Now that the synopsis for the finale is out, I was wondering what others think or hope will happen. Normally, I'd just wait quietly, but it seems like it has the potential to be anywhere between the best finale ever, or an epic train wreck (to me, at least). If the latter, it might just be enough for me to drop the series altogether, unless it happens to be the end of the fourth generation (which seems possible). For me, what I'd hope to see is the Windigos being the baddie, although I could settle for a new baddie if it's interesting enough. If there's going to be a seventh season, I would be interested in the team assembled in the finale by/with Starlight Glimmer to be the new focus, with or without being the latest bearers of the elements of harmony. What I hope doesn't happen, but seems likely, are the changelings being the baddies. Not because I don't like the changelings, but due to the canon established in The Times They are a Changeling. The writers pretty much threw away anything good that could have been utilized for the race, story-wise, but especially in this kind of scenario. I swear, if they go the My Little Cannibals route (the changelings feeding off each other's love), even in spite of the changelings' natural tendencies (as suggested by Thorax being different at birth), that'll be it for me. I can only take so much bad writing, especially now that I've been writing fan-fiction and I'm the type who likes to hug canon -- but there's definitely a limit to what I'll hug.
I'm a little unsure too. I could care less about Starlight. If the 'team' she assembles are the characters from 'Slice of Life' I'm all for it and it'll make up for Starlight. But that's highly doubtful. I don't know who it'll be but popular fan theories are suggesting it's various characters we were 'introduced' to throughout the season (Thorax, Ember, Gabby, etc.) That may make for a bad finale. I won't be as drastic as you by leaving the fandom over it but I'm very weary.
I could care less about Starlight myself, but we can't get rid of her. I figured the writers were aware of how bland she was, since her presence is so sparse, even though we'd been given the impression that she would have been a highly-featured character, what with the friendship lessons and all. If the series makes her and her ragtag team of Equestria-savers the next "Mane #" next season, if there is one, that'll be a good opportunity to make her a Frankenstein's monster (bringing her to life as she is influenced by a group of more exceptional characters). But, yeah, I'd be happy with certain background/minor ponies replacing Twilight and friends. It's not likely, but one can hope. I think they've pretty much done all they can with the main cast, or what they're willing to do with what the context allows them. Just so long as the changelings aren't the baddies, I can probably handle whatever they throw at us. Nothing good could come of them being the baddies of a finale this time. I can probably tolerate whatever they come up with for a regular episode (and perhaps more than one), though: like they had done with Discord. There's four ways they can do something monumentally stupid with the changelings, and I really don't want to see them happen, much less a combination of them. The finales for seasons three and five were bad enough; the writers don't need to outdo themselves. I don't really consider myself a part of the fandom; not that it really matters.
That makes me wonder why you're still here if that's the case but whatever you choose to do is your business obviously. Unfortunately the bad news for you is the chances of Changelings being involved in the finale are high. The only reason I say this is because they wouldn't have done the thing with Thorax if they weren't. But I could be wrong obviously.
You don't need to be a fan to write fan-fiction or socialize. Hmmmm... Think of it like being a tool. People can use hammers whether it's their profession or not, but that doesn't necessarily make them a fan of it. However, since they do make use of it, and like how it performs as is, they might become concerned with any changes made to future iterations. (Yeah, how can you F-up a hammer, but it was the first thing that came to mind and figured it would still get the message across.) I know the chances are high, but I'm hoping that "return of one of the oldest and greatest foes" isn't Chrysalis, 'cause I ain't buying it. Dangerous, they may be, but they're not old within the context of the show, since there's nothing in the show that hints at any past, even the one depicted in the comics (since neither Chrysalis nor Celestia act as if they had a past, changelings didn't seem to be well-known, and Chrysalis didn't speak of Equestria as if it were an old stomping ground). If it happens, though... Whatever they do, Thorax better not be pretending. The other three bad things that I thought of will be bad enough without that contrived bologna mucking things up. As if I'm going to believe that extremely coincidental convenience. If they go that far, the writers should commit harakiri with their writing instruments and cast themselves from a high place and land on those that gave their writing the green light. "Kid show" is not an excuse for bad writing.
I like the idea of Changelings in the finale, but I agree that the entire race shouldn't go into a Heel/Face turn. Chrysalis is portrayed in the comics as natural born evil, and it seems like most of them are evil from birth. That said, we've already seen two non-evil Changelings, and I'd certainly like to see more. If I had to guess at Starlight's team, I'd say it's going to include Starlight, Trixie, Ember, Thorax, Gabby, and Zecora. As the writers seem to been going to a lot of trouble lately to establish canon for the races outside of Equestria, I'm guessing that they're planning on creating a racially diverse B-Team for the finale. As for Chrysalis's past, it's well-established in the comics, and it's also explained why she's not well-known.
We've got good and bad ponies so having a split within the Changeling race would be a welcome development for that part of the MLP universe.
Some bad guys should stay bad. I'm all for Queen Chrysalis being an ongoing nuisance for the ponies. She will of course end up losing, but they shouldn't make it an overwhelming win. I want an "I'll be back! Keep looking over your shoulder!" ending where the ominous threat of the Changeling Empire is always a threat to Equestria. Maybe leave some lingering doubt as to who is or is not a changeling spy as the season ends...
I do agree in thinking that Changelings would probably be involved in the finale-but I'm unsure about Chrysalis. The comics have already established her 'walk off the MLP stage"-and from what I've heard, the comic writers do check with Hasbro to make sure it's canon.
As for me, I'd prefer it if the changelings weren't a one-dimensional enemy: being antagonists because that's just how they are. I'd rather it be that they're antagonistic to survive (and conquering in order to secure a reliable food source), since that'd go a long way of providing the series with a villain with some actual depth to their actions. And I think that the changelings have a good bit of untapped potential in general that they could offer to the show, as opposed to other antagonists. Regarding Starlight Glimmer's team... What would make it a nice surprise to me, is if Luna and Celestia were a part of it and we actually get to see them help save the day outside of a flashback. I don't believe that the comics are canon for the cartoon, and I think that has been established by an official source. (I think. My memory is hazy, but I believe the gist of it was that the comics followed the cartoon and had to get green-lighted for its ideas, while the cartoon doesn't officially acknowledge what happens in the comics, and thus doesn't have to adopt anything from it.) Which would make sense, since neither Chrysalis nor Celestia give the slightest hint that they have a past in the cartoon. At least, I would find that very odd if the comic were truly a supplement for the cartoon.
