Does anypony even like the old generations?

[Derpular 90]

Yay! That's what I see, too. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!

My Little Pony forever, no matter what!
I love your signature, also, by the way.

[poniesforfun 716]

I found the G1 series reasonable at the time, with some issues that prevented them from being 'excellent'. The pacing was awful (and honestly Season 3 of FiM reminds me a *lot* of G1 with it's pacing), and the treatment of the human characters felt too much like the Messiah stereotype where the ponies are often incapable of solving their own issues and have to run to the human to fix everything for them.

 

That's probably because they want it to relate more to the viewers that they are the heroes. And G1 is ok in my book. It seems G4 takes a lot of the adventuring formula from there as well as monsters which the other Gs lack. I'm sure Lauren Faust grew up watching and learning more from G1 than the other ones.

Edited February 23, 2013 by poniesforfun

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

The G1 series was actually not that bad.

 

But when it came to G3, I couldn't stand it, because there was hardly no plot and it seemed like it was all a utopian society. Plus, (this next one gets me annoyed to the max), the fact that some of the names of the ponies don't even go with their personalities. When I heard the name "Rainbow Dash", for the first time, I was expecting to see a pony who loves sports and the like. But in G3, she is completely opposite. She's like G4 Rarity, all about the fashion and stuff. But, honestly, that was the most girly generation of mlp. 

[Cosmic Charlie 129]

I grew up in the 90's playing with Hot Wheels and GI Joe and making them have ninja explosion fights and other stuff like that, having stick swordfights with my friends in the yard. The cartoons I watched were stuff like Batman and SWAT Kats (GUITAR SOLO!) so you could say I was definitely not into MLP. I could've gone to my grave thinking MLP was mindless fluff. Even though I was 20 when G4 premiered, I had to wrestle with my preconceptions when I watched the first episode, fully expecting it to be terrible, and discovered I actually kind of enjoyed it. I wanted to see what happened. That's how they get ya... with the cliffhanger hook, haha. It was more engaging intellectually than I expected, and the writing was believable and had a touch of self-awareness (manifested in Spike's commentary and Twilight's initial thoughts on Ponyville) that made it more welcoming. Considering I usually watch stuff dripping with cynicism like Breaking Bad and South Park, it was nice to feel genuinely happy after watching an ep. Three seasons and a whole lot of growth later, and here I am.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Since I was born in the 90s, I noticed many good cartoons like Spider-Man, Batman, and everything Nick and Cartoon Network had to offer. I've heard a lot of negative feedback towards G1 and G2 MLP, but I don't really hate G3 at all. I just find that, when your born in a older generation you try to learn the new slang of the younger generation it's like the society these days. But, I will say this without G1, G2, and G3 we would not be able to have G4. If you grew up with G3, you would like it, if you didn't then your opinion is different.

[kirbyboi 588]

Well to be honest, most people don't really like G3, and I don't really either. Mainly because this type of MLP was too girly or kiddie for my taste. But if you like it, that's fine, I'm going to hate on you or judge you for it. I understand that maybe you grew up on it. 

 

People don't like it because G3 is like the typical girly stereotypical girls show you always see. I just think it's too girly, and has no plots whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, I respect past gens, but I just didn't really like G3.

 

 I honestly just like the current one. But again, I'm not gonna hate you for it. If you like it, fine by me. It's just my personal opinion. If you like it and want to watch it, you can. 

Edited February 23, 2013 by Pixiesong

[Fhaolan 4,483]

That's probably because they want it to relate more to the viewers that they are the heroes. And G1 is ok in my book. It seems G4 takes a lot of the adventuring formula from there as well as monsters which the other Gs lack. I'm sure Lauren Faust grew up watching and learning more from G1 than the other ones.

 

Oh, that's likely the reason. I just prefer non-'damsels in distress' stories where all the characters contribute something more than being victims to be saved by a singular prophesized hero. Which is odd really, as I like the classic Doctor Who series which was *full* of the exact same issue.

 

So I can't say the earlier generations were bad, just that I feel they could have been much better in hindsight.

 

EDIT: Oh, and as a disclaimer, I'm old enough that I was technically outside the demographic for MLP when it was first released. When I *was* in that demographic, children's shows were heavily dominated by live-action stuff like HR Puffstuff and the original Land of the Lost. What cartoons were on were mostly Hanna-Barbara stuff like Atom Ant & Secret Squirrel. So I watched the original MLP as a technical adult.

Edited February 23, 2013 by Fhaolan

[MJNSEIFER 55]

To Derpular: You're welcome, and thanks about the sig, I just made it today. /)

 

To Thunder-Dash: I noticed that too, I think it was a happy accident that the G4 ponies matched their names better than their G3 counting parts - Lauren wanted to use G1 ponies, and was forced to use G3 ponies, but was allowed to give them whatever personality she liked, so she gave them fractions of the G1 ponies' personalities, albeit her interpretation of them. So they fitted better, even though I love both verisons - I may be wrong, but I think she admited to choosing Rainbow Dash, to make her live up to her name more. I like both G3 and G4 versions of the character, but the G3 version is more Rainbow than Dash. I kind of see what you mean, as much as I adore G3. Rarity is another example, the G4 version suits the name better. Fluttershy works in both versions (even though the G3 version was only a toy and never in the show at all). In G4, Fluttershy's name works because she's shy, in G3 it's obviously a pun on the word "shutterfly" which is what she is.

 

To be honest, I didn't find G3 that girly, but that may be because I've never really cared about boy stuff and girl stuff; I've just always cared about what I like, and don't like.

[RIPRIPRIP 11]

Well, since My Little Pony originally began as toys, and Hasbro was struggling to make the show better, I can agree that the show was pretty bad, but the toys were actually decent and fun. G3 was like a light, insanely sugary skim of MLP and its so bright and the characters are so unrealistic and dull its kinda sickening. Im glad that G3 is now a mere memory in terms of its TV show.

Otherwise, everything else was great. G1 was pretty good, and G2 was decent.

[MJNSEIFER 55]

No offense, but I never found the characters of G3 to be unrealistic. You're not getting confused with G3.5 are you, which was dumbed down (even though I still liked it). If not, it's okay, opinions are opinions.

[Feather Gem 967]

Noo!  I loved G3!

My Little Pony's Generation Three was practically my whole childhood.  It pretty much taught me to read and write. 

[I am Lunar Fire 198]

I personally remember seeing previous generations of the show in french on TV (I can't tell which ones) and not liking it at all. I knew obviously it was a show for little fillies but I remember seeing a few episodes, without however being a fan of it.

When I learned there was a fan base around that show I was surprised. How could adults be a fan of a show that really had nothing to interest an older audience. I understood when I watched the new show that it was completely unlike from what I had seen before. I watched the old episodes again and I saw that clear difference between G3 and G4.

 

So, to answer your question: Most bronies here do not like G3 because they were not in the target audience when it aired, and that the show can clearly displays no interest in anypony outside of said audience. I personally don't like it but I understand why you could have and maybe still do.

[MJNSEIFER 55]

By the way, if I ever sound confrontational during any of these topics, I appologise. I love every generation, so I am used to defending them all. I don't mean to force my own opinion on anyone though.

[The-Master 1,176]

 

I'm sorry, but looking back at Generation Three was literally painful to watch. I even set up a challenge amongst my friends to see who could endure the most without stopping. No one finished, and technically we all lost in the end. Watch My Little Pony all you like, but for your sake I wouldn't go parading around saying you like G3. It's like walking around Baghdad yelling you're a homosexual.

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

The way I tend to grow up is by adding new interests, not taking away the old ones, so I like a lot of things that could be considered childish. And yes, I pretty much was the target audience.

I can understand not liking it, too; FiM definitely is a lot better, show-wise. Better storylines, more developed characters... honestly, it is something a lot more people will enjoy.

 

 

I am the same way.  Before finding "Friendship is Magic," my greatest love was superheroes.  Having this new love does not diminish my love of superheroes in any way.  I love them as much as I ever did.  I just discovered that I could love something else even more.

[Buttonmash1973 1,026]

I don't think that G3 of My Little Pony is so bad.

 

I had first discovered the G3 show last year, and I also love the G1 My Little Pony.

[Millfox 28]

To be honest I've never made it through a single episode no matter how hard I tried. It's just... It burns! I vaguely remember watching G1 ponies when I was a kid but that's about it on my pre g4 interest. 

 

I wouldn't say that you're the only one. But you definitely are a minority. 

Edited February 24, 2013 by Millfox

[Derpular 90]

The-Master- Thanks, but I'm not going to hide something I like for other people. I don't hide the fact that I like Friendship is Magic, or Hello Kitty or Doctor Who. I don't hide the fact that cinnamon rolls are my favorite food or that I like to write. I don't hide the fact that I love my pet bunny or that I like wearing mismatched socks. Maybe some people don't like bunnies, or think mismatched socks look bad. I mean, some people don't like FiM. So if someone has a problem with what I like, that's their problem, not mine.

[MJNSEIFER 55]

I'm not going to hide something I like for other people. I don't hide the fact that I like Friendship is Magic, I mean, some people don't like FiM. So if someone has a problem with what I like, that's their problem, not mine.

That's what I want to see.  I'm exactly the same, and while G3 is the least liked, I don't have any shame in liking it.  If people don't it's up to them, but if I was asked, I'd admit to liking it.  It should get more open support so people who like it can be more open. 

[Asher 101]

Personally, I don't.

 

I haven't really watched the old ones.  Maybe they are good?  But who knows?  I really doubt it because not much is better than the show now.

 

This isn't cute.

 

 

[~Scootaloo 440]

If you want to watch the old shows you can find them on YouTube. I've seen them, but I don't really care for them. However I respect them because if it were not for them MLP:FiM wouldn't be what it is today.

 

Related:

 

In "Too Many Pinkie Pies" episodes Pinkie Pie makes a "crazy face" - when she turns around she shows her old face design (I think it is from G3 or one of the others)

 

 

It was just a funny throwback showing what she used to look like.

Edited March 20, 2013 by ~Scootaloo

[WindsweptFrog 52]

Personally I kind of enjoy them for nostalgic reasons for some reason or another I spent far too much time watching some of the older gens as a child and can re-call the plot of one particular of set of shows involving magic coins better than I care to talk about :L but other than nostalgia there not much good.   

[Hansel 1,512]

The original G1 film was pretty descent, actually. They got progressively worse after that, imo. Then G4 came along and made everything better again. 

 

G3 toys were pretty cool, though. They also have some of the best customs. 

 

 

[Scootalove 10,689]

I don't really know much about the old generations of MLP. But, I heard that they related to G4 and without the past generations there wouldn't really be a Generation 4 at all.

[Moog the Kvlt 1,460]

There are some people who actually watch and like G1

And G2 I have little to know knowledge of

As for G3 and G3.5, nobody watches them at all

Nobody I know within the fandom actually likes those two gens