Has FIM become too melodramatic?

[ggg-2 3,553]

In the early days, we had simple episodes with simple morals, fitting for a kid show. Since then, we've gotten episodes depicting angst and implied self-harm (Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep), implied death of both of one's parents (Perfect Pear), and even parental abuse (Lost Mark).

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

So long as the show maintains its light hearted attitude, I think it's fine. The content might have become more... serious, but the way it's presented is still the same.

Edited July 30, 2017 by ShootingStar159

[BastementSparkle 20,326]

The implied death of parents has been around a while, since Season 3 even, though it's only gotten more explicitly implied as time's gone on. Still, I'd argue that no, the show hasn't gotten too melodramatic, especially since all of the episodes you just listed are some of my favorites. Plenty of other kids shows nowadays go even further than what MLP has done, and MLP still keeps things relatively tame and family-friendly in comparison. The implied death is just implied, the parental abuse is a strict mother being far too harsh on her kid and acting like a bad influence, nothing extremely verbally or physically cruel, etc.

The more simple episodes of the early years are wonderful for what they are, but I imagine it'd have been difficult to have 7 or more seasons of equally simple stories.

[cmarston1 5,959]

Not really as other children's cartoons like Gravity Falls and Steven Universe were able to get away with soooo much more than FiM ever could.

[Prospekt 11,018]

I would rather have darker episodes on occasion than a bunch of sugarcoated, bright, and overly positive episodes all the time. A good mixture keeps things from getting stale.

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

No, the show right now I think is far better than the show from seasons 1 and 2.

[Thrond 3,263]

I don't think it's bad to have those subjects in the show at all, but I don't think the show always does them justice. See, for me, the issue is that I think it tends to bite off more than it can chew. Of the ones you mentioned, I despise "Magic Sheep," and I think both of the other two are held back by the show's various restrictions. "Lost Mark," as much as I love it, feels overstuffed and might have been better if it had a longer running time, and "The Perfect Pear" is so afraid to directly acknowledge death that it doesn't actually give us context for most of the framing story. 

I did think that season 5 took itself too seriously. A lot of its melodramatic episodes seem to be fan favourites, like "Amending Fences" and "The Mane Attraction," but for the most part I don't find them very enjoyable, either because they're overly simple and not very funny ("Castle Sweet Castle") or because I find the focal characters unsympathetic ("Amending Fences"). I also found some episodes, like "Made in Manehattan," to just be kinda depressing despite happy endings. That's part of why s5 is my least favourite. But I think there are more lighthearted episodes since season 6. 

Edited July 30, 2017 by AlexanderThrond

[Mirage 24,770]

There's more talk about this subject HERE.

[ggg-2 3,553]

2 hours ago, cmarston1 said:

Not really as other children's cartoons like Gravity Falls and Steven Universe were able to get away with soooo much more than FiM ever could.

Aren't Gravity Falls and Steven Universe meant for an older audience than MLP, anyway?

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

I know where you're coming from, because i don't like it when someone wants to make MLP incredibly edgy and dark just for the sake of it (i really didn't liked the sombra timeline in the season 5 finale)

But as it is right now, it's good. They can do it from time to time, but shouldn't overdo it, considering this is supposed to be a show with a positive attitude and a happy end.

MLP will never be Gargoyles, Gravity Falls or whatever.

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

Well many of the fans certainly have become overly melodramatic, and by extension, so has the show to a degree I suppose.

[Luminance 2,186]

For a TV-Y show, MLPFiM has achieved a lot. I think both light and dark themes are spread apart evenly and it depends on balancing the two from each other. 

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

I asked for it, and i got what i asked for  but for the cost of the light-heartness of the show, i dont know whether it worth it or not, oh well... Every cartoon i know always have a lot of dark shits and still balance its light-heart nature then why FIM cannot?

 

[heavens-champion 1,905]

As long as there aren't any xenophobic dictators who force the ponies out of Equestria, I'd say the show is far from melodramatic.

[Will Guide 21,360]

It never crossed the line for me. Its light-hearted tone outshines and outnumbers the rare "melodramatic" moments!