Journal Of Good Animation- Times Are A Changeling

This episode starts with Twilight and Glimmer on the train to the Crystal empire, we get a good joke from Starlight and then we see Spike is also on the train and he is in a disguise so he doesn't get swamped. Starlight mocks him but when they get off the train, there is no one around, and only when Spike removes his disguise do the ponies finally swarm. It takes Twilight way too long to realize changelings are around though. All the ponies are talking about appearances and not believing them and she can't put the dots together. It is a small point but Twi should know. They meet up with the royal guards and Cadence does the hand-shake to prove Twilight's identity. Then, Shining Armour fills them in on the changeling situation and sends Spike with the guards to find the changeling. We get some good dialogue from Spike and Twi, and Spike leads the guards out on the hunt. After he sends them to fan out, he realizes that the changeling could be anything so he interrogates a rock and then falls into a pit. We get a nice scene where the changeling tries to match Spike's reflection but it falls on the ice. This spooks Spike who falls off the edge but the changeling saves him. Spike asks why and we get his backstory, his name is Thorax and he was involved in the attack in A Canterlot Wedding, however he never felt welcome among his fellow changelings and after seeing the mane six, he fled. However, since he doesn't want to feed over their love, he is starving as no one wants to even talk to him. Spike tells him that he is popular and he should be able to rally some support, but when he goes back, the guards think he is joking and this angers Shining Armour who gives Spike a ticking off as his family was almost destroyed by the attack. His serious tone will helps this episode and it is one of the reasons it is so good. It presents a balanced argument over a serious issue and it makes everyone understandable. Every character is likable here and they all have clear reasons for their views. Thorax wants a second chance, Spike believes in him, and the Crystal Empire hates them for what they did. It is Bridal Gossip done right to a major degree. In that episode, Zecora was hated because of rumors and we were never given any reason to like her. In this episode, Spike is saved right out of the gate so we know he is good, but the ponies have a true reason to hate him. Anyway, Spike goes back and tells Thorax he failed but comes up with a new plan, just have Thorax shape-shift into a pony. Spike takes him in and they go around interacting with ponies and the plan seems to work. However, Thorax is presented with Flurry Heart and the love overpowers him, causing him to reveal his disguise. Spike doesn't stand up for him and he flees, Spike feels awful and this is shown. Spike's characterization is perfect here. He feels caught between his friends and what he believes to be right, he is actually respected for a change and he feels the pain of his actions. Also, the Spike Brave and Glorious thing is hilarious, Spike is obviously a Roode fan. Anyway, Spike goes to find Thorax at the ice pit and they talk and Spike apologizes, promising to do the right thing. We then a tense scene, where Spike admits Thorax is his friend and tries to convince the other ponies. The song here is really good and it rounds up the episode nicely. They have a good ending where they accept Thorax and there is a few nice moments with Twilight. Overall, this is my new favorite episode of the season, it is phenomenal, there is some nice comedy but the story is where this one shines. It gives so many morals and lessons in a few scenes it is impressive. Spike learns to not succumb to peer pressure, there is the moral to give second chances as well as there can be good people in a bad group. There is a moral that sometimes you have to be prepared to put everything on the line for a friend. The story is tense and heart-warming in parts. The song is great, and Spike is brilliant. He is actually treated well and proves himself in a big way. All the ponies are understandable and likable and the story is done really well.