Gen 5 review

I might just be a cat person.

So, I have mixed feelings about MLP: FIM. It started out great, but later devoled into a bizarre chimaera of trying to appeal to its target demographic while also appealing to the bronies, with bizarre and narratively disjointed results.

So, how does the new generation of ponies holds up?

• The movie started out great. Its clearly aimed more at the young demographic, but manages to throw in adult topics like the fricking rise of fascism if prejudices are left unchecked. The characters are all memorable and the songs are mostly good. A recommendation.
• Make Your Mark is a downgrade from the movie, flanderizing most of the characters and introducing a frankly underwhelming main villain, Opaline (she does get the Mother Gothel angle towards whats-her-name, which is good since abusive parents are a good way for character development). It did introduce Allura, a far more compelling villain… right before getting cancelled.
• Tell Your Tale is mostly shorts aimed at kids. Its fine, just not my thing. But it does make use of Allura, which is a plus.
• Haven’t read the comics but I hear they throw in some Gen 4 references. I’m not sure if its a good idea considering all reminders of FIM have been contentious, not to mention how the comics are debatably canon anyways.

Overall, it started off strongly but it has an uncertain future, since the de facto tv series has been cancelled, and I’m not sure the Youtube shorts and comics can carry on Gen 5. I guess we’ll see.