@Background Pony #09D6  
While it would be a gas and a half for this pearly palace to get pummeled prematurely, I do have a feeling the hinted power it has will be misused in the future.
 
Be it by a new adversary or the long awaited sequel to Lesson Zero.

Well… Keep in mind that this show is still a toy commercial, we cannot ignore that fact. And we were supposed to get used to some of Hasbro’s corporate tinkering, big or small. Whether you like it, or to a vocal minority, not.
 
If this castle gets destroyed in the season finale, just like they did with Golden Oaks Library in the season 4 finale, then probably the show staff are revolting against Hasbro’s decisions at one point.
 
But… this might not happen anytime soon.
 
Let this eyesore be a reminder of why this show is designed for in the first place, which is… you know those three words.

@dynamicv  
_{Sure she did}  
Okay, ‘demand’ was a strong word, but you get my point.

@SeraphimDawn  

 
Oh don’t get me wrong, it looks a bit…off..but it’s grown on me. Although it feels waaaay too much like a Crystal Empire house.
 

 
@Hateot
 
I know, but considering we had to deal with half of the fan base reacting negatively to MMC (Especially remembering that FIMfiction journal that was nothing but rambling on why “MMC ruined the show), it’s expected.

@PonyPon
 
It’s hardly demanding anything, just giving her a heads up when there is trouble. I think she would appreciate that, considering she has already decided her mission is to spread harmony and friendship.

@Background Pony Number 17  
Not when it’s making demands of her. She lacks enough agency as is.

@PonyPon  
What, you wouldn’t want Twilight living in a sentient house?

@Hateot  
Don’t you mean ‘would’?

@cheezedoodle  
It’s not like character focus episodes haven’t been a thing before. A character goes there and does their thing, it’s effectively the same as before. I’m not sure what they should be complaining about.

@dynamicv  
Yeah, the animatic made as much clear.
 
Also, still kinda wary of the tree having wishes.

@SeraphimDawn  
@PonyPon
 
Well, there’s that. But I was also talking about it’s main use, sending the mane 6 to restore Harmony where there is trouble. Clearly the Castle and map are a way for the Tree to communicate its wishes to the mane 6.

@Hateot  
I kind of see Rainbow Power or Cutie Mark Magic would be some kind of limiter removal for ponies.  
If this was an RPG, Ponies who are over level 60 should be able to activate it.

@Jarkes  

 
And then the resident cynics could complain about the literal plot device.

@PonyPon  
@SeraphimDawn  
Meghan’s mentioned powerful magic could also mean it is needed for them to activate those transformations from S4 finale.
 
@cheezedoodle  
@CrassMetalHead  
Don’t blow it out of proportion. I’m sure people don’t actually think this ruins the show in any way, some are just poking fun at the fact that the scenery behind most bigger locations usually stays the same.

@SeraphimDawn
 
That would be a nice way to do the world-building thing they have planned and not have all of the mane 6 in every episode.

@SeraphimDawn  
Yeah, I get it.
 
Sounds like something they would do.

@PonyPon  
For example: If Fluttershy has to go somewhere, the castle would direct her cutie mark on the map to a location.  
Or if Rarity and AJ have a task to do somehwere, it’ll direct their cutie marks on the map.

@SeraphimDawn  
Which I’m sure they will trust.

@PonyPon  
You noticed how when the map tells the Mane 6 where to go, it shows all their cutie marks moving to the destination on the map, right?  
I get the feeling that one or a few of the Mane 6 would each receive separate task given to them by the castle or something later on in the season.

@SeraphimDawn  
It’s not like they had any choice in that matter. Someone at Hasbro who calls the shots told them to put their castle play set into the show and they had to do it. At least it’s not a downgrade. I heard the G1 ponies had to give up their castle and move into the estate for the very same reason.

@SeraphimDawn  
Something you need powerful magic to utilize.

@dynamicv  
What can it do?

@Background Pony #5DBE  
It’s facing the front of the castle on all three shots.

Hoof’s Moving Castle.

Does it even matter? The castle’s still awesome.