The Parent Map follows a really meta formula in which the parents (and the protagonist) deconstruct the concept being called for a friendship problem by the map.

You will notice how they make fun of it by spoiling the whole process throughout the episode...and I admire that. The writers were poisoning the dialogue and the actions coming from the parents just to display how ridiculous the concept is by using comedy and putting their children in awkward moments. All of that while trying to justify the context of both Sunburst and Star Light.

I appreciate this episode more than I did back in 2018. It might be either because of hunger or the fact that at the time, I was seeing this as another one to add without giving it much importance. The pace feels...organic. I haven´t felt any sense of rushing any events for this one. Just a little town, 4 characters and a very small conflict for an almost inconsequential setting.

For those who miss Ponyville and the early seasons, while this episode happens in a new location, make no mistake, this episode doesn´t have any "alien" elements from the 8th season (for the community back in 2018. The students have had time to flesh out since then) and thus, there is a comfy familiar vibe with two characters that weren´t introduced in the first seasons.

It´s not an episode that you would claim as a highlight at first because while it doesn´t display anything wrong, it does feel like an average little episode that you wouldn´t scream as anything amazing yet it has aged pretty nicely. It holds up but I don´t see much discussion around it except seeing a few pictures of Stellar Flare back and forth in very niche circles. As a result, I have decided to discuss and retake this episode that came and went without inducing any special reactions nor much noise and has ended up a little bit in limbo.

I knew that it was good back when I reviewed it. While it lacks that punch of turning into an instant classic, it´s really but really really solid all the way through. By giving it another try, I can claim with assurance that this material deserve to be mentioned as a highlight and worth revisiting in hindsight.