History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E3LessonZero

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: What Twilight did as a result of her fit of InsaneTrollLogic (See above). She is so intent on averting her mentor's wrath that clearly it's okay for her to drive a wedge between the Cutie Mark Crusaders if she's there to fix it right away. And when that fails, it's also justified for her to put a spell on her doll that makes people fight over it, right? It's all in the name of learning a valuable lesson. (Yes, this is a Villain Trope, but really, Twilight Sparkle ''was'' acting on ill-mannered intentions.)

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning:
** Spike's means of wrapping his OverlyLongTongue around himself, and then pulling it back, spinning himself around while managing to gather up all the cupcake frosting Twilight splattered on him and eat it.
--->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' Very efficient! And a little bit gross.
** Rainbow Dash bursts in to stop the Princess from punishing Twilight and [[UnnecessaryCombatRoll somersaults for no apparent reason]] other than to look awesome.

** 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]].

* 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.
** Twilight Sparkle herself has a crippling fear of failure and disapproval from her mentor, Celestia.

* CallBack:
** 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.
** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E10SwarmOfTheCentury Twilight loses her sanity in fear of disappointing the princess.]]
** The "spark of friendship" in Twilight's eyes, from the climax of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony "The Elements of Harmony"]], is outright abused here.

* HypnotizeThePrincess: When the CMC start arguing over Smarty Pants, Twilight casts the "Want It, Need It" spell which brainwashes them into loving it so much they argue over it more.

-->''(Twilight looks at three fillies playing with a jumping rope, but in her thoughts she sees them as shadows laughing at her, with a hellish landscape behind them)''\\

* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Spike does a [[BreakingTheFourthWall thought-bubble popping]] variation to Twilight.

** "TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" As soon as Celestia storms in, ''nopony'' dares to cross her any further.

* BaitAndSwitchCompassion: when Twilight panics that she hasn't sent a friendship letter to Princess Celestia that week yet, the rest of the Mane Six express concern before laughing it off, thinking it's no big deal.

* BackToSchool: Twilight is scared that Celestia will send her back to "MAGIC KINDERGARDEN!" if she misses a single report.

* SanitySlippage: Twilight Sparkle puts [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal Pinkie Pie's performance]] in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E25PartyOfOne Party of One]]" to shame. She seems evil at some points.

* CheshireCatGrin: Twilight develops a particularly unsettling one during her SanitySlippage, which soon upgrades into a SlasherSmile in the latter half of the episode. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKkA7JJS6bM "Hiiiii girrrrrrrrls."]]

-->'''Twilight:''' HI, ''GIRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLS!!!!''

* NoEyeInMagic: Rainbow Dash's eyes start to turn into hearts when she looks at the Smarty Pants doll, but Twilight stops it by covering her face and yelling, "Don't look at it!"

Next stop is Sweet Apple Acres, where Rainbow Dash is wildly demolishing one of Applejack's barns. Clearly the two ponies are having a fight, and Twilight must intercede! But it turns out to be a misunderstanding; Applejack wants to build a new barn and has asked Rainbow Dash to tear down the old one, which she promptly accomplishes with a spectacular aerial dive and the Sonic Rainboom.

* CharacterizationClickMoment: This story is considered to be where Twilight's SuperOCD busybody personality starts to hone in and become the subject matter of most of her limelight episodes.

* BewareTheSuperman: Twilight is a powerful sorceress -- one of the most powerful in the setting -- who is nonetheless inherently kind-hearted, sensible and responsible, always listening to reason and never using her magical powers frivolously. This episode shows, what could have happened if the ''stopped'' acting reasonably.

* AscendedFanon: Fans speculated that, since Twilight is such a bookworm, she must have reading glasses. This episode confirms that, yes, she does.

* AscendedFridgeLogic: Fans speculated that, since Twilight is such a bookworm, she must have reading glasses. This episode confirms that, yes, she does.

* FreudianCouch: Twilight has to substitute a bench for an actual couch, but otherwise pulls it off exactly. Add in her half-moon glasses and her impromptu hairdo change into a PrimAndProperBun, and this becomes {{Adorkable}}.

* WhamLine: "TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" As soon as Celestia storms in, ''nopony'' dares to cross her any further.

->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' [[MadnessMantra Clock is ticking, Twilight]]! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Clock... is...]] '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis TICKING]]!!!'''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Lesson-Zero_2541.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: "Clock is ticking, Twilight! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Clock... is... TICKING!!!]]"]]