Losing Interest in MLP

[LeafFerret 3,382]

34 minutes ago, Steve Piranha said:

Actually, I'm even more interested in ponies this season, after the divisive previous two seasons. Things got a bit back on tract in the second half of both, and they were a but meh during the first half, but this season, only two episodes have been mediocre 

Which is weird considering that, in my opinion, this season has been FiM's strongest point in years

Been there, but it's natural. If it's temporally or permanent, I'd advice to stay away and see if you recover your interest or not. Forcing to follow something if you lack interest ain't healthy  

Maybe Megan McCarthy will return for S8 now that she's finished with the movie

I think the show is at it's best in years. Maybe the fandom is making fell otherwise because they still have the bitter taste of the previous seasons and lost their expectations  

In your defense though, I don't see any interesting merchandise around  

Well, if the known synopsis are to go by, the Mane6 are getting less spotlight than before, as there are more Starlight and cuties episodes than before. It may also help that they've found a winning formula for Starlight: interacting with characters outside the Mane6  

I think the S4 Finale kind of hurt the show's reputation, what would've been one of the show's great seasons was ruined by a mediocre finale because the show decided to go back to it old ways and having to rely on the Mane 6 and some magic to defeat a villain, I mean, really, during the prime years of the show?  Season 5 didn't help the show get any better and while S6 had some good episodes here and there, it was still much like Season 5, hopefully this season, the writers decide to do away with the past and help the show recover from that disaster.

Edited June 15, 2017 by AJFan89

[Megas 27,625]

42 minutes ago, Steve Piranha said:

 

Well, if the known synopsis are to go by, the Mane6 are getting less spotlight than before, as there are more Starlight and cuties episodes than before. It may also help that they've found a winning formula for Starlight: interacting with characters outside the Mane6  

Starlight has barely done anything with the mane 6 not named Twilight as is. If anything they need her to do more with those 5

[StormBlaze 992]

my partner is in the same boat. I think mainly becuase S6 had been such a disappointment in wirting quality compared to previous seasons. The excitment and magic feels like its gone. The premiere was awful with no hype or anything really remotly exciting and even though we got Chryssi back at the finale, it was very much anti climatic compared to Twilight's fight with Tireck or seeing the Crystal War in S5's. 

I think the shift in focus on Starlight as the new Twilight Sparkle has had an effect on it too. They've all been very mediocre episodes since she became a part of the mane 6, she doesnt have the same silly innocence as Twilight does. Lesson Zero being the main one to show Twilight's true student mode. 

Out here in the UK im seeing the hype die down due to lack of brony events and cons in the country. (we only have 2 now at the same time of the year) 

[Stickman, The Legend 303]

I haven't been losing interest at all.

[SCS 7,537]

No, I love the show more than ever. I became a fan of the show back when season 1 hadn't yet finished airing. If I remember correctly, this was in the summer vacation before I began 9th grade. I graduated from high school several years ago now, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been a precious part of my life the entire time. I will never stop loving the show and I never lose interest in it at all. I love it more every season and my interest only continues to grow more. 

There are many things I enjoy, participate in, play, read, and so on that doesn't involve MLP, so I'm not always heavily focused on the show for extended periods of time. However, that's just because I enjoy variety in what I do. I never even remotely lose interest in the show and I always make time for MLP.

[K.Rool Addict 718]

On June 14, 2017 at 10:14 PM, VG_Addict said:

Anyone else not as into the show as they were when they started? I've been slowly losing interest in the show since S6.

Only times I lose interest is when I watch ponies TOO MUCH. Like, sometimes I'll try to marathon all the seasons before starting the latest (not a good idea xD). It tends to burn me out on ponies. Season 6 set up such an interesting new direction; I am quite frankly very excited for season 7. Of course, I have yet to watch any eps of S7 yet, so I cannot judge the quality of the episodes thus far. I would assume watching disappointing episodes in a slow trickle every week would be quite the enthusiasm inhibitor o,o

I remember I sorta lost interest a little after season 3, since the wait was super duper long and I was busy with lots of University work. But after marathoning the entirety of Season 4 all at once, my interest came back like a monsoon \(^o^)/

[Jeric 46,851]

15 hours ago, BronyNumber42 said:

My hypothesis is if someone starts watching as a kid then they grow out of it, but someone who starts as an adult will stay with it. 6 years is a long time if you are young but it is not when you are old. 

I also notice that people who complain about the show over analyze it. 

I once thought this as well, minus the nostalgic boomarang that occurs in adulthood. Though one oddity in my life made me realize that it wasn't the case -- at least as a absolute. 

People on here that talk to me often know I have two teenage kids that are now 16 and 17. For those out there keeping score, they were 9 and 10. That 9 year old wasn't even allowed on MLPF when I joined. They were watching this show when it first aired, and haven't grown out of it.

During this time I've seen a Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, creepypasta, Adventure Time, and countless other tastes come and go. Yeah @Iggy and @Starry Aurora ... I just outed you as Hannah Montana fans. (I am so dead if they ever log in again). 

I've also seen them keep some properties close to their heart. Pony, Black Butler, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and countless Broadway musicals ... all of which seem to have staying power. 

I then think back to my own childhood. I'm 40. I may have left some old favorites behind, but there are countless that have stayed with me from go. And when 'go' is around the time of your earliest memories ... wow. If you want an idea of me, watch The Black Nerd. I can (and have) had hours long conversations about Star Wars, the Disney Afternoon, Star Trek, TMNT, Robotech, and comic book heroes. Right now I'm in a discord group that can't get me to shut up about DuckTales. There are also shows I loved that I walked away from almost forgotten. House and Grey's Anatomy are two shows like that. My interest just ... waned. 

But the other shows I mentioned, none of them have ever left my vision. Some like Trek and Who seem to have seasons. I go through bursts of fandom activity and content consumption. So, what's my point? I think its a little more complicated. I think it just depends on the person. 

For VG ... FiM could be a Grey's Anatomy, where he leaves it be because it no longer interests him and he won't return. Or it could be a Trek where he steps away and finds himself coming back every so often. It just ... depends ... 

[CheeryFox 23,821]

23 hours ago, Fluttershy Friend said:

 

Generally yes, I prefer to watch previous episodes, for example for the fifth time than new ones. I think that the best episodes of the series are already behind. It is probably quite normal situation. "But the overall show is still really good," as Stormfury wrote.  And I will never stop liking MLP show.

Hear, hear! A show can't stay great forever--but if it's still really good, it's worth watching time in and time out.

[Fluttershy Friend 25,446]

 

Just now, Stormfury said:

Hear, hear! A show can't stay great forever--but if it's still really good, it's worth watching time in and time out.

So I wrote: "It is probably quite normal situation."I watch new episodes. Some are even pretty good. Even better than some worst episodes older.In general, however, I prefer what was already.

 

[Steve Piranha 29,424]

50 minutes ago, SCS said:

No, I love the show more than ever. I became a fan of the show back when season 1 hadn't yet finished airing. If I remember correctly, this was in the summer vacation before I began 9th grade. I graduated from high school several years ago now, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been a precious part of my life the entire time. I will never stop loving the show and I never lose interest in it at all. I love it more every season and my interest only continues to grow more. 

There are many things I enjoy, participate in, play, read, and so on that doesn't involve MLP, so I'm not always heavily focused on the show for extended periods of time. However, that's just because I enjoy variety in what I do. I never even remotely lose interest in the show and I always make time for MLP.

My only regret is that I've missed the high point of the fandom, but the show.... I'll love it forever, it was a tiny little dark in oblivion, but it reached it's peak here:

Goodness, those were the best happy tears I've shed 

I have been following these horses since then . 

Glad to meet a fandom veteran, it's a honor 

[BlueBrony 388]

overall Im not as interested in the show as I used to be. It could be that I have changed as a person. When I had my own place, I used to host watch parties with some local brony friends on saturday mornings, which made the whole experience super fun. Now, I'm living with my parents, and my brony friends live all over the place now, and I have noticed my enthusiasm has dropped. I still like it (mostly) and every once in a while an episode will come out that I absolutely love, but the genre-bending, expectation-subverting part of the show seems to be dissipating, and I still prefer sunset shimmer as the redemption character and I wish she could come into the show, thought I have grown to like some things about starlight glimmer as well. I miss the season long arcs with a super villain that sticks around for longer than one episode and the epic action.

[Brony Number 42 10,069]

Maybe a gritty, live action movie will revitalize your interest...... Ha yeah right. I hope Micheal Bay isn't listening.

[Conred 274]

If Hasbro won't think of something fresh other than introducing another reformed villain, then not only old fans might lose interest in this show. I honestly can't give it more than two more seasons before cancelation.

[Hierok 11,831]

I haven't got problems with the show so far, but I am only watching since october 2015, while some of you guys have been watching since 2011 or 2012. I wouldn't suprise me if I lose a little interest over years and I think I have already.

When I began to watch, I was thinking all days about it and only wanted to watch when I was home. 

But now, not so much. But it is still great!

Edited June 16, 2017 by Hierok
Bunny!!!

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

I haven't lost interest in the show. It's still the only animated series I care about and I'll love it the same until the end. I always make sure to catch up on episodes, and I love season 7 so far. and am very excited for the MLP movie. I am less interested in the fandom, however. There's probably a lot of reasons, but mainly I'm just a lot busier with life and sadly don't have the time to get into it like I did back in 2013. I'll always check for pony news and stop by the forums whenever I can though.

[Salty Sweetness 203]

On 6/16/2017 at 0:04 AM, Jeric said:

During this time I've seen a Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, creepypasta, Adventure Time, and countless other tastes come and go. Yeah @Iggy and @Starry Aurora ... I just outed you as Hannah Montana fans. (I am so dead if they ever log in again). 

 

Since when was I a fan of creepypasta? 

 

[Chuckles4lyfe 441]

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all doing well and are looking forward to the movie in a couple of weeks! It's definitely been a while since I posted on the forums here. There is something that I have been meaning to get off my chest these past couple of months. After the midseason break, I have been unable to get myself to watch new episodes of My Little Pony. This has never happened to me before. I began watching MLP back in 2012, and would always catch new episodes the Saturday it came out. I never missed an episode of Season 3, 4, 5, 6, and the 1st half of season 7.

The last episode that I watched was episode 10 (A Royal Problem) and I enjoyed it immensely! I loved Starlight, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna in that episode. Glimmy has even overtaken Rainbow Dash as my all time favorite character in the entire show! Yet for some reason, I seemed to have lost that excitement I used to get when viewing a new episode. Don't get me wrong, I still love FIM. I have posters, plushies, t-shirts, music, you name it. I used to look forward to viewing new episodes of Pony as soon as the weekend hit. I don't want to get to the point where I look at it as another task I need to do to check off my "to-do list" for the day. I haven't reached that point yet, but I feel it approaching quickly. 

I have been in the fandom for nearly 5 1/2 years. Maybe a part of it is due to fatigue and just "growing out" of the series. This is where you guys come in. Has anyone experienced something similar to this before? How have you guys stayed engaged and excited over all of these years? Any tips and advice you guys are willing to share, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Midnight Seashell 206]

Maybe reading fan works on deviantart could help.Some good fan comics are by Mauroz, Pia-sama's rogue diamond and Timey wimey.Or take a break from mlp.

Edited September 25, 2017 by Midnight Seashell

[Clod 8,294]

When this happened to me, I found other things to watch and took a break from MLP. After a while I decided to start watching the episodes I missed and I came back to the forums.

You've been a fan since 2012. You can't do something all the time for 5 years and not get tired of it or take a break (well, some people do somehow).

[ShootingStar159 2,156]

I got tired of the show back in the middle of season four, there was a long line of episodes I didn't much enjoy, and I wasn't happy with how they were using Twilight, so I just stopped watching. I recently got back into the show, and I am enjoying it more now than I did before. Sometimes it's a good idea to take a break from something, you can always come back later to see how things are going.

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

No one act like commissar and put a gun to your head, just take a break if you like.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

I haven't even seen season 7 yet (and I only watched 6 about a month ago when I had a free trial of Amazon Prime.) It's very much a case of I'll watch it as and when I both feel like it and it's (legally) available - if it doesn't meet one of the criteria, I don't watch it. I don't view it as a 'break' so much as being free from the mentality that a true fan watches all of the episodes immediately*. 

As to what you can do to get more enthused about watching Pony - well, the fanfiction idea is pretty good. I'd put Fallout Equestria and Days of Wasp and Spider as two really engaging stories, whilst Hard Reset is rather good and its sequels are weird in a really good way (and I burst into tears during the 'after-credits chapter' of the final one.) There's a lot of really good fan art around as well - NCMares was the artist that really brought my attention to MLP as something other than a show for little girls, and possibly the one responsible for associating it, in my mind, with really weird crossovers and settings (Ponyhammer 40K? KanPonne? Night Mares? True madness... true brilliant madness.) 

 

*as long as you don't mind spoilers - and it's not like MLP has many (if any) huge surprises in the way that, say, Game of Thrones does^

^

Spoiler

Though who *really* expected Sean Bean to survive?

 

[Sir Hugsalot 9,348]

Only one - don't.

It happens that we get bored or tired of something that once we were very interested in. Sometimes a break is necesarry and moving on to other stuff. I got bored with the show myself and I can say it is not related to growing up. It just happens. Also getting bored with show doesn't mean You have to leave Your brony friends behind. I haven't watched it for over a year and I am still here ^^ 

Forcing Yourself to like the show again won't help, quite the contrary, it will increase fatigue caused by watching something You can't appreciate and enjoy. You may actually gain interest in it back in the future, but let it be natural. In the meantime You can enjoy hundreds of other shows availible that will entertain You just as much as MLP has ^^ 

2 hours ago, Lambdadelta said:

No one act like commissar and put a gun to your head, just take a break if you like.

*hides his gun awkwardly* That statement is so true! 

[Bendy 1,821]

Honesty, I like fan fiction more than the show. I still like the show, but fan fiction 'can' deal with more mature themes.

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

Er, nope. I have never really had that problem, yeah, some weeks I am not really excited for the next episode but that all depends on what it is. Overall I am still more excited for MLP than anything else. I got overly excited from "cool scenes" because MLP has retained it's quality is still my favorite show.

I would suggest taking a break from the show, maybe try analyzing and looking for deeper themes in episodes. I do that, I also power scale characters, I don't need to do these things, but it makes certain scenes more interesting.