Applejack needs an episode where she HAS to lie.

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

She may have had some where her honesty was tested, but even then, I don't think they pushed her enough. She needs an episode with a conflict that can ONLY be resolved through lying. This is something anybody can relate to. Myself especially, since there are people at my job I have to lie to every day.

Suppose there was this new villain that was after some important item. It could give its bearer unimaginable power, and only Applejack knew where it was. What if this villain threatened her family to acquire it? In essence, "Tell me where that pendant is, or I'm gonna kill Applebloom!" Applejack would know the consequences of giving this villain what he wanted, but instinctively, she would have to tell him something to save her sister. So to satisfy both ends, she has to lie. And it works.

But is lying for the greater good something she can live comfortably with? Could this change her into an even better pony, or make her revert back to being the pathological liar she was in Where the Apple Lies? There has yet to be an episode that challenges her values to this extent. If they really don't want her to feel stagnant for people, they should give it to her.

[Jeric 46,860]

I don't believe AJ was ever a pathological liar. Lies of convenience to prevent an unfavorable outcome or promote a favorable outcome aren't the same thing as the compulsive nature behind pathological liars. 

That said, there is enough inspiration within science fiction to provide a springboard for an episode where a lie is ethical. 

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

IT was done twice.

 

First time it was during a Leap of Faith, where she was force to lie just to keep her Granny Smith happy.

And we saw it again in Where the Apple Lies where she was forced to lie when Filthy Rich threaten to terminate the deal between him and Sweet Apple Acres.

[Mirage 24,771]

Lying for an altruist purpose is not really a moral dilemma, as in the scenario you propose. A moral dilemma would be more so on these lines:

Applejack is put in a situation where she makes a deal to buy a magical device to 'save the farm' from a horrible blight. So the seller demands half the crops in return, which could cause a food shortage for Ponyville. She thought she was doing good, but it turns out the seller has nefarious plans against the ponies, and the use of the device has hidden consequences. Will she come clean and explain what she did or just disguise the deal and say they just had a bad crop (which is kinda true!).

[FirePuppy 735]

I agree. Why even bother starting a topic about something that's been done twice before?

Besides, after a lot of thinking about what we've gotten on the show so far, I don't even care what we'll get for the rest of the show anymore.

Not only that, Applejack did actually tell lies in a few of her episodes (hence one of the titles, Where the Apple Lies).

Edited December 24, 2017 by FirePuppy

[Jeric 46,860]

4 minutes ago, FirePuppy said:

I agree. Why even bother starting a topic about something that's been done twice before?

Not every fan is required to have a encyclopedic knowledge of every episode. Even beyond that, an argument can be reasonably put forth that Applejack past lied weren't in line with what the OP is suggesting. Both were understandable, but there was a selfish motivation nestled within both instances. 

I'm in the same belief that Mirage is. If you make the lie too forgivable, it neuters any potential conflict. Nuance is preferable.

[Yellow Diamond 7,575]

By this point in the series, would AJ's aversion to lying really be interesting in practice? Since her defining character trait is her honesty, having her lie for social purposes (like sparing Granny Smith's feelings) has generally predictable results: she feels bad about it and eventually seeks to right things. Creating a situation in which Applejack has to lie in the face of an unambiguous threat would lack tension and risk turning her into a caricature.

I think it's better to play to her strengths. For example, Applejack can serve as the voice of reason for a character who has become trapped in a lie or charade. An important lesson then is that AJ understands she can't always force someone to tell the truth; sometimes honesty, like every virtue, has to be learned through error and shaped by friendship. To me, that is a more compelling lesson.

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

I like the last paragraph that OP remind me how much AJ lied in the past but i dont think she will go back to who she was. AJ already learn how precious the truth is and how lies can hurt people (seriously, Granny could cut off Big Mac leg if AJ didnt stop). It is hard to write an AJ episode about her honesty business, actually she has very few traits to make more episodes that look different, i prefer more 'versatile' characters.

Only idea i could think off is throw AJ into the real harsh reality, like make her work for her Orange uncle/aunt, make AJ works in city environments where honesty wont earn you money to survive. 

Seven years, it may just too late now, i can think some fun ep for Starlight, Twilight or Fluttershy but AJ? An episode is actually about her is hard to write that why we dont see many AJ ep and they often not a great one.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

Arguably, I'd say she has. Not for quite so dramatic a reason as originally suggested, but she definitely engaged in some deception (badly) in Spike at your Service when she pretended to be attacked by timberwolves in order to convince Spike his oath was fulfilled.

[They call me Loyalty 1,948]

I'd rather something more down to earth so people people can relate with. Like telling a lie to not hurt someone's feelings.

For example, granny smith has been discovered a terminal disease, and AJ is left to ponder whether to tell her or not the truth. if spending her last day with granny, while having her being happy is more important than to probably lay such burden over the entire family.

Here we get to see how Applejack struggles with holding back the truth. Something that antagonizes her character, while also being pivotal to her growth as a person.

Of course, by the end of this emotionally consuming episode we discover that granny was misdiagnosed due to her doctor being drunk, given his wife was cheating on him with his two half-brothers, the postman's postman, a bitten body pillow of celestia, two rubber chickens, and a midget and his moustache from las pegasus, named robert. The midget, not the moustache, that would be morally unacceptable otherwise.

[Singe 2,111]

The opposite can happen where AJ does an episode where she loses control of herself as a result of her element of honesty flaring up making her overly too honest to where she's spilling her secrets, the family's secrets, personal thoughts, and opinions more openly.

Edited December 24, 2017 by Singe

[FlareGun45 2,221]

>Where she feels she has to lie

>Leap of Faith

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

5 hours ago, SaburoDaimando said:

IT was done twice.

 

First time it was during a Leap of Faith, where she was force to lie just to keep her Granny Smith happy.

And we saw it again in Where the Apple Lies where she was forced to lie when Filthy Rich threaten to terminate the deal between him and Sweet Apple Acres.

 

5 hours ago, FirePuppy said:

I agree. Why even bother starting a topic about something that's been done twice before?

Besides, after a lot of thinking about what we've gotten on the show so far, I don't even care what we'll get for the rest of the show anymore.

Not only that, Applejack did actually tell lies in a few of her episodes (hence one of the titles, Where the Apple Lies).

You missed the point. Yes, she has lied. But in each of those instances, it made the conflict worse. What I'm suggesting is a story where her lying in and of itself IS in fact the only solution.

As others pointed out, making the motive too altruistic could lessen the impact. To that, I agree. The lie should have consequences attached. Regardless, it would ultimately be committing the lesser of two evils, so another part of the episode could be about Applejack struggling to accept the outcome and learning not to beat herself up over it.