Episode review: E7S15: "Triple Threat"

Clearly the writers are still a little bit in meta mode

Another episode exactly a week from the last, without any other TV station deciding to get in early? What sorcery is this? Still, it makes things easier for the likes of me. "Triple Threat" was written by Josh Hamilton, who wrote the excellent "Parental Glideance", so I was hoping for the significant improvement in Spikeisode quality of late to be maintained. Past the cut we go!

It was, too. While I don't think this is as good as either Hamilton's debut or the impressive "Gauntlet of Fire", it's another entertaining episode to continue S7's generally strong performance. The story itself is slight, and it's one of those where the problem could have been sorted out with about three seconds' logical thought (you listening, Twi?) but never mind.

Among the main characters in this ep, Ember steals the show with some ease. To the extent that I understand anime-speak (barely at all) she seems to be playing up the tsundere-ness even more than before. She also has most of the best lines, especially her amusing impression that Starlight and Twilight are basically the same pony. (Let's face it, we've all thought it at times.)

Oh, Ember, and you thought Gilda making Fluttershy cry was bad...

Ember also eats a good chunk of Twilight's castle, which will please those fans still annoyed about the eyesore cluttering up Ponyville. What will not please most fans is Ember snatching a muffin from Derpy so she can smear it all over the wall. (Don't you just love the fact that, in this episode, that is an entirely logical, if misguided, thing for her to do?)

Thorax isn't bad but is rather less interesting than Ember, even when he takes angry-bear form (where's Fluttershy when you need her?), but he plays off her okay. What looks like being more significant, though, is Thorax's comment about not all his hive being on board with his new Nice Changeling philosophy. That's clearly something that's not just going to be left hanging...

Spike getting called by the map is an interesting one – although Twilight's comment about the map "reaching out" is ill-timed, it's also accurate. It looks more and more as though it's going to be kept as a plot device for some time to come. Having his scales (oddly called "spikes" by Starlight at one point) glow works pretty well as a flashing-cutie-mark substitute, too.

"You will stay in the comfy chair until lunchtime!"

Other matters arising: Lyra gets a speaking role for the first time since "Slice of Life". Twilight likes chairs – and so does Thorax, when he finally gets comfortable. Ember still doesn't get hugs – Garble wasn't allowed to explain, remember! And Ember is allowed to say she's bad at friendship but nobody else is allowed to tell her. I want her to meet Moondancer now.

So, then, a decent enough episode and it certainly passes the time for 22 minutes without many problems. I suppose this falls into the "enjoyable filler" category (except maybe for Thorax's obvious foreshadowing) but I can live with that. Twilight may be guiltily recalling "I'll make a friendship problem!" after Spike has unintentionally done just that, though...

Best quote: Ember: "I think I'm allergic to feelings."

Yays

• Another entertaining Spike ep
• Ember is good value
• Fun scenes for LyraBon and Derpy
• Intriguing hints of unrest in the changeling hive

Neighs

• Common sense would have avoided the entire problem
• Thorax can still be a bit dull

★★★