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Ring Team

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  1. Ring Team
    My Little Pony Friendship is Magic is an animated TV show that somehow many of us loved for many different reasons. These reasons depends on the person. Someone will say he loves its sense of humor, it's a meme factory, it has ponies, it has pop culture references... These are pretty good reasons for them. To me personally, I love it for the writting, for their inspiring ideas, for adapting these ideas to its animation limitations, for the lovable main characters, for the soundtrack... And, overall, for unexpectedly giving to the audience the need we didn't know we needed. The team behind the show (whose main creative mind in the earlier years was Lauren Faust) picked a concept of a TV show about colorful talking ponies for little girls and they turned it into a TV show for everybody. The kids will enjoy the animation, the adults will enjoy the pop culture references and both will enjoy the story, the dialogue and they will follow the main characters.
    The success of this show kinda reminds me of the science-fiction genre in cinema in the 70s with the hit of Star Wars. Before Star Wars came out, the science-fiction genre was for intellectual people (2001 Space Odyssey) or for nerds (Star Trek). Star Wars was kinda like a bridge for the mainstream audience that let them think "maybe this world is attractive". In many ways, we thought "maybe Equestria is an interesting world to think of" when we discovered this show. And the result couldn't be more positive. To this day, My Little Pony still has one of the biggest fandoms in the Internet. Even though I haven't watched the show for a year, I keep watching fanarts made by talented people, I keep listening to interesting music made by talented musicians... It's probably one of my favourite parts of this fandom, the talent behind all these fanarts and comics. It's one of the reasons why I started making comics and then making fanarts. My silly stories were written in spanish, but a couple of years later I understood that the english language is imperative and even necessary.
    If you name me "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" today, I'd be in a phase where I'd say... meh.

    (What am I saying, most of the time I've been in that phase)
    Anyways, I still think the show has its problems, but that doesn't mean the newer episodes shatter the good episodes. I used to think that until I thought "wait, I still have my favourite episodes". In fact, judging from my favourite episodes, it's still one of my favourite TV shows, even though we should analize it as a whole. If Pixar gave me the idea that the world of animation can be treated like art, My Little Pony encouraged me to do fanart, learn from my mistakes and get better with every drawing I make. The show was my first step into Corel Photo Paint, then Photoshop and then Adobe Flash (which is replaced for Toon Boom Harmony). And I'd like to make animated shorts in the future. So... yeah, I think I can't be mad at a TV show that encouraged me to use this PC software.
    I don't even know why it took me so long to do a list of my favourite episodes of the show, it's long overdue. But it seems like a good time because there's been a lot going on with it recently. The ninth season has finished and there's a movie called My Little Pony: The movie, a film that you should give it a chance, the G5 started with the film A new generation, it will get two different TV shows with different artistic approaches... So, yeah, I think it's a good time.
    However, here's a couple of notes:
    1. I've made the list with the variety in mind. You won't see very similar episodes here. I've picked different episodes with different purposes, different ideas and different executions so my view can't be tiring and also because I like different things. That's how I viewed the show: A collection of many different, new and interesting ideas.
    2. You won't see here popular episodes such as Bats!, Cutie remark or Tanks for Memories. There are some popular episodes in this list, but not too many. Too me, what matters in this list is how well I could share my thoughts.
    3. There's a couple of numbers that have two episodes instead of one. After all, this is my list.
    That being said, let's go.
    20. Hearts and Hooves Day (Season 2)

    In Hearts and Hooves Day (the equivalent of Valentine's Day), the Cutie Mark Crusaders realize that their teacher Cheerilee doesn't have a special somepony for this day, so they convince her and Big Macintosh to have a nice time together, but they're not very interested in that. So the CMC decide to prepare a love potion that makes them loving each other... in a overreacting way. Because of that, the CMC have to find a way to break the love spell.
    I usually don't like love stories (I'm actually one of those who didn't enjoy Simple Ways, the episode from the season 4). The only two exceptions are those that are really well written (City Lights or WALL·E) and those that have a twist. And this episode has a fun twist. A love potion that makes two ponies fall in love is an idea to have fun with the characters. Cheerilee and Big Macintosh are really funny in this story with lots of slapstick moments and there's even a moving house in one of these scenes. I also love the character design in this episode, which has a song that shows tons of visual creativity. That song offers very weird looking ponies, but that is what makes it so fun to watch. And I also think that the moral is pretty great. You don't have to force romance in two people if they don't want to. It's not just the message, it's the way to tell it and the build-up what makes it great.
    So, yeah, 20th favourite episode. Not too good, but it's still a fun and interesting one. We have better episodes in this list.
    19. Bloom & Gloom (Season 5)

    The CMC received a letter written by Babs Seed who said she got a cutie mark. Then, they were worried because they thought that, after getting a cutie mark, they wouldn't get along in the future as Cutie Mark Crusaders. The next morning, Apple Bloom wakes up... with a cutie mark! A very strange one, but then she gets lost in a forest. Then, she wakes up and realizes that it was all a dream... until she gets another cutie mark. She tells that to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, but then they decide that Apple Bloom is not a CMC anymore because she got her cutie mark. Then, she comes back to the forest and she suddenly wakes up with another cutie mark.
    Many people compared this episode to Groundhog Day. I know the premise is not very original, but as long as it is creative and filled with likeable characters, unpredictable twists and a nice story, I'm fine. And this episode is great with these elements. After being so disappointed by Cutie Map and Castle Sweet Castle, I was very surprised that the writers and the animators created a very interesting episode in season 5. It knows how to surprise with a punchline, a dramatic moment or a very strange scene. And during the entire episode you want Apple Bloom to be ok. Despite all this, the princess Luna appears and she tells her that the one who created all her nightmares was her own shadow. In fact, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle have the same kind of nightmares because they were concerned about her fate related to their cutie marks. At the end of this, the CMC learn that what matters is not getting the cutie mark to be defined. What you did and what you do is what defines you. I think it's a pretty positive ending for this kind of episode. It's great for impatient people, specially kids.
    Watching this episode I realised why the season 4 wasn't as special as I expected, because it didn't have many episodes like that. And, even a bigger surprised, I didn't expect that this episode was written by Josh Haber.
    18. On your marks (Season 6)

    After the events of Crusaders of the Lost Mark, the first thing I’ve said was: The next episode should be about the CMC saying "what now?". And this is exactly what happens and I'm very satisfied with the final result.
    The Crusaders want to fix some problems in the same way they did with Diamond Tiara, but they find nothing, maybe except Bulk, but that one was pretty easy. what’s the next step? Well, maybe doing some hobbies for fun. And I really like the idea of Apple Bloom feeling alone again because she thought that just because she has a cutie mark means that she could be eventually separated from her friends. Later it proves that she’s wrong, but it was a very believable sentiment and pretty relatable. The song Out of my own is a very good song, probably one of the best songs in the last years. At the end of the episode, the big deal is not what you’re doing, is having fun for what you’re doing, being good or bad with it. I think it’s a very good message for everyone.
    The only problem I had is the little pony with no cutie mark (I forgot his name) has a very similar design of Scootaloo. He has purple mane, an orange body and purple eyes. It's the same problem as Amending Fences: The story is great, the characters are likeable, but Moondancer is just a re-coloured Twilight Sparkle. But, compared to the rest of the episode, it’s a nitpick, because at least Moondancer was an important character in that episode. The orange pony is just a secondary character, so a similar color palette is not a big deal.
    This was the episode that made me say "I'm glad that I've watched a MLP episode from the season 6". It was a very different episode of what we used to watch, something that I really appreciate considering how underwhelming that season was. The story is nice, the moral is great, the song is nice, the jokes are unexpected and hilarious, the characters are likeable... It's a humble episode made with passion. And just by seeing this episode on this list, you kinda expect one particular episode here.
    17. Feeling Pinkie Keen (Season 1)

    Sometimes, just putting two opposite characters is all what you need for the creation of an episode. Think of it: Twilight trying to find logic in Pinkie's predictions. Bum, there you go.
    Twilight finds something really weird about Pinkie, and it's the fact that she can predict the instant future. It can be her tail of her body twitching. Twilight doesn't buy that and she tries to find a logical explanation to that. What's next are hilarious jokes after more funny jokes about this funny relationship.
    The fact that Twilight desperately uses every single tool to find a reasonable explanation to her predictions (from a big machine to watching her and calling her Pinkius Pieicus) is really funny. It reminds me of the Looney Tunes and Mr. Bean with all the physical comedy, which is great. And Pinkie is also a very likeable character. She's in a very calculated balance between being cute and likeable and being weird; you know, before she was annoying in every single episode after the second season. On top of that, the third act elevates the small scope of the episode without losing its comedy, which is all fine. Twilight becoming this Rapidash Pokémon is really funny.
    I keep saying the words funny and hilarious, but this is because every single scene is really funny and hilarious. Spike with a moustache, Pinkie Pie being herself, Twilight being desperate or sarcastic, Derpy Hooves, the big dragon from the ending... and all works by a simple concept: Twilight and Pinkie together in an episode. Sometimes that's all what you need.
    16. Dragon Quest (Season 2)

    After watching a huge herd of dragons flying to the sky, Spike feels worried that these are really intimidating and he isn't despite being a dragon. I mean, he wears an apron that fits him perfectly. He wants to find his true identity, so to do that he decides to travel to a place where dragons are together. In order to join them, he has to succeed in some dragon quests. In the meantime, Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash are spying them in a pretty funny disguise made by Rarity.
    I love when a TV show decides to give a character the need to find what he or she really is. We've seen that in Buzz Lightyear from the first Toy Story film, Woody from its sequel, the replicants from Blade Runner (one of my 2 favourite films of all time, next to Inside Out), etc. That is also a chance to see something different, like a new environment and new characters. I used to find dragons uninteresting, specially after the release of the Skyrim game, but, after watching this episode, the first How to train your dragon film and playing Dark Souls, I realised that I really love dragons. The character design of this episode is great and you always find something interesting, including Rarity's disguise (by the way, a build-up to a funny joke, pretty nice thought). This episode is also a reminder that just because you are someone specific doesn't mean you have to be like that, specially if some normal actions from other people are mean. In 2013 I realised that I love non-action films where the main character is female. Carol, Blue is the warmest colour, most of the Ghibli films... and Frozen is one of my favourite films of all time. That last one is rare to me, specially considering that it's one of those mainstream films that are hated by thousands of people nowadays, but it's also okay. You don't have to change yourself or to deny your own taste just to appeal to someone or a group. One of the people who follow my work said that he likes the ending of the season 6 which is one of my least favourite episodes in the show. And that's fine. Just be nice.
    Come to think of it, from that perspective, I think the Star Wars fandom needs to watch this episode. And otakus. And furries.
    15. The Best Night Ever (Season 1)

    The Mane 6 have always wanted to go to the gala. They have dresses, a chariot, a great song... What could possibly go wrong? Well, after some minutes, they realized that the gala isn't what they expected. Applejack wants to make more money but it doesn't work, Pinkie Pie wants to celebrate a huge party but it doesn't work, Fluttershy wants to spend some time with some cute animals but it doesn't work...
    The entire episode is all about how reality can demolish your expectations. What you expected for so long isn't what you expected. And, after a long and disappointing night, you learn that what makes a great gala is being with your friends, which is a very nice lesson. That doesn't mean this episode is dramatic, it's a great comedy. Watching all these characters dealing with other ponies and circumstances is hilarious. Blueblood is really funny, Pinkie Pie is really funny... but my favourite (and I can't be alone in that) has to be Fluttershy. The constant and growing anger she gets by not succeeding in what she wants makes her ultimate rage as one of my absolute favourite moments in the entire show. I can watch this scene for hours and I couldn't get bored. It's hilarious, it shows chemistry between these characters... It's an episode with a great comedy and a great lesson.
    14. Hearth's Warming Eve (Season 2)

    Twilight and her friends have to act on a play that tell us the story of how Equestria became Equestria. Before it was founded, there were three tribes: Earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi, and they hated each other. But both tribes didn't live in good conditions because it was an eternal winter commanded by the windigos. So, to fix that, the tribes decided to go for a new place to live.
    This episode doesn't have a twist. Anyone who expects something like that he won't find anything here. What makes this episode great is the dialogue, the atmosphere, the art design and the emotional connection you're having with the main characters. It also shows the danger of hate to the people that is different from you, which is something nowadays people sadly seem to have a problem with in this 21th century. It shows that unity makes strength, which is an important lesson for anybody. Students, workers, sport players, etc. And I like the way the windigos were designed. They are basically horses, but the body structure is different, which makes them being visually interesting. It also has some funny moments, like the way Spike starts to tell us the story. It concludes with a great song and a feeling you finished to watch something really wholesome. It's a great episode and one of my favourites in the season 2.
    13. Cutie Mark Chronicles (Season 1)

    When I was discovering My Little Pony back in November 2011, this was my absolutely favourite episode in the show. It has great characters, a very nice song (which, as a result, I ended up listening to a lot of covers and different versions of it), a nice story, some very clever character arcs... It's beautiful.
    The CMC are always trying to find their cutie marks by doing some crazy stuff. After a falied idea, they decided to ask to the Mane 6, at least to have an idea of how to get a cutie mark, although Scootaloo only wants to hear Rainbow Dash's story. The rest of the episode is bascially that: How the Mane 6 got their cutie marks.
    After being in love with six extremely likeable main characters, it's really nice to see the past of each character. You don't get bored by hearing their stories. Every single past has a detail or two that people wouldn't expect from them. Rarity's horn takes her to a huge rock after a really long day, Twilight wasn't princess Celestia's student right off the bat, Applejack wanted to live a glamourus life... But my favourite story has to be Pinkie's past. It's great that a very happy pony was actually very sad as a little foal. But to keep her balanced she's not a sad or depressed pony, she's actually very active. The entire episode is also really funny thanks to the slapstick moments, the dialogue and the build-up to some scenes (it's funny to see Rarity's reaction when she finds a huge rock after all that time).
    If I have to be nitpicker, I'd say the ending and the message are too indulgent to my taste, even for My Little Pony standards. But, considering the rest of this episode, I think it deserves it. Sometimes we need to feel as happy as our favourite characters. Some people would overanalize the ending and would end up talking about faith. I don't particularly believe in it. I tend to think that everything happens randomly. But when you think of all these characters getting along like that after hearing the last story, you kinda smile a little bit.
    Great episode, great writing, great comedy and great characters. What else do you need?
    12. Inspiration Manifestation (Season 4)

    After talking to her last client, Rarity is sad because she feels that she's not doing her best in the work. Spike wants to help her by finding what it seems to be a magic book in the old castle of Celestia and Luna. He gives it to Rarity, she recites a spell and she suddenly feels very inspired. So inspired that she decides to take it to the extreme and she changes the entire Ponyville. Will Spike save the day?
    During 2014, I felt that the season 4, with some exceptions, wasn't as creative, inspiring, big and good as I expected. After Twilight turning into a princess in season 3, I expected some risks and new inventive stories, like Twilight having to be part of a diplomatic task that could have been a pretty funny episode. Instead, most of the episodes take place in Ponyville and some of these episodes are basically filler. Also, Twilight in the Golden Oak Library in that season was like Twilight in the same library before she got wings, which kinda invalidates her new duty as a princess. It's one of the reasons why it's one of my least favourite seasons. But Inspiration Mainfestation shows a lot of creativity by having fun with the concept of a very inspired Rarity that designs the entire town because of a magic book. I really love the art design here, with all the lights, the weird houses, Spike wearing a silly Megaman armor... you know just by watching it that the team was having fun writing and making this episode. At first I wasn't sure to put this episode or Three's a crowd in this list, but, although Discord's episode was really funny, I ended up picking this one for one single reason: Pinkie Pie was funny in this episode, but she wasn't in the other one. In Three's a crowd, Pinkie's comedy depends on her constant screams and stupidity. In this episode, she works as a part of a visual joke that was really weird and funny. Sometimes, visual comedy is better than the comedy with dialogue, specially if the other episode depends on annoying screams. It also has a very important lesson: It's ok to be honest with your friends.
    Spike had another good episode called Power Ponies. I wonder why they didn't make more episodes like that. I think the idea of selling magical comic-books would build up to even more weird and creative worlds and another villain. But at least we got this great episode of our little dragon.
    And speaking about Spike...
    11. Secret of my Excess (Season 2)

    Spike wants to eat a ruby that was aging for months to celebrate his birthday, but then he changes his mind and wants to give it to Rarity as a gift. The next day it's his birthday. Twilight and her friends have prepared lots of gifts for him and he reveals it's his first birthday in Ponyville, that he doesn't get used to receive lots of gifts. But then he proceeds to get greedy to everyone in Ponyville because "it's his birthday". The next day, he seems to get a bit... taller. Zecora explains that the greedier he gets, the closer he becomes to be a monster, something that eventually happens.
    This has to be one of the most entertaining episodes I've seen in the season 2, and all that from a simple concept: Spike gets bigger. The fact that a giant dragon is smashing Ponyville as if it was King Kong is great. And the reactions of everyone is priceless, specially Pinkie and the Wonderbolts. I've lost the amount of times I've seen this part of the episode. That doesn't invalidate the comedy of the previous stuff (The way Twilight hides her book for Spike after hearing him he usually gets a book for his birthday is pretty funny), but most of us love the second half of this episode. It also has one of my favourite endings in any episode of the show. It has some of the nicest music I've heard in the show, it's very delightful... and it's hilarious because Spike and Rarity are falling!
    This episode is a great mix of King Kong and Beauty and the Beast (I compare Spike's greediness with Beast's curse). And it's one of the best examples of why I think some weird concepts can work really well in a My Little Pony episode, as long as it doesn't lose focus. It has great comedy, great writing, it's really delightful... and it's a giant dragon destroying Ponyville. You won't see a lot of this stuff in a TV show called My Little Pony.
    That's all for today. I have the second half of the list ready, but I need to organize all my thoughts and images to make it as fun and organized as possible. Some images I've found on the Internet aren't compatible in this blog, so some appealing images I had prepared didn't work here because of it.
    Last but not least, I hope you enjoy the reading, thanks for reading me and take care!
    Love,
    RT
    Twilight_friends_S1E02.webp
  2. Ring Team
    When I think of My Little Pony, I don’t think of alicorns, I don’t think of magic, magicians, redesigned changelings, manipulating ponies or swapping cutie marks. That might sound strange to some of you, but what I do think are vulnerable ponies who are determined to learn about friendship, appreciate what they have learned and face dangerous conflicts. That to me is My Little Pony. Maybe it’s because I love the Mane 6 and the 2017 movie, but the franchise at its core is about well written characters that are up against nearly impossible odds, facing a conflict and learning something from that experience. Millions of people love the Mane 6 because they had an unbreakeable emotional connection with them. They root for these little ponies.
    I’ve been a fan of My Little Pony since November of 2011, but I am an even bigger fan of the art of storytelling in films and TV shows. I already had a positive impression of the film A New Generation and I like Tell your Tale for what it is (with very short episodes, it’s hard to say “this was a waste of my time”), but if all the upcoming material of G5 (Make your Mark and the specials) is fun and exciting, I will be excited for the future.
    So, what do I personally wanna see in G5?
    First of all, the cutie marks need to go back to be established as a symbol that represents your unique talent, maturity and individual identity. It’s impossible to avoid the Starlight argument since she was the only unicorn in Friendhip is Magic who swaps and extracts cutie marks like nothing. In Call of the Cutie it was established that the cutie marks are something that a little pony obtains once they discover their talent. It was a beautiful idea that added some layers of humanity in the characters. I could understand that someone like Tirek would absorb the talent of other ponies and make the cutie marks disappear since it’s a dramatic element that shows there were stakes in the season 4 finale. Unfortunately, with Cutie Map, I think it completely rewrote the established rules and lore about cutie marks. It severely invalidates the personal aspect and the point of having a cutie mark. When you have a talent, you perfected it and you make a living with your own talent and effort, that doesn’t matter anyway because Starlight is gonna take that away from you whenever she wants and however she wants. And I think it shouldn’t have been this way. It’s like watching a human with magical powers playing God. It feels wrong, especially for someone who ended up being a main character.
    Now that I mention it, there should be less emphasis on magic. And, sure, everyone loves magic, but when it’s overused, it becomes boring. When you depend too much on magic instead of the characterization of your characters, it makes the show less special. That’s kinda what happened in some episodes of the last seasons of Friendship is Magic. I think it should be used with restraint in the show. The characters we’ve seen in A New Generation are well written and I want the writers to take this oportunity to make character driven stories. I’m one of the fans who were happy for the decision of unicorns and pegasus depending on magical minerals because that will prevent overpowered characters as we saw in certain characters from Friendship is Magic. And the fact that there was some self-awareness in the film shows a commitment from the writers I admire.
    As for plot, I think a story focused on exploring different parts of the world could be put to good use. I’d love to see Sunny Starscout being determined to see new cities, new towns, new creatures and new conflicts that will test her patience, determination and personal goals. After all, according to her, unity makes strength. And since she has a book about how friendship was in the past, it means they are some stakes. I honestly don’t see this not being in G5 these days, it should be at least a small portion of the future.
    I like antagonists, but we need a certain type of antagonist who doesn’t believe in friendship and will do his or her best to divide a pony society that is slowly amending and starting new friendships after having so much mutual predujices in A New Generation. A villain who divides everyone has to have a bad experience that leads him or her to think friendship is not worth it. It has to be a relatable experience. And if they want a villain that is eventually reformed, then I’d buy it to treat themes of redemption. But it has to be well done. A well written reformed villain, not a character that goes back to manipulate everyone after being reformed, not a character that apologizes to everyone at the end of the episode and pretends to learn something that she will forget in the next episode, not a character that gets a pass regardless of what she does because the story is not self-aware. You know what I’m refering to: Starlight. She was horrible. She was manipulative, she doesn’t want to learn from her mistakes, she’s a hypocrite, she didn’t earn her constant apologies, she’s self righteous and she didn’t earn the place in the show in comparison to Twilight and her friends. The writers don’t even need to depend on other good references within the show to talk about redemption (like Babs Seed, Luna and Tempest Shadow), they could be inspired by some films that touched these themes, like the first Iron Man film and Prince of Egypt.
    So, we know that Sunny has some alicorn powers. Yes, this has me worried. I don’t want her to solve everything with magic (because we got too many episodes about that in G4), I think most people will agree, if she needs to achieve something, it has to come from her guts, her desire to face some struggles or conflicts. What makes Sunny so memorable is her determination, because she believes in a good cause. The decision of making her an alicorn for a second in the last two minutes of A New Generation is the only thing in G5 that has me skeptical, but I think the team behind the tablets understands the concern and hopefully they implement this idea sparingly and tastefully. I like the idea of saving this for a small yet crucial scene that sets the story emotion. And as much as I like the Mane 6, I don’t want to see them in G5 because it’s essentially fan apeasement, and I despise fan apeasement because a creative decision based on “hey, remember this?” lacks creativity and artistic freedom. If they need to be shown, it should be in old pictures from the past, like old photos, stained glass windows, something visual that will work as a storytelling element. I think the references of G4 we saw in A new generation were well made (like the Wonderbolts room and the little toys) because, especially with the little toys of Sunny (which are the Mane 6), it represented a beautiful idea of what friendship meant, just as we saw Friendship is Magic for what it represented a beautiful idea in the past. Kinda meta. And I love it. And now that we’re gonna get two different shows of G5, I want Tell your Tale to get all the goofy stuff and Make your Mark to get all the adventure elements to avoid inconsistency.
    So, before I wrap up with what I think of Friendship is Magic and its disjointed canon, I’ll give a quick recap:
    -G5 needs to focus on a small group of characters in a small story that is part of a larger picture (something that A new generation achieved and I’m thankful for that).
    -Less emphasis on magic, more empashis on the characters.
    -More emphasis on the consequences of the character’s actions to give their struggles more meaning, kinda like Putting your hoof down or Nausicaä of the valley of the Wind.
    -The alicorn form of Sunny should be used sparingly, maybe one time in Make your mark.
    -The cutie mark needs to go back as a mark that reflects your talent, uniqueness and individual aspect that makes the ponies more relatable.
    -The villains should have the complete opposite intentions of what Sunny wants from a dramatic point of view: Dividing a society because of bad experiences they had with friendship.
    -Actual commitment and complete compromise with reformed villains if they have one (it doesn’t even need to be Sprout, it can be someone else)
    -Now that I mention it, don't repeat the Starlight problem at all cost. I love redemption stories, but not at any cost.
    -Tell your tale should be focused on comedy and silliness and Make your mark should be focused on adventures, that way you don’t compromise too much of both things.
    Most importantly, the G5 has to be fun, simple as that. It has to make me close the laptop with a genuine smile that makes me appreciate even more the new characters.
    Ok, the G4 stuff happened many many many moons ago, even Izzy said that. I know people are not happy with the fact that this is gonna be a sequel and this is pretty far from the events that happened in Friendship is Magic. I know many of you dedicated your time with the show, Equestria Girls, Pony Life and the shorts and the fanwork that extends the G4 vision further than the official content. That’s fantastic and beautiful. That’s completely understandable. Heck, I love a lot of the fanwork too, like Lullaby for a Princess. Friendship is Magic has been treated like a sandbox and it’s great.
    But I would be lying, and so would you, if we said the TV show was perfect. Cozy Glow’s character development was dumb and Trixie’s return in season 6 was nothing more than fan apeasement. Not everything that slaps the Friendship is Magic name on it is gold. “More Friendship is Magic” does not always mean “good Friendship is Magic”. Nine seasons is too much for a TV show. Starlight manipulating everyone over and over again, including her best friend, invalidates her redemption arc. The redesign of the changelings were disappointing for the Chrysalis fans who were waiting 4 years until the writers decided to do something about it. Twilight being a teacher is neat, but characters such as Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were never written to be teachers. And, for some of out there, the decision to make a sequel that happens many many moons ago after tthe events of G4 was disappointing.
    Let’s face it, If G5 ended up being too dependent on G4’s “legacy” and references, it would split the MLP fandom into even more factions that don’t see eye to eye. I can imagine the complaints:
    “They should have covered this”
    “They should have used that”
    “This character wasn’t in G4”
    “There are retcons”
    “That G4 pony wasn’t as good as this G4 pony”
    “This character should have returned”
    “This G4 episode wasn’t as good as this other episode”
    The list of complaints would be looonger than what we already have complained about G4’s shenanigans (and that’s a lot). It would be an incredible mess, to the point where it would be difficult to logically discuss it.
    Look, I don’t hate Friendship is Magic, I don’t hate Equestria Girls. I don’t hate Josh Haber. I don’t hate Hasbro. I don’t hate anything. I’m an optimist, I understand the fan rage. But in my opinion, if G5 has to be relevant, the story needs to be smaller focused and completely re-engineered, something that A New Generation achieved. It’s not like Hasbro is coming to your house and decides to burn your hard-disc driver filled with the nine seasons of Friendship is Magic, the G4 isn’t going anywhere. You already have that show, four Equestria Girls movies, a couple of FiM shorts, a couple of EG shorts, the EG show, Pony Life, a huge MLP film. You have tons of content based on G4.
    If you choose to be a jerk, hey, no one is stopping you. When MLP fans complained how Hasbro produced two TV shows for G5 “for money”, all I can do is roll my eyes. I mean, I get the point, but by that logic, wouldn’t you say the same thing about Equestria Girls, Pony Life and the last four seasons of MLP:FiM filled with filler episodes, not to mention the many toys they made about it?
    Speaking about them, I find hilarious that they dismiss some criticisms about G4 as much as possible until G5 arrived back in september of last year. I remember back in 2013 I was complaining about how “Pinkie Pie was louder and stupidier in season 3” and someone told me “it’s a comic relief, give her a break”. In season 4 I wish Twilight got more episodes about her being a princess and someone told me “the tree is important, she can’t stay in Canterlot, don’t be nitpicker”. In season 6 it was Starlight’s shenanigans in Every little thing she does and everyone was like “redemption is a slow process, give her a break”. But as soon as A New Generation arrived in Netflix, those people who were dismissing these criticisms for years now are unleashing their inner beasts like a monster from Dark Souls, like “this is not like G4”, “where are the Mane 6?” or other complaints. Kinda funny the double standard.
    You could say “but they have to listen to the fans”. I don’t buy the “give to the fans what they want” argument, because I asked for the return of Chrysalis for four years and they bring her back in the worst possible way in the season 6 finale to the point where I didn’t watch the rest of the show for 3 years and a half. The “listen to the fans” line is a nonsense phrase, it makes no sense, it has no starting point and no benchmark, it doesn’t matter. What fans want isn’t as important as unshackled creative freedom. After all, that’s how some of the best MLP:FiM episodes were made.
    I don’t know if that’s because the Internet made us very negative over the years (which is a completely separated discussion). Then again, nowadays the Internet seems more willing to back something up. Kids nowadays have been born into this digital era. The kids of this generation are way more empathetic and understanding than my generation back when I was a kid. Kids nowadays give me so much hope in comparison to what I’ve been dealing with decades ago. I think these people will be the first ones to connect with Sunny and her friends. After all, that’s how many people found Twilight Sparkle relatable back in 2010. And A New Generation received good reviews and nice comments written by the people who liked it.
    As a fan of shows who has the stance of needing new content that is not a rehash, but something new, different, inventive and unique, I believe in Sunny Starscout. I believe in Izzy, Zipp, Pipp, Hitch, I believe in her quest of friendship, I believe in her determination.
    I believe in G5.
    Do you?

    PD: I'll post later my Top 10 of favourite MLP episodes. Kinda tough to adapt in this blog format.
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