Media Essays: D-16's Transformation To Megatron Shot-By-Shot

Transformers One was awesome. My review from last year should tell you that much.

One of the biggest reasons as to why it was so good was done to one of its biggest plot points: D-16's transformation into Megatron. It was so tragic, yet so inevitable that this guy who started out as a friend of Orion Pax's would fall and become the villainous Megatron, leader of the Decepticons and the biggest evil Cybertron has ever faced. And for this essay, I'm here to talk about how well done this transformation was handled.

Sit back and relax readers as we cover D-16's Transformation to Megatron Shot-by-Shot...

D-16 At The Beginning

We're introduced to D-16 very shortly after a big chase scene involving Orion Pax and a couple of security guards. The guards have Orion cornered, but then entering the scene from stage right, D-16 bumps into the guards while carrying a crate full of scrap parts. He scolds them for getting in the way, only to very quickly change his tune once he sees who he's talking to. This already shows a very, very low and humble beginning for the bot who will one day become Megatron. He's a low-class citizen who's nothing more than a miner who's life isn't valued as much as everyone else on Cybertron and he has to apologize for bumping into and scolding a couple of security guards. Hard to believe THIS is the guy who will become Megatron, am I right?

Then we get the scene on the train where D-16 and Orion Pax talk to each other. In the scene, we get some fun banter between the two that sells how they're clearly close friends as they can heckle each other quite comfortably and without offending one another. It also shows how D-16 is a really nice guy for he saved Orion from getting caught be security by hiding him in the crate and tricking the guards into going the other way. It's all present in their dialogue, the way actors Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry deliver the lines and also in the character's body languages. As we see D-16 here, he has a more cheery, laid back demeanour and a more snarky attitude. Once again, not what you'd expect from the guy who would become Megatron later in life, eh? And yet from the design alone, it's still evident that's the case as D-16 has that classic Megatron look with the silver body and "bucket head" design, but also lacks the Decepticon leader's trademark Fusion Cannon weapon and also looks less imposing due to not having a very bulky design. We can look at this guy and easily believe that he'll become Megatron later.

They even foreshadow it further when Orion gives D-16 a Megatronus decal he puts on his shoulder. It may not be a Decepticon symbol yet, but it will by the end of the movie. It also shows a surprisingly dorky side to D-16 as we see he's a fan of Megatronus to the point he tells Orion to be careful with the decal. Who knew before he was Megatron, D-16 was a fanboy? Hard to imagine Megatron acting like that eh? XD Also, the fact his favourite Prime happens to be Megatronus Prime is yet more foreshadowing of his eventual change.

So already at the beginning, we're given a lot about D-16's character and also a lot of visual hints and clues that'll lead into his eventual downfall. It's a case where it's funny seeing this is how Megatron started, yet we can still believe it because he has that classic Megatron look. Now let's fast forward a bit to the middle of the movie where everything begins to change for D-16...

The Moment D-16 Begins To Change...

Later in the movie, D-16, Orion Pax, B-127 and Elita come across Alpha Trion, the last surviving member of the Primes who was offline for quite a while. After Alpha Trion is awakened, he tells everyone the truth about Sentinel Prime and how the Primes met their end. In this screenshot, we can see that while everyone reacts with shock and horror to this revelation, D-16 reacts with sheer anger. This single screenshot is where D-16's entire demeanour changes from here on out for he noticeably becomes angrier and more easily agitated compared to before. It shows that this revelation didn't just shock him, it ENRAGED him. And it leads to this moment between him and Orion...

Orion Pax: "Wait, don't you wanna stop him?"

D-16: "No, I want to KILL HIM!"

This is such a huge whiplash compared to how D-16 has been characterized in earlier scenes where he was mostly friendly and despite being a stickler for the rules, he could have his fun moments too. Now here he is, in a fit of rage, desiring to KILL someone. Granted, Sentinel is an evil son of a b***h who deserves to die, but it's still shocking to hear him say that when he's never shown a desire to kill anybody. Once again, this is where he slowly begins to change from D-16 to Megatron as that Megatron side is starting to form. Also, I find it rather shifty how Alpha Trio seems very unconcerned about the fact D-16 wants to kill Sentinel. You'd think he'd object to such brutality, but nope, he doesn't say a word about it. Maybe he secretly wants D-16 to kill him too.

After the truth is revealed about Sentinel, Alpha Trion takes the T-cogs of some of the dead Primes and Orion, D-16, B-127 and Elita are given the cogs. As we can see here, D-16 starts to bear a greater resemblance to his future identity as Megatron with a slightly bulkier appearance, sleeker armour and a more powerful presence than before. He also gains the ability to transform at long last, now able to turn into a tank. Megatron, especially in most media these days, does turn into a tank, so it's fitting. We get a glimpse of the old D-16 in him when he expresses joy and laughter over the ability to transform, but it doesn't last long as he gets serious again and when Orion asks if he's OK, this happens:

D-16: "I...got...it."

Even Orion is a little crept out by this sudden shift in behaviour. Also, notice how D-16's optics have changed colour? They were yellow at first, but then from this point onwards, they're amber. It's subtle, but it its noticeable and it's a neat little visual clue that D-16's beginning to change for the worse. Orange colours are usually somewhere between red and yellow, so this colour change works as the middle point of his change in character.

Later on in the movie, D-16 and the others get captured by Starscream and his underground group of Cybertronians and during the battle, D-16 shocks everybody and himself when he suddenly deploys a huge black cannon from his arm. This of course is the debut of his iconic Fusion Cannon, which has been Megatron's signature weapon since the G-1 era of the franchise. Not only does D-16 have the appearance of Megatron now, he has the weapon of Megatron. He also further shows signs of Megatron's future brutal personality as he riles up the Cybertronian High Guard and prepares to start a revolution against Sentinel Prime. That is how Megatron started in he Aligned continuity after all: a gladiator turned revolutionist, and it's the case here too. However, his transformation still isn't complete yet. There's still more to come, which we see later...

...Sentinel Prime takes the Megatronus decal from D-16 and in a pointless and unnecessary act of cruelty, he brands it on his chest so now he has the decal permanently on his body. Some versions of Megatron do have their Decepticon logos on their chests after all, so this is another neat little reference and call forward to what's to come. I still have to ask why Sentinel felt the need to do that though. What did that achieve aside from just being needlessly sadistic?

Megatron Is Born

We now reach the climax of the movie where Sentinel Prime is exposed for the villain he is, the public has turned against him and D-16 has got Sentinel cornered. He prepares to execute him, but Orion Pax tries to stop him, pleading with him to stand down and be better than Sentinel. As he wisely states, the reconstruction of Iacon cannot begin with an execution, but D-16 is in no mood to listen. Then Orion says "Don't be like Sentinel", which proved to be the wrong thing to say for all it did was provoke him further. D-16 then threateningly demands that Orion Pax move before he moves him himself. Orion doesn't move, so D-16 has to punch him away. He takes aim with his Fusion Cannon and fires...

...but Orion Pax gets in the way and has his left arm blown clean off in the process. Let me tell you, I think everyone in the cinema fell silent at that part when I went to go watch it. Because of how likeable D-16 was at the beginning and the charming friendship he and Orion had, it's genuinely shocking to see him actually shoot and wound him like this. I'd also say that this particular shoot is when the Optimus Prime and Megatron rivalry truly began.

Horrified by what's happened, D-16 catches Orion Pax just before he can plummet down a bottomless pit. In this singular moment, the old D-16 is still in there and still looking out for his friend. But in a mixture of anger and shock, he demands to know why Orion did that. As he stares at Orion, he suddenly begins to grow angrier. The rage and hate inside him is reaching its boiling point. Orion begs him with a single "D...no".

At that moment, we get an extreme close-up of D-16 as he lowers his head and closes his eyes. The lighting suddenly darkens around his face, giving him a creepier and scarier profile. Then...

"I'm done saving you!"

(Shudders) Gives me goosebumps every time!

With his eyes having turned red, fully symbolizing his fall into villainy, D-16 lets Orion fall. At this very moment, D-16 is no more. In his place stands only Megatron. As someone on YouTube so elegantly put it: "D-16 caught Orion. Megatron let him go".

But there's one last bit to go before his transformation is complete. After killing Sentinel Prime by LITERALLY ripping him in two, D-16 takes Sentinel's T-Cog, which actually once belonged to Megatronus Prime, and puts it in his own chest. This causes D-16 to change again as his body shifts even further into the classic Megatron design complete with the silver, red and black colour scheme. It's so beautifully poetic that he takes the T-cog of his idol and uses that to complete his transformation from D-16 into Megatron. It's also eerily similar to real life in how positive symbols can be changed into something bad. Megatronus Prime was a member of the Primes and kept law and order on Cybertron. Now here's D-16, using his T-cog to transform himself into the leader of a revolution that will ravage Cybertron for centuries to come. He declares the age of Primes is over and no longer shall Cybertron be deceived. Then he completes his transformation with three simple words...

"I...Am...MEGATROOOOOOOOOOOON!"

And there we have it. D-16 is truly no more. Megatron is born and his tyrannical career as Decepticon leader has finally begun.

What a transformation, and what a masterful piece of storytelling! I cannot stress enough how awesome it was to watch this unfold on the big screen. Transformers One was already great, but watching D-16 become Megatron was when the movie went from great to excellent for me. Easily one of the best scenes in all of Transformers. It'll be tough to top this transformation, that's for sure...

Conclusion

D-16's transformation to Megatron stands as one of the most masterful pieces of story-telling in recent years. Everything was so beautifully executed from the writing to the pacing to the animation that subtly hints at his eventual transformation and just what an impact it has on the audience despite it being a predictable outcome. We all knew D-16 was going to turn evil and become Megatron in the end, yet it STILL felt like being hit by a tonne of bricks! That's how excellently they executed his heel turn. I only hope Transformers One gets more attention and also gets sequels in the future so we can have more awesome moments like this one...

And that's it for this essay. I hope you enjoyed it and I invite you all to share your thoughts in the comments below. What do you think was the best shot of D-16's fall to villainy? Do tell me.

Join me next week when I count down my Top 10 Favourite Phil Collins songs. See you then media fans!