Transformers One arrives just as the Transformers franchise celebrates its 40th anniversary. This movie is a fantastic celebration of the Robots in Disguise. It features beautiful animation and tells a touching story about the beginnings of Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Director Josh Cooley and screenwriters Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari set the story millions of years ago on Cybertron. They reveal that Prime and Megatron used to be friends. Before they became enemies, they were known as Orion Pax, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, and D-16, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry.
Pax and D-16 work as miners in Iacon City. They live a hard life because a war between the Primes and the Quintessons drove many Transformers to the surface. While mining, they risk their lives for Energon and face ridicule for not being able to transform.
One day, they find a map that may lead them to the Matrix of Leadership. This ancient artifact can bring Energon back to Cybertron’s heart. Pax, D-16, and their fellow miner Elita-1, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, along with the talkative B-127, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, set out to find the Matrix. But how does this journey lead to the end of their friendship?
Orion Pax and D-16 Learn a Terrible Truth About a Cybertronian Hero
Pax, D-16, Elita, and B-127 reach the final spot on the map: a cave where the bodies of the Primes are. They discover that one Prime, Alpha Trion, voiced by Laurence Fishburne, is still alive. Trion shares the truth about what happened to the Primes.
Sentinel Prime, voiced by Jon Hamm, had told the Primes where to attack the Quintessons to end the war. But when they arrived, Sentinel and the Quintessons ambushed them and killed them. Sentinel has been trading the Energon the miners gathered to the Quintessons.
Even worse, he took the cogs that would allow them to transform. This news hits Pax hard, especially D-16, who saw Sentinel as a hero. This revelation sets them on different paths.
The Heroes of Transformers: One Finally Get the Ability to Transform
Pax decides to return to Iacon and show the proof of Sentinel’s lies to the other Transformers. Before he does, Trion gives Pax and his friends the cores of the fallen Primes. This gift allows them to transform for the first time. One funny moment occurs as the four characters learn to transform.
Pax’s hope and determination allow him to change into a truck. D-16’s growing anger leads him to transform into a huge tank, complete with the arm cannon he will later use as Megatron.
Still from Transformers One (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
A detour takes them to meet the former Cybertronian High Guard, who broke away from Sentinel after discovering his lies. However, they become targets for Sentinel’s lieutenant, Airachnid, voiced by Vanessa Liguori, who captures D-16, B-127, and the High Guard.
Optimus Prime and Megatron Are Born in the Final Act of Transformers One
Pax and Elita lead the remaining High Guard and fellow miners to attack Sentinel’s citadel. They rescue their friends and capture Airachnid, who holds recordings of Sentinel’s misdeeds. Pax shows the footage, revealing Sentinel’s deceit.
However, D-16 seeks revenge and tries to kill Sentinel. Pax jumps in front to protect D-16 and gets hit, suffering serious injuries.
D-16 chooses to drop Pax into Cybertron’s depths and then tears Sentinel in half, taking his transformation core. This core belonged to Megatronus Prime, a legendary hero D-16 admired. D-16 renames himself “Megatron” and starts destroying Iacon City.
Even though Pax is hurt, he does not give up. The Cybertronian god Primus admires Pax’s courage and gives him the Matrix of Leadership, transforming him into Optimus Prime. Prime and Megatron then face off in a battle. Prime defeats Megatron but chooses to spare him, banishing him from Iacon.
Before leaving, Megatron growls, “This is not over, Prime,” hinting at their future conflicts. Prime uses the Matrix of Leadership to restore Cybertron’s Energon flow and gives transformation cogs to his fellow Transformers.
Transformers One Lays the Groundwork for a New Cybertronian War
Transformers One not only shows the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron but also sets up their factions: the Autobots and the Decepticons. Many Autobots work as miners, including Jazz, Arcee, and Hot Rod.
The Decepticons are led by Starscream, voiced by Steve Buscemi, with Soundwave and Shockwave as his lieutenants. They join Megatron in his attack on Iacon City and follow him after Prime exiles him. The end-credits scene shows them naming themselves “Decepticons.” Megatron declares that he will not tolerate the “deception” of the Primes anymore.
At the same time, Prime and his fellow miners take on the name “Autobots.” Prime promises to free Cybertron from the Quintessons. He names Elita as his commander and asks B-127, known to fans as Bumblebee, to join him. The movie ends with the establishment of the Autobots and Decepticons.
Still from Transformers One (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Transformers One sets the stage for the upcoming War for Cybertron, which will lead both factions to leave their planet and arrive on Earth. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has hinted that Transformers One will influence future films.
He told ComicBook.com, “Josh did such a great job in actualizing the characters in this movie, and it is going to have an impact on the live-action where we can’t meet that bar.” Whether the future holds more for the Transformers films, Transformers One remains a remarkable animated movie that deserves to be seen in theaters.
Transformers One is now playing in theaters in the U.S.
After an almost perfect nine episodes, AMC’s historical horror series, The Terror, delivered a powerful final episode titled “We Are Gone.” This episode was intense, gripping, and deeply emotional.
It showcased the final fate of Captain Crozier’s (Jared Harris) men from the Franklin Expedition, concluding their tragic journey in one sweeping moment.
The previous episode saw the deaths of beloved characters Fitzjames (Tobias Menzies) and Blanky (Ian Hart), but the finale shifted focus more toward tragedy while still honoring the lives lost on this ill-fated journey.
The Emotional Weight of Hope
David Kajganich, co-showrunner and executive producer, shared his insights on the emotional depth of the series. He explained, “The men who were actually on this expedition, they would have had hope for a very long time and many of them probably until the moment of death.
With that hope comes the retention of one’s whole personality, your sense of humor, your sense of irony, your spirit of generosity.” He emphasized that even during this disaster, the warmth of these characters should not be lost. This perspective is essential to understanding the motivations and actions of the characters as they show their harrowing experiences.
Collider had the opportunity to interview Kajganich and Soo Hugh, the other co-showrunner and executive producer, about the finale and saying goodbye to these richly developed characters.
With so much devastating content covered in the finale, the discussion focused on three of the most haunting sequences: Dr. Goodsir’s death, the chilling moments at Starvation Cove, and the calm yet impactful final frames of the episode.
Dr. Goodsir’s Heartbreaking Journey
Dr. Goodsir was a character who stood out for his commitment to saving his shipmates from lead poisoning. He struggled to protect them, and when he could not save them, he desperately wanted to uphold his Hippocratic Oath, which emphasizes a doctor’s duty to help others.
However, the dire circumstances he faced forced him into impossible choices. Under Hickey’s command, he was ordered to carve up a murdered man for dinner, a task that violated everything he believed in. Ultimately, he made the tragic choice to become a killer himself, sacrificing his life in an attempt to end Hickey’s mutinous reign.
In a desperate act to save those still alive, Goodsir used poison to set a deadly trap for those who conceded to cannibalism. Tragically, his sacrifice did not yield the desired outcome. The scheming of men and the unforgiving forces of nature thwarted him.
Paul Ready’s performance captured the essence of Goodsir’s moral conflict and emotional turmoil, making him a character that viewers loved. His final moments were heart-wrenching, and they left a lasting impact on the audience.
Still from The Terror (Credit: AMC)
As his body shook and seized, viewers were shown a glimpse of his final thoughts—flowers, a shell, a crystal—representing the beauty of the natural world.
These images stood in stark contrast to the horror surrounding him. While his death might seem peaceful in comparison to the chaos of the expedition, Kajganich explained that a tragic undercurrent runs through this scene.
He remarked, “What a puzzle to figure out how to show that to an audience. We had a rule that we wouldn’t protect any of the characters from sentimentality or unflattering truths.” This meant showcasing Goodsir as a man who found comfort in the natural world and in human relationships.
In his last moments, he remembered the beauty of nature rather than the people he had known. This detail adds depth to his character’s journey, making it even more tragic.
Starvation Cove: A Gruesome Revelation
One of the most memorable moments in the finale occurs in the last act when Crozier retraces the steps of the men he had to leave behind. Lady Silence senses the death of Tuunbaq and tries to revive it with water from her canteen, but it is too late.
Crozier, still alive, finds himself in a desperate situation. Unable to break his chains, Lady Silence cuts off his hand to free him. Together, they follow the path of Crozier’s men, discovering devastation and death at every stop.
Each discovery is painful. Jobson, Crozier’s loyal man, died believing his captain abandoned him, a heart-wrenching moment that adds to the emotional weight of the narrative.
However, the most haunting image is of Edward, who is alive yet dead-eyed, with chains strung through his face. This shocking visual encapsulates the brutal reality the men faced.
Hugh explained that this imagery came from actual Inuit testimony, which gives it an added layer of authenticity. “It’s interesting; we’ve received many social media questions about that imagery.
We debated how much to reveal, but we wanted to highlight that moment because it was so haunting and ambiguous.” This commitment to authenticity is evident throughout the series and enhances the emotional impact of the story.
Still from The Terror (Credit: AMC)
Kajganich further elaborated that an Inuit mother and son discovered a body in a tent rigged with chains, an essential detail that adds to the series’ dark atmosphere.
They wanted to show viewers what happened to Crozier’s men at Starvation Cove, a camp plagued by disease and cannibalism.
Kajganich explained their approach: “We wanted to give viewers a visual sense of what those last months must have been like for the men. They faced lead poisoning, starvation, and other ailments, which led to a dark fate.”
Their intention was to convey both the reality of the men’s suffering and a sense of mystery about their fate. This nuanced approach helps the audience connect with the characters on a deeper level, even in the face of horror.
The Haunting Legacy of Starvation Cove
Starvation Cove symbolizes the ultimate tragedy of the expedition. It is here that the bulk of the men from the Franklin Expedition perished under unimaginable circumstances.
Kajganich shared, “We decided that if we were going to stay with Crozier and his experience of those last months, we wanted to ensure that when he finally catches up to the last camp at Starvation Cove, we see visually what the tenor of those last weeks and months must have been for them.”
The imagery presented in Starvation Cove is haunting. The evidence of cannibalism and the suffering endured by the men emphasizes the depths of human desperation. Kajganich explained, “We wanted to show that, but we didn’t want to prioritize any one thing.
We aimed for a collection of images that would leave you with enough answers to what those men probably went through, while also maintaining a kind of holy ambiguity about it.”
This blend of clarity and ambiguity adds to the series’ complexity. It allows viewers to grapple with the moral implications of survival in extreme circumstances.
Hugh added one last thought on the sequence in Starvation Cove, suggesting that audiences should pay close attention to Lady Silence’s expressions as she surveys the chaotic violence of the scene.
Still from The Terror (Credit: AMC)
“I think the shot of that sequence is actually the final shot of Lady Silence watching Crozier watch Edward. The look that Nive has in that moment is amazing.
She just has this look of—her face is like, ‘And you call us “the other”? Look at what has happened to these men,’ and it’s so powerful.” This observation adds another layer to the narrative, highlighting the tension between cultures and the human experience in dire situations.
Crozier’s Final Moments: A New Beginning
In the end, we bid farewell to Crozier, a captain who has lost all his men, facing overwhelming odds. With no one left to lead, he follows Lady Silence, also known as Silna, to an Inuit camp where he begins a new life.
Lady Silence faces her own consequences for losing Tuunbaq, and Crozier cannot follow her. He settles into the community, warning future shows about the horrors of The Terror.
As the series comes to a close, Kajganich reflects on the fate of Crozier: “We loved the idea that Crozier survived in an unexpected way.
Lady Silence is asked to pay for the chaos caused by these men, and Crozier realizes that returning to England would only mean failure for him.” This insight underscores Crozier’s character growth throughout the series.
Kajganich also discussed how the ending diverges from Dan Simmons’ book and why they opted to omit the romance between Crozier and Lady Silence. “We didn’t want Lady Silence to serve any other arc in the show but her own. But we thought that child was important, because it shows the level of trust and comfort they have with him at that point.”
The inclusion of a child in Crozier’s final moments symbolizes hope and acceptance. It suggests that Crozier has found a place where he is valued, a significant contrast to the despair he faced during the expedition.
A Quiet Moment of Reflection
Hugh suggested that the final moment served as a quiet reward for viewers after all the chaos of the season. “That last shot could be five minutes longer.
The audience feels they earned that moment of quiet after everything they’ve experienced,” she noted. This reflection allows viewers to take a breath and absorb the weight of what they have witnessed.
Still from The Terror (Credit: AMC)
The closing scene, featuring Crozier at a seal hole, is both serene and poignant. It signifies a new beginning for him, even amidst the tragedies that preceded it. This duality captures the essence of the series—pain and beauty coexist in the human experience.
With this, Kajganich and Hugh conclude one of the best horror series in recent years. The emotional depth, strong character arcs, and haunting imagery have left audiences reflecting on the story long after the credits roll. A third season is set to release in 2025, promising to show more of the rich narrative that The Terror has become known for.
The Terror Season 1 is available for streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
