Do You Think the Show is Getting Better or Worst for Season 4?

[Keen Blade 64]

Altogether, I think Hasbro has handled things pretty well on their end, definitely far better than most companies seem to. They've generally given the showmakers enough leeway to make a genuinely good show while still meeting the ultimate goal- which, of course, is and always was, to sell toys. And they've been accomodating to the adult fans as well. I don't doubt many others would have seen bronies as a threat and sought to distance themselves. I don't doubt that's a conversation that went on in private at Hasbro. For the most part, I'm pretty cool with them. I think they're proving to their competitors that other business models exist. Maybe DC will learn from them- they canceled Young Justice when they learned of its large female following. That could have happened to us, you know.

[JayStorm 40]

Definitely the most up and downs, Downs being, It ain't easy being Breezies, Power Ponies, and Rainbow Falls. The ups are Pinkie Pride, Three's a Crowd and the best episode of this season, Flight to the Finish

[PerrySlanter9090 22]

Well, season 3 was quite dissapointing, but season 4 has been fantstic so far, except for the breezies episode, which practically bored me to death.

[Singe 2,111]

Much better as I see Season 3 going off the rail.

[Sir Wulfington 276]

I've noticed with this season that the writing has been more frequently hard if not impossible to make sense of, but mostly it's just been "meh" for me, like, watchable, but not very enertaining. I think the writers are just running out of good ideas, and with a fifth season along with five more years confirmed, I'd pleasantly surprised if FIM doesn't become the next Spongebob

 

So overall, ya, I think it's getting worse, tho their have been at least two bright spots for me (Pinkie Apple Pie and Rarity takes Manehatten). I do wonder if the logical errors aren't becoming more frequent, but that they're either less subtle, or it's because I now make sure to keep an eye out for them in fictional stories.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Sir Wulfington

[joecal97 340]

This season, at least, from my perspective, has produced two of the biggest stinkers in the whole series in Rainbow Falls and Flight to the Finish.

 

BUT...

 

Season 1, my personal favorite season, produced Sonic Rainboom and the Cutie Mark Chronicles, two of my worst episodes as well.

 

That being said, I have found a lot of enjoyment and not really any dislike in this season so far past the two episodes I listed, and I feel the same way about S1; currently, the only way S4 can drop out of the contest for best season is if it produces another episode that makes me cringe, but hey, it'll never be on par with S3 in terms of how much I dislike it (I liked 2 out of 13 episodes. LIKED.)

 

So, compared to it's predecessor, I must say S4 has blown S3 out of the water and has had a sharp increase in quality.

 

So, for now, I'll give it a "better" because I've found enjoyment in episodes that I fell neutral on, like "Somepony to Watch Over Me" and "Twilight Time," and have liked all but 2 episodes

Sonic Rainboom bad?

Your opinion I know, but I have to say I disagree personally.

[Quill Waver 1,408]

I definitely believe that the show is staying at a sort of "middle ground," not getting better or worse.

[Nature's Spell 526]

I agree with the premise that season 4 is not better or worse than any other season. The writers seem to be approaching the season differently, but right now it seems to be working out OK. I do wish they would do something else with Twilight, but I'm starting to think they are holding off to the end .

[Sir Wulfington 276]

They didn't say it was bad, or even that it has lost its touch. Also, did you just blame them for FlamingoRich's animation? How does that make sense? Double Rainboom's main problem was that it was advertised as a full-length episode to mirror the show, it wasn't, but it was a good animation nonetheless. Its writing was a little lackluster, but Egoraptor's work is the same way (coming from a fan of his). FlamingoRich is a talented ANIMATOR, he and his crew aren't great writers imo. I have seen some really good episode ideas on here that I could see happening in the show, so let's not make blanket statements.  :okiedokielokie:

 

Worst Discord ever was in Keep Calm and Flutter On imo, and how has Flutters bombed? She's just been delegated to the sidelines, because there's nothing for her to do. That to me isn't bombing, it's just...well...Fluttershy has been written into a corner, because of her previous development. She's the most explored character after Twilight, yet the least fleshed out. Most people are worried about Pinkie this season, but I'm worried that Fluttershy will have nowhere left to go after this. That's unfortunately what I think MLP's downfall will be, retreading previous ground with each character until it becomes frustrating to even the casual audience.

Ya, I'm one of those worried about Pinkie lately, she's basically a flanderization of her former self, reduced to the comic-relief status. It's ironic, thinking back now, when she was my favorite early on, I think I recall liking how she was a comic-relief but more, a character with depth, how it became clear to me that she was goofy because she was so full of joy, and liked making others laugh.

 

But now....now she's just a fucking goof for the sake of being a fucking goof, and to make matters worse, she's not even a funny goof anymore IMO. But that's because they aren't showing her other traits much if at all anymore, and it's sad. 

 

 

I share your worry that they'll run out of lessons for the characters to learn and develop from, and will than have them re-learn those lessons over and over for the sake of episode plots.

[SomeReallyRandomGuy 137]

Season 4 has been a mixture of good & not so good episodes in my opinion.

There has so far only been 1 episode I strongly did not like, simply because I found it a bit boring (sorry to those who enjoyed it), that episode being It Ain't Easy Being Breezies.

 

Other then that episode, I've found season 4 to be rather entertaining.

Each season has its ups and downs, no show can be perfect 100% of the time.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

Ya, I'm one of those worried about Pinkie lately, she's basically a flanderization of her former self, reduced to the comic-relief status. It's ironic, thinking back now, when she was my favorite early on, I think I recall liking how she was a comic-relief but more, a character with depth, how it became clear to me that she was goofy because she was so full of joy, and liked making others laugh.

 

But now....now she's just a fucking goof for the sake of being a fucking goof, and to make matters worse, she's not even a funny goof anymore IMO. But that's because they aren't showing her other traits much if at all anymore, and it's sad. 

 

 

I share your worry that they'll run out of lessons for the characters to learn and develop from, and will than have them re-learn those lessons over and over for the sake of episode plots.

 

Princess Twilight Sparkle, Daring Don't, Bats!, Pinkie Apple Pie, Filli Vanilli, and Maud Pie all show Pinkie as more than a goof, but I've said this before and I'll say it again. The main issue with Pinkie this season has nothing to do with flanderization, but is a direct result of the Mane 6 being pushed into any non-CMC, non-Apple Family episode. The Mane 6 have no time to actually shine in the spotlight so they are instead reverted to their most basic personality traits (most of which don't do them justice, and shouldn't be expected to imo).

 

Pinkie the silly, random partier who defies logic

Rainbow the athletic tomboy with attitude who refers to things she likes as awesome

AJ the down-to-earth, apple-loving farm girl

Rarity the posh, drama queen fashionista

Twilight the intelligent, bookworm spellcaster

Fluttershy the quiet, timid animal-lover

Edited March 24, 2014 by DryColt84

[Sir Wulfington 276]

Princess Twilight Sparkle, Daring Don't, Bats!, Pinkie Apple Pie, Filli Vanilli, and Maud Pie all show Pinkie as more than a goof, but I've said this before and I'll say it again. The main issue with Pinkie this season has nothing to do with flanderization, but is a direct result of the Mane 6 being pushed into any non-CMC, non-Apple Family episode. The Mane 6 have no time to actually shine in the spotlight so they are instead reverted to their most basic personality traits (most of which don't do them justice, and shouldn't be expected to imo).

 

Pinkie the silly, random partier who defies logic

Rainbow the athletic tomboy with attitude who refers to things she likes as awesome

AJ the down-to-earth, apple-loving farm girl

Rarity the posh, drama queen fashionista

Twilight the intelligent, bookworm spellcaster

Fluttershy the quiet, timid animal-lover

 I have felt that cramming all 6 of them into so many episodes this season has been at the cost of what made them interesting characters, because in a 22 minute episode there just isn't enough time to showcase their depth. I've wondered why the writers have been doing this, and I figure it's their "solution" to complaints about certain characters not getting enough spotlight, which of course is foolish, because now the characters, at least during those episodes, lose too much of their depth (well the ones who aren't the star of those episodes, and are just there).

 

I think Pinkie may be suffering the worst of this tho, not sure why I feel that way. 

[Radiance64 7,053]

The season has been a slight bit inconsistant with some somewhat questionable writing and characterization here and there, but for the most part it's been the best season of MLP so far in my opinion with some seriously knock-out episodes like Castle Mane-ia Rarity Takes Manehatten, Three's a Crowd, Pinkie Pride, and the recent For Whom the Sweetie Belle Tolls. Definitely better.

[SomeReallyRandomGuy 137]

I do personally like episodes where the main 6 are not all together, not to say I don't like the episodes where they are, but the ones where its a single character seem more interesting.

Obviously this is not the case with every episode where the main 6 are all in it together, but it is in some episodes.

 

Either way, I'm happy with the seasson so far, and I'm looking forward to whats left of it

[Flutter's lover <3 8,205]

I'd like to think it's getting better. I've noticed Fluttershy becoming less of a doormat, and becoming more naturally assertive and becoming more of a dynamic character.Which is a good thing.

 

Though what bugs me, is that Flutters is the only pony who doesn't have a sibling/sibling figure, that we know of. Nor do we know much of her past, other than she went to school with Rainbow.I'd love to find out who Flutter's parents are, and her back story.

 

I'm REALLY hoping they look more into her past. It would add so much more to her character. It's two thirds into season 4...We should have gotten something by now.