MLP: Discord’s Reform Could Have Been Better

     Discord returns in the latest episode of MLP:FiM. The episode is titled Keep Calm and Flutter On. Most of the episode was enjoyable. John De Lancie once again does a fantastic job as Discord and provides many humorous moments. The ending, however, is where the episode goes down hill. Discord ruled Equestria in a chaotic state with everyone being miserable. Celestia and Luna defeated him. He has spent over 1000 years frozen in a statue and nearly destroyed the friendship of the mane six when he escaped. They sealed in stone again. Celestia wants to use his magic for some unknown reason and tasks the mane six, in particular Fluttershy, for the task of reforming him. He causes trouble the moment they release him. He harasses Fluttershy’s bunny, has beavers flood Apple Jack’s farm, takes advantage of Fluttershy’s kindness and trustworthiness, and does his damnedest to turn Fluttershy’s friendship away from her friends. The only thing stopping him from doing worse is the threat of being sealed in stone again.
    
     After causing further mischief he promises to stop only if Fluttershy agrees not to use her element to seal him. Earlier Discord appeared to be touched by Fluttershy’s desire to be his friend. She agrees not to use her element and Discord continues to goof around in the mayhem. He offers Fluttershy skates and encourages her to join him. She refuses and walks away.
    
     And here is where it all goes downhill. Discord is a chaotic being who revels in causing mayhem. As mentioned earlier he ruled Equestria in a chaotic state with everyone miserable. He obviously has no care for anyone else except for those who also love chaos (Pinkie Pie enjoyed his chocolate rain and laughed with him to which Discord enjoyed, but he still turned Pinkie into a shadow of her former self). No flashbacks are shown of his past, hence we have no idea of any past relations he had with others. With this in mind, the audience is forced into shock as Discord fixes his chaotic mess in order to maintain Fluttershy’s friendship. Celestia arrives to take Discord back to Canterlot and thus ends the episode.
    
     Discord’s actions are out of character at the end of the episode. If it was supposed to be a Beauty and the Beast story, then the episode was too short to convey Discord growing to like Fluttershy. If it was Discord genuinely wanting friends, then a backstory with flashbacks is necessary. The ending should have been handled better.