Craving some Transformers show with a GI feel, I really was stoked for "Victory". The first episode isn't so bad, it's actually fun and the opening song gets you pumped up for some robot on robot action. Two episodes into the series, the novelty of the show wears off and you kinda snooze off; what seems to be the problem? First, the characters: they're boring as hell; unlike in the American scripted and directed series where the personalities of the transforming mechs are distinct from each other and are well realized characterizations, in Victory, nothing seems to distinguish the cast from each other; this is especially true with the Autobots; the Cybertrons as they are called here are so dull and drab, the way they talk and act, they feel more like civilians or office workers in robot costumes than giant mecha who're out to kick some serious b--t; the villains on the other hand are more entertaining than the heroes: Leozack seems like a cross between Star Scream and Shockwave while the Dinoforce are effective comedians;
What is most annoying about the show is that it has no respect whatsoever with its target audience; while it's a children's show, the scriptwriters could've at least constructed stories that do not insult the intelligence; even kids know that robots cannot drink coffee, weep, ride escalators in a supposedly alien planet or wear blankets(!) It's alright if this is Transformers: The Looney Tunes version but this is supposed to be a show about giant robots for Pete's sake; I mean I can tolerate cheesy and absurd scenes but to a point.
On the positive side, there are some cool and awesome portions to a few episodes; the transformation of Star Saber from space jet to robot never grows old as well as the combining of the various robot teams into gestalts are undeniably the highlights of the series but the Victory Saber merging footage is downright embarrassing; the fights are so-so but in the episode "The Resurrection of the Decepticon Fortress", Deszaraz and Star Saber's fight is surprisingly good (the episode itself is good along with "The Death of Ginrai" and "Fight, Victory Leo" and the last three episodes;
In the end though, a few quality episodes cannot redeem a downright awful and terrible show.
What is most annoying about the show is that it has no respect whatsoever with its target audience; while it's a children's show, the scriptwriters could've at least constructed stories that do not insult the intelligence; even kids know that robots cannot drink coffee, weep, ride escalators in a supposedly alien planet or wear blankets(!) It's alright if this is Transformers: The Looney Tunes version but this is supposed to be a show about giant robots for Pete's sake; I mean I can tolerate cheesy and absurd scenes but to a point.
On the positive side, there are some cool and awesome portions to a few episodes; the transformation of Star Saber from space jet to robot never grows old as well as the combining of the various robot teams into gestalts are undeniably the highlights of the series but the Victory Saber merging footage is downright embarrassing; the fights are so-so but in the episode "The Resurrection of the Decepticon Fortress", Deszaraz and Star Saber's fight is surprisingly good (the episode itself is good along with "The Death of Ginrai" and "Fight, Victory Leo" and the last three episodes;
In the end though, a few quality episodes cannot redeem a downright awful and terrible show.