History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E9SweetAndElite

* StealthPun: Rarity spends [[Film/ADayAtTheRaces a day at the races]] and [[Film/ANightAtTheOpera a night at the opera]].

* SnobbyHobbies: The process of Rarirty ingratiating herself into the upper class involves her engaging in their various upper-crust pastimes, such as croquet, garden parties, perusals of art galleries, charity dinners, the opera, and the like.

* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask: During the teaser, Princess Celestia clearly thinks that letting Rarity stay in the castle is no big deal, and looks severely uncomfortable when Rarity starts kissing her hooves. The two share an embarrassed smile at the end of the episode when the porter collapses under the weight of Rarity's luggage.

* OffModel: There is a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" moment where the earth pony Rarity is talking to suddenly gains a horn for the sake of a gag. It's during "Becoming Popular" and Rarity is choosing the desserts.

* ParentalBonus: In the museum shot during the song, at least two of the paintings are inspired by real-world artists, Pablo Picasso and Creator/SalvadorDali (more specifically, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory "The Persistence of Memory"]]). Rarity is also dressed like Music/YokoOno.

* NiceHat:
** Canterlot society seems to require these, at least some of the time. Particularly noticeable during the horse racing event, where there is exactly one pony (out of dozens) that ''isn't'' wearing a hat. It could be an AffectionateParody of Triple Crown horse racing events, where ridiculously fancy [[NiceHat Nice Hats]] are a staple. Which adds to the VisualPun of Fancypants's cutie mark being three crowns. The scene also works as a shout out to the Ascot Opening Day scene in ''My Fair Lady''.
** Upper Crust compliments Rarity on her hat... only to change her opinion when Rarity turns out to be from Ponyville and made it herself.

* {{Fainting}}: Rarity gets to do a classical faint when her friends surprisingly show up in Canterlot.