Here's a fine yakkitywho

Could Hotrod open the Matrix because he was the chosen one, or because it was the darkest hour? Would Optimus also be a "chosen one" since he opened the Matrix during the Hate Plague?

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Chosen one. Notice that it glowed like crazy when he touched it after Optimus died. It didn't do that for anybody else.

And as far as Op opening it after he came back, I've always assumed that the lock was a one-time thing, and it could be opened pretty easily after Rodimus initially unlocked it.

Are we sure the glowing thing was even because it was Hot Rod or because he was the first one to touch it when Optimus relinquished it?

The matrix was desperate, It ws inside Unicron, and being worn as a necklace by Galvatron. At that point, I think it would have let just about anyone open it. Imagine if Wheelie had gotten there, first.

Good question...I always just assumed the glow was for dramatic effect, but, Prime does say something to the effect of "one day an autobot shall rise from our ranks and use the power of the matrix to light our darkest hour". I tend to think that Rodimus was able to open it because he was the chosen one and not necessarily because it was the darkest hour. Things looked pretty dark just before Magnus got dusted, and he wasn't able to open it then.

EDIT:

Wheelie say I open Matrix today!

Thus darkest.

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My take on that has always been that the Matrix:
a) knew it was time to release its power to stop Unicron
b) knew that it was now in the possession of the chosen Autobot

Both of those criteria had to be satisfied (right time, right person) in order for the Matrix to release its power. When Hot Rod caught the Matrix (when Prime dropped it at his death), there was clearly a reaction from it - but because the time wasn't right, the release of the Matrix effluence did not take place, nor did the change to Rodimus Prime.

Also, the Matrix knew that it had to physically upgrade the chosen one if he was going to have the capacity to stop Galvatron, so the upgrade to Rodimus Prime took place. A point folks seem to miss in that sequence is that Hot Rod had *completely* transformed into Rodimus Prime before he even began the process of opening the Matrix. So it's also worth mentioning that Hot Rod was not turned into Rodimus Prime as a result of opening the Matrix, but the change took place corresponding to the Matrix deciding to allow him to release its power and succeed to leadership of the Autobots.

What once upon a time Optimus Prime said to Wheelie: "NO!"

Anyway, why did the Matrix glow when Hot Rod first grabbed it?

The Matrix was happy it didn't hit the floor.

Seriously, I think only a "Prime" can open the Matrix

On a side note, Takara would like us to believe that Ultra Magnus glowed briefly when he took on the Matrix, hence Shining Yellow Ultra Magnus. The Matrix knew Magnus was a loser, not a Prime, so he couldn't open it.

Look, Hot Rod's fingers fit in the holes perfectly. He and Thunderwing are the only two in the history of Cybertron to have the exact right shaped fingers.

I'm serious, I really think that's it.

Then what about Prime? WHAT A TWIST!

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