Jump to content
Banner by ~ Ice Princess Silky

Applejack needs a non-family related perspective


ShadowPhoenix

Recommended Posts

Well, Applejack is not my favourite of the Mane 6 but I feel that this merits enough importance to bring up.

 

For five seasons, every single Applejack episode has been tied somehow to her being a sister/Apple family member and I've always wanted a new perspective for her character where we can see the "real" her. I know the family and Sweet Apple Acres are everything to her but it would be to have her in a situation where we can focus on another part of her character. I can't believe I'm saying this but the closest thing that the show has produced to break her wonderful character out the usual mould is Look Before You Sleep where it was her interactions with Rarity.

 

Seriously, everypony else has had their time in the spotlight in episodes which offered variants on their personalities and character.

 

Twilight served as mediator and confidant for more times than I care to count and just recently reunited with her old friends in Amending Fences. Rainbow Dash learned to appreciate reading. Rarity vacationed in Canterlot and spent an entire episode wrecking havoc on Ponyville. Fluttershy babysat the Crusaders and stared down more beasts than I care to count. Pinkie Pie solved a murder mystery on a train and cloned herself.

 

Applejack needs a "different" episode that really showcases Applejack.

  • Brohoof 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I was wondering about that too but after I took a peak into the the stats and how many lines she has been speaking we can see that While she still has quite many of her family episodes there still are episodes with her friends, where she is speaking.

"Apple Family Reunion"          a Family episode for Applejack and the episode where she had most lines in speaking in all Applejack episodes

 

97 lines

 


"Look Before You Sleep"   A Rarity and Appöejack clash episode that you were mentioning so its more of her friends this time

 

82 lines

 


"Applebuck Season"  Focused on the farm but still interaction between her and her friends

 

73 lines

 


"Fall Weather Friends"  Clashing with Rainbow Dash episode

 

71 lines

 


 

"Spike at Your Service"  Spike slave episode

 

65 lines

 


"Bats!"  Focused on the farm but no family members just her friends

 

65 lines

 


"Pinkie Apple Pie"  Family episode with Pinkie part of the family

 

65 lines

 


"The Last Roundup"  I think this was the episode where she ran away from her home more focused on her friends than family

 

55lines

 


"Simple Ways"   Clash with Rarity

 

49 lines

 


"Leap of Faith"   Pure family episode 

 

48 lines

 


"Somepony to Watch Over Me"  Family episode 

 

46 lines

 


 

"Bridle Gossip"   Bit family and bit friends

 

38 lines

 

 


 

"Bloom & Gloom"    family

 

35 lines

 


"The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000"   family and friends

 

32 lines

  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I completely agree with this, not only because of the fact I hate granny Smith but it could really help me (and I think others) like her more as the episodes wouldn't constantly have to have half of the focus being on other characters. 

  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

I totally agree that we need an Applejack episode were she is away from her family and farm and that showcases her when she is not "being Applejack" if that makes sense.

 

"The Last Roundup" almost did this, but instead of focusing on Applejack's dilemma, the episode mostly revolved around her friend's perspective.  

Edited by Gearbox10mm
  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In one way or another, I want to see the real Applejack, and not "a member of the Apples family".

That could work.

 

Well, maybe that is the real Applejack? When it comes to some people they are just that connected with their family, so...?

  • Brohoof 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

What part of Applejack's personality do you think is being overshadowed by her family? I honestly don't see it.

I don't think anyone is saying her being close with her family is somehow detrimental to her character. That is her shtick and it is what defines her as a character. But....

 

Take for example Rainbow Dash, her shtick is that she wants to become a Wonderbolt, and a lot of her episodes are aimed at her achieving that goal, but not all. She got episodes like "Read it and Weep" and "Tanks for the Memories" that expanded her personality outside of that set character trope. 

 

That character expansion is what AJ has been sorely lacking.   

Edited by Gearbox10mm
  • Brohoof 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Being more multifaceted is important for all the characters, but Applejack, like Pinky, might be hard for the writers to write her differently. Perhaps none of them really understand her or think she's more than an Apple.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

She's had episodes not involving her family, like The Last Roundup and Spike At Your Service. I'd say give her a map episode with Fluttershy, since that's a pairing we rarely see. They'd play off of each other rather nicely I think.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

(edited)

Applejack is my favorite character for a reason. She is different from the other mane 5.

 

Mane 5 formula: Each character has a goal and a negative trait they cant get over and the other mane characters help them get over it.

 

Twilight: Magical Prowess; worries about not being good enough. (She has learned to just be herself and her friends will accept her)

 

Rainbow Dash: Wonderbolts; believes she can only do "cool things" (she has grown to accept new ideas)

 

Fluttershy: Not Singular goal but she wants to help and care for animals or any creature; Obviously she is very introverted (she has learned to be more open and assertive over the seasons)

 

Pinkie Pie: Wants to spread happiness; is very nonsensical (she has learned to take certain subjects seriously (like crankys quest))

 

Rarity: Wants to become a fashion tycoon; lets her work come before friends (made most obvious in the manehatten episode)

 

Applejack breaks this mold. She doesn't have a goal. She owns a very large farm. Any farm 20+ Acres used for crop and especially livestock is successful enough to live the rest of your life off of. She is content where she is at and wishes to shoot no higher.

 

She is also different in the way she handles her problems. Unlike the Mane 6, she doesn't realize her problems after shes made them. She realizes them much earlier and compensates for them. Haven't you noticed every problem shes had she has solved herself, with minimal help from her friends.

 

She was the first to revoke her Gala ticket request.

 

She was the one who stopped the fight during "Look before you sleep"

 

She realized how overprotective she was being to Applebloom, albeit it took a while, but she was the forerunner of the realization.

 

She, and only she, convinced herself supporting snake oil (cure-all tonic) was wrong, and admitted it to the entire crowd.

 

Applejack is a model pony. She has reached success early in life, while also fixing any internal problems before they go to far. Her character doesn't have a lot to go on by itself.

 

Her character really shines when shes exposed to other ponies strife. Shes the responsible one in conflict, and the de facto leader in most situations that don't REQUIRE Twilight to be.

 

So where was I going with this...?

 

Oh ya. So i believe Applejack should have more episodes away from family, but that is the reason they've been designed as such. Applejack is great as a support for everyone else, and there should be episodes to capitalize on this chemistry of her character.

Edited by AppleJack_Wack
  • Brohoof 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I was wondering about that too but after I took a peak into the the stats and how many lines she has been speaking we can see that While she still has quite many of her family episodes there still are episodes with her friends, where she is speaking.

 

"Apple Family Reunion"          a Family episode for Applejack and the episode where she had most lines in speaking in all Applejack episodes

 

97 lines

 


"Look Before You Sleep"   A Rarity and Appöejack clash episode that you were mentioning so its more of her friends this time

 

82 lines

 


"Applebuck Season"  Focused on the farm but still interaction between her and her friends

 

73 lines

 


"Fall Weather Friends"  Clashing with Rainbow Dash episode

 

71 lines

 


 

"Spike at Your Service"  Spike slave episode

 

65 lines

 


"Bats!"  Focused on the farm but no family members just her friends

 

65 lines

 


"Pinkie Apple Pie"  Family episode with Pinkie part of the family

 

65 lines

 


"The Last Roundup"  I think this was the episode where she ran away from her home more focused on her friends than family

 

55lines

 


"Simple Ways"   Clash with Rarity

 

49 lines

 


"Leap of Faith"   Pure family episode 

 

48 lines

 


"Somepony to Watch Over Me"  Family episode 

 

46 lines

 


 

"Bridle Gossip"   Bit family and bit friends

 

38 lines

 

 


 

"Bloom & Gloom"    family

 

35 lines

 


"The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000"   family and friends

 

32 lines

 

 

That's really in-depth. I forgot how much I enjoyed Fall Weather Friends, my apologies.

  • Brohoof 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The sentiment is definitely there. Applejack lacks meaningful interaction outside her family. But I think the OP misstates Applejack's character.

 

The "real" Applejack is indeed the one we see interacting with her family all the time. I don't know what can be more real than sharing your love and virtue with the ones you love most, whether it be family or friends. The problem is we just don't see very much of her character outside her family, just supporting roles, action bits and a few lines.

 

There are a few notable examples of course, like Fall Weather Friends, Filli Vanilli, and Spike at your Service. But they're far too limited or don't focus on her character.

 

What should be shown hopefully is Applejack's character as it pertains to others and situations beyond her family, which I know she has done before and is very capable of.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do Applejack have any ambitions ? Something for herself? Something not for her family but for her own ambitions? Not at all, we may not that side of Applejack. That why I find Applejack is really boring character. Hope ss5 will bring some other side of Applejack, she is a low-tier in mane 6, even Applebloom is more interesting than her...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Applejack has everything she ever wanted. Her whole world revolves around family, farming, and friends. How do you even progress a character that won’t budge from her comfort zone unless those three things are in jeopardy? But that doesn’t help either. Her cup is already filled to the brim and spilling it won’t really progress her character, only make her try to refill it over and over and over again. For her to progress, you’d have to smash the cup and make her glue it all back together. But that ain’t gonna happen in a world where a friend’s absence on a birthday party is perhaps the greatest tragedy that could ever happen to a character. As things stand, you’d need to be a real freakin wizard to make a dent in her rock solid state of existence.

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...