My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (9th & Final Season Airing Now)

! The falling out between Pinkie & Twilight was like knives through the chest.
I hate when best friends fight like that, Pinkie looked so wounded T_T
! Also, holy crap! They killed a villain that wasn't Sombra!
Though he died from the dreaded "Disney Fall", where it's self-inflicted and gravity does all the work.

Robby

There was apparently a massive leak of Pony material, including the series bible, the last several episodes of the season, and even the movie. (Yes, the one that just hit theaters.)

It's all online so beware of spoilers. Also, you can find the movie now if you look. But don't look, support the franchise and see it in theaters. (It's not out here yet. Maybe next week.)

Robby

Saw the movie.

Yeah, that sure was… a movie. I guess. Captain Usopp was not impressed with Sea Ponies.

Not impressed. Maybe if this same film had been done after season 3 instead of after season 7.

I'm sure its good for the actual target audience of five year old girls getting it as their first movie though.

Also the Derpy pandering at the end was too much. Derpy is best pony but I just feel kind of insulted that they triple crammed her like that at the last minute, like they know that's the background pony that gets attention.

MDL

Rarity & Pinkie were fantastic, loved their little moments.
(like Rarity's Oscar-winning whine on the staircase, or checking her appearance in the mirror while falling out of the sky.)

The songs were up to the usual standard, found them very enjoyable. The animation was a treat at times too (rainboom especially).
"Open Up Your Eyes" gave me "Be Prepared" vibes and that can only be a positive thing.

There was also the dark stuff like the fact that the ponies were going to be sold into slavery.

Overall it's been a movie that me and my friends have seen several times. Lots to enjoy here IMO.

Lord Starfish

Saw the movie. Had fun. Didn't leave that much of an impression.

I mean, it was mostly just because my sister asked if I wanted to come along that I went to see it at all, having sort of lost interest in the series as a whole in recent years (I haven't even SEEN the latest season). For what it was, it was fine, I had a good time watching it, but nothing about it particularly impressed me… well, maybe the villain song, that was pretty badass.

MetaMario

I kinda want to see it, but seeing it alone at a theater is a social assassination. Do you need to be kept up with the episodes?

Nobodyman

@MetaMario:

I kinda want to see it, but seeing it alone at a theater is a social assassination.

I saw it alone. My advice: Don't care about what other people think. That and maybe travel a bit farther to a theater you're unlikely to run into anyone you know.

Do you need to be kept up with the episodes?

As long as you've watched up to Season 3 or 4, nope.

Robby

@MetaMario:

I kinda want to see it, but seeing it alone at a theater is a social assassination. Do you need to be kept up with the episodes?

Twilight is an alicorn princess now. That's all you need. This could have easily been a movie after season 3 and basically nothing would be different. There's pretty much nothing from seasons 4-7 that shows up as at all important.

In fact, it's probably better if you're not up to date because a ton of characters from more recent seasons that would have made sense to show up and have roles were missing or reduced to just background cameos.

(I had to wonder… why don't they get help from the dragon kingdoms? Or the griffons? Or changelings? Or Discord? Where was Starlight Glimmer? Etc.)

MetaMario

Thanks guys, I definitely remember post alicorn Twilight.

MDL

From what I heard, the idea for this movie was first pitched and established not long after season 3. Possibly when they also kicked around Equestria Girls ideas.
This was originally supposed to take place when she was still new to her current way of life, which is why she was less composed and more agitated than her current self.

It probably got pushed back for a good few years while the show was still chugging along in the foreground with constant changes and developments,
resulting in a hasty cameo of Glimmer to at least acknowledge her existence.

KageKageKing

Starlight Glimmer was a mistake.

MDL

Starlight represents the second era of the show.
Season 5 launched it, season 6 cultivated it, and the S6 finale through season 7 has been the awesome fruits of the labor.

The show feels better than it ever was before, and I mean that sincerely. It's been fantastic.
Starlight is one of my biggest highlights and I consider her hugely responsible for keeping the show fresh and interesting.
The chain of events and threads she started off have been more than worth it, and she's fast become one of my favourite characters.

I especially love the rapport she has with Trixie, another pony who's proving a delight the longer time goes on.
The show is at the peak of its powers in my opinion, and I couldn't be any happier with how things are right now.

Season 4's finale felt like a series finale. Perhaps it was.
That was the end of part 1 of the story.
Season 5 and onwards has been part 2, which Glimmer represents.
So now, when people say they don't like Starlight Glimmer… I prefer to call those people "Genwunners" :P

Robby

Your mileage on Starlight Glimmer may vary, but I've really liked the most recent seasons focusing on secondary characters… since the main cast have basically all achieved their dreams and there's just wasn't much left to do with them after more than 100 episodes. Having someone else to learn the old lessons anew helps keep it fresh.

Robby

Apparently the Equestria Girls movies have been doing so well on Netflix, that Netflix has ordered a full 45 episode series starting November 17.

Unlike Netflix's usual "release whole seasons" model, this one is going to release one episode a week. (Which is arguably the approach they're starting to approach with a lot of their shows, where they have much shorter 6-10 episode seasons, but then have the next season follow just 2 or 3 months later.)

EQ has generally been a far inferior product to the main show and much more like a traditional girl's show in terms of stupid plots, but maybe an actual series format can help correct some of the problems it has.

Satsuki

Meh, I'll pass. If I wanted something with silly high school girls there are plenty out there to choose from. I prefer the ponies.

MDL

….that's seriously what you guys get from the EQG movies?
I... but.... okay then.

(Goes back to praying to the Sunset shrine)

Robby

@MDL:

….that's seriously what you guys get from the EQG movies?
I... but.... okay then.

(Goes back to praying to the Sunset shrine)

Sunset Shimmer is fine. And she would have been a much better student in the current show than Starlight.

But Sunset is about the only good thing.

KzTxL7

Sunset is gloriously overrated. She's at best a prototype Starlight. At worst she's a discount Twilight Sparkle.

MDL

So I'm the only one here that honestly thinks the EQG stuff is 100% fun and charming, with something for everyone (Just like MLP)?
Something genuinely worth appreciating as something good & worthwhile on the side?
Heck, one of my Skype friends is tired of the actual show and much prefers watching EQG in general.
I wouldn't go that far (since I still love the show), but still.

Rainbow Rocks was an all-out musical 'battle of the bands' treat with elements of Scott Pilgrim in the climax,
while Friendship Games brought Sunset's redemption full circle by having her save Sci-Twi while taking a Seraph-like form. Something I found incredibly cool.
The first movie and Legend of Everfree were a little lacking in comparison, but I still enjoyed LoE for the superpower elements that were introduced.

Since then, the shorts & songs that came out recently have also been great (IMO) and demonstrate good potential for an episodic series.
I'm genuinely enamoured and interested in what's been built with these gals so far, and I do think that they have enough merit to be given the series.
Which is why it takes me by surprise a little bit to peer into the opposite side of the opinion spectrum. XD

[hide]

This is still one of the best moments ever.
Same gurl. Same.[/hide]

Robby

Maybe if the plot of every single movie wasn't "magic is seeping from equestria and turning a rival into a giant magical demon thing… and meanwhile all the students are completely nonchalant about the crazy magic shenanigans."

Or if the designs weren't so offputting. Or if it wasn't "ponies in high school."

There's just a lot of stuff at the very core of the idea and its implementation that makes it rough.

If the actual show has worn out its welcome thats only because its run for well over a hundred episodes and the entire cast has achieved their dreams by now and everything is spinning their wheels... but thats the entire reason they brought in Starlight and started focusing on background characters.

MDL

@Robby:

everything is spinning their wheels… but thats the entire reason they brought in Starlight and started focusing on background characters.

I love that they decided to this btw, rather than keep things confined until Simpsons syndrome set in.
Definitely a wise move to switch perspective a little and muscle a new main character into the dynamic.

Her inclusion resulted in my favourite episode of the entire show, the "Hearth's Warming Tail" Christmas Carol story. The best musical episode, hands down.
(Though Pinkie Pride sometimes threatens to take top spot again, because Weird Al is wonderful.)
I also never realised how enjoyable Trixie could be until Starlight won her over and made her stick around. Their dynamic makes me smile.

Cyclone_Baroness

Making my way through season 7. The Celestia and Luna episode was pretty good.

! Daybreaker is an awesome concept.

Some of the messages or points in a couple episodes went in an entirely different direction than I expected.

! Rainbow Dash's parents being over the top annoying. I don't think RD over reacted. They were super obnoxious. Yes it's good they were supportive. But damn, dial it back.
! The other episode that went differently than expected was the Fluttershy sanctuary. I thought she'd come to a compromise with the experts. I mean…What was the point of that episode?

MDL

@Cyclone_Baroness:

! The other episode that went differently than expected was the Fluttershy sanctuary. I thought she'd come to a compromise with the experts. I mean…What was the point of that episode?

! Basically, she knew exactly what she wanted to do, and she told the experts exactly what she expected of them,
but they pretty much said "eh, we know better than her. Rather than trying to challenge ourselves, let's just do what we normally do and assume she'll thank us."
! Fluttershy said to the builder that she DIDN'T want another hospital building. She wanted an open outdoor sanctuary.
The builder decided to build a hospital anyways.
! She said to the designer that she wanted greens and browns to take precedent, and said that the windows should be clear and open.
The designer snobbishly discarded what she said and did his own thing.
! She told the wrangler that the animals WEREN'T to be caged. That's like…. super simple.
Wrangler went ahead and brought cages.... with pillows in them. That doesn't make it better, you idiot.
! In essence, they completely ignored their client's criteria and carried a sense of "I know best because I'm the expert".
This arrogance came to a head when, upon being confronted over it, they start trying to loophole their way out of blame.
Then they directly insulted Fluttershy's vision, which she rightly corrected them on.
They did NOTHING that was asked of them, and then they had the nerve to put on an attitude.
They rightfully got fired for it. What the client says GOES.
This would have felt like a victory for many of the viewers who have poor experiences with shitty contracted help.
! The overall point of the episode was that Fluttershy has achieved a quiet dream of hers, which is establishing the sanctuary itself.
It does get referenced and brought up again.

Cyclone_Baroness

@MDL:

! Basically, she knew exactly what she wanted to do, and she told the experts exactly what she expected of them,
but they pretty much said "eh, we know better than her. Rather than trying to challenge ourselves, let's just do what we normally do and assume she'll thank us."
! Fluttershy said to the builder that she DIDN'T want another hospital building. She wanted an open outdoor sanctuary.
The builder decided to build a hospital anyways.
! She said to the designer that she wanted greens and browns to take precedent, and said that the windows should be clear and open.
The designer snobbishly discarded what she said and did his own thing.
! She told the wrangler that the animals WEREN'T to be caged. That's like…. super simple.
Wrangler went ahead and brought cages.... with pillows in them. That doesn't make it better, you idiot.
! In essence, they completely ignored their client's criteria and carried a sense of "I know best because I'm the expert".
This arrogance came to a head when, upon being confronted over it, they start trying to loophole their way out of blame.
Then they directly insulted Fluttershy's vision, which she rightly corrected them on.
They did NOTHING that was asked of them, and then they had the nerve to put on an attitude.
They rightfully got fired for it. What the client says GOES.
This would have felt like a victory for many of the viewers who have poor experiences with shitty contracted help.
! The overall point of the episode was that Fluttershy has achieved a quiet dream of hers, which is establishing the sanctuary itself.
It does get referenced and brought up again.

! I guess that makes sense. But watching it Fluttershy came off as one of those clients that had flighty ideas that didn't seem practical. I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be siding with because they were all kinda being weird about the project. Fluttershy was being kinda weirdly smug was the part that was confusing to me I guess. I think sometimes the writers have a hard time making her assertive correctly. Like I don't know why she keep having to state she was an expert too. But then we're to see the other experts were wrong. I mean I think I was expecting more of a full collaboration message. Not just a stick with my fantasy design.

I keep forgetting each season is actually kinda long.

! I liked that episode about AJ's parents. The Project Runway episode and Rarity randomly shredding on a guitar was unexpected but hilarious. And epsiodes with Thornax. He's like my favorite side character now lol. Well tied with Big Mack.

MDL

@Cyclone_Baroness:

! Rarity randomly shredding on a guitar was unexpected but hilarious.

! There's something about a later episode that makes me wish the shredding scene waited until then to arrive, but yeah it was pretty awesome.
I also loved when Strawberry Sunrise antagonised Applejack with her dislike of apples! Her IDGAF attitude was highly amusing.

Cyclone_Baroness

@MDL:

! There's something about a later episode that makes me wish the shredding scene waited until then to arrive, but yeah it was pretty awesome.
I also loved when Strawberry Sunrise antagonised Applejack with her dislike of apples! Her IDGAF attitude was highly amusing.

I don't know if I actually need to have the spoilers… But I guess just in case..

! Was it the Rarity bad hair day turning punk episode? I wish she had that look for longer lol.

MDL

@Cyclone_Baroness:

! Was it the Rarity bad hair day turning punk episode? I wish she had that look for longer lol.

! Yep, that was the one! Super cool. I wished so badly that her hair would stay like that for a couple of episodes, instead of getting the time skip lol

Cyclone_Baroness

Will also say I like that more of the secondary and even super background ponies are getting some development this season.

Robby

I like that the secondaries have gotten more focus. It was a reasonable route to take since all the leads basically achieved their dreams or went through full development, and they've interacted for over 100 episodes, so there's increasingly less to do with them. So its better to deal with the side.

I don't care so much for the diary episode where they basically just vent against the more vocal members of the fanbase. I get it, parts of the fandom suck, but writing episodes aimed directly at them saying "you're awful, stop it" really isn't the route the show should go.

Also, next season's opening has leaked in some sort of quality. Same song, new animation. And some spoilers I don't quite understand.

!

! It looks like there's going to be a tooon of new characters. And maybe the Mane 6 are taking up teacher roles?

Cyclone_Baroness

Noooo. The video was blocked.

Anyways. The cast is getting pretty huge. All the various leaders, the ponies family members, 3rd tier characters, no longer villain villains, heroes. And they're going to add more? Geeze.

Robby

It worked last night!

And yeah, of course the cast is getting huge. They've been running 8 years and will be just shy of 200 episodes at the end of this season… (and that not counting Equestria Girls using basically the same characters in a different setting) and they're also a merchandise driven show.

It's in their interest to keep making new characters.

Better than just focusing on the same 6 long after they've gotten stale.

MDL

I love love love that the show refused to ever become another Simpsons.
Something changed about the status quo every single season, along with new characters being introduced,
characters being allowed to grow up, develop and achieve their dreams, etc.

In fact, the evolution and progression of the show has me loving it more than I ever did before.
I consider season 7 to most likely be my favourite season so far.
It says a lot about their attempts to keep things fresh that I get way more excited for Starlight & Trixie episodes than I do for mane six episodes.
Clearly they're doing something right and it's working (at least, in MY experience lol)

BlackPirate

Them's Fightin' Herds (a.k.a. the improved reformulation of the canceled fangame MLP: Fighting Is Magic) will be finally lauching February 22nd.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/574980/Thems_Fightin_Herds/

By the way, today, five years ago, was the day when Fighting is Magic officially died (the day when the C&D became public).

Satsuki

Looks fun. Would be more fun if it was still MLP.

Robby

@Satsuki:

Looks fun. Would be more fun if it was still MLP.

It still basically is. The characters are all direct reeeeeeally obvious proxies.

If you want to play the pony version that's around on the internet after people finished the alpha they released forever ago.

BlackPirate

@Robby:

It still basically is. The characters are all direct reeeeeeally obvious proxies.

Only on the surface. Lauren Faust said the personality of MLP characters was an important visual element of fighting moves in Fighting is Magic, so she decided to use similar archetypes for the new characters instead just reformulating the visual identity from scratch.

The descriptions at IndieGoGo were kind of superficial but The Book of Lore and the workstreams helped to better clarify the differences between characters from MLP and TFH. Tianhuo in particular barely resembles Rainbow Dash at all. And when the game is out the differences will become even more apparent with the voice acting and the Story Mode. The DLC characters will not even to be proxies of specific MLP characters.

In short, people who buys the game hoping purely for MLP with serial numbers filed off will probably be disappointed.

EDIT: The list of voice actors is now out. Tara Strong will voice Arizona (the character who substituted Applejack).

Nobodyman

Trailer for Season 8

! Yay! More Sea Ponies!

Satsuki

@Nobodyman:

! Yay! More Sea Ponies!

Cyclone_Baroness

Oooo.

! Friendship Hogwarts? I can dig it.

MDL

Season 8 starts tomorrow!

Here's an official sneak peak, presented with a huge dollop of nostalgia.
I guess this is the natural progression from when they used The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Satsuki

Just found out my mother has NEVER heard of MLP: FIM, OR Bronies in general. She thought MLP was still just part of my 80s/90s childhood. Man, I knew this woman didn't really care about popular culture or most tv shows, but to have never even HEARD of it made my jaw drop. It's not Beyonce or Pixar or Marvel, but this is a major subculture.

Imagine how even more surprised she was when I told her Q (she's a Trekkie) had a character in it.

MDL

You should also tell her that Shatner had a role!

Satsuki

looks it up Holy crap, Shatner was Grand Pear?! How did I miss that?!

Okay, George Takei needs to get a role NOW.

Nobodyman

BTW, here's the new opening (we were way overdue for one)

Satsuki

Considering how much Ponyville has changed, we definitely needed a whole new op.

Still not sure how I feel about Starlight Glimmer becoming one of the mane ponies. What, is she going to get her own Element of Harmony?