That Lightning face and comment 100 XD

@genervt  
I know, right!? After all this time, one of the best characters in the whole show finally comes back, and they just portray her as a jerk and only make their rivalry even more hateful! Gotta be the biggest waste I’ve ever seen!

@PurpleWonderPower  
That story would have written itself.  
And it would have been great.  
What a horrible waste.

Seriously, why couldn’t they have reformed Lightning Dust in this episode? Even after a dozen frenemy scenes.

@Background Pony #EE55  
agreed

Re-watching the episode, I can feel that Scoots is already hurt in this scene. When LD said that the Washouts wasn’t for those “elites” and promised that it is open for anyone else, that sure made the flightless filly much more excited about this new stunt group. Dash just didn’t realize that the game wasn’t on her side since this very scene (until LD’s recklessness saved the bound between RD and Scoots later on), and as a result, taking Scoots to the Wonderbolts for a private session with the director who enjoyed shouting at her own students couldn’t have been less effective.  
_{Yep I’m totally not trying to divert from the debate on reforming villains here.}

@northern haste  
This. Sweet Celestia people, give it a rest.
 
@Supes  
That sounds about right. I loved the caring mother headcanon myself but I was willing to let it go when I didn’t get my wishes.

@darknessRising24  
You know what this reminds me of? After “To Where and Back Again” there were a few people outraged that the episode solidified Chrysalis as an evil and egotistical queen instead of the caring mother of all changelings that just wants to provide for her children and is “totally nice deep down you guys”. Just like with Lightning Dust, the original appearance didn’t go in either direction with absolute certainty, and the second appearance removed the ambiguity. Problem is, people are very prone to building up headcanons and being angry at the show later when those headcanons are contradicted.

@genervt  
That’s the problem with your argument, scripts change all the time. This incident is no different, you’re not allowed to acknowledge their in-universe actions that one moment then start whining about how it’s the writers fault the next. People only go for the meta excuse of the writers being at fault when they can’t come up with anything good to say and the characters defense.
 
She’s held accountable because it was her actions and her fault. If she wants a chance to improve herself then she needs to actually accept her own fault and learn empathy. As it stands she still hasn’t learned that as a character, therefore she’s not fit for Redemption.
 
The way you phrase it, you keep pretending that she barely did anything wrong and brush her actions in her previous episode under the rug, and then when her actions in this episode about if you suddenly pretend that it’s a completely different characters possible for those actions.
 
I’m not telling you to give up on her, I’m telling you to take stop pretending that her actions are minor inconveniences that are easily looked over. As it stands now she hasn’t Works to earn her Redemption like other characters so she’s still held accountable for her actions and as seen as an apathetic adrenaline junkie who doesn’t have any regard for anyone other than herself.

@darknessRising24  
But the writer DID screw her over and that for the second time.  
Originally she was supposed to admit her mistake, stay in the academy as Dashies wingpony and remain friends with her.  
You can certainly hold her accountable; just give her the chance to improve herself and become a better pony.

@genervt  
Through this entire conversation you’ve been acting like she shouldn’t be completely held accountable for all of her actions, to the point were you use “the writers screwing her over” as a crutch to disregard any of her actions in this episode.
 
She didn’t care that she almost got five civilians killed, she didn’t care that a young foal almost died in her stunts. So I think it’s safe to assume that she doesn’t care about the well-being of anyone as long as she gets the results she wants.
 
She’d need more than just guidance counseling, she needs to get a perspective on exactly what empathy is. Considering the fact that she honestly disregarded rules and safety regulations for the sake of it being more fun, it’s clear that she’s too much of a loose cannon.

@darknessRising24  
When did I say that she was a noble saint?  
She is flawed, reckless, impatient and overambitious but not a lost cause.  
Therefore she needs help, guidance and training.
 
 
@darknessRising24  
I think that the idea of being responsible for the end of Equestria will cause everypony to rethink.  
I´m sure that Dusty would have felt bad if she actually hurt somepony.
 
 
@DarkObsidian  
I still have hope for further seasons.  
There is so incredibly much to tell.

@DarkObsidian  
Funny you should mention Starlight, at least with her we actually see her react to the future she’s made for Equestria and realize just how badly her actions could affect others.
 
Lightning was told to her face exactly how badly her actions could have affected others and still didn’t care.
 
Starlight: “THIS is the future Equestria will endure because of me!? Oh Lord, what have I done?!”
 
Lightning: “Meh, so couple of civilians almost got squished, no biggie.”

@genervt  
Once again, you’re acting like she was any different from her previous appearance, she wasn’t. And that was her problem.
 
I’m all for Redemption, but the character has to work for it to stick. And you need to stop pretending she was some Noble Saint who got the short end of the stick.
 
Once again, she was apathetic and lacking empathy for others, that was a flaw she carried from her first appearance over to this episode.
 
She had a chance to change, but chose to put Scootaloo in danger. That’s her own fault.

@genervt
 
@darknessRising24
 
Hmmm… Well, considering Empathy there is still hope to reform her. (Cough) Starlight (Cough) Still one season to go. 😊

@Background Pony #4F98  
Cry somewhere else.

@genervt  
Cry us a river

@darknessRising24  
And that is exactly what I wanted to see in this episode.  
This could have been a great episode with much heartwarming bonding between Dashie, Dusty and Scootaloo and without the need to villainize her or stuntponies in general.  
Now I have to continue hoping.

please all of you  

@genervt  
The problem is she didn’t want to improve. Once again, reflected by the fact that she disregarded any guilt when it came to taking responsibility for the tornado.
 
I never said she’d couldn’t ever be reformed, I said that as she is now, there is no points for reformation, not until she changes up her attitude, ditches her apathetic outlook on things, and actually learns some empathy.

@darknessRising24  
I do not deflect the blame; i say that she is not the only one responsible.  
The very least what Spitfire should have done is try to work with her under strict constraints and help her to improve herself.
 
And this is also interesting.  

@genervt  
Don’t deflect the blame, Spitfire didn’t encourage her to make the tornado, Rainbow Dash openly protested against the idea, and even though she ended up being a part of it, she acknowledged her own fault and actually went to the commander about it.
 
Like I said before, and what you seem to be neglecting, is that Lightning Dust was too apathetic when it came to the idea of others being hurt because of her actions. Therefore she brought that all upon herself. and if getting kicked out wasn’t enough to give her perspective on her actions, it was pretty clear that she didn’t belong there.

@genervt  

 
No, just no. Nothing about that face explicitly says she’s sorry for doing the wrong thing. This is reaching of the highest caliber on your behalf.

@Supes  
This is not ambiguous, this is regret.  
And Lightning was certainly not flawless or blameless but she was far from being the only guilty party.  
Everypony involved in the incident shares responsibility; including Spitfire who encouraged her all the time instead of correcting her behaviour early.

@darknessRising24  
In defence of genervt’s position, I think punishment like that rarely changes anyone’s mind about things like that. LD just took it as a confirmation that she was “too good” for the wonderbolts. I could see how additional special training or coaching or whatever could’ve corrected her behavior. HOWEVER, the important thing to remember is that the Wonderbolts aren’t a charity to help fliers with their personal problems or help them achieve their potential. A university you apply to but fail the exam shouldn’t be expected to provide you with specialized tutoring.