It’s a symptom of the creator being aware of and subsequently trying too hard to please the fanbase, which is often the point when the original charm gets lost in all the callbacks and shoutouts.
I like subtle stuff (like in the earlier episodes where Derpy can be seen in the background and suchlike), but when they go out of the way to put the character front and center with a speaking role, I get worried – especially when they rename her and then exaggerate her character for the role.
|