A good idea. You are off to a good start establishing Soundwave's goals and motives. One problem with Soundwave is as much screen time as he has we don't know much about him. Cold logic is Shockwave's thing. Arrogant bully is Starscream's deal. Soundwave is kind of an enigma. In the context of 80's cartoons, Megatron fits in with Cobra Commander, Skeletor and Tex-Hex. But it'd be another decade before we get villains like Kingpin, Dr. Doom, Xanatos and the rest. Villains with strategy and plans to achieve their goals.
Although Soundwave's voice may sound emotionless, he is not without feeling. He is not cold and logical, as Shockwave is. He just doesn't emote well. We get a view into Soundwave as Decepticon leader in the Marvel UK comics starting with the "Space Pirates" story arc, where Soundwave makes several emotional command choices, like being too eager to attack undermanned Autobot positions on Cybertron, that became blunders, and though he joined forces with the Autobots against Cybertron's invaders, and almost had a truce, Soundwave emotionally decided that peace between the factions was not an option afterward. You can read these stories with Soundwave in charge in the Marvel UK Transformers issues 183-187 ("Space Pirates") and 199-205 ("Time Wars").
There is one flaw with your thoughts on Transformers the Movie. Optimus and the Autobots were preparing to attack Cybertron. Most of their resources were on those moon. At the beginning of the movie, you could do as the movie played out, attack Autobot City, you could dig in on Cybertron since he would have known the Autobots plans, or attack the moon bases outright. In the last two cases, the Autobots and Deceptcons would have been at Cybertron when Unicorn attacked. They wouldn't know what he and who knows what would have happened at that point.
Fun discussion. I always consider Soundwave as both the loyal lieutenant and the competent, practical Deception. Yes, if you don’t have Megatron around, I think it would be a tall order for Soundwave to eclipse, as you mention, Starscream on Earth or Shockwave on Cybertron. As long as the other Decepticons don’t fully fall in line with Starscream’s ambitions, Soundwave and his cassettes (Rumble, Ravage, and Lazerbeak, etc) could easily take him out. I think it would be more difficult for Soundwave to dispatch Shockeave, because Shockwave isn’t the arrogant fool Starscream is. But, if Shockwave is on Cybertron and Soundwave leads the Earthbound Decepticons, it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is Soundwave’s ability to fend off the Autobots. Soundwave is a competent fighter, especially using his Cassettes in a fight, but he really is a “it’s ok to run away to live to fight another day” combatant. I just don’t see him being able to go toe-to-toe with Optimus Prime or some of the more battle seasoned Autobots, like Ironhide, Jazz, or Prowl. Without Megatron or Starscream (well, maybe not so much Starscream) the Decepticons are going to lose more fights, and Soundwave may not last long as leader among others like Thundercracker and Skywarp.
Grew up with G1 Technically for a short period in transformers cyber verse soundwave took over after megatron abandoned the idea of helping the autobots defeat starscream.Still would’ve been cool to have seen it in G1even for an episode
Soundwave in TF Prime is already de facto leader of the Decepticons and Starscream knows this despite fancying himself as the new leader, hence he had to be careful around Soundwave and not make an enemy out of him. Airachnid found out the hard way when she tried to lead the coup and take over the Nemesis while Megatron was with Team Prime at the Earth's core which is dormant Unicron. Only for Soundwave to easily stomp her like nothing.
I've always been a big fan of Soundwave, and I really like your video. I have some alternative possibilities though: First, I think Shockwave and Soundwave are both logical enough that they would leave power struggles until after the Decepticons had won the war, or at least until a stage where a conflict between them wouldn't endanger their side's dominance. Second, when it comes to Autobot City, I think that knowing the Autobots wanted to retake Cybertron, the logical step would be to take them out while they were vulnerable, so I suspect the attack would have gone forward, as long as they had the strength for it (after all, Megatron is a huge source of power for the 'cons, so him not being around at all means they've lost a lot of punch). Third, the cartoon and original comic didn't really have that 'You are being deceived' background of the Decepticons rising up against the Autobot rule, they were more into conquest in order to secure more resources for their race, so Soundwave might be more focused on destroying (or at least neutralising) the Autobots than you suggest. I definitely agree that Soundwave would accept a ceasefire in order to fight a bigger foe though. In the UK run of the original comics, when Soundwave actually was in charge of the 'cons in a future timeline, he did just that when the Quintessons tried to destroy both factions. For a moment he even genuinely considered a permanent peace between the factions until he realised there was too much bad blood between Autobots and Deceptions for a peace to last.
@@ArrowFyre Anything with Soundwave grabs my interest, and that it's an interesting and well-thought out thought experiment like this just makes it better 🙂
*The attack on Autobot City was in 2005, not 1986. “Gee I hope someone got fired for that blunder!” I wonder whether without him being second in Command would he be less inhibited and more unhinged? Feels like he’d be corrupted by power. Let’s not forget his leadership bid in 1986… I mean 2005! 😉
I feel like Starscream would be less overt in his desire to take over, if Soundwave was in charge. Admittedly this is just gut feeling and not based in amything, but there we go.
Soundwave is a follower … after megatron he follower who ever stand up . In my opinion Shockwave is the next leader . And as a kid watching as far as in rank I always thought shockwave was second in command after megatron.
Not a fan of using later characterizations for the G1 scenario (especially since Soundwave had a different personality at the begining of the IDW run), but here's something you missed I think might happen. Unicron went after Megatron to turn him into Galvatron to go after the Matrix before he started his attack on Cybertron's moon. You have Soundwave terminating Starscream. Starscream can't die- maybe Unicron seeks out Starscream to upgrade to kill Prime and destroy the Matric, so instead of Galvatron, you have Starscream in his place and the movie mostly happens the same, except you might have Prime still alive. Also, I think that the Depictions needed Earth's energy, so one way or another, the war doesn't end with Soundwave in charge.
I could see that maybe there's more of a cold war styled alliance where they don't like each other and do fund some small proxy wars on other planets (leading into Season 3 and 4 where it's small proxy wars but neither side wants to kill each other) but overall they do have an uneasy alliance or treaty where the Autobots will leave Cybertron alone and provide them some energon in exchange the Decepticons leave Earth alone and lend a hand if needed.
Personally, I could have seen Soundwave taking over for season 3 considering starscream, shockwave, and Gavaton were out of the picture.
Superior Obviously
Of course!
Why not? He's a technical and tactical genius. And, has his own team of Minicon troopers.
A good idea. You are off to a good start establishing Soundwave's goals and motives. One problem with Soundwave is as much screen time as he has we don't know much about him. Cold logic is Shockwave's thing. Arrogant bully is Starscream's deal. Soundwave is kind of an enigma. In the context of 80's cartoons, Megatron fits in with Cobra Commander, Skeletor and Tex-Hex. But it'd be another decade before we get villains like Kingpin, Dr. Doom, Xanatos and the rest. Villains with strategy and plans to achieve their goals.
hi dude how are you
I guess Megatron could have been damaged beyond repair at the Ark crash site.
I very much enjoyed sitting back and listening to someone agree about how awesome Soundwave is. Good video, good video.
Although Soundwave's voice may sound emotionless, he is not without feeling. He is not cold and logical, as Shockwave is. He just doesn't emote well. We get a view into Soundwave as Decepticon leader in the Marvel UK comics starting with the "Space Pirates" story arc, where Soundwave makes several emotional command choices, like being too eager to attack undermanned Autobot positions on Cybertron, that became blunders, and though he joined forces with the Autobots against Cybertron's invaders, and almost had a truce, Soundwave emotionally decided that peace between the factions was not an option afterward. You can read these stories with Soundwave in charge in the Marvel UK Transformers issues 183-187 ("Space Pirates") and 199-205 ("Time Wars").
If soundwave was the leader in g1 I think the Deceptikon would have won the war because Optimus Prime would have beaten soundwave
There is one flaw with your thoughts on Transformers the Movie. Optimus and the Autobots were preparing to attack Cybertron. Most of their resources were on those moon. At the beginning of the movie, you could do as the movie played out, attack Autobot City, you could dig in on Cybertron since he would have known the Autobots plans, or attack the moon bases outright. In the last two cases, the Autobots and Deceptcons would have been at Cybertron when Unicorn attacked. They wouldn't know what he and who knows what would have happened at that point.
Fun discussion. I always consider Soundwave as both the loyal lieutenant and the competent, practical Deception.
Yes, if you don’t have Megatron around, I think it would be a tall order for Soundwave to eclipse, as you mention, Starscream on Earth or Shockwave on Cybertron. As long as the other Decepticons don’t fully fall in line with Starscream’s ambitions, Soundwave and his cassettes (Rumble, Ravage, and Lazerbeak, etc) could easily take him out.
I think it would be more difficult for Soundwave to dispatch Shockeave, because Shockwave isn’t the arrogant fool Starscream is. But, if Shockwave is on Cybertron and Soundwave leads the Earthbound Decepticons, it really doesn’t matter.
What does matter is Soundwave’s ability to fend off the Autobots. Soundwave is a competent fighter, especially using his Cassettes in a fight, but he really is a “it’s ok to run away to live to fight another day” combatant. I just don’t see him being able to go toe-to-toe with Optimus Prime or some of the more battle seasoned Autobots, like Ironhide, Jazz, or Prowl. Without Megatron or Starscream (well, maybe not so much Starscream) the Decepticons are going to lose more fights, and Soundwave may not last long as leader among others like Thundercracker and Skywarp.
@@spacemanspiff3052 A very fair assessment 👏
Great video mate
Grew up with G1 Technically for a short period in transformers cyber verse soundwave took over after megatron abandoned the idea of helping the autobots defeat starscream.Still would’ve been cool to have seen it in G1even for an episode
Soundwave in TF Prime is already de facto leader of the Decepticons and Starscream knows this despite fancying himself as the new leader, hence he had to be careful around Soundwave and not make an enemy out of him.
Airachnid found out the hard way when she tried to lead the coup and take over the Nemesis while Megatron was with Team Prime at the Earth's core which is dormant Unicron.
Only for Soundwave to easily stomp her like nothing.
I've always been a big fan of Soundwave, and I really like your video. I have some alternative possibilities though:
First, I think Shockwave and Soundwave are both logical enough that they would leave power struggles until after the Decepticons had won the war, or at least until a stage where a conflict between them wouldn't endanger their side's dominance.
Second, when it comes to Autobot City, I think that knowing the Autobots wanted to retake Cybertron, the logical step would be to take them out while they were vulnerable, so I suspect the attack would have gone forward, as long as they had the strength for it (after all, Megatron is a huge source of power for the 'cons, so him not being around at all means they've lost a lot of punch).
Third, the cartoon and original comic didn't really have that 'You are being deceived' background of the Decepticons rising up against the Autobot rule, they were more into conquest in order to secure more resources for their race, so Soundwave might be more focused on destroying (or at least neutralising) the Autobots than you suggest.
I definitely agree that Soundwave would accept a ceasefire in order to fight a bigger foe though. In the UK run of the original comics, when Soundwave actually was in charge of the 'cons in a future timeline, he did just that when the Quintessons tried to destroy both factions. For a moment he even genuinely considered a permanent peace between the factions until he realised there was too much bad blood between Autobots and Deceptions for a peace to last.
@@stephenhumphreys9149 There's some very interesting points there, made for good reading. Thanks!
Also, thanks for watching the video 👍
@@ArrowFyre Anything with Soundwave grabs my interest, and that it's an interesting and well-thought out thought experiment like this just makes it better 🙂
@@stephenhumphreys9149 hi dude how are you
*The attack on Autobot City was in 2005, not 1986.
“Gee I hope someone got fired for that blunder!”
I wonder whether without him being second in Command would he be less inhibited and more unhinged? Feels like he’d be corrupted by power. Let’s not forget his leadership bid in 1986… I mean 2005! 😉
@@bumblejumper82 🤣🤣🤣
I feel like Starscream would be less overt in his desire to take over, if Soundwave was in charge. Admittedly this is just gut feeling and not based in amything, but there we go.
A fair point 👍
the decepticon symbol was based on his face
Soundwave is a follower … after megatron he follower who ever stand up . In my opinion Shockwave is the next leader . And as a kid watching as far as in rank I always thought shockwave was second in command after megatron.
y’all read the comics?
Soundwave superior, starscream inferior
Not a fan of using later characterizations for the G1 scenario (especially since Soundwave had a different personality at the begining of the IDW run), but here's something you missed I think might happen. Unicron went after Megatron to turn him into Galvatron to go after the Matrix before he started his attack on Cybertron's moon. You have Soundwave terminating Starscream. Starscream can't die- maybe Unicron seeks out Starscream to upgrade to kill Prime and destroy the Matric, so instead of Galvatron, you have Starscream in his place and the movie mostly happens the same, except you might have Prime still alive.
Also, I think that the Depictions needed Earth's energy, so one way or another, the war doesn't end with Soundwave in charge.
I could see that maybe there's more of a cold war styled alliance where they don't like each other and do fund some small proxy wars on other planets (leading into Season 3 and 4 where it's small proxy wars but neither side wants to kill each other) but overall they do have an uneasy alliance or treaty where the Autobots will leave Cybertron alone and provide them some energon in exchange the Decepticons leave Earth alone and lend a hand if needed.
Shockwave would be better leader than Soundwave.
Nobody would follow un uncharasmatic bore like him
Rude lol
Really? Wilhelm Scream? I hate that scream.
For years I referred to it as 'the Star Wars scream'.
@@ArrowFyre Well, here's the Wikipedia article on the the Wilhelm scream: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream
@@michaelclickard6264 hi man how are you today