Are Season Premieres meant to connect with Previous Season's Finales?

[Will Guide 21,376]

*Will Contains Spoilers for the first 5 seasons*

I heard that Discord's first appearance in the show was originally meant to be the Season 1 Finale, but was pushed back to become Season 2's premiere. And that got me thinking there's a pattern:

Season 1 Finale: The Official Finale, where the Mane 6 attended the Grand Galloping Gala
Season 2 Premiere: Originally meant to be S1 Finale and felt like that as Celestia used the S1 Friendship Reports to help Twilight.
Season 2 Finale: Introduced Shining Armor and Princess Cadance in an wedding episode.
Season 3 Premiere: Shining Armor and Princess Cadance became the rulers of Crystal Empire
Season 3 Finale: Twilight Sparkle became a Alicorn Princess
Season 4 Premiere: The new Princess Twilight ended up returning the Elements of Harmony to the Tree of Harmony.
Season 4 Finale: Twilight's library home got destroyed, but a new castle was created!
Season 5 Premiere: Spoiler covered, for those who didn't see the Comic Com Sneak Peak
The new castle contains a huge, holographic-style map that points the Mane 6 to where they are needed.

See the pattern? The premiere of each season (save for season 2) ties to the finale of the previous season.
Between Season 2 and 3 is Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's roles
Between Season 3 and 4 is Twilight becoming a Princess
and between Season 4 and 5 is Twilight's new castle and its role
They even said Season 3 Finale was meant to be the first part of a story arc that would be continued in Season 4 Premiere.

What do you guys think? Is this pattern intentional? Vote and comment.

Edited March 27, 2016 by WiiGuy2014

[碇 シンジン 27,442]

I think they connect because it is good way to keep the interest for the series going by leaving the finales kinda feeling that more could be revealed X)

[Adorkable 2,737]

I don't see why not, actually I feel it's an awesome idea. It makes the entire show look like a book, the seasons changing are like turning pages.

[Rainboom Dash 1,057]

I like that they connect together, as it maintains the continuity as well as keeping viewers up to speed with the story.

[ggg-2 3,557]

Sometimes, but not all the time.

[Will Guide 21,376]

Also, I would like to add evidence that Season 2's premiere with Discord's debut being meant as a Season 1 Finale: those Return of Harmony episodes used the Season 1's Opening Look (No Train or glow around Celestia's horn) instead of the Season 2's Opening Look (Train and glow around Celestia's horn added) The new opening look started at Lesson Zero and ended with the Season 3 Finale.

Edited December 8, 2014 by WiiGuy2014

[Nature's Spell 526]

You make a pretty convincing case Will. Even if it's coincidence I'd argue it shouldn't be. Can't wait for S5!

[Celli 4,349]

Well, it certainly seems like it, doesn't it?

[Will Guide 21,376]

Now that Season 5's finale and Season 6's premiere have aired, I have to add the connection of 

 

Season 5 Finale: Starlight's first friend, Sunburst being mentioned.
Season 6 Premiere: Starlight finally meeting Sunburst and rekindling their friendship after all these years