Here's an interesting connection between Transformers and the 1998 Godzilla - Marty Isenberg was co-showrunner on Transformers Animated (and Beast Machines) and the cartoon that spun off from the 1998 Godzilla, which is significantly better received than Emmerich's film (and is an absolutely AWESOME show in its own right)

So that go me thinking, what would have happened if, after the '07 movie had been a success, Viacom had purchased the film and TV rights to Transformers outright? And, as a consequence of this, TF: Animated was moved over to Nickleodeon and retooled into a Bayverse sequel series, centred around NEST and done in the vein of Godzilla: The Series?

Now, I personally think a Bayverse TV series, set in between the 2007 film and ROTF, focused on NEST and done in the style of Godzilla: The Series would actually be pretty cool. The hypothetical series would have an episodic format, with a new Decepticon or Decepticons causing havoc every week, with a more structured, long-running story arc - possibly a recurring faction of Decepticons led by Starscream, assuming Megatron isn't resurrected in the first episode.

I think that, if the hypothetical series had been made, I think the reception to some of the Bayverse interpretations of the characters, especially the Bayverse Decepticons, would have been better than they actually are, given that they'd have more space to show off more facets of their personalities, rather than just being part of an ensemble, as they are in the films.

As well as this, a TV series format would allow some of the Movie toy-only characters to get a time to shine in fiction (e.g. Landmine and Incinerator), as well as new reinterpretations of some of the lesser-known G1 characters showing up from time to time.

What do you think would have happened if there had been a Bayverse cartoon focused on NEST, done in the style of Godzilla: The Series?

(The reason why I'm asking is that I actually might do this as an AlternateHistory thread)

 

NEST was (in terms of an idea) one of the better things about the movies and stuff related to the movies but not actual movies(comics, games) tend to focus more on character than the movies do. So yeah, this probably could've worked pretty well.

 

Yeah, if it was kept in canon with the films (which I personally think it should be), there'd be a more solid foundation to build ROTF on as well, rather than the "written in three weeks" thing that the writer's strike meant it ended up being, meaning that the second movie's script would probably be a lot better than the actual film's. If it continues past ROTF, then there'd be more of an opportunity to tie it into the other three movies - the Bayverse's laissez-faire attitude to continuity would have been rectified.

It'd also work in terms of character - in human terms, it'd be nice to see the non-Sam and Mikaela human characters get some time to themselves (particularly Lennox, Epps and Simmons). In Transformer terms, not only would the Bayverse Decepticons be given more characterisation, the new Autobots in ROTF could have also been given a bit more of a time to shine and would have been more fleshed-out as a result. If you've got the same staff as Animated, you could have them act a little more like their G1 counterparts, meaning that their characterisation would be a bit more consistent.

BTW, I might actually do this as an AlternateHistory thread.

 

Might wanna wait with that thread since I'm working on one about the first movie and what could've been

 

Ooh! Would you like any assistance?

 

I mean, I guess

 

Personally I didn't like NEST too much, it kinda got over the top with them when in DOTM they were easily dispatching generic Decepticon soldiers left and right. If a series based off them was just mindless Decepticon killing I don't think it would've help up too good. If it were mainly Autobot Transformer focused with Nest in the background though? maybe.

I would've preferred if they built up Sector 7 more Imo. Especially since their role in the Bayverse initially was causing the mass technological shift into the 21st century from reverse engineering of Megatron. The two Pre-ROTF IDW comics revealed they could've almost replicated another Allspark, and even bringing manmade TF's to life in a more realistic way than AOE. That I would like to see more of: a branch of the government doing god knows what with some alien stuff from space. It's a shame they instantly trashed the plot points of S7 in ROTF, hopefully the BB sequel shows what mad science they make after harvesting that data from Shatter and Dropkick.

 

After just finishing Star Wars: The Clone Wars in my entire Star Wars Chronological rewatch, in preparation for The Mandalorian Season 2, and looking forward to The Bad Batch, I've been thinking about this recently. Having each season taking place between films. Seeing stuff like Ironhide and Sideswipe on missions together. Shockwave killing Jolt. The Constructicons showing up. Maybe a Reign of Starscream. Although I was thinking their Animated.

 

The closest we have to this was Transformers Cyber Missions.
It wasn't the best (it's laughably bad) but at least neat to see some of the toy only characters appear in episodes.

 

the transformers would have been hard in terms of budget it were a live action series. best estimate would be it would prob have 1-3 robots as actual cast members or regular team mates and have one enemy robot of the week format to be cost effective.

 

An animated series, like Godzilla: The Series, which span out of the 1998 film.

 

that's less compelling then, in my opinion. as much as NEST is a fun concept, it is human based, which i case you havent noticed, a lot of TF fans aren't a fan of. in that regard i dont know if a nest series would have lasted long

 

Well, no.

You'd have the Autobots in leading roles (and an animated series would be free from the limits of a live-action one) and the Decepticons as main villains.

All in all, a NEST animated series probably could have been more Transformer-focused than the actual films.

 

Too bad they didn't do a live action version similar to agents of shield. That style could have worked

 

Hopefully now with the new Knightverse/HasbroVerse up and running, they could do a live-action TV series about Sector 7, or even based on GI Joe or MASK.

 

It's a neat idea in theory, even if I think they'd somehow mess it up.

Though personally I'd rather we got a show focusing on the Joes working with a team of Autobots or something.

 

I don't think they would, if the showrunners and writing team were good enough. Look at Godzilla: The Series. Also, it's rooted in one of the Bayverse's better ideas.

With a series, there'd be a more solid foundation to build ROTF on, rather than the "written in three weeks" thing that the writer's strike meant it ended up being, meaning that the second movie's script would probably be a lot better than the actual film's.

If it continues past ROTF, then there'd be more of an opportunity to tie it into the other three movies - the Bayverse's laissez-faire attitude to continuity would have been rectified because the series would fill any gaps. Hell, the films could be retooled into a proper five-movie arc.

It'd also work in terms of character - in human terms, it'd be nice to see the non-Sam and Mikaela human characters get some time to themselves (particularly Lennox, Epps and Simmons).

In Transformer terms, not only would the new Autobots in ROTF could have also been given a time to shine and would have been more fleshed-out as a result, the Bayverse Decepticons would get a bit more personality - Soundwave and Starscream, for instance, could show off their best-known traits.

Rather interestingly, there were early plans for the G.I Joe movies and the Transformers movies to take place in the same universe. I think, in the Rise of Cobra novelisation, it's implied the nanite technology was reverse-engineered from Megatron.

 

The series could have been about corporations getting Cybertronian technology for what ever reasons, and NEST is like 5-0. The show would ultimately be about humansstoping humans rather than humans stopping Transformers, so the latter wouldn't really need screen-time. With that said, they could have some Autobots be series regulars by having them talk in alt mode - something introduced in TLK. Lennox wouldn't need Ironhide's muscle all the time, but he could still be around and built a rapport.

 

Again, the hypothetical NEST TV series would be an animated series, like Godzilla: The Series, with the Autobots in leading roles (an animated series would be free from the limits of a live-action one, allowing for more screen time) and the Decepticons as main villains.

All in all, a NEST animated series probably could have been more Transformer-focused than the actual films.

 

If only Transformers wasn’t so fucking expensive to make.