Truffles

It would also be pretty cool in "PPOV" if Spike was turned into a Pony. It would teach a good lesson on not changing who you are and that your perfect and special just the way you are.

This would be really good, but alas, Tabitha St. Germain revealed at SDCC last week that Rarity has an episode coming up featuring different points of view. This is likely "PPOV". I'm still curious what "Every Little Thing She Does" is about, though!

One thing I'm curious about is whether Spike is still holding to his Dragon Code and will say he owes this changeling a life debt for saving him from falling into what looks like an abyss? Or has he quietly discarded that notion after the events of "Spike at Your Service?"

I guess if Spike saves the changeling from the Elemental Death Beams of the princesses or the Crystal Heart, then the debt is repaid. If it happens early enough in the episode, it wouldn't play much of a part in the plot, anyway.

I worked on this episode! And, for the record, the Zap2It's description does indeed have a typo. That's all I'm going to say there. 

I'm going to assume they did indeed mean to say "Starlight" instead of "Sunburst", but say no more - we'll find out soon enough! 

i knew it ! Dx  Crystal empire again ?? geez cant think of a new place or what ? at least make it a new place about the changeling spy or something....

I think they chose the Crystal Empire because that's where the two ponies that have the biggest reason to despise changelings live. I suspect a big part of the plot will be Spike having to convince Cadence and Shining Armor his new friend isn't a threat, and it will be interesting if they are, for lack of a better term, "tragic antagonists" in this episode.

I think it'd be much more practical for him to become more like this:

I have to admit, I've never been a fan of the "Sir Spike" design. Its biggest problem is it's an anachronism in this universe. Sir Spike is clearly anthropomorphic, but there are no humans around for Spike to envision this as being the ideal body type he should strive for. Spike only walks on two legs because it seems most young dragons do that due to where their center of mass is (they have big rumps, lol). Once they grow up, they start walking like the dragons of lore on all four legs. (Even Spike gets down on all fours when it's convenient or he needs a little extra speed when running.)

If anything, a more realistic approach would have been for Spike to model his heroic self after some adult dragon he has respect for, or even after Shining Armor whom I'm sure is a big hero in his eyes. In both cases, they are quadrupeds and they don't have those ridiculously skinny legs like Sir Spike or unrealistic muscle tone like some human pro wrestler. I think whoever designed Sir Spike was unfortunately thinking in human terms of an ideal and not a pony or dragon.

And somehow I just don't see him trying to emulate Bulk Biceps or Iron Will, the only commonly seen muscle-bound characters in the show.

I have to say his Guardians of Harmony design is an improvement over Sir Spike, though even there I've seen artwork from fans for adult Spike that looks cooler than that.

Probably pony point of view, since she mentioned the rarity episode would have different perspectives in it, correct?

That's right!

In fact, the panel was interesting in that their answers pretty much confirmed the list of episodes that included "PPOV".

The only episode we know nothing about is "Every Little Thing She Does", which is looking less likely to be a wrap up of Sparity since "PPOV" is now confirmed to be a Rarity episode. Unless Rarity really is slated to have two more episodes about her this season?

I've been wanting another TwiDash episode and it looks like this confirms it. Can't wait, and apparently it's a map episode, which likely confirms a Flutterjack pair up, which is also underused.

A map episode where Twilight and Rainbow are tasked to go to the Wonderbolts? Could it be the 'bolts are finally going to get some much-needed friendship lessons? 

There's been some speculation from Jim's Twitter feed several weeks back that Spike was getting his own musical number, so I'm thrilled to hear Cathy Weseluck confirm the rumor that it will happen in "The Times are a Changeling!" Woo! 

I was surprised there was no confirmation or denial of Season 7 at the panel, though the way folks have been acting at DHX at this panel and other times it seems more likely than not S7 is indeed happening. (How long it is - 26 or 13 episodes - remains a total mystery.)

Kinda surprised to be honest. Discord is a fan favorite for many people, even if some of him don't like him anymore.

 

But i am actually very neutral about this.

I think the thing that's bothering me is he sounded disappointed to not play a role in the movie. Now I know he's a professional so it could also be him speaking in-character here for Discord and he understands, but its bugging me nonetheless. =/

Is it too late to start a petition? Somehow I think the MLP panel at SDCC is going to get pretty noisy on Friday!

I don't know, they could be going to see a buckball game in either the crystal empire or yakyakistan.

I admit I do like the idea of "Buckball Season" taking place in Yakyakistan. Then we'd get to meet that one yak Pinkie befriended on her (extremely) brief visit there.

I agree. This could be a more solid and cohesive moral about racism. Bridle Gossip fumbled the ball a little for two reasons, one being a lack of investment and empathy in the position the Mane Six as the audience had no emotional ties to Zebras. This is the issue with you introduce a new species while simultaneously setting up a racism story.

 

With the Changelings, you have a reason to understand why some may be reluctant to accept that Changelings can be friends to Ponies. Even if we disagree, it rings as less hollow a resistance.

 

Spike as a voice of reason is also more powerful than a undeveloped AB. For one Spike would be the perfect vessel for explaining this moral as he is proof that a previously misunderstood and feared species can be an ally and friend.

 

It looks like this is a second go at Bridle Gossip, but by using Changelings and Spike it may be a much better way of telling this particular moral.

I've been so focused on these new episodes I forgot about "Bridle Gossip" tackling the ponies preconceptions about zebras. I agree wholeheartedly, and also add that episode's message is diluted slightly by the conflict centering around the effects the Poison Joke had on the Mane 6. I suppose it's no accident that both episodes feature kids as the ones who see through the stereotypes.

I have to presume that it will take a while to ramp up Boulder's production before anything starts airing. And I guess we can't assume that when they say "Hasbro animated series" they are specifically talking about MLP; it could be that Boulder works on Transformers or GI Joe properties.

In this season Spike has already made new friends with Starlight and Ember. And now with this changeling and Discord and we will see him interacting with Big Mac when it was only mentioned before. Before this season he becically has had great interaction only with Twilight, Rarity and Applejack and little with rest of mane 6, the CMC, pets and couple other charcaters like Cadence and Garble. So it is wonderfull and neened he gets better interactions already.

Congratulations Spike, you're the new Princess of Friendship. (Yeah I never get tired of using that line. XD )

One thing interesting is how "The Times are a Changeling" is similar to "Gauntlet of Fire" in its core premise, except instead of trying to convince someone to be friends with him (Ember) this time he has to convince others that he and this changeling can be friends. Really deep stuff, and Spike is a good vehicle to present it through.

That does seem like a probable scenario, although in one scene the Mane 6 appear to be coming inside from the snowy outdoors and not heading out. If it is a paired episode like the ones we've seen before, then the episode that follows "Dungeons and Discords" is "Buckball Season," which doesn't seem likely to have snow in it.

Maybe those clips are from "The Times are a Changeling" and the synopsis it just totally wrong about who accompanies Spike to the Crystal Empire?

most of the episodes shown are looking real good

Agreed . I'm trying to figure out which episodes those scenes of the mane 6 all dressed up and the one of RD, AJ, and Rarity relaxing and sunning themselves on the lounge chairs might be from.

July 30th? That is a tad sooner than I expected.

 

Lottsa stuff in that single promo though. Spike becoming friends with a changeling? That is f***ing AWESOME! *ahem* Pretty cool idea there. Looking forward to that. Then there was some clips of the Dungeons and Discord episode, looking ofrward to that as well. Then I think I saw kart racing Rainbow Dash with Scoots? What? XD That could be a lot of fun. "Welcome to Rainbow Kart!" And another Daring Do episode, with what looked like her brother or something. That stallion looked very similar to Daring Do.

 

The second half of this season looks like it is going to be jam-packed with variety. This is really getting me on the hype train for sure. There also no showing of anything for the finale here which is both good and understandable.

 

Thank you for recording this. My excitement for the rest of the season has risen drastically. ^-^

You're quite welcome. I'm really excited about the second half of the season, too. That Daring Do lookalike stallion is Quibble Pants, the pony who supposedly hates the Daring Do books but shows up to her convention anyway.

The episode with Spike befriending a changeling has the potential to be this season's "Amending Fences", with some significant ramifications for the lore of the world going forward. I can't wait!

Since neither Discovery Family nor Hasbro is putting up the new ad on their respective video sites, I recorded it an uploaded it myself.

Many apologies for the poor quality; I don't have any choice but to shoot off the TV screen. =/

Hopefully when everyone gets back to work on Monday they'll post the digital versions, but for now here's something to tide you over!

EDIT: Here's a higher quality version someone else posted to YouTube, woo:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pqWQ3FUPWjY

there was a trailer reminding about the hiatus ending on the 30th and during one of the frames Spike was next to a Changling who looked very calm and seemed to be introducing him to other ponies who just screamed a little at it.

Oh, I have to look for this! This sounds very much then that the episode's focus is going to be about Spike trying to change pony minds rather than rampant paranoia among all the citizens of the Crystal Empire.

Spike puts it on the line and spends his political capital as a hero to do the right thing! I love it!! 

EDIT: O-M-G! I just saw it! It was on moment ago! Big Mac as Dragonborn! Spike as a wizard! Discord as an elf! Sunburst appearance confirmed! Spike befriending a changeling after he saves Spike! All of the clips were from all the new episodes coming up! I cant wait! Eeeeeeeeeee!

How about my namesake?

There he is, his first appearance since "Slice of Life," singing with Twist and the other season 1 colts (and The Dude) at the very, very end of "A Hearthswarming Tail."

Seriously, when he didn't appear with the rest of the class in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" and "On Your Marks" I thought they had lost his Flash file or something. =P

It would be nice to have his appearances go back to S4 and earlier numbers again. I miss the little mop-topped guy.

I'm almost certain season 7's coming. Why? Cause if this was the last season, Hasbro, or somebody from DHX would've said so already.

Agreed. I'm sure they'll mention it at SDCC next week. If it was ending now, we'd know.

I like this optimism! Have some brohoofs!

It would be funny if the very next episode, "Buckball Season," also ended up pairing Spike with Big Mac. That would mean back-to-back Big Mac episodes and back-to-back-to-back Spike episodes. Not likely, so I guess it could be AJ as the Buckball fan/player?

I can wait till season 7 for that.

Once (and if) they confirm season 7 for certain then I'll relax that requirement. Until then, I'm pushing for every major story arc to get wrapped up this season in FiM.  

Now all there's missing is a musical number, and Spike's golden!

I would still like to see closure on his relationship with Rarity, since that's one of his major story arcs they've let hanging out there. (The other being his origins, although the mobile MLP game did give out some info that Spike was found as an orphaned egg and he wasn't poached or anything like that by Celestia. Hmm, poached dragon eggs? Sounds yummy. )

So I'm hoping "Dungeons and Discords", while featuring Spike, isn't a Spike-centric episode; certainly not like how "Gauntlet of Fire" was and "Every Little Thing She Does" is the remaining Spike episode this season after "The Times are a Changeling."

I always wanted to see an episode that followed up on Spike and Big Mac's hoof ball get-togethers by pairing them in a future episode.

I also wanted to see Spike paired with Discord because both of them have such opposing personalities, and Spike has rarely gotten the chance to interact with the king of chaos.

This could be a fantastic episode if they pull it off correctly because we're getting both pairings at the same time!

I very much prefer him befriending the changeling, but hey, your second option could happen as well!

As do I, since it tugs on the heartstrings more effectively due to how such a premise hits closer to home for Spike: Him being the only known dragon living in Equestria proper would explain how he could find a kindred spirit in a "wayward" (as in one who has turned away from Chrysalis) changeling who is just trying to lay low and live a normal life as a disguised pony.

But, I'm just throwing out all the possibilities here. And as you stated in another thread, the synopsis could even be wrong about this being the second of three Spike episodes. (I hope not, though - this is a good vehicle for his character since it relatable to him like I described above.)