How would you give applejack more character development?

[dinomaster626 80]

Apple jack is a good character with one problem we dont know much about her as a character outside the family aspect. so with season 4 on the way how would you give her new charater devlopment and what would it be?

[Malinter 3,064]

Only things I can think of is putting her out of her comfort zone and see how she deals with it. Like her getting injured so she can't work for a week or having to stay in manehatten with her relatives.

 

since most AJ episodes are based on family and tradition, we'll only development for her in episodes were circumstances take her way from them.

Edited November 11, 2013 by Malinter

[Scootalove 10,689]

I'll only have her episodes focused on her, not her family. We could have AJ overcome an injury, or anything that could prevent her from working or going to see her family and friends.

[PonyGrove 24]

Oh Applejack... you truely are best background pony...

 

In all seriousness, I have seen both sides of the coin. I know people who adore AJ, and have met those that really seem to loath her. She really is the most polerizing member of the mane 6. So, what is going on with her? Here is just a quick snap shot of what I have gathered:

 

Reasons to Hate: She's boring. She has had basically 4 episodes that focused on her:

"Applebuck Season" was episode 4 and seemed to resolve the only flaw in her character... that she is too self reliant.

"The Last Roundup" didn't really focus on AJ... as she was absent from a good portion of the episode, but she is the one that learned a lession so I will let it slide. That lesson being that she is too self reliant. See above.

"Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000" didn't really have any resolution to it... it just kind of ended. AJ didn't learn anything, Flam and Flim exit stage left, and things go back to normal.

In "Apple Family Reunion" we bascially get to see AJ learn the same lesson as in "Applebuck Season" with the twist of thinking about the family before yourself.

"Look Before You Sleep" and "Fall Weather Friends" were joint episodes and didn't focus mainly on AJ but just used her as a foil or plot device to tell a story.

That's it. That is really all of AJ's character development in the entire show. How can you like a character that is in the background for the majority of the show and doesn't grow as a character!? She is just a plot device to get the Southern Girl sterotype into the show.

 

Reasons to Love: She is, hands down, the most put together character in the show. She really sums up the ideal of what life in Eqestria is all about... finding your place in the world and doing what you love. Fluttershy is the next closest to being as static as AJ, but all the other 5 members of the group, apart from AJ, have had to go through a growing and learning process... but not the Apple Family! She is a great character because she already has it all figured out! Really quick:

Twilight wants to impress Celestia and be a great student and struggles to do so.

Rarity wants to be a great dress maker and well-known in Canterlot.

Rainbow Dash wants to be the greatest flyer and join the Wonderbolts.

Pinkie Pie wants to throw the most epic of parties and constantly have a great time.

Fluttershy wants to take care of any protect all the cute little woodland creatures.

... AJ wants to buck apples and run Sweet Apple Acres...

AJ is living the dream! She has other goals, like winning the running of the leaves and the rodeo, but her passion is her family and her farm... and it's already working out great for her! How do you not love a character that is so put together and self-sufficiant!?

 

So those are the main arguments that I have heard. So how do we do character development? It's a bit tricky, really. BronyCurious was at DrawnCon on 11/3 and he made a really good point, "AJ is like the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the group." This is so true! She has her life put together and is really sure of her self, and she is also the one that kind of acts as a mentor for the others when they are in doubt or trouble. At the same time, the story is never about the mentor, but about those learning the lessons of life. To focus on the Wise Sage is to miss the point of story telling. Here are some really rough ideas for an AJ epsiode that may work to develop her character:

 

1)

 

Only things I can think of is putting her out of her comfort zone and see how she deals with it.

Bingo. Do another AJ and Rarity episode, only make the focus on AJ the whole time. Something like a beauty contest or fassion show where Rarity is in her element but AJ has to be all prim and proper. Another posability is have a new family member come in from far away who doesn't quite fit in, with the lesson being about how sometimes strange people/customs should be embrased. Really, anything that takes her out of her element and makes her deal with a new situation.

 

2) Slice of Life. This one could be fun. Show a whole day in the life of AJ. She gets up, gets food, starts working on the farm... meanwhile the rest of the mane 6 are in a whirlwind all around her dealing with problems and situations. The only way this would work is if the focus stays on AJ the whole time... somepony comes in with a problem, AJ helps, and then gets back to work. It doesn't show the actual build up to the other ponies problem, or the resolution to the conflict... just AJ passing through and giving advice.

This would be a really good episode if executed correctly... but there is one problem... I wouldn't do this episode with AJ... I would do the exact same set up with Princess Celestia and show what a day in the life of the princess is like.

 

3) Flashback. We kind of got this with all of the Mane 6 in "The Cutie Mark Chronicles". Go back in time and show how AJ grew into her role as the Wise Sage.

 

To make a long story short (too late) it is hard to really add anything to this character. She doesn't have goals or objectives that she yearns for... so if you were to add an obsticle or a goal for her in such a way that is wasn't ham-fisted, you could do more with her as a character. I don't think she really needs anything else to keep filling her role in the group. She is who she is and I love her for it. You know that if you have a problem that you can't talk to anyone else about, AJ will be able to get you on the right path.

 

Questions and Comments Welcome!

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

1. The border of the Everfree Forest is expanding right on to Sweet Apple Acres. Celestia wants AJ to move the farm, but she refuses. We see how AJ refuses to back down or change her ways even when it's the safe thing to do, and the M6 have to find a way to stop the Forest and learn more about it in the process.

 

2. After a rough harvest on the Acres, Applejack is tired of just making ends meet and decides to take some of her business to Canterlot. But she doesn't think the ponies there will pay attention to a regular country mare, so Rarity coaches her into going back to her old self--the more sophisticated pony she tried to be, back when she left home. Naturally she hates this because it's not honest, and the facade has to crack sooner or later. But we learn just how much AJ is willing to sacrifice to keep the farm going.

 

I also like the slice-of life idea.

[PonyGrove 24]

@ TailsNotAlone : Those are some great ideas as well! It can be hard to think up AJ stories that haven't been done and are not repatative in nature...

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

 

 

Reasons to Love: She is, hands down, the most put together character in the show. She really sums up the ideal of what life in Eqestria is all about... finding your place in the world and doing what you love. Fluttershy is the next closest to being as static as AJ, but all the other 5 members of the group, apart from AJ, have had to go through a growing and learning process... but not the Apple Family! She is a great character because she already has it all figured out! Really quick: Twilight wants to impress Celestia and be a great student and struggles to do so. Rarity wants to be a great dress maker and well-known in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash wants to be the greatest flyer and join the Wonderbolts. Pinkie Pie wants to throw the most epic of parties and constantly have a great time. Fluttershy wants to take care of any protect all the cute little woodland creatures. ... AJ wants to buck apples and run Sweet Apple Acres... AJ is living the dream! She has other goals, like winning the running of the leaves and the rodeo, but her passion is her family and her farm... and it's already working out great for her! How do you not love a character that is so put together and self-sufficiant!?

 

Actually; I find this a flaw with Applejack's problem and why she may be the least popular.

 

As you said she is already living the dream and therefore has no life long goals to reach like all the others do. This doesn't make her a mary sue or anything, but it makes her a bit less interesting because she doesn't have to really do anything but sell apples. She already has achieved the best possible status she could ever earn. Unlike say; Twilight who beforehand earned her Princess Title. Applejack is put together.........perhaps a bit too well.

[PonyGrove 24]

As you said she is already living the dream and therefore has no life long goals to reach like all the others do. This doesn't make her a mary sue or anything, but it makes her a bit less interesting because she doesn't have to really do anything but sell apples. She already has achieved the best possible status she could ever earn. Unlike say; Twilight who beforehand earned her Princess Title. Applejack is put together.........perhaps a bit too well.

 

It's a very good point. From most people that I have talked to, each of the M6 really helps set an example, or ideal in life style. While people look up to Twilight because she always strives to be better and pushes herself to bigger things, people also look to AJ as an example of being content. AJ worked hard every day to get where she is, and she now gets to enjoy the rewards of her hard work... the biggest reward being stability. There is nothing wrong with haveing a blue coller job and punching the clock for 8 hours a day, as long as it's something you enjoy doing and you do it with honesty and to the best of your ability. At the same time, Twilight shows there is nothing wrong with being the consumate student, either in college, high school, or just self-taught, as long as you don't think you are better then others because of all your knowledge (Trixie). This is actually more of a lesson for grown ups out there who look down on other people's life styles or professions. Living in Massachusetts I know my fair share of high level professional academics who really don't think highly of blue coller workers in factory jobs. At the same time, if I turn on the TV, the criticism is that East Coast Liberal Elite live in ivory towers and contribute nothing meaningful to society. You say she isn't interesting because all she has to do is sell apples... I say that she adds diversity to the cast and reflects a very broad demographic that deserves recognition and respect. In short (too late) if anyone out there thinks that this is just a "kids show" and doesn't have lessons for adults as well, they need to think again.

 

Back to the main point: How does this leave possabilities for character development? We have both been right from the very begining... there really isn't anywhere to go with the character as it stands now. To sum up a point I made above, to focus on a character who has a lack of goals is to pull attention away from the narrative and that is bad story telling. So I think we have our main answer here to make AJ a viable main character that we can devote focus to an a regular basis...

 

Give Her Some Goals/Ambitions!

 

Until she comes out and says, "I want to do XXX" or "I want to be XXX" then there really is no point in making her a central character. There is no reason to hate her. There is no reason not to like her... but there is also no reason to really focus on her. I would also add that perhaps it's not always a bad thing to keep her the way she is. That is, she gets to remain the bedrock character that has a stable life. That is a great example to have, afterall. Of course, AJ fans would need to understand that she is going to fill a less central role in the story and will kind of remain in the background.

Edited November 12, 2013 by PonyGrove

[FNGRpony 658]

Well besides giving her new flaws, give her new desires.  New goals.  Something to drive for.

 

I could make suggestions but I'll be honest.  I don't think I know what jack needs.

you sure couldn't make her a bad guy LOL.

 

Christ the fans couldn't even do that.  her base, her core character needs to be expanded on.

 

If you don't like my idea, I'm fine with her sitting in the back collecting dust myself, paving the way for a new back ground pony to swoop in and take up her spot when hasbro realizes
"you know what we could ditch her and appeal to a wider range."

 

If she's gonna stick around she definatly need something.  Anything.  I'm in favor of a bad idea over nothing just so we can say "well they tried."

[Static Electricity 729]

Show us how her parents got slaughtered passed away

 

Bonus points if Rarity had something to do with it

 

Then go after AppleBloom

[NomDeSpite 452]

What I would do is:

1. have her live up to her Element Of Harmony. She's supposed to be the Honest one. But in "The Last Roundup" she runs away instead of being honest admitting that she didn't perform as well in the rodeo as she would have liked. Remember in "Bridle Gossip" where Applejack just bluntly tells Fluttershy, "good gravy, what's wrong with you?!" She should have more moments like that. Moments where there's some elephant in the room that other people are trying to avoid and she casts attention on.

 

2. Going off of the point that Goodra and PonyGrove make ("Applejack has already achieved her goal so she's not striving for anything"), why not have Sweet Apple Acres become unusable somehow? Maybe it gets destroyed. Maybe the soil becomes poor or there's a drought. Maybe a deed is found showing it belongs to some other pony family. And don't just have it be for one episode. It could be the status quo for a while. So her goal would be to rebuild what she once had.

 

3. Give her some kind of hobby that you wouldn't expect, like reading books for Rainbow Dash or babysitting for Pinkie. What would be an unexpected hobby for Applejack? Hmmm....

[FNGRpony 658]

Show us how her parents got slaughtered passed away

 

Bonus points if Rarity had something to do with it

 

Then go after AppleBloom

this exists ^^. 

at about the 3:40 mark.  I mean it's not an episode but it's something.  God bless our nutty fan base and their great imaginations.

[Static Electricity 729]

this exists ^^. 

at about the 3:40 mark.  I mean it's not an episode but it's something.  God bless our nutty fan base and their great imaginations.

That's the exact video that inspired me to make my post! Are you psychic?

 

I'd pay forged good money to see that turned into an episode

Edited November 13, 2013 by Static Electricity

[Troblems 5,620]

Give her a new hobby, like knitting.

 

Let the communities figure out how that works with hooves. It can't be that much more complicated than roasting marshmallows, right?

[Sugar Cube 4,843]

Give Her Some Goals/Ambitions!

 

Until she comes out and says, "I want to do XXX" or "I want to be XXX" then there really is no point in making her a central character. There is no reason to hate her. There is no reason not to like her... but there is also no reason to really focus on her. I would also add that perhaps it's not always a bad thing to keep her the way she is. That is, she gets to remain the bedrock character that has a stable life. That is a great example to have, afterall. Of course, AJ fans would need to understand that she is going to fill a less central role in the story and will kind of remain in the background.

 

I disagree with giving Applejack any major goals or ambitions to pursue because first of all, she is a character that challenges those very conventional ways of telling a story. As you said yourself, she is already stable and content in her life. Applejack isn't going places and nor is she trying to - her destiny is her routine way of life. MLP is not solely a fantasy story where all of the ponies are in pursuit of their wildest dreams and having them all come true. It is primarily a slice of life story. Characters like Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash all have aspirations and are moving along in their lives. Yet,  Applejack is not the only one who isn't. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy do not possess any desire to be or do anything more grand scale than what Applejack wants to be and do, so I'm not sure why it's always Applejack who is the only one who gets criticized for not having a goal. Applejack is tailor-made for a slice of life show because she lives a more realistic and stable lifestyle. That's why I personally don't think there is any limit to how many interesting stories Applejack can take part of as the focal character. She's been doing it for three seasons, why would she need something new all of a sudden?

 

Applejack is a very flexible and well-rounded character, and for that reason she can be pitted into a wide variety of situations. Think about Spike At Your Service. What was originally intended to be a Rarity episode became an Applejack episode along the way, and if there's one thing I've seen this episode get praised for, it's Applejack's performance as the star. People underestimate her as being a farmer and family girl and little more than that, but because of her strong desire to help others and put the wants and needs of others above her own, there is no shortage of goals and aspirations for her. They aren't the kind of fantasy-esque goals that will consume multiple story arcs in order to be reached, but rather they are everyday opportunities that life throws out. Take The Last Roundup for instance. Applejack had a clear goal in mind: Win as many blue ribbons as possible in order to earn prize money to fix Ponyville's Town Hall. Applejack is the type who takes life as it comes, and there's plenty that can be done with a character like that. After all, when one accomplishes their major goal, then what happens? Life isn't a story that can be put down. It moves on.

 

And yet, she does have a few goals and aspirations, such as her strive to be do her best at rodeo competitions and athletic events. In addition, running her farm to the best of her capabilities, making a profit and supporting her family are also goals to strive for, are they not? None of these goals may be as grand scale as being a Wonderbolt, a top fashion designer, or an Alicorn Princess, but that's the difference. Applejack is a character whose lifestyle is much more in tune to realism. Applejack isn't reaching for stars. She isn't aiming for a life of grandeur or opulence. She merely wants to work hard and leave an impact through her actions and words to and for others and by providing for those that she cares for. It's true that her wisdom and maturity will probably forever clinch her status as a more static character, and honestly, that's what she should be. I find Applejack to be appealing because I can connect with her more down to earth ideals and motives. Her simplicity is part of her niche. She doesn't need heavy expansion. I have yet to feel like she's been in the background at all.

 

Okay, I know you weren't expecting a long-winded spiel, but I had to do it. You made a lot of great points that I agree with, but the whole goal/destiny argument for AJ is a pet peeve of mine. I'm perfectly happy with Applejack as she is. She fulfills a very different role than the other ponies, and while it's proven to be quite under appreciated, it helps make for a much more dynamic show overall.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Sugar Cube

[FNGRpony 658]

That's the exact video that inspired me to make my post! Are you psychic?

 

I'd pay forged good money to see that turned into an episode

 

i'm knee deep in mlp fanon on u tube.  so would rarity have repressed this memory?  Cause if that's the case are we getting a rarity at your service episode?  weeee shipping materiel.

[PonyGrove 24]

Great post! You made some really thoughtful points in there and I wanted to address a few and keep the banter going.

 

 

 

Yet, Applejack is not the only one who isn't. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy do not possess any desire to be or do anything more grand scale than what Applejack wants to be and do, so I'm not sure why it's always Applejack who is the only one who gets criticized for not having a goal.

 

When I think about Fluttershy, I do think that she remains pretty static. However, while Fluttershy doesn't have what may be considered "ambition" she basically has a weakness that she is trying to overcome... namely her shyness. In Dragonshy, Putting Your Hoof Down, and Hurricane Fluttershy, we see her and her friends try to deal with her shyness. It does seem kind of lazy that the character revolves around a "defect" that they are constantly trying to overcome, yet never make any progress on... but when you consider it as a true aspect of who Fluttershy is, then it becomes more about accepting your friends and yourself for why they/you really are. From a narrative standpoint Fluttershy has something to focus on that could drive an episode and basically has a character flaw that can serve a lesson to the viewer and cause enough dramatic tension to carry a story.

 

For Pinkie Pie, I would only argue that this character has nothing but ambition. She constantly strives to be a friend and bring laughter to others. For an idea as to how to make a Pinkie Pie episode, just look at A Friend In Deed... then just substitute another type of character for Cranky. The dramatic tension here is that external forces around her aren't having a good time or being friendly, and she needs to fix that. In Baby Cakes and Too Many Pinkie Pies we see that it can't always be about having a party and that there are things in this world (important things) other then having fun. Like Twilight, Pinkie is constantly striving for what may prove to be an unattainable goal. If you really wanted to develop this character, I have some ideas, but I'm trying to focus on AJ. Basically, Pinkie's drive for acceptance and universal happiness means that the character can grow.

 

Applejack is a bit different. Unlike Fluttershy, she doesn't have a character flaw to exploit or add tension to the group. Unlike Pinkie, AJ's self worth and motivation is internal and not dependent on other people.

 

 

 

Applejack is tailor-made for a slice of life show because she lives a more realistic and stable lifestyle. That's why I personally don't think there is any limit to how many interesting stories Applejack can take part of as the focal character.

 

There lies the problem. Imagine the Applejack show. As it stands now when the other characters come to Sweet Apple Acres, AJ is basically always doing the same thing... working on the farm. The tasks she is working on change, but it's always farm work. In a slice-of-life show, you could just focus on AJ's daily tasks and make constantly occurring random problems, but the feel of that show would be more like "Azumanga Daioh" which is entertaining... but in the back of my head I would be wondering where all the magic was. While good pacing and dialog could make mundane tasks interesting, I would be thinking about the next big disaster to befall Ponyville. After monsters like the hydra and Cerberus, the show as raised the stakes to a certain level that has to be met. If the base line of the show was mundane tasks, then that can totally work as a slice-of-life... but you can't switch gears so radically in the same program.

 

 

 

And yet, she does have a few goals and aspirations, such as her strive to be do her best at rodeo competitions and athletic events.

 

And that is the other problem. AJ is too damn nice! In Fall Weather Friends, Rainbow Dash is really the main character. AJ has the level head through the competition and keeps everything in perspective. When Dashie cheats to win, she doesn't make a huge deal about it and call for a re-do... she moves on and suggests another contest with new rules to make it fair. Dashie is the one that ultimately goes too far and pulls AJ into the whole mess. If anything, the only fault on the part of AJ is that she sank down from her pedestal of being always right to tussle with Dash.

It works a bit like this: To have a character who builds emotional impact, it helps if we can empathize with them and their plight. If, however, that character looses their contest or goal and they just dismiss it as "better luck next time" then it diminishes that impact. Now, that attitude is totally the Right one to have when you loose, but for dramatic story telling you have to have the stakes at a certain level. You can't just tell the viewer, "it's bad if the character doesn't meet their goal!" and then not explain why that is, or worse, show them miss their goal with no ill effect.

AJ is the sweetest character who actually has the world in perspective. Unlike Pinkie who basically shatters when her ambition of not being able to please everyone is unmet, or like Twilight who breaks when she isn't the best student, AJ understands the world just keeps going on. This a a super role model and the kind of person that I would like in my life... but not the type of character that I would put into a fantasy setting and focus on. MLP does a great job of having a character in there that serves a great life lesson, but it is hard to wright for.

 

 

 

You made a lot of great points that I agree with, but the whole goal/destiny argument for AJ is a pet peeve of mine.

 

I can understand this, and I am totally for not changing her as well. I think she is fine just the way she is... but the name of this thread is, "How would you give applejack more character development" For this exercise you must assume that AJ doesn't have enough character and must build more some way. Really the only way in the show to build character is to focus on that character, and to do that you have to make apparent a flaw or desire that they have. To have character development, basically there has to be a challenge to overcome, and since AJ's life is so put together, there really isn't that much to do.

 

I am with you and think that the real question should be, "Why do people think Applejack needs more character development?"

[Denim&Venöm 19,751]

Something I've noticed about the other mane 5 that is absent from AJ is what they are doing aside from their main jobs and goals, what the ponies do in their spare time, when they are not working, studying, saving Equestria, solving a problem or interacting with the rest of the group.

 

Consider what the mane 5 do during their down times:

- Rarity & Fluttershy go to the spa

- Twi experiments w/ magic

- Dashie reads Daring Do novels

- Pinkie plays w/ the Cakes foals

 

What does apple jack do? All we see her do is buck apples, deliver apples, bake apples, be a wise mentor to the mane 5/ CMC, and that's it.

 

What does AJ do for fun? Does she just go to sleep after a days work on the farm and in town? Does she have any hobbies? Any other mild aspirations in her life? These are things that can expand the character of one Apple Jack. What we need is to show a different side of Applejack. 

 

Ideas: 

 

Aj can have an episode where her friends she try to have a hobbie, something simple & fun, but AJ takes it too seriously and tries to be focused and serious about it, when the moral is that a hobby is something your supposed to have fun with.

 

Maybe AJ tries a few things out, and likes one of them, but is afraid to let the others know about it. Kind of like Read it and Weep.

 

Or maybe she's really good at something other than apple-farming, but doesn't take it seriously until her friends say otherwise and starts to wonder, what if I perused this instead of apple bucking?

 

Something I usually enjoy is when a character is keeping a secret. Have an episode elaborate on somethings Aj hides from her friends and even her family. Just because your honest doesn't mean you can't keep secrets.  

 

Maybe she's a writer, a bit too self conscious to let her works get out, so she sends them anonymously and the ponies slowly figure out who is sending them, or maybe they don't figure it out, but it's revealed to us.  

 

Maybe AJ keeps a diary and the crusaders find it, and one by one the other mane 5 start reading it too. 

 

Perhaps AJ has an alter ego, something she likes to moonlight or masquerade as, something that starkly contrasts with her farm girl image. Maybe she's a philosophical intellectual. She might like classical. She could be a poet or playwright.

 

She may reenact certain fantasies, dressing up in costumes and acting like being a musketeer, a phantom of the opera, a gothic super hero. She might even do it in public, perhaps in a theater, something she'd be embarrassed if any pony found out it was her. 

 

 

The point is, we don't know enough about Apple Jack as a person. Her life, her psyche, has to be more than just apple farming. We just have yet to see that. 

[Stellafera 3,836]

Unlike Pinkie who basically shatters when her ambition of not being able to please everyone is unmet, or like Twilight who breaks when she isn't the best student, AJ understands the world just keeps going on. 

 

*coughs loudly*

 

 

Contrary to what has been said, I find AJ flawed and very relatable; goodness knows I could do with some kinder expectations for myself and less stubbornness about how I get things done or a little more fun with other people instead of working myself up over the planning. 

 

Applejack has had some of the most obvious development of the Mane 6; after she learned to be less stubborn and to accept help, she's never had to relearn that lesson. She flat out said as much in Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. 

[PonyGrove 24]

 

 

*coughs loudly* i-s449Sww-M.png

 

Awesome! Thank you for the visual aid!

 

As you can see, in The Last Roundup when AJ doesn't meet the expectations of others, she doesn't just give up or fall to pieces! Instead, she takes on a new job to raise the money she promised to the town. She continues her same work ethic and goes about trying to make additional liquid income. However, her flaw in this episode was that she was embarrassed about not being able to keep her promise. This episode could have worked equally well with Rainbow Dash, Twilight, or Rarity... but I think because of the "honesty" element it does work best with AJ. Keep in mind that AJ doesn't try anything extreme or out of her comfort zone to earn the money, but instead turns back to harvesting fruit... because that is what AJ does after all. Being a simplistic character doesn't make a bad character, but it does make it so that nearly any focal point you would have had could easily be replaced by another character.

 

AJ does make a great vehicle for some very important life lessons, and you are correct in saying that unlike Fluttershy, AJ doesn't need to constantly relearn life lessons through the season. In a lesser show, I know that it would be a crutch to constantly find a new way of telling the same moral five different ways... but not with MLP.

Also, with Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, we can also call that a non-AJ episode as nothing is resolved, no lesson is learned, and the high stakes of loosing the farm is essentially meaningless.

[Stellafera 3,836]

This episode could have worked equally well with Rainbow Dash, Twilight, or Rarity...

 

Doubt it.

 

Rainbow Dash's reaction to this would've probably been anger at the ponies who ran the contests; she would've come home and talked all up about how nasty and unfair the judges were. 

 

Twilight would've just freaked out and ranted madly in her room until Spike knocked some sense back into her.

 

Rarity I imagine as having the most healthy reaction of being heartbroken, but swallowing her pride and coming home empty-hooved, apologizing to the mayor. She's used to this sort of rejection.

 

I see her flaw in that episode as having an excessive sense of personal responsibility and, just like we saw before in Applebuck Season, a desire to get things done herself and to handle things on her own. Her coping strategy in The Last Roundup isn't exactly model. I mean, she tried to make things right and that's all very well and good, but you shouldn't handle disappointment by running away from everyone and deciding you're an awful loser who doesn't deserve to show their face to the town. 

 

Similar flaw to Twilight, I suppose, but AJ tends to bottle up her feelings more than Twilight, who makes it... rather obvious when she's distraught, which is something that the element of Honesty could stand to do more (ironic, no?). Twilight breaks down; AJ tries to eliminate her fears by "undoing" them with work. But as all of her episodes have shown, her workaholic tendencies

 

 

tend to

 

 

cause her

 

 

problems

[n1029 229]

Maybe there could be an episode about Ponyville expanding around her farmland and Applejack facing a dilemma about whether to sell some of her land (hopefully with a little more depth than the usual cartoon would manage)

Edited November 16, 2013 by n1029