Predicting Skyfire/Starscream’s story in Netflix’s Transformers series
Aasdlklkj attention duelists! This might be the first time in decades that we see the Skyfire/Starscream plotline explored in mainstream Transformers media since G1!
So the new Transformers: War for Cybertron series is coming to Netflix July 30th. In the countdown to the new series, there’s only really one thing I’m interested in seeing: Starscream and Skyfire.
These 2 posters were released together and it’s not a coincidence.
It’s actually pretty shocking, if you really reflect on all the past Transformers series, just how little (read: basically zero) mainstream TF series ever acknowledge the original G1 Starscream/Skyfire origin story. Outside of the Dreamwave comics, a random Japanese manga, and the briefest of hints in the IDW ‘Til All Are One series, we have genuinely never seen this duo’s story explored in its original, G1 sense since G1.
(And as soon as I say this someone will definitely point out something I’ve missed)
But the new Netflix series looks like it’s about to change all that and with the little information we have now, I’m going to make a few guesses regarding a possible Skyfire/Starscream subplot within the new series.
Reasons to believe there will be a Skyfire/Starscream storyline
Firstly, the posters themselves and the fact that they were released together already suggests that those two might have a significant role in the story, and with each other. The creators know. Green flags all the way! *woot woot!*
The first trailer released on 23rd February was also a preeeetty big tip-off, with Skyfire clearly shown standing with the Decepticons. Now, he’d already appeared as a Decepticon in IDW, but only as a grunt. Here, he’s alongside all the Decepticon bigshots - Megatron, Shockwave, Soundwave, Skywarp, and of course, Starscream.
Ugh. Just imagine all the drama and conflict that’s about to happen! It’s the kind of confrontation fans of Skyfire/Starscream angst have been dreaming of for years. But canon!
That said, it is kind of a bummer to see that, even though old fans will already see Skyfire’s betrayal and turning into an Autobot ‘plot twist’ happening a mile away, Netflix still chose to spoil the surprise in their second trailer!
Skyfire standing with Optimus Prime
Skyfire trying to save a random (?) Autobot/Jazz (?)
On the Hasbro War for Cybertron: Siege toy site too, they make no secret of Skyfire’s true alliance:
This is pretty concerning for Starscream/Skyfire fans, with four possible implications
1) If a Skyfire/Starscream subplot exists, then it’s clearly not important enough to even bother hiding its ending
2) Even if a potential Skyfire/Starscream subplot was important, the creators have assumed that old fans are familiar with the G1 story anyway. And that might mean they’ve revealed Skyfire’s allegiance swap because the subplot will essentially follow the same simple, black-and-white lines in the original G1 story. (Noooooo)
3) OR it’s a red herring and there is an excellent trove of story, conflict, drama, and angst for our two favourite fliers ;)
4) ORRRR there isn’t going to be a Skyfire/Starscream subplot in the first place and I’m an overthinking fangirl who hasn’t had a bone thrown at her OTP for actual decades.
But based off all the evidence suggesting otherwise, I think it’s pretty safe to assume there will be a Starscream/Skyfire subplot. However, this is my prediction:
1) Although SS/SF will definitely play a role in the story, it’s unlikely to be a particularly significant subplot, judging by the rampant spoilers in the trailers. Most Transformers series have never really bothered to delve into or develop Starscream as a character, so I can’t imagine that changing and the creators deciding to invest much time in exploring this plotline. (Boooo! >:( )
2) In the same vein, considering how Autobot-oriented most Transformers media, especially the animated series are, even if there was a Starscream/Skyfire storyline, Starscream fans like myself are most likely to be disappointed once again at the lack of nuance in Starscream’s character. The story will most likely focus on Skyfire’s own internal conflict and his perspective as a Decepticon, rather than equally distributing the role between the two of them.
3) In fact, I’m actually concerned as to how much screen time Starscream will get in this series, period. There is significantly less emphasis on his appearance throughout both trailers (which is actually contrasted pretty starkly with Skyfire, who gets quite a few appearances). Also, his rank is significantly lower than ‘usual’. Instead of being Second-In-Command, it is Soundwave and Shockwave who rank as Majors, while Starscream is one rank below, a Captain, according to US military ranks.
Personally, I’m keeping my expectations low, just so I might be pleasantly surprised when the show does roll round. The series definitely looks promising, and suitably, IDW-esquely gritty and dark. Let’s hope that, if they do decide to tackle the oft-forgotten Skyfire/Starscream storyline, that they can do it justice.
Fortunately, we’ve only got less than a week to go before we find out!
