History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E10SwarmOfTheCentury

* MagicalNegro: Subverted wit Zecora. Twilight visits the African-themed zebra for advice. Zecora quickly identifies the name of the troublesome species and, just when it seems like she will reveal a key bit of ancient tribal wisdom, she tells Twilight "...you're doomed".

** This entire episode is essentially a WholePlotReference to "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E15TheTroubleWithTribbles The Trouble with Tribbles]]" from ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Star Trek]]''.

** And this line:
--->'''Twilight:''' [[Film/BlazingSaddles We need to build an exact copy of Ponyville right over there. We've got less than a minute!]]

* AdoringThePests: In this episode, Fluttershy finds a cute parasprite, feeds it, and brings it home. On the way, it multiplies. The parasprites keep multiplying until they eat most of Ponyville.

'''Rainbow:''' Pinkie pie...you are so random.\\

** Also when Twilight briefly goes crazy, [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E3LessonZero during the climax]].

* CluelessAesop: Probably not entirely clueless, but as more than one viewer has noted, the aesop of this episode, if taken as the face value "you should listen to what your friends have to say instead of dismissing them", almost falls flat when one remembers that Pinkie Pie hardly ever actually tried explaining that she knows what parasprites are and how to get rid of them, giving up after one attempted explanation. In particular, Twilight specifically ''asks'' Pinkie if she knows anything about the Parasprites, only for Pinkie to mutter that she needs a trombone and leave without explanation. Considering all things, of course, this could more or less lead to a DoubleAesop, as Pinkie pointing out at the end how she tried to tell them when they wouldn't listen makes it evident that she did learn the importance of explaining herself properly.

* IdiotBall: Most definitely Fluttershy for keeping one of the parasprites even after their devastation was clear, thus thwarting Applejack's herding attempt, which otherwise would have worked.

%% FakeTown: Discussed but not used. When Twilight realizes she can't get rid of the parasprite infestation in time before for official visit from Princess Celestia, she goes crazy from panic and suggests that they build an exact replica of Ponyville and trick Celestia into visiting that instead.

* PotemkinVillage: Discussed but not used. When Twilight realizes she can't get rid of the parasprite infestation in time before for official visit from Princess Celestia, she goes crazy from panic and suggests that they build an exact replica of Ponyville and trick Celestia into visiting that instead.

* {{Snapback}}: The town has been destroyed, but all other episodes begin with it perfectly intact, as if nothing had happened.

* {{Wingdinglish}}: Averted with the banner reading "Welcome Princess Celest" in the beginning.

* RewatchBonus: Everything learned about Pinkie finding instruments becomes important in later viewings as she isn’t being crazy as her fiends thought; she’s finding them because it’s how to get rid of the parasprites.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Do you think...that might have been a...]]''[[Film/{{Gremlins}} gremlin?]]''

[[caption-width-right:350:[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Do you think...that might have been a...]]''[[Film/Gremlins gremlin?]]''

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Recap/StarTrekS2E15TheTroubleWithTribbles Tribbles?]] Amateurs.]]

* DidntSeeThatComing: Uttered by Applejack when the parasprites descend upon Sweet Apple Acres... and eat ''the barn'' thanks to [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Twilight's spell]].

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Based on the episode's lesson, the Mane Five would've listened to Pinkie so they could get the Parasprites out easier, or alternately, if Pinkie would have explained herself better.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Goes both ways here. If Pinkie Pie had bothered to explain more about the parasprites before rushing off to find the instruments from the beginning, or if her friends weren't too caught up in their business to listen to her during the times she ''did'' try to explain, the damage wouldn't have been nearly as bad. So infamous that the first episode of ''FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' mined a ''lot'' of material out of reversing the dynamic, with Pinkie completely upfront about what she's trying to do while the others insist she's making no sense.

-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' You can't hang a banner that says "Welcome Princess ''Celest''". Take it down and try again.