Transformers: Return of Optimus Prime 1

[MyUserName]

I'm surprised Chuck didn't review "The Burden Hardest to Bear" before this one. The episode where Rodimus loses the matrix after he is attacked, K.O.'d and decepticons take it from him. He initially says "eff that crap, I'm better off" than after getting some zen advice from a hilariously accented Japanese kendo instructor, decides to reclaim it and vows to be worthy of it.

The funniest part is, that it's the episode IMMEDIATELY before this one.

About the episode in question though, I always liked it. Most interesting part was Ultra Magnus wanting to kick Rodimus's ass first thing after being infected. It would have been fun if this was a three parter or more, and that could have been further explored.

Also, I would love for Chuck to do a mini review of the U.S. Transformers comics that were running at the time. You know, the ones where optimus committed suicide because he was fighting megatron in a V.R. video game and accidentally killed some innocents? Also the ones where grimlock was GIVEN leadership and said "eff this planet, the Decepticons can have it. Fix the ship and lets GTFO."

Man, some of those stories made the cartoon look like a masterpiece in comparison. It marginally improved when U.K. writer Simon Furman took over US writing duties, but then Optimus got Shinji Ikari levels of emo.

[Trinary]

The return of Optimus' is goofy as all heck, but I love it. Plus it gave us more time with Sky Lynx. I like that guy.

Also the idea of the long-suffering Ultra Magnus and Cyclonus finally getting a chance for revenge on their much less competent bosses appeals to me.

You know, Linkara did a review of that one comic with Prime's other death that you mentioned. https://youtu.be/ElDTPvzYiQw?t

[Archanubis]

I'm guessing Part 5 of the Inquisitor was delayed. Do wonder if this means we'll get RoOP2 next week...

[MyUserName]

The return of Optimus' is goofy as all heck, but I love it. Plus it gave us more time with Sky Lynx. I like that guy.

Also the idea of the long-suffering Ultra Magnus and Cyclonus finally getting a chance for revenge on their much less competent bosses appeals to me.

You know, Linkara did a review of that one comic with Prime's other death that you mentioned. https://youtu.be/ElDTPvzYiQw?t

No I didn't know Linkara reviewed Afterdeath, I'll have to check it out.

I was always a pretty hard core nerd, even as a kid. Had to read all the books and comics of the franchises I followed. Bob Budiansky, the initial writer of the Transformers comics, had some interesting ideas here and there, but reading the books as an adult its very clear he grew to hate writing this book as some stories, like Afterdeath, make me swear he was trying his best to make the stories as bad as possible. Comparing the book to GI Joe, which had former military man Larry Hama writing the book as gritty as possible, made me feel jealous that Transformers couldn't get the same amount of respect back in the day.

[slochmoeller]

I had always thought Optimus's line at the end of part 1 was weird and tone deaf as well, perhaps something better befitting a villain like Megatron/Galvatron. But looking at it again, I think the intention was to give Optimus a super on the nose line to convey to the kids that he's back for reals this time, no brainwashed zombie crap. But the line misfired, needing a revision. Given that chuck says they were only given two weeks, it's understandable that the writers maybe couldn't give it quite the polish needed.

[MyUserName]

I had always thought Optimus's line at the end of part 1 was weird and tone deaf as well, perhaps something better befitting a villain like Megatron/Galvatron. But looking at it again, I think the intention was to give Optimus a super on the nose line to convey to the kids that he's back for reals this time, no brainwashed zombie crap. But the line misfired, needing a revision. Given that chuck says they were only given two weeks, it's understandable that the writers maybe couldn't give it quite the polish needed.

Actually, interesting thing. The line at the end of part one reads "and this time no force in the universe can stop me." The line in the recap that starts off part two reads differently, "And now no force in the universe will be able to stop me."

I always thought both lines sounded off, like the line was ad libbed or read from different drafts, and the sound mixers couldn't figure out which one to use. Since they had so little time, some things got rushed.

I always felt this story should have gotten a five parter. I'd have liked to have seen hate plague Rodimus vs Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime Vs Galvatron, and the stakes be made a bit more clear as the hate plague spread cosmicly.

It was a decent story, but it needed a bit more development.

[RobbyB1982]

I'm surprised Chuck didn't review "The Burden Hardest to Bear" before this one.

Well, he does episodes on commission. He'll move request order around to do themes or finish off a batch of something, but in general if someone hasn't requested it he's not going to do the extra episode regardless of how much context it adds. Its why there were so few Babylon 5 episodes for so long, the series was so continuity heavy he had to do extra videos for them to make any sense at all. Someone had to request a ton of eps before they could really be done.

[SabreMau]

I'm guessing Part 5 of the Inquisitor was delayed. Do wonder if this means we'll get RoOP2 next week...

It would seem so. Part 2 on Sunday will be the last video posted before the hiatus week starts.

[Krenim]

Heya folks. Longtime viewer, firsttime poster.

I apparantly had very different reactions to this show than others.

Optimus’ initial death in The Movie? Eh, I was bummed, but not traumatized.

Dark Awakening and Zombie Optimus? Meh.

The Return of Optimus Prime, though? I had nightmares for years about this episode. A highly communicable disease with practically no incubation period that causes violent insanity? This was pretty much 28 Days Later except aimed at kids.

[CMWaters]

Wonder if it will be pointed out how the Quintesson's voice changes from part 1 to part 2.