Are we taking MLP FIM too seriously? · 9:35pm Dec 21st, 2014
As we all know Friendship is Magic has certainly become a very popular and surprisingly successful cartoon, perhaps not on the level of shows like Animaniacs, Courage the Cowardly Dog, the Batman Animated Series and several others of that ilk, but certainly one of the more successful. And of course it gave rise to us, the Bronies, one of the most unlikely and unexpected fan groups to ever emerge in the 21st Century, and what a long way we've come in 4, nearly 5 years. However with this rising success, I must ask, are some of us taking MLP too seriously?
On the one hand its an absurd question, of course we take it seriously, doesn't all the artwork, fanfics, fanvids and countless other fan projects (the Good and the Bad) not show that? Well yes, but I'm not referring to that, I'm talking about obsession. Some fans (and there's some in every group) who obsess over every last tiny detail that could be interpreted as inconsequential, that criticize or praise everything new that comes along in the show to absurd levels, case and point episodes like Magical Mystery Cure where there was a big outcry over Twilight getting a new pair of wings (oh shock! horror! She's grown a new pair of limbs, the end is nigh!), Feeling Pinkie Keen (which I agree had some unintentional implications, but was nonetheless really funny!), Mysterious Mare-Do-Well (which though pretty bad had some good moments which actually helped Rainbow develop as a character), A Canterlot Wedding and Crystal Empire (were both Villains were called bad or stupid despite the fact they nearly won, and with good reason (for more details see Joshscortchers Taking A Chrysalis' Invasion Too seriously and Voice of Reason's Top 10 Things "The Crystal Empire" did right for more details.)) and Twilight's Kingdom (which I thought was great, not flawless, but certainly a resounding and satisfying climax) where parts of the episode were quite heavily nitpicked by certain reviewers (I won't say who) and only brought out the Negatives (eg. Celestia's plan - It was desperate, she'd been backed into a corner, there was no other solution that could be implemented quick enough. Get Scorpan's help? Well were is he? Probably too far away to contact. Is he even still alive? Now look at me, I'm nitpicking to defy the nitpickers! What's HAPPENING TO ME?!)
And of course there are some who go in the opposite direction, praise the show to almost God like levels, calling it the greatest thing to happen to animation since what ever cartoon they watched as Children (or last year), when there are so many other cartoons and media (and novels and folktales ect) past and present that are just as good, no tons better then MLP in many regards, and more deserving of that praise. And the same goes for Fanwork, which is explored in detail in A Moment with Dr Wolf with Joshscortcher on quality control.
But most of all, the dark underbelly of the Brony fandom is where I must question some of our members sanity (no offense meant). Now of course the majority of this group (I hope) are nothing like this, and are actually very nice and intelligent people, but for the minority that are like this.....Highly mature Clop Fiction, Certain.....'Fantasies' and Fetishes, in writing, art and videos (like Cupcakes, seriously WTH!) (But seriously I don't go looking for this stuff, its kind of hard to miss, (and disclaimer I only have the Mature tag on because I read stories like Fallout Equestria, mature stories that actually have a point and uses its mature tones and actions for the purpose and impact of the story, not for...other reasons.) I just have to ask, why, and how? Why do you do this and how is this a tribute to the show you love? Why do you watch the show and how long do you spend creating....these? Like I said, its a strange minority not the majority that do this, but I have to question, are you taking this show too seriously, or not seriously enough?
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't like, we're all entitled to enjoy, or dislike, what we want. But if our admiration turns to disturbing obsession, (not just in our fandom but in any fandom), is MLP still a blessing to us? Or has it become a Curse? Are we taking MLP too seriously for our own good? Feel free to add your opinions in the comments, and if I have made any mistake or said something you think is out of line, please calmly say so. Thank you for reading and a Merry Christmas to one and all (or good day if you're reading this at any other time of the year).
I was looking at a geek magazine and MLP is in the top 30, but in the upper 20's. Others like Star Wars, Star Trek, and many others are more popular.
I see one thing. The higher up the fandom, the more mature they seem to be.
2668710 But that's the question. Why?
2668718 unfortunately, we will never know why fans take everything seriously.
Put it simple, if they paired a character I like with another character, I'll just say, alright, and move on. I mean, yeah, I'll want to know more about the character. If the character is good, alright. If the character is an idiot, alright, I'll just do things my way.
I have nothing against characters. If the writers can't do something right, I'll do something myself.
I sometimes just think that they want to live in their own world where they get what they want.
2668727 Yeah, you find them all over the place, not just among the masses, but sometimes working for big corporations too (case and point Teen Titans Go, Avatar the Last Airbender the Movie, The Inheritance Cycle (not all of it was bad, but yeah it was meh at best), don't they all look like bad Fanfictions put up on a screen or published in a novel? Or the Ghost Rider Movie if the Nostalgia Critic's words are any indication....
2668744 The Last Airbender, I wanted to kill myself after watching it almost.
2668749 I was lucky enough not to see it, but yes from what I've heard it was pretty bad. You know I can just imagine seeing that movie being used as a form of punishment, and this scene from Blackadder Goes Forth (have you seen it? Its brilliant! If you haven't this scene comes from an episode were the main character joins the flying corp during WWI but gets sot down on his first day flying and is held in a German prison Cell) comes to mind....
German Warden: ".....Prepare for a fate vorse then death, English flying fellow."
Blackadder: "Ah, so its the traditional warm German welcome."
Warden: "Also he (Baron Von Richthofen) says do not try to escape or you vill suffer, ewen verse."
Blackadder: "A fate worse than a fate worse than death? That's pretty baaaaaaad."