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Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1

2008-06-01T15:51:05Z

190.59.34.222: /* Transformers references */

[[Image:Blurr watching jazz.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Blurr would have that not-Jazz eat his vapor trails... instead he gets a date with [[Wheelie|rhyming boy]] ]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=3|1|prev=The Transformers: The Movie|next=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}

The [[Decepticons]] were thought to be defeated and the [[Autobots]], now led by [[Rodimus Prime]], are looking forward for a more peaceful future. Well, they can’t be more wrong about that.

'''Japanese title:''' "The New War"

==Detailed synopsis==
It is the year 2005. Autobots had reclaimed [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] while the Decepticons, now squabbling with each other for [[energon]], retreated to the planet [[Chaar]]. Cyclonus realize that to return the Decepticons to fighting form, they need drastic measures.

Somewhere else, the first [[Galactic Olympics]] are being held. Blurr is griping about being stuck in a mission with [[Wheelie]] when he wants to join the events. But [[Perceptor]] wants them to go to [[Autobot City]] on Earth, to deliver the new [[Transformation_Cog|Transformation Cog]] for Metroplex, as his old one was damaged during the [[Battle of Autobot City|battle]] the [[The Transformers: The Movie|year before]].

Meanwhile, the Galactic Olympics were being sabotaged. In the middle of the confusion, Spike, Kup and Ultra Magnus were kidnapped. The Autobot leader suspects Decepticon shenanigans. [[Arcee]] and [[Springer]] follow the saboteur’s spaceship escaping the now supposed-to-be quarantined planet.

Cyclonus sneaks into [[Unicron]]’s memory banks to watch how Rodimus Prime shoves Galvatron to space. He then did some fast calculations and comes up with Galvatron being in the planet [[Thrull]]. There they see their leader soaking up in the hot lava pools.

On Earth, Blaster and Outback goes to [[Carbombya|Federated Republic of Carbombya]] to investigate [[EDC]] reports of Decepticons in that country. Outback, equipped with a “[[Decepticon detector]]”, then flushes out Dirge and Ramjet. The two Autobots get the coordinates of Chaar from them...which they report to Rodimus Prime who wants to go there to investigate.

Arcee and Springer, meanwhile, commandeered the [[Skuxxoid]]'s (that alien mercenary guy) bigger but uglier spaceship. The alien guy escapes and then calls his benefactor to confirm that the Autobots indeed suspect the Deceptions to be behind the disruption. The [[Quintesson|tentacled, egg-shaped benefactor]] listens to the report and then tunes out as he looks on as their prisoners, Spike, Kup and Ultra Magnus, were being led by a [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]].

Cyclonus, Scourge and the [[Sweep]]s return to Chaar, where the rest of the Decepticons are convinced that the solution to their problems was to have a strong leader again. They cheered when they heard that Galvatron lives, and were desperate enough that they give their remaining scraps of energon for reviving him. Rodimus Prime and Grimlock are spying nearby. Rodimus almost pities them, while Grimlock finds it funny (giving a rather possessed-sounding chuckle). Rodimus realizes that the Decepticons are too down on their luck to be the ones responsible for the kidnappings. Their cover suddenly gets blown and the Decepticons attack.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' September 1,1986

'''Production number:''' 700-86

'''Written by:''' [[Flint Dille]]

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |

* [[Rodimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Kup]] (2)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
* [[Jazz]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Springer]] (7)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (12)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (13)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (14)
* [[Wreck-Gar]] (15)
* [[Warpath]] (24)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (25)
* [[Wheelie]] (26)
* [[Blaster]] (29)
* [[Outback]] (30)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (34)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |

* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (16)
* [[Hook]] (17)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]](17)
* [[Scrapper]] (17)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (17)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (17)
* [[Devastator]](17)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (18)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (19)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (20)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (21)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (22)
* [[Sweeps]] (23)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (28)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (32)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (33)
* [[Onslaught]] (35)
* [[Motormaster]] (36)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (37)
* [[Rumble]] (38)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (39)
* [[Blast Off]] (40)
* [[Drag Strip]] (41)
* [[Breakdown]] (42)
* [[Wildrider]] (43)
* [[Octane]] (44)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] / [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (45)
* [[Tantrum]] (46)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (47)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (48)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |

* [[Spike Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
* [[Carly Witwicky]] (28)
* [[Abdul Fakkadi]] (31)

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
* [[Unicron]] (8)
* [[Skuxxoid]] (27)
* [[Quintessons]](34)
|}

==Notable quotes==
"Resist me, and be destroyed!"
:{{m-}} '''Menasor''', threatening to kill people.

'''Cyclonus''': "Once Decepticons nearly held the quadrant through terror. Now we scrap like slarrgs over a few energon cubes. Is this how you honour the memory of Galvatron?! Is this the fate of the mighty Decepticon Empire?!" 
'''Astrotrain''': “In the days of Megatron, it was not like this.” 
'''Cyclonus''': “You mean Galvatron.” 
'''Cyclonus and the Sweeps''': “Hail Galvatron! Hail Galvatron! Hail Galvatron!” 
'''Astrotrain''' (Muttering to Menasor): “Well, they were the same guy.”
:{{m-}} The Decepticons remember the good old days.

"Autobots, you walk the thin line between glory and despair. Soon, you shall cross it." 
:{{m-}} A '''Quintesson'''.

“This is going to be a tough one.” 
“I can't see the attackers.” 
"Thats what makes it tough."
:{{m-}} '''Springer''' and '''Arcee'''.

"Nah, I was the same way until I was blown apart a few times."
:{{m-}}'''Kup'''.

“Don’t you want to say something about concord and tranquillity in the galaxy?” 
“Aww, give me a break.”
:{{m-}}'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''.

[[ Image:Grimlock_happy.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Perceptor and Rodimus watch as Grimlock does a jaunty jig on the enemies' heads.]]

'''Rodimus Prime''': “This planet is quarantined. Nobody comes, nobody goes until we find Kup, Spike and Magnus.” 
(A spaceship escapes) 
'''Springer''': “So much for quarantine. I need a ship!” 
'''Arcee''': “And you’ll need a gunner!” 
(They both rush off, leaving Rodimus with cleanup) 
'''Rodimus Prime''': “Why’d I have to be the chosen one?”
:{{m-}}'''Rodimus Prime''' is abandoned by '''Springer''' and '''Arcee'''.

'''Cyclonus''': “There’s nothing to fear, Unicron is dead.” 
(They hear a sigh.) 
'''Cyclonus''': “Must be the wind.” 
'''Scourge''': “There is no wind in space.”
:{{m-}}'''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge''' learn that [[Unicron|daddy]]'s still home.

“Our charts don’t show any planets in that sector – no, wait. Here it is. I thought it was a smudge on the screen.” 
“Yeah, that fits the description of Chaar.”
:{{m-}} '''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Outback'''.

“I say we pulverowderize the Autobots! I say we pulverowderize ‘em!”
:{{m-}} '''Rumble'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s inspirational rally.

“I never thought I’d feel sorry for the Decepticons.” 
“Me Grimlock, not feel sorry. Me Grimlock laugh!” (snickers)
:{{m-}} '''Rodimus Prime''' pities the Decepticons, while '''Grimlock''' mocks them with a disturbing chuckle.

==Other Notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===

* The Constructicons form Devastator, even though Mixmaster is absent in this episode.

* Reinforcing this first point, when Menasor strikes Devastator, we get to see only Bonecrusher, Scavenger, Hook and Long Haul when they are forcibly split up.

* The winner of the race in the Galactic Olympics uses Jazz's character model, but a few seconds later (if we are to assume that the results being read out after the scene-shift are for the race we've just seen) he's identified as "[[Munka Spanka]]." That possibility notwithstanding, it's also possible that the character was intended to be Jazz, only for the lines referring to him to be changed at some point during production. [[Scatman Crothers]], Jazz's voice actor, had recently passed away, but Munka Spanka doesn't speak anyway, so...
Most likely this is Jazz and the results of another race are being told.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Decepticons w galvatron.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Yeah! We're going to save that guy on the left from the deadly lava pools of Thrull!]]
* During the course of the episode, dead and deactivated bots are seen loitering around on Chaar. The list includes Kickback, Shrapnel, Thundercracker, Skywarp and the supposedly-on-Thrull Galvatron, celebrating his own imminent rescue. Thundercracker and Skywarp could perhaps just be other (similar) seekers as in early (season 1) episodes many more were seen on Cybertron.
* Perceptor's description of the transforming cog is rather confusing. He introduces it as ''Autobot City's'' transformation cog, but then says "it control's ''Metroplex'''s ability to transform". This begins an ongoing trend of the cartoon dialog treating the two as if they were one and the same, despite the animation showing them as two distinct (though [[:Image:G1 Autobot City.JPG|sometimes related]]) entities.

{{-}}

===Transformers references===

* First appearance of Outback, Octane, Tantrum, and (gasp!) Abdul Fakkadi.
* The Quintesson who utters the line "Autobots, you walk the thin line between glory and despair. Soon you shall cross it." seems to be channelling [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] when he says "Yesssss." afterwards.

===Real-world references===

* Middle East tensions in the 1980s resulted in the poorly made (depending on [[Casey Kasem|whom you ask]]) spoof called [[Carbombya]].

* In one scene, Blurr asks why Metroplex's new [[transformation cog]] wasn't shipped via [[Galactic Express]], an allusion to the fact that [[John Moschitta]] had previously appeared in a series of Federal Express commercials.

===Miscellaneous trivia===

* In an interview with Flint Dille, he said that the Quintesson origin story came “[[The Secret of Cybertron]]," an aborted script for the movie by him and his fellow writer, Jay Bacal. [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/60-astrominutes/flint_dille_2.html]
* When originally aired, this and the other four parts of the story all had a unique set of opening credits. Unfortunately, the DVD release of the mini-series only includes this opening on parts 3 and 5.

===Keywords===

(Separate by commas and link each one so a page can be created for it if it does not already exist)

Quintessons, Season 3 episode

==External links==

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482022/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

2008-06-01T14:21:57Z

190.59.34.222: /* Animation and/or technical glitches */ Removed false trivia note- Soundwave's voice is vocoded in the episode, but it sounds completely different to how he is usually interpreted.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime1 Optimus lives.JPG|thumb|350px|And there was much rejoicing (yay).]]
{{episodenav|g1|season=3|29|prev=The Burden Hardest to Bear|next=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

'''The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1''' is the first part of the two-part season finale of Season 3 of the ''[[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]]''.

'''Japanese title:''' "The Resurrection of Convoy - Part 1"

==Detailed synopsis==
While on a deep-space mission to test a new [[Impervious Alloy|heat- and radiation-resistant alloy]] that they have developed, scientists [[Jessica Morgan]] and [[Gregory Swofford]] detect a ship carrying Optimus Prime's body (see ''[[Dark Awakening]]'') on a collision course with a planetoid orbiting a star they are researching nearby. Despite Gregory's reservations (his face was scarred in a previous scuffle between Optimus and Megatron, which he blames on Optimus), he is talked into helping Jessica rescue Prime's body before the ship collides with the planetoid, the impact of which also sets off the star into a supernova and coating their ship with unusual spores.

Upon return to Earth, Jessica's father studies the spores and learns that they are not only alive, but are an [[Hate Plague|incredibly contagious viral agent]] that induces hatred and destructive urges into whoever they contaminate. After a new scuffle between the Technobots and Terrorcons over the new alloy gravely injures Jessica, her father is convinced by Gregory to try and resurrect Prime's body as a carrier of the spores against the Autobots, a sentiment exacerbated when it's learned Jessica was paralyzed from the waist down in the accident and now needs a special exosuit to walk. However, when reviving Prime's body turns out to be impossible for them, Gregory and Jessica's father decide to use it as bait for the other Autobots. Dr. Morgan forces Jessica to lure them into a spore trap at the lab.

The trap goes off without a hitch, mostly due to Rodimus' reckless haste in recovering his predecessor's corpse in lieu of caution, and several Autobots - including Superion and Defensor, two of the most powerful Autobot gestalts - are infected. The Decepticons have learned about Optimus Prime's recovery as well, and have shown up to terminate the once Autobot leader permanently, but are instead infected themselves. Fortunately, Rodimus, Jessica, and Galvatron manage to escape unharmed, the former two with Optimus' body; a few other Autobots manage to escape infection as well, but are badly wounded while attempting to subdue a sickened and crazed Superion.

Back at Autobot City, Rodimus pleads to Wreck-Gar to try and repair Prime, but Prime is too far gone even for Junkion medical experience. Desperate, Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and orders him to locate and bring back a Quintesson, remembering that they had [[Dark Awakening|once before restored Optimus to life]]. He then sets about disconnecting Metroplex to keep the city-former from becoming infected. However, just as he finishes the final steps to do so, an infected Ultra Magnus appears. He gives chase to Rodimus before he's temporarily subdued by Wreck-Gar...who ends up becoming infected, and infecting Rodimus in return.

With the Hate Plague, as it's now called, rampaging even to the ends of the galaxy, Sky Lynx finds an uninfected Quintesson who he saves from infected Sharkticons in exchange for reviving Optimus. The Quint warns that - should anything go too awry during the process - there's a good chance that Optimus will never live again. It's touch-and-go for a while, but eventually, the Quintesson manages to pull through and Optimus is restored to full life, declaring that "no force in the Universe can stop me."

[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2|To be continued]]...

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' February 24, 1987

===Featured characters===
("Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (10)
*[[Strafe]] (11)
*[[Lightspeed]] (12)
*[[Scattershot]] (13)
*[[Nosecone]] (14)
*[[Computron]] (16)
*[[First Aid]] (17)
*[[Blades]] (18)
*[[Hot Spot]] (19)
*[[Wide Load (G1)|Wide Load]] (20)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (21)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
*[[Rodimus Prime]] (23)
*[[Streetwise]] (25)
*[[Groove]] (26)
*[[Defensor]] (27)
*[[Silverbolt]] (28)
*[[Skydive]] (29)
*[[Fireflight]] (30)
*[[Slingshot]] (31)
*[[Superion]] (32)
*[[Chase]] (33)
*[[Freeway]] (34)
*[[Searchlight]] (35)
*[[Wheelie]] (36)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (37)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (38)
*[[Steeljaw]] (39)
*[[Kup]] (50)
*[[Sky Lynx]] (52)
*[[Metroplex]] (53)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Cutthroat]] (5)
*[[Rippersnapper]] (6)
*[[Sinnertwin]] (7)
*[[Blot]] (8)
*[[Hun-Gurrr]] (9)
*[[Abominus]] (15)
*[[Ratbat]] (24)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (40)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (41)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (42)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (43)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (44)
*[[Drag Strip]] (45)
*[[Motormaster]] (46)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (47)
*[[Wildrider]] (48)
*[[Brakedown]] (49)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (54)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (55)
*[[Razorclaw]] (56)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*Gregory Swofford (1)
*[[Jessica Morgan]] (2)

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (51)
*[[Quintesson]] (57)
*[[Sharkticon]] (58)

|}

==Notable quotes==
"Computron think too much!" 
:-- '''Abominus''', who subsequently shoots Computron.

"Where's that punk Rodimus Prime?! I want him!" 
"There you are, you wimp!" 
"You can't escape, Rodimus! I can track your gas fumes anywhere!" 
:-- several lines from infected '''Ultra Magnus''' as he tracks down Rodimus Prime. ''In virus veritas,'' indeed.

"The Autobots are acting like madmen!" 
"It's a madness plague, Galvatron. If one of those Transformers touches you, you're infected." 
"You're lying!" 
"Fine. Whatever makes you a happy Decepticon. Just watch your rear thruster." 
:-- '''Galvatron''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" 
"His engines, they cannae take the strain!" 
"He's dead, Jim." 
:-- '''Wreck-gar''''s inspired medical descriptions of Optimus Prime's condition

"It's over kid. I've won!" 
"Don't believe it, old friend!" 
:-- infected '''Ultra Magnus''' blocks '''Rodimus Prime''', who evades him.

"It's as I said before, kid. It's all over. What...? ARGH!" 
"And as I said before: Don't believe it." 
:-- infected '''Ultra Magnus''' corners '''Rodimus Prime''', only to be lassoed by Wreck-gar.

"I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?" 
:-- '''Wreck-gar''' merrily spreads the infection.

"They've all gone mad. This is no place for me!"
:--The irony is lost on '''Galvatron.

"The world needs a leader, now!" 
:-- '''Sky Lynx''' on the reactivation of Optimus Prime.

"I've done it! Optimus Prime lives!" 
"It's true. Our leader is back." 
"Yes, Sky Lynx, and this time, no force in the universe can stop me." 
:-- '''Quintesson''' and '''Sky Lynx''' as the decidedly confident '''Optimus Prime''' is revived.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[Image:Swindle_TROOP.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"So we bought your daughter's exosuit from a Decepticon . . . what's so bad about that?"]]
*When Rodimus is done talking to Optimus's statue, his head slides backwards. Twice.
*When Gregory and Jessica's father rush at the hospital and find the Autobots, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] is amongst them.
*When Soundwave looks down after having Ratbat inserted into him, his faceplate stays in its old position of looking upwards.
*When Ratbat is inserted into Soundwave, he is white instead of a purplish-magenta colour.
*Also pertaining to Soundwave, when he says "Ratbat has returned. Ratbat, report!", his vocoded voice sounds more high pitched than usual.
*In one scene, Bruticus is the same size as all the regular Decepticons, or the regular Decepticons are the same size as Bruticus.
* Before entering the lab to retrieve Prime's body, Rodimus gives orders to Defensor...though Defensor is shown as the one making all of those orders.
*In the same scene as above, Goldbug is somehow right in front of Defensor, but Bumblebee wasn't rebuilt into him yet.
*When Wreck Gar is about to infect Rodimus, Rodimus is all red before he's been infected.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus Prime's body is shown to be in perfect condition despite him having lost an arm and half of his face at the end of [[Dark Awakening]]. In addition, when his body is rescued, the ship is not being fired upon as it was shown to be previously.
*When Jessica Morgan asks who built Optimus Prime in the first place, Rodimus Prime responds by saying the Quintessons did so, yet Optimus was modified from [[Orion Pax]] who was repaired by [[Alpha Trion]], though he might have meant who built him in his original form.

===Transformers references===
*References

===Real-world references===
*Wreck-Gar's lines: "I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" and "He's dead, Jim." Reference popular quotes from Star Trek medic [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Leonard_H._McCoy/ Dr. Leonard H. McCoy].
**Similarly "His engines, they cannot take the strain!" comes from another Star Trek character, namely [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Montgomery_Scott Montgomery Scott] (AKA Scotty), though this is often claimed to not be attributed to the character except for its use in parodies.
*Wreck-Gar's comment: "I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?" is a reference to an old [[Wikipedia:Dr. Pepper|Dr. Pepper]] ad campaign in the late 70's to early 80's.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
*Trivia

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes|Return of Optimus Prime, The]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>