History YMMV / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E5GauntletOfFire

* HilariousInHindsight: ''Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendsForeverIssue14'' already featured Spike both discovering that not all dragons are complete {{Jerkass}}es and befriending an EnsembleDarkhorse female dragon.

* SalvagaedStory:

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** After "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E21DragonQuest Dragon Quest]]" received numerous accusations of TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot by having hardly any examination of dragon culture in favor of a simplistic peer pressure moral, this one is far more of what people wanted back then.
** The episode also introduces Princess Ember who, while not as open to friendship as Spike, is easily the nicest among the dragons, helping break the stereotype that [[AlwaysChaoticEvil every dragon]] is a {{Jerkass}} through-and-through. It's also revealed that most dragons, while definitely harsher than most ponies, are ultimately {{Noble Demon}}s of sorts instead of outright jerks like Garble.
** Spike's episodes so far have either focused on his negative traits, or consisted mostly of him screwing up in embarrassing ways. This has led a large portion of the fanbase, especially Spike fans, to dislike (or at least have mixed feelings for) them. For once, we get an episode that portrays Spike as competent, while putting the focus on his positive qualities.
** A major complaint of Season 5 was how [[EasilyForgiven easily many previously-seen antagonists (Gilda, Diamond Tiara, and Starlight Glimmer) were redeemed]]. Here, Garble does not get a HeelFaceTurn. Instead, he gets [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved karma]].

* LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt: Played with. Between Ember obviously being set up to take the throne, and obviously Spike won't become Dragon Lord because StatusQuoIsGod, it was presumed that Ember would win the Gauntlet of Fire. This makes it all the more surprising when Spike ''does'' win, takes the Sceptre, and becomes Dragon Lord... and then after giving Garble his comeuppance, he relinquishes the Sceptre and title to Ember.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: When this episode was announced to be a Spike Episode, fans expected yet another HumiliationConga episode for poor [[ButtMonkey Spike]], another episode where he is handed the IdiotBall, or an episode where he is second banana to one of the ponies on throwing a spotlight on his inferiority and flaws. When the episode aired, people were pleasantly surprised, and regard this episode in high esteem for ''finally'' [[ThrowTheDogABone cutting]] Spike a break.

* WhatAnIdiot: When Garble has a busted Twilight and Rarity cornered near a cliff, they don’t bother to use their magic to defend themselves or teleport away, and Twilight doesn’t bother to fly away. Fortunately, Ember saves them.

** Spike's episodes so far have either focused on his negative traits, or consisted mostly of him screwing up in embarrassing ways. This has led a large portion of the fanbase, especially Spike fans, to dislike them. For once, we get an episode that portrays Spike as competent, while putting the focus on his positive qualities.

* CriticalDissonance: "Gauntlet of Fire" has a rating of 7.7 on Website/IMDb, which is not a good rating by MLP episode standards. However, most fans love it, and it's considered one of Spike's best episodes, if not ''the'' best he's had.

* MoralEventHorizon: Garble was a huge bully and {{jerkass}} previously, but if trying to smash phoenix eggs (and later the hatched babies) wasn't one for him before, the moment where he tries to ''murder'' Spike so he doesn't win the competition definitely is.

* CriticalDissonance: "Gauntlet of Fire" has a rating of 7.7 on Website/IMDb, which is not a good rating by MLP episode standards. This is strange, because most fans ''loved'' it, and many of them think it's the best Spike episode.