Season three in retrospect: Did you like the 13 episode format?

[Akemi Homura 7,681]

With season three coming full circle and the finale just on the horizon, it wouldn't be a terrible time to ask what you now think of the 13-episode format in contrast to what you thought about it when you first heard the news. I personally had high hopes for it -- maybe the quality will get better as a result of less episodes but now, the opposite holds true. FIM is a show that clearly needs 26 episodes a season for it to be truly enjoyed. I realize some of you may not feel the same way I do, but I think we can all agree that the standard 26 is a lot more fitting with this series considering how large it's become.

Edited February 12, 2013 by Alfonzo Dennard

[hawkflame 3,310]

Maybe it's just the pessimist in me, but I think it just made the bad episodes just stand out that much more.  A few weak episodes out of 13 stand out more than a couple of bad episodes out of 26 (Yes I'm talking about Spike at Your Service and Keep Calm and Flutter On, as well as the lackluster season opener).

 

Oh, and how can I forget this one?  No Rarity Focus episode! 

 

Because of these reasons, season 3 has been the most inconsistent season so far. Hope it's not a downward trend. 

Edited February 12, 2013 by hawkflame

[-Nobody- 519]

No. Just... No.

 

I hate waiting for shows during off-seasons, and I hate not having many episodes this season to better show Twilight's progression into Alicorn-hood.

And I want new ponies every week, all fifty-two weeks. ;_:

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

I don't really know how I'm supposed to vote. For the most part I liked season three. There were plenty of great episodes and moments with all of my favorite characters, and I think it did a lot for the series. I prefer the 26 episode format, mainly because it gives them more leeway to accommodate every character, plotline, interaction and song that they want to. Since quality is subjective, I knew that they couldn't make each episode "Twice as good" to compensate for the shorter season. I thought that this season had it's mix of good and meh episodes, same as any other, but it does leave me wishing there had been more.

 

The verdict: I like the thirteen episode format but I like the twenty-six episode format more.

[Rainbow Dash 1,472]

I didn't like the whole 13 episode format. sure they did it to get the episodes to us faster but i wanted more. I was hoping they would have episodes focused on the background ponies like Big Mac and such. They made Spike appear incompetent which was funny at first but then stupid when they tried too hard. i think they are doing the whole 26 episode thing for twilights alicorn status. Like half of the episodes will be her getting used to being an alicorn and the other half will be her solving problems which will lead to a series finale.

[IHazTommyWiseau 84]

I feel that the show has managed to keep it's enjoyable factors high regardless of the lower episode count. Even though having a 26 episode count would be better in quantity, quality wise I wonder if the staff can continue making 26 strong episodes for each subsequent season. 

 

Regardless, season 3 has been fun so far and I expect season 4 to have plenty of enjoyable episodes. The hard part will be the in-between season waiting 

[Riken 27]

I think when it's only a thirteen episode season a weak episode is a lot more frustrating to watch, if it's a twenty-six episode season I can let a few bad episodes pass.

[XxSAINExX 29]

I feel that this season was in no respect bad. I feel like it should be going on a lot longer than February . 

The bad (like spike at your service) stood out quite a bit more than it may have hidden in like, 26 episodes. 

[Reversalx 129]

They're both acceptable formats, but there's more ponies in 26 episodes.

 

I think all the episodes are enjoyable to watch, really (perhaps some more then others), i have no real complaints on the supposed "bad episodes". I just hope the writers make a successful 26 episodes next season, with alicorn twilight newly added.

I'm still worried about how the show is going to change XD

[lomk 20,665]

No. This season was far, far too short and I didn't like that it ended so quickly. So far, season 2 is my favorite. The opener was killer and the closing specials were great! But this season just felt like it was over way too fast for me. Not to mention, the quality of the episodes wasn't all that spectacular. Season 3 just doesn't measure up compared to the other 2. I'd say there were only 3 episodes from this season I would watch again. Sleepless in Ponyville, Keep Calm and Flutter On, and Too Many Pinkie Pies. The rest of them were just kinda...meh...and that's disappointing since the first two seasons were so good that I watched every episode in the span of two days. 

[Brook 663]

Personally, I don't have anything to compare it to, because I only became a brony after season 2 ended, so I don't know how it is with having 26 episodes. However, I will say that I don't mind it that much, because aside from Games Ponies Play I liked all of the episodes. So really, it maybe could have been better with 26 episodes, but I'm not complaining, I got what I wanted, which is good episodes.

[Zygen 6,066]

I liked season 3, nothing was wrong with it in my eyes, however I can't really reject the fact that I still like 26 episodes a season more, not only because thats more MLP, but because it makes it so all the charactors get their time to shine, and so that we can have 2 parteres without making them take up like this huge chunk of the season.

 

Plus I think it makes it so we have higher expectations, which means the episodes can fall flat and feel worse then in 26 episode seasons. I personally didn't have an episode in S3 I truly disliked so far, but I know people did, and having only 13 episodes the season made it stand out more in the crowd, compared to 26 episode seasons where theres more time for the person to feel the season redeemed itself.

 

But I'm all for more MLP. And because it makes the two parters feel less like they take this huge chunk out of the rest of the episodes.

[Pixel Stick 927]

I'm in the camp of quality over quantity. I would of course prefer 26 excellent episodes in a season, but if I had to choose between just 13 excellent episodes, 26 mediocre ones, or 13 great and 13 mediocre, I'd take the 13 excellent ones by themselves.

 

This season did have a few misses for me, but all in all I wouldn't call it a bad season.

[Jadefire 2,798]

I liked this season. Really didn't care much for the uptick in fandom drama in recent months, but I think Season 3 was alright.

 

I like the 26 episode format much better, but I'm not dissatisfied.

[kirbyboi 588]

I didn't really mind how this season had only 13 episodes ( I wonder why..?).  But This season went by quick, and we didn't have a whole lot of room to include more episodes, let alone a two-parter finale. I literally blinked, and now the season's over! D: I mean, season 3 was ok...but I think we needed some better episodes (don't scream at me ). I prefer the show having 26 episodes this season. 

 

But I'm glad season 4 has 26. I mean, season 3, because of it having only having 13 episodes, made it seem like the season was broken up and not organized(no letters to Celestia, ect.). But don't get me wrong, we still had some good episodes. But still, I'm happy for season 4 having 26 episodes.

Edited February 12, 2013 by Pixiesong

[Magpie 623]

I don't really care how the episodes are released, as long as they keep it up! Whether we have lots of short seasons, or a few longer ones, it's sure to be great either way.

[NavelColt 22,883]

Moved to Show Discussion.

 

It's not a matter of yes or no, for me. The episode quality was fine, just as it always has been, and that's what matters to me. Quality > Quantity. I frankly don't care if we have tons of episodes or not, not with a fanbase this large and this creative to expand the universe far past what the show has. For whatever reason Hasbro decided to reduce S3 to half their normal seasons' length, I can respect that.

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

It was better than no ponies at all. This is indisputable fact.

 

But I was not particularly taken with the 13-episode format. They said the quality of the episodes would be better since they had more time; if that happened I didn't notice it, particularly in the writing. It wasn't bad but it was pretty much the same as before. They already did two full seasons of 26 episodes with quite a few winners, so I'm happy to see the old format returning.

 

(And the S3 DVD set had better be half the price of 1 & 2. xD)

Edited February 12, 2013 by TailsIsNotAlone

[Rainbow RapiDASH 53]

The season was too short for me, and too much time had passed between season 2 and 3. Between seasons 1 and 2, there was only a 5 month wait, but between season 2 and 3, there was a total of eight months before they started airing  new episodes.  I personally think that 13 episodes where the quality was comparable to previous seasons is to little to justify a wait that long.  I'm glad that there are going to be more episodes for season 4.

[CrystalRose 636]

I too agree with those that think there wasn't enough time split between characters. They did a reasonable job but I think the other seasons did it better. We don't need as much characterd development as the characters are well established, but it gives a feeling of consistency which is lovely. It does feel like this season is rushed; whereas in the first two seasons it built steadily up, we've built towards something but it doesn't feel ready for such a huge climax yet.

[Emerald Flame 381]

The thirteen episode format isn't exactly bad, but the 26 episode format is much better. This season went by in a blur, and I was only able to watch one episode in a live stream (due to being extremely busy, but still.) It also seems to make the bad and mediocre episodes stand out more.

[Akemi Homura 7,681]

The thirteen episode format isn't exactly bad, but the 26 episode format is much better. This season went by in a blur, and I was only able to watch one episode in a live stream (due to being extremely busy, but still.) It also seems to make the bad and mediocre episodes stand out more.

 

It was lousy, simply put. I suppose some ponies are better than no ponies, but this season was pretty lackluster and nothing was really outstanding. Call it high expectations but it didn't have the same flair as season two.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

I don't think it changed much, although I don't watch much of the actual show anyway. I mostly stick with the fandom and my fanfictions. Although all in all I was not so proud of Season 3, not because it was all bad but with all the hype it was a little disappointing 

Edited February 14, 2013 by thesteampunkninja

[Toa of Ponies 259]

Nah, i didn't like it. 13, after all, is an unlucky number, and I'm glad we're getting a full 26 episode season . Maybe we will have a Rarity episode this time?

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

I was never around for a 26 episode season, so my opinion may be somewhat flawed, but the thought that if this season were 26 episodes, then we would only be at the halfway point is enough to sway me.  I also didn't see any huge increase in episode quality overall.  I suppose 13 episodes is fine, but I imagine that I'd prefer 26.