I Want a Shining Armor Episode
- Dal
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I Want a Shining Armor Episode
Hear me out.
Shining Armor may seem like a one dimensional gag character for Dads to relate to, but there is more to him than that. He is a devoted husband, a caring father, an amazing brother, and a warrior. Yes a warrior.
Shining' special talent is that he protects ponies, and while we have never seen how he got his cutie mark, we have seen the barriers he can make. And I bet it was that drive to be the best protector he could be that lead him to becoming the head of the royal guard at such a young age. Of course he gave up his position when he married Cadance, and such is his devotion to her, but he still sees himself as a guardian - it's what his cutie mark is telling him after all.
So why an episode on him? We have all witnessed what happens when stuff interferes with a pony's special talent, season one had a lot of these moments. Ponies lose their freaking minds. Now let's look at what has happened to Shining during the series.
His first appearance has his wife to be kidnapped and replaced right under his nose. Next he has to sit by and watch his wife struggle to keep back an ancient evil that she eventually destroys. Later on he and the rest of his family are abducted - including his newborn daughter. Then in the movie his wife is turned to stone leaving a real possibility that he would have to raise Flurry by himself.
As a person whose entire life - the very fiber of his being - has been dedicated to the ideal of protecting others, when push came to shove, he couldn't. He couldn't save the princesses. He couldn't save his sister. He couldn't save his wife. He couldn't save his daughter.
This has to be driving him insane. And I want see how he deals with so much self doubt and the feelings of worthlessness that comes with it.
Shining Armor may seem like a one dimensional gag character for Dads to relate to, but there is more to him than that. He is a devoted husband, a caring father, an amazing brother, and a warrior. Yes a warrior.
Shining' special talent is that he protects ponies, and while we have never seen how he got his cutie mark, we have seen the barriers he can make. And I bet it was that drive to be the best protector he could be that lead him to becoming the head of the royal guard at such a young age. Of course he gave up his position when he married Cadance, and such is his devotion to her, but he still sees himself as a guardian - it's what his cutie mark is telling him after all.
So why an episode on him? We have all witnessed what happens when stuff interferes with a pony's special talent, season one had a lot of these moments. Ponies lose their freaking minds. Now let's look at what has happened to Shining during the series.
His first appearance has his wife to be kidnapped and replaced right under his nose. Next he has to sit by and watch his wife struggle to keep back an ancient evil that she eventually destroys. Later on he and the rest of his family are abducted - including his newborn daughter. Then in the movie his wife is turned to stone leaving a real possibility that he would have to raise Flurry by himself.
As a person whose entire life - the very fiber of his being - has been dedicated to the ideal of protecting others, when push came to shove, he couldn't. He couldn't save the princesses. He couldn't save his sister. He couldn't save his wife. He couldn't save his daughter.
This has to be driving him insane. And I want see how he deals with so much self doubt and the feelings of worthlessness that comes with it.
Undecided wrote:Every time you write a story I cant help but sigh, because I know Im gong to lose another man card.
- Highbrow Dash
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
I find him really dull but I'd be ok with giving him a chance to shine. Better than another Discord episode, anyway
- Fizzbuzz
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
Gosh, that's an interesting take on him. That might be a bit too heavy for this show's target audience, but I imagine it would be a good episode if it were written well enough even with kids in mind.
- Auxiliatrix
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
Truth be told, Shining Armor didn't become a gag character until the most recent seasons. Sure, he wasn't always the most competent, but he was, in my opinion, fairly respectable at one point. I completely agree with your assessment of Shining as a great father, husband, and warrior, because even as his portrayals start to somewhat drift away from these ideas, he's still, at his core, all of those things.
If an episode ever were to focus on him, I'd want to see more of that side of Shining return.
Life in one image. Interpret as you wish.
- The Doctor
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
They kind of started downplaying him as far back as The Crystal Empire. Having him totally sidelined the entire episode rather than being the one to cast that shield to keep Sombra out. You know, the very thing he was doing in the last episode. I would like to see more of him (and Cadance), but I feel all they are now is parents and we'll probably never see anything beyond that.
- Fizzbuzz
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
Y'know, that kinda does also happen IRL with people who have kids. Maybe this cartoon horse show is actually striving for accuracy!The Doctor wrote: βFri Dec 15, 2017 9:44 pmI would like to see more of him (and Cadance), but I feel all they are now is parents and we'll probably never see anything beyond that.
- PonyHag714
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
I'd love to see SA in a more serious role than he has had in recent appearances.
("Don't try to reform me, Hag, because I'm made of cold stone.")
- Auxiliatrix
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
You make a good point about Shining Armor not really having any "serious" roles past "A Canterlot Wedding". I'm not really annoyed by Shining being comic relief; I just wish we had more examples of him doing his job well or having to make a difficult decision.The Doctor wrote: βFri Dec 15, 2017 9:44 pmThey kind of started downplaying him as far back as The Crystal Empire. Having him totally sidelined the entire episode rather than being the one to cast that shield to keep Sombra out. You know, the very thing he was doing in the last episode. I would like to see more of him (and Cadance), but I feel all they are now is parents and we'll probably never see anything beyond that.
"Once Upon a Zeppelin" was one of my favorites of Season 7 (if not my overall favorite) partially because I thought the role Cadance served was great, and while Shining Armor was mostly comic relief, I felt the episode used their position as a royal couple to impact the story positively (though obviously the parental element was still there).
Life in one image. Interpret as you wish.
- West Filly
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
There's an easy answer to getting the story you want and it's fanfiction.
I do think a way to lighten this potentially heavy story would be to do a typical paranoia episode where he goes nuts trying to make everything defended and the lesson is the usual "you can't make everything safe, or if you do you take away everything that's potentially good so please let our house out of the magical bubble." A lot of kids shows do the "ahh germs everywhere" episode, and this would be no different just with fear of magical threats instead of germs.
I do think a way to lighten this potentially heavy story would be to do a typical paranoia episode where he goes nuts trying to make everything defended and the lesson is the usual "you can't make everything safe, or if you do you take away everything that's potentially good so please let our house out of the magical bubble." A lot of kids shows do the "ahh germs everywhere" episode, and this would be no different just with fear of magical threats instead of germs.
- Dal
- Praise the Sun
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Re: I Want a Shining Armor Episode
I know better than to think they would do a PTSD episode, I was thinking something more like what you said.
Undecided wrote:Every time you write a story I cant help but sigh, because I know Im gong to lose another man card.