Is the current Mane Six different than it was in the beginning?

[FirePuppy 735]

Then: Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack

NOW (UGH...): Twilight, Starlight, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, and Spike

Believe me, those writers have demoted Fluttershy to extra since S6, and now I think they're doing it to Pinkie as well. I don't want to see any of this happen in Season 9. But the way all of you guys are wanting more Starlight, Spike, and Student Six over anypony else, it worries me even more that I'm becoming the only one who even likes the "demoted to extra ponies" at most.

[Midnight Solace 5,132]

Do you mean like appearences in the show or how their lifestyle have changed?

[Discordian 6,015]

They're definitely very different. They don't get bothered by a lot of little things they used to and you can see how their friendship has practically no kinks because of how comfortable they are with each other.

 

It's clear that a lot of the premise of the show, understanding friendship and how it functions, doesn't really apply to them much anymore. I think the fact that they've introduced so many other characters is the only way to keep the original characters from looking like they haven't grown at all which ultimately hurts the entire message and delivery of the show.

 

The world in the show has grown significantly. To keep it stuck on a couple of characters forever who don't really have friendship problems would make for lackluster episodes which would drive the show into the ground.

[FirePuppy 735]

1 hour ago, Midnight Solace said:

Do you mean like appearences in the show or how their lifestyle have changed?

The former, I think.

[Midnight Solace 5,132]

Yeah, they have been appearing less in the show, which is something I don't really like. I guess now the show is focusing on the Student 6 and Starlight. I guess Hasbro is getting bored of making the same toys all the time. (That's why Flurry Heart exists, I guess.) I'm really hoping the Mane 6 doesn't get replaced. 

[Kadeda 178]

Main 6 won't get replaced. I can definitely see your point though as they may have given Starlight to many episodes this season and Pinky had the worst episode in the season.

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

7 hours ago, FirePuppy said:

Then: Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack

NOW (UGH...): Twilight, Starlight, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, and Spike

Believe me, those writers have demoted Fluttershy to extra since S6, and now I think they're doing it to Pinkie as well. I don't want to see any of this happen in Season 9. But the way all of you guys are wanting more Starlight, Spike, and Student Six over anypony else, it worries me even more that I'm becoming the only one who even likes the "demoted to extra ponies" at most.

Aye; while it's fair to say some of the Mane 6 are getting diminished roles in the series, it's not like they're getting replaced. Heck; the Mane 6 are still and will ALWAYS be the heart and soul of the series. At this point, tho, the characters have had quite a bit of development so it's nice to see some variety. Starlight and the Student 6 give us some nice variety and I'm all fine for that. Doesn't mean I love the Mane 6 less.

[Hardway Bet 96]

Out with the old, in with the new. I'm pretty sure there's more stories that could have been told with the original cast, but this just isn't that kind of show. The writers just don't put in the effort or forethought.

[Arkadios 91]

Yeah, I noticed that Starlight seems to be taking on a more central role as time goes on, which I guess isn’t a—

*like something from Split*

ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY REPLACE FLUTTERSHY!!!

[Goat-kun 2,527]

I'd give my stash of keks if they replace all Starlight episodes with Cozy Glow & Tirek episodes. Not only would this be way more interesting, the reactions of Starfoals would be priceless. Talking shit about how a discarded character will always be a main character is easy when you're not invested. So let it all end with screams of those who have chosen a single character over everything.

[Thrond 3,263]

I looked up how many episodes those two had in season 8, and wow, I thought both of them had more than that. Weird. 

[09MurphyM 4]

What are you guys talking about? None of the Mane 6 have been replaced. The only difference is that Starlight Glimmer is considered a member of the mane cast now.

[FirePuppy 735]

7 hours ago, AlexanderThrond said:

I looked up how many episodes those two had in season 8, and wow, I thought both of them had more than that. Weird. 

I don't know why this happened in the first place, but I just hope it doesn't happen again in S9.

[heavens-champion 1,905]

Well, Rarity doesn't seem to mind getting dirty, anymore.

[DonMaguz 1,023]

No, the mane six are and will continue to be the heart of the franchise.

The writers of the show wanting to push new ideas and characters doesn't mean that they have forgotten about the core of the main cast. The mane six are solidly established now, they don't need to be justified as relevant characters, at the other hand the  CMC, Spike and Starlight still need to take some episodes each recent season because their status as main characters is not set in stone. Decisions have been made to make the main cast bigger, of course the original main cast is getting a bit less of the cake because of it, but they still are the stars of the show, otherwise how would anyone explain 'Best Gift Ever'?

Edited November 27, 2018 by DonMaguz

[ShadowPhoenix 153]

2 hours ago, DonMaguz said:

No, the mane six are and will continue to be the heart of the franchise.

The writers of the show wanting to push new ideas and characters doesn't mean that they have forgotten about the core of the main cast. The mane six are solidly established now, they don't need to be justified as relevant characters, at the other hand the  CMC, Spike and Starlight still need to take some episodes each recent season because their status as main characters is not set in stone. Decisions have been made to make the main cast bigger, of course the original main cast is getting a bit less of the cake because of it, but they still are the stars of the show, otherwise how would anyone explain 'Best Gift Ever'?

Hear hear. OP just doesn’t seem to grasp it, no matter what everyone says so it’s almost not worth typing this.

 

Until they stop singing their usual verses in the theme song, somehow lose their thrones around the Cutie Map, or we stop checking in on their characters and stories, Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity and Fluttershy will always be the Mane Six, you can tell by all the group shots of the six standing together, and Spike has always been a main character since day one, he has a throne too. Starlight Glimmer is an additional member of the Mane Cast summoned and featured when required, no different from CMC, doesn’t mean she’s stealing Fluttershy’s and Pinkie’s places. Who but the Mane Six and Spike were summoned to Tartarus? Who had seven intersecting stories in Best Gift Ever?

 

Dear God, Starlight always has to share her episodes with Sunburst, Discord, Trixie, Twilight and the others anyway. Fluttershy can literally carry the better portion of an episode with just three racoons and Pinkie can even receive the status of second most prominent M6 in the movie and her playing a yovidaphone (even if you hate the episode, OP) is given the life or death attention and concern by the others.