Were you satisfied with King Sombra as the antagonist?

[They call me Loyalty 1,948]

Seems like they didn't have the time to develop this character.
As result we obteined an enemy quite empty and plain from a psychological perspective.

Which I think in a character like this, is really bad, taking as a point the size and cruelty of his deeds. Point is that there is always a reason for everything. And almost always exceeds the explanation "I'm bad a guy because I want to"

To be believable, he needed many layers, which weren't there.
How can I feel related or affected by someone who I find not credible as character?
Is like to ask an atheist to have faith in whatever your current religion is.
Because Sombra itself doesn't make sense in a logical way. And that is why I find him poor as a mayor enemy.

There were big  evil deeds, but no one behind them. Everything felt like a natural disaster instead of someone's will (Sombra I suppose)

The main problem here, is that in this world almost everything is into a range between black and white. Different gray shades,  while more the layers, more credible the character. So, by this way, this one gets the ability to pass through the screen, to touch just here, in your heart.
So you start to recognize him as a true danger inside ther story, and even outside could be a danger. And when it becomes credible is when it starts to get pass though the screen, start to generate a feeling, which is product of his "credibility" as a character. You'd say "Someone like him could be real" But someone like Sombra couldn't be real.

A true villian has reasons to act like that, behind them there are motives, which under certain degrees of perspective, you could end up agreeing with. Or at least explain them, give them a reason to make them have sence in a story that pretends to give messages that are meant to be applied in real life.
With King Sombra they said just this "the bad guy is bad because yes" and that isn't true. The bad guy almost always has lived through some sort of pain to end up being like that.


Regarding his design. I could also say a few things by the saturated colors almost everywhere. His color design is a reflect of the mind from the person who created him. Extremely saturated colors like his extremely monochromatic personality.

I shouldn't  go that deep regarding this kind of matters. But hey.


Apologies for my english, it is not my first language.

Edited July 27, 2013 by They call me Loyalty

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

@@SCS, Not to mention that Celestia and Luna gave him a good taste of exactly how powerful light magic was when they defeated him 1000 years ago.

[Castle Bleck 19,341]

~Chaotic Discord~'s "Primary Villain Power Comparison Discussion" ranks Sombra as #2 (Discord being #1).

 

While subjective, it still counts for something in my book.

Edited June 17, 2014 by A.V.

[Zekromic 1,054]

we didn't had a decent major antagonist since season 2 finale, Hope we get one this season's ending, that rainbow power must be for something 

[Castle Bleck 19,341]

we didn't had a decent major antagonist since season 2 finale, Hope we get one this season's ending, that rainbow power must be for something 

 

If it summons Captain Equestria, I will riot.

 

[Michael.1995 0]

As much as he didn't do much in the episodes, how the crystal ponies react to him, implies that he could have been the best villain ever over 1000 years ago.

[Forlong 1,726]

Now that the comics have fleshed him out a bit, I really want to see more of him.  Since the comics also confirmed that he still lives...

I have waited 1,000 years to claim my kingdom.

What is a few more months in comparison?

Edited June 17, 2014 by Forlong

[ReverseFaller 2,483]

He was a decent villain. I didn't really care for him the first time around, but after re-watching the arc with him in it, I'm starting to like him more. He played an important role in the story, and he was definitely evil. I've always been a big fan of the Crystal Empire, and the Crystal Ponies so having a villain revolving around them was pretty awesome in my opinion.

[Pinkamena-Pills 6,839]

As far as the show(i haven't read the comics) i was not pleased with him.

 

So much potential wasted.   

 

The Sombra we should have gotten: 

 

 

Sombra we got instead: 

 

[Castle Bleck 19,341]

@Pinkamena-Pills,

 

I'm sorry, but it seems you've mistaken him for Sunset Shimmer.

Edited June 17, 2014 by A.V.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I know that not a lot of people were impressed by Sombra's portrayal in the show, I think of him as the opposite epitome to Celestia where he represents the essence of dark magic. But in terms of backstory, much of it was left to be desired.

[Castle Bleck 19,341]

I know that not a lot of people were impressed by Sombra's portrayal in the show, I think of him as the opposite epitome to Celestia where he represents the essence of dark magic. But in terms of backstory, much of it was left to be desired.

 

Basically:

 

Character =

 

Threat =

[Pinkamena-Pills 6,839]

@Pinkamena-Pills,

 

I'm sorry, but it seems you've mistaken him for Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset Shimmer was just a butthurt disgruntled former student of Celestia,who wanted to take over equestria using teenagers...not a evil 1000 year dictator that the meer thought of sent shivers down the spines of the ponies he enslaved. Sombra deserved more from what was given to him 

[Scootalove 10,689]

Basically:

 

Character =

 

Threat =

Well, if you want to put it that way, yeah.

[Castle Bleck 19,341]

Sunset Shimmer was just a butthurt disgruntled former student of Celestia,who wanted to take over equestria using teenagers...not a evil 1000 year dictator that the meer thought of sent shivers down the spines of the ponies he enslaved. Sombra deserved more from what was given to him 

 

OH, THE PAIN!!!

 

 

 

I'VE BEEN BURNED!!!

 

[Pinkamena-Pills 6,839]

OH, THE PAIN!!!

 

 

 

I'VE BEEN BURNED!!!

 

 

There there,everything will be ok.

 

[Pastel 7,630]

I like his mysterious side, but he didn't get enough screentime. His backstory should have been explored a bit more.

 

 

Good movie but I hated that scene D: Edited June 17, 2014 by Blobulle

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

Well, after my first viewing of the S3 opener, I was not satisfied with him. I mean, after Queen Chrysalis, Sombra just disappointed me. He was barely on screen through a lot of the episode, he had few lines, and he just seemed to be in the shadows way too much.

 

Then after a while, my view changed.

 

There is a reason he became my favorite MLP villain, and it's because I opened my mind and let my perspective broaden. Chrysalis & Sombra are two different types of villains. I love em both to death, but for different reasons. Why do I love Sombra so much as a villain?

 

1. Little to no given backstory: We're given enough to at least get a taste for him, but not too much to have an official mindset about his motivations or whatnot. It is for the most part up to us to fill the blanks (or the comics eventually). That mysterious angle about him just give him that dark edge for me.

 

2. Lack of an apparent ego: Don't get me wrong; I don't hate egotistical villains. I mean that's one reason why I love Chrysalis was that she had a colorful personality. However, that can also be their downfall. She had Twilight in her hooves, then just revealed herself to her. Had she not done that, she could've very been successful. Discord had this same issue when he basically painted a target on him at the end of "Return of Harmony." Sombra, in contract, smartly bides his time and waits. Yes, he wants the Crystal Empire, but he knows he can't do much with the shield magic going on. He knows being big and boastful will not do him any good.

 

3. Intelligence: Had it not been for Spike, he very well could've had Twilight as his permanent captive. It took her genius to figure out his hiding spot for the crystal heart, Spike's concern when Twilight wasn't answering, her magic & foresight to beat the door, and her outside the box thinking to get to the top of the tower in quick time. Had it been anyone other than Twilight (not counting alicorns) he could've came out the victor.

 

4. Presence & Threat: You didn't see him much, but you didn't need to. One of the reasons why Sauron works as a villain is that you don't see him all that much. His strength of presence comes in rumors and warnings. Remember in "Fellowship of the Ring" when Gandalf was talking about the black speech in Bag End? Similarly, Sombra's presence is felt from the instant the ponies walk into the barren wasteland of the frozen north. You hear the creepy wail and fear inches up your spine.

 

5. Fear: Just look at the crystal ponies themselves. Just the mere mention of thought of Sombra is enough to send these ponies into full-on PTSD. Just WHAT did he do to these ponies aside form slavery? How bad were their working conditions? What horrors did these ponies witness?

 

6. Power: It took both Celestia & Luna to banish Sombra; and he still managed to curse the empire to vanish. You know from Celestia's warnings and what we see his do that he is indeed a VERY powerful unicorn. What is his power was left unchecked? Would he have eventually tried to conquer Equestria proper?

 

7. Design: In a sense I can see why some didn't like his physical design, but to me it evokes the dark side of kingly power. Add in his magic and he's a terror.

 

Of course all of this is IMO. Again, I'm a big fan of Chrysalis as well, but I prefer Sombra simply because he is the better villain. Chrysalis might be the better character, if you will, but as a villain she didn't work out...on the show at least. Now the comics, on the other hand, she improved a great deal with her cunning and deception; not to mention her brutality. That puts her almost on level with Sombra for me.

 

Saying that; Sombra is best pony villain. <3

[Zygen 6,066]

Well, Sombra was a interesting and cool villain, and he wasn't bad exactly, but it feels like he just didn't have time to develop much with the other stuff taking screen time.

 

That said he still has an awesome design, and he definitely could have been even more interesting.

 

That said in a way the fact not much was explained leaves a lot of speculation to be had, which can be fun in it's own way as well.

 

So I would say that while he could be more, I can't say I'm really dissatisfied with his performance either. So I guess I could be considered satisfied.

[Guest90210 3,568]

Somewhat, but I want more. He has potential to be the most interesting character in the entire show if they expand on his character & story more

[SpaceUnicorn 22]

I really wish King Sombra's backstory was better explored.  In the show, he seemed lacking as a villan because that was his only presentation plus a couple lines.

 

I've seen fan-made explorations as to how he came about and took over the Crystal Empire: http://youtu.be/au46vv9v9Wc

 

That was something interesting I really thought the story ought to have explored.

 

In a way, it was explored by proxy in the MLP comics #17-20 when Mirror King Sombra was presented as the good king of Mirror Equestria.  If Mirror Equestria was an opposite reflection of what was happening in Equestria, what was King Sombra doing during that time?

[JH24 385]

I was satisfied with his design which was perfect IMO, but not with the (small) role he played in the season 3 premiere. They could have done much more.

Edited June 20, 2014 by JH24