spoiler An adult blank flank? (Season 5, Episode 24 spoilers!)

[Dark Qiviut 22,500]

Throughout the show, every single adult featured has a cutie mark. The Mane Six, the background ponies, secondary ponies, et cetera. By the time they grew up, they all figured out what their talents were. So, they were able to spend the rest of their lives knowing their goals. No one is a blank flank other than fillies. Twist and Babs were blank flanks for a while. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are the most famous.

 

But one question that lingers in this show: Are there any adult blank flanks? When you observe conversations between adult bronies, you can see why some speculate. Not everybody knows what their goals will be even after they graduate from high school or even college. Sometimes they will extend their careers into Graduate School and beyond. Some never figure out their lifelong goals. What their lifelong dreams and goals is a very huge dilemma for both kids and adults alike. By featuring an episode with an adult blank flank and treating the conflict with respect, you correlate this message to both kids and adults that ponies like the adult blank flank exist in real life. Since this season's morals and conflicts are even grayer than last year's, it helps add some realism into Equestria's worldbuilding.

 

This leads me to the song featured in San Diego's Comic-Con last week, which will take place during the twenty-fourth episode, titled The Mane Attraction if the leak of the titles is true.

 

 

Listen to the lyrics and watch the frames. The Lena Hall Earth pony talks about wondering who she was and what her goal was. Until now, she never truly understood her goal. The trials and turbulence she endured up to this point leads her to the grand stage. In one frame, a cutie mark flashes, and the crowd suddenly erupts into cheers the next.

 

So, here are some questions.

1. What do you think of the "adult blank flank"? What about the concept does it interest you or not?
2. Who do you think the main characters in The Mane Attraction will be? Do you think it'll be Applejack, the CMCs, Pinkie Pie, or a combination?
3. How do you believe the episode will play out? What is the conflict, and how will they resolve it?
4. When will this storyboard take place in the actual episode? (I hope the very end.)
5. What do you think is the episode's moral? A few morals this season are so subtle, sometimes you must figure it out through the context.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Dark Qiviut

[Jeric 46,869]

What do you think of the "adult blank flank"? What about the concept does it interest you or not?

 

If it was presented as something uncommon for the universe, I'm fine with it since it can be a good springboard for discussions about the nature of 'finding yourself' that that crashed and burned in Appleoosa's Most Wanted. x)

 

 

 

Who do you think the main characters in The Mane Attraction will be? Do you think it'll be Applejack, the CMCs, Pinkie Pie, or a combination?

 

 

What I think is going to happen is this will be a CMC Episode with Sweetie Belle as the focus getting plot specific guidance from AJ, PP, and possibly an outside chance of Rarity.

 

 

 

How do you believe the episode will play out? What is the conflict, and how will they resolve it?

 

Lena Hall's character is likely going to be a entertainment tool of the musical manager equivalent of Flim or Flam mixed with Ms. Harshwinny. She will come accross as a borderline arrogant and unapproachable pony all the while being blocked by her manager in having control of her music. The CMC will likely go through the following arc ... wowed at the opportunity of meeting her, put off my the initial impression of her being a jerk, saddened when they realize it is just based around frustration and pain, and determination to help her break away. Then concert. 

 

 

 

What do you think is the episode's moral? A few morals this season are so subtle, sometimes you must figure it out through the context.

 

 

The moral would (hopefully) be an interesting duo of overcoming bad first impressions (imagining others complexly), and the ability to find a way to be your own person (erm ... pony).  A subtle one and a more obvious one. Also tangentially the ability to change how others see you. 

 

Right now the only I have to really go off of is a few leaks and the fact that the song is brilliant. 

[aoEAF2FBvC0MIo2Q 3,673]

The title itself is a spoiler.

[CoconutCola 48]

Adult Blank Flanks REALLY intrest me, so much that the concept has led me to crete a blank flank OC, and probably write a ton of fanfiction about her struggles with self worth n stuff, but thats aside the point. Ctie Marks are such an ingrained part of Equestrian society, that the thought f a pony who never got their cutiwe mark is probably unthinkable. So if one ever did arise, would Equestria accept them or treat them as an outsider? This is a question I'ver pondered on for many moons, I still seeking the answer. 

 

also, on a side note, I think that cutie mark has a horrible design. It looks really awkward, and I hope they tweak it to something else in the finished product. That's just what I think though, I wouldn't care if they didnt change it.

Also, another side note, why was applejack crying in one of the scenes?? I thought APPLEJACK CRIED ON THE INSIDE, TWILIGHT!!!

 

I kid, I kid, but seriously, why was she crying? Do you think the Lena Hall could somehow be connected to Applejack? A member of the Apple Family, perhaps? Probably not, but I like to speculate on stuff like that.

[MLPFanatic34 3,235]

It certainly is unique and interesting to see an adult blank flank, I can't wait to see the finished episode and man is that song really good.

[manic 121]

I had always wondered if there were any adult blank flanks, and it'd be interesting to see how this is treated.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

Anypony who knows me well knows just how much I've been pushing this idea for a long time. And I've had my reasons. I have extolled the relatability potential of a character of the Mane 6's approximate age who, in contrast to most other known adult characters in the show, has not found their "passion" or is not actively pursuing it for one reason or another. Before Season 5, the show tended to be very idealistic about the virtues of cutie marks and the real world concepts they represent - self-identity, passion, and talent. It seems very fitting within the theme of this season to explore the possible negative side effects of Equestria's unabashed devotion to this manifestation of individual identity, having had episodes like "The Cutie Map", "Bloom and Gloom", and "Appleoosa's Most Wanted" base their premises around such.

 

It seems natural and a welcome dose of realism to come to this. The top reason why I push it is because of relatability potential. I, like many other on this forum and throughout the fandom, am at that age where it's expected to have a plan, but many people really don't have one. I'm one of those many. Many young adults struggle with hearing the narrative of "follow your passion", "follow your dreams", "do what you love" and every possible variation of the phrase you could muster while having no plans, outlook, or confidence in themselves.

 

In making this a Crusaders episode similar in structure to "Appleoosa's Most Wanted" where the Crusaders help another pony with a cutie mark issue, it also holds a great message for kids to relish childhood while it lasts, to make it about the journey rather than the destination, and that there's nothing wrong with being a late bloomer; the only thing that matters is that you got there.

 

Throwing in the guest star means, if "Pinkie Pride" was any indication, that the writer(s) assigned to this episode will throw their absolute best at this, as will the directors, storyboarders, and Daniel Ingram with the songs. I have nothing but hope for this episode and have a feeling that it may end up as one of the best in the whole show if everything goes off right. It sucks we have to go through an 11th-hour hiatus for this, but I think the fact that this concept alone will make an episode makes the wait worth it.

 

Once Season 5 rolled around with its deconstruction of the show's individualist component, it really became more of a when rather than if this episode ever came into being. I'm glad we know both now, because I've been waiting 3 years for an episode of this nature.

[Will Guide 21,365]

The funny thing is I've been planning and struggling to write a fanfic that takes places between Equestria Girls 1 and Season 4. In it, an adult blank flank is found unconscious  with memory loss in the Everfree Forest by Zecora who's being assisted by the CMC. They get him started on his quest for self-identity. Ultimately, our blank flank hero gets his memories back and cutie mark to appear. He returns home, leaving a message of hope to the CMC that if he can get his cutie mark, then so can the CMC, restoring their confidence. This also would explain why when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tried their Blank Flanks insult in Flight to the Finish, the CMC weren't fazed.

 

What will happen in this episode might jossed the way Cutie Marks work in my story as well as the CMC encountering an adult blank flank, but considering that I've been planning and drafting this story for a while, I'm still going to someday share it. Still, I'm looking forward to this episode.

[Cherry_Bloom 165]

 Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!! I'm soooo excited! I heard this video a few weeks back and and I just sooo fell in love! This song is so beautiful and so inspirational! I mean who hasn't been there? Not knowing who you truly are or knowing your purpose. I can't wait to see this episode come into light!!!              :grin2:

[Rainboom Dash 1,056]

Very excited for this episode. The song is amazing and I've always wondered how a story about an adult blank flank would go.

[swu24 8]

I think a blank flank could happen when, say, right now Twilight is talking to her friends about why her flank is blank. Pinkie Pie could say that she hasn't eaten enough cakes, Rainbow Dash could say that she hasn't been flying around, Rarity could say that she has to be fashionable, Fluttershy could say that she hasn't spent enough time with Discord or that Twilight isn't staying with her animal friends or Applejack could say that she hasn't spent much time in her apple orchard bucking apples.