Transformers Prime

That's what I assumed too. Airachnid is too much of a complete monster to ever get redeemed.

Interestingly, Hasbro tried to get a trademark on the name Airachnid but were denied it. Hence, I predict that on her next appearance, she'll decide she wants to be called Blackarachnia.

As for why they didn't just call her Blackarachnia to start with, I'm guessing they just wanted to try and get a new trademark.

Personally, I'm with those who say they used a different name because the character is too different. Previous Blackarachnias were treated with varying degrees of sympathy, be it the Beast Wars version who ended up doing a Heel–Face Turn, or Transformers Animated version who was a borderline Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds with a tragic backstory. Airachnid, at least from this episode, seems to be a pretty unrepentent sadist, and while she's unlikely to knock Megatron and Starscream off their pedastel's as the show's premier Complete Monsters, she's still shown to be utterly evil and I'd predict the chances of a Heel–Face Turn or the revelation of a sympathetic backstory to be almost totally unlikely.

Besides, we've already had her backstory. In which she stalks and tortures other saqpient beings for shits and giggles. Yeah, I'm saying a Freudian Excuse is pretty damned unlikely.

Personally, I'd say she could easily be as bad as or worse than Starscream in the evilness stakes - at least he has motives besides simple sadism. It's just that she's considerably less dangerous.

I like this past episode but it looks like the story is forming the ultimate big bad five with each new Desception/Predecon

It's weird to think that Transformers as a franchise has been around for so long, but there have been so few Female 'cons.

At least ones who weren't Autobots/Maximals first ala Blackarachnia.

Also, kudos to Prime for giving us our first Transformers Girlfight.

The episode was much more than that, but I still think that's something.

Transformers Prime has given the franchise one of the best Action Girls in Arcee. Even Blackarachnia was largely popular because of her flirtatious behavior and... feminine... physique. Arcee is neither the Team Mom nor is she "masculine," in fact she is probably the most complex and well-rounded character on the show.

... Oh fuck.

Also, they really seem to be piling on the creepy in this show. First Airachnid, and now a plague ship? Oy.

Lastly, Knockout is still my favourite Decepticon. I just love that casual, laid-back attitude of his. Possible intruders aboard the ship? 'Meh.'

edited 1st May '11 7:23:03 AM by Iaculus

WOW.........With 'Sick Mind', this series has just grown a ten foot beard, IMO. Despite the unfortunately still very large presence of the Mantra, I'm pretty sure this is the best thing ever to come out of Transformers.

I still wonder about those Eradicons though. If they're simply machines built by the Decepticons to be footsoldiers, why do they have Energon inside them? Meh, whatever.

edited 1st May '11 9:14:53 AM by WannabeAuthor

"If you're inside my subconscious... WHAT ARE YOU DOING INSIDE MY HEAD!?!".

I think that quote was prime Narm.

edited 1st May '11 4:00:01 PM by Etheru

I felt it was further evidence of Megatron becoming more and more aware of his surroundings. The jump to figuring out the "neural bypass" was almost a Bat Deduction, but even crazy people making leaps of logic can be right sometimes.

But the episode itself was a good kick into high gear, Bumblebee got to shine again and I was genuinely surprised about the cliffhanger (I figured they would conclude the episode but use those events to springboard to Megatron's return, not have Megatron take a ride). Megatron's neverending cycle of killing Prime and being unaware of his current status was surreal enough, and I liked the mention of Kaon. On a minor note the animation of them cutting into the plague ship was gorgeous, I was quite impressed by the sparks.

Actually, the quote was 'If this is my subconscious'. And I think that having a lowly Autobot poking around in his brain with impunity really did warrant a bit of horror/outrage on the part of the nigh-unassailable leader of the Decepticons.

True, got a point there.

Okay, just thought I'd post this. After Shadowzone Prime takes a hiatus for a few weeks but when it comes back...well see for yourself.

Operation Breakdown-Breakdown is captured by MECH, and the only ones who can save him are... Team Prime.

Crisscross-Airachnid teams up with MECH to get revenge on Arcee and Jack.

So, looks like we'll get some interesting episodes. I've been waiting for Mech to return and Breakdown to get a spotlight episode.

I wonder if this will be a two parter.

edited 6th May '11 1:50:52 PM by Kostya

looks like they are going to make Starscream Immortal again to prevent Megatron from killing him

I know it wasn't his fault, but It did seem jind of weird just how little was made of Bumblebee helping bring back Megatron.

Also, judging by the next episode, Screamer's really lost his shit.

What are the odds that Bulkhead suggests just letting MECH keep him because of Breakdown being "a jerk"?

edited 8th May '11 11:41:14 PM by SpaceJawa

High. To be honest, it is a fair point to raise in this case. I suspect the only reason they'll want to bail him out is to prevent Cybertronian tech from falling into MECH's hands.

I really liked the cinematic scope of the episode, there was quite a few wide shots that gave you a real sense of scale, like Prime climbing up the side of the mountain. And Megatron's return was given an appropriate level of menace, while at first I wasn't thrilled with him just leaving Bumblebee, Ratchet and Raf to the Vehicons I realized that this Megatron has a one-track mind and wouldn't bother sullying himself with "lesser" robots when he had other issues to attend to.

When he went medieval on Starscream I could almost feel him channeling Animated Megatron, which is definately a good thing. I find it interesting that while Prime has largely remained the same character throughout the different incarnations, Megatron is constantly being reimagined and combining traits of the past incarnations. And I also liked the call back to the zombie graveyard fight from the miniseries, it would be the most logical place to find a sliver of Dark Energon.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if Optimus also sees it as a potential opportunity to recruit Breakdown to their side.

I'm actually thinking of making a trope called "Adaptation Character Evolution" or something along the lines, based on the observation about Megatron.

I'm not very good at wording it.

Well, that's what the trope workshops are for, don't feel you have to do it alone.

Well, yes, but he's Optimus.

The issue I see with "Adaptation Character Evolution" is that it is such a broad topic and basically inherent in any adaptation or even a Long Runner where writers are switched out every few years. You make a trope big enough and soon there is nothing really concrete about it, it becomes just a list of "This is how the character is different in various incarnations." It's certainly interesting to talk about but as it's own trope it's too vague.

Now narrowing it down to something rather specific can work, such as how Adaptational Badass works. I think it might work as a sort of Composite Character of different incarnations: as I said this Megatron has the appearance and depravity of Movie!Megatron, the intolerance of Starscream like Animated!Megatron and the voice actor (with a modified voice) of G1!Megatron. Similarly Starscream has the ambition of Animated!Starscream with the patience of G1!Starscream and the competence of Movie!Starscream (at least shown in the comics).

I don't know so much about the patients aspect as it's seems clear that Megatron truly needs to be replaced. He still comes of more as a Bastard Understudy to me, instead of his usual personality