The plot of the episode has Twilight Sparkle coming to the realization that before making friends in Ponyville and becoming princess of friendship, she was a pretty bad friend to her old friends in Canterlot. She makes amends with several of her former friends (Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkleshine), but the episode's main conflict is with one of her former friends named Moondancer. Moondancer has become a anti-social shut-in who doesn't believe in friendship.
The main reason for that stemming all the way back to the first episode of season one, where Twilight decided not to go to her party, which led to a downward spiral of Moondancer feeling like she doesn't have value to others. It's up to Twilight, Spike, an her friends old and new to try to prove Moondancer wrong and that she does have friends.
What makes this episode great is the fact that it's not only taking a conflict from all the way back in the show's earliest moments, but the fact that we see just how Twilight's feelings against friendship affected those around her. And it's believable that for some it would be nothing, but for others it could be far more devastating to them. Which brings us to Moondancer as a character. I've seen so many people online complain that she's nothing more than a Twilight recolor. But I think that's looking at this in the wrong light.
You can tell that Twilight was important to Moondancer, so much so that she tried to look like her, be smart like her, and despite Twilight's blindness toward social activities prior to the series, Moondancer looked to her as the closest thing to a best friend. And so when Twilight leaves without even saying goodbye, you can tell how that would affect someone. And in the case of Moondancer, a character who already doubted her value, it completely shattered any self worth she had.
I also see people try to make the excuse about Twilight being sent to Ponyville by Celestia, and the bigger issue of Nightmare Moon's escape being more important. The fact is that Twilight still at the very least could have said goodbye to her former friends before so. So when she says that hurting Moondancer as bad as she did was one of the worst feelings she's ever had, it's still genuine.
I think this episode more than most will speak to those who suffer from social anxiety, fear of no self worth and even abandonment issues. Moondancer is a great character to follow through the story, and the final minutes of her emotional outburst and realization that she does have ponies in her life that want to be her friend prove to be some of the most emotional moments in the history of the series. Culminating in a final moment that does show that the magic of friendship can truly heal someone.
And with that I see now why this season has been so callback heavy. It's not a case of pandering, or laziness as some pessimists would claim, but more trying to strengthen friendships old and new. This was the case as well in "The Lost Treasure of Griffinstone" as we saw the show mend Rainbow Dash and Gilda's friendship,while also trying to give Gilda a much needed face turn. And as we see in Amending Fences, the same was done with some of Twilight's strained friendships. With 14 episodes left, I have a feeling that this concept will be seen a few more times over the course of the season.
I highly recommend "Amending Fences". It's got a lot of heart, some great emotional feels, and does an amazing job in terms of continuity and even some world building. It's not the funniest episode, or action packed, but the show doesn't need those elements all of the time to still provide great episodes, and this was a definite case. And you'll get your fill of those next week with a Luna Episode that involves dream worlds, so you have that to look forward to.
RATING: A+