How critical was the first death of Optimus Prime?

[Paulbot]

The death of Optimus Prime showed Transformers was an ensemble concept. Most of the other cartoons at the time had one star. You couldn't kill off He-Man, Astroboy, Inspector Gadget, Marshall Bravestarr, etc. Transformers could go on without Prime. Battles could have big stakes. The status quo could change signiciantly. There could be new Autobots to takeover (and new Decepticons to battle). This wasn't something you saw in many US cartoons at the time. It made Transformers something different, a bit more special.

And although they backtracked a bit too quickly it was possible for Transformers to go on without Optimus Prime toys or appearances. (Something I wish new series would attempt too)

I looked at Prime's death at the time and actually thought... all that equipment they have around and there's a guy there (Perceptor) who supposedly has fixed a whole lot of really broken stuff before and now he can't even fix a side cut on Prime.... what a weak death IMO. He was barely even damaged, no torn off limbs or anything sputtering and leaking and yet a side cut kills him... weak.

Of course on rewatching you know it's more than a cut. First there's the barrage of weapon fire at his chest weakening the armour, then Megatron is pretty committed to hitting the same part of the body. First the spear, the cut to the same area, which exposes internal organs, and then Megatron shoots him in the same spot (twice). Whatever Cybertronian organs are there must be crucial.

[liegeprime]

Of course on rewatching you know it's more than a cut. First there's the barrage of weapon fire at his chest weakening the armour, then Megatron is pretty committed to hitting the same part of the body. First the spear, the cut to the same area, which exposes internal organs, and then Megatron shoots him in the same spot (twice). Whatever Cybertronian organs are there must be crucial.

It's something to look at then when fighting alien robotic life - blast them where the left kidney should be in human equivalent, that'll get them!! Even the strongest fall when blasted in the left kidney area