Supposedly brief RD ship analysis

[spotto]

 I mentioned in my previous post something about Rainbow Dash and shippers. More specifically why I think she is so prevalently the fandom bicycle. I gave my own thoughts as to why in a nutshell pretty much, but looking back it seems that some key details were left out and without such I could possibly imply RD shippers are all shallow people who just ship for shipping sake and not because they genuinely think she is compatible with many other ponies.

 

So as someone who doesn't actually ship RD, I think I can pinpoint a better and less potentially-insulting reason. You see, RD seems to have her own almost unique individual character arcs with a few of the other ponies. You have Griffon the Brush-Off, an episode that improves RD and Pinkie's friendship, and as the episodes and seasons go by their friendship improves in many ways or faces certain obstacles. At present we can safely say Pinkie very much values RD as a friend and is perhaps especially more clingy around her than the others. 

 

Then there is Dash with Applejack. Their friendship starts on a competitive foot with Fall Weather Friends, and of all ponies (besides maybe AJ and Rarity) they are the most likely to argue amongst one another. Their relationship too is expanded upon in many ways through the three seasons. As an AppleDash shipper once said, "Their unresolved sexual tension is so thick you can cut it with a butter knife!"

 

With both Pinkie and AJ, Dash shares similarities. However the third pony she is often shipped with, Fluttershy, ends this pattern of common interests. Instead, Fluttershy has the sole position of childhood friend, or at least the pony Dash has known the longest. While their relationship had its ups and downs and started off quite rocky, it's pretty easy to see how much their friendship has evolved from early on in season one with RD consistently chastising the poor mare to their numerous consensual hoof bumps in season three. 

 

Finally there is Twilight, and while she does not have any of the advantages of the above three, is somehow involved in the most popular pairing of the show. You can partially explain this by Twilight being not only the main character, and therefore it is only natural that she has plenty of interactions with her friends, but also her popularity. The final hint that pushes this pairing to the top as the so-called "best-ship" is because of RD's newfound enthusiasm in reading. Suddenly they share an interest and RD's been shown reading that same book plenty of times throughout the series.

 

Now this just leaves out Rarity who is the ony pony RD doesn't have too much of an "arc" with for lack of a better word. Indeed, RariDash is not nearly as popular as the other Dash pairings and isn't even the most popular Rarity pairing. This is understandable because despite the two ponies' complete lack of anyting in common, they never had any moment or episode to illustrate why they may frustrate one another. They seem content to be mutual friends and aren't especially aggravated with how the other behaves. In a way they are similar in terms of personality because of their healthy egos, but why they both have these egos is so drastically different, had the Elements of Harmony never existed the two of them wouldn't even bat an eye with one another.

 

That obviously doesn't stop the shippers, but it's a logical explanation. In addition Rarity is involved with the toy ship in the series, putting her with Spike occasionally for comedic purposes and the fact that Rarity has chased stallion before. Meanwhile RD is often interpreted as the true lesbian of the group thanks to stereotypes when in reality any person of any race, nationality, upbringing, and personality could be any sexuality as well, but media is still driven these days by generalizations and common misconceptions, so it only makes sense. 

 

It's funny because in the one episode where the two could have interacted, Sonic Rainboom, they do not. Rarity's willingness to volunteer and help Rainbow seemed more like an aspect of her generosity as opposed to familiarity with Rainbow. If it had been the latter she probably wouldn't have almost squandered Dash's chances during the competition. On the other hand (hoof?) Dash had every right to yell, shout, and insult Rarity for her actions but never did...because she was too preoccupied with freaking out that her life was ruined anyway to really call Rarity out. Despite RD saving Rarity from certain doom and Rarity indeed learning a valuable lesson, their point-of-views of everything that had happened in that episode were so separate it was almost like we were watching two different stories.

 

In other words, their thirst for crowds distract them from each other and thus the lack of compatibility. Rainbow Dash in winning the competition to get the attention of the Wonderbolts, and Rarity in looking as fabulous as possible to get the attention of the general public.

 

This brings me back to a single point I continue to bring up no matter what MLP rant I may write, friendship episodes among pairs of the Mane Six lacking much screentime, such as Rarity and Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy and Applejack. If we subtract both RD and Twilight, both who are very healthy in the interactions departments and let the rest of the Six have episodes among themselves with the conflict between themselves, we could see more of any other pairing... but for now, Dash pairings and TwiDash reign supreme.

 

And if I have to choose ONE of these I guess it goes to AppleDash. This has been Spotto.