can I just analyze this real quick bc I am losing my mind over it
Compare their stances in the first half, they're being playful, yeah they're looking back but they're all still walking forward behind Megatronus, they're allowed a greater degree of freedom. And Starscream! Is fully front facing! Because he chooses to follow Megatronus, that's what he wants!
Later, they're still in a row, but this time it's serious, they're all facing forward (some more than others) including Starscream, even if his helm is turned away, he's not fully on board, does he truly want to follow Megatron or is it bc of Megatronus that he feels compelled to follow (or y'know, to keep taking care of his high guard).
Their hands! There's symbolism to the way they all had their hands visible somehow in the first shot, and then hiding them in the second shot. They're hiding parts of themselves? Maybe so they don't reach out to someone that isn't there anymore
Let's compare, Soundwave and Starscream. Their physical places in the shots don't change, but their focus, how they stand, it's opposing to each other, changing depending on their leader.
Soundwave initially has a datapad, but he's distracted from it, he's looking back at Starscream, his frame is mostly turned towards the camera. BUT! With Megatron, Soundwave looks forward, his posture is ramrod straight, does this mean he's fully committing to their new leader? Maybe, especially since Soundwave is typically the real second in the command, Megatron's most loyal follower.
I already started breaking down Starscream, but anyways. His postoure change, he's floating at first, excited, having fun, and again fully front facing, to then have a slack position when following Megatron, arms loosely at his side, leaning away from the group rather then the way he initially was leaning forward. And his expression! Starscream laughing, yapping, in the first shot, and going by Megatronus' lack of reaction, this is not only common place but perfectly expected and fine to do. But then! We see in the second shot, he's not smiling. He's sneering, he doesn't truly respect Megatron, he's just following. And while he *could* be talking, I doubt he is, in fact, he's following the very person that took his voice away, and yet he still follows, why? Because that's the last tether he has to the one bot he trusted and respected as his leader.
Y'know what, let's throw in Shockwave while we're at it. His postoure doesn't change as drastically as the other two, but it still does! His helm is the only one that turns, first facing Starscream, then Megatron. He's not as impacted as Starscream and Soundwave are at their new leader. Keep in mind, "as impacted" not "no impact", he's not Megatronus' second or third, neither is he Megatron's, unlike the other two who would work much closer to the leader. We see in his posture change however, he still has a negative reaction. At first, he was leaning in close to Soundwave, literally has a hand on his shoulder, his gun-hand also up, like they're closely discussing something. Only for him in the second shot to have his hands to himself. Following Megatron rather than Megatronus caused a drift between Shockwave and others, he's more distant this time.
Since we're already comparing. Let's talk the man of the hour, Megatron vs Megatronus. Megatronus is walking with his head held high, arms folded neatly behind him. Despite his large size difference to the others, it feels comforting, not unlike a teacher with students or a mama duck and ducklings. And from the way Soundwave overlaps a bit of Megatronus, they're not even walking directly behind him. Their stance, dynamic, structure, is more equal, closer.
Now let's see Megatron. His shoulders are slumped, it's not a posture fit of a leader, it's the posture of someone who's defeated, the march of shame after losing the war. And his helm is down, he's not holding it up, he looks lost, not commanding. The gap between him and the others shows his disconnect between him and the rest. Megatron is not Megatronus, and it couldn't be more clear
Megatronus' half being primarily yellow, it's soft, comfortable, almost playful. Similar to those 'nostalgia shots'. You want to be there, it's so nice
And Megatron's shot emphasizing the red. It's bold, oppressive, harsh, it commands the image rather than letting it be.
Speaking of colors, the background, or lack thereof.
In the first half, there's Iacon in the back, blurred out because it's not the focus, but it's there, it's a reminder of what they fight to protect, it's their home, their city, with their people.
And then Megatron has no background. It's just their shadows, symbolism of them chasing shadows? Of how they keep following Megatron for Megatronus? The only other thing on the wall is the Decepticon symbol, Megatronus' face, distorted, just how their new leader is not really Megatronus no matter how much the trio might want to think otherwise.
