Optimus Prime and Megatron, we cannot forget Starscream and Soundwave. These guys stick out in my mind, by far Megatron. Back as a little kid, I saw this show, a few episodes, and it was enough. Later on the USA Network, it grew by a margin, but I never forgot. The show was that good to stick out in my mind. Years later, while the Transformers movie has come out, I’m too lazy to watch it as I catch up on this awesome series over the last few months.
Right now I’ve finished season one and two, and the movie thrown somewhere into the mix. Season one was pure awesomeness. It symbolized everything that was good about the 80s. Cheesy plots, far out worlds, computers that were large and advanced, and lest we not forget large steel buildings. Some of the plots were far out there, with scientists and the military discovering new power sources. Back in the 80s, that was easily thought of, as it was a trend in previous decades. Things have definitely changed since then. But, going back on it and revisting the 80s, the show can hold its own even against most anime. Where shall we start?
Season one invites us to the world of Cybertron where a war has been raging for several million years between the good Autobots and the evil Discepticons. The Autobots are fighting a losing battle as the Discepticons rule Cybertron. The Autobots leave the planet to find a new energy source to win the war, and the Discepticons follow them. They crashland on Earth, knocking them all out. Four million years pass before a volcano awakens them all. Thus begins the great war all over again. Meanwhile Cybertron has been kept in a constant stalemate. Most of the plots are the normal bad guy overlord sends his minions out and the good guy and his minion stops them. They take the form of the Discepticons trying to find new energy sources and rob the planet Earth of them, while the Autobots attempt to stop them. Very cliche, it doesn’t quite go into the actual reason the Discepticons are evil and the Autobots are good. The thing that sets Transformers apart from most shows of the day - and even now, was the execution. All of the Autobots and Discepticons had their own personalities. The evil overlord himself, Megatron, didn’t just send his minions out, he was often there overseeing and participating in his evil deeds.
The plot gets better as season one progresses. Season two starts out bland, and gets better. Halfway through, in usual sequel fashion, it gets bland to the point it is boring. Then we head nearly 17 years into the future in the year 2005 (only two years ago as of writing this). The Autobots have built Autobot City, and numerous additions to the cast are made. The plot starts out good, really good, giving a fresh taste of what we loved in the series. However, it starts to go downhill as they…
I won’t spoil it. All the action occurs in the first half of the movie, and to many fans, this is the very end of the goodness that was Transformers. I couldn’t agree more. As the second of the movie unfolds and ends, we head into the third season. I’ve watched part of the first episode, and I’m not impressed. It feels like business as usual and very bland. Hopefuly it will get better. Against the big name anime, there is no contest, Transformers wins easily. The movie and anything after has yet to be seen. The downfall of the series was the same as many 80s cartoons, they were a marketing ploy for toy lines. Plots often were shallow with no taste.
Yozuki’s Drive - 10
