What makes MLP work?

From the Unpopular Opinion thread:
 

 
So, what do you guys think? Why is it that MLP is still so strong after 7 seasons? Most series suffer from “seasonal rot” after this long (where the show feels like it should’ve ended seasons ago). Some publishers even avoid this by doing only 3 seasons per show.
 
What makes the show tick for you on season 1 and what makes you continue to watch it after 7 seasons?

Copying from my answer in the unpopular opinions thread  
“@HJSDGCE  
Likeable cute characters with fun stories to tell  
I’m surprised MLP hasn’t succumbed to seasonal rot  
Shows like spongebob, fairy oddparents(which cannot die), family guy, simpsons and adventure time(though it is still a fantastic show and the latest Islands miniseries ending just hits you in the feels, plus waifu Minerva) all were affected by it yet MLP is still going stronger than ever”

@Commune  
… Isn’t Minerva like Finn’s mom?

@HJSDGCE  
Yeah but she a cute and a robot and a AI

@HJSDGCE  
yes

Excellent characters; positive and optimistic mood and message without falling into syrupy glurge; smooth and good-looking animation and set design; awesome songs and musical numbers; and, important for the fandom, a great and very useable setting that inspires tons and tons of fanfic, fan art, fan characters and more.

Nobody reminded it that it’s supposed to be a show for little girls.

@Questionmarktarius  
Can’t remember who it was who pointed out that, back in the ‘80s, girls’ shows actually tended to have darker, more powerful and ominous villains than boys’ shows, because the assumption was that they wouldn’t be defeated by fighting. So you could put in stuff like Tirek or the Smooze that couldn’t be just beaten up.

After recently getting round to finishing S6, I’d say that for me, it’s them (the people behind the show) cribbing from Star Trek in a good way: characters we care about in interesting conundrums that require thought to resolve and not bullshit deus ex machinas.

@Ebalosus  
What about that one episode involving Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie on a boat?
 
Tbh, DWK’s recap on that episode was far better than the episode itself.

@HJSDGCE
 
I’m talking about in-general. This is television we’re talking about, so some degree of idiot plot/ball bullshittery is going to come up every now and then.
 
Besides, I’m a details-first person, not a drama-first person, thus can’t really give a decent analysis of a slice-of-life episode, unless said episode takes another bite out of the plot sandwich or enhances the setting in a substantiate way. All I can say is that I liked it, and whomever ‘DWK’ is, they probably have valid criticisms.

@Ebalosus  
Dude, you should totally watch DWK’s pony recaps. First off, it’s not a review. Second, it’s closer to an abridged version of MLP except with one voice actor (DWK). And third, it’s a recap as in, a summary of the entire episode.
 
It’s hilarious, enjoyable and sometimes crosses the uncanny lines like he means business, only to come back and make everyone praise him.
 
Oh and he loves Sunset Shimmer.

@HJSDGCE
 
Dude, I’ve been outside the fandom for the better part of 9 months; cut me some slack when it comes to the ‘who’s who’ of important MLP fans. I’ve been preoccupied with helping burn both Arse Defect Pandromeda and Failware to the ground.

@Ebalosus  
Eh, fair enough.
 
Still watch him though. You’ll not regret it.

MLP is probably one of the very few kids shows that actually continues and evolves the characters in it. And not just the mane cast, even the side and background characters have changed over the course of the series. It keeps it interesting and allows for more stories and adventures rather than relying on the same stupid crap over and over and over again (I’m looking at you, Sponge). It’s gotten to the point where you could make a small collection of episodes for the advancement of each main character’s story.
 
Take Rarity for example. She gets little lucky recognition throughout the first two seasons (Hoity Toity at the fashion show and Fancy Pants in Canterlot specifically) then she gets her big break with Manehatten’s fashion show and as Sapphire Shore’s head designer, leading up to her opening a second Boutique in Canterlot.
 
And this can be done for all the mane 6 as well as a few side characters like Luna. I think it’s a testament to this show’s storywriting ability.

@Lurks-no-More  
And this. This kinda sums it up as well.

@Gemstone  
Huh, never realized that until now. That’s actually a legitimate response. Kudos to you.
 
Character growth is a common and important theme in any piece of fiction which has a somewhat straight plot. Now that I look at your opinion, I realized what makes MLP’s character growth different. And that it doesn’t happen instantly.
 
It’s a slow moving path to success and Rarity proves it. She started with only one boutique but after gaining recognition in the early seasons, involving in the fashion show and being lead designer, she was able to open up and second boutique and finally, a third.
 
Rainbow Dash is a bit similar. Starting out as a weather pony, she was able to make an impression to the Wonderbolts at the Gala, albeit a bad one. She was later elected leader of Ponyville’s pegasi to create a tornado that’ll carry water up into the factory, and joined the Wonderbolts Academy before being a legitimate Wonderbolts.

I got a question?
 
Do Hasbro marketing see everything that goes in the show?

@HJSDGCE  
Exactly! The only one that doesn’t really get this too much is Applejack because she’s the only one of the Mane 6 that doesn’t NEED to change or evolve too much. She’s pretty much exactly where she wants to be and she only asks that she can keep what she’s got. Ironically, it’s this reason that I respect her character since it makes the stories featuring her more difficult to keep interesting and NOT repetitive.

@Background Pony #E3C2  
They oversee some things, though I doubt everything. Remember, their main money makers are toys.

@HJSDGCE  
The reason I ask because the shorts they did with Rarity “ peek behind” was a promo to S7.

@Background Pony #E3C2  
[bq=”Background Pony #E3C2”] @HJSDGCE

@HJSDGCE  
What makes MLP “work” is that you happen to still like the show; it all comes down to taste. A big chunk of the fandom does think the show has suffered seasonal rot.