Episode Re-Review: Gauntlet of Fire · 3:27pm May 16th, 2021
So after four episodes of at best good but not groundbreaking or envelope pushing, Season 6 was in desperate need of something to give it a boost in the arm. All attention was being focused on two upcoming episodes that would involve Starlight making a new friend and Rainbow Dash finally becoming a Wonderbolt. But first, a Spike episode was in order which should've been a recipe for disaster given the overall inconsistent quality of Spike focus episodes. And this one would be done by Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco who didn't have much experience with Spike. Yet now, this is remembered as one of the stand out episodes of Season 6 and arguably its best episode. Has it deserved that reputation though? Well, let's find out.
The episode begins with Rarity taking Spike along to hunt for gems in a cave, but she's worried about waking up some sleeping bats. Suddenly, however, Spike begins to glow and he can't make it stop. Then, after the title sequence (all that was changed for Season 6 was that Starlight Glimmer was added to the group photo), we find Twilight is entertaining Princess Celestia and Princess Luna at her castle. The two mention how they're always busy having to deal with crises, which is probably meant to portray them as the heroes of another story. But it doesn't really work out when we saw them always get defeated or taken out of action whenever some big threat showed up (and even some small threats). If the show hadn't become so over reliant on doing so it probably wouldn't have been as big a deal. The first time it happened it was a shock, and even in-universe it seemed like a big deal.
Rarity then comes barging in all covered in mud (at least I assume it's mud) and puts Spike on the table. Celestia and Luna immediately identify this as the call of the dragon lord, and the only way to make it stop is to answer the call. Rarity is worried about Spike doing this considering what dragons are normally like, but Twilight initially only cares about research potential and has to be reminded that Spike's well being is important too. It kind of feels like Twilight was starting to go through a bit of flanderization here given how in "The Crystalling" she was so fixated on plans and before that she was relying on books in "The Hooffields and McColts". It's not quite as bad as what Season 8 would do to her character (Season 8 Twilight felt like she became a bad parody of herself), but it is kind of noticeable considering she has to be told to worry about Spike. Anyway, Rarity proposes reusing the disguise she created in "Dragon Quest" but Twilight opts for something more practical (and believable).
So they travel all the way out to the dragon lands with Twilight and Rarity hiding in a rock with cut out eye holes. Hey, it worked for Gromit when he used a box.
Then, it just so happens that one of the dragons called was Garble (who Spike knows by name even though Garble never identified himself in "Dragon Quest"). As for why all the dragons were called, it's because the current dragon lord, Torch, must step down and retire. But he's opting to choose a successor by tossing a special item called The Bloodstone Scepter straight into what's called a flamecano (because just a plain old volcano isn't interesting enough). Once he tosses it in there the glow on all dragons disappears. Twilight opts to write all this down, causing Rarity to sneeze. And you'd think this would give them away, but it doesn't since Rarity only faintly sneezes and Spike is able to convincingly cover for her. He also takes notice of a small dragon next to Torch, who happens to be his daughter: Princess Ember (no word on who her mother is or what happened to her). Spike initially opts to leave, convincing Torch that he's too small and puny to be of any use, and Ember backs him up. But when Garble expresses his desire to be the next dragon lord so as to pillage Equestria, Spike decides that he must participate in the titular Gauntlet of Fire anyway to stop that.
Ember also wants to participate, but Torch tells her she's too small and therefore the answer is no. But he lets Spike compete anyway even after he's surprised to see Spike come back. Then, Torch breathes fire to start the race and all the dragons fly out to the flamecano. Of course, it's not a straightforward path. Huge boulders are being tossed at the dragons to knock them out of the sky. An armor wearing dragon gets hit and falls into the water, sinking. Spike, without hesitation, dives down to rescue them.
Twilight and Rarity have somehow managed to shed their rock disguise and keep up with Spike, and Spike finds out that the armor wearing dragon is actually Ember who is competing against her father's wishes. She hopes to prove that she can in fact take care of herself and can win the competition despite her small size.
She and Spike end up covering for each other when Garble is nearby, and Spike ends up saving him when Garble gets pinned down by a rock. Of course, Garble doesn't reward such chivilrey and just keeps flying. Ember and Spike then agree to more or less team up, at least for a while. Together, they reach the flamecano and go inside, making it past a series of sharp rocks. However, upon making it through Ember dissolves the partnership since there can only be one winner. Spike begins to grumble about this to Twilight and Rarity, and in a way he's acting like Ember was his girlfriend and she just dumped him. Heck, Rarity acts like a jealous ex-girlfriend by telling Spike Ember was no good for him anyway. This isn't the last time she'll get possessive over Spike finding another female creature to hang out with either.
Spike then somehow manages to find a little crevice where the bloodstone scepter landed, right before Garble shows up and ends up discovering Rarity and Twilight. Somehow, neither of them think to fight back or even just throw up a protective barrier with their magic even though Garble is clearly intent on harming them physically. Fortunately, Ember swoops in to defend them as well as Spike while saying "Don't make me talk about feelings" in typical tsundere fashion. As a result, Spike is able to retrieve the scepter and orders Garble to back off. He then tells Garble to fly back home and give every dragon he meets a hug without saying why. It's kind of a disappointment that Spike doesn't power up or age up even just temporarily even if it would wear off upon him giving the scepter to Ember.
Since the rules specified that whoever retrieved the scepter from the flamecano would be the winner, Ember is technically made one by Spike giving her the scepter to bring back to Torch. As a result, Ember becomes the new dragon lord (although wouldn't that make her dragon lady?). Spike then heads back home with Twilight and Rarity as Twilight mentions that Ember will be a valuable new ally, able to provide knowledge on dragon lore and customs. Rarity, meanwhile, has been inspired to create a new line of camouflage called "Camomaud" based on the rock costumes she and Twilight used.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well, this episode seems to basically do right where "Dragon Quest" went wrong. It actually provides answers instead of more questions, and instead of giving us outdated and insulting stereotypes it allows us to see at least a few examples of dragons that don't follow them. This is how you do world building right. Spike is definitely in top form here, he's the perfect underdog hero to root for and it doesn't feel like others are being nerfed just to make him look better (aside from maybe Twilight and Rarity being unable to defend themselves at any point). Garble is turned into a much more enjoyable iron butt monkey here, even if he is dumbed down a little (I mean, he thought Spike was originally a pony in a dragon costume back in "Dragon Quest" so he was already not the sharpest tool in the shed, but it's amazing how easily duped he is here). Ember is a definitive highlight, even if she can be a bit Wonder Woman esque and typical rebellious teenage daughter. I do think at the least Twilight needed to care more about Spike's well being early on, and while she didn't necessarily need to be in the episode fully we at least needed some sort of explanation about Starlight's whereabouts. But those are relatively minor nitpicks for this episode, which is easily Spike's best focus episode as there is nothing that can be held against it (which even stuff like "Secret of My Excess" or "Equestria Games" could have), easily earning this episode an A+. So it looks like that high quality writing hadn't completely left the show after all.
But just as Season 6 hit a new high, along came signs of trouble beginning with the return of Trixie in "No Second Prances" which is now overshadowed by what would become of her character by the end.
Does anyone else think Spike might be the MLP equivalent of Po from the Kung Fu Panda franchise?
It could be dragon lord is a gender neutral title. For instance, I know some countries have it so their ruler is King even if they are female.
I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed that little moment of Twilight actually getting called out in some manner for not thinking about Spike's well-being for once.
I'll be honest with you.
This is one of my favorite episodes but I can't bear to watch it anymore.
It just makes me upset that Garble did all this (mocks Spike's saving him and tries to technically kill Spike and Ember and Twilight & Rarity),
and yet a future season 9 episode excuses that and redeems him because, uh, he's a slam poet?
Well if the other mane 6 didn't need an explanation for not being in the episode does Starlight?
Also I'd argue The Times They Are A Changeling is better but that's a bridge to cross when we get there.
Aw yeah.... this was the episode that easily debuted My Favorite Dragon: Princess/Dragon Lord Ember :3
What can I say though: She does have one amazing and wicked design for a dragon. X3
Right Super? :3
551991 Huh, I didn't know that.
5520051 I would say so.
Did you see the question I asked on your review of the 10th MLP comic book?
5520140
Awesome :3
So just wondering... which would you prefer for Princess/Dragon Lord Ember: With her armor on or without it on? :3
5520233 I think she looks better without the armor. The armor makes her look too much like every other dragon out there.
This is definitely the best Spike episode at the time
5520269
True.... but probably keep it just in case in she needs to attend any gatherings with the other species in Equestria, what with her being the dragon lord and all, right? :3
Not my favorite Spike episode but it's one of the better episodes that focus on him.
5521913 What is your favorite Spike episode?
5521955
My favorite Spike episodes are "Secret of My Excess" and "Inspiration Manifestation".