Top Ten Pegasi, Version 5 · 4:47am Nov 9th, 2017
You know the drill by now. Here's the fourth version, from the end of Season 6. Let's see who moved up, moved down, dropped off, and got added (but before we do, let's look at some honorable mentions. They are: Stormy Flare, Fleetfoot, Soarin, Spitfire, Dizzy Twister a.k.a Orange Swirl, Bulk Biceps, and Night Glider).
10. Windy Whistles
Why she was added: Personality wise, she could use a bit of work, but appearance wise she's just so adorable. It's all the more interesting when you consider she's probably middle aged (her husband certainly could pass for such, what with his five o clock shadow and everything). Interestingly, she seems more supportive initially than her husband when it comes to talking about Rainbow Dash's childhood in front of Scootaloo. And I really do think she'd make a great surrogate or foster mom for Scootaloo, so long as she was held in check. Kind of makes you wonder how well she'd get along with the likes of say Mrs. Shy or Cloudy Quartz.
9. Flash Magnus
Why he was added: Though he's perhaps the least developed and least noticeable of all the pillars in terms of overall design and personality, there's no denying Flash Magnus (unlike the last pegasus to be named Flash) left a lasting impression. I would've liked to see a bit more of his herorism on display in "Shadow Play", because he mostly just seemed to be a slightly more subtle (but by no means less boastful) Rainbow Dash. I'll say this much though, I don't really ship him with Sonambula or any of the other pillars. Heck, I'd say he's got more of a chance with Rainbow Dash. Remember, when the pillars got trapped in limbo, time stands still for them, so it was like they never left. That means Flash Magnus hasn't aged a day in over 1,000 years, and he looks to be in the prime of his youth.
8. Rumble
Why he returned: Sure, Rumble's new voice and personality take some getting used to, and this definitely means RumbleLoo (which was a pretty popular toyship actually) is probably gonna need some reworking (I don't wanna say it's complete dead in the water though, simply because there's not a ton of other colts to ship Scootaloo with. Aside from ButtonBelle though, it seems like none of the straight toyships ever took off). In fact, Rumble's voice and personality are what keep him from being higher.
7. Thunderlane
Why he returned: Just like his little brother, Thunderlane was present for the first list, but then he dropped off from versions two through four. "Marks and Recreation" though, brought Thunderlane back into the spotlight in a big way. Him being a Wonderbolt alone would've attracted a tone of attention to his character, but it was his role in solving the conflict with Rumble that really made him stand out. I really hope that, now that he's part of the Wonderbolts, we'll get see to him interacting with Rainbow Dash more often. I have a feeling there's some good episodes ideas out there, waiting to spring from this partnership. And I'd also like to see more of a clear chemistry with Rumble and the other Wonderbolts.
6. Derpy Hooves a.k.a Ditzy Doo a.k.a Bubbles a.k.a Muffins
Why she moved down: Derpy kept on making cameos this season, but it seems to have been dialed back in the show. She made up for in the movie, but I won't spoil how she did it for those of you who haven't seen it yet (if you've seen it, please refrain from spoiling it for others). And yes, I'm including the names Hasbro and DHX have more or less been forced to use to market her in the wake of Derpgate. The funny thing is, had it not been for a layoring error (or "derp" if you will), Derpy would've been obscured by another pony and without knowledge that something was behind that layor, I don't think Derpy would've ever gotten noticed. And of course, her love of muffins was all speculation based on her possibly being one of the ponies who said "Muffins" in "Applebuck Season". Now though, Derpy's become what she is, and I don't think she's going anywhere anytime soon.
5. Daring Do a.k.a A. K. Yearling
Why she moved up: "Daring Done?" added a new layer to Daring Do, a vulnerable side that Caballeron tried to exploit. And what makes it all the stronger, is that at least at first it was brought about stuff she'd actually done (albeit unintentionally). Her small appearance in "Shadow Play, Part 1" was just as good, as she got to display her new found confidence given to her by Pinkie Pie. If I had one complaint though, it's that we've now had two episodes in a row involving her tangling with Dr. Caballeron, and Ahuizotl doesn't appear at all. The next time Daring Do gets an episode, we need to have Ahuizotl come back. I always pegged him as the bigger arch rival to Daring, whereas Caballeron seemed like more of a foil (sort of the evil equivalent of Daring Do, you might say. Interested in ancient civilizations and lost treasures, but for his own selfish purposes).
4. Rainbow Dash
Why she moved down: Poor Rainbow Dash, two seasons in a row now she's fallen down. This season at first seemed to treat her fairly well, aside from "Parental Glideance" which made her too sympathetic for a story that was clearly supposed to make her in the wrong. But then came "Fame and Misfortune", and she started becoming a new butt monkey. This came to a head in "Campfire Tales", where she was frequently at the butt of jokes. And then, after winning a brief respite in "Daring Done?", she crashed and burned significantly in "Secrets and Pies". In an episode void of all subtlety and packed with filler, it's amazing how unlikeable they ended up making Rainbow Dash by the time of the climax. Were it not for the fact that I've already written a few accusations fics this year (one of which I ended up writing specifically because the events of "Parental Glideance" motivated me to do so), I'd probably write something addressing some of the more questionable stuff Rainbow Dash did there.
3. Scootaloo
Why she moved down: It's not really moving down, so much as it's returning to the position she held in all versions prior to the last one. "Parental Glideance" was kind of a Scootaloo episode, but of course the focus was all on Rainbow Dash and her family, and it's hard to buy Scootaloo turning on her number one fan when she's there, witnessing all the stuff she's going through as a result of her parents' excessive fanponyism. But it's really saying something when the IDW Main Series comic that came out today, gave Scootaloo a bigger role than she got all this season. But if Sassy Scootaloo isn't a thing (I just love the expression on her face when she questions Apple Bloom's quoting of Granny Smith), then it really needs to be. Sweetie Belle may be the best of the CMC when it comes to questioning ponies' intentions, but Scootaloo runs a very close second and slightly beats her when it comes to detecting horse apples.
2. Sonambula
Why she was added: My favorite pillar of the Pillar/Legend Six had to appear on the list somewhere. Was it really a surprise she'd place so highly on the list? While her accent feels a bit off putting to me in comparison to her design (Though at least I get the sense it's supposed to be authentic to her heritage and background), everything else about her was amazing. I do find it kind of odd that her blindfold ended up being the item of significance for her, given that it was only featured briefly in her legend (which placed greater emphasis on her glowpez necklace) and was never brought up once in her Legends of Magic issue. And exactly how did it end up stuck in the drain if she was seen using it to aid in the banishing spell? All the other artifacts I can buy being scattered all over Equestria (though Meadowbrook's mask was likely found by one of her descendants and brought back to her old home), but it must've taken an extreme stroke of luck for her blindfold to land in that precise spot. Not sure if I'd really ship her with any of the Pillar/Legend Six, but if I had to pick one to ship her with it would probably be Stygian, seeing as she was the one who held out hope he'd seek forgiveness (To me that seems like she was the most sympathetic towards him, and might have been willing to hear him out if he'd told her of his plan).
1. Fluttershy
Why she stayed the same: Fluttershy has now topped Pinkie Pie for the longest lasting holder of the number one spot on a Top Ten list ranking specific ponies outside the mane six. She's never once truly been in danger of losing that title, even during her stumbling block seasons of Season 4 and Season 5, where her character development bobbed up and down. Since Season 6 though, she's been on a roll (heck she was technically on a roll for most of Season 5 and then came "Scare Master") and she hasn't looked back. And while this does raise concerns about how they'll handle her character going forward, "A Health of Information" showed that Fluttershy's development can still lead to problems for her. In this case, she now has confidence in herself to perhaps a reckless extent, coupled with a determination to push herself more than perhaps is necessary. Sure, that seems to be driven by the situation, but it's really saying something when a few seasons ago it wouldn't have taken much to convince her to rest and let someone else get the Flash Bee honey.
And there you have it. Come back tomorrow, when we'll take a look at the Top Ten Colts and Fillies.
Here are my picks:
1. Rainbow Dash
2. Scootaloo
3. Windy Whistles
4. Bow Hothoof
5. Rumble
6. Soarin
7. Derpy
8. Flash Magnus
9. Spitfire
10. Sonnambula
Hey SuperPinkBrony12, did you know that Daring Do/A.K. Yearling's Voice Actress is the same one that did the English Voice of the Main Character in the Hamtaro Anime? :D
4781651 No I didn't. I was aware that the English dub had Vancouver talent though, including Chantel Strand as Bijou, Samuel Vincent as Dexter, and Kirby Morrow as Maxwell.
4781671
alright then :)