I know how you feel Shining Armor, and I think they really destroyed you and Cadance all together with where you are currently at, and what you had been stuck at since the season 3 premiere.

Shining is awesome dude

@Aharon L’anglais  
Outmatched, really. I can never understand why he is cadence’s husband and co-leader of the crystal empire if he could not:  
1.stand a chance against king sombra  
2.outsmart a simple changeling.
 
He maybe a family man but outside of that he’s more of a Liability than an asset.

@kurohyoneko
 
One. More. Day.

Your not Spiderman, Shining Armor. The Shining Armor I know would never sell his marriage to the devil to save the life of someone who’s life is almost over anyway.
 
Fuckin’ One More Day.

@Dawn Blast
 
I’ll never understand Spidey hate, but I draw the line at calling him an idiot. Batman bought all his gadgets, Spidey made all of his, including the dissolving web and shooters.

That’s not true, Shining! I think you’re awesome! D:

@Obsessive Rarity Fan  
Here here, ORF! Here here!

Also given the “thousand years of peace” and the fact that you hardly look middle-aged, I personally think you have no business being the head of the only visible military in Equestria. You’ve got the practical combat experience of a high-school jock at best.
 
Seriously, the hierarchies in Equestria are MESSED. UP.

@Aharon L’anglais  
If he is outmatched by the threats he faces and they kick his ass,all the time then he should leave his position for both his and Equestria’s well being.

Ah they’re probably jealous that you were lucky enough to marry a princess.

@Background Pony  
He’s competent, I didn’t say he was effective. He’s just outmatched by the threats he faces.

@Aharon L’anglais  
If by competent you mean Failbaddon theHarmless, then I agree with you

@Obsessive Rarity Fan  
Shining Armor is very competent, it’s just that he’s the only one who is and firing the idiots under him wouldn’t do any good because nopony else wants to be a royal guard.

True, but getting help from others when in a dire situation can still be considered badass. Like, the Ultra Megazord. You can’t form it without help from others. And so what if he lost against Somber, the fact that he challenged him was badass. @Background Pony

@DeathAdler  
He played second fiddle to all of these and lost his duel against Sombra.

@Background Pony  
I have to disagree. He’s never visited or checked up on his sister after a large number of life-threatening events. And he never goes out of his way to care for her.
 
This wouldn’t be so noticeable if Twilight and Spike didn’t appear to have a much stronger bond. And I don’t mean over the course of the series. You can see the contrast in the second half of “The Crystal Empire pt.2”

I like him exactly as he is so far

What’s more annoying to me is assuming that all male characters should be badass in order to be good. Nothing worse than that MANLYMcBUFF faggotry that’s plaguing fiction right now

I think Shining Armor is a great example of what a big brother should be.

You know what might help with that, Shiny? Do something badass! The closest he’s come so far is throwing Cadance so she could do something kind of badass.  
It’s not his fault, though. He was either hypnotized or was playing a support role that only he could to buy the others time. He can be helpful. Just not badass.

Isn’t it obvious that the reason the Equestrian military sucks is because Shining Armor is incompetent at his job? I am sure the only reason he even got the post at his young age as well is because his parents are obviously loaded nobleponies with the connections necessary to get their son a commission and major position of authority; that and having a princess for a marefriend. Whenever somebody receives power through favoritism rather than merit, you can expect a dismal performance.

Shining Armor isn’t actually a fodder pony, the Equestrian army sucks for the same exact reason that most armies in cartoons and video games suck, they’re all fodder

Don’t be silly SA. You aren’t as useless or a idiot as Peter Parker.