Yeah, I'm serious. If you haven't seen the episode yet, be warned, spoilers below.

So, Hearthbreakers came out this weekend! Overall, I would call it an average episode. The world-building, characterization of Pinkie Pie's family, and writing were all quite good -- plus as an engineer, I loved hearing Maud crack a Mohs Hardness Scale joke. This isn't new for MLP, but it's nice to know that Futurama doesn't have a monopoly on intelligent humor in cartoons. Sadly, the actual story was a bit weak, and Applejack's characterization wasn't the best, but I would still call it enjoyable and well worth watching.

Plus, this happened.

But as Pav and I were shooting the breeze about the episode afterwards, a question arose as to what the episode was actually about. Sure, it talks about respecting other's traditions in the general sense, but what's the best real-life analogue to the pony story? Is this an episode about how integrating into a group takes time, or respecting others' quaint family traditions, or about respecting other cultures? You could even make an argument that its about respecting religion, with AJ's "Christmas is about the presents and dinner" family running into a family who spends the holiday in humble togetherness and observance of their lord and savior Jesus "I Would Have Been Okay With Ponies" Christ.

Shown: A compelling argument for Equestria to switch to monotheism.

And yet, none of those really clicked for me. If it was about how integration takes time, it should have had a theme of impatience, which it didn't until the very end. Both sides took the conflict really intensely if it was just about petty family traditions, and if it was about visiting a totally different culture, then the real blame was on Pinkie Pie for not explaining her family's foreign ways so that AJ would know she had to be understanding. The religion thing sort-of fits, but it's a weak fit, as the conflict between the two families isn't about the meaning of the holiday and that hardly comes up except at the start and end. But after a bit of talking, one real-life analogue did occur to us that fits the story remarkably well.

A rich family spending the holidays with a poor family.

Seems legit.

We can see a lot of this in the little ways that the Pie's traditions are structured. Their food is thin and made from undesirable ingredients (rocks). Their traditions are based entirely around using waste materials that they would already have on hand -- stonecutting tools, mine tailings, rock, etc. In fact, other than raising the flag, nothing they do for the holiday involves expending any resources or special preparation. Even the gifts (rocks) are made from things that would already be lying around. As an allegory for a family that has little to spare and so has to make-do when they celebrate, this is pretty rock solid.

Get it? Do you see what I did there? Yeah. You see what I did there.

Probably the best example of this is the dinner scene. Applejack, having been served the family's traditional Hearthswarming meal, is trying to be a good guest and enjoy it. But as she chokes it down, it's perfectly clear on her face that she thinks it tastes terrible, and she can't conceal that fact. And the other ponies react:

Shown: Figure 1

In order, from left to right:

> "For Celestia's sake, Applejack. Please stop making us look like snobby jerks."

> "Yeah, this is about what I expected from you lot."

> "Are these really the sorts of ponies my daughter is making friends with? Maybe I didn't hug her enough."

> "Oh, gosh. I hope they don't dislike us just because they think our food is bad."

> "That's right, hoity-toity. Choke on it."

As someone who has actually been in this situation in both directions (I have played host to people much richer than me, and been a guest of people much poorer), that's about the full spectrum of reactions you get. Applejack isn't trying to be snobby in this scene. She's not turning her nose or being superior, she wants to show proper gratitude and how much she enjoys the food. But she can't because it tastes so bad she's struggling to keep it down.

In its own way, Applejack's reaction is far more insulting than simple snobbery would be. When somepony is a snob, you can at least console yourself that they are the problem. When somebody is trying to be nice, it's crystal clear that they don't hate you: they pity you. And that burns deep.

Which brings us to what Applejack did to the farm.

How did she do this without waking everypony up?

So, this is the central point of conflict of the episode -- Applejack oversteps her bounds and it starts a fight that ultimately gets her thrown out of the house. The way the episode portrays this is as a matter of presumption, that AJ overstepped her bounds and was disrespectful. Which may well be true, but I think the Pie family having such an extreme reaction makes a lot more sense in this new context.

Consider, that's a lot of decorations AJ put up. Decorations that the Pie family obviously didn't have on hand, and that AJ certainly didn't weave out of the thin air. That implies a trip to town, probably quite a bit of work during the night, and the expenditure of resources that the Pie family can't afford, all to... give them a proper Hearthswarming. Because they've never had one before. Imagine a rich guest in a poor person's home redecorating their house (or buying a tree, or a ton of gifts, or otherwise making a big production out of it) because these poor dears have never even had a proper holiday and it's the least I can do.

Now picture the Pie family's reaction of "Oh my god, you patronizing bitch" and this scene suddenly makes a lot more sense to me.



As does Pinkie's adorable awkwardness about the whole thing. Just adorable.

It even fits well with Applejack's character and identity as a person. Remember how, in the start of the episode, Applejack sees Twilight's Hearths Warming Eve traditions and doesn't bat an eye? Twilight's traditions are her traditions. And Twilight is royalty from Canterlot. Even removing Twilight from the picture, Applejack is good friends with a famous model, an influential socialite and successful business pony, and an officer in the Blue Angels Wonderbolts. Imagine if, in real life, someone introduced themselves as a humble farmer, and over the course of the conversation it comes up that they're best friends with Pamela Anderson, the Kardashians, Lieutenant Matt Suyderhoud, and the President's daughter.

Also, her family has ties to Filthy Rich that go back a generation, and in this extended metaphor he's like, Jeff Bezos or something. Or at the least, any number of wealthy locals you could name in your area.

I'm not saying that Applejack isn't a farm pony -- she clearly is and it's a huge part of her identity -- but she isn't a typical farm pony. Her family is successful, possibly very successful, and she doesn't move in the same circles as the typical farmer. The strong vibe I get from this episode is that AJ is New Money. Poverty is in her family in living memory. Two generations ago, they were poor, and what resources they have didn't come suddenly. They were humble farm ponies once, and they earned their place in the world through many decades of hard, slow work, so they still think of themselves as humble farm ponies. But, they aren't. They're successful and influential farm ponies. What they are isn't bad, but it is different.

And Applejack didn't realize that until she sat at the same table with genuine salt-of-the-earth farmers, and realized she had a bit of difficulty stomaching their food.



Perhaps more than a bit.

Of course, this interpretation is all headcanon. Take with a grain of rock salt, etc. But I think it adds a bit of depth to the episode, and in a way, gives AJ a little character development. She's an earth pony and a farm pony and a lot of her pride is in her identity as a humble earth pony farmer, but it's not that simple. The town she lives in is multicultural, she's welcome in Canterlot, and while she can be a bit stubborn at times, she's smarter and more worldly than she'll admit.

Plus, on a more personal note, I feel this interpretation avoids having to toss Applejack the idiot ball. If AJ just took control of the festivities because our traditions are better, then the conflict feels artificial -- the only reason there's a fight is because AJ is a jerk. But if it happened because of a genuine disconnect, and because AJs image of herself doesn't quite line up with reality, then that's a chance for real character growth to occur. It means she messed up with the best of intentions, and that she can learn about Pinkie's family, and learn about herself, and the two can grow as they become more comfortable together. So, I like it.

Also, shipping.