Spike falling in

[Bruton the Iguanodon]

Was the bit with Spike falling in at the end of 8 necessary? It seemed like a sort of "last moment" action scene, which was interesting (and which 12---and 9 for that matter---copied with). But was it necessary? Could they have just included some scene where Spike decides the swimmers are his true family and wants to go back to them? Just thought I'd bring it up.

And yes, having this scene did give him a speaking line.  

[Malte279]

While not quite unnecessary I think this scene could have been a lot more effective if it had been presented in a somewhat different context being integrated more rather than "attached to the end of a completed story". LBT 8 in general was a movie that I see as a movie with many good ideas that suffered from being very poorly realized.

[DarkHououmon]

The scene also breaks canon from the original movie. In this movie, we're presented with a fact that "Spiketails can't swim" so Spike ends up almost drowning until his adopted swimmer mom saves him. But in the first movie, Spike is seen swimming just fine (in deep water as well) near the end, just before they face off with Sharptooth. So he's fully capable of swimming. I thin he swam in another sequel as well but I don't recall.

[Bruton the Iguanodon]

Yeah, he did in 9 when they cool off in the water.  

And in 10 when he, Ducky and Cera swim to the shore of the swamp.