MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Dark Awakening (episode)

2010-10-09T00:21:57Z

24.229.144.57: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=73
|ep2=8
|prev2=Starscream's Ghost
|next2=Forever Is a Long Time Coming
|image=Optimusg1zombie.jpg
|caption=Yeah, let ''this'' be how the kids remember their hero.
|title="Dark Awakening"
|production code=700-93
|airdate=[[October 1]], [[1986]]
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime is revived as a zombie by Quintessons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの影 (''Convoy no Kage'', "Convoy's Shadow")
:''German title:'' "'''Das Erwachen im Dunkeln'''" ("Awakening in the Dark")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1-screencap darkawakening Optimus empty tomb.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Don't you hate when your stuff goes missing?]]

On the run from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] try the old "detonate three-quarters of the ship" trick to lose their pursuers. What's left of the ship can't support human life for long, however, so they take refuge on board the nearby [[Autobot Mausoleum]], an interstellar tomb containing many of their deceased comrades, most notably the venerated [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

While exploring by himself, Daniel is stuck in a dark room with robot corpses and gets appropriately creeped out... particularly when he sees what looks like the fully animated form of Optimus Prime. When he finds the others he swears he has seen Optimus Prime alive. To satisfy his curiosity and against the opinions of the other Autobots, Rodimus opens Prime's tomb, only to find it empty. However, they cannot investigate further because the Decepticons have followed them inside and attack them (turns out Galvatron has wised up to the detonate-three-quarters thing.) The fierce battle that follows appears lost for the Autobots, when suddenly they are saved by none other than Optimus Prime. With their ranks bolstered by the mighty warrior's firepower, they quickly drive the freaked out Decepticons into retreat.

[[Image:OptimusMatrixAwakening.jpg|right|200px|thumb|No, keep all MacGuffins away!]]

The Autobots are amazed and confused at Prime's presence. Optimus can give them no explanation to his apparent resurrection, just the typical near-death experience of seeing darkness and then a light at the end of the tunnel. Rodimus Prime eagerly (too eagerly) returns the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to him, despite Prime's bizarre behavior and damaged appearance, and against the advice of Kup and Ultra Magnus. Without the Matrix inside him, Rodimus reverts to Hot Rod and declares, "Let's party!" Optimus evidently has other plans and attacks the Autobots and sets the auto-destruct sequence to the mausoleum ship. He then departs and leaves the others stranded.

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus informs the [[Autobot|Autobots]] that Rodimus and the others were killed by the Quintessons. This puts everyone in a pretty bad mood ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] swears vengeance - particularly for Arcee - while [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] spends at least a minute stomping and thumping his tail). Optimus re-assumes command and orders an all-out attack on a supposed Quintesson base.

[[Image:G1-screencap DarkAwakening Quintessons missiles.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Our budget only ran to six missiles.]]

Hot Rod and his group manage to escape, mere moments before the mausoleum ship plunges into a star and explodes. They return to Cybertron, but find nobody around but the Dinobots. Turns out most of the Autobots have left to attack the Quintessons. They pursue their friends in their own ship, but arrive to find the fleet already being decimated by Quintesson missile fire. Their frantic calls to stop the attack are dismissed by Optimus as Quintesson tricks.

Hot Rod and the others finally manage to board the lead ship, and the former Rodimus goes "Optimus hunting" after his zombified mentor. When the two meet, Optimus starts to pound on Hot Rod, but as he's kicking Hot Rod's tailpipe he begs Hot Rod to defeat him.

[[Image:Zombiesmatrixmakesmetoostrong.jpg|right|200px|thumb|And that's for getting me killed!]]

Fighting against both Hot Rod and himself, Optimus flashes back to his own reanimation at the hands of the Quintessons, who stole his corpse and reanimated it with their own evil programming to lead all Autobots into a trap. Optimus is nothing more than a "mindless zombie", combined with "lingering remnants" of his personality and memories. Hot Rod is physically overcome by Prime, but the influence of the Matrix allows Prime to overcome the Quintessons' programming. Ending the fight, Optimus returns the Matrix to Hot Rod's chest cavity, restoring him to his status as Rodimus Prime. As Prime takes his leave, the other Autobots find their battered leader and inform him that the equally battered ship is being evacuated.

Prime takes control of the ship, and orders the Autobot fleet away from the Quintesson trap. As the stunned Quintessons watch, the Autobot fleet escapes. Prime's final act is to pilot the Autobot flagship into the trigger zone of the Quintesson trap. With a massive explosion, the solar system is destroyed. As Kup bids his old friend farewell and the other Autobots mourn their lost leader a second time, Magnus remarks that the nova will be Optimus's memorial. Rodimus doubts he'll be the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that Optimus Prime was, but vows to try.

{{note|A short narrative voiceover by [[Victor Caroli]] was tacked on to the final scene when this episode made its first re-run airing: "But is this ''really'' the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow's exciting episode, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]"! Baffled by such an ambiguous title, children the world over were left wondering if this was in fact the end of Optimus Prime.}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (9)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (15)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (16)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (17)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (21)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (22)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (5)
*[[Sweep]]s (6)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (8)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (12)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Great. What'll Daniel and I do when the air runs out?" 
"Basically you'll have two choices: suffocate, or smother."
:—As '''Spike''' wonders about the limited oxygen in the Autobot life pod, '''Rodimus Prime''' takes "deadpan" to a whole new level.

"Hey, he's here, he's back, and who cares how!" 
"Must... complete... plan..." ''Optimus abruptly walks offscreen.'' 
"Yeah! What's the plan?"
:—'''Rodimus''' misses some critical clues from '''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> behavior.

'''Arcee''': Sludge! Snarl! Oh, are we glad to see you. 
'''Sludge''': Me Sludge not glad to see ''you''. 
'''Snarl''': You all dead! Rarrr! 
'''Sludge''': ...Maybe ''we'' dead.
:—Arcee freaks out the Dinobots.

'''Kup''': Where is everybody? 
'''Sludge''': All go smash Quintessons. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': Quintessons? What do Quintessons have to do with any of this? 
'''Snarl''': They kill you! Optimus Prime say so! ...Uh-oh. Something not right.
:—The Dinobots start to comprehend that all is not well.

"This won't even be a war." 
"Merely an exercise in... extermination."
:—the '''Quintessons''' nonchalantly slaughter the Autobot fleet

"Not a game! ...Matrix makes me ''too strong''!" 
"Now ''there's'' a unique complaint!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' wails on '''Hot Rod''', who takes it in stride

"Monsters... they made me a weapon, to destroy the very ones I loved in life. But you will save them... Rodimus Prime."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' hands over the Matrix.

"[['Til all are one|Until all are one]]."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s last words. [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|Or not]].

==Notes==
* This episode originally aired early in Season 3. However, it was re-aired as the season drew to a close, as a lead-in to the latest episode, "The Return of Optimus Prime". The voiceover by Victor Caroli, described above, was added at this time, and subsequently became the more well-known ending. The original version was released on VHS by [[Kid Rhino]], but when the company released the episode on DVD, the altered ending was the only one included (despite the presence of no less than ''three'' audio tracks on the disc). Observing the frustration this caused among American fans, DVD consultant [[Chris McFeely]] helped ensure the restoration of the original ending for [[Metrodome]] DVD release of the episode, with the alternate ending included as an easter egg. The original ending is also the version featured on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD sets.

===Animation or technical glitches===
* In the first closeup scene (after Daniel ''politely'' turns on the light on a tomb), Optimus has a much more damaged look (both chest windows are broken showing internal circuitry, his mouthplate is broken, and the overall look of the chest area is more worn out. For the remainder of the episode, he is drawn with the damaged look from the movie.
* Hot Rod is occasionally drawn as Rodimus and even addressed as such a couple of times.
* When Optimus is in control of the flagship and orders the other Autobots to return, he has his left arm again... and the hand colored wrong.
* When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
* Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray. A few seconds later, his back is colored baby blue.
* Immediately after this, Kup, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus fire purple laser blasts.
* When Perceptor shouts "They're alive!", Blaster (with a white helmet) and what appears to be a miscolored [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] are standing in the background, despite the bridge looking somewhat empty, save for himself and Optimus.
* Not a glitch so much as a strange shortcut: the Quintessons' lines, "Perhaps we should seek some cover." and "No. Place your faith in our defense systems." are both recycled from "Five Faces of Darkness" Part 2.

===Continuity errors===
* Galvatron's starship, the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]'', is shown to be perfectly intact here, despite being smashed by Unicron in the movie.
* Rodimus Prime and his crew were surprised to find the Autobot Mausoleum, suggesting they forgot where it was. Why didn't the Autobots just put the Mausoleum somewhere on Cybertron?
*When Daniel accidentally turns off a light and tries to turn around again, he sees Optimus Prime covered what appear to be spiderwebs. Leaving aside the question of organic spiders existing in an Autobot mausoleum and spinning webs to catch organic insects there, Prime has recently been worked on by the Quintessons, so there hasn't really been time for such webs to accumulate again. What, did Prime or the Quints set up some prop webs for atmosphere?
* Shortly after Optimus Prime first awakens, Rodimus Prime states that Optimus has been dead "for years". Unless he means dog years, this is impossible, considering season 3 starts immediately after the 1986 movie. Also, Daniel is the same age he was when Optimus died. In actuality, Optimus probably hasn't been dead more than a few months. This works a little better in Japan, though, where the series takes place in 2010.
* It's never explained where Hot Rod and company obtained the ship that carries them away from the Mausoleum. Magnus just comments vaguely about "this little improvisation" in reference to the vessel.
* Until the Matrix overruns the Quintesson's programming, Optimus mouthplate doesn't move while he speaks. Not that this isn't a first. ''However'', after that event the mouthplate moves along as Optimus is speaking.

===Continuity notes===
* Besides Optimus, the interred Autobots whose names are read off by Daniel are [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]. The first three were killed off in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', all in the same scene, in fact. This is the first time we learn of Huffer's death, however. The absence of [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (also killed off in the same scene) has led to joking fandom speculation that he must have survived getting shot in the shoulder (bolstered by his and Huffer's animation-error appearance in "[[Carnage in C-Minor]]".
* How the Dinobots have fallen. The Autobots muster all of their valuable warriors for a huge assualt, yet they leave two of the best warriors from the first two seasons, Sludge and Snarl, behind.
* It is later revealed that, while reanimating Optimus Prime into a zombie, the Quintessons analyzed his specifications and used them to build [[Guiltaur]]. {{storylink|Transformers 2010 (story page)|Transformers 2010 Part 4}}

===Real-world references===
* Writer Antoni Zalewski recycled his own work for the opening scene of this episode, which is copied almost note-for-note from the 1985 "Ghost Ship" episode of ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians''. The parallels include a pursuit through space, launching an escape pod ("We turned the cockpit into an escape ship just in time!"), right up to Spike's verbatim quote "It's the size of... Manhattan!"

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening ([[Tempo Video|Collins Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 2: Revenge of the Decepticons ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808822/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/dark_awakening.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Dark Awakening (episode)

2010-10-09T00:21:39Z

24.229.144.57: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=73
|ep2=8
|prev2=Starscream's Ghost
|next2=Forever Is a Long Time Coming
|image=Optimusg1zombie.jpg
|caption=Yeah, let ''this'' be how the kids remember their hero.
|title="Dark Awakening"
|production code=700-93
|airdate=[[October 1]], [[1986]]
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime is revived as a zombie by Quintessons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの影 (''Convoy no Kage'', "Convoy's Shadow")
:''German title:'' "'''Das Erwachen im Dunkeln'''" ("Awakening in the Dark")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1-screencap darkawakening Optimus empty tomb.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Don't you hate when your stuff goes missing?]]

On the run from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] try the old "detonate three-quarters of the ship" trick to lose their pursuers. What's left of the ship can't support human life for long, however, so they take refuge on board the nearby [[Autobot Mausoleum]], an interstellar tomb containing many of their deceased comrades, most notably the venerated [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

While exploring by himself, Daniel is stuck in a dark room with robot corpses and gets appropriately creeped out... particularly when he sees what looks like the fully animated form of Optimus Prime. When he finds the others he swears he has seen Optimus Prime alive. To satisfy his curiosity and against the opinions of the other Autobots, Rodimus opens Prime's tomb, only to find it empty. However, they cannot investigate further because the Decepticons have followed them inside and attack them (turns out Galvatron has wised up to the detonate-three-quarters thing.) The fierce battle that follows appears lost for the Autobots, when suddenly they are saved by none other than Optimus Prime. With their ranks bolstered by the mighty warrior's firepower, they quickly drive the freaked out Decepticons into retreat.

[[Image:OptimusMatrixAwakening.jpg|right|200px|thumb|No, keep all MacGuffins away!]]

The Autobots are amazed and confused at Prime's presence. Optimus can give them no explanation to his apparent resurrection, just the typical near-death experience of seeing darkness and then a light at the end of the tunnel. Rodimus Prime eagerly (too eagerly) returns the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to him, despite Prime's bizarre behavior and damaged appearance, and against the advice of Kup and Ultra Magnus. Without the Matrix inside him, Rodimus reverts to Hot Rod and declares, "Let's party!" Optimus evidently has other plans and attacks the Autobots and sets the auto-destruct sequence to the mausoleum ship. He then departs and leaves the others stranded.

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus informs the [[Autobot|Autobots]] that Rodimus and the others were killed by the Quintessons. This puts everyone in a pretty bad mood ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] swears vengeance - particularly for Arcee - while [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] spends at least a minute stomping and thumping his tail). Optimus re-assumes command and orders an all-out attack on a supposed Quintesson base.

[[Image:G1-screencap DarkAwakening Quintessons missiles.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Our budget only ran to six missiles.]]

Hot Rod and his group manage to escape, mere moments before the mausoleum ship plunges into a star and explodes. They return to Cybertron, but find nobody around but the Dinobots. Turns out most of the Autobots have left to attack the Quintessons. They pursue their friends in their own ship, but arrive to find the fleet already being decimated by Quintesson missile fire. Their frantic calls to stop the attack are dismissed by Optimus as Quintesson tricks.

Hot Rod and the others finally manage to board the lead ship, and the former Rodimus goes "Optimus hunting" after his zombified mentor. When the two meet, Optimus starts to pound on Hot Rod, but as he's kicking Hot Rod's tailpipe he begs Hot Rod to defeat him.

[[Image:Zombiesmatrixmakesmetoostrong.jpg|right|200px|thumb|And that's for getting me killed!]]

Fighting against both Hot Rod and himself, Optimus flashes back to his own reanimation at the hands of the Quintessons, who stole his corpse and reanimated it with their own evil programming to lead all Autobots into a trap. Optimus is nothing more than a "mindless zombie", combined with "lingering remnants" of his personality and memories. Hot Rod is physically overcome by Prime, but the influence of the Matrix allows Prime to overcome the Quintessons' programming. Ending the fight, Optimus returns the Matrix to Hot Rod's chest cavity, restoring him to his status as Rodimus Prime. As Prime takes his leave, the other Autobots find their battered leader and inform him that the equally battered ship is being evacuated.

Prime takes control of the ship, and orders the Autobot fleet away from the Quintesson trap. As the stunned Quintessons watch, the Autobot fleet escapes. Prime's final act is to pilot the Autobot flagship into the trigger zone of the Quintesson trap. With a massive explosion, the solar system is destroyed. As Kup bids his old friend farewell and the other Autobots mourn their lost leader a second time, Magnus remarks that the nova will be Optimus's memorial. Rodimus doubts he'll be the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that Optimus Prime was, but vows to try.

{{note|A short narrative voiceover by [[Victor Caroli]] was tacked on to the final scene when this episode made its first re-run airing: "But is this ''really'' the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow's exciting episode, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]"! Baffled by such an ambiguous title, children the world over were left wondering if this was in fact the end of Optimus Prime.}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (9)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (15)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (16)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (17)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (21)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (22)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (5)
*[[Sweep]]s (6)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (8)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (12)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Great. What'll Daniel and I do when the air runs out?" 
"Basically you'll have two choices: suffocate, or smother."
:—As '''Spike''' wonders about the limited oxygen in the Autobot life pod, '''Rodimus Prime''' takes "deadpan" to a whole new level.

"Hey, he's here, he's back, and who cares how!" 
"Must... complete... plan..." ''Optimus abruptly walks offscreen.'' 
"Yeah! What's the plan?"
:—'''Rodimus''' misses some critical clues from '''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> behavior.

'''Arcee''': Sludge! Snarl! Oh, are we glad to see you. 
'''Sludge''': Me Sludge not glad to see ''you''. 
'''Snarl''': You all dead! Rarrr! 
'''Sludge''': ...Maybe ''we'' dead.
:—Arcee freaks out the Dinobots.

'''Kup''': Where is everybody? 
'''Sludge''': All go smash Quintessons. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': Quintessons? What do Quintessons have to do with any of this? 
'''Snarl''': They kill you! Optimus Prime say so! ...Uh-oh. Something not right.
:—The Dinobots start to comprehend that all is not well.

"This won't even be a war." 
"Merely an exercise in... extermination."
:—the '''Quintessons''' nonchalantly slaughter the Autobot fleet

"Not a game! ...Matrix makes me ''too strong''!" 
"Now ''there's'' a unique complaint!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' wails on '''Hot Rod''', who takes it in stride

"Monsters... they made me a weapon, to destroy the very ones I loved in life. But you will save them... Rodimus Prime."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' hands over the Matrix.

"[['Til all are one|Until all are one]]."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s last words. [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|Or not]].

==Notes==
* This episode originally aired early in Season 3. However, it was re-aired as the season drew to a close, as a lead-in to the latest episode, "The Return of Optimus Prime". The voiceover by Victor Caroli, described above, was added at this time, and subsequently became the more well-known ending. The original version was released on VHS by [[Kid Rhino]], but when the company released the episode on DVD, the altered ending was the only one included (despite the presence of no less than ''three'' audio tracks on the disc). Observing the frustration this caused among American fans, DVD consultant [[Chris McFeely]] helped ensure the restoration of the original ending for [[Metrodome]] DVD release of the episode, with the alternate ending included as an easter egg. The original ending is also the version featured on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD sets.

===Animation or technical glitches===
* In the first closeup scene (after Daniel ''politely'' turns on the light on a tomb), Optimus has a much more damaged look (both chest windows are broken showing internal circuitry, his mouthplate is broken, and the overall look of the chest area is more worn out. For the remainder of the episode, he is drawn with the damaged look from the movie.
* Hot Rod is occasionally drawn as Rodimus and even addressed as such a couple of times.
* When Optimus is in control of the flagship and orders the other Autobots to return, he has his left arm again... and the hand colored wrong.
* When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
* Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray. A few seconds later, his back is colored baby blue.
* Immediately after this, Kup, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus fire purple laser blasts.
* When Perceptor shouts "They're alive!", Blaster (with a white helmet) and what appears to be a miscolored [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] are standing in the background, despite the bridge looking somewhat empty, save for himself and Optimus.
* Not a glitch so much as a strange shortcut: the Quintessons' lines, "Perhaps we should seek some cover." and "No. Place your faith in our defense systems." are both recycled from "Five Faces of Darkness" Part 2.

===Continuity errors===
* Galvatron's starship, the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]'', is shown to be perfectly intact here, despite being smashed by Unicron in the movie.
* Rodimus Prime and his crew were surprised to find the Autobot Mausoleum, suggesting they forgot where it was. Why didn't the Autobots just put the Mausoleum somewhere on Cybertron?
*When Daniel accidentally turns off a light and tries to turn around again, he sees Optimus Prime covered what appear to be spiderwebs. Leaving aside the question of organic spiders existing in an Autobot mausoleum and spinning webs to catch organic insects there, Prime has recently been worked on by the Quintessons, so there hasn't really been time for such webs to accumulate again. What, did Prime or the Quints set up some prop webs for atmosphere?
* Shortly after Optimus Prime first awakens, Rodimus Prime states that Optimus has been dead "for years". Unless he means dog years, this is impossible, considering season 3 starts immediately after the 1986 movie. Also, Daniel is the same age he was when Optimus died. In actuality, Optimus probably hasn't been dead more than a few months. This works a little better in Japan, though, where the series takes place in 2010.
* It's never explained where Hot Rod and company obtained the ship that carries them away from the Mausoleum. Magnus just comments vaguely about "this little improvisation" in reference to the vessel.
* Until the Matrix overruns the Quintesson's programming, Optimus mouthplate doesn't move while he speaks. Not that this isn't a first. ''However'', after that event the mouthplate moves along as Optimus is speaking.

===Continuity notes===
* Besides Optimus, the interred Autobots whose names are read off by Daniel are [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]. The first three were killed off in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', all in the same scene, in fact. This is the first time we learn of Huffer's death, however. The absence of [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (also killed off in the same scene) has led to joking fandom speculation that he must have survived getting shot in the shoulder (bolstered by his and Huffer's animation-error appearance in "[[Carnage in C-Minor]]".

* It is later revealed that, while reanimating Optimus Prime into a zombie, the Quintessons analyzed his specifications and used them to build [[Guiltaur]]. {{storylink|Transformers 2010 (story page)|Transformers 2010 Part 4}}

===Real-world references===
* Writer Antoni Zalewski recycled his own work for the opening scene of this episode, which is copied almost note-for-note from the 1985 "Ghost Ship" episode of ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians''. The parallels include a pursuit through space, launching an escape pod ("We turned the cockpit into an escape ship just in time!"), right up to Spike's verbatim quote "It's the size of... Manhattan!"

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening ([[Tempo Video|Collins Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 2: Revenge of the Decepticons ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808822/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/dark_awakening.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Dark Awakening (episode)

2010-10-09T00:21:15Z

24.229.144.57: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=73
|ep2=8
|prev2=Starscream's Ghost
|next2=Forever Is a Long Time Coming
|image=Optimusg1zombie.jpg
|caption=Yeah, let ''this'' be how the kids remember their hero.
|title="Dark Awakening"
|production code=700-93
|airdate=[[October 1]], [[1986]]
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime is revived as a zombie by Quintessons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの影 (''Convoy no Kage'', "Convoy's Shadow")
:''German title:'' "'''Das Erwachen im Dunkeln'''" ("Awakening in the Dark")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1-screencap darkawakening Optimus empty tomb.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Don't you hate when your stuff goes missing?]]

On the run from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] try the old "detonate three-quarters of the ship" trick to lose their pursuers. What's left of the ship can't support human life for long, however, so they take refuge on board the nearby [[Autobot Mausoleum]], an interstellar tomb containing many of their deceased comrades, most notably the venerated [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

While exploring by himself, Daniel is stuck in a dark room with robot corpses and gets appropriately creeped out... particularly when he sees what looks like the fully animated form of Optimus Prime. When he finds the others he swears he has seen Optimus Prime alive. To satisfy his curiosity and against the opinions of the other Autobots, Rodimus opens Prime's tomb, only to find it empty. However, they cannot investigate further because the Decepticons have followed them inside and attack them (turns out Galvatron has wised up to the detonate-three-quarters thing.) The fierce battle that follows appears lost for the Autobots, when suddenly they are saved by none other than Optimus Prime. With their ranks bolstered by the mighty warrior's firepower, they quickly drive the freaked out Decepticons into retreat.

[[Image:OptimusMatrixAwakening.jpg|right|200px|thumb|No, keep all MacGuffins away!]]

The Autobots are amazed and confused at Prime's presence. Optimus can give them no explanation to his apparent resurrection, just the typical near-death experience of seeing darkness and then a light at the end of the tunnel. Rodimus Prime eagerly (too eagerly) returns the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to him, despite Prime's bizarre behavior and damaged appearance, and against the advice of Kup and Ultra Magnus. Without the Matrix inside him, Rodimus reverts to Hot Rod and declares, "Let's party!" Optimus evidently has other plans and attacks the Autobots and sets the auto-destruct sequence to the mausoleum ship. He then departs and leaves the others stranded.

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus informs the [[Autobot|Autobots]] that Rodimus and the others were killed by the Quintessons. This puts everyone in a pretty bad mood ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] swears vengeance - particularly for Arcee - while [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] spends at least a minute stomping and thumping his tail). Optimus re-assumes command and orders an all-out attack on a supposed Quintesson base.

[[Image:G1-screencap DarkAwakening Quintessons missiles.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Our budget only ran to six missiles.]]

Hot Rod and his group manage to escape, mere moments before the mausoleum ship plunges into a star and explodes. They return to Cybertron, but find nobody around but the Dinobots. Turns out most of the Autobots have left to attack the Quintessons. They pursue their friends in their own ship, but arrive to find the fleet already being decimated by Quintesson missile fire. Their frantic calls to stop the attack are dismissed by Optimus as Quintesson tricks.

Hot Rod and the others finally manage to board the lead ship, and the former Rodimus goes "Optimus hunting" after his zombified mentor. When the two meet, Optimus starts to pound on Hot Rod, but as he's kicking Hot Rod's tailpipe he begs Hot Rod to defeat him.

[[Image:Zombiesmatrixmakesmetoostrong.jpg|right|200px|thumb|And that's for getting me killed!]]

Fighting against both Hot Rod and himself, Optimus flashes back to his own reanimation at the hands of the Quintessons, who stole his corpse and reanimated it with their own evil programming to lead all Autobots into a trap. Optimus is nothing more than a "mindless zombie", combined with "lingering remnants" of his personality and memories. Hot Rod is physically overcome by Prime, but the influence of the Matrix allows Prime to overcome the Quintessons' programming. Ending the fight, Optimus returns the Matrix to Hot Rod's chest cavity, restoring him to his status as Rodimus Prime. As Prime takes his leave, the other Autobots find their battered leader and inform him that the equally battered ship is being evacuated.

Prime takes control of the ship, and orders the Autobot fleet away from the Quintesson trap. As the stunned Quintessons watch, the Autobot fleet escapes. Prime's final act is to pilot the Autobot flagship into the trigger zone of the Quintesson trap. With a massive explosion, the solar system is destroyed. As Kup bids his old friend farewell and the other Autobots mourn their lost leader a second time, Magnus remarks that the nova will be Optimus's memorial. Rodimus doubts he'll be the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that Optimus Prime was, but vows to try.

{{note|A short narrative voiceover by [[Victor Caroli]] was tacked on to the final scene when this episode made its first re-run airing: "But is this ''really'' the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow's exciting episode, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]"! Baffled by such an ambiguous title, children the world over were left wondering if this was in fact the end of Optimus Prime.}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (9)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (15)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (16)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (17)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (21)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (22)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (5)
*[[Sweep]]s (6)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (8)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (12)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Great. What'll Daniel and I do when the air runs out?" 
"Basically you'll have two choices: suffocate, or smother."
:—As '''Spike''' wonders about the limited oxygen in the Autobot life pod, '''Rodimus Prime''' takes "deadpan" to a whole new level.

"Hey, he's here, he's back, and who cares how!" 
"Must... complete... plan..." ''Optimus abruptly walks offscreen.'' 
"Yeah! What's the plan?"
:—'''Rodimus''' misses some critical clues from '''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> behavior.

'''Arcee''': Sludge! Snarl! Oh, are we glad to see you. 
'''Sludge''': Me Sludge not glad to see ''you''. 
'''Snarl''': You all dead! Rarrr! 
'''Sludge''': ...Maybe ''we'' dead.
:—Arcee freaks out the Dinobots.

'''Kup''': Where is everybody? 
'''Sludge''': All go smash Quintessons. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': Quintessons? What do Quintessons have to do with any of this? 
'''Snarl''': They kill you! Optimus Prime say so! ...Uh-oh. Something not right.
:—The Dinobots start to comprehend that all is not well.

"This won't even be a war." 
"Merely an exercise in... extermination."
:—the '''Quintessons''' nonchalantly slaughter the Autobot fleet

"Not a game! ...Matrix makes me ''too strong''!" 
"Now ''there's'' a unique complaint!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' wails on '''Hot Rod''', who takes it in stride

"Monsters... they made me a weapon, to destroy the very ones I loved in life. But you will save them... Rodimus Prime."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' hands over the Matrix.

"[['Til all are one|Until all are one]]."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s last words. [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|Or not]].

==Notes==
* This episode originally aired early in Season 3. However, it was re-aired as the season drew to a close, as a lead-in to the latest episode, "The Return of Optimus Prime". The voiceover by Victor Caroli, described above, was added at this time, and subsequently became the more well-known ending. The original version was released on VHS by [[Kid Rhino]], but when the company released the episode on DVD, the altered ending was the only one included (despite the presence of no less than ''three'' audio tracks on the disc). Observing the frustration this caused among American fans, DVD consultant [[Chris McFeely]] helped ensure the restoration of the original ending for [[Metrodome]] DVD release of the episode, with the alternate ending included as an easter egg. The original ending is also the version featured on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD sets.

===Animation or technical glitches===
* In the first closeup scene (after Daniel ''politely'' turns on the light on a tomb), Optimus has a much more damaged look (both chest windows are broken showing internal circuitry, his mouthplate is broken, and the overall look of the chest area is more worn out. For the remainder of the episode, he is drawn with the damaged look from the movie.
* Hot Rod is occasionally drawn as Rodimus and even addressed as such a couple of times.
* When Optimus is in control of the flagship and orders the other Autobots to return, he has his left arm again... and the hand colored wrong.
* When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
* Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray. A few seconds later, his back is colored baby blue.
* Immediately after this, Kup, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus fire purple laser blasts.
* When Perceptor shouts "They're alive!", Blaster (with a white helmet) and what appears to be a miscolored [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] are standing in the background, despite the bridge looking somewhat empty, save for himself and Optimus.
* Not a glitch so much as a strange shortcut: the Quintessons' lines, "Perhaps we should seek some cover." and "No. Place your faith in our defense systems." are both recycled from "Five Faces of Darkness" Part 2.

===Continuity errors===
* Galvatron's starship, the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]'', is shown to be perfectly intact here, despite being smashed by Unicron in the movie.
* Rodimus Prime and his crew were surprised to find the Autobot Mausoleum, suggesting they forgot where it was. Why didn't the Autobots just put the Mausoleum somewhere on Cybertron?
*When Daniel accidentally turns off a light and tries to turn around again, he sees Optimus Prime covered what appear to be spiderwebs. Leaving aside the question of organic spiders existing in an Autobot mausoleum and spinning webs to catch organic insects there, Prime has recently been worked on by the Quintessons, so there hasn't really been time for such webs to accumulate again. What, did Prime or the Quints set up some prop webs for atmosphere?
* Shortly after Optimus Prime first awakens, Rodimus Prime states that Optimus has been dead "for years". Unless he means dog years, this is impossible, considering season 3 starts immediately after the 1986 movie. Also, Daniel is the same age he was when Optimus died. In actuality, Optimus probably hasn't been dead more than a few months. This works a little better in Japan, though, where the series takes place in 2010.
* It's never explained where Hot Rod and company obtained the ship that carries them away from the Mausoleum. Magnus just comments vaguely about "this little improvisation" in reference to the vessel.
* How the Dinobots have fallen. The Autobots muster all of their valuable warriors for a huge assualt, yet they leave two of the best warriors from the first two seasons, Sludge and Snarl, behind.
* Until the Matrix overruns the Quintesson's programming, Optimus mouthplate doesn't move while he speaks. Not that this isn't a first. ''However'', after that event the mouthplate moves along as Optimus is speaking.

===Continuity notes===
* Besides Optimus, the interred Autobots whose names are read off by Daniel are [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]. The first three were killed off in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', all in the same scene, in fact. This is the first time we learn of Huffer's death, however. The absence of [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (also killed off in the same scene) has led to joking fandom speculation that he must have survived getting shot in the shoulder (bolstered by his and Huffer's animation-error appearance in "[[Carnage in C-Minor]]".

* It is later revealed that, while reanimating Optimus Prime into a zombie, the Quintessons analyzed his specifications and used them to build [[Guiltaur]]. {{storylink|Transformers 2010 (story page)|Transformers 2010 Part 4}}

===Real-world references===
* Writer Antoni Zalewski recycled his own work for the opening scene of this episode, which is copied almost note-for-note from the 1985 "Ghost Ship" episode of ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians''. The parallels include a pursuit through space, launching an escape pod ("We turned the cockpit into an escape ship just in time!"), right up to Spike's verbatim quote "It's the size of... Manhattan!"

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening ([[Tempo Video|Collins Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 2: Revenge of the Decepticons ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808822/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/dark_awakening.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

2010-09-26T21:04:04Z

24.229.144.57: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|image=Aerialbots group.jpg
|caption=Optimus, remind us why this is a good idea again?
|series=G1toon
|ep=57
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=43
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1
|next2=Sea Change
|title="The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-56
|airdate=[[November 26]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''To counter the new Stunticons, the Autobots create the Aerialbots, but the new team members aren't so sure about the Autobot cause.'''

:''Japanese name:'' ベクターシグマの鍵 PART II (''Vector Sigma no Kagi PART II'', "The Key of Vector Sigma PART II")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:KeyVectorSigma Alpha merge.JPG|left|200px|thumb|It's not a mystical experience, you morons! My hand's stuck! HELP! GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the Autobots are busy converting old drone rockets into [[Earth]] planes. Once their redesigns are complete, they take the ships to [[Vector Sigma]]. However, without the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], which is in the possession of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], they cannot activate the supercomputer and give Cybertronic personalities to the new bots. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], however, intends to activate it by merging his lifeforce with the computer. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] tries to stop him, but Alpha Trion merges with the supercomputer. It gives life to the new Aerialbots: [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Slingshot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]], and [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]].

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Omega boom.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Vulnerability to plot: disturbing.]]

The Autobots and Aerialbots prepare to leave, but Alpha Trion gives Optimus a warning: the Key to Vector Sigma will have different properties on Earth, which could destroy the planet. However, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] overhears this. Heading back to the surface, the Autobots and Aerialbots encounter more [[Centurion droid]]s, but the Aerialbots are able to get them to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega returns them to Earth, but suddenly explodes.

[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] begin working to restore Omega, while the Autobots and Aerialbots head toward the base with the [[superfuel]]. Shockwave contacts Megatron, informing him of the recent developments on Cybertron, and the Key's power, so Megatron decides to run some tests. At the base, the [[human]]s believe that the Autobots attacked them, and open fire. Slingshot is pissed, but [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] reminds them that they are simply confused. Suddenly, they detect high speed movement. Optimus initially believes that it's [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|jets]], but it's the Stunticons, who quickly overwhelm the Autobots, forcing the Aerialbots to take to the air. Slingshot is attacked by [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. Silverbolt goes to save him, but suddenly panics. Megatron, still testing the Key, orders the Stunticons to return to base.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 key metal.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Turns everything it touches into lifeless metal. Just like Nickelback.]]

However, during the tests, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] trips and drops the Key, causing it to discharge its energy... turning the ground below it into metal. Megatron realizes that the Key can not only give life to machines, but also turn organic matter into metal. He now has a new plan—convert Earth into a new Cybertron.

Back at the base, the Aerialbots are unimpressed with the Autobots and disgusted with the humans they are supposed to defend. Optimus confronts Silverbolt about his panic, and learns that Silverbolt is afraid of heights. In a questionable command decision, Optimus appoints Silverbolt to be Aerialbot leader, hoping it will give him something to focus on other than fear. Soon, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] detects the energy emissions from the Key, and its result. The [[Decepticon]]s are heading toward [[Seattle]], and the Autobots roll out. Meanwhile, Silverbolt attempts to convince the Aerialbots to return to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], saying that if they're the best, they should run the place. He shows them that the Decepticons will destroy them, showing how bad they are. He also shows the humans' capacity for compassion, letting them see how Sparkplug continues to work on Omega while Ratchet goes to recharge. Convinced, the Aerialbots move out.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Superion Menasor.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Say hello to my little friend.]]

Near Seattle, the Stunticons are overwhelming the Autobots, with Optimus Prime about to be crushed to death, when the Aerialbots arrive and save the Autobot leader. Megatron and Optimus reveal their last aces in the hole, ordering the Stunticons and Aerialbots to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], respectively. Menasor has the strength advantage, but Omega Supreme arrives, and turns the tide. The Decepticons retreat with the Key, but Silverbolt races after Megatron, knocking the Key from his hand and switching to robot mode to destroy it. Silverbolt believes he's about to go splat, but Slingshot manages to save him. The Aerialbots are convinced to join the Autobots, while Optimus appears convinced that Alpha Trion made the right choice.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (2)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (4)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (5)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (6)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Slingshot]] (13)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (24)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (26)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (27)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (28)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (16)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (18)
* [[Wildrider]] (19)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Drag Strip]] (21)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (22)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (29)

|c3=
* Army General (24)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Vector Sigma]] (8)
* [[Centurion droid]]s (23)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:Omega cybertron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Did you bring me any souvenirs?]]
"He gave himself up just so we could have some jets? That's nuts!" 
"No. ''One'' Autobot gave his life so that ''six'' could be born. He made a choice...the kind of choice I hope they'll be able to make when the time's right."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Optimus Prime''' on the sacrifice of Alpha Trion to create the Aerialbots. Prime approves of the kamikaze concept, apparently.

"And we're sworn to protect these bird brains?"
:—'''Slingshot''', on humans

"Somebody ought to revoke those dudes' driver licenses." 
"Those guys are out of their cotton picking heads!"
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Ironhide''' after their first encounter with the Stunticons.

"He's afraid of heights, can you believe it? And you call yourself a jet."
:—'''Slingshot''' figures out Silverbolt's phobia

"Skydive: The robot ran out of power ..." 
"Air Raid: ...but the human is still working! Where does he get his energy?" 
"Silverbolt: From his wellspring of concern for an Autobot. Are you '''getting the point yet?''' We owe the ''Autobots'' our '''liiivvees!'''"
:-'''Silverbolt''' sets the Aerialbots straight about a couple of things.

"Aerialbots, show 'em what you've got!" 
"NO! It can't be!" 
"Surprise, Megatron! Meet Superion!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' introduces the shocked '''Megatron''' to the first Autobot combiner.

"So long, cruel world!"
:—'''Silverbolt''' after destroying the Key to Vector Sigma

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Vector Sigma clearly has the key stuck in the side of it when it creates the Aerialbots.
* Fireflight is entirely blocked by Optimus Prime's head during his introduction line. Down in front!
* In the scene where Shockwave contacts Megatron in-flight, Breakdown is colored as Silverbolt.
* As the Aerialbots leave the Ark, Silverbolt is missing his right arm.
* Blaster appears to deliver Ironhide's "Those guys are out of their cotton-pickin' heads" line.
* When Ironhide argues with Slingshot about the Decepticons retreating, his waist looks somewhat like a...skirt...until Optimus intercedes, at which point it returns to its normal design mid-shot.
* When Teletran 1 gives the Decepticons location, Teletran says they are around Seattle, Tacoma, which is two cities, instead of the Seattle, Washington. Also the state of Washington isn't in Teletran's screen during the explanation.
* Slingshot appears to deliver Silverbolt's line about responsibility, and then Silverbolt continues gesticulating randomly while Slingshot delivers a lengthy retort.
* On the [[Kid Rhino]] version of this episode that uses the original pre-broadcast film elements, once the key is destroyed towards the end, the forest is shown turning into metal, rather than returning to normal. This shot was corrected on broadcast, and the [[Shout! Factory]] version restores the corrected shot from the broadcast master.

===Continuity errors===
* The Autobots are in a rush to rebuild Omega Supreme, correct? So why in the world does Optimus Prime have Wheeljack - a fix-it man - come with him to visit the Earth naval base? Shouldn't Wheeljack be at headquarters, trying to help to rebuild Omega? He can be briefly seen helping Ratchet after the fight with the Stunticons.
* Megatron said that the Key To Vector Sigma "de-energizes matter, turning it into metal". If that's the case, wouldn't turning the whole planet into metal wipe out all the energy on it, making this "New Cybertron" less valuable than the legitimate Cybertron? We know Megatron is a maniacal leader, but he's acting a bit too much like Galvatron here.

===Transformers references===
* This is [[The Key|not the last]] you'll hear of the Key to Vector Sigma. The Key, and, in particular, its ability to transform organic material into techno-matter play a key role in the events of ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''.

===Trivia===
*The tank vehicles seen at the army base are the M.O.B.A.T. and the Armadillo from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' animated series.
*The Aerialbots conclude that humans are worthless after watching [[television]]. Should this tell us something?
*During the script stage, this episode had the sub-title "Fury of the Aerialbots".
*In this episode, Superion and Menasor are voiced by [[Frank Welker]] and [[Roger C. Carmel]] respectively, but from their next appearances onwards, the characters were both recast with new voices ([[Ed Gilbert]] and [[Regis Cordic]], again respectively).
*The shooting scripts for both installments of this two-parter contain several "deleted scenes" which expand greatly upon some of the more significant events in the story. In this episode:
**Omega Supreme repairs himself after his battle with Shockwave (deleted from Part 1, although this episode contains a vestigial reference to it, when Ironhide says remarks: "Now all we've gotta do is hope that Shockwave didn't get the better of Omega Supreme!"), but is only able to do a rudimentary job, noting that his personal survival is "highly improbable." It is ''this'' which causes Omega to explode upon his return to Earth—he willingly puts himself in danger to bring the Autobots back so they can stop the Stunticons.
**Later in the episode, when the Aerialbots watch as Sparkplug works to repair Omega, Sparkplug turns on the young punks, explaining what caused Omega to explode, making them realise what he did for them, and what they owe the Autobots. This is very much in contrast to the complete non-sequitur of the finished episode, in which the fact that Sparkplug can continue working when Ratchet can't, and then Silverbolt makes the Aerialbots somehow realise that they owe the Autobots their lives.
**Additionally, there are some extended scenes of the Prime reaffirming that there are six Aerialbots, to squash the subtlety of the hint at Superion, and the Aerialbots watching more television.
* This is the last appearance of Sparkplug Witwicky.
* This is one of the very few episodes where Megatron insults Soundwave. Even then, the reason for it here leads to what Megatron believes to be an amazing discovery. There's gratitude for you!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Video Club]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 4: The Key to Vector Sigma ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 7 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_key_to_vector_sigma_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

2010-09-26T20:59:04Z

24.229.144.57: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|image=Aerialbots group.jpg
|caption=Optimus, remind us why this is a good idea again?
|series=G1toon
|ep=57
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=43
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1
|next2=Sea Change
|title="The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-56
|airdate=[[November 26]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''To counter the new Stunticons, the Autobots create the Aerialbots, but the new team members aren't so sure about the Autobot cause.'''

:''Japanese name:'' ベクターシグマの鍵 PART II (''Vector Sigma no Kagi PART II'', "The Key of Vector Sigma PART II")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:KeyVectorSigma Alpha merge.JPG|left|200px|thumb|It's not a mystical experience, you morons! My hand's stuck! HELP! GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the Autobots are busy converting old drone rockets into [[Earth]] planes. Once their redesigns are complete, they take the ships to [[Vector Sigma]]. However, without the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], which is in the possession of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], they cannot activate the supercomputer and give Cybertronic personalities to the new bots. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], however, intends to activate it by merging his lifeforce with the computer. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] tries to stop him, but Alpha Trion merges with the supercomputer. It gives life to the new Aerialbots: [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Slingshot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]], and [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]].

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Omega boom.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Vulnerability to plot: disturbing.]]

The Autobots and Aerialbots prepare to leave, but Alpha Trion gives Optimus a warning: the Key to Vector Sigma will have different properties on Earth, which could destroy the planet. However, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] overhears this. Heading back to the surface, the Autobots and Aerialbots encounter more [[Centurion droid]]s, but the Aerialbots are able to get them to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega returns them to Earth, but suddenly explodes.

[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] begin working to restore Omega, while the Autobots and Aerialbots head toward the base with the [[superfuel]]. Shockwave contacts Megatron, informing him of the recent developments on Cybertron, and the Key's power, so Megatron decides to run some tests. At the base, the [[human]]s believe that the Autobots attacked them, and open fire. Slingshot is pissed, but [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] reminds them that they are simply confused. Suddenly, they detect high speed movement. Optimus initially believes that it's [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|jets]], but it's the Stunticons, who quickly overwhelm the Autobots, forcing the Aerialbots to take to the air. Slingshot is attacked by [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. Silverbolt goes to save him, but suddenly panics. Megatron, still testing the Key, orders the Stunticons to return to base.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 key metal.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Turns everything it touches into lifeless metal. Just like Nickelback.]]

However, during the tests, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] trips and drops the Key, causing it to discharge its energy... turning the ground below it into metal. Megatron realizes that the Key can not only give life to machines, but also turn organic matter into metal. He now has a new plan—convert Earth into a new Cybertron.

Back at the base, the Aerialbots are unimpressed with the Autobots and disgusted with the humans they are supposed to defend. Optimus confronts Silverbolt about his panic, and learns that Silverbolt is afraid of heights. In a questionable command decision, Optimus appoints Silverbolt to be Aerialbot leader, hoping it will give him something to focus on other than fear. Soon, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] detects the energy emissions from the Key, and its result. The [[Decepticon]]s are heading toward [[Seattle]], and the Autobots roll out. Meanwhile, Silverbolt attempts to convince the Aerialbots to return to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], saying that if they're the best, they should run the place. He shows them that the Decepticons will destroy them, showing how bad they are. He also shows the humans' capacity for compassion, letting them see how Sparkplug continues to work on Omega while Ratchet goes to recharge. Convinced, the Aerialbots move out.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Superion Menasor.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Say hello to my little friend.]]

Near Seattle, the Stunticons are overwhelming the Autobots, with Optimus Prime about to be crushed to death, when the Aerialbots arrive and save the Autobot leader. Megatron and Optimus reveal their last aces in the hole, ordering the Stunticons and Aerialbots to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], respectively. Menasor has the strength advantage, but Omega Supreme arrives, and turns the tide. The Decepticons retreat with the Key, but Silverbolt races after Megatron, knocking the Key from his hand and switching to robot mode to destroy it. Silverbolt believes he's about to go splat, but Slingshot manages to save him. The Aerialbots are convinced to join the Autobots, while Optimus appears convinced that Alpha Trion made the right choice.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (2)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (4)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (5)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (6)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Slingshot]] (13)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (24)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (26)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (27)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (28)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (16)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (18)
* [[Wildrider]] (19)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Drag Strip]] (21)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (22)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (29)

|c3=
* Army General (24)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Vector Sigma]] (8)
* [[Centurion droid]]s (23)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:Omega cybertron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Did you bring me any souvenirs?]]
"He gave himself up just so we could have some jets? That's nuts!" 
"No. ''One'' Autobot gave his life so that ''six'' could be born. He made a choice...the kind of choice I hope they'll be able to make when the time's right."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Optimus Prime''' on the sacrifice of Alpha Trion to create the Aerialbots. Prime approves of the kamikaze concept, apparently.

"And we're sworn to protect these bird brains?"
:—'''Slingshot''', on humans

"Somebody ought to revoke those dudes' driver licenses." 
"Those guys are out of their cotton picking heads!"
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Ironhide''' after their first encounter with the Stunticons.

"He's afraid of heights, can you believe it? And you call yourself a jet."
:—'''Slingshot''' figures out Silverbolt's phobia

"Skydive: The robot ran out of power ..." 
"Air Raid: ...but the human is still working! Where does he get his energy?" 
"Silverbolt: From his wellspring of concern for an Autobot. Are you '''getting the point yet?''' We owe the ''Autobots'' our '''liiivvees!'''"
:-'''Silverbolt''' sets the Aerialbots straight about a couple of things.

"Aerialbots, show 'em what you've got!" 
"NO! It can't be!" 
"Surprise, Megatron! Meet Superion!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' introduces the shocked '''Megatron''' to the first Autobot combiner.

"So long, cruel world!"
:—'''Silverbolt''' after destroying the Key to Vector Sigma

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Vector Sigma clearly has the key stuck in the side of it when it creates the Aerialbots.
* Fireflight is entirely blocked by Optimus Prime's head during his introduction line. Down in front!
* In the scene where Shockwave contacts Megatron in-flight, Breakdown is colored as Silverbolt.
* As the Aerialbots leave the Ark, Silverbolt is missing his right arm.
* Blaster appears to deliver Ironhide's "Those guys are out of their cotton-pickin' heads" line.
* When Ironhide argues with Slingshot about the Decepticons retreating, his waist looks somewhat like a...skirt...until Optimus intercedes, at which point it returns to its normal design mid-shot.
* When Teletran 1 gives the Decepticons location, Teletran says they are around Seattle, Tacoma, which is two cities, instead of the Seattle, Washington. Also the state of Washington isn't in Teletran's screen during the explanation.
* Slingshot appears to deliver Silverbolt's line about responsibility, and then Silverbolt continues gesticulating randomly while Slingshot delivers a lengthy retort.
* On the [[Kid Rhino]] version of this episode that uses the original pre-broadcast film elements, once the key is destroyed towards the end, the forest is shown turning into metal, rather than returning to normal. This shot was corrected on broadcast, and the [[Shout! Factory]] version restores the corrected shot from the broadcast master.

===Continuity errors===
* The Autobots are in a rush to rebuild Omega Supreme, correct? So why in the world does Optimus Prime have Wheeljack - a fix-it man - come with him to visit the Earth naval base? Shouldn't Wheeljack be at headquarters, trying to help to rebuild Omega? And have you noticed that Wheeljack doesn't lift a finger to help out Omega at all in this episode? You'd swear the Autobot car had a real bad grudge against Omega or something.
* Megatron said that the Key To Vector Sigma "de-energizes matter, turning it into metal". If that's the case, wouldn't turning the whole planet into metal wipe out all the energy on it, making this "New Cybertron" less valuable than the legitimate Cybertron? We know Megatron is a maniacal leader, but he's acting a bit too much like Galvatron here.

===Transformers references===
* This is [[The Key|not the last]] you'll hear of the Key to Vector Sigma. The Key, and, in particular, its ability to transform organic material into techno-matter play a key role in the events of ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''.

===Trivia===
*The tank vehicles seen at the army base are the M.O.B.A.T. and the Armadillo from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' animated series.
*The Aerialbots conclude that humans are worthless after watching [[television]]. Should this tell us something?
*During the script stage, this episode had the sub-title "Fury of the Aerialbots".
*In this episode, Superion and Menasor are voiced by [[Frank Welker]] and [[Roger C. Carmel]] respectively, but from their next appearances onwards, the characters were both recast with new voices ([[Ed Gilbert]] and [[Regis Cordic]], again respectively).
*The shooting scripts for both installments of this two-parter contain several "deleted scenes" which expand greatly upon some of the more significant events in the story. In this episode:
**Omega Supreme repairs himself after his battle with Shockwave (deleted from Part 1, although this episode contains a vestigial reference to it, when Ironhide says remarks: "Now all we've gotta do is hope that Shockwave didn't get the better of Omega Supreme!"), but is only able to do a rudimentary job, noting that his personal survival is "highly improbable." It is ''this'' which causes Omega to explode upon his return to Earth—he willingly puts himself in danger to bring the Autobots back so they can stop the Stunticons.
**Later in the episode, when the Aerialbots watch as Sparkplug works to repair Omega, Sparkplug turns on the young punks, explaining what caused Omega to explode, making them realise what he did for them, and what they owe the Autobots. This is very much in contrast to the complete non-sequitur of the finished episode, in which the fact that Sparkplug can continue working when Ratchet can't, and then Silverbolt makes the Aerialbots somehow realise that they owe the Autobots their lives.
**Additionally, there are some extended scenes of the Prime reaffirming that there are six Aerialbots, to squash the subtlety of the hint at Superion, and the Aerialbots watching more television.
* This is the last appearance of Sparkplug Witwicky.
* This is one of the very few episodes where Megatron insults Soundwave. Even then, the reason for it here leads to what Megatron believes to be an amazing discovery. There's gratitude for you!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Video Club]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 4: The Key to Vector Sigma ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 7 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_key_to_vector_sigma_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

2010-09-26T20:58:15Z

24.229.144.57: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|image=Aerialbots group.jpg
|caption=Optimus, remind us why this is a good idea again?
|series=G1toon
|ep=57
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=43
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1
|next2=Sea Change
|title="The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-56
|airdate=[[November 26]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''To counter the new Stunticons, the Autobots create the Aerialbots, but the new team members aren't so sure about the Autobot cause.'''

:''Japanese name:'' ベクターシグマの鍵 PART II (''Vector Sigma no Kagi PART II'', "The Key of Vector Sigma PART II")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:KeyVectorSigma Alpha merge.JPG|left|200px|thumb|It's not a mystical experience, you morons! My hand's stuck! HELP! GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the Autobots are busy converting old drone rockets into [[Earth]] planes. Once their redesigns are complete, they take the ships to [[Vector Sigma]]. However, without the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], which is in the possession of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], they cannot activate the supercomputer and give Cybertronic personalities to the new bots. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], however, intends to activate it by merging his lifeforce with the computer. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] tries to stop him, but Alpha Trion merges with the supercomputer. It gives life to the new Aerialbots: [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Slingshot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]], and [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]].

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Omega boom.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Vulnerability to plot: disturbing.]]

The Autobots and Aerialbots prepare to leave, but Alpha Trion gives Optimus a warning: the Key to Vector Sigma will have different properties on Earth, which could destroy the planet. However, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] overhears this. Heading back to the surface, the Autobots and Aerialbots encounter more [[Centurion droid]]s, but the Aerialbots are able to get them to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega returns them to Earth, but suddenly explodes.

[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] begin working to restore Omega, while the Autobots and Aerialbots head toward the base with the [[superfuel]]. Shockwave contacts Megatron, informing him of the recent developments on Cybertron, and the Key's power, so Megatron decides to run some tests. At the base, the [[human]]s believe that the Autobots attacked them, and open fire. Slingshot is pissed, but [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] reminds them that they are simply confused. Suddenly, they detect high speed movement. Optimus initially believes that it's [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|jets]], but it's the Stunticons, who quickly overwhelm the Autobots, forcing the Aerialbots to take to the air. Slingshot is attacked by [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. Silverbolt goes to save him, but suddenly panics. Megatron, still testing the Key, orders the Stunticons to return to base.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 key metal.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Turns everything it touches into lifeless metal. Just like Nickelback.]]

However, during the tests, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] trips and drops the Key, causing it to discharge its energy... turning the ground below it into metal. Megatron realizes that the Key can not only give life to machines, but also turn organic matter into metal. He now has a new plan—convert Earth into a new Cybertron.

Back at the base, the Aerialbots are unimpressed with the Autobots and disgusted with the humans they are supposed to defend. Optimus confronts Silverbolt about his panic, and learns that Silverbolt is afraid of heights. In a questionable command decision, Optimus appoints Silverbolt to be Aerialbot leader, hoping it will give him something to focus on other than fear. Soon, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] detects the energy emissions from the Key, and its result. The [[Decepticon]]s are heading toward [[Seattle]], and the Autobots roll out. Meanwhile, Silverbolt attempts to convince the Aerialbots to return to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], saying that if they're the best, they should run the place. He shows them that the Decepticons will destroy them, showing how bad they are. He also shows the humans' capacity for compassion, letting them see how Sparkplug continues to work on Omega while Ratchet goes to recharge. Convinced, the Aerialbots move out.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Superion Menasor.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Say hello to my little friend.]]

Near Seattle, the Stunticons are overwhelming the Autobots, with Optimus Prime about to be crushed to death, when the Aerialbots arrive and save the Autobot leader. Megatron and Optimus reveal their last aces in the hole, ordering the Stunticons and Aerialbots to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], respectively. Menasor has the strength advantage, but Omega Supreme arrives, and turns the tide. The Decepticons retreat with the Key, but Silverbolt races after Megatron, knocking the Key from his hand and switching to robot mode to destroy it. Silverbolt believes he's about to go splat, but Slingshot manages to save him. The Aerialbots are convinced to join the Autobots, while Optimus appears convinced that Alpha Trion made the right choice.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (2)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (4)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (5)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (6)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Slingshot]] (13)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (24)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (26)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (27)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (28)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (16)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (18)
* [[Wildrider]] (19)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Drag Strip]] (21)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (22)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (29)

|c3=
* Army General (24)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Vector Sigma]] (8)
* [[Centurion droid]]s (23)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:Omega cybertron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Did you bring me any souvenirs?]]
"He gave himself up just so we could have some jets? That's nuts!" 
"No. ''One'' Autobot gave his life so that ''six'' could be born. He made a choice...the kind of choice I hope they'll be able to make when the time's right."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Optimus Prime''' on the sacrifice of Alpha Trion to create the Aerialbots. Prime approves of the kamikaze concept, apparently.

"And we're sworn to protect these bird brains?"
:—'''Slingshot''', on humans

"Somebody ought to revoke those dudes' driver licenses." 
"Those guys are out of their cotton picking heads!"
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Ironhide''' after their first encounter with the Stunticons.

"He's afraid of heights, can you believe it? And you call yourself a jet."
:—'''Slingshot''' figures out Silverbolt's phobia

"Skydive: The robot ran out of power ..." 
"Air Raid: ...but the human is still working! Where does he get his energy?" 
"Silverbolt: From his wellspring of concern for an Autobot. Are you '''getting the point yet?''' We owe the ''Autobots'' our '''liiivvees!'''"
:-'''Silverbolt''' sets the Aerialbots straight about a couple of things.

"Aerialbots, show 'em what you've got!" 
"NO! It can't be!" 
"Surprise, Megatron! Meet Superion!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' introduces the shocked '''Megatron''' to the first Autobot combiner.

"So long, cruel world!"
:—'''Silverbolt''' after destroying the Key to Vector Sigma

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Vector Sigma clearly has the key stuck in the side of it when it creates the Aerialbots.
* Fireflight is entirely blocked by Optimus Prime's head during his introduction line. Down in front!
* In the scene where Shockwave contacts Megatron in-flight, Breakdown is colored as Silverbolt.
* As the Aerialbots leave the Ark, Silverbolt is missing his right arm.
* Blaster appears to deliver Ironhide's "Those guys are out of their cotton-pickin' heads" line.
* When Ironhide argues with Slingshot about the Decepticons retreating, his waist looks somewhat like a...skirt...until Optimus intercedes, at which point it returns to its normal design mid-shot.
* When Teletran 1 gives the Decepticons location, Teletran says they are around Seattle, Tacoma, which is two cities, instead of the Seattle, Washington. Also in the picture, the state of Washington isn't in Teletran's screen.
* Slingshot appears to deliver Silverbolt's line about responsibility, and then Silverbolt continues gesticulating randomly while Slingshot delivers a lengthy retort.
* On the [[Kid Rhino]] version of this episode that uses the original pre-broadcast film elements, once the key is destroyed towards the end, the forest is shown turning into metal, rather than returning to normal. This shot was corrected on broadcast, and the [[Shout! Factory]] version restores the corrected shot from the broadcast master.

===Continuity errors===
* The Autobots are in a rush to rebuild Omega Supreme, correct? So why in the world does Optimus Prime have Wheeljack - a fix-it man - come with him to visit the Earth naval base? Shouldn't Wheeljack be at headquarters, trying to help to rebuild Omega? And have you noticed that Wheeljack doesn't lift a finger to help out Omega at all in this episode? You'd swear the Autobot car had a real bad grudge against Omega or something.
* Megatron said that the Key To Vector Sigma "de-energizes matter, turning it into metal". If that's the case, wouldn't turning the whole planet into metal wipe out all the energy on it, making this "New Cybertron" less valuable than the legitimate Cybertron? We know Megatron is a maniacal leader, but he's acting a bit too much like Galvatron here.

===Transformers references===
* This is [[The Key|not the last]] you'll hear of the Key to Vector Sigma. The Key, and, in particular, its ability to transform organic material into techno-matter play a key role in the events of ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''.

===Trivia===
*The tank vehicles seen at the army base are the M.O.B.A.T. and the Armadillo from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' animated series.
*The Aerialbots conclude that humans are worthless after watching [[television]]. Should this tell us something?
*During the script stage, this episode had the sub-title "Fury of the Aerialbots".
*In this episode, Superion and Menasor are voiced by [[Frank Welker]] and [[Roger C. Carmel]] respectively, but from their next appearances onwards, the characters were both recast with new voices ([[Ed Gilbert]] and [[Regis Cordic]], again respectively).
*The shooting scripts for both installments of this two-parter contain several "deleted scenes" which expand greatly upon some of the more significant events in the story. In this episode:
**Omega Supreme repairs himself after his battle with Shockwave (deleted from Part 1, although this episode contains a vestigial reference to it, when Ironhide says remarks: "Now all we've gotta do is hope that Shockwave didn't get the better of Omega Supreme!"), but is only able to do a rudimentary job, noting that his personal survival is "highly improbable." It is ''this'' which causes Omega to explode upon his return to Earth—he willingly puts himself in danger to bring the Autobots back so they can stop the Stunticons.
**Later in the episode, when the Aerialbots watch as Sparkplug works to repair Omega, Sparkplug turns on the young punks, explaining what caused Omega to explode, making them realise what he did for them, and what they owe the Autobots. This is very much in contrast to the complete non-sequitur of the finished episode, in which the fact that Sparkplug can continue working when Ratchet can't, and then Silverbolt makes the Aerialbots somehow realise that they owe the Autobots their lives.
**Additionally, there are some extended scenes of the Prime reaffirming that there are six Aerialbots, to squash the subtlety of the hint at Superion, and the Aerialbots watching more television.
* This is the last appearance of Sparkplug Witwicky.
* This is one of the very few episodes where Megatron insults Soundwave. Even then, the reason for it here leads to what Megatron believes to be an amazing discovery. There's gratitude for you!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Video Club]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 4: The Key to Vector Sigma ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 7 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_key_to_vector_sigma_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

2010-09-26T20:56:58Z

24.229.144.57: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|image=Aerialbots group.jpg
|caption=Optimus, remind us why this is a good idea again?
|series=G1toon
|ep=57
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=43
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1
|next2=Sea Change
|title="The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-56
|airdate=[[November 26]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''To counter the new Stunticons, the Autobots create the Aerialbots, but the new team members aren't so sure about the Autobot cause.'''

:''Japanese name:'' ベクターシグマの鍵 PART II (''Vector Sigma no Kagi PART II'', "The Key of Vector Sigma PART II")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:KeyVectorSigma Alpha merge.JPG|left|200px|thumb|It's not a mystical experience, you morons! My hand's stuck! HELP! GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the Autobots are busy converting old drone rockets into [[Earth]] planes. Once their redesigns are complete, they take the ships to [[Vector Sigma]]. However, without the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], which is in the possession of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], they cannot activate the supercomputer and give Cybertronic personalities to the new bots. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], however, intends to activate it by merging his lifeforce with the computer. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] tries to stop him, but Alpha Trion merges with the supercomputer. It gives life to the new Aerialbots: [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Slingshot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]], and [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]].

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Omega boom.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Vulnerability to plot: disturbing.]]

The Autobots and Aerialbots prepare to leave, but Alpha Trion gives Optimus a warning: the Key to Vector Sigma will have different properties on Earth, which could destroy the planet. However, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] overhears this. Heading back to the surface, the Autobots and Aerialbots encounter more [[Centurion droid]]s, but the Aerialbots are able to get them to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega returns them to Earth, but suddenly explodes.

[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] begin working to restore Omega, while the Autobots and Aerialbots head toward the base with the [[superfuel]]. Shockwave contacts Megatron, informing him of the recent developments on Cybertron, and the Key's power, so Megatron decides to run some tests. At the base, the [[human]]s believe that the Autobots attacked them, and open fire. Slingshot is pissed, but [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] reminds them that they are simply confused. Suddenly, they detect high speed movement. Optimus initially believes that it's [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|jets]], but it's the Stunticons, who quickly overwhelm the Autobots, forcing the Aerialbots to take to the air. Slingshot is attacked by [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. Silverbolt goes to save him, but suddenly panics. Megatron, still testing the Key, orders the Stunticons to return to base.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 key metal.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Turns everything it touches into lifeless metal. Just like Nickelback.]]

However, during the tests, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] trips and drops the Key, causing it to discharge its energy... turning the ground below it into metal. Megatron realizes that the Key can not only give life to machines, but also turn organic matter into metal. He now has a new plan—convert Earth into a new Cybertron.

Back at the base, the Aerialbots are unimpressed with the Autobots and disgusted with the humans they are supposed to defend. Optimus confronts Silverbolt about his panic, and learns that Silverbolt is afraid of heights. In a questionable command decision, Optimus appoints Silverbolt to be Aerialbot leader, hoping it will give him something to focus on other than fear. Soon, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] detects the energy emissions from the Key, and its result. The [[Decepticon]]s are heading toward [[Seattle]], and the Autobots roll out. Meanwhile, Silverbolt attempts to convince the Aerialbots to return to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], saying that if they're the best, they should run the place. He shows them that the Decepticons will destroy them, showing how bad they are. He also shows the humans' capacity for compassion, letting them see how Sparkplug continues to work on Omega while Ratchet goes to recharge. Convinced, the Aerialbots move out.

[[Image:KeyVectorSigma2 Superion Menasor.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Say hello to my little friend.]]

Near Seattle, the Stunticons are overwhelming the Autobots, with Optimus Prime about to be crushed to death, when the Aerialbots arrive and save the Autobot leader. Megatron and Optimus reveal their last aces in the hole, ordering the Stunticons and Aerialbots to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], respectively. Menasor has the strength advantage, but Omega Supreme arrives, and turns the tide. The Decepticons retreat with the Key, but Silverbolt races after Megatron, knocking the Key from his hand and switching to robot mode to destroy it. Silverbolt believes he's about to go splat, but Slingshot manages to save him. The Aerialbots are convinced to join the Autobots, while Optimus appears convinced that Alpha Trion made the right choice.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (2)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (4)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (5)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (6)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Slingshot]] (13)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (24)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (26)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (27)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (28)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (16)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (18)
* [[Wildrider]] (19)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Drag Strip]] (21)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (22)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (29)

|c3=
* Army General (24)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Vector Sigma]] (8)
* [[Centurion droid]]s (23)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:Omega cybertron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Did you bring me any souvenirs?]]
"He gave himself up just so we could have some jets? That's nuts!" 
"No. ''One'' Autobot gave his life so that ''six'' could be born. He made a choice...the kind of choice I hope they'll be able to make when the time's right."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Optimus Prime''' on the sacrifice of Alpha Trion to create the Aerialbots. Prime approves of the kamikaze concept, apparently.

"And we're sworn to protect these bird brains?"
:—'''Slingshot''', on humans

"Somebody ought to revoke those dudes' driver licenses." 
"Those guys are out of their cotton picking heads!"
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Ironhide''' after their first encounter with the Stunticons.

"He's afraid of heights, can you believe it? And you call yourself a jet."
:—'''Slingshot''' figures out Silverbolt's phobia

"Skydive: The robot ran out of power ..." 
"Air Raid: ...but the human is still working! Where does he get his energy?" 
"Silverbolt: From his wellspring of concern for an Autobot. Are you '''getting the point yet?''' We owe the ''Autobots'' our '''liiivvees!'''"
:-'''Silverbolt''' sets the Aerialbots straight about a couple of things.

"Aerialbots, show 'em what you've got!" 
"NO! It can't be!" 
"Surprise, Megatron! Meet Superion!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' introduces the shocked '''Megatron''' to the first Autobot combiner.

"So long, cruel world!"
:—'''Silverbolt''' after destroying the Key to Vector Sigma

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Vector Sigma clearly has the key stuck in the side of it when it creates the Aerialbots.
* Fireflight is entirely blocked by Optimus Prime's head during his introduction line. Down in front!
* In the scene where Shockwave contacts Megatron in-flight, Breakdown is colored as Silverbolt.
* As the Aerialbots leave the Ark, Silverbolt is missing his right arm.
* Blaster appears to deliver Ironhide's "Those guys are out of their cotton-pickin' heads" line.
* When Ironhide argues with Slingshot about the Decepticons retreating, his waist looks somewhat like a...skirt...until Optimus intercedes, at which point it returns to its normal design mid-shot.
* When Teletran 1 gives the Decepticons location, Teletran says they around Seattle, Tacoma, which is two cities, instead of the Seattle, Washington.
* Slingshot appears to deliver Silverbolt's line about responsibility, and then Silverbolt continues gesticulating randomly while Slingshot delivers a lengthy retort.
* On the [[Kid Rhino]] version of this episode that uses the original pre-broadcast film elements, once the key is destroyed towards the end, the forest is shown turning into metal, rather than returning to normal. This shot was corrected on broadcast, and the [[Shout! Factory]] version restores the corrected shot from the broadcast master.

===Continuity errors===
* The Autobots are in a rush to rebuild Omega Supreme, correct? So why in the world does Optimus Prime have Wheeljack - a fix-it man - come with him to visit the Earth naval base? Shouldn't Wheeljack be at headquarters, trying to help to rebuild Omega? And have you noticed that Wheeljack doesn't lift a finger to help out Omega at all in this episode? You'd swear the Autobot car had a real bad grudge against Omega or something.
* Megatron said that the Key To Vector Sigma "de-energizes matter, turning it into metal". If that's the case, wouldn't turning the whole planet into metal wipe out all the energy on it, making this "New Cybertron" less valuable than the legitimate Cybertron? We know Megatron is a maniacal leader, but he's acting a bit too much like Galvatron here.

===Transformers references===
* This is [[The Key|not the last]] you'll hear of the Key to Vector Sigma. The Key, and, in particular, its ability to transform organic material into techno-matter play a key role in the events of ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''.

===Trivia===
*The tank vehicles seen at the army base are the M.O.B.A.T. and the Armadillo from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' animated series.
*The Aerialbots conclude that humans are worthless after watching [[television]]. Should this tell us something?
*During the script stage, this episode had the sub-title "Fury of the Aerialbots".
*In this episode, Superion and Menasor are voiced by [[Frank Welker]] and [[Roger C. Carmel]] respectively, but from their next appearances onwards, the characters were both recast with new voices ([[Ed Gilbert]] and [[Regis Cordic]], again respectively).
*The shooting scripts for both installments of this two-parter contain several "deleted scenes" which expand greatly upon some of the more significant events in the story. In this episode:
**Omega Supreme repairs himself after his battle with Shockwave (deleted from Part 1, although this episode contains a vestigial reference to it, when Ironhide says remarks: "Now all we've gotta do is hope that Shockwave didn't get the better of Omega Supreme!"), but is only able to do a rudimentary job, noting that his personal survival is "highly improbable." It is ''this'' which causes Omega to explode upon his return to Earth—he willingly puts himself in danger to bring the Autobots back so they can stop the Stunticons.
**Later in the episode, when the Aerialbots watch as Sparkplug works to repair Omega, Sparkplug turns on the young punks, explaining what caused Omega to explode, making them realise what he did for them, and what they owe the Autobots. This is very much in contrast to the complete non-sequitur of the finished episode, in which the fact that Sparkplug can continue working when Ratchet can't, and then Silverbolt makes the Aerialbots somehow realise that they owe the Autobots their lives.
**Additionally, there are some extended scenes of the Prime reaffirming that there are six Aerialbots, to squash the subtlety of the hint at Superion, and the Aerialbots watching more television.
* This is the last appearance of Sparkplug Witwicky.
* This is one of the very few episodes where Megatron insults Soundwave. Even then, the reason for it here leads to what Megatron believes to be an amazing discovery. There's gratitude for you!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Video Club]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 4: The Key to Vector Sigma ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 7 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_key_to_vector_sigma_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]