History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E14FameAndMisfortune

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Liking somebody despite their flaws is a fine moral. However, the song "Flawless", with lyrics such as ''"Our flaws help make us special/They bond us and keep us strong"'', implies that one should like somebody ''because'' of their flaws, which is a tad more problematic. The song does at least have the lyric "we're a work in progress", illustrating that working on your flaws is the Aesop here.

* {{Misblamed}}: In 2014, Larson branched into novel writing with the ''Pennyroyal Academy'' series, so some viewers took the episode as being based on his experiences dealing with their reception and his interactions with readers. Actually, Larson was handed the episode's premise by the [[ExecutiveMeddling executives at Hasbro]], and [[CreatorBacklash even he didn't like how it turned out]]. This sprang from the misconception that Larson returned to the show for this episode, when it was an old script he wrote before he left the show during Season 5.

** None of the journal readers have anything to say about Starlight Glimmer, even though she's one of the most infamous {{Base Breaking Character}}s in the series and has generated a lot of arguments in the fanbase over various elements of her character.
** Spike doesn't even get mentioned, let alone appear which is very suspicious and sad as he contributed 10 friendship lessons throughout the series prior to this episode and he has '''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation 1 visible entry in the diary]]'''. Oh, the possibilities of some {{Loony Fan}}s' reactions toward him and his sudden realization at the fact that he even had a fanbase in Equestria, as well as the possible reactions he might have had to seeing his friends (especially Rarity) harassed by them. Some fans have also pointed out that a lot of Starlight's dialogue, as well as her general role in this episode, seems to fit Spike better, and argue that he should have been there instead of her. This argument is only helped up by one of the writers saying that his original draft of the episode actually had Spike instead of Starlight, as the script was written before Starlight had her HeelFaceTurn.

** None of the journal readers have anything to say about Starlight Glimmer, even though she's one infamous as a BaseBreakingCharacter and has generated a lot of arguments in the fanbase over various elements of her character.

** With Starlight Glimmer being more of a BaseBreakingCharacter compared to the Mane Six, she could have filled the role of in-universe [[TheScrappy scrappy]] better than Rarity, not to mention a chance for one of the {{Loony Fan}}s to mention any of the multiple complaints in the MLP fandom that are related to her.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Yes, the loony fanponies in this episode were an over-the-top exaggerated parody of the worst kinds of fans and ''most'' fans don't actually act like that. But some fans are that bad, or can get bad when they get so caught up in a petty argument or hung up on certain details that they forget to relax and enjoy the show for what it is. You should always keep in mind that everyone who works on this show is a real person with feelings and occasional off days. Don't be part of the crazy fan mob.

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Liking somebody despite their flaws is a fine moral. However, the song "Flawless", with lyrics such as ''"Our flaws help make us special/They bond us and keep us strong"'', implies that one should like somebody ''because'' of their flaws, which is a tad more problematic.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Although some bronies took offense at an episode they thought was mocking their subculture, the obnoxious LoonyFan behavior on display is so broad and generalized it [[{{Applicability}} can be applied to]] pretty much any Fandom. Creator/WilliamShatner was already mocking this very same behavior thirty years prior, in his infamous "Get a life!" ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch.

* ToughActToFollow: This episode has the unfortunate luck of coming out after "The Perfect Pear", which is widely considered to be one of the best episodes not only of the season, but of the ''whole series''.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: During the song Flawless, various backgrounds appear such as the Mane 6 popping up in a book.

** With Starlight Glimmer being a BaseBreakingCharacter compared to the Mane Six, she could have filled the role of in-universe [[TheScrappy scrappy]] better than Rarity, not to mention a chance for one of the {{Loony Fan}}s to mention any of the multiple complaints in the MLP fandom that are related to her.

** Spike doesn't even get mentioned, let alone appear which is very suspicious and sad as he contributed 10 friendship lessons throughout the series prior to this episode and he has '''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation 1 visible entry in the diary]]'''. Oh, the possibilities of some {{Loony Fan}}s' reactions toward him and his sudden realization at the fact that he even had a fanbase in Equestria, as well as the possible reactions he might have had to seeing his friends (especially Rarity) harassed by them. Some fans have also pointed out that a lot of Starlight's dialogue, as well as her general role in this episode, seems to fit Spike better, and argue that he should have been there instead of her. This argument is only helped up by one of the writers saying that his original draft of the episode actually had Spike instead of Starlight, as the script was writted before Starlight had her HeelFaceTurn.

* * AngstAversion: The fans who did not like the episode point out how utterly mean-spirited the ponies are and that outside of the B plot with Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, none of the fan ponies really seems to learn their lesson and get away with their nasty behavior. It also didn't help that the townsponies all consisted of background characters that bronies over the years had gotten attached to, who wound up grabbing the JerkassBall, with the worst of it coming from fan favorites Lemon Hearts and Daisy. [[WordOfGod M.A. Larson]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKgav9k_u0 at a panel]] [[CreatorBacklash said that he didn't like the concept either for this reason]] and actually tried to make the episode less mean-spirited, but [[ExecutiveMeddling the executives got in the way of that]].

* AngstAversion: The fans who did not like the episode point out how utterly mean-spirited the ponies are and that outside of the B plot with Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, none of the fan ponies really seems to learn their lesson and get away with their nasty behavior. It also didn't help that the townsponies all consisted of background characters that bronies over the years had gotten attached to, who wound up grabbing the JerkassBall, with the worst of it coming from fan favorites Lemon Hearts and Daisy. [[WordOfGod M.A. Larson]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKgav9k_u0 at a panel]] [[CreatorBacklash said that he didn't like the concept either for this reason]] and actually tried to make the episode less mean-spirited, but [[ExecutiveMeddling the executives got in the way of that]].

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Liking somebody despite their flaws is a fine moral. However, the song "Flawless", with lyrics such as ''"Our flaws help make us special/They bond us and keep us strong"'', implies that one should like somebody ''because'' of their flaws, which is a tad more problematic.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot:
** With Starlight Glimmer being a BaseBreakingCharacter compared to the Mane Six, she could have filled the role of in-universe [[TheScrappy scrappy]] better than Rarity, not to mention a chance for one of the {{Loony Fan}}s to mention any of the multiple complaints in the MLP fandom that are related to her.
** Spike doesn't even get mentioned, let alone appear which is very suspicious and sad as he contributed 10 friendship lessons throughout the series prior to this episode and he has '''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation 1 visible entry in the diary]]'''. Oh, the possibilities of some {{Loony Fan}}s' reactions toward him and his sudden realization at the fact that he even had a fanbase in Equestria, as well as the possible reactions he might have had to seeing his friends (especially Rarity) harassed by them. Some fans have also pointed out that a lot of Starlight's dialogue, as well as her general role in this episode, seems to fit Spike better, and argue that he should have been there instead of her. This argument is only helped up by one of the writers saying that his original draft of the episode actually had Spike instead of Starlight, as the script was writted before Starlight had her HeelFaceTurn.
** Considering how the fandom has believed that Pinkie's "Pinkamena" side from "Party of One" is a big part of her character despite only appearing in that episode, it would have been an interesting topic for the townponies to bring up. Or at least mentioned.
** Anyone think the Hooffields and [=McColts=] should have been the "Sweet Apple Admirers" alongside the cajun ponies?

* AngstAversion: The fans who did not like the episode point out how utterly mean-spirited the ponies are and that outside of the B plot with Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, none of the fan ponies really seems to learn their lesson and get away with their nasty behavior. It also didn't help that the townsponies all consisted of background characters that bronies over the years had gotten attached to, who wound up grabbing the JerkassBall, with the worst of it coming from fan favorites Lemon Hearts and Daisy. [[WordOfGod M.A. Larson]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKgav9k_u0 at a panel]] said that he didn't like the concept either for this reason.
* {{Anvilicious}}: Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, [[TargetAudience who happen to be fillies,]] are the only ones who get the point of the friendship lessons, unlike all those ''older'' ponies. It's fairly easy to guess what the implied message is here...

* MisaimedFandom: In 2014, Larson branched into novel writing with the ''Pennyroyal Academy'' series, so some viewers took the episode as being based on his experiences dealing with their reception and his interactions with readers. Actually, Larson was handed the episode's premise by the [[ExecutiveMeddling executives at Hasbro]], and [[CreatorBacklash even he didn't like how it turned out]]. This sprang from the misconception that Larson returned to the show for this episode, when it was an old script he wrote before he left the show during Season 5.

** Spike doesn't even get mentioned, let alone appear which is very suspicious and sad as he contributed 10 friendship lessons throughout the series prior to this episode and he has '''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation 1 visible entry in the diary]]'''. Oh, the possibilities of some {{Loony Fan}}s' reactions toward him and his sudden realization at the fact that he even had a fanbase in Equestria, as well as the possible reactions he might have had to seeing his friends (especially Rarity) harassed by them. Some fans have also pointed out that a lot of Starlight's dialogue, as well as her general role in this episode, seems to fit Spike better, and argue that he should have been there instead of her. This argument is only helped up by one of the writers saying that his original draft of the episode actually had Spike instead of Starlight, as it was writted before Starlight had her HeelFaceTurn.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Although some bronies took offense at an episode they thought was mocking their subculture, the obnoxious LoonyFan behavior on display is so broad and generalized it [[{{Applicability}} can be applied to]] pretty much any FanDumb. Creator/WilliamShatner was already mocking this very same behavior thirty years prior, in his infamous "Get a life!" ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch.

** Watch any blind commentary reaction to this episode and the absolute ''highlight'' of the episode (besides the song and Stressed!Rarity) will invariably be either the guy demanding to know if Pinkie and Applejack are related or the elderly mare who claims that Twilight was better before she got wings.

** With Starlight Glimmer being a BaseBreakingCharacter compared to the more warmly received Mane Six, she might have filled the role of in-universe [[TheScrappy scrappy]] better than Rarity, not to mention a chance for one of the {{Loony Fan}}s to mention any of the multiple complaints in the MLP fandom that are related to her.

** Also, the worst types of fans are always the [[VocalMinority loudest]]. This is showcased by Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, the readers who had a positive experience with the journal, needing to be brought in by Starlight to comment on it, while the psycho fans with complaints about the journal voiced them openly into the air.

* MisaimedFandom[=/=]{{Misblamed}}: In 2014, Larson branched into novel writing with the ''Pennyroyal Academy'' series, so some viewers took the episode as being based on his experiences dealing with their reception and his interactions with readers. Actually, Larson was handed the episode's premise by the [[ExecutiveMeddling executives at Hasbro]], and [[CreatorBacklash even he didn't like how it turned out]]. This sprang from the misconception that Larson returned to the show for this episode, when it was an old script he wrote before he left the show during Season 5.

* MisaimedFandom: In 2014, Larson branched into novel writing with the ''Pennyroyal Academy'' series, so some viewers took the episode as being based on his experiences dealing with their reception and his interactions with readers. Actually, Larson was handed the episode's premise by the [[ExecutiveMeddling executives at Hasbro]], and [[CreatorBacklash even he didn't like how it turned out]]. This sprang from the misconception that Larson returned to the show for this episode, when it was an old script he wrote before he left the show during Season 5.

* MisaimedFandom: In 2014, Larson branched into novel writing with the ''Pennyroyal Academy'' series, so some viewers took the episode as being based on his experiences dealing with their reception and his interactions with readers. Actually, Larson was handed the episode's premise by the executives at Hasbro, and even he didn't like how it turned out. This sprang from the misconception that Larson returned to the show for this episode, when it was an old script he wrote before he left the show.

** Spike doesn't even get mentioned, let alone appear which is very suspicious and sad as he contributed 10 friendship lessons throughout the series prior to this episode and he has '''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation 1 visible entry in the diary]]'''. Oh, the possibilities of some {{Loony Fan}}s' reactions toward him and his sudden realization at the fact that he even had a fanbase in Equestria, as well as the possible reactions he might have had to seeing his friends (especially Rarity) harassed by them. Some fans have also pointed out that a lot of Starlight's dialogue, as well as her general role in this episode, seems to fit Spike better, and argue that he should have been there instead of her, which is only helped up by one of the writers saying that his original draft of the episode actually had Spike instead of Starlight.

** Considering how the fandom has believed that Pinkie's "Pinkamena" side from "Party of One" is a big part of her character despite only appearing in that episode, it would have been an interesting topic for the townponies to bring up.

* MisaimedFandom: In 2014, Larson branched into novel writing with the ''Pennyroyal Academy'' series, so some viewers took the episode as being based on his experiences dealing with their reception and his interactions with readers. Actually, Larson was handed the episode's premise by the executives at Hasbro, and even he didn't like how it turned out.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fans who did not like the episode point out how utterly mean-spirited the ponies are and that outside of the B plot with Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, none of the fan ponies really seems to learn their lesson and get away with their nasty behavior. It also didn't help that the townsponies all consisted of background characters that bronies over the years had gotten attached to, who wound up grabbing the JerkassBall, with the worst of it coming from fan favorites Lemon Hearts and Daisy. [[WordOfGod M.A. Larson]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKgav9k_u0 at a panel]] said that he didn't like the concept either for this reason.

* BrokenBase: Pretty much inevitable, considering it's a giant TakeThatAudience. Some find the episode to be a fun, yet necessary jab at obsessive fans, others see it as the writers ([[MisBlamed or rather]], [[ExecutiveMeddling the Hasbro execs]]) being petulant over legitimate criticism the show has received -- especially where the Mane 6's characterization is concerned. [[TakeAThirdOption A third group]] doesn't mind the episode's subject matter, but rather judge the episode as an actual episode, and found the Mane Six's treatment to be a bit too mean-spirited and the entirety of Ponyville to be more than a little unsympathetic. Yet ''another'' group argues that the background ponies are at the mercy of the writers and animators, and that the whole experience will blow right over by the next episode.

* BrokenBase: Pretty much inevitable, considering it's a giant TakeThatAudience. Some find the episode to be a fun, yet necessary jab at obsessive fans, others see it as the writers being petulant over legitimate criticism the show has received -- especially where the Mane 6's characterization is concerned. [[TakeAThirdOption A third group]] doesn't mind the episode's subject matter, but rather judge the episode as an actual episode, and found the Mane Six's treatment to be a bit too mean-spirited and the entirety of Ponyville to be more than a little unsympathetic. Yet ''another'' group argues that the background ponies are at the mercy of the writers and animators, and that the whole experience will blow right over by the next episode.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fans who did not like the episode point out how utterly mean-spirited the ponies are and that outside of the B plot with Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, none of the fan ponies really seems to learn their lesson and get away with their nasty behavior. It also didn't help that the townsponies all consisted of background characters that bronies over the years had gotten attached to grab the JerkassBall, with the worst of it coming from fan favorites Lemon Hearts and Daisy. [[WordOfGod M.A. Larson]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKgav9k_u0 at a panel]] said that he didn't like the concept either for this reason.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The fans who did not like the episode point out how utterly mean-spirited the ponies are and that outside of the B plot with Toola Roola and Coconut Cream, none of the fan ponies really seems to learn their lesson and get away with their nasty behavior. It also didn't help that the townsponies all consisted of background characters that bronies over the years had gotten attached to who suddenly TookALevelInJerkass, with the worst of it coming from fan favorites Lemon Hearts and Daisy. [[WordOfGod M.A. Larson]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKgav9k_u0 at a panel]] said that he didn't like the concept either for this reason.