MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Day of the Machines

2008-02-13T14:56:58Z

220.238.200.224: /* Notable quotes */

{{picsneeded}}

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|09|prev=Atlantis, Arise!|next=Enter the Nightbird}}

'''Megatron's latest scheme involves using the most powerful computer on Earth to control machinery remotely.'''

==Detailed synopsis==
[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (the former disguised in a guitar case!) not-so-silently infiltrate [[Quantum Laboratories]], a top-secret facility where the world’s most powerful computer, [[TORQ III]], is housed. Megatron reprograms the computer with his own personality and gives it the power to control remotely dangerous machines of all types through the use of "[[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] cards."

At the same time, scientist Dr. [[Paul Gates]] of Quantum Labs muses with a colleague about the dangers of machine sentience and that, in the wrong hands, TORQ III might be too powerful. Since Fate is both cruel and timely, the very scenario they were discussing comes true when TORQ III locks them in their office and announces that he’s taking over.

Megatron is using TORQ and the circuit linker cards to remotely control fleets of oil tankers. This alerts [[Teletraan 1]], who notifies [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Prime then receives Dr. Gates’ distress signal; Gates fills him in on TORQ III’s rebellion and asks to be rescued.

[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Skyfire (G1)|Skyfire]] are assigned to investigate the tankers, and [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] tags along. Prime leads a group to Quantum Labs, where they immediately come under attack by machines controlled by TORQ. Overwhelmed, Prime orders in the [[Dinobots (G1)|Dinobots]] (minus [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]) to come help, and they smash, chomp and melt down all of the machines. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] makes his usual pompous comment about having to save Prime’s bacon when things get rough. Afterward, Prime rescues Dr. Gates and they advance toward the buildings, meeting lots of resistance from TORQ’s machines.

Meanwhile, Hound, Spike and Skyfire sneak aboard an oil tanker and infiltrate the [[Decepticon]]s' oil platform. Their attack falls short when Spike is captured and they are forced to surrender.

After smashing more remote-controlled machines at Quantum, Prime decides to explore inside TORQ’s maze-like complex alone. As Optimus moves in closer, one of the machines places a circuit linker card on him, making him Torq’s slave, and he is brought into the computer’s domain. But{{m-}}surprise, surprise{{m-}} Prime rips the card off his body, saying it was a dud he placed in the robot’s claw, and he disables TORQ with a well-placed punch to the control panel.

Back at the oil platform, Spike has hatched an idea to use an electromagnet (which happened to be in their cell) to immobilize [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. Skyfire easily smashes through the cell door and Hound disables the force dome that was protecting the platform. The rest of the Autobots arrive and a battle ensues. Prime faces down Megatron and manages to wrest a remote control device from his hands, then tosses it back to him. Megatron lands on it, crushing it, and comes back up spitting mad. He retaliates by activating the self-destruct mechanism on the platform.

The [[Autobots]] escape, but Prime stays behind to find Hound, Skyfire and Spike. He rips apart the platform deck, revealing the missing team members, and Skyfire flies them out of danger.

Finally, Prime says goodbye to Dr. Gates, who makes a parting comment about machines being unreliable, and then quickly retracts the statement when he realizes his gaff. The Autobots laugh at the ungrateful human's hubris.

==Stats==

Written by: [[David Wise]]

===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" |
* [[Teletraan I]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
* [[Skyfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (10)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (13)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (14)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (15)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (16)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (17)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (18)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (19)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (1)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[TORQ III]] (4)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (5)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (6)
* [[Ravage]] (21)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
* [[Spike Witwicky]] (11)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (20)

'''Guests'''
* Dr. [[Paul Gates]]

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |

|}

==Notable quotes==
"Illegal access! Illegal access!"<br>
"It certainly is."<br>
:—'''TORQ III''' is reprogrammed by '''Megatron'''

"Good grief. More bad news. This isn’t one of our shining days."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

"Dinobots: always getting Autobots out of messes they get into."
:--'''Grimlock''' laments at yet another Autobot bungle he is called upon to resolve. Forcefully.

"Fortunately, I have a delicate lock-picking technique."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', right before he "delicately" blasts his way into TORQ's building.

"Come and get me you metal-headed dumb dumb."<br>
"There goes one stupid Decepticon."
:--'''Skyfire''' and '''Hound''' accurately assess Frenzy's level of intelligence.

"You took the word right out of my mouth. It was in there with my foot."
:—'''Dr. Paul Gates'''

==Other Notes==
* Notes

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

* Glitches

===Continuity errors===

* Errors

===Transformers references===
* References

===Real-world references===
* Paul Gates, the scientist of Quantum Labs, is likely a nod to the co-founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen and Bill Gates.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Ironhide destroys one of TORQ's machines by walking right through the blast it's emitting and sticking his finger in its hose. He is old because he is hard!

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

==External links==
*
{{epstub}}

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

City of Steel (episode)

2008-02-13T14:49:39Z

220.238.200.224: /* Notable quotes */

{{picsneeded}}
[[Image:AutobotsNYC.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Start spreading the news...]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|3|prev=Changing Gears|next=Attack of the Autobots}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|23|prev=A Prime Problem|next=Auto Berserk}}

'''The Decepticons invade New York City.'''

*'''Japanese title:''' "Steel City"

==Detailed synopsis==
Over New York City, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] flies into the [[Decepticon]]s' underground base. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s are digging a hole in the ceiling and the Autobots don't have a clue. After hours of digging, the Constructicons manage to sink the Empire State building underground.
The [[Autobot]]s finally get wind of this and head to the city. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] plan to meet the rest of the Autobots at Central Park. However, Laserbeak spots them and reports back to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. He plans to give the Autobots a surprising welcome.

At Central Park, the Autobots are ambushed by Soundwave and his crew whilst underground the Constructicons inform Megatron that they're underneath Optimus Prime. Megatron orders them to dig while Optimus Prime is fighting [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. Taken by surprise, Prime falls into the Decepticons' underground base where Megatron severs his motor relays, making him powerless. Megatron then threatens the remaining Autobots that unless they leave he will melt the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] down to scrap. He also shows them his master plan, which is to rebuild New York into New Cybertron. The Constructicons raise the Empire State building back up, but now it looks like a Cybertronian fortress. Forced to leave the city, the Autobots are gloomy until [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] comes up with a plan to get into the city undetected.

Seemingly victorious, Megatron gloats over Prime's still body. However, Megatron is still worried that Optimus Prime might try something and orders [[Hook]] to disassemble him, which he does with a handy <strike>[[starwars:Lightsaber|lithsaber]]</strike> energy blade. After Optimus is turned into a pile of parts, Megatron picks up his head and reactives Optimus so he can gloat. Prime responds that even though he's in pieces he will still fight. Prime then activates his arms and trips up Megatron. Megatron orders the Constructicons to dispose of Prime's body, but he gets to keep the head.

Meanwhile Spike, Bumblebee, Ratchet, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] enter the City through the sewers in the hope of rescuing Prime undetected. The scene then changes to the Constructicons who are very pleased with themselves for what they did with Prime's left over body parts. They have special plans for his right arm and weapon.

[[Image:Alligatorprime.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Crikey!]]
While scanning for Prime, Hound is confused because his scans show Prime was behind them when before he was ahead. Mirage then spots a giant robot alligator (dubbed the Alligatorcon) and the Autobots run away. They trap it in a train and send it and the train packing. When they reach the underground base they find Prime's head and reattach his circuits so he can speak. Prime then activates his legs remotely to come to him and the rest of the Autobots figure out that the [[Alligatorcon]] was made up of Prime's parts. After capturing it, Ratchet reassembles Prime, minus the right arm. Now that Optimus is safe the Autobots attack. The Decepticons have turned half of New York city into New Cybertron, complete with killer [[Battle Taxi|taxis]], and they're using Prime's arm as a weapon on top of their fortress. The taxis go for Bumblebee, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Sunstreaker]], but Prime runs them down.

After breaking through the Decepticon defenses, Optimus Prime, Ironhide and Ratchet plan to scale the fortress to reclaim Prime's arm. Bumblebee and Spike plan to help by distracting Megatron and Soundwave. Megatron orders an air strike, but when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] is downed, the Constructicons become [[Devastator]] and he follows Prime's team up the building. Meanwhile, Spike and Bumblebee manage to sneak in and annoy Megatron, by calling him Megaklutz, and tricking him into destroying the device that controlled Prime's arm. Outside Devastator captures Prime and knocks Ironhide and Ratchet into the fortress. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] then comments that the whole thing reminded him of King Kong as he tried to assist with his remote controlled helicopters. Spike then informs Prime that his arm is no longer controlled by Megatron in which Prime uses this opportunity to use against Devastator. After Devastator gets hit Prime falls but is saved by Ironhide and Ratchet and as usual the Decepticons retreat.

[[Image:BumblebeelovesNY.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Of course you do...]]
Now the city is saved, Prime is back together and Bumblebee got a souvenir (a 'I love NY' bumper sticker). The Autobots roll out and return home.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' ???

'''Written by:''' ???

===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]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (23)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (30)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (7)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (10)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (26)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (27)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (29)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (31)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (32)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] (15)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] (16)

'''Guests'''
*

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*Alligatorcon (28)

|}

==Notable quotes==
"It sickens me to say it, Reflector, but this one time I have to hand it to Megatron. The place is starting to feel like home."
:-- '''Starscream''' agrees with one of Megatron's plans, which heralds the coming of [[Unicron|the apocalypse]].

"Say 'uncle' or I'll shove your nose in your afterburner!"<br>"Uncle, UNCLE!"
:--'''Sideswipe''' lovingly deals with '''Starscream'''. He's obviously been practicising his Jet-Judo.

"I feel like I'm in some messy swamp, not underneath the largest city in North America."
:-- '''Ratchet''', trudging through the sewers of New York.

"O-hoo-hoo-hoo, here they come! Auto-Auto-Autobots!"
:-- '''Mix-Mix-Mixmaster!'''

"I may not have a weapon, but I can still transform and roll!"
:-- '''Optimus Prime''', preparing to crush the battle taxis.

"You'll never catch us, Megaklutz!"<br>"Megaklutz! You dare to insult me in my own command post?!"
:-- '''Spike Witwicky''' daring to insult '''Megatron''' in his own command post.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* In a long-shot of the Autobot/Decepticon battle in Central Park, Bumblebee is inexplicably grappling with Bluestreak while Ratchet fights Reflector.
* When Megatron is looking at Optimus through the monitor, Prime has both arms. The camera switches to Megatron and then back to Optimus, who now has only one arm.
* The scene freezes for several seconds as the rebuilt Empire State Building is about to be raised above ground, complete with non-moving clouds of dust and smoke.
* The Empire State Building is depicted as ''far'' too small in relation to the Transformers in several scenes.
* At one point, Megatron's helmet appears in white rather than grey giving the impression that he is wearing a white wig.
* Why didn't the Constructicons find the Matrix when they took apart Prime?
* Prime "activating" his legs consists of somehow making them come magically tumbling through the air to him.
* There's an odd moment when Mirage and Ratchet say, in perfect synch, "This alligator is big and heavy!" Prime then responds with the sage observation: "From the looks of it, I'd say a little of both." The scene appears to be the result of an editing and directorial snafu. Prime should be responding to the Autobots' previous lines: "Now we've got him!" "Or should I say, we've got ''you''?" And the combined Ratchet and Mirage line was likely intended to be a series of ad libs as the Autobots struggle with the Aligaticon, rather than a straight line.
* Let's not even get into the plausibility of lowering a thousand-foot building into the ground, rebuilding it for beings several times the size of a human, and then rebuilding it ''again'' into its original form.
[[Image:Devastatorkingkong.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Giant: check. Empire State Building: check. But no [[Female Transformers|beauty]].]]

===Real-world references===
* [[Devastator]] climbs the Decepticons' "improved" version of the Empire State Building, very similarly to King Kong, as Wheeljack points out.
* The alligatorcon is likely an allusion to the persistent rumors of alligators living in New York City's sewers.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Along with "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]", this episode is one of a trio featuring distinctively bright and "cartoonish" art and animation, a somewhat more juvenile plot and script than normal, and a common set of animation model oddities, such as [[Chip Chase]]'s blue jacket and Optimus Prime's white backpack.
* Though it is widely regarded in the fandom as his normal way of speaking, this is in fact the only time Mixmaster's speech oddity ever shows up. Then again, Scrapper and Hook were the real talkers of the group.
* The final shot in this episode shows Bumblebee with an "I [heart] NY" bumper sticker.
* This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 2000]].

{{epstub}}

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