Dungeons and Discord first impressions · 7:44pm Aug 27th, 2016
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic first impressions
S06e17 Dungeons and Discord
by Obake
(SPOILERS!)
It's time to break out the d20s and roll initiative.
This episode is pure fun. We've had episodes focus on Spike, Big Mac, and Discord individually, but not as a group. Having three male characters as the leads is another first.
The Mane 6 take a trip to Yak Yakistan, leaving Big Mac and Spike to have a guy's night in the castle. They invite Discord, feeling bad he's alone. Unfortunately for Discord, Spike and Big Mac's ideas of fun are staying inside and playing "Ogres and Oogliettes", a take on Dungeons and Dragons.
Discord shoos the idea of playing. Unable to sway Spike and Big Mac into reveling in what he thinks is a real night out (attending outdoor restaurants, dancing, etc), and getting more fed up with their reluctance, he decides to get revenge.
He sends them into their game world as the characters they play. At first they find this alternate reality awesome, until they realize the enemies they face can cause actual harm. When Discord eventually sends them back to reality, Spike and Big Mac tell him they have had enough. They admit he was invited purely because they felt sorry for him, and demand he leaves.
The Lord of Chaos obliges, only to realize he is once again alone. Big Mac and Spike themselves are guilt ridden, and decide to give Discord another chance. They apologize and continue their game. Discord even agrees to use his magic to bring the game world back to life, only toned down so as to not be dangerous.
The more I look at this episode, the more I appreciate it. There are of course the obvious homages to Dungeons and Dragons, a game I've played for years. But the episode does more than make it a reference. The various dice, the gaming mat, and the rules manuals are very D&D (the covers of the manuals are even a take on an actual Dungeons and Dragons rules book). The fantasy setting is nothing new.
What makes “Ogres and Oogliettes” so fun is the creativity (or lack of it) in Spike and Big Mac's campaign. Their character's mission is to save Princess Schmarity from the Squid Wizard, or Squizzard (1 point for guessing who Schmarity is a representation of.) Their characters are essentially wish fulfilled versions of themselves; Spike is a powerful mage named Garbuncle, Big Mac is a unicorn knight named Sir McBiggin. Oh, and the land the characters inhabit is “Spiketopia”. Everything is so silly and obvious, yet earnest. I've played very casual campaigns, and this is what they are like. The predefined settings of the stories and rulebooks take a backseat to the players inhibitions.
Another aspect of the episode to admire is the simulated world. Most shows would make a realistic recreation of the game's setting and characters. Dungeons and Discord has fun with the concept by making the simulation a life size version of the actual game mat and pieces, complete with dice, cutout trees and rocks, and enemies that are custom crayon drawings placed in wooden stands. I especially love when a barrage of paper arrows rain down on our heroes. The arrows are of course supported on sticks.
Discord gets to play both his witty and sarcastic role, plus show his genuinely demonic side, something we have not seen from him in awhile. Though I admit a few of the Discord moments seem off, like the random basketball reference.
Questions may be asked. Why would Discord, an intellect, be so opposed to a game of strategy like “Ogres and Oogliettes”, or why are Big Mac and Spike playing? My answers: Discord was disappointed the night was not going to be about going out on the town, and was therefore adverse to anything. Big Mac and Spike use the game as wish fulfillment, and an escape from the menial tasks they are usually required to do. This is especially true for Big Mac.
Dungeons and Discord is one of the better episodes of season 6 thus far.
Extras:
*The tiny Discord announcing his entrance cracked me up. It is just so silly.
*Looking away from D&D, the episode also shares coincidental similarities with Spongebob Squarepants, of all things. From Squizzard's name being similar to Squidward's, and Discord's inability to say he's sorry (look at the SB episode Fools in April).
*The dialogue is a mixed bag, but there are some good lines. Some of my favorites include Discord mentioning fedoras, and calling out Spike for his “romantic delusions”
*Although their campaign's goal is to save Princess Schmarity, she is never actually shown. Probably a good thing. If they were to represent her with a piece of paper on a stand, Spike's romance would be creepy. If they had her as flesh and blood, it would be out of place with the rest of the setting.
*I feel like Discord's orange suit and hat while at the restaurant is a reference to something, but I can't place it. I thought perhaps Jim Carrey's The Mask, but his suit was yellow. Any ideas?
