Season 5 Premier is the opposite of Season 4 finale

[John Locke N7 52]

It's no secret that I DESPISE the season 4 finale. To me, season 5 premier is it's complete opposite.

 

Cutie Map even seems to elude to this fact, with Rainbow Dash constantly expecting something simpler like a giant monster or villain. Instead running up against a cult leader and her brainwashing philosophy.

 

Season 4 finale's plot was extremely weak. It seemed to be focusing all it's effort on creating an epic atmosphere than it did a compelling plot. After AWFUL plot holes it eventually tried to force tension through a drawn out lazer battle. The episode ultimately fell flat for me, and is by far the worst episode in my opinion.

 

Cutie Map on the other hand has an AWESOME plot. 100% character driven. The only magic that was involved the the cutie unmarking, but the ponies of the town were BRAINWASHED into accepting it willingly. Instead of relying on giant monsters and epic speeches, It relies on the intrigue of the plot to keep you interested.

 

And I don't know about you, but I felt far more tension when Fluttershy was being forced to sell out ponies to establish her loyalty than I did with the Tirek and Twilight fight.

[Adorkable 2,737]

Didn't know it was possible to hate the Season 4 finale, or any pony episode for that matter, but I respect your decision, friend. I don't think the episodes are complete opposites, because they both have cutie marks and the magic of friendship as part of the plots.

[Imperator Knoedel 58]

I liked both, and appreciate the fact that they went into a different direction for once instead of the old "GAH EVIL MONSTER TAKES OVER THE WORLD TASTE THE RAINBOW". Really loved how they tackled such a comparatively complex topic as totalitarianism.

[Overlord0909 479]

I respect your decision bro. But I found the finale to be the most epic one... They brought in a lot of aspects that weren't there before, and actually ruled out any other episode like it. It's because of this episode, you won't have to worry about them making another big boss battle. And as Adorkable said, it still put focus on the basis, that friendship is magic. :3 Still respect bro. Still respect.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

 

 

Didn't know it was possible to hate the Season 4 finale

 

Oh, it most certainly is. Because when you look past the overrated fight scene, you can see a ridiculously incoherent plot devoid of any and all logic. 

[Adorkable 2,737]

Oh, it most certainly is. Because when you look past the overrated fight scene, you can see a ridiculously incoherent plot devoid of any and all logic. 

 

I completely and respectfully disagree, I feel that Twilight's Kingdom is by far the best episode we've had throughout the entire series, but that's just what I think. I don't really see how you can seemingly jump to such a conclusion, but I don't think this is the thread for such discussion.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,632]

I think both episodes aimed for two different things and they both succeeded. Season 4's finale aimed for an epic finish to an awesome season, a huge closing while opening up new stuff too. In contrast, the premiere to Season 5 operated like the premire of Season 4 to me, it had a more toned down atmosphere and created a great basis for the rest of the season. That's how I see it. I thought both were fantastic really in their respective ways.

[Overlord0909 479]

Sorry... I agree with Adorkable... Still though. Respect! And we should not argue on this sort of thing on here...

[Jammo 986]

I can see finding Twilights Kingdom overrated or even disappointing... But the worst episode? Owls Well and Ends Well was better?

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

They both indeed went in different directions, but I think that works in the series favor as I thought both were solid episodes. Granted I do feel that the S5 premier, but I loved the S4 finale (beyond the fight scene, of course).

 

But that's me, and I recognize where people see otherwise.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

 

 

I don't really see how you can seemingly jump to such a conclusion

 

I can jump to such a conclusion because to me, it takes more than an epic fight scene to make an episode good. Especially when I find said fight scene to be Twilight's absolute lowest moment in the show to the point where I now think less of her because of it (like a cherry on top of everything else I hate about her since she became an alicorn).

 

"Friendship is Magic?" Nah. Twilight is Magic. Those other five ponies are just liabilites standing in the way of her being the sole savior of Equestria. Nothing more. 

[ConcorDisparate 385]

"Friendship is Magic?" Nah. Twilight is Magic. Those other five ponies are just liabilites standing in the way of her being the sole savior of Equestria. Nothing more.

 

That may explain why she never, ever, won any single battle against a villain without her friends.

 

Rejecting the last episodes because she seems to shine more than the other 5 ponies is ridiculous.

You want a proof ?

Sixth element is the element of magic. Since the beginning. She was designed that way since the beginning. If you really think Twilight is that badly designed, then don't blame the last episodes.

 

On the other hand, that does not mean that she actually IS badly written, of course.

Edited April 7, 2015 by ConcorDisparate

[NavelColt 22,881]

You'll have to give us details on the climate over on Anti-S4 Finale Island, as its population is so small it's rare to find folks that live there.

 

I loved them both for different reasons. Though honestly I'd probably feel considerably more 'eh, it was good', than 'I loved it!' if the S5 premiere hadn't brought us two cute new stallions characters that were likable, had dialogue and story relevance. Things very rare for this show full of estrogen.

[Overlord0909 479]

That may explain why she never, ever, won any single battle against a villain without her friends.

 

Rejecting the last episodes because she seems to shine more than the other 5 ponies is ridiculous.

You want a proof ?

Sixth element is the element of magic. Since the beginning. She was designed that way since the beginning. If you really think Twilight is that badly designed, then don't blame the last episodes.

 

On the other hand, that does not mean that she actually IS badly written, of course.

This is a valid point. If she was the only one who could do thngs, then why was it that she always needed her friends facing every boss battle... And plus, would you say the same about your friends in real life? If they came to help you, and failed, would you call them liabilities? Hopefully not.

[simba86 1,541]

I liked both, the season 4 finale was dragon ball Z epic, but the season 5 premier was epic in it's own way with the whole brainwashed cult thing going on, both kinda pushed the envelope

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

Heheh I do think season 4 finale was a bit over the top yes but it was at least half decent. It really focuses more on the good vs evil rather than any character driven story trying to wrap up the key arc.

 

 

Season 5 premiere feels a bit different because it's not a straight up good vs evil battle but rather a question on conformity

[RarityFan01 2,444]

I love the season 4 finale mostly because Tirek was in it. Tirek wasn't near as impressive as he was in g1. No pony got turned into a dragon or anything like that. Although I'm glad they didn't make him like the original Tirek because people would find him too similar to Nightmare Moon. G1 Tirek kick's Nightmare Moon's flank, but I'm not going to go on about how G1 Tirek was awesome.

 

I'm not even big on fight scenes, so that's not why I loved Twilight's Kingdom. I loved the songs (though I prefer the long version of the final song considering Rarity gets a singing part, but that wasn't actually in the show.) I love how Discord was reformed again, and this time, it was much better than with Keep Calm and Flutter On. Discord, being my favorite antagonist, made the episode much better. It would still be great to me if there was no battle. 

 

As for the season 5 premier, I don't think it was really the opposite of the season 4 finale. I think an episode that would be the opposite would be an episode where there is a town of ponies who can't find anything in common and can't get along, and Rainbow and Pinkie would be the only ones who do anything. (Being the opposites of Fluttershy and Twilight.) But it doesn't have to go complete opposite. 

 

I love the season 5 premier mostly because it was dark without going to death and violence, and Fluttershy played the major role rather than Twilight. I actually wanted an episode on a premier or finale where someone else saves the day. Twilight is great and all, but I think she even notices that she's getting more credit than she deserves. Twilight does play a major role in this episode, too. I didn't like how the other four where pretty much useless though. Though I did love Pinkie Pie. Sure, she messed up once, but over all, she wasn't terrible like she was in season 4. She was right that the smiles were bad. 

 

Starlight Glimmer <sarcasm> Creative name by the way! <end sarcasm> was a great antagonist. Unlike most antagonists (I think all season premier and season finale antagonists) she wasn't obviously evil at first. I mean just about every brony knew she was evil, but remember, kid's watch this too. I don't think kids would have that much familiarity with other shows or movies to know a character like Starlight Glimmer is actually evil. I actually thought that she was probably actually thought that being different was bad until it turned out she never got rid of her cutie mark. Then I found out I was wrong and she was evil.

 

I think Starlight Glimmer could be reformed if she did believe that cutie marks where evil. 

 

Her having a cutie mark doesn't mean she doesn't believe cutie marks are evil. She said so herself that she couldn't take the cutie marks of others. If she learns that being equal is not everyone being the same but everyone being treated the same despite the fact that they are different, she could be reformed. 

 

There is also the possibility that she didn't think cutie marks where evil, but she convinced other ponies into believing that so they would lose their cutie marks, and she would be the only pony with magic making her the most powerful pony. Maybe that was her actual plan, to take over Equestria. She would have used Twilight's cutie mark to convince more ponies that cutie marks where evil until all of Equestria believed that. Perhaps the Princesses believed that too, then Starlight Glimmer, being the only pony with a cutie mark, took over Equestria. If this is the case, she shouldn't get reformed. 

 

 

Back on topic. Basically, I loved both the season 4 finale and the season 5 premier. 

[Cirrus. 1,090]

This is the kind of stuff that entertains me about the show.

The season 4 finale didn't have as interesting of a plot but I thought it was funny how over the top it was. I think the writers drank too much coffee while working on it.

 

I liked The season 5 opener better because it was MUCH better than I was expecting. Based on the previews, I thought the Mane 6 were just going to show a creepy cult town that appreciating everyone's differences is better than everyone being the same. Then they all live happier ever after and everyone goes home. The end.

 

Being a "Y" rated show- the writers could have EASILY gotten their message across with a lot less effort. I definitely think the show has gone more towards writing for an older audience and then making it still fit into the "Y" rating- which I think definitely involves more work. Hopefully this trend continues.

 

But seriously, I would never have guessed that they would go into cult/communism/socialism/dictator type stuff like they did. The Brainwashing room?!?! Yeah they wrote that in for little girls.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Cirrus.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

That may explain why she never, ever, won any single battle against a villain without her friends.

 

Yet the episode went ahead and depowered the mane five whilst granting Twilight a power upgrade anyway. Because a certain someone wanted "Friendship is Magic" to come second to Twilight being portrayed as the sole hero of all ponykind. 

 

 

 

If she was the only one who could do thngs, then why was it that she always needed her friends facing every boss battle...

 

She didn't need them. They needed her. Because there was only one surefire chance of Equestria being saved from Tirek, and that was for Twilight to just keep on fighting. 

 

So yes, the mane five were indeed liabilities. They were useless and helpless damsels who only hindered Twilight saving Equestria all by herself. 

[Overlord0909 479]

Not really... Twlight and him were at an impass as Tirek said. Tirek though, had the ability to suck away magic, and would have eventually been beaten. And also, you're forgetting the elements of harmony. She needs all of her friends to use them.

[ConcorDisparate 385]

 

 

Yet the episode went ahead and depowered the mane five whilst granting Twilight a power upgrade anyway. Because a certain someone wanted "Friendship is Magic" to come second to Twilight being portrayed as the sole hero of all ponykind.

 

Eh, no point in talking I guess then.

[John Locke N7 52]

I don't like season 4 finale because the entire first episode is Princess Celestria making TERRIBLE decisions, and then the second episode is just how her stupid decisions made everything worse. It was badly written. You could rewrite the entire episode around the fight scene and I would have definite enjoyed it, but the fight scene was suppose to crescendo what they had been building up to. But like I said their construction was spack handed

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

My favorite season finale is still "The Best Night Ever," and I honestly prefer the slice of life stuff to the likes of the Tirek fight.  I enjoyed the season five premiere more than I expected to; certainly more than I enjoyed the season four premiere.  Though I seldom enjoy any premiere near as much as the later episodes that center on specific ponies.  But we're only two episodes in lol.  Even if I absolutely could not stand the first two episodes, we've plenty more to go.  I will pick and choose the ones that I most enjoy and re-re-re-watch them at my leisure. x )

 

I'm ready for "Tanks for the Memories" (episode 5, I do believe).  And I don't care what the community ends up thinking of it; I'm going to enjoy it.  Particularly if Dashie gets her solo in that episode.  I am fully prepared to swoon. x3

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

I like the Season 4 finale because it was the most epic thing the show has ever done, but I like the Season 5 premiere more. I think the writing was a lot better, and the villain stayed interesting the whole time and showed a ton of future potential--two things I can't say about Tirek.

 

Twilight's role in the premiere is also less prominent. She doesn't gain any new powers, she doesn't save the day, her usual speeches are completely ineffective, and her friends get as much attention as she does. Almost all the things that bothered me about 'Twilight's Kingdom' were absent from 'The Cutie Map'. Instead we got strong new characters, excellent pacing, an unforgettable song, and a more normal but no less fascinating villain. It was everything I could have wanted.

[Imperator Knoedel 58]

Yet the episode went ahead and depowered the mane five whilst granting Twilight a power upgrade anyway. Because a certain someone wanted "Friendship is Magic" to come second to Twilight being portrayed as the sole hero of all ponykind. 

 

 

 

She didn't need them. They needed her. Because there was only one surefire chance of Equestria being saved from Tirek, and that was for Twilight to just keep on fighting. 

 

So yes, the mane five were indeed liabilities. They were useless and helpless damsels who only hindered Twilight saving Equestria all by herself.

 

Have you even watched the episodes to the end? It was not Twlight on her own that saved the day, but the magic of friendship via rainbow power.