Okay, now that I'm actually watching more of this stuff I think I've cracked the code. Friendship is Magic is not a show for little girls, despite its pedigree* and the fact that it's still about vain little ponies. Friendship is Magic is a show developed and aimed at autistic children. Its main character is an autist who claims to literally not know what friendship is and only understands social interactions through what she's read in a book. At the end of every episode she unveils some revelatory moral that's kind of obvious to everyone else, but not its target audience really. The whole thing is designed to attract and to teach children who lack natural social ability.
And the thing about children who lack social ability is that they aren't really that different from adults who lack social ability.
So if you're a grown male who likes Friendship is Magic and can't figure out why and are worried that you're secretly an asshole who keeps playing games for girls, take heart! Friendship is Magic appeals to you because Friendship is Magic is for you! You are the one who identifies with this cute gothy little pony and her ridiculous bullshit social issues! You are the one who secretly needs and appreciates all the lessons on friendship and dealing with people that you're getting from this talking cartoon horse! You are vicariously living out this fantasy of being shipped off a new town as a spiteful loner and suddenly being trounced upon by five fiercely loyal, interesting and talented friends who are determined to put up with your goofy bullshit and teach you to be normal! You crave the message embedded deeply and not-so-deeply within Friendship is Magic, and that's perfectly fine, because let's face it, you really fucking need it.
Also you probably want to make horrible man-pony or woman-pony babies with Rainbow Dash and frankly I don't blame you.
* NOT intended.
