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This is the RFC News Desk minimally spoiler review of Transformers Earthrise. We will have a full in-depth review with spoilers on Wednesday’s RFC 707. Or not, we haven’t decided yet. 

Review by Brian Kilby

Please note that the text review is a transcript of the podcast.

In the first episode of Earthrise, early on into the plot, Megatron interacts with a group of down-on-their-luck Decepticons stationed at a desolate and remote post. The interaction hints at new depths of characterization and heart, and I was genuinely excited about where the series was going. 

By this point, a couple of friends who were also reviewing the series reached out to let me know that they thought that the series was a definite step up from Siege. And based on what I was seeing, I fully expected it to be.

Little did I know that this would be the last hint at heart or real characterization that we would get from Earthrise. 

Yes, the pacing of the story is better. It more or less feels like the story is supposed to go somewhere. The technical aspects of the story are more refined, but the execution lacks any real artistry. 

Like with Siege, I really don’t know who the audience is for this series. I know that some people liked Siege. I’ve come across them on Facebook comments. This is not for kids, and it’s not really for diehard Transformers fans either. The characters on-screen resemble characters who have come before in earlier series, and they usually even bear the same names. But the words they speak, the actions they take, the essence bears little resemblance to any previous iteration of the character. 

Earthrise is incredibly boring, and I don’t get the point. Surely kids aren’t going to try to play out the Cybertronian politics with the toys that Santa brought them Christmas morning. Little Billy isn’t going to prostrate his Optimus Prime in front of Little Johnny’s Megatron and beg for forgiveness. Sally isn’t going to have her Bumblebee give monotone commands to her imaginary crew of the Ark. 

I have a hard time believing that this is the muse that the design team draws inspiration from as they design awesome transforming robots. The toys do not spring to life on screen. This is not some visionary realization of the Transformers mythos. The characters are given limp life and plod along toward whatever the goal is. I don’t even really know. It has something to do with the AllSpark. 

The series lacks passion and steadfastly deprives you of any. As consistent as it is, it has to be a conscious choice that is deliberately executed scene by scene.

Several new characters are introduced, but three stand out as exceptionally disappointing. If you know me pretty well, you’ll recognize that two of my all-time favorite Transformers are introduced, and I couldn’t have been more disappointed. The other character will be pretty evident once you watch the series. 

If you watch the series, it’s a short 200ish minutes in total, so it’s not a huge time commitment. If you liked Siege, you’ll probably like this. If you didn’t like Siege, you’re probably not going to like this either.

One final aside, the next series is Kingdom, which we can expect to feature Beast Wars characters heavily. Please, please, please. Just don’t feature Beast Wars characters. Focus on some other planet somewhere else in the galaxy. I love G1 and most of the characters featured in Siege and Earthrise. Watching these characters, which I love, move lifelessly across the screen like some stop-motion taxidermy horror is bad enough. Please spare my precious Beast Wars. I don't think I can bear it.

This week on RFC: Favorite Christmas memories, old toy stores, and lots of new toys.

The News

RFC News Desk 125 – Buzzworthy Bumblebee

The line keeps getting bigger and less interesting!Check out News Desk 124 for details about the first look at Buzzworthy Bumblebee, the Core Class figure with a Spike Witwicky accessory figure.

New stock photos releases from In Demand Toys, plus a couple of discoveries at Target in the US have brought us more information about Buzzworthy Bumblebee, a most likely store exclusive product subline coming perhaps even sooner than we thought!

Repacks of four Studio Series Deluxes are in this series, including #15 Classic Camaro Bumblebee with Charlie, #26 World War II Bumblebee, #40 Shatter (car mode), and #74 Revenge of The Fallen Bumblebee with Sam. Do note that #74 has not otherwise been released to retail yet, and based on the numbering would probably be expected to normally land around Spring. That might make Buzzworthy the first release of this pack.

There's indications to support this being exclusive to Target in the US. First a find of product info for the Bumblebee and Spike Core Class set in Target's inventory system, listed at $14.99. Then just today there was an in-store find by sdtessmann on TFW2005 of a Mega 1-Step Changer movie Bumblebee with Buzzworthy branding. This isn't conclusive, but it's a strong implication of being the newest round of Target exclusive Transformers in the US.

Thanks to all of our Patrons who are making this possible! Join our Patreon and let's make awesome stuff happen!

This week: New RED and Cyberverse figures on the way, and that Transformers MMO is still a thing? Huh.

The News

RED Bumblebee And Starscream Plus Devastator Reissue

Cyberverse Deluxe Prowl And Soundwave Stock Photos

Transformers Online MMO Still In Development, Set for 2021 Release

The Grimlock tiki mug

This week: We all got Hot Rod, and we all love it. And Scourge? Well, he has a nice personality. Also, Bumblebee is apparently Buzzworthy.

The News

RFC News Desk 124 – War For Cybertron Core Class Bumblebee With Spike Set Leaked

New Cyberverse Deluxes Are Coming

It's Christmas at Zone Base! The lights are hung on the porch and bow. There's just a tree in the living room. Rob talks about the way cool new Final Faction toy line before talking about his Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar. Then it's random memories of Christmas music he hates and loves before spiraling into madness about a Burger King commercial. Merry Christmas!

In Demand Toys leaked some stock images for a mysterious two pack of Bumblebee and Spike Witwicky. Bumblebee looks a lot like a Core Class figure, and also looks a lot like a G1-toy-accurate Autobot mini car in vehicle mode. Exo Suit Spike also seems to be a fully new mold, which can transform as seen in Transformers The Movie.

This seems like it would fall under an irregular price point, which is a good sign that this is probably someone's exclusive. As for exactly who, there's not a clear indicator yet, but my early guess is Target, at least for the US. If this is an exclusive though, it makes it unlikely either figure is unique to this set. Spike could easily be a reuse of the Daniel that's supposed to come with Studio Series Slag, but we don't have any signs right now of where else a Core Class Bumblebee (or Cliffjumper, or Hubcap, or Bumper) might fit in.

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This week we take a look at wave 2 of Kingdom. Also: What we got this week, new items in Walmart's inventory system and elf on a shelf warmer is winding down.

 

The News

Transformers Kingdom Wave 2 Official Reveals

The Rest of Transformers Kingdom Wave 2 Revealed!

Stuff found on Walmart’s site or app

Transformers-hasbro Tra Gen Red Redeco Megatron

Transformers-hasbro Tra Gen Red Bw Optimus Primal

TRA GEN WFC N Battlefield Voyager Optimus Primal

TRA GEN WFC N Battlefield Voyager Seeker

TRA Gen Deluxe Highbrow

TRA Gen Deluxe Weirdwolf

TRA Gen Deluxe Skullcruncher

Netflix Ultra Magnus coming the Ollie’s for $25

This week: We have Kingdom wave 1 in hand. YES! Also, we discuss upcoming Kingdom releases.

This week: New crossovers, old crossovers, and maybe a new movie? Oh, and Aldi has Earthrise, but still no Jive.

Mentioned on the show:

The News

RFC News Desk 123 – Ghostbusters Crossover & Studio Series Fan First Friday

Transformers Collaborative X-Men Crossover Ultimate X-Spanse

Transformers Earthrise Deluxe wave 2 at Aldi stores in the US starting November 18th

Paramount Wants Steven Caple Jr. to Direct Next Transformers Movie