Transformers Rescue Bots: Things that bother me about Griffin Rock · 12:47pm Jul 30th, 2015
I know it's not as popular as most other Transformers properties, but I took an almost immediate liking to Transformers: Rescue Bots back in season one, and I've watched every episode of seasons one through three.
And while the demographic skews a lot lower, the writing is a lot more simplistic, and liberties are taken with science, technology, and biology pretty much all over the place--it is, after all, VERY MUCH a kiddified show--there are still a number of things which continue to bug me about Griffin Rock.
ONE COP
Seriously. Griffin Rock has a small-town vibe where everyone knows everyone else, but it is not that small a town! And yet, there's only one police officer in Griffon Rock: Chief Burns.
Okay there's also Barney, but let's be honest: he's only there to screw things up.
You'd think a town this disaster-prone would have a decent-sized police force...like, at least ten officers.
ONE FIREFIGHTER
See above. Griffon Rock being as disaster-prone as it is, there should be more than one firefighter, and yet Kade is THE ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT. What the hell?
EVAN AND MILES
WHY THE HELL AREN'T THESE TWO IDIOTS IN JAIL? It seems like every few episodes, they're back on the streets, committing crimes and causing trouble. Did Chief Burns forget how to arrest criminals? Are the jails made out of cardboard?
DON
Why hasn't this asshole had his license revoked? He's broken every single traffic law known to mankind and has shown a complete and total disregard for automotive safety! In any county in the US, with his record of traffic violations, he'd be taking the bus.
HUXLEY
Huxley shouldn't even still be allowed on the island. He's caused as many disasters as anyone else (except the mayor--see below), to say nothing of the chaos his style of tabloid trash "news reporting" wreaks on a regular basis. He's actually committed numerous criminal offenses, including two that endangered the public, and yet was never jailed for any of it.
And my biggest complaint about Griffin Rock:
MAYOR LUSKY
Just...why.
Why have they not run him out of town on a rail.
He is incompetent. He is ignorant. He is an idiot.
He has caused more disasters than anyone else on Griffin Rock. And yet inexplicably, he's still in office. Every single thing he does is self-aggrandizing idiocy that backfires, he never listens when people tell him he's making potentially dangerous mistakes, and then he blames the Burns family, Doc Greene, or whoever else is within earshot for his own stupidity.
I do believe the writing may be a lot more mature then you think with all these problems Moth. I think, the show may actually be a massive social satire. Think about it, the lack of firefighters and cops is to symbolize the lack of resources we put into our real life rescue teams. Evan, Miles, and Don are meant to symbolize how inept the justice system is in our country, with criminals being able to avoid the law with relative ease. Huxley is meant to symbolize the power of tabloid journalism like TMZ, and how they can pretty much get away with anything in today's society. And as for Mayor Lusky, a fictional politician that doesn't really do anything, and blames his problems on everyone else? See most major political figures! So yes, Rescue Bots is pretty much brilliant social commentary disguised as a cartoon.
3281831 Huh. Never thought of it that way.
Still bugs the shit out of me though.
3281835
Understandable, it is still pretty worrisome. Just know the writers are apparently smarter then we think. Also, a question from a struggling author, how do you write so quickly and so well? I'm having a bit of trouble focusing... Any advice?
3281845 None that would be helpful, I'm afraid. In my case, it's just how I've always written. (Unless I have writer's block.)
3281879
Same on the speed, I just get so distracted now a days... Thanks anyway though.
3281882 Oh, I get distracted all the time. The only reason I can even keep Persona EG's schedule is because I can write 2-3k words per hour on a good day.
3281885
Wow, way faster then me... I'll have to keep writing and hopefully reach that level of skill someday...
3281891 I've actually slowed down in the last 20 years. Back in high school, there was one morning when I was PISSED about something a bus driver and a teacher did. I went straight to the journalism room to write an editorial for the school paper. I had 20 minutes before first bell. I had written and edited my entire editorial before the bell, and damn near set the keyboard on fire doing so.
3281899
But thanks for letting me know, sounds like what your saying is practice, practice, practice..
Impressive, and as I just got out of high school, sounds like I have time to improve.
What, nothing about the lead mine and the rocket fuel reservoir?
3281986 Eh, it's really more the recurring problems--ie, the people of Griffin Rock--that bother me.
It seems like the DHX staff likes to make the mayor of towns useless as their form as of political commentary,
When did Barney move out of Mayberry?
3282536 I think they froze him and thawed him out 50 years later...