With season 2 of Transformers Prime just around the corner, I wanted to take some time here to discuss one of my favourite episodes of the FIRST season, “Rock Bottom” (and a bit of “Partners” too, for reasons that will become clearer as we move on).
“Rock Bottom”, as an episode, is a bit of an odd beast in the grand scheme of the show itself and with regards to children’s action cartoons in general. It contains almost no combat scenes or transformation sequences, is highly limited in sets/cast members, and also features a 15 year-old girl nearly suffocating to death: quality kid’s entertainment! Mind you, I like shows which mix up their own formula, and also which discuss things beyond the events of the plot (see my self-indulgent postings discussion on metaphors for teenage sexuality in “Speed Metal”).
What makes “Rock Bottom” stand out, at least for me, is how it presents itself as a highly introspective look into the minds of several important characters in the show. While on the surface, very little appears to happen within the overall plot, (2 bad guys and 4 of the good guys get trapped under ground… then they get out: the end) we actually end up learning a great deal about what is going on under the hoods’ of these people. Much like how the characters end up trapped beneath the earth within a dark cave, we as the audience are pulled deep into the minds’ of the cast and we are shown some interesting pieces of information about them.
I need to really respond to this later, but awesome meta on my favorite S1 episodes.