BastementSparkle

Anyway, I enjoyed this episode quite a bit for giving a closer look at Angel and Fluttershy's friendship, and I think this episode kind of explains Angel's bratty behavior. Angel is super lucky, far more lucky than most in that he has an actual friendship with a pony who can really, genuinely understand him. Most animals in the world of Equestria, despite their higher level of intelligence likely never get that, and even most animals who meet Fluttershy likely only see her temporarily for help, while Angel is one of her personal pets and is around her almost all the time. He's kind of spoiled in the way that, he has an actual pony friend he can communicate with, and he acts out when he feels like he's not getting her attention, because nopony else can really offer the same to him. I've always thought the Angel hate was kind overexaggerated, and I swear it's almost entirely due to "Putting your Hoof Down". He has his spoiled or bratty moments outside of that episode sure, but almost any time I actually talk with someone who hates the character, it's that one episode they love to point out again and again, and no wonder, it's his worst appearance in the series. He's a total jerk the whole time and even slaps Flutters, which is supposed to be a gag since he's a little bunny slapping a full-grown pony, but people take it super seriously. Angel has a lot of moments where he's helpful to her, actually. "Hurricane Fluttershy" where he's the one who comforts her by brushing her mane and helps her with her training, "Dragonshy" where he's the one who points out the smoke to her, "A Bird in the Hoof" where he's the one to remind her of Celestia's visit and the little party, "Scare Master" where he helps her come up with ideas for scaring her friends, etc. He's not always being mean to Flutters just to be mean, sometimes that "Meanness" is him trying to help by getting her attention or trying to get her out of her comfort zone and to do things she wouldn't do otherwise. Actually, I've kind of noticed that for all her shyness, Flutters seems drawn to people with more abrasive or aggressive attitudes. First example being Rainbow Dash, her oldest friend, and while Rainbow is loyal and often tries her best to be supportive, she's not always the most sensitive of ponies and often seems to have hard time really "Getting" Fluttershy and can maybe be a little too pushy sometimes. Her closest pet is Angel, as the second example. For the third and most extreme example, there's Discord, who's the literal spirit of chaos and a reformed villain. I think Fluttershy actually wants and appreciates people who try and push her to do things she wouldn't do otherwise, even if they aren't always the most easy to deal with.

I feel like Flutters wouldn't do this unless it was safe for the animals, considering that I have to assume the carnivores are capable of keeping a herbivorous diet in Equestria, at least temporarily. Equestrian animals are already clearly not necessarily the same as real world animals, as they have enough intelligence for Fluttershy to be able to speak to them seemingly in the same way she could any pony and since they have things like book clubs, so they can apparently even read.

Objectively? I'm not sure really, I've always found it a little silly to even try to rank things in that way, as personal opinion and taste plays so much into how we enjoy media and art. Subjectively, however, it's easily #1 for me. It's not even really a competition, since MLP isn't just my favorite cartoon of the decade, or even my favorite cartoon in general, it's just plain out my favorite show of all time. Can't tell you exactly why, but back in that magical day in 2011 when I first stumbled upon the show's opening two parter I've been smitten and obsessed with this show, and my interest has pretty much never dropped. I've had some fun with other cartoons, sure. I enjoyed Adventure Time a lot once I got past some of it's oddities, Steven Universe and Star VS were pretty fun for a while until I eventually got bored, and I still like Rick and Morty when I'm feeling particularly cynical...but nothing's quite stolen my heart like ponies. I've tried some other cartoons too, but most of them just failed to really capture my interest. Meanwhile, I feel like I could happily watch MLP for another full 9 seasons (Or even more!) if that was possible. If I had to rank like a top 5, I guess it'd go like this: MLP: FIM Adventure Time Steven Universe. Rick and Morty. Star Vs the Forces of Evil.

Put show on loop. From season 1 episode 1 to Season 9 episode 25, just before the final episode. Show never reaches it's end, ponies are stuck in an eternal time loop as you rewatch and rewatch and rewatch until you can quote nearly the whole series word for word. You don't need other shows, you just need ponies. You. just. need. ponies.

Are we sure he couldn't? The ending of the episode where he makes a comment about how the girls just might be ready to take on what's coming seems to imply he knows something about what's going on...He's just not doing anything about it.

Well, he was planning to, just that Chrysalis's throne kinda threw a wrench in that. Still, the second he heard Flutters was captured he looked about ready to summon up a giant fly swatter on Chrysalis. So, I still stand behind what I said, he helps when it's necessary, otherwise he sits back on the sidelines so they don't become dependent on him and can grow...and also probably to enjoy the show, of course.

Nah, he was still willing to step up and help in the Season 6 finale. I figure his schtick is that he only steps in to help when absolutely necessary.

I think Gallus kind of works better as a representative of Griffons though, the thing about Gabby is that she's totally different from what we've seen of Griffon culture generally. I feel like each of the Student Six is supposed to sort of represent their culture in general, and to maybe show us there's a bit more to each of them than what we think, and Gabby doesn't really fit that kind of idea.

I'm here! But who do I command? I have no ideas! Uhh...I summon my most recent profile visitor! @FeatherStream, would you kindly post?

I thought this episode overall was pretty fun, lot's of great comedy, good jokes, funny expressions, "A whole new level of Twilighting", etc. This episode was worth it for the comedy alone. I could complain about how this is probably the worst Twilight has ever acted in an episode...But she learned her lesson by the end and apologized pretty genuinely. I can understand disliking this episode for it's characterization of Twi, especially if the humor doesn't work for you, but this isn't a character assassination episode, I don't think it's somehow so awful it completely ruins Twi's character or makes her unlikable, no more than Pinkie is unlikable for "Filli Vanilli" or Fluttershy is "Putting your Hoof Down" or any number of other characters are for their worst showings. Twilight is still best pony in my books.

I'm a little concerned they're going to stick with the Mane Six and the rest of the FIM cast, but in a new universe, rather than just creating a new cast of characters. Here's my thing, if G5 was gonna be a follow-up to G4 set in the same universe, I'd be happy to follow up with any of the major characters from this show, especially the Mane Six, since they're straight up some of my favorite characters of all time. But, if they go the full on reboot route and create a new world but stick with the same characters, it's gonna affect the way I view the new show, since I'll be sitting there the whole time thinking things like "Yeah, this Twi might be cool and all...but she's not MY Twilight." Maybe that's not fair, but it's rather consistent with how I tend to view reboots of shows or things I like in general, I get heavily attached to characters and thus can't ever get the same degree of love for their reboot versions. I'm pretty indifferent to the concept of G5 in general. I'm not really worried about it or excited about it, far as I'm concerned it's a different show from the one I love and there's no real reason to worry or get excited yet, for me the best way to get my attention would be to just make a totally different show from FIM in a lot of ways and let it stand on it's own four hooves.

Well, I haven't seen the finale yet but overall I like what they've done with this Season so far and think it's acting as a pretty good final season for the show. But still, if you wanna keep watching MLP you'll kinda just have to accept Hasbro has control here and at the end of the day, what they say is what goes. I don't think the "journey matters more than the destination" is a delusion at all, even if this show had been quietly cancelled at some point, that still wouldn't change the great characters, fun stories and wonderful world it introduced us to. I hope the show ends on a high note too, but even if not that doesn't somehow erase everything good it's done before.

I'm pretty sure G4 ending was entirely a decision on Hasbro's part, though based on the leaks the show staff have known about it for quite a while. I believe Jim Miller even mentioned on his twitter a while back that they had ideas they wanted to do that aren't happening. But that's not that surprising, let's be honest here, when the show ended was never going to be up to the show staff, that was always going to be up to Hasbro. I'm curious what ideas were had that will never be seen now though.

Yes, I absolutely would want a 10th season. 26 more episodes of my favorite show, and it actually getting to celebrate it's 10th anniversary? Why wouldn't I want that? Especially since in my opinion, the show is still as good as ever. Hard to say for certain without having seen the finale, but I still think there's potential for one too even with the way Season 9 is ending. A season to see how the Mane Six run Equestria, what Celestia and Luna do with their retirement, Starlight running the school, etc. It'd be neat to see all that, and a 10th season could be used to tie up a few more loose ends that Season 9 might not get around to. Might be a little hard to top the villain team-up for a finale threat, but I think it could be done. Plus, 10 is just a great number to end on in general. Sad we aren't getting that, kinda gives the feeling of the show ending just a little too early to end at 9, even though logically I know it's gone on way longer than most shows get to and had a good run.

It's helped me to stay relatively happy and given me something to look forward to over the years. It's not at all an exaggeration to say that there were even a few times in life where this show was pretty much the only reason I bothered to get out of bed at all. It gave me something to look forward to when I had nothing else and always managed to put a smile on my face when I really needed it. I'm honestly not sure where I'd be now if it wasn't for this show, but if I was around at all, I think there's a pretty good chance I'd be a much more miserable person in general. On top of that, it got me into really interacting with a fandom for the first time ever, where I've seen a ton of amazing fanworks and met a lot of really cool people. Especially my best friend @Deae Rising Shine~, who I'd probably have never met without this show, so I owe it a ton for that.

@Deae Rising Shine~ I don't have any Pie shaped planets. So have some Pinkie Pie's instead! *Throws them at Rising*

Thanks @Deae Rising Shine~! Wanna guess what I got you? It's a...heart shaped planet! I'm running out of planets.

Why thank you @Deae Rising Shine~! How convenient since I just got you this Pizza planet! It was a buy one, get one free with the chocolate planet.

A transporter full of chocolate from @Deae Rising Shine~? What a coincidence, since I just got him a chocolate planet! Don't ask how.

Haven't seen Princess Trixie, no. Anyway, it is an interesting idea, but I don't really think splitting a show into two like this is the best idea. Either it will double the workload of the shows staff who has to produce twice the amount of content in doing two shows at the same time, or they basically do the same amount of content for a single show and split it into two, which at that point why not just have one show? You can do both slice of life and arcs together, maybe mix the two a little more than this total separation, but still. There's just really no need to have two shows going like this, it complicates things more than necessary.

I think the opening where she lists all of the other Mane Six's accomplishments does a decent job at explaining Pinkie's thought process here. Lot's of things have changed since back when she sang that Smile song, Rarity opened multiple boutiques, Rainbow became a Wonderbolt, Fluttershy conquered most of her shyness and opened an animal sanctuary, Twilight became a Princess and is even set to rule Equestria soon, etc. Only her and AJ have really stayed mostly the same, and she's feeling a little left behind. Now she hears that even Cheeses has "Moved on" and opened up this Gag factory too. People's "Purpose" can change, you can be totally content with your life and know what you want to do at one point, then change your mind later. Of course, by the end of the episode Pinkie realizes that she actually does still know her purpose, just like Cheese she's a party pony who needs to be out there making ponies laugh and smile.

Sounds overcomplicated and like a lot of work. Literally trying to do two shows with the same characters in the same continuity at the exact same time? It's one thing to have a spin-off set in the same continuity, but you shouldn't need to split a show into two like this. Just pick a direction and stick with it, either adventure, slice of life, or a mix. If you need a second show to "Build your characters" that means you aren't doing it in the other one and that's a problem.

How am I supposed to pick only one? I'm going to miss them all! The Mane Six, the CMC, the Royal Sisters, Starlight and Trixie, Spike, Discord, the Villains, even the Student Six! All of these characters I've either known and loved for years or only just barely gotten to know and now won't get much more of a chance. You want me to pick just one? ...Okay, maybe I'll miss Twilight just a teeny tiny bit more than all the others, but really only a little. I love these characters so much.