Round #20; Transformers Prime - Optimus Prime and Megatron, Ultra Magnus and Starscream
Fandom: Transformers Prime
Subject: Optimus Prime and Megatron, Ultra Magnus and Starscream
Title: First & Nothing
Notes: A mix comparing two sets of characters that are more similar than their canon ever intended: Optimus Prime and Megatron, the leaders of two factions that have been at war for millennia, and Ultra Magnus and Starscream, the two "right hand mechs" who find no real acceptance either from their leaders or their factions. This fanmix was made for waywardmixes.
Warnings: Contains slight spoilers for Transformers Prime, up through the episode "Minus One." There are also some mentions of death, abuse (physical, psychological, and emotional), and threats of torture.
"There is no such thing as second place. Either you're first or you're nothing." -Gabe Paul
***
Transformers Prime is the most recent cartoon in the Transformers franchise, having just ended on October 4th with the post-finale movie Predacons Rising. In it, the Autobots and the Decepticons fight for resources on Earth, and to gain the military advantage over one another in their millenia-long war, and to restore life to their home planet, Cybertron (and gain the political advantage there, too).
It is a gorgeous series, with some incredible characters, voice acting, and (especially) animation, but is also, unfortunately, incredibly morally flawed. Quite a few of the characters simply don't come across the way the writers, or at least the showrunners, obviously meant them to. The result is that more parallels can be drawn between the members of these opposing factions than was ever intended.
This particular mix focuses on four of those characters.
Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobot faction. Back before the war started, he was a member of the Data Caste named Orion Pax, firmly in the middle caste, working as a monitor for the Hall of Records. He became friends with Megatronus, but when the High Council declared Orion Pax the new destined holder of the Matrix of Leadership, choosing him over Megatronus, the anger and betrayal between them grew and led to the war that would destroy their planet and almost their entire race. Once apparently kind, over time, Optimus Prime became incredibly uncaring of everyone outside of his little "family": Ratchet, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee, Cliffjumper, and eventually (to a much lesser degree) Wheeljack, Smokescreen, and Ultra Magnus. Even the deaths of other Autobots, as we see by his reaction to Seaspray's death and to his murderer, no longer seem to faze him; he is utterly uncaring of any Decepticons or former Decepticons. He has become convinced that he is always in the right in any situation, usually only showing sadness whenever anyone disagrees with him about anything and a patronizing, gaslighting attitude towards their criticisms and points of view. Over the course of the series, he performs many actions that would make him a war criminal under human law with an utter lack of emotion, and his focus is on personally defeating Megatron, above all else.
Megatron is the leader of the Decepticon faction. Before the war, as a member of the lowest caste, D-16 was a miner and a pit fighter and was allowed no name of his own; he took the name of Megatronus for himself, after one of the original Thirteen Primes and their most famous betrayer. Megatronus became friends with Orion Pax, but when the High Council dismissed his anger over the caste system, refused to listen to him, and declared Orion Pax the new destined leader, an enraged and betrayed Megatronus led his Decepticons into the war that would destroy their planet and almost their entire race. By the time the series starts, Megatron is incredibly unbalanced, incredibly violent and dangerous even to his own troops, and incredibly sadistic not only as a warlord but as an abuser. He is not especially charismatic or clever, but he is very good at breaking people down and attacking them mentally and emotionally as well as physically. He doesn't care about the fate of any of his troops, either as individuals or as a group, and in fact burns through 95% of his army over the course of the series completely carelessly; he's terrible at tactics and planning and figuring out how to best use his officers, but he also doesn't really try; his entire focus is on causing Optimus Prime upset and difficulty before, eventually, defeating and killing him.
Ultra Magnus is an old friend of Optimus Prime's, one of his closest lieutenants, and most likely his only surviving lieutenant. The former leader of the Wreckers, he is incredibly strict, determined to follow and enforce the rules and regulations, no matter how few friends this wins him. As a high ranking officer, the members of "Team Prime" should respect and listen to him more than most others besides Optimus Prime himself, and as both his lieutenant and his friend Optimus Prime should appreciate his feedback and what he brings to the table; unfortunately, despite being a military unit, Team Prime does not like to follow military regulations and they do not appreciate Ultra Magnus's rigidity, and Prime blames Ultra Magnus to his face for his own inability to fit in with the "family," citing that he needs to loosen up and not expect them to follow the rules so closely. Despite all of this, Ultra Magnus never flinches in his ideals or compromises his morality; his stress on following the rules is clearly less about wanting personal power and more about keeping everyone, ally and enemy alike, safe. While Ultra Magnus never wavers as an Autobot, he is notably absent when Optimus Prime and Ratchet threaten a POW, and asks for Shockwave's surrender after gaining the upper hand over him in battle. None of the Autobots may like him very much, but he remains a pillar.
Starscream is, ostensibly, Megatron's Second in Command, but while he is expected to take the blame for any and all failures and setbacks, he is given no actual power to speak of. Having "studied for eons under Megatron," this seems to have taken the form of Megatron grinding him down as much as he possibly can, using him as stress relief and to have someone to blame, a patsy and a punching bag. Millenia of this has affected Starscream badly; he grabs for power as a form of security, he loathes Megatron and wishes him dead for much of the series, he dislikes the Autobots as well, he is snappish and quick to rile even among other Decepticons, and none of this wins him friends or support. On the other hand, he is also surprisingly honest at times, shockingly loyal to anyone who shows him any measure of respect and good treatment, and very willing to work alongside even people he personally dislikes without complaint, if necessary and if not actually, actively mistreated. He repays the favors he is granted and expects others to do the same. And over the course of the series, though he tries to leave the Decepticons for good and even join up with the Autobots at one point (an attempt which goes badly for him), his inability to survive out on his own drives him back to Megatron, and via threats and gaslighting he is finally broken down into loyalty to his Master.
***
***
Autobots and Decepticons
01. The Decemberists - When the War Came (x)
A terrible autonomy
Has grafted onto you and me
Our trust put in the government
They told their lies as heaven-sent
'Til the war came
'Til the war came
And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
And they're picking out our eyes by coal and candlelight
When the war came, the war came hard
Optimus Prime and Megatron
2. Natalie Merchant - Golden Boy (x)
Heroes are born
Idols are made
We're all fools for this factory fame
And you've got the brand new face...
Meteor rise from obscurity
All it took was a killing spree
And the whole world was lying at your feet
Golden boy
Golden boy
Golden boy
3. Chevelle - Forfeit (x)
Learn from this prehistoric dance and
Refrain from talking, it solves our problems
Medicated, could do some good or
Find a way to relate, or just shut up
'Cause I want to fight
I want to fight
I want to prove I'm right
I want to fight
I want to fight
So turn and forfeit...
So step up
So step up
And forfeit
4. Blue Stahli - Kill Me Every Time (x)
I feel your last conviction
And I'm underneath
You kissed me with a bullet
Between your teeth
You like the way that I struggle
You're my favorite sin
I'm playing the willing victim
And when I give in
You kill me every time
You kill me every time
5. Iris - Sentimental Scar (x)
You can do anything you want
You can pray till the light has come
Still not find a way to make it better
You can go start a war and win
Ending up right back here again
In time it becomes clearer...
I will say lead you by the water
Throw your body against the wall
And awaken the fear of your own destruction
I can tell you, I've been there man
And pain is a wonderful emotion
Look at your sentimental scars
Look at the shape they've left upon your skin and mind
Ultra Magnus and Starscream
6. Mesh - This Is The Time (x)
They build us up
To throw us down
We have an opinion, but that isn't allowed
We build it tall
And watch it fall
We work in a factory but make nothing at all
But it's hard
To resist
That there's more, so much more to be missed
And it's hard
To believe
That we've been so completely deceived...
And they don't want the things we do
We knew it once, and it's still true
7. Fair to Midland - April Fools and Eggmen (x)
Common sense won't pay the rent and doesn't grow on trees
But splitting hairs can get you anything you need
Who would have thought connecting dots might get you to the point?
But charity is a rarity
Almost as much as modesty
Take the bait and save
However much it takes
Before you've made your wish
However much it takes...
Take your own advice
Before you take a side
Run for middle ground
8. Depeche Mode - A Pain That I'm Used To (x)
Can you say what you're trying to play anyway?
I just pay while you're breaking all the rules
All the signs that I find have been underlined
Devils thrive on the drive that is fueled...
I can't conceal what I feel, what I know is real
No mistaking the faking, I care
With a prayer in the air, I will leave it there
On a note full of hope, not despair
All this running around
Well, it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe
All the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true
9. Streetlight Manifesto - What A Wicked Gang Are We (x)
Oh, my dear, my tis of thee
What a tangled web we weave
Everyone is the one 'til the one falls down
Then we're all just "please, please, please"
The painted rust will only
Fool the fools for just so long
Eventually, that's when they'll see everything was wrong
Wrong, wrong, wrong
That's when they'll see everything was wrong
Wrong, wrong, wrong
That's when they'll see everything was wrong
So here's to the boys who fight all the wars you
Will never fight for yourself
BONUS - Autobots and Decepticons Again
10. Vocaloid - SeeU - Science of Hypocrisy (x)
Honesty, commonly taught in ethics classes as one of the virtues
That must not be included
We do not give out indulgences just because murderers are honest
And the reality that white lies are essential evil circles around us
Therefore we must cry
Hurrah to the false world!
Our shadows smile
Bring the armor of justification
For the upcoming war of pretense that must come
Here comes a utopia!
Everyone's shadows smile
Put on the mask of innocence
That will be your shield and sword...
You must be hypocritical yourself
To be able to realize others' hypocrisy
Even to ready the defense and launch the counterattack
To be able to do this the first thing you need
Justification, the most important element
No matter how great an act of hypocrisy
If there is no justification for greater cause it's all for nothing
***
8 T R A C K S
(OR)
M E D I A F I R E
(OR)
4 S H A R E D
Subject: Optimus Prime and Megatron, Ultra Magnus and Starscream
Title: First & Nothing
Notes: A mix comparing two sets of characters that are more similar than their canon ever intended: Optimus Prime and Megatron, the leaders of two factions that have been at war for millennia, and Ultra Magnus and Starscream, the two "right hand mechs" who find no real acceptance either from their leaders or their factions. This fanmix was made for waywardmixes.
Warnings: Contains slight spoilers for Transformers Prime, up through the episode "Minus One." There are also some mentions of death, abuse (physical, psychological, and emotional), and threats of torture.
"There is no such thing as second place. Either you're first or you're nothing." -Gabe Paul
***
Transformers Prime is the most recent cartoon in the Transformers franchise, having just ended on October 4th with the post-finale movie Predacons Rising. In it, the Autobots and the Decepticons fight for resources on Earth, and to gain the military advantage over one another in their millenia-long war, and to restore life to their home planet, Cybertron (and gain the political advantage there, too).
It is a gorgeous series, with some incredible characters, voice acting, and (especially) animation, but is also, unfortunately, incredibly morally flawed. Quite a few of the characters simply don't come across the way the writers, or at least the showrunners, obviously meant them to. The result is that more parallels can be drawn between the members of these opposing factions than was ever intended.
This particular mix focuses on four of those characters.
Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobot faction. Back before the war started, he was a member of the Data Caste named Orion Pax, firmly in the middle caste, working as a monitor for the Hall of Records. He became friends with Megatronus, but when the High Council declared Orion Pax the new destined holder of the Matrix of Leadership, choosing him over Megatronus, the anger and betrayal between them grew and led to the war that would destroy their planet and almost their entire race. Once apparently kind, over time, Optimus Prime became incredibly uncaring of everyone outside of his little "family": Ratchet, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee, Cliffjumper, and eventually (to a much lesser degree) Wheeljack, Smokescreen, and Ultra Magnus. Even the deaths of other Autobots, as we see by his reaction to Seaspray's death and to his murderer, no longer seem to faze him; he is utterly uncaring of any Decepticons or former Decepticons. He has become convinced that he is always in the right in any situation, usually only showing sadness whenever anyone disagrees with him about anything and a patronizing, gaslighting attitude towards their criticisms and points of view. Over the course of the series, he performs many actions that would make him a war criminal under human law with an utter lack of emotion, and his focus is on personally defeating Megatron, above all else.
Megatron is the leader of the Decepticon faction. Before the war, as a member of the lowest caste, D-16 was a miner and a pit fighter and was allowed no name of his own; he took the name of Megatronus for himself, after one of the original Thirteen Primes and their most famous betrayer. Megatronus became friends with Orion Pax, but when the High Council dismissed his anger over the caste system, refused to listen to him, and declared Orion Pax the new destined leader, an enraged and betrayed Megatronus led his Decepticons into the war that would destroy their planet and almost their entire race. By the time the series starts, Megatron is incredibly unbalanced, incredibly violent and dangerous even to his own troops, and incredibly sadistic not only as a warlord but as an abuser. He is not especially charismatic or clever, but he is very good at breaking people down and attacking them mentally and emotionally as well as physically. He doesn't care about the fate of any of his troops, either as individuals or as a group, and in fact burns through 95% of his army over the course of the series completely carelessly; he's terrible at tactics and planning and figuring out how to best use his officers, but he also doesn't really try; his entire focus is on causing Optimus Prime upset and difficulty before, eventually, defeating and killing him.
Ultra Magnus is an old friend of Optimus Prime's, one of his closest lieutenants, and most likely his only surviving lieutenant. The former leader of the Wreckers, he is incredibly strict, determined to follow and enforce the rules and regulations, no matter how few friends this wins him. As a high ranking officer, the members of "Team Prime" should respect and listen to him more than most others besides Optimus Prime himself, and as both his lieutenant and his friend Optimus Prime should appreciate his feedback and what he brings to the table; unfortunately, despite being a military unit, Team Prime does not like to follow military regulations and they do not appreciate Ultra Magnus's rigidity, and Prime blames Ultra Magnus to his face for his own inability to fit in with the "family," citing that he needs to loosen up and not expect them to follow the rules so closely. Despite all of this, Ultra Magnus never flinches in his ideals or compromises his morality; his stress on following the rules is clearly less about wanting personal power and more about keeping everyone, ally and enemy alike, safe. While Ultra Magnus never wavers as an Autobot, he is notably absent when Optimus Prime and Ratchet threaten a POW, and asks for Shockwave's surrender after gaining the upper hand over him in battle. None of the Autobots may like him very much, but he remains a pillar.
Starscream is, ostensibly, Megatron's Second in Command, but while he is expected to take the blame for any and all failures and setbacks, he is given no actual power to speak of. Having "studied for eons under Megatron," this seems to have taken the form of Megatron grinding him down as much as he possibly can, using him as stress relief and to have someone to blame, a patsy and a punching bag. Millenia of this has affected Starscream badly; he grabs for power as a form of security, he loathes Megatron and wishes him dead for much of the series, he dislikes the Autobots as well, he is snappish and quick to rile even among other Decepticons, and none of this wins him friends or support. On the other hand, he is also surprisingly honest at times, shockingly loyal to anyone who shows him any measure of respect and good treatment, and very willing to work alongside even people he personally dislikes without complaint, if necessary and if not actually, actively mistreated. He repays the favors he is granted and expects others to do the same. And over the course of the series, though he tries to leave the Decepticons for good and even join up with the Autobots at one point (an attempt which goes badly for him), his inability to survive out on his own drives him back to Megatron, and via threats and gaslighting he is finally broken down into loyalty to his Master.
***
***
Autobots and Decepticons
01. The Decemberists - When the War Came (x)
A terrible autonomy
Has grafted onto you and me
Our trust put in the government
They told their lies as heaven-sent
'Til the war came
'Til the war came
And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
And they're picking out our eyes by coal and candlelight
When the war came, the war came hard
Optimus Prime and Megatron
2. Natalie Merchant - Golden Boy (x)
Heroes are born
Idols are made
We're all fools for this factory fame
And you've got the brand new face...
Meteor rise from obscurity
All it took was a killing spree
And the whole world was lying at your feet
Golden boy
Golden boy
Golden boy
3. Chevelle - Forfeit (x)
Learn from this prehistoric dance and
Refrain from talking, it solves our problems
Medicated, could do some good or
Find a way to relate, or just shut up
'Cause I want to fight
I want to fight
I want to prove I'm right
I want to fight
I want to fight
So turn and forfeit...
So step up
So step up
And forfeit
4. Blue Stahli - Kill Me Every Time (x)
I feel your last conviction
And I'm underneath
You kissed me with a bullet
Between your teeth
You like the way that I struggle
You're my favorite sin
I'm playing the willing victim
And when I give in
You kill me every time
You kill me every time
5. Iris - Sentimental Scar (x)
You can do anything you want
You can pray till the light has come
Still not find a way to make it better
You can go start a war and win
Ending up right back here again
In time it becomes clearer...
I will say lead you by the water
Throw your body against the wall
And awaken the fear of your own destruction
I can tell you, I've been there man
And pain is a wonderful emotion
Look at your sentimental scars
Look at the shape they've left upon your skin and mind
Ultra Magnus and Starscream
6. Mesh - This Is The Time (x)
They build us up
To throw us down
We have an opinion, but that isn't allowed
We build it tall
And watch it fall
We work in a factory but make nothing at all
But it's hard
To resist
That there's more, so much more to be missed
And it's hard
To believe
That we've been so completely deceived...
And they don't want the things we do
We knew it once, and it's still true
7. Fair to Midland - April Fools and Eggmen (x)
Common sense won't pay the rent and doesn't grow on trees
But splitting hairs can get you anything you need
Who would have thought connecting dots might get you to the point?
But charity is a rarity
Almost as much as modesty
Take the bait and save
However much it takes
Before you've made your wish
However much it takes...
Take your own advice
Before you take a side
Run for middle ground
8. Depeche Mode - A Pain That I'm Used To (x)
Can you say what you're trying to play anyway?
I just pay while you're breaking all the rules
All the signs that I find have been underlined
Devils thrive on the drive that is fueled...
I can't conceal what I feel, what I know is real
No mistaking the faking, I care
With a prayer in the air, I will leave it there
On a note full of hope, not despair
All this running around
Well, it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe
All the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true
9. Streetlight Manifesto - What A Wicked Gang Are We (x)
Oh, my dear, my tis of thee
What a tangled web we weave
Everyone is the one 'til the one falls down
Then we're all just "please, please, please"
The painted rust will only
Fool the fools for just so long
Eventually, that's when they'll see everything was wrong
Wrong, wrong, wrong
That's when they'll see everything was wrong
Wrong, wrong, wrong
That's when they'll see everything was wrong
So here's to the boys who fight all the wars you
Will never fight for yourself
BONUS - Autobots and Decepticons Again
10. Vocaloid - SeeU - Science of Hypocrisy (x)
Honesty, commonly taught in ethics classes as one of the virtues
That must not be included
We do not give out indulgences just because murderers are honest
And the reality that white lies are essential evil circles around us
Therefore we must cry
Hurrah to the false world!
Our shadows smile
Bring the armor of justification
For the upcoming war of pretense that must come
Here comes a utopia!
Everyone's shadows smile
Put on the mask of innocence
That will be your shield and sword...
You must be hypocritical yourself
To be able to realize others' hypocrisy
Even to ready the defense and launch the counterattack
To be able to do this the first thing you need
Justification, the most important element
No matter how great an act of hypocrisy
If there is no justification for greater cause it's all for nothing
***
8 T R A C K S
(OR)
M E D I A F I R E
(OR)
4 S H A R E D