The issues with Cadence

[Silver Stream. 708]

But I thought the comics and the series doesn't really share the same story line?

 

 

There's a debate on whether or not the comics are "canon" when it comes to the FiM and if continuity exists between the tv series and the comics. I believe there is.

[Lulaypp 2,557]

There's a debate on whether or not the comics are "canon" when it comes to the FiM and if continuity exists between the tv series and the comics. I believe there is.

Ah. Okay. Never read the comics Thanks for telling.

[deadprofile 1,123]

I do not remember anything from the comics about how Cadence became an alicorn (I own all of them to date). The story is in one of G.M. Berrow's books, Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell. That story basically takes place where Season 3 left off. The story Cadence gives about her past and becoming an alicorn is so forced (it's clique, and honestly compared to what Twilght has done well before becoming an alicorn is far more impressive and deserving of alicorn-hood in episode 2 of S1 than what Cadence did).

And those books I consider less canon than the comics are (and the stories really mess with characters that can get fairly demeaning and insulting to someone who knows these characters from the show). This is something to be expected though, because they are made for elementary school readers, and because mostly girls under age 8 will be reading them (I read these books faster than I go through manga), the stories are more G3 in nature than G4 or the comics could ever be. It's not a bad thing, and the stories for what they are, are entertaining and enjoyable considering the intended audience (hence why I own all these to date as well).

 

With all that said, I do not consider this story a part of Cadence's characterization. I agree with the OP, and adding the fact of the reveal in the latest episode, I fear we won't see much of her being better characterized in the future.

Edited October 21, 2015 by Treble Bolt

[cider float 2,539]

Cadence is pretty unique. She really showed she care about Shining Armor. Pretty hard to see a woman that genuinely cares about a man for nothing other than love these days.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@,

 

Well first of all, you know who is another character that is basically just a good person with little defining characteristics beyond banal benevolence and a romantic attachment? (And who has remained one of the most globally recognized characters in fictional history?)

 

 

 

 

Simple does not have to mean stupid and a one note character is not a bad character as long as the character themselves is still likable. Even if Cadence doesn't have much in the way of development, that doesn't mean nothing interesting happens to her or that she does nothing. Some characters are defined entirely by what they do, not how they change.

 

In contrast, Sunset Shimmer has undergone a complete transformation, but her overall impact on the plot of Rainbow Rocks is more reactionary. Whereas whenever we see Cadence, she's always doing something. Either managing the affairs of her own vassal kingdom, protecting said realm with her magic, fighting a Taltzworm (WTF?!), convening with the other Princesses. The only times we've seen her really passive is when she was captured by Chrysallis. In her defense, Chrysallis feeds off of love so anything she threw at her would just make the Queen stronger and well . . . hey she won Shining Armor's heart in the first place.

[Silver Stream. 708]

@,

 

Well first of all, you know who is another character that is basically just a good person with little defining characteristics beyond banal benevolence and a romantic attachment? (And who has remained one of the most globally recognized characters in fictional history?)

 

 

 

 

Simple does not have to mean stupid and a one note character is not a bad character as long as the character themselves is still likable. Even if Cadence doesn't have much in the way of development, that doesn't mean nothing interesting happens to her or that she does nothing. Some characters are defined entirely by what they do, not how they change.

 

In contrast, Sunset Shimmer has undergone a complete transformation, but her overall impact on the plot of Rainbow Rocks is more reactionary. Whereas whenever we see Cadence, she's always doing something. Either managing the affairs of her own vassal kingdom, protecting said realm with her magic, fighting a Taltzworm (WTF?!), convening with the other Princesses. The only times we've seen her really passive is when she was captured by Chrysallis. In her defense, Chrysallis feeds off of love so anything she threw at her would just make the Queen stronger and well . . . hey she won Shining Armor's heart in the first place.

 

That's just the thing...if we're looking at what she does is what defines her then let's reflect on what we've seen: In a Canterlot Wedding, we discover that the real Cadence was locked away underneath the castle seemingly for quite a long time. Why Shining Armor didn't recognize just how weird his supposedly true love was acting?......honestly I'll never understand that. Chrysalis was lucky she was tricking someone as Oblivious as Shining, otherwise, her plan wouldn't have worked for so long. Anyways, Cadence is an alicorn with more power than other unicorns. What rubbed me the wrong way was how she had to depend on Twilight just to help her escape. Twilight uses basic blasting magic to break the walls, I'm baffled that Cadence couldn't. It seemed too easy for Twilight when it shouldn't have been easy for Cadence....but meh....imma give it the benefit of the doubt. 

 

Cadence manages to save the kingdom when she is reunited with Shining, which is awesome. Fast forward to when Cadence has called the mane 6 to give Mrs Harsh a welcome at the Crystal Kingdom. I'll never understand why she didn't choose HER OWN crystal ponies since it is their home and they know more about the Crystal Empire than anyone? It makes me wonder if she ever makes an effort to connect with her own ponies as much as she does with the mane 6. She's a sweetheart, yeah, and I'm not saying it DOESN'T makes sense she favors Twilight above anyone, but sort of bothers me. 

 

Every time we see her, she is attending to princess affairs. In Rise of the Crystal Empire, she's stuck trying to keep a force field to keep Sombra out. Only until the end, do we see something exciting where she's thrown by her husband in all their awesome glory. 

 

And then we see her in Three's a crowd where she battles...that thing that still gives me nightmares. 

 

 

My point is, she's still just there. She doesn't actually do anything but tag along for the ride, or ask another to help her with a problem she can't solve on her own. The writers throw her in a few good action scenes, but that's it. Otherwise, she's busy with princess affairs and you can see and hear her say that all the time. 

 

Cadence is a static character who deserves a personality and development and that's all I'm saying. It's as if she was made only to be the perfect bride and the perfect princess and there's NOTHING more to her than that. The only time when she's close to having a personality is when she's with Twilight as a plot device. Cadence is another Celestia but even we saw a scene where Celestia has an inner conflict. Is it much? No. But is it more than what we see from Cadence? Yes. Do I want Cadence to be as messed up as Luna? Of course not...that isn't what I'm asking for....Cadence is fine being the perfect princess toy for kids to buy, but please for the love of celestia can the writers give her a real personality? Something to make her unique? Something where people can actually CONNECT with her on some sort of level. 

 

 

Sunset, though her role in Rainbow Rocks was reactionary, was still the focus of the movie aside from The Sirens. But that makes since....Rainbowrocks was created FOR her. This was all about her redemption. If you look closer, you'll see Twilight....for the first time....only existing in that movie as a plot device. She was far from useful in the entire movie and I saw her as a gag. It was funny they were depending on her when the whole time, the person who actually was the key to saving the world was sunset. The mane 6 were oblivious and predictable to even see them as playing a key role. In EG 1...oh man she was horrible. She was basically Cadence but instead of good, she was bad.....she was even bad at being evil. It was a mess. In Friendship Games....Sunset is taken to another level. Having the leader role in Twilight's absence and having a temper along the way. She wasn't a perfect person in the movie, which would have been predictable. Usually, anyone who's done redeeming themselves, they are seen perfect the next time around but she wasn't. She managed to be this cool down to earth chick who said many lines that had the audience going "well damn....she does have a point" or "I was thinking the same thing" without breaking the 4th wall like pinkie does. People actually CONNECT with Sunset. I can't say the same for Cadence. 

 

 

Maybe some may see her unique and connect worthy from her love for Shining Armor? 

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@,

 

Good points but I would primarily contest neither was at fault. Cadence was in a weakened state and Chysallis was mind warping Shining. Even when his eyes weren't green, she was messing with his head.

 

You're right, she is a static character, my point was that's not a bad thing. Some characters just aren't meant to be developed or don't need to be like my first example. To use other examples, the Ghostbusters show up almost completely developed and don't really change over the course of the movie, only their status in the city changes not themselves. 

 

I do agree that Cadence getting some development would be nice even if I don't think it necessary. Call me what you will but I already connect with her just as the ideal ruler and wife she is. She is devoted to Shining even if she sometimes makes him groan ("Slice of Life"), she cares about her subjects enough to want to represent them to all of Equestria. I connect to her as I connect to Shining. I have felt that kind of devotion to another before and I desperately wish to feel it again. The princess and her knight.

 

Call it projection but it is how I feel.

Edited October 22, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Grepper 3,193]

You're right, she doesn't have any flaws that I'm aware of.

I don't agree that she's a female Flash Sentry, though. Her scenes aren't as cringeworthy as Flash's.

[Silver Stream. 708]

@,

 

Good points but I would primarily contest neither was at fault. Cadence was in a weakened state and Chysallis was mind warping Shining. Even when his eyes weren't green, she was messing with his head.

 

Your right, she is a static character, my point was that's not a bad thing. Some characters just aren't meant to be developed or don't need to be like my first example. To use other examples, the Ghostbusters show up almost completely developed and don't really change over the course of the movie, only their status in the city changes not themselves. 

 

I do agree that Cadence getting some development would be nice even if I don't think it necessary. Call me what you will but I already connect with her just as the ideal ruler and wife she is. She is devoted to Shining even if she sometimes makes him groan ("Slice of Life"), she cares about her subjects enough to want to represent them to all of Equestria. I connect to her as I connect to Shining. I have felt that kind of devotion to another before and I desperately wish to feel it again. The princess and her knight.

 

Call it projection but it is how I feel.

 

I'm not really sure why you'd even get the feeling I'd call you anything just because you connect with a character that I fail to see as a real character at all? Rest assured, I understand what you're saying completely, and multiple times throughout this discussion I've said she wasn't a bad character despite how I see her. I like Cadence and I'm not really sure how many times I have to stress that I like her and she isn't a bad character and the reason for her existence isn't bad either?

 

The very last sentence in my first post, I wanted others to come in and see what I'm missing about her. I knew when making this that SOMEONE will see what I fail to see because we have many difference perspectives on the matter. And you did just that. 

Edited October 21, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[Steel Accord 6,660]

 

 

I'm not really sure why you'd even get the feeling I'd call you anything just because you connect with a character that I fail to see as a real character at all?

 

"Call me what you will" is just a general expression one might preface their statement when they know it might make them be looked upon differently. In this case preferring the straight, little to no drama or jealousy fairy tale romance. 

 

 

 

I like Cadence and I'm not really sure how many times I have to stress that I like her and she isn't a bad character and the reason for her existence isn't bad either?

 

None, I understood that from your stance form original post. 

The very last sentence in my first post, I wanted others to come in and see what I'm missing about her. I knew when making this that SOMEONE will see what I fail to see because we have many difference perspectives on the matter. And you did just that. 

 

Yes, and I did just that. You wanted my two bits, you now have it.

[Silver Stream. 708]

"Call me what you will" is just a general expression one might preface their statement when they know it might make them be looked upon differently. In this case preferring the straight, little to no drama or jealousy fairy tale romance.

 

 

 

None, I understood that from your stance form original post.

 

Yes, and I did just that. You wanted my two bits, you now have it.

Speaking of fairy tale, their relationship is just that in my opinion and nothing else. Though I'm already discussing that in another thread.

 

And thank you. I hope to hear more different opinions similar to yours being the majority seems to have the same idea as mine so far when it comes to Cadence's character and much preferred development or unique characteristic. I really enjoyed our discussion don't really get many people who's very insightful and detailed when explaining their perspective on a certain topic that night differ from mine. Hope we do this more in the future

Edited October 22, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[Snake 516]

I like Cadence, but.. her... hair.
It looks fine in most scenes, but..
It does this.. thing..
AND NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT BUT IT LOOKS SO FLIPPIN BAD

 

 

[Silver Stream. 708]

Aha, yeah I suppose you can consider that side, her bad side. 

 

I've seen things like that with other characters too like Rarity Flutters sometimes