We might as well refer to Spike as Squidward in future reviews.

Hey look, it's time for that one episode per season where Spike does a thing, and is somehow terrible at that thing due to to the plot's demand for a complete lack of common sense and logic. Skip!

I really don't know if I have much hope for Spike anymore. Only one writer on the staff appears to actually care about writing him properly, and to just about everyone else, he's just a joke character at best and a punching bag at worst. 

Honestly its neither Spike nor Twilight's fault. Canterlot and Equestria just have very poor chain of command, delegation and a huge lack of staff in general. 

Its hardly Spike's fault that he lacks formal training and experience negotiating and delegating. Does Twilight really have no one else helping her besides Spike?

This reminds me of Princess Twilight Sparkle Pt1. Princess Celestia and Luna have gone missing? Oh let's just freak out, panic and not know what the hell to do! Where the heck was Shining Armor, general or head adviser?

Spike really did his best to fix things in this episode and it was made into a bad joke that somehow expects us to believe he's solely at fault. He can't be helped that Equestria's government sucks.

I don't understand how the conflict was contrived. In your mind, how would it flow naturally? Also, your logic that the jokes fail because Spike is trying to do his job is bizarre. What do you mean exactly? When you just make very broad, dogmatic statements like this with no context, it's extremely confusing to see what you're getting at.

Agreed, the writers need to stop using Spike as a butt monkey and actually let him catch a break for once!