Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Christian Review & Parent Guide

In this Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Christian review, we will explore the positive and negative aspects of the film to help you decide if it’s safe for your family. A parent guide is included.

Synopsis of Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

After the events of Equestria Girls, newly reformed Sunset Shimmer struggles to repair her reputation with the other students at Canterlot High. When a magical, music-based threat from Equestria causes everyone at school to bicker and fight, it’s up to the Mane Five and Sunset Shimmer to save the day—with a little help from familiar allies from Equestria.

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My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Christian Review

The second film in the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls series, Rainbow Rocks, introduces us to a reformed Sunset Shimmer for the first time. Sunset Shimmer desires to atone for her past mistakes and build a new reputation with her classmates. However, most students are still wary of her, which makes her mission a bit harder.

In this Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks review, we will explore the film from a Christian perspective, outlining some positive lessons and some potential concerns from the film.

Our review contains spoilers.

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Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Review—A Quick Definition

The Mane Six is a common term used to describe the main characters of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash.

For the purposes of this review (with an exception in the synopsis) I am using “Mane Six” to describe any mix of the above characters, plus Sunset Shimmer and Spike.

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Sunset Shimmer’s Redemption and Repentance in Equestria Girls

Repentance is one of the keys to the Christian walk. Although Equestria Girls does not have a religious system, Sunset Shimmer is a great example of repentance and redemption.

As you may recall in the first Equestria Girls film (here’s my review if you haven’t read it yet), Sunset Shimmer was the villain. She bullied her classmates, stole Twilight’s crown, manipulated others, and turned her classmates into zombie-like creatures. Oh yes, and she turned into a monster herself.

However, by the end of Equestria Girls, she finds redemption and forgiveness, and in Rainbow Rocks, we see just how far Sunset Shimmer’s repentance has brought her.

As GotQuestions defines biblical repentance:

The short biblical definition of repentance is “a change of mind that results in a change of action.”

Sunset Shimmer changed her perspective on friendship, and now she lives differently.

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Forgiveness and Records of Wrongs in Rainbow Rocks

The majority of Sunset Shimmer’s classmates don’t take her repentance for face value. However, she’s clearly changed and is outwardly making different choices.

One example is when she takes a paintbrush from the Cutie Mark Crusaders (Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo) and asks if they need help. They decline (as everyone is still a bit wary of her).

The Mane Six, however, has forgiven her and embraced her as a member of their friend group, and Applejack acknowledges that Canterlot High is “closer together” now. Their forgiveness is sweet and very biblical.

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) reminds us to

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

While the rest of the school keeps their distance, the Mane Six embrace her, welcome her, and forgive her for her past.

…At least partially.

Even though they are kind to her, they aren’t perfect. And though unintentional, the Mane Six still shows a bit of bias against Sunset Shimmer.

Firstly, the girls have a band called the “Rainbooms” and they don’t include Sunset Shimmer in it. Maybe they didn’t think to invite her, but it’s a little odd considering they include her in nearly everything else.

Reminding Sunset Shimmer of Her Past

Additionally, one of the reoccurring “jokes” in Rainbow Rocks involves making an offhanded comment that indirectly brings up Sunset Shimmer’s past sins, and then following up with “No offense,” and then Sunset Shimmer replies with “None taken.” However, it definitely seems to hurt her feelings even if she doesn’t admit it. Some examples of comments followed by the “No offense/None taken” exchange:

1. “Last thing she needs is another CHS event almost ruined by some power-crazed lunatic.”
2. “It’s not like we haven’t tangled with dark magic before and totally whooped its sorry butt!”
3. “Now that we’re all back together, we can use that magic on the sirens. Just like when we were able to use it on Sunset Shimmer when she turned into that horrifyingly awful winged monster!” Source

These comments come from Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and even Twilight Sparkle, who is now the “Princess of Friendship” in Equestria. When Sunset Shimmer tries to help Twilight up, Twilight hesitates to take her hand, showing that even she’s a little wary of Sunset Shimmer. Even Twilight, who is a friendship princess isn’t perfect.

The description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 applies here. Verse 5 (NIV) talks about love and how

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not keep a record of wrongs. And yet, the Mane Six seems to have an internal bias against her, reminding her of her mistakes constantly.

This offers a great opportunity to talk with our kids about what forgiveness and love look like in practice.

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Awareness and Sensitivity Toward Others

Though the Mane Six are often kind, thoughtful, and have strong moral compasses, they are not perfect. Sometimes, they don’t think about how their words or actions may affect others.

As already mentioned, the Mane Six often brings up Sunset Shimmer’s past mistakes. They realize afterwards that their words were not kind; however, it still clearly affects Sunset Shimmer as it happens over and over again.

Rarity’s Insensitivity

Rarity calls Sunset Shimmer’s ex-boyfriend Flash Sentry “smitten kitten” because he is asking about Twilight, his crush from Equestria Girls. However, Rarity promptly apologizes to Sunset Shimmer, remembering that Sunset Shimmer dated Flash Sentry. Here, Rarity is showing awareness for her slip up, and tries to make it right.

Sunset Shimmer admits that she dated him for popularity, not because she actually liked him, and realizes how horrible she was. Though the Mane Six voice their agreement, Applejack reminds her that “the important thing is that you’ve turned yourself around.” Applejack is right. Sunset Shimmer has changed.

Rainbow Dash’s Insensitivity

Then there’s Rainbow Dash. Her character, throughout the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic franchise, tends to be a bit full of herself. In Rainbow Rocks, she lists all of her friend’s mistakes without thinking about how she can also improve. She also tends to be selfish, calling the band “hers” when it’s clearly a group effort. Rainbow Dash has specific songs she wants to play, including a song called “Awesome as I Wanna” which is a song that puts most of the focus on Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy writes songs and wants to play one of her songs, and Rainbow Dash brushes it off, which really hurts Fluttershy’s feelings. However, near the end of Rainbow Rocks, Rainbow Dash admits that the band isn’t just hers, and suggests that they play Fluttershy’s song. Later, the Mane Six let Sunset Shimmer play with them, realizing that her help is imperative to successfully defeating the Sirens.

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The Role of Magic in Rainbow Rocks

Just as the whole My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic franchise, including the first Equestria Girls film, contains magic, Rainbow Rocks does, too.

At the end of Equestria Girls, Twilight took her magical crown back to Equestria. However, magic remains on Earth. Now, when the Mane Six play music, they “pony up,” which means they start gaining wings, longer hair, and pony ears.

The Sirens, also known as the Dazzlings, are the main villains in this film, and they feed on “negative energy” and discord. They were formerly villains in Equestria before their banishment to Earth—via Starswirl the Bearded, a pony wizard. When the Sirens sing, they put others under a spell, and the Mane Six are some of the only ones who are not affected by the spell—which sows discord, disharmony, and rivalry.

The Mane Six, along with another surprise ally, are able to stop the Sirens in a magical music battle. Twilight tries to write a musical counter-spell for this final battle.

Additionally, the girls use the term “dark magic” which suggests that there is some sort of “good magic.” Biblically, there is no such thing as “good magic.” Sunset Shimmer writes in a book that uses magic to send messages to Equestria in order to get advice. It functions like a magical email or letter system. The magic from the book helps Twilight fix the portal so she can go back to Earth and help her friends defeat the Sirens.

Also, some characters wear wizard and witch hats as a part of their costumes for the battle of the bands.

The magic is similar to the type of magic you’d get in a Barbie or Disney film. Though magic exists as a plot device, the story focuses on moral concepts like friendship.

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Discord, Division, and the Sirens in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

Let’s talk about discord in Rainbow Rocks.

No, not that Discord, although the Sirens cause their own amount of relationship chaos that, in a way, parallels The Return of Harmony parts 1 and 2 in Season 2 of Friendship is Magic.

The Sirens, as already mentioned, put people under spells when they sing in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks. These spells cause the victims to argue and become extremely competitive, forgoing their normal personalities. What was intended to be a musical showcase becomes the competitive Battle of the Bands after the Sirens start using their magic. The Sirens’ magic causes everyone to argue and get angry at each other, which only makes things worse.

Even Flash Sentry, Twilight’s crush and a character who proved worthy of the princess’ attentions in the first Equestria Girls film, is uncharacteristically rude to Twilight due to the spell.

All this chaos, discord, and unkindness causes trouble for Canterlot High. Even the Mane Six temporarily lets discord take over them; however, they realize their mistakes and move forward to save the school from the Sirens.

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Uniquely Set Apart: The Mane Six’s Protection in Rainbow Rocks

Practically the entire school falls under the Siren’s spell, but one exception is the Mane Six. Applejack comments, “We were there when the Dazzlings [The Sirens] were singin’ and we weren’t affected. It was like we were protected somehow.”

This quote from Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks reminds me of how we, as Christians, are uniquely set apart from the rest of the world. I always want to be careful when drawing parallels between fictional stories and Christian ideas because, obviously, fictional ideas are not a great representation of Biblical truth. However, sometimes, these ideas introduced in secular media can be a springboard to make us think about spiritual truths.

And one spiritual truth is that Christians are protected by The Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus, His blood that was shed on the cross covers us. We become set apart from the world. Psalm 4:3 (ESV) says

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV) reminds us:

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

God cares about His people, and He protects us. He protected the Israelites, His chosen people, and He protects us, too.

In Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, Sunset Shimmer and her friends were uniquely set apart for a special role—to save everyone from the Sirens. Though Equestria Girls is far from a spiritual handbook, and the girls weren’t set apart by God, we are.

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Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Review FAQs

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Conclusion of Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Christian Review

As with all media, whether or not your family chooses to watch Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks is between you and your family.

There are some great lessons in the film, but there are also some concerns. The worldview is secular, so any lessons need to be filtered through a faith-based lens. Additionally, there is magic, which understandably makes some Christians uncomfortable.

Use discernment when choosing the media you want to expose yourself, and your family, to.

For our Equestria Girls: Friendship Games review, click here.

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Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Christian Parent Guide

Sex and Nudity in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

• Characters have short skirts.
• Rarity calls Flash a “smitten kitten.”
• Flash shows up and asks about Twilight; he is clearly still interested in her based on his awkwardness and slight embarrassment.
• Characters sing and touch their classmates’ heads in a way that could seem a little sensual.
• A villain touches a guy’s face while he’s eating. He swallows and opens up his mouth. The exchange seems a little sexual even if it wasn’t intended to be. 
• When Twilight learns that Flash was asking about her, she starts blushing and starts talking faster.
• Flash and Twilight bump into each other and he catches her, holding her waist.
• Flash and Twilight bump into each other at least one other time.
• Flash hugs and holds Twilight.

Language in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

• “Duh”
• “Pathetic little world.”
• “Power crazed lunatic.”
• Whoop somebody’s butt/Sorry Butt
• “She demon.”
• “Idiots.”
• “Goons.”

Frightening/Intense Scenes & Violence in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

• A monster is shown in the opening credits; it resembles a villain when they let magic take over them.
• When under a spell, everyone fights each other/bicker.
• The Dazzlings (Sirens) are verbally mean to each other and bicker.
• Shoving occurs, as well as some mild flicking.

Other Possible Concerns in Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

• Pinkie Pie and Applejack play cards.

Cover Photo Credit: My Little Pony Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks Logo, screenshot taken from official movie trailer, all rights belong to their respective owners, used under fair use for review and commentary.