Various thoughts regarding the Season 6 Premiere

Thoughts await below...

—Starlight may just be the new main protagonist this season, like Twilight was for the first two-three seasons, or at least she might have actually made it into the roster as the seventh ranger, making the group the Mane 7. (Considering she's in the intro having her picture taken along with the lot of them, and that she's actually the protagonist of a season premiere instead of Twilight for a series first.) This also might mean Twilight's no longer the main character of the series anymore. After all, Twilight's taken the mentor role, and after her coronation she's been much less in the spotlight. Could that be the narrative shift this season will make to renew the series?
—Starlight, evidently being a part of the group, opens new possibilities for character combinations. I'd love to see a Starlight & Rainbow- or Applejack episode. This will allow us to see different sides to her character as she interacts with the rest of the group, in different settings. I'm all for getting to know this mare better. Apropos, I am very interested in seeing her deal with her issues over the course of the season. I don't think she's quite "recovered".
—On the topic of alicorns, this episode either completely abandons supplementary content that claims Celestia and Luna were born alicorns, or suggests there are things the two do not wish for ponykind to know. Celestia and Luna may not have been from what would become Equestria, after all. But, if alicorns ARE simply ponies that have ascended, could it be what makes the royal sisters unique is that they were once earth ponies? Earth ponies are often leader figures, and are often linked to nature. Celestia and Luna both command and are associated with two powers essential to life itself, in a sense, so could it be that which makes them special. Alternatively, Celestia and Luna could be the only beings that have always been alicorns, and they, as "true alicorns" are appointed by some mystical power to govern Equestria. Considering how Cadence and Twilight ascended, maybe it's that the power of love somehow is the driving force that creates an alicorn? The love for your country, or your friends, for the night, for the day, for compassion, or for your child?
—Since alicorns always come to represent an abstract concept, what will Flurryheart represent? As such, being a supposedly unprecedented event, can we assume that her birth was fated by some sort of grand plan to create order or peace? If not, I am convinced Flurryheart went through some sort of pre-life trial and made an achievement of such magnitude that it earned her wings and a horn.
—Speaking of the new princess, does this mean that she's essentially the writers' promise that this series won't end any time soon? If she's going to be a narrative device, ensuring that the series' end will only happen sometime after she achieves her destiny, in years to come, that might mean there is still likely going to be a season 7 and 8.
—Regarding alicorns yet again, could the birth of little Flurryheart shed some light on the true nature of alicorns? Are there two kinds, "true alicorns" or if not so, why exactly do the writers claim Twilight will not outlive her friends...? I'm again a bit concerned.
—If the changeling figure at the end of the second half is any indication, a certain someone may not be quite gone, or we finally get to see the other hidden hives. Either way, if they're about, chances are they'll set their sights on a kingdom literally founded on love. I'm still curious about that changeling at Matilda's wedding too, darn it.
—Apparently, the cold around the Crystal Empire is a simple force of nature which is for some reason attracted to that specific location. After enveloping the Empire in a blanket of winter, it'll keep spreading. I had always thought it heralded a certain black king's return, but it seems to be an unrelated force. The crystal heart repelled the wild winter and it alone. Sombra presumably sought to use it for his own benefit AND to keep the unnatural weather out so his subjects would be reasonably well off despite being slaves.
—In light of all the events that Discord has not been present for, I am rather curious what he's been up to. Is he simply not invited to avoid trouble? Still, you should let the guy who's currently friends with the lot of them spend some time existing!
—About the near future, next episode is Raripie apparently, but given its title, I wonder, which Pie is going to be the other half? If it's not Pinkie, oh my gosh, I'm going to be so excited. Not that the Pinkie and Rarity dynamic isn't something I'd like to see too, but still. That's a potential brief promotion for a supporting character.
—I'm rather curious what Starlight's role is going to be this season, besides being Twilight's pupil. What kind of tasks is she going to be have? How will she impact the status quo beyond how she already has? I don't think she'll be tied to the Map, although there has to be some use for her uncanny magical prowess. Speaking of the map, still so curious what the CMC will be doing to fulfil their now official duty of helping ponies realise themselves, if they're even going to be helping ponies on-screen. I'm hoping they'll end up doing some travelling if so. More world-building would always be lovely. :3
—So anxious for updates on precious griffon kingdom and former stage magician. So anxious! Seeing old faces, particularly those who should be relevant now would be nice, if you re-introduce or introduce characters with ties to recurring and important characters, a couple of cameos from time to time wouldn't hurt. Gilda, for having been given a new role after several seasons of absence, and Trixie, who I'm sure Twilight would like to see again.
—Starlight may be the equivalent to Sunset, but it would still be lovely to see some evidence, any evidence of Equestria Girls being canon. (Aside from the stinger of Friendship Games.) I like that universe and I like Sunset!
—Back to the episode, I am so concerned for the timeline in light of the baby's apparent age, as I refuse to believe Cadence birthed that thing like she was right there and then with the uber wings and horn. Cadence would be still recovering and could have maybe died. The Cake twins ought to have learnt to speak simply by now. Hasn't it been over a year now at least since the return of Nightmare Moon?
—Spike's characterisation this episode is so great, he's so intelligent and mature here, (albeit mischievous) much more like he should be! He's doing his job as a voice of reason, and going beyond it existing as an actual character. Wow.
—Again with the strange and inconsistent terminology. I can understand "fillies and gentlecolts", as it's consistent and rolls much better off the tongue, but 'grandmare'? Why is it necessary to make that change?
—Back in season 5, Fashion Plate was briefly my husbando, but due to no further appearances I've not been as interested in him. Sunburst is my new husbando. He's so adorbs and such a dork, and I love him, I wanna see more of him so much— oh, and Starlight's great in this too. Anyway, back to husbando, he's going to be the crystaller and main researcher of the Empire, it seems. I guess he'll be around the library aside from his own with Starlight whenever she's there and they're on "official" business.
—The Royal Canterlot Voice, it seems, is something any and every alicorn is capable of for some reason. Makes me wonder what occasion that Celestia would use it.
—Starlight's brief anxiety attack was delightfully unsettling. I'm going to assume she didn't take her entire Heel Realisation that well.
—It's possible the reason Sunburst left Starlight was the shame of realising he would never be able to match her. Excited to prove himself, he jumped on the opportunity to study at Celestia's school, but didn't dare face his friend after his failure. He convinced himself she would never want to associate with him if she knew. That somewhat explains why he left so abruptly.

Comments

[Divine Path]

Oh my good grief of all musicality. This is lovely.

[Alsvid]

—Starlight may just be the new main protagonist this season, like Twilight was for the first two-three seasons, or at least she might have actually made it into the roster as the seventh ranger, making the group the Mane 7. (Considering she's in the intro having her picture taken along with the lot of them, and that she's actually the protagonist of a season premiere instead of Twilight for a series first.) This also might mean Twilight's no longer the main character of the series anymore. After all, Twilight's taken the mentor role, and after her coronation she's been much less in the spotlight. Could that be the narrative shift this season will make to renew the series?

Well, we all know how this ended up, except that Starlight's role is so markedly different from any of the occupations the Mane Six currently hold that there isn't much chance of her usurping anyone's position.

—Starlight, evidently being a part of the group, opens new possibilities for character combinations. I'd love to see a Starlight & Rainbow- or Applejack episode. This will allow us to see different sides to her character as she interacts with the rest of the group, in different settings. I'm all for getting to know this mare better. Apropos, I am very interested in seeing her deal with her issues over the course of the season. I don't think she's quite "recovered".

Now, why would you inflict Applejack on poor little Starlight?

—On the topic of alicorns, this episode either completely abandons supplementary content that claims Celestia and Luna were born alicorns, or suggests there are things the two do not wish for ponykind to know. Celestia and Luna may not have been from what would become Equestria, after all. But, if alicorns ARE simply ponies that have ascended, could it be what makes the royal sisters unique is that they were once earth ponies? Earth ponies are often leader figures, and are often linked to nature. Celestia and Luna both command and are associated with two powers essential to life itself, in a sense, so could it be that which makes them special. Alternatively, Celestia and Luna could be the only beings that have always been alicorns, and they, as "true alicorns" are appointed by some mystical power to govern Equestria. Considering how Cadence and Twilight ascended, maybe it's that the power of love somehow is the driving force that creates an alicorn? The love for your country, or your friends, for the night, for the day, for compassion, or for your child?

Apparently we aren't supposed to think about how alicorns work. They're like magnets or miracles.

—Since alicorns always come to represent an abstract concept, what will Flurryheart represent? As such, being a supposedly unprecedented event, can we assume that her birth was fated by some sort of grand plan to create order or peace? If not, I am convinced Flurryheart went through some sort of pre-life trial and made an achievement of such magnitude that it earned her wings and a horn.

SHE REPRESENTS KICKING FLANK AND TAKING NAMES

Just kidding, probably not.

—Speaking of the new princess, does this mean that she's essentially the writers' promise that this series won't end any time soon? If she's going to be a narrative device, ensuring that the series' end will only happen sometime after she achieves her destiny, in years to come, that might mean there is still likely going to be a season 7 and 8.

It looks that way.

—Regarding alicorns yet again, could the birth of little Flurryheart shed some light on the true nature of alicorns? Are there two kinds, "true alicorns" or if not so, why exactly do the writers claim Twilight will not outlive her friends...? I'm again a bit concerned.

Dark Idea: maybe you can kill an alicorn and someone kills Twilight.

That would never actually be a thing, though.

—If the changeling figure at the end of the second half is any indication, a certain someone may not be quite gone, or we finally get to see the other hidden hives. Either way, if they're about, chances are they'll set their sights on a kingdom literally founded on love. I'm still curious about that changeling at Matilda's wedding too, darn it.

It turns out that you were right.

—Apparently, the cold around the Crystal Empire is a simple force of nature which is for some reason attracted to that specific location. After enveloping the Empire in a blanket of winter, it'll keep spreading. I had always though it heralded a certain black king's return, but it seems to be an unrelated force. The crystal heart repelled the wild winter and it alone. Sombra presumably sought to use it for his own benefit AND to keep the unnatural weather out so his subjects would be reasonably well off despite being slaves.

Yes, the cold appears to be some kind of perimeter defense mechanism. It seems to be catastrophically powerful.

This is why I giggle at the bros who write stories about the USA or Nazi Germany or the British Empire invading and occupying Equestria.

You're a five star NATO general. You are commanded to make a beachhead in Equestria.

You send an aircraft carrier group. The Crystal Empire ponies freeze your ships before they can land. Awful weather destroys any aircraft you send up.

And then some Crystal Ponies board your carrier and its escorts and kill everyone on board.

NATO: 0 Crystal: 1

—In light of all the events that Discord has not been present for, I am rather curious what he's been up to. Is he simply not invited to avoid trouble? Still, you should let the guy who's currently friends with the lot of them spend some time existing!

Or maybe he got a nice hobby, like Fluttershy's dad and his collection of clouds. Hey hey, now it's my turn to be optimistic about Discord!

—About the near future, next episode is Raripie apparently, but given its title, I wonder, which Pie is going to be the other half? If it's not Pinkie, oh my gosh, I'm going to be so excited. Not that the Pinkie and Rarity dynamic isn't something I'd like to see too, but still. That's a potential brief promotion for a supporting character.

I guess you could say Rarity's got her hooves in a lot of pies.

—I'm rather curious what Starlight's role is going to be this season, besides being Twilight's pupil. What kind of tasks is she going to be have? How will she impact the status quo beyond how she already has? I don't think she'll be tied to the Map, although there has to be some use for her uncanny magical prowess. Speaking of the map, still so curious what the CMC will be doing to fulfil their now official duty of helping ponies realise themselves, if they're even going to be helping ponies on-screen. I'm hoping they'll end up doing some travelling if so. More world-building would always be lovely. :3

Well, we found out that she performs a magisterial role similar to the Consuls or the Quastors of the Imperial Roman government.

—So anxious for updates on precious griffon kingdom and former stage magician. So anxious! Seeing old faces, particularly those who should be relevant now would be nice, if you re-introduce or introduce characters with ties to recurring and important characters, a couple of cameos from time to time wouldn't hurt. Gilda, for having been given a new role after several seasons of absence, and Trixie, who I'm sure Twilight would like to see again.

Trixie became a Big Damn Hero, even!

Also, we got to see the distinctly Eastern European, if not Scandinavian, Griffonstone.

—Starlight may be the equivalent to Sunset, but it would still be lovely to see some evidence, any evidence of Equestria Girls being canon. (Aside from the stinger of Friendship Games.) I like that universe and I like Sunset!

It's okay, I like Bacon Hair Girl too.

—Back to the episode, I am so concerned for the timeline in light of the baby's apparent age, as I refuse to believe Cadence birthed that thing like she was right there and then with the uber wings and horn. Cadence would be still recovering and could have maybe died. The Cake twins ought to have learnt to speak simply by now. Hasn't it been over a year now at least since the return of Nightmare Moon?

*slowly raising eyebrows at you calling Best Alicorn a 'thing'*

Also, maybe Cadence laid an egg or something. I'm kidding. Chalk it up to pony anatomy being weird. Message me on Discord if you want to talk about this, I saw a fanart that really hammers home how weird pone anatomy would be.

And this is troubling for all the human beings waking up in Equestria, because there is no guarantee Equestrian medicine and treatment would work on you.

Unless, of course, a Wizard Did It.

—Spike's characterisation this episode is so great, he's so intelligent and mature here, (albeit mischievous) much more like he should be! He's doing his job as a voice of reason, and going beyond it existing as an actual character. Wow.

True. He still seems a bit high-strung, though.

—Again with the strange and inconsistent terminology. I can understand "fillies and gentlecolts", as it's consistent and rolls much better off the tongue, but 'grandmare'? Why is it necessary to make that change?

*whispers* they should use gender neutral terminology

—Back in season 5, Fashion Plate was briefly my husbando, but due to no further appearances I've not been as interested in him. Sunburst is my new husbando.

Well, we all know who I tied my wagon to in S7, am I right?

He's so adorbs and such a dork, and I love him, I wanna see more of him so much— oh, and Starlight's great in this too. Anyway, back to husbando, he's going to be the crystaller and main researcher of the Empire, it seems. I guess he'll be around the library aside from his own with Starlight whenever she's there and they're on "official" business.

Very true. I wouldn't bet on them becoming close friends, though.

—The Royal Canterlot Voice, it seems, is something any and every alicorn is capable of for some reason. Makes me wonder what occasion that Celestia would use it.

to issue commands on the field of war. Just kidding.

—Starlight's brief anxiety attack was delightfully unsettling. I'm going to assume she didn't take her entire Heel Realisation that well.

It's a lot to digest, to be fair.

—It's possible the reason Sunburst left Starlight was the shame of realising he would never be able to match her. Excited to prove himself, he jumped on the opportunity to study at Celestia's school, but didn't dare face his friend after his failure. He convinced himself she would never want to associate with him if she knew. That somewhat explains why he left so abruptly.

This is a big mood for me if you're familiar with my tendency to run away from things and responsibilities.