MLP Episode 715: Triple Threat

I'm really torn on this one, but let's see how Triple Threat fares, shall we?

The first question in regards to this episode; is it better than Fame and Misfortune? Yes. But is it a huge improvement? Not necessarily. I mean, I don't think Triple Threat is as great as A Royal Problem or The Perfect Pear, but it isn't that heinously terrible either. It's just... okay.

My initial bugbear (not literally, of course) with the episode as well as To Change a Changeling (which I'll cover soon enough) was Thorax himself. Excluding the EG characters, he's very much the worst character of the franchise. And it all boiled down to how his introduction was handled; very poorly and the theme of standing up for yourself makes him a coward! I'm not even kidding; he relied entirely on Spike to show he was a good Changeling. Not only that, the theme just comes off as too idealistic ignoring the harsh realities of the world. What can you do when your friends aren't there for you?

Look at Rainbow Dash in Sonic Rainboom; because she was being mocked by ponies from her foalhood, it messed with her confidence in the Best Young Flyer Competition. It was only when Rarity and a few Wonderbolts were in danger that she had to save them from being killed and simultaneously pull off what she was trying to achieve (and had already done so in foalhood) earlier in the episode.

A similar case was made for Fluttershy and Spike in Hurricane Fluttershy and Equestria Games, respectively. Both were letting their fears and anxieties get the better of them and they needed to rely on their inner strength - as well as ponies needing help in Fluttershy's case - to save the day. And if you bring all three episodes into consideration, what does it say for Thorax, a character we've just met? It destroys any chance he has of becoming a likable, sympathetic character... if I had any for him to begin with...

I bring those episodes up because the theme makes Thorax a bigger wuss than I'm viewing him, and heck, even To Where and Back Again puts his character to shame! No, not his redesign. I'm talking about Starlight's role here. She was facing anxiety as a leader, and she managed to save the day by relying not only on her teammates' strategies, but her own inner strength as well. Seriously, if Starlight at her worst has more confidence than you, then you really need to seek help.

...what was I talking about again? Oh yeah, Triple Threat. Like I said, it's not the best episode of the season, but it's far from atrocious. The main issue I got with it is that it borders on predictability. Considering Spike's competence during season six - as well as what he'd seen Twilight freak out over - you'd think he'd have gotten over that issue by now. Then again, it should've been abandoned after season four... or is it five?

That being said, I think the episode really shines with Ember; for the screentime she's given, she's displayed more charisma than Thorax in his season six starring roles, and her reactions to how friendship is handled in Ponyville are really fun to watch. The highlight was probably her eating Twilight's castle walls, which is funny yet... strange. Spike lives there 24/7; how does he manage to avoid the temptations of a midnight snack?

Another oddity is Spike being connected to the Cutie Map, and that sends some really odd implications; does that mean every creature in Equestria is connected to it somehow? At least with Starlight in A Royal Problem, she had fiddled with the map prior to said episode, so her connection to it made sense... sort of.

I will say this, though; the gag where Ember confuses her with Twilight is actually a pretty funny meta joke, and unlike the "jokes" in Fame and Misfortune, it didn't feel out of place at all. And it's actually relevant! I was a bit worried, I admit, that there would be a racist implication that "all ponies looked alike", but fortunately, that wasn't the case, and it's rightly dismissed before it becomes a serious issue.

For a plot that comes off as predictable at best and muddled at worst (especially since Spike would've known Thorax and Ember wouldn't kill each other upon first meeting), the theme is probably the best Josh Hamilton has displayed so far in regards to Thorax and Ember - nobody's a perfect leader. The same also applies to all cultures being different, unlike in Not Asking for Trouble, which was a real time-waster.

Final Thoughts

This episode just barely avoids mediocrity. I still find Thorax to be unlikable and unsympathetic, the plot comes off as confusing, and Spike kind of backpedals when it comes to character development. But... Ember comes off as a strong character, the themes are really good, and there's a few funny jokes here and there, so I can't be too harsh. Out of the episodes I've given a 6/10, however, this one is probably the weakest, and it might've gotten a worse rating if it wasn't for the themes.

Rating: 6 out of 10