I only made it to episode 5, then skipped to the end of the series to see if the finale had any substance and gave up halfway through that, so take this review with a grain of salt.
And I am very salty about this.
***MINOR SPOILERS
I try to watch children's shows with two metrics in mind; the demographic, and the overall quality. Children's shows CAN be more simplistic, although I am of the opinion that they should be written just as cleverly as shows for adults. The overall quality includes the writing quality, animation quality, characters, etcetera.
Perhaps it is because I came here from Transformers: Prime that this show disappointed me.
CHARACTERS:
The human characters were generic and pretty unmemorable. The children's homesick plotline was introduced and then dropped so fast it gave me whiplash, when it could have been a really great way to give the characters more depth. (if you want a good show for children's media that tackles the supernatural + the loneliness of missing home, watch HILDA). The parents were there, in a generic girlboss and malewife trope, which has been really done a lot already, so it's kinda eh. Maybe if it had been done 5 years ago.
The beloved transformer characters are quite different from what we know, and while I understand universal differences (I am of the Rise of the TMNT lover crowd, believe me I know.) it is a bit hard to watch bots like Bumblebee and Optimus fumble through arcs that should have happened eons ago in this timeline.
The villain is similarly there; vaguely threatening and quite ugly (his design makes me laugh).
ANIMATION:
It's fine. A bit jank, but I get budget constraints. I have no praise for the show's style choice, as the meshing of hyperrealistic backgrounds with the simple, geometric characters does not really work for me.
WRITING:
Dear heaven the writing.
This is where I understand that this show is a children's show, and that sometimes the plots are going to be quite simple. But at the same time, I feel like this would be somewhat insulting to most 9-13 year olds. It goes over generic life lessons like we're watching Dora again and trying to tell us how to be patient or how to listen.
This wasn't the show's most egregious sin, dear reader. No. It is how the show writes the characters and dynamics-
In almost all Transformers lore the most influential characters to the plot are Optimus and Megatron, hands down. Optimus is the symbol of the Autobots, and Megatron is the symbol of the Decepticons. The whole Autobot/Decepticon war hinges on their relationship. In some universes, they end up reconciling in the end, and I do like those universes, I have no problem with them. Earthspark decided to tackle this section of the timeline, with Megs and Optimus working together.
BUT.
YOU Don't frikking get any of their dynamic from how this show portrays their relationship. That is almost criminal. That is the most fun, interesting dynamic to have, all this rich history, old wounds, past allegiances. Earthspark decides to use none of it. Megatron and Optimus have the most bland, coworker-core, Frank Welker's Freddy Milk-and-Toast voice RELATIONSHIP in the world. And it kills me.
So then you end up with these transformer characters acting like robotic cutouts of themselves. The reaction to finding out that their species is possibly NOT DEAD. After HALF THE WAR on EARTH being over this specific thing??? Saving CYBERTRON AND THEIR RACE? Barely memorable?? I legit do not remember their being any touch of emotion beyond the generic, "ooo baby cybertronians, wow isnt that incredible?" Any immense guilt over almost destroying the human race for that very thing? Bumblebee no longer being the youngest in their race?
I would have loved to see Megatron's slow turn from evil. HONESTLY. I would watch a show that took place a decade back in the timeline with Dot and Megatron as law & order/crime partners. Mo being so in hate with Megs. Like THAT WOULD BE SO FUN.
It could have been really amazing. But somehow the writers fumbled it.
TL:DR Their new characters were flimsy, their episode plots were inane (Wild Kratts levels; no offence meant to the Kratt's and full offence to Earthspark), and they had like 500 opportunities for interesting character dynamics and took NONE OF THEM. I gave up halfway through the show.
Put it on for your 5 year old as a substitute for Dora the Explorer. Or don't. Watch Wild Kratts instead so they'll learn about cool animals.
And I am very salty about this.
***MINOR SPOILERS
I try to watch children's shows with two metrics in mind; the demographic, and the overall quality. Children's shows CAN be more simplistic, although I am of the opinion that they should be written just as cleverly as shows for adults. The overall quality includes the writing quality, animation quality, characters, etcetera.
Perhaps it is because I came here from Transformers: Prime that this show disappointed me.
CHARACTERS:
The human characters were generic and pretty unmemorable. The children's homesick plotline was introduced and then dropped so fast it gave me whiplash, when it could have been a really great way to give the characters more depth. (if you want a good show for children's media that tackles the supernatural + the loneliness of missing home, watch HILDA). The parents were there, in a generic girlboss and malewife trope, which has been really done a lot already, so it's kinda eh. Maybe if it had been done 5 years ago.
The beloved transformer characters are quite different from what we know, and while I understand universal differences (I am of the Rise of the TMNT lover crowd, believe me I know.) it is a bit hard to watch bots like Bumblebee and Optimus fumble through arcs that should have happened eons ago in this timeline.
The villain is similarly there; vaguely threatening and quite ugly (his design makes me laugh).
ANIMATION:
It's fine. A bit jank, but I get budget constraints. I have no praise for the show's style choice, as the meshing of hyperrealistic backgrounds with the simple, geometric characters does not really work for me.
WRITING:
Dear heaven the writing.
This is where I understand that this show is a children's show, and that sometimes the plots are going to be quite simple. But at the same time, I feel like this would be somewhat insulting to most 9-13 year olds. It goes over generic life lessons like we're watching Dora again and trying to tell us how to be patient or how to listen.
This wasn't the show's most egregious sin, dear reader. No. It is how the show writes the characters and dynamics-
In almost all Transformers lore the most influential characters to the plot are Optimus and Megatron, hands down. Optimus is the symbol of the Autobots, and Megatron is the symbol of the Decepticons. The whole Autobot/Decepticon war hinges on their relationship. In some universes, they end up reconciling in the end, and I do like those universes, I have no problem with them. Earthspark decided to tackle this section of the timeline, with Megs and Optimus working together.
BUT.
YOU Don't frikking get any of their dynamic from how this show portrays their relationship. That is almost criminal. That is the most fun, interesting dynamic to have, all this rich history, old wounds, past allegiances. Earthspark decides to use none of it. Megatron and Optimus have the most bland, coworker-core, Frank Welker's Freddy Milk-and-Toast voice RELATIONSHIP in the world. And it kills me.
So then you end up with these transformer characters acting like robotic cutouts of themselves. The reaction to finding out that their species is possibly NOT DEAD. After HALF THE WAR on EARTH being over this specific thing??? Saving CYBERTRON AND THEIR RACE? Barely memorable?? I legit do not remember their being any touch of emotion beyond the generic, "ooo baby cybertronians, wow isnt that incredible?" Any immense guilt over almost destroying the human race for that very thing? Bumblebee no longer being the youngest in their race?
I would have loved to see Megatron's slow turn from evil. HONESTLY. I would watch a show that took place a decade back in the timeline with Dot and Megatron as law & order/crime partners. Mo being so in hate with Megs. Like THAT WOULD BE SO FUN.
It could have been really amazing. But somehow the writers fumbled it.
TL:DR Their new characters were flimsy, their episode plots were inane (Wild Kratts levels; no offence meant to the Kratt's and full offence to Earthspark), and they had like 500 opportunities for interesting character dynamics and took NONE OF THEM. I gave up halfway through the show.
Put it on for your 5 year old as a substitute for Dora the Explorer. Or don't. Watch Wild Kratts instead so they'll learn about cool animals.