Is Spike a sidekick?

[Declen 118]

In the recent FIMpression video, Tommy_Oliver (aka BronyCurious) stated, that in the contrary to the moral of the latest episode, Spike is commomly treated by writers as a "useless sidekick who is there just for comic relief".

But when I recall the major adventure episodes, Spike either doesn't participate in the adventure (as in "FiM, part 2") or gives much needed help (as in "The Cristal Empire, part 2"). I also can't remember any comic relief moments provided by Spike in those episodes (from what I conclude they either weren't funny at all, or never appeared).

As to other episodes, they differ in Spike's role in them.

In Twilight-centred episodes, where Spike could be a sidekick, he rather takes an opposite perspective of things contrasting the one of Twilight. It underlines Twilight's standpoint playing selfishness vs. nobility in "Winter Wrap Up", or sanity vs. paranoia in "Lesson Zero" or being too careless vs. to worried (with Pinkie's healthy approach in the middle) in "It's About Time".

In episodes starring Spike himself he can't be a sidekick by definition - or I have a wrong idea of what a sidekick is.

In other episodes his part is rather insignificant to interpret it one way or another. At least as far as I remember.

 

So, what do you think? Does Spike have the unfortunate role of a sidekick?

[ghostfacekiller39 23,879]

Um...who's Spike?

 

 

FOR REAL NOW.

 

No, unfortunately, I'll have to disagree.

 

He's had a plethora of his own episodes; "Owl's Well that Ends Well," "Secret of My Excess," "Dragon Quest," "Spike at Your Service,"  "Just For Sidekicks," and "Power Ponies" all featured him, not only heavily, but he was vital to the plot.

Edited December 23, 2013 by ghostfacekiller39

[Orablanco Account 3,708]

The proper term is "#1 Assistant". He has enough character development and pathos (in fact, he has more pathos than most of the other characters) and moments of heroism/badassery to elevate him above a humdrum sidekick.

 

And to anyone who thinks his character is too subject to the story's needs, that has decreased in frequency since "Secret of My Excess" and to be frank, that's true of every character to some degree *cough*CMC*cough*. Somebody's gotta hold the idiot ball.

[Declen 118]

 

 

No, unfortunately, I'll have to disagree.

Uhm... sorry? You have to disagree with whom? Or with what?

[ghostfacekiller39 23,879]

In the recent FIMpression video, Tommy_Oliver (aka BronyCurious) stated, that in the contrary to the moral of the latest episode, Spike is commomly treated by writers as a "useless sidekick who is there just for comic relief".

This.

All respect to Tommy Oliver, not a single analyst out there can compare to the almighty BronyCurious, but I don't think the writers treated Spike as a useless sidekick (unfortunately) 

[Sunny Fox 5,961]

The proper term is "#1 Assistant". He has enough character development and pathos (in fact, he has more pathos than most of the other characters) and moments of heroism/badassery to elevate him above a humdrum sidekick.

 

And to anyone who thinks his character is too subject to the story's needs, that has decreased in frequency since "Secret of My Excess" and to be frank, that's true of every character to some degree *cough*CMC*cough*. Somebody's gotta hold the idiot ball.

 

He's a very important supporting cast member for the Mane Six, but I wouldn't say sidekick.

[Cakebandit :3 1,064]

hes a sidekick, mailbox an assistant and a friend of everyone in the mane 6, hes gotten a few episodes some better than others but over all I'd say hes more of a friend / assistant / part of Twilights family since she did technically hatch him

[Orablanco Account 3,708]

This.

All respect to Tommy Oliver, not a single analyst out there can compare to the almighty BronyCurious, but I don't think the writers treated Spike as a useless sidekick (unfortunately)

You keep saying "unfortunately". Given that the context is regarding Spike, I'm not sure if I agree with what you are implying.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,879]

You keep saying "unfortunately". Given that the context is regarding Spike, I'm not sure if I agree with what you are implying.

Well, allow me to explain:

 

The first unfortunately was disagreeing with Tommy Oliver/BronyCurious. I respect him as an analyst, but I do think he missed the mark with his thoughts of the writers portraying Spike as a "useless sidekick who is there just for comic relief".

 

The second one was well-meant ribbing at a character I often forget is a part of the show unless mentioned or on-screen, and all apologies if I offended you I was hoping I had made that obvious with the ":lol:" emote I had used to follow up that strike-through, but apparently I didn't, so again, all apologies

[Dark Heart 284]

I have seen the series from beginning to end just like most of us have, IMO spike just fills the part barely, cause we clearly seen is not an idiot, unlike pinkie pie has been portrait lately (Castle-mania)

 

In my point of view, spike is something that fills the role of whatever is needed for the episode, spike can be the bumbling idiot for one episode, while in another can be the subject for a moral lesson, and in some others can be use as the one that brings sense to the mane 6 when there acting desperate.

 

For the most part i like to imagine the writers using a dart board to decide how to use spike on the next episode, and the spaces being Scary Cat, Moral Lesson, Sidekick, #1 assistant or Douche.

 

I mean hes a freaking dragon there is so much material you can use, and i think they have tried to explore some options like secrets off my excess, or spike at your service, but i don't think they manage to pull all the way thru, which is way has led to spike to be something that can't be describe as a Sidekick or something better or worse for that matter.

[Hyper Tumble 1,483]

I think Spike is a Sidekick. If my memory serves correctly, his most common line of Dialog is "Wait up, guys!" Typical sidekick line.

[Sweet Dreams 1,893]

He's more a comic relief character, but I wouldn't go as far to say sidekick.

[Pixel Stick 927]

They've definitely been inconsistent with Spike throughout the series.  He's always been in the sidekick role with Twilight, but he's sometimes more important to her, and sometimes less.

 

I think his role as faithful sidekick was strongest in Crystal Empire Part 2, where he insists on coming along even if he can't necessarily be helpful.  And as it turns out, he ends up being the one to save the empire, since Twilight can't do it herself.  (He saves her twice, actually - first from the mysterious door where she thinks Celestia is telling her she failed, then at the end when he picks up the Crystal Heart.)  If that's not the stereotypical sidekick role, I don't know what is.

 

I think the problem here is that Spike is ALSO a semi-main character, and unfortunately the writing for him as such has been less than awesome.  He's really at his best when he's not the main focus, and the Power Ponies episode tried to address that pretty directly - he's not satisfied with being second banana, but he rarely has many opportunities to be more than one.

 

So basically, if Spike is going to grow to be a REAL primary character, the writers need to do better than they've been with him.  Let him really grow - stop making him a lovably incompetent fool or a greedy dragon or treating him like a courageous baby.  He's already demonstrated he can be mature and responsible (Lesson Zero), so he should get a chance to really be such.  If the writers DON'T intend to let him grow, then he really should be properly relegated to sidekick duty and the show should go back to focusing on the Mane 6.  Unfortunately, the inconsistency between those two points is serving more as a distraction than a show-builder.

[King Sejong 859]

   Depends on your point of view, but in most of the episodes he was an personal assistant to Twilight Sparkle, in addition he has been crucial to the story. For instance, Spike played a critical role in "Crystal Empire" and "Princess Twilight Sparkle", where he had to risk bodily harm to help Twilight and the mane six, even in "Equestria Girls" he may have been a dog, a simple pet status in our eyes, Spike still had a role to play, like keeping Twilight Sparkle motivated and getting the human mane six to support her. There are times Spike has been established as a main character, like in "Dragon Quest", we see Spike interact with other dragons, and he sees himself more than just a dragon but as a pony resident, so he is more than just the comic book sidekick, he is a friends to the mane six, and friends are some of the best help anyone can have. 

[SBaby 660]

I don't know if I'd use the word 'sidekick'.  It tends to make a character sound lower than the others.  So instead, I'd probably call him a mascot.  He's an important part of the group, and is able to do all the things the other ponies can't do since, you know, ponies have no fingers.

Edited December 23, 2013 by SBaby