Opinions on an episode about death.

Before I start, I know this is a very heavy topic, and that it doesn't sound like something MLP would end up doing. However, I've recently had a conversation with a fellow brony (not a joking one either, dead serious about it) regarding the show possibly doing an episode about how to deal with the death of someone close to you.

Honestly, if they were to do this, I would be glad they did (no matter how much I would cry). Dealing with death is an important lesson for everyone to learn at some point in their lives, and honestly I feel it would be good to at least understand it before it happens in reality. I know there are those here and everywhere who have already dealt with it, and who will tell you there is no way to prepare for it, but every little bit can help. The loss of someone you care for is one of the worst things a person can go through, so an episode about how to cope might stop a few people from going the absolute wrong direction after it happens.

I would have to say that the most likely course of this episode would be the passing of Granny Smith. Because this is the death that most people go through first, it would have more impact for most of the people watching, and would make the most sense. From there, the episode could go on to the Mane6 helping AJ and her siblings to get through the grief of their loss, after all friends and family are the best support you can get after that experience.

Again, I know it would be a heavy topic for a children's show, but I feel that if any show could handle it well, it would be FiM.

So, what are ya'll's opinions on this? Do you think it would be good or bad to have this happen in the show and why?

I believe it be great! im saying that since i like death and depressed shit, too lazy to add detail, maybe i will later on why.

i think it would be interesting in the least

Having thought about his before I fully support this idea. I'm not sure if it's completely out of the question, We've had Fluttershy dealing with feelings of worthlessness. (At least that's how I interpreted it.)

TheLastDefender wrote:Having thought about his before I fully support this idea. I'm not sure if it's completely out of the question, We've had Fluttershy dealing with feelings of worthlessness. (At least that's how I interpreted it.)

This is true. It was more subtle, but I noticed it as well (more hidden under the "I can't fly" thing, but still there)

It'd be one of the most interesting episodes if they did. However, it's also less likely than them making an animated movie based off of Past Sins.

Lauren Faust even stated that she'd preferred AJ's parents to have been stated to be deceased, but the execs didn't feel that it set with the tone of the show which is still technically meant for girls between 6-12.

It would be a fantastic moral, because death is something that is inevitable for every living thing (barring the immortal jellyfish, AFAIK.) and perhaps even add more realism to the setting as a whole.

Well, certainly, an episode with this theme would work. Like my brother said, it happens and always will happen, and covering it as part of a moral would work wonderfully, given how good the series has been so far about that.

That's a very good idea Swicked, this seems like an episode we might actually get. However it doesn't deal with the immediate emotion that comes from someone's passing, but it shows a family celebrating a loved one's life which sounds like a much brighter message.

Swicked, you should write something. Quite a creative and convincing story you have there.

I think it would be good. Not all the time but a few episodes, sure why not? I mean, to keep it kid friendly or at least not rated 18+, they would have to make the death not all full of extreme content right?

Wow.

Now the reason that I used to want a Pinkie/AJ episode was for straight up comedy, they made a classic comedy duo. But swicked's idea completely flips the obvious formula on its head, and is really a situation that the character needs to be in. I won't be able to think of the season as complete until I see this now. However...

I will be honest and say that I just don't see death happening. Not unless the show is due for a cancellation and goes the way of Moonlighting. While I'd love to see the staff give one last ridiculous hurrah and throw out the most unrestrained episodes imaginable, I'd sure be put out at the whole 'cancellation' thing.

I think I've read a fanfic similar to that, except Pinkie was preparing a party in memory of Granny Pie.

CamoBadger wrote:I think I've read a fanfic similar to that, except Pinkie was preparing a party in memory of Granny Pie.

I've seen a comic like that. [link]

I would be astonished if FiM can pull that off. That the episode be about death and would still be a kid-friendly episode. But I'm guessing kids that are watching the show (The Girls 6-12 I mean.) would not be able to "take" it? They're only children.

I would love an episode about someone's death. Like you guys said, it's a good moral and it's inevitable. But, I don't want someone dying either.

It's like My Little Dashie, when Dash is getting taken away. Losing someone that you have so much attachment to. I just broke down and MANLY tears were shed.

It would be interesting to see if they can pull it off, and it would be good for the target age group to see an episode like that.

Granted, I was 5 when my grandfather died, and I would lose 3 more family members before I was 13, so I admit I look at the issue differently then others... but I never really saw the reason to hide death to protect children. It's a part of life, something that happens every day, and sooner or later its going to happen to somebody close to you.

Which would be that if they did do an episode about death, it should be about helping other accept the lose and moving on, but never forgetting the good memories. But that's just me and my opinion.

I would definitely want to see an episode like this, but I don't think it would involve granny smith. Think about when a show did this when we were younger, 99% of the time a death that taught a lesson was of a character that was never shown on screen. I'm pretty sure there was an episode of Arthur where a characters family member died.

The problem with mlp doing it is the "vibe" when watching a show like Arthur is far different from watching FiM. When watching Arthur the characters are dealing with real life issues on a daily basis. Everything already seems real enough and as the show's primary focus is to educate (more about social education than academic) It seems normal to have that happen. FiM is more about escaping reality, even with the realistic stories and problems that are faced (the reasons the show does so well) everything is always fairly exaggerated either by the nature of the show or the actions of the characters. This exaggeration would have to be toned down for an episode about something as serious as death, and though I would love it to happen it would probably just change the feeling in the show too much. Also as we can mostly see, the target audience for Arthur is kids of all ages whereas the "target" audience for FiM is very young girls who's parents will buy toys. Of course we all know how much the writers care about them anymore, but the general feel of the show still hasn't changed since the beginning and this kind of jump WOULD be difficult.

I just realized I wrote a lot, so I'll stop since I'm on my phone and my thumbs are cramping up.

Also if you didn't notice I kind of like Arthur, it wasn't really a show I watched growing up (I was a nickelodeon kid[that one kid with cable]) but it was one I always appreciated and I still catch episodes occasionally on PBS second chance.