History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E17TheTimesTheyAreAChangeling

** Refusing to take any chances with a member of a dangerous species is necessary to prevent any future threats but persecuting them with extreme prejudice can potentially backfire. (Legally Right, Morally Wrong)

** Spike must choose between staying honorable to his newfound Changeling friend and defending him or remaining in the good graces of Equestria and the Crystal Empire.

* FantasticRacism: While the changeling that Spike befriends is suspected of being a spy for the Changeling Kingdom, the promos do imply that intolerance towards the former's species also plays a huge role in everypony else's hostility.

* WitchHunt: While perhaps not in the sense of racial persecution, just the report of a Changeling spy in the area has sent the entire Crystal Empire into a panic. As a result, Cadance and Shining have put the Crystal Empire Guards out in force to find and, if necessary, subdue this supposed Changeling spy for the Empire's safety.

** Cadance and Shining Armor must choose between having the Changeling swiftly dealt with for the Empire's safety or listening to Spike as he tries to reason with them. It will most likely be a difficult decision due to their fear of Changelings which are firmly rooted on an unpleasant experience from the past.

** Cadance and Shining Armor must choose between having the Changeling swiftly dealt with for the Empire's safety or listening to Spike as he tries to reason with them. Given their justified fear and unpleasant past experiences with Changelings, it will most likely be a difficult decision.

** Spike must choose between defending his Changeling friend or remaining in the good graces of Equestria and the Crystal Empire.
** Cadance and Shining Armor must choose between having the Changeling swiftly dealt with for the Empire's safety or listening to Spike as he tries to reason with them.

* PapaWolf: If Shining Armor's attitude and combat readiness are any indication, he definitely has no intention of letting the suspected Changeling spy go anywhere near his wife and daughter. Whether he is at least willing to hear out Spike and the Changeling remains to be seen.

* TheBusCameBack: Aside from a small cameo in ''Slice of Life'', this episode marks the return of the Changelings to a major role.

* ContinuityNod: This episode is a follow-up to the last shot of the Changeling seen flying toward the Crystal Empire at the end of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E2TheCrystallingPart2 The Crystalling - Part 2]]".

* FantasticRacism: While the changeling that Spike befriends is suspected of being a spy, the promos do imply that intolerance towards the former's species also plays a huge role in everypony else's hostility.
* PapaWolf: If Shining Armor's attitude and combat readiness are any indication, he definitely has no intention of letting the Changeling go anywhere near his wife and daughter.

* WitchHunt: Shining Armor and the Crystal Empire Guards are out in force, ready to find and, if necessary, subdue the Changeling spy for the safety of Princess Cadance and the Crystal Empire.

* PraetorianGuard: Shining Armor and the Crystal Empire Guards are out in force, ready to find and, if necessary, subdue the Changeling spy for the safety of Princess Cadance and the Crystal Empire.

* PapaWolf: If Shining Armor's attitude is any indication, he definitely has no intention of letting the Changeling go anywhere near his wife and daughter.

* PapaWolf: If Shining Armor's attitude is any indication, he definitely has no intention of letting the Changeling near his wife and daughter.

* BlingOfWar:

* EmergencyAuthority: Princess Cadance and Shining Armor have put the Crystal Empire on curfew, with its citizens staying indoors and the Crystal Guardsponies on high alert patrolling the city, until the threat of a Changeling spy has safely passed.

* TitledAfterTheSong: The title is a reference to the Creator/BobDylan song "The Times They are a-Changin'".

* FantasticRacism: While the changeling that Spike befriends is suspected of being a spy, the promos do imply that intolerance towards the former's species plays a huge role in everypony else's hostility.

* FantasticRacism: Spike has to face the adversity of intolerance against his changeling friend from everypony else in the Crystal Empire.

* ShoutOut: The title is a reference to the Creator/BobDylan song "The Times They are a-Changin'".

The [[http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-the-times-they-are-a-changeling/EP013304160144?aid=zap2it official synopsis from Zap2it]] is: "When Spike travels with Twilight and Sunburst back to the Crystal Empire to visit Flurry Heart, they discover the entire empire in a panic due to the reported presence of Changeling spy.
"

* FantasticRacism: Spike has to face the sudden adversity of intolerance against his changeling friend from everypony else in the Crystal Empire.

* ContinuityNod: This episode is a follow-up to the last shot of the Changeling seen flying toward the Crystal Empire at the end of The Crystalling - Part 2.

The [[http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-the-times-they-are-a-changeling/EP013304160144?aid=zap2it official synopsis from Zap2it]] is: "When Spike travels with Twilight and Sunburst back to the Crystal Empire to visit Flurry Heart, they discover the entire empire in a panic due to the reported presence of Changeling [sic] spy.