Do we expect to much from FiM now?

[imawesome 449]

I think the answer is yes. 

Maybe it's just the types of fans I see, but a large portion of our fandom seems to take this show too seriously. 

No, I'm not gonna use the excuse "it's just a kids show!" because I believe kids television programming deserves the same quality as adults. 

However, I think our community is WAY too harsh on certain episodes, and it's getting worse and worse with every season. 

Remember when FiM was just that show we didn't expect to be great but it was?

Well, now we expect it to be great, we expect it to be hit after hit after hit every episode. 

Or at least some of us do. 

You yourself may not judge this show too harshly, but I know a handful of fans who do, and I just think we need to take a step back before we rage about the latest episode disaster. 

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,594]

I both agree and disagree with this thesis.

I disagree in the sense that people are entitled to their own opinions on the show and because this could be interpreted as "shut up and just enjoy the show you ungrateful brats.", because people react to pieces of media differently from one another. You can also be critical of something and still like it. 

On the other hand, I agree because I think many of the complaints that some fans have are overblown or untrue. There is a certain sense of entitlement among a select few.

I also think people view early seasons with rose-tinted glasses.

Edited January 5, 2019 by TheAnimationFana

[cmarston1 5,959]

Given what some people were expecting and hoping for during the lead up to the movie, I can say that at least a few members of the fandom expect a bit too much from FiM.

[Odyssey 5,716]

The fandom has been taking the show seriously since season 2, it isn't anything new. But I believe the criticism has died down a lot now, MLP isn't as popular as what it was 5 years ago. 

[Goat-kun 2,527]

Yes, haters truly are the devil. The very sin that's corrupting the pure hearts within of our fanful flock. This blasphemy must not continue! What do you say templar? Shall we go flame a few haters? No? Of course not. You cannot stop us. The grand work shall continue. The gods shall fall.

 

 

For all of you who want to criticize the critics: debunking examples is a great start. This just looks like you're tilting at windmills. Oh, and make sure I'm among the haters you're lining up. Gotta level up my infamy before G5.

[O-78 28,605]

To be honest, yeah. Some people here think that every episode is either amazing or shit, there's no in-between for them.

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

As someone who has been in this fandom for over 7 years, i can say that there used to be big expectations from this show, ever since the end of season 2. Like, people thought of season long adventure arc that rival anime stories, deep lore and deep character development.

People kinda forgot how simple this show is at heart. It's smarter then other kids shows, but it's certainly not Game of Thrones. The best episodes of this show, have in my opinion always been the slice of life stories, because most of the time when they try to do adventure stuff, they try way too hard and pack too many ideas in it (Last season finale was in my opinion the best example of it.)

It reminds me of the scene in the movie Amadeus, where mozart questions the nature of elevated art vs. that of the common man. Sometimes, it's way more interesting hearing stories about everyday life, then that of great warriors and gods.

 

[imawesome 449]

2 hours ago, TheAnimationFana said:

I disagree in the sense that people are entitled to their own opinions on the show and because this could be interpreted as "shut up and just enjoy the show you ungrateful brats.", because people react to pieces of media differently from one another. You can also be critical of something and still like it. 

 

I didn't mean the post in that way, I just meant I think some of us are a little too harsh on it, including me. 

[FirePuppy 734]

We always expect something for every different thing on the show we're fans of, and most of them come true, while others don't.

[imawesome 449]

2 hours ago, TheAnimationFana said:

 On the other hand, I agree because I think many of the complaints that some fans have are overblown or untrue. There is a certain sense of entitlement among a select few.

 

Especially in the Youtube community, people who I shall not name.

On the other hand, there are also people who love everything the show throws out with no valid reason. 

[Hardway Bet 96]

I know I do. I watched the show from season one, and even then, I only thought the show was shockingly good for what it was, and compared to other cartoons at the time. Even so, in later years I've often caught myself expecting far too much from it. Honestly, even now I can't help but hope that the next generation has decent worldbuilding and consistent characters.

[Oleks 1,993]

The show has set a high bar for itself, but still some people expect a bit much from it. Some have oddly specific expectations and get mad when something goes "the wrong way", others expect the show to always stay the same and are outraged by any change, and some just like to nitpick and are happy to exploit every opportunity to prove that "MLP's gone downhill".

I personally try to limit my expectations for FiM, and take it for what it is - a high quality kids show that can entertain me and make me laugh, sometimes throwing in pleasant surprises. And that's it for me.

[EpicEnergy 23,176]

Yes, I also think there are many fans who expect too much from the show. It actually irritates me sometimes, seeing the fans complain or criticize certain things, but it's also true of any other fandom. Look at Star Wars, Disney made "Star Wars: Solo" and it got so much criticism yet I think it's a great movie.

I also think the expectations have become higher each season, with fans using the early season as standards for the later seasons.

[The MegaBrony 219]

Yes. I read multiple epic adventure fanfictions of FiM and realized they were consistently considered better than canon.

[Will Guide 21,360]

I believe that the show doesn't have to be too complex. The characters and setting are interesting on their own.

Still, There is potential fan fiction full for fan writers to work with if they want to do more complex stuff. Look at Integration by DarthLink or Change by Tom117z for stories like that.

[Black Sabbath 2,486]

I'm gonna say no to this one, mostly because to this fandom "expecting too much from the show" is at this point pretty much synonymous with "not ignoring all the show's flaws".  

I'm not saying that there aren't people with too high of an expectation of what FIM can do, but those have always been around and they have always been a pretty low number. 

[FlareGun45 2,221]

That depends. If season 9 is the last season it could go two ways:

1. The writers decide to be lazy cause "Hey, it's the last season, let's get this garbage-heep done, get our paychecks, and get outta here!"

2. The writers would give it an EPIC conclusion and end the show with a BANG by wrapping up all the remaining story arcs that they could and give the final season their best shot!

[Will Guide 21,360]

6 minutes ago, Bas said:

I also feel that something being criticized can easily be read as someone not liking someone, or talking something bad. I think sometimes the critique could be rather be seen as wondering about something within the show or episode.

Good point.

Sometimes I think the fans react with everything being either perfect or absolutely wrong with no in-between. 

[PacificGreen 1,163]

I wrote about this in a similar thread I started about being more critical of the later seasons. And honestly the answer to this question is IMO pretty complicated.

When I first started watching in 2013, I didn't have very high expectations at all, largely because I was skeptical about how good this show was, but also just because the show was relatively young and, although I was surprised by the show quality, a lot of the earlier plots were relatively simplistic and slice-of-life, (like Ticket Master or maybe even Hurricane Fluttershy) so I wasn't really expecting anything too high quality, really just a simple romp through this magical land. And honestly, that's pretty much what we got, although the characters and setting were engaging enough to keep us invested in the show and make amazing fan works with them.

Seasons 4 and 5 really brought the series in a new direction, with what I thought was the most epic season finale and some of the grimmest subject matter in the season 5 premiere. Season 4 arguably had the best season arc with the keys. Episodes like Slice of Life and even Princess Spike showed that showcasing the side characters can make for interesting plotlines. And as mixed as I felt about Starlight's redemption at the time, it ended up making for a pretty amazing finale. Those seasons really set the bar high IMO.

The following seasons didn't quite have the same wow factor to me, though the were still good in their own rights. Season 6 was probably the season with the lowest stakes among the latter seasons, and Season 7, despite having a great story arc in the form of the Pillars, did have a few "meh" and dud episodes in its former half that kinda tainted my impression of the season as a whole, largely because of its treatment of its side characters in order to make the mains look better, like Hard Hat, Dandy and Wrangler, or the critics from F&M. Season 8 kinda suffered from the same problem. And it is a little jarring considering how Season 5 really put a lot into making interesting background and side characters (again, like Slice of Life and also Canterlot Boutique). Again, this is not to trash those later seasons, just noticing how, IMO, they kinda fell short of their predecessors.

So yeah, Seasons 4 & 5 kinda set the bar high, which is why I think we've become more critical of the later seasons. But really, I think it is just natural and to be expected... as a series goes on you expect more and more from it, so you it gets a bit noticeable when an episode feels poorly executed or when they start retreading old plots and morals.

Are people being too critical? I think that's in the eye of the beholder, because different people have different expectations for the show. Even different people have differing abilities to give certain flaws a pass (as an example, I enjoyed Daring Done, even despite some of its flaws, while others consider it one of the worst of Season 7, while I pretty much have a hard time wanting to even watch Parental Glideance again, even though it's one of the best received episodes of the season), so what may be "overly critical" to you might be "just the right amount of critical" to another.

 

 

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

I think what we need isn't lowering our expectations, but making fair and valid points. If the fandom becomes too generous and praises the show whatever it does, it won't go well. (even slightly being generous risks makes it slightly worse) If the fandom becomes harsh and toxic, resentful and bitter, it won't go well either. Either we encourage the show or criticize it, we need our points to land on a right place. We need honest feedbacks and reasonable logic to back up our arguments. We also need to have constructive suggestions for the show's future.

I won't lower my expectation on the show even one bit. I believe they are capable of making a wonderful show. Of course I don't want it trying to be something it's not, I only expect it to be the best what MLP is good at and what the show can ever be.

We are not raising Breezies, they are adults. And if artists can't take critiques, they should quit. And for the people who make toxic arguments, they should quit too.

Edited January 6, 2019 by Sepul-Coloratura

[RulesofRarity 489]

All I except from this show is to be enjoyable and not teach kids toxic lessons.

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,594]

8 hours ago, Sepul-Coloratura said:

I think what we need isn't lowering our expectations, but making fair and valid points. If the fandom becomes too generous and praises the show whatever it does, it won't go well. (even slightly being generous risks makes it slightly worse) If the fandom becomes harsh and toxic, resentful and bitter, it won't go well either. Either we encourage the show or criticize it, we need our points to land on a right place. We need honest feedbacks and reasonable logic to back up our arguments. We also need to have constructive suggestions for the show's future.

I won't lower my expectation on the show even one bit. I believe they are capable of making a wonderful show. Of course I don't want it trying to be something it's not, I only expect it to be the best what MLP is good at and what the show can ever be.

We are not raising Breezies, they are adults. And if artists can't take critiques, they should quit. And for the people who make toxic arguments, they should quit too.

This is also an excellent point. Just because the showrunners and writers came up with something you don't like, does not give you the excuse to threaten or belittle them.

Also, while I don't feel the same, I can sympathize with people not liking some of the directions the show has gone in. Which is understandable because the show has grown beyond what it started as.

[RDDash 19,163]

We just want the show to be good, it's just so happens that at times the show would execute the episode badly with warped questionable morals.

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,594]

Bringing this back because it feels relevant. Entertainment is subjective and not everyone will react the same way towards the same thing. But, at a certain point, it is fair to argue that some people expect too much at times. 

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

I think It's not about how many, but what they expect from the show. Many people keeps asking the wrong questions, leading up to the show giving the wrong answers. The show's recognition  and feedback towards the fandom was a blessing and a curse at the same time.