History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWHolidays2014

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: The Equestria Girls and the rest of the students are unlikable for turning on Sunset Shimmer without question, not thinking that she would have nothing to gain from what she was accused of, and act hypocritical in the aftermath. The only ones to apologize and show remorse for all this are those who framed Sunset, but [[AdaptationalVillainy how much crueler their actions were than similar instances]] sinks them. Sunset and Twilight Sparkle are the only characters left to root for, but seeing how quickly everything they worked hard for was undone left so little hope for future prospects this happy ending seemed too fleeting to be worth it. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking It also had little to do with the holidays]], something [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWHolidays2015 the next year's special]] would fully focus on in what everyone viewed as [[AuthorsSavingThrow an apology]] and got much better sales for.

* FanDislikedExplanation: The Crusaders stated reason for framing Sunset Shimmer is disliked for failing to bring up Sunsets past actions that would have made it and how EasilyForgiven they were more justifiable and failing to explain why the continued to frame her after achieving that goal.

** A genuinely light and fluffy ChristmasEpisode involving some bonding with a reformed Sunset Shimmer.

** Sunset being framed as LaserGuidedKarma for her past actions by someone who still held a grudge.

* HarsherInHindsight: The Crusaders getting six months of detention just seems like a slap on the wrist compared to the punishments they got in a [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E12MarksForEffort much later episode]], where they got banned over something they didn't even do, even if the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up and they were allowed back in.

** Some fans won't let the rest of the Rainbooms live down turning on Sunset Shimmer when she was framed for being Anon-A-Miss, even though the Rainbooms did try to defend Sunset before doing so and ultimately hear her out. Many fics, be they {{Fix Fic}}s or {{Betrayal Fic}}s, paint the Rainbooms as being awful people for not believing Sunset, despite having good reasons for not trusting Sunset (as some of these fics even point out). There appeared to be solid evidence against her -- yes, the impostor account seems obvious to the older half of the fandom, but Sunset's "[[InformedAbility devious manipulation skills]]" in the first movie were just as obvious, and was a major source of mockery towards Sunset before she became a beloved BreakoutCharacter.

** For those who don't [[FanonDiscontinuity ignore it]], the human Crusaders' actions and lack of onscreen consequences are this to the point that nearly all fan works on this comic is for the sake of punishing them for it. This is despite the fact that, unlike the rest of the school, [[JerkassRealization they owned up to their actions]] (WordOfGod is that they were made the culprits since they were the only ones [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E23PonyvilleConfidential with precedent]] who would have been unequivocally sincere in their remorse) and the six months detention they received was the harshest punishment any "redeemed" antagonist has ever received in the franchise. In fact, if one buys the popular "months equals moons" fanon, its equal to what Sunset Shimmer went through for her much larger list of wrongdoings, including the same cyberbullying.

* MisBlamed: After writer Ted Anderson's last project, the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWAnnual2014 2014 Annual]], received massive backlash, this one's {{Anvilicious}} focus on {{cyberbullying}} was criticized as him trying to get back at them. The Holiday issue was already in the works before the Annual was out (based on [[https://derpibooru.org/716623 Tony Fleecs' tweeting a work in progress from the issue]]). Anderson [[https://derpibooru.org/images/797703 responded]] by explaining the script was locked before the Annual was released, meaning it couldn't be a repose if they wanted. Similarly, the Holiday issue [[https://derpibooru.org/images/2281455 was written]] [[AnimationLeadTime before they could have seen]] ''Rainbow Rocks'' which also surprised fans with redeeming Sunset Shimmer to the point her treatment here, common in fanworks prior, came off as unfair.

** Was Sunset's friends turing on her as quickly as they did a sign they hadn't really forgiven her [[AlphaBitch past actions]] (including breaking their friendships) only helping/befriending her because Twilight asked them? And did they only hear her out when they did because Twilight was vouching for them or would they have regardless?

* FanonDiscontinuity: With how polarizing this comic turned out, many either ignore it outright or nitpick the continuity to prove it couldn't happen. That practically all the numerous fanworks are {{Alternate Universe Fic}}s show even those otherwise fans of or onboard with the issue reject its [[EasilyForgiven canon resolution]] which is seen as negating the appeal of the darker and serious premise.

* FanonDiscontinuity: With how polarizing this comic turned out, many either ignore it outright or nitpick the continuity to prove it couldn't happen.

** Given that the human Crusaders continued to frame Sunset for days after achieving their original goal, some question whether they confessed and apologized because they were sorry for hurting her or to cut losses because their scheme had gotten out of hand and/or was about to be exposed.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the last [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWAnnual2013 Equestrian Girls comic]] seemed to confirm the negative interpretations of Sunset Shimmer, while ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks Rainbow Rocks]]'' [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap went the opposite route]], this comic forcing Sunset to further convince everyone she truly is reformed came of as an attempt to fix this. Unfortunately, this [[HappyEndingOverride seemingly negated all she did to do likewise in]] ''Rainbow Rocks'', causing further problems.

* EpilepticTrees: While there's nothing official on the matter, many speculate this comic was ChristmasRushed, being written before ''Rainbow Rocks'' with no time to adjust for continuity and the holiday theme being tacked on.

** Given that the Equestria Girls never apologized to Sunset Shimmer and [[TheFriendNobodyLikes how they treated her]] in ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks Rainbow Rocks]]'', some question whether they were genuine in forgiving her for her [[AlphaBitch past actions]] (including breaking their friendships) as opposed to putting up with her because Twilight Sparkle asked them to.

** While the comics have run into continuity problems before, [[MST3KMantra this did not interfere with enjoyment]]. By taking place after ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks Rainbow Rocks]]'' when it would have made much more sense prior, it lead to some of the [[FridgeHorror aformentioned problems]] that hurt its reception. It also has other issues that were better handled on the show.

* BrokenBase:
** Was it a terrible story for [[CluelessAesop a moral that's poorly delivered and at odds with the themes of the issue]]? A good story for dealing with a very serious issue whose [[EasilyForgiven critiques]] are forgivable attempts to make it more accessible to younger readers? Or were two story components (the holidays and cyber-bullying) okay stories by their own merits that did or did not work well together?
** On the flip side of things, the amount of [[FixFic fan fiction that attempted to re-write the story or tell alternate "what if" scenarios]] that are still being written even after 5 years since this comic came out and the show ended. Do these stories hold water in fixing the mistakes these fans had with the story, or are they poorly written dreck with enough {{Glurge}} and {{Wangst}} to make readers cringe?

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: The Equestria Girls and the rest of the students are unlikable for turning on Sunset Shimmer without question, not thinking that she would have nothing to gain from what she was accused of, and act hypocritical in the aftermath. The only ones to apologize and show remorse for all this are those who framed Sunset, but [[AdaptationalVillainy how much crueler their actions were than similar instances]] sinks them. Sunset and Twilight Sparkle are the only characters left to root for, but seeing how quickly everything they worked hard for was undone left so little hope for future prospects this happy ending seemed too fleeting to be worth it. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking It also had little to do with the holidays]], something [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWHolidays2015 the next years special]] would fully focus on in what everyone viewed as [[AuthorsSavingThrow an apology]] and got much better sales for.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Bouns points for [[RecycledScript being the same as]] an [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E23PonyvilleConfidential already heavily criticized episode]] and omitting what made it merely controversial.