AlbaTross

I didn't mind this one for the most part. Hopefully the worst episodes of TYT (and G5 in general) are behind us. The last couple episodes have been fine, I guess. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing any sign of things getting any better either. The song in this episode is also...fine, I guess, but is definitely not on the same level as what Ingram used to produce for G4.

In light of the way the series seems to be going several months into the future, I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro were to pull the plug early, though time will tell, and a lot will most certainly hinge on MYM being good (yes, I'm still holding onto hope for that).

I enjoyed this one just fine. It's a bit tropey, and certainly doesn't change my opinion on G5, but I think Zipp and Pipp sister moments are one of the best things this series has going for it as they're about as close as this gen seems to get to actual character development. I do like how this episode especially acknowledges how two siblings can have very different pursuits in life, yet still get one another on a deeper level, which certainly makes up for the tropey "magic turned ____ into babies" plot. Get used to it as "something magic happens" makes for a convenient plot template, and we wouldn't want G5's writers to try too hard...

I finally decided to check out this discussion, because why the heck not? I get the sense it's way overpriced even for people who are really into G5. I think I'll wait, for both a cheaper price, and for G5 to get good enough to win me over like FiM did to the extent that I would consider buying a videogame tie-in, and this is coming from someone who's an avid gamer.

So...are they going for a Super Sayan reference with Sunny's transformations now? Regardless, I'll take any development we can get for Sunny. It's the best Sunny episode so far IMHO...although that's not saying a lot since the bar wasn't very high to begin with. Still, I think this is one of the better episodes in this series...which also isn't saying a lot, but that's still more than I expected from a Sunny episode, so I'll take it. I wouldn't call it perfect, or even fantastic...but I'll settle for decent or even, dare I say, good. Izzy's still a combination of annoying and useless, but at least she's not being a psychotic sociopath, so I guess that's an improvement. Pipp being G5 Rarity isn't out of character for her, and I kind of knew she was being used as a character who starts the ball rolling, so her role checks out, even if she's being portrayed as a bit shortsighted. Zipp turning to danger as her solution reeks a bit too much of the series trying to make her G5 Rainbow Dash IMHO. If there's one thing I appreciate about her that sets her apart from being a poor man's Rainbow Dash is that she's more reserved, and more importantly, is more practical. I don't think playing up her tomboy antics is entirely out of character, but she's being made out to be daft for the sake of the plot, and I wouldn't say that's entirely ideal. My feelings about Hitch in this episode are conflicted, as I have conflicting views about him that may border on hypocrisy, and it's possible I've placed him in a corner where he can't truly win in my book. With that said, I like that the episode plays up his down to Equestria, voice of reason side, and he's not part of some contrived gag at his expense. However...I'm also feeling like he's sometimes played up as a bit of a Gary Stu, as he definitely has that kind of moment here, being portrayed as great with foals, and having at least the core of the solution, with it being hackneyed, "believe in what's in your own heart" type BS. Overall though, I think it's positive as that moment plays on the subtle notion that this is somepony who has known Sunny her whole life and would know how to speak to her better than the others, much like how the Pegasus Sisters get one another on a deeper level than anypony else. It even makes up for Hitch being left out of the episode until that point. So...overall, I'll definitely give this one a thumbs up. It's just one thumb up for me, but given that this series rarely gets better than a sideways thumb for me (and frequently dips into thumbs down territory), this episode is a nice change of pace. I still think Sunny is the most bland character of the Mane Five, but at least she's getting some semblance of development, so:

I don't know, I personally really like Spike, Big Mac and Discord. Shining Armor is a joke, sure, but he's a much more minor character. Starswirl and the other male pillars are also pretty lit IMHO. None of the characters in G5, male or female, have yet to really strike a chord with me like much of the FiM cast did. Sure, Zipp and Pipp went from my least favourite characters in the film, to my favourite characters in the series to follow, but that speaks volumes more about how poor the character development has been across the board, at least from where I'm standing. Yes, Zipp and Pipp got some character development, so they've shot up to the top for me as right now they're the closest to what I consider satisfactory characters. Anyways, as far as male characters in G5 go...I can't think of any other than Hitch who have been major characters thus far, other than Sprout and Alphabittle in the movie. Alphabittle is fine IMHO; not amazing, but I don't mind him. He hasn't been the series since as far as I recall, other than a cameo in Pipp's cringe-fest. Sprout is...I never liked him. He's a whiny man-child (stallion-foal?), who I have difficulty believing ponies would follow at all if the situation wasn't giftwrapped for him. Heck, the situation probably didn't need a physical villain, and I think the film would have been more clever from a writing standpoint if it didn't bend over backwards to check off that box, and instead let the culture of fear and stereotypes be the "villain". Besides, I find Sprout more annoying than anything. As for Hitch, he's fine for the most part. For me, he's back where I ranked him after the film, which is in the middle of the Mane Five. I had Izzy as my favourite, and I put Sunny as my second because I believed she had the greatest shot at eventually being my favourite. Well, that didn't pan out. Hitch was briefly at the bottom for me, not because of anything negative to do with him, but because Zipp and Pipp shot up after being the only ponies post-film to get what I would call satisfactory character development (and even then it pales in comparison to what the Mane Six got in FiM IMHO). That, however, didn't last long once I realized that Sunny is unlikely to stop being as bland as a sheet of sandpaper anytime soon. Now that Izzy has turned out to be a poor man's Pinkie Pie at best, and a total psycho at worst, Hitch is now back in my number three slot. As for why Hitch has never placed higher for me, well...he just seems like an afterthought to the writers. I like him best when he's the down-to-Equestria, voice of reason type character who takes his job seriously, but has a soft spot for his friends. I think he was strongest for me as a character in the first half of the film. Of course, his absence did more to move the plot along than his presence did, and he could have been cut from the film entirely after that point and nothing would have been lost. He also isn't particularly relevant in the MYM pilot. I don't think he has been all that relevant in TYT either. He doesn't live with the fillies, which already means he appears slightly less than they do, and if that hasn't been problematic enough, there have been times when Posey has gotten more screen time than he has. I never really got the "background pony" jokes about Applejack, but I'll make them about Hitch here, because although he's still a major character, he's just kind of there most of the time. I...don't really like when the series bends over backwards to have Hitch be a poor man's Fluttershy. Slapping wings and horns on some animals is intriguing, but the novelty has worn off for me. I do like that he has finally shown signs of caring for animals, so that's one point I'll give to the MYM pilot over ANG...though I fear ANG is overall the best G5 will ever get, and that's a problem. Regardless, I think the novelty of having a stallion in the mane cast is a large part of what makes Hitch appealing, but much like animals with wings and horns, that's a novelty that is sure to dry up soon, and already has for me. It may be a hot take, but although I'm male, I was never offended by the lack of male characters in the Mane Six, or that male characters tended to be more minor, at least until later seasons. Gender has never been a sufficient factor in endearing me to a character. I initially gravitate towards characters who have a personality I like, but then move towards those with the strongest development. Well, I liked Hitch just fine at first, and don't hate him now, but it appears he has been on a downward slope since he was first introduced. At least his downward slope hasn't been as steep thus far as it has been for Izzy and Sunny. It's worth noting that it did take me a bit of time to really care about Spike, but not terribly long, and I started to really like him well before the first season ended. I've always liked Big Mac's strong-silent personality, and only became more endeared by him as the series progressed. I've always felt Discord is a bit overrated, but he grew on me more and more as the series progressed, and there have only actually been a couple of Discord episodes I dislike, with most of the rest being pretty great IMHO. I...really don't think any of G5's male cast is there as of yet. To be fair, I don't think any of G5's mane female cast holds a candle yet to any of the Mane Six, or even much of FiM's female supporting cast. G5's cast in general isn't bad in concept IMHO, just in execution and development. I am still holding out hope that some solid writing will set G5 on a better track, and I'll patiently wait for that, for now, but I've been waiting all along, and my patience will eventually run out if it's not rectified in a reasonable time frame. TL:DR No, I don't think G5 has better male characters than G4, but that's largely because I don't think G5 has better characters than G4 in general.

Fair enough. Pipp wasn't actively harming ponies with her overindulgence in social media trends, so there's that. It's definitely not my kind of cringe, but I suppose neither is a sociopathic character.

Yeah, the different incarnations of Izzy do actually feel like different characters. Inconsistent writing of any character isn't going to help G5 in the long run, even if it's just one of the Mane Five. Even more than Pipp's bunny hop cringe fest? Ouch. I definitely miss Ingram's songs. There's something off about G5's songs as although the best ones are catchy, they really don't feel all that deep to me, and yes, that includes ANG's most popular song. Even when Ingram was engaging in intentional cringe, there was still something particularly charming about it.

I actually saw the song before I saw the episode, thanks to another discussion. It was enough to get me to watch another episode of TYT even though I really don't know why I keep watching these. Perhaps I'm still holding out hope that MYM will get good, and manage to make all of G5 worthwhile. Time will tell, I suppose. In any case, the song is the best part of the episode IMHO. Everything else for me is just too many layers of cringe. Well, ok, I think Hitch pointing out that Pegasi have an advantage in diving is a valid point. I do think Izzy can be thoughtful with her Unicycling, so there's that. However, I really don't like that she has become quite a sociopath, to the point where it's apparent that Posey's disdain of Unicorns at least, isn't unfounded. A New Generation Izzy may have lacked some social awareness at times, but there's a difference between that and blatantly disregarding the safety and welfare of other ponies and their possessions. It's clear that she would be an awful roommate, between this episode and the one actually centered around her being a terrible roommate. Eh...for me it depends on how well it's all executed. If you don't feel either the short or the moment ties into is worth your time, I fail to see how having one tie into the other somehow changes that. I suppose it's not a bad novelty, especially if there are interesting moments from the main series that are worth exploring further. It just really comes down to the writing quality of both, and whether we are invested in both. In this case, I think the moment in MYM is fine. Izzy going on a sociopathic rampage to get the perfect washer to make that gift happen however, takes away from rather than adding to it IMHO. At least there's a catchy song, I suppose. It's also worth noting that this episode isn't nearly as bad as that bunny hop one, though that's likely more of a testament to how low that one set the bar with anything, as I don't see how it could be possible to outbad that episode, as that is weapon grade levels of cringe. Then again, maybe I've jinxed it and this series will somehow manage to go nuclear with its cringe.

No, definitely not. I could elaborate, but I've already said my piece multiple times over in other threads, and agree with a lot of the criticisms other people have brought up here.

TBH, the technology level is quite low on my list of gripes with this series. Ponies in FiM did all manner of things that should be impossible with hooves. I do, however, dislike that there isn't much about the world of G5 that's all that different or exciting, or really all that magical. Maybe there's potential to be had with pairing fantasy with the modern day...but the series is fairly light on the fantasy, and it's not as though the modern day stuff is being used to good effect either. I certainly prefer the animation style of FiM and EQG. Neither MYM's 3D animation or TYT's 2D stuff really does much for me, as both seem like they're made on a budget. The movie's look is fine, I suppose. At least I can tell some budget went into that.

I agree that the two shows should be completely separate entities. FiM didn't have to be a continuation of Newborn Cuties (thank goodness), and while I can see why a new show would want to tap into the awesomeness of FiM, I don't see why the new series couldn't have just been its own separate thing. I guess as a cheap and easy way to get Bronies talking? That can only get it so far though, as sooner or later it will have to sink or swim on its own merits. Also...yeah I hate that everything Twilight and friends worked for has apparently been undone. There's a strike against G5 just for that. I'm in the middle, in that I enjoy both the action/adventure subplots and the more slice of life moments in FiM. Heck, some of the simpler character moments are among my favourite in the entire series. What makes them work though, is solid writing. Well, that and the whole premise of FiM, along with its world and characters allow for much more variety in terms of story setups than we have seen so far in G5, some of which could get pretty creative. FiM's Equestria is just more interesting in general. I'm still holding out hope that G5 will become something worth keeping up with...but I'm doubting more and more that it will ever hold a candle to FiM. It could still be an ok show, but that's even more reason why it should never have been connected to FiM.

I'd start by removing any and all connection to G4. I'd keep the characters, but would definitely take steps to make them more dynamic, especially Sunny. Sunny's arc in the movie would probably follow a similar trajectory, but she would have to come to the realization that she does actually have prejudice, and own up to it. I mean, she was initially interested in Izzy and the Pegasus sisters because they're a Unicorn and two Pegasi, and rather than being interested in learning about them as individual ponies, was first and foremost interested in learning whether the stereotypes about their races were true. The completion of her arc would involve overcoming said prejudice in herself, so she can be in a position to advocate against it. Of course, said movie would also make a point of making all of its mane cast useful. Like a good pilot, it would also connect to the shows to follow, and give a proper impression of what to expect. After the movie, I'd probably have an arc where all of the mane ponies have to really explore their place in the world they find themselves in, which would also follow a very similar trajectory to what we got, but again, with more development and focus on who each character is, and their path going forward. The reintroduction of magic and the co-existence of all three races would very much still be part of it. Izzy, Pipp and Zipp would have to find their place in Maretime Bay, but I'd make an arc of it for each of them. Hitch would have his hooves full figuring out how best to police the town now that thing are different. Sunny would be excited at first to have her new friends move in with her, but would realize as time passes that now that she's achieved what she has been dreaming of for most of her life, she really doesn't know what her pursuits should be going forward. Also, I'd throw in a hobby or two for her to give her something to work with. Yeah...my ideas for a better G5 aren't actually all that far removed from what we have so far. For me it's lacking in substance, but solid writing could easily fix that. Also, I really, really wish it didn't rely on G4 for life support, as it does neither series any favours. As it stands, I'll give the first few post-pilot episodes of MYM a shot, but it's really going to need an injection of something to make me want to keep watching.

Whoa! I finally watched that vid, and it definitely rings true here. The references to past Equestria, including literal dolls of the Mane Six, the convenient appearance of artifacts that link the new Equestria to the old one, and the complete rehash of the Hearth's Warming Tale, that banks on the original story not being fresh in our memory anymore to pick up on how little sense it makes are all symptoms of the soft reboot. Well, no wonder I'm having difficulty getting as into this new series as I did with FiM.

Well...on the plus side, I was expecting this pilot to kill the last vestiges of interest I had in this series. It didn't do that. I was even entertained at times. However, once again I feel as though the entertainment value is largely surface level. This time around, it feels even more like it's depending on FiM for life support. I hope I'm wrong, but it really doesn't seem like any of the writing staff wants this thing to stand on its own, which makes it really difficult for it to rest on its own merits. It probably helps that the pilot stars Zipp. She and Pipp were my bottom two Mane Five ponies in the film due to how underdeveloped they were, but after TYT they shot up to my favourites, so I'm glad the film focuses on one of them. Besides, it means less time spent with the underdeveloped "protagonist", because why would a pilot want to develop her? Also...it appears the relic that contained the pony magic is a finicky sort of artifact that requires a constant flow of good vibes in order to allow said magic to stay. Did the ponies of the past take note of how the Crystal Empire was almost brought to its knees by a common cold due to how finicky its Crystal Heart was and think "whoa, that's brilliant"? Now we know that ponies in general depend on an artifact just to keep what ponies in FiM just had. I guess it's on life support just like this series so...I suppose it's fitting. Sequel baiting is fine and all, but G5 has had not one, but two pilots, along with a bunch of shorts, and I still don't know what a typical episode of MYM is going to look like. How is it that FiM was able to set up its premise for season 1 in just two 22 minute episodes, and G5 still can't manage that? Thank you for that. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like G5 is the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of FiM...except with a new cast. I have to admit I kind of like the Jurassic World films...even though they're objectively not as good as the original. I suppose I just like the franchise enough to put up with a dip in quality. It appeals to the dinosaur lover in me. Wait...is that why people like G5? They think "*squee* Ponies!" (please tell me that clip of Pipp is a meme), and are able to overlook an objective dip in quality? I also theorize that part of it is that people were wanting something new after FiM jumped the shark so many times it probably jumped a megalodon...completely ignoring that G5 seems to have jumped the shark a few times already, and it has barely even started. Perhaps most of all though, it's the opportunity for a lot of us to be present for the start of a MLP generation, which might also be fueling the hype. Well, that and I have noticed a trend in recent years where whatever is the latest, trending thing is held on a pedestal as a sort of antithesis to nostalgia (I don't know what colour of glasses to ascribe to that). Still...regardless, I don't think G5 is as good as G4, and it's looking unlikely that it will ever be. There is still hope that it will be eventually, but it may be a fool's hope.

You've missed nothing. I had the same question when I watched the first episode of TYT. I figured MYM's first episode would go over the decision of four of the Mane Five to rebuild the lighthouse and live together in it, but that never happened. I guess I'm not confused or anything, so...whatever. However, one would think that would have been a story beat that would have been included in some way, shape or form, even if it was through some brief exchange of dialogue.

Wow, judging by most of the comments it sounds like I was just ahead of the curve on my criticism of G5. Yeah...two pilots in and I still don't know what this show is about. FiM only needed one pilot to set up its premise for Season 1. I suppose we can expect mostly slice of life stuff with the occasional bit of plot, which on paper doesn't sound too far off of FiM...but, how do I put it...this series feels way more disjointed, and FiM had structure and a flow to it that helped it feel like there was rhyme and reason to it all. Here...I really don't know where this thing is going. Sometimes that can be fun, especially in a thriller type of show. However...again, there's a flow to those kinds of storylines. I don't know...for me this feels too much like an attempt to cash in on FiM while completely missing the mark on what made FiM so engaging. With that said...there's still enough going on with it to keep me watching for now. That could change at any time though. Whoa, do you feel brave enough to take that by the FiM discussion boards? Of course, I'm of the opinion that there's no such thing as a perfect show, but I'll give 10s out to ones that resonate with me on a deeper level than most, and I can confidently say that few shows have became the obsession that that series was for me. The spell it had over me has lifted considerably since it ended, but credit where it is due. I'll take an imperfect series that hits all the right marks to ignite a fandom like this one. Call it subjective if you would like, but from where I'm standing, G5 has a real uphill battle if it wishes to capture even a fraction of the magic of that series. Harsh words. I wish I could say I didn't see where you're coming from. TFW I come to revelation that I'm not the biggest critic of this series.

No. However, I am curious. I'll give the pilot a chance, and maybe the next few episodes. If I'm not sold on the series by then, I may just have to end there and admit I'm only a FiM Brony. I'm debating stopping TYT as it is.

Well, it's an improvement on Sunny's other episode. I think it just confirms my thoughts that Sunny doesn't have much going on besides her friends though. The episode is alright, and even has a bit of a discount Castlemania moment, but I also get the sense that I really shouldn't expect much more out of this series. Also, I'm really, really holding out for actual character development in MYM, as I get the sense I'm supposed to just enjoy the interactions between these characters, but I'm not quite there yet. FiM got there by building up its characters, and G5 has the opportunity to do the same, but yeah...it's kind of putting the cart before the pony at the moment.

Worried isn't the term I would use, implying I have something to lose if G5 continues to deliver subpar characterization, but yeah I think she is becoming a Pinkie 2.0. I personally would have preferred a mecha-Pinkie for a 2.0 version, but I digress.

Pretty much. It was all likely a cheap corporate tactic to drum up interest because they probably didn't have enough confidence in their new product. I certainly doubt I'd have taken up being a Brony through G5 had I not already been one through FiM. Of course, I doubt I'd have much to say at all about G5 were it not force-tied to FiM, so maybe Hasbro got the payoff they were looking for in a roundabout way?

True, she can rollerblade. It's a start. Now it's simply a matter of whether she will actually be seen doing that in her spare time.

I joined in 2014, while Season 4 was still airing. I can't speak on how it was before that point, but it was pretty great then. It was as if I got wrapped up in a phenomenon that transcended just being a show. There was a thriving community that generated a ton of creative content, everyone was welcoming, and I even went to my first Brony convention later that year. All in all, I felt a connection with the fandom in no time at all, so much so that I became quite involved in this forum, eventually even becoming a moderator. As time went on though, my focus shifted elsewhere, and I spent less and less time here. It wasn't that I started to dislike the show or anything, far from it, but perhaps I was at a different stage of my life then than I was prior. I still kind of feel that way, and that may be part of why G5 isn't hitting home for me in nearly the same way, though I suppose I can at least credit it for bringing me back into discussions.

Yes, Sunny does tend a smoothie stand, but that's more of her 9-5 job. I don't get the sense that it's much more than just her means of income,. Perhaps she could display an affinity for smoothies in her time off, if we're to accept that as a defining character trait? Personally, I'm more interested in what she does with her time when she's neither at work nor with friends. I'll give the series some time to fill us in on that, as I think she's the pony who needs the most development and I think she has potential to be an interesting character if handled right. She seems to surprisingly be neglected in spite of being the lead among the Mane Five, even with TYT episodes, as she has only really had one, and shared that with her friends. Everypony else has had two, one of which is clearly better than the other, but still, that's development that they've gotten while she has yet to have that. Actually, a craft shop for Izzy would be a great idea! Much like how Pipp runs a hair salon and does a lot of Pony Tik Tok, something like a craft shop or some other kind of artistic business would be a great way to channel her inner Pinkie while taking things in a direction that's at least a little bit different. Yeah...I suppose the whole Fluttershy thing is an extension of how I feel about this series in general, which is that it lacks originality in some areas, and takes away from FiM rather than being a proper homage to it or just being wholly original. With the Fluttershy throwback, I get the sense that maybe there was originally a sixth pony, but in lieu of that the trait was just added to Hitch. He at least seems written around any Applejack-like traits he has, while that really doesn't appear to be the case with the animal stuff. If he was even so much as portrayed as somepony who really liked owning a lot of pets (something my cousin really got into for a time while having a different focus career-wise), maybe it would be easier to suspend my disbelief, but as it stands, I think Hitch has that ability to tick off a box. Eh...Pinkie already did that. At least in the movie I got the sense I was looking at a character who put her own spin on that. TYT seems to have stripped away a lot of that and just made Izzy Pinkie 2.0 though. Maybe it's the way she's animated, how she's voiced, or just the way she's written, but what originality movie Izzy had seems to have evaporated. You may be correct that the direction chosen for Izzy has to do with brand recognition first and foremost. I still think there's more that can be done to set her apart as a new and unique character though. I will say Sunny does display the friendship side of Twilight, at least to a degree, so there's that. She's a homage to a part of Twilight's character, though Twilight had more complexity than just being "friendship pony". Given how different Sunny's personality is from Twilight's, it should actually be especially easy to take her character in a different and interesting direction, even compared to the rest of her friends. It's as if the writers so far have skipped over the need to have her be something other than friendship though (aside from giving her a 9-5 service job, I suppose). Besides, her ark in the movie has been completed (not necessarily to my satisfaction, but still, it's done), so it's important to show who Sunny is now, and I would argue even more so as that's who Sunny is/will be for the rest of the series. I have to wonder if TYT has intentionally been dedicated to her friends while MYM is supposed to focus more on her. I guess we will find out soon enough. Thank you, and yeah, let's wait and see what MYM does with the mane cast, as that will probably be where we will see the most development.

Hi, so I can't be the only one who has noticed that all of the Mane Five have personality traits that somewhat mirror those of at least one pony from the Mane Six. I've been giving it some thought, and I think I have a personal ranking now of who does it best, vs who does it the worst. As a disclaimer, I'm not actually looking at who seems to be the most like a FiM character, but rather, who I think is best written in such a way that elements of a previous character come across as more of a homage than a straight up rip-off, and can incorporate those elements into a personality that's otherwise more or less original to that character. For fun, I think I'll do my rankings in reverse order: #6 Hitch - Fluttershy: Eh...I found that in the movie Hitch was kind of just stalked by animals who seemed to be more there for the sake of cute gags and because Fluttershy. There was no real payoff either. In TYT it seems he has a deeper relationship with the animals, along with a greater desire for relationship, and judging from the trailer for MYM, he's given the ability to understand them. However, all of this comes across as forced, and a quick and shallow way to appeal to the fandom, and adding wings and horns to them comes across as an equally shallow way to drum up interest. If Hitch had shown signs prior that he had a thing for animals even as a side interest, maybe I would be more accepting of all of this, but no...I don't think this aspect of his character has been cleverly implemented, no matter how many cute gags come as a result. #5 Sunny - Twilight: Here we have a mane character who's based on a surface level understanding of another mane character. Twilight wasn't just "friendship". She had clear interests and pursuits outside of friendship. It took only a couple minutes to establish her as "bookhorse" in the pilot for FiM. With Sunny, both before and after her adventures in ANG, it's unclear to me what she does all day when she isn't at work. In the beginning, was she somepony who obsessed over friendship with other races 24/7 and had no other interests? Now that her new friends live with her, I still can't tell you what she does with her time when she's not working or with her friends. As a result, she's just kind of generic to me and lacks much in the way of personality. At the very least, her interest in friendship is an established personality trait though, so I'll give her the number 5 slot. #4 Izzy - Pinkie: Going purely off of the film, I would have ranked Izzy much higher, as she seemed to take the happy-go-lucky personality of Pinkie while making it her own. Well, as of two episodes of TYT, she has basically become a discount Pinkie without much of what made Pinkie an engaging character. Pity, because I used to really like her. Now, an Izzy episode feels like an obnoxious Pinkie episode with a lot of fat and little in the way of originality. Oh well, she can have the number 4 slot. #3 Pipp - Rarity: Pipp certainly has moments such as when she packs a ton of suitcases that seem like cheap homages and shortcuts to establishing her personality. I guess I'm supposed to chuckle and think "that's so Rar...I mean Pipp!" Heck, even her social media personality isn't all that removed from some Rarity EQG stuff. However...I'll give Pipp some credit for going down a somewhat different path than the fashionista route. Her social media presence is her defining trait here, and while the whole hair salon thing came out of nowhere, at least it's something different, I suppose. #2 Zipp - Rainbow Dash: TBH, I go back and forth in how I would rank the Pegasus Sisters in this category. Zipp certainly has moments where she seems like she's treading the same ground as Rainbow. However, she does have a bit of a different personality. She doesn't always display the same confidence, for example. She also appears to take more time to consider her actions before she jumps into them, and in general, seems to have more going on than just being a tomboy Pegasus with an interest in flying stunts. I also really like how these two sisters play off of each other and encourage one another. If Rainbow Dash and Rarity were sisters, and princesses, I have a feeling their dynamic would play out similarly. And, for my #1....Hitch - Applejack: Ok, here's how to take an aspect of a character while incorporating it in such a way that it doesn't detract from the new character's unique personality. In fact, Hitch is the only one who completely satisfies me in this regard...for this particular element, of course. He's honest, down to earth, a voice of reason...and a cop. Heck, while I didn't quite understand the background pony jokes regarding Applejack, with Hitch not actually living in the lighthouse I've noticed that he kind of feels that way here. But, more importantly though, he's a pony who appreciates an honest day's work, and does so in a way that's distinctly Hitch. For that reason, I think he's the best example of how to write a new character that acts as a throwback to another. Anyways, tl:dr, what are your thoughts on which characters best embody traits of members of the Mane Six while making them their own? You don't have to do a full ranking, and certainly don't need to write a paragraph like I did, though you're welcome to comment on my thoughts too.