What's so bad about the show continuing a long time?

[cider float 2,537]

One reason is that G4 has gone stale and it's overcooked. It's better that the show ends so we can wait a few more years for a new fresh G5 with a whole new beginning rather than wait for the next season of a overdone style. The magic is gone man, we need to move onto a new generation. I just don't know what can be done to kickstart the show.

 

DHX studios and Hasbro are a business as well, when they realize their products are growing stale and the children buying their products are growing up, they got to do something about it. Plus their staff members aren't going to stick around forever and won't be the same staff to carry out the same material. 

 

One can argue how Simpsons can keep going but that isn't a show about continuity or anything, it's a show for social commentary, politics, it's about stuff in our life that is always changing after all that's how it was able to survive this long. It's not a show to that flows the same way MLP does plus Simpsons was a cartoon of a more revolutionary style that inspired ones like Family Guy and South Park. As for Dr. Who doesn't that show have different iterations or something? Talking about how long Dr. Who went is no different than saying how MLP of every generation went as a whole. MLP has been going on for a long time if we're including G1, G2, G3.5... though I'm sure you don't want to talk about those generations... G4 would just be another iteration of MLP.

 

I mean NInja Turtles have been going on for a while as well but that too went through different iterations of different universes. Michael Bay just gave it a whole new touch up just now.

The fans don't matter.
 
...
 
...
 
Okay, well, the fans matter, but the fans shouldn't control the direction of the series.  On an artistic level, shows should tell their story and move on. It should subsequently be praised of its strengths, not for its longevity. I'll bring Avatar: The Last Airbender as an example. Three seasons and it was quits. The creators wouldn't let the industry 'nor the fandom decide whether they keep up the story. They had an idea, they mapped said idea out, they produced the idea, and they finished that idea. What became of that show? The fandom ran strong regardless, and it spawned a spin-off.
 
The great thing about spin-offs is you can disregard them if you so please. You can point someone to watch ATLA, and they can enjoy the series in its entirety, and then chose not to continue watching the spin-off. That way, you get a sense of completeness after finishing the series. You can't say the same after just deciding to give up on a show after it's jumped the shark, because there's no finality to it, and you're more bitter with the series than happy with it.
 
Take Docto-
 

...
 
:okiedokielokie:
 
Take DOCTOR WHO for example. So many fans, including myself, have become incredibly bored with the direction of the series and have stopped watching it. When I was watching Series 1-5, I would rave and obsess over the goddamned thing. Doctor Who was one of the best series I'd ever seen. Then I got around to Series 6, and I was disappointed. Then Series 7 bored me. Then Series 8 tested my patience. Then Series 9 lost my interest. You see what I mean? I don't feel complete having watched Doctor Who, because I know it's still going, and I know I probably won't be alerted, bothered, or even alive when the "finale" comes.

 

So, I don't recommend Doctor Who to anyone anymore. I've stopped buying the merchandise, and I haven't even bothered to acknowledge it as one of my favorite shows anymore. That's the effect of a rotting series. It may have been incredible for a period of time, but the longer it goes on, and the more bullshit that piles up, what's the point in praising it anymore? The bad outweighs the good, and it doesn't become an overall pleasurable experience anymore.

 

And, just for El Duderino's information, Doctor Who hasn't been on a non-stop 50-year run. There was an original series that ran from 1963-1989 (IIRC), and then there was a reboot in 2005. The original series went through seasonal rot in and of itself, meaning Doctor Who went rotted TWICE.

 

Anyways, my point is, the fans that leave because a show has ended, or because it's not "popular" anymore, weren't as hard-pressed into the series as you might assume. Some might say they're not "real" fans. Rather, the "real" fans will stick around long after the show's over. That's the bottom line.

I'll admit Avatar was one series I wished never ended. But then Korra came on screen and then I regretted it. Well I guess it was more that I wished the previous time Aang's time got fleshed out more not jump towards the future to the Korra timeline.

 

For what it's worth Korra is still damn good but I feel like there's some kind of monotony about it. They find out there's a political bad guy, they go after him, they fight, then they find out another political bad guy, they fight... you get the picture.

Edited January 28, 2016 by cider float

[Trinitron Keys 89]

It can be good a lot more years if it's done right.

All I'm sayin' is, just please don't try to "make it educational" or drop everything mature to appeal to the 2-4 crowd.

 

Think about Toonami in its glory days. Now think about Miguzi. And then, Tickle U *shudder*.

 

Can you REALLY look a fan in the eye and say, "that's an improvement"?

[Leave a Whisper 703]

Because people get bored with it and it becomes less entertaining. The Simpsons and Sponge Bob are fine examples.

 

Hasbro likes to keep their cash cows fresh in people's minds by reinventing it. MLP and Transformers are strong examples of this, having been reinvented many times over the past 30 years.

 

Best to end it at a memorable point.

Kudos to the people who mentioned ATLA btw. That's an excellent example.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Leave a Whisper

[Guest]

 

 

I've been thinking, and an... Amount of bronies (I can't come up with one of my sweet statistics) say that the show should end strong, such as after the movie in 2017.

 

I'm okay with it continuing after the film, but too much longer than that, I think they will reach a point where they will run out of ideas and seasonal rot will take over. However if the show is still good up until the movie, I'd say another season after the movie would be acceptable.

 

 

 

But mlp isn't just an amazing show. It's an amzing show WITH a fandom.

 

Annnnnd you lost me. Almost every show these days has a fandom, and that isn't a reason to keep making content if the content is low quality or at all. MLP is not different from other "amazing" shows in that regard.

 

 

 

But what about when it's not? It will be like a permanent hiatus. Fandom activity will slow down more and more, but this time, it WONT be reset by a new season.

 

If the fandom can't survive without the show then that would be a sign that the fandom isn't that strong to begin with. However I think there will always be loyal fans.

 

 

 

Many of those "hibernators" during hiatusus will not return. I have no doubt it would live on for a long while. But no where near the efficiency or capacity as when the show was still airing.

 

And that's a bad thing?

 

 

 

Even if the episodes become [unlikely] not as good, they will exist, fueling the fandom, the reason some like mlp, and the for some, the ONLY reason they stay at all.

 

A lot of people seem to disapprove of the newer episodes more than before. So signs of seasonal rot are starting to appear already. I mean I didn't see as much complaining about episodes in season 1 as I am seeing in season 5. So it's VERY possible that episode quality will decline.

 

 

 

Just look at the Simpsons. A lot of people think it's garbage now. I can't vouch for the quality, but it still has a HUGE following, even though some people say it's past its mark.

 

You are failing to consider that the Simpsons' following is far smaller than it was in its prime and the show is making far less money than it once did. The voice actors had to take huge paycuts just to justify the price of the episodes to keep the show going. The Simpsons is also not even RELEVANT anymore. How often do you hear about The Simpsons now versus back in 2000? Very little.

 

 

 

So I think the show should go on as long as humanly possible.

 

 

Does the show really need to end for you to have fond memories in the future? Even if it has a Mass Effect 3 ending, it's the journey that counts. No?

 

Many people would rather things end on a good note than a bad one so it leaves the chance of future content in the franchise more widely open. If the show ends on a bad note and the fans generally hate the ending, it makes the creators more skeptical about any kind of reboots, sequels or new content in general.

 

I would rather the show end on a nice note and give the creators a break while they come up with new content in the future. Plus the show ending means they can make room for a generation 5 which could be good if people give it a chance.

[Leave a Whisper 703]

Umm every show has a fandom that continues far past its expiration date. 0-o

Edited January 31, 2016 by Leave a Whisper

[Floofie 799]

Two words: seasonal rot.

 

If any show goes on for too long, it will get worse. There's only so many ideas the writers can come up with before the show becomes uninspired. I'd rather have the show end on a strong note now than have it end on a sour note later on.

[PinkieatHeart 208]

I agree that even after the show ends, the fandom'll go on for a long time. It's made too much of an impact to just disappear.

 

I would like the show to continue on for a long time. However, I don't want them to end up making not-very-good stuff because they're starving for ideas. So.. I guess I'd rather play it by ear and see how things go.

[Dark Horse 12,955]

No matter how successful a show becomes in its prime, eventually and inevitably its creative juices will dry up. If you want a prime example of that, look at the Simpsons. They survive by stuffing themselves full of current pop-culture jokes and references.

 

And fair enough, evidently that can work with some series, but FiM it would not. Honestly, the best series in the world to me are the ones that have a heartfelt, memorable sendoff that leaves you with a lasting great impression of just what the show achieved in its cycle. Not the ones that continue to eek out season after season trying to relive their glory days or because they manage stable ratings. 'Best for business' steals the soul of enough media thank you much.

[Marimo 555]

Ending a good thing for something else isn't always a positive, though.

 

Just look at Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!, for (a glaring) example.

Just going to point out, that's not an example of what you're talking about. Teen Titans did not end for Teen Titans Go, it ended on its own terms, that was it, and only years later CN got the idea to reboot it as a comedy because of some successful shorts.

[AlbaTross 1,586]

Honestly, as others have said, I think there are too many potential problems with continuing a series for too long. To be fair, that does only follow as a matter of likelihood. It is possible that FiM could still be an inspired and above average series for years, that's just highly unlikely to be the case, as simple extrapolation suggests. I think the best thing Hasbro could do is end the series on a high note, before it goes downhill, and if they're smart they won't wait too long to roll out a new series. They will hopefully draw more from FiM than past shows for inspiration. Sure, I hope they come up with something that has its own identity, but they can reign in the Brony fandom again if they do it within a few years of FiM ending. Anything longer than that and a lot of fans will most likely have moved on.

 

In threads of this nature I always make a point of mentioning that the comics and chapter books, and other spinoff media will likely continue on at least for a little while after the show ends. They may not have to walk on eggshells past that point as there won't be A canon to avoid clashing with. Moreover, they would probably benefit from a sales boost from fans who miss the show and want some extra material to enjoy, many of whom may not have checked them out prior to that point. Neither the comics or chapter books require animators or voice actors, so Hasbro might be able to afford to keep them running for a little while afterwards.

[Twilight Frost 271]

My Little Pony: Friendship is magic cannot and should not go on past Season 9. Last I heard, season 9 was going to be the planned of mlp.
The show might..and MIGHT being a key word, be ok with a 10th season. But as we have all seen. Season 10 of any show is when every show truly starts to spiral downward. We want to end mlp at a dip downwards, not a spiral. We want it to end when it starts going down a bit but still has a lot of greatness to it and season 9 and a far stretch 10 is when it needs to end with at least 2 movies.

 

Season 6- I would be extremely upset if it ended.

 

Season 7 - would be a bit upset but I think 7 would be...ok.

 

Seaon 8 would be a decent time but still leave some people wanting just a tiny bit more

 

Season 9 - Perfection!

 

Season 10 - Maybe...it would have gone down hill a little bit it would allow us enough time to do enough episodes on side characters and background ponies to make just about everyone happy.

 

I wanna see an episode with Amatheist star, more trixie, bulk biceps, secret agent sweetie drops and Lyra and Lemony gem and some of the others too like colgate! diamond mint is also a good choice.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Twilight Frost

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

The movie will close out arcs, but it may open new ones. Who knows?

[Nuke87654 1,849]

Seasonal rot is such a thing that many shows, including FIM are vulnerable to. However, as A.V mentioned, ending too early is another issue as well to consider like the show Teen Titans, Young Justice, and Sym biotic titan faced. It's why an important thing to consider as a writer for stories is knowing when to end.

 

You always want to be aware of when a character's arc or story has tapped out of potential use and thus you must find a way to end that story so you can move on or continue on to another story. If you drag it out long enough, eventually those ideas are only going to make your series and characters worse because they're forced to become something else in order to attract interest. At the same time, you don't want to end it too soon for it can leave alot of people unsatisfied with the result that they may wish or demand the story continue for a variety of reasons. Thus it's a bit of a skill to figure out when you can safely say 'this story is done, I'm ending', and of course to pull it off well to end on a satisfactory note.

[Chuckles4lyfe 441]

It seems that the majority of people all share the same thoughts on this topic. So long as the show produces quality content that we've come to enjoy these last 5 years, I can see it going on for a reasonable amount of time. If you think about it, 5 years on the air is already a considerable amount of time (especially for a children's cartoon). 

 

Many people point to the Simpsons and Spongebob as the prime example of what happens when a show is overdue on pulling the plug. And I wholeheartedly agree with you all  -_-. If MLP were to call it quits around 2020 for their 10th anniversary, then I would be happy with the decision. Because I know that the Brony fandom will continue to produce fresh pony content for many years afterward. So in essence, the show will never end    

[cider float 2,537]

This extended release already destroyed any nostalgia I used to have with it.

[TubeSock2018 325]

I am for the show ending because time and again, we've seen shows crumble into miserable piles as the producers attempt to milk every last bit of viewership it can get.

A common symptom is jumping the shark.

Rather than ending with grace and leaving on a high note, these shows just keep going and going until it's just a shadow of its former self.

 

Me, personally, if season 3 had been the series finale, I would have been happy.

When I first watched all of MLP, it was between March and May 2013. Equestria Girls and Season 4 had not been out yet.

And I felt emotionally satisfied and sad to see it end.

It was a satisfying story. We see a shut in nerd learn friendship values, she goes through struggles, and ultimately comes out on top.

 

I knew season 4 was coming, but season 3 just felt like the end of a grand story; a solid beginning, middle, and end.

 

If MLP could keep being great would I want it to end?

No.

But I don't think MLP can constantly keep producing great season after great season.

I mean, how much longer are they gonna delay Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt stuff? Rarity has a boutique already. The CMC got their cutie marks.

There comes a time when every story must end because if you just keep adding stuff, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep it fresh and interesting.

 

If they could keep it fresh and interesting for 20 seasons, go for it, that's amazing.

 

But I'd much rather see MLP end earlier than it could have and end on a high, beautiful and respectful note, than to see MLP last longer than it should have and end on a sad, lame, boring, cancelation note.

 

MLP deserves an ending that will bring smiles and tears.

It shouldn't end with no one watching because it got dull.

THAT would be an insult to Lauren Faust's creation.

Edited February 6, 2016 by pollo20x6

[[NULL] 906]

Truth be told, I just think that's a terrible idea. Now you can go all George Lucas on me, and tell me to kiss your ass.

 

Except George kept milking Star Wars for decades at the expense of it's quality, as well as his artistic integrity.

 

 

But what about when it's not? It will be like a permanent hiatus. Fandom activity will slow down more and more, but this time, it WONT be reset by a new season.

 

People tend to call that "moving on."

 

 

Even if the episodes become [unlikely] not as good,

 

Heh, "unlikely" he says.

 

they will exist, fueling the fandom, the reason some like mlp, and the for some, the ONLY reason they stay at all.

 

Right, because I want to be part of a fanbase consisting only of fanboys who like the show unconditionally.

 

 

Just look at the Simpsons. A lot of people think it's garbage now. I can't vouch for the quality, but it still has a HUGE following, even though some people say it's past its mark.

 

A sucker is born every day.

 

 

So I think the show should go on as long as humanly possible. The people who get bored can leave on their own accord (ryhme), but the [many] people who still like the show + the people in it for the fandom will stay.

 

The "You either die a hero..." quote would be very appropriate. The people who want an actual conclusion (which most stories should have) would be getting the short end of the stick. The only people remaining in the fanbase will be the obsessive fanboys who will eat up whatever Hasbro churns out, because it's "moar poniez /)^3^(\". Instead of being remembered fondly after ending on a high note, he show will be remembered as "That one MLP show that started out good a long time ago, but became the mindless cash grab you know today."

[superdogz1999 551]

A few things wrong with continuing the show for a long time.

1. The quality of the show going bad. That happened to Happy Days during the later years of the run.

2. Plot Recycling. A common cliche used on long running shows where they take the plot of one episode and recycling it into another episode. E.G. "Twilight Time's" Plot with the Cake Twins and Pinkie Pie (Or Ponk as Alpha Brony calls her)

3. Personality Changes, Like what happened with Patrick in post-movie episodes of Spongebob compared to pre-movie Spongebob,

[Concerned Bystander 2,902]

As much as I'll hate to see FiM go, I'd prefer to see it end on a high instead of fading slowly into mediocrity.

 

If you look at programs like the Simpsons, Family Guy and South Park, what they have in common is that (for the most part) at the end of each episode, everything resets and goes back to how it was at the start.  Those programs are essentially sitcoms, with no real character development from one episode to the next, this means that they can go on for as long as the writers can come up with ideas.

 

FiM isn't like that, we've seen Twilight become an Alicorn, we've seen the CMC get their cutie marks, Diamond Tiara resolving her parental issues and Cadance and Shining Armour are about to have a foal.  Each of these things brings the show a step closer to an inevitable conclusion because sooner or later there will be nothing left to look forward to.

 

My Little Pony has been a successful franchise for Hasbro since 1983, and given the unprecedented success of G4 it's not going to disappear with the end of FiM.  Hopefully Hasbro will take on board the lessons they have learned and will make a G5 which has the same broad appeal as G4.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Concerned Bystander

[RyaN_ 292]

But I'd much rather see MLP end earlier than it could have and end on a high, beautiful and respectful note, than to see MLP last longer than it should have and end on a sad, lame, boring, cancelation note.

 

MLP deserves an ending that will bring smiles and tears.

It shouldn't end with no one watching because it got dull.

THAT would be an insult to Lauren Faust's creation.

"All good things must come to and end."

We ALL could agree upon the fact that our beloved show has to end someday. But hold my word, It won't be as easily forgotten as G3 My little pony; See, the great thing about our MLP is that, it left a lasting mark.

 

MLP is one of the first to show us how discriminating society can be at times, the show has upset the internet by breaking that very rule that exists for many centuries now; The rule that states men can't hug pony plushies, or men can't like rainbows and the colour pink (not true, pink is awesome), you name it. Most importantly, it reminded the world about kindness, friendship, loving, caring, and most importantly, how to smile; Those simple things we were too busy growing up to even consider.

 

And yes, it also showed how much of a dark void the internet can be, how much hatred people can throw at you for being..well.., for being you.

So yeah, that fateful day when Hasbro closes our book, the day that brought the community in tears; Don't be afraid my friends, the community might decrease, but surely would not crumble.

 

Don't be sad, be glad. Be glad because YOU, have firsthand, been a brony; Be glad because you have experienced kindness and felt hate; Be glad you found friends, real friends; Be glad because you have reason to smile,Be glad because...well.,  because you have been taught the magic of friendship!

 

Yes, this speech was very cheesy and weird ! Brohoof to you, reader!  

If you at least got something from all that, that's good enough for me.

 

 

 

 

 

You know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking Lauren Faust needs to be nominated or something...at least in Bronycon.

[TubeSock2018 325]

Everyone remember that really cool 80's Ninja Turtles cartoon?

The last season had an episode revolving around Leonardo becoming obsessed on beating an arcade game high score.

Yes, it was as stupid as it sounds. Let that be a sign of what can happen when you drag on a show for longer than it needs to be.

[RavenholmZombie 1,330]

If they drag the show out too far past its prime, it'll go the way of the Simpsons and recent seasons of SpongeBob with terrible writing and apparent signs of seasonal rot.

 

Also, as some above have mentioned, the voice actors and animators are human beings who will eventually want to move on to other projects.

[Saroth 102]

People have been saying that they want it to end soon?

 

Personally, I know that the show is going to be put to sleep at some point and that's an undeniable fact, but I would like to see a Generation 5 possibly a few years after Generation 4 is finished. A topic I really wish would be covered in the show is the story of Celestia and Luna before the Nightmare Moon incident, so there's an idea for G5.

[KatonRyu 1,033]

The big danger, to me, of a show running for something like 10+ seasons is that the ideas will get stale and become rehashed again and again. To be fair the early signs of this are already showing through at times (especially in some naming schemes: Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer). A series like South Park can go on because it utilizes current events in the world so it has a steady influx of new material. (And even then I'm hardly impressed with some of the newer ones)

 

A show like MLP, by contrast, which has only a minimal overarching plot and exists as more or less slice of life for everything else can't take that route. The Cutie Map is a valiant attempt to combat this by allowing more episodes outside of the standard setting of Ponyville, but its shelf life will run out fairly quickly as well. At that point the show could shift to a more plot-driven adventure approach, but doing so will invariably alienate people who love the show for what it is now: mainly lighthearted fun.

 

For the fandom as a whole it might be beneficial to keep a show running, but to sacrifice quality just to keep the fandom going is in my opinion not the right way. Look at Pokemon and tell me that anime is still worth something. Ash will still lose the League, he'll reset everything, lose his skills and dump all his Pokemon except Pikachu (who also loses his skills, though not his moves) and move on with new friends in a new region. The environments are new, but nothing else is. I don't want FiM to become an essentially undead franchise just to keep the fandom alive.

 

Let this franchise end strong and continue with G5, or G4.5 if you really want this world to continue. Yes, that moment will be gut-wrenching, but it's better that way.

[Leave a Whisper 703]

"All good things must come to and end."

We ALL could agree upon the fact that our beloved show has to end someday. But hold my word, It won't be as easily forgotten as G3 My little pony; See, the great thing about our MLP is that, it left a lasting mark.

 

MLP is one of the first to show us how discriminating society can be at times, the show has upset the internet by breaking that very rule that exists for many centuries now; The rule that states men can't hug pony plushies, or men can't like rainbows and the colour pink (not true, pink is awesome), you name it. Most importantly, it reminded the world about kindness, friendship, loving, caring, and most importantly, how to smile; Those simple things we were too busy growing up to even consider.

 

And yes, it also showed how much of a dark void the internet can be, how much hatred people can throw at you for being..well.., for being you.

So yeah, that fateful day when Hasbro closes our book, the day that brought the community in tears; Don't be afraid my friends, the community might decrease, but surely would not crumble.

 

Don't be sad, be glad. Be glad because YOU, have firsthand, been a brony; Be glad because you have experienced kindness and felt hate; Be glad you found friends, real friends; Be glad because you have reason to smile,Be glad because...well., because you have been taught the magic of friendship!

 

Yes, this speech was very cheesy and weird ! Brohoof to you, reader!

If you at least got something from all that, that's good enough for me.

 

 

 

 

 

You know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking Lauren Faust needs to be nominated or something...at least in Bronycon.

Actually the show is simply meant to entertain kids,not push morals in peoples faces and it's not the first Girl's Show that guys enjoyed watching. Sailor Moon, She-Ra, Jem and the Holograms.

Edited February 9, 2016 by Leave a Whisper