Dry63's Writer's Perspective of MLP: FIM (Season 4)

While most fans appeared to have rage-quit, this is the season that is considered one of, if not, the best season of the series. Back to 26 episodes per season, Season 4 was both ambitious and bigger than ever before.

The premiere picks up some time after Twilight’s coronation where her friends notably have trouble separating their friend from the princess. In the midst of settling in with her new role, magic similar to Discord’s causes Celestia and Luna to disappear and introduces the Tree of Harmony, the place where the element of Harmony came from. The girls were left with a difficult choice in letting the tree died which means Equestria suffers or return the Elements to the tree and restore its power. Symbolically, the gems represent the bond between the Mane 6 and giving them up means letting go of a piece of the show that make the show unique. However, by restoring the tree, they were granted a chest with six key holes and thus the first complex story arc of the show began.

The arc was heavily spread out across the season with the girls being tested to see if they can truly represent their Element without wielding them or being bound to them. They would come across a pony who is questioning their live choices, so to speak, and the girl of focus inspires the person with their respective element. They're then rewarded with a token of appreciation that distinctively flashes a rainbow color like the girls’ eyes do when they have an epiphany moment and recognize their Element of Harmony on their own without the need of the gem. These objects would turn out to be the keys needed to unlock the chest.

A smaller story arc was added to the mix to as a nod the Olympics with the Equestria Games. First mentioned in Season 3’s Just for Sidekicks and Games Ponies Play, it continues over this season in Flight to the Finish and Rainbow Falls before coming to fruition in the aptly titled Equestria Games where it was eventful, but not even Spike heroic deed in this episode compares what would come in the season finale.

Speaking of "Flight," Scootaloo's inability to fly is heavily addressed in this episode that came close to Faust’s original take on this character. After getting teased about being able to fly due most Pegasus ponies her age flying already, it’s all she can think about accomplishing to the point where she backs out of a competition. So, her honorary sister, Rainbow Dash is called in to help put her back on the positive track. She encourages to have faith and that one day she will find her wings in her own way in time. With renewed confidence, Scootaloo competes with her friends with great success. The dynamic between Dash and Scoots continued to be explored throughout the series at least once per season.

This season also marked the start of celebrity guest appearances on the show. Now, John de Lancie was technically the first as no one expected him to return again and again, but bringing in "Weird Al" Yankovic started the official guest spot opening for performers who wanted to get in on the pony action. These guests would soon include Lena Hall (Season 5), Rachel Bloom (Season 8), William Shatner (Season 7), Patton Oswalt (Seasons 6 and 9), and Felicia Day (Season 7).

One factor that also changed in the show. With Twilight no longer Celestia’s student, what would become of the written letters that tell us a lesson learned at the end? It was simply revamped to the Mane 6 writing in a journal of their experiences with friends and family which would be the lesson at the end of some episodes. This small change in a way shows how much Twilight and the girls by extension are growing up. In a series that need very little continuity, the writers have taken good of the character’s development and cared enough for them to progress. Even for someone like Discord.

According to McCarthy, reforming Discord also offered more stories to tell. He lived up to the character he was based off of this season where he became Q to Twilight who would be his Picard. Both the premiere and Three's A Crowd, show him testing Twilight in his own way to help her learn how to be a princess or to if she actually cares about his wellbeing. The positive feedback from the fans showed Discord to be very likable in odd ways though there were still complaints about a rushed redemption in the previous season. But that would be soon put to rest.

Twilight's Kingdom offered everything a season finale would typically have in a story arc season; action, tension, and of course character progression. Both Twilight and Discord have their plot threads involve Lord Tirek, a centaur bent on steal Equestria’s magic. One is given all the Alicorn magic to hide it from Tirek while the other is persuaded to join his cause under the belief he will truly be free only to be betrayed in the end and for the first time, perhaps, feels guilt over his actions. Later, a Dragonball Z styled fight between Twilight and Tirek ensues which results in Twilight’s home destroyed and Twilight forced to give up the magic for her friends’ freedom, including Discord. In the end Discord is the one who Twilight retrieves her key in order to open the box filled with the power to defeat Tirek. Twilight not only given a castle in the end, but her official title as the Princess of Friendship.

If people weren’t Bronies yet, they were after this season. McCarthy and the writers had truly thought outside the box and began to change the formula in order to keep things interesting. But next season had more change handed to it as well bittersweet moments.

To Be continued