Does anyone think Twilight Sparkle is a Mary Sue?

[Little Red 1,529]

I actually do believe she's a Mary-Sue. True, at first she wasn't, but now that she's a princess I do firmly believe she's become a pretty flawless character. Not to say I don't like her-- she provides a great narrative in the show. Actually, Kkat (author of Fallout: Equestria) wrote a thing about some advice for writing and she addressed Mary-Sues, and gave several reasons for considering Twilight a Mary-Sue.

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

 

Remembered this vid and maybe it could help some people here.

[Blackshirt Brony 415]

No, and I believe that this is largely a misunderstanding propagated by people who are still butthurt over the canonization of the Flash/Twilight shipping. She has numerous legitimate character faults, which are regularly exploited in various episodes, whether it is her obsession with studying or her terrible flying skills. Really folks, a Mary Sue isn't much of a Mary Sue if her new wings don't even serve any actual purpose.

 

Her being made a princess only confirms what I new from season 1- that she is the "mane character." To suggest however that she has come "a long long way" as Celestia does in her song is to suggest that she is still not a flawless character. Even in the most recent episode she is on the receiving end of a few jokes.

 

Twilight is sent to Ponyville to "study friendship." This should already be evidence enough that we are not dealing with a "Mary Sue," and I wouldn't argue that such a description would fit any of the other major characters either.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

She's not a Mary Sue by definition, but she certainly has her Mary Sue moments. Overall, she really doesn't seemed to be challenged by much anymore.

 

If the problem requires a vast amount of smarts and knowledge, she can figure it out. If the problem requires a "solution-out-of-thin-air" spell, she's got one. And if ever the mane six are in need of an answer, she'll certainly come up with one sooner or later. 

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

She's not a Mary Sue by definition, but she certainly has her Mary Sue moments. Overall, she really doesn't seemed to be challenged by much anymore.

 

If the problem requires a vast amount of smarts and knowledge, she can figure it out. If the problem requires a "solution-out-of-thin-air" spell, she's got one. And if ever the mane six are in need of an answer, she'll certainly come up with one sooner or later. 

 

Hasn't happened in Season 5. In fact, the latest episode had Fluttershy handle herself just fine. Even if this statement was true for Season 4, it's outdated now.

Edited May 18, 2015 by The Coffee Pony

[IJoinedForPonies 126]

Twilight a Mary Sue? No, not even close. If she was a Mary Sue, then she would have averted at least half of the conflicts she was involved in easily. She has plenty of strengths and weaknesses, both physically and mentally.

[Shanks 10,816]

No, she is a bit closer to one than she should be thanks in large part to the poor handling of twilicorn, but no she isn't. 

[Singe 2,111]

Twilight's magic at times can overshadow skills and/or magics of others.

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

Twilight's magic at times can overshadow skills and/or magics of others.

 

Mind you she had to work to get that point. Throughout the course of her life she had to learn magic from the Alicorn Princess herself and from Season 1 onward is still learning new spells and trying to hone her skills.

[TheJLeeTeam 914]

I wouldn't call Twilight a Mary Sue because I don't find her that annoying. I think she's less annoying as an alicorn. I think Celestia is more of a Mary Sue.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

Hasn't happened in Season 5. In fact, the latest episode had Fluttershy handle herself just fine. Even if this statement was true for Season 4, it's outdated now.

 

We're only seven episodes in and she already hasn't appeared in two of them. Also, I definitely got the feeling that the last episode nerfed her quite a bit. Her laser blasts against the Smooze did not seem anywhere near as strong as they usually are, and I also don't see why she couldn't have simply teleported to free herself after she got trapped in it. 

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

We're only seven episodes in and she already hasn't appeared in two of them. Also, I definitely got the feeling that the last episode nerfed her quite a bit. Her laser blasts against the Smooze did not seem anywhere near as strong as they usually are, and I also don't see why she couldn't have simply teleported to free herself after she got trapped in it. 

 

This may carried over from G1 lore as the magical item that killed Tirek couldn't best the Smooze. The most it could do was temporarily freeze it but the Smooze at that point was incomplete. That and it's waterproof, anypony that was covered with it was always in a negative mood and couldn't wash it off. The only things that could beat it were the Flutterponies.

Edited May 18, 2015 by The Coffee Pony

[Singe 2,111]

We're only seven episodes in and she already hasn't appeared in two of them. Also, I definitely got the feeling that the last episode nerfed her quite a bit. Her laser blasts against the Smooze did not seem anywhere near as strong as they usually are, and I also don't see why she couldn't have simply teleported to free herself after she got trapped in it. 

 

Celestia is over 1000 years old and her powers have been waning since the first episode of FIM. There are signs through out the series where her powers have failed her or bested by the opposition.

Edited May 18, 2015 by Singe

[colt_following 169]

I think I feel as if she doesn't HAVE to work as much now. I feel like the moment she 'graduated' to a higher state of being, the focus turned to making other characters get to that level of understanding the 'magic of friendship'.

 

Season 4 showed a few of her personal struggles and I feel like they overall became more dynamic- less about being a good student to a pony she looks up to, and more about making an impact on those who look up to HER.

^^ HOWEVER I do feel as if lately she's shown having no flaws whatsoever. Basically a carbon-copy of Celestia. A change I DON'T like.

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Twilight's not a Mary Sue.  If anything, she suffers from Vanilla/Designated Protagonist,Syndrome, at least to me:  http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VanillaProtagonist?from=Main.DesignatedProtagonistSyndrome

(Note: Link goes to TV Tropes. You have been warned)

Basically Twilight has to remain the vanilla ice cream to the chocolate, caramel nut supreme shake the show has ordered. She's great on her own, but other people prefer her more colorful/tasty companions, myself included. I think other people would prefer the setting to be the vanilla instead of Twilight and her to be a condiment in the mixture now.  And yes I am milking this food analogy for all the it's worth.

Also she is definitively magically OP. Hasbro you own Nerf, you know what to do.

[colt_following 169]

I think I just liked it better when she was TRULY the main character, and everyone else was her support.

[Guest]

You know who Twilight reminds me of Goku from DBZ. She keeps getting stronger and stronger each season. Look back @ S1 Twiley & S5Twiley HUGE difference. She's not a Mary Sure but she certainly has been a character they love to raise quickly. 

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

Twilight's not a Mary Sue.  If anything, she suffers from Vanilla/Designated Protagonist,Syndrome, at least to me:  http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VanillaProtagonist?from=Main.DesignatedProtagonistSyndrome

(Note: Link goes to TV Tropes. You have been warned)

Basically Twilight has to remain the vanilla ice cream to the chocolate, caramel nut supreme shake the show has ordered. She's great on her own, but other people prefer her more colorful/tasty companions, myself included. I think other people would prefer the setting to be the vanilla instead of Twilight and her to be a condiment in the mixture now.  And yes I am milking this food analogy for all the it's worth.

Also she is definitively magically OP. Hasbro you own Nerf, you know what to do.

 

They already have.

 

I will remind everyone again that after the massive threat that was Tirek, she was beaten by simple, ordinary unicorn!

[Steve Piranha 29,425]

Twilight's not a Mary Sue.  If anything, she suffers from Vanilla/Designated Protagonist,Syndrome, at least to me:  http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VanillaProtagonist?from=Main.DesignatedProtagonistSyndrome

(Note: Link goes to TV Tropes. You have been warned)

Basically Twilight has to remain the vanilla ice cream to the chocolate, caramel nut supreme shake the show has ordered. She's great on her own, but other people prefer her more colorful/tasty companions, myself included. I think other people would prefer the setting to be the vanilla instead of Twilight and her to be a condiment in the mixture now.  And yes I am milking this food analogy for all the it's worth.

Also she is definitively magically OP. Hasbro you own Nerf, you know what to do.

Makes sense, but I understand why many are upsed by it, Twily was as colorful as the rest of the mane6 in S1, and some S2 episodes

[UnknownFry 169]

Nope. I believe that term is grossly misused and has lost all meaning at this point, and guess what Twilight still has plenty of things to work on as a character nor does everything go her way all the time, and she has to earn whatever rewards comes her way.

 

I will remind everyone again that after the massive threat that was Tirek, she was beaten by simple, ordinary unicorn!

 

Starlight is no ordinary unicorn , but yes Twilight was beaten to the punch in the cave. Second time around though her barrier spell pretty much neutralized Starlight's magic. 

 

As for The Smooze that creature was magic resistant so Twilight's and Celestia's magic would not cut through it anyways. Guess what magic is not an all powerful force that solve everything in an instance, and the show had reinforced this concept many times over the years.

Edited May 19, 2015 by UnknownFry

[Derpy Derper 87]

I can see why someponies think of that

Edited May 19, 2015 by Water Heart

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

They already have.

 

I will remind everyone again that after the massive threat that was Tirek, she was beaten by simple, ordinary unicorn!

That's like saying Azula is stronger that Avatar State Aang cause she killed him in that state. Starlight just actually decided to attack when someone was powering up.  At least someone learn something from DBZ. Still doesn't take away her magical power level.

[IJoinedForPonies 126]

I have a feeling many of you will probably hate my book if you read it after I publish it. The main character literally has no real special powers other than being vastly intelligent, but throughout the story he always finds a way to win against his adversary by his own hand or by someone else's. This pretty much sums up Twilight, except Twilight has more power and can fly. lol  

[Snow Frostflame 3,568]

no she isn't..... a Mary Sue is someone who is 110% perfect..... she has proven to be far from perfect....

[The Awesome One 1,315]

She would have to be perfect at everything and be overpowered in every sense of the world as well. She is none of that because she has a lot of faults and even though she is an Alicorn she is still a terrible flyer and always will be because I don't see her flying like Rainbow Dash does even with a lot of practice and she is gifted in magic because that is her specialty but it is not like she can fix every single problem with her magic and defeat every villain with a single zap.