I just rewatched some of the old season 1 G1 cartoons this week. Little here and there each night. Its nice to hear another adult fan on well-thought points on the series. I've always acknowledge and just blindly accepted (cause what else can one do) the animation errors and continuity, and still love it for all that. I grew up with it, collect thed comics, kept what toys I could then add to it when I got into my 20s.
I wish I'd kept my original toys (like most collectors do!) The only one I have left now is a beat up Prowl. I got back into collecting and that re-ignited my interest in the cartoon again (also re-reading all the original Marvel comics). Thanks for watching by the way!
@@retroandreissue I've been enjoying your channel great deal so keep it coming. I only had few TFs from my child-hood cause there was this . . . that shouldn't keep them due to not being that age anymore. I've bought quite few old G1 as adult taht I didn't have and enjoying new G1/Legacy toys.
@@SlashTheWeasel I'm still focused on Studio Series 86 but recently bought my first vintage - Pipes! But mainly so I can compare him to the Kingdom version for a vid. Found a really good vintage seller on eBay though so I'll probably pick up more in the future
@@retroandreissue I'm on Studio Series/Legacy G1 so I get it. Its little bit at time and when you can. And I got some in not the best shape while others are in good varying on price. I figure I'll never truly be done which is fine with me.
@@SlashTheWeasel No, I don't really have an end goal in sight either. I'd like to get some boxed vintage since they stopped doing the reissues but the prices are scary!
Great video! My head theory for why Megs keeps Starscream around, is because he secretly respects his ball bearings for directly challenging him. No other decepticons ever try to take over so defiantly. Megs is trying to groom a true warrior out of him. None of this is supported by the show of course, but i think its a fun idea.
Great video! I appreciate your efforts to do these season long retrospectives and hope you continue. I know there are better episodes later on, but--for me--this first season is the heart of Transformers. I got a lot of the toys in the early '80s; Transformers was perhaps my earliest fandom, before being overtaken by G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Marvel superheroes, and other stuff. Bu I never *loved* the toys. Some of them were hard to transform, and some of them just looked... dumb (Ironhide!). I fell in love with the Autobots and Decepticons through the television show; this was how I imagined the characters; this is how I wanted them to look. That's why I only started collecting Transformers toys again a couple years ago when they started the War for Cybertron line and the characters looked a lot more cartoon accurate to me. Over the summer I did a podcast on "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter. It's probably my favorite Transformers story ever told, and at the crux of this planetary destruction threatened by Cybertron entering Earth's orbit is a very real, very human drama playing out between Spike and his father. I was just a kid when I saw it and Sparkplug turning evil and betraying his son rocked my world. The trauma Spike felt hit me in my soul because as a child I could think of nothing more horrifying than my parents rejecting me and calling me their enemy. "The Ultimate Doom" also had some of the best action sequences and dialogue by Brawn (my favorite) and Skyfire and Wheeljack. Because of my emotional tether to that story, I've always felt that the Transformers work best with a human POV character like Spike or Buster in the comics or Sam in the movies. Likewise, I've also always preferred stories with the Transformers set on Earth as opposed to Cybertron or other planets. For me--again, this all stems from being a little kid when this came out--the coolest aspect about the Autobots and Decepticons was the "robots in disguise" part; that they could change into the same cars and trucks we see on the road every day. Any ambulance could be Ratchet. Any jet could be Thundercracker. Without the Earth-based alt. modes, the transformation is just a cool mode of transportation, but it lacks the disguise element. Anyway, for all those reasons, as well as financial considerations, I've limited my Transformers collection to only the Autobots and Decepticons that appeared in season 1 of the cartoon (omitting the Dinobots, because that was too much and I missed the chance to get Grimlock the first time around and didn't want to overspend to get him on the secondary market). So the only figures I still need are the Constructicons, who are all coming out in 2025, and Windcharger, whenever they get around to him. I would like to update a few figures like a Studio 86 Megatron, and better versions of Sideswipe, Mirage, and Bluestreak, but those aren't priorities right now. Okay, like I said, great video. Thanks for going through these episodes and sharing your thoughts.
I'm pretty much in lock step with you through your entire assessment of the show. 34:19 - When that War for Cybertron video game came out back in 2010 it took all the wonky, goofy, slanted, stuff and realigned it into something incredibly mature while maintaining the nostalgia and charm of the source material. For me it was the PERFECT updated digestible form of Transformers media we needed. The massive scale of that game and the pacing of the story just blew me away. The developers were huge G1 fans who all grew up and got dream jobs working on this game. The game really got down to the nitty gritty of war too. That game's story was so well written that there were moments I sympathized with Megatron's motivation and was actually rooting for him. If your inner child has a warm soft spot for the 80's cartoon, then your adult self should appreciate it. I've never seen anything come close to the multiplayer modes it ever since. I have yet to see any other iteration of the franchise retain so much G1 but still being on a more advanced mature level.
@@retroandreissueone other thing I’d raise. Why weren’t there give Dino bots do they could conbine or why both Megs and prime could make laser weapons from their hands but never used.
I grew up watching G1 Transformers during the 80's and although I thought it was great, I always noticed there was continuity and scaling issues like in the first 5 episodes the Autobots could fly then later on they can't or how did Starscream have an Earth based alternate form when it was millions of years before they came to Earth or the biggest 2 errors of all, the orgins of the Constructions and Insecticons. Even though I thought about these I still loved the show
Very similar to me. I wonder why they didn't change Starscream's jet mode for the episode with Jetfire to one of the triangle seekers we see on Cybertron?
It was probably a time issue. They were pumping out episodes like crazy and in a short time frame. There were 16 episodes in the first season and then 49 (repeat 49!!!) in the second season. Something tells me they were likely working on the second season during the first season. Lol. Anyway, there probably wasn't enough time to work out those kinds of continuity details with that kind of output.
@@avenuePad That's a good point since Transformers were selling like hotcakes they're were probably under a lot of pressure to keep up. I know that the movie we in pre-production pretty early and that's one of the reasons later additions to the cast (like the Aerialbots) were absent
This was amazing, brother! I'm definitely down for a Season 2 retrospective. I was (and still am) more a fan of the figures than the lore and media surrounding them.
Great video dude, as someone in the UK who grew up watching G1 (and yes I had the Vector Sigma VHS too haha) I went back when I started collecting 4yrs ago, starting with the new ones (Siege onwards) I had as a kid and now 150+ deep I've rewatched all G1 seasons + Japanese mini series after S4 I echo alot of what you said atleast regarding S1...defo do Season 2!!
I think it’s still by far the best Transformers series. No other has the scope of characters, stories, and imagination G1 had. Every time they try to reinvent the wheel, they fall short.
I really enjoyed this video and totally agree that episodes where new characters are introduced are the best. I would love to see a video like this for season 2 and possibly even beyond to see your take on the random introduction of many more characters.
Fire in The Sky is one pf favorite G1 episodes. Though oddly enough despite really liking Skyfire I kind of wish he had stayed buried, since he doesn't do much past his debut episode, and if he stayed buried I think the episode would feel more profound.
This was a fantastic video! I appreciate your capacity to articulate your love of the toys and IP, but not the blind defense of all things transformers. Foolishly thinking the movie was being played in the movie theater several mo the ago, I ended up seeing the first four episodes of season one. To be honest, I was rather bored! I love the toys and the feelings I felt as a kid watching these episodes after school. But seeing them now and not loving it doesn’t in the slightest spoil my nostalgia and fandom.
The “ color seeker “ was just random color wasn’t meant to be. Look at Transformers the movie 86, they so much background random appear . But now a day third party you make those toy color lol. Only true color seeker is star scream , thunder cracker , and sky warp. Just like so many extra cyclonus in movie .
Another Great Video. I do disagree with the thoughts on Season 2. For me the S2 stories were a bit more silly in nature. And the influx of new bots was just a bit too over the top. G1 Season 1 for me. Keep up the good work.
Still fun to watch just like Gi joe Masters of the universe yeah sure it might be cheesy but who cares they are still fun to watch I still watch the Flintstones, looney tunes and I still have fun
Season 1 is good season 2 is hit or miss alot of dumb episodes but great ones too . The movie is awesome and season 3 is the best with maybe 5 episodes that are bad but the rest are great and 4 is ok but sad that it was the end until headmasters anyways . But that's my take growing up with g1
I tried watching the whole series, but tapped out in early season 2. I dearly love Transformers, especially G1, but some of the stories are so corny and the animation/continuity errors are laughably bad. I hate the notion that, "It's a kids show, it doesn't have to be good." There are mountains of "kids" entertainment that hold up because they took the time and effort to craft a good story and didn't cut corners. There I'm done.
Whoa! Slow down there! Grimlock isn't necessarily stronger than Prime, who is shown to be holding back offensively in that fight, I dunno, it's like you don't even know Prime's character
The fact that you think you can watch ANY transformers shows or movies, without watching the original show, makes "0" sense to intelligent adults, with functioning brains! Why does it make sense for you guys to everything backwards?
Accepting that the film is both a commercial and something that can be remembered fondly is a great take. G1 will always have so much charm to it
I just rewatched some of the old season 1 G1 cartoons this week. Little here and there each night. Its nice to hear another adult fan on well-thought points on the series. I've always acknowledge and just blindly accepted (cause what else can one do) the animation errors and continuity, and still love it for all that. I grew up with it, collect thed comics, kept what toys I could then add to it when I got into my 20s.
I wish I'd kept my original toys (like most collectors do!) The only one I have left now is a beat up Prowl. I got back into collecting and that re-ignited my interest in the cartoon again (also re-reading all the original Marvel comics). Thanks for watching by the way!
@@retroandreissue I've been enjoying your channel great deal so keep it coming. I only had few TFs from my child-hood cause there was this . . . that shouldn't keep them due to not being that age anymore. I've bought quite few old G1 as adult taht I didn't have and enjoying new G1/Legacy toys.
@@SlashTheWeasel I'm still focused on Studio Series 86 but recently bought my first vintage - Pipes! But mainly so I can compare him to the Kingdom version for a vid. Found a really good vintage seller on eBay though so I'll probably pick up more in the future
@@retroandreissue I'm on Studio Series/Legacy G1 so I get it. Its little bit at time and when you can. And I got some in not the best shape while others are in good varying on price. I figure I'll never truly be done which is fine with me.
@@SlashTheWeasel No, I don't really have an end goal in sight either. I'd like to get some boxed vintage since they stopped doing the reissues but the prices are scary!
It's better than any of the Transformers series since 2000.
Great video! My head theory for why Megs keeps Starscream around, is because he secretly respects his ball bearings for directly challenging him. No other decepticons ever try to take over so defiantly. Megs is trying to groom a true warrior out of him. None of this is supported by the show of course, but i think its a fun idea.
This was a great retrospect and I can’t wait for season’s two three and four
Thanks for watching and for commenting! I really need people to do that so I know there's that interest for more - cheers
Great video! I appreciate your efforts to do these season long retrospectives and hope you continue. I know there are better episodes later on, but--for me--this first season is the heart of Transformers. I got a lot of the toys in the early '80s; Transformers was perhaps my earliest fandom, before being overtaken by G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Marvel superheroes, and other stuff. Bu I never *loved* the toys. Some of them were hard to transform, and some of them just looked... dumb (Ironhide!). I fell in love with the Autobots and Decepticons through the television show; this was how I imagined the characters; this is how I wanted them to look. That's why I only started collecting Transformers toys again a couple years ago when they started the War for Cybertron line and the characters looked a lot more cartoon accurate to me.
Over the summer I did a podcast on "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter. It's probably my favorite Transformers story ever told, and at the crux of this planetary destruction threatened by Cybertron entering Earth's orbit is a very real, very human drama playing out between Spike and his father. I was just a kid when I saw it and Sparkplug turning evil and betraying his son rocked my world. The trauma Spike felt hit me in my soul because as a child I could think of nothing more horrifying than my parents rejecting me and calling me their enemy. "The Ultimate Doom" also had some of the best action sequences and dialogue by Brawn (my favorite) and Skyfire and Wheeljack.
Because of my emotional tether to that story, I've always felt that the Transformers work best with a human POV character like Spike or Buster in the comics or Sam in the movies. Likewise, I've also always preferred stories with the Transformers set on Earth as opposed to Cybertron or other planets. For me--again, this all stems from being a little kid when this came out--the coolest aspect about the Autobots and Decepticons was the "robots in disguise" part; that they could change into the same cars and trucks we see on the road every day. Any ambulance could be Ratchet. Any jet could be Thundercracker. Without the Earth-based alt. modes, the transformation is just a cool mode of transportation, but it lacks the disguise element.
Anyway, for all those reasons, as well as financial considerations, I've limited my Transformers collection to only the Autobots and Decepticons that appeared in season 1 of the cartoon (omitting the Dinobots, because that was too much and I missed the chance to get Grimlock the first time around and didn't want to overspend to get him on the secondary market). So the only figures I still need are the Constructicons, who are all coming out in 2025, and Windcharger, whenever they get around to him. I would like to update a few figures like a Studio 86 Megatron, and better versions of Sideswipe, Mirage, and Bluestreak, but those aren't priorities right now.
Okay, like I said, great video. Thanks for going through these episodes and sharing your thoughts.
I'm pretty much in lock step with you through your entire assessment of the show. 34:19 - When that War for Cybertron video game came out back in 2010 it took all the wonky, goofy, slanted, stuff and realigned it into something incredibly mature while maintaining the nostalgia and charm of the source material. For me it was the PERFECT updated digestible form of Transformers media we needed. The massive scale of that game and the pacing of the story just blew me away. The developers were huge G1 fans who all grew up and got dream jobs working on this game. The game really got down to the nitty gritty of war too. That game's story was so well written that there were moments I sympathized with Megatron's motivation and was actually rooting for him. If your inner child has a warm soft spot for the 80's cartoon, then your adult self should appreciate it. I've never seen anything come close to the multiplayer modes it ever since. I have yet to see any other iteration of the franchise retain so much G1 but still being on a more advanced mature level.
I watch it regularly, almost daily.
Favourite episode?
@@retroandreissueone other thing I’d raise. Why weren’t there give Dino bots do they could conbine or why both Megs and prime could make laser weapons from their hands but never used.
I grew up watching G1 Transformers during the 80's and although I thought it was great, I always noticed there was continuity and scaling issues like in the first 5 episodes the Autobots could fly then later on they can't or how did Starscream have an Earth based alternate form when it was millions of years before they came to Earth or the biggest 2 errors of all, the orgins of the Constructions and Insecticons. Even though I thought about these I still loved the show
Very similar to me. I wonder why they didn't change Starscream's jet mode for the episode with Jetfire to one of the triangle seekers we see on Cybertron?
It was probably a time issue. They were pumping out episodes like crazy and in a short time frame. There were 16 episodes in the first season and then 49 (repeat 49!!!) in the second season. Something tells me they were likely working on the second season during the first season. Lol. Anyway, there probably wasn't enough time to work out those kinds of continuity details with that kind of output.
@@avenuePad That's a good point since Transformers were selling like hotcakes they're were probably under a lot of pressure to keep up. I know that the movie we in pre-production pretty early and that's one of the reasons later additions to the cast (like the Aerialbots) were absent
This was amazing, brother! I'm definitely down for a Season 2 retrospective. I was (and still am) more a fan of the figures than the lore and media surrounding them.
Great video dude, as someone in the UK who grew up watching G1 (and yes I had the Vector Sigma VHS too haha) I went back when I started collecting 4yrs ago, starting with the new ones (Siege onwards) I had as a kid and now 150+ deep I've rewatched all G1 seasons + Japanese mini series after S4 I echo alot of what you said atleast regarding S1...defo do Season 2!!
After getting to the end of Season 4 I definitely want to see where the Japanese series took the Headmasters - thanks for watching bud!
Got the whole series on DVD . .still my favorite cartoon.
I think it’s still by far the best Transformers series. No other has the scope of characters, stories, and imagination G1 had. Every time they try to reinvent the wheel, they fall short.
I really enjoyed this video and totally agree that episodes where new characters are introduced are the best. I would love to see a video like this for season 2 and possibly even beyond to see your take on the random introduction of many more characters.
Transformers is not only iconic cartoon . Don’t forget Voltron ,He-Man, Thunder Cats, M.A.S.K, Robotech, Silver Hawk, G.IJoe .
Fire in The Sky is one pf favorite G1 episodes. Though oddly enough despite really liking Skyfire I kind of wish he had stayed buried, since he doesn't do much past his debut episode, and if he stayed buried I think the episode would feel more profound.
I do.My early childhood.
This was a fantastic video! I appreciate your capacity to articulate your love of the toys and IP, but not the blind defense of all things transformers. Foolishly thinking the movie was being played in the movie theater several mo the ago, I ended up seeing the first four episodes of season one. To be honest, I was rather bored! I love the toys and the feelings I felt as a kid watching these episodes after school. But seeing them now and not loving it doesn’t in the slightest spoil my nostalgia and fandom.
Exactly the same with me! Thanks for for the feedback mate
I’m 46 . I was 7 yr when this cartoon came out .
The “ color seeker “ was just random color wasn’t meant to be. Look at Transformers the movie 86, they so much background random appear . But now a day third party you make those toy color lol. Only true color seeker is star scream , thunder cracker , and sky warp. Just like so many extra cyclonus in movie .
Another Great Video. I do disagree with the thoughts on Season 2. For me the S2 stories were a bit more silly in nature. And the influx of new bots was just a bit too over the top. G1 Season 1 for me. Keep up the good work.
If you have Pluto TV...g1 transformers is on every weekend on the transformers channel
Hasbro pulse have a complete G1 transformers season on the UA-cam
Still fun to watch just like Gi joe Masters of the universe yeah sure it might be cheesy but who cares they are still fun to watch I still watch the Flintstones, looney tunes and I still have fun
🤩🤩🤩❤️🔥‼️
Season 1 is good season 2 is hit or miss alot of dumb episodes but great ones too . The movie is awesome and season 3 is the best with maybe 5 episodes that are bad but the rest are great and 4 is ok but sad that it was the end until headmasters anyways . But that's my take growing up with g1
I tried watching the whole series, but tapped out in early season 2. I dearly love Transformers, especially G1, but some of the stories are so corny and the animation/continuity errors are laughably bad. I hate the notion that, "It's a kids show, it doesn't have to be good." There are mountains of "kids" entertainment that hold up because they took the time and effort to craft a good story and didn't cut corners.
There I'm done.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Tom. I have a higher opinion of the show but share some of your frustrations with it!
Whoa! Slow down there! Grimlock isn't necessarily stronger than Prime, who is shown to be holding back offensively in that fight, I dunno, it's like you don't even know Prime's character
t 2:05 why, Ratchet
The movie, rebirth red dawn
Free on pluto TV...
Certainly worth watching. Gets worse as it goes along. Stop after season 2. I grew up with transformers so halt the hate
The fact that you think you can watch ANY transformers shows or movies, without watching the original show, makes "0" sense to intelligent adults, with functioning brains! Why does it make sense for you guys to everything backwards?