coughequestriagamescough

rather stupid

I actually am in agreement and was not pleased with the gushing over Ember who had no depth.Yes, Spike was too perfect and, as you said, many times when spike is the "hero", they make the rest of the cast utter moronsI felt good establishing moments for Spike were in, of all things, Secret of my Excess in giving a glimpse into his flaws but also his priorities, but also inspiration Manifestation where he did everything to please rarity, but knew when he had to make it right.I also would lift up "the times are a changeling", which had deeper potential writing barred by a 20 minute time limit with Spike putting his crystal empire fame on the line for the only denizen of the crystal empire who knows him for who he is, risking being judged not only by thepopulace, but by his prior friends as being a traitor to the empire. Kinda really should have been a two parter with Spike facing that rejection in full from Shining until Twilight turns the judgement around, but if mabyes were daisies, we'd have a garden.I'm not gonna defend the writing, but what I gathered was; Spike abused the power for a while, but after Cadance told him "not to veer off of his instructions", he followed them TOO closely and then a bunch of things that only a 4th wall observer would notice could go wrong did go wrong to make it look like Spike was a tool once again.I long for a Spike episode where it properly plays to his strengths and flaws and doesn't treat him like a pratfalling prop. We get glimpses of it here and there; such as when he's assisting Starlight, which is what Celestia groomed him to do for Twilight, and he did very well; keeping her on track and stopping her from overthinking situations.Spike coming off as a sarcastic and somewhat rude character at times seems to better fit what that personality would fall into should all of the advice go unheeded.Yet at the same time, it also shows that Spike shouldn't be such a dunce in most of these situations.