#CYBERVERSE IS THE TF CARTOON I'VE BEEN WANTING FOR YEARS

[quetzalpapalotl]

Howd you rank your liking of Megop thru the continuities?

Before I get to that, let me just sat that the idea of megop in itself does a lot or me, so I'm probably gonna be into any megop as long as it vagely follows the standard TF pattern. The inherent intimacy of being archnemesis, being each other's equal match, only being able to stand on equal footing with the enemy leader, the respect among fellow warriors, blurring the lines of what romance even means, the grandiosity of it all.

So, the actual ranking after tfp and idw is not something set in stone or anything, my answer may have been different on another day. Only includes things I've watched/read, which aren't that many:

1.- IDW1 and TFP: You cannot make me choose between these two. IDW1 is, of course, my favorite continuity, and even tho the megop is not as strong in some parts, it still has all the elements I like. The fact that they know and understand each other so well despite never being friends. Megatron lives to fight, he needs a dance partner. Optimus has spent his entire life chasing after Megatron one way or another, Megatron made him who he is. Their paths mirror each other even when they're in separate series altogeher. Megatron doesn't hate Optimus. Look at Chaos Theory! That thing is one step from being a megop bdsm fic! Lots of things to say here, but we need to move on.

Now on the other hand we have TFP, that's the classic, the blueprint, my-nemesis-comic.jpg. If I had to guess, I'd say there was a before and after TFP in fandom regarding megop, but I have no idea actually, so don't quote me on that. Still, that show is insane, Megatron basically flirts with Optimus every time they're on screen, having Megatron back is the one thing Optimus wants for himself and he gives up even that. It has all the breakup drama! Except for Megatron, they might as well not have broken up, but the nature of their relationship changed. Battling Optimus is his favorite thing in the world. The show really does give the impression that these two are on a world of their own. And while I usually like to disregard most of the Aligned side materials on my reading of tfp, those megop bits of Exodus really are something, huh.

2.- IDW2 they were friends, now they're destined to fight each other for the next million years. They're not as intense as tfp but damn, Megatron might as well be telling Optimus he wants him chained in his bed.

3.- Cyberverse: Same thing but goofier. Megatron literally didn't win the war because he was too gay to kill Optimus and then died in his arms. Amazing. (He's not dead he's in the hospital).

4.- Sunbow Cartoon/General G1 concept: It's simple and straightforward, you can project onto it the things I like about megop and because it's G1 it's very malleable. You can take it in all kinds of directions! Always love to see what fandom does with it.

4.5.- Shattered Glass: same thing but in reverse and evil Optimus is hot. That's it.

5.- Prime Wars: It's G1, but they're old, tired and retired. They should meet and beat each other up like old times. And the whole sequence of Optimus firing Megatron? 10/10

6.- Netflix' War for Cybertron: this couls have been so good, except the show was pretty bad at properly explaining its backstory. Still, a girl takes what she can get and those scenes in season 2 are juicy. But I tempted to put this higher in the list because WFC gave me on of the best takes on megop NEMESIS/GALVATRON. Evil angst boyfriends!! They are in this situation because they were both idiots, Megatron finally got to kill Optimus and ended his last moments as himself regreting not working with him. Now they are together again. It took being enslaved by Unicron for them to get along again, but they have each other now, they have nothing but each other, not even who they used to be. It's depressing, it's great. I'm gonna have to be the change I want to see and write something about them because I'm obsessed.

7.- TFA: I used to enjoy it more, but I've fallen out of love for it. Lacks a lot of the elements I like about most megop, but there's appeal in Optimus catching the eye of this almost-mythological terror because he managed to beat him. Most of the content for it is not really to my taste, tho, but House Divided is my favorite take on it.

8.- Beast Wars: It's okay. It's not a bad ship or anything, but it doesn't really awaken anything in me. They hate each other, sure, but not in a gay way, more in the way you hate a mosquito. And then, as far as hatemances go, Rampage and Depth Charge show up to completely.

Mmm that should be it, unless I'm forgetting something. I have still read fic for other megops and I must say the whole Protector/Prime concept really appeals to me, but afaik it doesn't show up in the movies and I'm not interested in watching them regardless.

I'm eagerly awaiting Earthspark, not to have hope, but I feel like I'm gonna lose my mind.

[shikai-the-storyteller]

Cyberverse Season 2 episode 3 & 4 & 5 watch!

This is going to be a doozy, I can feel it already

Episode 3

YO IT’S WHEELJACK!!! Everyone’s fun weird wild uncle!!

“See, it works great!” *CRASH*

Man it’d be so sweet if Brainstorm was in Cyberverse, he and Wheeljack would get along so well (or they’d absolutely hate each other and they’d be rivals lol. One or the other)

Optimus is so supportive, aww

THE OPENING IS STILL SO GOOD AHHHHH

RATCHET!!! RATCHET!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH

Bumblebee: Hey I saw a weird cat on the moon

THE AZTEC ASTRONAUTS???? 

A BANANA, TELETRAN PLZ

HOT ROD!!! MY BABY

PROWL!!!!

DEADLOCK!!!!

CYBERVERSE YOU GOTTA STOP HAVING CHARACTERS I LOVE POP UP EVER 3 SECONDS IM GONNA DIE

ARCEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

CYBERVERSE WHAT DID I JUST SAY IM GONNA DIE!!! I DONT CARE IF THEY ONLY GET ONE LINE IM GRINNING SO WIDE MY FACE HURTS

GOSH I LOVE CYBERVERSE

ARCEE AND A GIRAFFE 

SHE TOOK SELFIES WITH ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS SHE’S SO CUTE!!!! I LOVE YOU ARCEE

GRIMLOCK NO DONT DRINK THAT

BUMBLEBEE IS SO CUTE...I love his VA so much, he’s so cute, Bumblebee sounds so sweet

LMAO GET FRICKIN REKT PROWL

Way to scratch up the Ark Grimlock

Bee: Your hyper-fuel is way more hyper than your mega-magnetizer is mega Me, tears streaming down my face: You’re such a dork Bee, I love you so much

OH NO HOT ROD NO

WINDBLADE YES

AW Hot Rod and Windblade are so cute and SUCH dorks, they’re so casual and relaxed about this

LMAO WAY TO GO BEE

OH NO HOT ROD

“See you on the other side!” HOT ROD NO!!!!!!!!

LMAO naughty Dinosaurs get confined to the bubble (and Windblade too)

CHEETAH BOY!!!

I love how Hot Rod does a somersault to transform, he’s SO CUTE 

Hot Rod and Bee are chasing after this cat and my first thought was “Same”

UH OH THERE GOES HOT ROD, OFF ON HIS MAGICAL ADVENTURE

Episode 4

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE

STARSCREAMGATE

“Who’s storescream?” GUYS PLS

Oh yikes one of those names had kind of a bad word in it??? I wonder if the cyberverse crew caught that

Me, pointing to Soundwave in the background like that one Spongebob meme: THERE’S MY SON

LMAO THEY’RE REALLY OUT HERE ACTING LIKE THEY’RE HONORING STARSCREAM, MEGATRON YOU JERK

Megatron, sounding choked-up with fake tears: Starscream was my closest friend Me: *LOUDLY GAGS*

Megatron’s such a frickin loser I LOVE THIS MORON BUT ALSO BOY YOU’RE REALLY OVERDOING THIS

"Wow, Megatron is really good at lying” 1) HE’S REALLY NOT... 2) YOU’RE LITERALLY NAMED THE DECEPTICONS WHY IS THIS A SURPRISE

“Fail me, and I WILL destroy you” Good ‘ol Megs

Megatron: I need someone to replace Starscream at my side Soundwave: *literally Right There, ready to please, loyal to a fault* Megatron: *walks right by him*

OHOHOHO DANG THAT CONVO MEGATRON HAD WITH SLIPSTREAM WAS SO SO GOOD, I LOVE ME A SCARY MEGATRON!!!!! “See that you don’t waste it” GOOD STUFF

Oh man that little scene where Megatron sits down in his throne and the photo of Starscream automatically gets pulled up and Megatron turns away and dismisses the image is So Good for a variety of reasons, I love the little expressions and emotions the Cyberverse crew puts into scenes where the characters have no dialogue

WHY! ARE! YOU! SO! PRECIOUS!

“Your dramatics are useless, Soundwave!” LEAVE MY BOY ALONE SHOCKWAVE!!!

Wint your boy is bullying mine!!

Gosh I frickin love seeing Shockwave and Soundwave interact THANK YOU FOR THIS CONTENT CYBERVERSE STAFF

Soundwave: I will be the one to bring back Optimus Prime’s head! And then Megatron will finally notice me and love me! Shockwave: For the last time, please stop telling me about your relationship problems

Soundwave: I will be the one to bring back Optimus Prime’s head Shockwave: A highly unlikely conclusion, given your flair for inefficiency Me: IM GOING TO SHOVE SHOCKWAVE INTO A LOCKER, HOW DARE YOU—

Soundwave my sweet boy please kick his butt

I love you Shadow Striker

Shockwave: Sabotage Soundwave’s shuttle Soundwave: BLOW UP HIS FRICKIN LAB

LMAO GOOD LUCK SLIPSTREAM

HOT ROD!!! MY SWEET BOY YOU’RE IN A BAD SPOT

“Oh hey, I’m chasing the moon cheetah, have you seen it?” YOU SWEET BOY!!!!

“Hey this isn’t fair! There’s only two of you!” HOT ROD PLEASE

GOSH when Bludgeon showed up for half a frickin second I was worried they were using Bayverse design for Drift, BUT THEN I REMEMBERED WE ALREADY HAVE DEADLOCK WITH A GOOD NON-BAYVERSE DESIGN AND I’VE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN MORE RELIEVED

Man what a good show

THUNDERCRACKER YOU’RE ADORABLE

Hot Rod: Yeah, not everyone may think I’m a genius, but I make up for it with my good looks Me: You sure do buddy

THEY’RE SO CUTE WHEN THEY POUT

*FLASHBACKS TO MTMTE RODIMUS AND MEGATRON BICKERING*

Megatron: HAIL THE ARK! I need to tell Optimus I’ve kidnapped his son

Megatron: It would appear you’re missing an Autobot Hot Rod: Hey Optimus! :D Optimus: *fatherly sigh of disapproval* B/

noOOO THIS IS JUST LIKE THE MOVIE, STOP WITH THE PARALLELS CYBERVERSE YOU’RE STRESSING ME OUT

OMG HOT ROD YOU LITTLE SNOT, I LOVE YOU

Slipstream: THUNDERCRACKER! What’s going on? Thundercracker, mentally: Quick! Play dumb! Thundercracker: Who’s Thundercracker? Thundercracker, mentally: NOT THAT DUMB

Oh shoot are they rebuilding a new body for Starscream or something

Once again, I’d like to state that the explosions in this show are REALLY pretty

THE CHEETAH 

Megatron: BRING ME THE KITTY

OH SHOOT Episode 5 is up already?? GUESS I’LL WATCH THAT TOO

Ohh so they’re saying the Allspark caused the ground bridges? Interesting!

I wonder what would happen if someone walked into a groundbridge the same time as someone else walked out.

Uh oh they’re going to run into some problems, they both know where the All Spark is now

UH OH it only took Optimus and Megatron??? HERE WE GO This’ll be fun

I love that the All Spark looks like a giant dnd die with the Triforce on it

YESSSS I LOVE THESE MEGATRON / OPTIMUS PRIME FIGHT SCENES

OH SNAP KITTY CAT KNOCKED OVER OPTIMUS

Oh no they’re going to have to go through trials HOOO BOY THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN

Shockwave: Utilize your seekers Slipstream: Uhhhhhhh right I’ll do that yup I totally know where they are

LMAO Cheetor’s about to do some couples therapy on Megatron and Optimus’ relationship

Cheetor: Before you met Optimus Prime, he was a file clerk. What files was he in charge of?  OH SHOOT HE REALLY IS GOING TO PUT THEM THROUGH COUPLES THERAPY, I WAS KIDDING

real talk though, what files WAS Optimus in charge of, now I’m curious

MEGATRON LOOKS SO CONFUSED AND SLIGHTLY OFFENDED, IM CRYIN

IM FRICKIN SCREAMING THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING

Cheetor: Before you met Megatron, he was a celebrated gladiator. In his most famous victory, who did he defeat? Optimus: Oh shoot am I a bad husband???

This screencap is killing me, HE’S LIKE “I REALLY DON’T KNOW” and comparing it to the cap above makes it even funnier, they’re both like “Who the hell is this guy and why is he psychoanalyzing our relationship”

Megatron: How could you not know this??? FRICKIN HELL THIS IS COUPLES THERAPY, OPTIMUS IS ABOUT TO BE LIKE “WELL AT LEAST I DIDN’T FORGET OUR ANNIVERSARY”

Cheetor: What have you learned about leadership from Optimus Prime?” Me, dragging my hands down my face, torn between utter delight and second-hand embarrassment: This is the best episode ever, thank you Cyberverse

MAN for half a second I seriously thought Cheetor dragged Starscream’s body out in alt mode, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY “THAT SEEMS PRETTY DARK”

Oh boy they’re about to get their mandatory “we need a new toy for these guys” armor upgrade, hoo boy

Cyberverse: *Does a close-up of Optimus’ face* Me: I want to kiss the robot

CHEETOR PAY ATTENTION FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE

STARSCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh thank Goodness, thank you for taking their hideous new armor off Starscream

Optimus: I should’ve expected this from you Megatron. How could you bring your new boyfriend to our couples therapy session??? You know how important this was supposed to be!

Lmao Megatron you’re such a hot mess

YEAH I figured the Seekers were fixing Starscream, that’s sweet

OH IT WAS VECTOR SIGMA THEY WERE CARRYING EARLIER, I DIDNT REALIZE THAT

Optimus: I’ve found us a new ally Bumblebee: YOU BROUGHT US A KITTY!!!! Optimus: Uh

OH THERE’S MORE EPISODES UP??? I GUESS I”LL WATCH MORE but I’m making a new post for them, hold up

[masqueradeball]

I have seen a lot of hate for BotBots on social media sites so I want to share my thoughts on it. Please note that I have consumed every cartoon, movie, and almost every comic over the past 30+ year history of the franchise and that variety is key to have a long lasting fandom like Transformers.

I think it's very refreshing when my kids (17 and 9, respectively) and I (an older 30 something) can enjoy the same Transformers show. We are 3 very different Transformers fans in terms of what and who we like, but there we were this morning laughing hysterically over BotBots. We binge watched the entire 10 episodes. My kids and I have nothing but love for this show, and if you go in expecting nothing, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

But why are some fans so hellbent on hating a show like this? Why constantly demand all shows cater to one specific type of fan? It seems silly to limit the potential of bringing in new young fans. Times change, and you have to accept that Transformers has to change with it.

Because let's be real, Transformers wasn't always a dark, dreary colorless drama for adults. G1 was a bright, colorful toy ad to appeal to the youth of the 1980s, and the characters were filled with humor and personality relevant to that generation. Botbots nails that very same concept for a modern day kids audience and I applaud this show for not being another depressing, edgy, heavy political drama full of stuffy and pretentious dialouge in some half assed attempt to please snooty geeks who want to gatekeep children out of a fandom that is based on toys.

Alien robots are for everyone. There is no rule that states all Transformers content must cater to adults only all the time. There's also no rule that says Transformers is just for kids. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Botbots did whatever the heck it wanted to do (there's a whole episode centered on LARPing, another one about going to Prom, and one episode has Burgertron admitting he writes fanfic!) and it all works great because it doesn't care what "hardcore" or "real" fans think. The levels of chaos and insanity in this show is glorious, but so is the relatable-ness of the main chatacters. It's truly heartwarming to see those little bots trying to find their way amongst their own kind that repeatedly rejects them for being too different or for messing everything up just by existing. Kinda like how I feel in the Transformers fandom most of the time.

And of course the serious political drama side of Transformers has a place in the fandom too. Just because I love TFPrime and the MTMTE/LL comics, doesn't mean I have to stop loving Car Robots and Cyberverse.

This post is not bashing those who enjoy the Netflix trilogy/Combiner Wars trilogy or the current comics. I love them dearly, as I love all TF media, and they deserve to exist in the fandom. I'm glad they do.

This post is about how some fans have been trying to keep out new or younger ones by being hyper critical toward a show with a different target audience than what they are. Bashing the fans who enjoy stuff like BotBots or Rescue Bots is ultimately unhelpful. It drives people away from participating in fandom spaces, making diversity of thought in those fan places stagnant.

New fans = growth. Growth = more cool new stuff. It's not advanced science folks. (Leave that to Brainstorm and Shockwave please.)

This post is about making room for a variety of shows and being inclusive to all fans, whether they like IDW, Bayverse, the Unicron trilogy, BW, RiD2015, or whatever. And for a fandom that revolves around characters physically changing their bodies, some of y'all ironically have issues accepting changes.

It's sad that adult fans can't appreciate humor and joy in animated shows anymore and feel the need to rip on stuff like BotBots or Rescue Bots Academy to somehow make their own nerd butts look superior. Because in their minds, why should Transformers be fun or inclusive for everyone?

I've been told numerous times that those who don't like the more mature content within the fandom don't matter or belong here 🙄 which brings up something else I've been wanting to say to some adult fans on various TF Facebook pages:

Black Lives Matter. If you have a problem with two black kids being the main characters in the upcoming new show Earthspark, then gtfo of this fandom and go die mad about it you racist twatwaffles. It absolutely enrages me to see adults make gross racist comments about children, and hate like that has no place in this fandom.

I look forward to watching Earthspark with my kids and giving it a chance, as well as seeing Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback in the new live action Transformers movie 'Rise of the Beasts' next summer.

Because at the end of the day, if I can get a cool action figure to add to my collection, see the joy in my kids eyes as we spend time together watching a cartoon, read people's indepth analysis of characters, or give likes to cool fanarts by talented people inspired by Transformers, then it's all worth it. That's some of the stuff that makes our fandom so much fun, and that is what keeps me coming back for the past 30 years now, and hopefully 30 more years yet to come.

Until then... Til all are one! ❤