spoiler Season 7 so far?

[Firedog 320]

What are your thoughts so far? I think it's starting out better than season 6 for sure.

 

My episode scoresheet so far:

E1: 8/10

E2: 9/10

E3: 8/10

E4: 10/10

E5: 7.5/10

Edited May 1, 2017 by Firedog

[Sly 236]

Waaaaaaaaayyyy better than expected. I really liked all the episodes so far, including the one aired today on Treehouse. And thinking that I was so pessimistic about it in the last six months (and you guys know it.... yeah...). Color me impressed.

Edited May 1, 2017 by Sly

[Megas 27,567]

First few episodes have been really great apart from Pinkie being beyond overbearing in Rock Solid Friendship, and even then, with the stuff between Maud and Starlight, and actually giving Starlight and Pinkie some interaction, it feels like an episode we should've gotten last season(but I'm glad it happened anyway), but also sets a precedent of episode I hope we do see more of

[Ganondox 899]

Episode 5 is already out?! When did that happen? 

[Firedog 320]

2 minutes ago, Ganondox said:

Episode 5 is already out?! When did that happen? 

Canada TV released it early today

[Ganondox 899]

Just now, Firedog said:

Canada TV released it early today

I guess I need to hit that up as well. 

[Megas 27,567]

4 minutes ago, Ganondox said:

Episode 5 is already out?! When did that happen? 

Episodes coming out early in Canada via Treehouse TV, we're getting two new episodes a week(Saturday and Sunday) now instead of one

Only risk is that Treehouse versions might get some serious censorship

EDIT: Ninja'd

Edited May 1, 2017 by Whompy Whomperson

[Sly 236]

37 minutes ago, Whompy Whomperson said:

First few episodes have been really great apart from Pinkie being beyond overbearing in Rock Solid Friendship, and even then, with the stuff between Maud and Starlight, and actually giving Starlight and Pinkie some interaction, it feels like an episode we should've gotten last season(but I'm glad it happened anyway), but also sets a precedent of episode I hope we do see more of

I think that if this season so far is turning better than expected is mostly thanks to Songco's and Lewis' exploits of writing and story editor (gotta say, THEY are the reason I've decided to give this season a chance, and I'm happy to see I was right.... so far). Excluding HoofFields and McCoy's  (which I still find alright) they have ALWAYS been great in my eyes and I'm happy to see they are really doing greatly their job so far and....... THEY HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO GIVE FLUTTERSHY'S ULTIMATE DREAM EPISODE TO SOMEONE WHO ALREADY GETS THE CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF SOMEBODY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO WRITING EXPERIENCE LIKE HAPPENED FOR THE ONE OF A CERTAIN RAINBOW MANE PEGASUS.... yeah.

Edited May 1, 2017 by Sly

[Thrond 3,263]

On one hand, the overarching trends are all stuff I really like. Vague recurring theme about failures to communicate? Digging it. Increased focus on slice-of-life? Appreciate it, though I'd prefer more comedy. Relative focus on main characters, and an attempt to provide new angles for characters we already know? Should be the bare minimum required, but this show doesn't always succeed at that, so I'll take it. 

But... these episodes suck. I appear to be in the minority in thinking that season 7 is off to a very rough start whereas season 6 began really well, but so far only one of the five episodes has been especially entertaining to me, and that's really disappointing. They're arguably more polished than season 6, but I also find them a lot less interesting and a lot more grating on average. "Fluttershy Leans In" just aired today up here in Canada, and at this point the season has pretty much lost me. Not sure how willing I'll be to stick with the season if it goes on like this. I really miss Josh Haber as story editor; Lewis & Songco haven't blanded out the show nearly as much as I expected given how I feel about their writing, but this season has not been working for me. 

Episode scores, out of 100:

"Celestial Advice" - 50

"All Bottled Up" - 38

"A Flurry of Emotions" - 93

"Rock Solid Friendship" - 60

"Fluttershy Leans In" - 35

[Firedog 320]

2 minutes ago, AlexanderThrond said:

On one hand, the overarching trends are all stuff I really like. Vague recurring theme about failures to communicate? Digging it. Increased focus on slice-of-life? Appreciate it, though I'd prefer more comedy. Relative focus on main characters, and an attempt to provide new angles for characters we already know? Should be the bare minimum required, but this show doesn't always succeed at that, so I'll take it. 

But... these episodes suck. I appear to be in the minority in thinking that season 7 is off to a very rough start whereas season 6 began really well, but so far only one of the five episodes has been especially entertaining to me, and that's really disappointing. They're arguably more polished than season 6, but I also find them a lot less interesting and a lot more grating on average. "Fluttershy Leans In" just aired today up here in Canada, and at this point the season has pretty much lost me. Not sure how willing I'll be to stick with the season if it goes on like this. I really miss Josh Haber as story editor; Lewis & Songco haven't blanded out the show nearly as much as I expected given how I feel about their writing, but this season has not been working for me. 

Episode scores, out of 100:

"Celestial Advice" - 50

"All Bottled Up" - 38

"A Flurry of Emotions" - 93

"Rock Solid Friendship" - 60

"Fluttershy Leans In" - 35

hmm strange. I thought this season was going really really good so far. Maybe on par with the start of my favorite season. I didn't find "Fluttershy Leans in" to be too entertaining though. It was good though imo.

[Dark Qiviut 22,379]

Five episodes in, so I think I can say some thoughts now.

This season definitely shows a lot more polish than last season. While at least one episode last year when keeping up the same was close to top-ten, none of them do here. On the other hand, none of them that are objectively bad. Rock Solid Friendship's average, but there's nothing genuinely offensive or terrible.

One MAJOR plus so far is its frequent usage of Starlight. Last season, Starlight was plugged in whenever the story demanded it, and when she could've been there as a background character, cameo, or a silent cast, she was missing. Doesn't help that her appearances were so sporadic over the last twenty episodes. This season, she's there in four of the five. When you include her in the shot, you make her belong with the cast. This is something the show should do a lot more.

The big problem so far, though, is the missed opportunities. Although they're pretty solid, all of the episodes feel like they could've done more if one or two issues were addressed.

1. Celestial Advice: Cut Discord out or have him be the teacher for a lesson. Perhaps rather have him be the vessel, Spike and Twilight realize this on their own terms (credit to @Jeric in a one-on-one Discord chat for this).
2. All Bottled Up: Streamline the pacing by better editing the Escape Room side-plot and not flanderize Trixie.
3. A Flurry of Emotions: Some pacing and logic issues. It makes no sense for a well child pony to enter a hospital room. Some verbal storytelling could be replaced with more visual storytelling.
4. Rock Solid Friendship: If Maud failed to interact with Ponyville under Pinkie's watch and (unbeknownst to Pinkie) become friends with Starlight, then you could have Pinkie's worry of Maud not bonding with anyone feel more and more justified (again, credit to J). Unfortunately, Pinkie's out of character and flanderized here. The moral lacks conviction because Maud only attempted to make friends with one pony in Ponyville.
5. Fluttershy Leans In:
   Spoiler

   Would've been better if the conflict wasn't too one-sided, simplistic, and lacked critical details.

    

It's not bad so far. Perhaps a little slow, but there's more to go.

Edited May 1, 2017 by Dark Qiviut
Credit lines.

[PacificGreen 1,163]

The first few episodes of this season haven't really grown on me that much (except Celestial Advice and maybe Rock Solid Friendship). That isn't to say they're bad; they just haven't really pulled me in as much as last season's. So yeah, compared to last season's premiering episodes, this season's episodes are kinda underwhelming. Mostly spotty, forgettable at worst.

[cmarston1 5,959]

I have to agree with the consensus that so far the season is off to a good start.  I am looking forward to seeing the rest of it unfold.

[FirePuppy 734]

So far, the 9 episodes this season are:

• 2 Twilight Sparkle episodes ("Celestial Advice" and "A Flurry of Emotions", giving her 20)
• 1 Starlight Glimmer episode ("All Bottled Up")
• 1 Pinkie Pie episode ("Rock Solid Friendship", giving her 10)
• 1 Fluttershy episode ("Fluttershy Leans In", giving her 9)
• 1 Rarity episode ("Forever Filly" with Sweetie Belle, giving her 9)
• 1 Rainbow Dash episode ("Parental Glideance", giving her 12)
• 1 Cutie Mark Crusaders episode ("Hard to Say Anything", giving them 9)
• 1 Applejack/Rarity episode ("Honest Apple", giving them 4)

The next 4 episodes should be:

• Starlight's 2nd episode (A Royal Problem)
• Either a Spike episode or a Pinkie/Fluttershy episode (Not Asking for Trouble)
• A Discord episode (Discordant Harmony)
• Applejack's first solo episode this season (The Perfect Pear)

If Not Asking for Trouble is a Spike episode, we've got to a Pinkie/Fluttershy episode somewhere within episodes 14-17, since Applejack and Rarity would already get two big roles each by then.

[Ganondox 899]

Okay, watched episode 5. By far the worst episode in the season so far, though it wasn't terrible, it just was kinda pointless. Season 7 so far ahas been great, much different from previous seasons. Kinda feel it's going back to FiM's roots, going past all the dumb gimmicks which have infested the middle seasons, but with more mature writing than the first season. 

[Steve Piranha 29,419]

On 4/30/2017 at 8:24 PM, Firedog said:

What are your thoughts so far? I think it's starting out better than season 6 for sure.

 

 

And that's a little scary to me, because I hope it's not S6 backwards (starts bad, but ends good  ). Still, I'm glad that five episodes aired, and they are great at worst so far yo. Though, I'm sensing a bigger change of direction, mainly, a bigger use of Starlight. She was the star of one episode, the focus of one, and a central supporting character in another. That alone made many of us warm over her. Not to mention they've MANAGED to warm us over with McFlurry 

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

Celestial advice: 6.5/10

All bottled up: 3/10

A flurry of emotions: 8.5/10

Rock solid friendship: 2/10

Fluttershy leans in: 7.5/10

This season is going REALLY badly so far in my opinion.

[Ganondorf8 11,287]

I'm enjoying this season so far for the most part though some parts within the respective episodes could have been handled either better or differently. I am enjoying how secondary characters and some minor characters are getting development though I don't want the principle cast to be shafted in the process.

[Dynamo Pad 11,263]

I think the season is doing pretty good so far. I like how this season is giving characters like Starlight and secondary main characters some spotlight. While at the same time, they are giving spotlight to the mane 6. There are some good lessons and good development to the characters. Overall, this is a pretty good season so far. I look forward to the upcoming episodes. 

[kingfan 4]

its pretty good 

my favorite episode: forever filly celestial advice and a royal problem   

my least favorite episode: honest apple 

the only episode i didn't see yet is not asking for trouble  

anyways im looking forward to the next one

[cmarston1 5,959]

I think this season might end up becoming one of my favorites with the way that it has been going so far lately.

[Megas 27,567]

Huge improvement over S6 so far

[Zachary 5,521]

So Far It's going Awesome!

I'm waiting for the New Episode

Only Episodes I don't like are Episode 8 and 9

[Meeps 297]

I've largely enjoyed season 7 so far. Season 6 had me a little worried about where the series was going, but I'm back to being interested and watching episodes as soon as they are available again with this one. Excluding Honest Apple, Forever Filly, Fluttershy Leans in, and Pinkie's depiction in Rock Solid Friendship (the episode was great as a whole, IMO) I'm very pleased! 

Edited June 12, 2017 by Meeps

[Thrond 3,263]

Well, this thread has been revived. Too bad my opinion hasn't changed much since April. The average of my scores for this season is 56/100, and I enjoyed 4/11 episodes, or 36%. For comparison, that percentage is lower than my previous least favourite season by this point (season 5 at 50%) and far lower than season 6 (80%), both calculated out of 10 because I count their premieres as a single episode. 

Shameless plug for my blog post on the subject, where I discuss my displeasure with what I see as the general trends of the season, and also praise Twilight, because she's been much better. One thing I didn't mention is that this season, much like season 6 (which I still love, by the way), is working with a fresh status quo and in a lot of episodes finding relatively new angles for the characters (Starlight aside). I don't think it's doing that very well, but I'm glad it's at least making the effort, because I still feel that my previous least favourite seasons (4 and 5) didn't do that very much.