Transformers: Rescue Bots

My oldest son first became interested in Rescue Bots when my husband and I purchased the Rescue Bots game for his LeapPad. Since then he has seen all the episodes (numerous times) and hasn't got sick of viewing them yet. I do not have the same concerns as a previous parent/reviewer who commented about the women being too curvy and men looking too strong with square jaws and six packs. My son is four (turning five next month) and the only thing he "sponges" from this show is the importance of helping and saving others. He sees how the Rescue Bots and the "Griffin Rock team" (the police chief, firefighter, helicopter pilot, etc) go out of their way to help and save the people who live in Griffin Rock. I always try to ask my son questions about the shows or movies he watches. Sometimes you'll be surprised to know your child has "sponged" something unexpected, like the act of kindness of others.

My son wants to be a Rescue Bot (even the whole family joins in) so he can help mom, dad, brother, even his small town. I'm very pleased with Rescue Bots and we can't wait for season two!!

We first discovered this show a few years ago on a rainy day and have returned to it many times since then. It's a great show and has a bit of everything in it - it's full of adventure and danger, a little scary and the characters are good too, plus it's a good introduction to transformers. 10/10

Not the absolute best animated show of the Transformers franchise, that's still Transformers(1984). But it is a good, very good even, show, the most accessible to younger audiences of the Transformers animated shows(the movies as well) and a long way from a disgrace to Transformers no matter how unconventional it may be deemed to be. The animation may not be for all tastes, from a personal perspective the bounce, fluidity and colour will delight the main target audiences and most importantly it looks good. If anybody wants visual depth, look elsewhere like Transformers: Prime. Each of the episodes are well-scored, in a way that's appropriate and also so that it can be remembered easily. The main theme likewise. The writing also strikes the right balance, not too sophisticated and not too simplistic or childish, while it is easy for youngsters to understand it is handled intelligently. Parents and older fans will also appreciate the various continuity nods and media references, so there is definitely something for them too. The story lines admittedly are not very original and perhaps on the formulaic side, but they are fun and make sense with some themes that children and adults can relate to. Older fans will also appreciate how dark and violent the season one finale was, but the more dark and violent nature didn't juxtapose too much and there is no real reason why some would go and say "this is not for children", it's not quite of that kind. The characters are all engaging, the humans, robots and villains. We also have some terrific voice acting, Lacey Chabert, Steve Blum and Maurice LeMarche are pitch perfect and you cannot go wrong with appearances from Peter Cullen as the ultimate and definitive Optimus Prime and Tim Curry as a mad scientist. Overall, it's a good solid show that should be rated higher here. Not one to dismiss because it's aimed at a younger audience, it's a good introduction to youngsters and later on they can go onto darker, even more intelligently written and more conventional Transformers shows like the original one from 1984 and Transformers Prime. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This is cheap indoctrination into legalism. The police is good. The bad don't listen to the police. But the god like police always catches them. Because they are good. And they catch the bad. Also some special beings like transformers are obviously important enough to be guarding the woods in the middle of nowhere for speeding drivers. And they serve the police. Because they are good too. And women are secondary. Because men do the violence. And women make the babies and the cooking. Right?

Also the animation is as good as the scripting. Meaning crap.

This show is absolutely a surprise. I watched it out of curiosity, and I've been blown away by the clever writing. It's obvious that the writers are lovers of the Transformers lore and franchise. The show strays away from violence, even avoiding the word "death" or "die" whenever possible, but even though the show itself isn't that violent, it is obvious that the universe presented is connected to the universe opened up in Transformers: Prime and Transformers: Robots in Disguise, where peril exists, violence exists, and, most of all, Decepticons exist! In Rescue Bots, we get references to the Transformers lore that work as fun easter eggs for Transformers fans, as well as alluding the possibility of there being "more than meets the eye" to the world that is being presented. The references range from Unicron to Alpha Trion himself! The show even gives us fun movie references, such as E.T., Jaws, Back to the Future, and Aliens!

This show has such well written characters who have interesting personalities that get tested, strengthened, and even grown in the course of the three seasons the show has had so far. We have BLADES, afraid of heights but proving that he's brave enough to face his fears when others are in need. We have BOULDER, homesick for Cybertron but in awe of the wonders and beauty of Earth. We see HEATWAVE, the strong-willed and often arrogant leader of the Rescue Bots who grows fond of the Burns family and will put anyone's life before his own. Lastly, we have CHASE, a law enforcer who follows everything down to protocol, but learns to act on his own will as a Rescue Bot when protocol is not enough.

Along with the Rescue Bots, we have the Burns family, Kade, Cody, Dani, Graham, and Chief Burns, who work alongside the bots, teaching the Autobots while learning from them at the same time. The show demonstrates growth in the characters, both robot and human, while placing challenges and obstacles in their way that reveal vulnerabilities and flaws. No one is perfect, and children watching the show can see that not every person has good intentions, as several characters in the show want nothing but money and power (i.e. Dr. Morocco).

So, as a lover of storytelling and Transformers, I say that this show is perfect for young viewers and Transformers fans alike. Yes, Griffin Rock is the least safe city I've seen in a kid's show. I even nickname it "Murphy's Island", a reference to Murphy's Law, as every event going on in the show goes horribly wrong somehow, and literally nothing and no one is safe from danger. But the writing and character design separates Rescue Bots from shows like Transformers: Prime, which suffered from poor character writing and design (in my opinion). Who knows...maybe we'll get to see First Aid, a Protectobot from Transformers G1! Can't wait for season 4!