As the proud owner of two Equestrian Dragon OCs... · 4:45pm Apr 16th, 2016
... I felt that I was obligated to talk about today's episode, Gauntlet of Fire 
Overall I enjoyed it in the same way I enjoyed Dragon Quest where others did not. Spoiler talk starts now folks!
The reason I liked Dragon Quest the way I did was because it expanded on what very little we knew about the dragons of Equestria. It showed us that they migrated, that they had a wide variety of different designs, and it showed us a little bit of their culture (well at least their teen's culture). It was all (in my opinion) a good highlight of Spike's character; that although he's young and wants to fit in he still has good morals thanks to his pony friends and family. I started working on A Cog in the Machine, and Cogwill, directly after this episode because it really got my mind blazing.
Gauntlet of Fire was kinda a more laid back version of the same episode. It introduced us to new elements of Dragon culture, new ways of life, and highlighted Spike's character again... but this time it wasn't as "in your face" about it. That means it didn't really have a stand out Spike moment like him protecting the Phoenix eggs, but it had a lot more smaller moments that provided the same amount of content. Maybe re-watches will change my opinion, but for now I can honestly say that I enjoyed it.
Now for some quickfire observations.
-No Starlight again this episode 
That's really too bad, and it's starting to annoy me that she was present in the premier, but now she's been regulated as a background element. They even had a good excuse to bring her in! They still have the Dragon costume that needs three ponies to use, so why not make her their third? Starlight is Spike's friend too! She would have cared enough to go with Twilight and Rarity! It would have even been a good time for Rarity and Starlight to interact some more because...
-... OMG TWILIGHT AND RARITY WERE FREAKING USELESS THIS EPISODE! At least in Dragon Quest they stood up to defend Spike from the bullies, thus leading to Rarity's epic "I'll rip you to pieces!!" line. Here they're simply cheerleaders... which OKAY I see why that is. Spike is the hero here, not them, and it's not like they're going to go and let him off on his own into the Dragon lands. It makes SENSE why they're there, but they simply come off as background filler the entire episode. If Starlight WAS there she could of at least had the "outsider looking in" conversation with Rarity, for even just a second, about what in the hell her relationship even IS with Spike nowadays. The cold opening kinda pissed me off with the return of the manipulation crap.
-Dragon Lord Scorch was cool. A bit hammy, but not too much. Wish he was the one responsible for the Grand Dragon Summoning spell instead of some enchanted staff (need me some canon Dragon Mages damn it!) but small potato in the grand scheme of things.
-Princess Ember was... Eh. Think I like Garble more for background Dragoning atm, seeing as he had some pretty funny AND villainous moments this episode that made him stand out. Ember, meanwhile, kinda zooms through her friendship arc in record time. We don't really get to enjoy her character all that much before the final act, so she doesn't leave that much of an impression. Maybe future appearances will fix that. That said though...
-... Her being Dragon Lord now could have some interesting ramifications for the future of both the show AND Equestria. Her friendship with Spike could lead to an increased appearance of Dragons actually moving into and living with the ponies. It obviously won't happen right away, true, but maybe someday... though I thought the same things would happen to the Griffons post Gilda's promotion to kinda-sorta Ambassador of Friendship last season, but meh. Future possibilities are future.
-Yup that certainly was a Luna and Celestia appearance in the beginning... Moving on.
-ONE BACKGROUND DRAGONESS HAD A TAIL SO LONG THAT HER LEGS COULDN'T REACH THE GROUND OH MY GOSH THAT'S JUST HOW I IMAGINED AWKWARD TEENAGE COGY'S BODY TO WORK OMGOMGOMG
-AHEM! Er... yes... well... I-ignoring that small fangirlgasam moment, I'd like to point out all the armor these guys wore this episode. I wonder who made those? Kinda weird for them to wear the stuff at all, but it was still kinda cool. Dragon fighting was kinda cool too, honestly.
... And with that I think I've extracted all my thoughts on an episode I only just watch literally minutes ago. What were your thoughts? Share them below before the soul crushing despair of my life claims my mind yet again! Yaaaaayyyyy!!! 
-Derply
Rarity and Twilight really were useless.
... Really they probably should have just not been following Spike. Like... say the Flamecano is too hot for them and they can't enter or something.
The other option is that Rarity and Twilight could have added to the conflict, but because they were both larger and more competent than Spike, it would've overshadowed him. I was afraid of Ember doing the same, but it never really happened.
It was a pretty good episode, though. True that we don't get to know Ember all that well.
It's times like this I hate my current geographic location.
I missed the tail dragon, but I do love the toothy one Garble hugs at the end. :D
3874367
OMG YES HE WAS SO SURPRISED BUT HAPPY AND PRECIOUS I LOVE HIM FIVE-EVER
... Though it did make me wonder where Crackle was all episode. Poor Best Derpy Dragon needs some love too
EDIT: NEVERMIND I FOUND HER!!
Logically, I think the armor is to protect their under bellies. From what I recall, that area, regardless of dragon, never looked very scaly.
3874515
Ah! Good call! I forgot about their squishy tummies.
It occurs to me that Rarity and Twilight took Spike's normal role this episode.
They were there for comic relief, to encourage the protagonist, and to have someone for the protagonist to talk to to not seem insane.
Ok I just watched it, and I also couldn't help but notice that long tailed dragon. Think I'll reopen that old Photoshop doc of Teen Coggy.
As for the armor, isn't the underbelly of a dragon the universal go to weakness? But as for where it came from, how about this- Most dragons wouldn't consider wearing armor, as covering a weakness would be admitting to all the other dragons that one exists (which is 'un-dragonly') But Ember seemed to be characterized as 'not fitting the usual mold', so when she was younger she put the time and patience into putting fire to some loose ore and started making herself some crude 'armor'. And as time wen't on she got better at it.
3874749
Ah! Good point. I don't really like the idea of belittling others in order to make Spike look important, but doing it once IS kinda justified after 6 years of it happening to him XD
Something else that came to my mind when watching this; when Spike said that only he could save Equestria by becoming Dragon Lord, that wasn't entirely true... Twilight has a spell for transforming creatures into OTHER creatures (Guess the Breezies were good for something...)! She could have turned herself and Rarity into Dragons in order to help Spike out directly! I almost immediately started noticing issues with the plan directly after thinking about it, but it was still an option at least!
3874761
Yeah it's a common weakness, and them covering it up makes A LOT of sense... I'm just more wondering about the guys covering up everything BUT the belly. The helmets and gauntlets are a bit of overkill when placed over scales XD
3874835 Maybe wearing a bunch of shiny, showy metal which leaves the wearers vulnerable area exposed and has no practical use beyond weighing them down, limiting their range of movement and vision could simply be the way dragons show all the other dragons how big and tough they are?