If anything, we are in the golden era of the fandom right now or soon will be. The fanom is larger than it ever has been, and sure, it's attracted and brought about some negative types of people/behavior, but I believe it's better than it ever has been. Think of the massive amount of fan art, fiction, websites, and merchandise that's created daily.
However, after the show and fandom have both simmered down, I think people will look back to the days when the show's content was at its peak. These will be remembered as the golden days.
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