From kendrick@io.com Wed Nov 22 17:41:47 CST 1995
Article: 26667 of alt.toys.transformers
Path: news.io.com!io.com!not-for-mail
From: kendrick@io.com (Kendrick Kerwin Chua)
Newsgroups: alt.toys.transformers
Subject: TF Weekday 11/20 - The Burden Hardest to Bear
Date: 22 Nov 1995 17:41:29 -0600
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TF Weekday Nov 20 1995 - The Burden Hardest to Bear

The EI/AD: The Matrix? Yes boys and girls, the Matrix is demonstrated to
be not a source of good power, but just power. Like any other power
source, it can be bent and directed towards any goal, towards any
purpose. For a change, the Matrix becomes an evil invention.

The plot: In the South China Sea, Broadside takes on Devastator and
Predaking. Defensor is taken down by Bruticus outside a Japanese martial
arts school. Bruticus is downed by Cyclonus and his Armada who are
subsequently blown out of the sky by Rodimus, Magnus, and Sky Lynx. After
an abrupt and unfriendly talk with the Japanese government, Rodimus
confides in Kup that he's sick of the burdens of leadership. Marissa's
next request for help is the straw that breaks the Cameloid's back, and
Rodimus speeds off in a huff. Kup explains that this crisis of leadership
also happened to Optimus Prime, and Marissa takes it on herself to talk to
Rodimus. Rodimus is blown up by Wildrider and Dead End, who manage to
steal the Matrix from him. Back on Charr, Galvatron is unable to do
anything remotely useful with the Matrix so he blames the Stunticons for
breaking it, and then tells Scourge to get rid of it. Scourge puts it in
his chest instead, deforming him horribly and making him super-powered
enough to blow away Galvatron and Cyclonus and lead the Decepticons on a
raid of Earth. Meanwhile, Hot Rod is repaired back on Earth... yes,
without the matrix our favorite son is back, and unwilling to resume
leadership duties. But after a brief meditation and talk with the sensei
at the school, he rethinks his position. The Autobots fight the
space-bound Decepticons, and Scourge terrorizes all of Japan until Hot Rod
shows up to take him down in an alleyway... He retakes the Matrix, and
rescues a few humans just as Galvy and Cyc land to blow Scourge into a
melted mess. The sight of Galvatron victorious makes the other Decepticons
retreat, and Rodimus feels a new sense of purpose and destiny.

The characters: Scourge doesn't seem like the type to take over
leadership, being the toadying slime that he usually is. Perhaps he has
some kind of Matrix affinity, the way Thunderwing did. Of course, being
created by Unicron probably does that to you, so I have to wonder why
Galvy or Cyclonus didn't decide to react the same way. Rodimus goes
through frustration, rebellion, fixation, and revelation all in 24
minutes of show time... But this is at odds with the unsure leader we'll
see in 'The Return of Optimus Prime.' Certainly this worked out better in
the Japanese version, where Optimus Prime died AGAIN in the Headmasters
series. Dead End is dead on, but Wildrider is talking like a country
bumpkin rather than a seasoned street punk; perhaps somebody confused him
with Runabout and/or Runamuck. And Kup and Magnus are your veteran
seconds... They're much more comfortable carrying out orders and bearing
wisdom than actually making the decisions themselves.

The plot holes: So just how did the Matrix fall out of Rodimus in the
first place? One rear-end collision with a gravel pile is enough to eject
the collected wisdom of the ages from a concealed chest compartment? More
to the point, why didn't Rodimus immediately transmogrify back into Hot
Rod when he lost the matrix to begin with? Fortunately, the rest of the
story is strong enough to withstand these little nitpicks

Moving pictures: Not bad... Shots of Rodimus transforming are nicely
done. Scourge's deformed state is messy but believable. Amazing shots of
Galvatron transforming (and melting Scourge to slag) and Sky Lynx flying
about (melting Cyclonus to sludge). Too bad the fight scenes are so
short, since this is where the bulk of the animation's strength is for
this episode.

The cuts: Can't tell. Curiously, I saw the Japanese version of this
before I ever saw the American version, so I know there are a few lines
of Scourge bellowing commands that were cut (but heck if I know what they
are...)

Toys they should reissue: Preto's failed Botcon plans show that a G2 Hot
Rod isn't much in the works, but I wouldn't mind one. As a matter of
fact, to work ol' Rod into continuity by giving him a modern vehicular
mode... Maybe a GM concept car or a funky European car. A Lotus maybe?

Quotables:
"I belong to the matrix! As much as it belongs to me!"

"How come I'm the only one who can solve your problems?"

KKC, is a slab of meat.
--
Kendrick Kerwin Chua - "Oh the bubbles, they tickle my - *GASP* Tchaikovsky!"
kendrick@io.com - WTB: 1980s Transformers, US and Japanese, and GIJoe figures
Necronomcon FAQ home page at http://www.io.com/~kendrick/necronomicon or anon
FTP at io.com:/pub/usr/kendrick -Personal home at http://www.io.com/~kendrick