Applejack and Rainbow Dash: Mixed up Elements? · 3:10am Sep 12th, 2013
In one of his recent videos Digibrony made the case that Applejack and Rainbow Dash seem to have Mixed up Elements.
Digi clarifies that he is making the case for slightly broadend elements. As far as they go, Applejack as the element of Family/Dependability, makes sense for sure. Rainbow Dash as the element of Authenticity, I could go either way. Rainbow certainly seems to become more authentic as the series progresses, but her over inflated ego would have held her back at the beginning of the series when it would have mattered most in terms of being assigned an element. Still, I can certainly see the argument.
As good of a case as Digi made it still leaves the question of the original elements open. On that note I would argue that their given elements are actually a better fit. The core of my case is that though they each make heavy use of the other's element, it is only with their given elements they they routinely promote harmony.
As Digi himself says, Rainbow is honest with whatever is on her mind, but brutally so. It is a character flaw for her, often leading the others needing to restrain her, like when she accused Twilight of being a spy or calling ponies who read eggheads. She's honest about her opinions but she isnt using her honesty to promote harmony.
Applejack is loyal, but self destructively so. In Applebuck Season her loyalty to friends and family leads to disaster. In The Last Roundup her loyalty to the town leads her to temporarily abandoning her own life. It is right before she sets off the trouble of Applebuck Season when she describes herself as the most dependable of ponies.
As for their assigned elements they are not crosses to bare. Nothing really changed when they got them, and thats the point.
I haven't seen the video, but they're totally mixed up IMHO. Applejack is the most loyal and least honest--she lies repeatedly, and even breaks a Pinky-promise. Rainbow is honest, and not disloyal, but her loyalty is always threatened by her excitability and distractability, and her long-term plan to join the Wonderbolts.
Interesting point about Dash's honesty and Applejack's loyalty being problematic. It may make more sense if you think of a pony's element as something like their destiny or an ability that would be most valuable in their hooves, whether or not they've already mastered it.
Also see this.
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Thats an interesting point about Applejack being dishonest in some ways. You're probably right. Thats one of the things I like about fanfic, the characters can sometimes be better written than in the show. Sometimes anyways...
That link is hilarious! Thank you for sharing.