Sidral Mundet

Season 2. It was still rather grounded, the episodes were some of the best quality and they had hit their stride. It was also the most consistent season in tone and lore. Also they hadn't gotten to the part where the two-parters and SoL stuff felt so disconnected from each other. Here you could see the SoL stuff in the two-parter and they felt like they were a part of the show in general. With the other two-parter they feel like they might as well be a part of a different show. Season 1 was good but they hadn't figured out how things were going to work just yet. Season 3 has two of my favorite episodes in it but the other lackluster ones, the short episode length and the controversial ending makes it my least favorite. Season 4 was a good one but it had to much hype build up around it, especailly with the Rainbow key thing and the first 7 or so episodes all ending on needless cliffhangers. Season 5 was also really good but it's where the show tried to be to "Big" for itself. It tried to do things it simply can't, whether it be because of TV rating or time. For instance Starlight Glimmer in The Cutie Map. Instead of being a morally gray villain with good points, they quite clearly make her the villain and her hold philosophy completely in the wrong because it's TV-Y and they need to have a clear cut conflict. Season 6 is a massive step down. Not as much as Season 3 but it does feel like a sequel to that season. A lot of the times the characters feel lackluster, or more childishly written, more in tune with their more basic self. There are some gems but it feels very mediocre, like they are just coasting by here. I mean several stories are just taking well worn stories and playing them rather straight. So overall season ranking S2>S5>S4>S1>S6>S3

Because then the super overly powered magic mare wouldn't be able to save the day.

Eh, no. She's not bad but I find her uninteresting, nevermind I really don't care for her episodes. I think the fandom kind of overhyped her especially since season 6 tended to lean heavily on her fandom presentation.

With Sunset I see it as both sides held each other at arm's distance, the Humane 5 accepting her but not fully forgiving of her. They never asked her to be a part of the band and kept referring to her past when she was in their presence clearing regarding her past self with contempt (not sure if that's the right word). Sunset in turn didn't ask to be a part of the group because she didn't feel it was her place to ask. It's a catch-22 with the whole thing, or that's the way I saw it. It felt like a natural reaction to how both had seen each other. I agree that the ponies of Ponyville have no clue as to what Starlight did. But with Our Town I feel that they shouldn't have forgiven her so easily. For one that would have been a good story IMO but also because it takes away something IMO but also a good lesson about grudges and anger. It's part of the reason Keep Calm and Flutter On is my favorite episode of the show. Also as to the previous post I consider the "I'm Sorry" Sunset gave to be on par with what Starlight gave. It's a little less formal but she's in a crater, crying her eyes out surrounded by everyone. I consider that an apology at least along the same vein as the one Starlight gave around the Cutie Map. Yeah they agreed they couldn't just let Starlight go on her own, but their solution was to make her their friend and student. I don't consider that parole. Also yeah Twilight's not exactly promising in the mentor role. I don't think the Mane 6 were proactively bonding with Twilight. I think they bonded in a more organic way, that they all just wanted to hang out together. And yeah the Mane 6 should have a reason to want to interact with Starlight, that or Starlight should get her own spin off where she feels more natural. How about it, three MLP shows, FIM, EQG the series and the Starlight Trixie Touring Friendship Magic show (It's a work in progress)? Also I don't see the Mane 6 being "not at ease" around Starlight, they seem okay with her, or more so not put off by her past actions. They seem friendly enough around her but since they don't really have anything to bond over there's no chemistry there. Yeah I don't need no BDSM in the show. That's what fan fics are for Now onto the Starlight episode thing, I think we are agreed in principal but not quantity. I agree that seeing that with Starlight would be good but I don't want to see it a lot. I think we agree on a lot of point but have different POV's as to how to interpret them. That or we're running around in circles that we're getting confused at to what the other is saying

Sunset was more or less forced to stay on her side of the mirror after EQG 1. We really don't know if she had a choice in it the matter or not. I consider it exile but it can be viewed differently. After RR yeah it's not longer exile and she chose to stay of her own free will. And Starlight brainwashed an entire town, falsely imprisoned 6 ponies, and when out to destroy the lives of those six ponies through the use of time travel, yet instantly gives it up and repents after a thirty second speech which everyone forgives after a minute and a half montage. Reformations are not this show's strong point. I don't deny Sunset's turn is weak but so is Starlight's and Sunset at least relies on precedent ala Princess Luna/ Nightmare Moon. And I could argue Sunset's turn was foreshadowed but that's for another place and time. And then Sunset faced consequences, that's the difference. Sure they weren't jail or anything but she was treated as a pariah at school. The Humane 6 treated her like an outsider, it becoming all the more apparent when Twilight showed up in RR. Everyone shunned her and more or less hated her. Starlight had none of that. Everyone turned a blind eye on her past and moved forward. And I really don't consider Starlight to be under Twilight's watch, or if she's suppose to be Twilight is doing a really bad job at it. What do you mean by the Mane 6 certainly didn't show any kind of restraint like they did with Starlight? I assume what you mean is that you believe the Mane 6 are holding back their feeling with Starlight. I disagree The Mane 6 don't walk on eggshell with Starlight, they're just sort of there with her, they don't have any connection with her at all. Starlight's meetings with the Mane 6 are at best awkward because they have no chemistry together. The Mane 6 aren't holding back because of past interactions with Starlight but rather they have nothing to offer one another at the moment. And I think this is where we have a difference in viewing. To me the Mane are just there with her, they have no hangups or issues with Starlight at all. You see them as on edge with her, though I do not see that. Sidnote: I think we should drop the Sunset comparison. It seems irrelevant to the topic at hand and I don't like comparing the two since I feel it does a disservice to both characters. I originally meant it just as a joke. Spike is a main character yes, but Starlight isn't. The show stated it as such with Discord's "Well isn't this an unusual paring of secondary characters?" And as a secondary character she should have less focus than the Mane 6 and not be as prominently featured. Ah well with the episodes I count the Premiers and finales as well as Hearth's Warming Eve. I also sort of agree with you which is what I sort of stated in my previous comment what with the 7-8 cameo to less extensive shots in the season, sort of like what's done with Big Mac but then pepper in at best 2 episodes that focus on her. No more two-part stories though. The thing is I want her screen time to be better regulated I guess.

Hey now let's not forget the homage to the Cell-Gohan beam struggle in Friendship Games. I mean that was pretty anime.

I have to post this: But now for my real answer: Sunset. Sunsetsunsetsunsetsunsetsunset. Sunset Shimmer all the way. It's not even a question. Sunset is driven, emphatic and an independent person. She's more or less the Vegeta of the show, or more accurately the Princess Luna of EQG. Her backstory and reformation are a basic retelling of Princess Luna's. And she makes a far better mentor and friend than Twilight Sparkle does. Also Super Saiyan Bacon. Starlight comes across as unempathic and a bit mopey and I just do not care for her in the slightest. So yeah Sunset Shimmer without a doubt.

Now first off, the Sunset thing was just a joke but Sunset did get punished. She was made a pariah at school and the Mane 6 treated her like an outsider. Even Twilight was hesitant to take her hand. She also had to repair the outside of the school building. And if you think about it, she was put into Exile after the events of EQG 1, she was left in the human world with no way of returning to Equestria. Starlight's not a main character thought. Threw multiple tweets and in the show itself, it's said Starlight is a secondary cast member. And as such she should get less screen time. I don't deny that, but I think the execution was far from the mark in that regard. The interaction is along the lines of What @clovercleaver stated, the Mane 6 do not offer anything to Starlight and Starlight does not offer anything to the Mane 6. Starlight's presence reduces them because their dynamic and personalities need to make room for Starlight's, that they get shoved out to push Starlight in, ELTSD and The Season 6 finales being prime examples. 1) The issue does lie elsewhere but it's a symptom of the second point I made, that she's emphasized. Now yes she wasn't in 16 episodes but she starred in 7, all with the focus squarely on her and that included to two-parters, that's more focus than any other character go this season, Rainbow Dash being the closest with 3 episodes. I'd limit her screen time while maybe included a few cameo roles. Like I said give her screen time like Big Mac (a couple of cameos per season and a couple of small secondary roles maybe 7-8 at most and then a Discord level episode or two. 2) Well we agree to an extent and I don't need a two and three useless columns.

Didn't we just have this topic? I feel we just had this topic. Okay easy, take Starlight, shove her back at her village, take the portal mirror and grab Bacon Pony. There you go, problem solved. Okay seriously though there are several ways 1) Reduced screen time. No more two-parters for her,those are done. Next only AT BEST 3 episode next season. Now a few cameo appearance here and there are okay. Basically make her Big Mac with an occasional Discord level episode or two but nothing more. 2) Make her less special. I said this elsewhere but Starlight is overemphasized. She is too big, she's given more screen time than any other Pony in season 6. Stop doing this and treat her like a normal pony. That means consequences for her actions and no more relying on her self pity/doubt to make everything better. Lie I said treat her more like other secondary characters. 3) Have a reason why ponies want to interact with her. All of the ponies that interact with Starlight have no reason to really do so. Twilight's doing it for the teaching gig. The Mane 6 have no reason ay all to interact with her at all. Even Trixie was doing it to get back at Twilight. The only reason they interact with Starlight at all is because she asks them and there good ponies but that's it. When they interact their personal motives and agency gets shoved back for Starlight's. Anyways those are my thoughts. Theyd improve Starlight for me but even then I wouldn't rank het very high.

Okay last reply then 1) Going with the jail thing, it also eschew consequences, it gives off the idea that just saying sorry makes up for everything. It doesn't. Just feeling bad about doing something does not make it better. And it lessen character interactions. Going to Discord, he had to earn his place, gain trust, win support, Starlight just had all of those things handed to her. As for the mind control, she was not offput about controlling them at all. 2) Then what about Discord? The same child analogy works equally as well with Discord. Discord gave up willingly yet Twilight constantly mistreats him and does not trust him. And for good reasons. Discord played mind games with the Mane 6 and Twilight held a grudge because of what he did and Discord had to earn his place, like I said earlier. With Starlight there's none of that, she's just instantly given trust. So like I said they were only there to further Starlight, they had no internal motive or agency. And yeah at that point all the inhabitants were more or less background characters with only fan personalities attached to them, sans the CMC and maybe Big Mac. I never said Starlight should be overly punished but she keeps side stepping any consequences for her actions. Discord acts like a jerk, but doesn't do anything unbelievably horrible yet the Mane 6 sans Fluttershy distrust him. Sunset Shimmer was an exiled pariah who was even treated as an outsider among her friends. Luna was feared by many and had no idea about modern social customs. Starlight has never had to face up to what she's done. The only thing she's ever gotten was a mild scolding and then was let completely off the hook for whatever she's done. With the joke, it lets go of any sort of resentment and that's leading to the poor character interaction, and making Starlight feel special, the ponies she interacts with don't react to what she's done, they let it fly. Having a character get mad, legitimately mad, hold some resentment or grudge against Starlight would do wonders for Starlight's interactions because it lets character interact normally with her, that they can have their own thoughts and feelings, their own agency and will. And with the parent thing, there's also the flip side, that sometimes a parent does need to be hard on their child, that there has to be a stick to the carrot. While Starlight is a big deal with the season 6 finale, another thing is how people feel about the Remane 5 getting treated in the two-part stories. Ever since A Canterlot Wedding, the Remane 5 have been slowly pushed back into a corner with less and less screen time and impact on the stories, The Cutie Map being a exception. Now here comes a brand new polarizing characters and pushes them even further away. I mean their capture isn't even on screen and as one user said they are treated like Damsels in Distress. That can really rub people the wrong way as it did me. That these characters I've been attached are treated so poorly all so another character can shine grinds my gears. It is lessen with Celestia because while I do care about her, I have more of an investment in the Mane 6 and so my emotional investment is still with the lead. The same feeling does not apply to Starlight. The link's not mine. I'm just using it to illustrate my point. Sorry if I mislead you into thinking that the video was mine. Also sorry if I'm misreading that and you already know that. It's late. And I do understand. But just to be clear that these are only, and only, my reasons as to why I dislike Starlight Glimmer, which is why I replied as such here.

I have a feeling we may be at this. 1) Sunburst moving away is not an excuse for what Starlight did and it doesn't change that she doesn't understand or care to understand how others feel. And like I said that doesn't make me empathize with her at all and therefore doesn't make me care about her in the slightest. And she wasn't happy her mind control wasn't going as well as she planned for it, not that she was unhappy that she used it. If she had the chance she said it herself she would have tweaked it so she could use it again. She had no qualms about talking away someone else's free will. I find that horrifying. 2) Then why isn't she doing the same for Starlight? She instantly forgave Starlight, with absolutely no qualms attached, but Trixie she holds a grudge with? A grudge I might add that only first appeared in No Second Prances. And you can't throw out the "Well Starlight felt sorry" thing because Trixie felt sorry as well. The hypocrisy I speak of is forgiving Starlight but then still being judgmental on Trixie, it's Starlight that's the one that sticks out. The thing is I really dislike the show's "Words speak louder than Actions" approach to who's good and who's bad, that acting kind of jerkish is somehow the worst thing in existence. It smells of Tell don't show. As for the mind control, it's all directed at Starlight. It's all about how Starlight feels and how Starlight made a boo-boo. They show no concern for the Mane 6 at all, hell Twilight jokes about it. It ties into that whole "Be a sadist" thing. The Mane 6 suffered worse than Starlight but nothing ever comes of it, they have no motive, they're there for Starlight's purpose, not any of there own. They instantly forgive her because it's Starlight's story and she gave a forces apology therefore everything is now right. They have no agency of their own. They are there not as characters but as set pieces to Starlight's story. I hope this helps explain what I mean a bit more: As for Celestia, I never mentioned her and so it's an assumption on your end that I am fine with Celestia being captured. I am not. I find it aggravating most of the time. The thing is thought that Celestia is a secondary character so my attachment to her is far less, so I don't get AS riled up about her, but it's still annoying she gets shoved to the side so often. But say what you will, in most of the other two-parters she at least plays some kind of role which is more than she did in the season 6 finale. 3) Well we sort of agree on this so ummm I just wanted to make a 3 column? . A big part of the problem I have with Starlight is that she's treated special by the writing staff. They go out of their way to overemphasize her, to push her. If she had far less screen time, I don't doubt my issues would be less concerning for me. They would still be there, I have no doubt but with far less emphasize on them, I would have a far less volatile reaction to them.

Starlight Glimmer, because 1) She's unemphatic. This works both ways. Firstly she clearly can not comprehend anyone else's feelings or motives in the slightest. She mind controlled five ponies and she was happy about it. She needed someone to explain it to her and even then she didn't get it. Then she's also a self-pityer , having the whole "Woe is me" thing. I'll get back to that later. Combine these two and she comes across as unintentionally unsympathetic which makes me NOT empathize with her or care about her. 2) She reduces the Mane cast. To make Starlight shine, they need to constantly reduce the Mane 6. Twilight becomes a judgmental hypocrite, why? Because then it makes Starlight look good. Let's go back to that self-pityer part. Starlight mind controls the Mane 6, but that's not the important thing. No the Mane 6 having all their free will taken away and being mindless puppets is not the thing to focus on, it's Starlight's anxiety. So any concerns about the Mane 6 are pointless because the Mane 6's thoughts and feelings don't matter there. And then you have the finale where the Mane 6 are just taken off screen because it has to be Starlight to save the day, a place only Twilight has ever gotten. Yeah no way any individual of the Mane 6 could ever hold a two-parter. Good characters do not need to make other characters look stupid in order to make them look good. 3) She has horrible cast interactions. Sort of a combination of 1&2, but any time Starlight interacts with someone, it's only there to provide feedback for Starlight, the other character doesn't matter at all, it's all about Starlight. It break rules 3 & 6 of Kurt Vonnegut's guide to creative writing She breaks rule 3 because when ponies interact with Starlight, they want nothing, need nothing, they only serve to further Starlight. Not always the case but the decent of the time it is. And she breaks rule 6 in that other characters are put through more sadistic trials but their struggle isn't the important one, it's Starlight's and it's far less sadistic. Basically other characters go through worse yet Starlight is the one we are meant to feel sorry for. (this also relates back to point 2) Now to be fair she does have some decent iterations with Trixie and Spike but that's about it. tl;dr: Starlight Glimmer worst pony.

Yeah the Mane 6 being reduced and made so low was the thing that killed the finale for me. The worst part is that this isn't something significant, it's just a plot point that sets up as to why Starlight is the only one that can save the day. They just skip over it because the writers know it's not important. No one's going to mention it again unless it's to praise Starlight and her group. There aren't going to be any consequences for what happened, no one's going to react at all to it. Heck only Discord actually showed any kind of emotional investment in helping the Mane 6. Okay it was only for Fluttershy but it's a deal more than anyone else in Starlight's group. It also feels like the writer are trying to compensate for the Unfortunate Implications in the Cutie Re-mark where they basically said The Mane 6 are the only one's able to save Equestria, but they take it too far in the opposite direction. And to agree with CloverClever, the Mane 6 constantly being reduced in these high stakes episodes has been happening ever since A Canterlot Wedding, with the one exception being The Cutie Map along the way. I would have much preferred a two-parter where it's the Remane 5 that actually have to be the ones that do something cause it's been six years and they've always played sidekick to Twilight and I would include Starlight now but they're even further down with Starlight, being at best a Lois Lane to her, helpless civilains to her at worst. They are our mane characters, how about they play the hero for once? And no, being a battery pack to the Elements does not count as being a hero.

You say that you're not being sarcastic yet I have a hard time believing that.

Well an interesting question. Here's my take on it: Make her less special. Starlight is overemphasized for lack of a better word. The show goes out of it's way to treat her as special and above many of the other characters. I mean if I took half of what the writers have given Starlight, you'd all be calling me out for creating a bad self-insert OC. She needs to be made normal, less emphasize place on her. Have her appear less and treat her far more like a normal pony instead of a coddled special bundle the show seems to be doing a lot of the times. That will help mitigate the dislike I have for her. All of this too would help.

Reformed but with massive amounts of distrust and parole included, (maybe some manual labor and exile), not free room and board with an all inclusive friendship scholarship and instant best buddy status with the Mane 6.

So that's where the apple lies What I liked: Applejack and Big Mac: Seriously most screen time they've ever had together. Loved the dynamic they pulled off and got on each others nerves. Good thing this was the vast majority of the episode Teenage ponies: Middle sized ponies that aren't fillies. Been six years but we finally have them. Filthy Rich: Still a decent guy, to bad about his wife. Background events: Spied the Shining Twin while they were at the hospital. What I didn't like: Granny Smith making Applejack go back on her word: Granny shouldn't have made Applejack break her promise. If anything she should have been the one to go down and tell Fithy why he can't sell cider. So yeah that was rather good. Can we get more Teenage Mane 6 episodes?

A high sea adventure awaits! What I liked: Twilight: Just nice to see her more adorkable side in the first couple of acts. Spike: The audiences surrogate everyone, pointing out what people are asking The stories/The Rashamon style: Nice to see a classic trope being well played. Different story lines and I liked we never truly saw the real version. The overthetop 3: Yeah that's what I'm calling Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Really liked their more over the top depictions by the others, especially Ahab Applejack. The three-horn Monster: Who's a cute little guy, you are yes you are. The visual gags: From Rarity has craps to Spike getting the letter shoved at him, this episode had a lot of wordless humor going on in it. What I didn't like: Twilight instant solve: Reminds me of Mystery on the Friendship Express where Twilight is given all the clues but we the audience aren't given the context so we can't go along with her and figure out what happens. The Monster is straight out of nowhere with no hints prior to it so you can't go along and solve the mystery with the characters. Also monster calling is Fluttershy's thing Twilight. What was ??? The boat: So if they were in shallow water, why did the boat sink? If anything given how shallow of water they were in, it should have grounds ashore. So decent episode all around. More one played off of visual gags and character interactions more than story but a very enjoyable outing.

So these are just my quick thoughts, I'll probably go into more detail once the movie is official released. First thing to get out of the way first, this movie isn't going to change your mind on the whole EQG thing. Either you hate it, at which point this movie will do nothing to change that, you like it, in which case you'll probably enjoy this movie, or you're on the fence, in which case I can't tell but I'm going to say you'll probably still be there. I enjoyed this movie. Sure it suffers a little from Avenger's 2 syndrome and doesn't have quite the same big wow factor RR or FG had with it's climax, but the character interactions and humor were great to me. This was kind of like the Star Trek IV of the EQG movies, a bit more lighthearted adventure. Great to see Sunset again, pretty much being the mentor and Batman of the group, and I found Sci-Twi to be a refreshing take, very different from her Princess counterpart. The others were good (with some Rarijack banter) and I like the ideas of the Superpowers (Sunset needs DBZ or Fire powers as secondary ones though). Overall I though this was a fun enjoyable romp.

Long enough that the writers can say a lot of time has past without needing to be specific or keep track of an internal time line.

And you have to remember Pinkie Pie was more upset about the cakes being burned than anything else.

Full cast and all the time: No Secondary role with occasional episodes: Yes please!

Any character ever now: So yeah I know you apologized and are really heartbroken over what you've done but I don't care, I'm not going to forgive you so easily. The stuff you pulled...no you just don't do that and them get to make everything better just by saying sorry. Maybe I might forgive you later but right now, get the heck out of my sight.

Yeah no, I'm so against Mind control What I liked: The hangover: Okay funny way to show the effects of the spell and nice to see how the Mane 6 would react to a night of binge drinking. Chewing Starlight out: Not enough of it but Sweet Celestia at least they gave her some for the stunt she pulled. The Mane 6 hypnotized retaining their personalities: At least they still had a bit of themselves in there The conflict idea: Okay so the idea that Starlight is nervous about friendship lessons and reacts badly to them is a good idea, but the execution I'll go into later. The opening: Nice magic and visuals there. What I didn't like: Starlight Glimmer: YOU DON'T USE MIND CONTROL!! I don't care if it backfired on her or she felt really bad,you don't use it period! And her smug look when she first used it doesn't help matters either. The lack of consequences: At least she did get a minor calling out but good Lord, she enslaved your minds, you took three seasons to forgive Discord for doing less! So yeah no I'm not into this episode. I know a ton of you are going to try to say "But Starlight this" and "Starlight that" but that's not going to work. I'm sorry but mind control is such a massive ethical and moral violation that I can't overlook it. That's what I think, if you think anything different fine. I'm not like Starlight and going to try to make you think anything different.