Bumblebee mini-series

[andersonh1]

When the characters have to all act stupid for the plot to work, that is indeed bad writing. Now if Ratchet and Bumblebee had worked out their cunning little plan before talking to the general, or if the Autobots were talking normally while perhaps writing down what they truly planned, or if General whatshisname had actually noticed the massive blue sparks coming from Bumblebee's badge and reacted accordingly, some of the scenes in the book might have been salvaged.

And it's a pity, because the basic plot is interesting, and I was actually enjoying Blurr's desperate attack on Bumblebee and Bumblebee's refusal to turn Blurr in. Things were getting interesting, and then all the characters start acting like the three stooges and it all fell apart.

[Sparky Prime]

Considering that Blurr, (sensibly), left the Autobots because Bumblebee's leadership was....lacking, him going back and working for Bumblebee (doing something incredibly stupid mind you), does not make much sense. The fact that Bumblebee had not smartened up, (and barely shut up), after his control tag was damaged only makes Blurr seem more foolish.

As Hoist explained in the ongoing, the group Blurr left with felt like they were under arrest with Ultra Magnus around, investigating recent events and they rather leave the planet under their own free will. It had nothing to do with the current leadership.

Killing Bumblebee would have been perfectly fair. Bumblebee was working for guys who were making a point of capturing and/or killing TFs...and he was going after Blurr. Why the hell would Blurr not shoot Bumblebee to get away?

Shooting Bumblebee in an attempt to get away is one thing. Shooting to kill, is something else. Why couldn't Blurr just shoot Bumblebee in the leg rather than aim for his chest?

[BWprowl]

Shooting Bumblebee in an attempt to get away is one thing. Shooting to kill, is something else. Why couldn't Blurr just shoot Bumblebee in the leg rather than aim for his chest?

'Cuz he was pissed off? Blah Blah heat of the moment Blah Blah.

[Sparky Prime]

'Cuz he was pissed off? Blah Blah heat of the moment Blah Blah.

He seemed more panicked about the idea of being handed over to the humans at the time. He didn't seem to be pissed off until after he'd already shot Bumblebee and the others were after him. Really though, I don't see why he didn't just run away. It wasn't like he was surrounded. Heck, the ongoing shows Blurr easily escape the humans and knocks Tracks down (who had a head start) as he went super sonic to escape. But as the fastest Autobot around, there really was no need for Blurr to shoot anyone.

[BWprowl]

Okay, he shot him because he panicked. The point is he was under emotional duress and did some things without thinking.

Sparky, I love how you expect characters to act 100% rationally, all of the time.

[Sparky Prime]

Okay, he shot him because he panicked. The point is he was under emotional duress and did some things without thinking.

Sparky, I love how you expect characters to act 100% rationally, all of the time.

How would Blurr shooting 'Bee in the foot or simply just running away be acting 100% rational? If he was being 100% rational, he would have simply talked some sense into 'Bee. Hell, the Autobots wouldn't have gotten into this mess with the humans in the first place if they rationally checked the badges before they put them on. But that isn't what I'm saying or expecting at all is it? No, I FULLY expect them to act with some impulsiveness and irrationality. But what I'm saying here is that I'd expect Blurr would try to avoid taking a kill shot to one of his own team mates, even if he's panicked or pissed off. I'm sure he was panicked with the humans attack them in the ongoing, yet he didn't open fire on the humans did he? Nope, he simply just ran away there. Why not in this situation?

[andersonh1]

But what I'm saying here is that I'd expect Blurr would try to avoid taking a kill shot to one of his own team mates, even if he's panicked or pissed off. I'm sure he was panicked with the humans attack them in the ongoing, yet he didn't open fire on the humans did he? Nope, he simply just ran away there. Why not in this situation?

I'm inclined to agree. Blurr takes that shot at Bumblebee strictly so that the badge can be damaged so the Colonel can't control Bumblebee. If Blurr had enough self-control not to shoot at humans when they clearly jeopordized his safety and freedom, there's no reason he shouldn't have done the same for Bumblebee. Not that I can't see him snapping since he's nearly trapped for the second time in five minutes, but his actions so clearly exist just to facilitate the plot that I can't accept them as genuine.

[Dominic]

I read Blurr shooting the badge as a contrivance of the plot more than Blurr trying to be merciful.

How would Blurr shooting 'Bee in the foot or simply just running away be acting 100% rational?

In theory, shooting Bumblebee would keep Blurr out of a cell. And. Bumblebee's ineptitude was endangering the Autobots. Blurr and co leaving made perfect sense. Ultra Magnus would have been justifies in arresting everybody, especially given how badly the command structure had deteriorated. Then, Bumblebee leads his troops into the hands of the enemy.

The only reason I am reading this book now is that Costa specifically asked us, (as readers), to stick with the series as a whole. The art (in both titles) does not hurt either.


Dom

[Sparky Prime]

In theory, shooting Bumblebee would keep Blurr out of a cell. And. Bumblebee's ineptitude was endangering the Autobots. Blurr and co leaving made perfect sense. Ultra Magnus would have been justifies in arresting everybody, especially given how badly the command structure had deteriorated. Then, Bumblebee leads his troops into the hands of the enemy.

In theory, running away would keep Blurr out of a cell as well. Which, again, ironically enough is why his group left Bumblebee's command in the first place. Although I really don't see why they felt like they were under arrest with Ultra Magnus around. No one in that group had anything to do with the mission Ironhide was killed and as far as we know, they hadn't done anything to warrant Ultra Magnus' attention. Last I checked, a deteriorating command structure wasn't a crime. Ultra Magnus really has no justification to arrest anyone here.

[Dominic]

If you apply the cop-rule to Ultra Magnus, somebody has to go down.

There is a dead body. Several guys have been kidnapped. The leader is AWOL. The guy who is nominally in charge is a boob. Other guys are taking off left and right. If nothing else, Magnus might just decide to hold somebody for questioning. Think of it as a more robust court summons. Ultra Magnus might just have to arrest somebody to justify the trip to Earth. I would want to be out of the room when that happened.

As for Blurr, context matters. Given how badly things were going, and how frayed tempers were, could you blame Blurr for being a bit trigger-happy? And, really, would Bumblebee getting whacked really be such a bad thing?

Dom
-just keep your head down, and your nose clean.