Community Post #162 - My Little Headcannon #2 - Putting the 'Dis' in 'Discord'

Community Post #162
Putting the 'Dis' in 'Discord'​

If there's one thing the writers of this show haven't a clue what to do with, it's continue to make villains interesting after they've reformed. We've kinda seen this idea played out around three or four times already and I think it's not always paid off.

I think there's a lot of interesting potential in a Sunset Shimmer that is determined and willing to accept her past as the high-school queen that attempted to enslave the student body to take over the world but now wants to do her best to atone. You could do tons there.

See? Completely trustworthy and OK to give a second chance.​

I like the idea of a Trixie that's still trying to keep her magic career afloat. Mainly because Trixie is a fun character that deserves stories of her own that challenge her egotism and build on her character. Perhaps as a detective that helps out Jonathan Creek style with her knowledge of performance magic. Anything to keep Trixie around is perfect with me. Making her Starlight Glimmer's new friend is an excellent idea.

Maaaainly because Starlight Glimmer appears to have no personality. Here's the issue: what do we know about who Starlight is? The glaring flaw with her is that she sticks out as nearly blank among such vibrant characters she's forced to share a screen with. Other than being a former villain, who is she? It does feel like they want a Sunset Shimmer style character, realising that a character attempting to atone is a decent direction to go in but Starlight doesn't have Sunset's confidence. She's a little nervy and neurotic like Twilight but not to the same degree to call it a defining trait. She is a little arrogant, like Trixie but only a little.

Now that we have to hang around with Starlight, she feels like we're being made to pay attention to the kazoo player in the middle of a full orchestra. Every other character drowns her out, even Fluttershy, just by being a clearer personality.

This is what I think of when I think 'Starlight Glimmer'. Little of that seems to have made it into the character as she is now.​

But, while I ruminate on what I'd do with Ms Glimmer, how about we talk about the other reformed villain I'd argue isn't being utilised properly. Not necessarily because they don't have enough to work with, but more because the writers simply are ignoring the tons of storylines they could do with him.

Discord has the potential to do more. Currently, we've had his part in Tirek which was pretty decent, essentially he was wooed back to villainy then betrayed, setting up how the last key, and the last epiphany, were created. That was neat and was a good idea for Discord to be lead into shoring up his commitment to turning over a new leaf. I also like his vicious dislike for Treehugger as Discord being jealous then doing everything he could think of to neatly sweep her out of the picture made for a perfect vehicle for Discord to be the show stealing goofball we love him for.

An episode where he tries to drive Twilight half-mad using an in-joke was a plodding waste of time, it turns out. Frankly, I was there with Twilight. We need to know why this is funny enough to stretch out for so long!

Here's the thing though, you could totally do more with Discord. Way, way, way, waaay more!

Let's discuss Discord's grandpappy Q for a sec. When Star Trek The Next Generation was unveiled, the new crew were kinda lofty in their ideals. They were from The Federation; a people that promoted peace and had long since eradicated hatred and poverty from their society. They were untouchable. The pinnacle of humanity. The best of the best of the best. If they only wanted peace, who would oppose them?

Well, someone that didn't believe a word of their reported growth and evolution. Enter Q, a being that is basically a god. He appears to belong to something called the Q Continuum (no idea, though judging by what we're told, it seems like a metaphysical country club full of omnipotent jackasses) and has the ability to make whatever he wants happen at will. No limits are ever revealed for his powers though the others of the Q Continuum do revoke his powers for the havoc he causes with them.

No, no! No context for the mariachi band. Just enjoy.​

You see, Q meets with the Enterprise crew and immediately accuses them of being deluded of their growth and understanding based on humanity's past of war and greed. He sees all life like infestations so he doesn't believe anyone on that ship is anything better than a caveman in fancy onesies so puts the whole of the human race on trial with Captain Picard attempting to plead their case. Because Q was also played by John De Lancie, he was popular partly because he was the overarching villain of the show but also because he was stupidly powerful but goofy. De Lancie can chew scenery with the best of them as the arrogant, self-indulgent all-powerful maniac comfortably happy to cause mischief on that ship for his own amusement. When Q turned up, you knew things were going to be flipped upside down.

Discord appears to be rather similar. Haughty and arrogant because his powers allow him to do more or less anything he wants. In a similar way, Discord can chew the scenery like a woodchipper set to somewhere between hyperactive and Robin Williams as the Genie. His popping in and out with some new prop or visual gag was a Q thing too.

The one thing Discord hasn't done is stretched his muscle. One of the reasons Q stuck around, outside of being a much needed spark of anarchy within a show of people acting professionally all the time, is that he was a free reign to do an episode that was completely bonkers for a bit. Sure, the Holodeck allowed characters to step away from the ship but Q allowed for weird stories that didn't fit elsewhere or even alternate world ideas where you saw the future of the crew or what would happen if X, Y or Z were changed, even slightly. If they couldn't science they're way to a plotline, they could use Q.

"Trust me! The robe is intimidating and not like you're cosplaying as an evil chess piece."​

Now, Discord is a magical creature in a magical world but his unique abilities haven't been given any kind of limit or range either. Why not use him to explore some ideas you can't do otherwise? Well, I've been thinking on that. Discord becomes a perfect reasoning for ‘elseworld’ stories or stories where things played out differently? You know Season Five’s alternate universes as Twilight and Starlight buggered up time? Discord could visit those worlds. And more!

Why not?! It could be so cool! Not too often, obviously but it would give us so much to do with the characters. For instance:

Me, Myself and Fluttershy
Simple; how about an entire Equestria that's just as skittish and unconfident as Fluttershy in the middle of a crisis. Perhaps thanks to either an argument or Discord's concern over Fluttershy's distinct behaviour, he decided to prove a point and make everyone just like her. If she can get everything under control, then Discord will fix everything. I like the idea of Discord using his powers to prove a point practically by altering everything around him because...why not? I also like the idea that Discord wants to try to help Discord by giving her a challenge he knows Fluttershy could manage if she pulled her finger out. It could be what the argument that started everything could be about.

Yet Another Applejack's Parents Story
I know, I know! I talked about this before but, again, it's a decent plot to embroil the Apple family in. Perhaps as a poorly thought out gift or granted wish, Discord brings Applejack's parents back to life.

Now, I would like to see the slightly darker version of this where the poor couple just materialises, look around and realise they're horribly out of time. They've missed at least a good decade or so, if we guess at the ages of Applejack and such, of their children's lives. That's something you could easily write about if you wanted a slightly more uncomfortable version of this idea as they attempt to settle with the family again.

You know we'll just keep asking...​

The less dark version would be that Discord makes it that both parents never passed on and Applejack had always had parents. The surprise? Applejack is now an academic, perhaps a lawyer to contest with Applejack's honesty, because her parents insisted that she made something of herself, borking at the idea of Applejack being even anywhere near that backwards little farm. Schooling was thrown at her and she was eventually made into the cutthroat lawyer she is now.

Though, this comes with a possible scene where Applejack has to ask for things to be put back. A little sad but could work.

What If I'd Won
We never got to see what happened if Trixie had succeeded in taking over Ponyville using the Alicorn Amulet. What if Trixie visited that world then decided to try to fix it by convincing Trixie to stop. You could explore the little paranoid kingdom she'd created where all ponies are watched, have to go through a weird ritual everyday to appease the ruler's increasingly bizarre beliefs that simply started with a distrust of wheels. Perhaps they have to gargle hot sauce while dancing as another family member recites the 'Rules of Trixiness'. Trixiness could be a measure of how much a pony acts like Trixie, the pinnacle being Trixie herself, who makes up more rules on the fly because she's nuts by now.

"PEANUT BUTTER IS OUTLAWED FOR BEING TOO STICKY!"​

At least, it might be fun?

The Ponies Are Trapped In...
Discord could do so much for creating another episode like the Power Ponies one. That was fun, so why not...

...A Kung Fu Movie
The martial art movie has many elements that would be great for a fun episode where the mane six get to run around in their own version of House of Flying Daggers. Maybe Discord could turn up as the villain the heroes have to face down. Or, perhaps he's trying to prove that being his friend would be more fun than they think. Lots of jumping around, sword clashes and badly dubbed voice lines.

...A Tabletop Game
I know it's been done before but it's because it's fun. Getting trapped in a classic fantasy setting similar to DnD is pretty straight forward: the ponies are the good guys with Discord acting as the DM. Perhaps Twilight hosts a session of the game but Discord decides he could do better than Twilight's little story. So, proceeds to prove it.

...Computer Games
You could do a lot with this. Possibly even introduce Button Mash as a full character. The idea I like the most is that Fluttershy doesn't like the violent direction of computer games and convinces Discord to help her travel through each one and clean them up in her own opinion. So, Doom would be changed to Pleasant where you give presents to needy puppies. Eventually, Fluttershy goes too far and removes all challenge from the games, making them unappealing to everyone playing. Does she stick to her guns or put everything back for the ponies' she's ruined games for? Do you need to ask that question?

Could use a recent game as some inspiration too...
​

Could work with violent movies or tv too.

...Somepony's Mind
Again, not exactly the most original idea but you could do plenty. Especially with local neurotic Twilight Sparkle. Rummage through personal demons or harmful memories and then the helpful friends attempt to 'fix' whoever they're wandering around. Only they alter the pony in question unrecognisably, making a totally different person that doesn't feel like who they knew. Could tie into a nice little 'even the bad stuff makes a person' moral.

...A Sci-Fi Show
If you wanted to go full meta, why not have Discord place the ponies in a sci-fi setting. Then just make all the jokes you can think of about aliens, space, Star Wars, Doctor Who and Star Trek you can get away with that Red Dwarf hasn't done yet. Maybe a droid Spike or Darth Discord? Honestly, it's more of an excuse for silly stuff than a full episode idea. Not a terrible idea, surely?

The One Man Show
The Mane Six are all missing. Reason? Not known but they're all expected to take part in an important ceremony. Spike convinces Discord to help and now it's up to Discord to impersonate all six ponies long enough to figure out how to get them back. I've always been partial to a farce and one where Discord has to keep things going, growing steadily grumpier about the whole thing as it goes.

Daddy Discord
How about Discord gets convinced that his legacy might one day come to an end and he needs to elect a successor. Except after interviewing possible candidates, he gets the idea to just magic up a son. Except that the son is such a horrible handful that now he wants to get rid of it at any cost.

So, how about that? A few ideas that you could do. Just go nuts. Discord has a few idea there where he could continue to be a bit of a swine. Even so, he's able to take stories and ideas that bit further than any other character. Just take the basics of what made Discord enjoyable and work on them! I don't think it's that hard.

Meanwhile at Hasbro HQ - "What? Yes! Go head! Put it in. If they want Discord so much, put it in the show. How do we make toys out of this again?"​

EDIT

- Site News

One, the chat is down for a bit. We updated the site and the chat appears incompatible. There is an update but it will cost us. It'll take a few more days before I can replace it myself but feel free to donate to help get the chat going again sooner. Thanks for your patience.

- Recommended Reading

As per usual, tons to get through.

I'm trying to get back into writing stuff up on the site. Here's a blog post with a little more of an explanation on why I haven't been writing many reviews recently (also explaining how I've apparently ignored Pokemon Go and a Kingdom Hearts game without any comment).

Speaking off: Kingdom Hearts Unchained X review.

EDIT: Something I was asked to suggest, a friend of mine, .Moth, asked me to signal boost her attempt to get an album of her work. Check it out if you enjoy electronic music. I've liked what I'd heard from her over the years and I hope you do too.

EDIT: It's my sad duty to report that Everypony Radio has been shut down. Simply put, we haven't the energy and enthusiasm to do much with it. We'll continue with streams and such (when I can) but the Radio won't come back for now.

Unless someone wants to try resurrecting it...

Next, more stuff from @Poisonous Nightmare and her various new sources. First, more info on Guardians of Equestria merch from EQD. I looked through it and while some of them looked really cool, this picture made me giggle more than it should have. Just look at Twilight in the middle.

"GRRRRRRRRRRRR!"​

Next, angry Americans! Yaaay! Whether you agree with what the guest on the show is saying or not, it's nice to see how thoroughly she lays into the Fox News host. I have no love for that channel at all so it was fun to watch as he's crushed under the angry tirade.

Should I do the Trump one or not? I dunno...It's Trump saying something inflammatory. It's consuming the internet more than No Man's Sky is. OK, fine. Here's the link.

How about you calm down from that with some pixel art? How about some pixel art IN 3D?! @Prospekt has been busy in Minecraft making some very tall pony statues for us all to ogle at or wish to see consumed in flames, dependant on the individual.

A Rainbow Dash on fire would be pretty metal.

@furbyguy has learned something: it's harder to take down America than it looks.

Finally, we've had some issues with Railgun recently. We're not entirely certain what's been causing them but from what we know of, they appear to have stopped. If you experience this error any further, please let us know.

So, what do you think? Agree with what I say about Discord? Think you could hammer something out of these ideas? Please, go right ahead. I'd love to see what you come up with! Got ideas of your own, I'd love to know as well.

Until next time! I'm going back to my Deep Space Nine marathon. The Federation just managed to invade Cardassian territory and Sisko just found another orb. It's all go right now! Also, Ezri Dax is adorable!

"Hello, I will be your nervy Tinkerbell lookalike for the rest of the season!"​

 

The intention is to explore a character's reaction to their parents disappointment and surprise at their life choices. Applejack seems like the natural fit with an idea that her parents intended for her to be an academic. Or a doctor or something. It also ensures there's something to do once the mystery is finally solved.