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I'll put a few thoughts about the video's content after a cut, but the non-spoilery fact is that S9 will be released some time in April. The hot money surely has to be on an Easter Saturday premiere – that would be the 20th – but really I wouldn't be that surprised by any other time. I just hope we don't have any leaks this season, as those were by far the most unwelcome feature of S8.
If you want, come with me past the cut for a little discussion of what's in the trailer. Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
I don't watch Game of Thrones, but even I recognise the nod to its style. This isn't the first time, as there was a trailer for S6 that nodded to the same show. Anyway, we start off with some glowing green eyes, which seem to belong to Spike... but they're not quite right. Just a few seconds later comes the big reveal: Flurry Heart apparently in the magical grip of... King Sombra!
So, that part of the rumours at least has proved to be correct: he's back. This is quickly followed by one of Sombra's cryssstalllsss smashing through the Tree of Harmony and causing the Elements of Harmony to smash to pieces. Then the Mane Six together in a bubble with glowing eyes, Spike and Gummy wearing space helmets (?) in a balloon, and the Mane Six attacking something or someone with... garden tools?
The door to Sombra's return has always been open, ever since that significant close-up of a part of his horn sinking beneath the ground back in the S3 premiere. I hope we get a good explanation for why he's back now, though. I'm also deeply suspicious of the Tree/Elements scene, as I find it a little bit hard to believe that either would be quite that fragile. They've both led fairly eventful lives, after all.
No idea what the balloon and garden tools could be about; it's entirely possible that those are clips from slice-of-life episodes rather than the premiere. If Discovery Family are doing things sensibly, they'll also have held some big reveals back. I do have a sneaking suspicion I know what one of those will be (thanks to not being able to avoid a bit of leaked info) but I'll hold back on that here for the moment.
Anyway, it looks like we'll be starting the final season with a bang. I'm a little apprehensive, as I really want to enjoy this last year on the FiM ride, but I'm intrigued and excited as to what's coming next. I suppose the teaser trailer has done pretty much what such things are intended to do!
Calling it: It's time to go back into all those stingers from S3 and S4 that never went anywhere. Sombra's horn, the Pony of Shadows (not the one we got, obviously), Fluttershy's fang, a return to Maretropolis. Because we're out of ideas.
ReplyDeleteCan't see them going back to the PoS given the S7 finale. Sombra's horn looks a dead cert now. It would be good to revisit Fluttershy's fang. And did we ever find out who actually created the Alicorn Amulet?
DeleteNo, though I was going back through my S4 reviews today, and apparently the "Pony of Shadows" stinger was actually depowered Tirek, well before his assault on Equestria! :O I can't believe I forgot that!
DeleteOh yeah, I'd forgotten that – though I think the Tirek evidence is all circumstantial. I don't think it was ever explicitly mentioned in-show.
DeleteNo, it was apparently revealed via Twitter and suchlike afterward.
DeleteI'm hoping that the Sombra thing will be the two-part season opener rather than the finale.
ReplyDeleteThe adventure-ish nature of the preview bit is encouraging. Mainly because I like mediocre adventures much more than mediocre SoL episodes. That said, I'm still hoping for really good episodes of both types. I've seen people really pull their act together when given a chance to craft a final season (or proper ending), so I think there might be a chance of it.
What we really need is a sense of what all the characters lives will be like from then on... a solid arc rather than just an arbitrary cut-off point.
Perfection aside, there are only two items on my wish-list, one general and one specific: It would be nice if they would stop flanderizing the Mane 6 and it would be great if there was a solid episode for Chrysalis.
You ask too much. :B
DeleteAs long as we don't get anything quite as bad as "Non-Compete Clause", I'll probably feel okay. I'm easily pleased!
DeleteLogan... yeah that, and a couple of the shorts are what I was thinking about when I mentioned flanderization... toxic flanderization. *sigh*
DeletePP, do I ask too much, or do they deliver too little? Besides ya rarely get MORE than you ask for, so shoot for the moon, I say!