TRDQ: G1 Decepticon Pretenders - Review

We're looking at THREE Decepticon Pretenders today, can you believe that?

[@TehBellcarl]

“Look fuckin shut up.” - best transformers review ever.

[@wewillalleatglass]

The pretender shells are literally perfect for the RED line. I feel they would sell incredibly well being fully articulated versions of these killer 80s ass designs, shame hasbro wont do it.

[@fun2building]

No what's perfect for it are Action Masters, give me a wave of REDs devoted to Action Masters and I might actually buy a couple

[@SuperMookles]

Haven't seen it yet, probably never will. 10/10.

[@hergothical6457]

day 3: I'm running low on food and my fire went out during the night, as i scavenged for firewood i wondered if i would live to see TRDQ: G1 Decepticon Pretenders - Review. I can sense the wolves watching me for weakness through the snowdrifts. 30 more hours says the youtube premiere... it's so cold gavin... so cold...

[@geo-fry6372]

Octopunch has got to be my favorite pretender. His shell is absolutely fantastic, and his inner robot has great “time for crab” energy.

[@cartkart1]

I found one at a local toy store for about $60.. I *almost* bought it, but I went for Beast Machines Tankor instead. As someone who owns the toy, would you say he’s worth $60?

[@geo-fry6372]

@@cartkart1 I’d say he’s probably not worth that much, unless he’s one you REALLY want

[@cartkart1]

@@geo-fry6372 good to know 👍

[@cartkart1]

@@geo-fry6372 how much would you say he’s worth?

[@geo-fry6372]

@@cartkart1 Personally, I would spend $40 max, but that’s just my opinion. I haven’t kept track of how much he typically sells for, so I’m not necessarily the best person to ask

[@aworldmadeofcardboard3692]

Recently, I have been collecting the inner robots of the Pretenders. They are neat little toys that just plain fun to transform and "pretend" they actually change into something. Yes I am 51 and have a little box full of Pretender inner robots at my desk that I pick up every now and then and just play with them. It takes me back to a time when I didn't have bills, kids, health issues and could just enjoy a toy. And yes I am caught by my now adult kids flying Bombburst around my desk.

[@TRDQ]

Legend!

[@justinhanna9152]

what do you do with the shells?

[@aworldmadeofcardboard3692]

@@justinhanna9152 So far, I haven't bought complete Pretenders. Just the inner robots. That said, I am starting to look at buying the shells now to complete them, but I'm still happy with what I have. When you start collecting parts of something, it could build to getting EVERYTHING! As a wise individual once said, "IT'S A TRAP!"

[@batangbatugan]

Gavin, Stranglehold was actually the reigning Cybertronic Wrestling Federation Champ back in '89 until he stubbed his toe looking for his fanny pack. How dare you make fun of a Cybertronian Hall of Famer.

[@ademitchell2251]

Can't wait for this little number- Y'see I'm a Pretender quadra-spazz who has all the toys and has all of the Decepticon Pretenders tattooed on both arms as sleeves and a massive Thunderwing tat on my back (I was as white as this screen when this one was finished and needed a cup of sugary tea and a lie down) I have a wife and me own house and everything- which is weird, considering...

[@harlanPerry]

I just know Stranglehold's shell reminds me of Tom selleck.

[@daverage4729]

Lol! So I wasn't the only one. I can almost hear the 'Magnum' theme tune now.

[@harlanPerry]

@@daverage4729 I'm glad I was not the only one aswell.

[@kevinpeoples8702]

I’ve only ever had Landmine, Skullgrin, and Doubleheader, but I’ve always really liked them. The Power of the Primes versions are okay, but I’d love to see the entire Prentenders lineup updated.

[@daverage4729]

Damn, I always wanted Landmine and Doubleheader. Very cool figures.

[@kinnikuman-devilman_fan_2002]

You mean like some Masterpiece versions?? Yep, I'd love to see that just like how I wanted to see a Masterpiece Rhinox front Beast Wars (I just love the Beast Wars toys sometimes, don't judge me.)

[@AllanInSpace]

Gavin, this effed me up, spiritually. I’m gonna need a lie down after this one.

[@ultimarx7772]

I love how when hasbro has no idea what they want a transformer to turn into they just move it around and just say “Oh look it’s a jet!”

[@danielbrant6740]

"Let me know what you think in the comments and I'll pretend to be interested." I appreciate the honesty.

[@EungsuLee]

Hasbro definitely needs to revisit Pretenders someday.

[@Loremastrful]

When they first came out I hated Pretenders, but after 20 years getting kinder eggs for my kids and nieces and nephews I 'very mellowed to them. The Prime Masters a few years back hit the sweet spot. Not too big too take up shelf space. Not expensive enough for buyers remorse. And the Deception prime masters color matched to the Terrorcons for an additional bonus.

[@entransta]

I'm surprised you were worried about people complaining about Skullgrin instead of Bludgeon

[@TRDQ]

Folks are horrible no matter what

[@battleupsaber462]

Gavin, this is a Transformers review channel, and those are CLEARLY NOT ROBO-ah fuck nevermind

[@jastheraz]

Dang you for making us wait for so long

[@thefirstguyjaek255]

I just want to say that you’ve got one of the best review channels I’ve ever seen. I know it’s in the name, but if you threw out a few longer reviews I wouldn’t be mad! Keep up the awesome work!

[@hirathemedicbird523]

Gavin you can't be releasing these bangers while I'm at college

[@ghidotheone]

You see, they’re monsters on the outside, but cute little robot monsters on the inside. It’s like, a simile, or something.

[@nandyk.2026]

the inner bots have a weird, near-nondescript japanese robo charm to them. i can't quite explain it.

[@NightmareZerogbs]

When I showed my girlfriend the Pretenders, she told me "what the hell are these?", which I'd say is the normal reaction to the Pretenders, but they still haven't grown on her, she kinda hates them, doesn't help that a misunderstanding about a dream I told her I had had led to the joke of her secretly being our reality's Ultra Magnus, which, coupled with how she bears a sliiiiiightly passing resemblance to Verity Carlo, who was Magnus' Holo Avatar led me to say that she may be Pretender Ultra Magnus. I'm surprised she didn't dump me right then.

[@Paul_the_Bookworm]

They've got the power to surprise!!!

[@mechanwhal6590]

They DO?

[@bradensmith8682]

I often wonder what 3rd Party and Modern Hasbro (WFC Trilogy Articulation and design) could do with Pretenders.

[@TransmitHim]

I'm still hoping the RED line expands to include some (as just the shells - let's be honest, that's the only bit anyone cares about for most of them).

[@ondururagittandeska2004]

well there is a rumour that Iguanas is returning in the Legacy line.

[@markrobinsontraining]

Stranglehold is Freddie Mercury, you know, The Great Pretender?! OK, I'll see myself out...

[@zoltanperei4789]

I can almost hear Stranglehold singing the Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@CaptainRufus]

Skullgrin is the GOAT. Just this crazy zombie skeleton beast covered in detail. No you can't have mine.

[@TRDQ]

Give it to me

[@CaptainRufus]

@@TRDQ No. Listen. You get to have all the Repugnuseses (Repugni?) And that fancy chibi God Ginrai. I get to have Skeleton Monster toy with liver spots. Its just how these things work!

[@bingbong3406]

Pretender alt modes are some of my favorite things ever theyre just great shaped weird spaceship things (which never gels with TF fans bc limbs)

[@TheSandwhichman108]

I bet the early pretender robot modes could work as protoforms for custom stasis pods.

[@CardboardBots]

Fun stuff

[@nancyleahcullen996]

Hasbro should remake this pretender toys

[@petermckinney6799]

Really enjoyed the vid. I have very fond memories of Stranglehold and Catilla. I actually think the pretender beasts were better than humanoid ones. I would buy modern versions of Catilla and Carnivac without much hesitation.

[@Hot_SpicyGrill]

Strangle hold is my fave.

[@MarcelinoSoliz]

I love them.

[@kinnikuman-devilman_fan_2002]

I love the Bat dude :D

[@Dylan_Cito]

Dude the robot of the first pretendor looks a lot like cibertron starscream :o

[@MellowGaming]

I remember borrowing a friends Bumblebee Pretender for weeks on end as a kid. The Bumblebee robot itself was genuinely decent and I would happily own just that, but I couldn't say no to a big shiny robust man to slide him inside. And you're right. the toylines could do with stuff like this. Cyberverse could totally get away with Pretenders.

[@UnprofessionalFlip]

I won't pretend to not be here for the puns in the comment section.

[@daverage4729]

Ahhh love the oul Pretenders. Sadly, they're the one G1 toy I can't see getting a new version (oh if only!) Defo will be watching as I had Stranglehold as a kid and he was my favourite transformer that I owned.

[@zilvertron]

They sorta had, but only as headmasters and small versions. Too bad though, as i would love to have the bat and Horri-Bull remade for more modern times.

[@Skullgrin.]

I feel called out by the Pedant Patrol bit...

[@TRDQ]

Haha

[@WarehouseWilgus]

Amazing

[@joyceperalta9701]

my fav pretender is bugly

[@TRDQ]

Nice!

[@leftygurl]

i hope the rumoured legacy pretenders end up happening, these guys are too weird to leave behind

[@Arro3]

I always thought Pretenders would be a good way to do more Double Spies like Punch/Counterpunch. The shell would look like a different robot, and could have a really basic transformation like the Mega Pretender shells.

[@TheSandwhichman108]

I don’t have any of what I’m about to mention but there’s this transformer pretender line you should look up called pretender beasts and pretender vehicles. There some of the strangest transformer toys I’ve ever seen.

[@AlexReynard]

I have a handful of inner robots. I think Waverider and Groundbreaker probably make the most convincing vehicles. But Submarauder, I bought purely for the colors. Mmmmmm, candy. I like to pretend his alt mode is one of those personal underwater scooter things? About the size of a wheelbarrow? The ones spies hold out in front of them and it pulls them along?

[@justinmontana3710]

I'm personally a big fan of the Pretenders. Exactly what you said at the end, Transformers has lost that spark of weirdness that a lot of later G1 wore with pride.

[@jarodnole4618]

I think it would be interesting if pretender technology is what led to being able to transform into animals such as in beast wars. The wackier gimmicks were always my favorite, headmasters, pretenders, mutants, etc. Id love to see all these things incorporated into modern transformers media (excluding Titans Return) just so transformers could say its alive again with innovation. Okay now that you've skimmed through my rant you promised you'd pretend to be interested, give me my attention.

[@TRDQ]

Hey that's interesting

[@thefalsescott1395]

But my question never got answered Can they hild there power of the primes selfs??? Also yes i will try and buy one just yo prove it myself if i have to And finaly cool episode as always

[@hasbrosbeforehoes]

I wish the shell was a little more posable. Other than that they're great

[@Takeshi357]

I feel like Pretenders have been grossly overlooked because their shells look really out of place in people's Transformers collections, but they weren't designed to be put in a friggin' detolf, they were designed to fit in with a toy collection of a _child_ who was much more likely to own a random assortment of action figures from a bunch of unrelated line. Take 'em out of your Transformers display and put them among your Thundercats and MOTU and they will no longer look out of place at all. Unless they're actually getting overlooked because of the naff inner robots in which case I haven't really got an argument, the '88 ones are pretty weak.

[@phoenixfurno]

Just started binging your stuff, but in your Beast Riders review, it sounds like there were reviews before that one. Where are they?

[@Kjellbot]

i love pretenders! transformers with biotech power armour, they're reverse mechs! what's not to love? the main flaw really is that hasbro wasn't too sure about designing their own transformers at that point. if the first pretenders had micromaster quality inner robots and the shells were a little more well thought out people would remember them very differently. certainly a gimmick that deserves another go with modern engineering. just a single one would be wonderful so we could finally scratch that itch, and then they can do reimaginings or call-backs or whatever.

[@jerardocontreras1572]

Here after legacy reveals lol

[@TehBellcarl]

Also how the hell do we not have giant marvel legends style figures of these guys? Is it really so impossible to take those giant Titan heroes soap bottle style toys and give them basic articulation? Give us a small core class dude to fold up in the back and boom. Job done. Or heck! Make the inner robots instead be weaponizers for the pretender shells.

[@joeymobb8438]

Skullgrin? I was wondering where Bludgeon is…

[@imaclappedboy2804]

Kinda why I liked POTP. Pseudo pretenders

[@Mo-fx2ud]

Hell nah they forced Freddie to be a decepticon :(

[@Brazil144hopeful]

When i was a kid i had one of those stupid things

[@edvinkaziunas5847]

Unlike the POTP ones these aren't all the exact same

[@isaacclarke195]

How much would I have to bribe you for to get my hands on Bombburst?

[@TRDQ]

Ten hundred

[@isaacclarke195]

@@TRDQ ...I’ll live.

[@Stomski]

All the kids are wearing bumbags like Stranglehold around their shoulder these days aren't they? Normally it's whilst struggling to listen to tinny sounding music from their pay as you go mobile and wearing socks with slider sandals. But whatever, point is, Stranglehold's a trendsetter.