Another two weeks, another Transformers: Cyberworld. And yay, this one stars Bumblebee. Just what we all wanted, right?
Well, actually... this wasn't as bad as I feared going in. We'll come back to that in a minute, though.
First, if you haven't seen it already, then feel free to partake first in "Plan Bee":
Per the official description:
Now, as to my thoughts on the episode...
Bumblebee is back! And he's made his own team! With Chop Shop! And Mirage!
Hey, remember that running gag from Robots in Disguise 2015 where Bumblebee kept trying to come up with his own equivalent to "Transform and roll out"? Well, that bit is back here, only now it's him trying to come up with a name for his team. "Surge Squad" clearly wasn't it, and you can just hear the people in marketing grinding their teeth that he didn't go for that one. "Energon Surge", "Surge Squad"... it was so synergetic!
Mirage is finding out quick that he's going to have to watch his mouth around Bumblebee, as he hulks out at the first sign of lip.
He's also channelling his inner-Deadpool, interacting with the level counter on the screen and playing with the various screen frames, panels, transitions, and such, and I'm here for it.
The Bee Brigade (my name for them, not theirs) are making their way through a program that involves getting past 100 levels of traps and such to get a boost device. BumbleHulk, the awesome $50 stud that he is, is absolutely broken and makes every challenge look trivial, while Mirage and Chop Shop spend most of the time trying to keep up. But Bumblebee is a very magnanimous leader, and so he occasionally tosses one or both of them into his cockpit and drives them on to the next stop on their tour.
Hey, when was the last time you saw Optimus give anyone a lift in his trailer? Yeah, that's what I thought. Point goes to Bumblebee.
Chop Shop's resolve starts to waver, but like the great leader he is, Bumblebee delivers a rousing speech that sets his little bug companion straight, and they proceed on their way to triumph and glory.
Then the group runs into a nasty buzzsaw trap, but Bumblebee, whose heroism is unmatched, selflessly braves their danger in order to ensure the safety and success of his team.
Bumblebee, never afraid to ask for help when the situation calls for it (rare though that may be for him), asks Chop Shop for directions. However, his directions -- which were surely given in error, as no one would ever deliberately want to lead a noble champion like Bumblebee astray -- lead to a dead end. Then the door closes behind them, and the walls start to close in. And at Level 99, no less!
Always one to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, Bumblebee thoughtfully examines every possible avenue for escape with tact and efficiency, before selflessly taking Mirage into his own protection and drilling down through the floor to safety.
After finding Chop Shop, who had gotten lost earlier, Bumblebee calmly and collectively helps to restore his energon reserves by sharing some of his own ample, abundant supply. Not only is Chop Shop elated to receive such a generous bounty from his selfless leader, but this seems to trigger something in the room, and it inspires Bumblebee to take on a new, more fitting moniker: Power Spark. Chef's kiss. Beautiful. No notes. In fact, I think I'm even going to name this review that.
Oh, and now he is taking to wearing that awesome classic battle mask that so wickedly references the original G1 Bumblebee toy. I mean, that guy can try all he wants to be as great as Cyberworld Bumble-- I mean, Power Spark -- but he's not even worthy enough of changing his tires. So buzz off, you old fossil -- Power Spark is here to stay, and he's here to slay.
In the last minute of the episode, we go to check in onTeam Optimus The Legion of Losers, as Optimus rides Grimlock's dino mode towards an energon spawn. Pah, what kind of """leader""" would do that to one of his subordin-- I mean, friends? Maybe one who would consign his home planet to a fiery doom and ruin all his friends' lives, but certainly not Power Spark!
And just to show you how far gone these dweebs are, Grimlock voices doubts about Power Spark's integrity, and Optimus is still on with all that fake-worried act he puts on.
Suddenly, Wheeljack foolishly bursts forth from the foliage. Seriously, an idiotic stunt like that could get you shot, or worse, Power Spark would never.
Anyway, he's come to tell the others that the pink one, Elita-something-or-other, is missing. And that they were attacked by Soundwave, who's now powerful. Not as powerful as Power Spark, of course, but enough to be a problem for all these other small fries. Maybe they should have stuck with Power Spark, then they wouldn't be in this mess.
Speaking of Power Spark, we then cut back to a temple, where Power Spark has taken his place upon the throne inside like he deserves. Mirage asks him "What now?", and in his wisdom, Power Spark informs him that "There are empires to conquer." Because when you're as great and powerful as Power Spark, that's what you do -- it's not like they have any idea how to properly run themselves, after all.
I can safely say that this is the best episode of the season. No, make that the entire series. The focus on Power Spark has truly highlighted just how great he is, and why we should all drop $50 -- I accidentally mistyped $450, but he's worth that and more, so really, the $50 price tag is a considerable bargain when you think about it -- to bring home an electronic plastic version of his magnificent visage.
You should all watch this episode. And instead of rewatching any of the other episodes, you should just rewatch this one. And if any newer episodes don't show enough Power Spark, then you should just rewatch this one over those other parts.
All hail Power Spark.
...
...is he gone now? Is it safe to speak freely?
Okay, so in all seriousness, I came into this episode expecting it to be five minutes of torture. I've made it clear that I've not been a fan of how Bumblebee has been in the show lately -- by design, I'm sure. Still, I've found him grating, and just coming off a Bumblebee that felt similar in Optimus Prime: Awakening, I was just not looking forward to doing this bit this week.
But honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. I think Mirage carried a bit of the weight here, and I'm serious about liking his fourth wall breaking. Hey, inside a digital world, and programs inside that digital world? Why not?
I don't know what it was, but I found Bumblebee much more tolerable in this episode than he's been for a while. I think it might have something to do with he and Optimus and the others not crossing paths. Though if that's indeed the case, then I dread what's to come when they inevitably clash again.
Also, I know folks in our forums (link below) are down on "Power Spark," and while it's a cheesy name, let's face it, this is still aimed at kids. And Bee is sort of the kid character himself -- it sounds like something a kid might choose as "My First Character Name" or something.
But between the visor, the glow, the throne, and that new voice? I'm getting some serious Lord Zedd-style vibes from him here, and I am all for that.
I came in dreading this episode, but came away feeling like "Hey, that was alright!" And I'm kinda interested in seeing where things go from here, which is always a plus.
Hey, remember that running gag from Robots in Disguise 2015 where Bumblebee kept trying to come up with his own equivalent to "Transform and roll out"? Well, that bit is back here, only now it's him trying to come up with a name for his team. "Surge Squad" clearly wasn't it, and you can just hear the people in marketing grinding their teeth that he didn't go for that one. "Energon Surge", "Surge Squad"... it was so synergetic!
Mirage is finding out quick that he's going to have to watch his mouth around Bumblebee, as he hulks out at the first sign of lip.
He's also channelling his inner-Deadpool, interacting with the level counter on the screen and playing with the various screen frames, panels, transitions, and such, and I'm here for it.
The Bee Brigade (my name for them, not theirs) are making their way through a program that involves getting past 100 levels of traps and such to get a boost device. BumbleHulk, the awesome $50 stud that he is, is absolutely broken and makes every challenge look trivial, while Mirage and Chop Shop spend most of the time trying to keep up. But Bumblebee is a very magnanimous leader, and so he occasionally tosses one or both of them into his cockpit and drives them on to the next stop on their tour.
Hey, when was the last time you saw Optimus give anyone a lift in his trailer? Yeah, that's what I thought. Point goes to Bumblebee.
Chop Shop's resolve starts to waver, but like the great leader he is, Bumblebee delivers a rousing speech that sets his little bug companion straight, and they proceed on their way to triumph and glory.
Then the group runs into a nasty buzzsaw trap, but Bumblebee, whose heroism is unmatched, selflessly braves their danger in order to ensure the safety and success of his team.
Bumblebee, never afraid to ask for help when the situation calls for it (rare though that may be for him), asks Chop Shop for directions. However, his directions -- which were surely given in error, as no one would ever deliberately want to lead a noble champion like Bumblebee astray -- lead to a dead end. Then the door closes behind them, and the walls start to close in. And at Level 99, no less!
Always one to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, Bumblebee thoughtfully examines every possible avenue for escape with tact and efficiency, before selflessly taking Mirage into his own protection and drilling down through the floor to safety.
After finding Chop Shop, who had gotten lost earlier, Bumblebee calmly and collectively helps to restore his energon reserves by sharing some of his own ample, abundant supply. Not only is Chop Shop elated to receive such a generous bounty from his selfless leader, but this seems to trigger something in the room, and it inspires Bumblebee to take on a new, more fitting moniker: Power Spark. Chef's kiss. Beautiful. No notes. In fact, I think I'm even going to name this review that.
Oh, and now he is taking to wearing that awesome classic battle mask that so wickedly references the original G1 Bumblebee toy. I mean, that guy can try all he wants to be as great as Cyberworld Bumble-- I mean, Power Spark -- but he's not even worthy enough of changing his tires. So buzz off, you old fossil -- Power Spark is here to stay, and he's here to slay.
In the last minute of the episode, we go to check in on
And just to show you how far gone these dweebs are, Grimlock voices doubts about Power Spark's integrity, and Optimus is still on with all that fake-worried act he puts on.
Suddenly, Wheeljack foolishly bursts forth from the foliage. Seriously, an idiotic stunt like that could get you shot, or worse, Power Spark would never.
Anyway, he's come to tell the others that the pink one, Elita-something-or-other, is missing. And that they were attacked by Soundwave, who's now powerful. Not as powerful as Power Spark, of course, but enough to be a problem for all these other small fries. Maybe they should have stuck with Power Spark, then they wouldn't be in this mess.
Speaking of Power Spark, we then cut back to a temple, where Power Spark has taken his place upon the throne inside like he deserves. Mirage asks him "What now?", and in his wisdom, Power Spark informs him that "There are empires to conquer." Because when you're as great and powerful as Power Spark, that's what you do -- it's not like they have any idea how to properly run themselves, after all.
I can safely say that this is the best episode of the season. No, make that the entire series. The focus on Power Spark has truly highlighted just how great he is, and why we should all drop $50 -- I accidentally mistyped $450, but he's worth that and more, so really, the $50 price tag is a considerable bargain when you think about it -- to bring home an electronic plastic version of his magnificent visage.
You should all watch this episode. And instead of rewatching any of the other episodes, you should just rewatch this one. And if any newer episodes don't show enough Power Spark, then you should just rewatch this one over those other parts.
All hail Power Spark.
...
...is he gone now? Is it safe to speak freely?
Okay, so in all seriousness, I came into this episode expecting it to be five minutes of torture. I've made it clear that I've not been a fan of how Bumblebee has been in the show lately -- by design, I'm sure. Still, I've found him grating, and just coming off a Bumblebee that felt similar in Optimus Prime: Awakening, I was just not looking forward to doing this bit this week.
But honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. I think Mirage carried a bit of the weight here, and I'm serious about liking his fourth wall breaking. Hey, inside a digital world, and programs inside that digital world? Why not?
I don't know what it was, but I found Bumblebee much more tolerable in this episode than he's been for a while. I think it might have something to do with he and Optimus and the others not crossing paths. Though if that's indeed the case, then I dread what's to come when they inevitably clash again.
Also, I know folks in our forums (link below) are down on "Power Spark," and while it's a cheesy name, let's face it, this is still aimed at kids. And Bee is sort of the kid character himself -- it sounds like something a kid might choose as "My First Character Name" or something.
But between the visor, the glow, the throne, and that new voice? I'm getting some serious Lord Zedd-style vibes from him here, and I am all for that.
I came in dreading this episode, but came away feeling like "Hey, that was alright!" And I'm kinda interested in seeing where things go from here, which is always a plus.
But what did you think? Catch anything I didn't? Feel free to talk about this episode here, or the series as a whole over in the "Transformers CyberWorld: Energon Brouhaha" thread in our forums!
