A journey through the JP Gen1 cartoon.

[griffin]

I'm pretty sure the Trainbots were carrying full size TFs in the early episodes.

[GoktimusPrime]

And yet the cabins and seats in Ep22 are clearly human sized. If the scale was consistent, then the inside of the Trainbots should be gigantic for Gorter and Papika (much like the tube car seats were huge for Spike and Carly in Desertion of the Dinobots). So sometimes the Trainbots are scaled for humans and other times they're scaled for Transformers. To be fair, inconsistent scale is hardly unique to this series.

[griffin]

Ep 23 - Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship

Galvatron is searching for Proton Energy on the Pirate Planet, but needs a map and a key to get to it. The Autobot and Decepticon Clones have the map, and Daniel inadvertently finds the key.


Oooo, Clones. We didn't get to see them much in the US Rebirth story, so this was an interesting episode. Talking in unison bugged me after a while though. And they are apparently not from Cybertron, but 'another planet'.

This planet plundering story arc continues, with the Autobots revealing that Galvatron has been to 13 planets so far, and has been successful in capturing energy from over half of them.

While they have the important job of tracking down the Decepticons and stopping their plans, Daniel tells Highbrow that he wants to have a closer look at a space-wreck, and Highbrow is happy to oblige.

The flashback of the Autobot Clones talking about the Decepticon Clones being turned by Galvatron suggests it happened some time ago, but Galvatron was only created about a year ago, and he's been really busy since then. It's possible, but it just feels like they are talking about something that happened years ago.

Twincast dragging off Highbrow like a lump of meat... so funny.

How irresponsible of Highbrow to load Daniel's gun with a live magazine and not telling him... the kid could have been playing with it later as a toy gun, and killed someone.

I keep thinking of the Seacons with the title of this episode, but gotta remind myself that it's the JP Beast Wars series that has Seacons as Pirates.

A fairly clever episode, with them needing a special key to get into the pyramid... and it was only Daniel's interest a space-wreck that gives it away.

Just like when Ultra Magnus tipped off the Decepticons in episode 17 of their plan B, this one has the plot device of Highbrow bringing the key to the planet before the Decepticons have been chased off. If they had held onto it until after the Decepticons had left, they could have entered the pyramid without interference. But then, if that happened, we wouldn't have the pivotal battle between the Clones, and between Scorponok and Fortress Maximus.

The ending doesn't make much sense though, as it suggests the energy is still inside the planet, which is why it was turned into a desert. But everyone leaves without searching more for it.


Ep 24 - The Death of Ultra Magnus

The Decepticons have returned to their planet, Charr, and plan anew. Galvatron sends Sixshot to lead an attack on the Autobots, while Scorponok has his Headmasters searching for the Autobot Energy stores to improve his chances of deposing Galvatron. On Earth, Sixshot and Ultra Magnus fight to the death, with Sixshot revealing a seventh mode - the Wingwolf.


This would have to be the worst title in this series, as it spoils what happens in this episode.

The Autobot outpost has generic troops, which only seem to be meant as cannon fodder, and many are easily destroyed.

The Wingwolf mode of Sixshot looks and sounds like a fan-made mode, especially since he's supposed to be a six-changer. Giving him a seventh mode kinda defeats the purpose of calling him Sixshot.

Ultra Magnus doesn't turn grey like everyone else, which was only used for dramatic effect before anyway, so probably shouldn't be a definite indicator of death. And considering how indestructible characters are at times, and how some are easily rebuilt, it is hard to accept an actual (permanent) death of a character.

[GoktimusPrime]

Oooo, Clones. We didn't get to see them much in the US Rebirth story, so this was an interesting episode. Talking in unison bugged me after a while though. And they are apparently not from Cybertron, but 'another planet'.

Yeah, the talking in unison bugs me too; I much prefer Clone Wars where all the clones are different and unique despite being clones. But then I think that if I were to have seen this in 1987 then it would've probably seemed cool as the main gimmick with the clones was to have two identical robots who transformed into different alt modes. So not only do they look the same, but they think and talk the same. Rebirth more or less did the same thing with Fastlane and Cloudraker, only that they were a bit off synch ("Roger Dodger Optimus Prime! Roger Dodger Optimus Prime!") -- and Reflector was often portrayed in the same way.

The flashback of the Autobot Clones talking about the Decepticon Clones being turned by Galvatron suggests it happened some time ago, but Galvatron was only created about a year ago, and he's been really busy since then. It's possible, but it just feels like they are talking about something that happened years ago.

Galvatron could've time-jumped.

How irresponsible of Highbrow to load Daniel's gun with a live magazine and not telling him... the kid could have been playing with it later as a toy gun, and killed someone.

Or himself. Perhaps that was Highbrow's plan.

I keep thinking of the Seacons with the title of this episode, but gotta remind myself that it's the JP Beast Wars series that has Seacons as Pirates.

You'll get plenty of Seacon action of Masterforce (though they still be not pirates ya scurvee sea dawg!)

Ep 24 - The Death of Ultra Magnus

The Decepticons have returned to their planet, Charr, and plan anew. Galvatron sends Sixshot to lead an attack on the Autobots, while Scorponok has his Headmasters searching for the Autobot Energy stores to improve his chances of deposing Galvatron. On Earth, Sixshot and Ultra Magnus fight to the death, with Sixshot revealing a seventh mode - the Wingwolf.


This would have to be the worst title in this series, as it spoils what happens in this episode.

Indeed! I just really REALLY hate the way Ultra Magnus was defeated and killed. It was the typical lazy way of making one character (Sixshot) look powerful by making his opponent (Ultra Magnus) grossly incompetent. It reminds me of a lot of martial arts/self-defence demonstrations I see and reminds me why I dislike most demos. In order for a fighter to be shown as good, you need to have him fighting against a competent and highly skilled opponent because the fighter is only ever as good as his opponent. But in this case it's even worse than incompetence... it's like Ultra Magnus _wants_ to die.

Ultra Magnus just allowed himself to get shot, then gets up again giving Sixshot time to transform and shoot him again. This process repeats itself over and over again until Sixshot has attacked Ultra Magnus in all of his modes - and NO time during this fight does he attempt to retreat, counterattack or do anything other than stand up again to get hit. It's just an incredibly stupid fight scene. The first fight between Cheetor and Blackarachnia is just as bad, but at least it was brief. Ultra Magnus vs Sixshot is not only stupid, but it was a long and extensively dragged out fight too (thanks to Sixshot needing to defeat him in 7 modes). *sigh*

Ultra Magnus doesn't turn grey like everyone else, which was only used for dramatic effect before anyway, so probably shouldn't be a definite indicator of death. And considering how indestructible characters are at times, and how some are easily rebuilt, it is hard to accept an actual (permanent) death of a character.

The one thing I do like about this episode is that they actually showed the Autobots (and their allies) mourning for Ultra Magnus' loss and actually giving him a funeral. It was touching that they decided to bury him on Earth instead of in space or on another planet (e.g. Cybertron).

[liegeprime]

But in this case it's even worse than incompetence... it's like Ultra Magnus _wants_ to die.

Ultra Magnus just allowed himself to get shot, then gets up again giving Sixshot time to transform and shoot him again. This process repeats itself over and over again until Sixshot has attacked Ultra Magnus in all of his modes - and NO time during this fight does he attempt to retreat, counterattack or do anything other than stand up again to get hit. It's just an incredibly stupid fight scene. [/IMG]

He couldnt deal with it at the moment heheheheh

[griffin]

Considering Ultra Magnus didn't die in the Movie after being blown into lots of little pieces, this just seemed like a very cheap death... to, as Gok said, make Sixshot seem like a super powerful character.

I'm not sure why they bothered though, as he apparently goes soft soon, thanks to a friendship with Daniel.

[Hursticon]

Considering Ultra Magnus didn't die in the Movie after being blown into lots of little pieces, this just seemed like a very cheap death... to, as Gok said, make Sixshot seem like a super powerful character.

I'm not sure why they bothered though, as he apparently goes soft soon, thanks to a friendship with Daniel.

I think they could've made Sixshot appear to be a powerful character if they'd maybe just employed some robot dismemberment and a good old Spark: Rip 'n' Crush, that would've made him truly something to be feared - instead we got piss poor laser shots that didn't even leave scorch marks, mind you it was quite amusing to watch UM get placed into a casket and get shot into a body of water like he was literally being flushed and forgotten about.

My only gripe with Sixshot in Headmasters is that he keeps being referred to as a Ninja when he is probably one of the least covert characters of the show, that and I agree with Griffin in that his supposed 7th mode is just pointless.

The clones I really liked as I didn't mind the 'speech in unison' effect they gave them as it gives a sense that they are, though I know they're not, sharing a spark - The Galvatron debacle is a bit of an oversight but, that Galvatron sure does work in mysterious ways.

I too thought it was weird that the Autobots, after having gone to such lengths to unlock this Pyramids secrets, would just up and leave after a bit of a moral story... that was clearly eons old
It is indeed unfortunate though that Daniel didn't use Wheelie as target practice with Highbrow's offering, this incarnation of Wheelie is far and beyond way more annoying than the US version, I know he is supposed to be young but damn!

The most disappointing part I've found with this series is the weird 'Quick, throw in a character!' but then 'Let's never use them again!' attitude.
The writer/s hold onto really friggin' annoying characters but give 2 seconds to others whilst the majority of the main cast are quite boring.

The Decepticons main cast I find myself liking a lot more as:
1. They get less air time so they don't get developed into dickheads and,
2. The voice-over cast does an awesome job with their characters.
The bloke who provides Zarak's voice nails it IMO as Zarak/Scorponok is my favourite character and with his booming Japanese voice, he makes Galvatron sound like a grunt.

I'll wait until Griffin posts further thoughts on later episodes, I finished the series on Saturday as I just went Headmasters Marathon Nuts! , before I make any further comments but for me this series is a 'watch once' kind of thing unfortunately as there are only a few standout episodes so I hope the subsequent series will be a bit more refined and enjoyable.

Oh, one thing I will say - Spoilers: Targetmasters are absolute jerks, like U.S. Military level jerks - I'd gladly take to them with an Energon Blade!!!