Trixie Terror

So yes, Trixie is returning for the third season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, but I'm breathing a sigh of relief, as she's not her usual boastful self this time around.  But she's not sad or remorseful either.  Take a look at this.

Take a closer look at her eyes.  They are not normal.  It appears that this time around, Trixie has been brainwashed.  And based on the amulet she's wearing, the true perpetrator seems to be a new villain in town whose head-shot image was revealed on the website.

Who's this guy?!  Well, it also seems that this Crystal Pony thing mentioned in the first Season 3 sneak preview is part of a "Crystal Empire" and this pony might have something to do with it.  Evidently, as I suspected, this Crystal Empire is where Cadance rules as a princess and now that she's married, both she and Shining Armor are now co-rulers.  Perhaps this wannabe villain is trying to overthrow the empire.  All that seems to be known is that the amulet Trixie is wearing bears his emblem, so this conqueror may be the new villain in Season 3.  Or could this guy be John de Lancie's new role?  But here's a question.  Can all this be covered in two episodes?  Or is the entire new season gonna revolve around this Crystal Empire?  Well, I hope to God this series gets better, not that this can still begin to make up for the Season 2 finale fault.  Otherwise, it's a waste of what could be beyond perfect animation.  But if Shining Armor is to rule the Crystal Empire alongside his wife, does that mean he resigned as captain of Celestia's royal guard?  After all, even he can't be in two places at once.  Now this little fact is based off the toy merchandise, mind you, but it still opens the doors for speculation.  You bronies better hope my next set of critiques for Season 3 will be awesome.  They only will if the series gets better, which I sure as hell hope so, if only for the sake of its superior animation, but at the same time, I have to wonder what the hell Jayson Thiessen is thinking.  Isn't this going beyond the intended demographic?  I know this is what Lauren Faust shot for when the series first started up, but really?  Are episodes just being created for bronies only?  We shall have to wait till the end of 2012 to find out.  Better hope I'm not too busy!