How would YOU handle "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well"?

[Dark Qiviut 22,405]

Over the past week-plus, I've been thinking about possibly the most thoroughly controversial episode in the fandom.

A Canterlot W— Whoops! Wrong place.

The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well.

The first time I watched the episode was around mid-February, and it absolutely disgusted me to see how out of character the entire cast was. It was so terrible that I haven't watched it again. I think this comic demonstrates quite well how bad the characterizations and moral's execution were. And most of the fandom either considers it their least favorite, least liked, or worst episode.

Today, I've been reading some fanfics that call out the serious issues this episode has. Friendship Is Empathy was just published and is now in the feature scroll at the top of the page. Currently, I'm in the middle of What's Eating Rainbow Dash?, and it's well-constructed.

So my question to you is how would you handle The Mysterious Mare-Do Well? Would you write the aftereffects of the episode or rewrite the episode (either part of it or entirely)?

[Arcanel 3,041]

While I don't agree with the "bad" opinion on TMMDW, interesting thread Qiviut!

 

However, if I really HAD to take a choice, I would probably write the aftereffects. Maybe a little insight on the girls wondering if they hhad used the right tactic with Rainbow, said cyan pony probably wondering just how much of a fame crazed pony she had turned herself into, a get together, and if apologies are needed, they will be done.

[Retro*Derpy 3,185]

I honestly don't think just going up to her and saying "Hey, your being a show off" would of worked. She probably wouldn't of cared much, or said they were just jealous. They showed RD that being a show off isn't very cool by taking the fame away from her, and her friends weren't being mean, if they were being mean, they probably wouldn't of disguised themselves and tried to hog fame (More than they already did).

 

Though this doesn't mean the episode doesn't need fixing. There are some parts I wish they would of changed in TMMDW, but I wouldn't call it the worst episode.

Edited December 4, 2012 by Retro_Derpy

[khaine21x3 789]

I would've made it more batman like with controversial topic like political prisoners escaping from celestia's palace and and make the episode take place in manehattan with a grimdark setting.

[Starshine 16,333]

Remove the costume(s)

 

I would LOVE to see how would RD react as her friends one by one outdo her in front of everyone. Of course without the costume, the mayor would never christen the new 'heroes' as MMDW. Instead of the over-the-top hero worship, there would be a nice 'thank you' and be done with it.

 

P.S. remove the construction site too. Replace it with a renovated barn, simple as that.

Edited December 4, 2012 by Twinkleshine

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Over the past week-plus, I've been thinking about possibly the most thoroughly controversial episode in the fandom.

 

A Canterlot W— Whoops! Wrong place.

 

The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well.

 

The first time I watched the episode was around mid-February, and it absolutely disgusted me to see how out of character the entire cast was. It was so terrible that I haven't watched it again. I think this comic demonstrates quite well how bad the characterizations and moral's execution were. And most of the fandom either considers it their least favorite, least liked, or worst episode.

 

Today, I've been reading some fanfics that call out the serious issues this episode has. Friendship Is Empathy was just published and is now in the feature scroll at the top of the page. Currently, I'm in the middle of What's Eating Rainbow Dash?, and it's well-constructed.

 

So my question to you is how would you handle The Mysterious Mare-Do Well? Would you write the aftereffects of the episode or rewrite the episode (either part of it or entirely)?

Personally I would recommend the fanfic No Hard Feelings to you

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/3514/No-hard-feelings

Mainly because while Friendship is Empathy and What's Eating Rainbow Dash do a decent job at explaining the faults of the Mane 5's actions, they don't acknowledge that Dash's ego was putting people in danger and that there was a good reason for the 5 to do what they did. No Hard Feelings in my opinion does a better job at looking at both perspectives and explaining what was right and wrong about it.

If possible, I might just tack that fic onto the end of the episode, but it probably wouldn't work time wise.

 

Are we ruling out that they just talk to her about the problem as well?

 

I have done some thought about this, and I think it would have gone better if they hasn't left Rainbow in the dark and let her make some wrong assumptions, because she had no idea whatsoever what they were trying to teach her. So I say after the hot air balloon incident Twilight says something like "You know, it might have been a good thing the Mare Do Well showed up, you wouldn't have made it in time to save that person, but if you had dropped the autograph signing right away then you'd have definitely beat her there"

Sort of making it clear that Mare Do Well was supposed to be emulated, not competed with.

If Dash screwed up in other ways the Mare Do Well could be used as a role model there as well. And at the end of the episode the Dam breaks, and Dash realizes that she can't solve this problem alone so she asks the Mare Do Well for help, all the six show up, save the day, explain why they did what they did, write a letter and go home happy.

No hypocrisy, no passive aggressiveness, shows Dash's good intentions better, no depression ensuing, and no out of character moments.

That's how I would remake the episode, but this thread might degenerate into an argument pretty quickly.

Edited January 10, 2013 by DashForever

[CaptainLuna 50]

i would probably do the after effects to have the mane sixes after thoughts but theres one thing i realized while watching this in the actual episode they explain all but the first incident when mare do well saves the pony in the blimp this might just be bad writing but to me i think they were implying that mare do well was an actual pony and the mane six  just copied her design so i would take this and add mare do well off in the distant narrating the end and fleeing to another town to go save other ponies  

[Arcanel 3,041]

I would LOVE to see how would RD react as her friends one by one outdo her in front of everyone. Of course without the costume, the mayor would never christen the new 'heroes' as MMDW. Instead of the over-the-top hero worship, there would be a nice 'thank you' and be done with it.

You do realize you're subconciously asking for a Boast Busters sort of thing, only RD becomes Trixie right? But still, I think they needed a hero because it was simpler to have RD concentrate all her jealousy to one, and not 5. Plus, I don't know about you, but I hardly see Fluttershy outdoing Rainbow UNLESS, it was a very specific thing that involved RD's speed and such and STILL got beaten. I think it would have been a bit more complicated, and even then I don't think they would have had enough time for that in the episode.

[Starshine 16,333]

You do realize you're subconciously asking for a Boast Busters sort of thing, only RD becomes Trixie right?tongue.png

Yes. I would like to see her ego destroyed utterly that she will fly home weeping all the way.

But still, I think they needed a hero because it was simpler to have RD concentrate all her jealousy to one, and not 5

By having her 'heroic deeds' outdone by normal, your everyday uncostumed ponies with no fancy title, hopefully she would see that she's not that special. Yeah she can break the sound barrier, but she's not that great elsewhere.

 

Oh, and Fluttershy flew over her when Rainbow Dash said that MMDW couldn't fly

[Arcanel 3,041]

Yes. I would like to see her ego destroyed utterly that she will fly home weeping all the way.

No wonder you're wanting to escape the Pegasus badge. 

 

By having her 'heroic deeds' outdone by normal, your everyday uncostumed ponies with no fancy title, hopefully she would see that she's not that special. Yeah she can break the sound barrier, but she's not that great elsewhere. Oh, and Fluttershy flew over her when Rainbow Dash said that MMDW couldn't fly

Hmmm...the thing is, at first they WERE great deeds, until Rianbow went mad with jealousy and went for the most ridiculous things. Rainbow was going for the big things at first, so even then, the others still needed a plan to succeed before her.

 

I think it all comes down to what you think makes the most impact. Have another "hero" do all the things before, effectively transporting any slice of fame to that "hero" making RD completely forgotten about and insane with jealousy, OR, demostrating that normal ponies could make the things she did, making it show that she wasn't so grand and big as she boasted herself as, a la Boast Busters. Depending on what you do, each could bring a nice episode. Hell, I think they could be separate episodes on themselves, as it shows something similar, but with a different lesson.

[Starshine 16,333]

No wonder you're wanting to escape the Pegasus badge.tongue.png

No comment :x

demostrating that normal ponies could make the things she did, making it show that she wasn't so grand and big as she boasted herself as, a la Boast Busters.

Yep, that's what I'm talking about. It would be a much greater punch to the guts if other civilians also helped to steal RD's 'heroic deeds', like having Big Mac stopped the careening carriage, or Bon Bon saving the construction ponies.

 

If everyone is a hero, then no one is.

[Arcanel 3,041]

Yep, that's what I'm talking about. It would be a much greater punch to the guts if other civilians also helped to steal RD's 'heroic deeds', like having Big Mac stopped the careening carriage, or Bon Bon saving the construction ponies. If everyone is a hero, then no one is.

Like I said, IMO I think both are great ways to show how NOT to be a pony with the head on the clouds like RD did. But oh well. Also, no offense to Bon Bon, I don't see her being much of an athlete...

Edited December 4, 2012 by Arcanel

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

Over the past week-plus, I've been thinking about possibly the most thoroughly controversial episode in the fandom.

 

A Canterlot W— Whoops! Wrong place.

 

The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well.

Actually, "controversial" isn't the right word for that episode. It's pretty much universally disliked.

 

But to answer the question, I would rewrite the whole episode from scratch. I love Dashie, but she had enough episodes about her that season. Instead I would replace Mare Do Well with an Applejack episode, where she returns to Manehattan to set up an apple cart. The side business is so successful that she makes a lot of money and is almost pulled back into the old high-society life she lived as a filly before her cutie mark. The venture also causes tension between her and her relatives the Oranges, who control most of the fruit market in the city. In the end, AJ's example leads the Oranges to loosen up their business and she returns to Ponyville, setting the money aside for the Acres.