Revisiting the Grogar Twist · 10:29pm Dec 27th, 2020
Hello, guys! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas weekend! I can’t believe the year is almost over with 2021 just right around the corner. I just hope that the new year will become the year of slow but steady restoration. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼!
Anyway, I really want to get this off my chest. It’s been a full year since the MLP:FIM ended, and many people have truly missed seeing their favorite characters on screen. For me personally, I don’t miss it... at least not that much. I’ve only watched the show for about a year, so it hasn’t really emotionally struck me like it did for the hardcore fans. However, there is one particular thing I could never forget: the Grogar twist.
Now, please, hear me out. I remember being extremely angry at what they did with Grogar in the finale; I was so hyped to see him in full action in battling against the Mane Six, the creatures, and the princesses (especially Discord). I thought that I would never get over it... until now. Now that I had some time looking back at the twist, I must say... I am no longer angry. I am saying this to make my peace with it and state the pros and cons of this twist.
Most of you already know the cons of this twist: wasting away an iconic villain from G1 and making his overall “return” to the franchise completely pointless. Along with this is Discord (posing as the ram to gather Equestria’s dangerous villains to boost Twilight’s confidence); however, I really don’t care about his character development anymore. His questionable characterization in seasons 8 and 9 just made me want to distance myself from him and not speak of him again.
Back to Grogar, as I have been thinking hard about this and rewatching the twist on YouTube (I had to muster the strength to rewatch that whole scene, mind you), I can actually see why a lot of people would not be so interested in him. Because once you take a close look at “Grogar”, he was barely developed throughout the season and hardly had enough screen time to fill the “main antagonist” role. That’s one of the things I didn’t like about the episodes in which he appeared.
Still, I really like Grogar despite his lack of screen time and development. The same can be argued for the Storm King—the same reasons why many people don’t like him besides being “goofy” or some shit.
Also, there’s another thing I have to bring up. There were actually a few hints that something was up with “Grogar”. For example, the ram and Discord never share the same screen time together; I mean, doesn’t Discord sense some new magic in Equestria? Also, why would “Grogar” take so long in attacking Equestria? If he has been hiding in Equestria all this time after his defeat by Gusty, why didn’t he seek to take over Equestria when he had the chance? “Binding his time” seems like a poor excuse to me.
Also, have you ever wondered why he keeps absenting himself from his own cavern and left the Treacherous Trio to their own devices? Like, where does he go during all this?! Especially this line,
I am leaving since it’s impossible to accomplish the work I need to do here!
No, it isn’t, Discord. All you had to do was tell these idiots to shut up and stop fighting while you were working on your crystal ball. Why did you need to leave your lair? It wasn’t that hard!
I guess he had to have his quick checkup with Fluttershy or something.
When he said this other line:
You know, you just might be ready for whatever comes next, your Majesty!
That’s when you know that he was up to something. It’s like he knew that the villains were out there and that they were assembling together to get their revenge. Regardless of those hints, it would have been nice if there were more hints that indicated that Discord was Grogar like have the ram threaten the ponies like this:
“I shall destroy Twilight Sparkle and her friends! For Fluttershy, I shall take her to prison... and let her watch.”
This may not be the best example, but you get my point.
So I completely understand why Jim Miller would have the Treacherous Trio as the final villains of the series instead of Grogar. The audience have been familiar with them for a long time and become aquatinted with them (although Cozy was a new addition from season 8, at least she appeared and had her chance before the last season. Still, I hate her). Grogar was brought in too late for the final season. What they should have done was introduce him in season 7 since that was the season where there was an Easter egg of him in the “Flurry of Emotions” episode. Instead of bringing the pointless, meaningless, and boring Pillars, they should have introduced Grogar so that his reappearance in season 9 would have made more sense.
However, there is one thing I cannot understand, and I’ve said this many times before. Why bring Grogar in the final season of the show if the Trio were going to be the final villains anyway? It makes no sense to me that they hyped Grogar to be the ultimate final big baddie of the series only to flip the bird at the Grogar fans at the end. I still don’t understand that. The Grogar twist didn’t even need to exist. They could’ve just have Sombra be the one to gather the villains together and have him be the leader. Or just have Chrysalis as the final main antagonist to break out Tirek and Cozy Glow from Tartarus. That simple.
Well... look at what happened then. The controversies, the death threats, all that shenanigans. For me, I’m not angry anymore. I’m completely over it, and I can actually say that I... forgive them for what they did. It’s not as horrendous as the Mandarin twist at least.
I have two minor nitpicks though. Look at the background within the picture above where the crystal ball was. Why was it black? How come it wasn’t shining? It was glowing bright throughout the season up until Grogar’s betrayal. Once Tirek knocked it off, it’s completely gone later.
The second thing was how Grogar’s horns were wobbling whenever he moved his head. Hahahahaha, what the heck was that about?? I chuckle every time I watch that happen. They kept wobbling around like they were about to fall.
Anyway, that’s my two cents on the subject. Lastly, there’s is one significant thing I want to point out. There is actually one good thing the Grogar twist managed to accomplish: it actually inspired me to become a fanfic writer.
I’m serious. When I saw that on screen back in August 2019, I was so driven to the point where I wanted to fix that problem. I read a few stories for a while before I made an account here; I was thinking about joining the website one day, but I kept hesitating. But the Grogar twist was the final deal. I was angry at the time but also saw potential in the entire finale. Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to write stories one day. Writing is one of my favorite things to do, so it was a great opportunity to join the website on Sep. 24th 2019 and write my first story “The Union of Evil”. That story was a direct response to the Grogar twist and actually had him aware of the Trio’s plans the whole time.
If it weren’t for the Grogar twist, that story would not exist, and I would have probably never joined this site and meet all the friends I have here such as CROSSOVER KING, Darth Wrex, Chazkopa, ScorchingFlamesInc, Akula966, Dianabel, GamerDroid23, and other users.
So... thank you, Nicole Dubuc for indirectly bringing me to this site! So in a way... it’s my source of inspiration... I guess. I still like Grogar despite my current position.
Thanks for hearing me out. I really wanted to get it off my chest. I feel better now.
You’re right. As much as I dislike the twist (I’m not too bitter, I’m just still not a fan of it), it brought us all together, and brought me to create a series that, even though I wish the events happened on TV, still holds a very special place in my heart.
I guess that’s the one redeeming quality about the finale, whether it’s the Grogar twist or, for me, the trio being turned to stone.
It made me make my first story that was actually good. Although it could have happened eventually, I’m glad it was that one.
5423585
You see? The twist actually spawned plenty of fix fics and Grogar fics including mine.
I’m glad we made friends here.
5423588
Me too. What would things have been like if it went the opposite direction? Would we have been together? Would I have met any of you?
Although I would have made a successful story sooner or later, it doesn’t matter. The things of the finale that disappointed me ends up turning into a blessing where I meet and make friends, soon coming together with them to craft a story. What will the outcome be? Positive or negative feedback, it will be something I’m proud of either way, and a huge honor.
5423594
Definitely agree.
I wholeheartily agree. Although Discord is still one of my favorite characters, and I actually liked the twist revolving around him pretending to be Grogar more than the real thing coming in the mix since the very beginning. Mainly because, like you said, having the actual Grogar be the antagonist of Season 9 would have been wasteful because of how late to the party he was. That and he hardly had enough development and screentime compared to Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow.
And in all seriousness, the twist revolving around Ahuizotl in “Daring Doubt” was way worse. At least, in my opinion.
The finale sure goofted things up.
With the Grogar twist and what they did to the Royal Sisters there..
5438885
At least it led me to you guys and to this place.
5438887
Yeah.
I remember when you first messaged me when you saw me going around about how the sisters were handled badly and such.
5438894
Yep. I’m glad I met you.
5438906
Same here.