It’s finally here. After months of waiting, the final chapter in Netflix’s Transformers trilogy has officially landed. With just six episodes, our time with our favourite Autobots and Decepticons has come to a swift end. First we had Seige, then Earthrise and now Kingdom. It’s time to say goodbye and we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to watch the epic conclusion early. So I sat down in my favourite Optimus Prime t-shirt with some snacks, a notepad that I didn’t touch and with excitement coursing through my veins. I pressed play and was immediately transported, landing in the middle of a war that just got more complicated…
In case you’ve forgotten, here is a brief summary of what you can expect in Kingdom:
Now the Autobots must team up with the Maximals to confront the Decepticons, who have joined forces with the Predacons, in the race to find the missing AllSpark. However, the Predacons are in control of the Golden Disk, a mysterious artifact which has a personal connection to Megatron and gives him an untold advantage over his enemy, Optimus Prime. Which faction will triumph in the final battle that will decide the fate of Cybertron’s future?
If you need a nice refresher before diving into the conclusion, don’t worry I’ve got you covered.
So, was Transformers: War for Cybertron- Kingdom a worthy conclusion? The short answer is yes. While I still consider Earthrise to be the best out of the three chapters, Kingdom shines in a way that completely seprates it from the previous installments. Not only is the action so much more inventive with the addition of the Maximals and Predicons, but the story has an extra layer of depth that changes the entire show. The war for the Allspark becomes significantly more complicated when various timelines merge and different factions clash.
However, what I loved most, and it’s a theme that was very prevalent in Earthrise, was this idea of heroism. Optimus Prime has always been a hero, honour to the end no matter what. What’s absolutely fascinating about the War for Cybertron trilogy is that the Autobot leader must wrestle and confront the dire consequences that follow as a result of his decision to launch the Allspark into space. These are consequences that transcend time and space and seeing Optimus face them helps him transition into the leader that we know while also giving us a way to sympathise with Megatron like never before.
Optimus Primal and his Maximals
Lets face it, Megatron will always be the villain. But you can truly appreciate the situation he was forced into and Kingdom explores the impact that has on Megatron. Good and Evil are still key in Kingdom, but it was incredibly refreshing to see Optimus as a questionable hero riddled with guilt.
One of the most exciting things about this final chapter was the arrival of the Maximals and Predacons. They were so much fun. I found the action to be somewhat stagnant and stiff in Seige and Earthrise, but Kingdom was a breath of fresh air. The typical Transformer action was definitely improved, but it was the integration of the animal/dinosaur Transformers that elevated the action. It made for some really fun and inventive action sequences. There’s nothing better than seeing a giant transforming T-rex going up against a Gorilla. What more could you want?
The biggest hook for Netflix’s Transformers series has definitely been the stylised animation and visuals. Kingdom definitely went above and beyond with the inclusion of some wonderful locations, unique character designs and the fact it uses these new elements to its advantage. The show clevely makes use of the new terrain and characters to drive the story and create some truly thrilling and epic sequences, as well as some very fun interactions between conflicting characters. Megatron vs Megatron and Optimus Prime vs Optimus Primal. Despite the severity of the situation, it was nice to see both factions adjust to their new comrades. It’s instantly obvious which characters can and will function together and which characters are designed to feed each other’s ulterior motive. If you could pair Starscream with any type of animal, it would definitely be a spider… and thus the most interesting and chaotic team is born.
Megatron will stop at nothing to save Cyberton
As a Transformers fan, it was great to see so many different aspects of the vast mythology condensed into one coherent story. We had the origin of the war, the Allspark, the Matrix of Leadership, Beast Wars, Nemesis Prime, Galvatron and Unicron. There was a lot to take in but the trilogy absolutely nailed it. Kingdom was able to squeeze a lot of lore in without weighing the six-episodes down or distracting us from the primary story. Even though many of these elements will be familiar to a lot of watchers, it all felt very vibrant and fresh. There is always a risk of damaging the fidelity of the Transformers mythos when merging and playing with various strands, and we’ve seen how fans can react to that sort of thing.
However, War for Cybertron is great for already established fans and even better for new fans who are looking for an introduction. The Transformers history spans 35 years and covers every type of consumable platform imaginable- books, comics, films, shows, games, manga. You name, Transformers has done it. The fact that this trilogy was able to carefully and masterfully cherry pick key components is a testiment to the level of care and the skilled writing that went into this huge project.
Transformers: War for Cybertron- Kingdom is a fantastic conclusion to a really strong addition to the Transformers universe. It certainly reinvigorated my passion and I’m sure it will do the same for many of others. Kingdom is fun, visually spectacular, epic and full of really cool twists and turns. Considering how this finale ends, I’m hopeful that this won’t be the last time Netflix journey to Cybertron. The Autobots and Decepticons still have a lot to offer and their fight has only just begun. A far more dangerous adversary is approaching and the Autobots have no idea what awaits them.
Don’t forget to check out the trailer:
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Kingdom is available to watch on Netflix right now. You won’t want to miss this epic conclusion. Have you watched the final chapter in the War for Cybertron trilogy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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