In Defense of Rainbow Dash As A Charcter

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

I disagree with your assessment of Rainbow Dash. She's one of the least Mary Sue characters on Tue show. In Sonic Rainboom she has anxiety about not being able to pull of a sonic rainboom. In Testing Testing 1,2,3 she has learning difficulties. Not to mention Rainbow Dash Even good t kicked out of flight school. I would agree that initially she does appear to be the stereotypical hot head who never fails in her pursuits. But we quickly we that she is just as flawed as everyone else. She's also one of the most supporting. Just look at Hurrican Fluttershy or Flight To The Finish. Even when Fluttershy is afraid she will fail Rainbow is there to cheer her on. Scootaloo was worried about the fact the she couldn't fly. Rainbow of her it didn't matter and she was awesome anyways.

[LeafFerret 3,382]

The one thing I don't like about her is the fact that she gets away with stuff without serving any form of punishment, if you looked at her episodes in Trade Ya!, Tanks for the Memories or maybe even 28 Pranks later, she would forget anything that she had learnt in the past and she would often think about herself and her own interests and even when she does something wrong, she is almost not punished at all, not even a slap on the wrist, it wasn't until Newbie Dash until she was finally punished for her actions by Spitfire.

[bluseymoe 258]

No offense, but if anyone has gotten away with too much, it's Starlight Glimmer. Dash failed in stopping winter, which was punishment enough, and helped fix her own mistake in Trade Ya. She got humiliated (unfairly imo) in MMDW and had the hell scared out of her in 28PL.

 

Starlight hasn't gotten so much as a slap on the wrist for doing far worse stuff (even if she is sorry).

 

But then again, the show isn't about punishing wrong-doers as much as it is about helping them become better people.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

The one thing I don't like about her is the fact that she gets away with stuff without serving any form of punishment, if you looked at her episodes in Trade Ya!, Tanks for the Memories or maybe even 28 Pranks later, she would forget anything that she had learnt in the past and she would often think about herself and her own interests and even when she does something wrong, she is almost not punished at all, not even a slap on the wrist, it wasn't until Newbie Dash until she was finally punished for her actions by Spitfire.

Almost none of the main characters get punished. Even in Princess Spike all the other ponies eventually helped him. In Lesson Zero Twilight was five seconds away from getting punished when her friends stepped in. They said it wasn't her fault. Even though it clearly and undeniably was. Celsita almighty Sun goddess backs down. Even though this was one time if any Twilight deserved punishment. So don't point out Rainbow Dash. None of the characters are perfect. If they where then they'd be Mary Sue' s. They all have flaws. Yes sometimes they don't pay for their mistakes. But for the most part I think they learn there lesson.

[LeafFerret 3,382]

No offense, but if anyone has gotten away with too much, it's Starlight Glimmer. Dash failed in stopping winter, which was punishment enough, and helped fix her own mistake in Trade Ya. She got humiliated (unfairly imo) in MMDW and had the hell scared out of her in 28PL.

 

Starlight hasn't gotten so much as a slap on the wrist for doing far worse stuff (even if she is sorry).

 

But then again, the show isn't about punishing wrong-doers as much as it is about helping them become better people.

The difference is Starlight's only been with the cast for Season 6, Rainbow's been with them since the start of the series, so by now she would've learned her lesson without having a short memory and quickly forgetting what she had learnt, this is no doubt her biggest flaw in the show.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

No offense, but if anyone has gotten away with too much, it's Starlight Glimmer. Dash failed in stopping winter, which was punishment enough, and helped fix her own mistake in Trade Ya. She got humiliated (unfairly imo) in MMDW and had the hell scared out of her in 28PL.

Starlight hasn't gotten so much as a slap on the wrist for doing far worse stuff (even if she is sorry).

But then again, the show isn't about punishing wrong-doers as much as it is about helping them become better people.

Same as before.Almost none of the main characters get punished. Even in Princess Spike all the other ponies eventually helped him. In Lesson Zero Twilight was five seconds away from getting punished when her friends stepped in. They said it wasn't her fault. Even though it clearly and undeniably was. Celsita almighty Sun goddess backs down. Even though this was one time if any Twilight deserved punishment. So don't point out Rainbow Dash. None of the characters are perfect. If they where then they'd be Mary Sue' s. They all have flaws. Yes sometimes they don't pay for their mistakes. But for the most part I think they learn there lesson.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Dash doesn't get punished for the same reasons Starlight got off scot free for everything, Twilight wasn't punished for Lesson Zero, Fluttershy wasn't punished for Swarm of the Century, Pinkie wasn't punished for Too Many Pinkie Pies, and so on and so forth. When given a choice between doling out consequences, and exploring why people made the wrong decisions they did, the show picks the latter virtually every time. Which I'm cool with, because it's more interesting.

 

RD is a terrific character who the show hasn't handled particularly well in recent seasons, and in this season in particular.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

The difference is Starlight's only been with the cast for Season 6, Rainbow's been with them since the start of the series, so by now she would've learned her lesson without having a short memory and quickly forgetting what she had learnt, this is no doubt her biggest flaw in the show.

Starlight is also a recently reformed villain.

Dash doesn't get punished for the same reasons Starlight got off scot free for everything, Twilight wasn't punished for Lesson Zero, Fluttershy wasn't punished for Swarm of the Century, Pinkie wasn't punished for Too Many Pinkie Pies, and so on and so forth. When given a choice between doling out consequences, and exploring why people made the wrong decisions they did, the show picks the latter virtually every time. Which I'm cool with, because it's more interesting.

 

RD is a terrific character who the show hasn't handled particularly well in recent seasons, and in this season in particular.

I though Rainbow Dash actually had some strong development this season. And Fluttershy also. Just like at my profile picture! FlutterDash for the win!

[Ganondorf8 11,432]

Rainbow Dash is by no means a Mary Sue character. She has so many flaws that are obvious to notice that other characters have confronted her about them on numerous occasions over the course of the show's run. She possesses an ego that tends to cloud her judgement when she knows that there is a better solution or a solution in general. Rainbow also has a problem when it comes to remembering the lessons she has learned. There are times where she forgets one and ends up going having to relearn said lesson usually with results that leave her on the receiving end.

 

She does have positive qualities of course just like the other Mane Six do but she isn't a perfect character. If anything, Rainbow is someone who can be there when you need her, yet her personal baggage is something you don't really want to have to deal with.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

Rainbow Dash is by no means a Mary Sue character. She has so many flaws that are obvious to notice that other characters have confronted her about them on numerous occasions over the course of the show's run. She possesses an ego that tends to cloud her judgement when she knows that there is a better solution or a solution in general. Rainbow also has a problem when it comes to remembering the lessons she has learned. There are times where she forgets one and ends up going having to relearn said lesson usually with results that leave her on the receiving end.

 

She does have positive qualities of course just like the other Mane Six do but she isn't a perfect character. If anything, Rainbow is someone who can be there when you need her, yet her personal baggage is something you don't really want to have to deal with.

This is why I like her. She has flaws just like anybody else. But ultimately she is loyal to her friends and wants what's best. She was even an older sister to Scootaloo. Out of all the sister relationships in the show I think Rainbow Dash has been the most supportive.

I disagree with your assessment of Rainbow Dash. She's one of the least Mary Sue characters on Tue show. In Sonic Rainboom she has anxiety about not being able to pull of a sonic rainboom. In Testing Testing 1,2,3 she has learning difficulties. Not to mention Rainbow Dash Even good t kicked out of flight school. I would agree that initially she does appear to be the stereotypical hot head who never fails in her pursuits. But we quickly we that she is just as flawed as everyone else. She's also one of the most supporting. Just look at Hurrican Fluttershy or Flight To The Finish. Even when Fluttershy is afraid she will fail Rainbow is there to cheer her on. Scootaloo was worried about the fact the she couldn't fly. Rainbow of her it didn't matter and she was awesome anyways.

I was afraid that the mods banned this one also. Glad they didn't.

[GrimGrimoire 4,973]

Apparently some people won't be happy until characters are given severe beatings on screen.

 

All this constant talk of punishment as if the show is based on real life or something and not a cartoon show about ponies.

 

I don't think Rainbow Dash needs any defense... she has made mistakes like any other character... and the citizens of ponyville are apparently a lot more forgiving and easy going unlike here, where if you cut in line at the supermarket because no one even is sure where the line is the way people stand about these days or try to honor a dead celebrity with some witty humor you deserve to be executed.

 

The people who dislike her can continue to do so freely while the people who do like her can continue to do so. It will not change how awesome she is.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

Apparently some people won't be happy until characters are given severe beatings on screen.

 

All this constant talk of punishment as if the show is based on real life or something and not a cartoon show about ponies.

 

I don't think Rainbow Dash needs any defense... she has made mistakes like any other character... and the citizens of ponyville are apparently a lot more forgiving and easy going unlike here, where if you cut in line at the supermarket because no one even is sure where the line is the way people stand about these days or try to honor a dead celebrity with some witty humor you deserve to be executed.

 

The people who dislike her can continue to do so freely while the people who do like her can continue to do so. It will not change how awesome she is.

A part of it is suspension of disbelief. Mlp is a show about magical talking ponies. It shouldn't be expected to always reflect the real world. Besides the characters screw up in the way they do in order to create a lesson about friendship.

[LeafFerret 3,382]

Rainbow Dash is by no means a Mary Sue character. She has so many flaws that are obvious to notice that other characters have confronted her about them on numerous occasions over the course of the show's run. She possesses an ego that tends to cloud her judgement when she knows that there is a better solution or a solution in general. Rainbow also has a problem when it comes to remembering the lessons she has learned. There are times where she forgets one and ends up going having to relearn said lesson usually with results that leave her on the receiving end.

 

She does have positive qualities of course just like the other Mane Six do but she isn't a perfect character. If anything, Rainbow is someone who can be there when you need her, yet her personal baggage is something you don't really want to have to deal with.

This is pretty much why I dislike Rainbow with what you stated up there.

[Ganondorf8 11,432]

This is pretty much why I dislike Rainbow with what you stated up there.

 

Rainbow's flaws can be a turning-off point for people.

[FirePuppy 736]

The past two seasons had quite a lot of episodes that weren't much like Rainbow Dash but the writers didn't give her enough major roles:

• Tanks for the Memories
• Rarity Investigates!
• And, WORST of all, 28 Pranks Later

I'm quite certain that Rainbow Dash will have far less major roles in Season 7 than she did in Season 6.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

This is pretty much why I dislike Rainbow with what you stated up there.

If she had no flaws then she'd be a Mary Sue.

This is pretty much why I dislike Rainbow with what you stated up there.

I love Starlight. But the same can be said of her.

Rainbow's flaws can be a turning-off point for people.

I think she learns from his mistakes. Mlp FiM.

The past two seasons had quite a lot of episodes that weren't much like Rainbow Dash but the writers didn't give her enough major roles:

 

• Tanks for the Memories
• Rarity Investigates!
• And, WORST of all, 28 Pranks Later

I'm quite certain that Rainbow Dash will have far less major roles in Season 7 than she did in Season 6.

Except the last one I think all of those episodes made sense for her character.

[Nsxile 27,606]

Quote

 

The one thing I don't like about her is the fact that she gets away with stuff without serving any form of punishment

I'm sorry, but that statement is complete BS right there. Rainbow Dash is "without serving any form of punishment", eh? How about humiliation and being backstabbed by her friends in the MMDW, for saving a bunch of ponies lives, just because they got jealous of the attention that was given to her for it? How about the emotional pain that was caused to her in Tanks For The Memories? How about Fluttershy stomping her in the stomach when she tried to get her to go to the dragon migration with her after she went the butterfly migration with Fluttershy, which was something she clearly didn't want to do, in the beginning of Dragon Quest? In Luna Eclipsed, she got zapped in her backside (and from the looks of it, was very painful).

 

However, I do know somepony that would fit that statement, who not only got away with genocide through attempting to get her own petty revenge on the mane six for breaking her facade but also got rewarded for that action; Starlight Glimmer.

 

This is pretty much why I dislike Rainbow with what you stated up there.

Oh, because she's not a Mary Sue? Quelle surprise(!)

[KrazyDashie 1,847]

Almost none of the main characters get punished. Even in Princess Spike all the other ponies eventually helped him. In Lesson Zero Twilight was five seconds away from getting punished when her friends stepped in. They said it wasn't her fault. Even though it clearly and undeniably was. Celsita almighty Sun goddess backs down. Even though this was one time if any Twilight deserved punishment. So don't point out Rainbow Dash. None of the characters are perfect. If they where then they'd be Mary Sue' s. They all have flaws. Yes sometimes they don't pay for their mistakes. But for the most part I think they learn there lesson.

actually... twilight didnt seem to be a few seconds away to be punished, i think celestia was going to explain that she didnt need to send letters every week etc

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

I'm sorry, but that statement is complete BS right there. Rainbow Dash is "without serving any form of punishment", eh? How about humiliation and being backstabbed by her friends in the MMDW, for saving a bunch of ponies lives, just because they got jealous of the attention that was given to her for it? How about the emotional pain that was caused to her in Tanks For The Memories? How about Fluttershy stomping her in the stomach when she tried to get her to go to the dragon migration with her after she went the butterfly migration with Fluttershy, which was something she clearly didn't want to do, in the beginning of Dragon Quest? In Luna Eclipsed, she got zapped in her backside (and from the looks of it, was very painful).

 

However, I do know somepony that would fit that statement, who not only got away with genocide through attempting to get her own petty revenge on the mane six for breaking her facade but also got rewarded for that action; Starlight Glimmer.

 

 

Oh, because she's not a Mary Sue? Quelle surprise(!)

agree with most of what you said. Tanks For The Memrois was about how Rainbow had to accept that Tank was going to hibernation. So Fluttershy eventually flat out told her that. The point was she was going to only feel better once she accepted the reality of the situation. Also I might add that none of the mane characters are Mary Sue' s. And Starlight didn't commit genocide.

actually... twilight didnt seem to be a few seconds away to be punished, i think celestia was going to explain that she didnt need to send letters every week etc

No Celestia looked pretty angry. But my poi t is still true.

[KrazyDashie 1,847]

agree with most of what you said. Tanks For The Memrois was about how Rainbow had to accept that Tank was going to hibernation. So Fluttershy eventually flat out told her that. The point was she was going to only feel better once she accepted the reality of the situation. Also I might add that none of the mane characters are Mary Sue' s. And Starlight didn't commit genocide. No Celestia looked pretty angry. But my poi t is still true.

she... didnt seem angry in the library, before twi's friends rushed in celestia said "you are a wonderful student twilight. i dont need a letter every week to know that" ... celestia look more worried about twilight than anything else

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

she... didnt seem angry in the library, before twi's friends rushed in celestia said "you are a wonderful student twilight. i dont need a letter every week to know that" ... celestia look more worried about twilight than anything else

Well when she used her god powers to fix Twilight' s spell she sounded angry at Twilight. I guess that's what I was thinking of. Man these characters literally near get punished. Even though that would have been the one time Twilight would have been justifiably punished.

[LeafFerret 3,382]

I'm sorry, but that statement is complete BS right there. Rainbow Dash is "without serving any form of punishment", eh? How about humiliation and being backstabbed by her friends in the MMDW, for saving a bunch of ponies lives, just because they got jealous of the attention that was given to her for it? How about the emotional pain that was caused to her in Tanks For The Memories? How about Fluttershy stomping her in the stomach when she tried to get her to go to the dragon migration with her after she went the butterfly migration with Fluttershy, which was something she clearly didn't want to do, in the beginning of Dragon Quest? In Luna Eclipsed, she got zapped in her backside (and from the looks of it, was very painful).

 

However, I do know somepony that would fit that statement, who not only got away with genocide through attempting to get her own petty revenge on the mane six for breaking her facade but also got rewarded for that action; Starlight Glimmer.

 

Oh, because she's not a Mary Sue? Quelle surprise(!)

It seemed to not make any difference to Rainbow as she went back to doing it in the next episode focusing on her, this is what bothers me about her, I don't think she ever listen to the other ponies or the writers always do a very poor job in writing her episodes.

 

You just said that because you hate Starlight, it's fans like you that need to get over her past.

[Ganondorf8 11,432]

I think she learns from his mistakes. Mlp FiM.

 

Oh she does learn from her mistakes only to make more, but then that's a big part of her character. Rainbow Dash isn't meant to be perfect but rather someone who strives to improve herself by learning what she did wrong and ensuring that she doesn't do it again. It doesn't always work out yet she succeeds most of the time.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

It seemed to not make any difference to Rainbow as she went back to doing it in the next episode focusing on her, this is what bothers me about her, I don't think she ever listen to the other ponies or the writers always do a very poor job in writing her episodes.

 

You just said that because you hate Starlight, it's fans like you that need to get over her past.

Firstly I love Starlight Glimmer. Secondly no character learns from their mistakes. At least not in a tv show that is aimed at little girls.

Oh she does learn from her mistakes only to make more, but then that's a big part of her character. Rainbow Dash isn't meant to be perfect but rather someone who strives to improve herself by learning what she did wrong and ensuring that she doesn't do it again. It doesn't always work out yet she succeeds most of the time.

See this I why she is so great. I love her. Just look at my signature!

[Glacies Frost 428]

How about humiliation and being backstabbed by her friends in the MMDW, for saving a bunch of ponies lives, just because they got jealous of the attention that was given to her for it?

 

While I pretty much agree with the rest of your statement, kind pony, this one I must disagree with. Now I won't deny jealousy may have played some role in TMMDW, but that was nowhere near the entirety of it. Rainbow Dash wasn't stabbed in the back. She was merely shown up when she started to be too vain to pay attention to those she was supposed to be saving. Your logic in this particular case is flawed, since not a single pony knew the true identities of the Mare Do Well until Rainbow Dash found out, and as far as I know, to this day nopony else knows. 

 

The entire intent was to help people anonymously and show Rainbow Dash that you don't need the admiration of others. The writing did not come out quite as intended, perhaps, and the moral got muddied due to the MMDW becoming popular in her own right, but... they tried. I won't say it's a strong episode or that it did what was intended flawlessly or even well. But to claim Rainbow Dash was backstabbed is going a little far, in my opinion.

 

 

You just said that because you hate Starlight, it's fans like you that need to get over her past.

 

So sorry, again, I don't hate Starlight, but you're wrong here. Starlight is just as bad as Rainbow Dash about getting punished for her mistakes, even if she is a "good" pony now. Even taking into account the worst thing Rainbow Dash ever did, sabotaging the factory in Cloudsdale, Starlight did something much worse and got off scot free. Brainwashing in any form is, to me, the most heinous act one can perform. You're effectively erasing the person they were and replacing them with who you think you want them to be. 

 

Starlight got a talking to as a result of this behavior. Nothing else came of it. She apologized and everything went back to status quo by the end of the episode. At least Rainbow Dash didn't get what she wanted in any of the episodes where her pride had to take a hit. Starlight effectively did. I'm sorry, but it's not hate of Starlight exclusively that brings up this comparison. 

 

I like her, but I also like Rainbow Dash. However, I think both sides of this line need to realize something, and it's going to hurt a little.

 

They have effectively the same character flaw: disregard for the feelings and thoughts of others in pursuit of what they have set their minds on. Both are getting better in regards to this, but don't you dare try to deny that the two of them don't at least share this character flaw. For Rainbow Dash, this is because of her ego usually. For Starlight Glimmer, it's often because she thinks she can control the situation well enough to stop things from getting out of hand. However, they both do it.

Edited December 30, 2016 by GlaciesFrost