Rating:
Secret Of My Excess is the single greatest demonstration of
that tired old adage “it’s better to give than receive”. While not really true in theory, M.A. Larson
shows in fantastic terms where a life of receiving will eventually lead. Spike gets numerous presents for his
birthday, but this awakens a dragon instinct which causes him to start
hoarding. He grows abnormally large and
rampages throughout town looking for anything he can hold. After kidnapping Rarity, a memory from
earlier restores his normal size.
Granted, Larson seems to lose his way after a strong opening scene
between Spike and Rarity, but his method crystallizes perfectly once this realization
occurs. There is no purpose to
possessing everything, and Spike takes no joy in rounding up useless
items. But bringing happiness to
Rarity’s life for just a few seconds was infinitely more rewarding. Unusually for Larson, Secret Of My Excess is
uneven and begins to meander once Spike starts growing. He also doesn’t resolve certain plot threads
(Spike’s “disease” remains unexplained, and who’s going to clean up all that
mess?), but these problems are worth the great scenes. Rarity and Spike have never been better
together, and their final moments are among the series’ best. These and the lesson are what elevate Secret
Of My Excess, even if most of it feels like a trying fancy. For a series that often pretends to reach
certain morals, Larson’s message here cannot be ignored.
Spike’s birthday is coming up soon, and he plans to chow
down on a heart-shaped fire ruby. After
visiting the library for a book, Rarity can’t bear to see such a stone
devoured, but wouldn’t dream of outright asking for it. There’s only so long that Spike can resist
her charms, so he grudgingly gifts it instead.
Rarity’s kiss on the cheek puts him in a different mood though, and he
vows never to wash it.
Once the big day arrives, we see Spike has actually kept his
word, although Twilight makes (somewhat) quick work of that. Apparently Spike is surprised to receive
presents as his party starts, since he usually only gets a crappy book from
Twilight (after The Cutie Mark Chronicles, Spike is probably more than a couple
of years old despite being a “baby”, although this probably shouldn’t be his
first birthday in Ponyville). While
humble for now, Spike becomes more entitled once his presents start piling
up. First the Cakes give him a crunchy
cupcake, then Cheerilee offers a hat from her groceries. Thankfully Twilight is there to restore some
sense after Spike starts demanding presents from a background pony, and he
admits getting carried away while vowing to return what he just guilted other
ponies out of. Twilight is satisfied,
and the episode ends on a happy note.
But she should have looked at the clock, because Spike possesses
no plans to give up collecting goods.
Twilight quickly discovers this the next day as her “baby” has not only
fallen asleep in a pile of stuff, but aged a few years overnight. Spike is shocked at his older appearance and
deepening voice, but cannot keep his eyes or hands off anything lying around. As his condition worsens, Twilight tries
taking Spike to various doctors, but they don’t diagnose anything because he’s
acting like a dragon. After completely
cleaning Zecora out, Twilight calls on her friends just to corral Spike, but
they are unsuccessful in halting the menace.
The Wonderbolts are dispatched and disposed of, while a giant Spike
kidnaps Rarity à la King Kong.
Now totally unrecognizable, Rarity berates Spike as she’s
shaken back and forth in his tail. He
finds a mountain cave for storing his loot, and appears to have eyes on the
fire ruby Rarity now wears in a necklace.
After being told by Rarity (rather brashly) that there’s no way he’s
going to take it, Spike remembers giving it to her some time earlier. He feels the kiss on his cheek, and then is
suddenly snapped back to normal. Now
plummeting from midair, Rainbow Dash takes Fluttershy and a torn taffeta cape
to save them. Spike almost confesses his
feeling as they fall, but gets told “don’t speak” before he can. With much experience in these matters, Dash
catches the two just in time. Rarity
thanks Spike for saving them from himself, and he promises never to accept a
gift again.
Spike has generally been a disaster in his starring
episodes, so Larson sidesteps that a bit by having him “disappear” for about
half of the runtime. But credit must
also be given for Larson not blaming Spike’s growth on a spell, drug, or
something stupid like a book. It’s a bit
risky for him not to explain it at all, but that focuses the problem and blame
on Spike himself rather than an outside influence. In some ways, Spike was more of a metaphorical
monster, but still clearly performed every rampage. While more absurd than an average kid who
just likes presents, showing what greed turns Spike into is a strong way for
Larson to make his point.
Which is how Secret Of My Excess saves itself from being
just a dumb what-if. Larson shows
specifically that Spike got more pleasure from one stupid gift than anything he
horded, especially when he’s interested in some rather useless items (a scooter
or a broom? Tough choice, but Spike
picks the latter). Again, these are not
exactly specific examples, but how many things did you really want at the time
but now they just sit in a corner or on a shelf somewhere? Even if you don’t care about anything that
Spike stole, none of the various objects lying around are really
different. This is the ultimate
evolution of receiving, and it’s probably already happened to you. But something there might be better off with
another person who would enjoy it again.
Larson takes a long time to make this point, but it’s still done all the
same.
So Spike might be the parable’s focus, but Larson again
finds a way to involve many other characters if only in cameos. All of the mane six attend his party, while
Spike’s trip for a cupcake finds him meeting the Cakes, Cheerilee, and two
background ponies. Later, he fights the
Cutie Mark Crusaders for that scooter, and the Wonderbolts make a short attempt
to stop him. There isn’t much time for
characterization here, but at least Larson thought to include everyone he
could. Notably, Fluttershy has no
problem keeping up with Rainbow Dash (as usual), and the not-heard-elsewhere
Junebug actually hints at depth by refusing to give into Spike’s demands.
Obviously Rarity is superior though, and her limited screen
time is well used. Fine, she does
manipulate Spike a bit at the beginning, but that necklace really is a better
use for his ruby than just a quick meal.
Then (recalling A Dog And Pony Show) Rarity refuses to be scared by her
predicament, freely yelling at Spike despite an impending death. Even the “don’t speak” part demonstrates
Rarity’s depth of knowledge where she otherwise seemed oblivious. But everything is topped off by their final
scene together, even though Rarity should probably be a fair bit madder. Tabitha St. Germain’s reading of “it was you
who stopped…well you” is probably the best delivery by any My Little Pony voice actor, as she finds the perfect tone for a
slightly absurd reflexive statement.
Sharing a nice moment on the bridge ends things superbly. The series has since shied away from these
two together, but their would-be relationship never felt better.
Oddly for Larson, Secret Of My Excess rests more on its
strong sections than a consistent tone, but their overall impact can’t be
denied. And as the best Spike and Rarity
episode and the top “give than receive” anything, neither can its rating. Not all of Larson’s jokes work (the doctors
treat Spike like a baby or pet, while Rarity’s “eat me” comment before Spike
changes back might possibly have happened), and the road is rather bumpy when
Rarity isn’t around. But the overall
effect and thought Larson put in trump any concerns. Secret Of My Excess may not be the most
enjoyable episode or count as Larson’s best work, but it deserves to stand with
the series’ best outings in spite of any flaws.
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