Which members of the Mane 6 do you think aged the best in terms of characterization and cultural and fandom relevance after the show ended.
Personally I think the most relevant ones are.
>Twilight
>Rainbow Dash
>Rarity
>Pinkie Pie
I see these 4 mentioned the most out of the mane 6 years after the show ended. With AJ and Flutters being left behind kind of.

>>42392400 (OP)
Rarity. People used to hate her, now she's arguably the most popular behind Twilight.

1. Twilight 2. fluttershy 3. Rainbow dash 4. Pinkie pie 5. Rarity 6. Apple jack

>>42392409
This. Rarity's repuation had the biggest and most major improvement compared to when the show first started.
People despised best pony but most people think she's amazing now.
>>42392445
>Fluttershy
>More relevant than Rarity in 2025
Lol. Lmao even.
I would say Rarity is #3 right after Rainbow Dash.

>>42392400 (OP)
>With AJ and Flutters being left behind kind of.
AJ deserverse more love but Fluttershy is a boring one note character so it makes sense that Fluttershy didn't age well. She's pretty basic and a dime a dozen character.

>>42392400 (OP)
Dashie

>>42392400 (OP)
>>42392458
Applejack has the misfortune of existing in a post 2016 world, where someone who's 'southern' and holds traditional values are default considered as evil as certain moustache having men. She's also not enough of a wish fulfillment power fantasy for people to latch onto, so people gloss over her in favor of more glamorous characters.

>>42392456
Not to mention that Rarity's the only one who's episodes didn't have a massive dip in quality. She was very consistent.

>>42392462
I think part of the issue is that she doesn't always have the best episodes. She has some good ones to be sure but a lot of them are bland.

>>42392464
I think the fact that Rarity got the most consistently good episodes is an example of universal karma making up for the ridiculous amount of undeserved hate she got at the beginning of the series.

>>42392468
Her episodes are fine frankly, it's just that most people base who their favorite character is off of how much they relate to them. Because most people don't 'relate' to Applejack, they tend to write her off as boring and don't really go in depth with her. Apple Family Reunion is usually regarded as a boring filler episode, even though Applejack's cutie mark is all about her relations to her family. It's like saying a Rarity episode about her career is filler, or an RD episode about the Wonderbolts is filler, it's a stupid standard that only she is ever held to.

>Cultural
Rainbow, Twilight and Pinkie. The ones I see people always recognise. Amongst online types, they tend to know Twilight but more because of her being the face of like 15ai and stuff? Wonder if Southerners are more likely to know Applejack or something. Amongst regulars, Rainbow/Pinkie. Celestia deserves a mention too just because of the FiO fags and their small wedge in those sorts of communities.
>Characterisation
Probably Rarity doing the best. I'd say Twilight fared the worst in that regard though, completely atomised and she's practically 2 different characters (and if you're into the Unicorn side she's about as popular as Applejack at this point.) and a lot of people treat here more as an easy plot-mover-forward figure as opposed to really touching on her character. Sad!
Fluttershy, too. Especially since IIRC she used to be the most popular.

>>42392400 (OP)
Pic: The ideal G6 Mane Character roster.

>>42392481
That's not necessarily true. I relate to AJ the most out of the main cast and she's middle of the pack for me. The thing is that her episodes and personality are more grounded, which isn't as interesting as her friends being more eccentric.

am i the only person who loved the applejack episodes
i'm not even an ajfag (she's my second fav)

>>42392496
>That's not necessarily true
It's generally true. Just cause it doesn't apply to you doesn't mean it doesn't for most people. Just go around asking people who their favorite character is and why, 9 times out of 10, one of the first reasons you're going to here is "I relate to them so much".

>>42392492
>Fluttershy, too. Especially since IIRC she used to be the most popular.
Fluttershy and Rarity are interesting juxtapositions.
When the show started people thought Rarity would be boring, 2dimensional, and shallow and thought Fluttershy was relatable, and had a lot of hidden potential.
In the end Rarity was the one who was more relatable in some regards, was never boring, and had a lot of potential while Fluttershy just coasted on her cuteness the entire series, not even getting tied to the most powerful character in the show helped her. I'd argue that it actually hurt her character.

>>42392523
Maybe it's just me, but Fluttershy is the one who always felt like a background pony, not Applejack.

>>42392532
Hi Tamers I like your videos.

>>42392456
every new fan of the show (mostly teenage girls) favorite character is fluttershy and if you go onto tiktok or any social media app the only pony pfps youll ever really see is fluttershy

>>42392532
The background pony thing always felt weird to me when I started watching the show. Applejack has tons of focus, especially in the early seasons. I think she might have been the pony Twilight directly interacted with most in season 1, and she had important roles in more episodes than any other mane 6 barring Twilight herself. I legit don't understand how you could give Applejack anymore of the spotlight without just straight up making her the main character instead of Twilight.

>>42392544
AJ being a "background pony" always felt like forced meme cus like you said she always had a bunch of relevance.
I always thought that if any member of the Mane 6 deserved that label it was flutters.

>>42392473
>undeserved
lmao

>>42392560

>>42392552
flutters didnt get it bc she was prime goonfuel in their eyes

>>42392544
Twilight wasn't that main-character-y to start with. I'm too lazy to make my case so I'm borrowing what some asshole said in some older thread.
>Season 1 used Twilight as the lesson-speaker, but it didn't make Twilight the main character by any means. Fall Weather Friends, Green Isn't Your Color, Party of One, Suited for Success, All three CMC episodes, Dragonshy, Sonic Rainboom, Griffon the Brush Off, Over A Barrel Stare Master and Dog and Pony Show, Suited for Success makes 14 out of the 26 episodes in Season 1 where Twilight is an incidental or side character at most. OF the remaining 12, Twilight is the main focus character in Feeling Pinkie Keen, Winter Wrap Up, Boast Busters, Ticket Master and The pilot, or 6 total episodes. The rest are mostly ensemble episodes (Swarm of the Century, Best Night Ever, Bridle Gossip) or episodes featuring Twilight as a deuteragonist, (Bird in the Hoof, Owl's Well that Ends Well, Look Before You Sleep, Applebuck Season).
>So Twilight gets 5 starring roles (6 if you count the pilot as two) and four secondary placements. Applejack gets 4 starring roles and two secondary placements. Rarity gets 5 starring roles and 1 secondary placement. Fluttershy gets 4 starring roles and 3-4 (depending on if you count Swarm of the Century) secondary placements. Pinkie Pie gets 4 starring roles and 3 secondary placements. Rainbow Dash gets 4 starring roles and 3 secondary placements. Twilight may appear in every episode, but she doesn't actually function as a 'main character' in Season 1, let alone Season 2, which uses her even less.
>Twilight's only partially a leader to the Mane 6 in Seasons 1 and 2, with her emphasis being in handling royal relations and the Elements. More often than not, when the group are together for the majority of S1 and S2, it's Applejack shotcalling (Commands everypony when Twilight's not even in the pilot, see Feeling Pinkie Keen/Over a Barrel as well), even taking over from Twilight when things go wrong (Dragonshy, etc.). Each of them leads in their respective elements, but Twilight leads when royal authority is on the line and Applejack leads when situations are unclear or the group is entirely out of their element. That's the dynamic as set up.
I'd argue she's more of an audience surrogate if anything for S1 considering her role as the 'straight man' and how she's about as bewildered as the audience, but you can see this ease away as the show progressed S1/S2. This is mostly lost on people because of ACW, the huge aggrandization from S3 and the rest of the show obv.

>>42392552
I heard a story once of some guy really early in the fandom who apparently took some episode, and edited out all scenes of Fluttershy from it, and no one noticed anything was different until he pointed it out.
I have no idea what the episode was or if it's true and not just some meming, but maybe some rare oldfag could confirm it and shed more light. Either way, AJ is definitely a bigger contributer to the group than Flutters is.

>>42392570
keep coping with that picture, maybe one day you rarity fans will come up with actual counter arguments to rarity criticism

>>42392592
>Still no argument

>>42392592
We get that you despise real women, Larson. Creating Discord does not absolve you of your sins for always writing her as a selfish jackass just because you couldn't fuck her.

>>42392609

>>42392592

>>42392592
The greatest counter argument to your views on Rarity is Rarity's reputation in the fandom in the mid to late season and after the show ended.
She is a beloved character and stands out in a good way among actual fans she's as iconic as Twi, Rainbow, and Pinkie.

Rarichad victory only grows more apparent as time goes on. The only people who hate her do it for reasons that having nothing to do with her.

>>42392621
You're not going to change his mind. Arguing with people like him is pointless.
Just keep rararaing.

>>42392625
Its because as a character she stands out.
>Good episodes
>Good voice acting
>Good songs
>Entertaining personality

>>42392621
>>42392609
>>42392599
>>42392592
>>42392625
>>42392630
>>42392631
I'll throw my hat in here in favor of having a more productive discussion.
From what I've seen, I get the impression Rarity is only standing so pretty in terms of popularity is because she tends to be one of the most whitewashed of the mane 6, where a lot of people tend to just gloss over her more unsavory traits and only focus on the ones that make her cute and quirky. Canonically speaking, Rarity is the most racist/prejudice of the mane 6, yet, no one ever brings that up in any discussion. She's also incredibly manipulative, and never really stops being vain and overly concerned with superficialities.

>>42392621
>she's as iconic as Twi, Rainbow, and Pinkie.
I wouldn't say AS iconic but she's close.
When the G6 leaks came out there were a lot of people pissed off that there was no Rarity.
Me as well because there is no fucking way that Misty Brightdawn should take Rarity's spot.

>>42392631
You forgot her good sense of fashion
And her good friends
>>42392634
>Canonically speaking, Rarity is the most racist/prejudice of the mane 6
Just when I thought I couldn't love her any more, you drop this bombshell on me.

>>42392634
Pinkie Pie is the most racist. She sings an anti-zigger song and makes Luna's (black pony) life hell when she visits for Nightmare Night. Watch the show pal.

Rarity haters always end up describing Suri Polomare instead of Rarity.

>>42392634
I don't think Rarity is white washed at all. She has her negative traits throughout the whole show but her positive traits (being entertaining, having good episodes, and generally being a good friend) tends to overwrite those. Just like Rainbow Dash Rainbow Dash has a lot of negative traits but the postiive stuff about her more than makes up for it.
>Rarity is the most racist/prejudice of the mane 6, yet
Everyone except Twilight was racist in the Zecora starting episode anon.
>She's also incredibly manipulative, and never really stops being vain and overly concerned with superficialities.
Yeah she's not a perfect pony and thats good because she would be boring if she was.
They all have flaws.
PInkie can be inconsiderate of others feelings.
Rainbow Dash can be an obnoxious cunt
Twilight can be a bossy neurotic bitch but all 3 of them are beloved still because they're entertaining and have good traits as well.

>>42392650
That's because Rarity honestly does act a lot like Suri all the time, the show and fandom just generally give her a pass for it.

>>42392639
I still don't get why they would even think of shoving in Misty Brightmoon over Rarity.

>>42392668
Diversity.

>>42392653
>Everyone except Twilight was racist in the Zecora starting episode anon.
But the thing is, everyone was scared of Zecora for being a witch and living in the Everfree, Rarity is the only one who brought up Zecora's appearance as reason to dislike her, and straight up feinting at the idea of someone having stripes on their body.
>Yeah she's not a perfect pony and thats good because she would be boring if she was.
I gotta be honest, this is kind of a cop out response that proves my point. Flaws are meant to act as obstacles that prevent a character from achieving their goals and create conflict for them. They aren't just cute little oddities you throw in there to prevent them from being boring.

>>42392400 (OP)
The ideal mane group is supposed to represent different girl archetypes.
>Twilight Sparkle
Bookish, Nerd Girl
>Rainbow Dash
Bold Brash Sporty Tomboy
>Rarity
"YAAS QUEEN!" and an artist
>Fluttershy
Shy introvert
>Pinkie PIe
The LOLSORANDUM (non-derogatory) girl of the group
>Applejack
Reserved Athletic Tomboy

>>42392686
>this is kind of a cop out response that proves my point.
>Liking that a character isn't a Mary Sue is a copout.
OK.

Rarity is only popular because she has a hot personality and everyone wants to fuck her now that clopping isn't as taboo as it once was.

>>42392694
You're describing Fluttershy.

>>42392661
No she doesn't. Suri is meanspirited and takes pleasure in causing others anguish.

>>42392400 (OP)
1. Twilight, she is the main character
2. Pinkie Pie, she is MLP's "Rena" from Higurashi
3.Rainbow Dash, gay rainbows
4.Applejack, yer darn tootin
5.Rarity, pretty poni
6.Fluttershy, never liked her desu

>>42392693
No, the problem is you like her for being a Mary Sue. Mary Sue's aren't flawless, but their flaws are like I described, silly little quirks that don't actually negatively effect them that much and are just there to make them cuter and more relatable. You know, exactly like Rarity's 'flaws'.

>>42392634
dont forget the fact that shes a massive gold digging whore

>>42392718
>thinking Rarity is a Mary Sue
Lol. Lmao even.

>>42392736
>First two solo episodes are about how amazing she is and how all her friends need to just listen to her and not question or push back on her decisions.
She has a worse track record than Twilight does desu.

>>42392752
Lol. Lmao even.

>>42392752
Please give examples of her being a mary sue outside of excelling at her job.

>>42392900
How about her flaws only ever being treated as minor quirks that never actually acted as obstructions to her career path or goals?

Dashie

>>42392493
Yeah, buck that yellow bitch and purple wings and put Linky there instead!

I'll bump.

>>42395460

>>42396425

>>42397456