Jump to content
Banner by ~ Ice Princess Silky

Recommended Posts

(edited)

Are you ever watching My Little Pony and someone says something, or a brief action is taken, that is an EXTREME plot hole, but the story just decides to gliss right over it?

 

My first example would be Princess Cadence herself. Who the heck is she? We learned that she used to be a pegasus, but we learned that from a book. Who is she related to, how did she become an alicorn, was she a student of Celestia?

 

My next example would be exclusively in The Crystal Empire, when Princess Celestia told twilight she needed to retrieve the heart alone. Why? If Twilight and Spike had listened, the entire crystal empire and the mane 6 would all be slaves of an oppressive tyrant. And also the stained glass only showed Spike, even though Twilight had done almost everything getting to the heart.

 

And my last that i will talk about is Discord. Why did Princess Celestia want to reform him. He was reformed and the only thing he has done was try try to alienate princess twilight, lead them to a dangerous worm in the desert, and ask for a tiny glass of water. It would have been safer to just keep him in stone

 

I Know in the end its just a little girls show, and this topic is purely for discussion, but this is still stuff to think about.

 

And don't even get me started on Equestria Girls...

Edited by AppleJack_Wack
  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, it bugs me a lot. But the show for the most part is good, so I don't mind it.

But I canNOT forgive EG for the outrageous amount of plot holes. Ughhhh... Rainbow Rocks wasn't great on plot, either, but I actually enjoyed the music and some of the details. (Octavia, Vinyl... :))

  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Usually plot holes don't bug me since the ones I tend to nitpick are ones that are tangential to the overall story. like some of the ones you mentioned. However, ones that are in the middle of the plot do stand out, like why the rest of the Mane 6 didn't just talk to Rainbow Dash in Mysterious Mare Do Well or why the heck did nobody do anything in Magic Duel and why was nobody freaking the heck out about swapped destinies in Magical Mystery Cure? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)
My next example would be exclusively in The Crystal Empire, when Princess Celestia told twilight she needed to retrieve the heart alone. Why? If Twilight and Spike had listened, the entire crystal empire and the mane 6 would all be slaves of an oppressive tyrant. 

 

That's not a plothole. That's simply Celestia being exceedingly incompetent as she has been since A Canterlot Wedding. 

Edited by Cleverclover
  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

Plot holes are a minor annoyance to me; I can brush it off easily and continue to enjoy the show. But if its a glaring a plot hole the size of the grand canyon, I will be pretty bothered by it; because that's simply gross negligence in story writing.

Edited by RainbowJaxs16
  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've said this so many times I've lost count now. This is a kid's show. What that means is that I'm willing to forgive most of the massive gaping holes in the plot but sometimes I see stuff on the show that just has me pulling my hair.

 

Mostly I'm cool with them though, I still love the show.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plot holes can be annoying, but I don't let them bother me too much. I mean it's a kid show; of course there's going to be plot holes! No matter what, I'll continue liking the show nevertheless.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

Very crazy, especially if these plot holes affect the entire plot, like Rainbow Falls (ripping off Wonderbolts Academy, FIM2, making the Wonderbolts assholes "just because"), EQG (completely ignores its own plot points), and Magical Mystery Cure (retcons the purpose of cutie marks from something you earn by hard work to something your life is fixated upon).

 

I've said this so many times I've lost count now. This is a kid's show. What that means is that I'm willing to forgive most of the massive gaping holes in the plot but sometimes I see stuff on the show that just has me pulling my hair.

Being "for kids" is no excuse for lazy writing and low standards. Plot holes affect the writing quality just as badly in adult-centric shows as family shows.

Edited by Dark Qiviut
  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plot holes do annoy me, but the examples you listed don't really count since they don't directly contradict established fact. I don't think I've found too many huge inexplicable holes in FiM.

 

BTW, plot hole is a... funny combination of words in bronyspeak.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My next example would be exclusively in The Crystal Empire, when Princess Celestia told twilight she needed to retrieve the heart alone. Why? If Twilight and Spike had listened, the entire crystal empire and the mane 6 would all be slaves of an oppressive tyrant.

Celestia intended it as a test for Twilight; to have outside help tainted that. She did praise Twilight for doing the sensible thing instead of stubbornly trying to adhere to her instructions.

why was nobody freaking the heck out about swapped destinies in Magical Mystery Cure? 

I think this is because Twilight retroactively modified their destinies, that is, she made it so those Cuite Marks were the ones they always had.

Magical Mystery Cure (retcons the purpose of cutie marks from something you earn by hard work to something your life is fixated upon).

I think it works both ways; it's something you earn with your talent, but your life also becomes fixated to it once you get it. The Cutie Map further strengthened this notion.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)
The Cutie Map further strengthened this notion.

I argue TCM corrected it. Magical Mystery Cure was the first episode to treat the concept as a predestination. The Cutie Map takes both concepts and blends them together without either standing out.

Edited by Dark Qiviut
  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

I argue TCM corrected it. Magical Mystery Cure was the first episode to treat the concept as a predestination. The Cutie Map takes both concepts and blends them together without either standing out.

Well, yeah, that's what I was saying. Edited by WriteCodes46
  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

But, even so, I usually watch a show without critically thinking, though sometimes I do, but still, I don't usually look for plot holes.

Edited by JOHNisnotherenow
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

I don't think I've found too many huge inexplicable holes in FiM.
I know a few, but two of them really come to mind, both in EQG.
  1. Sunset Shimmer states that she knows all about the power of the Element of Magic and the crown itself. However, Celestia stated that she abandoned Equestria before Twilight became a student. No one knew not only what the sixth Element looked like, but also what it was.
  2. The Return of Harmony showed and stated that without all of the Elements together, the physical Magic of Friendship is futile. Celestia and Cadance reminded the audience after the crown gt lost in Pedestria: Without the crown, the line of defense is purposeless. So why was it necessary for the movie's climax to enact a Diabolos Ex Machina when Sunset donned it and then have it activated via a Deus Ex Machina?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If FIM is some big buster movie, anime, tv series(Got, breaking bad), i will enjoy nitpicking them to dead. However, i dont want to be over-analyzing when i watch cartoon shows. Of course, i love well-written kids show but some plotholes can be tolerated. Trying so hard to look for some plot holes and rant about them, you make the episode worse for yourself ... (watch mrenter reviewing Putting your hoof down or 6000 episode to get the ideas... )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know a few, but two of them really come to mind, both in EQG.

 

  1. The Return of Harmony showed and stated that without all of the Elements together, the physical Magic of Friendship is futile. Celestia and Cadance reminded the audience after the crown gt lost in Pedestria: Without the crown, the line of defense is purposeless. So why was it necessary for the movie's climax to enact a Diabolos Ex Machina when Sunset donned it and then have it activated via a Deus Ex Machina?

 

Right, but remember, Twilight said that the crown had reunited with the spirits of those who represented the Elements of Harmony, and if you remember from Princess Twilight Sparkle, it's the girls/Ponies friendship that is the most powerful magic there is. The human representations of the girls were the exact same as their pony counterparts, which essentially activated the magic of friendship The Crown just acted as the spark, and remember, the portal was open, so Equestrian magic could in theory work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Right, but remember, Twilight said that the crown had reunited with the spirits of those who represented the Elements of Harmony, and if you remember from Princess Twilight Sparkle, it's the girls/Ponies friendship that is the most powerful magic there is. The human representations of the girls were the exact same as their pony counterparts, which essentially activated the magic of friendship The Crown just acted as the spark, and remember, the portal was open, so Equestrian magic could in theory work.

No. In order for the Magic of Friendship to legitimately work, all six had to don the actual Elements of Harmony. For Twilight, it's the very same thing. She's from Equestria, and she can't activate her Element without wearing it and having the other actual artifacts worn by their respective bearers. If even one wasn't wearing it, then the Magic of Friendship cannot function. It makes no sense for Sunset Shimmer to become affected by this level of Equestrian magic because she isn't the Bearer of Magic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No. In order for the Magic of Friendship to legitimately work, all six had to don the actual Elements of Harmony. For Twilight, it's the very same thing. She's from Equestria, and she can't activate her Element without wearing it and having the other actual artifacts worn by their respective bearers. If even one wasn't wearing it, then the Magic of Friendship cannot function. It makes no sense for Sunset Shimmer to become affected by this level of Equestrian magic because she isn't the Bearer of Magic.

Strangely this is only the case with the current bearers of the elements since it's been shown that Celestia and Luna used them to defeat Discord and Celestia used them single handedly to banish Nightmare Moon. It seems odd to me that Celestia would be disconnected from the elements afterwards because of her break with her sister. If this is the case them why was she able to use them against another bearer of the elements? Is this just due to the fact that they were powerful alicorns? Clearly Luna was disconnected from the elements that banished her and yet Equestria seemed to fare quite well while the elements were inactive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

For some yes.  Some of the big ones anyways.  But I find it fun when a plot-hole arises, cause then you can have a big discussion about it like right now.

 

 

My first example would be Princess Cadence herself. Who the heck is she? We learned that she used to be a pegasus, but we learned that from a book. Who is she related to, how did she become an alicorn, was she a student of Celestia?
 

 

Don't really know about Cadence's ascension into alicorn, never read the book and I don't know the details about it either.  Annoying for an outside medium (out of show context) to use an important plot-point, because sometimes, those mediums do things that contradict the show's own canon.  Sorry, I've got nothing to say on Cadence, her ascension does come off arbitrary if I know nothing else about her outside of the show.

 

My next example would be exclusively in The Crystal Empire, when Princess Celestia told twilight she needed to retrieve the heart alone. Why? If Twilight and Spike had listened, the entire crystal empire and the mane 6 would all be slaves of an oppressive tyrant. And also the stained glass only showed Spike, even though Twilight had done almost everything getting to the heart.
 

 

My theory is that Celestia was trying to teach Twilight about humility, a trait that I think she values as a leader. The other thing, is that I view Celestia as a really dangerous gambler as well when it comes to teaching her pupils about life-lessons.  My view is that Celestia rationalized that the only way to teach Twilight "true" humility was to give her a test that had real dangers and consequences at stake if she failed to understand the lesson. But, I think Celestia actually believed (genuinely) that Twilight would succeed, and thus didn't really consider the situation of if she failed, as a plausible reality.  Which leads me to think she doesn't ever put up a back-up plan for when things go wrong, and goes on first choice only.  Kind of horrible, but it's so lucky for Celestia that Twilight hasn't royally screwed up yet.   Just to teach her a whole value, you use the fate of a whole city-state as a personal royal test?  Dang, such a gambler with the stakes Celestia.  

 

 

 

And my last that i will talk about is Discord. Why did Princess Celestia want to reform him. He was reformed and the only thing he has done was try try to alienate princess twilight, lead them to a dangerous worm in the desert, and ask for a tiny glass of water. It would have been safer to just keep him in stone
 

 

I think she said, her original intention was to reform Discord so she could put his powers to good use.  Which is why I believe she wanted to use him for some situations if there was a major crisis that were to occur or some imminent danger.  Why I believe she was saving the usage of Discord for something like the re-appearance of Tirek.  She needed Twilight and her friends to soften up Discord to become their ally for later future battles, as an important asset to their side.  Just ended up blowing up her gambit when Discord, wasn't exactly "fully" reformed to their side when he met up with Tirek in person, imo.  Of course, she never plans for that back-up worst case scenario, so she really needs some ponies to help her plan for when things go wrong.

Edited by pony.colin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For some yes. Some of the big ones anyways. But I find it fun when a plot-hole arises, cause then you can have a big discussion about it like right now.

 

 

 

Don't really know about Cadence's ascension into alicorn, never read the book and I don't know the details about it either. Annoying for an outside medium (out of show context) to use an important plot-point, because sometimes, those mediums do things that contradict the show's own canon. Sorry, I've got nothing to say on Cadence, her ascension does come off arbitrary if I know nothing else about her outside of the show.

 

 

My theory is that Celestia was trying to teach Twilight about humility, a trait that I think she values as a leader. The other thing, is that I view Celestia as a really dangerous gambler as well when it comes to teaching her pupils about life-lessons. My view is that Celestia rationalized that the only way to teach Twilight "true" humility was to give her a test that had real dangers and consequences at stake if she failed to understand the lesson. But, I think Celestia actually believed (genuinely) that Twilight would succeed, and thus didn't really consider the situation of if she failed, as a plausible reality. Which leads me to think she doesn't ever put up a back-up plan for when things go wrong, and goes on first choice only. Kind of horrible, but it's so lucky for Celestia that Twilight hasn't royally screwed up yet. Just to teach her a whole value, you use the fate of a whole city-state as a personal royal test? Dang, such a gambler with the stakes Celestia.

 

 

 

 

I think she said, her original intention was to reform Discord so she could put his powers to good use. Which is why I believe she wanted to use him for some situations if there was a major crisis that were to occur or some imminent danger. Why I believe she was saving the usage of Discord for something like the re-appearance of Discord. She needed Twilight and her friends to soften up Discord to become their ally for later future battles, as an important asset to their side. Just ended up blowing up her gambit when Discord, wasn't exactly "fully" reformed to their side when he met up with Tirek in person, imo. Of course, she never plans for that back-up worst case scenario, so she really needs some ponies to help her plan for when things go wrong.

 

Those are some interesting points, but id like to think a thousand year old princess would be a little more intelligent or... Thought-out i guess.

 

I just wish some of these actions were explained rather than just "do it because i said so"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Join the herd!

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...