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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Live Reactions & Discussion)

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A thread to discuss My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and the tie-in media.

All of the usual forum rules apply. In addition, please remember that the thread is discussing a kids' show, and it's primarily focused on the work itself, not the fanfic — in particular, we don't want to see lewdness creeping in.

     Original OP text 
I don't know WHAT the Hell happened (I blame shenanigans) but we're going to start from scratch. Post your feels for this awesome show again! Naow!

Edited by Mrph1 on Aug 26th 2024 at 10:24:26 AM

SpongeGuy11 Since: Jun, 2018
#207951: Mar 17th 2025 at 11:22:14 PM

Then why did Rainbow Dash beat Applejack at arm wrestling?

Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
Pomeranian Lover
#207952: Mar 18th 2025 at 2:05:14 AM

One possible in-universe explanation is that Applejack's back legs are much stronger than her front ones, given that's what she uses to do applebucking and most of her feats of strength. Whereas Rainbow Dash isn't as strong overall, but she probably uses all four of her legs more evenly so she could beat Applejack at arm wrestling but wouldn't win if it was a contest that involved kicking something.

Theriocephalus Amateur Veteran from gimme a map and a moment and I can tell you Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: I made a point to burn all of the photographs
Amateur Veteran
#207953: Mar 18th 2025 at 5:42:54 AM

Then why did Rainbow Dash beat Applejack at arm wrestling?

Because she's also a very athletic person, I suppose? They're the two most "sporty" and physically inclined characters, and the kicking-a-boulder scene wouldn't have been so much as conceived of at that point (they are several seasons, and thus years, apart).

Actually, come to think of it, is it actually established in-show that earth ponies have Super-Strength?

Ferot_Dreadnaught Since: Mar, 2015
#207954: Mar 18th 2025 at 8:53:51 AM

[up]It didn't become a thing until S4, long after said hoof wrestling. But despite becoming regular I don't think it was ever official in the show as G5 and its production notes despite acknowledging their Green Thumb powers and other fanons never acknowledged super strength.

My impression is that earth ponies were Strong as They Need to Be, those clearly/consistently showing super strength were rare enough to be outliers rather than part of earth pony magic (plenty of other non-earth ponies posses high strength).

So that's a no on Applejack being a Memetic Loser because the memes and such were fans mocking/rejecting such?

M29S5 Since: Mar, 2021
#207955: Mar 18th 2025 at 12:22:20 PM

[up] Looking into the Super-Strength page, it says this

  • An extremely common piece of Fanon is that the earth ponies have Super-Strength as a special ability, to correct a perceived "imbalance" between the pegasi that have flight, unicorns that have magic, and earth ponies that otherwise have neither. This is eventually confirmed in the season four finale, when Celestia notes that Lord Tirek has been absorbing pony magic, she specifically points out that earth ponies got their strength stolen, as opposed to unicorns (who lose their magic abilities) and pegasi (who lose the ability to fly). Earth ponies breaking through walls or doors or being called on to do the heavy lifting is a common sight. Even considering that, Maud Pie and Big Macintosh are implied to be especially powerful even by earth pony standards.

GlitterCat Since: Mar, 2018 Relationship Status: The Skitty to my Wailord
#207956: Mar 18th 2025 at 2:09:32 PM

Diamond Tiara implies super strength is rare for Earth Ponies, saying the hedgehog girl has creepy super strength at first, but after learning kindness corrects her statement as amazing super strength. Maud, Pinkie (that party cannon she carries looks heavy), AJ, Big Mac, Rockhoof (after training) and hedgehog girl seem like outliers to me. But then I admit to preferring the green thumb abilities as their special power to super strength.

see my completed Tangled (Varian) fanfic collection! https://archiveofourown.org/works/24467056/chapters/59049532
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
M29S5 Since: Mar, 2021
#207958: Mar 18th 2025 at 2:23:24 PM

I mean it could be said that Twilight, Starlight and Starswirl are outliers, too. Guess Earth Ponies are stronger compared to Unicorns and Pegasi. Something considered a Super Strength is rare or achievable through excersise.

SpongeGuy11 Since: Jun, 2018
#207959: Mar 18th 2025 at 2:45:01 PM

[up]Twilight's an alicorn though and it's implied alicorns have Earth pony strength.

M29S5 Since: Mar, 2021
#207960: Mar 18th 2025 at 5:19:54 PM

[up] Yeah, I think that, too. Earth pony magic is just more subtle than Unicorn or pegasus. Isn't that canon?

This is a head canon, but I always thought that Earth ponies are more immune to diseases, live longer and are more numerous. Nothing fancy but practical.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#207961: Mar 18th 2025 at 6:56:27 PM

It didn't become a thing until S4, long after said hoof wrestling

IIRC, s2 MMDW showed AJ using super strength.

Edited by storyyeller on Mar 18th 2025 at 9:56:53 AM

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Ferot_Dreadnaught Since: Mar, 2015
#207962: Mar 19th 2025 at 9:33:28 AM

[up]Just because AJ had super strength doesn't mean it's from innate earth pony magic. (If it was, it took until the S4 finale to say so.) Charles Atlas Superpower is a trope, and most of those earth ponies showing such strength had careers that would develop such strength naturally rather than being innate like pegasi or unicorn magic.

Edited by Ferot_Dreadnaught on Mar 19th 2025 at 9:34:09 AM

Filip04 Since: Nov, 2023
#207963: Mar 19th 2025 at 11:07:22 AM

[up] But Cheerile was shown using Super-Strength in "Hearts and Hooves Day" and her job isn't related to strength (she is a schoolteacher). And Lily Longsocks (that filly with hedgehog cutie mark) also is super strong without working in strength-related job (ignoring the fact that she doesn't have a job due to being a kid).

Ferot_Dreadnaught Since: Mar, 2015
#207964: Mar 19th 2025 at 10:40:13 PM

[up]I said most. Cheerile was under the influence of Love Potion and Rule of Funny, probably would have shown the same strength feats if she were a non-earth pony, and it's definitely not portrayed as their normal strength. Lily Longsocks is the only character who's strength cannot be explained by work/training (Rockhoof's ambiguous as beyond normal for training but we don't know how he got it/if it was external), and it was treated as freak. I think it's evidence for if the only pony clearly at odds with the theory and is treated in-work as the oddity for it.

Under TheScrappy.Western Animation, Flash Sentry was removed citing "Removed Base Breaking Characters". My impression is this is true as he's undergone positive Character Perception Evolution (turned out harmless in the long run, accepting Twilight's not interested in him won fans back, avoiding the baggage of Timber Spruce, fans now think they should have done more with him) so no longer The Scrappy levels of hate. Double checking here first.

Chilli3564 Chilli from Final Defenestration (Holding A Herring)
Chilli
#207965: Mar 20th 2025 at 9:07:19 AM
Thumped: Wow. That was rude. Too many of this kind of thump will bring a suspension. Please keep it civil.
TV Tropes doesn't ruin your life, it's just another wiki
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#207966: Mar 20th 2025 at 9:14:32 AM

-redacted-

Edited by Demetrios on Mar 20th 2025 at 12:05:27 PM

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
Rytex Your Friend on the Other Side from Here, There, Everywhere (Ancient one) Relationship Status: Married to the music
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#207969: Mar 20th 2025 at 10:10:38 AM

I am the best unicorn,me.

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#207970: Mar 20th 2025 at 10:13:07 AM

Followed very closely by the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie and Starlight Glimmer. grin

I would include Sunset Shimmer, but she likes to spend a lot of her time as a human. tongue

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
Filip04 Since: Nov, 2023
#207971: Mar 20th 2025 at 10:34:20 AM

[up] Speaking of Sunset and the human stuff, I headcanon that Sunset Ascended to Carnivorism during her stay in the human world. I even see a similar scene to this scene (only with Sunset and Twilight in place of Celestia and Luna respectively, and pizza being replaced with a hamburger) where Twilight discovers that her friend/girlfriend/wife is a meat-eater.

Sunset: It's true, Twilight! I-I-I-I-I-I-I love eating meat!
Twilight: NO!

Edited by Filip04 on Mar 20th 2025 at 8:01:02 PM

Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#207972: Mar 20th 2025 at 11:04:13 AM

That would be hilarious to see. XD

Incidentally, Tara Strong is a vegan herself.

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
Rytex Your Friend on the Other Side from Here, There, Everywhere (Ancient one) Relationship Status: Married to the music
Ferot_Dreadnaught Since: Mar, 2015
#207974: Mar 20th 2025 at 11:30:11 AM

Are we defining best unicorn by power, personality, other criteria, or some combination? That effects my answer of best.

And was the above drama/thumping in response to my Flash Sentry question? Because I will replace his Scrappy entries with Character Perception Evolution, as he's no longer widely hated despite still having a vocal hatedom, unless I hear any objections.

Edited by Ferot_Dreadnaught on Mar 20th 2025 at 11:34:33 AM

VengefulBale Bishie Gijinka Meta Knight from Nowhere Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Bishie Gijinka Meta Knight
#207975: Mar 20th 2025 at 12:00:09 PM

[up] I guess it was, do add that entry. Funny how far ago his earlier reputation is behind

Prettiest Meta Knight Gijinka, ngl

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