The Energon Pub

You know, Flare, I've asked myself this a thousand times, because it doesn't really matter which continuity he's in, I just have a thing for Starscream. G1, Armada, the Bayverse, TFA--I just (heart) him. Because he's been portrayed in so many different ways, it makes no sense.

One of my coworkers from the psych department came to my office yesterday and noticed (ummm, it's hard *not* to, really) my little obsession with our favorite devious robot. Of course, now he's determined to psychoanalyze me about it, but here's what we came up with so far:

First, he's a Decepticon. For some reason, and this is not just me speaking, but the 'bad guy' is much more interesting to most of us than the good guy. Think, even, about Dark Knight--that movie was fascinated with the Joker--the bad guy. Milton had this problem writing _Paradise Lost_--Lucifer was way more interesting, and way more popular, than Milton, good Christian writer, wanted him to be.

When he wants to be, Starscream is a badass. Others may not respect his character, but they respect the whompings he can lay down if he chooses. So it's not that he's a weakling. He can deliver. You can say the badass thing about many of the Decepticons, of course.

But Starscream always, whatever continuity, has character flaws, which means he's got a character. Sure, Megatron has that anger-management issue and Shockwave really needs to get out and socialize more, but Starscream's always got the "I'm not really happy or comfortable where I am" vibe. So he...changes sides, or goes off on his own, or screws up, or tries to take on more than he can handle, or has to deal with his psychotic boss (oh who can't relate to that?). He makes a lot of mistakes. (A LOT). That seems to give him a lot more 'interior' than many of the other characters. Optimus will always say and do the nice thing. Megatron will be evil for the sake of being evil. But Starscream is unpredictable, and unpredictable in a very human way. He does things that make you wonder why the heck he did them.

I'm not sure I'm explaining this right.

HK, standin' by her man, erm, bot.

hellkitty wrote:You know, Flare, I've asked myself this a thousand times, because it doesn't really matter which continuity he's in, I just have a thing for Starscream. G1, Armada, the Bayverse, TFA--I just (heart) him. Because he's been portrayed in so many different ways, it makes no sense.

One of my coworkers from the psych department came to my office yesterday and noticed (ummm, it's hard *not* to, really) my little obsession with our favorite devious robot. Of course, now he's determined to psychoanalyze me about it, but here's what we came up with so far:

First, he's a Decepticon. For some reason, and this is not just me speaking, but the 'bad guy' is much more interesting to most of us than the good guy. Think, even, about Dark Knight--that movie was fascinated with the Joker--the bad guy. Milton had this problem writing _Paradise Lost_--Lucifer was way more interesting, and way more popular, than Milton, good Christian writer, wanted him to be.

When he wants to be, Starscream is a badass. Others may not respect his character, but they respect the whompings he can lay down if he chooses. So it's not that he's a weakling. He can deliver. You can say the badass thing about many of the Decepticons, of course.

But Starscream always, whatever continuity, has character flaws, which means he's got a character. Sure, Megatron has that anger-management issue and Shockwave really needs to get out and socialize more, but Starscream's always got the "I'm not really happy or comfortable where I am" vibe. So he...changes sides, or goes off on his own, or screws up, or tries to take on more than he can handle, or has to deal with his psychotic boss (oh who can't relate to that?). He makes a lot of mistakes. (A LOT). That seems to give him a lot more 'interior' than many of the other characters. Optimus will always say and do the nice thing. Megatron will be evil for the sake of being evil. But Starscream is unpredictable, and unpredictable in a very human way. He does things that make you wonder why the heck he did them.

I'm not sure I'm explaining this right.

HK, standin' by her man, erm, bot.

I have to admit, the "Bad Guy" does seem to excite a female mind & heart more. I'm not sure why... Maybe because females are always looking for a more "advanced" mate who is stronger in wit, cunning and who survives no matter the steps he takes to achieve survival. Also the bad guy seems to have better success in profit gain and living the high life which includes rank. Starscream was already highly ranked even in the beginning before the very first episode on G1. I would have thought that Skywarp or one of the others would have been placed higher with Megatron but they weren't. Starscream was never denied this ranking. And he has some very skillful abilities as you mentioned. Plus he's the air commander.

Somehow that makes good mating material because you and your offspring will have better success in life and won't die so easily. Achieving survival, intelligence and even control/power is our primary goal. It has always been the main directive to women as far back as the very beginning. Is it more intelligent to be bad? Intelligence has never been considered a divine virtue, many philosophize intelligence as eventually leading up to oblivion. It does require more brain power when plotting and figuring out deceptions and how to get away unscathed doing these bad things. But that's not all that Starscream is. He has many other appealing character traits. I always liked how he spoke. He always carried a eloquence when he would speak in G1. Chris Lakka really was the best voice back then for Starscream. Also Starscream considers himself the most sophisticated and handsome of the Decepticons. Sophisticated good looking bad guys can be even more desirable to ladies...

The reason why my interest has changed as time went on was coming to the realization that Starscream is not the kind of Con a Fem-con could get close to, or become in leagued with. Remember how he wooed Black Arachnia in the Beast Wars and then abandoned her suddenly to be almost blasted to scrap by the Maximals? She had to save herself because Starscream was only using her, he didn't really care about her. Even after the sweet things he was saying to her. After seeing that episode all of my romantic interests in him ended up going sour. Now in almost all of my fan-fictions he is the Decepticon fem-cons cannot trust and is not too far away from plotting against you at any moment. It's kind of like how another female might become your enemy for competition sake. Even Megatron seems more desirable at this point. Starscream doesn't need a mate/counter part or want one; unless it's in the moments when he needs something from you. After that he has no interest. You would be better off with Skywarp who is very loyal, protective of other Decepticons, he's awesome looking and he's quite the gentleman. Skywarp would be less out to make trouble for you.

In leaguing yourself with Starscream is not an intelligent choice, you will end up becoming one with Cannon fodder. Either that or a smelting pool. If you value your own survival and want to have many successful baby-con hatchlings it would be better to turn your affections over to either Megatron or Shockwave. Either of those Con's would make better Daddies too.

Your assessment for his relationship potential is spot on. (And I do have a thing for Skywarp, especially War Within--I think it's the flyboys that attract me). But you presuppose a whole bunch of things, such as baby-daddy potential. Now, without going into the dreaded swamp of How Transformers Reproduce, I kind of have to quibble that maybe some females (human, Autobot, Decepticon) might not entirely buy into that whole mommy looking for provider-mate scenario.

I get a little tired of that archetype in real life. Just because I'm female doesn't mean that crying in front of me will bend me to your will. Just because I'm female, it doesn't mean I *have* to want kids. (I don't; for which I think the world should thank me--I'd be a *terrible* mother, and I'm smart enough to recognize that). I can go into a relationship (and do) without first evaluating the guy's income potential and protective abilities. It's a little insulting to the guy, too, isn't it? Like, hey, Skywarp, I'm not really into you, but I know you'll never cheat on me and you'll always take care of me.

I think the right female who had a similar sort of understanding of a relationship (temporary, and being open about the motives) would work out well. Think of it this way: I think a pairing that would work wonderfully (if I'm allowed to do a crossover): Starscream and the Baroness from GI Joe would be *fantastic* together.

HK, and Megatron would totally beat the kids.

hellkitty wrote:Your assessment for his relationship potential is spot on. (And I do have a thing for Skywarp, especially War Within--I think it's the flyboys that attract me). But you presuppose a whole bunch of things, such as baby-daddy potential. Now, without going into the dreaded swamp of How Transformers Reproduce, I kind of have to quibble that maybe some females (human, Autobot, Decepticon) might not entirely buy into that whole mommy looking for provider-mate scenario.

I get a little tired of that archetype in real life. Just because I'm female doesn't mean that crying in front of me will bend me to your will. Just because I'm female, it doesn't mean I *have* to want kids. (I don't; for which I think the world should thank me--I'd be a *terrible* mother, and I'm smart enough to recognize that). I can go into a relationship (and do) without first evaluating the guy's income potential and protective abilities. It's a little insulting to the guy, too, isn't it? Like, hey, Skywarp, I'm not really into you, but I know you'll never cheat on me and you'll always take care of me.

I think the right female who had a similar sort of understanding of a relationship (temporary, and being open about the motives) would work out well. Think of it this way: I think a pairing that would work wonderfully (if I'm allowed to do a crossover): Starscream and the Baroness from GI Joe would be *fantastic* together.

HK, and Megatron would totally beat the kids.

In today's day in age not every female has the motherly instinct or qualities as we once did. For whatever issues a human female may have it's now her freedom to choose to not only not have offspring but also to not be tied down to one Mate. That's a human females choice. But in the Decepticon controlled empire the reproduction process is vital to the Decepticon's objective. I'm not sure those who can create hatchlings have any rights to refuse. Megatron wants to take over the universe and needs to build the ultimate Decepticon army. It's not like Fem-cons will be raising the little ones as human mother might anyhow. There's no Mommy-con dearest on Cybertron or Nemesis.

But even as an individual your choice in mate is still vital to your own welfare and being a Decepticon female you should aim at gaining the most beneficial situation. It can bring you power, rank, control as well as ensure your own survival. And even though Megatron has a temper, I don't think he would beat his offspring. He never beat any of his Decepticons unless they really pissed him off like Starscream. Megatron was actually very tolerant, patient and merciful to allow Starscream to survive for so long as he did. But there's no reason to believe he would even hang around the home front long enough to lay down the discipline either. He would always be off fighting and making war. Some kind of automated systems care for the hatchlings and those systems are responsible for developing the little cons.

Starscream seemed to be acting as temporary pediatric physician who knew they needed more energy and how they were dying in ROTF. He is a scientist after all, but like Megatron he's busy most of the time fighting Autobots and can't be there to act like a Daddy raising any little cons. The raising of Con offspring is vital manufacturing and development and is necessary to build a larger Decepticon force to conquer the universe. Whether you care for the hatchlings or not is not necessary.

What Transformer are you? (Movie)

My Results:




Starscream

You are in second of command of the Decepticons. You live for the day to be the leader. You hate who's in charge and waits for the moment to "accidentally" slip a jagged edge of steel in his chest. Unfortunately, the other Decepticons question your leader abilities. You are strong and confident in yourself, but you are a coward when it comes to being out numbered or intimidated.

This may be totally off the conversation, but there is a lot more to Starscream than there is to most other TF characters that people wet themselves over. Starscream is essentiallt the third most developed character in the mythos, behind Prime and Megatron. He's way more interesting that say, Hound or Prowl or Thundercracker, all of whom played roles but were essentially background decorations.


Starscream FanBOY, oddly enough.

Flare wrote:What Transformer are you? (Movie)

My Results:

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Starscream

You are in second of command of the Decepticons. You live for the day to be the leader. You hate who's in charge and waits for the moment to "accidentally" slip a jagged edge of steel in his chest. Unfortunately, the other Decepticons question your leader abilities. You are strong and confident in yourself, but you are a coward when it comes to being out numbered or intimidated.

LOL!! I always take that test. I ALWAYS get Starscream!!

I love him and all, but at the same time it makes no sense...
I would NEVER "'accidentally' slip a jagged piece of steal into" the chest of my leader.

I'd do it on purpose. In public.

I'm kidding.
Seriously it's suprising. I've always thought of myself as more of a Bumblebee or Optimus.
That's what I usually get.

But I always get Starscream on this one.

Every time I've taken that test I've gotten Ironhide.

Old, ugly, cranky and not very perky.

I guess it fits.

HK, I'm more offended that I'm an *Autobot*.

hellkitty wrote:Old, ugly, cranky and not very perky.

I guess it fits.

Don't forget "badass".

hellkitty wrote:HK, I'm more offended that I'm an *Autobot*.

How do you think I feel about being a D-con?
We're losing our touch, girl.

Siren Prime wrote:LOL!! I always take that test. I ALWAYS get Starscream!!

I love him and all, but at the same time it makes no sense...
I would NEVER "'accidentally' slip a jagged piece of steal into" the chest of my leader.

I'd do it on purpose. In public.

I'm kidding.
Seriously it's suprising. I've always thought of myself as more of a Bumblebee or Optimus.
That's what I usually get.

But I always get Starscream on this one.

I thought you were an Autobot? I've never heard of an Autobot talk like you? So you would betray your Leader on purpose? How delightful. If you are more like Starscream, I think it's time for you to affiliate yourself with like minded individuals.