History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic

* TrueArtIsAngsty: These are easily the darkest stories to come out of the [[Franchise/MyLittlePonyGeneration4 FIM 'verse]], and the most hotly received issues of the comic in quite some time. The Tirek and Sirens stories are viewed as its weaker entries for being lighter in comparison to the others.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** Many fans were dissatisfied with Sombra's portrayal [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E1TheCrystalEmpirePart1 on the]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E2TheCrystalEmpirePart2 show]], with his having little characterization or presence in the story despite hints of something deeper, which were then cut short by his being killed. The series' first issue rectifies that.
** The Season 4 premiere which showed Luna's transformation into Nightmare Moon showed that it lasted for less than five minutes before Celestia retrieved the Elements of Harmony and banished her, which makes Luna's guilt and the fearful reputation of Nightmare Moon a bit dubious. These comics show that even in her banishment, Nightmare Moon learned how to control dreams from the Nyx and used her powers to plague Equestria with nightmares, and Celestia didn't have much ability to defend them over the long-term. With the obvious implication that this is how she spent her entire thousand-year exile, Luna's guilt for her actions as Nightmare Moon and the terror ponies hold of her are very justified.
** The Nightmare Forces from [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW the main comic series]] were criticized for their implied being TheManBehindTheMan for Nightmare Moon, reducing her relevance while adding nothing themselves, and were ignored when the show [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E1PrincessTwilightSparklePart1 showed Nightmare Moon's origins]]. Her issue reveals that ''[[HijackedByGanon she]]'' [[HijackedByGanon was the one who corrupted them in the first place]], reconciling with show canon and restoring her roll as the BigBad [[TheChessmaster and then some]].
** Some felt Celestia [[TheWorfEffect losing to Chrysalis]] in the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 season 2 finale]] [[FauxActionGirl excessively cheapened the ability of the former]]. Their confrontation in final issue confirms that, [[WorfHadTheFlu without Chrysalis getting her power boosted]], Celestia beats her hooves down. [[OneWomanArmy And the rest of the changelings.]] [[ScarsAreForever AND permanently damaged them]], something not even Twilight Sparkle could do despite giving them her biggest, empowered, magical beatdown [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 par her fight with Lord Tirek]]. There's a good reason Chrysalis [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu was as surprised as anyone else she beat Celestia this time]].

* MoralEventHorizon: It's revealed Chrysalis crossed it long ago by razing at least one city to the ground in what's implied to be a genocide.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: The Mane Six calling Chrysalis "Cheese Legs", in [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW the first comic arc]] was a joke. It's shown to be the result of injuries inflicted by Celestia hundreds of years prior, [[GoodIsNotSoft not to say they weren't well deserved]].

* CryForTheDevil: All the major antagonists are given sympathetic backgrounds, with the exception of Chrysalis, who was hatched as an EldritchAbomination, and Tirek, who we only see as a destructively AngstyTeen, without any explanation for why he is so.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Princess Amore's actions regarding Sombra and why she never actively did anything to help him reject his destiny. Was it because she wanted him to figure it out on his own, or was she afraid if she actively tried to steer him away from his destiny he would assume she was only doing it because she viewed him as a potential threat and not because she believed he was good (and thereby leading to his FaceHeelTurn anyway).

** Chrysalis' issue has made her more this then ever. The reveal [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld she's existed for at least 1000 years prior]] and spent much of it ''not being'' {{sealed| evil in a can}}away. What she and the changelings did during this time, and their origins, are [[CerebusRetcon even darker then what was expected of them]], raising their threat level. Chrysalis shows impressive brilliance throughout, like having a changeling impersonate her, letting her get the drop on everyone despite [[ProperlyParanoid suspicions of "her" behavior being a trap]] and break out. Scoring the first straight case of TheBadGuyWins in the series has left fans exited for what she'll do next.

** Celestia saying that Sombra's "heart was as black as night" in Season 3. Here -- his heart's in the right place, but succumbs to ThenLetMeBeEvil.

** Celestia saying that Sombra's "heart was as black as night" in Season 3. Here; his heart's in the right place, but succumbs to ThenLetMeBeEvil.

** The Sirens' issue being CanonDiscontinuity after "Shadow Play"; which left few complaining, as it's the least-popular ''[=FIENDship=]''. But come "The Beginning of the End"? Sombra's issue, the most-popular one, was next on the chopping-block; this time, the complaints were many.

** Sombra; who was DrivenToVillainy due to a miserable life growing up, leading him to think [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds it was wrong to be anything but the monster he was meant to be]]. Even as an EvilOverlord, he mainly has a bitter YouCantFightFate mindset.

** The Tirek issue. Some like how it shows his mentor, family, and personal life; others feel TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot by skipping what he and Scorpan did in Equestria pre-"Twilight's Kingdom." Not helping is the prior issue's ToughActToFollow status.

** The Tirek issue. Some like how it shows his personal life, mentor, and family; others feel TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot by skipping what he and Scorpan did in Equestria pre-"Twilight's Kingdom." Not helping is the prior issue's ToughActToFollow status.

** The Tirek issue. Some like how it shows his personal life, mentor, and family; others feel TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot by not showing his and Scorpan's pre-"Twilight's Kingdom" actions in Equestria. Not helping is the prior issue's ToughActToFollow status.

** The Tirek issue; some like how it shows his personal life, mentor, and family, while others feel it's too rushed and doesn't reveal much. Not helping is the prior issue's ToughActToFollow status.

** Celestia saying that Sombra's "heart was as black as night" in Season 3. Here -- his heart's in the right place, but succumbs to ThenLetMeBeEvil.

** The Sirens' issue being CanonDiscontinuity after "Shadow Play" -- which left few complaining, as it's the least-popular ''[=FIENDship=]''. But come "The Beginning of the End"? Sombra's issue, the most-popular one, was next on the chopping-block; this time, the complaints were many.

** Sombra, who was DrivenToVillainy due to a miserable life growing up leading him to think [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds it was wrong to be anything but the monster he was meant to be]]. Even as an EvilOverlord, he mainly has a bitter YouCantFightFate mindset.

** Celestia saying that Sombra's "heart was as black as night" in Season 3. Here - his heart's in the right place, but succumbs to ThenLetMeBeEvil.

** The Sirens' issue being CanonDiscontinuity after "Shadow Play" - which left few complaining, as it's the least-popular ''[=FIENDship=]''. But come "The Beginning of the End"? Sombra's issue, the most-popular one, was next on the chopping-block; this time, the complaints were many.

** The Sirens' issue being CanonDiscontinuity after "Shadow Play" - which left few complaining, due to its reception as the least-popular ''[=FIENDship=]''. But come "The Beginning of the End"? Sombra's issue, the most-popular one, was next on the chopping-block; this time, the complaints were many.

** Celestia saying that Sombra's "heart was as black as night" in Season 3. Here - his heart is in the right place, but succumbs to ThenLetMeBeEvil.