Do the others treat Spike better than the ones he cares about?

[A Talking Dragon 257]

Let's compare the actions of the main characters:

 

 

Pinkie, (despite their differences, they seem to treat one another as true equals) - Pinkie showed concern for Spike when she just saw him hiccup, wondering if her prank when too far (ep. 5).  She shared the commentary spot and made him co-host (ep. 13). Actually jumped off a moving train to try to save him (have wings she does not). They both performed together on stage (ep 21). She was actually the first to use the endearing name for him (ep 24). For helping her, Pinkie gives Spike a whole patter of gems. Spike was actually at her birthday party (ep. 25). Might of had a part in the Cakes making a cupcake for him (note that no one else outside the mane 6 knew it was his birthday). Spike was in on the whole madam Pinkie business (IAT).  She even messed with the wedding dolls with him and let him stand on her head (ACW).

 

Applejack - She waited for Spike as he got his ticket (ep.3). It was her and not Twilight who ran up to Spike after he was recused and reunited with the gang (ep. 21). She gets up to let Spike into the changing room where as Rarity refuses (ep. 26). Her liar version tells him that he "brings out the worst" in them (RoH). A.J's present to Spike is the biggest of all and he's seen using it in Dragon Quest. Twilight runs to A.J first to ask for help with Spike (SME). Applejack actually worries about the dragon getting hurt doing tasks for her. Just plain won't take advantage of him. Pretty much lets Spike bug the heck out of her for an entire episode without once even getting mad at him (SAYS).

Rainbow Dash, one can argue that out of the others, she's a bit of a jerk to him. However, she's also done some surprising things - Goes after Spike into dangerous territory to save him (ep 21).  Reads into Spike's feelings better than Twilight and realized he was hurting inside. The first to the door to let Spike into the changing room (ep. 26). Went off to make sure Spike would be ok. Nearly drags Twilight and Rarity into a lava pit when she thinks Spike is being carried off by a dragon. The first to threaten the dragons as they are turning on Spike (DQ). Rainbow made sure Rarity paid Spike and she even gives him extra advice on pet sitting (JFSK). Remembered Spike and mentioned that he should've come along to the welcome (S3. ep 12).

 

Fluttershy - Even though she has a phobia of his kind, she makes an exception for Spike. Tries to put him to bed even as she barely knows him. The only pony to hold Spike using both her hooves (ep.1). Asks Spike if he's not coming to join them (ep. 9). Offers Spike the biggest gem for helping her (JFSK).

 

 

Now compare these actions to those done by the ponies Spike cares for the most:

 

 

Rarity - Offered only one gem for Spike's help out of the many she collected, even after he tried to save her life (ep.19).  Didn't mind sticking needles in him and his fanning her. Also, in not watching her footing, had stomped his tail repeatedly (ep. 20). Gives him the exact same thing she would make for a pet owl (ep. 24). She doesn't mind Spike getting dirty for her sake (ep. 25). Takes away Spike's birthday gift to himself. Gives him the smallest present out of everyone and publicly claims during his party to make everyone but him a new outfit (SME). Swoons over a guy after knowing Spike's feelings (SSC 6000). Has him carry more than he can manage (CE). Admits that if she was in Applejack's position, she won't mind being served forever (SAYS). Doesn't think of paying Spike and later gives him the smallest jewel (JSK).

Twilight, these two are suppose to be the closest, yet sometimes I wonder how their relationship would pan out if Spike hadn't known her beforehand. -  The Spike abuse seems strongest from her: Twilight has caused Spike to fall from a great height, smashed the door in his face, sent him flying into the book shelve (ep.1). Shut off his means of speaking and slams a door at his face (ep. 6). Showed no concern for a rock knocking him upside the head as he was helping her(ep. 15). Apparently has him cook her breakfast a lot of mornings ((ep. 25)) who's the younger one here again?). Has rammed his head into a stand (L.Z), bucked Spike off her back (C.P), used him like a coat rack (CP), threw him against a wall (IAT), smacked him upside the head for not lying (H.F), dropped a gigantic book on the dragon and had him to carry it around, smashed the door on his face again (the door thing seems popular), and purposely attacked him with magic while he was trying to reassure her (C.E). The fact that Spike grabbed a means to protect himself shows that the last is not an odd occurrence and that this action might hurt him.

 

Spike has been left behind several times by her and he wasn't even seen on her Birthday (a point that was acknowledged by Dragon Quest). On his birthday, Twilight gets him the same thing she would likely get herself (a book), every single year (SME).

 

Now, have Rarity and Twilight done good things for Spike? Yes, yes they have. Season 2 I think improved on this greatly. However, there's such a lack of balance with these two. Consider that the other 4 have less of a reason to be nice to Spike: Not only do they spend less time with him, but Spike clearly gives more attention and consideration to Twilight and Rarity. Their relationship is different and it should be, after all, one would expect that a friend would treat you better than a classmate. So why does it seem like he's better off with the others?

 

What are your thoughts on this? Is Spike treated better by the others? What needs to change or what doesn't have to change?

 

--

Edited June 19, 2014 by A Talking Dragon

[Misty Rose 3,216]

You make some really good valid points. I think that it's really cute that Spike has a huge crush on Rarity despite how she treats him. She mostly just seems him as an adorable little baby and nothing more. I can see where you're coming from where Spike seems to have a closer relationship with Twilight, but it's the same with siblings, they would drive each other crazy and pick on one another but then in a moment of distress help each other out and show great affection. But I do feel that the ones that treat her better mostly are the rest of the Mane 4. 

[Rai-bolt 3]

Personally, I think that Rarity and Spike are not a good pairing... She's too materialistic to even consider treating him the same as any of her pony friends. Seriously... She treats him about the same as she treated the Diamond Dogs. Maybe that's her ploy? Use and abuse him till he gets fed up finally? :/ Honestly, Rarity is my least favorite of the 6...

 

As for Twilight... Twi and Spike are siblings moreso than anything really. I've an older sister and when we were younger, she basically did all the same kinda things that Twi does to Spike to me... Sibling relationship of an Older Sister obsessed with something generalized and a happy, friendly, helpful baby brother who's been brought up by a sister and maybe the mother most. Neglect and abuse are built into a happy, healthy sibling relationship. :3

 

Of the other 6, I feel Pinkie would be like a best female friend type character... with AJ a close second. They both care about him more greatly than any of the others...

 

And finally about Spike... He's a baby dragon, However he acts more like he's 13-14... I can honestly say that, as a younger brother, when I had hit 13, I started a crush on the prettiest of my sister's friends... it never went anywhere but I still did stuff for her and the rest of my sister's friends. It might have been cause I was hormonal, but as it stands, its completely normal. Seems like Spike's just your average teenager in puberty that was raised with an older sister that's a brainiac... Since he helped her so much with her research and stuff, he learned a lot of what she knows, so he's a teenager that's smart, submissive with a hostile side, and loyal to a fault...

 

The only thing that really needs changing is Rarity and Spike really, but that's a shtick they do so, not likely... :/

[Gigapony 650]

There's some very valid and interesting points in the OP. However, one thing that must be kept in mind is that this show, for all its excellent character development, is also big on the comedy, and a big part of Spike's role is to provide it. So Spike being the punching bag every now and again is meant to give a few slapstick laughs but I don't see it as indicative of anyone "hating" Spike or wanting to deliberately hurt him.

 

In the case of Twilight and Spike, I never saw it as abuse on Twilight's part. It really is like a brother/sister dynamic going on. In fact, that Twilight raps Spike on the noggin a few times is actually more indicative to me of the wonderful and intimate relationship they have, where Spike never takes any of that seriously and no matter what Twilight does to him, he knows her well enough to know how much she loves him (and vice versa) without her having to go out of her way to show it.

 

With Rarity it's a little different. I really don't think she means any harm, and I do believe she genuinely cares for Spike (which she's shown more than once), but Rarity has a different way of showing it. Her naturally self-centred personality means she sometimes has trouble reading people, and Spike especially because she apparently sees him as just a "little kid" and treat him not unlike she does Sweetie Belle (though obviously lacking in the sisterly bond). For Spike's part, his massive crush lets him forgive (or even enjoy) the abuse.

[A Talking Dragon 257]

"In the case of Twilight and Spike, I never saw it as abuse on Twilight's part."

 

"With Rarity it's a little different. I really don't think she means any harm"

 

 

^^ Yeah, I agree with you: It's more like just the state of things. Which I find a little wired. I won't mind if they showed this bond better in season 4.

 

 

However, one thing that must be kept in mind is that this show, for all its excellent character development, is also big on the comedy, and a big part of Spike's role is to provide it. So Spike being the punching bag every now and again is meant to give a few slapstick laughs

 

^ I would argue of him serving a different role. 

 

Even with what you said in mind, does the show go too far with it sometimes? If yes, what caught your attention. If not, what would be the limit of hits/punishment Spike could take for comedy sake? 

[Static Electricity 729]

Vidoe says it all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5m9vS5wp14

(Inserting random characters, euriueiyfieyfiyejfjeiu uisuewidiedihd dwihdiwhdiwhidh iwhdiwhdiwhdi)

[Scootalove 10,689]

Very valid points, my friend. I think that Spike is treated very well by Twilight, while the other five ponies are still trying to build up more of an relationship with Spike. But, Spike treats all of the six ponies very well while Rarity and Spike's future relationship might come to reality and actually happen. I can say that other ponies treat Spike well, but I don't really know much about that.

[Megas 27,820]

I kinda wish they'd do an episode featuring Rainbow Dash and Spike, I always felt that they had more in common than most think

[ReverseFaller 2,484]

I kinda wish they'd do an episode featuring Rainbow Dash and Spike, I always felt that they had more in common than most think

This I would like to see. That'd make a great episode. Also, Spike does seem to get treated differently, and the OP made some very good points on the topic. 

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

Yes, they do. I suppose whenever somepony meets someone new, they would treat them nicer than a friend for a long time. Since they don't know spike as well, they just treat him nicer.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

Rarity - Offered only one gem for Spike's help out of the many she collected, even after he tried to save her life (ep.19). Didn't mind sticking needles in him and his fanning her. Also, in not watching her footing, had stomped his tail repeatedly (ep. 20). Gives him the exact same thing she would make for a pet owl (ep. 24). She doesn't mind Spike getting dirty for her sake (ep. 25). Takes away Spike's birthday gift to himself. Gives him the smallest present out of everypony and publicly claims during his party to make everypony but him a new outfit (SME). Swoons over a guy after knowing Spike's feelings (SSC 6000). Has him carry more than he can manage (CE). Admits that if she was in Applejack's position, she won't mind being served forever (SAYS). Doesn't think of paying Spike and later gives him the smallest jewel (JSK).

I agree on this. I think Rarity's affection and appreciation towards Spike has been lacking overall, not that she has never been positive.

[Pastel 7,630]

I agree on this. I think Rarity's affection and appreciation towards Spike has been lacking overall, not that she has never been positive.

She doesn't love Spike, if she shows too much affection towards him, he might misinterpret it and eventually be disappointed.