My Little Pony: Cleanup Is Magic

The Nice Guy page for the show has several examples, and, while it's not terribly long, it seems to mostly contain pretty much every major character who's just not unpleasant. There are also a lot of ZCEs on the page.

The Square Peg, Round Trope entry for this trope states that their niceness, politeness, and/or overall lack of conflict needs to be their defining characteristic (or at least a defining characteristic). My question is, since this is a show centered on the theme of friendship in the first place, should only the most notable examples qualify (i.e. their niceness is one of their defining traits)? Or is simply being mostly pleasant enough?

So yeah, this is honestly a tough one since this trope is easy to misuse, but at the same time, this is a show all about friendship. Any thoughts?

It's not really a defining trait to just be nice if everybody else in the show is nice. Fluttershy definitely counts as it's her element and the overall theme of her plots, and maybe Applejack too since she doesn't get into much trouble and is a very honest pony and all, but the rest of the Mane Six probably fit other tropes better especially when they can indeed get mean or at least insensitive at times. Coco maybe, Flash definitely (because he has pretty much no other traits), but none of the reformed villains as their defining characteristics usually center around having not been nice in the past and trying to redeem themselves.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.

Yeah, Nice Guy is a character defined by being kind and humble; simply "being nice" isn't enough.

Also, kinda funny that the entire Mane 6 except Rainbow is listed. Doesn't seem like a very standout trait for any of them besides Fluttershy and maybe Pinkie, especially if the group as a whole is very nice. It's just sort of the default- it's why Rainbow stands out for being the Jerk with a Heart of Gold.

Edited by WarJay77 on Jan 2nd 2021 at 5:28:08 AM

Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness

In fact Rainbow Dash officially never showed any interest in Soarin (no stallions), she only sees him as a friend just like Quibble Pants. You cannot take an opinion that is made up of the fans.

That doesn't count in Word of God and it doesn't truly confirm anything either. It would be a big problem if you go on to other issue and it won't be a cleaning. That's edit war.

A Troper have deleted a part in following Characters.Friendship Is Magic Rainbow Dash and AmbiguouslyBi.Western Animation adding a single character instead of 3 that she has actually interacted.

According to Lauren Faust, Soarin and Spitfire are a couple.

Thoughts? to add it back?

Edited by Ashley-Alejo on Jan 4th 2021 at 11:01:56 AM

The lines in question:

• Although Rainbow checks off some prominent lesbian stereotypes, Word of God is that she isn't one, and she has some Ship Tease with stallions like Soarin', Quibble Pants and Zephyr Breeze.

The "Quibble Pants and Zephyr Breeze" part was removed as it made it sound like Rainbow did have Ship Tease with Quibble, the opposite of what you argue, and Zephyr despite her being the exact opposite of interested in him. If Rainbow wasn't interested in them, she has not had Ship Tease with them, so I'm confused why you want it added back. Do you mean you want the part about Soarin' removed as well?

Faust stated Soarin and Spitfire are "just friends... with benefits" and the shows current staff stated "If Lauren says it, it's canon. Period." The other examples from the alleged Rainbow x Soarin' Ship Tease in "A Canterlot Wedding" were Rarity x Fancy Pants (Rarity has never shown romantic interest in him despite showing clear romanic interest in others) and Spike x Sweetie Belle (both minors so I doubt they'd intentionally do that) so I'd be fine moving those examples to Shipping Goggles.

While here: Recap.My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic S 8 E 18 Yakity Sax:

• Broken Aesop: The episode breaks the intended Aesop of supporting your friends' hobbies no matter what by having Pinkie's playing of the yovidaphone be obnoxious and destructive, making the other Mane Six seem reasonable in getting her to stop, only faltering because they told her she was bad rather than how it was harmful.

I assume it's broken because the intended nuance, finding ways to be supportive without causing harm, wasn't conveyed. Right?

Edited by Ferot_Dreadnaught on Jan 5th 2021 at 6:17:01 AM

Well to tell the truth, the one who said Rainbow and Soarin were going to be a couple was the showrunner after Faust as in Meaghan McCarthy.

I don't know if that still counts as Word of God or if it's Word of Saint Paul now.

I guess the different showrunners had different plans with what to do with her preference.

Edited by Klavice on Jan 11th 2021 at 3:48:53 AM

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

I noticed very well that showrunner never said Rainbow Dash and Soarin that they were going to be a couple, it's just a conclusion from the fans that they believed because they played them. dude, to tell the truth, officially it doesn't count in Word of God nor Word of Saint Paul, that's lying and causing an edit war. Read it on the Mlp wiki and the descriptions instead of talking nonsense.

The creators or directors are the ones who give the character an official love interest and soarin is not one of them. They never had an interest in each other and that's not preference.

Rainbow dash stayed with Applejack as a lesbian relationship, that's the reason the showrunners had plans with her preference.

Edited by Ashley-Alejo on Jan 11th 2021 at 10:57:53 AM

Hold up there. It's true I can't find evidence that the showrunners shipped Soarin and Rainbow, but the ending with AJ was left intentionally vague. You can't claim for certain that they were together unless you have evidence.

Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness

Alright I concede... Maybe some famous fan artist who ships them like dm29 might have made that up, and claimed it factual. I can't help but remember SOMEBODY on the show staff saying Rainbow was originally inteded to be straight. But if it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist.

In a way it's kind of like Flash Sentry x Twilight Sparkle, there was some hints there, but nothing overly concrete.

Edited by Klavice on Jan 14th 2021 at 7:34:54 AM

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

AuthorsSavingThrow.My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic:

• Series 9 takes this even further. Whilst the Flim-Flam Brothers are shown as part of the Avengers Assemble moment in the Final Battle, and Garble gets a Heel–Face Turn several episodes earlier once the heroes discover his Hidden Depths, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow refuse any offer of redemption and are ultimately punished for their actions by being Taken for Granite, presumably forever. A pretty bold decision for a kids' show.

There was argument against it as Author's Saving Throw must be widely accepted as successful and this was controversial, especially since it notes many other villains did reform this season. Thoughts?

I think those three were the only villains who DIDN'T reform as I also saw Lightning Dust in the battle. And the fact it's controversial especially by people who say Cozy Glow especially could have changed, makes this a pretty easy cut.

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

In unrelated news, I skimmed through the WMG pages the other day and noticed a lot of them are...well...very outdated, about things that were proven right/wrong seasons ago. Would it be a good idea to make a "Confirmed theories" or "Jossed theories" page?

Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness

I'm all for it.

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

So as per this ATT, somebody moved the Hearthwarming's Tale characters from Friendship Is Magic: Others to Friendship Is Magic: Historical Figures. If I remember correctly, I thought the story was fictional in-universe, but I could be wrong.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.

Let's see… apparently the tie-in book The Journal of the Two Sisters treats them as historical figures, although many elements of that book were later contradicted by show canon. My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Forgotten Friendship seems to treat Clover as a historical figure, judging from the example section.

I'm referring to the characters in the Yet Another Christmas Carol episode, not the characters in the original Hearthwarming episode, who are heavily implied to be real ponies in the lore.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.

Oh, ok. Then, IDK.

While given the sheer amount of Real After All it would be more surprising if it really was pure fiction, I still think we're supposed to see it as fiction until shown otherwise.

I'll PM who moved the entries about it, see if they have reason to think it real.

Update: moved them back per https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=96424&type=att#comment-278404

Edited by Ferot_Dreadnaught on Jan 24th 2021 at 9:10:24 AM

I'm still surprised they went with Daring Do being real. Did they just want Rainbow to write a bunch of self insert fanfiction that got made canon after meeting A.K. Yearling?

As I've said before, Ahuizotl should be the only one in the Daring Do episodes that should be UU, as I feel the reveal of him being a tomb-keeper was an Ass Pull at worst and completely contradicting canon at best.

Anyone up for writing an Unintentionally Unsympathetic entry for Ahuizotl or should I? I feel even Caballeron was more foreshadowed than Ahuizotl. Unless we go under the notion Daring is an Unreliable Narrator.

Edit: Good, it's there. Anyone mind if I add it to the main page?

Edited by Klavice on Jan 24th 2021 at 6:58:49 AM

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

I've seen several people claiming that the infamous incident in "Putting Your Hoof Down" where Angel Bunny attacks Fluttershy over a salad is "domestic abuse", but personally I'm of the opinion that it can't really be called that because Angel Bunny is a pet.

For every low there is a high.

Tbf, the pets in MLP are all sentient and "She Talks To Angel" shows that Angel isn't exactly just a pet rabbit acting on instinct, but a willing Jerkass. Domestic Abuse can apply if we consider Angel his own sentient character with agency. But it really seems to depend on how you interpret the scene.

Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness

I'd say it works. I mean, Angel is at his nastiest in that episode, as is most of Ponyville aside from the Mane 6. And considering Angel is like a brother to Fluttershy, it still counts.

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

Are Angel and Fluttershy really at an equal playing field? Is Angel equivalent to somebody like Spike or is it closer to your cat scratching you? I know Angel slapping Fluttershy is a huge Never Live It Down moment so it might be blown out of proportion, but Angel does have more agency than the other pets. I read it as more like a bratty child disobeying and lashing out at his mother, and I didn't think that dynamic counted as Domestic Abuse, but reading the description it seems to be flexible enough to count?

Edited by mightymewtron on Jan 25th 2021 at 4:05:00 AM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.

Angel is basically Spike but he can't talk. And when he does talk through Fluttershy's body, he sounds like a deeper voiced Fluttershy. Also it's one thing if he just slapped Fluttershy, but he kicked her out of her own house and refused to open the door until she got the cherry he needed for his salad to context.

He's also shown reading a newspaper, opening and slamming the door in the Cutie Mark Crusaders' faces when their gossip column gets to poor Fluttershy, and making his own salad early on. I'd say that's sentient enough.

Edited by Klavice on Jan 25th 2021 at 9:03:53 AM

Fair warning: I can get pretty emotional and take things too seriously.

Yeah, "She Talks To Angel" pretty much confirms that Angel is very much sentient and very much aware of his actions- he's just a jackass, and Fluttershy is the only one who can talk to him.

Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness