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So yaks are a thing. And in this episode, the writing makes sure to let us know of that. Plenty. I mean, they're from YakYakistan. YakYak. Like... Like Likes! Do you like Like Likes? Do you have a yak with yaks from YakYak? Do you see all the memorable Twilight faces? Let's count. That's three before the opening credits. And also, she uses the cool-down pose she learned from Cadence. Also also, the yaks are assholes.

As the ponies clean up the mess made by the yaks, we get number four. Twilight, do you really have to ask if anyone read the book on yaks? Do you think anyone else actually cares? Do....wait, what? Pinkie did? Is thi...she did? Ok, actually, I can see this. Pinkie is ALL about making new friends. If Twilight said "ok, the yaks are coming, and they're pickier than...well, they're picky. So we have to know all about them to make them feel at home. So they won't destroy ours", then yeah, Pinkie would totally read up on that. So we have Pinkie then, tasked to show the yaks around town. Starting with, yak hay beds in the farm. It's perfect! Or...not. Because the hay isn't from the snowy plains of Yakholetown. Is that subtle enough?

Next up, yak animals. Which apparently is just regular animals, with antlers. I wanna see these animals for real. A duck with an antler. A bunny. A dee...oh wait. And of course, when the jig is up, yaks go yak crazy. Fluttershy saves her friends. And for some reason, I really enjoy seeing Fluttershy in a tree.

Next up, fashion day with Rarity, of course. And this time, they don't even wait to find out it's not real Yak-whatever. They just eat the fabric. Because that's what you do with it. This might be the first time I've actually felt sorry for Rarity.

Snow-making time with Rainbow Dash. Do you see where this is going? I have to agree with Pinkie here. I never thought I'd say that. Snow is snow. I believe the yaks are making this crap up just to get angry and destroy things. So, not only are they giant dicks, they're massive trolls.

Twilight face number...five? It's all on Pinkie Pie to fix everything. Screw that, get Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and the Canterlot Royal Army to fix this. At least Pinkie Pie is less subtle about her anxiety. You know, this might go smoother if the others would realize that she's under a massive amount of stress, and, you know, help out. Or start charging the lasers. Because I don't see Ponyville as being a very wealthy community. Considering all the damage, the next time they see the yaks, they should be handing them a bill. And if the yaks go all yak on that, then come the lasers. In their face.

Pinkie gets the idea to go to Yakyakistan in order to obtain genuine Yak things. Which makes me wonder. How long a trip is that? Aren't they only in town for like, a day or two? Number six for Twilight, this time with wings. And this has to be the most animated we've ever seen Gummy.

Pinkie Pie just became even more entertaining, narrating her own story. The fact it's not in thought, and actually out loud, just makes it better. Apparently, the first stop is Dodge City, and, oh look, Pinkie eats something again. Really, at this point, it has to be an intended running gag. Sheep are preventing the train from going anywhere, so Pinkie Pie heads off to...the same port-a-potty she used last time. Oh, and guess who's coming out of it? Appleja...no. Cherry Jubilee, the most un-business owner business owner. Really, if my boss told me to "have fun" and left me to my devices, then I'd have to make sure to wake up in time to go to work. Time to hitch a ride with her and a bunch of cherries. Insert fanfiction here.

Pinkie's narration continues, as she discovers her ride is unfortunately asleep. She manages to wake them just shy of falling into a ravine. But, because this is a cartoon, the ledge cracks and breaks. Cut to Spike playing a piano. Ok, so, jokes aside, that is really dark. Your first instinct here is "HOLY HELL PINKIE IS DEAD". Now, obviously she isn't. But damn. It turns out, Spike is playing piano for the yaks, who love it. Until they find out Spike isn't playing it, but it's playing itself. You know, because that matters. And of course, the yaks try to kill Spike. No matter what you think of him, he doesn't deserve that. But it's the last straw, the yaks declare war. Remember what I said above? They must have one hell of advanced technology if they hope to contend with reality-altering unicorns and alicorns. As stupid as they already were, declaring war on an obviously far superior species is just a terribly stupid idea.

Back to Pinkie, who's fatal fall was saved by the Wonderbolts, who happened to be there at that exact time. Also, two of them are strong enough to lift the whole carriage. They took Pinkie to Manehattan where she joined the Beatles. And then back to the Crystal Empire. So...how long has this trip been now? How long, randomly-appearing Cadence? Actually, it makes sense, since, you know, she does lead the Empire. Also, it's the first time we've seen Twilight use the lesson she learned from Cadence since the first time in Equestria Games. And she happens to show up for Pinkie when the episode didn't really call for it. Pinkie gets frightened by a...a...I don't even know. It kind of reminds me of something from the Daring Do episodes, but in a snow environment. Pinkie gets chased to the entrance to Yakyakistan, only to fall off a cliff and all the way back to Ponyville. At this point, I think we need a testimonial from Cadence that any of this actually happened. Because I'm pretty sure it's taking place inside Pinkie's head.

Meanwhile, Twilight is blaming herself for everything. Putting too much on Pinkie's plate (like she can't eat it all), and being unsuccessful with the yakholes. With the accidental press of a secret button, the group stumbles upon Pinkie's Pinkie Cave. Which is a lab of sorts. A lab, Pinkie Pie style. Filled with party supplies, and as much information as any one person can have on everyone they know. It turns out, she doesn't have some kind of superbrain that stores all that information. She's so dedicated to her friendships and parties, she keeps everything on file. It's really cool, but at the same time, I liked the idea of her having that super memory that remembers all that stuff. Pinkie, back in her room, overhears the other ponies from her cave. I'm confused. Doesn't Pinkie live on the second floor of Sugarcube Corner? How could she hear through the floor all the way to what I guess is a basement? Actually, the trap door itself that the ponies found would just dump them off in the first floor of the business. Pinkie...Pinkie actually DOES have portals! She also has parties planned for the future, as well as the present. Pinkie has a revelation about the party, and uses her magic slide, which prompts the best line in the episode, from Fluttershy of all ponies. The sheep on the train track prevent the yaks from leaving, giving Pinkie the chance to finally throw them a party. More Lyra and Bonbon shipping. More Berry Punch with...well, punch, probably. So the ponies and yaks become friends for a thousand moons. Knowing the yaks, they'd probably attack Ponyville the very next day after that thousandth moon, just because. And we end the episode on Twilight taking all the credit.

This episode had a lot of good going for it. Twilight going Lesson Zero. Pinkie antics that were relevant to the plot. A new character and race. Even a little Celestia and Cadence (no Luna, but she gets hers soon). So, what was the problem? The yaks of course. The lesson the episode wanted to bring probably had something to do with trying too hard to please others and not looking a gift horse in the mouth. Lessons they already had early on in the series. But I think the real lesson is, just don't be a dick. Because that's all the yaks were. And the only thing at the end that came about was they promised not to war. Think about the redeemed villains so far. Nightmare Moon doesn't really count because she was basically somepony completely different. Discord is, well, he's chaos incarnate. You can't really fault him for anything he does. I'd say Sunset Shimmer was more redeemable than the yaks. She's the only villain so far that has been redeemed and was following her own emotions. Even with that, I think she's much more forgivable than the yaks. They destroyed the town. They declared war. All because the ponies didn't go all the way across the world to get some hay. That's evil. At least most of the antagonists on the show have some kind of positive quality. The yaks don't. Screw them. Good episode. Forgetful yaks. Forgetful in that we wipe them out of Equestria.

Sunset Shimmer was more redeemable.