Uncommon Bond

Uncommon Bond
Season №:	7
Season episode №:	24
Overall episode №:	167
Original airdate:	October 15, 2017[aired early in Canada] October 21, 2017 (Discovery Family)
Written by:	Josh Haber and Kevin Lappin
Storyboard:	Marta Demong and Kat Dela Cruz
Featured characters:	Starlight Glimmer Sunburst Trixie Maud Pie
See also
credits • transcript • gallery • allusions animation errors • statistics • speculation
Episode guide
Previous Secrets and Pies	Next Shadow Play - Part 1

Uncommon Bond is the twenty-fourth episode of season seven of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the one hundred and sixty-seventh overall.^[1] The title is a play on the phrase "common bond".

In this episode, Starlight Glimmer gets a visit from Sunburst and discovers he has a lot in common with her friends, causing her to wonder if he still has anything in common with her.

Production

This episode premiered on Canada's Treehouse TV channel on October 15, 2017, six days prior to its scheduled airing on Discovery Family. It was also scheduled to air on Polish television channel MiniMini+ on October 19, 2017, but it was replaced with a rerun of Hard to Say Anything.

The episode was leaked online on October 7, 2017.​​​​^[2][3]

Summary

A lot in common

At the Ponyville train station, Starlight Glimmer anxiously awaits the arrival of Sunburst, bragging to several ponies that she has more in common with him than any other pony in Equestria. When Sunburst arrives, Starlight looks forward to spending time with him and doing all the things they used to do together, like practice magic and play games. However, Sunburst also wants to do some antiquing, an activity that Starlight had no idea he was interested in.

At the antique store, Sunburst marvels at the various antiques and relics on display, but Starlight shows barely any interest. The two run into Twilight Sparkle, and she and Sunburst bond over their shared interest in antiquing, causing Starlight to feel left out. Sunburst notices her lack of enthusiasm and says she doesn't have to pretend to like antiquing, but Starlight appreciates how much he likes it himself, even as Twilight and Sunburst bond further at the Castle of Friendship.

When Twilight and Sunburst notice how left out Starlight is feeling, they ask her what she wants to do, and Starlight takes out her and Sunburst's favorite board game from when they were little: Dragon Pit. After an afternoon of playing, Starlight helps Sunburst get settled in. She tries to discuss what they'll do together the next day, but all Sunburst can talk about is how well he and Twilight get along.

"I probably have more in common with Twilight than any pony in Equestria!"

— Sunburst

Magic and geology

The next day, Starlight wakes Sunburst up before the sun's barely even begun to rise. With Twilight busy with her princess duties, Starlight is excited to spend time with Sunburst alone. She takes him to see the apple trees at Sweet Apple Acres, and when Starlight demonstrates some applebucking, she drops some apples on Trixie's head. Trixie offers to show the two a new escape trick she's been working on, and Sunburst eagerly accepts. Unfortunately, the trick doesn't go well, prompting Sunburst and Starlight to assist.

Being interested in stage magic himself, Sunburst unexpectedly bonds with Trixie as well and they share stage tricks with each other, causing Starlight to feel left out again. Later that day, Starlight takes Sunburst to see the magical Mirror Pool, and they run into Maud Pie, whose new cavern home is connected to the Mirror Pool's chamber. As Maud continues her geological studies, Sunburst joins her, having a moderate interest in geology as well. Once again, Starlight feels left out and leaves.

Halcyon days of youth

Soon after, Twilight finds Starlight sulking by herself in the castle library. Starlight confides in Twilight that she and Sunburst had so much in common when they were little, but now she feels like he has more in common with her friends than he does with her. Twilight tells her that everyone changes over time and that they still have a common interest in magic, and this gives Starlight an idea.

Some time later, Sunburst meets up with Starlight in the throne room, and Starlight shows him a new spell she invented. She uses her magic to turn the throne room into their old childhood home and revert themselves to the size of foals so they could relive their foal days of playing Dragon Pit together. Sunburst, uncomfortable with the lengths to which Starlight is going to spend time with him, angrily says he doesn't want to play, and Starlight undoes the effects of her spell. When Twilight enters to see what's going on, Starlight leaves the throne room in tears.

"I was trying to have fun doing the one thing I thought we still had in common, but I guess we don't even have that anymore."

— Starlight Glimmer

What we have in common

Sunburst consults with Twilight on the situation and claims, even though he gets along well with Starlight's friends, he and Starlight still have plenty in common. Twilight advises Sunburst to remind Starlight of what those things are. To this end, he consults Trixie and Maud about what they have in common with Starlight. However, he learns that he doesn't have the same things in common with Starlight that they do, like Starlight and Trixie's troubled pasts and Starlight and Maud's shared feeling of being different from others.

Twilight guides Starlight to the library, with Starlight feeling like she and Sunburst have grown so far apart that he doesn't want to be her friend anymore. Twilight proves her wrong by showing her what Sunburst, Trixie, and Maud put together in the library: a life-sized version of Dragon Pit. Starlight is touched by Sunburst's gesture and joins in.

Epilogue

A few days later, Starlight, Twilight, Trixie, and Maud see Sunburst off at the train station when he leaves. Starlight and Sunburst agree that it doesn't matter what they have in common as long as they enjoy each other's company. As Sunburst leaves on the Friendship Express for the Crystal Empire, he looks through the mystery contents of a barrel he bought at the antique store. One of the items inside is an old, musty book with Star Swirl the Bearded's cutie mark on the cover.

Quotes

For more quotes, see the episode's transcript.

Starlight Glimmer: Excuse me. When does the noon train from the Crystal Empire arrive?

"All Aboard": Uh... noon?

Sunburst: You don't have to pretend to like all this stuff.

Starlight Glimmer: What? No! I do like it. I mean, if you like it, I like it.

Sunburst: Did you see this Palominian letter opener?

Twilight Sparkle: Wow! That goes well with this ancient phoenix feather quill! We could write to each other!

Twilight Sparkle and Sunburst: Pen pals!

Sunburst: I know she's a princess, but I never thought she'd be so fun to just hang out with.

Starlight Glimmer: Well, she is the Princess of Friendship.

Starlight Glimmer: Trixie? What are you doing here?

Trixie: Huh. I often seek the privacy of the orchard to practice new feats of amazement. And also, I fell asleep.

Trixie: Starlight, why didn't you tell me how much Sunburst and I had in common?

Starlight Glimmer: [sarcastic] Gee. I don't know.

Maud Pie: I'm studying this area's metamorphic—

Sunburst: —foliation. Is this gneiss, phyllite, or slate? Wow. The pressure above must be pretty uniform to get the planar fabric to be this consistent.

Maud Pie: You know about geology?

Sunburst: Eh, I dabble.

Twilight Sparkle: Where's Sunburst?

Starlight Glimmer: [mumbles "I don't know"] Doing stage magic with Trixie? Studying new rocks with Maud?

Sunburst: It is surprising how well I get along with all of her friends, but she and I still have tons in common.

Twilight Sparkle: Maybe you just need to remind her what those things are.

Sunburst: That's it! That's exactly what I'll do! Uh, right after I think of them.

Trixie: I can think of something you have in common. You're both poor practice audiences.

Maud Pie: I'm very funny.

Sunburst: Was that a joke?

Maud Pie: No.

Sunburst: Oh.

Twilight Sparkle: You still want to be friends, right?

Starlight Glimmer: I created a spell so we could relive playing a game in our childhood home... and bodies.

Starlight Glimmer: I want to hear if you find anything interesting in that barrel.

Sunburst: Trust me, Starlight. You'll be the first to know.

Gallery

Uncommon Bond image gallery

References

v • e Episodes, films, and animated shorts

Friendship is Magic

Season one Episode 1 Friendship is Magic, part 1 Episode 2 Friendship is Magic, part 2 Episode 3 The Ticket Master Episode 4 Applebuck Season Episode 5 Griffon the Brush Off Episode 6 Boast Busters Episode 7 Dragonshy Episode 8 Look Before You Sleep Episode 9 Bridle Gossip Episode 10 Swarm of the Century Episode 11 Winter Wrap Up Episode 12 Call of the Cutie Episode 13 Fall Weather Friends Episode 14 Suited For Success Episode 15 Feeling Pinkie Keen Episode 16 Sonic Rainboom Episode 17 Stare Master Episode 18 The Show Stoppers Episode 19 A Dog and Pony Show Episode 20 Green Isn't Your Color Episode 21 Over a Barrel Episode 22 A Bird in the Hoof Episode 23 The Cutie Mark Chronicles Episode 24 Owl's Well That Ends Well Episode 25 Party of One Episode 26 The Best Night Ever Season two Episode 1 The Return of Harmony Part 1 Episode 2 The Return of Harmony Part 2 Episode 3 Lesson Zero Episode 4 Luna Eclipsed Episode 5 Sisterhooves Social Episode 6 The Cutie Pox Episode 7 May the Best Pet Win! Episode 8 The Mysterious Mare Do Well Episode 9 Sweet and Elite Episode 10 Secret of My Excess Episode 11 Hearth's Warming Eve Episode 12 Family Appreciation Day Episode 13 Baby Cakes Episode 14 The Last Roundup Episode 15 The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Episode 16 Read It and Weep Episode 17 Hearts and Hooves Day Episode 18 A Friend in Deed Episode 19 Putting Your Hoof Down Episode 20 It's About Time Episode 21 Dragon Quest Episode 22 Hurricane Fluttershy Episode 23 Ponyville Confidential Episode 24 MMMystery on the Friendship Express Episode 25 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 Episode 26 A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 Season three Episode 1 The Crystal Empire - Part 1 Episode 2 The Crystal Empire - Part 2 Episode 3 Too Many Pinkie Pies Episode 4 One Bad Apple Episode 5 Magic Duel Episode 6 Sleepless in Ponyville Episode 7 Wonderbolts Academy Episode 8 Apple Family Reunion Episode 9 Spike at Your Service Episode 10 Keep Calm and Flutter On Episode 11 Just for Sidekicks Episode 12 Games Ponies Play Episode 13 Magical Mystery Cure Season four Episode 1 Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1 Episode 2 Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2 Episode 3 Castle Mane-ia Episode 4 Daring Don't Episode 5 Flight to the Finish Episode 6 Power Ponies Episode 7 Bats! Episode 8 Rarity Takes Manehattan Episode 9 Pinkie Apple Pie Episode 10 Rainbow Falls Episode 11 Three's A Crowd Episode 12 Pinkie Pride Episode 13 Simple Ways Episode 14 Filli Vanilli Episode 15 Twilight Time Episode 16 It Ain't Easy Being Breezies Episode 17 Somepony to Watch Over Me Episode 18 Maud Pie Episode 19 For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils Episode 20 Leap of Faith Episode 21 Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 Episode 22 Trade Ya! Episode 23 Inspiration Manifestation Episode 24 Equestria Games Episode 25 Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1 Episode 26 Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2 Season five Episode 1 The Cutie Map - Part 1 Episode 2 The Cutie Map - Part 2 Episode 3 Castle Sweet Castle Episode 4 Bloom & Gloom Episode 5 Tanks for the Memories Episode 6 Appleoosa's Most Wanted Episode 7 Make New Friends but Keep Discord Episode 8 The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone Episode 9 Slice of Life Episode 10 Princess Spike Episode 11 Party Pooped Episode 12 Amending Fences Episode 13 Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? Episode 14 Canterlot Boutique Episode 15 Rarity Investigates! Episode 16 Made in Manehattan Episode 17 Brotherhooves Social Episode 18 Crusaders of the Lost Mark Episode 19 The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows Episode 20 Hearthbreakers Episode 21 Scare Master Episode 22 What About Discord? Episode 23 The Hooffields and McColts Episode 24 The Mane Attraction Episode 25 The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 1 Episode 26 The Cutie Re-Mark - Part 2 Season six Episode 1 The Crystalling - Part 1 Episode 2 The Crystalling - Part 2 Episode 3 The Gift of the Maud Pie Episode 4 On Your Marks Episode 5 Gauntlet of Fire Episode 6 No Second Prances Episode 7 Newbie Dash Episode 8 A Hearth's Warming Tail Episode 9 The Saddle Row Review Episode 10 Applejack's "Day" Off Episode 11 Flutter Brutter Episode 12 Spice Up Your Life Episode 13 Stranger Than Fan Fiction Episode 14 The Cart Before the Ponies Episode 15 28 Pranks Later Episode 16 The Times They Are A Changeling Episode 17 Dungeons & Discords Episode 18 Buckball Season Episode 19 The Fault in Our Cutie Marks Episode 20 Viva Las Pegasus Episode 21 Every Little Thing She Does Episode 22 P.P.O.V. (Pony Point of View) Episode 23 Where the Apple Lies Episode 24 Top Bolt Episode 25 To Where and Back Again - Part 1 Episode 26 To Where and Back Again - Part 2 Season seven Episode 1 Celestial Advice Episode 2 All Bottled Up Episode 3 A Flurry of Emotions Episode 4 Rock Solid Friendship Episode 5 Fluttershy Leans In Episode 6 Forever Filly Episode 7 Parental Glideance Episode 8 Hard to Say Anything Episode 9 Honest Apple Episode 10 A Royal Problem Episode 11 Not Asking for Trouble Episode 12 Discordant Harmony Episode 13 The Perfect Pear Episode 14 Fame and Misfortune Episode 15 Triple Threat Episode 16 Campfire Tales Episode 17 To Change a Changeling Episode 18 Daring Done? Episode 19 It Isn't the Mane Thing About You Episode 20 A Health of Information Episode 21 Marks and Recreation Episode 22 Once Upon a Zeppelin Episode 23 Secrets and Pies Episode 24 Uncommon Bond Episode 25 Shadow Play - Part 1 Episode 26 Shadow Play - Part 2 Season eight Episode 1 School Daze - Part 1 Episode 2 School Daze - Part 2 Episode 3 The Maud Couple Episode 4 Fake It 'Til You Make It Episode 5 Grannies Gone Wild Episode 6 Surf and/or Turf Episode 7 Horse Play Episode 8 The Parent Map Episode 9 Non-Compete Clause Episode 10 The Break Up Break Down Episode 11 Molt Down Episode 12 Marks for Effort Episode 13 The Mean 6 Episode 14 A Matter of Principals Episode 15 The Hearth's Warming Club Episode 16 Friendship University Episode 17 The End in Friend Episode 18 Yakity-Sax Episode 19 Road to Friendship Episode 20 The Washouts Episode 21 A Rockhoof and a Hard Place Episode 22 What Lies Beneath Episode 23 Sounds of Silence Episode 24 Father Knows Beast Episode 25 School Raze - Part 1 Episode 26 School Raze - Part 2 Season nine Episode 1 The Beginning of the End - Part 1 Episode 2 The Beginning of the End - Part 2 Episode 3 Uprooted Episode 4 Sparkle's Seven Episode 5 The Point of No Return Episode 6 Common Ground Episode 7 She's All Yak Episode 8 Frenemies Episode 9 Sweet and Smoky Episode 10 Going to Seed Episode 11 Student Counsel Episode 12 The Last Crusade Episode 13 Between Dark and Dawn Episode 14 The Last Laugh Episode 15 2, 4, 6, Greaaat Episode 16 A Trivial Pursuit Episode 17 The Summer Sun Setback Episode 18 She Talks to Angel Episode 19 Dragon Dropped Episode 20 A Horse Shoe-In Episode 21 Daring Doubt Episode 22 Growing Up is Hard to Do Episode 23 The Big Mac Question Episode 24 The Ending of the End - Part 1 Episode 25 The Ending of the End - Part 2 Episode 26 The Last Problem Clip shows Episode 1 A-Dressing Memories Episode 2 Cakes for the Memories Episode 3 Memnagerie Episode 4 Deep Tissue Memories Episode 5 Harvesting Memories Episode 6 Memories and More

Pony Life

Season one Episode 1 Princess Probz Episode 2 The Best of the Worst Episode 3 How Applejack Got Her Hat Back Episode 4 Cute-pocalypse Meow Episode 5 Bad Thing No. 3 Episode 6 Pinkie Pie: Hyper-Helper Episode 7 The Trail Less Trotten Death of a Sales-Pony Episode 8 Bighoof Walking The Fluttershy Effect Episode 9 The Fast and the Furriest Disappearing Act Episode 10 Badge of Shame Discord's Peak Episode 11 A Camping We Will Go Campfire Stories Episode 12 Friendship Gems Dol-FIN-ale Episode 13 Potion Mystery Sick Day Episode 14 Meet Potion Nova! Pony Surfin' Safari Episode 15 All Bottled Up All That Jitters Episode 16 I, Cookie Keynote Pie Episode 17 Ponies of the Moment One Click Wonder Episode 18 Zound Off Unboxing Day Episode 19 Don't Look a GIF Horse in the Mouth The Root of It Episode 20 The Mysterious Voice The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies Episode 21 Game Knight Director Spike's Mockumentary Episode 22 Whoof-dunnit Dear Tabby Episode 23 Pie vs. Pie Superb Six Episode 24 The Debut Taunt Flutterdash Episode 25 The Rarity Report The Great Divide Episode 26 The Great Collide Sportacular Spectacular Musical Musak-ular Season two Episode 1 Cute Impact The Crystal Capturing Contraption Episode 2 The Comet Section Cotton Candy-Colored Glasses Episode 3 Close Encounters of the Balloon Kind The Tiara of Truth Episode 4 Terrorarium Bubble Trouble Episode 5 Time After Time Capsule The Great Cowgirl Hat Robbery Episode 6 Planet of the Apps Back to the Present Episode 7 Magical Mare-story Tour Life of Pie Episode 8 The Rarest of Occasions Portal Combat Episode 9 What Goes Updo Communication Shakedown Episode 10 Lolly-Pop Little Miss Fortune Episode 11 Playwright or Wrong The Shows Must Go On Episode 12 The De-Stress Ball Mad Props Episode 13 Magic is Ahoof Journey to the Center of the 'Cord Episode 14 One Last Wish Wild Heart Beats

Make Your Mark
Episode 1 Izzy Does It	Episode 2 Growing Pains	Episode 3 Portrait of a Princess	Episode 4 Ali-Conned
Episode 5 The Cutie Mark Mix-Up	Episode 6 The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over	Episode 7 Hoof Done It?	Episode 8 Have You Seen This Dragon?
Episode 9 Top Remodel	Episode 10 The Jinxie Games	Episode 11 Sunny Side Up	Episode 12 The Manesquerade Ball
Episode 13 A Little Horse	Episode 14 Missing the Mark	Episode 15 Cutie Blossom Bash	Episode 16 Family Trees Pt. 1
Episode 17 Family Trees Pt. 2	Episode 18 Father of the Bridlewood	Episode 19 Mane Smelody	Episode 20 Nightmare on Mane Street
Episode 21 The Isle of Scaly‎‎	Episode 22 Roots of All Evil Pt. 1‎	Episode 23 Roots of All Evil Pt. 2

Feature films
Equestria Girls	Rainbow Rocks	Friendship Games	Legend of Everfree
	My Little Pony The Movie	A New Generation

Specials
Dance Magic	Movie Magic	Mirror Magic	Forgotten Friendship
Rollercoaster of Friendship	Best Gift Ever	Spring Breakdown	Rainbow Roadtrip
Sunset's Backstage Pass	Holidays Unwrapped	Make Your Mark	Winter Wishday
	Bridlewoodstock	Secrets of Starlight

Animated shorts
Rainbow Rocks shorts	Friendship Games shorts	Summertime Shorts	Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 1)
Equestria Girls: Better Together (season 2)	Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 1)	Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending (season 2)	Equestria Girls Minis
Baby Flurry Heart's Heartfelt Scrapbook	Rarity's Peek Behind the Boutique	Fundamentals of Magic	My Little Pony Established 1983
Friendship is Magic shorts	Hello Pinkie Pie	Stop Motion Shorts	Tell Your Tale (season 1)
Tell Your Tale (season 2)