Triple Takeover Toycast

We’re back for a second round of Transformers ‘hidden gems’, as each member of the team selects two toys from across the brand’s history that they feel never quite received the recognition they deserved.

From overlooked releases to figures that may simply have arrived at the wrong time, we explore why these toys slipped under the radar — and whether they truly were underappreciated in the first place. As ever, opinions differ, and the idea of what makes a ‘hidden gem’ proves to be far from straightforward.

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Triple Takeover marks its 50th episode by turning its attention to one of the most iconic moments in Transformers history — The Transformers: The Movie.

Released in 1986, the film left a huge impression on a generation of fans, blending bold creative choices, unforgettable music, and some genuinely shocking moments that still hit hard decades later. In this episode, the team take a deep dive into the movie’s legacy, discussing what it meant at the time, how it’s been reappraised since, and why it continues to loom so large in the Transformers canon.

It’s a celebratory but thoughtful discussion of a film that is, in every sense, beyond good, beyond evil, beyond your wildest imagination.

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Hasbro and Kenner’s 1997 Transformers: Machine Wars is about as niche as it gets within the world of robots in disguise, occupying a strange and often overlooked corner of the brand’s history.

In this episode, the team take a closer look at the line’s unusual premise, which saw familiar characters like Optimus Prime, Starscream, and Soundwave re-emerge as store-exclusive repaints of classic Generation 1 designs — exclusively in the US. We explore why Machine Wars existed, how it was received at the time, and why it has since become such a curiosity among collectors.

It’s a discussion about timing, exclusivity, and one of the more peculiar experiments in Transformers toy history — a line that many fans never encountered first-hand, but still find fascinating years later.

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Among the many oft-forgotten toy lines of the 1980s, Starcom holds a special place in the hearts of many collectors — and for good reason.

In this episode, the team take a closer look at what made Starcom so distinctive, from its clever magnetic play pattern and intricate detailing to its sleek, spacefaring vehicle designs. We explore why the line stood out at the time, how it was received, and why it continues to resonate with those who experienced it first-hand.

It’s a relaxed voyage of rediscovery, celebrating a toy line that quietly did things differently — and left a lasting impression as a result.

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We’re going back to where it all began, exploring the pre-Transformers era through the Diaclone Car Robots sub-line.

In this episode, the team take a closer look at the original Diaclone releases that would later be known as some of the most recognisable robots in disguise. We discuss the designs, play patterns, and ideas present in the Car Robots line, and consider how these toys laid the groundwork for the Transformers line yet to come.

There’s plenty of intrigue to uncover in this formative period of the brand’s history, making this a thoughtful dive into the origins of Transformers and the toy lines that helped shape it.

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As the year draws to a close, it’s time to take stock and reflect on some of the standout Transformers toys we picked up over the past twelve months.

In this episode, the team share their personal picks for the best releases of the year, discussing what made these figures special — whether through design, engineering, play value, or simply the joy they brought to our collections. Rather than chasing a definitive ranking, it’s a celebration of the toys that left the strongest impression on us.

It’s a relaxed end-of-year discussion about what made this particular year in Transformers collecting memorable, and why certain releases continue to stand out.

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It’s time to court controversy once again, as the team return for a third round of discussion around some of the most hotly-debated topics in Transformers history.

This time, we turn our attention to some particularly divisive subjects, such as non-transforming Transformers toys, and the long-running debate around ‘Masterpiece vs mainline’. Rather than simply picking sides, we explore why these topics generate such strong reactions, how opinions have shifted over time, and what they reveal about different expectations within the fandom.

Of course, strong views do emerge along the way — but the focus remains on understanding the debate itself, and why these conversations continue to resurface within the Transformers community.

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Sometimes, all a good Transformers toy design needs is a few thoughtful tweaks to become something truly special.

In this episode, the team discuss some of their favourite retooled moulds from across the brand’s history, exploring how small changes in engineering, aesthetics, or character choices can dramatically reshape a figure. Along the way, we consider what actually makes a retool successful, and why certain examples stand the test of time while others fall short.

It’s a focused discussion on design evolution within Transformers — and how clever retools can take a familiar figure and turn it into something genuinely surprising.

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This episode is all about Transformers ‘hidden gems’ — toys that we adore in our collections, but which never quite seem to receive the recognition they deserve within the wider fandom.

Here, the team each pick out a selection of personal favourites, spanning both vintage releases and more modern toys. We discuss what makes these figures special, why they may have been overlooked, and whether their status as ‘hidden gems’ really holds up under closer scrutiny.

It’s a thoughtful and celebratory discussion that sets the tone for a recurring series focused on rediscovery, reappraisal, and the shifting nature of fandom attention.

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The Transformers franchise has a long and varied history with mailaway items, stretching back to the earliest days of the brand with releases like the Omnibots, Reflector, and Time Warrior.

In this episode, the team look back at some of the most memorable mailaway Transformers from across the years, discussing how they were obtained, why they felt so special at the time, and what made them stand out from standard retail releases. We also explore the sense of anticipation and exclusivity that came with mailaways, and how that experience shaped collector memories.

It’s a nostalgic and thoughtful look at a distinctive part of Transformers history — and why mailaway figures continue to hold such appeal decades later.

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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...

Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com

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Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover