The Ending Of Transformers One, Defined

This text comprises large spoilers for “Transformers One.”

It is humorous how long-lasting the “Transformers” sequence has been, having began out as a line of toys earlier than evolving into an enormous universe that has continued to inform thrilling tales after 40 years — particularly ones as various as, say, the 1986 animated film and the Michael Bay live-action variations. That being stated, it has been a tough couple of years for the franchise because the live-action motion pictures aren’t the sure-fire field workplace hits they as soon as have been (however possibly the upcoming crossover with “G.I. Joe” will do the trick?).

Now, it is time for animation to avoid wasting the franchise as soon as once more, as a result of “Transformers One” is one of the best “Transformers” film in a long time. It is a film that takes us again in time to inform a narrative impressed by biblical epics like “Ben-Hur” with a little bit “Revenge of the Sith” thrown in. However pretty much as good because the film is, does it connect with the characters we all know and love? Does it construct up future tales? Right here is the way it all goes down and the way it connects to the franchise viewers could already be considerably aware of seeing in live-action. 

“Transformers One” takes place 1000’s of years earlier than Optimus Prime arrives on Earth as a refugee, earlier than the All Spark and the Linkin Park music, earlier than the Order of the Witwiccans, and earlier than the destruction of Cybertron and the civil warfare that preceded it. Earlier than there was Optimus Prime and Megatron, there was Orion Pax and D-16. Very similar to Obi-Wan and Anakin earlier than the previous minimize the latter’s limbs and throw him into lava, D-16 and Orion are finest associates. The 2 are inseparable, and get in all types of hassle as they work as miners of Energon, an power supply for the planet Cybertron that had primarily evaporated years prior after an enormous warfare desolated the floor. 

Whereas Orion is determined to rise above his station, D-16 fears getting in hassle and upsetting the established order. Regardless, the 2 share one large factor in widespread — an enormous respect for Sentinel, the final of the 13 Primes after the others have been killed by the alien species Quintessons. So think about their shock when, after discovering that the floor wasn’t really poisonous, the 2 additionally uncover that Sentinel can be a traitorous snake who offered out his personal sort and made a take care of the Quintessons to remain in energy. 

The reality additionally tears a rift between the 2 associates, as the 2 ponder what to do with the reality. Megatron needs to outright kill Sentinel for the ache he is induced all of the residents of Iacon Metropolis, whereas Orion Pax needs to reveal the reality and get justice. Although they’re nonetheless working collectively, the friendship is damaged, their newfound powers merely exposing what was already there — principally a deep anger and resentment on the facet of D-16.

Issues come to a boil when D-16 goes for the kill in opposition to Sentinel Prime, however Orion Pax jumps in and takes the blast. That is the final straw for D-16, who has truthfully spent your complete film saving Orion and overlaying for him, however no extra. He rips Sentinel in half and lets Orion fall off a ledge. He will not outright kill him, however he does not save him both. That is when D-16 takes Sentinel’s transformation cog (which used to belong to Megatronus Prime) and places in on, renaming himself Megatron.

Whereas all of that is occurring, Orion falls and falls, via fireplace and water, from the bottom dungeon to the very best peak till he reaches the core of Cybertron and hears from Alpa Trion (chief of the Primes) who provides Orion the Matrix of Management, which turns Orion into Optimus Prime. It’s now that we get a basic battle between Megatron and Optimus, because the latter takes the ethical excessive floor, provides Megatron the “You have been my brother, Anakin! I liked you!” speech and exiles him and his followers from Iacon fairly than execute him. With the facility of the Matrix, Optimus restarts the Energon flowing, restoring the planet, and he additionally provides all of the miners transformation cogs — naming all of them Autobots. 

The film ends with the Autobots rolling out onto the floor of Cybertron, as Optimus delivers one other basic Optimus end-of-movie “I’m Optimus Prime” speech warning all invaders to remain away (solely with out the Linkin Park music). Appears Optimus was all the time good at giving speeches. 

As cool as it’s to see an origin story for Cybertron itself, to see the Matrix of Management play an enormous position within the story and get lore on the Primes, the crux of the film lies within the falling out of D-16 and Orion Pax. Now we have seen loads of villain origin tales that make them sympathetic, like “Cruella” and “Maleficent,” however what “Transformers One” does just isn’t flip Megatron right into a misunderstood good man, however fairly a tragic determine radicalized by years of oppression and lies. 

The film recontextualizes the battle of Autobots and Decepticons into a real conflict of ideologies. D-16 remains to be a assassin, however he actually needs what he thinks is finest for his metropolis, to tear down the corrupt establishments that had plagued Iacon for therefore lengthy, however via fireplace and blood. This finally ends up being much less Anakin and Obi-Wan and extra Caesar and Koba in “Daybreak of the Planet of the Apes” — a conflict between a pacesetter who aspires to champion everybody and sees one of the best in these round him, and one other who has merely seen the worst of the world for much too lengthy to forgive or overlook. It provides each film that has come earlier than it added context, and turns the destruction of Cybertron into a real tragedy. 

That is very true after the post-credit scene, which has Megatron model himself and his followers with the enduring Decepticon purple image, however explaining that they are taking the identify as a result of they (and all of Cybertron) have been deceived for too lengthy, and can by no means be deceived once more.

So the place does the franchise go from right here? The Quintessons are nonetheless on the market and can doubtless come again. Will we see the Autobots and Decepticons workforce up? Fairly doubtless, because it does not look possible that Megatron will go from wanting freedom for his followers to sacrificing them in an everlasting warfare in opposition to Optimus Prime that rapidly.