In Defense of Starswirl the Bearded (Essay/Semi-rant) · 6:37am Apr 17th, 2021
I have noticed on this website that it is somewhat consensus to disapprove of the character of Starswirl the Bearded, if stories such as this are anything to go by;
Safe to say, Starswirl is a very devisive character. However, in the interest of fairness and presenting a balanced response to some of the arguments, I intend in this essay to produce a kind of rebuttle to the most common arguments used to justify intense dislike of the character and help readers see the other side of the coin.
Argument 1: Starswirl is responsible for all the magic related chaos in the human world
The most common argument used against Starswirl pertains to the portal that exists between the mirror in Twilight's Castle and the human world (which I'll hold off from calling Earth as there is no guarantee it is our world). The story linked above summarises the crux of the argument very well;
“He’s the one who made the portal spell and tossed in all the magic junk we have to deal with!” she explained as she pointed an accusatory hoof at the robbed wizard.
“Ya mean yer the reason why the sirens came to our world?” Applejack asked with a scowl as Rarity joined her side.
“You sent that dreadful memory stone through the portal?”
“You sent that weird time tiller thingy that made Sunset relive the same day for a month?!” The usually sweet and cheerful Pinkie Pie demanded with a scornful tone.
“You put our world in danger?” Fluttershy, the timidest of their group asked with a frown and a light glare.
However, this argument is flawed for a number of reasons. Let us go back and examine the facts. We are first told about the mirror in the original Equestria Girls;
Princess Luna: This is no ordinary mirror. It is a gateway to another world. A gateway that opens once every thirty moons.
---
Princess Celestia: Sending all of you could upset the balance of this alternate world, creating havoc that would make it impossible for Twilight to get the crown back from Sunset Shimmer. This is something Princess Twilight must do alone.
-My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
There's not much to work with here, but Celestia's words imply that the other world has no magic, a fact that is confirmed by incidental dialogue in Rainbow Rocks;
Adagio Dazzle: [gasp] Did you feel that?! Do you know what that is?
Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze: I 'unno.
Adagio Dazzle: It's Equestrian magic!
Aria Blaze: But this world doesn't have Equestrian magic.
Adagio Dazzle: It does now. And we're going to use it to make everyone in this pathetic little world adore us!-My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
This exchange is important, as we learn later that the Sirens have been trapped here for thousands of years, and this is later confirmed by Twilight Sparkle along with another crucial detail;
If the sirens had their way, they would have divided and conquered all of Equestria. But a certain Star Swirl the Bearded wasn't having it. Rumor has it he found a way to banish them to another world – one where he believed their magic power would be lost. That world must have been the one where my Canterlot High friends live.
-My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
This all but confirms that the human world had no magic when all the various objects were deposited there. If there's no magic, then the objects have no power and stop working (again, incidental dialogue from both Rainbow Rocks and Friendship Games helps us out here);
The energy in this world isn't the same as in Equestria. We can only gain so much power here.
-My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
Still, the Friendship Games are serious business. We don't want any surprises. Especially the kind that could cause us to forfeit. Sunset Shimmer, you came here from a world of magic. Perhaps you can get to the bottom of our magical development.
-My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
Thus, we can conclude pretty comprehensively that there was no magic in the human world, making putting those objects and beings in a place where they had no magic actually quite a smart move (the fact that the portal spell seems to have been a spur-of-the-moment thing put aside for a moment). How then, did the magic come to the human world?
The answer's fairly simple; Sunset Shimmer brought it. The world had no energy until Sunset nicked the crown and brought it with her, which, after she put it on, released magical energy into the environment. This, in turn, is what allowed the objects in the world to reactivate and the Sirens to go on the offensive. Dialogue in Friendship Games all but confirms this;
Crystal Prep is never gonna believe we won fair and square if there's magic around. And that magic is only around... because of me.
-My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
Whilst I will agree that moving things to other dimensions is a particularly ethical move, at the same time you cannot blame Starswirl for the objects and individuals being able to wreak havoc given that the dimension he sent them to had no magic.
Argument 2: Starswirl was mean to Twilight
This is another common argument used by users who dislike Starswirl, claiming he had no right to speak the way he did. Whilst I won't deny that his choice of words is harsh, the fact is that Starswirl's anger is completely justified.
It is clear throughout Shadow Play-Part 1 that the characters are aware of the existence of the Pony of Shadows;
Transformed into a Pony of Shadows, he returned for revenge – to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope. To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice.
-Shadow Play-Part 1
They also rush into the plan to release Starswirl and the other Pillars incredibly quickly. Not once do any of the leads such as Twilight stop to consider the consequences of doing so;
Twilight Sparkle: Star Swirl thought the only way to trap the Pony of Shadows in limbo was for the Pillars to take him there.
Applejack: So they got stuck, too!
Fluttershy: The Pony of Shadows must have been really awful for them to do that.
Pinkie Pie: I suppose being trapped for all time with a super-duper bad guy in limbo might be okay if you were doing the limbo, but that's still pushing it.
Twilight Sparkle: The thing is, I think I can get them out.
Sunburst: Twilight, are you serious? You can save the most legendary ponies of all time?
Starlight Glimmer: I-I don't know. Opening portals between worlds didn't work out well for me. Are you sure it's safe?
Twilight Sparkle: First of all, you opened portals through time. And second of all, Star Swirl wrote the spell you used to do it. If he'd been here, he could have stopped it. Equestria would be safer with him in it. We have to save him.
Applejack: But you'd be savin' all the Pillars, right? A-And they disappeared ages ago.
Twilight Sparkle: That's the thing about limbo. It isn't one place or another. It's in between, so time stands still. If we can pull them out, it'll be like they never left. I actually built another model to demonstrate--Shadow Play-Part 1
The only pony who does consider the dangers is Starlight, but seeing as this is not a Starlight rant I'll pass over that.
The remainder of the episode focuses on their efforts to get the magical macguffins needed to rescue the Pillars, and eventually break them out of limbo. This quickly proves to be a terrible idea;
Star Swirl the Bearded: What... What has happened?
Twilight Sparkle: It worked! We brought you back!
Star Swirl the Bearded: To where?
Twilight Sparkle: You and the others have been trapped in limbo for over a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho—
Star Swirl the Bearded: What?! No, no, no, no! You must undo what you've done!
Twilight Sparkle: What? Why? I mean, I don't think I can.
Star Swirl the Bearded: You cannot bring us back!
Twilight Sparkle: But I did. I brought all the Pillars back.
Star Swirl the Bearded: You cannot bring only the Pillars back!-Shadow Play-Part 1
Twilight Sparkle was, to paraphrase Dr Ian Malcolm, "so preoccupied with whether she could she didn't stop to consider whether she should." That a magic user of her level and a pony of her intelligence wouldn't think to create a backup plan is bonkers, and Starswirl is understandably annoyed that his spells have been tampered with. Remember, Twilight's actions have resulted in the release of the Pony of Shadows, who for all they know is rampaging across the countryside;
Star Swirl the Bearded: You have studied my writings. Surely you have some other plan.
Twilight Sparkle: No. I just wanted to save you. I didn't think—--
Twilight Sparkle: I don't think you'll have to! My spell isn't finished yet, but I think we can send the Pony of Shadows to limbo without all of you having to go as well!
Star Swirl the Bearded: While I appreciate your enthusiasm, Twilight, this is hardly the time to take risks on half-baked spells.-Shadow Play, Part 2
In summary, Starswirl's anger and disappointment directed towards Twilight is completely justifiable in the circumstances, given that her recklessness and complete lack of regard for any consequences or danger has put Equestria in extreme danger. I am aware that the Pony of Shadows then proceeds to do very little whilst the rest of the episode turns into an infodump, but the characters don't know that.
Speaking of the Pony of Shadows...
Argument 3: Starswirl and the Pillars were mean to Stygian
This is another argument that is often dredged up about Starswirl and co, and it's also laughably easy to debunk. The episode would have us believe that Starswirl is responsible for the existence of the Pony of Shadows, but a quick check of the evidence shows that the Pillars were completely justified in casting Stygian out.
The first critical issue is the characters give contradictory versions of the narrative. Here is the story according to the Pillars;
Rockhoof: [narrating] Stygian was a pony like the rest of us, though more scholar than hero. He recognized our emerging world would need champions to defend it.
Flash Magnus: [narrating] He may have gathered us together, but he himself was just an ordinary unicorn who soon grew jealous of our abilities.
Mistmane: [narrating] He stole objects from each of us. Artifacts to use in a spell.
Mage Meadowbrook: [narrating] And we cast him out for it.
Somnambula: [narrating] We always thought he'd return and seek forgiveness. But when we saw him again, his heart was bent on revenge. He dashed even my hope of saving him.Starlight Glimmer: But why did he steal the artifacts from you?
Mage Meadowbrook: No doubt it was an enchantment to take our powers for himself.
Starlight Glimmer: Hmm...-Shadow Play, Part 2
However, Stygian gives us this version of the tale, which completely contradicts the above;
Stygian: I was, once. Until my friends betrayed me.
Twilight Sparkle: But Star Swirl says you betrayed them. You wanted their magic...
Stygian: No! I wanted their respect. I brought them together. I planned strategy, and I read all I could about the beasts we faced. But I didn't have magic or strength, so nopony ever noticed me. I went to Ponhenge to make my own copies of the artifacts. With them, I thought I could be a Pillar, too, and stand by their side in battle. I never wanted to steal their power. But instead of sharing and letting me help, my friends threw me out. [voice deepening and growling] So I became stronger than any of them! The darkness welcomed me when no pony would, and I will do what I must to protect it!
Twilight Sparkle: This is all a misunderstanding! If the Pillars knew how you felt, I'm sure they wouldn't have turned their backs on you. The shadow isn't who you really are. Let me help you be Stygian again.
Stygian: Even if my friends did still care, what makes you think you have the power to help me?-Shadow Play, Part 2
However, there is a critical problem with Stygian's story. There is no evidence within the episode that he went and spoke to them about his idea first, and, from the perspective of the Pillars, Stygian stole the artefacts without provocation. How are you supposed to solve a friend's problem if they don't tell you what the problem is?
The above is often countered with this statement;
“Well maybe he did try talking to the Pillars and they didn’t listen but the episode just didn't show it.”
-(Credit to Awesomo3000 for pointing out this glaring plot hole to me)
To which I ask; why leave such a critical moment out of the episode? It wouldn't have taken too much to write; Stygian proposes his idea, the Pillars debate it, and then say yes or no. I am aware that the comics do exist and they flesh the Pillars out (the fact I cannot buy them in my country nonwithstanding), but that's not a symptom of good writing. Tertiary material, like a comic or an audio drama, is supposed to expand upon the main media (in our case, a television show), not act as adhesive putty to plug plot holes. Sadly, My Little Pony is hardly the worst offender in this category, with Moffat-era Doctor Who especially prone to this problem. See the classic Thunderbirds comics and audio dramas for an example of this done well.
Well, that's this article over. If you had been writing Starswirl, what would you have done differently or left the same? Let me know in the comments below!
I never had hatred for Starswirl myself and I know he was indeed the wisest wizard of Equestria. And your points make absolute sense. Infact, I still find it rather stupid that Crazy Glow, her royal bug horse, and the monkey horse could defeat him and the Pillars so easy! I don't care if those 3 had Grogar's bell or not, I am positive Starswirl would've had some knowledge how to counteract it! But, then again I'm probably just wasting my time here as a lot people like season 9 despite it being completely a unconnected continuity season!
5499510
The Ending of the End had horrifically rushed writing. To refer specifically to that battle, there is no logical strategy.
5499517
Absolutely. Not to mention it's big moment is just a reincarnation of Endgame's battle.
5499518
I would debate in massive detail why the Pillars fight is nonsensical, but I'll let the quote from an upcoming story summarise that;
5499519
Yeah, you needn't say more that summary sums it done.
5499520
Thanks. Not to mention Stygian/PoS is problematic in and out of itself, but the less said about that the better.
5499523
Yes. Absolutely
5499524
That deserves its own blogpost. But Jimmy as I are at work on a series to create a Pillars adventure of our own.
5499526
That's good to hear. And I myself have a plan for the Pillars in my universes. Some of which they are Jedi Knights themselves and each one wields a Unique Lightsaber that would fit their setting.
5499527
Here's the group for the setting, if it interests you;
5499529
Sure, I'll check it out later.
5499532
Thanks. Somnambula's story is the first chronologically.
5499540
Got it.
5499542
Excellent. Ejoy!
This is a completely logical argument, and, now that I’ve read it, I agree with it; Starswirl, to me, was always a ‘meh, I’m not bothered’ character. To learn that he’s unfairly bashed by the internet is annoying. I don’t like it when characters in any franchise are bashed unfairly.
5499571
Same.