spoiler Newbie Dash Spoilers: Should Rainbow Dash leave the Wonderbolts?

[Bendy 1,819]

Honestly, after the way they treated her during the events of Newbie Dash I think she should leave the Wonderbolts.

 

They bullied her, you don't tolerate bullies. You don't just suck it up.

 

I was just waiting for the moment Rainbow yells at them and shouts "That's it! I quit!" and gives them the reason you suck speech.

Edited May 8, 2016 by Bendy

[Once In A Blue Moon 894]

 

 

They bullied her, you don't tolerate bullies. You don't just suck it up.

 

Well, at the start she made a mistake that could have caused a serious accident and they brushed it off with a joke. And at the end of the first day she gets reassured that even though she's had a tough day she'd get the hang of it. Her pride is stung by all this, but there was no malicious intent - as we learnt later in the episode when we found out assorted other nicknames. So no, I would not view it as bullying - teasing, yes. If she had said that it had bothered her earlier then it would probably have been resolved earlier.

[EQ_Theta 423]

I don't think going with the "I quit" route should be the direction to go. While I admit that the episode could have been handled better, Dashie's accident led to the other Wonderbolts giving her the nickname and it was ultimately how Rainbow Dash decided to act that was the focus for the episode. Everyone else on the flight team gave her reassuring remarks about their embarrassing nicknames. They teased her, sure, but there was no malicious intent of harm beyond Rainbow's pride. 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,374]

You know, if the episode would have handled this infinitely better and perhaps made it so that her ow nhumility rubbed off on the others in the group, then I would say definitely not, as it would be wonderful for her ot stay. Now though, I can't help but think she is now with a group of bullies and extremely arrogant hot heads, something that Rainbow Dash shouldn't be so much of at this point after 5 seasons.

[ggg-2 3,551]

People obviously need to look up the term "Call sign".

[Wind Chaser 4,767]

You know, if the episode would have handled this infinitely better and perhaps made it so that her ow nhumility rubbed off on the others in the group, then I would say definitely not, as it would be wonderful for her ot stay. Now though, I can't help but think she is now with a group of bullies and extremely arrogant hot heads, something that Rainbow Dash shouldn't be so much of at this point after 5 seasons.

I agree with the sentiment that Rainbow Dash could straighten things out over there and correct some of the Wonderbolts' dishonorable behaviors, but considering the regression her character has been going through since Season 4 to the point that she has to re-learn everything that made her great by "Wonderbolts Academy", it's become wishful thinking. The writers have to make a good turn with Rainbow Dash in order for this to happen.

 

Either way, she shouldn't quit. We're past the point of no return as far as meeting her goals, whether anyone thinks this episode or previous ones in the arc were good or bad. Quitting would feel like a cop out, and we already had one in this episode.

 

People obviously need to look up the term "Call sign".

I wouldn't want a call sign that reflects incompetence. What if you went missing one day and I decided to call you MH370 for the rest of your working life?

[Anonymous Old User Who Has Left 599]

I think you all are forgetting that this episode was written by a newbie episode writer himself. So what else do you expect to happen?  You don't know he could be reading our discussions and be let down internally by all our mean c(s)hit chat. 

So let's just accept the fact that this episode was OK and move on. 

 

Nicknames can be hurtful, but you know what? SUCK 'EM UP AND MOVE ON!!    They may hurt you, but really they're just a way of acknowledging that they all ain't perfect.

Edited May 8, 2016 by Shabb3r

[Megas 27,098]

If they wanted her to quit, they would've done it at season 3 in Wonderbolts Academy. Doing it now would be a huge cop out and a waste of time

Edited May 8, 2016 by Megas

[VengefulStrudel 1,486]

@@Bendy, Just letting ya know that a Spoiler tag was added to the thread, since it's discussing the recent episode.

[twiia 1,842]

well if she quit, thats literally a waste of all the work she's done since season 1.

[Concerned Bystander 2,901]

I don't think that a bit of team-bonding banter should be confused with bullying.  People who live, work and socialise together, and are constantly around each other tend to drop the pretense that they put up around other people that they don't have be around twenty four hours a day.  It makes for a much more harmonious environment when people don't permanently have to maintain a facade.

 

We've already seen that Rainbow Dash has the moral courage to stop things getting out of hand when she feels that someone is genuinely out of order.  Hopefully, some of her better qualities will rub off on the rest of them.  For Rainbow Dash to quit due to the events of 'Newbie Dash' (events which were entirely her own fault) would have not only made her look like a spoilt prima donna but would have demonstrated a lack of fortitude on her part.

 

Instead, she sucked it up, and learned to show some humility.  The fact that she accepted this, and took her punishment in the spirit in which it was intended only made me think more highly of her.

Edited May 8, 2016 by Concerned Bystander

[The Nth Doctor 653]

Absolutely

 

Everything I've seen about the Wonderbolts paints them as poor role models and I'm astounded Dash still thinks they're awesome

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

Eh I don't think her quitting would have been the right way to handle the situation, they were simply teasing her and how she responded to it and her actions affected things in the long run.

[Leere 8,290]

After 6 seasons she finally realize her dream and then she quit!?!

That would leave me very frustrated

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

No.
I DO want dash to not join them, but SERIOUSLY NOT over that episode. Because dash was a GIANT brat in that episode. Like seriously. She screwed up constantly, attacked others over it, and acted like a massive attention whore. This was basically MMDW 2.0 where dash is a giant douchenozzle who craves attention: her leaving over this would come off as her being a massive brat who doesn't want to join something if she can't be the star.


Seriously, they were douchey but nothing super malicious like in the other episodes: Dash didn't look before crossing the runway despite being told to do so earlier, Tried to blame someone ELSE for it while acting like a bitch, and then tried to be an attention whore on a TEAM before trying to do a stunt during a Public performance to maker herself the star of the show.


This was honestly the worst written I've seen dash in a while given how she's shown far more maturity in episodes like Wonderbolt academy :/
Having her quit due to this would be HORRIBLE for her character, it would show that when things don't revolve 100% around her she just gives up and goes home.

If they were to have her quit the WA, they'd want another episode like Rainbow falls or Wonderbolt academy, not something like this :/

[Steve Piranha 28,893]

Compared for previous episodes with the Wonderbolts, I THINK they behaved better than in previous episodes overall. Yeah, there was a BIT of teasing in the accident, but from then on, they called her nickname casually without any ill intent. Man, I think people just wanna destroy the Wonderbolts for the lulz

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

Compared for previous episodes with the Wonderbolts, I THINK they behaved better than in previous episodes overall. Yeah, there was a BIT of teasing in the accident, but from then on, they called her nickname casually without any ill intent. Man, I think people just wanna destroy the Wonderbolts for the lulz

Yeah I for one didn't dislike the Wonderbolts at all in this episode.

[Aurora Glimmer 494]

Rainbow Dash was cocky and thought the rules didn't apply to her. The only reason she even got that nickname in the first place is that she decided to cross the runway without looking. There's also the fact she endangered the lives of her teammates and a whole bunch of spectators by performing a reckless stunt without Spitfire's permission. Considering her track record, Rainbow Dash should be thanking her lucky stars she wasn't kicked out of the Wonderbolts.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Silvestra Spooner

[Buck Testa 5,503]

The episode was terrible, but I don't think they could be considered as bullies. 

 

Personally I think she's too good for the Wonderbolts, but not for the reason of "bullying." 

[cider float 2,536]

I think the Wonderbolts lowering themselves to the bullies was uncalled for. It's one thing to get called Rainbow Crash by no-name bullies but to get called that by your heroes? Ouch.

[Justin_Case001 4,858]

Despite the many problems with Newbie Dash, I was, and still am, thrilled to see her finally achieve her dream.  Now, I think the 'bolt's behavior was uncalled for.  It was basically hazing, and just felt more like immature schoolyard bullying than harmless teasing.  But, at the same time, Rainbow's behavior was also out of line and ridiculous.  Nevertheless, I'm really happy with where we are at now.  I'll reiterate what I've said in a couple other threads and state that the saving grace of the episode was Rainbow being put on probation.  Real consequences for careless actions is something this show desperately needed, and it left me feeling good about things at the end.  So, no, I don't really think she should leave the bolts.

 

On the other hoof, there was one line that really bothered towards the end of the episode.  I didn't like when Rainbow said, (paraphrasing) "I've spent my life trying to be a standout flier, but now that I'm on a team I'll be happy to fit in."  *Winces*  Ouch.  No, no no.  Oh, this isn't right at all.  Now, don't misunderstand me, here; I don't want her to showboat and be overly cocky.  I do want her to learn how to operate in a team, but teamwork and cooperation is different from conformity and stifling individuality.  I'm just a little afraid that the message here came off as one of the latter.  I don't want to see Rainbow lose that special something that makes her a standout star.  In some ways, I do think she's better than the 'bolts, both as a flier, and as a mare.  In some ways, I'd almost like to see her realize this in her own time, and decide to quit and go it alone.  She's meant for greater things than silly flight shows.  She's a hero in her own right.  She should just become who she was born to be: The Mare of Steel.  But, having her quit would probably be too much drama for this show.  It's been her dream to be a 'bolt since day 1, and I really am happy she's done it.  So, she should probably stay where she is.

 

 

well if she quit, thats literally a waste of all the work she's done since season 1.

Now, this I will have to disagree with.  In real life, people pour their time and passion into many pursuits and careers, and often end up doing something completely different in the end.  If you learn and grow along the way, then it wasn't a waste.  Every experience we have shapes who we are.  It's only truly a waste if she forgot everything she did and learned nothing from it.

[Once In A Blue Moon 894]

 

 

In some ways, I do think she's better than the 'bolts, both as a flier, and as a mare.  In some ways, I'd almost like to see her realize this in her own time, and decide to quit and go it alone.  She's meant for greater things than silly flight shows.  She's a hero in her own right.

 

I think it's that view that she is better than the others, both morally and physically, that is (or at least, was) part of the problem. In day to day life such people can be rather grating, even if they are gifted, but when teamwork is more important than individual skill such an attitude can be more detrimental to a group than the individual is beneficial. Not that the episode showed that very well. 

 

As to whether this was a goal she should really have aspired to... I don't think we know enough about what the Wonderbolts do to make a good judgement. My assumption, backed up somewhat by the Crystal Empire War alternative timeline, is that the Wonderbolts are a military unit and the shows are a combination of training and PR / recruitment tool, and that during a conflict they are used to fight the enemy. If that is the case, then even if they aren't great ponies individually the role they perform means that it doesn't matter - you don't give up on becoming a doctor just because medical school is full of arrogant so-and-sos (not meaning to imply that medical schools are, but I use that as an example of an unambiguously beneficial profession.) 

[AWC 0]

On 5/8/2016 at 7:03 AM, Wind Chaser said:

I wouldn't want a call sign that reflects incompetence. What if you went missing one day and I decided to call you MH370 for the rest of your working life?

Oh boy do I have news for you! Pretty much all callsigns are based on you screwing up, and you do NOT get to choose, and you do NOT get to change it. I know someone who's callsign is Two Bags because he puked twice on his first flight.