IntenseDebate - WhitFox7

8 years ago @ Equestria Daily - EQD Improvement Discus... · 0 replies · +1 points

PMVs: I've greatly enjoyed some videos, but I've quit on these because so many merely join pony images with visual effects and a song. For me, real pony content requires at least some of the humor, cheeriness, and/or character expressiveness of the show. I'm thinking the "Simple PMV" label encourages focus on style rather than content. Having a text teaser, sort of like fanfictions, might help us identify content we'd like.

Comics: While I'm a sucker for both humor and character moments, I won't read comics without decent art quality. So I appreciate the EqD post including a picture. I've been reading these less as serials get more attention. Most serial strips don't work as one-shots, which hardly encourages reading further.

Fanfiction: I love top-quality fanfiction. However, sifting through stories to get the best takes so much time, I often don't have the energy to find stories I like. So I'm in favor of more curation, not less. I -really- miss the star-rating system. For all its flaws, it allowed people to give kudos to great stories without being negative towards merely good stories. (Few people really want to pound on a story offered as a gift, even when it's weak.)

8 years ago @ Equestria Daily - The State of the Pony ... · 0 replies · +3 points

I don't see the fandom dying. I just see it shifting as the show changes and as people change. Season 1's light-and-sweet, humor-filled confection has been followed with heavier fare. Many bronies are loving this, as is regularly demonstrated by Equestria Daily's polls. Other bronies find the show less fascinating than they once did, and they naturally put more of their energy in other pursuits. I don't know why this should be taken as a mark of doom. When just about everyone is getting bored is when it's time to worry.

8 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Editorial: Who is Spik... · 0 replies · +1 points

I'm a Spike fan, and that includes some of his lead character roles. In episodes like Owl's Well, Spike at your Service, and Power Ponies, he has the strong desires and character traits that make the Mane 6 such fun to watch. His mix of idealism and cynicism makes him a little less predictable than the Mane 6, and that's good for both humor and drama.

I think that he's gotten several weak starring roles due to MLP's recent emphasis on self-esteem. You can only run that storyline for Spike so many times and still avoid disbelief, yet alone boredom. I felt Dragon Quest was already pushing this too far, particularly in Spike's falling apart and leaving Twilight. It doesn't help that Spike gets hit with a stupidity stick when it's convenient for Today's Lesson. I found Equestria Games almost unwatchable at some points.

Another problem for Spike is that MLP features adventure elements in more stories. Spike has plenty of motive for character-conflict stories. I didn't care for Princess Spike, but his overprotectiveness of Twilight was completely believable. But he's not part of the crisis-reaction team, and his strong ties to Twilight make him implausible as a solo adventurer.

9 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Story: Of Angels · 0 replies · +1 points

There's a lot of setup for a depressing ending. I think this is an interesting theme to explore. But having Angel be so one-dimensional, despite his being a comic character in the show, and not giving any pony a strong character role makes story seem flat.

9 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Discussion: What Did Y... · 0 replies · +1 points

I'm not a great fan of the letters in general. In a show that draws humor from strong character traits, episodes are rarely so subtle that the lesson needs explanation. I think this was mostly for parents who need reassurance about what their kids watch.

But I marvel at how well the device was used. Besides all the great gags they supported, the letters became a key plot point in Discord's Season 2 defeat. And every once in a while, a letter cleverly expanded a friendship lesson to a wider situation than was shown in the show, and thus became charming in itself. (I'm thinking Party of One and Best Pet here.)

I have more dislike of the journal mechanic, but that's because the writers started to treat lessons so seriously. Of all the Season 4 arc episodes, only Pinkie's and Fluttershy's didn't feel shoved down my throat. It's the abundant humor and charm that keeps MLP from turning into an Afterschool Special, and I'm hoping Season 5 renews the prescription.

9 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Is Rainbow Dash a Dick... · 0 replies · +2 points

Well, the argument for respect presumes that the writers are trying for deep canon-continuity, or that they're somehow obligated to. I'm not so sure.

Take Pinkie's insecurity in "Party Of One" and overconfidence in "A Friend in Deed", both of which are widely loved. I suppose you can argue for a lot of off-screen development, but that's hard to reconcile with Pinkie's being insecure again in "Wonderbolt Academy". Besides. if the writers get another great idea for an insecure Pinkie like "Party Of One", I don't think we'd really want them to say, "No, it's not canon-consistent with an episode we did in Season 2."

Canon-continuity is important for most fan-fiction, where you want a strong illusion that the characters are like the show. MLP writers don't really have that problem. It's enough that the characters act believably and entertainingly. And if episode XXX doesn't meet a viewer's expectations there, that MLP isn't canon-bound can prevent this from blocking the enjoyment of other episodes.

9 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Is Rainbow Dash a Dick... · 2 replies · +6 points

I think this makes for good fanfiction, but that it assumes more character continuity than the show is aiming for. Ponies are routinely tweaked to fit the plot. Sweetie Belle is mischievous in "Stare Master" so Fluttershy will struggle, devoted at the start of "Sisterhooves Social" to set up the crisis, and jealous in "For the Sweetie Belle Tolls" to set up the homage to A Christmas Carol. That's not meant as a complaint, but as a recognition about looking at each character as a whole. Trying to explain Dashie's sale of Fluttershy, or her endangering innocent civilians in "Mare-Do-Well", just sets us up to have needlessly negative feelings about her in other episodes.

And when judged more generally, Rainbow Dash has become a favorite of mine. Her vanity and selfishness seem to make the writers more comfortable about making fun of her. Humor's a big reason why MLP works so well, compared to the typical preachy and over-serious kid's show. That she's unreserved about her feelings and opinions also makes for emotionally fulfilling drama. "Read It and Weep" is an example of both making for a great episode.

9 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Equestria Games - Epis... · 1 reply · +7 points

Disappointing. Sure, the animation and voice-acting are great. But the ponies have been spectacular because while they're very sympathetic characters, they also have a lot of rough edges. Moderate foolishness or thoughtlessness moves great humor and compelling stories. In this episode, we're mostly out-of-balance.

In the first minutes, the relative maturity of Rainbow Dash and Spike offers little in the way of humor. After Spike fails at the torch, he goes completely off the rails, to the point where his silliness isn't fun to watch. Both the autograph sequence and his concert are just painful.

Since there were no real conflicts for friendship to be victorious over, we're left with a lifeless self-esteem lesson. (And it's not even a good one. If self-esteem depends on conveniently forgetting your past, it's built on a false foundation.)

10 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Trade Ya - Episode Str... · 0 replies · +4 points

Rainbow's quest was amusing. Lots of neat things to see, and Fluttershy has a more active role than usual.. But I thought the Rarity/AJ story deserved to be the centerpiece instead. Silly conflicts between the ponies make great fodder. Rainbow's studies with Twilight last episode were a great example of that. Also, Rarity's story had more potential for emotion and interesting resolution. That RD ultimately didn't throw Fluttershy under the bus (or ordog) is hardly a surprise.

10 years ago @ Equestria Daily - Story: A Hiccup in Time · 0 replies · +4 points

One of the best short comedies I've read in quite some time. Spike/Twilight is a great relationship to work with, and this story takes full advantage.

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