| "The Crystal Empire" | |
|---|---|
| My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes | |
 The Mane Six, Spike, and Shining Armor flee from King Sombra in the Frozen North | |
| Episode nos. | Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2 |
| Directed by | James Wootton |
| Written by | Meghan McCarthy |
| Featured music |
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| Editing by |
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| Original air date | November 10, 2012 |
| Running time | 44 minutes (combined) |
| Guest appearances | |
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"The Crystal Empire" is the collective name for the first and second episodes of the third season of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic as well as the fifty-third and fifty-fourth episodes of the series overall. Both parts of the episode were first broadcast on The Hub on November 10, 2012. It was written by Meghan McCarthy, and directed by series director James Wootton.
The episode centers on the reappearance of the Crystal Empire after previously being cursed over a thousand years ago by its tyrant ruler King Sombra before his banishment. Fearing that the power of the Crystal Ponies could be used for evil, Princess Celestia sends Twilight Sparkle and her friends to help Princess Cadance and Shining Armor to protect the Empire from King Sombra's attack.
On its initial airing, the episode achieved the highest viewership for a Friendship Is Magic premiere and continued a growth in viewership for the series from the previous year. It received mixed to positive reviews from critics. While they enjoyed the story, the emotional disconnect and one-dimensional nature of the villain were cited as detractors.