WTF Primetime - 37 - Out of the New Recrast - September 11 2012

Discussion in 'WTF @ TFW Transformers Podcast' started by Vangelus, Sep 13, 2012.

  1. MovieGodOptimus

    MovieGodOptimus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    Posts:
    388
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Likes:
    +30
    The Funny thing is that the complaints the forums had on Shockwave is that he looks too G1... Even though there's a crap ton of Movie elements to him.
     
  2. col

    col Artobot

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    Posts:
    3,816
    News Credits:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +1,391
    Ebay:
    I'm glad you guys noticed the different sound of Shockwave's weapon. I loved hearing that, and it's one of the things I've been missing with Prime. For all the great production values of this show, the sound design has fallen short in a few spots compared to Beast Wars. I always loved how each character in BW had his own unique sound for when he transformed, and for when he fired his weapon. It added a nice distinctness to each character that's pretty lacking in Prime, where all their weapons make this weak laser sound effect.

    Second point, regarding the fact that they keep going back to square one with the storylines: I think we're seeing what happens when this franchise gets really successful for Hasbro. Thanks to the movies, this is their main brand, the big money-maker, and they're treating the characters and story as a brand. Thus, they don't want to complicate things by making the characters have major changes, or have the story take huge risks. With a show like Beast Wars, they were reinventing the brand when the toy sales were lagging, so they could throw things at the wall to see what stuck, and those risks resulted in a huge payoff fictionally. But with Prime, they already have a successful franchise, and they want to keep it as engaging as possible without rocking the boat. So rather than a producer who comes up with great ideas and then walks away without a full plan for how to continue it, I see it more as a Hasbro representative looking over everything they plan for the show, and telling them to get it back to the status quo every few episodes so it can remain friendly for any new viewers.
     
  3. samtastic

    samtastic Herald of Wheelie

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2008
    Posts:
    1,153
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +0
    Hey guys, great podcast as usual.

    Just wanted to point out that your desire for a full on ongoing story, in which characters truly change is the antithesis of what networks that produce kids shows want. It works for movies and for comics, but it's not what animated shows for kids are generally about. And those that have continuing arcs are lower rated.

    The top kids shows are Spongebob, Adventure Time, Regular Show and now Gravity Falls. While these shows have sometimes small developments through a season or subtle multi-season arcs, kids (and some adults) tune in for the same characters they know and love. (honestly this could be applied to most TV shows, sitcoms in the heyday like Cheers and Seinfeld) The big exceptions are HBO/AMC shows that really evolve, and Soaps, and LOST, etc. But most adult procedurals like Law & Order, CSI, keep most characters where they are - even House - for the most part.

    But with kids shows, Networks literally want kids to be able to turn on the show and not have to catch up on anything the characters may have gone through, if they missed a week or a month - or a year.

    This is one reason why the Thundercats reboot and Tron Uprising aren't successful. Also it's not the episode writer's decision to revert characters to earlier characterizations. These series wide arcs are developed by Executive Producers, showrunners or story editors (or all 3). And there is pressure from Network to have most shows be stand alone episodes. Again - The Network, and more importantly advertisers want butts in seats watching, and anything that makes people switch the channel (including not being able to follow a continuing story) or a character acting odd, or referencing something that is unclear, hurts ratings.

    Basically imagine a TF: Prime where they have to begin each episode with: "Previously on..." What you're hoping for would almost demand this. I know Tron Uprising and Avatar:The Last Airbender had to do this - and I know this kind of thing, while good in HBO shows, Madmen etc - really hurts kids shows ratings.

    I know it's frustrating, since you guys are interested in a fiction that progresses and characters that go on transformative journeys (pun intended ;-) But trust me, TF: Prime has a large amount of character development and continuing story for it's genre. You are getting quite a lot. Find me a kids show that has more, and is successful and ongoing longterm. Nick's Avatar and current Kora aren't/weren't big ratings hits - though critical hits.

    Anyway, just trying to give you context reasons why Bulkhead will 100% definitely be back to health just like before, and Miko probably will revert to what the Network thinks her character is (even if some dislike). Character is a static thing in most TV shows. Homer Simpson, Tony Soprano, Sam Malone never learn anything really, and that's why you keep tuning in.
     
  4. Rikerwota

    Rikerwota Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2004
    Posts:
    621
    Trophy Points:
    212
    Likes:
    +49
    That was a very rational and intelligent post, thanks samtastic :) 
     
  5. Rexidus

    Rexidus Autobot

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Posts:
    14,390
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +318
    But doesn't Avatar prove that to be incorrect? Wasn't that like a mega-hit when it aired? I know Korra is doing fantastically as well.
     
  6. SideswipePrime

    SideswipePrime Reply Dump Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2010
    Posts:
    6,023
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +1
    It's funny that you guys kept bringing up that people were freaking out about Smokescreen being revealed a week earlier since I went completely unspoiled, I flipped when he said "Smokescreen" since Smokescreen hasn't been in a Transformers series in a while. I also agree with Aaron's sentiment of "seriously?!? Another type of energon?"
     
  7. samtastic

    samtastic Herald of Wheelie

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2008
    Posts:
    1,153
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +0
    Thanks :) 
     
  8. samtastic

    samtastic Herald of Wheelie

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2008
    Posts:
    1,153
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +0
    No, Avatar was indeed a critical success and did ok in ratings, but it was not a big ratings success for nick, that's why they didn't do any more continuing story shows for so long after.

    Kora was an exception, they wanted to continue the legacy of a critical success, it was meant to be a short mini-series. But it did better in ratings than they expected so the network ordered more. Still this kind of thing is not cartoon show bread and butter for networks. It's the exception to the rule.
     
  9. SideswipePrime

    SideswipePrime Reply Dump Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2010
    Posts:
    6,023
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +1
    Listening to the "spoiler section" I miss the old spoiler section music
     
  10. SaberPrime

    SaberPrime Banned

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2010
    Posts:
    11,053
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    The State of insanity.
    Likes:
    +4,151
    I'm surprised you didn't mention the inception moment of having the Flashback of Tailgate's death inside of another flash back.
     
  11. samtastic

    samtastic Herald of Wheelie

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2008
    Posts:
    1,153
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +0
    Haha! Good catch.
     
  12. Bountyan

    Bountyan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Posts:
    17,243
    News Credits:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +3,300
    Totally agree with everything you said about Bulkhead
     
  13. TrueNomadSkies

    TrueNomadSkies Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2011
    Posts:
    15,852
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Location:
    Kelowna, BC Canada
    Likes:
    +44
    You know, I actually liked the Cliffjumper voice a lot better than The Rock's, and like you guys're saying, it really made me care about the guy for probably the 1st time since the series began. Also for Shockwave, I swore it was Micheal Dorn pretty much through the entire episode, and it wasn't until the ending credits that I wtf'd at it being Depthcharge :lol 

    Also about the characters having earth mode stuff on em, I always take it as a running Transformers joke of sorts, so... I dunno hah.
     
  14. Orodruin

    Orodruin @deathformer TFW2005 Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2004
    Posts:
    11,410
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    357
    Likes:
    +65
    I like how Gog classes Silas having a truck and part of a building dropped on him as a "minor setback."
     
  15. ToasterPrime

    ToasterPrime Toast maker

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2011
    Posts:
    1,315
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +3,754
    the red energon part... I liked that part of the discussion.

    [​IMG]

    good times. good times.
     
  16. tubbsii

    tubbsii KILL ALL HUMANS

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2011
    Posts:
    273
    Trophy Points:
    76
    Likes:
    +0
    You will have to ad the Damocles satellite to the list lol.
     
  17. TrueNomadSkies

    TrueNomadSkies Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2011
    Posts:
    15,852
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Location:
    Kelowna, BC Canada
    Likes:
    +44
    Hahhaah, score.


    Also, I rather like that it was simply called "Red Energon" instead of being given a gimmicky name. Like, what else were they gonna call it? Speed?
     
  18. SideswipePrime

    SideswipePrime Reply Dump Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2010
    Posts:
    6,023
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +1
    :lol  you sir, are awesome!
     
  19. GogDog

    GogDog Logic's wayward son Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2006
    Posts:
    12,204
    News Credits:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    272
    Likes:
    +41
    Eeeeeeyup.
     
  20. Killamarshan

    Killamarshan Iacon Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2011
    Posts:
    2,067
    Trophy Points:
    257
    Location:
    Derbyshire
    Likes:
    +1,171
    I’m sure there’s a red Damocles Satellite stored deep in some research facility just waiting to be McGuffined down the line.

    Really enjoyable episode of the podcast. I found myself agreeing with a lot of GogDog’s assessments of the show, Prime has so many wonderful ingredients and yet frustratingly down to writing choices continues to just fall short of achieving it’s full potential.