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This episode's start I liked pretty well with the introduction to the CMC clubhouse. Scootaloo's little sequence on her scooter I thought was pretty well done and I think I've settled on how I describe my interest for Season 1's animation more definitively  (more on that later). The CMC, while still childish, have a lot more personality in this episode and their traits are becoming more defined. Not just their implied cutie marks, but personalities more generally. For example, Scootaloo's slight snark she displays when she says: Totally lost cause in regards to Applejack saying her old club house needed some TLC. This actually got a pretty hardy laugh out of me because I had forgotten that joke. 

All and all, the central conflict of the episode, the upcoming talent show was fun enough. I liked the CMC's antics as they tried to haphazardly prepare their act. I also liked them helping each other in the areas they were weaker, oblivious to what they should be doing. The show I enjoyed better than I recalled when I last watched this (several years ago at least, maybe a decade) and there was a certain satisfaction in watching the CMC preforming with a limb but continuing on. Scootaloo's poor but enthusiastic singing. Apple Bloom's awkward kung-fo (karate?) dancing and Sweetie Belle's struggle to keep the show going but not quite failing to the end did hold my interest and amused me. Gives me a recollection of someone saying years ago that the hidden strength of earlier pony episodes was carrying on a joke slightly further than what was typical but not overly beating it to death.    

For as much as I praise this episode. Some might find a slight shock here is that the atmosphere of The Stare Master ( >>/11978/) might still outrank in favored status for me and has a higher comfy factor even if I think the CMC are better characters here. Provisional 6.5/10 for now.