Transformers Animated (Spoilers within!)

Unread post by **Starath** » Thu May 28, 2009 4:31 am

Well shoot, I think I'll add my two cents here... xD

I know the writers did the best they good to wrap up TFA in its shortened lifespan, but the many loose ends bug me. Most of them already have been mentioned-- but what I was absolutely DYING for was some resolution between Sentinel and Optimus. Their dynamic fascinated me in the series, and I daresay Sentinel ranks in my top favorite three characters out of TFA. I found him interesting because he started out as the comic relief who didn't know he was a jerk, then became quite a tragic character in S3. I had a lot of emotional investment in Sentinel because I wanted to like him, but every time he showed up he gave me another reason to hate him, starting with his cheating in "Five Servos of Doom". I ended up sympathizing and pitying him every time he kept digging his hole a little deeper. By "This is Why I Hate Machines" I was wincing whenever he opened his mouth. I also cried "OMG Ratchet DON'T let him have that hammer!" at the end of that ep, then felt bad for Sentinel all at the same time.

It bothers me for another reason-- in previous episodes they foreshadowed some sort of showdown "when the dust clears", if I recall Optimus' words correctly. I wanted to know exactly WHY they had the relationship they did and just what was going on in Sentinel's mind, as well as a reason for his actions. I explored the idea in a fanfic, but I wanted the show to tell me something concrete. I had suspected their little trip that lost Elita One was the root cause, but I wanted to know... more. I suppose it's a testament to the writers' talents if I became so curious and attached to a character practically everyone else hates.

Sari's origin story was sorely lacking, too. I like her as a character, despite having become a practical Mary Sue, but to me her true purpose intended by the AllSpark went unfulfilled.

Losing Prowl and Starscream in the same ep.... OW. Dat hurt. "Und if ve listen hard enough," Blitzwing told me later, "Ve vill hear all de fangurls in mourning." Starscream wasn't impressed with his end either (he watched it with me and Blitz). I admit that was unexpected-- but a logical result of what Prowl did. I had suspected he'd do something that would take his life.... Geez did that sad smile get to me! But Starscream, geez. He spent most of S3 as a head, got his body back only to have it blasted to pieces in ONE ep, then he gets his AllSpark shard yanked out. However, like his G1 namesake I don't think he'd go peacefully to death without causing more trouble. Starscream's ghost, anyone?

Another complaint about the finale: There vas NO BLITZWING. )<

Having said all that.... I really wish they'd make a Season 4. Fanfiction potential aside, I'd like something canon to explain the half-dozen things that went unresolved. They did to TFA what they did to BW-- wrapped it up in too short of a time, making it feel rushed, choppy, incomplete and not entirely satisfying....

The Optimus Vs Megatron fight was cool, though, I'll give them that. I think Optimus has matured quite a bit over the course of the series.

And now.... *straps on helmet and jumps in foxhole* >> Yes, I admit to liking Sentinel. Fire at will. =P

artemis-lady-warrior · Thu May 28, 2009 8:31 am

ah it's okay. you can like the big jerk. I don't like him that much personally but when ti comes to fanfiction I can make people hate him more or feel bad for him. I already did that. XD
Heheheheehe you did the same thing I did. When I watched the end of the season Prowl watched it with me.

he didn't understand why I was crying though. He thought I should understand. No, prowl, it's not that simple.
Starscream's death was ubber lame, though. New time they kill him they should make it epic like they did in Armada and G1.

Wicked Woman · Unread post by **Wicked Woman** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:17 am

Yes! Thank you for saying that Starscream's death was lame. I thought so too (a little funny when he was struggling but lame all the same). If it was that easy, why didn't Megatron just pull out the fragment after shooting SS's legs off near the end of part 1?

WW

SkyxDB · Unread post by **SkyxDB** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:44 am

Honestly I'm not surpised that Starscream died, but for some reason I wasn't sad when he died, even though I did kind of like him and I think he was way better than G1 Starscream. I'm actually surpised that I'm not sad over his death, I have no idea why.

But yeah, I also don't like Sentinel Prime. I was willing to give him a chance to learn redeeming, but he just kept giving me more reasons not to like him. Heck, in a fanfic I'm working on, I plan on writting him as the guy in the Elite Guard that nobody likes.

artemis-lady-warrior · Fri May 29, 2009 11:11 am

hehehe in marishalwilder's endgame alternative fic Optimus gets the rank of Magnus and Sentinel gets jealous.
Incident;y in that fanfic NOBODY dies. Not Prowl and not Starscream. It's almost like an episode they threw out.

It's a great story. you all should check it out. If you want a link send me a note and I'll give it to you.

SkyxDB · Unread post by **SkyxDB** » Sat May 30, 2009 10:30 am

I guess, I might check it out when I get the chance. Oh and speaking of jealousy, how much do you bet that Sentinel is probably jealous that OP captured Megatron.

artemis-lady-warrior · Sat May 30, 2009 11:08 am

yes he did. He looked totally ticked off about it. Well sorry Sentinel you just suck and didn't even bother.

Unread post by **Starath** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:58 pm

Oh, OW, that's harsh. *patpats Sentinel who's sitting in the corner sulking* It's okay big guy, I still like you...

I'll have to rewatch the ending up again, but I remember seeing Sentinel's face at the end when Optimus and his crew came home. He was SO not impressed. And yeah, he handles himself like a Grade-A jerk, but I don't think he actually means to be a jerk, if that makes sense. He seems to be completely oblivious to how he comes off to people, or dismisses it as "They just don't understand" because that's how limited his mindset is. Well, a healthy ego and "I can do no wrong, it's for the Greater Good" opinion doesn't help matters, but people who behave in that manner generally hide massive insecurities.

But yeah, I also don't like Sentinel Prime. I was willing to give him a chance to learn redeeming, but he just kept giving me more reasons not to like him. Heck, in a fanfic I'm working on, I plan on writting him as the guy in the Elite Guard that nobody likes.

Yeah, that's precisely what I was eager to get-- to watch him be in a situation where he must decide what is truly important and understand why people treat him the way they do. As it stands he already is the guy nobody likes in the Elite Guard, IF he stayed in the Elite Guard (I suspect Ultra Magnus wouldn't be amused by how Sentinel behaved and would have probably busted him down a few ranks). Even though Sentinel became power hungry due to factors we can only guess at, I believe he did have the right motivations at heart (protecting Cybertron, preparing for Decepticon invasion), he just went about it completely the wrong way. This eventually wore on even Jazz's patience, who I imagine is REALLY hard to annoy to begin with.

Overall Sentinel is one of those guys who makes himself the bad guy without meaning to. A friend of mine said he basically behaved like Starscream waiting to pounce and replace Megatron when the situation presented itself. The only difference is (Starscream told me this himself) is that Starscream knows he's treacherous and proud of it. Sentinel seems to have no idea what his actions look like to others.

What I'll have to be content with as far as his redeeming qualities is how he interacted with Jetstorm and Jetfire, who absolutely ADORED him and thought he was the awesomest thing since cubed energon. Of course Sentinel wouldn't turn down a chance to be adored by anyone, but I like to think he cared for the Jet Twins and tried to look after them and teach them the most he could so they'd be good Elite Guard soldiers. It's not a lot, but that dynamic and possibilities relating to it gives me some comfort.

If it was that easy, why didn't Megatron just pull out the fragment after shooting SS's legs off near the end of part 1?

He was too busy to think of it at the time?

I think, given traditional Megatron/Starscream dynamics, that Megatron didn't yank the shard out because Starscream would always be useful in some way despite his habit of wanting to kill him. BW Megatron once said to Tarantulas, "Treachery requires no mistakes." In the Decepticon/Predacon ranks, there is greater punishment for failing at treachery and being discovered than there is for succeeding in it. Also, I wouldn't put it past Megatron to keep Starscream around simply because he enjoys beating on him every now and then.

I was annoyed at how Screamer went out in the finale. He didn't even get to fight. After just being a head, getting a body, getting blasted, and pulling himself together, he went to Earth only to have his AllSpark shard yanked out. What a tragic, humiliating way for a Decepticon warrior to go. D:

But now I'm confused about something. Surely the Decepticons knew Starscream's spark was gone, but he continued to function due to the AllSpark shard. But.... did they? What about the Autobots?

artemis-lady-warrior · Sun May 31, 2009 9:14 pm

well the Decepticons DID know. that was confirmed in Mission Accomplished when Lugnut opened Screamers spark chamber. As for the Autobots... I don't think they did. ^^;

Coem to think of it. I actually agree with you. Sentinel probably isn't aware that he's the biggest jerk since Simon Cowell. Maybe if he met somebody who acted just as bad as he did he'd think twice but I doubt it.. he might think the OTHER guy is a jerk while he himself is not. All well.

*pokes Sentinel in the forehead* SPOOON!

SkyxDB · Unread post by **SkyxDB** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:50 am

Sentinel: Ewww! An organic touched me!

LOL

*Tries to poke Sentinel as well*

Sentinel: Get away from me.

*Pokes Sentinel* Look, I'm an organic touching you!

Sentinel: Optimus make it stop!

Optimus: No way, this is gonna be fun to watch!

Sentinel: Some help you are!

Unread post by **Nurann** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:25 pm

Hey guys, I've been following the conversation on and off since about page 36, and I thought you all may be happy to know that while it isn't official yet, the news we got at botcon was that they are literally right now in talks to finish in comic form. There are also a lot of new toys about to come out, including a very cool looking Arcee! Animated isn't dead yet!

artemis-lady-warrior · Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:23 pm

any chances of Prowl coming back or am I just kidding myself?

Unread post by **Nurann** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:05 pm

I don't know. All that they said in that panel was that they were just in talks to arrange work on it, not really what it would contain. I think someone said he's gone for good, though. I think Jason said there was some discussion during the Hasbro panel Saturday, but by that point I'd been up since 5:30 reserving our Weird Al spot and was too tired to stick around for all of it. Uuum... slag, I think Silver said he'd ditched too, so we might have to wait until Jason shows up to double check on that.

Sorry I can't answer your question better...

Beastbot · Unread post by **Beastbot** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:55 am

The remaining Animated toys (including repaints) are ALL coming out-- in some way or another-- though the time frame is TBD. This includes:

-Activators Fireblast Grimlock
-Activators Soundwave
-Electrostatic Soundwave w/ Ratbat
-Arcee
-Cybertron Mode Ratchet
-Ironhide (Remold of Cybertron Mode Ratchet)
-Fugitive Waspinator (Repaint of deluxe Bumblebee w/ no new head; wasn't in the budget)
-Golfire Grimlock
-Hydrodive Bumblebee
-Freeway Jazz
-Rodimus Minor
-Blackout
-Wingblade Prime (how he looked in the final 2-parter)
-Thundercracker (Voyager)

The show is absolutely definitely cancelled. No direct-to-DVD tie-ins or anything. It's done.

An IDW miniseries comic finish is possible. But as Nurann said, talks are just now beginning. It's far from definite.

artemis-lady-warrior · Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:31 am

ah now that just sucks. well I don't read the comics anyway.... I can never find them. they're not sold at my Borders and there are no comic book stores in my area.