I've never really understood the "Optimus is supposed to be a great military leader" argument. For all of the established Alligned Continuity canon, he's not. He's a Prime sure and he's wise and powerful but he was a scholar and didn't believe in fighting when he started out. Even if he's been at war for a long time and he possesses all of the physical strengths of a military leader he's clearly never had that frame of mind. So saying things like "Optimus should be harder on his subordinates and keep them in line" doesn't really add up for me. He's clearly "soft" as Ratchet pointed out.

And then the best part is when people complain "Optimus is so boring give him personality" or how people complain how he's super prefect and when he finally does display some of his personality or flaws (for example, how he's soft and doesn't reprimand people/isn't a perfect leader) people complain "wah Optimus why aren't you a perfect leader and all stoic and taking charge"

As for the soldiers argument someone brought up, I hardly think Arcee calling Smokescreen out is bad. None of the season one Autobots were trained as soldiers, they were simply dragged into a civil war. Even if it means they've been at it for eons (which relatively isnt that long apparently since Bee is still considered young and inexperienced despte livig through the entire thing) they still weren't ever trained. Smokescreen on the other hand WAS trained as an Elite Guard. If anything he should be more mature and able to follow orders and all that.

Just my thoughts.

 

I was more annoyed we didn't get so much as a sigh from Optimus. I know he's supposed to let his team make calls and so forth, but it's still okay to get frustrated. @_@

 

So far i've noticed optimus has 3 main emotes :
._.
>:O
c:
He mostly uses ._.
megatron brings out >:O
and when he rarely gets happy c:
He's a big softy who can fight and he's a leader but he the guy before me said he isn't the big braisen leader whos gonna yell at you all the time cause he understands how his people feel and whatever he says won't always change hoe they feel. If optimus started shutting down everyone for their mistakes i'm not he'd be as liked as he is. When he talks down to you , you'd feel pretty damn pityful especially in smokescreens case where optimus was holding a damn glowing sword lol

 

I don't think Arcee was in the wrong.

She's one of the most seasoned warriors in team Prime, and she's seen the worst $#!+ happen to the Autobots--she speaks from experience.

I think she talks to Smokescreen the way she does because he reminds her of Tailgate and Cliffjumper--for these two, war was game. We know what their outlook on life got them. Arcee doesn't want Smokescreen to suffer the same fate her previous partners did.

Let's face, Smokescreen's been playing with fire, and while he hadn't gotten burned these past few episodes, it looks like he might sooner or later.

Allowing him to keep the Phase Shifter probably wasn't the wisest of things to do, as it only amplifies how he feels about himself--wonder why he didn't use in Hard Knocks...

EDIT:

I don't think Optimus interjected himself into Arcee's scolding of Smokescreen, because she was right. She's been right since she's been on him--and he did back her up last week. When Arcee started to go too far, he urged her to backoff. And as someone already pointed out, Optimus isn't one to silence his team and/or followers. He's mister patient.

 

My opinon is that in the next one Optimus does give Arcee a huge ass lecture and hopefully gets some sence knocked into her by it. I am sick and tired of the whole Arcee thing. I respect her but I think it is time she lets herself step down and make way for someone else to call the shots. Aka Optimus or bulkhead. The way she is going now a days I think her time may be short.

 

  Bulkhead will never be second in command. For the most part, Ratchet feels that role, with Arcee being something more like a battlefield commander.

 

I've never despised a Transformer character as much as I do Arcee. Biggest hypocrite I've seen in this show.

 

Damn! Arcee is getting screwed in this thread!!! :0

 

Chances are, I'm going to suffer for this, but here it is:

Doesn't she get screwed most everywhere?

OH SNAP.

 

Did anyone of you considered that Optimus was just to busy to interrupt her?
He made it clear time and again that it is most important to decode the Iacon database.

 

Arcee had a good point. Also she shouldl've followed Optimus' initial command.
And the questions about why Optimus just stood there are good ones.

Could be Optimus was failing on multitasking or simply overwhelmed by all that's being loaded on him, two bots down, loss of omega keys, loss of the sword, maybe he's still internally questioning his worth. Maybe it's true that he IS just a soldier and not a leader. Shrug, don't get it and I don't think the writers are going to explain it.

Another thought, sometimes the best form of correction is when the person who makes the mistake the most has to 'teach' another why said mistake is stupid. But that doesn't entirely make much sense as Arcee has apparently gotten that one.

Either way, I'm mystified. This just makes Optimus look too much like a 'deer in the headlights' than a leader.

So this isn't a matter of like vs. dislike Optimus, it's more trying to understand what the heck the writers are trying to do.

 

I think Optimus was more concerned with finding the last key than Smokescreen's feelings.... unfortunately Smokey is the relic.

 

I'm really getting tired of Arcee's constant bickering. I honestly wish Airachnid would break out and shut her up even though I hate both of them.

 

if the cons find the autobot base.....you might get that wish

 

You probably should watch that scene one more time 

 

You imply that Optimus Prime cannot multitask 

We've seen him multitask more than once in his many battles.

I think you too should watch that scene in which Arcee scolds Smokescreen too.

*Sigh*

He was so concerned with finding the relics that he had to stop what he was doing to focus on the words Arcee was saying.

Too bad Optimus agreed with them though, right?

Optimus didn't chastise her because he agreed with what she was saying. Rather than allowing Bulkhead to go after an Autobot who's ego was consuming him, Optimus told Bulkhead that Smokescreen needs some space to see his own faults.

Was it the right course? Sure was!

Smokescreen's going to be apologizing again next week for screwing things up. HOWEVER, there's some silver lining here, he'll have the two missing Omega Keys with him when he does 

 

This is sooo fun dealing with these threads. (I was being sarcastic FYI)

Smokescreen was too focused on proving himself, being the hero, making something of himself that he negated his teammates & unintentionally insulted their competence of completing a mission. Arcee was telling him what was really important, that everyone fails a mission sometimes. The important thing is backing up your teammates & working together for the greater cause. If Optimus really, honestly, very strongly felt she needed to stop, he would of done so like countless times B4. We all know he can stop an argument between the ranks easily. I believe that part of him knew Smokescreen needed to hear what Arcee had to say. He did, unfortunately he took it the wrong way or as I see it, he didnt listen. Arcee's made mistakes, but she knows whats really important in the end, she sticks with the team & has done whatever she can to keep them safe. Shes been there a long time & she is more than capable of lecturing Smokescreens immaturity.

 

I'd love that so much.

 

Smokescreen needed to hear it, but not in that way and especially not from Arcee. Of course he wasn't going to listen to her, she made it clear earlier that she isn't find of him. If it was Bulk or Ratchet, it would have gone down a lot better and they would known how to do it well, not ripping the guy apart like Arcee did.

 

And it's funny how she tells him to be a team player yet she ran off numerous times and disobeyed Optimus. She's such a hypocrite. She'd be doing the same thing if Arachnid escaped from that pod.