About that Cutie Map...

[FirePuppy 739]

I think the Cutie Map is one of the possible reasons why we're getting more episodes where only two or three characters appear in them. Ever since Season 5 premiered, they only allowed two members of the Mane Six to go someplace to repair friendship.

 

The way I see it, the Cutie Map seems to go in a pattern.

 

For Season 5, we had Twilight and Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, and Applejack and Rarity.

For Season 6, we had Pinkie and Rarity, and this Saturday, Applejack and Fluttershy, and later, Twilight and Rainbow Dash.

For Season 7, we should have Twilight and Applejack (there hasn't been an episode with just them and nopony else in the Mane Six), Pinkie and Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash and Rarity (both of these pairings only had one episode each).

[cmarston1 5,965]

If there is a season 7 or if the Cutie Map would still exist in it, I can see the pairings being:

Twilight/Rarity

Applejack/Pinkie Pie

Rainbow Dash/Fluttershy

[FlareGun45 2,221]

Well I wanna see Twilight/Rarity, Pinkie/Flutters, Rainbow/AJ! :3 We still got so many other map episode pairings left though!

[Justin_Case001 4,940]

I think that the apparent "rules" of the map are some supreme bullsh*t, like when Twilight wanted to go to Griffonstone, but "couldn't" because the map only summoned RD and Pinkie.  WHY COULDN'T SHE GO AND JUST WANDER AROUND??!!

 

You know what I say?

 

F*CK YOU, MAP!  WHERE DO YOU GET OFF??

 

Lol, sorry, but in all seriousness, I actually have some rather strong, controversial opinions about the map.  I think it's a sinister, unethical device that seems to have them enslaved, in a manner of speaking.  I have posed such questions as whether or not they are bound to answer its summons, whether or not Twilight can turn it off, or what would happen if they chose not to answer a summons, and so forth.  It was a burden that was thrust upon them without their consent.  It doesn't seem right to me that they are obligated to drop everything and go whenever this...thing decides.  (I know, I'm weird.  Just my opinion.)

[Megas 28,368]

Honestly, the only real reason I like the map is because it gives the writers an excuse to pair up characters we haven't seen or barely see together. Sometimes this doesn't work(Twilight and Fluttershy) and sometimes it does(Rarity and Pinkie) but it's a nice to see them experiment

 

If they continue doing this next season I hope to see:

 

Twilight/Applejack, Fluttershy/Pinkie, Rarity/Rainbow Dash

Or

Twilight/Pinkie, Fluttershy/Rarity, Rainbow Dash/AJ

or

Twilight/Rarity, FS/PP/RD/AJ

[Crypty Scribbles 6,770]

@@FirePuppy, haha! You're like Twilight ) Like when it's equal and organized XD

 

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

I'd have no problem with the map pairing up the Mane six in doubles if it HAD A POINT.

as things stand, the map stands out as one of the biggest wastes of potential ever.

 

Like, the very first mission it sent them on was pretty important, dealing with starlight and her cult: Give us more missions like THAT. As things stand, I honestly don't think there'd be hardly any repercussion to them just ignoring the map missions (past starlight's)-- make them feel IMPORTANT.
Like, the map is the centerpiece of the castle, it looks giant and important, has a bunch of thrones around it, and according to twilight in the Cutie remark is connected tot he tree of harmony and its will: MAKE IT IMPORTANT DAMNIT.

Hell, Spike's episode in gauntlet of fire was DRASTICALLY more important than anything (sans starlight) that got thrown at the mane six, and it didn't summon any of them.

 

 

 

 

Moving on, I'd actually enjoy seeing a few threesome episodes too, like Twilight/AJ/RD, or Pinkie/Rarity/fluttershy (Twi, AJ and RD would be interesting due to their personalities being very assertive IMO, so I could see them clashing alot-- Kind of like how in the first 4 IDW comics AJ and Twilight clashed a bit over leadership on occasion)

Edited September 14, 2016 by Unlikeable Pony

[ParadoxicalOutcome 44]

I'd have no problem with the map pairing up the Mane six in doubles if it HAD A POINT.

as things stand, the map stands out as one of the biggest wastes of potential ever.

 

Like, the very first mission it sent them on was pretty important, dealing with starlight and her cult: Give us more missions like THAT. As things stand, I honestly don't think there'd be hardly any repercussion to them just ignoring the map missions (past starlight's)-- make them feel IMPORTANT.

I don't think episodes like that would be as special of the map called them to fight a giant threat to Equestria every five episodes.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

I don't think episodes like that would be as special of the map called them to fight a giant threat to Equestria every five episodes.

I'd take little map episodes so long as there was a big threat every 20 episodes or so; its been over 40 since we got the last big threat the map called them to.

[cmarston1 5,965]

I'd take little map episodes so long as there was a big threat every 20 episodes or so; its been over 40 since we got the last big threat the map called them to.

If the show isn't going to give us super action packed map episodes, I would like to see more episodes like the Lost Treasure of Griffonstone, where it would focus on the relationship between Equestria and other nations/species.

Not only would it be a great way to get some much needed worldbuilding in, that way it would make it feel like the Cutie Map is serving some kind of purpose, by spreading friendship and better relationships with others through Equestria and other places.

[Thrond 3,272]

It's possible, and on occasion it's allowed for a fresh team up. Twilight/Fluttershy, anyone? However, for whatever reason, most of its pairs seem to be stuff we've seen before, while new pairings get more creative reasons to pair up. RD/Rarity? Pinkie/Rarity? Pinkie/Fluttershy? All not at all map episodes. A lot of wasted potential there, and it suggests the map is unnecessary, especially given how often it's shown things that don't really matter.

 

It doesn't help that the map is a horrifically lazy plot device which lacks any sort of explanation. What is it? How does it work? Why should the mane six obey it's summons? How does it make their cutie marks buzz? It's just a convenient excuse for things to happen which aren't all that exceptional and could often easily happen without it.

Edited September 16, 2016 by AlexanderThrond

[heavens-champion 1,907]

I think that the apparent "rules" of the map are some supreme bullsh*t, like when Twilight wanted to go to Griffonstone, but "couldn't" because the map only summoned RD and Pinkie.  WHY COULDN'T SHE GO AND JUST WANDER AROUND??!!

 

You know what I say?

 

F*CK YOU, MAP!  WHERE DO YOU GET OFF??

 

Lol, sorry, but in all seriousness, I actually have some rather strong, controversial opinions about the map.  I think it's a sinister, unethical device that seems to have them enslaved, in a manner of speaking.  I have posed such questions as whether or not they are bound to answer its summons, whether or not Twilight can turn it off, or what would happen if they chose not to answer a summons, and so forth.  It was a burden that was thrust upon them without their consent.  It doesn't seem right to me that they are obligated to drop everything and go whenever this...thing decides.  (I know, I'm weird.  Just my opinion.)

Personal, I don't think the Map wants to enslave the Mane Six.

[Goat-kun 2,532]

If you don’t need a contrived plot device, don’t use it. Mane 6 could just as easily encounter those friendship problems on their normal days out of town, and not having the Map at the beginning of each such episode shaves off a minute and a half that could then be used for better things than disco butts.

 

You might argue that this goes against their role at spreading friendship, but since they’re not actively doing that unless the maps specifically tells them to in the first place, I don’t really see a problem at leaving your average Equestrian citizens to their own devices. Or are some of you going to tell me how Equestria only has one or two friendship problems per week (or is it a month?) while shamelessly claiming ponies are relatable because they act like normal people

 

You could even claim that we couldn’t get the pairings without the Map, and to that I say poppycock. Mane 6 are friends, and as such they don’t need some entity to tell them how and when they should spend time with each other. Or are you implying that the main characters have been written so badly that after six seasons we still don’t understand the ties that supposedly exist between some of them and thus need the help of a massive plot device to forcibly mash them together for the occasion?

 

Either FIM has writing that can support Mane 6 pairings and friendship problems outside Ponyville without the Map, or the show is so badly written that it needs the Map to make those things possible. If the former is true, the Map should be terminated due to practical reasons.

[Steve Piranha 29,500]

One thing for sure is that the map won't be repeating a previously used pairing, but there's no guarantee next season will be using the same two Mane6 formula, it could increase to three for what we know (remember that the very first map mission it sent the whole group to Starlight's village)

[heavens-champion 1,907]

One thing for sure is that the map won't be repeating a previously used pairing

If that's the case, then after next season, they can't use the map anymore.

[Steve Piranha 29,500]

If that's the case, then after next season, they can't use the map anymore.

Unless, as I've written, they go in trios  

[heavens-champion 1,907]

Unless, as I've written, they go in trios

Good point. What would happen after that?

[Steve Piranha 29,500]

Good point. What would happen after that?

Alicorn Mane6 ? Can't think of anything else  :-P

[heavens-champion 1,907]

Alicorn Mane6 ? Can't think of anything else  :-P

They could always bring in an underground civilization of mole people.

[Justin_Case001 4,940]

Personal, I don't think the Map wants to enslave the Mane Six.

Of course it doesn't.  It doesn't want anything.  It's not sentient nor conscious.  (Or so I believe until proven otherwise.)  Just like any emotionless A.I. system, that's what makes it so sinister.

 

If you don’t need a contrived plot device, don’t use it. Mane 6 could just as easily encounter those friendship problems on their normal days out of town, and not having the Map at the beginning of each such episode shaves off a minute and a half that could then be used for better things than disco butts.

 

You might argue that this goes against their role at spreading friendship, but since they’re not actively doing that unless the maps specifically tells them to in the first place, I don’t really see a problem at leaving your average Equestrian citizens to their own devices. Or are some of you going to tell me how Equestria only has one or two friendship problems per week (or is it a month?) while shamelessly claiming ponies are relatable because they act like normal people

 

You could even claim that we couldn’t get the pairings without the Map, and to that I say poppycock. Mane 6 are friends, and as such they don’t need some entity to tell them how and when they should spend time with each other. Or are you implying that the main characters have been written so badly that after six seasons we still don’t understand the ties that supposedly exist between some of them and thus need the help of a massive plot device to forcibly mash them together for the occasion?

 

Either FIM has writing that can support Mane 6 pairings and friendship problems outside Ponyville without the Map, or the show is so badly written that it needs the Map to make those things possible. If the former is true, the Map should be terminated due to practical reasons.

Best post ever.  There's aren't enough brohoofs in the world for you.  I agree with every word.

[Unlikeable Pony 2,700]

Alicorn Mane6 ? Can't think of anything else  :-P

LOL, not happening ever.

 

Probably skip to a Friends forever scenario though, where they start being paired with other "junior" characters to mentor in spreading friendship, ala what the CMC are doing with gabby.