Is Applejack hated in the US but not outside the US?

[TheRockARooster 51,743]

I’m an Australian and I love AJ. 

[Dark Qiviut 22,439]

10 minutes ago, PCutter said:

How about that "background pony" claim, which was completely baseless the moment someone first uttered it?

That’s an in-joke within the fandom in response to Applejack not getting much screentime in Season 2’s second half, including one episode – MMMystery – where most of her lines were cut for time. Don’t take it too literally.

[PCutter 127]

15 minutes ago, Dark Qiviut said:

That’s an in-joke within the fandom in response to Applejack not getting much screentime in Season 2’s second half, including one episode – MMMystery – where most of her lines were cut for time. Don’t take it too literally.

An "in-joke" that has been a dead horse that's been beated for 8 years too long.

It was funny only for so long. Now it's nothing but an annoyance that shouldn't exist.

[EpicEnergy 23,220]

10 hours ago, PCutter said:

How about that "background pony" claim, which was completely baseless the moment someone first uttered it?

Unlike the claim that is being currently discussed, the "background pony" claim actually has facts that disprove it. The facts are that AJ has been the focus of many episodes numerous times (such as season 1 episode "Applebuck Season" and the season 2 episode "The Last Roundup") and has had multiple lines in the show.

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

On 7/1/2020 at 2:01 AM, PCutter said:

I've seen myriads of reasons why people don't like AJ.

There are those who say that she's: bland, antiquated, having no life's purpose, and (most stupidly) a background character since day 1

Others say she's hated because she's based on the South US, which is often despised for a few among many reasons that Americans use:

Southern drawl makes her sound stupid

The usage of derogatory names like hick, redneck or hillbilly to describe the people living there

South US home to gun nuts, racists, religious fanatics

I could expect a home based American to have this mindset, but this is not so for foreigners. Seeing as how my best friend's dad likes country music and I have a cousin living in Texas (forgot which city) as a software engineer for the US military. And that I personally wish to visit the South because I'm a curious traveler.

I don't expect you to have me understand or relate to why Americans think like this because I wasn't born in the US.

Would this be true?

I'm a American, and a classic liberal "Northerner." I'm also of the opinion that it's time to put the 'Confederacy' to rest.

I love Applejack.

There's nothing wrong with being a southerner, a fan of country music, a farmer, or whatever. Religious fanaticism, 2nd amendment defenders, racism, etc, might have higher concentrations in traditionally "southern states," which is where the stereotype comes from. But it doesn't define them as a whole, anymore than the racists in our own fandom do.

Lack of a life purpose? She's feeding her town and her family, is a member of the royal "round table," and randomly gets to save the world. What is this lack of a life purpose people are talking about? She's where she wants to be, and she's happy.

If I were to give a political label to AJ, it would be a progressive conservative, or maybe a centrist/independent. She has traditional family values. She treats her friends just like family. She doesn't force conservative beliefs on others. She neither shuns Twilight's intellectualism, nor questions Fluttershy's "green peace" crusade. She is living at a time when Equestria is essentially promoting "open borders," forming alliances, and welcoming all manner of creature with open arms.

Also, anyone who thinks AJ is a hick or a hillbilly, is either an elitist snob, and/or has likely never actually met one.

[Goat-kun 2,527]

35 minutes ago, BornAgainBrony said:

Drivel

Lack of a life purpose? She's feeding her town and her family, is a member of the royal "round table," and randomly gets to save the world. What is this lack of a life purpose people are talking about? She's where she wants to be, and she's happy.

Even more drivel

Let's ignore the irrelevant drivel and address the real problem:

 

They too are where they want to be, and they will stay there. Now what? You gonna write about shrooms and halfling's leaf? Saving the world? The world saved as easily as that of FIM ain't worth the ink. What you need is an officially labeled disturber of the peace

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

7 minutes ago, Goat-kun said:

Let's ignore the irrelevant drivel and address the real problem:

They too are where they want to be, and they will stay there. Now what? You gonna write about shrooms and halfling's leaf? 

Yup. For nine seasons. 

FiM was more a slice of life than an adventure show anyhow. It worked well for me. In a straight action series, I tend to get desensitized to the constant threats. When they just show up once in a while and disrupt the otherwise tranquil atmosphere of a small sleepy town, it has more impact.

[Goat-kun 2,527]

35 minutes ago, BornAgainBrony said:

Yup. For nine seasons.

FiM was more a slice of life than an adventure show anyhow. It worked well for me. In a straight action series, I tend to get desensitized to the constant threats. When they just show up once in a while and disrupt the otherwise tranquil atmosphere of a small sleepy town, it has more impact.

Worked for Courage the Cowardly dog, and Scooby Doo too. Anyhow, what do you think the Disturber was doing all that time? It's not about peace, it's about the person. There is action adventure in here if you want it or not, but it's crap cause ponies ain't heroes. The problem with AJ is that there are two stereotypes clashing together: that of a cowboy and that of a village farmer. Do one or do the other, or do both separately. But why did it work for Courage then, you ask? The dog was obviously weaker than ponies. That's a large part of the whole point.

 

I'm proposing that we get off each other's backs in regards to our preferences and start advocating for the separation of slice and action adventure. That is how we both get what we want.

[PCutter 127]

On 7/1/2020 at 7:01 PM, flurry said:

Farm life is not that interesting or relatable to many and she is just kinda dull. She is a nice character though she just doesn't stand out as much. They were thinking of making her more street in the future ahahha could be good could be bad. Idk i dont hate her though but not a fav either.

Well then don't blame those who produce food when you or anyone else is starving on the streets.

On 7/1/2020 at 5:50 PM, Widdershins said:

 ......And when you're a background pony like AJ, you got alot of character to build upon!

This again. A dead horse being forcefully beaten back to life after 8 years too long.

SIGH

Edited July 15, 2020 by PCutter

[RDDash 19,189]

I don't know, I would imagine Hannah Montana character type probably feels dated after 10 or so years.

[Stardust 641]

5 hours ago, PCutter said:

Well then don't blame those who produce food when you or anyone else is starving on the streets.

I don't blame anyone wha 

Just said it was dull for tv lol. I mean if its something like a documentary about the farm life that is more interesting but on a cartoon there isn't much nuance. There are fun episodes about the farm but a lot more people realistically live in the hustling bustling city. I do spend time in the countryside but i'm not a real country folk. Farm life is also a tough life even if mechanisation helps. 

Also just apple jack is not my fav just really l prefer apple bloom. 

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

On 7/8/2020 at 5:17 PM, Goat-kun said:

Worked for Courage the Cowardly dog, and Scooby Doo too. Anyhow, what do you think the Disturber was doing all that time? It's not about peace, it's about the person. There is action adventure in here if you want it or not, but it's crap cause ponies ain't heroes. The problem with AJ is that there are two stereotypes clashing together: that of a cowboy and that of a village farmer. Do one or do the other, or do both separately. But why did it work for Courage then, you ask? The dog was obviously weaker than ponies. That's a large part of the whole point.

I'm proposing that we get off each other's backs in regards to our preferences and start advocating for the separation of slice and action adventure. That is how we both get what we want.

Both straight comedies, that I was never given the impression were EVER meant to be taken that seriously. Maybe a better comparison here would be Gravity Falls. Adventures every episode, but still, one of those characters, in spite of a couple important plot elements tossed in, was ultimately just happy with running a road-side attraction and didn't care about the spooky one way or the other.

P.S. I don't need everyone to be an OP superhero or the greatest war general in history across twelve galaxies for action to be interesting to me.

[They call me Loyalty 1,948]

I am from argentina, and I hate her as well. So that's not true.

[Goat-kun 2,527]

7 hours ago, BornAgainBrony said:

Both straight comedies, that I was never given the impression were EVER meant to be taken that seriously. Maybe a better comparison here would be Gravity Falls. Adventures every episode, but still, one of those characters, in spite of a couple important plot elements tossed in, was ultimately just happy with running a road-side attraction and didn't care about the spooky one way or the other.

P.S. I don't need everyone to be an OP superhero or the greatest war general in history across twelve galaxies for action to be interesting to me.

Hoops will not avail you! Cowgirls are not OP.

 

 

1.) You can have a normie who wants to go on an adventure and gets changed by it (Bilbo Baggins)

 

 

2.) Or you get someone who is thrown into one (isekai protagonists)

 

 

How are Hobbits or Natsuki Subaru overpowered? Does this look like a face of a powerful hero? Still, these people are greater heroes than Mane 6, with all their deeds and powers, ever will be. They've earned the title.

And as far as pure comedy is concerned, may I once gain point you towards Konosuba. Why does anime work as fantasy action adventure comedy while western shows, including FIM, do not? Tropes. People who make anime understand their fantasy tropes and can thus use them for comedy. The second thing is the characters themselves. Kazuma does not win a lot. In fact, he and his female companions usually get rekt. They do win sometimes, and when they do, it is with the help of established lore. If you want to make a comedy then also make fights fun. That does not happen in FIM. It did happen in Gravity Falls, but Gravity Falls is far more like Scooby Doo and Courage than FIM which is supposedly pure magical fantasy like isekai.

 

But back to AJ. She suffers from this more than other Mane members since girl don't want to be farmers. Twilight is a geek and a princess, Fluttershy runs a shelter for cute and cuddly animals, RD is into sports, Pinkie is into sweets and parties, Rarity is a fashion designer ... and AJ is a farmer. And even if she was a cowgirl, as I said in my original post, she would be more at home in a boy-oriented franchise.

Edited July 16, 2020 by Goat-kun
My brain was trembling