History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E13DoPrincessesDreamOfMagicSheep

** We see Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Spike make use of their newfound RealityWarper dream powers, but all Rarity does with them is make a needle to sew up a portal, and ''Pinkie Pie'', of all ponies, don't do anything crazy at all!

** Also, fans have long wanted to see the GodEmperor princesses cut loose, but anytime something that would require the level of power we expect from those who control the sun and moon - and hear of them having used in the distant past - shows up, they end up suffering TheWorfEffect, or never acting beyond exposition duty at all. ''Not today,'' as we truly get to see Luna take action, showing herself quite powerful though not without limits. One sequence was much like fans have discussed wishing had happened at times like "A Canterlot Wedding;" a role that lets the Princesses not seem so useless by holding down the fort in one way while still needing the Mane Six. In this case, Luna's mindlinking ''the entire city,'' which limits, but ''doesn't'' fully eliminate, her ability to act directly.

** The ponies' dreams. Why is it that Derpy dreams of being huge? How often does Big Mac dream of being an Alicorn prince(ss)? Could Lyra and Bon Bon's dreamselves mean [[ShipTease something about their friendship]]? Does Filthy Rich always dream of being a superhero?

** Lyra and Bon Bon's response to finding themselves fused CatDog style is ''pure delight'' [[https://derpibooru.org/934915 followed by hugging.]]

** A lot of fans wanted Princess Celestia to have a role in the story - as the one ''most'' hurt by the Nightmare Moon incidents, and the one who also most loves Luna, she kinda needed to be here. Especially since Celestia herself has been shown to feel guilt over the incident. (Of course, there's always the chance Celestia had her own form of self-punishment for what she had to do, of which cheerfully playing her role in the Summer Sun Celebration is surely only part...)

* NarmCharm: Anyone old enough to remember ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'' when they hear the singing flowers' song will probably find Rainbow Dash's nightmare just as troubling as she does.

* HarsherInHindsight: Back in "Luna Eclipsed", the townspeople finally forgave Luna for her actions as Nightmare Moon and she felt accepted by the town. However, this episode revealed that she did not forgive herself for what she did and has been inflicting nightmares on herself in order to atone. It's even stated that she never thought the ponies should have accepted her back and that she thinks very little of herself.

** In Princess Luna's dream in the ColdOpen, the Mane Six hit Nightmare Moon with their CareBearStare ''twice''; the first time, before the Tantabus escapes, they are unsuccessful. The fact that Luna says "[[ThisCannotBe That cannot happen!]]" implies three things: she's had this dream before, the Tantabus prevents the CareBearStare from being effective, and the dream usually ends ''badly''. The many possible ways it ''could'' end badly, from a simple CutShort to EverybodysDeadDave, beg exploration.

** In Princess Luna's dream in the ColdOpen, the Mane Six hit Nightmare Moon with their CareBearStare ''twice''; the first time, before the Tantabus escapes, they are unsuccessful. The fact that Luna says "[[ThisCannotBe That cannot happen!]]" implies three things: she's had this dream before, the Tantabus prevents the CareBearStare from being effective, and the dream usually ends ''badly''. Just how badly it usually ends begs exploration.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: It's probably just a complete coincidence that the music during Big Mac's TransformationSequence sounds like one from ''Anime/SailorMoon''.

* NarmCharm: Anyone old enough to remember Series/BarneyAndFriends when they hear the singing flowers' song will probably find Rainbow Dash's nightmare just as troubling as she does.

** Also, Applejack and Pinkie Pie [[https://derpibooru.org/935210 share a bed]] at one point.

* RewatchBonus: For a good chunk of the episode, Luna agonizes how her actions are once again causing others pain. [[spoiler: At first, it sounds like she just feels bad over letting the Tantabus escape. Turns out the it's her own creation.]]

* RewatchBonus: For a good chunk of the episode, Luna agonizes how her actions are once again causing others pain. [spoiler: At first, it sounds like she just feels bad over letting the Tantabus escape. Turns out the it's her own creation.]]

* RewatchBonus: For a good chunk of the episode, Luna agonizes how her actions are once again causing others pain. [[Spoiler: At first, it sounds like she just feels bad over letting the Tantabus escape. Turns out the it's her own creation.]]

** Also, Applejack and Pinkie Pie [[https://derpibooru.org/935210 share a bed]] at one point.

** A lot of fans wanted Princess Celestia to have a role in the story - as the one ''most'' hurt by the Nightmare Moon incidents, and the one who also most loves Luna, she kinda needed to be here. Especially since Celestia herself has been shown to feel guilt over the incident.

* NarmCharm: Anyone old enough to remember Barney when they hear the singing flowers' song will probably find Rainbow Dash's nightmare just as troubling as she does.

* BrokenBase: There's some debate over which is better: this episode, or the Nightmare Arc of the [=IDW=] comics, since both tackled Luna's insecurities which end up nearly bringing destruction to Equestria. The comic was more focused on the Nightmare Forces and Nightmare Rarity than Luna, yet it brought a face to Nightmare Moon and had Luna confronting her fear more directly. This episode has Luna in a more passive role for the climax that makes it feel more scaled down, but the focus was kept on Luna's character, and the Tantabus being a personification of her guilt rather than the force that made her Nightmare Moon adds to Luna's status as TheAtoner.

* FanficFuel: In Princess Luna's dream in the ColdOpen, the Mane Six hit Nightmare Moon with their CareBearStare ''twice''; the first time, before the Tantabus escapes, they are unsuccessful. The fact that Luna says "[[ThisCannotBe That cannot happen!]]" implies three things: she's had this dream before, the Tantabus prevents the CareBearStare from being effective, and the dream usually ends ''badly''. Just how badly it usually ends begs exploration.

* LesYay: Lyra and Bon Bon's response to finding themselves fused CatDog style is ''pure delight'' [[https://derpibooru.org/934915 followed by hugging.]] Also, Applejack and Pinkie Pie [[https://derpibooru.org/935210 share a bed]] at one point.

** For those who felt the Nightmare Forces from the comics devalued Luna's being TheAtoner, this episode probably qualifies, given the Tantabus is the literal embodiment of her guilt.

* AwesomeArt: The Giant Tantabus Pony is probably some of the most beautiful art to ever come out of the series.

* LesYay: Lyra and Bon Bon's response to finding themselves fused CatDog style is ''pure delight''[[https://derpibooru.org/934915 followed by hugging.]] Also, Applejack and Pinkie Pie [[https://derpibooru.org/935210 share a bed]] at one point.

* LesYay: Lyra and Bon Bon's response to finding themselves fused CatDog style is ''[[https://derpibooru.org/934915 pure delight]]''[[https://derpibooru.org/934915 followed by hugging.]] Also, Applejack and Pinkie Pie [[https://derpibooru.org/935210 share a bed]] at one point.

** A lot of fans wanted Princess Celestia to have a role in the story - as the one ''most'' hurt by the Nightmare Moon incidents, and the one who also most loves Luna, she kinda needed to be here.

* FanficFuel: The Mane Six hit Nightmare Moon with their CareBearStare ''twice''; the first time, before the Tantabus escapes, they are unsuccessful. The fact that Luna says "[[ThisCannotBe That cannot happen!]]" implies three things: she's had this dream before, the Tantabus prevents the CareBearStare from being effective, and the dream usually ends ''badly''. Just how badly it usually ends begs exploration.