In Defense of Rainbow Dash As A Charcter

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

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.

 

 

 

 

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.

This mostly happens because it's a children's show. Sometimes new writers either don't know or care about past events.

[LeafFerret 3,382]

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.

Starlight is learning not to rely too much on magic to solve things and had no clear idea on how to deal with things, she is developing as the season progresses. Rainbow's ego always seems to get in the way of her decisions and this has been going on since the first season and I don't see any clear indication that this is going to end and this is really concerning if she's just going to go back to what she was doing before she learnt it.

[Glacies Frost 428]

Starlight is learning not to rely too much on magic to solve things and had no clear idea on how to deal with things, she is developing as the season progresses. Rainbow's ego always seems to get in the way of her decisions and this has been going on since the first season and I don't see any clear indication that this is going to end and this is really concerning if she's just going to go back to what she was doing before she learnt it.

 

I agree. She is learning, but so is Rainbow Dash. It might not seem like it, but barring a couple of really stupid decisions by the writers *cough*28PranksLater*cough*, she has learned quite a bit to reign in her ego. Whether you like Equestria Games or not, she knew she wasn't going to win, and in Buckball Season (I liked that episode, though I was a little put off by how the writers handled Rainbow Dash and Applejack in that episode), they did at least get her to realize she was not the best pony for the job of competing against Appleoosa. That much they got right. She has learned to step down and out of the limelight for what could be perceived as the greater good. To use an analogy similar to one you've used, in that episode she was like a veteran athlete standing down and taking the bench when another, better player can take on the same role she would have had, for the sake of the team. Again, not handled the best way it could have been... in fact I could rewrite the episode myself and probably fix the most glaring mistakes, but that part was well done, and showed growth on the two hyper-competitors' parts, at least a couple of steps forward. This is taking into account the Fall Weather Friends episode, where neither of them was willing to put aside their competitive nature for the sake of doing right by Ponyville.

Edited December 30, 2016 by GlaciesFrost

[LeafFerret 3,382]

I agree. She is learning, but so is Rainbow Dash. It might not seem like it, but barring a couple of really stupid decisions by the writers *cough*28DaysLater*cough*, she has learned quite a bit to reign in her ego. Whether you like Equestria Games or not, she knew she wasn't going to win, and in Buckball Season (I liked that episode, though I was a little put off by how the writers handled Rainbow Dash and Applejack in that episode), they did at least get her to realize she was not the best pony for the job of competing against Appleoosa. That much they got right. She has learned to step down and out of the limelight for what could be perceived as the greater good. To use an analogy similar to one you've used, in that episode she was like a veteran athlete standing down and taking the bench when another, better player can take on the same role she would have had, for the sake of the team. Again, not handled the best way it could have been... in fact I could rewrite the episode myself and probably fix the most glaring mistakes, but that part was well done, and showed growth on the two hyper-competitors' parts, at least a couple of steps forward. This is taking into account the Fall Weather Friends episode, where neither of them was willing to put aside their competitive nature for the sake of doing right by Ponyville.

From what you are saying, maybe you are right about that, the more recent episodes make it look like that she isn't repeating the same mistakes from previous seasons with the exception of that episode that you mentioned. And they seemed like they got it right in Buckball Season, just seeing her team dominate would make it unpredictable and unrealistic as well since no new team can just show up and dominate straight away unless there isn't a lot of competition.

 

A veteran athlete getting benched for the sake of the team? That's sounds like something that I know all too well especially if you're a Starlight fan or a Cowboys fan.

[Glacies Frost 428]

A veteran athlete getting benched for the sake of the team? That's sounds like something that I know all too well especially if you're a Starlight fan or a Cowboys fan.

 

Speaking as a Cowboy's fan... I feel that pain.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

Starlight is learning not to rely too much on magic to solve things and had no clear idea on how to deal with things, she is developing as the season progresses. Rainbow's ego always seems to get in the way of her decisions and this has been going on since the first season and I don't see any clear indication that this is going to end and this is really concerning if she's just going to go back to what she was doing before she learnt it.

Sometimes Rainbow lets her insecurities get the best of her. But she always pulls through in the end.

I agree. She is learning, but so is Rainbow Dash. It might not seem like it, but barring a couple of really stupid decisions by the writers *cough*28PranksLater*cough*, she has learned quite a bit to reign in her ego. Whether you like Equestria Games or not, she knew she wasn't going to win, and in Buckball Season (I liked that episode, though I was a little put off by how the writers handled Rainbow Dash and Applejack in that episode), they did at least get her to realize she was not the best pony for the job of competing against Appleoosa. That much they got right. She has learned to step down and out of the limelight for what could be perceived as the greater good. To use an analogy similar to one you've used, in that episode she was like a veteran athlete standing down and taking the bench when another, better player can take on the same role she would have had, for the sake of the team. Again, not handled the best way it could have been... in fact I could rewrite the episode myself and probably fix the most glaring mistakes, but that part was well done, and showed growth on the two hyper-competitors' parts, at least a couple of steps forward. This is taking into account the Fall Weather Friends episode, where neither of them was willing to put aside their competitive nature for the sake of doing right by Ponyville.

Buckball Season was great for Rainbow Dash. She was encouraging Fluttershy on. Maybe not in the best way. But ultimately she was only doing so because she knew her friend was good at the game and wanted her to succeed.

From what you are saying, maybe you are right about that, the more recent episodes make it look like that she isn't repeating the same mistakes from previous seasons with the exception of that episode that you mentioned. And they seemed like they got it right in Buckball Season, just seeing her team dominate would make it unpredictable and unrealistic as well since no new team can just show up and dominate straight away unless there isn't a lot of competition.

 

A veteran athlete getting benched for the sake of the team? That's sounds like something that I know all too well especially if you're a Starlight fan or a Cowboys fan.

Wait when did Starlight get benched?

Speaking as a Cowboy's fan... I feel that pain.

Don't derail this discussion by talking about football.

[LeafFerret 3,382]

Sometimes Rainbow lets her insecurities get the best of her. But she always pulls through in the end.

Buckball Season was great for Rainbow Dash. She was encouraging Fluttershy on. Maybe not in the best way. But ultimately she was only doing so because she knew her friend was good at the game and wanted her to succeed.

Wait when did Starlight get benched?

Don't derail this discussion by talking about football.

She didn't, I'm just comparing Starlight to another person who happened to changed the culture of the Cowboys along with Zeke, if you follow football, you know what I'm talking about.

#WeDemPoniez

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

She didn't, I'm just comparing Starlight to another person who happened to changed the culture of the Cowboys along with Zeke, if you follow football, you know what I'm talking about.

#WeDemPoniez

Glacies Frost is male. And your male also. But whatever. Also I've seen topics get derailed by inane things before. And no I don't follow football. It isn't something that interests me.

[Glacies Frost 428]

Glacies Frost is male. And your male also. But whatever. Also I've seen topics get derailed by inane things before. And no I don't follow football. It isn't something that interests me.

 

I see where you misunderstood us. I was talking about Rainbow Dash taking the "bench" in Buckball Season. That part of our discussion really had nothing to do with Starlight. It was just a little analogy.

[Tilgoreth 1,915]

I see where you misunderstood us. I was talking about Rainbow Dash taking the "bench" in Buckball Season. That part of our discussion really had nothing to do with Starlight. It was just a little analogy.

No GlimGlam04 called you she. Your profile says your a dude. Also I was just saying to not side track the conversation by talking about football.