If AJ's parents are alive next season, I quit the show.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

This is my line in the sand for MLP. If they go against this plot point that gives Applejack layers of depth and say that her parents were just on a six season long vacation, I'm dropping the show. I don't care about Alicorns, I can look past shoddily written reformations, but renigging on something as pivotal as the death of a characters parents would be the straw that broke the camels back for me. 

 

I'm not kidding either. You have this story of a young filly who lost her parents, ran away from her home to live in the city, cast off her farm girl personality in a desperate hope to suppress her sadness, only to find herself drawn back to the farm by the cutie mark she had earned while seeing the Rainboom. That is a lot of depth that you could work with for a character, even in a Y rated show. However, all that depth vanishes if her parents are still alive, and with how lackluster these new writers performances have been last season its making me rather concerned that they are going to be stupid enough to pull this. 

 

If they show up this season, it better be in Flash back only. If they ruin this, I quit. More specifically my reaction is probably going to be something akin to this.

 

[Nightshroud 331]

interesting topic I hope theyre alive maybe away somewhere??

[ShadOBabe 19,016]

Agree. It would be a terrible decision.

 

I mean I guess I can't really say I'd quit the show, but that's only because I haven't seen a single episode since Princess Spike. So it's not really like I've been a part of watching the show much right now anyway. Don't know if I'd quit the fandom though. I can still create my own work, even if the source has gone downhill.

[Luigi 7,871]

So that's it. You're giving up all hope if one little thing happens for any reason?

 

If Applejack's parents turn out to be alive and only away from their children because they had to work away from Sweet Apple Acres, don't come crying to us.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Knucklehead Flyer

[ChocolateCrane 156]

Lol, you are quitting the show if Applejack's parents are alive? Seriously? Personally, I think the writers have been getting better and better since the abyssmally low quality season 2. Season 5 in particular has been phenominal. I can't imagine them pulling something like this.

 

Even if they did, there's no way they would just pop up outta nowhere. They might turn in into a whole season-wide arching narrative, concentrating specifically on AJ's situation. If they pulled some bullshit, I would certainly call it out as a disaster, similar to the HORRENDOUS The Times they are a Changling episode. But even still, I wouldn't QUIT the freaking show o.0

Edited March 7, 2017 by ChocolateCrane

[Buck Testa 5,505]

So that's it. You're giving up all hope if one little thing happens for any reason?

 

If Applejack's parents turn out to be alive and only away from their children because they had to work away from Sweet Apple Acres, and you turn away just like that, then you're not a true fan of the show.

Bull Shit, it's because I actually give a crap about character development that I'll drop the show before I see it go the way of seasonal rot, which that would clearly bring out. 

 

This isn't just a "little thing", this is what makes Applejack what she is as a character. Without it, one of the mane six loses dimensions of her character and becomes entirely motivationless. It would be the work of a hack writer that I am not going to support. 

 

 

Lol, you are quitting the show if Applejack's parents are alive? Seriously? Personally, I think the writers have been getting better and better since the abyssmally low quality season 2. Season 5 in particular has been phenominal. I can't imagine them pulling something like this.

 

Even if they did, there's no way they would just pop up outta nowhere. They might turn in into a whole season-wide arching narrative, concentrating specifically on AJ's situation. If they pulled some bullshit, I would certainly call it out as a disaster, similar to the HORRENDOUS The Times they are a Changling episode. But even still, I wouldn't QUIT the freaking show o.0

If we were just talking up to season 5 I'd agree with you, but season six was mediocre garbage with very few exceptions, and barely anything of the original writing staff remains. If they screw up something this important, yeah, I'm dropping the show. 

[ShadOBabe 19,016]

So that's it. You're giving up all hope if one little thing happens for any reason?

 

If Applejack's parents turn out to be alive and only away from their children because they had to work away from Sweet Apple Acres, and you turn away just like that, then you're not a true fan of the show.

 

You can't call someone "not a true fan".

A fan is a fan. And AJ's parents being alive is a SPECTACULAR mistake to make.

I like to hope that the writers are way too smart for that.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

You can't call someone "not a true fan".

A fan is a fan. And AJ's parents being alive is a SPECTACULAR mistake to make.

I like to hope that the writers are way too smart for that.

I hope so too. However last season has given me ample cause for concern that they just might try to pull something this bad, and I'm bracing for impact. 

[Luigi 7,871]

You can't call someone "not a true fan".

A fan is a fan. And AJ's parents being alive is a SPECTACULAR mistake to make.

I like to hope that the writers are way too smart for that.

Don't get me wrong, I at least THINK her parents are dead, but this had more to do with how harsh that came out of Bucky.

 

Leaving the fanbase because of a prediction being wrong isn't what I would call good sportsmanship.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Knucklehead Flyer

[Megas 27,966]

Making AJ's parents alive is a near impossible sell from a storytelling perspective, you can't make them alive without making them look like the worst parents in the world, barring something completely insane like kidnapping, prisoners of war, making them slaves, etc.,

 

From a storytelling perspective, this could easily top Newbie Dash as one of the worst writing decisions they've ever made, which from me is saying a fuckton, 

Edited March 7, 2017 by Whompy Whomperson

[Daring_Do 552]

Agree. It would be a terrible decision.

 

I mean I guess I can't really say I'd quit the show, but that's only because I haven't seen a single episode since Princess Spike. So it's not really like I've been a part of watching the show much right now anyway. Don't know if I'd quit the fandom though. I can still create my own work, even if the source has gone downhill.

Did you hear... we got another Daring Do episode?

[ChocolateCrane 156]

If we were just talking up to season 5 I'd agree with you, but season six was mediocre garbage with very few exceptions, and barely anything of the original writing staff remains. If they screw up something this important, yeah, I'm dropping the show. 

 

Well, it is solely your decision, at the end of the day. I actually think Season 6 is the second best season of the show (with 4 ever so slightly behind it). To each their own I suppose.

 

[ShadOBabe 19,016]

I hope so too. However last season has given me ample cause for concern that they just might try to pull something this bad, and I'm bracing for impact. 

 

Heh, I haven't seen a single episode of season 6 yet, so I can't make a judgement call myself. But like I said, even if I ever stopped enjoying the source material, I'd just keep on making my own material. X3

[Jeric 46,872]

Buck, you make a great point and while I wouldn't quit the show, I would be extremely displeased ... though for different reasons. The unintended consequences of showing Applejack's parents alive without a viable explanation comes close to abandonment. Perhaps it is because I am a parent, I don't know ... but to me that would be one of the most egregious mistakes the show has made. I still feel the episode they aired at ToyFair will be a flashback episode, unless something new has been released in the last two days that I missed. 

[ShadOBabe 19,016]

Did you hear... we got another Daring Do episode?

 

If you're talking about Stranger Then Fanfiction, yes I heard, and omg, I'M DYING TO WATCH IT. XD

[Jeric 46,872]

 

 

then you're not a true fan of the show.

 

I don't believe that is anything but arbitrary, unless you have some form of qualifier you would like to add to it. Fans can be displeased with specific elements of a narrative and walk away if that narrative doesn't line up with the values that they expect. Happens all the time, and a lapsed fan is a fan, just with a specific cause for grievance that turned them off of the show. . 

[ChocolateCrane 156]

If you're talking about Stranger Then Fanfiction, yes I heard, and omg, I'M DYING TO WATCH IT. XD

 

That episode was excellent, and this is coming from a person who has hated the concept of Daring Do since its inception.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Don't get me wrong, I at least THINK her parents are dead, but this had more to do with how harsh that came out of Bucky.

 

Leaving the fanbase because of a prediction being wrong isn't what I would call good sportsmanship.

 

Again, this is more than just a head canon going bad, this would be a terrible retcon that would neuter a main character into a one dimensional farm girl instead of the layered person she's been up to this point. Renigging on this point would be disastrous on so many levels that I would drop this show in a heart beat. This is about the integrity of the main cast at this point.  

Well, it is solely your decision, at the end of the day. I actually think Season 6 is the second best season of the show (with 4 ever so slightly behind it). To each their own I suppose.

 

 

I could go on a whole tirade about the drop in quality of the writing in season six, but I'll leave that for another topic. 

[ShadOBabe 19,016]

That episode was excellent, and this is coming from a person who has hated the concept of Daring Do since its inception.

 

Heh, I've always loved Daring Do related anything.

The only hiccup I ever had was when it was revealed that everything that happened in the books was true. At first I thought it was kind of silly, and then I realized, "Wait... no it's not. It just opened up this world to MORE possibilities! And... THAT MEANS AHUIZOTL IS REAL!! EEEEEEEEEE!!! XD"

[Luigi 7,871]

Again, this is more than just a head canon going bad, this would be a terrible retcon that would neuter a main character into a one dimensional farm girl instead of the layered person she's been up to this point. Renigging on this point would be disastrous on so many levels that I would drop this show in a heart beat. This is about the integrity of the main cast at this point.  

I could go on a whole tirade about the drop in quality of the writing in season six, but I'll leave that for another topic.

 

Believe that if you so choose, but I won't be taking any blame if by some oddball chances they're still alive.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Believe that if you so choose, but I won't be taking any blame if by some oddball chances they're still alive.

Why would you take blame? This would be purely on the shoulders of crap writers not you. 

 

I sincerely hope its an oddball chance, I hope it doesn't happen. This last season makes me worry though. 

[Firedog 321]

I wouldn't quit the show, but I would think the writer that made the episode doesn't have enough understanding of applejack to write episodes about her or possibly the entire mane six

[Luigi 7,871]

Why would you take blame? This would be purely on the shoulders of crap writers not you. 

I sincerely hope its an oddball chance, I hope it doesn't happen. This last season makes me worry though.

 

Like I said, I think it's more likely than not they're dead. The shooting stars and their absence from family reunions? I don't think you should be worrying about this as much as I'm perceiving all this as.

[ChocolateCrane 156]

Quitting the show still seems rather drastic as a response to something like this occurring. It seems as though you have been displeased at many things that have happened in the show up until this point. Just Season 6 being trash in your perspective isn't enough backstory to warrant wanting to drop a show. Which other factors are accumulating up to make you feel this way, OP?

[Firedog 321]

Also something I would like to add to the discussion this is from a Q&A of lauren faust, where she responds to the question of applejacks parents.

 

 

"Q:  Where are Applejack's parents?

To put it bluntly, we just never figured it out.  I just liked the feeling of them living with their Granny, but keeping the family dynamic tight and small.  To be honest, I would like to simply say that they passed away somehow, but it's just too sad for a kids' show and I don't think it would have ever been approved.  There was brief discussion of them being traveling salesponies or explorers, but since we never needed the information in an episode, nothing was ever made official.  So it will have to remain a mystery until someone decides to define it." -Lauren Faust

 

Source

Edited March 7, 2017 by Firedog