S06E17: The Times They Are A Changeling

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S06E17: The Times They Are A Changeling

Postby Wayoshi (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:54 pm

When Spike travels with Twilight and Sunburst back to the Crystal Empire to visit Flurry Heart, they discover the entire empire in a panic due to the reported presence of Changeling spy.


This thread is for discussion of the episode. This episode airs at 11:30 AM Eastern / 8:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, August 20!

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

Writers: Chris Wyatt and Kevin Burke (debut) (source)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4pk6ak
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:00 pm

Still with the pranking, Rainbow Dash. :v:
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Postby Aramek (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:11 pm

I'm at defcon 2 levels of hype.
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:22 pm

I really hope the Changeling's making friends with Spike is the real deal and not a ruse ordered by Chrissy. I'd be disappointed if that were the case. Image
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Postby Aramek (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:35 pm

It can be both. He's genuinely friendly and wants to conquer.
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby RudeCyrus (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:50 pm

I had to look up who Sunburst was, cuz I forgot.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 5:25 pm

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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 5:37 pm

:evil: Go, my drone...go to the Crystal Empire and learn all its secrets...then FEED!

Image But try to be nice about it.
:speakest: The fun has been doubled!
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Postby Bremen (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 5:50 pm

More Sunburst, more Changelings. I'm hyped :)
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Postby Davyinatoga (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 6:25 pm

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CANON
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Postby Aramek (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:22 pm

I hope his name is actually fucking Kevin.

Like, literally the only normal name in the whole show. Belongs to a bug monster.
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby DerFurShur (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:34 pm

Uhhh last time I checked Tom was a normal name

Also Winona... if you're a country star or actress.
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:06 pm

I'm so hyped for this! This was the one episode I looked forward to most to seeing in this season. Finally changelings are back in a capacity that matters!
:yay:

Let's hope this changeling's friendship is just a ruse by Chrysalis to infiltrate the Empire.
:good:
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Postby DerFurShur (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:09 pm

Given the political and cultural climate of the US having a childrens show tell the message that a certain group is always evil and can never be trusted and anyone who is willing to is delusional would be unfortunate.
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:34 pm

DerFurShur wrote:Given the political and cultural climate of the US having a childrens show tell the message that a certain group is always evil and can never be trusted and anyone who is willing to is delusional would be unfortunate.

The show has never made changelings out to be people, though, save for the extraordinarily evil Chrysalis. All the rest of her troops haven't been much other than really big bugs.
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Postby DerFurShur (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:39 pm

The show has never had a good track record with non-pony races not being seen as offensive stereotypes, so it seems like the wrong direction for the show to take the Angry Birds approach.
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:47 pm

Chrysalis is bad news (she clearly enjoys being evil above & beyond the call of duty), but nothing in the little we've seen of the species would suggest that they have to live in conflict with others.

They feed on love. Granted, we haven't seen how that works or what it entails, but if it's as simple as "nourished by being around nice people", then they absolutely could live in harmony with others.

Also, by redeeming some of the rank and file, maybe the show will be satisfied with leaving Chrysalis a magnificent villain. :evil:
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Postby DerFurShur (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:57 pm

It could potentially make Chrysalis a better villain since it'd imply she got her army through being intimidating/persuasive rather than just them being some dumb hive mind that do whatever she wants, and since the comics went and made her comically evil might as well make her super petty. If changelings can in theory coexist with Ponies then Chrysalis is shown to be that much more genuinely evil for just wanting to conquer them.
"Why does life have to be so IRONIC?" :milkshake:
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Postby Auxiliatrix (?) » Wed Aug 17, 2016 11:40 pm

DerFurShur wrote:It could potentially make Chrysalis a better villain since it'd imply she got her army through being intimidating/persuasive rather than just them being some dumb hive mind that do whatever she wants, and since the comics went and made her comically evil might as well make her super petty. If changelings can in theory coexist with Ponies then Chrysalis is shown to be that much more genuinely evil for just wanting to conquer them.


You do have a point there! Well said. :-P

I'm sort of hyped. It seems to be a Spike episode, which is an interesting choice. Spike episodes usually don't go too well, but if this episode (and "Dungeons & Discords" works), maybe this Season could be the one where Spike shines. "Gauntlet of Fire" was a good start; hopefully the momentum continues here.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 1:17 am

Maybe this Changeling is an anomaly. Like that one Deep Space Nine episode with the Jem'Hadar that didn't need The White to survive.
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Postby Angel Beat (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:04 am

I'd like for the changeling to become a 'plain old Garak' type. :-P
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:06 am

I hope they use this song in the episode...
:gotcha:

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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:19 am

What if s/he was kicked out of the hive for some reason, and had no place else to go except the Crystal Empire. When the ponies there saw him/her, they assumed s/he was a spy.

On the subject of him/her speaking, someone speculated that perhaps drones don't have voices of thier own, but speak by imitating others. For example, when near Spike, Kevin (or whoever) speaks in his voice, but in an altered way. That would be pretty cool. :allears:
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:07 am

PonyHag714 wrote:What if s/he was kicked out of the hive for some reason, and had no place else to go except the Crystal Empire. When the ponies there saw him/her, they assumed s/he was a spy.

:starity:
...You just blew my mind with your clever prediction. That would also make for a good story. At the end let's hope s/he gets accepted back into the hive.
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Postby Ransom (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:32 am

Put my vote down for, 'Spy gone native.'
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 1:38 pm

Maybe it could be like what happened with Scorpan, where he came along with Tirek with evil intentions for the world but he turned back on that after making friends with ponies. I guess it depends on if changelings are even capable of feeling love and compassion.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 1:57 pm

As I feel a cheeseburger, I'm sure Kevin could feel love and compassion.
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby Just Scuds (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 2:48 pm

Aramek wrote:I hope his name is actually fucking Kevin.

Like, literally the only normal name in the whole show. Belongs to a bug monster.


There's Maude and Diane Image

But sure, for all her scheming, :evil: had limited imagination in naming her brood.

:evil: :"Let me introduce the family: Phil, Ted, Mark, Cheryl, Bob, Kevin, Jane..."
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 2:52 pm

S/he could been kicked out or ran away from the hive because s/he didn't fit in...s/he didn't see ponies and other beings as just something to conquer and exploit as a source of food.

For a comparison, think of Herbie the elf from Rudolph who wanted to be a dentist instead of making toys. It sounds like a strange comparison, but it's the same general idea.
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:07 pm

Kevin being the changeling version of Peridot is an idea I could get behind.
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Postby Aramek (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:41 pm

THORAX!!! :allears:



I love him so much. He's got a cute voice, and kindness brings out the feral in him.


Auuuugggghhhhhhh! :ponydrugs:
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Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:04 pm

Well, there's two questions put to rest. I like Thorax as a name, and how his voice isn't all weird and echoey as you might expect it to be. Clearly he's not your usual Changeling, yet he still has some instincts of rejecting love and kindness. Interesting how he referred to Chrissy as "evil", so they do seem to be able to think independently. :here:
:speakest: The fun has been doubled!
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Postby Mechanical Ape (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:26 pm

There was a time they cared nothing for Miss Sparkle ... when their only experience of -- ponies was a party cannon coming at them down a steel corridor.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:30 pm

Scuderia Ferrarity wrote:
There's Maude and Diane Image

But sure, for all her scheming, :evil: had limited imagination in naming her brood.

:evil: :"Let me introduce the family: Phil, Ted, Mark, Cheryl, Bob, Kevin, Jane..."


So, her minions are named after Minions?
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Postby Applepie (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:31 pm

I have been waiting in ages for a episode like this about a lost Changeling redemption. :yay:
Pinkie Pie: So, you see this here? This, um, this is um, a big, round room. It's known for its roundness, and bigness, and did I mention that it's round?
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:05 pm

I can see it now...

Image Goo goo...gurgle...

(Thorax) HISSSSSS...

Image He's attacking the baby!

Image Wait...you don't understand!

Image Spike, are you crazy?
:speakest: The fun has been doubled!
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:09 pm


Huh. It's really weird to hear a regular changeling speaking at all, much less with a voice like that.
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Postby Chronos30 (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:36 pm

Considering none of them really had speaking parts in the wedding episode, I was sort of expecting this guy not to talk at all either, just communicate through expression and maybe shapeshifting or drawing. But I guess this show is always surprising me one way or another.

e: Maybe it's a reveal they just ruined with the clip. "Get your stinking claws off me you dang dirty dragon!" (and the friendship grows from there)
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Postby Ransom (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:49 pm

PonyHag714 wrote:Well, there's two questions put to rest. I like Thorax as a name, and how his voice isn't all weird and echoey as you might expect it to be. Clearly he's not your usual Changeling, yet he still has some instincts of rejecting love and kindness. Interesting how he referred to Chrissy as "evil", so they do seem to be able to think independently. :here:

I didn't read that as 'rejecting' love and kindness as much as his instincts making him hungry :eep:
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Postby PonyHag714 (?) » Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:33 pm

Yeah, I could see that.
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