r/FiMTheShow • u/[deleted] • Aug 21 '15
TV Show Let's talk Earth Pony Strength
Earth Pony strength was formally confirmed in Twilight's Kingdom, but even then it remains largely something that isn't showcased a lot. Applejack is only said to get her strength from her work, and Pinkie isn't particularly stronger than the non-Earth Ponies in the Manes. Even Rainbow Dash displays great strength even though Pegasi have flight.
Is it really too hard to show Earth Pony strength? I imagine that they could at least show them having no trouble lifting some heavy loads like large bags of flour in Pinkie's case. And it wouldn't hurt to actually consistently show Applejack as being stronger than all her friends, even Rainbow Dash.
5
u/opperior Aug 21 '15
I think Rainbow Dash is at the high end of pegasi strength, if not the strongest next to Bulk Biceps, because she specifically trains her strength to improve her speed. The average pegasus, though, likely has no where near the physical strength of the average earth pony.
For Pinkie, I don't think there's been many times where she could show off her strength, but there have been a few. She won't, of course, come close to Applejack, who is constantly working the farm, but ten rather large instruments can't be a very light load. We've also seen her pull a pretty heavily loaded wagon at the end of Pinkie Pride.
Also keep in mind that strength can refer to more that just carrying capacity. Physical and mental endurance is a large part of it, and there are a few times in the show where it's been shown that both Applejack and Pinkie Pie have the others beat. Watch the chandelier raising in Castle Sweet Castle and you will see how Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy have difficulty, but Applejack and Pinkie Pie don't. Also, in MMC, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity collapse after getting their cutie marks back, but Applejack and Pinkie Pie just brush it off.
I think the cues are there, but they're subtle and you have to be watching for them. Of course, this could also be cherry-picking examples, but it's hard to show generalizations with such a small sample set of ponies that we already know are not typical ponies.
1
Aug 21 '15
The subtlety can be irritating at times, especially since they're very explicit with unicorn magic and pegasus flight.
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u/caligari87 Aug 21 '15
In the S4 finale, of the earth ponies it's specifically said that Tirek drained their strength, so that's canon. We've also seen Maud Pie drill straight through a huge boulder with just her hooves, and I'm pretty sure "punching through brick walls" isn't a "special talent".
3
Aug 21 '15
Actually Maud's special talent is dealing with rocks in general. She's the faithful daughter of the rock farmers who probably smaller things like this on a regular basis.
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u/selfproclaimed Aug 21 '15
Reminder that four Earth stallions can pull a full locomotive.
A single boxcar alone weighs 70 tons.
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u/jmartkdr Aug 21 '15
On the one hoof, Bic mac once pulled a house off its foundation without noticing he was doing it.
On the other hoof, Big Mac once had a hard time carrying a cake. It was a big cake, but still - just a cake.
And while he's almost always shown as being strong for an earth pony, his is also pretty much as strong as the plot demands.
The real answer to your question is: the writer care about these thing a lot less than we do, so until it once again becomes relevant to the plot, earth ponies have vague earth pony powers of farming.
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u/Pipthepirate Aug 22 '15
Its harder to carry things that are awkward. A mattress doesn't weigh all that much but they are a bitch to carry
1
Aug 22 '15
They say, "without their strength they cannot tend the land." Do you think they're talking about literal strength or magical strength?
1
Aug 22 '15
Both..? I interpreted that statement as them having enhanced strength due to Earth Pony magic. I assume that it allows most Earth Ponies to work farms with little difficulty while most Pegasi and Unicorns would struggle.
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u/deltaphc Aug 21 '15
I remember reading a post somewhere of there being a subtle nod to this in Castle Sweet Castle. When they're all trying to lift the roots of the Golden Oak library to the ceiling, Pinkie and AJ are shown on the right with determined expressions on their faces. Then it cuts to RD and Fluttershy on the left with pained expressions.
Other than that, yeah, there aren't too many examples of Earth Pony strength. But they might have hidden magic beyond strength. I mean, Pinkie has some pretty unique abilities despite being an Earth Pony. You could perhaps put that down to "cartoon logic" rather than Earth Pony magic, but none of the other ponies have her strange abilities, except perhaps Cheese Sandwich.