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Triangulation

2012-05-15T05:50:24Z

112.134.203.225:

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 39
|prev=Tunnel Vision
|next=Triage
|image=Triangulation Starscream Apex armor.jpg
|caption= "I've never really had a taste for this kind of thing, but I must admit... I'm deeply enjoying the suit!"
|title="Triangulation"
|airdate=[[May 12]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Optimus Prime hunts for relics in Antarctica and finds himself caught between shifting alliances.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] notes that the second relic is in [[Antarctica]], and [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] volunteers to head there. In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] is about to operate on himself to insert his new [[transformation cog|T-cog]] when the ship's computer picks up the fact that the [[Decepticon]]s are dispatching teams to four locations. At the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] departs through the [[GroundBridge]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] announces he's heading for the Antarctic, and announces that [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] will need backup on his mission—[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]].

Starscream uses a GroundBridge remote control to head to the Antarctic on a [[hoversled]]. He's quickly spotted by Dreadwing and some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] who knock him off his sled. Starscream at first mistakes Dreadwing for Skyquake, and soon has some cuffs slapped on him. The group trudges through the snow to where the relic is located, to find it has already been dug out of the ice and is gone. The Vehicons start searching and find vehicle tracks. They're approached by Optimus, who demands the return of the relic, and the standoff quickly turns into a firefight. After Prime takes out two of the Vehicons and scores a hit on Dreadwing, the Decepticon starts breaking out heavier weapons, and proves to be formidable with a sword. They take a dive off a cliff, following which Optimus brings the ice crashing down, burying Dreadwing. With Starscream's help, Optimus takes care of the remaining two Vehicons, and demands Starscream lead him to the relic.

Optimus and Starscream take a long walk through the ice and snow until they finally reach a human base. Optimus radios home and gets [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] to evacuate the human base so he can safely retrieve the relic. Meanwhile, Dreadwing breaks free of the ice and heads out to find Prime. With the base clear, Optimus and Starscream venture inside to find the relic still frozen in a chunk of ice. They're interrupted by Dreadwing. While Optimus and Dreadwing fight, Starscream sets about liberating the relic, which turns out to be the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]]. Outside, Dreadwing has Optimus on the ropes and is about to strike when Starscream, now wearing the armor, crashes out of the building.

Both Dreadwing and Optimus attack the rogue Decepticon, but he swats them aside, repeatedly. Optimus suggests to Dreadwing that they will need to cooperate to defeat Starscream. While Dreadwing flies around, Optimus slaps a bomb onto Starscream, but the Apex Armor proves invulnerable even to that. Optimus realizes that Starscream still has a vulnerability—his lack of flight. While Optimus keeps Starscream's attention once more, Dreadwing plants explosives on the ground, and just as Starscream works out that the pair are up to something, the bombs detonate. Starscream disappears into a hole blasted in the ice. With no relic left to claim, Dreadwing and Optimus go their separate ways, though Dreadwing swears to terminate Optimus next time.

At the bottom of the ocean below, Starscream walks along, still protected by the Apex Armor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (10)

|c3=
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
* [[William Fowler]] (9)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (4)
|}}

==Quotes==
"What a team we make! I am so glad that you prevailed, Optimus Prime! That wretch Dreadwing was going to terminate me! Now, if you could just remove my bonds, I can lead you straight to the relic." 
''*Optimus cocks his blaster*'' 
"You will lead me there regardless." 
"Hmph! You're welcome!"
:—An excited '''Starscream''' and a totally thankful '''Optimus Prime'''

"I haven't had this much fun since I punched that hole in [[Cliffjumper (Prime) | Cliffjumper]]."
:—'''Starscream''' really doesn't know [[Partners | when to]] [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2 | shut up]] [[Armada (episode) | about]] [[Darkness Rising, Part 1 | that]]!

"I will beat the living spark out of you, just so I will never again have to hear you pontificating!"
:—'''Starscream''' says what he thinks of Optimus Prime's speech pattern.

"*''Evil laughs''* That tickled! *''Evil laughs''* Fools! Not only am I intelligent, I am INVINCIBLE! 
"Yet you cannot fly!" 
"Nobody's perfect!" 
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', the former enjoying the suit a little ''too'' much...

"Cowards! You will not escape my might! (beat) Wait! (beat) You two are up to something!"
:—Genre savvy '''Starscream'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Starscream is missing his manacles during Optimus and Dreadwing's first battle.

===Continuity errors===
* The Apex Armor was established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles| Exiles]]'' as a relic of Solus Prime; however, Starscream calls it armor of "Decepticon origin".

===Continuity notes===
* This episode happens concurrently with the previous episode and, presumably, with the following two.
* Starscream is preparing to install a new [[T-cog]] into himself at the beginning of the episode, which he scavenged from his traitorous [[Starscream clone (Prime)|clone]] after killing him in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]".
* Starscream refers to [[Orion Pax, Part 2 | helping Orion Pax regain his memory]] and [[Crossfire | giving information]] to the Autobots.
* Starscream mistakes Dreadwing for [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], who died in "[[Masters & Students]]", and he then attempted to revive him in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
* Starscream enjoyed [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|killing Cliffjumper]] and claims he will reunite Dreadwing with his "beloved twin".
* Dreadwing is still mad at Optimus for Skyquake's demise.
* Optimus refers to how he offered Skyquake a chance of redemption, as well as expressing remorse for the Decepticon's demise from "Masters & Students".

===Transformers references===
* The Apex Armor is a reference to the [[Apex Armor (G1)|item of the same name]] from Generation 1, first introduced with the ''[[Commemorative Series]]'' reissue of the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#ApexArmorPrime|Powermaster Optimus Prime]] toy and later appearing in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics.
* This isn't the first time [[Transformers (PS2)|Starscream has visited a research base in the Antarctic, and been at the center of it exploding.]]
* Among the tools Starscream tries to operate on himself with are a [[durabyllium]] drill and a Laser Scalpel.

===Real-world references===
* People actually do put flags around archaeological sites in desolate wastelands, in order to find them again.

===Trivia===
* Optimus still hasn't gotten Raf that snowball he promised to give him [[Scrapheap|the other day.]]
* This is the first episode in which [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] does not make an appearance.
* Dreadwing reveals that he has a sword. Whilst a sword has been shown to be included with his toy, this is the first time he has ever used it in-series.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Partners (Prime)

2012-05-15T05:24:57Z

112.134.203.225:

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 20
|prev=Rock Bottom
|next=T.M.I.
|image=Partners-ScreamPrisoner.jpg
|caption="What do you mean, Frenzy isn't red?!"
|title="Partners"
|airdate=[[July 23]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Mike Johnson]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The team is surprised to learn that Starscream wants to become an Autobot.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Partners1_Airachnid_Megs.jpg|250px|thumb|left|"Airachnid, fetch me my [[Rubber Ducky|rubber ducky!]]"]]
Aboard the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] confesses his sins before [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] and claims to have made peace with his position as second-in-command. He goes to the bridge where [[Airachnid]] is telling [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] about one of his indiscretions, a failure to disclose the location of the crash site of the ''[[Harbinger]]'', a Decepticon transport ship that crashed on Earth while containing an experimental weapon. Megatron orders him to lead Airachnid to the crash site to retrieve the weapon.

[[Image:Partners2_Arcee_talk_to_rock.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|It's like talking to Soundwave.]]
[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] stands at [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'s graveside and talks to her old partner, promising to find the Decepticon responsible for his death.

Starscream and Airachnid reach the ''Harbinger'' crash site, but Airachnid is deliberately cagey about what the weapon is they're looking for. She's impressed by the fact that Starscream was the one who terminated Cliffjumper, but reveals she knows about the fact that Megatron was planning to terminate him at the [[Stripped energon mine|energon mine]]. They burrow their way down to the buried wreck, and Airachnid accesses the ship computer to find the location of the cargo. Starscream warns that the signal might alert the Autobots.

Indeed, at that moment [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] alerts [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] that the base sensors have detected an ancient Decepticon signal.

Airachnid finds that corridor to the weapon ends in a stone wall. The ship broke in half before crashing, and the weapon is in the other half of the ship. Starscream won't tell her where the other half is, so she binds him in a web, and threatens him until he blabs. She leaves him there with the suggestion that she ''might'' come back, but runs into the Autobots in a corridor. Forced to double back, she drills her way through the ground, and is followed by Arcee, much to Optimus's concern. On the surface, Airachnid swiftly gets the better of Arcee, but Prime's arrival forces Airachnid to retreat in 'copter mode. Optimus reminds Arcee that trying to seek revenge for [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death isn't a good idea. [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] resurface with Starscream as a captive, and they're all surprised when the Decepticon says he wants to switch sides. Optimus, Arcee, and Bulkhead have a brief discussion and decide to take Starscream along, for now.
[[Image:Partners3_Starscream_Airachnid.jpg‎‎|250px|thumb|left|And the fangirls go wild.]]

Airachnid finds the other half of the ''Harbinger'' and pulls the experimental weapon, a staff, from its container.

The Autobots arrive at the stone arch. Optimus believes they should seriously consider letting Starscream join the team because allowing the Decepticons redemption will be important to establishing peace. He leaves Arcee guarding Starscream, and takes Bumblebee and Bulkhead to find the ship. As Prime's team approaches the ''Harbinger'', Airachnid begins opening fire with the staff, a weapon named the [[Immobilizer]], and freezes Bulkhead in place.

Starscream tries to convince Arcee that he's safe to let go, but inadvertently lets Arcee know that he was the one who killed Cliffjumper. He frantically attempts to convince her that is was a mercy killing, but Arcee doesn't buy it. She throws down the key to the cuffs so he can free himself and make it a fair fight, but he tricks her into getting close enough that he can wound her with his claws.

Optimus and Bumblebee take cover behind a rock, but Airachnid burrows underground, coming up behind them and zapping Prime. Bumblebee starts exchanging fire with the Decepticon.

As Arcee and Starscream fight, Starscream taunts her by asking if Tailgate was weak like Cliffjumper.

Airachnid gloats over her new trophies, but the dust kicked up by Airachnid's weapon strikes on a nearby rock gives Bumblebee an idea. He blasts the rock face some more, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Airachnid sweeps the cloud with the Immobilizer, and when the cloud clears, Bumblebee stands motionless. While Airachnid goes back to talking to Prime, Bumblebee sneaks up behind her and sucker punches her. As the Immobilizer is thrown into the air, Bumblebee shoots it and it shatters. Airachnid flees under fire from Bumblebee.

Starscream gets the upper hand in his fight against Arcee, kicking her around brutally. As he moves in to finish her off, she reveals she's been playing possum, and delivers a series of blows that brings him down. Arcee has her blades at Starscream's throat, ready to kill him, when she realizes that they're being watched by Bumblebee. She lets Starscream limp away and collapses.
[[Image:Partners4_Arcee_Starscream_fight.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|"You can trust this face, can't you?"]]

Back on the ''Nemesis'', an infuriated Megatron berates Airachnid for leaving Starscream as a prisoner of the Autobots. Airachnid claims that the Immobilizer was lost due to Starscream's incompetence, but Megatron rages that a "trinket" is nothing compared to the risk of the Autobots having access to all of the Decepticons' information.

At the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], Ratchet has repaired the Immobilizer and used it to unfreeze Optimus and Bulkhead. Arcee has also been repaired, but blames herself for chasing away Starscream.

Elsewhere, Starscream bashes his clamp bonds against a rock wall, shattering them. He realizes that he is now an independent, beholden to no one and flies off to consider his next move.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]] (11, flashback)
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] (12, flashback)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Airachnid]] (5)

}}

==Quotes==
"I have been a fool. Made mistakes. Monumental ones. I now realize I was never destined to be leader, or even an equal partner. And, I am at peace with that. I have gained a clear understanding of my place in the universe. Of who I am. Of who I was always meant to be. Starscream: second in command, humble servant to Lord Megatron. Thank you for listening, Soundwave."
:—'''Starscream''' speaks before Soundwave. Like talking to a brick wall.

"Oh you would do well to respect me, Airachnid. Before I joined Megatron, I was Air Commander of a squadron of Energon Seekers." 
"On Cybertron, and how many eons ago was that?"
:—'''Starscream''' tries to be hot, and gets burned by '''Airachnid'''

"Airachnid...what I wouldn't do to get my hands around her wretched throat." 
"So we can agree on one thing." 
"Oh, you have no idea. She showed up one day, and the next thing you know, she's acting like she runs the place. She whispered lies into Megatron's ear, maneuvered to remove me of my rightful place." 
"Well...she terminated my partner." 
"What?! She's taking credit for scrapping him now too?! That was my doing!" 
"What? You weren't there." 
"Uh, of course I wasn't. I don't know what I was thinking." 
"Who are you talking about?" 
"No one. Who are you talking about?" 
"Tailgate." 
"Who's Tailgate?" 
"You are the one. You extinguished Cliffjumper!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Arcee''' compare stories on Airachnid, only for Starscream to let slip about Cliffjumper.

"I have been a fool. Made mistakes. Monumental ones. But I have gained a clear understanding of my place in the universe. Of who I am. Starscream: aligned with no side, servant to no one."
:—'''Starscream''' book-ends the episode and goes rogue on us. What a shock.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Airachnid freezes Prime, his battle mask is drawn back. Next scene, he has it out again.
* When begging for mercy as Arcee pins him to the ground, Starscream's eyes (save for the pupils) are completely red (well, actually, just a bit pinkish, even). It does make him look even more scared, though. Until his next scene, when they're still like that.
* When Starscream and Airachnid are arguing in the crashed ship a piece of Starscream's shoulder goes through his chest.

===Continuity notes===
*Airachnid rejoined the Decepticons after the events of "[[Metal Attraction]]". Good thing that magnetism wore off.
*Starscream recalls how he did away with Cliffjumper in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]". And gloats about it too.
*Arcee confirms Megatron's attempt to kill Starscream from "[[Rock Bottom]]".
*Tailgate's death is brought up. His death was originally shown via flashback in "[[Predatory]]".
*Optimus has replaced the [[trailer]] blown up by [[MECH]] in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]" with an identical looking one.
*This is the last appearance of Starscream for Season one.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream claims his previous rank used to be the "[[Air Commander]]" of [[energon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. "Energon Seeker" is the [[Scientist (WFC)|Scientist]] chassis used by Starscream in the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' game.
*The [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]] is a weapon previously used by Decepticons, as well as the name for the [[The Immobilizer|episode]] it is featured in. Sadly, unlike the original Immobilizer, it was not invented by [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]].
*Bulkhead sarcastically refers to "lobbing with [[The Fallen]]". Lobbing was the game he played with Wheeljack during the latter's brief visit to Earth.
* This isn't the first time Starscream has wanted [[Starscream (Armada)|to be an Autobot.]]
*The cuffs used to restrain starscream resemble stasis cuffs.

===Real-world references===
*In another example of Starscream using human expressions, after listing his grievances with the Decepticons, he offers to "rat them out".
*"Be still, my beating [[spark]]" is a variation of the human phrase "Be still, my beating heart", which is most often recited after seeing one's romantic interest.
* Arcee giving Starscream a fighting chance to live by letting him use the key to his cuffs to free himself while she keeps her blasters aimed at him is reminiscent of the 1994 film ''Bad Girls''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rache'''" ("Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 3|3 February]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Társak'''" ("Partners")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 3|3 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Compagni'''" ("Fellows")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 3|3 December]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Alssi ui Boksu'''" (알씨의 복수, "Arcee's Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 1|1 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 30|30 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 19|19 March]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*This episode was dedicated to Captain H. L. "Larry" Cullen, [[Peter Cullen]]'s older brother, who served as a United States Marine in Vietnam and was the primary inspiration for Optimus Prime's voice. He died aged 70 on [[March 25]], 2011, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on [[July 21]], two days before the episode's broadcast.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/can-montreal/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=152438186 ''Montreal Gazette'' obituary for H. L. "Larry" Cullen.]</ref>
*Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on his aim if he can't hit Airachnid even when she's only a few feet from him.
*This is the first time in this series—and one of very few instances in the entire history of the franchise—when a character's thoughts are heard out-loud.
*This episode also deals with something that is often not addressed throughout the franchise: Starscream, for all his weaknesses and flaws throughout his various incarnations, is a very important part of the Decepticon war machine. Megatron is more furious at Starscream's (believed) capture than he is at the loss of a powerful weapon like the Immobilizer (which he dismisses as 'some trinket').
*Ratchet gains yet another Decepticon weapon to study in this episode. Maybe he'll bring one into battle sometime soon?

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]