What's the Use in Feeling... Pink? · 6:25am Aug 29th, 2020
Queen of Hearts by Lopoddity
Long long ago, Cadence, Princess of Love was the most controversial story development in Friendship is Magic. Accusations abounded of corporate mandates, cheapening the Alicorn mythology, straying from the “original vision of the creator” (nowadays that statement makes me gag), and either being redundant next to the Magic of Friendship, or MAKING it redundant.
I was never in that last camp (although I WAS expecting some origin by next season or so). From the very start, I saw that the different types of loves could complement each other, just like Sun and Moon. Even though it was clear early on that the show wouldn't be exploring situations of romance for main characters. The Crystal Empire draws heavy inspiration inspiration from Greece, which has an very interesting naming convention for the different types of love:
Philia is friendship, in which a person tries to make life better for close associates, and subsequently improving themselves as a person. This is the premise of the whole show, so not much to go over. So is that obviously Twilight's domain? I would say no. The line between a platonic and romantic relationship is that with the latter, it can evolve from Ludus and Eros. But not exclusively. So Shining and Cadence could represent Philia-Ludus and Philia-Eros.
"Eros" is infatuation, and the Greeks could often portray it as dangerous, but still very real and healthy. Cadence could maybe represent this, but of course, it's also associated with subject material not quite appropriate for a kids show. Ludus is playful flirtation and young infatuation. But that stage of love isn't what Canterlot Wedding was meant to be touching on. When most people think of a 'love story,' they think of the two leads on their own, then meeting for the first time. But like Twilight, the audience is thrown into their story when they can already make things work, and like Twilight, we have to deal with it. Although the excellent IDW arc featured Cadence and Shining's first date, and it's classic Ludus. Done much better than with Twilight and Flash or Timber.
Maybe Eros could be represented as a Mania corruption by Chrysalis, who is initially presented as a foil to her. Chrysalis doesn't lust for any person, but sees love as a mindless devotion to exploit. It could be said she has a boundless lust for power though. Or perhaps “Pragma,” which nowadays seen as a societal relic when marriages were seen perfectly acceptable vehicles strictly for money and governing.
"Storge" is depicted in raising Flurry, but it could also be counted in how Celestia and Luna view all their little ponies in Equestria. But with how the Two Sisters nurture an entire society, looking at the long-term and big picture way more often, they could also connect to Agape, our basic respect and dignity towards complete strangers. If we had to assign one to each, Celestia would be Storge, and Luna Agape. While Celestia is mainly defined through the relation with her apprentices, Luna's conflicts have more to do with public relations (usually based on damage she feels responsible for). Luna is also noteworthy because although she always liked Twilight, back in "Crystal Empire," she questioned the soundness of staking so many lives on Celestia's favorite graduate. So again, that's her focus on the lives of the many.
Also of note is Philautia, self love. I'd say that the gold standard for this in cartoons is Steven Universe, culminating in "Battle of Heart and Mind" where Steven's Id and Superego literally need to hug each other to save the day. Legend of Korra has this theme running throughout, but the PTSD storyline of Book 4 is of it’s greatest renown. Lessons on Philautia come in a lot of shapes and forms through the Mane 6, but I don't think any of the existing Princesses can effectively be assigned to that branch of love. Twilight has moments of intense self doubt for a lot of the finales, but a lot of times that just rounds back to relying on others as a lens for herself, or a motivation to press forward (this is hardly a bad lesson though). When I think of other Princess(-esque) characters with pivotal moments of learning self love, I think of Luna, Sunset, and Starlight. But with those three, their arcs feel more like lessons in forgiving oneself for having done sincerely monstrous things. For pony characters going through great Philautia arcs of varying stages, I recommend everyone check out the Pandoraverse next-gen storyline by Lopoddity. Of course, I recommend her work at the drop of a hat, for her excellent illustrations, writing, and journals. This entire post started as a response to one of her Patreon posts.
I suppose if we wanted to count Discord, he'd be the aspect of Ludus, with him treating everything like a performance or game, and his interactions can be a pretty catty.
But enough of me dreaming up a pony god love pantheon. Back to Cadence's involvement, even though her introduction was jarring, I really liked how we had a new pair of Royal Sisters(in-law) with a theme of complementing values. A shame Cadence got shoved aside. I could accept that this show was GOING to be focused on Twilight and Ponyville. That Hasbro wouldn't order new episodes to suddenly shift to the married couple. But although I never thought the show writers RESENTED Cadence, they found a reason pretty quick to keep her segregated from the rest of the story. Lauren Faust has stated that Cadence was created on request for Season 2, and wouldn't have been an Alicorn if the final decision came down to her. The show would make use of her in the role of being a big sister for Twilight, which was wholesome, but in terms of affecting world events, major storylines, or politics? Minimal, even by the light standards of this show. By the finale when we see Twilight ruling the entire country, we couldn't be bothered to even glimpse Cadence.
At least the Crystal Empire got a bone, with a stain glass mirror showing that Flurry turned out pretty rad and takes care of them. I think Cadence was viewed (not correctly) as a concept that threw off the broad character path that Lauren Faust set up, and that the showstaff wanted to reach at the conclusion. Even with the positive role she ended played for Twilight anyway. Twilight got a female role model that wasn't just the motherly authority figure Celestia. (While writing all this, it's made me realize how dang rare it is for any media, for kids or adults, to ever portray that much of a positive relationship between in-laws. Even when someone does, it's mostly guys.) But honestly, besides the wonderful symmetry of a new Diarchy, I would have wanted Cadence and Twilight to ascend to de-facto rulers just because it seems unfair for Twilight to get SO MUCH work.
Donut Days by NCMares
