Best Mane Cast member of Season 4?

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

(Rarity was that good  this season?  Or did Ghostie clone himself a few times..)

Dammit! We have been exposed!

 

We have to keep it a secret! Descent upon him fellow clones! Make him silent, so that he may never share our fabulous, secret plan to world domination! :okiedokielokie:

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Hmm. Rarity is totally dominating, but for obvious reasons

 

[Adorkable 2,737]

Only 2 votes for Twilight Sparkle? </3

 

I mean, come on guys, remember that Season Finale? Twilight Time? Trade Ya? ^^"

Edited May 22, 2014 by Adorkable

[Dark Qiviut 22,439]

Quite honestly, this is rather difficult to answer. One of the biggest and loudest flaws this season is the extreme inconsistency in characterization quality, especially in the Mane Six. They've had their good and bad performances, and some of them are in a degree where you'd just go, "What the hell happened in the script process?" Episodes like Trade Ya! (minus Spike) and Rainbow Falls don't count because let's be honest, everyone was out of character or flanderized. With that, I must do a process of elimination.

1. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle can easily be crossed out.
   
   Rainbow Dash: If there's one character to really regress this season, it's her. Last season was possibly her strongest. Sleepless in Ponyville and Wonderbolts Academy allowed her to exponentially grow into a deeper, more mature character compared to season one. It was one thing season three improved upon from season two. But that's been tossed on the wayside for most of this season. Her sense of maturity was greatly reduced in several episodes with Flight to the Finish and Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 being exceptions.
   
   Twilight Sparkle: Minus the two-parters, Twilight Time, Three's a Crowd, and Testing, essentially the background pony of season four. NEXT!
2. Pinkie Pie is also disqualified. Sure, she had great appearances in Pinkie Apple Pie, Pinkie Pride, Testing, and Maud Pie. But she was also flanderized extensively or extremely out of character. She was the weak link in Princess Twilight Sparkle, Castle Mane-ia, RTM, and Three's a Crowd. Then comes her mean-spirited attitude in Filli Vanilli, easily her worst performance since One Bad Apple.
3. Fluttershy grew in some way. Early this season, her shyness and protection of the wildlife were flanderized in episodes like Power Ponies and Bats! But following Rainbow Falls, she gradually improved, starting with Three's a Crowd and then onward with Filli Vanilli, Breezies, and Testing. Then like the others, she fell victim to flanderization in Trade Ya! and Equestria Games, but she got back on track in Twilight's Kingdom. At this point, I can't cross her out yet.
4. Applejack is crossed out. Sure, she had some fine performances in Pinkie Apple Pie, Testing, Castle Mane-ia, Bats!, Simple Ways, Rarity Takes Manehattan (in a small dose), and the first half of Leap of Faith. But she underwent a series of characterization problems herself. Minus the two mentioned above, she was hit with the stupid stick in the second half of Leap of Faith, PTS, and ESPECIALLY Somepony to Watch Over Me. And her tandem with Rarity in Trade Ya was unbelievably stupid and a waste of script space.
5. Rarity made her grand return in Rarity Takes Manehattan, and at the time, it was both Polsky's and season four's best episode. And she's had many great moments elsewhere such as her actions in Power Ponies, Toils, Bats!, Maud Pie, and Filli Vanilli (calling back and using the lessons she learned from Green Isn't Your Color). Conversely, Simple Ways drove her out of character. Her vanity and desire to impress (i.e., liking clothes with shimmer) in Breezies were flanderized just for laughs. And she was flanderized in Inspiration by having her blubber and eating tubs of ice cream after being rightfully criticized for focusing more on the theater's looks over its usefulness. And of the three side plots in Rainbow Falls, she was easily the worst characterized.
6. Poor Spike is crossed out immediately. All three episodes from him were lackluster to say the least, Inspiration Manifestation being the best (with the latter half crossing that line from naivety into stupidity) and Equestria Games the worst. Several episodes had him absent (although in Rainbow Falls, that's a blessing), there for the sake of it, or the victim of cartoonish bashing such as being launched in the castle's theater. The brightest spots from him this season came in Simple Ways (the most in character of the Mane Six there, I might add), Toils, and Trade Ya!.

Therefore, it's down to either Fluttershy (for being the most improved following a bad start) or Rarity (for being the most consistent in the middle), but I don't know who to vote for yet.

 

---

 

EDIT: Already made my decision. I went with Rarity.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Dark Qiviut

[Whatevs 377]

Quite honestly, this is rather difficult to answer. One of the biggest and loudest flaws this season is the extreme inconsistency in characterization quality, especially in the Mane Six. They've had their good and bad performances, and some of them are in a degree where you'd just go, "What the hell happened in the script process?" Episodes like Trade Ya! (minus Spike) and Rainbow Falls don't count because let's be honest, everyone was out of character or flanderized. With that, I must do a process of elimination.

I would say that Sweetie Belle Toils and Filli vanilli push Rarity over more than some ill advised attempts at comedy.

As I would argue giving the vote to Fluttershy would be saying you prefer condemning characters for things that have no real bearing on their character than rewarding characters who have actually taken chances (as the best Fluttershy could muster is "baby steps" in FV)

 

Which you did already. Also wasn't the reason Rarity broke down in IM because she lost her mojo?

Edited May 22, 2014 by Whatevs

[Whofch 128]

Not 1 had a flawless run, they never do. However, just having a quick on the spot think back to each character, this is what pops to mind.

In no particular order:

 

Pinkie: Seems clueless and mean more often than I'd like (Her ep was possibly the best however).

AJ: She's there a lot and just being her usual good self for the most part. Her humour is subtly improving but as a whole not much has changed.

Twi: Has done sod all aside from a boss fight which doesn't really do anything for her character either way.

Rarity: They have actually put the emphesis on her kindness this season. Sometimes a bit heavily but a fair amount spot on.

RD: Can't think of any ups or downs. She was just there being RD.

FS: I really hate trying to judge how her character has changed because it never really does that I can see. She's sweet and shy. She needs something new because they can't really remove the shyness without kinds of ruining her

 

Again, this is just of the top of my head. Proper thought and a real look back might see things differently, but as of right now, Rarity stands out.

[Forlong 1,726]

None other than Discord!

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

They were all really good. It's hard to vote any one of them. I wouldn't say Pinkie Pie because she wasn't done the best this season, neither was my favorite pony, Twilight, and neither was Spike really. It's a tie between every other one though.

[Lightwing 12,974]

Only 2 votes for Twilight Sparkle? </3

 

I mean, come on guys, remember that Season Finale? Twilight Time? Trade Ya? ^^"

Twilight had a good season with 4 episodes(Season Finale,Twilight Time and Trade Ya) :3

 

Rarity had the best season ever.The Rarity hate has been practicaly exterminated,and now there're lots and lots of Rarity love.

If you don't believe me,look at the Rarity Fan Club,with over 300 pages since Rarity Takes Manehattan(around January) :3

 

 

So,just to resume my thoughts,my vote goes to Rarity,but with Applejack as a close second,because they both had lots of moments together,even when they weren't main characters on the episode,showing even more their friendship,and sparking the Rarijack ship,who suffered a giant boost through this season

 

My vote goes for Rarity,but i would vote for Applejack too,just for her great season,who got rid of that "Background Pony Joke" forever :3

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

Rarity had the best season ever.The Rarity hate has been practicaly exterminated.

 

But i would vote for Applejack too,just for her great season,who got rid of that "Background Pony Joke" forever :3

 

Lets see how long it stays that way. If there are things the fandom has in abundance it is cruelty and contempt for those ponies they consider lesser beings and their fans... 

[Lightwing 12,974]

Lets see how long it stays that way. If there are things the fandom has in abundance it is cruelty and contempt for those ponies they consider lesser beings and their fans...

You have a good point.

 

Through the Season 4,the increasing Rarity love has been reflected by a lot of hate to Rainbow Dash,due for her very bad actuation on her episodes until "Testing,Testing 1...2...3"

 

Curiously,Rainbow Dash were famous for having a lot of haters from other ponies(no jokes :/ ).Can that be called... a revenge?

After all the hate that a lot of Rainbow Dash fans had spreaded,they received a backslash through a great part of this season -_-

 

 

I wonder who will be the next on Season 5.....

Twilight?

Pinkie?

Fluttershy?

 

The others had its respective dose of hate,so i'll not count them...for now :3

[crazitaco 596]

Rarity and Pinkie for sure! Rarity was at the top of her game this season, to make up for her lack of presence in the previous season. And boy was it amazing! Pinkie also had a lot of strong episodes, whether she was starring or co-starring in them. Unfortunately outside of episodes where she is a major character, she usually just gets on my nerves.

Edited May 24, 2014 by crazitaco

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

 

Through the Season 4,the increasing Rarity love has been reflected by a lot of hate to Rainbow Dash,due for her very bad actuation on her episodes until "Testing,Testing 1...2...3"

 

I still don't believe that Rarihate is in decline, this site is more a exception of the rule. After three full seasons stuff does not change like that.

 

I wonder who will be the next on Season 5.....

Twilight?

Pinkie?

Fluttershy?

 

The others had its respective dose of hate,so i'll not count them...for now :3

 

I hope nopony will get hate, but as we know that will never happen. So i put my money on the usual suspects: Applejack and Rarity.

 

The fandom always ganged up on them, they will in the future. They are easy targets, seeing as their fanbases are small.

[Anci3ntArtiFact 66]

Twilight or Fluttershy.

 

 

Fluttershy, because of Bats! and  Filli Vanilli. 

 

Twilight because DANG TWILIGHT YOU BATTLED TIREK LIKE HARRY POTTER VERSUS VOLDEMORT 

[Carbon Maestro 1,003]

Hahaha, Rarity FTW!!!!
 

Honestly though, she's the most mature of the group. Simple Ways does not count where she turned into a Belieber.

[Megas 27,703]

You have a good point.

 

Through the Season 4,the increasing Rarity love has been reflected by a lot of hate to Rainbow Dash,due for her very bad actuation on her episodes until "Testing,Testing 1...2...3"

 

Curiously,Rainbow Dash were famous for having a lot of haters from other ponies(no jokes :/ ).Can that be called... a revenge?

After all the hate that a lot of Rainbow Dash fans had spreaded,they received a backslash through a great part of this season -_-

 

 

I wonder who will be the next on Season 5.....

Twilight?

Pinkie?

Fluttershy?

 

The others had its respective dose of hate,so i'll not count them...for now :3

tbf, in regards to RD(and I'm not saying this to be a biased, defensive fanboy), I've always found a lot of fans incredibly bipolar towards her, with some fans going out of their way to hate her over every action she makes. One season she's a well loved character, the next, they want to gut her. And more often than not it ends up being over really stupid bullshit, things that any rational person would pass off as awkward situations, cartoon logic, or most fans would otherwise find acceptable if any other character did it. And I feel like it was at its worst this season

Edited August 23, 2014 by Megas75

[Starflower 323]

I think Twilight shined during Season 4 because of how she was growing up and getting used to her new role as Princess. I figured she played her role as well. In terms of the other Mane 6, I think Rarity and Fluttershy shined the most during the season. Rarity's element of Generosity was shown in most episodes she was in, and how Fluttershy was able to be brave not be the usual "shy" pony she was. 

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

tbf, in regards to RD(and I'm not saying this to be a biased, defensive fanboy), I've always found a lot of fans incredibly polar towards her, with some fans going out of their way to hate her over every action she makes. One season she's a well loved character, the next, they want to gut her. And more often than not it ends up being over really stupid bullshit, things that any rational person would pass off as awkward situations, cartoon logic, or most fans would otherwise find acceptable if any other character did it. And I feel like it was at its worst this season

Welcome to Raritys world! Only that she never was a well loved character, that she got hated for full three seasons and that she has half the fanbase Rainbow has.

 

I find it quite amusing how Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy fans complain about "hate" this season even though they don't know what real hate actually is...

[Ianpiersonjdavis 513]

After being snubbed last Season, this definitely seemed like Rarity's time to shine.

 

Spike got quite a bit of development as well (though, as I assumed 'Mane Cast' referred to the Mane Six, I voted for Rarity-but, I feel like it's worth noting that he is a strong runner-up in my book.)

 

Pinkie and Dashie however, felt like the two worst characters between; Filli Vanilli, Rainbow Falls, Trade Ya!, it is so rare for me to feel simultaneously disappointed and frustrated over episodes in this show when typically my worst reactions are 'meh'.

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

Applejack

Nothing else I can say.

[Megas 27,703]

Welcome to Raritys world! Only that she never was a well loved character, that she got hated for full three seasons and that she has half the fanbase Rainbow has.

 

I find it quite amusing how Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy fans complain about "hate" this season even though they don't know what real hate actually is...

I dunno, I never noticed Pinkie or FS hate, criticism yes, but not outright hate. I'd still argue that the hate for RD can get really bad though(if anyone was around the time MMDW aired, you'd understand), though I can't say if it can get as bad as Rarity

Edited May 25, 2014 by Big Boss

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

I dunno, I never noticed Pinkie or FS hate, criticism yes, but not outright hate. I'd still argue that the hate for RD can get really bad though(if anyone was around the time MMDW aired, you'd understand), though I can't say if it can get as bad as Rarity

 

Some people saw the backlash Pinkie got after Filly Vanilly as example for how much hate Pinkie got in season four...  They don't even know how good they have it... For them it was a giant storm of hate for their character... For Rarity fans it would have been a calm summer breeze. They did not even call Pinkie bitch, or wanted her killed, or removed from the show... Things Rares fans are used to, for example.

 

And Rainbow is probably the character that gets the second most hate after Rarity, but like i said, she has way more fans. Sometimes im not even sure if Rares has more fans than haters... 

[The JLmle 5,476]

Rarity, hands down. With AJ a close second.

[Jammy Jellicious 16]

Rarity, her personality and character improved and I simply loved her throughout the whole season. Go Rarity!

[Whatevs 377]

One last bump for any newbies.