Episode Talk: S5E18, Crusaders of the Lost Mark

I don't normally do this in back-to-back weeks... but then, MLP doesn't usually have two episodes in a row that I have a bunch of opinions about.  As always, this isn't a comprehensive review; think of it as "a bunch of Chris's opinions on what he watched."  So go get some slightly-late opinions, below the break!

Mini-Reviews Round 100

And now, your totally-unwanted fantasy football update: my team's actually doing pretty well, so far!  Mostly, that's the result of getting lucky on a couple of late-round draft choices; Larry Fitzgerald and Devonta Freeman have unexpectedly been a couple of the best players in fantasy over the last few weeks, and I'm reaping the benefits.  I'd love to say I grabbed them because I'm a savvy drafter... but given that my second-round pick was LeSean McCoy, I probably shouldn't pretend I know what I'm doing.

Enough about things you aren't interested in, though; on to fanfiction!  Short-form reviews of stuff I recently read, below the break.

Fandom Classics Part 128: Flitter

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Hey, a changeling story!  It's been a while since I've done one of these for a Fandom Classic post.  In fact, you'd have to go back to June to find the last changeling-centric review, and that was of a parody fic; the last review of a serious changeling story was from the beginning of May.

I mention this to pre-empt anyone tempted to glance at the cover art and mutter, "Oh great, another changeling fic."  Say what you will about the rest of the fandom, I try my best to vary the subject matter of the fics I review.  Now, head on down below the break for my thoughts on Nyerguds' Flitter.

Episode Talk: S5E17, Brotherhooves Social

I've idly mused on trying to brew my own beer in the past, so for my birthday, my sister got me an everything-included beer-making starter kit; it comes with all the equipment, mash and yeast for your first batch, etc.  So this weekend, I thought I'd get that first batch going... only to discover that the one thing that isn't included is a handful of chestnuts, which you're supposed to boil with the mash.  I don't even know where to get chestnuts; do they sell them at grocery stores?  Eh, I'll figure it out next week; if I'm lucky, I'll have home brew in time for Thanksgiving, at least.

But hey, Saturday wasn't a total bust; at least we got another new episode!  Click below to see my slightly-delayed thoughts on it.  As usual, I'm saving the true analysis for the legions of episode reviewers who enjoy doing that; what follows are more "reactions and things that caught my eye."  Onward!

Mini-Reviews Round 99

It's getting cold, and that can only mean one thing: it's time to get raking!  I have two maple trees in my yard, but they're different species, and one starts dropping leaves just about the time the other has finished its pre-winter molt, so raking season for me lasts upward of six weeks.  Hey, at least it's better than shoveling snow, right?  Anyway, mini-reviews below the break; go find out what I read recently, and what I thought of it!

Fandom Classics Part 127: A Filly's Guide to Not Making Headlines

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

If you haven't seen it already, the Royal Canterlot Library is doing something a little different to celebrate our second anniversary: we're going to feature a second story from an author who we've already spotlighted once before, and we're looking for reader feedback on what fic we should chose!  Details over here--go vote for your favorite(s), or nominate one that hasn't been suggested yet.

And, once you do that, you can head down below the break to see my review of Bradel's A Filly's Guide to Not Making Headlines.