This has to be why I'm not watching the same show as everyone else

[dragovianknight]

Spoilers for Transformers Prime 1x20 behind the cut.



So, on the LJ TFP comm, there is this comment.

And all I could think when I read it was, "I thought our take away message was supposed to be, shoot them in the head first, THEN take off the cuffs."

*facepalm* I'll just go report to Lord Megatron now.

(It was a genuine pleasure watching Screamer play Arcee like a goddamn fiddle, though. Sorry, Arcee.)

Also: Oh, Airachnid, a smart spider knows better than to gun for second in command. 2IC is Megsie's buttmonkey. You need to go have a long talk with Tarantulas.

Edit: My answer to "What was Arcee's big mistake in this episode?" is "Offering to make it a fair fight." Everyone in my headcast except Demona and Xanatos is *facepalming* at me.


I feel like I need an "Everything I need to know about life, I learned from the Evil Overlord's Checklist" icon.

Comments

[recessional]

I haven't watched it yet, but I suspect as in most of these cases the real moral is "define your goddamn objective, THEN act." Otherwise known as "going off half-cocked at the mercy of your emotions, however justified, is never the right plan in a tactical situation."

. . . .also, dear commenter, "ethics and tactical understanding" fall under the heading of "wisdom". *blows kiss*

[dragovianknight]

Honestly - and I think this is my Predacon core programming talking, but, you know, whatever - my main problem with the series so far is that Optimus seems less interested in winning a war than opening a Reform School for Wayward Decepticons. No wonder they've been fighting this thing for millennia. (That and nobody seems to have a working targeting system. Dear GODS these robots are bad shots.)

[recessional]

(Hi, I have had several glasses of wine and am rambly-tipsy, so if I'm making no sense, have compassion on me.)

Heee. Well, I tend to consider that as a hazard of Western animation, which tends to aim at kids as at least a significant chunk of the audience, and we don't teach children ruthless dedication to strategic initiatives in our culture. (They're violent and nasty enough already.)

Reform School for Wayward Decepticons is undoubtedly the deliberate thematic choice of the production team. The war's just a handy source of tension and conflict.

(Kids shows are the one and only area that I will go for the Doylist explanation over the Watsonian, simply because the logic and realism in kids' shows is so. damned. skewed.)

[dragovianknight]

I do understand WHY we can't have the kinds of wholesale slaughter the premise of the series rightfully sets us up for. I just. It gets up my nose when fans are all, "Yes, clearly Optimus and his Reform School for Wayward Decepticons have the right of it, and the characters who are behaving in a productive and practical manner are wrong!" (I...do not actually think Arcee was wrong in anything but wanting to give Starscream a fair fight rather than executing him on the spot. I don't think Bulkhead was wrong not to want to rescue Breakdown. Then again, I'm a little less "what would Jesus do?" and a little more "what would Xena do?")

[penny]

Yeah, I just finished watching, and yes, I am evil for enjoying how Starscream played Arcee. Er.

And I thought Optimus was a bit of a dick from the start. Yeah, I know their numbers are low, but you had an immobilized Starscream and an on the move Airachnid, and Arcee was the only bot small enough to pursue while the rest of them hauled aft topside. I'm not seeing the problem with her pursuit.

I also enjoyed Bee reminding us that he's a clever little scout. :3 The Decepticons really need to watch out for him. He's quick to adapt and churn out the fightin' strategy.

[dragovianknight]

Oh, watching Screamer play Arcee was just...gorgeous. Conniving little bastard. No wonder I love him in this 'verse.

It's becoming more and more clear Optimus is not trying to win a war, he's trying to...maintain a holding pattern until the Cons see the error of their ways. At this rate, the Decepticons will win through attrition. :( I hate to say it, because I love Optimus, but I think it's time we demoted RoboJesus and replaced him with an actual commander.

Bee is clever like a clever thing, though. Sneaky little bug. ♥