Representing the Elements

[Comet Tail 808]

So, I've heard people say before that the mane 6 got assigned the wrong elements, that RD fails to be loyal, AJ fails to be honest, etc. etc.

 

In some episodes they don't, and in most episodes they do. It's a bit of both, and it's because the characters aren't flat, 1-dimensional plot devices that act according to one thing (loyalty, honesty, generosity, etc.), but complex, dynamic, and even changing (as we've seen in RD!).

 

But recently I just realized something really neat. The episodes they fail to represent their element is when they're the protagonist. It's an internal struggle. In "The Last Roundup", honest Applejack wouldn't tell them, in "Party of One", Pinkie stopped making other ponies happy, and even was antagonistic towards Dash. In "Sisterhooves Social" Rarity failed to be generous towards her sister. But, you'll find, invariably, in every instance, their friends back them up and remind them (in the Season 2 opening, literally) who they are. These episodes where they fail to follow their element, are about "Friendship", which "makes it all complete".

 

Think about it, it's not that the writers fall short of having the characters represent the element, it's that the characters, like all of us, fall short of perfection, and end up "in the dumps" because of it, and then their friends remind them of who they are/help them to become better.

 

After all, the series is called "Friendship is Magic".

[Nah 3,182]

So, I've heard people say before that the mane 6 got assigned the wrong elements, that RD fails to be loyal, AJ fails to be honest, etc. etc.

 

In some episodes they don't, and in most episodes they do. It's a bit of both, and it's because the characters aren't flat, 1-dimensional plot devices that act according to one thing (loyalty, honesty, generosity, etc.), but complex, dynamic, and even changing (as we've seen in RD!).

 

But recently I just realized something really neat. The episodes they fail to represent their element is when they're the protagonist. It's an internal struggle. In "The Last Roundup", honest Applejack wouldn't tell them, in "Party of One", Pinkie stopped making other ponies happy, and even was antagonistic towards Dash. In "Sisterhooves Social" Rarity failed to be generous towards her sister. But, you'll find, invariably, in every instance, their friends back them up and remind them (in the Season 2 opening, literally) who they are. These episodes where they fail to follow their element, are about "Friendship", which "makes it all complete".

 

Think about it, it's not that the writers fall short of having the characters represent the element, it's that the characters, like all of us, fall short of perfection, and end up "in the dumps" because of it, and then their friends remind them of who they are/help them to become better.

 

After all, the series is called "Friendship is Magic".

 

Every once in a while, we have "hiccups", were we don't act like we do at times. Like in the last round up, a wise YouTube commenter said, RD is loyalty, and she abandoned Pinkie and Rarity in the desert. Honestly, at times, I think the elements should be rethought.

 

New reformed Elements of Harmony: (Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie stay the same)

 

Rainbow Dash- Courage

 

Applejack- Sedulous (hard-working)

 

Rarity- Artistic

 

Anypony agree?

Edited April 15, 2012 by Darkshadow Dash

[Lightningchaser 13]

 

Every once in a while, we have "hiccups", were we don't act like we do at times. Like in the last round up, a wise YouTube commenter said, RD is loyalty, and she abandoned Pinkie and Rarity in the desert. Honestly, at times, I think the elements should be rethought.

 

New reformed Elements of Harmony: (Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie stay the same)

 

Rainbow Dash- Courage

 

Applejack- Sedulous (hard-working)

 

Rarity- Artistic

 

Anypony agree?

 

That makes so much sense now and I agree

[Rainbow Danger Dash 145]

EEEEYUP!

[Twi Rubix 726]

Im glad they aren't just stuck to their element, and bend the rules sometimes. But I also liked how Applejack wan't guilty at all in MMMMystery On the Friendship Express, just so Hasbro reminds us they still try to stay true to their element.

[KakeiTheWolf 652]

Well, the Elements don't guarantee perfection. All hearts stray.

[Comet Tail 808]

Every once in a while, we have "hiccups", were we don't act like we do at times. Like in the last round up, a wise YouTube commenter said, RD is loyalty, and she abandoned Pinkie and Rarity in the desert. Honestly, at times, I think the elements should be rethought.

 

New reformed Elements of Harmony: (Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie stay the same)

 

Rainbow Dash- Courage

 

Applejack- Sedulous (hard-working)

 

Rarity- Artistic

 

Anypony agree?

 

You do know this entire OP was about how they didn't "Get their elements wrong", right?

 

And anyways, as Rarity shares her creative talent, she is giving in a sense, and that's generosity. And look at what she did in "Art of the Dress", she made super-expensive, really fine dresses for her friends for free! And on top of that, they didn't like the first ones, so she did it again!

 

Just look at how stressed she was! But she kept going!

 

That's just one example. It's been too long since I've watched the series to remember, but you're really playing up to Walt Disney's Rule:

"Every character must always experience 1 emotion. They shouldn't feel no emotion, but viewers are too dumb to understand more than 1 emotion."

 

You're really playing right into that, if you don't understand that Rarity can be greedy and generous at the same time, it's conflicting emotion, it's stress, internal conflict; it's life.

 

As for Rainbow Dash, she was not going to let Applejack go. Pinkie and Rarity would come back, but she was afraid they'd lose AJ forever, so her loyalty drove her on.

 

And Applejack:

Honesty = Trustworthy. Trustworthy -> dependable. She's a hard worker, that's dependable. She didn't ask for help in Applebuck season, because she wanted to be the pony everypony could rely on. That's being trustworthy and dependable.

 

Heck, I just realized her opening line in the episode opening is "faithful and strong". Faithful = trustworthy. She wanted to be faithful so bad she didn't want to make her friends help her, but it got to the point of pride, too, which is an interesting negative side of that.

Edited April 16, 2012 by EASA - Dr. Braun

[Snow Shadow 41]

Every once in a while, we have "hiccups", were we don't act like we do at times. Like in the last round up, a wise YouTube commenter said, RD is loyalty, and she abandoned Pinkie and Rarity in the desert. Honestly, at times, I think the elements should be rethought.

 

New reformed Elements of Harmony: (Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie stay the same)

 

Rainbow Dash- Courage

 

Applejack- Sedulous (hard-working)

 

Rarity- Artistic

 

Anypony agree?

 

These are not elements pertaining to friendship or harmony. One can be hardworking toward the destruction of all living beings.