One of the more fan-serviced episodes.

@James Rye - why that? The fandom was already around and known to the show staff in 2011, it just wasn’t as large as it is now.

EQD has teh article that this episode was written and send in in 2011 so fanservice is outta question, it´s just continuity.

Oh, wah. Do you ever stop complaining?
 
(Why don’t I say that ’round here more often? XD )

Don’t tell me, I dislike this so much.

“Twixie or Fluttertree? That’s all you buddy, no.”
 
They aren’t having Fluttershy constantly going into trees for nothing, dude.

Continuity = “Fanservice”?  
lol wut

Trixie’s sob story? Definitely fan service.  
Alicorn? Total fan service  
Lyra and Bon Bon? Yeah, I guess.  
Trixie Return? Yes.  
Derpy? Well, technically yes.  
References? Yes, definitely.  
Zecora? No, not really.  
Rule 63 AJ? That was Big Mac, not really.  
Pinkie being broken? That was Trixie, so no.  
Twixie or Fluttertree? That’s all you buddy, no.  
Twilight Breaking the 4th wall? The complete opposite. Only Pinkie is allowed to do that! I’m mad at them for that.

I love the irony this fandom presents. The whole fandom is all “We want more shoutouts and fanservice!” and then when it happens, half the fandom goes “It’s not a shoutout you idiots, stop stretching so damn much BLUH!”

“They wanted to bring back Trixie in season 2, which would mean they’d thought about it before season 1 even finished airing.”
 
And what, do you think they outlined it exactly like this? Like something right out of the fandom? No.
 
“The only thing fanservicey about the episode is Lyra and Bonbon”
 
nope.avi

They wanted to bring back Trixie in season 2, which would mean they’d thought about it before season 1 even finished airing. Stop using her return as evidence of fanservice when it was pretty much spelled out for us that it’d happen by Twilight in Boast Busters.
 
As for Zecora, she was meant to be Twilight’s mentor in season 1, but that never panned out; they’re just going back to those original concepts.
 
The only thing fanservicey about the episode is Lyra and Bonbon, and that’s stuff that’s added by the animation team well after the story and storyboard is finalized.

Oh, and I almost forgot, note that Lyra is holding her milkshake in her hoof like a human with their hand. Hey, uh, what’s that popular brony meme about Lyra–OH YEAH!

@Splinter17  
Yeah, sure, they just so HAPPENED to throw in Trixie coming back as a villain and later apologizing and redeeming herself, more ship teasing for TWO popular pairings, an in-show use of the word “alicorn”, Fluttertree, a clear Derpy sighting, Parasprites, another of a number of increasingly common appearances by Zecora, wet mane, and yet more over-the-top Pinkie-related stuff that seems like stuff the fandom would come up with, all in the same episode, all stuff the fandom has been wanting/pointed out/created, TOTALLY by pure coinkydink! 8D

@OP  
>fanservice  
>4th wall breaking  
 
None of this is fanservice with the exception of Trixie returning. Also, I think the Derpy pic was shopped.

There might actually be a second one in the lyrabon scene:  

Canon R63AJ is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better looking then fanon R63AJ

But it isn’t R63 Aj, it’s Big Mac.

It’s the old definition of “fanservice”, meaning a general shout-out to the fans. Nowadays, people think “fanservice” only refers to cheesecake or racy shots of characters, like that Sweetie Gold plot shot.

It’s not fanservice if it’s just maintaining continuity, such as Spike referencing Winter Wrap Up, Parasprites making a brief return, and Pinkie’s Dad making a second appearance (at least this confirms that Pinkie really DID grow up on a rock farm).

Yeah none of this is actually fanservice. Also the term ‘fanservice’ is terrible. Other than that good job.

>Derpy  
Eh…
 
Not really…

I don’t think that continuity and homages to famous movies really qualify as fanservice.

With a village surrounded by forestry, “fluttertree” is a bit of a stretch.

Rarit E  
….Was that meant to be a pun?

I doubt that part about derpy.  
Or maybe putting derpy in background if forbiden in this season, and some bold and brave animator said “bullshit” and tried to bring us happiness again…
 
snif, sorry, I have something in my eye