an interesting fact during this MLP rewatch: did you know the CMC were conceptualized for a spinoff cartoon? it was shot down, presumably since it was early days in season 1 and MLP hadn't conquered earth yet.
it's speculation but Show Stoppers (the talent show one) makes alot of sense with this in mind. the 100% CMC focus obviously but the writing is also much more... preschool? definitely aiming for a younger demographic. the episode premise and dialogue is super skeletal compared to even the simplest of S1 offerings, im guessing stealth pilot.
that's the other fascinating part of S1: watching MLP put the pieces together. later seasons would mix the adventure/slice of life/comedy aspects seamlessly, here it's more like individual attempts at each angle. years ago i'dve considered this a flaw but idk! it's very charming, if yknow a little bit predictable.
it's nice to see MLP's less subversive beginnings before uh, we came along and added a new fandom for the writers to be mindful of.
i think that's the lasting strength MLP has as a whole even in 2024, after loads of other revolutionary cartoons came after. MLP remains the most well-rounded one ive seen, it does a bit of everything and crafts a satisfying show that feels natural.
it's harder than it looks to create the sense that episodes "take place" in a show's world, as opposed to being a noticeably structured progression. MLP isn't beholden to any one genre label, meaning it can shift organically to suit whatever the episode calls for.
as silly as it sounds, you're almost peering into a place and witnessing whatever happens. subtle but again, just not something you see often.