At least not neccessarily. It seems to me that Optimus started a ceremonial handing off of the matrix, it was 'primed' (no pun intended) to band with its new guardian, and unfortunately, when Optimus faltered, Hot Rod caught it and it bonded to him. Had it been handed securely to Ultra Magnus, I think it would have bonded to him and that it would possibly have changed him somewhat too.

 

What do you think?

Your idea sounds good, but to me the phrase "chosen one" means it was predetermined. 

Well, I don't think he was the chosen one. I think there was a fumble and the matrix simply made the best of a bad situation, bonding with the accidental recipient.

 

Frankly if Wheelie was already part of the gang and he caught it I think we'd have been subjected to :: shudder :: Wheelimus Prime and had to listen to a deep-voiced peach-coloured truck speak in bad rhyme.

I am not much of a Rodimus fan, but the way the movie made it look the Matrix chose him.  So even if Ultra had cought it instead, it probably still chose Hot Rod.  I personally would have preffered Ultra, but the writters decided to make him an ineffective leader and Rodimus after the movie was most of the time unsure of himself and needed the support group of Ultra, Springer, and Arcee.

I say this in love:

 

I think that's totally retarded.

 

The whole movie is a setup for Rodimus Prime's ascension. Notice this exchange:

 

"Ultra Magnus... it is to you, old friend, that I shall pass the Matrix, as it was passed to me."

 

"But Prime, I'm just a solder. I... I'm not worthy."

 

"Nor was I. But one day an Autobot shall rise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour."

 

When UM says "I'm not worthy", Prime doesn't correct him. He lets the statement stand. He basically says "yeah you're not so great but don't worry, Hot Rod will pick up the slack when you get PWNED."

Well, I don't think he was the chosen one. I think there was a fumble and the matrix simply made the best of a bad situation, bonding with the accidental recipient.

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i already made a thread based on this but yes, i have to agree with you. my argument was that since the matrix was eventually returned to a revived optimus prime then hot rod was probably never the chosen one to begin with.

I agree that the story comes off that way, but I think it's an interesting hypothetical that Optimus geared the thing up to bond with whomhe handed it off to and it accendentally ended up Hot Rod. It's not like he did much that was noteworthy after popping the thing open to snuff Uni, and then baically whine his way though life for the next season, even going so far as to abandon the Matrix.

i already made a thread based on this but yes, i have to agree with you. my argument was that since the matrix was eventually returned to a revived optimus prime then hot rod was probably never the chosen one to begin with.

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This was not Hasbro's intent. They only switched course because the show / toys were losing fans. Bringing Optimus Prime back was a very ugly "patch" on that problem IMO.

"Ultra Magnus... it is to you, old friend, that I shall pass the Matrix, as it was passed to me."

 

"But Prime, I'm just a solder. I... I'm not worthy."

 

"Nor was I. But one day an Autobot shall rise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour."

 

When UM says "I'm not worthy", Prime doesn't correct him. He lets the statement stand. He basically says "yeah you're not so great but don't worry, Hot Rod will pick up the slack when you get PWNED."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Well I think Prime was trying to reassure him that he was (or at least he thought he was) by comparing himself to Ultra, he was letting him know to not to doubt himself.  As you already know later in Junkion Ultra was trying to open the Matrix to light what he thought was the darkest hour.  So he must of felt that he might be the one. But overall yes the Matrix chose Rod not Ultra.

But overall yes the Matrix chose Rod not Ultra.

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Thank Primus too!  I don't think the TV show would have stayed so popular if Ultra Magnus was the next Prime.  He was a great character, but lacked self esteem & the courage to be as great of a leader as Optimus & Rodimus.