History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E5FlightToTheFinish

* AwesomeMusic: ''We've got hearts as strong as horses...and we're playing to win, as we gallop to glory!''
** The crew were proud enough of this song that it was used as the music in the Season 5 trailers.

* WhatAnIdiot: Dash becomes convinced that being "professional" and "collected" means she has to imitate Harshwhinny's cold attitude. Luckily she gets rid of the [[IdiotBall ball]] by the latter half of the episode.

** From the synopsis it looked like this was finally going to be the episode where Scootaloo either learned to fly, or it would finally follow the original idea that she'd never be able to. By the end of the episode, she's still unable to fly, but there's no confirmation on whether or not she'll figure it out in the future.

** This episode would have been an excellent opportunity to see her parents or relatives. [[InvisibleParents But we're still kept in the dark about her family life.]] At least she isn't homeless.
** At the very least fans were hoping this would be the episode where Scootaloo FINALLY earns her Cutie Mark, especially after what she manages to accomplish near the end, towing Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, two fillies roughly the same size as her on her scooter ALL THE WAY TO THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE IN RECORD SPEED! You'd think after that impressive display she'd finally see that the Scooter IS her special talent and she'd get her Cutie Mark right? NOPE! Unfortunately for the CMC StatusQuoIsGod which is even more unfortunate because of everything poor Scootaloo went through here.

* TheWoobie: Poor, poor Scoots. She feels so broken up about not being able to fly, she gives up on her best friends and stays home, believing she's not worthy of being a pegasus. She even tears posters off of her bedroom wall, and ''throws her scooter in the trashcan''.

* AccidentalAesop: Some ponies (and people) are born differently than us, and can't do what we take for granted. That doesn't mean that they can't still excel and be awesome. Intentional or not, the episode has many disability
parallels.

* AccidentalAesop: Some ponies (and people) are born differently than us, and can't do what we take for granted. That doesn't mean that they can't still excel and be awesome. Intentional or not, the episode has many handicap parallels.

%%MoralEventHorizon does not apply, see NeverLiveItDown.
* NeverLiveItDown: There are many who view Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tormenting Scootaloo over her inability to fly as their MoralEventHorizon and believe they will never redeem themselves after it. This is despite the fact that Discord has been redeemed, and his crimes include MindRape of the Mane Six and trying to TakeOverTheWorld several times.

* AccidentalAesop: Some ponies (and people) are born differently than us, and can't do what we take for granted. That doesn't mean that can't still excel and be awesome. Intentional or not, the episode has many handicap parallels.

** This is mostly because Discord's actions are fantastical enough that there's no real, obvious real world parallel. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's comments can be easily interpreted as ableism, which does exist.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Ms. Harshwhinny. After the episode aired [[note]]and [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E12GamesPoniesPlay Games Ponies Play]][[/note]], numerous of fanart has popped up significantly, mostly her rather [[StuffyBrit unique facial expressions.]]

* NeverLiveItDown: There are many who view Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tormenting Scootaloo over her inability to fly as their MoralEventHorizon. That Discord was shown to be redeemable[[note]]it was a big surprise, but this episode is significantly afterward[[/note]] despite pulling an even worse BreakTheCutie on the Mane 6 that went into outright MindRape ''and'' turning Equestria into a CrapsackWorld ForTheEvulz ''twice'' is ignored.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot:

* NeverLiveItDown: Their are many who view Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tormenting Scootaloo over her inability to fly as their MoralEventHorizon. That Discord was shown to be redeemable[[note]]it was a big surprise, but this episode is significantly afterward[[/note]] despite pulling an even worse BreakTheCutie on the Mane 6 that went into outright MindRape ''and'' turning Equestria into a CrapsackWorld ForTheEvulz ''twice'' is ignored.

* NeverLiveItDown: Their are many who view Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tormenting Scootaloo over her inability to fly as their MoralEventHorizon. That Discord was shown to be redeemable[[note]]it was a big surprise, but this episode is significantly afterward[[/note]] despite pulling an even worse BreakTheCutie on the Mane 6 that went into outright MindRape and turning Equestria into a CrapsackWorld ForTheEvulz ''twice'' is ignored.
* WhatAnIdiot: Dash becomes convinced that being "professional" and "collected" means she has to imitate Harshwhinny's cold attitude. Luckily she gets rid of the [[IdiotBall ball]] by the latter half of the episode.
* TheWoobie: Poor, poor Scoots. She feels so broken up about not being able to fly, she gives up on her best friends and stays home, believing she's not worthy of being a pegasus. She even tears posters off of her bedroom wall, and ''throws her scooter in the trashcan''.

* NeverLiveItDown: Their are many who view Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tormenting Scootaloo over her inability to fly as their MoralEventHorizon. That Discord was shown to be redeemable[[note]]it was a big surprise, but this episode is significantly afterward[[/note]] despite pulling and even worse BreakTheCutie on the Mane 6 that went into outright MindRape and turning Equestria into a CrapsackWorld ForTheEvulz ''twice'' is ignored.

** At the very least fans were hoping this would be the episode where Scootaloo FINALLY earns her Cutie Mark, especially after what she manages to accomplish near the end [[spoiler:towing Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, two fillies roughly the same size as her on her scooter ALL THE WAY TO THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE IN RECORD SPEED!]] You'd think after that impressive display she'd finally see that the Scooter IS her special talent and she'd get her Cutie Mark right? NOPE! Unfortunately for the CMC StatusQuoIsGod which is even more unfortunate because of everything poor Scootaloo went through here.

** Some people were also disappointed with the lack of a scene for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon getting punished or scolded for what they did to Scootaloo. Sure, they didn't win the competition but that's mild considering the way they treated the poor Pegasus.

** It's hard to say if this makes it better or worse, but [[RealityIsUnrealistic chickens actually CAN fly]].

* NeverLiveItDown: Their are many who view Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tormenting Scootaloo over her inability to fly as their MoralEventHorizon. That Discord was shown to be redeemable despite pulling and even worse BreakTheCutie on the Mane 6 that went into outright MindRape and turning Equestria into a CrapsackWorld ForTheEvulz ''twice'' (it was a big surprise, but this episode is significantly afterward) is apparently irrelevant.

** There's also some backlash over Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, as some people consider them picking fun at Scootaloo crossing the MoralEventHorizon and were angry at them [[KarmaHoudini getting away with their bullying]].

** The episode in general. On one side of the coin, we have fans who are happy Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo got some bonding throughout the episode, and like [[AnAesop the moral]] [[BeYourself of the story]]. On the other side, some believed what made earlier [=CMC=] was lost, claiming that the episode pacing was off and the plot involving Scootaloo's flying issues didn't live up to its full potential. It was mostly beloved by the critics though, as you can see from [[WebVideo/MLPAnalysis Digibrony's and Bronycurious's]] reviews.

* AwesomeMoments: Scootaloo can -- while dragging two fillies who each weigh as much as she does -- use her wings to power herself all the way from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire. Non-stop. Faster than a ''steam locomotive''. And still have enough energy to do the routine afterward. With that kind of horsepower behind her, who needs flight?

* HeartwarmingMoments: Rainbow Dash encouraging Scootaloo to be herself, and not being able to fly makes her no less awesome a pegasus for that.
** Especially keeping in mind that flying is Rainbow Dash's entire life, and she's very rarely seen with all four hooves on the ground. And she doesn't even hesitate to remind Scootaloo how awesome she is, even if she never flies.
** Simply letting the [=CMCs=] impress the masses and win big (not ironically) borders on ThrowTheDogABone.

* MoralEventHorizon: Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon verbally abusing Scootaloo because of her physical disability to the point where Scootaloo is arguably almost ''DrivenToSuicide'' is despicable, even for them.

* AwesomeMusic: "We got heartssss, as strong as HORSES!"

* HarsherInHindsight: ''Every single Scootaloo fic with her having trouble flying'' is made harsher by the fact that she really ''does'' have flying issues in canon.

** While on the train, before going to comfort Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash says "I can't hold it in. I want you to win so bad!" with an extremely dirty expression on her face. This line and expression, when taken out of context, can make it seem like Rainbow wants to do something else with the Crusaders. Even in context it sounds rather perverted. It has gotten much lampshading on the popular imageboard Derpibooru.