How many episodes should each main character get in season 8?

[FlareGun45 2,221]

Back in season 7, Twilight had Celestial Advice, A Flurry of Emotions, Fame and Misfortune, and Once Upon a Zeppelin - 4 episodes! Makes up for season 7 for her!

Starlight had All Bottled Up, A Royal Problem, Changeling Our Ways, and Uncommon Bond - 4 episodes! If you count Celestial Advice and Rock Solid Friendship, that makes 6! I love Starlight, but she shouldn't keep hogging the spotlight! Give other characters some more opportunities next season!

Pinkie had Rock Solid Friendship and Not Asking For Trouble alone, and she shared Daring Done and Secrets and Pies with Rainbow - 4 episodes! And in all things considered, Daring Done and Secrets and Pies felt more like Pinkie episodes than Rainbow episodes.

Rainbow had Parental Glidance (with Scoots), Campfire Tales (with Rarity, AJ, and CMCs), Daring Done (with Pinkie), and Secrets and Pies (with Pinkie) - 4 episodes! Although none of them had Rainbow as the protagonist, so Rainbow didn't get a single solo episode this season. But to be fair, she did have 3 solo episodes in season 6!

Rarity had Forever Filly (with Sweetie), Honest Apple (with AJ), Campfire Tales (with AJ, Rainbow, and CMCs), and Isn't the Mane Thing About You - 4 episodes! Rarity has been on a streak for 2 seasons in a row! More than made up for season 3 if you ask me!

Flutters had Fluttershy Leans In, Discordant Harmony (with Discord), and A Health of Information - 3 episodes! 2 if you don't count Discordant Harmony. Every season since season 4, Flutters had 2-3 episodes! Could next season break the streak?

AJ had Honest Apple (with Rarity), The Perfect Pear, and Campfire Tales (with Rainbow, Rarity, and CMCs) - 3 episodes! Although Perfect Pear had AJ's parents stealing the spotlight, so even though AJ had alot of development this season, she had very little spotlight.

Spike only had Triple Threat, and there were a ton of episodes he could've been in but wasn't. But on the bright side: he had more development this season than he usually does in other seasons, so his season 6 streak is still continuing! But hopefully next season, he'll get alot more episodes to make up for this season, since he's one of the most mysterious characters on the show and is still in need of a ton of development, regardless on being on the right track!

Discord only had Discordant Harmony. He's usually the one with the fewest amount of starring episodes. He had 3 in season 4, 2 in season 5, and 1 in season 6 and 1 this season too. John de Lancie confirmed to be voicing two episodes next season, so let's hope both of them have Discord as a starring role instead of just being comic-relief. I'm talking to YOU, Celestial Advice! Like Spike, Discord is a mysterious character and we need to know more about him.

So looking at how the Mane Six, Spike, CMCs, Starlight, and Discord did last season, let's think about how many episodes each of them are gonna get next season! The polls will determine your answer! 

COMBO EPISODES CAN COUNT IN TALLIES!

So that means if you think Fluttershy and Pinkie are having an episode together, that counts as an episode for Pinkie and an episode for Flutters! 

[Hierok 11,833]

Twilight: 4+

Starlight: 4+

Pinkie: 2

Rainbow : 1

Apple Jack: 1

Rarity: 2

Flutters: 3

Spike: 3

CMC: 2

Discord: 2

 

[Jade Fire 7,059]

more starlight episodes!

[FirePuppy 739]

Because Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash are all out of potentials just like that after 7 years, I voted for a MAXIMUM of 2 episodes for each of every one of them, so that Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Starlight can have a bigger chance for more.

[ShadOBabe 19,027]

You’re lucky you said “main” character, because otherwise I would have said 20 straight episodes of Celestia. 

[Megas 28,111]

7 hours ago, MegaSean45 said:

But to be fair, she did have 3 solo episodes in season 6!

Two of which only exist just to shit on her.

 

Honestly I don’t care how many episodes a character gets, quality over quantity I say. I’d rather have one RD episode as long as it’s something fantastic like PG or WBA, rather than a lot of them but they’re all ND/28PL levels of dreadful 

[Thrond 3,271]

I'm long past caring which characters get a certain # of episodes, and knowing this show it'll just be Starlight getting the lion's share again. I care more about what episode each character gets than how many, although at this point I'm pretty done with Starlight and want to see her as little as possible. I'd also really like it if the show would emphasize unusual team-ups instead of telling a bunch of rigid solo stories like season 6 did. 

[FlareGun45 2,221]

4 minutes ago, AlexanderThrond said:

I'm long past caring which characters get a certain # of episodes, and knowing this show it'll just be Starlight getting the lion's share again. I care more about what episode each character gets than how many, although at this point I'm pretty done with Starlight and want to see her as little as possible. I'd also really like it if the show would emphasize unusual team-ups instead of telling a bunch of rigid solo stories like season 6 did. 

Season 6 had a bunch of interesting team-ups! Gift of Maud Pie had Pinkie, Rarity, and Maud, Dungeons and Discords had Spike, Big Mac, and Discord, and don't get me started on the finale!

[Thrond 3,271]

2 minutes ago, MegaSean45 said:

Season 6 had a bunch of interesting team-ups! Gift of Maud Pie had Pinkie, Rarity, and Maud, Dungeons and Discords had Spike, Big Mac, and Discord, and don't get me started on the finale!

I would be very happy with a return to season 6 for many reasons. 

[ShadowPhoenix 153]

Ok, the dice has been rolled for the amazing Season 7 and is seems that this time the screentime deficit goes to Fluttershy and Applejack, so more of them please. I hope Twilight and Fluttershy share the spotlight again, something about their dynamic just clicks (A Health Of Information). But other than that, this season was very well balanced. I do hope they consider letting Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy or Pinkie solve the two-parter for a change instead of Twilight and Starlight continually spitting out the solutions. Do that if they want to continue the trend of evolving the show as they have done.

[sweetolebob18 728]

Mathematically, (26 episode - 2 (for 2 part episodes))/ 6 characters, each of the Mane 6 should get 4. However, you assume some Crusader episodes & some of the others getting episodes, then each would have 2-3 episodes. Unless they go back to what they did in the earlier seasons & have more group episodes.

[FirePuppy 739]

On 11/9/2017 at 10:31 AM, AlexanderThrond said:

I would be very happy with a return to season 6 for many reasons. 

Except this time, Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack all must limit themselves on screen time and whatever episodes they're the main focuses on, since they now don't have much potentials left unlike the others, as opposed to when they all still had more back then.

Edited November 15, 2017 by FirePuppy

[Thrond 3,271]

6 hours ago, FirePuppy said:

Except this time, Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack all must limit themselves on screen time and whatever episodes they're the main focuses on, since they now don't have much potentials left unlike the others, as opposed to when they all still had more back then.

I really don't think they have that much less potential. There are plenty of opportunities for humour or character development. Basing the show too much around ephemeral story arcs, or continuity in general, isn't the right way to go, in my opinion. The supporting cast is great, but they're not why I watch this show. 

[Jeric 46,880]

On 11/9/2017 at 3:42 AM, FirePuppy said:

Because Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash are all out of potentials just like that after 7 years

Every comic book character still popular after half a century of print would beg to differ. 

But ... it's good that you feel that way. When someone believes that there are no new stories to tell, and they see something novel, it's an opportunity to be pleasantly surprised. I almost envy that. Of course, most people cannot set aside their biases because it tends to be literally painful when they are proven wrong so their biases help as armor. Highly limiting  ... but I can at least understand why some people are stubborn and obsessive about elements, especially when it's so tied to their personal identity. Growth is hard. 

 

As far as the OP's question, like Thrond, I too am long passed caring about the number of episodes each character has. Give me a good story. Give me humor. Give me cute. Give me heartwarming. Grow the lore. Unlike Thrond, I would welcome the same exceptional level I saw in Season 7. 

That's about it. 

[ShootingStar159 2,157]

9 hours ago, FirePuppy said:

Except this time, Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack all must limit themselves on screen time and whatever episodes they're the main focuses on, since they now don't have much potentials left unlike the others, as opposed to when they all still had more back then.

 

I disagree, the only main six characters that are scraping the bottom of the barrel is Fluttershy and Applejack. But that can easily be fixed, all the writers have to do is give them a new character arc. I think Fluttershy should start to learn healer’s arts from Zecora and Meadowbrook, it would finally give her a career path as well as give her the chance to contribute to the group outside of animals.

Applejack... I realize this is going to be controversial, but I think she should be given a romance arc. Family and her farm have always been important to her, and with her being the most level-headed of the main six, I think she’s the best candidate to pull something like that off. Honestly, I can’t think of a bigger personal goal for Applejack, not one that could span multiple episodes, or even seasons. The farm is fine, and her family is stable. Applebloom is already starting her career path and Big Mac is looking to maybe start a family of his own. Applejack can continue like she is, but if she doesn’t get her own new arc that changes the equation for her, she’s likely to continue getting episodes like Honest Apple and Applejacks day off, where she’s a better supporting character than a main character.

[BastementSparkle 20,335]

1 minute ago, ShootingStar159 said:

I disagree, the only main six characters that are scraping the bottom of the barrel is Fluttershy and Applejack. But that can easily be fixed, all the writers have to do is give them a new character arc. I think Fluttershy should start to learn healer’s arts from Zecora and Meadowbrook, it would finally give her a career path as well as give her the chance to contribute to the group outside of animals.

Fluttershy kind of has an actual animal shelter to take care of now though, it's not just her taking animals into her home anymore. I imagine that shelter is going to lead to her taking on even more animals than before, and if anything is going to be her "Career", I think it's going to be that. Not that I don't like the idea of her learning healing from Meadowbrook, I actually think it's a great idea, and considering how often the Mane Six and other friends end up going against villains or disasters would be a real useful skill for her to have, I just don't see her making it her career.

[ShootingStar159 2,157]

22 minutes ago, BasementSparkle said:

Fluttershy kind of has an actual animal shelter to take care of now though, it's not just her taking animals into her home anymore. I imagine that shelter is going to lead to her taking on even more animals than before, and if anything is going to be her "Career", I think it's going to be that. Not that I don't like the idea of her learning healing from Meadowbrook, I actually think it's a great idea, and considering how often the Mane Six and other friends end up going against villains or disasters would be a real useful skill for her to have, I just don't see her making it her career.

Yeah, the sanctuary is definitely going to be a thing moving forward, I just think she needs more. Of course, she always been my least favorite main six, so take any of my opinions on her with that grain of salt.

[Will Guide 21,371]

It shouldn't matter how many episodes each character gets as long as the episode is entertaining and has given me something, be it humor, a lesson, character development, etc.

[Hierok 11,833]

9 minutes ago, WiiGuy2014 said:

It shouldn't matter how many episodes each character gets as long as the episode is entertaining and has given me something, be it humor, a lesson, character development, etc.

And of course worldbuilding. This is something that has to be done right after season 7, but it still is not on the needed level. 

Edited November 15, 2017 by Hierok

[Ganondox 899]

As many as they need. I’m not going to bound them to some arbitrary constraint. 

[Guest]

Every episode should be a Twilight episode. This would please me. 

I would honestly not care whom the episode is centered around, it doesn't really matter to me until there's 3 <insert_character>-only episodes in a row. Then it gets old. 

[Jeric 46,880]

1 hour ago, Sunset Rose said:

Every episode should be a Twilight episode. This would please me. 

I would honestly not care whom the episode is centered around, it doesn't really matter to me until there's 3 <insert_character>-only episodes in a row. Then it gets old. 

I remember the Rarity Trilogy in season 5. One solo and two episodes paired with Dash and AJ respectively. I would have preferred they be a little spaced out (even though I was in Fabulosity Heaven at the time). 

[ShootingStar159 2,157]

1 hour ago, Filthy Jawa said:

I remember the Rarity Trilogy in season 5. One solo and two episodes paired with Dash and AJ respectively. I would have preferred they be a little spaced out (even though I was in Fabulosity Heaven at the time). 

 

It was pretty fabulous. I mentioned the trilogy to someone wondering if they should get back into the show, I’d say I convinced him.

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

6 hours ago, WiiGuy2014 said:

It shouldn't matter how many episodes each character gets as long as the episode is entertaining and has given me something, be it humor, a lesson, character development, etc.

Quality over quantity;)

 

[Megas 28,111]

3 hours ago, Filthy Jawa said:

I remember the Rarity Trilogy in season 5. One solo and two episodes paired with Dash and AJ respectively. I would have preferred they be a little spaced out (even though I was in Fabulosity Heaven at the time). 

Yeah i’d rather they not do that again, I thought that was pretty overkill