History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E9BridleGossip

* InformedWrongness: The viewer is supposed to find the cast's suspicions of Zecora to be unfounded and based on misconceptions. The problem is that while they go overboard, their suspicion isn't ''entirely'' baseless. 1) Zecora lives in a forest that's infamous for being full of dangerous creatures, 2) Zecora is a zebra, a species that ''none of the cast members have ever seen before'' and have no frame of reference for, 3) Later episodes confirm that there ''are'' all sorts of dangerous creatures and persons in the setting, 4) Zecora's behavior [[NotHelpingYourCase doesn't exactly help her case]]; she shows up [[InTheHood wearing a cloak]] with GlowingEyesOfDoom and when she comes around she just sort of walks around aimlessly rather than making any attempt to communicate. In light of that, it isn't really ''that'' odd that the townfolk are a bit wary of her. It's especially true in AJ's case; it's not exactly surprising that [[StrangerDanger she'd want to keep her little sister from following a stranger into a dangerous forest]].

* AccidentalInnuendo: Twilight's horn goes limp, and because of that she apparently becomes incapable of performing something she takes great pride in her prowess and stamina in. Spike's nickname of "Twilight Flopple" doesn't help.

* AccidentalInnuendo: Twilight's horn goes limp, and because of that she apparently becomes incapable of performing something she takes great pride in her prowess and stamina in.

* InfomredWrongness: The viewer is supposed to find the cast's suspicions of Zecora to be unfounded and based on misconceptions. The problem is that while they go overboard, their suspicion isn't ''entirely'' baseless. 1) Zecora lives in a forest that's infamous for being full of dangerous creatures, 2) Zecora is a zebra, a species that ''none of the cast members have ever seen before'' and have no frame of reference for, 3) Later episodes confirm that there ''are'' all sorts of dangerous creatures and persons in the setting, 4) Zecora's behavior [[NotHelpingYourCase doesn't exactly help her case]]; she shows up [[InTheHood wearing a cloak]] with GlowingEyesOfDoom and when she comes around she just sort of walks around aimlessly rather than making any attempt to communicate. In light of that, it isn't really ''that'' odd that the townfolk are a bit wary of her. It's especially true in AJ's case; it's not exactly surprising that [[StrangerDanger she'd want to keep her little sister from following a stranger into a dangerous forest]].

* IdiotPlot: Nobody bothers to just talk to Zecora in the first place, Zecora doesn't word her warning very explicitly, ''none'' of the characters stop to take note that they all developed their afflictions shockingly soon after rubbing up against an obvious blue plant from a forest known for having dangerous flora, Applejack constantly brushes off Apple Bloom whenever she attempts to get a word in edge-wise, Apple Bloom's reaction to this is simply to go to a stranger's house without even leaving a note, Twilight ignores the book with the solution as herbalist nonsense (which begs the question of why she even owns it), and once they finally go to confront Zecora they decide that just sneaking around outside her house is wiser than simply knocking on her door and demanding that she explain herself. Everyone acts so stupid for the sake of the obvious "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" Aesop that it almost reads as EarlyInstallmentWeirdness.

* StrawmanHasAPoint: The viewer is supposed to find the cast's suspicions of Zecora to be unfounded and based on misconceptions. The problem is that while they go overboard, their suspicion isn't ''entirely'' baseless. Later episodes show pretty clearly that there ''are'' evil beings lurking around (Sombra, Starlight, Changelings, etc.) who fit Pinkie's description quite well. On top of that, 1) Zecora lives in a forest that's infamous for being full of dangerous creatures, 2) Zecora is a zebra, a species that ''none of the cast members have ever seen before'' and have no frame of reference for, 3) Later episodes confirm that there ''are'' all sorts of dangerous creatures and persons in the setting, 4) Zecora's behavior [[NotHelpingYourCase doesn't exactly help her case]]; she shows up [[InTheHood wearing a cloak]] with GlowingEyesOfDoom and when she comes around she just sort of walks around aimlessly rather than making any attempt to communicate. In light of that, it isn't really ''that'' odd that the townfolk are a bit wary of her. It's especially true in AJ's case; it's not exactly surprising that [[StrangerDanger she'd want to keep her little sister from following a stranger into a dangerous forest]]. However, all the things that hurt Zecora's case can actually be forgiven since she's new to the town and is unfamiliar with their customs as much as they're unfamiliar with hers. Plus, Apple Bloom says that the shops are mysteriously closed whenever she goes into town, giving the impression that they judged her long before seeing her mysterious habits, which sort of deconstructs the trope.
** Also, all the parents/guardians have good reason to be wary of Zecora. Who would want their children/siblings next to an eerie stranger? While we know Apple Bloom is right in going to confront Zecora, Applejack is completely in the right to be worried about her ([[RightForTheWrongReasons even if the specific reasons aren't the right ones]]).

* UnfortunateImplications: Zecora's introduction in this episode [[http://racism-in-a-kids-show.blogspot.com created controversy]] among fans who claimed she came across as a stereotype of Africans.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:

* GeniusBonus: All of Zecora's oddities are eventually explained away in the episode... except her tendency to paw at and dig small holes in the ground. This is a habit of actual zebras.
* HarsherInHindsight: Everyone in Ponyville who gossiped about Zecora [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E23PonyvilleConfidential ended up getting a taste of their own medicine in the next season.]]
* HilariousInHindsight:

* UncannyValley: Pinkie Pie's chest heaves in a disturbingly realistic way when she finishes singing her "Evil Enchantress" song for the first time.

** Also, all the parents/guardians have good reason to be wary of Zecora. Who would want their children/siblings next to an eerie stranger? While we know Apple Bloom is right in going to confront Zecora, AppleJack is completely in the right to be worried about her ([[RightForTheWrongReasons even if the specific reasons aren't the right ones]]).

** Also, all the [[AdultFear parents/guardians have good reason to be wary of Zecora]]. Who would want their children/siblings next to an eerie stranger? While we know Apple Bloom is right in going to confront Zecora, AppleJack is completely in the right to be worried about her ([[RightForTheWrongReasons even if the specific reasons aren't the right ones]]).