The Transformers (TV Series) S.O.S. Dinobots (1984) User Reviews

"Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge!"

[jerekra · 10/10 · 13 February 2009]

SOS Dinobots is one of the best episodes in Transformers and one of the best cartoon episodes ever as well. It introduces the best group of Transformers ever, the Dinobots.

After finding some dinosaur bones, the idea of building dinosaur transformers enters the mind of the autobots. So Wheeljack builds three "Dinobots" named Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge. However they go nuts and attack the autobots and Teletran 1 badly damaging Teletran 1. Decided to be too dangerous they are buried in a cave. Meanwhile Megatron and the Decepticons take over Sherman Dam and use the energy to defeat all of the autobots other than Wheeljack, Bumblebee, and Ratchet. Short on options it is realized the Dinobots are the last hope at saving the autobots.

This is a great episode. I always loved dinosaurs so the Dinobots were always a favorite of mine. It is a great plot that shows that even though the dinobots caused damage that they must be used to save the day. The final battle between the Dinobots and the Decepticons is epic and really shows how powerful the Dinobots can be.

Great episode, highly recommended.

Good storytelling is extinct

[Fluke_Skywalker · 5/10 · 26 July 2016]

Plot; Stumbling on dinosaur fossils buried within their headquarters, the Autobots are inspired to create a team of dinosaur-themed transformers. When they prove to be unpredictable, Optimus Prime orders them deactivated, but after a majority of the Autobots find themselves taken prisoner by the Decepticons, the powerful but dimwitted Dinobots are the only ones left who can stop Megatron's plan.

Revisiting the G1 'Transformers' cartoon has proved to be a bit of disappointment. Not a surprise necessarily, but a disappointment none the less. A childhood favorite (along with its Hasbro toy line), it doesn't hold up nearly as well as fellow Sunbow produced Hasbro toy-tie 'G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'. Where the latter deftly mixed action, adventure and humor into a consistently entertaining 22 minutes of TV, Transformers is often bland, clunky and redundant. In small chunks it primes (no pun intended) the nostalgia pump, but this isn't a series I'd ever binge watch.

• I collect 70s/80s toys, but sadly my G1 TF still only stands at one (Sideswipe).

• I found it a bit troubling that the Autobots more or less seemed to see the Dinobots as slaves. They first order them to clear away rubble ("And be quick about it!") and then when the dimwitted dinos rebel, Optimus orders them destroyed! And these are the good guys.