When is Rainbow Dash going to learn her lesson?

[Champion RD92 8,658]

In "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well," Rainbow Dash was supposed to learn a lesson about being arrogant and bragging so much about herself. Two seasons later, and she still hasn't learned her lesson. In "Rainbow Falls," she was constantly stating how awesome she is, how great she is, etc. When she saved Soarin, she was like "go ahead and keep talking about how great I am" or something along those lines. That seriously made me facepalm. What happened to Rainbow Dash learning her lesson about being arrogant? So much for character development I guess. I hope the writers tone down her arrogance in the future because it honestly bothers me. Especially considering she was supposed to have learned her lesson about it way back in season 2. Anyway, what do you guys think of this topic?

[Malinter 3,064]

Before she was bragging infront of friends and all of ponyville.

Here she is bragging in front of Wonderbolts.

 

TOTALLY different situation.

[AppleGearRising 526]

Rainbow Dash will be Rainbow dash, her not-so-humble attitude is just a part of who she is and to be honest I like it that way

[Champion RD92 8,658]

Rainbow Dash will be Rainbow dash, her not-so-humble attitude is just a part of who she is and to be honest I like it that way

 

Well I don't like it. Being confident is one thing, but bragging about yourself all the time is just annoying.

[Skycoaster 698]

I agree with Mailnter.

 

This is slightly different that in Mare-Do-Well. Spitfire and Fleetfoot are themselves arrogant in this situation, this is just firing back at them.

[AppleGearRising 526]

@Champion RD92 I agree, but I also think that given how much longer the series is likely to go on for she'll probably have plenty of time to become a little more mature.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I know I don't like how Rainbow Dash is arrogant all of the time, but we will be able to see how Dash learns the lesson of being more confident than being more arrogant.

 

The difference is, in MMDW Rainbow Dash was arrogant and in Rainbow Falls she was only a little arrogant a little difference somewhat.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Scootalove

[Justin ZW 396]

She wasn't being as obnoxious about it this time. Besides, the Wonderbolts are her idols. She really wants to be accepted by them, so of course she's gonna brag. For example, if I met an important software developer who's widely renowned, I'd probably brag about the (shitty) software I've created. People will try to play up their skills in front of others from whom they want respect and admiration. It's natural.

 

Now if she was going around doing the same stuff she did in Mare Do Well, I'd be a little confused and irritated. However, as was stated above, she isn't bragging to the whole town about "I AM TEH 1337 HAXX0R5!"

[Champion RD92 8,658]

I know I don't like how Rainbow Dash is arrogant all of the time, but we will be able to see how Dash learns the lesson of being more confident than being more arrogant.

 

But she was supposed to learn that lesson in the Mare-Do-Well episode......that's my whole point.

[Scootalove 10,689]

But she was supposed to learn that lesson in the Mare-Do-Well episode......that's my whole point.

Maybe the writers forget about consistency and continuity at times, that could be why.

[Champion RD92 8,658]

She wasn't being as obnoxious about it this time. Besides, the Wonderbolts are her idols. She really wants to be accepted by them, so of course she's gonna brag. 

 

But she wasn't just bragging in front of the Wonderbolts, she was bragging while she was training with Fluttershy and Bulk Biceps, and also when she was with her friends.

[TorqueEffect 112]

It is just a part of her personality. You can't change someone's personality, at least not with a simple one time lesson.

 

I mean it is the same with Rarity always being a bitch.

 

None of our Main Six are actually all that good at their elements to be quite honest. Except for maybe Fluttershy, and Pinkie.

Edited January 19, 2014 by TorqueEffect

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Ponies will be ponies and they'll never be perfect. 

[Justin ZW 396]

@@Champion RD92

Yeah, but those are her friends. People brag in front of their friends, too. I do it, too. I just love confusing them with in-depth talk about coding and such.

 

Really compare RD's behavior in this episode to how she acted in Mare Do Well. In MDW, she was over the top, boasting to the whole town, milking the hero thing, etc. Basically, she was being a self-centered douche. In Rainbow Falls, she brags a little bit. There's a big difference. I believe Twilight said in MDW, "There's nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but there's no need for shameless boasting."

 

Maybe not the exact quote, but she said something similar.

[Champion RD92 8,658]

@@Champion RD92

Yeah, but those are her friends. People brag in front of their friends, too. I do it, too. I just love confusing them with in-depth talk about coding and such.

 

Really compare RD's behavior in this episode to how she acted in Mare Do Well. In MDW, she was over the top, boasting to the whole town, milking the hero thing, etc. Basically, she was being a self-centered douche. In Rainbow Falls, she brags a little bit. There's a big difference. I believe Twilight said in MDW, "There's nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but there's no need for shameless boasting."

 

Maybe not the exact quote, but she said something similar.

 

That's true, but boasting is boasting. I would just like to see Rainbow Dash become a bit more humble, because then she would pretty much be perfect to me

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@@Champion RD92, 

 

That depends.

How long could they possibly drag out the same lesson over and over again?

 

She didn't brag as much in "Rainbow Falls" as she did in MDW, so I guess she's beginning to get it through her head. There's really nothing wrong with bragging in front of your friends, like what Justin said up there. I'm just glad that she's not AS arrogant and cocky. It's kind of a staple of her character to be cocky and arrogant. She could be a bit more humble, sure, but if she just stopped all together, it's like we have a completely new Dashie.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Geek0zoid Steven

[Silver Letter 1,832]

We can't expect ponies to be models of perfection. I think that perhaps Rainbow Dash was worried about how her disloyalty to her friends would be perceived if she had went to fly with the other team. It would have been seen as her arrogance gone out of control instead of anything else. She is too good for Ponyville. So she was often looking over to her friends and trying to hide her conflicted feelings for some time before eventually choosing them. I think possibly, Rainbow Dash was trying to control or restrict her arrogant and boastful thoughts and actions.

[Shanks 10,816]

Much of it stems from some deep seated insecurities Rainbow Dash has insecurities which will not go away overnight but as we have clearly seen throughout the series she is slowly starting to improve on. Her arrogance while it is stilll there is getting less and less and is gradually being replaced with actualy confidence and self esteem because contrary to what a lot of people think arrogance is not confidence but is actually a false confidence used to mask insecurities. One of the things I find interesting about Rainbow Dash is this internal conflict in her between her arrogance and her actual confidence. Her sister like relationship she formed with Scootaloo in Sleepless In Ponyville also has some potential as well to help with this as well as address some other insecurities she has about expressing her emotions.

[Nature's Spell 526]

If everybody learned their lessons the world would be a far better place, but we don't always and it's not always easy to be other than what you are.

[BalanceBrony 259]

Never. She would be a Mary-Sue if she did. And to be frank, it's not like she's blowing herself up. She really is the best flier in Equestria.

 

Even if her claims weren't true, think of it like this. With Rainbow Falls, RD has now fully learned about the value of loyalty and friendship, and received her Key of Harmony- her symbol that she is now an example for all to learn from. Her character on that front is completely 100% fleshed out. That leaves her arrogance as her only flaw. Do you want her to become a Mary-Sue?

[Deesinn 393]

Much of it stems from some deep seated insecurities Rainbow Dash has insecurities which will not go away overnight but as we have clearly seen throughout the series she is slowly starting to improve on. Her arrogance while it is stilll there is getting less and less and is gradually being replaced with actualy confidence and self esteem because contrary to what a lot of people think arrogance is not confidence but is actually a false confidence used to mask insecurities. One of the things I find interesting about Rainbow Dash is this internal conflict in her between her arrogance and her actual confidence. Her sister like relationship she formed with Scootaloo in Sleepless In Ponyville also has some potential as well to help with this as well as address some other insecurities she has about expressing her emotions.

 

tl;dr

 

Rainbow Dash has mad daddy issues

[Anadu Kune 668]

Ok maybe I'm missing something here but it seems you are getting worked up over one little scene. Boasting wasn't what the episode was about, in fact she really didn't do much of it in this episode. Most mentions of Rainbows ability are just plain fact. Rainbow vastly outshines her team mates in flying prowess...well with the possible exception of Fluttershy in her weird adrenaline fueled moments. You mention MMDW and say Rainbow should have learned her lesson there. I say she did.

Lets look at the moral of MMDW.

Twilight Sparkle: Celebrating your accomplishments is natural, but...

Apllejack: Rubbin them in everypony's faces is not.

So was she rubbing her accomplishments in everyone's face? No. Most of the mention of her abilities come from other ponies. Other than that Rainbow mentions she can up the slack for her team. This isn't boasting its a fact that was demonstrated at the end of the episode. Bulk and Fluttershy knew they were not as good as Rainbow Dash its something stated and showed in the episode. As for the scene you mention lets quote Rainbow here.

"Ah it was nothing. But if you feel like talking about how great I am, don't let me stop you."

This hardly seems as egregious as you make it out to be. Even if we take this as blatant boasting its not ignoring character development. People learn things and do their best to integrate them into their lives. Rainbow does so in this very episode. However we sometimes fall slightly back into those old habits every now and then. It's just something that happens and I would say its realistic. I would say she is boasting a bit but not rubbing it in their faces. Yes Rainbow hinted that she wanted praise(we all do to some extent) but left the decision up to them as to whether or not to do so. She claims she is great, and she is everyone recognizes this. In MMDW Rainbow would not have left it at that.

 

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Eh, I think some degree of bluster coming out of her is only natural and even cute. So long as she's not doing it to the point where she's alienating people or endangering lives (which she isn't), then I really don't have a problem with her being a little cocky and boastful. It's probably even how she deals with stress on some level, which we see way back in Sonic Rainboom. It's a character flaw for sure, but I look at it in the same way as Rarity's tendency to be overdramatic and hammy is a character flaw. It adds flavor to her character, and is perfectly fine in moderation.

Edited January 20, 2014 by DashForever

[joecal97 340]

She won't learn until the show producers can no longer use it in episodes.

Besides, it's just her, she's like that, and I her anyway

[Champion RD92 8,658]

 Other than that Rainbow mentions she can up the slack for her team. This isn't boasting its a fact that was demonstrated at the end of the episode. 

 

 

Just because it's true doesn't mean it's not boasting

That leaves her arrogance as her only flaw. Do you want her to become a Mary-Sue?

 

Part of me wants to selfishly say yes because her arrogance is the one and only thing I dislike about her, and without it, she would be perfect to me. However, without having a flaw, I suppose it would make her character unable to grow and develop, which would make her character less interesting I suppose. I still think she could just tone down the arrogance a little bit though ;p