*SPECULATION/SPOILERS* Discord's Future & Character Direction Discussion

[SOHCAHTOA 51]

Apologies in advance for not reading all posts in the thread.

 

My opinions: first of all, if not because he's smart, just realizing there was a cycle would be enough for Discord to try something new, and seeing as the only thing he hasn't tried yet is NOT using his powers for evil, I'd say he has little choice. After all, even if predictable, that's not as boring as repetitive.

 

Second, I hate how's everyone's all "But he's the spirit of Chaos!". What these people forget, and what stated right around the start of the first episode of season 2 is that he embodies Chaos, Disharmony, and Evil. He is not a force of nature, he is a sapient being, and if you really think about it, the reason he fails at all in The Return Of Harmony is because of his own plan. It is because he made a plan. The downfall of every character who considers himself chaotic is to make a plan. It was Discord's downfall, the Joker's downfall... but it was their own intelligence what ultimately caused them to fail, because their whole success comes from acting as forces of nature, and they always fail when they show signs of individuality. But if anything, this proves that Discord is an intelligent being who is not forced to just do what's considered "chaotic". For cheese's sake, he's a character, not a thunderstorm.

 

Now, about the episode itself... well, it has fluttershy, it has discord, it has fluttershy and discord interacting... best episode ever.

 

Regarding over what will happen by the end of the episode, I believe anything goes. Who knows, Discord might decide that it will be funnier to be at the winners side, he might fail to reform in the end (and fluttershy will learn that some people don't have kindness, not even in the cores of their hearts. some people are conpletely evil).

 

EDIT: And about why do it. Maybe Celestia had a change of mind. When he first returned, she was too blind with rage to consider anything like this, and she might not have tried this before because after a few hundred years you kinda forget about the living statue of the god of the very opposite of the thing your kingdom is based on. You, it didn't seemed relevant. She might have thought he would never break free. After all the chaos calmed down, she started wondering if there wasn't a more permanent solution to this problem, and started looking for ways to make it safe to free him. Anyway, that's my theory.

Edited January 4, 2013 by SOHCAHTOA

[Magic Man 222]

I believe that in the upcoming episode, that in trying to convince the others, Fluttershy makes a comparison of Discord to Luna, saying how they all forgave her after her misdeeds with Twilight taking the lead, but not Discord. This would be a very good comparison, as well as a quick analysis on Discord's character.

 

When she does, the others, namely Twilight, strenuously point out that there is a BIG difference between Luna and Discord, namely:

• Luna was CORRUPTED into Nightmare Moon by her jealousy, whilst Discord is a sadistic sociopath who does what he does for the sole purpose of being a douche.
  
• They didn't exactly hate Luna, they were mostly just scared and intimidated by her booming voice and imposing demeanor, not helped by Nighmare Moon's legacy. Discord they utterly despise, for good reason. 
  
• Luna didn't mentally fuck them up and nearly obliterate their friendship like Discord did.
  
• Luna was remorseful of her actions, and wanted and actively made an effort to change, whilst it is very likely Discord does none of the three (It would not seem right if he does. Fluttershy will probably have to make all the effort for him).
  

[Mu Nova 66]

Oh yes, I'll be following this thread.

 

 

And uh... I dunno. I'm maintaining confidence that nothing abhorrent like changing Discord into a happy nice good guy will happen. I'm just wondering and somewhat worrying to what extent it could happen.

Though mostly I'm just waiting to see how it goes. Here's hoping for the same guy we know and love, sans the conquering.

[immblueversion 331]

Well, the latest synopsis says they have to tame Discord, not necessarily turn him good. The mirrors between him and Q just continue to grow.

 

First, I'm gonna repeat what Fhaolan said above: I can also see that if Discord is kept in check in mind rather than in body, then he won't cause any more trouble like he did in the past. But what intrigues me is not only why Celestia herself wants him put in check, but why now of all times. The synopsis says she's only just decided he needs rehab, so she may have something more planned for him than a simple "Discord may break loose again and we may not be able to stop him then, so we need to nip him in the bud." But I'm not completely counting on that.

 

Could this give credibility to the rumor that Discord is to become Twilight's mentor for the next phase of her studies? In his rumored leaked lines, he seems to be acting in a position higher than Twilight, yet judging from the next episode's synopsis, the Mane Six are the ones above him. This could either mean he's just being a troll as usual, or the lines are for a future episode where his and Twilight's roles from "Keep Calm and Flutter On" are switched.

 

Furthermore, how will the Mane Six go about reforming him, or at least interacting with him? If we take the rumored lines at face value and apply them to the next episode, he will be turned into a pony, possibly stripped of his powers. But should the lines turn out to not be in the episode, what then? Will he be let out of his prison, or will the Mane Six actually be let in?

 

Or maybe...what if it's all a lie? What if it's really Discord trying to trick the Mane Six into thinking Celestia wants him to reform just so he can escape, tear the Mane Six apart using Fluttershy as a catalyst, and plunge Equestria into eternal chaos? And even if he's stopped, he would still have bragging rights to say he finally broke Fluttershy.

Edited January 5, 2013 by immblueversion

[Magic Man 222]

Hey, it's me, Wormtail96, now known as Magic MAAAAAAAN!!!

 

I have this theory to submit; perhaps the reasoning for Celestia wanting to reform Discord is not out of personal convinction, but for similar reasons as to why Gandalf took part in the journey in The Hobbit. Celestia (Gandalf) wants to take this extremely powerful being, Discord (Smaug) out of the equation because whilst right now it is peace time, if a future enemy were to appear, they could not reawake Discord and use him as an ally against Equestria.