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Description

Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015-17)
Seasons: 3 (plus miniseries)
Episodes: 71
Network: Cartoon Network

Two years following the conclusion of Transformers: Prime, a follow up sequel series was made and released under the familiar title,

Transformers: Robots in Disguise

(Not to be confused with the 2001 series of the same name)

Now for the longest time, while I acknowledge fully that its not as great as Prime is, I have always liked and enjoyed this show and have not gotten the recent hate the show has gotten from certain fans who say its a poor continuation from the masterpiece that Prime was or saying it ruins Prime and its characters or any of those ridiculous hyperbolic critiques that most fans of any franchise proclaim. While I do agree that Prime is the more richer and stronger show of the Aligned Continuity, I have never understood the level of criticisms or flak RiD 2015 gets and I think the show is way better than most give it credit for, and I have always been able to like and enjoy the show on its own merits first and a sequel secondary and think it deserves more praise than it gets.

But before I get into defending this show against all the haters, I will first list some negatives I do have with the show first to get them out of the way and then talk about the positives for the rest of the review.....

Negatives:

While I do think the action in the show overall is still fairly entertaining to watch, it does somewhat lack the tense stakes that Prime had to where there would be some consequences from said action to any of the main characters. Not to say that the characters don't go through any hardships and challenges in the show, they do and its done pretty well, but it doesn't have the same punch or weight to it that Prime had but what we do get is still good enough.

One thing I can agree with is that Optimus Prime's inclusion in the show feels a bit superfluous and doesn't really add much to the overall show aside from just serving as Bumblebee's mentor and guide. Not to mention that Optimus already went through his character arc in Prime and concluded with him giving his life for Cybertron and there was nothing left for Prime to do. Plus considering the show is mainly about Bumblebee and his team, Optimus wasn't really needed, especially for when he does physically return, he's essentially just a supporting character that doesn't really add much to the team and is a bit weaker than before in the first few episodes he returns in which makes sense as he was recently dead. Don't get me wrong, I love Optimus and Peter Cullen is great as always, but I'm just saying that the show could've benefited more if Optimus was omitted from the main cast outside of just serving as a spiritual guide for Bee.

The show features some very unique and memorable new Decepticons, which we will get into, but also has its fair share of weak and forgettable Decepticons like some that are lame compared to some of the more standout new Decepticons and especially ones that are essentially reused character models of previous Decepticons, but just repainted and with a new head. I get that they were likely done to save money on the animation, but at the same time, they're not very creative or special on their own.

The show does feature a heavy amount of gimmicks and power ups that when shown are pretty obviously implemented to act as the show's way of advertising toys for the show and they can distract a bit from the show when it keeps spending time on showcasing these new powerups and abilities that are clearly toy gimmicks outside of the show. Now I am not one who is opposed to that as it is for a fact that Transformers has always been known for having adverts in shows previous and now but it does go without saying especially as Prime was very lenient on gimmicks, this show kind of doubles down on them.

Positives:

What many hate about the show, I actually appreciate and really like and that is the fact that the show does go for its own vibe and tone that sets it apart from Prime's more dark and mature tone. I appreciate that the show does go for a more fun tone while still keeping the familiar elements of Prime, it doesn't do away with them completely like most claim, and I like that the show has a lot more fun with its characters and its storylines rather than trying to one up what Prime did by being a very deep nuanced overly serialized epic, even though it does have some overarching plots later on. Don't get me wrong, I love Prime as much as the next Transformers fan but I'd prefer when a show goes for its own style and voice rather than try to emulate or copy what came before because more often than not, they're not going to come close to Prime. RiD 2015 does its own thing from its predecessor and for me personally, it pays off.

In addition to that point, I think the show does have a good amount of humor throughout. It does have the occasional flat joke once in a while but its fine for the most part. I do not get the ridiculous criticisms and double standards regarding the silly bits of comedy in RiD 2015 as if other previous shows, not just Prime, didn't have their fair share of silly offbeat moments and comedy and yet they give those shows a pass and yet use that as an argument against this show. Make that make sense to me.

I really like the characters here and the new main dynamic of The Bee Team. Many complain that Bumblebee is not a good leader and that his team sucks, but the show is meant to showcase how The Bee Team grows into a capable and brave team despite starting off as a small ragtag group of misfits that Bumblebee learns to lead including a strict police cadet, a rule breaking delinquent punk, an ex-Con on parole, a lone bounty hunter and a Mini-Con with a glitch, and the show does present some effective development of them as characters and especially their team work. And the development and group dynamic of this ragtag misfit group is not too different from the main team in Animated with how they learn and develop into a more experienced team, and once again, people liked it then and hate it here. Again, make that make sense to me?

And it helps a bunch that I like the characters.

Bumblebee is given a unique character upgrade with him recently getting his voice back and learning the essentials of leadership and it makes him come off as a more matured bot without losing any of his more fun loving traits from before.

Strongarm is a pretty good secondary member of the team as this rule savvy police cadet that accompanies Bee and she has a realistic back and forth with Sideswipe who many find annoying, and while he can have his moments, I do think he serves pretty well as the comedic hot shot of the team.

Fixit is a very funny and adorable assistant Mini-Con and essentially the Ratchet of the Bee Team.

This show features a very fun and unique new take on Grimlock that I think is a very funny and loveable character that is nicely conveyed by Khary Payton who makes him one of the funniest standout characters in the show. While he may not be very smart, he makes up for with his personality that is a big lovable lug at the core but can be a big tough bruiser when in battle and is a huge breath of fresh air from the usual Grimlock depiction of being a big dumb Dinobot with a caveman like speech impediment.

Drift, in his first cartoon debut after his big screen depiction in Age of Extinction, is a pretty cool and noble character as this lone bounty hunter who is also a wise tactician teacher to his Mini-Con students, Jetstorm and Slipstream, and Windblade is a very cool tough new character who comes in later.

Other new Autobots are brought into the mix as well as returning characters, good and evil, from Prime that are just as great as they were before and whenever they appear, they bring a smile to my face as a fan and always grab my attention and the storylines and episodes regarding certain returning characters are some of the best episodes the show has to offer that Prime fans will enjoy (or at least Prime fans that do like the show).

Denny and Russell are pretty good and likeable human companions to the Bee Team and they add a unique flavor and dynamic to the show with them being a father and son respectively, which has not been seen since G1, and their scrapyard serves as a unique main setting for the Bee Team's new home base and is quite the place to hide giant alien robots, just ask Dean.

The new Decepticons we get in the show are very unique in terms of design and character. I actually really the more animal or beast like aesthetic to the designs as I felt they were very unique and added a lot of variety to the lineup with them being a mix of more traditional Prime Decepticon designs and more unique animalistic or beast like Decepticon designs and each one is personified after a certain criminal type and has a unique trait and power set that make them each stand out in the episodes they debut and recur.

The visual style of the show still maintains the familiar designs and aesthetic from Prime but also mixes it up by being a unique blending of the 3D character models and 2D cel shading that I think works for the show and makes it to where it visually belongs in the Prime continuity but also visually stands on its own as unique.

The action while not as good as Prime is still very entertaining and exciting with the various Bots and Cons the show features and introduces in each episode and while they could've been better if they still have the same weight as before and also toned down a bit on the slow mo, the action we do have in the show I liked and it adds a good amount of excitement and enjoyment factor to the series.

And I think it helps a bunch if you watch the show on its own merits and experience it as its own show without comparing it to Prime outside of things that do carry over be it characters or other elements. While many say that its leagues apart from Prime, it at least respects and feels more cohesive as a continuation and a part of that universe than say a show like Rescue Bots or Rescue Bots Academy, despite me enjoying both shows, that deviate a bit in a jarring way due to the Aligned Continuity connection being executively obligated and overall convoluted and inconsistent. RiD 2015, whether you like it or not, is indeed connected with Prime and though it may not be as rich or as nuanced or as daring especially as Prime, I never expected it to be. I look at the show for what it does on its own merits and what it offers and what it does right and if its a good show on its own without the Prime comparisons. The Prime connections may not be perfect but as a sequel, RiD 2015 could be much worse, but for what it is, the show is not that bad in all honesty and I think deserves more love than it gets.

Standout Episodes:
+ Pilot
+ Trust Exercises
+ More Than Meets The Eye
+ Can You Dig It?
+ Hunting Season
+ Sideways
+ Even Robots Have Nightmares
+ Portals
+ Similarly Different
+ Battlegrounds
+ Overloaded
+ Decepticon Island
+ Graduation Exercises
+ Mighty Big Trouble
+ Mini-Con Madness
+ Worthy
+ Blurred
+ Out of the Shadows
+ Guilty As Charged
+ Combine and Conquer
+ Sick as a Bot
+ Collateral Damage
+ Enemy of My Enemy
+ Freedom Fighters

Final Thoughts:

Transformers: Robots in Disguise is a very misunderstood and enjoyable series that in my opinion, does more things right than wrong and doesn't get enough love and respect. While I will always stand by Prime being the superior Aligned show, RiD 2015 is a very underappreciated and fun series that does a mostly admirable job at being a new chapter after Prime's conclusion and on its own merits, is a highly entertaining entry in the Transformers franchise and I urge you if you have not seen it in awhile or was turned off by it initially, please give it another shot but go in with tempered expectations and don't go into it expecting it to be on the same level as Prime. Just go in expecting a fun and exciting Transformers cartoon and watch it on its own merits, and you probably might enjoy it more than you maybe did initially.

But for me, RiD 2015, while not as good as Prime and as much as many Prime purists would disagree, is still a very solid Transformers show on its own that has more merit than the negative side of the fanbase would leave you to believe.

8.5/10

What are your thoughts of Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015)?

Description

Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015-17)
Seasons: 3 (plus miniseries)
Episodes: 71
Network: Cartoon Network

Two years following the conclusion of Transformers: Prime, a follow up sequel series was made and released under the familiar title,

Transformers: Robots in Disguise

(Not to be confused with the 2001 series of the same name)

Now for the longest time, while I acknowledge fully that its not as great as Prime is, I have always liked and enjoyed this show and have not gotten the recent hate the show has gotten from certain fans who say its a poor continuation from the masterpiece that Prime was or saying it ruins Prime and its characters or any of those ridiculous hyperbolic critiques that most fans of any franchise proclaim. While I do agree that Prime is the more richer and stronger show of the Aligned Continuity, I have never understood the level of criticisms or flak RiD 2015 gets and I think the show is way better than most give it credit for, and I have always been able to like and enjoy the show on its own merits first and a sequel secondary and think it deserves more praise than it gets.

But before I get into defending this show against all the haters, I will first list some negatives I do have with the show first to get them out of the way and then talk about the positives for the rest of the review.....

Negatives:

While I do think the action in the show overall is still fairly entertaining to watch, it does somewhat lack the tense stakes that Prime had to where there would be some consequences from said action to any of the main characters. Not to say that the characters don't go through any hardships and challenges in the show, they do and its done pretty well, but it doesn't have the same punch or weight to it that Prime had but what we do get is still good enough.

One thing I can agree with is that Optimus Prime's inclusion in the show feels a bit superfluous and doesn't really add much to the overall show aside from just serving as Bumblebee's mentor and guide. Not to mention that Optimus already went through his character arc in Prime and concluded with him giving his life for Cybertron and there was nothing left for Prime to do. Plus considering the show is mainly about Bumblebee and his team, Optimus wasn't really needed, especially for when he does physically return, he's essentially just a supporting character that doesn't really add much to the team and is a bit weaker than before in the first few episodes he returns in which makes sense as he was recently dead. Don't get me wrong, I love Optimus and Peter Cullen is great as always, but I'm just saying that the show could've benefited more if Optimus was omitted from the main cast outside of just serving as a spiritual guide for Bee.

The show features some very unique and memorable new Decepticons, which we will get into, but also has its fair share of weak and forgettable Decepticons like some that are lame compared to some of the more standout new Decepticons and especially ones that are essentially reused character models of previous Decepticons, but just repainted and with a new head. I get that they were likely done to save money on the animation, but at the same time, they're not very creative or special on their own.

The show does feature a heavy amount of gimmicks and power ups that when shown are pretty obviously implemented to act as the show's way of advertising toys for the show and they can distract a bit from the show when it keeps spending time on showcasing these new powerups and abilities that are clearly toy gimmicks outside of the show. Now I am not one who is opposed to that as it is for a fact that Transformers has always been known for having adverts in shows previous and now but it does go without saying especially as Prime was very lenient on gimmicks, this show kind of doubles down on them.

Positives:

What many hate about the show, I actually appreciate and really like and that is the fact that the show does go for its own vibe and tone that sets it apart from Prime's more dark and mature tone. I appreciate that the show does go for a more fun tone while still keeping the familiar elements of Prime, it doesn't do away with them completely like most claim, and I like that the show has a lot more fun with its characters and its storylines rather than trying to one up what Prime did by being a very deep nuanced overly serialized epic, even though it does have some overarching plots later on. Don't get me wrong, I love Prime as much as the next Transformers fan but I'd prefer when a show goes for its own style and voice rather than try to emulate or copy what came before because more often than not, they're not going to come close to Prime. RiD 2015 does its own thing from its predecessor and for me personally, it pays off.

In addition to that point, I think the show does have a good amount of humor throughout. It does have the occasional flat joke once in a while but its fine for the most part. I do not get the ridiculous criticisms and double standards regarding the silly bits of comedy in RiD 2015 as if other previous shows, not just Prime, didn't have their fair share of silly offbeat moments and comedy and yet they give those shows a pass and yet use that as an argument against this show. Make that make sense to me.

I really like the characters here and the new main dynamic of The Bee Team. Many complain that Bumblebee is not a good leader and that his team sucks, but the show is meant to showcase how The Bee Team grows into a capable and brave team despite starting off as a small ragtag group of misfits that Bumblebee learns to lead including a strict police cadet, a rule breaking delinquent punk, an ex-Con on parole, a lone bounty hunter and a Mini-Con with a glitch, and the show does present some effective development of them as characters and especially their team work. And the development and group dynamic of this ragtag misfit group is not too different from the main team in Animated with how they learn and develop into a more experienced team, and once again, people liked it then and hate it here. Again, make that make sense to me?

And it helps a bunch that I like the characters.

Bumblebee is given a unique character upgrade with him recently getting his voice back and learning the essentials of leadership and it makes him come off as a more matured bot without losing any of his more fun loving traits from before.

Strongarm is a pretty good secondary member of the team as this rule savvy police cadet that accompanies Bee and she has a realistic back and forth with Sideswipe who many find annoying, and while he can have his moments, I do think he serves pretty well as the comedic hot shot of the team.

Fixit is a very funny and adorable assistant Mini-Con and essentially the Ratchet of the Bee Team.

This show features a very fun and unique new take on Grimlock that I think is a very funny and loveable character that is nicely conveyed by Khary Payton who makes him one of the funniest standout characters in the show. While he may not be very smart, he makes up for with his personality that is a big lovable lug at the core but can be a big tough bruiser when in battle and is a huge breath of fresh air from the usual Grimlock depiction of being a big dumb Dinobot with a caveman like speech impediment.

Drift, in his first cartoon debut after his big screen depiction in Age of Extinction, is a pretty cool and noble character as this lone bounty hunter who is also a wise tactician teacher to his Mini-Con students, Jetstorm and Slipstream, and Windblade is a very cool tough new character who comes in later.

Other new Autobots are brought into the mix as well as returning characters, good and evil, from Prime that are just as great as they were before and whenever they appear, they bring a smile to my face as a fan and always grab my attention and the storylines and episodes regarding certain returning characters are some of the best episodes the show has to offer that Prime fans will enjoy (or at least Prime fans that do like the show).

Denny and Russell are pretty good and likeable human companions to the Bee Team and they add a unique flavor and dynamic to the show with them being a father and son respectively, which has not been seen since G1, and their scrapyard serves as a unique main setting for the Bee Team's new home base and is quite the place to hide giant alien robots, just ask Dean.

The new Decepticons we get in the show are very unique in terms of design and character. I actually really the more animal or beast like aesthetic to the designs as I felt they were very unique and added a lot of variety to the lineup with them being a mix of more traditional Prime Decepticon designs and more unique animalistic or beast like Decepticon designs and each one is personified after a certain criminal type and has a unique trait and power set that make them each stand out in the episodes they debut and recur.

The visual style of the show still maintains the familiar designs and aesthetic from Prime but also mixes it up by being a unique blending of the 3D character models and 2D cel shading that I think works for the show and makes it to where it visually belongs in the Prime continuity but also visually stands on its own as unique.

The action while not as good as Prime is still very entertaining and exciting with the various Bots and Cons the show features and introduces in each episode and while they could've been better if they still have the same weight as before and also toned down a bit on the slow mo, the action we do have in the show I liked and it adds a good amount of excitement and enjoyment factor to the series.

And I think it helps a bunch if you watch the show on its own merits and experience it as its own show without comparing it to Prime outside of things that do carry over be it characters or other elements. While many say that its leagues apart from Prime, it at least respects and feels more cohesive as a continuation and a part of that universe than say a show like Rescue Bots or Rescue Bots Academy, despite me enjoying both shows, that deviate a bit in a jarring way due to the Aligned Continuity connection being executively obligated and overall convoluted and inconsistent. RiD 2015, whether you like it or not, is indeed connected with Prime and though it may not be as rich or as nuanced or as daring especially as Prime, I never expected it to be. I look at the show for what it does on its own merits and what it offers and what it does right and if its a good show on its own without the Prime comparisons. The Prime connections may not be perfect but as a sequel, RiD 2015 could be much worse, but for what it is, the show is not that bad in all honesty and I think deserves more love than it gets.

Standout Episodes:
+ Pilot
+ Trust Exercises
+ More Than Meets The Eye
+ Can You Dig It?
+ Hunting Season
+ Sideways
+ Even Robots Have Nightmares
+ Portals
+ Similarly Different
+ Battlegrounds
+ Overloaded
+ Decepticon Island
+ Graduation Exercises
+ Mighty Big Trouble
+ Mini-Con Madness
+ Worthy
+ Blurred
+ Out of the Shadows
+ Guilty As Charged
+ Combine and Conquer
+ Sick as a Bot
+ Collateral Damage
+ Enemy of My Enemy
+ Freedom Fighters

Final Thoughts:

Transformers: Robots in Disguise is a very misunderstood and enjoyable series that in my opinion, does more things right than wrong and doesn't get enough love and respect. While I will always stand by Prime being the superior Aligned show, RiD 2015 is a very underappreciated and fun series that does a mostly admirable job at being a new chapter after Prime's conclusion and on its own merits, is a highly entertaining entry in the Transformers franchise and I urge you if you have not seen it in awhile or was turned off by it initially, please give it another shot but go in with tempered expectations and don't go into it expecting it to be on the same level as Prime. Just go in expecting a fun and exciting Transformers cartoon and watch it on its own merits, and you probably might enjoy it more than you maybe did initially.

But for me, RiD 2015, while not as good as Prime and as much as many Prime purists would disagree, is still a very solid Transformers show on its own that has more merit than the negative side of the fanbase would leave you to believe.

8.5/10

What are your thoughts of Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015)?