Presentation of the Morals

[Dark Qiviut 22,437]

One centerpiece of Friendship Is Magic is the moral. Every episode, movie, or comic has one, from simple (don't jump to conclusions, never assume the worst, don't judge a book by its cover) to complex and mature (sometimes the biggest critic is yourself; learning one method isn't better than another; your retirement doesn't mean you can't connect from what you love [the Pinkie Micro]). Typically, these morals are dictacted somehow, either in a report or journal. Sometimes a character will dictate the final moral through a voice over (Applejack in Apple Family Reunion or Spike in Equestria Games).

 

But there are also times where the moral isn't explicitly stated, which is the crux of this topic. One thing about the lesson reports is how sometimes they're really…absolute. Some episodes tend to have not just a main moral, but a secondary one, too. But when you state a moral, the minor morals tend to get lost in the background or forgotten.

 

This is perhaps one reason why I prefer season three's direction of them (and some of four's). Outside of three episodes, they're written or told in a monologue. Sure, you had characters tell the moral at times, but the secondary morals don't get pushed in the background.

1. In Wonderbolts Academy, there were two morals: a difference between being reckless and pushing yourself too hard; being the best shouldn't come out of the expense of others.
2. For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils used "don't jump to conclusions," but the secondary moral is much more mature and really deep: "Actions have consequences, so think before you act. If you don't, you may do something you'll later regret."
3. Pinkie Pride: "Seeing your friends laugh is more important than proving you're the better party planner" is the main moral (stated in T'sK1), but another includes don't let your pride get in the way of others' happiness.
   
   In my opinion, this is the biggest example. Even though Pinkie wrote the moral in the journal, you never hear it until the finale. By not stating it, it leaves the multiple morals ambiguous and equal to one another while not letting it overshadow the conflict. It's a hidden gem to I don't see talked about much, and it's a direction I prefer to see someday.

So, how do you like your morals's presentations? Either explicitly stated at the end or not stated at all? And do you think FIM should experiment more with delivering morals more subtly like in Toils and Pinkie Pride?

Edited January 10, 2015 by Dark Qiviut

[Shanks 10,816]

It depends on the episode and moral in question, in some cases the moral need only be implicit to make its point and in some cases can make the point even better but in some other cases it might need to be made a bit more clearly.

[Dulset Tarn 441]

I've always considered the morals to be just for the kids, but it's still one of the show's merits that it doesn't get in the way of being enjoyable to adults. Still, I don't consider the morals all that much so it doesn't matter to me how they're presented.

[Pastel 7,630]

I might have a preference for implicit morals. Stating them at the end of the episode is a bit childish. (it's like they were saying: "in case you didn't get the moral, here it is!")

[Dulset Tarn 441]

I might have a preference for implicit morals. Stating them at the end of the episode is a bit childish. (it's like they were saying: "in case you didn't get the moral, here it is!")

I can sort of agree with this, but at the same time the letters would always give us a great view of how the character themselves view what they learned, rather than just the show simply telling us "this is the moral".

After all, who didn't love "Dear Princess Celestia... I didn't learn anything! :D"

[Cwanky 17,590]

Although I often prefer my morals left unstated, it really does depend. Often times morals are best openly stated, and often this is done deliberately, though sometimes poorly executed as in Rainbow Falls, an infamous example of failing the show, don't tell rule.

 

Take Twilight's Kingdom for example. There its crucially important to explicitly state that Twilight Sparkle chose to become the leader and princess she is:

 

Princess Celestia: You've been wondering what you are meant to do as a princess. Do you know now?

 

Twilight Sparkle: As princess, I believe I have the power to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria! That is the role I am meant to have in our world! The role I choose to have! But I didn't defeat Tirek on my own, it took all of us to unlock the chest!

 

Also being 2 episodes long with a lot of plot and details left to debate, it does help a lot to hammer home a big message of your show at the end to get the audience's attention.

Edited January 10, 2015 by Cwanky

[Dulset Tarn 441]

Take Twilight's Kingdom for example. There its crucially important to explicitly state that Twilight Sparkle chose to become the leader and princess she is:

Princess Celestia: You've been wondering what you are meant to do as a princess. Do you know now? Twilight Sparkle: As princess, I believe I have the power to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria! That is the role I am meant to have in our world! The role I choose to have! But I didn't defeat Tirek on my own, it took all of us to unlock the chest!

It really hammers home the message that you choose your own destiny and that it ultimately rests in your hands. Especially important for younger audiences since its a key aspect of the show. Furthermore it highlights another key aspect - friendship, we choose who we have as friends and with good virtue friendship thrives.

Ha! I forgot how completely faked that moral was. Nothing worse than a faked moral (I'm looking at you too, Too Many Pinkie Pies).