Character analysis: Discord

     Discord is one of the greatest villains in modern children's programming... And yet, he isn't evil.


     This is character analysis, where I look at pinnacles of character development, or characters who have not yet had their chance to shine.


     Discord first appeared in Season 2 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, as the main villain of the first two episodes. He is played by John De Lancie, of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame. Discord is very much like De Lancie's Q from the aforementioned series, having god-like powers, but generally being a trickster.
     Discord isn't evil, he isn't even Neutral Evil; he is a Chaotic neutral monstrosity called a draconequus, which is a chaotic mix of parts from lions, goats, dragons, and horses.
     In the first episode of season 2, Discord is introduced as a great evil that ruled over Equestria, and all ponies, unicorn, earth, and pegasus, were suffering... But thanks to Princesses Luna and Celestia (there is no king or queen, but still claim the princess title. Just roll with it, it's a show based on little girls toys... the fact Discord exists is remarkable) and the Elements of Harmony (it's just a show, roll with the name) Discord is sealed away in a stone statue.
     Thanks to three young fillies fighting for very petty reasons near the statue, Discord breaks free. (There is also something about the Elements of harmony being linked to the main ponies rather than the princesses, but I won't go over the show's entire history here.) He immediately sets about making sure that his reign of chaos goes uninterrupted this time, showing his biggest character trait: being a manipulative bastard.
      Discord steals the elements of harmony, and begins playing a game with the main ponies... They assume he hid the elements in a nearby maze (he broke out there, so it would be the likely choice), and go there. He then takes away their horns and wings so they cannot cheat, and separates them in the labyrinth. He then goes to each of them one by one, turning their personalities on their heads, and making them all cruel, petty, disloyal, angry, and greedy... All except for Twilight Sparkle (the jokes has been made before newcomers. From the first moment her name was heard, the joke was made, and wasn't really that funny then). Through a bit of trickery and an odd rule inserted at the beginning of the game, Discord wins, and the episode ends with the ponies in a severe mindscrew.
      The next episode reveals to us that it was all for naught, as the elements weren't even in the labyrinth in the first place. Discord just took advantage of them, and used it to better set up for stopping them. You see, the reason the main six can use the elements is because they embody them... And Discord has made them the anti-thesis to their own elements, rendering them useless.
     Discord is a master planner; a normal villain would just hide them in the labyrinth and try to keep them from reaching the center... He didn't place them in the labyrinth, and instead used the opportunity to make his chances of succeeding even greater.
     After the mane six finally find the elements, they are worthless to them thanks to Discord, and the six of them part ways, Twilight feeling utterly defeated (her element is magic, but since the show name is magic=friendship, Twilight is actually friendship. Subtle, and expected to be brought up at some point, but also means she is now the anti-thesis to friendship).
     Discord then proceeds to gloat, and rightfully so, he had the most cunning plan in the entire world, massive props to him. It actually takes a deus ex machina for him to be defeated (it is slightly set up, but it comes out of no where) and sealed in stone once more.

     Now, while Discord's actions may seem villainous,  it is actually closer to attempting to survive. Imagine if you were in his position: You want to be free and do what you want, but you know that if six teens with attitude get powered up, you're going to be stuck in stone again for who knows how long (the first time it was over 1000 years. And the power rangers references start to pile up...). Surely you'd want to ensure those who would jail again you are incapable of doing so...
     That's just it. Discord isn't evil, he just wants to be free. That makes him Chaotic Neutral, not Chaotic Evil. Having a Chaotic Neutral villain is quite unusual for a kids show, and is a nice change. That plus he doesn't kill anyone. Not that he'd be allowed to, but the lack of threat to kill anyone makes him markedly different from other villains.



     Discord has actually reappeared in a recent episode, where Celestia has brought his statue to Ponyville for Fluttershy (the kind and timid one) to reform him. (Actually, it's more along the lines of getting him to not hurt people with his powers. Given that he made it rain chocolate (that joke's been made too) he isn't above positive changes.) The minute he is released he begins causing trouble again, despite having heard everything that went on (meaning he was also completely aware of the world when stuck in stone for over 1000 years... you'd undergo several alignment changes in that time). However, Fluttershy succeeds in befriending him, making him willing to restrict his powers, and use them for good. (Given that he is basically a deity, this will pretty much make Equestria even more of a heaven, at least when he isn't playing with the universe.)
     The ending for this episode caused a small controversy in the fandom for this show (normally called the brony fandom, at least when reffering to the older fans), in that his change to good seemed rushed and without explanation. There is some merit to it, as there is a bit of whiplash involved, but after just a bit of thought, the change makes absolute sense.
     Discord is not evil, he is chaotic neutral. (In the correct way. Not the killing random people on the street just because it's Tuesday kind of chaotic neutral.) Bringing him to your side just basically means offering him something he would desire, and would be willing to give up a little bit of unlimited power to keep.





Discord's villainous neutrality, cunning plans, and overall sense of humor make him one of the greatest modern Villains.