>>/3918/
> Villains chemistry was actually pretty good, I was especially surprised that I liked Cozy Glow a lot in her brief scenes considering I was a bit underwhelmed, though I didn't hate her, in her previous appearances.
yeah, I also find pretty funny that Tirek and Chrysalis look like the ordinary baddies in comparison to Grogar (like Grubber with the Storm King, same for them in this opener). Cozy Glow, despite her menacing look in the cliffhanger of School Raze, she acts like the comic relief that gives the villains a bit of a slice of life feeling and lowers the tensions of those characters. Definitely a highlight in which one can find a couple of laughs from that hostile environment.

> I was also surprised that I don't think the pacing is bad, because that seemed to be a complaint even among people who liked it, but it isn't too me. 
me neither. How is the pacing a problem here? I think I should explain this as well but people seem to be pointing out a flaw that sounds out of place for this episode. 

> I actually thought they did a okay job with the jumping around this time, which surprises me. 
honestly, I don´t find the pacing troublesome at all. In fact, the pacing is made on purpose and I will say one possible controversial thing: the action scenes (when they require action and not dialog) were the most boring parts to me because it´s the usual setup that we are used to seeing. They showed how Sombra conquered the Crystal Empire and how the mane 6 defeated him with little time in the process because there is nothing interesting to say about it. In fact, I think I value more another thing: character interactions and how Discord plays a part on the episode, having an odd role that seRved in the end. 

> I felt the desperation and the hopelessness of the mane 6. 
yeah, that radical change from the first episode dealing with the villain as usual deal to having an absolute disaster on two sides really puts you on their situation. Celestia, Luna and Starswirl really calmed down the situation when they came to help the mane 6.

> one of the best time's Discord was ever used and I was almost thought they'd actually have him be hurt or incapacitated in a way that would parallel death. 
> That was intense in a way that I'm surprised they went to, even for a death fakeout. Sombra's final defeat with the elements slowly walking to him with Twilight blocking his magical attacks was my favorite moment. That was just cool. 
that moment was indeed a GOAT tier act from him. He´s played the role of annoying the mane 6 (especially Twilight) and staying in the castle when the world was going down, but there is one single moment in which despite playing a fakeout, he felt that magic inside his head (when he defeated the guards and the mane 6 thanked him for the task). 

Out of all the characters that could have encouraged the mane 6, it´s not Starswirl, nor any of the princesses nor any leader that has deep knowledge of the elements....but from the same Lord of Chaos who have dealt a lot of times and put them into really absurd situations. That same character goes and delivers one of the most emotive moments for the resolution of a desperate situation. Discord comes in and brings a reminder that we all have known since the beginning of this series and it´s cliché as hell, but never expected to hear it coming from him, much less with a toned down voice which made him sound like a heavenly god for a while. 
A motivational moment that indeed, deserves to be remembered as one of the best moments from him and in the series. A simple speech that makes more impact than one could have imagined.

My respects for his character.When you think that you couldn´t be surprised at all, the writers go and put him in the spotlight (I do believe he is placed subtly all the time for it). Bravo.