I recall being struck by the serial nature of Transformers. It was almost like a soap opera. Things changed from episode to episode and sometimes changed in a very big way. Most cartoons end and the next episode acts like the previous one never happened. You had to watch all the episodes of Transformers to know what was going on. Starscream was an interesting character and his journey through the show was always changing. When he was exiled and then created the WW2 Combaticons who then rebelled against Starscream, that whole thing just blew my mind as a kid. I couldn't believe the writers were working so hard on the storylines. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen in a cartoon. This whole huge story arc-- and Transformers did this all the time.
I recall being struck by the serial nature of Transformers. It was almost like a soap opera. Things changed from episode to episode and sometimes changed in a very big way. Most cartoons end and the next episode acts like the previous one never happened. You had to watch all the episodes of Transformers to know what was going on. Starscream was an interesting character and his journey through the show was always changing. When he was exiled and then created the WW2 Combaticons who then rebelled against Starscream, that whole thing just blew my mind as a kid. I couldn't believe the writers were working so hard on the storylines. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen in a cartoon. This whole huge story arc-- and Transformers did this all the time.
I got good news, better news and great news for you.
The good news is, if you still like the series, Rhino is selling remaster versions of the G1 TF series in $40 to $50 DVD Boxsets and a remaster version DVD of the TF G1 Movie (which bridges season2 and 3 and it has aged well.
The better news is the Hasbro has released a very good book trilogy base off the original TF cartoon (season 1 and 2)/comic series. The first book is called is Hardwired by Scott Ciecin and book two is Annihilation by David Cian. The third book will be released early next year.
If you like Starscream, your going to love reading these books. In book one Megatron is taken out of action (he, Prime, Jazz and Bluestreak are kidnapped by aliens) and Starscream take ove command of the Decepticons, but the way does it, is he tells them his plan and they go along with it. The plan it itself is revealed fully at the beginning of book two and it is a very solid plan. But the ingredients for the plan may make you question his sanity.
They are:
1. Starscream and the rest of the Decepticons...
2. Go to and take over Las Vagas...
3. And begin in the TV networks for a Reality TV Show.
Also the action scenes and plot of these books are excellent (for book one at least). I have not finished book two yet. Also, Spike plays a major role in these books.
Now the great news is that the guys who made the X-Men movies are working on a live action CGI version movie based on the original G1 TF cartoon/comic series.
Like I said, I had good news for you.
I don't think I've watched 3 full episodes of Transformers, but for some reason if you asked me to name one it would be Starscream. What a great name. Seems to me, that's exactly what a star does.