The Jumping the Shark Moment?

[sampsoninc916 27]

      Every show, good or bad, usually has a moment in the show where it jumps the shark. For some bronies, the Season 3 finale may be that moment. Hasbro has taken down Friendship is Witchcraft but hasn't taken down any fan art or other fan videos from DeviantArt and YouTube. It's also trying to make Twilight Sparkle into an alicorn, and (although I don't believe this) there are rumors that they'll axe Derpy from Season 4. Are we suddenly gonna go back to before October 10, 2010, before the show debuted, where it suddenly becomes obscure again, where we're only liking stuff like CSI or Fringe or Dead Bodies or something like that, not seeing some sort of happy place on TV? Geez man, being asperger's and all, I don't find Derpy offensive. I can understand how Twilight has progressed so much, how could she not become an alicorn. The Entertainment Weekly article said that Megan McCarthy stated she will retain the same personality and such. I worried more that Hasbro takes control of the show too much.

       I feel that another show that I like, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, jumped the shark after Season 7, maybe Season 11, because HIT Entertainment, the company that owns Thomas, is putting a bunch of control on Thomas, such as the show becoming 3D animated/CGI, and creating so many one off characters only there just to become toys or something. I'm making a 300 subscribers video on YouTube that calls for a full reboot of Thomas the Tank Engine, going back to its roots, using models again, and making it less sexist or boyish.

       With My Little Pony, I keep on fearing that Season 4 might be the worst. Will the writers have their freedom to create new stories and characters, or will Hasbro just make everything generic. What are they going to do in Season 4? Have two racist ponies jibber jabbering like crazy, adding magic floating testicles, and having ridiculous sex jokes or something? The reason why I think this is because they did this in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Transformers is another property owned by Hasbro, and, wait, those movies were bad because of Michael Bay. So let me get this straight, My Little Pony's creative staff is better than Hasbro, but Hasbro is better than Michael Bay. Who's worse than Michael Bay, George W. Bush? The last thing I want is having the ponies being "Michael-Bayized". Well, anything's better than that, but still Lauren Faust stepped down starting in Lesson Zero from Season 2, and the show's writers have had good control over the show so far. Maybe I should just leave Hasbro a message on their phone line saying that I don't want our precious fanbase to fall apart just because they've got a grip on how the show is done. Maybe I should just connect with the spiritual side of myself and ask for this little minor thing to not happen so much. If that is so, then what would you feelings be about this Twilight alicorn stuff, Derpy, and the takedown of a small number of My Little Pony content? 

 

    Actually, what got me into saying this was that during BronyState movie night tonight, there was a moment where the chat room started saying that Hasbro doesn't care about us, thinks we're retards, are just a Scrooge-like money corporation that doesn't want our fan dreams to come true. In actuality, Hasbro is there to make money, but they certainly aren't like the main character from Charles Dickens' timeless Christmas classic. But uh, alicorns, eh, guys. Will Twilight still be in Ponyville? I mean, I responded to them saying, "Please, stop your mean jokes," but they still tried to make it true. What are your feelings on this topic?

[Jammo 986]

From my experience, shows don't jump the shark very often. Usually there's a decay in writing quality over the seasons and it just gets tired and fizzles out. A lot of "jump the shark" moments in shows overshadow the fact that good things did follow theses ridiculous moments. I can't stand reading essays on message boards and while this is a divisive moment, there's no basis to believe that the writing will get weaker because Twilight's an Alicorn. It's a change to the status quo. Nothing more.

[Sanic Screwdriver 345]

They're upset with friendship is witchcraft? They are also trying to get rid of fighting is magic, there is the twilicorn thing and something about a possible mlp spinoff (I think?) (remember rumored) I'm being hopeful but things seem to be getting worse. Hopefully it will get better. I'm also worried fan created stuff (like custom merch and t-shirts) will be pulled from stores but maybe I'm just over reacting    Well we'll see

[Anadu Kune 668]

I dont think things are getting worse, the flipping out certainly is. There has been a string of recent bad news. If you really consider Twilicorn bad news, which I don't yet. It may turn out good, it may turn out bad we will have to see. 

The transformers movies have largely been the fault of Bay. Hasbro isn't however going to turn down millions of dollars because something is gut wrenchingly horrible. It is true that Hasbro like any business cares mostly about making money. That doesn't mean all their products will turn to crap. 

You probably should t message hasbro until there's something to actually react to. Im certain if the season finale turns out horrible theyll know about it. Im fairly certain they already know what we think now. However even if they wanted to change it now, its too late. The episode and toy line are already done, they cant undo them.





 

[Veylon 255]

People have been saying this show jumped the shark almost since it began. There's this weird pathology that fandoms are supposed to obsess over a perfect past and complain about any change to it. So with a new show, we keep looking for that key moment to separate the good from the bad once and for all. It's like nostalgia anticipation or something.

[Shift 4,274]

Jumping the shark, you say?

Anyway, I don't think we should jump to conclusions just yet. Who knows, it might not be permanent. You never know.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,322]

I feel like a traitor and I really hope nopony here hates me for it, but My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic did indeed jump the shark! Why Twilight, why? Why wouldn't you go to Moondancer's little get together in the west castle courtyard, only to run home to your tower to read more books?

 

 

 

I'm just kidding!

 

[~Lawful Sturdy Wing~ 522]

Um.. I am sorry but have you watched this season at all? I know that seems like a weird question but I know many bronies who really haven't watched it much. This has been an incredible seasons, with standouts like Wonderbolt's Academy, Sleepless in Ponyville, Apple Family Reunion, One Bad Apple, I mean this has been a solid, well written, genuinely good season. Twilicorn is going to be great, I have yet to her a single convincing argument why Twilight becoming an Alicorn could possible be a bad thing...

 

Just enjoy the damn show, or don't.

[Phoenix237 353]

Wait the quality of the show has spiraled?

When this this happen?

 

I have been watching this show for a while and I saw none of that sort.

If the show was starting to decay in quality we would see it now.

It would slowly decay over time before it was bad.

I highly doubt that the show is going down the drain as soon as season 4 starts.

In any case I trust the writers to do their best no matter what Hasbro forces then to do. They have done an episode they were forced to do, and it turned out all right, so there is no saying they can't do it again.

[~Lawful Sturdy Wing~ 522]

Wait the quality of the show has spiraled?

When this this happen?

 

I have been watching this show for a while and I saw none of that sort.

If the show was starting to decay in quality we would see it now.

It would slowly decay over time before it was bad.

I highly doubt that the show is going down the drain as soon as season 4 starts.

In any case I trust the writers to do their best no matter what Hasbro forces then to do. They have done an episode they were forced to do, and it turned out all right, so there is no saying they can't do it again.

 

Dude, don't you know? It left as soon as Lauren Faust left (except not at all) We got back a few really good writers that left S3 to work on Littlest Pet Shop for S4. Season Four is going to be great, the final episode is going to be great. If you feel like "Jumping the Shark" then please do, because it will make the shark nicer for the rest of us

[Phoenix237 353]

Dude, don't you know? It left as soon as Lauren Faust left (except not at all) We got back a few really good writers that left S3 to work on Littlest Pet Shop for S4. Season Four is going to be great, the final episode is going to be great. If you feel like "Jumping the Shark" then please do, because it will make the shark nicer for the rest of us

No thank you.

I would feel bad about giving those poor sharks too many calories. I mean do you know what the average American calorie value would be?

 

Plus they already have enough problems considering most seals have a lot of fat in them.

[ColdGoldLazarus 8]

Ooh, touchy topic. Thus I must poke it!

 

I wouldn't say MLP has jumped the shark, but there has been a notable decline in quality, particularly in Season 3. I don't like some of the directions things have taken (Discord, anyone?) but we have yet to encounter anything that'll really break it for me. (My opinion on Twilicorn is still pending; I want to see Season 4 first)

 

I'll keep watching and hope things start to move back in an upward direction again.

[Senor Citizen 516]

For me, the jump-the-shark moment was Keep Calm and Flutter On. It had a meme as the title, it was fanservice, and it made the best villain into a good guy, which was never mentioned again.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I don't see any Jumping the Shark moments, but some say Keep Calm and Flutter On was a jump the shark moment. Basically, it happens but we will get to that later.

[tehepicpony 22]

Um.. I am sorry but have you watched this season at all? I know that seems like a weird question but I know many bronies who really haven't watched it much. This has been an incredible seasons, with standouts like Wonderbolt's Academy, Sleepless in Ponyville, Apple Family Reunion, One Bad Apple, I mean this has been a solid, well written, genuinely good season. Twilicorn is going to be great, I have yet to her a single convincing argument why Twilight becoming an Alicorn could possible be a bad thing...

 

Just enjoy the damn show, or don't.

Well, I was beaten to my post by 3 months. BUT I STILL DON'T LIKE TWILCORN. JUST NO HASBRO. NONE OF MY WANT. 

None of it. NONE OF IT AT ALL!

 

For me, the jump-the-shark moment was Keep Calm and Flutter On. It had a meme as the title, it was fanservice, and it made the best villain into a good guy, which was never mentioned again.

No, not really, I ME THE MEME PART WAS STUPID.  And, in my eyes, discord was KIND OF Good, I MEAN CHOCOLATE RAIN. AND COTTON CANDY CLOUDS OH MY GOD THAT'S AMAZING.

 

Oh yeah, The movie, IT'S GONNA BE BAD. I KNOW THAT I'M NOT GONNA LIKE IT. I PERFER MY PONIES AS PONIES, HASBRO THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

Well, we can't really judge the quality of the show because there has been no episodes since Magical Mystery Cure.

 

Seriously, guys. Give it five episodes of S4, at least.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

If there is one, it likely won't be a single episode or event, and it might not be obvious even in retrospect. If the show goes downhill for me, it will be because the Mane Six interactions lose the appeal that sucked me into the show, and if writing quality tanks for whatever reason. I think that even if things start to go wrong, it'll be an extremely long time before the show loses all of it's appeal for me. There were a few things about Season 3 that worried me a bit, but with attention they can hopefully disappear. Just have McCarthy or someone look over how Polsky writes Pinkie in episodes not focused on her.

[RWB 229]

I find it pretty laughable to say the show has jumped the shark. Season 3 had less bad episodes than Season 1, and the good ones of the season>Season 1's better eps.

 

Essentially, much like ATLA, a marvelous second season was followed by a good(but not as good) third season- which still was better than the original season.

[Dusty Soul 2,613]

I don't see why nearly everyone thinks that the 4th season will be crap.  I mean we don't know what it is yet, and I know it will be epic as the last 3 seasons.  I loved every episode and don't have a least favorite episode.  I don't think the show has jumped the shark as there is a good deal of stuff alicorn Twilight can do to make the show interesting.  I mean give it a chance, just because something changes doesn't mean it's instantly going to suck.  Change can be good or bad, and in this case it's going to be good.  I am happy it happened as a 4th season basically using the same stuff would get boring quite fast in my opinion.  Meghan and Daniel have said it will be an epic season and I trust them.  

 

     "Keep Calm and Flutter On" was not a "jump the shark moment" either.  It was a funny episode that had a quick resolution.  Fan-service isn't a bad thing.  It's like someone wants fan-service so they give it to them then when they do that person turns around and says "NO NOT THE PANDAS!"  Honestly make up your minds.  I personally love fan-service and it's not like they friggen said bronies in the show or anything.  

[Shanks 10,816]

While I have said many times that I hated the idea of twilicorn mainly because I felt it was too soon and the way it was presented placed Twilight dangerously close to Mary Sue territory the fact of the matter is that neither side can really say for sure if it is going to work out or not which makes the wait extremely painful. And people keep badmouthing season 3 and while there was the occasional bump in the road and a massive derailment in the finale it was an otherwise good season. Applejack finally got her due as a character with her strongest showing in the series so far in both the episodes that focus on her and her appearances in other episodes. And we got see Rainbow Dash's softer side in Sleepless in Ponyville and that she matured a great deal in Wonderbolt Academy.

[Dzastur 1,719]

For me, a "jump the shark" moment/theme in a show is a severe deviation from foundation themes in the hopes of salvaging slipping ratings. I don't consider Twilight's transformation to be one, because from the first episode I expected her to evolve.

 

A better example: the show Roseanne where, all of a sudden, the blue-collar Connor family wins the lottery. There was nothing organic about that transition. The finale didn't help, either.

[Dreadmallon 353]

   Although this has probably been said countless times before, I believe the writers jumped the shark when they made Twilight Sparkle an alicorn.

 

   For now, we aren't certain whether or not this lowers, or raises, the quality of the show, so I won't say it was a good or bad move, but I feel it was risky to make this move, considering how no other pony has fulfilled their destinies yet. Then again, maybe Twilight hasn't either, and this is just a stepping stone. Nonetheless, I see difficulties incorporating an alicorn into normal day events, which would happen unless she follows the Princess Theory Arc, but then she most likely wouldn't be able to see her friends much at all.

 

   In all honesty, I believe the writers may be hinting that the end is near, with Rainbow Dash at the W.A and Twilight obtaining her wings.

[hawkflame 3,310]

A Jumping the Shark moment has to be a verifiable *turning point* that is a sign that the show is dropping in quality.  Ergo, it can;t be judged until the show has been allowed to run its course afterwards.  If season 4 sucks, then yeah you could say that Alicorn Twilight was the Jump the Shark moment.  But if Season 4 is great, then it'll just be a blip on the radar and may even be a Growing the Beard moment, which is the opposite (though i'd say the beard originally grew at day one)

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

I don't think the show will jump the shark for a long time to come. If season 4 ends up being less than stellar, then maybe we can talk about jumping the shark. But season 3 was downright excellent as far as I'm concerned, (except for the lack of a Rarity episode) and the quality of the show has been consistently high since the series started. I don't think alicorn Twilight will hurt the show in any major way. She looks a bit different and has a new job, but the show's structure and quality will remain. I don't think the series can jump the shark unless one of the following happens:

 

1. The show loses its amazing writing team, or other important people involved in the show's production. This is what hurt SpongeBob SquarePants and the Rugrats, two shows that have been accused of jumping the shark during their long run. I think it is safe to say that our writers are passionate about their work and strive to bring us the best. Three seasons of excellence can't be denied. So unless all of the important people involved with the show leave, I think the love and care that goes into this show will stay strong, and that will ensure a quality product.

 

2. The writers "run out of ideas." This term is commonly used by fans of TV shows when they notice the show isn't as enjoyable as it used to be. I don't know if there's a way to gauge a writing team's creativity or lack of, but I've noticed a lot of MLP's storylines are commonly used scenarios borrowed from other cartoons or works of fiction. So in that sense, there's never been a lot of originality in MLP, but rather the show is reminiscent of all the things we loved watching before MLP. There are still so many wonderful possibilities for this show, which is why there's so much fan fiction. I don't think we have to worry about the writers running out of ideas anytime soon. I think we've only scratched the surface of what these amazing ponies can do.

 

I could be totally wrong, but I want to stay optimistic and believe that season 4 will blow us all away, and that FIM has many more amazing seasons ahead. There may come a day when we start to see a downward spiral, but let's just enjoy the good stuff while we have it and stay positive.

[GuerrierCosmique 146]

Friendship is Magic hasn't jumped the shark yet. I enjoy Twilight becoming Alicorn and Princess. But the most important over-all story arc the entire show was following, Twilight Sparkle's "hero's journey" is complete now.