What Makes a Good Hero?

Who do you think is the best hero of MLP:FiM? Why?
Rules:
- NO troll comments
- Please give VALID reasons
- RESPECT the opinions of others
- Equestria Girls characters are included

Comments

[calinjc]

Although this video is talking about video games, I believe it can apply to anything:

Also Luke reminds me of a certain redeemption-seeking heroine
So again, what are your opinions of a great hero?

[Infernity Zero]

A good hero needs to be flawed. And there needs to be a clear show of character growth from where they started compared to where they end up. So saying that, I'd have to say the best hero of MLP would be Sunset Shimmer. Going from Villain to Secondary protagonist, to Main Character.

[calinjc]

3403080
The reason I like Sunset more than Twilight is because Twilight has no clear major development changes

[Infernity Zero]

3403818 What about Amending Fences? That clearly shows a difference between Season 1 Twilight and Season 5 Twilight.

[calinjc]

3403938
Not really as impactful on me as Sunset's change though.
All that showed was Twilight being anti-social and now she is being social. I don't really think much of that.
Sunset however, she went out of her way to ruin friendships, made people do what she wanted, constantly made people feel worthless, and her arrogance was through the roof. She went from a completely unlikable character, to a loveable one. And Sunset understands that there is always room for improvement. Now that is what I call major development.

[Knight of the Raven]

I'd like to say Sunset Shimmer is a good hero because she changed her ways, but she's pretty much an entirely new character after she gets hit by the friendship laser for no good reason, to the point where I wonder if there was brainwashing or mindrape involved. She suddenly went from someone who can be summed with "because I'm evil! EVIL! EEEVIIIL!" to being nice and friendly instantly. She doesn't struggle to know right from wrong like you'd expect someone who's been extremely selfish for years to be, instead she struggles with being trusted. Which is already a good struggle to have, mind you, but less than what i'm looking for when I want a hero.

It's easy to relate to someone who's good without trying when you're a saint, but for the rest of us who have more reprehensible thoughts for whatever reasons instead of being born good, a struggling hero is better than one who started on the righteous path and never strays from it.

I would like to call Twilight a heroine, but since her go-to response to her first plan failing when dealing with invasive species is MINDRAPE ALL THE THINGS, I can't. If I learned anything from Friendship is Magic, it's that bragging is bad but mindrape is a-okay.

[calinjc]

3411536
Not to mention the fact that when Discord managed to mindrape her friends and her first attempt failed, SHE GAVE UP!!!! Granted she got back on track, but seriously?!

[Knight of the Raven]

3411789 Well, she did see all her friends* twist into evil parodies of themselves while all hope seemed to be lost, so I cut her some slack. And to be fair, that's an example of not getting everything served to her on a silver plate.

Even Sunset Shimmer breaks down when the five girls she considers her friends turn on her without even giving her the benefit of the doubt in the Happy Holidays comic, which is the closest to the Discord deal she ever got. I'd like to say she gets back on her feet on her own before proving she's innocent, but I believe she actually relied on Twilight for emotional support through the magic messenger book.

* Spike not included.

[calinjc]

3412012
So, who do you like better? You haven't really made that clear yet.
Also, in the comic, Sunset just seems to be the scapegoat for the school. Someone is suffering a hard time, Sunset. Something goes wrong, Sunset. Everyone seemed to automatically pin the blame on Sunset. But, that is human nature, so I guess they got that part right.
I think that Sunset broke down because she knew her friends were not being controlled, and yet they would still turn on her if there is even a whisper of evidence of her going back to her evil ways.

[Knight of the Raven]

3412229 Sunset Shimmer is my favorite character. Rainbow Dash used to share the first place with her, but Daring Don't, Bats and Tanks for the Memories decreased my opinion of her. I'm getting sick of Twilight and am unhappy she's involved in the third movie, even if it's not the pony Twilight.

Yeah, it's obvious Sunset Shimmer isn't the only one who needs to learn how to be a better friend in Canterlot High. I like that she doesn't get away with anything though, it's a nice change from Pinkie Pie who gets praised for ruining Luna's day because "it's fun to be scared trollololo"

[calinjc]

3413781

I like that she doesn't get away with anything though, it's a nice change from Pinkie Pie who gets praised for ruining Luna's day because "it's fun to be scared trollololo"

Yeah, when I saw that bit I was like

Seriously, Pinkie needs to

I'm getting sick of Twilight and am unhappy she's involved in the third movie, even if it's not the pony Twilight.

Yeah, once she became an alicorn, everything fun about her just went bye-bye for me

Yeah, it's obvious Sunset Shimmer isn't the only one who needs to learn how to be a better friend in Canterlot High

.
Yet, sadly neither Twilight or her friends seem to realize that. I mean in the season 5 premiere, they talk like they know exactly what friendship is all about, yet their actions aren't always in sync with their words. Before they can go around preaching about friendship, they need to practice what they preach.

[Knight of the Raven]

3414119 I'd rather say Pinkie Pie need to be crucified, but getting a clue works too.

That didn't start with season five. Twilight left Trixie run away into the night even though she was now homeless without caring about what happened to her because "maybe one day she'll learn her lesson." Just imagine what will happen if they meet someone who's not interested in friendship. They'll preach harder than the worst Jeovah's witness stereotype can ever hope to preach.

And to think the comics are even worse.

[calinjc]

3415944
Pinkie,

And to think the comics are even worse.

How much worse?