Episode 44 "New Recruit" Discussion

Jamocha101 · 09-09-2012, 05:45 PM

I feel as though Bulkhead is slowly becoming an "interesting" character.

Cyber-Scream · 09-09-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromeBlade

*snip*

Point taken. I understand Bulk's point of view now. I just find it annoying that it took him getting hurt to become an interesting character, and by the looks of the preview for The Human Factor he's already back up on his feet and fighting again.

ChromeBlade · 09-09-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyber-Scream

Point taken. I understand Bulk's point of view now. I just find it annoying that it took him getting hurt to become an interesting character, and by the looks of the preview for The Human Factor he's already back up on his feet and fighting again.

Well, he may not be at 100%. Just a guess, but I'd say he forced himself along, despite his injury to show he can 'still wreck with the best of 'em'.

And as far as his healing time goes; I'd guess it's been around a month or maybe longer since he got hurt when we saw him in this epi. So I wouldn't call it TOO bad. Also keep in mind Bulkhead's stubbornness; as good progress as he's made, Smokescreen's arrival may have pushed him to push himself to get better.

Let's wait and see just how well Bulk is before we assume he's completely healed.

Phantom6 · 09-09-2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromeBlade

Right. How dare Bulkhead feel utterly helpless, useless and even old when a young, healthy rookie shows up and reminds him of how helpless, useless and old he feels. Because it's totally wrong for a soldier who's been fighting the war so long and seen as much as he has to feel the way he does when he's crippled in said war and now can't fight and is only exacerbated by the arrival of a green newbie who doesn't have a clue.

/sarcasm off.

Seriously, I found Bulkhead's reaction very believable and given the circumstances, understandable. He was the heavy-hitter of the group. A Wrecker in the war that 'Bot's turned to, admired, respected and in the 'Con's case, feared. No one could-or can-wreck like him.

Now look at him; almost dies of a combination of Tox-En poisoning and being shot in the back and suffering the equivalent of a spinal injury, is struggling to walk right again and be of use like he was before... then Smokescreen shows up; young, healthy and largely untouched by the rigors of war. And to top it off, he ends up saving the day. That's enough to get any battle-hardened warrior like Bulkhead feeling sorry for himself.

Some of you say he's making something out of nothing, but it's not 'nothing' when you can no longer do the things you used to or aide the people you care about. Especially in this war. Every set of hands counts. Bulk's injury has put him out of commission, which means one less warrior in the field. Which means fewer Bot's to watch each others back and an increased probability of someone getting hurt or killed. They already lost Cliffjumper.

It's not simply a matter of warrior pride; Bulk believes his presence on the field makes a difference. If he believes he is the one thing that keeps one or more of his buddies from getting slagged, then how do you think he'd feel if Optimus got hurt in the line of duty when he's not there? Or Arcee or Bumblebee? Or even Smokescreen? And what about Miko? As her guardian, he protects her and takes this responsibility seriously. If the unthinkable happened, who do you think Bulkhead will blame, aside from the guilty party?

Just something to consider. While some of Bulk's feelings on being 'replaced' may be somewhat irrational, it's perfectly in line with what soldiers who've been injured in the line of duty have to deal with in real life.

Exceptionally well said. Thank you. Hopefully this will quell the "Bulkheads just a whiny baby now" nonsense.

ChromeBlade · 09-09-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom6

Exceptionally well said. Thank you. Hopefully this will quell the "Bulkheads just a whiny baby now" nonsense.

Thank you. I'm seeing those comments and I'm like 'WTF?!' I mean, you can't expect a person to be rational all the time. And with the situation being what it is, it really shouldn't be a surprise that Bulkhead is acting this way.

I've seen this same thing up close and personal with my dad. Won't go into details, but I remember a time when he could do lots of things for himself. Now... well, it's a struggle. And I can tell it's really gotten to him.

Resolution · 09-09-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromeBlade

I've seen this same thing up close and personal with my dad. Won't go into details, but I remember a time when he could do lots of things for himself. Now... well, it's a struggle. And I can tell it's really gotten to him.

Same with my dad. I think Bulkhead's reaction is realistic. This is the first time I've found his character interesting.

RedAlert Rescue · 09-10-2012, 12:48 AM

I might suggest they are setting Bulkhead up as unlikeable so they can kill him off later with impunity - he will do something stupid and die and by that point no one will even care.

Hopefully for the sake of symmetry Airachnid can chop him into tiny pieces when she escapes. least then he'd allow her to look more bad ass and make up for that terrible episode "Armada".

I'm not sure I want him back really - even if he's not such a waste of space as Beast Wars Depth Charge was.

ChromeBlade · 09-10-2012, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedAlert Rescue

I might suggest they are setting Bulkhead up as unlikeable so they can kill him off later with impunity - he will do something stupid and die and by that point no one will even care.

Hopefully for the sake of symmetry Airachnid can chop him into tiny pieces when she escapes. least then he'd allow her to look more bad ass and make up for that terrible episode "Armada".

I'm not sure I want him back really - even if he's not such a waste of space as Beast Wars Depth Charge was.

How is making Bulkhead realistically bitter about his situation 'setting him up to be unlikable'? That... makes no sense whatsoever.

Flashdisk · 09-10-2012, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolution

Same with my dad. I think Bulkhead's reaction is realistic. This is the first time I've found his character interesting.

I agree with this. It is realistic. I've known various people that ended up with some disability, and though originally they were okay the sheer weight of their situation affected them.

No one is perfect. A lot of the time, when a person has lost a part of them, logic goes out the window. It's sheer emotion swelling up from within.

That's why I'm really interested about what will happen to Bulkhead.

Star Saber · 09-10-2012, 10:52 AM

After watching this episode, the limitations of CGI just became all the more glaring. It was very very annoying seeing Smokescreen in the flashbacks as a barely moving piece of of animation, talking about things like Alpha Trion, the Elite Guard etc, without being able to show anyone. How awesome would it have been to see those characters in Prime designs? I really wish we can go back to more traditional animation, least throwaway characters can show up in the background or in flashbacks. One problem with Prime that I have is the concept that the two leaders of the major factions are stuck on a mudball like earth with no real sense of the great war going around them. At least in G1, you knew they were out of reach of most of their troops for a long time, or in Animated's case, the Autobots on Earth were meant as a small team, while the Cons were in hiding because Meg's was biding his time being rebuilt. Here, as is also in the movie, it just seems that they like to hang around the place.

That said, this was an average episode to me. Smokescreen does sort of remind me more of Hot Rod than anything else.

09-10-2012, 12:48 AM	#437
RedAlert Rescue Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 8,809 Location: Chekov's Gun is always loaded Collection Count: More than I can easily count News Credits: 5	I might suggest they are setting Bulkhead up as unlikeable so they can kill him off later with impunity - he will do something stupid and die and by that point no one will even care. Hopefully for the sake of symmetry Airachnid can chop him into tiny pieces when she escapes. least then he'd allow her to look more bad ass and make up for that terrible episode "Armada". I'm not sure I want him back really - even if he's not such a waste of space as Beast Wars Depth Charge was. “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” – Benjamin Franklin

09-10-2012, 10:52 AM	#440
Star Saber Cybertron 5th Commander Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,332 News Credits: 6	After watching this episode, the limitations of CGI just became all the more glaring. It was very very annoying seeing Smokescreen in the flashbacks as a barely moving piece of of animation, talking about things like Alpha Trion, the Elite Guard etc, without being able to show anyone. How awesome would it have been to see those characters in Prime designs? I really wish we can go back to more traditional animation, least throwaway characters can show up in the background or in flashbacks. One problem with Prime that I have is the concept that the two leaders of the major factions are stuck on a mudball like earth with no real sense of the great war going around them. At least in G1, you knew they were out of reach of most of their troops for a long time, or in Animated's case, the Autobots on Earth were meant as a small team, while the Cons were in hiding because Meg's was biding his time being rebuilt. Here, as is also in the movie, it just seems that they like to hang around the place. That said, this was an average episode to me. Smokescreen does sort of remind me more of Hot Rod than anything else. Sig pictures are to be no larger than 40KB in file size and should be no larger than 300 pixels in height and 500 pixels wide - 2005 Staff Feedback Want List

09-09-2012, 05:45 PM	#431
Jamocha101 Insecticon Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 903 Location: Pennsylvania Collection Count: 11	I feel as though Bulkhead is slowly becoming an "interesting" character.