@Cosmas-the-Explorer
That would be a much better episode for sure, and would’ve made the emotional impact so much more effective.

@Wayneponeth
That would have been quite an episode. It probably would meet some resistance from the producers, but it might be a good lesson.

I always liked the whole “we’re not just friends, we’re family” kind of theme.

@Cosmas-the-Explorer
I actually have a headcanon that Sludge is legitimately Spike’s biological father, but he acts the same as in the episode. His story is actually that he abandoned Spike’s egg because he really is a terrible father. He is Spike’s real father but being a dragon makes him a terrible one. This would’ve added a much better and bigger conflict for Spike as he has to come to terms that his real father isn’t a good role model. It could also teach something like real family is the people that care about you instead of blood, or something of the sort. Too bad the show really went with the expected “pretending to be his father and is actually an asshole” route. Wasted potential and a wasted episode.

The real question is how does he function in the story as a jerk guy?

I’m sorry, who is this again? :V

To paraphrase Yahtzee, intentionally awful is still awful.

Because if you’re written to be a bad character, congratulations; you’re still a bad character.

@Background Pony #25F5  
op has a point

Can’t believe he made a point there. What do you guys think?