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City of Steel (episode)

2008-02-23T18:49:02Z

66.26.234.198: /* Animation and/or technical glitches */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (23)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (30)

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

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

'''Guests'''
*

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

|}

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

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

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

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

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

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

"It will take more than your puny arm to stop Devastator!"<br>"Right. Which is why it's lucky that the hand on the end of that arm... is holding a gun!"
:-- '''Devastator''' reels as '''Optimus''' points out the single flaw in the gestalt's otherwise brilliant tower-climbing plan.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* In a long-shot of the Autobot/Decepticon battle in Central Park, Bumblebee is inexplicably grappling with Bluestreak while Ratchet fights Reflector.
* When Scavenger is beating the bucket of his vehicle mode against the ceiling below Central Park, a misplaced cel means the cracks that are supposed to be forming in the ceiling appear ''in front'' of his arm instead.
* In the Central Park sequence, Scavenger's vehicle mode is ''huge'', towering over Megatron and with a bucket significantly larger than Optimus.
* When Megatron is looking at Optimus through the monitor, Prime has both arms. The camera switches to Megatron and then back to Optimus, who now has only one arm.
* The scene freezes for several seconds as the rebuilt Empire State Building is about to be raised above ground, complete with non-moving clouds of dust and smoke.
* The Empire State Building is depicted as ''far'' too small in relation to the Transformers in several scenes.
* At one point, Megatron's helmet appears in white rather than grey giving the impression that he is wearing a white wig. Earlier in the episode his face and helmet are both coloured in the same shade of dark grey.
* Why didn't the Constructicons find the Matrix when they took apart Prime?
* Prime "activating" his legs consists of somehow making them come magically tumbling through the air to him.
* There's an odd moment when Mirage and Ratchet say, in perfect synch, "This alligator is big and heavy!" Prime then responds with the sage observation: "From the looks of it, I'd say a little of both." The scene appears to be the result of an editing and directorial snafu. Prime should be responding to the Autobots' previous lines: "Now we've got him!" "Or should I say, we've got ''you''?" And the combined Ratchet and Mirage line was likely intended to be a series of ad libs as the Autobots struggle with the Aligaticon, rather than a straight line.
* Let's not even get into the plausibility of lowering a thousand-foot building into the ground, rebuilding it for beings several times the size of a human, and then rebuilding it ''again'' into its original form.
[[Image:Devastatorkingkong.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Giant: check. Empire State Building: check. But no [[Female Transformers|beauty]].]]
*When Frenzy tries to ram Hound and Prowl in the subway with a train, it first shows him as blue, it then cuts to another angle of him being red. Then again, it could be Rumble who was driving the train. [[FIRRIB|Who knows.]]

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

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

{{epstub}}

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

The Immobilizer

2008-02-23T18:34:47Z

66.26.234.198: /* Animation and/or technical glitches */

{{picsneeded|Title card screengrab}}

[[Image:Immobilizerep6.jpg|right|thumb|350px|"See? We can shoot him right in the nads!"<BR>"Television doesn't work that way, you doofus."]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|6|prev=Traitor|next=The Autobot Run}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|15|prev=Birth of the Transformers!|next=Atlantis, Arise!}}

'''The Decepticons steal Wheeljack's latest invention, which immobilizes stuff, and Ironhide attempts to retrieve it.'''

'''Japanese title:''' "Immobilizer"

==Detailed synopsis==
At Autobot headquarters, Wheeljack gathers everyone around for a demonstration of his newest invention, the Immobilizer. Walking in late, Ironhide sees Hound’s hologram of Laserbeak and, thinking it’s real, fires wildly at it, scattering the Autobots and nearly bringing down the roof. As Ironhide apologizes, Wheeljack reveals that the Immobilizer was damaged and needs a replacement polarizer. Bumblebee and Spike volunteer to go into town to retrieve it.

[[Image:Immbolizerep4.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Before DDR, there was...Robot Resource.]]

While on their mission, ‘Bee and Spike stop for a few rounds of “Robot Resource” at the [[Robots Video Arcade|local arcade]]. A young woman named Carly introduces herself to the pair and admits her fondness for the “cute Autobot.” A somewhat jealous and awkward Spike reminds Bumblebee that they need to leave, and the pair take off, only to be stopped a few moments later by a sarcastic policeman. As they are being busted for speeding, Ravage attacks Bumblebee and secretly plants a miniature video camera on the Autobot. Spike electrocutes Ravage with jumper cables, and the Decepticon retreats. The officer lets the pair go with a warning.

With the Immobilizer repaired, Wheeljack starts the demonstration again, unaware his every word is being caught by the microbug camera on Bumblebee and relayed to Starscream and Megatron. The Decepticons aren’t too keen on the idea of being permanently immobilized by the invention, and Megatron promises to steal it.

[[Image:Ladybreakeandfatjazzr.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Fat Jazz, Ladybreaker, and two guys enjoy the big breads.]]

Optimus Prime decides to move the test outdoors for safety. As the Autobots approach the location, Prime directs Ironhide to guard the perimeter. The rest proceed toward a fast-moving river, which Wheeljack immobilizes with the device. In the commotion caused by the success of the test, Spike messes with the Immobilizer and is almost zapped, but Wheeljack throws him out of the way, takes the blast himself, and winds up stiff as a board.

Still patrolling the perimeter, Ironhide catches a glimpse of a shadowy figure and fires his weapon. He discovers that the figure was Carly, whom he scolds for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The distant sound of gunfire cuts their conversation short, and Ironhide rushes off. He reaches the clearing to find the Decepticons have the Autobots at gunpoint, and blames the ambush on himself.

Megatron demands that Prime hand over the Immobilizer, and a battle ensues. The device gets knocked about and winds up in Megatron’s hands, but just as he starts issuing another threat, the river, on which he and the Decepticons are now standing, re-mobilizes and sweeps them downstream.

[[Image:Immobilizerep7.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Ratchet puts the finishing touches on his resin-cast Wheeljack model.]]

While undergoing repairs back at headquarters, Ironhide criticizes his performance in the field. Concluding that he’s too old to be of use, he resigns from active service, and nothing Ratchet or Prime says dissuades him. Carly blames herself for Ironhide’s attitude and tries to convince him not to quit. Ironhide gives her a tour of the base, and she pockets a grenade when they visit the armory.

Some time later, Wheeljack unfreezes, and Spike notices that Carly is missing. Suspecting she’s emotional and going to do something rash (‘cuz she ''is'' a girl), Spike and Bumblebee set out to look for her. Turns out he’s right. Carly has driven a boat out into the ocean and, using SCUBA gear, swims down to Decepticon headquarters to plant the stolen grenade on their outer wall. However, she’s detected by Soundwave, kidnapped by Laserbeak, and brought into the base to face Megatron’s judgment.

Luckily for Carly, her abduction was caught by the [[Sky Spy]]. Ironhide rushes off to find Spike and Bumblebee and start a rescue mission.

Back under the ocean, the grenade Carly planted earlier goes off, and seawater starts rushing into Decepticon headquarters. They manage to fix the damage and contain the water, except in the cell where Carly is being held. With disturbing glee, Megatron and the others watch Carly struggle as water fills the cell to the ceiling. Assuming she’s dead, they leave the cell unguarded. This lets Ironhide swim through the hole in the wall, grab the girl and bring her back to the surface.

[[Image:Immobilizerep8.jpg|right|thumb|200px|You hit me! Kong never hit me!]]

After thanking Ironhide for the rescue, Carly rides off with Spike and Bumblebee, but when Ironhide doesn’t follow, they realize that he’s been immobilized. The Decepticons and Autobots square off, with Rumble in control of the Immobilizer and freezing most of the Autobot forces. Following a plan of Carly’s design, Brawn tunnels under the ground with her and Spike so they come up near the Immobilizer’s position. As Jazz distracts the Decepticons, Carly crosses some wires in the device and the trio escapes. When Rumble tries to immobilize Optimus Prime, the device starts to re-mobilize the frozen Autobots instead. Ironhide grabs the Immobilizer from Laserbeak, and when all the Autobots are unfrozen, he smashes the device. With his toy in pieces, Megatron swears to return, and the Decepticons retreat.

[[Image:Immobilizerep1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|This early version of ''Thelma and Louise'' never took off.]]

Back at headquarters, Ironhide asks to return to active duty, and Optimus heartily welcomes him back. Carly explains how she switched around the wires in the Immobilizer, since she does have a science scholarship at MIT. Confronted by both brains and beauty, Spike has no choice but to ask Carly on a date. Sparkplug watches them drive off and smiles in approval, despite the fact that his son going out with a college student while he's too young to have a driver’s license.
{{-}}

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' September 24, 1985

'''Written by:''' [[Earl Kress]]

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
*[[Trailbreaker]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Carly]]
*[[Spike]]

'''Guests'''
*

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

|}

==Notable quotes==

"Give me the device now, Optimus Prime."<br>
"Try and take it, Mega-turkey!"
:—'''Megatron''' and the oh-so-witty '''Trailbreaker'''

"My telemeter has—ugh!—been damaged. Aah! I can’t steer!"
:—'''Starscream''' bumps into trees as he tries to gain control of himself

"You’re losing your warriors, Megatron.”<br>
"Warriors are expendable. The most important thing is I get what I deserve, and I always do."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gets '''Megatron''' to set up the ironic line for this episode.

"You deserve ''that'', all right, Mega-jerk. Rust in peace!"
:—More wit from '''Trailbreaker''' as the Decepticons are swept downriver

"Someone ''should'' pacify those Decepticons...''and'' their underwater headquarters."
:—'''Carly''', a girl after Ironhide’s own heart

"The show’s over. Back to work."
:—A leering '''Megatron''' takes glee in Carly’s apparent drowning.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* [[:Image:ladybreakeandfatjazzr.jpg|Trailbreaker's got a nice ass. Who knew?]]

*When Carly runs off after talking to Ironhide, Spike and Bumblebee go out to find her. They drive off, but then it cuts to Optimus Prime saying the usual obvious "What we need to do speech" with the autobots around him listening. This includes Bumblebee, even though he left the base like 15 seconds ago.

===Continuity errors===
*

===Transformers references===
* This episode is Carly's introduction to the series.

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Trivia

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

==External links==
*

{{epstub}}

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