BalanceBrony

 

They're "bowing" to Twilight. They've been doing that off and on since she ascended.

But that's how I'm reading it.

 

Maybe. But if nothing was wrong, then they would be smiling. Also there wouldn't be material for a two-parter. I sincerely hope something is wrong, because a normal old Alicorn being just freaking added means 1) it needs a role 2) that means screen time 3) another demigod fluttering around, making 5 demigods 4) Seasonal rot as the writers struggle to fit her in.

 

And for those of you referencing dumbo, if they go that route, it's fakking idiotic. Because themes of insecurity and bullying have already been done. At best it will be a carbon copy of dumbo. At worst it would just rehash lessons already taught.

 

Either there needs to be a catch, or I want to see as little of Flurry as possible.

As it is with many things. I'm sure the writers will find a way to make it work.

 

Either way, if people don't like the decision I'd rather they just stop watching the show that they don't agree with the direction it's taken rather than complain about it when we all know Hasbro is never going to change their decision based upon people not liking it or their headcanon. That is what I never understood: people who to this day disagree and loathe Twilight Alicorn and insist the quality of the show has declined since her appearance and yet... They're still here. Still watching new episodes and still complaining about everything that they disapprove of.

 

I honestly hope if the explanation they give is a crappy one and people don't like it that they legitimately stop watching the show instead of making more and more blogs and posts about how they hate everything about the direction the show has taken and why they should go back (which they won't) and yet they still actively watch it.

 

I am hoping that after Alicorn Twilight that people learned Hasbro does not go back on decisions, so if you don't like the direction the show has taken, I am sincerely hoping you either learn to let it go, or stop watching. If this was any other show where the creators showed a history of going back on decisions based upon fan back lash then I'd say keep on trying, but it's clear that after Vinyl's eye color fiasco, Alicorn Twilight, Cadance showing there was more than 2 Alicorns in existence, and Equestria Girls that Hasbro does NOT go back on decisions based upon brony back lash. I mean hell I still see people talk about how much they loathe Equestria Girls, and have loathed them since the first film and yet they still watched the third film knowing they would loathe it as well and proceeded to post crappy reviews of it, and I am almost certain the same people will watch the fourth film, in full knowledge it'll be much of the same.

 

My question is: why?

 

I honestly wish people would stop complaining about the direction of the show and just stop watching if they hate where it's heading. We have people here who still insist the show hasn't been good since season 2 and yet they are still watching. I think it stems from people expecting more out of this show than they should and then defending that mentality with every ludicrous argument that they can. The truth is that people probably like complaining, so the simple solution of just not watching when it sucks so bad is not even registering to many.

Well, based on the teaser, it seems to imply that, in-universe, this isn't supposed to happen. That's why I held back my feelings until the review. After watching it a second time, I noticed that all of them, including the Celestial Sisters, looked very concerned. That combined with her unnatural proportions make me think the writers are going to have her be an abomination in-world . And to me that shows the writers did think of how bronies wouldn't like this. And to make it more tasteful to us, they did make her an unnatural birth. The imply something is wrong. If that's the route they take, then it should be fine.

 

And why? Because people care about this show. And it least in my case, story was one of the reasons I really kept coming back. Everything before this implied born Alicorns aren't a thing. Including the canon books and statements from the writers. Other Alicorns were all stated as animation errors. So, if everything said otherwise, and I care about story, yeah it's kinda a big deal. I won't break things, but there was a noted feeling of disappointment at all the lore being contradicted- until I saw that the characters are treating this like it's a bad thing.

 

I'm I missing something? They just all look tired to me.

New babies will do that to you.

Look at Celestia and Luna. They look concerned. Cadence is tired, but Tia and Luna have their heads down and eyes closed. That seems like concern, not tiredness. My guess is after the birth, Shining and Cadence saw that the Princess was all whacked out, and called the sisters, and they were incredibly concerned by it.

*cough*MARYSUE*cough*

 

Seriously, tho. I think it's gonna be the Harry Potter type of thing... Flurry Heart's the chosen one, destined to do great things, blah blah, that kind of stuff. And personally, I wouldn't mind seeing her struggle to fulfilli her destiny. Actually, I want to see her suffer trying to meet everyone's great expectations. >v<

I loved the whole ascension-to-alicorn concept, but this new thing might be interesting as well (as long as the writers don't buck it up).

 

 

I think they had to make them so massive to highlight the fact that they are supposed to be an anomaly. If she had tiny wings like the Cake foal, she'd have to roll to her belly in that introduction scene... And that's too much effort animation-wise (and a waste of screen time). There was an easier way to present her freakishness and they just went with it. 

I am wholly against the idea of a concept that's been done a million times, with the hero being a character who shouldn't exist. Even in this very scene, they all look concerned. She is an anomaly. And Abomination. Should not be. Being a born Alicorn isn't a thing, otherwise Tia and Luna would rejoice! They wouldn't be somber and forlorn.

 

This is one of the reasons why I am staying optimistic despite my disdain to the overall concept of her being an Alicorn-born. There are many possibilities present, like aunty Twilight teaching her princessy friendship stuff and the cuteness of such a thing would be squee levels of amazing. So while I have my feelings of 'that doesn't make sense', I am trying to stay positive about it overall, by thinking of these cute scenarios. Plus, I am still happy that she is coming into the show either way I suppose. Often I worry too much over things, this time I shall be an optimist. XD

Possibilities that involve shoehorning another royal entity in something that is already a Quadrumvirate. And adding another pony with a special destiny that affects everyone. It's contrived. I REALLLY want them to go the route of "There should not be born Alicorns! And just look at her! She does not look right!" OR "This should not have happened... this means something terrible is going to happen."

 

But either way, the characters look like there is something amiss, and I am glad.

 

That much is truth, but the significance of that role is not set in stone.

 

 

 

 

Agreed, though how canon the books are is left up to question.

 

 

 

 

Essentially what I am saying is head canon should be treated as temporary. When people get too set in their head canon they start to deny the legitimate canon and will look for any reason to do so even if that reasoning isn't sound.

 

 

 

 

But here's the problem: we have not been given an explanation for this Alicorn yet. So to say it breaks head canon or goes against what people understand is preemptive. For all we know there could be a new explanation that comes about that makes logical sense. We can't really assert if it's a bad or good decision or if it makes sense or doesn't just yet.

 

 

 

 

See when you say "gives me hope" I get the impression that you are wanting your headcanon not to be damaged rather than you are hopeful that they will provide a reasonable explanation.

 

 

 

 

But isn't it partially our own fault for assuming how things were and getting so stuck in our ways that we are so belligerent that we'll deny what the actual creators want? I mean it's their show, not ours, so whether or not we agree with their decision should only be based upon the quality of the decision and making sense not because we wanted something different which I feel a lot of people are doing sometimes. Instead of being upset because a decision is legitimately a bad decision, they are upset because their head canon now is broken.

Except, the writers said this would not be the case. In this scenario, it's Hasbro dictating on high, and the writers trying to deal with it.

 

And yes it gives me hope, that the canon is not going to be destroyed. The writers are the canon. And they would not have done this without hasbro. As for other explanations, there are possibilities: She has a birth defect, she is only a pegacorn and not an Alicorn, etc. But there is no explanation for Alicornness besides great importance. And adding a new SUPER important character when there is plenty of potential already, is also robbing from other stories.

 

EDIT:

BTW, the writer of the books, GM Barrow, is now an official show writer.

snip

You make largely valid points, but there is one thing you missed. It's not necessarily, "just" headcanon. One thing that is guaranteed is that an Alicorn must have a special role in Equestria. Whether or not they can be born is up for debate- although it is confirmed Tia and Luna were born, in one of the books. It is true that it's headcanon that Alicorns must be made, not born- excluding those two. But it is a headcanon that allll of the writers had until Hasbro threw this freak at the writers.

 

I understand why people are upset because statements from the writers, the canon, and implications within the canon, all argue against born Alicorns (excluding the exceptions). It was headcanon, but it was headcanon with a lott of support. I was upset too.

 

Now, all of that being said, I would ask that all of the people who are upset about this, take another look at the trailer. Everyone there looks concerned. So, it seems like that this is bad news. The look on Tia and Luna's face implies that this is not supposed to happen. And that gives me hope. That also confirms the writers don't think this is normal either.

 

But if they just throw in another important, powerful being, with no catch, I will be upset. So will many. Because it contradicts what everyone thought (including writers) until Hasbro spoke from on high. If there is no catch to this filly, a minimum amount of screentime is ideal. i don't want another Fairly OddBaby.

Guys. Incest is a legal term, and although it varies, cousins as distant as those two never fall into the legal definition of incest. Also, they are too distant for there to be any real genetic risk.

 

We are all technically related, and saying those two can't be together is like saying nobody at all can be together- that's how distant they are, if they are related at all.

There will always be people who come to MLP for their own reasons. To people who loved it for the good story and writing, this episode would be trash. As many have said in this thread, the episode does lack structure and proper plot.

From my position, I am a brony who watches each episode from the perspective of enjoying the show. I enjoy plot, characters, and writing. But I also enjoy aton of laughs. But that's me. What you guys need to understand is that this episode is a bit off from the normal expectations of the show. Yes, it was a special episode for bronies, but I could totally understand that anybody who likes the show for the show would be annoyed. This episode would only be enjoyed by people who enjoy the fandom, which is not everybody.

MLP become popular and famous for it's good morals, story, characters, and writing. To people who like the show only for those things, this episode was actually one of the worst, because it was nothing but a flood of memes with a letter to the fans as the moral. People who aren't into the fandom would have wanted a good epic story for episode 100, because that's what made the show great in the first place- and they did not get such a story. This episode was special, and that's fine. But it is not what the show is known for. So, more casual bronies who don't into the memery and fanon- they would be ticked. Which is what happened.

Many of us enjoyed the fun romp that was Slice of Life, because we felt it addressed us. But many of us saw it only as an interruption that took the show off rails for an episode, to pander to the crazed fans. I fall into the first category. I had a right blast, because I take each episode at face value- as the thing that it was meant to be. In my opinion, it is only really justified to hate an episode if it fails in the personal mission it had. But I can understand the people who hated episode 100- because it was different from the normal formula, that many bronies love way more than the memes.

Yeah, because it's so-o-o-o-o-o-o-o hard to believe that a straight mare wouldn't be into this guy.

 

Besides, if she were a lesbmare, that would give Rarity an easy way to defuse the problem (or make it harder for Trenderhoof).

It isn't. Just saying, the way AJ was going about saying it, it seemed like a confession, and Rarity cutting it off seemed very convenient...

Applejack just wanted to make it clear that she wasn't into him without hurting his feelings.  What?  Did you think she was gay?

My head-cannons must be satiated, or else they will blow things up...XD

 

It's a possibility. She never finished her sentence...

Or maybe she is asexual? Maybe she wants to keep her virginity. Maybe she is intrested in another stallion? Maybe she is into humans?

O.o... Humans... Maybe she and Lyra have a conspiracy going... OR maybe, AJ *is* human, and got trapped in Pony form somehow...

Because that would have made him heart-broken, and Rarity didn't want his feelings hurt. Or Applejack was about to say something rude. Or maybe Rarity wanted to share her words of wisdom before Applejack put him down harshly? Lots of options.

Nuuu, you got me.  I still think I'm right though.

"I'm uhhh... not interested in you."

"I'm uhhh... not looking for a relationship."

"I'm uhhh... too busy with my life right now."

"I'm uhhh... going to be blunt: I don't want to date you."

"I'm uhhh... not sure you're what I'm looking for."

"I'm uhhh... a complete stranger to you."

 

It could be a bunch of things, but I suppose it can just as easily be "I'm uhhh... not interested in stallions."

Ah, but the argument is would make is this: if it were any of those other things, why would she have been cut off in such a rushed way. Hmm?

Also, I have another point. She uses the verb "to be." Indicating that she was something. Continue discussing.

Sooo. Today, in the new episode, Rarity was mooning over Trenderhoof, and Trenderhoof was mooning over Applejack. Rarity starts acting like Applejack, than AJ acts like Rarity to show Rarity how ridiculous she was being.

 

At the end of the episode, Rarity realizes to not change herself, as we all knew the lesson would be. Interesting is the fact that Trenderhoof also learns the lesson. But anyway, so far I've only said the obvious. How is this reading deeply, BalanceBrony?

 

Here's where I'm going to shoot in the dark. When AJ tells Trenderhoof that he can't stay at Sweet Apple Acres, he goes "Ohh, in disappointment." Applejack guiltily begins to confess... Something. I quote: "Uh, Look, you're a fine pony, but uh, well, I'm uhhh..."

 

What could it mean... I kind of feel like Rarity cutting her off was intentional, to leave us thinking, so I just want to start this discussion.

 

Do you guys think this could be any indication of something else? Also examining the context of the rest of the episode too, we could really have some interesting discussion

 

Keep in mind guys, even though I'm implying that homosexuality is impliied, this thread is NOT about whether or not homosexuality should be depicted. There are more than enough threads on that subject. Instead, let's stick with this specific case, and let the head-cannons go off!

After watching today's episode, I'm calling it now:

The Breezie episode later this season will be Fluttershy's key/rainbow item episode.

 

What about Filli Vanilli, also about Fluttershy? I would think that one is more likely because she has to take "drastic measures" to help the Ponytones band.

 

Oh yeah I definitely think so too.

 

I don't know if this has been said or not but I also think

That next week's episode with Weird Al will give us Pinkie's key.

 

Eeyup, and I'm going to call more than that. Weird Al is the one who gives her the key.

*snip*

UGGGGHHH! He isn't a bad character. So what if he's shallow. NOT HIS FAULT. Why do people hate him? Mary Sue? Not quite. There seem to be implicit flaws. I would see him as being a tad overprotective. There is potential. Why do people hate him? (why do people hate perio. But that's another matter). Being semi-Mary-Sue-ish makes him boring. Not horrible.

I can already tell that I'm going to have a mark on my forehead from facehoofing so much. ARE PEOPLE REALLY HATING THIS EPISODE FOR A THREE SECOND CAMEO OF A CHARACTER WHICH SHOULDN'T BE HATED AT ALL?
 
You people make no sense. For starters, Flash wasn't a bad character. Boring certainly, but that isn't his fault. The writers were forced to make an hour and a half commercial. It was also meant to be stand-alone, so they had to reform all the mane 6 while also creating new characters. Obviously the additional characters will fall a little flat to make room to show the character of the main cast.
 
But hating them for that? It makes no sense. Flash and Sunset have potential. And people hate them, and this episode? For three seconds? God dangit.
 
I can tell this will be me in the coming days:



Regarding my personal opinion, it was a fun episode, but it left me feeling a little disappointed for some reason, though I'm not sure why. I have a guess though.

I attribute my disappointment to the weak book moral, and the somewhat uninteresting plot. The pacing kind of fell flat after Discord's song. But I also need to give analytical points to the episode. I thought the Princess time was nice, and Twilicorn haters can gtfo now. FLYING PONIES WITH FREAKING LASERS! Discord was also written very well, showing his own little spin of what friendship means, and also being the unpredictable chaos god we love. I will say that this was the first episode where I didn't like Pinkie, but the other ponies were all done well.

I'm going to be honest and say, not only did Flash not tick me off, but I actually enjoyed his appearance. I think he has potential, and he is cute with Twily. If given more room to develop, I'm sure the writers can make him a good character. And even if I didn't like it, I'm never one to hate and episode for three seconds. So, there are my thoughts on the episode. I give it an 8/10

Hello everypony. I've just about got everything together for my first analysis video. I just need vectors of my OC for different reactions so it's a less boring video, in various poses.

 

-All with wings folded

 

Faces

-Facehoof*

-Angry*

-Happy*

-Absolutely ecstatic*

-Annoyed

-Sad

-Pondering

-Squee

 

Poses

-Standing*

-Standing with hoof raised

-Pointing at something.*

 

If you could make some or all of these vectors, it would be appreciated. The vectors I need for my Rainbow Falls review are marked with Asterisks. Thanks!

By that logic Luna and Zecora have no character either. Sure we may not know as much about Spitfire as we do with the mane 6, but dosen't mean we don't know anything. We know that Spitfire can be harsh yet fair, is relatively laid back when off duty (although not as much as Soarin) is in many ways a more mature and level headed Rainbow Dash. This is not to say she is perfect by any means as we have clearly seen in Wonderbolt Academy but that she is not the manipulative pony we have seen in Rainbow Falls.

 

This exactly.  She clearly has a good moral code, and can be pretty cool, and is tough but fair- clearly not consistent with the methods she employed in Wonderbolts Academy.

 

She's the captain of the Wonderbolts- the best flyers in Equestria.  That she didnt conduct herself with a modicum of professionalism here is very surprising.  Is it fitting for her to want to poach Dash for her team?  Yes.  To be as manipulative and backstabbing like that and throw Soarin under the bus?  That's something else, and very much unexpected for someone of her stature.  It's even worse if you consider the Wonderbolts to be a military organization- in that case, they should be the *last* ponies to need a lesson about loyalty.

 

If she was straight with Soarin, just told him they thought they found a better flyer, and never told Dash to deceive her teammates, it wouldn't have been as much of an issue.  But then, I guess it wouldn't have been as much of a story.  Frankly I think it would have been much better off if the Cloudsdale team was a new group of flyers instead of the Wonderbolts.

Again. There is never any evidence that she wouldn't backstab. People expect she wouldn't backstab because they have preconceptions of what a leader should have. But that is exactly the point. The point was to show that she isn't a good leader. That's why she needs to learn. But everyone screaming "OOC" have all failed to provide evidence based strictly on what's in the show that she wouldn't do this. Fanfic, headcanon, and expectations do not canon make.

I have yet to find the source of this rumor, thus I am forced to assume that it is cockbull, no matter how much I wish it were true.

Maybe not. Pinkie Pride is a musical episode, and she is friends with Vinyl. Given that it's probably going to open with Pinkie beginning preparations for Dashie's birthdayversary, it isn't out of the question to have Vinyl included, when she is going to hire a musician. And in fact, I wouldn't even be surprised. Vinyl having a role would actually fit very well, and not just be fan-pandering.

Oh my gosh so true! Her personality was so unlike her! I agree with Jack Spades, the changelings must have taken her. 

Could you please explain to me her personality, and how she was out of character? I'm just curious as to your logic.

I don't mind the fact Twilight had to help RD with the moral, in fact I love seeing the characters helping each other and guiding them on the lessons they need to learn(and not force/spoon-feed them the moral ala Mare Do Well). What I didn't approve of was Twilight essentially guilt tripping Rainbow Dash, I thought that was really shitty of her.

 

Personally, the character I thought really shined on this episode was Fluttershy, who I feel does not get enough credit

It was shitty of her, But that's why I loved it so much. She was literally Celestia. Think of all the times Celestia tricked or guided the ponies to their lessons, while also having them learn it themselves. Twilight will be a solid Princess of Friendship.

Yeah, it bothered me too. (It especially bothers me) I think the writers just needed someone to set that up, and Spitfire was in the position to do it.

 

I hope the don't go the whole "The Wonderbolts aren't what Rainbow Dash thought they were so she quits her dreams because the Wonderbolts are jerks" route. That'd actually make me mad. Rainbow Dash probably wouldn't have committed herself to it if that what it was.

I think it's already shown that RD won't go that route. I'm more confident than ever that the writers will follow through, because it would show her spreading her newfound mastery of Loyalty.

Gonna get tons of hate for this.......

 

Fluttershy..... well yeah you can throw the bombs at me now.

Kame- HAME- HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

 

 

Now that I have successfully bombed you, in all seriousness, I don't understand your view, but I respect it.

 

Regarding this thread as a whole... I don't really hate anypony except for Diamond Tiara. Pick on a disabled pony.... supreme empress of all assholes... IRL, that's the kind of stuff that make people commit suicide, and even within the cartoon you saw how depressed Scootaloo got. Nothing can redeem her in my opinion.

 

I am of  the camp that Silver Spoon is the follower, and she only sides with DT because she fears her. She isn't the assshole who comes up with the schemes, she just goes with it. Not the best, but not worth even disliking, because I can understand her position.

 

Flash Sentry- I want to put it out there that I support FlashLight. There is nothing to dislike about Flash. He's just kinda there, and I think it has potential. People just hate him because there being a canon romance sinks their ships.

 

Blueblood is a dick, short and sweet.

 

Snips/Snails- I think they're not hated so much as they make people facehoof hardcore. They're recurring male characters and they're dumb as rocks, and I think that is one reason. The other reason is because they are go-to henchponies, making fans think that the writers lack creativity on this front, which also annoys them. They're annoying characters, not really to be hated. They're innocent but annoying lugs.

 

And I actually like Sunset Shimmer. People dislike her again, because she had potential but it wasn't utilized.

Well, you got me there. I just think that Rainbow Dash should have learned to make her own decision, without Twilight having to tell her to make her decision.

Ah. That doesn't bug me. But to each their own :3

Can I just add, that this was the episode that I first noticed discord hiding in one of the ponyvile houses in the intro!

 

I also didn't expect derpy, was a great surprise.

Props for noticing it yourself. Most people didn't know until it was pointed out.