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Metal Attraction

2011-07-10T16:02:47Z

75.101.1.123: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 18
|prev=Crisscross
|next=Rock Bottom
|image=MetalAttraction-stuck.jpg
|caption= Sadly they don't fusion into [[Tigerhawk|a Powerful being.]]
|title="Metal Attraction"
|airdate=[[July 9]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots try to claim a magnetic weapon called a "polarity gauntlet" before the Decepticons get to it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports to [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that there's an incoming vehicle, which they initially assume to be a [[Decepticon]], but relax when it turns out to be [[June Darby]] in her car. Jack's less than enthusiastic that his mother's come to check up on him ''again''. Ratchet detects an unusual magnetic flux.

[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has also picked up the magnetic signature, which [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] recognizes as a Decepticon weapon. [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] volunteers to secure the invention and though Megatron is skeptical of Breakdown's abilities following [[Operation: Breakdown|certain recent events]], Breakdown insists.

[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] arrive back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but their high spirits drop when they realize Jack's mom is there. Arcee and Jack prepare to go conduct a routine diagnostic, but June's questioning about how safe it will be makes Arcee irritated. Ratchet asks Bulkhead to go and investigate the magnetic disturbance, and when Miko announces she's going too, Bulkhead is obliged to tell her to stay at base. Finally June's questions become too much for Arcee, and she opts to go with Bulkhead.

In a desert area, Breakdown breaks apart some rocks to find the device he's after. No sooner has he picked it up than [[Airachnid]] puts in an appearance, clouts him and grabs the weapon. Breakdown recovers quickly and begins fighting Airachnid, until she burrows up from beneath the earth and drags him down, leaving him buried. Though she picks up the device and is ready to leave, Breakdown pulls himself free of the ground, and the pair charge at each other.

Arcee and Bulkhead trudge through the rocks, discussing how Jack's mom is a killjoy, and Miko, who has quietly tagged along, asks if they can't ban her from the base. Arcee's calls for a [[GroundBridge]], but Miko talks her out of it, and requests Bulkhead play some rock music. Arcee tells him to shut it off, as it's not exactly stealthy, and they soon find Breakdown and Airachnid fighting. Leaving Miko a safe distance behind, the two Autobots leap into combat, surprising Airachnid who has just gotten the upper hand. Bulkhead tosses Arcee into the air, and she shoots at the pair before charging at Breakdown, but Airachnid insists on facing Arcee herself. After a few minutes fighting, Bulkhead and Arcee overcome their opponents, but Breakdown grabs the weapon and activates it. Warning him that it isn't a toy, Airachnid retreats underground, and Arcee and Bulkhead find themselves being dragged towards each other. The weapon hoists them into the air before slamming them back against some rocks. Satisfied, Breakdown transforms to return to the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Miko finds [[Miko's phone|her phone]] stuck to Bulkhead's chest and Arcee stuck to Bulkhead's back.

Driving along a road, Breakdown is ambushed and entangled in a web.

Ratchet realizes that the weapon Breakdown has is a [[polarity gauntlet]] and says their best bet to get Arcee unstuck is to get the gauntlet back. Arcee insists on Miko returning to base, and Miko complains loudly that she sounds just like Jack's mom, which naturally June hears over the Comm-Link.

At an old gas station, Airachnid tries on the gauntlet. Breakdown, securely webbed to the side of the building, suggests they could take it back to Megatron together, but she's not keen on rejoining the Decepticons and thinks the gauntlet will be perfect for keeping everyone else away. Bulkhead trudges up to the gas station to confront Airachnid, who tells him to put his hands up and turn around. He does so, and Arcee promptly opens fire, managing to shoot the gauntlet out of Airachnid's hand. The device activates, sucking everything metal towards it including Breakdown who is pulled free of the webbing and shuts the gauntlet down. Bulkhead and Arcee begin awkwardly fighting Breakdown and Airachnid. Bulkhead manages to deck Breakdown and turns to face Arachnid, but then Breakdown uses the gauntlet to drop an oil derrick on the 'Bots.

Pinned under an unconscious Bulkhead, Arcee is menaced by Airachnid. Fortunately Bulkhead comes around in time and the pair stand up, now separated. Arcee attacks Breakdown, but Bulkhead finds himself no match for Airachnid, who grabs the gauntlet and uses it to draw Arcee to her. Bulkhead blasts Breakdown into another oil derrick, while Arcee and Airachnid fight. Arcee eventually gets possession of the gauntlet and uses it to polarize everyone so that they repel metal. Airachnid uses her webbing to snatch the gauntlet back and transforms to escape, but Bulkhead grabs on to her helicopter mode and throws her into Breakdown. With the gauntlet secured, Arcee and Bulkhead head back to base where they give it to Ratchet, and June apologizes for being overprotective.

Megatron is unhappy when Breakdown returns apparently empty handed, but Breakdown reveals he has Airachnid stuck to his back.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (7)
*[[Airachnid]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (12)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)

}}

==Quotes==
"So...where's Optimus?" 
"On a scouting mission with Bumblebee. Sorry to disappoint." 
"And I wore heels and everything..." 
:—'''June''' makes '''Ratchet''' uncomfortable with a few choice words.

"Allow me to redeem myself, master. What I have lost... is a constant reminder that I must never again fail you." 
:—'''Breakdown''' rather darkly references his new eyepatch.

"I heard a rumour about a rogue 'Con. How about I hogtie you and haul you in?" 
:—'''Breakdown''' has no sympathy for those who disrespect Megatron's rule.

"A scout should be silent but deadly."
:—'''Arcee''' unwittingly makes Bulkhead and Miko's day.

"Still up for a truce, muscles?" 
"Only because I hate Bulkhead more than I hate you." 
:—'''Airachnid''' and '''Breakdown''' decide to look at the bigger picture.

"Arcee; I think I owe you an apology." 
"You do?" 
"I worry...especially when I feel like I can't control things - which, with a teenager, is all the time." 
:—'''June''' admits the troubles of being a single mother to '''Arcee'''.

"Airachnid...it has been some time." 
"Lord Megatron - what can I say? It's good to be back." 
:—It would seem like the Autobots have a new problem to deal with...

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
* Mere moments after Bulkhead states that he is polarised and can’t touch metal, he grabs Airachnid out of the air and throws her at Breakdown. Is she not made of metal, or did the gauntlet’s effects wear off that fast?

===Transformers references===
*Breakdown was bested by humans and lost his right optic in [[Operation: Breakdown|episode 16]].
*After Breakdown volunteers to retrieve the weapon, Megatron retorts, "If you can be bested by mere humans, [[Furmanism|what chance do you have]] against the Autobots?"
===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
* The episode title appears to be a belabored nod to the film ''[[wikipedia:Fatal Attraction|Fatal Attraction]]''.

===Trivia===
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] apparently didn't have any extra optics lying around to give Breakdown. [[Shadowzone (episode)|Sound familiar?]] Either that, or Megatron won't let him repair Breakdown as punishment for being captured by humans.
*Breakdown's new optic patch was hinted at during [[BotCon 2011]] when an artist from the series was requested to sketch Breakdown by [[Chris Ho|a certain Transformers fan]]: the artist asked what [[Operation: Breakdown|episode]] had just been screened, thought for a moment, and soon provided an image of Breakdown with an optic patch.<ref>Vangelus revealed this during the [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/wtf-tfw-transformers-podcast/422249-wtf-primetime-14-operation-breakdown-june-22-2011-a.html "Operation: Breakdown"] episode of TFW2005's "WTF Primetime" podcast</ref>
*During this episode's original airing, the [[commercial bumper]]s were backwards: "we now return" was played at the start of each break and "we'll be right back" was played at the end.
*As of this episode, we finally have a mention of Jack's father having left him and June.

==Home video releases==

==External links==
<references />

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Shadowzone (episode)

2011-06-12T15:29:25Z

75.101.1.123: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|the episode|the dimension|Shadowzone (dimension)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 15
|prev=Out of His Head
|next=Operation: Breakdown
|image=Shadowzone-shadow.jpg
|caption=Who zones? The Shadow zones.
|title="Shadowzone"
|airdate=[[May 14]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''After a GroundBridge failure, the kids are flung into another dimension with a reanimated Skyquake.'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:Shadowzone-MegsStarscream.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Baby, I don't ''want'' to hurt you!"]]

[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] lies in the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> lab, having taken a severe pounding from [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. His leader pays a visit, mostly to gloat over how their positions have changed. Once he leaves, Starscream rips himself free of the cables feeding him. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is shocked to see Starscream up and about, but Starscream claims angrily that he feels fine and limps away. Starscream retrieves a shard of [[Dark Energon]]—the one he originally ripped from Megatron's body—from its hiding place and promises that his and Megatron's positions will be reversed.

At the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports that he's detected a weak but rapidly moving Dark Energon signal, which the [[Autobot]]s assume is Megatron. [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] wonders if he plans to use it raise a new army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] ([[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] seems thrilled at the prospect of zombie-cons) and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] notes that it's possible, given the Dark Energon signal is moving to a familiar site.

[[Image:Shadowzone-purple.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"The Power Cosmic!"]]
Starscream arrives at the site of [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]'s grave, announcing that this time the fallen warrior will be his servant. Breaking off a chunk of the Dark Energon and throwing it into the cairn, Starscream plunges the rest of it into himself and feels the power flowing through him.

Optimus Prime readies the Autobots to move out, though Ratchet's surprised that he's on the team. As Miko yells words of encouragement to [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] observe that she's obviously up to something, since she's acting disinterested in coming along. Indeed, as the Autobots head through the [[GroundBridge]], Miko makes a break for the opening, and Jack and Raf give chase. Jack manages to grab her on the threshold, but she shakes loose and runs through, though [[Miko's phone|her cell phone]] is knocked from her belt. The three kids arrive on site just behind the Autobots and scramble up a nearby outcropping to watch the anticipated battle. The Autobots are surprised to find Starscream instead of Megatron, and he takes advantage by shooting at them and proclaiming his invulnerability. Optimus responds by shooting one of Starscream's arms off. As the Autobots close in, Starscream takes cover and shouts at Skyquake to hurry up and rise before panicking and requesting an emergency GroundBridge. The Autobots finally spot the kids when Miko shouts at Jack for making her lose her phone, just in time for [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to call from base asking where the kids are. Optimus orders her to send a GroundBridge. Ratchet is surprised when ''two'' GroundBridge portals open, but orders the kids to go in. They do so, and Starscream likewise dives through the 'Con GroundBridge, but moments later, green energy begins swirling around everywhere. Bulkhead runs to save the kids, but is knocked back from the GroundBridge portal, which then explodes.

Starscream arrives back on the ''Nemesis'' and tells the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] operator to keep his mouth shut. After leaving the GroundBridge room, he removes the chunk of Dark Energon from his chest.

The kids pick themselves up, as do the Autobots, but the kids quickly discover that the Autobots can't see them, and to Miko's alarm, Bulkhead steps right through her. Unaware, the Autobots speculate on what happened to the kids. Raf works out that he, Jack and Miko are in a sort of alternate dimension he calls a [[Shadowzone (dimension)|shadowzone]]. Optimus observes that Skyquake's grave is empty and requests a GroundBridge from Arcee. The kids spot Skyquake—now a Dark Energon zombie—heading towards the Autobots. Their cries of warning go unheard, but Skyquake's strike passes right through Bulkhead. The kids rapidly realize that Skyquake is in the same dimension as they are, and they and run for it. Raf trips and is carried to safety by Jack, but has lost his glasses. Miko makes an ill-advised recovery of the spectacles, and they continue their flight.

The Autobots are at a loss to locate the kids until [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] suggests calling them. Bulkhead rings Miko, only to discover her lost cellphone sitting on the floor in the Autobot base. Arcee rings Jack, and in the shadowzone, his phone rings, but there's too much interference for him and Arcee to communicate. The kids hit on the idea of sending a text message to Miko's phone but are forced to run as Skyquake finds them. Miko is just realizing that they've gone in a circle when they literally run into Starscream's lost arm.

Knock Out examines Starscream, who covers for his lost arm by saying it just fell off. The medic tries unsuccessfully to interest him in a replacement upgrade arm.

[[Image:Shadowzone_HappymusPrime.jpg|left|thumb|300px|What? Optimus is ''smiling''?! No! We're ''still'' in another dimension!]]

Meanwhile, the kids use Starscream's arm to fire a missile at Skyquake. They manage to blast Skyquake's arm off, but it promptly animates and starts charging towards them at high speed. The kids start running once again.

At base, Bulkhead notices that Miko's phone is flashing, and the Autobots finally get the kids' message. Ratchet sets about trying to locate where they are.

Starscream's piece of Dark Energon starts pulsing, which he takes to mean that Skyquake has risen. He tells Knock Out, returning with a new arm, that he's going to go and retrieve his old arm.

Ratchet pinpoints the kids to the location of Skyquake's grave and starts working on a way to return them to the normal dimension.

The kids find themselves back at Starscream's arm and are confronted by Starscream himself, come to find Skyquake. Luckily, he can't see them, but they're forced to run toward him when Skyquake's arm appears. A GroundBridge portal opens in front of them, and they run through at the last moment. Starscream is startled by the three humans running past, but then Skyquake's arm follows them through the portal and grabs Starscream's head. He has barely shaken the thing loose when Optimus, Bulkhead and Arcee arrive, and he has to request another emergency GroundBridge.

[[Image:Shadowzone-alone.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Zombies have no respect for personal space!]]
Back at base, Miko takes responsibility for the whole venture, much to Jack's surprise, but the Autobots decide she's been through enough. Bulkhead regrets she didn't get to take any pictures, but Miko asserts that the mental image of zombie Skyquake will be enough.

Knock Out performs more repairs on Starscream and enquires whether he retrieved his arm. Back in the shadowzone, Skyquake briefly tries Starscream's arm on for size before tossing it away.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] (12)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
|c4=

}}

==Quotes==
"You cannot harm me while Dark Energon flows through my veins!" 
:—'''Starscream''', seconds before Optimus blows off his arm.

"I can't see without my glasses!" 
"What are you, ninety?" 
"Not. Helping!" 
:—A glasses-less '''Raf''', a jerky '''Miko''' and a frustrated '''Jack'''.

"Uhhh, Starscream, I don't quite understand how this could have happened." 
"And yet it DID! Can you imagine my horror? There I am, minding my own business, when my arm just falls off! Clearly, Megatron inflicted more damage upon me than you realize, ''doctor''..." 
"Well, on the bright side, this provides an excellent opportunity for an upgrade! Let's see...you could go with the Sonic Cannon. It's reliable, low-maintainence, although it lacks a certain flair. Personally, I prefer the Null Ray. It has just the right mix of flash and firepower!" 
"I DON'T WANT A NEW MODEL! I just want the same arm I had before!" 
"Starscream, your equipment is a bit...uh...obsolete. I'm not sure I have another one lying around. Of course, we COULD try to salvage yours. You kept it, didn't you?" 
"It was...beyond recovery." 

:—'''Knock Out''' treats '''Starscream''', who won't admit to what really happened.

"How can a zombie arm move faster than the actual zombie?"
:—That's a very good question, '''Miko'''.

"Look what I found in storage- What are you doing?!" 
"You were right, Knock Out; I'm much too attached to my original appendage! I WILL retrieve it!"
:—'''Knock Out''' gets more lies from '''Starscream''' while the viewers laugh ''their'' arms off.

"Ratchet, can we triangulate the geographical position of the cell phone signal?" 
"''In a parallel dimensional plane?!''... Let's find out."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' poses a challenge for '''Ratchet'''.

"Agh! Unhand me!" 
:—'''Starscream''' to Skyquake's hand. Sorry.

"Look, if you're going to blame anybody, blame me." 
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that… a couple dozen times."
:— '''Miko''' owns up, while '''Jack''' makes it clear he's still ticked off

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
* Skyquake's arm continues to function even after being blasted off. When Ratchet severs a zombie's arm in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]", the arm is shown deactivating moments later. It is possible that this is due to Skyquake being somewhat 'fresher' than the zombies in Darkness Rising Part 4, the same way [[Cliffjumper (Prime)| Cliffjumper]] was still functional in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]" despite being cut in half.
* Jack [[Darkness Rising, Part 2|previously discovered]] that the Autobot base was shielded from cell-phone reception. This may have something to do with the "cell phone comlink patch" Raf mentions in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]".

===Continuity notes===
* Starscream attempts to raise Skyquake as a zombie the way Megatron raised an undead army in "[[Darkness Rising]]" parts [[Darkness Rising, Part 4|4]] and [[Darkness Rising, Part 5|5]]. He even quotes Megatron's exact line about symbiosis.
* Starscream stole the Dark Energon shard he uses from Megatron way back in "[[Masters & Students]]". Likewise, Skyquake made his previous appearance in the same episode, and the action in this episode happens around his burial site.

===Transformers references===
* This episode finally has the Autobots refer to the ''Nemesis'' by name. The name was previously given to the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]] from Generation 1 in "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
* When suggesting alternative arm weapons for Starscream, Knock Out makes a few references to past [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscreams]]: While he recommends a [[null-ray]], as sported by [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 Starscream]], he also proposes a "[[sonic cannon]]", in an apparent reference to [[Starscream (Animated)|''Animated'' Starscream]], whose arm cannons were referred to as sonic weapons in various places (though never the ''Animated'' show itself).

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet fears that the GroundBridges may have "crossed streams". [[Wikipedia:Ghostbusters|This is generally a very bad thing]]. The reference was [[Marsha Griffin]]'s idea.<ref>[http://tformers.com/transformers-botcon-2011-transformers-prime-interview-with-executive-producer-jeff-kline/15863/news.html TFormers BotCon 2011 interview with Kline]</ref>

===Trivia===
* The voice cast performed a script reading of the episode at [[BotCon 2011]]. [[Ernie Hudson]] filled in for [[Daran Norris]], and a deleted scene where [[William Fowler|Fowler]] contacts [[June Darby]] (and pretends to be something called a "Ghostbuster") was reincorporated.
* Starscream is apparently obsolete in terms of equipment and systems. Stubborn refusal to upgrade is not unheard of among [[Spotlight: Kup|Transformers]].
* Despite Megatron being pretty ticked off at Starscream in the previous episode, Starscream is still alive (albeit heavily injured). Just like old times!
* [[Jeff Kline]] claimed that when they kill a character, the character stays killed. He wasn't exactly lying: Skyquake reappears, but only as a shambling zombie. He doesn't even get lines, except for groans and moans.
* So Starscream launches the missiles on his arms by flexing his index finger.
* Miko claims to have learned her lesson. Let's see how long that lasts.
* This is the first time since "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]" that we've seen Ratchet in his vehicle mode.

==Home video releases==

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Sick Mind

2011-05-30T16:11:22Z

75.101.1.123: /* Animation or technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 13
|prev=Predatory
|next=Out of His Head
|image=SickMind-OPinfected.jpg
|caption=Psychonautobots!
|title="Sick Mind"
|airdate=[[April 30]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus is infected by a Decepticon plague, Arcee and Bumblebee sneak aboard the ''Nemesis'' to find a cure.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Cybonicplague.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Day one-thousand and one. We came in close contact with a hive today...]]
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports that his scans have located the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Decepticon warship]] while experimenting with different frequencies. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] thinks they should strike now, but Ratchet says he's also detected an [[Autobot]] emergency beacon, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] decides they should check that out first. He and Ratchet arrive at a centuries-old crashed Autobot ship and venture inside. Though they expect there may be survivors, they find the crew already dead. Ratchet's scans reveal that the crew didn't die in the crash, but had succumbed to [[cybonic plague]]. As the ship shifts, a deceased Autobot hanging from the ceiling drips plague-imbued [[energon (fuel)|energon]] onto Optimus.

Later at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Optimus lays stricken while the others discuss the situation. The plague was developed as part of the Decepticons' [[Decepticon Biological Warfare Program|Biological Warfare Program]], specifically by [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] himself, and Ratchet thinks they might be able to find information in the Decepticon databases. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] [[GroundBridge]] onto the Decepticon ship and, narrowly hiding from [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], enter the ship's laboratory. Inside, Arcee scours the database, but fails to find a cure for the plague. While she's doing so, Bumblebee stumbles on something just as important—the comatose body of Megatron! Arcee is ready to finish Megatron off then and there, but Ratchet has a better idea—enter Megatron's brain and retrieve the plague cure. Ratchet knows of a procedure to create a [[cortical psychic patch]]. Though such procedures have been banned by the Autobots for years, it will get them into Megatron's brain, and Bumblebee is willing to try it.

On the ship's bridge, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] complains that the ship's electromagnetic shielding has not been fixed, and directs the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s to hurry up and do so before the Autobots detect them. Afterwards Starscream has a private word with Knock Out, suggesting that the Decepticons deserve a leader who is conscious, and the pair come to an understanding whereby Knock Out will be Starscream's new [[second-in-command]].

[[Image:Megatron_WHY_IN_MY_HEAD.jpg|thumb|250px|right|He ''does'' [[Transform and Roll Out!|eat Autobot protoforms for breakfast]].]]
Arcee plugs Bumblebee into Megatron, and Bumblebee finds himself in a simulation of [[Kaon]]. Ratchet creates a communications downlink, so they can monitor what Bumblebee is doing. Bumblebee wanders though Kaon until he finds what appears to be Optimus, but is just a figment of Megaton's imagination. Megatron appears and slays the false Optimus, who dissolves into smoke. Another Optimus appears, and as Megatron fires his [[fusion cannon]], Bumblebee jumps in the path of the blast, only to find it passes right through him to slay the imaginary Optimus. Megatron, however, has seen Bumblebee and attempts to strike him, but his blows pass clean through the Autobot scout. While Megatron is trying to work out what's going on, Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and another Bumblebee appear, all figments of his imagination. Megatron destroys them, but begins to realize that he's in his own subconscious.

Arcee becomes anxious when Starscream, Knock Out and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] enter the lab, though the two Autobots are hidden well enough that the Decepticons don't see them. Starscream is determined to put on a show for Soundwave, to convince his fellow Decepticon that Megatron is beyond saving. He and Knock Out attempt to persuade Soundwave that putting Megatron out of his misery is the best thing. Arcee and Ratchet overhear their conversation, and Ratchet says terminating Megatron will permanently separate Bumblebee's mind and body.

In the dream world, Megatron ponders what has happened to him, and finds out from Bumblebee about the [[space bridge]] explosion. Short on time, Bumblebee relays the news about Optimus's cybonic plague infection. Megatron is amused that after all this time Optimus will be felled by a virus, but Bumblebee plays on his desire to finish Optimus himself.

Starscream is about to pull the plug on Megatron when Soundwave points out the psychic patch cable. Starscream begins following it, as Arcee observes from her hiding place.

[[Image:SickMind-take me.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"The dream's collapsing!" Braaaahm. Braaahm.]]

Megatron briefly shows Bumblebee the formula for the virus cure, but will only share it if Bumblebee can release him from his mental prison. Unknown to Megatron, Ratchet can still see everything Bumblebee sees. Having ganked the formula, Ratchet tells Arcee to cut the link. Megatron's dream world begins to disintegrate and the Decepticon leader launches himself at the disappearing Bumblebee.

Bumblebee comes around as Starscream finds the two hidden Autobots, and, as they escape through the GroundBridge, Arcee blasts one of the cables attached to Megatron. Starscream is actually pleased that Megatron has flatlined as a result, but at Soundwave's insistence has Knock Out reconnect the cable.

[[Image:SickMind-I'm out.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Hmm... A [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] that gets [[Spark of Darkness|trapped inside]] a [[Diagnostic Drone|weaker bot]] after he was [[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege|presumed deceased]]. That sounds familiar.]]
A newly-cured Optimus stands up and the Autobots celebrate, but Optimus insists the celebration should be for Ratchet and Bumblebee. On the Decepticon ship, Knock Out observes that Megatron is no longer exhibiting any brainwave activity — there's no one home. Unbeknownst to anyone, Megatron now resides in Bumblebee's head...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Autobot plague victims]] (9)

|c2=*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (12)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (5)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)

}}

==Quotes==

"Spiking hard, his sick mind still at work."
:—'''Arcee''' namedrops the title.

"I will NOT allow Optimus to pass knowing that Megatron will outlive him!"
:—'''Ratchet''', increasingly desperate to save Optimus.

"An inglorious fate that he should remain in this vegetative state..."
:—'''Starscream''' composes poetry about Megatron. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sound]] [[Wheelie (G1)|familiar]]?

"You scratch my back, I scratch yours."
:—'''Starscream''' to Knock-Out, who evidentally doesn't remember what happened [[Speed Metal|the last time Starscream's claws got close to him]].

"If this is my subconscious... ''WHAT ARE YOU DOING INSIDE MY HEAD?!''"
:—'''Megatron''' unintentionally makes us laugh.

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace."
:—'''Starscream''' to Soundwave as the former is about to take Megatron off life support. And Soundwave STILL won't say a word.

"I'm out... or should I say ''in''?"
:—'''Megatron''' cackles as he awakes in Bumblebee's body.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===

*The spot where the downed Autobot ship was shown on Rachet's map is in a temperate climate. Meaning it should have been in a forest or grassland, not a desert.
*When Knock Out says that there is no brainwave activity, one of the monitors next to Starscream shows brainwave activity in Megatron.

===Continuity errors===

*Since Megatron's dream was, presumably, taking place ''before'' the cortical psychic patch, why is it destroyed once the patch is broken? Shouldn't Bumblebee be the only thing in it to disappear?

===Transformers references===
*[[Kaon]], the Decepticon capital on Cybertron, was first mentioned in the Dreamwave ''Generation One'' comics.
*"One shall stand, one shall fall" is used for the [[Darkness Rising, Part 5|second time]] in this series.
*Megatron asks whether or not he "still functions".
*Megatron refuses handing over the formula for the cure to the plague unless Bumblebee helps him escape, or he will let Optimus [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime#The Transformers: The Movie| "fade to gunmetal grey."]]
*The first showdown between Megatron and an Optimus illusion is reminiscent of the [[title sequence]].

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
*[[Cybonic plague]] is a reference to [[wikipedia:bubonic plague|bubonic plague]].
*Bulkhead says that Megatron is "pushing up lugnuts." This is a modification of the human phrase, "pushing up daisies," although it doesn't make much literal sense.
*Oddly enough, Starscream uses two common human phrases, both quoted above. Perhaps Soundwave gets cable?

===Trivia===
*The two offline Autobots on the plague ship were reminiscent of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Ironhide (G1) |Ironhide]].
*This episode was available to watch prior to its intended airdate on some cable providers' Video On Demand services.
*This episode marks Megatron's first speaking role since the end of the ''[[Darkness Rising]]'' mini-series.
*This is also the first episode to show Megatron using his [[fusion cannon]] outside of the opening titles sequence.
*"I'm inside your mind!" is a common fictional trope that ''Transformers'' fiction has explored in the past:
**In the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' episode]] "[[Other Voices, Part 2]]", [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] uplinks herself into [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s mind and wanders through his inwardly-imagined world before confronting his own psychic avatar. Tarantulas also manages to install himself into her mind as Megatron has done here.
**And from a less metaphysical perspective, the Autobots literally shrank themselves into microscopic size in order to walk around inside [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s brain in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 episode]] "[[Microbots]]".
*Starscream totally bitch-slaps a Vehicon.
*Megatron moves rather quickly in his dreams. After destroying the dream Optimus, Bulkhead and Bumblebee, and realizing its his subconscious, he takes barely a second to move from his position a few feet away to looming over Bumblebee.
*Megatron's voice has a surprisingly compassionate sound to it when he asks if "someone besides [him]self is unwell"... It's rather disturbing.
*Nobody transforms once in this episode.

==Home video releases==

==External links==

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Speed Metal

2011-04-11T16:08:01Z

75.101.1.123: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 11
|prev=Deus ex Machina
|next=Predatory
|image=SpeedMetal-startyourengines.jpg
|caption=Temptation, thy name is woman!
|title="Speed Metal"
|airdate=[[April 9]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Dean Stefan]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Knock Out and Jack are both drawn into the world of street racing.'''

==Synopsis==
Cruising along a road at night, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] listens to a news report about illegal street racing. Switching it off, he pulls up alongside three other cars waiting to race. The [[Fast Willy|driver of one]] decides to put a long scratch in Knock Out's paintwork, rousing the [[Decepticon]]'s ire. After the race starts, Knock Out runs the other driver off the mountain road, informing the stunned human, "You scratch my paint, I scratch yours," before racing off.

[[Image:SpeedMetal-whispering.jpg|left|thumb|250px|There are so many captions for this, all of them dirty.]]

Outside the high school, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] encounters school bully [[Vince]], who mocks [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'s vehicle mode. Jack and Arcee leave, but while stopped at a traffic light, Jack's called out to by [[Sierra]], who's keen on a ride. Before Jack can answer, Vince pulls up and challenges him to a race. Jack's still thinking about it when the light changes and Arcee takes off, reminding Jack of the rules about abusing their power. Vince catches up with them at the next light and insults Arcee's motorcycle mode, goading her to suspend the rules, just this once. The pair let Vince know they're ready for the race, and Sierra and [[Sierra's friend|her friend]] turn out at an old dirt road to spectate. Arcee's driving abilities far outstrip Vince's, and they win easily, but Arcee turns down Jack's suggestion that they should offer Sierra a lift.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] is buffing the comatose [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] wanders in to check on the patient and wonders aloud where Knock Out's got to. The 'Con himself walks in a few moments later, complaining about the scratch some "skinjob" put in his finish. Starscream is most disapproving that Knock Out's been street racing again, though what ''really'' annoys him is Knock Out's failure—and glib refusal—to refer to Starscream as "Lord".

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Arcee reminds Jack not to tell anyone about the race, but it turns out [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] already know, having heard about it at school. Jack swears them to secrecy.

At school, Sierra tells Jack she was impressed with the outcome of the race, but Vince challenges Jack to race again, this time at the circuit. Jack's compelled to agree, but Arcee flatly refuses to race.

Knock Out is out cruising a road somewhere near [[Jasper]], when a speeding street racer car gets his attention, and he heads toward the town.

Jack asks Raf if he can borrow [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] so he can go street racing. Raf isn't so sure (much to Bumblebee's dismay), but Miko and Jack talk him into it. Jack and Bumblebee haul up at the race track, as does Knock Out. As the race begins and Bumblebee and Vince jostle for lead position, Knock Out recognizes Bumblebee and begins chasing the Autobot while firing. Jack finds he has problems overcoming the communications barrier with 'Bee.

Back at base, Miko and Raf are playing a [[Generic racing game|video game]] when Arcee asks them if they've seen Jack. They attempt to cover for their friend, but Arcee immediately works out what's up, and a short time later, Bumblebee's distress call comes though.

Bumblebee dumps some oil to slow Knock Out down, then ducks under a bridge. At first, it seems they've lost the Decepticon, but Vince hauls in to confront Jack and demand he finish the race. Jack tries to warn Vince of the danger, but Vince's headlights have attracted Knock Out, who grabs the boy, renders him unconscious, drives off. Knock Out contacts Breakdown to announce he's captured Bumblebee's human friend. Arcee and Bulkhead join Bumblebee, but before Arcee can start a lecture, Jack tells her about Vince, and they head off to mount a rescue.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] walks into the base and wonders where everyone else is. Raf and Miko give him the least convincing replies ever.

[[Image:PrimeScreamer'sFingerOfDoom.JPG|right|thumb|250px|"Not the gumdrop buttons!"]]

The three Autobots track Knock Out to a warehouse area, and Bulkhead and Bumblebee stroll in while Arcee scales a nearby water tower. Bulkhead and Bumblebee are ambushed by Breakdown. Just as Knock Out is wondering where Arcee is, she jumps on top of him. Knock Out decides to bail, but at least has the courtesy to radio Breakdown and let him know. Unfortunately, the call distracts Breakdown long enough for Bulkhead to deck him with a street lamp. Knock Out streaks down a road with Arcee in pursuit, but is suddenly sideswiped by Optimus, who knocks him onto the embankment. With the 'Con unable to flee, Optimus rips his door off and retrieves the unconscious Vince. Knock Out is outraged at the damage done to him, but retreats when the rest of the Autobots arrive. Vince finally recovers in Bumblebee on the way back to his car, and Jack spins a story to cover the whole thing.

Starscream is ''very'' upset with Knock Out's antics. Knock Out assures Starscream that he's learned his lesson and paid the price. Unfortunately for Knock Out, he once again addresses Starscream as "Commander" instead of "Lord", so Starscream gives him some more scratches as punishment.

At school again, Sierra asks Jack for a ride, but he turns her down. Arcee, however, is feeling more accommodating—just this once—and soon Jack and Sierra are zooming through town.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (13)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (15)

|c2=
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (1)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (8)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Decepticon drones]] (16)

|c3=
*[[Fast Willy]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Vince]] (5)
*[[Sierra]] (6)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (11)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"Uh, Jack? A lady's vital stats are her own business."
:—'''Arcee''' doesn't want Jack bragging about the different aspects of her body.

"Winning isn't enough, Jack. You want to make him ''cry''."
:—'''Arcee''' explains her method of getting even.

"No worries, ''herr commandant''." 
"It is 'Lord' to you." 
"Only if Megatron takes a nosedive." 
"''Hhhnnn.'' The day our master emerges from stasis, I will graciously relinquish the title. But I believe that outcome is unlikely. Something to do with the quality of medical care around here. So continue ''buffing''. We do want Megatron looking his best for the memorial." 
(''Starscream leaves the room.'') 
"Buff ''this''." 
:—'''Knock Out''' and '''Starscream''' don't exactly see eye-to-eye.

'''Arcee''': Have you guys seen Jack? 
'''Miko''': ...not since we last saw him. 
'''Arcee''': They're out racing, aren't they? 
'''Raf''': Just this once. 
'''Arcee''': Did you know about this? 
'''Bulkhead''': NO. Maybe. A little.
:—No one on [[Team Prime]] can lie.

[[Image:SpeedMetal-OptimusEyebrow.jpg|thumb|250px|Highly [[Leonard Nimoy|illogical]].]]

'''Raf''': We should just tell Optimus the truth. 
'''Miko''': Absolutely not! We made a deal. Just act completely normal. 
'''Optimus''': Raf, Miko, do either of you know where the others have gone? 
'''Miko''': Why, no, sir. We do not know. 
'''Raf''': ''(stiffly)'' Miko is correct. We do not know. 
'''Miko''': Why would we know? 
'''Optimus''': Hmm.
:—Seriously, it's a minor miracle the kids haven't blown their cover with their parents yet.

"Do you know how hard that is to replace?!"
:—'''Knock Out''' loses a door to Optimus Prime.

"Knock Out! Was I not clear? You have defied my orders yet again!" 
"My mistake, Commander Starscream. But, I've learned my lesson... and paid the price. 
"It. Is. '''LORD'''! And you have paid when I say you have paid! ''[extends a sharpened finger]'' Do not worry, your punishment shall be merely... cosmetic." 
"No, not the finish! Anything but the finish! GAAAAHHHH!!!" 
:—<s>Commander</s> '''LORD Starscream''' reminds '''Knock Out''' where he stands.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*Sierra's right eye blinks when she says "Go Jack!". Perhaps the poor girl just has a really bad case of astigmatism.
*When Jack and Arcee stop at the second traffic light, Arcee's front wheel is shown not moving at all, as if it were sliding on the asphalt instead of spinning.

===Continuity errors===
*Vince challenges Jack to a race on a "dirt road", but the road they race on is sealed and marked.
*When Knock Out tells Breakdown to buff out the scratch he got from Fast Willy, he presents Breakdown with his left arm, even though he got the scratch on his right arm.
*Jack's first race with Vince takes place after school, and Jack and Arcee presumably go to the Autobot base afterward. Somehow, Miko and Raf, who're already at the base, have heard about Jack's victory at school.

===Foreign dubbing===

===Real-world references===
*Knock Out calls Fast Willy a "skinjob," a derogatory slang term used to refer to the human-like [[Wikipedia:Cylon (reimagining)|Cylons]] in the 2004 re-imagining of ''[[Wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', itself an homage to ''[[Wikipedia:Blade Runner|Blade Runner]]''.
*Vince refers to Jack as "Ponch", a motorcycle-based reference to Erik Estrada's cycle-riding cop character from ''[[Wikipedia:CHiPs|CHiPs]]''.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode to premiere on a Saturday.
* This is the first episode not to include [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]].
* Several of the other street racing cars in this episode are simply recolored variations of Bumblebee and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'s alternate modes (sans horns in the case of the latter). Hello, easy [[redeco]]es!
* Bulkhead once again decides to forgo saving someone out of simple dislike. What a jerk!
* Sierra's friend continues to remain nameless, despite having appeared in more episodes then Sierra herself at this point. This girl really needs to introduce herself!

==Home video releases==

==External links==

[[Category:Prime episodes]]