Animated Series discussion thread (spoilers allowed)

[BWprowl]

...About that, I REALLY hope the new DB movie is a big postmodern joke, and has a whole hour of Goku just stood still, charging up, while the female characters (because they have to stay at home, as we know) just go "Ohhhhhhhh!"

And, yeah, Animated does have a better structure than DBZ, but what does that say? Teen Titans still has a better structure. =/

I know, I know, expect perfection and you'll only be disappointed!

I've caught a couple episodes of TT and I just can't stand it. Maybe I've just been exposed to the current comic incarnation too much, but the one-note stereotypes the characters have been reduced to (I WEEP for Cyborg) really killed any enthusiasm I could've had for it. At least the fights are nicely done.

[138 Scourge]

I like Teen Titans okay. But the Legion of Superheroes cartoon is (was?) a whole lot cooler.

Of course, I would say that just because it's the Legion. And they have Bouncing Boy, who is rad.

[BWprowl]

I caught an episode of the Justice League cartoon today, the one where Hawkgirl, Flash, and Fire help the old Blackhawk guy stop Luthor from blowing up his island, and Grodd is apparently putting together the Legion of Doom. It was...pretty good, actually. I mainly found it surprising that this thing was marketed as a kids' show, with stuff like Hawkgirl speculating on Fire's sexual orientation, and actually using words like 'kill' and 'die'. Friend of mine says it's consistently good, may have to look into DVDs...

[Onslaught Six]

Justice League was indeed Consistantly Good on that level. Similar to Batman TAS, which I'm actually watching through right now.

[Misanthrope Prime]

Well, I just love Justice league because I'm a macrophiliac.

[andersonh1]

I haven't been able to watch TFA on television due to the fact that I really don't feel like paying for cable. So I've bought the two DVD sets that have come out so far that comprise the first season, and I've watched the show that way. It's definately different than past incarnations of the Transformers concept. I like it, but not in an overly enthusiastic way. At this point I've seen most of season 1, with only three episodes to go, so some of my comments may be addressed in later episodes.

Strengths:

Characters: Mostly quite good. The characterization of the five main Autobot characters, along with Sari and the other main human characters is fairly strong and consistent. To me, this is the main selling point of the show and the part that I enjoy the most. The characters are all broadly drawn archetypes of course, from the young and inxperienced but heroic leader, the crusty old war vet, to the big dumb lug with the big heart, etc. Nevertheless, the combination works well, and the voice acting is strong.

The setting: is interesting and well-realized. Detroit two centuries from now is a nicely specific real-world location for a Transformers cartoon, which perhaps gives us our real-world link to the fantasy concept of giant shapeshifting alien robots, since the vehicles are anything but real-world this time around.

The concept: Professor Sumdac has reverse engineered his robot revolution based off 50 years of studying Megatron's disembodied head, which the Autobots have no idea exists in the very city they are living in. That's a concept borrowed straight from the movie, but used in a far more extensive and believable way, as well as being illustrated visually rather than as a subject of a few throwaway lines. Robots are everywhere, and Sumdac's less than perfect understanding of the technology drives the plot of more than a few episodes.

Nods to other continuities: There are lots of these, and as a long-time fan of the line, I enjoy just about all of them. The show borrows and adapts elements from the movie, Beast Wars and G1 so far, and borrows Sentinel Prime's name from the comics. And all of these elements are well-used in the context of the story.

Weaknesses:

Human super-villains: Ok, I know the idea for the series is 'super heroes' rather than 'soldiers', but enough with the stupid super villains. Far too often the villains are uninteresting (Meltdown, Nanosec), and in some cases just stupid (Angry Archer, Headmaster). And is it just me, but is watching a human beat up a giant Transformer just silly? These Autobots have to be the wimpiest ever. Frankly, I suspect that in future reviewings, I'll skip most of these episodes in favor of ones that actually feature Transformer vs. Transformer action.

Formulaic: This is certainly a charge that can be applied to other series. But it becomes predictable how any given TFA episode will proceed very quickly. Either we get a guest character that the Autobots have to deal with (Soundwave, Dinobots), or a human they have to fight (Meltdown, Nanosec). Said character may or may not get a repeat appearance, but regardless, this gives the show a very 'villain of the week' feeling. There is no consistent foe out there, apart from Megatron's head.

Why are the Autobots still on Earth? Haven't they deserted their post or something? I'm not sure why they stayed in Detroit from the start rather than repairing their ship and heading back to Cybertron with the Allspark. Staying on Earth where the thing is so lightly guarded makes no sense to me.

Why does Sari have they key? The Allspark powered key is a plot-driving device that really pushes the envelope. Why exactly is such an all-powerful device left in the hands of Sari, who could easily be robbed of the thing? Look at all the trouble she causes with it... creating Soundwave, or various other irresponsible actions over the course of the episodes. I have to admit, I can't quite figure out just why the Allspark would have given it to her in the first place.

Overall, there's more good than bad in the Animated series, and the writing is fairly strong if somewhat formulaic. But the silly human villains are entirely forgettable, b-class supervillains, and the Autobots are the most ineffective bunch I've ever seen, or at least it often seems that way. Half their troubles would be solved if they'd just carry guns and shoot stuff. The quality is several steps above the AEC trilogy, but I dislike the aesthetics of the show, and miss the massive casts of past Transformer shows.

So is the show good? I'd say good but not great. Points to the Hasbro team for trying a new direction with the franchise, but demerits for the lame super villains. Bring on more Autobot vs. Decepticon action.

[Onslaught Six]

Formulaic: This is certainly a charge that can be applied to other series. But it becomes predictable how any given TFA episode will proceed very quickly. Either we get a guest character that the Autobots have to deal with (Soundwave, Dinobots), or a human they have to fight (Meltdown, Nanosec). Said character may or may not get a repeat appearance, but regardless, this gives the show a very 'villain of the week' feeling. There is no consistent foe out there, apart from Megatron's head.

This gets better in S2. Believe you me.

Why are the Autobots still on Earth? Haven't they deserted their post or something? I'm not sure why they stayed in Detroit from the start rather than repairing their ship and heading back to Cybertron with the Allspark. Staying on Earth where the thing is so lightly guarded makes no sense to me.

I'm pretty sure it's established at one point or another that the Autobots aren't in contact with anyone from Cybertron--they certainly get a big surprise when Ultra Magnus and co. show up in S2. At this point--much like early G1--they don't even know if Cybertron 'still exists,' let alone how to get back to it.

Why does Sari have they key? The Allspark powered key is a plot-driving device that really pushes the envelope. Why exactly is such an all-powerful device left in the hands of Sari, who could easily be robbed of the thing? Look at all the trouble she causes with it... creating Soundwave, or various other irresponsible actions over the course of the episodes. I have to admit, I can't quite figure out just why the Allspark would have given it to her in the first place.

There's a possible hint thread throughout the show, with the big reveal being partially done at the end of S2. Granted, it sorta leaves more questions than answers, but those will (hopefully) be answered come S3.

Overall, there's more good than bad in the Animated series, and the writing is fairly strong if somewhat formulaic. But the silly human villains are entirely forgettable, b-class supervillains, and the Autobots are the most ineffective bunch I've ever seen, or at least it often seems that way. Half their troubles would be solved if they'd just carry guns and shoot stuff. The quality is several steps above the AEC trilogy, but I dislike the aesthetics of the show, and miss the massive casts of past Transformer shows.

So is the show good? I'd say good but not great. Points to the Hasbro team for trying a new direction with the franchise, but demerits for the lame super villains. Bring on more Autobot vs. Decepticon action.

As I said, S2 majorly bumps that shit up to Awesome levels. The cast swells up to better proportions with the Dinobots and the core Decepticons, and the recurring guest characters like Sentinel, Magnus and such help that along. S1 and S2 are really best eaten as a whole instead of individually, since that's the way they were aired and S2 is the better one anyway.

[andersonh1]

That sounds promising. In re-reading my review I sound a bit down on the show, but I am enjoying it, and have plans to buy the second season when it comes out on DVD. So it's good to hear that there's some good stuff up and coming.

[BWprowl]

Just a note, I really like some of the supervillains. Angry Archer is a delight, and if you don't love Professor Princess, then you have no soul. Wait 'til the S2 ep "S.U.V.", when this group is at their best, and you may come to like them a bit more. Maybe.

[Sparky Prime]

I'm pretty sure it's established at one point or another that the Autobots aren't in contact with anyone from Cybertron--they certainly get a big surprise when Ultra Magnus and co. show up in S2. At this point--much like early G1--they don't even know if Cybertron 'still exists,' let alone how to get back to it.

The Autobots didn't even try to establish contact with Cybertron once they woke up on Earth. Come to think about it, when the Elite Guard shows up, Ultra Magnus doesn't sound happy that they spent all that time and resources just tracking down Optimus's crew. And they didn't even start fixing their ship until pretty much the end of season 1. Not to mention "Along Came a Spider" establishes that organic worlds are supposed to be off-limits to Autobots. I'd really have to agree with andersonh1's point's here in that it never really made sense that the Autobot's stayed on Earth or at least tried to contact Cybertron.