COUNTDOWN: Ranking the robots of Transformers Earthspark

Transformers: Earthspark takes the franchise in a bold direction with never-before-seen characters mixing it up with new takes on classic fan favourites.

Today, we’re ranking the 28 (we counted) robots seen on-screen based on the first 18 episodes of the show. Simple!

MAJOR SPOILERS for the first season to follow!

#28: Brawl

Brawl is a bruiser, as you might expect, but that’s really all there is to say about this one-and-done Decepticon! He pops up in a ‘Bot Brawl’ (geddit?) arena battle versus Bumblebee. Despite looking suitably burly, he’s swiftly dispatched before being carved up and turned into new pieces for Mandroid to experiment with. Brutal.

#27: Starscream

It feels weird to be ranking Starscream so far down a list like this, as by rights, he would typically be a *major* presence in any given Transformers cartoon. Yet, in this case, he barely appears and makes even less of an impact. Admit it – did you even remember he was in this? Still, he gives good evil laugh.

#26-25: Shrapnel & Bombshell

A two-for-one entry here because, let’s be fair, the Insecticons are basically interchangeable from what we’ve seen of them thus far, not to mention little more than cannon fodder. Still, they look super cool, and they’re definitely creepy!

#24: Grimlock

It’s always exciting to see Grimlock on screen, and his Earthspark appearance gives you much of what you might hope for in that regard, with plenty of tromping, stomping and fire-breathing antics. Yet given he’s under Mandroid’s mind control for 95% of his time on screen, it’s impossible to rank him much higher than this… yet. Bonus points for his G1 animation guise putting in a brief appearance earlier in the season, though!

#23: Skullcruncher

Skullcruncher is arguably one of the more random inclusions in Earthspark, especially as he unexpectedly pops up out of nowhere during an early fight (again, mind-controlled by Mandroid) and then spends much of the rest of his time incarcerated by G.H.O.S.T. He also has little to no discernable personality, but his presence is appreciated, nonetheless!

#22: Hardtop

New character Hardtop is one of the first robots to appear in the series. However, he spends much of his time following this being captured, imprisoned, tortured or experimented on. It’s a hard life for Hardtop. Perhaps his most memorable moment is his one-armed attempted takedown of Elita-1, where even she correctly surmises that his heart just isn’t in it.

#21: Ravage

Of the three Decepticon cassettes popping up in the show, Ravage has the least to do, but that doesn’t make this new take on Soundwave’s minion any less enjoyable. Looking as lithe and cat-like as ever, Ravage also retains his signature sneakiness, stowing away with Soundwave to scope out the G.H.O.S.T. prison facility. Let’s hope we see more of him in the future!

#20: Laserbeak

Fun fact – this is the first English-language Transformers cartoon where Laserbeak speaks. That might sound odd to animation purists, but he was already quite the talker in a number of comic appearances over the years, and it certainly helps his Earthspark portrayal to stand out some.

#19: Frenzy

Sidestepping the colour debate by being a more allegiance-appropriate purple, Frenzy is also one of the more stylised Earthspark updates on a classic character, to good effect. She hints at genuinely wanting a better life beyond working for Soundwave, even if she ends up being embroiled in the Bot Brawl shenanigans towards the end.

#18: Nova Storm

One of several Seekers seen throughout Earthspark, Nova Storm makes a majorly memorable appearance during a high-profile battle with Optimus Prime and Megatron. Her chaotic energy proves to be a continued threat to the Autobots, though we last see her being hauled away by Mandroid, so we’ll have to wait and see if she pops up again soon.

#17: Skywarp

Ranking only slightly higher than her Seeker sister, Skywarp pips it due to some seriously awesome abilities on show. This is the best use of the character’s teleportation powers of any Transformers cartoon so far, bar none.

#16: Swindle

You pretty much know what you’re going to get with any given interpretation of Swindle in Transformers media, and Earthspark does not disappoint. Still, it’s great fun to watch him scheme his way through the series whenever he pops up.

#15: Soundwave

Like Starscream, it feels odd to rank Soundwave anywhere other than towards the top of a list like this, although it’s only really indicative of how little presence he actually has throughout the run of the cartoon so far! Still, when he does pop up, he’s a force to be reckoned with and certainly rings true to the classic depiction of the character in many ways.

#14: Shockwave

Despite only appearing in one episode, Shockwave puts in an impressive turn and proves to be a legitimately credible threat. Taking him down requires a team effort, firmly cementing the character as the daunting presence he rightly should be.

#13: Breakdown

Breakdown was not what was expected of the character given his classic portrayal, but that proved a real strength for Earthspark. Despite still being a Decepticon, he demonstrates that he’s not all bad as he remains loyal to old friend Bumblebee even in the direst of circumstances, leaving you feeling genuinely sympathetic for him as he’s captured by G.H.O.S.T.

#12: Wheeljack

This was everything I wanted from an animated portrayal of Wheeljack and then some, and he truly felt like his G1 self some years after the war. Clever, relatable, slightly chaotic and with a reputation for unreliable inventions, this take on the classic Autobot also has some fantastic fatherly advice to dish out.

#11: Arcee

Arcee is a character with many different takes over the years, though few quite like this! Brash, bold and with some harsh but insightful lessons to give, her brief appearance in Earthspark is one not soon forgotten. Oh, and her 1950s’ style alternate mode is a must-see!

#10: Thrash

The first Terran on the list, Thrash is a hot-headed but lovable addition to the franchise. With an amazing design (honestly one of the most impressive bike-formers in memory), he’s an enjoyable presence whenever he’s on-screen, even if his stubbornness and refusal to follow the rules often get the better of him.

#9: Jawbreaker

It’s impossible not to love Jawbreaker. Despite his tough name and sizeable frame, he’s just a big dollop of goofiness (with a side helping of self-doubt). Despite taking the longest of all the Terrans to figure out an alternate mode (which has been glimpsed online if you have yet to see it…), he remains a solid part of the team.

#8: Elita-1

Some may cry foul at not placing the fan-favourite Autobot heroine higher on this list, but again, it’s only because she doesn’t appear much throughout the show’s run! Still, when she does, the character makes the most of it, with some of the best interactions in the show, not to mention the most well-executed fight moves.

#7: Tarantulas

Without a doubt the most engaging of all the (thus far) one-and-done characters in Earthspark, Taranatulas is also precisely nothing like his classic Beast Wars namesake. If anything, usurping that expectation works in this spider-bot’s favour and allows him to become something unique in the world being created here. Let’s hope he re-appears before too long.

#6: Optimus Prime

Earthspark does something for Optimus Prime that few cartoons can claim – it gives him a personality and a sense of character beyond just being your typical stoic good guy leader. Watching him awkwardly trying to relate to humans and find a purpose beyond winning a war is adorable at times, bizarre at others, but always worth tuning in for. Big dad energy at its finest.

#5: Nightshade

Despite being most famous for their status as the first non-binary Transformers character, there’s a lot more to Nightshade besides. Fully embued with the wide-eyed sensibilities of someone who was quite literally born yesterday, Nightshade is also the earnest and inquisitive joy that exists within all of us, especially when we don’t always understand the world around us. Ultimately, Nightshade’s appearance in the franchise is a welcome representation, although full credit goes to the writers for ensuring they are significantly more than just a ‘gimmick’ at the same time.

#4: Bumblebee

I freely admit that I don’t get too excited about Bumeblebee popping up in new Transformers media all that much anymore, especially if its a given these days. Yet Earthspark again manages to do something new with the character, and he’s thoroughly likeable and enjoyable to watch as a result. He also has one of the best character arcs of the series, going from being thoroughly bored with his assignment watching over the Maltos to being a treasured part of the family.

#3: Hashtag

It’s easy to dismiss the character of Hashtag on name alone, but just as the franchise’s once tagline suggests, there’s more to her than meets the eye. Not only does she prove to be one of the more engaging new robots of the series, but she also shows her worth after being thrown into numerous tricky situations and always emerging on top, even when life gets her down. Despite her wifi powers creating a sticky situation towards the end, Hashtag shows that her real strengths lie within, and we can’t help but cheer her along.

#2: Megatron

In a twist so central to the series that it was spoiled by the pre-release marketing, this Megatron is no run-of-the-mill bad guy. Instead, he’s seen the error of his ways and joined the Autobots to look for more peaceful ways to co-exist on Earth, even if that isn’t always easy. Utterly believable in every sense, he’s also responsible for some of the series’ most intriguing moments, as he and Optimus occasionally butt heads on how best to proceed. That you often end up agreeing with Megatron somehow says something about the nuances of this show at play.

#1: Twitch

She may be tiny but don’t underestimate Twitch. No doubt one of the series’ most enjoyable presences, this young Terran Transformer lights up the screen whenever she’s around, with her exuberance never failing to capture your heart. She may have a fierce competitive streak, but Twitch is also firmly the heart of the show and, as such, is a character who deserves to become a franchise mainstay in the future.

So that’s our list! Do you agree with our rankings?

TTFN