Ricky Church reviews Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Kingdom…
The finale to Netflix’s Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy is here as Optimus Prime, Megatron and their Autobots and Decepticons search for the Allspark while coming into contact with the Maximals and Predacons from Beast Wars. The six-episode Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Kingdom has interesting character moments, team-ups and action sequences that bring fresh elements to the trilogy with the addition of the Maximals and Predacons and serves as a worthy conclusion to the overall series.
Beginning shortly after Earthrise, the Autobots and Decepticons have located the Allspark on a strange planet, but have suffered through crash landings thanks to their battle. As they each prepare to find the Allspark and restore Cybertron for their own individual gains, they meet the Maximals and Predacons, their descendants who have travelled to the past as the very future is at risk. Optimus Prime, his Autobots and the Maximals have to stop Megatron and his new alliance of Decepticons and Predacons from finding the Allspark and conquering all of Cybertron.
Kingdom doesn’t waste much time rolling out as the stakes are set with all four factions meeting fairly quickly. The story throughout the season is well paced and only ramps up the further it goes, helped by the fact Kingdom focuses entirely on Optimus Prime and the characters surrounding him. It does, however, have a much bigger cast than Siege and Earthrise with the addition of the Maximals, Predacons and other characters, but still feels pretty balanced as the season knows who to focus on, when and for how long. Optimus and Megatron share the main focus as they are the two central forces of the war, but plenty of time is given to Optimus Primal, Dinobot, Blackarachnia and Starscream, particularly the latter two as they of course latch onto to each other’s traitorous tendencies as they plot to overthrow both Megatrons.
The character development for most of the cast is well done, especially for Optimus and Megatron. Optimus continues his journey from Earthrise as he realized his actions in Siege, namely launching the Allspark and refusing to make peaceful end to the war, were foolhardy, leading him more open to working with other factions and trying to redeem Megatron. The Decepticon leader, on the other hand, becomes even more entrenched with his beliefs and superiority over the Autobots and is willing to do whatever it takes to restore Cybertron in his name. It is interesting to see how Optimus and Megatron’s journeys parallel, tying their fates together in more ways than even they realize. Other bots who get prominent arcs are Starscream who, like ever, schemes his way to the top and Dinobot as he begins questioning the Predacon cause like his counterpart in Beast Wars. Optimus Primal also gets good characterization, though he’s got a little more of an edge than the original cartoon as he’s experienced tough battles and loss, but he’s still a heroic and commanding figure.
Kingdom offers a nice change for the animation with the Beast Wars characters as it gives the action a new dynamic with their beast forms and movements. From moments like Primal swinging through trees, Predacon Megatron taking a bite out of any bot who gets on his bad side or Airazor flying through the sky, both in beast and robot mode, there are plenty of sequences that make Kingdom the most visually compelling of the trilogy. The action is entertaining and clear to follow, striving to provide new sequences that differ from the previous two seasons. It also helps there are many different locations the transformers fight across that give a fresh appeal to the action. Most of the vocal performances from the cast are good too, particularly with the Beast Wars voices as many sound enough like their original counterparts. The one exception though is Predacon Megatron, whose Kingdom voice lacks the gravitas of David Kaye’s iconic delivery and takes some getting used to.
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Kingdom is a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Its character work is intriguing and the action is entertaining with the combination of vehicles and beasts fighting each other. For fans of Beast Wars, it should scratch the itch of those wanting to see the Maximals and Autobots interact directly with each other.
Rating: 8/10
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