History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E17TheTimesTheyAreAChangeling

* TragicBigot: You can hardly blame Cadance and Shining for being paranoid and hostile to changelings after what happened at their wedding.

** In a legal perspective, changelings are considered a criminally dangerous species and any attempt to aid and abet them can be defined as High Treason. Because of this, Spike hesitates to defend Thorax after he loses his disguise in front of the ponies as he is afraid of being reprimanded and declared a traitor by Equestria and the Crystal Empire, even though Thorax has saved his life and showed no hostile intents. Spike is soon ashamed of his reluctance which the ponies consider to be right but is actually wrong in his heart. (Legally Wrong, Morally Right)

** Thorax's problem is almost parallel to what members of certain real life groups go through. He is an example of how not all changelings are born evil but still have to face hostility for his species' past transgressions, especially from those who had themselves suffered from said transgressions and thus feel justified in their prejudice. After witnessing the errors of Chrysalis' ways and being defeated in Canterlot, Thorax became a lonely outcast who was unwanted by everypony, including his own kind, and wandered the lands of Equestria in desperate need of somepony who was willing to provide help with open eyes, open ears, and impartial judgement which is necessary to look past his species and see the true nature of his character.

** In a legal perspective, changelings are considered a criminally dangerous species and any attempt to aid and abet them can be defined as High Treason. Because of this, Spike hesitated to defend Thorax after he lost his disguise in front of the ponies as he was afraid of being reprimanded and declared a traitor by Equestria and the Crystal Empire, even though Thorax had saved his life and showed no hostile intents. Spike is soon ashamed of his reluctance which the ponies consider to be right but is actually wrong in his heart. (Legally Wrong, Morally Right)

** Spike hesitated to defend Thorax after he lost his disguise in front of the ponies as he was afraid of being reprimanded and declared a traitor by Equestria and the Crystal Empire, even though Thorax had saved his life and showed no hostile intents. Spike is soon ashamed of his reluctance which the ponies consider to be right but is actually wrong in his heart. (Legally Wrong, Morally Right)

* LiteralCliffhanger: The third times Spike visits the cave where Thorax he's hidding, he's startled by the changeling having turned into a rock, and walks backward right into the chasm, hanging on the edge. He has to beg Thorax to help him, apologizing for not having stood up for him earlier.

* MeaningfulEcho: When Spike and the Royal Guard are first searching for the "changeling spy", the Guard ask Spike what he knows about changelings; he tells them that "they are changelings, so [[ShapedLikeItself they can change]]". This becomes his primary argument in defense of Thorax in the song "A Changeling Can Change".

** There is a yellow Pegasus Guard who stands out from the rest of the indigo purple Pegasi Guards by having a prominent speaking role in the episode, making him an apparent second-in-command Guardspony to Shining Armor.

** Although unnamed, the yellow Pegasus Guard gets a prominent speaking role and makes a lot of appearances in the episode.

** There is a yellow Crystal Pegasus Guard who stands out from the rest of the indigo purple Crystal Pegasi Guards by having a prominent speaking role in the episode, making him an apparent second-in-command Guardspony to Shining Armor.

** Although unnamed, the yellow Crystal Pegasus Guard gets a prominent speaking role and makes a lot of appearances in the episode.

* OneShotCharacter: Thorax is the very first changeling in the show to have a unique identity and speaking role.[[note]]Kevin technically doesn't count as was only named and given dialogue in the Trading Cards.[[/note]]

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Thorax has a teal green dorsal carapace to differentiate him from the usual navy blue changelings. Also his magic aura is blue, unlike the usual SicklyGreenGlow of the changelings.

* FreudianExcuse: One is provided at for at least ''some'' of the changelings. Thorax explains that he was ''raised'' by Chrysalis, and the scene implies this is the case with other changelings as well.

** Spike must choose between staying honorable to his newfound changeling friend by standing by and defending him (and possibly setting up the Crystal Empire for an invasion as a consequence if it turns out this changeling is deceiving him and really '''is''' a spy) or [[MyCountryRightOrWrong remaining loyal to his adopted homeland and the Empire which hails him as their hero]] (by forsaking his new friend, which is a clear breach of his dragon code and will stain his honor). Spike chooses the former, and Twilight, remembering what happened with her and Trixie in "No Second Prances" along with seeing Spike put so much at risk to defend Thorax, is the first to take his side and offer Thorax her hoof in friendship.

* MyInstinctsAreShowing: When Spike asks Thorax if anypony had showed him kindness before, the latter responds with a ravenous hiss, saying that "kindness like that sort of brings it out". This comes back to bite him hard when he can't control himself around Flurry Heart.

* PlummetPerspective: When Spike narrowly avoids falling down a chasm by grabbing a stalagmite, we see some snow as well as the rock that was falling along with Spike plummet into the darkness.

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: Thorax tries to do this after Spike betrays him, calling himself an "evil changeling". It doesn't last long however and he once again saves Spike from falling off a cliff.

* WallCrawl: We already saw adult changelings walking upside-down on walls in "A Canterlot Wedding – Part 2"; the flashback shows that they are good climbers already as larvae, when crawling all over Queen Chrysalis.

* FreudianExcuse:
** You can hardly blame Cadance and Shining for being a bit paranoid after what happened at their wedding.
** One is provided at for at least ''some'' of the changelings. Thorax explains that he was ''raised'' by Chrysalis, and the scene implies this is the case with other changelings as well.

->Story by Michael Vogel, Kevin Burke and Chris "Doc" Wyatt
->Written by Kevin Burke and Chris "Doc" Wyatt

* AnAesop: This Episode shows that there is a fine line between Legally Right and Morally Right.

* BagOfHolding: Spike's tiny handbag contains not just a big poofy wig, but several other items that looks too big to fit in.

** Spike must choose between staying honorable to his newfound changeling friend by standing by and defending him (and possibly setting up the Crystal Empire for an invasion as a consequence if it turns out this changeling is deceiving him and really '''is''' a spy) or [[MyCountryRightOrWrong remaining loyal to his adopted homeland and the Empire which hails him as their hero]] (by forsaking his new friend, which is a clear breach of his dragon code and will stain his honor). Spike chooses the former, and Twilight, remembering what happened with her and Trixie in "No Second Prances", is the first to take his side and offer Thorax her hoof in friendship.

** Once again, Spike comes up with a LineOfSightName, as he did for Ember in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E5GauntletOfFire "Gauntlet of Fire"]].

* MillionToOneChance: Thorax's birth is a very rare exception to the fact that changelings are born aggressive and subservient to Queen Chrysalis.

** Thorax's travail is an example of how not all changelings are born evil but cannot help being persecuted with extreme prejudice by those that had suffered from his species' past transgressions. After witnessing the errors of Chrysalis' ways and being defeated in Canterlot, he became a lonely outcast who was unwanted by everypony, including his own kind, and wandered the lands of Equestria in desperate need of somepony who was willing to provide help with open eyes, open ears, and impartial judgement which is necessary to look past the stigma of him being a changeling and see the true nature of his character.

* MatchCut: During Spike's song, there his a cut from his triumphant crystal statue to Spike himself in the same pose.

->"''Why can't we imagine a Changeling can change?''"\\
'''Spike, during his song'''

* AbusiveParent: While it's unclear if Chrysalis actually ''is'' Thorax's biological mother (or that of all the Changelings), he explicitly says she raised him meaning she was at least his ParentalSubstitute. Despite this, he's openly terrified of her and she looks upon the infant Changelings with a SlasherSmile.

** Starlight Glimmer is forced to question the extreme lengths that Princess Cadance and Shining Armor will go to protect the Crystal Empire from just ''one'' Changeling trespassing on their lands. The fact that Princess Cadance doesn't agree with it either but considers it necessary means she knows that things are going a bit too far. (Legally Right, Morally Wrong)
** Thorax's travail is an example of how not all Changelings are born evil but cannot help being persecuted with extreme prejudice by those that had suffered from his species' past transgressions. After witnessing the errors of Chrysalis' ways and being defeated in Canterlot, he became a lonely outcast who was unwanted by everypony, including his own kind, and wandered the lands of Equestria in desperate need of somepony who was willing to provide help with open eyes, open ears, and impartial judgement which is necessary to look past the stigma of him being a Changeling and see the true nature of his character.
* AesopAmnesia: Averted. One can be forgiven for believing that Twilight could relapse once again to not accepting a redeemed villain like she did with Trixie, but thankfully, her experience with said mare factored into her accepting the Changeling and convincing her sister-in-law and B.B.B.F.F. to do the same.

* AntiClimax: Spike manages to resolve the conflict by singing a song that instantly makes ponies accept the Changeling with open arms. This only results when Twilight is the first to step forward to accept Thorax, as the Princess of Friendship, and her speech convinces her sister-in-law and B.B.B.F.F. to overlook their past experience with Chrysalis and give Thorax a chance, complete with Shining Armor offering his apologies on his and Cadance's behalf for their earlier behavior.

--> '''Cadance:''' ''[in a disapproving tone of voice]'' Spike! Twilight told me that you were off with a friend...\\

* BrainyBaby: As Thorax can attest to this, Changelings are already sentient upon hatching from their eggs.

** Spike interrogates a rock in the beginning to make sure it isn't a Changeling. Later, Spike turns over one to find Thorax, to find that he turned into one to hide.
** Spike saves himself from falling down a chasm by grasping a stalagmite, which he then kisses in gratitude. Later, fleeing in panic from the Changeling, he bumps into the very same stalagmite and falls down the chasm.
* TheBusCameBack: Aside from small cameos in "Slice of Life" and "The Crystalling", this episode marks the return of the Changelings to a major role.

** 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]]". Flurry Heart's Crystalling is also mentioned as having filled the Empire with love, and being the likely reason it is attracting Changelings.

** The reason that the Crystal Empire fears that Thorax could be a spy, and for Shining Armor and Cadance in particular to be so hostile, is because the ''last'' time ponies encountered Changelings, it was in the form of [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E25ACanterlotWeddingPart1 their Queen replacing Cadance and brainwashing Shining Armor]] in order to [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 pave the way for a full-fledged invasion of Canterlot]]. Thorax himself was present during the attack on Canterlot, as we see during a flashback, and it marked the start of his HeelFaceTurn.

* CassandraTruth: The Crystal Empire guards laugh when Spike tells them that he made friends with a Changeling, thinking it's a hilarious joke. Shining Armor also assumes Spike is joking, though he [[DudeNotFunny doesn't laugh]].
* ChangelingTale: The Crystal Empire's primary concern over a "Changeling spy" is that the Changeling would replace Flurry Heart and feed off everypony's love for her. Since it ''has'' happened to Cadance before, they'd be ProperlyParanoid if it had been any changeling other than Thorax.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Thorax has a teal green dorsal carapace to differentiate him from the usual navy blue Changelings. Also his magic aura is blue, unlike the usual SicklyGreenGlow of the Changelings.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Thorax is a Changeling, but the first to show that not all of them share Chysalis's mindset and just want to live in peace.

* DudeNotFunny: The reason Shining Armor isn't amused by Spike's CassandraTruth "joke" is because ItsPersonal. The last time Changelings showed up, their Queen had [[ChangelingTale replaced his bride]] and [[MindRape brainwashed him with a spell]].

* FantasticRacism: While Thorax is suspected of being a spy for the Changelings, intolerance towards his species also plays a huge role in everypony else's hostility, best displayed when Shining Armor shoots down Spike's CassandraTruth with a very blunt "There's no such thing as a nice Changeling."
* {{Flashback}}: Thorax has one to the day of his birth, then to the events of the Changeling invasion of Canterlot.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: A small bit when Spike is interrogating a rock under suspicion of being a Changeling, despite past appearances implying they could only change into ponies. Thorax later proves that Changelings can in fact shapeshift into non-living objects like a rock.

** One is provided at for at least ''some'' of the Changelings. Thorax explains that he was ''raised'' by Chrysalis, and the scene implies this is the case with other Changelings as well.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire: Normally, Changelings feed off love by VampiricDraining. Thorax, however, strongly aspires to form genuine friendships with others and use that mutual bond as a substitute for this.

* MeaningfulEcho: When Spike and the Royal Guard are first searching for the "Changeling spy", the Guard ask Spike what he knows about Changelings; he tells them that "they are Changelings, so [[ShapedLikeItself they can change]]". This becomes his primary argument in defense of Thorax in the song "A Changeling Can Change".

* MonochromePast: Although not quite black and white nor sepia, the flashback to the Changeling invasion from "A Canterlot Wedding – Part 2" has desaturated colors.

** Spike must choose between staying honorable to his newfound Changeling friend by standing by and defending him (and possibly setting up the Crystal Empire for an invasion as a consequence if it turns out this Changeling is deceiving him and really '''is''' a spy) or [[MyCountryRightOrWrong remaining loyal to his adopted homeland and the Empire which hails him as their hero]] (by forsaking his new friend, which is a clear breach of his dragon code and will stain his honor). Spike chooses the former, and Twilight, remembering what happened with her and Trixie in "No Second Prances", is the first to take his side and offer Thorax her hoof in friendship.

* OneShotCharacter: Thorax is the very first Changeling in the show to have a unique identity and speaking role.[[note]]Kevin technically doesn't count as was only named and given dialogue in the Trading Cards.[[/note]]
* PapaWolf: His deep-seated prejudice aside, Shining Armor's primary motivation is to protect his daughter from the threat of Changelings coming after her.

* ProperlyParanoid: Turns out there ''is'' a Changeling, and everypony knows what happened with Cadance and Shining Armor before their wedding. Fortunately, Thorax [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch is different from other Changelings]].

* TheScottishTrope: The Crystal Ponies are scared enough that they even avoid using the word "Changeling", instead just mentioning "the... 'you know'."
* ShapedLikeItself: Spike helpfully points out to the guards that "... they are Changelings, so they can change." Thank you, CaptainObvious.

* SuddenlyVoiced: This is the first time in the show that a Changeling in its true form other than Chrysalis speaks.
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: Thorax tries to do this after Spike betrays him, calling himself an "evil Changeling". It doesn't last long however and he once again saves Spike from falling off a cliff.

* TokenHeroicOrc: Thorax is this to the rest of the Changelings, desiring true friendship rather than draining love through deception.

* WhatNowEnding: Thorax is the very first Changeling to have welcome residence in the Crystal Empire and to start learning about friendship. Though he states that one day he'll go back to his kind to share this knowledge, the future for him and the Crystal Empire is still beyond certain.

* WitchHunt: Reports of a Changeling spy, a member of an enemy nation of shapeshifters, having infiltrated the Crystal Empire have sent the entire Empire into a panic, with everypony suspecting everypony else of being the Changeling, the entire populace hiding indoors, and Cadance and Shining sending the Crystal Empire Guards out in force to find and, if necessary, subdue this supposed Changeling spy for the Empire's safety.

** Twilight also has a similar interaction as her expression changes from anger to sympathy during the course of the song as she realizes how much Spike is willing to risk losing his fame and his friendships with her, her family, and her friends, for Thorax. This is mostly due to being reminded of what happened with Trixie back in ''No Second Prances''. Twilight was about to make the same mistakes again with Thorax.

** Twilight also has a similar interaction as her expression changes from anger to sympathy during the course of the song as she realizes how much Spike is willing to risk losing his fame and his friendships with her, her family, and her friends, for Thorax.

* TheDreaded: The idea of the changelings returning terrifies everyone in the Crystal Empire, and even Thorax himself is shown to be terrified of Queen Chrysalis.
* DudeNotFunny: The reason Shining Armor isn't amused by Spike's CassandraTruth "joke" is because ItsPersonal. The last time Changelings showed up, their Queen had [[ChangelingTale replaced his bride]].