> Lost a parent > Mechanical knoledge learned from father's line of work > Friends with giant robots and ready for action Mikaela is more Spike Witwicky (G1) than Sam is if you think about it. There is a story potential here with Sam wanting a normal life and her being more active with TFs and their relationship being affected during it.
I remember a lot of fanfics having Mikaela be Ratchet's charge and had her helping him with repairs in the medbay with all the new arrivals between the first and second movie. I would have fucking loved to see that
It is interesting how her character ultimately was more interesting than Sam's. Not that any of the writing of these films is super deep in my opinion, she does end up becoming the token female character that wows the male characters that she can do "boy things" aka work on cars. It's a trope that is very 2000's I feel, and thankfully has been somewhat left in the past. Not that her working on cars is bad at all, but I think it was explored much better with Charlie in the Bumblebee Movie. Mikaela being self sufficient and a mechanic was a great idea, but I think it was mainly used as delivery method for making fun of Sam being somewhat of a failure. Their characters could have complimented each other so much, but in the end, I think Sam's character was never really grown in any direction.
Mikaela, Lennox, Glenn, Maggie and Simmons all should've been the core characters followed throughout the trilogy in terms of a core human cast. Mikaela has alot more interesting things going on with her and her character (even with the very little info given in 2 movies she's been in) more than Sam, while Sam feels like a poor mans everyman self insert that anyone can see themselves in but also not making him interesting or a character you'd want to follow 3 movies with (if you're focus so much on the human cast least make it somewhat interesting). If Megan stayed in DOTM I feel would've been a better progression with her character in owning and caring for a car garage. We needs more Mikaela Banes appreciation in what could've been.
@ I do like SOME things about Sam. I like that he’s a man in a Michael Bay testerone filled action movie that’s allowed to scream and have emotions and be awkward and get scared and not kick much ass. It would create a solid contrast to the tougher Mikaela in a better movie. It’s for all these reasons I prefer Sam over Cade, who I feel deserves all mockery for being “manly America man” that he gets. But the movies failed at characterizing Sam strongly enough to make him consistently interesting or all that relatable. Charlie in Bumblebee and Noah in Rise of the Beasts are both at their cores the kinds of protagonists that would’ve suited a Bayverse movie, but they’re actually fleshed out multi layered characters who feel alive and relatable
Bayformers are full of wasted potential. Mikaela is one of them but I think the most prominent case is Optimus’ character development (or regression) from a peace-loving leader into a full-blown war criminal psychopath. There were plot points that could be explained how he turned that way. Constantly fighting against Decepticons, getting exiled from home, died and got revived, getting betrayed by humans and witnessing the Decepticons committing war crimes repeatedly. These were great materials for a good redemption arc about Optimus losing his way and gaining it back. But as usual, Michael Bay didn’t care about making a coherent story so what we got is the plot holes galore and the assassination of Optimus’ character.
I watched transformers bay as a kid, loved the transformers part but I was always so dissapointed that there wasn’t more of her. I was too young to understand but it felt like there was more to her. I never liked Sam, after watching it now when I’m older I realise why.
They kind of did a redo of Mikaela with Charlie Watson in Bumblebee. Then again Bumblebee feels like a redo of the first movie overall. (and now I see that you've mentioned this later in the video)
Hey, Astrid! I agree Mikaela should have been the main human character, which is why I am making her the main human character for my 2007 rewrite (taking continuity from Bumblebee and a soft rewrite of Rise of the Beasts). Here’s my profile for her: Mikaela Banes: A 16-year-old mechanic from Tranquility, California who enters the Autobot-Decepticon war when she acquires Bumblebee in his off-road Camaro mode at a car sale. Mikaela forms a bond with Optimus Prime over their shared uncertainty about the future (Mikaela on what she wants to do with her life after high school, and Optimus feeling unsure about his leadership of the Autobots after defeating Megatron and Unicron at the cost of draining Cybertron’s life). As Optimus resolves his own uncertainties, he becomes a mentor for Mikaela, offering wisdom and support as she contemplates her post-high school path. Bumblebee serves as Mikaela’s introduction to not only the world of the Transformers, but also exposes her to environments outside of her small town. Team Prime not only learn from Mikaela on how much the world has changed in the 11 years since they isolated themselves, but they also educate her on what their culture was like on both Cybertron and Earth. Bumblebee specifically introduces Mikaela to the pop culture of the 80s and 90s and alongside Optimus Prime and the rest of the team, show her what it means to live and, in a way, be human.
Mikaela has so much potential, growing up I never really cared about her since she sort of did nothing in the movie. But I think this video did a good job of summarizing the potential she could have had in the movie. I think some fixes or things they could have done to make her character stand out more. -Give her an Autobot partner, Arcee is perfect since she is always riding motorcycles or working on them like in ROTF -Have her fix or contribute to helping fix Bumblebee's voice, puts her mechanical skills to use and gives her and Bumblebee that extra connection -Do what the Titan Movie comics did and make her a soldier. It would add an interesting dynamic between her and Sam. Sam wants to go to college and be normal, while Mikaela wants to get involve with the Autobots and Nest, that would add way more to their relationship and could have been build up further on DOTM or even used as an explanation why they ultimately broke up.
Charlie in Bumblebee is basically Megan Fox’s character better written. And it’s like they didn’t even try to make Sam’s character more relevant pass “generic white male” protagonist. An insert character for the “target demographic” to live vicariously through. You;re right Cade and Mikaela have that relevance.
I feel like Charlie Watson from Bumblebee (2018) was solely written just to prove Mikaela could've been the MC of Transformers (2007). Also, there was a What If comic where Sam died at the end of the first film and Mikaela got to become the main human character.
I haven't seen all of the Bay movies, but I rewatched the 2007 movie fairly recently, so it's fresh in my mind. And I can say that I agree that Mikaela could have absolutely been a better-utilized character. There were some good ideas in there, and the journey that both Sam and Mikaela go on would have been more interesting if it was about the tensions between responsibility and a desire for normalcy and how each of them responded to those pressures rather than the simple "guy gets the girl" thing. I agree with you that wanting a normal life seems more appropriate for Sam. Which could have led to some interesting moments for both of the characters if that was a source of conflict between them. The potential was there, but unfortunately, the creative vision was not.
Glad you made this video, as I forgot how much I wanted for Mikaela. I watched all the TransFormers movies since 2007, age 12, always been a TF guy since 1999. Mikaela really did have a lot of potential. I consider that her potential could have been fleshed out more if what I wanted as a kid was allowed; for Mikaela and Arcee to be their own duo, somewhat growing at least by the last half to not overcrowd the bond Sam grows with Bumblebee and Optimus. Maybe even riding the truck Mikaela drove, blasting at Brawl alongside Bumblebee. Mikaela's motorcycle is the same type used to make the Arcee figure for the first movie's toyline (which I have, such a cool figure). For reasons that don't add up, she was not allowed in the movie. Which I hated cause I like Arcee and only learned more after learning she was kept out of the 2007 movie, could have been a nice sixth member. Once Revenge of the Fallen came, Arcee is in it, and still not bonding with Mikaela, then the female Autobots getting the worse end of the stick, leaving a bitter feeling in me, I gave up hope. Now, Arcee is in the movies, and she's pretty cool, but I hope for more from her in the next installment as I have waited long enough to be aggravated with waiting even more.
I'm so glad TH-cam recommended your video because you really opened my mind about Mikaela's character and you're right she had so much potential. In case you & other people don't know. Megan Fox was originally supposed to return for TF DOTM. There are behind-the-scenes photos where Megan Fox was on set of DOTM during its pre-shoots but due to her comments in an interview a few months or years ago where she compared Michael Bay to a short man with a silly mustache that tried to take over the world. Spielberg told Bay to fire her. In my canon/universe/version of the Bayverse trilogy, the original version of DOTM (where Mikaela is still in the film and had its original ending) exists, is canon, and takes place in an alternate universe where AOE & TLK don't exist. I personally consider the theatrical version of DOTM, AOE & TLK takes place in another universe. Thank you so much for making this video! You got yourself a new subscriber!❤🔥😍😎
I honestly believe this as well, like a full swap of main characters, Mikaela would be this popular girl in school, but outside of it she's a mechanic and works on cars, instead of Sam’s grandfather's glasses it could be Mikaela's instead, Sam could play the love role, being his nerdy, awkward self, trying to get the girl, Mikaela could find Bumblebee at a junkyard like Charlie Watson, maybe she steals it or buys it, Mikaela would be the center focus and have all the things that happened to sam happen to her, with some changes and tweaks to fit her character.
Bumblebee did Mikaela right with the character of Charlie Watson. Mikaela’s potential was wasted because Michael Bay was obsessed with objectifying Megan Fox, explosions, US military propaganda and production placement. Anything that isn’t building up a proper character.
No she was in her 30s when she did the transformers films you're more thinking bad boys 2 she was 15 and that was her first role she was dancing in the club scene
Girl you think Mikaela was wasted, what about the characters the movie is actually named after? The Transformers get far less screen time than any of the humans, and most of them are killed off before even getting 10 lines of Dialogue. I know, because I counted. The only one that gets to speak, (Optimus Prime) was also butchered in the writing department. His personality throughout the rest of the franchise is a wise mentor and leader, who treats fighting as a last resort. The Bayverse made him vengeful, wrathful and very, very violent. No characters was done justice in these movies, not even Sam. Who wasn't recognized for any of his actions from the previous movies including saving the world, and still struggled to get a job. Compared to 90% of the other characters in this franchise Mikaela got okay treatment
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
> Lost a parent
> Mechanical knoledge learned from father's line of work
> Friends with giant robots and ready for action
Mikaela is more Spike Witwicky (G1) than Sam is if you think about it.
There is a story potential here with Sam wanting a normal life and her being more active with TFs and their relationship being affected during it.
EXACTLY
ye she'd actually be a great main human protagonist for the transformers movie
I remember a lot of fanfics having Mikaela be Ratchet's charge and had her helping him with repairs in the medbay with all the new arrivals between the first and second movie. I would have fucking loved to see that
It is interesting how her character ultimately was more interesting than Sam's. Not that any of the writing of these films is super deep in my opinion, she does end up becoming the token female character that wows the male characters that she can do "boy things" aka work on cars. It's a trope that is very 2000's I feel, and thankfully has been somewhat left in the past. Not that her working on cars is bad at all, but I think it was explored much better with Charlie in the Bumblebee Movie. Mikaela being self sufficient and a mechanic was a great idea, but I think it was mainly used as delivery method for making fun of Sam being somewhat of a failure. Their characters could have complimented each other so much, but in the end, I think Sam's character was never really grown in any direction.
She just made a lot more sense on paper for a character in a Transformers story and is ironically closer to the classic Witwickys than Sam is
Mikaela, Lennox, Glenn, Maggie and Simmons all should've been the core characters followed throughout the trilogy in terms of a core human cast.
Mikaela has alot more interesting things going on with her and her character (even with the very little info given in 2 movies she's been in) more than Sam, while Sam feels like a poor mans everyman self insert that anyone can see themselves in but also not making him interesting or a character you'd want to follow 3 movies with (if you're focus so much on the human cast least make it somewhat interesting).
If Megan stayed in DOTM I feel would've been a better progression with her character in owning and caring for a car garage.
We needs more Mikaela Banes appreciation in what could've been.
Agreed
I have never seen myself in Sam. He’s just not likable and got everything handed to him. Peter Parker is a way better everyman’s self insert than Sam.
@ I do like SOME things about Sam. I like that he’s a man in a Michael Bay testerone filled action movie that’s allowed to scream and have emotions and be awkward and get scared and not kick much ass. It would create a solid contrast to the tougher Mikaela in a better movie. It’s for all these reasons I prefer Sam over Cade, who I feel deserves all mockery for being “manly America man” that he gets. But the movies failed at characterizing Sam strongly enough to make him consistently interesting or all that relatable.
Charlie in Bumblebee and Noah in Rise of the Beasts are both at their cores the kinds of protagonists that would’ve suited a Bayverse movie, but they’re actually fleshed out multi layered characters who feel alive and relatable
I swear, Megan Fox is genuinely a great actor, and will forever be in my eyes, the most wasted actress in hollywood
Bayformers are full of wasted potential. Mikaela is one of them but I think the most prominent case is Optimus’ character development (or regression) from a peace-loving leader into a full-blown war criminal psychopath. There were plot points that could be explained how he turned that way. Constantly fighting against Decepticons, getting exiled from home, died and got revived, getting betrayed by humans and witnessing the Decepticons committing war crimes repeatedly. These were great materials for a good redemption arc about Optimus losing his way and gaining it back.
But as usual, Michael Bay didn’t care about making a coherent story so what we got is the plot holes galore and the assassination of Optimus’ character.
I watched transformers bay as a kid, loved the transformers part but I was always so dissapointed that there wasn’t more of her. I was too young to understand but it felt like there was more to her. I never liked Sam, after watching it now when I’m older I realise why.
They kind of did a redo of Mikaela with Charlie Watson in Bumblebee. Then again Bumblebee feels like a redo of the first movie overall. (and now I see that you've mentioned this later in the video)
Hey, Astrid! I agree Mikaela should have been the main human character, which is why I am making her the main human character for my 2007 rewrite (taking continuity from Bumblebee and a soft rewrite of Rise of the Beasts). Here’s my profile for her:
Mikaela Banes: A 16-year-old mechanic from Tranquility, California who enters the Autobot-Decepticon war when she acquires Bumblebee in his off-road Camaro mode at a car sale.
Mikaela forms a bond with Optimus Prime over their shared uncertainty about the future (Mikaela on what she wants to do with her life after high school, and Optimus feeling unsure about his leadership of the Autobots after defeating Megatron and Unicron at the cost of draining Cybertron’s life). As Optimus resolves his own uncertainties, he becomes a mentor for Mikaela, offering wisdom and support as she contemplates her post-high school path.
Bumblebee serves as Mikaela’s introduction to not only the world of the Transformers, but also exposes her to environments outside of her small town. Team Prime not only learn from Mikaela on how much the world has changed in the 11 years since they isolated themselves, but they also educate her on what their culture was like on both Cybertron and Earth. Bumblebee specifically introduces Mikaela to the pop culture of the 80s and 90s and alongside Optimus Prime and the rest of the team, show her what it means to live and, in a way, be human.
Mikaela has so much potential, growing up I never really cared about her since she sort of did nothing in the movie. But I think this video did a good job of summarizing the potential she could have had in the movie.
I think some fixes or things they could have done to make her character stand out more.
-Give her an Autobot partner, Arcee is perfect since she is always riding motorcycles or working on them like in ROTF
-Have her fix or contribute to helping fix Bumblebee's voice, puts her mechanical skills to use and gives her and Bumblebee that extra connection
-Do what the Titan Movie comics did and make her a soldier. It would add an interesting dynamic between her and Sam. Sam wants to go to college and be normal, while Mikaela wants to get involve with the Autobots and Nest, that would add way more to their relationship and could have been build up further on DOTM or even used as an explanation why they ultimately broke up.
Charlie in Bumblebee is basically Megan Fox’s character better written. And it’s like they didn’t even try to make Sam’s character more relevant pass “generic white male” protagonist. An insert character for the “target demographic” to live vicariously through. You;re right Cade and Mikaela have that relevance.
I feel like Charlie Watson from Bumblebee (2018) was solely written just to prove Mikaela could've been the MC of Transformers (2007). Also, there was a What If comic where Sam died at the end of the first film and Mikaela got to become the main human character.
I haven't seen all of the Bay movies, but I rewatched the 2007 movie fairly recently, so it's fresh in my mind. And I can say that I agree that Mikaela could have absolutely been a better-utilized character. There were some good ideas in there, and the journey that both Sam and Mikaela go on would have been more interesting if it was about the tensions between responsibility and a desire for normalcy and how each of them responded to those pressures rather than the simple "guy gets the girl" thing. I agree with you that wanting a normal life seems more appropriate for Sam. Which could have led to some interesting moments for both of the characters if that was a source of conflict between them. The potential was there, but unfortunately, the creative vision was not.
Glad you made this video, as I forgot how much I wanted for Mikaela. I watched all the TransFormers movies since 2007, age 12, always been a TF guy since 1999. Mikaela really did have a lot of potential. I consider that her potential could have been fleshed out more if what I wanted as a kid was allowed; for Mikaela and Arcee to be their own duo, somewhat growing at least by the last half to not overcrowd the bond Sam grows with Bumblebee and Optimus. Maybe even riding the truck Mikaela drove, blasting at Brawl alongside Bumblebee. Mikaela's motorcycle is the same type used to make the Arcee figure for the first movie's toyline (which I have, such a cool figure).
For reasons that don't add up, she was not allowed in the movie. Which I hated cause I like Arcee and only learned more after learning she was kept out of the 2007 movie, could have been a nice sixth member. Once Revenge of the Fallen came, Arcee is in it, and still not bonding with Mikaela, then the female Autobots getting the worse end of the stick, leaving a bitter feeling in me, I gave up hope. Now, Arcee is in the movies, and she's pretty cool, but I hope for more from her in the next installment as I have waited long enough to be aggravated with waiting even more.
I'm so glad TH-cam recommended your video because you really opened my mind about Mikaela's character and you're right she had so much potential.
In case you & other people don't know. Megan Fox was originally supposed to return for TF DOTM. There are behind-the-scenes photos where Megan Fox was on set of DOTM during its pre-shoots but due to her comments in an interview a few months or years ago where she compared Michael Bay to a short man with a silly mustache that tried to take over the world. Spielberg told Bay to fire her.
In my canon/universe/version of the Bayverse trilogy, the original version of DOTM (where Mikaela is still in the film and had its original ending) exists, is canon, and takes place in an alternate universe where AOE & TLK don't exist.
I personally consider the theatrical version of DOTM, AOE & TLK takes place in another universe.
Thank you so much for making this video! You got yourself a new subscriber!❤🔥😍😎
I honestly believe this as well, like a full swap of main characters, Mikaela would be this popular girl in school, but outside of it she's a mechanic and works on cars, instead of Sam’s grandfather's glasses it could be Mikaela's instead, Sam could play the love role, being his nerdy, awkward self, trying to get the girl, Mikaela could find Bumblebee at a junkyard like Charlie Watson, maybe she steals it or buys it, Mikaela would be the center focus and have all the things that happened to sam happen to her, with some changes and tweaks to fit her character.
today we get the lore that Astrid didn't "have a normal upbringing" lmfao
anyways yes, I'm all here for it
Me and my best friend were just discussing this!
You can make a career out of talking just about the chaos of the Bayfilms lmao!
There's a channel called "theorymus" that does theories/speculations and some bts on the Bay movies
Bumblebee did Mikaela right with the character of Charlie Watson. Mikaela’s potential was wasted because Michael Bay was obsessed with objectifying Megan Fox, explosions, US military propaganda and production placement. Anything that isn’t building up a proper character.
Sad fact :she was 16 when 2007 was filmed:(……
No she was in her 30s when she did the transformers films you're more thinking bad boys 2 she was 15 and that was her first role she was dancing in the club scene
Correction she was 21 when the first film happened
Reminds me of “Romeo and Juliet law” in TF4
Humans from bayverse were bad. Please do video about Ultra Magnus
I like Charlie Watson because she's more of a character than Mikaela.
Girl you think Mikaela was wasted, what about the characters the movie is actually named after? The Transformers get far less screen time than any of the humans, and most of them are killed off before even getting 10 lines of Dialogue. I know, because I counted. The only one that gets to speak, (Optimus Prime) was also butchered in the writing department.
His personality throughout the rest of the franchise is a wise mentor and leader, who treats fighting as a last resort. The Bayverse made him vengeful, wrathful and very, very violent. No characters was done justice in these movies, not even Sam. Who wasn't recognized for any of his actions from the previous movies including saving the world, and still struggled to get a job. Compared to 90% of the other characters in this franchise Mikaela got okay treatment