#but not necessarily tfone

[transingthoseformers]

Orion and D-16 having an intimate moment involving painting each other but they don't exactly have any practice so by the end of it they're both a bit of a mess, but the ✨vibes✨ were amazing though

[the-one-and-only-elita]

One thing that I absolutely love about TFOne's writing is that it manages to avoid a lot of the heavier criticism I've seen regarding MegOp's hero/villain dynamic over the years (trust me, the mid-2010s TF discourse was crazy)

*Spoilers Below*

First of all, the narrative benefits so much from the main 4 cast members all being a part of the same exploited mining class. So many takes on MegOp have Orion being of a higher status (an archivist, a cop, etc) while Megatron is much lower down on the social latter (a miner, a gladiator, often in the context of being a slave).

I've seen many people be put off by this, because it feels as if Megs is being villianized for being rightfully angry at the system that deeply harmed and exploited him, while Orion/Optimus is praised for taking a more pacifistic stance despite him not suffering as much from or in some ways even benefiting from the system he claims to oppose. I don't find their dynamic to be as simple as that, and I do find these takes to be a bit reductive, but I do very much see where they are coming from.

I am definitely one of those people who's very frustrated with the way pacifism is hailed as the one true path of morality, and the inherent implication that taking any sort of revenge on the people who abused/exploited you makes you just as bad as them. Also, Marvel's particular brand of demonizing any form of radical political action, despite the system clearly being broken and corrupt, but being completely unwilling to offer any other alternatives to meaningfully change things for the better.

When looking at what I described above its pretty easy to see how a lot of versions of MegOp's hero/villain dynamic unfortunately fits into that trope. Bringing it back to TFOne, you can see how Op and Meg coming from the same political/social status subverts this. The existence of Elita and Bee only further illustrates that out of the 4 people of the mining class who were all deceived, exploited, and literally mutilated in the same way it is only D-16 that completely loses himself to his rage, even to the point where he loses compassion for his own companions and disregarding the safety of the other miners (when he decides to "tears everything down" and Elita exclaims he's going to "kill everyone").

What I think I love most about the characterization in TFOne is that Orion is the radical one. Not only that, but he is praised by Elita and by extension the narrative for it. He is constantly challenging authority, and is the first to have the suspicion that their society is structured in an unjust way.

Meanwhile D-16, to be frank, is kind of a bootlicker. He fully believed in the system and that Sentinal Prime, as someone with power, had the right to decided "what was best" for those who are weaker/lesser (I wish I had the specific quote from D-16 to support this, but the movie's still in theaters). It illustrate that D-16 already held certain fascistic ideals, and that he and Orion already have fundamentally opposing moral/political values, it simply hasn't been of any consequence yet. It shows that their eventual falling out was inevitable, even if they had decided to rebuild Cybertron together.

It should also be noted that D-16's feelings of anger and betrayal do not necessarily have anything to do with the unjust system itself, but that said unjust system was predicated on a lie. Hence his fixation on deception in the post-credits scene and him naming his faction the Decepticons. Meanwhile, when Orion learns the truth he's just sort of like "yeah, I always kinda knew something was up" because again, he understood on some level that their system was predicated on injustice.

Even D-16's obsession with Megatronus Prime, while initially an endearing aspect of his character, is also an indicator of the questionably large amount of value he puts on one's strength. It foreshadows the "might makes right" ideology that the decepticons follow, and is a key part of their ideological characterization across continuities.

Instead of the narrative we often see in Transformers media were Optimus is idolized by the narrative for being more moderate and Megatron is villiainized for being radical (or so people often claim), it is instead Optimus who is rewarded and praised by the narrative for being radical, and Megatron who is villainized and punished by the narrative for holding potentially fascistic values.

I do agree with some criticism I've seen that the whole thing with killing Sentinel and D-16's final turn into villainy felt a bit rushed and more than a little cliche, but I also understand it both had a limited runtime and that it is ultimately a family film meant to be accessible to children. More importantly though, I think the movie set the groundwork early on that, no matter how this final act played out, D-16 was always going to turn to darkness, and Orion would not have been able to stop him.

Its perfectly tragic, the way all MegOp should be, while also feeling really well thought out from a thematic standpoint. I love it.

[lets-try-some-writing]

Ohhh, salty asks? I'll dabble with 9, 14, and 19.

Most disliked character(s)? Why?

Sari, Russel & his Dad, and Elita-One.

I haaaaaaate Sari so much. I don't even like TFA that much, but I would have enjoyed it more if this little girl weren't present. She annoys me on a spiritual level. She does have a few moments where I vibe with her, but the annoyance overrides the comradery. I know some people will die on her hill, but I am not one of them and even her fascinating lore can't drag me from my hole in the ground.

Russel and his Dad are just annoying and it's not even their fault. They were part of a garbage show that disregarded and danced on the grave of TFP before spitting on it for good measure. It isn't THEM that bothers me necessarily, it's their characterization that murders me. I just can't enjoy them or their presence when they are treated as jokes or just get in the way.

As for Elita-One? I am genuinly sad I don't like her. I generally enjoy her in fandom and I LOVE G1 Elita with every fiber of my being. I can even appreciate Skybound Elita a great deal. But other canon versions of Elita? It's just painful. She's NEVER written well. Generally being too arrogant and stuck up for her own good (TFOne), not particularly notable (TFE), lowkey evil and not in a way I find appealing (IDW comics), or not even Elita (TFA). I just can't vibe with her even though I really really really want to.

Unpopular opinions about your fandom(s)?

This fandom is unreasonably sexual. Look, I totally get it. You love your blorbo. I love my blorbos too and I know that sexual themes/art/ideas have their place. Heck, I use the concept for comedic and angst purposes all the bloody time. But for heavens sake yall, we've got SO MUCH LORE and half the fandom is sitting over here drooling. When I use such themes, I tie it in with either a good story or unique lore. But the fandom just kinda... throws it around for funsies? Idk it just bothers me as a person who cares very deeply about things having meaning and design. Feels a lot like chugging a pixie stick when there's a ton of such themes getting thrown around. I would much prefer a more delicately devised art piece, personally.

The robots are hot, I KNOW. But goodness we've got so much else to play with here people. (Not saying this to rain on anyone's parade. Just my thoughts).

What is the one thing you hate most about your fandom?

Well, I suppose what I hate most would be the strange unspoken division in the fandom. Transformers, thank the stars, is a very unified fandom on almost every front. You might never run into the people I'm about to talk about. But there is a noticeable divide between two rather undefined factions. For the sake of this, I shall dub them the lore purists and the rabid fans. The lore purists get SO mad at everyone who doesn't agree with their takes, those who mess with the lore, or otherwise have views that don't match with canon content. On the opposite side of things, the rabid fans can be kind of unhinged and not in a good way at times. They can become quite vicious when it comes to other people's headcanons and preferences. Both sides fight each other and amongst themselves.

It's not particularly noticeable to newcomers, but I've seen more than a few people trying to fight each other over the net for being sympathetic toward a certain character or for having ideas and aus with 'problematic' content. Even I've been on the receiving end of the unhinged a few times for having sympathy for my fav war criminal. With that said, honestly its easy to avoid getting involved in these two sides to the fandom. Just do your thing and be polite and huzzah, everyone is really really nice.

[mychlapci]

Im not gonna be able to participate in Celibacy week because im allowed to listen to music at work. So I put tfone onto my phone and listen to it on repeat all night , causing me to exude a constant aura of Desire and Desirous thoughts that the Kellogg centipede cannot even imagine penetrating. (And Im having intense tfone ratchet visions . Actually I do have one sfw headcanon which is that ratchet is way more competent than the cogged shithead doctors who talk down to him and treat him like [the Kellogg centipede begins keening loudly in distress])

proud to say i watched tfone yesterday and i completely ignored my boner. kept it perfectly contained. except for that one post about sentinel getting breastfed i mean what, no one said that. but i'm glad that your level of horniness is so high that the kellogg centipede can't get to you. is it possible to learn this power.

ANYWAYS, onto the star of this ask. cogless Ratchet !! beloved wife... i am very invested into the thought of Ratchet being a lowly medic down in the mines, cogless and meant to repair mining injuries, constantly looked down on by cogged bots because what, this little guy just welds up scratches all day, what's he know? i don't think he'd necessarily have any big fantasies about how he's going to "show them one day", but boy, once he gets his t-cog it's on sight. being a doctor in the mines means he's quick to react and extremely good under pressure, something that doctors who've, in turn, beeing doing delicate surgeries for fifty cycles, are not very good at. he'll be an exceptional millitary medic, him and all the other cogless doctors that worked with him...

mhmm, but also consider... cogless Ratchet always knowing that something is off. he's a good doctor, and sometimes when he sees bots' empty cog holes, or even his own, he feels like it's just off, maybe there's scratches or tiny little cuts or wiring that has been cut off. it looks like a wound. it makes him think.

[legs-like-jelly]

Hear me out. Not necessarily tickle related for the first one tho

Since G1 Soundwave technically doesn’t have actual emotions, I still feel like he would like to be near things he likes and avoid things he doesn’t. Kinda like ants! They don’t have full emotions like anger, sadness, love, but they can still feel. Idk just something I came up with today while on the bus 「(=^=)「

And the second thing. If G1 Soundwave was ever found out to be actually ticklish (even a little), I feel like he wouldn’t be able to hold back those noises at all. Ofc not anything like poking or prodding would get him to giggle/laugh, that would only prove to annoy him. But full on tickling? That will. I feel like he would try to stop it only to not know how to, because he’s never felt the need to make those noises until now. He would be thinking something like ‘why can’t I stop these noises?!’ or smt. Bc why would you know how to hold back something you’ve never felt?

Anyway that’s the end of my rant there, I just needed to tell someone :d

—🐜 anon

thank you ant anon for distracting me from tfone megop sadness with lee soundwave thoughts i will be in your debt i imagine soundwave has not ideas what to do with his hands so he's either holding them up by his hands or desperately holding onto his ler's arms trying to get themn off okay hear me out okay

[transingthoseformers]

Megatron and Starscream engaging in kink is interesting to me because on one hand I do think they'd want to mutually benefit from doing certain things together

On the other hand I'm not sure either of them would have the proper trust in each other and they have so many hangups together that if a scene goes bad it might go very bad

[transingthoseformers]

Dtronus is hilarious but fitting

I mean I've been seeing the ship tag D-pax floating around so I thought it'd fit here too