Robots in Disguise retro review thread
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:43 am
Episode 1 - Battle Protocol!
"What do ya know, somebody must have forgotten to lock the gate at the petting zoo."
The show I taped off Fox Kids way back in the day deserves another viewing. I remember at the time being annoyed by the silly humor and wanting more deep, dark drama like the just-ended Beast Machines, but these days I love how light-hearted this show is. The goofy villains and running gags are just fun, and the Predacons contrast nicely with the more serious and dangerous Decepticons when they turn up.
"Battle Protocol" sets the narrative in motion as the obligatory kid sidekick of the series, Koji, watches his father Dr. Onishi deliver a speech on the other side of the world, only to be attacked by the Predacon leader Megatron. This guy's vocal scenery chewing reminds me of a sort of cross between G1 and Beast Wars Megatron, and maybe that's what the producers were going for. Optimus Prime intervenes after collecting Koji and traveling to New York via the global space bridge, and the fight escalates when Megatron calls in his troops, forcing Optimus to do the same. In the end, Prime fails to stop Megatron from kidnapping Dr. Onishi, setting up a story arc which will take some time to complete as the Autobots search for him in addition to trying to defeat the Predacons.
Koji is a pretty likeable character, all things considered. On a scale of 1 to 10, with Daniel from G1 and Carlos from Armada being close to a 1, and Jean from Victory being closer to the high side, I'd give Koji a 8 or 9. With his father being kidnapped, there's a reason he remains associated with the Autobots, and he has no annoying accent or personality tics. He's a bright, brave, friendly kid, and I don't mind him being in most of the episodes. And the show's lighter tone makes him a better fit than he might be in other series.
The episode is a little slow, but then it's all setup. I find it interesting that both Prime and X-Brawn appear to act as working vehicles for humans when they're not on a mission. Side Burn is already flirting with red sportscars... does he not realize they aren't alive like him? Megatron must have left his best troops guarding the other worlds he claims to rule, and taken the leftover troops to go to Earth, anticipating an easy job there. If I was a self-respecting Predacon, I don't think I'd pick either a toad, a flying squirrel or especially a skunk for my alt mode.
"What do ya know, somebody must have forgotten to lock the gate at the petting zoo."
The show I taped off Fox Kids way back in the day deserves another viewing. I remember at the time being annoyed by the silly humor and wanting more deep, dark drama like the just-ended Beast Machines, but these days I love how light-hearted this show is. The goofy villains and running gags are just fun, and the Predacons contrast nicely with the more serious and dangerous Decepticons when they turn up.
"Battle Protocol" sets the narrative in motion as the obligatory kid sidekick of the series, Koji, watches his father Dr. Onishi deliver a speech on the other side of the world, only to be attacked by the Predacon leader Megatron. This guy's vocal scenery chewing reminds me of a sort of cross between G1 and Beast Wars Megatron, and maybe that's what the producers were going for. Optimus Prime intervenes after collecting Koji and traveling to New York via the global space bridge, and the fight escalates when Megatron calls in his troops, forcing Optimus to do the same. In the end, Prime fails to stop Megatron from kidnapping Dr. Onishi, setting up a story arc which will take some time to complete as the Autobots search for him in addition to trying to defeat the Predacons.
Koji is a pretty likeable character, all things considered. On a scale of 1 to 10, with Daniel from G1 and Carlos from Armada being close to a 1, and Jean from Victory being closer to the high side, I'd give Koji a 8 or 9. With his father being kidnapped, there's a reason he remains associated with the Autobots, and he has no annoying accent or personality tics. He's a bright, brave, friendly kid, and I don't mind him being in most of the episodes. And the show's lighter tone makes him a better fit than he might be in other series.
The episode is a little slow, but then it's all setup. I find it interesting that both Prime and X-Brawn appear to act as working vehicles for humans when they're not on a mission. Side Burn is already flirting with red sportscars... does he not realize they aren't alive like him? Megatron must have left his best troops guarding the other worlds he claims to rule, and taken the leftover troops to go to Earth, anticipating an easy job there. If I was a self-respecting Predacon, I don't think I'd pick either a toad, a flying squirrel or especially a skunk for my alt mode.