spoiler Gauntlet of Fire Teaser

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

The 30-second preview of this one is better than in a "Dragon Quest" episode, I'm hoping sure that Spike will try to wield that Gauntlet of Fire in order to save and assist his mane six friends.

>Wield the gauntlet of fire

 

I'm pretty sure the "gauntlet" refers to a obstacle course/challenge, specifically the flamecano in which the scepter was placed and from which it must be retrieved from, not that there's a physical piece of armor

  >an open challenge (as to combat) —used in phrases like throw down the gauntlet

[snowflame 189]

So we're gonna blame ALL dragons for these three dragons' stupidity? I'm sure not all dragons would've done that egg thing. These are teenage dragons after all - the dumbest of all dragons.

 

 

I said those dragons not all dragons.

[Cwanky 17,600]

The new dragon designs look interesting and remind me a lot of the Crystal ponies when they are glowing. Its also good to see that old characters are making a return here.

 

What's equally important though, is what's not explicitly stated. It doesn't seem that Twilight nor Rarity were kidnapped against their will to be here. And yet, even though Twilight's partially motivated by her curiosity, she's willing to put herself into harm's way again to back up Twilight. Even moreso this is true of Rarity, who doesn't have alicorn powers like Twilight and likely despises the seemingly violent and crude culture of dragons. For Rarity to go out and support Spike, at the risk of her own life and discomfort, that shows she cares A LOT for Spike as more than just a mere friend.

 

Spike's body language itself sells the premise for this episode excellently. He's violently shaking, biting his lips and sweating profusely and not at all excited to be their. This is likely a defining moment of maturity for Spike, which makes the scene all the more compelling. I am really hoping that Spike proves himself here win or lose.

[Truffles 2,033]

What's equally important though, is what's not explicitly stated. It doesn't seem that Twilight nor Rarity were kidnapped against their will to be here.

 

This is actually confusing me a bit: The episode premise stated Spike's friends get captured, and it caused me to wonder how dragons managed to capture an alicorn. But the truth is Twilight and Rarity never were even captured, they just maintained their disguises the whole time.

 

Not sure what the person at Zap2It was thinking when they wrote that, unless it was all based on the teaser clip we got a few days ago...

 

For Rarity to go out and support Spike, at the risk of her own life and discomfort, that shows she cares A LOT for Spike as more than just a mere friend.

 

This was very touching to see. It was offset a bit by Rarity's being condescending to him during the gem-hunting scene, not thinking he would be useful as a bodyguard, but her sacrifice later more than made up for that.

[Cwanky 17,600]

This is actually confusing me a bit: The episode premise stated Spike's friends get captured, and it caused me to wonder how dragons managed to capture an alicorn. But the truth is Twilight and Rarity never were even captured, they just maintained their disguises the whole time.

A large part of it was the way the trailer presented itself. It made it seem as if Rarity and Twilight would get captured and Spike would save them. Thankfully Gauntlet of Fire did not have such a plot. The episode wisely focused on Spike and his development along with his interactions with Princess Ember and Garble.

 

Even though Rarity and Twilight came to support Spike, its questionable whether they even served as supporting characters. Garble was the antagonist, and Ember acted as the supporting character. If anything Rarity and Twilight acted more as tertiary background characters in the episode. 

 

 

This was very touching to see. It was offset a bit by Rarity's being condescending to him during the gem-hunting scene, not thinking he would be useful as a bodyguard, but her sacrifice later more than made up for that.

It was nice to see Rarity's support for Spike too and the episode made no reservation showing us she had little desire going to the dragon lands. I'm also glad she was called out early for her prejudice against dragons and that Ember was willing to reconcile and open up to the ponies in her own tough way.

Edited April 16, 2016 by Cwanky

[Truffles 2,033]

 

 

Even though Rarity and Twilight came to support Spike, its questionable whether they even served as supporting characters. Garble was the antagonist, and Ember acted as the supporting character. If anything Rarity and Twilight acted more as tertiary background characters in the episode. 

 

Agreed. Twilight and Rarity were there basically so Spike had someone to express his thoughts to when Ember and Garble weren't around. It usually gets weird when you have to have characters spending a lot of time talking to themselves! 

[cider float 2,538]

Shouldn't have watched that teaser but oh well. Doubtful that it could succeed the greatness of Spike's best episode, Dragon Quest. I wonder if Gauntlet of Fire is a reference to Hunger Games or something.