The Rise and Demise of Friendship is Magic

The following video will go over in a speed run type detail to break down each season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic (Seasons 1 - 9, including My Little Pony: The Movie, to find out where it started to dip in quality by diving into some of the behind-the-scenes information to theorize the reasoning for what may have happened.
Serious stuff:
Okay, this video has taken a while to make as I started writing the script in October of last year. This was made to be the end of the year video, which didn't happen mainly because I didn't like the writing, so I shelved it for a few months. Fast forward to March of 2022, I found out that I got accepted into trucking school, which is amazing as I've always wanted to be a truck driver since I was a kid. Anyways with that happening, I wanted to make one last video and not just any video, a big video. So why not go back to that script I wrote and finish it? I consider this video my grand finale as it has a mixture of past content I made like Pony facts and Brony Problems. I hope you like it and thank you for all the love and support over the years.
Music appearance in order
Dreaming with Ponies (MLP Theme Reimagined)
Friends Forever Mix
PinkiePieSwear - Sunshine and Celery Stalks
This Day Aria - StormWolf Remix
Big Brother Best Friend Forever - Orchestral Arrangement
A True, True Friend (Epic Orchestral Cover)
Nostalgia - The Phony Brony
You_'ll play your part (Mystery Orchestral Remix)
Let the Rainbow Remind You (Sunshine Mix)
SayMaxWell - We_'ll Make Our Mark [Remix]
Daniel Ingram - Friends Are Always There For You (Spectra Remix)
A Changeling Can Change (UndreamedPanic Remix)
Daniel Ingram - Luna's Future (feat. Aloma Steele) [Jyc Row orchestral remix]
Daniel Ingram - Best Friends Until The End Of Time (174UDSI Remix)
Sia - Rainbow (RedSpark remix)
A Kirin Tale (Faulty Remix)
MLP Trailer (Power Note Edit)
The Magic Of Friendship Grows (John Kenza Remix)
GTA VC Ending Theme
The Flash Soundtrack_ Heart Of The Matter _ Part Two _ Suite - 7x18 (Remake)
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[@Tootsie4ever]

So yeah, this video is pretty massive, please read the description for more info. I'm not leaving the fandom I just won't be as active on youtube for the time being due to irl stuff. Thank you all for the support over the years if you wish to see what I'm up to please check out my personal Twitter. twitter.com/Tootsie4Never

[@traciestreet4019]

Good luck with your life it was fun while it lasted.

[@chelseamcguire7958]

We will all miss u toots. Thank u for all the great content u have given us and good luck with your new job. Bro hoof

[@thomashanson9173]

A truck job will probably take you on many adventures just like Marco Polo and the Mane Six and pioneers of the 1800s.

[@chriswilkinson9400]

@@chelseamcguire7958 I miss my Little pony friendship is magic season 9 Goodbye

[@Beanzoboy]

Before you get into being a truck driver, you should look into it as a profession and the issues that arise. While they tout high pay, most of that pay goes into taking care of the truck. There's an episode of Last Week Tonight on truck drivers and how they're getting used and abused by the companies they work for. Find yourself a great company that takes care of its drivers.

[@Ginnythevillager]

I know why the show ended: it was almost 10 years old and interest was dwindling. Most shows get 1 or 2 seasons and we were lucky to get 9. Nothing lasts forever

[@Johncornwell103]

Except the Simpsons lol

[@Ginnythevillager]

@@Johncornwell103 the Simpsons are in a hell of their own creation

[@dangerbuffrocky]

Ninjago: *hey*

[@Robohead-z6z]

Most shows last for about 2-3 seasons.

[@BJSolar02]

@@Johncornwell103 and Family Guy, and SpongeBob

[@DomiAnimations]

Gotta love how I entered the fandom in 2020 right when the show ended, at least I had all 9 seasons to watch without waiting

[@illumynarty]

Dude same here, literally the same time as you

[@matthunter4826]

Same here during the pandemic.

[@sergiofernandez3952]

lol me too

[@sayatukanggabuthilij9632]

Lol same with me

[@MidnightSonnet]

Waiting for episodes was amazing back in the day, tbh. When one episode came out, the fandom had a whole week to be creative about it before a new one aired. I miss episode discussions and live reactions. It was so much fun. :) But I get what you mean. Being able to binge everything without waiting is great.

[@PearangeProductions]

Honestly, I'm glad that when FiM ended, it at least ended with a finale that gave the series closure. The Last Problem may not be my cup of tea, but it actually gave the series a proper send-off, which is much better than just canning the series without giving it a proper ending. I'd say the series didn't fall, rather, it hit a peak and simply leveled out from there. It didn't go down, but didn't go up, either.

[@Beanzoboy]

Literally no episode past Season 5 was worth everything else that came with it. Hasbro sent the show into a steep nose dive that literally ruined the rest of the series. They couldn't even take good care of Equestria Girls, and ruined the 3rd movie by cutting a great story idea around Sunset's desire to find her place, and the 4th by telling an awful story.

[@sabix2005]

it should continue forever instead of using money on like Simpsons, family guy, cleaveland show other shows that make no sense they should give that money to my little pony friendship is magic and transformers aligned continuity

[@Morten_Storvik]

Im not sure that a rushed finale can count as a proper send-off.....just saying.

[@Aego384]

@@sabix2005 That wouldn't be okay though...

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

Funny how it started back in 2010 and ended in 2019. Ran for a whole decade and ironically got 9 seasons

[@FrenchRarity]

Personally, I just miss the simple times. I liked the show a lot more back when it was in a much smaller scale. Just the Mane6 with some background ponies in Ponyville. I wish they gradually fleshed out all the existing background ponies instead of adding so, sooo many new faces. Background characters who actually have character! Also I can't get enough of the Mane6 interacting with each other. Mane6 episodes have always been the most fun for me to watch. The Castle Mane-ia episode is a great example. ... I guess I'm just more of a Slice of Life type of person. Ah anyways, thanks for the video! What a nostalgic trip that was. Wish you luck in life!

[@CHLOCHLOLP]

i agree 100%. the simple and quaint slice of life stuff was always the shows strong suit.

[@dcscruz2970]

I feel that’s what broke the show. Many bronies wanted world building the size of places like league or so while the creators didn’t have any experience on it. Which is noticeable as Lauren mostly worked on episodic shows

[@tnc7399]

I like the more action filled with everyday life. Like the season 5 finale, while filled with action it was surrounded with normal everyday life and isolated in it's own timeline

[@moviesmemesandstuff2759]

I wouldn't say the show "fell from grace", because it never really went through seasonal rot. It's just that seasons 6-9 weren't as great as the first five. I'd say season 8 was when it really felt like the writers were running outta ideas, but surprisingly season 9 was better. I don't know, I guess it just depends on how you see it.

[@animationrainritewolf8388]

I don't usually try to pin a specific thing like a change (alicorn) a character (Starlight) or a spin off (EG), it's up for debate but it's mostly fans whining

[@SpencerBPD]

Season 8 in particular really did feel like "we have no idea how to fill 26 episodes anymore without recycling episode plots, or coming up with scenarios that would've been better suited towards the beginning of the show's run".

[@traciestreet4019]

100% agree with this.

[@CloudCrash]

Pretty much agree, I think Season 9 had the fortune of having a lot of episodes to end arcs which made it much better overall than Season 8.

[@crash4267]

Season 9 sucked

[@chelseamcguire7958]

Lets face it: everyone and their mom cried when the series ended. It still makes me sad everytime i watch the finale

[@kodi3284]

Of course everyone cried, Granny Smiths dead (look at ajs scarf)

[@uchihashuji3449]

I’m happy. :)

[@matthunter4826]

I have PTSD from the finale. Plus it’s the bane of my existence.

[@AuraStrikeAce]

Same here. I'm sad that it's over, but I'm also happy that it was a part of my life.

[@chelseamcguire7958]

@@AuraStrikeAce same

[@galacticcat8464]

I’d say the biggest problem with FiM at the end is that they made the mane six less mature and brought up character flaws that had already been worked through. It was sad to see the characters who had already grown so much de-evolve in a way. Which as you said probably has to do with the new writers not knowing the characters very well P.S. Best of luck on your new job change!

[@galacticcat8464]

On a different note I would have loved if season 8 was the mane 6 exploring the world and teaching friendship through example rather then being the friendship problem themselves.

[@58jharris]

@@galacticcat8464 I also always felt that season 8 should have been about the Mane Six exploring more of the world. On the other hand, season 10 of the comics was apparently about that. I haven't read it but by all accounts it is pretty bad.

[@galacticcat8464]

@@58jharris dang it’s sad to hear that they couldn’t even make it work in the comics

[@58jharris]

@@galacticcat8464 I've read some of the FIM comics, they're not really that good, even considering they're primarily for kids. They definitely needed better writers on them.

[@balanc-joy9187]

That's the one that gets to _me_ the most...well, that and the excessive redemption and a couple of the more drastic shifts that I felt were handled terribly, even putting aside my lack of welcome for them. So sad, the show had really _captured_ me...and all because I was bored and watched a couple episodes while channel surfing.

[@ImmaLittlePip]

One common thing I've noticed is that while some seasons were bad it still was higher quality than other shows and at least the seasonal rot that plauged other shows wasn't as severe as say Steven Universe or Star vs the forces of evil

[@TheRoseBoy11]

As a SU fan since the show first aired, I still feel the pain of seasons 4-Future. It was one of my favorite shows ever (and still somewhat is due to my nostalgia bias). And don't get me STARTED with SVTFOE's final season.

[@loldonaldashie4094]

9 years of hardwork and now G5 MLP just reset's it again.

[@humansvd3269]

That really got me a bit angry that they ruined all the progress. I honestly believe it was supposed to be standalone but Hasbro mandated it be connected.

[@AppleLauda_destroyer99942]

GP2 ENGINE GP2 AAAAGHHHH!!! the G5 movie was good but... I rather stay with G4... I mean you could give me a F1 car from 1985 and 2018. I would take the car from 1985 (these beasts had over 1000 horsepower) I hope G5 gets better

[@wunyons]

@@AppleLauda_destroyer99942 Driving with this, looking like amateurs. We need a Fernando alonso pony lol

[@TheRoseBoy11]

The more I check up on the past generations of MLP & even G5, the more I worry that G4 was just a fluke and Lauren can make ANYTHING turn into gold regardless of what franchise she takes over. Still happy for FIM being successful but MAN, G5 is so disappointing if not bad.

[@TheRoseBoy11]

And then it went burned to a crisp...

[@jmpxcnzm]

The show did change a lot over time. Some earlier elements I miss were letters to the princess at the end of an episode, Golden Oak Library because it felt much more like a home than Twilight's castle, and the Elements of Harmony actually being used. Even with how the show changed over time, some of my favorite episodes are from the later seasons and not just from the earlier ones. I'm very happy with the 9 seasons we got. I really enjoy G5 and looking forward to more of it, but I'll always cherish G4 for being the kind of show that it was and the memories it created.

[@SpencerBPD]

Honestly to me, the series by the time Seasons 8 and 9 rolled around just seemed... idk exhausted. Like there was a shelf life on how far you could run with this show and it was getting up to the end of the line with how far they were stretching it out. What we got was a lot of quality at the end, but quite a bit of that final two seasons was recycled episode plots, poorly thought out and written episodes like Yakity Sax and Non Compete Clause, and episodes that felt like they would've fit in better towards the beginning of the show.

[@yarc9]

The show risedthan eventually fell from grace after 5 seasons

[@princesspikachu3915]

I stopped watching after season 5. I was spared Flurry Heart.

[@58jharris]

Kind of ironic isn't it, that they came out with the shows two worst seasons right after the movie. The show probably received new viewers from that.

[@Morten_Storvik]

If they had just focused on *telling a story* instead of needing a "eat your veggies" moral all the time, things would have been different.

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

@@Morten_Storvik Even Thomas And Friends didnt need a moral each time. They could just make you laugh with episodes such as Lady Hatts Birthday Party which expands on Sir Topham Hatt and doesn't need a lesson.

[@Strein86]

Personally, I got into My Little Pony during September 2014, so in Season 4. I enjoyed catching up on the previous episodes while I sat through that ridiculously long Season 4 hiatus. Season 5 had some great episodes for me (despite's Starlight's totally rushed redemption) and I even wrote some "Why I love My Little Pony" reports for college English classes. But ultimately, I found myself...getting tired...by somewhere in Season 7.

[@HawkinaBox]

I really didn't like the school arc they had. It was so incredibly boring that they added in new creatures and a lot of them were so whiney or as overused as Ein from Aphmau's gameplay, always talking, always having the attention focused on them.

[@liarliarbaddog6931]

@@HawkinaBox I didn’t really like the new villain and the school arc,

[@warnpeace5294]

I joined at the exact same time lol Season 4 was half way through when I started watching then when I caught up I was blown away before the season 5 hiatus. I loved the show up through season 8, I just felt like the writers stopped writing my favorite characters right. Though I love some of the new characters I missed the characters I spent so many years adoring.

[@nimansabandara6361]

yeh I started to watch it that year too.I felt fulfilled after the movie because most of the time they made movie after all seasons ends and I got quite surprised when they started next season and I understood why.Bronies didn't want to end the season at that moment but season goes on I got tired of watching it and lost touch with it(I also had a challenging exam so I am glad that I finally overcome my addiction)

[@warnpeace5294]

@Skittles the Unicorn eh there was some good things about some episodes in seasons 6, 7, and 8 that were gems, but season 9 killed me I hated watching most of that season.

[@justin2308]

Seasons 1-3: Classic Season 4: Epic Seasons 5-7: Overall not as epic as earlier seasons, but not bad either Seasons 8-9: Depends on the episode

[@lordshenfan6625]

Season 5 6 and 7 were not good then? I know some people who say 5 and 7 were the best. 4 is my all ti. E favorite tho I agree there.

[@plazmikpond]

i beg to Differ on season five. It was still as fun to watch/epic as season's 1-4 in my opinion. season's 6-7 are the non epic seasons

[@lordshenfan6625]

@@plazmikpond it's kinda debatable since I heard good things about 7 and 6 being a mixed bag. 8 tho I definitely agree about being the worst season in the whole series.

[@2Navalie]

season 8 and 9 had really good episodes and good animation but followed up by really eh and terrible ones. Atleast 9 got better then 8, because it felt like they were running out of ideas, it didn't feel like it lost its spark.

[@thederp6136]

It is interesting to think especially from those who watched back in like say 2011 that ya see just how with time certain things change such as the animation, or the story and other elements. Also awesome analysis as ever tootsie!

[@HeartCloud]

Thorax is an amazing character with a super sweet personality of being really likeable! But... Just after his metamorphosis in Season 6 and only a handful of appearances just made me realize that Hasbro just threw him out without going into detail about him out more as the leader of the Changelings. I love Thorax so much, I really do, but the way how Hasbro didn't give him that much material to work with to make him complex is what's killing it to make him a waste of potential. I blame Season 8 for the unnecessary episodes about the main six that butchers them so badly and how we should've gotten more episodes about the Young Six and make the "important" characters like Thorax more complex. I know my comment doesn't have anything to do with the video, but I just want to say that Thorax is amazing in terms of personality, design, purpose, and lore he brings to the table. But unfortunately he's thrown out just like other potential characters from the past and is labeled as wasted potential and that's sad for how he is my favorite and Tootsie's favorite.

[@FrostyLPS26]

^ this is my thoughts exactly. I am also a Thorax fan and I remember waiting for more episodes about him and the changeling that barely came.

[@58jharris]

Thorax was a really likable character, but I kind of think the Changelings should have remained villains.

[@mistylover7398]

@@58jharris y

[@mistylover7398]

He looks like a transformers jetfire when he betrayed queen chrysalis.

[@HawkinaBox]

I love Thorax, too. I also really like his voice. It's really sweet and light.

[@phantom557]

I wouldn’t say that FIM dipped in quality. It just fell into obscurity. It wasn’t a big thing on the Internet anymore. People have simply moved on. I have a feeling that if the show ended at season 4 or 5, it would’ve had a much stronger, longer lasting legacy.

[@tylere.8436]

I concur

[@octavianjoseph8633]

​@@tylere.8436I also concur.

[@terryh.9238]

what a nostalgia trip. it was fun being a brony back at the show's peak.

[@animationrainritewolf8388]

While I wouldn't say there was downfall perse, this series has become alot more inconsistent in terms of quality after Season 5. I didn't think Season 6 was bad, it was just relatively average, 8 is where the show started to suck filled with. Mostly mediocre to terrible episodes. Whereas 7 and 9 we're actually good. Though it was like that Season 1 was Okay, Season 2 got better the more I thought about it, Season 3 was also okay, and 4 and 5 we're Genuinely amazing. Though, I'm not one of those people who say a show died over a specific change (unless you're FOP)

[@NikoZguri]

FOP? who's that?

[@animationrainritewolf8388]

@@NikoZguri Fairly OddParents

[@NikoZguri]

@@animationrainritewolf8388 oh okay. yeah, that show REALLY dropped hard

[@Hewylewis]

Season 9 was all Discord's fault and he suffers no punishments for , what was basically TREASON!

[@ixiahj]

I think the problem with Starlight was they didn't give her a friend group of her own. They used recycled characters. If Twilight took in other students with Starlight, say Sunburst, Double Diamond, Night Glider, Party Favor and Sugar Bell, she wouldn't have stood out like a sore thumb.

[@otakubullfrog1665]

As someone who never really got into this show, but always found it oddly interesting as a cultural phenomenon, I can only congratulate it and its fanbase on having quite a run. I grew up with the cartoons of the eighties and nineties and none of my favorites (even the ones that were very popular and lucrative at their apex) had a single incarnation last that long as best I can remember.

[@JLacay]

That's what always impresses me the most about MLP FiM. Incarnated shows usually last five years or less like What's New Scooby-Doo? (2002 - 2006), She-Ra and The Princess of Power (2018 - 2020), Voltron: Legendary Defenders (2016 - 2018), Thunder Cats 2011 (2011 - 2012), DuckTales (2017 - 2021), and many more, but MLP lasted longer than any rebooted shows by lasting nine years (2010 - 2019) with a spin-off and a theatrical film. It's something you don't see every day, especially for a little girls' show.

[@swirldip4358]

I could be wrong but I joined the fandom after the show ended and when quarantine began, and I got hooked, and as I was binging the the show, and got to the later seasons, I just felt like the show got better as the seasons progressed, I still like the older seasons, but I like the post starlight seasons more. The show didn’t get worse for me, it got better, and I see a lot of people who were in the fandom before the show ended say the later seasons are worse, I don’t know if it’s because the show was changing too much from what they had started with it or if being invested in a show 7+ years in get tiring after awhile, or maybe both, either way I find it difficult to agree that the show declined in quality in the later seasons, maybe having the chance to see 10 years worth of seasons in a couple months helped with my judgment idk. Still, cool video.

[@HandheldGamer1991]

Many people do feel that way. So you don't have to worry about it to much. Just keep in mind this is his opinion not a fact :)

[@lordshenfan6625]

While seasons 1 2 3 4 were pretty darn good, 5 was the start of the shows decline tho due to the show talking down is audience and 6 was horrible, saying that 5 wasn't bad and 7 was good.

[@rendomstranger8698]

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that most of the people complaining are looking through nostalgia glasses. After finding the show in the middle of season 2 and watching it on KZbin, I pretty much left the fandom for a good number of years. By the time I got back into it to help me deal with the stress of living on my own, the final episode was already released. After rewatching the full show at least 2 and possibly 3 times as well as several reaction channels, I can say with confidence that the later seasons have far more episodes that hold my interest than the first 3 seasons. Even season 8 with some pretty bad episodes makes up for it with the good ones. And the episodes that I am interested in are just straight up better in the later seasons.

[@applepipbrony1676]

I got into the show just as season 1 finished and i felt the seasons did get better i also felt that as endings go FIM got one of the best endings any show could ask for made me cry but now we got G5 to look forward too.

[@cowboycalico]

i’ve been into the show since release and i agree with you :) i prefer the lore building much more than the slice of life style of the earlier seasons

[@tsugu5151]

Best of luck in your next career, Tootsie. You've brought us great and entertaining content for the past few years, and I couldn't be more happier when you ended it with such a special video. /)

[@Nightweaver1]

Everything changes; nothing stays the same, even if we wish it. What was fresh and new and exciting years ago has become part of history, a show that we can remember and cherish but one that will never come again. As our memories of FiM fade, we'll try to keep close the essentials that made the show so fun and so great. We may not remember what all the episodes were about, we may not remember all the characters' names, but we'll always remember how we felt. Emotion is the one thing about great art that stays with you forever.

[@rampagephoenix1735]

This show, man....... I first joined up with the fandom around early 2014 when I got curious about how popular this show got after seeing a trailer for the first Equestria girls movie in theaters. I enjoyed the the earliest seasons the most and the ones from then on were "pretty ok", enjoyable nonetheless; But, I tell you, very few things on earth has EVER made me feel as much bittersweet sorrow and heartache than the season 9 finale. As a grown man in his late 20's at the time, I view myself as someone who doesn't let things get to him easily and takes some pride in being emotionally fortified of sorts, but that ending......I'd describe the pain as very similar to that of losing a long cherished pet. ANY show capible of doing something like that to anybody has rightfully earned my highest regards, and I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one those amazing characters and fandom have changed for the better. It just saddens me to think that there may never exist anything else like it for the rest of our lives, but then again, I was pleasantly suprised that a show of this caliber could have even been possible in the first place, let alone actually existed, so, who knows.

[@nicklopez3133]

I've alway's felt that Stygian should've gotten more. In Season 8 they could've gone back to the Well Of Shade's, that place beneath the Hollow Shade's where the Shadow was banished to Limbo. He could've told Twilight and the other's that there is dark and dangerous artifact's there that needed to be taken care of. And I also feel that the Well Of Shade's was of such importance that it should've been revisited at least once. P.S. It is my personal opinion that Autumn Blaze will forever need life long therapy. Lol.

[@darreldarrenman3334]

I remember I was like 11 when bronies and mlp started. I stumbled across many of the big fan creations back then but never watched the show until a few months ago when i got nostalgic for 2010's culture and thought id check it out. I almost regret not being there along the way during the show's lifespan since it seemed like one hell of an adventure. It was also cool to watch episodes and gain context to all the fan animations I saw as well. looking back, even tho I'm not a brony there's something about this show and its community that will always both impress me and give me a deep nostalgic comfort. Here's hoping that the next generation will be good, and maybe be its own version of FIM to a 'new generation' of people, and good luck with your trucking job!

[@HawkinaBox]

I agree. I never liked MLP back in that day because of the weirdness that came along with it. Then again, I was 11 also when it started and whenever something is talked about too much it draws me away from it. I wish I got interested in it back in the day, but there was such a bad stigma attached to it.

[@darreldarrenman3334]

@@HawkinaBox There WERE plenty of cringey aspects to the fanbase and in middleschool there's that heavy ass peer pressure aspect aswell so it's not unreasonable lol

[@ashethewitch1156]

i wish they focused on the pillars more in season 8. they had so much potential and we could’ve see more of theyr personalitys and theyr friendship with the mane 6. They should’ve just delete the whole school of friendship thing and just do this (maybe it’s just 10 yo me speaking who at the time had the biggest crush on flash magnus and got exited for every pillar episode just to see him)

[@endamcnabola]

Originally, before the Friendship School plot was developed, Season 8 was meant to focus on investigating the disappearance of the Pillars, but upon learning Season 9 was the end, they compressed it into Shadow Play.

[@ashethewitch1156]

@@endamcnabola What?? But the school of friendship plot was so stupid they could’ve just get rid of it but I guess they just had to Edit:I guess normally young kids wouldn’t like the pillars that much so I kinda get the decision

[@camponotusinflatus9920]

​@@endamcnabola So the Pillars plot was replased by the school of friendship plot? so stupid...

[@rexberkova7328]

I'm one of those forbidden bronies who always through that the show actually greatly improved after Lauren leaving (not by her fault, of course! Just timing.) and honestly, I adored the last few seasons! The pillars, world's expansion, the school and other races, the whole shabang. ...Except Flurry Heart and Stormking's meaninglessness. Don't remind me. Altrough I so disagree with your opinion, your video was just so nostalgiac to me. Thank you for the trip back. :D But I have to raise a point here: I do not like the use of 'girly' in this through. I think you might have meant 'childish' or just... Simple. I dunno, it comes off a bit as 'good characterization and extensive lore = man-made shows for boys only'. And MLP is girly, made primary with girls in mind. It doesn't have to be all glittering pink- see She-Ra. We shouldn't claim MLP as wholly gender-neutral, just to avoid the greater sentiment- boys liking 'girly' things is non-issue in this day and age, and we all should all embrace that.

[@zeokingsilver]

why she leave again?

[@kurjaesitys]

@@zeokingsilver I have no clue but I remember I was like rly young and read that she died 😟

[@HawkinaBox]

I always thought the show went above that "girly" stereotype. If you look at MLP in a deeper way, then you'll get a lot of great life lessons out of it because it has those type of messages even if it might go over kid's heads, but for adults, it will stick.

[@HawkinaBox]

@@theAstarrr Yes

[@PeacePetal]

Most educated comment right here.

[@MercSamurai09]

I’ll always be a brony till the day I die. Because this show really taught me the true meaning of friendship and helped me through the toughest times in my life. When I first joined the fandom in late 2014 at the age of 12 because of curiosity and my friend, the show really sparked my creativity when it came to my drawings and provided me with the comfort I needed because my mom was in rehab and I struggled with mental health because of it. Not to mention I was afraid of my family thinking I was weird because I liked a show meant for little girls although they thought it was cool and this show has a wider audience range. But I had my friends who helped me during those moments and this show taught me that friendship really is magic. Even though I took a break after season 6 and didn’t catch up until later before the show ended I still was part of the fandom at all costs. When the show ended I was so depressed that I would cry myself to sleep for a few weeks and I even wore my Slipknot mask to hide my tears while listening to Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch. I still managed to stay apart of the MLP fandom and in November of 2020 only a month after the 10th anniversary I got my very first Tattoo of the Mane 6 to show that I’ll always be a brony till the day I die and that friends are always here for me no matter what. So that’s why I have this show to thank.

[@leonseuropeanislandadventu7398]

You had me up till you said you got a tattoo of the mane 6. That literally screams "Bully me".

[@MercSamurai09]

@@leonseuropeanislandadventu7398 no it literally screams I’m dedicated and if people judge me. I’ll tell them “I’m gonna throw some dirt in your eye.”

[@Tall_Order]

I would have loved episodes centered on the pillars. I also think we needed a more old wizardly voice for Starswirl. I know the late Christopher Lee is not with us anymore, but they could have offered the voice position to Patrick Stewart.

[@HawkinaBox]

Yes, that would have been amazing.

[@BuizelCream]

I got into FiM when Equestria Girls was recently out, and the internet was screaming at the horror that is Princess Twilight Sparkle with wings. I loved the fandom so much and stuck to the end. It was Season 8 that was getting to a breaking point where FiM was no longer the most hyped thing I wanna watch until Season 9 came because it's ending officially. But yeah, I was really sad when it ended. Thankfully, I came back to the fandom when A New Gen came, mostly because the main cast finally have male characters in the spotlight that is well-written and interesting. It's something G4 have never done, and I'm sticking with the G5 ride as long as characters like Hitch will be around.

[@dragon_ninja_2186]

As an outsider looking in, it seems that the issues can be boiled down to the series creator and some veteran staff leaving, so many new characters/lore being introduced while others are pushed aside and/or less developed, and perhaps the series itself overstaying its welcome. Of course there are others but that’s what I took away. I know this was focused more on the show itself, but stuff like the fanbase and time among other things should be taken into consideration as well. As for me I got a little bit into the MLP comic dubs, music, fanfics, etc. and was tempting to jump into the series proper, but some fan drama at the time made me second guess and decide to just drop this. Ah the rabbit hole I came from that.

[@OkamiGirl64]

Wonderful video Tootsie! I have to say on the toy side of things, what I will never understand is while yes it makes sense that hasbro would want to see new characters introduced in G4 post movie they never took advantage of it! The movie toy line was very diverse and took full advantage of everything in the movie. After this point however the toy line itself went rather downhill. Season 8’s school of friendship toys were very hard to find and only 2 out of the 6 student six got a release. No kirins either. Season 9 didn’t even have a toy line tie in as the toy line was tied into the rainbow road-trip special which just saw more mane 6 toy releases that both kids and collectors were growing sick of. The hypocrisy of requiring writers to introduce new characters but then turn around and never use is baffling. Anyway, best of luck with your new career path!

[@Cj_TheGoofball]

yea, no matter what, FIM is for sure going to be my favorite generation. even if people say otherwise. The cartoony version is what first ever got me into watching tv/cartoons, and i will forever hold it close to me. all the laughs, suspense, and the fun energy of watching the show is enough to keep myself happy, even though some of the plotline made absolute zero sense to me, i still continously binge watch all 9 seasons of this masterpiece. Rest in Piece, this great show. you will be dearly missed by many. (also not only this, but as time went on through seasons 6-8, they kinda just worked on almost like fillers it seems. i guess they worked on what they had in mind until a massive brainstormed happened. which i dont blame them, but definitely couldve been better, but if 6-8 werent there, the show would have ended alot faster. and i dont think i wouldve wanted a good show to end too quickly.)

[@soisapluta8278]

what is the fim generation

[@renamon5658]

I still enjoy friendship is magic. Even thought it's over. So glad my little sister introduced me to the show 2010 when it first came out. I hope a new generation will be great. I do have some problems with friendship is magic. I wish the student 6 got more character development and that the storm king was in season 9

[@Morten_Storvik]

The storm king was killed ....

[@renamon5658]

@@Morten_Storvik so was king sombra and they brought him back to life

[@BronyMusicUploader]

Thanks for this long summary of FiM, it's nice and interesting to go back and see the whole run of show and its problems. Yeah, I agree with what you said about seasons. Season 1 is not my favorite because it's the introduction season. Season 2-5 golden times of FiM. Season 6 I almost forgot what happened there. Season 7 trying to go back to golden times. Season 8-9 not bad but not good (Why is Cozy Glow that favorite?!). P.S. Thanks for all your videos you made. They gave me such happiness in my life. You are the first brony youtuber who I watched. Also I love your humor :D. Good luck with your new career.

[@Tootsie4ever]

Thank you so much. :D

[@illumynarty]

This video was put together very well, and is a great send-off for this hiatus of your channel. Good luck with your future, I wish you the best! :)

[@3godzilla3]

Very nostalgic watching this. I was an avid fan of this show, and watched the first 4 seasons thinking "I never knew a show about ponies would be so good." Sadly, upon entering Season 5, I kinda just..gave up. I couldn't tell you exactly what happened, but something about the show was just different. The episodes didn't give me that "endearing" feeling, and the smile I once had was replaced with a "Okay, that was fine." Season 4's finale was just way too good, so I guess everything else that came after I just saw as okay. I'm sure the later seasons were good, but I never gave it the chance again. A few months ago, I decided to buy the first 4 seasons on DVD. To me, it's the beginning and the end of the show. Sidenote: My favorite is Pinkie. 🎈 Fluttershy is a super close second. 🦋

[@TheCommenterDragon]

As always i really enjoyed this video Tootsie! it is true MLP FIM may have started to drop in quality and what not as the series went on but hey that tends to happen to a lot of long running shows especially cartoons but what matters is that despite everything we all managed to enjoy every second of the show! And i wish you the best of luck on your new truck driver career and whatever real life endeavors you face Tootsie, and even though it's sad to see you go i respect your choices you gotta do what's right for you bud and whenever you return i look forward to that day! But anyway best wishes to you man!

[@mariahs6]

Best of luck and safe travels with your new career! This is a very concise overview of FiM, along with going into why things went downhill. Seasons 2 and 4 have to be my favorites, with the former encapsulating that it fully understands its audience, and the latter having a smooth arc from beginning to end! I love Thorax, pre-and post metamorphosis, but I really wish the show had an episode about reforming those rogue Changelings he mentioned in the Season 6 premiere. Pharynx helped to fill that hole, but sometimes I wonder what reasons others would have for not reforming (for instance, maybe they were just deployed away from the hive and didn't get word to return, like the Changelings disguising themselves as the Mane 6, Spike, the Royal Sisters, and Twilight's relatives).

[@switchboy2320]

this was such a great video man. MLP is my favortie franchise along side with halo marvel and etc. I will say this, you deserve a break after all the hard work you put into your videos.

[@emilybahu8375]

Dude, early 2000 mlp movies were my jam as a kid! I literally watched them all the time!

[@TheNamelessOne]

Good luck Tootsie! I look forward to seeing if/when you decide to return!

[@alexanderveal]

Great video, dude! I'm actually rewatching the entire series as I'm typing this. I'm currently on season 1 and I've got a few more episodes left to go before I move on to season 2. Also, in my honest opinion, I don't think the show dipped in quality. However, I CAN say that while some episodes were spectacular, others were middle of the road or downright terrible. The same goes with the seasons themselves. Seasons 7 and 9 were REALLY good, while season 6 was okay and season 8 was... Not so much. Still, Friendship Is Magic continues to be my favorite show of all time and it will be for a long time. As for G5, I really liked the movie, and I'm also liking Tell Your Tale. I'm looking forward to Mark Your Mark and the G5 TV series. Good luck on your endeavours, Toostie!

[@minkyway86]

I really enjoyed every video you made. It is hard to accept you will be busy and not making too much content but I understand and look forward to see you in the future. We will do our part, hoof to heart.

[@soumynona1971]

A pretty damn good video, a lot I agree with (including the conclusion) and also gets pretty much all the facts right. Great job.

[@777Rowen]

Thanks for the awesome discussion man! Best of luck on your career! ❤️

[@sweetdreams1028]

I myself have been a fan of FiM for about four and a half years now, and I still adore it. While I do wish the later seasons where a bit better in quality (especially season 8) but it's still something that no other thing can ever replace in my heart. And I'm very excited to see what else G5 has in store.

[@MLPDethDealr32]

i know a lot who think when g5 airs everyones gonna abandon g4 animating altogether. The Season 9 finale could have been better. There were more stories to tell without doing a time jump. They basically pulled a Lasat Jedi and make it look Like Twilight was a Failure.

[@sweetdreams1028]

@@MLPDethDealr32 you do know that nothing lasts forever right? G4 itself in the season nine finale said that darkness will always exist, but also will sparks of light. While I myself would've loved to see something like Flurry's destiny or the student six in space as seen in the stain glass windows, the series finale's main goal was about the fact that the magic of friendship can and will live on forever.

[@jesuslabra]

Your video is really good. To be a real fan and even so to make deep reflections about your favorite series is worth

[@traciestreet4019]

Here is how i rank all 9 seasons 1. season 2 (really good) 2. season 9 (really good) 3. season 5 (good) 4. season 4 (good) 5. season 1 (good) 6. season 3 (ok) 7. season 7 (ok) 8. season 6 (ok) 9. season 8 (bad)

[@teriddax3692]

It didn't die...it ran its course and ended on (hopefully) its own terms. Much better than other cartoons that just keep going. I'll admit...I drifted from it a bit after season 5, but I never left in disappointment. It managed to develop and stay fresh with new characters and evolving its core concept right up until the end.

[@JH24821]

The same for me. Season 8 and 9 may not be as popular in the fandom but I really did like how the writers introduced new characters (I have a soft spot for the Student 6) or came up with new stories for the main characters. Starlight Glimmer was also a great addition IMO who became inseparable from the show.

[@JasonGodwin69]

"I wouldn't say the show fell from grace, just that the later seasons weren't as good as the originals! That's how I feel about The Simpsons and Family Guy and Spongebob, too!" - Someone, probably. Cartoons have an expiration date. Episodes can be "Timeless classics", show ideas run out of steam.

[@themisfitbrigade]

Dude made a banger video and really said “Aight imma head out.” 😂

[@kelvinnkat]

I think people don't give Season 2 Premiere Discord enough credit. It wasn't just that he came the closest to bringing the Mane 6 apart, he *did* being the Mane 6 apart. It was only temporary, of course, but he did do it.

[@icedemon8419]

Season 2 had a great premiere and finale.

[@tylere.8436]

​@@icedemon8419Season 2 is best season, change my mind. S4 is a pretty close second though.

[@icedemon8419]

@@tylere.8436 Respectable, I personally like S4 more than S2 but ultimately I love both seasons, they're great.

[@PathToRecovery]

Season 6 was the ending point for me, 1-5 will always be the best and where it ended in my eyes

[@christygodfrey1752]

Agreed, they put to much focus on Starlight Glimmer

[@PathToRecovery]

@@christygodfrey1752 not just her, but they also ruined the Mane 6 as characters that we've all grown to love. especially with Rainbow Dash (Newbie Dash) and Fluttershy (Flutter Brutter) and don't even get me started on the reception I've heard from Season 8. this series has had it's better times and I do miss those days

[@ThatOneSeal]

I entered the fandom very early on (s2) when I was a kid. And I really was a little brony, I would say, watching/listening/playing every fan content I could find. But I lost interest in 2015/2016, I felt like s5 was a different show for me

[@Pinkiepiefan448]

Ooo! I love these type of videos!

[@kolonarulez5222]

I remember losing interest right after Flurryheart was born. I had been excited for more princesses but then I had always thought being an alicorn was an earned godhood. It was that point I realized I was probably taking this too seriously and had probably seen enough. I did see the finale premiere though

[@sillyfilly5528]

I loved fim and always will! Just wish some of the new characters would’ve been developed more as the seasons went by, but with all that being said it still is by far my favorite cartoon ever. I’ll never forget this show and how much happiness it’s brought me since 2010.

[@HandheldGamer1991]

Season 9 was rushed for sure but i had no problems with the rest of them. Also its sad to hear that this will be your last video.

[@gryffindorgeorgi]

Wishing you all the best with your new career!

[@BlitzenXmasX]

Best of luck chasing your dream job! Keep on Truck'n!

[@Weirdowiththebowtie]

To me, the series was amazing. Sure, seasons seven, eight and nine were a bit rushed, but I enjoyed the addition of CozyGlow and other characters. The true magic never faded away.

[@JH24821]

Same. Starlight Glimmer was a good addition, and I liked how the later seasons added new characters to keep things fresh. The School of Friendship and the Student 6 were a risk to include in the show, but looking back I feel they added a lot to building up the MLP world.

[@jazminakarainy]

Even with all these changes fim went through over it's run time. It still stayed The adorable pony show it was at it's core ♥️

[@baranmoonlight-oq1bi]

Thank you for this great documentary

[@michel.moe.mlpfanfiction]

I love how jumped back on the band wagon after everyone left

[@sandycrash8868]

They decided to wing it

[@yarc9]

They decided to milk it cause it merchandising

[@wilianrodrigues5280]

Honestly MLP never suffered rot as what other shows have suffered, what it suffered from was a lack of creativity Unlike Family Guy which could quite literally touch everything imaginable and get away with it MLP had to constrain itself and touch points that both kids and adults could understand

[@Anonymous-wi6ig]

I think tv shows in general are going to suffer because the writers have no idea whether it’s going to end soon or go on for a long time, so they have to be careful with how they end it which usually results in open endings unless they know for sure it’s going to be canceled. And they never plan for things either. Or they end up changing ideas along the way since it goes on for so long. You can tell with most shows in general that they never outlined anything and that they just came up with ideas come the next season that were never hinted at in the previous ones because they never planned for anything. That’s why I think you can rank a show’s season as good because everything in said season was planned and outlined and has its arcs but ranking a show in its entirety is usually going to end up a negative ranking lol.

[@Herobryce1075]

Dude, rise and demise sounds way cooler than rise and fall, why has no one else done that? (From what I've seen anyways)

[@icedemon8419]

When I clicked on this video, I was open minded to hear your summary on how MLP FIM's "demise" and to be frank you didn't provide at least one solid argument. Even after Lauren Faust's departure, MLP FIM still consists fantastic seasons, characterizations, fights, moments in general, and worldbuilding, lore, and etc. The surreality of your response really surprised me.

[@58jharris]

I agree with almost everything you said, the only real exception being more time for Student Six in season 8. I didn't care for their inclusion into the series at all.

[@Tall_Order]

Season 1 sorta had a story arc. The grand Galloping Gala was mentioned in the 3rd episode, and in the final episode they went there. Most seasons start with a story arc and don't continue it until a lot of slice of life episodes air.

[@dragonwaz]

I remember seeing Starlight glimmer in the background plotting her revenge throughout her season. And Thorax entering the crystal empire as a tiny figure in an establishing shot that had everyone predicting a Chrysalis attack.

[@Tall_Order]

@@dragonwaz True, some seasons had clues and scenes leading to the end. Just also some didn't. Hence, why I said "most" instead of "all".

[@finnanima2413]

Having watched the S1 premiere in the summer of 2017, continued from there starting in the summer of 2020, and finished the absolute last piece of canon episode content for FIM today, I just feel like it's been one hell of a run. There is so much I have felt after all this time. I needed three years to understand why this series was so popular, then found patience to spend 2.25 watching every piece from beginning to end, along with reading and watching some Fanon content along the way. It was in so many ways the next place for me to go from Pokemon fan fiction (especially Mystery Dungeon ones that I cannot get enough of), but now that I reached only one true end of Generation 4, I feel a void coming back. The show went on for nine years, and I have spent less than one contributing to it, not to mention less than two really being one with the fans. I have so much to do from here. So much left to catch up, so much to be a part of, so much to implement into my life! I ... I will keep living on!

[@ImmaLittlePip]

Seeing that intro Took me back to much more simpler times both irl and online

[@JulesM434]

I ironically fell off after season 2 around the time Lauren left and I didn't even realize it because my reason was that I had a lot going on personally during that period of my life. I actually totally lost interest up until I saw this video and realized I have A LOT of catching up to do lol

[@dzeclectic2327]

I think the show only started to dip in S9 because they had to rush it to wrap up the Chrysalis plot line. I think they planned on a S10 with the expanded map and Starlight ascending to Luna's throne. I know most people don't like Glimmer but she was one of my favorite characters. I also think they planned on growing Spike out of the friend zone instead of just that one episode where he becomes friends with Gabby.

[@razingflame]

Great video!!

[@riku1344]

Don’t forget that at the end of Friendship Is Magic Pinkiepie is marr to Cheesesandwhich and that they have a foal not sure if it’s male or female since they don’t talk named Littlecheese that appears to the friendship council since she couldn’t find a foalsitter to look after them

[@AuraStrikeAce]

I got kind of emotional looking back on this show when watching this video. Pretty sure I got into it during when season 2 was airing and I watched every episode from season one, all the way to the end, including the movie. It's not perfect, some episodes weren't as good as others, but man, this show really was something special. I was sad when it ended, but I'm happy that it was a part of my life, and I'll always remember a lot of these characters fondly.

[@AppleLauda_destroyer99942]

Same... I just want to animate a sequel now. It would include 1980's F1 Turbo era (+1000 bhp) and literally every FIM character. One episode would be about Brazil 1991 (Senna victory at home) and another would be about Portugal 1984 (Niki Lauda 3rd WDC Title) and also there would be a episode based on the 1994 San Marino GP (Ratzenberger, Senna death) but it's the good version (no one dies or get injured) These three episodes would be Guranteed to feature the Wonderbolts

[@HunterEQGtribute]

They keep ripping my heart out and G5 is terrible. G4's demise is Hasbro doing it dirty for G5. It’s a disgrace and it causes me so much pain. I want "my girls" back immediately!

[@magic_pink_horse]

Finally got to this recap, thank you so much! I can't say I agree with every comment, but in general - the show had a good run and the writers were trying their best to find interesting ideas without alienating the kid audience too much. Season 8 was a big dip, but it wasn't unwatchable like the stuff we have now with G5. Season 9 restored the quality level, and in the end it didn't feel like a declining product to me. Anyway, really hoping one day G5 will come even somewhat close to at least what we had at the end of G4 x)

[@pastorcodymitchell1456]

NO WAY MATE MY DADS BECOMING A TRUCK DRIVER CONGRATULATIONS

[@DeaditeCaz]

The animation for the movie was so nice. I enjoyed it personally

[@sirubisan698]

The only thing I kind of wish was that g5 took place in another timeline instead of being correlated to G4s history.

[@flamingcandle6881]

I been in the fandom since 2013 it helped me get through my school years make new friends I still love watching videos of people talking about g4 series its very interesting and for awhile I actually left the fandom but came back just recently and glad to be back watching videos like this hopefully the truck driving job goes well for you and love the videos

[@UnusedRebrand72829]

An Amazing Finale, Hope the best for you Tootsie, may we see you again in the future

[@chelseamcguire7958]

This is just my opinion but when lauren left, thats when the show started to fall. I think that if she had stayed, the show would have been better in later seasons as well just like the first couple were

[@grace19005]

Lauren left in season 2 and the show had its peak in season 5. It definitely didn't fall after she left. Even the later seasons were successful.

[@jordandwiggins1026]

I don’t really agree. The majority of the changes the show had after Lauren left (making the mane 6 mature more, Rainbow becoming Scootaloo’s surrogate sister, having Twilight become an alicorn, not going into romantic relationships like Lauren wanted) were changes that I thought were for the better. Lauren’s original vision for the show could have ended up being just as good if carried to fruition, but I guess we’ll never know. All I do know is that while a lot my least favorite aspects of the show wouldn’t have happened under Lauren, a lot of my favorites wouldn’t have either, so it’s hard to say for sure which timeline I would prefer, though I do think without Lauren the writers were finally able to reach their full potential that they had been holding themselves back from.

[@waalex11]

As a supposed female demographic for kids show this is, it is amazing how it is genuinely great in quality overall. Even moreso as a breakthrough to age and gender for simply being good. At 27, I never knew how good it was or if I'd have ever watched it. The main plot of friendship is solid for how realistic it is, with most of each episode having a lesson of friendship and how relationships live. The themes are sweet, the characters and cast are excellent, and the finales are epic in having world threat villains. After the second half and since the expansion from the other creatures, some episodes are less flawless in joyful entertainment, but nonetheless, even in the decent episodes, some have their moments. Overall, it stays an 8/10. Unfortunately the journey to the finale and the direction after the second half isn't as smooth with how it completely left out some characters or had a somewhat displaced episodic character development/bond in between the progress of the story. The last plots of growth and the final villains, along with the epilogue could have all had better longer development, so the last seasons felt lackluster in its potential of being superior, while the ending epilogue itself was disappointingly rushed. I wish they'd continue that gap over the new MLP shows. Specifically... A few characters I dislike (Flim, Flam, etc.) and I'm not a big fan of the kid creatures. I wish all my favorites had more screentime, along with the Mane 6. Including the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Starlight, Diamond Tiara, Tempest, etc. Seeing everyone grow and how they ended up with their partners would be awesome. Although, most of the cast was charming and adorable practically every second.

[@naheedandhaseebdanish451]

12:30 Most people I see say “NO BRING BACK THE OLD LIBRARY TREEHOUSE AND GET RID OF TWILIGHTS WINGS” Like imagine if it stayed like season 1 FOREVER you guys would say “ THIS IS SO STALE CHANGE IT NOO” So there is no winning there.

[@AnimeFan4Life2022x]

This was a pretty good video watched all the way There are some good pointers in this vid even about the villains and characters and what not 10/10 would watch this again

[@thaddeusr.3967]

If you ask me the later season are better than the older. That's nothing against the older.

[@SpiritDetective06]

Finally a true fan of the show making a how the rose and fall of the show

[@SpiritDetective06]

* Rise

[@somechupacabrawithinternet8866]

it changed people's life friendship is magic will forever be the best

[@taiyo-alt1360]

26:32 Excuse me? Those are some bold words for somepony within stampeding distance!

[@Tall_Order]

I never got my CMC spinoff series. [womp]

[@58jharris]

I would have liked to have seen a spinoff series about the early days of Celestia and Luna before Luna became Nightmare Moon. So much story potential there that was never realized. A show about the CMC's could have been good to though.

[@thewalrus45]

Hey man, don't disrespect the Starlight Glimmer a Christmas Tale episode, was it the best way to develop the character? Probably not. Was it entertaining as all hell with some of the shows best songs in it's entire run? Hell yes.

[@tademun7805]

I think we should all be thankful we have multiple seasons and an actual finale, most series don't even get more than 1 or 2 seasons and end up getting cancelled or don't have a proper send off, imagine what the fans of many other fandoms would give to have 9 seasons.

[@DinosaurNick]

"Does anyone still play that?" Me: *Slowly raises hand*