S06E05: Gauntlet of Fire

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S06E05: Gauntlet of Fire

Postby Wayoshi (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 3:12 pm

In order to save his friends, Spike is forced to compete in a perilous Gauntlet for the title of Dragon Lord.


This thread is for discussion of the episode. This episode airs at 11:30 AM Eastern / 8:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, April 16!

Lower quality posting is OK when the episode is airing and immediate reaction after it on the day of airing. This thread will go global during that day, so let's make this the catch-all thread for this episode!

Official preview clips and images are okay to post, as is speculation about the episode.

Writers: Kristine Songco & Joanna Lewis

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x44yokz
Last edited by Wayoshi on Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 3:38 pm

The lives of the Mane Six hinge on Spike's competence. RIP Mane Six.

Relax, Spike fans! I'm just kidding! :lol:
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Postby Aramek (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 3:50 pm

Prediction: Spike wins the gauntlet, and immediately becomes a ruthless and powerful ruler, ushering in an unpredicted period of dragon prosperity and expansion, due to the organizational training he received under Twilight. No dragon before him knew how to organize, plan, or stick to lists.
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Postby Octavia (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:09 pm

I hope this isn't a rehash of Dragon Quest. I'm willing to give the writers the benefit of the doubt for now though. :squintyjack:
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Postby Sidotsy (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:13 pm

CMC episode and then a Spike episode right after? Hmmm...
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:30 pm

Octavia wrote:I hope this isn't a rehash of Dragon Quest. I'm willing to give the writers the benefit of the doubt for now though. :squintyjack:

Maybe it'll be a callback to Dragon Quest. Perhaps the dragons who thought he was nothing back then have since heard of his heroics in the Crystal Empire and want to put him up to the test again.
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Postby RudeCyrus (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:22 pm

ALL HAIL LORD SPIKE! :twonk:
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:40 pm

:smugdash: "There's this TV show I watch, it's totally badass. The main character is the most powerful magic user on the planet, she's got a friend that can break time and space. She's so badass her assistant is the Dragon Lord."
:scootawoo: "Dude, that's hardcore! What's the show called?"
:awkward: "My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic."
:scootawoo: "Didn't quite catch that."
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Postby Applepie (?) » Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:47 pm

So looking forward to a brandnew round of Spike. :yay:
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:27 am

I hope it's a literal gauntlet. With spikes on it and everything.
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Postby Angel Beat (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:51 am

The gauntlet has been Spiked. :smirk:
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:09 pm

Preview: https://www.facebook.com/mylittlepony/v ... 738304960/

Might be rehashing DQ a bit more than I expected, we'll see.
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Postby Sidotsy (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:42 pm

Wayoshi wrote:Preview: https://www.facebook.com/mylittlepony/v ... 738304960/

Might be rehashing DQ a bit more than I expected, we'll see.

All that video has told me is this is another episode with prime opportunities for more Rarity noises and more Twilight nerdisms. Also some pretty rad designs for dragons.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:49 pm

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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:20 pm

Seems like the synopsis was a bit misleading. I'm guessing that Spike was invited here, with Twilight Sparkle and Rarity (and Rainbow Dash, presumably) tagging along and getting themselves caught.
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Postby Angel Beat (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:23 pm

Oh Rarity with your noises. :3:
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Postby Ransom (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:23 pm

Sidotsy wrote:All that video has told me is this is another episode with prime opportunities for more Rarity noises and more Twilight nerdisms. Also some pretty rad designs for dragons.


Yes, I'm basically Twilight right now. I love these dragon designs! Female dragons! Glowy dragons! Giant dragons! Tiny dragons! :awesomedash: Looking forward to this.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 7:32 pm

This looks like it could be a lot of fun.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 8:47 pm

The girly dragons had eyelashes! My theory is still holding strong!
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Postby UnintelGen (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 8:57 pm

OK, this is looking pretty positive so far. (MAN, I keep meaning to post more... but.. Eh.)

Obviously this episode could go south very quickly, mind you, but I'm hopeful. I guess, in a similar manner to why I like Magic Duel is why I could potentially really like this episode. I'm not much to lament on the 'disappointments' of the show. Things happen, this or that isn't explained, too fast, etc.- But Dragon Quest is possibly the only episode that I consider to be a true disappointment. Not that I hate the episode or anything. But you had this great setup, the best setup. You established earlier in the season (SoME) that ponies don't know much about dragons. You have Spike, who is a notable anomaly. And you now have an episode where Spike wants to learn more about dragons. You've made me (The audience) curious, whereas Spike otherwise could've just been left alone and not expanded. And everyone would not of cared in the slightest. But... Then Dragon Quest quits about a third in and settles for an obvious and hacky teenage rebellion plot that is completely divorced from 'learning' about dragons. The hell, show? This was your shot, your opportunity.

Spike's rejection of his genetic culture at the end of DQ could've been a hugely inspiring moment. Now it's just an awkward and weird ending to a lackluster episode that may have some possible unfortunate implications.
("Well, one bad experience is enough to have me reject my heritage and genetic culture wholesale! Screw my possible parents out there somewhere, I'm just a pony now! Neeeeigh!" *dragon whinny*)

So now... They've got a do over. Similar premise and character setup... But now you're showing culture. Not especially distinct culture, but unique culture to dragons nonetheless. Even if the episode hits the repetitive notes of challenge #1, challenge #2, Mane 6 held hostage to raise stakes, challenge #3- You've still got a chance to learn about dragons- And explore that concept.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 9:52 pm

lady_writers have done a pretty decent job so far, so I hope they continue that tradition here. Their previous episodes were "Castle Sweet Castle," "Rarity Investigates" (which also credited McCarthy and Larson), and "The Hooffields and McColts."
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Postby VGAddict (?) » Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:33 pm

I like Spike. I guess I'm the only one.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Fri Apr 15, 2016 1:09 am

VGAddict wrote:I like Spike. I guess I'm the only one.

Where in this thread has anyone dissed Spike?

Please stop low-quality posting or you will be getting some time off.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Fri Apr 15, 2016 1:46 am

This is looking pretty good. :dearcelestia:
:speakest: The fun has been doubled!
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Fri Apr 15, 2016 11:07 pm

Oh my gosh, the designs of the new dragons. A way better improvement over the last dragons in Dragon Quest. I think visually the show is really hitting it's stride now.

I'm excited, I think this is going to be a good episode.
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Postby Sailor Yue (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:46 am

So now there's gateway on dragonsonas on top of ponysonas
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 2:08 am

Sailor Yue wrote:So now there's gateway on dragonsonas on top of ponysonas

These are rather rare in our fandom, but I've seen at least one or two since Dragon Quest. Given the state of dragons in Equestria, I think most folks who'd be interested in creating such a character (and who are particularly concerned with fitting at least a little bit into the show's canon) would rather represent themselves as a nicer creature than that.
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Postby Highbrow Dash (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 2:19 am

I liked Dragon Quest but this seems unnecessary :-I

Here's hoping for some Spike character development. His parents, even?
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 7:25 am

I'm a Spike fan, and I've got faith in Lewis and Songco. Fingers crossed for this one.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:16 am

Someone be sure to put the episode link in the OP for me, please. I'm going to be away from my computer and IRC today so I know I'll miss this one live.
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Postby Juju&Lulu (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:09 pm

UnintelGen wrote: But Dragon Quest is possibly the only episode that I consider to be a true disappointment.


Oh sweet so it's not just me. Everyone has a least favorite episode, and for me Dragon Quest makes my list of the worst simply because they squandered what could have been a really great episode and turned it into "Spike deals with Group of Bullies #213"
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:35 pm

Dragon Quest is middle of the road for me. I think bad Spike episode, I think "Spike at your Service", which, given the rewrites has an acceptable excuse for being bad.

Dragon Quest had some fun moments. I really like everything until Spike gets to the Dragon Gathering, but once there it just goes into full "meh" mode.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:46 pm

I lean towards the sentimental, so I liked scenes like "You're more than friends, you're my family" in Dragon Quest. I liked the episode overall, and I'm hoping to see Garble return even for a cameo in GoF.
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Postby Juju&Lulu (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:10 pm

See the sentimentality would have been fine if the episode made it seem genuine. Unfortunately the episode seems to claim that the only reason Spike lives with ponies is because dragons are just worse by comparison. I mean the mane 5 who went to the dragon migration rag on him for like five minutes then it's followedby a rehash of the bullies from Sonic Rainboom.

Also dones't help that most of the teen dragon's designs are just ugly (not Merriwether William's fault but still).

Pretty much the phonixes are the only cool part.
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Postby UnintelGen (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:43 pm

"None of them can win, or The World Equestria is doomed."

Geez, Spike, are we talking Dragon Lords or 2016 US President Candidates? :-P
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:44 pm

This has been a lot of fun so far.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:53 pm

It's not like I like you or anything.... baka....


Tsundere Dragon is tsundere... :gotcha:
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:59 pm

This episode was pretty bad in zooming through generic plot points, but it wasn't too bad. Didn't really rehash DQ at all which was good, besides Garble still being a dumb character.
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Postby Adelor Lyon (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:01 pm

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Postby Octavia (?) » Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:01 pm

I really like Princess Ember's design. Dragon character designs are a lot more unique than all the ponies who look pretty much identical.
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