Season 5!

Is a thing!

And then there was this thread, and in posting my answer

1: G1 ponies. Maybe even a G1 crossover.
2: Mane-iac, Chrysalis, Sombra, and/or Coco Pommel return in some capacity.
3: Egyptian mythological references.
4: Sea-ponies. Shoo-be-doo!

And the last one is especially important to me:
5: Princess Cadence getting fleshed out more as a character, and becoming the awesome ambassador-princess I know she can be.

6: Crystal Pony characters. With names. And personalities.
7: Episode plots that don't rely on weird randomness and Double-Rainboom levels of meta.
8: More interaction between Twilight and Fluttershy in a one-on-one basis, in more slice-of-life-y situations.
9: Flutterbat returns, but is handled well.
10: Sweetie-Bot references, because that was the only good thing to come of FIW.
11: Smooth Jazz.

Yep, I just took this up to eleven.

I realized that my ideal Season 5 would kind of resemble The Atlantis Scenario. No, I won't say which items on my list are and aren't relevant to that conclusion, though one should be fairly obvious.

BUT SEASON FIVE WOO

Comments

[ColdGoldLazarus]

And then I see these other people's really amazing answers like this:

1. More development for Spike. Too often, he's treated as simply comic filler, disrespecting his character. He's part of the Mane Six, so have the team treat him as one.

2. Once the characters develop, follow through, and stick to it! Spike is one. Fluttershy's another, and Twilicorn's another (at this point).

3. More slice-of-life episodes, or adventure episodes with less action. Minus the two-parters, self-contained episodes with so much action sacrifices characterization, and that hurts the series.

4. Much more interaction between the main characters and background ponies. Since Apple Family Reunion, FIM is more about the Mane Six/CMC only with the background barely given attention. The community gives FIM LIFE, and that life is really missing this season.

5. Introduce more interesting secondary characters. Coco Pommel is a clear winner, and I hope to see more.

6. Three-dimensionality for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Their roles one-dimensionalize them, and their typical roles undermined Scootaloo's quest to fly.

7. SLOW DOWN. Too many episodes rush through the material, and that hurts their quality.

a. Plan better altogether. Because the pace is often too fast, it makes the episodes look very sloppy.

8. More Luna, but use it well.

9. Don't be so upfront with continuity all the time. Sometimes, the references from series one through three are so blatant, they stick out too much. Continuity is very important when telling a proper story, but tell it too much, and you demonstrate a lack of faith in your storytelling capabilities. Tell it sparingly — don't force-feed the audience by turning what should be a strength into a distraction.

And feel bad that I didn't think of that, despite trying to tell myself that I simply felt that they were so inherently obvious and necessary that there was no need to mention them, as the team is obviously already preparing to make them happen... Right?

[ColdGoldLazarus]

No, wait. Sweetie Bot. I want Sweetie Bot in season 5.

[Emeral Bookwise]

Well, I'm pleasently surprised. No less thrilled, because it's just such an amazing thing. Most shows like this are lucky to get a third season, but here we are getting at least FIVE!

Here's hoping it wil actuallybe worth it.

---

He's part of the Mane Six, so have the team treat him as one.

That person seems to have counted wrong.

Seriously, though, spike gets plenty of "respect" on the show. It's just that respect is in the context that his role is and always has been as Twilight's comic relief sidekick, which doesn't have to be a bad thing. Despite his sidekick status, he's also highly competent in his role as her #1 assistant. The only episode that every really disrespected that was Spike At Your Service, where he inexplicably turned into a bumbling oaf just to facilitate the plot. Worse still it was wholly unnecessary since the focus would have worked just fine if kept on how uncomfortable AJ was accepting the help rather than on spike being a menace to himself and others.

self-contained episodes with so much action sacrifices characterization, and that hurts the series.

I can mostly agree with this.

Since Apple Family Reunion, FIM is more about the Mane Six/CMC only with the background barely given attention.

Outside the occasional guest-star, that's actually really how it's always been from the very first episode. The so called "community" around them has never really existed outside of what was invented by fanon.

6. Three-dimensionality for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Their roles one-dimensionalize them,

Maybe, but this isn't really their show, and they only need the one dimension to fulfil their limited roles. Besides, DT at least actually already has a surprising amount of implicit depth for anyone that actually bother to look for it. That's why she one of my favorite antagonists on the whole show.

a. Plan better altogether. Because the pace is often too fast, it makes the episodes look very sloppy.

Good idea, but there is still only so much they can do in a 22 minute kids show.

[ColdGoldLazarus]

1704213

Outside the occasional guest-star, that's actually really how it's always been from the very first episode. The so called "community" around them has never really existed outside of what was invented by fanon.

Like the Cakes, and the owner of Quills And Sofas? But yeah, I see your point.

Good idea, but there is still only so much they can do in a 22 minute kids show.

I think he meant "use those 22 minutes more efficiently"

[Emeral Bookwise]

1704355

I think he meant "use those 22 minutes more efficiently"

A sentiment I can fully endorse and agree with, but I also have to be realistic here and acknowledge that actually doing so isn't as easy as it sounds.

[ColdGoldLazarus]

1704423 Indeed.

[vullture]

1704076
1704213
All good I deas but I fail to see anyone mention TRIXIE! I WANT MORE TRIXIE! along with Coco too.

[Emeral Bookwise]

1706194
Lazy here, doesn't much like Trixie, for some reason or another.

As for myself though... yes please!

[ColdGoldLazarus]

1706194 1706629 Indeed; I myself don't care much for Trixie, but she's honestly the most likely to return, given Magic Duel.

[Emeral Bookwise]

1706860
You like Sunset Shimmer though, IIRC, so I think you should at least thank Trixie for that. Considering that they are both unicorn "rivals" to Twilight Sparkle, with similar self-aggrandizing egos, and considering that Sunset's minions are Snips and Snails (whose pony counterparts practically worshiped the ground Trixie walked on), I'd bet dollars to dimes that Trixie was originally slated to be the villain for Equestria girls, though possibly only as her human counterpart and not the pony.

The reason for the change then might have been fear that Trixie's fans might take offense if she were cast as such an explicit villain. Although marketing concerns might have also been a factor on Hasbro's part, as Sunsets vibrant fiery color scheme helps set her apart from the M6 far more so than Trixie's more subdued pallet.

Regardless of the reasons, it seems likely that without Trixie there would be no Sunset Shimmer, or even if there where she'd probably be a very different character. Trixie also shares a voice actress with Chrysalis, so who know what the changing queen might sound like without Trixie. Still though, I'm not saying those are reasons for you to change you own personal opinions on Trixie, but I think it's undeniable that her legacy has helped influence other things you do like. Heck, if it weren't for Trixie there might not be a Lunaverse and even though you don't hang out there anymore, that's still where you and I first met, so we probably owe her our own friendship her as well.

[ColdGoldLazarus]

1706976

I'd bet dollars to dimes that Trixie was originally slated to be the villain for Equestria girls, though possibly only as her human counterpart and not the pony.

Yeah, I agree with you on that. I don't dislike Trixie, actually, and I wouldn't complain if she showed up again (or at least, if she showed up again and it wasn't like Magic Duel) but I don't have the same desire to see it happen as compared to the characters I did mention.

that's still where you and I first met, so we probably owe her our own friendship her as well.

And of course there's that.