Hasbro's testing the water with Lyra x BonBon

[Envy 6,529]

Hm... Certainly very interesting. Slice of Life went waaayyyy out of its way to say that they were just friends, but this most certainly doesn't point that way. There were other heterosexual couples in FiM they could have included on that card, you know? Instead they chose these two!

 

It's annoying that it is still so subtle, but whatever, it's a solid step forward I'd say.

 

I just went to their FB page to see, and unfortunately their caption does exactly what Slice of Life did, in no uncertain terms goes out of its way to say "These two are best friends, not lovers". And when I say they went out of their way, I mean it. It sticks out like a sore thumb in their post... Like "NO HOMO".

 

Shame on you, Hasbro. This show was made to show girls that there is no wrong way to be a girl. Loving another woman should definitely be a part of that!

Edited February 16, 2016 by Envy

[Buck Testa 5,505]

 

 

As much as I like Lyra and Bon Bon, they both kinda need character development. Hasbro needs to make the relationship significant enough to justify making them a couple. And what are the odds of that happening? Not even most established characters would have enough of reason to get hitched.

 

With that you have absolutely NO argument from me. Bring on that Character development. He'll I'd love an episode dedicated to it. The plot is sitting right there waiting for them to use it.

 

Bon Bon is an Agent

Lyra is her friend

 

Bon Bon is called to action

Lyra gets caught up in it

 

Hijinks ensues. 

[Dark Bun 681]

With that you have absolutely NO argument from me. Bring on that Character development. He'll I'd love an episode dedicated to it. The plot is sitting right there waiting for them to use it.

 

Bon Bon is an Agent

Lyra is her friend

 

Bon Bon is called to action

Lyra gets caught up in it

 

Hijinks ensues. 

But it'll never happen :l

 

And honestly, I find any marriage in a children's cartoon to be unnecessary, unless the relationship was pre-established prior to the show airing. Children don't need to be taught why it's important. They already know why.

[Wind Chaser 4,769]

I think Hasbro might not be going much further than that for now. Right now, they're giving it the same treatment Animaniacs gave adult jokes and innuendo in a time when content watchdog groups held much power over children's broadcast TV.

Hasbro is obviously not natively a media company, and the stronghold that conservative interests may still have on their consumer base may be too much for them to take any big risks. Cartoon Network shows are allowed to have LGBT characters because they're fresh and new, and aren't putting the name and reputation of a long-established brand like MLP on the line. MLP, from the outset, wasn't meant to comment on sensitive social or political issues, hence why it avoids tackling issues like death and sexuality head-on and avoids getting too topical ("The Cutie Map", for example, was factually not an argument against any particular political system, except the general concepts of autocracy, tyranny, and the cult of personality). The fact that the writers heavily imply these things, though, shows that they and their characters may be capable of more than the show lets them onto. In many cases, that should be enough, and up to the fans and other media properties entirely to expand upon.

In addition, MLP is a global brand that still airs and sells in countries that haven't adopted LGBT-friendly policies yet. In business sense, it's best that Hasbro leaves it where they are; acknowledging just enough but not going full-out so as to keep all of their customers in line and doing their best to avoid polarizing PR over political matters.

 

[Soundwave 28,558]

I really don't mean to upset anyone with my response, that is if I do. It's really more about my thoughts as the pair itself and me not caring about BG ponies, rather than the idea of same-sex(which I'm all for)

It's really hard to tell watching these characters together whether the people making this show are actually trying to push the envelope or if they're just queer-baiting and fan-baiting. 

I'm gonna have to side with this here. I'm all for seeing more same-sex couples in children's cartoons, and I think it'd be great for FiM to jump on that ship, but with THIS particular pair, I can't help but meet it with a very resounding "meh". Honestly to me, it feels like just would come off as more fan-pandering(especially with them being BG ponies rather than even somewhat important characters) rather than a genuine attempt at introducing same-sex couples into the show, especially with how out of their way they teased it in SoL and considering the origins of the pairing by the fandom("Lyra's sitting funny next to Bon Bon! Insta-couple!" Granted, that's how pairings usually form in this fandom ). 

 

It reminds me of the whole Korrasami thing in the end of LoK. While I was really happy to see the creators go that route and make that pairing become a thing at the end, I could understand why some fans didn't like and felt it came off as pandering to Korrasami fans(though to its credit, I felt that pair was handled very well and subtle as opposed to how incredibly obnoxious the LyraBon teasing in SoL got)

 

Again, I'm all for seeing more gay and lesbian couples in the show and if the show's gonna do it with Lyra and Bon Bon, then that's great, but in this particular instance I'm sorry I just can't care. I'd much rather see it come out a main or secondary character or with new characters all together

Edited February 16, 2016 by Megas

[cider float 2,539]

Seems like they're trying to bring back the same craze that went on with that grey pony. Trying to grease those brony wheels because they can't come up with anything else.

 

You got the young stallion and mare kissing each other, the older male and female donkeys kissing... and then you have two mares hugging each other. If DHX was feeling dangerous they would be doing the same activity the other two couples were doing.

Edited February 16, 2016 by cider float

[Jest (Inactive) 875]

   -_-  I hate some of these replies that are saying Hasbro would be doing it just because they can't come up, it would corrupt younger viewers, I would leave the fandom and other rubbish.  

 

LGBT in the Western world at least, which Hasbro is a company in, is Normal and now is often promoted in alot of major TV shows, Music, Films, there are plenty of cartoons which show same sex couples as well.  Alot of you speak like doing this kind of thing would be out of the normal, well I think you are stuck living in the last century, and to those ppl who are saying they would leave the fandom is just bigotry..

 

I would jus' like to say to people, there are homosexual members here and there is a transgender option on the forums so this is obviously a LGBT friendly place, so I want to ask please could you be a little more respectful, this ain't me trying to back seat moderate, it's just that these posts make me annoyed and I know alot of people would take it quite a bit more to heart than me   

[Silver Stream. 708]

Maybe they are testing the waters, maybe they aren't. If I'm to be honest, it seems like queer-baiting at it's finest. In fact, this entire show is like queer baiting. Let alone SHIP-baiting in general:

 

- Marble Pie and Big Mac blushing at each other

- Implied chemistry between Applejack and Rarity 

- Lyra and BonBon 

- Derpy and Dr. Hooves making harmless physical contact in Slice of Life

- Sunset Shimmer and Twilight queer baiting in the second and third movie. 

 

 

 

Hell, I can honestly tell you that 50% of these ships began the moment fans witnessed a scene or scenes that can easily fall under the "possibly crushing on each other" category. 

 

 

Some people are willing to go through an entire season just in hopes to snag the next SHIP-baiting/queer-baiting (however you see it) scene. That's what you call "keeping things interesting". Keeping the fans shipping and guessing. 

 

 

I'm.not against the idea that Hasbros might be serious with exposing a same sex couple front and center. It's true that the LGBT community is more common than common sense itself. Therefore people think it shouldn't be that much of a risk. But it is still a big risk regardless no matter how accepted it may seem. 

 

People who are weary about MLP "coming out" (haha) aren't stuck in the last century, they are cautious in this one. Aware that discrimination still exists and somewhere out here in the western world, there's a large group of people ready to pitch a b*tch the moment a long-time classic franchise integrate LGBT couples on their show. 

 

Maybe it's paranoia on our part? But it isn't for no reason. My BEST bet on how this all plays out is that Hasbros will pull a "Nickelodeon" (did I spell that right?). And hopefully you all know that I'm referring to The Legend of Korra xD

[Goat-kun 2,532]

The cat will get out of the bag one way or another. Well, it already got out, in a way. Anyone who has had any sort of prolonged interaction with our fandom is likely aware of the Lyra X Bon situation that got scooped up for panda episodes. H-Bro isn’t fooling anyone with this mummer’s farce of theirs.

 

Still, we must remain cautious as such actions do lure in the vile Creatures of Tumblr. Those fiends need to be kept contained in the SU fandom while our more rational groups bring us to this new level of normalcy. The last thing you want is to throw MLP into the war between Regressives and Shitlords.

 

Also do realize the difference between having gay characters because the creators have envisioned them as such and pushing a regressive agenda by forcing “minority” quotas on every damn aspect of human lives. Pressuring anyone to include such characters is not a victory but defeat on the long run.

[EquestriaGuy 1,075]

DHX's portrayal of their friendship is most accurately portrayed with no less than 100 quotation marks.

 

They are """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""friends""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 

 

I think in S6, they should be shown to be running a scissor shop in Ponyville. They can put it next to Quills and Sofas.

 

[Dawning Demon 952]

I personally don't like this ship and I prefer them as "just friends" but whatever.

[Na11 100]

Oh great, it's Yuri in mlpfim!

[Buck Testa 5,505]

DHX's portrayal of their friendship is most accurately portrayed with no less than 100 quotation marks.

 

They are """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""friends""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 

 

I think in S6, they should be shown to be running a scissor shop in Ponyville. They can put it next to Quills and Sofas.

That is just brilliant is what that is. 

[Artimis Whooves 1,577]

 

 

LGBT in the Western world at least, which Hasbro is a company in, is Normal and now is often promoted in alot of major TV shows, Music, Films, there are plenty of cartoons which show same sex couples as well.

I think Good luck Charlie had an LGBT couple once. 

[Daring_Do 553]

The cat will get out of the bag one way or another. Well, it already got out, in a way. Anyone who has had any sort of prolonged interaction with our fandom is likely aware of the Lyra X Bon situation that got scooped up for panda episodes. H-Bro isn’t fooling anyone with this mummer’s farce of theirs.

 

Still, we must remain cautious as such actions do lure in the vile Creatures of Tumblr. Those fiends need to be kept contained in the SU fandom while our more rational groups bring us to this new level of normalcy. The last thing you want is to throw MLP into the war between Regressives and Shitlords.

 

Also do realize the difference between having gay characters because the creators have envisioned them as such and pushing a regressive agenda by forcing “minority” quotas on every damn aspect of human lives. Pressuring anyone to include such characters is not a victory but defeat on the long run.

Beg pardon, but didn't these two also get commonly paired as friends by the fandom? It's not like shipping was the only (or even the majority?) thing the fans did with them.

[Goat-kun 2,532]

Beg pardon, but didn't these two also get commonly paired as friends by the fandom? It's not like shipping was the only (or even the majority?) thing the fans did with them.

Guess I have been inundated by this ship so much I have begun to think that the majority feels this way. If that is not the real picture, then I apologize for my assumption. I still believe that H-Bro has adopted this fanon from the way they have been stumbling around the pair of good friends, though you could still interpret it as just friendship. If the fanon thing was true, then they'd have to get the info about its popularity from somewhere. Their real debut was in a fandom pandering episode after all.

[Na11 100]

That is just brilliant is what that is. 

No it's yuri

Hasbro is saying they are "freinds", but it is clearly yuri.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

No it's yuri

Hasbro is saying they are "freinds", but it is clearly yuri.

You...do realize I'm the original poster right? I'm totally on board with the yuri idea

 

[Na11 100]

You...do realize I'm the original poster right? I'm totally on board with the yuri idea

 

Oh yay! i looked at the images of the post, no the words

[Jest (Inactive) 875]

You...do realize I'm the original poster right? I'm totally on board with the yuri idea

 

 

Staaaahp can't handle the Lesby cuteness     

[[NULL] 907]

Can this really be considered "testing the waters" anymore? We live in a day and age where the negative PR for censoring gay couples will outweigh the backlash for showing them. (For better or worse.)

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Can this really be considered "testing the waters" anymore? We live in a day and age where the negative PR for censoring gay couples will outweigh the backlash for showing them. (For better or worse.)

This is true, but Hasbro's a big company which has been around for a long time, which means its going to be harder for them to move with the times than a newer company. There has even been backlash on the idea in this forum, and this is a pretty open and excepting place. 

 

I look forward to the day that it won't even be a thing with even the most entrenched companies, but that's going to be a little while. 

[Red Cedar 1,408]

I recall hearing that it took as few as ten parents complaining to have Hasbro back down in a heartbeat over "Derpygate".

 

Whether true or not, I think Hasbro will never, ever, explicitly state Lyra and BonBon are a couple.

 

Hasbro is, first and foremost, a toy company. They didn't make the show in order to be entertaining to a wide range of people. That was a happy accident by virtue of who they hired to develop the series. The show was made as advertising for their main products, which are their toys. It is the same formula toy companies have been following since the eighties. But the kids they are marketing to don't hold the pursestrings, their parents do, and not all of them are so tolerant of the idea of a same-sex couple yet. Dropping something like that into a cartoon will likely cause a backlash against Hasbro by more conservative groups, and Hasbro owns enough properties that that could translate into big financial losses, especially if one of the companies they are licensed to produce toys for (like Lucasfilm) decides, for whatever reason, that the Hasbro name is a liability (granted, that's unlikely in the case of Disney, who has always been very gay-friendly, but that's not the point).

 

Hasbro will play it safe, and while the animators and writers have been able to slip by a few nods to the fans by shipteasing us to death, you will never see it stated in the show that they are a couple, I guarantee it.

With that you have absolutely NO argument from me. Bring on that Character development. He'll I'd love an episode dedicated to it. The plot is sitting right there waiting for them to use it.

 

Bon Bon is an Agent

Lyra is her friend

 

Bon Bon is called to action

Lyra gets caught up in it

 

Hijinks ensues. 

 

Lyra and BonBon and the Agents of S.M.I.L.E.

 

Novel by G.M. Berrow, due out next month. Have fun reading it, I know I will!

Edited February 17, 2016 by Red Cedar

[Buck Testa 5,505]

 

 

Lyra and BonBon and the Agents of S.M.I.L.E.   Novel by G.M. Berrow, due out next month. Have fun reading it, I know I will!

 

I like your thinking  

 

As for the other part of your post, it could go either way really. The fact that they are skirting the line as much as they are, for a company so eager to jump away from drama, says its at least warming up to the idea. We'll see though.  

[cuteycindyhoney 13,345]

I don't see how this is testing the waters. These cards are marketed to children to give their friends at school. EVERY cartoon has them. The pictured card showed two married couples kissing, and two best friends hugging. I would love to see them make Lyra and Bon-Bon a couple, but let's face it. That will never happen. Too many bigoted people would throw a fit.