A Moment with Pharynx · 4:55pm Sep 2nd, 2017
Warning: Spoilers from the latest episode, To Change a Changeling, abound. Proceed with caution.
Is it weird for me to say that there was never a point in this episode when I hated Pharynx? I know the other changelings disliked him for being aggressive and stubborn, but I found his plight to be very relatable and nuanced. While I'm certainly no psychoanalyst nor a military man, I could see that Pharynx's problem is more than just staying in the past and refusing to change. Follow me below the break, and I'll explain just what makes Pharynx a very deep and insightful addition to the MLP cast.
The main thing you have to remember about Pharynx is that before Chrysalis was dethroned, he was a high-ranking officer in the changeling patrol. He had a responsibility to protect the hive, and he took that responsibility very seriously. So, what happens to a man born and raised to fight wars when there are no wars left to fight? Well, that varies from person to person. Some can cope; others cannot. Pharynx, alas, clearly could not.
Note that he never once said "I hate friendship," nor did he promote any malicious ideals. He criticized the pretty foliage not because it was pretty, but because he saw it as a safety hazard. He attacked Starlight and Trixie not just for kicks, but because he saw them as a threat to the hive. And note that at the end of it all, he still stayed behind to fight the molewurf. Despite what Starlight said (and I really want to smack her for that one), he was never a lost cause. He just had trouble adjusting.
"But what about him dumping paint on the changelings to turn them back to their old design?" I hear you ask. "Why would that aesthetic matter to him if changelings can just shape shift, anyway?"
Okay, I admit that one felt like more of a jab at critics of the new changeling design, and from a storytelling perspective, it could just be him being stubborn. But look at everything else. He used Arts and Crafts time to create spears. He filled caverns with traps. He's still operating from a military mindset, even though this is a new era of peace for the changelings. Even after his metamorphosis, he's still an aggressive soldier. Any military brony is welcome to correct me on this, but I think Pharynx might have a touch of shell shock (though you might know it better as PTSD).
Of course, this is one of those rare cases where Pharynx's mentality is not inherently wrong (which is one of the things I really love about this episode). Still, perhaps someone like Commander Firebrand should have a chat with him. Or Dr. Wolf.
I haven't seen anyone say they hate Pharynx, but thanks to the episode resolved, he's one of my favorite characters.
I'm totally with you. The only spot that made me go "Oh come on" was when he dumped paint on that changeling. Everything else was a 'yeah, I can see that' moment or something that made me laugh. And the resolution of him being what appears to be part royalty and part military (basically the Shining Armor of the changelings) was a great one, in my opinion. He looks a bit more intimidating than the other changelings in the hive due to his darker color scheme, and he's also in a position that deserves (not requires, but deserves) respect. That's a great compromise for him.
I liked this episode quite a bit. And of course his "I put you in bag. I thought it went really well" line really made me laugh.
Pharynx was already hated before the episode aired? How come?
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It's not that Pharynx was hated by the fandom; I never saw evidence to that effect. I only got the vibe that we were supposed to hate him because he was shunned by the other changelings and Starlight deemed him a "lost cause."
I'm one of the few people that thought the new changeling designs were.... "Okay", you can thank White Mantis of deviantart for giving me an appreciation for the beauty of insects. But while I'm a fan of peace and freindship, the new changelings.....these guys are just WIMPS, how the heck are they going to defend themselves if Chrysalis returns? And why my initial exposure to Pharynx was a bit withdrawn, cause I knew guys like him in middle school and didn't have the whole "brother" angle to back up on, but he does have some points that would make the Changedlings better instead of what.....THAT was I just watched. If anything, it shows that it needs a balance of force, but compassion when it comes to a government. It's like the similarities between the Jedi and the Sith in Star Wars, sure the Sith are ruthless and care only about ruling others, but the Jedi are just the exact opposite where they would've become stagnant. It's a balance between being both aggressive, but compassionate, otherwise you're just a doormat or a bully.
This kind of reminds me of Krall from Star Trek: Beyond, a man who devoted his life to being a soldier, suddenly finds himself lost when the Federation is formed, and has no need for an immediate military. Eventually, his belief that conflict is how we evolve consumed him to the point of no return, ultimately, leading to his demise. It kind of made me worried that Pharynx would've gone a similar route, but I'm glad that the episode took a middle route where there is a balance between a need for peace, but a need for defense as well.
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Oh, that kind of portrayal. Yeah, when it comes to that, it's a hit or a miss. This one is a complete miss, but I don't think it's not a bad thing. I mean, after all he gets reformed at the end.