History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E11KeepCalmAndFlutterOn

** Despite being one of their most dangerous foes who plunged their entire world in chaos and basically broke apart their friendship (temporarily) and pretty much being a massive jerk, The biggest reaction the Mane Six have to Discord's return is just minor annoyance...''at best''.

** The Mane Six are rightfully concerned and shocked when they see Princess Celestia bring Discord's statue to them, but it mostly gives way to only minor annoyance than outright terror, and they quickly free him.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Not the whole reformation plotline, mind you, but some fans were hoping to learn about Discord's origins or see him [[FoeYay interact with Celestia again]] and felt let down that the episode was entirely focused on Discord and Fluttershy.

* VindicatedByHistory: Some of the flak toward the episode softened when the "Princess Twilight Sparkle" two-parter showed that just because Discord is officially reformed, doesn't mean he's been nerfed in any fashion.
** As of the Series 4 finale, we now know ''why'' Celestia wanted Discord reformed. That probably helps too. It also gives Discord a fuller HeelFaceTurn due to being tempted by Tirek and realising BeingEvilSucks.

** Was Twilight planning to use a "[[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood reformation spells]]" on Discord {{Hypocrit|e}}cal for turning the same {{Brainwashing}} he [[KickTheDog was a bad guy for using on others]] before he even had a chance to reform, or justifiable given [[GodzillaThreshold how dangerous Discord could be]] and [[ProperlyParanoid he was up to something]] (at the time)?

* VindicatedByHistory: Some of the flak toward the episode softened when the "Princess Twilight Sparkle" two parter showed that just because Discord is officially reformed, doesn't mean he's been nerfed in any fashion.

** As of the Series 4 finale, we now know ''why'' Celestia wanted Discord reformed. That probably helps too.

** Is this a good [[AnAesop lesson]]? How often has playing nice reformed RealLife enemies? On the other hoof, would it have been a good lesson ''not'' to reform him? There's no easy answer.

*** And Discord/Celestia shippers have their own ideas on why she wanted him reformed...

* ItsShortSoItSucks: A lot of bronies complain that the episode was rushed and needed to be fleshed out more, as seen in the BrokenBase example.

** On a lighter note, does Celestia ''really'' have a use for Discord's powers? Or was she just using that as an excuse to try and reform him? ([[spoiler:the season 4 finale confirms it's the former.]])
** On the other hand, did Discord really reform and [[HeelFaceTurn turn for the better]] or [[ISurrenderSuckers did he fake his redemption the entire time]] so he could cause more chaos and mayhem [[ForTheEvulz for the fun of it]]? [[spoiler:Season 4 splits the difference: he really does value Fluttershy's friendship, enough to not turn back to evil when the threat of losing it is literally the only thing stopping him when the Mane Six are forced to give up the Elements, but that doesn't mean his KarmicTrickster persona has changed at all.]]

** Another complaint is that Celestia decides to redeem Discord because she found some use for his magic. Seeing as [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Discord is one of the few things Celestia will readily admit to being scared of]], this is jarring. It might have been understable if she said what that use was but still, releasing Discord is a GodzillaThreshold level resort.

** Every fanbase has their fanfics about [[DracoInLeatherPants reforming major villains]], and [[spoiler:it's now canon for Discord]]. Coincidentally, [[Fanfic/BrokenSpirit one of them had Fluttershy be the redeemer.]]

** Every fanbase has their fanfics about [[DracoInLeatherPants reforming major villains]], and [[spoiler:it's now canon for Discord]]. Ironically, [[Fanfic/BrokenSpirit one of them had Fluttershy be the redeemer.]]

** On the other hand, did Discord really reform and [[HeelFaceTurn turn for the better]] or [[ISurrenderSuckers did he fake his redemption the entire time]] so he could cause more chaos and mayhem [[ForTheEvulz for the fun of it]]?

* FridgeHorror: Can also count as a BrokenAesop or FamilyUnfriendlyAesop; "If you're kind and friendly enough to a JerkAss, then that person might someday be friends with you" goes the tragic mantra of abuse victims.

** On a lighter note, does Celestia ''really'' have a use for Discord's powers? Or was she just using that as an excuse to try and reform him? ([[spoiler:the season 4 finale confirms it's the former.]]

** On a lighter note, does Celestia ''really'' have a use for Discord's powers? Or was she just using that as an excuse to try and reform him?

** Did Fluttershy really want to become Discord's friend or was she manipulating him to get what she wanted? Consider the line, "I'm just trying to gain his friendship any way I can so that he'll trust and listen to me!"]

** Was [[spoiler:Fluttershy]] pulling a XanatosGambit by [[spoiler: assuming her loyalty to Celestia trumped her promise to Discord and she would have used her Element on him if he didn't reform?]]
** Did Fluttershy really want to become Discord's friend or was she manipulating him to get what she wanted? Consider the line, [[spoiler:"I'm just trying to gain his friendship any way I can so that he'll trust and listen to me!"]]

** Now that [[spoiler:[[HeelFaceTurn reformed]] Discord]] is officially canon, it should be useful to fanfic writers.

** Discord's last statement before being frozen again in "The Return of Harmony" was a sarcastic "''Friend me''". That's Fluttershy's plan this episode [[spoiler: and it works. Discord even admits that Friendship ''is'' Magic.]] He also sarcastically states in "The Return of Harmony" that "maybe the magic of friendship can help you."

* JerkassWoobie: Discord, of all people, when he [[spoiler:[[HeelRealization realizes]] how much Fluttershy's friendship really meant to him]].

* VindicatedByHistory: Some of the flak toward the episode softened when the "Princess Twilight Sparkle" two parter showed that [[spoiler:just because Discord is officially reformed,]] doesn't mean he's been nerfed in any fashion.

* TakeThatScrappy: Discord's mistreatment of Angel bunny.

** Discord is one of the very few things that can [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness make Celestia display fear and worry in front of her subjects]], and he outclasses her and the Mane Six in both power and cunning. Yet she decides to let him out of his prison on the off-change that Fluttershy can redeem him.

** Fan videos involving Discord singing "[[Disney/{{Aladdin}} You're Only Second Rate]]" are now all the more humorous at the lyric "Granny's gonna grab ya."

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Was [[spoiler:Fluttershy]] pulling a XanatosGambit the whole time, [[spoiler: assuming her loyalty to Celestia trumped her promise to Discord and she would have used her Element on him if he didn't reform?]]
** And on that note, did Fluttershy really want to become Discord's friend, or was she just manipulating him to get what she wanted? If the line, [[spoiler:"I'm just trying to gain his friendship any way I can so that he'll trust and listen to me!"]] is any indication.
* AngstWhatAngst: This episode confirms that Discord was [[AndIMustScream conscious the entire time he's been turned into a stone]], but he's still not bothered.
** To a degree, Celestia. Discord is one of the very few things that can [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness make Celestia display fear and worry in front of her subjects]], and he outclasses her and the Mane Six in both power and cunning. Yet this episode makes it seem she made the decision to free and reform him essentially on a whim with no deliberation, nor does she bother to set up some sort of backup plan in case Discord neutralizes the Elements like [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 last time]] (though she DOES make it so he can't just take them like last time).
* BrokenBase: The idea of an episode reforming a big-name villain like Discord had already split the fandom since the synopsis was first released. Upon viewing the episode, many felt that the ending was rushed, but fans are split on whether that completely ruined the episode or not.
** Another complaint is that Celestia decides to redeem Discord seemingly on a whim. Seeing as [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Discord is one of the few things Celestia will readily admit to being scared of]], this is rather jarring.
** Furthermore, is this a good [[AnAesop lesson]]? How often has playing nice reformed RealLife enemies? It didn't work for [[WorldWarII Neville Chamberlain]]. But would it have been a good lesson ''not'' to reform him? There's no easy answer, it seems.
* FanficFuel: Now that [[spoiler:[[HeelFaceTurn reformed]] Discord]] is officially canon, that ought to be quite useful to fanfic writers.

* HilariousInHindsight: Every fanbase has their fanfics about [[DracoInLeatherPants reforming major villains]], and [[spoiler:it's now canon for Discord]].
** Ironically, [[Fanfic/BrokenSpirit one of them had Fluttershy be the redeemer.]]
** Discord's last statement before being frozen again in "The Return of Harmony" was a sarcastic "''Friend me''". That's Fluttershy's plan this episode. [[spoiler: And it works, to the point of Discord admitting Friendship ''is'' Magic.]] He also sarcastically states in "The Return of Harmony" that "maybe the magic of friendship can help you."

* ItsShortSoItSucks: A lot of bronies complain that the episode was way too rushed and needed to be fleshed out more, as seen in the BrokenBase example.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Not the whole reformation plotline, mind you. However, some fans who were hoping to learn about Discord's origins or see him [[FoeYay interact with Celestia again]] felt somewhat let down that the episode was almost entirely focused on Discord and Fluttershy.
** With regard to the episode itself, people were expecting to see Discord try juggling his usual chaos with still being Fluttershy's friend, perhaps trying to convert her to his way of life, but the story just comes to an abrupt end instead of going anywhere with that.

** The complaint comes down to many fans feeling that Discord stops at the end simply because Fluttershy asks him to, without sufficient buildup for why Fluttershy matters that much to him.