Now, with that episode out (the least interesting out of them in comparison), this season is actually picking up in quality with the other three and oh boy, it definitely shows.

A Heart´s Warming Club, the pure definition why I don´t like judging a book by its cover.
When someone says that this show has lost its charm because of the new characters, new writers or because the fantasy is gone, yes, things are different, we are not going back to the simpler times. If you wanted to keep this show forever, we would have to move somewhere else and here we have it, the student 6. Not only discussing about who was the guilty that ruined their vacation but delivering the world building with a very correct placement.

Non Compete Clause failed to give them a fair chance but this one did it instead.
Sandbar is defined as the annoying character and stereotype of one would imagine from the pony race. His backstory and over the edge stories define how funnily uninteresting he is, intentionally. Also, he fails at singing as well. However, he has a chill personality and very down to earth (literally) for any decision, so that´s an advantage for the whole group in terms of coexistence.
SilverStream, even more chill and overly happy about literally anything. Cuteness overloaded when she tries to smash the bucket with her light weight by imitating Yona. Promoting her village as a touristic place and probably the most complete Heart´s Warming out of the bunch.
Smolder: she is an angel in comparison to the other dragons. The whole race tradition has consisted in doing a Game of Thrones dynamic, betraying and manipulating each other in order to reach the power, despite the leader´s good will. Not saying that with Ember has changed but they have fortunately reduced that tradition to a lesser extent but oh boy, Scales, the pure definition of a seemingly innocent traitor.
Yona: NOT PERFECT! YAK SMASH!In Heart´s Warming too? As expected, even the other students got bored of her story because of that repetitive act. One cannot deny that the yaks are together and join for that destruction party with so much passion.
Ocellus: Changelings have changed a lot, aren´t they? Like with Silverstream and Yona, Ocellus and company do not fail with cuteness. They literally followed Twilight´s indications for celebrating the event (facepalm with the tree part) and she seemed to have a strong desire to repeat it. Not sure if that´s the most proper way to celebrate it but hey, they are not attacking Canterlot like in the past.

But as always, one would expect to have a clear guilty, just that Gallus, save for a couple of gestures from his own eyes in a few scenes, you wouldn´t notice him. His backstory is to say the least, heart wrenching. He turns out to be an orphan and he describes that gryphons are from having a prosperous society. Really anticlimatic past for a Christmas episode and he was prepared to take the vacations on the school because in his town, he wouldn´t be happy at all.

This is how you define new characters, even if it´s by random cute stories, but you warm up with them, you get a clear vision from what you would expect. This tradition showed their own human side for a collective event and we got to know where they actually come from and how they differ between them-

In 22 minutes, you get charm from the new 6 characters, lore, funny and cute moments everywhere and an emotional resolution at the top of the cake. One of the best episodes of this season.