#tfa analysis

[th3p0rtalmaker]

I think TFA Prowl's self-restraint is more performative, and less an actual part of his personality. He enforces unecessarily strict limits on his self-expression (in almost all forms) because he's trying to imitate a virtue he admired in Yoketron.

But also because he hates/fears his own emotions, and the power they have to negatively affect his behavior and his life.

And also because fully experiencing his emotions brings his unprocessed traumas into the present - where he's desperately trying to avoid them.

It's no secret that Prowl has big feelings and strong convictions, despite his efforts to pretend otherwise. And in the flashback where he meets Yoketron for the first time, younger Prowl behaves almost exactly like current-day Bumblebee. He's brash, snarky, over-confident, condescensing, and feigns self-assurance as a means of self-protection. He also expresses his thoughts and feelings freely, without concern for how his words might affect others.

I assume that over the course of his training, Prowl came to realize how immature he was, and that his unfiltered self-expression wasn't a good thing. False confidence and hostility were signs of fear and weakness. True confidence and strength of character were marked by things like having an outwardly calm demeanor, or being considerate of others. Master Yoketron acted that way, and other bots treated him with immense love and respect.

Master Yoketron was also much more at peace with himself than Prowl was. Yoketron didn't struggle against his own emotions, and his sense of restraint was just an expression of his genuine self.

Prowl wanted to have that kind of control over himself. But he sought it through self-suppression instead of self-acceptance. And he loathed seeing Bumblebee act the way he used to - expressing himself without restraint, lacking consideration for others at times, and never having an outwardly calm demeanor.

Eventually Prowl realized that these traits didn't make Bee a bad person, nor did Bee deserve to be judged for them. And after learning the truth about Yoketron's death - and defeating the bot who killed him - I think Prowl did seem significantly more at peace with himself.

But he still hadn't accepted himself.

When Jazz affirmed that their master would've been proud to see Prowl wearing his recovered helmet, Prowl insisted that he would continue working to change himself. That he would make himself worthy of carrying Yoketron's legacy. Even though Yoketron had chosen and accepted him the day the met.

Prowl never got the time to process his grief for Yoketron, or his anger at Lockdown. And I'm sure he still had countless stellar cycles of ongoing trauma to heal from, even after bonding with Optimus and the others.

But he was finally making progress. He found the place where he belonged, and the family he belonged with. He faced (potentially) the most horrific trauma of his past, and came out the other side victorious.

And then some greedy chucklefucks at Hasbro decided to kill him off - completely unwarranted, with no narrative purpose for his death. (I'm not saying that flippantly; I wrote an academic-level essay on why Prowl's death in TFA makes zero sense for his character arc.)

TLDR: TFA Prowl's self-restraint and emotional suppression were a flawed attempt to be better than the person he once was. We were denied the beauty and catharsis of seeing him learn to accept himself while healing from his trauma.

[gonetoforks]

TFA’s Blackarachnia & Sari Sumdac are Peak Foils and I Need Them To Interact; blabbering + incorrect quotes

I don’t know much about any of the unlicensed but semiofficial tfa post season 3 projects but ykw what i would really love to see if the series continued? An episode focusing on Sari and Blackarachnia, like those “field trip with Zuko” episodes.

One of my fav themes in the series is Nature & or Vs Technology, and I think they could continue that even from Cybertron what with, *gestures vaguely* their whole situations.

Like, imagine; Blackarachnia kidnaps Sari like she’s done before to try get her to lead her to some kinda maguffin, but this time around everyone knows she’s techno-organic. Just like Blackarachnia.

Now Sari knows that they’re two sides of the same coin, how would she react to the way Blackarachnia talks about her body, her situation? Especially since this the only adult she knows who’s yknow, like her, probably the only one in the whole galaxy even. This would make any disdain or fissure between them a lot more personal than ‘mean lady who’s basically using me for directions.’ Maybe Sari would angrily try to befriend her, or they’d have some other kind of somewhat twisted mother-daughter-figure bonding moment or talk. BA’s main thing is that she’s tunnel-vision on a mission, and that she will lie and/or manipulate at any moment to get there. Would she be ruthless & tricky as ever to this kid who’s just like her, or would she let a wall down or even crack for just a moment? Maybe something in between?

What arguments would they posit to each other about that elephant in the room? Sari (teenage girl) would definitely feel hurt seeing BA’s disgust for herself and knowing how that certainly extends to her. Would she believe/realize that disgust comes from Cybertronian culture & that her friends are mostly outliers? Would Sari empathize with Blackarachnia in any way? They have mostly the same condition, but it’s affected them both very differently through sheer luck. Could that realization affect either of them? And most importantly, would BA let any of it change her ways?

Probably not, she’s very self-centered and stubborn to a fault. But I’d love to see that believable ideology of hers challenged in some way, yknow?

Idk, I just think it’d be criminal to have these themes and character arcs be so prevalent and then not have the character foils interact after the reveal that made them foils in the first place. Blackarachnia’s one of my favorites cause I just find her motivations so interesting.

Have some incorrect quotes & very specific memes.

[juniaships]

The tfa fanbase has an ableism problem so let's start there

First it was Calling Sentinel a sociopath for being an imperfect trauma victim. Now I see a certain user calling Optimus deranged for having understandable fears about letting a human child fight grown ppl matters bc he didn't want to lose her like he lost his previous friend. I have had it with these takes.

The way some folks talk about certain characters here is abysmal. Everyone in the show has trauma but i always see it used as fuel for shipping, or stans throwing words they don't understand all because they don't like a character.

Yes Optimus has flaws as a fangirl I do acknowledge them but I hate hate HATE how he's being called deranged by someone just for expressing a behavior clearly rooting from trauma. Or try to make him out to be as toxic as Blackarachnia and Sentinel even though they're the ones actively hurting people and not really giving a shit. On the flip side I see people rag on Blackarachnia more harsher than they do male villains and ignore her trauma responses; and straight up demonize Sentinel for his.

I see people fight over who had it worse in Autobot boot camp, when Bee and Wasp and Bulkhead didn't deserve to go through that shit. Cuz I tell you right not Bee and Bulk didn't do anything to deserve Sentinel's wrath. Wasp didn't either. I see people downplay Prowl and Ratchet's backgrounds, how they're traumatized. Or the decepticons and how they're nothing but pure evil ignoring how they also may have had traumatic experiences as well. Or mock Perceptor for his funny voice, and Arcee for her amnesia. And what about the Sumdacs? Sari's existential crisis? Isaac's fears? Barely brought up except for tired angst.

By all means criticize a character. Point out their flaws I don't care. But don't go around playing psychiatrist and diagnosing terms you clearly do not understand as a form of critique. It's not funny nor cute.

[star-player]

Sari and the Key

Hey, I've been rewatching Transformers Animated recently and one thing that's bugging me is the lack of distinction on what the key can do and how it seems to react appropriately depending on the situation for plot convenience.

Ability 1: Fixing

Probably the most memorable. It was used three times in the series pilot Transform and Roll Out, fixing up Prowl, Bumblebee, and later bringing Optimus essentially back from the dead (with the help of the AllSpark itself).

This ability is used numerous times throughout the series, probably more than any other one of the key's ability. Given that it was empowered by the AllSpark, its no surprise the key is able to fix damage, whether it's mild or severe.

Ability 2: Upgrading

The second most used ability is probably upgrading man made machinery. Again, not bashing the idea of the key being able to do this since it was empowered by the AllSpark. Things that have been upgraded by the key range from Soundwave himself to Bulkhead's sculpture in Headmaster.

(Personally I wish there was more distinction to this, since Soundwave became self aware "due to the last surge from the key." I suppose it means there's a spectrum of autonomy for man made bots that the key can continue upgrading into self awareness, but I digress).

Ability 3: Overloading

Again, with the AllSpark having no limitations to it's power, it makes sense that the key might be able to overload technology. Examples include overloading Swindle's time device in SUV, and Transwarped part 3 when Sari overloaded her own circuitry.

Ability 4: Detecting AllSpark Fragments

This one is self explanatory. While it probably didn't need to exist since the bots are shown to be able to detect fragments due to their massive power signatures, it still feels reasonable. Although, occasionally, the writing flips the script and says the key can attract the fragments to an extent, if close enough (shown in Mission Accomplished).

Where it gets tricky:

With four abilities (and those are the main ones, there might be more) it can be tricky finding a way to distinguish how the key will react in certain situations. As far as I can tell, its reaction is based solely on plot convenience.

What bugs me is that it seems Sari (and indeed, anyone who uses the key, but since Sari is the keeper, mainly her) knows how to use it specifically to fix vs overload, etc.

I understand the writers had limitations but one of the reasons Sari might be classified as "over powered" by the fandom is simply because of the lack of distinctions to her (and her Key's) abilities.

(This is definitely open for discussion if anyone has anything to add!)

[l-e-i-n-t-h]

Captain America - The First Avenger

It was even sadder in the first shooting draft T_T

[th3p0rtalmaker]

Prowl's Death in TFA Doesn't Actually Make Sense

A fun persuasive essay by me, Portal Maker! ☺️

Thesis Statement:

I have pondered the evidence, and I believe it would've made more sense narratively for Prowl to have somehow survived giving up his spark in the TFA S3 finale.

Exhibit A: He said 'risk' his chassis, not 'sacrifice' his chassis.

  In S3:E6 of TFA (Five Servos of Doom), we see a flashback where Prowl says to Yoketron, "Why should I risk my chassis for anyone? Nobody ever risked their chassis for me!"

  'Risk' and 'sacrifice' are two different words with very distinct meanings. Prowl risked his chassis for others constantly during the course of the show: fighting the Decepticons and the human villains; rescuing the Dinobots; protecting Bumblebee and Sari from the space barnacles, etc. And the other members of Team Prime put their own chassis at risk for Prowl's sake during the show as well. The most notable example is probably when Bulkhead helped him rescue the Dinobots and agreed to keep it a secret from everyone in S1:E6 (Blast from the Past). When Prowl sacrificed his spark in order to accumulate and contain all the broken shards of the Allspark itself (S3:E13), he didn't just put himself at risk - he sacrificed his very life.

Exhibit B: Yoketron's First Lesson

  The first lesson Yoketron ever taught Prowl was about the rewards that come with opening oneself up to new relationships - an inherently risky act. In the same flashback from S3:E6, Yoketron replies:

"Keeping you out of the Stockade, I am risking something for you. But if you are willing to learn, that risk could be very rewarding."

  This lesson definitely applies to Prowl's personal character flaws, as well as his implied past experiences. Yoketron understood that Prowl's selfish outlook stemmed from an utter lack of healthy, caring relationships with other bots. He was also willing to put himself at risk for the chance to mentor Prowl, and help him grow into his full potential. Throughout the episode, we see more flashbacks that indicate how caring and trustworthy Yoketron was as Prowl's master. And near the end of his training, he declared that Prowl could become his greatest student, as long as he mastered the advanced technique of processor-over-matter.

  We don't know the exact level of risk Yoketron accepted when he took Prowl in. But it was never treated as though he had put his own life in danger. And in the end, both of them reaped valuable rewards as a result of their relationship.

Exhibit C: Prowl achieved his 'character want' and his 'character need' before death was even on the table.

  In the art of storytelling, a single character often has two goals - one they pursue consciously (their 'want'), and one they pursue unconsciously (their 'need'). In Transformers: Animated, Prowl's 'want' is his goal to master the technique of processor-over-matter, while his 'need' is to achieve a sense of belonging with other bots. Mastering processor-over-matter is the final step necessary to complete his training, and officially take his place among the Cyberninja Corps. But Prowl is unable to achieve his 'want' goal until after he achieves his 'need' goal. He finds the sense of belonging and community that he's so desperate for as a member of the repair crew led by Optimus Prime. He also gets much needed closure about his past when he finally discovers who murdered Yoketron. Only then is he able to commune with the Allspark and unlock the full power of processor-over-matter.

  And he achieves both of these goals before facing the problem of protecting Detroit from the self-destructing Omega clones in S3:E13 (Endgame - Part 2).

So what about Yoketron's final lesson?

  The spirit of Yoketron's final lesson doesn't actually apply to the context of Prowl's death. 

  Just before he died in Five Servos of Doom, Yoketron gave Prowl a profound piece of advice that did apply to his doomed (and arguably selfish) attempt to save his master's life:

"You must not sacrifice a piece of the future to bring back the past."

  Prowl's past (what we know of it) was resolved when he achieved both his 'want' and 'need' goals. There were no pieces left to be mis-prioritized over the future that he was finally free to explore. So when Prowl gave up his spark to protect Detroit, he didn't sacrifice the past to preserve the future, as Yoketron advised. He actually sacrificed his own future for the collective futures of his loved ones and the universe. Which, I would argue, is a step beyond Yoketron's final lesson.

In Conclusion: Prowl's Death was an overreach.

  Did Prowl's death highlight his development from a selfish, traumatized victim to a sacrificial, loving hero? Absolutely. Was it necessary to complete his character arc? Absolutely not. Prowl's character arc centered on his aversion to risk and vulnerability, and how that aversion prevented him from achieving his goals. And he completed that arc before he was thrust into a situation where sacrificing himself was a viable option to save the day. Despite it being an in-character move for Prowl at that point in the story, his death was not a necessary or valid way to complete his personal arc. Therefore it doesn't fully make sense as a narrative tool. 

[th3p0rtalmaker]

Ya'll remember how angry Optimus was about Prowl's death?

Do you remember hearing it in his voice when he arrested Megatron?

Did it startle you - realizing it sounded nothing like Optimus's "enraged" yell when Prowl rescued the Dinobots? Or his argument with Sentinel over who was the "Primer" Prime?

Were you scared by the fact that Optimus's anger in that moment was so abnormally dramatic and intense - but not fake, or over-the-top?

Or by the fact that there was, perhaps, genuine hatred in his voice when he said Megatron didn't deserve "the easy way out"?

Optimus Prime's final words in Transformers: Animated encapsulated a distinct, chilling moment where he experienced something new for the first time.

The day Prowl died, Optimus learned that his programming couldn't prevent him from being a hero.

He also learned that his programming couldn't prevent him from murdering another Cybertronian in cold blood.

Both were choices he had to make for himself.

[th3p0rtalmaker]

I think the reason Prowl gets so easily frustrated and annoyed with Bumblebee in TFA is because he was a lot like Bee when he was younger. Yoketron's mentorship helped Prowl grow and mature as a person, and he stopped behaving the way Bumblebee does in the present. And Prowl gets frustrated because Bumblebee never seems to realize that he needs to grow up too.

But I think it's even more nuanced than that. A big part of the reason younger Prowl behaved the way he did was self-preservation. All of his life experience before Yoketron taught him that other bots only cared about themselves, and therefore would always take advantage of him for their own gain. And if that was how the world worked, Prowl believed he had every right to be selfish too. Mistrust and hostility kept him alive when the rest of the world was out to get him.

Yoketron was the first bot to show Prowl that the world is also full of kindness, generosity, and loving sacrifice. He enabled Prowl to choose to be a better bot than all the ones who had hurt, betrayed, or taken advantage of him in the past. And it seems like Prowl tried his best to imitate/adopt his master's demeanor in his efforts to become a better person.

Bumblebee, being a less mature bot, has chronic issues with being self-focused and inconsiderate of his teammates. And I think Prowl projects both his old character flaws and his intense disgust for the person he used to be onto Bumblebee. But he would've benefitted so much more from recognizing that Bee is just immature, and needs good role models who hold him accountable for his behavior.

I think Bumblebee's absence during "A Fistful of Energon" wasted a HUGE opportunity for character growth and bonding. Bee and Prowl could've realized that they're more alike than they first thought. That could've led to Prowl opening up to Bee about his life before Yoketron, explaining what kind of bot he used to be and how ashamed/disgusted he is of his old self. Bee would at least start treating him with more respect and consideration, once he had a better understanding of what Prowl's been through and why he acts the way he does in the present.

And that would've set things up for Prowl to become an effective mentor/role model for Bumblebee throughout the rest of the series. They'd still have their petty squabbles and passionate disagreements. Bumblebee would find ways to tease and poke fun at Prowl, but he'd take extra care to make it clear that whatever he did/said didn't come from a place of malice. Instead of letting himself be frustrated and contemptuous towards Bee all the time, Prowl would've started reminding himself that Bumblebee isn't the same person as his old self - and neither is he. They both need grace and compassion in order to grow, not judgement. And when other members of Team Prime are having an issues with Bumblebee, Prowl is usually the one who can actually get Bee to see why his behavior is unacceptable and needs to change.