Let me first say that I am NOT a brony (not a hardcore, fanatical brony, at least). I only started watching the show to see what all the fuss was about, and I don't intend to let the show or fanbase rule my life or govern my interests. Nor will I mindlessly defend either of them.

That said, I enjoy the show strictly for what it is; a children's show, albeit a surprisingly well-executed children's show. The characters are well-written and interesting, the animation is solid (occasional errors notwithstanding), and each episode's plot flows nicely. But really, let's be honest. It's still a children's show, and it was obviously made for pre-teen girls. We can't pretend that it's the greatest form of adult entertainment on the face of the earth.

Personally, I can only take something seriously if it's dark, realistic, or sends an accurate message about the human condition. My Little Pony doesn't really do any of that for me (maybe I'm just too cynical, but some of the "darker" or "more mature" elements of the show just seem cute to me at this point), but does that prevent me from enjoying it? Not at all. Sure, it's far from being as dark or sophisticated as I would prefer, and I don't really find the show's humor all that funny (it's still way funnier than Family Guy, though), but it doesn't have to be. It's a nice little show that provides escapism from the hardships of reality without insulting my intelligence or being nauseatingly girly (I'm looking at YOU, G3). And I respect that. It doesn't necessarily sell itself to adults, but it doesn't alienate them, either. The show works the way it is, and don't let it's cute, feminine image put you off. I accept the fact that, at it's core, it's a show meant for pre-teen girls, and I don't have to take it seriously to like it.

Okay, I'm not a Brony. Why? Because I don't go online commenting on the show. I'm still a fan though.

I started watching the show for the memes I heard about, or when my nieces came over. The episode I first watched was "Sonic Rainboom". I liked it, and slowly became attached to the show. The characters are all stereotypes, but they have unique things about them to where they have more traits then just being a walking cliche. Take Rarity for example, at first she seems to be the same type of characters who's obsessed with cloths and latest fashion trend. But really, she's not greedy or overly focused on dresses , she has a generous personality. Their are certain characters that get annoying but they are greatly outnumbered by interesting ones.

The concept of the show is simple: Learn about Friendship and report about it. But theirs nothing wrong with that. Every season finale or first episode has a usually bigger problem then this and lots of times involves a villain. Speaking of which, another thing I like about this show is the antagonists. They actually seem to have personality and motives instead of just being their to be evil.

Unfortunately, the fandom sometimes gets a insulted just for liking the show. This is also one of the reasons I'm not a brony.

I just can't see the content in the show that causes so many people to give it such acclaim. Tropers don't tend to be of the greatest taste, but one would at least expect them to hold SOME standards. This is not the case at all. After reading all the positive reviews I thought it was going to be a gold mine of action/adventure and witty punchlines. Sadly, I feel that I've been bait-and-switched.

The jokes constantly fall flat, or just feel like filler. Half the jokes can also be described as bad pop culture references or horrible made on the spot jokes. The adult humor is quite tame with no risk involved.

Also, there is much praise for the animation. Now, when you look at the visuals, the style looks nice, though I can't help but think this is just run-of-the-mill flash animation. On top of that, most of the scenes are lacking in talent, and I'm convinced I could animate scenes better.

What about the characters? The new series tries to create character depth, It tries to make the bad guys more sinister and dangerous. But after their introduction the characters become cardboard cut outs, and the danger they posed disappears. The other characters are pure stereotypes and clichés, straight out of Saturday morning cartoons. You have it all: hard worker, tomboy, shy, studious, glam, and eccentric. They are not the well rounded characters people believe they are, as they are quite lame.

The writing is prosaic and a bit uneven. In both areas, however, they take time out to hit every single cliché imaginable. The episodes generally fall into the conventional and hackneyed plot fare. Yes, the season openers may seem dramatic, but this quickly devolves into chasm. Which might be nice for 8-year olds, but really nowhere near as deep as the fanbase makes it out to have. It's exactly what you would expect in a show aimed at little girls, except there are some situations where the characters' personalities are contradicted from the first two episodes of season 1. Episodes are incredibly predictable, and story lines never really have any major impact.

Trust me, I actually wanted to like this show. However, I just can't bring myself to use the words "good" and "My Little Pony" in the same sentence. I've tried over and over to see the positive aspects in the show but I can safely say that this show doesn't deserve a fraction of the hype.

This show isn't the best, nor is it the worst. It's funny and genuinely cute in some parts, and the characters can be relatable. However, the fandom and hatedom this show gets makes it difficult for me to actually enjoy this show. The fandom acts like this show is LOST or Breaking Bad and complains when the show is not up to their standards. I have never seen so much zealotry and self-entitlement in my life. If I wanted to watch Lost or Breaking Bad, I'd watch Lost or Breaking Bad, not Friendship Is Magic. The hatedom demonizes people who like the show even a little bit and attacks the fans rather than the show. This is why I shall never refer to myself as a brony.

I was asked to do examples for what I said in my last review.So i will talk about the "Big Bads act like moron to let the girls win" bit,using Discord and the Changeling Queen.

Discord is actually one of the few thing of the show I like: he is delightfully insane,funny and entertaining: he tricks the girls using Exact Words, messing with their heads and using their weakness to trasform them in uncaring jerkasses(I don't think he had to try too hard,but this is another story).This is the smart thing.Let's see the stupidity begins:

They return:he somehow completly misses the fact they aren't grey anymore,that Rarity isn't carring a huge Boulder and that Rainbow Dash is back with them.So instead to change them into frogs or something,he stands still and allow them to turn him in a statue again.

Then the queen:she attack Twilight(even if everybody,including her,doesn't suspect nothing anymore)and send her in the same cave where she put the real Candace,doesn't put them in a cell or something andlet three easily defeated soldiers to guard them.Then,when her soldiers capture the Mane Six,she doesn't even try to trap them,allowing Twilight to free Candace while she is too busy with her Villain Song and mocking the Power Of Love...even if that power is the only thing that allowed her to defeat Celestia.

They are all examples of lazy writing,and i don't think that a show can be good with it.

Why this title?Because just like that thing is an awful thing that somehow has gained immense popularity. I watched every episode of this cartoon,and I hated it.Half of the time the characters are Jerk Ass or do something terrible only to get away with it by twisting the Aesop:at least with something like Ninja Turtles we have only one jerk,and is treated as a problem.The Big Bad Always start by doing something really smart just to become complete retards at the end to let the girl win.LAZY. I really can't understand why is so liked.

This series is definitely a lot of fun with interesting main and side characters, fun episodic plots, and an engaged fandom putting out interesting side material at a rate that most series could only dream at. This series might be a little overhyped, but that's only because of the sheer magnitude of hype that has been generated. The animation is enjoyable, and the show definitely earned its periphery fandom.

I have three big gripes, though.

One: The fandom can be a bit too rabid. I find the Fridge sections filled out with every little quibble that could supposedly form a connection (or writing stuff that is explicitly stated in-show making the "Fridge" part indicate they weren't paying attention), every minor action heartwarming, awesome, tearjerking, nightmare fuel-inducing, or funny, every minor moment of confusion being turned into a Dethroning Moment of Suck.

Two: The heroes routinely get away with behavior that would be considered destructive and criminal in most cases, and massively jerkish in most other situations. I get that they're supposed to be national heroines, but I would like to see that being presented as the reason people put up with their mischief when they get out of hand, combined with certain quiet points of resentment by people who get steam-rolled.

Three: The depiction of jerk-level antagonists, characters who are meant to stir conflict by being jerks (Gilda, Trixie, Prince Blueblood, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, etc). Maybe I've read too many of Limyaael's fantasy rants, but I hate characters who solely exist to make another character look good. It's boring, and cliche, and a wasted opportunity on a series that gets touted as having multifaceted characters even though I'm getting characters that I can charitably call two-dimensional. As a result, I don't look forward to episodes that prominently include them because I feel the writers are just passive-aggressively dealing with their issues from elementary and high schools.

Still, once I get past that, I definitely recommend people this show, though I am not enough of a fan to openly admit it in real life.

First off, I like this show very much. I like the characters (although I would not consider them the ever-changing characters that some claim exist, they do have a decent amount of Hidden Depths and backstory) the art (Flash done right) and the fact that the writing is well-crafted and creative, especially by kids show standards (even in the times when it does seem cliche, the comedy and development is good enough so one can forgive it).

But, I found myself questioning why I like this show so much. Then it hit me: it's just so well written, and does not go into one particular direction like other shows. In fact, it goes back to other kids shows of the early 90s.

The other most popular shows in America targeted to the 18-34 age group are all dark, and the shows aimed to children (sans the cartoons on Disney Channel) try to be grotesque, loud, or disturbing, like they need to get your total attention for every second.

FIM is not loud and annoying (like most of Nick's cartoons), gross and sadistic (recent Spongebob episodes), or cynical (shows like Family Guy, which are targeted to the same age group which forms FIM's Brony fanbase). Instead, it provides a happy show that still focuses on satirical humor, conflict, and adventure. The show harkens back to a simpler time in TV, when cartoons were just fun to watch, and not gross/annoying. (It is dark, yet the show never goes overboard or is cynical in it's darkness.)

I ultimately think that people should watch the show, at least once. I think that to get a proper feel of the adventure aspects, I think that one should start with the two-parter pilot, then go to "Dragonshy" to see the character development and comedy that the show provides.

My Little Pony: FIM has been a veritably cultural phenomenon for over a year now. Its virtually inescapable on the web, and it has legions of (often very vocal) fans. But does it really warrant the amount of attention it's getting? I don't know, but I personally don't think so. I really don't see how this holds the attention of adults. It doesn't have a particularly engaging plot. The characters may be a step up from usual 'girl show' fair, but they aren't particularly impressive, even compared to other children's cartoons (see the excellent DC Animated Universe). The colors and designs are garishly bright, and overly saccharine. The music varies between mainstream ultrabubblegum girly pop to musical numbers that sound like they were rejected from a particularly lame Disney sequel. It has decent writing behind it, its clever enough to elicit a chuckle or two out of me, and to be honest, the voice acting is above average for cartoons in general. But neither of these things can really make it more than a decent children's show. It doesn't rise up out of the Animation Age Ghetto at all, it feels like a show for pre-teen girls. I'd watch it with a kid if I had one, or if I had grown up with it, I'd probably continue to watch it into my adult years, but without the power of nostalgia behind it, it just doesn't interest me enough to watch it. To make matters worse, as someone who doesn't like the show, it's pretty much impossible to avoid. Almost every sight I frequent on the web is inundated with it, and random browsing often brings it up as well. The rabid fanbase, the hype, and the inescapability of it sours my view on the whole thing. This doesn't affect it's objective quality, but it makes it hard to enjoy it. As a whole, for an adult show, I'd give it a 5.5 (mediocre). Viewed as a Kid's show, what it is, i'd give it a 7.5 (good)

Those who know the MLP fanbase most likely know that Merriwether Williams is a VERY controversial figure, mainly due to "Mysterious Mare Do Well". I myself had some (very) strong issues with that episode, but after watching this episode, I can say with complete certainty that she has redeemed herself in my eyes.

First, characterization. One of the main criticisms about Williams is that she flanderized Rainbow Dash from a Jerk With A Heart Of Gold who cared about her friends and family to a straight up Jerk Ass who cared only for glory and fame. In WA though, Dash's portrayal is spot on. Yes, she's confidant and brash, but its the LOVABLE kind of confidance she's known for, and she proves exactly WHY she's the Bearer of Loyalty by the end.

Secondly, Spitfire. Now, I know a lot of people were turned off by Spitfire's actions, but to me, it had the exact opposite effect. Spitfire is the instructor of the Academy. Its her job to act as a drill sergeant, and the fact that she didn't give Dash special treatment proves that she's a good instructor. It doesn't mater who applies to the Academy, an instructor can't afford to play favorites. If anything, this episode made me like Spitfire even more, as it showed that, despite her normally casual and laid-back attitude, she knows how to take her job seriously when she needs to. The perfect Wonderbolt role model.

Finally, Lightning Dust. My main reason for including her is because...she's surprisingly mature, as an antagonist. She actually comes very close to being a sociopath in a kid's show, and she serves as an example of what Dash could become if she lets her pride go to her head, which I felt was a good contrast between them.

In closing, this episode showed Dash at her best, increased my admiration for a fan favorite side character, and had a surprisingly mature antagonist. This is possibly the best episode of Season 3, and Merriwether has fully redeemed herself in my eyes. 10/10, would watch again...and again...and again.

I love this show. I discovered this show on this very website after seeing that it accumulated dozens of pages on T Vtropes.

At first, I thought this show would be too girly and boring (I'm a female myself haha), but I was wrong. I enjoy the good characters like the Mane Six (yes I love all of them), the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Princess Celestia and Luna, Shining Armor, and a few. The only villain I do seem to enjoy is Trixie (I am in no way of condoning Trixie's behavior though). However, I dislike the bullies (Diamond Tiara & Silver Spoon), because it sucks seeing others (or you yourself experience) being bullied for something you don't have. I have mentioned the Mane Six, I find myself identifying to Twilight Sparkle because I am pretty obsessed with being perfect and my education and also to Applebloom because I know how hard it is to not have something everyone else has (a cutie mark).

One villain who did scare the crap out of me was Lightning Dust because she is actually Rainbow Dash without her redeeming qualities and I hope the writers don't flanderize Rainbow Dash into being like her. I mean she could have killed the other Mane ponies if Rainbow Dash wasn't there.

One thing that bothers me is some of the fans. They may act crazy when it comes to defending characters and it gives the fanbase a bad reputation, when not all fans act like that. Plus, Although it may contain some (bad) accidental aesops at times, at least the show does not have to rely on mean-spirited humor or gross-out humor to keep its ratings up and the show cannot be 100% perfect.

I am looking forward to the fourth season and other works from Lauren Faust.

Keep up the good work MLP!

No kidding. I love this show in the same way I love Doctor Who, Wallace and Gromit and Futurama. It is a well crafted, well acted, at times funny, at times sad, and sometimes pure awesome. I first watched Friendship is Magic out of sheer curiosity. I had heard of the Brony fandom, had a neutral opinion of them, and I rationalised that the show must be quite something. I was right, as this gushing review shows!

As with the other shows, I (platonically) love the diverse characters and personalities displayed by the entire cast, not just the Mane 6 (or 7, if you count Spike). As with other shows I watch, my favourite characters tend to be the one I identify strongly with, in this case, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity.

The animation is stunning; it looks like it wasn't done in Flash. But it is. Mind screw was initiated the day I found out it was.

I will admit, however, that my fellow Bronies can be...forceful in trying to convert non-Bronies over, and tend to come across as obsessive and annoying, as Little Kuriboh found out the hard way.

But, even after that, I still believe I made the right choice in choosing MLP:FIM to watch on that cloudy day in May, 2012. Yes, it is a half hour little girls toy commercial. Yes, the fans will (and have) rage over possibly permanant changes to the main character. Yes, we pissed off Little Kuriboh. Doesn't mean I don't love the show. Here's to many more seasons!

BONUS NOTE: This troper's mind was blown (in a good way) when he found out his favourite pony (Fluttershy) was voiced by the same VA as one of his favourite shows growing up, Madeline.

Now, my opinion with the show is that it's an okay show. It's neither great nor bad, it's just n alright show. To be honest, I was more cynical about the show, since it's about ponies, and I later discovered that the show was positively received by young adults such as bronies. However, does it deserve such a huge fanbase? I would say so, but like I said before, it's pretty standard at best. I mean, I appreciated the show for not being entirely girly, and all the characters could've been flat. I also love how they don't shove the moral of the lesson down your throat much like Dora The Explorer. The villains are also pretty good too. Obviously, my favorite will have to be Discord-he's so entertaining. With the mane cast, I absolutely love Fluttershy. She's just adorable. Overall, this is my opinion, and if you like it, there's nothing wrong with your opinion. It's just that it seems standard to me. Thanks for listening.

This series is actually ok. You get good characters like Spike, Twilight Sparkle, or Spike. But you also get characters annoying as hell like Rarity, Fluttershy, or the Cutie Mark Crusaders (I REALLY despise the latter two.). And the moral thing of season 1 was real ANNOYING. Most of them you could learn by the time you were 7. There are some funny moments, but it's not nearly as good as people say it is. And sometimes, it's creepy as hell. Like when TS went totally INSANE when she was trying to find something to learn to message Princess Celestia. It's GOOD, but it doesn't deserve the love it's getting. And something that REALLY got under my skin was when they got rid of Discord in just two episodes. He was one of the greatest villains in kids show history, but he's written out after two episodes. I wouldn't mind so much if I knew he was coming back, but I don't. Also, the episodes are SO PREDICTABLE. I could tell what the main plot would be by five minutes in. Like I said, it's good, but INCREDIBLY overrated. I don't think t deserves so many fans, or an episode recap page that, to my knowledge, only Dr Who's episode pages are longer. I can't believe people so old watch this show.

Edit: I meant Rainbow Dash, not a second Spike. Sorry about that.

When I first heard what this show was, I was skeptical to watch it. I at least didn't call it out on being My Little Pony as a reason to not watch, I just wasn't motivated, and when I was, BOOM! ADHD makes me get distracted. It took noticing that there was a Memebase site for me to look, at the site, that is. I loved it. My mind then went on a laser-guided search for the first episode, which didn't actually take long, but again, ADHD, miracle I didn't get distracted by Newgrounds. I found it hilarious, it is well written, and my favorite pony is Pinkie Pie, since I can somewhat relate to her (nice, random, likes fun, bounces off the walls, awesome). I love the references, most get past a child's head, and I love the care they put into the show. I love Ms. Faust as well, since my favorite shows involve her, but her being involved did not sway me, I didn't learn that (including the other shows) until the gap between seasons two and three.

My real favorite part is the fandom. Fans do a lot for charities, make amazing art, have fiction that I honestly prefer to most books (Past Sins is the best in my opinion, but is also the best I have read so far), and really have a large voice. The best part is that they all watch because they like the show, unlike hipsters who do things ironically but need major schooling on what ironic means. I love this community, since it seems to have something for everybody.

I dislike media attention and haters, since haters don't watch the show and accuse fans of being homosexuals (not a problem, since a portion of the fanbase is, in fact, homosexuals, but in the same way that a portion of Harry Potter or Star Wars fans are gay) and/or pedophiles (which is a problem, since that is highly wrong) and that we have no lives (we have to do something to afford something to watch MLP on, along with all of the other shows we watch), while media can't seem to look up a single fact about the fans, with one case seeming to believe we collect disability checks just so we can stay home to watch the show (I am not joking, look at Cowboy Be Bop At His Computer under Western Animation), which is farther from the truth than physically possible.

All in all, great show, great fandom, and the normal things from trolls and media that fail to check facts.

I was...reluctant to watch My Little Pony. I hated everything about the franchise since I was a kid, how was it going to be different now? Well, my best friend made me watch the first episode, and honestly it was no dice at first, then Nightmare Moon showed up. This show is pretty interesting, its far from the best thing I've ever watched, but in a world of general sadness its nice to be able to watch something and just be able to smile. Not to mention there is just an interesting mix of episodes, from dealing with general bullies and school work to dealing with gods of chaos.

As for the individual seasons I would say the first is solid, the second seems like its trying a bit to hard to pander to the bronies, and the third season is probably the best.

I'm an at-home dad with two young girls, and this is by far their favourite show. It's also just about the only one I can stand to watch with them (other tolerable aimed-at-youngsters-shows: Imagination Movers, Maggie And The Ferocious Beast, Blue's Clues if it's a Steve episode). In fact it's more than tolerable, it's enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, this is a kid's show aimed squarely at kids, but every so often a little reference or something will slip in—The Big Lebowski is visually referenced in one episode, with The Dude and other characters showing up in pony form as background characters, which was great. As such it's about on the same level as cartoons like Duck Tales and Doug and Animaniacs—they're for kids, but there's stuff in there that adults can appreciate (and the occasional gag that most kids just aren't going to get). The animation style is probably the show's strongest point, it's simple and clean and lovely, but for the occasional fault (wings clipping through cutie marks or copy-and-pasted background characters). Voice work is definitely above average also, although Pinkie Pie grates—surprisingly Rarity doesn't, despite having a somewhat stereotypical haughty voice. Fluttershy gets the best lines and the best delivery out of any character—it's nice to see a soft-spoken character in a cartoon, and the kind of subtle, warm humour her character allows is very welcome. Quality of writing varies, some episodes flow well, others stutter and limp along.

I think MLP's biggest problem is the 'lessons' format—the restriction of having to have a lesson every week really hurts the show, because the characters are strong enough to support much more than that. If the creators of the show had the confidence to tell stories rather than forcing characters into (often out-of-character or artificial) roles I think it could be a truly great cartoon—as it stands there's hardly any character or story development and after a few episodes it all starts to feel shallow and pointless. The characters are good so it's disappointing that they're not allowed room to breathe and to grow, nor given stories that challenge them enough to truly show their strengths and weaknesses.

So, overall it's a good show, great to watch with your kids, but it always leaves me with a lingering feeling of 'this could be better'.

Honestly, this series is pretty well written and animated. I'm normally not the type of guy to watch this type of show, trust me, but once i started watching this show it kinda grows on you. Each character is given unique traits alongside some steryotypical depictions of those traits(usually in good fun though) I think it's actually nice to see something like this muddled with today's cartoons. Some of the good traits of the show itse;f are as such: Humor for both children and parents, useful life lessons, adn finally characters viewers can become attached to. I give ALOT of kudos to Lauran Faust for creating this show.

Granted yes, i'm not a "Hardcore" fan, but i still recemend the show to people who aren't afraid to give it a try

I admit that I thought at first that this show would be terrible. When I heard about the show and its huge fanbase, I was thinking about how lame this show would be. Some shows based on toylines just feel like half hour toy commercials. I decided to give this show a chance and watch. No point of bashing a show I never watch. I was actually surprised to see how great this show was. The writers actually put effort into this show, and it shows. The main appeal to this show to me was the characters. All of them have different personalities and had flaws and redeeming traits. It's nice to see a show with well-rounded females characters. I feel that some recent Western animated shows don't do a good job writing good female characters. The problem is that some shows only have one major female character, and she is usually just defined as being the token female. My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic have a nice variety of females, so it's easy to find one that you can relate to. All of them are likable from the brainy Twilight Sparkle to the shy and sweet Fluttershy. At first the characters seem cliqued, but they are pretty well-rounded as you watch the show. Twilight Sparkle is the "nerd" in the group, but she is not the typical weak loser that a lot of brainy characters tend to be. Rarity is pretty tough for a girly-girl. Another thing I admire about this show is that there are girly and tomboyish characters without presenting one as being better as the other. Rainbow Dash is not shown as being better than girly-girl Rarity just because she's a tomboy. Rainbow Dash has weaknesses just like the other characters, and Rarity can kick butt if the situation calls for it. The show also have lessons for the viewers to learn. I like how the lessons actually relate to the episode instead of being there just to be there. I hate when kid shows have a "Don't use drugs" message or something similar at the end of a show when it has nothing to do the episode's plot. While I find a few of the lessons to be questionable (the episode about the Pinkie Sense has a lesson that can accidentally be interpreted as a science vs religion aesop out of context, I think the lessons are great for kids (and even adults) to learn from. I think you should give this show a chance. It might look girly and childish at first, but it has remarkable story telling and likable characters.

Since I got into the show in season two and didn't partake in the wait for the second season but this time I was swept up in the anticipation. I waited eagerly and caught the two parter on youtube (I can't watch it with my family about) and It didn't really whelm me.

I think the biggest problem was there was too much promise and not enough payoff. When I saw the design of King Somber and the Crystal Empire being in the Arctic, I was fully expecting the return of the Windigos due to the emphasis of a happy society being in jeopardy, with Cadance's cutie mark being a crystal heart I expected her backstory to be explored even briefly but none of these were present. Its getting somewhat frustrating of how shallow their epic fantasy elements are.

King Sombre was not really a memorable villain, nothing was really explained about his rule (in fact why is he King? It should be Emperor). If he was the Lord of Windigos his animalistic nature would make more sense. Even with the vocals by Tim Curry he would've been more interesting but really he was generic.

The story was just ok, everyone had good roles (Pinkie's Fluttershy disguise killed me) but the problems with Shining Armor and Cadance still persist (shoehorned characters) but I liked that Spike was the big hero in the end, which was long overdue. The animation has gotten smoother and the song was good.

Maybe its us Bronies that get our hopes too high or the show couldn't do epic fantasy due to constraints by Hasbro and they regaled this to fanfic writers, but this fell into So Okay Its Average territory for me.

Before I even watched the show I was sympathetic to the fans because Lauren Faust was the creator. Her work on Power Puff Girls and Fosters Home for imaginary friends should bring the popularity of this series into perspective. However, I never watched the show because I didn't have the Hub network, and to be perfectly honest the subculture sort of creeped me out. What do I think about the show after finally viewing it? It's everything I expected it to be; it's similar to the shows I mentioned eariler but a lot more positive and "educational" (in otherwords, the "Y" rating fits). While I can see people in my age group (late teens, early 20s) enjoying (or at least tolerating) this program, the subculture it has created still goes over my head. Is this show really "meme" worthy? Nothing seems to stand out compared to other shows that come on less exclusive networks. Is it refuge in audacity that a MLP series can be more than the sugary sweet show from the 80s? Were people hungry for shows that are connected to cartoon network's Golden and Silver ages? Everyone has their own opinion, but I don't think that satisfies a phenomenon like Friendship is magic. Watch it for yourself and see what I may have missed.

As a man in his 20's that grew up on G.I. Joe and the like, My Little Pony has always been one thing to me: a series for little girls.

So imagine my surprise when an adult male friend starts glowing about the newest Pony series. Naturally, I found myself completely uninterested. It wasn't until I visited my friend one day while he watched the opening episode of season 2 that I noticed something of interest. The villain in this particular episode was voiced by actor John de Lancie, well known to Star Trek fans as the character Q. The character itself was quite clearly a homage to Q, something that piqued my interest as a Trek fan. My friend informed me that references such as this were common in the series, and the seeds of curiosity were planted in my mind. Some months later I finally decided to sit down and watch an episode as I caught it on TV. Afterwards, I stared at my television, conflicted. Had I actually just watched My Little Pony...and enjoyed it?

The answer was yes. The show uses rather stock personalities for the core cast, but brings them to life with such strong characterization that I couldn't help but like them. The narrative structure follows a standard slice-of-life format with equally standard plots, but still generally manages to be entertaining due to the characterization (and the occasional two-parters inject some much needed conflict and drama into the mix). The animation is quite appealing, being very clean and colorful yet maintaining a sense of depth (unlike a great many modern cartoons). The audio is also top notch, with an excellent voice cast and catchy music as well. If I had to voice some complaints, it would be with the sometimes overly drawn-out musical segments. The dialogue will also occasionally dip into the saccharine (again, though, we’re talking about a show aimed at little girls, so this is no surprise and more of a personal gripe) and the morals are occasionally a bit contrived.

In the end, I can honestly say this show surprised me. It comes during a time when the average children’s show could be considered nothing more than mindless schlock and manages to provide a feel-good and occasionally thought-provoking message without being condescending towards the audience. An above average cartoon for all ages and genders.

I have to make a shout-out in this review to kyrospawn to indirectly roping me into the series with his segment videos.

When I watched the first episode of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic, I initially was a bit skeptical. After all, this was something notorious for being popular with only little girls, as far as Internet gossip was concerned. But when I actually sat through the first segments of the first episode... I couldn't stop in the middle of it. I had to keep going and see it through to the end. The good animation, the quirky personality traits within the "Mane 6", and the optimistic atmosphere of the place itself kept my eyes glued to my screen. This, as well as the more positive contributions from the fan base, sealed my fate as a brony. They say this is a kid's show? I'd say it seems more and more of a "family cartoon"... at least, compared to its predecessor.

I really can't say anything particularly bad about the show, other than the fact that the separate mini-plots that make up each episode are kind of a bore. I'm pretty much watching a Slice of Life within Ponyville, like a documentary. I wished that there could have been a continuation pattern throughout the series, like what the first and last two episodes. One episode picks off after another, and after at least a minimum of two episodes, the show switches to another plotline. Probably just wishful thinking on my part, but hey... what can you do?

Assuming you're the one person who managed to avoid both the hype and the backlash around this show, Friendship is Magic is an episodic cartoon about a bunch of ponies who go off on adventures. The show has attracted a huge following, as well as a tonne of detractors because of it's huge following, and how absurd some of the nuttier members can be.

But this is about the show itself. And on that basis, I have to say it's a good kids show. But really, that's all it is. A kids show, designed to sell toys. It'd be a good thing to let kids watch, and won't offend anyone's morals to let their children watch it. It's very well animated too, esp. for a cartoon done in Flash, with some surprisingly complex animations used. Yes, there's some moments of Parental Bonus, and yes, it does have some genuinely comedic moments, but really, they're few and far between.

The characters are conventional stereotypes, hard worker, tomboy, shy, studious, fashionista, and eccentric. They are not the well rounded characters people believe they are, as Status Quo often reverts them to one of the labels seen above. Yes, it's impressive to have six female characters with none of them as "The Chick" but ironically, the one male character fills this role, being deliberately ungirly and doing things like pretending to puke at girly activities, for being girly.

Episodes generally fall into the traditional plot fare. Yes, the season openers may be big dramatic storylines, but this quickly devolves into aesop-of-the-week. All ideal for kids to learn, but really nowhere near as deep as the fanbase makes it out to have. Episodes are predictable, and story lines never really have major impacts.

Once again, none of this is bad. As a kids TV show, it's pretty good, and I could understand why little girls (and some little boys) would want to watch it. But aside from a couple of jokes, there's not much here. If you really want to watch a kids TV show from the past five years that has great characters, excellent jokes, and some good stories, I'd recommend Phineas And Ferb. Friendship is Magic is something you either watch with young girls, or something you're probably only watching for the meme.

Well somebody had to say it.

I will have you know that My Little Pony is not a bad show at all. There are a lot of positive things to say about it. The art and animation is fantastic, with loveable facial expressions. The characters are some of the most well developed, realistic characters I have seen on an animated series in a really long time, especially for a little kids show. It breaks the barrier of what a typical character on a girl's cartoon is supposed to act like, and the characters are surprisingly realistic. While incredibly cliche, they all have depth and unique traits that make them more than just the stereotypes they seem to be based off of. It makes them easy to identify and relate with, and that's hard to pull off.

However, I don't declare myself a fan. I wish I could because of the respect this show has, but I just can't get into it. The humor is what the fans tend to comment on the most. They enjoy the subtle wit, the puns, and the references. And while I can respect the good writing, and can chuckle at the cleverness and wit, it's really not enough. Nor are the splendid characters. Something about the plots are just rather boring, with some being enjoyable, others making me wipe the drool off the side of my face. The songs are also irritating and lose my interest. The morals also boggle it down completely, and water it down. Something about "dear Princess Celestia" just faded my interest of the show too quickly.

I'll also admit that some morals are just completely backwards. Notable was Swarm of the Century, where Pinkie Pie jumped in with an eccentric plan and no one had any idea what the hell she was trying to do because she wouldn't just speak up. The moral? You should try to listen to your friends instead of claim you're right, even though Pinkie Pie never even explained herself. The moral just made it more obnoxious than enjoyable.

So all in all, I see why people like it, I truly do. There's been episodes I find amusing, but something about it falls rather short, with boring plots inbetween the good ones. I can't really word why it fades my interest, but I really can't watch it often or I'm bored out of my mind. So while it's alright, I just think people are giving it more credit than for what it's worth. I don't get why it has as much love as it does. Sure, it deserves some, but really, it's overrated.

About ten months ago, I hated My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, but now? Now, it's my most watched television show. The writing? Fantastic. The characters? Well defined. The Jokes? Classic. Not many faults can be found on the show, until you reach the internet that is. No matter what you do as a 'brony' (A fan of the show outside the normal demographic) you will be chastised. Sites Like Equestria Daily and FimFiction are the only two places of refuge from the haters in all honesty. Back on topic though, a lot of fans of the show stray into Fan Dumb. If you look past the bad fans, you have a community of people dedicated to an awesome show

At this point I don't think I can add more to this series in terms of creative thoughts and reflections given the literal thousands who herald it out the wazoo, but I will say that it's certainly not undeserving of it. In my opinion, it really is the best show for little girls ever. I'm narrowing the demographic to make a statement here: I remember when I was pretty young, like early elementary school years, of just being magnetically attracted to anything that was either pink, ruled by a 5:1 female to male cast, or was just populated by wide-eyed cuties. But even as a little rosey-eyed nerd, I wanted substance with all the sparkly toys I was making googly eyes at. Like just who are these princesses or brave female warriors? Where do they come from? What's the fantastical world they live in like? Or in a more mundane sense, how did they live and interact with other people?

Lauren Faust just knew that even as little girls, we loved getting swept away in grand classics about heroism and the power of truth, love, and fantasy... that didn't involve us getting trapped in a crummy tower or getting the short end of most every world-saving battle that mattered. She and her team answered all of my questions above and created a show effectively crossing slice-of-life with adventures, mythos, and compelling female characters who effectively cater to the target audience without being silly moral-spraying goody-goodies. And most of all, they made it for children as well as their parents. It's no wonder it got the attention it received, resulting in some of the most active, diverse, and just jaw-dropping fanbases ever. For me this show answers to the little girl on the inside as well as the more worldly-wise animation lover on the outside. It's a must-pick to not just give, but share with a daughter or favorite kid relative, and for something named My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, it just comes to show how it's so much more than it is on the surface.

Some time ago, I attended a short seminar on post feminism. The speaker, an Indian woman, defined post feminism as “the idea that you can be a strong, independent, free-thinking woman…and still be girly.”

I believe this describes My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic perfectly.

We have a main cast of six very cute ponies, all with distinct personalities. Yes, the ponies are very feminine. Even tomboy Rainbow Dash. Yet they all show a strength of character and they all have different motivations. For instance, take Rarity. She’s very traditionally “female” – she likes fashion and fantasizes about meeting the perfect stallion. However, she doesn’t follow trends – she makes them. She is an artist who takes pride in her work. Rarity is feminine to the extreme, but she is still a strong woman who thinks for herself. Applejack is similar. She focuses on family, an idea that might typically be looked on as anti-feminist. However, she’s also revered as a great athlete and a shrewd businesswoman. Applejack and Rarity may be feminine, but that doesn’t mean they’re weak and helpless.

Our (American) culture seems to think that a “strong” woman is a man with boobs. Not so! My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic teaches young girls that there are lots of different ways to be strong. It’s okay to like pink and makeup. It’s okay to like fashion. Being “strong” isn’t about pretending you aren’t a girl. You can be successful, independent, and girly too. Frankly, the idea that one has to be masculine to be strong is sexist in itself.

The animation is delightful, the stories well written, and the voices are perfect. Sure, this is a girls’ show. But it has themes and stories that everyone can enjoy (thus the whole 4chan debacle). My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic teaches little girls not only about friendship, but about who they are as growing women. It has lessons for adult women too. Too often we’re told that “strong” women can’t wear dresses, can’t have families, can’t like makeup. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic gives us six truly strong women who like those things and aren’t ashamed. The ponies of Ponyville embrace their femininity and still manage to beat bad guys.

A great show, a great message. Well worth watching.

Ok, I kept seeing this series referenced around TV Tropes. And then the comic shop I was sitting in to play a game with friends was invaded by a cheerful herd of bronies, some of which were playing "Giggle at the Ghosties" on electric guitar.

Queue the curiosity. What the hell is this thing? I remember the 80's My Little Pony and hated it. It was was a classic example of Girl Show Ghetto with sacchrine writing, insipid scripting, and the most obnoxious "dumb it down and dye it pink" toy line. No thanks! The "boys" cartoons at least had some dramatic tension in their plotlines to make you forget the merch. Something so teeth-breakingly sugary as pastel ponies had to be something hipsters were "appreciating ironically."

So, I look it up a little more, and my reaction? "Tara Strong's in it, and Faust wrote for Powerpuff Girls. It can't suck TOO badly."

This is honestly much more clever than I expected. Yes, there is a Sugar Bowl populated by pastel ponies and the 30 minute Merchandise Driven cartoon format to contend with, but the writers make it work for them with some solidly-wtitten and occasionally pee-your-pants funny writing. Don't make it a Trope drinking game, because you'll be plasted by the second act of a given episode.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is a show of paradoxes. It's a girls' show that boys watch, a little kids' show that adults watch. It's cute without being overly sacharine and it is, in a word, awesome.

Previous My Little Pony cartoons have often been criticised for having shallow characters. I have never seen them myself so I can't comment on that, but here the characters really shine. These six ponies have between them the full breadth of personality that female characters in fiction, especially childrens' programs, are so often denied. It may be one of the best thinhs ever to happen to feminism. I will admit to questioning the character of Rarity at first, though - given that the show is breaking away from female stereotypes, why is it including a fashionista character? However, I quickly came to see the wisdom of this choice. An interest in fashion isn't a crime, and Rarity isn't being portrayed as a dumb shopaholic but as an artist whose medium happens to be clothing.

It is a joy to see these characters bounce off each other and go through their lives in Ponyville. There is conflict and excitement and many laughs to be had. If there's one negative, it's the heavyhanded moralising at the end of each episode, but given the actual target audience, its presence is understandable.

Its not the writing, although that it very good. All the characters have their flaws, but are good ponies in the end. Its not the jokes, although I do think many are funny or worth a smile. Its not the animation, beautiful as it may be sometimes (or lazy when you see several of the same ponies in the background). Its none of that.

Really, the best part of this show is the fanbase. Now don't get me wrong. Are there some bad parts of the fanbase? Yes. But I like focusing on the positive side of things.

I have never seen a cartoon have such impact on people. I've seen people actually act nicer because of this show. Not everyone of course, maybe not even many, but some. I've seen people changing for the better because of this show.

I've seen people donate money to charity because of this show. The Humble Brony group made my once stone heart warm when I saw the money they had collected for charity. It was amazing to see such kindness in the world, created because of something that was supposed to just be an extra long commercial.

That is the best part of the show. The fans. The art they make. The kindness they show. The friendships that are made, makes me proud to be a Brony.

To be blunt, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic is a good show. Each of the six ponies is likable with there own distinct personalities and flaws. Admittedly some ponies are more likable than others but this depends on personal taste. I personally like Apple Jack more than Pinkie Pie, but I know other people who prefer Pinkie Pie over Apple Jack. The animation for the show is very beautiful considering that it is Flash and the music is extremely well done with some really catchy songs. Winter Wrap Up, At the Gala, and May the Best Pet are only a few examples of such songs. The plots tend to vary, some are really well done, while others are not. I find Sweet and Elite to be an example of a weaker plot as it feels like it negatively effected Rarity's character and wrapped up to quickly. Over The Barrel is another one I dislike but more because I just found the episode to be pretty boring. However every show has it's misses, even the ones that are considered good and these weaker episodes are few and far between.

That said one issue I noticed is not with the show itself, but parts of the fandom. I remember talking to a friend and she was interested in watching FIM but did not know what it was about because all another person I knew - who is obsessed with the show - would only talk about is Derpy, Doctor Whooves and bronies, not what the show was actually about - six ponies that become friends even though they are very different from one another. It occurred to me after this discussion that quite a few fans do this and it is detrimental as it can give people who are not fans a negative impression of the show. It's fine to focus on these things if it's all in good fun but these are not things that are important when introducing the show to others. The fact some fans get overly defensive about the show is also a bit of a turn off. I mean come on, it's a show about brightly colored ponies. Lighten up a little. Learn to make fun of the stuff you like, it makes everything more fun.

Overall the show is very good, but if a person is interested in the series they may want to go in blind or look up a brief summary so the more over enthusiastic fans don't ruin the show for them. Also don't let the fact it comes from a toy franchise sway you, otherwise you'll miss out on some decent entertainment.

I'd heard about the My Little Pony reboot, but I didn't get excited. After all, I was 19 at the time. Even if I had been into My Little Pony as a little girl (I was more into Barbie), I was already past my stage of enjoying shows aimed at kids. As the months passed, however, I started to see ponies everywhere. Fandom Secrets, Know Your Meme... Ponies were everywhere. I figured "I... guess the show is more popular than I thought?". I read up on the controversy surrounding the show and rolled my eyes, never having been a fan of the idea that being girly was bad. A few months ago, I checked out Camaraderie is Supernatural and had a few good laughs. Finally, I broke down and watched the first episode. Then I watched the second episode. I was... impressed. I started to check out the fandom, ignoring the pony that was creeping up behind me.

The show is good. It has its flaws, but what show doesn't? All of our protagonists are likeable and unique in their own way. Some people roll their eyes and point out that show is aimed at little girls, but let's face it: There aren't a lot of good shows aimed at girls. Furthermore, it's okay for girls (even adult women) to like shows aimed at boys, so what's wrong with the boys liking a show aimed at girls? I would have loved to have Friendship Is Magic growing up.

One of the important things about this show is you need to watch it with an open mind. As an adult, children's shows are probably going to look a bit different than from when you were a kid. That's not to say you won't find something that might fly over the kids' heads. After all, the show is still MADE by adults. They sneak some things in that might raise an eyebrow or two.

The fandom can be pretty defensive about the show, but overall, they're actually pretty friendly. Don't let the loudmouths spoil the show for you. Give it a chance. You might be surprised.

Why would countless of adult admit they love a show that has the fame of being lame,girly, flat,dumb and Merchandise Driven?

Long story short it is awesome!

The first quality of this shown I want to note is the respect it has for its viewers. While us boys actually got to see great shows with great plots and interesting characters girls got only very lame shows. It’s no wonder how in our minds girly became a synonym of lame.

However what makes this show stand out are the character’s personalities. Each pony is relatable and unique.In fact the pony’s personalities are what make this show so especial. While in other incarnations of the show they were si defined more by outdated feminine stereotypes than people that you couldn't tell each pony apart.

I could use pages just to describe each character’s personalities but part of the charm of the show is to get to know them. The characters are amazingly well developed and enjoyable. What impressed me is that none of them are one dimensional.They are very balanced in flaws and virtues .One of the most enjoyable and deep characters I have ever seen. You will be surprised of the Hidden Depths of each character even the ones that seem to be one dimensional

Just looking at each pony expression and perceive every detail in every frame (even for ponies that aren't “ active on the plot”) is always a Freeze Frame Bonus. Whether it is a Slice Of Life situation or an epic adventure : it’s always a joy to learn more about each character’s unique and interesting personalities. Without doubt you will fall In love with at least one of them.

Adults looking at media aimed at kids or teens aren’t new phenomena. However the fact that many have admitted their love on this show (and many more have converted) it’s a testament of the quality of this show.

A lot of adults that have to face the hardships of Real Life even resorting to cynicisms and the lose on the beliefs of ideals like love and friendship . This show will remind you of The Power Of Love.Friendship really is the magic this world needs. The lessons this show has are helpful not only to kids but to adults as well. I have never enjoyed a cartoon like this since Phineas And Ferb.

I say without doubt that this is one of the best shows I have ever seen and one of my favorite shows ever. Try it you will surely live it.

I give it a perfect score 10/10

Okay. I'm going to outright say it; I hated the "My Little Pony" franchise when I was growing up. Hated it. The characters were vapid, the plots were inane, and the acting made me want to tear my ears inside-out.

So imagine my surprise when I hear a royal boatload of praise for this latest series. When I realized that 4chan actually liked it, I decided to watch the series.

That was probably one of my better decisions.

The characters were rounded! The voice acting was stupendous! The plots had real conflict! I was hooked within four episodes.

And so, yes, I can say that, yes, I love this series. I really, really do.

Now, it's not perfect. Occasionally, the morals do get out of whack, and they can be misconstrued in ways that are rather offensive; I.E.-"Feeling Pinkie Keen," and the characters do act like jerkasses in the worst of ways to favor a plot; I.E.-"Party of One."

The pacing is like that of a kid's show, and the more complex of moralities can't be explored in ways that are totally satisfying to me...

But that doesn't stop me from enjoying the characters, their dialogue, or the show's sense of humor.

No, it's not perfect, but it's definitely worth a look.

A month ago, August 18th, I would have thought you crazy for even suggesting I could name a character from this show. Now I am addicted. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's my favorite show on television, I love Firefly and Doctor Who too much for that, but It's definitely the best animated show I've seen since Fosters Home, which seems simple enough considering they shared the talents of Lauren Faust. There are enough characters in this show to connect with anyone. (I personally am Rainbow Dash), and music and cuteness for even the most slobful teenage boy to adore. This show is not for you if you care what people think about you, especially if you are an aforementioned teenage boy, so if you can't handle it, that's cool to. It's a legitimate storyline, with just enough discontinuity that you won't take it too seriously.

TL;DR: I love this show.

So what to say? Well, if you're outside the "target audience", don't fret. This show is so well made and written that it makes you not want to kill yourself like a lot of other shows tend to do.

This is mostly thanks to Lauren Faust and her team. They took a series with little hope left, and turned it into something amazing. She helped make it so that anypony could enjoy it, without it going too overboard with morals. It has everything, great animation, great characters, stories, humour. Everything is great.

If you love modern FPS games, prepare for dissapoint! It's not just multiple shade of grey and brown. It's colourful as hell (as in Very Colourful, actual Hell is protrayed to have shades of brown) but that's a thing that makes it great. The scenery isn't the only colourful thing here, the characters and their personalities are too!

This is one of the few instances ever in a TV show where I really like all of the Main/Mane cast.

Don't hate on it just because it's My Little Pony. Forget anything you knew about MLP in general before watching, and you'll enjoy it whether you're male or female of any age.

If you don't then you probably have no soul.

Thanks for reading my crappy review, evepony.

This review for the Sisterhooves Social episode is my response to all the people who despise the episode for not having the other mane cast. It does not matter what characters appear and what characters are absent, it matters what the scope of focus offers to us.

To her annoyance, Rarity's must watch over her sister Sweetie Belle for a week. It seems that Belle's attempt to help does not please Rarity. Then Sweetie runs off to Applejack in despair in search of a sister who appreciates her. There, she discovers a depth to Applejack's and Apple Bloom relationship as she watches them complete farm work together and decides she won't forgive Rarity.

Meanwhile, Rarity pridefully attempts to disregard that the results of Belle's help could be salvaged and appreciated after all. Finally, she crushes her pride and would do ANYTHING, would face MUD AND DIRT, to seek reconciliation.

There episode's theme is simple, sisterhood. It's about dealing with differences, eye-to-eye communication, and spending time together for a healthy sisterhood. And I just needed to see Rarity and Sweetie Belle together to see what's it about.

Let me put this in perspective, I am 18 years old, I love to play violent video game like Halo and Gears of War, I giggle when i punch out prostitutes in Dues Ex Human Revolution and drive on the sidewalk in GTA, and I have a rather dark sense of humor, laughing at jokes that involve death.

And I freaking love this show.

I really cannot tell you why I like it, in reality it's a mix of things, the songs are beautiful, the animation is fluid, the characters are colorful and likable and nothing feels forced. True, it can be silly, it can be VERY silly, but dear god I love this show, I think that despite everything I said above, I don't consider myself a bad person, and I don't mind being reminded about the good in people. Some people might say that this show is cheesy, everything works out in the end, no one gets hurt and everyone grows. And it's true, this show is cheesy, BUT SCREW YOU, I LIKE CHEESY! It works, it just really really works, it's not just cute ponies walking around being adorable, they have personalities and they grow as time goes along, it doesn't baby you...and it has cute ponies being adorable...screw you I like it.

9/10

Sometimes - even oftentimes, dare I say - it's easier to complain than to keep an open mind. So of course there are a lot of people out there who, especially in the light of the previous (much inferior) generations, might brand this show as girly and shallow before actually watching it. But that would be a huge mistake. Watch before judging, and watch more than just one episode or two, because they actually get better as it goes on. You might like the show or you might not, but considering it to be trash just because it's part of the MLP franchise is not a thing to do.

Considering what your perceptions are, you MAY or may NOT consider this show as "girly". Yes, it's cute and it involves pony girls. But at the same time, it usually doesn't taste like diabetes. It's not the shallow, mindless show you might expect about completely clichéd characters going to parties (though there are parties involved, especially when Pinkie Pie is around). This show has relatable, likable characters, who receive much more characterisation than you might expect from a "girl's" show. It has actual plots, interesting and often pretty original. And it's not a complete sitcom. Some episodes are, but in others protagonists have to deal with actual dangers, menaces and antagonists, which don't fold up just because someone starts crying or mentions The Power Of Love. There are tales of creativity, determination and cunning, which can appeal, in my opinion, to girls AND boys alike. And even though every show ends with An Aesop, those aesops are often actual valuable advice, not stereotyped trite sayings.

There's a REASON why this cartoon is popular and hailed as a great show, people. It's not just about the memes. This really is a great cartoon and I definitely recommend watching at least a few episodes, and doing so with an open mind, not merely to say "hey I watched it, now I have a reason to hate it".

I'll begin this the same as before. This show is best began from a neutral point of view. First purge all ideas of "this is and girls'/kids' show so I'll hate it" from your mind, its really not JUST written as either of those. Then completely ignore the hype you probably encountered on the internet, this is important as it can taint your viewing experience. Being cautiously optimistic about it is probably the best mindset to be in. Now you're ready to watch the first season.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is a great show if you begin watching it the right way. The characters are far more rounded and likeable than many cartoons I've seen in recent memory and the plots are well written and enjoyable, letting the characters work off each other. There is an aesop each episode, but the show does a good job to avoid slamming it in your face (and when it DOES, it's normally parodied, like Pinkie Pie's song in "Over The Barrel"). Its witty and I often do laugh at the jokes and feel the emotion it is trying to convey. It doesn't need a lot of dirty humor to be funny, so its good for kids, though there are still adult bonuses thrown in that will likely go over most kids heads but not stand out enough to distract them, which is how those should be. Overall, the first season was very enjoyable and one of the best cartoons on TV now in my personal opinion. I have high hopes for the second season.

Now, I must address something. This show does have a very pronounced minority that are very pushy and rather unpleasent, which have sadly given the rest of us fans a bad name. While I do love this show, a pet peeve of mine is when people refuse to accept someone else has different views on the show than them. I understand this show isn't for everyone, that's with every work of fiction that's ever existed and ever will exist. I respect you if you don't like the show, so please be respectful of those that do like the show. I know some members of this fandom take it too far, but please don't judge every fan based on them.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is a great show, but I caution you to start watching it from a neutral base, cautiously optimistic of the show. Neither believing you'll hate it or absorbed in the hype. Let your expectations grow and change with your viewing, that way you'll probably not be disappointed.

Despite the stigma that the series receives from those who dislike the hype surrounding it, there is a clear reason for it. One would normally expect the name My Little Pony to be a glittery, cheesy show that only little girls could enjoy.

Dead. Wrong.

If you didn't know any better, you could believe you were watching something made for boys, or girls, or anyone. It's mostly female cast are well rounded enough to avoid the stereotypes of overly girly shows, well developed enough to the point that even male adults (like this troper) can enjoy it without it feeling like a guilty pleasure.

In a world where many a modern cartoon thrives on Comedic Sociopathy (lookin' at you Spongebob) this show stands above it all to bring us likeable characters who actually learn a lesson once in a while, instead of parodying or ignoring them. As mentioned in another review around here, these lessons rarely feel forced, and are usually the kind of traditional values (be yourself) that are severely lacking in recent cartoons.

The animation isn't spectacular for it's time, but it does it's job of being eye-catching and memorable. Much of it looks like it could be done by anyone on a computer.

If this troper could name the biggest complaint he found with the series so far (aside from the Cutie Mark Crusaders) it would be the Executive Veto that prevented the entirety of the series from being as the first two episodes were. Many cartoons these days prefer random, every day nonsense that can be aired in any order, so it's usually a treat to see a show go with a serious, continuing plot. If the series as it is now is this great, it's clear we were only given a taste of what could have been, in those first two episodes...

So in short, if you're looking for a pleasing and heartwarming show with traditional values that doesn't thrive on sadism and Butt Monkeys, don't let the fandom hype steer you away from this modern day gem.

If you had told me two months ago that I'd turn into a full-fledged fan of "My Little Pony" anything, I'd have dismissed it as either wishful thinking or delusional fantasy.

Yet here it is, two months later, and not only am I a full-fledged fan of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic, I'm actively following the web forums, browsing fan art, introducing the show to everyone in earshot, and waiting on pins and needles for Season 2. The writing, the animation, the characters, the story, the comedy, the music, and the unabashed optimism, it's easily the best animated series I've seen in years.

Yeah, it's that good.

An unexpected treat for those who still love cartoons and are in our twenties, My Little Pony FIM is a delightful romp through the land of equestria, without making it diabetes-worthy. Characters have problems, but they are usually solvable. Though it's a girly show, there's more of a three-dimensional quality to the girls, instead of "Boys and Fashion" being their only conversation topics.

Okay, though, word to the wise? Don't watch a marathon of this show and then the last seven episodes of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Your dreams will be very, very, very messed up.

Are you feeling down? Work or school got you in the dumps? Is life just generally leaving a sour taste in your mouth?

Well have we got a show for you!

While it's true that some of its fans overhype it, "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" is an extremely wonderful viewing experience. While your enjoyment of the show is very dependent on your tolerance for cheesy kids' fair, those who are able to look past its flaws will find a fun, candy-coated show that never attempts to talk down to its viewers, be they kid or adult.

The real charm of the show is built upon the diverse and complex personalities of each of the main characters. While the plot of episodes may occasionally steer into the extremely familiar staples of kids shows, the various ways in which each Pony's personality bounces off of the others makes sure that one is never bored by what can occasionally be a predictable show.

Another plus in the show's favor is the excellent composition of not only the musical numbers (yes, there are musical numbers, but they're the GOOD kind) but the background music and the incidental pieces. The animation is nothing to sneeze at either, as while there's the occasional flub or blooper, everything moves very fluidly and when it needs to, what you see on screen becomes very impressive, not only visually but on a technical level.

The only major downside is (as I mentioned before) that the plots of the episodes sometime feel all too familiar. There's the staple of nearly every sitcom from the last 30 years, of a character having an extra ticket to some place special and each of their friends badgering them for it. Or the tried and true, 1 friend shows up another at something they're talented at and the other gets jealous. While it may have the effect of reminding older viewers of nostalgic shows, it may also make things too predictable for some.

Still, while it has its flaws, "Friendship is Magic" is a well written, imaginative, enjoyable, and sweet show for viewers of any age, and I certainly recommend it to anybody looking for a pick-me-up at the end the day.

Also, Rarity is Best Pony. JS.

Alright, I'll be doing the first episode. The first thing to get out of the way is simply this; going into this show, remove all prior opinions on the series from your mind, good and bad, and watch it AS A SHOW. Not as a girls show or kids show, it's not really either. Also, don't get too worked up over the hype or you might be disappointed. Anyway, with that mentioned, onto the real review.

The first episode "The Mare In The Moon", opens with Twilight Sparkle reading a book, and finding the story of the two princesses that once ruled night and day, the younger ruling night and the older the day. After seeing people didn't love the night as much as the day, she gradually became more and more bitter and jealious of her older sister. She finally refused to let the sun rise and transformed into the evil Nightmare Moon, who intended to plunge the world in night. After trying to reason with her failed, the old sister was forced to imprison the younger in the moon with the Elements of Harmony. Twilight Sparkle then finds another myth, of the Mare In The Moon, of whom it's said that on the longest night of the thousandth year, the stars would allow to escape her prison. Realizing the Mare In The Moon must be Nightmare Moon, Twlight Sparkle tries to warn her mentor, Princess Celestia of Nightmare Moon's impending escape, but is not believed and ordered to oversee the preperations of an upcoming celebration.

After being annoyed with the other Ponys' all day, Twilight Sparkle attends the celebration, but as it goes on, she realizes that the signs of Nightmare Moon's return are becoming apparent. Sure enough, the Mare In the Moon vanishes and Nightmare Moon arrives on Earth, casting the world into an endless night...

The thing I love most about this show is how well the characters and the story work. From the first time I see a character, they get my attention and make me wonder "what will I learn about this one?", and WANT to learn about them. They're all intresting and enjoyable. But I absolutely must mention Nightmare Moon. She's a complex, powerful, and cunning villain, that much is true. But what really makes her stand out is just the air of dread she has about her that makes you know her appearence means bad things are going to happen, something I love in a villain.

An awesome way to start an excellent series!

Had it not been for the huge internet fandom, I wouldn't have given Friendship is Magic a second glance. I figured it was just another reboot of the old My Little Pony stuff. But my fellow forum-posters were tossing around pictures and memes and references to the show left and right, there were large forum threads dedicated to the show reaching hundreds of pages, so I eventually gave in and watched it myself.

It. Was. Awesome!

It's hard to find a kid's show this good, especially one aimed at girls. The ponies actually do stuff, unlike most girl's shows where characters just tend to sit around and talk about fashion and boys and go to high school and live "normal" lives. (because it's not like there are any girls who enjoy fantasy)) It's well-written, clever, and funny. The characters are all so lovable that I find it impossible to pick a favorite. It teaches good lessons, if you're into that sort of thing, so it can set good examples for children without being boring and preachy. Even if many of the conflicts are the more typical types you might face every day, they're played out well thanks to good writing and good characterization.

For Flash animation, it looks REALLY nice. Normally I condemn Flash because most of the time, it's done so poorly. But in Fi M they make it look GORGEOUS. The animation is done well, so it doesn't run into the problems other Flash shows have. Not to mention the style is really nice. Past My Little Pony designs always looked so weird to me: they were some bizarre cross between stylized and realistic pony. Fi M just decided to take it all the way and make the ponies completely stylized, which is a great move because the ponies look nice, cute, and aren't akward to look at. (all in all, it's visually appealing)

All in all, this is a great show and I'd recommend it to people of all ages and both genders. Especially young girls: it's really hard to find a decent girl's show, and do I need to say why? I'm really looking foward to season 2, which promises more conflict and action.

Love. Hatred. Revenge and forgiveness. Kindness and jealousy. Temptation and redemption. Selflessness and vanity. An introvert learning the ways of the world, one awkward step at a time. A responsible, honest worker whose pride is both her greatest strength and weakness. A fiercely loyal friend whose ambition and skill is matched only by her arrogance and insecurities. A seemingly meek caregiver hiding an incredible and often terrifying resolve. A creative and generous soul held back by impossible standards and an obsession for perfection. A lively embodiment of revelry whose cheerful façade is at odds with her need for acceptance.

A group of friends who, despite being flawed individually, make a stronger whole.

That’s what makes Friendship is Magic so compelling. It'd be easy to assume the cast as mindless stereotypes; no one expects much from kids’ programming anymore. Especially from something like My Little Pony. Rather than forcing its audience to settle for generic characters, the show provides remarkably diverse and well-rounded protagonists. None of them are perfect; not only are the virtues of their personalities explored, but the inherent flaws and implications as well. It’s best demonstrated in episodes like Dragonshy, which highlights the best (and sometimes worst) of what each pony offers. Not to mention Party of One, which manages to be both hilarious and slightly terrifying simultaneously. It’s hard to find that balance – some episodes fall short of it – but the quality of the writing has set (and frequently meets) a new standard for cartoons.

It was clever to use Twilight Sparkle as the central character; her social ineptitude and willingness to learn makes her the ideal hero for a show about morality. More importantly, the episodes rarely sacrifice the storytelling for their given messages. Take Suited For Success for example; it takes something as bland and cliché as a fashion show and subverts expectations with a fine blend of music and comedy. Or Bridle Gossip, which, despite its obvious lesson, has some of the funniest and entertaining moments in the season. With strong writing, clever jokes, several homages and references, slick animation, and some truly brilliant and catchy music, Friendship is Magic makes for a fun and rewarding experience.

Give it a chance.

As a fan of the original My Little Pony cartoon, I have been...less than thrilled with some of the new incarnations of the franchise.

Not so with "Friendship Is Magic". This show has kept impressing me (and a whole lot of people, many of which were anything but MLP fans) with its excellent humor, intelligent writing, and well-developed characters. In particular, I have been impressed with how its characters avert and subvert clichés and expectations - the intellectual Twilight Sparkle turns out to be a take-charge type-A personality, the fashionista Rarity displays hidden depths, and so on. All in all, one of the best Western shows to come out in recent years.

Since I'd already been doing a series of episode-by-episode tongue-in-cheek reviews of the original show (somewhat in the spirit of Abridged Series)), I have moved on to doing the same with Friendship Is Magic. Can be found here.