Ranking The Student Six · 3:23am Mar 28th, 2018
Everyone else is getting in on it after "School Daze", Equestria Daily is even holding a poll to find out who the best student is. So I'm going to do the same. Obviously, this list is the result of my personal opinion, so please respect it. And I have a feeling I'm gonna be coming back and updating this list at some point. Either during the mid season hiatus (assuming there is one, which there probably will be) or after Season 8 ends.
6. Sandbar
Why he's on the bottom: Sandbar is like the Applejack of the group. He's basically the straight man and the voice of reason, at least so it seems. He has a surfer dude personality, which is nice, but he's the student we know the least about. He could come from anywhere in Equestria, and have any kind of family. He could have a chance to grow and become the Twilight of the group, but right now there isn't much about him that makes him stand out. Like with Applejack, being a straight man isn't enough of a personality when you're part of a group.
5. Smolder
Why she's second to last: Smolder is basically Scootaloo in dragon form, with hints of pre-reformed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tossed in (likely because she's voiced by Shanon Chan-Kent, the voice of Silver Spoon). But that's about all she has going for her. Ember stood out because while she was grumpy and judgemental on the outside, on the inside she possed a good heart and showed Spike that some dragons could be good. Without spoiling too much, Smolder will get a role later on in the season, so maybe she'll change if she gets to show off a different side of herself.
4. Gallus
Why he's in the bottom half: Gallus seems to be the bully character of the group, but unlike pre-reformed Diamond Tiara and Garble, I think he's a bully character done right. He's not cruel and inhumane, or always picking fights and causing trouble. He reminds me of Binky Barns from Arthur and Buford from Phineas and Ferb. He's a bully, but deep down he's actually not a bad guy and can be part of the circle of friends. I think what made him stand out though, was the fact that he had to plead with Grandpa Gruff to let him stay at the school even after Chancellor Neighsay had been dealt with. For me at least, this hints at the possibility of greater depths. Perhaps there'll be some elaboration on Gallus and Gruff's relation at a later date. All the same, he and Smolder feel like poor replacements for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
3. Silverstream
Why she's in the top half: Silverstream is the only one with any sort of direct relationship to the leader of her species, as she is revealed in dialogue to be Queen Novo's niece. But I feel like she exists because the writers knew they couldn't get Princess Skystar's VA to come back and there was no way they'd be able to get someone from Vancouver to voice match. She's not a direct knock-off of Princess Skystar, but she has the same overall personality. I do appreciate how she reveals how hippogriffs can change though, they use their necklace to swap between fins and hooves and wings.
2. Ocellus
Why she's not number one: The poll on Equestria Daily has her at number one, and I can see why so many people like her. She seems like a mix between the shyness of Fluttershy and the intelligence of Twilight, at least from what I've seen. Heck, she's kind of like Wallflower Blush from "Forgotten Friendship" except she doesn't try to stay invisible or just blend in. Her shape shifting ability is quite impressive from what we've seen. And of course, she's cute. But being cute only gets you so far, and if you know me, you know I'm anything but predictable.
1. Yona Yak
Why she's at the top: Like Ocellus and Silverstream, Yolla is adorable. But that alone wouldn't justify putting her at number one. No no no. She's number one because although she's a yak, she's not quick to anger or intentionally destroying stuff. She's clumsy and aloof. She's basically a female version of "The Big Guy" trope. And considering the yaks don't exactly have the best representation in the show from what little we've seen of them, it's nice to have a yak that's actually friendly. So for now at least, I'm putting her at number one.
I find your pick for number one interesting.
You don't seem to be a big fan of straight-men characters are you?
4827196 I don't have a problem with them, it's just that the straight man only really works if he has someone to play off of. And when you're going to make the straight man part of the group, you have to give them some sort of personality to stand out. Usually in those cases, the straight man is the comically serious, the hardened veteran, or the deilusioned dis-gruntled figure.
In the cases of Sandbar and Applejack, they work well when they're playing off of others. But when they have to hold the spotlight on their own, there's nothing to keep us interested in their story. It's not like Alice in Wonderland where we the audience are in the same boat as Alice, experincing the strange, crazy surroundings. The straight man is the one who has to learn a lesson, which is hard when they don't have a defined personality.
Your reasons for Smolder and Gallus being 5 and 4 respectively are exactly why they're the top two for me.
Followed by Yona (that's her name, not Yolla), then Ocellus, then Silverstream, then Sandbar in last.
I agree with your list. as a matter of fact the reasons you stated are how I feel
I put Silverstream at #1 favorite Student/Young Six for me :)
Wanna know why? :D
4862617 Why?
4862623
It's because, show wise for me, it's that she serves as the most prominent example of the New Race/Species from the MLP Movie: Hippogriffs/SeaPonies :3
Know what I mean? :D
4862632 Yeah, I do.
4862655
alright :D