MLP should start focusing more on the Ensemble Cast

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

As much as I like My LIttle Pony, I'm wondering if Hasbro is squandering off the minor characters, especially the ones in Ponyville.  And in my mind, I think they should start focusing on characters besides the Mane 6 and Spike.  And there's a huge cast of characters to go with, such as...

Carrot and Cup "Dazzle" Cake, along with their children Pound and Pumpkin

Bulk Biceps

Spa Ponies Aloe and Lotus Blossom

Lyra and Bon Bon

Spitfire, Soarin and Fleetfoot of the Wonderbolts(During those times without Rainbow Dash)

Sapphire Shores(Maybe give her a song)

DJ-Pon3 AKA Vinyl Scratch and Octavia

Der...I mean Muffins

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, especially their post-Heel Face Turn

Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Minuette and Moondancer

Pinkie's parents Igneous Rock Pie and Cloudy Quartz Pie along with Limestone, Marble and Maud

Those are just a small example of a huge world full of characters, and not just ponies, but also other species like Griffins(Gabby, Gilda, Grandpa Gruff), Yaks(Prince Rutherford), Dragons(Dragon Lord Ember, Garble), Diamond Dogs(Rover and Fido), Changelings(Ex-Queen Chrysalis and King Thorax) and Centaur(Tirek). 

 

The reason why I posted this is because my ideal inspiration comes from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where it focused not just on Anakin Skywaler, Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but also on other characters that show up, like other Jedi(Kit Fisto, Plo Koon, Luminara Unduli, Barris Offee, Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi), the Clones(Ex: Captain Rex and Commander Cody), Droids(C-3P0 and R2-D2), and other characters(Ex: Jar Jar Binks, Cad Bane, Boba Fett, Captain Ackbar, Darth Maul and even Chewbacca showed up).  I would like for My Little Pony to take a page from The Clone Wars and give the minor characters more of a chance at the spotlight.

 

Your thoughts on this?

[KrazyDashie 1,847]

maud has a bunch of episodes

[FlareGun45 2,221]

I want Babs and her CMCs to show up!

[PiratePony 8,486]

I wouldn't mind some episodes where the girls play more of a supporting role and let the others shine. It is a rich world after all.

[Sovereign Leader Rarity 12,017]

Okay, while I agree that more diversity among the MLP cast can only really be a good thing, experimentation can only ever be a good thing, I do think that it's vital for the Mane 6 to remain as the main focus of the show, particularly in these stages of the show's life. This is because, as a story driven show, there will presumably be some form of climax within the show's later, more specifically last season, and as a result, it's important that we remain familiar with the Mane characters and their individual quirks, so that when the time finally arrives where we need to be able to relate to them the most, we find our selves easily and naturally capable of doing so. Besides, MLP, in my view at least has actually been focusing on side-characters more and more in the show's recent seasons. The first time that I binge-watched season 5, for example, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much more diverse the focus of the whole thing was, with on many occasions the focus not even being on the Mane 6 at all, and many more sufficiently working in side, or even brand new characters to be a part of whatever the episodes objective was, making them feel like pat of the Mane 6's adventure and thus part of the world of Equestria ( some of the prime examples of episodes like these being Slice of Life and Make New Friends but Keep Discord ). This is what was so unique about the map, and why I feel like it was an intelligent device to employ into the show. As much as I love Ponyville as much as the next person, it was rather tiresome in the earlier seasons ( Season 1 being particularly guilty of this ) to see just Ponyville every single episode even though we admittedly saw it in a number of different circumstances. Granted, we'd get to see our protagonists perhaps go somewhere else as a one-off, and we'd always be able to count on them going to Canterlot at the end ( and perhaps the beginning ) of every season, but getting to witness new places on a common or perhaps a reliable basis was a Rarity ( and although I normally adore all things Rarity, this did get somewhat repetitive after a certain point in time. You can only repeat something, no matter how great it may be, for a limited amount of time without changing it in any way, before it feels less like a joy and more like the daily grind, or the norm. This is why, as fans of the show, we love to see two-part season openers and finales so much, as they tend to take the protagonists into a brand new, previously unexplored area of the show's lore or location, while simultaneously taking them out of their comfort zone thus making them more relatable to the viewers. Season 6 spring-boarded of off this, and once again kept the theme of brand new characters, experiences and locations, bringing many more unusual circumstances to the show, and therefore keeping the viewers guessing throughout, as it's obviously more entertaining to a scenario play out for the first time, than it is to see them play out the times after ( examples being Spice up Your Life as well as Gauntlet of Fire ), and although I am aware of how many people highly dislike Zephyr Breeze as a character, at the very least you can identify him as memorable. The major gimmick of Season 6 was Twilight and Starlight's relationship, which was once again a welcome idea and concept to introduce into the show, as it put Twilight into a brand new position, which was the position of Starlight's mentor/teacher. This once again was interesting and entertaining to watch and to see it unfold more gradually as the season ran it's course. All of this in fact culminating in a very unique finale that focused solely on either recently introduced characters ( in the case of Thorax ) or recurring side characters, breaking old tropes of the show's finales ) which I feel really pushed what the show has been trying to do for a long time, which is to branch out and broaden it's horizons, and, as a result was a very entertaining and memorable episodes. Seeing all of these reformed villains/recurring side characters band together to take on the task at hand, while having to interact with each other and gain an understanding of each character's respective quirks and unique attributes, a situation that we have never seen any of them in before. The season opening could also be praised for this, introducing Sunburst, Flurry Heart and Starlight in her new position of being a protagonist.

 

I think what I'm trying to illustrate here is that introducing new characters, giving old, largely unexplored characters more time in the limelight is a great thing to introduce to a show like this, and is a very sensible feature to add in a show that has had so many seasons, and will have more in the future. That being said, I personally don't feel like the show is necessarily squandering off it's minor characters, and as actually done a great job utilizing them in modern episodes, shaking up the MLP experience and making the universe of the show seem all the more human ( and I use this word in a non-literal sense ). It breathes new life into what we have previously thought as familiar, and gives us a new spin/perspective on some of the show's concepts. The show shouldn't just introduce unnecessary or forced alternative character episodes into the show just for the sake of it, that could disrupt the flow of what the show is trying to achieve. I just want the writers to keep at what they are doing, and just continue to expand on what they are attempting to do. It has made the newer seasons feel gradually more refreshing and unpredictable, and in a show's later seasons nonetheless,that is a sure sign of head-strong writers and a competent team orchestrating the narrative from behind the scenes.

[cmarston1 5,960]

I think the show might actually be going that kinda direction, given how Big Mac has been getting focus sense season 5, and is getting an episode featuring Sugar Belle this season.

[blackstarraven 142]

I kind of disagree.

I think the show is already doing that a big to much.

But... There are background / important ponies I would like to see more of.
I think its a bad ideal to say that "The show should do this."
 

No... The show should do what ever the staff thinks they can do best.

If they say "I have this really good ideal for Twilight" its a bad ideal to say "Nope, we are doing background ponies for now."

[BrawnyCharger 513]

If it's a good idea, why not have certain ensemble characters have at least one glorious moment in the series and then say no more.

For example, Why not have Big Macintosh have an awesome episode where he gets to have a big hero moment. and then he gets back to doing his thing after that goal is accomplished.

Or let Derpy do something fantastic for one episode, and then let Derpy just continue being herself after that's all said and done. 

I'm not saying that the side characters should take over and hold back the Mane 6, CMC and Spike. But why not just squeeze in a crowning moment of awesome for a few ensemble characters, and then let those characters get back to doing what they normally do feeling content with their moment in the sun.

It is only fair, don't you think.

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

1 hour ago, BrawnyCharger said:

If it's a good idea, why not have certain ensemble characters have at least one glorious moment in the series and then say no more.

For example, Why not have Big Macintosh have an awesome episode where he gets to have a big hero moment. and then he gets back to doing his thing after that goal is accomplished.

Or let Derpy do something fantastic for one episode, and then let Derpy just continue being herself after that's all said and done. 

I'm not saying that the side characters should take over and hold back the Mane 6, CMC and Spike. But why not just squeeze in a crowning moment of awesome for a few ensemble characters, and then let those characters get back to doing what they normally do feeling content with their moment in the sun.

It is only fair, don't you think.

The main reason why I'm suggesting that the minor characters get their own episodes is simply put: I think the Mane cast could use a break from the spotlight and let one of the other characters open their stories up for the audience, allow them to expand and make Equestria more of a living, breathable world.

 

Heck, I may consider asking this question if I end up at the My Little Pony panel at Comic-Con.

[BrawnyCharger 513]

2 minutes ago, SaburoDaimando said:

The main reason why I'm suggesting that the minor characters get their own episodes is simply put: I think the Mane cast could use a break from the spotlight and let one of the other characters open their stories up for the audience, allow them to expand and make Equestria more of a living, breathable world.

 

Heck, I may consider asking this question if I end up at the My Little Pony panel at Comic-Con.

Absolutely. There's many different exciting adventures that are bound to happen to anypony in Equestria. 

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

I think the show's doing fine focusing on non-Mane Six ponies, but I would like to see the background six elevated to secondary character status with recurring roles. If Maud can be a focus in one episode per season, then so can Derpy, Vinyl, Octavia, etc.

This show IS made to sell toys, and with so many different ponies to buy, kids are probably wondering why they aren't doing enough to develop them all.

[Nightshroud 331]

36 minutes ago, KillerKingBakudan said:

I think the show's doing fine focusing on non-Mane Six ponies, but I would like to see the background six elevated to secondary character status with recurring roles. If Maud can be a focus in one episode per season, then so can Derpy, Vinyl, Octavia, etc.

This show IS made to sell toys, and with so many different ponies to buy, kids are probably wondering why they aren't doing enough to develop them all.

that's exactly what I'm thinking man

[Jeric 46,871]

@SaburoDaimando I actually agree that a few episodes each season could be devoted to supporting characters, and I agree that Clone Wars was a great example of how this is done effectively. 

[Goat-kun 2,530]

Comparing Rex, Ahsoka, and Maul to the likes of Vinyl, Derpy, and Bon Bon ... Seems good.