Don't Stare Too Long At The Sunset · 1:23am Jan 13th, 2018
Or else you're liable to realize...
man, the writers really lost track of what made her a good character.
So, I adore Sunset, fucking duh, I've written lots of fanfics, faved a ton of fanart, am friends with prolific writers of her, and if she showed up at my door tomorrow I'd fall back on my bed, fling my clothes away, and scream "take me I'm yours!"
*ahem*
However, I have noticed a trend with Sunset. I first noticed it with Legends of Everfree but it wasn't so bad there, it slipped further down with Movie Magic, but has reared up again full force with the digital series.
Simply put - Sunset is outgrowing the very reason for her popularity.
The reason we all fell in love with Sunset (at least, the reason I did) was because of the great character arc given to her in Rainbow Rocks and continued into Friendship Games. She had a great redemption arc that culminated with her coming into her own as the leader of the Equestria Girls. The reason people talk about Shimmercorn being canonized is because it does feel like Sunset earned her wings, and in a meta sense, earned her place as the spotlight main protagonist of the franchise.
But once that character arc completed, the writers kinda had no idea where to go from there.
Sunset is awesome, but she has numerous character flaws - her temper, her insecurities and self-deprecation, she can act without thinking, she worries too much. Or at least, she had character flaws. She outgrew her temper and self-worth issues in Friendship Games, her brashness and worrying have vanished in the aftermath of Movie Magic, and in their place... is more talent. Sunset can direct a play, she drives, she's a great artist, she's a video gamer, she's a great friend. Is there anything Sunset ISN'T amazing at? We know from "Opening Night" she can't act, but that's played for laughs.
And therein is the trap the writers have fallen into. Sunset has unfortunately devolved into the dreaded cliche. The overidealized and perfect character that everyone loves, has no flaws or problems, and is amazing at everything she does, and what small flaws she does have are glossed over or seen as inconsequential. And she's taken the spotlight as the star protagonist of Equestria Girls and the Seventh Geode of Harmony.
Sunset is becoming a Mary Sue. That well-developed, interesting, dynamic character we saw in the first three movies is fading. In her place is a new character, someone who is beautiful, kind, caring, has myriad talents in many fields, virtually no notable character flaws or shortcomings, and has not only joined the core group of heroes as a member, but has become their leader.
I really hope the writers dial it back a bit and give Sunset back some of her deeper character traits like her temper and insecurities, so we can find that girl we loved in Rainbow Rocks again. Because that is the Sunset Shimmer I adore and want to watch more of. Not this hollow shade of her that has been featured in the digital series.
Sunset has gotten over her insecurties and anger issues since Rainbow Rocks, the only way to push her is for her to return home.
Yeah, I admit, Sunset's becoming more and more like the idealized perfect angel descended from heaven a lot of bad anime writers would love, and the kind fanboys jack off to, she's sorta lost what made her so likeable in the first place. Which was, her flaws. Now, she's just this can do anything girl I can't even name. Basically, she's become Daigo from a certain Sentai series. She doesn't need anyone's help to do or learn anything, cause she can do it herself!
And... And as a Sunset fan, that's really hard to admit.
It's called character development. The flaws are still there and we see them pop up from time to time in the shorts and specials but we don't need to keep focusing on them. We don't see alot of her flaws in LoE because the story is more focused on Twilight's struggles. Sunset isn't always the star. I think it's silly that we need to constantly be reminded that a character isn't perfect, we know she isn't we see it all the time it's just not always front and center anymore because it doesn't need to be.
We spent so much time on the bad parts of Sunset so why not spend some time focusing on the good?
4772390
This. ALL of this. All day, every day. Let the girl breathe and be amazing. She's earned it.
All of this could be fixed with one simple thing, bring back the homesickness sub-plot that was cut out of "Friendship Games". She's been a human for a long time now, but she still has ties back to Equestria that need to addressed and cleared up. She's got to at least have regrets about how her time as Celestia's pupil ended.
4772390
I agree, except we DON'T see them continue to pop up. Where is Sunset's temper, her insecurity, her overworrying, in the shorts? I'm genuinely asking, maybe it's underplayed and I'm not seeing it.
4772446
Well using some of the new shorts as an example, she worries over passing her drivers test, she gets angry at Snips and Snails while working on the play and she certainly seems overly-concerned when it comes to making sure everything for the play gets ready on time.
4772454
Except that those are logical worries and a rational anger, the director is the guy who has to oversee all elements of production and make sure they go according to plan, and that everyone does their part.
When I say worrying, I mean like in Mirror Magic where it was a plot point that she worried the geodes meant something big was coming, or Friendship Games where she was stressing over Twilight not responding to her. Irrational worrying, inability to enjoy the now and fearing the unknown future.
4772456
I mean sure but you can rationalize anything, even the stuff in friendship games and mirror magic have some rationality behind them. The point is Sunset hasn't really been the focus in awhile so I would reserve judgement until the upcoming special in February when she takes center stage again.
4772475
Special in February?
4772478
yep synopsis for a 1 hour special recently got released by discovery family:
My Little Pony: Equestria
Girls: Forgotten Friendship
World Premiere Saturday, February 17 at 12/11c
Y7
In this brand new one-hour special Sunset Shimmer is shocked when she discovers she’s been erased from her friends’memories, leading her tosearch for the magic and the perpetrator who did such a dreadful deed.
https://www.equestriadaily.com/2018/01/new-1-hour-equestria-girls-special.html
Apparently this is based off a chapter book call "A Friendship to Remember" (or the book is based off the upcoming special?) really tempted to read it I admit even though I don't usually read the chapter books.
4772483
oooooo, interesting indeed. Thanks for the heads up.
4772483 Consider my interest poked.
4772483
Calling it now this will be the return of the Dazzlings...think about it for a moment. Who else possibly has an Axe to grind against Sunset personally? And has an understanding of magic but doesn't exactly wanna hurt Sunset physically just make her suffer and the best way to do that? Take away her friends
Sad to say I think you've got a point. Ever since they made SciTwi a permanent member of the group, it feels like she's stealing focus from character development for Sunset.