So. It is official then… :-(

I can’t believe I didn’t notice those stars, awww now I feel sad. Still, it’s kinda cute they hinted at where her parents are in a subtle (and kinda bittersweet) manner.

@Vlakc  
I agree with all of that. When I read Lauren had that planned for her parents, I thought it fit.

I personally liked the idea that they were dead because it would explain and fit some of Applejack’s personality traits, however I know the “I wish her parents were dead” sounds awful.

the shooting stars are fine and tasteful.

yeah…all that you just said? equally unnecessary.

Would have preferred they made a puzzle of it rather than a simplistic one second metaphor. It would give everyone a bit of a sense of accomplishment when they thought about it.
 
Like, lets say we stay with the stars, but make it a star SHOWER. And AJ tears up and smiles. To the first-time viewer it would be like “Oh, she thinks it’s a pretty sight and she’s with fambly and daaaaw”  
But on rewatches you would you see the nudges. A book on Astronomy in her mother’s old room. A photo of AJ up at night with her parents. A rustic spyglass similar to Twilight’s poking out from beneath a bed. A 7-sectioned pillbox on a desk. All these would connect together and not ONLY say they died, but they died of a particular illess, as well as hinting at what the pony who married into the Apple Family did before giving it up for love, and trying to instill a love of astronomy into her eldest daughter. Now we know why AJ is tearing up, and it isn’t because of the family she’s WITH. Look at how much additional information we get just from throwing random background objects into the background.  
Shooting stars alone is the Guide Dang It Sierra solution. Giving the reason FOR those shooting stars is the solvable-on-your-own Lucasarts solution. That’s how true subtlety works, not this doofy winkwinknudge randum metaphor that requires pre-knowledge of the programmer (or in this case storyboarder’s) intention itself.

@441  
This. She’s moved on.

Flamma Man, Cancer is canon.

@Kappe  
Denial is the first step of acceptance.

@ MagnificentTrixie
 
Oh, give them a break, there was probably no other way for them to convey this information without Hasbro having a hissy fit of them alluding to the death of characters.
 
This was probably the best they could do and it’s not like no one noticed. Heck, both these stars appearance at important moments in the show.

So it’s pretty much official.  
AJ’s parents are deaaaaaaad.
 
 
Honestly though, I like it that they don’t make Applejack an emo sad sack of tears about her parents like every other bloody character, she seens mostly over it.

Well, the question didn’t specify that they were a tip of the hat to AJ’s parents being dead.
 
I may or may not be in denial.

They are astronauts!

you didn’t expect them to say they died did you?
 
how is it stupid?

I wouldn’t have noticed if people didn’t point that out.

What a stupid way to address something vitally important to a character’s, you know, character.
 
But, water under the bridge. It was an alright episode.

Omg. I want to kill you Muffin.  
!!http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mebalvafh41qk9rrd.gif

sauce?

;_; These feels.

Tags: no, why

I’ll miss em. But I still have the love I need from the rest of my big ’ol family!