Well I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with this episode.

Now I’ve always been a good enough fan of Spike for a long time (The role he has in I Dream of Twilight Sparkle should attest to that). But I am very well aware that the quality of episodes starring him were almost always well below the standards set by the episodes involving the Ponies. And nearly everytime a possible step forward was made for Spike, something happens to make it two steps back.

(Example: While Dragon Quest was full of missed potential it did have the introduction of Pee Wee, who could of been Spike’s own companion. A dragon with a pet phoenix would be awesome, but then we learn later Spike gave Pee Wee back to the parents. I know that was perhaps the right thing to do, but I still can’t help they missed the opportunity of having a recurring Phoenix character)

Now I wouldn’t say Spike’s track record is completely on the low-end of the scale. As Secret of my Excess from Season 2 is probably the most popular one. And I’d even say most of the Season 4 input for Spike wasn’t too bad either (Opinions are mixed on Power Ponies. But Inspiration Manifestation and Equestria Games are all good Spike episodes. Even if for the latter you have to willing to ignore that how’s they decided to end the whole Equestria Games arc they seemed to have been building up to since Season 3 to appreciate it as such) but regardless because of the other episodes feeling like filler, weren’t interesting, or worse. Spike episodes have the reputation of something you have to lower your expectations in order to find enjoyment in.

But I think for once we may have an exception. Cause I feel Gauntlet of Fire may have been our best Spike episode so far. There is still some of the unfortunate implications left over from Dragon Quest (Doesn’t help that Rarity makes derogatory remarks about Dragons right in front of Spike again), but otherwise we got some strong worldbuilding. And a character or two that proves not every dragon in the dragonlands are complete jerks. Already it makes up for a lot of my misgivings with Dragon Quest.

While there were certainly very predictable moments here and there. The last time something unpredictable happened with Spike was in Princess Spike where the things that Spike were doing a good deed was what punished him more then when he did give in to greed. That’s not the kind of surprise I’d like. A good execution of what we’ve seen before is better then a bad surprise.

And I am very satisfied with Princess/Dragon Lord Ember as a character for finally showing Spike isn’t the only good one. It’s been something I’ve wanted to see since Dragon Quest. Ember’s awkwardness with friendship even comes off like a quirky trait to her. I’d even say Ember’s father Torch may also actually be a good dragon inside when you think about how Equestria has been just fine with him as Dragon Lord. Torch saying Ember shouldn’t compete could come off as a father just trying to protect his daughter, only to graciously accept her succession when she proves him wrong.

So this episode has excellent characterization for Spike, interesting worldbuilding for Equestria’s dragons, awesome new dragon character(/s), good moments of action and even humor. I’d say it’s a pretty solid episode. And I’d even say it was better then last week’s.

And I’ll definitely have some things to put into account for a future story I’m thinking for in Genie Twi. There are some thing I had in mind that will have to be revised because of this episode but otherwise I feel this episode actually helps a lot with what I have in mind. The story will have to wait until sometime after Season 6 is done. But I assure you this episode will be hugely put into account.