There's a Lack of Good Male Characters

[cider float 2,539]

Well there is actually is Starswirl the Bearded. He hasn't made an appearance yet but he's definitely not an idiot.

 

It's still better than Steven Universe in regard of having competent male characters though.

Edited July 1, 2015 by cider float

[Prince Firemane 309]

My problem isn't how stallion's aren't a larger focus, it's about how they've been degraded over time.

 

Big Mac was always the "strong/silent" type, but he did show grains of insight that showed a larger intelligence. Now he only says two words, it's become so much of a gag that Big Mac saying anything more is a sure sign that you're in a dream. I find it harder and harder to see the hidden intelligence that we were all so sure he had in the beginning.

 

Shining Armor was anchored by his relationship with Twilight, but he was shown to have his own thoughts and opinions, ironically and poignantly shown through his "reason you suck" speech to Twilight. Now he's only shown if it simply helps to bolster Twilight or Cadance; or to even just to remind us that he even exists. Now it's so bad that he's in an episode to only show that he blubbers uncontrollably at weddings, a trait that is immediately seen to be negative. Totally out of left field especially if you recall that he didn't even shed a tear at his own wedding.

 

Spike... 'nuff said.

 

Braeburn was the ditzy, yet loveable settler that had the best intentions at heart. Now he's a complete screw-up; his screw-ups being one of the driving plot forces in Appleloosa's Most Wanted. Now he's just there to make goofy faces when shit clocks him upside the head.

 

Fancy Pants was the classic elite Cantelot snob, but was influenced by Rarity to see past her rustic home to see the gem she really is. Now, all he wants is special treatment from Princess Twilight.

 

Good, strong male characters don't need to be shown often, but the ones in the show should be treated with the respect and individuality they had in seasons 1 and 2. But in spite of all of that; I think the thing that gets me the most is that if the genders of the characters were reversed, there would be a much larger outcry and no one would be questioning why they feel that way.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Oh, so Fancypants, a consistently positive and reoccurring male figure doesn't count? He's portrayed as a gentleman, quite egalitarian, and charming.

 

Secondly, Shining Armor is not "Candence's bitch" it's called being a good husband! He organized the Crystal Empire's team for the Equestrian Games so he still shows his ability to lead.

 

Thirdly what about one of the most recent episodes where we had the Doctor portrayed as a huge science booster and good friend of Derpy?

 

Fourthly, yes Big Macintosh rarely talks. Doesn't make him any less of the least flappable and most mature of the Apple family beyond even Applejack who's portrayed as the most mature of the Mane Six.

 

I'd say the show is pretty good on male characters as far as I'm concerned.

[Justin_Case001 4,909]

In almost every other show, there's a lack of good female characters.

 

Be glad it's this instead of the opposite.

So much this.

 

As I understand it, they actually created a new female character in The Hobbit movies just because they would have been 100% pure testosterone otherwise.  Good female characters are still hard to come by these days, surprisingly.  That's why this show is so great.  This show, and Aliens.

[cider float 2,539]

My problem isn't how stallion's aren't a larger focus, it's about how they've been degraded over time.

 

Big Mac was always the "strong/silent" type, but he did show grains of insight that showed a larger intelligence. Now he only says two words, it's become so much of a gag that Big Mac saying anything more is a sure sign that you're in a dream. I find it harder and harder to see the hidden intelligence that we were all so sure he had in the beginning.

 

Shining Armor was anchored by his relationship with Twilight, but he was shown to have his own thoughts and opinions, ironically and poignantly shown through his "reason you suck" speech to Twilight. Now he's only shown if it simply helps to bolster Twilight or Cadance; or to even just to remind us that he even exists. Now it's so bad that he's in an episode to only show that he blubbers uncontrollably at weddings, a trait that is immediately seen to be negative. Totally out of left field especially if you recall that he didn't even shed a tear at his own wedding.

 

Spike... 'nuff said.

 

Braeburn was the ditzy, yet loveable settler that had the best intentions at heart. Now he's a complete screw-up; his screw-ups being one of the driving plot forces in Appleloosa's Most Wanted. Now he's just there to make goofy faces when shit clocks him upside the head.

 

Fancy Pants was the classic elite Cantelot snob, but was influenced by Rarity to see past her rustic home to see the gem she really is. Now, all he wants is special treatment from Princess Twilight.

 

Good, strong male characters don't need to be shown often, but the ones in the show should be treated with the respect and individuality they had in seasons 1 and 2. But in spite of all of that; I think the thing that gets me the most is that if the genders of the characters were reversed, there would be a much larger outcry and no one would be questioning why they feel that way.

Glad you brought up Fancy Pants. He does deserve to be put into the positive male character line up. He was the one to have sensibility and more independent thought among the nobles, up till now the noble or celebrity characters always came out stuck up and thinking of their own reputation, Fancy Pants had no problems thinking how he thought.

 

In the case of Princess Spike, nobody is perfect he could act up too and remember he was the first one to help Spike remodel the gem statue.

[Grepper 3,193]

I noticed this problem a while ago, and I wish that they would develop the existing male characters more. That would surely help solve this problem.