@Background Pony #CC00  
Saffrons a good choice, I can only think of about 4 likely candidates. And thats all they are, likely candidates. Trixie, sunburst and thorax are just the most likely of the likely and it would be a waste not to use them. Especially Trixie due to her popularity.
 
Oh and starlight with even less screentime then she already has? (does a happy jig) she’ll be practically non existant! This is acceptable.

@Mr grump  
That’s definitely something to look foreword to if it happens. (I doubt Starlight has enough fans to justify a full spinoff, however I wouldn’t mind a small webseries following the adventures of some of the really good ponies who fight alongside her in the finale. That way her arc in the series can end peacefully without it putting too much attention to her while desperately finding full episodes she would fit in, while at the same time not making it seem her arc’s a colossal waste of time before the big movie.)
 
It really DOES depend on the writing. Big, long awaited episodes can turn to shit instantly if the writing is bad, and a generic episode can become really good with a skilled writer. But of course, pre-established character personalities do help. That’s why I want Trixie there so much, so Starlight doesn’t act so generic.

@Mr grump  
This isn’t Starlight’s last hurrah and they aren’t doing a spin off (EQG, GoH and CMC would have come up first) Now sure you could argue that Starlight will get less screen time, but she’s had the last four two-parters, they aren’t getting rid of a character that important.
 
Also Saddle Row (I assume that’s the one you are talking about) was a Slice of Life episode this is a finale, the SoL stuff has more comedic freedom since you know, there isn’t a world conquering villain in the mix. They play the two-parters rather straight. The entire point of this two-parter is to make Starlight feel good and get over her self doubt at being a dictator/villain with the lesson of “Everyone is special” even though the world went out of it’s way to make Starlight the only one who could save the day.
 
Heck here’s another thing, why does everyone assume Trixie, Thorax and Sunburst have to be on the team? Why couldn’t it be Saffron from Spice of Life, the two wannabe Wonderbolts from Top Bolt and the two Earth ponies from the Fluttershy and Applejack episode? You all of a sudden have an excuse to bring back the map and you create that balance of race types the Mane 6 have. Nothing so far grantees any characters are meant to be in the finale.

@Background Pony #CC00  
Well shit, thats a nice metaphor you got there but it changes nothing. Remember that rarity episode and how lame people thought it would be because it focused on rarity yet again and her opening yet another shop? That turned out great because of the character interactions and the fun atmosphere of the episode. All people talk about and remember are all the little moments, not the “focus”.
 
But if that don’t get your goat then consider this, there’s a good chance that this is starlights last big moment in fim before either leaving or getting a spinnoff. If that don’t getcha excited then there’s just no pleasing some people.

@Mr grump  
But once again the most boring aspect as you put it is the center of the entire plot, the thing which the entire story is based off of. It’d be like say a car is super awesome because it has a kick ass radio and racing stripes when the engine is a two-cylinder rip off from an underpowered moped. Sure the car has some flash but no substance.
 
 
@Background Human  
The timelines were just filler and padding to stretch the episode out to the time length. The timelines in and of themselves did nothing other than to show Starlight was doing bad with the whole time line manipulation thing.

@Mr grump  
Sorta like how the last finale was less about Glimmer and more about the alternate timelines. I certainly hope you’re right.

@Background Pony #CC00  
Well duh, but it’ll be these characters who make or break the episode so they’ll each get their moment to shine and exposition on why they signed up with starlight and their motivation for doing so. Starlight is boring as hell and It’ll be her interactions with these characters that’ll keep the fandom talking.
 
My point is, There is much more to be excited about then wary of. Why talk about the least interesting bit when there’s a possible gold mine on the horizen? And in reguards to my response to the other guy, why try to restart shit with a comment thats over 24 hours old when the conversation has moved on?

@Mr grump  
The entire emotional core of the episode is going to be based around Starlight Glimmer. The team is going to be there to serve for Starlight’s character needs, not their own.

@Background Pony #CC00  
Nope, the emphasis on team building means that a lot of characters will be getting screen time.  
Judging by past experiance this season I wouldn’t be suprised if glimmer didn’t even get the most diologue.

@Mr grump  
The problem is the episode will focus on that one character.

@Hory_Shet  
Oh jesus, would you drop it? I’d love to punt glimmer over the horizen as much as anyone but can we talk about the possibilities of this episode rather then focusing on one character?

@MegaAnimationFan  
Yeah well there are characters who have been around way longer than Glimmer has and have had way better characterization and have done way more meaningful things and have added way more value to the show than she’s ever come close

@thatguy  
All she needs to do is be there when/if the mane 6 get kidnapped and she’ll want in on the rescue.  
Again, I know it’s a small chance but it’s a lot more likely then the likes of say… Suri and Flim&Flam.
 
And don’t forget, theres another starlight episode before the finale where she may make a new friend who’ll show up for the finale.

@Mr grump  

 
In that case, I think the new mane six would have to be Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, Sunburst, and two other ponies.

@Mr grump
 
Maud would be a weird addition to this episode, because at this point, Starlight hasn’t met her as far as we know, and Maud doesn’t leave the rock farm very often.

@Holofan4life  
Starlight’s team has to be characters that she knows or can relate too. This season has introduced and reintroduced a few characters who fit the bill. The staff know how popular trixie is and they’d be fools not to take advantage of this opportunity.
 
For many people, it will be these characters who are the big draw for this finale, not Starlight.  
Maud has a small chance of making the cut because she is also very popular and would make a great main character for a spinnoff series.

So, does this basically mean that Trixie is 100% confirmed for the season finale?

@Mr grump  
While not entirely, I think a large part of the character dynamic success of this episode hinges on whether Trixie and Maud are there or not.  

Ooh, what if Maud is part of the rescue team? If the main 6 are the ones being kidnapped then it makes sense that she’d wanna help out with their rescue. We might finally see Trixie and maud interact on the screen!

@Chronicle23  
>>was joking  
At this point, there is no considerable evidence pointing to a tie between the two; most people consider it to be a crack theory. I was just making the joke because it felt relevant. xD

@Jarkes  
He’s not. Plus I doubt the same VA laws for full Canadian animated shows apply to FIM since it’s jointly produced between there and the US.

@ImRaidAccount
 
They had to pay extra for them. Plus, Weird Al’s actually a Canadian citizen if I’m not mistaken.

@TexasUberAlles  
This would be cool for the finale but I actually kind of want them to have Grogar to be the movies villain. I think he is about the only MLP villain, outside of the Original Smooze, that could be a movie villain.

@Jarkes  
What about Patton Oswald, John De Lancie, and Weird Al?

@TexasUberAlles
 
I really want an FiM version of Grogar to be voiced by Steve Blum, but it’ll never happen because Canadian voice actor laws.