The Novelty of Writing 04 - On Rainbow Dash as a Complex Character · 4:34am Dec 3rd, 2014
It's been a while since I wrote one of these, and while I was out of town for the holiday, I had some interesting conversations with another brony concerning Rainbow Dash. The same one I usually have with this fellow brony, time and time again. "Why do I like Rainbow Dash?"
This question is usually followed up with a slew of bite-sized facts and/or facets of Rainbow Dash that are less than savory. All things that jab at her character, her qualifications to be the element of harmony, and how she is in fact the worst sort of friend that any of the other ponies could ever have. Pretty strong stuff.
My usual comeback is that, I like her because she is a multifaceted character, and that there is more to her than one wants to see. Now that sort of retort only sometimes works to bring the Dash hatred to a smolder, but afterward I am struck with a sudden void. A void that demands for me to fill it with real reasons... if I'm going to say that there is more to her, then I need to discover what that is, or at least be prepared to elaborate.
To this end, I am dedicating this blog post to the character study of Rainbow Dash. The (arguably) most complex character in the entire MLP universe.
* * *
Before I ever sat down and wrote the first sentence of, Bunderbliss, I planned out the entire scenario by which Rainbow Dash and a human male would interact across space and time, and eventually form a friendship, and even a romance. In those early planning stages, I questioned my own reasoning for wanting to write a romantic story to begin with; I'm much better at action, adventure, and comedy. Besides, I'd already written a romance, why would I bother with it again?
To go even further into the self-questioning, I also had to consider the reasons for my choice of Dash as a main character. If there's one thing the fandom isn't short on, it's RBDxHuman clop fics, romance fics, or just plain self-insert I wanna sex up a horse fic. There was no damn good reason for me to ever, ever add to the stewing slag of such works.
However, the more I argued my choice, the more it became the most obvious.
Rainbow Dash by and large is represented as a tomboy in the fanon works of the community. She's also either a bit of a pushy slut, a fast fuck one-night-stand, bi-sexual, or just flat out lesbian. But what about all those layers?
What if there was something else about Rainbow Dash that went against her outward expressionism? Suppose that her machismo... her crass and brash attitude was the surface layer of a female character with self-esteem issues? We as her adoring fans see a "ten" when we think of her in terms of beauty, or desire... and what if she saw herself as a "one" instead.
Her need to be the best wasn't brought about by selfishness, but a true compulsion to achieve; to prove to herself that she is worth something. What if her bragging isn't for the benefit of others, but for her own ears?
Suddenly, I knew that a character of this weight and depth was perfect for a romance story. How could she not be? How could I not meet her face to face with the harsh glaring truth that someone, anyone in the universe could see past her self-esteem issues, her shitty attitude, her petty pride issues, and shallow cold-sholdering, to the inner beauty that only wants to be cared for?
This is why I like her more than the other characters. She is flawed. She does make mistakes. And, let's face it, she's a bragging self-centered egocentric bitch. But more than any of the other characters she's the most human. Giving and yet selfish. Loyal and yet indifferent. Sweet and sour. She is us in every way, layer by layer.
This is why we love her so much. This is why I chose to write Bunderbliss. This is my fantasy. My chance to be with the least greatest pony in the entire fandom.
Where is the "Favorite" button on this page?!!
Now, which one would you kill? One revolver, one bullet, six ponies, and a overused Clint Eastwood line.
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Maybe we should petition the admin for one.
As for least favorite, most hated... that's a tough one, because, just as soon as I start to really hate a character, then they do something to redeem themselves a little. For example, I used to hate Rarity with a passion, but later on she started to grow on me. I hate Trixie, but her version in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks made me change my mind.
If there was a character that I don't like, and probably never will, it would be Pinkie Pie. I try to like her, heavens knows I've tried. But, try as I might, there is still something about her that I just can't bring myself to meld with. It's like having a constant dose of "The Mask" running around 24/7, and after a while you just want to make the mayhem and nonsense stop!
So, I guess, depending on the circumstances, Pinkie would get the bullet, and the fabulous one-liner... "Who ordered the whoop-ass fajitas!"
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2638946 So, Pinkie = Jar Jar Binks? I can understand your quarrel with her. No definite characterization or development other than her breaking the forth wall with a heavy dose of deus ex mechina to rush the story along, while under an acid trip that'll make the ending of "Lost" make sense.
yep you pretty much summed up Rainbow for all her fans there.
Perfect in her imperfections.