Sugar Cube

The narrative remained focused on Sweetie Belle, and ultimately it was Sweetie who grew from the experience. I'd say it was a Sweetie Belle solo episode, with Rarity playing a darn fabulous support role as always. (Think Filli Vanilli). And as for Somepony to Watch Over Me, I don't think Applejack ever "stole" anything from that episode. I think it was pretty obvious from the start that it was meant to be a dually focused episode. Both of the Apple sisters learned something from their experience and both shared an almost equal amount of screen time, with Apple Bloom probably edging out AJ by just a bit given that the scene with the chimera went on for a while before AJ stepped in. Applejack learned to ease up on her over-protection, and Apple Bloom more or less learned that some situations call for a little help from big sis.

https://mlpforums.com/calendar/event/289-%7B%3F%7D/?module=events Title: Leap of Faith Air Date: March 29th, 2014 Synopsis: The Flim Flam Brothers' cure-all tonic promises Ponyville citizens a chance to be rid of their ailments. Applejack has her doubts about the merits of the tonic, until Granny Smith begins taking it and appears to be cured of all her aches and pains. Alright, this looks to be Applejack's key episode. I've been dying for this one and I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

FINALLY! Fluttershy might finally snap that losing streak against Moonbutt! I would have thought that Luna would be putting up a better fight. It's nice to see the Flutter flock awake and ready to fight! This definitely gives the sweetest pegasus something to sing about! But the really exciting match here is Apple Bloom vs Discord! I never thought Discord would be trailing to the plucky filly, but I think it's well justified. Let's pull off an upset, AB! How could anyone say no to this face?

@, Hi there! Just letting you know that I moved this thread to the Show Discussion subforum since this topic pertains to whether or not Derpy Hooves should have more lines in the shows. Thanks! I wouldn't mind hearing Derpy speak again, but given the controversy surrounding her voice in The Last Roundup, combined with the fact that she spoke no lines in Rainbow Falls makes me think that it isn't going to happen.

Applejack time! Soarin' knows where to get the best apple pie, so he ought to bow out gracefully. Sadly, this will be the last easy victory for AJ. She looks to face Princess Celestia in the next round, and after that it will be Rainbow Dash. AJ is still stealing this race though. Sunbutt, Dashie, and Zecora got my other votes for this round.

Granny Smith got put into a home by the likes of Vinyl Scratch, and Big Macintosh is about to be banished by Luna. Two Apples down... that stings. Discord and Fluttershy are both on a roll at least, and Apple Bloom is looking to avenge her fallen cousin. Justice shall be served. Take that, Doctor!

It's 2014 now and the background pony jokes seem to be alive and well. While I've never found the joke's existence to hold a great deal of merit to begin with, it makes even less sense here and now than it did in 2012 when season 2 ended on a pretty low note for Applejack. During the course of the 26 episode season, she received all of maybe two episodes of focus; one in which she was, according to some of the more fatuous members of the fandom, "outshined" by Derpy. In the other episode, she really didn't learn anything new, and that only served to reinforce the common notion that she's an underdeveloped and "fully explored" character. BronyCurious' popular and oft-cited "Why Applejack Gets No Love" video definitely didn't do anything to help matters either. I have and still do see that video frequently presented into discussion about Applejack's popularity and treatment by the FiM writing team. I didn't agree with the video when it was published then, but by now it's just plain outdated. AJ has come a long way since season 2 and has proven that she doesn't need the excuse of a destiny or goal to be an engaging, deep, and multifaceted main character. As I was saying though, it's 2014, we're nearing season 4's end, and the joke is nothing but a complete farce anymore. Seasons 3 and 4 have both been very kind to Applejack; giving her even more screen time and episodes of focus than that of even Twilight Sparkle. She was the only character to have a speaking role in every episode of season 3, and season 4 has had a very heavy hand of Applejack-centric episodes, even if she co-starred in most of them. We've seen so many new dimensions to Applejack's character this season, and I think that she's been absolutely fantastic all throughout. To call her a background pony in 2014 out of anything other than jest would display a great deal of ignorance, but I honestly think most bronies do use the term as lightly as possible, and not because they actually think badly of Applejack. You will find a few rotten apples in every bushel though. As for the McDonalds toys and why the set has excluded AJ, I really can't answer that question, but I think it reflects the fact that she is among the less popular of the main characters and isn't seen as being as marketable to the powers that be. But even then, AJ would thrash Vinyl Scratch in a popularity contest on any given day, and seeing as these toys are aimed at an audience that probably pays little to no attention to background ponies like the DJ, I am baffled as to how Vinyl got into the set over a a much more recognizable, main character like AJ. I've always enjoyed the group dynamic of the Mane Six, and it's sad to see any one of them get shafted in any given toy set. In my mind, the toy line will always feel incomplete if it doesn't feature all of the main characters. Thankfully for me, I had no interest in getting any of these toys to begin with, and the lack of AJ all but makes it a done deal for me, and I am sure that enough little tikes will be disappointed with Applejack being MIA from their Happy Meal too. If so, let all of this be a lesson to Hasbro and Mickey D's to always include Applejack in the future.

I also think that it's utterly ridiculous that Octavia is beating Scootaloo. :okiedokielokie: Really? This pony is the more interesting character? Than THIS? I rest my case.

Spike is a very underrated character and I can't imagine the show without him. He adds so much to both Twilight Sparkle's character as well as Rarity's. He's sweet, funny, awesome, and everything in-between. And I saw the cutest pic of Spikey Wikey today.