Episode Review: Keep calm and Flutter on

We start off in a relatively calm moment in Ponyville four out of the six mane six and Spike are awaiting Princess Celestia who’s brining a special guest with her, the gang is excited at the prospect of meeting Celestia’s guest until the princess arrives with her “guest” in tow:

Even Twilight who’s shown to be respectful and abiding to the princess instructions in the past challenges her mentors choice to bring the spirit of chaos to Ponyville. Celestia explains that she believes Discord’s power can have use if reformed to serve good instead of evil. The princess adds that she’s well aware of the chaos Discord caused last time he was free but she has faith that the mane six (one in particular) will know best how to reform Discord. However as a safety precaution she leaves the ponies with the elements of harmony which she has cast a spell on so Discord can’t make them disappear again. Meanwhile Fluttershy is helping Applejack with an angry and apparently potty mouthed beaver and successfully convinces them both to meet half way (convincing the beaver to take down his dam which is water logging the farm and convincing AJ to apologize for her unkind words). With the problem out of the way the two join the rest of the gang and are equally shocked at the Princess assignment to reform Discord. Fluttershy is also surprised that the princess believes that she is the one that will know best how to reform the mischievous spirit. The princess leaves to attend to business and the reluctant ponies release Discord from his stone prison. Free from his prison Discord begins to turn creatures into chaotic monsters, he also reveals that he has conciseness while in statue form and is well aware of the ponies plan to “reform” him and he finds it…

Amusing, to put it in his own words “you ponies actually think you can reform me and you’re putting your faith in this one here (Fluttershy) to make it happen, it just makes me wanna pinch your little horsey cheeks.” Discord believes that the ponies wont dare return him to stone and risk disappointing Celestia but when Twilight points out (after a few threats and the “stare” from the others) that if they had to return Discord to stone they could convince Celestia it was for a good reason. At this point Discord returns the two creatures he’s… chaoticized and returns them to their usual selves but “accidently” turns a few beavers far away into possessed like animals. Discord then announces he’ll be crashing with Fluttershy while he’s being “reformed” much to the ponies worry. Despite knowing that she’s hosting the spirit of chaos Fluttershy choses to be a gracious host to Discord he main bunny Angel however is as suspicious as the rest of the Mane Six of Discord and shows immediately that he hates his new housemate. Following a few accusations from the ponies, a few attempts at manipulation by Discord, and a broken and “repaired” lamp the rest of the mane six leave Fluttershy to go through with her plan to “befriend” Discord though Twilight warns him to watch his step at which point Discord goes into his innocent act.

“What, I’m practically reformed already.” The other ponies are skeptical of Fluttershy’s plan to befriend one of their worst enemies and decide to come up with a “back up plan” and Twilight believes he knows the trick. Later on Fluttershy finds Discord eating… Paper? Fluttershy is a little suspicious of this odd behavior but shrugs it off and heads out of the house. With Fluttershy gone Discord decides to…

Play with Angel whom he brags to about playing Fluttershy for a fool while continuing his paper feast. Meanwhile Twilight is going through her books looking for a reforming spell only to find the pages absent from her books and points out that while the elements are protected from Discord by Celestia’s magic other things such as her books are not. Back to Fluttershy’s cottage Discord begins to make himself at home…

Fluttershy and Discord have a conversation where he once again attempts to manipulate her only of it to fail again. Following a call Fluttershy (dizzy Angel in tow) flies from her house. Twilight comes to the quick conclusion that Fluttershy’s plan isn’t working but Fluttershy insists that they’re making great progress despite the fact that her cottage is spinning out of control (literally) she insists that she’s gaining Discords trust by giving him a little space to be himself. Spike tell Fluttershy that Discord has been using that “space to be himself” to tear out all the reforming spells in the library. Fluttershy admits that while “that does explain the paper eating” they don’t need a spell as Discord was already considering being reformed as he had told Fluttershy. The Pegasus then invites Twilight and the others to a dinner party with Discord to which the ponies reluctantly agree to.

The dinner party starts off well enough though it has a bit of Discord magic to it; a Dr. Seuss like house, a dog like gravy bowl, dancing candles, and a squirting fish shaped soup terrene. Following a few “accidents” on the part of Discord’s table ware accusations start to fly around and when out on the spot Fluttershy states that while Discord is far from perfect the others aren’t even giving him a chance. When asked why she’s giving Discord so much slack Fluttershy give a simple answer “because that’s what friends do…”

This physically touches Discord who states that “I’ve never really had a friend before” at that moment Angel comes into the room and tell the mane six in a “lassie” sort of way that there was flooding at Sweet Apple Acres! Arriving at Sweet Apple the gang finds that the Discorded beavers have built their dams much bigger and indeed many of the trees have their trucks completely under the water. After failing to reason with the beavers and the ponies accusing Discord Fluttershy tells them that she’s fully aware that Discord is to blame. Fluttershy confronts the spirit of chaos and asks him to pick up after his reckless behavior, Discord agrees to do so under one condition “that you (Fluttershy) never use your element of harmony against me, as a symbol of our friendship” the rest of the gang strongly advise against the deal but Fluttershy agrees and with a snap Discord stops the flooding…

Kind of… Fluttershy confronts Discord and the others decide “he fixes this or he goes back to stone!” However Fluttershy choses to keep her word much to her friends shock. Discord begins to brag that he’s won by taking advantage of Fluttershy and by doing so he’s assured himself freedom. Fluttershy states that she is not Discord’s friend. To quote Discords response “Who cares, I can do whatever I want whenever I want, I’m Discord the master of chaos, you think you can boss Discord around, you think I’m just going to change this all back because you say so, because if I don’t I’ll lose the only friend I’ve ever had…”

And this is where Discord has a realization that he actually does value Fluttershy as a friend and doesn’t want to lose her friendship. Ashamed and tears welling up Discord reverses all the damage he’s done in a burst of light restoring the farm to its normal state and freeing the beavers of his spell. The game cheers for Fluttershy and Discord admits that while he like it better his way he knows he can’t always have it his way when you have friends. At another get together with Celestia Discord tell her he’s ready to use his magic for good instead of evil “most of the time.” Celestia congratulates the ponies on their success but, knowing she’s dealing with the entity of chaos she leaves the elements with them. The episode concludes with Fluttershy stating that Discord “can be a real sweetheart once you get to know him” and the others looking doubtful.

Thoughts on:

The episode: When I first found out there was going to be an episode where Discord reforms I was as shocked as any fan. However when I read the online description “the ponies are asked to work with Discord but Fluttershy is the only one to give the mischievous spirit a chance” my opinion shifted slightly, while I was still doubtful Discord could be rehabilitated I knew if any pony could it would be Fluttershy. Then I saw the episode and as I watched I began to wonder between Fluttershy and Discord exactly who was manipulating whom. While many fans were at first disgusted by the idea of reforming Discord and I’m sure a few still are one has to admit that this episode was the way to do it.

The ponies (minus Fluttershy): I have to say I’m slightly disappointed in the rest of the mane six. Yes I know that they have their reasons to hate Discord and yes I know they do what they believe is best but their “reforming” methods are in some sense (and in my opinion) merely a way of revenge. Now while it was a needed step to have the elements on hand the gang treated them as more of a threat then a precaution, to me using the elements to force Discord to behave is no different a method than his taking them to force the ponies to play his game. I also find it ironic that Twilight would use a reforming spell on Discord, why? In his first appearance Discord used his powers of manipulation and “grey touch” to force the gang to act like their opposite selves and really a reforming spell is no different it’s using your power to force someone to act the way you want and if one isn’t careful with such power pretty soon you’re this guy…


That being said I do believe that deep down they have faith in Discord otherwise they’d have never released him from his stone prison.

Fluttershy: Never have I been prouder to have scored Fluttershy on a pony personality test. Fluttershy has just as much reason to hate Discord as the others but choses to give the spirit the benefit of the doubt, allow him a chance to be good. I also believe that Fluttershy was fully aware of Discord’s “accidents” as being anything but however she chose to overlook the minor incidents, as they say Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Over all the episode is one of my favorites of all time and earns a big A+!