The One Thing I Wish My Little Pony Had

Is more consistency across episodes. A number of the most satisfying bits in the series come from the continuity nods and consistencies that do exist, such as Rainbow Dash’s backstory surrounding her Sonic Rainboom, Fluttershy retaining her abilities to discipline animals, and the last episode of season one remembering previous episodes about the Grand Galloping Gala.

However, often the development and personalities of the ponies shift heavily across episodes. Usually, this happens because the individual episode plots override aspects of the characters’ personalities, which is really tragic, considering that characterization is the series’ strongest aspect. Every time an episode comes along that shelves some of the past characterization, it makes it feel like the base personalities of the ponies are all that really counts.

This can be chalked up to two factors: the nature of being a children’s cartoon, and the nature of having a bunch of different writers (which also kinda falls under the umbrella of being a children’s cartoon). It often seems like the makers of children’s cartoons think the base characterization is all that kids really notice or something, although—and maybe it’s just me—inconsistent characterization bothered me in a lot of my favorite cartoons growing up. 

The main things which fluctuate in MLP:FIM are the agressiveness, intelligence, and power levels of the ponies. For instance, sometimes Fluttershy is *seriously* fucking shy and easily scared, while on average she gets along pretty fine with just a bit of shyness and more of a motherly attitude. All of the ponies fluctuate in how friendly, agressive, competitive, hospitable, and mature they can be. The intelligence fluctuations are usually more joke-based as they are in most shows, but can be pretty egregious in cases like Twilight Sparkle ranging from know-everything genius to complete goddamn idiot from time to time. Twilight is also the biggest victim of power level fluctuation, with her magic at times used to thwart big enemies, easily harvest whole orchards, and at one point *teleport herself small distances for no particular reason* when later she can’t magic her way across a chasm or clean up a mess.

Additionally, the timeline makes no sense. Episodes 3 and like 13 both take place in the days leading up to the Grand Galloping Gala, which occurs in episode 26, and clearly isn’t just the next year’s Gala. There’s also the “Winter Wrap-Up” episode which occurs three episodes before the beginning of… Winter. Yet, other aspects that are consistent in the show belay the idea of a Haruhi-esque purposely disordered timeline.

Anyway, it’s not a major complaint because it’s pretty much the norm for cartoons, but I feel like this show would be much more awesome if the characters remained consistent and—as overrated as I think character development is on the whole—went through some of that. I just think it’s an element that would work really well in a show with such an engaging cast.