Back to the beginning

[ManaMinori 4,149]

So we're 8 seasons into FiM, and the 9th's is nipping at its heels. Things have gotten pretty crazy over the course of time of this series. Has anyone recently gone back to the beginnings of this show, to appreciate how simple and charming things were back then? Rewatching season 1 episode 1 and 2 have allowed me to connect some dots to a pretty gnarly theory that I have (being explained through a fanfiction of mine called "The Magician's Name" https://www.fimfiction.net/story/393959/the-magicians-name ),

But also, getting re-aquanited with earlier episodes have made me realize and appreciate how sweet and simple things were, back then. I miss Pinkie's random Pinkieness that more recent seasons seem to have abandoned entirely, wonder if Steven Magnet would ever get back in touch with Rarity in order to pay her back for her act of generosity when they had first met, and really appreciate how awesome Rarity is when she straight up kicks a raging Manticore in the face without hesitation (along with making me recall that in later episodes, she continues to show a hardcore "ready to throw down" attitude, when she's threatening teenaged dragons for messing with Spike, and dropkicking Applejack in a state of Discord, for touching Tom)

 

has anyone gone back to re-watch the earlier episodes, lately? What realizations or appreciations have you drawn upon, in doing so?

[Ganondorf8 11,720]

I find it near impossible to watch the earlier episodes. It's mainly due to the fact that certain events hadn't happened yet not to mention DHX was only just starting out with the animation in addition to the voice cast needing time to get used to their roles.

[BastementSparkle 20,335]

I recently went back and rewatched the first 4 seasons of the show. No big realizations I haven't had before, it was just a nice, good reminder of how much I really love this show in general. There's definitely a certain "Simple charm" to the earliest seasons that kind of fades away over time, but the later seasons are great in their own way too, I feel, with how much they add and build off of what was already there. I just adore the show, start to finish, or at least Season 1 to 8 so far. I've been saying it's my favorite show for years, and watching the early stuff again basically just reconfirms it yet again, this is my favorite show, and I love it to death.

 Also, I'm gonna be super sad when this show ends, I've never been this attached to any show, these pastel ponies stole my heart and I don't think I'm getting it back.

Edited September 29, 2018 by BasementSparkle

[Misty Shadow 8,201]

What Ganondorf said. It's weird, because I have nothing against the early episodes despite liking the later ones better. I just feel weird going back to the early episodes after moving forward with the later episodes and seeing so many changes for so long.

[Thrond 3,271]

It's nice to go back and remind myself of what drew me to this show in the first place. On my latest re-watch, there weren't that many big revelations; some episodes appealed to me less than usual, but not too many. I was somewhat anxious that the first season's simplicity in particular would interest me less, but thankfully I was reminded of just how funny and sweet the show's earlier seasons are, and I came to realize how much I miss the small-town feel. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,606]

While it is fun to look back at when this show began, I mostly look back to provide context for how the series has grown, developed and matured in Seasons 2 through 8.

Season 1 did not hold up as well for me as it did for some of you guys, but it is still nice.

 

[bigbertha 417]

It's kinda crazy just how much this show has changed this seasons 1-3. It used to just be about the mane six learning and growing together. It's also interesting to note that like most shows from 2010-2011, it didn't have deep lore or story arcs. But as the years went on, shows like Gravity Falls and Steven Universe became big hits so many cartoons had to change for the times. Adventure Time, Regular Show, and FiM all increased in continuity and got more serious. 

It's different for every cartoon, but for FiM, I think the show worked best when it was just a silly show with ponies learning life lessons, though season 1 hasn't held up too well as I feel like seasons 2 and 3 have everything that worked about season 1 while also evolving it further. 

[ManaMinori 4,149]

16 hours ago, AlexanderThrond said:

It's nice to go back and remind myself of what drew me to this show in the first place. On my latest re-watch, there weren't that many big revelations; some episodes appealed to me less than usual, but not too many. I was somewhat anxious that the first season's simplicity in particular would interest me less, but thankfully I was reminded of just how funny and sweet the show's earlier seasons are, and I came to realize how much I miss the small-town feel. 

do you find you've gained a new appreciation for certain episodes, going back to rewatch them, while ones you thought you had held in high regard, you realized may have missed the mark on second viewing?

[Sepul-Coloratura 765]

I like the early seasons charm when everything was almost about Ponyville and going to Canterlot was kind of a big deal.

They focused on the details and the settings, characters and everyday stuff. (like how it is supposed to be)

For example, in It's About Time, Twilight says she will not move until the next Tuesday and Rainbow Dash comes in and her and Spike just pranks around her. We never see those on recent episodes.

Watch Lesson Zero and see how dynamic Twilight's facial expression goes. Recent episodes have some crazy facial expressions, but they are more like a one-shot gag.

Early episodes have moments like in Owl's Well That Ends Well where all the main characters gather around and for seconds, they do nothing but just watch the meteor shower together.

I like that in early seasons, each character had their more memorable theme music.

But most of all, the directing and editing, writing was on point. (just a very minor detail, but at season 8 opening when they show the School of Friendship where Ember and Thorax fly, the pacing is somewhat awkward.)

I liked the feeling that if we go to Ponyville, we could encounter Fluttershy smelling flowers, Pinkie jumping around, Twilight reading books.

[Thrond 3,271]

4 hours ago, Nightmare Muffin said:

do you find you've gained a new appreciation for certain episodes, going back to rewatch them, while ones you thought you had held in high regard, you realized may have missed the mark on second viewing?

The latter much more than the former in seasons 1-3... I was in a different head space when I first watched those seasons, so in general, my opinion before rewatching was fairly positive. Season 4 has become much more entertaining on a subsequent viewings, though.