Seasonal Rot?

[Deae Rising Shine~ 55,333]

I don't have a favourite episode.

 

 

But I don't have an episode so far I dislike either.

 

Sure, I might enjoy a few more then others, but I liked all 125 episodes so far.

 

I can see the critics coming from from some episodes, but I watch it to enjoy our loved pastelcolored little equines, not to spot out every little thing to dislike it.

 

I saw User posting negative over an episode, and the reasons where understandable.

 

And Others just outright write a episode negative because they seem to dislike the littlest things in it to dislike.

This feels more like "It's a good/great episode, but I didn't liked *Insert reason here* so the episode is just a big fail."

 

I'm fine if somepony dislikes a season, but by some I feel like, they dislike it just for the heck to dislike it.

 

Well, at least for me I don't see MLP's body rotting away, it still shines with rainbows and fun for me.

 

And I would even watch a season 20, so long I enjoy it, I don't care how many people say "It's the end of the world the brony fandom!"

 

Besides we have said sentence like season 3 or so and I still don't see this site empty with thumbleweeds rolling around.

[Brightbart 268]

Starlight's addition seems forced to me but it's a good thing they added her to the mane6. It adds a whole other character to develop and write episodes which keeps the show going and adds new things to look forward too. They needed to transition her into the mane 6 better, such as a better background story, but now that she's in it should be easier for the writers to write good episodes around her. Plus the episodes this season have been fairly good anyways in my opinion. I'm really hoping they'll make up for the poor backstory by tying her into Sunset's arc somehow. They're both powerful pony's and Starlight seems older thus perhaps she could've acted as a teacher for Sunset, idk. Maybe she'll be in the next equestria girls lol. 

[Midnight Seashell 206]

Every show has it's ups and downs

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Starlight needs more development. Ever since her redemption it's like her writing has become very lazy. For me, S6 is going strong. Newbie Dash was quite a bump in the road though...RAINBOW DASH just seemed way out of character. S6 just needs more character development. Can't stop developing when there's still a boatload of possibilities and revelations.

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

Just do what i did to any show that i couldnt find any interesting in it anymore (mostly animes)... JUST DROP IT. 

This show surely lose some bits of quality throughout the seasons (it happened in every show), season 3 is the most mediocre season (you can call this shit is a seasonal rot or whatever  ), season 4 contains handful of bad/mediocre eps (1 mediocre key ep, 3 worst ep of entire show, Failed arc named Equestria Games  , Pinkie's flanderization and some bad/mediocre ep that i cant remember right now). Season 5 is fine, only 2 horrible eps that i despise  , some mediocres but nothing offend me  , 

Season 6 has 8 episodes and only episode i find it "meh" is On Your Marks. Season 6 is fine until now, nothing really bad. 

What i really worry about is The show is becoming STALE but NOT ROTTING by any means .  To me, the show INDEED WENT THROUGH SEASON ROT, and that season is season 3   ... haha... every season after season 3 will has at least 1 "season rot" type of thread... Doesnt matter to me....

[Harmony Spark 265]

Hey I just want to know I'm not causing any discord or anything I just haven't been that happy or engaged in an episode, and I feel most of MLPS spark has faded away.

 

But I hope you guys agree with my opinion and if you don't, that's fine. I just want to share this with you all.

 

I do want to give this show a chance but I will admit this show has going on for 6 years, it's bound to loose quality and some point especially all of its old writers have left and Josh Haber at the moment is already pissing on Lauren Faust's vision of the characters and story behind the show.

[NeonCobalt 256]

Yeah, so as a Starlight fan, I definitely don't agree with what was said in the OP about her character. Honestly, what impressed me so much in the Season 5 finale was how much her reformation didn't feel rushed, all things considered. Of all the reformations we've had on this show, this one felt the least out of no where to me.

 

And I'm sorry, but she isn't Sunset 2.0 in my opinion. Sunset, in Rainbow Rocks at least, is unable to laugh about her past, which Starlight clearly is able to do. Sunset sort of took up a leadership role in the Humane 6, which doesn't seem to be the case with Starlight.

 

Also, Starlight has many unique personality traits to Sunset, ones that she managed to keep despite her reformation I might add, which for the most part doesn't seem to be the case for Sunset. Starlight seems to constantly find the quickest solution to things, ones that in a lot of cases aren't the best, and in a lot of cases benefit her while affecting other negatively. She also still seems to be a bit manipulative, stalling Spike by convincing him to tell the story of him saving the Crystal Empire would be an example of this. She's also a bit snarky and sarcastic, which I can appreciate because I'm kinda like that in real life.

 

But in terms of whether the show is going through seasonal rot, I would strongly disagree. If anything, I think the show just keeps getting better. And has been previously said, this happens pretty much every season, with people coming out and saying that the show is going through seasonal rot. That doesn't make your opinion any less valid, but hopefully that gives you a bit of perspective.

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

Because everyone voted on them right? The polls are absolute and define what everybody thinks, right? No.

 

I'm not talking about majority vote anyway, especially not on a fan site where bias comes into the equation far more.

 

It's people that sugar coat the show and talk down any criticism I'm complaining about.

You're becoming as illogical as DC fanboys. Don't go there.

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

And I'm sorry, but she isn't Sunset 2.0 in my opinion. Sunset, in Rainbow Rocks at least, is unable to laugh about her past, which Starlight clearly is able to do. Sunset sort of took up a leadership role in the Humane 6, which doesn't seem to be the case with Starlight.

 

Also, Starlight has many unique personality traits to Sunset, ones that she managed to keep despite her reformation I might add, which for the most part doesn't seem to be the case for Sunset. Starlight seems to constantly find the quickest solution to things, ones that in a lot of cases aren't the best, and in a lot of cases benefit her while affecting other negatively. She also still seems to be a bit manipulative, stalling Spike by convincing him to tell the story of him saving the Crystal Empire would be an example of this. She's also a bit snarky and sarcastic, which I can appreciate because I'm kinda like that in real life.

You're beginning to sound like DQ ... Sunset has many personality traits she kept after her reformation... her outbursts of anger when things don't go her way (EQG, RR and FG all have examples of that), accosting her enemies in darkened hallways to try and break them by talking (far less effective the second time, admittedly); sarcasm (contrast EQG's "Oh, yes, she's SOOOO perfect" with RR's "I turned into a raging she-demon" and later RD: "No offence..." SS: "None taken... AGAIN..." and even later - TS: "No offense..." SS: "None taken... heh, I'm used to it"); her cocky grin that was absent for most of RR, but returned in the final confrontation and in the end credits. Throughout RR, Sunset was struggling mostly with a loss of confidence in herself (quite justified by her beat down in the climax of EQG) 

[SilverStarApple 849]

It really, really is. This new series... it's awful.

 

The episodes are bland stock-plots with cliches and adventures we've seen a hundred times before, and things often make no sense at all. Like Trixie attempting suicide live on-stage, or Starlight getting more special treatment instead of actual character development.

 

Don't get me wrong, there were episodes of season 1 and 2 that sucked. But those weren't a steady downward trend that only sometimes paused its downward spiral to make an ok episode.

Edited May 16, 2016 by SilverStarApple

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

I really don't agree. While so far I can't necessarily say I've loved this season as much as season 5, I've still pretty much enjoyed every episode so far. The Crystalling is my third favorite opener of the show, Gift of the Maud Pie was fun and cute, On your Marks was good even if it touched a bit too close to home for me, Gauntlet of Fire is my favorite Spike episode in general, No Second Prances was great, Newbie Dash was flawed but enjoyable, and a Hearth's Warming Tail is probably one of my favorite of the series now.

 

 I've been around a while, not on these forums specifically but in the fandom as a whole. People have been saying the show's been going downhill since season 2. Every single season and movie and every single little thing convinces someone the show is awful. Now, obviously people have different opinions, a good episode to me can be a terrible one to someone else. So if you hate season 6 that's unfortunate, I'm sure you have your reasons, and I hope it get's better for you from here.

 

 But when people say it's rotting I can't help but roll my eyes and groan. I don't see it, the show is as good as ever, and the last 3 seasons have been the highlight's of the show for me. Yeah, there's flaws, it's not perfect, but I've found good reasons to enjoy nearly every episode, from the "Alright" ones to the "Amazing!" ones. And so have plenty of other people, we all disagree a lot on what the best seasons and episodes are. So when people tell me "It's going through seasonal rot, and you can't deny it" I have to laugh. Your subjective reality does not apply to everyone.

Edited May 16, 2016 by BasementLuna

[Nekon 21]

The season is great. And op post is just whining that the earliest seasons are like kind of a nostalgia. I think the worst part of the show left behind. rainbow power, sudden alicorn Twilight, and rpg map as an example . IMHO. 

So let's stop looking for sins and just enjoy ponies). peace. 

[Harmony Spark 265]

The season is great. And op post is just whining that the earliest seasons are like kind of a nostalgia. ponies). peace.

Uh excuse me I'm not whining. Granted I made this post at 3 am in the morning so I wasn't at the best of my argument state, but still I just want to state my opinion. I'm totally fine with people liking this season, but I just feel like the spark of MLp is gone. And if you guys still think it does have that Spark, that's great. As a great pony once said, I'm not whining I'm complaining.

 

And besides, have you ever heard of the phrase love and tolerate?

[silvadel 1,393]

Personally, I blame the movie.  Whenever you have a movie and a series, the series has to be less than the movie and the movie drained a lot of talent from the series as well.  Plus you can't go where the movie is going to go.  It is bad all around at that point.  A movie also fixes things into place.  You can't come up with ideas that are new (like lets say that the movie were conceived before the CMC got their marks.  If that is the case then it would have taken CMC marks off the table from the series).

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

And besides, have you ever heard of the phrase love and tolerate?

 

I don't wanna go too off-topic here but first i gotta say that i respect your opinion and that it's okay if you don't like the show anymore, aslong as you let me enjoy it.

 

When it comes to love and tolerance, it something that i never understood with this fandom and i've been in it, for almost 5 years. It's something that came out of 4chan, just as an ironic pun for the trolls, who didn't liked us that we watched the show. We always posted this pic:

 

 

This fandom was never build on any sort of principals, like love and tolerance. This fandom was build on one common thing, which is that we all Enjoy Colorful pastel ponies.

[Harmony Spark 265]

I don't wanna go too off-topic here but first i gotta say that i respect your opinion and that it's okay if you don't like the show anymore, aslong as you let me enjoy it.

 

When it comes to love and tolerance, it something that i never understood with this fandom and i've been in it, for almost 5 years. It's something that came out of 4chan, just as an ironic pun for the trolls, who didn't liked us that we watched the show. We always posted this pic:

 

 

This fandom was never build on any sort of principals, like love and tolerance. This fandom was build on one common thing, which is that we all Enjoy Colorful pastel ponies.

I see. thank you for opinion and I how you enjoy this season of MLP.

[Concerned Bystander 2,902]

So far, season six hasn't been the best one for me, but like any program, MLP has its peaks and its troughs.  We may be seeing a bit of a trough here (in my own humble opinion), but I felt that series five was possibly the best one so far, with series four not far behind.

 

Seasonal rot is an enduring trend, not just a blip.  And myself, I don't see an enduring trend here.  Every series has its good and not-so-good episodes, series six may yet deliver something awesome, or it may not.

 

(All views expressed are those of Concerned Bystander and do not represent the views of the parent company, its subsidiaries or affiliates.  Your experience may vary)

Edited May 16, 2016 by Concerned Bystander

[Guest]

We've had multiple threads about this dating back as early as season 3. Whenever someone says, "MLP is going through season rot because insert reason here," I usually translate that to, "I've lost interest in the show and should really take a break or stop watching it to avoid hurting myself."

 

Season 6 has been on the average side for me. The only wowing episode so far was the recent one, but I don't take a bunch of average episodes and a couple of duds translating to seasonal rot. Because by this logic, I'm calling season 1 bad.

 

This. We have people insisting that season 3 was the worst season ever, the end of the show and those same people are STILL here, criticizing season 4, 5 and now 6. If these people hate the show so much, they should just stop watching.

[cider float 2,537]

Tipping point for me was since Season 3. 

[Guest]

Tipping point for me was since Season 3. 

 

Out of curiosity:

 

Season 3 was nearly 3 years ago at this point, why are you still around actively watching the show if season 3 was the tipping point for you? I am just curious.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

If the show itself doesn't give cause for wanting to leave this fandom, threads like these do. Some of the mud slung in this thread really sours me on the attitudes some people in this fandom have towards each other and the show staff. And yet, there's still too much good in it for me to turn away. I still follow a lot of MLP groups and artists on dA, I still actively post on this forum, etc.

 

I hold the same attitude towards the show. I've had plenty of times where I absolutely hated episodes and thought about giving up watching this show. But I'm still here.

 

There's no use angsting about this. In the end, we know MLP is one of hundreds of ongoing animated series and that this is one of quite a few active fandoms. It's not the best. There are better-written shows out there. That's true for everything.

 

But seriously, please do us all a favor and be respectful about it, and stop resorting to buzzwords, mudslinging, and scapegoating. If you don't enjoy the show, that's on you.

 

If you want to leave the fandom, go ahead and do it. There are a thousand other shows competing for the next 30 minutes you have in front of a TV or streaming site. Or better yet, grab some resources and make your own show. Most people who say they're leaving the fandom end up coming back anyway, and I'll ably admit I've done it, too.

 

Every show has its ups and downs. Whether you stay with it or you don't is on you.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Hmph. Considering what you and Jeric have said, I'm wondering if I haven't got a skewed perception of the fandom's opinion on Season 6 because I hang out on Derpibooru all the time? Derpi is definitely more pessimistic about the show's future than this board is.

 

One site is not a good gauge for an entire fandom. Not everyone frequents Derpibooru, just like not everyone frequents Equestria Daily or Fimfiction. Derpibooru is about as pessimistic as the youtube comment section crowd that chased off several brony youtubers with their vitriol. Each are just smaller subsections of a much larger fandom.

 

I frequent all those sites though, and on a whole I'd say the eps are being well received by all but the hard core season Oner crowd that still sticks around. People are still lamenting about season 3 much less the current season.

 

 

If you're wanting to rejuvenate the fandom, I'm afraid that's a lost cause: the fandom's dead. S3 dealt it a fatal blow, and its been dying a slow death ever since.

 

 

The brony fandom splintered heavily that season, and its just not going to come back due to that: many people wanted one thing or another from it, and S3 showed that its only got one direction, no questions.

The memetic status died in S3 and without its memetic status, new fans have slowed to a trickle, while the losses remain constant, if slow. Its a slow death, but inevitable no matter what

 

^

Like that

 

 

As for my opinion? The first few eps were pretty lackluster, but then they picked up in quality for the next few, then Newbie Dash happened and that was a trainwreck, and this last episode was actually pretty good. 

 

I wouldn't say its my fave season so far, but its No season 1, which is the weakest out of the bunch hands down. 

[Guest]

Despite having watched all of the S6 episodes thus far, I felt the need to google which episodes that actually includes. I only remembered a few beforehand, which obviously happen to be my favourites (No Second Prances, The Gift of Maud Pie and Gauntlet of Fire). That is not to say that it's been terrible and that the show is in a free falling decline, it's just that, as with previous seasons, I enjoy some episodes more than others. I can't judge this season until I view it in its entirety, as the sample size is still too small to make a clear judgement IMO. Like most series, there are inevitable ebbs and flows, so I'm not too worried at the moment. Especially as the episodes which I enjoyed from this season were ones which I really enjoyed.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,428]

I have enjoyed all but one episode this season, that being Newbie Dash which is a terrible episode to me, but besides that, this season to me has been very enjoyable. I seriously do not understand what is with this fandom's obsession with doom and gloom. It is like some people actively want this show to die off.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Locking this indefinitely; take a breather everyone.