The writers were very well aware of the characters as they appeared in Beast Wars. One thing you need to keep in mind is that there really wasn't a whole lot of character development at all in BW. Most of the characters in that show were essentially the same at the beginning and the end of the series. So all of a sudden to have character arcs -- SIGNIFICANT character arcs -- for these characters... well I can understand how it might be a bit off-putting.

 

But just to give you a run-down:

 

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Thank you, you nailed it right on the head.

Ok, eggheads. Go take cold showers or something. Or just showers. In other words, KNOCK IT OFF.

Ok, eggheads. Go take cold showers or something. Or just showers. In other words, KNOCK IT OFF.

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Well spotted. The topic moved on from fembot luv five hours ago.

I agree that the unexplained change in character personas between BW and BM is one of the major flaws of BM. Character change is fine, but it needs to be done logically; that's how you develop characters, and character development is what drives stories.

 

BW did have character developments, btw.

 

Optimus Primal: starts off as a expeditonary leader who's had the mantle of military leadership thrown at him. At first he inexperience shows... he has to earn the respect of his troops (whereas the Autobots had always worshipped Optimus Prime, so respect was automatically given to him, even by his enemies). By the third season, we see that he has become a seasoned commander.

 

Rattrap: Starts off as a very reluctant Maximal. It's made clear in the beginning that he was opposed to Primal's decision to respond to Cybertron's distress call to intercept Megatron's rogue Predacons. But as the series progresses, he comes to accept his fate and his role as a Maximal warrior - and at one stage - commander, where even Dinobot had to bow down to his effective leadership under fire. A once reluctant fighter becomes a highly skilled saboteur... love the way he blows up Ravage's ship. ;) And of course, there is character relationship development between him and Dinobot - the two start off with great distrust toward each other, but ultimately become the best of friends. Dinobot dying in Rattrap's arms was one of the most touching moments in BW IMHO.

 

Others have already pointed out the character development/change in Silverbolt. Although he is forever a dork, he sheds his awkward naivety and gullibility by the end of the series.

 

I could go on, but you get the idea. There's a lot of character development and change happening in BW, and it's this that helps drives the story and makes BW such a great series.

 

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

I thought Cheetor's character change in BM was alright. By the end of BW, Cheetor had changed from being a child-like character into a sort of older teen character (as Rattrap calls it, "Cyber-Puberty"). By BM, Cheetor has become a young adult, similar to a human adult in their early 20s - he is capable, eager and ready to prove himself, but needs more experience to grant him credibility -- one of the frustrating thing about being in the early 20s age bracket can be job application: you have the qualifications but lack industry expeience.

 

Silverbolt's BM character development, again, is well explained. He was mind-raped by Megatron as Jetstorm and feels an immense guilt complex over it. But having said that, I must agree with Scott McNeil (Silverbolt's voice actor) - the whole guilt complex thing was overplayed and Silverbolt really should've just built a slaggin' space bridge and gotten over it. As Blackarachnia kept explaining to him, being Jetstorm wasn't his fault. Yeah, it happened, it was bad. Accept it, get over it... move on. But this didn't happen until the very end... until then, Silverbolt just went emo on everyone. Blecch...

I agree that the unexplained change in character personas between BW and BM is one of the major flaws of BM. Character change is fine, but it needs to be done logically; that's how you develop characters, and character development is what drives stories.

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They're explained as much as they need to be, I just think people didn't like the character changes. And I guess we have different definitions of character growth... the only BW character who changed in a genuinely significant way was Blackarachnia.

Ok, eggheads. Go take cold showers or something. Or just showers. In other words, KNOCK IT OFF.

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Well spotted. The topic moved on from fembot luv five hours ago.

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I appreciate the help, but I've got it... no really. Thanks though. Besides, 3 hours and one post back on topic don't mean things aren't still derailed. Maybe on free messageboards, but not here.

 

But, on topic. I do see where the characters seemed to change quite a bit after Beast Wars. I'm not sure when BA made her change, but it was like her entire existance became about love, instead of her personal gain, as it was when she was first brought online.

Ok, eggheads. Go take cold showers or something. Or just showers. In other words, KNOCK IT OFF.

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Well spotted. The topic moved on from fembot luv five hours ago.

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I appreciate the help, but I've got it... no really. Thanks though. Besides, 3 hours and one post back on topic don't mean things aren't still derailed. Maybe on free messageboards, but not here.

 

But, on topic. I do see where the characters seemed to change quite a bit after Beast Wars. I'm not sure when BA made her change, but it was like her entire existance became about love, instead of her personal gain, as it was when she was first brought online.

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Perhaps the Oracle changed her when she was reformatted?

perhaps she wasn't being controlled by a Predacon shell program anymore.

perhaps she wasn't being controlled by a Predacon shell program anymore.

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That could be as well. I guess we really don't know what kind of personality her protoform shell would have had before.

perhaps she wasn't being controlled by a Predacon shell program anymore.

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That could be as well. I guess we really don't know what kind of personality her protoform shell would have had before.

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we do once we see her in BM...