Growing up I thrived on Transformers. They were my life — the toys, the show, the movies. Admittedly, I don’t remember much of the first season in order to make an honest comparison. However, after several years' worth of absence, my nostalgia wasn’t enough to save the majority of my time with Transformers: Season Two, Volume One from being a Unicron-sized letdown.
First, the technical stuff. We’re given two whole channels of audio that doesn’t sound too bad at all. Dialogue is sharp and shows off the cool effects infused with the bots' voices. The video quality is the best I’ve ever seen the show look, albeit inconsistent. Black lines are sometimes dark and defined, but often can be chalky. Mostly there is great color restoration and contrast all around, but from scene to scene, it jumps to a soft, grayish wash with lots of dust and flecks consistently spotting the transfer.
The package design is way cool with a polished retro look and foil embossing. Each disc sports a different character's image. Even the slim cases separating the discs have individual Autobot or Decepticon artwork. The set also comes with a small booklet containing a small summary of each episode as well as its own splash of colorful backgrounds and characters.
This four-disc whopper packs virtually no special features except the episodes and a useful option to play multi-part episodes seamlessly. The only other option you really have is to dive in. And so we shall.
The first stand-out episode is the second in this collection (18th in the series), entitled “The Immobilizer.” Autobot inventor Wheeljack creates a dangerous weapon that can freeze its targets. Proving just as useful for good as it is for evil, it becomes a subject of interest for the Decepticons. Ironhide is written particularly well in this episode, showing genuine resentment for his distraction during important guard duty, inevitably leading to his temporary resignation.
One of the best episodes in the collection follows closely after in episode 21, “Traitor.” Mirage, accused of treason, sets out to prove his innocence with a clever plan to turn the Insecticons against the other Decepticons. Mirage’s character is written in a way that makes it both challenging to side with or against him. Prime exudes the “innocent until proven guilty” attitude that is true to his character while Megatron and Starscream share their most frictional dialogue in the collection.
Article comments
1 - Fran
The conflict - due to your love of Transformers, it sounds like this was a very difficult review to write. Very well done review.
I will have to check out some of the very first episodes -- especially "Microbots" on Hulu if available. It is nice to know there are some good ones in there, but certainly not enough to make it worth buying a 28 Episode set.
I got my start with the Transformers because my son loved them when he was growing up and the have a special place in my memories for that reason. I enjoyed watching the 2007 movie. I didn't realize they had done so many movies. Been out of the loop, I guess.
It must be hard for them to keep thinking of new ways to sell their toys. ;)
Thanks for bringing their memories back.
2 - Jesse G. Barnes
Fran,
I am very pleased to know that I helped bring back some good memories. Watching these brought back some good ones of my own. As you say, it was very difficult for me to write this. I really didn't want to bash it.
I do encourage you to check out some of the better episodes. They may not be phenomenal by today's standards, but they certainly shine as far as giant toy commercials go.
There were three films that made it to the theater. The animated feature Transformers: The Movie (1986, Transformers (2007), and Revenge of the Fallen (2009). If I am not mistaken I believe there were some straight to video feature length, if not extended episodes, or season premiers.
Thanks so much for reading, Fran. I appreciate your time.