Transformers (TF) Thoughts: Bee's Fandom Characterization

Before everything, I would like to note a DISCLAIMER: All thoughts placed in this blog post will be my thoughts alone at this moment. I write as I feel, I feel and put them into words. Words I say now may change in the close or far future as I adapt and evolve much like everyone else. My thoughts may change tomorrow, but I write to let my thoughts out and process them. My thoughts process themselves as you continue to read. I urge you to read fully before stating anything you want to. If you would like to add thoughts on to it as well, you may do so. I am open to discussions.

SPOILERS FOR TRANSFORMERS ONE (2024)

Have you ever come across a characterization that left you wondering how people came to grow attached to it? You understand how it came to be, possibly even agreed on it at some point, but you are left pondering as to why the thought persists in someone's mind?

That remains to be my stand on seeing Bumblebee as a child, for lack of a better term as I am not that knowledgeable regarding how people view it, but Alternate Universes (AUs) of it do exist. (Please do not attack any of those who like this AU. If you do not enjoy it or partake in it, turn around and block the term/AU if you must. I do not condone hate and bullying; especially if it is not directly affecting you negatively.)

I, much like a lot of others, understand that in some continuities (mainly a lot of the early 2000s to 2020s) present Bumblebee as one of, if not, the youngest members of the Autobots. Which, in turn, makes a lot of people see him as a child, a teen, or at most a young adult. It appears cute when he coos with his voice box; It appears soft to see his optics express more due to the lack of vocal expression. But why did it reach a point that he becomes infantilized*? I do not bear any resentment for these AUs, nor do I hold a grudge on their choices to do so. Freedom to choose how one would express themselves and their likes and what-not. But I do remain curious and wondering how the thoughts persist.

Our brains are made to be creative and we may use that differently; this, I understand. I just wanted to let my thoughts out on the matter that it may not entirely be aligned with how I see him.

In the most recent adaptation, Transformers One, Bumblebee (known as B-217/Bee in the movie) was set to play as a character that was enthusiastic, energetic, and excited for adventure and joining his new friends. It was explained that he was set in Sub-Level 50, an unheard of part of the mines to the public, and that he was placed there for a time slot "between a long time and forever". Which would possibly imply him being of the same age or older than D-16/Megatron and Orion Pax/Optimus Prime; also Elita-1 by default. But in fandom characterizations, he's treated like a child? A baby? A newborn seeing the world for the first time. That phrasing on the last one could also be a metaphor; this one I agree more as a metaphor than literal.

I enjoy seeing B-127 experience new things and see things in a different view from the others. I love reading about how he has to get used to things with other Cybertronians again due to being stuck in Sub-Level 50 for an unknown amount of time. I even love seeing how he learns to get used to the others, how he warms up and gets more comfortable with the others like how a person would if they enter school for the first time.

It occurs to me that this characterization may be linked to seeing Optimus Prime as Bee's fatherly figure in most cases. It has also been explicitly shown in the Transformers Go! Go! Japanese comics as well [where Bee is an actual child and was shown in a baby wrap(?)]. Mayhaps my thoughts on this matter revolves mainly around TFOne. I do not particularly understand why he's viewed as a child there... In other cases, maybe I can understand it to an extent, but truly my thoughts mainly see him as a teen or young adult in need of guidance. This certainly does not apply to the Bumblebee of IDW and when he leads a group for a long period of time.

As of this part of my blog, I've come to settle with just letting the AUs be. I didn't personally interact with them, since I like filtering the content that I see on my feeds. However, if anyone would care to enlighten me on this thought, I'd love to hear! I promise not to judge and will be listening and responding with an open eye.

Much thoughts,

dee.

*Infantilize: to make or keep infantile (Merriam-Webster); the act of seeing and treating a non-infant as an infant ("infantilization"; Wiktionary)