Should background ponies have significant roles?

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

Fanon =/= Canon.

 

The show will probably not display the background ponies as fanfics have.

So just to keep people's feelings intact and all, background ponies should stay as ponies in the background.

[tanoshii 131]

I don't think they should. Too many front characters would only make the show more difficult to write for, and the fans would probably desire more from these characters, etc. They're background ponies for a reason, to fill the background space or when a crowd/audience is needed.

 

Then again on the other hand individual episodes could be written around a background pony, providing plenty of ground for story writing and character development.

 

I'm not sure really, but I think they should just stay as background ponies.

Edited July 16, 2012 by FL_

[FizzyImp 1,838]

I wouldn't mind the background ponies we already know getting a few good lines here and there.

The writers will have learned from the incident surrounding Derpy's speaking appearance, so they likely won't go too overboard when referencing the fandom in the future.

[Coffeesaxophone 11]

I don't mind if the ponies in the background get a line or two throughout the show, I also think that one of the background ponies should play a significant role in one of the episodes.

[Leo dash 79]

they need to stay in the background

[Vega 107]

Sure. They could be supporting characters like Cheerilee and the Cakes, although I do think that the Vinyl Scratch/Octavia duo has enough comedy potential to get an episode or two focused on them every once in a while.

[yayayayayala 1,668]

I wouldn't mind them having one line at some point. I would want them to stay background ponies though. I wouldn't want them to have different personality's from the ones that we, the fans have created for them. They wouldn't be as fun if we knew everything about them. You may ask, "Well what if they made the episode with the fan-made personalities?" Actually, that would be worse. Why? Simply because everyone has their own interpretation of the characters and in the end, not everyone would be satisfied with the final result. Also, I wouldn't want Lyra to be obsessed with humans in the show.

I couldn't have said it better, my friend! *applauds quietly so as not to wake the sleeping members, as it's late at night right now* And Lyra being obsessed with humans could turn out to have those that somehow aren't part of the fandom (and therefore don't know about her fan personality) think of Lyra as the new Sunset Shimmer, finally disobeying whatever authority would keep her in Ponyville to go through the mirror. (I also think that sentence was reeaaaally long. )

[Glike 487]

Not often, but I think each of the most famous background ponies should get an episode of their own sometime, maybe even two but that's pushing it. I'd love to see Octavia, Vinyl, and Lyra get a part.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Not yet, the fandom gave them personalities but the writers have to do something with them.

[Jeric 46,861]

I prefer a little mystery to some of the background Ponies. Maybe as the series comes to an end as a huge nod to the fans have an Octavia/Vinyl/etc line ... Maybe

[Pastel 7,630]

They should appear more often (Derpy <3) but they shouldn't get their own episodes. It's very risky and can destroy a character.

Edited May 12, 2014 by Blobulle

[windy_prance 114]

Well in the Season 4 finale, Twilight concluded her role in Equestria is to spread the magic of friendship to others.

 

It would be kinda silly in Season 5 for background ponies to NOT get a bigger role when this is Twilight's "calling".

[Truffles 2,033]

Instead of creating a new character for some new episode, they should first see if a background pony could fill the role, and use them instead. Seems like they already have a rich set of characters to pull from, might at well use them and give them some development in the process.

[Adorkable 2,737]

I really didn't know how to vote, but having background ponies have bigger roles would be a really cool thing to have!

 

However, I wouldn't mind an episode where Twilight Sparkle went and spoke to Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, that would be so cool! ^^

[NomDeSpite 452]

Give background ponies more prominent roles and I can easily see the show turning out like the "Red Man's Greed" episode of South Park, where we have "Alex Glick", a character purposely introduced out of nowhere (because he won some contest) and given lines, by the end of the episode, Stan just looks at him and asks "dude, who the hell are you?" It would be hilarious if the writers did something like that with Lyra and Bon Bon because these characters do not exist outside of the wild imaginations of the more obsessive areas of the fandom. It's annoying.

[SomeReallyRandomGuy 137]

They are background ponies for a reason, and it should stay that way.

I don't mind the occasional lines, but nothing more. 

[Megas 27,786]

They can give them lines but for the most part I'd rather they not do anything and leave them as BG ponies

[pegasistervynl64 6]

more lrya even in her small parts shes reconized

[pony.colin 156]

Kind of hard to pick my choice in there.

 

I would like to see them become involved in more stories, but not simply because they have fandom appeal. I don't want a self insert situation, all that fan pandering jazz etc.  I would like to see them written competently into the plot and actually be interesting, not just inserted because a section of the fandom loves their looks (and already have built their background histories etc).  Sure I love Octavia - but unless she serves a real purpose to the plot (and is written well), then just have her look pretty in the background and that's it.

 

Realistically, I figure it will be a rare chance a background pony ever plays this part - probably just a one time off appearance to do something small and interesting and not rock the boat.  

[Thespian 78]

They should do what they did to bulk biceps. If the situation actually calls for the character to be important and worthwhile, sure bring them in. Give them a voice. Just don't make it an every other episode thing. 1 or 2 a season max.

[Jump Cut 59]

Okay i think that it would be awesome if there would be only one episode dedicated to each major background pony. And then they go back to background ponies. It would extend the series a bit.