#tf froid

Sunder as a Victim of Mnemosurgery Addiction

One of the most overlooked aspects of Sunder’s character is that he is a victim of his mnemosurgery addiction. Sunder's core tragedy stems from the occupational hazard built into mnemosurgery itself. The job literally drives practitioners mad, mnemosurgery is explicitly framed as addictive and destructive for practitioners. We never see Sunder before he went mad from mnemosurgery so his 'true' personality is lost to the addiction. It's not a defense or justification for the character, but it does add darker implications to the character. This mirrors Chromedome's own struggles with mnemosurgery addiction, but Chromedome gets sympathy. Yet the fandom rarely extends the same nuance to Sunder that it does to Chromedome. He’s a cautionary tale of what Chromedome could have become if he’d fully lost control to his mnemosurgery addiction. Also there's not really any dark AUs where Chromedome goes mad from mnemosurgery. Overall, it's a hugely overlooked aspect of the character.

The Extent of Sunder's Remote Mnemosurgery

We never see the full, unrestricted range or capabilities of Sunder's remote mnemosurgery before Froid convinced him that he needed to see his victims for it to work.

Froid and Sunder's Codependence

Froid and Sunder are co-dependent. Froid is often seen in the fandom anywhere between being a 'benevolent' caretaker to an abusive handler. The fandom often glosses over Sunder's grief and how Froid helps him cope with Sceptre's loss, and reduces Sunder to Froid's pet monster. Sunder has almost no agency in the fandom. This is ironic, because in canon Froid is the one actively removing Sunder’s agency, reducing him to his pet monster. The fandom inadvertently replicates Froid’s control.

The Performative "Edgy Serial Killer" Façade

I think everyone likes the edgy serial killer persona. But the comic itself reveals this as a deliberate façade. Sunder plays up the Mortilus impression. Many fans take the performance at face value and fall for the character's façade that's meant to be dismantled and reassessed by the viewer!

The Overlooked Autobot Past

Sunder clearly has two Autobot insignias despite supposedly only being a mnemosurgeon who went insane. Which means at one point in time, an Autobot saw fit to initiate him with the Rite of the Autobrand. The fandom doesn't really speculate on his Autobot past or what connections he formed, which feels like a missed opportunity to add depth to his character. Mnemosurgery has a dark history (tied to shadowplay, unethical mind-wipes), but Chromedome shows it's possible for practitioners to become Autobots.

Fandom's Focus on the Idea vs the Character

I WILL KILL YOU IN MY NEXT LIFE

I SELL THE ALL NEW NINE TO FIVE

YOU STOLE JUST WHAT I NEED.

Two stages of Necromancy as it works.

Scene from my favorite storyline of tf Mercy by @emperor-kumquat

Both still pictures of Sunder's transformation/upgrade below, a little correction in the first one.

Froid would like to remind everyone that Sunder can look completely normal in Transformers: Mercy and this is how he normally looks at home. He can fold in his head plates, lower his head spikes, bring up his jaw, and have normal teeth versus, you know,