Why do some people hate Rainbow Dash?

[Here No Longer 5,276]

I find her to be arrogant and egotistical, to the point where sometimes it becomes more annoying than the rest of the mane six had ever been. That's even counting Pinkie at her worst. It sometimes comes off as if she thinks she's better than everyone else is.

Edited April 8, 2020 by Dustlicious

[TotallyNotNyx 15,566]

My days of being fast are long gone 

[Nsxile 26,898]

 

34 minutes ago, Lucky Bolt said:

That's another thing. Newbie Dash was one of the best episode in my opinion. I don't understand why even people who "love Rainbow Dash" hate that episode so much. 

Because of the unnecessary hazing and the fact that Wonderbolts acted like dicks and bullies; were I Rainbow Dash, I would have quit that organisation and exposed it for what it really is. The fact that they pushed RD to the point of feeling she had to do what she ended up doing, and blaming her for it rather than their own actions that caused her to feel that way, was a complete travesty. 

27 minutes ago, Dustlicious said:

I find her to be arrogant and egotistical, to the point where sometimes it becomes more annoying than the rest of the mane six had ever been. That's even counting Pinkie at her worst. It sometimes comes off as if she thinks she's better than everyone else is.

You appear to be forgetting that she is the reason the rest of the mane six have their cutie marks and were able to realise/achieve their dreams, as shown In The Cutie Mark Chronicles. And is being proud of a particular accomplishment really as bad as back-stabbing your own friends, like the mane six did to Rainbow Dash in The Mysterious Mare Do Well? I think not. Also being able to do the things you say you can do is not arrogance.

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

1 hour ago, Lucky Bolt said:

That's another thing. Newbie Dash was one of the best episode in my opinion. I don't understand why even people who "love Rainbow Dash" hate that episode so much. 

Heh, I knew that I had posted a comment in the episode thread. I do consider "Newbie Dash" a dumpster fire of an episode, and this is (briefly) why. Pardon the self-quoting...

No Second Prances, I apologize to you. Because, as bad as you were, you were not THIS episode.

I haven't found an episode as hard to sit through as this one, not even Spike's disastrous Equestria Games anthem scene. I have not double-face-palmed myself so much since Slice of Life. This episode is making me consider placing it as my least favorite episode in FiM ever, and that takes some doing, since I'm usually a person who tries to find the good in the series. And for people who like this because (and only because) "it's the episode where Rainbow Dash becomes a Wonderbolt", I think you're missing something. Under that logic, you could have had Rainbow Dash literally dying by the end and still be required to call this a great episode because "she became a Wonderbolt". How something happens is more important than that something happens. I'd be the first to say that the subjective enjoyment of media is more important than its objective quality, but this...

First, the imitation scene throws the moral of "Testing Testing 1 2 3" (everyone's different, and you have to find the way that works for you, rather than imitate others) right out the window. [and it is as cringe as fuck] - later addition.  Second, we've always known there was some event in her past that caused her to be dubbed "Rainbow Crash", but to literally have her fall into a trash can TWICE seems far too contrived... sometimes specificity is not a good idea. And how does that gel with the "Dash got kicked out of flight school - I didn't get kicked out - Face it, Rainbow Crash, flight school had too many rules and not enough nap times" comment from Sonic Rainboom? [To clarify: accidentally landing in a dust bin should not get you kicked out of flight school.]

If you do like it, no shame to you. But I cannot pretend that I was anything less than contemptuous towards this step backwards for poor RD. And I'm not even an avid RD fan... just fail, utter fail. I'm not saying I'm going to stop watching the series, but this episode really was a terrible experience for me. No offense.

All this time later, I don't feel any different.

As for the main topic of this thread: why do some people hate RD?

Taking her at a surface level, RD does seem full of herself, and I guess that could rub some people the wrong way. I don't hold it against RD as a character because I realized at some point that most of that bluff and bluster is to cover up issues she has with her own self-confidence. And really, when you're good, you're good, and her ability as a flyer is pretty top notch. There's a lot to like, but the veneer of arrogance can be off-putting if one does not see it's underlying cause. Or even if one does see it, but doesn't accept it as enough justification for her more egregious behaviour.

I don't dislike RD in general, but there are other characters I just prefer far more to see on my screen - three guesses to whom I refer, and the first two don't count, alright, darling?

[Megas 27,577]

14 hours ago, Lucky Bolt said:

That's another thing. Newbie Dash was one of the best episode in my opinion. I don't understand why even people who "love Rainbow Dash" hate that episode so much. 

Five years of build up to her main character to what amounted to RD constantly getting humiliated and bullied by her heroes to the very end, only for the episode to justify their hazing, comes across as the writers making an episode for people who hated the character while punishing and mocking her fanbase for expecting something meaningful and worthwhile and wasting five years of their lives being invested, especially since abandoned it almost completely afterwards after the episode. And now knowing how the episode was originally set up, I hate it even more 
 

I said a while back that the writers hated their audience if they weren’t invested in their own interests, ideas or precious darlings like Starlight, Rarity or the Student Six, and when I said that I was really hoping I was just venting. 3 seasons later of them seemingly not learning their lessons and making the same bullshit they know full well everyone hates, and a bunch of leaks later showing how most of RD’s episodes were originally set up I’m actually more inclined to believe it 

Sorry for being aggressive and coming off as hyperbolic, but I refuse to believe they made the episode out of good will

Edited April 9, 2020 by Megas

[Lucky Bolt 35,062]

11 minutes ago, Megas said:

Five years of build up to her main character to what amounted to RD constantly getting humiliated and bullied by her heroes to the very end, only for the episode to justify their hazing, comes across as the writers making an episode for people who hated the character, punishing and mocking her fanbase for expecting something meaningful and worthwhile and wasting five years of their lives being invested, especially since abandoned it almost completely afterwards after the episode. And now knowing how the episode was originally set up, I hate it even more 
 

I said a while back that the writers hated their audience if they weren’t invested in their own interests, ideas or precious darlings, and when I said that I was really hoping I was just venting. 3 seasons later of them seemingly not learning their lessons and making the same bullshit, and a bunch of leaks later showing how most of RD’s episodes were originally set up I’m actually more inclined to believe it 

Sorry for being aggressive and coming off as hyperbolic, but I refuse to believe they made the episode out of good will

Everyone has their own opinions I guess. 

[Splashee 28,563]

As for Rainbow Dash's obnoxious voice range, I have found the perfect (obviously not) voice actor for the manly Rainbow Dash (if she was a male), minus the accent, Dave from EEV Blog:
 

Spoiler

Don't focus on the Australian accent, but the high range of the voice.

 

I like this guy, except it can be difficult to listen to that voice range for long times in a row.

 

[luvvva.bxbymiyah 210]

I know the other mane 6 have flaws, perhaps Rainbow's just come off as more frequent and aggravating to other people, but that's why I like her so much, because she's actually a true softie! She DOES CARE for her friends, despite boasting. Remember the song "Flawless"? Heck she even admits her confidence is cocky, but it gives her the courage to fail. Gotta love RD. Oh I remember my friend said she's annoying because she says awesome EVERY EPISODE, and said she had to mute the TV, and she even said Dashie was her favorite, but some episode made her dislike her such as "28 Pranks Later". She told me Fluttershy is way better than Rainbow Dash, and I'm like OUO Flutters is my 2nd favorite. Anyways... getting outta topic, but hey, I guess character development/downgrade makes us change our POV of things. 

[Misty Shadow 7,848]

On 4/8/2020 at 3:55 AM, Lucky Bolt said:

That's another thing. Newbie Dash was one of the best episode in my opinion. I don't understand why even people who "love Rainbow Dash" hate that episode so much. 

Heh, I wouldn't call it one of the best...

On 4/8/2020 at 4:01 AM, Sherbie said:

I loved that episode, especially when she immitated the mane 6, out of character, but it was funny

But I still like it and I'm always glad to see other people do too.  It's a mean-spirited comedy episode that's mean-spirited for a reason, it's supposed to teach you that life is not smooth sailing after your dream comes true. In the writer's minds, they were subverting the expectations of kids, not fanfic writers. If they were trying to do the latter, that would account for just about every episode of the show.

[Lucky Bolt 35,062]

33 minutes ago, CloudMistDragon said:

Heh, I wouldn't call it one of the best...

That's why i said...in my opinion lol

[EpicEnergy 23,190]

I don't hate her, she is actually my most favorite character in FiM! 

[Pandora 38,015]

People always seek something to hate 

dashie is awesome

[Randimaxis 8,652]

When I first saw the show, there were FAR too many people in my life who acted very closely to the way Dashie does... except they were jerks.

It took ME a while to warm up to her; she's almost the polar opposite of my own personality, she's arrogant, loud and egotistical... but when I saw her in May The Best Pet Win, it was then that I finally started to accept her.  Today, Dashie is an awesome pone, and I've found a respect for her that came through hard won Loyalty and how she is with Scootaloo.

Maybe some folks just can't get past the initial vibe... but I did, and I'm GLAD I did, because she most certainly is awesome.  

[Megas 27,577]

On 4/9/2020 at 4:32 AM, CloudMistDragon said:

Heh, I wouldn't call it one of the best...In the writer's minds, they were subverting the expectations 

That’s a really poor defense. When you trick people doing something they don’t expect for the sake of “oh we got you good” and the results are lots of upset people, then it just kinda makes them jerks, especially when it wastes years of people’s time. People aren’t gonna think you’re clever, they’re just gonna hate you instead. Seriously this mentality of “subversion makes things more interesting!" need to die
 

I mean, even Jim Miller publicly announced he was bailing twitter a day or two before it came, which just tells me even he had no confidence in

 

[uliannasparklez 0]

Believe it or not, Rainbow Dash used to be my number one favourite character from episode 1. Now she's just unbearable, and is probably one of my least favorites of the mane 6. It was until "Fall Weather Friends", when I realized I hate her. She is such a bitch. In fact her bitchiness can't be describe with simple blatant words. She picks a fight with every mane 6 member in every episode. Not to mention, she criticizes each of the mane 6 for whatever reason.

To Rarity in "Dragonshy": She gets mad for Rarity putting on her scarf and checking if she looks okay

To Applejack in "Fall Weather Friends": LITERALLY CHEATED and got AWAY WITH IT. Goddammit we need more Applejack lovers

To Twilight in "Fall Weather Friends": calling her "egghead" (that's rather insulting) 

To Fluttershy: always comes off as abrasive to her. 

To Pinkie Pie: She yelled at her in tanks for the memories for no reason, and often is blunt about Pinkie being "annoying" or whatever.

In conclusion, she may have some redeeming qualities and be loyal to her friends, but she's way too cocky and childish for my taste. Plus the other mane 6 are way more loyal than she is.

[Misty Shadow 7,848]

5 hours ago, Megas said:

That’s a really poor defense. When you trick people doing something they don’t expect for the sake of “oh we got you good” and the results are lots of people, then it just kinda makes them jerks, especially when it wastes years of people’s time. People aren’t gonna think you’re clever, they’re just gonna hate you instead. Seriously this mentality of “subversion makes things more interesting need
 

I mean, even Jim Miller publicly announced he was bailing twitter a day or two before it came, which just tells me even he had no confidence in

 

Cutting people's posts to eliminate the context of their argument is a really poor counter. You know what I meant, they were not seeking to make an episode to appeal to older RD fans who wanted to see her journey as a Wonderbolt become a world of its own. 

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

You guys....are you really a fan of mlp? I mean do you know the message theyre trying to show? Have you heard the "not flawless song"?

Yep rainbow dash has flaws, get past it and move on, reminded you of other bad people... judgemental much. You guys should look at it this way. Why are the other 5 still friends with her?

[Megas 27,577]

4 hours ago, CloudMistDragon said:

Cutting people's posts to eliminate the context of their argument is a really poor counter. You know what I meant, they were not seeking to make an episode to appeal to older RD fans who wanted to see her journey as a Wonderbolt become a world of its own. 

I don't think age should really matter here. It was something they built up for five years, people are gonna be interested regardless and they know it given they gave every other character with a major arc with a big sense of satisfaction like Twilight, Rarity and the CMC. It's not unreasonable to at the very least expect something on the likes of Canterlot Boutique, Crusaders of the Lost Mark, or at the very least something like Magical Mystery Cure. Yeah, people like to give that episode crap but at the very least they tried to make it feel special. Heck they delivered with AJ's parents, they made Spike getting wings a big deal. Heck, even Fluttershy getting a dream achieved out of nowhere in Fluttershy Leans In feels more satisfying and that was an unremarkable episode. A while back one user brought up how in regards to final S9 episodes RD was the one that got a rock like that Charlie Brown skit, but I think that comparison is even more apt here

Heck, if we want to take kids into consideration, I think it's even worse given how the episode feels like it justifies hazing and bullying,

Spoiler

worse given those criticisms were actually acknowledged in the leaked emails

If it was meant to be written to surprise younger audience, I can't see it holding up at all

[Misty Shadow 7,848]

On 4/8/2020 at 7:53 AM, Lucky Bolt said:

Everyone has their own opinions I guess. 

Where I stand as well.  I do not get mad over children's cartoons or conflicting opinions on children's cartoons. I love my real-life problems now.