Fic Reviews: Let's Talk · 3:50pm Apr 4th, 2019
Another day, another review.
Okay, let it be said I’ve only recently become a SoarinDash shipper, and that was only in response to a certain fic involving dinosaurs really. (Don’t ask, you’d rather not know.) Now, I’m still new to the SoarinDash scene here, but forgive me if this story doesn’t really ring any bells for me. I’ll give you the basic premise. This takes place directly after Newbie Dash, which alone set alarm bells ringing for me given I know how some people don’t really understand callsigns. Basically, it focuses on Soarin and Rainbow having a short chat about their feelings on the entire matter, and it sorta develops from there.
Story: 5/10
It’s a fixfic for Newbie Dash, that’s a bit worrying to anyone. Fixfics can either be done well, or they can be done really bad… Okay, they usually just end up being done badly. Fixfics generally imply something that the author knows better than professionally trained writers and unless the episode is really bad -and again, this is subjective like everything else- this never works. Okay, credit where it’s due, the author did do a plausible story here and this will tie heavily into my characters point I’ll admit really. But then again, this is a heavily character-focused story as it is. But for everything the story does right, it does another whopping thing wrong. It does not help the author is self-admittedly a huge Rainbow Dash fan and not a fan of Spitfire. Now look, if you’re going to write a story, and I know this is hard for some people but can you at least try and put your biases aside for just a moment?
Characters: 5/10
Now, on the one hand the characters can be done pretty well, as Soarin and Rainbow Dash’s exploration of their feelings does feel fairly realistic if not a little bit sappy. I did admit I sorta teared up during both Rainbow and Soarin’s backstories. Rainbow’s, of course, we know from Newbie Dash but Soarin’s… Well, he in this story used to show up to school in a rather klutzy manner and always got the nickname of Sorein and because the nickname was so close to his actual name nobody in the faculty could do anything about it. The trouble comes now when Rainbow and Soarin’ start insulting Spitfire, their commander really and don’t even really think if someone’s watching or listening. Plus, there’s another problem. Rainbow and Soarin’ thinking of starting their own team. It doesn’t really make sense for the characters, who we know at least on Rainbow’s side worked to get to where they are. Oh well, at least it’s not that dinosaur story that really had Rainbow come across as a weepy special snowflake over her nickname.
Grammar: 9/10
Thankfully, at least the grammar is more than good. It’s astounding. Sadly, that’s about the only part of the story where it really shines. And that’s not a good thing.
Final Remarks: AKA the Part Nobody Likes:
So… Yeah, really. I think you’ve pretty much seen my view on this story fairly well really. I’m going to quote Bookish Delight if you may allow me.
There's nothing actually wrong with the Wonderbolts, and they're an excellent addition to the show as a RD contrast and for when you want to tell a story about malleable morals and values--they just happen to be disciplined jocks.
However, this fandom's fulla nerds who for all their smarts haven't grasped the concepts of genre-savviness and self-awareness, but do have healthy doses of unresolved schoolyard victim complex to go around. Some people are still caught up in it because they're still young and honestly, those are the ones I sympathize with. But you got way too many old folks round these parts who should know better at their age.
There's a drive in our society, which does have a basis in human nature, to place people--fictional characters included-- in neat little boxes. This is by and large perpetuated in media so as to not rock boats and keep the money trains rolling. Play it safe, keep characters "static" and "likable".
Sadly, I don’t think the author got this memo and combined with their already heavy bias towards Rainbow Dash… Welp, there’s only one way I can rate this story.
4/10.
Would NOT recommend.
Ouch, that is the problem with fixfic’s.
5038057
To say the least. Sturgeon's Law, anyone?
I don't need to ask, I saw you discussing it every day for weeks. I loved every second of it. =)
I'd argue that damn near every fixfic I've seen and heard of has been a monumental catastrophe. The biggest issue, I feel, is greater than just "the fanfic author thinks they know better", it's that it showcases an inflated sense of ego; narcissism if you will. While yes, they can be done well, it often requires an episode or some other medium that the property is attached to to be so atrocious that it desecrates the series' legacy. The only episode I can truly think of that botched up this badly (based on the episodes I've seen) is Rainbow Falls. To a slightly lesser degree, Mare-Do-Well, but that episode can't truly be fixed without role reversing everything and that becomes a Rainbow Dash circle jerk if you do.
This story sounds like a classic fixfic though. On top of a "I hate Spitfire" one. Brilliance.
5038063
Yeah... You pretty much summed up the entire thing in a nutshell. The only other episode I'd argue needing to be fired out of a cannon was a recent one -and keep in mind this is still subjective, no shame in you liking it- was the season 8 episode "Non-Compete Clause", which really took Rainbow and Applejack's rivalry up to ludicrous levels and even had them argue while someone under their care was possibly drowning. Good episode for the student six, horrible for AJ and Rainbow.
If this had been done uniquely, it might have actually been a good read. But there's bound to be many other stories out there that do the same thing. It's like Fallout Equestria stories. All they do is take the idea one person came up with and take it in their own direction, making literally thousands of stories based on Fallout.
5038071
Again, Sturgeon's Law. But really, a lot of people don't understand the Wonderbolts and all they see is their poor waifu Dashie getting hurt and that sends them all into capslock rage mode.