More Season 4 Synopses Revealed! · 3:46pm Oct 31st, 2013
Today Equestria Daily revealed more synopses for the Season 4 premiere as well as a synopsis for the third episode of Season 4. You can find the original posts for the premiere's synopses here and the third episode's synopsis here. But I shall copy them below for the purpose of me discussing them.
Season 4 Episode 1
Title: Princess Twilight Part 1
Synopsis: Now a Princess, Twilight Sparkle's Summer Sun Celebration plans are put on hold when Princesses Luna and Celestia go missing.
Air Date: November 23, 2013
Zap2itSeason 4 Episode 2:
Title: Princess Twilight Part 2
Synopsis: In order to save Equestria from the Everfree Forest, Princess Twilight and friends must bring their Elements to the Tree of Harmony.
Air Date: November 23, 2013
Zap2it
Season 4 Episode 3
Title: Castle-Mania
Synopsis: While in Luna and Celestia's old castle, the ponies are convinced it is haunted by the Pony of Shadows.
Air Date: November 30, 2013
Zap2it
What do we know now? Well at least we know that the premiere is titled "Princess Twilight" (Parts 1 and 2). The subsequent episode is titled "Castle-Mania".
The synopsis for "Princess Twilight" doesn't tell us anything more that we did not know from the synopsis for the premiere that I blogged about last week. However, the one intriguing thing about this synopsis is the mention of something called "The Tree of Harmony" in the Everfree Forrest. That might be the thing depicted in this cover image that accompanied the initial synopsis' reveal on Equestria Daily.
Why do I have this weird feeling that this "Tree of Harmony" is like the White Tree of Gondor? It's not like MLP hasn't referenced The Lord of the Rings before.
Anyway, I have no doubts that this mission of taking the Elements of Harmony to this Tree of Harmony in the Everfree Forrest will be part of this mission against this villain who will be expanding the Everfree Forrest as aforementioned in the initial synopsis. Probably this villain will be throwing obstacles in their way. In a way, it seems very reminiscent of the pilot "Friendship is Magic." And I'm sure that this Tree of Harmony might play into the origins of the Elements of Harmony that will be revealed. Just don't tell me the Elements grow on trees or something like that. That seems kind of silly. (My own head canon is that they were forged in the Fire of Friendship featured in "Hearth's Warming Eve".)
As a final thought on this, I feel that the title "Princess Twilight" tells me in my gut that they're going full speed ahead on this Alicorn Princess Twilight thing. I still hold on to the hope that at least the alicorn part is temporary, and I shan't give up on that until I've seen the premire.
I think the synopsis for "Castle-Mania" proves very interesting. Presumably this old castle is the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters in the Everfree Forrest. Why is this interesting? Well, it seems that in the second part of the pilot, the Mane 6 will be heading into the Everfree Forrest. The third has them in the Everfree Forrest again or perhaps... still. In my previous blog on The Harry Potter Effect, I noted how I'd like to see more story arcs on MLP. It seems quite possible at this point that the end of the premiere will lead straight into the third episode, giving us our first story arc since Season 1! I really hope this is the case.
Also intriguing is this mention of a "Pony of Shadows". I see a number of possibilities. Most likely, the Pony of Shadows is like the Olden Pony from "Sleepless in Ponyville" or the Headless Horse from "Look Before You Sleep" and "Sleepless in Ponyville". It's just some ghost story. But, what if this Pony of Shadows is actually the villain from the premiere! That would be two points for the Harry Potter Effect because I mentioned in that blog that I wanted to see a story arch involving a villain.
But what about an even more intriguing possibility? I believe it was Megan McCarthy at the Las Pegasus Unicon who mentioned that King Sombra from "The Crystal Empire" was as well and truly "dead and gone" as Justin Timberlake would say. I thought that was too bad because King Sombra had the potential to be a cool villain and is rather under-utilized in the 3rd Season premiere. Although, I do understand that the episode was geared more towards Twilight's growth as a character, which it did really well. Also, I totally get that Sombra is supposed to be like Sauron from The Lord of the Rings and just this vague presence of evil. At least, Sauron though had Saruman and an army of Orcs at his disposal.
Sombra or Smoke Monster from LOST? I can't tell.
Note though that "sombra" in Spanish means "shadow"! What if the writers changed their minds and decided to give Sombra a proper villainous treatment by making what remains of him the villain for the "Princess Twilight" and "Castle-Mania"?
The possibility also remains as I brought up on my previously mentioned blog on the initial synopsis for "Princess Twilight" that the villain in that episode could be the force behind Nightmare Moon. Tommy Oliver, the MLP analyst formerly known as Bronycurious, even speculated in one of his videos that there was a connection between King Sombra and Nightmare Moon. Perhaps this Pony of Shadows is that connection.
Another thing though is that this haunted castle motif is something that seems more appropriate for Halloween. I think MLP should have premiered last week so this episode could premiere this week right after Halloween. Or MLP should have premiered two weeks ago so this episode could have aired last week right before Halloween. For all I know, the writers behind MLP were hoping this episode would air around Halloween. If it did, at least we wouldn't be waiting any longer for Season 4!
Well so far, Season 4 continues to look interesting. What are your thoughts on these latest revelations from Season 4?
Happy Halloween!
God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless Equestria.
Given the plot of the third episode, it would have made more sense for season 4 to premiere this month, but whatever. Guess they're trying to go for a "Halloween for Thanksgiving" thing or something.
Definitely looking forward to the premiere though. It certainly sounds interesting. Overall, season 4 sounds really interesting. I mean, it feels like anything can happen this season and a lot of, for lack of a better word, interesting things are certainly happening. Expanding on the history of the Elements of Harmony, shadow ponies, haunted castles, a disability episode for Scootaloo, a road trip episode with Applejack and Pinkie Pie, a Spike-centered superhero episode. This season has a lot of potential. Let's just hope it doesn't disappoint (but I have a feeling it won't
).
1469643 Ah yes. Anything is possible.
That "Alicorn thingy" is permanent
1541380 I realize that now.