signs that the show is going to be more Mature?

[Mywas 687]

So I just had this thought. Since In EQ it was the first time a villain actually tried to kill one of the mane six(King Sombra Nearly killed Spike doesn't count since King Sombra din't state he is gong to kill him). I was Quite frankly suprised by this. Also For the first time The Show took on romance(In a hottible way, as they did not even give Flash sentry Character devolopment, Hell the teenage dragons were more intresting than him). So Death and Romance, these two Were not full on adressed inn the show before. could This mean that The Show is going to take on more dark/Mature themes from now on? And if they did how would you react? Personaly I wouldn't mind it as long as they don't it and have a balance between the innocent and cute moments and the dark moments(If not have More Cute and Innocent moments.)

[~StatesTheOblivious~ 1,795]

You forget that the movie won't be canon and that the show itself still has to be targeted at little girls since this is what Hasbro wants it to be. And I think the writers, too as well as many fans. So, the only mature things will possibly be references in the spirit of "the punch got spiked" and that Big Lebowski one. That doesn't mean that they can't thematize more mature subjects, but I don't think that the style of how things are presented in the show will change drastically.

[Shanks 10,816]

Actually if Flash Sentry or anypony else were to become a love interest for any of them mane 6 in the show it still wouldn't be the first time that show has addressed romance. The Hearts and Hooves day episode where the CMC gave Ms Cheerilee and Big Macintosh a love potion which turned out to be a love poison had the lesson that love is something that can't be forced which is a good lesson. Rarity had the hots for Prince Blueblood who she thought was going to be her prince charming but turned out to be a selfish jerk and there is the Canterlot Wedding two parter.

 

If any of the mane 6 got into a relationship than the speculation of the show getting more mature might have some merit to it but this hasn't happened even if the movie, yes Twilight and Flash clearly liked each other and if given more time may have developed a relationship but it simply wasn't able to happen. It is possible that Twilight may get into a relationship with the pony version of Flash Sentry at some point but we will have to wait a while because it has been confirmed he won't be in season 4.

 

Death on the other hand the show is very unlikely to address because MLP suffers from the double standard of being a "girls show" in addition to being a childrens cartoon so with the except of the hints throughout the series of Applejack's parents being dead and one of the show staff actually confirming it death probably will not be addressed. It is a shame in the case of Applejack and her parents because it has so much potential for some character development for Applejack and could break her of her underserved reputation as being the "boring one".

[Esk 201]

Honestly, the romance in Equestria Girls was poorly handled, and it didn't lead to anything in terms of being a legitimate subplot. Having a genuine, intimate romance in FiM would be difficult to pull off considering the show's mostly lighthearted nature. 

[Fhaolan 4,484]

It's *possible* as the show has reached the number of episodes needed for syndication with the end of Season 3, so technically they can now take more risks. However, it is highly unlikely as Discovery Communications (The owner/operators of the Hub) take that TVY rating very seriously indeed.

[Buttonmash1973 1,026]

Keep the Mature things in saucy and grimdark fanfic. Anyway I think that the show had matured since episodes like Party of One and The Show Stoppers with epic episodes like the Wedding.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Ulrik Raben

[Blue Moon 6,341]

I don't think it's going to get any more mature than it is now. Trying to kill a main character isn't really mature; a lot of past cartoons (especially in Disney stuff) have threatened to kill main characters and have even done it before. Parents today, however, are very over reactive about that kind of stuff, so it rarely ever happens. 

 

So, it hasn't really gotten mature, and I don't want it to; at least significantly. The normal and nice moments make the rare mature moments much more meaningful, and if the whole show got more mature, it wouldn't really have the same effect.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I don't really see the show take any mature routes but, this could probably be a first in a long time of cartoons. Disney is pretty known for a lot of cartoons but, they never finished the mature route.

[PonyBoy15 428]

Hasbro knows very well that there is an older audience watching this show, so no doubt the writers will throw out some references that little kids won't understand, but surely nothing out of the norm. The show is targeted to young girls after all.

 

Let's face it, the writers of the show like to have fun or any show for that matter. Look at the writers of Spongebob, Adventure Time, Regular Show, ect. These shows are targeted to kids and look at all the hidden adult content in them.

 

I'm not implying that Hasbro will put these references in their episodes, just small comparison. I personally wouldn't mind the show to be more mature but that's just me. There's enough fan fiction to make those come true.

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

If parents freaked out over Derpy, imagine if they tried to make the show more "mature". Unfortunately, angry moms are a powerful pack animal. They ruin lots of good things. Like Derpy, for example. Will the show get more mature? Maybe slightly, but not by much.

[Seiji Matsuri 19]

 

 

You forget that the movie won't be canon

 

No. Just no.

 

 

 

If parents freaked out over Derpy, imagine if they tried to make the show more "mature". Unfortunately, angry moms are a powerful pack animal.

 

 

Angry mom's didn't cause the "Derpy" thing. You guys did. No doubt that a few suburban parents take things like all easily freaked suburban parents do, but the ones who threatened Hasbro's bottom lines are the Bronies themselves. For once, I'd much like you guys to take a breather. Get a snack. Maybe even a shower. Loosen up and then take a step back and look at the fandom, the whole fandom, subjectively. See it from an outsider's perspective. Subtle nods and in-jokes are one thing, but they took a leap and made a shout-out to a group of teenage boys and grown men who can hardly control themselves and if they don't come off as socially maladjusted (I'd argue the fair majority)... They come off as chimps slinging excrement at one another (the imageboards).Whether or not you think this isn't true doesn't matter. Your image does, and I'll admit I'm quite disappointed in how the fandom turned out.

 

On topic? No. The show will not get "more mature". Because just what is considered "more mature"? We have characters that are young and hold down jobs. We have others who keep their word, pay what's due, apply honor and self-sacrifice for the sake of friendship. We have ponies who have lives actually in their hooves; children. 

 

Unless of course you mean themes target to an older audience like actual crime and punishment instead of lessons on friendship, "I'LL MURDER YOU" instead of "I'LL DESTROY YOU" (Or, if I'm even more correct: ZOMG GRIMDARK DEATHKILLING MURDER-CRUSADE) and otherwise prodding an open wound life tends to be? To which, I'm not going to respond. 

 

 

 

"girls show" in addition to being a childrens cartoon

 

 

 

The show is targeted to young girls after all.

 

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

I think in a way. Since S1 we've gone from lessons about sharing to lessons about meeting your destiny and earning your place in the world. So think it's maturing just as far as opening itself to better character development and more depth.  

[Paianis 489]

From my point of view I think Friendship Is Magic has always been incredibly mature, not the least because all the lessons have actually meant something to an astonishing mix of people. The main characters aren't even girls as such, more like young women. I don't see any reason for the tone to change in S4, but I'd be intrigued if the writers decided to shake things up a bit.

[Thrashy 2,800]

I believe the writers could pull off exploring the theme of death insofar as elaborating on the situation with AJ's parents without it being "too shocking" for overreactive parents. After all, I don't recall anyone throwing a hissy fit back when Rugrats touched upon the death of Chuckie's mother, so I don't see too much of a problem with an episode detailing Mr. and Mrs. Apple's final days. It certainly would give AJ and Big Mac some very much OVERDUE character development.

[Dreadmallon 353]

   No, I do not believe the show will get any more mature than it is now. Why? Because the main target audience are little girls children, and love and death do not contribute to the main lesson of the show (Learning about friendship) much at all. Exceptions include Spike's crush on Rarity, and Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's love, because they do not heavily impact the story to the point where the audience is questioning the moral of the episode (S<3R), or the show entirely (SAxPC).

 

   Also, I personally thought that A Canterlot Wedding - Parts 1 and 2 were the darkest episodes My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic have aired thus far. Knowing that, I don't believe they will make any more episodes that are darker than those two.

Edited July 18, 2013 by Alkryn

[crissio 3]

contrary to the mature thing, I personally want the series to go back to the season 1 concept. Romance really kills this series, romance is not what I watch MLP for , it is because of friendship related theme, the hardship each pony went through and how they overcome it by help of their friends. Stick to the friendship theme , do not go to the romance area , and keep the storyline going without it.

 

Sure there are some romance in MLP , but it wasn't the focus of the series. As a side story inside the side story, I'm okay with it.Keep it simple without taking too much screentime for sappy moment , just like applejack's brother event.

[Onylex 2,837]

Im going to have to agree with Blue Moon on this one. I think the show is not likely to grow anymore mature than it already is. If you'd ask me the show seems to be plenty mature with a good balance of "innocence". I feel that if it were to grow in its maturity, it may not be presentable to their target audience without some kind of displayed tv rating.

[Mywas 687]

I agree with you all if I wanted to watch a really mature show I would watch Adventure time or Attack on Titan(I already watch them). So I would rather have them leave the show as it is, perhabs they can focus more on secondary characters but thats the only thing I want them to change(If they din't it would be okay). I just posted this thread because I thought that the show is going to change because of Equestria girls.

[Galen 1,354]

I doubt it. Like What said, EG isn't canon, so elements presented in the movie won't necessarily appear in the core show. Romance has already been touched on various times but only lightly, and it's unlikely any of the mane 6 will really get into a relationship since that's delving in the magic of love rather than friendship. That is more Cadence's specialty rather than Twilight's. As for death, it will never be shown directly, only implied, and even then I doubt we'll ever see current characters passing away. With this being a children's show, mature themes aren't likely to be shown, not to mention I don't know if I'd feel good about it considering MLP would then become something other than what got me to like it.

Edited July 19, 2013 by Freedan

[True Rarity 1,240]

No, because EqG was supposed to be for teenagers and adults, bronies and pegasisters like us.

Besides, the writers keep saying that Flash Sentry won't be in Season 4...

[Zygen 6,066]

Heres the issue though, the movie if I'm not mistaken, wasn't rated for young kids, but the show is, so there is a limit to what they can do on the show.

 

The movie didn't have quite the same handicaps.

 

So thats my thoughts on why this happended.

 

Will it get a little more mature? Maybe who knows.

 

I wouldn't mind it a whole lot, long as they still kept it innocent generally, and didn't go that far.

 

I wouldn't want it to become a whole lot more dark and mature though. To much of that ruins some of the charm, I mean theres other dark shows I could watch if I wanted to.

[Mr. Critical 434]

It could be possible. If they take precosious steps this could turn out quite well. There could be an episode where granny smith dies, and we could see the emotions of the family and friends. We know death exists there was a funeral in a scene. But who knows for sure.