A problem a lot of ensemble shows have is that the circle of friends is rarely ever a real group of friends, per se, just a bunch of people working towards common goals. It’s rare to see a group of friends where the actual friendship means something to the whole cast.
This is where MLPFIM shines. Whe group dynamics arise, when they fight, when they laugh, when they cry? It all has so much more impact because of how often it is demonstrated that they all mean to one another. This is why OOC “I hate mah friends” shit irks me so; losing even one member of the group would probably be the worst thing to happen to all of them, and that idea fascinates me.