[FullNameUltimatum TWILIGHT SPARKLE!]]'''
--->'''Applejack:''' Whoa, Nelly!

* OnlySaneMan: Spike is quick to realize how downhill everything is going and immediately calls Celestia for help.

** Rainbow Dash appears to be wearing the "Deal With It" sunglasses during the picnic. (Or possibly the Rainbow Glasses from "Epic Cupcake Time".)

* SlasherSmile: Twilight, after popping out of the bush. That is all.
** Also;
--->'''Twilight:''' HI, ''GIRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLS!!!!''

* TwitchyEye: As Twilight gets more desperate to find something to write about, her eye begins to twitch more and more. (For that matter, so does her ear).

* WingedUnicorn: An animation error resulted in one being in Twilight's imaginary "magic kindergarten", though that could be chalked up to Twilight's imagination during a mental breakdown. However, the appearance of Cadance in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E25ACanterlotWeddingPart1 A Canterlot Wedding]]" and the unnamed princess in "Hearts and Hooves Day" shows that winged unicorns other than Celestia and Luna ''do'' exist.

* WrongGenreSavvy: Twilight goes to most of her friends expecting to fulfill her assessment with one of their usual problems. Rarity in [[DamselinDistress some sort of peril]]?...[[DamselOutOfDistress nope]]. [[VitriolicBestBuds Applejack and Rainbow Dash]] bickering?...nuh-uh. [[LovableCoward Fluttershy]] having a nervous breakdown over some new daunting experience?...not quite.

By the time the stampede of fighting ponies reaches the picnic, it's sundown, rendering Twilight's efforts meaningless. To make matters worse, Princess Celestia arrives. She quickly removes the spell and restores everyone to normalcy (despite the spell's dispersal, Big [=McIntosh=] [[PeripheryDemographic grabs the doll]] [[{{Squee}} with a triumphant whinny]] and runs), then sternly orders Twilight to meet her at the library. As Twilight leaves, her friends ''finally'' realize they shouldn't have been so dismissive of her fears earlier.

* BitingTheHandHumor: Twilight Sparkle's description of her old Miss Smarty Pants doll and its accompanying accessories could be seen as a TakeThat at the ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' toys themselves. (Which perhaps explains why Big [=McIntosh=] is [[PeripheryDemographic the one who really loves the toy]].)

* DogPileOfDoom: The ponies of the town attempt this on Big [=McIntosh=]. It... doesn't work so well for them.

''[ponies go flying]''\\
'''Big [=McIntosh=]:''' Nnnnope!

* EscalatingBrawl: Twilight puts a love spell on a ratty old toy to get the Cutie Mark Crusaders to fight over it. But because Twilight's in the middle of a freak out, the spell is so strong that anypony who sees the toy wants it and gets into the fight. It probably doesn't help that the first pony she asks for help in taking the doll by force is ''Big [=McIntosh=]''. By the end of the episode there's a BigBallOfViolence involving everyone in Ponyville except the core cast.

** Twilight does an exasperated variation once Big [=McIntosh=] gets hypnotized by her Smarty Pants doll. ([[PeripheryDemographic Or was he?]])

* FoeTossingCharge: Big [=McIntosh=] breaking out of the dogpile of ponies.

* MegatonPunch: The exact nature of what happens is left offscreen, but there's no denying that after the townsponies pile on Big [=McIntosh=] due to the "Want-It, Need-It" spell, he escapes from the swarm of ponies by sending most of them airborne in a single stroke, as well as smacking some of them ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO_GaNrTkcM over the horizon.]]''
-->'''Big [=McIntosh=]:''' Nope.

* RealMenWearPink: Even after the "Want-It, Need-It" spell has been removed, Big [=McIntosh=] makes off with Smarty Pants.

* WouldHitAGirl: Big [=McIntosh=] bucks dozens of mares out of his way when Mayor Mare absconds with Smarty Pants.

** Twilight, first when everypony goes nuts for her doll after she casts her spell on it, then again when she sees an angry Princess Celestia.

* DeusExMachina: Twilight, the only pony who isn't affected by the ''Want It, Need It'' spell on Smarty Pants, can't remove it because every pony that sees it just adds another body to the brawl over it. Instead, Princess Celestia removes it herself upon her DramaticEntrance to Ponyville. The problem was ''literally removed by the abrupt intervention of a deity''.
** [[TropesAreNotBad Averted in the more common usage though]], as there is a very logical explanation for Celestia's appearance. Spike had been shown to be increasingly concerned about Twilight's [[SanitySlippage mental condition]] and with the rest of the Mane Six [[FelonyMisdemeanor firmly unconcerned about Twilight's looming deadline]], he sent a letter to Celestia instead asking for help.