The more development the merrier?

[Onylex 2,838]

Hello there everypony. I feel like if this type of thread has already been posted so I apologize ahead of time if it has.
 
Any whoo I'v been conversing with someponies about characters from the show, and how I feel that some of them get ether too much screen time with lots of development or very little screen time (if any) and no to very little development. If you were to ask me I think that Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle have a lot more development and screen time than any other ponies/characters in MLP:FiM.(though I would like to see more of Rainbow Dash's parents and family)
 
I want to know what everypony else thinks of this. Do you think that each character is given a fare amount of development and screen time, or that some characters fall short? Would you like to see more background ponies? Do you think background ponies would do well with more attention? Id love to know what characters would you like to see more of and hear more about? I personally would love to see Scootaloo and Rarity pop up more on the show and, I wouldn't mind if a few background ponies said one or two short/quick lines.(mostly Derpy)

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

For the characters I'd like to see most:

 

Applejack: I'd like to see an episode that doesn't really revolve around her family, and one where she genuinely wants something or to achieve something, for herself. She's so selfless, and that's one of her best traits, but I'd like to see her confronted with a situation that makes being selfless hard for her somehow. There might be some issues with plausibly pulling this off, but I'd love to see it if possible.

 

Rainbow Dash: Dashie is a beast when it comes to development, both in quantity and effieciency. IMO she'd have left Twilight behind in this regard if they had the same amount of episodes and screeentime. Still, she has a long way to go. I'd like to see her having to become more nurturing, probably through her relationship with Scootaloo, as well as possibly getting a friendshipping episode with Rarity where they realize that they actually have a lot in common.

 

Rarity: See the idea above. It could go a few ways, either in a situation where Dash is more comfortable (the fanfic Third Time's A Charm by RazedRainbow is a good example, where they're stranded far away from home and have to find their way back. There'd have to be less shippiness though ), or one where Rarity is (possibly a situation where Dash has to model for Rarity for whatever reason and realizes the difficulty of her job and learns to appreciate girlier things a bit more). I'd love to see either.

 

Pinkie Pie: I'd actually like to see some more of her family. An episode where she has to go back to the Rock Farm and help them deal with some massive problem in her own Pinkieish way would be a lot of fun.

 

Celestia and Luna: Duh. The worldbuilding potential is off the charts.

 

Lightning Dust: Easily one of the best side characters. Whatever direction they go with her, it'll help Dash develop too, so fantastic.

 

Zecora: Very levelheaded and wise, yet fun too. I feel like she probably has a very interesting backstory, what with her isolation and the fact that so far as we know, she's the only Zebra anywhere near the places we've seen in the show.

 

I don't have any particular desire to see anything more than little easter egg cameos out of the background characters. Either they'd have to rigidly conform to fanon personalities (leaving them boxed in, and with little room to do anything interesting) or go another direction (in which case they'd alienate the only people who'd like to see the background ponies in the first place).

Edited July 16, 2013 by DashForever

[Mooncookie 7]

I'd love to see something about the origins of Scootaloo. Apple Bloom is Apple Jack's sister and Sweetie Belle is Rarity's. Scottaloo idolizes Ranbow Dash but isn't related. So who is her family? 

I'd also love to see more Rarity because she's my favorite of the Mane 6.

Golden Harvest has had some interesting background moments that I'd like to see expanded upon. In 'Games Ponies Play', she's sharing a very affectionate hug with a stallion at the train station for just a few frames. What's the deal there? Inquiring ponies want to know. 

Obviously I'd love to see more of Derpy, as well as Lyra and Bon Bon. But what are the chances?  

[Shanks 10,817]

Applejack: I have made no secret of the fact that I am a huge AJ fan so of course I would like to see more of her but if you will let me removed my fanboy glasses for just a second I have a few words. Applejack has gotten a lot of screen time but she has been upstaged quite a bit in season 1&2 and though she has some of the best episodes in the series still has a great deal of untapped potential as a character. Season 3 has been very kind to Applejack followed by Rainbow Dash's amazing character development were the two things I liked the most about season 3. Applejack only had two episodes starring her and one of them was also a Spike episode but she had  plenty of great moments throughout the season. The only two things that dissapointed me about Apple Family Reunion were that it did not go into detail about Applejack's parents and we didn't get to see too much of Bab's Seed. Plenty of childrens shows have covered death in a thoughtful manner without causing too much controversy but due to the double standard of MLP being a "girls show" it makes it even more difficult to pull this off without causing a ruckus. It is a real shame because that could be the one thing that forever could have removed Applejacks undeserved reputation as the "boring one".

 

 

Twilight Sparkle: She has had the most development of any character in the series which makes since she is the mane mane 6 and with her recent promotion to alicorn princess she will likely receive a lot of attention as she adjusts to her new role and responsibilities. Even though I am now neutral toward twilicorn I however still think that the execution of it was seriously flawed with a rushed season finale and a season that had very little to do with twilicorn aside from said finale which felt more like it was filler until the coronation scene at the end. Whether or not it will actually work nobody knows for sure, but I am cautiously optimistic. Twilight Sparkle is one of the best characters in this show and I hope it stays that way.

 

Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash along with Rarity has the most obvious and glaring character flaws of the mane 6 which requires quite a bit of character development to address which has made her the most polarizing of the mane 6 with it being a bit of a toss up as to whether she receives more love or more hate. Rainbow Dash has shown though she can often be brash and arrogant that she does have a softer side yet seems reluctant to express it in most situations and can be responsible as we saw in Wonderbolt Academy. Rainbow Dash's new found sisterly relationship with Scootaloo presents a great deal of opportunities for character development for both of them in addition to being completely adorable.

 

Pinkie Pie: Pinkie Pie has some decent character development but seems to have hit a bit of a snag in season 3, she had a good episode in Too Many Pinkie Pie's and the occasional good moment but something seems to have been missing for Pinkie Pie in season 3 but we will see where they take her in season 4.

 

Rarity: She is the one character I believe is in the most dire need of character development and not just because she was ignored in season 3. Alot of people don't like Rarity because her vain and shallow sides are often laid on a bit thick, yes she has her positive qualities and they do come out in the episodes that focus on her but the attempts to exaggerate her negative qualities for the sake of humor like we have seen in many episodes falls flat in most cases.

 

Fluttershy: She just needs to be written a bit more consistently, yes having her learn her lessons a bit more slowly and having her backslide a bit more makes sense but I really wish they would end this cycle of her learning a lesson and then forgetting it a few episodes later.