History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E10RainbowFalls

** Spitfire's JerkAss behavior for the first two thirds of the episode. Whether this is an understandable reaction in her quest for victory at the Equestria Games or an example of continuity from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy Wonderbolts Academy]] being ignored is up to debate.

** Whether Rainbow Dash was in the right for wanting to go with a team that wasn't formed by non-athletesis is also debatable. Her friends are shown to be understanding of how important it was for Rainbow Dash to be in the Equestria Games, while Twilight tells her the very opposite, that she'd offend all of her friends for doing so.

** Once again, Spitfire is portrayed as a {{Jerkass}} for the first two thirds of the episode. However, unlike "Wonderbolt Academy", she doesn't have the excuse of [[DrillSergeantNasty being on the job]]. Whether she satisfactorily learned from this is is a matter of debate.
** Many feel Rainbow Dash was in the right for wanting to go with a team that didn't downright sabotage their own chances at winning by picking not only non-athletes, but ponies that are handicapped at flying. As we were shown in previous episodes, friends are understanding, it's likely they'd have understood it was really important for Rainbow Dash to be in the Equestria Games. Instead, Twilight tells her the very opposite, that she'd offend all of her friends for doing so (Granted, it's shown that Bulk Biceps and Fluttershy would gladly respect Rainbow Dash's choice and Twilight did allow Rainbow Dash to make her own choice). It's only after that we're shown the Wonderbolts to be truly despicable.
** On the other side, Rainbow made a commitment to the Ponyville team and shouldn't decide to switch to a better team just because she doesn't like her chances. Since we're shown that winning isn't of paramount importance to Rainbow (considering she agreed to Bulk Biceps and Fluttershy in the first place on top of passing on the chance to join), and since trying to win at the expense of others is a dick move, as established in ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy Wonderbolts Academy]]'', there's no good reason for Rainbow to join the Cloudsdale team.

** Once again, Spitfire is portrayed as a {{Jerkass}} for the first two thirds of the episode. However, unlike "Wonderbolt Academy", she doesn't have the excuse of [[DrillSergeantNasty being on the job]]. Wether she satisfactorily learned from this is is a matter of debate.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Thought it certainly did look like Spitfire was the DesignatedVillain, one way of looking at it was that she, Fleetfoot, and possibly Soarin' deliberately put themselves in that role [[SecretTestOfCharacter to test Dash]], in which case she (again!) passed with [[JustForPun flying colors]]. It helps that instead of getting mad or even upset at being called out, Spitfire and Fleetfoot are all smiles.

** Once again, Spitfire is portrayed as a {{Jerkass}} for the first two thirds of the episode. However, unlike "Wonderbolt Academy", she doesn't have the excuse of [[DrillSergeantNasty being on the job]].
** How Spitfire and Fleetfoot learn from their error can be seen as rushed, not to mention how EasilyForgiven they arguably were.

* FreudWasRight: The way Rainbow Dash catches Soarin'. Her big smile doesn't help the way it looks any.

** Some viewers find Bulk Biceps much funnier in small doses.

** Once again, Spitfire is portrayed as a {{Jerkass}} for the first two thirds of the episode, but unlike "Wonderbolt Academy", she doesn't have the excuse of [[DrillSergeantNasty being on the job]].

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A common complaint is that the moral and its execution was already done and done better in "Wonderbolt Academy".

** Once again, Spitfire is portrayed as a {{Jerkass}} for the first two thirds of the episode, and unlike "Wonderbolt Academy", she doesn't have the excuse of [[DrillSergeantNasty being on the job]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Thought it certainly did look like Spitfire was the DesignatedVillain, one way of looking at it was that she, Fleetfoot, and possibly Soarin' deliberately put themselves in that role [[SecretTestOfCharacter to test Dash]], in which case she (again!) passed with [[JustForPun flying colors]]. It helps that instead of getting mad or even upset at being called out, Spitfire and Fleetfoot are all smiles.

* HeartwarmingMoments: The very fact that Fluttershy, a pegasus terrified of heights and known for being a very weak flier, competes in the relay because she wants to see Rainbow Dash (more than Ponyville) win at the games, and this is how she can help best.

* ItsTheSameSoItSucks: A common complaint is that the moral and its execution was already done and done better in "Wonderbolt Academy".
* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The Wonderbolts' training leitmotif is a riff on (appropriately enough) "Gonna Fly Now", the theme from {{Rocky}}. There's even a ponified version of Burgess Meredith in the Wonderbolts' camp.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Had the writers decided that Rainbow Dash and her team hadn't qualified, an aesop of "winning isn't everything" could have been explored. Given how competitive Rainbow Dash is (and how everypony knows this), having her gracefully accept failure could have been a powerful message.

** Soarin getting characterization.

* FridgeLogic: Derpy is obviously no substitute for Rainbow Dash, but surely she's a better flyer than Bulk Bicep/Snowflake!

* HilariousInHindsight: A character voiced by Creator/TaraStrong in a cheerleader's outfit? [[VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw Just add a chainsaw!]] [[spoiler:Flash Sentry's severed head optional.]]

* FridgeLogic
** If Rainbow Dash wanted to win so badly, why is she even on a team? Couldn't she have been on an individual event?
** After Rainbow fakes her accident, Soarin says that he hasn't seen any of his teammates. But since they supposedly know he's okay, why didn't they come to get him so that they could actually qualify? The relay teams need three ponies in order to even participate. Did Spitfire and Fleetfoot decide they'd rather not qualify rather than work with Soarin?

* HilariousInHindsight: A character voiced by Creator/TaraStrong in a cheerleader's outfit? [[VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw Just add chainsaw!]]

** On the other side, Rainbow made a commitment to the Ponyville team and shouldn't decide to switch to a better team just because she doesn't like her chances. Since we're shown that winning isn't of paramount importance to Rainbow (considering she agreed to Bulk Biceps and Fluttershy in the first place on top of passing on the chance to join), and since trying to win at the expense of others is a dick move, as established in ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy Wonderbolts Academy]]'', there's no good reason for Rainbow to join the Cloudsdale team.

* FridgeLogic: Why put Rainbow on the relay team instead of other events? Assuming that the events are similar to Olympic track events, and given that most of the other pegasi from Ponyville are reasonably fast (from "Hurricane Fluttershy"), nearly all the other events would be easy qualifications if Rainbow was involved, but pairing her with the weakest fliers would assure they would also qualify for that event. Or, another way - if Fluttershy and Bulk Biceps were put in any other event, primarily individual challenges, Ponyville wouldn't stand a chance for qualifying, but with Rainbow on their team for the relay, they can actually have a chance as a team.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Aside from Derpy showing up (after being gone for so long) and Bulk Biceps being given an important role, people have also taken an interest in the griffon team... because they're a griffon team.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Aside from just Derpy showing up and Bulk Biceps being given an important role, people have also taken an interest in the griffon team... because they're a griffon team.

* AccidentalAesop:
** Your dreams are worthless, friends are everything.