Pegasister's Semi-Ambivalent Trip Into MLP: FIM · 5:57am Dec 5th, 2012
I actually think it's about time I talk about my feelings with the much-loved franchise My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and how I got hooked. This is a warm-up for me as a writer who hasn't written anything in ages, so this is going to be a bit comprehensive for just my take on this sugar-sweet show about Flash animation ponies that look and act like they should be on Cartoon Network (because that would be totally epic). 
It starts with the simplest preface to every story ever told by a fan: my friend was tooootally into it. My gal pal was also the girl that got me into anime when I was still in highschool. I was a bit of a skeptic with the show, and not because of the earlier generations that I was only into when I was eight years old and wanted my own My Little Pony figurine (dammit Mom, I'm just a girl who wants to indulge in my little girly fantasies of pretty horsies that I'll never have a chance to ride!). It was because I've seen it pasted on people's signatures and avatars in my favorite discussion board and I figured it was just an enjoyable cartoon show worth passing time with whenever it's on TV. I didn't see the brony memes and thank God I did not. Otherwise, I would have never gotten encouraged to watch this show that seemed to attract a lot of guys. No offense, bronies. I sincerely thought the demographic it attracted was a bit freaky.
In any case, my gal pal was just one factor. What really goaded me to give the show a try was this comic. So then I thought, "Oh heck, why not! I could use a break from the shit-fuck depressing, emotionally mangling, brain-tumor inducing, metafictional reality of the Nasuverse."
And so I picked up a nice little copy of the first season of FIM, and began like so. The first episode was exactly what I thought it would be like: like a cartoon. Duh. 
But I didn't dislike it at all. It was actually quite fun the first time around, especially when Pinkie Pie jumped into the picture--almost literally--with her 100-words-per-second rapid-fire speech on friend-making and her unstoppable quirks as a comic character. That's when I knew this show was going to be an extraordinary and refreshing kind of funny. I wasn't quite off about it either.
Admittedly, I even cried at the revelation of the second episode. The Elements of Harmony sounded like positive qualities not just found in all ponies on this show, but also qualities to be found--even expected--among friends that stick together and love each other. It's the ideal friendship, with Magic as a unifying element that produces the Light of Harmony with the other five. I'd chalk it up to a symbolic power found in friendship not necessarily magical, but in life, and hard times where you need someone. Magic is success. I've seen speculations, and I don't think Princess Celestia sent off Twilight to form the Elemental Harmony Squad or whatever. IMO, she was looking out for Twilight's emotional growth into her time as a very talented unicorn with a penchant for studying like crazy. Never forget the value of friendship, Twilight. As cheesy as it sounds, I think the overall message in this show is that nothing beats the joy of having friends, especially good friends who stick by you, and friends whom you love and care for.
OK, I'm getting teary eyed! Sorry! 
In any case, maybe it was all that exposure to "reality bites me" Nasuverse, but this show was like a breath of relief for me against the not-so-friendly world we live in right now. No seriously. Have you seen what's going on out there? Bronies and pegasisters, don't tell me you don't watch anime either. We all know to what extent the target demographic varies for this type of TV entertainment. Death Note, for instance? Or Trinity Blood? Or something as psychologically effed up and as intensely philosophical as Kara no Kyoukai?
Honestly, I didn't want to do this blog because taking this show seriously is exactly what ruins the fun for me. You want me to talk about something serious? It won't be on My Little Pony. Now you could get me to write a serious fanfic about Strawberry Shortcake. JK
The characters were also great. Now I understand why my gal pal loves Rarity so much: in a way, she does remind me of her, but idealized. Each character was very distinct in a certain way. To me, the best kinds of shows are the ones that defeat every cliche found in TVTropes. Rainbow Dash exceeded my expectations of being the butch and gung-ho speedster with a knack for making a rainbow trail behind her when she flies. Rarity was all kinds of funny on her own, and somehow manages to stay glamorous and incomparably stylish despite the horrors the show throws at her and the rest of the cast. Twilight Sparkle wasn't the infallible know-it-all that I thought she was going to be, because personally, I hate those types because they never seem to come down from their intellect high; even she had her pitfalls as a realist. Pinkie, too, wasn't only providing comic relief and proved to be much more than that. Best seen in Griffon the Brush-off. Applejack was the only pony that left me bemused; I mean, the Elements of Harmony included a cowpony. Didn't see it coming, lawlz. Fluttershy left quite an impression on me. Rather than be the shy little wallflower that surprises everyone with a disturbingly yandere-ish dual personality (as inspired by the Best Night Ever screenshot I saw on the wiki), she was just a naturally sweet and slightly frustrated pony who has trouble raising her voice in public. So sweet that her pure and kind nature made me tear up in the Cutie Mark Chronicles. O Best Night Ever, why did you have to happen? 
It's also quite possible that a lot of my own close friends have a resemblance to the six ponies. You think I'm kidding? I was appalled by the coincidences that popped up during the show. Rarity and Fluttershy's weekly spa visits, for instance. I've read the fanfics, but none of them came close to what I thought when I first watched Green Isn't Your Color. This playout is exactly how two different girls would be like, especially in a spa. Rarity insists on getting pampered, and Fluttershy just comes along for the ride because 1) she can't say no to a friend and 2) it's not something she objects to. All in all, they both enjoy themselves for different reasons.
As for me, I'm the smart aleck who likes to pontificate her way into explaining nearly everything that goes on around us. Not to mention, I'm the most serious of us all. Rainbow Dash may be the only pony who doesn't fit into any of my friends' traits, but that never stopped her from becoming my favorite character. 
I, however, say all of this only with season one in mind. Full stop.
As a whole, this show was a blessing in itself until the day Hasbro decided to take off the training wheels and push Faust down to consultation and ultimately, remove her from the team altogether. I trusted Faust's vision for the show. That is all. Thanks for reading, guys. 
No offense taken about the brony comment; I realize it's not something one usually expects to hear, that a twenty-something with a car, job, and adequate social life likes the new My Little Pony. When asked why, I just sort of shrug and say, "I dunno; I just like it. It's funny and I like the characters." Also, completely agreed that a lot of brony memes are hella creepy. Why gravitate to a show notable for NOT having the violent deaths, tragedies, and angsty characters commonly found in anime, and then go and ADD THEM BACK IN?
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When asked why, I just sort of shrug and say, "I dunno; I just like it. It's funny and I like the characters."
That's actually the best answer I've heard a brony give, instead of going on a full-out rant about what "an amazing pony show" it is or how "meaningful the messages are in this show". Well yeah, it is and they are, but the collective response from people who haven't watched it yet will be this:
Why gravitate to a show notable for NOT having the violent deaths, tragedies, and angsty characters commonly found in anime, and then go and ADD THEM BACK IN?
Christ has spoken and he comes from South Carolina!
I don't mind a couple of Gunnerkrigg Court-level concepts thrown in, but seriously. This is not the show for such debauchery, dear sirs.