Dark Qiviut

@Them's Seeing Ponies

Maturity in storytelling post-season 3 is beyond just the concepts. It’s also about the execution of said concepts as well as using those concepts to teach valuable lessons to kids. Just some examples off the top of my head:

1. Rarity Takes Manehattan: How someone’s ability to take advantage of her biggest quality (her generous spirit) almost resulted in her abandoning it.
2. Pinkie Pride: Trying to figure out whether your contributions mean something or not after seeing someone with a similar talent but superior craftsmanship.
3. Testing Testing: One person’s education works best when tailored to them. Just because you can’t be taught in one model doesn’t make you inferior than the rest.
4. Amending Fences: What might not be a big deal to you doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter at all. Twilight’s lack of empathy and consideration of her friends back in Canterlot caused someone who was in good standing with her to become reclusive.
5. Lost Mark: Despite every reason to be bitter towards Diamond Tiara, the CMCs worry for her well being and work with her to become better.
6. Marks & Recreation: Rumble doesn’t want to get a cutie mark, fearing that by doing so, he’ll be trapped in a predetermined box for the rest of his life. Rather than shun or mock him for it, the episode spends plenty of time letting us understand where he comes from and let’s him realize his irrationality without demonizing him, creating a gray story that paints him with sympathy.
7. Surf: The divorce episode, more specifically divorce through the eyes of a child. His parents are really good people, but little words that sound innocuous on the outside further fueled his confusion and belief that he must decide. Secondly, he feels that by choosing, he will let down part of his family, signaling that he feels guilty over it, a common feeling among children of divorced parents. That’s why his parents are the ones who primarily learn the lesson.
8. The Washouts: Even though your heart and concern are in the right place, your other actions can taint their perception of your motives. Dash’s dismissal of the Washouts and ego were balanced by her rightful concern of Scootaloo choosing to partake in Dust’s dangerous stunts, but Dust’s manipulation, Dash’s flaws, and “tough love” only propelled her to become more defiant.

FIM has had a grasp of examining more complicated themes to children, and it has done a really good job executing them, especially in the latter seasons. Because children are easily impressionable and supposed to grow as a result of these morals, teaching them these valuable lessons and examining them through FIM become all the more important.

@Dark Qiviut Season 4 is my favorite season, overall. 

Rarity Takes Manehattan, Pinkie Pride, Testing, Testing 1,2, 3,

Pinkie Apple Pie & of course, Twilight’s Kingdom.

Plus, a few other great episodes.

Well, to be fair, there are some parts of later seasons are worse compare to early seasons so it depends on whether you appreciate the best parts of them or not.