@cheezedoodle  
They’ve done some pretty nasty things over the course of the series. In their first appearance they almost ran the Apple family out of town. Not to mention, in one timeline Twilight witnesses briefly, they basically take over Ponyville, or possibly even all of Equestria.

@Background Pony #B793  
Yeah, like Beau says, that’s a facade. They are pretty miserable unless they are taking advantage of someone.

@Background Pony #B793  
Their friendlyness is just an act though, seeing as they’re con-men, and scam artists basically. Just because somebody acts polite, doesn’t mean they are. At times, they can even seem passive-aggressive, and let’s not forget they blackmailed Twilight, a princess.

Although Flim and Flam are actually pretty nice. They’re baddies alright, but they’re pretty friendly.

Yeah, they’re the antagonists that are higher than basic antagonists but not as high as villains. They’re the ones in the middle.

@Background Pony #FA4C  
Many tend to blame the writers, but fans don’t realize being a writer doesn’t make you “god” of the entire series. The story editor, higher-ups, and executives also contribute to the story, and are practically the writer’s bosses, and make them change things.

@Jarkes  
Would you say this entire arc feels like an afterthought?

@northern haste  
Same goes for these four since now they’ll possibly never appear in the comic series because they’d have to explain this otherwise they’ll just ignore it and pretend it never happened.

I have a question for this story, who would be to blame for how this story turned out? The companies or the writer?

@Beau Skunky  
I agree.

@genervt  
In some fairness, some executive-meddling isn’t always bad, and can improve some things. Lauren Faust originally wanted Applejack to headbutt trees, but they made her change it to “apple-bucking” which honestly looks much better. Originally, Apple Bloom was also going to be the only kid character, but they suggested adding 2 more characters, and the CMC trio is more interesting then just Apple Bloom by herself. Also, the Mane 6 characters original colorings (which included 2 pink characters) were less varried, and unique, and I’m kinda glad FireFly was retooled into Rainbow Dash, (which sounds more like a sporty character’s name then a fashion one) as she kinda made rainbows “cool” again, (Sonic rainbooms) and looks more unique now.

@Jarkes  
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExecutiveMeddling  
It ruined so many great things.

@Jarkes  
Well, 6 might’ve been kinda long, but some other comics have done much longer before. Heck, the 2 “Sonic & Megaman” comic crossovers were 12 issues each! (Split between the Sonic, Sonic Universe, and Megaman comics.)

Worth noting that much of this story was the result of executive meddling from both IDW and Hasbro. IDW forced Jeremy Whitley to include the “villain team-up” aspect, and then Hasbro gave him a very short list of “villains” he could actually use for it.
 
Whitley also wanted it to be 6 parts, but IDW wouldn’t let him make it longer than 4 parts.

@Beau Skunky  
Also, let me stress, I honestly don’t hate the IDW series/canon, I even love some of it’s stories, art, (even Jay Fosgitt’s) some of it’s exclusive-characters, and I used to take heat here for defending the series before. Still that doesn’t mean I like everything about it, in fact, the series doesn’t seem as interesting as it used to be unfortunately.  
xxxxxxxxxx  
There are several comics I really like but this letdown is not among them. I just pretend it does not exist.
 
I enjoyed some redemptions, Diamond Tiara for example we knew hardly knew anything about aside from “lol ur blank-flanks” so it was nice to see a different, and more vulnerable side to her, and be reminded she’s not some “mindless evil monster,” (a guy tried to argue she was “worse then Sombra,” an evil tyrant whom enslaved an entire race of ponies) she’s just a child.  
(Also, her sad song was freakin’ adorable, and one of the saddest moments in the series. Especially, that part where she looks at a happy filly with one of her parents getting along.)  
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  
I really liked Crusaders of the Lost Mark. Diamond Tiara is another character I hope to see again.
 
But yeah, I just couldn’t see Sombra being a relatable, redeemable type. It just made him another watered-down villain, rather then a likeable one.  
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  
Exactly. He could be compared to Sauron or Darth Sidious.
 
I just don’t see even characters like the Flim Flam Brothers, while still A-holes being in the same “evil” category as King Sombra. The closest would be Queen Chrysalis, & Tirek, but they care too much about what they want too much, to work with other villains perhaps, and wouldn’t want to revive a villain who wants the same things they do. (More competition.)  
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  
Chrysalis would not be so stupid to set free an enemy that becomes a threat to her. The same goes for Flim and Flam. They just want to become rich as fast as possible.

@genervt  
I just don’t see even characters like the Flim Flam Brothers, while still A-holes being in the same “evil” category as King Sombra. The closest would be Queen Chrysalis, & Tirek, but they care too much about what they want too much, to work with other villains perhaps, and wouldn’t want to revive a villain who wants the same things they do. (More competition.)
 
@genervt  
I enjoyed some redemptions, Diamond Tiara for example we knew hardly knew anything about aside from “lol ur blank-flanks” so it was nice to see a different, and more vulnerable side to her, and be reminded she’s not some “mindless evil monster,” (a guy tried to argue she was “worse then Sombra,” an evil tyrant whom enslaved an entire race of ponies) she’s just a child.  
(Also, her sad song was freakin’ adorable, and one of the saddest moments in the series. Especially, that part where she looks at a happy filly with one of her parents getting along.)
 
But yeah, I just couldn’t see Sombra being a relatable, redeemable type. It just made him another watered-down villain, rather then a likeable one.
 
Also, let me stress, I honestly don’t hate the IDW series/canon, I even love some of it’s stories, art, (even Jay Fosgitt’s) some of it’s exclusive-characters, and I used to take heat here for defending the series before. Still that doesn’t mean I like everything about it, in fact, the series doesn’t seem as interesting as it used to be unfortunately.

@northern haste
 
@genervt  

@genervt  
I mean that Comics have their own separate Canon this is not about whether or not they are turning to the show

Comics are not canon. They get contradicted by the show all the time.

@genervt  
I am talking about the Comic’s Canon

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Viva_Las_Pegasus  
http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Zeppelin

@genervt  
That’s not how canon works.  
it needs to be flat out contradicted to be considered non Canon

@northern haste  
They just ignore Siege of the Crystal Empire and pretend it never happened. I am completely fine with that.

@genervt  
I mean he never shows up again in the comics

@northern haste  

 
That is because that awful comic is not canon anyway.
 
 
@Beau Skunky  

 
Exactly. Neither Iron Will nor Lightning Dust were in character. Same goes for the Flim-Flam Brothers.
 
@Beau Skunky  

 
I apprectiate the redemptions but for a cruel, malicious, slaveholding, monstrous tyrant like Sombra it just does not make sense.