My Little Disney: The Perfect Nanny
- 11 years ago
OK, brace yourselves, because I'm going to rant for a while now.
This song here is the entire basis for why I have cast Mary Poppins the way I have. See, the children are very clear in describing their perfect nanny and at first I took this literally. As you can see, I originally thought that Fluttershy fit the part nicely and that's why I was going to do this one after Alice.
But here's the important part; this song is actually describing everything Mary Poppins ISN'T. OK, she technically meets every requirement that the children put forth, but her character is much deeper than that. She's kind, but also very strict. She plays games, but also has them do chores. She let's them do what they want, but also demands that they behave the way she wants. It's a classic case of not getting what you WANT, and instead getting what you NEED.
And that's why Rarity is better for the part of Mary over Fluttershy or Twilight. Rarity's main personality points have always come across as opposite to the ones she appears to have. She's comes off as needy and selfish, but she also does all she can for others and is the element of Generosity. She wants to be famous, but frequently sets aside herself if one of her friends needs her. She can be whining one moment and sharing the next. We had an entire episode about how she's not the sister Sweetie Bell wants, but is instead the sister Sweetie has. Rarity has a duality of personality traits that fits rather well with the way Mary is also at odds with herself. They are both strict and kind, at the same time.
And that's something I never got from the other two. Fluttershy doesn't have the right kind of backbone needed for the part. Sure she can get serious when she needs to, but she needs to get backed into a corner for it to happen. Mary was always in control, and the Stare Master episode is proof that Flutters can't pull off no-nonsense respect.
And Twilight... while she's closer than Fluttershy, she doesn't have the same kind of dual nature Rarity does. When you dig beneath the surface of Twilight's personality, you get... insecurity. Or insanity, depending on which episodes you want to discuss. Twilight is nice and strict and all that, but it's all on the surface. Beneath it all is a pony who is constantly questioning herself, frequently afraid of doing the wrong thing and disappointing her friends or her teacher. Mary never struck me as a person who second-guesses, and Twilight does in nearly every single episode she stars in.
Mary Poppins needs to be someone who is confident in her role in life, while supportive of those who are still trying to find their way. She needs to be someone who knows what must be done at all times, but willing to accept other points of view. She needs to be someone who it constantly at odds with herself, and becomes a stronger character for it. She needs to be Rarity.
I do own My Little Pony and Disney... as DVDs. Does that count?
This song here is the entire basis for why I have cast Mary Poppins the way I have. See, the children are very clear in describing their perfect nanny and at first I took this literally. As you can see, I originally thought that Fluttershy fit the part nicely and that's why I was going to do this one after Alice.
But here's the important part; this song is actually describing everything Mary Poppins ISN'T. OK, she technically meets every requirement that the children put forth, but her character is much deeper than that. She's kind, but also very strict. She plays games, but also has them do chores. She let's them do what they want, but also demands that they behave the way she wants. It's a classic case of not getting what you WANT, and instead getting what you NEED.
And that's why Rarity is better for the part of Mary over Fluttershy or Twilight. Rarity's main personality points have always come across as opposite to the ones she appears to have. She's comes off as needy and selfish, but she also does all she can for others and is the element of Generosity. She wants to be famous, but frequently sets aside herself if one of her friends needs her. She can be whining one moment and sharing the next. We had an entire episode about how she's not the sister Sweetie Bell wants, but is instead the sister Sweetie has. Rarity has a duality of personality traits that fits rather well with the way Mary is also at odds with herself. They are both strict and kind, at the same time.
And that's something I never got from the other two. Fluttershy doesn't have the right kind of backbone needed for the part. Sure she can get serious when she needs to, but she needs to get backed into a corner for it to happen. Mary was always in control, and the Stare Master episode is proof that Flutters can't pull off no-nonsense respect.
And Twilight... while she's closer than Fluttershy, she doesn't have the same kind of dual nature Rarity does. When you dig beneath the surface of Twilight's personality, you get... insecurity. Or insanity, depending on which episodes you want to discuss. Twilight is nice and strict and all that, but it's all on the surface. Beneath it all is a pony who is constantly questioning herself, frequently afraid of doing the wrong thing and disappointing her friends or her teacher. Mary never struck me as a person who second-guesses, and Twilight does in nearly every single episode she stars in.
Mary Poppins needs to be someone who is confident in her role in life, while supportive of those who are still trying to find their way. She needs to be someone who knows what must be done at all times, but willing to accept other points of view. She needs to be someone who it constantly at odds with herself, and becomes a stronger character for it. She needs to be Rarity.
I do own My Little Pony and Disney... as DVDs. Does that count?