The friendship seems fake, when it appears the ponies don't care

[ManaMinori 4,145]

How long has Twilight been with Spike, and gotten him a book for each one of his birthdays, and their Hearthswarming traditions? Shouldn't she know full well what Spike likes, and quit giving him gifts that SHE would want? Shouldn't she be able to read the disappointed on his face, each time he gets a book, but pretends that he likes it, to spare her feelings? Twi has known Spike for a lot longer than she has knosn Cadance, but yet, Twi knew imposter Cadance/Chrysalis was lying and covering truths up, and not when Spike does it? One could imply that becaus of this, Twi is closer and has a stronger friendship with Cadance, her foalsitter, rathe than Spike, who she hatched, and grew up with.

 

Or what about the other 5, who are Twilight's friends. The very "friends" who didn't seem to know Twi at all, in "castle Sweet Castle", to, like Twi is also guily of, not know their own bff's interests, to decorate her home wih, but rather bring in everything but the kitchen sink with what they, themselves liked. Like Twi's book giving to Spike on a grander scale.

 

Are the pnies' s friendships not as close as the writers try to have us believe they are, if they don't even know what their friends like, and it all seems fake, when situations like these occur?

[CastletonSnob 3,077]

Maybe Spike hides his disappointment? 

He obviously doesn't want to hurt her feelings, so he pretends to like it. Maybe she knows he's just pretending so he won't hurt her feelings.

[ShadOBabe 18,997]

Everyone's got moments when they think about what they want rather than what other's what.

So it's easier to forgive the ReMane 5 when decorating the castle, especially since they realized their mistake and fixed it.

 

But as for Spike and the book thing, I got nothing.

[cuteycindyhoney 13,308]

Twilight's love of books is so all consuming, that she literally can't comprehend somepony not wanting a book as a gift. I think it's quite a funny running gag that Twilight fails to notice that her friends might not be as thrilled as she would be to receive a book. I myself LOVE getting books as gifts. 

 

 

As for Twilight's friends redecorating the castle, after a false start, they did something wonderful. I see no problem there.

[ManaMinori 4,145]

Maybe Spike hides his disappointment? 

He obviously doesn't want to hurt her feelings, so he pretends to like it. Maybe she knows he's just pretending so he won't hurt her feelings.

but he wouldn't be disappointed if Twilight KNEW what things Spike liked. There's no reason why she shouldn't know, with how long they've been joined at the hip

But then again, this is the pony who didn't even invite Sike to her birthday in Canterlot, so maybe I'm giving her too much credit

[ggg-2 3,553]

To me, it's fridge brilliance. Remember "Secret of my Excess"? By giving Spike small modest gifts like books, she's preventing a reoccurance of that incident.

Edited October 28, 2015 by ggg-2

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,632]

Is this looking too deep into it? It is looking too deep into it. The whole point of that little scene was a joke. It is a joke about Twilight's over-the-top love for all things book related. Simple as that. It was also funny to me, I laughed at it. That was the point. Not some deep thing where 'BLEH Twilight doesn't care about her friends BLEH'. 

 

As for the other part, that one is a case of them decorating with THEIR interests. That was the mistake they made, it is not like they got Twilight's interests wrong, they got carried away with their own interests. Again, not some 'BLEH they are terrible friends BLEH'.

[Silver Stream. 708]

 

How long has Twilight been with Spike, and gotten him a book for each one of his birthdays, and their Hearthswarming traditions? Shouldn't she know full well what Spike likes, and quit giving him gifts that SHE would want? Shouldn't she be able to read the disappointed on his face, each time he gets a book, but pretends that he likes it, to spare her feelings? Twi has known Spike for a lot longer than she has knosn Cadance, but yet, Twi knew imposter Cadance/Chrysalis was lying and covering truths up, and not when Spike does it? One could imply that becaus of this, Twi is closer and has a stronger friendship with Cadance, her foalsitter, rathe than Spike, who she hatched, and grew up with.

Or what about the other 5, who are Twilight's friends. The very "friends" who didn't seem to know Twi at all, in "castle Sweet Castle", to, like Twi is also guily of, not know their own bff's interests, to decorate her home wih, but rather bring in everything but the kitchen sink with what they, themselves liked. Like Twi's book giving to Spike on a grander scale.

Are the pnies' s friendships not as close as the writers try to have us believe they are, if they don't even know what their friends like, and it all seems fake, when situations like these occur?

 

 

This is where I'd have to disagree though I completely understand what you're getting at and you have reason to feel this way based on what we've seen throughout the series. However, it's because of these moments that makes friendship more genuine.

 

Friendships aren't perfect. Even the one who knows you the best will sometimes lose sight of that because they may be caught up in their own issues or hobbies. For example, at first I was a bit bothered in how oblivious Shining Armor was with Chyrsalis being the fake Cadence. In the past, I've pointed this out...and saw their relationship to be nothing but a plot device that lacks genuine love. I argued that if Shining and Cadence were really as close as they say they are, how is it he failed to notice his fiance was different even if it was possible she was turning into a Bridezilla? Chrysalis's magic was not an excuse in my opinion...he still had his free will to think on his own and it seemed only when he'll have headaches she'd use her magic to weaken him. But then I realized....that's actually pretty common in relationships. Sometimes your partner is an idiot....and will miss somethings others might see.

 

Twilight loves Spike though I still question their relationship. I'm not entirely sure if it's mother and son/ master and assistant/ sister and brother....but regardless that whenever SHE DOES notice how he feels, she makes effort to make him feel better. And while many people says she doesn't respect him at times, I think she does, You see that in Season 4 "Equestria Games" when she respected him enough to tell him the truth before he went further into making himself look like a fool. 

 

Friends will not always catch everything. Even your best friend wil be selfish sometimes and consider your problem small compared to theirs. What makes friendship "genuine" is when they realize their mistakes....and work to make up for it because they feel as though their friendship is worth it. How many people has that one "d*ck" of a friend that you sometimes can't stand...but still love because they are honestly a good person despite them having a hard time showing it? I know I do. 

 

In Castle sweet castle. I agree the mane 5 were a bit dense when it came to fixing up the place. But it's normal to get it wrong the first time....and you know what? While some may see that as them not knowing their friend, I see it as them knowing Twilight than we think we do. On an average scale, we see Twilight as a book-lover. I bet 99% of the people who were watching that episode screamed "SHE LOVED THE BOOKS" when the mane 5 were wondering what was it about the library she liked. But instead, they see Twilight for more than just some book nerd....they know she's more than that...and how she cherishes the memories more than just books. And sure, maybe she has moments where a book can consume her at times that makes us cringe, but that's not being a bad friend. That's being caught up in something you like. Like how a kid may be stuck in their room playing video games...that doesn't mean he loves his family or friends any less? 

 

And because of these reasons, I'd say friendship has never been executed more perfectly 

Edited October 25, 2015 by Princess Sunset

[pony.colin 156]

You mean how when they celebrate Spike's first birthday in Ponyville in 'Secret of my excess' -

 

Spike: Well, actually, this is my first birthday in Ponyville... I usually just get one present... from Twilight. A book.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhogvhl8Zr8

 

I honestly think the writers having Twilight give Spike a book on Hearth's Warming seemed like they were going for the running gag trope, rather than operating on sensibility (since its a tv show).

 

Because in the secret of my excess scene, Twilight does overhear what Spike says.  She understands and does notice his dejected mood about receiving the same type of gift every year on his birthday, that's why she gets embarrassed about this in the first place about not noticing that he's only been saving face for her sake.  Again, I can only point to the writer's trying to invoke running gag trope to explain that.  I noticed it too when that scene popped up.

Edited October 25, 2015 by pony.colin

[Arrowstormen 62]

Well, a book isn't just a book. There's many different types of books. If somebody told Twilight they didn't want a book, she'd probably just try to find a different book that she think they might like. 

[Megas 27,731]

Is this looking too deep into it? It is looking too deep into it. The whole point of that little scene was a joke. It is a joke about Twilight's over-the-top love for all things book related. Simple as that. It was also funny to me, I laughed at it. That was the point. Not some deep thing where 'BLEH Twilight doesn't care about her friends BLEH'. 

 

As for the other part, that one is a case of them decorating with THEIR interests. That was the mistake they made, it is not like they got Twilight's interests wrong, they got carried away with their own interests. Again, not some 'BLEH they are terrible friends BLEH'.

This. It'd be no different than getting something WB related from RD or something Apple related from AJ, it just suits their characters. In the end it's nothing more than a harmless and humorous little scene

Edited October 25, 2015 by ChicksDigGiantRobots

[ManaMinori 4,145]

To me, it's fridge brilliance. Remember "Secret of my Excess"? By give Spike small modest gifts like books, she's preventing a reoccurance of that incident.

so Spike isn't supposed to get gifs he enjoys, ever, to hamper his natural dragon growth. Ok.yeah. seems fair.

[Mesme Rize 15,685]

Isn't this like christmas? "It's the thought that counts."

 

Seriously though, like the other guys said. You look too deep into a 30 second scenes and judge twilight completly by it. Maybe Spike got other presents from her.

[Marimo 555]

There was a pile of presents at the castle. We only saw Spike open one.

[HereComesTom 2,268]

 

 

Are the pnies' s friendships not as close as the writers try to have us believe they are, if they don't even know what their friends like, and it all seems fake, when situations like these occur?

 

Shoot...if their friendships were perfect, we'd have no conflict in the series.  Like other posters said, though, they did realize their mistake and try to fix it early-on.

 

 

 

But then again, this is the pony who didn't even invite Sike to her birthday in Canterlot, so maybe I'm giving her too much credit

 

Probably the out-of-universe answer for this one is "the writers forgot".  My in-universe headcanon is that Spike did something nasty and was being punished by having to miss out on the party, and the ponies didn't talk about this fact at the party because they didn't want to bring it up and spoil the mood.

[UnknownFry 169]

I think it was meant to be more of a gag and not so much indicative  of their relationship. However as some pointed out there were more presents, and the whole reason Twilight was opening the gifts early was because of Spike in the first place.

 

However there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, and thank goodness for that as we would not have any conflict on the show if all relationships were perfect.

 

Friends can make mistakes as in Castle Sweet Castle as they were decorating for the wrong reasons until they realized what was going wrong and the other five soon corrected their mistake. I would also point out that episode also had Twilight realizing the effect of the loss of the library that it had on Spike as well too.

 

I think the writers understand the close nature of the relationships among a group of good but flawed friends.

 

But then again, this is the pony who didn't even invite Sike to her birthday in Canterlot, so maybe I'm giving her too much credit.

 

I would say you are giving her too little credit with the argument you are trying to make here.

 

Maybe she did not invite him to the party because she thought he would be bored or maybe Spike did something wrong to merit such disciplinary measures.

Edited October 26, 2015 by UnknownFry

[cider float 2,538]

It's probably just a moment of endearment. 

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

Maybe writers just forgot... I think Twilight should know Spike better, she could give him a comic book instead...

[Truffles 2,033]

Shouldn't she know full well what Spike likes, and quit giving him gifts that SHE would want? Shouldn't she be able to read the disappointed on his face, each time he gets a book, but pretends that he likes it, to spare her feelings? Twi has known Spike for a lot longer than she has knosn Cadance, but yet, Twi knew imposter Cadance/Chrysalis was lying and covering truths up, and not when Spike does it? One could imply that becaus of this, Twi is closer and has a stronger friendship with Cadance, her foalsitter, rathe than Spike, who she hatched, and grew up with.

 

I feel your pain, but the rest of that scene shows they really do love each other a whole lot. Also as @@Marimo said, there were still other presents left to open. Spike opening the one with the book is just the continuation of a running gag in the series that Twilight pretty much gives everypony books as gifts.

 

But then again, this is the pony who didn't even invite Sike to her birthday in Canterlot, so maybe I'm giving her too much credit

 

OK, this instance is a lot more unforgivable, but see my answer below:

 

 

 

Probably the out-of-universe answer for this one is "the writers forgot".  My in-universe headcanon is that Spike did something nasty and was being punished by having to miss out on the party, and the ponies didn't talk about this fact at the party because they didn't want to bring it up and spoil the mood.

 

I couldn't see it being a case of him being punished.

 

The cause and consequence of him getting punished from Twilight's birthday party would have to be so horrendous I could never see his character doing anything to warrant that. Why?

 

On the cause side of things, he didn't even get punished for smashing up Ponyville; or at the very least, for taking stuff in the first place that turned him into a monster.

 

On the punishment side, the one time he has gotten in trouble was when Twilight told him how disappointed she was in him for trying to frame Owlicious. And he reacted by running away. I don't even want to think about what he would do if he was banned from her birthday party...

 

A better explanation why he wasn't seen takes a cue from how he acted at the Gala: He probably got there and saw how frou-frou the whole affair was going to be and headed over to Pony Joe's for some donuts while the girls all had their fun until Twilight was ready to open her birthday gifts.

 

It's still kind of a weak explanation, but it's better than him being banned from the affair. I suppose the other possibility was that he was ill or something and had to stay home, but somehow with his abandonment issues I think he would have insisted on coming anyway.

 

Bah, poor writing I guess is really the only good explanation... 

Edited October 26, 2015 by Truffles

[HereComesTom 2,268]

I feel your pain, but the rest of that scene shows they really do love each other a whole lot. Also as @@Marimo said, there were still other presents left to open. Spike opening the one with the book is just the continuation of a running gag in the series that Twilight pretty much gives everypony books as gifts.

 

 

OK, this instance is a lot more unforgivable, but see my answer below:

 

 

 

 

I couldn't see it being a case of him being punished.

 

The cause and consequence of him getting punished from Twilight's birthday party would have to be so horrendous I could never see his character doing anything to warrant that. Why?

 

On the cause side of things, he didn't even get punished for smashing up Ponyville; or at the very least, for taking stuff in the first place that turned him into a monster.

 

On the punishment side, the one time he has gotten in trouble was when Twilight told him how disappointed she was in him for trying to frame Owlicious. And he reacted by running away. I don't even want to think about what he would do if he was banned from her birthday party...

 

A better explanation why he wasn't seen takes a cue from how he acted at the Gala: He probably got there and saw how frou-frou the whole affair was going to be and headed over to Pony Joe's for some donuts while the girls all had their fun until Twilight was ready to open her birthday gifts.

 

It's still kind of a weak explanation, but it's better than him being banned from the affair. I suppose the other possibility was that he was ill or something and had to stay home, but somehow with his abandonment issues I think he would have insisted on coming anyway.

 

Bah, poor writing I guess is really the only good explanation... 

 

...Actually, your explanation is way better, for exactly the reasons you've listed...guess I didn't put enough thought into my headcanon for this one.

[Truffles 2,033]

...Actually, your explanation is way better, for exactly the reasons you've listed...guess I didn't put enough thought into my headcanon for this one.

 

Thanks! Don't feel bad though, I didn't even think about Spike missing from those scenes until Nightmare Muffin actually brought it up today. I guess when I saw "Sweet and Elite" I was more focused on Rarity's scheme to be at both affairs than the guest list.  -_-

 

Which makes me realize something else: Since the party was in Canterlot, shouldn't Twilight have invited her parents to her birthday as well? I mean, they live there, right? 

[Grepper 3,192]

It was just a joke. I admittedly thought it was funny, even though I get tired of him always being the butt of the joke.