#sometimes i can hardly believe tfp was considered a kids' show

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN a little after the 26th of December, 2016

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 19 (KO) – Week 21 (BB) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

The Mech in the Box

As he stared at the body, he noticed that he was venting heavily, despite the fact that it had taken surprisingly little effort to dispose of this one. He shook himself and retracted his buzzsaws.

"Get a hold of yourself," he growled.

He took the body and shoved it alongside the others - a long line of limp frames that looked exactly like him. But they weren't him, he was positive of that. They were just clones. He was the original.

"I'm the original..." He glared at the latest clone and spoke again, in a stronger voice. "Do you hear me? I'm the original!"

Tell Me More

Knock Out skidded to a stop and transformed, taking a quick glance behind him. He chuckled.

"Even after all this time and with your own team to back you up, you're still no match for my horsepower, Bumblebee."

"From this I gather you're well acquainted with the lieutenant," said a smooth voice.

Buzzsaws activated within an instant, Knock Out spun around and glared into the darkness of the surrounding forest.

"Calm down. I'm a friend." A wolf-bot emerged from the darkness, a benign smile on his faceplates. "If you don't mind, I'd love to hear more about how you know the lieutenant."

Primus, I Hate You

"Smokescreen has apparently decided to take five." Knock Out approached his original lab rat with a smile. "Looks like it's just you and me again."

"Knock Out... Release me," CyLAS pleaded weakly. "You- you have the Autobot. You don't.... need me."

"Ah, but you have so many novelties the Autobot doesn't," Knock Out said pleasantly, preparing a syringe. "Your techno-organic nature is something I have yet to finish dissecting, and quite frankly, I despise you just a bit more than I despise him. I won't say it's nothing personal..." He stabbed the syringe into CyLAS's arm. "...because it so most certainly is."

#posting from THE ARCHIVES #365 drabbles challenge #sometimes i can hardly believe tfp was considered a kids' show #anyway first drabble featured here was written after i watched the prestige; that movie had me feeling weirdly existential for days #second drabble featured here is actually a part of a series of drabbles i wrote throughout the year #i just wanted to show off this particular one cause i dunno steeljaw is kinda neat #third drabble featured here... i just really like knock out's dialogue and again bruh it is really not far outside of what happened in canon #transformers #transformers prime #robots in disguise 2015 #knock out #tfp knock out #steeljaw #rid2015 steeljaw #tfp silas #transformers fanfiction #fanfiction #HardyGal writes stuff #HardyGal writes fanfiction

[whereyoursparkresides]

Breakdown’s “Dinobot-like” Redemption Arc Theory + Analysis

Ok so I may be way late into this party, but upon coming across this theory thread on TFW2005 forum the other day, I have to join and put in my two cents. In the joint discussion between Autobot Burnout, Soundwaverulls and Lord Tron, it seems that TFP was meant to have an epic redemption character arc of the same weight and calibre as Beast War’s Dinobot...and the character in question was supposed to be Breakdown! 

(Warning, very long post!)

Although I haven’t been able to find the original official ‘announcement’ (as I was unfortunately not aware of this when TFP first came out) as of yet, I am 110% on board with this, with every fibre of my being. It means Breakdown was never meant to be a half-assed useless mech with no development. In fact, Breakdown’s character was destined for something greater and epic before it was cut abruptly by poor financial planning...and nowhere is that more clearly obvious than in in the episode Operation: Breakdown.

Below are a few examples of instances in which I feel the foundation for Breakdown’s ultimate redemption arc were clearly set up. This episode is stuffed with too many thematic similarities, foreshadowing and allegories to Beast Wars for it to be considered it a homage or only coincidental. Let’s begin!

#1 - Breakdown says so.

Let’s begin with the most obvious - at the episode’s end, Breakdown clearly states the conflict he’ll have to resolve one day: to choose between Bots and Cons. Broadly speaking, weighing between allegiances is a constant theme within the entirety of Dinobot’s arc, from his desertion of the Predacons in the very first episode of Beast Wars, to his grave reconsideration in Code of Hero. You cannot think of Dinobot and not think of his Shakespearean torment with loyalty and allegiance, good and evil.

#2 - Partner Parallels - with Bulkhead and Knockout

With the most obvious similarity out of the way, let’s talk about some of the more subtle hints within TFP. The first is how the relationship between Breakdown and some of the other characters is set up. For starters, if you’re going to write a redemption arc for a baddie-turning-good, you gotta have someone who has reason to doubt him. 

Enter Bulkhead, who establishes from the very first scene he shares with Breakdown, that they have history, and it isn’t pretty. He has no reason to trust Breakdown, and in fact, has a rivalry that is so deeply seeded that he almost seems to thoroughly abhor the Con. Hate him even. Maybe even as much as this guy hates Dinobot:

For those who aren’t familiar with BW, Rattrap is the closest character the Maximals’ have to a Wrecker (his love of bombs and respect for certain levels of authority are mildly evocative of Wheeljack), and he does not like Dinobot. Although these two don’t have a history, their mutual loathing for each other is a defining characteristic of their relationship, as TFP clearly set up for Breakdown and Bulkhead. Rattrap’s and Dinobot’s mutual prejudices hardly ever seem to let up despite them being constantly forcibly paired as a team - this actually becomes a bit of a running joke within the series - until the last episodes concluding Dinobot’s fatal end, when you realize that Rattrap has indeed developed a change of heart. 

Above: Both Autobots, despite their stated loathing, return to save the ‘Con.

While we’re on the topic of teams and partners, let’s also discuss Breakdown’s relationship with this guy:

This is where things diverge a little, as Breakdown doesn’t join the Bots as early as Dinobot did, and thus doesn’t get to develop a “partnership” dynamic with Bulkhead as Rattrap and Dinobot share. However, I am of the mind that Knockout is mean to evoke the positive side of their teamwork relationship. If Bulkhead is meant to echo Rattrap’s violent distaste for Dinobot, then Knockout is meant to allude to the incredibly deep friendship Rattrap ultimately develops with his rival.

(Above: both “teams” about to stick it to the enemy. Can we also talk about how there’s also totally a Big/Smol correlation going on here?)

Since Breakdown doesn’t get as much screentime as Dinobot does, I am also of the mind that this relationship with Knockout is to be a hint of the core goodness within him. Unlike other ‘Cons, Breakdown is friendly and capable of working with others - an attribute that Dinobot finds grossly repulsive, and reluctantly learns to do. While Dinobot’s arc sets him up as a Con learning good, Breakdown’s seems to imply that has good within him all along - and that he just needs a little something to help him realize it.

(Above: Breakdown chatting with a fellow Con; meanwhile Dinobot is despising having to work with another member of the team, especially Rattrap)

If we continue on with the theory that Knockout is meant to echo Rattrap’s deep friendship with Dinobot, then it isn’t far-fetched to assume that Knockout would continue with Rattrap’s arc of grief after Dinbot’s death. Although Rattrap doesn’t actually ever officially get an episode to voice his grief in Beast Wars, there is an unproduced episode script that was intended to explore Rattrap’s grief, called Dark Glass. Although Dark Glass never made it onscreen due to its mature content, it achieved fan notoriety. As a writer for TFP, a series which seemed green-lit to explore such dark themes, a Dark Glass episode would have been an excellent opportunity to make a powerful mark in the overall Prime story, while paying homage to old fans of previous continuities. This would explain why there is so much set-up in earlier scenes with KOBD as a tight pair (they weren’t just partners, but at the least very close friends): the writers were building up for a deeply emotional aftershock in the wake of Breakdown’s (possible) death in redemption. And since Breakdown got such a swift and unexpected death, all that foundation crumbled in Knockout’s continuation of character...perhaps resurfacing briefly in parts of The Human Factor or Thirst.

(Above: Rattrap mourning over Dinobot’s imminent death. WHY COULD WE NOT HAVE GOTTEN A SCENE LIKE THIS WITH KNOCKOUT?!?!)

#3 - Even Optimus Prime Agrees.

Whenever a theme like this comes up, one of the characters must always say it. Breakdown states it at the end of the episode, but Optimus and Bulkhead also totally lay it out for us out in the open:

Optimus: Sometimes, we must rise above ourselves for the greater good.

Bulkhead: Aww, what’s that supposed to mean? Breakdown’s gonna be grateful and go all soft and join the cause?

Optimus: While it is unlikely that any Decepticon will choose the path of good, even they posses the potential for change. 

Bulkhead: Ugh! I knew where this was headed. 

Optimus: By greater good, I meant humankind.

I could go on an on about this particular exchange, but I will surmise the most important points here:

Optimus Prime, like Optimus Primal, is the first and only one to believe the Con has potential for change.

He also clearly states the overall theme of Breakdown (and by association, Bulkhead’s) arc - change for the greater good, an independant, moral good that is of greater significance than alliances or allegiances

If we’re going read into every line - guess who also put their ideals aside for the greater good, and saved humankind? Yep.

Although Dinobot’s overarching theme is about being caught between good and bad, his ultimate redemption in Code of Hero is achieved by literally putting aside both allegiances and doing what he believes is right (“no choice at all”) and defending the proto-humans, literally saving humankind.

#4 - The Easter Egg TV also agrees.

It isn’t a surprise that TFP would be filled with little Easter Eggs or references to its predecessors. Ratchet mentions fuzors and frequently the kids’ TV commercials and shows reference aspects of Beast Wars (like the “Beast Machines” Monster Truck competition). Guess what’s Bulkhead watching during Operation: Breakdown?

HEYYY GUESS WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE VERY FIRST EPISODE OF BEAST WARS 

(And if you need more proof, they actually do fight, and this is the same episode where Dinobot switches from Pred to Maximal)

#5 - The animation lines up (nearly). Literally.

Remember how Breakdown saves Bulkhead from MECH in a split-second decision? Well, in the pilot of Beast Wars, Megatron aims a missile at Optimus that will doom them all. And guess who comes in and saves the day, without hesitation? 

Line it up with the same animation when Breakdown saves Bulk:

If you line it up, both scenes share the same composition. The only difference is that Dinobot comes in from the left, while Breakdown flies in from the right. Don’t you tell me none of this was intentional.

Conclusion

And there you have it. My analysis of Operation: Breakdown to support the theory that Breakdown was never intended to be a useless mech, or a one-dimensional supporting character. It is clear there were great plans in store for this mech with a heart as big as his tires, and it an absolute travesty that we never got to see it come to pass. Breakdown’s abrupt death not only did his character a grave disservice, but also to the story of Transformers Prime - for a show whose theme ultimately revolves around the complexities of moral good, Breakdown’s redemption arc would have been utterly perfect. Powerful, genuine and devastating, it would have left its mark and shadow in the hearts of this generation and more to come - a truly potent tale worthy of Silicon Valhalla, a permanent addition to the collection of best-written Transformers narratives.

#meta #breakdown tfp #knockout tfp #dinobot bw #rattrap bw #bulkhead tfp #breakdown's redemption arc #transformers prime #beast wars #theory #analysis #operation breakdown #character analysis #long post