Knights of Flesh and Metal and Talisman

Suffice to say, Transformers series is an allegorical masterpiece, with a lore of its own. It is neither a History Channel programme nor an episode on NatGeo Channel.

The opening scene, the flashback to the barbaric and bloody Anglo-Saxon rivalry, can be summed up in one word: EPIC.

Picture from http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/transformers/feature/a825219/transformers-last-knight-new-footage-is-bonkers/

Maniac magician, brandishing sabres, searing spears, flying fireballs, raining arrows, titanic clashes and a 3-headed-metallic-reptile-with-wings-conveniently-classified-as-“dragons”, are simply some of the stuff that only made the Medieval Age appear darker than the 21st century.

(By the way, have you managed to identify the alliterative phrases in the above sentence?)

For my student readers, who might have been appalled to see the Medieval Age battle touted as the main cause of “Man-versus-Transformers Conflict” that takes place1600 years later, here's a piece of “old news” (oxymoron at work!). Apparently, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table have had a long history with Transformers. According to The Hollywood Reporter (August 30, 2016), they went all the way back to as early as 1985, when they met in one of the animated Transformers episode entitled “A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court”.

Picture from http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1551179/where-transformers-the-last-knight-may-have-gotten-the-idea-for-its-king-arthur-story

What about the metallic talisman attached to the outlier-inventor, Caye Yeager?

The metallic talisman seems to be the emblem worn by King Arthur at the beginning of the movie. It is likened to the Matrix of Leadership. As a result of his unyielding loyalty to the Autobots and his courage to save them from the menacing Transformers Reaction Force (TRF), Caye Yeager is given the Knight's talisman by Steelbane (before he dies).

Picture from http://tformers.com/wait-what-new-transformers-the-last-knight-poster-shows-the-robotic-side-of-cade-yeager/31704/news.html

As the narrative unfolds, Caye Yeager's talisman turns into the Excalibur, and he saves Optimus Prime from a no uncertain lynching by other Iacon knights, who are all too familiar with betrayal to stomach another one from their own kind. Realizing that Caye Yeager is the 13th and Last Knight standing in the long tradition of King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table, the metallic knights bow to his leadership.

The deliberate mention of the 13th and Last Knight seems to allude to who Optimus Prime really is in the very first place (and literally, First Place among all Autobots!). For young budding writers, pay attention. This is allusion (not illusion!) explained here.

In the entire Transformers lore, Optimus Prime is the last born of the original 13 Primus Transformers—who are likened to the mythological gods. Optimus Prime is often addressed as “The Last Prime”. As the youngest, he has none of the gifts and abilities and special powers wielded by his older Primus brothers. What he has, instead, is the most unique spark and force of presence and personality to rally all the Knights together as one formidable legion. When he was scripted to die in the 20th century, there was a huge public outcry! Almost immediately, the scriptwriters brought him back to life in a reincarnation.

Behind each Knight of the Round Table stands a towering Transformer Knight (Autobots), making the English Army an invincible force on earth

Picture from http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1646719/first-look-at-king-arthurs-knights-in-transformers-the-last-knight

As the central figure in the Transformers world, Optimus Prime is both the bearer of the Matrix of Leadership and the embodiment of moral righteousness, faith and character strength. Like King Arthur, Optimus Prime also surrounds himself with loyal and faithful Autobots friends, with the exception of one. Every heroic story needs a betrayal and an antagonist. Megatron—Prime's frenemy—fits the bill.

Given Optimus Prime's larger-then-life status (figuratively and literally), I was a little disappointed that my hero was absent for a good part of “Transformers-The Last Knight”.

Where is Optimus Prime? What happen to my hero? What do you mean “Optimus has left us”? Is he coming back to save the world?

When he shows up as 'Nemesis' Prime—thanks to Quintessa' s spell, I was shocked. My hero has fallen from grace! But I have faith in Michael Bay; he wouldn't want 'Nemesis' Prime to stay in amnesia for more than 150 minutes. Optimus Prime would overcome and be back to his former glory.

The question is how.

Here comes Bubble Bee. Finally he speaks!

“I...I am Bubble Bee, your oldest friend, Optimus. I would lay down my life for you.”

That voice of an old friend helps Optimus Prime to come back to his senses and reclaim his authority.

That line also speaks so poignantly right to the hearts of millions of Transformers fans out there. We have been around for as long as Optimus Prime has been around.

Near to the end of the movie, Optimus Prime is at his best, proclaiming,

“Knights, Autobots.

This cannot and will not be the end.

To save earth and her people

we are going to steal Quintessa's staff.

Only you, Vivian, can take it back.

I will lead the way into her chamber

and when the account of the ages

is etched into the cosmos,

let those who exist long after us know that

this was our finest hour.”

Like Crosshairs, I too say, “Love that guy. Goosebumps every time!” whenever the awesome Optimus Prime speaks (Thank you, Mr Peter Cullen!) .

So, young students, if you are trying your hands at Creative Writing, remember, monologue and/or dialogue helps only as long as it brings out the characters. Writing monologue or dialogue for the sake of writing it will only accessorise your writing without offering much reader's accessibility to your characters.

So, think Bubble Bee and Optimus Prime. These characters don't speak much in the movie, but when they do, they speak volume—with few words.

For students who are honing their Speech Writing skills, take a leaf out from Optimus Prime:

See, it isn't that tough to write a speech, yes?

You got this! Happy writing!

#TransformersTheLastKnight #history #SpeechWriting #CreativeWriting #character #allusion #alliteration