Before I plunge into this... I want to warn everyone that it'll likely be long. Like that symbol/cutie mark thing. If you keel over from reading too much (which I doubt) than I, Notes, am not responsible. Legally, anyway.
So, Ace. Love him or not, there's a lot in his character, even in the show. He clearly has a high opinion of himself,for starters. It is said that he "likes Ace best." He claims that the girls call him "Prince Charming." He has a lot of talent in sports and athletics in general, as he was good at roller-dancing, soccer, and climbing out of pits. He was a real brat upon losing in both The Great Lemonade Stand Wars and Just for Kicks. He also has the manipulative streak, based on The Great Lemonade Stand Wars. Ace has a HUGE crush on Melody, who is in turn uninterested. He is part of the Pony Scouts in Birds of a Feather and has experience in the woods. He has a spirit of adventure in Apple for Starlight, but doesn't listen to Star.
That's Ace in the show. The short answer to the question of why Ace gets so much hate is that most people who watch Tales are... well, not likely to analyze the show. The fandom here is the exception, not the rule, and even still some of us don't analyze things and pick out new conclusions.
Alright. I know that different writers have different interpretations of characters. So that's why I think that it'd be a good idea to categorize Ace's traits by writer. It could be good to keep in mind.
Donna Harman wrote Play's the Thing. Ace was pretty earnest in his crush on Melody and wanted to see her be terrific during rehearsal. At the end he gives Melody flowers for her brilliant performance.
Kayte Kuch and Sheryl Scarborough wrote Roll Around the Clocks. Ace was trying his best to be helpful in this episode.
George Arthur Bloom wrote The Great Lemonade Stand Wars and Just for Kicks. That means that Mr. Bloom gave Ace his dislike of losing and, really, his brattiness. He also had a big ego here. But, at the same time, he realized his own jerkishness.
Richard Merwin wrote An Apple for Starlight and Birds of a Feather. Ace was a pretty cool kid in both.
Doug Booth wrote Shop Talk. Ace was very immature in this episode and was blinded by his crush on Melody, so he couldn't see that he was being duped. He was also quick to laugh, showing a good sense of humor.
Marv and Noel Wolfman wrote The Masquerade, in which Ace compliments Bon Bon.
Alright. So, in summary, each writer had a different take on Ace. Mister Bloom happened to have the bratty, manipulative, sore-loser Ace. Miss Harman had earnest Ace who thought in particular that Melody was terrific. Madames Kuch and Scarborough had helpful but misguided Ace. Sir Booth, like his only contribution to the series or not, had an Ace who could be blinded by his own desires and a sense of humor who was really immature. Sir Merwin had a cool kid Ace. The Wolfmen didn't have much to do with Ace's portrayal as far as we can see.
I find that, upon thinking about it, my Ace is a cross of sorts between Richard Merwin's and George Arthur Bloom's Aces. And while I'm aware that each writer's contribution is what made Ace what he is, it should be known that they weren't the same. I think your Ace is mostly like Richard Merwin's, by the way.
People have a tendency in real life to look at the faults of someone rather than their attributes. Mr. Bloom's Ace is the one most people are against, as he manipulated Bon Bon and was a jerk to Starlight in those episodes. No matter what fanon we add, that's the bare deal.
Most people don't have access to the comics yet and, by the sounds of it, Ace was a lot nicer in the comics. Without George Arthur Blooms and perhaps the other writers, comic Ace is his own entity separate from the Tales staff. Yet another interpretation of Ace that isn't open and free to others so they can figure out their own Ace. As such, we don't have all of the canon material for Ace that we could have. If we had more, we could form better opinions, whether those opinions are negative or positive being subjective. I refuse to let this post degrade into a chiding for not uploading the comics (which I really wanna see). I also refuse to blame you because you do so much and actually change opinions on Ace with your own ideas about his portrayal. But we don't have all of the love-Ace fuel that you have, and will of course have different opinions no matter what.
I've never really seen anyone who has
hated Ace on this Schoolhouse. Where do you see hatred of Ace? YouTube comments obviously. But no modern-day fans of the show dislike Ace in particular, I believe. Everyone around here should supply their own opinion, though.
People dislike Ace, but only ignoramus bronies hate him. And that's because they hate Tales. They're the same people who say that every single character in this show is a
raving sociopath. Their opinions do not count. I can't bash them for it, but if they went in without an open mind and looking for flaws, they are invalid in their thoughts of it.
Honestly, I haven't seen anyone other than YouTube commenters who seem to like Tales but dislike Ace's behavior. In the Just for Kicks and Great Lemonade Stand Wars episodes.
And frankly, calling Ace a complete jerk is comparable to your own dislike of Clover. Both are definitely founded. But they are negative opinions of My Little Pony Tales characters. People might not be able to help being offended when their favorite character isn't widely liked. I see that you are trying to understand people's reasons for disliking Ace.
We aren't even given context to say that Clover22 hates Ace. Perhaps they LIKE the jerk archetype!
And if they don't, then they asked the question anyway. Perhaps they want to expand their Ace horizons and learn to like him. You have the tendency to spread your love of Ace, and this thread was one medium by which someone could reach out and develop their opinion of Ace. This as a thread about ACE'S BACKSTORY. Everyone knows that you're the Ace ambassador. You ought to get paid to write about Ace. If someone wanted help developing their Ace opinion they'd come to you.
In summary, people dislike Ace because they don't read deeply into these things. They discuss George Arthur Bloom episode Ace actions for the most part. Or Shop Talk Ace. Or maybe they do and simply aren't a huge fan, though I have yet to find one of these people.
Clover22 doesn't necessarily hate Ace, and may actually just want to develop their Acepinion. Whatever the case, they never said that they hated Ace.
Please tell me if you want more. I sort of shifted focus in the middle, and I'm aware of that. But I think I got the reason people dislike Ace so much. Agree or disagree as you see fit. And either way, it's good that you are trying to figure out what someone would dislike in Ace so you can better understand their argument. More mature than yelling the dummy word at them over and over again.
And as for you, Clover22, confirm or deny what I'm trying to say. If I'm not properly interpreting things, then tell us. (3
EDIT: Okay. The reasons people think he was being a jerk to Starlight in Just for Kicks included how sometimes, even before Starlight took all of the credit at the end, he said little tidbits that could be considered jerkish things to say. What he means changes by the writer.
It's pretty clear that the line can be interpreted in two basic ways. Firstly, that is Ace's way of agreeing with the coach that Starlight is really good while keeping up his cool-dude image. Also possibly... people will think he is a sexist pug.
- Ace's laughing at Starlight after he misses the goal
How could you interpret this differently than Ace just being mean?
There were other parts, but these are two prominent ones. Plus, people are also thrown off by the ending. In my viewing, a) Starlight and Ace's future relationship seems to be left as ambiguous and b) Starlight, in the view of the viewer, tried to change herself for Ace (at least for the Perfect Pair song). She actually just got a new interest in soccer, but wanted to change herself in all kinds of ways for Ace.
Again, if you need any more, I'll continue elaborating.
