Machinima Transformers Combiner Wars Devastator Design Image By Andrew Griffith

o.supreme wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Plus, the Prelude video was him giving an internal monologue, a bout of inward self-reflection, proclaiming his reformation..

Was it internal??...I never took it that way... and even if it was, the best sociopaths are the ones that lie to themselves.

o.supreme wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:His betrayal in this episode just renders that Prelude a complete and utter lie to the audience

which is what Starscream does best...just sayin... No need to go on a huge long rant to defend your point. I know I am the lone wolf here...just so long as we know there is no right or wrong...just differing opinions.

Prime1701 wrote:I think Rodimus was not chosen because he was missing an arm, and Starscream was not.

Sabrblade wrote:Incoming rant:

To all those who keep saying we should have expected this from Starscream because this is how he's supposed to be because "He's Starscream!"...

We were promised a new Starscream, a different Starscream, a more mature, self-aware, developed Starscream who has grown past his past ambitions after having actually fulfilled the ambitions he had so longed for, as given by his Prelude video:



This video presented us with a Starscream who actually had intrigue and newfound wisdom. A take on Starscream that promised several possibilities for a great wealth of potential. It laid the foundations and precedent for this show's Starscream to having grown out of his desire for power and authority because he had finally acquired the power and authority he sought for so long... and realized that having said power and authority wasn't all it's cracked up to be.

This video showed a promising new start for Starscream trying to better assume a role of responsibility and duty with a genuine concern for the greater good of Cybertron. And up until this latest episode, he gave every impression of living up to that role described in his Prelude.

Then, along comes the end of episode 6, in which he suddenly pulls a heel-face turn and goes back to being the ambitious Starscream that he used to be before he matured, doing so completely without any precedent besides the shallow reason of "because he's Starscream".

That is both awful and lazy storytelling, made even worse by their doing such to one of the show's only two interesting characters. There was no subtlety to be read into Starscream's behavior leading up to his betrayal. It came completely out of nowhere and contradicted everything this show had done to establish its Starscream as reformed prior to this point.

This wasn't him "playing the long game", it was him getting his newfound personality completely and hastily overridden by his older one for no other reason than to surprise the viewers watching this show. Disregard everything you know about the typical Starscream-type character, pretending that you're a new viewer to Transformers watching this show as your first ever exposure to TF fiction, and you'd see that Starscream's betrayal was completely forced.

It's fine if anyone here prefers the traditional backstabbing take on Starscream, yes. But up until episode 6 happened, this wasn't that kind of Starscream. One can argue "He's Starscream!" all they want, but up until now, he wasn't THAT Starscream anymore. It doesn't matter if whether his going back to being a double-crosser "makes him right again" or not, it ruined the integrity of this version of the character's portrayal, rendering said portrayal both inconsistent and convoluted in the grand scheme of things, and that's bad for any kind of serious work of fiction that's trying (or at least thinks it's trying) to do a good job with its story and characters in a sensible, non-comical way.

For all this show's faults, it's clear that it at least thinks it's trying to do a seriously good quality job, but seems completely oblivious to all its wrongdoings (in this case, making Starscream turn on the others at the last minute when there's no precedent for him to do so).

fenrir72 wrote:Didn't even foresee that those intro movies were a red herring? Designed to confuse/cover up the plot?

I have the feel of the Underbase Saga. Old SS is gonna get the "hives" from being ODed with the enigma and explode in the end. Or see Jeebus aka Primus at the end of the tunnel and repent.

1984forever wrote::lol: all the complaints about Starscream being treacherous.

I was actually surprised that Starscream crapped on everybody for a second. But then my surprise was overshadowed by happiness that the old Starscream was back. My Starscream... Characters change and then go right back to how you first were introduced to them with the next franchise reboot. Why bother? Just keep everyone the same.

1984forever wrote::lol: all the complaints about Starscream being treacherous.

I was actually surprised that Starscream crapped on everybody for a second. But then my surprise was overshadowed by happiness that the old Starscream was back. My Starscream. Character development is so overrated. Characters change and then go right back to how you first were introduced to them with the next franchise reboot. Why bother? Just keep everyone the same.

Autobot N wrote:

1984forever wrote::lol: all the complaints about Starscream being treacherous.

I was actually surprised that Starscream crapped on everybody for a second. But then my surprise was overshadowed by happiness that the old Starscream was back. My Starscream. Character development is so overrated. Characters change and then go right back to how you first were introduced to them with the next franchise reboot. Why bother? Just keep everyone the same.

...



You've got to be kidding me.

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Autobot N wrote:

1984forever wrote::lol: all the complaints about Starscream being treacherous.

I was actually surprised that Starscream crapped on everybody for a second. But then my surprise was overshadowed by happiness that the old Starscream was back. My Starscream. Character development is so overrated. Characters change and then go right back to how you first were introduced to them with the next franchise reboot. Why bother? Just keep everyone the same.

...



You've got to be kidding me.

He's not.

I preferred the character development, but poor Screamer fell victim to the show

Gaudreau wrote:It's been a mediocre show, but I enjoy it for what it is. I wish there were more characters and character development; but I get it's hard to do that in a 5 minute show. I look forward to the new shows and that's that

Guido wrote:The Computron art is based on my model sheet pencils too

Guido wrote:The Computron art is based on my model sheet pencils too

Sabrblade wrote:

Guido wrote:The Computron art is based on my model sheet pencils too

Oh. wow, hi Mr. Guidi! Welcome to Seibertron!

william-james88 wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Guido wrote:The Computron art is based on my model sheet pencils too

Oh. wow, hi Mr. Guidi! Welcome to Seibertron!

This is pretty cool.

Thanks for stopping by sir, I am a big fan of your work!

Sabrblade wrote:

Guido wrote:The Computron art is based on my model sheet pencils too

Oh. wow, hi Mr. Guidi! Welcome to Seibertron!

Guido
Joined: 24 Mar 2005, 10:38

Sabrblade
Joined: 06 Dec 2007, 21:22

Kurona wrote:Again, I... I really don't get it. All the kibble's there, transformation is used as a plot point, as a way to build mystery and intrigue; while other series use transformation as... just a thing they can do and that's it. Sorry if it sounds like I'm singling you out; but I've heard IDW described by quite a few people as the one series to not use transformation when it's the one series to really actually take advantage of transformation.

Galactic Prime wrote:IDW is garbage, has been since day one.

Autobot N wrote:

Galactic Prime wrote:IDW is garbage, has been since day one.

Not this again.

Sabrblade wrote:

Autobot N wrote:

Galactic Prime wrote:IDW is garbage, has been since day one.

Not this again.

Lemme guess, this is gonna lead to another eventual round of "They should bring back to G1 cartoon!" again, isn't it.

Sabrblade wrote:

Autobot N wrote:

Galactic Prime wrote:IDW is garbage, has been since day one.

Not this again.

Lemme guess, this is gonna lead to another eventual round of "They should bring back to G1 cartoon!" again, isn't it.

Galactic Prime wrote:No, but it's no Dreamwave.

o.supreme wrote:20 years from now...if we are speaking of significant hero deaths in Transformers fiction there will be Optimus in TF:TM, Dinobot in BW "Code of Hero" and....

william-james88 wrote:

o.supreme wrote:20 years from now...if we are speaking of significant hero deaths in Transformers fiction there will be Optimus in TF:TM, Dinobot in BW "Code of Hero" and....

Skids


EDIT: And Ratchet? I found that pretty damn sad in AOE. Brutal too.

william-james88 wrote:And Ratchet? I found that pretty damn sad in AOE. Brutal too.

o.supreme wrote:20 years from now...if we are speaking of significant hero deaths in Transformers fiction there will be Optimus in TF:TM, Dinobot in BW "Code of Hero" and....


not Windblade in CW

as for DW all I will say is this...too many people cannot separate Pat Lee from DW. Yes he was a crook, and is a terrible person. But the stories that DW as a company (the authors and TRUE artists ) were developing were pretty darn good. I really miss their G1 ongoing, though it only got 10 (or so) issues before getting cancelled, I liked the world they were building better than current IDW.

o.supreme wrote:But the stories that DW as a company (the authors and TRUE artists ) were developing were pretty darn good. I really miss their G1 ongoing, though it only got 10 (or so) issues before getting cancelled, I liked the world they were building better than current IDW.

Randomhero wrote:Yeah but even without thinking about their terrible business practices, they weren't doing anything amazing in the comics. I'll never understand why DW was so compelled to introduce characters in their toy waves like they did. Brad Mick retconned the first story so that only the 1984 bots and cons were on earth, made all the triple changers shockwaves personal squad, turned the 85 car bots into a council that leads cybertron with no regards to their personalities, made all the 86 movie characters a rebellion unit against Shockwave. For whatever reason they introduced characters in waves like they were coming to stores and they weren't. Dreamwave tossed characters in roles that did not fit their personalities just to place them in the waves they were released in back in the 80s. Ex grapple and Red Alert apparently can become leaders of Cybertron. And while yes, IDW has done complete 180s of characters personalities they're not desperately trying to recreate the feeling of the cartoon like DW was doing.

Looking back on it, it really felt like DW had no future plans for Transformers. By year 3 they were already heading toward Unicron and already introduced most of the G1 transformers. IDW has been around for 11 years and is still making long term plans. Season 2 of MTMTE just wrapped and ended plot threads Roberts seeded back in 2012 in chaos and stuff that was in Bullets in LSTOW from 2010.

You'd have to really try to work hard to convince anyone DW was thinking ahead with long term plans. Mick and Patyck had some plans but every time they were seeding something, Furman was countering it with War Within. Example being triple changers.

Big Grim wrote:

o.supreme wrote:But the stories that DW as a company (the authors and TRUE artists ) were developing were pretty darn good. I really miss their G1 ongoing, though it only got 10 (or so) issues before getting cancelled, I liked the world they were building better than current IDW.

It basically tried to continue the original G1 prior to the 86 movie and season 3 after a fashion. There were a good few entertaining stories, sure, but honestly, I have been enjoying IDW's total relaunch a lot better. Starting it all up again in modern times, it's gotten progressively better. Most of RiD and damn near all of MTMTE has been outta this world good. I mean heck, MTMTE has won awards! While some of DW was good (War Within was amazing) I am more than happy with IDW and how they've reinvented the brand.

william-james88 wrote:I have issues with the RID. I had a really tough time gettin through Dark Cybertron. I also have a tough time seeing Rattrap interact with Starscream, but thats just me.

Big Grim wrote:MTMTE is my primary read. It's been great fun and they've done amazing things with Megatron and the Lost Light's crew. TAAO has been slow but the preview we just saw has me pretty stoked! I quite like Rattrap and other continuity characters appearing. I love that Knockout is on the Council of Worlds. I admit, I totally hear his voice when I read his lines.

Big Grim wrote:

william-james88 wrote:I have issues with the RID. I had a really tough time gettin through Dark Cybertron. I also have a tough time seeing Rattrap interact with Starscream, but thats just me.

RID had it's issues, sure. It's been better of late though it has seemed to keep building up to something and fizzling out before it gets there. I think everyone had a hard time getting through Dark Cybertron. That was rough.

MTMTE is my primary read. It's been great fun and they've done amazing things with Megatron and the Lost Light's crew. TAAO has been slow but the preview we just saw has me pretty stoked! I quite like Rattrap and other continuity characters appearing. I love that Knockout is on the Council of Worlds. I admit, I totally hear his voice when I read his lines.

william-james88 wrote:

Big Grim wrote:I love that Knockout is on the Council of Worlds. I admit, I totally hear his voice when I read his lines.

Is it just me or does that voice sound like Phil Hartman?

Randomhero wrote:

Big Grim wrote:MTMTE is my primary read. It's been great fun and they've done amazing things with Megatron and the Lost Light's crew. TAAO has been slow but the preview we just saw has me pretty stoked! I quite like Rattrap and other continuity characters appearing. I love that Knockout is on the Council of Worlds. I admit, I totally hear his voice when I read his lines.

I love RID, it's my primary and MTMTE is my secondary. I can see how it flips with people. RID is about plot while MTMTE is about character for the most part.

Only issue I've had with RID is that it easily forgets characters it introduces. Remember Zetca? Tappet? Blurr? DIRGE?!?!? Dirge was extremely important to the first 17 issues and now he may get a cameo in Till All Are One. Then again the focus on RID isn't on Cybertron anymore.

Randomhero wrote:they weren't doing anything amazing in the comics.

Randomhero wrote:I'll never understand why DW was so compelled to introduce characters in their toy waves like they did.

Randomhero wrote:characters in roles that did not fit their personalities

Exactly how I feel about IDW

Randomhero wrote:Looking back on it, it really felt like DW had no future plans for Transformers. By year 3 they were already heading toward Unicron and already introduced most of the G1 transformers.