Fone Bone
Matt Zimmer
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 1"
Interesting premiere. It's weird it's rated TV-Y7 despite use of the word "ass". But as dark, gritty, and mature as the show is, I appreciate that unlike the Machina and Michael Bay stuff it isn't completely inappropriate for little kids. Now, I doubt they'd like it. But it doesn't seem to be making pains to drive them off with a bunch of dirty dialogue, excessive language, or extreme violence and death. We'll see how the later episodes fare, but that was pretty tolerable as far as violence goes.
I like the idea that in this continuity, the Autobots are the renegades, and the ones playing from a position of weakness. Megatron is fascinating because this version seems cautious, deliberate, and dare I say it, reasonable. In fact Optimus Prime's stubbornness and hotheadedness is a very interesting contrast.
Jetfire starting out as not only a Decepticon, but leader of the Seekers is cool too.
I don't like Bumblebee though. I agree with Megatron that him refusing to wear an Autobot brand means he's a coward. And Bumblebee should NOT be this rough around the edges. He's supposed to be fun-loving and borderline cute. This is the first version I've seen I outright dislike.
But that was a solid first episode. ****.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 2"
Wait, Elita is Optimus' mate? Can Transformers even have mates?
Optimus is dumb if he never considered the idea that Ultra Magnus' signal could be hacked.
Bumblebee stealing the Energon at the end was a nice twist.
Solid. ***1/2.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 3"
This specific episode gave me a much more accurate feel for the series. Not all of the impressions it gave me were good ones. They were definitely interesting impressions, and could lead to an interesting show, but Lord, some of this stuff makes the Autobots look really bad.
The idea that Autobots used to be autocratic slave-drivers bugs the poo out of me, and tells me that the Decepticon cause was righteous at first, until Megatron took the fascism too far in the other direction. But on some level, the Autobots clearly had this coming.
I also want to point out this version of Optimus is outright stupid. He suggests taking the All-Spark off Cybertron and Elita's all, "You know that'll kill everyone and the planet, right?" And then Optimus immediately says, "We will never let that happen." Um, Optimus, YOU were the one who just suggested that. Literally seconds ago. It's not even instant revisionist history at that point. It more qualifies as diarrhea of the mouth.
I like that Mirage has his hologram superpowers. I also like that this is the first show in ages, possible since the 1980's, to show a wide variety of Transformers. All of the more recent project from Transformers: Animated forward have focused on smaller casts, mostly due to cost cutting measures. I am not saying this animation is blockbuster or anything. But they clearly put up the money to design a large amount of characters, all in the first season. That's pretty cool.
I object to Mirage expressing surprise that Ratchet treats Decepticons for their injuries. Whatever Autobot morality is, they clearly have a backwards view on healthcare if that is considered controversial for a medic. These are supposed to be the good guys?
Megatron's refusal to turn around to allow Magnus to shoot him in the front was brilliant, and was him using Magnus's imaginary sense of honor and real sense of stupidity against him. And Megatron's right. If he weren't actually stupid, he'd have taken the shot, regardless of what it did to his personal honor. This war is bigger than him, and what he thinks about himself. But I think Autobot morality is entirely fudged up on this show.
And just to bring home how stupid Magnus is, he is tortured into revealing the location of the Autobot base. Do you know what could have prevented that? Not being dumb enough to surrender in the first place.
I actually don't think a surrender is out of line, if that's what he was actually doing. It wasn't. He was treating it as a negotiation, and offering to bring Optimus to the table, which is NOT what a surrender is at all. If he was not prepared to order his Autobots troops to stand down, he never should gone there under the guise of surrender. Because he doesn't know or appreciate what that word actually means.
I sincerely want Impactor's claim to want to help and protect Ratchet to be true. And at this point I want very little from this show.
Megatron is quite the effective propagandist. I doubt very much that was the intention behind the guy who came up with, "'Til all are one!".
I like the moral dilemmas the show is raising. The Autobots themselves? Not so much. ***.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 4"
More clarifications. It sounds like Optimus was a part of the initial uprising against slavery, but opposed Megatron because Megatron wanted to turn Cybertron into a dictatorship rather than a democracy. I actually love the fact that we are learning this all in bits and pieces, and that we are allowed to raise the questions ourselves until we get a clearer picture.
I still think Optimus is dumb for his statement about not letting the All-Spark be destroyed last episode, but it's clear he simply doesn't believe that part of the myth, and wasn't actually backtracking like I said he was. That being said, I find the perspective entirely foolish. What if he's wrong? He has no way of knowing that until it's too late.
I had been under the impression that Bumblebee was a coward. Instead the Alpha Trion Protocol suggests he's peaceful instead, which also totally explains Ultra Magnus' otherwise dumb behavior. Let us hope Bumblebee is less dumb in his peacekeeping decisions. But not only do the Autobots have Impactor and Jetfire on their side now, it looks like Bumblebee's huge supply of Energon is now within reach too.
This is all good stuff. ****1/2.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 5"
What I like about the cliffhanger is that's several super dire cliffhangers at once.
Prowl expresses surprise at being saved by a Decepticon. I would be inclined to say Prowl greatly lacks imagination, but instead it strikes me that perhaps the Autobots have dehumanized and demonized their enemy for so long that Autobots simply have no concept that other people besides them engage in fair play. It borders on disturbing and is totally naive.
Good explanation and excuse for the Soundblaster repaint. A failed Soundwave clone as an experiment of Shockwave's. Yeah, that's the ticket. The fact that we see some of Soundwave's classic toy accessories in use here suggests Hasbro is deeply involved in this project.
"Damn" is also poking at the TV-Y7-ty of it all.
So Bumblebee doesn't have his Energon stash anymore after all? Bummer. Also strikes me as a plothole.
I have my doubts they can wrap this section of the saga up in 23 minutes but I bet I'll enjoy watching them try. ****.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 6"
That was bananas! Totally great! I will not go so far as to say this show is as good as Transformers Prime. But it's the only good Transformers cartoon SINCE Transformers Prime. Which also probably makes it the only other good Transformers cartoon period.
Omega Supreme! Are they freaking kidding me? That cliffhanger ending would be dark if I believed for one second that the Ark was destroyed. Instead season 2 is gonna rock.
I feel like Bumblebee's plot with the Protocol didn't go anywhere but that was my minor nitpick of the season.
I've just been peeling onions. Impactor's sacrifice and death has nothing to do with anything.
Totally impressed. A great first season to a very promising show. *****.
Interesting premiere. It's weird it's rated TV-Y7 despite use of the word "ass". But as dark, gritty, and mature as the show is, I appreciate that unlike the Machina and Michael Bay stuff it isn't completely inappropriate for little kids. Now, I doubt they'd like it. But it doesn't seem to be making pains to drive them off with a bunch of dirty dialogue, excessive language, or extreme violence and death. We'll see how the later episodes fare, but that was pretty tolerable as far as violence goes.
I like the idea that in this continuity, the Autobots are the renegades, and the ones playing from a position of weakness. Megatron is fascinating because this version seems cautious, deliberate, and dare I say it, reasonable. In fact Optimus Prime's stubbornness and hotheadedness is a very interesting contrast.
Jetfire starting out as not only a Decepticon, but leader of the Seekers is cool too.
I don't like Bumblebee though. I agree with Megatron that him refusing to wear an Autobot brand means he's a coward. And Bumblebee should NOT be this rough around the edges. He's supposed to be fun-loving and borderline cute. This is the first version I've seen I outright dislike.
But that was a solid first episode. ****.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 2"
Wait, Elita is Optimus' mate? Can Transformers even have mates?
Optimus is dumb if he never considered the idea that Ultra Magnus' signal could be hacked.
Bumblebee stealing the Energon at the end was a nice twist.
Solid. ***1/2.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 3"
This specific episode gave me a much more accurate feel for the series. Not all of the impressions it gave me were good ones. They were definitely interesting impressions, and could lead to an interesting show, but Lord, some of this stuff makes the Autobots look really bad.
The idea that Autobots used to be autocratic slave-drivers bugs the poo out of me, and tells me that the Decepticon cause was righteous at first, until Megatron took the fascism too far in the other direction. But on some level, the Autobots clearly had this coming.
I also want to point out this version of Optimus is outright stupid. He suggests taking the All-Spark off Cybertron and Elita's all, "You know that'll kill everyone and the planet, right?" And then Optimus immediately says, "We will never let that happen." Um, Optimus, YOU were the one who just suggested that. Literally seconds ago. It's not even instant revisionist history at that point. It more qualifies as diarrhea of the mouth.
I like that Mirage has his hologram superpowers. I also like that this is the first show in ages, possible since the 1980's, to show a wide variety of Transformers. All of the more recent project from Transformers: Animated forward have focused on smaller casts, mostly due to cost cutting measures. I am not saying this animation is blockbuster or anything. But they clearly put up the money to design a large amount of characters, all in the first season. That's pretty cool.
I object to Mirage expressing surprise that Ratchet treats Decepticons for their injuries. Whatever Autobot morality is, they clearly have a backwards view on healthcare if that is considered controversial for a medic. These are supposed to be the good guys?
Megatron's refusal to turn around to allow Magnus to shoot him in the front was brilliant, and was him using Magnus's imaginary sense of honor and real sense of stupidity against him. And Megatron's right. If he weren't actually stupid, he'd have taken the shot, regardless of what it did to his personal honor. This war is bigger than him, and what he thinks about himself. But I think Autobot morality is entirely fudged up on this show.
And just to bring home how stupid Magnus is, he is tortured into revealing the location of the Autobot base. Do you know what could have prevented that? Not being dumb enough to surrender in the first place.
I actually don't think a surrender is out of line, if that's what he was actually doing. It wasn't. He was treating it as a negotiation, and offering to bring Optimus to the table, which is NOT what a surrender is at all. If he was not prepared to order his Autobots troops to stand down, he never should gone there under the guise of surrender. Because he doesn't know or appreciate what that word actually means.
I sincerely want Impactor's claim to want to help and protect Ratchet to be true. And at this point I want very little from this show.
Megatron is quite the effective propagandist. I doubt very much that was the intention behind the guy who came up with, "'Til all are one!".
I like the moral dilemmas the show is raising. The Autobots themselves? Not so much. ***.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 4"
More clarifications. It sounds like Optimus was a part of the initial uprising against slavery, but opposed Megatron because Megatron wanted to turn Cybertron into a dictatorship rather than a democracy. I actually love the fact that we are learning this all in bits and pieces, and that we are allowed to raise the questions ourselves until we get a clearer picture.
I still think Optimus is dumb for his statement about not letting the All-Spark be destroyed last episode, but it's clear he simply doesn't believe that part of the myth, and wasn't actually backtracking like I said he was. That being said, I find the perspective entirely foolish. What if he's wrong? He has no way of knowing that until it's too late.
I had been under the impression that Bumblebee was a coward. Instead the Alpha Trion Protocol suggests he's peaceful instead, which also totally explains Ultra Magnus' otherwise dumb behavior. Let us hope Bumblebee is less dumb in his peacekeeping decisions. But not only do the Autobots have Impactor and Jetfire on their side now, it looks like Bumblebee's huge supply of Energon is now within reach too.
This is all good stuff. ****1/2.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 5"
What I like about the cliffhanger is that's several super dire cliffhangers at once.
Prowl expresses surprise at being saved by a Decepticon. I would be inclined to say Prowl greatly lacks imagination, but instead it strikes me that perhaps the Autobots have dehumanized and demonized their enemy for so long that Autobots simply have no concept that other people besides them engage in fair play. It borders on disturbing and is totally naive.
Good explanation and excuse for the Soundblaster repaint. A failed Soundwave clone as an experiment of Shockwave's. Yeah, that's the ticket. The fact that we see some of Soundwave's classic toy accessories in use here suggests Hasbro is deeply involved in this project.
"Damn" is also poking at the TV-Y7-ty of it all.
So Bumblebee doesn't have his Energon stash anymore after all? Bummer. Also strikes me as a plothole.
I have my doubts they can wrap this section of the saga up in 23 minutes but I bet I'll enjoy watching them try. ****.
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy: Siege "Episode 6"
That was bananas! Totally great! I will not go so far as to say this show is as good as Transformers Prime. But it's the only good Transformers cartoon SINCE Transformers Prime. Which also probably makes it the only other good Transformers cartoon period.
Omega Supreme! Are they freaking kidding me? That cliffhanger ending would be dark if I believed for one second that the Ark was destroyed. Instead season 2 is gonna rock.
I feel like Bumblebee's plot with the Protocol didn't go anywhere but that was my minor nitpick of the season.
I've just been peeling onions. Impactor's sacrifice and death has nothing to do with anything.
Totally impressed. A great first season to a very promising show. *****.