Season 3 Wrap-Up, Season 3 Wrap-Up

And... it's over.

As my first full season as a brony comes to a close, I can't help but think it was a good one. All alicorn drama aside, I still love this show.

My pick for the best episode this season is a three-way tie:
1. "One Bad Apple"
2. "Wonderbolt Academy"
3. "Just for Sidekicks"

"One Bad Apple" had a great song and a cool new character. "Wonderbolt Academy" was full of Dashie goodness. And "Just for Sidekicks" was just funny as hell.

As for the season finale, I found it to be satisfactory, with several feel-inducing moments. The plot was a bit rushed, but I liked it a lot better than the season opener. The thing I liked most was that it was very clear that Twilight is not about to abandon her friends, and she has remained the same. The only thing she has is a couple extra limbs and a few new responsibilities. And I just bet her friends will have some role to play in her getting used to her new role as a leader.

When does season four start, again?

Well, It's the Elephant in the Room...

Alicorn Twilight.

We are a mere 15 days from this bombshell, and I feel the need to rant about it, so here I go.

I, like many bronies, had an instantaneous knee-jerk reaction of "OH CELESTIA NO!!" The main thought that ran through my head was that the show was never going to be the same. This thought wasn't without reason. If you make a Twilight a princess, that, by necessity, changes the dynamic of the Mane 6. I felt a sense of impending doom for this delightful show about candy-colored equines that I fell in love with nearly a year ago.

I got to the point, last night, that I was literally losing sleep over Twilight Sparkle. Unable to put my mind at rest so I could doze off, I got up and got on the internet.

Now, after a night of reading everything about the season finale I could get my digital hands on, I feel a lot better. Several of the writers have stated that Twilight will still be her adorably awkward, nerdy self, just with a couple of extra limbs. So, at present, I'm going into "Magical Mystery Cure" with a cautiously optimistic mindset.

And, to the optimist, Twilight's new limbs open up a world of new possibilities for Season 4. After "Sleepless in Ponyville", I have a lovely, calming vision in my head of Rainbow Dash teaching Scootaloo and Twilight to fly simultaneously. It's not much to hold onto, but it's keeping me sane for the moment.

In short, February 16 is either going to be really good or really bad. I'm hoping for the former.