About the Wonderbolts

[Kerberossz 1,929]

First of all, I don't really a person who has problems with unlogical and inexplicable things, plot-holes and out-of-character stuff(maybe once had) in this show. It's fine by me if the writers make silly but enjoyable plots, but something just bothers me.

 

Why does the Wonderbolts have good reputation if they, well, kinda look like good-for-nothings? I mean, every time they had to do something besides participating important events or races, they screw up and act like newbies. For example: In Sonic Rainboom Soarin and Spitfire who is supposed to be the captain of the Wonderbolts were "accidentally knocked out" by Rarity. The Captain and Soarin, who is I guess in the 3 bests, easily outstrickened. In Secret of My Excess 3 members(Including Spitfire but I guess it wasn't her) were simply put away again and to crown it all, revealing the "best flyers" as they were trembling with fear after the huge cistern was removed. In each case the one who saved the day was RD(and Fluttershy in the 2nd).

 

My other problem was Spitfire's behavior. First she is a martinet in Wonderbolts Academy(In S3) then a false-hearted leader in Rainbow Falls(S4) who is not ashamed to push aside her partners to reach her goal(I know that it was needed to be done to teach RD the lesson, but they should have use an another character). 

 

Let me explain a bit deeper. RD admires the Wonderbolts cuz they are the best flyers but they didn't show us anything that can support this statement. The best flyers can mean that their flight skill is transcendent okay, but that's all? No. I thought that the Wonderbolts is the same kind of parody of the hyped military forces who are the "bests" yet they can't solve anything serious until the academy episode. They do hard indoctrination to select only the best(or at least the good) flyers who can stand in the gap in serious situations. They even made a test about the Wonderbolts history. Until the academy episode it was fine that they were just "situation-supporters" but after that I just don't get it.

 

On the other hand I know that the facts about the Wonderbolts wasn't developed until S3, but in that case they should have let them be the same parody force as they were. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate any of these episodes, I barely can name an episode I didn't like at all, my problem is how they show the Wonderbolts.

Edited July 19, 2015 by Kerberossz

[manic 121]

I sortakinda agree. They could use a little more fleshing out and some consistency. Currently they're used more as plot devices than anything else.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

They likely have little to no practical purpose as a defense force. Which means they remind me a lot of the royal guard. When have they done anything noteworthy? To be a guard would entitle a pony with status which would be valuable in a feudal society but, any foe that could be powerful enough to defeat Princess Celestia would overcome the guard with no difficulty. Note their instant capitulation to both Nightmare Moon and the queen of the Changelings. Yet they act like their spears serve a purpose.

 

The Wonderbolts are likely just as useless on a practical level. The sniveling scene alone is likely enough evidence that we aren't supposed to take them seriously. "Rainbow Falls" should have shown Dash that the Wonderbolts are not the kind of ponies worth her loyalty because they don't have substance. They are about bravado and arrogance. Flying in formation is like the Pegasus way of aiming spears. They want to show power but they have none. It's a social group and a remnant of the early Pegasus society that used to have some militarism. They are good at showing off and being a good amusing spectacle for ponies to watch such as their racing stunts and the Equestria games. Note also that their flying leaves a trail of smoke or in Lightning Dusts' case, electricity. Dash would have been very eager to join such a group but she should have outgrown it rather than joined it like she did. She doesn't belong in a group full of the overrated and has been.

[Princess Lona 382]

Spitfire does seem like kind of a jerk, but she learned a lesson in Rainbow Falls. In the end she admitted that it was wrong to ditch her friend for the better flyer. She even said that she could learn a few things from Rainbow Dash.

 

The Wonderbolts have shown themselves to be pretty bad at flying in a crisis situation, but Equestria has been a country at peace with its neighbours for a long time, and the Wonder Bolts aren't really a military force anymore. At the academy they weren't doing attack drills or teaching combat. They were just teaching cool stunts. I think when they refer to the Wonderbolts as Equestria's "best flyers", they mean literally that. "Best flyers" doesn't necessarily mean good at rescue missions. They were brave and tried to stop Spike in Secret of my Excess, but they weren't trained for dealing with monters. And as for Rarity knocking them out , that was just for the plot. The Wonderbolts had to be present at the Best Young Flyers competition, and it made sense that they would try to catch Rarity, but Rainbow had to be the one to save the day, so they were knocked out for the plot.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

The Wonderbolts had to be present at the Best Young Flyers competition, and it made sense that they would try to catch Rarity, but Rainbow had to be the one to save the day, so they were knocked out for the plot.

That might be a sign of bad writing if something has to not make sense for it to work.

[Kerberossz 1,929]

 

 

Dash would have been very eager to join such a group but she should have outgrown it rather than joined it like she did. She doesn't belong in a group full of the overrated and has been.

 

Well she had performed a Sonic Rainboom when she was a filly..., it was enough to made it clear, that she was good enough as a filly to outrun the Wonderbolts.

 

 

 

Spitfire does seem like kind of a jerk, but she learned a lesson in Rainbow Falls. In the end she admitted that it was wrong to ditch her friend for the better flyer. She even said that she could learn a few things from Rainbow Dash.

 

Yeah, that's what a martinet would never say.(Well, at least if she had kept this personality) and my problem was, that Spitfire had a fully different attitude in Rainbow Falls.

 

 

 

At the academy they weren't doing attack drills or teaching combat. They were just teaching cool stunts. I think when they refer to the Wonderbolts as Equestria's "best flyers", they mean literally that. "Best flyers" doesn't necessarily mean good at rescue missions.

 

Well yes I think this should have been the purpose of the Wonderbolts, but the Academy episode turned against this statement. They did more than tricks, it was hard training and this is why I don't understand why they appear as just "grifters". They must be able to bear physical challanges, they must have enough stamina to do something that involves "dealing with monsters". The main 6 barely possess this kind of training still they could literally fight against the changelings.

 

 

 

... but Equestria has been a country at peace with its neighbours for a long time, and the Wonder Bolts aren't really a military force anymore.

 

 

Well I can approve that but after Nightmare Moon and Discord they should have realized that they probably need something more than stunts.

 

 

 

And as for Rarity knocking them out , that was just for the plot. The Wonderbolts had to be present at the Best Young Flyers competition, and it made sense that they would try to catch Rarity, but Rainbow had to be the one to save the day, so they were knocked out for the plot.

 

 

And this is the part where I would agree and approve the fact that they are just show offs and plot supporters but again, the Academy episode.

 

I'm sorry, debating about it but this is the only thing I can't accept to be unreasonable.

[Princess Lona 382]

Well yes I think this should have been the purpose of the Wonderbolts, but the Academy episode turned against this statement. They did more than tricks, it was hard training and this is why I don't understand why they appear as just "grifters". They must be able to bear physical challanges, they must have enough stamina to do something that involves "dealing with monsters". The main 6 barely possess this kind of training still they could literally fight against the changelings.

I think the hard physical training they do at the academy is just all in the name of doing tricks well. It takes a lot of strength to do acrobatics. It takes core control and stamina. Add to that the fact that these ponies are flying while doing the tricks, which is a huge cardiovascular undertaking, and hard physical training becomes absolutely necessary for the Wonderbolts. But while having a lot of strength and stamina would be helpful in fighting monsters, without combat training or fighting instinct, even the biggest body builder would go down easy. In my opinion, that's why the Wonderbolts are useless in a fight.

 

I completely agree that it's weird that all of the Mane Six would be able to fight monsters without combat training either (with the exception of RD who practices karate), but then again, they were all fated to be the personifications of the Elements of Harmony. Maybe their resolve to fight against evil is just higher than that of most other ponies.

[SolyWack 482]

Fist off let me say that this was very well thought out and written, a rarity amongst the "What do you think of X"

 

To the actual topic. I feel The Brony Notion had an excellent view on the Royal Guard and Wonderbolts. They are simply meant for show. If I was a rival nation and saw how organized, systematic, and large Equestria's military was, id think twice before making enemies with them. It doesnt matter how strong they are, as long as they look the part. Not to mention, it no doubt improves morale to the common folk to know they are "so well protected".

[Kerberossz 1,929]

Fist off let me say that this was very well thought out and written, a rarity amongst the "What do you think of X"

 

To the actual topic. I feel The Brony Notion had an excellent view on the Royal Guard and Wonderbolts. They are simply meant for show. If I was a rival nation and saw how organized, systematic, and large Equestria's military was, id think twice before making enemies with them. It doesnt matter how strong they are, as long as they look the part. Not to mention, it no doubt improves morale to the common folk to know they are "so well protected".

Thank you.

 

Well ... it makes sense, plausible explanation. On the other hand, it's only contrivable if we consider that what happens in Ponyville, stays in Ponyville, otherwise this "protective concealment" come to light, the enemy will get the opportunity and that will be the last day of our sweet, loved pon...okay I won't overthinking it 

 

However, truth to say, after those villains they should have realized that there is no point to maintain the Wonderbolts. They can't handle strong enemies and let's face the facts: Protection from what? It's true that the changelings could only occupy Canterlot from inside, but neither the Royal Guards nor the Wonderbolts could do anything against them, so if the enemy can work in the castle imperceptibly the only resistance is the main 6 and most of the antigonists are intelligent, plus there is no any hostile nation which wanna conquer the ponies(yet) but your statement can strengthen the possibility of a succesful intimidation.

 

It's funny that they have a Royal army and a "military force", yet they pin their faith on 6 ponies every single time.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

They're more a plot point about Rainbow Dash and they don't really have any character development.

[Foliha 395]

I'd really like to see Rainbow Dash begin to think about how the Wonderbolts don't do anything but occasionally act as a color guard for Celestia/ royal doings. 

 

They seem to have a sort of military framework, but they don't have weapons and they don't really do anything except formation flying. 

[MLPFanatic34 3,235]

I still find it somewhat funny that the Wonderbolts got wrecked by Spike when he turned into a rampaging adult dragon.

[pony.colin 156]

@@Kerberossz, I would say all your points are completely valid about your conclusions on the wonderbolts.

 

I'm being lazy and trying to remember things off the top of my head

 

Originally, the wonderbolts started off as a much needed military force during the earlier years of Equestrian history but have since changed since that original duty.  They're primarily spectacle national icons and Equestrian public entertainment and crisis responders as secondary roles (rooted in their old military origins). As others have said, Equestria has been in a long period of peace, a very long period (prior to the return of Nightmare Moon) and most likely as a result of that, there was less of a necessity for the wonderbolts to respond to combat but adapt to the changing situation with Equestrian society and peace,  (sorry for repeating, trying to get to the point). 

 

Skipping ahead:

 

 

 

However, truth to say, after those villains they should have realized that there is no point to maintain the Wonderbolts. They can't handle strong enemies and let's face the facts: Protection from what? It's true that the changelings could only occupy Canterlot from inside, but neither the Royal Guards nor the Wonderbolts could do anything against them, so if the enemy can work in the castle imperceptibly the only resistance is the main 6 and most of the antigonists are intelligent, plus there is no any hostile nation which wanna conquer the ponies(yet) but your statement can strengthen the possibility of a succesful intimidation.

 

Mostly a lot of this.  There are other reasons to maintain the wonderbolts (largely for economic and national symbol building, public confidence reasons).  They handle crisis situations as a secondary role.  Does not mean they will be able to handle them very well either.  However, largely the major defense of Equestria was actually the elements of Harmony (after they were discovered) to handle the major villains.  Those items were really the main crux of their defense strategy.

Edited May 9, 2016 by pony.colin