The CMC Are (GASP) Maturing! · 9:46pm Aug 13th, 2016
Some interesting observations on the CMC.
In both "28 Pranks Later" and "The Cart Before the Ponies" we saw casual demonstrations of the CMC's greater facility with their racial abilities. In both episodes, Sweetie Bell is shown comfortably using her levitation on small objects (including a boxes of cookies, a money pouch, and a length of ribbon). It looked like Apple Bloom was pulling the large cart, piled high with cookie boxes, all by herself! None of the adults in canon commented on these abilities, they just took them for granted.
It is good to see Sweetie Bell's Unicorn magic, and Apple Bloom's Earth Pony strength, both being exhibited. Of course, we are all still waiting for Scootaloo to fly. I hope the show creators make Scoots first flight a memorable event, possibly a rite of passage that can demonstrate how far all three of the CMC have come.
For the first few seasons, I was not a fan of the CMC. I like Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo when they were in episodes individually. It was when the CMC were together that they were often self centered and selfish. However, ever since "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", I have enjoyed the CMC. I think it's because they have been trying to help others more. Too often before that the CMC acted mostly in their own self interest, regardless of the cost to others, and caused others a lot of grief.
It is possible that the emergence of the CMS's racial abilities might lead to some tension within the group. Even more than what was shown in "On Your Marks", the CMC's racial abilities will open up new possible activities and social circles. When Scootaloo can fly, she can participate in aerial activities that the other two can't join. Sweetie Bell can now participate in magical activities that AB and Scoots can't share (see Games Unicorns Play). And some purely physical games won't be fair anymore, if Apple Bloom is exhibiting the strength of an Earth Pony.
New opportunities born of emerging capabilities, tensions among friends, and the reconciliation of differences are all great fodder for stories. I look forward to checking them out.
