[6.9/10] I liked the metaphor better before Rattrap underlined it, but what gives this half of the duology an advantage over the previous episode is the use of Cheetor’s “Transmetal 2” transformation as an allegory for puberty. His body is experiencing changes. He’s hiding things from his “dad” because he wants to be tough and independent. He’s having nightmares and insecurities about his self-image and how he appears to others. He’s noticing women in a way he didn’t before. He’s trying to seem cool but nonchalant. They’ve basically turned him into a budding teenager.
Granted, the show doesn’t do any of this terribly well (the interactions with Black Arachnia are particularly painful), but it’s a compelling idea, one that gives this episode a little more juice than some others this season. The one real high point is the nightmare sequences the episode delivers, with an impressionsitic take on how young people can feel about their bodies during the awkward transition period that’s the right mix between liminal and literal.
Otherwise, this is a pretty standard episode, with various skirmishes with the Predacons, surprise saves, and fire fights that don't really mean much. I guess the point is to show off Cheetor’s new look (more toyetic material), and given how goofy both his beast mode and robot modes look, that’s not to the episode’s benefit.
Still, if we have to do these design refreshes every dozen episodes or so, I at least like choices like this which tie them to character and not just convenience. The execution isn’t great, but the idea is, which helps.
Review by Andrew Bloom
VIP9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-08-15T02:39:54Z
[6.9/10] I liked the metaphor better before Rattrap underlined it, but what gives this half of the duology an advantage over the previous episode is the use of Cheetor’s “Transmetal 2” transformation as an allegory for puberty. His body is experiencing changes. He’s hiding things from his “dad” because he wants to be tough and independent. He’s having nightmares and insecurities about his self-image and how he appears to others. He’s noticing women in a way he didn’t before. He’s trying to seem cool but nonchalant. They’ve basically turned him into a budding teenager.
Granted, the show doesn’t do any of this terribly well (the interactions with Black Arachnia are particularly painful), but it’s a compelling idea, one that gives this episode a little more juice than some others this season. The one real high point is the nightmare sequences the episode delivers, with an impressionsitic take on how young people can feel about their bodies during the awkward transition period that’s the right mix between liminal and literal.
Otherwise, this is a pretty standard episode, with various skirmishes with the Predacons, surprise saves, and fire fights that don't really mean much. I guess the point is to show off Cheetor’s new look (more toyetic material), and given how goofy both his beast mode and robot modes look, that’s not to the episode’s benefit.
Still, if we have to do these design refreshes every dozen episodes or so, I at least like choices like this which tie them to character and not just convenience. The execution isn’t great, but the idea is, which helps.