Rainbow Dash is an incredibly weird character

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

She has both the best (Sleepless In Ponyville) and worst (Newbie Dash) episode in the series IMO. She is highly inconsistent in her characterization.

[weesh 690]

the problem with Dash, is that loyalty is a phenomenal element, and she is awful at displaying it. 

[Megas 27,834]

She's only felt inconsistent this season personally, and a lot of that is because some of the new writers kinda suck. I can also say the same for AJ this season, who's has it worse this season, RD's at least had some good appearances with STFF and Flutter Brutter

[Cleverclover 1,526]

Nearly every character is inconsistent in their characterization at this point. Season 6 seems to have taken our main characters in nearly every direction but forwards. 

 

They've gone backwards (Rarity in Spice Up Your Life, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity in The Cart Before the Ponies) and in circles (Applejack in Applejack's "Day" Off, Rainbow Dash in Newbie Dash), but rarely forwards. 

 

And it's so irritating....

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

Nearly every character is inconsistent in their characterization at this point. Season 6 seems to have taken our main characters in nearly every direction but forwards.

 

They've gone backwards (Rarity in Spice Up Your Life, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity in The Cart Before the Ponies) and in circles (Applejack in Applejack's "Day" Off, Rainbow Dash in Newbie Dash), but rarely forwards.

 

And it's so irritating....

Really it's because the best writers and Hasbro themselves are busy with the Movie, so basically it's the leftovers. That's why I'm hoping Season 7 will be a return to form to the mystical nature that the show had before S6, as well as better characterization.

[Mesme Rize 15,687]

Really it's because the best writers and Hasbro themselves are busy with the Movie, so basically it's the leftovers. That's why I'm hoping Season 7 will be a return to form to the mystical nature that the show had before S6, as well as better characterization.

The only good writer who writes the movie, is Mccarthy.

 

Larson might never comeback and Amy Keating Rogers works for Disney now. So who is left?

[Phanact 333]

She has both the best (Sleepless In Ponyville) and worst (Newbie Dash) episode in the series IMO. She is highly inconsistent in her characterization.

 

"Inconsistent in her characterization"

 

What characterization? I'm fast and like winning? And I'm the best? That's hardly developed in my mind. 

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

The only good writer who writes the movie, is Mccarthy.

 

Larson might never comeback and Amy Keating Rogers works for Disney now. So who is left?

McCarthy is a pretty big deal though

[Megas 27,834]

"Inconsistent in her characterization"

 

What characterization? I'm fast and like winning? And I'm the best? That's hardly developed in my mind. 

Pretty shallow if you think that's all there is too the character

[Mesme Rize 15,687]

McCarthy is a pretty big deal though

 

But she is still just one person. Larson and Rogers have shaped this show since the very first season. Only Mccarthy is left from that era.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,699]

This is mainly a writer issue.

GOOD writers can use her fantastically. BAD writers just leap to using her as an easy antagonist for episodes by turning her top cunt up to maximum. Like today's episode.

[JH24 385]

This is mainly a writer issue.

 

GOOD writers can use her fantastically. BAD writers just leap to using her as an easy antagonist for episodes by turning her top cunt up to maximum. Like today's episode.

 

This. Rainbow is a character who has traits that can be easy to define at first glance. At the same time Dash, beneath her exterior of "coolness and being awesome," is also a complicated and deep character. It all depends on the writer and unfortunately it's easier to pick one of Rainbow's more superficial traits (her tough attitude, pranking, her ego, etc.) and write an episode about that.

 

And even that isn't a bad thing, but today's episode felt so much like a step back. Something like season 1 or 2 Rainbow would do, but not the Rainbow (I don't mind her pulling off pranks, that's her style, but she went way overboard in this episode and it immediately started with Fluttershy)  who has matured and grown during the later seasons.

Edited August 13, 2016 by JH24

[Unlikeable Pony 2,699]

This. Rainbow is a character who has traits that can be easy to define at first glance. At the same time Dash, beneath her exterior of "coolness and being awesome," is also a complicated and deep character. It all depends on the writer and unfortunately it's easier to pick one of Rainbow's more superficial traits (her tough attitude, pranking, her ego, etc.) and write an episode about that.

 

And even that isn't a bad thing, but today's episode felt so much like a step back. Something like season 1 or 2 Rainbow would do, but not the Rainbow (I don't mind her pulling off pranks, that's her style, but she went way overboard in this episode and it immediately started with Fluttershy)  who has matured and grown during the later seasons.

 

her reducing fluttershy to a crying mess like that is one of the biggest issues I have with this episode. One of dash's biggest and most redeeming traits is her incredible protectiveness of fluttershy. Her not batting an EYE at fluttershy being reduced to that mess and LAUGHING about it is just... God, it feels so freaking out of character it hurts.

[Luminance 2,186]

I feel like Rainbow Dash's characterization is often tossed around. In some episodes, her loyalty can be solid as diamond and then there's some episodes where she losses foundation. This is return had always made me it feel like I'm sitting on the bench for favoring her.

[Concerned Bystander 2,904]

There will always be inconsistency when you have a stable of writers who may wish to depict different themes in the episodes given to them.  I would imagine the fact that the cartoon is primarily aimed at children contributes to a slightly less rigorous approach to characterisation as they probably feel that they can get away with looser interpretations of the characters.

 

Rainbow Dash seems particularly susceptible to this phenomena given that her element of honesty loyalty is a characteristic which is best displayed when she has a supporting role to another character.  I guess we as the fans just have to put it down to her having an inconsistent and unpredictable nature.

[JH24 385]

her reducing fluttershy to a crying mess like that is one of the biggest issues I have with this episode. One of dash's biggest and most redeeming traits is her incredible protectiveness of fluttershy. Her not batting an EYE at fluttershy being reduced to that mess and LAUGHING about it is just... God, it feels so freaking out of character it hurts.

 

Yeah, you're entirely right. That was also one of my biggest issues with the episode. It just felt mean-spirited. Rainbow Dash is protective of Fluttershy and they have a special bond together. I can imagine Rainbow playing a fun prank on her at times but this wasn't like that at all. Dash at least should have acknowledged that after seeing how Fluttershy reacted. 

 

Heh, even Applejack pointed out that pranking Fluttershy was lazy. They could have used a different way to call for this meeting in the castle. Now it just feels like a cheap way to start the storyline.

Edited August 13, 2016 by JH24

[Swifty 249]

The only good writer who writes the movie, is Mccarthy.

 

Larson might never comeback and Amy Keating Rogers works for Disney now. So who is left?

 

 

And even McCarthy is not really that good. I'm not that impressed by her two parters and this story of "28 pranks later" is from her, too.

Edited August 13, 2016 by Swifty

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,894]

Newbie Dash was the victim of putting a new writer into a an episode where he clearly just doesn't know how important that situation is supposed to be. Having new writers can bring in fresh perspectives and interesting concepts, but it seems the new writers are not being informed about these characters and how they are supposed to be a bit developed. This is where the damage comes in. Newbie Dash had Rainbow being insanely out of character and it tarnished the moment where she was supposed to realize her dream.

 

So, writer allocation and clear lack of communication is the big problem right now.

[Megas 27,834]

I saw this pop up on Derpibooru a few hours ago

 

 

Honestly I feel like this is a huge problem the show's currently dealing with with it's new writers

 

Seriously, MMDW is one of the most infamous episodes in the series. Everyone at the staff should know it's hated and why it is. It should've been the last episode to rehash, especially if the only thing they're gonna do is add fucking Zombies

Edited August 13, 2016 by Megas

[Mesme Rize 15,687]

And even McCarthy is not really that good. I'm not that impressed by her two parters and this story of "28 pranks later" is from her, too.

 

Opinions man. It's all subjective.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

And even McCarthy is not really that good. I'm not that impressed by her two parters and this story of "28 pranks later" is from her, too.

 

You know, I'd imagine that McCarthy actually came up with the idea for 28 Pranks Later back during season 1 or 2, and this new writer eventually found it and decided to finally make an episode out of it. 

 

Overall, it really just doesn't seem that she would have intended it for a sixth season, when Jerkish/Prankster Dash should have been a thing of the past. 

 

And yeah, McCarthy's two parters tend to be full of plot holes, but she's highly competent when it comes to normal episodes. 

[CastletonSnob 3,079]

I saw this pop up on Derpibooru a few hours ago

 

 

Honestly I feel like this is a huge problem the show's currently dealing with with it's new writers

 

Seriously, MMDW is one of the most infamous episodes in the series. Everyone at the staff should know it's hated and why it is. It should've been the last episode to rehash, especially if the only thing they're gonna do is add fucking Zombies

At this point, using zombies is the epitome of lazy writing. 

 

Zombies just don't fit in a show like MLP. The TV-Y rating severely limits how the concept of zombies can be done. 

[Foxy Socks 2,600]

Why does everyone hate Newbie Dash? I never can understand. I think she is quite a great character. Flawed, but can be a sweet pony. I am biased though, as I love her character.

[Phanact 333]

Pretty shallow if you think that's all there is too the character

 

For the longest time, that was all I saw. I saw a bit more compassion from here in the Tank hibernation episode, but I still think she's pretty underdeveloped.

[Chuckles4lyfe 441]

HOW DARE YOU CALL BEST PONY WEIRD  !!!!!

 

All jokes aside, I don't think weird is the right word to use in this circumstance. If anything, her character is more inconsistent than weird. Take the past 3 episodes for example. Fan-fiction had Dash at her best imo . Her banter with Quibble was comedy gold, and she literally had "no chill" when conversing with him  . 

 

Her outing in Cart b4 ponies, and 28 pranks later had her regress in character to have the stories make sense. Dash isn't dense to the point where she would ignore Scootaloo completely. What happened to the sisterly Dashie that was in Sleepless in Ponyville, Flight to the Finish, and Brotherhooves Social? That's some Scootalove at its best!

 

With 28 pranks, I felt that it would have fit in better as an episode from S1 or S2. Dash pulling pranks to the point where the entire town is fed up with her just doesn't fit her character at all. She has matured enough over the years to know when to call it quits. Wonderbolts Academy is a good example (nearly quitting the team once she saw her friends were put in serious danger).

 

Let's just say that if a new writer is assigned a character, they need to have a clear understanding of them and give us a story that advances their character, rather than have them go in circles over and over again.