Because nothing says "great leader"...

[dragovianknight]

...like physically altering people by force and against their will.






Mostly, I wonder if tumblr fandom would be as uncritically "awww yis, Megatron is an awesome badass leader" if instead of curing alcoholism he was enforcing celibacy. "No more impure thoughts for you! *smack*"

Edit: *sobs* This is the most recent not on this particular photoset: "Aaaall of this. In the brief glimpses we’ve seen of Megatron on the Lost Light so far, he’s already looking like a far better captain than Rodimus ever was. Then again, Megatron is a seasoned leader— whereas Rodimus is still very naive and inexperienced in many ways."

Tumblr fandom...and possibly other parts of fandom, IDK...genuinely sees this as GOOD LEADERSHIP on Megatron's part. I can't even.

Edit: Found a spoilery review of the issue in question. Still not feeling the "Megatron is a great leader" vibe.

Comments

[white_aster]

...yus. That panel made me just a wee bit uncomfy. I mean, I think it's totally in character for him to do that. It's even, from a mercenary standpoint, a good solution/punishment to the problem (and if it was a punishment for a fuck-up, that might change it for me, but I don't know the context), as it will make the problem go away forever.

But yeah. Doesn't mean it's an ethical punishment or that he's a good leader. And this is coming from a fan of the sane!Megatron.

[dragovianknight]

Oh, I can agree it's realistic and potentially necessary (or at least, expedient). But I can't think of a context where it's admirable or proof he's a great leader.

[hopeofdawn]

See, one of the reasons I like Megatron (and certain other Decepticon characters--*coughcough*Soundwave) is because they are perfect examples of the slippery slope of villainy, at least in their more modern incarnations. They rebel against an unjust system, tear down the oppressors, and then, as they start embracing their whole 'the ends justify the means' philosophy more, they gradually became as bad or worse than the oppressors the had originally rebelled against, in effect just perpetuating the cycle. Or sending it into an ever-worsening spiral, I'm not sure which ...

But I'm sure Megatron and co. don't think of themselves as villains. No dictator/warlord/gangster/king ever does ....

[dragovianknight]

*nodnod* Yes, THAT is what makes them interesting, and I hate it when fandom erases that in favor of "Clearly, Megatron is THE GOOD GUY" instead of "Clearly, Megatron has become what he originally fought against."

Every villain is the hero of their own story, but I question people making them OBJECTIVELY heroic.