Are people expecting too much from season 4?

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

I honestly think this season of MLP has been amazing, I have liked all of the episodes save for "Rainbow Falls." Anyway, being somewhat of an analyst myself, I don't understand why some people are disappointed. I have see A LOT of shows go downhill (Spongebob, Family Guy, Simpsons, Pokémon, etc.) and I'm not seeing the decline in quality many others are. If you are disappointed in Season 4 can you please explain to me why? I'm not trying to be snarky or mean, I'm genuinely curious.

Edited February 1, 2014 by DryColt84

[Nature's Spell 526]

This is the first season I've watched as it happens, so I can't judge from past experience how the fandom reacted. But I get the feeling that the popular analysts are unhappy with the mechanics of the writing even as they praise the entertainment value. I do hope to see them make more of Twilignt's new role, but over all it's been good. No season is perfect. I don't have a favorite season, but I do have favorite episodes and scenes.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

This is the first season I've watched as it happens, so I can't judge from past experience how the fandom reacted. But I get the feeling that the popular analysts are unhappy with the mechanics of the writing even as they praise the entertainment value. I do hope to see them make more of Twilignt's new role, but over all it's been good. No season is perfect. I don't have a favorite season, but I do have favorite episodes and scenes.

 

This is my second season watching as it happened, and people overreacted to Twilacorn (which I support) and Equestria Girls (which I thought was meh). I have never seen so many people disappointed with the episodes as they come out as I have this season, though. It's a bit jarring considering that not much has changed in terms of the dynamic of the show, but I think the show is taking on a different tone because it seems they've had some restrictions lifted. 

 

For example this season has had: the implied death of Angel Bunny (though the audience knew it wasn't him), fantasy violence in several episodes, an episode pertaining to disabilities (something the staff stated was originally not allowed), a ponified F-Bomb in "Congratu-pony-lations fillies!", and some cartoon violence in "Daring Don't."

[Scootalove 10,689]

Well with all of the hype that Season 4 had behind it, some people were expecting it to overshadow Season 3 but I still don't see a problem with this season yet.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

Well with all of the hype that Season 4 had behind it, some people were expecting it to overshadow Season 3 but I still don't see a problem with this season yet.

 

I don't think it is overshadowing any of the past seasons, but it is my personal favorite season so far.

 

In order of my favorite to least favorite.

 

1. Season 4 thus far

2. Season 2

3. Season 3

4. Season 1

[NocturnalRainbow 248]

Maybe some people hyped it a bit too much but so far it's been good. It's easily been on-par with the other seasons. What I really want is some more slice of life. The more "slice of life" episodes they've had have been incredible (Flight to the Finish and Rarity Take Manehattan) I mean, the more adventurous episodes are good, don't get me wrong, but I definitely prefer the little slice of life stories I had grown used to with the series before season 4.   

[Scootalove 10,689]

I don't think it is overshadowing any of the past seasons, but it is my personal favorite season so far.

 

In order of my favorite to least favorite.

 

1. Season 4 thus far

2. Season 2

3. Season 3

4. Season 1

I should've been more specific, not all of the past seasons just Season 3.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

I should've been more specific, not all of the past seasons just Season 3.

 

No problem, it was my bad too.    

[Scootalove 10,689]

No problem, it was my bad too.    

It's okay, we all make mistakes.

[Satsuki Kiryuin 1,155]

I find that it's not that people are expecting too much from Season 4, but they have greater expectations that they want to be met, since the past 3 seasons have been quality productions. People expect Season 4 to be better as it's safe to assume that the show has definitely improved the past few years.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

Maybe some people hyped it a bit too much but so far it's been good. It's easily been on-par with the other seasons. What I really want is some more slice of life. The more "slice of life" episodes they've had have been incredible (Flight to the Finish and Rarity Take Manehattan) I mean, the more adventurous episodes are good, don't get me wrong, but I definitely prefer the little slice of life stories I had grown used to with the series before season 4.   

 

I understand where you're coming from. I think since the slice of life formula requires characters who have to develop and learn in ordinary situations and the characters of MLP are well-defined in most aspects that if the show stuck to its original formula, we'd have to retread the same ground we did in previous seasons.

Edited February 1, 2014 by DryColt84

[NocturnalRainbow 248]

I understand where you're coming from. I think since the slice of life formula requires characters who have to develop and learn in ordinary situations and the characters of MLP are well-defined in most aspects that if the show stuck to its original formula, we'd have to retread the same ground we did in previous seasons.

Good point, maybe the formula needed a little tweak to keep things interesting. 

[GhostPony750 959]

Well, people expect, but they get too much. All those references... *shiver*

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

Well, after season 3, I could expect that we would want something to make people forget about it. So far, I think season 4 is doing it remarkably well. I repeat, SO FAR.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

Well, people expect, but they get too much. All those references... *shiver*

 

I don't think a single reference made in the show has harmed it in any way, because they aren't important to the plot. For example the Applelicious reference in "Pinkie Apple Pie" was of no detriment to the plot if you didn't understand it. No reference to an outside source was necessary to understand a plot thus far and therefore they are fan-referencing (which is awesome), if the reference does hurt the plot in some form then they are fan-pandering (which is generally annoying).

[GhostPony750 959]

@, Okay... these two things I wrote here were actually separated lol.

 

"Well, people expect, but they get too much.":

Unlike the first, and maybe second season, they are actually trying to please the brony fandom, sometimes doing too much... the show quite lost its charm because of that. The newest epsiode is the first so far that the story happens in ponyville. And look at the first season; almost all of them.

 

"All those references... *shiver*"

Slenderman reference, grumpy cat cutie mark... we don't really need that. You are looking at one epsiode, there is a quite nice part, and suddenly: slenderpony. It just grab your attention on something else than what is actually happening. And well, it does have an effect on the episode.

[Thrashy 2,800]

Some certainly are. The writing has always had its peaks and troughs (yes, even the much revered seasons 1 & 2 had their troughs), and this is always going to be true as long as there are so many different writers with varied writing styles working on the same show. Ordinarily, this would put a show in danger of "too many cooks spoil the broth", but as far as I'm concerned, it's as strong right now as it's ever been.

 

Ultimately, I don't think it's so much an issue of whether the show's quality is going downhill, but whether the fanbase's expectations are going uphill. Me, I had no expectations coming into all of this, and to this day my only expectation is "maintain the quality the show's always had", and it's done that. Doesn't mean I'm adverse to seeing the quality improve, but as long as it doesn't backslide, I have nothing to complain about.

 

And concerning the references, they're completely inconsequential to me. Even if I notice a particular ref and think "ugh, that's just bad", it doesn't affect my overall enjoyment of the episode since, almost invariably, these refs are fleeting at best; most of them tend to last no longer than a few seconds, and even the ones that are somewhat focused on (Applelicious) still don't really stick in my mind all throughout the episode, so they get a pass in my book.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Thrashy

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

I think issue does stem from hype-backlash and a good dose of Nostalgia Goggles. Even though from a objective standpoint Season 4(and to some extent S3) have been the best seasons and the first was kind of "meh" in hindsight most people have that emotional connection to S1(and to some extent season 2) because they experienced those episodes for the first time when the show and fandom was still that amazing, perplexing and magical new thing for them. That causes them to unfairly judge S4 and S3 by the measure of "it's different from the first two seasons so it's not as good"

[Stellafera 3,836]

 

If you are disappointed in Season 4 can you please explain to me why? I'm not trying to be snarky or mean, I'm genuinely curious.

 

Season 4 is bipolar.

 

It's frustrating to have that inconsistency and it leads to disappointments. At the start of the season, I was cautiously optimistic but not being too big of a fan of it. Castle-Mane-ia was a whole lot better on rewatch and is the best one of that crop, definitely. Flight To The Finish had wasted potential, but it was okay, I suppose.

 

Didn't like anything else there at all. "Worst season thus far" was my opinion.

 

 

Then comes the streak of 3 (Bats-Rarity Takes Manehatten-Pinkie Apple Pie). This season found its feet! 3 great episodes in a row! Wowie, it'll be my favorite!

 

 

Then Rainbow Falls was terrible. Then the episode after that was meh. Now this newest episode is really good! Should I hold my expectations for the next one low or high? Who knows? 

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

 Well I'm personally enjoying this season The only episode I find not very good is Rainbow Falls. The other episodes seem to have something to enjoy about them. I feel like when people want something from this season, it happens and then there is something new they want. I find this on par with the other seasons. The references don't effect me since they don't really hurt the plot. Maybe it's just that it didn't meet their expectations. But hey, everyone has got their own opinions

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

@, Okay... these two things I wrote here were actually separated lol.

 

"Well, people expect, but they get too much.":

Unlike the first, and maybe second season, they are actually trying to please the brony fandom, sometimes doing too much... the show quite lost its charm because of that. The newest epsiode is the first so far that the story happens in ponyville. And look at the first season; almost all of them.

 

"All those references... *shiver*"

Slenderman reference, grumpy cat cutie mark... we don't really need that. You are looking at one epsiode, there is a quite nice part, and suddenly: slenderpony. It just grab your attention on something else than what is actually happening. And well, it does have an effect on the episode.

 

I disagree with your first statement, but that's just my opinion. In the second one I still am not seeing the issue, it's there but it isn't saying "HEY LOOK AT ME I'M A REFERENCE!!!" it's just there. I don't like the grumpy cat memes, but I just thought "Okay that was odd," and it had no bearing on my view of the episode, plus I highly doubt anyone would've noticed Slendermane if it wasn't posted on Twitter by the staff. I'm sorry if the increase in references are affecting your enjoyment, but I still can't get behind your logic that they are truly affecting the show in a negative manner.

Edited February 2, 2014 by DryColt84

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's funny, I can't say I notice the memes or the popular background ponies. A good episode: Twilight? ✅ Twilight flying? ✅✅ Simple.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Nature's Spell

[Anilewe 2,178]

To answer the question in topic... Maybe. Though I can't really blame them, after all writers promised us a lot in this season. The fans are just excited about it and sometimes expect too much Especially these, who have a tendency to forget that the target group of the show are kids. And the more you have, the more you want. I think that the writers really thought about us, bronies, while creating the season 4 and we should be grateful. It can't look always how we want it to, but we really got a lot of songs, background ponies, references and other things we wished for. So just... let's enjoy the show

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

More or less what Stellafera said earlier in this thread. I don't think I've grown harsher on episodes at all, this season is just frustrating in the way it bounces all over the place in quality. At least so far, it's churned out some of my favorite episodes ever and some that I kind of wish I could forget about. I'm hoping it'll stabilize out sooner or later, in the good sense of course.

[Shanks 10,816]

I think some people are but there are also some people that will like pretty much anything so long as it has ponies, most of us are somewhere in the middle though. I expected a lot from the season premier and for the most part it delivered with my only complaint being that it didn't really give as much information on Twilight's new responsibilities as I was hoping. There have been a couple of episode this season that have been meh, but for the most part this season is pretty good. I don't really get all the doomsaying about the season being a "disappointment" because we are barely even halfway through it but I suppose if some people feel that way there is nothing I can do to convince them otherwise.