How would you like to see the mane 6 improved in season 4?

[Champion RD92 8,653]

Mostly in terms of personality and character, how would you like to see the mane 6 improved in season 4? Is there any certain way you would like them to act differently? Or are the characters perfect as they are?

 

Here's some of my thoughts:

 

Rainbow Dash: I feel like Rainbow Dash would be perfect if only she would act less brash and full of herself. Having confidence is fine, but being arrogant is not. Rainbow Dash really needs to be generally just less brash and more humble. (Also, if Dashie had a ponytail in season 4, that would be amazingly cute.)

 

Twilight Sparkle: Twilight is a character whom I actually admire greatly. She is very rational and reasonable, which I really like about her. I think the only flaw in her character is maybe that she freaks out a bit too much about her studying haha. And also, now that she's a Princess, I'm interested to see how her character develops in season 4.

 

Rarity: Well one of the biggest things I don't like about Rarity is the fact that she can be manipulative. She is also overly concerned with fitting in with the Canterlot royalty and her fashion, etc. And she can also be very inconsiderate, considering the way she has treated Sweetie Belle in the past. I would like to see Rarity act less in these ways in the future.

 

Applejack: There isn't anything I see wrong with Applejack's personality. I suppose maybe her character could be improved by developing her character a little more. Maybe there could be an episode that explains more of her backstory, like what happened to her parents or something.

 

Pinkie Pie: Okay, I'm gonna be honest. In season 3, Pinkie Pie was just flat out weird and annoying. Before, at least she was funny, but she's just annoying now. I did like her character in season 1 though. Party of One was a great episode.

 

Fluttershy: Okay, honestly, I think Fluttershy is the most boring character. She needs to stop being so scared of every little tiny thing. Oh, and she seriously needs to stop letting Angel be such a butthole to her. I really hate that bunny. 

[Scootalove 10,684]

I don't have much to say on improving the Mane 6 but, I'll see what I can do.

 

Rarity: I know she is willing to into the Canterlot royalty, and their way of living but it would better if she didn't have to lie to get accepted by Fancy Pants. She should definitely treat Sweetie Belle better, especially when she made Sweetie Belle carry all of her things in Sleepless in Ponyville.

 

Applejack: Her personality is fine but, I want the writers to give her some problems that will later become issues to see how she can handle them on her own. A backstory of her parents could be nice too.

 

Fluttershy: A boring character, but yet so cute. Seriously though, we need to tone down more on her being scared of every little thing. Have her stand up for herself but, not the wrong way in Putting Your Hoof Down.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,237]

Pretty much everything you listed are the obvious parts. Not too much can be added there from me. Plus, I am trying to keep my expectations wide open for season 4. The main thing I wanted has already been confirmed.

 

If anything:

 

Rainbow Dash: I would like to see this sister-like personality explored more, as it is strongly introduced in season 3 with Scootaloo.

 

Rarity: Actually, same thing here. I personally want to see more bonding between her and Sweetie Belle or perhaps just increase her bond with other characters.

 

Applejack: Hmm....This is a tough one. She is my least favorite of the mane 6 but, I suppose the one major thing I like about her is she seems like the type of pony who appreciates all of the simpler enjoyments of life. Maybe. It would be neat to see one of that portrayed.

 

Pinkie Pie: An exploration into her mental state, because there is obviously something strange there.

 

Fluttershy: Have her bond with Discord. Seriously, her friendship with him is really neat, whether or not the ending of the episode was rushed. I liked that whole episode by the way, including the ending.

 

Twilight: Her being a princess is one of my new favorite things, so, I am fine with her as is. They can obviously add more to her character and whatnot down the line, but I have no specific wants here.

 

A lot of this doesn't seem like 'improvements of character' but like I said, you kinda pointed most of the really obvious points. It is more of what I would like to see from the characters. Like I said though, my main wish for season 4 has already been confirmed so, I am pretty open to whatever they do.

Edited October 20, 2013 by Kyoshi

[Dsanders 5,742]

With Rainbow Dash, I would like to see how well she does in her wonderbolt training, and maybe the progress she's gone through. I'd also like to see how she handles her new sister-like relationship with Scootaloo. And yeah, it would be nice to see her become more humble. Her having a smexy ponytail is not a bad idea either.

 

I actually agree with a lot of your points regarding Pinkie Pie. I think she was great as far as her personality goes in season 1 and some of season 2. But now that I think about it, she seems to be gradually becoming more and more of an airhead. So I hope that can change in the next season. Also, I hope to see more background on her and her family, especially since I heard Inkie and Blinkie Pie will be making an appearance in the coming season.

 

I think Fluttershy needs to seriously try and face her fears already. You would think that after all the episodes in which we see good character development in her, she would learn and improve. But I don't see much difference in her sadly. :/ I'm not sure what can be done about her. I mean she is a really cute pony, but she needs to at least stand up to that Angel bunny jerk. I agree, she is actually one of the most boring characters in the show. :/

 

Applejack is a great character, I just think she needs more background story to her, and some more episodes in the next season.

 

Twilight's fine. It would be nice to see how she handles her new role as a princess Alicorn. I wonder how much of a change for her that will be. Is nothing gonna change? I guess we'll have to see. 

 

As for Rarity, I'd like to see her display more of her generosity rather than her concern for popularity and Canterlot.

[imlizyeah 56]

 I would like to see a glimpse of official Applejack backstory and character developement. I think she needs more focus on her.

 I also would like Twilight's princesshood being a very serious job and see developement with her and her theme (since the other princesses are princesses of soemthing. Celestia: sun, Luna: moon, Cadence: love/crystal empire. Twilight needs something to rule over)

[Legacy Dash 438]

Mostly in terms of personality and charac...

It seems like you want the mane 6 to be perfect, but really, I'd say it's what makes the show really interesting.

 

(My opinion...)

If Rainbow Dash wasn't so full of herself - she wouldn't be Rainbow Dash.

If Rarity wasn't overly concerned about fashion - she wouldn't be Rariy.

If Fluttershy stood up to herself more - she wouldn't be Fluttershy.

Etc..

 

I personally quite like how the characters are now.

 

Except I agree about Pinkie Pie and seeing about Applejack's backstory.

[Dark Qiviut 22,160]

Applejack: Involve her in episodes that aren't exclusively related to the Apple family nor have the writers fall into the trap of her being stubborn only to realize her actions at the end. Three episodes — Applebuck Season, Look Before You Sleep, The Last Roundup — are enough; any more will be overkill and a sign that DHX doesn't know how to handle her. She's a character with a mound of potential, but she hasn't been taken advantage of so much due to where she lives and how complete she already is as a character. Apple Family Reunion did a good job handling one half of the task, having her be so giddy that she overlooked the simplest things in life.

 

Rainbow Dash: I could raise many criticisms of season three, but Rainbow Dash was where she gets the most praise as a character. Her character development stuck through season one, only to have it tossed aside in most of season two, May the Best Pet Win! and The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well the biggest culprits. Basically, Rainbow Dash had character development; make sure she sticks to it and not have the writers backtrack and retcon it to artificially create conflict.

 

Rarity: Make her less manipulative and selfish. Season one had her sway from one end of the spectrum to the other quite a bit. She starred in season two quite a bit and was involved in episodes where her strengths and flaws balanced each other. (The fact that she "ethically lied," a flaw in the series even I overlooked, in Sweet and Elite is a valid criticism.) Putting Your Hoof Down turned her act of generosity into a flaw by taking advantage of the nerd, but season three relegated her into a background pony. Give her spotlight and have her recognize her actions and attitude and have her stick to it. Less selfishness and want to head to Canterlot.

 

Pinkie Pie: Tone down her humor. She can be very hilarious, but season three turned her humor into a common theme, interrupting the flow of the episode and making her into a shallow, out-of-character shell of herself. She has many facets that make her her, from her deep connection to her friends to her mood swings. Use it! Don't waste the potential.

 

Fluttershy: Rarity was a background pony in season three, but Fluttershy fit the role even more regardless of her primary status in Keep Calm and Flutter On. Speaking of KCaFO, she was taken out of her common role of her being a shy, scared stereotype and taking advantage of her assertiveness and kindness. It was her best role since PYHD, but since season one's finale, she's been extremely inconsistent. She's strong in one episode only to have her regress into a shy, out-of-character bugger the next. Magic Duel flanderized her to an extent that makes no sense given the timeline whether it was written as a season two episode or not. Give her a more prominent role without having episodes relegate her into a shy puppet.

 

Spike: He's the only character where the main episodes haven't always been up to snuff. Owl's Well pushed him into being an out-of-character asshole and turned what would later be a justified worry and jealousy into something antagonistic. To make matters worse, there have been many episodes where he becomes the center of comic relief and repetitive mischief. Two of Morrow's episodes, Winter Wrap-Up and Hurricane Fluttershy, relegated Spike into being a jackass, either intentional or unintentional, just to force laughter. Spike's much smarter than that, and he's a lot wiser than his visual age dictates. Make him funny, but balance it out with his wisdom, ability to understand trust, and so on. Currently, Equestria Girls is the only "episode" where Spike's characterization was taken full advantage of.

 

Twilight Sparkle: If you know my past posting history, you can easily predict where I'm going here. She really needs to prove her worth as a princess. Equestrian royalty isn't about being held a title before going about your way. Royalty is worshiped, and alicorn princesses indicate responsibility in how you see, work, and behave in society. What they say and do affects everyone's livelihoods. Twilight has yet to be put under such pressure, whether it's in Canterlot, Ponyville, or somewhere else. Take the responsibilities and show to the audience that Twilight truly is ready to be a princess. So far, she did many moments that were just reckless or stupid, such as completely losing control in Lesson Zero, giving a book that showed the Cutie Mark Crusaders how to create a poison, and formulating a spell that could've permanently sent Pinkie Pie into the Mirror Pond without as much as a second thought of a different spell that would've sent those air-brained clones back more ethically. Magical Mystery Cure told the audience she was ready, and the logic lapses in both that episode and Equestria Girls aren't enough. Show me. Prove it to me! Equestria Girls was the halfway point Twilight needs to cross the bridge, but the lackadaisical storytelling and writing made that bridge crossing unconvincing. She can't leap from one end to the other, but she can't crawl her way across it or risk making your audience impatient, either. She needs to show bold, realistic development to make her ascension worthy.

Edited October 21, 2013 by ~Nightmare Qiviut~

[Shanks 10,811]

Applejack: I have made it no secret that I love Applejack, but alot of people don't share that same love because she I believe unfairly seen as the "boring one". Part of it is due to the fact that her struggles are not seen as relatable to most bronies because Applejack is at a point in her life where even most of the bronies won't be for another 10 years or so. And the fact that while she has had some top notch episodes from season 1 all the way until now but has often been overshadowed by other characters in other episodes has not helped matters. Season 3 has been a major boost for Applejack with excellent lines and appearance both in the episodes starring her and her supporting roles and I loved every minute of it. I think that if they explored what happened to Applejacks parents this reputation would be completely blown out of the water, it is unlikely but not entirely impossible as many childrens shows have thoughfully handled the subject of death with little to no controversy. Also Applejacks stubborness tends to come out around episodes focusing on her which some have criticized but I think that there are many different reasons someone can be stubborn and ways to be stubborn and Applejack has shown some progress on this matter. Applejack gets along well with her family which is one of the things I like about her but even the closest knit families sometimes have disagreements, but the only major disagreement I can think of is when Applebloom gave Zecora a chance and Applejack tried to prevent Applebloom from seeing her. This clearly indicates that Applejack is very protective of Applebloom and I could see some situations in which she might even be overprotective.

 

Twilight Sparkle: The one thing above all else that I ask is that they do not screw up twilicorn. The introduction was like the textbook definition of lazy writing, it came out of nowhere in the season finale of a season that had almost nothing to do with it and the episode made absolutely no sense. Sure I am neutral now but I still haven't forgotten what happened. I have really gotten to like Twilight Sparkle as a character and want to see this concept work, it is going to be tough to pull off due to its unfortunate start but it can still be done if the writers brings their A games and Hasbro dosen't interfere too much. Don't just have everyone love her off the bat, have some ponies be jelous of her have some flank kissers try to suck up to her and don't have her power boost actually be sensable and believable.

 

Rainbow Dash: Rainbow Dash has had the best character development of anypony in season 3, her brash cocky attitude is still very much a part of her but we have also seen her more sensitive side and responsible side explored and quite well with her developing a sister like bond with Scootaloo and standing up to Lightning Dust. I think Rainbow Dash has her cocky, brash attitude and is often reluctant to show her emotions because of some very deep seated insecurities which so far have been hinted at but not fully explored. I would like to see these explored a bit more and have her gradually become less cocky and brash and become a bit less reluctant to express her emotions.

 

Pinkie Pie: Keep the jokes coming, but also don't forget her serious side and do address issues like her complete and total obliviousness to personal space addressed. It was kind of addressed in A Friend In Deed but I felt like it was a tad incomplete.

 

Rarity: I know that her prima donna side is an important aspect of her character but does it really need to be all we ever see of her except in the episodes starring her? Rarity has a lot of potential as a character, she may in fact be the most conflicted of the mane 6. On the one hand she overvalues the opinions of "important ponies" but she also values her friendships and her relationship with her sister who she dosen't always get along with and may be a tad selfish toward at times but does clearly care about her. It seems like the writers don't even know to do with her alot of times and I will admit that as someone who is writing a fanfic with Rarity as the main character that she is a really really difficult character to write but I know they can do a bit better than they have been doing.

 

Fluttershy: It seems like she learns a lesson one minute only to forget it the next. I can understand her backsliding a bit more than the others and certain lesson taking longer to sink in but it seems like they are making her a bit too inconsistent and stagnant of a character. 

Edited October 21, 2013 by EarthbendingProdigy

[Megas 27,052]

Just give me an Applejack episode that doesn't end with her getting overshadowed by her family or anyone else and I'll shut the f*** up

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

Twilight Sparkle: My main concern is obviously her new status as an Alicorn Princess. I'm still not 100% sold on this new role for Twilight because not only did I feel there was still much Twilight could do before ultimately taking this next step, but there's so much room for error now that Twilight's role has changed. The fast pace of MMC felt a little bit too sudden and out of nowhere for a change that could be really dramatic if not handled properly. I want Twilight Sparkle's ascension to princesshood to be one that develops gradually and naturally. There's plenty of doors that are open now that Twilight's character has had a change in status quo, and I just hope that these potentials will be handled with proper care. I've already warmed up to the concept. After all, Twilight did have to work to become a princess, which is something we don't often see in fiction aimed at younger girls. There's a lot of good messages to be had, I just don't want Twilight to ever stop being Twilight. She's always been a very well-balanced protagonist that I've enjoyed watching as she's grown, and I hope that I will be able to say the same when watching her grow as a princess.

 

Pinkie Pie: As others have stated, Pinkie Pie was more or less reduced to little more than a joke character in season 3. I think Pinkie Pie is the best source of humor on the show, but that's not her only purpose. During the course of season 1, Pinkie Pie was constantly proving herself useful even in her usually unorthodox ways. Her inspiring song about sharing and caring, her knowledge on how to send away parasprites, and of course, her pinkie sense. A lot of what made Pinkie Pie such a fun character in season 1 was her random silly songs which were peppered well throughout all of the first season. However, more recent episodes have failed to utilize what seemed like an important aspect to Pinkie's character, unless of course the episode was focused on her (Baby Cakes and A Friend in Deed). She went from being the pony who laughed in the face of danger to being the pony who ran around like a chicken with its head cut off where there was danger. Pinkie's no dummy. I want to see her use her head more often.

 

Rainbow Dash: Dashie has come a long way. In season 2, I was really rubbed the wrong way at times due to her excessive narcissism, but in season 3 we got to see more of her sweet and sensitive side, which is something that Dash needs to become more comfortable in expressing. Many of Rainbow Dash's episodes have had her focusing too heavily on her "reputation" in one way or another. It seems to be the biggest factor in her acting in the way that she does. I would love to see Rainbow Dash finally overcome her fears of her rep getting ruined, and just be more genuine with herself and others. She'd be a lot more at ease with showing her softer and more warm side. Other than that, i just want to see her take some more steps towards achieving her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt, but I don't want that story arc to become too fast paced either.

 

Rarity: My main gripe with Rarity is that her negative qualities tend to be exacerbated for the sake of comedy. I know that she's vain, and that she is very much a drama queen, but these negative traits are shown a lot more frequently than any of her good qualities. The fact that the writers had to rewrite Spike At Your Service from a Rarity episode to an Applejack episode due to Rarity sounding very unlikable tells me that the writers have a lot of difficulty in balancing out her strengths and weaknesses. Rarity is perhaps the most complex character of the six, but there's still many good qualities to her that seem to be overlooked or inconsistent, namely her generosity from time to time. Rarity has an innate sense of creativity that I'd like to see more of as well.

 

Fluttershy: It feels like whenever Fluttershy overcomes a major hurdle, she trips over the next one. Her character weaknesses are perhaps the most pronounced and detrimental, but it feels like there's been far too little progress or growth in her character. What growth there is, is terribly inconsistent. I was very disappointed to see Fluttershy so upset about Twilight using her magic on them in Magic Duel. We've seen Twilight turn her mice into horses, and Fluttershy was perfectly fine with that. The writers need to find the right balance of strength without totally taking away what makes her Fluttershy. There are times when Fluttershy feels a bit too much like a shtick - she's fearful and weak at first. Then, she overcomes the odds by summoning up her inner strength. I would also like to see more of Fluttershy's backstory and perhaps her family life, because that would help to identify what it is that made her so sheepish.

 

Applejack: Well for starters, I'd like to see her be in the spotlight just a bit more so as to dispel the background pony notions. I happen to believe that Applejack is very interesting and likable just by being who she is. She doesn't have a story arc, destiny, or aspiration to follow, and she doesn't have a major character weakness to overcome, but she has always been a very lifelike and realistic character both in her lifestyle and personality. Because she is more mature and secure than the others, she grows a little bit more static than them, but she's still plenty capable of learning more lessons and being front and center in episodes, and I want season 4 to prove that. There's too much talk amongst the fandom that she's fully explored or "done" as a character until they expand on her. The only thing that I feel could use some expansion at this point is her dead parents, which I think could make for a great story and help the audience connect with Applejack and further appreciate who she is. Beyond that, I don't think she's the type of character who necessarily needs heavy changes or new turning points because she challenges the conventional storytelling structure of a protagonist accomplishing a long-winded goal/destiny and living happily ever after. Too much expansion would quell her role as being the simplistic and earthy character that she's always been, so I hope they don't try to change AJ too much. If season 4 can just prove that Applejack can be the star of an episode, make even small or subtle changes and progression in her character, and yet still be entertaining as always, then I will be perfectly happy with that.

 

Oh, sweet Celestia.... What did I write? ^^

Edited October 22, 2013 by Sugar Cube

[Wingnut 6,725]

Maybe before season 4 actually starts, I'll have put my thoughts down on all Mane 6 ponies. For now, I am going to focus on...

 

Fluttershy.

 

I know the usual rap against Fluttershy. She starts out a coward, pulls out a boat load of courage and assertiveness, and seems to be a different pony by the episode's end. Next week, she's back to being a skittish doormat. At first glace, this does look like backsliding to maintain a contrived plot device. But in Fluttershy's case, it goes much deeper than that.

 

Here's a good analogy. Everybody knows how to get out of bed in the morning.  That doesn’t mean we always want to! Being brave and assertive takes a great deal of effort for her and this is the crux of the problem. At the core of her being, Fluttershy is every bit as courageous as her five best friends.  It’s the daunting psychological (and sometimes physical) hurdles she must overcome to tap that bravery that makes her a fan favorite to so many people.  Twilight Sparkle showed a special knack for helping her overcome her weaknesses in Return to Harmony and Hurricane Fluttershy.  This wasn’t touched on in the abbreviated S3 but hopefully we’ll see more of it in S4. EDIT:  Actually, Twilight did give Fluttershy the incentive she needed to start caring for the animals in Magical Mystery Cure. 

 

Fluttershy's misplaced anger towards Twilight in Magic Duel was also cited. But remember that was originally meant to be a season 2 episode. This appears to be an out of character moment for her in season 3.

 

What would I like to see for next season? Some "backsliding" is necessary to maintain her status as a "shy" pony. They just need to be careful not to overdo it. She's no longer the spineless fraidy cat she was in season 1 who locked up in fear at the mere sound of a dragon.

Edited October 28, 2013 by Wingnut