>>/1372/
> the school has been going on for months 
sooo, the timeline explains that we have been going for several months in less than 8  episodes...weird. Unless the Mount Aris trip was long to take or that background stuff happens to point out a sign for it, then I don´t know how time went so fast over there.
> AJ and RD are acting completely retarded. 
after 8 seasons. The gif  >>/1374/ is well deserved
> a slight concern is them never having time to flush out the student's much as we are going to have only one third of the season devoted to them as a group
well, yeah. This was supposed to make them grow a bit and shine because you know they are going to become relevant sooner or later. but nope, conflict and duel to see which pony has the biggest brain for going full retard mode.
> They should have one episode per character at least, so this is one wasted.
There are but this one was the biggest let down of the bunch. They were supportive in the background in Horse Play though.

> it having been going on for several months kind of making them having new experiences and being excited for things seem really weird
it would have made sense to put this episode as the 3rd or 4th one and instead of saying months, say that it´s been weeks. That short period would have helped to fit these interactions.

> It would be kind of strange to have them in future episodes being shown new parts of ponyville and what not
At least, we the audience,know that they are going to be the focus. What you have said, it´s going to happen. 

> with the recent exposition about the movie and them setting up with a theme this season it seemed like this season would be more so with a new transition feeling they'd be going for in the earlier episodes.

Party of One with Silver Stream when?
Nah seriously, I certainly agree with your lines. But it gives those vibes because of the retake on simple morals but with a different perspective than the original seasons had. The show is going in a cycle on purpose but the lessons delivered are very different. Your line could justify somehow why we went back to Fall Weather Friends all over again but still doesn´t justify the let down.

> 3.5/10 for me. Though I can't say it was the worst, I didn't really enjoy it much at all.
The expected rating. Those who were rating it 8 or higher in the poll must have trolled to us