I honestly think he's got it too well off (if he's presented as being the only of his kind then his episodes should reflect that at least a little right?). I need the writers to explore his identity crisis more like they did in "Dragon's Quest" and now "Gauntlet of Fire" (and I guess a little in "Spike at Your Service"). I find it hard to believe that all of Ponyville was suddenly alright with a dragon moving in especially when they knew next to nothing about their behavior (if Fluttershy, an animal expert, had never seen a baby dragon before then it's probably safe to assume nopony else in Ponyville has either). I also assume that because Spike was supported by Princess Celestia when he lived in Canterlot that that could account for the absence of any hostilities towards him while Spike lived with Twilight there. But once in Ponyville for not a one to say "I don't want a dragon moving in near me. He'll grow up and be dangerous!" it just doesn't make sense to me to ignore that type of plot element. Or what of the school fillies remarking about how different he is and saying that the Cutie Mark Crusaders shouldn't hang out with Spike because he's different or something cliche like that. Something as simple as beginning an episode off where Spike is tasked to do something that only a pony is capable of doing and slowly starts to realize all over again that no matter how much he feels like a pony he'll never actually be one (of course at the end of the episode he'll realize that just because he can't do things exactly like a pony doesn't make him any less of one, kind of like the lesson at the end of "Dragon's Quest"). I think that they're ignoring opportunities for good episodes with Spike by simplifying his endeavor and choosing to ignore things that would otherwise make for compelling episodes. Why? I don't know. Either because the ideas get thrown out, aren't seen as show appropriate, or just out of pure laziness and disrespect for the character (I sincerely hope it's not the latter!) All I'm saying is that there's a lot they can use to write meaningful Spike episodes. But that all gets lost with how unrealistically calm they make his living situation out to be (you mention all the reasons Spike has it good in your last reply, all of which I wholeheartedly agree with. Some type of episode where Spike realizes how lucky he is then would work wonderfully. Show then how appreciative he is by physically making him say [to the mane 6]: "I don't know where or what I'd be if not for you guys. Especially you Twilight." <-- That is where I hoped mane series comic MLP:FiM#40 was going but instead it turned out to be a history lesson centered on Twilight's first week or so of class at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns with some hatchling Spike cuteness intermixed. See I have this view of Twilight as Spike's adoptive mother and really hoped to see the comic come out and say something along those lines. It came close but didn't completely 100% deliver on that. It merely suggested it what with Twilight instinctively knowing how to get Spike back to sleep and for the rest of the mane6 to sit teary eyed after listening to Twilight's story about how Spike was raised by her.) Anyways, it's just something to consider. I realize that I'm biased and therefore asking for very specific things. But the things I'm asking for seem so intuitive and doable that it begs the question: why have they not written that yet? Spike has phenomenal writing potential and yet he has some of the weakest episodes on the show. Like I said they're getting better about it now but again they could write so much more/better for him.



I promise this was my last rant here.