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The Seibertron.com Twincast / Podcast returns to finish off the year with host Scotty P and Seibertron sitting down on a Sunday afternoon to talk all about the soon-to-be-released Transformers: War for Cybertron, "Chapter Two: Earthrise" cartoon series. This series releases to the public December 30th for streaming exclusively on Netflix, but we've been fortunate enough to get to watch it and bring you our thoughts on the first five episodes in podcast form. If you prefer to read about it instead, check out our written review of Earthrise over here, which doesn't directly spoil content like this podcast episode does.
Episode #267 “Netflix Earthrise Reviewed” is available directly and in our RSS Feed, and should appear on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio and many other Podcatcher sites within 24 to 48 hours of when you see this news post.
In case it wasn't already clear, please be aware this podcast episode contains full spoilers for the first five episodes (out of six) of Transformers: War for Cybertron, "Chapter Two: Earthrise". If you don't want to be spoiled, you should not listen to this episode until after you have watched the series.
In this episode we discuss the Earthrise cartoon episode by episode:
Episode 1 and its similarities to the previous chapter, Siege.
The Mercenaries show up for fun times in the second episode.
Is the third episode the charm? No.
The show's fourth episode puts Scotty P to sleep.
Episode 5 finally begins to put a little light in our darkest hour. Well, not the darkest, but things were getting less than good.
At the end and throughout as well, we provide our thoughts on the series in general to the extent allowed, including the pacing, characters, voice acting, voice direction and much more.
This episode rounds out another year of the Twincast / Podcast, and we hope it helped you get through a uniquely challenging time. We'll see you around the bend in 2021 and hope you have a safe, happy and healthy new year!
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Target: 2020
A Review of Transformers: War for Cybertron, "Chapter Two: Earthrise"
Spoiler Free-ish Images in this review courtesy of Netflix
With much closer timing to its namesake toyline, the next part of the Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy known as "Chapter Two: Earthrise" is due for release on Netflix in only a few days' time. Picking up where "Chapter One: Siege" left off, Earthrise finds the heroic Autobots adrift in space in search of the Allspark which they themselves sent out there. For a little bit more, here's the official synopsis provided by Netflix:
The WAR FOR CYBERTRON continues with the second chapter, EARTHRISE! With the Allspark gone, Megatron is forced to confront the harsh reality that his Decepticons are trapped on a dying Cybertron while also fighting off the persistent threat of Elita-1 and her Autobots. Meanwhile, lost in the darkest reaches of space, Optimus Prime and his team embark on a desperate mission that will push them to the breaking point as they travel to uncharted new worlds to face spacefaring mercenaries, enigmatic figures from long ago and even their own creators…the Quintessons.
How does this chapter stack up to the first, and to expectations in general? Read on to find out.
Siege II: Siege Harder
The initial episode ignores the cliffhanger at the end of "Siege" and returns the action to Cybertron. While this does result in the first of many questionable pacing choices, it helps set up the basis for the plot lines to follow effectively while continuing to build on the character of Megatron. It will also serve as a good reset of expectations for any viewers that expect a dramatic shift in tone, acting, or even the quality of production for "Earthrise", in that it really is a sequel to "Siege" and feels like it right from the beginning. Any problems a viewer had with respect to animation, voice acting, or the Tron: Legacy copycat score (my biggest sore point from Siege) will remain in Earthrise. Plan accordingly.
Based on early trailers and promotional images, many fans are looking forward to the new "faction" known as the Mercenaries, featuring some franchise standards like the conehead Seekers alongside new or sparsely used characters such as Exhaust and Doubledealer. They're only especially present within one episode, but they bring some fun and even humor to the mix and help break up the generally slow pace of the first 2/3 of the show. While not given especially deep characterization, they serve a purpose in the story and do so well.
Pictures taken moments before tragedy
The writing isn't a huge departure from Siege, but there are a few lines throughout that feel like they'd be more at home in a soap opera or low budget horror film. When these occur for the purpose of levity, such as Red Alert mentioning how he's "always... alert", that's ok and it ultimately provides some welcome personality. When it's in a serious moment and the show follows it up by having the characters within take it especially serious, then I just feel insulted. Some of the new characters introduced see their plot progress too quickly without earning it, while others still are some of the more egregious uses of "they're here to sell toys" that we've seen in a while. Characters appear who speak lots of words that end up not meaning anything which makes the experience more somniferous than stimulating.
That leads to the big offender with respect to the overall problems carried over from Siege into Earthrise: pacing. Just as the first four episodes of Siege felt like they dragged on, so do three of the first four of Earthrise. Saving almost all of the good stuff for the third act isn't very surprising, but the relative dullness of what comes before it was for me. Some viewers are likely to disagree with this sentiment, and there's definitely an argument to be made that Earthrise does much better at making sure to include action scenes on a regular basis. Unfortunately, when these are padded out with a nearly six minute long conversation between Optimus Prime and Megatron, that loses its luster.
Not lacking in pretty lights
The show looks very nice, and even downright incredible in some scenes, with the texture artists once again providing a visual treat for Transformers fans. More variation in the environments helps here too, with the backdrop of a galactic journey providing more opportunity for variation than the constant scenery of war-torn Cybertron. Sure, characters still move too much while talking, not enough of them transform, and the cost-saving recycling of CGI character models is completely frustrating at times, but within the framework put forth Polygon did an outstanding job. A particular one on one battle in episode five even added characterization through the action for someone familiar to Transformers fans but wholly obscure to casual viewers that only caught the live action movies, which was an impressive feat and part of the show that I really enjoyed.
Verdict All Earthrise for the honorable judge
If this review feels very negative, there's a very good reason for it - reviewers were not allowed to mention details about the final episode. This is a really bizarre thing as it's the strongest episode in the series to date and that's really about all I'm allowed to say about it until December 30th. You'll just have to take my word for it that the end of this show was very good and saved it from a much worse numerical score. The rest of it is quite boring. How boring? To be genuinely honest, I haven't had to actively struggle to pay attention to a Transformers show like this since Transformers: Energon. What was being laid down was clear and nothing went super far off the rails, but a good bit of Earthrise just did not land for me. Eventually it was worth it to have made it through, but I don't see myself coming back to this one anytime soon.
Final Score . ½
out of
Seibertron.com was provided with complimentary advance screening access to Transformers Chapter Two: Earthrise by Netflix for the purpose of this review. "Thank you" to Netflix and Hasbro for this access!
The next toys from the upcoming Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom line to get the gallery treatment are WFC-K7 Paleotrex and WFC-K3 Vertebreak.
Deluxe Class Paleotrex is a Fossilizer, similar in functionality to the Siege Weaponizers (which become accessories and weapons that are compatible with other Transformers). His alternate mode is the fossilized bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Core Class Vertebreak, while her alternate mode is a fossilized dinosaur that resembles a Dracorex, is not a Fossilizer.
Both figures are part of first wave of War for Cybertron Kingdom products which will be available at brick-and-mortar retail soon and have already begun showing up at online retail.
Are you thinking of adding these two unique Transformers to your collection? Share your thoughts about Paleotrex and Vertebreak as well as the rest of the Kingdom toys in our topic here.
Review for Transformers Back to the Future Crossover Issue 2
Ok so two issues in and this series is perfectly fine for what it is: a Transformers/Back to the Future Crossover. The first issue had an extra fun feel since it basically replayed the events of the first film but in a chronological manner in the point of view of someone watching the DeLorean disappear in the 80s, setting up the story brilliantly since anyone who saw the film can just fill in any blank easily, and ending in not one but two great cliffhangers.
I was rather excited to read this one and while the cliffhangers are explained, it takes practically the entire issue to do so, meaning that you are in for flashbacks for 75% of the issue. We learn all about Gigawatt and how the Decepticons became as dominant as they are now and it's fun for the most part. I most especially love how Megatron is portrayed. They strike a nice balance of ruthlessness with an over the top ego, where we even see him sport a regal cape.
Once the backstory is explained, we are back to the present just in time to end the issue on another cliffhanger and that's it. Story-wise, there are no false beats here, it's just fun and anyone liking these two franchises and the idea of having fiction serve as a toy commercial will enjoy this.
On the art front, it does the job but only passably. Megatron, Gigawatt and Rumble are drawn fine but there is a rather big shot of Rodimus Prime (you read that right) that does not look right. The proportions are off, it looks like a failed attempt at a perspective shot, and a dull surprise look serves as the icing on top.
Overall, it doesn't negate from the fun experience of the comic but it doesn't go in the plus column either. If you are a fan of fun crossovers, or G1 Megatron, or the idea of Rodimus being the leader of the Autobots rather than Prime, then I'd recommend giving this a shot.
The Transformers Buzzworthy Bumblebee line sure is odd. I am still baffled by the use Bumblebee's evergreen design on the box when so far no toy in this surprise line sports that design and now it's quite odd that this line is being found at retail when it still has not been announced. Maybe it's just to have more Bumblebee toys on the shelves, who knows. The Studio Series rereleases (or prerelease for one of them) have been found at Target. So this might be a Target exclusive line, once again we know very little about this line. The toys found were BB-15 15 Bumblebee & Charlie, BB-26 WWII Bumblebee, BB-40 Shatter and BB-74 Camaro Bumblebee & Sam, which all sport their Studio Series numbers.
But that is not all, fans were also surprised to see another Buzzworthy release that none of us knew was happening, a rerelease of the movie Mega One Step, also at Target. The deluxes are 19.99 and were found in Georgia according to this Reddit post, while the giant one step is 29.99 and was found in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, by sdtessmann. For those wanting it, the DPCI# is 087-16-7189.
David Kaye and Garry Chalk, aka Beast Wars Megatron and Optimus Primal, have a yearly tradition of sending out holiday greetings. They usually use the voices of their Beast Wars characters when doing so. We have both of those videos below. Chalk's video is a parody on the "my favourite things" song. And we'd like to take the time here to wish you a Merry Christmas from all of us here at Seibertron!
U.K. retailer InDemand Toys has posted a slew of product images for upcoming toys, and from multiple lines, to boot! Seibertronian Shiningstar7896 alerted us to the Facebook post containing in-package images of Studio Series 70 B-127, Studio Series 71 Dino, R.E.D Arcee and Cheetor, the "Retro" Headmaster reissues, and the Ghostbusters Afterlife version of Ectotron. Feast your eyes on these new images below!
There are a couple of interesting things to note about these releases. First and foremost, Ectotron comes packaged in blister packaging, rather than the retro style box that his first release came in. Those retro style boxes look great on the Headmaster "reissues", and though the Headmaster partners retain their Titans Return name spellings, Weirdwolf actually gets his original name back, having been called "Wolfwire" in the previous release of the mold. The R.E.D. releases of Prime Arcee and Cheetor showcase their Action-Master (aka non-transforming) style figures, though curiously, Cheetor's head appears to be cast in a bronze colored plastic, rather than the yellow and gold of his package art. And last, but not least, B-127 is confirmed to be the full official name of of the figure.
So what do you think of these new photos? Do you plan to pick up any of these figures? Please feel free to discuss these below!
Transformers MP 51 Masterpiece Arcee is shipping from online retailers at the end of this month and it has even appeared in some shops like Takashiyama in Singapore. Cybertron21 has released a transformation video which you can see below. This will close the year of Arcee where each line had an Arcee release, be it Studio Series, War for Cybertron, Cyberverse and Masterpiece. Oddly enough, while the Masterpiece should be the most cartoon accurate it has a rather inacurate chest. In the cartoon, Arcee has a pink upper torso and a small white collar around her neck but here it makes it look like her collar is part of her torso, and the front of the torso begins below her shoulders. It's like her back half and her front half are not in synch with one another. Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter now that we can see exactly how she transforms and which sacrifices were made.
The Singapore sighting was reported on TFW2005 by their member Automorpher.
We have a 5 page preview for the second issue of the Back to the Future x Transformers mini series. We will have a review of this book for you as well later this week so keep an eye out for that if you are curious of our thoughts on it.
Here is the summary of this issue:
Great Scott! Marty McFly's woken up to a present where Hill Valley has been enslaved by the Decepticons! And not only that, but when a time machine arrives from the future to help, Marty finds out that Doc Brown isn't the only one with a flux capacitor... Gigawatt, an Autobot, has one built in! To discover the secrets of his present, Marty will have to trust this mysterious stranger on a trip... to the future!
In Shops: Dec 23, 2020
Creator credits: Cavan Scott (Author), Juan Samu (Artist, Cover Artist), Phil Murphy (Cover Artist), David Garcia Cruz (Colorist)
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