Are you implying that Gen 4 is more dark and gritty than the previous ones because it isn't at all. My Little Pony is a merchandise that always stayed lighthearted and intended for little girls. It wouldn't make any sense for Hasbro to swerve it any other way.
I can only think of a spin off involving male ponies made into something stupid like how they did with Looney Tunes (don't remember but it was shooting lasers and looney tunes with superpowers or something). You know in case Hasbro wants to rope in some male viewers like Disney wanted more male viewers by buying off Marvel.