14 Reasons You Should be Watching Transformers Prime

I was 8 years old when the Transformers TV series debuted in ’84.

You might say I was the “prime” age to have transforming robot vehicles imprinted into my heart of hearts. I was hooked on the animated series and now cherish the memories of running up my street from the bus stop after school to turn on the TV. Transformers: The Movie is also one of the few movies that I vividly remember watching in the theater as a kid with my friends.

After the G1 series ended, I pretty much abandoned Transformers until the Michael Bay films came along. I believe I’m with most people in that it was nice to have the franchise return to the silver screen and pop culture to a certain extent. The Bay films stirred up some great childhood memories in me even though these probably weren’t the Transformers I was looking for. I essentially had “moved along” from the franchise again until my oldest son started watching Transformers Prime recently.

For awhile now, it’s been his after-school show of choice and I began stumbling into episodes when I got home from work. I remember watching the first couple episodes of the mini-series with him when it debuted on the HUB network back in late 2010. It really didn’t make much of an impression on me at first, especially my son being 6 years old at the time. I did notice that there were some elements that were probably over his head, but now that he’s 8, he’s really into the show…and so am I.

Now, I’m no Transformers expert by any means. Like I said earlier, I have lapses in my bot universe (meaning I never watched Beast Wars, Armada, Energon, Cybertron, or Transformers Animated). My only sampling is the G1 series and the Bay films (and if I can be blasphemous for a moment, Challenge of the Go-Bots.) So if you fit into my experience with Transformers, let me give you 14 reasons to put Transformers Prime into your TV rotation right now:

You can stream the first two seasons on Netflix. 

If you are one of the 23 million people who subscribe to Netflix, you have access to the 5 episode mini-series and the 47 episodes that make up seasons 1 & 2 as part of your subscription.

You have time to catch up before Season 3 starts.

The HUB channel has announced it plans to kick off season 3 in the spring of 2013, with at least 16 episodes being produced. So you still have a couple months to get caught up, if you really like the show.

TF Prime has very little carry over from Michael Bay’s films

From what I’ve seen, virtually none of the story has carried over from “Bayverse.” I’ve noticed a few things but for the most part I get more of a G1 feel when watching the show. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee both show a likeness to the Bayverse. Megatron is a mix with the shape from Bayverse but with his arm cannon like in G1. Bumblebee has also kept the characteristic of not being able to speak due previous battle wounds and communicates through electronic sound effects. A few other character elements but that’s about it.

Transformers CAN die

We saw bots and cons die in the Bayverse but other than Transformers: The Movie, I don’t remember much death in my animated experience. In TF Prime, an autobot dies in the very first episode. Decepticons die too, mainly the generic “vehicon” army used by Megatron but also more involved characters.

Energon is used like blood

This element really adds to the characters. This was kind of represented in the Bayverse but the substance that was leaked was mostly like hot lava it seemed. In TF Prime, energon is a glowing blue liquid that essentially works like blood in human. When in physical combat, bots can leak energon from just about anywhere. They also have to replenish what they lost.

Optimus Prime and Megatron are voiced by their G1 actors

Peter Cullen and Frank Welker return to voice the leaders of the two factions. I must say having Welker back with Cullen adds so much to the show for those of us who remember watching as kids. (no disrespect to Hugo Weaving.) They are excited to be together again too.

A great voice cast

Not only do we get Cullen and Welker, other voice actors credits include Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (WWE), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Gina Torres & Adam Baldwin (Firefly), Markie Post (Night Court), Clancy Brown (Highlander, Shawshank Redemption), John Noble (Lord of the Rings, Fringe), George Takei (Star Trek) Anthony Todd (Candyman, Final Destination), and many other veteran voice actors.

The music is top notch.

Composer Brian Tyler and arranger Matthew Margeson use a complete live orchestra to produce the music for the show, which is rare for a television series today. Tyler’s score credits include films Iron Man 3, The Expendables 1& 2, and Eagle Eye. His other credits include the new Hawaii Five-0 and Terra Nova television series and the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 video game. Tyler was also nominated for an Emmy award and received an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences award in 2011 for his work on TF Prime.

Strong Female Characters

In the G1 era, it seemed characters like R.C. were on the show just to appease the girls that might be watching. In TF Prime, strong female characters, including a new “Arcee”, play an intricate part of the story for both the Autobots and Decepticons. A rogue spider-like Insecticon named Airachnid also makes for a great enemy. There is also a history between the two female characters as Airachnid kills Arcee’s partner during a past war.

Many characters resemble their G1 look

Above and below are some side-by-side shots I’ve put together of some of the characters that use the same physical characteristics and color schemes from G1.

Zombie Decepticons

For all you Walking Dead fans, Megatron unleashes dark energon on dead decepticons to revive them into “Terrorcons” during the 5 episode mini-series. Fun stuff for those who like a little undead in their TV viewing.

Most Transformers feature laser and hand-to-hand combat weapons

In other words, transformers don’t just mainly hold guns like in the G1 series. Their guns are housed within their arms or body. But when the battle draws near, they also have one-on-one combat weapons which makes for great swordplay action and just straight up punch-out fights.

There are good and bad humans

It’s not just Spike and his dad like in the G1 series. Early on, the story mainly focuses around a team of kids who discover the Autobots and then agree to help them against the Decepticons. Special Agent Fowler is the liaison between the Autbots and the government. There is also a terrorist organization called MECH that becomes an enemy of the Autobots and then work alongside the Decepticons.

image via Comics Online

NO DINOBOTS

At least, not yet.

Jason Gross (@SockOfFleagulls) is the creator of Rediscover the 80s and loves to subject his two sons to cartoons, TV, movies, and music from the decade. Currently promoting a M.A.S.K. live-action movie script (co-writer), he is a freelance 80s music & pop culture writer.