@PrincessFutamoon  
OP wasn’t saying season 2 was bad, just that “The Return of Harmony” felt more like a season ending storyline than “A Canterlot Wedding”. Read the description for further explanation.
 
@Ebalosus  
I don’t mind if the season as a whole seems directionless as long as the episodes themselves are excellent, and while I have a slight preference for the first season, I do think on the whole season 2 is comparable in terms of quality. Doesn’t bother me that you (or anyone else) thinks differently, of course.

@PrincessFutamoon
 
>Season 2  
>Best season
 
Pick one.
 
Yeah, I’m in the absolute minority that considers S2 to be the weakest season of the show. Why? Because IMO the show seemed directionless, with too much faffing about. Season 2 felt like the “Let’s put all the episodes that didn’t pass muster for S1 here and see what happens!” Don’t get me wrong, there were great episodes in S2, but on the whole I found it an absolute chore to get through (akin to ME3, except S2 had a satisfying ending).

wait. huh. season 2 was the best season. what is the rational for it being a bad season?
 
 
thanks OP I needed a laugh…but I think you overdid it.

@Background Pony #0DD5  
Well said. lol

@MJKalasky  

@Background Pony #2723  

 
How did this get posted under a BP? (Having just posting the above).

What the Hell is so wrong about MLP? Besides Season 3 that is? (Or was?)  
No they can’t all be a Party of One, or A Return to Harmony, but I thought that the Cutie Map was a pretty decent EP. Shame that Castle Sweet Castle, kinda sucked though. But, again they can’t all be that One Episode!

@MJKalasky  
Somehow, I just knew this would end in a pissing contest between which show runner people likes hates more. Just never imagined it would start with a post disrespecting both…
 
…
 
Just to be clear, I think both camps are utter tools.

@Background Pony #3380  
I don’t know. Everything about the world these days is just Hell, and one of the few things that once keeped some good in the world is rotting now as well. Disrespecting the show’s makers won’t improve anything, so, I don’t know why I said that, but that is how things are.

@MJKalasky  
So you’re saying you have no free will, but must act in a certain fashion given a certain set of stimuli?

@PonyPon  
Probably not. But, incompetent writers lead to dickish fans, which leads to other fans (such as myself) acting up as a result.

I never thought about it that before.

@Jarkes  
The “this” was for the typo “his”

@Jarkes  
I think he meant to correct a typo.
 
Not that it makes it any better.

@MJKalasky
 
…Wow.
 
 
@MJKalasky
 
You know, agreeing with yourself doesn’t make your argument any stronger.

You see, the Return of Harmony was originally…
 
(notices that several people have already mentioned it)
 
Damn it.

@MJKalasky  
this

Season 1 had the Gala, but it also dropped hints at the Mane Six’s, backstories, and had the letters. All of these threads were tied up in Best Night Ever, Cutie Mark Chronicles, and Return of Harmony (which was intended as the Season 1 finale), respectively.
 
On the other hand, Season 2 didn’t really go anywhere in terms of story. While A Canterlot Wedding is more of a standalone 2-parter than a finale, it works because Season 2 didn’t have any overarching plot threads, so there was nothing for it to tie up.

I’m not sure I understand… Season finales aren’t suppoosed to bring closure, that’s the job of a series finale. That’s were everything gets tied into a neat bow. All season finales have to do (appart from telling an entertaining story) is to ensure viewers will tune into the next. I mean, that’s the entire reason cliffhangers exist.
 
And as such, “A Canterlot Wedding” woorks very well. I mean, Shining Armor and Cadance just got married, promising more stories with them next season 8which they delivered on), Chrysalis was defeated but not reformed or arrested (leading to a possible recurring role, still waiting on that one)m the damage the Changelings caused are permanent and the Mane Six demonstrated they’re capable of defeating serious threats without the help of the Elements of Harmony.
 
The premiere of S3 ties into most of the elements of ACW.
 
“Return of Harmony” (while being one of my favorite two-parters) don’t have any of these elements. Discord is introduced, and soundly defeated and imprisoned. The EoH reverse everything Discord did, leaving no dangling threads.

@Ichijoe  
@Psyga315  
In a way, you’re correct: “The Return of Harmony” was actually produced and animated along with all the season 1 episodes. In fact, they have the season 1 opening sequence and end credits, instead of what was used for the rest of season 2.

@Psyga315  
Again it was an ending… Of sorts, but for Season One… Not Two… It just worked out that it became the logical choice for the Season Two Opener.

@mrdoctorderpy
 
Alright, here’s a description.

@Psyga315  
we have a description for reason