The rumors were true after all, apparently. Thus begins the greatest shitstorm in bronydom since Derpygate:
Spoiler: Click to 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
Personally, I've adopted a "wait and see" approach to this. The show has a bunch of talented writers that haven't let me down yet (aside from the occasional "meh" episode). I will admit that this smacks of executive meddling on Hasbro's part in order to sell more toys, though. Still, the show's crew has endured this sort of thing before (royal Canterlot wedding) and still managed to create something awesome. Changing the status quo in such a radical way is risky, but it also has the potential to open up all sorts of new ideas for future seasons.
Also,
Spoiler: Click to ViewPHA+Z2l2ZW4gaG93IHRoZXJlIHdpbGwgb25seSBiZSBvbmUgdW5pY29ybiBpbiB0aGUgIm1hbmUgc2l4IiBub3csIGRvZXMgdGhhdCBtZWFuIHdlJ2xsIGdldCBtb3JlIFJhcml0eSBlcGlzb2Rlcz8gIFBsZWFzZT8gIFByZXR0eSBwbGVhc2U/ICBTaGUgaXMgdGhlIGJlc3QgcG9ueSwgYWZ0ZXIgYWxsLjwvcD4=
What are your thoughts on the matter?
CAPTCHA: "It is different"
It certainly is, Captcha. It certainly is.