Soooo,

 

Wow. I didn't really expect anything but...wow, this was epic.

I really liked that this was set on Cybertron, since we haven't seen much of it.

zomg Rattrap. Or Rattletrap, as the case may be.

Is there anyone from DJW's spoiler picture we haven't seen yet? I didn't think we'd see Zaur, but he showed up (along with Steeljaw!) in a crowd scene at the beginning.

 

amazing

like many on the board, i was skeptical at first hearing the episode was going to be Fanzone centric, then it turns out this was one of the most character guest stars and fan wanks episode ever and Fanzone really had nothing to do with the episode except be accidentally warped to Cybertron, which I guess provides oxygen like Earth, not that I care for that sort of detail.

Being a huge fan of the G1 series and growing up in the 80's, I must say I am 100% satisfied with how this series turned out. This has to be one of the best TF series to date. The art grows on you and is actually "fun" after a while. The producers did an amazing job and it is sad the next 2 episodes might be the last ever. This was truly an amazing ride. The understood TFs perfectly. Really can't complain when so many fan references are in the series.

Thank you guys! I love it!

 

.....  This marks another ep where Sari is not there. Now that's irritating.

But now I see even Bumblebee, Ratchet, Prowl and Bulkhead are a lot of the times a now show.

The whole cast has been popping in and out of the show.

I guess they're trying to save money. I guess CN is tightening their belts.

 

If there is ever a GI Joe animated, Fanzone should be drafted.

 

Seems to me the cast just got bigger with time. They show roughly the same number of speaking roles as a Season One episode, but it's guys like Shockwave and Ratchet this time, Wreck-Gar and Scavenger another time, Swindle and Lugnut last time. It happens.

 

whoa. awesome ep for being near the end  
*gasp* Arcee! the perfect plot twist! yay she's online vs. oh crap she's online. god i love this show. i'd sell my body if it meant more eps.

 

I don't think having the cast pop in and out is indicative of lack of budget. The animation has (more or less) been of a consistent quality from the first episode to today's episode. Even Beast Wars and G1 had episodes where many of the cast don't show up. Prime and Starscream weren't in every G1 episode, Tigertron and Air Razor don't show up a lot in BW, etc.

I think it's just a case of writing. The episode seemed not to require Bulkhead, Prowl, Prime, or Bumblebee's presence. It worked just fine with The Adventures of Ratchet and Fanzone.

I have a few comments that I didn't see mentioned elsewhere, although I didn't read all 26 pages of this thread:

1. The sound effect when Shockwave changes colors is the same as in Metal Gear Solid 4 when your octo-camo changes colors. For those who don't have the game, an octo-camo is an armored combat suit that changes colors into various camo patterns.

2. Is it just me, or did Shockwave vs Ratchet seem really evenly matched? Ever since Shockwave got Magnus' hammer, the Autobots have been acting like Shockwave is unstoppable. Seemed like a fair fight to me...

 

Part of it has to do with them only getting so many parts/actors on the show at once-- given how heavily this season has revolved around Sentinel Prime's group, which meant Phil LaMarr, Townsend Coleman, and Tom Kenny had to be paid for practically every ep.

That's why, even though some people didn't like it because it was mostly stand-alone, I'm glad this Season had "Human Error". A real chance to get back to the core six characters, all at once.

I do agree that the lack of Sari is a bit irritating, though, given how much more interesting they've made her you'd think she'd get more, not less, screentime.

 

I think SAG rules say that you can only have an actor play 3 characters in one episode, and multiple-role actors get paid for each role like it's another actor.*

Megatron, Ratchet, and Shockwave all had speaking parts this episode, which meant Corey Burton got paid for 3 characters. Personally, I think it's pretty seamless and it never felt like episodes were being written for the express purpose of maximizing the use of a single actor and minimizing the number of actors they had to pay.

*I am not an expert of the voice-over industry. I am unsure if this is fact.

 

On a side note purple Shockwaves are on clearance at a lot of Targets $18!

 

Fanzone got some good digs but Alpha Trion had the best lines. I loved it where he told SP where to stick it.    

 

Aww the penultimate episode. I loved Shockwave in this episode....Ending episode is gonna make me sad and happy.....

 

.... One of the best things about this episode. We get to see the Cybertronian way of life.  

More, more, more.  

 

Kinda late to the party, just sat down and watched. ZOMG! Ratchet and Shockwave were so much win this ep, I'm tempted to get a shelf warmer Ratch just cause  

Pretty fersh take on Cybertron's culture though (ya, and Maccadams. Yum) Trippy how Sentinel has all that power just to close places down and stamp down curfew but sounds legit with a crazy guy goin around with Thors hammer. Mostly oppressive is oppressive. Animates still plays mind games with my head between the 'cons being underdogs and their mocking of Autobot morality and the such. Two eps. Nooes.

Here's to hopping for more Blitzy (plez?)

 

Not necessarily. Omega was from the old days and the Great War. Metroplex and Fort Max can be newer inventions and how sweet would it be to see them transform. Please god please.

 

Wait where was Steeljaw?????!!!!!

 

No that's Grandus, sweety.  

 

Whoa "The Adventures of two grumpy old guys on Cybertron" was hella-fun! (stop saying 'Hella' !)

A few bits of notation and commentary:

Ratchet is really turning out to be perhaps the strongest overall character in the series, not to mention one who has no problems with disobeying 'superiors' when he feels he's in the right. (though that's a pretty common theme with near-everyone on Optimus' crew, Optimus included.

Funny and ironic that so far Fanzone is the only human to make it to Cybertron. It's fun to see that his streetwise cop-smarts apparently work on any planet.

I wonder if Optimus would have let Sentinel toddle off to Cybertron if it was known he would go all Joe McCarthy parody on Cybertron.

All the cameos were neat. Grandus seems to be channeling the ghost of Paul Lynde.

Apparently the most effective weapon against the average Cybertronian is Fanzone's mucous membranes.  

"I don't need that stupid G1-color Shockwave toy! He's gray in the sh... Awwww crap."

I think Lugnut will be atomic-sucker-punching Shockwave very soon.

I feel sorry for Arcee - she can't catch a break in this show - busted leg to busted brain to busted everything to Decepticon captive. If her toy doesn't get released, I think it qualifies as a war crime.  

 

I agree, TFA is the ABSOLUTE PINNACLE of Transformers design, toys, cartoon, period! I hope they continue it in some form. DVD Movies! Please!!! They can air on Cartoon Network and Hasbro's new channel.