Allow me to rate all of the LyraBon appearances in season seven · 5:59am Dec 29th, 2017
Now that I’m not writing a story in which I obsess over Lyra and Bon Bon, I can use some of that free time to obsess over Lyra and Bon Bon. Specifically, their appearances across season seven, where they showed up together in a respectable number of episodes (once in a while, even with speaking roles!). As the person who wrote the most about the pony couple this year (as best as I can tell from scanning search results on this site), I feel that it is my duty to judge the way they were depicted in the show this season.
Really, the only thing that I’m looking for when Lyra and Bon Bon show up in an episode: Are they being adorable together? If they are, then as far as I’m concerned, the episode is instantly better for it. Therefore, I shall rank their appearances in order from least adorable to most adorable. Rankings may also be affected by two additional criteria: Whether their depiction fits the personality traits they’ve been depicted with in their limited canon appearances (primarily just “Slice of Life” and, to a lesser extent, the “All’s Fair in Love & Friendship Games” Equestria Girls short) and whether their depiction fits the personality traits I’ve given them within my own headcanon.
Is it unfair for me to base my criticism of the way the show depicts Lyra and Bon Bon on the characteristics that I myself have imagined? Yes, very much so. But if the two ever become more than one-dimensional characters in canon, I’m going to like my personal take on Lyra and Bon Bon better than however the show decides to portray them, so I’m doing it anyway.
Analysis is limited to episodes where the two appeared alongside each other. Not all criteria will be applied if their appearance isn’t long enough to warrant doing so.
So here we go: All of Lyra and Bon Bon’s appearances together in season seven, ranked from worst to best!
Episode 15: Triple Threat
Spike looks in all the wrong places to find the friendship problem that the Cutie Map has summoned him to fix and teaches Lyra and Bon Bon not to let cupcake flavors get in the way of their friendship. Lyra gets her first speaking role since season five. (Andrea Libman isn’t in this episode, so I’m not counting Bon Bon’s “Hmph!” as a speaking part.)
Are they adorable?: No. While it’s possible to get into an argument while still being adorable together, it’s a lot tougher to fight over something that no sane person would argue about and still be adorable.
Is it accurate to the show’s canon?: Not entirely. In “Slice of Life,” they’re so in tune with one another that only a revelation about Bon Bon’s very identity can threaten their relationship. The Equestria Girls short comes closer to establishing precedent, as the two side against each other while trying out for the Friendship Games team. But arguing over a cupcake flavor is even more petty.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: Absolutely not. Even if Lyra really was so adamant that vanilla strawberry cream is overused (and I can’t imagine a situation or situations in which she was exposed to so much vanilla strawberry cream that she would feel this way), Bon Bon, upon seeing that her marefriend was so passionate about something as unimportant as cupcake flavors, would yield (because I also can’t imagine a situation in which Bon Bon would be insistent on... baking? serving? that flavor). They don’t need anyone to teach them that they’re more important to each other than baked goods are.
If I had been given the opportunity to influence the scene, I would have written it so that Lyra was yelling her irrational cupcake flavor opinions at Twinkleshine while Bon Bon was standing by Lyra’s side. That way, Spike can still teach two friends about friendship, but now it looks like Twinkleshine said something to upset Bon Bon, so Lyra is sticking up for her. See? Adorable!
(Yes, I know that this revision would require the show to animate a third pony for what amounts to a quick gag using characters that only I care about this fanatically. I never said I was going to be practical while I write this.)
I do like the similar angry looks the two give Spike when he first tries to intervene, though. “You don’t know what’s best for our relationship, you nosy little so-and-so.”
Episode 19: It Isn’t the Mane Thing About You
In her first speaking role since season five, Bon Bon doesn’t know which flowers to purchase for Mare’s Day. This technically isn’t a LyraBon appearance (they’re only standing next to one another in the very first shot), but since Bon Bon has lines, I’m including it.
Is it accurate to the show’s canon?: Not really, no. I mean, sure, Bon Bon reacted that big when she said “It found me!” in “Slice of Life,” but at every other point, she’s the levelheaded one. Why is she so upset about flowers? Besides, we don’t need yet another background character who overreacts to every little dilemma. That’s what the flower vendors are there for.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: No. The first problem, of course, is that no one explains what in the world “Mare’s Day” is. Is it supposed to be the equivalent of Mother’s Day? If so, why not just call it “Mother’s Day”? I know the show has pony-fied every other holiday so far – and they weren’t going to be able to call it “Dam’s Day” – but they’re just creating needless confusion here.
So if this gift is supposed to be for Mother’s Day, then I can’t reconcile Bon Bon’s freakout – not that I expect the show to adhere to the backstory I’ve given her, but my Bon Bon wouldn’t be buying gifts for her mom here. (Unless she’s getting flowers for Lyra’s mom, whom she likes? I’m reaching.) If “Mare’s Day” is literally a day honoring all mares, then I could totally understand her panicking about not getting Lyra the perfect present, but she also wouldn’t be doing that while Lyra is standing five feet away from her.
Also, Bon Bon takes her flowers and walks off without paying.
Episode 7: Parental Glideance
I didn’t even know about this one until I checked the wiki. Lyra and Bon Bon are sitting next to each other, so I guess this counts, but they’re just doing their background filler thing here. This is the neutral section of my list.
Episode 14: Fame and Misfortune
Lyra and Bon Bon are seen in the crowd right before the song begins.
Are they adorable?: No one expects them to be adorable while they’re being blasted by sound waves. It was nice of the animators to throw in a shot where Lyra and Bon Bon are front and center – “Look! Here are these two characters who are together, still together!” No judgment.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: Maybe? If the whole town is choosing which of the Mane Six to be a fan of, Bon Bon would most likely choose Applejack on account of how well she gets along with Big Mac and how tasty she thinks the farm’s apples are. And she’s reasonable enough to not be among the crowd that was freeloading at Sweet Apple Acres. I’ll allow it.
Episode 3: A Flurry of Emotions
Flurry Heart crashes her shopping cart into a display of stuffed animals. Lyra and Bon Bon look on.
Are they adorable?: Not applicable. They’re only on screen for three seconds so the toy store looks populated.
Is it accurate to the show’s canon?: It’s accurate in the sense of “Lyra and Bon Bon show up together in the places that the Mane Six visit more frequently than would be normal in real life because often, extra ponies need to be present in the background of a scene.” But the show hasn’t ever given them a relationship with a filly or colt (which I’m thankful for for my own selfish fiction-writing purposes) to justify their presence here.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: Ah, see, you think I’m going to say “no” because Lyra and Bon Bon don’t have any foals. But! Lyra is an aunt herself! She’s at the toy store buying a gift for her infant niece. Bon Bon is accompanying her because they like to spend time together. It fits!
Episode 24: Uncommon Bond
Lyra and Bon Bon quickly walk through the foreground at the train station. Because they know they should be shown much more prominently than Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst.
Are they adorable?: They’re staring into each other’s eyes and having a conversation as they walk past. That’s all they need to do to be adorable. And for some reason, I love the little detail of Lyra carrying the suitcase in her magic.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: There’s no reason for it not to be. Is one of them meeting the other at the station? That works. Are they both returning from some trip they took together? That works, too. They don’t usually wear clothes, so they could easily share a suitcase. And Bon Bon is a simple mare with simple tastes – she wouldn’t own anything elaborate or fancy. “Bon Bon has plain brown luggage” is now a part of my headcanon. Good work, show.
Episode 25: Shadow Play - Part 1
In the establishing shot of Twilight’s castle after the Mane Six first visit Ponehenge, Bon Bon and Lyra have stopped along the side of the road to have a chat. Maybe they’re discussing how cool it is that they’re the only two ponies the studio needed to animate in order to add life to this shot.
Are they adorable?: You can’t see it in the screen grab because it happens during the dissolve, but right before this image, Bon Bon giggles, presumably at something Lyra said. So yes, they’re being very adorable.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: Heck yeah it is. Bon Bon loves how Lyra makes her laugh.
Episode 4: Rock Solid Friendship
The winner! Pinkie, desperate to show Maud that there are interesting rocks in Ponyville, claims that Lyra is a rock shaped like Lyra Heartstrings. Bon Bon is having none of it.
Are they adorable?: Oh my goodness yes. They are adorable in every single frame of their appearance. Before Pinkie steals Lyra, look at how happy they are together. Then you have baffled/terrified Lyra, understandably so, yet adorable at the same time. And the look that Bon Bon gives Pinkie for upsetting her Lyra... YES. Lyra and Bon Bon are always there for each other! That is what I want to see!
Is it accurate to the show’s canon?: Once again, as in “Slice of Life,” Lyra finds herself confused by something sudden and unexpected. It’s not a reaction I want to see from her all the time, but it’s fitting for this scene. And with the way Bon Bon immediately rescues her, it’s no surprise that they’re “best friends.” This is some good canon right here.
Is it accurate to my headcanon?: At the same time this episode was being animated, I was writing a story in which Bon Bon stood up for Lyra when Lyra’s feelings were hurt by another pony. You’d better believe I wholeheartedly endorse this scene.
Bonus!
I’m not analyzing all of the Equestria Girls shorts released in 2017, but honorable mention goes to “Coinky-Dink World.”
While there’s a problem in that there are four people at the table and only three straws (meaning that somebody didn’t get a drink), I think we all know which two of those people are going to be sharing that strawberry milkshake, most likely while gazing into each other’s eyes.
So there it is – Lyra and Bon Bon had a couple of not-so-great appearances this season (I’m all for giving them larger roles, even roles that could go to any random pony because the plot simply demands that someone say the line in order to keep the episode moving forward... but not if it forces them to act out of character); however, they also made some very adorable appearances. Here’s to more of the latter in season eight!
That is one detailed blog if I ever read one - nice work!
I knew you liked Lyra and Bon Bon, but I didn't expect you to be that analytical over every single appearance of them. Not that this is a bad thing - I love when people really care about a specific thing and aren't superficial about it.
Keep it up!
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I think it's a side effect of all of the stories and story outlines I've written about them at this point. With all of the time I've spent thinking about these two, I've developed this weird, sort of paternal feeling toward them. Which manifests itself when I see their animated counterparts up on the screen, even though those aren't "my" Lyra and Bon Bon. (I also get a small "yay!" feeling when Lyra and Bon Bon make cameo appearances in other fics on this site.)
It may be the niche-iest of niches, but I own my weird fixation.