I like the theory that Optimus’ motto “freedom is the right of all sentient beings” originally came from Megatron. It shows how he used to be a revolutionary with a noble cause before his descent into evil.
In other words, he was once a good man who eventually became corrupted with evil and all that's left of the good man that once was is Optimus' motto which is sad when u think bout it
Optimus Prime: Ones worth is not determined by the circumstances of their birth, but being alive is enough to be considered worthy, everyone is worth something . Megatron: Once worth is not determined by the circumstances of their birth, but by their accomplishments, Only the ones strong enough to fight can be considered worthy.
"Being alive is enough to be considered worthy." Yet the weak constantly have their existence rendered forfeit whenever they come upon a force of more power/strength than they. Can you ever be deemed "worthy" of something that can basically be taken away at a moments notice, at the behest of another? The only thing that justifies existence is power, because it is the only thing that maintains it.
@@KevinJohnson-cv2no The problem with that kind of world-view is that it often leads to mass conflicts. If power was the only thing that justified existence then the very concept of a "civilization" would have ceased to exist.
Optimus: "You would put Cybertron at the center of the Universe!" Megatron: "Cybertron IS the center of my universe. How is it not the heart of yours?!" I really do love that interaction in Transformers Devastation.
To be fair, Optimus, across a majority of Transformers continuities, is bizarrely ok with letting their homeworld die in favor of saving ungrateful aliens whose lifespans are comparable to an insect juxtaposed with his own, and no I'm not just referring to humans. Point being, you'd think the leader of the ubiquitously good faction would care more about protecting and reviving Cybertron rather than do the opposite.
@@Greenkitten45 tbf in that same game he does respond to Megatron that they cannot destroy earth because it goes against what prime believes "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, I stand for those that cannot stand for themselves" Prime stands for us and tells magnetron that humanity will decide its own fate
@@Greenkitten45 i always feel the reason why prime is almost unfeeling about cybertrons demise is because of the matrix of leadership/the fact optimus is the reincarnation of the 13th prime. the 13th might know that cybertron never fully "dies" because its flat out the god
@Greenkitten45 it's not that optimus doesn't care about cybertrons fate, he simply does not think the ends justify the means. If reviving cybertron means the destruction of countless other worlds, than it is a price too high to pay for him
Prime megatron was so hardcore that he brought HIMSELF back from the dead. Also Starscream's testimony was one of the best roasts i've ever seen in any piece of fiction I've ever seen.
@@returnedtomonkey8886, and his first line after returning from the dead: "Decepticons! Your rightful lord and master has returned!" He knows Starscream is to blame for his previous condition, and right off the bat, he's making it clear to everybody that HE is the leader of the Decepticons, not Starscream. I love that sh*t.
I guarantee that the latter is top ten best moments in Starscream's life, he went right for the pride, too bad he was wrong about Megatron's intellect being average.
Finally someone talks about one of my favorite villains in fiction. Very strange how niche transformers is considering how many continuities it has yet people only know of the films
Honestly let's keep it niche. It's one of the last IPs that hasn't been ruined beyond repair recently. A few bumps along the way is fine but if it became too mainstream all you would get are empty block busters with hardly any plot and live service video games.
@Izzy 3:16 okay fair. I think those were part of the Bayformers design, but still made it to the Prime design so that he could have an extra intimidation factor besides personality
I don't see how TFP's "redemption" for Megatron was confusing. It wasn't as if he suddenly had a 180 change in personality or view. Unicron just tortured him so badly that he realized "holy shit this is what I've been doing to people for years this sucks" and he renounced his warmongering
It's also similar to how in Earthspark Season 1 (before the 2nd season completely ruined it), Megatron upon seeing just how badly he traumatized Starscream via physical abuse realized just how horribly evil he had been in a moment of "Oh my god...I did this..." self-reflection.
it IS confusing because the line they chose was "Now I know what oppression is, and I don't want to cause it anymore" or something along those lines, which feels awkward because it contradicts the backstory they chose for him in that continuity. He was enslaved in a caste system, first as a miner and later as a gladiator, and it was this experience with oppression that drove him to start the revolution. Maybe if was something like "Now I remember what oppression is and what I started fighting for, before I grew mad with power." That wouldn't have been so awkward to hear. The issue isn’t the line itself but how disconnected it feels with the continuity emphasized in Prime.
They actually gave him a human design in the comics via hardlight hologram, which they explained was based on 1) their knowledge of humans/Earth culture and 2) the Cybertronian's psychological profile. The end result? Megs looked like a retired supervillain, complete with an eye scar, leather gloves, silver skull belt buckle, and a striking cane with the Decepticon faction symbol. 😂😂😂
1:03 - Ah yes, one of the most iconic villains in fiction and he turns into the most rudimentary most basic most purest forms of humanity's instinctual capacity for violence. Beauty in simplicity doesn't even begin to describe it.
@Your missing father how does that work? Now it is just instead of turning into a pistol from being the big one to lead the Decepticons to then turning into a handgun it is not well translated into a toy a movie or an interactive game. Only the original series he turns into a handgun even Starscream could handle.
Even though I'm a sucker for the classic fun but simple villains who don't need a complex backstory, I *firmly believe* that the way Megatron's character was slowly rewritten is part of what gave the character so much longevity. The idea that Megatron was once Optimus's friend , someone who earnestly fought for freedom and equity on Cybertron, only for his pride, spite and frustration to slowly corrode his ideals and turn him into everything he hated is *brilliant!* It also makes Megatron's rivalry with Optimus that much more *personal.* In Megatron's mind HE earned the Matrix of Leadership, HE deserved to be a Prime and not some data clerk who had never picked up a weapon or had to fight for anything in his life. But the *best* interpretations are also ,in my opinion, the ones that explore Megatron when the war is over and he inevitably loses or his worldview is shattered or he sees that he was in the wrong all along. Because where does he go from there? You can't redeem him and just killing him isn't enough.
"If the world thinks you are a monster, what does it matter? The world is wrong. But when you think of yourself as a monster..." Is probably my favorite Megatron quote. I've always liked the idea of "every villain is the hero of their own story" so I really like that IDW explore what happens when a villain goes so far that he can no longer reconcile his own actions.
A key factor of Megatron turning into a gun in his early incarnations is that the Decepticons' vehicle modes often - beyond a few exceptions - were tools of war or other carnage, whereas Autobots often turned into things that would help people or serve several purposes. Trucks can tow things. They can carry things. They can move people around. Planes can travel to places, and perform air shows. They fly in sequences and move people around just like trucks. Cars can race, they move people around, and they're part of humanity's ultimate, primal desire to just go faster. But tanks? Fighter jets? Battleships? A *gun?* Whilst you could argue their merits in other roles, they're fundamentally built for a single, primary purpose: Kill. Even from a young age, kids will look in awe at trucks and racing cars. They're amazing pieces of big machinery, and kids love those. But in any country - even one like 80s America - the gun is symbol of terror for most people. Yes, there's uses for guns that aren't criminal, and I daren't pretend I'm going to start a 2A argument here. But if you show most members of the public a truck, they'd be fine. Show them a gun, and a very specific air of discomfort QUICKLY sets in.
Im pretty sure most kids think tanks and jets are way cooler than 4 wheelers, a child isn't gonna look at a toy gun and be afraid, he would want to own it.
My favorite ending to Megatron's character is easily Transformers Prime. At the end of the movie, Optimus seals away Unicron and all the evil energy into the Matrix of Leadership, leaving only Megatron left to be alive and upgraded. Starscream tries to convince Megatron to return to his evil ways where he contemplates and yells out, "NO!" Starscream says, "But...why?" After staring at Optimus Prime for a few minutes, he says the best thing I've ever heard. "Because I now know the true meaning of oppression, and have lost my taste in inflicting it." He CHANGED, scared by being used and controlled, something he sought for and seeing first-hand how what he sought after wasn't at all what he envisioned and sought to banish himself off to a far away place, showing that Optimus Prime was correct all along, that anyone can indeed change and that his heart was in the right place all along. THIS is to me, the greatest end to Megatron.
I would also like to imagine that he spent a far longer time in there with Unicron than what was shown in the movie, like it's almost as if he was literally in hell and got a taste of the fraction of suffering he inflicted on others for countless eons.
Still think it's kinda weird, 'cause Megatron had previously known what oppression was like, being a slave and all, and that was his primary motivation for founding the Decepticons. But yeah, aside from that weirdness, it was a perfect ending for him.
That's the sloppiest shit I've read this week. "I don't want to be bad because I felt bad" Who writes this shit? The only thing that would make it even worse is if his eyes started glowing blue instead of red.
The storytelling of Megatron, what is a wonderful masterpiece of all his incarnations of so far. And with the transformers earthspark and Legacy on the horizon, I cannot wait to see which transformer you will break down for us next.
What is amazing about Megatron is that he's an iconic 80s villain and in a majority of his incarnations he believes what he is doing is right when it's evil. It's like a morality debate thing. The WFC game is my personal favorite version, he has that loud threatening authoritative voice that demands respect because you fear him, my favorite moment is when he challenged omega supreme while saying "do your worst" As much as I love the Bayverse Megatron I hated how they treated him like a side piece for the main villain after the 07 film, plus the films hardly tackle on the relationship between him and Prime. He honestly just the oh I'm evil just because, again i love the films but he doesn't necessarily feel like Megatron
One thing I like about megatron in animated is that he's aware of every single fight, he knows when he's about to lose but it doesn't stop him from retreating and coming back to be more ruthless than he was before, I remember when starscream shot him in an attempt to kill him to take full control of the decepticons then try to pretend to feel sad,yet megatron came back making starscream shake in fear and try to please him and megatron straight up killed him in front of everyone to show that he's not the same megatron that treated starscream like a son or a punching bag
To me it's hard to redeem Megatron and the rest being okay about it. What if Megatron change his ways but is still ostraside by Cybertron due to his crimes. If Megs decides to exile himself an being a force for good in an alien planet would be nice. Fighting his demons far away. He either dies as a villain or lives alone trying to repent
I get what your saying but something like that only makes sense if someone who is unlike Optimus or Rodimus is in charge of what happens to him, it’d be out of character for either of them to tell Megatron to simply fuck off and not seek redemption
@@megatronleaderofthedecptic6003 We’ve seen him canonically several times give Megatron some grace, especially in continuities where they were close before the war- however WFC and Bayverse Optimus would probably tell him to fuck off or would just kill him
Probably one of my favorite characters of the entire franchise. I like it when they give depth to his motivations, instead of just making him a power-hungry lunatic. It makes him far more interesting in my opinion.
I particularly like how he transforms into a weapon that must be wielded by someone else. He could end most battles very quickly by transforming, but it means relinquishing control to another, which he is loath to do.
Ngl, I was the biggest Optimus Prime kid growing up, but as years passed I kinda began favoring megatron. Don’t get me wrong, Optimus is great, but megatron is just so fascinating to watch overall. Least for me anyway. This was a great watch indeed, this and the cybertron games video have me excited to see what else you cover in the future. Keep up the great work my dude
Yeah. I myself am an Optimus supporter, but even I appreciate Megatron’s methods and mentality since it is one told time and again through history. Oppressed rising up against oppressors.
Calling Megatron's fall a Walter White Esque fall into villainy is backwards, as Megatron Origin came out in 2007, where as Breaking Bad started in 2008.
Megatron is my favorite go to villain too. It’s just something about someone who’s so delusional that they are right in a war they started that they make others refer to them as “Lord” and will stop at nothing to achieve dominance. Unicron my be the ultimate evil for the Transformers franchise but Megatron to me is that ultimate evil. There is nothing more dangerous than someone who thinks he’s right and will do anything to prove it
Animated Megatron is my favourite incarnation of the character. He was ruthless, cruel, manipulative and power hungry. He was scary, exactly as Bob Budiansky described him. Even as a head, he was intimidating.
I really hope the movies can reach that level of depth seen in the IDW comics, even if it has the length of time to give it weight as a story I think its not impossible for Megatron to step off his destined path and have it be convincing and powerful for his image as a character. Though it would be nothing less of a miracle to see in movie form we do have a fondness for the villain as a villain too.
I really like the labor movement gone wrong because it allows for Optimus and Megatron to start together and fight side by side against a system only to be ripped apart
@@DomFortress And yet forces of nature consume each other and slaughter without end. Each organism is driven by the selfish prerogative to consume resources and eliminate opposing organisms in a self-interested bid for survival. Whether you slap the name "evil" on it or not means nothing. The world is ruthlessly selfish; and Megatron being a man of pure, ruthless ambition with no intent of redemption is about as "natural" as you can get. Did Alexander need redemption? Did Caesar?
@@megatronleaderofthedecptic6003 I never heard of the guy and i makes no difference, they are still stupid and I bet that if I check that guy that he has a backstory. So no, being pure evil without a reason is idiotic. Also, being pure evil WITH A REASON is also good and possible and its what happens most of the time.
Just played the cybertron games on ps3 after watching your 3 hour video. So immersive so glad I got to experience them and that I never sold my PlayStation 3. I enjoyed these games together more than GoW ragnarok
Honestly my favorite underrated Megatron is Prime Wars trilogy. He's a great take on a post-war Megs. While he's kind of the side for the greater good. He wont admit it and might grumble or make fun of people on that side along the way. He still has that evil edge to him, like how he doesn't help in the fight against Trypticon, because he finds everyone struggling to be fun to watch.
Since the decepticons logo is based off soundwave's face. Possibly meaning that he is closer to Megatron than a commander (friend obviously) so he modeled the logo for which they are known by off his face. That's the power of friends
One of my favorite ends to Megatron comes in Armada. It’s one of the continuities where the Autobots and Decepticons reluctantly team up to fight Unicron, but after it seems to be all over, still in the bowels of Unicron, Megatron refuses to let go of his feud with Optimus, even after everything. And, for once, Optimus relents. He renounces his responsibility as leader of the Autobots and indulges in a brutal, personal final battle that almost undoes everything they just worked for. It’s only at this precipice does Megatron realize what he’s done and sacrifices himself to stop Unicron from being resurrected. It’s my favorite ending to Megatron because of all the ones that end with Optimus vs Megatron, this is the one that succeeds in bringing Optimus down to his level, if only for a moment.
Megatron/Galvatrons death in Cybertron was probably the single most satisfying death for his character because he was a TOTAL and COMPLETE asshole. Someone so evil that he was willing to watch the entire universe be devastated so he could recreate it in his own twisted image. And if you include the comics which showed the black hole would've destroyed the MULTIVERSE, Galvatron's actions would've devastated everything, genocide on a multiversal scale. That's why his death why so satisfying.
I definitely agree that while it can come off as silly sometimes, G1 Galvatron after the movie could be pretty terrifying if you think of him in universe. He also was probably the harshest in the cartoons when it came to dealing with non-Autobot characters as he saw no value in any of their lives, with a favorite example of mine being shortly after he’s reintroduced and appears over the battle at Cybertron: Galvatron: “There they are, attack!” Cyclonus: “Attack who, mighty Galvatron?” Galvatron: “EVERYONE!”
"Rodimus. Whatever happens next - whatever my fate - I deserve worse." IDW05 Megatron will go down in history as perhaps the most whole, complete, and nuanced version of Megatron ever; a deeply flawed individual almost completely lost in his own ambitions who finally manages to achieve that dream he first fought for, not for himself, not to save his own life, but as the last kindness he can do before he faces justice for his immeasurable crimes. Able at last to move towards peace.
@@Megatron2005 I agree however I also would like to point out that nuanced villains do also have their own place. Walter White is the best example of this as his downfall was nuanced.
I loved how Prime gave a reason for why the decepticons are named that in universe. Granted we are told the reason by Megatron trying to keep Orion Pax pacified, but it works very well for how the social revolutionary movement may have gotten the name long before they were just flat-out evil, and for why the names are kept by each side in Shattered Glass, though granted I’m not familiar with its lore, but basically just how the good guys have such a blatantly obvious bad-guy name: “if the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty”
To anyone criticising how Roadrustle normally speaks, how about you seek therapy. Clearly something is wrong with you for trying to hurt this kind gentle soul. Disgraceful.
I can't say that IDW Megatron Spotlight makes me hate him. It showcases why he was the leader of the Decepticons from every angle. He is powerful, awe inspiring (in both ways), fully aware of everything going on around him and his troops. He created the Decepticons and led them 4 million years. He whole-heartedly believed in his causes and was honest about his ambitions, which even the mind reading Soundwave acknowledged. Always 10 steps ahead, in every direction. As for the abuse he delivered on Starscream, fully deserved. Megatron was all but dead, and Starscream took over in the ways Megatron despised the most. He then led the Decepticons into ruin in just 3 years, while failing to even off-line Megatron. Eventually he was so crushed by his own dreams failing that he just wanted Megatron to kill him, but Megatron, who had had HIS dream destroyed by Starscream, showed him that Starscream still wanted to live. And the most interesting part in all this, had it not been for D-void interfering, this version of Megatron most likely would have won. His and Shockwave's plan to take the autobots by surprise was genius, his powered up new body being powered even further up to a point where he could take down something stronger than a titan. Honestly the Autobots would have stood no chance.
I fully agree with you on all of these statements. Except the Starscream part. As much I loved Megs in Spotlight, he was _absolutely_ in the wrong in this situation. Yeah, he was allowed to be angry. Pissed, even. Cause Screamer failed his troops. But what Megs did was monstrous. Megatron was, and is, *not* in the right for beating and humiliating Starscream like he did. He was ruthless; making sure to instill fear into Starscream and the other Decepticons just to gain their “loyalty” again. Megatron went up to Starscream-expecting a fight-but once he saw how utterly _crushed_ Starscream was, realised how *genuinely* suicidal he was. He bristled. Went on to taunt Starscream, reminding him of all his failures, mockingly chanting *“All. Hail. Starscream.”* fully pushing him to the edge… until he snapped. Making Starscream retaliate; just so he can justify chasing and beating him to a pulp. And even after _alllll_ of that, he charged up his cannon, giving Star hope. He’ll finally end his misery! ..Only for him to shoot elsewhere. The amount of psychological damage that does to a person is nothing short of terrible. You have to keep in mind that Starscream was genuinely trying his best to lead. But alas, nobody would just listen to him. (Nobody ever DID listen to him.) The Decepticons growing weaker and more desperate-to the point of being driven to cannibalism!-all because they were too scared to listen to Starscream. *Too* scared of Megatron. And Megatron didn’t show Starscream that he still wanted to be alive. He didn’t pull the metaphorical wool out of his eyes, like some all-knowing leader. He quite literally beat the fear of death into the guy. Again. Megatron convinced Screamer how he doesn’t *_want_* death. How he just needs to be *_punished._* How they can only rule effectively *_together..._* he used Starscream’s depression to twist him back to serving him. Megatron gave him purpose in the cruelest way possible. And it was all because Megatron wanted to *_dominate_* and *_abuse_* Starscream like usual. The even worser part? Starscream was the one to save Megatron’s life in the first place. _What a fun way to be thanked, huh._ While yes, he did save Starscream’s life. Yet it was for all the wrong, wrong reasons. And the fact that this is a huge factor to Megatron rethinking his ways, realising how he lost himself-lost the meaning of his original cause, and renouncing his Decepticon ways to become an Autobot. Just really speaks volumes. Even Megatron found Megatron’s actions disgusting. P.S. there’s also a significant difference between IDW Starscream and other Starscreams; he never wanted to just, usurp Megatron. He never thought he was a better fit leader for the Decepticons just because of his inflated sense of ego. No, It was only until he realised just how INSANE Megatron was that he knew he wanted to be the one leading. He was nothing but loyal before concern began to cloud his judgment.
I think IDW comics was aimed toward adults, who or may not have grown up with the show. So making a "moustache twirling' villain wouldn't go over, so I've always thought this was done to make a more rounded character. Hardly anyone considers themselves "evil" in their own mind. I kind of got the impression Megatron had to keep an air of "biggest, baddest dog in the yard", lest anyone dare depose him because he commanded 'Cons, a few some would consider worse than him.
I love the evolution of Megatron over the years. In some stories he is a pure evil warlord, while in others he is a sympathetic warrior who believed the ends justify the means. My favourite incarnation is Animated. He was still powerful but also very manipulative and he was able to think many steps ahead of his enemies.
22:04 a super old friend of mine used this comic panel as his profile picture, he suffered from severe depression and would compromise his relationships over his feelings. watching this video makes me feel like that the pfp had an extra meaning to it that I could've found out before he left the internet entirely. if only I could know where Megs is now...
The best way I could ever think to describe Megatron was as a Spartacus allegory; a slave who, through nothing but his own sheer fame and brutality, had some political power fall into his lap. And he ran with it. He wanted to become something akin to Alexander the Great. And instead he ended up becoming Robo-Stalin...
Fred was my favourite VA for Megatron and his WfC/FoC design was my favourite too. There's something so fitting about his rage and the sharpness of his design that meshes together so well. He truly seemed like a leader who was feared for his power and anger. Not just "He's in charge so he has goons."
Wfc and FOC had imo the best depictions of both sides struggles and wants and the models of megatron and optimus were beautiful and the acting was utterly amazing
This is by far the best take on Megatron as a character that I have heard. Megatron is one of my favorite villains. He was always very well written. I was always interested with the relationship between him and Starscream. He always kept him around and treated him like shit knowing at anytime he can cross him. His confidence and arrogance never allowed him to be threatened by Starscream. Thats what I call a world class heel.
I like the later Megatron incarnations. He didnt want war. He just wanted his people to be free. Aligned shows how he tried to gain power to be able to finally free his kind and he let that power corrupt him, while the WFC trilogy shows a desperate leader who lets the most sadistic of his advisors get in his head. You see the internal conflict in the WFC series. He doesnt want to execute and genocide the autobots. That change comes after Shockwave gets in his head.
And lastly, you… Sir… Would be a very good auto bot for our side. I wonder what your voice would sound like when it’s run through the auto tuner? I bet it would sound pretty darn cool. Thank you for the video, and I’ll still keep listeningand watching out for more.
9:11 let's be honest Curry Burton the cunning in his plans actually makes you believe that this villain planned the cybertronian Civil War and he has this feeling of grandeur than life true Evil
As a little kid in the 80s I either owned had a friend who owned or at least seen on the shelf every G1 figure except Megatron.I believe he was the hardest figure to acquire even back in the mid 80s.
I love this megatron video. It’s concepts like this that enforce my love for Transformers that isn’t inherently capitalistic. I feel Transformers has a well of untapped story telling potential, in the general public discourse especially. I just got Legacy Tarn and TF figure designs are some of the best and if this was the stuff that came out as I was a kid…I wouldn’t need a tv! Lol
1:09 whoa i didn't know he could turn into a gun?! Dang thats pretty rad ngl 🤯 And i never considered the name "Megatron" scary but after learning about it, it does hold some weight in the spook factor 😟 very neat.
Finally, a video about Megatron. What we've all wanted, and no one has had the courage to make. (Except Thew and Chris McFeely, but we're not here to talk about them now.)
My favorite version of the character is the jaded, sarcastic semi-reformed (retired) version in Combiner Wars. Don’t see that version of Megs talked about a lot, but in CW, he’s extremely complex and…almost likable, but still with a hint of the ruthless conquer he was in his youth.
I like the Galvatron from Transformers: Predacons Rising the most. He's like a mix between G1 and Cybertron Galvatron. Like Transformers: Cybertron, he looks different and is more powerful, yet is the same Megatron on the inside. And like G1, he was upgraded by Unicron and forced to do his bidding. I love how instead of going insane from the freedom, he realizes how much it hurts to be subjugated and decides to stop fighting and disband the Deceptions.
One of my personal favorite villains, although I respect the autobots I’ve always loved Megatron and his lieutenants. He’s a fierce warrior with absolutely no honor and will do anything to win all while keeping his sense of superiority. Even though he’s a leader you’d never want to follow, his war hunger, arrogance and dominant presence over his army is incredibly fascinating to watch
What are you talking about?! TFP was the best alternative to Megatron giving up being a tyrant by facing someone more cruel and ruthless then him and after they defeat Unicron he goes out into space to finally enjoy freedom!
Spot light actually didn't make me hate Megatron at all. When he remarks about how long it took him to build the decepticons and how few years it took Starscreams incompetence to bring them to the brink of destruction. I mean right wrong or in-between it's more amazing he didn't do worse to Starscream and still allow him to live.
A major point of that issue though is that Megatron had no intention or desire to kill Starscream. He even says as much when he admits he "almost" means his speech. Even the justification he gives is undermined by his internal monologue admiting that he was set on beating the hell out of him before even becoming aware of the situation. In a way that story is maybe the only TF story that tackles just how messed up and ritualistic the logic of the typical Megatron and Starscream dynamic would be; that Megatron has incorporated Starscream's treachery into his war machine and will violently drag him back into that role at a point where Starscream had given up on it. So many TF stories feel like they're trying to sell you on Megatron as a smart badass who makes sense, I like that Spotlight went full on the emotional reasoning and sold him a threat much more because his reasoning is honestly unhinged. Way more effective.
@@gota7738 Beast Wars Megatron was a fascinating look at what a character in charge of an army almost entirely made up of traitors would act like. While Starscream is defined by Peter Principal (he's always described as an excellent air force leader but a terrible leader for the Decepticons). BW Megatron had to constantly deal with so many within his forces who had their own agenda's and it was always interesting to see how he continued to get out on top inspite of it all
I like this. And due to your spectacular Megatron/Transformer content, you have just gotten yourself a new subscriber hahahahahahahaahahahaaaaaa! (In my supervillain laugh) great video!!!! 👍🏿
Use your fusion cannon and blow up the subscribe button if you liked this. All footage/image credits in the description.
I already used my Ion Blaster to hit your sub button 😁
🦖: I loved your voice over dude. 👍🏻 I had to subscribe & blow up that notification bell with the fusion cannon, in brutal fashion I might add... 😈
Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons. Optimus Prime is the commander of the Autobots
I guess, we dont talk about beastwars?
Frank Welker: I Am Megatron Leader Of The Decepticons
Everybody Else: We Stand In The Presence Of Greatness Y’all, WE’RE NOT WORTHY, WE’RE NOT WORTHY
I like the theory that Optimus’ motto “freedom is the right of all sentient beings” originally came from Megatron. It shows how he used to be a revolutionary with a noble cause before his descent into evil.
People sure do love aligned continuity Megatron.
In other words, he was once a good man who eventually became corrupted with evil and all that's left of the good man that once was is Optimus' motto which is sad when u think bout it
Either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain
@@andrewgreeb916, and for good reason. He was awesome in that continuity.
Yeah that’s leftism for you lol.
Optimus Prime: Ones worth is not determined by the circumstances of their birth, but being alive is enough to be considered worthy, everyone is worth something .
Megatron: Once worth is not determined by the circumstances of their birth, but by their accomplishments, Only the ones strong enough to fight can be considered worthy.
That's the difference between a despot and a wholesome basketball dad
Those two quotes describe these two views perfectly
"Being alive is enough to be considered worthy." Yet the weak constantly have their existence rendered forfeit whenever they come upon a force of more power/strength than they. Can you ever be deemed "worthy" of something that can basically be taken away at a moments notice, at the behest of another? The only thing that justifies existence is power, because it is the only thing that maintains it.
@@KevinJohnson-cv2no The problem with that kind of world-view is that it often leads to mass conflicts. If power was the only thing that justified existence then the very concept of a "civilization" would have ceased to exist.
...you mean One's worth not once right? 😐
Optimus: "You would put Cybertron at the center of the Universe!"
Megatron: "Cybertron IS the center of my universe. How is it not the heart of yours?!"
I really do love that interaction in Transformers Devastation.
To be fair, Optimus, across a majority of Transformers continuities, is bizarrely ok with letting their homeworld die in favor of saving ungrateful aliens whose lifespans are comparable to an insect juxtaposed with his own, and no I'm not just referring to humans. Point being, you'd think the leader of the ubiquitously good faction would care more about protecting and reviving Cybertron rather than do the opposite.
@@Greenkitten45 tbf in that same game he does respond to Megatron that they cannot destroy earth because it goes against what prime believes
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, I stand for those that cannot stand for themselves"
Prime stands for us and tells magnetron that humanity will decide its own fate
@@Greenkitten45 i always feel the reason why prime is almost unfeeling about cybertrons demise is because of the matrix of leadership/the fact optimus is the reincarnation of the 13th prime. the 13th might know that cybertron never fully "dies" because its flat out the god
@Greenkitten45 it's not that optimus doesn't care about cybertrons fate, he simply does not think the ends justify the means. If reviving cybertron means the destruction of countless other worlds, than it is a price too high to pay for him
Megatron was right.
Prime megatron was so hardcore that he brought HIMSELF back from the dead.
Also Starscream's testimony was one of the best roasts i've ever seen in any piece of fiction I've ever seen.
Wasn't it Unicron who brought him back?
@@Eques_Umbra I'm talking about that time in season 1 when possesed bumblebee to get a dark energon shard to get himself back from the coma.
@@returnedtomonkey8886 Ah
@@returnedtomonkey8886, and his first line after returning from the dead: "Decepticons! Your rightful lord and master has returned!" He knows Starscream is to blame for his previous condition, and right off the bat, he's making it clear to everybody that HE is the leader of the Decepticons, not Starscream. I love that sh*t.
I guarantee that the latter is top ten best moments in Starscream's life, he went right for the pride, too bad he was wrong about Megatron's intellect being average.
Finally someone talks about one of my favorite villains in fiction. Very strange how niche transformers is considering how many continuities it has yet people only know of the films
Honestly let's keep it niche. It's one of the last IPs that hasn't been ruined beyond repair recently. A few bumps along the way is fine but if it became too mainstream all you would get are empty block busters with hardly any plot and live service video games.
@@fenixfelixx if the Bay formers films are one prime example of that, I think you're absolutely right
@@fenixfelixx so you're saying we'd get Bayformers again if it ever got too popular?
@Anakin Low Ground No I'm saying that you'll get that and other garbage just as bad and nothing else, you know like Marvel, or Star Wars.
What? The movies are like the most underrated tho
Loved the Megatron from Transformers Prime. He was ruthless, cunning, while showing no fear in battle.
Plus honestly his design is a perfect mix of the G1 and Bayverse movies designs
@@magma_fire_bagwan Didn’t like his shark teeth though. Lol
@Izzy 3:16 okay fair. I think those were part of the Bayformers design, but still made it to the Prime design so that he could have an extra intimidation factor besides personality
@@magma_fire_bagwan He was already imposing/intimidating without those Bayformers shark teeth lol.
@@dicezart9667 The voice fits that particular Statscream design. Chris Lata will ALWAYS be the man, when voicing Starscream. RIP Mr Lata!
I don't see how TFP's "redemption" for Megatron was confusing. It wasn't as if he suddenly had a 180 change in personality or view. Unicron just tortured him so badly that he realized "holy shit this is what I've been doing to people for years this sucks" and he renounced his warmongering
It's also similar to how in Earthspark Season 1 (before the 2nd season completely ruined it), Megatron upon seeing just how badly he traumatized Starscream via physical abuse realized just how horribly evil he had been in a moment of "Oh my god...I did this..." self-reflection.
it IS confusing because the line they chose was "Now I know what oppression is, and I don't want to cause it anymore" or something along those lines, which feels awkward because it contradicts the backstory they chose for him in that continuity. He was enslaved in a caste system, first as a miner and later as a gladiator, and it was this experience with oppression that drove him to start the revolution. Maybe if was something like "Now I remember what oppression is and what I started fighting for, before I grew mad with power." That wouldn't have been so awkward to hear.
The issue isn’t the line itself but how disconnected it feels with the continuity emphasized in Prime.
Megatron is the perfect definition of "Sympathy for the Devil". It's amazing that an alien robot can be so HUMAN.
You know this just goes to show that as long as there is sentience in an organism, war is pretty much inevitable.
They actually gave him a human design in the comics via hardlight hologram, which they explained was based on 1) their knowledge of humans/Earth culture and 2) the Cybertronian's psychological profile.
The end result? Megs looked like a retired supervillain, complete with an eye scar, leather gloves, silver skull belt buckle, and a striking cane with the Decepticon faction symbol. 😂😂😂
1:03 - Ah yes, one of the most iconic villains in fiction and he turns into the most rudimentary most basic most purest forms of humanity's instinctual capacity for violence. Beauty in simplicity doesn't even begin to describe it.
@Yourmissingfatherwenttothemilk what are you referring to, what did they change?
@@hurpderp1430 Megatron isn't a gun anymore for the most part.
@Your missing father how does that work? Now it is just instead of turning into a pistol from being the big one to lead the Decepticons to then turning into a handgun it is not well translated into a toy a movie or an interactive game. Only the original series he turns into a handgun even Starscream could handle.
@Your missing father I grown to like Megatron turning into a tank. Like the gun, it could also be consider an symbol for war.
*Megatron is a great antagonist-even Hasbro believes his name is too scary*
Even though I'm a sucker for the classic fun but simple villains who don't need a complex backstory, I *firmly believe* that the way Megatron's character was slowly rewritten is part of what gave the character so much longevity.
The idea that Megatron was once Optimus's friend , someone who earnestly fought for freedom and equity on Cybertron, only for his pride, spite and frustration to slowly corrode his ideals and turn him into everything he hated is *brilliant!*
It also makes Megatron's rivalry with Optimus that much more *personal.* In Megatron's mind HE earned the Matrix of Leadership, HE deserved to be a Prime and not some data clerk who had never picked up a weapon or had to fight for anything in his life.
But the *best* interpretations are also ,in my opinion, the ones that explore Megatron when the war is over and he inevitably loses or his worldview is shattered or he sees that he was in the wrong all along. Because where does he go from there? You can't redeem him and just killing him isn't enough.
"If the world thinks you are a monster, what does it matter? The world is wrong. But when you think of yourself as a monster..." Is probably my favorite Megatron quote. I've always liked the idea of "every villain is the hero of their own story" so I really like that IDW explore what happens when a villain goes so far that he can no longer reconcile his own actions.
Yeah it was the line that hit me the most about Megatron there
That quote shows a lot how the world works
A key factor of Megatron turning into a gun in his early incarnations is that the Decepticons' vehicle modes often - beyond a few exceptions - were tools of war or other carnage, whereas Autobots often turned into things that would help people or serve several purposes.
Trucks can tow things. They can carry things. They can move people around.
Planes can travel to places, and perform air shows. They fly in sequences and move people around just like trucks.
Cars can race, they move people around, and they're part of humanity's ultimate, primal desire to just go faster.
But tanks? Fighter jets? Battleships? A *gun?*
Whilst you could argue their merits in other roles, they're fundamentally built for a single, primary purpose:
Kill.
Even from a young age, kids will look in awe at trucks and racing cars. They're amazing pieces of big machinery, and kids love those.
But in any country - even one like 80s America - the gun is symbol of terror for most people. Yes, there's uses for guns that aren't criminal, and I daren't pretend I'm going to start a 2A argument here.
But if you show most members of the public a truck, they'd be fine.
Show them a gun, and a very specific air of discomfort QUICKLY sets in.
With the most evil creation...a tape player.
It has killed millions. Maybe billions.
@@FirstNameLastName-fe2tu The rhythm *_is_* going to *_get you_* .
Im pretty sure most kids think tanks and jets are way cooler than 4 wheelers, a child isn't gonna look at a toy gun and be afraid, he would want to own it.
@@HellishSpoon This entire argument gets thrown out the window when you realize transformers were designed to be toys and not political statements
@@FirstNameLastName-fe2tu is that soundwave
My favorite ending to Megatron's character is easily Transformers Prime. At the end of the movie, Optimus seals away Unicron and all the evil energy into the Matrix of Leadership, leaving only Megatron left to be alive and upgraded. Starscream tries to convince Megatron to return to his evil ways where he contemplates and yells out, "NO!"
Starscream says, "But...why?"
After staring at Optimus Prime for a few minutes, he says the best thing I've ever heard.
"Because I now know the true meaning of oppression, and have lost my taste in inflicting it."
He CHANGED, scared by being used and controlled, something he sought for and seeing first-hand how what he sought after wasn't at all what he envisioned and sought to banish himself off to a far away place, showing that Optimus Prime was correct all along, that anyone can indeed change and that his heart was in the right place all along. THIS is to me, the greatest end to Megatron.
I would also like to imagine that he spent a far longer time in there with Unicron than what was shown in the movie, like it's almost as if he was literally in hell and got a taste of the fraction of suffering he inflicted on others for countless eons.
Still think it's kinda weird, 'cause Megatron had previously known what oppression was like, being a slave and all, and that was his primary motivation for founding the Decepticons. But yeah, aside from that weirdness, it was a perfect ending for him.
His death at the end of Season 3 was also a very powerful moment.
That's the sloppiest shit I've read this week.
"I don't want to be bad because I felt bad"
Who writes this shit? The only thing that would make it even worse is if his eyes started glowing blue instead of red.
@@SPTX. I don't think you read a lot than.
If he’s that hungry, I could get him a big Mac
Then he'll turn into a MAC-10
I love this new take of Megatron being turned into a villain after he tried to bring peace. And I specially LOVE IDW Megatron’s character arc
18:40 "...so we'll let the, cook."
that silly statement with that voice sounds so threatening it's amazing lmao
It's interesting that a simple collection of transformable robot action figures for children became this complex Shakespearean drama.
Megatron is one of the best main villain's of all time right next to Darth Vader,Joker,Thanos and Lord Voldemort
Major facts
You do have a way with words, optimus.
@Warlord Megatron What can I say,No great hero is without a great villan...Batman and the Jok er for example
He is definitely up there
The storytelling of Megatron, what is a wonderful masterpiece of all his incarnations of so far. And with the transformers earthspark and Legacy on the horizon, I cannot wait to see which transformer you will break down for us next.
Thank god someone talks about Megatron everyone thinks he is just a stupid villain when actually he has a very complex story behind it
This video is such a Huge step forward in terms of your editing and storytelling
Thanks!
What is amazing about Megatron is that he's an iconic 80s villain and in a majority of his incarnations he believes what he is doing is right when it's evil. It's like a morality debate thing. The WFC game is my personal favorite version, he has that loud threatening authoritative voice that demands respect because you fear him, my favorite moment is when he challenged omega supreme while saying "do your worst"
As much as I love the Bayverse Megatron I hated how they treated him like a side piece for the main villain after the 07 film, plus the films hardly tackle on the relationship between him and Prime. He honestly just the oh I'm evil just because, again i love the films but he doesn't necessarily feel like Megatron
Yeah the WFC and FOC games really did do him right.
too bad hasbro makes kids shows so none of those themes are explored beyond the surface
Bayverse Comics did exploded their relationship and Megatron's fall to Sacrophagus Fallen which led creation of Decepticons
The films are poopy when it comes to the characterization for ALL the Autobots and Decepticons.
I mean the bayverse doesn't really let any of the cybertronians have much character outside of Bee and Optimus
One thing I like about megatron in animated is that he's aware of every single fight, he knows when he's about to lose but it doesn't stop him from retreating and coming back to be more ruthless than he was before, I remember when starscream shot him in an attempt to kill him to take full control of the decepticons then try to pretend to feel sad,yet megatron came back making starscream shake in fear and try to please him and megatron straight up killed him in front of everyone to show that he's not the same megatron that treated starscream like a son or a punching bag
I wish we got to see Megatron after Prime. He was apparently supposed to come back as a bounty hunter in RiD 2015, and his design was awesome.
Probably the best description of megatron I’ve ever heard was “metal robo-Stalin”
To me it's hard to redeem Megatron and the rest being okay about it. What if Megatron change his ways but is still ostraside by Cybertron due to his crimes. If Megs decides to exile himself an being a force for good in an alien planet would be nice. Fighting his demons far away. He either dies as a villain or lives alone trying to repent
Isn't that prime wars Megatron?
I get what your saying but something like that only makes sense if someone who is unlike Optimus or Rodimus is in charge of what happens to him, it’d be out of character for either of them to tell Megatron to simply fuck off and not seek redemption
@@friskybitzboi So what your saying is that we need Sentinel Prime for that to work out?
@@megatronleaderofthedecptic6003 We’ve seen him canonically several times give Megatron some grace, especially in continuities where they were close before the war- however WFC and Bayverse Optimus would probably tell him to fuck off or would just kill him
¿ Like in the end of Transformers Prime ?
¿ Or maybe in Transformers Earth Spark ?
Probably one of my favorite characters of the entire franchise. I like it when they give depth to his motivations, instead of just making him a power-hungry lunatic. It makes him far more interesting in my opinion.
I particularly like how he transforms into a weapon that must be wielded by someone else. He could end most battles very quickly by transforming, but it means relinquishing control to another, which he is loath to do.
Ngl, I was the biggest Optimus Prime kid growing up, but as years passed I kinda began favoring megatron. Don’t get me wrong, Optimus is great, but megatron is just so fascinating to watch overall. Least for me anyway. This was a great watch indeed, this and the cybertron games video have me excited to see what else you cover in the future. Keep up the great work my dude
Yeah. I myself am an Optimus supporter, but even I appreciate Megatron’s methods and mentality since it is one told time and again through history. Oppressed rising up against oppressors.
@@shcdemolisher And then becoming even worse then his oppressors.
Calling Megatron's fall a Walter White Esque fall into villainy is backwards, as Megatron Origin came out in 2007, where as Breaking Bad started in 2008.
Walter White had a Megatron ARC!!
One of the best parts about him is that Megatron can be everything from a pure evil monster to an antagonist who has truly noble motivations.
Megatron is my favorite go to villain too. It’s just something about someone who’s so delusional that they are right in a war they started that they make others refer to them as “Lord” and will stop at nothing to achieve dominance. Unicron my be the ultimate evil for the Transformers franchise but Megatron to me is that ultimate evil. There is nothing more dangerous than someone who thinks he’s right and will do anything to prove it
He was right to start the war the Primes weren't going to change.
Animated Megatron is my favourite incarnation of the character. He was ruthless, cruel, manipulative and power hungry. He was scary, exactly as Bob Budiansky described him. Even as a head, he was intimidating.
I really hope the movies can reach that level of depth seen in the IDW comics, even if it has the length of time to give it weight as a story I think its not impossible for Megatron to step off his destined path and have it be convincing and powerful for his image as a character.
Though it would be nothing less of a miracle to see in movie form we do have a fondness for the villain as a villain too.
I really like the labor movement gone wrong because it allows for Optimus and Megatron to start together and fight side by side against a system only to be ripped apart
Man, the clip of Galvatron looking at the star sabre after Starscreams death and thinking about his speech gets me every time.
I prefer pure evil megatron over the version with a redemption but I’m glad you liked it :)
I prefer it too but I am open to new stories
Me too.
@@DomFortress And yet forces of nature consume each other and slaughter without end. Each organism is driven by the selfish prerogative to consume resources and eliminate opposing organisms in a self-interested bid for survival.
Whether you slap the name "evil" on it or not means nothing. The world is ruthlessly selfish; and Megatron being a man of pure, ruthless ambition with no intent of redemption is about as "natural" as you can get. Did Alexander need redemption? Did Caesar?
Pure evil or no reason is just stupid.
@@megatronleaderofthedecptic6003 I never heard of the guy and i makes no difference, they are still stupid and I bet that if I check that guy that he has a backstory.
So no, being pure evil without a reason is idiotic.
Also, being pure evil WITH A REASON is also good and possible and its what happens most of the time.
Just played the cybertron games on ps3 after watching your 3 hour video. So immersive so glad I got to experience them and that I never sold my PlayStation 3. I enjoyed these games together more than GoW ragnarok
Honestly my favorite underrated Megatron is Prime Wars trilogy.
He's a great take on a post-war Megs.
While he's kind of the side for the greater good. He wont admit it and might grumble or make fun of people on that side along the way.
He still has that evil edge to him, like how he doesn't help in the fight against Trypticon, because he finds everyone struggling to be fun to watch.
This is an underrated video, Transformers has been a part of my childhood since I can remember, and this video perfectly describes an amazing villain.
Since the decepticons logo is based off soundwave's face. Possibly meaning that he is closer to Megatron than a commander (friend obviously) so he modeled the logo for which they are known by off his face. That's the power of friends
One of my favorite ends to Megatron comes in Armada. It’s one of the continuities where the Autobots and Decepticons reluctantly team up to fight Unicron, but after it seems to be all over, still in the bowels of Unicron, Megatron refuses to let go of his feud with Optimus, even after everything. And, for once, Optimus relents. He renounces his responsibility as leader of the Autobots and indulges in a brutal, personal final battle that almost undoes everything they just worked for. It’s only at this precipice does Megatron realize what he’s done and sacrifices himself to stop Unicron from being resurrected.
It’s my favorite ending to Megatron because of all the ones that end with Optimus vs Megatron, this is the one that succeeds in bringing Optimus down to his level, if only for a moment.
Megatron/Galvatrons death in Cybertron was probably the single most satisfying death for his character because he was a TOTAL and COMPLETE asshole. Someone so evil that he was willing to watch the entire universe be devastated so he could recreate it in his own twisted image. And if you include the comics which showed the black hole would've destroyed the MULTIVERSE, Galvatron's actions would've devastated everything, genocide on a multiversal scale. That's why his death why so satisfying.
I definitely agree that while it can come off as silly sometimes, G1 Galvatron after the movie could be pretty terrifying if you think of him in universe. He also was probably the harshest in the cartoons when it came to dealing with non-Autobot characters as he saw no value in any of their lives, with a favorite example of mine being shortly after he’s reintroduced and appears over the battle at Cybertron:
Galvatron: “There they are, attack!”
Cyclonus: “Attack who, mighty Galvatron?”
Galvatron: “EVERYONE!”
Megatron is just pure awesome
RoadRustle to earthspark: let him cook LET HIM COOL
"Rodimus. Whatever happens next - whatever my fate - I deserve worse."
IDW05 Megatron will go down in history as perhaps the most whole, complete, and nuanced version of Megatron ever; a deeply flawed individual almost completely lost in his own ambitions who finally manages to achieve that dream he first fought for, not for himself, not to save his own life, but as the last kindness he can do before he faces justice for his immeasurable crimes. Able at last to move towards peace.
@@Megatron2005 I agree however I also would like to point out that nuanced villains do also have their own place. Walter White is the best example of this as his downfall was nuanced.
@@Megatron2005 I thought in the IDW show he answers for his crimes by being killed himself
@@Megatron2005 it's clear that his actions caught up with him tho
I loved how Prime gave a reason for why the decepticons are named that in universe. Granted we are told the reason by Megatron trying to keep Orion Pax pacified, but it works very well for how the social revolutionary movement may have gotten the name long before they were just flat-out evil, and for why the names are kept by each side in Shattered Glass, though granted I’m not familiar with its lore, but basically just how the good guys have such a blatantly obvious bad-guy name: “if the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty”
To anyone criticising how Roadrustle normally speaks, how about you seek therapy. Clearly something is wrong with you for trying to hurt this kind gentle soul.
Disgraceful.
I can't say that IDW Megatron Spotlight makes me hate him.
It showcases why he was the leader of the Decepticons from every angle.
He is powerful, awe inspiring (in both ways), fully aware of everything going on around him and his troops.
He created the Decepticons and led them 4 million years.
He whole-heartedly believed in his causes and was honest about his ambitions, which even the mind reading Soundwave acknowledged.
Always 10 steps ahead, in every direction.
As for the abuse he delivered on Starscream, fully deserved. Megatron was all but dead, and Starscream took over in the ways Megatron despised the most.
He then led the Decepticons into ruin in just 3 years, while failing to even off-line Megatron.
Eventually he was so crushed by his own dreams failing that he just wanted Megatron to kill him, but Megatron, who had had HIS dream destroyed by Starscream, showed him that Starscream still wanted to live.
And the most interesting part in all this, had it not been for D-void interfering, this version of Megatron most likely would have won.
His and Shockwave's plan to take the autobots by surprise was genius, his powered up new body being powered even further up to a point where he could take down something stronger than a titan. Honestly the Autobots would have stood no chance.
I fully agree with you on all of these statements. Except the Starscream part. As much I loved Megs in Spotlight, he was _absolutely_ in the wrong in this situation.
Yeah, he was allowed to be angry. Pissed, even. Cause Screamer failed his troops. But what Megs did was monstrous.
Megatron was, and is, *not* in the right for beating and humiliating Starscream like he did. He was ruthless; making sure to instill fear into Starscream and the other Decepticons just to gain their “loyalty” again. Megatron went up to Starscream-expecting a fight-but once he saw how utterly _crushed_ Starscream was, realised how *genuinely* suicidal he was. He bristled. Went on to taunt Starscream, reminding him of all his failures, mockingly chanting *“All. Hail. Starscream.”* fully pushing him to the edge… until he snapped. Making Starscream retaliate; just so he can justify chasing and beating him to a pulp. And even after _alllll_ of that, he charged up his cannon, giving Star hope. He’ll finally end his misery! ..Only for him to shoot elsewhere. The amount of psychological damage that does to a person is nothing short of terrible.
You have to keep in mind that Starscream was genuinely trying his best to lead. But alas, nobody would just listen to him. (Nobody ever DID listen to him.) The Decepticons growing weaker and more desperate-to the point of being driven to cannibalism!-all because they were too scared to listen to Starscream. *Too* scared of Megatron.
And Megatron didn’t show Starscream that he still wanted to be alive. He didn’t pull the metaphorical wool out of his eyes, like some all-knowing leader. He quite literally beat the fear of death into the guy. Again.
Megatron convinced Screamer how he doesn’t *_want_* death. How he just needs to be *_punished._* How they can only rule effectively *_together..._* he used Starscream’s depression to twist him back to serving him. Megatron gave him purpose in the cruelest way possible. And it was all because Megatron wanted to *_dominate_* and *_abuse_* Starscream like usual.
The even worser part? Starscream was the one to save Megatron’s life in the first place. _What a fun way to be thanked, huh._
While yes, he did save Starscream’s life. Yet it was for all the wrong, wrong reasons.
And the fact that this is a huge factor to Megatron rethinking his ways, realising how he lost himself-lost the meaning of his original cause, and renouncing his Decepticon ways to become an Autobot. Just really speaks volumes.
Even Megatron found Megatron’s actions disgusting.
P.S. there’s also a significant difference between IDW Starscream and other Starscreams; he never wanted to just, usurp Megatron. He never thought he was a better fit leader for the Decepticons just because of his inflated sense of ego. No, It was only until he realised just how INSANE Megatron was that he knew he wanted to be the one leading.
He was nothing but loyal before concern began to cloud his judgment.
I think IDW comics was aimed toward adults, who or may not have grown up with the show. So making a "moustache twirling' villain wouldn't go over, so I've always thought this was done to make a more rounded character. Hardly anyone considers themselves "evil" in their own mind. I kind of got the impression Megatron had to keep an air of "biggest, baddest dog in the yard", lest anyone dare depose him because he commanded 'Cons, a few some would consider worse than him.
Tge second you said Starscream who had been tortured by that cunt for MILLIONS of years you lost all the credibility.
@@KadenKenz Well said.
@@KadenKenz didn’t the matrix of leadership literally thought screamer was worthy as a leader
Megatron's Three Questions, quoted by Prime in the IDW comics, are powerful.
I love the evolution of Megatron over the years. In some stories he is a pure evil warlord, while in others he is a sympathetic warrior who believed the ends justify the means.
My favourite incarnation is Animated. He was still powerful but also very manipulative and he was able to think many steps ahead of his enemies.
He is one of the greatest villains of all time
22:04 a super old friend of mine used this comic panel as his profile picture, he suffered from severe depression and would compromise his relationships over his feelings. watching this video makes me feel like that the pfp had an extra meaning to it that I could've found out before he left the internet entirely. if only I could know where Megs is now...
The best way I could ever think to describe Megatron was as a Spartacus allegory; a slave who, through nothing but his own sheer fame and brutality, had some political power fall into his lap. And he ran with it.
He wanted to become something akin to Alexander the Great.
And instead he ended up becoming Robo-Stalin...
The difference is that Alex died young.
He was basically Genghis Khan
Fred was my favourite VA for Megatron and his WfC/FoC design was my favourite too. There's something so fitting about his rage and the sharpness of his design that meshes together so well.
He truly seemed like a leader who was feared for his power and anger. Not just "He's in charge so he has goons."
Wfc and FOC had imo the best depictions of both sides struggles and wants and the models of megatron and optimus were beautiful and the acting was utterly amazing
yeah, victory will cost much more lifes, but to much lifes is already wasted to stop
This is by far the best take on Megatron as a character that I have heard. Megatron is one of my favorite villains. He was always very well written. I was always interested with the relationship between him and Starscream. He always kept him around and treated him like shit knowing at anytime he can cross him. His confidence and arrogance never allowed him to be threatened by Starscream. Thats what I call a world class heel.
Those war for Cybertron games on PS3 were incredible. Beautifully done.
I like the later Megatron incarnations. He didnt want war. He just wanted his people to be free. Aligned shows how he tried to gain power to be able to finally free his kind and he let that power corrupt him, while the WFC trilogy shows a desperate leader who lets the most sadistic of his advisors get in his head. You see the internal conflict in the WFC series. He doesnt want to execute and genocide the autobots. That change comes after Shockwave gets in his head.
And lastly, you… Sir… Would be a very good auto bot for our side. I wonder what your voice would sound like when it’s run through the auto tuner? I bet it would sound pretty darn cool. Thank you for the video, and I’ll still keep listeningand watching out for more.
I love almost all the incarnations of the character !
I really liked this video about my favourite villain of all time. Masterly done!
9:11 let's be honest Curry Burton the cunning in his plans actually makes you believe that this villain planned the cybertronian Civil War and he has this feeling of grandeur than life true Evil
Dollar for donuts, in the EarthSpark show megatron plan to tear down ghost from the inside and return on being the ruler of the decepticons
Fred Tatasciore was definitley one of if not the best megatron in my opinion. Not only did wfc/foc megatron have a great vc, his character is perfect
As a little kid in the 80s I either owned had a friend who owned or at least seen on the shelf every G1 figure except Megatron.I believe he was the hardest figure to acquire even back in the mid 80s.
I love this megatron video. It’s concepts like this that enforce my love for Transformers that isn’t inherently capitalistic. I feel Transformers has a well of untapped story telling potential, in the general public discourse especially. I just got Legacy Tarn and TF figure designs are some of the best and if this was the stuff that came out as I was a kid…I wouldn’t need a tv! Lol
This was a very well done deep dive into Megatron. He's a very fascinating character. Thank you for making this, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
“Power flows to the one who knows how desire alone is not enough” Megatron
Quite the narrator here.
1:09 whoa i didn't know he could turn into a gun?! Dang thats pretty rad ngl 🤯
And i never considered the name "Megatron" scary but after learning about it, it does hold some weight in the spook factor 😟 very neat.
i appreciate the amount of time & detail you put into this.
Aaaand in the Watch Later folder it goes
Finally, a video about Megatron. What we've all wanted, and no one has had the courage to make. (Except Thew and Chris McFeely, but we're not here to talk about them now.)
My favorite version of the character is the jaded, sarcastic semi-reformed (retired) version in Combiner Wars. Don’t see that version of Megs talked about a lot, but in CW, he’s extremely complex and…almost likable, but still with a hint of the ruthless conquer he was in his youth.
No, thank you for going in depth of why I will always love Megatron. Thank you so much.
Nice music choice from TFOC! Really loved the video
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Decepticomunism always ends in the same grim way.
The final battle in Cybertron is fantastic yeah
As someone who has been a fan of Transformers since 1984 this was excellent.
I like the Galvatron from Transformers: Predacons Rising the most. He's like a mix between G1 and Cybertron Galvatron. Like Transformers: Cybertron, he looks different and is more powerful, yet is the same Megatron on the inside. And like G1, he was upgraded by Unicron and forced to do his bidding. I love how instead of going insane from the freedom, he realizes how much it hurts to be subjugated and decides to stop fighting and disband the Deceptions.
the music at the start of the video its literally megatron i could not imagine another theme that represents perfectly megatron
One of my personal favorite villains, although I respect the autobots I’ve always loved Megatron and his lieutenants. He’s a fierce warrior with absolutely no honor and will do anything to win all while keeping his sense of superiority. Even though he’s a leader you’d never want to follow, his war hunger, arrogance and dominant presence over his army is incredibly fascinating to watch
Megatron is twisted, if he doesn't get his way, no one can
Animated Megatron is my favorite
Imagine all of them suddenly meeting eachother. First, chaos. Then, chaos they all made together as a team.
G1 cartoon galvatron was driven mad by brain damage (webworld)
Spectacular Voice work between Megatron and Tarn
What are you talking about?! TFP was the best alternative to Megatron giving up being a tyrant by facing someone more cruel and ruthless then him and after they defeat Unicron he goes out into space to finally enjoy freedom!
I did not expect the video I got. This was fascinating!
Another FANTASTIC video RoadRustle. Well done.
Thanks!
I find it weird and hilarious that in the Marvel Comic/original cartoon, his motives of starting a war came from sheer boredom.
Never seen megatron like that..that bed of flowers scene, just wow
Spot light actually didn't make me hate Megatron at all. When he remarks about how long it took him to build the decepticons and how few years it took Starscreams incompetence to bring them to the brink of destruction. I mean right wrong or in-between it's more amazing he didn't do worse to Starscream and still allow him to live.
A major point of that issue though is that Megatron had no intention or desire to kill Starscream. He even says as much when he admits he "almost" means his speech. Even the justification he gives is undermined by his internal monologue admiting that he was set on beating the hell out of him before even becoming aware of the situation.
In a way that story is maybe the only TF story that tackles just how messed up and ritualistic the logic of the typical Megatron and Starscream dynamic would be; that Megatron has incorporated Starscream's treachery into his war machine and will violently drag him back into that role at a point where Starscream had given up on it.
So many TF stories feel like they're trying to sell you on Megatron as a smart badass who makes sense, I like that Spotlight went full on the emotional reasoning and sold him a threat much more because his reasoning is honestly unhinged. Way more effective.
@@gota7738 Beast Wars Megatron was a fascinating look at what a character in charge of an army almost entirely made up of traitors would act like. While Starscream is defined by Peter Principal (he's always described as an excellent air force leader but a terrible leader for the Decepticons). BW Megatron had to constantly deal with so many within his forces who had their own agenda's and it was always interesting to see how he continued to get out on top inspite of it all
I like this. And due to your spectacular Megatron/Transformer content, you have just gotten yourself a new subscriber hahahahahahahaahahahaaaaaa! (In my supervillain laugh) great video!!!! 👍🏿
Awesome Analysis of Megaton!