Gobots - A slightly different point of view.

[Shepp]

After looking at a few images of the Guardian Command Center and then Renegade Thruster base, I'm coming to an unsettling conclusion:

The Guardians were the bad guys.

In the Guardian Command Center are the following features revealed via stickers:

Executions:
There are no prison cells in the cramped Alien Detention Center. There is only a "Gobot De-Materializer", and it is shown in action. The enemy Gobots aren't restrained before they're destroyed, they're just thrown into a room and then executed. It looks quite painful. Also, the dematerializer looks large enough to do an entire batch at once. You'd almost think that there must be some less drastic measure to handle enemy Gobots. Oh wait, there is.

Brainwashing:
Across the elevator shaft is an "Enemy Re-Programming Center", shown in the process of reprogramming a Gobot who looks suspiciously like Scooter (which might explain a whole lot). If they have the means to wipe out the entire contents of a Gobot's mind and replace it with something else (say, the joy of eating ice cream in the cafeteria), why would they even need executions? You also have to wonder how ethical it is to resort to brainwashing the enemy so that they'll agree with you.

So the Guardians have the capabilities of making their enemies play nice, but still have means of execution. Seems like this is all to keep the rest of the population in line.

But back to the Cafeteria

Cafeteria:
Directly below the Gobot reprogramming room is the cafeteria containing food named after clever puns and a pair of Gobots who look overjoyed at those punny foods. Seems to be this is the room reprogrammed Gobots are immediately placed into.

Trauma Center:
This looks more or less like the opposite of the dematerializer. I'm guessing that the dematerialized Gobots are used as material to repair other Gobots in the trauma center.

Interrogation Center:
A very sparse room. No equipment to be seen. Almost as if they don't really care to interrogate. Or maybe the Guardians just pull a Gobot into the room and everyone just turns a blind eye. They can always dispose of the evidence using the dematerializer.

Fuel Bay:
The Gobots, being cyborgs, need both food and fuel to function. I'm guessing that in addition to using the dematerialized Gobots as material for the trauma center, they are also used as fuel for the mechanical bodies of the Gobots.

Okay, so at least they're recycling.


Now lets look at Thruster, the Renegade base.

Looks like there's a command center (with chair!) and a prison with ion bars. Oh, and an elevator.

No secret death machines, no brainwashing devices, no creepy cafeteria.

Looks pretty sparse. In fact, the only really sinister thing is the trap door, which could really be some form of emergency exit.

Another interesting thing is that Thruster has an identity, and is actually a Gobot himself. He is consciously and actively taking part in the Renegade's objectives.

While the Command Center does have a face, it lacks a name, and probably lacks a personality. I can understand why, it would cause some problems if your base of operations had a conflict of conscience and couldn't stomach the brainwashing and executions taking part inside of him.

So it looks to me like the Renegades are in fact the resistance against an oppressive regime run by the Guardians.

While the Guardian image is that of a Paragon elite, there's some sinister stuff going on behind closed doors.

No wonder the Renegades are branded as "renegades".

[CobraCommander]

This is an interesting perspective, I like it.

Is this right the gobots are cyborgs, but don't' cyborgs have to be part human?

I think the Guardians are bit more humane, when you consider the alternatives on what goes on in a Renegade prison cell... que the clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPVdfM5avwQ

[Autobotz24]

You've got too much time on your hands. I love it!

[wervenom]

Love that take. had not examined the respective bases that closely before.

[Protoman]

Most Renegade molds in the Gobots line were the most important good guys in their origins of Machine Robo.

In France, they even used Machine Robo as the sequel to Gobots and explained that Fitor, Screwhead and even Cy-Kill became good guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk2EyBJHkpo

For more info, watch my Gobots panel from TFcon 2010 (Thanks to Nemesis Predaking for hosting)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewsfls-8LdA

[Hobbyist Prime]

As the ShelfLife curator of the Gobots I can only say "You know too much!........." :P

[chans formers]

another little known fact is that the renegade gobot base thruster was recolored and used as a base/carrycase for a beastwars neo boardgame thing,almost like attacktix,but no missiles and all the figs were translucent blue and vintage battlebeast sized.

@shepp.......like autobotz24 said....too much time my friend

[Shepp]

Originally Posted by CobraCommander

This is an interesting perspective, I like it.

Is this right the gobots are cyborgs, but don't' cyborgs have to be part human?

I think the Guardians are bit more humane, when you consider the alternatives on what goes on in a Renegade prison cell... que the clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPVdfM5avwQ

Yes, in the North American show the Gobots are actually cyborgs. Robot bodies with organic brains.
http://images.wikia.com/transformers...asherBrain.jpg

And somehow during my childhood, I never really absorbed that fact. Something I recently learned.

So the Guardians are more or less the Empire, while the Renegades are the Rebel Alliance.

And the toyline was indeed dark, a big contrast to the upbeat show.

[Echotransformer]

Phew, I'm not the only one that is remotely interested in Gobots...

[Pascal]

^I am. I want to re-collect all the Super Gobots at some point. Most of them were more intricate than actual Transformers, plus they had way more die-cast. Real gokin material.