A few musings regarding The End · 9:37pm Oct 7th, 2019
So I feel compelled to offer a few thoughts I have had regarding The End. Why I feel so compelled, I have no idea, but I’ll offer them all the same, and you can take them however you like.
Now, of course, I refer to the series finale of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. This is a show that has obviously impacted all of us in some way, and I admit I am a bit sad to see the inevitable end.
Having said that, let me tell you a story. This is a real event that have really happened. Really. Names have been changed to protect the innocent, but everything else about it is as true as my doodle memory allows me to remember.
I invite you to travel back to the early 1990’s with me, though the exact date of this anecdote has been lost to the annals of time. I, being a younger Irrespective in those days, had traveled with my parents to visit my maternal grandparents who lived one state over from us. While Grandpa was (and still is) a classic ornery old cuss, Grandma was one of those super cool grandmas who let you do just about anything you wanted, within reason. Toys, games, television, and a pantry full of junk food awaited any visiting grandchild, and it was implicitly understood that you did not need to ask for permission to enjoy and partake.⁽*⁾
⁽*⁾I’m pretty sure my parents hated this rule, but they allowed it since we didn’t visit a lot. :)
It was in this blissful abode one night that I found myself wanting to watch a movie. Grandma had a sizable collection of VHS tapes that held all of the classic Disney movies and a few unknown gems like Quest for Camelot and The Swan Princess, but this night was a night of destiny. As I searched, I found a cassette that had no case, and was simply labeled More Muppets, Please! Intrigued, I asked if I was allowed to watch this tape, since it was in a drawer and not with the others, and my mom eagerly told me that I could watch it, and that she would watch it with me.
The cassette was taken downstairs, the old Zenith television set was warmed up, and a comfortable position was taken up on the couch. Though I had seen The Great Muppet Caper, I had not known that there was a T.V. show based around Kermit and Company, and I really didn’t know what to expect as that familiar intro began to play.
Now, I should point out that The Muppet Show stopped producing new episodes in 1981, and I was watching this some ten to fifteen years after that fact.
It was love at first sight.
I couldn’t get enough of Kermit’s exasperation, Miss Piggy’s karate chops, The Great Gonzo's failed attempts at 'high' art, or the marvelous misadventures of the Swedish Chef. To this day, I will seek out old episodes of that fantastic show, and with each laugh, I marvel at the genius that was Jim Henson.
Why do I bring this up? Because I believe that FiM is a show that will have that sort of longevity. Ten years from now, when you are scrolling through whatever the future version of Netflix that exists, either you or your children will see a show filled with colorful ponies and you’ll be sucked in all over again. Lauren Faust and Big Jim Miller have created a show that is smart, thoughtful, and intelligent, and we all know that much of the success of the show came because the writers and producers did not treat it as a thirty-minute toy ad, even though they could have. Even though the show will be complete after Saturday, the legend will live on.
And because FiM is so rich and dynamic, that means that we, as fanfic writers, have a ton and a tonne of material to use. I personally have stories that may very well take years to get out - and that’s not counting Baked Bean’s tale - and I’m sure there are many writers who are in the same boat. The combination of ideas is nearly limitless, and I fully expect to see several wonderful stories come to be, even without new episodes to prompt them.
So go ahead and be sad about The End. I’m a bit sad too. But remember that The End is not really the end, and that the fanfiction will continue to flow. If you can, send some money to Knighty to keep the website going for years to come. If you can’t, just click on those adverts every now and then. But above all, keep enjoying the stories.
It’s why we came here in the first place, after all. 
I'd rather see the show end at a decent standard than go on well past its welcome because it's a cash cow. I've thought for several years now that it's become a bit tired and hasn't delivered that much new. Even episodes 24 and 25 rehash a lot of previous episodes.
It's a shame it has to end, but all good things do eventually.
Honestly, I'm quite surprised (and I doubt I'm close to the only one, either) at MLP's lengthy run, and just how far it went in the process: spin-off series, long-running comic books (that look to be continuing the show, no less), and a theatrical release too.
So while I'm kind of disappointed that I won't have Saturdays to look forward to anymore--the only thing I really watch anymore that isn't on a DVD or VUDU stream--I'm happy that it's gone as far as it has, and ends on its own terms rather than just being canned without notice by the network.
5133729
We need only look to The Simpsons for a prime example of what you say. It's a good call to end it now, rather than to drag it on and ruin the memories.
5133737
That's a good point, too. So many good shows just get the ax with no warning. While that's great fanfic fuel, it's always nice to have a show actually end.
And I'm sure Hasbro is keen to keep the magic going, in one way or another. I'm sure FiM merchandise will be around for years, plus the comics and everything else. I really wouldn't be surprised to see a few specials pop up, like the shorts that appeared on YouTube, in between now and G5.
I'm also sure Hasbro will do their darnest to make G5 a worthy successor. I admit I'm curious to see what is to come. If they can at least avoid G3 and 3.5 territory, then I wouldn't be surprised to see a G5 tag pop up on fimfiction for all the new stories we'll write.
5133742
I actually had The Simpsons in mind when writing that.
The fact is that many works out there still live on past the end, and authors still come up with unique and interesting stories to tell. The show has produced some wonderful characters that will continue to live on, if only in memory.
For me probably the biggest disappointment is that a lot of fans have moved on. Though that said, a lot have simply grown up and taken on new responsibilities in the years since the show started.
5133746
The wise Georg noted that in one of his recent blog posts, too. People grow, they change, and their interests change with them.
Though I do wonder how many people sneak back and look up a favorite old story without logging in...
5133748
Planning for when Entropy eventually has its way with things, I've been downloading my favorites as they reach completion. Some days, you just need to dig out an old friend and re-read it. (I still have some of my old young-adult novels that I can blitz through in an afternoon when I'm in a nostalgic mood.)
5133790
And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.
5133729
Several years? Season 8 was the worst season, but the rest of the recent seasons have been great. Especially season 6 and 9.
5133813
See, that's one reason why FiM has staying power. Even with the ups and downs, the show still provided some wonderful episodes. :)
5133813
I'm not saying there haven't been good episodes but that they started running out of ideas. The finale of 9, without trying to spoil anything to me just sums this up. I'll say more when it's aired officially.
That doesn't mean it's not enjoyable, or that it's bad, just that you can see a struggle to do something fresh which is why I say the show was getting tired.
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5133813
Even S8 had some decent episodes, though. I thought “Surf and/or Turf”, “Horse Play”, “The Mean 6”, & “Sounds of Silence” were pretty good, and as characters the Student Six have certainly grown on me.
5133828
As long as it wraps up the show in a satisfactory manner, I'll be happy. From what I've heard from a couple friends, it sounds like I'm not going to be too terribly disappointed.
5133828
Oh, I agree. There's only so many times you can go over the same lesson.
I'd use A Royal Problem and Between Dusk and Dawn as an example. Both are solid episodes, but apparently the royal sisters didn't learn how to respect each other when they swapped cutie marks. :)
I actually haven't been able to finish watching because the last time I checked Netflix didn't have every season. I'll have to grab a disc collection. Hopefully they release one with a nice metal case
5133840
I'd count on it. Collector's editions always sell well.
5133838
I really enjoyed both, but would have thought Tia would have learnt when Lulu got back from the moon!
5133844
That too!
Indeed. I think it's only because of how good the show is that we have such a massive fanbase, and a massive wealth of excellent fan fiction.
Its not the end. Its just the beginning of something new. I've seen it *No spoilers I promise* and It does it well. The show and its characters will continue to live on in our stories art and ideas. keep going with them. You never know what the future will bring.
5133828
There are some rehashes, but I think there've been more than enough original ideas. Also, I watched the finale, and I guess I can see what you mean, but there were some new things done too.