TheEngineer

It depends entirely on the context for me. When I'm watching the regular show, they are just cute and adorable as always! When I'm cuddling with my Twilight plush, they are also amazingly cute! But everyone once in a while...

I hate to depart from the original post too much, but I have to disagree about chaos. Chaos is needed for change only when people do not see the intrinsic value in improving the human conditions without need but because we can benefit as individuals and as a whole.

I voted that it was ok. The reason why and my main complaint is that the episode is largely pointless. The ponies in it don't really learn much about themselves or any real lesson. It's just sort of a crises and then another crises and then a resolution that has no real bearing on the characters themselves. Contrasting this to DragonShy illustrates many problems recent episodes have been facing. Many have no real point besides creating a problem and then having an adventure. In DragonShy, by contrast, there was an adventure but it wasn't forced (the crises made sense) and the lesson learned was a valuable one for Fluttershy; who had to confront in a very personal way a problem that she herself had. In all, the episode does well; but it doesn't have that same feel as do earlier episodes. It's important for the creators of MLP not to forget where the show began in seasons 1 and 2.

Then I could simply adjust my topic to say, "Are Harmony and Celestia the real villains?" That would make more sense, I just used evil as in the context of the show.

This is a theory of mine that I recently put together about the show. I would appreciate any feedback, especially if you can find holes in my argument. Criticism is always welcome! Chaos and evil are supposed to go hand in hand in Equestria. The Tree and Elements of Harmony both have been used to vanquish discord and restore the rule of Celestia and Luna which means that life is harmonious for Equestria. They oppose and have tamed Discord, who is supposed to represent the forces of Chaos. It seems so straightforward: Celestia is good and Discord evil. Well, it is straightforward, until you consider cutie marks. Cutie marks are symbols that tell a pony his or her destiny in the MLP universe. Most of what we know about them is positive and comes from Twilight and her friends. Still, what about those ponies who cutie marks remind them of a destiny set for them which isn't so positive after all? Consider Snips and Snails, the servants who work in Canterlot, or any pony whose cutie mark reminds them that their destiny is to do repetitive tasks all day long, every day. In the MLP universe they are imprisoned by destiny. Not only not are they recognized as not important by those marks, but they will be constrained by their destinies and constantly reminded of them. This isn't just one or two ponies, but probably hundreds or even thousands. Imagine how many ponies in the show have servant, labor, or other unfortunate positions in Equestria; that is a number far larger than Twilight and her companions. The nature of destiny in MLP is not expounded upon much, but it is clear enough that a force outside of the control of most ponies is responsible for it. Destiny or fate is, by definition, outside of one's control. This is why the Cutie Mark Crusaders, no matter how much they try, cannot force their cutie marks to appear. Can this force behind destiny and cutie marks really be benevolent when it sets a destiny for ponies who are forever trapped in a life of insignificance or suffering? At the very least, it is difficult to answer that question in the affirmative. If this force is malevolent then, who is responsible for it? Here, we reach the logical conclusion, the destiny of ponies is part of the grander schematic of Harmony or order. Only within the framework of order does every pony having a predetermined place in society make any sense. This is hinted at throughout the series as each pony, under Celestia's rule and the forces of harmony, is supposed to find their cutie mark which shows them their destiny. Therefore, though Celestia may not be at fault, the underlying forces of harmony certainly are and Celestia is invested in defending the status quo. Which side, then, is really evil? Is it not possible that the real injustice in Equestria stems from the force of Harmony itself; backed by royal sisters? In fact, we have had it backwards the entire time. While we looked to Celestia and Harmony for goodness, hundreds of ponies were saddled with destinies that doomed them to a life of insignificance and suffering. Indeed, as the ponies who have these cutie marks stayed in our blind spot, we also missed the only possibility of escape from this destiny: returning the world to it's natural uncertain state. Though Discord the character may have been selfish, the forces he represented are the only escape from a predetermined world in which ponies live as automatons to Celestia's order.

I've always been a bit 50/50 on this sentiment. For me, yes, I prefer to stay away from that part of the fandom. I'm not against any kind of brony (unless they are hating on others, bullying, in which case I am more concerned about why they are doing it), still, as with any fanbase you are going to find really disturbing things. Personally, I like the idea of Equestria without homicidal Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy. For me, it is a peaceful place that shows a lot of the good that can come from our world like love and kindness. Some bronies have turned Equestria into an entirely adult world filled with war, violence, sex, and alcohol. That's not me, it never will be, I like to see the show as it is and smile when the ponies turn things around with kindness in most of the episodes. Still, if you don't like that part of the fandom, you just don't read their material, watch their youtube videos, or go into their chatrooms.