TF Animated General Discussion

[GoktimusPrime]

It had references to both the G1 cartoon and comics - the cartoon reference obviously being Sari taking the Autobots to a museum about dinosaurs and the Dinobots being created on Earth, and the comic reference being how the Dinobots got trapped in a tar pit (although they didn't have to wait 4 million years before being rescued, eheheheh).

[Paulbot]

I recall tar in the cartoon as well (wasn't that a cliffhanger during Dinobot Island?) but it does work as a comic reference too.

Most of the plot points though seem to reference the cartoon: Megatron convincing the Dinobots to attack Autobots, the secluded refuge, even the fire breath coming from all the Dinobots not just Slag.

[kup]

I was reading future episode synopsis and thre is a possibility that the Dinobots may get smarter in the future which will hopefully meet that 'half way mark' between the comics and cartoon intelligence. I dont think that they will get much smarter but any additional IQ points would be welcomed.

Cars bad...Car Robots WORSE!
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FISTING VIDS

[GoktimusPrime]

indeed... these Dinobots would be cooler if they took more cues from the G1 comics...

[Paulbot]

I would like if they get smart enough that Slag and Swoop can actually speak.

[Gutsman Heavy]

I have no doubt they'll get smarter, remember they were just given life in the show, consider them as infants, fire breathing infants, but infants none the less.

[kup]

I have just seen the lost Episode 'Meltdown' which was skipped by cartoon Network. Time Warner released it as an 'on demand' episode (downloads into a set top box upon request). It is supposed to take place before the 'Blast from the Past' Dinobot episode. It has found its way into torrents, downloads and Youtube.

*Spoilers*

This is the most 'Super Hero' type episode so far and it starts with the Autobots watching television and suddenly seeing Bumblebee participating in a televised wrestling match against a hyper Steroid enhanced 'super' human. This Echo's Bob Budiansky's last comic issue with the wrestling Micromasters but this is much worse. Then it escalated into a very boring Super Hero fight with the Mutated wrestler where the other Autobots joined in and defeated it. The Wrestleing match was aranged by the CEO of a Bioengineering company to proof to Captain Fanzone, that his Bio enhanced humans were superior to any Machine or robot. The defeat and mess created by the bioenhanced human makes him loose face with the Police and City, loosing the contract, this sets the plot of the episode into motion.

As mentioned this is the most 'Super Hero' type episode so far as the bad guy is pretty much your typical 'accident altered' human super villain. When he was turned down by the Police Force and abandoned by investors, he basically tried to show his capabilities by conducting an experiment which mixes Bumblebee's inner fluids (leaked from the mutant fight) with his enhanced bio matter. The result was that in a fit of rage, he spilled it and was 'mutated' into an Acidic humanoid with the ability to melt everything he touches. He became Meltdown the Super Villain. Meltdown then goes to Professor Sumdac's building to 'avenge' himself (Sumdac had acquired the Police contract to enhance the Police force with robotic drones instead of bio enhanced humans). Meltdown and his mutated henchman are eventually defeated by the Autobots in another boring fight and locked away in an electromagnetic bubble. That's it.

I can see why this episode was skipped, not so much due to its poor story but its controversial nature of the beginning. The villain of this story has made a industry from biologically enhancing humans using steroids and hormone like substances. Aparently in near future Detroit, they do not have any moral issues with artificially enhancing humans in such a manner. The CEO of the company (the villain) was trying to sell the technology to Chief Fanzone to enhance his Police Force. No one cared about the ethical or moral issues about this, only that it wasn't efficient enough.

They also had a very stupid subplot happening with Bumblebee trying to proof that he is tough despite being the shortest of the team (reason for joining the wrestling match). There were far too many 'short jokes' and Bumblebee just behaved in a very annoying childish form with in a generic 'short guy trying to be tough' manner. He was so annoying that it made Wheelie seem like the most awesome Bot in the world. It was badly handled.

What can I say? This episode was the worse episode by far. I am honestly trying to find good points to this episodes as I did with the previous others but I can't think of any, there is nothing here that merits praise; It was just a mess. It was a Super hero plot doesn't necessarily make it a bad episode, but it was so generic, predictable and cliche that it just didn't work at all. To put it simply, this episode SUCKED!

I thought of something Positive! The good thing about this episode is that it was stand alone. It didn't contribute anything to the main story arc and does not affect continuity in any way. You don't loose anything by skipping it. Not much of a good point but at least it doesn't affect the rest of the series (hopefully)
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Easy vape vaporizer

[kup]

I have just finished watching this week's 'properly' broadcast Animated episode.

The Episode Title 'Thrill of the Hunt'.

*Spoilers*

I was very impressed by this episode and it certainly is infinitly superior to the super crap episode that was 'Meltdown'. This episode for the first time had proper quality to its story telling with good pacing and world building. It also had no Super hero aspects despite some people getting saved. The Autobots for the first time acted as such, Autobots facing the greater threat of the Decepticons.

This episode starts off in a lighter note with the Autobots exploring the city at night and commenting about the 'otherworldly' things they encounter. Ratchet was particularly amusing at the begining with his culture shock of looking through the window of a autoparts store (which was a smart prelude on what is to come). Then it went into a car chase which gradually developed in the introduction of the Decepticon Bounty Hunter named Lockdown.

Lockdown and Ratchet had a history going back to the Great War. This story was told through intermediate flashbacks which were nicely done in showing us a desolate but ravaged city on Cybertron where Ratchet was given the task to find and rescue an Autobot who contained critical data on the War effort. This Autobot was non other than Arcee!

The flashback sub story clearly had a dark atmosphere which was a huge contrast from the typical 'bright and happy' episodes that we have gotten from animated so far. It showed us a ravaged city and the consequences of the Great War. It also showed fantastic character development for Ratchet who had to not only guard and escort Arcee to Autobot command but heal her as well since she was badly injured/damaged. Without going too far into it, things quickly grow more dire as both are captured by Lockdown. Lockdown is a Decepticon bounty Hunter who deals in not only Head hunting Autobots but also the stealing and gathering of Intelligence data to sell for the right price to Megatron in exchange for self upgrades. This is what what makes Lockdown a terrifying foe, he captures Autobots and steals parts from them to upgrade himself, hence his Frankensten like limbs and varied color scheme. Long story short, this sub plot does not end with a happy ending which again adds a more maturity and quality to this episode. The story is also logical in defining what shapes Ratchet into the bot he is in the 'present' as we get to understand his 'war trauma' and why he is so grumpy. This is handled logically and with finesse. This episode legitimizes Animated as a series capable of providing a worthy story, character development and plot without patronizing the audience with too many kiddy elements.

Eventually after a creepy encounter with Meltdown which has Prime captured and Ratchet's battle for vengeance and redemption to rescue him, we have a straight forward battle but well fought with a good resolution to the story which was thoughtful, not flashy but an appropriate conclusion which made the story believable instead of forced like the ending of the 'movie' first episode.

This brings us to another thing that made this episode good. There was no Sari, no imposing humans characters and certainly no magic key to save the day. This episode relied on good writing to tell a story instead of some ridiculous plot device or a generic Super hero team against Super villain plot. It was good and refreshing to see a Transformers episode that relied on telling a well thought out Transformers story instead of some cheap rehashed plot that we have seen before in several series. We haven't gotten this level of quality in story telling since Beast Wars.

Another thing to mention is that the Autobots don't seem to emote in car mode for this episode so it maintains the seriousness of the story throughout without breaking its pacing or dark mood with excessively stupid jokes and kiddy animations like they have been doing in previous episodes.

Looks like this episode is the exact oposite of the 'Meltdown' episode. I am having difficulty finding bad elements in it because it was that good. Well, the only bad thing is really a matter of preference, I am not that fond of Blitzwing's 'demon' face. It seems too goofy for me but aside from that, this episode was superb.

I probably liked this episode so much because for the first time in this series, we have gotten a proper Transformers story without the super hero crap or annoying humans. This episode partially tabbed in what makes me a Transformers fan and I appreciate that.

If Animated continuously provides this level of story telling consistently in future episodes instead of the Super hero crap with much less Sari and her stupid key saving the day plot resolutions, then I could grow to like this series enough to collect the toys. This episode for the first time in Animated felt like a proper Transformers story.

Keep it up and you will win my money! Less Super heroes, more Transformers!
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PORNSTARS PORN

[liegeprime]

How do you get these episodes Kup? I went to youtube and typed TF animated and go from there but they usually want a more specific title search to do a search to include the upcoming/next episode. Like when I wanted the dinobot episode. I had to add "Blast form the Past" coz if I didn't it always just shows the very first episodes...

So my only recourse for now is wait for you guys here to post what the next title is so I can add it to my search in you tube, really annoying....

OH nice episode as well - hope the make an Arcee figure even though she's just a cameo character.... now.

[Robzy]

I tend to agree with you Kup! I thought 'Meltdown' was a 'letdown' to be honest! I'm getting tired of 'Sari and her magical key' all the time.

On the other hand, 'Thrill of the hunt' was excellent! It was a great character episode - giving us more insight towards Ratchet's past. I'm also really starting to like Prowl's character a lot... he's fast becoming my favourite character in the whole show!

2 extra bonuses for me were...
1) Susan Blu reprising her role as Arcee
2) Lance Henriksen as Lockdown (I recognised his voice during the episode)