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Starlight Glimmer Appreciation Thread

MegaAnimationFan
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Not that I want to derail the thread again (which I really don’t want to) but I wanna know something. Does describing Starlight as a “Mary Sue” sound right to anyone at all? Especially when the franchise has other characters that fit that description way more?
 
Just wanna know because I’m starting to question my sanity again
DerpyFast
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Does describing Starlight as a “Mary Sue” sound right to anyone at all?
 
It sounds right to people with obvious confirmation bias, a lack of self-awareness and poor critical thinking skills.
 
Twilight:  
*is the unicorn with the most raw ability Princess Celestia had ever seen  
*is the personal apprentice of Princess Celestia  
*is destined to wield the most powerful magic known to ponydom  
*is gift-wrapped five friends from the get-go’  
*gets to become an alicorn princess  
*the list goes on
 
Starlight is just a gifted unicorn in a setting where gifted unicorns are plentiful enough that there’s a dedicated school for them.
DarkObsidian
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Smiling Panzerfuchs 2.0
Does describing Starlight as a “Mary Sue” sound right to anyone at all?
 
I don’t think there’s a term that is so often misunderstood and misused by critics that the word “Mary Sue”. This angers me more than the fact what the term actually means. In my opinion, most critics fail in the right use of the term - it is some kind of stereotypical slogan now, rather than a serious critical character analysis.
 
Well, we could now talk about this very long and deep. But that would certainly derail the thread. You should just think for yourself about when you should talk about a Mary Sue, whether a Mary Sue really has to be something bad and when is a Mary Sue different from a classic heroic journey?
 
So no, I don’t think Starlight is a Mary Sue, but mostly because the term itself is used naively and too often carelessly these days. ;-)
tehwatever
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Artist -
Ten years of changes - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of MLP:FiM!
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends.

Being gift-wrapped with friends is also kinda Starlight’s case tho. She immediately got the Mane6 as potential friends.
 
But that dont make her a sue. It’s consistent with the way Twilight and co. works. These lass believe in friendship, so they ofc gon teach Starlight friendship by giving her free stuff and the best starter pack.
 
Besides, I think Twilight was promoting Starlight both as a pet project and as a bold statement.
 
If you see it that way: Starlight was taken in as an asset to boost the friendship mission.
AC97
Lunar Supporter - Helped forge New Lunar Republic's freedom in the face of the Solar Empire's oppressive tyrannical regime (April Fools 2023).
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>>2459053p
 
@Myoozik
 
That was one of her finest moments.
 
@DerpyFast
 
It sounds right to people with obvious confirmation bias, a lack of self-awareness and poor critical thinking skills.
Twilight:
*is the unicorn with the most raw ability Princess Celestia had ever seen
 
That’s correct. People are looking for confirmation bias, and don’t seem to consider that one, the show isn’t about hard power levels (even if it can be neat to discuss who might win, etc), two, she isn’t infallible.
 
…also it’s probably debatable if Celestia was even being 100% honest when she said that “I don’t think I’ve ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities” line, since back in S1, the word “alicorn” didn’t exist, they were “unicorns” as per the series premiere, the first thing we hear via narration/lore… so she’d therefore have more “raw ability” than Luna, and she called Sombra a “unicorn” as well in S3’s premiere. Do note how that sort of question is only using things within the first three seasons, and the contexts they were established under, not even including say, Sunset Shimmer. (and no, I’m not arguing “Starlight is stronger than her,” that’s not really the point per se, only for the “definitely untouchable” talking point)
 
You could more convincingly argue for it being the case for Twilight… and even then, she isn’t one, except in the all-too expansive definitions people have that apply to almost every interesting character ever.
 
@tehwatever
 
Twilight both saw herself inside of her, and saw the benefits therein of getting it by her side. Let’s be honest, it was probably a better idea than Celestia’s regarding Discord.
 
(By the by, I hate to say it, but this thread in particular kinda sucks, because it’s really not that active anymore, hence why I’d generally prefer discussing here generally, lol. It’s not that I can’t handle dissent, it’s just… that.)
DerpyFast
Pixel Perfection - Hot Pockets Spotted
Solar Supporter - Fought against the New Lunar Republic rebellion on the side of the Solar Deity (April Fools 2023).
Non-Fungible Trixie -
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2018) - Celebrated Derpibooru's six year anniversary with friends.

@AC97  
And it’s the most obvious thing in the world, too.
 
Literally any other character gets to be good at something: No one cares.  
Starlight gets to be good at something: She’s the writers’ pet.
 
Literally any other character gets to fix a problem: No one cares.  
Starlight gets to fix a problem: She’s undermining the other characters.
 
Literally any other character has a change in screentime: No one cares.  
Starlight gets more screentime: She’s slowly taking over the show.
 
Literally any other character makes mistakes or exhibits character flaws: It’s character regression.  
Starlight makes mistakes or exhibits character flaws: It’s proof that she never actually reformed.
 
But no, clearly it’s the writers who are the biased ones when it comes to Starlight.
tehwatever
Shimmering Smile - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of Equestria Girls!
Lunar Supporter - Helped forge New Lunar Republic's freedom in the face of the Solar Empire's oppressive tyrannical regime (April Fools 2023).
Non-Fungible Trixie -
Twinkling Balloon - Took part in the 2021 community collab.
Artist -
Ten years of changes - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of MLP:FiM!
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends.

@DerpyFast  
Problem is coz she shows up late in the game. She shows up as late as Season SIX, and in the span of 25 episodes became the hero of the finale.
 
THEN, in Season 7 she practically took over entire show for having befriended MAUD, fixing a Royal Problem, Made copies of the Friendship Journal, was in Triple Threat to serve as a joke, endangered Thorax’s new hive, and stood up to Starswirl the Bearded, making her look super competent.
 
Oh and also had a bad case of being mega-cucked when Sunburst was stolen by not one, but all THREE of her closest friends.
 
Season 7 was a Starlight Glimmer Season and it was almost to the point that she was the future of the show.
 
I had the feeling that Season 8 had to downplay her so hard just to make sure fans don’t riot.
tehwatever
Shimmering Smile - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of Equestria Girls!
Lunar Supporter - Helped forge New Lunar Republic's freedom in the face of the Solar Empire's oppressive tyrannical regime (April Fools 2023).
Non-Fungible Trixie -
Twinkling Balloon - Took part in the 2021 community collab.
Artist -
Ten years of changes - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of MLP:FiM!
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends.

Luckily though…
 
Season 8 gave me my profile pic, and it was in a StarTrix episode, too!
 
So yea Season 8 wasn’t that bad. We also had the beginning of Starlight being a guidance counselor also from Season 8. So even if she got nerfed, her eps are still kinda fun.
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