So Here We Stand...

Season 4.

The best thing I can say for it is 'It could be worse'.

I've always felt that the show has too little screentime to tell the stories it wants/needs to, but it's feeling especially pronounced with this new season. I mean, none of the episodes have been colossal failures so far, but I feel like Hasbro is playing it ultra safe. And as much as I hate, repeat HATE, Twilicorn, at least they're putting in some effort to make that relevant. Maybe not successfully, but it's there.

The thing that's tying Season 4 back, in my opinion, is a combination of too little time, a lack of creativity, and a half-hearted attempt at creating proper continuity. Time is self-explanatory, and I already went over that. At the very least, we need more two-parters, and we need to avoid purely musical episodes(Season 3 finale, I'm looking at you).

Creativity, I say? Yes, creativity. The 'Mysterious Box' in the premiere was a HUGE cop-out on Hasbro's part. It screamed 'We actually have no idea what we're doing, so here's a box while we figure it out'. And while the move with throwing away the Elements of Harmony was a pretty awing idea, I feel it just to make it so that the next villain they dream up won't fold like tissue paper. I mean, our creativity for villains kind of dropped off with Sombra. He's just a unicorn with a fancy horn and a crystal fetish. Sunset Shimmer is a unicorn who(somehow) was able to use the Element of Magic. And the plant thing was just am excuse to throw away the Elements, explained away by Discord being Discord. Nightmare Moon's return/reappearance was an amazing amount of potential tossed catapulted rocketed HYPERDRIVEN out the window. I'd like some more spice, less vanilla please.

And finally, continuity. It really seems like the show doesn't know if it should do this or not, and I think it should. There's been a rise in recurring elements lately, and I do enjoy seeing the character's efforts produce tangible and meaningful effects. On the other end of the alignment spectrum, I would have liked to see Chrysalis' invasion have a little more effect. Not even Ents let someone mess with them like that. Yet to the Equestrians, it's Tuesday. Not sure if jaded, or incredibly retarded.

So there. That's my little rant. Disagree with me? I'd be happy to have a civilized argument. You know where to respond.

P.S.
Revenant and MoaK? I've said it before, done when it's done. Don't mean to sound rude, but my inner jackass has been prodded and woken up. Don't like the uncertain timetable, deal with it. Nothing is coming out before it's well and finished again. Not pulling any more EA's.

P.P.S.
On the tail end of this, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or if you're not the religious type, Happy Holidays.