This is still a character driven show. (hasbro control worries)

[Anadu Kune 668]

Ohh look a wild Twilicorn appeared!!!..... Panic!!!

Actual the response has been better than I anticipated. However I still see some pretty irrational reactions. One was on twitter from a reviewer who will go unnamed. He/She claimed that the show was no longer character driven and had flat characters, it was now about selling toys. Im going to respond to the points because I have seen this stance in multiple places. 

News flash it has always been about selling toys in the eyes of the company, same with transformers. The shows will not exist without the toys. 

Secondly when did the show stop being about characters? I dont know what show these people have been watching, but its not this one. Barring the season opener(which was still character centric) all of the episodes thus far have been character driven. Heck even the....gasp....dreaded season finale seems from the synopsis to be character focused. Why is no one speculating wildly about how awesome the switching of the cutie marks could be? The cutie mark and the talent it represents is a huge part of a ponies identity, changing that could make for some excellent character exploration and moments. 

Flat characters? Since when, even the worst episodes of this show aren't usually guilty of that. People can and have written lengthy posts detailing the character development and interaction on episodes from every season. 

Point is this is an exaggerated claim. Can anyone here name an episode where at its core it wasn't character driven? Because I cant. Lets forget toy promotion, the entire show was created for that. Can anyone here name an episode even the "bad" ones where a main character is flat? Mischaracterization does not a flat character make and from my perspective that is where my(many others) least favorite episodes have stumbled. 

 

Edited February 1, 2013 by Anadu Kune

[Quiles 77]

I would totally agree. People are panicking over twilicorn without any sort of evidence that it is going to cause any negative effects whatsoever. How do you know this is going to change the way the show works? I highly doubt it is

[Twinhead B 482]

While Twilight is technically the main character, she tends to shine or sparkle (please don't kill me) brightest when her friends are along for the ride. Anyone claiming that the six ponies who have all had more or less equal representation (though one could argue Rarity has been deprived of the spotlight as of late) throughout the series will suddenly be Twilight and her group of non-important friends in Season 4 is not only wrong, they're a complete and total moron.

 

Season 4 will be great and I'm willing to bet will focus less on the Mane 6's adventures in Ponyville, but more on their adventures all around Equestria. Who knows, we may even see some of the crazy towns Applebloom listed in Apple Family Reunion.

Edited February 1, 2013 by Twinhead B

[Shanks 10,816]

I may have my concerns over twilicorn myself but saying that this is no longer a character driven show is yet to be proven, yes I would have preffered they waited a bit later for such an abrupt change but as I stated in a recent blog entry if they do this right there might actually be some positives from this.

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

People are just deluding themselves. Yeah this Twilightcorn nonsense has me worried. But the show is still character driven. Every character even the side cast has their own unique role to them. 

Twilight. The smart one, rational and both irrational at the same time, impulsive has a perfectionist complex

Apple Jack. Good intentions, honest, xenophobic, southern girl

Fluttershy. Is reserved but will still stick up to people who will push her to the edge, making her a complex character

Pinkie Pie. Party girl, good spirited, random sense of reality 

Rarity. Creative, deadline oriented, generous 

Rainbow Dash. Brash, loyal, a show off, has an attitude 

 

The show will not lose character depth. The writers are competent and despite what hasbro tells them. I wouldn't be surprised if they went on a writers strike if Hasbro told them to dull down the characters

[Scootalove 10,689]

The show will always be character driven because, there will always be a list of personalities that a character can have. This Twilight Alicorn thing is driving people crazy and yet, the episode didn't debut yet.

[himanuts 165]

Despite Hasbro wanting to shove in shallow and pointless concepts, however stupid they may be will never change the slice of life storytelling of the show. When you look at it, that is what atleast 80% of the show is. Stories of everyday life involving the protagonists.

Edited February 2, 2013 by himanuts

[Phoenix237 353]

Ah yes.

I have acctuly been enjoying myself from all these tears crying about Alicorn twilight. So many people panicking for something we don't know it will turn out. Them shacking in fear and anger over something that may be done well.

 

It would be funny if it weren't so pathetic

.....

.....

.....

Oh what the heck I'll laugh anyway

WhaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Edited February 2, 2013 by Phoenix237

[Zygen 6,066]

I'm pretty sure the show is far far from what would be considered a flat character.. Seriously somepony needs to go find a dictionary .

 

Even the lower end episodes that aren't considered that great still don't have what would be considered flat characters.

 

Even when Twilight becomes an Alicorn I doubt that she will be flat, I'm putting my hopes that the writers will be able to not ruin the show because of Hasbro's trying to market Alicorn Twilight. They haven't failed me yet!

 

But yeah its a totally exaggerated review.

[Betez 1,734]

I'm not too worried about Hasbro taking complete control over the show. Sure, the show was started so Hasbro could sell toys, but there has always been tons of concepts for characters and there still are. I don't think the characters are flat at all. The whole Alicorn Twilight thing has grown on me, and I've come to accept it. It's still a great show and in my opinion it is still character driven.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

I really do hope that Twilicorn is the only meddling Hasbro will do for a while. I am worried, though, that now they will be getting a lot more pushy in the development. I'm worried that Twilicorn is setting some new precedent, and that Hasbro is going to start micromanaging DHX's work.

 

I keep seeing the phrase "have faith in the writers" tossed around. Can somepony please tell that to Hasbro, then?

 

With time I hope these fears turn out unfounded, but I've seen stuff like it before.

Edited February 2, 2013 by AtomicBassCannon

[hawkflame 3,310]

To say that the show has stopped being character driven on the whole is  unfair.  This season has been just as character driven as the first two, especially if you look at episodes like Wonderbolt Academy, Sleepless in Ponyville, or Too Many Pinkie Pies.  I think that all three episodesoffered more nuances on their respective focus characters than these characters were initially shown with.

 

Which is why I think Alicorn Twilight is a problem.  Everything else is so character driven, so when a decision is based so clearly on marketing it's not going to fit.  It flies in the face of overall story direction and didn't evolve naturally.

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

I really do hope that Twilicorn is the only meddling Hasbro will do for a while. I am worried, though, that now they will be getting a lot more pushy in the development. I'm worried that Twilicorn is setting some new precedent, and that Hasbro is going to start micromanaging DHX's work.

 

I keep seeing the phrase "have faith in the writers" tossed around. Can somepony please tell that to Hasbro, then?

 

With time I hope these fears turn out unfounded, but I've seen stuff like it before.

My thoughts. Exactly.

I do trust the writers. It's Hasbro I don't trust.

 

Although, Meghan's words to Entertainment Weekly...

 

 “We’re building a very unique mythology around being a princess,” she continues. “Every little girl wants to be a princess, and not everybody can get to be a princess — but you can live up to the ideals that should come along with being a princess.”

... filled me with dread. I guess that in a world where there really are princess, it makes some sense. But Celestia and Luna are more mentors than role models. Cadance is just weird in the middle of this. Smells of "My Little Hasbro - Profit is Magic".

And that's what ruined the other generations.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,307]

People are getting pretty stupid with the "Hasbro is taking over!" nonsense. Hasbro has complete control of the series from day one. Hasbro commissioned to have it made. Hasbro paid to have it animated. Of course Hasbro has control over the show! It didn't just spring up one day and then Hasbro seized control. Frankly, if people don't like how the show is heading, just go watch something else.

[hawkflame 3,310]

People are getting pretty stupid with the "Hasbro is taking over!" nonsense. Hasbro has complete control of the series from day one. Hasbro commissioned to have it made. Hasbro paid to have it animated. Of course Hasbro has control over the show! It didn't just spring up one day and then Hasbro seized control. Frankly, if people don't like how the show is heading, just go watch something else.

 

I kinda see what they're getting at, though.  After the initial setup (where indeed certain things were added for toy related reasons, like Rarity's fashion interest) they seemed to be fairly hands off until Cadence came along at the end of season 2.  At least, there wasn't anything that particularly jumped out as a marketing rather than story decision.  Certainly nothing as overt as Alicorn Cadence and Alicorn Twilight. 

 

Like I said above, I still think the series is largely character driven, but Hasbro did seem a bit more hands off in the first two seasons.

[Jammo 986]

The only concern I have is this could mean the end of psycho Twilight. If an Alicorn goes psycho it's like giving a paranoid schizophrenic an atom bomb. For the of Celestia, don't stress Twilight out.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,307]

I kinda see what they're getting at, though.  After the initial setup (where indeed certain things were added for toy related reasons, like Rarity's fashion interest) they seemed to be fairly hands off until Cadence came along at the end of season 2.  At least, there wasn't anything that particularly jumped out as a marketing rather than story decision.  Certainly nothing as overt as Alicorn Cadence and Alicorn Twilight. 

 

Like I said above, I still think the series is largely character driven, but Hasbro did seem a bit more hands off in the first two seasons.

The absolute only reason that the show exists is as a marketing tool for the toys. That's why Hasbro went ahead and had it animated. They didn't somehow guess an adult cult following would spring up after a couple episodes aired. 

[hawkflame 3,310]

The absolute only reason that the show exists is as a marketing tool for the toys. That's why Hasbro went ahead and had it animated. They didn't somehow guess an adult cult following would spring up after a couple episodes aired. 

 

I know that.  But what I'm saying is that is that they didn't seem to have such an overt influence in the story/character decisions between Initial setup (where they established things like Rarity being a fashionista, or making Celestia a princess instead of a queen, insisting on including the Twinkling Balloon, etc.) and the arrival of Cadence.  There seemed to be a good stretch after the beginning of Season 1 until near the end of Season 2 where they seemed to have a relatively hands off approach.  Their influence was certainly less overt dering that stretch.

[Twinhead B 482]

I know that.  But what I'm saying is that is that they didn't seem to have such an overt influence in the story/character decisions between Initial setup (where they established things like Rarity being a fashionista, or making Celestia a princess instead of a queen, insisting on including the Twinkling Balloon, etc.) and the arrival of Cadence.  There seemed to be a good stretch after the beginning of Season 1 until near the end of Season 2 where they seemed to have a relatively hands off approach.  Their influence was certainly less overt dering that stretch.

 

Season 1 and 2 had plenty of Hasbro's "meddling" if you look hard enough. Twilight's Hot Air Balloon, Carosel Boutique, Rarity's Wings in Sonic Rainboom, The Carriage in Best Night Ever, the design of Sweet Apple Acres, Cheerilee, Rarity's fashion, The Friendship Express, Cadance, etc. All of which were made into toys or were influenced by Hasbro's "meddling". Notice how most of those things I listed, are elements of the show that we as a fandom love.

 

Season 1's entire plotline was supposed to be about finding the elements of harmony over the course of the season and then ending with the defeat of Nightmare Moon, which is why Luna was almost entirely absent during the first season. Hasbro decided the show's format should be changed to the slice of life style we all fell in love with, and Luna was forgotten about. Hasbro "meddled" with an entire season for Celestia's sake!

 

Perhaps I'm a might bit optimistic, but Hasbro's "meddling" hasn't steered us wrong yet. They might have been a greedy company in the past, but given how well they've handled the MLP and Transformers reboots (excluding Revenge of the Fallen, which wasn't really entirely Hasbro's fault) so far, I'm fairly certain we'll look back at this fiasco this time next season and laugh at how much the fandom overreacted.