Community soapbox time, where opinions from around the fandom are dropped down below for you all to discuss and debate! Expect these posts normally when not late every Tuesday at 2:00 PM MST And now Saturday at 2:00 PM MST. To submit your own, see this post. Note: These soapboxes do not at all reflect the ideas of EQD. They are an open forum for anyone to post whatever crazy theory they want.
Headlines for the week:
- Character arc conclusion for both Twilight and Sunset at once
- Spike and Starlight's friendship
- The Other Side of the MLP Soundtrack
- Theory About Pony Language History
- Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were Mistreated by the Fandom
And get your soapboxes below!
Character arc conclusion for both Twilight and Sunset at once
By: Nightmare Muffin
Many have desired Sunset to return to Equestria to reunite with Celestia, but is there be more that can be done? Possibly so. An editorial done by MarvelandPonder entitled “What is Twilight’s Character Arc Leading To?” made me realize how this could happen. With Twilight continuing to put Celestia on a pedestal, considering her the perfect, flawless, unattainable Princess that she saw her as as a filly, back during her first Summer Sun Celebration, and holding those ideals to herself, Sunset- who has also become much like her old mentor (forgiving, protective, empathetic, a leader and mentor to her friends) doesn’t hold Celestia at such near god-like status, and doesn’t try to compare herself with her, as Twilight does. Sunset, unlike Twilight, has seen Celestia at her worst; knows that she’s flawed and that one of her biggest failure was herself. Sunset is living proof. So I think having her return to Equestria, not to reunite with Celestia, but to teach Twilight this lesson of holding her mentor to such high status and to be her own pony, is something that only Sunset would be able to do.
Spike and Starlight's friendship
By: MegaSean45
THIS IS NOT A SHIPPING POST, capiche? Good. Startrix FTW!
But really, even before The Crystalling episode, I expected these two to be closer friends. We can all agree that Spike and Starlight's interactions were one of the best things about the episode, and I was so glad that it happened! Made me think, hey, these two are gonna be the best of friends! Like a second Twilight to Spike! If Twilight wasn't there for him, she would!
Now as the show went on, their interactions got more causal, and Spike was more helping Starlight out with her problems than she helping him. What I thought was potentially gonna be a very close friendship turned out to be how Spike and the Mane Six that isn't Twilight or Rarity would interact. I mean seeing as they are both close to Twilight, live in the castle, and are main characters but not Mane Six, and are both friends with Thorax and Discord, it made me wonder why it didn't happen even more. Unless they are already and I just don't see it. Regardless, I'm still waiting for Spike and Starlight to interact more on a personal level, even have them share an episode together! I thought Spike, Starlight, Trixie, Discord, Thorax, and Ember would've been an awesome Secondary Six in episodes like To Where and Back Again!
The Other Side of the MLP Soundtrack
by Shelltoon
No doubt, one thing I can safely say about the MLP movie is I love its soundtrack. I can keep going back to it, and never tire of the damn thing. The minute the soundtrack was available, I had to buy it, even if it spoiled stuff. It exceeded all my expectations. Much to my surprise was the soundtrack had six songs on it that many would considered generic pop trash filler…. Or are they? Let’s get it out of the way, you did not buy the soundtrack for these songs. You bought it for the movie songs. I did a detailed write up about this on my tumblr (NSFW source!) and found the songs embody lessons the show is trying to teach, as well as each one counting towards one of the mane 6 respectively. I have to say, whoever came up with this idea, I tip my hat to them for being an absolute genius. I love the other side of the MLP soundtrack, and I think you should too. Yes, it's radio friendly pop, but compared to what I've heard on the radio, it's nice to have songs that aren't booty calls.
Theory About Pony Language History
By: Snesh
In episode one, a seemingly short summary of Equestria's history was given. It implies that since the conception of the the nation, the Royal Sisters have been in power, with traditions remaining untouched today. But such a stable society seems to have undertaken changes that seem unusual for a nation with constant rule. As such, I would like to argue Equestria's history from a linguistic point of view.
We don't know exactly what language ponies speak, but that's irrelevant to my point. In multiple episodes, "Olde Ponish" has been referenced, suggesting the language has underwent changes. And yet I feel a language can't really evolve under one rule. (unless the Royal Sisters are major linguistic geeks).
I have my own theory: Equestria used to be several broken up regions, each with their own dialect, and the modern tongue is simply a universal language that was created for the sake of unity. "Olde Ponish" might just refer to a separate dialect. This makes sense since the language is referenced when referring to ancient manuscripts, so perhaps Olde Ponish serves a role similar to that of Latin in Medieval Europe, where it was used exclusively by a certain branch of the hierarchy.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were Mistreated by the Fandom
By: FearTheBelle
Before Crusaders of the Lost Mark, it seemed like everyone hated Diamond Tiara, and most people hated Silver Spoon. My question is, quite simply, why? Diamond Tiara and Silver, from their introduction, were the foil to the CMC. They antagonized the CMC, they messed with the CMC, true. But, acknowledging one sojourn rather close to the line in Flight to the Finish, they never did anything that was evil. They were schoolyard teases, and nothing more, at least as far as their antagonism goes. And yet people LOATHED them. Again I ask, why?! Luna betrayed Equestria (twice, no less), and yet she was almost immediately beloved. Discord wanted to turn Equestria on its head, and people loved him. Starlight, well, she only started a cult wherein she ripped ponies' life meanings away; and then she was willing to see Equestria suffer any number of apocalypses for the sake of her revenge. But that's nothing compared to some schoolyard mocking, right? All of those characters were evil, and yet beloved then or now, and largely both. Whereas, back then, people wished death upon DT and SS, only children mind you and found agreement, support, even. That moral dissonance is disgusting.
