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Partners (Prime)

2012-03-20T00:35:14Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{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'', Megatron is very furious at Airachnid, not because she failed to retrieve the Immobilizer, but because she left Starscream in the hands of the Autobots, knowing of a possibility that that Autobots will gain Decepticon intelligence from Starscream. It is then Megatron swears to Airachnid that she will be punished for deserting his second-in-command, much to her dismay.

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.]]

===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]]

Rock Bottom

2012-03-05T20:13:31Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 19
|prev=Metal Attraction
|next=Partners
|image=RockBottom-energonmine.jpg‎
|caption=That's Rock Bottom.
|title="Rock Bottom"
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Tim Jones]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Jack and Miko find themselves trapped inside a cave with Megatron and Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
Waiting outside [[Stripped energon mine|a mine]] opening, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] complains loudly to [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that she'd rather be at the [[Slash Monkey]] metal concert she's been looking forward to. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] emerge from the entrance, confused that the mine seems to be stripped, yet there's an [[energon]] signal coming from inside. While they're still discussing the conundrum, Miko runs into the mine to take a look, resulting in Bulkhead chasing her in and Jack persuading Arcee to let him go in as well. Moments after they step inside, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] land at the mine entrance. Starscream is confused as to why have they come to an exhausted mine, but Megatron leads the way inside.

Bulkhead finds Miko testing the acoustics in a cavern. While she's whooping and yelling, Bulkhead's detector bleeps, and he attempts to contact Arcee. The comms, however, are useless due to interference from the rock surrounding them. Bulkhead decides to get a sample for [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and begins breaking pieces off the rock he's found.

[[Image:RockBottom-Starscreamprays.jpg‎|250px|thumb|left|When this life makes you mad enough to kill.]]

Megatron and Starscream find [[Decepticon]] mining equipment. Starscream tries to blame its presence on an error by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], but Megatron plucks a chunk of energon from the wall and explains that he's been keeping up with Starscream's many plottings, thanks to Soundwave's spying. He's let Starscream continue until now for his own amusement, but enough's enough. Starscream pleads for his life...and it's this scene that Jack and Arcee stumble on. Megatron begins firing on the two newcomers and Starscream sees his chance to try to escape. Enraged, Megatron fires after him. Arcee takes advantage of Megatron's distraction and fires, causing him to discharge his [[fusion cannon]] into the ceiling, which gives way. Massive rocks fall on Megatron, causing the floor to start caving in as well, and both Arcee and Jack fall into a swiftly widening hole.

[[Image:RockBottom-Bulkheadpassion.jpg‎|250px|thumb|When you want something bad enough to steal.]]

In the cavern, Bulkhead protects Miko from the falling rocks.

Starscream, speeding through the mine in his jet mode, is hit by rocks and can only cry out as the tunnel to the mine entrance collapses.

In the aftermath, Jack struggles up to find himself alone in the cave and goes searching for the others.

Miko likewise picks herself up to find Bulkhead holding up a huge chunk of the ceiling from caving in on them. They have no idea as to what caused the cave-in, but Miko starts trying to clear the rocks away so they can get out.

Starscream pulls himself free of the mine and into the open air. He experiences a brief moment of triumph before realizing that Megatron has survived worse and if he doesn't make some attempt to rescue his leader, the other Decepticons surely will, which will mean problems for Starscream in the long run. Besides, he can take the credit if he succeeds.

Still searching, Jack stumbles upon one of the Decepticon mining drills.

As night falls outside, Miko is tiring from her work. Bulkhead points out there's limited oxygen, and she's using it faster by exerting herself. Despite Miko saying she has to get Bulkhead out, he says he's fine, though his creaking servos tell a different story.

Jack gets the mining drill working and begins guiding it to find the others.

Bulkhead and Miko hear drilling. Miko yells out weakly, and Bulkhead tells her to hit his foot with a rock to make a noise.

[[Image:RockBottom-Megstrapped.jpg|thumb|250px|left|When you feel like you have had it up to here.]]

Elsewhere, Jack uses the drill to clear a path only to uncover Megatron's face, the rest of him still pinned by fallen rock. Megatron suggests that Jack use the drill to finish him, but Jack doesn't believe [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] would want Megatron finished that way and drills off in another direction.

[[Image:RockBottom-Mikocries.jpg‎|250px|thumb|'Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.]]

Miko continues banging Bulkhead's foot, but a noise stops her and Bulkhead has to admit that his arms are starting to fail. She hits him a couple more times before someone starts to break through the wall. Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived as it turns out to be Starscream. Bulkhead asks him to let Miko go, but Miko refuses to leave Bulkhead. Starscream menaces her until Bulkhead gives him a solid kick. Starscream recovers from that, only to be knocked down by Jack's drill as it comes through the wall. Miko is quickly persuaded to hop aboard the drill, which she does tearfully, and the two humans back out, leaving Bulkhead and Starscream alone. Jack and Miko start trying to dig their way out, but Jack suddenly stops the drill dead as a large foot comes down in front of them.

Starscream is pleased. Now not only will he be able to rescue Megatron, but he'll have Bulkhead as a gift. Unfortunately for him, Arcee appears with a gun pointed at his head and tells him to raise his hands.

The Autobots exit the mine with the kids and briefly discuss finishing off the Decepticons. When they decide that Optimus wouldn't do it, they go home instead.

Starscream strains to hold up the rock that Bulkhead had been supporting when he spots Megatron leaning through the nearby opening. Starscream is reduced to begging for mercy once more and the Decepticon leader responds with a menacing look.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (6)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?" 
"Uhh—" 
"''Forever!'' And it's their only U.S. date!" 
"Well, there's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure Bulgarian shriek metal?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Jack''' discuss rock concerts.

"She went in. Unbelievable." 
"Really? Have you...met her?"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' watch Miko run into the cave.

"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream! I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced." 
"You know about that?!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' discuss the latter's endeavors.

"Roll out."
:—'''Jack''' being genre savvy as he activates some Decepticon mining equipment.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory—seize the day! Optimus would." 
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this." 
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus—the day I rip out his spark!"
:—A pinned '''Megatron''' is discovered by '''Jack''', who refuses to take advantage of the situation and kill him.

"Run Miko!" 
"Yes, run Miko! I would love to see you try! Really, I would!"
:-'''Starscream''' mocks '''Bulkhead''' before getting knocked down by a drill. Karma, baby.

"If you think I'm going to beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it!" 
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' unintentionally insults '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the cave-in begins, Bulkhead gets down on his hands and knees to shield Miko from the collapsing ceiling. In the next scene, however, he's standing upright and holding up a far larger piece of rock than he had been previously covered with.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead has Miko hit him with a rock to signal Jack. Either he's devoting ''all'' his energon to holding up the rock, or he's forgotten about his sound system.
* Not so much an error as a curiosity, but based on the day/night cycle shown outside the cave, at least 12 hours passed during the episode. In all that time, the other Autobots made no apparent effort to look for their lost comrades. Considering Miko's concert was supposed to happen two hours after the start of the episode, they should have noticed something was amiss when no one came back.
* Even though the sounds of robots stomping around and yelling should echo throughout the cave, Megatron and Starscream go completely unnoticed until Arcee and Jack stumble upon them by accident. Furthermore, Megatron and Starscream enter the cave mere minutes after Arcee and Jack, yet somehow manage to get ahead of them in the tunnels undetected.
*Bulkhead says that Autobots don't need to breathe, but when Starscream gets out of the cave, he coughs and gasps for air.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references the events of "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" while discussing Starscream's previous failed attempts at treachery.
* Starscream also refers to the events of "Masters & Students" when he remembers that Megatron has survived far worse than a simple cave-in.
* Miko loosely references the space bridge battle from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" when Bulkhead reminds her that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Transformers references===
*As Jack starts up the mining drill, he quietly says, "[[Roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's "Did I do that?" line is almost certainly a reference to Steve Urkel's catchphrase from ''Family Matters''.
*Starscream says "Rust in peace!" as in "Rest in peace".

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Unter der Erde'''" ("Under the Earth")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 27|27 January]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Omlás'''" ("Cave In")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 2|2 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Toccare il fondo'''" ("Touching the Bottom")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 27|27 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gwangsan Maemol'''" (광산 매몰, "Buried in the Mine")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 31|31 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 29|29 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 12|12 March]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Megatron seems awfully surprised that Starscream would run at the first opportunity. Did he think Starscream wouldn't care about his earlier death threat?
* Ratchet probably never got that rock sample. Too bad.
* Miko exercises her right to charge into [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|situations]] that almost get her killed... [[Shadowzone (episode)|again]].

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Metal Attraction

2012-03-05T20:12:09Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 18
|prev=Crisscross
|next=Rock Bottom
|image=MetalAttraction-stuck.jpg
|caption= Sadly, they don't fuse into [[Tigerhawk|a powerful being.]]
|title="Metal Attraction"
|airdate=[[July 9]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots try to claim a magnetic weapon called a "polarity gauntlet" before the Decepticons get to it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MetalAttraction-JackJuneEep.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jack discovers his mother's startling fetish.]]
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports to [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that there's an incoming vehicle, which they initially assume to be a [[Decepticon]], but they relax when it turns out to be [[June Darby]] in her car. Jack's less than enthusiastic that his mother's come to check up on him ''again'', but the mood changes when Ratchet detects an unusual magnetic flux.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_BD_optic_patch.jpg|thumb|right|300px|YOU ARE A PIRATE.]]
[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has also picked up the magnetic signature, which [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] recognizes as a Decepticon weapon. [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] volunteers to secure the invention. Megatron is skeptical of Breakdown's abilities following [[Operation: Breakdown|certain recent events]], but Breakdown insists.

[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] arrive back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but their high spirits drop when they realize Jack's mom is there. Arcee and Jack prepare to go conduct a routine diagnostic, but June's questioning about how safe it will be makes Arcee irritated. Ratchet asks Bulkhead to go and investigate the magnetic disturbance, and when Miko announces she's going too, Bulkhead is obliged to tell her to stay at base. Finally, June's questions become too much for Arcee, and she opts to go with Bulkhead.

In a desert area, Breakdown breaks apart some rocks to find the device he's after. No sooner has he picked it up than [[Airachnid]] puts in an appearance, clouts him and grabs the weapon. Breakdown recovers quickly and begins fighting Airachnid, until she burrows up from beneath the earth and drags him down, leaving him buried. She picks up the device and is ready to leave, when Breakdown pulls himself free of the ground, and the pair charge at each other.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_tag_team.jpg‎|thumb|left|300px|"How many attraction jokes do you think we can come up with?" "A lot, Bulkhead."]]

Arcee and Bulkhead trudge through the rocks, discussing how Jack's mom is a killjoy, and Miko, who has quietly tagged along, asks if they can ban her from the base. Arcee calls for a [[GroundBridge]], but Miko talks her out of it, then requests Bulkhead play some rock music. Arcee tells him to shut it off, as it's not exactly stealthy, and they soon find Breakdown and Airachnid fighting. Leaving Miko a safe distance behind, the two Autobots leap into combat, surprising Airachnid, who has just gotten the upper hand. Bulkhead tosses Arcee into the air, and she shoots at the pair before charging at Breakdown, but Airachnid insists on facing Arcee herself. After a few minutes' fighting, Bulkhead and Arcee overcome their opponents, but Breakdown grabs the weapon and activates it. Warning him that it isn't a toy, Airachnid retreats underground, and Arcee and Bulkhead find themselves being dragged towards each other. The weapon hoists them into the air before slamming them back against some rocks. Satisfied, Breakdown transforms to return to the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Miko finds [[Miko's phone|her phone]] stuck to Bulkhead's chest and Arcee stuck to Bulkhead's back.

Driving along a road, Breakdown is ambushed and entangled in a web.

Ratchet realizes that the weapon Breakdown has is a [[polarity gauntlet]] and says their best bet to get Arcee unstuck is to get the gauntlet back. Arcee insists on Miko returning to base, and Miko complains loudly that she sounds just like Jack's mom, which June naturally hears over the comm link.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_Airachnid_gauntlet.jpg‎ |thumb|right|300px|"Ooh, shiny."]]

At an old gas station, Airachnid tries on the gauntlet. Breakdown, securely webbed to the side of the building, suggests they could take it back to Megatron together, but she's not keen on rejoining the Decepticons and thinks the gauntlet will be perfect for keeping everyone else away. Bulkhead trudges up to the gas station to confront Airachnid, who tells him to put his hands up and turn around. He does so, and Arcee promptly opens fire, managing to shoot the gauntlet out of Airachnid's hand. The device activates and drags everything metal towards it, including Breakdown, who is pulled free of the webbing and shuts the gauntlet down. Bulkhead and Arcee begin awkwardly fighting Breakdown and Airachnid. Bulkhead manages to deck Breakdown and turns to face Arachnid, but then Breakdown uses the gauntlet to drop an oil derrick on the 'Bots.

Pinned under an unconscious Bulkhead, Arcee is menaced by Airachnid. Fortunately, Bulkhead comes around in time, and the pair stand up, now separated. Arcee attacks Breakdown, but Bulkhead finds himself no match for Airachnid, who grabs the gauntlet and uses it to draw Arcee to her. Bulkhead blasts Breakdown into another oil derrick, while Arcee and Airachnid fight. Arcee eventually gets possession of the gauntlet and uses it to polarize everyone so that they repel metal. Airachnid uses her webbing to snatch the gauntlet back and transforms to escape, but Bulkhead grabs onto her helicopter mode and throws her into Breakdown. With the gauntlet secured, Arcee and Bulkhead head back to base, where they give it to Ratchet, and June apologizes for being overprotective.

On the ''Nemesis'', Megatron is unhappy when Breakdown returns apparently empty-handed, but Breakdown reveals he has Airachnid stuck to his back. Airachnid tells an amused Megatron that she is happy to return.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (7)
*[[Airachnid]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (12)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)

}}

==Quotes==
'''June''': So... where's Optimus? 
'''Ratchet''': On a scouting mission with Bumblebee. Sorry to disappoint. 
'''June''': And I wore heels and everything... 
'''Jack''': MOM!
:—June makes Ratchet and Jack uncomfortable with a few choice words.

"Allow me to redeem myself, master. What I have lost... is a constant reminder that I must never again fail you."
:—'''Breakdown''' rather darkly references his new eyepatch.

"It was a lovely burial."
:—'''Airachnid''' says after literally putting Breakdown six feet under...

"A scout should be silent but deadly."
:—'''Arcee''' unwittingly makes Bulkhead and Miko's day.

"Still up for a truce, muscles?" 
"Only because I hate Bulkhead more than I hate you."
:—'''Airachnid''' and '''Breakdown''' decide to look at the bigger picture.

'''Megatron''': Breakdown, you dare to return empty-handed?! 
'''Breakdown''': No, Master. 
''[Turns around, revealing Airachnid magnetized to his back]'' 
'''Megatron''': Airachnid... it has been some time. 
'''Airachnid''': Lord Megatron... what can I say? It's good to be back.
:—The Decepticons get an unexpected addition... and an expected pun.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Cellphones are primarily made of plastic, which is not attracted to magnetic objects. The gauntlet also took Miko's change, which is also not magnetic. Yet the gauntlet didn't attract Miko's belt buckle or earrings. Huh.
* A magnetic field that powerful should have wiped out Miko's phone.
* When Arcee is stuck to Bulkhead, she can still move her arms and legs. If the magnetic force were strong enough to hold her to him, her limbs would also have been stuck.

===Continuity errors===
* Mere moments after Bulkhead states that he is polarised and can’t touch metal, he grabs Airachnid out of the air and throws her at Breakdown. Is she not made of metal, or did the gauntlet's effects wear off that fast?
** To be fair, Airachnid was not polarized.

===Continuity notes===
*Breakdown was bested by humans and lost his right optic in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".

===Transformers references===
*After Breakdown volunteers to retrieve the weapon, Megatron retorts, "If you can be bested by mere humans, [[Furmanism|what chance do you have]] against the Autobots?"
* At the end of the episode, Arcee gives Ratchet the magnet. If he uses it himself, he would not be [[Ratchet (Animated)|the first Ratchet to use a magnet as a weapon and tool.]]

===Real-world references===
* The episode title appears to be a belabored nod to the film ''[[wikipedia:Fatal Attraction|Fatal Attraction]]''.
* Bulkhead and Arcee appear to perform a [[wikipedia:Fastball Special|Fastball Special]] in combat. [[Along Came a Spider#Real-world references|This is not the first time a Bulkhead has used this move.]]
*The Gauntlet clearly draws inspiration form the Omni-Tool from Mass Effect.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Metallische Anziehung'''" ("Metal Attraction")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 20|20 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Attrazione tra metalli'''" ("Attraction Between Metals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jaseok Mugi'''" (자석 무기, "Magnetic Weapon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25|25 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 28|28 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 5|5 March]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*Breakdown's new optic patch was hinted at during [[BotCon 2011]] when an artist from the series was requested to sketch Breakdown by [[Chris Ho|a certain Transformers fan]]: the artist asked what [[Operation: Breakdown|episode]] had just been screened, thought for a moment, and soon provided an image of Breakdown with an optic patch.<ref>Vangelus revealed this during the [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/wtf-tfw-transformers-podcast/422249-wtf-primetime-14-operation-breakdown-june-22-2011-a.html "Operation: Breakdown"] episode of TFW2005's "WTF Primetime" podcast</ref>
*During this episode's original airing, the [[commercial bumper]]s were backwards: "we now return" was played at the start of each break and "we'll be right back" was played at the end.
*As of this episode, we finally have a mention of Jack's father having left him and June.
*Apparently, Miko [[Shadowzone (episode)|didn't learn her lesson]] as she followed Bulkhead and Arcee. Although this time, she only followed them to get away from Jack's mother, so otherwise, she probably would have stayed put.

==External links==
<references />

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Silverbolt (Fuzor)

2012-03-05T02:19:57Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign names */

{{factions|predacon|maximal|maximalbm|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Silverbolt}}
:''Silverbolt is a [[Maximal]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Continuity family|continuity family]].''

[[Image:Silverboltfuzor.jpg|right|350px|thumb|He was on "The Daily Show" before Jon Stewart. For real.]]
"Pure, strong, and fast," '''Silverbolt''''s sense of right and wrong is so overdeveloped his fellow Maximals wonder if his programming has a glitch. He speaks in lofty platitudes of chivalry, nobility, and idealized heroism; his speeches make even [[Optimus Primal]] roll his optics. His conviction is both his strength and his weakness. He sees the world in black and white—and not just because his beast mode is partly canine. The only gray area for Silverbolt is [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. His fierce love for the "evil" [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] causes him to question his preconceived notions of right and wrong. He was very proud of his ability to convert Blackarachnia to the Maximals, and, though most of the Maximals are skeptical of her loyalty to the cause and to him, he has nothing but faith in her.

{{bigquote|Though threatening your own comrade is no doubt business as usual in the Predacon guide to villainy... it is simply unacceptable behavior in ''my'' book!|Silverbolt|"[[Bad Spark]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (English), [[Mitsuo Iwata]] (Japanese), [[Bruno Rocha]] (Portuguese) [[Marco Pagani]] (Italian), [[Pierre Forest]] (French), [[César Soto]] (Latin American Spanish)

[[Image:Coming of the Fuzors 1 Megatron fuzors.jpg|left|250px|thumb|The more you know! ''(da da da daaaaa)'']]
The explosion caused by the destruction of the [[Vok]] [[Planet Buster]] sent all [[stasis pod]]s crashing to Earth. Some pods' scanners were damaged in the shock wave and eventual crash-landing, resulting in the Fuzors, a blend of two beast forms and the advanced Transmetal technology. One of these Fuzors was the winged wolf Silverbolt, while his neighbor was the violent, psychotic cobra-scorpion [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]], who immediately picked a fight with the peaceful Silverbolt upon their activation. The fight was interrupted by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who tricked both Fuzors and recruited them into the Predacons. Silverbolt felt the faction's activation code and Megatron's orders to attack the passing [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] to be distasteful (seeing how the cat had not attacked them), earning furious punishment from the Predacon leader. Soon, he and the other Predacons faced the remaining Maximals in battle. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}}

Silverbolt and [[Waspinator]] were sent on to attack the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' directly, only for Silverbolt to be shot down by the ship's auto-guns. To his surprise, the Maximals took him back to their base for repairs, rather than finish him off. This act of compassion and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]'s own admission of defection led him to make an important decision and he joined the Maximals, saving the newly reborn [[Optimus Primal]] from Megatron. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Tangled Web Silverbolt.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Brave, strong, fast ... and never without utensils.]]
Soon afterwards, while on patrol with the much more laid-back [[Rattrap]] (who spent a lot of the time pointedly ignoring Silverbolt's lines of honor and virtue), Silverbolt encountered the alluring Blackarachnia when [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and Quickstrike were attempting to set up a forward base. She was somewhat surprised by his complete refusal to strike her simply because she was a female and used it to her advantage to attack him. However, the Maximal had no such compunction against fighting the coarse Quickstrike. {{storylink|Tangled Web|Tangled Web}}

During another mission, Silverbolt was shot down by Waspinator, who was prevented from taking the Maximal away by Rattrap. Silverbolt was able to return to base to fetch Optimus, and the pair were in time to prevent Dinobot, who had attempted to defect back to the Predacons, from being slagged by Megatron. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} Silverbolt and Optimus arrived at an alien site unfortunately much too late to prevent [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] from being abducted. They returned to the alien site later, and were blasted by an [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]] which appeared there. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Silverbolt and Cheetor, recovering quickly from the blast by virtue of their [[Transmetal]] properties, returned to the ''Axalon'' carrying [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and Dinobot. They would later take part in a diversionary assault on the Metal Hunter in order to allow Rattrap and Tarantulas to slip inside and rescue Primal. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BadSpark battle-damaged Silverbolt.jpg|left|thumb|270px|Blackarachnia likes it rough.]]
The discovery of a stasis pod containing [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] led Silverbolt to once again encounter the dark temptress Blackarachnia, who was less than amused that he refused to fight her. After an energon explosion blasted them both across the jungle, damaging Silverbolt's wings, they were forced to journey together by foot. Silverbolt saved Blackarachnia from a [[saber-toothed cat|saber-toothed tiger]], and she in turn saved him from a nasty fall, however he was unable to get her admit there was any sort of Maximal goodness lurking within her. They soon encountered Protoform X, and Blackarachnia helped the Maximals defeat it, but was knocked off the cliff. Silverbolt once again came to her rescue, despite her protests that she didn't need help. {{storylink|Bad Spark}}

Though not having known Dinobot for long, Silverbolt took part in his funeral. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} While searching for a Predacon jamming tower, Silverbolt protected a stasis pod from [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]. The pod contained a strange mutated Transformer which would later be dubbed [[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]]. Silverbolt appealed to Transmutate that the Maximals offered it friendship, however Transmutate fell in with the Predacons, swayed by Rampage. Transmutate led Silverbolt into a trap, allowing Rampage and Inferno to damage the Fuzor, but joined the Maximals following a rescue mounted by Optimus. Though the other Maximals wanted to put Transmutate into stasis lock, Silverbolt argued strongly against it. After Transmutate was accidentally destroyed by Rampage and Silverbolt who were fighting over the creature, Silverbolt was anguished, and told the other Maximals to leave Rampage to mourn. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

Silverbolt found himself reluctantly sneaking off to meet with Blackarachnia, providing her with a [[graviton generator]] for the hoversled she was building. Despite his secrecy, the other Maximals seemed all aware of what he was up to, with Rattrap insinuating all sorts of activities. The Maximals were joined by a Predacon secret agent, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who invited them to help him capture Megatron. During their attack on the ''Darksyde'', Silverbolt again refused to attack Blackarachnia, allowing her to leave the field of battle, much to Primal's annoyance. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}}

Though Cheetor was assigned the task of bringing Blackarachnia in, Silverbolt rendered his fellow Maximal unconscious, himself going to find Blackarachnia. Locating her in pursuit of Waspinator, he pleaded with her to join the Maximals, and refused to leave until she did, even after she shot him in the thigh. While they were distracted, the hoversled hit Waspinator, forcing Silverbolt to once again save a disgusted Blackarachnia. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}} He subsequently aided her in digging into the side of a [[Mount St. Hilary|mountain]], to discover within the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. When Megatron arrived, Silverbolt was the playing card to convince Blackarachnia to open the doors to the Ark and allow him inside. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

[[Image:BWSilverbolt Blackarachnia OptimalSituation.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Damn you, [[Salazar]]! DAMN YOU, SALAZAAAARRR!]]
Soon after, when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was injured enough to cause a time storm, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt used the Ark's systems to start repairs on the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. Silverbolt helped his fellow Maximals defend the Ark against Megatron and, a short time later, stumbled on Blackarachnia who had been shot by the Predacon leader during his escape. Silverbolt cradled Blackarachnia in his arms, delivering a long melodramatic speech and howling when she went offline... only for the others to point out that she was just in [[stasis lock]] and would be fine once she got some repairs. With the loss of the ''Axalon'', the Maximals moved in to the cavern housing the Ark. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

He and Blackarachnia would hang out on sentry duty together. {{storylink|Deep Metal}} Sent on another mission, Silverbolt delivered Rattrap in a [[subaquatic stealth vessel]] to salvage [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] from the remains of the ''Axalon''. Though Rattrap retrieved the module, the pair ran into trouble in the form of the Predacons, and were ultimately prevented from getting away clean when they literally ran into [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

When Cheetor seemed to be developing a crush on Blackarachnia, Silverbolt made no secret of his jealously, especially when the pair were assigned a mission together without him. Cheetor and Blackarachnia quickly got into danger, attacked by Tarantulas and some [[cyber raptor]]s, and naturally Silverbolt was first to come to their aid. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}} Cheetor would later go missing after a dangerous mission with Depth Charge. Though he joined in the search, Silverbolt was jealous at Blackarachnia's apparent concern for their comrade. Confronted by a feral beast, Silverbolt and Rattrap were surprised to be told by Primal that it was Cheetor, upgraded into a [[Transmetal 2]] form by Megatron's [[transmetal driver]]. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

The Maximals investigated the possibility of removing Blackarachnia's Predacon shell program, causing her to flee into the woods. Silverbolt convinced Rattrap not to tell the others, so he could find her personally, only to get in the middle of a fight between Blackarachnia and [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]]. Though he and Blackarachnia managed to defeat Dinobot, she was still determined to leave the Maximals, until they revealed that the decision to go through with the procedure to remove her shell program was up to her. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}}

[[Image:CrossingtheRubicon Silverbolt and Blackarachnia in profile.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"There's only two kinds of 'bolt, steers and ''queers'': which are ''you'', boy?!"]]
Silverbolt interrupted Blackarachnia during an experiment she was attempting to undergo in order to convert herself into a Transmetal 2. The failure of the experiment caused her shell program to degrade, leading the Maximals to attempt the tricky procedure of removing it. Disruption caused by the Predacons caused Blackarachnia's death, and an enraged Silverbolt set out to dismantle Taratulas in retaliation. Though he swiftly defeated Tarantulas, Silverbolt was brought down by Rampage, who was about to finish off the Maximal when a revived and upgraded Blackarachnia arrived to rescue her boyfriend. Silverbolt was overjoyed at her recovery. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Silverbolt tongue out.jpg|thumb|right|230px|thumb|Space Invaders is serious business!]]
When Waspinator mounted a solo attack on the Ark, Silverbolt was his only casualty. The attack was simply a diversion to allow Tarantulas to deliver a device to put Quickstrike in control of Optimus Primal. The other Maximals ended up locked in a cage, bar Blackarachnia, who was able to rescue them so that they could help fight off Megatron, who had upgraded himself by stealing the spark of the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

Following the destruction of the Predacon base, Silverbolt and Depth Charge searched for the Predacons by air. They found their foe, however Depth Charge set off a boobytrap, which damaged Silverbolt. Despite his protests that it was merely a scratch, the fact that his head fell off severely undermined his argument, and Silverbolt found himself being escorted back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} He was repaired in time to help the other Maximals attempt to get the Ark moving before Megatron arrived with the newly-discovered ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. Though they failed, Megatron was still defeated, and the Maximals set course for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the Autobot shuttle they'd found. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

{{-}}

====''Transformers Legends'' anthology====
{{Note|This takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]"}}
Not long after Megatron combined his spark with that of the original Megatron, he had Quickstrike plant a device in the Maximal base. The device magnified the Maximals' aggression, and Silverbolt was soon trying to stop Rhinox from mangling Blackarachnia. After Optimus intervened, Silverbolt attacked him and was thrown aside, as Primal too succumbed to the device's effects. Luckily the Maximal leader was able to use his recent experiences to overcome the device and free the other Maximals, and they then chased Megatron off. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

{{note|This takes place during "[[Spark of Darkness]]"}}
Blackarachia was trying to persuade Silverbolt that it was all right for them to resume their romance after Megatron's apparent death, when they were attacked by a strange zombie-like creature. Silverbolt assumed the creature was a Maximal with its spark restored, and tried to reassure it that it was safe, only to be blasted by it. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}

{{-}}

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
''See also: [[Jetstorm (BM)]]''
:''Voice actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (English), [[Mitsuo Iwata]] (Japanese), [[Marcus Jardym]] (Portuguese), [[Massimo Bitossi]] (Italian), [[Helmut Gauß]] (German)

When the Autobot shuttle crash-landed, the Maximals split up. Silverbolt went with Rhinox and Blackarachnia. They ran into some tank drones, who used the de-evolving virus on Blackarachnia. Rhinox had to drag Silverbolt away. They met up with Rattrap, who was being chased by some more tank drones that infected them with the same virus. Because they weren't Transmetals, Rhinox and Silverbolt were paralyzed and their sparks taken out.

When the Maximals found themselves back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] running for their lives from armies of [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]], their memories of their past had been tampered with. Even [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] could not remember Silverbolt fully until she hacked into the memory backup on their ship. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

[[Image:Silverboltjetstorm.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Sadly, this was the coolest Silverbolt would get in ''Beast Machines''...]]
Blackarachnia began to suspect that Silverbolt's [[Spark|spark]] might be inside one of the [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]]. At first, she erroneously thought it was within [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], but after a mishap with some technorganic goop, Silverbolt's spark was proven to be inside [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (and Thrust turned out to be [[Waspinator]], whose amorous advances were tragically spurned by the arachnid chick). For a precious few moments, Silverbolt's consciousness was completely awoken within Jetstorm's body, reverting him to his old personality, until the goop was absorbed completely and Jetstorm's [[Shell program|shell program]] reasserted itself. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Obsessed with bringing Silverbolt back, she hounded Jetstorm, demanding he remember their shared love and return to the Maximals. Needless to say, Jetstorm was vexed by this. When [[Rattrap]] created a gizmo that would help them transfer the stolen Transformer sparks into new bodies, Blackarachnia stole it. Leading Jetstorm into the planet's organic core, she attached the gizmo to his back and trapped the Vehicon in a pool of the technorganic goop with her webs. After much screaming, reformatting, and brilliant light, Silverbolt was reborn as a condor, having scanned skeletal remains inside the cavern in the process.

[[Image:Silverboltbm.jpg|left|210px|thumb|...for he later became... Purplebolt! The World's Deadliest Peacock!]]
Counter to Blackarachnia's expectations, Silverbolt was not pleased. Gone was the Maximal who exemplified honor and chivalry, replaced with one who desired only retribution and vengeance. "I was a fool back then," he once said. "I ''believed'' in things." Distraught, Blackarachnia managed to convince him to come along with her to help rescue [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] from inside [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[Grand Mal|Big Floating Head]], but Silverbolt did not accompany her for their friends, as he was not interested in them. He went to confront Megatron.

Megatron, seeing that his General had been reformatted into a Maximal, tried to seduce Silverbolt back to his side. Silverbolt was told he was a creature of honor who fought for just causes, and that Megatron gave Silverbolt not only a just cause (the technological purity of Cybertron), but also the power and strength to fight for that cause. Blackarachnia countered at every point, pleading with Silverbolt to remember their love and friendship. Silverbolt ignored her, bitterly retorting that Megatron had given him ''nothing''. With nearly insane fury, he let loose a volley of feather bombs, disrupting Megatron from within. Cheetor and Primal were rescued, and Silverbolt was dragged away from the battle.

Slightly calmed, Silverbolt was later approached by Blackarachnia. He confided in her the real reason for his anger: it was not what Megatron had done to him, but that he'd been freed from his code of honor and ''enjoyed'' the experience. He did not trust himself any longer. This did not deter Blackarachnia. She believed, no matter what, that Silverbolt had goodness in his heart. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

[[Image:Wolf in the Fold Silverbolt infected.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Who goosed the goose?]]
Silverbolt's return to the Maximals was not without its hiccups, however. When he formally returned to the group, Megatron used giant mechanical drill-tentacles to damage the city and get the Maximals' attention... as well as activate a new strain of the ancient [[Hate Plague]] virus hidden in Silverbolt. After infecting everyone and nearly scrapping each other, they managed to cure themselves. Silverbolt was bummed about being used, but Optimus gave him a pat on the shoulder and said "Hakuna matata". Or words to that effect. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}}

When a spaceship was shot down and crashed into the city, Silverbolt was teamed with [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] to reach it from the air, and he had to endure the young Maximal's harsh words and attitude, brought on by the Hate Plague incident. Silverbolt fought against the [[Botanica (BM)|crazed space plant]] on the shuttle, then against a horde of Tank Drones in their underground base, and his actions finally allowed Nightscream to warm up to him. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[Image:Sparkwar2 Silverbolt beast mode.jpg|left|240px|thumb|"You are all ''weirdos!''"]]
After a battle against Thrust and his cycle drones, Silverbolt chewed Blackarachnia out for losing focus during the battle. Nightscream later approached Silverbolt to tell him not to be such a jerk to Blackarachnia, but Silverbolt wasn't interested in listening and flew off, pursued by the younger Maximal. The pair soon encountered trouble in the form of two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]. Though they were joined by the other Maximals, the Vehicon generals out-thought them at every turn, and they were only saved when Botanica intervened. Still, Silverbolt didn't fancy their chances against the new generals. {{Storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}}

During the search for the missing sparks, Silverbolt was teamed with Cheetor and Blackarachnia. Though he wasn't keen on taking orders from Cheetor, whom he regarded as a kid, despite Blackarachnia asserting that Cheetor had grown up a lot since the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. Eventually Cheetor was able to prove himself sufficiently to earn Silverbolt's respect. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}} With the discovery that the missing sparks were aboard the Grand Mal, Cheetor, Nightscream and Silverbolt set about keeping the Vehicons busy while Optimus and the others sneaked on board. They were too late to prevent the beginning of Megatron's spark-fueled ascension, though it was ultimately halted by Nightscream. Silverbolt joined the other Maximals in mourning the loss of Nightscream's friend [[Noble]].{{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:Silverboltblackarachniaseedsofthefuture.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Now that we've won, we can bang like everyday ordinary really ugly people.]]
Despite Megatron's apparent demise, Silverbolt was reluctant to renew relations with Blackarachnia. The pair's discussion was interrupted by an attack by a [[zombie]] animated by a strange red spark. The Maximals hunted the spark through the streets of [[Cybertropolis]], only for it to turn out to be Megatron after Rattrap forced it into the body of a [[Diagnostic Drone]]. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

The Maximals struggled to protect the Grand Mal and the sparks it contained, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Nightscream were sent out to wreak havoc in the ranks of the Vehicons in an attempt to distract them. The Vehicons eventually overcame the Grand Mal's shields. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} The Maximals received a power up from the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] and were able to hold their own against the Vehicons, until Megatron cut off their power boost. Silverbolt was taken out by Thrust, and Blackarachnia by Obsidian. Their sparks were subsequently torn out by cycle drones. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}} Though unable to aid physically, the Maximals gave Optimus Primal moral support during his duel with Megatron. Following the [[Great Reformatting]], the Maximals' sparks were returned to their bodies. Silverbolt's old personality reemerged—only for him to ruin the moment by saying the corniest line he could think of. And more power to him. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}
{{-}}

====''Universe''====
Shortly after the [[Great Reformatting]] of Cybertron, the [[Quintesson]]s invaded in full force, hoping the recent ecological and biological upheaval would tip the balance in their favor. Silverbolt and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] led a counterforce in [[Cybertropolis]], where they had little trouble against the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] armies. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:Blackarachniaabduction.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Y'know, his life would have been way easier if he'd just settled down with Airazor instead.]]
One year later, five great Autobot heroes ([[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]], and [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]]) returned home to a peaceful planet. Amidst a media blitz and celebration, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and [[Rattrap]] were among the Maximals to greet them.

However, what appeared to be celebratory fireworks struck Silverbolt and Blackarachnia and also the five Autobots. They were transported to the firey [[Pit]] deep within [[Unicron]], where all but Trailbreaker were rebuilt painfully into new bodies. Silverbolt was piece-by-piece reassembled into a version of his
original [[Fuzor]] form.

[[Image:Silverbolt tfu.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Angsty Redux]]
Seeing an arena up ahead, the seven moved towards it, only to be attacked by a swarm of [[Cauldron drone|shape-shifting, lava-like creatures]]. Though they fought, they were overwhelmed and taken into a nearby arena, the [[Cauldron]], where they were caged along with a multitude of Transformers kidnapped from across the multiverse. Silverbolt believed he recognized some of their jailers, such as variant versions of [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], but the being he thought was [[Tigerhawk]] wanted Silverbolt to know that he was, in fact, [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]]! The three (and [[Reptilion]]) were from different universes, and they oversaw the battles that took place within the Cauldron. Here, Silverbolt would fight and die, his extinguished spark meant to feed the damaged Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|Abduction}}

As Sunstreaker and Sideswipe battled, Silverbolt noticed another intruder within the Cauldron - Optimus Primal! Could it be? Silverbolt and Trailbreaker used this distraction to hatch an escape plan. Since their cells were tuned to [[Bio-mechanical aura|their bodies]], the two [[Primary system program transfer|swapped personality data]], allowing them to leave their cages. Freeing the others, they and Optimus Primal rushed the guards and headed back outside of the arena. Optimus Primal and [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]] opened a portal back home to Cybertron, which would have made a happy ending for Silverbolt, but instead Blackarachnia and Shadow Striker betrayed them. Corrupted by the [[Unicron virus]] that persisted within their bodies since their experience within the Pit, Shadow Striker and Silverbolt's beloved had finally succumbed to its demands. Blackarachnia bid a final goodbye to Silverbolt and pushed him through the portal to safety. Once Silverbolt arrived back home, he quietly vowed to bring Blackarachnia back into the light. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Okay, is it my turn to be evil again next?]]
Silverbolt joined several other of the escapees at the [[Oasis Research and Development Facility]], where a stranded alternate universe [[Ratchet (Universe)|Ratchet]] attempted to remove the virus from Sideswipe's new form with no success. He and Cheetor wondered aloud whether they could truly trust this resurrected Primal. Silverbolt noted that they'd all seen how the virus had corrupted Blackarachnia, and the same could have happened to their former leader. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

This conflict with Unicron went on for an unspecified amount of time, until one last desperate raiding party on the Chaos Bringer, which included Primal, Silverbolt, and many others. As they fought the armies of Unicron, suddenly, without warning, Unicron began to [[Unicron Singularity|dissolve]] beneath them. The Universe conflict finally resolved, Silverbolt carried away a presumably redeemed Blackarachnia with him towards a portal leading home. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Silverbolt was upgraded into a [[Transmetal]] and left stranded somewhere on [[Earth|Energoa]], far away from the other [[Maximal|Maximals]] and presumed dead by [[Rattrap]]. After [[Optimus Primal]] was reborn, Silverbolt could be seen staring poetically at the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] from somewhere on the planet. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

===Fire in the Dark===
The ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' crashed in [[Mexico]] sometime around 1,000 BC, and the Maximals and Predacons fought many battles across the land. After Tarantulas and Waspinator enslaved a local [[Natiltec|tribe of humans]], one of the young warriors escaped and encountered Silverbolt. Detecting the energon dust on the human's hands, Silverbolt tracked it back to a cave inside which he found the two Predacons. He swiftly dispatched Tarantulas, but was still struggling with Waspinator when the cave collapsed, and he was later forced to dig his way out. The Natiltec, who had been able to escape during the battle, dubbed Silverbolt "Fire-in-the-Dark", and inscribed the story of his great battle into a cave wall. The inscriptions were found and translated some three thousand years later by an archaeological team of [[human]]s and [[Mini-Con]]s. {{storylink|Fire in the Dark}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
Silverbolt followed Optimus Primal in fighting against [[Reptilion|Reptillion]] and his Decepticon forces. He engaged [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] in combat, but was probably defeated by him as the latter moved on to fight [[Striker]]. After the Decepticons were abducted by Unicron's ship, Silverbolt asked his leader just what that thing was. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM|Universe CD-ROM}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals'' video game===
{{Note|Silverbolt is only a playable character in the Playstation version of this game.}}
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
Silverbolt participates in a extensive one-on-one beatdown involving nearly every active participant of the Beast Wars. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[Image:Silverboltfuzortoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Watch out for my deadly spoons!]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Deluxe Fuzor, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-41'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right feather-missiles

: Part of the first wave of [[Fuzor]]s, Silverbolt transforms into a wolf with the wings, fore-legs and tail of an eagle. In either mode, pulling his tail activates a spring-loaded "wing flap" gimmick. Moving the wings far enough forward triggers their built-in spring-loaded missile launchers. Silverbolt's missiles are also designed to be held in his hands like clubs. They also happen to look like spoons.

: For his Japanese release as part of ''Beast Wars Metals'', Silverbolt's grey plastic was made much lighter, and the wolf eyes were given painted irises and pupils.

: This mold was used to make [[BotCon 1999]]'s [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] and Silverbolt's ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Redeco|redeco]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Maximal/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Silverbolt at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Beast Machines===
[[Image:Silverboltbmtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Guess why I was packaged in robot mode!]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Basic, 2000)
**''Accessories'': Wing-pack/sword

: ''Beast Machines'' Silverbolt transforms into a technorganic condor. His wings have a snap-together feature, and the entire wing assembly detaches to form a hand-held shield-blade for robot mode. His condor mode looks so awkward (no place for the robot legs to go!) that it is possible his real [[Alternate mode|altmode]] was originally intended to be a [[:Image:Silverboltbmtoygriffin.jpg|griffin]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Beast Machines Silverbolt at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:Silverboltbwrtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Like lipstick on a... condor... thing.]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Basic, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-10'''
**''Accessories'': Wing-pack/sword

: In 2005, the ''Beast Machines'' toy was [[Redeco|redecoed]] for the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' series in a much more [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] purple color scheme. He was only available at Toys "R" Us stores.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Beast Wars Returns Silverbolt at TFU.info (scroll down)]''

{{-}}

===Universe (2003)===
[[Image:Universe2003toy-SilverboltDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Admit that I'm beautiful. ADMIT IT.]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Deluxe, 2003)
**''Accessories'': Left & right feather-missiles

: A [[Giant Purple Griffin|purple]] redeco of the original Fuzor toy and part of the very first assortment of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' product, Silverbolt once again transforms into a wolf/eagle fusion. He retains all of his previous [[Gimmick|gimmicks]], but includes more paint applications this time around, such as pupils in his wolf-mode eyes and the lightning-like "energon surge" deco on his back. This version also adds an Autobot sigil to his tummy-gem.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Universe Silverbolt at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Metallic Beast Ramune===
*'''Silverbolt''' (1999)
:*''Accessories'': Feather swords (2)

:A non-transforming snap-together kit produced by [[Kabaya]], depicting Silverbolt's robot mode sculpted almost entirely from transparent plastic, with only the wings being opaque grey. Visible through the clear plastic is a chromed metallic endoskeleton and chromed wing feathers to play into the Transmetals / "Metals" theme of this product line (even though Silverbolt himself was, of course, a Fuzor). This figure was produced in two variants, with the chromed pieces available in either blue or gold.
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroessilverboltmegatron.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He will beat you to death with his mighty wheat!]]
'''Silverbolt vs. Transmetal Megatron''' (2008)

: Part of the "Beast Wars Series," Silverbolt comes packaged with [[Transmetal]] [[Megatron (BW)/toys|Megatron]]. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Maximal/RHSilverbolt/silverbolt.htm More information on Robot Heroes Silverbolt at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==Notes==
* In the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Silverbolt was not portrayed as a stereotypical "knight in shining armor" as he was in the West. Instead, his unique character quirk was that he was ''psychotically polite'' and always happy no matter what—even in the one scene in "[[Optimal Situation]]" where he thought Blackarachnia was dead. He ended nearly every sentence in a loud, stressed '''"desu!"''' which made every sentence of his needlessly over-polite. [[wikipedia:List_of_Rozen_Maiden_characters#Suiseiseki|Suiseiseki]] would be proud desu.
* According to various [[Hasbro]] representatives, ''Universe'' Silverbolt's colors (and those of pretty much the entire first wave of ''Universe'' product) were done by Hasbro employees from outside the ''Transformers'' team.
* Silverbolt's robot mode in ''Beast Machines'' was heavily designed after a traditional Japanese samurai.
* According to one of the [[Steven Melching|writers]]' commentaries on one of his [[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall|episodes]], he made the changes to Silverbolt based on the evolution of the Adam West Batman into the Dark Knight.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Silverbolt''' (シルバーボルト ''Shirubāboruto'')
*''French:'' '''Vif-Argent''' ("Quicksilver", Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Grifo'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Yín Láng''' (Taiwan ''Beast Machines'', 銀狼, "Silver Wolf"), '''Yín Shǎn-dìan''' (Taiwan ''Beast Machines'', 銀閃電, "Silver Bolt")
*''Polish:'' '''Srebrny Grom'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Rayo De Plata''' (toy, "Ray of Silver"), '''Lobo Plateado''' (cartoon, "Silver Wolf")

[[Category:Beast Machines Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Fuzors]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Trackers]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Rock Bottom

2012-03-01T16:10:58Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 19
|prev=Metal Attraction
|next=Partners
|image=RockBottom-energonmine.jpg‎
|caption=That's Rock Bottom.
|title="Rock Bottom"
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Tim Jones]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Jack and Miko find themselves trapped inside a cave with Megatron and Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
Waiting outside [[Stripped energon mine|a mine]] opening, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] complains loudly to [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that she'd rather be at the [[Slash Monkey]] metal concert she's been looking forward to. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] emerge from the entrance, confused that the mine seems to be stripped, yet there's an [[energon]] signal coming from inside. While they're still discussing the conundrum, Miko runs into the mine to take a look, resulting in Bulkhead chasing her in and Jack persuading Arcee to let him go in as well. Moments after they step inside, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] land at the mine entrance. Starscream is confused as to why have they come to an exhausted mine, but Megatron leads the way inside.

Bulkhead finds Miko testing the acoustics in a cavern. While she's whooping and yelling, Bulkhead's detector bleeps, and he attempts to contact Arcee. The comms, however, are useless due to interference from the rock surrounding them. Bulkhead decides to get a sample for [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and begins breaking pieces off the rock he's found.

[[Image:RockBottom-Starscreamprays.jpg‎|250px|thumb|left|When this life makes you mad enough to kill.]]

Megatron and Starscream find [[Decepticon]] mining equipment. Starscream tries to blame its presence on an error by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], but Megatron plucks a chunk of energon from the wall and explains that he's been keeping up with Starscream's many plottings, thanks to Soundwave's spying. He's let Starscream continue until now for his own amusement, but enough's enough. Starscream pleads for his life...and it's this scene that Jack and Arcee stumble on. Megatron begins firing on the two newcomers and Starscream sees his chance to try to escape. Enraged, Megatron fires after him. Arcee takes advantage of Megatron's distraction and fires, causing him to discharge his [[fusion cannon]] into the ceiling, which gives way. Massive rocks fall on Megatron, causing the floor to start caving in as well, and both Arcee and Jack fall into a swiftly widening hole.

[[Image:RockBottom-Bulkheadpassion.jpg‎|250px|thumb|When you want something bad enough to steal.]]

In the cavern, Bulkhead protects Miko from the falling rocks.

Starscream, speeding through the mine in his jet mode, is hit by rocks and can only cry out as the tunnel to the mine entrance collapses.

In the aftermath, Jack struggles up to find himself alone in the cave and goes searching for the others.

Miko likewise picks herself up to find Bulkhead holding up a huge chunk of the ceiling from caving in on them. They have no idea as to what caused the cave-in, but Miko starts trying to clear the rocks away so they can get out.

Starscream pulls himself free of the mine and into the open air. He experiences a brief moment of triumph before realizing that Megatron has survived worse and if he doesn't make some attempt to rescue his leader, the other Decepticons surely will, which will mean problems for Starscream in the long run. Besides, he can take the credit if he succeeds.

Still searching, Jack stumbles upon one of the Decepticon mining drills.

As night falls outside, Miko is tiring from her work. Bulkhead points out there's limited oxygen, and she's using it faster by exerting herself. Despite Miko saying she has to get Bulkhead out, he says he's fine, though his creaking servos tell a different story.

Jack gets the mining drill working and begins guiding it to find the others.

Bulkhead and Miko hear drilling. Miko yells out weakly, and Bulkhead tells her to hit his foot with a rock to make a noise.

[[Image:RockBottom-Megstrapped.jpg|thumb|250px|left|When you feel like you have had it up to here.]]

Elsewhere, Jack uses the drill to clear a path only to uncover Megatron's face, the rest of him still pinned by fallen rock. Megatron suggests that Jack use the drill to finish him, but Jack doesn't believe [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] would want Megatron finished that way and drills off in another direction.

[[Image:RockBottom-Mikocries.jpg‎|250px|thumb|'Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.]]

Miko continues banging Bulkhead's foot, but a noise stops her and Bulkhead has to admit that his arms are starting to fail. She hits him a couple more times before someone starts to break through the wall. Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived as it turns out to be Starscream. Bulkhead asks him to let Miko go, but Miko refuses to leave Bulkhead. Starscream menaces her until Bulkhead gives him a solid kick. Starscream recovers from that, only to be knocked down by Jack's drill as it comes through the wall. Miko is quickly persuaded to hop aboard the drill, which she does tearfully, and the two humans back out, leaving Bulkhead and Starscream alone. Jack and Miko start trying to dig their way out, but Jack suddenly stops the drill dead as a large foot comes down in front of them.

Starscream is pleased. Now not only will he be able to rescue Megatron, but he'll have Bulkhead as a gift. Unfortunately for him, Arcee appears with a gun pointed at his head and tells him to raise his hands.

The Autobots exit the mine with the kids and briefly discuss finishing off the Decepticons. When they decide that Optimus wouldn't do it, they go home instead.

Starscream strains to hold up the rock that Bulkhead had been supporting when he spots Megatron leaning through the nearby opening. Starscream is reduced to begging for mercy once more and the Decepticon leader responds with a menacing look.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (6)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?" 
"Uhh—" 
"''Forever!'' And it's their only U.S. date!" 
"Well, there's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure Bulgarian shriek metal?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Jack''' discuss rock concerts.

"She went in. Unbelievable." 
"Really? Have you...met her?"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' watch Miko run into the cave.

"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream! I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced." 
"You know about that?!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' discuss the latter's endeavors.

"Roll out."
:—'''Jack''' being genre savvy as he activates some Decepticon mining equipment.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory—seize the day! Optimus would." 
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this." 
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus—the day I rip out his spark!"
:—A pinned '''Megatron''' is discovered by '''Jack''', who refuses to take advantage of the situation and kill him.

"Run Miko!" 
"Yes, run Miko! I would love to see you try! Really, I would!"
:-'''Starscream''' mocks '''Bulkhead''' before getting knocked down by a drill. Karma, baby.

"If you think I'm going to beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it!" 
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' unintentionally insults '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the cave-in begins, Bulkhead gets down on his hands and knees to shield Miko from the collapsing ceiling. In the next scene, however, he's standing upright and holding up a far larger piece of rock than he had been previously covered with.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead has Miko hit him with a rock to signal Jack. Either he's devoting ''all'' his energon to holding up the rock, or he's forgotten about his sound system.
* Not so much an error as a curiosity, but based on the day/night cycle shown outside the cave, at least 12 hours passed during the episode. In all that time, the other Autobots made no apparent effort to look for their lost comrades. Considering Miko's concert was supposed to happen two hours after the start of the episode, they should have noticed something was amiss when no one came back.
* Even though the sounds of robots stomping around and yelling should echo throughout the cave, Megatron and Starscream go completely unnoticed until Arcee and Jack stumble upon them by accident. Furthermore, Megatron and Starscream enter the cave mere minutes after Arcee and Jack, yet somehow manage to get ahead of them in the tunnels undetected.
*Bulkhead says that Autobots don't need to breathe, but when Starscream gets out of the cave, he coughs and gasps for air.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references the events of "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" while discussing Starscream's previous failed attempts at treachery.
* Starscream also refers to the events of "Masters & Students" when he remembers that Megatron has survived far worse than a simple cave-in.
* Miko loosely references the space bridge battle from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" when Bulkhead reminds her that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Transformers references===
*As Jack starts up the mining drill, he quietly says, "[[Roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's "Did I do that?" line is almost certainly a reference to Steve Urkel's catchphrase from ''Family Matters''.
*Starscream says "Rust in peace!" as in "Rest in peace".

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Unter der Erde'''" ("Under the Earth")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 27|27 January]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Omlás'''" ("Cave In")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 2|2 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Toccare il fondo'''" ("Touching the Bottom")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 27|27 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gwangsan Maemol'''" (광산 매몰, "Buried in the Mine")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 31|31 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 29|29 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 11|11 March]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Megatron seems awfully surprised that Starscream would run at the first opportunity. Did he think Starscream wouldn't care about his earlier death threat?
* Ratchet probably never got that rock sample. Too bad.
* Miko exercises her right to charge into [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|situations]] that almost get her killed... [[Shadowzone (episode)|again]].

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Metal Attraction

2012-03-01T16:08:31Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 18
|prev=Crisscross
|next=Rock Bottom
|image=MetalAttraction-stuck.jpg
|caption= Sadly, they don't fuse into [[Tigerhawk|a powerful being.]]
|title="Metal Attraction"
|airdate=[[July 9]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots try to claim a magnetic weapon called a "polarity gauntlet" before the Decepticons get to it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MetalAttraction-JackJuneEep.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jack discovers his mother's startling fetish.]]
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports to [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that there's an incoming vehicle, which they initially assume to be a [[Decepticon]], but they relax when it turns out to be [[June Darby]] in her car. Jack's less than enthusiastic that his mother's come to check up on him ''again'', but the mood changes when Ratchet detects an unusual magnetic flux.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_BD_optic_patch.jpg|thumb|right|300px|YOU ARE A PIRATE.]]
[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has also picked up the magnetic signature, which [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] recognizes as a Decepticon weapon. [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] volunteers to secure the invention. Megatron is skeptical of Breakdown's abilities following [[Operation: Breakdown|certain recent events]], but Breakdown insists.

[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] arrive back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but their high spirits drop when they realize Jack's mom is there. Arcee and Jack prepare to go conduct a routine diagnostic, but June's questioning about how safe it will be makes Arcee irritated. Ratchet asks Bulkhead to go and investigate the magnetic disturbance, and when Miko announces she's going too, Bulkhead is obliged to tell her to stay at base. Finally, June's questions become too much for Arcee, and she opts to go with Bulkhead.

In a desert area, Breakdown breaks apart some rocks to find the device he's after. No sooner has he picked it up than [[Airachnid]] puts in an appearance, clouts him and grabs the weapon. Breakdown recovers quickly and begins fighting Airachnid, until she burrows up from beneath the earth and drags him down, leaving him buried. She picks up the device and is ready to leave, when Breakdown pulls himself free of the ground, and the pair charge at each other.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_tag_team.jpg‎|thumb|left|300px|"How many attraction jokes do you think we can come up with?" "A lot, Bulkhead."]]

Arcee and Bulkhead trudge through the rocks, discussing how Jack's mom is a killjoy, and Miko, who has quietly tagged along, asks if they can ban her from the base. Arcee calls for a [[GroundBridge]], but Miko talks her out of it, then requests Bulkhead play some rock music. Arcee tells him to shut it off, as it's not exactly stealthy, and they soon find Breakdown and Airachnid fighting. Leaving Miko a safe distance behind, the two Autobots leap into combat, surprising Airachnid, who has just gotten the upper hand. Bulkhead tosses Arcee into the air, and she shoots at the pair before charging at Breakdown, but Airachnid insists on facing Arcee herself. After a few minutes' fighting, Bulkhead and Arcee overcome their opponents, but Breakdown grabs the weapon and activates it. Warning him that it isn't a toy, Airachnid retreats underground, and Arcee and Bulkhead find themselves being dragged towards each other. The weapon hoists them into the air before slamming them back against some rocks. Satisfied, Breakdown transforms to return to the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Miko finds [[Miko's phone|her phone]] stuck to Bulkhead's chest and Arcee stuck to Bulkhead's back.

Driving along a road, Breakdown is ambushed and entangled in a web.

Ratchet realizes that the weapon Breakdown has is a [[polarity gauntlet]] and says their best bet to get Arcee unstuck is to get the gauntlet back. Arcee insists on Miko returning to base, and Miko complains loudly that she sounds just like Jack's mom, which June naturally hears over the comm link.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_Airachnid_gauntlet.jpg‎ |thumb|right|300px|"Ooh, shiny."]]

At an old gas station, Airachnid tries on the gauntlet. Breakdown, securely webbed to the side of the building, suggests they could take it back to Megatron together, but she's not keen on rejoining the Decepticons and thinks the gauntlet will be perfect for keeping everyone else away. Bulkhead trudges up to the gas station to confront Airachnid, who tells him to put his hands up and turn around. He does so, and Arcee promptly opens fire, managing to shoot the gauntlet out of Airachnid's hand. The device activates and drags everything metal towards it, including Breakdown, who is pulled free of the webbing and shuts the gauntlet down. Bulkhead and Arcee begin awkwardly fighting Breakdown and Airachnid. Bulkhead manages to deck Breakdown and turns to face Arachnid, but then Breakdown uses the gauntlet to drop an oil derrick on the 'Bots.

Pinned under an unconscious Bulkhead, Arcee is menaced by Airachnid. Fortunately, Bulkhead comes around in time, and the pair stand up, now separated. Arcee attacks Breakdown, but Bulkhead finds himself no match for Airachnid, who grabs the gauntlet and uses it to draw Arcee to her. Bulkhead blasts Breakdown into another oil derrick, while Arcee and Airachnid fight. Arcee eventually gets possession of the gauntlet and uses it to polarize everyone so that they repel metal. Airachnid uses her webbing to snatch the gauntlet back and transforms to escape, but Bulkhead grabs onto her helicopter mode and throws her into Breakdown. With the gauntlet secured, Arcee and Bulkhead head back to base, where they give it to Ratchet, and June apologizes for being overprotective.

On the ''Nemesis'', Megatron is unhappy when Breakdown returns apparently empty-handed, but Breakdown reveals he has Airachnid stuck to his back. Airachnid tells an amused Megatron that she is happy to return.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (7)
*[[Airachnid]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (12)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)

}}

==Quotes==
'''June''': So... where's Optimus? 
'''Ratchet''': On a scouting mission with Bumblebee. Sorry to disappoint. 
'''June''': And I wore heels and everything... 
'''Jack''': MOM!
:—June makes Ratchet and Jack uncomfortable with a few choice words.

"Allow me to redeem myself, master. What I have lost... is a constant reminder that I must never again fail you."
:—'''Breakdown''' rather darkly references his new eyepatch.

"It was a lovely burial."
:—'''Airachnid''' says after literally putting Breakdown six feet under...

"A scout should be silent but deadly."
:—'''Arcee''' unwittingly makes Bulkhead and Miko's day.

"Still up for a truce, muscles?" 
"Only because I hate Bulkhead more than I hate you."
:—'''Airachnid''' and '''Breakdown''' decide to look at the bigger picture.

'''Megatron''': Breakdown, you dare to return empty-handed?! 
'''Breakdown''': No, Master. 
''[Turns around, revealing Airachnid magnetized to his back]'' 
'''Megatron''': Airachnid... it has been some time. 
'''Airachnid''': Lord Megatron... what can I say? It's good to be back.
:—The Decepticons get an unexpected addition... and an expected pun.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Cellphones are primarily made of plastic, which is not attracted to magnetic objects. The gauntlet also took Miko's change, which is also not magnetic. Yet the gauntlet didn't attract Miko's belt buckle or earrings. Huh.
* A magnetic field that powerful should have wiped out Miko's phone.
* When Arcee is stuck to Bulkhead, she can still move her arms and legs. If the magnetic force were strong enough to hold her to him, her limbs would also have been stuck.

===Continuity errors===
* Mere moments after Bulkhead states that he is polarised and can’t touch metal, he grabs Airachnid out of the air and throws her at Breakdown. Is she not made of metal, or did the gauntlet's effects wear off that fast?
** To be fair, Airachnid was not polarized.

===Continuity notes===
*Breakdown was bested by humans and lost his right optic in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".

===Transformers references===
*After Breakdown volunteers to retrieve the weapon, Megatron retorts, "If you can be bested by mere humans, [[Furmanism|what chance do you have]] against the Autobots?"
* At the end of the episode, Arcee gives Ratchet the magnet. If he uses it himself, he would not be [[Ratchet (Animated)|the first Ratchet to use a magnet as a weapon and tool.]]

===Real-world references===
* The episode title appears to be a belabored nod to the film ''[[wikipedia:Fatal Attraction|Fatal Attraction]]''.
* Bulkhead and Arcee appear to perform a [[wikipedia:Fastball Special|Fastball Special]] in combat. [[Along Came a Spider#Real-world references|This is not the first time a Bulkhead has used this move.]]
*The Gauntlet clearly draws inspiration form the Omni-Tool from Mass Effect.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Metallische Anziehung'''" ("Metal Attraction")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 20|20 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Attrazione tra metalli'''" ("Attraction Between Metals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jaseok Mugi'''" (자석 무기, "Magnetic Weapon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25|25 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 28|28 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 4|4 March]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*Breakdown's new optic patch was hinted at during [[BotCon 2011]] when an artist from the series was requested to sketch Breakdown by [[Chris Ho|a certain Transformers fan]]: the artist asked what [[Operation: Breakdown|episode]] had just been screened, thought for a moment, and soon provided an image of Breakdown with an optic patch.<ref>Vangelus revealed this during the [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/wtf-tfw-transformers-podcast/422249-wtf-primetime-14-operation-breakdown-june-22-2011-a.html "Operation: Breakdown"] episode of TFW2005's "WTF Primetime" podcast</ref>
*During this episode's original airing, the [[commercial bumper]]s were backwards: "we now return" was played at the start of each break and "we'll be right back" was played at the end.
*As of this episode, we finally have a mention of Jack's father having left him and June.
*Apparently, Miko [[Shadowzone (episode)|didn't learn her lesson]] as she followed Bulkhead and Arcee. Although this time, she only followed them to get away from Jack's mother, so otherwise, she probably would have stayed put.

==External links==
<references />

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Metal Attraction

2012-03-01T16:08:03Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 18
|prev=Crisscross
|next=Rock Bottom
|image=MetalAttraction-stuck.jpg
|caption= Sadly, they don't fuse into [[Tigerhawk|a powerful being.]]
|title="Metal Attraction"
|airdate=[[July 9]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots try to claim a magnetic weapon called a "polarity gauntlet" before the Decepticons get to it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MetalAttraction-JackJuneEep.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jack discovers his mother's startling fetish.]]
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports to [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that there's an incoming vehicle, which they initially assume to be a [[Decepticon]], but they relax when it turns out to be [[June Darby]] in her car. Jack's less than enthusiastic that his mother's come to check up on him ''again'', but the mood changes when Ratchet detects an unusual magnetic flux.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_BD_optic_patch.jpg|thumb|right|300px|YOU ARE A PIRATE.]]
[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has also picked up the magnetic signature, which [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] recognizes as a Decepticon weapon. [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] volunteers to secure the invention. Megatron is skeptical of Breakdown's abilities following [[Operation: Breakdown|certain recent events]], but Breakdown insists.

[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] arrive back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but their high spirits drop when they realize Jack's mom is there. Arcee and Jack prepare to go conduct a routine diagnostic, but June's questioning about how safe it will be makes Arcee irritated. Ratchet asks Bulkhead to go and investigate the magnetic disturbance, and when Miko announces she's going too, Bulkhead is obliged to tell her to stay at base. Finally, June's questions become too much for Arcee, and she opts to go with Bulkhead.

In a desert area, Breakdown breaks apart some rocks to find the device he's after. No sooner has he picked it up than [[Airachnid]] puts in an appearance, clouts him and grabs the weapon. Breakdown recovers quickly and begins fighting Airachnid, until she burrows up from beneath the earth and drags him down, leaving him buried. She picks up the device and is ready to leave, when Breakdown pulls himself free of the ground, and the pair charge at each other.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_tag_team.jpg‎|thumb|left|300px|"How many attraction jokes do you think we can come up with?" "A lot, Bulkhead."]]

Arcee and Bulkhead trudge through the rocks, discussing how Jack's mom is a killjoy, and Miko, who has quietly tagged along, asks if they can ban her from the base. Arcee calls for a [[GroundBridge]], but Miko talks her out of it, then requests Bulkhead play some rock music. Arcee tells him to shut it off, as it's not exactly stealthy, and they soon find Breakdown and Airachnid fighting. Leaving Miko a safe distance behind, the two Autobots leap into combat, surprising Airachnid, who has just gotten the upper hand. Bulkhead tosses Arcee into the air, and she shoots at the pair before charging at Breakdown, but Airachnid insists on facing Arcee herself. After a few minutes' fighting, Bulkhead and Arcee overcome their opponents, but Breakdown grabs the weapon and activates it. Warning him that it isn't a toy, Airachnid retreats underground, and Arcee and Bulkhead find themselves being dragged towards each other. The weapon hoists them into the air before slamming them back against some rocks. Satisfied, Breakdown transforms to return to the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Miko finds [[Miko's phone|her phone]] stuck to Bulkhead's chest and Arcee stuck to Bulkhead's back.

Driving along a road, Breakdown is ambushed and entangled in a web.

Ratchet realizes that the weapon Breakdown has is a [[polarity gauntlet]] and says their best bet to get Arcee unstuck is to get the gauntlet back. Arcee insists on Miko returning to base, and Miko complains loudly that she sounds just like Jack's mom, which June naturally hears over the comm link.

[[Image:TFP_ep18_Airachnid_gauntlet.jpg‎ |thumb|right|300px|"Ooh, shiny."]]

At an old gas station, Airachnid tries on the gauntlet. Breakdown, securely webbed to the side of the building, suggests they could take it back to Megatron together, but she's not keen on rejoining the Decepticons and thinks the gauntlet will be perfect for keeping everyone else away. Bulkhead trudges up to the gas station to confront Airachnid, who tells him to put his hands up and turn around. He does so, and Arcee promptly opens fire, managing to shoot the gauntlet out of Airachnid's hand. The device activates and drags everything metal towards it, including Breakdown, who is pulled free of the webbing and shuts the gauntlet down. Bulkhead and Arcee begin awkwardly fighting Breakdown and Airachnid. Bulkhead manages to deck Breakdown and turns to face Arachnid, but then Breakdown uses the gauntlet to drop an oil derrick on the 'Bots.

Pinned under an unconscious Bulkhead, Arcee is menaced by Airachnid. Fortunately, Bulkhead comes around in time, and the pair stand up, now separated. Arcee attacks Breakdown, but Bulkhead finds himself no match for Airachnid, who grabs the gauntlet and uses it to draw Arcee to her. Bulkhead blasts Breakdown into another oil derrick, while Arcee and Airachnid fight. Arcee eventually gets possession of the gauntlet and uses it to polarize everyone so that they repel metal. Airachnid uses her webbing to snatch the gauntlet back and transforms to escape, but Bulkhead grabs onto her helicopter mode and throws her into Breakdown. With the gauntlet secured, Arcee and Bulkhead head back to base, where they give it to Ratchet, and June apologizes for being overprotective.

On the ''Nemesis'', Megatron is unhappy when Breakdown returns apparently empty-handed, but Breakdown reveals he has Airachnid stuck to his back. Airachnid tells an amused Megatron that she is happy to return.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (7)
*[[Airachnid]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (12)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)

}}

==Quotes==
'''June''': So... where's Optimus? 
'''Ratchet''': On a scouting mission with Bumblebee. Sorry to disappoint. 
'''June''': And I wore heels and everything... 
'''Jack''': MOM!
:—June makes Ratchet and Jack uncomfortable with a few choice words.

"Allow me to redeem myself, master. What I have lost... is a constant reminder that I must never again fail you."
:—'''Breakdown''' rather darkly references his new eyepatch.

"It was a lovely burial."
:—'''Airachnid''' says after literally putting Breakdown six feet under...

"A scout should be silent but deadly."
:—'''Arcee''' unwittingly makes Bulkhead and Miko's day.

"Still up for a truce, muscles?" 
"Only because I hate Bulkhead more than I hate you."
:—'''Airachnid''' and '''Breakdown''' decide to look at the bigger picture.

'''Megatron''': Breakdown, you dare to return empty-handed?! 
'''Breakdown''': No, Master. 
''[Turns around, revealing Airachnid magnetized to his back]'' 
'''Megatron''': Airachnid... it has been some time. 
'''Airachnid''': Lord Megatron... what can I say? It's good to be back.
:—The Decepticons get an unexpected addition... and an expected pun.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Cellphones are primarily made of plastic, which is not attracted to magnetic objects. The gauntlet also took Miko's change, which is also not magnetic. Yet the gauntlet didn't attract Miko's belt buckle or earrings. Huh.
* A magnetic field that powerful should have wiped out Miko's phone.
* When Arcee is stuck to Bulkhead, she can still move her arms and legs. If the magnetic force were strong enough to hold her to him, her limbs would also have been stuck.

===Continuity errors===
* Mere moments after Bulkhead states that he is polarised and can’t touch metal, he grabs Airachnid out of the air and throws her at Breakdown. Is she not made of metal, or did the gauntlet's effects wear off that fast?
** To be fair, Airachnid was not polarized.

===Continuity notes===
*Breakdown was bested by humans and lost his right optic in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".

===Transformers references===
*After Breakdown volunteers to retrieve the weapon, Megatron retorts, "If you can be bested by mere humans, [[Furmanism|what chance do you have]] against the Autobots?"
* At the end of the episode, Arcee gives Ratchet the magnet. If he uses it himself, he would not be [[Ratchet (Animated)|the first Ratchet to use a magnet as a weapon and tool.]]

===Real-world references===
* The episode title appears to be a belabored nod to the film ''[[wikipedia:Fatal Attraction|Fatal Attraction]]''.
* Bulkhead and Arcee appear to perform a [[wikipedia:Fastball Special|Fastball Special]] in combat. [[Along Came a Spider#Real-world references|This is not the first time a Bulkhead has used this move.]]
*The Gauntlet clearly draws inspiration form the Omni-Tool from Mass Effect.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Metallische Anziehung'''" ("Metal Attraction")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 20|20 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Attrazione tra metalli'''" ("Attraction Between Metals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jaseok Mugi'''" (자석 무기, "Magnetic Weapon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25|25 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 28|28 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 4|4 March]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*Breakdown's new optic patch was hinted at during [[BotCon 2011]] when an artist from the series was requested to sketch Breakdown by [[Chris Ho|a certain Transformers fan]]: the artist asked what [[Operation: Breakdown|episode]] had just been screened, thought for a moment, and soon provided an image of Breakdown with an optic patch.<ref>Vangelus revealed this during the [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/wtf-tfw-transformers-podcast/422249-wtf-primetime-14-operation-breakdown-june-22-2011-a.html "Operation: Breakdown"] episode of TFW2005's "WTF Primetime" podcast</ref>
*During this episode's original airing, the [[commercial bumper]]s were backwards: "we now return" was played at the start of each break and "we'll be right back" was played at the end.
*As of this episode, we finally have a mention of Jack's father having left him and June.
*Apparently, Miko [[Shadowzone (episode)|didn't learn her lesson]] as she followed Bulkhead and Arcee. Although this time, she only followed them to get away from Jack's mother, so otherwise, she probably would have stayed put.

==External links==
<references />

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Crisscross (episode)

2012-02-28T03:03:25Z

187.38.153.46: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 17
|prev=Operation: Breakdown
|next=Metal Attraction
|image=Airachnid and Silas.jpeg
|caption=They'll make you jump, jump.
|title="Crisscross"
|airdate=[[June 25]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Airachnid teams up with MECH to get revenge on Arcee and Jack.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Silas]] and three MECH soldiers are searching through a wooded area for a Decepticon. They jump into a web-shrouded ravine, but the three soldiers are snatched from the ground and stuck on one of the webs by [[Airachnid]]. Silas takes a shot at her, but is promptly thrown against a rock wall and webbed there. The Decepticon threatens to eviscerate him for what MECH did to [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]], but wants his help in finding [[Jack Darby]] and will give them [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]].

Jack arrives home with Arcee, to find [[June Darby|his mother]] mad that he's been breaking curfew and neglecting his job and schoolwork. She believes he may have been racing his motorcycle and grounds him for the next few weeks—with no motorcycle use. Arcee says she'll miss Jack during that time, but he points out that if she doesn't stay in the garage, his mom will think he's breaking her rules. Arcee promises she'll try to be back in the garage before his mom gets home each night.

[[Image:Motorcycle abuse.jpeg|thumb|left|300px|This must be some form of abuse, surely.]]
The next day, as Jack's leaving [[KO Burger]], he gets a call from his mother, who is on her way home early to make dinner for him. He frantically contacts Arcee, who's with [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] in the middle of a fight with some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s. Arcee leaves Bumblebee to it and [[GroundBridge|bridges]] out. June arrives home to find the garage empty, and she blows up at Jack as he arrives on his bicycle. Arcee bridges into the garage behind her, but this merely results in June thinking one of Jack's friends snuck the motorcycle in. Jack spills all about the Autobots, but when Arcee refuses to transform, Jack's mom asks if he's been hanging out with a science fiction club. She leaves to return to work, the conversation unfinished.

[[Image:MECH ambush.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|"Jehova's Witnesses, ma'am. Take a leaflet!"]]
Silas uses images from the black box from Airachnid's ship to track down information on Jack, including the identity of his mother. A MECH vehicle soon arrives to abduct June as she leaves the [[Jasper Hospital|hospital]].

Jack arrives home on his cycle to find Arcee, but no mom. There's a package waiting for him, which turns out to be a MECH communicator. Silas tells the pair that MECH has June, and there are GPS coordinates that will lead them to the temporary MECH facility. Arcee attempts to contact base and gets an instant headache. Silas explains the communicator will scramble her brain as well as Autobot communications. Jack and Arcee follow the communicator's map to a disused factory, where they're met by Silas and a bunch of MECH goons. They race past the MECH guys to look for Jack's mom and instead find Airachnid. Airachnid webs Arcee, who is then zapped by a MECH soldier. The 'Con tells Jack he has until midnight to rescue his mother. Jack tries to plead with Silas for help, but the MECH leader pushes him back. Jack then races off to find his mom, followed by Airachnid. Silas tells his men to start working on Arcee, as he suspects Airachnid will double-cross them.

Jack runs through the factory, but is unable to find June until Airachnid points her out, dangling in a web cocoon from a building. At this point, June awakens both to discover her predicament and to spy Airachnid. Jack tells Airachnid he's found his mom, but she points out the task was to ''rescue'' June. Webbing Jack's hand to the ground, she prepares to destroy his family.

The MECH surgeons finish cutting through the web holding Arcee, and Silas instructs them go for the heart, as they only have time to take one part. Arcee has recovered consciousness by this point, and she tosses the MECH personnel aside before leaving to help Jack.

[[Image:Airachnidconcrete.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Thanks a lot, Mixmaster."]]

As Jack continues to try to free his hand, Airachnid moves in on June. Before she can lay a hand on mom, however, Arcee comes barreling up a nearby roof and tackles her. Jack gets free and goes to help June, while Arcee and Airachnid battle on the factory superstructure. They eventually reach the ground, but Airachnid's laser fire damages the platform June is dangling from, and Jack has to scramble to avoid falling. Jack accidentally knocks against a lever, pouring concrete into a concrete truck on the ground. Arcee manages to kick Airachnid into a container nearby, and with Jack's help, pours concrete in on top of her. Airachnid starts climbing out, but is frozen by the quick-drying substance. Arcee goes to help June, but the concrete isn't enough, and Airachnid webs her back to the ground. Luckily, the cavalry arrives in the form of [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] with three helicopters armed with chain guns.

Silas wonders how Fowler was alerted, and then realizes Jack stole his radio earlier.

The helicopters stop firing, but this just allows Airachnid to [[scanning|scan]] Fowler's chopper and make her escape in her new [[alternate mode|altmode]]. Her scanning process is also observed by Silas.

Fowler introduces himself to June and attempts to weave a cover story, but June doesn't buy it. Jack introduces her to Arcee, and the next day, they go to the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]] so she can meet the rest of the Autobots.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (12)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (13)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (16)

|c2=
* [[Airachnid]] (3)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (8)

|c3=
* [[Silas]] (1)
* [[MECH]] soldiers (2)
* [[Jack Darby]] (4)
* [[June Darby]] (6)
* [[MECH Surgeon]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)
* Soldier (11)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (14)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==

"Tell me you haven't fallen in with a bad crowd." 
"W-what? N-no no no no, my friends are the good crowd, seriously good."
:—'''Jack''''s not wrong.

"Ah, the mother lode." 
"Government database?" 
"Social networking page."
:—'''Silas''' teaches '''Airachnid''' the fastest way to track down a teenager.

"Now, I know we promised the spider-bot that she would have first crack at you, but something tells me she's going to turn our mutual crisscross... into a double-cross."
:—'''Silas'''

"Jack, your motorcycle?" 
"I can explain, Mom. Wait, I already did."
:—Even with '''June Darby''' in mortal peril, '''Jack''' can still crack wise.

"Oh, not again!"
:—'''Agent Fowler''' is exasperated at Decepticons copying his vehicles.

"So that's how it's done. Genius."
:—'''Silas''' on seeing how Airachnid scans a vehicle mode.

"It's time you knew the truth. For the past several months, Jack has been... interning for me at the agency." 
"Agent Fowler, Mom's not gonna buy that." 
"He's got that right."
:—'''Agent Fowler''''s first meeting with '''June''' hits a rocky start.

"Motorcycle, Guardian, Autobot, friend."
:—'''Jack''' lists '''Arcee''''s status to his mom.

"Mom, meet my science fiction club!"
:—'''Jack''' introducing June to the Autobots

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*The amount of cement shown pouring onto Airachnid isn't actually enough to cover her ''entire'' body.

===Continuity errors===
* June takes an early break from work to cook Jack a dinner, but then as soon as she gets home, she returns to work.
*Airachnid scans Agent Fowler's helicopter, which resembles a [[wikipedia:Bell UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1 "Huey"]], but the alt-mode she adopts is of a completely different design, resembling a futuristic [[wikipedia:Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche|RAH-66 Comanche]].

===Continuity notes===
*Airachnid wants revenge on Arcee and Jack for the events in "[[Predatory]]".
*The rumors June heard about Jack racing his motorcycle may have been referencing the events of "[[Speed Metal]]".
*Airachnid has heard of Breakdown's treatment by MECH, which happened in [[Operation: Breakdown|the previous episode]].
*Messages on Jack's social networking page refer back to "Speed Metal" (Sierra refers to a race) and "[[Con Job]]" (Miko's message about a monster truck rally references a line of dialog from that episode).
*Agent Fowler previously had a vehicle of his scanned for an alternate mode by Skyquake back in "[[Masters & Students]]".
*The soldier who reports to Fowler at the end is the same one who was on the train in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]".

===Transformers references===
*The final sequence of Arcee and Jack taking June to the Autobot base is an almost shot-for-shot replica of the first time Jack, Miko and Raf were taken there back in the pilot. Even the same musical piece, "We Have Returned", is used.

===Real-world references===
*"Crisscross" as the title of this episode, with Silas acknowledging that it refers to a team-up murder plot in which each participant takes out the enemy of the other, is a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's [[wikipedia:Strangers on a Train (film)|''Strangers on a Train'']], which famously originated the use of the word "crisscross" for such an arrangement.
* [[Super Guitar Band]], which Miko posts on Jack's social networking page, is an amalgam of ''[[wikipedia:Guitar Hero|Guitar Hero]]'', ''[[wikipedia:Rock Band|Rock Band]]'' and the plethora of video games with Super- as a suffix.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Hinterhalt'''" ("The Ambush")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 13|13 January]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Túszjátszma'''" ("Hostage Game")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 31|31 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rivelazioni'''" ("Revelations")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 20|20 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Geomi ui Boksu'''" (거미의 복수, "Spider's Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 24|24 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27|27 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[Febuary 27|27 Febuary]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*MECH has a really funny concept of "suppression fire".
*The name of the social networking page is partially obscured, but begins with "Some Social".
*Fowler got someone else to pilot his helicopter for him this time.
*Silas calls June Darby "Miss Darby", but Fowler calls her "Mrs. Darby".
*Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Raf, and Miko all cameo at the end, but have no lines.
*The way Airachnid says "'Transformer', was it", implies that Cybertronians don't use that term themselves and that it's mainly an invention of humans.
*This is the first time anyone from the Autobots' team meets Silas face to face.
*The photo in the Darby household is the opening shot from [[Darkness Rising, Part 1]], only flipped.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]