Masterforce

[blueshift]

Yessss the orb!

[Jim]

Episode 15; after all these years, I am spoiled by seeing both PMOP and Pirrancon in animated glory in the same episode!

There's some further humanising of the Decepticon Headmaster Jrs here, at the beginning with the surfing especially but the relationship between Cab and Minerva comes into play again. The way they are being developed I wonder if we are seeing set up for them turning on the other Decepticons before the end.

Some good stuff with the Autobot Pretenders as well who you would think would have been pushed into the background by now. Their dynamic is quite restrained, but I see them as old friends who go a long way back and don't need to say a lot to each other.

King Poseidon vs Super Ginrai is good stuff; Turtler's entrance with the Decepticon Pretenders remarking that you don't see him often was another of those neat, curious little throw-away world-building lines this series does so well. Why don't you see him often? Why did he turn up just now, and why didn't the other Decepticons expect him? I don't expect all these things to be answered, but they're great hooks for speculation and fan-fiction.

-Jim

[blueshift]

Aug 30, 2017 20:50:31 GMT Jim said:

Episode 15; after all these years, I am spoiled by seeing both PMOP and Pirrancon in animated glory in the same episode!

There's some further humanising of the Decepticon Headmaster Jrs here, at the beginning with the surfing especially but the relationship between Cab and Minerva comes into play again. The way they are being developed I wonder if we are seeing set up for them turning on the other Decepticons before the end.

Some good stuff with the Autobot Pretenders as well who you would think would have been pushed into the background by now. Their dynamic is quite restrained, but I see them as old friends who go a long way back and don't need to say a lot to each other.

King Poseidon vs Super Ginrai is good stuff; Turtler's entrance with the Decepticon Pretenders remarking that you don't see him often was another of those neat, curious little throw-away world-building lines this series does so well. Why don't you see him often? Why did he turn up just now, and why didn't the other Decepticons expect him? I don't expect all these things to be answered, but they're great hooks for speculation and fan-fiction.

-Jim

I love Turtler, he's basically a giant asshole. I always felt he had a bit of a superiority complex around all the humans as well. Also the yip yip yipping.

Not sure if I hate or love the fact that the first time Piranacon shows up he immediately gets trashed!

[Jim]

Yes, the yipping, I forgot to mention that!

Episode 16, Ginrai's broadcast from a few episodes back bears fruit; I like the subplot approach. It's one of the weaker recent episodes, though it has its moments.

The Autobot Headmaster Jrs get some time to shine at the start, like their Decepticon counterparts last episode, with a swim race, a bit of peeping on the girls (!), and then starting to plan a road trip at Minerva's suggestion (she's quite pro-active, I like her - in many ways if there is a natural leader of the three it is her).

Ginrai getting caught out a long way from his transtector after going for a spin with Lightfoot was good, though the fight following it was weak - I feel they used Super Ginrai and Pirranacon a bit too easily here, just one episode after we saw them first, and Pirranacon is again taken down quickly.

Shout out to the producers of the DVD - the subtitling is great, with the additional explanations of Japanese tradition and jokes that would be puns in the original. Also the transcription of the japanese song in the opening credits alongside the English - karaoke time at TF nation?

-Jim

[blueshift]

I seem to recall the other country's DVDs use American names for the subs. I think the UK got the best package, even if no dub (and the dub is horrible)

[Jim]

Episode 17! I'm slowing down a bit now as the family is back from Paris, so will probably be just the one episode a day at most.

Is the Decepticon base spreading? Our orb / Decepticon God now has a name - Devil Z! This is a name I have encountered, but I know almost nothing about him.

Phoenix remains ever distant and unknowable! Diver can't join in because he is specifically busy with his marine biology work, whereas Phoenix just "has things to do". Will this be a deliberate plot point and he actually has some awesome secret project? If not, I think I may be working up an idea for the zine...

Feel like eating some salmon steaks and mushrooms now. It is market day tomorrow, where there is a fishmonger with good salmon, and mushrooms are everywhere at the moment...

Ranger seems likeable; someone else who wanted to get away from the crowds, maybe he'll get on well with Ginrai.

The wedge between the Decepticon Pretenders / Godmasters and the Headmaster Jrs gets driven in further with Hydra bombing both Wilder and Ginrai, and Devil Z punishing the others.

-Jim

[blueshift]

Aha, I couldn't remember when Devil Z got named

I love Devil Z!!

[Jim]

Episode 18! Probably the most action-oriented yet?

Sixknight's arrival where he takes down the human jets and boat is well done, and it's always interesting to see a character who doesn't fit into the usual factions. Once the Decepticons have tricked him into facing Ginrai for them, it's pretty much action all the way and I guess there's not much to say about it.

Sixknight's reaction to the Decepticon Pretenders using Minerva to stop Ginrai fighting back was good, as were the looks on their faces when they had to release her. If he sticks around (I'm guessing he's at least going to turn up again) it might be interesting to see how he develops.

-Jim

[blueshift]

I love Sixknight so much!

[Jim]

Episode 19; designed to win me over by kicking off with Cancer playing something that looks very like Pole Position from the Atari VCS, and also introducing one of my favourite childhood toys in Slapdash!

Road King has "Statned Statnless" written on the side. I want to use this phrase for something one day.

The ex-F1-racer-turned-pub-landlord is a kung fu master! Awesome takedown of the Decepticon Headmaster Jrs.

Road King takes the whole Godmaster thing very much in stride. "I want you to sit in your car and say 'God On'". "OK"

Dagneux is a real place in France which does have a chemical industry connection!

The big fight feels kind of weirdly undramatic, but gains points for Turtler failing to form King Poseidon because the only Seacons left are a couple of desperate looking Tentakils.

-Jim

[blueshift]

Bizarrely I don't have much of a memory of this episode. Maybe I need to watch it again!

[Jim]

Episode 20!

Oh Lander, I thought you said you didn't drink...

I like the Autobot ace of diamonds playing card - has there never been a Transformers playing card set based on the four main faction symbols? It would work so well.

Lady Mega having a "motherly" chat with Cancer while displaying her legs to him is kind of unsettling, and then it takes a completely left turn and we get introduced to Browning! I have heard of him but had no idea he was in this series let alone that he would be a cute little comedy sidekick. I like the Decepticon Headmaster Jrs' transport copter.

Sixknight is back, and I enjoyed his chat with Ginrai, which was also nicely animated, keeping the talking heads visually interesting with the natural scenery around.

What on earth is Phoenix polishing in the background?

For all that Browning brings a sense of scale rarely seen, the Decepticon Headmaster Jrs' scale is all over the place in their attack on the city.

"No, you go home and drink your milk!". The big fight here is brilliant, well choreographed, well animated, and it has a point and some emotional weight. And it also has a song with a guitar solo!

I'm glad Sixknight didn't just join up with the Autobots at the end, he's much more interesting as a wildcard. Ginrai was good here as well, his being nominated for leader doesn't feel forced.

This was a really great episode.

[Jim]

Oh, I just realised I referred to Sixknight as a wildcard and there's that bit at the beginning with the card game where Diver draws the Joker, which is so perfect I don't think it's a coincidence. There's a lot of games and manipulation and "wildcards" in here. I hope I'm not overanalysing, but it's a very well written episode which builds a lot on what has gone before.

[blueshift]

I honestly really love this episode. Love Sixknight, love Cancer, love the song!

What's really great is that it feels quite modern in that front and foremost it's about characters and themes and how different people are dealing with the same issue, but doing it in an interesting way.

Both Sixknight and Cancer are basically disgruntled with their place in the world / themselves / the Decepticons.

Sixknight's motivation is finding power. His quest for power makes him join up with the Autbots (as Ginrai beat him, so he's the most powerful and should be listened to!) and completely misses the lesson about sacrifice and fighting impossible odds as he just wanders off to beat up the Headmaster Jrs. So he's led to the Autobots and his actions are all motivated via a traditionally Decepticon path.

Cancer's motivation meanwhile is in trying to find a place to belong and in his own self-fulfilment. He's Stockholm-syndroming hard about when the Autobots kidnapped him and hey, they have a cute girl! But we see the Decepticons as a proper family unit (and you can really see why Giga and Mega are great leaders, they're not just 'might makes right'). And uh, that's where he finds his heart and support, with the bad guys. Which is a traditionally Autobot side.

And then they fight, and even though Sixknight's the one on the side of the angels, you're not really sure who you actually want to win (and neither is Minerva!)

And then as Cancer does the 'break off the fight to do some plot related exposition whilst the fight pauses' thing that cartoons like to do, Sixknight picks him up and uses him as a club to smack the other Headmasters with!!

[blueshift]

Sept 3, 2017 21:42:19 GMT Jim said:

Oh, I just realised I referred to Sixknight as a wildcard and there's that bit at the beginning with the card game where Diver draws the Joker, which is so perfect I don't think it's a coincidence. There's a lot of games and manipulation and "wildcards" in here. I hope I'm not overanalysing, but it's a very well written episode which builds a lot on what has gone before.

Oh man you're totally right!!

[Jim]

Episode 21 was always going to struggle to live up to 20, and this is mostly forgettable.

The Decepticon plan doesn't seem to make much sense (kidnap _all_ the doctors), though there is a hint from Lady Mega at the end that it was just the first part of some larger plan, so I guess we'll see if it makes sense in retrospect.

It's kind of nice to see the four Godmasters working as a team, and we get to see some special powers introduced (now I know where Fire Guts comes from!). The Autobots now have a giant hovercraft at their disposal, and there was quite a neat transport plane at the beginning of the episode.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a bit for Copo and Donq, but I never thought there was really any danger there.

[blueshift]

Yeah I struggle to remember this one. The Decepticons kidnap doctors to try to induce despair don't they? I mean I guess it's interesting in that we're continuing the theme of last episode in that they're not after power but instead attacking humanity itself, but... yeah

More importantly, we're now at the halfway point! Where do you think the show's going, Jim?

[Jim]

I'm expecting a continued gradual ramping to something epic at the finale. I know Overlord is in this, and I expect we'll see him before long as presumably the real big bad at the end will be Devil-Z putting in an appearance. There's clearly going to be a splinter in the Decepticon ranks; I can see Cancer being redeemed but I could also see the other Headmaster Jrs at least parting ways.

Earlier in the show I'd have said I expect an Autobot Pretender to die before the end, but I'm less sure now. I would have guessed maybe Lander sacrificing himself to save Shuta after failing to save his father, but that hasn't really been a plot point since. Otherwise Hawk for the dramatic possibilities of the former leader being out of the picture while Ginrai grows into the role.

Genuinely looking forward to seeing Sixknight again! I don't think he's going to become a Decepticon at this point, but I hope if he joins the Autobots it doesn't happen too soon, he's much more interesting as the non-aligned wanderer.

I am enjoying the ride anyway, it will have to really nosedive to disappoint me.

[Jim]

Episode 22, and we have a new title sequence! I preferred the old one, this one focuses too much on the one fight (though it does look pretty epic). I like Ginrai and the Headmasters jumping from God Ginrai and holding hands at the end though.

Lady Mega is also an ace at pool. Truly the greatest Decepticon leader of all.

Phoenix of course is the one left behind at the base when the other Pretenders head off for their rendezvous; I wonder if it’s because he’s a bit, well, odd going on his behaviour here…

Grand Max makes a great entrance. I again like the world-building hints at a greater conflict away from the Earth, and the teenager in me gets a kick from the portentous Something Is Coming stuff.

The Decepticon’s plan here actually makes some sense, and the idea that they’d have to cut Lightfoot’s arms off to get the bands is suitably macabre. The tone is a bit undercut by the initially jarring way the big fight is played for comedy (and we get a song again!). Nice to see Hydra and Buster actually care for each other.

Is it the first time this series we hear the classic Transformation sound? I guess the transformations in this seriesusually happen with their own special sequences, rarely as part of the ongoing action.

[blueshift]

Sept 5, 2017 22:12:10 GMT Jim said:

Grand Max makes a great entrance. I again like the world-building hints at a greater conflict away from the Earth, and the teenager in me gets a kick from the portentous Something Is Coming stuff.

I found the rest of the episode a bit forgettable, but Lightfoot gets more interesting stuff to do than the other two Godmasters at least! (Also a spot in the original title sequence whereas the others didn't!)

LOVED the clandestine meeting between the Autobot Pretenders and Grand on the mountains at night with all the spooky lights. And don't forget, Ginrai's supposed to be the leader on Earth at this point! SOMETHING'S COMING! WHAT IS IT??

Also love the design of Grand and that he doesn't take his helmet off (but you can see his face. Similarly that why I liked Octopunch's comic design.)

Do they namedrop the fighting in G-Nebula 89 in this? I love that name for some reason!

[Jim]

Sept 6, 2017 8:29:04 GMT blueshift said:

Do they namedrop the fighting in G-Nebula 89 in this? I love that name for some reason!

I don't think so, but I also like those Wolf 359-like evocative astronomical names (though I guess g-nebula 89 is not real).

Always liked "The Benzuli Expanse" in IDW, too.

[duffism1981]

Was this also the episode when Phoenix mocks Ginrai for the wooden figure Cab made?

[Jim]

Yes it is!

[Jim]

Episode 23! Lots of nice bits and pieces here.

The destruction of the earlier episodes is back, with asteroid strikes, planes blowing up and a Decepticon-busted dam.

We get our first glimpse of Overlord with Giga and Mega's suits and vehicles - I like that it is low-key, even if it has been spoiled by the title sequence.

The Decepticon plan makes some sense this time, and ties in to the hints of the wider conflict established before. And we also get a garbled message from Grand Max!

Otherwise can't think of a lot to say about this one after all. I enjoyed it though.

[blueshift]

Yeah one of my few gripes is that they do spoil some character intros via the title sequence and eye-catches. Minor quibble, to be fair.

[Jim]

I forgot to say in my half-way-point post just how much of an earworm the opening titles song has become. It's great! I'm seriously thinking of printing out and learning the transcripted lyrics so at least I'm not just la-laing to it in my head.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Sept 7, 2017 11:22:36 GMT Jim said:

I forgot to say in my half-way-point post just how much of an earworm the opening titles song has become. It's great! I'm seriously thinking of printing out and learning the transcripted lyrics so at least I'm not just la-laing to it in my head.

Have you heard the extended version of the opening theme?



Martin

[Jim]

I have now!

You can't beat thinking you've reached the end of a song you like then being thrown a bonus guitar solo.

[Jim]

Episode 24; wow

Hawk reveals the Godbomber project to the Headmaster Jrs, which is neat (I prefer it to the Pretenders having some secret project, it feels more in line with the Autobots as something like a family) and the project itself is pretty cool with the deep factory bunker and the in-progress Godbomber.

More hints at what's going on in space with a glimpse of what must be Black Zarak (who I did not know was in this), and Devil Z being very talkative this episode.

I like that Ginrai is, despite everything, still working as a trucker!

The action in this episode is great from Buster's surprise mine onwards. I wasn't expecting Overlord, but it makes sense after everything we've seen that we couldn't expect Hydra and Buster to successfully take down Ginrai, so bringing him (? now there's a question) in here is right.

So Overlord stamping things to death isn't a new idea!

Battered Super Ginrai in the sandstorm is a great image, as is Ginrai tumbling from his abdomen and transforming.

Quite a cliffhanger.

[blueshift]

Sept 8, 2017 21:58:45 GMT Jim said:

Episode 24; wow

I know, right! I was waiting for you to react to this one!

The action in this episode is great from Buster's surprise mine onwards. I wasn't expecting Overlord, but it makes sense after everything we've seen that we couldn't expect Hydra and Buster to successfully take down Ginrai, so bringing him (? now there's a question) in here is right.

I know I've said it before but I love the Godmaster concept as overpowered with ridiculous HP regeneration (if we want to get all RPG about it!) The only way to beat one is to continually hit them HARD and constantly otherwise they'll just regen damage. Overlord's a lot tougher than Super Ginrai, and kicking the fight off with fresh damage from Buster and Hydra is a good plan! Giga and Mega are full of good plans! As popular as MTMTE Overlord is, I find Masterforce Overlord a lot more compelling, as he has the same brute force but Mega and Giga are far, far more interesting and complex.