>>34398824>S1Writers establishing the world and characters. Exploring the core characters and their interactions, laying down the foundations of the worldbuilding. Everything is new and fresh, Faust's vision is untainted.
>S2Writers building on the previously laid foundations, branching off to explore more secondary characters, specific scenarios (like an entire episode just on a train with a bunch of baked crap), other fun stuff. Still decent writing overall (with exceptions).
>S3Fucked up in many ways, including being the "planned finale" (with the twilicorn shit) and being fucked by EqG
>S4 onwardTwilicorn puts a damper on it, and the basics are basically established, so it's a mix of decent stuff, floundering in the wake of S3 finale, and occasionally wreaking established canon.
>S5 onwardsTreebrary gone, last bits of soul gone. S5 is the last vestiges of the old soul before Glimmer arrives. From here on out mediocrity is the norm, with the occasional good episodes being the exception.