Why can't the show define Spike's relationship to Twilight already?

[Slashy 101]

We've seen this come up again and again in discussions and in Q&As. We've seen most show staff suggest they are brother and sister. We've even seen the two Hearthswarming episodes pretty much break the headcanon that they were employer and employee before going to Ponyville.

 

I mostly have this poll to see what you guys think, as I truly believe most of the fandom wants to consider Spike a member of or extremely close to Twilight's family. This makes me wonder what the show staff is afraid of in regards to confirming it.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Slashy

[Frostgage 7,977]

i thought Spike was her assistant/close friend, hasn't that always been stated as his role?

[Truffles 2,033]

I voted mother/son, though I see him fulfilling the employee and closest friend roles as well. I think that's why the show hasn't specified it - it's this weird, beautiful little thing they have going on together that defies categorization.

[SoulHarmony 43]

Its hard to tell what the relationship between Twilight and Spike is because it always seems to change every time they have a moment together ;/
Sometimes he is an employee, then he is part of the group with the Mane 6, then she worries about him like he is family then She treats him like a Childhood friend.

[NeonCobalt 256]

I've always considered them to be in a Big Sister/Little Brother relationship.

[takai 1,060]

Does the show really need to strictly define it? I think it's done a pretty good job of establishing what kind of relationship they have. I see Twilight as a Mother/Older Sister role to Spike.

[Justin_Case001 4,908]

In some ways, maybe like Al Borland.  Assistant, but good friend as well.  I just wanted to make that comparison, but actually, they're more than just friends.  I'd definitely say it's an adopted family thing.  Twi raised him from when he hatched, so there's a bit of motherly influence from Twi, but definitely a bit of sisterly as well.  Actually, you know what Spike is kinda like?  Alfred from Batman.  Well, in some ways.  Bruce and Alfred are definitely like family, but in that case, the butler is like the older, fatherly figure, but with Twi and Spike, it's reversed.

 

But more to the point...

Does the show really need to strictly define it? I think it's done a pretty good job of establishing what kind of relationship they have. I see Twilight as a Mother/Older Sister role to Spike.

Yeah, exactly.  Why do the need to overtly and explicitly state it?  We know their backstory, we know how they are together--what more do you need, really?

[Memory Lane 131]

According to issue 40 of the Friendship is Magic comic series, Celestia was the one acting as Spike's guardian. Twilight was entrusted with Spike's care when Celestia was too busy. Twilight then regarded him as a friend, so I suppose by now it's technically family friend.

 

 

- Employee? Really? That's a funny option.

[chaosprincess 1,067]

I know this may sound off and it maybe waaaaay off, but I decided it would not hurt anything if I said it so I feel like Spike is treated more like a pet she helped him hatch, he sleeps on the floor in a basket instead of a normal bed, she has him fetch things like a pet and also gives him jobs almost like a guard animal I know she treats him like her child and best friend, but animal owners do the same with their pets and the list goes on now I know I am probably waaay off with that idea, but that's ok posting it anyways.   

[Truffles 2,033]

In some ways, maybe like Al Borland.  Assistant, but good friend as well.  I just wanted to make that comparison, but actually, they're more than just friends.  I'd definitely say it's an adopted family thing.  Twi raised him from when he hatched, so there's a bit of motherly influence from Twi, but definitely a bit of sisterly as well.  Actually, you know what Spike is kinda like?  Alfred from Batman.  Well, in some ways.  Bruce and Alfred are definitely like family, but in that case, the butler is like the older, fatherly figure, but with Twi and Spike, it's reversed.

 

Heh, your attempt at trying to describe how they relate to one another demonstrates exactly what I go through every time I need to pin those two down.   "They're like this, but also kinda like this. And maybe this, too."

 

I think even if the show decided one day to explicitly define their relationship through some dialogue, I would have trouble accepting it since there are too many instances of it being one thing or another.

 

 

According to issue 40 of the Friendship is Magic comic series, Celestia was the one acting as Spike's guardian. Twilight was entrusted with Spike's care when Celestia was too busy. Twilight then regarded him as a friend, so I suppose by now it's technically family friend.

 

I love that one. As soon as it came out I bought it. It confirmed many of my own thoughts on how Twilight was involved in raising Spike, even though it technically isn't canon with what goes on in the TV show. I was surprised however by how often Twilight had to drag hatchling Spike into her classes. It took me back to my days in high school where sometimes students who had babies would do the same thing. It felt like Twilight was some kind of pre-teen mom.

 

In my headcannon, I always imagined Twilight Velvet taking care of Spike while Twilight was attending class, but the comic didn't have Twilight's mom too involved with Spike, either. Same goes for Celestia, save for her initially seeing to his needs immediately following his being hatched.

 

 

Employee? Really? That's a funny option

 

If you think about his role as an assistant, then the employer-employee relationship makes sense. In fact, every time Twilight asks Spike to take a letter to Celestia it casts him in more of a secretarial role than a friend or family member. And then there's his cooking - he's also the household chef. And maid.

 

If it weren't for all the scenes where they're shown as very tight and close-knit, employee would actually be the most apt categorization for him.

Edited May 30, 2016 by Truffles

[FlareGun45 2,221]

I think they want us to decide!

 

What I'm really interested is Spike's relationship with Starlight! I wanna see how those to get along without a friendship lesson with another pony getting in the way. Like an episode dedicated to those two, but maybe featuring another pony on how they feel about how much they get along.

[cmarston1 5,960]

I have always considered their relationship to be somewhat of a combination of older sister and little brother with a bit of mother and son.

In an adopted family kind of way.

Edited May 29, 2016 by cmarston1

[PuppyKit 12]

I heard one of the staff of MLP said they thought of Spike's Relationship with Twilight as kind of what happens whem a much older sibling is forced to take care of their younger sibling after their parents die. You know like in Lilo and Stitch (or AJ and Apple Bloom if you want an example from the series). Only in Spike's and Twilight's case no one died. Twilight had to become the parent but she is still the big sister. I can't imagine that Spike could get away with being so sassy if Twilight was the full-fledged "Mom".

 

Spike likes to be Twilight's Assistant for the same reason little kids like to be seen as "Little Helpers". I don't think Spike is a legitimate employee, he just likes being helpful for his big sister. Spike also has choirs around the house like any kid does.

[ggg-2 3,553]

Cathy has basically said in an interview that Spike sees Twilight as an older sister, so.....going with that.

[Valeska 184]

Spike no doubt considers Twilight as his friend and family. Considering Spike never knew who his mother was and was not raised by dragons he must have a strong connection with Twilight and her family. Bellow is a list of how different titles check out.

 

Employee/Assistant: Spike takes down letters for Twilight and sends them to Celestia. He also runs errands.

Brother: Spike can be a huge pain sometimes towards Twilight and vice versa but in the end they both make up.

Son: Twilight keeps an eye out on Spike making sure he gets to bed on time, eats, and is healthy. Twilight was the one to hatch him out of his egg. Hatchlings often connect with the first creature they lay their eyes on.

Family Friend: He knows a lot about Twilight's earlier life.

 

Spike is literally a little bit of everything considering being raised by ponies.

[Slashy 101]

 

Heh, your attempt at trying to describe how they relate to one another demonstrates exactly what I go through every time I need to pin those two down.   "They're like this, but also kinda like this. And maybe this, too."

 

I think even if the show decided one day to explicitly define their relationship through some dialogue, I would have trouble accepting it since there are to many instances of it being one thing or another.

 

 

 

I love that one. As soon as it came out I bought it. It confirmed many of my own thoughts on how Twilight was involved in raising Spike, even though it technically isn't canon with what goes on in the TV show. I was surprised however by how often Twilight had to drag hatchling Spike into her classes. It took me back to my days in high school where sometimes students who had babies would do the same thing. It felt like Twilight was some kind of pre-teen mom.

 

In my headcannon, I always imagined Twilight Velvet taking care of Spike while Twilight was attending class, but the comic didn't have Twilight's mom too involved with Spike, either. Same goes for Celestia, save for her initially seeing to his needs immediately following his being hatched.

 

 

 

If you think about his role as an assistant, then the employer-employee relationship makes sense. In fact, every time Twilight asks Spike to take a letter to Celestia it casts him in more of a secretarial role than a friend or family member. And then there's his cooking - he's also the household chef. And maid.

 

If it weren't for all the scenes where they're shown as very tight and close-knit, employee would actually be the most apt categorization for him.

I would rather that the show have a clear definition on how they see each other rather than it being confusing and complicated. It will allow writers to build on a defined dynamic rather than having it constantly change.

[Truffles 2,033]

I would rather that the show have a clear definition on how they see each other rather than it being confusing and complicated. It will allow writers to build on a defined dynamic rather than having it constantly change.

Ah, fair enough. I myself am fine with it being left undefined just as long as it's apparent the writers show the love and respect they should have for one another. And it's still okay for Spike to be snarky with Twilight and Twilight to yell at Spike if the other is acting like a doofus.

 

What bothers me is when it feels like Spike is treated as either a pet, or worse - a prop - by Twilight. It's bad enough when one of the other ponies does it, it's unforgivable when it's his charge.

Edited May 30, 2016 by Truffles

[cider float 2,539]

I don't think it should have any categorization. Spike did state that he's Twilight's number one assistant so there you can define it that way if you need to.

[Luminance 2,187]

Spike is like a son/brother for Twilight. She takes care of Spike by giving him a home, food, and love like a mother. Spike and Twilight also mess with each other like siblings and usually they get on each other's nerves but it's no issue. As a assistant, Spike just love to help around with Twilight and that doesn't matter if he's a brother or a son.

[ponylaces 1,870]

Outside of being Twilight's assistant, they have a brother/sister bond. Remember, they've been together since Twilight was just a little filly. Spike has been present in most of Twilight's life, so I think that's enough to consider him family.