#at some point this devolved into a love letter for the subtle characterizations that probably weren't intentional

[bngbby-aa]

- * Why KnockOut is secretly a badass and we should all put some more respect on his name. 

Let’s start with KnockOut arriving on the Nemesis. It is implied Starscream has specifically called for KnockOut, a Decepticon Doctor, to tend to Megatron. KnockOut suggests a “laboratory assist” is the reason he was called. Leading me to believe he thought he was called for scientific reasons, and not medical. At the very least suggesting KnockOut to be a skilled scientist if there is a possibility for Megatron to call him by name for such.

Now we do know KnockOut was called for medical reasons, or really more miracle reasons because Megatron is in awful shape to put it lightly. Starscream having an ulterior motive is possible here, and very in character. ( Obviously he suggests to KnockOut that the two of them should take over. ) The presence of Soundwave on the Nemesis makes things a little more complicated than Starscream just calling a shoddy doctor to ensure Megatron dies.

The conclusions I can draw from this are; Starscream and Soundwave both recognize KnockOut as a capable Doctor. Soundwave throughout the aligned material is very loyal to Megatron, and highly unlikely to settle for a Doctor he did not think able to help Megatron. Now as for Starscream suggesting KnockOut to become his second-in-command, to me shows Starscream sees him as more than just an able doctor. He thinks KnockOut is specifically capable of helping him run the Decepticons. This could just be for convenience’s sake, but Starscream is clearly shown to have done just fine running the Nemesis on his own in Megatron’s long absence pre-show.

Starscream, despite his many flaws, is shown to be incredibly intelligent and very cunning. He’s also shown to have been a strong leader in Megatron’s absence. To ask KnockOut to assist him is not something he would ask without good consideration. Starscream would have thought it through, and that means he believes KnockOut to be a capable lieutenant.  

Now let’s continue on to my favorite part in this episode, where KnockOut blatantly flirts with Optimus Prime and proceeds to kick his ass.

Now Breakdown clearly is an asset to him at this moment. The two clearly work well together. We know that KnockOut is the one in charge, however, as he leads the charge and even signals Breakdown. This at the very least shows him as being a capable commander.

Breakdown is a distraction here. KnockOut is the one who not only incapacitates Optimus, but keeps him down.

We know from later on in the show that KnockOut is very survival oriented, quick to run from a fight that’s looking unfavorable. (or one that might scratch his paint.) Yet he actively goes after, and attacks Optimus Prime. A mech who is on par with Megatron. We will also see that this is not the only time KnockOut actively chooses to target Optimus.

It would be highly out of character for him to so enthusiastically go against an opponent where he felt he was out-matched. It’s Breakdown knocking Bulkhead into KnockOut that turns this fight into the Autobot’s favor. It gives Optimus the time to begin to recover, and we even see KnockOut charge back in with an attempt to subdue Optimus once more.

I feel this clearly shows KnockOut having a good deal of confidence in his abilities. Not overly-cocky confidence that he doesn’t deserve, but the kind that comes from truly knowing his skill in combat.

Later in this episode when team Prime comes to save Bulkhead, KnockOut makes the call to get out of there instead of fighting. Honestly to me KnockOut sounds bored as all hell when he makes the call. He doesn’t care anymore, and he isn’t in a good position. He knows it’s an unfavorable fight at the moment, and decides “I don’t care enough anymore.”

Taking a quick pause from KnockOut Bullying Optimus. Megatron seems to show some amount of respect for KnockOut as well. While he is the only medic on the Nemesis, Megatron seems to put a lot of faith into KnockOut, something that even with his questionable dark-energon riddled judgment is no light matter. Even ordering him to fix Soundwave’s cracked mask at some point. Also trusting him to attach a dead prime’s arm onto him. Things were it seems even KnockOut takes pause and is unsure, but we seem him succeed in both cases. (though the matter of Soundwave’s visor may have been more of him being creeped out but the the mech.)

Back to KnockOut disrespecting Optimus like it’s his job.

It took me way too long to hunt down this particular scene. In the opening of T.M.I we once again see KnockOut going up against the one and only Optimus Prime. The fight does end with Optimus picking KnockOut up and tossing him like a ragdoll, but KnockOut is clearly shown holding out his own despite fighting quite lazily.

It could be described as him just not being a good fighter, but KnockOut does get in a good dodge in the few seconds we see him fighting. It more comes off as him just not caring that much. Less concerned about beating Optimus, and more just well… probably not his paintjob as he clearly uses a high kick during the fight.

It reads to me as less intent to beat Optimus and more just to keep him busy.

Again, KnockOut doesn’t seem like a character who’d go up against Optimus 1v1 without feeling like he could hold his own. They easily could have added in a Vehicon or even Breakdown assisting KnockOut here, but instead he’s just going up against Optimus on his own. 

Moving on from the show for right now. The DS game, yes the DS game. If you know about it, the only thing you probably remember is KnockOut driving right off the Nemesis while fighting with Bumblebee. A link to that video here.

(On a side note can we just appreciate the massive leaps he takes in not only this scene but the whole game? KnockOut really said “Gravity who?”)

Now KnockOut driving right off the Nemesis is funny as all hell, but I’d like to focus on how the developers used KnockOut as an enemy. A place where he could shine a little brighter without the rules of a Transformers cartoon holding him down as much.

Even before I found out about the game and played it, I had in mind something very similar to how he is in the game. KnockOut moves around a lot in his fights, making him a harder target to hit. Utilizing both his alt-mode and root-mode during the fights. KnockOut dashes in quickly to apply damage and pressure, before transforming and putting distance between him and bumblebee (who you are playing as during the fight.) The game also shows him as having blasters while in his alt-form that he can use to maintain that distance he’s created, until he’s ready to ram his opponent down again before transforming and using his claws to attack in a quick frenzy.

I personally found KnockOut to be a difficult and frustrating opponent in this game. It showcases a lot of what I felt KnockOut should be able to do in a fight.

Now I’m sure there’s so much more I could find combing the show, and in the future when I sit down for a proper rewatch I probably will. There is also a lot of good examples in the IDW comics, which I’d love to get into but I really wanted to focus on the show right now. I will be stopping here to add my final thoughts and how some of the observations have shaped my idea of KnockOut.

KnockOut is clearly a skilled scientist, and doctor. A fact acknowledged even by Megatron despite how often KnockOut appears to Vex his leader. He also mentions being better at breaking mechs than fixing them, and I one hundred percent believe this. So KnockOut is only as good a doctor as he is a fighter ( and um probably torturer but let’s save that for another time.)

During the show I believe we are shown KnockOut at his most unimpressive. We see a mech who’s been called to earth for a war in its closing days, a war that’s dragged on for an unbelievable amount of time. Before this, it seems KnockOut and Breakdown were just vibing. Doing whatever they wanted.

KnockOut often mentions being on the winning team, and that’s why he’s with the Decepticons. Throughout the show, he very much comes across as self-serving. Only there because it benefits him. He’s not truly a Decepticon, and we see that by the fact he and Breakdown don’t wear the badge. At spark he’s a neutral. Even before the movie, I knew it was in his character to switch sides if it were to benefit him. I have many personal headcanons as to why he is more neutral-aligned but these are all from my own world-buildng. We aren’t given a reason in the show, but it’s very obvious his loyalty is out of convenience. 

By law of the show, the autobots must win. They’re the “good guys”, the main characters. So KnockOut has to fail ultimately, but even then we see bits of him shining through that. He takes down Optimus with his cunning, and isn’t afraid to go up against him in a fight. KnockOut performs several surgeries through the show that are down right mad science, and highly questionable.

What he does is still impressive, but it comes off as him doing bare minimum. Just doing what he has to do to show up and be a good Decepticon. KnockOut is bored, and he’s not trying his hardest. Simply amusing himself, and since he got called there he may as well take the chance to get a nice promotion.