Episode Review - 108 Transformers Prime - Con Job

[KaRNiV8L PRiME]

Bulkhead awaits a visit from his buddy Wheeljack, but his arrival does not go as planned.

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWuf0DP58GU)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbnI7aVTDEo)

Discuss

[Tallestblue]

Yep. another Average Episode of Transformers Prime. the battle with the Scraplets last episode was much more enjoyable this one.

Spoilers and a Rant in white........I find it ironic that the premise of the episode was that there was a Decepticon pretending to be Wheeljack when Prime's idea of Wheeljack isn't really him in the first place. I realise that Prime is not G1, but Wheeljack should be some sort of Science bot ,Not the guy who bore more than a passing resemblance to Drift. In fact in my head I was thinking that Drift would've been a better choice, even to the point where a more entertaining storyline could've been had with a Decepticon plot to impersonate Drift in order to make the traitor look like he had returned to his old ways. I certainly hope the next ep is more exciting.

[GoktimusPrime]

spoilers ahoy






I liked "Driftjack." ;)

Plenty of action... but as with last episode I was disappointed that there wasn't that much transforming either. (-_-)


I realise that Prime is not G1, but Wheeljack should be some sort of Science bot ,Not the guy who bore more than a passing resemblance to Drift.
Even though G1 Wheeljack was a mechanical engineer, not a scientist. :p But yeah, his persona was definitely more Driftish... the only thing about him that's Wheeljack is the look and name. But hey... it's not G1. <shrug>


In fact in my head I was thinking that Drift would've been a better choice, even to the point where a more entertaining storyline could've been had with a Decepticon plot to impersonate Drift in order to make the traitor look like he had returned to his old ways. I certainly hope the next ep is more exciting.
Nah, I prefer Driftjack over Drift.

But yeah, I hope next ep will feature more transforming and if they're gonna introduce a new character, hopefully s/he'll actually stay! This series sure has its fair share of "hi then bye" characters... Cliffjumper, Skyquake, Wheeljack...

If Hasbro's planning on making toys of these characters, it's odd that they don't appear more -- and in Wheeljack's case, it's quite odd that he never transformed (although the episode does leave it open for him to potentially return). At least Cliffjumper and Skyquake got "showcased" in both modes.

I actually found the most interesting character in the story was Makeshift -- a Decepticon much like Chameleon (http://marvel.com/universe/Chameleon) or Zartan (http://gijoe.wikia.com/wiki/Zartan_%28RAH%29). A shame he had to die at the end, as he would've been a pretty deadly recurring villain.

[SharkyMcShark]

Could Wheeljack have been intended to be Sunstreaker at some point? Similar transformation, he's got the 'ears' as well, and Wheeljack's personality here is closer to that of your average Sunstreaker.

Not that I mind at all that Wheeljack wasn't captain science here.

[KaRNiV8L PRiME]

I really enjoyed this episode.

+ There were some great TF references in there. Darkmount and the Wreckers were mentioned.
+ Wheeljack kicked ass
+ Enjoying Starscream leading the cons.
- Jackie??? not so good
- Only starscream and troopers transform (this is starting to bug me)
- Makeshifts ultimate fate. They could've re-used him in more episodes

[GoktimusPrime]

- Jackie??? not so good
Yeah, that bugged me. I don't like it when writers make the Transformers feel too human. (-_-) (hello, they're aliens...)


- Makeshifts ultimate fate. They could've re-used him in more episodes
Yeah. Ya know, if something like this happened in Beast Wars, I reckon Makeshift would have survived and the Decepticons would've learnt the location of the Autobot's no-longer-secret base and in the next episode the slag would hit the fan. ;)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I quite enjoyed this episode, despite WJ not being quite as G1 as one would expect.

Things to keep in mind about the death of Transformers, do they really die?

I am of the mind that maybe Skyquake was playing dead at the end of his episode.

With Makeshift having learned the placing of the Autobot base and knowing a way in without the bridge, Starscream might go to the effort of rebuilding/gathering brain pieces.

Was nice to see the other references, and Ratchet's referral to the scraplets in the previous episode. I do wish Prime would lighten up though. Everything is so damn serious with that guy. This was especially noticeable in the scraplets ep. Obviously Arcee was having a bit of a joke about Bulkhead, but Prime starts lecturing.

Hope to see more of WJ and oher Wreckers. (Springer!!)

Do we need to worry about spoilers in these threads?

[KaRNiV8L PRiME]

Do we need to worry about spoilers in these threads?

Way I see it is, if someone doesn't want something to be spoiled, they shouldn't read reviews in general. I think the term "review" implies that you will find out information that potentially was not already know

[5FDP]

This was probably the first episode that I didn't mind. Maybe it had something to do with Wheeljack being in it :cool:

The only thing that bugged me though was his personality. I understand that it's not meant to be G1, but it would be nice to have some consistencies so older fans can relate.

[GoktimusPrime]

Things to keep in mind about the death of Transformers, do they really die?

If their Spark is extinguished, then they are dead as dead.

Unless your name is "Optimus." :p ;)

[Gutsman Heavy]

I didn't mind Wheeljack being a wrecker (if Perceptor can...) but I really hated the generic voice, which it more to do with toons in general these days than Prime in particular, but I'm just not a fan of it. I miss distinctive voices.

[loophole]

i think its funny how alot of people love this wheeljack but this incarnation doesnt even have his "G1" personality which i thought is why fans like him but its Drifts persona yet not many people like Drift :confused:

[Oilspill]

I loved Wheeljack's design. His CG model looked great and loved the mouthplate.

However, I personally think if they substituted Springer for Wheeljack it would have been a much more suitable choice. Just the way he talked and how he kicked-arse and was a bit jockish. Ans the swords would have fitted too, plus he was a wrecker.

Drift would have worked too, but Springer moreso IMHO.


I liked Makeshift, but they shouldn't have killed him off. Maybe it was just because they didn't have an actual character model or voice actor for him. But he would make a cool Decepticon spy, utilising - hey - deception.

But now there's been two episodes that introduced a new Decepticon character, just to have him killed off. It doesn't give the impression that Decepticons are a threat or are particularly excellent warriors. This is heightened further as it seems from this episode that Starscream isn't particularly strong or intimidating in battle.

So for the Decepticons we seem to see that Starscream isn't a big threat in battle, Soundwave is more a manipulator of information than a warrior, and the Eradicons are cannon-fodder.

On the Auobots side, even Ratchet & Bumblebee are shown as very capable warriors, so we seem to have five skilled warriors plus Wheeljack if he comes back. Should be a freaking cakewalk for them to slaughter the two remaining Decepticons that are active on Earth, and without a leader I doubt the Eradicons would do anything.

[Fonecrusher]

I don't like how new characters are seemingly being relegated to "weekly guest star" status, first Skyquake now Wheeljack, I'm losing all hope of seeing the regular cast expand, especially on the Con side (even with Megatron back, it's still only 3 Cons).

[The_Damned]

i loved the episode and liked how wheeljack was an awesome fighter, the only thing i that puzzled me is how they captured him in the first place? sorta disappointed that he didnt stick around for more then the one episode but i spose it would sorta make it boring if he was out there kicking arse every episode.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Yeh, WJ was overpowered. In the first episodes, you saw Bulkhead having trouble with 2 or so Eradicons, and yet WJ can take on a whole platoon or two of them? I winder if BH really was in the Wreckers...

[SharkyMcShark]

He was probably their water boy

[Orion Pax]

I totally agree with WJ not being very Wheeljack-ish - because Wheeljack would never have used swords or have been all ninja-eqsue... he would have engineered some kooky device to incapacitate the cons...
that and (if he had he would of) transformed in a Lambo Gallardo