Talk:Sunset Shimmer/@comment-7345250-20161213045004/@comment-27161581-20161215051734

What the whole point boils down to, is GG understands, but does not wishes that it was the case that people identified with such an artificial character, who's personality is ad-hoc'd to the plot as necessary, along with giving her powers and abilities, solely for the purpose of giving her powers and abilities. The writers designed her as an audience surrogate in a fix style fic, as evidenced by the first three or so films.


 * Sunset is evil and gets redeemed by the mane 6
 * Sunset is mopey and gets fixed by the mane 6
 * Sunset fixes Sci-Twi because she was fixed by the mane 6

For reasons that GG and I could spend hours talking about, Sunset Shimmer is one of the very few characters in MLP who gain powers and abilities exclusively by not earning them, which undermines the whole, working for prestige, merit gets rewarded and so on... This is also the same reason why we dislike Flurry Heart so much, since she turned Princess into a hereditary title, rather than an meritorious one.

It isn't exactly trying, but more disappointing, to see people fawn over a character who, in my opinion, is one of the worst characters in the franchise, with an even more disappointing character arc. Sunset Shimmer is practically wish-fulfillment in a can, a hodgepodge of good traits, appealing to a huge audience, faux angst and symbolism in droves. It's quite impressive that she's liked so much, but I think that has to do with the primary demographic, and sub demographic EG appeals to.