Zero Blogs: Rainbow Rocks · 12:41am Dec 19th, 2014
Good writers write good stories. But a great writer can take a bad story and make it good. Meghan McCarthy has done that twice now, and I'm confident that she can continue to do so in season 5 and beyond.
I should probably share my thoughts on EQG 1 before I go any further. Upon finding out that they were making a "ponies-turned-human" movie, I was very hesitant on the concept. It sounded like something out of a bad fanfiction. But I tried to quell those thoughts due to them contradicting how I became a Brony in the first place. Unfortunately, my concerns weren't unfounded when I finally saw it: the plot was a jumbled mess, the villain was cliche, and it didn't leave much of an impact. So naturally, when I heard a sequel was being made, my hesitation had been replaced with cynicism. Even the preview shorts, while certainly interesting and funny, weren't enough to sell me on the concept.
Until I saw the Battle of the Bands. These three new antagonists left more of an impact in that one clip than Sunset did in the whole movie. Suddenly, I was interested. And even more-so when I found out about the "Sunset Shimmer redemption plot." So once again, I swallowed my inhibitions and went to see the film (this time in theaters).
This time, I was thoroughly impressed. The plot was much more coherent, the villains more dangerous and competent, and the whole thing left enough of an impact that I ended up buying the DVD when it came out. Every problem withe the first movie (except Flash but that's another story) was addressed and repaired. Twilight didn't just waltz in and fix everything. The climax didn't come out of nowhere and wasn't instantly resolved. The conflict actually had build up during the movie.
And then there's Sunset Shimmer. Part of the reason I started writing my own fanfiction was because of her. I've been the guy on the outside, so desperate for a friend and wanting to be accepted. So when I saw her struggle and succeed, I was inspired.
Make no mistake, she has to go through a lot in the film. No one but the Humane 5 wants to associate with her at all, and even then, there's still tension between the group and her. And as the Dazzlings' spell begins to break down the others, she's too scared to intervene. Because if they got upset and left her too, she'd have no one. She keeps going, enduring abuse from the principals, taunting from the Dazzlings, and suspicion from the others when she interrupts Dash's performance. In fact, any lesser being in her situation might have even been driven to suicide.
But then, she gets on stage. And the first words out of her mouth are, "You're never gonna bring me down. You're never gonna break this part of me." She pushes through, keeps fighting, and ends up becoming accepted by the same Elements of Harmony that corrupted her before. She is truly forgiven, and ready to become Twilight's student.
I hope I can do this long struggle justice. And I hope you guys will keep with me until the end.
See you next time,
Zero.
Amen. And, Sunset Shimmer picking up that microphone is the reason why I started writing... and what a journey the last ten weeks have been!