Episode Re-Review: Secret of My Excess · 6:51pm Feb 23rd, 2021
After a Rarity episode where Spike was inexplicably absent when the rest of the mane six showed up, Spike got an episode to himself once again. People had actually been joking that, up until "Sweet and Elite" Spike was the new main character owing to him appearing in even "Sisterhooves Social" when Twilight was absent completely. And there's no denying that with performances such as "Lesson Zero" under his belt Spike seemed to have become a character that the writers were beginning to understand. M. A. Larson, coming off "The Return of Harmony" and "Luna Eclipsed" penned this episode. Were all of these factors combined able to make an episode more in line with the seemingly high heights Season 2 had aspired to early on? Or was it just an indication that the early potential had dried up? Well, let's find out.
The episode begins inside the Golden Oak Library as Twilight is busy with reshelving day. She removes all the books from their current locations and sorts them back into their proper places using her magic. But she gets interrupted by Spike giggling as he reveals that he's been crafting and aging a fire ruby for his birthday dinner next week. Sometime later, Rarity drops by in the hopes of picking up a book on old fashion designs, expecting one to make a comeback. She's distracted by Spike's fire ruby and is very torn at the prospect of asking for it. Ultimately, Spike seems to sense what Rarity's feeling and gives her the fire ruby. Rarity rewards Spike with a kiss on the cheek, causing him to faint as he proclaims "I'll never wash this cheek again".
Fast forward to the day of Spike's birthday, and Twilight has gotten everything ready. Well, almost everything. Spike really meant it when he said he wasn't gonna wash that cheek Rarity kissed him on, even though it's gotten really dirty and grimy. Twilight continuously tries to pull Spike close so she can wash it, but Spike keeps running away.
When Pinkie Pie is either teleported in by Twilight or teleports in herself (it could be either one given Pinkie Pie), Twilight has the perfect opportunity to wash the cheek. And just in time too because the rest of the mane six have arrived with presents. Spike is amazed by this, not the least because he's usually only gotten one present from Twilight and it's a book. Depending on her income though, a book may be the best Twilight can really do by herself. Keep in mind that Spike said "usually", he didn't say he's never gotten more presents before. It's entirely possible he got presents from Twilight's parents growing up, at least until he was old enough to be at Twilight's side fully.
We don't know what all the gifts were, we only know that Applejack got Spike a new blanket (and he's been thanking her quite excessively). When Spike wishes the party could go on forever, Pinkie points out that it can't because he needs to go to Sugarcube Corner and pick up a special cupcake. Spike runs off to fetch it and Pinkie complains that she didn't mean the party had to end then and there. So Spike goes to Sugarcube Corner and the Cakes are waiting for him (we do only see them behind the counter so it's possible Mrs. Cake is pregnant by this point). They show off their creation, a special sapphire cupcake. Spike leaves and is fixated on the cupcake, so much so that he bumps into Cheerilee. She's unharmed, and upon learning it's Spike's birthday decides to give him a hat she just happened to have on her (she was carrying groceries, so I think this is the largest extent we ever see her when she's not being a teacher). Spike seems to realize something, he gets things from other ponies if he mentions his birthday. But when he tries to get Junebug to give him something, Twilight catches him and scolds him. Unlike in "Owl's Well That Ends Well" it makes sense, she's caught him doing something bad. She then assumes Spike has learnt his lesson and leaves him to return everything he took, but as soon as she leaves Spike goes right back to trying to take things from other ponies using his birthday as an excuse.
The next morning, Twilight wakes up to find Spike has grown considerably (I find it kind of odd she didn't check sooner, but she probably assumed he would come home at a reasonable time and didn't need to wait up for him). He also seems to be rather grabby, which really worries him and Twilight. They go to see a doctor (or more specifically a pedatrician considering the doctor says he specializes in baby ponies) who tells them there's nothing he can do since he doesn't know about baby dragons and suggests they talk to a vet. I understand he has no knowledge about dragons, but what makes him think a vet will be any help? We know there's at least one nurse, and a nurse could probably at least make an attempt at a diagnosis. Anyway, the vet is just as unhelpful (and strangely enough she's voiced by Cathy Wesluck in what was intended to be a nod to Jane Goodall, but this would be dropped when the role was recast to Nicole Oliver and the character named Dr. Fauna). So Twilight goes to see Zecora who seems to know what the problem is. I think this is just because they wrote themselves into a corner when no one knew about dragons, and Zecora was the easiest way out of it (because otherwise I don't see how Zecora would know about dragons).
Zecora reveals that Spike is going through a growth spurt that is directly tied to greed. It's a self fulfilling cycle in which the more a dragon collects the more they grow, and the more they grow the more stuff they need to collect. But this attempt at world building ends up implying that Spike can never grow big on his own or naturally. It would take until near the end of the show's run to correct this in "Molt Down". And I don't think it would've been difficult to add in a line or two indicating that what's happening to Spike is abnormal even for dragons, that most don't grow big through greed.
But because Zecora's been explaining this, Spike has slipped away (probably should've tied him down or something first). Twilight quickly catches him trying to steal Scootaloo's scooter, and thinking quickly she uses a broom to lure him back to the library. She locks him in a back room and insists she's not going to let him out no matter what, before realizing that there are books in there. She opens the door to find that her attempt to keep Spike locked up didn't work, Spike has broken free. One by one she tracks down each of her friends, starting with Applejack, then Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and finally Pinkie Pie who is fighting Spike at Sugarcube Corner (no word on where the Cakes are). Except her attempted defense only ends up allowing Spike to steal cakes and grow even bigger, destroying Sugarcube Corner's roof as Pinkie stares in disbelief (she's probably thinking "The Cakes are gonna kill me for this!"). Then Spike makes his way over to Carousel Boutique and abducts Rarity.
With Rarity as his prisoner, Spike rampages through town to a nearby mountainside as sirens blare.
The Wonderbolts are called upon to put down the threat, managing to shave off the tops of Spike's scales. However, Spike digs a hole into the side of the mountain, and then rips off a water tower (somehow not flooding Ponyville in the process) and traps the Wonderbolts using said tower. A lot of people harp on this, especially when we later see the Wonderbolts cowering before they're set free. But really, what were they supposed to do in that situation? They had no way to know Spike was going to trap them and I'm pretty sure they knew they couldn't get the tower to be removed on their own power even if they tried. Plus, we'd seen them get knocked out effortlessly by Rarity in "Sonic Rainboom" so it wasn't like this supposed incompetence hadn't been seen before (they do seem to be primarily a performance group despite their military style of command). Anyway, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy approach Spike soon afterward and try to play "Good Cop, Bad Cop" with him (though Rainbow makes a very poor choice of words when she tells Spike to "Drop her" with her meaning Rarity). But they get swatted away as Spike roars. Rarity complains about this, particularly because her new cape got ripped because of Spike, not realizing that her captor is Spike (kind of have to wonder how hard it is not to notice when the dragon has the same colors). This causes Spike to see the fire ruby and Rarity insists it's precious because it was a gift from her "Spikey-Wikey" (this is the episode that had Rarity start using that phrase). We get to a weird flashback that includes dialogue that wasn't actually in the original scene as Spike remembers the kiss. And Rarity, unaware of this, remarks "I suppose you'll be eating me, or something."
Remembering his selfless act, Spike reverts to normal as he and Rarity begin to fall out of the sky! Thinking quickly, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy manage to use the torn off part of Rarity's cape as a net. However, during the fall, Spike decides to confess his crush to Rarity who places a hoof to his mouth, indicating she already knew.
Spike and Rarity are saved, but Spike is feeling rather down due to all the destruction he caused in his greed induced rampage. Fortunately, Rarity gives him a pep talk that's able to more or less reassure him and gives him another kiss. It's a shame that this is the most we ever got in regards to development on the crush. Even when they knew the show was wrapping up they opted to just treat the whole thing as if it never existed rather than provide closure.
As Rarity shows off her new fall collection to her friends, Spike writes a letter to Princess Celestia about how it's better to give than to receive, though he reveals that he's framed Rarity's kiss anyway. But I guess eventually that too got washed away.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Especially considering Spike's previous focus episode and how bad that went, this one is pretty good. Spike is handled a lot better even while still being somewhat of a kid (his exact age is vague and we never did find out whether he's a "baby" in pony years or dragon years or what the equivalence between the two is). It's believable that Spike would've never been exposed to this kind of gift receiving before and therefore would not have run into the problem of being consumed by his greed. Twilight shows a good deal of concern for Spike and only scolds him when she catches him doing something wrong, then she gives him a chance to right the wrong he's done. The rest of the mane six do sort of feel unnecessary, Pinkie Pie and Applejack don't accomplish much narrative wise, and it seems like they could've done more with Rarity as the damsel in distress even if they were going for a King Kong reference. But the only real misstep is Zecora's exposition about what Spike is going through, and how it implies that this is the only way Spike will ever grow bigger. They also probably could've cut out the scene at the vet, Nurse Redheart or two nurses we'd be introduced to later on would've worked just as well without making the ponies' perception of Spike look bad (Spike is not a dog or a wild animal). Those are not so minor blips on the episode, ultimately giving it an A- rating. Finally, Season 2 seems to be back on track!
But it's not gonna last, because up next we have might be the most pointless episode of the entire show in "Hearth's Warming Eve". An episode where the mane six put on a play, and not much else really happens.
This episode wasn't one I was fond of at first, but it did grow on me.
Still not really in love with it, though.
Out of curiosity, why do you include so many videos of other stuff in your reviews?
This is an episode that I really only came to appreciate when I went back to review it. It's a pretty amazing Spike episode, and one of my top 10 favorites from the season. It's sweet, intense, hillarious, dramatic, and kind of a full package of a Spike episode. I'd give it an A personally as I don't think the doctors thing is a big deal.
5459922 Because I want to.
5459928
I can see that. But, don't you think it causes distractions from your analyzings?
How awesome is that the gigantic Spike abducting Rarity is a reference to both Godzilla and King Kong at the same time.
5459929 Maybe for some, but it's my style.
5460252
Understandable.
One of the better Spike episodes for sure.