stunt_muppet: (This is my TF icon 2)
stunt_muppet ([personal profile] stunt_muppet) wrote2010-12-08 01:52 am

Using a completely unrelated icon because I'm cool.

And also because I rather enjoy it. I'll bet when the Decepticons get together and play Brawl, Blackarachnia plays as Peach so she can just parasol herself into the air for like an hour and wait for everyone else to kill each other.

Shockwave always plays Kirby.

---

So! TF: Prime review, now that I've actually seen the other three episodes.

I...liked it. Mostly. I kind of feel like I want to like it more because I've seen so much hate for it everywhere else? I don't have the guts to be conrary in real life, okay, just let me be contrary on the internet. Point by point:

1. Can I gush about Arcee for a minute? Because she's one of my favorite things about this series so far, and so far as female characters in Transformers go I think she's kind of a big step. I love that she's tough and sarcastic and battle-hardened, and that she doesn't get stuck being the caring and compassionate one because she's a girl. And I love how hard she kicks ass. I am looking forward to more of this series just for her. 

2. ...yeah, as soon as I worked out that someone died in the first two episodes, I figured it'd be Cliffjumper, if only because the Rock would be hella expensive to keep on for a whole series. Still, I figured he'd last longer than that. I mean...wow. 

3. In fact, that's one of the things I actually didn't like. Not just Cliff dying - he wasn't there long enough for me to get all that attached to him, although his death was done pretty effectively - I'm not really all that enthused by how seriously this series is taking itself. And I get that that's a personal taste thing, not an objective-quality thing, but I kind of like it better if my cartoons about giant robots from space are a little more tongue-in-cheek, because, really, at the end of the day, they're about giant robots from space. Who turn into semis. And inexplicably speak English, unless it's an import series wherein they inexplicably speak Japanese. And this is all Terribly Serious Business and that means that the human element feels out of place and ill-fitting and I just. I'm not feeling it.

4. And one of the things that I think highlights this problem is Optimus' voice. Don't get me wrong - I quite properly love Peter Cullen, and I think, as far as a performance goes, I can't complain about his Optimus voice. But...well, in G1, he still sounded authoritative and serious and Awesome, but he also still sounded like a person talking, albeit a person talking who you needed to sit up and pay attention to. Here (and even in the movies to a point) Optimus is talking in boldface all the time. It's...more booming and huge and it sounds like every line is being carefully delivered to sound good in the trailer/because he's the only reason fanboys are paying any attention rather than like words being spoken.

...I'M SORRY OKAY. I'm sure that it'll settle into a speaking voice later, and I'm still excited to have Peter Cullen back. Please don't roast and eat me. :(

5. The other place that this problem comes up is with Bulkhead. And yeah, I'm glad we even got a Bulkhead, but...it's not the same if he's not doofy. :( That, and the lighter tone of TFA was what allowed some of the aspects of Bulkhead's character that I really like - the love of art, the secret engineering skill, the having to play big brother to Bumblebee - to emerge. I can't see this Bulkhead painting a Cubist portrait of Miko. (YES, I'm annoyed by that, okay, it was really exciting having a character interested in early 20th century art without dismissing it as garbage, okay, and even more exciting having a character who was both an artist and an engineer.) 

6. Okay, enough of my whining. RATCHET. Let's talk about Ratchet and how amazing he is. He is my other favorite thing about this series. He is...like halfway between TFA Ratchet and G1 Ratchet, and he is even more Dr. McCoy than TFA Ratchet is, and he is arch and snarky and the only comic relief in sight and I already ship him with Optimus I hope that's okay.

7. I don't know how I feel about having two characters who don't talk. I do think it works for Soundwave, but I'm suspending judgement on how they'll characterize Bumblebee without any dialogue. 

While I was initially annoyed that Soundwave apparently wouldn't be talking at all, by Episode 5 it came across as very creepy and cool, especially given his not-recognizably-human face (whereas everyone else has humanized faces down to the eyebrows). The moment where Miko takes a picture of him and he, inexplicably, takes a picture right back was one of my favorites in the whole five-parter. Also, I am glad to hear that I wasn't the only one who thought this Soundwave was a girl at first. Of course, given that we have no facial, vocal, or body-type cues to go on, I have decided that this Soundwave in fact is a girl. I know Megatron and Soundwave refer to "him" but they're wrong.

8. Speaking of which, OMG OMG MEGATRON. He kind of won me over as soon as he showed up. And his voice is fatastic and just over-the-top enough for a guy with a zombie army. I am so looking forward to more of him. Also, this might be the only continuity yet in which I actively ship Megatron/Optimus instead of just reading it on occasion, because that is the dialogue shippers dream about right there.

9. I...want to like the kids. And thus far, I mostly do - Jack is fairly inoffensive thus far, and I don't care that Raf is a plot device he is tiny and cute and I want to skoosh him. The trouble is with Miko. 

I want to like her because she's the Sari Expy of TF: Prime. Love of hard rock, recklessness and refusal to be left behind, absurdly high pigtails...part of it's probably that I'm still bitter that I don't have more Animated, yeah, but it's not fair to resent her for that. I feel bad for finding her a bit annoying when I adored Sari so much, but maybe she'll grow on me. 

---

I managed to have yet another dream last night involving Toy Story characters having to escape from some sort of horrible scary house or something - I don't even remember if it was scary, I just remember that it was imperative that they get out. And when I woke up that morning the first cogent thought I had was something about Toy Story and zombie apocalypses.

...and now I kind of think I should write something like that. I mean, obviously toys wouldn't become zombies. Seems to me that they'd be the ones to form some sort of society amongst the ruins, especially once the initial sweep of the infection was over. It'd pretty much just be them, and they wouldn't need to eat or sleep or hide as toys or anything. I'm sort of intrigued.

I also wonder why I don't have normal dreams like everyone else.

---

Also I just realized that my new computer means that I'm going to have to re-download Witch Hunter, bleh. But on a happier note! [livejournal.com profile] futuresoon  has pointed me to the trailer and a gameplay demo for the Umineko fighting game. Which I am kind of happy about even if it's never going to make its way to our shores, because really, who wouldn't want to play as Ronove. And also apparently Ange can supplex people as one of her special moves (seen around 2:23), which I know I didn't see coming.

Also, I started thinking about how the fighting game would even fit ito canon, given how metafictive the series is, and given the absence of Bernkastel or Lambdadelta from the roster I have concluded that the fighting game is what happens when Bern and Lambda get bored with their long involved chess games and decide to go play Street Fighter instead. But with people.

---

It is 2 a.m. again, why do I keep doing this.

[identity profile] gorengal.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
Write that Toy Story fic!! Seriously!!

Also, your icon slays me.

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-09 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
But but but there are already so many other things I need to write and - wait, actually, I can already think of a whole bunch of things I would write in such a fic just sitting here thinking about. Looks like I'm going to have to write it after all. ;)

One of the things I love best about Super Smash Brothers from Melee onward is the opportunity to play as Peach. Even when I lose it just makes me happy. :D

[identity profile] biichan.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
given the absence of Bernkastel or Lambdadelta from the roster I have concluded that the fighting game is what happens when Bern and Lambda get bored with their long involved chess games and decide to go play Street Fighter instead. But with people.

CANON. Or, well, MAI FANON.

(Seriously, you should add it to the WMG at TV Tropes.)
Edited 2010-12-08 07:18 (UTC)

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-10 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Gaaaaah I got stuck on the WMG page for about two hours after reading this comment. There are people there using purple text! And pink and grey and everything! What is this supposed to mean.

Also I'm not sure in which section I'd put a theory like that. Though I am very flattered that you suggested it. :D

[identity profile] futuresoon.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
Hah, upon seeing your cut tag saying spoilers for episode 5 I got all confused and thought "wait, didn't the anime only go to 4?" and then I had to check and one thing led to another and now I am staring down the prospect of legit paying for Chiru. Um. APPARENTLY IT'S NOW MUCH CHEAPER AND EASIER TO GET, OKAY why am I feeling guilty about buying something legitimately

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-10 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
It's at the very end of the anime - there's a scene with Bernkastel and Lambdadelta together, declaring that there's no way Beatrice can win - implying that they're working together rather than against each other. This isn't explicitly revealed until EP 5 (which is the one I saw, not EP6 - I mistyped), but it's pretty easy to gather from generalized spoilers or plot.

YOU TOTALLY SHOULD. They make everything several times more complicated and introduce about fifteen new characters, but they are also really, really amazing and have some really (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fnZJNeCAGQ) incredible (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN3lQ2FaU-8) music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euezX9D3aDE) too. And without revealing too much let me just say that they will make you very, very happy if you ship Battler/Beatrice. :D

[identity profile] futuresoon.livejournal.com 2010-12-10 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
Ahh, I remember that scene from the end of the VN! Creeped me right the hell out, I tell you what. That VN makes sudden changes in facial expression terrifying.

*throws up hands* I will, I will! Once I start finish my Yuletide and have no obligations that can be damaged by being in an intensely fannish mood for something else. Because there is pretty much no way it would not put me in an intensely fannish mood, is there. D: And hnnnngh music, god how can the music for this series be so awesome, I don't even *_*

[identity profile] flo-nelja.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 08:09 am (UTC)(link)
Well, in my dreamworld, Toy Story + zombie apocalypse is a quite normal dream. ^^

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-10 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad to hear that - this isn't even the first toys-in-the-apocalypse dream I've had, so I was wondering if I had cause to worry. XD

[identity profile] kayliemalinza.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
THIS COMMENT IS NOT REALLY IN RESPONSE TO ANYTHING IN THIS ENTRY BUT RATHER IS RESPONSE TO ME HAVING FINALLY SEEN THE FIRST FEW EPISODES OF TFA SEASON 2 AND I AM SO ANGRY WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU DID NOT TELL ME THERE WAS A JACK HARKNESS TRANSFORMER


WHAT THE HELL, MAN


FIRST THE DINOBOTS AND NOW THIS


I CAN'T TRUST YOU ANYMORE



P.S. HOW FREAKING ADORABLE IS WRECK-GAR

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-10 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
BUT...BUT...BUT IF I TOLD YOU ABOUT IT YOU WOULDN'T BE AS EXCITED WHEN YOU DISCOVERED THESE THINGS FOR YOURSELF. AND THEN I WOULDN'T GET TO ENJOY YOUR SECONDHAND EXCITEMENT. WHY DO YOU WANT TO SPOIL MY FUN. :(

(Also for the longest time I though "Jack Harkness Transformer" meant "flirts with everybody", not "can't die", and I was trying to remember which one that was. I think this is a sign that I am reading way, way too much fanfic.)

HE IS THE CUTEST LITTLE LOST ROBOT. Did you know he is voiced by Weird Al? And that one of the other VAs brought his kid in to see Weird Al when it was his day to record? I think that makes him about a thousand times cuter.

[identity profile] kayliemalinza.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
OKAY MAYBE. THAT IS A VALID REASON I SUPPOSE. BUT OF COURSE TO DO THIS PROPERLY WE SHOULD WATCH SOME EPISODES TOGETHER. IN ~~MEATSPACE.


(I considered how to clarify that, because the wording was a little vague for me, too, but I was miffed so ultimately I didn't care.

And also, I haven't seen Starscream flirt with anyone but I remember going a little slanty-eyed in the movie/first two episodes because it seemed like the show was presenting him as a little... flamboyant? But I haven't seen any of that in later episodes so maybe I was imagining things.)


IT DOES OMG. but more importantly, the VA who voiced Phil and Lil on Rugrats does Professor Princess, I think, and I recognized the voice immediately and went a little nutty. When I went to look it up I discovered that all the main VAs play like a million roles and it was all very amusing.
Edited 2010-12-14 11:09 (UTC)
ext_18650: ([tf] this is for science)

[identity profile] spacehussy.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 09:24 am (UTC)(link)
I am with you on so many points here, re: TF:P. I definitely fit in on the HATERS GONNA HATE spectrum, but I can recognize its issues. Hell, issues I had with it in the first episode (like Soundwave not talking) quickly became my favorite details.

I will ship OP/Ratch with you, forever. *^*)/ My main complaint was that there was no Ironhide (so that I could ship him with Optimus, obvs), and that the space Bulkhead was filling (not to mention the function he's serving) should have been Ironhide's in the first place. HOWEVER. I can honestly say Optimus/Ratchet are becoming my OTP for this series.

I'm always waffling on the kids. I don't hate them :D Sometimes I like them, especially during that scene where they're in the middle of a battle and the noise dies and everything slows. It made me really feel for them.

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-11 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
It's weird - I didn't love it as much as I thought I would, but I feel like I shouldn't dismiss it based on just the initial five episodes. And I really didn't think that the animation was that bad, so I was surprised to hear complaints about it. I know it's not on Bayverse levels, but Michael Bay has a much bigger budget. So I don't know. I want to give it a chance. And I don't want Ratchet and Arcee to go away. D:

I know - I was all happy about getting a Bulkhead until you mentioned that that meant there wouldn't be an Ironhide. I was all conflicted and everything because that's another franchise where he doesn't exist or is someone totally different than he was in G1 - but then Ratchet got to be Optimus' old friend who's known him forever, and I'm just really happy that he has one and they make quips at each other and everything. :D

(That said, my first thought when Cybertron got zombiefied was "Nooooooo wasn't Ironhide still on the planet at the end of War for Cybertron I don't want him to be a zombie. D:" I mean, this is a toy-based series and it's hard to sell toys with just seven characters, so hopefully there'll be some other Autobot survivors that escaped the planet and Ironhide will be one of them? I hope?)

I did rather like that scene; those and Jack's interactions with Arcee were probably my favorite things involving the kids, but I really loved that touch of realism as to how scary this must be for them.

[identity profile] curuchamion.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Normal dreams" is a contradiction in terms. I just had a dream where Team Two-Jamie-Zoe were basically in "Victory of the Daleks" only it was way better written, and was transposed to an Old West town with a barkeeper/storekeeper (I think he was both) taking the story-place of Churchill. I wish I could remember more of the details, because it was really a bit awesome. But normal? ...yeah. ;-)

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-11 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
That dream does sound pretty amazing. I just never used to have fandom dreams, even when I was still very involved in fandom, so this is all strange and new to me. :D Were the Daleks still in Technicolor?

[identity profile] curuchamion.livejournal.com 2010-12-13 01:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't get as far as the Kitchenaid Daleks, but I think the dream overall was in color. I remember the squaddie Daleks still being in olive green and khaki.

[identity profile] hatone.livejournal.com 2010-12-08 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Kind of random, but I love that you're listening to the cover of "La Isla Bonita" by Twilight Guardians. 8D

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-11 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
It's kind of hilarious, really - I mean, I know when I think of Madonna music and islands in the sun I always think of thudding guitars. XD

[identity profile] runyasan08.livejournal.com 2010-12-09 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
...and I already ship him with Optimus I hope that's okay.

dude. i needed to see them interact once, and bam! insta-pairing. *drags onto the shipping boat*

[identity profile] stunt-muppet.livejournal.com 2010-12-11 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
It was when he said "If you leave me on a planet full of humans I'll never forgive you" that did it for me. I don't know why, but it was just...such a teasing, old-friend thing to say, and my favorite ships are the ones between affectionate old friends. :D