#tfp ep notes

This is for season 1, episode 22: Stronger, Faster

Please reblog or comment on this with your thoughts! I really want to know what your opinion of the episode was!

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

This is for season 1, episode 23: One Shall Fall

Please reblog or comment on this with your thoughts! I really want to know what your opinion of the episode was!

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

Some of the notes for One Shall Fall was formed from an incredible fanfic I’ve read (I’ll link it at the bottom! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING IT IF YOU LOVE BEE.) so if you think I‘ve gone insane, and a little off track, you're probably right.

This is for season 1, episode 11: Speed Metal.

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

~~~~Transition~~~~

00:03 - starting off strong with a pretty scene

00:21 - it feels like this should’ve been Knockout’s premiering episode. Does him a lot more justice.

00:39 - Knockout proving to be smarter than the autobots because his windows have an insanely heavy tint.

00:46 - My bro really that jealous that he felt a need to scratch up a custom paint job.

00:53 - Ya know what? Valid reaction.

01:18 - attempting murder.

01:37 - … So attempted onscreen vehicular murder

~intro~

02:46 - Why does Vince wait until AFTER Jack decides to leave to taunt him? Why not do it while he has to be there?

02:50 - and Jack leans into it. *sigh*

03:07 - That’s all you have to say, Arcee?

03:35 - so many reasons, Sierra. You don’t have a helmet, you’re still holding books, it’s really rude to ask someone for something like that if they weren’t actively asking you or if you don’t setup a scheduled time in advanced.

03:49 - Hang on… Where TF did Vince get a muscle car from in the fairest place??

03:59 - suck an egg, Sierra.

04:11 -here we have a Jack, forgetting that his ride is sentient so regardless of if it was a rule or not, if she says no, it’s a no.

04:20 - I thought the first rule was keep a low profile.

04:41 - that shot is ugly.

05:24 - it took him forever to get start, Jack could’ve gone already!

05:30 - they had an hour between the end of school and the race, yet chose now to put their books away?

07:08 - shoutout to Knockout’s VA. They do a really good job.

07:17 - *sniff sniff* smells like a lie.

07:26 - I like how Knockout isn’t phased at all.

07:36 - ‘Buff this!’

07:39 - Zoom. (Yes, that is the only comment I will make about this shot)

07:47 - this is one of those shots that make you realise that these bots are huge.

08:04 - how?? It had been like 20 minutes since the race and there were no witnesses to who had won. Even if the information had gone around that quick, I doubt that Vince would’ve been honest about loosing.

08:08 - how the line was delivered, it made it sound like Raf was calling Jack Vince. 

08:21 - didn’t Jack say they shared a class together? How hard was she looking?

08:48 - I don’t understand how it’s a secret if high school students know about it.

09:19 - Imma be honest, I thought that was a vehicon.

09:27 - okay, but that sky-

09:37 - who is Raf playing against?

09:42 - These kinda of shots make it hard to remember that the boys are huge compared to the kids.

09:45 - …Why exactly does he ask Raf like that?? He knows Bee’s sentient.

09:46 - my head tells me he is saying ‘an hour? To go racing??’ My heart is telling me ‘Why are you asking Raf? He’s not in charge of me.’

09:52 - then he would be mildly annoyed.. Raf I don’t think you’re aware of just how calm Optimus actually is.

09:53 - With confidence I’m declaring that Bee said ‘Oh, right.’

09:58 - AroAce Raf hc.

10:04 - still completely ignoring that it’s actually Bee’s decision on if Jack can take him out racing.

10:14 - It’s a bit clearer in this timestamp but Jack Clones (courtesy @stefani-rebel)

10:16 - Bee’s numberplate is ‘936 SOH’… I know what my future numberplate will be(e)

10:26 - That does NOT explain how or why Jack owns a muscle car.

10:35 - THAT IS SO DANGEROUS. SIERRA’S STILL A CHILD.

11:00 - *dies* Knockout saying ‘Bumblebee’. I think I just like how deep voices say such an innocent word.

11:08 - ‘what was that Bee?’ As if he could understand Bee if he repeated himself.

11:09 - I’d just like to add, I really enjoy that Bee’s interior is lined with luminescent blue. It’s probably from that being one of the ways energon can look, so do you think that if Bee’s energon was drained out, all the blue would just turn black? …That went dark rq.

11:13 -why was Jack holding the wheel? I think I raised this question in convoy, but would the bots find it uncomfortable when someone touches their steering wheel/interior?

11:14 - this plays further into my ‘Is it uncomfortable for them’ question because we can tell the bots can control their steering wheels and require that control to drive.

11:40 - this reminds me so much of TF 2007

11:44 - it’s in character for Knockout to chase Bee, but wouldn’t it have been so funny if he instead focused on winning the race?

12:11 - Miko’s a trash liar.

12:16 - She only asked for Jack, how TF did she know Bee was with him??

12:20 - I now understand why Miko’s so bad.

12:46 - is that oil?? I feel like it would be a bodily fluid that shouldn’t be released that easily.

13:03 - and here we witness smart thinking from Bumblebee.

13:29 - Does anyone else wanna push Vince down the stairs? + all things considered, glad that there was an actual third party that’s actions affected the safety of the protags, rather than just excusing Knockout finding them to ‘of course he did’

13:36 - TFP stepping up with the ‘Naturally Knockout, an antagonist actively searching for the protags, noticed light behind him’

13:48 - accidental misgendering. Ask your car their preferred pronouns/lh

13:55 - what a lovely reminder that the bots are fragging huge.

14:04 - I too, when having an unknown pointy object put right in front of me, stare directly at it and lean closer.

14:34 - well timed an acceptable pun. But then again, I can’t talk, every time I write ‘be’ I put an extra ‘e’ in brackets.

14:44 - I’ve always seen the angst potential in this moment. (‘I can’t understand you!’) Because it’s an unfortunate way of life for Bee.

14:51 - Despite clear instructions, Bee honks three times. But because there’s a slight pause between the second and third honk, Bee pretty much said ‘Good and Bad news’. I know a lot of people have probably noticed it, but I thought it was a nice touch.

14:57 - they look like a band

14:58 - there eyes are glowing so harshly. It’s probably got to do with the fact that in vehicle mode they had their headlights on. + Bulkhead and Bee look at each other because they know they’re in huge trouble too. (I unfortunately didn’t manage to catch that in the screenshot tho)

15:04 - Maybe being in bot form for longer than a minute, turns off the headlights.

15:08 - How the frag would he know that?? Like maybe it would be my second or third guess, but certainly not my first. (First would’ve been ‘He probably saw a potential hostage’)

15:15 - I may have laughed way too loudly at that

15:27 - Harsh light’s back, on Bee specifically.

15:35 - Okay, that’s cute and so in character. Raf being concerned about Bee and Miko being absolutely certain that Bulkhead will be okay and protect everyone.

15:44 - that establishes that they had originally told Optimus a lie, but the hadn’t.

16:00 - I get why Raf’s a bad liar, but why is Miko??

16:02 - you KNOW Optimus is done with their BS.

16:03 - Look at him! L O O K . (Also ‘My father senses are going off. Why bother lying to me?.’)

16:06 - not suspicious at all.

16:11 - z o o m . How did they not see him?

16:19 - gotta be honest, I enjoy when antagonists use a protagonist’s name. Just makes it feel more respectful.

16:39 - You can see Knockout at the back.

16:57 - Bee walking backwards with ease makes me think a common technique the bots practice is walking backwards. That would be hilarious, all the bots going into a forest walking around backwards for like an hour.

16:58 - after a second glance I realised that Bee’s pedes/feet never left the ground. He was moonwalking.

17:07 - Bee can do a backhand spring.

17:10 - if Bee did what he usually does, he wouldn’t have been hit. He would usually duck the first few swings, but decided to try get the first hit against Breakdown. Makes no sense why he would considering that Breakdown’s build in a similar way to Bulkhead.

17:18 - Breakdown stumbles forward slightly when Bee hits him. NGL it’s kinda cute.

17:21 - See? Bee dodged the attacks, rather than getting the first punch!

17:24 - It’s implied this is Knockout’s vision and I hate it.

17:31 - Bee playing possum while Arcee rides Knockout like a skateboard.

17:34 - Rq, Bee’s fighting got significantly better once Arcee joined the fight. He feels more confident with her and I love that. (They’re family, your honour.)

17:35 - when he got them titanium legs- Why doesn’t Bee kick more though? He’s clearly got strong legs.

17:37 - Breakdown ran right into that one.

17:40 - surfs up, dude.

17:42 - one thing to note is that whenever a bot gets knocked off course they will quickly transform into the other mode to prevent damage.

17:46 - That’s a weird thing to say, Jack.

17:50 - Bee’s reaction time decreased significantly. Also how much damage can doorwings sustain?

17:57 - his face when he realised his hubby ran off.

18:05 - Bulkhead only now decides to do that?? Yes. Of course he does because he realised that Bee was down and about to get very hurt.

18:26 - yay! Optimus!

18:52 - Optimus just threw him like he was nothing.

18:58 - Makes me wonder, if the car parts were removed, would they be restored by a new alt mode?

19:27 - FRAG. I WANTED TO SEE BEE’S REACTION TO DISAPPOINTING OPTIMUS.

19:30 - he holds Vince the way you’d hold a sausage.

19:49 - like the con’s name

20:10 - moments like those make me wish the bots were allowed to punch humans.

20:28 - Starscream’s shaking

20:30 - Knockout looks like he’s wearing a hoodie

20:36 - he looks like a pigeon!

20:47 - Breakdown looks genuinely scared and that makes me sad.

20:52 - WE DON’T EVEN GET THE OUTCOME?! I WANTED TO KNOW THE AFTERMATH OF DISAPOTIMUS

20:56 - go suck an egg, Sierra.

———————

And that was Speed Metal.

I find this episode’s really good and would’ve been a much better introduction to Knockout and Breakdown. Well.. mainly Knockout. Although I wish we had gotten some time with the bots getting in trouble.

This is for season 1, episode 16: Operation: Breakdown

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

These notes are really critical and may give you whiplash + not many screenshots for this episode, sorry.

~~~~Transition~~~~

00:07 - first up, this visuals, the audio, really makes the place seem eerie. It’s perfect.

00:23 - Breakdown manages to keep it creepy.

00:38 - All things considered, decepticons calling humans ‘pets’ is not so much an insult as it is an interpretation.

00:47 - Once again, not so much an insult as it is a statement. Miko is a soft spot for Bulkhead (she’s also a weakness and a strength.).

00:51 - A ‘damn right’ would’ve been more suited, but go off

00:55 - beautiful spin. + I much prefer the rivalry between Breakdown and Bulkhead to Arcee and Airachnid. On paper both rivalries are the same. The decepticon is physically stronger, but also talks a lot during fights to get in the Autobot’s head and it totally works. It’s just that Bulkhead responds less to Breakdown’s taunts and doesn’t get as heavily affected by them (compared to Arcee).

01:10 - I may have laughed a bit too hard. + It feels like Breakdown has more respect for Bulkhead than Airachnid does for Arcee. One thing that makes an amazing rivalry is when there’s a level of respect.

01:46 - Aside from plot, why would they take Breakdown? As much as it increases their chances of dealing with the autobots, he’s in worse condition than Breakdown and they have an understanding of how much Bulkhead can endure.

~intro~

02:37 - I had the same reaction as Bulkhead.

02:46 - Not liking the theme of ‘charge not recognising when something’s wrong with their guardian and what they’re doing is not the solution’. I can’t quite remember if it happened in Predatory, but I do know it happened in Out of His Head.

03:04 - Bee’s doing it again.. + For anyone else the phrasing Optimus used would be putting it nicely, for Optimus it’s harsh. Bulkhead has a very different dynamic with Optimus compared to the others so I think it’s more caused by Optimus not knowing how he’s supposed to talk to Bulkhead.

03:08 - now what Optimus said makes it feel victim blame-y. It isn’t, but it comes off that way.

03:12 - Something about the ‘stay still’ felt so.. correct. It was firm and assertive, but in the way instructions should be given.

03:14 - Miko’s probably got something that means she can’t pick up on cues, probably ADHD (this is an observation, not an insult.), with that in mind, I will still say it’s frustrating to see her hyping him up while he’s injured and in trouble.

03:16 - One of the reasons I don’t like Miko and Bulkhead’s dynamic is the same reason as to why I hated the way Raf was acting when Bee was being controlled by Megatron, but to a worse extent. Miko, on purpose or by accident, puts pressure on Bulkhead to act a certain way for her. You can see he’s upset because he didn’t do it and that’s heartbreaking.

03:23 - Bulkhead woke up alone, why would the others have come, dealt with Breakdown, but left Bulkhead behind?

03:33 - I understand that it was a guess and that Bulkhead ain’t the smartest, but why would it be Fowler?

03:34 - I believe this is the first time Agent Fowler’s shown up and I haven’t wanted to punch him.

03:47 - Odd that Starscream would be the one to recognise it. Feels like it would’ve been more accurate for Knockout to have noticed.

03:54 - Rude and highly unnecessary.

04:07 - Love that confidence for Starscream.

04:20 - big talk from someone that was tricked into saving Optimus.

04:46 - that shot was confusing. It implied that it was from Breakdown’s perspective but quickly changes.

05:08 - Kinda vibing with that description of a human.

05:10 - That was weirdly passive.

05:22 - breakdown deserves better.

05:30 - do they though? I thought they only wanted parts.

05:46 - Agent Fowler really stepping up rn.

06:00 - I have no clue what he could’ve possibly said.

06:07 - Seeking Validation from Miko.. Not how the dynamic should roll and really hurts to witness.

06:09 - Prime holding onto his values. Finally someone’s got their head screwed on. Throughout the delivery of his command, he was jolting slightly. Not heavily-animated, but certainly not ordinary.

06:15 - ‘h-what??’

06:17 - has everyone just forgotten their Values?? (Maybe- I seriously am in the dark on what Bee’s saying) Their whole thing is about rights and freedom. + They know MECH is smart and dangerous. Obviously they’re going to use Breakdown as a reference for Cybertronian Technology.

06:37 - This scene is so weird.. Why is there so much pushback??

07:02 - Fowler really showing change rn by admitting that MECH is dangerous to humans too, clearly in contrast to how he acted during Convoy.

07:11 - Glad that was addressed too.

07:14 - MECH’s location really ain’t impressive in the slightest.

07:27 - aw, no.. ;-;

07:43 - That’s.. horrifying you hear.

08:05 - Breakdown’s reactions are making me cry. Since he works with (and dates-) Knockout, you can imagine that he’s heard some of these lines before, but it’s a whole different thing to have them told to him.

08:18 - This is heartbreaking. I thought the scene would’ve ended sooner, but it didn’t and that makes it so much worse.

08:29 - there’s something so.. perfect about this shot.

08:32 - deary dear de I’m gonna loose my mind with the way Optimus (aka Peter Cullen) pronounces each character’s name.

08:33 - There’s something so unbelievably confusing about Bulkhead’s relationship with Optimus.

08:36 - MMMM YES! DELICIOUS! LOVE ME SOME RESPECTFUL LEADERS.

08:38 - the stutter- I can’t breatheee

08:40 - My school should learn a thing or two from Optimus rn. History with people can make things complicated. Optimus is making the right call, for Breakdown, for Bulkhead and for everything else that’s at stake.

09:18 - Go off, Fowler. Really behaved this episode and proved useful… Miko’s giving me whiplash.

09:30 - cover poster potential.

09:43 - Why would that be the right call? Tracks are clues in a situation with vehicles involved.

09:47 - I feel like that isn’t actually a direction.

09:52 - Height difference- also colour palettes got me laughing fr. Like Arcee and Optimus have darker colours, better for blending in. Ratchet’s white and orange, but because of the blue hue he blends in a bit, meanwhile Bee’s just neon. He looks like a highlighter.

09:55 - that’s an unfortunate concept. There’s a little part of me that wants to say that it’s a ploy (honestly cannot remember much of this episode) as it could be the same energon signal Bulkhead and Breakdown were responding to at the start and that’s why there was a focus on the tracks.

09:56 - Kongs vs Godzilla

10:12 - TFP didn’t have the rights to ‘Godzilla vs King Kong’

10:31 - translation: we’re exes. But in all seriousness, rivalries are always looked on in some sort of light but this is a prime (Hehe) example of what they can also be like.

10:45 - heavily animated Bulkhead

10:46 - Miko really just used ‘bromance’ and decided not to explain.

11:17 - Bee running like a child while Optimus just walks is an incredible visual despite the darkness of the episode.

11:21 - Arcee and Bee aren’t in sync but their movements are clearly practiced.

11:33 - Bee’s wings are sticking out. SERIOUSLY HOW DOES THIS BOT HIDE??

11:38 - They’re like dogs when you take them on a walk with the leash more relaxed.

11:41 - wouldn’t they benefit more from Optimus being behind Ratchet? Incase they’re attacked from behind and all.

11:52 - Horrifying and gross.

12:41 - under appreciated line right here.

12:47 - Optimus didn’t move, while everyone else reacted.

12:50 - Wouldn’t Silas have seen Ratchet first? Granted he wouldn’t know Ratchet.. or any other bots’ names, but he should’ve waited a moment to spot Optimus before addressing him.

12:57 - Optics- not eyes.

13:01 - all bots acting very calm.

13:16 - if Optimus had finished that line with ‘a lil bitch.’ I’m certain the show would’ve won thousands of awards.

13:19 - they’re not like other girls.

13:39 - it’s very heavily implied that there’s bomb. Why aren’t they moving??

14:15 - poor baby’s so confused.

14:27 - except that he warned the bots so odds are they are safe. (I know we know they are, but he doesn’t)

16:08 - proper rivals know when their differences must be put aside.

17:05 - incredible aim.

18:36 - That was awesome. Points to Starscream, amazing trick and amazing execution.

18:54 - Some points taken away. They’ve got an unspoken truce going and until they both walk away, it’s still in play.

19:18 - That was beautiful.

20:05 - Damn Optimus, couldn’t even wait until you got home, huh?

20:11 - Nevermind- still do not understand their relationship though. + heavily animated Optimus.

20:18 - that’s the way a child explains how they one tip/tag at school

21:17 - Why would they use Breakdown as a reference for Optimus?? There are so many differences by physical structure alone.

———————

And that was Operation: Breakdown.

Ignoring the fact that this episode would’ve gone very differently if Ratchet hadn’t dismissed Bee after he pointed out the tire tracks it’s a pretty good episode. Not a favourite, but still a good watch. Fowler really stepped up this episode, which was good. I liked the focus on Bulkhead, even when it came at the price of Miko.

I liked the way it portrayed Bulkhead and Breakdown’s relationship. Got thoroughly confused by Optimus and Bulkhead’s though.

This is for season 1, episode 20: Partners

Please reblog or comment on this with your thoughts! I really want to know what your opinion of the episode was!

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

Little confession, this is one of my favourite season 1 episodes. It’s up there with Sick Mind. There’s going to be a point where I write down a scene deconstruction that carries on across multiple points, so I highly recommend reading this!! You'll be able to tell what part I'm talking about because it's got the most continuous screenshots.

~~~~Transition~~~~

00:03 - A r k + the clouds tho

00:09 - 2016 YouTubers apologising for being literal criminals be like:

00:16 - I would like someone to make a fic about Soundwave’s inner dialogue during moments like these.

00:46 - Kinda surprised that he actually w a s talking to Soundwave. He would be aware that Starscream’s just sucking up t get Megs off his aft, right?

01:20 - this is actually a very good set up. Rather than the Autobots and Decepticons just coming upon it, they actually establish a quick explanation to it.

01:26 - all that movement makes Starscream look like he’s in a video game

01:29 - NO. That zoom, the way the camera follows her, The background. Airachnid is 100% supposed to be in a video game rn.

01:32 - I like that shot. I wanna redraw it.

02:00 - Starscream, my dood.

~intro~

02:50 - So beautiful

02:56 - Ignoring how out of place Arcee looks, she’s absolutely right.. expect that there’s no body there.

03:10 - the lighting makes Arcee’s face look beautiful.

03:24 - she gives ya whiplash here doesn’t she? Doesn’t give you enough time to be sad.

03:29 - I don’t understand why she looks so out of place.

03:33 - Oh no… all the flashbacks from ‘Predatory’

03:45 - pardon?

03:47 - Preen: devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance.

04:01 - I think they gave Starscream the wrong face in this scene.

04:07 - Lore

04:25 - as apposed to doing it… with Mercy?

04:34 - of course he would!

04:36 - obviously.

04:36 - height difference my beloved. I also laughed a bit too hard for a bit too long at the shot. It’s just.. she’s so short, but then there’s also her arms XD

05:07 - I’ll be honest, I’ve never understood people who got flustered when a character says something cruel. Then I heard the way Starscream said idiot and I’m a little flustered.

05:12 - MM DELICIOUS. Explanations and a setup.

05:22 - A cut away of just Ratchet and Optimus, which also proves Starscream right? Sign me up.

05:29 - I feel conflicted. On one hand Optimus talks. On the other he used a metaphor that is not effective. ‘The past always catches up with the present’ is talking about decisions (eg actions or words). + This is Optimus’s first line of Dialogue since Operation : Breakdown.

06:24 - This is what Starscream said to Soundwave.

07:02 - LOOK AT HIM. HOW DOES HE HIDE! ANSWER MEEEE!

07:05 - I just realised.. this is the first time we’ll be seeing Airachnid interact with Optimus and Bee (although he shows up in Predatory, she runs away rather than attempting any confrontation.)

07:21 - 1. The way he says 'wait' is such a fatherly pronunciation. 2. O0O she doesn’t listen. 3. She does a backflip. (IYKYK)

07:44 - *sigh* and here we have Arcee being an idiot. Going against Optimus’s orders, fighting Airachnid and doing a scrap job at it.

08:01 - *falls over* *dies* Optimusssssss yessss

08:05 - unlike Arcee, Airachnid listens to Optimus.

08:13 - this is a parallel to Operation : Breakdown. In Operation : Breakdown, Bulkhead took on Breakdown alone. Optimus hadn’t given instructions, so the decision was made by Bulkhead’s judgement. It was not a good call and Bulkhead got hurt, so Optimus had phrased it ‘Engaging the enemy on your own was foolish, Bulkhead’. In this episode Optimus gave instructions but Arcee didn’t listen. She didn’t get hurt, but the risk had no reward. Airachnid escaped regardless. Because she wasn’t hurt and technically did delay Airachnid, Optimus wouldn’t have been as harsh but is obviously still upset.

Operation: Breakdown

Partners

08:29 - I’m so done with Airachnid and Arcee’s rivalry. I will forever repeat this. They have one of the worst rivalries in the show. Arcee has a reason to be mad at Airachnid, but Airachnid has no reason to be mad at Arcee. They don’t have respect for each other and they can’t manage to put aside their differences for anything.

08:35 - Hoooo mama… His voice has me shaking fr fr.

08:45 - This shot lives in my head rent free

09:27 - For everyone who wants to right a fic about TFP Starscream swapping sides, I recommend using this moment as the point where your fic should start. + Although Starscream’s logic seems flawless, the Autobots are just as in the right to not accept him in/do it with much skepticism.

09:35 - This gives off ‘when the adults are talking’ vibes.

09:39 - ‘When you have to sit at the kids table, but you realise that the 12 year-old is more mature than you’

09:51 - there’s something so perfect about this conversation and Arcee’s beliefs specifically.

10:14 - Kinda forgot she existed for a bit.

10:34 - I’m just gonna.. lie down for a minute.. He’s so cuteeeee.

11:04 - MMM MMMM BEAUTIFUL. When the leader has genuinely good moral coding✨

11:10 - Damn do I love Optimus.

11:16 - The nickname, the drag, the everything. I laughed for a full minute.

11:46 - there are a lot of parallels between this and Operation: Breakdown.

13:37 - Oh do I love a proper fight scene.

12:41 - Bulkhead getting caught first makes sense. The hardest to fight hand to hand, but also the least agile. Naturally Airachnid would get rid of him first.

13:09 - He sounds a bit like Scar talking to baby Simba.

13:15 - you can see Arcee’s conflicting emotions. She hates Airachnid, but she also hates Starscream. Then there’s that little bit of delight in Starscream’s misery (and a part of me wants to say feminism)

13:32 - to quote Miko from Masters and Students.. ‘whoopsie’

13:49 - Kinda glad that she worked it out so quickly.

14:37 - he’s not even looking in the right place

15:23 - oh damn.

15:33 - MMM YES. THE GOOD FIGHT.

15:51 - he ran over to his father ;0; though the smarter move would’ve been to stay apart.

15:52 - then he just stares at a rock-

16:04 - then there was one.

16:08 - No! Go back to the good fight.

16:32 - *clears throat* Arcee’s an idiot. She’s fighting in revenge and anger. Her judgement’s clouded already. Decepticons get their advantages by getting into the heads of autobots. They’re more likely to win the more clouded and chaotic their opponent’s mind is.

16:35 - and now we have the opposite side of the coin.

16:43 - Airachnid’s trying to get into Bee’s head. Exactly what Starscream was doing. If she gets into his head, Bee’s hiding and fighting will be worse. Once he gets hit the autobots will loose. Airachnid cannot win in combat against Bumblebee. They both know that. What she also knows is that, unlike with all her fights with Arcee, Bee isn’t fighting for a personal gain, he’s fighting for a cause. If he was fighting with his emotions, he’d be aiming for her to loose, but because he’s fighting for a cause his goal is to win. (It’s trying to kill someone vs trying to stay safe. One has a higher chance of succeeding than the other)

16:58 - 1. HAH. SO THEY CAN SEE HIM! 2. She knows she’s found a weak point because Bee revealed himself slightly. She made an impact on his thinking as his emotions became slightly involved at the prospect of Bulkhead and Optimus being in danger.

17:17 - As much as her confidence is expected, if she didn’t believe she had gotten into his head, I bet she would’ve been more cautious to provoke Bee. Thinking that she is in his head is why she’s continuing to taunt him.

17:40 - in actuality she didn’t get into his head. Rather she got into her own. She became sloppy and less aware of her surroundings.

17:54 - Bee was still fighting for a cause, rather than with his emotions. By Bee not being effected by decepticon mindgames, Airachnid fell victim to her own tactics and lost.

18:05 - She had no advantage physically, mentally, nor emotionally. Bee had the complete upper hand.

18:06 - Now we have the opposite. Arcee’s fighting with her emotions while Starscream’s fighting to win.

18:12 - Starscream’s got nothing to lose, while Arcee was acting out of rage.

18:18 - exactly.

19:11 - Now Arcee absolutely could win and that we be thanks to fighting with her emotions. I agree 100% by that idea except-

19:13 - for the fact that her emotions got in the way once again.

19:14 - Bee, my sweet baby child, is another variable in Arcee’s emotional charge. Arcee fought for Cliff, fell for Cliff, and was about to win for Cliff,

19:17 - but couldn’t bring herself to kill for Cliff. When it was just Starscream’s words and her unbridled rage, Starscream was Cliff’s murderer. When it was just her and the bot that took away Cliff, she would’ve 100% killed him. When she realised it was now her, Starscream, and Bumblebee, another bot that lost someone close, but would never deem that enough to snuff out their spark. That is when she couldn’t kill for Cliff.

19:27 - this is about to give you guys whiplash because of the stuff above but… There’s something so beautiful and smooth about that slide.

19:35 - wtf is up with this shot. It’s so pretty.

19:45 - now we all should be laughing at Airachnid, the con that failed completely. She got in her own way and lost miserably.

19:52 - that’s a little fruity ngl.

20:03 - mmm pretty

20:04 - that was a pun-

20:08 - I totally forgot that Bee was the only one properly functioning… Which one are you taking?

(Red pill- Fic where Bee actually did get hurt during the episode and is just hiding it.(Physical pain).

Blue pill - Fic of the mental toll that dragging two paralysed teammates and another badly injured teammate through the ground bridge can have.(Angst))

20:16 - for a two-wheeler? I’m trying to think what the human version would be. It’s not so much ‘for a girl’.. maybe?

20:26 - If only TFP writers took that advice. *looks at the episodes that have no recovery arcs for certain characters, then looks at the the episodes that have no recovery arc specifically for Bumblebee*

20:42 - *falls over* *dies* *again*

21:13 - now imagine he followed that line up with ‘a little bicth’

- rip/g

———————

That was Partners.

Honestly I like this episode. It brings out the capabilities of Starscream and Bee, as well as bringing out the worst of Arcee and Airachnid in a much better fashion than before. It shows us what happens when a character has the upper hand in all aspects of a fight vs when the do not. Fighting to win vs fighting to make the other lose.

It’s one of the episodes I think best displays just how bad (as in not well put together) Airachnid and Arcee’s rivalry is, while also putting in a bit more perspective to Airachnid’s side of it. She fights Arcee because she knows she can win. Anyone else and she’s gonna lose. Arcee’s always in over her head and let’s her emotions get in the way.

The episode is a bit of a roller coaster for Starscream, but in the end the conclusion is ‘Starscream’s a manipulator and a really good one too.’ Not because he got into Arcee’s head, but because he managed to convince Optimus that there was hope for him.

Then there’s Bumblebee. Ah~ Sweet little Bumblebee. A bot of few beeps because he gave him nothing to say. He carried his team during the episode. Being the only one to not get hit by the immobiliser, the one that managed to fool Airachnid leading her to turn his back on him, which lead to her defeat and snap Arcee out of his murder daze in time to not kill Starscream (regardless of if he deserved it or not) and to conclude the episode there was not a word or gesture of gratitude from anyone.. really makes your blood doesn’t it?. I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t one of the eps that fuels my angstier fics.

Generally though, I like this episode.

This is for season 1, episode 15: Shadowzone

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

~~~~Transition~~~~

00:12 - parallel between Megatron in the last episodes and Starscream now.

00:46 - Megatron noticed the parallel too.

01:10 - one of those moments where being a smexy bicth comes second to his job as a doctor.

01:19 - honestly, Knockout not pushing it shows just how well he knows Starscream.

01:33 - I thought the dark energon was necessary because Megatron needed energon, but his body was no longer comparable to accept anything other than dark.

~intro~

03:04 - I hardly even noticed Bee was there.

03:10 - the thinker.

03:16 - But Megatron was dead during the Skyquake episode. He wouldn’t know that Skyquake would require dark energon. Understandable why they’d assume it’s Megatron, but why would they assume Megatron’s there for Skyquake?

04:03 - this girl is on fiiiireeeeee + giving off ‘friends on the other side’ rn

04:18 - shut up, the way way Bee looks at Optimus and the cheetah meme have the same energy.

04:22 - so they truly are skipping over that angst? It appears I have a future project.

04:23 - Ratchet is the only one who doesn’t put on a game face when he’s addressed. We know why, but it’s nice to note.

04:30 - there’s something so perfect about the way Optimus jumps straight to explaining his decision and turns around to face Ratchet while doing so rather than pulling a classic ‘yes, because we need you’

04:35 - Once again, refreshing to see a character assigned to a position they’re not traditionally assigned to, but still showing passion and respect.

04:39 - How did Bulkhead not realise Miko was up to something?

04:42 - She’s drawing Optimus fighting Megatron.

04:46 - Glad to know someone’s paying attention.

04:52 - I love the way the bots walk, especially Optimus and Bee. There’s something so proper and powerful about it.

05:06 - LMAO

05:14 - Let’s pretend that Arcee couldn’t hear them.. why wouldn’t they yell out to her so she could stop Miko or close the ground bridge before Miko got there?

05:22 - Miko, Miko, Miko… frustrating af.

05:44 - they all have similar walk cycles, but none sync up.

05:53 - Bee dropping back as they walk along could be multiple things, him getting protected, acting as rear support, could also be because he’s the smallest but is walking at a similar pace to the others, meaning he’s covering less ground. Obviously I could be overthinking it too, but if we go that route these notes are completely useless.

05:55 - If you pause it at the right time Ratchet’s head makes it look like Optimus has a huge ass. (Unfortunately I did not screenshot it at the right time)

06:06 - my dude didn’t think to even ONCE call out to the bots and go ‘just so you know, we’re here’

06:18 - that would be my worst nightmare. Don’t have FOMO, just care about my phone.

06:25 - HO MAMMA

06:34 - the fading between the red and purple is so seemless and a nice detail

06:41 - I just need this screenshot to be witnessed. Why is he standing like that?? WHY DOES HE STAND LIKE THAT FOR SO LONG?

06:52 - this line’s so confusing when you forget that his arms are apart of his wings when he’s in his vehicle mode.

07:16 - AHHH THE HEAD TILT!!! Seeing that we’re looking at them from an angle, Bee’s most likely behind Bulkhead, meaning he cannot actually see the humans, but can hear them. + everyone else’s reactions tooooo!

07:27 - While everyone else looks at the ground bridge, Bee looks at the others before the bridge.

07:30 - Ratchet looking fabulous rn.

07:33 - 1. The way his voice echos is a really nice touch. 2. Ratchet using the same tone a parent would rn has me cryin.

08:06 - Starscream went into the ground bridge around the same time the kids did. Why wasn’t he caught?

08:14 - the longer that shot went for, the more I laughed.

08:26 - As soon as Starscream pulls out the dark energon it plays Arcee screaming ‘Tailgate’. Starscream has nothing to do with what happened to Tailgate. I think they were just reusing the sound from when Airachnid killed Tailgate and forgot to edit out the voice line. Upon evaluation, I do believe they’re different sounds. I don’t know why her voice line plays.

08:51 - Bee’s so cute until he breaks the fourth wall. + height difference my beloved.

09:03 - I don’t understand how the bots weren’t affected. Let’s say Starscream got to the otherside, but they kids didn’t, fine. But the bots were still caught in the explosion?

09:26 - You know that would be absolutely traumatising.

10:09 - … what was the point of insulting him?

10:14 - This is what makes it really confusing. How did Skyquake get caught in the shadow zone, but the other bots didn’t??

11:16 - Karma’s a bicth, ain’t she? Jack and Raf didn’t deserve it, but Miko totally did.

12:00 - God do I hate Miko rn. + Aw, Raf’s reaction

12:45 - Yes. In the rocks that are apparently not with you in the Shadowzone.

12:51 - you can hear Optimus trying not to show his panic and worry… and failing.

12:56 - Father and Son right here.

12:58 - with mild Confidence ‘what if you (or we) call them?’

13:35 - Not ‘nothing’. He picked up. He’s alive. It’s that there was no response.

14:05 - kinda disappointed that they didn’t have any other way to message the bots. Feels like there should be a way for the bots to message them and they message the bots, especially for situations where silence is necessary or Bee has to tell Miko or Jack something.

15:38 - Decepticons have parts to spare.

16:10 - Starscream’s arm is enormous compared to the kids.

17:23 - how does he get it open??

17:27 - *mwah* beautiful line delivery.

17:40 - god these line deliveries are stunning.

17:44 - It’s like the shot at the start.

17:46 - why does Starscream have the Crystal out?? What if Knockout saw?

18:35 - Love how either thought the other would be able to tell what Ratchet was saying.

18:47 - saying that as if common sense wouldn’t tell us that if they changed any part of it something would go wrong.

19:02 - aren’t they in a canyon? Isn’t that like one long strip??

19:31 - why would it be yours??

20:15 - glad the plan worked so seamlessly.

20:18 - Why wasn’t Bee sent? He’s Raf’s guardian after all.

20:31 - HOLY SCRAP LOOK AT HOW PRETTY IT IS!

20:34 - There’s literally no reason for Bee not to be(e) present.

20:39 - agreed. Repeat that and also apologise.

20:45 - Optimus smilinggggg

21:04 - a logical assumption.

21:10 - hc is that Knockout promotes self care for everyone (autobots included, but he’s careful when he does it.)

21:18 - I know Skyquake’s a zombie and all, but I feel bad for him.

———————

And that was Shadowzone!

It was alright. I’m not one for the human focused episodes, but it’s alright and a good way to introduce the Shadow Realm (despite how confusing it may have been.)

I thought the way Optimus was portrayed in the episode was good, showing how he cared for the children despite not really being allowed to express worry for their safety. I will admit that Bulkhead, Arcee and especially Bumblebee’s reactions to their charge’s going missing were too weak from any standpoint.

This is for season 1, episode 17: Crisscross.

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

~~~~Transition~~~~

00:16 - Oh dear.. already quite bored

00:41 - One thing to note is that Silas is a mix of Megatron and Optimus. He’s on the field alongside his workers regardless of why they’re there, but he also does not care who he hurts.

01:07 - Airachnid’s always gotta have a cool reveal. Theoretically. In practice it is not achieved.

~intro~

01:57 - Average day in Australia.

02:37 - OH GAWD. This again??

02:58 - had to take a solid minute to collect myself. They don’t refer to themselves as ‘transformers’ so Airachnid saying that made so much sense, but the actual word sounded so foreign.

03:03 - honestly just hate Airachnid and Arcee’s rivalry so much. There’s no respect in it and it’s not clear (to me at least) how it happened. We get back story for the situation, but it clears up even less. Why is Airachnid specifically going after Arcee?? Why does Arcee take it so personally?.

03:13 - E X C U S E M E

03:28 - let us be clear… rn Jack’s mum is hawt.

03:46 - in Speed Metal this was proven true.

03:58 - Does Jack seriously not have any other friends? The humans are so dependent on the bots it’s frustrating.

04:26 - honestly, June’s a good mum. She’s very clear and firm, but she doesn’t yell.

04:49 - uh.. that’s honestly a weird line and feels really inappropriate.

05:06 - wait, so Arcee stays the night at Jack’s place?? But she works at night too!

05:42 - that car has the same numberplate as Jack’s mum RPI • 437 if it was a background car it wouldn’t matter, but we can see the plate clear as day.

05:55 - WOO! Beeeee

06:00 - the extended part of this scene is a luxury- oh wait… oh.. oh no… it’s a filler. This is a filler episode. That’s why Bee’s there and no one else is. If Ratchet, Optimus and/or Bulkhead don’t talk during this episode, it will confirm it.

06:08 - Hehe, the contrast. Also June listens to elevator music on her drive home.

06:34 - honestly, a little surprised they hadn’t gone with the ‘Doesn’t check the room’ trope.

06:46 - ooooh The light is a ground bridge! Thought they decided to randomly add the idea that when Arcee transforms it’s a Winx like transformation.

06:54 - gaslighting 101.

07:00 - June in denial that her son’s a frickin looser and has no friends.

07:16 - Rest in pieces Jack.

07:56 - JACK NO THAT’S A BAD IDEA.

08:03 - I mean- KiNdA

08:08 - Didn’t June get off work early to cook Jack dinner?

08:40 - kinda vibing with Silas and Arcee’s dynamic rn

08:47 - WTF- seriously tho, wtf?.

09:37 - Mech is a really weird name for a group that doesn’t like transformers.

09:45 - ‘In my bed. I slept with your mother, Jack. Call me… Papa Silas.’ Would’ve made the episode 100x better.

10:10 - Wait… so the communicator scrambles the signal, so Arcee can’t reach the autobots, but as far as they are aware she’s supposed to be at Jack’s house. If her signal randomly went out, wouldn’t they notice and go looking for her?

10:25 - they had this ability the whole time but only NOW choose to use it?? If they had it set up throughout the town, they would be able to find any bot lickity split, especially if it causes them that much pain.

10:40 - Does anyone else despise the ‘they just want me 🥺’ trope?

10:51 - Arcee’s number plate is 396571.

11:26 - Oh my gaaaaawd! When will Arcee learn that she has to maintain level headed when fighting Airachnid otherwise she’s wasting her strength.

11:34 - the way Arcee’s optics tilted backwards and got big in fear, panic and desperation is a sweet choice. But how has she not realised that with Silas standing there, putting both Jack and June’s lives at risk, that he doesn’t care about them??

11:43 - bicthless behaviour.

13:09 - Calling her ‘Spider-bot’ rather than her name is both disrespectful in not using her name, but respectful in recognising who she is.

13:13 - HE SAID THE TITLE.

13:21 - The worker calls Arcee ‘it’ - entirely disrespectful and objectifies Arcee.

13:28 - considering how long it took them to simply open Breakdown’s chest plate and remove his eye, it’s safe to assume Arcee’s got plenty of time.

15:33 - what’d I say?

15:38 - he rhymed.

16:01 - what does that mean?.

16:30 - continuity.

16:35 - Awesome shot, which also captures their power imbalance.

16:40 - significantly higher. Arcee’s strong, yes. But not nearly as strong as Breakdown + Breakdown had assistance from another bot.

17:48 - why wouldn’t they have done the concrete as soon as Airachnid fell? She would’ve been less likely to have woken up.

18:31 - Agent Fowler! Proving to be useful Y E T A G A I N !

18:54 - how did he go so long without noticing that missing??

19:04 - THANK YOU! Responsible man right here!

19:07 - No. that would’ve been a good call because Airachnid’s very dangerous and Arcee cannot handle her on her own.

19:24 - that was very funny. The line was delivered so mildly, but made so much sense as well.

19:46 - They did obtain some information, so I guess Silas got what he wanted.

20:53 - MMM YES. SEXIEST MUSIC.

21:07 - Look at hiiiim

21:11 - Ratchet turns around like an old man.

21:17 - so jealous of June rn.

21:25 - Another cover poster + Optimus looked slightly offended in the moments before the shot I got a photo of.

21:28 - Not a word from Bulkhead, Ratchet and Optimus. I wonder w h y .

———————

So that was Crisscross!

Incase it wasn’t apparent, I’m not a fan of the obvious filler episodes. I’m not a fan of Arcee and Airachnid’s dynamic either, so it made the episode worse.

One thing I will give it credit for is that it addressed the fact that June would’ve started to get suspicious.

This is for season 1, episode 19: Rock Bottom.

Genuinely started crying when I realised. No. You cannot be serious. I can’t do this again…

I write down the timestamps, but I watch Transformers Prime on Stan (an Australian streaming service) so they may be slightly off.

ALSO! I try my best to note points for every character, but tend to get a little caught up by Bee (although I think I do a pretty good job with the notes regardless) so do be warned.

I will say that compared to my last episode notes, I’m a bit more upbeat. I finished ep 18 then went straight onto this, so I have no explanation as to why I’m more calm.