Bronies are a subculture that, not entirely unreasonably, weirds some people out. Hell, I like the show, I’ve got a degree in the worst flake magnet in the arts, and some bronies weird me out too.

But they seem to be on their way to mainstream pop culture. Once the far right stumbled across it, it was only a matter of time before Jerry Springer showed up. Really, think pieces in the Atlantic and the New Yorker are only a matter of time, probably about “shifting goalposts of masculinity” or some other load of crap.

So, love it or lump it, grown men who enjoy a cartoon aimed at preteen girls are about to have way too much ink spilled over what they “mean”, since this is largely Baby Boomers who, let’s face it, will take any opportunity to freak out over the behavior of twenty-somethings. So, for some of those confused and lost, here’s a step-by-step guide to “getting it”.



Step #1) Accept That The Show Itself Is Actually Pretty Good All-Ages Entertainment

I mean, we’re not talking earthshaking here. It’s not nearly as disturbing or cheerfully grotesque as, say, SpongeBob SquarePants or Ren and Stimpy. It’s not crammed full of jokes kids won’t get, although there are plenty of little blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nods to pop culture.

But it’s fairly witty, it doesn’t talk down to its audience, and it’s not really “gender-specific”, partially because Lauren Faust didn’t want to make a “girly” cartoon. The result is wholesome entertainment about funny animals along the lines of Mickey Mouse.

The one thing that truly stands out about it, and is likely the reason bronies exist, is the characterization. The characters are actually quite sharp and well done with strengths and weaknesses that make them relatable. Fluttershy, for example, might as well be the mascot for people with crippling social anxiety, and Twilight Sparkle manages to capture being a bookish nerd without being insulting about it. Faust makes a point of undermining stereotypes as well: There is a girly pony named Rarity, but instead of being a shallow twit, she’s a fussy workaholic. In terms of characters it’s actually better than a lot of sitcoms.

Step #2) Understand That The Writers Listen to the Fandom and Respond

Most TV shows, if the fans have opinions, the writing staff will occasionally acknowledge them in an interview.

On this show, fan memes will turn up as background gags. When a pony that looked vaguely like David Tennant showed up and was christened Doctor Whooves, the show responded by creating more of them.