>>2268
>caught me off guard, a lot of things where said and done that have interesting implications, some awesome some confusing.
I predicted it. Yep, this is one of the strongest aspects of this season in fact. If you don´t pay attention to those little details, no wonder someone gets caught by surprise.
>Probably the first time that they have been nerfed in a high stakes situation and I didn't feel any arbitrariness to it.
keep in mind that they have nerfed not only them, but the entire continent. So, they were in the same conditions anyway. They still know how to deal with the adversities, they are not little ponies anymore. Even without magic, try to stop Pinkie, I dare you to do it.
As you said, they were and are competent. In fact, I think the experience of how these things work are what made them partially solve the situation in the sense to save themselves from the trap.
>LOVED the complex politics with this episode.
do you think we got rid of politics after September? Kek, it turns out that the show also delivers...phew lad.
>The fact that Neighsay was a independent actor in all this blew me away. Cozy's manipulative tactics and they way she switched tactics and tried to manipulate everypony really surprised me in a very good way. Maybe the best aspect of this episode.
I´ve mentioned a few times in my previous posts >>2263 >>2264. Whether you predicted or not that Cozy was evil, the ability to manipulate everyone on her way is masterful and the show has entered in a somewhat uncommon trope with her. Truly a highlight to consider and discuss a lot.
Neighsay, contrary to what it seemed, wasn´t the one who collaborated with Cozy Glow. His EEA view came from himself and no one else and he went to the school when Equestria was in an unusual threat. The little clip or image from SDCC tricked us to believe that Cozy Glow was at service for the Chancellor and his evil plans. At his worst, he only wanted to communicate that he was right about his view....just that he didn´t realize he was pointing at the wrong target. His redemption doesn´t consist in a change of attitude but a change of point of view after these events.

>It felt like how the fandom would've imagined things from that time, mane6 traveling alone going off with some fantasy and mythical references, but it felt to me as if I saw a alternate universe where even season 4 didn't happen the way it did.
Keep in mind that having lore back then in season 1 or season 2 was like fireworks for a little girls show, cutting edge for its league. However, this show has gone through a lot of phases throughout these 8 years. They are as used to dealing with villains and having Ponyville in constant attacks as we do nowadays. Fantasy and myths are just another thing that adds something to this world AND integrate them over time.

This reminds me as well about how the fandom misses the early days because there was potential for everything, it was new and you had a sense of mystery. What this show has done is not only add more material (myths, races, places) but saying: "Hey, it´s over here. You have discovered it and you visit it at any time, not a secret anymore". This has happened to the Tartarus in this finale, we never knew how it was exactly but now, we see it as a typical prison. This show gets rid of the mystery after the introduction of anything and even, it gets to play with the new added things for more slice of life stories