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Hero Factory TV Series Review


fishers64

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With the recent events and all regarding HF’s demise, I’m hedging my bets. In the rather unlikely event that this TV series goes on, the episodes may go un-reviewed, or in the case of multiples sometime in the future, I may decide to post another one. But for now, here we go:

 

Rise of the Rookies:

 

“Trials of Furno”

 

Trials of Furno is a kickback to the olden days of HF – the “Bionicle crossover with Star Trek” ( :P) days. The core recharge sequence feels like something from Bionicle, the elemental blasts look Bionicle. Stormer is a bit Kopaka-ish in a lot of respects, but there’s something behind his actions we don’t yet know. (Yes, they did try for the mysterious feel.)

 

Now that we know it – Von Nebula’s betrayal and turning evil – it doesn’t really add too much to the story, though. Furno’s eagerness to go into battle is very different from Von Ness’ cowardice, which paints Stormer a very poor judge of character. He’s definitely either very paranoid or just cold. I think also his pride has gotten to him, as judged by his response to Breez near the end of the episode.

 

Breez and Surge feel like Kiina and Berix. Surge even sounds like Berix! Breez tends to be the “voice-of-reason” to Surge the same way Kiina was to Berix, but there’s less of the implied-bitterness-history going on which makes Breez feel inserted just to correct Surge. Constantly.

 

One of my gripes about this episode is the music, though. The music at the beginning and the end of this episode feels like it belongs in a high fantasy story, introducing higher powers that be, great people of importance. The Evil Overlord in his lofty tower! The Great Oracle of Prophecy! The Great Council of Amazingness! The batch of C4 being delivered to a mine shaft!

 

Er, no. Also at the end of the episode it whiplashes with the dialogue – Furno is saying that Xplode got away, and that he could attack the explosives plant at any time, which sounds mundane, unimportant – except that the music bends down in a way that makes it seem creepy.

 

Still, this episode is miles ahead of where HF is/was today, so major plus.

 

“Core Crisis”

 

I’m not sure why this episode exists, exactly – it feels like filler between this and the enemy within plot. But then again, nearly all HF episodes feel like filler between plot points of the previous episode, and then the plot points of the previous episode don’t get resolved – ever. :P

 

At least they address the explosives plant from last episode: they tightened security measures big time. Props to them.

 

The other weird thing about this episode is that it confirms that prison planetoids exist. If they have entire prison planetnoids, why are they keeping prisoners at the Hero Factory, in the middle of a city of innocent civilians? That doesn’t make too much sense.

 

I didn’t like this episode when it was first released due to the idea that it was boring – just one long big fight, but now it feels like a prime example of what Hero Factory did right. When Breez comes up with an idea, it’s “Good thinking, Breez” in a notable contrast to what happened later. There’s also some character development for Stormer and Furno, and basically getting to see Stringer and Bulk in action.

 

I also liked that the “character backstory” for Stormer was teased out over four episodes, not info-dumped on us.

 

“The Enemy Within”

 

This is one of the best HF episodes for character development. Despite the obvious parallel to the Toa Hordika story which everyone under the age of 14 failed to get, Stormer, and Furno, and Bulk, and Stringer, and Breez…everyone gets a character moment. Breez gets to show off her cool weapons, which are just cool.

 

I know I complained about the music earlier, but on the approach to Mechron city, it fits, making the whole thing seem appropriately creepy. Unlike in previous episodes, the characters do not spoil the creepy feel by talking. 

 

Not.

 

“Object: Statue Display” – apparently Heroes have Google glass. Which doesn’t quite make sense because Mechron city is offline. Sort of.

 

Also, I like Tratix reptoids. Someone should make a MOC/Cuusoo project out of one. :P Frankly, this entire episode is made of things that I wish were sets, like those cool black-and-white towers with the billboards. It actually shows that this place has culture and isn’t a completely generic place where the Hero Factory happens to be.  

 

“Von Nebula”

 

Thunder and Corroder. New Stellac City. Villain choosing the same place as the old battle for poetic justice cliché.

 

Also, I’m going to go with this – the only person who said it was a “black hole” was Furno, and he’s probably not the most reliable judge of physics. So it’s not a black hole. It’s a magnetically charged energy field. This makes sense with Stormer’s description of what the thruster rings would do: work against the magnetic propulsion of the field, creating a nice explosion for the kids.

 

Upgrades:

 

“Ordeal of Fire”

 

I’ve already said most of what needs to be said about this episode, and heard a lot more besides. We’ve all heard about the drug imagery lesson thing going on and Breez the feminist. I think the drug-based-theme has sort of been worn thin, although nice to get a reminder…but it’s kind of weird since the Heroes themselves get “upgraded” with advanced technology in the middle of the episode. Drugs: consult medibots before use. Technology: totally 100% safe. Er…

 

I also liked the characterization of Evo in this episode, and wished they didn’t mess with it.  I also thought that Breez comments about feminism were out of character, since she never really let on anything about that in previous episodes. Stormer and Furno’s characterization were pretty solid throughout: “Rookies? Zib sent rookies?” and Furno’s “Noooooo” moment. Mystery is out the window for the moment, but it’s pretty clear that this is a characterization episode, not an epic throwback, and I’m okay with it. Still, for this reason I don’t like it as much as Rise of the Rookies. Compared to that, it also feels jammed together, like they had to fit everything in the shortest time slot possible.

 

Still, good storytelling all around. One thing I thought was a little creepy was that shot where Fire Lord gets hit with the ship – there’s a pretty graphic dismemberment shot there. Granted, he’s a robot so they could just snap it back on, but still, I think that’s a big change from the “cut the cliff so Kopaka doesn’t hit the Rahi” days. :shrugs:

 

“Savage Planet”

 

Hero Factory uses worm holes? Heroes have dentists? Also, that’s not a plasma gun, that’s a sonic boom blaster.

And those XL parts just a happened to be hanging around? That counts as a Deus Ex Machina.

 

I actually liked this episode though. The “life restoration” story is always a good one in my book. :) I rewatched this ending a few times just because – they picked the right soundtrack for the quaza temple scene that reminded me of Bionicle (again). Frankly the whole episode reminds me of Bionicle – creepy new place to explore, hero coming-of-age bungling story, even some suspense near the end. The first time I watched this, definitely feeling the suspense and the whole positive thing going on.

 

Savage Planet is probably the high point of the series IMO. Breakout is arguably worse than this one, and the whole construction of the series slides downhill from here.

 

Mysterious Enemy:

 

 

“Breakout”

 

This one opens with a realistic “new prisoner arrives” scene. Except for one Waspix who was a particular bad apple and got off of Quatros and caused some serious trouble throughout the galaxy. Her particular crime was the quaza she stole to get off Quatros, but that’s water under the bridge now.

 

Lasers are cool, but what about actual steel bars? I mean, they might not work too well against villains with powers, but they took all the weapons when they locked them up. The steel bars might at least delay the villains if the lasers get switched off. This prison wasn’t designed too well, and this is the “most secure place in the galaxy”.

 

I pity the galaxy.

 

Not to mention that this is right next to a civilian population when we’ve already established that prison planetoids do exist. And lastly, why put the Black Orb Staff out in the open where the prisoners can see it and get access to it? Shouldn’t that be in a secure vault somewhere, away from potential allies? Someone is really lazy.

 

Okay, so Voltix has some power that can reach out to the Black Orb Staff and activate it remotely. When he did that, did Von Nebula get out? That part is unclear.  

 

Apparently the Staff created another magnetic field, complete with flashes of purple lightning. The Staff probably also has teleportation powers, given that it got Von Nebula and his magnetic field to New Stallac city. All of its actions here are within its previously established power range. I like that.

 

Still, even if it is awfully contrived, it’s nice to see the Heroes losing big time. Although it’s not much of a change from the beginning of Ordeal of Fire or Savage Planet, so not much to write home about.

 

Zib is “a senior mission chief”. Apparently there’s more of them.

 

Evo gets rebuked for using his instincts all episode, then is told to use them at the end. How confusing.  

 

I liked the ending of this episode because it hinted at a new villain, and possibly a “Villain Factory”. Unfortunately that plot point never went anywhere, and in context it’s very confusing.

 

“Brain Attack”

 

Okay, so we have a mysterious villain who has computer technology who releases the brains. I thought he was the same mysterious villain who got the Hero Factory plans from last episode. He even has the same objective as Black Phantom from last episode – destroy the Hero Factory. But it is unconfirmed, leaving this further up in the air.

 

The “hit the two red buttons on top” plot point is awfully contrived, and it’s a pretty stupid weakness for such menacing villains. Also Breez seems very ticked at Furno’s suggestion that she talk to the brain-controlled creatures, which is very OOC, even for feminist Breez of Ordeal of Fire. Aside from Surge and Nex, the Heroes have largely denigrated into soldier-types without much characterization. Even things like Stringer’s playful comments and Rocka’s involvement with hero recon from last episode are gone, leaving nothing but a mindless soldier shell left.

 

“Invasion From Below”

 

Aaand that’s pretty evident in Invasion from Below. Before I complain too badly, I liked the magnetic field tunnel under Antropolis, partly because it feels like a homage to the Black Orb Staff. I also liked the builder on principle, but felt that it robbed the Heroes of having their own world and a self-contained storyline. On top of the characterization and thematic flaws, this work seems to be missing a fourth wall, with toyline names dropped randomly. It’s a thinly disguised toy commercial for the most part.

 

I liked the characterization for Breez, but the others didn’t get much, particularly the former character-rich Stormer.

 

* * *

And there we go. Do you agree? What did I miss? Comments and corrections and other things are welcomed. :) 

Edited by fishers64
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I like your review. You are very perceptive. Although in the Brain Attack episode, it was Stormer that asked Breez if she can talk to the Brain-controlled creatures, but that is a great review you made.:)

I agree with you in the most part, but I personally feel that the Savage Planet and Breakout episodes are the best episodes. I loved the story, characters and their personalities and Threshold voice actors, action, music, and humor in Episodes 1-10. I also would like to think of the Savage Planet episodes as a way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bionicle because of several similarities, like a team of six heroes arriving in a jungly place and fighting animals possessed by an evil villain there.:)

However, there are a lot of things that I find disappointing in the TV series. The Breakout episodes lacked Breez, Bulk, and Nex in their Breakout upgrades, XT4, Thornaxx, and Core Hunter. I had been longing to see them in the TV series until the year, 2012, was over, because they seem to be interesting characters to appear in there.:(

I too get annoyed by the unresolved cliffhangers, which are the villain factory one, the brain-attacking-worker one, and the cocoon-in-the-Hero-Dropship one. I mean, what happened after these?:(

Also, the Invasion From Below episode is a bit disappointing, I have to agree on that. The Heroes lacked much of their unique personalities in there. They were just soldiers doing their job. I am so not fond of the new Ghost/Advance voice actors, either because they make the characters sound the same instead of differently.:(

And also, why the characters' voice actors get switched with new ones often? I mean, is it necessary to do that? And also, I noticed that in the end credits of the Brain Attack episode that Bulk's voice actor got uncredited. I wonder how did that happened? Did you noticed that, too?:(

Overall, I find the TV series great. Although that it has some flaws and I feel that it could have been a TV show where it can have at least ten episodes per season since it is a sci-fi superhero show, but still, it is a well-made show. Not my favorite show by Lego also, but, as I said again, it was a great show.:)

Anyway, I am very concerned about the TV series' fate when the Hero Factory toy line is seemingly ending. The poor performance of the IFB episode worries me about it a lot, too. I hope that the show will still continue.:(

I like Lego, Bionicle, and Hero Factory!:)

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