The Cutie Mark Crusader's previous talents have been scrapped

[cider float 2,538]

So if anyone haven't noticed and I'm sure anyone that has been following MLP since Season 1, 2, would know, the CMC's cutie mark talents have been retconned. It was apparent when they were preparing for that talent show they displayed what they are good at they just didn't know it and Applejack made this a point to show that she knew their talents she just didn't say anything for them to find it out on their own. 

 

Sweetie Belle was good at singing

Scootaloo was a great dancer

Applebloom was good at building things.

 

I could already see what Lauren Faust's vision was for the CMC, they were supposed to be a music band. Applejack was the roadie who builds the props, works on the lights and makes sure all the equipment is well, Scootaloo was the dancer and Sweetie Belle was the singer. They were supposed to be what Coloratura or the other celebrity ponies were supposed to be. And then I would hear, well I like them as talent mark specialists (I would call it talent "mark"eting... get it?) but they could probably still been talent marketeers even while being a band. Cutie Mark "Crusaders" was their stage name which could be giving a nod towards Knight Shade from G1 who was also a pop idol singer. They could be singing about cutie marks and went on tours to help other ponies find their true talent, as a secondary talent of their own. Sweetie Belle could of primarily been a singer, Scootaloo a dancer, and Applebloom as a roadie. It would really make them a lot more likable and have their own individuality which means more episodes for them that are interesting. 

 

Plus their sisters and adopted sister could complement them very well in episodes. Rarity designs outfits for Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash could provide security for Scootaloo and the rest with some chosen Wonderbolts from their fans. 

 

Many episodes could come about them that are actually interesting than just finding cutie marks. Sweetie Belle becomes a complete diva and blows Rarity off and then there's a lesson that will be learned from this when she gets in trouble. The CMC are approached by some shifty stallion agents that want to use them to make money, there is a plethora of ideas to make the CMC shine. And them performing on that talent show had to be a premonition for Faust to make them into pop idols especially when it all correlates with their talents.

[StormBlaze 992]

i think youve got it half right, Sweetie Belle is a singer, Scoots is a scooter daredevil and Apple Bloom is  a handypony or alchemist with Zecora. 

but i agree with the whole, they had their talents set out for them in the first few seasons, but they were scrapped. =/ which is a shame. 

[cider float 2,538]

And forgot to add they could have still been about finding cutie marks for others, just not their main focus. Just like the mane six's main talent isn't the power of friendship and fighting bad guys.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

One of the major problems with Crusaders of the Lost Mark, I agree.

 

Although I never saw their individual talents as necessarily being complementary or that their destiny was to be a band. Sweetie being a singer is pretty clear, but Scootaloo's talent at dancing was more an indication that she is more kinesthetic (tying into her motor / scooter skills and something she shares with Rainbow Dash), and AB was more of a hooves-on craftspony kind of filly, which would tie in well with fixing up things around Sweet Apple Acres.

 

That their cutie marks somehow imply that they always have to do things together seems rather restrictive, and them being a band is pretty much the same, so I'd object to it on those grounds. How many of us have a single childhood friend we do everything with, let alone a pair of them? In life, even strong friends can grow apart as they age, and it's both unrealistic and a poor lesson to teach that the opposite is the ideal.

[cider float 2,538]

They could of become a teenie bop band that sings about cutie marks which makes a lot of sense because their audience would be other young fillies and colts that are growing up and are blank flanks.

One of the major problems with Crusaders of the Lost Mark, I agree.

 

Although I never saw their individual talents as necessarily being complementary or that their destiny was to be a band. Sweetie being a singer is pretty clear, but Scootaloo's talent at dancing was more an indication that she is more kinesthetic (tying into her motor / scooter skills and something she shares with Rainbow Dash), and AB was more of a hooves-on craftspony kind of filly, which would tie in well with fixing up things around Sweet Apple Acres.

 

That their cutie marks somehow imply that they always have to do things together seems rather restrictive, and them being a band is pretty much the same, so I'd object to it on those grounds. How many of us have a single childhood friend we do everything with, let alone a pair of them? In life, even strong friends can grow apart as they age, and it's both unrealistic and a poor lesson to teach that the opposite is the ideal.

I mean the term Scootaloo could also means to "scoot around" which could indicate dancing but that's up for grabs I suppose. I do think she was meant to be a dancer though.

 

 

i think youve got it half right, Sweetie Belle is a singer, Scoots is a scooter daredevil and Apple Bloom is  a handypony or alchemist with Zecora. 

but i agree with the whole, they had their talents set out for them in the first few seasons, but they were scrapped. =/ which is a shame. 

Yeah. 

Edited November 28, 2016 by cider float

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

 

I mean the term Scootaloo could also means to "scoot around" which could indicate dancing but that's up for grabs I suppose. I do think she was meant to be a dancer though.

 

I never connected the phrase with dancing, and a quick google search sort of bears that impression out. Although further research did pull up a reference to a type of dance called scoot, so maybe. 

[Baykush 328]

I don't know, I never got the feeling that Sweetie Belle was actually into singing, just that she happened to be good at it. the only time in which singing was introduced as her dream and not just a talent was in Bloom & Gloom, in season 5 (and she was just dreaming about it, it doesn't necessarily mean that was what she wanted in life). That being said, I like your idea about the CMC band, that would've been really interesting to see, but I'm happy with the way they got their cutie marks.

 

That their cutie marks somehow imply that they always have to do things together seems rather restrictive, and them being a band is pretty much the same, so I'd object to it on those grounds. How many of us have a single childhood friend we do everything with, let alone a pair of them? In life, even strong friends can grow apart as they age, and it's both unrealistic and a poor lesson to teach that the opposite is the ideal.

 

Didn't they cover that lesson in On Your Marks? That even if they are the CMC and will always be they won't have to do everything together and can still pursue their own interests?

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

I don't think their talents were completely abandoned, but surely the new cutie marks did cause them to fall out of focus. The Crusaders, in Season 6, seem to be doing more of their Crusader thing than their own thing. Hopefully it's just a Season 6 thing and it gets fixed up in Season 7.

[Swifty 249]

Not only did they screw up Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt finale, they also botched the story of the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the end. Cutie Mark advisors...oh god damn. Another proof why Faust rules and the others drool.

[Thrond 3,263]

I don't know if you noticed this, but in the middle of those new cutie marks are symbols reflecting those earlier talents. So there's still hope, and even if I find it rather unlikely that the three would wind up in a band, they can still go their own way and pursue those passions.

 

With that said: the "New Cutie Mark Crusaders" thing is kinda strange and not really in line with what was set up previously. The writers probably struggled with breaking up the Crusaders enough to give them separate cutie marks, but this probably could have been mitigated if the CMC got their marks a long time ago, as it's harder not to view them as a unit now. I do still think there's the opportunity to develop the CMC's unique interests, especially when "On Your Marks" seemed to be setting such up, but the way they gained those marks is weird and sort of hard to justify.

 

Anyway can we move past all the Lauren Faust worship? It's not like every idea she ever had was gold.

[BastementSparkle 20,328]

Honestly? I kind of love their talents. They set those talents up all the way back in season 1 and it was so obvious. Oh, Sweetie's going to be a singer, oh, Apple Bloom's going to build things, cool. We knew this, but they didn't. But then Crusaders of the Lost Mark comes along and totally pulls the rug out from under us, the CMC's getting their Cutie Mark's for a totally different reason! They decide, they love crusading for cutie marks, and even better they love doing so for other ponies, helping others find their purposes in life. That's not just what they're good at, it's what they WANT to do.

 

 I mean, if they had gotten their original talents, that would have been fine. But what we actually got makes the original plan look boring and predictable, this is much more satisfying to me, I love the idea of the Crusaders staying as a group, and simply working to help others instead. 

 

It's not like their original talents are gone anyway. Sweetie can still sing, Scoots can still dance and ride her scooter, Apple Bloom can still build things and make potions. Ponies can have talents beyond just what their mark tells them. Hopefully they do still utilize those talents.

[BlinkZ 1,151]

Sweetie does love music..I mean in On your marks, we do see her trying to teach scoots and Appelbloom sheet music. Musical numbers don't count that just show logic.  on a side note we never gotten a scootaloo song lol.

But i dont see how thier talents have 'changed' I mean they got the same sheild but thier inner marks are all different.  Scootaloo still a daredevil like stunt pony, applebloom is great at fixing things (I mean who do you think drew up the plans for thier harvest parade float)

[SBaby 660]

And forgot to add they could have still been about finding cutie marks for others, just not their main focus. Just like the mane six's main talent isn't the power of friendship and fighting bad guys.

 

The difference with the mane six is they already had their Cutie Marks by that point, and their Cutie Marks WERE based on their individual talents.  Granted, there is a line of dialogue that implies that Cutie Marks can change over time, much like how someone might change over time, but the situation with the mane six did stick in my mind.

 

My best guess is that their individual talents aren't a driving force in their lives right now, so they got a Cutie Mark that's closer to what they personally want to do.  Note that the Cutie Marks of the mane six are all not only talents, but based on things they all love doing.  It's probably like the hat at Hogwarts that determines what house you go into.  If you really want a certain result, you can will it to agree with you.

Edited November 28, 2016 by SBaby

[cmarston1 5,959]

Unlike what cutie marks usually say, people can have more than one talent or thing they are good at in their lives.

[Thrond 3,263]

Honestly? I kind of love their talents. They set those talents up all the way back in season 1 and it was so obvious. Oh, Sweetie's going to be a singer, oh, Apple Bloom's going to build things, cool. We knew this, but they didn't. But then Crusaders of the Lost Mark comes along and totally pulls the rug out from under us, the CMC's getting their Cutie Mark's for a totally different reason! They decide, they love crusading for cutie marks, and even better they love doing so for other ponies, helping others find their purposes in life. That's not just what they're good at, it's what they WANT to do.

 

 I mean, if they had gotten their original talents, that would have been fine. But what we actually got makes the original plan look boring and predictable, this is much more satisfying to me, I love the idea of the Crusaders staying as a group, and simply working to help others instead. 

 

It's not like their original talents are gone anyway. Sweetie can still sing, Scoots can still dance and ride her scooter, Apple Bloom can still build things and make potions. Ponies can have talents beyond just what their mark tells them. Hopefully they do still utilize those talents.

I feel like it diminishes them as characters to keep them clumped together so often, but at the same time, it's pretty clear that even more than the originally established talents, searching for and learning about cutie marks is what they loved to do. I said this earlier:

 

 

the way they gained those marks is weird and sort of hard to justify.

And I do think that there are issues with exactly how it came across (like, what does the light show even mean?) but that the CMC will get a cutie mark related to the pursuit of cutie marks actually makes a lot of sense. 

[Ganondorf8 11,370]

The CMC doing everything imaginable to earn their cutie marks was one of the highlights of the show. They were willing to do even the most ridculous of tasks in order to get what they sought, and in the end they were able to learn some interesting skills that could have proven useful in the future. Unfortunately, since they've gotten their cutie marks, their previous accomplishments now mean next to nothing as helping others find or understand their marks has become their purpose.

 

Do I want their other talents to come back? Of course as they were an integral part of their character development. It would be a poor decision on behalf of the writers to simply ignore all of that especially after making it a big deal for five years.

[Marimo 555]

I could already see what Lauren Faust's vision was for the CMC, they were supposed to be a music band.

Okay, no. Unless you actually have a quote, you can't just speak for them what their intended vision is.

 

Also, they never really followed up on the dancing and building things part, not even in season 2 which Lauren was still around long enough to come up with episode outlines and even see half the scripts to their final drafts. Sweetie has led some songs, yes, but Scootaloo has never shown a particular interest in dancing since, just doing tricks on her scooter. And Apple Bloom hadn't shown any skill in building before or since Show Stoppers.

Edited November 29, 2016 by Marimo

[BastementSparkle 20,328]

 

 

I feel like it diminishes them as characters to keep them clumped together so often, but at the same time, it's pretty clear that even more than the originally established talents, searching for and learning about cutie marks is what they loved to do. I said this earlier:

 

While I like their shared marks, I do think it'd be nice to see them apart a bit more too. In particular I think both Sweetie and Scootaloo could use another episode to themselves, Apple Bloom seems to get more attention than them when it comes to single episodes.

 

 

 

And I do think that there are issues with exactly how it came across (like, what does the light show even mean?)

 

It's usually shown that there's a flash of light when a pony get's their mark. The big light show when the CMC got theirs was probably just dramatic effect, but if there is an in-universe explanation, it might have to do with the magic of three ponies simultaneously getting their mark just making things flashier than usual. 

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

Actually, their previous talents in past several season are not their ending goals in life , they are skills to support their ultimate life goal - helping others find their cutie marks (Cutie Mark Crusaders indeed). If they got some generic cutie marks, i will rate Crusader of the Lost Mark a 8/10 instead of 10/10. Even i dont like the color scheme of CMC new cutie marks, but i love the idea that their cutie marks present their core talents, their personality and their goal as a group, they finally become crusaders of cutie marks, not a mere singer or dancer or a farmer.

Edited November 29, 2016 by Lambdadelta

[BlinkZ 1,151]

While I like their shared marks, I do think it'd be nice to see them apart a bit more too. In particular I think both Sweetie and Scootaloo could use another episode to themselves, Apple Bloom seems to get more attention than them when it comes to single episodes.

 

 

 

 

It's usually shown that there's a flash of light when a pony get's their mark. The big light show when the CMC got theirs was probably just dramatic effect, but if there is an in-universe explanation, it might have to do with the magic of three ponies simultaneously getting their mark just making things flashier than usual. 

They are one Alicorn spit into three parts hehe lol

[cider float 2,538]

I just feel like there's some writer's block to figuring out episodes for the CMC when their talents is now helping others find their talent of their cutie marks. Them being ones to help find cutie mark talents could more or less been something they did as a team like the mane six do with friendship while they could have their own individual stories of their primary talents.