History Fridge / Transformers

* Why do Optimus and Rodimus Prime turn into semi trucks? Because another name for a semi truck is a ''prime'' mover.

* In most, if not all Transformers series - particularly the Japanese series, [[Film/{{Transformers}} the live-action movies]] and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', the Transformers move with [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant impossible grace and agility]] despite being HumongousMecha. However, this can be seen as Fridge Brilliance since, in the movies and the Marvel G1 continuity, Cybertron is [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:DOTMCybertrontransit.jpg MUCH]] larger than Earth - in Marvel G1, it's stated to be the size of Saturn, while in the movies, it appears to be more the size of a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-Earth Super-Earth]]. Logically, Cybertron must have a MUCH higher gravity than Earth due to its greater mass, and so, Transformers are [[HeavyWorlder Heavy Worlders]] - on their home planet, they'd probably have an agility more like a human's, meaning non-rocket-assisted jumps wouldn't be too high. On the much smaller Earth, though, they can run faster, jump higher, and are generally more agile - much like [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Franchise/{{Superman}}.

* Why is it whenever the Transformers that are brought to life by the [=AllSpark=] in both the [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Transformers 2007]] and [[Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen 2009]] Transformers Movies automatically go on the offensive to attack any and all Humans in their immediate vicinity? This is because '''''ALL''''' modern day technology on Earth [[ETGaveUsWiFi was originally created after Sector 7 began studying and reverse-engineering Megatrons frozen body.]] In other words; they are quite literally MadeOfEvil.

* Why does Optimus and Rodimus Prime turn into semi trucks? Because another name for a semi truck is a ''prime'' mover.

* All of the G1 Autobot Headmasters have names related to heads: Hard''head'', ''Brain''storm, High''brow'', and Chrome''dome''.

All of the G1 Autobot Headmasters have names related to heads: Hard''head'', ''Brain''storm, High''brow'', and Chrome''dome''.

* In te episode "Cosmic Rust", Starscream uses his hand-pincer to take aways a piece of meteorite that ends up giving Megatron a huge case of cosmic rust, but it seems weird Starscream himself didn't get infected as well after the procedure. However, Starscream was noted to be a scientists before the war, and scientists are often noted to work with very dangerous materials (from toxic substances to radioactive objects to mention a few). Probably Starscream's pincer is a renmant of his time as a scientist made to handle unknown substances that might be dangerous for a regular cybertronian, as such, the cosmic rust didn't affect him.

* In most, if not all Transformers series - particularly the Japanese series, [[Film/{{Transformers}} the live-action movies]] and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', the Transformers move with [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant impossible grace and agility]] despite being HumongousMecha. However, this can be seen as Fridge Brilliance since, in the movies and the Marvel G1 continuity, Cybertron is [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:DOTMCybertrontransit.jpg MUCH]] larger than Earth - in Marvel G1, it's stated to be the size of Saturn, while in the movies, it appears to be more the size of a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-Earth Super-Earth]]. Logically, Cybertron must have a MUCH higher gravity than Earth due to its greater mass, and so, Transformers are [[HeavyWorlder Heavy Worlders]] - on their home planet, they'd probably have an agility more like a human's, meaning non-rocket-assisted jumps wouldn't be too high. On the much smaller Earth, though, they can run faster, jump higher, and are generally more agile - much like [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] {{Superman}}.

** This is not true, as "ask vector Prime" has specifically stated that although there are unicrons in this universe, they are all plastic toys.

** this is not true, as "ask vector Prime" has specifically stated that although there are unicrons in this universe, they are all plastic toys.

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: General]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Transformers Unicron Trilogy]]
* Most Decepticons in Cybertron keep their Cybertronian alt-mode, with the exception of Thundercracker; all the Autobots, on the other hand, adopt Earth-modes. Keeping in mind that Thundercracker eventually becomes disenchanted with the Decepticon cause, one can say that Planet Cybertron has the hat of robotic self-interest, while Planet Earth has the hat of protecting and caring for others, the Autobots' prime motivation. Vector Prime even fits in this categorization, with his initial motivation safeguarding Cybertron, arguably coming from a form of self-interest.
** Lugnut and Mudflap get earthmodes, and eventually become good guys as well.
** Thunderblast also has an earth based mode, but she's the epitome of self interest.
*** She's keeping her options open
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Transformers Animated Series]]
!!Transformers Animated
[[AC:FridgeHorror]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': In the episode "S.U.V.: Society Of Ultimate Villainy," Swindle creates and activates a device capable of stopping anything and everything mechanical in its proverbial tracks - and, unlike the ''Film/OceansEleven'' example, this really ''did'' affect the entire city. Obvious NightmareFuel aside, consider the impact this event had on ''humans''. Think about it. Anyone who had a pacemaker or respirator, or who was on life support, or who was being operated on at that time... in short, anyone who was relying on ''machines'' for survival. And let's not forget the airport. Or any number of other things. You really have to wonder how many people Swindle maimed or ''killed'' in that episode.
** The character Lockdown is a big bag of Fridge Horror - he's a bounty hunter who has a penchant for taking weapons and upgrades from his targets as trophies. Parts that are more often than not, part of said robot's body. He's a serial maimer, one who takes pleasure in mutilating others, and keeping (and often times, using) his 'trophies' to acquire more. "I'm not good with names and faces, but I never forget a trophy." [[DracoInLeatherPants And this guy has fangirls just piling up at his feet]].
*** Emphasis on ''serial maimer.'' It's shown throughout ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' that Transformers feel pain. Optimus waking up strapped to a surgical table with his grappler removed and attached to Lockdown is less like [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]] getting his GrapplingHookPistol stolen and more like [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Movieverse Peter Parker]] waking up [[BodyHorror with his web-shooting glands surgically removed]] ''[[NightmareFuel and stitched and fully functional on his tormentor.]]''
* Blitzwing tearing off Ratchet's arm to get Sari's Key. In the next scene he shows up, he's still got the Key, but there's no sign of the arm. Probably just left it around somewhere, right? Except in a later episode, Blitzwing just happens to mention [[ImAHumanitarian how much he loves servo salad]]...
* Cyclonus' few minutes on the show and his entry in Allspark Almanac II all but confirm that Megatron will become Galvatron someday. Everything the Autobots did in this series will ultimately be undone and Megatron will be reborn as an even greater threat. And because the series is over, we'll never get to see if it turns out okay in the end.
** There's some pretty heavy hinting that [[TheDragon Cyclonus]] used to be [[DirtyCoward Skywarp]]. Yeah, ''[[IneffectualSympatheticVillain that]]'' [[TheWoobie Skywarp]]. Kinda makes you wonder just ''[[TraumaCongaLine what]]'' happened to the [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse poor guy]] after the series ended, doesn't it?
* In the name of creating an "organic transformer," human villain [[PlayingWithSyringes Meltdown]] mutated ''at least'' two humans ([[AcceptableTargets his lawyer and stock broker,]] for those curious) into horrifying [[MixAndMatchCritters fusion creatures]], and [[DisproportionateRetribution out of petty revenge]] was '''dangerously''' close to doing the same exact same thing to his business rival Professor Sumdac's ''eight-year-old child Sari.'' [[spoiler: Consider Sari's part-cybertronian heritage and the end results wouldn't have been pretty.]]
* It kind of makes you wonder just what exactly goes on in the Stockade to drive Wasp insane...
** The Timeline comics shows that the prisoners are kept in small cramped up cells that leave no room for them to transform to vehicle mode. GoMadFromTheIsolation maybe?
* Less FridgeHorror and more Fridge Depression, but Starscream’s [[spoiler: clones]] are programmed to represent exactly one facet of Starscream’s personality. This being TheStarscream, it’s not a pleasant prospect. They’ll spend the rest of their lives as a DirtyCoward, a JerkAss, a SycophanticServant, a chronic liar, and... [[YouDoNotWantToKnow something]]. In every case, they're pretty much doomed never to be happy.
** Well, Derrick Wyatt explained in an interview that he intended to have the clones evolve into individuals the longer they remained online. While the concept appears to have been dropped, who's to say it won't still happen?
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live-Action Films]]
!!Live-Action Films
[[AC:FridgeBrilliance]]
* Whilst the Decepticons are mostly immune to our weapons, they can be hurt be extremely high-temperature explosive rounds. Now, some people still wonder how our weapons could effect robots with metal skin and armor far tougher than any of our alloy. And how could they be? Well, the first film explains that most modern tech, including weaponry, was produced by studying Megatron's inner-workings.
* [[spoiler:The Fallen's death]] becomes this when you think about it. [[spoiler:The Fallen was personally responsible for the entire war, a war that Optimus has seen the horrors of first hand. In that perspective, it's little suprise that Optimus went for NoKillLikeOverkill in dispatching the monster who was behind everything to happen to the Transformers for ''centuries''.]]
* Why does Optimus violently destroy anything/anyone who threatens Earth? Simple: He wants to make sure Earth doesn't wind up a barren wasteland like Cybertron, with its native inhabitiants reduced to near extinction.
** This goes extra for the Fallen. Optimus probably knows that ''he'' was responsible for Megatron betraying them for his fell agenda, and thus the one ultimately responsible for the entire Cybertronian civil war. ''Of course'' he would want to ensure this villain does not survive their battle, in case he escaped to set up more misery for Earth and the remaining Cybertronians.
* People are always going on about [[MemeticMutation Give Me Your Face]] and the whole OffWithHisHead thing the autobots do in the movies, but think for a minute what would be the most efficient way to kill something? [[Film/ShaunOfTheDead Remove the head]] [[RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain or destroy the brain.]]
** Plus, when you consider how small Transformer heads are in proportion their bodies, it most likely takes more effort and focus to take out the head.
** And as we saw, Frenzy continued to live in decapitated form, quickly taking another mode. If a Cybertronian doesn't destroy the head of his foe, he could easily find later on that one of his recovered weapons is secretly the disguised form of the foe's head, which could literally bite you in the ass later.
* The movies get a lot of flak for [[AmericaSavesTheDay how effective the American military is]] against the Decepticons, sometimes even moreso then the Autobots who have fought them for ''ages''. This actually would make sense, because the Decepticons have had all that time to get used to Autobot tactics and adjust their own (the stalemate this causes is actually the ''entire plot of the franchise!'') and with Earth tactics being alien, new, and unexpected. America would naturally be the most effective, with them getting their tech from Megs and all.
** The Ameicans are shown teaming up with other militaries and governments as well, if only because the Decepticons aren't selective in where they operate. In addition to the tactics issue, also recall that the humans have the Decepticons ''heavily'' out numbered, and are fighting on their own turf, ParanoiaFuel form transforming enemies aside. The Decepticons by nature of where they are fighting are always in danger of being on the receiving end of a ZergRush, where the Zerg have fighter bombers, tanks, and rocket launchers. And that is before the humans [[TookALevelInBadass tailor their infantry tractics ot dealing with Cybertronian enemies in the third film.]]
** Humans are also a fraction of the size of most Decepticons. Smaller targets are harder to hit. Sure, if a Decepticon ''does'' hit a human [[ChunkySalsaRule that human won't be there anymore]], but once that human is armed with weapons that can actual deal damage to the Decepticon, the fight becomes [[JustForPun deceptively]] fair.
* The gripes about how all machinery that is affected by the Allspark transforms and acts somewhat hostile can be negated by the fact that every piece of technology on Earth was reverse engineered via Megatron's makeup, so technically everything is more or less another version of Megatron once brought to life.
** Alternatively, one can argue that the Allspark simply gives ''life'' to the machine. It's possible that something else (Vector Sigma?) is needed to give the newly activated Cybertronian higher intelligence, such as a sense of morality. As a result, the Allspark-imbued machine is simply a primal beast, working on preserving itself in an alien environment.
*** Adding to this, the newly formed Cybertronians might have the capacity for higher intelligence, but lack the knowledge and life experience to really have intelligence. Go back tens of thousands of years, pluck a caveman out of it, and drop him in the middle of New York and see how many seconds it takes him before he goes ballistic.
* When the Wreckers were first revealed, a lot of fans thought they would have redneck voices. They don't; instead, they're British (Cockney to be percise). So why do they have alt-modes as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars? Because Daytona International Speedway is about half an hour away from Canaveral, and engineers like them would want top-notch vehicle modes.
* Optimus is criticized for not overly reacting when [[AngstWhatAngst Jazz dies, or for that matter many of the Autobots who die]]. But remember that the Autobots and Decepticons have been at war for a long, long time. Optimus has likely been through the deaths of a lot of friends. It's not that he doesn't care, he's just been through too much to openly mourn anymore.


[[AC:FridgeLogic]]
* In the first film, while you can understand why the American Government would want Megatron on US soil to keep him out of any foreign nation's hands, why the hell didn't they build a base to hold him in the Arctic? That way, Megatron would remain frozen ''without'' needing the power of an entire dam to keep him that way!
** Keep in mind, they could still have built Hoover Dam to house the Allspark! Overall, what in the name of sanity made them think that keeping an artefact that can animate technology into hostile alien robots, right next to a known hostile giant robot, was ever going to be a ''good'' idea?
*** They didn't KNOW Megatron was evil. They found him already frozen and knew nothing about him at all. They didn't find out he was evil until he unfroze and went on a rampage. That said, I agree that keeping him and the Cube in the same facility was not the brightest idea.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Beast Wars]]
!!Beast Wars

* I was personally bugged that in ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', at least three characters - Inferno, Blackarachnia, and Rhinox - are reprogrammed, yet Megatron puts up with Waspinator's laziness and stupidity, Tarantulas' insanity, and Terrorsaur's [[TheStarscream Starscreaminess]]. Why didn't he just reprogram them? Then it clicked. Until ''Beast Machines'' (which, frankly, may as well not even ''have'' the same Megatron thanks to CharacterDerailment), there was only one hint that Megatron even ''had'' programming skills - the Transmuter, and that one backfired when Rhinox utterly wtfpwned pretty much the entire Predacon ship, and demonstrated that a fully-active Cybertronian is ''very very hard'' to truly reprogram. The only one to semi-permanently reprogram anyone was Tarantulas, and unless you're actively suicidal, you don't want to trust Tarantulas to reprogram ''all'' your henchmen. And even then, he was hotwiring protoforms rather than "adults" like Waspinator and Terrorsaur! No less than ''three'' reasons why he didn't try it until he was grotesquely misusing Sparks in ''Beast Machines''! - @/CountDorku
** And note that in Beast Machines, he had to effectively wipe all but the basic functions from said sparks to reprogram them. Two of the three that he didn't reprogram ended up rebelling [[spoiler: while the third was Waspinator, who didn't exactly need much coercing]]. The last two he "reprogrammed" turned out to be doing it out of their own free will (the need to protect Cybertron as a whole, even if it's no longer the Cybertron they knew).
* Megatron's motivation in ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines''. Okay, so it's pretty impressive, much more creative and ambitious than generic 'take over the world/galaxy/universe', but I didn't fully appreciate it until some time after I saw ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' (yeah, we didn't get ''Beast Wars'' until several years after ''Beast Machines'' had already aired). Anyway, look at how much his minions betray him - only two remain loyal, and one of those is just barely competent. Is it any wonder he would come to consider free will itself to be the problem? - @/VampireBuddha
[[/folder]]


[[folder: Live-Action Films]]
!!Live-Action Films
[[AC:FridgeBrilliance]]

[[folder: Transformers G1]]
!Transformers Generation 1
[[AC:FridgeBrilliance]]
* Why did Galvatron finally do what he flat out refused to do as Megatron and [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim kill Starscream]]? Two possible reasons: (1) Unicron's reformatting of him may have had a subtle influence on his thought patterns. He was rebuilt to find the Matrix, and this was likely prioritized in his mind, with the additional thought pattern of destroying any that obstructs this goal, and what was [[TheStarscream Starscream]] if not obstructive? (2) Along with his own reformatting, he also got new minions. Among them, Cyclonus. Who was all the things Starscream wasn't: Loyal, competent, and powerful. Megatron is implied to have kept Screamer around due to not having better options. That changed when Cyclonus, who is all the things Starscream is, only better, came along. No wonder Galvatron vaporized him. Starscream had [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness finally outlived his usefulness.]]
** Nice catch; I always just thought it was because when Megatron was reformatted, Unicron's influence turned him into an insane and ruthless madman. Which I suppose is still likely, but a lot less brilliant.
** Or, more simply, that Megs had been willing to put up with Screamer as long as Starscream kept failing. By this point, Starscream had ''won.'' Megatron was only still alive by pure dumb luck, and was arguably stuck in a FateWorseThanDeath, getting his whole identity warped and enslaved by Unicron. This was ''beyond'' the last straw. No wonder he finally let Starscream have it.
* In the second episode, Starscream tests the Energon cubes to see if they work. This may seem [[WhatAnIdiot really stupid]], but remember, before Starscream became Decepticon air commander, he was a ''scientist''. Of course he'd want to test the cubes!
* Why would Predaking be much smarter than the other combiners [[InformedAbility if the writers ever bothered to read the characterizations]]? Because his components' altmodes are animals. Whereas the other combiners are amalgamations of minds that don't always get along (and sometimes outright ''hate'' each other), Predaking is a ''pack''. When the hunt is on, internal conflicts get put aside.
* Sky Lynx's near-insufferable sense of superiority makes a lot of sense when you step back and take a look at his combined non-alternate mode: He's a ''dragon''. How often in modern fiction do you see sentient dragons ''without'' an ego?
* Megatron's alt mode is a gun, which has to be held by others in order to be fired. A case of WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway? Nope - a gun has only one purpose, and that's to kill people. He chose it in order to be more intimidating!
* Why does Megatron allow himself to be wielded in gun mode by Starscream, whom he hates and distrusts? Because when he's the weapon in Starscream's hand, Megatron becomes the only thing Starscream CAN'T shoot.
* As [[https://youtu.be/E2DA8SJxKAM this video]] touches on, there's a lot of Fridge Brilliance tucked into Megatron's alt mode. First, his shots seem more powerful when transformed, providing an incentive for him to transform to be shot instead of shooting himself with his massive ArmCannon. It also might make sense that this is the case: depending on how Transformer mass-shifting works, the energy of his Fusion Cannon might be "compressed" in his smaller gun mode, making the blasts more focused. . . essentially making his gun mode shots an ArmorPiercingAttack. Second, he's actually demonstrating a commendable leadership quality, trusting his subordinates to do the job he's assigned them, literally placing himself in their hands to see it done. Third, sometimes his ability to communicate is all mode is diminished or absent, meaning he's essentially turning tactical command of the battle over to another Decepticon, again showing trust but also that Megatron might realize his limitations -- a tactical thinker he is assuredly not. Finally, he didn't actually choose that alt form, it was foisted on him by Teletraan-1. The Decepticons seem to have no means of reconfiguring their alt modes, so Megatron is stuck with it and doing the best he can with what he's got.
* After their first fight, the Junkions become instant friends of the Autobots. Why? Because the Junkions [[AliensStealCable love Earth TV]] and the Autobots help protect the Earth. So by helping the Autobots, the Junkions insure that Earth will survive to produce more TV shows.
* A combination of Brilliance and Horror: in the original cartoon it was established that the Autobots and Decepticons were originally created for to be labor drones and combat droids respectivly. The horror comes from the fact that this basically means that the only reason the Decepticons fight it because they’re subconsciously acting out their programming and all the talk about power, glory and destiny are just rationalizations. The brilliance comes from the fact that this means that the reason the Autobots always win in the end is because they GrewBeyondTheirProgramming and took up the sword.

[[AC:FridgeHorror]]
* In the G1 movie, it always seemed that the mass murder of most of the original cast was arbitrary, and just a way to make the movie darker. But as the Nostalgia Chick points out, all of the dead characters were replaced, in the movie, by new characters that had never existed before. The reason? Commerce. It was time to sell new toys, and what better way to do it than to kill everyone off and start fresh? Realizing this motivation makes it a lot easier to understand the huge divide between loving and hating Hot Rod/Rodimus; he was a character created for the sole reason to sell toys. Optimus Prime was killed because he wasn't selling enough; basically most of the original cast was euthanized.
** This was brought up on discussions for 'Ghost In The Machine', where Blitzwing (old toy) had his part rewritten for Octane (new toy). Instead of sales figures, the real case was that the old toys were out of production, and the new ones were on the shelves.
* During "The Search for Alpha Trion", Optimus Prime deduced that he and his "girlfriend", Elita-1, were created by Alpha Trion. At the end of the episode, Optimus awkwardly rejects Elita's affection. Although it's not stated outright, it's implied that Optimus dated his own sister and just became aware of it.
** Which is a horrendous lack of basic research from the same damned series, given that Optimus and Elita-1 are rebuilt from Orion Pax and Aeriel by Alpha Trion in War Dawn and were involved long before the then middle-aged engineer ended up [[GrowingTheBeard growing that beard]] some more.
* The HatePlague episodes: It's established that the plague went beyond earth to other planets, to the point that the entire galaxy was threatened. Imagine the kind of destruction unleashed on earth occurring everywhere else in the galaxy. That's a death toll measuring so high that there might not be a number large enough to catalog the amount of lives lost. That scene of the two humans apologizing for weaponizing the plague is likely very their last action on earth before they're imprisoned some where in space or executed.
* In "Ghost In The Machine", Unicron wanted Starscream to connect him to Cybertron so he could reformat it into his new body. Knowing what we know now about the TF mythos, especially the fact that Cybertron essentially IS Primus in physical form...just what WOULD have happened if that had occurred?
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Transformers G1 Anime series]]
!Anime/TransformersVictory
[[AC:FridgeBrilliance]]
* Considering how many long years of hibernation of the original G1 characters, you'd think Autobots are leaderless right? Until we found out, new leaders were created for this reason, such as Fortress Maximus and Star Saber. Unfortunately, FridgeHorror comes to play as well, since we have later Decepticon leaders who are very brutal.
** Given the concept of 'Cold-constructed' Transformers and the personality quirks that can result, it's easy to see why Star Saber is so much more stable and sane in the original ''Victory'' timeline compared to his extremist incarnation in the IDW timeline - without a stabilising influence in Jan and the other humans he would regularly interact with, he would find solace in religion and take it too far, becoming a heartless extremist.
[[AC:FridgeHorror]]
* As FridgeHorror comes to play, could you imagine if [[BadBoss Deathsaurus]] goes around, destroying everything with his Decepticon Fortress without the creation of Star Saber? Granted, it may not defeat Unicron, but still.
* The Landforce Combiner team, composed of six Autobots who form Landcross, are so used to combining that even in their base camp they usually stay partially combined as three pairs. Given the franchise concepts of Combiners and how being together for extended periods of time can result in their minds merging, it's hard to tell how much of the Landforce team's collective personality has become attached to being in their combined state, as their six component Autobots are rarely seen on-screen as individuals.
[[/folder]]