Tiger beetle
Send massage.
@Mr.Myoozik
The worst Rarity should expect from AJ is harsh words, and even then, it’s still AJ’s choice to use them. And the hat thing is enexcusable under any circumstance. Rarity’s fault was assuming AJ says yes and throwing her into an unfamiliar territory, AJ’s fault was not having enough of a filter to frame her critiques in a way that doesn’t make the pony feel absolutely awful, and NOT backing out once she realizes this isn’t for her. Once she starts getting comfy as a judge and going all in on the designers, she keeps going and going until she insults what everyone in the room spent most of the lives doing. It rings a little similar (though NOT nearly as malicious) to Fluttershy bashing Pinkie’s and Rarity’s life pursuits back in Putting Your Hoof Down.
The worst Rarity should expect from AJ is harsh words, and even then, it’s still AJ’s choice to use them. And the hat thing is enexcusable under any circumstance. Rarity’s fault was assuming AJ says yes and throwing her into an unfamiliar territory, AJ’s fault was not having enough of a filter to frame her critiques in a way that doesn’t make the pony feel absolutely awful, and NOT backing out once she realizes this isn’t for her. Once she starts getting comfy as a judge and going all in on the designers, she keeps going and going until she insults what everyone in the room spent most of the lives doing. It rings a little similar (though NOT nearly as malicious) to Fluttershy bashing Pinkie’s and Rarity’s life pursuits back in Putting Your Hoof Down.
Neither AJ nor Rarity is a saint in that episode, but I feel bad for Rarity because the idea to help out new ponies in the fashion field is incredibly sweet. And it’s one of her best friends, someone she really wanted to be there, unraveling the whole thing. She should’ve expected an unorthodox approach from AJ, but not event-cancelling levels of rude.
@Just Wayne
Not every experiment is gonna work, Rarity tried to do something new by introducing a fashion outsider to represent “the common pony”, and it did not go according to plan. Also, I doubt Hoity knew what Photo Finish was specifically judging and vice versa, they were simply expressing opinions, which is what Applejack was also supposed to do. If I had to point out a flaw with the episode is that the other two never have even slightly negative comments to balance AJ out, they’re strictly positive. I’m not saying they need to be mean, but just maybe saying what, in their opinion, could be improved, rather than just loving it right away. The belt scene is the closest that comes to that, IIRC, with the implication that this particular outfit could benefit from having that element added on.
Not every experiment is gonna work, Rarity tried to do something new by introducing a fashion outsider to represent “the common pony”, and it did not go according to plan. Also, I doubt Hoity knew what Photo Finish was specifically judging and vice versa, they were simply expressing opinions, which is what Applejack was also supposed to do. If I had to point out a flaw with the episode is that the other two never have even slightly negative comments to balance AJ out, they’re strictly positive. I’m not saying they need to be mean, but just maybe saying what, in their opinion, could be improved, rather than just loving it right away. The belt scene is the closest that comes to that, IIRC, with the implication that this particular outfit could benefit from having that element added on.
Also, them being offended at AJ’s disco ball comment is a bit silly when the outfit literally looks like a disco ball. Now I assume the joke was “they’re being silly for being offended at AJ calling it like it is” but it’s weird to do that while you ALSO try to make AJ come off as insensitive and dismissive. That might’ve been a case of miscommunication between script and prop designer, maybe the outfit was just meant to be shiny like a disco ball, but ended up accidentally turning into “pony in the picture literally wears a disco ball.” That’s just speculation on my part, however.
As for their general behavior, I do find the supportive fashionistas somewhat refreshing. Usually fashion-related people in media are narcissistic jerks who’d rather gatekeep new faces at the fear that their new ideas might upstage them, but HT and PF actually encourage the new generation of fashion-forward ponies. Photo Finish is more of a fashion photographer, but having support from someone who has been working in that particular area of expertise for years must be quite validating.
The ‘everyone wins’ solution might also leave a bit of a sour taste in one’s mouth. But I get AJ’s reasoning, with her seeing the hard work and appreciating it. And after the thorough roasting of all 3 newbie designers, I bet she’d feel extra bad to say gtfo to any of them.
Also, that RD cheerleading episode sure was…not great. I am not alone in that opinion from what I see, though lol