Top Ten Pegasi, Version 6 · 3:24pm Oct 24th, 2018
By now you know the drill, so I won't repeat myself. Here's the fifth version, from the end of Season 7. 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, Rumble, Dizzy Twister a.k.a Orange Swirl, Bulk Biceps, Thunderlane, and Night Glider).
10. Windy Whistles
Why she stayed on the bottom: Windy got a background appearance alongside her husband at the Scootaloo fan club towards the end of The Washouts. It's kind of interesting to see how she and Bow have become a second family of sorts to Scootaloo. I still believe she'd make a good surrogate or foster parent if held in check. But I think it's arguably for the best that she and Bow stay in the background, at least until they're willing to show us they've learned not to be so overly supportive.
9. Spitfire
Why she returned: Spitfire is the only Wonderbolt who used to be on the list that made a comeback this time around, because she was the only one with the screen time to justify it. Some are speculating that the whole "Full Body Wing and Hoof Cast, Drinkin' Through a Straw" running gag is Spitfire's backstory that explains why she went from so laid back and mellow in Seasons 1 and 2, to all drill sergeant starting in Season 3. But I think the easier explanation is simply that starting in Season 3 we saw more of her in an official light and that meant that formalities were over with, it was time to get serious. I think I can also safely say that her performance and appearance in "The Washouts" debunks the idea that she could be Scootaloo's mom. Because if she was, I have a feeling she would've said something along the lines of "No daughter of mine is gonna associate with a reckless pony like Lightning Dust! Not if I have anything to say about it!".
8. Rolling Thunder
Why she was added: Short Fuse wasn't bad but his shtick can get annoying very fast. Besides, you know everyone's a sucker for Australian accents. Rolling Thunder is arguably even more reckless than Lightning Dust if she was willing to disregard the rules for inclement weather. Sort of makes you wonder if she tried to do what Rainbow Dash in "Newbie Dash" and that's what Spitfire was alluding to when she said she'd expelled bolts for less. We even saw her bandaging her leg after the show, but she seemed almost not bothered by it. Whether that's good or bad is up for debate.
7. Derpy Hooves a.k.a Ditzy Doo a.k.a Bubbles a.k.a Muffins
Why she moved down: Derpy's cameo appearances continued to be dialed back this season. Outside the finale I can't think of a noticeable occasion where she had a cameo. By now I think it's okay to talk about what she did in the movie. Her cameo saw her swoop in and end up taking the shot meant for Twilight, and somehow getting an ice cream cone stuck to her forehead to make it look like she was an alicorn. It's an unintentional heroic sacrifice.
6. Daring Do a.k.a A. K. Yearling
Why she moved down: With one pegasus moving way up in the list, room had to be made somewhere and that meant Daring had to move down. I still like her a lot, and "Daring Done?" did a lot to flesh out her character. But Season 8 broke the trend of even number seasons having a Daring Do episode (probably because Season 7 got one instead). The best we got was a mention of her books in "The End in Friend". Fans are now speculating that Shadow Spade may be just as real as Daring Do, though time will tell whether or not that ever turns out to be true.
5. Flash Magnus
Why he moved way up: It may have been brief, but his time in "A Rockhoof and a Hard Place" where we saw marching with cadets from the royal guard really did a lot to flesh out what was before the least developed of all the pillars (at least in terms of the show). He got an opportunity to put his military skills to good use and prove that he was something other than a male Rainbow Dash. And it seems that his time in the royal guard has really paid off, because "School Raze" showed a noticeably stepped up presence from them and even our first noticeable female guard. Still no word on whether or not he's at all related to Flash Sentry (and I kind of think he is).
4. Fluttershy
Why she moved down: While she may have shot up in my mane eight rankings by staying quiet and not doing much (meaning in this season she had fewer opportunities to be written badly), that unfortunately means that with more pegasi to compete against she was going to have to move down. She did mostly make up for "Fake It 'Til You Make It" with "Sounds of Silence" but even then she shouldn't have been the one who was almost completely in the right. I also find it interesting she wasn't more upset that things like the cockatrice were imprisoned in Tartarus. They aren't criminals like Tirek (the Bugbear and the Chimera make some sense since they could pose a threat to unprepared ponies). This actually marks the first time Fluttershy hasn't been number one on this list, she's been the most consistent holder of that spot out of any candidate on any other top ten list.
3. Somnambula
Why she moved down: I still like her a lot, but they really glossed over her conflict in "A Rockhoof and a Hard Place". I feel like if there was any other pillar who would have trouble adapting to the modern world it would be Somnambula. Yes, her village is still there, but think about all the ponies she knew in her day that are no longer around. I could easily imagine her being torn up at the news that Prince Hisan is dead, because she never got a chance to say goodbye. Plus, I imagine she'd be surprised to find herself worshipped in her village in the way that was shown in "Daring Done?". Her being a motivational speaker makes some sense, but being an optimist doesn't automatically make you a good motivational speaker or relaxation coach.
2. Rainbow Dash
Why she moved up: If not for "Non-Compete Clause" I think she could've had a shot at the number one spot, but ultimately even if she seemed to bounce back from that low point it's still a very harsh wound that stings. Still, we're here to talk about the positives, not the negatives. And in the second half of the season, Rainbow Dash improved considerably. Way less of a jerk, way more accomodating, way more understanding and sympathetic. "The Washouts" quickly dropped her jealousy plot for a more sympathetic one of her being worried about Scootaloo. And her forming the Scootaloo fanclub at the end was a nice touch. It's really showing much she's grown attached to a pony she previously saw only as a fan that was fun to occasionally hang around with.
1. Scootaloo
Why she moved up: As much as I think she was being thickheaded and way too quick to throw in the towel in "The Washouts" the revelation that Scootaloo can't fly, and that she doesn't want to be like Rainbow Dash really did a lot to help Scootaloo become her own character. She'd been slowing coming into her own ever since Season 4 (and writing fanfics for her certainly helped me come around to her), but I think this is truly the season where she made her mark and stepped out from her honorary big sister's shadow. Really the only thing I would like to see for her now, is to have a positive development in her life for a change that isn't tied to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Because darn it all, this filly deserves to have nice things happen to her! Scootabuse and Scootaorphan are trends that need to be dead and buried already!
And there you have it. Come back tomorrow, when we'll update the Top Ten Unicorns list.
Here are my personal picks:
1. Cozy Glow
2. Rainbow Dash
3. Scootaloo (though I still say that scene in Washouts where she rants at Dash doesn't mean anything outside of the context of that scene)
4. Spitfire
5. Mean Fluttershy/Mean Rainbow Dash
6. Windy Whistles and Bow Hothoof
7. Rumble
8. Soarin
9. Flash Magnus
10. Somnambula
4957414
Nice to see someone else who still likes Cozy Glow even after what she did. ^^
4957576
Actually, it's BECAUSE of what she did that she's my favorite pegasus.
If she had turned out to be as nice as she had seemed to be, then she'd be among my least favorite characters.
4957584 I wouldn't want that either, but it still doesn't change how everything we previously knew about Cozy was a lie. We're supposed to believe she was always evil, but if that's true and she literally thought friendship meant power then why bide all that time?
4957603
The most likely explanation is that she needed all of the pieces for her plan to be in place, and it was only during the time of the season finale that such a time occurred.
Given her cutie mark is a rook, and how chess is all about planning ahead, it makes sense.
4957605 That would be nice if that was what was shown or conveyed, but we didn't get that. We're expected to believe Cozy was able to do all of what she did and timing was not a factor, that she just decided on a whim to make her power grab then and no one ever suspected it was her or that something was off about her.
4957671
I chalk the lack of suspicion up to the citizens of Equestria (including the students) just being naturally more trusting than humans.