an old guy writes about the pony show

[Ishmael 30]

Apologies in advance if this isn't the appropriate place for this post, but I thought it was too long for the welcome forum.

I'm a straight white guy in my early 50s who really appreciates Friendship is Magic. I dimly remember my younger sister watching the original 1980s show, which aired when I was in high school. The original disgusted me like most of the era's TV animation did--same as Lauren Faust, apparently. Weak filmcraft, cheap animation, and just execrable writing. My love of things like Bambi (and its alter-ego Allegro Non Troppo) jarred against the Saturday morning and weekday afternoon animated dreck otherwise available. Animation could be so much more, and I didn't understand why so much of it was just so bad. If you're old enough, you might remember the Spike and Mike's animation festival shows, which proved animation could be serious art. (I think Spike and Mike was the vanguard of serious animation's return in the early 1990s--Spike and Mike preceded Disney finding itself again then, and The Simpsons brought great animation to TV.)

I heard about bronies sometime in 2011 or 2012. I was recently divorced, spending a lot of time with my cat and Netflix's then-new streaming. FiM's fantasy elements, generally smart writing and directing (the first season is a little bumpy, but the show really found itself by season's end), and seeing Flash used to make something with a sophisticated aesthetic won me over. I greatly appreciated all the major players being strong female characters, and delighted in all the allusions to more grown-up/serious film and literature. Fantastic music, from the big setpieces to the working incidental music. I appreciated how the show respected its audience's intelligence--while the show is occasionally didactic and on-the-nose, it never talks down to kids. Such a smart, cultured show, and for kids! 

Finding the show in my early 40s provided a welcome sense of wonder and release. Watching brought back golden memories of rushing home from school to watch cartoons, or being in my twenties and falling into The Simpsons or Liquid Television once a week. Aside from these feelings, and the sense of guilty pleasure, I don't remember much else when I first got into the show...fifteen years ago now. The 'Bab's Seed' musical sequence stuck with me--there's an example of 'sound being half the picture'. Then life got busy, and I stopped watching. (Maybe I'd just watched all there was at the time, then forgot about it? I don't remember.)

I had a stroke a year ago. Nothing like waking up in the neuro ICU to clarify things. (I've recovered from the stroke completely. I have some other serious ongoing issues, but they are in remission almost all the time now.)   

Maybe it was the stroke, or serious challenges my partner faced, or the 2024 holidays being positive and happy after really rough holidays several years prior--I really don't know how or why, but I found Friendship is Magic again this year. It's been the gift I didn't know I needed. Tirelessly positive (a little treacle-y sometimes), with strong characters who act at the top of their intelligence, working their way through interesting stories and complications. It is a kid's show, so the resolutions tend to be pat and simplistic, but I respect the choices made given the limitations the show was likely commanded to work under. 

There's so much to like and talk about. Allusions to serious literature and film, and even not-so-serious allusions, like the three Big Liebowski characters recurring in the background before they get a hilarious speaking part. The characterizations have depth and resonance; characters remember what's happened to them and to others, and they grow instead of remaining static. The actor's performances are delicious, full of warmth and heart. The cinematography is really that: depth and framing, clear lines of action, with (usually) good blocking make relationships clear, and help drive the story. Some of the set design gets a little too cute for me, but it works in the show, and it's not a show for guys in their 40s or 50s....

Characterization is what really keeps me coming back. I like most of the characters, and even the heavies have a depth surprising in a kid's show. The Mane Six tend to bump up against kid-show limitations as the series goes on, but the writing generally allows them space to be most themselves. And the actors portraying them take them seriously and never phone it in. John de Lancie just dazzles as Discord. Rarity as the Zsa Zsa Gabor scenery-chewing self-absorbed high-society aspirant who is ultimately good-hearted really speaks to me. 

What's driven me to write all this for strangers is realizing I'm coming to the end. I watched the first few episodes of season nine and realized that when I'd watched them all, I'd feel profoundly sad. I felt the same with Bojack Horesman--the story needed to end, and the ending was exquisite, but I'm sad there's no more Bojack. Same as with Breaking Bad, or Better Call Saul. Excellent storytelling that knew when to stop, and even though ending was the right choice, you're still sad about it.

So I stopped, went back and rewatched some favorites, then committed and began from the beginning. I've reached the second season and am even more taken with the animation's richness, the performances, and the music. It's a little strange, being into something that ended six years ago now. As other threads observe, so much has ended, closed down, gone offline. I don't hear people say 'everypony' like I used to, and the word's appearance in work chats has gradually dwindled, and is now gone. Youtube now suggests fan-made videos and tributes whose joi de vivre, or sadness, really get me. So many are so, so good, and made by just a few people. It feels a little like going through old boxes in the basement, finding treasures a former you valued so highly. 

I'd presume many here grew up with the show. Writing this reveals I have too--first with the second-adolescence of divorce, and then these last months breathing again after being assured the stroke is over. I'm grateful for what the show's given me, even though I know it's something I need to move on from. But what a pleasure it is to inhabit this colorful little world of boldly-outlined characters for a little while--to be in this place of utter goodness in a world that so isn't. 

I just wanted to talk to somebody about this little haven besides my therapist. 

[rottenpawzies 133]

that's really nice!! glad mlp cheers you up,never be embarassed of your interests!! its who you are

[TheTrueMelissa 48]

I'm also in my 50s, though I'm a woman. I watched the show with my son when it was new, and I'm rewatching it now. 

As I revisit the fandom, I'm finding less volume but more quality. There's much less fanfic being posted to fimfiction.net, for instance, but most of it is at least decent. In the old days, the stuff worth reading was hard to find in all the crap. The discussion right here, too, is fairly thoughtful. People think about what they're saying, and they post analyses and critical essays instead of just quips and quick takes.

[Longhaul 8,055]

FiM, in my opinion, is a show that transcends age.  I, too, am in my 50s and I love the show.  I started watching it around the midway point of Season 2, and was quickly drawn in by the storytelling, the animation quality, and the humor.  I admit I haven't watched it much lately, but now that I'm gaining some free time I plan to revisit those episodes that I truly enjoyed and, while not so much as try to rekindle the original feelings from the initial viewing, just watch and smile and try to forget about things for at least a little while.

[Ishmael 30]

Thanks for the replies. It's nice to know there are others out there still appreciating the show. Having watched it with your kids must add another layer, hopefully of positive memories.

I suppose at this point the show is entering a long-term slow simmer, like the original Star Trek through the 70s. If FiM was in constant rerun rotation like Star Trek was, I'm guessing it would garner a constant, modest inflow of new fans. But with that TV syndication mechanism gone, it's hard to say. It's certainly easier to find and watch whatever and whenever you want, but you have to know about the show, and how to find it.

An aside: I used headphones last night and rewatched the first season Grand Gala finale. The detail in the sound design and especially the big musical setpieces is something else. Voices in the big tunes I didn't hear before add even more richness. Those Technicolor ponies really have some pipes.

[NorthProductions 9]

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, but I really wished that I found 
MLPforums years ago. Because everyone is just so lovely. Nowadays-especially on YouTube-you often find people who watch MLP really cynical. I’m not sure if it’s because of the pandemic, or G5 splitting the fandom in half, but here, it feels like people actually do the whole love and tolerance thing, which to me, is really reassuring 

[Ishmael 30]

Interesting that Youtube people are cynical. Aside from some fan-made things, everything is labeled as kid's programming, and comments are turned off. 

Took me a while to realize fan videos have profanity or other material added so that comments are possible. 

Grateful to find a few people here to talk about this kid's show that appeals to us so. Some of the fan videos have a much greater emotional impact than I'd guess before watching them.

[Midnight Insight 335]

On 2025-06-19 at 8:11 PM, Ishmael said:

So I stopped, went back and rewatched some favorites, then committed and began from the beginning. I've reached the second season and am even more taken with the animation's richness, the performances, and the music. It's a little strange, being into something that ended six years ago now. As other threads observe, so much has ended, closed down, gone offline. I don't hear people say 'everypony' like I used to, and the word's appearance in work chats has gradually dwindled, and is now gone. Youtube now suggests fan-made videos and tributes whose joi de vivre, or sadness, really get me. So many are so, so good, and made by just a few people. It feels a little like going through old boxes in the basement, finding treasures a former you valued so highly. 

I'd presume many here grew up with the show. Writing this reveals I have too--first with the second-adolescence of divorce, and then these last months breathing again after being assured the stroke is over. I'm grateful for what the show's given me, even though I know it's something I need to move on from. But what a pleasure it is to inhabit this colorful little world of boldly-outlined characters for a little while--to be in this place of utter goodness in a world that so isn't. 

I totally understand that feeling... The feeling of arriving at the party when the lights are out and almost everyone has already gone, It's kind of bittersweet... But It's also true that the talks after a party, when everyting gets calm, those talks are the best imo.

I'm in my mid twenties, and sometimes I ask myself why I enjoy a show like this so much, it's not like I grew up with the show, sometimes I feel kind of guilty for enjoying it.

This show manages to find us just in the moment we need it. I was also living many changes in my life when it arrived to my life half a year ago.

On 2025-06-19 at 8:11 PM, Ishmael said:

I watched the first few episodes of season nine and realized that when I'd watched them all, I'd feel profoundly sad.

Yeah! and so it was for me, tears flowed like a river! 

 

I'm truly glad you shared your experience, really cheered me up and made me feel more understood. Thanks 

[Ishmael 30]

1 hour ago, Midnight Insight said:

I totally understand that feeling... The feeling of arriving at the party when the lights are out and almost everyone has already gone, It's kind of bittersweet... But It's also true that the talks after a party, when everyting gets calm, those talks are the best imo.

I'm in my mid twenties, and sometimes I ask myself why I enjoy a show like this so much, it's not like I grew up with the show, sometimes I feel kind of guilty for enjoying it.

This show manages to find us just in the moment we need it. I was also living many changes in my life when it arrived to my life half a year ago.

Yeah! and so it was for me, tears flowed like a river! 

 

I'm truly glad you shared your experience, really cheered me up and made me feel more understood. Thanks 

Thanks for the kind words and sharing your own experience with the show. It's interesting that you could have grown up with the show, but it passed you by for some reason. Maybe it's better this way for the reasons you said. With the hype having died down, you can appreciate it for what it is. And if you're going to have a guilty pleasure, this seems like a pretty benign one. :) 

I'm just into season 4 now. Just taking my time and savoring them, really sitting with them. I had the thought recently in terms of the OG Star Trek I grew up with--I thought I'd seen every Star Trek episode a dozen times, but it's likely I only saw every episode just once, and a handful of favorites just a handful of times. I think it was seventh grade when I spent my kid savings on VHS tapes, and my parents let me stay up late to tape them off TV. (That was 1982!) I kept those tapes for decades, but I never watched them. After I'd seen them all, and gone through the effort of recording them, I just lost interest. So that informs my paying attention and really sitting with FiM. Maybe I'll watch them again someday, but I sense it's time to move on. There's so much great stuff to read and watch. 

Happy to share and glad to know it helped you. Forums like this were what the internet was 25 (!) years ago, and what it was meant to be. I'm glad there are still little sanctuaries of humanity like this one that will hopefully regenerate something real, someday.

 

Edited July 10 by Ishmael

[Midnight Insight 335]

On 2025-07-11 at 12:35 AM, Ishmael said:

And if you're going to have a guilty pleasure, this seems like a pretty benign one.

You're right, it's not a harmful one!

On 2025-07-11 at 12:35 AM, Ishmael said:

I thought I'd seen every Star Trek episode a dozen times, but it's likely I only saw every episode just once, and a handful of favorites just a handful of times.

When you're a kid, the blink of an eye can seem to last forever, making you think you saw it many more times.

On 2025-07-11 at 12:35 AM, Ishmael said:

After I'd seen them all, and gone through the effort of recording them, I just lost interest

Totally, it happened the same to me but with DVDs 

On 2025-07-11 at 12:35 AM, Ishmael said:

Forums like this were what the internet was 25 (!) years ago, and what it was meant to be. I'm glad there are still little sanctuaries of humanity like this one that will hopefully regenerate something real, someday.

I couldn't have said it better, and for me, your story is a piece of that "something real" I was looking for when I arrived here. So thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a nice time watching season 4! 

[TheTrueMelissa 48]

On 2025-07-10 at 2:16 PM, Midnight Insight said:

I totally understand that feeling... The feeling of arriving at the party when the lights are out and almost everyone has already gone, It's kind of bittersweet... But It's also true that the talks after a party, when everyting gets calm, those talks are the best imo.

That's so true. When I dip into the middle of those gigantic threads from the old days, a lot of the posts are pretty fluffy. Today, everyone still talking has something to say.

[Ishmael 30]

4 hours ago, Midnight Insight said:

You're right, it's not a harmful one!

When you're a kid, the blink of an eye can seem to last forever, making you think you saw it many more times.

Totally, it happened the same to me but with DVDs 

I couldn't have said it better, and for me, your story is a piece of that "something real" I was looking for when I arrived here. So thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a nice time watching season 4! 

Just curious if you were watching the original 1960s Star Trek or the late 80s-90s Next Generation. If the latter, glad you had the DVDs. Paramount spent a lot re-posting the entire series, thinking they'd be a sure thing, but hardly anybody bought the DVDs. 

Glad to make this part of something real. I've rewatched a few favorite FiM episodes too many times, and they're edging into rerun-stale. Enjoying season 4 and onward with knowing it'll be a long time before I see them again, if ever. Still, it's been nice to connect with a few people on a serious level...about a kid's pastel pony show.