Top Ten Earth Ponies, Version 2 (Post Season 4) · 8:39pm May 22nd, 2014
Just like with before here's the original version. Let's see what changed.
10. Braeburn
Why he moved down: I've already said pretty much everything there is to say about Braeburn, but he still holds enough appeal to warrant a place on this list. It would be nice to see him in a role outside of a cameo, but from what little we have seen it looks like life in Appleloosa is looking up.
9. Cheerilee
Why she moved down: Despite being featured more promintely in the title squence in Season 4, she still had very little screen time. Only appearing briefly in "Flight to The Finish" and "For Whom The Sweetie Belle Toils". I don't know about you, but if she wasn't going to appear so often I don't think she warranted enough screen time to be included in the group photo. Her inclusion, alongside The Cakes, Granny Smith, and Snips and Sails make little sense when we barely ever see them.
8. Big Macintosh
Why he moved down: Big Macintosh got a lot more screen time this time around, being featured heavily in "Pinkie Apple Pie" and "Filli Vanilli", and the first two acts of "Leap of Faith". However, with the exception of the times he sang, his speech pattern pretty much boiled down to "Eeeyup" and "Eenope". It's not too distracting, but it probably wouldn't hurt for him to speak just a little bit more now that he's featured more promintely in the title squence.
7. Apple Bloom
Why she moved down: It's not because she didn't do enough to make herself stand out, or because she didn't have enough screen time. She was pretty good throughout this season, despite her only focus episode being a bit of a mixed bag. With the inclusion of three new characters on this list, Apple Bloom, and everyone ranked below them just couldn't compare. One thing interesting to note is that "Twilight Time" showed her learning alchemey from Twilight, probably because she wants to try and learn ways to make plants grow faster so she can help her family produce more apples. Interesting, and for the longest time it looked like her cutie mark might be related to construction or woodworking. It's funny how things change.
6. Babs Seed
Why she moved down: Surely it wouldn't have been too much to ask for her to at least make a cameo in "Rarity Takes Manehattan"? After all, she popped up twice in Season 4, so she wasn't a oneshot or one note character. Much of what made her so appealing in the past still holds up despite an entire season passing by without her. That's why there won't be another CMC ranking list, because the rankings are still the same even after everything Season 4 had to offer.
5. Applejack
Why she moved down: Applejack just didn't really do much to stand out this season, at least after the first half gave her much of "Castle Mane-ia" and "Simple Ways" to steal the spotlight. "Somepony to Watch Over Me", the first episode of Season 4's second half to feature her heavily, really damaged her reputation. And despite her key episode, and her shared plot with Rarity in "Trade Ya" it wasn't enough to really wow people. And let's not forget her remark in "Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3" about her method of studying. Come on Amy, there's more to Applejack than apples, you know that more than any other writer with the possible exception of Meghan McCarthy.
4. Coco Pommel
Why she was added: There just aren't enough words to describe her, and there really isn't a known reason why so many fans latched onto her so quickly. Maybe it's because she was so relateable, working as an assistant to someone who didn't treat her properly. Maybe it's because she was so sympathetic. Maybe it's because she had the guts to do the right thing. Or maybe it's because she was the first of five characters to be the keeper of a key. In any case, Coco was probably the first Season 4 character who's fanbase exploded overnight for. A feat that would be repeated at least twice more.
3. Maud Pie
Why she was added: After being teased in both the chapter book "Pinkie Pie and The Rocking Ponypalooza Party" (a great book by the way, I highly recommend it) and the episode "Pinkie Pride" Maud's appearance was something that fans eagerly awaited, and Maud did not disappoint. Much like with Coco Maud's fanbase exploded pretty much overnight, and she became so popular that she managed to win a poll on Equestria Daily that pitted her against three other popular Season 4 characters. One of which ranks right below, and one of which ranks directly above her.
2. Cheese Sandwich
Why he was added: Despite being the third guest voice actor on the show, Weird Al Yankovic's potrayal brought Cheese Sandwich to life perfectly. Just his appearance alone was enough to get fans hyped up for "Pinkie Pride" and throughout, Cheese Sandwich was fleshed out and made into a character that felt so real he could practically leap off the screen and into real life. Add to that his personality, and his shipping potential with Pinkie Pie, and you have a character unlike any other. And a character that only one pony could ever truly top.
1. Pinkie Pie
Why she stayed the same: Unlike the last 3 seasons, Pinkie Pie had tough competetion to overcome to hold onto her number 1 spot. Not only did she face returning challengers, but also newcomers like her sister Maud, and the pony she inspired Cheese Sandwich. And yet, despite some harsh slip ups in episodes like "Three's A Crowd" and "Filli Vanilli" Pinkie Pie managed to make it through Season 4 with her character still intact. And luckly, poor potrayals of Pinkie Pie were quickly followed up by episodes that managed to reassure people that most of the writers still knew how to handle her character properly.
And there you have it.
2136263 I could go on and on about what else it got wrong. At the very least by the end it managed to redeem Babs. "One Bad Apple" had a moral that was so bad it didn't even enforce it. Note how at the end Applejack does not do anything in the prescence of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, thus destroying the moral it established. Just like how "Inspiration Manifestation" joked around with its moral, and "Feeling Pinkie Keen" did not word its moral properly. Granted, "Inspiration Manifestation" was a great episode, but the ending was definitely among the weaker Season 4 had to offer.
Every Pony, Hat off for the newcomers.
Cheeze and Maud are tough cookies to beat, arn't they?