Big Bads as Metaphors

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,543]

What do you think each of the show's big bads represents from a symbolic and metaphorical standpoint? (Ex: Queen Chrysalis is a metaphor for selfish love and one-sided relationships). Note: This can include S2 Discord and S5 Starlight Glimmer.

[Denim&Venöm 16,517]

Seven deadly sins comes to mind.

• Starlight = Wrath
• Chrysalis = Lust
• Tirek = Gluttony
• Nightmare Moon = Pride 
• Flim & Flam = Greed 
• Sunset = Envy 
• Discord = Sloth

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,543]

Interesting way of looking at it. I like to look at it like this:

• Nightmare Moon = Resentment and bitterness. 
• Discord = Letting our personal flaws get in the way of our relationships.
• Flim and Flam = Corprate greed. 
• Dragons = Toxic masculinity and fake toughness.
• Changelings/Queen Chrysalis = Selfish love; one-sided relationships.

[Sepul-Coloratura 756]

I think Nightmare Moon represents a classic villain, an evil sibling, a mirror opposite of Celestia. Discord represents the petspective we all have a little inside us, a transcendental being, an outside oerspective, soneone watching the show, someone making fun of the concept of Friendship is Magic.

Chrysalis represents fake love, King Sombra represents the fandom's requirement for an evil, dark being and a lore, history. Tirek represents the brutal force that requires an epic physical conflict which the fans wanted.

Starlight represents how twisted and malevolent a normal pony can be. The Pony of Shadows represents the opposite of what Nightmare Moon is, not an archetype but a cliché of a villain.

Chancellor Neighsay represents the real life political enemy as a strawman, Cozy Glow represents a twist, but it failed as a storytelling.

Grogar represents the last wild card the franchise can offer, a link to the past generations, the villain of the grand finale.

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,543]

Each of the villains represents an inversion of the show's themes.

Nightmare Moon is the embodiment of darkness, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. Her powers and color scheme representing the isolation and loneliness stewing inside of her for a millennium. Her "dark" brought into the "light" of friendship and teamwork.

Discord is a bit more self-explanatory. From his name and mishmash design, he represents the disharmony that arises when people only see the flaws in their friends. His defeat is symbolic for friends accepting each other's flaws and work through their differences to come together.