The Out of Character Moments.

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

Let's hear them! Everypony has their own idea of how the characters should act, and often times we disagree with what we see our favorite ponies do on the show. In this topic, we'll share the moments where we felt a character was OOC, why they weren't in character, and what the character probably should have done. Feel free to debate with one another if you disagree, but let's be peaceful about it.

 

I'll start! In season 1's Look Before You Sleep, Twilight tells a ghost story about the headless horse. Now, I'm not so sure that Rarity wouldn't be somewhat shaken by Twilight's tale, but Applejack cowering in fear was somewhat surprising to me, not so much because Applejack is particularly brave like Rainbow Dash, but because she's the level-headed pony and she should know that it's just an old pony's tale. Applejack's fear of the ghost story seemed like it was done simply for the convenience of plot. This was AJ's reaction to Twilight's ghost story:

 

 

And then comes season 3's Sleepless in Ponyville, which I felt showed a much more in-character Applejack, and arguably Rarity as well. In this episode Rainbow Dash tells a strikingly similar story about the headless horse as the one in LBYS. Instead of screaming and hugging one another, both Applejack and Rarity remained calm during the telling of the story. Applejack even challenges Rainbow's story, asking how such a creature could function without a head, and thus, a brain. She displays little to no fear, showing that she's far too down-to-earth to even be fazed by the tale.

 

 

We don't really see Rarity react to the story too much, but like Applejack she didn't display fear either. I really felt that SiP had the better portrayal of both Applejack and Rarity, and the character interactions were superior all around. I feel that some of the earlier episodes of MLP had some inconsistencies, which is understandable because the writers were still working hard to really find the characters and who they were.

 

Well hey, perhaps this could be explained? Maybe Applejack and Rarity aren't afraid because they've heard the story before and it isn't as scary to them as it once was? Maybe Twilight's a better spooky story teller than Rainbow Dash? Maybe Applejack and Rarity tried harder to hide their fear due to the fact that their little sisters were with them? Applejack would NEVER want to show fear in front of her little sister who looks up to her, right?

 

RIGHT?

 

 

 

 

 

Aww hayseed.......

 

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Nice topic, along with your mentions.

 

Without a doubt the most out of character moment I have for right now is the infamous lesson in the mysterious mare do well.

 

You see, being a hero who does good things for others like saving lives and helping others is great, and being well known and famous comes along with it.

 

However, twilight, applejack, pinkie pie, fluttershy, and rarity seemed to think of it too much to the point of teaching her a lesson on not to overdue it....

 

 

I never understood this. Aren't they supposed to be happy that their friend is being a hero by doing good deeds to ponyville and as well sharing the fame towards them?

 

Instead, they adapt a superhero of their own where in the end, they reveal themselves and tell her how to handle herself.

 

In my opinion, this is the most infamous out of context for the mane 6, excluding rainbow dash.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I don't understand. It seems you ask whether Applejack being scared is against her character then you seem to understand that she has more than one instance of showing fright which would mean that it is within her character. Perhaps fright is a hidden character weakness for Applejack.

 

As for another example, I think Fluttershy's inability to even say her name out loud in "Friendship is Magic" was out of character even though it was her first scene, she doesn't do this again in the series. She is shy but not to such extreme that I can recall.

[Crazydud619dx 30]

Nice topic, along with your mentions.

 

Without a doubt the most out of character moment I have for right now is the infamous lesson in the mysterious mare do well.

 

You see, being a hero who does good things for others like saving lives and helping others is great, and being well known and famous comes along with it.

 

However, twilight, applejack, pinkie pie, fluttershy, and rarity seemed to think of it too much to the point of teaching her a lesson on not to overdue it....

 

I never understood this. Aren't they supposed to be happy that their friend is being a hero by doing good deeds to ponyville and as well sharing the fame towards them?

 

Instead, they adapt a superhero of their own where in the end, they reveal themselves and tell her how to handle herself.

 

In my opinion, this is the most infamous out of context for the mane 6, excluding rainbow dash.

I think each of them minus Rainbow Dash agreed to make a superhero persona, mainly because RD started to boast about her good deeds after the first few people she saved and the castrophes she stopped. I do think that it was unnecessary to boast about their own superhero though;it only made the situation worse, considering Rainbow started envying Mare Do Well. It would've been better if they just told her about her actions when she was boasting beforehand instead of doing all of that to make RD realize her mistake about boasting about her good deeds after her friends revealed themselves to her. Edited August 14, 2013 by Crazydud619dx

[Tails_155 68]

I wrote a whole essay on how out of character everyone seemed in Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 (name?). I was really underwhelmed by the episode in total, but the out of characterness of it really irritated me a lot.

 

Rarity. Always Rarity. Rarity is out of alignment with her element so much I don't get why that was the element they chose if that was the personality they wanted.

 

I feel like I had a couple major examples of Applejack I can't remember, too.

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

Interesting topic! There is, of course, the obvious one where Fluttershy goes crazy, and although they show her slowly getting angry, it just doesn't make sense to me how she would lose control.

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

I think that they all seemed kind of out of character in "Bridle Gossip."  Except for Twilight and Apple Bloom.  Or maybe since it was an early episode, they all just learned their lesson from the experience and never acted so judgmental again.

[Righteous Fury 344]

Twilight in Canterlot Wedding.

 

ok we've seen Twi go crazy before, but this isn't crazy-Twi, this is normal Twi being really bad at proving her case - when she just did the exact same thing flawlessly in MMMystery. I'd expect the 'nobody understands me' plotline from Pinkie or Fluttershy, not the most logical character on the show.

 

Apple Bloom in Cutie Pox.

 

for some reason AB gets ridiculously depressed over a random cutie mark attempt, then STEALS from a friend (remember she was Zecora's first Ponyville friend?) and LIES to her best friends who want the same thing she just stole.

 

Applejack in SSCS6000.

 

and yes this one has been mentioned but DAMMIT IT MAKES ME MAD - APPLEJACK NEARLY LOSES THE FARM BECAUSE OF HER OWN STUPID ARROGANCE, AND STATES IN THE LETTER THAT SHE WAS RIGHT TO BE ARROGANT??? ARGH. (AJ is my favourite pony in case that wasn't clear)

 

Rarity in Sonic Rainboom.

 

I actually think Rarity gets an unfair rap for being OOC. She's not selfish. She's just DUMB, she has NO idea what other people are thinking. Take Secret of my Excess, she didn't weasel the gem out of Spike, she honestly tried to contain herself and thought he wouldn't notice she really wanted it. That's what makes Rarity such an interesting character. That said HOLY CRAP SHE WAS SUCH A BITCH IN THIS EPISODE.

 

Fluttershy in Putting Your Hoof Down.

 

overall I like this episode and the message it contains, but I think Fluttershy's Face Heel Turn happened a little too fast, and was a little too severe - she had some truly nasty moments.

 

...

 

also seriously nobody's made a Bon Bon joke yet?

[cuteycindyhoney 13,307]

 

 

As for another example, I think Fluttershy's inability to even say her name out loud in "Friendship is Magic" was out of character even though it was her first scene, she doesn't do this again in the series. She is shy but not to such extreme that I can recall.

I think it was very much in character. I gather that before Twilight came to Ponyville, Fluttershy pretty much only had her critters, and Rainbow Dash as friends. Rainbow didn't even seem like a close friend. She just helped out when Fluttershy was being bullied. Don't forget, it wasn't just Twilight who learned that Magic is Friendship. The whole mane six did. They wouldn't be such good friends if it hadn't been for Twilight. There was a sort of Sailor Moon thing going on (I loved Sailor Moon!)  Twilight bound the other ponies together into a group of very close friends with herself as the key to it all. In "Griffin the Brushoff". it seemed like Rainbow actually didn't like Pinkie much, until she learned that they shared a love of practical jokes.

Aside from that, there's always the fact that Fluttershy wielding her own element would go very far in boosting a very timid pony's confidence.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I think it was very much in character. I gather that before Twilight came to Ponyville, Fluttershy pretty much only had her critters, and Rainbow Dash as friends. Rainbow didn't even seem like a close friend. She just helped out when Fluttershy was being bullied. Don't forget, it wasn't just Twilight who learned that Magic is Friendship. The whole mane six did. They wouldn't be such good friends if it hadn't been for Twilight. There was a sort of Sailor Moon thing going on (I loved Sailor Moon!)  Twilight bound the other ponies together into a group of very close friends with herself as the key to it all. In "Griffin the Brushoff". it seemed like Rainbow actually didn't like Pinkie much, until she learned that they shared a love of practical jokes.

Aside from that, there's always the fact that Fluttershy wielding her own element would go very far in boosting a very timid pony's confidence.

I suppose I did not take that into consideration. Fluttershy would have learned a lot in the events surrounding “Friendship is Magic”. I was incorrect.

[John 793]

In my opinion, when Twilight pushed spike into the "door that leads to your greatest fear" without telling him first what it was.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riyQTDYd35c

 

I don't care what she said afterwards.  That was pretty bitchy.

 

Who knows how many nightmares that's going to give him haha.

Edited August 16, 2013 by John

[DubWolf 17,263]

Five words:

 

You're, GOING, TO LOOOVE MEE !!!!

 

Makes me wonder if she is only into kindness to keep the cute little animals she owns. If those Canterlot bunnies don't want you Fluttershy, I'm sure your animal friends at your cottage will still love you.

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

In my opinion, when Twilight pushed spike into the "door that leads to your greatest fear" without telling him first what it was.

 

 

I watched the clip that you posted.  Twilight didn't push Spike into the door.  Twilight was looking at the door, probably trying to figure out what just happened, and Spike walked up to it himself. 

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think in The Mysterious Mare Do Well, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy where they had to dress up like Mare Do Well to prove to Rainbow Dash that a hero does not save people just for the admiration from their fans and brag about it. A hero fights for what is right, and fights to protect the citizens from harm. It was a pretty out of character moment.

 

[Zygen 6,066]

I think when Rarity yells "MINE!" in the end of canterlot wedding is a pretty famous example.

 

Other then that i can't think of any on my own really.

 

Also as for the Applejack being scared of the ghost stories thing, I think shes maybe more easily scared at first then we'd think, i mean shes scared of Zecora, aswell as the ghost story.

 

The reason she isn't scared of it the 2nd time is because of the fact the story has already been told to them, plus shes trying to comfort her sister. Same with Rarity sorta.

[Crapplejack 136]

-Twilight goes out of character in lesson zero and It's about time 'cause she's obsessed

 

-Pinkie Pie goes out of character during Party of one when she thinks her friends are lying to her

 

-Rarity almost everytime but she's awesome anyway

 

-Applejack she lies at Pinkie in Party of One

 

- Rainbow Dash In Dragonshy she's not being very loyal...

 

Fluttershy- she goes out of character in Putting your hoof down.

Edited August 17, 2013 by Dark Moonlight

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

I don't understand. It seems you ask whether Applejack being scared is against her character then you seem to understand that she has more than one instance of showing fright which would mean that it is within her character. Perhaps fright is a hidden character weakness for Applejack.

 

It is well within Applejack's character to feel afraid. I'm just pointing out that in two different episodes she hears a very similar ghost story, and yet her reaction to the story in one episode contrasts heavily to her reaction to the ghost story in another episode. I think she was more in-character when she wasn't afraid of the ghost story. She is the most rational of all of the ponies, and so something as simple as a story should be one of the last things that would freak her out. There are many other instances where Applejack shows fear in a situation that makes more sense to her character.

 

As for that last bit in my OP, that was really just a joke I made about another OOC moment. I don't know why the writers/storyboard artists decided that Applejack was the biggest coward of the group in Bridle Gossip. I'm sure that AJ shaking like crazy was done for comedic relief, but I think it would have made more sense if that was Fluttershy instead. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of a pony like Applejack shaking like crazy over Pinkie Pie's ridiculous song when we've seen Applejack roll her eyes at Pinkie's silliness countless times in later episodes. I think the more recent episodes have a much better grasp as to who Applejack really is.

 

Thank you all for posting your thoughts. I figured this thread would be another dud, but I've actually gotten some decent insight here.

Edited August 18, 2013 by Sugar Cube

[John 793]

I watched the clip that you posted.  Twilight didn't push Spike into the door.  Twilight was looking at the door, probably trying to figure out what just happened, and Spike walked up to it himself. 

 

Look how she immediately steps behind the door as to hold it open for spike.  It really seems like she's trying to give him a taste of Sombra's dark magic.  She's clearly watching spike suffer at 18 seconds into the video.  She also was so engrossed in the door that she let spike experience the fear for a good 10 seconds.

 

Oh yeah.  Notice how she slaps her head in the beginning like Spike was doing something wrong or stupid.  She should appreciate that he (as scared as he was to climb down the stairs) went down in search of her when he thought she was in trouble.

 

Pretty negligent if you ask me.  Someone needs to send a pony-social worker to take spike away.  (Just Joking.)

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

I guess I just disagree with your interpretation of the scene.  As I see it, Twilight is trying to figure out what happened and is not really paying attention to Spike.  Then when she sees the thing above the door light up, and hears what Spike is saying, she realizes what the door does.  At least, that is what I think is happening. 

[pinkiefan1287 610]

Thats an easy Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were way out of character in MMMystery on the friendship express. All of them were way out of character in that episode.

 

The 3 ponies took a bite of the cake, knowing well that this is very important for the Cake family and than after that did not say anything about it. For me that was way out of character.

 

Now AJ did not take a real bite, but I believe she tried to do it before the night part.

[John 793]

I guess I just disagree with your interpretation of the scene.  As I see it, Twilight is trying to figure out what happened and is not really paying attention to Spike.  Then when she sees the thing above the door light up, and hears what Spike is saying, she realizes what the door does.  At least, that is what I think is happening. 

 

No, I'm pretty sure she knew what the door did considering she experienced its power.  Watch her get behind the door as if to say "you go ahead spike."

[FlutterIsBestAlicorn 21]

Twilight in the entirity of "Luna Eclipsed"

[Sparklefan1234 170,611]

In "What About Discord?" I honestly don't think Twilight Sparkle would care as much as she did about being left out of a joke between her friends. 

[Tacodidra 61,161]

As much as I loved "No Second Prances", I really don't like Mrs. Cake's portrayal in that episode. She's very rude and unlikable (and obviously jealous of Starlight's baking skills) – I don't remember her acting like that in any other episode.

If they had her act more respectfully (maybe even praise Starlight for baking such a beautiful cake!) and only get mad at her for dropping the cake on her, it would have been a much better portrayal.

Edited July 8, 2023 by Tacodidra

[Castle Bleck 19,356]

Sombra throughout The Beginning Of The End, in spades.

Before? Tended to be more careful and serious than the other villains. Now? Suddenly a loud, reckless stereotype.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Castle Bleck