While actually not disliking Spike, he was a quite inconsistent character in the previous five seasons. Up to this stage of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', Season 6 was actually in terms of his character writing his best season and one of his best overall. Am very mixed on the season overall, but Spike's character writing more often than not surprisingly impressed me. Actually being more than just background when in support and actually being a likeable character when a lead.
"The Times They are a Changeling" is a good example of that. One of the better Spike-centric episodes (on the most part before this episode his episode had a dubious track record) and, despite being far from perfect itself, a huge improvement over the previous two episodes. With more than enough to get the bad taste left from watching "28 Pranks Later" just before out of my mouth. Not one of the best Season 6 episodes, not one of the worst either.
It does fall apart somewhat at the end. The very end is far too rushed and too neatly wrapped up with the opinion of a character held by others reversed just like that for convenience.
Am going to be another person that disliked the song, for me in the bottom 3 worst songs of Season 6 (a mixed bag when it came to its songs). Not just the forgettable at best eye-rolling-worthy melody and the cheesy and simplistic lyrics that are near-pre-school level, but it felt incredibly out of place as well.
Spike however is very well written in one of his better and more interesting appearances ever, he comes over as likeable and with much more to him than his cute exterior suggests. Thank goodness that this isn't an episode that doesn't emphasise too much or amplify too much any negative characteristic of his, he was the worst faring character in this regard of the previous five seasons but here his character writing has vastly improved. Sure he does balk at one stage, but it was more a mere slip up unintended and could have been reacted to more understandably. The other standout character is Thorax. Was quite taken by how sympathetic he was, one of the few sympathetic supporting characters of Season 6 actually. The writing is engaging and is a lot more fun and mature than one usually sees in a Spike-centric episode.
Liked the story as well, the conflict had tension and was intriguing and the story engaged and was entertaining and worth investing in. The portrayal of the Crystal Empire inhabitants interests, and it was good to have a moral that is important and relatable and sincerely executed after seeing the previous two episodes botch theirs. The animation is very atmospheric and beautiful to look at, especially the scenery of the Crystal Empire. Some didn't like Thorax's character design, personally don't mind it. Apart from the song, the music fits well and is appealing on the ears. The voice acting is uniformly great with a valiant effort from Cathy Weseluk.
In conclusion, good episode and much better than the previous two. 7/10.
"The Times They are a Changeling" is a good example of that. One of the better Spike-centric episodes (on the most part before this episode his episode had a dubious track record) and, despite being far from perfect itself, a huge improvement over the previous two episodes. With more than enough to get the bad taste left from watching "28 Pranks Later" just before out of my mouth. Not one of the best Season 6 episodes, not one of the worst either.
It does fall apart somewhat at the end. The very end is far too rushed and too neatly wrapped up with the opinion of a character held by others reversed just like that for convenience.
Am going to be another person that disliked the song, for me in the bottom 3 worst songs of Season 6 (a mixed bag when it came to its songs). Not just the forgettable at best eye-rolling-worthy melody and the cheesy and simplistic lyrics that are near-pre-school level, but it felt incredibly out of place as well.
Spike however is very well written in one of his better and more interesting appearances ever, he comes over as likeable and with much more to him than his cute exterior suggests. Thank goodness that this isn't an episode that doesn't emphasise too much or amplify too much any negative characteristic of his, he was the worst faring character in this regard of the previous five seasons but here his character writing has vastly improved. Sure he does balk at one stage, but it was more a mere slip up unintended and could have been reacted to more understandably. The other standout character is Thorax. Was quite taken by how sympathetic he was, one of the few sympathetic supporting characters of Season 6 actually. The writing is engaging and is a lot more fun and mature than one usually sees in a Spike-centric episode.
Liked the story as well, the conflict had tension and was intriguing and the story engaged and was entertaining and worth investing in. The portrayal of the Crystal Empire inhabitants interests, and it was good to have a moral that is important and relatable and sincerely executed after seeing the previous two episodes botch theirs. The animation is very atmospheric and beautiful to look at, especially the scenery of the Crystal Empire. Some didn't like Thorax's character design, personally don't mind it. Apart from the song, the music fits well and is appealing on the ears. The voice acting is uniformly great with a valiant effort from Cathy Weseluk.
In conclusion, good episode and much better than the previous two. 7/10.
