Looking back, I remember a huge drop-off in interest in TFs during the third season of the show. And this was way before the Pretenders or Actionmasters hit. The show just seemed aimless in so many ways; it just wasn't as much fun to watch anymore. To me, G1 reached its high point in 1986, with the introduction of the 5-man gestalt teams as well as all the movie characters.

 

1987 was much more of a mixed bag. Everyone loves Fort Max now, but back then he was $50 and only appeared in part of one episode. Same with Scorponok and the rest of the Headmasters and Targetmasters. The Throttlebots were just lame, as were the Autobot / Decepticon clones, Punch/Counterpunch, the Monsterbots (who never even made it to the show), and the Duocons. You just looked at the toys and thought, "this doesn't feel like Transformers anymore." It had gone so far from its roots in 1984 that it was unrecognizable.

 

I knew it was over when I saw my first Pretenders commercial in 1988. I was like, "oh, hell no." And when they changed the blurb to "more... MUCH MORE... than meets the eye" I knew they were desperate. There was no show after 1987, and back then (before any of us had come of age and still had to ask our parents for money) there wasn't an adult TF collectors' market. So basically the line withered and died.

 

G1 died slowly over a period of three to four years, but IMO the initial seed was planted in TF:TM the moment the lights in Prime's eyes went out.

Maybe when Prime got kill the TF fans stop watching. Then when Hasbro did bring back Prime it was to late. My opion anyway.

Maybe when Prime got kill the TF fans stop watching. Then when Hasbro did bring back Prime it was to late. My opion anyway.

Yup. Although I think part of the problem is that they never filled the void adequately.

Totally. The Jap eps rocked, and with the right voicings, it could have been sweet. But isn't there some sort of rumor that the Headmaster series where meant for the rest of the world but due to some kind of goof-up the idea got scrapped and Rebirth was done instead?

 

headmasters is the sh*ttist TF series that was ever thrown together.

I though I was in hell, watching those episodes, and I dont mean the good lind of hell.

 

ok, I really just shuddered here, no joke. I think I remembered a plot or saw a wheelie and Daniel horrifingly wrtitten meaningless scene in my head, on Cygnia.

 

arrrrrggggg

get it out, get it out!!!!!!!

Maybe when Prime got kill the TF fans stop watching. Then when Hasbro did bring back Prime it was to late. My opion anyway.

nah.

Kids talking on the playgroud at the time... Prime death sad, kids still watched.

When Prime returned, kids watched, but lost intrest. The 'buzz' had been killed with kids.

Seem to think at the time, he was brought back in a stupid way, and made the point of him dying kinda lame.

 

Back in the day, at lunch-tables, and on playgrounds, I remember Kids talking about HotRod/Rodimus, and discussing the episodes, and missing Prime. Bring him back kinda chucked all that out the window, with a kinda silly "april fools!!!!!" from Hasbro.

 

Kids in 6th grade, can feel cheated too, you know.

I think it was just time. I know somebody will correct me but as far as toys go barbie is the only one to last with out stopping. I really don't know about star wars & gi-joe they might not of stopped either.

 

As far as tv shows go just soaps, the simpons & the price is right have seem to have gone a 15+years.

 

I know there are show/toys that I might have missed but mabe it was just time. I just think that was should be happy TF have come back to us & it seems to be going on very strong.

I just think that was should be happy TF have come back to us & it seems to be going on very strong.

 

 

Yes.

Thanks soley and completely to Beast Wars.

All Hail the BEAST!!!!!!!!!!

G1 was killed by no longer being Robots in Disguise, but robots who changed into futuristic vehicles.

 

Mind you, I thought that the Headmaster toys were great when they came out, but found myself less enamoured with the Powermasters.

 

Then the Pretenders. Ugh. Horrible, horrible things. That was it, I never bought another TF toy again until RID!

G1 was killed by no longer being Robots in Disguise, but robots who changed into futuristic vehicles.

 

Mind you, I thought that the Headmaster toys were great when they came out, but found myself less enamoured with the Powermasters.

 

Then the Pretenders. Ugh. Horrible, horrible things. That was it, I never bought another TF toy again until RID!

 

that and crap writing for rebirth.

Too bad you missed out on the rennasance circa '95-96, the very reason this old girl is doing well today.

I agree with what Madhammer said.

Blaming it on Season 3 is not, uhh, whatever Wildling said. I can't remember. But anyway, for me Season 3 did it in. I still watched and recorded it, but it wasn't the same. I remember when I saw the first episode of "Five Faces of Darkness." I was like WTF? It was a real shock to the system after seeing the awesome animation of TF:TM. I don't know how they did it. But Akom managed to make the footage taken from the movie look sh*tty.