Due to the subject matter, comments on this episode will be subject to a slightly higher degree of moderation than normal; I'll try to keep on top of it so things move fast, but even so, please be aware that yours may take slightly longer to show up!

and let's not forget pretty much every Starscream who is pretty much always in love with himself

Alas, Love was eventually slain by a cosmically-empowered Starscream.

"If they can hate each other enough to wage a war for four million years, there is no reason Transformers can't love each other as well" -Chris McFeely

Knockout doesn’t only have the “stereotypical” gay personality, he also literally catcalled Optimus prime

Arcee:*exists* Fan fiction writers: it’s free real estate

'Most transformers go through life without finding that special someone' So like real life

"Why... are they smashing their mouths together?" 😂😂😂😂😂

Disney, for the 238th time: "OuR nExT MoViE wIlL fEaTuRe OuR fIrSt OpEnLy GaY cHaRaCtEr!!!" Transformers: "Amateurs."

“If they can hate each other enough to wage a war for 4 million years, there’s no reason for transformers cant love each other as well” No better way to put it~

I never really considered Optimus Prime and Blackarachnia having a Batman and Catwoman relationship until now.

Nothing’s stronger then love... Except for Grimlock

I love how idw took such a logical step. Without the preconception of gender and with no natural instincts to entice them to procreate love in transformers is the most pure precious thing out there

Kinda disappointed that this isn’t a segment on Chris McFeely ACTUALLY giving me the basics on romance. Damn.

Transformers, where your favourite ships can be actual ships. In all seriousness I love the romances in transformers immensely and this is a great video to have today.

I mean calling knockout a stereotype is kind of an insult cuz everyone knows that Knockout is the hunkiest transformer of all time, I mean, as he said himself, he’s just “Juicy”

For all the dolts saying they're just robots and can't feel love... They are sentient beings. Mechanical or not, love can never be removed from the picture. What nature and shape that live takes just depends on the bot. They are synths without the skin.

Title: The Basics on Romance Kiss Players: I...am...inevitable.

Optimus prime x elita one Iron hide x chromia Knockout x breakdown Starscream x himself

I never understood the whole "It doesn't make sense evolutionary speaking" line of logic when in pretty much every Transformers universe, save for that one comic where they somehow evolved from the gears within Cybertron, the Transformers exist due to Intelligent Design not Evolution. If Primus, the Quintessons, or whoever want to make a race of Asexual robots that are able to feel love then who's going to stop them?

It's not exactly a romantic relationship, but Thundercracker was quite fond of his puppy dog!

Relationships is one of the reasons I enjoy IDW comicbooks so much. They portray the world of Transformers with so much more depth than robots fighting a war; they have religion, emotion, biology, concepts of gender & so much more. Thank you for covering this topic.

"Transformers don't sexually reproduce." Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I can hear someone on DeviantArt saying "That's where you're wrong, kiddo."

That moment when you realize Powerglide cheated on Moonracer.

One shall stand One shall fall.....IN LOVE!!!❤

Brawn and Cover Girl conceiving a child through bio-technology........... Jontron: "i have several questions"

Truth be told, I'd like to see someone actually tackle Optimus and Elita's relationship and not just relegate it to the background or make it not exist.

As an ace person this was such an amazing video! There is so little representation of the ace community that finding this entire franchise where being ace is kinda the norm and where being ace is depicted like we’re actually able to feel things like romantic love makes me nearly tear up!

I find it wholesome how even robots can find love, and they don't care about looks. Oh if only it worked like that in the real world.

Simon Furman: “All Transformers are male coded.” Future IDW Writers: “We’re about to pull a pro-gaymer move.”

To quote Patrick Star when he was selling chocolate to someone. "I Love You :D"

MTMTE takes the cake for me. Chromedome and Rewind's love for each other was tragic yet beautiful to read as the Crusadercons continued on their journey. I loved seeing Cyclonus develop and open up to Tailgate. His heartfelt confession to Tailgate, "I love you", damn near broke my heart because he thought he was saying goodbye. I also loved seeing Whirl open up around Cyclonus and Tailgate, and loving them as true friends. Honestly, I like the idea of love in Transformers, it makes them more human, more like actual people, and it gives a story in its own sometimes.

I'm a man that is married to a woman. When I first started reading comics where transformers were in relationships I knew there would be a number of pissed off fans. Personally, I really liked it. They're robots. They have no genitals. If two that you thought were male robots decide they love each other why should that bother you? They're robots. They don't breed and even if they did..... so what? Even if they did somehow have genders... so what?!? I like these relationships.

Rattrap: So I'm a tree hugger. Deal with it.

Charlie and Bumblebee had better chemistry than Sam who treated Bumblebee as his ‘personal property’ rather than his friend.

Honestly IDW did a great job at show casing these relationships. Cyclonus/tailgate and chromedome/rewind were some of the best out of the recent series.

Never knew Knockout was gay. But I should’ve known since I was starting to get the feels for him back in the day

If you don't think Optimus Prime is husbando material you need to see a psychiatrist.

Out of all the couple's reviewed here the one that surprised me the most was DRIFT AND RATCHET!!! I mean.... A gruff and grizzled medic and a solitary lone wolf samurai? I wouldn't have guessed.

Nobody: Not even a single cybertronian: Beast Wars || Strascream: I'M GAY!

Thank you so much for stating that sex and love are different things. Absolutely loved this video

I loved the quiet conservative couple of Tigatron and Airrazor, and the bad girl Black Arachnia and chilvarous knight Silverbolt of Beast Wars.

In my head cannon, Starscream and Skyfire were in a relationship before the war. When Skyfire was lost over earth, the trauma set Starscream on the path to become the Decepticon we all know. That was why Skyfire tried to work with Decepticons until he finally accepted that Starscream had changed.

"Whyyy are they smashing their mouths together?" - Strongarm, TRID, before she dug deep in the internet only to find... well...

“Sex and love are different things.” FINALLY! Someone who gets it!

Fictional transforming robots have better live life’s then me

I love the relationship between Chromedome and Rewind and Tailgate and Cyclonus. The IDW MTMTE comic being so embracing of same sex relationships actually helped me feel more comfortable with being openly gay irl. I don't feel like I could thank James Roberts enough for what he wrote in MTMTE and Lost Light, it's awesome.

Thank you. Transformers is not a hard sci-fi show, so people should stop with the “they don’t sexually reproduce” argument. And FYI they might mate in some continuities. Wheelie had parents.

TFW2005: *wait, that's illegal*

Me: Awww, this'll be sweet~ Also me: *GETS KISS PLAYERS FLASHBACKS*

It’s actually implied a few times here and there that transformers do have sex for pleasure. And in the bay films it’s implied that they do sexually reproduce, though it’s never explained how or why. But I do agree that it’s silly to argue that they shouldn’t feel love if they can’t have sex. Asexual people do exist in the real world and can have deep romantic connections, so I don’t see why it would be so far fetched in science fiction.

4:52 Elita one is not happy about this

As a "social asexual" human and a huge Tansformer fan who especially admires Transformers relationships for this reason, I sincerely appreciate your comments and this video! Happy Valentines Day! :)

Rewind and Domey legit made me cry a few times in my reading of IDW's first continuity. Which I have you to thank for, for making it breeze to step into IDW's world and James Roberts' amazing writing making him one of if not my fav comic book writer. [Ian Flynn on Archie's Megaman before him]. Frankly all the work James did with the Lost Light crew was very believable and at times very heart breaking. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia where the first Transformers I knew where a couple I was a little too young/dense to notice with Tigertron and Airazor. Frankly I never got why people thought love or romance needs to be tied to procreation. I've always been a very love is love and if it happens it happens kind of guy.

Ah, love was in the air..until taken offline by a cosmically powered Starscream.

TFP Ratchet x The Stuff He Needs Such a tragic tale...

Transformers has never been solidly science fiction. WIth its origins in children's entertainment, it has only ever been anthropomorphized fantasy. It's funny how many young men in the fandom seem to recoil at the notion of robots feeling love while never taking umbrage with the fact that these robots conversely feel rage - to a degree that they'd go to war. If I were to take a science fiction perspective on the universe, it makes far more sense that these beings would focus on singular connections with each other, as monogamous pairings make for evolutionary advantage. I know a lot of the fandom have invested in the fiction as a means to making sense of the world around them. That said, I don't understand why people can't afford room for people who aren't *exactly* like them to be represented as well. It's a big universe. Why not help everyone to feel like they belong in it?

Sadly my favorite couple is also one of the most tragic... Cliffjumper and Arcee from TFP.

Who doesn't like big gay robots

Strongarm: Why are they smashing their mouths together? That part literally made me laughed!!

You brought up a very interesting point that if these alien robots can wage war for millions of years, then having some fall in love isn't out of the question. As for my favorite Transformers couple, I'm going with BW Silverbolt and 'the dark poison of his heart' Blackarachnia. I'd also like to see more takes on Optimus and Elita-One's relationship in future shows, like what G1 and "Animated" were doing. Oh, and Happy Valentines Day Chris!

People complaining about Transformer romance in things like the comic now likely never saw a problem in G1, or Beast Wars. I saw a lot more incensed arguing about romance AFTER Rewind and Chromedome were revealed to be a couple. I'm glad IDW got to have same-gender couples. I was so excited when I first realised when I read mtmte.

I hope this starts a whole series of holiday themed specials. I can see it now: - American Independence Day - The Basics on Freedom - St. Patrick's Day - The Basics on Getting Drunk - Octoberfest - The Basics on Getting Really Drunk - Children's Day - The Basics on Annoying Kid-Appeal Characters - International Talk Like a Pirate Day - The Basics on the Obscure Marvel UK Storyline "Space Pirates!" - Australia Day - The Basics on Giant Robots Who Inexplicably Have an Australian Accent Despite Being From Another Planet - National Day of Sweden - The Basics on Sweden

Cyclonus and tailgate an chromedome and rewind are my favourite couples

I always found myself able to relate to Knockout form the Prime Series on a more personal level. I only wish that I too could look that good in steel belted radiance. Besides, having a doctor as a significant other is bound to have it's perks.😅

Seeing a girl kissing Optimus Don’t tell me getting another Gohan

Every time I see the robots in love, my soul is healed.

I was extremely happy when MTMTE and the latter-day IDW books started exploring gender and romance between Transformers. And I was very charmed at seeing Cyclonus and Tailgate become such a cute couple.

Simon Furman: Transformers don't have gender and can't fall in love. Also Simon Furman: They all use male pronouns, have emotions, and also Sludge falls in love with a human WOMAN!

This is a great take across a franchise which has had a lot of takes on the topic. Both interesting in the abstract, and really good at generally talking about "why" these emotions are part of the stories... as ever, really great. Thanks!

'most transformers go through lige without finding that special someone' *Looks down at my hands* : maybe i am transformer

4:57 FBI OPEN UP

I can’t express how much I love the relationship between chromedome and rewind. It’s so wonderfully written and adorable!

Not gonna lie, Chromedome and Rewind, though rather odd to me at first, definately was a tearjerker when I read MTMTE. When Chromedome had to eject Rewind into space, I knew it wasn't gonna end well. Thank goodness for parallel universes, am I right?

I love IDW Rewind and Cromedome's relationship with how Rewind is concerned about Chromedome's injecting himself over the centuries because of the grief he feels from the deaths of his previous loves. When Rewind died, and was later brought back from a duplicate Lost Light where things had gone differently, it was such a sweet moment when Chromedome sat down next to Rewind and wrapped an arm around him without even saying a word. I love IDW's Transformers story arcs as a whole, I hope I get the chance to read the new story arc with any luck. Being an asexual trans woman myself and having to accept that I'm more likely to be murdered than loved due to society's hatred of trans women and diversity in general then it does tend to hurt at having to accept that I'm likely to spend the reminder of my life alone, still I've got Transformers to enjoy so that's something. Also IDW Arcee as well as Anode being trans themselves has been great, it's nice to have some positive representation for a change instead of the usual bigotry 'humour' from the insecure and the hateful.

As a gay man I was DREADING reading the comments But you guys surprised me..l but then again this is a class channel so it makes sense the viewers are the same Thanks Formers ❤️

Skids and Nautica. Even it wasn’t a real love they could be a cute couple.

Cyclonus and tailgate is my favourite because they both are damaged as people and do hurt eachother but ultimately will do anything for eachother my favourite line from cyclonus is when him and whirl are discussing why they aren't together properly despite them all going to die he nonchalantly says tailgate will survive "because i'll split the world open and tear down the sky before i allow him to come to the slightest of harm"

That part about the Conjunx Endura is rather sweet. Many people today may go their entire lives without a significant other too.

Anyone who can be mad at robots in love has no soul and needs to take the stick out of their ass and trade it in for some imagination. I love seeing my sentient robots happy! SO SWEET!

What a great pick me up! My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this, being both avid Transformers collectors. Long live nerd love!!!!!

Not gonna lie I was a little disappointed that you didn’t do “The voice” through the whole video, still loved it though

It's a strange but welcome surprise to see such good representation from Transformers of all places

When I bring up my ships/pairings to my father (who grew up with the original show) he always said that Transformers can’t love each other and be in a relationship. (Or ‘make love’, cause that somehow got into the conversation one time-) I should show him this video.

My relationship was offlined by a cosmically-powered Starscream.

Me: Starscream Prime is just gorgeous!😍 Friend: You know Cybertronians are asexual right? Me: Improvise, adapt, overcome. Friend: And the size difference isn't exactly negligible. Me: Improvise, adapt, overcome. Friend: And... Me: IMPROVISE. ADAPT. OVERCOME.

According to the background lore, Lugnut and Strika were consorts. I was rather perplexed that Lugnut would have any time outside of praising The Great And Glorious Megatron.

5:20 I would love to see what would happen if Sideburn ever met TFP Knockout 😂

Cyclonus and Tailgate are my personal favorite couple. I legit almost had a heart attack when it seemed like Cyclonus was going to die protecting Tailgate in the hallway scene after Getaway set Tailgate up. I can't remember the exactly line but it was something to the effect of, "Goodbye little one". I was screaming!

That was a well handled Basics on a subject that some corners of the fandom seems to find reprehensible. That said, I’m glad I’m in the comments early so I can escape the vitriol that unfortunately feels inevitable...

2:25 I'm sorry but as sweet as this scene is, it makes me snicker for how hilariously bizarre the romantic couple of a lady and a boat riding into the sunset is out of context.

I think that's why I like the IDW comics so much. All of those interpersonal relationships helped add a level of depth to these characters. While not specifically romance related I always felt Megatron and Soundwave had a father/son sort of relationship in the IDW comics.

Chromedome and Rewind might be the best example of a transformers relationship. Their story is so engaging and fun. Im not ashamed to admit i was very upset during the overlord incident on the lost light.

You didn't mention the romance between Prime's Arcee and Cliffjumper! But happy Valentine's to all who have that significant other! Happy Friday to everyone else!

When you were talking about same gender relationships and how if most of cybertron was the same sex it would make sense, that gave me Steven Universe vibes for some reason.

Sideburn chasing after red sports cars in RID 2001 was hilarious to watch every single time.

Gotta say, Chromey with Rewind and Cyclonus with Tailgate are my favorite pairings in transformers ever, mostly because they're so well written! The hardships they go through, the tragedies and the joy in just being near eachother is unlike any other transformers couple I've seen so far in transformers.

Glad you included Kiss Players without your skin crawling.

Arcee is like the Elizabeth Taylor of the Transformers.

Cyclonus and tailgate are so adorable