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besson3c · Feb 16, 2009, 05:36 PM

I've been watching several Transformers episodes, I'm up to 22... I'm noticing some reoccurring themes:

1) The artists have a hard time being consistent about drawing both Autobots and Decepticons to proper scale

2) Many episodes involve Decepticons spying on the Autobots. If the Autobots have enough technology to do stuff like immobilize matter, why can't they secure their base from Laserbeak and the other Deceptibums?

3) Reaction times are very slow because both Autobots and Decepticons yap too much, much of this trash talk. Aren't they supposed to be high tech robots? Shouldn't they have much faster reflexes?

4) How come nobody can shoot worth a damn?

5) Why would the Autobots let Chip, who is in a wheelchair, near the battles? Isn't a kid in a wheelchair overmatched against a bunch of high tech robots caught in a laser battle crossfire? This is pretty neglectful on the part of the Autobots.

6) How come both Autobots and Decepticons can fire their weapons underwater?

That's all I've noticed. Otherwise, I'm impressed! It's a pretty compelling and fairly realistic and believable series, I think.

besson3c · Feb 16, 2009, 05:52 PM

I think I'm going to start calling people I don't like Deceptibums.

Andrew Stephens · Feb 16, 2009, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

It's a pretty compelling and fairly realistic and believable series, I think.

m'kay

Chuckit · Feb 16, 2009, 07:31 PM

It's far more consistent and intelligent than the Michael Bay version, anyway.

Maflynn · Feb 16, 2009, 08:43 PM

And this thread

voodoo · Feb 16, 2009, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

It's far more consistent and intelligent than the Michael Bay version, anyway.

That it is!

lavar78 · Feb 16, 2009, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

1) The artists have a hard time being consistent about drawing both Autobots and Decepticons to proper scale

It's because of the Transformers' unique ties to the alternate dimension that allows them to seemingly break the law of conservation of matter. That's why Megatron's gun form can be held by both humans and TFs.

2) Many episodes involve Decepticons spying on the Autobots. If the Autobots have enough technology to do stuff like immobilize matter, why can't they secure their base from Laserbeak and the other Deceptibums?

It's not their fault. Laserbeak and Ravage are just bad-asses. I believe both of their tech-specs list explain how great they are at espionage.

5) Why would the Autobots let Chip, who is in a wheelchair, near the battles? Isn't a kid in a wheelchair overmatched against a bunch of high tech robots caught in a laser battle crossfire? This is pretty neglectful on the part of the Autobots.

Chip isn't any more overmatched than Spike, Sparkplug, and Carleigh are. I still wish they'd tell us what happened to Chip before the movie.

besson3c · Feb 16, 2009, 10:10 PM

Well, why don't the Autobots use Mirage for espionage? He can make himself invisible!

I think Chip is more overmatched because he is in a wheelchair, and therefore can't get up if he falls, and can't move as fast. No offense to anybody in here that might be in a wheelchair.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 16, 2009, 10:21 PM

I blame the South Koreans.

Ghoser777 · Feb 17, 2009, 12:09 AM

They do use Mirage for espionage every once in a while. You can read about his more famous covert operations on the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage_(Transformers)

besson3c · Feb 17, 2009, 12:23 AM

So that one episode where Megatron has Optimus Prime disassembled, why didn't he go for melted down instead? Optimus Prime was able to reassemble himself by sending radio signals to his missing parts, and having these missing parts fly over to his body. The Deceptibums should have seen this coming, they are so dumb.

Ghoser777 · Feb 17, 2009, 11:08 PM

Every other cartoon villain is stupid too - they usually have the hero by the balls and then they do something stupid to mess it up.

exca1ibur · Feb 17, 2009, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Ghoser777

Every other villain is stupid too - they usually have the hero by the balls and then they do something stupid to mess it up.

I think you can say that about all movie villian's overall. They all seem to give this long speech and brag when they need to just shoot the guy in the face and THEN give the speech and brag.

lavar78 · Feb 17, 2009, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I think Chip is more overmatched because he is in a wheelchair, and therefore can't get up if he falls, and can't move as fast. No offense to anybody in here that might be in a wheelchair.

I'd say it's about even. Chip may be in a wheelchair, but, unlike the rest of the humans, he has a brain.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 17, 2009, 11:38 PM

It's just like how the blind have better hearing.

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 11:27 AM

I think that whenever the transformers fly they need to have some sort of rocket flare or some sort of exhaust or something. Otherwise, they just sort of float through the air.

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 11:39 AM

Optimus Prime's voice is so reassuring..

scaught · Feb 18, 2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

4) How come nobody can shoot worth a damn?

My favorite was the GIJoe/Cobra battles where you got that overhead shot with all the red and blue lasers flying everywhere and not a single person getting hit.

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 11:44 AM

Also, Sludge can't fix the broken Washington Monument by breathing fire on it, because it's not a purely metallic structure that can be fixed by re-welding it (see 17 minute mark in episode 24)

MallyMal · Feb 18, 2009, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by scaught

My favorite was the GIJoe/Cobra battles where you got that overhead shot with all the red and blue lasers flying everywhere and not a single person getting hit.

And then they just run up and punch the other dudes in the face because it was more effective than shooting them.

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by scaught

My favorite was the GIJoe/Cobra battles where you got that overhead shot with all the red and blue lasers flying everywhere and not a single person getting hit.

Yeah, I bet many parents have a field day with this sort of "education"

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 12:03 PM

How many episodes include remote control or brainwashing as a part of the plot?

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 12:17 PM

It's funny how no matter where in the world the Autobots are, they can always get back to their base pretty quickly in their land vehicles. Also, how do they get across the ocean?

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 12:24 PM

Has there ever been an official statement on whether or not the Autobots can fly, and to what extent?

nredman · Feb 18, 2009, 12:33 PM

i never saw the first transformers nor will i probably see the new one but i can imagine any hole in the plot should be easily taken care of by a shot of megan fox

osiris · Feb 18, 2009, 01:22 PM

I think it's time that someone says it, cause no one else seems to want to.

Dear besson3c

Transformers aren't real. You are not watching archival footage/historical documents.
It's just a made up idea - fiction.

sorry,
osiris

besson3c · Feb 18, 2009, 01:49 PM

How is that different than any other fictional show osiris?

... I was going to say that your face is a made up idea out of great anger, but that would have earned me an infraction, and the last thing we want is for me to earn enough infractions that I'm put on temporary vacation away from you Deceptibums.

osiris · Feb 18, 2009, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

How is that different than any other fictional show osiris?

Well, for one, you seem to think this show is real.

Originally Posted by besson3c

... I was going to say that your face is a made up idea out of great anger, but that would have earned me an infraction, and the last thing we want is for me to earn enough infractions that I'm put on temporary vacation away from you Deceptibums.

you lost me after "say". But what's this talk of infractions? Is that, like, what the inside of an fraction is?

Ghoser777 · Feb 18, 2009, 08:57 PM

A reasonable thread on flying:

http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub...p?f=27&t=13891

Transformers has never been 100% consistent, which is frustrating. It seems that in the early episodes, all the transformers could fly. Later on, all the Decepticons and any Autobots that turn into flying machines could fly (like plane's, ufo's, etc).

besson3c · Feb 19, 2009, 01:09 AM

Every once in a while individual frames show Autobots with Decepticon symbols and vice versa. Is this foreshadowing, or just an artistic mistake?

besson3c · Feb 19, 2009, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

Well, for one, you seem to think this show is real.

you lost me after "say". But what's this talk of infractions? Is that, like, what the inside of an fraction is?

Your face is real.

I've never been inside a fraction, but it sounds rather sexual.

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 10:19 AM

I don't understand why you people play along.

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 10:23 AM

What do you mean, "you people"?

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 10:31 AM

What do YOU mean, "you people"?

Feb 19, 2009, 11:39 AM

Strictly speaking these aren't plot holes as they don't pertain to the actual plot. They're just unrealistic.

besson3c · Feb 19, 2009, 11:44 AM

Well, I think they could make the series slightly more realistic.

osiris · Feb 19, 2009, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

What do YOU mean, "you people"?

lol

Mrjinglesusa · Feb 19, 2009, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Well, I think they could make the series slightly more realistic.

Why? It's an f'ing CARTOON. It is NOT based on reality. It has intelligent robots that transform into cars, planes, guns, etc. How realistic is THAT? How can you expect a cartoon based on an unrealistic principle to be realistic?

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 02:29 PM

Looks like besson got one.

Laminar · Feb 19, 2009, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Looks like besson got one.

I wonder what would happen if no one replied to these type of threads. Would he just leave?

Dakar V · Feb 19, 2009, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

I wonder what would happen if no one replied to these type of threads. Would he just leave?

He'd just create them more often, trying to find the right subject.

besson3c · Feb 19, 2009, 05:12 PM

Do my threads need your approval or something Laminar and Dakar?

Salty · Feb 20, 2009, 12:06 PM

plentyoffish.com

besson3c · Feb 23, 2009, 10:37 AM

Nice dating place, Salty. I couldn't find any fish though, which was rather disappointing.

besson3c · Feb 24, 2009, 11:39 AM

Why is it that whenever transformers transform into a giant robot (be it Bruticus, Devastator, etc.) the giant robot has a deep dumb sounding monster voice making the giant robot seem much less intelligent than the smaller robots?

Salty · Feb 26, 2009, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Why is it that whenever transformers transform into a giant robot (be it Bruticus, Devastator, etc.) the giant robot has a deep dumb sounding monster voice making the giant robot seem much less intelligent than the smaller robots?

Asian writers?

olePigeon · Feb 26, 2009, 06:41 PM

I saw the trailer to a remake of The Last House on the Left. I asked my friend if he'd seen the original, and he'd said no. I told him it was basically a 2 hour rape scene. He turned around and said Transformers was a 2 hour rape scene of his childhood memories.

Touche.

Salty · Feb 27, 2009, 12:15 PM

Indeed... I cried and felt dirty...

besson3c · Feb 27, 2009, 12:33 PM

So I'm up to the next generation episodes where Optimus Prime is no longer around, the opening theme is different, I have a lot of comments...

It's like the entire writing and approach to storytelling in these episodes changed at this point. The tone is much less lighthearted and is darker including constant war and death. The dialog is actually better too, a little more challenging in their use of vocabulary and cultural references, and the plot lines themselves require more of the viewer. There are far more characters and multi-narratives going on, and far more big and powerful transformers like Metroplex and Tripticon, Predaking, and others worked into the stories.

What is missing is a connection to the characters. Optimus Prime was the most likable character from the earlier generation, it was definitely a mistake to kill him off. Ditto for Ironhyde and the others...

exca1ibur · 04:37 PM

That whole season takes place right after the movie, thats why the tone of it changed. Which season is that one? 3?