Ranking the Spike Episodes (From Worst to Best), Version 2 · 5:17pm Oct 6th, 2019
It's amazing how much can change in the span of a season for a character. Season 9 has undisupitably been Spike's best season, the little guy has been on a role with almost nothing to slow him down (though for whatever reason he was not included in "Rainbow Roadtrip" even though it's the salvaged sequel to the movie where Spike was a character). Ultimately, he got four more focus episodes this season, which bumps his total up to 20, still the least amount of focus episodes out of any mane seven member (but for mane eight Starlight Glimmer has the fewest). But quantity doesn't always mean quality as we've seen with many of these lists. But what exactly changed? So far only Starlight has had a new best episode (and Trixie a new worst episode), so what about Spike? Well, let's find out. Here's the first version, from February.
20. Dragon Quest (Season 2, Episode 21)
Why it stayed on the bottom: The unholy trilogy of Spike episodes that everyone points to when they think of bad Spike episodes, and it still stings. If there's one thing I'm going to be disappointed by with the show ending, it's that we never got any follow-up to Spike's egg or how it ended up in Equestria. This is one of only two episodes that bothered to tease us with that possible plot point, and that was all it was a tease. What we got instead here was a bunch of annoying teenage boy stereotypes that are so insulting. And our so called heroes look like a-holes when they make fun of Spike for wearing an apron and not being like other dragons.
19. Father Knows Beast (Season 8, Episode 24)
Why it stayed just above the bottom: Even if Season 9 takes the cake for the season of rehashes, it's not like we hadn't gotten them before. This episode was the rehash of "Dragon Quest" that nobody wanted. Just like "Dragon Quest" it tries to fool you into thinking it's going to tell us more about Spike's origins or finally ellaborate on his family situation, but nope they just go for the stock "Spike's an idiot and his stupidity infects everyone around him" cliche. Not even working Smolder into the episode can make up for how insulting this episode is. Oh well, at least the IDW comics have a chance to hopefully explore Spike's origins (though given their recent run in the main series I'm not getting my hopes up).
18. Spike at Your Service (Season 3, Episode 9)
Why it stayed in the bottom three: We probably will never know what changed when this episode was transformed from a Rarity episode into an Applejack episode, and whether Spike serving Rarity would make what he does in this episode believable or not (maybe with the justification that he was distracted by his crush it wouldn't have been as much of a leap of logic?). There is still the matter of the ass pull that is the "Noble Dragon Code" and the episode just picks and chooses when it wants to apply that code. Not to mention how Twilight completely ignores Spike here even though by this point she knows how much she means to him, yet Applejack nudging an ink well slightly out of place is what gets Twilight to notice. A prime example of sacrificing character for the sake of humor.
17. Owl's Well That Ends Well (Season 1, Episode 24)
Why it stayed above the bottom three: The unholy Spike trilogy is rounded here with an episode all about the gary stu himself: Owliscious and the flat "Whoo" joke that gets old very fast! This episode dropping the ball so hard is what probably lead many to assume that Spike was being abused, and what tainted so many of his interactions with Twilight until recently. Perhaps all of this would've been okay if it had been from Twilight's perspective, but Spike's perspective just destroys the story because we know it's an accident and we know that he's only doing what he's doing because he fears he'll be replaced. A fear that Twilight could talk him out of if she just pulled him aside for a talk.
16. Princess Spike (Season 5, Episode 10)
Why it stayed in the bottom five: For better or for worse is that was a low that Spike never really sank to again. Aside from "Father Knows Beast" even the worst of his focus episodes never treated him as badly as this episode did, mostly because in those cases it at least felt like something he had caused either directly or indirectly. Here though, Spike is unfairly blamed and punished for the good deeds he did in Twilight's name earlier in the episode that backfired, but the actual selfish acts he was doing later on get ignored flat out. And let's not forget that if not for Cadence Spike never would've even gotten the idea to abuse his connection to Twilight in the first place. Heck, if Cadence had trusted royal guards and passed word along to the delegates, Spike never would've been in a position to cause what happens here.
15. Sweet and Smoky (Season 9, Episode 9)
Why it's so low: While it's not a direct rehash of "Dragon Quest" it still ticks off a lot of the boxes for it, even down to bringing back Garble and having Spike be bullied for no good reason. Poor Spike tries this entire episode to befriend Garble because he's Smolder's sister, and Garble flat out rejects every single one of Spike's olive branches and keeps bullying him. If I were Spike I wouldn't have bothered to befriend Garble after all he did, I would've told Smolder that her brother isn't who she remembers him being and that I can't pretend to get along with someone who's never shown an ounce of kindness to anyone else. Heck, Spike should've been the one to tell off Garble, not Fluttershy. And it really shouldn't have taken Spike to figure out that the nesting grounds were cold because of a lack of lava, that's really something that should've been picked up on much sooner.
14. Just for Sidekicks (Season 3, Episode 11)
Why it moved down: I still hate how this episode stuck Spike with the label of sidekick, because he really doesn't deserve that label at all. Even though he hasn't been focused on as much compared to the mane six there's no denying that he's a key character with his own thoughts and feelings. He's not just there to be focused on whenever the mane six are away. He's sort of like Dick Grayson (the first Robin) when he becomes Nightwing and leaves to form the Teen Titans, he's his own character with his own ambitions as opposed to living in the shadow of someone else. And the episode is spent tormenting Spike for the flimsiest of reasons, because we see him care about the pets multiple times, but everyone seems out to pick on him (even Zecora for no real reason).
13. Triple Threat (Season 7, Episode 15)
Why it moved down: Predictable is probably the best way to describe this episode. It's true that Spike caused the problem here, indirectly, and his concerns are treated seriously instead of being played for laughs. But by the time the map calls Spike it becomes obvious to everyone but us what the problem is, yet the episode wants to waste time on Spike trying to find some "other" problem to solve and it's not like when Applejack has a valid reason to believe the Flim Flam Brothers aren't the problem in Las Pegasus. Even then, Spike isn't the one who solves the problem, Ember and Thorax work things out on their own after being mad with Spike for assuming they couldn't handle things (though given Ember's reaction I think Spike was right to worry she might be too easily offended).
12. Power Ponies (Season 4, Episode 6)
Why it moved down: This episode just hits you over the head with how Spike is feeling, left out and ignored. And when they try to show how he's not useless, the way they present the moral makes it look like he's only helpful if the mane six are nerfed or incapictated at all. Even the Silver Age of comics that this episode is trying to be a love letter to weren't this insulting with their degrading of characters (Robin was almost always by Batman's side and contributing to the victory, as was Alfred). And when we learn about the enchanted comic, it ends up destroying the intended moral because that means Spike caused the problem in the first place.
11. The Break Up Break Down (Season 8, Episode 10)
Why it moved down: Spike does have a few moments to shine here, but for the most part he doesn't do anything all episode (even Discord seems to have more of a purpose and he's just there to be a cynic and to make the situation worse because he's a jerk). There's also his bet with Discord that goes absolutely nowhere after its initial mention, not even at the end of the episode when Discord admits to having learned a thing about love. And child or not, Spike would be smart enough not to say "If she can't find you she can't break up with you." because that's not how it works at all.
10. The Times They Are A Changeling (Season 6, Episode 17 in production order/16 in airdate)
Why it moved down: Spike's only solo song, and it comes at the worst possible narrative moment. It's used as a quick montage, a speech. A speech that is supposed to convince the ponies not to hurt Thorax and that they're misguided in their suspicions of him. On top of that, Spike never really has to put his reputation on the line to defend Thorax, not even after he initially turns on Thorax to preserve said reputation. And prior to that the episode has mostly wasted its time on montages and Spike goofing off when it could've at least tried to paint him in a somewhat more competent light.
9. Dragon Dropped (Season 9, Episode 19)
Why it's in the top ten: It's a decent Spike outing, even if Rarity ends up taking the center stage for most of it. Spike and Gabby's friendship (and romance despite what they try to say in the episode) is believable because they take the time to explain what they have in common. However, in addition to playing GabbyxSpike plantonically even though it's supposed to be the final addressing of Sparity, there's the detail of Spike completely ignoring Rarity and flying off in the middle of her speeches. Even if Spike has moved on from his crush Rarity is still his friend, he at least owes it to her to acknowledge her presence instead of blowing her off and not explaining himself. Still, he does well when the focus is on him, although there's a bit of a contradiction when Twilight says she's never seen him so upset even though she most certainly has.
8. Sparkle's Seven (Season 9, Episode 4)
Why it's not higher: This really only becomes a Spike episode towards the end when he reveals how he sabotaged Twilight's plan in collaboration with Princess Luna. The development is nice, as is seeing his relationship with Twilight finally get explained and addressed (I still personally lean towards it as a motherxson bond but siblings works just as well). This is when Season 9 truly opened the doors for Spike, and since then he's never looked back.
7. Secret of My Excess (Season 2, Episode 10)
Why it moved down: Mostly it's moving down because another episode has yet to be added and room has to be made. But there is a bit of "unfortunate implications" going on here when Spike starts growing. Namely when Twilight pays a visit to Zecora, Zecora's statements make it sound like dragons can only grow if they start practicing greed, meaning that unless Spike does so he's destined to forever remain small. There's also the fact that after this episode they never really again addressed Sparity until "Dragon Dropped", heck Season 4 seemed to treat the whole thing like it didn't exist, and then Season 5 through 8 would only occasionally bring it up again with the joke that everyone knows about it. Still, this remained one of the earliest examples of a good Spike episode, one where for once the ponies aren't jerks or as stupid as he is (heck, Spike himself is actually written well for a change).
6. Inspiration Manifestation (Season 4, Episode 23)
Why it moved outside the top five: Remember what I said about Season friendzoning Spike and Rarity all the time with their relationship? Well this episode is a prime example of it, they keep saying "Friend" over and over again as if they're afraid that if they don't people might think they're in a relationship and I don't know why. They teased us with so many other ships, why did Sparity suddenly become taboo? Once you look past that and the contrived set-up (and clunky ending that confuses the moral) this episode does manage to pick up steam and make Spike look good. I still can't stretch my suspension of disbelief that him swallowing an enchanted spell book whole resulted in no effects on him, now if he were to say flame breath it to ashes that would be another thing (it feels like they were originally going for that ending, Spike destroying the book. Then they changed their mind last minute to "Rarity doesn't need the book, she just needs to be told no.").
5. The Big Mac Question (Season 9, Episode 23)
Why it's in the top five: Aside from the part where Spike decided to use his flame breath to put the messages into the desserts (it's like he forgot how messages usually get sent or arrive with him) he does a pretty good job of being a wing man for Big Macintosh here. And this time he and Discord actually interact and have some kind of arc or rivalry (each wanting to prove they're better) even if it's an informal one. Out of the bunch though, he was the one who screwed up the least (Discord's screw up was pretty big, the CMC's screw up was perhaps only slightly less worse than when they gave Big Mac bad advice, and Mrs. Cake really should've known better than to try and take on all the baking by herself even if it was for her baking apprentice). Wonder if he served as best dragon for this wedding like he did for Shining Armor and Cadence's wedding?
4. Dungeons and Discords (Season 6, Episode 18 in production order/17 in airdate)
Why it stayed the same: From here on out the list is the same as it was before so you can skip to the end if you saw the first one. As great as Spike is in this episode though, at some point he kinds of lays on the humiliation and mocking of Discord a little too thick (yes, Discord was being a self centered jerk and not paying attention to the rules of the game, but teasing him repeatedly for it was only making a bad situation worse). Still, this episode showed how he was fantastic at playing off of reformed antagonists like Discord and Starlight (kind of a shame we never got a proper SpikexStarlight episode, might have liked to see one of them trying to bond while Twilight is away).
3. Molt Down (Season 8, Episode 11)
Why it stayed the same: Spike getting wings was a nice touch to signify him growing up, even if I wish they had also aged up his model (make him the same size as Smolder, Ember, and Garble and lower the pitch of the voice just a little). Some of the humor is nice, but at times stuff like Spike's lack of volume control and Rarity being deaf get old very fast (and in Rarity's case she really didn't need to be in the episode, Spike would've been motivated just to save Zecora from the roc). They focus on Spike's worries long enough for us to find them relateable and sympathetic, and him getting wings does come with some fanfare even if he masters them pretty quickly (likely he's operating on pure adrenaline and isn't stopping to think about how he can do it).
2. Equestria Games (Season 4, Episode 24)
Why it stayed the same: If not for the fact that this episode didn't start out as a Spike episode and was also trying to tie up the Equestria Games arc in a more or less neat bow, this episode probably would be able to make a strong run for the top spot. As it is, when the focus shifts to Spike and his stage fright comes on it feels very sudden. And the improvised scene of Spike singing the Cloudsdale Anthem didn't need to be there, they could've easily just had Spike realize his mistake and apologize. He'd be just as ashamed for doing that as he was when he was trying (and failing) to sing a song he didn't know. Plus, the revelation that Spike is a big hero in the Crystal Empire makes his exclusion from "Games Ponies Play" all the more jarring. Still, once all of that is out of the way, Spike's struggle becomes really relateable and sympathetic, especially since this could've easily been another "Too scared to tell the truth" episode.
1. Gauntlet of Fire (Season 6, Episode 5)
Why it stayed on the top: Very rarely does an episode do everything right for the character of focus, even in the best of episodes focused on said character you feel like they could do more or be written just a bit better. But there is nothing that needed to be changed for Spike's character here, he steps up to participate in a dangerous competition even though he's disadvantaged, not because he wants personal glory but because he wants to make sure Equestria is protected from a dangerous dragon lord. He actually gets an achievement that isn't erased or forgotten about, and even gets an opportunity to put Garble in his place. All the while he's still his humble, heroic self, and is even willing to help a dragon he's never met before rather than let her drown. So for all those reasons, this episode remains Spike's best outing, one that simply couldn't be topped.
And there you have it, come back tomorrow when we'll rank the Big Macintosh episodes (I never did a list of his episodes before).
My ranking: