AJ's parents

Notice how no one asks about them nor does anyone mention it. Is this just the writers trying to avoid the topic of death?

@Background Pony  
Maybe no one want’s to bring up Applejacks bad times?

Ummmm they are dead. Why even talk about them?

@Background Pony  
The writers have stated more than once that they can’t acknowledge that they are dead and that they have no other explanation to why they are gone.  
So basically yes, mentioning AJ’s parents will lead them to having to ultimately make a saying as to why they are not with the apples in sweet apple acres. And the theory that they are dead is the most popular one with both the bronies and, apparently, the show staff.

They pretty much did all that they could in Apple Family Reunion to imply that they were dead.

@Background Pony  

 
This scene from Apply Family Reunion implied their death, which has been confirmed by one of the show’s crew.
 
As for why not stating it explicitly, blame the rating.

Am I the only one who thinks this makes Applejack less interesting?

@Whatevs  
Do you mind sharing your view? I’m curious.

The weird thing is, there aren’t any pictures of them around the house, and if they were in one of the Barn photos is “Apple Family Reunion” I missed it.
 
Maybe this means they’re not just dead, they’re blacklisted. A pone non gratia if you will.

Whatevs talked about this making AJ less interesting, and I’d be inclined to agree. Her parents are dead, and that only makes her want to live up to their legacy, which she’s clearly happy doing. She’s really got nowhere to go. She’s got everything she needs, she’s a simple pony with not many needs.
 
That’s good for the character, but it makes it hard to tell stories about her.

@Grieffon  
Well it basically implies that her family first attitude is merely a reaction to her lost parents.  
And the fact that dead parents is kind of unoriginal and a weak kneed way of giving her depth.  
What makes a character deep is complex motivations and emotions, and slapping on dead parents cheapens that imo

@Itsthinking  
I disagree, maintaining and protecting something you own can be more difficult and complex then gaining something in the first place. There are many stories that can be told with applejack and her family centering about the difficulties that they must overcomes in order to maintain what they have and who they are. The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, Applebuck Season and in its way apple family reunion are great examples for this. In all this episodes applejack faces some sort of conflict either internal or external that comes from struggling to live the way she live and avoiding losing the farm.

@ender1200  
Of those three episodes you mentioned, they all deal with her either realizing that she can’t do everything alone or that her family will always love her. I want to see the parts of AJ’s character that aren’t colored by her family and don’t deal with her being stubborn. Is her dream truly to just keep the farm the way it was and run it like her parents did? Does she have her own hopes and dreams that may conflict with what she believes her family wants/would have wanted her to do?
 
Or is she completely complacent and fine with life as it is? If that’s the case, what can she do at the top of the proverbial development tower? I’d say maybe help others reach their true potential and live up to her element by keeping others grounded in reality would be a good role for her.
 
But even then, she’s not going to do anything that’s exactly going to surprise anyone. Plus, being the “dreamcrusher” wouldn’t exactly make the negative parts of her character much more endearing.
 
AJ is mostly admirable, but not exactly the most exciting.

@Itsthinking  
Her admirable qualities come from the fact that nothing is done with her outside of those spheres.

@Trickquestion  
There is an American Gothic takeoff in their house that features two farmer ponies, one blue and one pink. There’s no proof it’s of her parents, obviously, but there’s nothing to stop you from thinking it is if you want it to be.

It’d be cool if they did talk about death. Honestly, it’s important to know the concept of death, otherwise you can’t value life.
 
I mean, when a kid kills an animal, they usually don’t get sad nor do they get upset, simply because they don’t know just how permanent death is.

@Whatevs  

 
+1
 
Yeah, when you put it that way, it does (for lack of a better word) simplify her character.

See, no one really sees how predictable AJ’s character is compared to her friends. Applefans often confuse stubbornness and a one track mind for deep development.

@Itsthinking
 
Because to them, it is deep development. You can talk ‘til you’re blue in the face, but neither side is gonna see what the other does.
 
Anyway, if the writers don’t even know, believe what you want to believe.
 
I personally have no opinion on the matter. I’d like to think that there’s some reason for their disappearance, but I can’t come up with anything better,