Is MLP staff learning their lesson from last season for season 3?

[windy_prance 114]

In the first season, MLP sprinkled foreshadowing of the finale by mentioning the Grand Galloping Gala throughout the season. (Ticket Master episode, Rarity making their dresses, etc.)

 

However in the season 2 finale, the main thing most fans pointed out is that there was NO foreshadowing of the finale's several key elements throughout the season. (Existence of Twilight's brother, existence of another ailcorn, the wedding, etc.) We felt blindsided and confused.

 

However so far in this season, we have the mentioning of not one but TWO kingdoms (Crystal Kingdom and Saddle Arabia) as well as a scene where Celestia and Luna discussing the new tests for Twilight. Also the Saddle Arabians were just a cameo so far and they didn't flesh out the detail of that yet.

 

Is this an effort from the staff to show foreshadowing for this season or are these elements never going to be brought up again?

[PonyPowaX1000 69]

However so far in this season, we have the mentioning of not one but TWO kingdoms (Crystal Kingdom and Saddle Arabia) as well as a scene where Celestia and Luna discussing the new tests for Twilight

 

 

Um who said Saddle Arabia is kingdom?   Crystal Empire is not really 'great' (meaning size and importance) to be Kingdom

 

By the way I case you didn't know Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were last minute characters meant for the season finale

[khaine21x3 789]

Um who said Saddle Arabia is kingdom?   Crystal Empire is not really 'great' (meaning size and importance) to be Kingdom

 

By the way I case you didn't know Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were last minute characters meant for the season finale

 

Would be interesting if the crystal empire turned into a democracy since their king has been banished or killed in ep2.A 40 min season finale with that takes place in saddle Arabia that looks like medieval times Ottoman Empire would be cool.

[Jadefire 2,797]

I heard a rumor that the two-parter with Discord was orginally going to be the Season 1 finale instead of the Season 2 premiere. If that is true, then season 1's finale wouldn't have had a lot of foreshadowing.

 

Also, Lesson Zero set it up that other ponies other than Twilight would write the friendship reports, (which was a good idea in my opinion, giving moral lessons with other ponies' characterizations gives the writers more flexibility than if they stuck with just Twilight), which was used for the rest of the season.

 

So, in my opinion, they're mainly trying out different storytelling ideas. We'll see what the rest of season 3 has in store for us.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Actually I'm not sure that there was a lesson to learn for them. They heavily foreshadowed the Gala episode and I have heard that some fans were disappointed with it ( ironic, considering how the episode was about things not living up to your expectations). On the other hand, A Canterlot Wedding came out of nowhere and was pretty generally loved.

 

I don't know if they are foreshadowing anything so much as expanding the universe of the show, but I'm on board with whatever they are doing.

[Dusty Soul 2,612]

I think they have met a balance probably between foreshadowing and expanding on the mysteries in Equestria.  One can see they are setting up for something really big.  Season 2 didn't foreshadow the event at all, and it was a very large surprise.  The 3rd season is building up to something, they haven't told us what, but it's definitely building. I honestly think they are both foreshadowing and expanding on the mysteries in Equestria. 

[dad george 105]

I think they are doing pretty good on the story- and worldbuilding this season. I think they are building up to a pretty awesome finale.

Actually I'm not sure that there was a lesson to learn for them. They heavily foreshadowed the Gala episode and I have heard that some fans were disappointed with it ( ironic, considering how the episode was about things not living up to your expectations). On the other hand, A Canterlot Wedding came out of nowhere and was pretty generally loved.I don't know if they are foreshadowing anything so much as expanding the universe of the show, but I'm on board with whatever they are doing.

 

Hmmm... I have heard quite the contrary. From what I have heard, a lot of people actually hated A Canterlot Wedding. I enjoyed A Canterlot Wedding better, however it could have been done much better.

[Wingnut 7,003]

I don't know if it was a "lesson learned" or not.  But to have absolutely no clue that Twilight was not an only child was inexcusable.  It makes a Canterlot Wedding seem like a last minute thing.  Was there no way they could have tweaked the dialogue in another season 2 episode to make passing mention of a brother?  Maybe a line of self reflection could've been added somewhere like, "My life has changed so much since I made friends in Ponyville, but I'll never forget you big brother" while looking at a star lit sky. 

 

Also inexcusable was not having Twilight's and Shining's mom and dad at the wedding.  I can understand not wanting to commit voice actors to such fleeting roles but a cameo would've done the job just like it did in Cutie Mark Chronicles. 

[CrystalRose 636]

There is DEFINITELY something building alright, just what? I love the little things being revealed bit by bit, theorising is so much fun.

 

Also I too felt that A Canterlot Wedding felt rushed. I enjoyed the episodes, but there was no hint that Twilight had a brother, let alone that he was getting married. They could have given him a cameo in Cutie Mark Chronicles liketheir parents. Also Cadence being an Alicorn is another "wtf" moment.

 

In addition to this, having the build up to the finale like in season 1 gave the series a feeling of continuity. It felt like there was a timeline between the episodes, wheras season 2 felt a little like a random collection of events that had no relation to each other.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

Well, I wasn't caught completely off guard when I watched the S2 finale with the introduction of all the new characters. But I guess it's cool if they use the new areas/characters they show in the earlier season for the finale.