Yaks and Mane six = Fans and Writers

[Buck Testa 5,505]

At the beginning I really didn't like this latest episode. The Yaks were loud, obnoxious, wanting everything to be a very specific way. The rest of the episode was good, there was funny comedy bits and expressions and the works. Yet the Yaks were characterized in this specific way, it puzzled me. Then one wry comment on youtube later and all the pieces fell into place.

 

This episode was an allegory of the writers struggling to make an episode the fans would like, only to come to the conclusion that it would be better to show them how THEY would make an episode would be just as good if the fans give them a chance. 

 

How many times have you seen a season oner just flip their lid over an episode just because it didn't meet their nostalgia goggles version of season one. "IT'S NOT HOW FAUST WROTE IT, FAN SMASH!!!"

 

Or an analyst who has complicated head canons that are dashed in the span of an episode and just blow a gasket at how the writers don't care about the show anymore (see Tommy Oliver's rage quit video. No hate for the guy but its a prime example) 

 

Or someone like me, who has a big thing about character development and gets really up in arms over an episode like Princess Spike (not that this changes my opinion on that episode).

 

The mane six and especially Pinkie went to great lengths to make something that the Yaks would like, doing all the research and trying to emulate what the yaks could possibly find like home. It stresses the mane six out as they look at each other from around the table and try to come up with a solution. 

 

Couldn't you see the writers going through a similar stressful fit trying to write these episodes for fans who will jump on them for any and all missteps along the way? 

 

Its when Pinkie decides the to make a party to show the Yaks how great Equestria can be instead of catering to what the Yaks want that they really make a breakthrough and earn the friendship with the Yaks. 

 

Could not the same be said for season five and the show in general, trying to make something that a fan could enjoy without having to bend to what the fans THINK they would enjoy? The writers want you to like the episode, but you have to let yourself be open to the episode to like it. 

 

Perhaps we should ask ourselves occasionally "Am I being a big Yak right now?" 
I know I will. 

Edited June 28, 2015 by Buck Testa

[cider float 2,539]

If that is the case how ironic that this episode also failed to be like Season 1 and 2.

 

So if this really is to reflect their crying then when Pinkie Pie said she wanted to show them what Equestria is like it's like saying accept our way of writing.

 

The sad part of this message is that the Yaks can return to their village whenever they want to continue their traditional way, but I can't see anymore of Season 1 and 2 in these new episodes so I can't return to my traditional village. It was trashed and trampled so it's more like these Yaks are the writers that cry about how some bronies just can't accept their way of writing because that is their "traditional" way.

 

The "paid" writers when into the same fit on Suited for Success which was in Season 1-2... it's not the first time they have done this.

Edited June 28, 2015 by cider float

[Buck Testa 5,505]

If that is the case how ironic that this episode also failed to be like Season 1 and 2.

 

So if this really is to reflect their crying then when Pinkie Pie said she wanted to show them what Equestria is like it's like saying accept our way of writing.

 

The sad part of this message is that the Yaks can return to their village whenever they want to continue their traditional way, but I can't see anymore of Season 1 and 2 in these new episodes.

 

The "paid" writers when into the same fit on Suited for Success which was in Season 1-2... it's not the first time they have done this.

You REALLY missed the point of this, but okay. 

[Flutterstep 47,328]

This is exactly what I thought when watching this as soon as the yaks explain how everything has to be 100% perfect. I personally really liked this episode; it's one of my new favourites

 

It has a really good point though. Not everything is going to be at everyone's standards and high expectations. I do remind myself now about things I dislike.

[cider float 2,539]

You REALLY missed the point of this, but okay. 

Nahh I figured it pretty much. Just because I didn't take the same message you do doesn't mean I missed any points. And that's why people are different. Deal with it and accept every person out there is going to take the message of a cartoon and agree with it no matter how grand you think the message was.

Edited June 28, 2015 by cider float

[Alto 437]

yeah fans can be yaks sometimes

 

take slice of life for example

its an episode as a thankyou and recognition for the brony fandom

 

yet some people still goes i hate this episode ,too much pandering,too much fan service, its crammed, the donkeys are ugly,etc

Edited June 28, 2015 by Alto

[Freewave 1,145]

The episode definitely hits that theme very well and I have no doubt that was part of the point.

 

Do I like season 5 better now? Not really....but maybe I'll try a LITTLE harder to.

[Justin_Case001 4,934]

Wow, that's a great theory, I completely missed it.  FAN NO LIKE, FAN SMASH!  Lol.  It's so true!  I agree, from now on, we have to ask ourselves, is this episode actually bad, or am I just being too yak?

[Steve Piranha 29,496]

At the beginning I really didn't like this latest episode. The Yaks were loud, obnoxious, wanting everything to be a very specific way. The rest of the episode was good, there was funny comedy bits and expressions and the works. Yet the Yaks were characterized in this specific way, it puzzled me. Then one wry comment on youtube later and all the pieces fell into place.

 

This episode was an allegory of the writers struggling to make an episode the fans would like, only to come to the conclusion that it would be better to show them how THEY would make an episode would be just as good if the fans give them a chance. 

 

How many times have you seen a season oner just flip their lid over an episode just because it didn't meet their nostalgia goggles version of season one. "IT'S NOT HOW FAUST WROTE IT, FAN SMASH!!!"

 

Or an analyst who has complicated head canons that are dashed in the span of an episode and just blow a gasket at how the writers don't care about the show anymore (see Tommy Oliver's rage quit video. No hate for the guy but its a prime example) 

 

Or someone like me, who has a big thing about character development and gets really up in arms over an episode like Princess Spike (not that this changes my opinion on that episode).

 

The mane six and especially Pinkie went to great lengths to make something that the Yaks would like, doing all the research and trying to emulate what the yaks could possibly find like home. It stresses the mane six out as they look at each other from around the table and try to come up with a solution. 

 

Couldn't you see the writers going through a similar stressful fit trying to write these episodes for fans who will jump on them for any and all missteps along the way? 

 

Its when Pinkie decides the to make a party to show the Yaks how great Equestria can be instead of catering to what the Yaks want that they really make a breakthrough and earn the friendship with the Yaks. 

 

Could not the same be said for season five and the show in general, trying to make something that a fan could enjoy without having to bend to what the fans THINK they would enjoy? The writers want you to like the episode, but you have to let yourself be open to the episode to like it. 

 

Perhaps we should ask ourselves occasionally "Am I being a big Yak right now?" 

I know I will. 

I wasn't very fond of the yaks, nor the Mane6's let themselves be disrespected by the yaks, DESPITE THEM BEING VISITORS AND THEY WERE EXPECTED TO BE TREATED AS IF THEY WERE THE RULERS. But well, I kinda shrug it off because it's a cartoon in the end, and it's not the first time this happens in such (Not to mention this being a reverse protagonist centered morality, something it happened previously, specially in the first 2 seasons). But now reading at your post...

 

 

 

that's some pretty deep stuff, it's all there, the Mane6 being the writers trying to please, phail, rage incoming, repeat, then they let they do their own quality stuff and they like it, SWEET GOD   , HOW COULD I MISS IT?  :okiedokielokie:

 

PD: You forgot the declaration of war= I QUIT THE FANDOM  , something we hear ALL the time 

[Dark Qiviut 22,605]

I think I know the comment you're talking about.

 

Honestly, you, everyone who brohoofed your opening post, and the commentator completely missed the point of the yak/Mane Six dynamic entirely.

1. Another comment saw a very different mindset of the yaks, and another one gave me the same reply on EQD. What happened with the yaks is how they were promised to be given the same type of culture in Equestria as it is in Yakyakistan. That means everything. Hay, music authenticity, food, the works. Ponyville was trying to replicate because the yaks were foreigners and want to treat them with some level of respect. The yaks' culture was not just inaccurately recreated, but also artificial. That's why they were so offended; they were promised an authentic representation and felt they were lied to. Their anger — not vandalism — was justified.
2. The moral itself is to not emulate another culture when you can authentically celebrate your own. It's a very noble moral. Your theory would do two things:
   
   a. make the moral both inappropriate to the allegory and a non sequitur.
   
   b. make the yaks straw characters. This one is worse because you're making the yaks appear wrong and only wrong when they had reason to be upset. If you want to teach a moral, don't use straw characters.

Let's say it was an actual allegory. That doesn't make what happened any more justifiable. The yaks are warriors of the clichéd kind: war-first ideology, warriors, primitive by their broken language, stupid, one-dimensional. But their representation has unfortunate implications: one half is how they act a lot like vikings due to how they live and wear, the other being Native stereotypes because of where they live (DHX is in Canada, and most Native Canadians live in the Canadian territories; the vikings live north of TCE) and how they behave. In addition, mocking any portion of fans is incredibly disrespectful to children, parents, the rest of the show, and especially Hasbro. We already had the comics blatantly mock people who critique aspects of the product, and that helped ruined its reputation, as far as the main series is concerned. We don't need this happening here.

Edited June 28, 2015 by Dark Qiviut

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

I can see the analogy but I doubt it was the intention of the writers to make such a parallel. The intention by the writers was mostly likely to make a race that would set up the conflict and humor in the episode and probably not much more than that.  Then again Death of the Author and what have you, so the interpretation is not invalid by any means.  

Edited June 28, 2015 by Sidral Mundet

[Glike 488]

yeah fans can be yaks sometimes

 

take slice of life for example

its an episode as a thankyou and recognition for the brony fandom

 

yet some people still goes i hate this episode ,too much pandering,too much fan service, its crammed, the donkeys are ugly,etc

This. I can definitely see why some people dislike Slice of Life, but a lot of the time (not all the time) the points they make are more for the sake of complaining than actual points. Yes, you can say the episode definitely pandered, but what's really important is that the staff made the episode as a sign of gratitude to us bronies and to acknowledge us. They made the episode with the best intentions, and they didn't have to make an episode like this. You can see that the episode came from the heart, they acknowledged fan made pairs, they (albeit randomly) brought back the Twilicane which was a brony meme at one point. Pandering or not, the episode itself was a kind gesture.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

 

 

I think I know the comment you're talking about.  

 

 

What comment? 

 

 

Let's say it was an actual allegory. That doesn't make what happened any more justifiable. The yaks are supposed to be vikings, but of the clichéd kind: war-first ideology, warriors, primitive by their broken language, stupid, one-dimensional. In addition, mocking any portion of fans is incredibly disrespectful to children, parents, the rest of the show, and especially Hasbro. We already had the comics blatantly mock people who critique aspects of the product, and that helped ruined its reputation, as far as the main series is concerned. We don't need this happening here.

 

 

I don't think they were mocking fans. A playful jab perhaps, but not mocking. If they were mean spiritedly mocking fans it would be an episode of Teen Titans Go, and I HATE that show. 

 

I do agree though that the Yaks were far too one dimensional, be they purely vikings or an allegory or both. 

[Prince Firemane 309]

Wow, that's... a really fitting theory. Whether or not it was intentional is up for debate, but I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the writers noticed it.

[Megas 28,138]

Having a large fanbase is definitely something the staff should be thankful for, yet I'm pretty sure there are plenty of times the staff has wanted metaphorically slap fans upside the head, and understandably so. Personally I think taking jabs at fans should be something any content creator should be allowed to do.

 

If fans take any sort of jab at fans as mocking, and just can't learn to acknowledge their faults or learn to laugh at themselves once in a while, then the fans need to grow thicker skin

Edited June 28, 2015 by Megas75

[Jeric 46,884]

Interesting theory, but I suspect this is more of a case of "Sometimes a rock is just a rock". I prefer to assume that the episode was drawing on the time honored tradition of delving into the difficulty in understanding different cultures, even when your intentions are noble. Sci-Fi does this quite often, as does fantasy. Since FiM is a fantasy centric show, it stands to reason that their approach was more likely this than anything else. Besides, snapping at your critics is always a dumb idea ... and that is coming from someone why adores this season so far. If this is in fact the point of the episode, I would like it a whole lot less. 

[Dark Qiviut 22,605]

What comment?

The comment on YouTube. Did you find it in either ToonKritic's or Dr. Wolf's comments section about the episode? If it is, then I think I know the comment.

 

Having a large fanbase is definitely something the staff should be thankful for, yet I'm pretty sure there are plenty of times the staff has wanted metaphorically slap fans upside the head, and understandably so. Personally I think taking jabs at fans should be something any content creator should be allowed to do.

 

I don't think they were mocking fans. A playful jab perhaps, but not mocking. If they were mean spiritedly mocking fans it would be an episode of Teen Titans Go, and I HATE that show.

Just because Teen Titans did it so vociferously doesn't mean other shows can do it, either. Jabbing at fans no matter the degree is always a really stupid idea because you can really alienate your base. (There's a reason why The Powerpuff Girls's "Equal Fights" doesn't have a very welcoming reception.) Remember, this show is supposed to be welcoming to multiple demographics. If the allegory is true, then it'd would be, as @@Jeric puts it, completely counterproductive to the atmosphere to the show. Kids can catch this. Parents can catch this; if they do and this is the first episode they watched, then they won't recommend this show.

Edited June 28, 2015 by Dark Qiviut

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Interesting theory, but I suspect this is more of a case of "Sometimes a rock is just a rock". I prefer to assume that the episode was drawing on the time honored tradition of delving into the difficulty in understanding different cultures, even when your intentions are noble. Sci-Fi does this quite often, as does fantasy. Since FiM is a fantasy centric show, it stands to reason that their approach was more likely this than anything else. Besides, snapping at your critics is always a dumb idea ... and that is coming from someone why adores this season so far. If this is in fact the point of the episode, I would like it a whole lot less. 

Again I don't think its snapping at or mocking fans, that isn't what I got out of it. The point I'm trying to make is the show's staff wants us to have a good time with the stories they want to tell, and in the end the Yaks did just that with the party. And this is my interpretation, and one I think is quite pertinent for our fandom. 

Edited June 28, 2015 by Buck Testa

[Gestum 2,493]

This explains everything . Why didn't I think of this before?

 

 

 

take slice of life for example its an episode as a thankyou and recognition for the brony fandom

 How does that in any way excuse the fact that it wasn't good? 

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Huh, interesting way to interpret the theory. Tough I can't tell if that's supposed to be a take that to all those critics who rage at the show when something doesn't go their way in an episode or a mean-spirited jab at any one criticizing them.

 

Though, I'm not one to look at writers intentions, since it's mostly due to unfortunate implication. See Feeling Pinkie Keen.

[Jeric 46,884]

Again I don't think its snapping at or mocking fans, that isn't what I got out of it. The point I'm trying to make is the show's staff wants us to have a good time with the stories they want to tell, and in the end the Yaks did just that with the party. And this is my interpretation, and one I think is quite pertinent for our fandom.

I'm fine with fluid interpretation, and agree that authorial intent is not the end all be all. I just seriously doubt that depicting the fans as wanting perfection and 'smashing' the show is was not the intent of the writer/editor.

 

Besides, the showrunners have no problem directly addressing critics without undermining an important lesson. Big Jim does this a lot.

[Pastel 7,630]

I don't know if the staff thought of that, but I'm sure that's not why they did this episode.

The moral of this episode is quite general, what you gave is an example of how it could be applied, but there are others.

Edited June 28, 2015 by Blobulle

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

This thought did cross my mind at one point in the episode, and it might be true, for this reason:

 

 

We already had the comics blatantly mock people who critique aspects of the product, and that helped ruined its reputation, as far as the main series is concerned.

 

 

In a Twitter conversation, comic artists Andy Price and Heather Breckel openly mocked the criticism of "Princess Spike" in front of Jim Miller, who was also credited as a writer in this episode, though I can't 100% confirm the context of this message (source was Derpibooru).

 

 

Seeing this in the mind of a writer, I had no doubt this thought had to cross someone's mind at least once, even if it wasn't the original intention.

 

The issue at hand here is whether we are expecting too much from this show or are being realistic, but we can't be 100% sure of the writers' stance here unless they were to tell us directly. @Buck Testa, you make some fair and in-depth points, but the burden of proof falls squarely on the writers here.

[yeet 2,027]

If the writers did make it to try and slap some sense into us, it obviously didn't work, but it kinda needed to be done really.

[Dark Qiviut 22,605]

 

 

In a Twitter conversation, comic artists Andy Price and Heather Breckel openly mocked the criticism of "Princess Spike" in front of Jim Miller, who was also credited as a writer in this episode, though I can't 100% confirm the context of this message (source was Derpibooru).

Not quite. Thiessen and Big Jim are credited for coming up with the story, but only Nick Confolone wrote the script. IMO, Jim was just playing along with Price and Breckel's (snide) joke.