Why So Suddenly Dark

[Glike 487]

What do you guys think of the seriousness of season 5 thus far? I've really enjoyed it so far, but it's tackled some darker themes lately, especially for the type of show it is. I mean we've had:

 

 

-Communist-esque parallels with the premiere. Acting the same as others and not being allowed to think and act freely.

-Dealing with loss (Tanks for the Memories)

-The fears of being stuck with a fate that you can't control, especially when it involves what you're meant to do in life and who you are as a person. (Bloom and Gloom)

-War (Party Pooped)

-And in the most recent episode, self-harm/punishment.

 

Not to mention there's been various allusions to death, i.e. the monster's skeleton in The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone (the monster's name escapes me at the moment.)

 

 

What do ya'll think so far?

[Bendy 1,821]

Not dark enough. Perfect Equestria is boring.

 

Seriously, it makes the show more interesting and puts yet another nail in the coffin that Equestria is perfect as seen by certain fans.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Bendy

[Glike 487]

Not dark enough. Perfect Equestria is boring.

 

Seriously, it makes the show more interesting and puts yet another nail in the coffin that Equestria is perfect as seen by certain fans.

That it does. XD

 

I should rephrase my question, though. I mean, why do you think the sudden shift occured? Not that there hasn't been dark themes in MLP before, but this season certainly kicked it up a notch. What do you think drove the staff's decision to introduce these themes?

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

The show is mature now just like people, the life is less colorful when you grown up...

Or maybe everything is cool with darker version...

[cider float 2,539]

Ummm none of them are very dark. There's already been the Changeling invasion and there was also the Appaloosa war which was just throwing pies at each other so how far wars goes in MLP it's not that big and scary.

 

 

[SkullcandyPegasus 604]

Not dark enough. Perfect Equestria is boring.

 

Seriously, it makes the show more interesting and puts yet another nail in the coffin that Equestria is perfect as seen by certain fans.

Agreed. I think dark themes are perfect really, as any sort of darkness cannot be expressed directly in a kid's show. The implications of a theme will be seen by older viewers, while maintaining the playful atmosphere for children (and those who never grew up).

[SolyWack 482]

Oh no, your asking teenagers/young adults about dark themes in mlp. If you've ever been to fimfiction...

 

You know not the hornets nest you have awoken.

Edited July 12, 2015 by AppleJack_Wack

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

It gives something that caters to a wider variety of audiences.

[Argumedies 1,748]

Its not just season 5 and if anything it shows us those tenebrous imperfections on a world cast with bright expressions.

 

You cannot have light without dark

 

So for me, its not so much as gotten darker but balancing out the scales.

[Denim&Venöm 19,620]

Maybe because the target demographic that has been watching since the start are now teens & pre-teens, and will soon start to see similar issues in real life, so the show is addressing it in a way that doesn't alienate younger viewers, yet helps older children get more of a grasp on the lessons & morals being taught. 

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Increased complexity is what I'd argue.  Compared to the first two seasons, the show has been getting more and more complex, sometimes to the show's benefit, sometimes to it's determent.  And because of the increase in complexity, the moral and tone often become darker as more options become open. For example you go from friends learning to accepting one another's differences to question whether you should try to befriend someone who was once your bitter enemy or not, or the realization that your past action had horrible consequences on those you didn't think about all too often. So because they're trying to tell more complex stories, the possibility for them to become darker increases. 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,908]

I think it is the show becoming more complex and exploring many new concepts, something that I really enjoy. Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep caught me off guard with how it was done, it was much deeper than I anticipated and quite a few episodes this season have given me the same feelings. It is a pleasant surprise. The show is now getting more and more depth put into it than it was in the past, season 1 as an example was far more simplistic than season 5 is now.  

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

If Lauren were still calling the shots, it would be much darker than the themes we've been getting as of late. Kids aren't stupid. I know a childrens's show needs to be wholesome. But you also can't talk down to kids. 

[Cwanky 17,625]

Magic and colorful talking ponies and animals aside, it makes the show much more realistic and relateable. All these dark issues are very real problems that people face in the world and their relationships all the time.

 

Since FiM is a show meant to teach people about friendship, virtue and morality, its just as important that they learn about sad aspects of life like separation, loss, failure, and the biggest message of this season - reconciliation.

[cider float 2,539]

Chrysalis portrayal on fake Cadence and Discord has already brought out sinister elements before. The mention of Tartarus used as a prison of sorts could also describe this.

[Grepper 3,193]

I like all the darker elements. It makes the show more interesting and less saccharine.

[Sunwalker 981]

I am not really a fan of extremely dark and gritty stuff, but I think that a bit of darkness here and there helps to build some tension, put something at stake and make you care more about the characters.

 

When it is clear that characters are fragile and mortal, that they also can go through hardships; then there is a human element that is added, which make them more relatable.

[Shanks 10,816]

There has been a shift but I don't think this shift has been a more gradual one over the coarse of the series with occasional spikes. If you think about it the show started somewhat dark actually with the premier of Nigthmare Moon who was inspired in large part by Tirek who of course later got a G4 adaptation. 

[Nyan Neon 50]

Maybe because the target demographic that has been watching since the start are now teens & pre-teens, and will soon start to see similar issues in real life, so the show is addressing it in a way that doesn't alienate younger viewers, yet helps older children get more of a grasp on the lessons & morals being taught. 

If so, good job DHX *clap clap*

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

"communist-esque themes" stopped right there.

that's nothing like communism dude. did you just see some meme about it and then decided theyre right?

It's a cult.

 

War was only briefly mentioned and nothing came of it. We saw "war" in Over a Barrel and all it had was ponies throwing pies at buffalo.

You also forgot lack of self-worth. Moondancer says how she felt like she didn't matter and just gave up on friendship.

 

Yeah they are tackling some pretty heavy stuff. I kind of like it. I've been enjoying the season thus far and I look forward to what they bring out next.

Although the original appeal to me was it's romanticism, them actually bringing out some more "serious" elements is a nice contrast sometimes.

[SolyWack 482]

NotoriousSMALL, on 15 Jul 2015 - 7:17 PM, said:

"communist-esque themes" stopped right there.

that's nothing like communism dude. did you just see some meme about it and then decided theyre right?

It's a cult.

 

War was only briefly mentioned and nothing came of it. We saw "war" in Over a Barrel and all it had was ponies throwing pies at buffalo.

You also forgot lack of self-worth. Moondancer says how she felt like she didn't matter and just gave up on friendship.

 

Yeah they are tackling some pretty heavy stuff. I kind of like it. I've been enjoying the season thus far and I look forward to what they bring out next.

Although the original appeal to me was it's romanticism, them actually bringing out some more "serious" elements is a nice contrast sometimes.

You stopped at Communist-esque themes yet still knew he mentioned war? If your gonna insult somebody at least keep some continuity.

 

And yes it is communism-esque, see the 'esque' means not exactly. All the ponies in town being forced to change themselves for the betterment of the society, complete with a brain washing facility, is close enough to communism to warrant Communsism-esque.

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

If they present us Applejack's dead parents... the show will not be the same . Drama will take over mlp ).

[gamecubeguy214 2,512]

I personally like how dark it is. I prefer extreme, sad, or intense subjects instead of happiness and sunshine.

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

You stopped at Communist-esque themes yet still knew he mentioned war? If your gonna insult somebody at least keep some continuity.

 

And yes it is communism-esque, see the 'esque' means not exactly. All the ponies in town being forced to change themselves for the betterment of the society, complete with a brain washing facility, is close enough to communism to warrant Communsism-esque.

Yeah I stopped and then i kept going what is with all the smart asses on this site

 

It's way more related to a cult dude, lol. It's not even a country it's a settlement in the middle of nowhere inside a pre-existing nation with like 20 ponies max living there. They blindly follow a leader who doesnt actually believe in the philosophy and is just making gains off of them.

Pay close attention to what they say at the end how they thought they had found something that completed them. That's what happens to people who join cults, they feel empty, and find security in some weird cultist society and are just used for some wicked person's (or pony's) gain, blind to how ridiculous the philosophy is.