#which. fair.

I first found this back in 2023, when I was just getting to know about this fandom. It received a bunch of mixed responses but I was full-heartedly nodding at OP’s theory lol. I would say it’s strange in how this is the only known Reddit post (that I can find) about romantic connotations between Neo and Smith, but then again it’s Reddit.

Because if she counted their lunar interlude as "everyone made it back" then he wouldn't have his powers still, right?

But if everyone making it back extends till the end of the mission, then Nana already faulted on her end of the bargain. Not everyone made it back. Letters literally died on the moon.

and i think, while this is really sweet, it's also a really good way to see into optimus' character and to observe his morality. how nice can it be if he's part of the reason they're the last ones left? how much can he help if he's never around? how much can he care if he's lying to everyone around him so that they don't find out?

the rescue bots are a very physical, unavoidable reminder of his failings. we all know optimus has a very deep sense of grief at the war, especially towards megatron. they were very close, and he feels like he failed somehow. at least with megatron, they're enemies. optimus can justify their conflict, because megatron has done terrible things. but the thing is, so has he.

the rescue bots can't be ignored. he has to directly confront his crimes because of them, because he feels an obligation to repent. his war is the reason they're in that position in the first place. the only way optimus can live with himself is to help them. and sure, he does actually grow to care about them as individuals, instead of just what they represent, but still. how can you trust someone who only sees you for what you mean for them, not what you actually are? and for optimus, how can you care about people who represent everything you've ever done wrong?

the relationships in rescue bots are highly nuanced, and this is no exception. i mean, the moral implications of the rescue bots' whole situation are enough to make a philosopher cry! (or jump for joy it depends). like, how do you justify hiding their identities while making them do literal life or death work when they have no choice to be there, are receiving no compensation, and aren't enjoying it? is that really better than being part of the war? at least there, you know you had a role in the chaos. at least you understand it.

i mean optimus himself said in the first episode that because they're the last rescue bots, they HAVE to help. he didn't give them a choice, because he wants to preserve them. and while that's a nice sentiment, he's focused on what they mean for their species, instead of who they are and what they want. right after they're told they don't have a choice, they're told that also, they have to pretend to not be sentient and have to partner and live with these random people from a different species that they know nothing about. that's, at best, a morally iffy situation.

i think we should talk more about a morally grey optimus, who keeps trying to help, but tends to misplace his sentiments. because it's clear he's trying to do the right things for everyone, but the whole thing is such a jumbled mess! for the past four million years, there's always been an enemy to fight. but here, that isn't a thing. there's no overlord trying to harm the rescue bots, there's no violence, no one is being malicious. the situation is because of a war they had no part in, and a conflict they have no place in.

i wanna see more rescue bots being upset because of that. their situation might have gotten better, and they might have learned to enjoy it, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a shitty place to put them in. and they understand that optimus really does love them, and that's why he made the choices he did, but that doesn't erase all of their hurt. they had to live as machines, only operating under orders, having others steal the credit, not getting paid, and that's only from the humans! other cybertronians don't even know they exist! that's fucked up!!

AAA!!! I've started a plague and my mind is ground zero for the obtuse amount of Brainrot that hath spread IT'S LOVELY