Rescue Bots - Changes - Review

If you want to read up my episode reviews for Season One of Rescue Bots, click here: neoyi.deviantart.com/journal/A…

PREVIOUS SEASON TWO REVIEWS
27. Road Trip
28. Sky Forest
29. One For The Ages
30. Tip of the Iceberg
31. A Virtual Disaster
32. Spellbound
33. Prescott's Bots
34. Blame the Gremlins
35. Feed the Beast
36. What Lies Below
37. What Rises Above
38. Space Bots
39. The Island of Misfit Tech
40. The Vigilant Town
41. Buddy System
42. In Search of the Griffin's Nest
43. Bots and Robbers
44. Rescue Dog

(_{NOTE: I know there's no images here, but that's only for subscribed members and I don't feel like paying DA for another subscription anytime soon. If you really want pretty screenshots with the review, my Tumblr version has them. Click here if you prefer that instead: neoyi.tumblr.com/post/90609690…})



As always, SPOILERS!









“Robots with personalities? Now this is positively riveting.”

BOATWAVE.

Heatwave’s a boat.

He is a triple changer.

I can’t say I didn’t see this one coming because that toy has been out for a while. Heck, I am pretty sure the creators even confirmed the Rescue Bots are getting dinosaur modes or they'll do something with dinosaurs for Season Three, likely based on those set of toys that are currently out. Oy, that one-in-a-half year gap really didn’t help you guys. Not that it stops “Changes” from being a good episode.

And the good we get is very, very welcome. Dr. Morocco is back and if I felt his role was a little lacking in "Tip of the Iceberg", he's in top form for "Changes." His last appearance left both our heroes and the audiences confused when he rescued the Burns and Bots from certain doom. Then he secretly donated the painting of Charlie's grandfather safely in the Burns' fire station with nary an explanation. Cody optimistically hoped Morocco will eventually have a change of morals; I thought the kid was being too enthusiastic. Returning a beloved painting doesn't fix what is an otherwise morally reprehensible man and I stated it'd take more than a minor act of kindness to dramatically change a man.

Turns out, neither did the show. “Changes” reveals the real reason the portrait was saved; Morocco had it bugged. He planted a secret camera to get a more intimidate look at the Burns' fire station. Ooooh, clever man, that Morocco. And patient to boot! It took sixteen episodes for this to play off and "Changes" hints it's been stuffed in a locker since. Oh, but it gets better. Morocco discovers yet another weather machine; a prototype of the first. Two weather machines, that’s fantastic. It’s just…that’s fantastic, Griffin Rock. Morocco goes to town with this thing; I mean he creates fire tornadeos. We’re talking wrath of God levels here. With the Burns and Bots distracted, this leaves Morocco free to trespass in their territory where he discovers the Rescue Bots' greatest secret: they're aliens. Oh snap son! And oh my GOD, it gets better. He managed to steal some of the alien tech and plans to sell it to Ms. Pynch. Yessss! Yessssssssssss Future villain team up, please!

The two-parter episodes “What Lies Below/What Rises Above” settled Heatwave's character development nicely, showing how far he's come that he would no longer dismiss his team at the drop of a hat to join OP's  group. He values each and every member and makes it very clear to Optimus that he will run things by his teammates first before he does anything beyond his intended role. “Changes” expands this when Optimus specifically requested Heatwave's presence and him alone. Heatwave is still in awe over Optimus' presence, but his worship has considerably lowered not out of lack of respect, but due to a sense of commitment and duty to his friends. He should be going to OP right now, but there's rescuing to be done and he's constantly worried if the other Bots and humans will be fine without his involvement. So much that it takes the entire crew to coax him to leave.

Much praise should be given to Kade's role, too. The hothead constantly worries over his "buddy" (a nickname that shocked Heatwave on how friendly it is. XD) Actually, I was legitimately surprised that Heatwave’s entire plot didn’t involve Cody in any way (in fact, he’s barely in the episode.) Usually the kid somehow always ends up in the central narrative because he's the required target audience, but they kept it between Heatwave and Kade the entire time and I like that. Kade is Heatwave’s partner and if they’re going to involve something significantly life-changing on the latter, why shouldn’t it focus strictly between him and his human companion? Kudos to the writer for understanding the main lead doesn’t always have to take the spotlight in order to move the story.

To those who followed my Transformers Prime reviews will know my opinion on Optimus Prime is fairly…low. It's kind of irrational because I'm judging him purely due to how, well, nice, he is. I get what his character is supposed to be: all-knowing, all-perfect leader. He’s the bot you look up, the role model. Optimus purposely receives the least amount of character development and story focus because he largely has his head on straight, leaving much of the lion’s share to the rest of the Autobots. His speech is always formal and he towers over most of the Autobots. He handles difficult decisions and the burdens of leadership with elegance and fatherly grace. I know a lot of people have been looking up to this guy since the G1 era and to boast an Optimus Prime with this specific trait makes a damn good deal of sense. I totally see why people admire him.

But I was never under his spell. Maybe it's because I only became a fan of the franchise for some four odd years. Maybe I was spoiled by Animated Optimus who presents a personality that's easier to relate to, or hell, maybe it's because from what I've seen of G1 (I'm stuck somewhere in Season Two of that show; I'm sorry guys, but G1 Transformers is a hard cartoon to sit through), he's very fun loving and goofy on top of his moral wisdom, but Prime Optimus never struck me as anything but boring. Usually, that alone wouldn't mean much and it certainly won't ruin a show for me, but it sticks out when you attempt to squeeze a story onto him in an effort to deepen him with meager results. There’s a reason why Wise Mentor archetypes like him are only relegated to (relatively important) secondary/tertiary positions; these types of characters pretty much know their shit and usually don't have or need a dilemma to constantly carry them. They're not that interesting. It's why the general audience tends to stick with people who are more grounded to Earth, carrying weight that means more when they do evolve. I am generalizing, mind you and there will always be exceptions. I liked Optimus' story in Prime Season One as an Autobot who struggles with the idea that his friend, Megatron, is too far gone. He's constantly factoring whether Megatron should live or die, hoping he can perform the first by reaching out to his old comrade. Seeing Megatron summon Unicron is what prompts Optimus to realize his friend has fallen far and I equally loved his decision to (nearly) kill him when the opportunity arose during "Crossfire." It's amazingly well done, but in the long run, he's still pretty much the same Optimus Prime and the lack of visible conflict in display didn't really entice me.

All of this is really a too long tl; dr explanation on why I really, really like his “double dutch” line. It’s probably the closest I’ve ever come to appreciating Prime Optimus just for personality alone. Heatwave tries to keep Kade from embarrassing him, but Optimus gleefully contributes to his silliness. Even Rescue Bots can't save him from his hokey, pretentiousness, but just for a bit, we get a minor miracle.

I’m not quite sure what to make of the whole “meditate so you can squeeze in a third mode" thing. Not that Transformers hasn’t done mystical stuff before (oh, they do pleeeeeenty of that and I’m totally fine with it), but I feel like this is something that could have easily worked on a technological scale. I don’t know. It doesn’t take me out of the series or anything, but I haven’t quite warmed up to it for some reason though. Still, good choice in vehicle; it could open up a lot of variety in future episodes. The boat design is pretty damn cool to boot, too.
AND A HALF OUT OF FIVE STARS









OVER CLAYTON RAVINE: I don’t know, Chase, rescuing someone from a runaway horse drawn carriage could alter the time stream and then where you would be? You’d fall in love with the woman who nearly fell off and well, you’d have to explain the time machine you’ve made and she’ll be pissed because you pretended to like Jules Vernes even though you liked it for real and you were genuinely falling in love with her and… where was I going with this?

THE SPECIAL SUCK-UP ALARM: Look how important Optimus is that he has his own alarm. I bet Heatwave installed it since he worships the ground he walks on. Even when Heatwave has the gull to stick up for his teammates and Optimus just turns off the video screen is he all, Prime-crushing. Also, Optimus, that was totally rude. Why do you always have a problem whenever Heatwave defends his co-workers?

TORNA-DON’T: Why does every one of Doc’s invention have to either malfunction or trigger something violent? Like explosions? Even Dani’s apprehensive at this point and she’s the one constantly pushing an acrophobic Autobot out in the sky.

Morocco also laments that one measly tornado is nowhere near enough for an island-wide evacuation. Oh, okay. One insignificant F5 tornado isn't enough for Griffin Rock; noooo, he has to create several fire tornadoes for any visible reaction from an island that would consider this shit a Tuesday. This island is the most metal place in the Aligned Continuity. Cybertron couldn't save millions of years of robot war; Griffin Rock would consider that a good day.

HOLY SHIT CHASE JUST TOOK A LIGHTNING BOLT TO THE CHEST: Heatwave and Optimus Prime can just take a hike, that was badass.

BEST LINE:

HEATWAVE: Chase, you’re in charge while I’m gone. Boulder, keep an eye on Cody for me. And Blades, don’t stay up late watching horror movies. I won’t be around to help you hunt zombie hamsters.
BLADES: That was one time.

I ship these two stupidly badly.

RUNNER-UP: ”Didn’t you hear the forecast? 100% chance of fire.”

Morocco sums up Griffin Island in one sentence.

WORST LINE: ”I do hope no one’s flying a kite.”

Actually, I am not so sure how bad this line should be. I mean, it’s bad, but while he’s saying this, there are thunder and lightning crackling behind him to add extra dramatic affair and it kind of fits Morocco’s own brand of sophisticated hamminess, but really, the first thing that popped up when I saw this scene is Transformers Prime because I honestly think that damn show would spouted the exact same line with that exact same scenario and have it played 100% seriously. And I say this because the damn show did pull the lightning/thunder combo while the villain shouted like he’s auditioning for a theater play. Basically what I’m saying is Transformers Prime is ridiculous.



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Discovery (A Transformers Animated Fancomic): Read the entire thing here. Placed there for archival purpose. Recently cancelled.



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