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[stainless]

So I’ve started reading IDW’s new Transformers run, and not much has happened in it quite yet

but HOLY CRAP IT LOOKS LIKE THE EVENTUAL CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO MAJOR FACTIONS MIGHT JUST BE WHAT I BASICALLY HEADCANON IT WAS

and this has me making excited bouncy seal noises  

Comments

[plugz]

I don’t know what’s going on with it honestly but I feel happy myself to see ppl enjoying it!

Also what is your headcannon out of interest I am very curious? :0

[stainless]

I am enjoying it so far! MTMTE/LL just wasn’t exciting enough for me, I fear. I like what it brought to the franchise, the humor and the character driven focus, and the sense that giant robots are as screwball as humans. But I like those things in smaller doses in between my intrigue and punching! :-) And it looks like this will be more to my taste in general, so far.

My headcanon is basically

Autobots: the most important thing is a cohesive society where people treat each other fairly. This means that many of us have to sacrifice our own desires for the good of the whole, even if it sometimes means a really crappy life. Maybe everyone individually is a little bored or restless, but everyone collectively is generally content, and that’s what’s most important.

Decepticons (who I gather are called Ascenticons pre war in this verse?): Don’t let anyone limit you. Your proper place in society is what you can win by your ambition, cleverness, and power. People who ask you to accept life with less so everyone can be “happy” are not only stifling you, they’re stifling everyone. Maybe a society like the one we want is ruthless and cruel, but it’s the best one because anyone strong enough can rise.

I might be reading too much in to too little data, but that seemed to be where Megatron was coming from in his rally speech—it’s not just that people aren’t getting enough fuel (though they are), it’s that they’re being told not to strive to be greater than they are. Which is limiting and stunting above and beyond “you’re being oppressed.”

Basically, collectivism vs. individualism, which I find more interesting than just good vs. evil because it actually is something of an open question and the best society is probably a mix of both.

[plugz]

Ahh right! Yeah that’s an interesting idea tbh. I love the sorta more interesting ideals stuff as it allows for imo, more complex discussion of the cons vs bots.

‘The bots are good the con are evil’ or vice versa can be fun sometimes but it can easily be shallow tbh?

This version of Megs seems a lot more fun the mtmete Megs who seemed to me kinda... aimless? I liked fic of him but in cannon I was like ??? At his motivations.

This Megatron sounds more focused.

(I haven’t read much mtmte or this comic at all XP)

[stainless]

Uncharitableness ahoy, but MTMTE Megatron sounded like someone in the thick of profound mental health issues and I was weirded out and uncomfortable with the way the fandom took it as cute just because he was wearing a good guy sticker.

(That said I think it was intended at least somewhat cutely, which is part of my whole problem with MTMTE and LL.)

[plugz]

Ah right yeah that...actually fits real well tbh.
Now I’m thinking of it, ‘aimless and no motivation’ is pretty much a depressive episode. I know seeming nice and placid can be depression behaviour too tbh.

Hm. I tend not to like ‘these characters are mentally ill and lol they hate themselves it’s cute’.
Feels like those tumblr ‘relatable’ mental illness posts that are just ‘I hate myself’ and ‘I’m not coping with my symptoms healthily this is a good joke’ remixed.

I do feel like ‘could the character get some therapy, on some meds because this doesn’t feel funny or cute anymore’

I guess after fighting so hard to recover I get a little mardy that it’s not considered as fun or relatable, sympathetic, or cute as suffering.

[stainless]

Yeah. And I personally felt like “depression and inability to function” was presented in a way that made those things sound like “redemption.”

And that’s... really troubling to me, since my own mental health issues involve thinking I’m evil and the things I want are bad, so not wanting anything is better for the people around me.

I don’t think it’s what JRo MEANT, but the strong message I got from it was “better walking dead Than Decepticon,” and as someone who this fandom helped through some really rough patches and who’s always identified more with the ‘Cons, it felt weirdly personal.

[plugz]

Ah yeah I can really get feeling uncoftabke if it’s personal tbh? There’s stuff I’ve been turned off by in Transfomers media/fandom bc it just hit personal buttons so I get you there.

(And I’m also p strongly con identifying. I partly blame that on tea blitzwing XP)