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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

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#62676: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:36:29 AM

Maybe it would help if you weren't so much like Applejack.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Starscream759 Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: In denial
#62677: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:41:04 AM

@Story Hardy ha ha ha, Story.

Well I guess I better come out with it then, I guess I'm feeling overjoyed that I don't have as much work to do for college and....yeah it's a bit of me thinking about Lightning Dust there.

"Transform and Roll out!" Optimus Prime
darkabomination Since: Mar, 2012
#62678: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:44:22 AM

@star. Finally, I was just about to break out the "speak damn you!" card, which seems to be becoming a catchphrase of mine.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#62679: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:44:54 AM

that I don't have as much work to do for college

I wish

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
NESgamer190 Since: Sep, 2012
#62680: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:47:45 AM

@Starscream: Ah! Glad to hear that today holds well for ya. Unfortunately for this 'ling, I've a test to handle today, and Monday to boot. The one compensation is that I get to head home early.

IkeAndMike Exists for some reason from Earth Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: Love is for the living, Sal
Exists for some reason
#62681: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:50:27 AM

Glad things in college are calming down for ya. (You dorky little lovebird) :P

Where is LD, anyway? And why did my phone try to autocorrect "LD" to "alas"?

http://h0useb0und.tumblr.com/
Starscream759 Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: In denial
#62682: Apr 2nd 2014 at 8:56:51 AM

@Ike Don't call me dorky, ya ninny!

"Transform and Roll out!" Optimus Prime
IkeAndMike Exists for some reason from Earth Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: Love is for the living, Sal
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#62684: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:01:33 AM

Where is LD, anyway?

You're right, I don't think I've seen her in a while.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Starscream759 Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: In denial
#62685: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:02:03 AM

@Ike Don't push me.

@Story When was the last time she was online? It was Valentine's Day wasn't it?

edited 2nd Apr '14 9:03:02 AM by Starscream759

"Transform and Roll out!" Optimus Prime
Sereg Since: Jun, 2010
#62686: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:03:04 AM

I have a feel the blog compares him to Nightmare Moon Luna more than a background ponies - someone important enough with supposed shadowy interesting bits about them to speculate over. Only nope.

That wouldn't be fair as they've had far more opportunities for development. I di compare him to early Mane Six right now though.

The difference between Luna and Flash is that Luna is a character.

Luna was way lessof a character when we first met her.

Why is she a character? Because the mystery that's in her doesn't just sit there - she acts on it.

Not when we first met her. Thi is why her character was so unexpected.

The fascination with her is a combination of the things she did and the things implied about her. Just enough shown for the rest of it to be interesting.

Which also applies to Flash.

If you do take the mystery away - her character crashes within seconds, her actions become random, inexplainable, she loses her idendity. If you take her actions away - then it raises the questions of why was the mystery attached to her in the first place if it doesn't affect anything in any way.

Aaaaaannnd now you've lost me. (Also irrelevant)

If you can take away the implications and it changes nothing - then the implications aren't worth shit.

Course they do. Name me something about Flash and I'll tell you how it makes a difference.

Nothing about Flash Sentry affects his actions in the story. He used to date Sunset Shimmer? On screen they don't even share words. [[quoteblock]]

Which highlights there bad breakup.

[[quoteblock]]He's the only pegasus in Royal Guard? No one brings it up in the story.

He's "the new guy". That's bringing it up.

Luna acts on her mystery. Flash Sentry does nothing.

Luna acted less on her mystery than Flash at first.

You can safely take every single implication about him away and it won't change anything.

Name one thing you can take away.

Flash Sentry sucks, the only good thing that came out of him is the "Waifu Thief" meme.

Opinion. Not fact.

For comparison, Flash Sentry has 9 lines of dialog in a 72 minute movie. Fluttershy had 12 lines of dialog in the 22 minute pilot alone.

Because lines of dialogue is an accurate measurement of character development

I have no issue with the character concept. My problem is that he's never developed beyond that. We get several facts about him, but we rarely see how those facts reflect his motivations or personality. So he plays guitar. That's a good starting point, but why does he do that? Is he an aspiring musician? Does he play it to pick up chicks? Is he just into it because his friends are? And he's nice to Twilight. Again, that's a good starting place, but why does he help her? The only reason the movie gives us is "he's a nice guy like that", with a small helping of "he has a crush on her", and it never gets touched on beyond that. The main question that the movie ultimately fails to answer about him is this: What are his motives? Why does he do what he does? When he's nice to Twilight, why does he do so? Is he attracted to her (and if so, why?)? Does he support her to get back at Sunset Shimmer for being a bitch? How does he feel about knowing that Twilight isn't human? Or that she can't stay in his world? What does he think about the rest of the mane 6? There's no conflicting elements in his personality. He just acts nice, for seemingly little reason.
Good questions. The same applied to all the Mane Six at first.

I'm not disputing that there's potential for the character. There is. What I'm saying is that the movie doesn't explore that potential. It presents the character and then barely develops him.

My response is that the Mane Six took several episodes to be developed. (Though thank you for actually presenting decent points)

Also, you think AJ didn't get characterization until SSCS 6 K?! Did you skip "Applebuck Season" or something? Even if you don't like that episode, it did give her a lot of characterization concerning her motivation and work ethic.

Fair enough. I did consider it. But ... it didn't really tell us much new. As you said, maybe I'm biased as I didn't like that episode much.

Ok then. So what did Flash Sentry get in Eq G that the others had to wait till these episodes to get? And could you perhaps explain what about these episodes makes them more character establishing then anything that happened before (especially A Js choice)?

As I admitted, I was probably biased against AJ there a bit.

But really, those archetypes that JT mentioned aren't any more complicated than Flash's.

Exactly what Luminosity is saying. He doesn't DO anything, nothing about his background, his character none of it is actually shown or acted on. none of it matters When you can just edit out every scene a character is in, or replace him with any other character and not in anyway affect the story.... yeah it's a poorly done character.

Name a character that could replace him and I'll tell you how it changes the story.

All you are seeing is potential, which given he is an utter blank slate, yeah plenty of that.

As I've said before, Flash has plenty of characteristcs that most people simply don't have. Most people ;are not Nice Guys (seeing as though you all keep coming back to this). I'm also a Nice Guy, but a completely different kind from Flash.

Again, yes the mane 6 were far better fleshed out, altogether in one episode, then he was in an entire movie. No you did not have 'wait' to get any character for the mane 6 they had that from the start, in everything.

No. They were archetypes. More than he was.

Yeah as they went we saw more and more aspects to their character, more facets, saw them as more complex, but from the start they were still better characterized then Flash.

Well, there we're just going to disagree.

What did he do, at all, that could not have been completely cut from the movie without changing anything, or that could have been done by literally any other character and still have made just as much if not more sense?

It would change a lot. Tell me how it could be kept the same and I'll show you the difference.

Okay from the Nice Guy page The Nice Guy can be engaging, likable or The Protagonist; all it takes is giving them a personality outside of "nice" Sereg, what you are arguing is just this, that he could be more. But the issue, nothing in the movie actually DOES this, he never is actually given any personality beyond 'nice'.

Course he is. You're just refusing to acknowledge it.

We are told things about him, but none of them matter, none of them actually ever affect what he does. All his actions, everything he does, everything we see him do, is simply him being a Nice Guy and nothing else.

Again. Prove it. Point out something that could be removed.

Anyway, I didn't ask to debate Flash. I know that none of us will change our minds. I'm talking about Twi Dash.

Because apparently it's okay to bash my ship, but the other more popular ones (which I anti-ship) are okay. If you can explain that Twi Dash is logical. I'll back off.

AceOfScarabs I am now a shiny stone~ from Singapore Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
I am now a shiny stone~
#62687: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:06:39 AM

Spicy

The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#62688: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:08:26 AM

What does Twidash being logical or not have to do with Flash Sentry's character or lack thereof?

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
KylerThatch literary masochist Since: Jan, 2001
literary masochist
#62689: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:11:57 AM

Can't we just bash watermelons instead? At least then you get something yummy out of it.

Seriously, guys. I doubt anybody has said anything that hasn't already been said before.

Kinda makes me wish they give him an episode or something. Maybe then people will have something new to talk about.

edited 2nd Apr '14 9:14:09 AM by KylerThatch

This "faculty lot" you speak of sounds like a place of great power...
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#62690: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:12:45 AM

Does bashing watermelons mean criticizing them? Because I don't think they're yummy at all.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
bRaHiAn1 Maid of Time from Where Nothing Gathers Since: Jul, 2013 Relationship Status: He makes me feel like I have a heart
Maid of Time
#62691: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:13:36 AM

I must agree with story on this.

i think i mostly want to see what happens when this whole place breaks apart
darkabomination Since: Mar, 2012
#62692: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:15:15 AM

Seriously sereg, Flash's is a flat character. Implications and backstory mean nothing if they are never acted upon. It doesn't make him any less of a flat character.

And just because you say those Mane Six episodes in particular give them development, doesn't mean we had to wait until then to get any solid development. Your likes and dislikes alone aren't proof of anything.

edited 2nd Apr '14 9:16:54 AM by darkabomination

KylerThatch literary masochist Since: Jan, 2001
literary masochist
#62693: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:15:28 AM

Heathens. Watermelons are very delicious.

This "faculty lot" you speak of sounds like a place of great power...
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#62694: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:17:46 AM

As I admitted, I was probably biased against AJ there a bit.

But really, those archetypes that JT mentioned aren't any more complicated than Flash's.

So what exactly made Flash more developed then the Mane Six in the beginning? You've said there is a lot to speculate about him, and while that is good, I don't find that at all unique when you compare him to the Mane Six the beginning.

@Kyler: No. Let us have relevant discussions for once.

@storyyeller: That's just his personal peeve about shipping.

edited 2nd Apr '14 9:19:13 AM by Mio

Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#62695: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:20:08 AM

Aaaaaannnd now you've lost me. (Also irrelevant)

If you really don't understand how acting on something doesn't equate with something just being there... You are free to live in your fantasy world where a "nice guy" with a token backstory is enough to make a three-dimensional character.

Fine, here's my last ditch attempt at explaining this apparently not-so-simple concept.

We are told that Nightmare Moon is jealous of her sister, she attacked before and was banished for it. Then we see her attacking, actually attacking, thus doing something that is relevant to her damn backstory.

Flash Sentry does nothing that is relevant to these backstories. He broke up with Sunset Shimmer? They don't fucking interact in the movie at all. Same applies to literally everything about him.

If Luna was like this in her first(and from then on) appearance, then the Nightmare Moon would have never showed up onscreen or even brought up in any meaningful manner. She'd be just there. And you'd be there defending it and claiming the removal of it changes something.

And don't even try to pull the "oh you just hate my ship and support that ship" card. I don't like Twi Dash, I find it based on faulty "opposites attract" logic, but they do share a common interest, which puts them a step above in plausability, nothing more.

I am done. Your refusal to understand or even acknowledge the basic points of your opposition, your claiming opinions or things you make up as facts. Because of that, I cannot continue conversing with you without breaking Tv Tropes rules. You are free to have a last word if you so desire.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#62696: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:20:48 AM

One thing I haven't seen discussed much is how parasitic EQG seems. A lot of the humor is just referencing the existing show rather than doing anything on its own. The Trixie scene was particularly gratuitous. It doesn't add anything to the movie, and it isn't really doing anything original except saying hey, Trixie exists.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
edvedd Darling. from At the boutique, dear. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
Darling.
#62697: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:20:58 AM

@Kyler: Indeed. They're just being a bunch of poopheads. You, me, and watermelon versus the world*, baby!

-*'World' in this case is two people.

Visit my Tumblr! I may say things. The Bureau Project
IkeAndMike Exists for some reason from Earth Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: Love is for the living, Sal
Exists for some reason
#62698: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:21:07 AM

Star- Sorry, didn't mean to push you. I'm just messing with you a bit, I'll stop now.

Watermelons- I think they're pretty tasty unless you get a mealy one. Those suck.

http://h0useb0und.tumblr.com/
Sydxelia Are you into... Vinyl? from Cranberry World Since: Nov, 2010
Are you into... Vinyl?
#62699: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:23:38 AM

Ow, my head. Damn beer...

I had the strangest dream, guys. I dreamed I was Swedish.

I put my friend in a coconut! He lives in my hat! Hey, come hang out!
Luminosity Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Lovey-Dovey
#62700: Apr 2nd 2014 at 9:24:36 AM

@Syd

And I thought I was Obama. We all have these weird dreams, apparently.


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