)The changelings, they are a Bob Dylan reference · 11:04pm Aug 20th, 2016
So... seeing as how I created an account on Fimfiction because I wanted to post a changeling fic, I thought I should post my thoughts on their return in the latest episode.
So without further ado...
I want to start by saying that despite my best efforts, my hype for this episode was real. I was anxiously counting down the days until the episode aired for Celestia's sake!
Though I also had a fair share of fears about what would be considered canon after this episode, or that they might do something that undermines the changelings as an interesting species.
Thankfully, I found I had nothing to fear, as the MLP writing staff did a terrific job at keeping the info on changelings vague, allowing the fandom to voraciously dig into the bits we did learn from this episode; I'm looking forward to seeing the fan theories and new stories that are sure to come out after this. But onto the actual episode...
We open with Starlight, Twilight and Spike heading to the Crystal empire via the Exposition Express, though this time there's very little reason for them to actually go to the Crystal Empire; this time it's just a plain ol' family visit.
Spike tries to go incognito in comical fashion (literally) to avoid being swarmed by his rabid admirers, though much to their surprise, the whole city seems deserted. That is until Spike pulls off his disguise, and a flash-mob clamors around him to bask in his presence.
This is where we get the first hint that there might be a changeling about (aside from the episode title), as we hear the crystal ponies whispering among themselves that Spike and the others might not be who they say they are.
With naught but one panicked yell of "Everypony run!" the whole crowd flees in terror at the mere thought that a changeling might be in their midst.
This for me was one of the more comical, and the most telling scenes, as it showed the fear and paranoia the ponies faced at the prospect of dealing with even a single changeling.
Later on even, we see how unprepared they are for even finding out who's who. When Twilight and co. meet up with Cadence, Shining, Sunburst and a host of guardponies, whom are demanding proof of identification, I was expecting some kind of ID spell or a special ID gem to get whipped out and used. It had happened all so often in the fanfics I've read, and it only seemed natural they'd have something like that lying around.
Instead we get a quick "sunshine sunshine" dance and everypony's convinced.
As far as security measures go,
But moving on, we see Spike taking charge of a squad of guards while they search some snowy area for the changeling. And... Spike has them split up. Apparently he's been taking his monster-finding lessons from Freddy.
But as luck would have it, Spike stumbles on the cave the changeling was hiding in, and the two partake in a genuinely funny "mirror act" moment. Afterwards the changeling saves Spike from a bottomless pit and introduces himself as Thorax, a poor hungry bug that never wanted to hurt anyone and has only ever wanted a friend.
Now, even though the Reluctant Monster this is almost the OG changeling trope here on Fimfiction, I had no problem with it whatsoever. I actually really like Thorax as a character, especially when he makes that snarly-face and flicks his tongue. I really like his tongue.
I just wish he had a better voice.
Hold your jeers! I didn't say I hate his voice, I just like the more demonic sounding, echo-voice better. Hearing Queen Chrysalis speak is like a soothing massage inside my ears. Ahhh-ha... yeah baby. Tell me your evil plans some more.
So Spike decides that Thorax is nice, and deserves a chance to have a friend. But when he asks the crystal ponies opinions on the matter, they can't stop thinking he's joking around with them, and that the very idea is inconceivable. Shining Armor even reminds him of what Chrysalis and her swarm did, saying there is no such thing as a "good changeling".
It's a closed-minded approach, but hardly unreasonable all things considers. All they know about changelings is that they're evil and use trickery as their primary means of conquest; any changeling claiming to be a friend could easily be lying. In fact, even we the viewers haven't been assured otherwise.
Spike returns to Thorax, sadly telling him of his failure to convince anypony. Thorax is disheartened, but understands, saying nopony would want to be friends with someone that looked like him.
But Spike has a brilliant idea: have Thorax assume a pony form for everypony to make friends with. (How he wasn't already doing that and just kicking back in the empire, slurping down love from unsuspecting ponies, I'll never understand.)
With Spike showing him around, everything is going well. Any friend of Spike is a friend to everyone in the empire, and under his disguise, Thorax is gaining new friends by the dozen.
But things go south when Thorax is shown Flurry Heart. The amount of love surrounding her causes him to lash out, dropping his disguise and barely containing himself. Surrounded by fearful, angry ponies, and with Spike to scared to stick up for him, Thorax flees with the guards hot on his tail.
Now... if you're thinking the guards catch Thorax and are about to drag him off and do something nasty to him, you'd be wrong.
Yeah. Thorax actually makes a clean getaway, all the way back to his frozen hideout outside the city.
Come on Guardponies. You had ONE JOB!
So Spike goes back to apologize, and after Thorax reluctantly saves him from falling into the same bottomless pit, Spike asks him to return with him so he can do what he should have in the first place, and show the ponies he's not a threat.
When they return, they find the castle in a state of panic, with guards practically tearing the place apart. Spike enters side by side with Thorax to a greeting of incredulous and angry stares from his family. The stage is set for a rousing speech that maybe... just maybe opens everypony's minds to the possibility of trusting a changeling and becoming friends with their enemies.
But there was only two minutes left in the episode, so instead we got a quick song and a conclusion so rushed even Sonic the Hedgehog would say, "Whoa, slow down there bud! Gotta go moderate speed!"
And that is what I think my biggest problem with this episode is: lack of time. 23 minutes just isn't enough to get the full depth of a story like this. I think if this had been broken into a two-parter they could have done it justice. But as it is, it just feels like it's going by way too fast. Still, within the restraints they had to work with, they did pretty dang good.
...
So what do I like about this episode?
Aside from how it brought back the changelings while maintaining the obscurity of how their species works, the genuinely funny moments with Spike, that awesome animation with Thorax's tongue, and the fact that we're going to be getting so many SpikeXThorax crack-ship fics?
Two words...
Changeling grubs.
They're SO ADORABLE! Just try and tell me with a straight face that you wouldn't have one as a pet!
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Anyway. That's my rambling for the day. But let me know what you thought of the episode in the comments.
Until I get off my butt and actually post a new chapter, this is Erised the Ink-moth, signing out.
yeah a two parter of three would of worked better
Same! Ugh, what I wouldn't give to have changelings all have some variation of Chrysalis' soothing yet sinister tones. Instead we got a voice that sounds like if someone where to take some random office working schmuck (let's just say Ted from accounting, point being it could be any average goob) and gave it to Thorax.