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Nature Calls

2008-04-07T18:44:48Z

70.153.33.161: /* Transformers references */

{{episodenav|animated|14|season=1|prev=Headmaster (episode)|next=Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

[[Image:spacebarnaclemonster.jpg|300px|right|thumb| Zoinks! Like, It's the Tar Monster!]]
'''Prowl, Bumblebee and Sari get more than they bargained for when they head out to the remote woods to investigate a mysterious energy signal.'''

==Synopsis==

Far outside of Detroit, a lone worker monitoring [[Constructicons (G1)|some oddly coloured]] mining machines hears a strange noise. Alerted, he looks around, but returns to his drink... only to be attacked by ''something''. The construction machines stop their work, and they too get attacked.

Outside Detroit, Prowl, in his [[alternate mode]], looks on at the snow covered city, before a plow comes along and rather rudely covers him in snow. [[Transformation|Transforming]], he rises from the snow with a sad look on his face

[[Image:Camp site.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Nothin' says 'unplug yourselves' like a little primitive camping.]]

When Prowl returns to the base, he goes on a rant about nature's beauty and how humanity destroys it at every turn. Bumblebee and Sari are playing a video game, ignoring his vent. Prowl looks down on Bumblebee and asks if he was listening, where Bumblebee retorts by noting that Prowl is "electrical components" too, nudging his Autobot insignia to activate a hologram of Prowl. Optimus Prime interrupts the friendly banter by noting that there is a strange energy signature coming from the forest, and so sends Prowl and Bumblebee to investigate. Bumblebee is horrified at the idea at venturing into the tech-less wilderness, while Sari uses the opportunity to go camping with the two Autobots.

The three of them head off into the woods and Bumblebee laments unpaved roads, while Sari is excited, saying that they'll roast marshmellows, tell ghost stories, and the like. When they prepare to proceed on foot, it's learned that Bumblebee brought a few entertainment devices...stored in a place that makes him a little ashamed. After finding a suitable camping site, Prowl sits quietly to commune with nature while Bumblebee searches for an outlet to power his flatscreen TV. As campers, Sari and Bumblebee are miserable failures. They can't pitch a tent or get a fire going, and Sari is forced to admit that she's never been camping before, so Prowl does both within seconds. When Bumblebee commandeers Prowl's holographic imager to watch a movie, the ninja bot smashes Bumblebee's portable media player, much to the yellow bot's horror. Prowl 1, Bumblebee 0.

[[Image:Sari expression.jpg|thumb|150px|It just gets worse, Sari.]]

During the night, the trio is awoken by a crunching noise. Bumblebee cries monster. Prowl says its a bear, which are [[Wikipedia:Stephen Colbert (character)|hardly monsters]]. Lo and behold, a monstrous creature covered in purple tentacles and pink eyes ''does'' stomp out into the open and attack them. Bumblebee 1, Prowl 1.

After a brief battle, they run ahead and determine the creature is made up of [[space barnacles]], scourge of space-going vessels everywhere. Prowl says these barnacles appear to have been mutated by [[All Spark (Animated)|something]] and made more powerful. They decide to go back and destroy the barnacles, rather than risk the creature reaching Detroit and infecting other machines. Glowing in the direction of the Cybertronian energy, Sari's key leads them to the mine shaft. When they're not looking, the creature drops a snowbank on them from above, sealing Bee and Sari inside.

Prowl fools the creature into smashing the entrance open and Bumblebee uses his stingers to fry the barnacles. However, Prowl's prolonged contact with the creature has infected him and taken over, turning him into a barnacle zombie. Bee and Sari make a run for it, but they know they can't go back to the city because the barnacles may spread. They backtrack, hoping to lure Prowl to the mine and seal him inside, but end up sealing themselves inside too.

[[Image:Barnicle bots.jpg|thumb|left|150px|We want to suck your [[Energon]].]]

Now trapped, Bee and Sari seal themselves in a furnace room and Sari hatches a plan to heat up water from a fire hose to scorch the barnacles off Prowl. But Prowl's touch has infected Bumblebee as well. Sari tries to use the key on the furnace machinery but it doesn't work (for once). Sari manages to light the furnace by scratching a spark (not [[spark|that kind of spark]]) from the Key. The furnace heats the water and Sari sprays her two friends, boiling the barnacles off. The two Autobots are restored and the three return to the plant to recount their harrowing tale to Prime.

[[Image:Sumdac megatron's body.jpg|thumb|150px|FINALLY! I can resurrect the most ruthless warlord in the galaxy and damn my planet to untold suffering and horror! GO ME!!]]

Back in the woods, [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] arrives in a truck and finds the Cybertronian machinery that was formerly coated by the barnacles, machinery that bears the Decepticon insignia. Sumdac comments that he's finally found what he's been looking for for several years, and that Megatron will be pleased with his discovery. What, oh what, could it be?

==Stats==
*'''Written by:''' [[Todd Casey]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Ben Jones]], [[Bouakeo Thongkham]], & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' March 22, 2008
*'''Animation studio:''' [[The Answer Studio]]

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron's Body]] (5)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (2)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (6)

|}

==Quotes==
'''Bumblebee''': At least I can get this junk out of me. I was feeling kinda bloated. 
''[Electronic devices suddenly fall out of him, Prowl gives him a look]'' 
'''Bumblebee''': What? You said to pack the bare essentials! 
'''Prowl''': Since when are surround-sound speakers, a strobe light, and a hand-held media player "bare essentials?" 
'''Bumblebee''': You should've seen what I left back at the plant. 
'''Prowl''': Where did you find room for all of this junk? 
''[Bumblebee taps his fingers uncomfortably]'' 
'''Bumblebee''': [[Exhaust port|I'd...rather not say.]] 
:{{m-}}'''Bumblebee''' and '''Prowl'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s conversation takes a decidedly uncomfortable turn.

"First we must determine this creature's intentions." 
''[Creature knocks Prowl aside without provocation]'' 
"I'm gonna say 'hostile'." 
:{{m-}}'''Prowl''' and '''Bumblebee''' meet the monster.

'''Bumblebee''': Hey! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?! 
''[Creature swipes at Bumblebee and Sari]'' 
'''Bumblebee''': Okay. Maybe we're a little unclear on the concept of "your own size". 
'''Sari''': Maybe you should stop talking logic to a ''creature that has no head!'' 
:{{m-}}'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari'''.

"What did I tell you about camping? ''Monsters''. TV is ''always'' right." 
"So, wait. Monsters ''are'' real? Tutor Bot is such a liar!" 
:{{m-}}'''Bumblebee'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s faith in [[Television]] is reinforced, while '''Sari Sumdac'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s faith in [[Tutor Bot]] is shattered.

"Attention, barnacle monster! Come out with your hands over your...okay, you don't have a head. But you get the idea." 
:{{m-}}'''Bumblebee''' instructs the creature to surrender.

"We're ''[[Slag (slang)|slag]]ged''!" 
:{{m-}}'''Bumblebee,''' after Prowl was infected with barnacles and was about to attack him and Sari.

'''Sari''': And then, they were back to normal, like nothing ever happened. Meanwhile, I'm stuck riding home with no dry clothes and the only Autobot whose car mode doesn't have a ''heater''! 
''[Sari sneezes]'' 
'''Optimus''': You showed a lot of courage and ingenuity, Sari. And hopefully, you'll stop... backfiring soon. 
'''Sari''': Hel-''lo'', it's called "sneezing". 
''[Sari sneezes, then blows her nose]'' 
'''Bumblebee''': I don't even wanna know what ''that's'' called. 
:{{m-}}The Autobots discover the concept of the common cold.

"Megatron will be so surprised!" 
:{{m-}}'''Isaac Sumdac''', cheerfully dooming us all.

==Other notes==
===Continuity errors===
* If space barnacles are killed by heat, how did any survive atmospheric entry?

===Transformers references===
[[Image:aniconstructionvehicles.jpg|right|thumb|150px|They're so [[neon]].]]

* The construction drones are [[Constructicons (G1)|green and purple.]] [[Constructicons (Animated)|Foreshadowing]] [[Scrapper (Animated)|much]]?

* [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron's]] body ends up in the [[Megatron (Movie)|deep freeze.]]

* Bumblebee's combined stinger attack also [[Cheetor (BW)|rings a few bells]].

* Sari remarks that Bumblebee has no heater. Remember that 'Bee took his alternate mode from [[Captain Fanzone]]'s car... and if ''any'' car in Detroit would be old and decrepit and lacking basic amenities, it'd be Fanzone's.

*This episode revisits a [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|concept of the balance between technology and nature]], with Prowl advocating [[Optimus Primal|the benefits of nature]], Bumblebee advocating [[Megatron (BW)|the benefits of technology]], Sari advocating [[Vector Sigma#Beast Machines cartoon|the benefits of balance]], and lots of [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|running away from things]].

[[Image:anisparkplugwitwicky.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This kind of stuff never happened in [[Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma|Burma]]...]]

* The construction worker looks very [[Sparkplug Witwicky|familiar.]] (He's only credited as "Worker," and is voiced by [[Bumper Robinson]].)

* This episode is one in a long line of episodes featuring Transformer based diseases transferred by touch. It shares elements of the [[hate plague]], [[cosmic rust]] the [[transorganics]] from "Dweller in the Depths" and most noteably the [[scraplets]]. Ironically water ended up destroying the scraplets as well in the pages of Marvel comics.

===Real-world references===
* There are actually [[wikipedia:barnacle|barnacles ''not'' from space]]. Neat, huh?

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* So... what happened to that mine worker, anyway?

* Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Megatron ('s head), while mentioned, make no appearances in this episode.

* Tutor Bot is mentioned, and in the voice credits for the episode, but does not actually appear.

*...[[Tom Kenny|space barnacles?]]

* Why didn't Sari get scalded by hot water when she soaked Prowl and 'Bee?

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

Megatron Rising - Part 2

2008-04-07T18:32:01Z

70.153.33.161: /* Continuity errors */

[[Image:SexyBeast.JPG|right|thumb|300px|He's bringing sexy back, yeah!.]]

{{episodenav|animated|16|season=1|prev=Megatron Rising - Part 1|next=The Elite Guard}}

'''The Autobots are decimated by the Decepticon invasion, but still must rally to prevent the All Spark from falling into their clutches. '''

==Summary==
[[Image:MegaPrime.JPG|left|thumb|200px|Oh, it is so on.]]
As Megatron descends to ground level, Optimus, Prowl and Bulkhead look on in disbelief. As he lands, Bulkhead takes point, launching his wrecking ball, but Megatron calmly slices it off before backhanding Bulkhead into a nearby
building. Prowl then attacks, but his throwing stars are easily deflected, and he finds himself on the defensive, dodging Megatron's swords. Taking cover behind a bridge support, he manages to avoid them, but Megatron's attacks destroy it, and two children are nearly crushed under the falling rubble, saved only by Optimus borrowing "a move from the Bumblebee play book", using a combination of his wheels and ax to dash forward and snatch the children up. Meanwhile, Prowl is pinned under Megatron's foot, and the Decepticon draws a sword, ready to take revenge for Prowl slicing off the remains of his arm fifty years ago. Optimus saves Prowl by using a combination of his grappler and ax to knock the sword from Megatron's grasp. The two leaders face off, but Megatron simply blocks Prime's blow and kicks him away. As Megatron reaches for his dropped sword, Optimus launches a grappler, tripping him. Megatron follows up by snapping the grappler's line and using it to swing Optimus into the side of a building.

[[Image:PayThePiper.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Megatron punishes Starscream for betrayal and goes against everything natural to Transformers lore.]]
In the tower, Blitzwing wants to join the fight, but Lugnut won't allow him to interfere in Megatron's business. As the two Decepticons argue, Dr. Sumdac tries to make a break for it, only to be blocked by Blitzwing. Meanwhile, Starscream holds a struggling Bumblebee while watching Optimus and Megatron battle, trying to decide whom he'll gain more from by helping, the Autobot or his would-be leader. On the ground, Optimus is taking a beating but says he will never reveal the AllSpark's location. Unfortunately, Megatron simply plans to use the key to track down the AllSpark. Punching Prime hard enough to send him skidding across the tarmac, Megatron calls out to his loyal Decepticons. Lugnut and Blitzwing immediately respond, and Starscream casually comments on his decision being made for him and throws Bumblebee away. As Lugnut prostrates himself, Starscream drops down on his head, ready to renew his tenure as Second in Command. Megatron comments on the appropriateness of Starscream's presence, takes aim on the Autobots...then quickly jams the key into Starscream's chest, seemingly draining him of life. Dropping the offline traitor, Megatron asks if there are any other dissenters. Getting a negative response, he turns back to the Autobots, only to discover they've used the distraction to escape. Blitzwing wants to chase after them, but Megatron believes the AllSpark takes priority. At his command the Decepticons transform and roll—er, rise up.

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Marty Isenberg]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Ben Jones]], [[Ciro Nieli]], & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' April 5, 2008

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |

*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (10)

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

*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (5)
*[[Lugnut]] (6)
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (11)

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

*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (7)
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (12)

|}

==Quotes==

"Time to borrow a move from the Bumblebee playbook." 
:{{m-}}'''Optimus Prime''' realising that a giant ax can't solve everything

"Decepticons, transform and rise up!" 
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''' has his own version of [[roll out]].

'''Isaac''': Oh dear, this is all my fault! 
'''Sari''': What? It's not like you built Megatron in your lab or anything. 
''[Isaac Sumdac looks away and uncomfortably taps his fingers]'' 
'''Sari''': YOU BUILT MEGATRON IN YOUR LAB?! 
'''Ratchet''': On the bright side, now I don't feel so bad about losing your key. 
:{{m-}}One of several awkward moments this episode for Isaac Sumdac

"If we go down, we go down fighting. And I can't think of a better band of Autobots I'd be prouder to fight alongside." 
"Not even the Cybertron Elite Guard? Because I sure wouldn't mind having them here now." 
:{{m-}}'''Optimus Prime''' prepares to [[Furmanism|fight and die]] while '''Bumblebee''' would rather fight and live.

'''Ratchet''': Electromagnetic pulse, kid! 
''[Bumblebee and Ratchet cross their powers together and short out Blitzwing]'' 
'''Calm Blitzwing''': Curious. My electrical systems have gone offline. Which means{{m-}} 
'''Crazy Blitzwing''': {{m-}}I'M FALLING!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
:{{m-}}Crazy Blitzwing finds humor in everything.

'''Bumblebee''': So what do we do now? Wait for him to turn into a tank and crash again? 
'''Ratchet''': Nobody gets that lucky twice in battle. 
'''Prowl''': Perhaps we can make our own luck. I've noticed a connection between Blitzwing's multiple personalities and his vehicle modes. We can use that weakness against him...but it will require using Bumblebee's greatest strength. 
'''Bumblebee''': What, my stingers? My turbo-speed? 
'''Prowl''': Your obnoxious personality. 
:{{m-}}Prowl nails friend and foe alike with ninja precision.

[[Image:Megatron Rising 2 Blitzwing tank crash.jpg|thumb|200px|Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the tank as it fell was ''"Oh slag, not again"''. Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the tank had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now.]]
"YOU WANT HEAT!? I'LL GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE{{m-}}OH SLAG, NOT AGA{{m-}}!" 
:{{m-}}'''Angry Blitzwing''', his own worst enemy.

"You all fought like Autobots! I can't tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you." 
"Go on, tell us. We can take it!" 
:{{m-}}'''Optimus Prime''' praises the Autobots while '''Bumblebee''' showcases his recently discussed "greatest strength".

"I trust you are comfortable in your chair!" 
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''' to '''Isaac Sumdac'''. The choice of furniture was destined to come back to haunt him.

==Other notes==

===Continuity errors===
* At the beginning of the series, years were measured as solar cycles to Transformers, but Megatron refers to years as stellar cycles.
* Megatron said that Prowl slashed off his arm, while he actually lost it due to Starscream planting a bomb on his back. Prowl ''did'', however, slash a part off that remained after the explosion.
* In "Lost and Found", Ratchet reveals that even with the key the ship would not be operational for a "long, long time" thereby stranding the Autobots on Earth. In this episode however, without the key's aid Ratchet, armless, is able to get it space worthy in about two minutes.
* Sari recognizes Megatron from his new Earth alt mode, despite never seeing it before. She also seems to know who Megatron is, despite never being told, either. Unless you count her experience with the All-spark, which never gives a name, just an image.
* Megatron asks Professor Sumdac if he is comfortable in his chair in the form of Megatron's hand, despite it being the wrong hand.

===Animation errors===
* When Ratchet catches Sari after Blackarachnia drops her, his right arm is intact. In the next scene, it's gone again.
* Also, when Ratchet, Bumblebee and Prowl are planning on how to stop Blitzwing, Ratchet's arm is intact again, but in the next shot, it's gone again. This happens constantly during the final battle.
* When Blitzwing changes faces after Megatron coldcocks Starscream, his face rotates vertically, not horizontally as it usually does.
*The black lanyard attached to Sari's [[Sari Sumdac's Key|key]] keeps disappearing and reappearing.
*Optimus Prime appears ''really'' tiny when he's shown sitting at the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s door at the end.

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Ark in mountain.jpg|150px||thumb|right|Moral of the story: [[Ark II|Autobots]] [[Ark-19|cannot]] [[Ark (G1)|drive]].]]
* The manner in which the ''[[Ark (Animated)|Ark]]'' sticks out of the rock is reminiscent of the [[Ark (G1)|original ''Ark'']].

* [[Cyber Planet Key|A key as the most powerful Cybertonian artifact?]] [[Key to Vector Sigma|Most familiar]].

* Putting the AllSpark into his chest did not kill Megatron, unlike his [[Megatron (Movie)|second cousin twice removed]].

===Real-world references===
*

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* The intro has a number of new sound effects added in.

* Despite the fact the ''Ark'' crashed on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]], [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] and company are nowhere to be seen. [[Slag (slang)|''Slag!!!!'']]

* Since virtually the beginning of the series, fans have been theorizing that Sari may be more than she appears (see [[Sari Sumdac#Sari and fans|her own article]] for all the details), and this episode includes the first serious in-show hint in that direction. In addition to Professor Sumdac attemptinh to tell Sari "something important" when he thinks its possible that they're about to die, a point is repeatedly made of noting that the AllSpark "chose" Sari, and when she asks it why, it projects an image of a DNA strand with a [[spark|glowing blue orb]] at its center. Hmmm...

* Sari bites Blackarachnia's hand, and somehow, the latter feels pain. Ordinarily, this could be explained away if one supposes that Blackarachnia's hand in robot mode is organic, but you can hear a metallic clang as Sari chomps down on it. That girl has some ''teeth'' on her.

* After 24 years, the Decepticons ''finally'' have an equivalent of "Transform and Roll Out." And it's one that makes perfect sense, considering that traditionally, most Decepticons can fly. Even after taking that into consideration, the frequent depiction in Transformers lore of the Decepticons as an insurgent army ''rising'' to glory and conquest lends it a certain poetic elegance as well. "Decepticons, Transform and Rise Up!"

* Megatron's transforming sequence from helicopter to robot is ''mostly'' the sequence of robot to helicopter played backwards with a few shots added—or possibly, the robot-to-heli sequence is ''actually'' the heli-to-robot sequence played backwards with certain shots ''removed''. The added/deleted shots are seemingly designed solely for a vehicle-to-robot sequence (such as the reveal of his hands, head, and final elegant "Power Pose", making the latter theory more likely.

* Megatron actually punished Starscream for betraying him. You can count on one hand all the times that has happened in every TF series prior to this, combined. And [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] blasting [[Starscream (G1)|him]] to slag doesn't count.

* This episode proves that ''Animated'' Megatron is awesome and a total badass. But we had already guessed that.

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