TRANSFORMERS: THE BASICS on SPARKS

This episode takes a long-overdue dive into the mysteries of Transformer life itself, with a look at the concept of the Cybertronian soul - the SPARK, the mystical lifeforce that makes Autobots and Decepticons more than mere machines!

Profile pic by Cody Laine

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

[TheHumbleFellow]

"When a Spark goes online, there is great joy. When one is extinguished, the universe weeps."

[SoundwaveSuperior]

The only reason I can think why starscream has an indestructible spark is that the well of allsparks doesn’t want him back 🤣

[Tyrann]

“When a spark comes online, there is great joy.” - Rhinox

[bryannkam]

I love that with the concept of Sparks, a Transformer’s lifecycle is sort of a mechanical form of reincarnation, which rather perfectly for their race. For what is reincarnation, if not a form of transformation.

[catastropheoverclock]

"Raw energon! Right through your twisted spark! Take it! Take it straight to the pit, you SICKENING PIECE OF SLAG!"

—Depth Charge

[echoexe]

"You Flare, you Flicker, you Fade. Till all are One."

[Nougatbars]

I love sparks. To me, adding this organic, metaphysical element was the big step that started the trend of Cybertronians being not just robots like they were in the comic and cartoon, but the mechanical lifeforms they are now, which even now to this day, with a glut of imitators and just…alien robots in general, makes Cybertronians and therefore Transformers as a franchise even feel unique.

[CGHawkatoo]

You forgot that in Transformers Prime, Dreadwing said he FELT the death of his "brother" Skyquake because the two shared a split spark.

[VictorIV]

Beast Wars really was the turning point for all Transformers media going forward.

[DeamonChocobo]

For all the changes in the Transformers franchise over the years it's so nice to have something like this added years later take such prominence and even have relatively simple retcons that help it be brought into the stories that came before.

[Heroduothecomedian]

Optimus: "you have no soul"

Galvatron: "Thats is why i have no FEAR!"

[zacharybrogden]

It’s amazing how spiritual Transformers can be. Like when Megatron was denied the All Spark after using Dark Energon. Literally denying himself the afterlife.

[ProfessM]

Beast Wars introduction of the Spark really goes to show how much ummm soul that show had. And why years later it is still a great watch.

[adawnicusautocon]

6:31 This speech was just absolutely beautiful and was said perfectly by the descendant of Optimus Prime, rather fitting actually

[MrOmnisun]

Chris, this is probably my favorite episode of the basics. Thank you!
I always liked in Beast Wars how Blackaracnia had a Predacon shell programs implanted by tarantulas in her protoform overriding her Maximal programming. And to think of it in the G1 cartoon Megatron tragically reprogrammed Omega Supreme’s friends, the Constructicons.

[TFfangeek]

The spark is the greatest aspect of the mythos of the Transformers, since the mind and soul are regarded as the epicenter of emotions, the key component that makes the Transformers have actual life, and not just "mindless" machines.

[slacknhash]

Being a Springer fanboy (as if the userpic wasn't clue enough) I quite liked the plot point that Mesothulas / Tarantulas generated Ostaros / Springer's spark artificially. One can only imagine how that revelation could have upset the Primus-botherers. That's got to be borderline blasphemous by a lot of Cybertronian standards!

[mattr]

Sparks really have evolved over the years

[Bmontepeque]

I absolutely love the fact that all media now depicts Transformers as living beings, that they just happen to be made of metal (Thus, their Techo-organic Nature), and that the sparks are responsible for that!

And even the point where Transformers don't fully understand the relationship between mind and soul just like we humans don't understand ours either is THE BEST.

Transformers truly feel even more alive after knowing that fact ❤️

[sivanlevi]

In a way, even if we are organic and the Transformers are synthetic, electrical impulses still run through us, as our thoughts are driven by little "sparks" of our own. It's no wonder we represent great thinkers and big ideas with the lightbulb, one tiny spark is all it takes to turn a man into a genius and a robot into a living being.
Thanks Chris! You really know how to "spark" someone's interest! LOL