Heck Yeah, Pony Scans!

I know Knockout becoming an autobot is random, but I don’t think him turning against Starscream is random at all. As I’ve been rewatching some the scenes from Prime, I realize that Knockout genuinely did try to be Starscream’s friend and showed concern for him when no one else does. 

He is also one of his first supporters. 

At the scene where the Omega Lock is destroyed, Knockout tries to defuse the situation with humor because Starscream is obviously upset, and not only does he remind Knockout of his place, he also hits him hard. I don’t remember the exact order of episodes, but I wonder if that’s where they began to fall apart. 

Starscream has either turned on him last minute, beaten him, scratched his armor, and been not so kind to him. His betrayal of Starsceam makes sense when you realize how friendly he has tried to be to him, only for Starscream to throw it back in his face, metaphorically and physically. He doesn’t trust him at all. I think at a point he would have, and cares deeply for Starscream’s wellbeing, but knows if he stays with Starscream he’ll either be killed or mistreated. 

In a way it’s hurtful for Knockout to have been the only crew member that cared for Starscream during the many beatings, and for Starscream to turn around and get physical and emotional manipulative with him when he’s given the chance. 

I think it’s a further indication of Starscream being broken, especially by Megatron. It can even speak to the cycle of abuse, but I don’t think that excuses things either. The more I look at Knockout and Starscream’s relationship, the more I realize it had the potential to become a Starscream and Megatron 2.0. 

I think Knockout saw what Starscream became to Megatron, and didn’t want that for himself. If he did join Starscream last minute, I absolutely think their relationship would get worse. 

THIS IS SUCH A GOOD ANALYSIS!!

In “Thirst”, Knock Out and Starscream spent the entire episode trying to contain the Vehicon-Terrorcon situation and they had that quiet moment of sincerity where Starscream told Knock Out it was an honor to serve with him (and Knock Out … told Starscream he was nearly as hot as Breakdown, lol). But when Megatron showed up demanding answers, Starscream immediately threw Knock Out under the bus and pretended it was all the medic’s fault.

I mean, I get why. Starscream was scared. Nevertheless, it meant he couldn’t be what Knock Out needed: someone who would have KO’s back and treat him with respect.

Given Knock Out’s character, it’s appropriate his decision to switch to the Autobots was purely personal. It wasn’t about honor or war crimes or ideals. It was about being hurt by a friend one too many times and recklessly deciding he’d rather throw in his lot with a bunch of strangers.

It was self-serving, but also the bravest thing he did on the show.

I didn’t realize he looked so sad. I think what makes it sadder is that Starscream expected Knockout to go on with what he was doing no matter how he treated him. And I think after losing Breakdown, Knockout was really in need of a friend. I think Starscream just doesn’t know how to trust-love people, and unfortunately that impacts people closest to him. The fact that he’d choose potential life in imprisonment due to his role in the Autobot cause vs. Starscream really, really tells you how he was feeling.

Yeeees! Starscream is so tangled up inside that he just can't quite form a sincere bond. I like to pretend RID15 doesn't exist and that eventually he rebuilds himself. But at the time Knock Out needed someone to lean on and Starscream wasn't it.

KO's heelturn scene in Predacons Rising is amazing (here's a link to it), Knock Out's face says so much! At first he's smirking, nodding along as Starscream intimidates the Autobots. Starscream says the Decepticons will commandeer the ship and fly away and Knock Out proposes heading back to Earth; he leans in towards Starscream like he's expecting him to banter. Instead Starscream yells at him to shut up and Knock Out looks shocked.

And then, yeah, he looks sad. Not angry, not indignant, not calculating. Sad. He totally checks out of the situation, just stares at the ground as his eyes shift back and forth, and you just know he's Going Through It.

I know Knockout becoming an autobot is random, but I don’t think him turning against Starscream is random at all. As I’ve been rewatching some the scenes from Prime, I realize that Knockout genuinely did try to be Starscream’s friend and showed concern for him when no one else does. 

He is also one of his first supporters. 

At the scene where the Omega Lock is destroyed, Knockout tries to defuse the situation with humor because Starscream is obviously upset, and not only does he remind Knockout of his place, he also hits him hard. I don’t remember the exact order of episodes, but I wonder if that’s where they began to fall apart. 

Starscream has either turned on him last minute, beaten him, scratched his armor, and been not so kind to him. His betrayal of Starsceam makes sense when you realize how friendly he has tried to be to him, only for Starscream to throw it back in his face, metaphorically and physically. He doesn’t trust him at all. I think at a point he would have, and cares deeply for Starscream’s wellbeing, but knows if he stays with Starscream he’ll either be killed or mistreated. 

In a way it’s hurtful for Knockout to have been the only crew member that cared for Starscream during the many beatings, and for Starscream to turn around and get physical and emotional manipulative with him when he’s given the chance. 

I think it’s a further indication of Starscream being broken, especially by Megatron. It can even speak to the cycle of abuse, but I don’t think that excuses things either. The more I look at Knockout and Starscream’s relationship, the more I realize it had the potential to become a Starscream and Megatron 2.0. 

I think Knockout saw what Starscream became to Megatron, and didn’t want that for himself. If he did join Starscream last minute, I absolutely think their relationship would get worse. 

THIS IS SUCH A GOOD ANALYSIS!!

In "Thirst", Knock Out and Starscream spent the entire episode trying to contain the Vehicon-Terrorcon situation and they had that quiet moment of sincerity where Starscream told Knock Out it was an honor to serve with him (and Knock Out . . . told Starscream he was nearly as hot as Breakdown, lol). But when Megatron showed up demanding answers, Starscream immediately threw Knock Out under the bus and pretended it was all the medic's fault.

I mean, I get why. Starscream was scared. Nevertheless, it meant he couldn't be what Knock Out needed: someone who would have KO's back and treat him with respect.

Given Knock Out's character, it's appropriate his decision to switch to the Autobots was purely personal. It wasn't about honor or war crimes or ideals. It was about being hurt by a friend one too many times and recklessly deciding he'd rather throw in his lot with a bunch of strangers.

It was self-serving, but also the bravest thing he did on the show.

A commission from 2020 for the amazing author @blueskyscribe for their fanfic:

  A Side Of Rust

Please check it out!

He’s very vain and would canonically kill people for scratching his paint so I’m not sure what’s with this art, maybe it’s supposed to put the fear of god in us as this giant robot goes on a rampage

#HIS LITTLE FACE#why he gotta do the bad stuff!! I want to pet him and give him candy or robot candy or whatever he wants to eat#or if he can't eat I can give him some. metal?? I don't know! world domination? is that what he wants? I'll help him I'll do it

Friend, I gotta tell you about this evil robot who I’ve written way too much fanfic about.

(Also thank you for noticing his tiny head, it’s very funny to me.)

Knock Out facts:

- the Decepticon medic

-  only comes up to Megatron’s waist, he’s just a lil guy

- watches horror movies at drive-in theaters

- rolls up to Optimus in car mode, wolf whistles at him, flirtily tells him he’s “reeeal heavy duty”

- it was a distraction so his boyfriend could shoot a missile at Optimus

- loves to street race with humans

- frenemies with Starscream, tries to help him murder Megatron one time. (Fails.)

- him and Starscream accidentally unleash a plague of zombie-vampire robots on the warship, whoops

- doesn’t care about anything but his partner, his finish, and living comfortably

- at the end of the series the Autobots win and he just walks up to them and is like “welp, I’m switching sides!” like he’s supposed to be there

- successfully becomes an Autobot, says his motivation is “Starscream is rude”

Knock Out and Breakdown actually kiss in Transformers Tread & Circuits #2.

My OTP have been confirmed canon again, let’s go let’s GOOOOO

Updated “With a Side of Rust”!  :)

Transformers fanfic update! :)