I don’t know what it’s called when a lot of people are worried a show is about to jump the shark but then it doesn’t, but I think the s4 premier did that. I’ve seen love for it on most of the fansites, including 4chan (which tends to reflexively label the newest episode as the worst evar).
It was pretty ambitious too, juggling half a dozen sensitive plot points and then ending with an actual season quest arc and seemingly making another major status quo change by taking out the EoH. I wonder if the status quo ran over McCarthy’s dog or something.
**Good: **
Perfect Cel/Twi interactions.
Discord with the Xanatos gambit, surely securing his place as the show’s most competent villain. Either the chaos vines get rid of the princesses and take over Equestria or they give up the EoH and he can do whatever he wants.
'Dat Luna heresy flashback. Celestia getting shot in the heart and Twi crying over her motionless body was some Disney shit. Difficult to imagine them ever getting more hardcore than that.
The awkwardness of Twi being a major political figure and the hero causing team friction. They didn’t shy away from this at all. Though the pacing was a bit goofy.
Not so good:
Could chalk it up to flashback time compression, but Nightmare Moon’s terrible rebellion that inspired fear across the land for the next thousand years was…about three minutes and involved some minor property damage. And while cool, the battle was pew pew laz0rs. I’d imagined the cosmic sisters going at it would be a bit more cataclysmic. This is the danger of revealing ‘epic’ backstory in fantasy. Removes the mystique, ya know?
Bad:
Maybe it was just me, but NMM’s lines and/or delivery seemed straight up narmy. Guess she can join Korra with Vaatu, the Spirit of Ham and Really Awkward Evil Laughs.
**
You dirty devils:**
They kinda cheat on the flashback to make it seem like it’s actually happening. NMM tries to crush Twi with rocks, then Cel enters the room and seems to gaze down at her on the floor. For a second I was hyped for moar NMM and Luna either being secretly bad the entire time or just not having her underlying issues with her sister fixed by a magic rainbow laser. Oh well.
Lots of speculation on what’s in the box, but I’m wondering if Celestia knows and it’s just another long game or if she’s actually clueless for once.