I changed my mind. I think Chrysalis has a lot of potential.

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

I used to think that Chrysalis was a washed up character since after season 6 finale. That any further attempt to attack Twilight and her friends but constantly failing would make her a laughingstock, which it did. I used to think that the writers should let go Chrysalis and don't bring her back ever again. But to think of it more, she can be a very effective threatening villain. If written wisely and done right. Listen this.

Chrysalis's biggest power is to turn into other ponies and impersonate them. That's why John Carpenter's The Thing is so frightening. That's why Marvel's Skrulls are a pain in the arse to handle. And if the show gives an impression to the audience that Chrysalis could attack any time in the future first, then that means every new character The Mane Six meet, every new friends they make after could be a hostile enemy in disguise that should not be trusted. And that's fundamentally against the very concept of being ponies, more specifically against the friendliest town called Ponyville, more specifically against the princess of friendship herself. Because the biggest strength of Twilight and her friends are making friends and trusting them. (look at what they did in MLP the Movie just by trusting others and befriending them.) Chrysalis can specifically disarm their strongest point.

If handled smartly, Chrysalis can be a very good villain and a potential threat that can subconsciously and psychologically attack the viewer and our protagonist. Chrysalis isn't just a mean tyrant with many minions or a bad magician that can blast strong lasers out of her horn. We have plenty of those villains and that's not what makes her special. She wasn't impressive at season 2 finale just because she was stronger than Princess Celestia. It was more because how she got there in the first place. She's manipulative, she can almost completely fool the closest ones including the husband and stabbed 'em in their back. So in order to make this work, Chrysalis should be very good at impersonating others at least as much as season 2 finale. It should be and kinda is what she's doing for living. At least make her practice and plan it for enough time, so she can be successful. Season 8's Chrysalis was done wrong because they showed every tedious moments of Chrysalis planning and failing. The audience shouldn't know about it. And all the impersonators were very bad actors too. (I think Changeling's currency is not only love, but also the degree of the individual's ability to impersonate others. What being good at impersonating to them is what being attractive or rich to humans) Maybe she might practice enough to impersonate even one of the main characters or secondary characters.

She has to be so good that the audience doesn't notice it's her. They should give the audience the impression that she could attack in one of any further episodes, but not let them know how or when. Then, the audience would be very anxious about every new ponies they meet, even the kindest ones. That's the opposite of friendship, distrust. If this approach was done during season 7 and 8, she could have been Sludge tearing apart Twilight's closest family, she could have been Autumn Blaze tricking ponies to ruin the Kirin village, she could have been chancellor Neighsay, She could have been Sugar Belle breaking Big Mac, she could have been Cozy Glow which could have been way more interesting plot than what we already got. They even already had a villain concept about someone tearing apart the friendship of Mane Six by manipulating them and it was Sunset Shimmer in EQG1. My idea can't be the only way to execute Chrysalis of course, but If they are planning to make MLP a show about a serious battle between good and evil and are planning to make an episode including Chrysalis, it should at least be as well thought of as this one.

Long story short,

1. Chrysalis can work if done like this.
2. Make her be skillful in impersonating and planning.
3. Give the audience the impression that she could attack anytime further.
4. You can't trust anybody during the whole season.
5. That's the opposite of friendship.

Spoiler for season 9

Spoiler

I hope they make use of Chrysalis properly in Season 9. The way the premiere set up things, it could happen like I said right here and it could be awesome.

 

Edited April 6, 2019 by Sepul-Coloratura