Deconstructing Rainbow Dash - A critical opinion discussion

[Arrow 236]

Maybe I like Dashie because she IS a show-off (because that's me irl basically).

 

All the other ponies are so... meh. Dashie is the only one with some real spirit, and that's what I like!

[Starshine 16,333]

Did you, a) hate Rainbow Dash because of her fanbase, or b­) dislike her just because of her bragging in a certain episode that was generally accepted as "stupidly horrible"?

 

Each of the mane six have their own flaws, hating any of them because she isn't perfect and completely ignoring her good sides will make somepony weep.

[Shanks 10,816]

Yes Rainbow Dash can be shallow and a bit of a show off sometimes, but so can Rarity honestly I think they are about tied in those matters. In terms of arrogance though Rainbow Dash is the worst out of the Mane 6, but despite these flaws and I still like them and the other Mane 6.

[AegisReflector 886]

I have to agree that hating on a character because of their fanbase and not the character's own traits is severely flawed and unfair bias.

 

It's like people who hate Friendship Is Magic all because of the Brony culture. They've never seen the show but they just despise it because they think of Bronies as either weird or anti social. It's just an unfair and unwarranted opinion.

[Gone Airbourne 21,977]

I'm sure you are not the only one who dislikes Rainbow Dash... I mean there is always going to be a character that someone dislikes. I like all the characters just fine well other than that stupid Gilda :/...

 

But like they always say to each their own!

[Discorded Bluenote 126]

 

 

The end

 

She is not so bad, but its just how here anger problems are managed. Anger kills yo. :3

 

None of the characters are too bad to me.....execpt....RARITY.

[Motion Spark 7,807]

this thread is perfect for me

 

the only reason I don't fully hate her, is because she's one of the main characters and carrier of one of the elements of Harmony. But I have to say that she's arrogant, a show-off, not classy, rude, brute, cheater, mean, jerk, attention whore, individualist and much more, and if anyone here dare to tell me none of the mentioned before is true...

 

then come at me bro! I'm open to debate!

 

from the 6, I see that she is the character that have had the least character development for over the 2 seasons. Her attitute in the episodes is still the same but her episodes are good though. She has good qualities though, she has a rainbow colored mane, she's fast, she's athletic and she has a fine ass...that's pretty much it of what a like about her, and these reasons are very lame to like a pony, that says much.

 

But I do get why RD is the favorite of many, I mean, the brony community is composed by a majority of males, and she's like the least girly character of the mane6...the most awesome, so it's obvious that the guys would love her, just for that. When in reality, being girly is not a reason why you shouldn't feel identified by a pony... I'm pretty much a male version of Rarity (and Applejack) and I'm not girly at all, if you have seen how Rarity behaves.

 

Though I do think that Applejack is a RD but with more character, she's athletic, she's loyal, she can be meanie too. My point is that Applejack is a nice/realistic version of RD, and she can pretty much take her place to me, except for the wings. ow

 

I needed to get this out of my system XD

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

I really think the reason why she tops so many people's "best pony" lists is because of her distinct appearance, not so much because of who she is. Yeah, there are plenty of people who like her the most for her personality, just like people like other ponies the most for the same reason, but she's almost one-dimensional. Her unique coloration is probably the most important trait for most of her fans.

 

She needs to get burned. For as good as she is, she needs a foil. Somebody to best her in a public competition and to beat her in every way possible. An episode in which she doesn't lose her desire or aspirations for being the best, but learns some humility by being thoroughly crushed or at least evenly matched. A Drizzt to her Artemis.

Edited October 31, 2012 by Artemis

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

I really think the reason why she tops so many people's "best pony" lists is because of her distinct appearance, not so much because of who she is. Yeah, there are plenty of people who like her the most for her personality, just like people like other ponies the most for the same reason, but she's almost one-dimensional. Her unique coloration is probably the most important trait for most of her fans.

 

She needs to get burned. For as good as she is, she needs a foil. Somebody to best her in a public competition and to beat her in every way possible. An episode in which she doesn't lose her desire or aspirations for being the best, but learns some humility by being thoroughly crushed or at least evenly matched. A Drizzt to her Artemis.

 

Um, that kind of already happened. And isn't it a little sadistic to wish that on someone? Why in the name of heck would a complete and public crushing be good for anyone? It sounds like a recipe for massive mental issues

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

And isn't it a little sadistic to wish that on someone? Why in the name of heck would a complete and public crushing be good for anyone? It sounds like a recipe for massive mental issues

Not at all. She has a huge ego from years of dominating everybody who's competed with her. The only way somebody like that can learn some humility is through defeat. Nobody would think any less of her for losing to a superior opponent other than herself; as I said before, she wouldn't give up on improving her abilities or becoming the best, she'll just have a change of attitude regarding it. The iron pony competition was made to teach a different lesson and she ended up winning that. Losing a similar competition is what I had in mind. It's no different than if a previously undefeated boxer who fought his way to the top was to be knocked out by some upstart he's never heard of.

 

She doesn't even need to be beaten. When you have a character that's as skilled as her, you need a foil, somebody with at least an equal amount of skill to make them look less perfect and more believable, and maybe something for them to obsess over. That's where my Drizzt/Artemis comparison came from.

[Driz 1,552]

inb4 jimmies rustled

 

I dislike nopony. :3

 

But Rainbow Dash is one of my least favorites, yes... The reason she has that absurdly enormous fanbase is probably because she's the cool character of the group - this actually happens in every single show: the stand-out character is always the cool and 'awesome' one. Other reason, some people simply can relate very well to Rainbow Dash; being athletic, show-off, reckless and everything.

 

I have no idea if Dash is overrated or not, but I, for one, don't bother very much with it.

[Haven Celestii 9,385]

Quite a few others dislike her as well. Me being one of them and for the same reason that you listed and some others. Maybe if in some twisted dimension I got to actually talk to her and hang out for a while I might change my mind. I don't see either of those two happening any time soon though.

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

No, it's not just you. There are a few other bronies here who do not wish for their lives to be 20% cooler. I do not understand them, but I embrace them nonetheless.

Rainbow can be full of herself at times, but she's not a bully like Gilda or an empty show-off like Trixie. I am bothered by headstrong people myself, but they're not all the same and they have reasons for acting like they do. Rainbow wants to "be somepony" and help and protect her friends, so how can I not like her? She's everything I wish I was.

Edited October 31, 2012 by TailsAlone

[Lost Profile 644]

Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

A rainbow dash disliker!!!!!!!!

 

I can understand if you don't like her...

 

I think the only reason I like her is the close resemblance to sonic the hedgehog..

 

But being a show off and that crap gives a character improvement chance!

 

Anyways... No mater who you like or don't like.. Brony on!

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

 

 

Not at all. She has a huge ego from years of dominating everybody who's competed with her. The only way somebody like that can learn some humility is through defeat. Nobody would think any less of her for losing to a superior opponent other than herself; as I said before, she wouldn't give up on improving her abilities or becoming the best, she'll just have a change of attitude regarding it. The iron pony competition was made to teach a different lesson and she ended up winning that. Losing a similar competition is what I had in mind. It's no different than if a previously undefeated boxer who fought his way to the top was to be knocked out by some upstart he's never heard of.

 

She doesn't even need to be beaten. When you have a character that's as skilled as her, you need a foil, somebody with at least an equal amount of skill to make them look less perfect and more believable, and maybe something for them to obsess over. That's where my Drizzt/Artemis comparison came from.

 

I was not referring to the Iron Pony competition, I was referring to the Mare Do Well incident, where Dash was repeatedly shown up/ humiliated in front of the town. That episode's explicit purpose was to teach her humility just like you are saying.

 

As for getting something to obsess over, she already has that in her dream to become a wonderbolt. That is well established

 

With regards to making her look less perfect, it is plainly obvious that she is not perfect. This entire thread is proof that she isn't perfect. She is a flawed character, like any character in the show (and even more flawed than most). Even in flying it is clear that she isn't perfect as we can see by the fact that she hasn't joined the Wonderbolts and that she repeatedly crashes while attempting tricks that are too complicated for her. This is why Dash is not comparable to an undefeated boxer who has fought her way to the top, she is more comparable to a young boxer with lofty aspirations who is daily training her butt off to someday become the best.

 

And it still rubs me the wrong way to wish defeat on someone, especially if that person has a well established fear of failure. I know that you think it would be good for her ultimately and you might be right. It might also be good for Twilight to flunk an exam to show her that Celestia won't come down on her like a hammer if she screws up, but I wouldn't wish that on Twilight because it would cause her a ton of mental pain and anguish. Even if her friends and even Celestia would still respect her and think highly of her it would still deeply trouble her

Edited October 31, 2012 by DashForever

[Dtox 128]

A lot of people seem to focus on rainbow dash's negative qualities, like her arrogance and brashness, while overlooking her other, more positive qualities.

 

I personally adore her (along with the rest of the ponies) due to her devotion to her friends, and how she's one of the only characters with a real backbone (which is evidenced up and down season 1 and 2, with how tenacious she is in getting things done). Her relationship with her friends is obviously important to her, since she's made great effort to improve herself, she's especially become more sensitive towards characters like fluttershy.

 

People will pick out very general, negative qualities from every character (like rarity being snobby and a "bitch" and fluttershy being "too shy" and "wimpy"), and use them as the primary basis to hate that specific character, whereas I feel that each character has everything they need to be likable to anyone. You just need to look past those negatives, and focus on the positives.

 

this thread is perfect for me

 

the only reason I don't fully hate her, is because she's one of the main characters and carrier of one of the elements of Harmony. But I have to say that she's arrogant, a show-off, not classy, rude, brute, cheater, mean, jerk, attention whore, individualist and much more, and if anyone here dare to tell me none of the mentioned before is true...

 

then come at me bro! I'm open to debate!

 

from the 6, I see that she is the character that have had the least character development for over the 2 seasons. Her attitute in the episodes is still the same but her episodes are good though. She has good qualities though, she has a rainbow colored mane, she's fast, she's athletic and she has a fine ass...that's pretty much it of what a like about her, and these reasons are very lame to like a pony, that says much.

 

But I do get why RD is the favorite of many, I mean, the brony community is composed by a majority of males, and she's like the least girly character of the mane6...the most awesome, so it's obvious that the guys would love her, just for that. When in reality, being girly is not a reason why you shouldn't feel identified by a pony... I'm pretty much a male version of Rarity (and Applejack) and I'm not girly at all, if you have seen how Rarity behaves.

 

Though I do think that Applejack is a RD but with more character, she's athletic, she's loyal, she can be meanie too. My point is that Applejack is a nice/realistic version of RD, and she can pretty much take her place to me, except for the wings. ow

 

I needed to get this out of my system XD

 

I'm willing to debate with ya, if you don't mind.

 

This is sort of what I meant in my comment, you're looking over the qualities that make characters like rainbow dash really great characters (ALL of the ponies are great characters, I'm just saying).

 

Like, for instance, you say she isn't loyal, when rainbow dash has been the most tenacious character when it comes to her friends. Prime examples, hurricane fluttershy, where she wouldn't take "no" for an answer to have fluttershy come out of her shell, and the last roundup, where she was the most devoted one to have applejack come home. She is also the one to ALWAYS jump into action.

 

And they might be athletic, but applejack and rainbow dash both have different goals in mind, where applejack just wishes to take care of her family and run her business, whereas rainbow dash aspires to follow her dreams and shoot big.

 

You know how you like rarity? well, there are people who dislike her for being "greedy" and stuck up, but completely look over all of the traits that, I feel, make her far more deserving of love, such as her affinity for art, and how she's giving to her friends while expecting nothing back.

[Steve 290]

nopony has to like all of the mane 6, so its ok that you dont like rainbow dash, but i love rainbow dash, she is number 3 in the my list

[Motion Spark 7,807]

Like, for instance, you say she isn't loyal,

erhhmm...read my post again, I never said that she wasn't loyal >.>

 

when rainbow dash has been the most tenacious character when it comes to her friends. Prime examples, hurricane fluttershy, where she wouldn't take "no" for an answer to have fluttershy come out of her shell, and the last roundup, where she was the most devoted one to have applejack come home. She is also the one to ALWAYS jump into action.

that's great, and these are good qualities of her...but in my opinion, these can't outweight some other good qualities other ponies have, for example Applejack being very hardworker.

for you RD is "tenacious", "devoted", and a "jumping into action" character. These are good qualities, granted. But compared these to these.

 

Twilight - organized, responsible, smart, she thinks before she speak.

Fluttershy - warm, kind, humble, giver, nice, caring

Applejack - honest, loyal, hardworker, down to earth, motherly, caring, compassive, empathetic

Pinkie Pie - possitive towards life (that's all I can say about her XD)

Rarity - generous, truthsworthy, caring, responsible, perfectionist (this can either be good or bad), hardworker

 

compare, the mentioned before with your RD qualities.

And they might be athletic, but applejack and rainbow dash both have different goals in mind, where applejack just wishes to take care of her family and run her business, whereas rainbow dash aspires to follow her dreams and shoot big.

not all true, Applejack is officialy recognized as the best athlete of Ponyville.

 

You know how you like rarity? well, there are people who dislike her for being "greedy" and stuck up, but completely look over all of the traits that, I feel, make her far more deserving of love, such as her affinity for art, and how she's giving to her friends while expecting nothing back.

I agree. And I don't care what people think of her, these people don't take the time to over analyze her character in the show. So unless they don't come up with lies about her, I don't care what they think of her. Because she really is very dramatic, I admit that

[Dtox 128]

erhhmm...read my post again, I never said that she wasn't loyal >.>

Sorry, I misread your comment, kind of tired here lol.

 

that's great, and these are good qualities of her...but in my opinion, these can't outweight some other good qualities other ponies have, for example Applejack being very hardworker. for you RD is "tenacious", "devoted", and a "jumping into action" character. These are good qualities, granted. But compared these to these. Twilight - organized, responsible, smart, she thinks before she speak. Fluttershy - warm, kind, humble, giver, nice, caring Applejack - honest, loyal, hardworker, down to earth, motherly, caring, compassive, empathetic Pinkie Pie - possitive towards life (that's all I can say about her XD) Rarity - generous, truthsworthy, caring, responsible, perfectionist (this can either be good or bad), hardworker compare, the mentioned before with your RD qualities.

I've only mentioned a few traits to act as examples. Aside from her tenacity, devotion, and having a backbone, she is also very capable and encouraging.

 

I do acknowledge her flaws, such as her brashness, arrogance, and poor sportsmanship, but some of the flaws that you've listed are synonymous with others.

 

As well, her development seems to be a bit slower than the rest of the characters (I feel pinkie pie has a slower rate of development, but she doesn't have much to develop since her character already has so many great qualities). Some of her development has also been poorly handled in season 2, but I think hurricane fluttershy (possibly my favorite episode) redeems that quite a bit.

 

EDIT: I forgot to add, you said that applejack is the more "realisitc" character.

 

Applejack has great morals and puts value in family, but the reason I mentioned RD's goals, her aspiration to shoot big and reach her dreams, is that those goals of hers make her realistic as well.

 

And because she has such high hopes and dreams, she also has an ego to match, a trait that you find in many people who aim for big things.

 

Sort of like rarity, whose high standards and "social elite" mentality made her think of the sister hooves social as uncouth and unworthy (something that she got over, obviously).

Edited November 1, 2012 by Dtox

[Silver Boulder 123]

I can certainly understand why most people wouldn't like her. Its their opinion, I like her yes but I prefer Fluttershy or Twilight. I don't hate Rainbow but I can see why people don't care for her as much xD being cocky, cheating and etc and yet she's still loyal. Strange pony that she be

[Rainbow Awesome Dash 29]

Rainbow is my favorite character, I do agree that she can be rude, arrogant, and boastful sometimes, but she does have good characteristics as well in both seasons.

[Homura Akemi 974]

A lot of my friends don't like Rainbow Dash. In fact, I see more "hate" towards her than any other pony maybe besides Rarity. She is more disliked than people think.

[SapphireSmirk 7]

Thank you! I thought i was the only one! I mean she has redeeming factors but almost every anti-brony thinks we ALL like RD...Personally Rarity and Twilight are my favourite for their complexitys but i defenitely dont think RD is all that great! I'm not trying to hate on her fans but yeah.

[MadDoggyca 710]

Rainbow dash is like the best due to her Tom-boyish style.. I for one LOVE sarcastic humor.. and she's full of it.

 

same reason why I like Jeff Dunham.. Full of sarcastic and if you catch is dirty/dark humor.

 

Rarity awesome when shes kind of in a whiny mood.. they make her sound soo funny..

Edited December 20, 2012 by MadDoggyca

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Ah yes, the return of my favorite thread... Sigh.

 

Well, at least I can hope that after the previous two episodes general animosity towards her has lessened.