MLP SEASON 6 REVIEW #9: Dungeons & Discords

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 27/8/16 - Written by Nick Confalone

There was no "The Time They Are A Changeling" Review last week due to depression and writers block halting most of my writing of all kinds for the last week or two to either a slow crawl or non-existence. The fact this review is even up at all, is a miracle unto itself. The episode still hasn't been analysed and rated yet, it will be done before next week's review is out, if gets published that is.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

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It's become a tradition that we have at least one Discord episode a season now, well, if John DeLancie likes doing the role then there's nothing stopping him, right? Nonetheless, this episode is also, for the second week in a row and fourth time this season has Spike at the forefront of proceedings. When you combine that with a Dungeons And Dragons theme, it makes for an episode that has the potential to be as random as it would be fun. Whether that translates into a good watch or not is the important question, as I have to ponder whether Mr. Confalone, who's last episode (being the terrible "Party Pooped" from last season) flopped miserably can rectify his mistakes and produce an episode that will make me laugh and come across as structurally sound enough to warrant some justice to its theme.

After last weeks episodes TBD offering, I can only hope the climb continues. Then again, it's a Discord episode, so surely it can't be bad? Well, considering last season had both of Discords' worst appearances, it has to be better than those, at least in this humble reviewers' opinion.

STORY AND NARRATIVE

With the theme of a medieval fantasy RPG dominating this episodes title and inevitably story, it comes across as quite simple, not allowing for much breathing room. Adding Discord to the mix will obviously mean abstract tendencies and be exercised and allow for more creative storytelling in how it executes itself. When you combine aspects of awkward social impressions and accommodating outside players into a core group, it adds more weight to itself, all without overly inflating the premise beyond what it's capable of. I have to admire the story of this episode in having it rely on simplicity and for the most part work, as many episodes this season have fallen flat due to one, however, it doesn't do itself any favours.

Thanks to The Mane Six belittling the activity as 'non important' in relation to their peace mission, an arrow is shot into the knee of the story, making it feel like what Spike, Discord and Big Mac do has no consequence. This made the story feel like it was flat before it even got started, having to use the awkwardness of Spike and Discord's initial discussions to emphasise that further. I will give credit to the actions of the core three characters for slowly building the stories' importance back up to prominence by filling it with comedy, tension, drama and character progression that made its message resonate well (which we'll get to later), however when looking at the core of the episode, sticking with an argument of what to do not he night lacks depth and doesn't repair all the damage. The use of Discord's abilities turned what many would see as could've been a laboured episode into a fun one was an extremely smart move with the characters all feeling important to the story (yes, even Big Mac) and with the progression they all got by the time The Mane Six returned by its end, their Peace Mission was forgotten aboutand for the first time in the whole series felt happy that we WEREN'T away from the story presented to us, when a non-visual sub-plot was taking place (something which "Look Before You Sleep" failed dramatically with five seasons ago). Even though the facial expressions from Spike and Big Mac on a multitude of occasions subtly foreshadowed the inevitable outcome of the episode, it still came across as surprising in its tone and intensity, which was a welcome aspect of why the story remained strong inspite of its failings that I've alluded to.


The pace was kept steady throughout, getting progressively faster but not so much as to overwhelm. The episode while seemingly following Todorov's narrative theory to a tee, threw a new disequilibrium spanner into the works by having Spike and Big Mac feel bad for how they acted, something that while great for the stories' quality, felt like it dragged on the final minutes of the episode. Which, seeing as we're on the subject of, didn't need to have The Mane Six react awkwardly to the fun the guys were having. It broke the fun atmosphere and ramped the cringe factor up to eleven while making their condescending words in the opening scenes feel warranted, crippling the story we'd just seen built up as a niche thing people could be ashamed of weather than encompassing, fun and creatively empowering.

This episode is a bit of a mixed bag overall in this department, presenting a simple story as fun and well-paced whole having issues in fluctuation of tone, portrayal of value and a lack of depth. It did enough to warrant a middle ground ranking, but just missed out on the higher numbers. It tried, and I will give it that.

RATING: 3 out of 5.

WRITING AND VOICE ACTING

When looking at this episode from a basic level, it's the typical cool kid versus nerds mentality. Discord didn't want to be a part of something he was either disinterested in or irritated by, while Spike & Big Mac, ever-infatuated with the game wanted to bring Discord on board with as much enthusiasm as possible. This may again, like the story dictates, sound simple, but it progresses to feel more deep than initially thought thanks to how the characters are written and presented. They were showcased made them grow substantially, but the way they went about it was just about as sly and sneaky as Fluttershy was early on.

Having Discord be the self-absorbed character we'd come to expect was great for creating a natural antagonist to the episode, using his biting wit and sarcasm filled dialogue to bring that to the forefront, fuelling this episode with laugh out loud visual gags coming through like a bulldozer. While that is all well and good, the evil aspects of his personality, something that many Bronies' thought had been neutered over the seasons got a chance to come out, reminding the viewer that even though this character has come along way, he is still considered a 'bad character' and at times needs to reflect that. With the last two Discord episodes failing to appease that part of his personality, to have it showcased here was a welcome addition that made his character have more than it did before, especially as to this viewer, having it come across in his social interactions and cause more issues for himself made him realise he needs to be welcoming of others, and unlike Tree Hugger, fully embrace others company, especially when they were considered unimportant 'sidekicks' at the beginning of the episode. That, my friends is good character building, and considering he NEEDS to build relationships with people after a few false starts, it is a welcome piece of it.

To add even more fuel to the fire, Spike and Big Mac unassumingly came across as the protagonists who wanted  good time, however as the episode progressed and their ire grew evermore, it became apparent to me that these two were slowly becoming antagonists following Discord's character path. While Discord wasn't getting his way, those two were feeling the SAME way too, not accommodating the dragonequus well either thanks to the before mention 'enthusiasm' for a proper game. By the time they shun Discord completely, feeling sorry for him and wanting to give play the game in a way that all could enjoy was a nice twist, making all three characters not feel at all 'bigger' in this awkward social experience and feel like they are on the same level, which was incredibly satisfying to see. As for both of them individually, Spike, much like Discord, got a chance to showcase the egotistical and greedy nature that his dragon DNA has embedded into him, and with his role as the Dungeon Master being used as a vehicle for it, it came across as natural and ingrained while also feeling fun and whimsical, not lessening its impact. While Big Mac didn't stray far beyond his 'monosyllabic' tendencies, he did say parsnips and well as show other emotions for the first time since "Brotherhooves Social", making him seem much more varied and approachable. His Ogres & Oubliettes character being a unicorn subtly harkens back to his 'Alicorn Princess' dream in "Do Princesses Dream Of Magic Sheep" to remind the viewer he does want magical strength to be on par with his physical strength, which is a good bit of continuity if I ever saw one.

While all this was incredibly positive, The Mane Six's already mentioned condescending dialogue and place in bookending proceedings hurt the episode, if my notion of it earlier wasn't already apparent. It made the activities of the three most prominent male characters in the series feel inconsequential, and as a result they felt weak. To have it come before and after the bulk of the story just makes it worse to see. I will give some credit however to Pinkie and Rainbow embracing the activity of course, dampening any residual negative effect that Twilight's beguiled and confused reaction gave out. Fluttershy and Pinkie also gain the episode points by in the former, providing great antagonism and story progression off the bat, while the latter added funny yet awkward comedy to a tense moment that made kept it rolling along, which was needed. On the voice acting front, Spike, Discord, Big Mac and Fluttershy showed off varied performances, while Pinkie and Rainbow got their minimal two cents in. Even the Squizard did fine with a muffled execution to compliment with the characters design, which was quite pleasant.

In all fairness, this category could've gotten top marks if Twilight and co. hadn't pooh-poohed the game and ruined perception of the upcoming fun. Which is sad, as it was the only REAL negative, but it effected the episode so much that I couldn't help but take that final mark away from it. However, a four out of five is still great, and deserved it with a near flawless execution of itself.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

ANIMATION

There are three things that are always certain in life, death, taxes and the animation category ranking highly in a Discord episode. Why you may be asking? Well, I rate this category on a showcase of facial expressions, use of lighting, shifting drawing/animation styles and a combination of costume, set and character design. Discord, through his use of shapeshifting, abstract constructs and teleportation can conjure up things that make his episodes more visually lively and enticing to me. As a result, this category in most of Discord's episode will either rank at a four or a five as a matter of principle. When you combine a medieval fantasy RPG and surprisingly a 1920's dance hall and bar setting with the myriad of randomness that Discord brings to the table, the opportunity is taken to fill this episode to the brim with fun elements that I couldn't take my eyes off.

I do love it when the list of things to note in the animation category can stretch as long as my admittedly short arm. From a design perspective you have the costume designs of the heros’ RPG outfits, the Mane Six’s winter gear, Discord’s mob boss suit, Jameson desk persona, basketball outfit and beefeater trio to start things off. It them follows with a myriad of subtle references of famous scenes and characters including dogs playing poker, Lord Of The Rings and well known gangsters. Discord’s visualisations of boredom and his Celestia mane coming to life were just delightful, and when further complimented by the dancehall and 70's basement settings being intricately decorated, it looks even more appealing. It gets better with the intricate cardboard and dice strewn Ogres & Oubliette's world constructed by the Lord Of Chaos himself, which with Spike's character drawings accenting it gave it a unique charm while having the use of shifting of light and cloud formations along with the magic beams to add much more depth and in-world realism. When you finally factor in the opposite colour shift that caused Fluttershy to go angry and the lovely gradient fade to sundown, it just totals out to a bumper episode of animation goodies that sprung from almost every corner.

This is why I love Discord episodes, in the animation department they add so much variety it’s difficult to say no to it, and after “What About Discord’s” awful display last season, it’s great to see Discord be given free reign again, which this episode benefits from immensely, hence the highest rating possible.

RATING: 5 out of 5.

MESSAGE

Strong messages have been few and far between this season, but I am a bit surprised at how good this one was. Sure, just like many episodes this season, it has relied on simplicity to apply itself to the story, however I have to give this message some credit for building itself up and revealing its true intentions slowly over the episodes run time to create one that really resonates with me as a viewer and one that adds an extra layer of depth that overall makes this episode more enjoyable, and all because it twisted alignment in its final act.

I already alluded at Spike & Big Mac's role reversal and similar attitudes to Discords 'antagonist role' providing the message with more meat than it ever should have, and I'm right in noting it. Big Mac and Spike weren't entirely accepting of Discord in the same way he was of them, and if not for the subtle facial expressions shown throughout, I wouldn't have noticed. Our to protagonists slowly over the course of the episode revealed themselves to be just as demanding and obtuse as Discord was in wanting their game done their way and to see them realise the errors of their ways, rejecting a friend for not co-operating was for me quite deep and showed great progression for them. Spike has shown throughout this season to be incredibly progressive and emotional regarding his relationships, so to see him turn 180 so soon after "The Times They Are A Changeling" may seem a little jarring, but it makes sense in the context of his immaturity, being so enveloped in the game that he forgot how to be inclusive, as did Big Mac, a guy who seemingly outside of his family and a few people, lacks a major social life. To have them not fit their good guy archetypes and have it come out in their dialogue, making the situation realistic to see was refreshing and made the message of not being the self-important people in a GROUP activity stand out even more. I also noted that Discord threw the lesson and moral of the story aside to focus on the fun, which was great at highlighting how fickle all the fighting you'd just seen was. While some may note that as degrading to the impact it had, but in actual fact, at least for me had the opposite effect, making me more inclined to realise these three were so easy to forgive and forget, something that all social relationships must do to thrive. Which is quite fantastic if I dare say so myself.

This message helped build these three characters, and did it under my nose, surprising me when push came to shove. It's a message may will feel undermined itself, but in the context of what I've already elaborated upon in this episode, it makes sense and works its magic to make this episode better. So therefore, I have to give credit where it's due.

RATING: 5 out of 5.

MUSIC

Since the season came back from hiatus, the music category has been pretty consistent, with every episode except "Stranger Than Fan Fiction" achieving at least a three in this department. That can only be seen as a great sign, as William Anderson's score has finally caught up with Dan Ingram & co.'s stalwart musical number performances to create well rounded episodes that continue to audibly please me. However, even with the varied set presented to us in this episode, it is overshadowed by the characters and animation to a point where even at its best, it comes across as muted and subdued.

The episode starts off with Fluttershy & Discord duelling with key changes and instrumental differences reflecting their fluctuating moods in the pre-intro sequence, while the restrained, minimalist slow tempo of Spike & Big Mac meeting Discord at the train station added relatable tension that really amplifies quite a simple scene ever higher than it could be, something that prolongs itself in line with the characters emotions. Once we get to Ogres And Oubliettes, the soft woodwind, typical of medieval fantasy symbolically adds flavour to a lifeless looking board, ramping up in volume as the blunt and harsh brash emphasise Discord getting angrier. The dance-pop of Discord's over the top entrance was a lovely tone shift, while the swing and jazz of the dance hall overwhelmed with the tension reaching boiling point and the intense orchestral score, fitting of the action sequences did their job of ensuring an unassuming RPG world feels frightening enough to be felt by the viewer.

While the sheer variety of this musical selection does win the category its deserved rating, the constant tone and genre shift wasn't to my liking, with some of the music elements either being too understated or abrasive depending on volume. It became difficult to fully grasp them as the animation and writing have to compete with it, causing it to be overlooked as everything the episode was throwing at me was almost an overloading factor. The music either smacked you across the face or passed you by, fitting with how the episode itself was presenting itself. While the music was evenly paced, this fluctuation in presence didn't help them have too much of a lasting effect, as they finished way before I had a chance to embrace them.

While I could have given the category a four through sheer effort, but if that effort isn't noticed, it won't be recognised as such. Oh how stringent I am and how cruel this reviewing malarky is.

RATING: 3 out of 5.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The minute this episode was announced, I was excited beyond belief. This wasn't just at the prospect of another episode featuring my favourite character, but the added prospect of what amazing things this episode could do to entertain me. I am happy to say this episode lived up to its billing, all in all by doing what I didn't expect, showcase social awkwardness and its impact of a group of people so realistically.

Through that, it built tension and anxiety breaking it with well placed comedy but not deterring form its core message and values. This was an episode that was satisfying to watch and understand in every sense of the word. It took something so simple in a Tabletop RPG/friendship story, and made it feel much more than it was, even if many may not see that. It's sort of like "The Last Roundup" of this season, in being so unassuming yet bountiful in equal measure. It also makes me happy to know that for the first time since "Twilight's Kingdom" two seasons ago that Discord has been used to great effect, and that tabletop board games and RPG's were show as accessible and fun, while having abstract elements come through to give it a grounded feel in spite of itself. This episode is, for me one of the most well-rounded episodes I've seen thus far in not just this season but the entire show as a whole.

Some will claim that this episode, much like other episodes this season, did the bare minimum it could with the story and themes it was saddled with and come across as a flat twenty-two minutes to watch, while my love for Discord inflates it to a larger level than it ever could. I respond to that by stating for the first time this season, I can say that one of those types of episodes exceeded my expectations and turned out to be a wonderful watching experience. It was a fun little romp that jumped higher than it needed to, and it worked beautifully.

It may have finished one mark shy of joining "On Your Marks" and "A Hearth's Warming Tail" in this seasons ever-growing representation on my fabled 'Wall Of Fame', but it's nice to see an episode hit this high knowing this season's offerings have barely scratched it. It gives me hope that this season is now starting to pick up some steam, and that can only be a good thing.

FINAL RATING: 20 out of 25.

LETTER GRADE: B+

In relation to other Season 6 episodes, it lines up as follows:

A HEARTH'S WARMING TAIL - 24/25, A
ON YOUR MARKS - 22/25, A-
DUNGEONS & DISCORDS - 20/25, B+
GAUNTLET OF FIRE - 19/25, B+
STRANGER THAN FAN FICTION - 18/25, B
THE SADDLE ROW REVIEW - 13/25, C
FLUTTER BRUTTER - 13/25, C
28 PRANKS LATER - 12/25, C-
THE CRYSTALLING - 12/25, C-
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE - 11/25, C-
THE CART BEFORE THE PONIES - 10/25, D+
THE GIFT OF MAUD PIE - 7/25, D-
NEWBIE DASH - 6/25, D-
NO SECOND PRANCES - 5/25, E+
APPLEJACK'S "DAY" OFF - 4/25, E+

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGELING - #/25, TBD (NOT YET RATED)

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I've been Freddy Thomas, you've been people reading. This has been an MLP Episode Review for The CC Network Blog. I'll see you all next week for the next review.