Would longer lengthened episodes make MLP better?

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

I've seen a lot of fans of the show wish episodes were longer instead of it's usual 22 minute run time. I question whether or not MLP would be better if it had more time to space things out instead of having everything all packed in together. 

 

Maybe if some episodes like "Keep Calm and Flutter On" had more run time perhaps it wouldn't have seemed so rushed.

 

Instead of it's usual 22 minute run time it's instead given say about 45  minuets (About as long as a two parter combined). Do you guys think MLP would be better?

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

This complaint was very visible and distinct in season 3.

 

I will state that it would improve certain episodes where characterization or story developments are needed like the magical mystery cure and keep calm and flutter on episode.

[Scootalove 10,689]

The improvement of character and story development would be able to happen, since the episodes would be long enough to have some development for the characters that don't have any development or need any development. There could still be a slight chance of rushed episodes but, changing the rushing formula would help.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Yes, yes it would. The two-parters have been some of the best episodes. I wish we got more multi-part story arcs(but I'm a minority in liking the adventure episodes, it seems)

[SparklingSwirls 21,375]

There's some part of me that says 45 minute episodes could be a little long, and in some cases for episodes with more simple plots, the episodes could just seem to "drag on forever".

 

On the other hand, having longer episodes makes for more character development, more things getting done/showing up, and much less rushing. So I would say the benefits far outweigh the cons, besides, longer episodes mean more pony!

[Fhaolan 4,486]

It depends on what they do with that longer run-time. If they just put 'more' in to fill up the time, then no, it won't help. If they take that time to better develop characters and themes, then yes it would help. There were several episodes that could have benefitted with a ten or so minutes more for bridging action and development. If that's what they spent the time doing, of course.

[Spartan 433]

I think its a double edged sword.. one side would be good because it would allow the creators have more time to work on things, and the other side would be bad because it would take longer to get episodes out. so instead of every week it'd be every other week..

 

i wouldnt mind slightly longer episodes to be honest

[TheSupremeLeaderOfChaos 1,211]

I think that some episodes (for example, Keep Calm and Flutter On and Magical Mystery Cure) would be much better if they had been longer. Others, in my honest opinion, would be perfectly fine without the extra time. If the show could be somewhat like Doctor Who, with some episodes being one episode and others being two-parters (throughout the season, not just at the beginning or end), that would be awesome.

[GhostPony750 959]

Well, it's true that a bunch of episodes were rushed because of this 22 minutes restriction.

But they already have a solution for this, part 1 and part 2...

And episodes on "The Hub" usually last 30 minutes, so 22 minutes of episode and 8 minutes of commercial. I fear that longer episodes won't fit here.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,836]

No, it would not, in the same way that making the Matrix 6 hours long would not increase it's cult following. It is not the length of a show/movie that defines it's quality, but rather what they do with the time they have. In my opinion, the current length of episodes is perfect, and for longer arcs they can always resort to multiple parters like they usually do at the beginning of a season.

[caramba2654 602]

Meh, if they didn't have the "every episode needs to be either 22 or 45 minutes long" the show would be much better. Like, if some episodes needed 45 minutes, then so shall it be. If the episode only needed 22 minutes, then it shall also be.

[Zygen 6,066]

Well it would depend upon the episode really, frankly some episodes would probaly end up dragged out if they where 45 minutes, but some episodes would certainly benifit.

 

I think that keeping episodes 22 minutes is still a safe bet, 2 patters are there when needed I guess, even if it takes extra episodes, but I just feel like since mlp has been good on 22 minutes so far, so I don't wanna change it much.

 

Of course on a good bit of episodes 45 minutes wouldn't be bad.

 

I kinda think there should be a middle ground like 30 minutes or something. Idk 45 minutes seems long for some shorter simpler episodes.

 

Regardless, mlp most likely isn't changing episode times, and I'm fine with that, 22 minutes has worked 3 seasons in my opinion, so If it ain't broken don't fix it.

[shadok2012 18]

Hmmm, Tough thing to ask, I think that it is perfect as it is, and that the occasional 2-parter add in the excitement that we wouldn't get if every episode was that long, so I reckon keep it as it is.

[MJDudeK 226]

I would have to say, yes and no. A longer run time would leave more room for sub-plot development but if you think about it, would that necessarily be a good thing? Look at it this way, one of the reasons the show is so great is because it works in that 22 minute time frame. If every episode was say an hour the sub-plot would be stretched so much it lacking in original dynamic. that is why most, not all, but most animated series' last 20 - 30 minutes. With that being said, the occasional lengthy episode, be it a special or not, is not a bad thing at all. In fact that would boost anticipation and appreciation with its fans. So again yes and no.

Edited August 25, 2013 by MJDudeK

[Rainboom Dash 1,056]

If I was in charge I'd vary single episodes in seasons between 22 minutes and 45 minutes, juding on how much plot needed to go into the episodes. I do agree that some 22 minutes (especially in Season 3) felt very forced and packed in.

[Jamesblorg39welsh 125]

What if we had two episodes a week instead of a longer episode? Not 2 parters just normal episodes more content doesn't drag on

[Dsanders 5,749]

I think only for certain episodes, a length extension would be necessary, because most of them in my opinion actually get to the main message and resolution at a reasonably quick pace. Therefore, adding any extra minutes wouldn't be necessary in that case.

 

However, for episodes like Magical Mystery Cure, and Keep Calm and Flutter On, I believe an episode extension would've worked fine there. Much more development could've gotten down and the pacing would've been a lot better and more realistical as far as realistic can go.

 

Also for "Magical Mystery Cure", an episode extension would've definitely helped make the episode less awkward with it's musical number transitions. Especially since the songs were probably the most rushed thing about that episode.

[Radiance64 7,053]

This thread appears to be discussing MLP:FiM in some way, shape or form. Thus, it has been sentenced to Show Discussion.<br /><br />This is an automatically generated message, by the way.

[Cwanky 17,651]

At least for major plot episodes and sagas, yes longer episodes can really help improve the show. Fans love the songs in episodes like Magical Mystery Cure and A Canterlot Wedding Parts 1 & 2 and that's fine, but given the already truncated nature of regular episodes, we really need a breather at times between the songs. The songs while nice can at times throw off viewers and either skims over trying to "wrap up" or neglects key dialogue, plot and character interactions.

 

For many regular episodes like Wonderbolts Academy, it would have been great to see much more character development out of both Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash, instead of some rushed antagonist plot with a sloppy moral that's hypocritically applied at the end. 

 

Still then on the other end you have episodes like Spike at Your Service and Dragonshy that are perfect in the half hour commercial length and would start to wane and develop poorly if prolonged. Some episodes don't fit nicely into either category and that's fine, but the key here is that longer episodes can and do help at times to help improve the quality of the show. Not every episode has to be longer, but at least for significant plot based pilots or finales and major events in each season they could tremendously help. 

 

Also if kids have the attention span to watch Ice Age, all the Toy Stories, Cars and Finding Nemo and accurately summarize them, which I know for a fact from my nephews they easily can and these films can exceed 1 hour, then they can watch a 1 hour episode of MLP: FiM easily. Don't give me that bull hicky.