i want to fucking tear you apart

i recently watched all of transformers prime and ohhh i am obsessed with megatron and starscream.

i fully believe they are really codependent and obsessed with each other. the way their relationship changes throughout the show is so interesting to me. starscream hates megatron. for good reason, because megatron is his abuser. and also because he envies him and wants to be in his position. for as long as megatron is around, starscream lacks control. he is paranoid and miserable the whole time because no matter what he does he cannot be free of megatron.

so he leaves, and good for him, but he lacks a support system so nothing goes right for him. he is still miserable, and he comes to the realization that he needs megatron. he needs his abuser. what a horrifying thing to realize.

so he comes back to megatron, and his perspective on him instantly switches. he becomes loyal, dedicated, hes so obviously desperate for approval. and i think this change makes sense, because his experiences have made him believe that megatron is his only choice. and megatron does soften up on him a little, even saving him from dreadwing at one point. it makes sense this would cause starscream to emotionally latch onto megatron.

and when megatron dies? he is sooo visibly distressed. he has clearly developed an emotional connection to his abuser, and isnt that so tragic.

ive been mostly focusing on how i think starscream feels about their relationship, because hes my favorite and i do find him more interesting. but megatron's feelings are definitely fascinating to think about, if you really sit with them.

the reason megatron doesnt kill starscream, despite obviously being able to, is because the writers cant kill off one of their main antagonists. but i think if you choose to take megatron's refusal to kill starscream seriously, it says some interesting things. i dont think his decision to let starscream live makes sense unless you read them as codependent. he does say that he has kept him around because he finds his attempts at overthrowing him amusing. so he does get something from being around starscream. i think megatron keeps him around because he wants someone to inflict pain on, and starscream is his favorite person to hurt.

in my head, these two are mutually obsessed. they resent each other but theyve also been together for so long that an attachment has formed between them. they are stuck in a horrible cycle and gotten used to it.