Yesterday I picked up Transformers Collection 2.1. For those that don’t know, I’m something of a transfan, having been in the key demographic when the toys and cartoons where first shown here in 1985/84. This DVD boxset is the first half of the second season.
Now I was a little worried. We have some of the original episodes on video, but those are the so-called G2 which is the old episodes edited and cut together using the horrible cybernetic space cube. That link will tell you something of it, but essentially it involves painful editing touches with whirring and CGI graphics flipping about (it’s horrible to watch!). So it was with some trepidation that I finally succumbed to picking up the original episodes on DVD.
But they are great! The timeless tale of conflict between the Autoboobs and Decepticreeps. Oh man, this show cracks me up. It is full of property destruction (when you’re a giant robot, why use doors when you can walk through walls?), dodgy insults (deceptibums), laser battles, hilarious lines (“What’s a test, without a guinea-pig-atron?”), and possibly more use of the word torque than any other show. The baddies—the Decepticons—scheme and plot and laugh evilly, show callous disregard for the environment as they tell their plans to steal energy (sorry, ultimate power) from the sun / river / mine / crystals / power-plant / volcano / universe to any who will listen and routinely knock each other down when one whines too often. The Autobots have a human friend named Spike—not a vampire—who helps them learn about Earth and believes they truly mean to protect our little planet. I think it is only an excuse for causing their own mayhem and destruction.
And such great lines—check out the voice talent—like this from Megatron: “What supreme irony—turning their friend, into their foe.” *evil laugh* But the joke is on him. Later, Megatron transforms himself into a gun—yes, companies like Hasbro could slip guns into their toy lineup in the 1980s—and has Spike use him to fight the Autobots. Naturally, Spike realises this is wrong and begins blasting decepticrumbs. “You fool, you’ve turned my power against my own warriors! We have been betrayed, retreat!” Now, that is supreme irony!
I doubt I’ve convinced anyone to watch this show who’s not already a fan. But you may be interested to know the latest version of Windows Media Player can sit on the taskbar and play in a little window whilst you work. Yep, I’m watching the show right now. The Autobots are currently blasting trees to make a road to the Decepticon base. Hooray!
Ben Boyle lives here! 