spoiler Was Crusaders of the Lost Mark just to shut the fandom up?

[ggg-2 3,553]

Yeah, I've read that the original plan was to give the CMC their marks in the final season, which season 5 is not. However, fans have been demanding the CMC get their marks practically since the club was formed. This reached a higher point when season 5's theme was announced. So was Crusaders of the Lost Mark just to shut those vocal fans up?

[Melke 160]

I somewhat agree to this. It is true that Season 5 is making new records of fan service to what the community wants and this episode seem to tackle fan's questions about the CMC, their lack of growth, DT and other factors. The original plan was like you said but I believe that the writers are expanding past that designated end.

 

This is my own personal opinion that the writers are now letting characters grow and not having them repeat the same formulae. Like the CMC just trying random things to get their cutie marks (we have grown tired of it). I like the new direction in which they are helping others get their marks as it is never easy to see your own talent or true self on your own. The students now become the teachers. So they are making this a solution that solves both problems: letting the CMC get their marks and also giving something new for fans to look forward to.

[Fawkes The Phoenix 737]

The writers are just doing what we want to see happen this season (As long as it's reasonable). I think it's great they're trying to do right what bronies think the show has been doing wrong (DT's development, overpowered villains, lack of use of old characters....)

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

Well, if someone says it on the Internet, it's gotta be true.

 

I will not believe anything, unless i have an actual source, which was made by the producers and writers of the show. Anything else, is just Speculoos.

 

[Malinter 3,064]

I think its a bit of both. Some fans have wanted them to earn their cutie marks and after 5 seasons of the show, i'm sure the writers felt they had waited long enough to progress their story to this point.

[M'gann M'orzz 745]

Yeah, I've read that the original plan was to give the CMC their marks in the final season, which season 5 is not. However, fans have been demanding the CMC get their marks practically since the club was formed. This reached a higher point when season 5's theme was announced. So was Crusaders of the Lost Mark just to shut those vocal fans up?

Yeah Iv never heard that "Original Plan" anywhere, soooooooo.... 

No it was done because that story arc had to have an end somewhere, free up the CMC for more types of stories.

[MAIKUN 262]

Yeah, I've read that the original plan was to give the CMC their marks in the final season, which season 5 is not. However, fans have been demanding the CMC get their marks practically since the club was formed. This reached a higher point when season 5's theme was announced. So was Crusaders of the Lost Mark just to shut those vocal fans up?

Yeah good point ggg-2. You could be right. To be honest to myself, really: The whole "CMC getting their marks" thing was a sorta controversy, and besides, that is my opinion too!

[ManaMinori 4,145]

I've never heard that plan from the staff. Source, please?

[Simon 4,557]

 

 

I've read that the original plan was to give the CMC their marks in the final season

 

I would be absolutely amazed if that was true.  In order for that to be true, Meghan McCarthy or one of the other creative heads of MLP:FiM would have to have revealed that information, which would be a violation of their employment contracts.  And if that was said by show staff, it'd have been everywhere.  I'm guessing wherever you read that was someone speculating that they would get them in the final year, not actually stating fact. 

 

Regardless, no, they weren't given the to shut the fandom up, they were given them because it was a logical progression in their storyline.  Take a look at season 5 in general... this season is all about renewing the show and breathing new life into it so it doesn't get stale.  In order to keep the Mane 6's story from getting stale, they've moved them from focusing learning friendship lessons to teaching through the Cutie Map.  Similarly, in Equestria Girls, they wrapped up Sunset Shimmer's story and resolved many of her feelings of insecurity about her past and fitting in with her new group of friends.  They then gave us Human Twilight to move the story into focusing on a new character going through similar feelings for future movies.  Again, breathing new life into the franchise before it got stale.

 

Same is true of the cutie marks.  Having the CMC run around trying to get their cutie marks in ridiculous things is going to get stale after a while.  If they never got their cutie marks until the end of the show, it would mean their characters couldn't grow regardless of how long the show went on.  As much as I love the CMC, their stories were even getting a bit stale for me. Giving them their cutie marks refreshed their story. Plus, getting a cutie mark isn't the end of their story, it's a new beginning.  Putting it at the end would mean the fandom would get no time to see them in their new lives actually working with that talent they discovered.  It would be an absolutely ridiculous idea to put it at the end of the series.

 

Also keep in mind that even if it was originally their plan to put the cutie marks at the end of the series, nobody had any idea how popular or long-lived this series would become.  Plans are going to change with a series when it becomes obvious it's going to be on the air for a significant period of time.  Had the series ended at season 3, there's a good chance it would have been done in the last season, but knowing what we know now about how long the show will remain on air, it would no longer make sense to wait that long.

 

In short, it was the right time to give them their cutie marks.  Regardless of what was planned, the show staff made the right decision here to keep the CMC from growing stale and repetitive and that's what counts.

[Jeric 46,852]

I reject this reality and substitute my own. I call this reality 'Jeric's nephews and neices' who are < age 10.

 

Season 5 has a cutie mark theme too, so this theory would require either coincidence or an entire season theme built around the fandom complaining? :wut:

 

Besides, the evidence this isn't true is on display every time Twilight Sparkle is on screen. She still has her wings last time I checked. DHX and Hasbro won't change the status quo based on fan bitching.

 

Finally ... they are creating many ideas in summits now as the show has lasted longer than expected. If there was a plan to mark up the CMC at the end ... that would have been abandoned a while ago.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,619]

I highly doubt that. If that were the reasoning then it probably would have been done in season 4, which I think some were suspecting it owuld happen in that season, which we all know now that it didn't. 

[One-Punch Man 316]

I doubt the CMC got their cutie marks to quiet the fans....I feel like they just saw how much they could do with the CMC getting their cutiemarks, or they wanted to show growth in the CMC or something. Maybe they have had something planned since the beginning of the series, and felt that to achieve what they were going for, they had to give the CMC their cutiemarks now.

 

Idk. I am just thinking out loud.

[Silver Stream. 708]

I'm not sure how I feel about that detail with you mentioning that originally the CMC were to get their cutiemarks on the final season, but....

 

Honestly the WHOLE episode read "YO HERE YOU GO! IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?"

 

COTLM wasn't....good. From other opinions ive heard, Magical Mystery Cure was too rushed while COTLM was better. But this episode was rushed as well. It was also had a backstory for DT that had no effort put into it. It was a cliche...in fact, it seems the effort they should have put into the entire episode was slapped on her solo song and the ending because those were the only two great things about this episode.

 

But whenever i express this, people tend to disagree without directly responding to the many flaws and holes i point out. Only thats its great and thats it. I think the episode receives so much praise is because they still got what they wanted: CMC getting their cutiemarks and DT having the spotlight to make the audience go "awww"

 

Season 4 seemed like the perfect season to me...since the CMC episodes were so good...in fact, throughout Season 5 there weren't a lot of cmc so it was a shock this came out of nowhere. But as far as I'm concerned, the episode will continue to receive heavy praise and no one will really question it because regardless of how it was delivered and when it was delivered....it was delivered. That's it

Edited October 14, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[Malinter 3,064]

 

 

But whenever i express this, people tend to disagree without directly responding to the many flaws and holes i point out.

 

Because they don't see them because they are not you. Some folks just watch and enjoy the show and give zero fu er-ponies about things like pacing, depth, yaada yaada..

[Silver Stream. 708]

Because they don't see them because they are not you. Some folks just watch and enjoy the show and give zero fu er-ponies about things like pacing, depth, yaada yaada..

I'd hope none of them are me and I don't want them to be. That's the whole point of me creating discussions so I can hear /other/ opinions. But when someone criticize an episode or even disagree with another's analysis/criticism/yaada yada...but has nothing to back up their reason, that's when I'm left confused.

 

Not saying that's something people are SUPPOSED to do, but when I'm getting responses like that, then of course I'm going to mention it to support my point in this thread: as long as the fandom.is getting what they want, they don't care how bad or good it was given to them. That they will not question anything because in the end....hey it happened and that's that.

 

Was this episode created purposely to satisfy the fandom? I won't say that's a definite yes...but it's still a definite maybe imo

 

If I'm over analyzing it, I apologize. But from how I see it: I'm literally pointing out faults that are clear as day. You don't have to look into depth to see an episode being rushed. You don't have to over analyze to notice minor holes within a story line and you definitely don't have to search for details to get that "cliche" feeling when you look at the relationship between DT and her mom and even As and DT. It's....there. I'm aware not everyone will see them and I'm also aware not everyone who DOES notice it will care

Edited October 14, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[J. Brony 313]

Yeah Iv never heard that "Original Plan" anywhere, soooooooo.... 

 

The original plan was the end the show after the third season.  At this point I think the staff is making things up as they go along.

[Gestum 2,493]

If it was created in order to shut the fandom up then Derpy would have stopped by to give the cmc the invitation to Lyras and Bon Bons wedding.

[RarityFan01 2,444]

Rarity opened a boutique in Canterlot

 

Rainbow Dash flew with the Wonderbolts. 

 

I don't think it was to shut the fans up. Season 5 seems to be about achieving goals. The biggest goal of the CMC was to get their cutie marks. 

 

They even did the right thing and made them continue being the Cutie Mark Crusaders. 

 

Though fans never shut up. Some think it's too early, others think the marks are lame, others think they shouldn't have had their cutie marks together, etc. You can't please an entire fandom. 

[Silver Stream. 708]

Whether we want to accept it or not, the fandom will always be a factor in whatever changes or plans are being made by the creators. There's the inevitable accomplishments but then there's HOW and WHEN those accomplishments are executed that makes a person suspicious on whether or not it was done purposely out of the blue to shut the fandom up.

 

But there is a line that has to be drawn. I'm sure if there was a way to shut the fandom up on a certain topic they will do it. But if that topic is way out of line and will bring more angry people than satisfied fans, than that woll noy be acknowledged at all. That Lyra and BonBon wedding joke for instance. (OKAY NO LIE, JUST FROM THAT JOKE, YOU'RE MAKING ME WANT THAT TO HAPPEN) or Applejack confessing her feelings to Rarity on Season 6.

 

One example of an episode purposely shutting the fandom up is A Slice of Life. Jerry Peet made a video discussing that so I won't go into details, but he expressed my thoughts on that perfectly and even enlightened me more on the subject.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[KatonRyu 1,033]

I really don't think the writers had the illusion, even for a second, that giving the CMC their cutie marks would shut the vocal fans up. I'm sure fans influence certain things on the show, but I don't think this is one of them. The CMC earned their marks earlier because it was the right time for them to do so. Fictional or not, characters have their own wills and personalities as well, and when writing you might find that certain actions planned for later fit far better in the current situation. I think in this case, it really is as simple as that.

[Jeric 46,852]

I expected Slice of Life to wind up here eventually. It is worth mentioning that the communicated intent of that episode was not to shut up the fans either. It was a decision pushed by Hasbro and DHX as a thank you to the more engaged fans. Outside of the acting head story editor having serious doubts ... it seemed to be done out of love and respect. I have to be honest here, by saying that you think that the show creators are doing things to 'shut the fans up' is fairly insulting to the fandom in general, or to the creators of the show. You either take that as a generalized statement calling us all children that need to be placated with candy and shiny objects, or you are so despondent with the show staff for (in your mind) caters to the fanbase. 

 

Either way, it is all conjecture and supposition ... and already shot down by comments officially on the record from the production team. 

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

To be completely honest, the section of the fandom that wasn't exhaustively asking when the Crusaders would get their cutie marks was probably asking when people were going to stop asking about the cutie marks. But this decision wasn't made to appease the fandom. It was made to keep the show, specifically this particular subplot, going.

 

On the contrary, I'd defy anyone to tell me what we'd have gotten out of the Crusaders for the remainder of this season if they didn't do this. Another "Appleoosa's Most Wanted"? Keep remaking "Appleoosa's Most Wanted" until the show ends? Keep bashing the Crusaders' heads against the wall with pointless endeavors ad infinitum? Things change, we just have to accept it.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Wind Chaser

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

I have good faith in the writers that they don't construct their stories in a way that panders to every whim of the fanbase. I know they do love to sprinkle in a lot of fanservice, but come on now, are we so spoiled that we believe even major story arcs are resolved just to appease us?

 

Think about the theme of the season. There's been tremendous focus on Cutie Marks. On top of that, the CMC have been growing up steadily over the prior four seasons and they're just not the same mischievous fillies they were in the first season. This show has defied expectations of a slice of life series and put the kibosh on the status quo before, what with Twilight's ascension to alicorn princess and all. Realize that the writers come up with their ideas as they go, because they have no control over how many seasons the show will continue for. They plan out the main ideas for each season before the episodes even get written. So chances are a lot more likely that they just decided this was as good of a time as any to have the CMC earn their marks, and I think it was a good call. I was apprehensive at first, but after seeing how beautifully the Crusaders' arc was concluded, along with the brilliant potential for new kinds of adventures for the fillies, I'm glad the writers decided this was the season. This really isn't any different than Rainbow's inching forward to become a full-fledged Wonderbolt or Rarity's progress in the fashion world. MLP is developing its characters and building on its world to keep things fresh and exciting. This isn't the end of the Crusaders as we know them. It's just a new start.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,307]

I don't think it was to "Shut Up" fans. The broadcast coincided with the five year anniversary. I think it was intended as a GIFT for he fans.

[Silver Stream. 708]

Throughout this thread, I only see Sugarcubes response more logical to cover a more gray area with fanservice being sprinkled throughout the series, but it not being the main source of why the episode happened. I can respect that since you put it in those terms. It's just both Slice of Life and COTLA was so random, but I suppose we don't' always have to have a hint on when something is coming. 

 

By saying an episode was done to "shut the fandom up" is offending the fandom itself, then apologies but that doesn't mean it's not possible that was the writers intentions . No matter how it's said "shut the fandom up" or "please the fans" or whatever, it's a suspicion for those who see it that way. Fandoms will always be a factor, but I never said it was the ONLY one. So if you take it as us calling the fandom children to be pacified with candy (certain episodes), I honestly see no reason to even further discuss my opinion since seems to be offending everyone who thinks differently. Just because someone doesn't see something in a far less optimistic light when it comes to the intentions of the writers towards the fandom, doesn't mean we're trying to bash the fandom directly or the writers