Top Ten Earth Ponies, Version 7 · 3:42am Oct 22nd, 2019
We're starting to come to the end of these lists, there's just a few more left and most of these have been on the backburner for a while. This list is probably the toughest to update because there were so many earth ponies that either returned in a big way or left such a strong lasting impression that I had to put them on the list. Here's Version 6.2, from just after "The Best Gift Ever". Let's see who moved up, moved down, got added, or dropped off. Before we begin, we have some honorable mentions (and they are: Diamond Tiara, Tender Taps, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Granny Smith, Grand Pear, Pipsqueak, Countess Coloratura a.k.a Rara, Double Diamond, Filthy Rich, Babs Seed, Cheerilee a.k.a Miss Cheerilee, Mud Briar, Cat Tail, Kettle Corn, Star Tracker, Shimmy Shake and Lighthoof, Pistachio, Lil' Cheese, Limestone Pie, Bright Macintosh, Mr. Carrot Cake, Mrs. Cup Cake, Rockhoof, and Coco Pommel). You know the drill by now.
10. Maud Pie
Why she moved down to the bottom: I did consider moving her off the list but ultimately decided against it even if she only really got "Student Counsel" for one final outing. Her hosting a party is a nice touch, it shows that she's taken some inspiration from her sister and she seems happy with Mudbriar. I'm actually kind of surprised Starlight never asked Maud to serve in the School of Friendship, but I guess Maud is too busy with her boyfriend and whatever her job is (she mentioned taking a core sample back in "Uncommon Bond", so maybe she's a geologist?).
9. Mage Meadowbrook
Why she moved way down: The pillars really got shafted this season, only Starswirl the Bearded really got to do something outside of them being on the losing end of a curbstomp battle with Tirek in "The Ending of the End". Meadowbrook is carried the most by her previous appearances, she always seemed like the pillar who was most likely to have actually existed in real life. And chances are she's one of the pillars that may still be alive by the time Twilight has her flowing mane and tail (Starswirl at least likely succumbed to old age).
8. Pear Butter a.k.a Buttercup
Why she moved way down: With so many great newcomers and an amazing return from a previous honorable mention, Buttercup got knocked down several pegs. She's still great, but if "Going to Seed" is any indication she may not have been the best parent (I can probably cut her a bit more slack since she was busy with Apple Bloom in the flashback). Other than that there isn't much to say, she's still great for what she was.
7. Sans Smirk
Why he was added: Considering I made this guy my number one new character of Season 9 and added him to the list of Top Ten Stallions, there was no way he wasn't going to be on the list here. As I said before they could've easily made him the bad guy, but he wasn't and I'm highly grateful for that. He really is sincere in his motivations and he does care about Cheese and the factory. The only thing that's really missing is how he came across Cheese Sandwich, did he just happen to stumble upon him one day?
6. Aunt Holiday
Why she was added: She seems to be a bit more "maternal" compared to Auntie Lofty, both in mannerisms and in tone of voice. This probably fits with the Ponyville Mysteries chapter books that imply Holiday has a more hooves off approach when it comes to Scootaloo whereas Lofty never lets things go without an answer, and Lofty in turn is the one to scold Scootaloo if she misbehaves. Still no clue what her profession is, but I like two headcanons that surfaced early on when she and her special somepony first got mentioned: She's an artist and she runs her own travel agency. She also seems to be one of those parents/parental figures that are obsessed with eating healthy.
5. Snap Shutter
Why he was added: Interesting thing about him is his VA, Bill Newton, was actually born in Australia before he migrated to Canada. So he's voiced by an actual Aussie (though I can see how you might not know considering Bill really sounds like he's forcing the accent at times) and is based on Steve Irwin. Kind of wish they'd let him and his wife make a cameo appearance at some point after "The Last Crusade" and I sincerely hope the comics will find something to do with them (like for example why not have them cross paths with Daring Do?). What many seem to miss is that neither he or Mane Allgood ever raise their voice at Scootaloo despite her antics, they don't assert themselves too much and even offer to let her spend the night sleeping over with her friends so she can say a proper goodbye. And yet people still think they're somehow worse than the likes of Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles or Spoiled Rich.
4. Quibble Pants
Why he returned: I've talked about the real life situation between Patton and Alice that was paralleled in "Common Ground" so I won't repeat myself here. Quibble's return was well worth the wait and he and Clear Sky make a fantastic couple. Even if he was overdoing it it was sweet to see him try to connect with Wind Sprint over something she enjoyed best. It's something that can really make a difference in whether or not you connect with someone. And I imagine he may slightly feel like he's being compared to Wind Sprint's dad since he was a high class athlete and Quibble definitely isn't. It's a sort of "I could never be the guy he was" kind of thing when you have to take over or fill the void left by someone known to be very talented, either willingly or unwillingly. It was a return that was more than good enough to put Quibble back on the list after he'd been off the list for a couple of seasons.
3. Cheese Sandwich
Why he moved way up: For once his performance and portrayal in "The Last Laugh" helped him instead of hindering him, which just shows it can only take one episode to boost a character up from the depths of obscurity. Apparently the decision to pair him up with Pinkie Pie and for the two of them to have a good was a spur of the moment decision when writing "The Last Problem" but I imagine the hook up happened much later, perhaps after the Cake Twins had grown up and took over Sugarcube Corner from their parents. Just imagine all the dad jokes Cheese Sandwich got to make after Lil' Cheese was born (I imagine it being kind of like Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11, he's still a wise cracker but he's matured to become more serious when the situation calls for it).
2. Big Macintosh
Why he stayed the same: Even if it wasn't much, him marrying Sugar Belle in "The Big Mac Question" was so sweet and so enjoyable. And it was no surprise he and Sugar Belle had a kid in "The Last Problem", I think that was inevitable. That mostly made up for the fact that Season 9 didn't do much with him and at least twice he was ignored or neglected by his own family (why did Applejack unload all her responsibilities onto him even though she knew he was married? That really wasn't fair, why couldn't Apple Bloom serve that role?).
1. Pinkie Pie
Why she returned to the top: After Seasons 7 and 8 ultimately dethroned her in favor of Buttercup, Pinkie Pie managed to climb her way back up to the top when Season 9 mostly fixed the damage done to her in Season 8 by "Yakity Sax". With the exception of "A Trivial Pursuit" which turned her into an oblivious, naive ditz, she did great this season. We got to see more of her better nature here, a chance to see her as something other than just a prop for quick laughs or annoying quirks. And I know she'll make a great mom to Lil' Cheese, she's the kind of parent who could take her kid to work and manage just fine. And of the mane six she was the one who looked like she'd aged the least (if not for the bags under her eyes you'd think she hadn't aged a day) in "The Last Problem". Ultimately, the pros for her in Season 9 outweighed the cons and were enough to put her back on the top.
And there you have it, come back tomorrow when we'll update the rankings for the Top Ten Pegasi.
Agreed, pinkie pie is Great!
My list:
1. Cheese Sandwich
2. Maud Pie
3. Mud Briar
4. Snap Shutter
5. Mean Applejack/Mean Pinkie Pie
6. Bright Mac and Pear Butter
7. Limestone Pie
8. Toola Roola
9. Quibble Pants
10. Pinkie Pie