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forgot about the general. Oh well

That sounds like a job for the General thread.

Depends on what you want though. The premieres aren't great episodes, but the third episode in Ticket Master is probably the first that shows everyone in a pretty simple, slice-of-life episode that doesn't seem forced by the plot. The series doesn't begin to hit its stride until the end of the first season and into the second season.

Since the MLP fandom isn't anywhere near as obtuse as it once was, it's probably no longer that important to keep every mention of pony quarantined in one thread.

That said, you will get much more sufficient answers if you posted it there

Anyway, the start of Season 2, followed by Luna Eclipsed is the episodes I would have recommended to anyone. It was the first ones I saw.

"Hurricane Fluttershy" is my favorite episode (so far) and I highly recommend it. Watching my favorite character overcoming her fears is so heart warming.

I guess there will be even better episodes in seasons 3 and 4, but keep in mind that the Greek television shows only the first 2 seasons. Now that's great. USA will be watching season 5 next month and we'll still have seasons 1 and 2.

Lesson Zero could be a good start.

• The Premiere of Season 2 -- The Return of Harmony part 1 and 2 -- can show that mlp can take itself seriously and is willing to add some continuity and flair to break the notion of "butterflies and rainbows." These are the episodes I'd recommend for those skeptical about how 'mature' mlp can be.

• BSoD mentioned Luna Eclipsed. I recommend that too if you want to see how well mlp can handle character interaction. This and the season 2 premieres are probably your best bet at enjoying mlp if you don't want to start from the very beginning.

• Testing, Testing, 1, 2. 3 is a good (recent) episode that shows while the creators are trying to please the adults in its fanbase, it still does its job as a kid show by teaching valuable morals. If you'd want to analyze the show and weigh in its educational factor (or if you want to see ponies do slice-of-life things,) this is the episode.

• Someone already mentioned Lesson Zero, but let me try to explain why: It's hilarious.

• Lastly, Twilight's Kingdom if you want to get hyped up because ponies are doing the Dragon Ball.

Tbh my first episodes of the show was really the first episodes of season 1. It was enough to show me that mlp can take itself seriously when it wants to, but at times would like to keep it slice-of-life-y and happy.

Pinkie Pride and Pinkie Apple Pie are my two favorite episodes right now. I also highly recommend Hurricane Fluttershy, and Dress for Success

Going more into "depends on what you want," I think there are episodes that are good to learn the characters quickly, episodes that are fan favorites, episodes that are "objectively"/near universally liked, episodes considered the funniest, etc. Piggybacking and redundancy incoming, because my mind is now full of ponies.

• I'll still say Ticket Master gives you the best idea of what the main characters are like, but it has the drawback of being an earlier episode so its humor is pretty straight. Nothing overwhelming.
• I'll throw in Cutie Mark Chronicles (later in Season 1). You get some decent and pivotal backstory that ties together future events and (in hindsight with all of Season 4's events) set up some serious foreshadowing. Not to mention, it's M.A. Larson's work who also did the next listed episodes. He is also responsible for alicorns, Obama, and Twilight dying at the end of that fan video.
• The Return of Harmony episodes are probably two of the most beloved episodes and possibly/probably the most liked premieres. John de Lancie voices the antagonist (one of many future appearances), you see the main characters in who they normally are and who they obviously are not, it's got a lot of great humor, and it adds onto the history of the FIM universe. It was one of the first episodes to give "Equestria" a feel of an actual world.
• Lesson Zero (beginning of Season 2) is nuts. Party of One (end of Season 1) is similar. Both are beloved episodes for good reason.
• Luna Eclipsed (beginning of Season 2), in addition to being a great combination of fan service without pandering, is good with creating backstory, introducing characters, introducing culture, highlighting most of the main characters, and just being entertaining in its own right.
• The Last Roundup (Season 2)…you'd never think there'd be an edited version of My Little Pony for being potentially offensive. You'd be wrong. The episode itself is still a lot of fun and adds more to the lore and land of Equestria.
• I liked It's About Time (later in Season 2). (Spoilers: It's about time.) Also a Mitch Larson joint.
• Princess Twilight Sparkle (Season 4 premiere) in ways is a better season premiere than Season 2 in terms of standing as a part of an arc. To me, it felt more like a movie than any other premiere, and it had some pretty heavy (for a kids' show) backstory moments along with setting up for the rest of the Season and its finale.
• Pinkie Pride (middle of Season 4) has an unexpected/expected guest VA which was done well and was full of music.
• The Season 4 finale isn't much like the rest of the series. It's more like the Season 4 premiere (which makes sense as it "concludes" the arc,) but then it goes full Goku and all the evens are no longered (maybe it's because I wasn't expecting it, but I legitimately caught myself holding my breath.)

If you want to binge, Season 2 and Season 4 are probably your best bets. Watch a few Season 1 episodes in order to get the show and the characters if you're new and to give context to Season 4. Seasons 2 and 4 probably have the combination of the most liked and talked about episodes.

For me, in order of what seasons I'd marathon from tip to tail: Season 2, Season 4 (close second), Season 1, Season 3.

Mmmystery on the Friendship Express is my personal favorite. Many funny jokes and references in it.

For crazy stuff and insane events, respectively, my mind quickly links to Party of One (S1) and Lesson Zero (S2).

i'd suggest the very first episode. that's how i got into the show.

other than that. there are really funny ones like Birddle Gossip and Over a Barrel, and and also Pink isn't Your Color

Thanks for the input guys