What would be your "jumping the shark" moment?

[Doctor XFizzle 8,669]

If you're not aware, the phrase "jumping the shark" means when something ridiculously over-the-top happens in a TV show that the show begins a downward spiral and crash.

 

From Wiki: Jumping the shark is an idiom created by Jon Hein that is used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery. The phrase is also used to refer to a particular scene, episode or aspect of a show in which the writers use some type of "gimmick" in a desperate attempt to keep viewers' interest.

 

So, concerning MLP:FiM, what would be your "jumping the shark" moment that would completely turn you off to the show to stop watching?

 

For the spirit of the discussion, try to come up with a somewhat reasonable scenario

 

 

I guess for me if one of the Mane 6 is killed off or written off completely that would really test my limits, especially if it was Rarity. Or they take a brand new character and they're forcefully made a part of the Mane 6, like Scrappy Doo.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Doctor XFizzle

[silvadel 1,393]

There is practically nothing they could do to the show at this point that would make it bad enough that I wouldnt spend the 22 minutes each to watch the new episodes.

[Chigens and Kay 3,832]

If Trixie (or really any villain) somehow becomes a recurring enemy or what-have-you on the show.

 

Like Jessie and James from Team Rocket in Pokemon.

 

Or they take a brand new character and they're forcefully made a part of the Mane 6, like Scrappy Doo.

 

Or this ^

[Clarity 3,094]

Personally, it's already happening for me. Applejack being a "background pony", with the quotation marks dragging the phrase down under to the way bottom of the ocean.

 

It won't matter to other bronies, simply because AJ doesn't even leave a big impact on the show in the first place.

 

It will matter to me, though. A lot. I will simply close the window and give up on being a pegasis/brony forever. Exactly my reaction.

[NavelColt 22,880]

One of the Mane Six vanishing, being gotten rid of or otherwise no longer being a member of the Mane Six would not only throw off the feeling of the entire show, but it would be the equivalent of ripping a wheel off your van while going eighty down the interstate, fandom-wise. It's not just fans of that one character that would rage quit and cause a huge uproar, but most of the community would since it would cause such a sudden, unwanted absence inside the show's atmosphere. So yes, one of the Main Six, any of them, being written off would be one of my things.

 

Other things? If somehow Tara and all of the regular voice actors that we not only have come to love, but who have loved the community right back suddenly either quit or were somehow booted out of the show and replaced by other people.

[AegisReflector 886]

I think if they fan serviced the Brony community, it would turn me off.

 

I want the show to be original as possible without the community butting in and demanding the Mane 6 to do this or that.

[Twiliscael 3,960]

For me, it'd be if they introduced a new character into the mane six (as stated above). Nothing else wold really turn me off in terms of a "jumping the shark" moment, though other things could get me to dislike the show, such as if they began using poor writing or bad characterization.

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

I think if they started appealing to the older audience more then the real audience of the show, in a way that makes them forget the values and overall kills the awesome message that made me start loving the show. Also if they started doing fan-service to us...

[Doctor XFizzle 8,669]

Other things? If somehow Tara and all of the regular voice actors that we not only have come to love, but who have loved the community right back suddenly either quit or were somehow booted out of the show and replaced by other people.

 

I didn't even consider the VAs. That would cause a great disturbance in the force if a Mane 6 had a brand new voice. The only VA I would consider a flight risk at all if any is Ashleigh Ball seeing as she has a band.

[Starshine 16,333]

Hm... I guess there are some event, which if actually happens on the show, will drive me as far away as possible from it.

• Another previously non-existent family member that somehow both very important and in love with another important ponies that is never mentioned before. Butchering the existing fluff just for a new plot. (Everypony, let me introduce you my sister, Blueberry Pie! She is in love with Dusk Sparkle!)
• A character from Season 1 retconned out of existence (Zecora? Who's Zecora?)
• Complete make-over of a protagonist just because they want to sell a toy (Behold! A pink Twilight Sparkle!)
• An overpowered figure of god/goddesses that is not related to Celly/Lulu/Discy in any way

Someone is going to die if any of these scenario comes true

[Doctor XFizzle 8,669]

It wouldn't bother me personally but man, I would like to sit back and watch the fireworks with a big bag of popcorn if any of the Mane 6 is given a legitimate boyfriend/husband. Oh man. Cities would burn.

[Starshine 16,333]

any of the Mane 6 is given a legitimate boyfriend/husband

The worst nightmare of all fanfic writers and shippers...

 

In just one episode, almost every fanon and headcanon retconned out of existence

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

1. If most of the original voice actor Cast goes away (They are the best VA's ever)

 

2. Discord making a re-appearance

 

3. The show getting less focused on the mane 6 (It would be good to not show them every now and then but only sparingly)

 

4. Over-the-top villains with lackluster back stories and reasons as to why they are "evil" (Although i would like a antagonist to just be a dick like Gilda, Trixie, and Flim&Flam)

Edited September 29, 2012 by ~Chaotic Harmony~

[Radiance64 7,053]

I don't know what that moment would be, but whatever it is I really, really hope it never happens, I don't think my heart could take it.

I guess it would be something like if the show declined in quality like Spongebob did, that would suck.

 

Or they take a brand new character and they're forcefully made a part of the Mane 6, like Scrappy Doo.[/size]

 

Like Spike?

HEYO!

[Doctor XFizzle 8,669]

Like Spike?

HEYO!

 

D: But Spike is awesome. I wouldn't mind that actually since he's already a well-established character. If he gets his own Element of Harmony, okay now you're getting a little too crazy, but I'd like to see more Spike interaction with ponies not named Rarity and Twilight Sparkle.

[Yellow Diamond 7,569]

Hm... I guess there are some event, which if actually happens on the show, will drive me as far away as possible from it.

• Another previously non-existent family member that somehow both very important and in love with another important ponies that is never mentioned before. Butchering the existing fluff just for a new plot. (Everypony, let me introduce you my sister, Blueberry Pie! She is in love with Dusk Sparkle!)

Uh, Peter...

 

 

Seriously though, didn't Shining Armor and Cadance skate along the edge of this pitfall? I always had the feeling there was a bit of lampshade hanging (i.e., acknowledging that a trope has been invoked) with respect to the two of them, but the fact that Twilight did have an older brother blindsided a bunch of fans. The writers managed to avoid catastrophe by producing a fantastic season finale. Given the whole Crystal Empire business in season three, though, it seems as if Cadance and Shining Armor will have expanded roles.

 

Touching on some other points briefly:

 

-If the Mane Six were somehow reconfigured, I would be extremely wary. I doubt it would work.

 

-I don't consider romances for the Mane Six to be inherently troublesome.

 

-Changing voice actors would be a crime---unless the replacements just so happened to be ready to fill the (horse)shoes of their predecessors---but I hesitate to describe that as a jump the shark moment. Generally speaking, jump the shark refers to altering an element of a show in or emplying a gimmick in order to gain more viewers. Aside from the overwhelming negative response and subsequent Joel vs. Mike-esque arguments that would likely crop up, I don't see how replacing the voice actors would attract a wider audience.

 

-Upon consideration, I think altering the art style would likely result in disaster.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Captain Equestria

[NavelColt 22,880]

2. Discord making a re-appearance

 

 

 

 

It wouldn't bother me personally but man, I would like to sit back and watch the fireworks with a big bag of popcorn if any of the Mane 6 is given a legitimate boyfriend/husband. Oh man. Cities would burn.

 

This is a good one. When that rumor of Dash getting a boyfriend in Season 3 went around, it alone caused a ton of heads to turn. Some people were actually intrigued but most people were very hateful of the idea. I can only imagine how much that butthurt would explode once rumor became fact, through the colorful quines on the actual show.

Edited September 29, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

D: But Spike is awesome. I wouldn't mind that actually since he's already a well-established character. If he gets his own Element of Harmony, okay now you're getting a little too crazy, but I'd like to see more Spike interaction with ponies not named Rarity and Twilight Sparkle.

 

I agree i would be most interested in seeing him go along with the Cutie Mark Crusaders in one of their adventures or something.

I find Spike to be sorta lazy so maybe a Spike & Applejack episode would do maybe.

[Radiance64 7,053]

 

 

D: But Spike is awesome. I wouldn't mind that actually since he's already a well-established character. If he gets his own Element of Harmony, okay now you're getting a little too crazy, but I'd like to see more Spike interaction with ponies not named Rarity and Twilight Sparkle.

 

I know he is, only joking or am I.

Anyway, I would like to see him interact with the other characters more too, especially Fluttershy and Applejack, they haven't had too many moments with him yet.

[Ezio Auditore 702]

I wouldn't want any kind of death, or for them to cater too much for our community. Putting some elements of our community (like derpy) is good but it can be overused.

[Nas 2,873]

-Completely attempt to replicate the cast of VAs

-wring out the plot ideas dry

-introduce new and utterly stupid characters

-turn it into that one show where nothing makes any sense

-crap-ify the animation quality into vomit-inducing amateur work

-give more-than obvious references to movies no one has even heard of

-add in awkward moments that would never happen IRL

-over use an idiotic joke

-attempt to be funny but instead unfunny

 

 

Pretty much what every other cartoon is nowadays.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

More random alicorns

More random family members( that don't belong to AJ, Fluttershy, scootaloo or dash)

Removal/ flanderization of one of the mane 6

Adding another member to the mane 6

Trixie returns for more than 1 episode/ two parter

And if it's anything like the last one, letting merriweather Williams write another dash episode.

[Hat988 108]

Making the characters too simple and less relatable. I think the term is 'flanderisation'. I can already see the show Twilight becoming more like most people's interpretations of her (mostly in fanfics) where she is condescending to those who don't know what she knows. Maybe it's just me being paranoid though.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Hat988

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

Besides you cliche move of eliminating one of the main characters (which I'm sure wouldn't happen through death in this show), or replacing one of the voice actresses, there probably isn't much that would turn me off from it.

 

 

And I prefer to think of Fonzie jumping trash cans rather than somebody jumping sharks.

[Vy'drach 133]

It wouldn't bother me personally but man, I would like to sit back and watch the fireworks with a big bag of popcorn if any of the Mane 6 is given a legitimate boyfriend/husband. Oh man. Cities would burn.

 

They already foreshadowed something like this with the Love is in Bloom song, with Spike and Sweetie Belle, Dash and Soarin, and Rarity with Fancy Pants.

 

With the exception of maybe Spike and Sweetie Belle, it looked like implying. Personally, because of The Secret of my Excess, I'm still rooting for Spike and Rarity.

 

And with all this death talk, it may be off topic, but I'd like them to officially state in the show that AJ's parents are dead (Faust already said that they are, somewhere. I remember that, but they didn't officially state it in the show due to the younger viewers, but in the Perfect Stallion song, there's a pony funeral so it's still possible).

 

 

Oh, I forgot to mention what mine would be. Scootaloo turning out to be related to Dash, unless it's through some amazing story telling. But if it's just, "Hey, turns out Scootaloo is your second cousin," that'd just be too forced.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Vy'drach