While AJ certainly had less focus this season compared to last, it's only seems really bad because she actually got a lot of character moments in Season One, more than any other character bar Twilight, and even then it's close.

I also don't think we should worry about Flanderization. That takes years to happen. The trope namer is from one of the longest running cartoons ever, and Loony Toons also had decades of development behind it to turn the characters into what they are today. This show has only had two seasons, and the traits that people are worried about becoming overplayed actually don't appear in a given episode more often than not, and when they do, they tend to be either brought on or balanced by another important trait.

Neither do I. Fishing is a waste of time.

@Lurker: True, AJ was actually very prominant in the earliest episodes, to the point she may have made a more developed lead than Twilight (who got a bit more rounded later on). As said, the problem is that the show started off wowing people with it's complexities and good development. Now it's got to keep that quality going.

I dunno though, a few shows I've watched started to show wear and tear after only a couple of seasons. Sonic Sat Am for example, took some heavy does of Flanderization and role imbalance after only one season.

edited 18th May '12 9:19:18 PM by Psi001

Not to underwrite the emotional impact of a very serious scene but does keeping Sethisto (Cid) alive gain anything? (Besides the better part of Trixies emotions)

edited 18th May '12 9:18:29 PM by stevebat

Do you think AJ and Fluttershy would have an interesting dynamic? There'd need to be some sort of external conflict to bring out AJ's bad side though.

The best I can think of is Winter Wrap Up when Fluttershy's gentleness with the animals was getting in the way of AJ's work ("speed up!" "slow down!"). Suppose that may work, since work is Serious Business to AJ.

Rarity also had a dynamic that bought out her more casual flaws (eg. her borrish or Tomboy traits) while still giving her some clarity.

Personally I'd like to see more of her Rainbow Dash rivalry.

edited 18th May '12 9:23:30 PM by Psi001

My hopes? I hope we get to see Chrysailis and Trixe return, especially since I remember Lauren hinting at Trixe making another appearence. I also hope we get more mane 6 episodes and less CMC episodes, unless their like Stare Master in which the CMC's shared the episode with one of the mane 6 {This case being Fluttershy}.

I also hope that we get less rushed episodes too.

@ story

Yeah I think so. Animals damaging her crops could cause tension between AJ and FS I guess.

I'd kinda like to see another "Character gets stuck watching the CMC" episode. I know Stare Master already did it, but come on, seeing Rainbow Dash or Applejack try to deal with them would be awesome.

Season 3 needs demonic entities.

They'd better be.

edited 18th May '12 9:24:38 PM by Chadaman99

I wonder if these would be tournament legal? That has got be at least 40 percent citadel plastic on them (ok not really).

edited 18th May '12 9:25:07 PM by Mio

@Psi Then when we actually see evidence of it occurring, that's when we should start to worry. It's when people start getting paranoid about things going wrong that they start looking for issues where there really aren't any. Just look at what happened to Dash after MMDW. If May the Best Pet Win had aired before that episode, hardly anybody would have thought badly of it. MMDW put people on high alert for problems with RD's character, though, which made a lot of people bash the episode for continuing to make her a callous jerk, when she was hardly any different than usual.

edited 18th May '12 9:25:17 PM by PerpetualLurker

I need to have a speaking role in season 3.

-Slam slam slam-

Screw it the RNG just plain wants Cid Sethisto to die.

edited 18th May '12 9:26:11 PM by stevebat

Season 3 needs more whole cast and character driven plots yes.

EDIT:

@ Mio

I hope they're legal!

edited 18th May '12 9:27:37 PM by ApplelightLimited

Yeah I admit that was an inconvinient episode rotation for Rainbow Dash, a cluster of Jerkass episodes with all her redeeming moments mostly later on. They made up for it for the most part however.

edited 18th May '12 9:27:41 PM by Psi001

@Lurker: Umm, it did air before MMDW and hardly anyone thought badly of it.

If I hear correctly, and correct me if I am wrong. But Hurricane Fluttershy trounced all issues with RD this season.

Most of her development with Fluttershy was a big redeemer for her this season and also adds a neat new chemistry. I actually think she is more benevolent now than the first season, where she had less intense jerk moments but also less prominant kind ones.

edited 18th May '12 9:31:39 PM by Psi001

Oh, dang I got that mixed up. I guess the "Rainbow Dash is a Jerkass" calls against it were retroactive. I do distinctly remember lots of discussion on the subject, though. Quite a few people thought her character was more or less Ruined Forever.

I also maintain that MMDW's characterization problems were more with the rest of the cast than Rainbow Dash, but that's a debate no one wants to get in to.

edited 18th May '12 9:31:43 PM by PerpetualLurker

Sethisto? They put the owners of EQD in there?

I don't get. She the outgoing one with a desire to be the best. That can easily lead her a stray, but she remains loyal to her friends.

Do dudes ignore her positive traits???

@Story yep. With Trixie as Celes I am not surprised by this.

@Chad More or less, yes.

I thought the pet episode happened first as well.