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The Rebirth, Part 3

2011-04-04T10:05:01Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|image=Rebirth 3 title shot.JPG
|caption="Uh, I know this was Megatron's usual line, but...RETREAT!"
|series=G1toon
|ep=98
|title="The Rebirth, Part 3"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production code=6701-3
|airdate=[[November 11]], 1987
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The battle for the Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber comes to an end.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 銀河最大の危機 (''Ginga saidai no kiki'', "The Biggest Crisis of the Galaxy")
:''German title:'' "'''Die Wiedergeburt, Teil 3'''" ("The Rebirth, Part 3")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Rebirth 3 Decepticons Hive.JPG|left|200px|thumb|"You mean you don't like the whole master idea, Mighty Galvatron?" "OF COURSE I DON'T! HOW DID YOU THINK I'D REACT?!"]]

With the arrival of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the [[Autobot]]s scatter, but [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] are captured. As the [[Decepticon]]s depart in Scorponok, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] orders the Autobots to move out. However, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] insists on letting him and [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] remain behind. Though Optimus believes that Spike is their only hope if [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] should activate the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], he relents.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s forces are fighting off the Decepticons, but the tide is turned when the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s arrive, allowing Galvatron to claim victory. [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] explain what happened on [[Nebulos]], but Galvatron is so disgusted that he's on the verge of reducing all of them to [[scrap]]. However, [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Zarak]] explains that he has the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber|Key]], and has control over Scorponok. Though still disgusted, Galvatron agrees to at least talk, while ordering a new [[planetary engine]] he installed on Cybertron to be activated. They prepare to torture Daniel, but Arcee gives them the Key.

[[Image:Rebirth 3 Earth Cybertron.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"They're going to collide!" "No, they're going to combine into a Duocon!"]]

Heading for Cybertron, Optimus receives a vision from the [[Spark|spirit]] of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], telling the Autobot leader to preserve the key at all costs. However, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] inform Prime that Cybertron has disappeared. Realizing Galvatron's intentions, Optimus orders the shuttle to head for [[Earth]]. On Cybertron, which has entered the [[Solar system|Sol system]], Galvatron reveals that he intends to activate the Plasma Energy Chamber, and let the [[Plasma energy|energy]] spread out and cause the [[sun]] to nova, destroying Earth and Cybertron. On Nebulos, Spike and Cerebros locate the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]'s city, and begin using long-abandoned controls to begin modifying the city.

[[Image:Rebirth 3 FortMax Scorponok.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scale be damned.]]

Landing on Cybertron, the Autobots discover that their comrades have had their [[power pack]]s removed, and their lives will end if they do not get immediate [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. The [[Nebulan]]s think that they should just destroy the Key, lest the released energy reach Nebulos. However, Prime remains adamant, explaining that [[Vector Sigma]] has a plan. Unwilling to take the risk, the Nebulans simply abandon the Autobots and head to destroy the key, pursued by the weaponless and headless Autobots. However, they are attacked by the Decepticons, who are preparing to leave. Just then, Spike and Cerebros arrive in the Hive's converted city, which [[Transformation|transforms]] into [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], with Spike and Cerebros as its components. Fortress Maximus engages Scorponok, causing the Decepticons and the Hive to flee. Spike and the Nebulans deactivate the Plasma Energy Chamber, but not before it sends a wave of energy into the sun.

[[Image:Rebirth 3 Cybertron gold.JPG|right|200px|thumb|The second golden age made Cybertron shrink.]]

Working quickly, Spike and the Nebulans begin preparing Vector Sigma to absorb the excess solar energy. Pumping it straight into the supercomputer, it directs the energy into Cybertron's storage capacitors, resulting in the complete revitalization of Cybertron. As Cerebros reactivates, he begs Spike to deactivate him, no longer wishing to endure the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. However, Spike tells him that Cybertron has been revitalized. Optimus declares that the Headmasters and Targetmasters are to become the guardians of Nebulos, and to destroy the Hive's machines. When this is done, Cerebros will become the guardian of Nebulos, and live in peace.

However, Scorponok survived the destruction, and it is obvious that Galvatron and Zarak do not see eye to eye. Galvatron plans to raid hundreds of worlds and destroy Cybertron, then conquer the universe, but Zarak doubts that Galvatron will be the ruler of the galaxy. As the would-be tyrants bicker, Nebulos stands free, while Cybertron begins a second [[Golden Age]] under the rule of Optimus Prime and the Autobots.

[['Til all are one]].

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (2)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (5)
* [[Pointblank]] (6)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (12)
* [[Brainstorm]] (13)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (14)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (15)
* [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] (16)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (17)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (23)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (24)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (25)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (26)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (27)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (33)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (39)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (40)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (41)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (42)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (43)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (44)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (45)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (58)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (59)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (69)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (70)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]] (71)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (72)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (73)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (74)

|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (7)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (8)
* [[Misfire]] (9)
* [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (10)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (18)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (21)
* [[Apeface]] (22)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (28)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (29)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (30)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (31)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (32)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (34)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (35)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (36)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (37)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (38)
* [[Triggerhappy]] (46)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (47)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (68)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (19)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (20)

|c4=
* [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]] (48)
* [[Fracas]] (49)
* [[Vorath]] (50)
* [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] (51)
* [[Monzo]] (52)
* [[Aimless]] (53)
* [[Spasma]] (54)
* [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]] (55)
* [[Grax]] (56)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Zarak]] (57)
* [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]] (60)
* [[Gort]] (61)
* [[Stylor]] (62)
* [[Arcana]] (63)
* [[Duros]] (64)
* [[Peacemaker]] (65)
* [[Spoilsport]] (66)
* [[Firebolt]] (67)
}}

==Quotes==
"At last... Cybertron is mine!" 
"You haven't even made the down payment, Galvatron!"
:—'''Galvatron''' doesn't faze '''Ultra Magnus'''

"Decepticons... prepare to face... Fortress Maximus!"
:—'''Fortress Maximus''' speaking for the first and only time in Generation 1—with a voice reminiscent of Patrick Allen.

"And we've got to get this oversized shopping center in the air. Now!"
:—'''Galvatron''', in reference to '''Scorponok's''' city mode.

"The Golden Age of Cybertron has come again, Cerebros. Thanks to you and Spike. You don't have to fight anymore." 
"Thank you, Optimus Prime... it's a ''miracle''." 
''[scene change]'' 
"It's a ''miracle'' we finally got this flying junkpile of yours stablized." 
"You were the idiot who opened the Plasma Energy Chamber, Galvatron." 
"SILENCE! There's much to do. We will attack other planets, we will suck them dry, we will rebuild a planet a hundred times more powerful than Cybertron! And I will rule the galaxy!" 
"Who will rule the galaxy?" 
"MEE! It is my destiny!" 
"We shall see, Galvatron. We shall see..."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Zarak''' close the series.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Cybersmallverysmall.JPG|right|150px|thumb|AKOM's wonderful sense of scale]]
* The action begins with a reset - as Scorponok advances, the Autobots are once again circled around Prime and Arcee. This time, they flee from an energy bolt instead of Scorponok's tail smash.
* Skullcruncher is shown lip-flapping, but it's Grax's voice speaking.
* Optimus is shown against a generic orange-yellow background as he speaks with Spike, rather than the rocks or sky that should be there.
* Afterburner is colored like Crosshairs in the opening shot of the battle on Cybertron. In the foreground, an unconscious Searchlight has Hun-Grrr's colors.
* Quite a few shots in this episode show an ''incredibly'' small Cybertron, with the curve of the planet's surface visible in the same shot as the characters. Check out the shot of Silverbolt crashing, for example, or the Combaticons walking up to Galvatron a moment later.
* Once Silverbolt is shot down, the whole battle just disappears.
* Alongside the fallen Silverbolt are several generics, and an Aerialbot (Fireflight?) in Blot's colors. In the same shot, Brawl is colored like Peacemaker or Pinpointer.
* The Combaticons are right there when the Protectobots attack. Why don't they help their leader?
* As the Targetmasters exit Scorponok and transform, the transformation sound effect plays and is nearly finished before any of them start transforming.
* The red squares on Galvatron's shoulder panels are missing in several shots.
* Cerebros's mouthplate doesn't move during his first lines.
* As Cerebros sits up after his repairs, his eyeband is gray instead of blue.
* Monzo is supposed to be torturing Daniel, but Vorath is shown.
* When Optimus Prime sees Alpha Trion holding the key to the plasma energy chamber, the key changes shape while he is holding it; it has its regular edges when he's holding it normally, but changes into a featureless triangle when he's holding it up.
* An establishing shot shows Cybertron rocketing toward Earth... and not just literally. As shown, the planets should have collided in a few more seconds.
* In the pile of deactivated Autobots, Wideload's head is all-white.
* The Key is again missing its ridges when Cyclonus presents it to Galvatron.
* Magnus was piled, inert, in a pile of deactivated Autobots. As he listens to Galvatron's plan, however, both he and Silverbolt are stealthily hunkered down in a pile of random non-robot scrap.
* As Cerebros asks Spike what he's looking for, his eyeband is dark gray instead of blue.
* When Prime's shuttle lands on Cybertron, Earth looms in the background, but a layering error has Earth passing in front of several Cybertronian buildings.
* Prime's grille is yellow when the Autobots arrive at junk pile on Cybertron.
* In the same shot (of the Autobots transforming into robot mode), Hot Rod looks huge compared to Optimus.
* The first time we see Magnus, the Autobot logo on his shoulder is missing.
* Prime's transformation sound effect plays and is finished at the start of his transformation.
* Highbrow is shown lip-flapping to Gort's words.
* As he drives off to stop the Nebulans, Prime's truck-mode stripe is HUGE, and he has ''side mirrors'' in one shot (the only shot of the series that he has them).
* As he stops outside of "Gorponok", Prime's truck-mode grille is yellow again.
* "Gorponok" is entirely gunmetal gray, and completely off-model.
* When Cyclonus captures Optimus and the others, Vortex is miscolored as Blades.
* In the following shot, Cyclonus is holding his regular gun instead of Nightstick, and Onslaught's eyeband is white.
* Cyclonus and the Combaticons run outside to see what's happening as Fortress Maximus approaches... but the generic figures who are shown outside Scorponok have (more or less) the Terrorcons' colors.
* As Zarak pops out of Scorponok to mock Spike's "pathetic little darts", he's drawn at the same scale as the Scorponok/Zarak toy. Given how big cartoon Scorponok is supposed to be, however, this means that cartoon Zarak is gigantic - bigger than a regular Transformer.
* Zarak transforms into an all-white Scorponok head.
* In the next shot, Scorponok's scorpion head is white with green antenna.
* In the next shot, head-mode Zarak has black antenna instead of orange. Scorponok's legs are purple instead of green.
* For his transformation to head mode, Cerebros doesn't get a transforming sound effect until after he's already finished. And it's not even shown on-screen.
* As alluded to above, the Transformers fleeing the battle between Max and Scorponok are remarkably large.
* Blades-colored Vortex shows up again, fleeing the battle between the city-bots.
* Scorponok reverts to city mode after Fortress Maximus beats him up, but when the Decepticons are trying to get past Max, Scorponok is in scorpion mode.
* As Prime tries to reason with Spike inside Scorponok, night sky is shown behind him.
* During the same dialogue, Optimus' fog lights are entirely white, even the bulbs (which are red in most other shots).
* After Galvatron sets the timer, the squares on his shoulders are outlined but not colored in (red).
* As Galvatron observes the Autobots' escape from Scorponok, Optimus' legs are completely white.
* After Spike blasts Arcee and Daniel free, Cerebro's face is completely white.
* When Spike turns to tell the Nebulons to remove their exo-suits, [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Brainstorm]] in their (human sized) robot modes can be seen right behind him. According to Spike, it's supposed to be [[Gort]] and [[Arcana]], who correctly appear in the next scene.
* As Vector Sigma does its golden-age thing, Arcee is shown among the inert Autobots reviving. She's complete with her head, which should still be detached after Daniel separated from her. Also, why are her and the others in the same pile of scrap as Ultra Magnus? Did they just willingly throw themselves onto the Dead Autobot pile?
* Daniel is suddenly and inexplicably back in his exo-suit as Arcee drives up.
* As the Autobots celebrate their victory, Bumblebee shows up. Right next to Goldbug. In the foreground is a giant Pinpointer. Super-tiny Cybertron is particularly obvious in this shot.
* As Gort explains that there's still much work to be done on Nebulos, the Headmaster partners are Optimus's size.
* Rather than actually ''transforming'' into Arcee's head, Daniel disappears into her torso, then her head just slides out.
* Despite his exo-suit supposedly transforming into Arcee's head, Daniel is wearing the suit inside her head at the end of the episode.
* Cerebro's eyeband is gray again as he thanks Optimus (and his Autobot symbol is black.) Seriously, blue and gray - how hard is that to remember??

===Continuity errors===
* "How're we ever gonna fight that thing?" Hot Rod wonders, apparently forgetting that they've got a whole giant living city-robot back on Earth. Unless he really DID have to kill Metroplex during the hate plague...
* Onslaught's single line is not in his usual voice.
* Why did Galvatron get the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] to construct the rocket engine when he has the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]?

* Shouldn't Cybertron's close proximity to Earth cause the planet to tear itself apart, as it did in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]"? Prime seems blissfully unconcerned about it.
* Chromedome claims that the Autobot Headmasters are "stuck being vehicles without their heads", yet Hardhead was seen moving around and firing his Shatterblasters in dual wield fashion(!) in the [[The Rebirth, Part 2|previous episode]] for some time after Duros disconnected. Perhaps the automatic transformation into vehicle mode following a Headmaster pilot's disconnection can be delayed somewhat?
* Spike is able to construct a complex, super powerful Transformer single-handedly out of an entire city using alien technology in what may be no more than mere hours. This may be normal for Transformers to do, but Spike...?
* Galvatron acts like the 10-minute delay he sets on the plasma energy chamber will give him and the Decepticons time to escape from the destruction of the entire solar system. They even try to get into Scorponok so they can fly away. Scorponok was never said to have any kind of warp-factor flight, and the nearest known [[warp gate]] was around [[Pluto]].
* Two episodes ago, a crew of Autobots had to take a shuttle to reach the Plasma Energy Chamber. This episode, Spike apparently just runs there on foot in no time flat.
* Spike tells the Nebulons to "hold your breath and pray." How does he know they're religious at all?
* And then of course, there's the mondo-unbelievable premise of the episode's resolution, that one can simply "reverse" a rocket engine to suck in energy in general, and excess energy out of an about-to-explode star in particular. Does this mean you can put your car in reverse and suck all the burnt gasoline back into it?

===Continuity notes===
* Hot Rod shows a rare trace of his former Matrix-bearing life, immediately recognizing that to have spoken with Alpha Trion, Optimus must have merged with Vector Sigma.
* Apparently, [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] can't see in his alternate mode, given his dialogue exchange with Spike at the end of the episode. His alternate mode, by the by, is basically a tiny version of Fortress Maximus's city mode.
* The story ends with the Decepticons still at large, and the Autobots in control of a revitalized Cybertron.

===Real-world references===
* The Nebulans reverse the polarity of Galvatron's rocket thruster, a reference to the "reverse the polarity of the neutron flow" catchphrase from [[Wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]].<ref>[http://princeospace.blogspot.com/2009/08/dude-i-have-doctor-who-connection.html Post on David Wise's blog]</ref>
* Its not the only time [[Megatron (G1)|some]][[Flame (Marvel)|one]] decided to [[Legion of the Lost!|turn Cybertron]] into a [[Meltdown!|mobile starship]].
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** The C-3PO "NO!" laser blast is used repeatedly as the Decepticon Targetmasters take out the Protectobots.

===Trivia===
* Man, somebody sure doesn't care about selling Aerialbot toys anymore, huh? They get shot down one after the next in Part 1, are shown fleeing in disarray from Abominus in Part 2, and show up in Part 3 just long enough to get shot down again.
* Fortress Maximus and Scorponok's city modes make ''terrible'' space ships.
* After Galvatron sets the timer, we hear a snippet of music that was heard many times in the first season of the show.
* This is the final episode of the original cartoon.
* Had The Rebirth been the five-parter that was originally intended, the show would have ended with 100 episodes.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Wiedergeburt (Dritter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters: The Rebirth (Parts, 1, 2 & 3) ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Rebirth: The Movie ([[Malofilm|Behaviour Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Heroes: The Rebirth ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Heroes: The Rebirth ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — The Rebirth: Parts 1-3 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (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]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 6: Series 4 ([[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 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)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_rebirth_part_3.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rebirth, Part 3}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Rebirth, Part 2

2011-04-04T09:48:40Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|image=Rebirth 2 title shot.JPG
|caption=The first sight the kiddies see is their heroes' severed heads littered around the ground. Comforting, isn't it?
|series=G1toon
|ep=97
|title="The Rebirth, Part 2"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production code=6701-2
|airdate=[[November 10]], 1987
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Autobot Headmasters prove to be a smashing success, but the Decepticons soon find Nebulan partners of their own.'''

:''Japanese title:'' デストロンの反撃 (''Destron no hangeki'', "The Decepticons' Counter-Attack")
:''German title:'' "'''Die Wiedergeburt, Teil 2'''" ("The Rebirth, Part 2")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Vozrozhdenye, Chast 2'''" (''Возрождение, часть 2'', "The Rebirth, Part 2")
==Synopsis==
[[Image:Rebirth 2 Hardhead Hive machine.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Hardhead was the first Cannon head master, and the last.]]

On [[Nebulos]], the modifications to the [[Autobot]]s' heads are nearly complete. All that is left is to select their partners. [[Duros]], the combat veteran, takes [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]; [[Arcana]], the oldest and wisest among them, takes [[Brainstorm]]; [[Stylor]] takes [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]; [[Gort]] takes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]; and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] is placed in [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Upon activating, the Autobots feel different and decide to make a test run. The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process is thus proven as good an idea as Brainstorm believed, as with the rebels' guidance, the Autobots trash the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]'s machines. Satisfied with their trial run, the Autobots and rebels decide that it's time to get the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber|Key]] to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. But the Hive is watching and recognizes Gort and Arcana within the robots. Some of them decide it's time to bring the pain, but their leader decides to watch...

Meanwhile, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the battle between the Autobots and the [[Decepticon]]s appears evenly matched. However, there is no sign of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s team, or the Key. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] decides that it's time to find some answers, and leaves the battle, with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] following.

[[Image:Rebirth 2 Decepticon offerings.JPG|right|150px|thumb|All right, does anyone have more scrap those guys could turn into?]]

Back on Nebulos, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] is torturing the captive Autobots for the key, to the amusement of [[Apeface]]. However, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] realizes that these Autobots don't have the Key, or the others would be all over them. Bad choice of words, as the Autobot Headmasters appear. They quickly overwhelm the Decepticons and free the captives, taking the Decepticon ship in the process. Some of the Hive members believe that the Decepticons should be destroyed as well, but their leader has other plans. Capturing the Decepticons, [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Lord Zarak]] offers them a deal: Submit to the Headmaster process and allow the Hive to be their partners, giving them the strength to destroy the Autobots. Scourge tells them to get bent, but Zarak reveals that the offer was only a formality. Grabbing the Decepticons, Cyclonus and Scourge agree to deal, but only with the heads of the animals. Apeface objects, but Cyclonus shows him who is boss. The "vehicle" Decepticons offer their weapons. Zarak agrees, and the modifications begin.

[[Image:Rebirth 2 Optimus Alpha.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Come closer little boy...]]

Back on Cybertron, Optimus and Magnus have reached the source of the Autobot leader's quest: the chamber of [[Vector Sigma]]. Using the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] as an interface, Prime activates the supercomputer to communicate with the spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. Alpha explains that the Key is on Nebulos, and that Vector Sigma arranged for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to learn of it. All of this is being done to bring about a second [[Golden Age]], which depends on the merging of a [[human]] with an Autobot. Before the discussion is ended, Alpha Trion tells Prime to preserve the key at all costs. Prime is confused, but it's kinda hard to argue with God's will, after all. Optimus departs for Nebulos, leaving Ultra Magnus in command of the Autobots until his return.

On Nebulos, the modifications are complete, and the Hive members bond with the Decepticons. Zarak, however, remains behind, having plans for the Hive's city. Meanwhile, the Autobots are dragging the ship to the rebel base, when [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] arrives, badly damaged and mumbling that he found a city. The Autobots are able to stabilize him, but the Decepticons show up. Brainstorm is pissed that the Decepticons have their own Headmasters. He's even more pissed when [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] takes the Key from him. However, Brainstorm manages to run a scan on [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]] before the Decepticons run off. Using the scans gives Hot Rod and Kup an idea. Sometime later, Optimus Prime lands and is introduced to the Headmasters and the [[Targetmaster|Targetmasters]]. With this force, the Autobots prepare to retake the Key.

[[Image:Rebirth 2 Scorponok rising.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Upon seeing Scorponok, the other Decepticons had to reassure Trypticon that Galvatron still loved him more.]]

Elsewhere, the Decepticons are getting grumpy, having to wait for Zarak and with nothing to shoot. Their boredom is relieved when Prime leads the Autobots in an attack. Arcee and Daniel manage to take the Key and get it to Prime. The Autobots circle Prime and Arcee, vowing to let nothing get through. However, from beneath them, Zarak raises the Hive's city. Suddenly, it begins to [[Transformation|transform]] into something else. The city lands on the ground, and from the dust rises... [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]!

[[The Rebirth, Part 3|To be concluded...]]

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Brainstorm]] (1)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (2)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (3)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (4)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (5)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (16)
* [[Slingshot]] (17)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (19)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (21)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
* [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] (23)
* [[Fastlane]] (24)
* [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]] (25)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (36)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (37)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (38)
* [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] (39)
* [[Vector Sigma]] (40)
* [[Pointblank]] (41)
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (42)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (43)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (54)
|c2=
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (20)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (26)
* [[Apeface]] (27)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (28)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (29)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (30)
* [[Triggerhappy]] (31)
* [[Misfire]] (32)
* [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (33)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (34)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (35)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (58)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (14)
|h4=[[Nebulon]]s|c4=
* [[Gort]] (7)
* [[Stylor]] (8)
* [[Duros]] (9)
* [[Spoilsport]] (10)
* [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]] (11)
* [[Arcana]] (12)
* [[Peacemaker]] (13)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Lord Zarak]] (15)
* [[Nightstick (Cyclonus)|Nightstick]] (44)
* [[Aimless]] (45)
* [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]] (46)
* [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] (47)
* [[Fracas]] (48)
* [[Spasma]] (49)
* [[Krunk]] (50)
* [[Vorath]] (51)
* [[Monzo]] (52)
* [[Grax]] (53)
* [[Recoil]] (55)
* [[Haywire]] (56)
* [[Firebolt]] (57)
}}

==Quotes==
"Open the hatch! Anything you put in there will totally scramble the machine's circuits!" 
"Like what?" 
"Like your fist!" 
:—'''Duros''' and '''Highbrow''', discussing combat tactics.

"I am Zarak. I have a little deal to offer you, one which will enable you to defeat your adversaries. And all it will cost you is...your heads."
:—'''Zarak''', addressing the Decepticons.

"Did you get your questions answered?" 
"Yes. And every answer led to a bigger question."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Optimus Prime''' after the Autobot leader's communion with Vector Sigma.

"The boys all call me Nightstick. I hope ya like bustin' heads! AHAHAHAHAHA!" 
"I like busting Autobot Head''masters'' better."
:—'''Nightstick''' and '''Cyclonus''' see eye-to-eye.

"You can call me Caliburst! because I've never missed a shot in my life!" 
"But you've never taken a shot in your life"
:—'''Caliburst''' tells '''Slugslinger''' about his life.

"It's me, I'm Fracas! And if you think Blowpipe was bad, I'm ''worse''! 
"And you're ''louder''."
:—'''Fracas''' fails to impress '''Scourge'''.

"Those creeps, swiping ''my'' idea, I'll sue!"
:—'''Brainstorm''' considers the legal approach when meeting the Decepticon Headmasters and Targetmasters.

"Autobots! Prepare to feel the sting of...'''SCORPONOK!'''"
:—'''Zarak''' attacks the Autobots.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Arcee's chest is entirely pink in several shots (like when Daniel first merges with her).
* The Autobot's heads are depicted as huge next to the Nebulons, and positively cavernous inside. Later, the heads are shown to transform into human-scaled exo-suits.
* When Hardhead rips off the tentacle from the machine, the electricity effects are not backlit to glow.
* Magnus is missing some of the blue at the top of his chest as Punch drives up to report.
* In the first shot across the Decepticon camp, someone - Slugslinger, presumably, though he's pretty off-model - is colored like Sinnertwin.
* As Blurr and Kup are interrogated, Blurr has sprouted a pair of lips (which lap over his "goatee" as he talks), and Kup is using his alternate character model (previously used in "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]" as Kup's younger self).
* When Kup is being stretched on the wrack, the channels that are supposed to be pulling at his wrists are missing.
* Apeface's ape head is all white during his "Yuck!" lines.
* When the newly created Autobot Headmasters attack the Decepticons to reclaim their Targetmaster-to-be comrades, [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] is missing.
* Scourge's gun (as well as most of the Headmaster's guns) use the same sound effect as Optimus Prime's rifle.
* Nobody can make up their mind how to pronounce Scourge's name; in barely 30 seconds, we get "Skerge" two times with a "Skoorge" in-between.
* Arcana transforms and lands on top of Brainstorm's cockpit, rather than riding inside it.
* How in the world does Arcee's head turn into an exosuit identical to Daniel and Spike's standard suits?
* Cyclonus and Scourge leap off the Decepticon ship and run away from it... then are immediately shown running up to it as it starts to explode from the Autobot assault.
* Vector Sigma is transparent as it rises into place.
* The Matrix shell glows in this episode; it was burned out ("empty") [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2|the last time we saw it]].
* Optimus' mouthplate isn't moving in several shots as he talks with Alpha Trion.
* After speaking with Alpha Trion, the vertical line in missing on Optimus' abs/grille.
* The first claws to lunge toward Scourge and Cyclonus are showing coming out of the <strike>clear blue</strike> cloudy pink sky.
* Triggerhappy is colored entirely in shades of gray as the claws grab Scourge and Cyclonus.
* Snapdragon and Skullcruncher are missing as the Decepticons get to their feet inside the Hive's base.
* After the first commercial break, Zarak and company are depicted as ''larger'' than the Decepticons.
* Several Hive members recycle the character models for [[Kranix]] and other [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]] inhabitants - who are ''robots''.
[[Image:Rebirth 2 Decepticon offerings.JPG|right|350px|thumb|Isn't that Brainstorm's old head? It's got that weird Count Dracula-looking giant brow.]]
* Throughout the episode, Mindwipe's face changes back and forth between two large square eyes and a conjoined eyeband. When he removes his head, he has a new face altogether - maybe one of the otherwise-unused pre-Headmaster head designs.
* As he says, "We don't make deals with organic creatures," Scourge's head crest is overly huge and red, and his face has a black line through the middle of it.
* In the group shot after the to-be Decepticon Headmasters remove their heads, one of the Decepticons with a missing head is Triggerhappy, who's destined to become a Targetmaster.
* Among the line of waiting Hive exo-suits are Triggerhappy, Slugslinger and Misfire. In the same scene, ''all'' the Hive members are shown as beige Lithone robots, even though some have already been shown to be green-skinned organic humanoids.
* Odd shot blocking makes Nightstick look almost as tall as Cyclonus as he walks up to him.
* Nightstick has gone from black to purple as Cyclonus holds him in weapon mode.
* Aimless and Caliburst don't seem to have any gun handles. This is reinforced in the third act, when Misfire is shown holding Aimless with two hands.
* Caliburst's blue disappears during his "See, would I lie to ya?" line.
* Vorath is drawn as Monzo when Mindwipe hypnotises him, and is colored entirely gray (not the right color for either character.)
* Monzo is drawn as Vorath and has Grax's voice. And he's looking at Skullcruncher (who already bonded with Grax) colored as Weirdwolf. In the following shot, Monzo and Weirdwolf bond.
* The Decepticon ship being towed by the Autobots is suddenly completely intact. It's also ridiculously small - barely large enough for one robot to fit inside of, if the whole bridge opened like a cockpit. In the same shot, an unidentifiable truck that's not Kup is colored like him.
* In the shot where Hot Rod says, "We've got company!," the top part of Arcee's head is missing.
* Everyone suddenly has Optimus Prime's rifle sound effect as the Decepticons attack the Autobots at the caves.
* When Weirdwolf transforms, his head (Monzo) detaches and transforms... and a ''second'' copy of his head (ie, another Monzo) flies out from behind Mindwipe and also transforms.
* Brainstorm's face is completely gray (instead of gold) when he says "Go hang upside down from a tree, Mindwipe!"
* In the big group shot as Prime walks up, Sureshot has been replaced by some red guy with white lower legs. Hot Rod and Blurr appear to have all-gray heads. Arcee's head is squished into a cylinder shape.
* In the only shot in the whole story of Blurr holding Haywire, Haywire is drawn as Blurr's regular gun. The very next shot shows gun-mode Recoil instead.
* "Zarak's modifications are nearly finished!" Once again, the Head/Targetmaster partners are nearly as large as the Transformers themselves.
* As Optimus stands on the hill above the Hive facility, the sides of his chest which should be grey are red instead.
* As he taunts Optimus, Scourge's face is black on the bottom
* Optimus Prime accidentally refers to Scourge as 'Sclurge' when the latter taunts the Autobots. Immediately after, Cyclonus gives the order to "'''E'''nnihilate them!" ''Riiiight.''

===Continuity errors===
* Superhuman Spike has become super-genius Spike, magically rebuilding Autobot heads into transformable exo-suits with virtually no tools or facilities.
* If the rebels are so pathologically afraid of machines, why do they have the claws that re-attach the Autobots' heads to their bodies?
* Daniel is supposed to be critically injured and on life support machines, yet there's no sign of them aside from a funky helmet. And then even ''that'' goes away when he's placed into Arcee's head.
* Where do Chromedome and Arcee go during the fight with the Hive machines?
* Brainstorm addresses his first line to Scourge... but it's in response to something that Cyclonus said.
* When the Decepticons are abducted by the Hive, they land next to a machine based on Scorponok's city mode... right down to the Decepticon symbol already in place on it.
* Last episode, Gort claimed that "the Hive's bodies are withered and useless" due to their extreme hibernation and dependency of technology as a means of survival. Yet Lord Zarak is freaking jacked and ripped like [[wikipedia:Franco_Columbu|Franco Columbu]] when we finally see him. Intel must not be too good on Nebulos.
* Optimus correctly guesses that the Matrix could activate Vector Sigma. That idea didn't strike him when Alpha Trion sacrificed his life to activate it in "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]". The real-world answer, of course, is that the concept [[A Prime Problem|didn't exist]] [[Retcon|back then]].
* Alpha Trion's description of plasma energy's effects is gibberish. "Any entity that transforms matter into energy" includes pretty much any form of life, including the organic life which he then says is immune.
* What seems to be a cut script line results in one of the most awesome errors in the whole series. Aimless walks up to Misfire and says, "I live only to destroy our mutual enemies!" Misfire responds "I think the name Aimless suits you better!" As many fans have wondered, did Misfire think his partner was introducing himself as "I, Live-Only-To-Destroy-Our-Mutual-Enemies"?
* A character model incongruity becomes apparent when Apeface and Snapdragon join with their new partners. On both their toys, the Headmaster figure becomes the head of both the robot and the creature mode. However, the model designers (or the animators, or both) didn't get the memo. Both robots are shown in their beast modes while separated from their smaller partners... who clearly have the beast mode faces on their backs!
* Right after the Decepticons steal the key from the Autobots, Spike says that "they can fly and you guys can't"... to Brainstorm and Highbrow, who both transform into flying vehicles.
* When [[Krunk]] is removing the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber from Brainstorm's body and declares, "The key, I have it!", Brainstorm's Headmaster partner Arcana replies, "Ah ha, but I have ''you'', Nightstick!" before Krunk leaves with the Key. Why not just, you know, grab Krunk?
* What kind of great strategy is it to throw away your gun as soon as the battle starts? Instead of a robot with a big gun, you wind up with a weaponless robot and a little guy firing a much smaller gun.
* In the Autobots' counterattack after Prime's arrival, how does Arcee know Scourge has the key? Cyclonus is the highest-ranking Decepticon in the bunch.

===Continuity notes===
* Both Vector Sigma and Alpha Trion make a reappearance here, after long absences.
* Vector Sigma suddenly gains a whole lot of new powers, having complex plans and motives of its own, and arranging for certain events to happen in the outside world. Outside the realm of the cartoon, this would eventually be retconned as [[Primus]] working his god shtick.

===Real-world references===
* The Hive line "exterminate, exterminate" is the catch-phrase of ''[[Doctor (G1)|Doctor Who]]'''s [[Dalek]]s, deliberately included by writer [[David Wise]], who is a huge ''Doctor Who'' fan. It's appropriate, too, since the [http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Dalek Daleks] were also alien beings who lived in mechanical bodies to compensate for the severe atrophy of their real bodies.

===Trivia===
* Optimus seems rather dazed and confused throughout this entire episode. It's as if coming back from the dead left him as more of an old man than the hero from earlier episodes.
* Scourge seems frighteningly willing to murder Apeface over a minor disaggreement. Why not just let Apeface be a Targetmaster instead? Considering how few soldiers are on hand right now it seems like quite a risk to start shooting them right and left and still expect to be able to take on the Autobots.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Wiedergeburt (Zweiter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters: The Rebirth (Parts, 1, 2 & 3) ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Rebirth: The Movie ([[Malofilm|Behaviour Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Heroes: The Rebirth ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Heroes: The Rebirth ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — The Rebirth: Parts 1-3 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (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]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 6: Series 4 ([[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 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 link==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_rebirth_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rebirth, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Rebirth, Part 1

2011-04-04T09:28:51Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */ Added a bunch of animation errors to all three parts.

{{episode
|image=Rebirth 1 title shot.JPG
|caption="Guys, I'm serious, we need a water cooler in here to converse about." "Goldbug, we're robots. We don't drink water."
|series=G1toon
|ep=96
|title="The Rebirth, Part 1"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production code=6701-1
|airdate=[[November 9]], 1987
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Galvatron invades Autobot City and then Cybertron with a plan to destroy the Autobots forever! This is something new?'''

:''Japanese title:'' ヘッドマスター誕生 (''Headmaster tanjō'', "The Headmasters Are Born")
:''German title:'' '''Die Wiedergeburt, Teil 1''' ("The Rebirth, Part 1")

==Synopsis==
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]] is talking with the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] at [[Autobot City]]. Things have been quiet for the [[Autobot]]s in the months since the return of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Hate Plague]] crisis. Not a word has been heard of the [[Decepticon]]s in months. Who knows where they are. The answer? Right at their doorstep. Meanwhile, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] walks into a room to find Optimus on his knees. Optimus claims that he has been having visions since he opened the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and it's something big. Goldbug informs Optimus of the approaching Decepticon force, and Optimus realizes that what ever he's been sensing, it's starting right now.

[[Image:Rebirth 1 Autobots Decepticons fight.JPG|left|200px|thumb|A truly epic battle.]]

Leading the Autobots out, the Decepticons attack. The Technobots and the [[Throttlebot]]s take point, but the Decepticons have gotten some new raw power in [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], while [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] has some fun with [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]]. However, [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] sees [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] enter into Autobot City. [[Transformation|Transforming]] into Counterpunch, he follows to check up on their progress, where he sees them steal something from the vaults. The Clones quickly dispatch Punch, and take their prize to [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Having claimed what they wanted, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] orders a retreat. Optimus, realizing this was a diversion, runs into Autobot City, finding Punch and the vault. Horrified, Optimus orders everyone to board the ships and head for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

On Cybertron, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] is racing with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], with [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] riding in Hot Rod. Blurr, however, loses control, while Daniel shoots several Decepticon targets and wins the race. [[Brainstorm]] claims that this is evidence of his theory that human partners would be able to assist the Autobots in the war with the Decepticons. [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] are unsure of the idea. However, Optimus contacts the Autobots, telling them Galvatron stole the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber|Key]] to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. This was the forge which was used to create the bodies of the original Autobots. Since the [[Quintesson]] rebellion, the key has been in the safekeeping of the Autobot leaders, who have been tasked with guarding the key with their [[Spark|lives]]. However, Galvatron intends to open the chamber and destroy Cybertron. The Decepticons arrive, and chaos ensues. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] are quickly taken down by [[Sixshot]], who shows off [[to sell toys|all six forms]]!

[[Image:Rebirth 1 Plasma energy Scourge.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Scourge never gets a break.]]

During the onslaught, Kup and Hot Rod's team notice Scourge heading for the Plasma Energy Chamber. They pursue in an attempt to stop him. When Scourge opens the chamber, he is nearly killed, but Spike and Cerebros manages to grab the key. The Autobots' ship is hit by a wave of energy from the Plasma Energy Chamber and is hurled off Cybertron itself. Discovering Scourge, the Decepticons reactivate him. Scourge explains what happened, and a team under [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] heads out to find the Autobots with the key.

[[Image:Rebirth 1 Hive machines.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Oh, this is not going to end well...]]

Meanwhile, the Autobot ship crashes on Nebulon. With the engines fried, the Autobots and the Witwickys decide to look for civilization. They're soon spotted by [[Duros]] and [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]], who assume the Autobots are machines controlled by the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]] and alert the rest of their resistance group. The group soon captures the Autobots, and plans to destroy the Autobots with magnetic bombs, even though Spike tries to talk them down. However, the Decepticons show up. Spike finally convinces the Nebulons to release the Autobots. In the subsequent battle, Daniel is injured by Snapdragon, and Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]], [[Pointblank]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] are taken captive. Some of the Autobots pursue them into the forest, but are quickly driven off by machines.

[[Image:Rebirth 1 Autobot heads.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"This will haunt me until the day I die..."]]

Back at the cave, [[Arcana]] and [[Firebolt]] manage to stabilise Daniel's condition, but the boy will have to be connected to life-support machinery. The [[Nebulan]] leader [[Gort]] explains that the Hive is a tyrannical group of telekinetics who have used machines to enslave Nebulon. The resistance members know the weak points of the machines, but they just don't have the firepower. Spike thinks that Brainstorm's idea of organic partners just might be the ticket. The Autobots agree to allow the Nebulons to use their heads as suits, except for Cerebros, who walks out, tired of fighting. [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] asks to be Daniel's partner, and Spike agrees. As they remove their heads, Spike declares that they are about to become [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]].

[[The Rebirth, Part 2|To be continued...]]

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]] (2)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (3)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (7)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (8)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (9)
* [[Wide Load]] (10)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (11)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (12)
* [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] (13)
* [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] (27)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (33)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (34)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (37)
* [[Pointblank]] (38)
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (39)
* [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] (40)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (41)
* [[Brainstorm]] (42)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (43)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (44)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (45)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (46)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (52)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (53)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (54)
* [[Slingshot]] (55)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (56)
* [[Fastlane]] (60)
* [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]] (61)

|c2=
* [[Apeface]] (14)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (15)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (16)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (17)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (18)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (19)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (20)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (21)
* [[Sweeps]] (22)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (23)
* [[Misfire]] (24)
* [[Wingspan]] (25)
* [[Pounce]] (26)
* [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]] (28)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (29)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (30)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (31)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (32)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (47)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (48)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (49)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (50)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (51)
* [[Sixshot]] (57)
* [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (58)
* [[Triggerhappy]] (59)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (35)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (36)

|c4=
* [[Gort]] (62)
* [[Duros]] (63)
* [[Stylor]] (64)
* [[Arcana]] (65)
* [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]] (66)
* [[Firebolt]] (67)
* [[Recoil]] (68)
* [[Haywire]] (69)
* [[Peacemaker]] (70)
* [[Spoilsport]] (71)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Wingspan:''' "Beat it, Counterpunch! We don't need your help!" 
'''Counterpunch:''' "Fine. ''You'' deal with my Autobot counterpart. I've heard he's nearby." 
''[ducks around the corner, transforms to Punch]'' 
'''Punch:''' "...''Real'' nearby."
:—Punch, master of subtle hints, utters a classic line.

'''Kup''': It might give us the edge if the Decepticons ''did'' return. 
'''Crosshairs''': That's not gonna happen! 
'''Optimus''': Kup! Highbrow! The Decepticons are heading your way! 
'''Kup''': How many of 'em, Prime? 
'''Optimus''': ''All'' of them! 
'''Crosshairs''': 'Course, I ''have'' been wrong on one or two occasions.
:—Crosshairs ''really'' needs to think before he speaks.

"Sixshot, show them what a one-robot army is!"
:—'''Galvatron''' prompts Sixshot to do the old sell-my-toy routine.

"My one wish... is to ''never'' fight again."
:—'''Cerebros''', so pacifistic he won't even fight to help his friends.

"I suppose it's the only meritorious way out of our meretricious situation." 
"Yeah, me too. Like he said."
:—'''Highbrow''' and '''Hardhead''' on becoming Headmasters.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* AKOM continues their proud tradition of using the wrong color models. Thus, throughout the episode:
** Goldbug's mouthplate is gold instead of white.
** Optimus Prime's backpack, fog lights and forehead crest are white instead of red / red / blue, respectively.
** Scourge's head can be seen sticking out of the top of his hovercraft mode.
** The inside of Ultra Magnus' head is red instead of gray.

* The side of Goldbug's head is yellow instead of black as he wonders if the Decepticons will remain scattered.
* Scattershot's a bad counter. His "about a hundred blips" is actually 28 blips.
* Then it's 39 blips in the closeup.
* The panels on either side of Ultra Magnus's forehead crest are white instead of blue as he walks in on Optimus Prime.
* Goldbug inexplicably has a starry night behind him as he reports the attack to Optimus Prime.
* The side of Wideload's load bed is entirely blue as he passes Rollbar. Only the cover should be blue; the rest should be orange.
* As he leaves the city, Wideload's bed sides are the correct orange, but the bed overhang over his cab is blue instead of orange.
* Strafe and Scattershot don't fly out of the door in Autobot City, but rather right out of the walls above the door.
* Wideload is shown transforming when Magnus orders the Technobots to charge, a bit odd since he's a ''Throttlebot''.
* Punch's mouth briefly disappears as Pounce tackles him.
* Scourge gets a radio muffle as he reports the theft of the key to Galvatron, even though he's right there on-screen.
* One of the Decepticons retreating from the Autobot City battle has Sureshot's color scheme.
* The Decepticons are shown entering the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]'' ''through the engine port''... which then immediately lights up to propel the ship into space, presumably melting the entire Decepticon army to slag.
* Wingspan's gun sounds like Prime's rifle.
* Punch's mouth is missing as he points to where the key was stolen.
* As Daniel blasts the Cyclonus pop-up target, both the stick holding the target and the hole that it came from are missing.
* When Hot Rod first transforms to robot mode, the sides of his head are white and his spoiler is entirely yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
* Hardhead is consistently shown with the side of his visor yellow, rather than the blue that one might expect.
* When Crosshairs walks up to Brainstorm's group, he's drawn as a giant Pinpointer.
* The back of Prime's head is white as he and Magnus stand on the bridge of their shuttle.
* The group shot as Prime warns the Autobots not to let Galvatron open the chamber contains some odd members, including the giant Pinpointer, and Optimus Prime himself in Peacemaker's color scheme, but flipped.
* The ''Revenge'' somehow lands on Cybertron's surface without crushing the antenna on its bottom-most point.
* Scourge crawls down a Transformers-sized hatch. A dozen Autobots pursue him by ''getting aboard a shuttle'' and flying after him, though it's not clear if it's supposed to be the same hatch.
* Scourge is missing the pink on his fingernails as he approaches the Plasma Energy Chamber.
* Brainstorm's arm is clipped behind a panel during a shot inside the shuttle, making him look like he's standing outside of it.
* The orange shuttle suddenly has a lot of white as it flies past camera, following the 1st commercial break.
* Cyclonus's cockpit windows aren't colored in as Galvatron orders his troops to go with Scourge.
* Kup's helmet is light gray as he flees from the shuttle.
* The first two Nebulans' dialog is flanged as if they were Transformers.
* As we cut back to the battle on Cybertron, various Constructions, along with the Terrorcons Hun-grrr and Cutthroat, are show firing on... the Terrorcons Blot and Sinnertwin. Blot and Sinnertwin are fighting alongside Hot Spot and First Aid, the latter of whom is colored entirely white, missing his blue eyeband and red details.
* Hot Rod's missing his spoiler as he gets a magnetic bomb placed alongside him.
* As Hot Rod says, "You've got the wrong guys," he has several lines across his head crest instead of just one.
* If they're ''magnetic'' bombs, why do the Nebulans place them on the rocks of the cave walls?
* After the Decepticons arrive, various shots of the Autobots show no trace of the bombs.
* A giant Blowpipe is among the advancing Decepticons.
* Daniel is gnawed and thrown around by Snapdragon, and yet, his uniform remains squeaky clean and show no signs of damage despite Daniel's injuries being described as 'severe'. That must be some tough fabric they use in the future.
* As the Autobots approach the forest, Chromedome and Hardhead both have Nebulans transforming to form their heads, even though they haven't yet undergone the Headmaster process!

===Continuity errors===
* Goldbug and the Technobots reminisce about all the "loose parts" knocked from the Decepticons after Optimus Prime was resurrected. When did that happen, exactly?
* Scattershot claims there's "about a hundred" Decepticons heading towards Autobot City, but the attacking force shown on-screen is only a fraction of that number (Galvatron, 5 future Targetmasters, 6 future Headmasters, 2 clones, 5 Terrorcons = 19 total. If we're generous and include additional Decepticons shown on Cybertron, we can add 6 Constructicons, Sixshot, and 5 Combaticons for a total of 31. Nope, still not a hundred!)
* Furthermore, for a group that's supposed to include "every Decepticon in the known universe", there are some conspicuous absences - the Sweeps, Soundwave, the Predacons and the Stunticons are nowhere to be seen. (Quite a few were phased out of the show because their toys were no longer on the shelves.)
* Where did Galvatron get all those troops from anyway? Did he somehow build a ton of sentient new robots on his own, or were they scattered around the galaxy?
* The outside of the city is already smoking (burning?) before the Decepticons start their attack or fire a single shot.
* Soooo.... why do the Autobots rush headlong to meet their attackers instead of [[The Transformers: The Movie|transforming the city to battle station mode]]?
* Since when is Scourge big enough to carry a full-sized Transformer as a passenger?
* Lost in the vastness of space, the Autobot ship somehow manages to hit a planet? Cosmically improbable.
* For a ship supposedly moving a million miles per ''second'' (five times the speed of light), with no retro-rockets, the Autobot shuttle makes an incredibly soft landing on Nebulos, splashing down as though it were dropped from about 10 feet up. At that speed, the ship would have incinerated in orbit or, if it made it down intact, slammed into the planet with enough force to do incredible damage. (On the flip side, the million-miles-per-second thing does explain how they got to a completely different planet.)
* As is the norm for just about any children's cartoon, aliens on far-off planets speak perfect English. (And what ever happened to the [[universal greeting]]??)
* Crosshairs seriously just ''stands there'' and lets Mindwipe carry him off. He's shown unharmed and awake, even though he was among the first to get blasted in the Decepticon assault and was probably intended to be unconscious like the rest of the Autobots taken prisoner.
* Hasn't Arcee ever heard that you're not supposed to move the victim?! She picks up the unconscious Daniel for no other reason than to display affection.
* Arcee calls Daniel her "dearest friend in all the world." Which world would that be?
* Gort's description of the Hive ("ten rulers", great mental powers) doesn't really accord with the Tech Spec descriptions of some of Zarak's allies. This wouldn't be a discrepancy within the cartoon, but guys like Nightstick and Fracas act less like super-mental-power rulers and more like the bullies and brutes described in their bios.
* Brainstorm is shown drawing on paper with a manual triangle. Twenty more years into the future, and the super advanced space robots ''still'' [[The Master Builders|haven't switched to a computer drafting system]].
*There's a line about where to put human-sized controllers into Autobots in robot mode, even though [[Only Human|it was done before]] without any modification.

===Continuity notes===
[[Image:Rebirth1 CyclonusSixshot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Where did you come from again?" "Whaddaya mean? I was always here."]]
[[Image:Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Typical commercial animation.]]
[[Image:Rebirth1 Fastlane Cloudraker Punch.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Typical AKOM crap.]]
* This episode takes place several months after "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]".
* Almost two dozen Transformers make their debuts in this episode. As usual, there's no fuss over where they came from; they're just there.
* Similarly, quite a few familiar faces are gone with no explanation: Springer, the Sweeps, Sky Lynx, Blaster, and Soundwave, just to name a few. In real-life terms, they were removed from the show to make room for new toys.
* While discussing the Headmaster creation procedure with Chromedome, Brainstorm mentions that it's possible for a Transformer to "download (their memories and personalities) into the auxiliary memory circuits in their chests". Assuming that the aforementioned hardware is a standard feature in all Transformers, it might explain why [[Death|death is just a wee bit inconsistent in fiction]]. Not bad for a throwaway line!
* We're introduced to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], a "foundry in which the original Autobots' bodies were forged." In practice, the chamber acts less like a foundry and more like a generator gone wild.
* Daniel getting injured and requiring a robotic body (or in this case, Exo-suit) to survive is reminiscent of [[Autobot X|a somewhat similar incident involving his father]]. This works out a lot better.

===Trivia===
* "The Rebirth, Part 1", was to be the fourth season premiere, but due to declining interest, it simply was the first of the three final episodes (originally conceived as a ''five''-part story), in which a slew of new characters and concepts were introduced, most notably the US animated version of the Headmasters.
* Like "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" before it, the "Rebirth" mini-series also got its own introductory title sequence, consisting of some parts of the Season 3 titles spliced together with animation segments from the 1987 toy [[commercial]]s. Unfortunately, the contrast in art and animation quality between the Season 3 credits (animated on the usual low [[AKOM]] budget) and the much higher-quality commercial snippets is jarring, to say the least.
[[Image:Rebirth1 Hardhead and Blurr.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Ssh, ssh, ssh. It's alright. Don't struggle. Walk into the light."]]
*The Japanese dub of all three episodes of "The Rebirth" were released exclusively on laser disk by [[Pioneer]] (and later on DVD as part of their ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010]]'' box set). The dub for these episodes is unusual in that it primarily features Western names for characters rather than Japanese-exclusive ones. For instance, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] is referred to by his Western name rather than "Hot Rodimus", [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] is not called "Char" and so on. Some Japanese names are retained, such as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] being called "Convoy". Even stranger, aside from several primary characters, nearly all the voices are different from the usual Japanese cast.
* Your wiki editors will leave it up to the reader to interpret the image at right.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Wiedergeburt (Erster Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters: The Rebirth (Parts, 1, 2 & 3) ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Rebirth: The Movie ([[Malofilm|Behaviour Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Heroes: The Rebirth ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Heroes: The Rebirth ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — The Rebirth: Parts 1-3 (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (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]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 6: Series 4 ([[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 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 link==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_rebirth_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rebirth, Part 1}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)

2011-04-04T07:18:39Z

75.2.136.86: /* Transformer references */

{{nav-wfc}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers: War for Cybertron''
|image=War_for_Cybertron_Next_Gen_Version_Cover_Art.jpg‎
|caption=It's like Gears of War, but you ''turn into'' the Centaur.
|developer=[[High Moon Studios]]
|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard|Activision]]
|date=[[June 17]], [[2010]]
|platform=PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 PC
|ratings=ESRB: T PEGI: 12
}}

'''''Transformers: War for Cybertron''''' is one of several [[War for Cybertron games|''War for Cybertron'' video games]]. It was developed by [[High Moon Studios]] and published by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]], and it is set in the [[Aligned continuity family]] in the ancient days of the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]ian war. The game is an over-the-shoulder third-person shooter in which the player can choose his or her character from a small roster of either [[Autobot]]s or [[Decepticon]]s. It was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at Sears stores on [[June 17]], [[2010]]. On [[June 22]], those and the PC version were released to the broader market.

Companion games, [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)|two for the Nintendo DS]] and [[Transformers: Cybertron Adventures|one for the Wii]], were developed by [[Vicarious Visions]] and [[Next Level Games]], respectively.

{{quote|One shall stand.|Optimus}}
:{{quote|One shall fall.|Megatron}}

==Synopsis==
[[Image:WarforCybertron-OptimusPrime.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Prime auditions for Unreal Tournament. There were no survivors.]]
Unlike previous ''Transformers'' video games which feature distinctly separate campaigns for the Autobots and the Decepticons (traditionally depicting the playable faction utterly defeating the other), ''War for Cybertron'' features a single, linear storyline; the Decepticon campaign occurs chronologically before the Autobot campaign, but [[Fandom|fans]] can play through them in whichever order they prefer.<ref>[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/seibertron-qa-with-activision-makers-of-war-for-cybertron/17548/ Seibertron Q&A with Activision]</ref>

{{note|The novel ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron]]'' was, naturally, promoted as being in the same [[continuity]] as the game. In practice, however, the two stories differ substantially on many details. The first fifteen chapters of ''Exodus'' chronicle the backstory of the war, with an interlude by Alpha Trion placed between them and the remaining of the thirty-nine chapters. Events akin to the ''War for Cybertron'' campaigns do take place in the second portion of the novel, but the settings, details, and involved parties change in each case. Below, in italics, are brief descriptions of the parallel events that take place in ''Exodus''.}}

===Decepticon Campaign===
'''Chapter I: Dark Energon'''
*Characters available: [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]], [[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]

It is the waning days of the [[Great War (WFC)|Great War]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] before the Transformers come to Earth. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], genuinely believing a caste system will bring Cybertron back to its [[Golden Age]], is researching a dangerous power source known as [[Dark Energon]] to fuel his conquest of the planet. Megatron discovers that the factory that produces Dark Energon is guarded by a neutral army led by [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], and he leads an attack on the station. After his ship crashes into the hull of the station, Megatron, [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] and [[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]] defeat Starscream's army and harness the power of the Dark Energon. Cornered, Starscream tells Megatron that he's the only one who knows how to make more of the energon and that he will help the Decepticon leader if Megatron takes him into his army. Megatron reluctantly agrees to this.

''In Exodus Chapters 18-19, Megatron laid claim to Trypticon Station and the Dark Energon contained within. By this point in the war, however, Starscream was already a full member of the Decepticon army. The Dark Energon was his trump card in case he ever chose to betray Megatron to the Autobots. The taking of Trypticon Station happened largely behind the scenes in the novel, without Starscream actively defending it -- Megatron took advantage of a rare absence of Starscream from the station to make it his own. He returned from an errand to find his loyal pack of Decepticons brutalized by Megatron's gladiators, and his power base usurped. ''

'''Chapter II: Fuel of War'''
*Characters available: Starscream, [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]]
*Boss: [[Cybertron's Sentinel]]
Megatron sends the [[seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] to reactivate the ancient [[Energon Bridge]] that will produce new Dark Energon. After fighting legions of Autobot defenders, they succeed.

''In Exodus Chapter 22, Starscream and his Seekers reactivate the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge to help Megatron conduct Energon from Cybertron's core to Trypticon Station. The events are basically the same as the game.''

'''Chapter III: [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] Destroyed'''
*Characters available: Megatron, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]
*Boss: [[Sentinel Zeta Prime‎|Zeta Prime]]
With his new powers, Megatron takes the fight straight to the Autobot's capital city. While Starscream and Brawl lead the main attack on the city, Megatron takes Soundwave and Breakdown on a flanking attack to recover the Omega Key, which will allow him to access the core of the planet. Arriving at the key's holding place, the Decepticons learn that the Autobot leader Zeta Prime has taken it to keep it safe. The team regroup with Brawl and Starscream, and use Dark Energon bombers to eliminate the remaining Autobots before storming the building in which Zeta Prime is waiting. Megatron defeats the Autobot leader, stealing the Omega Key and punching a hole in his chest. Zeta reveals that the key Megatron has just stolen only activates the ''real'' Omega Key, and that soon '''it''' will find '''him'''. Suddenly [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|a huge ship awakens and takes off.]]

''In Exodus Chapters 24-27, Megatron led a group of Decepticons to capture the Code Key of Justice while Starscream acquired the Code Key of Power. Together, the two could access the Plasma Energy Chamber. He was confronted with Sentinel Prime at the end, but only because the Prime had been Starscream's prisoner up until that point, and the Seeker commander had released Sentinel to delay Megatron. After defeating Sentinel Prime in personal combat (no holographic death rooms), Megatron found the Key inside Sentinel's body. At that moment, Teletraan-1 reactivated Omega Supreme to protect the Plasma Energy Chamber from Megatron, at Starscream's secret behest.''

'''Chapter IV: Death of Hope'''
*Characters available: Megatron, Soundwave, Breakdown
*Boss: Omega Supreme (Vehicle mode)
An unknown amount of time later, Megatron is commanding his ship in search of the "Omega Key". The ship is suddenly attacked by Omega Supreme, who shoots them out of the sky, causing them to crash-land in Iacon. Megatron, Soundwave and Breakdown began a desperate retreat from Omega Supreme's attack and take cover in a large tower. Once inside, the group hear Starscream announce that Megatron is dead and that he is taking command of the Decepticons (surprise!). Enraged but unable to make any outside contact, Megatron leads his forces through the city, dodging attacks from Omega Supreme while searching for a way to fight him. Soundwave discovers that they can use some of the Autobot's anti-air and anti-infantry turrets on a tower roof against the massive Autobot. Along the way, the group makes contact with Starscream and corrects his mistake, using him to distract Omega Supreme. Once they reached the turrets, the group manages to shoot down Omega Supreme, causing him to crash to the ground below.

''In Exodus Chapters 27-28, Omega did nothing to pursue Megatron. Instead, he attempted to depart Cybertron altogether to keep the Plasma Energy Chamber inside him away from the Decepticons. Starscream and the Seekers shot down Omega in a brief aerial skirmish.''

'''Chapter V: The Final Guardian'''
*Characters available: Megatron, Soundwave, Breakdown
*Boss: Omega Supreme (Robot mode)
The Decepticons descend into the impact crater to loot Omega's remains, but he transforms into robot mode, unleashing his full barrage on the squad. Megatron manages to corrupt Omega with Dark Energon, using him to reach and corrupt the core of Cybertron with Dark Energon.

''In Exodus Chapter 29, Omega did not fight alone -- Optimus Prime and his top aides were present fighting alongside Omega Supreme at his crash site, until Megatron brought the Guardian low and ripped the Plasma Energy Chamber from within him. Because that was all he needed from Omega, the Guardian was not captured in Exodus, but left badly wounded for the Autobots to retrieve and repair.''

===Autobot Campaign===

'''Chapter VI: Defend Iacon'''
*Characters available: [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]
*Boss: Starscream
In a decimated Iacon, the young Autobot messenger Bumblebee is sent to tell the soldier Optimus that Zeta Prime is dead. Optimus decides to take temporary control of the Autobots, adopting Bumblebee into his team. The two of them and Ratchet kick off a counterattack to push out Decepticon forces. They manage to reactivate the planetary guns, clearing the skies over Iacon, and proceed to aid [[Ironhide (WFC)|Ironhide]] in reclaiming the Decagon, tangling with Starscream along the way. Entering the Decagon, Optimus receives a message from Zeta Prime, revealing that he is not yet dead but is being held in a prison in [[Kaon]].

''A direct conflict with Starscream like this did not take place at this point in the novel. Iacon was the last bastion of Autobot resistance for most of the novel, and did not need to be reclaimed. Furthermore, Sentinel Prime had been captured since the beginning of the war, so Optimus Prime had already accepted his role as leader.''

'''Chapter VII: Kaon Prison Break'''
*Characters available: Optimus, [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]], Bumblebee
*Boss: Soundwave
Optimus allows his team to be captured by the Decepticons and enter the prison. The three are just barely saved from a firing squad by [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]], but as they escape into the tunnels below, Air Raid is captured. The three Autobots sneak through the prison, rescuing Air Raid and releasing all the Autobot prisoners (including [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]]). Using the chaos as a distraction, the trio sneak to the high security bunker Zeta Prime is being held. When the Autobots try to save them, Soundwave attacks, sending out [[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]], [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]], and [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]]. The Autobots defeat them, but Soundwave manages to retreat. When Optimus tries to rescue Zeta, the Prime tells him that he is already dead and collapses. Optimus returns the body to the [[Autobot High Council]], who tell Optimus that he must accept that he is a Prime and take up his role as leader. Thus, he becomes Optimus Prime.

''In Exodus Chapter 32, Optimus Prime, Jazz and Prowl stormed Kaon to recover a dying Sentinel Prime. It did not involve being deliberately captured or a battle with Soundwave.''

'''Chapter VIII: To the Core'''
*Characters available: Optimus, [[Ironhide (WFC)|Ironhide]], [[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]]
*Boss: Corrupted Space Slug
Optimus' first task as Prime is to cure the currently infected core. Heading to the entrance, where Omega Supreme is being held by the Decepticons, the three Autobots manage to free Omega, then call in Ratchet to repair him enough to open the Omega Gate. Thanks to the help of some [[space slug]]s, Prime, Warpath, and Ironhide defeat a corrupted space slug and reach the [[Primus|core]]. However, the core tells Optimus that, in order to repair itself, it will have to shut down for millions of years, forcing Optimus and the Autobots to evacuate Cybertron. Before the core shuts down, it gives Optimus the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

''In Exodus Chapter 33-34, Optimus Prime, Jetfire and Bumblebee traveled down to the Core, disconnected the corrupted Plasma Energy Chamber, and Optimus received the Matrix of Leadership. It was a largely unevented trek, as Megatron staged no troops around the Core and trusted the sheer intensity of the Dark Energon in that region to ward off any Autobots. Also, no space slugs.''

'''Chapter IX: Aerial Assault'''
*Characters available: [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]], [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]], [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]]
*Boss: [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]]
Returning to Iacon, Optimus Prime orders the launching of a full-scale evacuation of Cybertron's surface. However, as the transports leave the atmosphere, Megatron begins shooting them down with his <s>giant purple griffin</s> massive orbital space station. Optimus relizes the need to shut down the station, and sends a group of fliers to shut it down from the inside out. The team manages to blow up the power core, but Megatron taunts them as he activates a back-up generator. Then the station itself begins to mock them. Realizing the station is a Cybertronian, the team flies to find its conversion cog to force it into its robot mode before it can finish leveling Iacon, and Optimus with it. Succeeding, the Autobots race out of the quickly transforming space station as it reveals itself to be Trypticon. The Autobots shoot out the massive Decepticon's jetpack, causing it to hurtle towards the surface of the planet.

''In Exodus Chapter 36-37, Trypticon Station began firing on the Autobot fleet as it fled Cybertron. Optimus Prime and a crew aboard the ''Eight Track'' commandoed their way into Trypticon and blasted apart the station from within. The novel made a point of (mostly) treating Jetfire as the only Autobot Seeker, and so there were no Air Raid and Silverbolt to act as his wingmen for a flying assault. Also, Trypticon did not transform in freefall.''

'''Chapter X: One Shall Stand...'''
*Characters available: Optimus, Bumblebee, Ironhide
*Boss: Trypticon
All seems quiet as Optimus and others search the wreckage, but soon a very much alive and enraged Trypticon emerges to wage a long and difficult battle with the Autobots. After targeting key weaknesses, Optimus uses his axe to knock Trypticon off-balance, sending it plummeting into the liquid below. As the other transports escape the planet's dying surface Optimus shows his team their new ship - an [[Ark (WFC)|Ark]] that will allow them to take a piece of Cybertron with them, [[Earth|wherever their adventures may take them...]]

''In Exodus Chapter 38, Trypticon Station transformed after making planetfall. Optimus Prime and the core Autobots left Earth aboard the Ark, avoiding conflict with it. Instead, the Wreckers led by Ultra Magnus remained behind to confront the creature and cover the other Autobots' escape. Soul-crushingly, the battle between the Wreckers and Trypticon was not depicted and, instead of being destroyed, Trypticon transformed into the Nemesis to pursue the Ark through space.''

==Characters==
At the start of each level, the player can choose from one of three characters.

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Autobot]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus_Prime_(Prime)#War_for_Cybertron|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/optimus Official Website profile]) ([http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/11/transformers-war-for-cybertron-character-profile-optimus-prime.aspx GameInformer profile])
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] ([[Johnny Yong Bosch]]) <ref>[http://twitter.com/johnnyyongbosch/status/11686292590 Twitter post by Johnny Yong Bosch confirming his role as Bumblebee.]</ref> ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/bumblebee Official Website profile])
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/ratchet Official Website profile])
*[[Ironhide (WFC)|Ironhide]] ([[Keith Szarabajka]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/ironhide Official Website profile])
*[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] ([[Travis Willingham]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/sideswipe Official Website profile])
*[[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] ([[Troy Baker]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/jetfire Official Website profile])
*[[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]] ([[Patrick Seitz]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/silverbolt Official Website profile])
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] ([[Kari Wahlgren]])
*[[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] ([[Liam O'Brien]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/airraid Official Website profile])
*[[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]] ([[Jamieson Price]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/autobots/warpath Official Website profile])
*[[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] (Best Buy preorder Multiplayer exclusive <ref>[http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;?id=pcat17071&type=page&st=Transformers+War+for+Cybertron&sc=Global&nrp=15&usc=All+Categories Bestbuy.com preorder page featuring a special Jazz trailer]</ref>, Amazon.com preorder exclusive in UK, also available at Gamestation in UK (Playstation 3 only.) Downloadable content character)
*[[Scattershot (WFC)|Scattershot]] (Downloadable content character)
*[[Sentinel Zeta Prime‎|Zeta Prime]] ([[Troy Baker]]) (Downloadable content character)
|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (Fred Tatasciore) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/megatron Official Website profile]) ([http://gameinformer.com/games/transformers_war_for_cybertron/b/xbox360/archive/2009/12/18/transformers-war-for-cybertron-character-profile-megatron.aspx GameInformer profile])
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] ([[Sam Riegel]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/starscream Official Website profile]) ([http://gameinformer.com/games/transformers_war_for_cybertron/b/xbox360/archive/2009/12/23/transformers-war-for-cybertron-character-profile-starscream.aspx GameInformer profile])
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] ([[Isaac C. Singleton Jr.]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/soundwave Official Website profile])
*[[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] ([[Graham McTavish]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/thundercracker Official Website profile])
*[[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]] ([[Richard Epcar]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/skywarp Official Website profile])
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] ([[Crispin Freeman]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/breakdown Official Website profile])
*[[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] ([[Nolan North]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/brawl Official Website profile])
*[[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]] ([[Steve Blum]]) ([http://www.transformersgame.com/game#/game/characters/decepticons/barricade Official Website profile])
*[[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]] ([[Jessica Straus]])
*[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] (Gamestop preorder Multiplayer exclusive, Downloadable content character)
*[[Demolishor (WFC)|Demolishor]] (Amazon.com preorder Multiplayer exclusive <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-War-Cybertron-Playstation-3/dp/B0030HM2WO Amazon.com preorder page featuring a special Demolishor trailer]</ref>, Play.com exclusive in UK, Downloadable content character)
*[[Onslaught (WFC)|Onslaught]] (Downloadable content character)
*[[Dead End (WFC)|Dead End]] (Downloadable content character)
|h3=Non-Player|c3=
'''Autobots'''
*[[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] (Fred Tatasciore)
'''Decepticons'''
*[[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] (Fred Tatasciore)
*[[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] ([[Keith Silverstein]])
*[[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]] (Keith Silverstein)
*[[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]]
'''Other'''
*[[Scout (WFC)|Scouts]]
*[[Scientist (WFC)|Scientists]]
*[[Leader (WFC)|Leaders]]
*[[Soldier (WFC)|Soldiers]]
*[[Flier (WFC)|Fliers]]
*[[Sniper (WFC)|Snipers]]
*[[Cloaker (WFC)|Cloakers]]
*[[Brute (WFC)|Brutes]]
*[[Heavy Soldier]]s
*[[Destroyer (WFC)|Destroyers]]
*[[Spider]]s
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Multiplayer==

The multiplayer options make up a large portion of War for Cybertron's content. Hope you have a Gold account!

===Campaign===
The single-player campaigns can be played online, with players taking control of the other two allies that are usually just dumb A.I. If other players are participating, a tally of each participant's kills is kept. You know, for bragging rights.

===Escalation===
This cooperative mode puts several friends together against an unending horde of enemies. With each horde vanquished,tougher ones come in. The players can get points from killing enemies, and these points can be used to get new weapons, ammo, health, and to access new areas. Characters in Escalation mode are the same as those selected in Campaign (as well as bonus and DLC characters); custom multiplayer 'bots are not available here.

===Multiplayer===
This broad option is where you will be spending most of your hours after you beat Trypticon. Here, players can create their own Cybertronian combatant and pit them against the multitude of online [[Fandom|transfans]] and [[Coby|12-year-olds]] that will more than likely slaughter you. Custom characters can be leveled up by killing dudes in matches, with specific bonuses being given for specific actions. As they level up, more abilities become available.

;Characters
Characters are created from four different bases, each of which feature different weapons, abilities and alternate forms. They are:
*[[Scout (WFC)|Scout]] - Cars. Fast, usually cloakers.
*[[Scientist (WFC)|Scientist]] - Jets. Also fast, usually medics and buffers.
*[[Leader (WFC)|Leader]] - Trucks. Balanced, with emphasis on defense and ally-aid.
*[[Soldier (WFC)|Soldier]] - Tanks. Slow and powerful, with offensive abilities.

Initially, players are only able to create one of each class, but as they level up, more slots open for a maximum of three of each class. Names can be chosen for each, but don't get too excited about making the [[Fanon|Transformer you always dreamed of]]: bodies are limited to about three options per faction and look exactly like characters from single-player (for example, the Autobot Scout category lets you choose from Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Jazz or Arcee). And while you can pick your color scheme, the palettes are rather limited, especially for Decepticons. Downloading or unlocking additional characters will also make their chassis available for customizing.

;Playlists
Choosing a playlist will automatically send you into a lobby, where the service will do its best to form balanced teams (I.E., you hopefully won't see a team of level 25 leaders fighting one level zero Scout). The service will also select a random [[Map (WFC)|stage]], which players can veto. Finally, when the game begins, combatants select their character. If your scientist gets butchered too many times, you can pick a different character at any time during the match, and you will switch to it upon dying. Players also cannot pick a faction; the game does it automatically. Weapons can only be picked up from defeated enemies; ammo caches, overshields and energon are scattered throughout the stages.

Playlists include:
*'''Team deathmatch''': Kill 40 opponents to win. Games can range from four to sixteen players.
*'''Deathmatch''': Kill 20 opponents to win. It's a free-for-all.
*'''Conquest''': Capture and defend several "power nodes" until your team gets 400 points.
*'''Code of power''': Capture the flag. Team with highest score after two rounds wins.
*'''Countdown to extinction''': Plant the bomb in the enemy's base three times to win.
*'''Power struggle''': Control the active power node until you get 400 points.

Players can also set up private matches, where the game options and maps can be adjusted as you see fit, but they are invite-only. Hopefully, you've got a lot of online friends!

==Production==

As an early marketing campaign, the game's website included the feature "Operation Transmission Recovery": using transmission and coordinate dials, you could pick up "transmissions" from Cybertron (or "video clips" to you and me).

The art and design team did intense research (i.e. watched the original cartoon, looked at comics, and watched "typical sci-fi cool stuff" like ''Blade Runner'') to work out the aesthetic of Cybertron; lead artist [[Ivan Power]] remarked that the original cartoon was the main inspiration, and that Cybertron wasn't shown there so they had to rewatch the same few clips "over and over". While many of the city designs are elaborate and shiny, Decepticon [[Kaon]] was deliberately designed to be sharp-edged, rusting, and slapped together to show the Decepticons weren't interested in building a functioning society. <ref>[http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx Game Informer: Behind the Art of War for Cybertron]</ref>

[[Tyler Bates]] composed the score.

==Trophy/Achievement list==
When completing various goals and tasks during the campaigns and in online multi-player, the player can earn Trophies on PlayStation 3 and Achievements on the Xbox 360. There are 4 kinds of Trophies: Platinum is the highest, and is only unlocked after earning all the other trophies. It is followed by Gold, which include harder tasks and worth more experience. Then Silver, with less experience than Gold, and finally Bronze which represent easier tasks and worth the least experience. On the Xbox, each achievement has a Gamerscore (G) that adds to the player's total gamerscore, which is essentially the Xbox Live version of "Street Cred".

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
| '''Achievement/Trophy name'''
| '''Achievement/Trophy description'''
| '''Gamerscore'''
| '''PS Trophy'''
|-
| [[A Prime Problem]]
| Complete "Defend Iacon" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| The Last Prime
| Complete "Kaon Prison Break" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| [[The Touch|You Got the Touch]]
| Complete "To the Core" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| [[The War Within]]
| Complete "Aerial Assault" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| The Harder They Fall
| Complete "One Shall Stand" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Dark Awakening]]
| Complete "Dark Energon" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| Paging Ratchet
| Revive 5 Autobot soldiers in "Defend Iacon"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Beak Breaker
| Shoot the 3 hidden Laserbeaks in throughout "Kaon Prion Break"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]]
| Save the slug before it is executed in "To the Core"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] Performer
| Fly through the coolant tunnels in under 23 seconds in "Aerial Assault"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[The Transformers: The Movie|First We Crack the Shell...]]
| Get smashed by Trypticon's hand as he falls into energon goo in "One Shall Stand"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Autobot Recruit
| Autobot Campaign Complete (Easy)
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Autobot Commander
| Autobot Campaign Complete (Medium)
| 30G
| Silver
|-
| Autobot Prime
| Autobot Campaign Complete (Hard)
| 45G
| Silver
|-
| [[Starscream's Brigade]]
| Complete "Fuel of War" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| The Fall of Iacon
| Complete "Iacon Destroyed" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| [[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]
| Complete "Death of Hope" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Mars (episode)#Quotes|Victory is]] [[Home Is Where the Spark Is|Mine]]
| Complete "The Final Guardian" on any difficulty
| 10G
| Bronze
|-
| Your Lucky Day
| Kill all but 1 of the neutral prisoners in "Dark Energon"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Thief in the Night]]
| Find and disable all of the security trip-wire switches in "Fuel of War"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Unicron|Chaos Bringer]]
| Destroy the planets in the Stellar Galleries in "Iacon Destroyed"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]!
| Race across the Chasm Bridge in under 33 seconds in "Death of Hope"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
| Destroy all cover in the arena in "The Final Guardian"
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Decepticon Grunt
| Complete the Decepticon Campaign (Easy)
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Decepticon Seeker
| Complete the Decepticon Campaign (Medium)
| 30G
| Silver
|-
| Decepticon Warlord
| Complete the Decepticon Campaign (Hard)
| 45G
| Silver
|-
| [['Til all are one|Till All Are One]]
| Complete both Campaigns (Any Difficulty)
| 30G
| Silver
|-
| [[Bruticus (G1)|Brute-a-kiss]]!
| Ignite a Brute's back 5 times in Campaign or Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Footloose and Fancy Free
| Destroy a Jet Soldier's foot thrusters 5 time in Campaign or Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| That's No [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
| Headshot a Cloaker when it is invisible in Campaign or Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Targetmaster]]!
| Kill two snipers in 5 seconds
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| There Are Parts Everywhere
| Multi-Kill 3 car soldiers at once using an explosive weapon in Campaign or Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blast-arachnia]]!
| Destroy 100 spider in Campaign or Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Fire in the Sky]]
| Melee kill a Jet Vehicle in Campaign or Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Friends to the End
| Complete a level in Co-Op
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| Unlikely Allies
| Complete a level in Competitive Co-Op
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[More than Meets the Eye (disambiguation)|More Than Meets the Eye]]
| Earn a 1st Place MVP award in any Multiplayer mode
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| You Got [[Spark]], Kid
| Reach level 5 in any single class in Multiplayer
| 5G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike's]] BFF
| Reach a combined class of level of 25 in Multiplayer
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| The [[Kup (G1)|Kup's]] Half Full
| Reach a combined class level of 50 in Multiplayer
| 25G
| Silver
|-
| Only the Strong Survive
| Reach a combined class level of 75 in Multiplayer
| 50G
| Silver
|-
| Top of the Scrap Heap
| Reach a combined class level of 100 in Multiplayer
| 75G
| Silver
|-
| [[Prime Directive]]
| Unlock Prime Mode
| 30G
| Silver
|-
| [[Powermaster]]!
| Spend 25,000 power in Escalation
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Heavy Metal War]]
| Complete the 15th wave in Escalation
| 50G
| Gold
|-
| [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] Would Be Proud
| Destroy all hidden Autobot symbols in the Decepticon Campaign
| 25G
| Silver
|-
| [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], Smash!
| Destroy all hidden Decepticon symbols in the Autobot Campaign
| 25G
| Silver
|-
| [[Action Master]]
| Get 10 kills with a single detached turret in any mode
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[The Transformers: The Movie|Wait! I Still Function!]]
| Get 3 kills while downed in a Co-Op campaign or Escalation
| 30G
| Silver
|-
| [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
| Ram-kill an enemy who is stunned by an EMP Grenade in Campaign or Multiplayer
| 15G
| Bronze
|-
| [[Vector Sigma]] Victory
| Unlock All Trophies
|
| Platinum
|-
|}

==Demo==
On [[June 10]], 2010, a demo for the game was released on Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo is multiplayer only, and only two of the four classes, Soldier and Scout, are playable. Only one "Create a Character" slot is open for each class, but customization for chassis is not available. Players can only level up to Level 3 in each class. The only map available is "Molten", and the two gametypes available are Team Deathmatch and Conquest.

==Reception==
The game has received many positive reviews from critics and fans alike. IGN has given the score 9/10 because of its "Great Presentation", "Fun Multiplayer", "Classy Fan Service", but subtracted from its score due to the "Repetitive Visuals".<ref>[http://ps3.ign.com/articles/110/1101052p1.html IGN's review of ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' on the PS3, page 1]</ref><ref>[http://ps3.ign.com/articles/110/1101052p2.html IGN's review of ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' on the PS3, page 2]</ref> GameRankings sums up the average score of numerous reviews with 79 points<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/981364-transformers-war-for-cybertron/index.html GameRankings' archive of reviews for PS3 version of ''War for Cybertron'']</ref>, Metacritic averages 77 points<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/transformerswarforcybertron Reviews for the PS3 version of ''War for Cybertron'' at Metacritic]</ref>, and other scores include 85 from GameInformer <ref>[http://gameinformer.com/games/transformers_war_for_cybertron/b/ps3/archive/2010/06/22/review.aspx High Moon has the touch, from GameInformer]</ref>, B+ from 1UP.com<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3180025&p=37&sec=REVIEWS 1up.com's review of ''War for Cybertron'' on PS3]</ref>, and 4 out of 5 stars from GamePro<ref>[http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/215618/transformers-war-for-cybertron/ Gamepro's review of ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' on PS3]</ref>. The lowest, however, is 6.5 from Gamespot, citing the weaknesses: "Lack of visual and gameplay variety in the campaign, Paucity of ammunition, Boss fights are incredibly tedious, Friendly and enemy AI is poor, Transformations are integrated poorly with the core action".<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/transformerswarforcybertron/review.html Gamespot's review of ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' on the PS3]</ref>

==Transformer references==
* [[Steve Blum]] does his best [[Victor Caroli]] impression for his role of the narrator.
* A variety of callbacks to ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'':
** Ironhide greets the space slug with the [[universal greeting]], to Warpath's confusion.
** In the Kaon prison, an Autobot is pronounced guilty and pushed off a gantry into a pit. He responds with "Spare me this mockery of justice!", quoting [[Kranix]] during his trial on [[Quintessa]].
** Rumble repeats another line from the movie: "First we crack the shell, then we crack the nuts inside!"
** When Starscream declares himself as Decepticon leader, Megatron retorts that "[he] still function[s]."
* The [[Punch of Kill Everything]] is a multiplayer Leader Class ability and a Soldier class upgrade.
* When Skywarp calls Thundercracker ugly he replies [[Seeker (body-type)|that they look the same]]. [[The Twins|Hmmm.]]
* [[Stan Bush]]'s [[BotCon 2007]] theme song, "[[Till All Are One (Transformers Theme)]]" is used in the credits, and the special thanks describe the families that were involved "rock like Stan Bush".
* Several scenes in the credits are homages to the [[commercial bumpers]] used in the G1 series (Jazz transforming and shooting off-screen, Laserbeak flying past a Decepticon logo, etc).
* Air Raid pokes fun at Silverbolt's fear of heights.
* The in-game menu for stat tracking and leaderboards is called [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan 1]].
* When Ironhide asks Optimus how he knows Megatron, Optimus replies that it is a story for another time.
*Pretty much all the Achievement/Trophy names are references to other parts of Transformers history, mostly G1.
** The ones for completing the campaign chapters include [[Dark Awakening]], [[Starscream's Brigade]], [[A Prime Problem]], [[The Last Prime]], [[The Touch|You Got The Touch]], [[The War Within]], and [['Til all are one|Till All Are One]].
** Gameplay names include [[Thief in the Night]], [[Fire in the Sky]], [[Unicron|Chaos Bringer]], [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster!]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator!]], [[Bruticus (G1)|Brute-a-kiss!]], [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide Performer]], [[Rumble (G1)|First we crack the shell...]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blast-a-rachnia]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]].
* Autobots and Decepticons alike are heard to swear by '[[Primus]]', confirming his 'existence'.
* Trypticon has a 'conversion cog' that controls his transformation, and is probably a less 'branded' term for G1's [[transformation cog]].
* The game's Rocket Turret, when ripped from its mounting, is named the "[[Nucleon]] Shock Cannon" on the HUD.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.transformersgame.com/ Official site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron| ]]

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2

2011-03-30T08:07:15Z

75.2.136.86: /* Continuity errors */ Added the bit about Optimus' chest panel.

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=95
|ep2=32
|prev2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
|next2=Four Warriors Come out of the Sky
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime2 title shot.JPG
|caption=I'm back, kiddies!
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"
|production code=700-116
|airdate=[[February 25]], 1987
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|story by=[[Marv Wolfman]] [[Cherie Wilkerson]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Optimus and a handful of Autobots make a desperate bid to recover the Matrix, in the hopes that a cure for the Hate Plague can be found.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの復活パート2 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 2'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 2")
:''German title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 2''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Primeandjessicamorgan.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Chip Chase, is that you?]]

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], now fully restored to life by [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and a [[Quintesson]] survivor of the rampant Hate Plague that's infecting the universe, demands to know what has happened during his time on the [[Allspark|other side]]. Sky Lynx recaps the events that had conspired to bring him back, including [[Jessica Morgan]]'s valiant play to save him from total destruction, the discovery of the [[Hate Plague]] spores, and the trap laid out by Jessica's father and her partner Gregory Swofford to infect the Autobots with the spores in revenge, which ultimately spiraled out of control. It was thought by Rodimus, before his infection, that Prime would know what it would take to stop the plague. Prime asks who is available, and learns of the injured [[Autobot|Autobots]]. The Quintesson manages to reactivate them, completely rebuilding [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] into Goldbug.

When [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] asks what the plan is, Prime admits that he doesn't have a plan. Without the accumulated wisdom within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] (which now resides in Rodimus), he doesn't have a clue as to where to start. That is, until Jessica comes forward with the experimental alloy that she, her father, and Gregory had worked on, which proved strong enough to block the spores. Theoretically, coating Optimus with this alloy would protect himself from the spore's infection and allow him to get close enough to Rodimus to extract the Matrix from him. However, all remaining alloy samples were stolen by the Decepticons. The Autobots decide to retrieve the metal.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 crazycons.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Cyclonus and Scourge each spent 2,000 XP to create the Level 7 Flame Barrier spell. Unfortunately Galvatron has Protection from Fire with Permanency effect.]]

Meanwhile, on [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is pinned down by his own mutinously diseased soldiers, unable to fight back against their maddening ferocity...until Optimus and his team arrive to save the day, convincing Galvatron that it would be in his best interest to join in an alliance with them. As is his way, however, the Decepticon leader is suspicious of Optimus' motives, especially when he learns they need the alloy he stole, but cannot get a reason for it out of them. He agrees to join in and leads Optimus and his gang down a series of boobytrapped tunnels, their numbers dwindling from the tunnel's natural hazards and the infected Decepticon mob behind them, until only Optimus, Galvatron, Sky Lynx, and Jessica arrive at the alloy's hiding place. Unfortunately, Jessie accidentally lets slip their plan to coat Optimus with the metal after confirming there would be enough of it to do the job, prompting Galvatron to turn on Optimus in hopes of using the process on himself, but he is soon subdued by Sky Lynx. Under coercion, Galvatron loads the alloy onto Prime's trailer, but doesn't notice that an infected Cyclonus has managed to sneak in, infecting Jessica in the process. Jessica, in turn, infects Galvatron, forcing Sky Lynx and Optimus to flee back to Earth.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Primes duel.JPG|left|200px|thumb|So I guess Rodimus is a bottom...to Ultra Magnus?]]

Once on Earth, Optimus is coated with the alloy, and sets out to find Rodimus. He finds him, taking down infected Transformers with reckless glee, and attempts to reason with him, which fails. Unwilling to hurt his successor, Prime lures Rodimus to a nearby auto shop, attempting to peacefully subdue and talk Rodimus into helping him, but the Hate Plague is overriding any effort to do so, forcing Optimus to knock Rodimus out and take the Matrix back by force. Back at [[Autobot City]], Optimus dives into the Matrix to question the elders of the past in reverse chronological order (of their history) to try and find out any information on the spores. The spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] warns him that if he travels too far, he risks becoming lost within the Matrix itself.

During Prime's journey, the Quintesson that revived him notices a troop of infected Transformers attempting to get in, and manages to temporarily shut them out, giving Optimus the time he needs to finally find his answer. He learns that, in a period of pre-Cybertronian history, the Plague ''has'' visited the planet before, but was contained and sealed inside the star Jessica and Gregory found it in using sheer wisdom, though even back then, no one had the wisdom to destroy the spores, and now that it has spread so much throughout the galaxy, it's doubtful that anyone has the wisdom to even contain them again. Optimus then realizes that a source of raw wisdom may be available to destroy the infection once and for all: the accumulated wisdom within the Matrix of Leadership.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Hmm, this looks familiar...]]

The infected Transformers finally break into the base, and corner the Quintesson, who begs them to stop. Galvatron grabs a metal pole, intending to impale Prime. However, Prime's chest opens to reveal a glowing Matrix, surprising the Transformers. Asking it to "light our [[darkest hour]]", Optimus Prime releases the energy of the Matrix of Leadership, which spreads across the universe and totally eradicates the Plague. It even seems to, at least temporarily, cure Gregory and Jessica's father of their hatred for Autobots, and Galvatron of his own madness; all of them call a truce with Optimus.

It is then that Rodimus (now [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], without the Matrix within him) notes that the Matrix is now empty, its wisdom supposedly lost in order to stop the plague. Optimus, however, disagrees; they have all become a little wiser, now, and although the Matrix is indeed empty of wisdom, it is up to them from then on to fill it again with their knowledge and experience. Optimus, once again the Autobot leader, ordering his troops to "Transform and roll out".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (2)
*[[Slingshot]] (6)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (7)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (21)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (22)

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (16)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
*[[Sweep|Sweeps]] (19)
*[[Predaking]] (20)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (23)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (24)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Jessica Morgan]] (4)
*[[Gregory Swofford]] (5)
*[[Mark Morgan]] (26)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]] (3)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==

"We need a plan! Okay, Optimus, what's the plan?" 
"I... have no plan."
:—'''Goldbug''' and '''Optimus Prime''', the latter of whom is not exactly inspiring confidence

"[[Autobots, transform and roll out]]!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', getting back into the swing of things.

"Fools, I am your leader! ... It's no use. You're all crazed!"
:—'''Galvatron''' fighting his infected and insane troops. The irony fairy just had a coronary.

"Have I no friends left?!" 
"Well, well, what have we here?" 
"Looks like something the cat dragged in."
:—'''Galvatron''' tries to reason with the infected '''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge'''...for once

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Prime Galvatron.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Come on, Optimus, why can't we be friends?"
 "When we first met, you shot me and my girlfriend. You make a bad first impression."]]

"Come on, Optimus, tell me! Why do you want this metal? How will it be used? Why is it so precious?" 
"I've explained it to you." 
"You told me it was important, but you didn't tell me why!" 
"That's because I know you too well, Galvatron."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' resuming their same old song and dance

"I don't need you anymore, Optimus. So much for your resurrection!"
:—'''Galvatron''', same song, different tune

"I don't want to hurt you, Rodimus!" 
"Don't worry, Optimus, you won't! HAHAHAHAH!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' throw down.

"Innocent lives are at stake, Rodimus!" 
"''No one'' is innocent!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' throw down some more...right before Optimus clocks him.

"Now, light our darkest hour!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', proving that destiny and Chosen Ones mean nothing when pitted against letters from angry kids and parents.

"There will be no war today, Optimus. You have earned Galvatron's respect."
:—'''Galvatron''', totally sane for the first time since...ever

"The wisdom of the ages! It's lost!" 
"No, not lost. We're all a little wiser now." 
"But the Matrix is empty!" 
"It's up to all of us to fill it again—with the wisdom we accumulate from this moment on. Autobots, transform and roll out!"
:—'''Hot Rod''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*The chair Optimus was sitting on is missing at the beginning of the episode.
*Optimus's fog lights are entirely red, even at the bulbs, which should be yellow or white.
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Steeljaw's paws are over the side of the table in one shot and beside him in the next shot.
*As he speaks with the group, the closeups of Optimus's face from the side have the panel on the left side of his head in gray instead of blue. The long shots don't show his mouth plate moving as he speaks.
*As the group "rolls out," Kup is shown driving backwards (unless he turns around after the scene transition...).
*The red squares are missing from the tops of Galvatron's shoulders in several shots. His chin is gray in some and dark gray in others as well.
*Optimus's rifle has the basic Autobot gun sound effect rather than its usual sound effect.
*When the Decepticons retreat on Chaar, Cyclonus speaks with Ultra Magnus's voice.
*As Optimus drives through the cave, his trailer is missing its Autobot symbol.
*Just before he transforms in the cave, Optimus' bumper and grille are red instead of gray.
*Just before the team crosses the spider web, Cyclonus is shown in place of Blurr.
*Some shots show the crest on Optimus's helmet framed in gray, while others (such as during his "know you too well" line) have it framed in blue.
*As the energy leeches drop on Optimus, his fog lights are long cylinders rather than short triangles.
*Just before getting infected, Blaster has no lines on his switch plate.
*"We have to get out of here!" - Optimus's faceplate is misaligned with his helmet.
*When Galvatron shoots the top of the cave the second time, some of the rocks stay in mid-air.
*When they enter the Decepticon lab, Galvatron is taller than Optimus. In most other shots, he's shorter than Optimus.
*As Jessica discovers the alloy in the lab, Optimus is missing the Autobot symbol on his shoulder.
*After she makes the discovery, a shot shows the sides of Optimus' midsection in white instead of red.
*When Galvatron is threatening Optimus after they find the heat-resistant metal, Galvatron's cannon has a trigger on it.
*When escaping after Galvatron is infected, Optimus and his cab are coated in the resistant metal before it was even melted down.
*During the aforementioned escape, an infected Jessica Morgan makes a jump for Sky Lynx and there are several frames where it appears as if she had managed to grab hold of his tail...yet he remains mysteriously unaffected by the Hate Plague.
*When he first meets Optimus, Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol.
*The subsequent shots show Rodimus as semi-transparent.
*As Rodimus drives out of the junkyard a few moments later, he floats above the ground.
*Rodimus's gun fires yellow shots at times and purple shots in others. And what happened to his rifle?
*As Optimus grapples with Rodimus, Rodimus's Autobot logo disappears in a few frames.
*The inside of Rodimus' mouth is gray as he delivers the "no one is innocent!" line.
*The ceiling of the junkyard plant has beams framing the glass, yet the beams disappear when Sky Lynx crashes through them.
*Sky Lynx ''also'' disappears after crashing through the glass.
*As Optimus struggles with Rodimus the second time, Optimus's Autobot logo is framed in white in some shots, black in others.
*When Optimus takes the Matrix from Rodimus, the "glow" from the Matrix lags behind the Matrix itself when he raises it up.
*In the next shot, Rodimus is laying there with his chest suddenly closed again.
*When Optimus is talking to Alpha Trion, Alpha Trion is miscolored. He's entirely orange in a few shots.
*When Optimus activates the Matrix, its handles disappear. They're back again in the next shot.
*As Optimus is explaining that the Matrix must be refilled with the future wisdom, he is colored as if he still has the heat resistant metal on him.
*In the same shot, Hot Rod looks bigger than Optimus even though he should be much smaller (especially now that he's not Rodimus anymore).
*In the last shot of the episode, Optimus is missing his smoke stacks, the front of his cab has the gray stripes but the sides do not, and his trailer is again missing its Autobot logo.
*Also in the last shot of the episode, look at Blurr carefully. He clips into Kup and his front end disappears from the frame!

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus's last line in Part 1 was "This time, no force in the universe can stop me." His first line here is "''Now'', no force in the universe ''will'' stop me."
*Sky Lynx is in two parts at the beginning. He was the full walking bird at the end of the last episode.
*After Sky Lynx's recap, Optimus is seen getting up from a table and walking over to where he was a minute earlier. There was no table behind him in previous shots, and no reason for him to lay down for a moment.
* So....how ''exactly'' does Sky Lynx know every single detail of what happened in the previous episode? He wasn't even there when half of those recapped events took place! Unless he turned Metroplex back on...
* If Sky Lynx said that the uninfected Autobots were "Kup,''Wheelie'', Steeljaw, Bumblebee, and Blurr," then why does it show ''Blaster'', not Wheelie, among the uninfected autobots?
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Optimus suddenly has his rifle back, though he wasn't holding it in the previous shots.
*Given that the Autobots are in a rush to save the galaxy, why did the Quintessons take the time to retool Bumblebee into Goldbug?
*How did Kup know that Rodimus had been contaminated since he was deactivated by Superion before Rodimus was?
*A close-up of Jessica during the spider-web ambush shows her without her exo-suit, which she is shown wearing immediately before and after.
*The alloy is heat-resistant to the point of surviving a supernova in the [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|previous episode]]. Yet it now can be melted down to coat Optimus Prime with it.
*The Transformers wounded by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] included Steeljaw and Wheelie, who are briefly seen at the start. They are then replaced by Blaster. Steeljaw returns a bit later, however, but Wheelie stays gone. Not that this is a bad thing.
*The infected Decepticons work ''together'' to fight Galvatron and the others, instead of attacking each other.
*Sky Lynx doesn't help during the spider attack, even though he ''can'' fly.
*When Galvatron and Prime are working together, Prime says, "That's because I know you too well, Galvatron." Yet this is the first time a ''cognizant'' Optimus has ever met Galvatron (him being only half-alive back when they met in "[[Dark Awakening]]"). Perhaps he just has really good intuition, or knows [[Megatron (G1)|who Galvatron USED to be...]]
*Goldbug, Kup and Blaster get infected without being touched. Sky Lynx was right next to them but doesn't get infected. Huh?
*Optimus is coated in the alloy in robot mode. How does his trailer get coated?
*How do the support beams in the junkyard plant hold Optimus and Rodimus' weight?
*How exactly did Jessica get off [[Chaar]]?
*Rodimus's Matrix chamber opens via a pair of rectangular swing-out doors much like Optimus' chamber. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door opened in the middle of the flame on his chest. In "Dark Awakening", it hinged across the left side of the flame, and the whole design opened to reveal the chamber.
* When Optimus puts the Matrix into his chest, he puts it in kind of... sideways. Surely his months of deactivation haven't made him forget how the thing sat in his chest for ''millions of years''?
* Upon entering the Matrix of Leadership, the first ancient Autobot that Optimus Prime converses with is Alpha Trion. The latter's appearance there is somewhat puzzling, as it was [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2|previously established]] (and [[The Rebirth, Part 2|later reiterated]]) that he had merged with Vector Sigma. Alpha Trion's presence makes even ''less'' sense considering that it was clearly stated in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" that he had never taken the Matrix for himself, thus eliminating the possibility that a "backup copy" of himself had somehow been "uploaded" into it. Years later, of course, the big ol' retcon of the [[Allspark]] indirectly rectified this: Alpha Trion's in the afterlife, which one can communicate with through both the Matrix and Vector Sigma.
*The infected transformers work ''together'' to find Optimus Prime, instead of attacking each other.
*How exactly does wisdom kill spores?
*In the movie, the Matrix took up the top half of Optimus' chest compartment and was behind a flip-up panel. Here, it fills in the whole (now hollow) cavity with no panel or other electronics to be seen.
*How did they get the alloy ''off'' Optimus Prime?
*And why would they want to, if it's so resilient?
*Does anyone else think that Dr. Swofford and Morgan get off waaaaay too easy at the end of the episode? They ''willingly'' unleash the hate plague that causes widespread devastation (and probably death) across not just the world but the entire galaxy, just to spite the Autobots, and they get off by just saying "sorry"?
*Then again, we don't actually ''see'' Optimus shaking their hands. Burn!

===Transformers references===
*When Optimus uses the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, it bears more than a passing resemblance to when Rodimus Prime used the Matrix to destroy [[Unicron]] in [[The Transformers: The Movie|''The Movie'']]. They've even got "The Touch" playing in the background.

*In Japanese continuity, the events of [[The Great Transformer War issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[The Great Transformer War]]'' take place shortly after this episode, helping to bridge the gap between it and "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", the first episode of ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''.

===Trivia===
[[Image:DialogueScriptTROOPOrionPax.jpg|thumb|250px|So this is odd.]]
*The Japanese version of this episode has a slightly alternate ending. After Optimus Prime and the Autobots ride off into the sunset and "the Touch" ends, the music changes to "[[Transformer 2010|TRANSFORMER 2010]]" by [[Shō Hirose]] and the scene shifts to a montage of all the major characters from the series.
*The portion of "The Touch" that plays includes the line about "Hell breaking loose," an unusually strong word for an American '80s TV cartoon. Guess the censors were looking elsewhere that day.
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for this episode lists Orion Pax as appearing. A flashback to Optimus Prime's early days that was removed for time constraints, you might think? No. According to the [[dialogue script]] for the episode, Orion Pax was originally going to be the one to ask Prime why he had returned to the Matrix! Presumably someone on staff caught the error early enough, as Pax's line in the final cut went to Alpha Trion.
*After abusing his own troops throughout Season 3, there's something deeply satisfying in seeing Galvatron being attacked by his soldiers willingly.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Zweiter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2

2011-03-29T05:39:12Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=95
|ep2=32
|prev2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
|next2=Four Warriors Come out of the Sky
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime2 title shot.JPG
|caption=I'm back, kiddies!
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"
|production code=700-116
|airdate=[[February 25]], 1987
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|story by=[[Marv Wolfman]] [[Cherie Wilkerson]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Optimus and a handful of Autobots make a desperate bid to recover the Matrix, in the hopes that a cure for the Hate Plague can be found.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの復活パート2 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 2'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 2")
:''German title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 2''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Primeandjessicamorgan.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Chip Chase, is that you?]]

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], now fully restored to life by [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and a [[Quintesson]] survivor of the rampant Hate Plague that's infecting the universe, demands to know what has happened during his time on the [[Allspark|other side]]. Sky Lynx recaps the events that had conspired to bring him back, including [[Jessica Morgan]]'s valiant play to save him from total destruction, the discovery of the [[Hate Plague]] spores, and the trap laid out by Jessica's father and her partner Gregory Swofford to infect the Autobots with the spores in revenge, which ultimately spiraled out of control. It was thought by Rodimus, before his infection, that Prime would know what it would take to stop the plague. Prime asks who is available, and learns of the injured [[Autobot|Autobots]]. The Quintesson manages to reactivate them, completely rebuilding [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] into Goldbug.

When [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] asks what the plan is, Prime admits that he doesn't have a plan. Without the accumulated wisdom within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] (which now resides in Rodimus), he doesn't have a clue as to where to start. That is, until Jessica comes forward with the experimental alloy that she, her father, and Gregory had worked on, which proved strong enough to block the spores. Theoretically, coating Optimus with this alloy would protect himself from the spore's infection and allow him to get close enough to Rodimus to extract the Matrix from him. However, all remaining alloy samples were stolen by the Decepticons. The Autobots decide to retrieve the metal.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 crazycons.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Cyclonus and Scourge each spent 2,000 XP to create the Level 7 Flame Barrier spell. Unfortunately Galvatron has Protection from Fire with Permanency effect.]]

Meanwhile, on [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is pinned down by his own mutinously diseased soldiers, unable to fight back against their maddening ferocity...until Optimus and his team arrive to save the day, convincing Galvatron that it would be in his best interest to join in an alliance with them. As is his way, however, the Decepticon leader is suspicious of Optimus' motives, especially when he learns they need the alloy he stole, but cannot get a reason for it out of them. He agrees to join in and leads Optimus and his gang down a series of boobytrapped tunnels, their numbers dwindling from the tunnel's natural hazards and the infected Decepticon mob behind them, until only Optimus, Galvatron, Sky Lynx, and Jessica arrive at the alloy's hiding place. Unfortunately, Jessie accidentally lets slip their plan to coat Optimus with the metal after confirming there would be enough of it to do the job, prompting Galvatron to turn on Optimus in hopes of using the process on himself, but he is soon subdued by Sky Lynx. Under coercion, Galvatron loads the alloy onto Prime's trailer, but doesn't notice that an infected Cyclonus has managed to sneak in, infecting Jessica in the process. Jessica, in turn, infects Galvatron, forcing Sky Lynx and Optimus to flee back to Earth.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Primes duel.JPG|left|200px|thumb|So I guess Rodimus is a bottom...to Ultra Magnus?]]

Once on Earth, Optimus is coated with the alloy, and sets out to find Rodimus. He finds him, taking down infected Transformers with reckless glee, and attempts to reason with him, which fails. Unwilling to hurt his successor, Prime lures Rodimus to a nearby auto shop, attempting to peacefully subdue and talk Rodimus into helping him, but the Hate Plague is overriding any effort to do so, forcing Optimus to knock Rodimus out and take the Matrix back by force. Back at [[Autobot City]], Optimus dives into the Matrix to question the elders of the past in reverse chronological order (of their history) to try and find out any information on the spores. The spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] warns him that if he travels too far, he risks becoming lost within the Matrix itself.

During Prime's journey, the Quintesson that revived him notices a troop of infected Transformers attempting to get in, and manages to temporarily shut them out, giving Optimus the time he needs to finally find his answer. He learns that, in a period of pre-Cybertronian history, the Plague ''has'' visited the planet before, but was contained and sealed inside the star Jessica and Gregory found it in using sheer wisdom, though even back then, no one had the wisdom to destroy the spores, and now that it has spread so much throughout the galaxy, it's doubtful that anyone has the wisdom to even contain them again. Optimus then realizes that a source of raw wisdom may be available to destroy the infection once and for all: the accumulated wisdom within the Matrix of Leadership.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Hmm, this looks familiar...]]

The infected Transformers finally break into the base, and corner the Quintesson, who begs them to stop. Galvatron grabs a metal pole, intending to impale Prime. However, Prime's chest opens to reveal a glowing Matrix, surprising the Transformers. Asking it to "light our [[darkest hour]]", Optimus Prime releases the energy of the Matrix of Leadership, which spreads across the universe and totally eradicates the Plague. It even seems to, at least temporarily, cure Gregory and Jessica's father of their hatred for Autobots, and Galvatron of his own madness; all of them call a truce with Optimus.

It is then that Rodimus (now [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], without the Matrix within him) notes that the Matrix is now empty, its wisdom supposedly lost in order to stop the plague. Optimus, however, disagrees; they have all become a little wiser, now, and although the Matrix is indeed empty of wisdom, it is up to them from then on to fill it again with their knowledge and experience. Optimus, once again the Autobot leader, ordering his troops to "Transform and roll out".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (2)
*[[Slingshot]] (6)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (7)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (21)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (22)

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (16)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
*[[Sweep|Sweeps]] (19)
*[[Predaking]] (20)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (23)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (24)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Jessica Morgan]] (4)
*[[Gregory Swofford]] (5)
*[[Mark Morgan]] (26)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]] (3)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==

"We need a plan! Okay, Optimus, what's the plan?" 
"I... have no plan."
:—'''Goldbug''' and '''Optimus Prime''', the latter of whom is not exactly inspiring confidence

"[[Autobots, transform and roll out]]!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', getting back into the swing of things.

"Fools, I am your leader! ... It's no use. You're all crazed!"
:—'''Galvatron''' fighting his infected and insane troops. The irony fairy just had a coronary.

"Have I no friends left?!" 
"Well, well, what have we here?" 
"Looks like something the cat dragged in."
:—'''Galvatron''' tries to reason with the infected '''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge'''...for once

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Prime Galvatron.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Come on, Optimus, why can't we be friends?"
 "When we first met, you shot me and my girlfriend. You make a bad first impression."]]

"Come on, Optimus, tell me! Why do you want this metal? How will it be used? Why is it so precious?" 
"I've explained it to you." 
"You told me it was important, but you didn't tell me why!" 
"That's because I know you too well, Galvatron."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' resuming their same old song and dance

"I don't need you anymore, Optimus. So much for your resurrection!"
:—'''Galvatron''', same song, different tune

"I don't want to hurt you, Rodimus!" 
"Don't worry, Optimus, you won't! HAHAHAHAH!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' throw down.

"Innocent lives are at stake, Rodimus!" 
"''No one'' is innocent!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' throw down some more...right before Optimus clocks him.

"Now, light our darkest hour!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', proving that destiny and Chosen Ones mean nothing when pitted against letters from angry kids and parents.

"There will be no war today, Optimus. You have earned Galvatron's respect."
:—'''Galvatron''', totally sane for the first time since...ever

"The wisdom of the ages! It's lost!" 
"No, not lost. We're all a little wiser now." 
"But the Matrix is empty!" 
"It's up to all of us to fill it again—with the wisdom we accumulate from this moment on. Autobots, transform and roll out!"
:—'''Hot Rod''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation and tecnhical errors===
*The chair Optimus was sitting on is missing at the beginning of the episode.
*Optimus' fog lights are entirely red, even at the bulbs, which should be yellow or white.
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Steeljaw's paws are over the side of the table in one shot and beside him in the next shot.
*As he speaks with the group, the closeups of Optimus' face from the side have the panel on the left side of his head in gray instead of blue. The long shots don't show his mouth plate moving as he speaks.
*As the group "rolls out," Kup is shown driving backwards (unless he turns around after the scene transition...).
*The red squares are missing from the tops of Galvatron's shoulders in several shots. His chin is gray in some and dark gray in others as well.
*Optimus' rifle has the basic Autobot gun sound effect rather than its usual sound effect.
*When the Decepticons retreat on Chaar, Cyclonus speaks with Ultra Magnus' voice.
*As Optimus drives through the cave, his trailer is missing its Autobot symbol.
*Just before he transforms in the cave, Optimus' bumper and grille are red instead of gray.
*Just before the team crosses the spider web, Cyclonus is shown in place of Blurr.
*Some shots show the crest on Optimus' helmet framed in gray, while others (such as during his "know you too well" line) have it framed in blue.
*As the energy leeches drop on Optimus, his fog lights are long cylinders rather than short triangles.
*Just before getting infected, Blaster has no lines on his switch plate.
*"We have to get out of here!" - Optimus' faceplate is misaligned with his helmet.
*When Galvatron shoots the top of the cave the second time, some of the rocks stay in mid-air.
*When they enter the Decepticon lab, Galvatron is taller than Optimus. In most other shots, he's shorter than Optimus.
*As Jessica discovers the alloy in the lab, Optimus is missing the Autobot symbol on his shoulder.
*After she makes the discovery, a shot shows the sides of Optimus' midsection in white instead of red.
*When Galvatron is threatening Optimus after they find the heat-resistant metal, Galvatron's cannon has a trigger on it.
*When escaping after Galvatron is infected, Optimus and his cab are coated in the resistant metal before it was even melted down.
*During the aforementioned escape, an infected Jessica Morgan makes a jump for Sky Lynx and there are several frames where it appears as if she had managed to grab hold of his tail...yet he remains mysteriously unaffected by the Hate Plague.
*When he first meets Optimus, Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol.
*The subsequent shots show Rodimus as semi-transparent.
*As Rodimus drives out of the junkyard a few moments later, he floats above the ground.
*Rodimus' gun fires yellow shots at times and purple shots in others. And what happened to his rifle?
*As Optimus grapples with Rodimus, Rodimus' Autobot logo disappears in a few frames.
*The inside of Rodimus' mouth is gray as he delivers the "no one is innocent!" line.
*The ceiling of the junkyard plant has beams framing the glass, yet the beams disappear when Sky Lynx crashes through them.
*Sky Lynx ''also'' disappears after crashing through the glass.
*As Optimus struggles with Rodimus the second time, Optimus' Autobot logo is framed in white in some shots, black in others.
*When Optimus takes the Matrix from Rodimus, the "glow" from the Matrix lags behind the Matrix itself when he raises it up.
*In the next shot, Rodimus is laying there with his chest suddenly closed again.
*When Optimus is talking to Alpha Trion, Alpha Trion is miscolored. He's entirely orange in a few shots.
*When Optimus activates the Matrix, its handles disappear. They're back again in the next shot.
*As Optimus is explaining that the Matrix must be refilled with the future wisdom, he is colored as if he still has the heat resistant metal on him.
*In the same shot, Hot Rod looks bigger than Optimus even though he should be much smaller (especially now that he's not Rodimus anymore).
*In the last shot of the episode, Optimus is missing his smoke stacks, the front of his cab has the gray stripes but the sides do not, and his trailer is again missing its Autobot logo.
*Also in the last shot of the episode, look at Blurr carefully. He clips into Kup and his front end disappears from the frame!

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus' last line in Part 1 was "This time, no force in the universe can stop me." His first line here is "''Now'', no force in the universe ''will'' stop me."
*Sky Lynx is in two parts at the beginning. He was the full walking bird at the end of the last episode.
*After Sky Lynx's recap, Optimus is seen getting up from a table and walking over to where he was a minute earlier. There was no table behind him in previous shots, and no reason for him to lay down for a moment.
* So....how ''exactly'' does Sky Lynx know every single detail of what happened in the previous episode? He wasn't even there when half of those recapped events took place! Unless he turned Metroplex back on...
* If Sky Lynx said that the uninfected Autobots were "Kup,''Wheelie'', Steeljaw, Bumblebee, and Blurr," then why does it show ''Blaster'', not Wheelie, among the uninfected autobots?
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Optimus suddenly has his rifle back, though he wasn't holding it in the previous shots.
*Given that the Autobots are in a rush to save the galaxy, why did the Quintessons take the time to retool Bumblebee into Goldbug?
*How did Kup know that Rodimus had been contaminated since he was deactivated by Superion before Rodimus was?
*A close-up of Jessica during the spider-web ambush shows her without her exo-suit, which she is shown wearing immediately before and after.
*The alloy is heat-resistant to the point of surviving a supernova in the [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|previous episode]]. Yet it now can be melted down to coat Optimus Prime with it.
*The Transformers wounded by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] included Steeljaw and Wheelie, who are briefly seen at the start. They are then replaced by Blaster. Steeljaw returns a bit later, however, but Wheelie stays gone. Not that this is a bad thing.
*The infected Decepticons work ''together'' to fight Galvatron and the others, instead of attacking each other.
*Sky Lynx doesn't help during the spider attack, even though he ''can'' fly.
*When Galvatron and Prime are working together, Prime says, "That's because I know you too well, Galvatron." Yet this is the first time a ''cognizant'' Optimus has ever met Galvatron (him being only half-alive back when they met in "[[Dark Awakening]]"). Perhaps he just has really good intuition, or knows [[Megatron (G1)|who Galvatron USED to be...]]
*Goldbug, Kup and Blaster get infected without being touched. Sky Lynx was right next to them but doesn't get infected. Huh?
*Optimus is coated in the alloy in robot mode. How does his trailer get coated?
*How do the support beams in the junkyard plant hold Optimus and Rodimus' weight?
*How exactly did Jessica get off [[Chaar]]?
*Rodimus' Matrix chamber opens via a pair of rectangular swing-out doors much like Optimus' chamber. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door opened in the middle of the flame on his chest. In "Dark Awakening", it hinged across the left side of the flame, and the whole design opened to reveal the chamber.
* When Optimus puts the Matrix into his chest, he puts it in kind of... sideways. Surely his months of deactivation haven't made him forget how the thing sat in his chest for ''millions of years''?
* Upon entering the Matrix of Leadership, the first ancient Autobot that Optimus Prime converses with is Alpha Trion. The latter's appearance there is somewhat puzzling, as it was [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2|previously established]] (and [[The Rebirth, Part 2|later reiterated]]) that he had merged with Vector Sigma. Alpha Trion's presence makes even ''less'' sense considering that it was clearly stated in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" that he had never taken the Matrix for himself, thus eliminating the possibility that a "backup copy" of himself had somehow been "uploaded" into it. Years later, of course, the big ol' retcon of the [[Allspark]] indirectly rectified this: Alpha Trion's in the afterlife, which one can communicate with through both the Matrix and Vector Sigma.
*The infected transformers work ''together'' to find Optimus Prime, instead of attacking each other.
*How exactly does wisdom kill spores?
*How did they get the alloy ''off'' Optimus Prime?
*And why would they want to, if it's so resilient?
*Does anyone else think that Dr. Swofford and Morgan get off waaaaay too easy at the end of the episode? They ''willingly'' unleash the hate plague that causes widespread devastation (and probably death) across not just the world but the entire galaxy, just to spite the Autobots, and they get off by just saying "sorry"?
*Then again, we don't actually ''see''Optimus shaking their hands. Burn!

===Transformers references===
*When Optimus uses the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, it bears more than a passing resemblance to when Rodimus Prime used the Matrix to destroy [[Unicron]] in [[The Transformers: The Movie|''The Movie'']]. They've even got "The Touch" playing in the background.

*In Japanese continuity, the events of [[The Great Transformer War issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[The Great Transformer War]]'' take place shortly after this episode, helping to bridge the gap between it and "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", the first episode of ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''.

===Trivia===
[[Image:DialogueScriptTROOPOrionPax.jpg|thumb|250px|So this is odd.]]
*The Japanese version of this episode has a slightly alternate ending. After Optimus Prime and the Autobots ride off into the sunset and "the Touch" ends, the music changes to "[[Transformer 2010|TRANSFORMER 2010]]" by [[Shō Hirose]] and the scene shifts to a montage of all the major characters from the series.
*The portion of "The Touch" that plays includes the line about "Hell breaking loose," an unusually strong word for an American '80s TV cartoon. Guess the censors were looking elsewhere that day.
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for this episode lists Orion Pax as appearing. A flashback to Optimus Prime's early days that was removed for time constraints, you might think? No. According to the [[dialogue script]] for the episode, Orion Pax was originally going to be the one to ask Prime why he had returned to the Matrix! Presumably someone on staff caught the error early enough, as Pax's line in the final cut went to Alpha Trion.
*After abusing his own troops throughout Season 3, there's something deeply satisfying in seeing Galvatron being attacked by his soldiers willingly.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Zweiter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

2011-03-29T03:54:38Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=94
|ep2=31
|prev2=The Desperate Struggle of Justice
|next2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime1 Optimus lives.JPG
|caption=And there was much rejoicing (yay).
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"
|production code=700-115
|airdate=[[February 24]], 1987
|written by=[[Marv Wolfman]] [[Cherie Wilkerson]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''An embittered scientist uses the body of Optimus Prime to unleash a dangerous plague on the Autobots and, ultimately, the universe.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの復活パート1 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 1'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 1")
:''German title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 1''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Prime rescue.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"You're right, it is athlete's foot."]]

While on a deep-space mission to test a new [[Impervious Alloy|heat-and-radiation-resistant alloy]] that they have developed, scientists [[Jessica Morgan]] and [[Gregory Swofford]] detect a ship carrying Optimus Prime's body {{storylink|Dark Awakening}} on a collision course with a planetoid orbiting a star they are researching nearby. Despite Gregory's reservations (his face was scarred in a previous scuffle between [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], which he blames on Optimus), he is talked into helping Jessica rescue Prime's body before the ship collides with the planetoid, the impact of which also sets off the star into a supernova and coating their ship with unusual spores.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Scattershot rescues Jessica.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't worry, I'll help you rescue your daug-OOH LOOK, A BUNNY!]]

Upon return to Earth, Jessica's father studies the spores and learns that they are not only alive, but are an [[Hate Plague|incredibly contagious viral agent]] that induces hatred and destructive urges into whoever they contaminate. After a new scuffle between the Technobots and Terrorcons over the new alloy gravely injures Jessica, her father is convinced by Gregory to try and resurrect Prime's body as a carrier of the spores against the Autobots, a sentiment exacerbated when it's learned Jessica was paralyzed from the waist down in the accident and now needs a special exosuit to walk. However, when reviving Prime's body turns out to be impossible for them, Gregory and Jessica's father decide to use it as bait for the other Autobots. Dr. Morgan forces Jessica to lure them into a spore trap at the lab.

The trap goes off without a hitch, mostly due to Rodimus' reckless haste in recovering his predecessor's corpse in lieu of caution, and several Autobots—including Superion and Defensor, two of the most powerful Autobot gestalts—are infected. The Decepticons have learned about Optimus Prime's recovery as well, and have shown up to terminate the former Autobot leader permanently, but are instead infected themselves. Fortunately, Rodimus, Jessica, and Galvatron manage to escape unharmed, the former two with Optimus' body; a few other Autobots manage to escape infection as well, but are badly wounded while attempting to subdue a sickened and crazed Superion.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Magnus sneaks up.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rodimus has [[Energy vampire|no reflection]]?]]

Back at Autobot City, Rodimus pleads to Wreck-Gar to try and repair Prime, but Prime is too far gone even for Junkion medical experience. Desperate, Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and orders him to locate and bring back a Quintesson, remembering that they had [[Dark Awakening|once before restored Optimus to life]]. He then sets about disconnecting Metroplex to keep the city-former from becoming infected. However, just as he finishes the final steps to do so, an infected Ultra Magnus appears. He gives chase to Rodimus before he's temporarily subdued by Wreck-Gar...who ends up becoming infected, and infecting Rodimus in return.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Quintesson fixing Prime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You put your right arm in. You put your right arm out.]]

With the Hate Plague, as it's now called, rampaging even to the ends of the galaxy, Sky Lynx finds an uninfected Quintesson who he saves from infected Sharkticons in exchange for reviving Optimus. The Quintesson warns that—should anything go too awry during the process — there's a good chance that Optimus will never live again. It's touch-and-go for a while, but eventually, the Quintesson manages to pull through and Optimus is restored to full life, declaring that "no force in the Universe can stop me."

[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2|To be continued]]...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (10)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (11)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (12)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (13)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (14)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (16)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (17)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (18)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (19)
* [[Wide Load]] (20)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (21)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (23)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (25)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (26)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (27)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (28)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (29)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (30)
* [[Slingshot]] (31)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (32)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (33)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (34)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (35)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (36)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (37)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (38)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (39)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (50)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (51)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (52)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (53)
|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4; flashback)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (5)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (6)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (7)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (8)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (9)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (15)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (24)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (40)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (41)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (42)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (43)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (44)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (45)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (46)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (47)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (48)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (49)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (54)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (55)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (56)
|c3=
* [[Gregory Swofford]] (1)
* [[Jessica Morgan]] (2)
* [[Mark Morgan]] (3)
* [[Bonnie Carlson]] ()
|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (57)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (58)
}}

==Notable quotes==
"Computron think too much!"
:—'''Abominus''', who subsequently shoots Computron

"Why do I keep seeing you in my dreams, Optimus? Are you telling me I'm not the leader ''you'' were? I already know that, Optimus. I always have."
:—'''Rodimus''' ponders in front of [[Optimus Prime memorial|Optimus's memorial statue]] in Metroplex.

"Where's that punk Rodimus Prime?! I want him!" 
"There you are, you wimp!" 
"You can't escape, Rodimus! I can track your gas fumes anywhere!"
:—Several lines from infected '''Ultra Magnus''' as he tracks down Rodimus Prime. ''In virus veritas,'' indeed.

"The Autobots are acting like madmen!" 
"It's a madness plague, Galvatron. If one of those Transformers touches you, you're infected." 
"You're lying!" 
"Fine. Whatever makes you a happy Decepticon. Just watch your rear thruster."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" 
"His engines, they cannae take the strain!" 
"He's dead, Jim." 
:—'''Wreck-Gar'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s inspired medical descriptions of Optimus Prime's condition

"It's over, kid. I've won!" 
"Don't believe it, old friend!"
:—Infected '''Ultra Magnus''' blocks '''Rodimus Prime''', who evades him.

"Like I said before, kid. It's all over. What...? ARGH!" 
"And as ''I'' said before: Don't believe it."
:—Infected '''Ultra Magnus''' corners '''Rodimus Prime''', only to be lassoed by Wreck-Gar.

"I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?"
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' merrily spreads the infection.

"They've all gone mad. This is no place for me!"
:—The irony is lost on '''Galvatron.'''

"The world needs a leader now!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' on the reactivation of Optimus Prime

"I've done it! Optimus Prime lives!" 
"It's true. Our leader is back." 
"Yes, Sky Lynx, and this time, no force in the universe can stop me."
:—'''Quintesson''' and '''Sky Lynx''' as the decidedly confident '''Optimus Prime''' is revived

==Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[Image:Swindle TROOP.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"So we bought your daughter's exosuit from a Decepticon...what's so bad about that?"]]
* The first shot of Prime's ship shows it colored in orange. In all other shots, it's white with orange landing gear. And it looks totally different from its [[Dark Awakening|last appearance]].
*The first shot of Optimus Prime on Gregory's display shows him sitting in a red chair. It's yellow in other shots.
* As the duo first come upon Prime's body, he's missing the vertical line on his abs/grille.
* As Jessica is being loaded into First Aid, Gregory and Mark are wearing smocks, not the suits and ties they wear in other shots.
*When Gregory and Jessica's father rush at the hospital and find the Autobots, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] is amongst them.
* Jessica grabs tops of Optimus' arm to try and save him from the incinerator. The next shot shows it towering over her.
* As he drives Jessica into Autobot City, Ultra Magnus is shown driving into a tunnel in one shot, but in the next he's in open air.
*Optimus' statue is missing the smoke stacks on its arms.
*The depressions on Rodimus' shoulders are white again in this episode. They were burgundy in the previous one.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Rodimus is done talking to Optimus' statue, his head slides backwards. Twice.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Defensor is shown after the Protectobots combine, his left arm is missing.
*Steeljaw just pops into the frame during the Autobot rollcall.
*When Soundwave looks down after having Ratbat inserted into him, his faceplate stays in its old position of looking upwards.
*When Ratbat is inserted into Soundwave, he is white instead of a purplish-magenta colour.
*Also pertaining to Soundwave, when he says "Ratbat has returned. Ratbat, report!", the vocoded voice processing provided by [[Scott Brownlee]] sounds higher pitched than usual.
*When Galvatron says, "So Optimus Prime may yet live." For a second his chin turns black.
*When Rodimus dispatches some of the Autobots to watch the area around the lab, Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
*Before entering the lab to retrieve Prime's body, Rodimus gives orders to Defensor...though Defensor is shown as the one mouthing all of those orders.
*In the same scene as above, Goldbug is somehow right in front of Defensor, but Bumblebee wasn't rebuilt into him yet.
*Quite often, the red aura around infected Transformers are out of step with the animation or visible through objects in front of them.
*When the Autobots get infected, several are shown clipping through each other.
*Superion shoots a gun with the sound effect of Galvatron's cannon. Defensor fires back with a gun that sounds like Rodimus Prime's gun.
*Galvatron's chin is gray in some shots, dark gray in others.
*In one scene, Bruticus is the same size as all the regular Decepticons.
*Sky Lynx is shown flying out of the solar system past Saturn, but it's colored white instead of yellow.
*Magnus' gun uses the sound effect from Galvatron's cannon as he blasts into the Autobot lab.
*When Rodimus notices Magnus behind him, his eyes are lined thicker than usual.
*When Wreck-Gar is about to infect Rodimus, Rodimus is all red before he's been infected.
*During Brawl's rampage, he somehow manages to infect an inanimate truck.
*As an unconscious man leans against this truck, a pair of infected people fight over both him and the truck, overlapping them as if it they weren't there.
*When Defensor picks up a stone monument to throw, the monument gains a red aura around it, but does not become red. The red aura disappears when the monument is thrown.
*Before being picked up by Sky Lynx, one of the Quintesson's faces flashes red for a moment.
*The Quintesson's Egyptian-styled head is facing Optimus at the end, but one shot shows it facing backwards.
*During his famous line at the end of the episode, Optimus Prime's mouthplate isn't moving.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Retcon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Someone fixed Prime's body, but no one can fix the story.]]
*More or less this entire episode is a massive continuity error, as it purports to pick up at the end of Optimus Prime's last prior appearance in "[[Dark Awakening]]", yet actually presents entirely different conditions. In the prior episode, Optimus Prime lost an arm and half of his face (on top of his longstanding physical damage still left from the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]]), but was still alive as he managed to steer his ship at high speed through the heavy fire of a massed Quintesson spacefleet, deliberately ramming a detonator that caused a binary supernova and obliterated the ship and the entire solar system around it. Yet in this new episode, Optimus Prime is shown completely intact and pristine, albeit dead, as his (completely different) ship drifts, slowly and alone, through a system in which the sun is about to go nova from natural causes.
*Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford detect life-signs aboard Optimus Prime's ship, but the Autobot is dead.
*Where did the Throttlebots come from?
*Why is Steeljaw part of the Autobot rollcall when Blaster is not?
*Even though Ratbat's reconnaissance recording consists of nothing more than an ambiguous, one-line statement by Jessica Morgan - "My father has his body in the lab." - Galvatron immediately knows that she's referring to Optimus Prime.
*Gregory throws spores at Rodimus, apparently not noticing that Jessica is inside him, even though we see her clearly through his windows in several other shots.
*Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and gets an exterior visual of him somehow.
*Rodimus decides to deactivate Metroplex to stop him from catching the plague, but Magnus is infected and already walking around on him well before Rodimus pushes the last switch.
*If the Quintessons really are "in hiding in the far reaches of the galaxy" as Sky Lynx claims, then how did any of the at-the-time-still-Earthbound Hate Plague carriers manage to find them, much less get all the way out there to infect them in the first place?
*For that matter, how the hell did these theoretical Hate Plague carriers manage to ''beat Sky Lynx to the Quintessons''?
*How are Sky Lynx and the Quintesson able to take the time to revive Optimus Prime without being attacked? Did all the other Autobots and humans leave Autobot City?
*And how does Sky Lynx know the Quintesson is repairing Prime back to the way he was before he died, rather than the brainwashed version from "Dark Awakening"?

===Real-world references===
*Wreck-Gar's line: "Lucy, Lucy, what have you done now?" Is a reference to [[wikipedia:I Love Lucy|I Love Lucy]].
*Wreck-Gar's lines: "I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" and "He's dead, Jim," reference popular quotes from ''Star Trek'' medic [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Leonard_H._McCoy/ Dr. Leonard H. McCoy].
*Similarly "His engines, they cannae take the strain!" comes from another ''Star Trek'' character, namely [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Montgomery_Scott Montgomery Scott] (AKA Scotty), though this is often claimed to not be attributed to the character except for its use in parodies.
*Wreck-Gar's comment: "I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?" is a reference to an old [[wikipedia:Dr_Pepper|Dr Pepper]] ad campaign in the late '70s to early '80s.

===Trivia===
* The [[Hate Plague]] appears to affect Sharkticons differently from how it affects Transformers and humans. While other organisms become incredibly aggressive, Sharkticons seem to become obsessed with infecting everyone else.
* When Jessica Morgan asks who built Optimus Prime in the first place, Rodimus Prime responds by saying the Quintessons did so, yet Optimus was modified from Orion Pax, who was repaired by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], though he might have meant who built Optimus in his original form.
* Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford are able to lift, push and pull Optimus Prime's massive body out of his chair and onto their ship without any mechanical assistance or devices except a rope. There's no gravity in space, but objects still have mass and therefore inertia.
* The Hate Plague can apparently infect any creature, both purely mechanical and biological.
* Even though it occurs in a flashback, this is ''technically'' the last appearance of Megatron in the original American series.
* The resurrection of Optimus Prime in the show was a direct result of children's reactions to his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and subsequent letters, as acknowledged by a Hasbro exec in a 1986 newspaper article. He didn't even have a toy on the shelves! 
* The Autobots are implied to have created the exosuit for Jessica so she can walk again. Hmm, one wonders if this technology could have been [[Chip Chase|useful before now]]...

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Erster Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

2011-03-29T03:46:56Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=94
|ep2=31
|prev2=The Desperate Struggle of Justice
|next2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime1 Optimus lives.JPG
|caption=And there was much rejoicing (yay).
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"
|production code=700-115
|airdate=[[February 24]], 1987
|written by=[[Marv Wolfman]] [[Cherie Wilkerson]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''An embittered scientist uses the body of Optimus Prime to unleash a dangerous plague on the Autobots and, ultimately, the universe.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの復活パート1 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 1'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 1")
:''German title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 1''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Prime rescue.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"You're right, it is athlete's foot."]]

While on a deep-space mission to test a new [[Impervious Alloy|heat-and-radiation-resistant alloy]] that they have developed, scientists [[Jessica Morgan]] and [[Gregory Swofford]] detect a ship carrying Optimus Prime's body {{storylink|Dark Awakening}} on a collision course with a planetoid orbiting a star they are researching nearby. Despite Gregory's reservations (his face was scarred in a previous scuffle between [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], which he blames on Optimus), he is talked into helping Jessica rescue Prime's body before the ship collides with the planetoid, the impact of which also sets off the star into a supernova and coating their ship with unusual spores.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Scattershot rescues Jessica.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't worry, I'll help you rescue your daug-OOH LOOK, A BUNNY!]]

Upon return to Earth, Jessica's father studies the spores and learns that they are not only alive, but are an [[Hate Plague|incredibly contagious viral agent]] that induces hatred and destructive urges into whoever they contaminate. After a new scuffle between the Technobots and Terrorcons over the new alloy gravely injures Jessica, her father is convinced by Gregory to try and resurrect Prime's body as a carrier of the spores against the Autobots, a sentiment exacerbated when it's learned Jessica was paralyzed from the waist down in the accident and now needs a special exosuit to walk. However, when reviving Prime's body turns out to be impossible for them, Gregory and Jessica's father decide to use it as bait for the other Autobots. Dr. Morgan forces Jessica to lure them into a spore trap at the lab.

The trap goes off without a hitch, mostly due to Rodimus' reckless haste in recovering his predecessor's corpse in lieu of caution, and several Autobots—including Superion and Defensor, two of the most powerful Autobot gestalts—are infected. The Decepticons have learned about Optimus Prime's recovery as well, and have shown up to terminate the former Autobot leader permanently, but are instead infected themselves. Fortunately, Rodimus, Jessica, and Galvatron manage to escape unharmed, the former two with Optimus' body; a few other Autobots manage to escape infection as well, but are badly wounded while attempting to subdue a sickened and crazed Superion.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Magnus sneaks up.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rodimus has [[Energy vampire|no reflection]]?]]

Back at Autobot City, Rodimus pleads to Wreck-Gar to try and repair Prime, but Prime is too far gone even for Junkion medical experience. Desperate, Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and orders him to locate and bring back a Quintesson, remembering that they had [[Dark Awakening|once before restored Optimus to life]]. He then sets about disconnecting Metroplex to keep the city-former from becoming infected. However, just as he finishes the final steps to do so, an infected Ultra Magnus appears. He gives chase to Rodimus before he's temporarily subdued by Wreck-Gar...who ends up becoming infected, and infecting Rodimus in return.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Quintesson fixing Prime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You put your right arm in. You put your right arm out.]]

With the Hate Plague, as it's now called, rampaging even to the ends of the galaxy, Sky Lynx finds an uninfected Quintesson who he saves from infected Sharkticons in exchange for reviving Optimus. The Quintesson warns that—should anything go too awry during the process — there's a good chance that Optimus will never live again. It's touch-and-go for a while, but eventually, the Quintesson manages to pull through and Optimus is restored to full life, declaring that "no force in the Universe can stop me."

[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2|To be continued]]...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (10)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (11)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (12)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (13)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (14)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (16)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (17)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (18)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (19)
* [[Wide Load]] (20)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (21)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (23)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (25)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (26)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (27)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (28)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (29)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (30)
* [[Slingshot]] (31)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (32)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (33)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (34)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (35)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (36)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (37)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (38)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (39)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (50)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (51)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (52)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (53)
|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4; flashback)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (5)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (6)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (7)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (8)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (9)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (15)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (24)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (40)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (41)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (42)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (43)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (44)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (45)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (46)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (47)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (48)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (49)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (54)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (55)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (56)
|c3=
* [[Gregory Swofford]] (1)
* [[Jessica Morgan]] (2)
* [[Mark Morgan]] (3)
* [[Bonnie Carlson]] ()
|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (57)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (58)
}}

==Notable quotes==
"Computron think too much!"
:—'''Abominus''', who subsequently shoots Computron

"Why do I keep seeing you in my dreams, Optimus? Are you telling me I'm not the leader ''you'' were? I already know that, Optimus. I always have."
:—'''Rodimus''' ponders in front of [[Optimus Prime memorial|Optimus's memorial statue]] in Metroplex.

"Where's that punk Rodimus Prime?! I want him!" 
"There you are, you wimp!" 
"You can't escape, Rodimus! I can track your gas fumes anywhere!"
:—Several lines from infected '''Ultra Magnus''' as he tracks down Rodimus Prime. ''In virus veritas,'' indeed.

"The Autobots are acting like madmen!" 
"It's a madness plague, Galvatron. If one of those Transformers touches you, you're infected." 
"You're lying!" 
"Fine. Whatever makes you a happy Decepticon. Just watch your rear thruster."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" 
"His engines, they cannae take the strain!" 
"He's dead, Jim." 
:—'''Wreck-Gar'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s inspired medical descriptions of Optimus Prime's condition

"It's over, kid. I've won!" 
"Don't believe it, old friend!"
:—Infected '''Ultra Magnus''' blocks '''Rodimus Prime''', who evades him.

"Like I said before, kid. It's all over. What...? ARGH!" 
"And as ''I'' said before: Don't believe it."
:—Infected '''Ultra Magnus''' corners '''Rodimus Prime''', only to be lassoed by Wreck-Gar.

"I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?"
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' merrily spreads the infection.

"They've all gone mad. This is no place for me!"
:—The irony is lost on '''Galvatron.'''

"The world needs a leader now!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' on the reactivation of Optimus Prime

"I've done it! Optimus Prime lives!" 
"It's true. Our leader is back." 
"Yes, Sky Lynx, and this time, no force in the universe can stop me."
:—'''Quintesson''' and '''Sky Lynx''' as the decidedly confident '''Optimus Prime''' is revived

==Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[Image:Swindle TROOP.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"So we bought your daughter's exosuit from a Decepticon...what's so bad about that?"]]
* The first shot of Prime's ship shows it colored in orange. In all other shots, it's white with orange landing gear. And it looks totally different from its [[Dark Awakening|last appearance]].
*The first shot of Optimus Prime on Gregory's display shows him sitting in a red chair. It's yellow in other shots.
* As the duo first come upon Prime's body, he's missing the vertical line on his abs/grille.
* As Jessica is being loaded into First Aid, Gregory and Mark are wearing smocks, not the suits and ties they wear in other shots.
*When Gregory and Jessica's father rush at the hospital and find the Autobots, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] is amongst them.
* Jessica grabs tops of Optimus' arm to try and save him from the incinerator. The next shot shows it towering over her.
* As he drives Jessica into Autobot City, Ultra Magnus is shown driving into a tunnel in one shot, but in the next he's in open air.
*Optimus' statue is missing the smoke stacks on its arms.
*When Rodimus is done talking to Optimus' statue, his head slides backwards. Twice.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Defensor is shown after the Protectobots combine, his left arm is missing.
*Steeljaw just pops into the frame during the Autobot rollcall.
*When Soundwave looks down after having Ratbat inserted into him, his faceplate stays in its old position of looking upwards.
*When Ratbat is inserted into Soundwave, he is white instead of a purplish-magenta colour.
*Also pertaining to Soundwave, when he says "Ratbat has returned. Ratbat, report!", the vocoded voice processing provided by [[Scott Brownlee]] sounds higher pitched than usual.
*When Galvatron says, "So Optimus Prime may yet live." For a second his chin turns black.
*When Rodimus dispatches some of the Autobots to watch the area around the lab, Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
*Before entering the lab to retrieve Prime's body, Rodimus gives orders to Defensor...though Defensor is shown as the one mouthing all of those orders.
*In the same scene as above, Goldbug is somehow right in front of Defensor, but Bumblebee wasn't rebuilt into him yet.
*Quite often, the red aura around infected Transformers are out of step with the animation or visible through objects in front of them.
*When the Autobots get infected, several are shown clipping through each other.
*Superion shoots a gun with the sound effect of Galvatron's cannon. Defensor fires back with a gun that sounds like Rodimus Prime's gun.
*Galvatron's chin is gray in some shots, dark gray in others.
*In one scene, Bruticus is the same size as all the regular Decepticons.
*Sky Lynx is shown flying out of the solar system past Saturn, but it's colored white instead of yellow.
*Magnus' gun uses the sound effect from Galvatron's cannon as he blasts into the Autobot lab.
*When Rodimus notices Magnus behind him, his eyes are lined thicker than usual.
*When Wreck-Gar is about to infect Rodimus, Rodimus is all red before he's been infected.
*During Brawl's rampage, he somehow manages to infect an inanimate truck.
*As an unconscious man leans against this truck, a pair of infected people fight over both him and the truck, overlapping them as if it they weren't there.
*When Defensor picks up a stone monument to throw, the monument gains a red aura around it, but does not become red. The red aura disappears when the monument is thrown.
*Before being picked up by Sky Lynx, one of the Quintesson's faces flashes red for a moment.
*The Quintesson's Egyptian-styled head is facing Optimus at the end, but one shot shows it facing backwards.
*During his famous line at the end of the episode, Optimus Prime's mouthplate isn't moving.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Retcon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Someone fixed Prime's body, but no one can fix the story.]]
*More or less this entire episode is a massive continuity error, as it purports to pick up at the end of Optimus Prime's last prior appearance in "[[Dark Awakening]]", yet actually presents entirely different conditions. In the prior episode, Optimus Prime lost an arm and half of his face (on top of his longstanding physical damage still left from the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]]), but was still alive as he managed to steer his ship at high speed through the heavy fire of a massed Quintesson spacefleet, deliberately ramming a detonator that caused a binary supernova and obliterated the ship and the entire solar system around it. Yet in this new episode, Optimus Prime is shown completely intact and pristine, albeit dead, as his (completely different) ship drifts, slowly and alone, through a system in which the sun is about to go nova from natural causes.
*Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford detect life-signs aboard Optimus Prime's ship, but the Autobot is dead.
*Where did the Throttlebots come from?
*Why is Steeljaw part of the Autobot rollcall when Blaster is not?
*Even though Ratbat's reconnaissance recording consists of nothing more than an ambiguous, one-line statement by Jessica Morgan - "My father has his body in the lab." - Galvatron immediately knows that she's referring to Optimus Prime.
*Gregory throws spores at Rodimus, apparently not noticing that Jessica is inside him, even though we see her clearly through his windows in several other shots.
*Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and gets an exterior visual of him somehow.
*Rodimus decides to deactivate Metroplex to stop him from catching the plague, but Magnus is infected and already walking around on him well before Rodimus pushes the last switch.
*If the Quintessons really are "in hiding in the far reaches of the galaxy" as Sky Lynx claims, then how did any of the at-the-time-still-Earthbound Hate Plague carriers manage to find them, much less get all the way out there to infect them in the first place?
*For that matter, how the hell did these theoretical Hate Plague carriers manage to ''beat Sky Lynx to the Quintessons''?
*How are Sky Lynx and the Quintesson able to take the time to revive Optimus Prime without being attacked? Did all the other Autobots and humans leave Autobot City?

===Real-world references===
*Wreck-Gar's line: "Lucy, Lucy, what have you done now?" Is a reference to [[wikipedia:I Love Lucy|I Love Lucy]].
*Wreck-Gar's lines: "I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" and "He's dead, Jim," reference popular quotes from ''Star Trek'' medic [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Leonard_H._McCoy/ Dr. Leonard H. McCoy].
*Similarly "His engines, they cannae take the strain!" comes from another ''Star Trek'' character, namely [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Montgomery_Scott Montgomery Scott] (AKA Scotty), though this is often claimed to not be attributed to the character except for its use in parodies.
*Wreck-Gar's comment: "I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?" is a reference to an old [[wikipedia:Dr_Pepper|Dr Pepper]] ad campaign in the late '70s to early '80s.

===Trivia===
* The [[Hate Plague]] appears to affect Sharkticons differently from how it affects Transformers and humans. While other organisms become incredibly aggressive, Sharkticons seem to become obsessed with infecting everyone else.
* When Jessica Morgan asks who built Optimus Prime in the first place, Rodimus Prime responds by saying the Quintessons did so, yet Optimus was modified from Orion Pax, who was repaired by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], though he might have meant who built Optimus in his original form.
* Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford are able to lift, push and pull Optimus Prime's massive body out of his chair and onto their ship without any mechanical assistance or devices except a rope. There's no gravity in space, but objects still have mass and therefore inertia.
* The Hate Plague can apparently infect any creature, both purely mechanical and biological.
* Even though it occurs in a flashback, this is ''technically'' the last appearance of Megatron in the original American series.
* The resurrection of Optimus Prime in the show was a direct result of children's reactions to his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and subsequent letters, as acknowledged by a Hasbro exec in a 1986 newspaper article. He didn't even have a toy on the shelves! 
* The Autobots are implied to have created the exosuit for Jessica so she can walk again. Hmm, one wonders if this technology could have been [[Chip Chase|useful before now]]...

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Erster Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Face of the Nijika

2011-03-27T11:11:17Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=92
|series2=2010
|ep2=27
|prev2=Call of the Primitives
|next2=The Burden Hardest to Bear
|image=PerceptorNijika01.jpg
|caption=This is the last time I let [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] take me on an [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] binge.
|title="The Face of the Nijika"
|production code=700-113
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1986
|written by=[[Mary Skrenes]] and [[Steve Skeates]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Autobots discover a race of aliens who have also experienced persecution from the Quintessons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' テレパシー惑星を救え (''Telepathy Wakusei o Sukue'', "Save the Planet of Telepathy")
:''German title:'' '''Nijika, die Himmelstänzerin''' ("Nijika, the Heaven-dancer")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FaceOfNijika Galvatron lock.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Little pig, little pig, let me in!]]

[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], who is carrying [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], detects a disturbance nearby and discovers [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] bashing on some strange disk. They also detect a [[Quintesson]] [[Quintesson spacecraft|ship]] heading for that same location. Perceptor speculates that the Quintessons don't want Galvatron meddling with the disk, so Rodimus decides to meddle with the [[Decepticon]]s and the Quintessons.

At the disk, Galvatron continues bashing away, taking a moment to bash [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] when he warns the [[Decepticon leader]] that the Quintessons are approaching. The Quintessons fire at Galvatron and are thankful that the [[quadrant lock]] is not damaged. However, the [[Autobot|Autobots]] then arrive. The Quintessons refuse to let the Autobots learn anything about the lock...unless, say, they learn from the other side. Opening the lock, the Quintessons drive their ship through, taking Rodimus, Magnus, Blurr, and Perceptor with them. Unwilling to let the Autobots learn its secrets, Galvatron throws Cyclonus at them so he is also drawn through the lock, which closes. Unfortunately for the Quintessons, their [[isolator key]] has been damaged, and it is the only thing that can open the quadrant lock. However, Perceptor has a [[universal emulator]], which could serve as a replacement.

Falling into the gravity well of the nearby planet [[Zamojin (planet)|Zamojin]], Perceptor announces that he is suffering from [[transformation]] [[Transformation paralysis|paralysis]], and is stuck in [[Alternate mode|microscope mode]]. However, the other Autobots do not respond. On the planet, members of a primitive, humanoid civilization see their descent. One man declares that the "[[Quintesson|devils]]" have returned. However, a blacksmith outside the city sees them and goes to investigate, recovering Perceptor. Meanwhile, the Autobots are not doing so well after their crash-landing. Rodimus and Magnus hit the trees, which are as hard as rocks, while Blurr hit an actual rock and is so injured he cannot walk. Rodimus tells him to lean on "fearless [[Prime (rank)|leader]]", while Magnus wonders where Perceptor crashed.

[[Image:FaceOfNijika Katsu Don Nijika.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Usually, women don't need help putting their face on.]]

At his hut, the blacksmith removes Perceptor's [[insignia]], which also contains his universal emulator. Having tracked Perceptor's descent, the Quintessons dispatch a pair of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] to deal retrieve the scientist, but someone follows them. The blacksmith places Perceptor's insignia on a small, female robot called [[Nijika]]. The Sharkticons arrive, but the blacksmith fights them off, damaging their armor with his bare hands. (Holy [[Slag (slang)|slag]]!) Meanwhile, Perceptor, having taken control of Nijika, asks the blacksmith, named [[Katsu Don]], what is going on. Perceptor learns that the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] were once advanced and that they had developed interstellar travel, protected by the guardian [[Kodu Ri]]. Katsu Don's ancestor, [[Niko Don]], built Nijika as an exploration drone, hoping to make contact with other races. However, the Quintessons attacked, damaging Kodu Ri and Nijika, then sealed them with the quadrant lock, which blacked out the stars. The Zamojin were reduced from technologically advanced to primitive within a very short amount of time and have been that way since. Perceptor concludes that something about the Zamojin terrified the Quintessons so much that they locked them in this part of space, and now he and Katsu Don need to warn the latter's people that the Quintessons have returned.

[[Image:FaceOfNijika Magnus Rodimus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Damn it, I can't find any sign of the Quints, Rodimus!" "Uh, Magnus...never mind."]]

Elsewhere, Rodimus, Magnus, and Blurr are moving, but Blurr is slowing them down. (That's a turnaround.) Blurr tells them to leave him and find Perceptor, as only he can repair Blurr. Though not happy, they agree. This proves a mistake, for moments later, a band of warriors finds Blurr. On the Quintesson ship, the Quintessons are debating what to do. One of them will have to go to the surface, but if a single Zamojin damaged two Sharkticons, [[Furmanism|what chance do they have?]] Cyclonus appears and offers them a deal: Give Galvatron the secrets of the quadrant lock, and he will go with one of them to retrieve Perceptor. Looking for Perceptor, Rodimus and Magnus are attacked by a group of warriors but are able to drive them off. They locate Perceptor's body, but without the emulator, he is offline. Rodimus and Magnus decide to search the city.

[[Image:FaceOfNijika Blurr dangling.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Now, now, now what did I do to this time? This is not right, not right, not right I tell you! Let me down, down, down from here! I’ve heard of hanging around, but is ridiculous! Not that I mind hanging, hanging is great, great, great fun, but I never, never, never meant it literally! Hello? Help me, help me, help me anyone? I’ve done nothing, nothing, nothing to deserve this!!]]

At the city of [[Tozin]], the Zamojin are preparing to melt Blurr, but he is not that worried. Cyclonus shouts out "burn him", inciting the Zamojin to lower him in. For a Con who shows no emotion, Cyclonus has apparently studied mob psychology. However, the [[Zamojin Empress]] commands them to stop. She reveals Perceptor/Nijika, who tries to explain the situation. However, the Quintesson shouts that the doll is malfunctioning, but Cyclonus grabs Perceptor and orders the Quintesson to bring their ship.

[[Image:FaceOfNijika Quintesson Nijika.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Not now, I'm watching the game!]]

Katsu Don grabs Cyclonus's legs, and is carried into the Quintesson ship, where the remaining Quintesson traps him with some electrified headgear. The Quintesson orders Perceptor to hand over the emulator, or Katsu Don will die. Perceptor complies, while the other Quintesson shoots Blurr's rope, causing him to fall into the molten liquid...which he describes as a nice soak that is repairing his injuries. Blurr jumps out, with Rodimus and Magnus following. Blurr frees Katsu Don, while Magnus takes on Cyclonus. Rodimus throws Katsu Don out, while Blurr grabs the emulator and Magnus takes Cyclonus, who follows after the Quintessons.

The Zamojin Empress fears what the Quintessons will take, but Perceptor, now in his real body, says that the Quintessons are about to give the Zamojin something. The Quintesson ship passes through the quadrant lock...and it fades, revealing the stars. Perceptor sabotaged the lock, and the Autobots realize the Zamojin's technology is telepathic in nature and powered by starlight. The intelligence of the Zamojin advances rapidly, and they repair Kodu Ri. As Sky Lynx lands, Perceptor asks Katsu Don if he will continue his ancestor's research. Katsu Don vows that Perceptor will meet Nijika again...out among the stars.
{{-}}
==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (1)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (4)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (5)

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (6)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (7)

|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (8)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (9)
* [[Katsu Don]] (10)
* [[Zamojin Empress]] (past) (11)
* [[Niko Don]] (12)
* [[Nijika]] (13)
* [[Zamojin Empress]] (present) (14)
}}

==Notable quotes==
"Put yourself in idle, Blurr."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''', saying what we're all thinking.

"It's mine! I found it! Don't let them steal it!" 
"Mighty Galvatron, you-" 
"STOP THEM!" ''[throws Cyclonus]''
:—'''Galvatron''' demonstrates his leadership skills on '''Cyclonus'''.

'''Cyclonus''': Burn him now! 
'''Quintesson''': Be silent! Don't call attention to us! 
'''Cyclonus''': VEEENNGEANNNNCE NOOOOOOOW! 
''[The crowd starts to cheer]'' 
'''Female Zamojin''': Yes! The devils must pay! They stole the stars in the sky! 
'''Male Zamojin''': They stole the life from our minds! 
'''Cyclonus''': Hahahaha. You've never understood mob psychology, have you?
:—Cyclonus must be an [[Wikipedia:Bedivere#Modern depictions|Bedivere]] on dealing with witches.

"Hood in place, wheels in place, bumpers in place, engine hot, I'M OUTTA HERE!"
:—'''Blurr''' feels much better after a bath.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The inside of Magnus' mouth is red again.
* In the first shot of Sky Lynx's display, the bottom of the image is clipped over the frame of the screen.
* When he exits Sky Lynx, Magnus is missing his Autobot logo.
* The red squares on Galvatron's shoulders are missing in many shots.
* When the Quintesson ship moves past the Autobots into the quadrant lock, it seems mighty small.
* There is, somewhat obviously, no room in Nijika's head for the universal emulator to fit — but it does anyway.
* During the flashback to the original Nijika's launch, the stars show through the heads of the crowd as they cheer her along.
* When the Quintesson ship arrives in the flashback, its front section is grey instead of green.
* After the flashback, when Nijika walks towards Brutalo, her face is all white.
* The crowd member's line "they stole the light from our minds" is delivered in Perceptor/Nijika's voice.
* In one shot of Ultra Magnus and Rodimus driving towards the city, Rodimus is colored black and Magnus' cab is colored grey.
* Cyclonus is missing the orange shape below his chest when Magnus tackles him, and when flying back towards the Quintesson ship.
* The universal emulator is elongated horizontally, but later shots show it as just a few inches thick.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:FaceOfNijika Cyclonus Quintesson crowd.jpg|right|200px|thumb|See, we didn't need those fake mustaches after all!]]
* The depressions on Rodimus' shoulders were/are white in the prior and subsequent episodes, but burgundy in this one.

* Sky Lynx transforms to robot mode and the Autobots exit by flying out through his mouth!

* A crowd of Zamojins gathered to watch Blurr's execution is apparently supposed to feature some of their number costumed as the hated five-faced demons and their robot servants, thus explaining why Cyclonus and the Quintesson can just stand around in the middle of the crowd that hates their kind. The animation, however, almost totally fails to convey this, having the Cybertronians tower over the largely un-costumed Zamojins, who are mostly just wearing some little face masks. Furthermore, the animation mistakenly colors the masks flesh-toned, almost completely hiding the fact they're wearing them at all.

* Rodimus and Magnus decide to leave the injured Blurr, rather than carrying him. Doesn't Magnus remember that he turns into a car carrier?

* Rodimus and Magnus apparently don't hear Blurr being jumped by a group of angry Zamojin, even though they left him 5 seconds ago.

* Ultra Magnus just sits there in vehicle mode as Rodimus is knocked off a cliff.

===Transformers references===
* This episode marks the last appearance of Perceptor in the western cartoon.

===Trivia===
* It's an amazing coincidence that the part the Quintessons need happens to be inside Perceptor, ''and'' that it's located right behind the one part the blacksmith removes, ''and'' that it just happens to fit Nijika's face.
* If the quadrant lock blocks out the light from stars, shouldn't the planet be pitch black during the episode?
* Blurr speaks at more-or-less normal speed several times in this episode.
* Does anyone else notice that the sounds Blurr makes while he's in the bath are a little...strange?
* The entrance to Kodu Ri is shown in a glowing pattern similar to that of [[Oracle_(G1)|The Oracle]] from [[Call_of_the_Primitives|a few episodes ago]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_face_of_the_nijika.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Face of the Nijika}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Burden Hardest to Bear

2011-03-27T10:02:12Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=93
|series2=2010
|ep2=28
|prev2=The Face of the Nijika
|next2=Daniel's Adventure
|image=Matrix burden 2.jpg
|caption=You found me beautiful, once.
|title="The Burden Hardest to Bear"
|production code=700-114
|airdate=[[November 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Overwhelmed by the burdens of leadership, Rodimus Prime doesn't care too much when the Decepticons steal the Matrix of Leadership away from him.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 重すぎた使命 (''Omo Sugi ta Shimei'', "The Mission Too Heavy")
:''German title:'' '''Die Last der Verantwortung''' ("The Burden of Responsibility")
:''Russian title:'' '''Samaya tyajkaya nosha''' (''Самая тяжкая ноша'', "The Heaviest Burden")
==Synopsis==
[[Image:BurdenHardest Defensor Bruticus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So, uh... If what it looks like is about to happen happens... does it count as an orgy?]]

At dawn, the people of [[Japan]] are awakening to do their daily tasks: fishing, going to shrines, and sword practice. Then, the [[Decepticon]]s show up to cause random trouble.

[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Predaking]] begin harassing a few fishermen, but are chased off by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] tries to ram a train head on (real smart) only to have the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] drive him away. [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] fight it out, when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep|Sweeps]] arrive, but are driven off by Rodimus, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. However, instead of thanking the [[Autobot|Autobots]] for saving many lives, the government of Japan is very upset, saying that the Autobots frightened people and ruined business (thankless bipeds). When [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and brings more problems to Rodimus, the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] loses patience, [[Transformation|transforms]], and drives off. Kup explains that Rodimus is merely strained under the burden of command, much like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was in his early days as leader, and Marissa decides to follow him, to let him have someone to talk to.

[[Image:Matrix burden 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Galvatron takes the brown acid.]]

Meeting up on the highway, however, the two are attacked by [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], who knock Marissa into a lake and force Rodimus off a cliff. When they inspect Rodimus, they find the Matrix. Realizing that [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] will be ''really'' happy, they steal it and return to [[Chaar]]. In his throne room, Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, but instead of making it even more powerful like he had hoped, visions of the [[Ancient Autobots]] (including Optimus Prime himself) seep out of the barrel and demand that Galvatron return the Matrix. Galvatron orders [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to destroy the Matrix, believing it better to be destroyed if the Decepticons can't have it. Scourge, however, inserts the Matrix into himself, and becomes more powerful... but at a startling price.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod recover.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Augh... can't get the mental image of Bruticus/Defensor out!]]

Meanwhile, the Autobot leader wakes up, to learn that he's reverted to Hot Rod. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] argue that they should go after the Decepticons, but Hot Rod feels that the Matrix isn't worth it, and jets off. Real smart idea, Roddy. On Chaar, Scourge challenges Galvatron, defeating him and Cyclonus easily, before leading the Decepticons off to Earth. Galvatron and Cyclonus still function, and set off in pursuit in the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]''.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yoink!]]

On Earth, Hot Rod, while watching a martial arts class, gets some perspective and some wisdom from the Kendo instructor, and realizes that he needs to get the Matrix back. Meanwhile, Scourge arrives in Japan with his forces, tossing around the Autobots. Broadside tosses him to the ground and he frightens an elderly woman. One of the Kendo students comes to her aid, attacking Scourge with a sword and he begins to chase the pair. He corners them in a blind alley, only for Hot Rod to arrive. Shocked at the changes the Matrix has wrought in Scourge, Hot Rod defeats the Decepticon and reclaims the Matrix, becoming Rodimus Prime once more. Galvatron and Cyclonus find a less powerful, and very frightened, Scourge. And they are none too happy with him...

As the Decepticons retreat, Rodimus realizes that he must deal with his missing part, as have those who came before him. Kup reminds him that no matter who carries the Matrix, he will retain that part forever.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
* [[Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (13)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (14)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (21)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (22)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (23)
* [[Ancient Autobots]] (34)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (35)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (36)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (37)

|c2=
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (2)
* [[Predaking]] (3)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (15)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (19)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (20)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (26)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (27)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (28)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (30)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (31)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (32)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (33)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (38)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (39)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (40)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (41)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (42)

|c3=
* Kendo teacher (16)
* Kendo student (17)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (29)
}}

==Quotes==
"Eh, you've had worse times." 
"Yeah, when do they get better? That's what ''I'' wanna know."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus'''

"[[wikipedia:Second_City_Television|He done blowed up real good]]."
:—'''Wildrider''', master of grammar

"You dropped it, didn't you? You broke the Matrix, didn't you?!"
:—'''Galvatron'''

"Aren't you getting a little carried away here? I'm still me, you're still you: Matrix, schmatrix."
:—'''Hot Rod''' is flippant after losing a hand-me-down.

"I...still...function..."
:—'''Cyclonus''' in a call-back to [[The Transformers: The Movie]]

"We're too late, Galvatron! Scourge has already launched his assault!" 
"He doesn't know the meaning of the word assault, but he's going to learn!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron'''

"Oh no, we're trapped! We'll be killed!" 
"Remarkable! The woman is clairvoyant!" 
:-'''Scourge''' mocks his intended victim.

"The Matrix did this to you? Then I have to take it back. I see now it is my obligation. I belong to it... as much as it belongs to me."
:—'''Hot Rod'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s realization at last.

"Well, son of a gun. Found that missing part, huh?" 
"Not just the Matrix, Kup, a missing part of... myself."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Devastator is colored olive green rather than light green in the opening battle.
* A shot of Astrotrain from the human train's perspective shows no tracks on the ground.
* The first time we see Cyclonus, his nose cone is purple. In the next shot, part of it is grey.
* Rodimus' crest is missing the horizontal line during most shots in this episode.
* When Rodimus is called to the palace, he's missing his Autobot logo.
* Rodimus' spoiler should be orange in the middle, but many shots have it colored completely in yellow.
* As he says, "When do they get better, that's what I want to know," Rodimus' face becomes all glitched up.
* For some reason, the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] [[insignia|logo]] on Marissa Faireborne's shoulder has been replaced with "AOC".
* When Rodimus drives away from Marissa, his smoke trail appears behind Kup instead of in front of him. Also, Sky Lynx is missing in the shot.
* Rodimus' display shows a rear angle shot of Dead End and Wildrider, but he's in'' front'' of them.
* When Wildrider holds the matrix, it looks like a big yellow blob. The next shot shows it in the usual colors and configuration.
* While Rodimus is reverted back to Hot Rod, he's still occasionally drawn using Rodimus Prime's [[character model]].
* When Galvatron is about to put the Matrix in his cannon, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] are among the Decepticons present, and even though they are closer to the viewer, both are [[scale|smaller]] than Cyclonus, who is standing in front of them.
* Galvatron's throne changes color and design multiple times throughout one scene.
* In one shot of Optimus Prime's "ghost", he is colored completely blue.
* When Galvatron tosses the Matrix to Scourge, it's missing its handles.
* When Rodimus wakes and touches his forehead in the next scene, his face is partly purple.
* A few shots later (during the "Matrix, schmatrix..." lines), the depressions in Rodimus' shoulders are blue instead of white.
* Galvatron is missing the red squares on the tops of his shoulders in most shots.
* Cyclonus' gun fires a yellow laser. That's the Autobot color (it should be purple).
* The orange shapes on Cyclonus' chest are colored red in several shots.
* Galvatron's ship is gray instead of purple.
* The first shot of Galvatron aboard his ship has the whole bottom half of his face in dark gray instead of just his chin.
* When Galvatron opens the airlock door, one shot has "AIR LO'''O'''K" written on it.
* Hot Rod carries a gray laser gun rather than the usual red rifle. It has the standard sound effect instead of Prime's rifle sound effect.
* The Matrix is in Scourge's chest, but later Hot Rod pulls it out of his stomach.
* As Hot Rod holds the Matrix, one shot has his arm pipes clipping through it.
* Hot Rod sticks the Matrix into his chest without opening a compartment for it.
* As Galvatron and Cyclonus fly Scourge away from the city, Galvatron is mouthing something, but there's no dialogue.
* In the last shot of the episode, Ultra Magnus is missing his shoulder missiles and Kup is missing the white part of his chest.
* The version of this episode on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVDs features a glitch with an unstable horizontal line appearing at the top of the picture throughout the episode. The error appears to be on the episode's master copy, as the version included on the [[Kid Rhino]] DVDs has the picture slightly zoomed in order to avoid showing the offending line.

===Continuity errors===
* Galvatron says the Matrix eluded the Decepticons for year'''s''', but he had it for a while during the movie (which happened less than one year ago in the timeline).
* The ghost image of Optimus has two fog lights instead of four.
* We don't hear Optimus' voice during the "return the Matrix" chant.
* Speaking of the chant, why didn't the ancient Autobots chant when Galvatron had the Matrix during the movie?
* After Galvatron tells Scourge to get rid of the Matrix, the [[scene transition]] has two Decepticon logos, but the next scene is of the Autobots.
* Just before he quits the Autobots, Hot Rod states that "this war has been going on now for a few dozen millennia". Back in "[[War Dawn]]", we learned that the Third Cybertronian War started nine million years ago, which is about ''750'' dozen millennia... assuming, of course, that we want to take Hot Rod's pointedly off-handed remark as being based on historical accuracy, which is kind of a stretch for a guy who's at the end of his rope and sarcastically railing about "the known universe and its outlying suburbs".
* Funny how the old lady with the cane ''runs'' away from Cyclonus during his attack!
* The kendo student injures Scourge (a giant metal robot) with his sword.
* It's not really clear why Galvatron put the Matrix in his cannon rather than his chest, or why Scourge got all mutated. Or why Scourge is so powerful early on but is defeated by a ramming and three shots from Hot Rod's gun.
* Those government spokesmen who complained about the fighting in the beginning must be ''pissed'' after all the destruction we see at the end!

===Transformers references===
* When Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, he says "Now, [['Til all are one|all shall become one]], under Galvatron's rule!"
* Optimus Prime is among the Ancient Autobots.
* After he rams Scourge, Hot Rod transforms in a manner similar to one of his transformations from the movie.
* This episode marks the last appearance of Springer, Broadside, Astrotrain and Marissa Faireborn in US continuity.

===Japanese version===
* When they recover the Matrix of Leadership, [[Issei Masamune|the Narrator]] mistakenly identifies [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] as [[Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]].

===Trivia===
* While the episode order can vary, it's a little funny that the episode about Rodimus finally getting used to being leader of the Autobots was followed by the episode in which Optimus returns to replace him.
* Astrotrain actually travels on the railroad his locomotive mode was designed for in this episode.
* One of the "ghosts" emerging from the Matrix when Galvatron puts it into his chest is based on a [[generic]] character design that was previously seen in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]" and "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]". His colors have changed, though, and he dropped the antennas on the sides of his head he sported in "The Key to Vector Sigma".
* The yellow, the red and the orange-and-blue Matrix ghosts' character models were reused in the Japanese [[The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]] as various generic Autobots.
* When Scourge starts mutating, at one point it looks like he's... crying?
* Wildrider seems to now have a very bad Southern accent.
* This episode marks the first time in Transformers fiction that the word [[Slag (slang)|slag]] is used as an insult.
* Isn't it convenient that Scourge launches his attack on Earth in Japan, where the Autobots happen to be located?
* The voice acting for several Japanese characters in this episode employs a very stereotypical Western view of Asian people and their pronunciation of English words.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 11: The Decepticon Possession ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_burden_hardest_to_bear.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burden Hardest to Bear}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Call of the Primitives

2011-03-27T08:35:08Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=91
|series2=2010
|ep2=26
|prev2=Grimlock's New Brain
|next2=The Face of the Nijika
|image=PrimitiveCall.jpg
|caption=Prim and Proper
|title="Call of the Primitives"
|production code=700-112
|airdate=[[November 18]], 1986
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=See ''Notes'' section
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''All Transformers with animal modes are summoned to battle a being called Tornedron, the little brother of Unicron.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 原始の呼び声 (''Genshi no Yobigoe'', "Primeval Call")
:''German title:'' '''Das geheimnisvolle Orakel''' ("The Mysterious Oracle")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:AutobotsCall.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Having your energy drained changes your paint job.]]

Somewhere, an energy creature begins feeding off other forms of energy—slowly, at first. Then his creator gives him an [[energon cube]]. The creature grows and spreads out into the universe. Soon, it attacks [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The [[Autobot]]s attack it, but it simply drains their energy from them. The creature's creator is pleased with him, saying he's done better than his predecessor, [[Unicron]].

[[Image:Ejectcall.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ravage, why are you running away?]]

On [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] is leading a group of Autobots against the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]]. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], and the animal-form [[Mini-Cassette]]s are all summoned by a mysterious voice. They leave the battle, and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] orders a retreat. Suddenly, the energy creature arrives and drains the energy from both the Autobots and Decepticons (including Rodimus Prime and Galvatron), as well as Earth and the Moon and Cybertron.

Most of the departed Transformers are riding Trypticon. Naturally, tempers flare after [[Headstrong]] picks a fight with the Dinobots by insulting [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], so [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] suggests they stomp him. The Preds stick with their teammate and fight the Dinobots, and the Terrorcons decide to fight everyone. At Sky Lynx's suggestion, Trypticon shakes himself and causes his passengers to stop fighting. They arrive on [[Methuselah|an ancient planet]] near the center of the galaxy. After touching down, Sky Lynx assumes command of the group, despite the objections of [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Hun-Gurrr]]. Finding a cave, they encounter [[Oracle (G1)|a strange entity]]. He explains that he summoned the [[Primitive|Primitives]], all animal-based Transformers, to come to fight [[Tornedron]], the energy being who was created by [[Primacron]]. The entity, who was once Primacron's assistant, explains how Primacron created Unicron but was nearly destroyed by his creation. After Unicron's defeat, Primacron created Tornedron as a replacement. Primacron's assistant hopes that the Primitives' simple instincts will allow them to defeat Primacon's complex plans.

[[Image:Terrorconcall.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ptooie]]

Suddenly, Tornedron arrives and drains Trypticon of his energy. Trypticon crashes, and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] is believed destroyed. Sky Lynx attacks, only to have his energy drained as well. [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] leads the Dinobots in retreat, while the other Primitives split up. Tornedron separates into four parts to track them down. He easily dispatches the Mini-Cassettes, chewing on [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in the process. Headstrong declares that it would be better to [[Furmanism|fight and die]], and the Predacons form [[Predaking]]. Their energy is sucked away as well. The Terrorcons try to fight back, but are also drained. The Dinobots ambush Tornedron, but they too are dispatched. Unknown to Tornedron and Primacron, however, Grimlock has survived, and he follows them to [[Protos|the moon containing Primacron's lab]].

[[Image:Tornedroncall.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Two scoops of raisins]]

At his base, Primacron is having trouble controlling Tornedron. Tornedron declares that he intends to feed on Primacron, and that all of Primacron's failsafes have failed. Grimlock breaks into Primacron's lab to find that Primacron is a tiny little monkey-like alien...thing. Grimlock grabs Primacron and orders him to reverse his damage, but Primacron declares that he's tried everything. Grimlock fixes things easily: He throws the reverse switch, which reverses Tornedron's energy polarity, restoring the energy to the drained Transformers and planets. In celebration, Grimlock destroys Primacron's lab, declaring it the smartest thing he's ever done.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (15)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (16)
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (17)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (19)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (20)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (21)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (22)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (23)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (25)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (26)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (27)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (28)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (29)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (30)
* [[Slingshot]] (31)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (32)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (36)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (42)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (43)
|c2=
* [[Sweep]]s (3)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (4)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (5)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (6)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (7)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (8)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (9)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (10)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (11)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (12)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (13)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (14)
* [[Tantrum]] (18)
* [[Headstrong]] (24)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (33)
* [[Predaking]] (34)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (35)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (37)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (38)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (39)
* [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] (40)
* [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]] (41)
|c4=
* [[Primacron]] (1)
* [[Tornedron]] (2)
* [[Oracle (G1)|The Oracle]] (44)
* [[Unicron]] (45)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now remember, before you do anything, think, 'Is this what Sky Lynx would do in my position?', and you will not go far wrong."
:—'''Sky Lynx's''' sensible instructions to the rest of the Primitives.

"I have summoned you here to tell you a tale of long ago." 
"Oh, me Grimlock love long ago tale!" 
"Then allow me to tell it."
:—The '''Oracle''' slaps '''Grimlock''' into place.

"Suffer my rage, monster! I will show you no mercy! You will rue the day you crossed Sky—aaahhh!"
:—'''Sky Lynx'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s righteous fury at the deaths of Trypticon and Grimlock.

'''Headstrong''': Sky Lynx is destroyed! Who will lead us now? 
'''Slag''': I, Slag, lead Dinobots away, till I get better idea. 
'''Hun-Gurrr''': Best idea yet! We run too!
:—Strategy is not their strong suit.

'''Headstrong''': I detest fleeing, I would rather die fighting! 
'''Razorclaw''': He is right! Predacons, unite! 
''[The Predacons combine.]'' 
'''Predaking''': Tornedron... face Predaking! To the end!
:—The Predacons decide that [[Furmanism|it is better to fight and die than live with the knowledge that they ran]].

"Only you can save the world now, Grimlock." 
"Me Grimlock feel important!"
:—The '''Oracle''' rests the fate of... erm, the universe, on '''Grimlock's''' shoulders.

'''Grimlock''': ''[chuckles]'' "''You'' are creator?" 
'''Primacron''': "Unfortunately....yes." 
'''Grimlock''': "Grimlock laugh at little wimp who cause big trouble!"
:—'''Grimlock''', about to give '''Primacron''' a wedgie.

'''Primacron''': We are ''finished''!! I've amplified the energy parameters, minimized the drivormenter, redirected the ion flow! I've tried EVERYTHING! 
'''Grimlock''': Me Grimlock solve problem! Wuh! 
''[Reaches over and pushes switch]'' 
'''Primacron''': Of course, the '''reverse switch!''' Why didn't ''I'' think of that?!
:—The universe's greatest genius gets one-upped by....'''Grimlock'''. Wait. What?!

'''Grimlock''': Grimlock saved universe! Grimlock hero! [Grimlock stomps in victory, causing the place to begin to collapse] 
'''Primacron''': Stop it! You stupid—! 
'''Grimlock''': Why you call Grimlock stupid? 
'''Primacron''': You've ruined my lab! 
'''Grimlock''': Me Grimlock think that is smartest thing I ever done!
:—You know, that probably ''is'' the smartest thing he's ever done.

==Notes==
[[Image:Unicroncall.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Where am I from?]]
* The art style in this episode is very different from all others in the Generation 1 series, with stylized "anime-like" character models and proportions. In fact, the [[Character model|character models]] for this episode are based on the [[Studio Ox]] designs rather than the standard animation models used for the other episodes of the series. It is widely believed that this lone episode was animated by [[Tokyo Movie Shinsha]], though little evidence has been found to confirm this.
*In Japanese continuity, the scene where the Primitives encounter the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] is set in the past; apparently, the Primitives arrived there via time travel. This is done to accommodate the idea that the Oracle later evolved into [[Vector Sigma]] and later [[Primus]].

===Animation or technical glitches===
*In the second overhead shot of the Autobots during the opening battle, Rodimus is missing his (freakin' huge) spoiler.
*When we first see him, Wheelie is missing his Autobot logo.
*When Blades, Slingshot and Wheelie open fire on Tornedron, the first shot is fired before they even raise their weapons.
*As Tornedron in the form of a giant bug steps over the bodies of Blades, Slingshot and Wheelie, its glowing aura is on a lower cel than their bodies, making it appear to pass under them, despite the fact they're lying on the ground.
*When the Dinobots are being summoned, [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] is referred to as [[Sweep]].
*Galvatron's sporting a red Decepticon [[insignia]] when he calls in Trypticon.
*In the scene when Ravage and the other animal Mini-Cassettes eject from Soundwave, Cyclonus looks bigger than Galvatron due to wrong cel stacking (Galvatron should be on the background).
*Grimlock's whole neck is supposed to be gold, but the back of it is gray in several shots.
* As Sky Lynx tracks the signal, we see waves of energy expanding out towards him. In the next shot, they're flowing out'' from'' him.
*As the Predacons start firing on the Dinobots while inside Trypticon, one of the glowing effects doesn't quite match up with Headstrong's horn as it should (he moves his horn to the right position a moment later).
*Some of the Decepticon Primitives' lasers have the sound effect of Galvatron's cannon. So does Trypticon's laser laser later on.
*When Grimlock drops off the cliff, the other Autobots "slide" into the picture.
*When Grimlock gets out from under Trypticon, his forearms are huge and his chest looks more boxy than usual.
*Restoring the energy to the Moon also appears to rearrange all the craters.
*When Rodimus' team is restored, Rodimus is lying face up (he was face down), Ultra Magnus' shins are blue instead of white, and Blaster's chest is missing its detailing, switches and Autobot logo.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:TVMagazineOverkill.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Eject—operation: Understudy."]]
[[Image:Windcharger-COTP01.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Look alive, people! Uh, no offense, Windcharger."]]
*The depressions on Rodimus' shoulders are white again in this episode.
*Rodimus also carries a gray gun (instead of red) that doesn't have the usual Prime rifle sound effect.
* Unicron's head is gray (like a rock) during a camera pass. [[Grimlock's New Brain|The last time we saw it]], it was in bad shape, but still had the usual coloring.
* When summoning the Primitives, they forgot all about[[Laserbeak (G1)| Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]! Instead, Soundwave unleashes two new cassette Decepticons: [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]...who are then never seen again. Gee. This didn't stop [[TV Magazine]] from proudly displaying them as if they were the stars of the episode though.
* Sky Lynx asks Grimlock if he's all right ''as he's falling down a cliff.''
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] is seen running around on Cybertron, despite having been killed in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. But hey, that [[Carnage in C-Minor|happens]] [[Wheeljack (G1)|all]] [[Prowl (G1)|the]] [[Ironhide (G1)|time]].

===Transformers references===
* This episode marks the last appearance of the Dinobots, Trypticon, Ravage, and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] in the western cartoon...bummer.
* A part of [[Oracle_(G1)|Primacron's assistant]] becomes the [[Autobot_Matrix_of_Leadership|Matrix of Leadership]]. How he ended up on Cybertron remains a mystery.

===Trivia===
[[Image:Firecall.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Me Grimlock like Predacons and Terrorcons Cajun style]]
* Unicron's origin is a bit...random.
* When Grimlock uses his [[flame breath]] on the Predacons and Terrorcons, they start to ''[[Humanization#Coughing|cough]]''...cause that's what you do when you're being hit with fire reaching several hundred degrees.
* This is the first and only time in the cartoon Swoop fires his wing blasters.
* One of Grimlock's two package bio weaknesses comes into play in this episode: His lack of speed. He is unable to get clear of Trypticon's falling body even at his top speed. It ends up being a blessing in disguise, though, as it obscures him from Tornedron's vision.
* This episode seems to resolidify the Dinobots' position as freakishly powerful (which took a beating in Season 3), as Grimlock alone seems to be a match for three Terrorcons and two Predacons, and the only Autobot sent flying is Swoop, who takes a blast to the chest early on. Also, the Dinobots seem to handle Tornedron with the most finesse.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Call of the Primitives / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video (Tempo Video)
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/call_of_the_primitives.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Money Is Everything (episode)

2011-03-27T07:40:23Z

75.2.136.86: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=90
|series2=2010
|ep2=23
|prev2=Only Human
|next2=Nightmare Planet
|image=MoneyEverything Dirk Marissa kiss.jpg
|caption=Ew, gross!
|title="Money Is Everything"
|production code=700-109
|airdate=[[November 17]], 1986
|written by=[[Carla Conway|Carla]] and [[Gerry Conway]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Marissa Faireborn and the Technobots are drawn into a Quintesson deal when they meet Dirk Manus.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ブラックマネー (''Black Money'')
:''German title:'' '''Das liebe Geld''' ("The Beloved Money")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Dinheiro é Tudo''' ("Money Is Everything")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MoneyEverything Marissa Hun-gurrr.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Out by the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], the trader ship ''[[Lazy Sue]]'' is under attack by [[Hun-Gurrr]], who is very hungry. The ship's pilot, [[Dirk Manus]], calls for help. The [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] sends [[Marissa Faireborn]] out to assist, with [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] backing her up. Unfortunately, Strafe gets confused and shoots down the ''Lazy Sue'', while Scattershot is grabbed by Hun-Gurrr (good choice of backup there, Marissa). Faireborn calls [[Autobot City]], and [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]], [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]], and [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] head out to help their comrades. The other three [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] manage to drive off Hun-Gurrr.

[[Image:Marissadirk.jpg|right|250px|thumb|That ain't workin'/That's the way you do it/You play the guitar on that MTV!]]

Manus, unseen, buries something near his ship. He introduces himself, hitting on Faireborn, who is a little flustered. Manus claims that Hun-Gurrr may have attacked due to his discovery of a [[Quintesson]] base near [[Saturn]]. He offers a deal: pay his fee, he gives up the Quintessons. The Technobots form [[Computron (G1)|Computron]], who concludes that they should repair the ship and pay the fee. However, Faireborn decides to keep Manus nearby, which Manus uses as an excuse to take Faireborn out dancing.

Later that night, Manus heads out to what he buried, and contacts his clients—the Quintessons. Apparently, the Quintessons sent Hun-Gurrr to ambush Manus, who now demands triple his original payment, or they don't get the [[Recreator]]. The Quintessons are concerned about the Technobots, but Manus decides to lead them into an ambush. Unfortunately, Faireborn overheard everything, and points her blaster at Manus. Unfortunately, Manus has a microblaster of his own, which he uses to disarm her, then ties her up.

[[Image:MoneyEverything Recreator Blot.jpg|left|200px|thumb|''Blot''tergeist!]]

The next morning, Scattershot, Lightspeed, and Strafe fly off with Manus, who is calculating his profits. Heading towards Saturn, the Technobots are attacked by [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. The three Technobots are shot down by the [[Decepticon]] [[combiner]], who then goes for the ''Lazy Sue''. However, coming over the Quintesson base, Abominus separates into the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]. [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] and [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] are upset by this; the Quintessons installed an [[Automatic timer|automatic timer]] which forced them to separate. Manus shows the Recreator to the Quintessons, who decide to test it on [[Blot (G1)|Blot]]. The Recreator dematerializes Blot, then reforms him. Manus explains that the device also cured Blot of any injuries he may have received. Impressed, the Quintessons agree to pay Manus. However, Manus places a small device on the Recreator before leaving.

As it turns out, that was a wise move, for the Quintessons gave him [[Mimic dust|mimic dust]] instead of real [[gold]]. Manus activates the device he implanted on the Recreator, a micro-nuke, only to discover that the Quintessons have placed a bomb on his ship, which goes off... while the Quintessons flick Manus's mini-bomb away from the Recreator. A ''triple'' cross!

[[Image:MoneyEverything Technobots Sharktisneak.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Three's a crowd!]]

Manus survives the crash, only to discover that the Technobots did as well, and they're quite angry. As he protests his innocence, Manus shouts to look behind them. Lightspeed says that old trick won't work—and is the first to be shot by the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. The Technobots bring a set of thorny vines down on the Sharkticons, but their escape is cut short when they reach the edge of a cliff. Fortunately, Nosecone and Afterburner arrive and drive off the Sharkticons. Marissa's ship arrives, and she jumps out, uppercutting Manus. Marissa advocates leaving him to rot, but Manus warns them about the Recreator. Even though their injuries prevent them from becoming Computron, the Technobots decide they have no choice but to trust him. After a little trudging through the forest, Marissa is grabbed by a vine. Manus jumps to her rescue, getting a reward when he steals a kiss—and her weapon. Now with a hostage, the Technobots are forced to surrender to Manus.

[[Image:MoneyEverything Computron blasts Abominus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|…My love, you do me wrong to treat me so discourteously!.. ]]

At the Quintesson base, Manus attempts to renegotiate his contract. Marissa is disgusted, then horrified when Manus uses the Recreator to vaporize the Technobots. Just as the Terrorcons decide that she'd make a good lunch, Manus reforms the Technobots, the Recreator having healed their injuries. They promptly [[Transformation|transform]] into Computron. As Computron and Abominus duke it out, Manus reveals to Marissa that he brought the Technobots there so that they could be healed. He just didn't tell them because he wanted their reactions to be real. Computron detects the timer placed on Abominus, and fires a blast, causing Abominus to separate. Now facing a pissed [[Autobot]] combiner, the Terrorcons fly off, while the Quintessons retreat.

On Earth, the EDC decides to let Manus leave with the ''Lazy Sue'', without any reward. Marissa is seeing Manus, but Lightspeed arrives, saying that the currency the EDC confiscated has been stolen. As Marissa assumes it's Manus, he takes another kiss, then takes off. Marissa, however, says they shouldn't bother pursuing him. On his ship, Manus discovers that the money he stole is mimic dust. But instead of being upset, he merely laughs, impressed that Marissa outsmarted him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (4)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (5)
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (6)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (7)
*[[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (8)
*[[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (9)

|c2=
*[[Hun-Gurrr]] (2)
*[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (10)
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (11)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (12)
*[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (13)
*[[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Dirk Manus]] (1)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (3)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (15)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"Sorry, Faireborn, if you weren't who you are, and if I weren't who I am, maybe we could have had something special. But—we'll never know, will we?"
:—'''Dirk Manus'''. What a gentleman.

"Saturn's rings...I can't believe I'm finally out here." 
"Say something, Lightspeed?" 
"Daydreaming, Strafe. Or maybe I should say 'stardreaming'." 
"Uh-huh."
:—'''Lightspeed''''s hopes and dreams aren't very interesting to '''Strafe'''.

"Mmmbleah! Blot feel sick."
:—'''Blot''' doesn't take well to being germ-free.

"Slimy worm-fingered creep."

"Unlikeable dry-skinned biped."
:—'''Dirk Manus''' and the '''Quintesson''' to themselves after the Recreator transaction.

"A triple cross! While I was planting a bomb on the [[Recreator]], they planted one on ''Lazy Sue''! This stinks!"
:—'''Dirk Manus''' understates his situation.

[''SMACK!!''] 
"What was that for?" 
"Want a LIST?!"
:—'''Dirk Manus''' gets slugged by '''Marissa Faireborn'''.

"Hun-Gurrr hungry. Growr!" 
"Growr?! Rip metal. Eat food!" 
[''scuffle ensues'']
:—'''Hun-Gurrr''' and '''Sinnertwin''', masters of witty riposte.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Lightspeed's Autobot symbol disappears in several shots throughout the episode (it's easy to tell when, as it's located on the white part of his chest).
* Computron's mouth moves along with Marissa's partially off-screen description of the giant robot's computational power.
* When Computron is speaking to Faireborn and Manus (after doing his calculations) his left arm is missing a section, making it look like his left underarm is floating in the air.
* The first shot of Dirk and Marissa on their "date" shows Dirk sitting with a blonde. Marissa is brunette!
* There's also four plates in that shot, but in the closeup their table is empty.
* When Dirk and Marissa dance, her necklace is missing.
* When Dirk Manus is haggling with the Quintesson over video phone, he ends the call before actually ending the conversation with, "Just to show no hard feelings, I'll throw [[Technobot (G1)|them]] in for free."
* When Lightspeed gets shot by Abominus in space, his face is colored completely red.
* As Marissa and two Technobots leave Earth to chase after Dirk, Afterburner's dialogue sounds muffled (as if in a radio conversation) during a reaction shot of Dirk (who's next to the Quintesson base by now).
* After Dirk delivers the Recreator, the shot of him returning to his ship has the Quintesson talking without its mouth moving.
* When Dirk discovers the mimic dust, the box its in sort of floats to the ground and stays there at an angle.
* The Sharkticons who get trapped in the vines transform into alt mode without the sound effect. When we see them turn back into robots, the sound effect is cut off a bit (as also happens when Afterburner transforms a few shots later).
* When Marissa confesses her love for Dirk, she literally holds her hand in the air, as if waiting to be grabbed by the killer vines (which happens in the next shot).
* When Dirk kisses Marissa, her facial expression doesn't change. He's kissing her teeth!
* After one of the the Quintessons orders the Terrorcons to stop Faireborn, the head of Cutthroat's bird mode is colored the same as his wings.
* When Computron defeats Abominus, Cutthroat is colored like Blot (purple and blue).
* In the last shot of Marissa on the Quintesson base, she's missing her lipstick.
* When Dirk escapes in his ship, the shot is missing Marissa and Lightspeed.
* The next shot has Lightspeed's chest in gray instead of white. Also, his Autobot logo is drawn with "eyes" in the wrong place.
* The mimic dust Marissa left for Dirk doesn't actually turn into dust when he grabs it.
* Dirk and Marissa have tans in most shots, but a few (like when Dirk kisses Marissa) have their faces much lighter.
* The Recreator's colors and shape change throughout the episode. Early on it's white and small, later it's big and gray and sometimes has green sections on it.

===Continuity errors===
* The Technobots are shown glowing with energy (that looks like the glowing type of energon we've seen before) when they first form Computron. They didn't do that in their first appearance.
* The Terrorcons were last seen under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s command. Does he rent them out?
* Dirk throws Marissa into a cactus, but there's no blood on her back in subsequent shots. That EDC uniform is tough!
* With hundreds of Autobots on the roster, why would half the Technobots stay behind on Earth? Wouldn't it be tremendously inconvenient if they were attacked by Decepticons and couldn't unite? What, [[Tailgate]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] weren't available?
* Strafe turns into a spaceship, and yet when he's flying, he's in robot mode. Surely it would be faster to transform and do that?

===Continuity notes===
* Scattershot mentions that they're "still new here". The Technobots were created just an episode or two earlier, a few weeks in the show's time frame.
* Marissa Faireborn states that the Quintessons et al. are hiding out on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], which was previously shown in "[[The God Gambit]]" to be populated by an indigenous race of humanoids.

===Trivia===
* Dirk plants the nuclear nullifier on the Recreator ''right in front of'' the Quintessons. No wonder they were able to disable it!
* Given how effective he is in this episode, one wonders why the heck Lightspeed isn't the one leading the Technobots.
* The animation style randomly changes at a few scant points from standard animation to the more stylized type used on "[[Call of the Primitives]]", implying that some scenes may have had to be redone by a different studio or something similar. This is most immediately visible after the final commercial break, during the scene where Lightspeed yells, "Strafe! Shoot there!"
* This is the only episode in Season Three where none of the major characters ([[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], etc.) appear.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/money_is_everything.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Money Is Everything (episode)

2011-03-27T07:37:46Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=90
|series2=2010
|ep2=23
|prev2=Only Human
|next2=Nightmare Planet
|image=MoneyEverything Dirk Marissa kiss.jpg
|caption=Ew, gross!
|title="Money Is Everything"
|production code=700-109
|airdate=[[November 17]], 1986
|written by=[[Carla Conway|Carla]] and [[Gerry Conway]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Marissa Faireborn and the Technobots are drawn into a Quintesson deal when they meet Dirk Manus.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ブラックマネー (''Black Money'')
:''German title:'' '''Das liebe Geld''' ("The Beloved Money")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Dinheiro é Tudo''' ("Money Is Everything")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MoneyEverything Marissa Hun-gurrr.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Out by the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], the trader ship ''[[Lazy Sue]]'' is under attack by [[Hun-Gurrr]], who is very hungry. The ship's pilot, [[Dirk Manus]], calls for help. The [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] sends [[Marissa Faireborn]] out to assist, with [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] backing her up. Unfortunately, Strafe gets confused and shoots down the ''Lazy Sue'', while Scattershot is grabbed by Hun-Gurrr (good choice of backup there, Marissa). Faireborn calls [[Autobot City]], and [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]], [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]], and [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] head out to help their comrades. The other three [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] manage to drive off Hun-Gurrr.

[[Image:Marissadirk.jpg|right|250px|thumb|That ain't workin'/That's the way you do it/You play the guitar on that MTV!]]

Manus, unseen, buries something near his ship. He introduces himself, hitting on Faireborn, who is a little flustered. Manus claims that Hun-Gurrr may have attacked due to his discovery of a [[Quintesson]] base near [[Saturn]]. He offers a deal: pay his fee, he gives up the Quintessons. The Technobots form [[Computron (G1)|Computron]], who concludes that they should repair the ship and pay the fee. However, Faireborn decides to keep Manus nearby, which Manus uses as an excuse to take Faireborn out dancing.

Later that night, Manus heads out to what he buried, and contacts his clients—the Quintessons. Apparently, the Quintessons sent Hun-Gurrr to ambush Manus, who now demands triple his original payment, or they don't get the [[Recreator]]. The Quintessons are concerned about the Technobots, but Manus decides to lead them into an ambush. Unfortunately, Faireborn overheard everything, and points her blaster at Manus. Unfortunately, Manus has a microblaster of his own, which he uses to disarm her, then ties her up.

[[Image:MoneyEverything Recreator Blot.jpg|left|200px|thumb|''Blot''tergeist!]]

The next morning, Scattershot, Lightspeed, and Strafe fly off with Manus, who is calculating his profits. Heading towards Saturn, the Technobots are attacked by [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. The three Technobots are shot down by the [[Decepticon]] [[combiner]], who then goes for the ''Lazy Sue''. However, coming over the Quintesson base, Abominus separates into the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]. [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] and [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] are upset by this; the Quintessons installed an [[Automatic timer|automatic timer]] which forced them to separate. Manus shows the Recreator to the Quintessons, who decide to test it on [[Blot (G1)|Blot]]. The Recreator dematerializes Blot, then reforms him. Manus explains that the device also cured Blot of any injuries he may have received. Impressed, the Quintessons agree to pay Manus. However, Manus places a small device on the Recreator before leaving.

As it turns out, that was a wise move, for the Quintessons gave him [[Mimic dust|mimic dust]] instead of real [[gold]]. Manus activates the device he implanted on the Recreator, a micro-nuke, only to discover that the Quintessons have placed a bomb on his ship, which goes off... while the Quintessons flick Manus's mini-bomb away from the Recreator. A ''triple'' cross!

[[Image:MoneyEverything Technobots Sharktisneak.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Three's a crowd!]]

Manus survives the crash, only to discover that the Technobots did as well, and they're quite angry. As he protests his innocence, Manus shouts to look behind them. Lightspeed says that old trick won't work—and is the first to be shot by the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. The Technobots bring a set of thorny vines down on the Sharkticons, but their escape is cut short when they reach the edge of a cliff. Fortunately, Nosecone and Afterburner arrive and drive off the Sharkticons. Marissa's ship arrives, and she jumps out, uppercutting Manus. Marissa advocates leaving him to rot, but Manus warns them about the Recreator. Even though their injuries prevent them from becoming Computron, the Technobots decide they have no choice but to trust him. After a little trudging through the forest, Marissa is grabbed by a vine. Manus jumps to her rescue, getting a reward when he steals a kiss—and her weapon. Now with a hostage, the Technobots are forced to surrender to Manus.

[[Image:MoneyEverything Computron blasts Abominus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|…My love, you do me wrong to treat me so discourteously!.. ]]

At the Quintesson base, Manus attempts to renegotiate his contract. Marissa is disgusted, then horrified when Manus uses the Recreator to vaporize the Technobots. Just as the Terrorcons decide that she'd make a good lunch, Manus reforms the Technobots, the Recreator having healed their injuries. They promptly [[Transformation|transform]] into Computron. As Computron and Abominus duke it out, Manus reveals to Marissa that he brought the Technobots there so that they could be healed. He just didn't tell them because he wanted their reactions to be real. Computron detects the timer placed on Abominus, and fires a blast, causing Abominus to separate. Now facing a pissed [[Autobot]] combiner, the Terrorcons fly off, while the Quintessons retreat.

On Earth, the EDC decides to let Manus leave with the ''Lazy Sue'', without any reward. Marissa is seeing Manus, but Lightspeed arrives, saying that the currency the EDC confiscated has been stolen. As Marissa assumes it's Manus, he takes another kiss, then takes off. Marissa, however, says they shouldn't bother pursuing him. On his ship, Manus discovers that the money he stole is mimic dust. But instead of being upset, he merely laughs, impressed that Marissa outsmarted him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (4)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (5)
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (6)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (7)
*[[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (8)
*[[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (9)

|c2=
*[[Hun-Gurrr]] (2)
*[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (10)
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (11)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (12)
*[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (13)
*[[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Dirk Manus]] (1)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (3)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (15)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"Sorry, Faireborn, if you weren't who you are, and if I weren't who I am, maybe we could have had something special. But—we'll never know, will we?"
:—'''Dirk Manus'''. What a gentleman.

"Saturn's rings...I can't believe I'm finally out here." 
"Say something, Lightspeed?" 
"Daydreaming, Strafe. Or maybe I should say 'stardreaming'." 
"Uh-huh."
:—'''Lightspeed''''s hopes and dreams aren't very interesting to '''Strafe'''.

"Mmmbleah! Blot feel sick."
:—'''Blot''' doesn't take well to being germ-free.

"A triple cross! While I was planting a bomb on the [[Recreator]], they planted one on ''Lazy Sue''! This stinks!"
:—'''Dirk Manus''' understates his situation.

[''SMACK!!''] 
"What was that for?" 
"Want a LIST?!"
:—'''Dirk Manus''' gets slugged by '''Marissa Faireborn'''.

"Hun-Gurrr hungry. Growr!" 
"Growr?! Rip metal. Eat food!" 
[''scuffle ensues'']
:—'''Hun-Gurrr''' and '''Sinnertwin''', masters of witty riposte.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Lightspeed's Autobot symbol disappears in several shots throughout the episode (it's easy to tell when, as it's located on the white part of his chest).
* Computron's mouth moves along with Marissa's partially off-screen description of the giant robot's computational power.
* When Computron is speaking to Faireborn and Manus (after doing his calculations) his left arm is missing a section, making it look like his left underarm is floating in the air.
* The first shot of Dirk and Marissa on their "date" shows Dirk sitting with a blonde. Marissa is brunette!
* There's also four plates in that shot, but in the closeup their table is empty.
* When Dirk and Marissa dance, her necklace is missing.
* When Dirk Manus is haggling with the Quintesson over video phone, he ends the call before actually ending the conversation with, "Just to show no hard feelings, I'll throw [[Technobot (G1)|them]] in for free."
* When Lightspeed gets shot by Abominus in space, his face is colored completely red.
* As Marissa and two Technobots leave Earth to chase after Dirk, Afterburner's dialogue sounds muffled (as if in a radio conversation) during a reaction shot of Dirk (who's next to the Quintesson base by now).
* After Dirk delivers the Recreator, the shot of him returning to his ship has the Quintesson talking without its mouth moving.
* When Dirk discovers the mimic dust, the box its in sort of floats to the ground and stays there at an angle.
* The Sharkticons who get trapped in the vines transform into alt mode without the sound effect. When we see them turn back into robots, the sound effect is cut off a bit (as also happens when Afterburner transforms a few shots later).
* When Marissa confesses her love for Dirk, she literally holds her hand in the air, as if waiting to be grabbed by the killer vines (which happens in the next shot).
* When Dirk kisses Marissa, her facial expression doesn't change. He's kissing her teeth!
* After one of the the Quintessons orders the Terrorcons to stop Faireborn, the head of Cutthroat's bird mode is colored the same as his wings.
* When Computron defeats Abominus, Cutthroat is colored like Blot (purple and blue).
* In the last shot of Marissa on the Quintesson base, she's missing her lipstick.
* When Dirk escapes in his ship, the shot is missing Marissa and Lightspeed.
* The next shot has Lightspeed's chest in gray instead of white. Also, his Autobot logo is drawn with "eyes" in the wrong place.
* The mimic dust Marissa left for Dirk doesn't actually turn into dust when he grabs it.
* Dirk and Marissa have tans in most shots, but a few (like when Dirk kisses Marissa) have their faces much lighter.
* The Recreator's colors and shape change throughout the episode. Early on it's white and small, later it's big and gray and sometimes has green sections on it.

===Continuity errors===
* The Technobots are shown glowing with energy (that looks like the glowing type of energon we've seen before) when they first form Computron. They didn't do that in their first appearance.
* The Terrorcons were last seen under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s command. Does he rent them out?
* Dirk throws Marissa into a cactus, but there's no blood on her back in subsequent shots. That EDC uniform is tough!
* With hundreds of Autobots on the roster, why would half the Technobots stay behind on Earth? Wouldn't it be tremendously inconvenient if they were attacked by Decepticons and couldn't unite? What, [[Tailgate]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] weren't available?
* Strafe turns into a spaceship, and yet when he's flying, he's in robot mode. Surely it would be faster to transform and do that?

===Continuity notes===
* Scattershot mentions that they're "still new here". The Technobots were created just an episode or two earlier, a few weeks in the show's time frame.
* Marissa Faireborn states that the Quintessons et al. are hiding out on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], which was previously shown in "[[The God Gambit]]" to be populated by an indigenous race of humanoids.

===Trivia===
* Dirk plants the nuclear nullifier on the Recreator ''right in front of'' the Quintessons. No wonder they were able to disable it!
* Given how effective he is in this episode, one wonders why the heck Lightspeed isn't the one leading the Technobots.
* The animation style randomly changes at a few scant points from standard animation to the more stylized type used on "[[Call of the Primitives]]", implying that some scenes may have had to be redone by a different studio or something similar. This is most immediately visible after the final commercial break, during the scene where Lightspeed yells, "Strafe! Shoot there!"
* This is the only episode in Season Three where none of the major characters ([[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], etc.) appear.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/money_is_everything.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Grimlock's New Brain

2011-03-25T09:46:46Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|image=Grimlock's New Brain Grimlock Technobots.JPG
|caption=Me Grimlock make geeks!
|ep=89
|prev2=Nightmare Planet
|next2=Call of the Primitives
|title="Grimlock's New Brain"
|Japanese=
|production code=700-110
|airdate=[[November 14]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Davids]]
|series2=2010
|ep2=25
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Grimlock gains tremendous intelligence and creates the Technobots.'''

:''Japanese title:'' '''グリムロックの新しい頭脳''' (''Grimlock no Atarashii Zunō'', "Grimlock's New Brain")
:''German title:'' '''Grimlocks neues Gehirn''' ("Grimlock's New Brain")
:''Brasilian title:'' '''O Novo Cérebro de Grimlock''' ("Grimlock's New Brain")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Grimlock's New Brain Skuxxoid Slizardo.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Purple stuff? Bah! I wanted Sunny D!]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Autobot|Autobots]] are unveiling a new generator that will better supply them with power. As [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] signals [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to activate the machine, Grimlock causes a few missteps before Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] manage to switch the generator on. Grimlock points out that he is "smartest Dinobot of all," but Perceptor points out that the Dinobots have limited brains. Grimlock, mildly insulted, threatens to bash Perceptor's brain. Elsewhere, a [[Skuxxoid]] and [[Slizardo]] are sneaking into the generator to place [[anti-electron]]s inside the device, as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] has paid them to deliver the anti-electrons to the generator, which would eventually kill the Autobots.

[[Image:Grimlock's New Brain Grimlock generator off.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock hate Windows Vista.]]

In space, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] are flying back to Cybertron, when their [[auto gyro]]s suddenly begin to malfunction, crashing into the planet. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] tries to air lift Sky Lynx to safety, but also begins to malfunction. Perceptor concludes that the problem is originating in the generator and Rodimus, Magnus, Grimlock, and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] head down to investigate. However, Grimlock breaks the [[Electro map|device]] that Perceptor gave them to navigate the tunnels, so they split up. Grimlock and Kup reach the generator's controls, and Kup begins to suffer memory malfunctions. Grimlock deactivates the generator with the ever-appropriate tactic of biting it, but immediately begins to act differently. He speaks in a proper manner, with an extended vocabulary, and appears to have lost his taste for combat. However, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] has been observing them and reports back to Galvatron. Galvatron threatens to kill the Skuxxoid and Slizardo for ruining his plan, as the anti-electrons have already vaporized and were hard to find, but Slizardo reveals that there is another source of anti-electrons...in [[Unicron]]'s brain.

[[Image:Grimlock's New Brain Dinobots fishing.JPG|left|200px|thumb|"Rodimus, isn't that a public pond?" "Quiet, Magnus, this is the only way we can get them to bathe."]]

Back on Cybertron, Grimlock and the Autobots pass the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] fishing in a local pond. [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] invites Grimlock to join, but Grimlock declines, saying he has more important matters to attend to. The Dinobots are concerned, as they always fish together. Elsewhere, Grimlock concludes that anti-electrons were the source of the problem. As Galvatron's ship approaches Unicron's head, he cautions his soldiers, saying that Unicron may be quite powerful. On Cybertron, the Dinobots seek out Grimlock, who is building a new spaceship, and he asks for their help. [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] does not like Grimlock's change in attitude, and [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] declares that "Grimlock no fun". With their leader not acting like one of them, the Dinobots decide to go hunting without him. Later, Grimlock has taken Rodimus, Perceptor, and Kup to Unicron's head, having concluded that Unicron's body was the original source. However, Galvatron fires anti-electrons at the shuttle, causing it to crash and the Autobots to malfunction. Galvatron then unleashes the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] on the Autobots while Grimlock runs off. Grimlock then uses components of Unicron to build [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] and asks him to drill a hole into Unicron's brain.

[[Image:Grimlock's New Brain Computron Abominus.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Computron teaches Abominus to slow dance.]]

Elsewhere, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] are retrieving the anti-electrons when they reactivate Unicron. The Chaos Bringer's internal defenses activate, but [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]], another robot built by Grimlock, destroys the defenses. Finally, Grimlock builds three more robots: [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]], [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]], and [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]], the last of whom he appoints as leader of the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s. He sends the Technobots to fight the Terrorcons, and they manage to destroy the anti-electrons as well, but the Terrorcons merge into [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. Retreating, the Technobots ask Grimlock for advice, and Grimlock reveals that they are also [[Combiner|Combiners]], commanding them to merge into [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]. The computational capacity held by the gestalt is massive, yet he claims that he lacks the intelligence to feed it. Grimlock connects a device to Computron's head which transfers his super-intelligence to Computron. Now armed with incredible intelligence, Computron is able to defeat Abominus and send the [[Decepticon]]s running.

On Cybertron, Rodimus is holding a celebration for the newly functioning generator, the creation of the Technobots, and Grimlock's efforts. However, Sludge reveals that Grimlock is fishing with the Dinobots. Grimlock says that being a genius all the time is no fun, and he'd rather be a regular Dinobot. The Autobots cheer his statement, apparently preferring their one-bot engines of destruction to be simple-minded.

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (5)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (6)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (7)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (8)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (9)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (10)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (11)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (12)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (15)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (16)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (17)
* [[Teletraan II]] (18)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (30)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (31)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (32)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (33)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (34)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (36)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (37)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (38)
|c2=
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (19)
* [[Sweeps]] (20)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (21)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (22)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (23)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (24)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (25)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (26)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (28)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (29)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (35)
|c4=
* [[Skuxxoid]] (13)
* [[Slizardo]] (14)
* [[Unicron]] (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"Can't be that one, must be one of these. Eenie Menie miny moe. This switch real rad, gonna pull!" 
"Grimlock, no!!!!! It's this one over here!" 
"Uhhh, that Grimlock's next choice."
:—'''Grimlock''' showing '''Rodimus''' why he should not have been given such an important task.

"Why you think Grimlock stupid? Me no stupid. Grimlock is smartest Dinobot of all." 
"Unfortunately, that's probably true. I just wish the Dinobots had more sophisticated brains." 
"Brains?! Grimlock know how to bash brains. Maybe bash yours."
:—'''Grimlock''' threatening to beat up '''Perceptor'''.

'''Grimlock''': What go wrong? 
'''Perceptor''': Something incapacitated their aerial capabilities. 
'''Grimlock''': Huh? 
'''Rodimus Prime''': He means they couldn't fly, so they crashed. 
'''Grimlock''': Me knew that!
:—Simplifying things for a Dinobot isn't that simple.

"Hey, how did you shut down that baby?" 
"I, Grimlock...used my rear molars." 
"Uh that makes good sense, good going. You what?!" 
"Is your hearing impaired, Kup? Ohh, with some Autobots, you have to explain everything."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Grimlock''' the latter of whom has just received a great deal of intelligence

"Antielectrons, of course! They attack our electrocircuits! Now why didn't I think of that?" 
"Perhaps because your mental abilities are so limited."
:—Oh snap! '''Perceptor''' just got dissed!

"That one mine! Give me!" 
"Rrr, me want that Autobot!"
:—'''Sinnertwin''' arguing with...himself.

"Are...are you my father?"
:—A newly awakened '''Nosecone''', the first Technobot created by Grimlock

'''Strafe''': Yahoo! It feels great to be a Technobot! My name is Strafe! 
'''Afterburner''': Far out! Fantastic! I'm Afterburner! I'm raring to burn neutrons and see some heavy action! 
'''Lightspeed''': Mellow out, Afterburner. 
'''Afterburner''': Says who? 
'''Lightspeed''': They call me Lightspeed, faster than a speeding photon. 
'''Grimlock''': And you, Scattershot, will be the leader of the Technobots.
:—The newly created '''Technobots''' and '''Grimlock''' engage in a brief [[introdump]].

"Come on, Technobots! Let's show them the stuff Grimlock made us of!"
:—'''Afterburner''' as he attacks the Decepticons with his comrades

"Name: Computron. Primary goal: obliterate Decepticons."
:—'''Computron''' gives Galvatron a reason to run away.

"Me Grimlock say no fun to be genius all the time. Much more fun to be good old Dinobot Grimlock."
:—'''Grimlock''' on his recent bout with intelligence.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* In the opening scene, the inside of Magnus' mouth is red (it's actually that way for most of the episode). A long shot shows Perceptor's chest in all-red. Grimlock's neck is grey for a frame, and the back of it is grey in several shots (an error that occurs several times in the episode).
* When the Autobots activate the power generator, Springer is twice as tall as Kup and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]].
* When he drops the container, Slizardo's eye is green.
* When Blaster is struck by the beam of light, his switch is missing its details (it looks like one big switch instead of three small ones).
* As Perceptor, Grimlock, and Rodimus walk forward to see Blaster's predicament, they seem to appear out of thin air.
* Teletraan II's report starts with a shot of space for some reason.
* The next shot shows a huge display in front of the Autobots instead of a framed screen.
* After Teletraan II's report, a shot is layered incorrectly, so Perceptor looks huge next to Rodimus Prime.
* Ratbat flies into one of the slots in Galvatron's terminal, but subsequent shots are missing the slots.
* Sludge's neck repeatedly flashes between yellow and grey for a few frames when Grimlock gives him orders.
* Rodimus notes that the Autobots have to reach Unicron's head "before they do," bu nobody's mentioned the Decepticons.
* When Rodimus is grabbed by a Terrorcon, his spoiler is all-yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
* Cyclonus is missing the orange shapes on his chest and waist in several shots.
* Afterburner's Autobot logo moves up his chest (and has a black frame instead of white) as Lightspeed introduces himself. Lightspeed's own logo is missing in the same shot.
* An overhead shot shows the Autobots firing their weapons, but no beams coming out.
* During [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]'s combination sequence, [[Hun-Gurrr]] transforms into [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] and [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] before combining with himself.
* As the Decepticons shoot Computron, Galvatron is shooting too but we don't hear his cannon's sound effect.
* Computron shoots the Decepticons, but his laser is missing its beam.
* The Decepticons appear to be far too big when they leave Unicron's head.
* In the last shot of the episode, Blaster is missing his switches and Perceptor and Cosmos are missing their Autobot logos.
* Thanks to Roger C. Carmel's inconsistency with his voices, Unicron sounds similar to John Colicos' Apocalypse from the 1992 X-Men TV Series (although it also sounds drunk).

===Continuity errors===
* If Grimlock has proven himself so incompetent, why does Rodimus bring him along to find the power generator? There are plenty of other Autobots that can provide muscle (Springer, for one).
* Also, why does Rodimus have Grimlock of all 'bots activate the generator at the beginning? Why not someone like Perceptor, who's even conveniently nearby when they decide to pull the switch?
* Where has Cosmos been? The Autobots could have used him for transport, to fight off the Dweller, etc.
* Perceptor's "electro-map" looks a lot like a compass!
* When the Autobots near the power generator, why are Kup and Rodimus affected, but Ultra Magnus and Grimlock aren't? It's possible that Grimlock may not be affected due to his creation on Earth causing him to be made differently than the other Autobots (like in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1]]"), however this doesn't explain Magnus. Maybe Magnus could just deal with it at the moment.
* This isn't an error necessarily, but this episode marks the only time present-day Cybertron has any sort of standing water (in this case, the pool the Dinobots are "fishing" in).
* Speaking of the pond, are those real fish or robotic fish?
* Why isn't Swoop with the other Dinobots? The writers even bother to have Grimlock point out that Omega Supreme is away on a mission, and yet one of the Dinobots gets left out?
* Where did the Terrorcons come from? You'd think Galvatron would have used them in prior shows.
* The second time Rodimus Prime's transformation systems malfunction, he reverts into Hot Rod. Most visibly, he transforms into his junior self's vehicle mode. Additionally, his coloring changes to Hot Rod's traditional magenta, and actor [[Dick Gautier]] raises his voice in pitch to his normal Hot Rod voice.
* Blurr can be seen numerous times fighting alongside the Autobots, despite him not being present on the shuttle ride over.
* Even being super-intelligent, Grimlock somehow creates the Technobots in what seems like a few minutes. He also creates the intelligence transfer helmet in no time at all!
* The origin of the Technobots seems to conflict with the events of "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|The Key to Vector Sigma]]" — in those episodes, it is established that [[Vector Sigma]] is required to give personalities to Transformers, but here, the Technobots get personalities independently of it. Unlike other continuities, however, the cartoon eschews the use of "magic" objects and explanations to give Transformers life; Vector Sigma is simply treated as an advanced computer, and with this in mind, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the super-smart Grimlock simply has the skill needed to program full, authentic cybernetic personalities into the Technobots on his own. With the introduction of the concept of [[spark]]s in much later fiction and the reclassification of Vector Sigma's capabilities, however, the events of this episode are called into question again. Of course, the Dinobots themselves are exceptions as well, so make of that what you will.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode marks the first appearance of both the Technobots and the Terrorcons.
* Ratbat appears, but Soundwave isn't in the episode.
* Unicron's head is shown to no longer orbit Cybertron, after the events of "[[Ghost in the Machine]]" saw it blasted off into space. It's also looking substantially worse for wear than it was the last time we saw it, presumably a consequence of the explosives that were set off in its immediate vicinity in that episode.

===Trivia===
[[Image:GrimlockManga.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Meet Prof. Grimlock. Cheaters and plagiarists will not be expelled, merely eaten.]]
* While the episode is centered around Grimlock, he never once transforms out of his dinosaur mode. Then again, seeing a ''T. rex'' talk with such an extensive vocabulary is kinda funny.

* Artwork for the episode featured in ''[[TV Magazine]]'' showed Grimlock wearing a mortarboard and lecturing on something complicated.

*The device Grimlock invents to transfer his intelligence into Computron was later rendered in plastic and included with the [[Super Collection Figure]] PVC version of Grimlock. It would subsequently be recreated in plastic ''again'' for the [[Masterpiece]] version of Grimlock, which dubbed the contraption the "[[Brainwave Transfer Device]]".

* Grimlock voice actor [[Gregg Berger]] has stated that while this was the most difficult episode for him to do (in that it required figuring how an intelligent Grimlock should sound), it was also the episode he enjoyed working on the most as it shows him using his Skyfire's voice for Grimlock's intelligent voice.

* Final appearance of Cosmos.

==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 / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 9: Grimlock the Hero ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/grimlock's_new_brain.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Only Human

2011-03-25T08:56:33Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=88
|series2=2010
|ep2=22
|prev2=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)
|next2=Money is Everything
|image=TitleOnlyHuman.JPG
|caption=-I'm flesh and blood, a man!
|title="Only Human"
|production code=700-108
|airdate=[[November 13]], 1986
|written by=[[Susan K. Williams]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''When several Autobots interfere with his "business", a powerful crime lord has their minds placed into synthoid bodies, with the help of the strangely familiar "Old Snake".'''

:''Japanese title:'' 人間トランスフォーマー (''Ningen Transformer'', "Human Transformers")
:''German title:'' '''Nur ein Mensch''' (''Only Human'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:CC-OldSnake01.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Doing a crossover... in style!]]

As buildings explode, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] attempts to save as many people as he can. At the docks, crime lord [[Victor Drath]]'s men, led by [[Dutch (G1)|Dutch]], attempt to steal a canister of [[newtronium]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] stop them; however, Dutch shoots the canister which explodes in Rodimus's hands, allowing the criminals to escape in their flying car.

Tired of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] interfering with his operations, Drath contacts the mysterious [[Old Snake]] who apparently ran some kind of terrorist organization in the past. Drath purchases Old Snake's assistance and technology, setting up a laboratory at his home. Lured to the laboratory, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] are trapped and their minds transferred into newly created [[synthoid]] human bodies. While the human [[Autobot]]s are taken away to be disposed at the junk yard, Snake suggests that Drath can make use of the Autobots' former robot bodies.

[[Image:ArceeSpringerHuman.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Hey Arcee, biologically we can...you know." "What? Huh?" "Nevermind."]]

The four Autobots manage to escape from the crusher in the junk yard before they're pulverised. They find clothing in a nearby building and swiftly realise what has happened. They split up—Magnus and Arcee decide to attempt to contact [[Autobot City]] while Rodimus and Springer go after Drath. Once the pair reaches Drath's house, Rodimus attempts to draw the guards away, but is wounded. He is given refuge by Drath's girlfriend [[Michelle]]. Springer spots Drath's men taking the Autobots' robot bodies for a test drive, taking the opportunity to rob a jewellery store. He is offers to help operate his old body, claiming that he has experience with heavy machinery, and gains the thugs' confidence.

Meanwhile Arcee and Ultra Magnus are having no luck contacting the police chief they'd worked with after the earlier bombings. They notice a nearby warehouse is owned by Drath and break in, discovering it's full of weapons. Unfortunately Arcee trips a silent alarm, and they're interrupted by thugs driving their old bodies. Magnus threatens them with a grenade, giving Arcee time to escape on a stolen motorcycle, but he is captured by Dutch a short time later.

[[Image:OnlyHuman Rodimus Michelle breakfast.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Rodimus shares breakfast with Michelle, who confides that she knows who he is, but will help him get into Drath's house. Arcee makes it to [[Autobot City]], but the human security guards don't believe her story and instead place her in detention. Rodimus and Michelle enter Drath's home... only for Drath's men to spring the trap which Michelle has lured him into. Drath tells Rodimus that Snake has come up with a new plan — load the Autobots' robot bodies with explosives and use them to blow up Autobot City. Springer discovers the plan as well, when he drives his robot body to pick up the explosives. He and Ultra Magnus liberate both his old body, though it is damaged in the escape. The three remaining Autobot forms are dispatched for Autobot City.

[[Image:OnlyHuman Thugs in Rodimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Rodimus manages to get free of the goons and take down Drath himself. Drath gloats that Autobot City is still doomed. Indeed, Drath's thugs are nearing the city in the three purloined Autobot forms. Springer and Ultra Magnus fly Springer's robot form to catch up with the other three Autobots en route to Metroplex. Knowing that the Autobots in the city won't realize three Trojan horses are coming until it's too late, Ultra Magnus tells Springer to attack the city himself. Their firing on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] alerts the inhabitants, and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] has time to activate the city’s defenses and waylay the oncoming Autobots.

Later, after the Autobots have put together the pieces, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] rigs the equipment at Drath's former hideout and transfers Rodimus Prime and the other's minds back to their rightful place. When asked about their adventure, Rodimus gives extra consideration to Michelle as she's led away along with Drath's other men. Meanwhile, safely away, Old Snake muses to himself how they just don't make terrorists like they used to. He also tries to yell out the rallying cry of his former organization but breaks down into coughing, so it's absolutely impossible to tell what group he used to run.
{{-}}
==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (2)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (11)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (12)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (13)

|c3=
*[[Dutch (G1)|Dutch]] (1)
*[[Chief Turan]] (6)
*[[Victor Drath]] (7)
*[[Michelle]] (8)
*[[Old Snake]] (9)
*Rodimus Prime (5)
*Ultra Magnus (4)
*Springer (2)
*Arcee (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yer 'trash' got up an' took a hike before I could squash 'em!"
:—'''Junkyard goon'''

'''Victor Drath:''' "Does that technology still exist, Snake? Is it for sale?" 
'''"Old Snake":''' "This is the world, Mr. Drath. ''Everything'' is for sale." 
:—Often from toy companies!

"The Path to True Humanity! Only $4.95, tax deductible!" 
''[Springer shoves him aside]'' 
"Sorry, pal, I'm a ''robot'' at heart. ...Terrific. I already need a shave."
:—'''Street proselytizer''' and humanized '''Springer'''

'''Springer''': "Need a hand? I, uh...operate heavy equipment. 
'''Goon #1''': Uh...yeah. 
'''Goon #2''': But dere's only room for ''two'' in here! 
''[#1 boots #2 out the hatch]'' 
'''Goon #1''': Yeah! Yer right!
:—Springer gets a lift from his own body.

"Don't think for a moment that I haven't the nerve to use this—I ''have!''"
:—Even humanized, '''Ultra Magnus''' is a badass.

"What's this?" 
"It's called breakfast, dummy." 
"Mph. Smells better than it tastes."
:—Humanized '''Rodimus''' discovers coffee, courtesy of '''Michelle'''

"Snake pointed out to me a problem with eliminating only the four of you...namely, an entire city of Autobots who might be tempted to vengeance. I believe in solutions, not problems. You can watch the destruction of Metroplex before you die."
:—'''Victor Drath''' rubs Rodimus's nose in it.

"Well, did you enjoy your sojourn, Rodimus?" 
"Maybe a little ''too'' much, Perceptor."
:—'''Perceptor''' innocently asks a very loaded question of '''Rodimus''', as the camera pointedly zooms in on Michelle.

"Poor Mr. Drath. Not quite smart enough, were you? They simply don't make terrorists like they ''used'' to! COOOOOBRA-ha-*hackcoughcoughcough*"
:—"'''Old Snake'''" gets away scot-free.

==Notes==
In general, this episode is ''really'' rushed, storywise. Scenes are raced through at a pretty breakneck pace, and on the whole, there's a tremendous sense of the episode having to hold back from actually ''doing'' anything with the potential-laden concept of the Autobots becoming human. Many of the ideas in the episode only seem half-developed, and what few subtleties do manage to break through the constant hurtle towards the final scene are often blunted by the complete lack of even just a reflective second or two to let them sink in. The episode really cries out to be a two-parter, which is a real shame, since the annotations for the episode included amongst the original documentation featured on [[Metrodome]]'s DVDs suggest that the production staff were ''really'' excited and enthusiastic about it.

[[Image:OnlyHumanlineup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Ultra Magnus didn't want to admit he wanted the pink overalls.]]

* While not an error, since the reason for it is clear enough, it is a fun coincidence that once human, our four heroes find overalls to wear that perfectly match their former bodies' color schemes. It was also convenient for the new synthoid bodies to form complete with tee shirts and pants. This is a children’s show, you know.

[[Image:Only Human Rodimus (synthoid) breaks door.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rodimus the Terminator.]]
* The humanized Autobots' synthoid bodies are much stronger than humans are. For example, during their escape from the junkyard, synthoid Rodimus is able to break through padlocked metal doors, an impossible feat for a human. In another example, humanized Ultra Magnus and Arcee push a container which is taller and heavier than they are and jump on it to penetrate into Drath's warehouse.

[[Image:Michelle.JPG|right|150px|thumb|I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.]]

* Michelle’s motivation is a little murky. She seems genuinely upset when the Autobots are supposedly killed by Drath, and later she saves Rodimus from his pursuers—yet later, she happily turns him over to Drath. Was she actually attracted to Rodimus and changed her mind, or was she just luring him into a trap all along? If she was working for Drath from the get-go, why didn’t she just let his men capture him when they asked for him earlier? It couldn’t have been because she wanted to snuggle with Rodimus that night, could it? This is a children’s show, you know.

* Also, the Autobots adapt to being human REALLY easily. Other than Springer needing a shave, there’s very little attention paid to the new problems with suddenly being biological. Shouldn’t the Autobots have problems understanding such concepts as going to the bathroom or breathing? Then again, that stuff veers into uncomfortable territory. This is a children’s show after all.

* In hindsight, just what was Victor Drath’s plan with the Autobots? He obviously has no trouble capturing the Autobots on his own, but purchased the synthoid equipment and went through all the trouble to set it up anyway to transfer the Autobots' minds into human bodies which he would simply dispose of. He also is going to take their former robot bodies and also simply dispose of them. It’s Ol’ Snake that gives him the idea actually to use the robot bodies. Why couldn’t he just capture the Autobots and simply dispose of them intact? Then again, maybe that’s overthinking it. This is a...well, you know.

===Animation or technical glitches===
* Outdated animation models end up being used frequently in this episode. Most notable is Arcee's, especially since her shoulder-thingies change orientation and her head changes shape several times. (The sub-par animation makes her look even worse.)

* During the rescue at the start, Springer, in helicopter mode, somehow catches a falling human on his nose, despite the fact the human would have to pass through his spinning rotors. A few shots later, his arms separate from his helicopter body without the transformation sound effect.

* As he runs up to the waterfront, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle. This error occurs throughout the episode.

* When he warns Rodimus about the Newtronium, the inside of Magnus' mouth is blue.

* There are several instances when the backgrounds switch from day to night to day again.

* Old Snake wasn't "pacing," as his subordinate said. When Drath finds him, he appears to be sitting on a curb.

* The commercial bumpers have a couple extra seconds' worth of music.

* As the humanized Autobots plan their first move, Magnus's voice comes out of Rodimus's mouth.

* Despite being human, there are occasions when the Autobots' voices are still synthesized to sound robotic.

* "And risk our both getting caught?" - Rodimus' mouth isn't moving.

* When Old Snake first has the Autobots transform, Rodimus is missing his trailer (so he looks like Hot Rod).

* When human Springer offers to pilot his robot form, the guy saying there's only room for two is on the right, then the shot changes and he's on the left.

* When human Springer climbs into his robot form, his crotch clips over a control rod.

* As the vehicle modes of Springer and Rodimus pull up to Drath's warehouse, Rodimus is missing his trailer (so he looks like Hot Rod). It reappears and disappears again during the scene.

* When Springer grabs the map of Autobot City, his glove is brown, but the next shot shows it (correctly) in white.

* As Springer and Magnus escape, Springer's body converts from car to helicopter without the transforming sound, or even any visible transformation sequence.

* After Rodimus hits Drath, the display shows Magnus' cab with blue on top instead of all-white.

* When Blaster sees the first three Autobots approaching Autobot City, Springer is shown instead of Arcee.

* Blaster's voice is way over synthesized.

* Arcee mouths part of Blaster's dialogue in her cell.

* Blaster has one big switch instead of three individual ones in a few shots.

* Perceptor is shown cheering for the returning Autobots. His chest is red instead of white, and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white (throughout the episode).

* As Blaster observes Springer opening fire on Autobot City, the laser beams are coming right out of the screen.

* Springer crashes on a concrete road, then is shown on a dirt path leading to Autobot City.

* Perceptor vanishes from the scene as the Autobots leave Drath's house, replaced by Magnus and Springer.

* As the Autobots leave Drath's house, a doorway (with outer space behind it) is seen ''behind'' them. They were in an enclosed room.

* One scene has Ultra Magus and Rodimus Prime next to each other transforming into robot mode. They both leave their trailers sitting behind them. With Rodimus, this is unusual for the cartoon but toy accurate. However, this was a missed opportunity for an appearance by Ultra Magnus's inner robot since he transformed wearing his trailer armor anyway.

===Continuity errors===
* Where is the Matrix during all this body-switching anyway?
* How do Rodimus' robot eyes look similar enough to his human eyes that Michelle was able to recognize him?
* What are all these humans suddenly doing in Autobot City? There were never any humans around before.
* Not an error per se, but it seems perhaps too convenient that the Autobot bodies have controls to allow a human pilot to control them fully, even being able to trigger the transformation and control the robot form.
* The humans also climb into and out of Rodimus' hood, not his cockpit.

===Transformers references===
* This episode, along with "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[Madman's Paradise]]", is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons. In fact, this episode marks the only time in the G1 cartoon where all of the antagonists are human (or [[Cobra Commander|humanoid]]). Of course, they still get the Decepticon logo during the scene transitions.
* This episode might answer a question [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] asked at the end of the Season 2 episode "[[Autobot Spike]]" about what would happen if an Autobot's mind were placed in a human's body.

===Japanese version===

*'''Cut:''' The scene where the informant tells Victor Drath that Old Snake is down the street pacing back and forth, then gets punched in the face as payment, was cut for time.

===Trivia===

* Rodimus totally gets some in this episode. Wow.

* This episode uses a number of common cartoon sound effects for helicopter rotors and laser beams that had not been heard on ''Transformers'' before...but which were very common on its contemporary competitor, ''[[Tonka GoBots#Cartoon|Challenge of the GoBots]]''.

[[Image:OnlyHumanJap1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Oh so accurate.]]

*In Japan, this episode was very heavily promoted in the pages of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', featuring two pieces of unique promotional art by [[Ban Magami]] across two separate issues (a rarity for episode promos). Oddly, neither promo seemed to describe the contents of the episode accurately. The May 1987 issue boasted a "special news" emblem, indicating its importance over other episodes promoted that issue. The blurb described the episode, then tantalized children with the reveal that Cobra Commander, "the archenemy of [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]", would be leading his [[Cobra]] army in a fight against the Autobots. The June 1987 issue continued this misinformation campaign, even going so far as to feature a full-page promo of the episode with artwork depicting "Ole Snake" ominously leading a number of Cobra [[Rattler]]s and F.A.N.G.s. Whoever wrote the promotional summaries and told Magami what to draw either hadn't actually ''watched'' the episode or was just flat-out ''lying'' about its contents in order to snooker a larger audience with false claims of massive Autobot vs. Cobra action. Of course, it's also possible that the promos were penned with only an outdated story summary to work with, a la their promo artwork for "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" mistakenly featuring [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] instead of [[Octane]].

* This episode was lampooned at [[BotCon 2005]]'s [[MSTF]] presentation, as part of a "theme show" where all of the ''Transformers'' episodes featured had (sometimes really tenuous) ties to ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]''. Because this was the first year of [[Fun Publications]]' take on BotCon, and they run the Joe convention, you see.

*The "NYPD" markings on the police car suggest that the newtronium theft takes place in a futuristic [[New York City|New York]].

*For some reason, human Arcee doesn't look like Princess Leia. Even her hair is different.

*Human Arcee rides a motorcycle in this episode. She turns ''into'' one in the Michael Bay movies.

*If you look at "Ole Snake's" fingers, visible through his torn-up gloves, you'll notice that they're covered in yellow scales. This would appear to be a reference to ''G.I. Joe: The Movie'', in which Cobra Commander was mutated into a yellow-scaled snake-man and then an actual cobra. He was eventually restored to his yellow-scaled, snake-man form in the ''G.I. Joe'' miniseries "Operation: Dragonfire", though that story was conceived and produced many, many years after this episode.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Only Human ([[Tempo Video|Tempo Kids Club]])
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/only_human.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

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

The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)

2011-03-25T07:46:26Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|Generation 1 cartoon episode|the comic adaptation of this episode|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|image=Big Broadcast subliminal message.JPG
|caption=The judge is on the court, bweeeeeeeeeoooop!
|prev=The Ultimate Weapon
|next=Fight or Flee
|ep=85
|series2=2010
|ep2=21
|prev2=The Ultimate Weapon
|next2=Only Human
|title="The Big Broadcast of 2006"
|production code=700-105
|airdate=[[November 12]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Reaves]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Attempting to retrieve their lost records journal, the Quintessons use subliminal messages on the Junkions, and inadvertently the entire galaxy.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 2010年の大放送 (''2010 Nen no Daihōsō'', "The Big Broadcast of 2010")
:''German title:'' "'''Das Hyperraumprogramm'''" ("The Hyperspace-Programm")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1-BigBroadcast Sharkticons journal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"THE PRIME RIB IS GONE!"]]

Searching for one of their [[Quintesson Journal|journals]], the [[Quintesson]]s discover that it has landed on the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]]. After observing the native [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], the Quintessons send a [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] retrieval team. The Sharkticons locate the journal quickly, but are then driven off by the Junkions. The Quintessons hijack the [[television]] [[Space-Age Jack|broadcasts]] the Junkions watch, planting subliminal messages telling the Junkions that being neat is a good thing...and the other races are their enemies.

[[Image:G1-BigBroadcast Nancy explodes.jpg|right|200px|thumb|They always fall for the exploding machine trick.]]

Travelling through the Junkion sector, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] comes under attack by [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. While the two battle, the Junkions fire on ''both'' [[Transformer|Transformers]]. Sky Lynx races back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and informs [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to investigate. Astrotrain also returns to [[Chaar]] to report his encounter, but [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] doesn't care. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], however, is interested, and takes [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep]]s to investigate. The Aerialbots arrive, and get caught in the crossfire between the Junkions and the Quintessons. The Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and target the Quintessons. However, the Quintesson ship damages Superion, who is then rescued by Sky Lynx. Cyclonus and the Sweeps arrive to investigate, and withdraw after being fired upon.

[[Image:G1-BigBroadcast Omega Supreme looming.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Omega Supreme has yet to realise that he isn't good at playing Hide and Seek]]

During the battle, the transmitter sending the messages to the Junkions was damaged, causing the Junkions to believe that they should transmit their broadcasts to other races. The [[Delta Pavonis IV|affected races]] soon begin lashing out at their neighbors, causing what would become an interstellar dark age. The Quintessons see a good possibility here, as they could sell weapons to the warring races, but decide that the recovery of the journal is the higher priority. Back on Chaar, Galvatron displays anger at Cyclonus for going to investigate Junkion, but Cyclonus continues on, believing that to turn the Junkions on the [[Autobot]]s is too good an opportunity for the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]]. Hoping to find answers, Rodimus, Magnus, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] head to investigate in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], but come under attack by Cyclonus and the Sweeps. Omega is damaged, and the Autobots draw the Decepticons away from the wounded [[Guardian robot]]. Finally, Omega Supreme is repaired, and the Decepticons retreat.

[[Image:G1-BigBroadcast Junkions Blaster broadcast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|We're sorry, but this wiki has exceeded its quota of "compensating for something" jokes.]]

Meanwhile, the affected races have converged on Junkion, and are firing on everyone in sight. Chaar has also been targeted, and Galvatron is drawn into the bedlam. Knowing they have one chance, the Quintessons make a move for the journal, but a stray blast from Galvatron damages their shuttle and sends the journal hurtling into the void. Arriving, Blaster determines that the transmissions are the cause of the violence, and sends out transmissions to counter them. Their senses restored, the Junkions stop fighting everyone...and start concentrating on the Decepticons, who retreat. Rodimus asks [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] what happened, but Wreck-Gar doesn't know.

Returning to their ship, the two Quintessons prepare to accept their punishment, but their superior declares that finding the journal is now their priority...before their clients do.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (5)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (12)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (14)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (15)
* [[Slingshot]] (16)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (17)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (19)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (21)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (22)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (23)
|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (8)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (9)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)
* [[Sweep]]s (18)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (20)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (cameo) (24)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (cameo) (25)
|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (1)
* [[Nancy]] (2)
* [[Jimmy Junkion]] (11)
|h4=Others|c4=
* [[Quintessons]] (3)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"I know you're bored, Rodimus, but with the mantle of leadership comes obligations." 
"Don't suppose I could interest you in a used mantle?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"To share is to care. To care is to share."
:—'''Quintesson'''

"Mrs. Peel, we're needed. Our five year mission: to boldly share our signal with all the sloppy lifeforms who are our enemies. There is nothing wrong with your television set. We are controlling transmission. We control the horizontal. We control the vertical. We've got the touch!" 
:—'''Wreck-Gar'''

"Mighty Galvatron, where are you going?" 
"To the signal. To be a winner! Because I believe in me!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron''', discussing Galvatron's newfound belief in positive thinking.

'''Blaster''': We're outgunned, man! We don't have a chance! 
'''Kup''': Boy, that's what makes life interesting. 
'''Rodimus''': Or over! 
:—The Autobots discuss their situation.

==Notes==
* When Galvatron and Rodimus face off on Junkion, Galvatron mentions the "scrapeyard". What's a scrapeyard? Pretty sure he meant scrapyard. (Note: This error has been fixed in the Shout Factory release).

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* While driving off the Sharkticons in the beginning, it looks like Wreck-Gar is shooting lasers from his axe. It changes to a gun in the last shot.
* Astrotrain appears to be the same size as Sky Lynx while in his robot form. Sky Lynx usually appears to be the size of a combiner.
* After the Junkions drive off Sky Lynx and Astrotrain, Wreck-Gar is shown standing next to...Wreck-Gar and Wreck-Gar.
* As he notes Rodimus' boredom, Ultra Magnus has an Autobot logo on each shoulder. There should only be one on his right shoulder.
* Ultra Magnus' back is shown as plain red in several scenes, where it should have a grey panel with differently colored squares.
* Astrotrain doesn't actually tell Galvatron about the Junkion attack. There appears to be missing dialogue in that scene.
* In the same scene, Cyclonus is missing the lower orange shape on his waist, and Galvatron mouths part of his dialogue.
* A red alarm light flashes on a console and is somehow visible through a Quintesson standing in front of it.
* During the montage of the transmission's effects, one shot shows the Quintessons subliminal message as if it's a hologram, when it should be inside of the tv screen.
* In the last few shots of the Quintessons discussing the effects of the transmission on different planets, the Egyptian faces on the Quintessons have orange-framed eyes (instead of green).
* In many shots, the Quintessons' arms are drawn as simple (black) lines when they should be white and have some thickness to them.
* In the next shot, Cyclonus' back windows are not colored in (they should be orange).
* Omega Supreme's voice is missing its usual self-echo reverberation.
* The first shots of Blaster show him with five buttons on his chest instead of three.
* The inside of Magnus' mouth is red in the next shot.
* When Omega comes under attack, Rodimus starts asking what happened to Omega before anything actually happens.
* One shot shows a Quintesson's mouth lined in orange when only the inside should be orange.
* As he looks at Omega Supreme's panel, Magnus is missing most of his detailing as well as his Autobot logo.
* The next shot (as he dives for cover) has inside of Magnus' mouth colored in blue.
* When Ultra Magnus is repairing Omega Supreme, one scene is missing...well...everything but Magnus's hands. He appears to be repairing empty space.
* As he finishes the repairs, Magnus closes a panel that's already closed.
* Not so much of an animation error ''per se'', but Omega Supreme manages to transform from his rocket ship into his full robot self. That's interesting, given that his rocket ship is the equivalent of his forearms, with no tank, legs, or tracks that all appear in robot mode.
* As the Quintessons watch the big space battle, the display shows a grey background behind the ships instead of space.
* As Omega Supreme approaches the battle, one shot has one of his rocket fins in gray instead of orange.
* When he lands on Junkion, Cyclonus is missing the lower orange shape on his waist.
* When he fights Galvatron, we hear Rodimus Prime's rifle even though he's not carrying it (the blast he fires comes from his arm). This happens again as the Junkions attack the Decepticons.
* When Galvatron lifts Rodimus to throw him, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle.
* In the first shot of him talking to blaster, the inside of Magnus' mouth is red.
* After Galvatron blows up a tv, the next shot shows a poorly drawn and miscolored Soundwave, Cyclonus missing the orange shapes on his chest, and Rodimus' spoiler in all-yellow.
* As the Decepticons retreat, Soundwave's chest is white instead of blue and is missing its Decepticon logo. There's also three Cyclonuses (Cycloni?) in the shot.
* When he wonders who broadcasted the programs, the inside of Magnus' mouth is red.
* The last shot shows the Egyptian faces on the Quintessons with orange-framed eyes again.

===Continuity errors===
* Where has Omega Supreme been all this time? The Autobots certainly could have used him in the battles with Trypticon, the Dweller, etc. And why does his voice sound so different?
* When Cyclonus' group fires on the Autobots after disabling Omega Supreme, one shot shows Ultra Magnus just standing there (while everyone else is shooting back).
* Galvatron stops the transmission by shooting a tv, but the antenna was never shot, so the transmission should still be going on.
* When the transmission ends, do all the beings on all those planets suddenly stop fighting each other? Even if they somehow know they've been manipulated, there must have been massive casualties and damages on those worlds.

===Transformers references===
* This episode is Omega Supreme's only Season 3 appearance, and last appearance in the cartoon.

===Real-world references===
* The title is a takeoff of the [[wikipedia:The Big Broadcast|"Big Broadcast" series of movies]] in the 1930s.
* The "If you can Name That Price" game show is an obvious parody of ''[[wikipedia:The Price is Right|The Price is Right]]''.

* As a Junkion-centric episode, this story is positively ''drowning'' in pop culture references. In addition to generic phrases like "this concludes our broadcast day," "it slices, it dices" and "waxy yellow build-up," specific references spewed by the various Junkions include:
** "For a transcript, send $1 to Merkle Press." Merkle Press used to charge $1 to print the weekly transcript of ''[[wikipedia:Meet the Press|Meet the Press]]''.
** "Here's looking at you, kid." – Humphrey Bogart's famous line from ''[[wikipedia:Casablanca (1942)|Casablanca]]''.
** "Live from New York, it's… your hit parade!" – a dual reference to ''[[wikipedia:Saturday Night Live|Saturday Night Live]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Your Hit Parade|Your Hit Parade]]''.
** "Say goodnight, Gracie!" – a reference to comedienne [[wikipedia:Gracie Allen|Gracie Allen]].
** "Oh, Cisco!" and "Oh, Pancho!" refer to [[wikipedia:The Cisco Kid|The Cisco Kid]] and his sidekick, but Wreck-Gar and his lady friend use the names in a swooning, romantic way, which is... not... right.
** "Fly somebody else's friendly skies!" – a warped version of the United Airlines slogan, "Fly the Friendly Skies."
** "And that's the name of that tune!" – the catchphrase of the titular character in 1970s detective show ''[[wikipedia:Baretta|Baretta]]'', itself a reference to ''[[wikipedia:Name That Tune|Name That Tune]]''.
** "Tenk you veddy much!" – the catchphrase of Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) on the sitcom ''[[wikipedia:Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]''.
** "Your mission, should you choose to accept it…" – the famous introductory line from the ''[[wikipedia:Mission: Impossible|Mission: Impossible]]'' TV series.
** Wreck-Gar and his little buddy assume the roles of [[wikipedia:Perry White|Perry White]] and [[wikipedia:Jimmy Olsen|Jimmy Olsen]] from [[wikipedia:Superman|Superman]], respectively. "Jimmy" refers to Wreck-Gar as "Chief", at which point Wreck-Gar quotes Perry by shouting "And don't call me Chief!"
** Following on from Wreck-Gar's insistence that he not be called "Chief," the "Jimmy" Junkion responds with "Sorry about that, Chief!", in the style of Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) from 1960s spy comedy, ''[[wikipedia:Get Smart|Get Smart]]''. Wreck-Gar also later mimics Smart with a cry of "Missed me by ''that'' much!"
** "Warning, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!" – the famous line from ''[[wikipedia:Lost in Space|Lost in Space]].''
** Wreck-Gar assumes the role of Jimmy Olsen when he refers to "[[wikipedia:Clark Kent|Mr. Kent]]".
** "I pity the fool!" – catchphrase of [[wikipedia:Mr. T|Mr. T]].
** "Let's consume mass quantities of TV!" – ''Saturday Night Live'' sketch characters the [[wikipedia:Coneheads|Coneheads]] liked consuming mass quantities of stuff.
** Finally, Nancy takes the role of Jimmy Olsen when she screams: "Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...", and Wreck-Gar quotes Perry's catchphrase, "Great Caesar's Ghost!"
** Wreck-Gar cries out to his lady by calling her "[[wikipedia:Lassie|Lassie]]."
** "Baby, you're the greatest!" – common catchphrase of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) from ''[[wikipedia:The Honeymooners|The Honeymooners]]''.
** "Mrs. Peel, we're needed." – Wreck-Gar adopts the role of John Steed (Patrick Macnee) from ''[[wikipedia:The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' and calls on his teammate Emma Peel (Diana Rigg).
** "Our five-year mission...to boldly share..." – ''[[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]'', naturally.
** "There is nothing wrong with your television set..." – Wreck-Gar recites verbatim several lines from the opening narrative of ''[[wikipedia:The Outer Limits|The Outer Limits]]''.
** "We've got the touch!" — Possibly a callback to the rock anthem from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' but also identical to an old CBS tagline in the 80s.
** "Lookin' goooood!" – catchphrase of Chico Rodriguez (Freddie Prinze Sr.) on ''[[wikipedia:Chico and the Man|Chico and the Man]]''.
** "Laser Wars...nothing but Laser Wars...!" – Wreck-Gar parodies a parody, mimicking Bill Murray's comedic rendition of the ''[[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]]'' theme on ''Saturday Night Live''.
** "Ward, I think we've been a little rough on the Beaver." – reference to the 1950s sitcom ''[[wikipedia:Leave It to Beaver|Leave It to Beaver]]''.
** [[wikipedia:Go ahead, make my day|"Go ahead...make my day."]] – Clint Eastwood's famous line from ''[[wikipedia:Sudden Impact|Sudden Impact]]''.
** "I dunno! I wuz a victim of soicumstance! Yuk yuk yuk!" – banter in the style of the [[wikipedia:Three Stooges|Three Stooges]].
** The television show "Space Age Jack" that is broadcast is a parody of [[wikipedia:G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe]], with the titular "Jacks" screaming the battle cry "Yo, Jack!"
* And then, to cap it all off, the Quintessons emphatically tell one another that the journal was "''[[wikipedia:Lost in Space|Lost in Space]].''"

===Trivia===
*When the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US comic]] needed a fill-in issue, this episode was chosen and script adapted. While the UK offices were in no position to pass up on any US material being produced, this issue also completely conflicted with the Movie-Future they had established. To sidestep continuity problems, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a framing sequence establishing [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|US #43]] as an imaginary story dreamed up by Wreck-Gar, as part of a lead in to his "[[Space Pirates!]]" arc.
*The comic adaptation lends credence to the idea that the opening scenes are mis-ordered. The comic features the Sharkticons seeking the journal first, and being repulsed, then the Quintessons analyzing the Junkions and concluding that they must be subtle in their attack. In the cartoon, the analysis comes first, and is immediately followed by the Sharkticons' flagrantly un-subtle invasion.
*This episode is set before "[[The Quintesson Journal]]", because this journal is the same one that Blaster and [[Outback]] find.
*Blast Off's appearance serves ''absolutely no purpose''. He's not shown fighting or speaking or ''anything''. And Soundwave must have been a decoration as well.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video (Tempo Video)
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Broadcast of 2006}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Attack of the Autobots (episode)

2011-03-24T10:13:33Z

75.2.136.86: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=20
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=73
|prev2=Mutiny of the Combaticons
|next2=Day of the Machines
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=28
|prev3=Changing Gears
|next3=Day of the Machines
|image=AttackOTAutobot Evil Optimus Hound and Ratchet.jpg
|caption="This photo of us is terrible, Hound! You forgot the red-eye function again!"
|title="Attack of the Autobots"
|production code=#700-19
|airdate=[[October 4]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After a surprise attack (read: diversion) by the Decepticons, the Autobots repair themselves in their regeneration chambers, only to emerge...EVIL!'''

:''Japanese title:'' サイバトロンの逆襲 (''Cybertron no Gyakushū'', "Cybertrons' Counterattack")
:''Brazilian title:'' '''O Ataque dos Autobots'''
:''Italian title:'' '''La pazzia degli Autobots''' ("Madness of the Autobots")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:AttackOTAutobot Megatron destabilizer.jpg|left|200px|thumb|We're replacing the Autobots' personalities with Folger's Crystals! Let's see if they notice.]]

The Autobots rush out to meet a [[Decepticon]] sneak attack on [[Ark (G1)|their headquarters]], unaware that it's actually a diversion. While they're occupied, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] coat themselves in a temporary "[[invisibility spray]]" and sneak inside. Megatron sabotages the [[Autobot]]s' [[recharging chamber]] with a [[personality destabilizer device]], before calling off the attack, leaving the Autobots bemused. After the Autobots recharge the next day, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] alerts them to the imminent launch of a rocket, and rather than protect it, they want to destroy it. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] obeys Megatron's first order and smashes [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]].

[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] find a spot in the middle of nowhere for Jazz to try out his new sound system. Bumblebee leaves them to it, heading back to Headquarters. Bumblebee makes it back first, and finds Teletraan disabled and [[Bluestreak]] behaving oddly. Bluestreak forces him into the recharging chamber, but Jazz arrives in time to discover something's wrong. Jazz manages to disable Bluestreak. Sparkplug repairs Teletraan I, who tells them that the rest of the Autobots are now evil!

[[Image:Attackoftheautobots2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|HASSAN CHOP!]]

Meanwhile, Optimus leads the Autobots on an attack at the local [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] base, where they begin trashing military jets. Spike and Bumblebee rush off to the base to stop them, and Sparkplug and Jazz stay behind to work on a cure. [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], on Megatron's orders, have gone after the plans for the human solar energy satellite being launched on the rocket. They start chasing the satellite's inventor, [[Doctor Harding]]. Bumblebee reaches the Air Force base, but is unable to persuade Optimus to stop his rampage.

Meanwhile the Decepticons take over the rocket base and plan to take the rocket and satellite back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. At headquarters, Sparkplug cooks up an [[attitude exchanger]] that will "First, drain evil. Second, recharge good." After he and Jazz test it successfully on Bluestreak, he starts building more. As Hound and Ratchet close in on Dr. Harding, Jazz turns up with the first batch and resets them back to good. At the Air Force base, Bumblebee continues to try to stop Optimus, who seems bent on destroying the smaller Autobot along with the planes.

The other Autobots find [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], and change him back to good using an exchanger, then use him as transport to get to the Air Force Base. There, they manage to change the rest of the Autobots, except for Optimus Prime. The devices pacify Prime’s [[Combat Deck]] and [[Roller]], but Prime is still on a rampage. Bumblebee takes it upon himself to change the Autobot leader back and succeeds. Optimus gives him a nice, big hug for his trouble.

[[Image:Primebumblebeehug.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Bumblebee, from now on, you will be a Hugmaster!]]

Back at the rocket base, Megatron and the Decepticons have boarded the reprogrammed rocket and take off. The Autobots intercept them aboard Skyfire. Prime and Ratchet detach the satellite while Jazz uses a "musical sonic boom" to disable the rocket. The Decepticons abandon it without any further resistance and retreat. Skyfire takes everyone into space, and Prime throws the solar satellite into orbit.

Finally back at headquarters, Prime thanks everyone for helping out, especially Bumblebee. But then Ratchet gets jealous and claims credit for firing the attitude exchangers (which was actually Hound’s idea. Hmmm…). Jazz reminds everybody that they have to fix all of the jets that Optimus Prime smashed at the Air Force base, and Spike breaks the tension with a lame joke that his dad finds hilarious.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (2)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (3)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (4)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (12)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (13)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (14)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (16)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
* [[Bluestreak]] (20)
* [[Roller]] (23)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (6)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (7)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (9)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (17)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Doctor Harding]] (21)
* Missile Launch Technician (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"My warning diode is pulsating!" 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' does his best to emulate [[Spider-Man]].

"Hey, come back! You didn't finish your nickel-plated knuckle sandwich!" 
:—'''Brawn''' worries about the Decepticons' dietary needs.

"Warning! Evil presence now infiltrating Autobot Headquarters!" 
"Very good, Teletraan I! The personality destabilizer I placed inside ''your'' recharging chamber has converted your Autobot friends from sentimental fools to my kind of mechanisms!" 
"Autobots are noble. Your plan can never succeed." 
"Oh, it can't, eh? Autobots! Obey my first command: Silence that annoying computer!" 
"Optimus Prime, NO—!"
:—'''Teletraan I''' displays some pretty incredible capabilities as it debates with '''Megatron''', right before Optimus shows the computer where to stick it

"Like, wow! Rock and roll with real rocks!" 
"It's ''called'' an ''avalanche!''"
:—'''Jazz''' and his sound system are a bit much for '''Sparkplug'''...not to mention a nearby cliff.

"Destroy, destroy, destroy! Let none stand against us!"
:—Evil '''Optimus Prime''' (No, it's not [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]] or [[Optimus Prime (SG)|any other evil Primes]] you know.)

"First, drain evil. Second, recharge good." 
"Let's hope it don't finish up with 'Third, bury Jazz'!"
:—'''Sparkplug''' and '''Jazz'''

'''Optimus''': Well, there won't be any more trouble, thanks to you. And especially to you, Bumblebee. 
'''Ratchet''': Especially to ''him''? ''I'' was the one who saved the satellite, ''and'' came up with the idea of firing those attitude exchangers! 
'''Sparkplug''': Oh, yeah? Well who helped you make 'em in the first place? 
'''Ratchet''': Why, you wouldn't know a microchip from a potato chip!
:—Optimus Prime's thanks to Bumblebee start a little round of glory-hogging.

==Notes==
*This is one of two episodes (the other being "[[Day of the Machines]]") not initially aired in Japan during the run of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''. The episode was eventually dubbed in 1990 and released on [[Pioneer]]'s laserdisk set of the series. As such, it was retroactively added to the series' official episode list as episode 73, a numbering reflected in ''[[Transformers Generations]]''.

*Since the episode was dubbed several years after ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' had ended, not all the original cast members were able to return. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (originally voiced by [[Ken Shiroyama]]), [[Bluestreak]] (originally voiced by [[Kōki Kataoka]]) and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (originally voiced by [[Osamu Saka]]) were replaced by [[Katsumi Suzuki]].

===Animation or technical glitches===
* Optimus is missing his fog lights in many shots.
* As Starscream and Megatron prepare to use the invisibility spray, Starscream's shoulder vents are ''behind'' his shoulders instead of on top of them.
* Bluestreak is missing his Autobot symbol as he opens fire on Jazz.
* As Teletraan I reports Optimus's attack on the Air Force base, its voice is modulated differently than in the scene immediately beforehand.
* When Spike jumps into Bumblebee, there's no interior opening shown behind Bumblebee's door.
* Spike continues saying "Hold on, I'm coming!" even after he's already inside Bumblebee.
* Megatron orders Soundwave to "reprogram the main computer." Thanks to some recycled animation, Soundwave does this by strolling up to the same bank of computers that Megatron just blew up.
* Skywarp's missing his wing insignia as Megatron exits the computer bunker.
* Thundercracker's wing is sitting above his shoulder instead of behind it as he and Starscream listen to Megatron.
* Prime's trailer is missing its wheels as he pulls away from it.
* Skyfire seems to gain more landing gear every time he touches the ground. As he departs from the Air Force base, his nose gear is ridiculously long.
* Skywarp is missing his wing insignia as the Decepticons fly up to the rocket.
* After Bumblebee saves Optimus Prime, a group shot shows Jazz missing his grille.
* Soundwave is missing his insignia as Megatron rants about the fuel tanks.
* Skywarp's missing his wing stripes as the Decepticons fly off. In the same shot, a Reflector robot in Frenzy's colors flies off with them.
* Ratchet's "potato chip" line doesn't quite flow into his next line, which starts with an abrupt "Hey, look!" as if he was replying to a line of Sparkplug's that got cut.

===Continuity errors===
* How does Rumble keep from falling into the crevasse that he makes with his pile drivers?

* Flying Autobots:
** Prowl sails skyward a ''long'' time after he's blasted by a missile.
** Optimus and Ratchet just float up out of Rumble's crevasse. Both these incidents are in defiance of the cartoon's normal status quo, which mostly holds that Autobots can't fly.

* Was this convoluted scheme ''really'' the best use Megatron could think of for invisibility spray?

* Why did the Decepticons have to do what they did to the Autobots, instead of just knocking them out and having [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] use his [[Cerebro-shell]]s?

* Superhuman Spike:
** Sparkplug and Spike's eardrums are somehow not shattered by Jazz's speakers, which are loud enough to start an avalanche.

* "Good" and "Evil" are apparently scientific states now, detectable by computer!

* Speaking of which, why didn't Teletraan I report Megatron's "evil presence" when he and Starscream were sabotaging the recharging chambers?

* After all the fuss with the invisibility spray, it turns out that the shimmering outlines aren't just for the viewer's benefit; the "invisible" Decepticons are caught on film by Teletraan I. Whoops! And why didn't Teletraan I think to report this BEFORE the Autobots recharged?

* How does Dr. Harding's building security system discern that these are ''enemy'' Autobots?

* It's not absolutely a contradiction within the cartoon's continuity, but Hound's bio definitely doesn't identify his weapon as a particle beam gun. (That's actually [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s weapon.)

* Ratchet's assertion that "Prime's a lost cause" seems like a bit of an exaggeration. Couldn't they just go back to HQ and make some more attitude exchangers?

* If the Decepticons could use a rocket to get back to Cybertron, why waste all the time building a spaceship in the pilot? Can an Earth rocket really make it all the way to Cybertron? (This seeming contradiction, and many other instances of easy travel between Earth and Cybertron, might be explained by "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]", whose events would seem to leave Cybertron in relatively close proximity to our [[Solar System]], even after leaving Earth's orbit. Whether the writers actually had this in mind, however, is open for debate.)

* With two hours of idle time before the rocket launches, why do the Decepticons wait until T minus 30 seconds before boarding?

* Tearing a door off the rocket ''can't'' be good for it. Why not have Soundwave just open the door?

* [[A Prime Problem|As usual]], the good guy jet "catches" the falling protagonists by just flying under them, rather than matching speeds and actually breaking their fall. ''Splat''.

* Ratchet claims credit for firing the attitude exchangers, but it was Hound's idea. Sparkplug then points out that he helped Ratchet build the things to begin with, but there's been no on-screen evidence that Ratchet was involved in building any of them.

* It's implied that the Autobots are going to ''repair'' all 47 of the busted jets...but jets and air frames and avionics don't really work that way. Once they're smashed and exploded, they're pretty much "beyond repair".

* Teletraan I states that all of the Autobots apart from Jazz and Bumblebee were turned evil—that's seventeen Autobots and maybe five Dinobots. By episode's end, after Ratchet frets that they're out of attitude exchangers, only seven have been accounted for. (To be fair, there is an unaccounted-for period of time between the satellite's launch and the episode's conclusion, but if that's when they took care of the problem, why was Ratchet worried about Prime being "a lost cause"?)

===Continuity notes===
[[Image:OptimusCDeckAttackoftheAutobots.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Autobots' optics switch from blue to red when they're evilified, and back to blue when they're recharged with good.
** We get to see all three of Optimus Prime's components in action, which is rare. This is the third appearance of the [[Combat Deck]]'s interior cannon in the series, but the ''only'' time it was drawn to be toy-accurate.
** Prowl fires a Laserbeak-ensnaring net from his retracted hand. He fired a similar net at Ravage in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]".
** Jazz deploys his (newly-upgraded) speakers. They're loud enough to bring down a mountainside.
* Prime's tech spec bio states that damage to his other two components can be felt by him. Conversely, this could be interpreted that the energy exchanger's effect on the other two components actually weakened Prime's evil state, which is why he started fighting it right after. That is, if you want to apply his bio to the G1 cartoon.
* This episode may hold the record for the largest number of "evil invention/alien device"s in a single episode: invisibility spray, the personality destabilizer, the recharging chambers, the solar satellite, AND the attitude adjusters are all contenders.
* [[Autobot Spike|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave:''' Round 3 goes to Brawn. Tally: Brawn 3, Soundwave 0 [[Enter the Nightbird|>>]]

===Real world references===
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** The [[TIE Fighter]] engine sound effect shows up when Prime says, "My warning diode is pulsating. Decepticon Jets!" as Thundercracker and Skywarp swoop down.
** As Skywarp fires, the sound effect borrowing continues; it's Darth Vader firing his ship's lasers combined with the TIE's engine sounds. And it's complete with [[Darth Vader]]'s breathing! (A similar audio gaffe happens in "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]", as well as ''G.I. Joe: The Movie''. Guess you can't be too choosy when you crib sounds from ''[[Star Wars]]''.)
** When Jazz uses his [[sound and light show]], the sound effects are two lightsabers clashing.
* "Hold on, I'm coming!" A Sam and Dave shout-out, perhaps?
* The first batch of jets the Autobots wreck during their attack on the Air Force base seem to be based (somewhat loosely) on the [[wikipedia:F-104 Starfighter|F-104 Starfighter]], while the second group look like Russian [[wikipedia:Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-23|MiG-23s]].

===Trivia===
*David Wise reused elements of this story for the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story'' "Slash - The Evil Turtle from Dimension X", especially the climax of the story and its rocket chase sequence. This was not an entirely unique incident, as Wise was known for [[Kremzeek!|recycling]] [[Auto-Bop|his]] [[Microbots|storylines.]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[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]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

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

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Quintesson Journal

2011-03-24T10:06:05Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=83
|ep2=19
|prev2=The Dweller in the Depths
|next2=The Ultimate Weapon
|image=Quintesson Journal Autobots journal.JPG
|caption=Look, I just found a [[Food|big golden ham]]! Don't worry, I'm sure it's not a bomb.
|title="The Quintesson Journal"
|production code=700-103
|airdate=[[November 11]], 1986
|written by=[[Richard Merwin]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''A Quintesson device may just be the key to peace between two worlds.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 死の商人クインテッサ (''Shi no Shōnin Quintessa'', "The Quintessons, the Merchants of Death")
:''German title:'' "'''Das Geheimnis der Quintessons'''" ("The Secret of the Quintessons")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:QuintessonJournal Delegate struggle.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Someone's Ritalin is just kicking in.]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Autobot|Autobots]] are hosting a peace conference for two neighboring planets, [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], which have been at war for centuries and will wipe each other out within a generation, as explained by [[Melkorr]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] asks the leaders of the two delegations to shake hands. They take the opportunity to grapple with each other. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] remarks that it's going well so far.

Elsewhere, [[Predaking]] detects a strange signal of [[Quintesson]] origin. He contacts [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], who intends to meet him at the coordinates. However, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] has also detected the signal, and he sends [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], who is carrying [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Outback]], to investigate. The foliage is too thick for Sky Lynx to land, so Blaster and Outback head out on foot. Blaster ejects [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] to help in the search. Meanwhile, Predaking separates into the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to cover more ground. The Autobots are suddenly attacked by vines, but are able to free themselves and find the source of the signal, a strange golden cylinder. Just then, a tree nearly falls on the device, and Outback blasts it, causing the device to activate. The Autobots learn that the cylinder is a [[Quintesson Journal]], a record of their commercial activities on various planets. The Predacons then arrive and attack. Sky Lynx arrives to rescue the Autobots, and the Predacons unite. The Autobots are able to board Sky Lynx and escape, only to be attacked by Cyclonus and the [[Sweep]]s. Suddenly, an energy field grabs Sky Lynx through an unseen [[warp gate]], which closes.

[[Image:QuintessonJournal Outback sharkticon energon.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

On the other side of the warp gate, a Quintesson ship captures Sky Lynx, disabling his ability to [[Transformation|transform]]. The Quintessons reclaim the journal and take Outback, Blaster, and the cassettes prisoner. Outback is able to trick a [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] into opening the cell for some [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], and Blaster then...uh, blasts the Sharkticon. Outback grabs the journal, and the Autobots escape aboard Sky Lynx, only to discover that [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Cyclonus, the Sweeps, and Predaking have located them. The [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] manage to steal the journal and flee. At the peace conference, the two delegations leave, intending to purchase doomsday weapons from their suppliers...the Quintessons.

[[Image:QuintessonJournal Galvatron watching journal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

On an unnamed planet, the Decepticons begin to examine the journal. Upon discovering it is economic in nature, Galvatron is angry—well, angrier than usual. However, the Autobots have tracked the Decepticons down, and they learn that the war between Xettaxis and Lanarq is among the journal's archives. Knowing that this could end the war, the Autobots attempt to steal the journal back, only for the Quintessons to steal it back ''again''. On Cybertron, the delegations begin fighting each other. Rodimus is so frustrated that the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] fires his weapon and orders the two delegations to sit down. Furious, the Xettaxin and Lanarqen leaders request the Quintessons to bring their [[omega bomb]]s. The Quintessons decide that they will deliver ''both'' bombs once they have been paid. However, the Autobots manage to break into their ship and steal back the journal.

[[Image:QuintessonJournal Outback journal conference.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Arriving on Cybertron, Blaster and Outback show the recordings to the delegations, who are horrified to discover that their worlds have suffered to finance the Quintessons. Having been found out, the Quintessons contact the peace conference, announcing that they will deliver the omega bombs—right into Xettaxis and Lanarq. This is a big mistake on the Quintessons' part, for they're passing right by Cybertron at that moment. Rodimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] jump aboard Sky Lynx and follow the Quintessons, destroying their ship before the bombs can be launched. On Cybertron, a peace is negotiated between Xettaxis and Lanarq. However, Rodimus notes that the only real winners of the conflict were the Quintessons.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (8)
* [[Outback]] (9)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (10)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (11)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)

|c2=
* [[Predaking]] (5)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (6)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (13)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (14)
* [[Headstrong]] (15)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (16)
* [[Tantrum]] (17)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (19)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (21)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)

|c4=
* [[Melkorr]] (1)
* [[Quintesson]]s (18)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] (20)
* [[Allicon]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"I don't think this is how a peace process is supposed to begin."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' as the delegates begin struggling with each other.

"But you said no mercy, Galvatron!" 
"Very true! So I shall show none!" ''[hits Predaking]''
:—'''Predaking''' just wants to break something, and '''Galvatron''' is psychotic, as usual.

"Don't you know any gentler games?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' to the rambunctious delegates.

"Congratulations. It's taken you only a few thousand years to comprehend your folly, and we shall reward your perceptiveness by providing you your 'ultimate weapons' as promised—already armed, and set to explode on impact. Are you ready to take delivery?"
:—'''Quintesson'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Daniel has [[Nightmare Planet|black eyebrows]] again.
* Rodimus Prime's shoulder depressions aren't white in this episode, they're the same burgundy color as his arms.
* At the beginning of the episode, the Quintesson capsule falls from space, bumps into a tree and lands on the ground. It should have made a huge meteor impact.
* The first time we see him, Cyclonus has his purple chin again, which changes to gray as he turns his head. His eyebrows alternate between purple and grey in different shots in the episode.
* As he struggles against the vines, Blaster's switches disappear, and his Autobot logo bounces around.
* During the first Quintesson journal playback, we see a projection of Cyclonus and two Sweeps standing on a planet.
* When the Decepticons attack Blaster, his Autobot symbol is missing.
* Predaking fires at Sky Lynx from within a planet's atmosphere, while Sky Lynx is still in deep space.
* Divebomb detaches from Predaking, but Predaking still has all his limbs.
* Sky Lynx ''grows'' his Lynx part when escaping from Predaking. Later, the Lynx part grows the bird part when transforming.
* After a scene transition, we get a shot of a Decepticon group in space with Cyclonus flying "upside down." While there is no "up" in space, the next shot has him flying "correctly."
* Because of a layer error, a Sharkticon's arm is sticking into a prison cell.
* Outback's energon cube starts out pink and is multi-colored in subsequent shots.
* When running towards Sky-Lynx, Outback's legs don't reach the bottom of the cel. Neither do Cyclonus's a couple of scenes later after he's grabbed the journal.
* While spying on the Decepticons, Blaster has five switches on his chest instead of three.
* When the Autobots attack, we hear the sound effect of Rodimus Prime's gun even though he's on another planet.
* When one of the Quintessons picks up the container with his ray gun, the "beam" does not appear until the door is closing.
* When Galvatron fires at the Quintesson ship, he fires with his blaster off-screen, but the ray appears below him.
* After Sky Lynx grabs the journal, a reaction shot shows Blaster with five switches again, and his Autobot logo is colored somewhat randomly.
* When he arrives at the conference, Blaster has 6-8 switches on his chest!
* When he jumps on Sky Lynx, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
* As they watch the Quintesson ship explode, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow, and the back of Magnus' arm has a square of gray (when it should be all-blue).
* As he speaks his final lines, the inside of Magnus' mouth is red.
* The Lanarqens disappear before leaving the frame in the last shot of the episode.

* This episode features an intelligent [[Allicon]]! He is on the bridge of a Quintesson ship talking strategy with a judge-type Quintesson. This is either an error, or the Allicon has a rather unusual backstory.

===Continuity errors===
*While Outback's optics are blue in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]", in this episode they're consistently the same grey as the rest of his face.
* Assuming this is the same journal from "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]", it's a completely different color.
* The Quintessons lock Blaster up, but he still has his gun. They don't even bother tethering up Sky Lynx.

===Transformers references===
* Predaking is hungry for revenge against Sky Lynx after his previous defeats in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" and "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]". Sky Lynx evidently didn't rate the latter face-off, though, as he specifically refers to only "one thorough drubbing".

===Real-world references===
* The battle between Blaster's team and the Decepticons (where the Quintessons grab the journal) uses a bunch of Star Wars sound effects.
* Rodimus Prime says that the fight between the Xetaxxis and Lanarqs reminds him of pro-wrestling, but Spike corrects him by telling him that those are at least faked.
* The Quintessons are depicted as [[Wikipedia:War profiteering|war profiteers]].
* The buildings on Xetaxxis have resemblance with the Kremlin cathedrals in Moscow.

===Trivia===
* Now why would the Quintessons let the capsule float just outside the prison cells?
* Blaster is introduced riding inside Sky Lynx in boombox mode. He doesn't seem to have size-changed, as he is very large compared to Outback. Ramhorn and Steeljaw are both in mini-cassette mode resting against Blaster. The three of them sort of bounce towards Sky Lynx's exit and freefall to a planet surface before finally transforming. Later on, Blaster rides in Sky Lynx in robot mode with no problem.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_quintesson_journal.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quintesson Journal}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Ultimate Weapon

2011-03-24T09:02:07Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the episode|the eponymous device|Ultimate Weapon}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=84
|ep2=20
|prev2=The Quintesson Journal
|next2=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=23
|prev3=Ghost in the Machine
|next3=Fight or Flee
|image=G1 UltimateWeapon Oldlady.jpg
|caption=Rejected from Hell's Grannies.
|title="The Ultimate Weapon"
|production code=700-104
|airdate=[[November 10]], 1986
|written by=[[Arthur Byron Cover]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''While Galvatron threatens the Autobots with a vague and mysterious "ultimate weapon", First Aid leaves the Autobots.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 究極の武器 (''Kyūkyoku no Buki'', "The Ultimate Weapon")
:''German title:'' "'''Das Transformationsmodul'''" ("The Transformation-Modul")
:''German'' Generation 2 '' title:'' "'''Der große Bluff'''" ("The big Bluff")
:''Latin American title:'' "'''El Arma Mortífera'''" ("The Deadly Weapon")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Glavnoye orujiye'''" (''Главное оружие'', "The Main Weapon")
==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1 UltimateWeapon civilunrest.jpg|left|170px|thumb|The stripes are to help them blend into the herd.]]

In the far-flung future of 2006, the Netherlands is the most violent nation on Earth. Bands of roving French street gangs throw grenades into windmills for no obvious reason. Unable to rely on the police, old ladies begin arming themselves in their gardens. Desperate, the police turn to the Autobots, who seek to stem the fighting. The [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], after some harshing on the part of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], roll out to stop the violence. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] tries to calm Rodimus, saying he's just as good a commander as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was. Rodimus, however, feels that he will never live up to the legendary [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]'s legacy. Who could?

Arriving in the city, the [[Decepticon]]s attack, and [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] is injured. [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] takes him to Metroplex to get repairs, while Galvatron attacks. Retreating, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] taunts Rodimus with the threat of the [[Ultimate Weapon]]. At [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] breaks in and manages to steal Metroplex's transformation cog. First Aid tries to reason with Swindle, but the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] merely shoots the Autobot medic, then leaves. Amid a fleet of naval destroyers, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] rises from the sea and eats a ship before destroying the rest. Galvatron tells Trypticon to hurry to Metroplex, but realizes when and when not to push the dinosaur. Swindle arrives and attempts to haggle for the cog. Galvatron offers him a limited-time deal: Hand over the cog, or see his life get ended.

[[Image:G1 UltimateWeapon Defensorcatchestrain.jpg|right|170px|thumb|It's just a flesh wound—er, armor wound.]]

At Metroplex, First Aid is feeling guilty over his pacifism. While Rodimus maintains that he would never force First Aid to violate his beliefs, First Aid decides to leave to clear his head. Learning that Trypticon is coming, the Autobots roll out. Reaching a nearby city, Trypticon menaces a train, but [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] manages to save it, even with only one arm. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] move in to attack. [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] gets shot down, while [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] flies into Trypticon's stomach through his mouth, firing all the while. Injured, Trypticon is forced to retreat. However, it's only bought them time, as Metroplex is still the only one who can fight Trypticon, and he's locked in city mode. Even with the cog, First Aid is the only one who understands Metroplex's systems enough to fix him. [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] decides to track down his AWOL teammate.

[[Image:G1 UltimateWeapon TrypticontacklesMetroplex.jpg|left|170px|thumb|City rivalry takes on a whole new meaning.]]

Rodimus and Magnus head for Trypticon's hiding place, with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] posing as repairmen. [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], nearly duped, realizes that the cars are Autobots due to the pollution-free fuel that they are using. Daniel is thrown off a cliff, but Magnus saves him. Rodimus and Magnus distract the Decepticons while Spike and Daniel steal Trypticon's cog. Returning to Metroplex, they install Trypticon's cog in Metroplex, while the Decepticons install Metroplex's cog in Trypticon. (It's easy to get lost, but just pay attention and it will make sense.) Convinced that he "can still smash", Trypticon heads for battle. Metroplex [[Transformation|transforms]] from [[Alternate mode|city mode]], but both cities are suffering problems.

[[Image:G1 UltimateWeapon UltimateWeapon%21.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Behold: the label gun of DOOM!]]

At a junkyard, First Aid is keeping [[NUL-A]], a junkyard robot, company while fixing abandoned refrigerators in an effort to think about something other than the Autobots. Hot Spot finds him and informs him of Metroplex's problem. Though still unsure of rejoining the Autobots, First Aid realizes that Metroplex's danger is more important. Meanwhile, Trypticon has gained the advantage and thrown Metroplex into a nearby lake. (Talk about irony.) Heading for Metroplex, First Aid manages to get inside and properly align the transformation cog, allowing Metroplex to transform fully. Metroplex throws Trypticon deeper into the lake, and the dinosaur sinks. Galvatron threatens to use the Ultimate Weapon, but Rodimus realizes that the weapon is a bluff. Out of options, Galvatron retreats. First Aid's faith in his work is restored, and Rodimus's confidence is emboldened, at least until the next time he has a crisis of faith.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (1)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (2)
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (4)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (5)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (6)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (14)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (15)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (16)
* [[Scamper]] (18)
* [[Slammer]] (19)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (22)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (29)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (30)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (31)
* [[Slingshot]] (32)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (33)
|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (8)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (9)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (10)
* [[Predaking]] (11)
* [[Octane]] (12)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (13)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (17)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (20)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (21)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (23)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (24)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (25)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (26)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (27)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (28)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (34)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (35)
|c4=
* [[NUL-A]] (36)
}}

==Quotes==
'''First Aid''': I'm taking him back to Metroplex for emergency repairs! 
'''Galvatron''': Better get ''used'' to the trip, Autobot. 
'''Rodimus''': Why don't you get used to ''losing'', Galvatron? It's all you ever do!
:—Rodimus Prime hits the Decepticons where it hurts: in the war record.

"Hey! Wait a second! Who are you? Where'd you come from? How'd you get in?!?" 
''[Swindle shoots the floor from under Scamper and Slammer, causing the Autobots to crash]'' 
"No time to answer stupid questions!"
:—'''Scamper''', the world's worst security guard, is blasted by '''Swindle'''.

"I heard you were a pacifist, but I don't believe there's a Transformer who won't fight for his life!" 
"I don't believe in fighting. I'm a medic, not a warrior." 
"Then you'll ''die'' for your beliefs!"
:—'''Swindle''' taunts '''First Aid'''.

[[Image:Ultimate Weapon Trypticon hungry.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Never play Battleship with Trypticon]]

'''Trypticon''': Best humans can do? 
''[Trypticon tosses battleship halves at attacking ships]'' 
'''Galvatron''': Come, Trypticon, stop trifling with that! Metroplex awaits. 
'''Trypticon''': Trypticon hungry!
:—Trypticon finds that naval destroyers taste great ''and'' are less filling.

''[Spike runs into Cyclonus]'' 
'''Cyclonus:''' ''Humans...''" 
'''Spike:''' Uh, everything's fine in there. Uh, the problem must be somewhere else. 
'''Cyclonus:''' Then don't dawdle, human. Trypticon must be repaired at once... for the greater glory of Galvatron! 
'''Spike:''' You got it, you got it... sheesh, dunno why anybody'd wanna work for such a bunch of grumpy employers.
:— A rather clueless Cyclonus lets Spike and Daniel get away with Trypticon's transformation cog.

"Hey, keep it down! This is a residential area!" 
"Trypticon turn Metroplex into slum!"
:—'''Metroplex''' and '''Trypticon''' discuss urban renewal in a whole new way.

'''Galvatron''': I still have my ultimate weapon, Rodimus! Surrender now, or I'll unleash its force upon you all! 
'''Rodimus Prime''': ''[to Ultra Magnus]'' You know, I think I've finally started to wise up. If such a weapon existed, he'd have used it a long time ago! 
'''Galvatron''': I tell you for the last time, Rodimus. Surrender, or there won't be an Earth left to protect! Surrender! This is your last chance, or— 
'''Rodimus Prime''': You're bluffing, Galvatron. 
'''Galvatron''': I tell you this is the end! 
'''Rodimus Prime:''' You're right. It is, because I used the real 'ultimate weapon'...my ''mind''! 
'''Galvatron''': Stay back! 
''[Rodimus Prime continues walking towards Galvatron]'' 
'''Galvatron''': I said stay back! 
''[Rodimus Prime continues walking; Galvatron throws the "ultimate weapon" control device on the ground]'' 
'''Galvatron''': Aarh! There will be another day, Rodimus! 
''[Galvatron retreats]'' 
'''Rodimus Prime''': And we'll be ready.
:—Galvatron's less-than-impressive bluff is called by Rodimus Prime.

==Notes==
* It is unclear what species of robot [[NUL-A]] is, as his speech and mannerisms clearly demonstrate him to be sentient rather than some kind of human-built drone.

* When Trypticon attacks Metroplex, the animation is of a noticeably higher quality than the rest of the episode and the norm of the overall series.

*The interior of Metroplex looks ''really'' dilapidated. Every shot when the Autobots are inside shows broken pipes, cracks in the walls and other defects. It looked fine [[Starscream's Ghost|the last time we saw him]].

===Animation or technical glitches===
*The guns carried by the rebels disappear when they run up to the windmill and throw their grenades, and reappear as they run away.

*[[Nightmare Planet|Once again]], Rodimus is missing the line on his head crest in many shots.

*The laser beam the old woman fires from her pistol is red, but the laser beam that actually hits the car tires is blue.

*When Blades flies towards another damage and gets shot down by the Decepticons, the front part of his [[Alternate mode|altmode]] is colored white instead of the usual red.

*When Galvatron transforms after shooting Blades, he's missing his Decepticon logo.

*When Ultra Magnus orders Steeljaw and Ramhorn to attack, he wields a completely different gun than the one he normally uses. His normal gun reappears in subsequent shots.

*Metroplex actually opens his outer wall ''before'' he's asked to by First Aid.

*When Galvatron responds to Rodimus Prime's question during the village battle, Cyclonus's mouth is missing. Similarly, in the end of the episode, when First Aid declares his return to the Autobots, Rodimus' mouth is missing, too, but reappears when he starts talking.

*Adding to this, and turning the whole mouth-animation-thing into a complete mess up, when First Aid declares he's leaving the Autobots, Hot Spot is depicted as actually ''having'' a mouth in several shots, including close-ups and speaking lines, despite the fact that normally he is shown with an Optimus Prime-like moving [[mouthplate]].

*Swindle's gun sounds like Galvatron's cannon.

*The basket of oranges the farmer drops disappears in subsequent shots.

*Trypticon grabs a monorail and tosses it in the air, yet an interior shot shows the people sitting perfectly calm!

*Thanks to Roger C. Carmel's inconsistency with his characters, we have a Motormaster with a weak voice that actually sounds a lot like Regis Cordic's Menasor, making it difficult to compare.

*As Silverbolt exits Trypticon's mouth, he's coloured like Air Raid.

*As the Decepticons leave the Autobots when Trypticon is wounded, it can be seen that Defensor had dissasembled as the Protectobots can be seen separately. A few moments later, Defensor separates before the camera. Huh?

*First Aid can be seen in the error above when Decepticons retreat. Also the some parts of Blades's back plating is miscolored.

*As the Decepticons retreat, Galvatron's shoulders are missing the red squares on top.

*As Rodimus talks to Magnus about needing First Aid back, his Autobot logo's "eyes" are red.

*Spike's eyebrows are brown in this episode. They were black in "Nightmare Planet."

*When Spike and Daniel run into Cyclonus, he's missing the orange rectangle on his chest. It reappears two shots later.

*When Spike and Daniel run into Cyclonus, he's "clean shaven." When he notices Trypticon's missing cog, he's got the purple chin again.

*Daniel is unusually tall in this episode. When he and Spike are involved in the clandestine operation to steal Trypticon's transformation cog, he is almost as tall as his dad.

*When Spike tells Daniel that they'll be just in time for their rendezvous, Spike is not carrying the toolbox containing the transforming cog. It reappears when they exit Trypticon.

*Just before a scene transition, Metroplex transforms into base mode, then after a flash of light he's suddenly in robot mode again.

*When Hot Spot is trying to convince First Aid to come back into the Autobots, the visible wheels on First Aid are colored as white, not black.

*Trypticon completely misses Metroplex when they fire on each other, yet Metroplex falls down.

*Greeting First Aid's return, Ultra Magnus holds the medic's hands. Oddly, instead of letting go as he did with Rodimus Prime, First Aid appears to continue to hold Ultra Magnus's hands throughout his dialogue about agreeing to help the Autobots.

*Metroplex's face is briefly colored black as he and Trypticon wrestle.

*First Aid's visor is colored black as he finishes modifying Metroplex's new cog.

*After the cog is modified, Metroplex is mouthing something but Trypticon is talking.

*When Galvatron declares that while Trypticon may have been defeated he still lives, his laser cannon is enormous (and again, his shoulders are missing the red squares...until Rodimus is next to him).

*As Rodimus Prime tells Ultra Magnus that he has finally wised-up to Galvatron's bluff, Ultra Magnus' left shoulder overlaps Rodimus' rear wing, even though Rodimus is standing closest to the viewer and should instead overlap Ultra Magnus.

*In one shot of Galvatron, the "Ultimate Weapon" remote is missing (we see only Galvatron's closed fist). In another, the remote is blue instead of grey.

*In one of the final shots of the episode, Rodimus' spoiler is burgundy in the middle instead of orange.

===Continuity errors===
*How did the Decepticons get to Earth in the first place? How did they get Trypticon there ([[Ghost in the Machine|last we saw]], he was on Cybertron)? What happened to the Earth Defense Command satellites?

*When the monorail train was endangered during Trypticon's initial rampage, wouldn't it have been a hell of a lot easier to have a ''two-armed'' Superion catch it rather than a ''one-armed'' Defensor?

*Galvatron acts a whole lot saner in this episode then he usually is in the third season. He's not as sane as in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', of course, but it's something. Of course in the same vein, it seems unlikely that the usually gun crazy Galvatron would try to bluff anything.

*During their initial assault in the village, [[Octane]] is seen among the firing Decepticons, even though Galvatron had placed a price on his head in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]".

*Similarly, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] is hovering next to Galvatron during Trypticon's attack on the naval fleet, even though he was banished from the Decepticons following "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".

===Trivia===
*While not an out-and-out mistake, the Autobots' assertion that ''only'' First Aid could adjust the transformation cog for Metroplex seems a little dubious. [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], who was seen installing the thing in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]", surely would've been able to, if not Perceptor or the load of other Autobot handymen running around. Of course, it is possible that those guys were all off Earth at the time. ''Coincidentally'' though, as seen in "[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]", First Aid ''was'' one of the original workers on Metroplex.

*Vortex almost finds out about Spike and Daniel's plan merely from the clean Autobot fumes of Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus' exhaust, but does not seem to notice that the vehicles are quite obviously the two Autobot leaders nor the fact that Daniel is way too young to drive (which might be okay, as Transformers may not necessarily be aware of human laws, or even know there's a difference between adult and underage humans, but whatever).

*Somehow, [[NUL-A |NUL-A]] knows who [[Wreck-Gar (G1) |Wreck-Gar]] is.

*How the mighty have fallen part 1: This episode suggests that the Decepticons operating on Earth now hire legitimate human workers for repair duties, instead of just enslaving them as they would have done in the past.

*How the mighty have fallen part 2: Menasor [[To sell toys|is defeated by a single blast]] from the Autobots, despite previous outings that showed him to be one of the most powerful Decepticon combiners. Later, the entire Stunticon team are soundly and totally defeated (off-camera) by Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus, despite previous outings depicting them as a serious threat to the Autobots.

*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] seems ''really'' upbeat in this episode, for some reason.

*Taking into account how often Decepticons have attacked an Autobot base in the past, does anyone else think that positioning Metroplex near a human residential area is a ''really'' bad idea?

* You'd think that Galvatron's [[Cyclonus (G1)|second-in-command]] would know who the [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|two]] [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|humans]] that are always with the Autobots are.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Carnage in C Minor / The Ultimate Weapon ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_ultimate_weapon.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimate Weapon}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Nightmare Planet

2011-03-24T07:53:59Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=79
|ep2=24
|prev2=Money is Everything
|next2=Grimlock's New Brain
|image=NightmarePlanet Quintessons watch Daniel.jpg
|caption="...And if you tell anyone, nobody will believe you."
|title="Nightmare Planet"
|production code=700-99
|airdate=[[October 31]], 1986
|written by=[[Beth Bornstein]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''A recurring nightmare of Daniel's turns out to be an experiment by the Quintessons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 悪夢の惑星 (''Akumu no Wakusei'', "Nightmare Planet")
:''German title:'' "'''Der Alptraum Planet'''" ("The Nightmare Planet")

==Synopsis==
[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] has been having nightmares involving a giant [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Worried, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]] ask [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] to come visit him. Rodimus manages to calm Daniel, suggesting that should a huge Galvatron menace Daniel again, to imagine a huge Rodimus to fight him off. After he falls back asleep, a tentacle grabs Daniel...

[[Image:NightmarePlanet Dragon drop.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rule Two: No make-believe things like, oh, pink dragons and stuff.]]

Meanwhile, Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] are driving through some thick fog when the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] attack the [[Autobot]]s. However, both factions of [[Transformer]]s are suddenly attacked by monsters on which their weapons have no effect. It turns out that the [[Quintesson]]s are using Daniel's nightmares to create chaotic monsters which will destroy the unpredictable Autobots and [[Decepticon]]s.

Springer and [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] are captured by a [[dragon]] and taken to a castle. While there, they meet a princess chained in a dungeon, whom Springer unbinds. She tells them of a magic lance that can kill the dragon and claims that her father will give them [[gold]] if they free her. Springer agrees to free the Princess and slay the dragon regardless of the reward, while Razorclaw acts like he's on the verge of coughing up a hairball.

[[Image:Nightmare Planet snake monster.JPG|right|200px|thumb|This scene would probably have played out much differently in ''Kiss Players''.]]

Back at the battle, Rodimus, Magnus, and the Predacons are being threatened by a witch and giant. They manage to dodge a blast from the witch that turns the giant into a toad and Magnus finds a bucket of water which destroys the witch. However, a giant snake monster appears from the ground and nearly swallows the Transformers before a plane, piloted by a familiar face, rescues them. The Quintessons realize that Daniel's subconscious mind is assisting the Autobots, so they increase the power to suppress his help. At the castle, Springer is trying to find way out, while Razorclaw has decided to wait until the guards come. Suddenly, Springer thinks of a plan, but requires Razorclaw's help.

[[Image:NightmarePlanetSteed.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is like a Frazetta painting. With giant robots.]]

Elsewhere, Rodimus, Magnus, and the Predacons find an abandoned amusement park. Heading into the fun house, [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Tantrum]] are attacked by the mirrors, while [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] falls down a large hole. Rodimus and [[Headstrong]] are attacked by a giant Galvatron, which is then defeated by a giant Rodimus Prime. Rodimus realizes that they are somehow in Daniel's dream, due to the situation matching the advice he'd previously given. At the castle, Springer is fighting the dragon but needs help. Razorclaw refuses to help, but the Princess reminds Razorclaw that the dragon will kill him as well. Razorclaw reluctantly serves as Springer's mount and he stabs the dragon, killing it. The castle also disappears and a yellow brick road appears.

[[Image:NightmarePlanet Rodimus Daniel in bed.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"You won't tell anyone I wet the bed, will you, Hot Rod?"]]

Meanwhile, Rodimus is calling out to Daniel. Shocked by the revelation that Daniel is trying to help save the Transformers in his nightmares, the Quintessons set the machine on its highest level, which will kill Daniel. The dream world begins to deteriorate, but the Princess guides them through the storm. Daniel is able to draw the Quintessons in subconsciously and the Autobots rescue him. Razorclaw wants to scrap the Autobots, but Headstrong cannot [[Transformation|transform]], preventing them from becoming [[Predaking]]. Razorclaw orders the Predacons to retreat.

Back at home, Daniel wakes up, not remembering what happened, and tells Rodimus that he took control of the dream. Rodimus tells Daniel that he won't have any more nightmares involving Galvatron or snake monsters. Daniel, confused, asks how Rodimus knew about the snakes.
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (7)

|c2=
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (8)
* [[Tantrum]] (9)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (10)
* [[Headstrong]] (11)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (12)
* [[Predaking]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (1)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Carly|Carly Witwicky]] (5)

|c4=
* Dream giant [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (2)
* [[Quintesson]]s (14)
* Dream witch (15)
* Dream giant (16)
* Dream [[dragon]] (17)
* Dream damsel in distress (18)
* Dream giant [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well, I guess we're cell mates." 
"Just keep your distance."
:— '''Springer''' and '''Razorclaw'''

"I spent time talking TV with Wreck-Gar."
:—'''Rodimus''' reveals he's been warping his mind.

"Hold up, Headstrong! It's not the real thing! Look at how big he is!" 
"FOOL! Galvatron can be any size he wants!"
:— '''Rodimus Prime''' and '''"Galvatron"''' debate the [[mass-shifting]] issue.

"The fantasy's over, Rodimus Prime. Enough fun for one day." 
"If that's his idea of fun, what does he consider a bad time?"
:— '''Springer''' finds '''Razorclaw''''s thoughts quite...... fun.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Rodimus Prime's head crest is missing the line through it for most of the episode.
* One of the Predacons' weapons sounds like Galvatron's cannon. So does Predaking's gun.
* As Magnus yells, "Look Out!," Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol.
* Several times in the episode, the Quintessons are only colored on the side whose face we see (the other faces are grayed out).
* Rodimus Prime's optics change from blue to red and back again several times throughout the episode.
* "A bucket of water...but why?" is spoken by Magnus, but Rodimus' mouth is moving.
* When Rodimus Prime remarks the giant Rodimus fighting the giant Galvatron is like in Daniel's nightmare, his voice is enhanced to sound like the giant Rodimus.
* "Get him, Rodimus!" is spoken by Magnus, but Rodimus' mouth is moving.
* Just before the yellow brick road appears, the sides of Springer's helmet are gold all around (not just inside). This is corrected a moment later.
* In the next scene, a Quintesson's body is missing, leaving his face floating in air as he talks.
* The Quintesson's display has a setting marked "OVER LORD."
* When Daniel "wakes up," Rodimus' Autobot symbol is above his chest flame instead of inside it (for two shots).
* There's evidence to suggest this episode had a troubled production, as the finished animation is missing in-between cels in several scenes (leaving the keyframes only). Additionally, the episode under-runs to such an extent that ''two'' [[Secret Files of Teletraan II|secret files]] are tagged onto the end rather than one.

===Continuity errors===
* It's never explained exactly where everyone is during the episode. The opening scene at the Witwicky house implies that it's Earth, yet the ending scenes appear to be on Cybertron. It's never made clear, and it begs the question of how the Predacons are able to run around unhindered on the Autobot-controlled planet. Ditto for the Quintessons, who appear to be operating on the same planet.
* Likewise, just how the Quintessons' magical machine works is never given any explanation. If it can project a real-life version of anything at all, wouldn't it make more sense to just hook it up to one of the Quintessons and have them imagine a really big Transformer-eating Sharkticon?
* What happened to Springer's daring escape plan? He and Razorclaw are discussing it in a cell, and the next time we see them, Springer is fighting the dragon head-on in a big room without help!
* Where did Springer get that "magical lance"?
* How ''did'' Rodimus know about the snake monsters? Was Daniel [[wikipedia:Inception|still dreaming]]?

===Real-world references===
* The yellow brick road and the witch being defeated with a bucket of water are both references to ''[[wikipedia:The_Wizard_of_Oz|The Wizard of Oz]]''.

===Trivia===
* Apparently, the Witwicky residence can accommodate giant futuristic Winnebagos comfortably. Considering the fact that Spike's best friend is [[Bumblebee (G1)|a bug]], and that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|a truck]] was among the friends of the family, the house may have been built to allow the Autobots to be able to walk around inside it.
* Razorclaw appears to find gold valuable. Whether this means it has actual value among the Decepticons, or he just likes shiny things, is unknown.
* This episode is the first to use the new, more heavily synthesized Season 3 background music.
* It's a coincidence that this episode is horror themed and it aired on [[Halloween]]. Then again, the ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' episode "Nightmare Assault" ''also'' aired on the same day... so maybe not.
* Springer acting as a knight is at least an unintentional pun: the German word for knight is "Springer".

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / The Nightmare Planet / The Ghost in the Machine ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Der Alptraum-Planet ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Nightmare Planet ([[Tempo Video|Collins Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — The Nightmare Planet ([[Tempo Video|Tempo Kids Club]])
;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. 3 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/nightmare_planet.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Dweller in the Depths

2011-03-24T07:17:31Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=87
|series2=2010
|ep2=18
|prev2=Webworld
|next2=The Quintesson Journal
|image=DwellerDepths Dweller surface.jpg
|caption=Cthulhu fhtagn!
|title="The Dweller in the Depths"
|production code=700-107
|airdate=[[October 30]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Dini]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Quintessons, as part of a new attempt at regaining Cybertron, unleash the most dangerous creature known.'''

:''Japanese title:'' セイバートロン星の吸血鬼 (''Cybertron-sei no Kyūketsuki'', "The Vampires of Planet Cybertron")
:''German title:'' '''Der Moloch der Tiefe''' (''The Dweller in the Depths'')
:''Latin American title:'' '''El Morador de las Profundidades''' (''The Dweller in the Depths'')
==Synopsis==
[[Image:QuintessonDepth.jpg|left|200px|thumb|We'll avoid the obvious two-faced jokes here.]]

On Cybertron, the [[Autobot]]s have just successfully activated [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s new power core, which should be able to triple the planet’s energy reserves. A short distance away in their ship, the Quintessons watch, disgusted by the success and progress of their creations. One Quintesson unveils a plan to release the [[Dweller]], one of the early biomechanical experiments called [[Trans-Organics]] that were developed by the Quintessons that predate the creation of the Transformers. Unable to even perform rudimentary assignments, the Trans-Organics were unstable monsters that were eventually sealed away in a hibernation chamber deep within Cybertron.

[[Image:ArceeDepth.jpg|right|200px|thumb|In true horror movie style, the girl grabs the most phallic weapon she can to defend herself.]]

On [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is lamenting his [[Decepticon]] troops' incompetence when the Quintessons beam down to talk. The Quintessons inform Galvatron about the Autobots' new power core but purposely give him the wrong location. Galvatron, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweeps]] arrive on Cybertron, and break into the tunnel that leads below, soon pursued by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]. The Decepticons uncover the storage chamber of the Trans-Organics, and accidentally release them from their stasis pods. The creatures soon attack both the Decepticons and the Autobots. In trying to escape, the Decepticons open another chamber and release the most powerful of the monstrous experiments: The Dweller, a giant energy leech that drains their energy and turns the Transformers into [[energy vampire]]s. Running and fighting through the maze of chambers and tunnels in the dark depths of Cybertron, The Dweller quickly whittles down the Decepticon and the Autobot forces, leaving only Galvatron, Ultra Magnus, and Arcee to escape. Of course, many of the Decepticon losses can be attributed to Galvatron throwing his own soldiers at the Dweller to buy himself time.

[[Image:VampireDepth.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That container on the Dweller's back? Full of Worcestershire sauce.]]

The two Autobots make it back to headquarters where they update [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and Perceptor on the situation, the energy vampires bursting in right behind them. Perceptor determines that the vampires are suffering from a unique form of energy depletion and that a power surge should restabilize their levels. The Autobots form a chain with Perceptor at the end, who plugs himself into the console and they inject the crowd of vampire with an [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] surge. The surge returns the Autobots and Decepticons to normal. Cyclonus, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the other Sweeps quickly escape and rejoin Galvatron.

Meanwhile, The Dweller is breaking free to the surface, getting bigger from its energy absorption, and heading for Perceptor’s generator. Knowing that it will be unstoppable once it has attached itself to the generator, Perceptor uses the emergency eject switch to launch both the generator and The Dweller on top of it into space. Floating far away from Cybertron, The Dweller instead attaches itself to the ship of the Quintessons who started everything in the first place.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (1)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (12)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (15)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (16)

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (7)
*[[Sweep|Sweeps]] (8)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (6)
*[[Trans-Organic]]s (13)
*[[Dweller]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:GalvatronDepth.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Why can't I get any loyalty out of my troops that I'm always shooting at or throwing at big, slobbering monsters?!]]

"You cringy, cowardly, weak-willed fools! Why am I still stuck on this worthless, cosmic trash bin! Why have I not retaken Cybertron?! And most importantly, why have I been saddled with such a useless pile of junk for followers!" 
"But, mighty Galvatron, we humble Sweeps need energon to—" 
"It's power you want?! I will give you power!"
:—'''Galvatron''' in his rage demands to know from '''Scourge''' and the Sweeps why he isn't victorious. He takes out his frustrations on them until the Quintessons arrive.

"Quintesson! You have betrayed us to the Autobots once before. Why should I trust you?" 
"Heh heh. Please, Galvatron, you can't lay one bad experience on the doorstep of the whole Quintesson race. Besides, how can you be so certain that we were the ones who betrayed you?" 
"Well...you all do look alike."
:—'''Galvatron''' and the '''Quintessons''' as the latter manipulate the Decepticon leader as part of their new plan to retake Cybertron

"YO, JOE! Here I come to save the day. Ayay-yaya-yai! Can this be...the end...of little Wreck-Gar? Oh, no!"
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' saves Ultra Magnus from the Dweller's energy-draining web, only to get trapped in it himself and be drained.

[[Image:DwellerDepth.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cybertron has a C.H.U.D. problem too.]]

"Come on, Wreck-Gar, buddy! They haven't canceled your series yet!"
:—'''Springer''' frees the energy-drained Wreck-Gar from the Dweller's rear pouch.

"Be a good soldier and help him." 
"Galvatron, NO! I beg you!"
:—'''Galvatron''' sacrifices another '''Sweep''' to the energy vampires that are approaching.

"I don't know what that thing is back in the tunnels, but even if it gets me as well, I'll die with the satisfaction that the universe will have two more Autobots to mourn!"
:—'''Galvatron''' as he is about to attack Ultra Magnus and Arcee, not realising that the Dweller is fast approaching.

==Notes==
*This isn’t the only energy leech to plague the Transformers, as a few episodes later, [[Tornedron]] will make an appearance in "[[Call of the Primitives]]".

===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Dwelleroptimusgeneric.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Maybe our disguises will fool him!]]
* Perceptor's cannon is on the wrong shoulder in the first shot he's in.
* As usual, Galvatron's chin changes from dark grey to grey throughout the episode.
* As the Quintesson scientist notes that the power core mission is a "peace offering" to Galvatron, the long-faced Quintesson's face is brown instead of green.
* When Galvatron and the Sweeps are entering the abandoned shaft, Galvatron has a small head.
* Just before a commercial break, as Cyclonus is being chased by a Trans-Organic, the rectangle on his chest isn't colored (it should be orange).
* As one of the Sweeps is killed by a Trans-Organic, his scream is in Galvatron's voice.
* Magnus' gun sounds like Prime's gun.
* When Galvatron throws the last Sweep at the group of "vampires," the Sweep's Decepticon logo has an overly large crest.
* After throwing Galvatron, Ultra Magnus is missing the Autobot logo on his shoulder.
* When Arcee and Magnus note that they'll come for Galvatron later, both of them are missing their Autobot logos (and most of their detailing as well).
* When Perceptor notes the "unknown force," his Autobot logo is lined in black instead of white. This happens several more times over the rest of episode.
* The next shot has the lights going dim, well before the Dweller has reached the power core.
* Ultra Magnus and Arcee arrive a shot later, Arcee's Autobot logo disappears for a frame.
* As Magnus says, "So what can we do about it?," Arcee is missing her "wings."
* When he hits the console with his arm tool, Perceptor's chest is white instead of red.
* When the Dweller reaches Cybertron's surface, Hot Spot and Groove are seen shooting at it, but Hot Spot is colored like Optimus Prime and Groove is colored like Wheelie.
* As he notes releasing the power core is the only way to stop the creature, Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line.
* As the Dweller reaches the core, its eyes are black instead of glowing yellow.
* "Now!" - Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line.
* As the Autobots watch the core blast off, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
* As Perceptor works on the auxiliary generator, his right hand can be seen ''through'' a pillar.
* In the next shot, Arcee's nose is missing its bridge.

===Continuity errors===
* When the Autobots are buried by Galvatron's shot, it takes Springer to blast them out of it, even though Ultra Magnus drove himself out of rubble in [[Carnage in C-Minor]].

===Transformer references===
* The Quintessons remark on the Autobots' ancestors being the ones responsible for their exile from Cybertron.
* When the Dweller drains all the energy from a Transformer, it turns grey (like Optimus Prime when he died).
* The shot of the Autobots watching the core get blasted away is very similar to the shot of them watching Unicron's head get blasted away (in [[Ghost in the Machine]]). Only, here they aren't cheering and Wreck-Gar is standing where Kup was.

===Real-world references===
* This episode is heavily influenced by the writings of [[wikipedia:H.P._Lovecraft|H.P. Lovecraft]].
* Wreck-Gar quotes the catchphrases of both the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team and [[wikipedia:Mighty Mouse|Mighty Mouse]].
**While "Ai-yai-yai" is a fairly generic cry of distress, his TV-mania almost certainly makes it a quote from Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) in ''[[wikipedia:I Love Lucy|I Love Lucy]]''.
**"Can this be...the end...of little Wreck-Gar?" parodies the dying words of Edward G. Robinson's title character in ''[[wikipedia:Little Caesar|Little Caesar]]''.

===Trivia===
* When Cyclonus calls for help from Galvatron after the Dweller grabs him, Galvatron turns and...actually ''hesitates'' for a moment before moving on. Clearly he has ''some'' regard for Cyclonus, despite his usual disgust and abuse.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_dweller_in_the_depths.html Dossier on the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dweller in the Depths}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Ghost in the Machine (G1)

2011-03-23T09:56:34Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=80
|ep2=16
|prev2=Fight or Flee
|next2=Webworld
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=22
|prev3=Masquerade
|next3=The Ultimate Weapon
|image=GhostMachine Starscream Scourge Unicron.JPG
|caption=Screw you guys, I'm going home.
|title="Ghost in the Machine"
|production code=700-100
|airdate=[[October 21]], 1986
|written by=[[Joey Kurihara Piedra]] [[Michael Charles Hill]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Set on regaining a physical body, the ghost of Starscream possesses Scourge and makes a deal with the devil.'''

:''Japanese title:'' スタースクリームの復活 (''Starscream no Fukkatsu'', "Starscream's Revival")
:''German title:'' "'''Der Geist im Roboter'''" ("The Ghost inside the Robot")
:''German'' Generation 2 ''title:'' "'''Starscream kehrt zurück'''" ("Starscream Returns")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Prizrak v mashine'''" (''Призрак в машине'', "Ghost in the Machine")
==Synopsis==
[[Image:GhostMachine Scourge approaches Unicron.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Your ''break''fast, Sir!]]

On [[Chaar]], the [[Decepticon]]s are following [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]'s ghost appears and possesses [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Despite his better efforts, Starscream forces Scourge to fire on Galvatron, then flees with [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] in pursuit. Cyclonus follows as far as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he breaks off, assuming that Scourge has defected to the [[Autobot]]s. But that is not Starscream's goal. He instead flies to the severed head of [[Unicron]]. Using Scourge to reactivate the Dark God, Starscream offers his services in exchange for a new body. Unicron agrees to restore him to life in exchange for three labors. The first labor is to bring [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Sensors|eyes]] to Unicron. With nowhere else to go, Scourge agrees to serve Unicron.

[[Image:GhostMachine Metroplex eye explode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|There are no eye-drops for this.]]

On Earth, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] arrives for an inspection of [[Autobot City]], when Scourge and Starscream make their move. Destroying Metroplex's security system, the two Decepticons steal the eyes, but [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] cause Scourge to drop one, shattering it. Fleeing, Metroplex [[Transformation|transforms]], but cannot see, and begins firing on the Autobots. However, a photon bomb disables Metroplex, causing him to crash. Lacking one eye, the two head back for Chaar, where they dispatch the [[Battlecharger]]s, outwit Starscream's [[Seeker (body-type)|former soldiers]], and steal one of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s eyes. In addition, Starscream possesses [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to serve as their ride home, where Astrotrain is left to the mercy of the Autobots. Upon learning of what happened, Galvatron reacts in a rational, controlled manner... for Galvatron.

[[Image:Dirge AlmostDeath.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Galvatron settles an old score with the wall.]]

Pleased with his new eyes, Unicron informs Starscream and Scourge of their next labor: bring Trypticon to Unicron (should have told them that before they left). Starscream heads off to complete the task. Meanwhile, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] interrogates Astrotrain, who claims not to remember what happened, but [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] reveals that Unicron has his eyes back! [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] takes [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to investigate, but Unicron drives them off. Scourge is becoming nervous, but Unicron warns his creation that he can take what he has given. On Chaar, Galvatron orders the Battlechargers and [[Conehead|Coneheads]] to locate Starscream and Scourge, only for Trypticon to transform, under Starscream's control, and depart, with the Decepticons in pursuit.

As the Autobots prepare for the Decepticon assault, Unicron commands Starscream to remove Trypticon's [[transformation cog]] and place it in Unicron. The Decepticons arrive and attack, but Starscream uses Trypticon to disable their weapons. As the Decepticons flee, Unicron commands his minions to complete the third labor—connect Unicron's head to Cybertron, making it his new body. Scourge decides to book it, and Starscream is left to complete the task. Scourge tries to warn Galvatron, but he doesn't care. Scourge then heads to the Autobots, and warns them of Unicron's intentions.

[[Image:GhostMachine Unicron starscream jumpers.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Refusing to call Triple-A, Starscream prepares to jumpstart Unicron.]]

Within Trypticon, the Battlecharges and the Coneheads disable Starscream's control over Trypticon, so Starscream demands his body to complete the labors. Unicron restores his body, but Starscream (surprise, surprise), tells Unicron to connect himself to Cybertron. However, the Autobots manage to plant some [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]] on Unicron's head. They detonate the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], causing Unicron's head to return to orbit and Starscream to go flying. Thrown past the Decepticons, Galvatron orders them to fire on Starscream. When their shots begin hitting him, Cyclonus wonders why Starscream's ghost has lost control.

On Cybertron, Rodimus agrees to allow Scourge and Astrotrain to leave, in exchange for their help. He then tells the Autobots of their new mission to retrieve Metroplex's eye, but then reveals that he was joking, saying that the eyes were probably destroyed in the explosion.

Unseen by the Autobots, Unicron's eye twinkles in the night...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (with [[Scamper]]) (9)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (10)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (11)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (14)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (15)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (16)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (17)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
* [[Slingshot]] (19)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (26)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (27)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (28)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (29)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (30)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (31)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (cameo) (33)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (2)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (3)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (5)
* [[Headstrong]] (6)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (7)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (20)
* [[Runabout]] (21)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (22)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (23)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (24)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (25)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (32)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Unicron|Unicron's head]] (8)
}}

==Quotes==
"THERE IS NO REASONING WITH HIM! DESTROY HIM! HE'S LOST HIS MIND!"
:—'''Galvatron''', calling [[Scourge (G1)|the kettle]] black.

"Aerialbots! Wait for... umm... nevermind."
:—'''Warpath''', getting left behind.

"Decepticon intruders IN MY BRAIN!"
:—'''Metroplex''', on the perils of being city-sized.

"Where are my eyes?!"
:—'''Metroplex''' would look around for them if he could.

"First, you two let Scourge and Starscream steal one of Trypticon's eyes. And then you two allowed Astrotrain to be used as their escape vehicle. So Scourge is helping Starscream voluntarily, and you four were unable to stop them! Well, all I can say is...BWWWAAAAAAA!"
:—'''Galvatron''', giving his outbust a rare preamble.

"Why did Galvatron have you attack Cybertron all by yourself? Are you stupid or just obedient?"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''', getting sassy with Astrotrain

"I don't have to show you no stinking passes."
:—'''Starscream''' has picked up some [[wikipedia:Stinking_badges|Earth culture]].

"Starscream! You are a dead mechanism!" 
"Of course I'm dead, Galvatron! But not for much longer. And then are you going to be sorry!" 
"I'm already sorry!"
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Starscream''', bickering like [[Megatron (G1)|old times]].

"Unicron! If you want the connection made, you'd better give me a new body now!" 
"You shall have it." 
''(Unicron shoots lasers from his eyes, and Starscream's body is reformed)'' 
"I live again!" 
"Now, do my bidding. Complete the connection!" 
"Ha! Do it yourself!"
:—'''Unicron''' bet on the wrong pony, and '''Starscream''' just loves being a prick.

"Wait a minute, since when do ghosts tumble out of control through space?"
:—'''Cyclonus''', catching up with the plot.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Headstrong's gun sounds like Galvatron's cannon.
* In this episode, Cyclonus' eyebrows are purple. His chin is still grey, though.
* Unicron's helmet was all-gold [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1| the last time we saw it]]. Now it's blue with gold horns.
* After entering Unicron, Scourge/Starscream lands and walks forward. Look at the background - it turns dark and suddenly flashes back to the previous background again.
* As he says, "Only three?," Starscream's eyes are suddenly huge.
* When Bumblebee and Spike discover Scourge stealing Metroplex's eyes, Bumblebee has enormous wheels.
* Just before setting the charge inside Metroplex, Scourge's eyes are blue instead of red.
* After the bomb goes off, the next shot of the inside of Metroplex shows a star background on his monitor. A few shots later, it's the usual Earth sky.
* When Silverbolt says that he doesn't see any enemy, he and Skydive are both mouthing the words.
* As Scourge exits Astrotrain/Starscream to dig out Metroplex's eye, he's still carrying Trypticon's eye. It disappears in the next shot.
* As he re-enters Astrotrain/Starscream, Scourge just sort of clips into him through a solid wall.
* In a few scenes, Hot Spot has a mouth on his faceplate.
* The tops of Rodimus' shoulders are the same color as his arms in this episode. [[Fight or Flee|The last time we saw him]], they were white.
* The inside of Ultra Magnus' mouth is red for most of the episode.
* Groove has a totally different voice for his one line ("locked and loaded!"), sounding somewhat like Beachcomber. Usually he sounds more like a higher-pitched Trailbreaker.
* When he accuses Astrotrain of stealing Metroplex's eyes, Magnus' whole face is blue.
* As Sky Lynx approaches him, Unicron's eyes are missing again.
* During Scourge's attack on him, Sky Lynx has a Decepticon symbol on his nose.
* Hot Spot says, "Look out, Scourge!" when he probably meant to say, "Look out, it's Scourge!"
* As he berates his troops, the tops of Galvatron's shoulders are missing their red squares.
* As Scourge is brought to Rodimus, an overhead shot shows Ultra Magnus with circular cogs on his shoulders instead of the usual white pillars.
* Magnus' line, "Let's plant the energon explosives and get out of here," is cut off in the middle.
* When Galvatron shoots at Starscream, his cannon sounds like a regular Decepticon laser.
* When Rodimus shakes Magnus' hand, Magnus has an Autobot symbol on his left shoulder. He should only have one on his right shoulder.
* As Rodimus jokes about recovering Metroplex's eyes from Unicron, a reaction shot shows Magnus' other (right) shoulder. This ''should'' have an Autobot symbol, but doesn't!
* As Rodimus jokes about recovering Metroplex's eyes from Unicron, one shot shows a solid wall behind him even though he's still standing in front of the display (showing space).
* ''After'' Rodimus jokes about recovering Metroplex's eyes from Unicron, Hot Spot is shown with Ultra Magnus's color scheme.

===Continuity errors===
*While Scourge makes a respectable attempt at fighting off Starscream's control of his body in this episode, he displayed no such strength of will when he was possessed by the latter at the end of "[[Starscream's Ghost]]". Of course this time he could have been some what familiar with Starscream's forceful takeover techniques and able to mount a better resistance.
*Cyclonus won't go near Unicron's head because that would alert the Autobots, but they don't seem to notice Scourge approaching it.
*Putting one wire back together is enough to reactivate Unicron's mind! You'd think Rodimus would have done more to make it unrepairable.
*[[Triple Takeover|It's not unprecedented]] for Autobots to come back from being seriously injured, but Powerglide appears alive and well, even though he was blown up by the Quintessons [[Dark Awakening|the last time we saw him]].
*Starscream enters Kup's body and somehow immediately causes an explosion in a random wall that blows out Metroplex's ''entire'' security system.
*Following that scene, Scourge is already in Metroplex. Nobody noticed him fly to Earth? What happened to the Earth Defense Command satellites?
*What is Trypticon doing on that random planet? And why doesn't he notice Scourge stealing his eye?
*Although undoubtedly big, Metroplex and Trypticon's eyes should be ''way'' too small for Unicron to use as like-for-like replacements.
*Ultra Magnus accuses Astrotrain of stealing Metroplex's eye'''s''', but Scourge/Starscream only took one (the other one broke).
*Why don't the Autobots just blast Unicron's repaired circuits as soon as they enter his head?
*When Scourge approaches Galvatron he says, "Galvatron, don't shoot!" Galvatron states he couldn't even if he wanted to, because Trypticon neutralized their weapons (somehow). Yet, when Starscream's out of control body flies past him, he begins firing on him.
*It's odd that Unicron wants Starscream to bring Trypticon to him just to get his transformation cog. Why not just steal the cog as they did in "[[The Ultimate Weapon]]"?
* Why doesn't Rodimus just jump inside Unicron's head and open the Matrix again?
* What happens to Trypticon (and the Decepticons inside him) when Unicron's head is blasted away?
* Why does Starscream "tumble through space" if he could just transform and fly away?
* Arcee appears in one shot of the episode, as the Autobots cheer when Unicron's head is blasted away.
* Warpath and Bumblebee appear (for one shot each) on the Autobots' base on Cybertron at the end of the episode. Is there some reason why they made the trip there from Earth?
* Rodimus jokes about recovering Metroplex's eye'''s''' from Unicron. One of the eyes is Trypticon's.

===Transformers references===
*Only appearance of [[Runabout]].
*This episode marks the last appearances of [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] in the series.
*This episode is the second appearance of Starscream's ghost. His first appearance was in the G1 episode "[[Starscream's Ghost]]". His ghost makes a third appearance in the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Possession]]" in which he takes over [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]].

===Real-world references===
* The title's literal meaning obviously applies to the events of the episode, but the phrase has a history in philosophical discourse. It was [[Wikipedia:Ghost in the machine|coined as a pejorative]] against the [[Wikipedia:Mind-body dichotomy|mind-body split]] of [[wikipedia:René Descartes|Cartesian]] dualism, and by the time this episode was made, it had also been used as the title of [[wikipedia:The Ghost in the Machine|a book]] and [[wikipedia:Ghost in the Machine (album)|a rock album]].
* Starscream delivers the line, "I don't have to show you no [[wikipedia:Stinking_badges|stinking passes]]"

===Trivia===
* Scourge demonstrates an extraordinary level of willpower in this episode. Of all the Transformers Starscream is seen possessing in both this episode and "[[Starscream's Ghost]]", he is the only one who puts up a fight for control of his own body and retains his memories of what happened while "under the influence". (This is admittedly inconsistent with the ending of the prequel to this episode, however.)
* Unicron displays the ability to electrocute the Autobots inside his head and expel them through his neck.
* Starscream is last seen tumbling away through space in his new body, possibly damaged from Galvatron's attacks but still very much alive. This is sometimes seen as a point of conflict with his appearance as a ghost in the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Possession]]". Fans have reconciled this by speculating that he died again off-screen, or else traveled through time to the ''Beast Wars'' era (and back) before this episode took place chronologically. Alternatively, the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon does not follow strictly from any specific Generation 1 continuity, allowing the "error" to be dismissed entirely.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / The Nightmare Planet / The Ghost in the Machine ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — A Ghost in the Machine / Heavy Metal Wars ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Action Adventure Collection II (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 11: The Decepticon Possession ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/ghost_in_the_machine.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Carnage in C-Minor

2011-03-23T08:40:07Z

75.2.136.86: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=82
|ep2=14
|prev2=Surprise Party
|next2=Fight or Flee
|image=Carnage C-Minor Autobots harmonic attack.JPG
|caption=[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime|Hey, what is that awful noise? Okay, let me straighten him out!]]
|title="Carnage in C-Minor"
|production code=700-102
|airdate=[[October 14]], 1986
|written by=[[Buzz Dixon]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Several Autobots and Decepticons battle over a planet whose civilization revolves around music and whose inhabitants can use sound as a powerful weapon.'''

:''Japanese title:'' "'''音楽惑星の挑戦'''" (''Ongaku Wakusei no Chōsen'', "Challenge of the Music Planet")
:'' German title:'' "'''Das Gemetzel in Cis-Mol'''" ("The Slaughter in Cis-Mol")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Broadsidecrushesdevastator.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Die, Atlas!]]

The [[Decepticon]]s are building engines into the side of a comet in order to alter its course and crash it on top of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. As they fire up the engines, a group of [[Autobot]]s close in, led there by [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. The Autobots attack, much to [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s dismay. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who is promptly flattened when [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] drops on him in ship mode. In the ensuing battle, the engines are destroyed, and the comet is sent hurtling towards a small planet, which Perceptor reports is inhabited.

The Autobots attempt unsuccessfully to stop the comet before Galvatron again orders his men to engage their foe. While Galvatron and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are grappling, waves of [[Harmony|sound energy]] destroy the comet and cause both groups of Transformers to plummet to the planet's surface. In a nearby city, three aliens are having a disagreement. One of them, [[Allegra]], storms out, saying that she's going to her retreat.

The Transformers recover from their crash, wondering what hit them. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] describes it as the most perfect harmony ever, but Galvatron is more interested in its destructive power. Broadside breaks up the discussion by punching Galvatron, and the fight resumes. As the Constructicons form Devastator again, Perceptor blows the giant apart with one shot from his cannon. Galvatron and Soundwave depart in search of the source of the harmony they heard earlier, but Ultra Magnus spots them leaving and takes Broadside and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in pursuit. Perceptor reflects that unless the trio are swift, there might not be much of them left.

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Blaster Magnus Basso.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"I now pronounce you bot and wife. You may kiss the bride."]]

Broadside swiftly passes the two Decepticons and overflies the city, which Blaster realises is laid out like a musical harmony. Magnus and Blaster meet with [[Basso Profundo]], leader of the planet [[Eurythma]], but Basso refuses to help them, believing that the harmony is all his people need to protect themselves. He drops a hint that Allegra might be able to help them, a fact overheard by Galvatron and Soundwave, who are spying outside. As the three Autobots go in search of Allegra, the Decepticons drop a bridge on them. To make sure, Galvatron blasts the wreckage, and the pair fly off to find Allegra.

Basso watches the two Decepticons leave, and fellow [[Eurythman]] [[Zebop Skandana]] uses a harmony to help the Autobots out of the rubble. Blaster realises that Zebop was creating part of the harmony which originally blew the Autobots out of space, and Zebop says he's sympathetic to their cause and will help them find Allegra.

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Galvatron Soundwave Allegra.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Galvatron loved going to the opera. He always showed his appreciation by blowing the theater to kingdom come afterwards.]]

The two Decepticons meet Allegra, offering to help her overthrow Basso in return for the secret of the harmony. She obliges and Soundwave records it, but to Galvatron's rage, it turns out that she is only one part of the harmony; Basso and Zebop make up the other two thirds. Still, when the Autobots arrive with Zebop, Soundwave is testing the part of the harmony he has by destroying a rock. The Autobots set up an ambush, but Zebop is so distressed by the fact that Allegra is working with the Decepticons that he gives away their position. Galvatron starts firing, and Zebop takes refuge in Ultra Magnus's cab. Soundwave begins battering the Autobots with the harmony. When Zebop counters with ''his'' part of the harmony, Soundwave promptly records it and uses the resulting two-thirds of the harmony to devastating effect.

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Allegra Zebop.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Alas, poor Zebop. We knew him we- Wait. No, we don't.]]

With the Autobots apparently gone, Galvatron terminates the alliance with Allegra. She attempts to attack them with her part of the harmony, but Soundwave retaliates, knocking her out. The Autobots climb out of their hole in time to prevent Galvatron from terminating the Eurythman, but during the resulting fight, Blaster and Soundwave struggle and accidentally fall on Zebop. Galvatron grabs his minion and departs, leaving Allegra cradling Zebop in her arms. Though the Autobots believe he's had it, Allegra uses a harmony to revive him. The Autobots leave for the city.

Back at the landing site, the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons are still fighting. Hot Spot voices his hope that Magnus, Blaster and Broadside hurry. The Eurythmans have spotted the battle, and Basso uses an amplifier to direct a destructive harmony at it. [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] is forced to disassemble, but the two factions fight on. Basso is depressed, and his aide points out he needs Allegra and Zebop to complete the harmony. Arriving, Soundwave begins playing two-thirds of the harmony, shaking the city and provoking Basso into using the third part again, which Soundwave promptly records. He is subsequently able to use the complete harmonic weapon to attack the city. Pleased, Galvatron announces their next targets are Metroplex and then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Soundwave harmony.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Soundwave finds himself too big to fly through the rings in the Training Stage.]]

Ultra Magnus's party arrives back at the city to find it devastated and their fellow Autobots badly damaged. The Eurythmans are able to repair Perceptor and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] with a harmony, and the Autobots set off for Earth.

Galvatron and Soundwave attack Metroplex with the harmony, but the Autobots soon arrive with the three Eurythmans, who nullify Soundwave's weapon with anti-sound. Blaster grabs Soundwave and uses his buttons to erase the harmony from Soundwave's tapes. Despite Galvatron raging that he hasn't ordered a retreat, the Decepticons flee anyway. The Autobots return the Eurythmans to their world, where Ultra Magnus tells them they need to learn to live in harmony.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (10)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (11)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (15)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (16)
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (21)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (22)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (23)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (24)
*[[Scamper]] (25)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (26)

|c2=
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (1)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (14)

|c4=
*[[Basso Profundo]] (17)
*[[Allegra]] (18)
*[[Zebop Skandana]] (19)
*[[Basso's consort]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"What was that?!" 
"That was heaven. The purest, most vibrant, most perfect harmony I've ever heard."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Soundwave''' wonder what hit them, to the latter's monotoned enjoyment.

"You! Because of you, I got blasted out of space. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THAT DID TO MY PAINT JOB?!"
:—'''Broadside''', right before he sucker-punches Galvatron

"Broadside! Blaster! Galvatron and Soundwave went to find the weapon that knocked us out of space!" 
"Weapon? That was no weapon. That was harmonic bliss! A musical kiss!" 
"Whatever."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''', who doesn't have any soul, and '''Blaster''', who does.

"Blaster, you picking up anything?" 
"Yeah, yeah! Beauty like you wouldn't believe, Broadside. Sweet soul music. It's their art, their commerce, their philosophy, their whole—uh-oh, bummer. Galvatron and Soundwave are here."
:—'''Broadside''' and '''Blaster''' get their vibes harshed.

"I don't wanna see your ugly face, just the button that says 'ERASE'!" 
"My tapes! You've erased my tapes!"
:—'''Blaster''' destroys '''Soundwave'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s tapes, to the Decepticon's monotoned horror.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
"Carnage in C-Minor" is infamous among the [[fandom]] for the sheer number of, and particularly ''glaring'' nature of, animation errors in this episode. Among the more prominent are the following:

* The Transformation sound effects are frequently cut off.

* Soundwave's head crest is supposed to be the same blue as his body, but its lines and/or triangle randomly turn grey throughout the episode. His back piece is also grey when it should be blue.

* Speaking of Soundwave, his face plate doesn't move when he speaks for most of this episode.

* Throughout the entire episode, Broadside is drawn with a previously [[:Image:BroadsideCarnage.jpg|discarded]] [[character model]].

* Devastator is the exact same size as Soundwave during the start of the first battle.

* Devastator also appears before he forms later in the battle.

* While the Autobots are shooting at the meteor, they are so badly drawn that they appear to have only one leg each, left arms starting from the elbows, and enormous heads...and Superion is tiny.

*When Bonecrusher orders the formation of Devastator, he's wearing an Autobot insignia. See also the continuity error below.

* When the Constructicons form Devastator for the second time, the first shot shows four Constructicons forming the legs and the torso. The second shot shows three robots forming the arms and upper torso. This means that [[Devastator (ROTF)|''seven'' Constructicons formed Devastator.]]

* After watching Galvatron and Soundwave leave, Ultra Magnus dispatches Hook and Scrapper—by picking them up in his hands and bashing them together. Magnus is supposed to be big, but not ''that'' big. (It's ''possible'' that the animators used the [[toy]]s for reference, unaware that the cartoon [[scale]] traditionally doesn't match the toys' scale in this case.)

* Blaster, Ultra Magnus and Zebop are shown hanging onto Broadside while he flies around. Sometimes, the shots make them appear tiny or not to be hanging onto Broadside at all. (One wonders why Zebop doesn't just ride in Broadside's cockpit, as he does for the trip to Earth.)

* As Blaster and Ultra Magnus talk to Basso, Blaster is taller than Magnus in closeup shots but (correctly) shorter than him in the long shots.

* As Galvatron shoots the bridge, his cannon has the usual Decepticon laser sound effect rather than its own sound effect.

* Broadside's eyes are yellow when he gets up from under the rubble on the bridge.

* When Galvatron and Soundwave first talk to Allegra, Soundwave has eyes rather than a visor for most of the shots (something that actually happens in much of the episode). One shot also has his face colored blue instead of grey (again, this happens several times later on). And Soundwave looks very small next to Galvatron (Galvatron even picks him up!), even though most of the other shots show them to be almost the same height.

* Soundwave points out that Zebop is standing in the distance, while Galvatron says that "he ''probably'' is with the Autobots." Yet, Ultra Magnus is standing right next to him.

* Soundwave has a [[Shattered Glass (franchise)|purple Autobot]] [[insignia]]...''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|again]]''. So does Broadside...

* Blaster is drawn delivering Broadside's line about "scorch-marks on top of everything else".

* During part of the battle at Allegra's retreat, Hot Spot is with the Autobots instead of Broadside.

* After Soundwave blasts the Autobots into the ground, he transforms and disappears ''before'' leaving the frame.

* When Blaster explains that the Eurythmans use the harmony even for healing, Ultra Magnus is the one mouthing the words.

* Magnus also has a visor instead of eyes during that shot.

* When the Protectobots are combined as Defensor, Hot Spot (the main body) is fighting alongside his combined self!

* When Galvatron orders Soundwave to play the harmonics on Earth, Soundwave's tape deck door is the same color as his body (it should be light blue).

* When Soundwave plays the harmonics to disrupt Metroplex, the waves are shown emanating from ''Galvatron's head''!

* One shot shows Metroplex transformed, even though Soundwave is still playing the harmonic sounds.

* When Superion tackles Galvatron, they're almost the same size.

* Soundwave doesn't have ''an'' erase button, it's actually ''two'' buttons that have to be pressed (and how would Blaster know which ones to press?).

* In one scene, a cel-layering error causes Blaster to appear very tiny compared to Soundwave.

* As the Decepticons retreat, Blaster is shown flying away (again!) behind two Constructicons (it was probably supposed to be Soundwave).

* And there's even more. Seriously, how much time do you have?

<center><gallery>
Image:Carnage C-minor Magnus Broadside.JPG|[[Wikipedia:Monty Python's Life of Brian|"Hail Caesar!" "Hail Thaethar."]]
Image:Bigmagnus tinyconst.jpg|We'll take revenge by merging into Devastator.
Image:Hotspot defensor.jpg|Hey! Part of me, get back in me!
Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|It's his little shoulder-angel.
</gallery></center>

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:DeceptiBrawn1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Maybe it's not Bonecrusher, but a rare cameo by Roadhauler?]]
* In one infamous scene, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (who should also be dead) show up alive and well. And it seems [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] has switched sides, as he's helping them shoot at the giant Decepticon rocket engine he just helped build! (Huffer has the wrong paint job, too.)

* To add insult to injury, Devastator is shooting at the Autobots ''before'' the Constructicons form Devastator.

* Soundwave travels with Galvatron to find the source of the harmony. However, when the scene returns to the battle outside the city, Soundwave is with the other Decepticons at the same time.

* Several Autobots fly during this episode, even ones who aren't really supposed to (Ultra Magnus, for instance).

* Nobody noticed the Decepticons fly to Earth? What happened to the Earth Defense Command satellites?

* When the Decpeticons reach Earth, they ''pass'' Autobot City (in the usual lush valley) to reach Metroplex, who seems to be hanging out in a barren desert for no reason.

===Real-world references===
* The Eurythman characters' names are all music-related puns. Allegra is named after either the Italian operetta and opera composer [[Wikipedia:Salvatore Allegra|Salvatore Allegra]] or [[Wikipedia:Tempo#Italian tempo markings|Italian tempo marking "allegro"]], while Basso Profundo is derived from the singing style [[Wikipedia:Bass (voice type)|basso prof'''o'''ndo]]. While these are all related to classical music, Zebop Skandana is named after popular music guitarist [[Wikipedia:Carlos Santana|Carlos Santana]] and his 1981 album [[Wikipedia:Zebop!|Zebop!]]... And the difference shows.

* Eurythma was possibly named after the popular '80s band [[wikipedia:Eurythmics|The Eurythmics]].

===Trivia===
* "Carnage in C-Minor" is widely regarded by fans as the worst episode of all ''Transformers'' series, but this is seemingly due to the sheer volume of animation errors (and poor animation overall), as well as the glaringly obvious nature of many of the individual errors. However, the actual ''plot'' is certainly not the weakest to grace the cartoon series, and its "continuity errors" have little to nothing to do with the script itself...certainly not to the level of, say, "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]".

* That said, there is plenty of inanity to be found in the story too. For instance: Despite the aliens' dialog being in perfectly understandable English (or Galactic Standard or whatever), because they say everything in a sing-song rhythm, apparently none of the Transformers except Blaster and Soundwave can understand them, and the two tape decks spend a large (and annoying) amount of time translating Eurythman to "non-sing-song" for everyone else.

* While not strictly an animation ''error'' per se, the number of Autobots appearing in this episode seems a little inconsistent, with several characters appearing, disappearing or seemingly replacing others with no clear indication of how many there are fighting in what place at any given time.

* Galvatron and Soundwave are briefly seen holding hands whilst flying.

* Apparently, a single blast from [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[lightning cannon]] can cause [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to disassemble! And [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] believes that intellectuals are weak.

* In hindsight, it wasn't the best idea for Soundwave to have his erase button open so it could be pushed by a enemy. Or to have an erase button in the first place. For their sake, we hope [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and the other [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]] had their copy-protection tabs removed.

* Anyone else bothered that this "sonic weapon" was used to destroy a comet IN SPACE?

* This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 1999]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Carnage in C Minor / The Ultimate Weapon ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/carnage_in_c-minor.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808817/ IMDb's page for this episode]

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

Webworld

2011-03-23T08:10:34Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|image=Webworld Galvatron psychiatrist.jpg
|caption="So, Galvatron, tell me about your mother". "She was delicious".
|ep=81
|series2=2010
|ep2=17
|prev2=Ghost in the Machine
|next2=The Dweller in the Depths
|title="Webworld"
|production code=700-101
|airdate=[[October 20]], 1986
|written by=[[Len Wein]] [[Diane Duane]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In an attempt to cure Galvatron's madness, Cyclonus takes him to the medical planet Torkulon.'''

:''Japanese title:'' クモの巣惑星 (''Kumo no Su Wakusei'', "The Planet of Spider's Nest")
:''German title:'' "'''Galvatron dreht durch'''" ("Galvatron goes Crazy")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Mir pawootiny'''" (''Мир паутины'', "Webworld")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:GalvatronUltraWebworld.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Help! He's touching my special area!]]

The Decepticons approach an asteroid belt in deep space, searching for a material known as [[isodrite]]. As Galvatron rants about crushing his enemies and everyone else, Ratbat finds an isodrite deposit — already being mined by the Autobots. A battle ensues, during which Galvatron spends nearly as much time bashing his own troops aside as he does firing at the Autobots. With his "help", the bemused Autobots make a clean escape aboard Sky Lynx.

Back on Chaar, Motormaster and Swindle have words with Cyclonus: either do something about Galvatron's madness, or face rebellion. A holographic image of a Quintesson appears to Cyclonus, and advises him that there are planets which specialize in repairing damaged minds, such as [[Torkulon]]. Not knowing what else to do, Cyclonus considers the idea, while the Quintessons gloat among themselves that shortly they will have several less Transformers to deal with — including the "most dangerously unpredictable of them all."

[[Image:GalvatronWebworld.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Planet of the Psychiatrist Apes]]
Cyclonus lies to Galvatron, informing him that the Autobots are resting on Torkulon after their most recent skirmish; the deranged leader eagerly takes the bait, flying to the planet with Cyclonus and the Sweeps. Upon landing, Galvatron threatens several alien flesh creatures, demanding that they hand over Ultra Magnus. The intelligent Torkuli arrive shortly; when Galvatron predictably refuses their orders for non-violence, they restrain him. Galvatron quickly realizes Cyclonus has deceived him. Galvatron is carried away to begin his therapy, while Cyclonus fills out a small ream of paperwork.

As the therapy proceeds, Scourge has his doubts — "This is stupid! Let's get him out of here!" Cyclonus says to at least give it a chance. The Torkuli are unsuccessful in getting Galvatron to talk about his problems, and even less successful when they have him put together external objects to repair his damaged psyche: Galvatron builds himself a blaster and tries to escape. Finally they attempt "exo-drama" where patients act out their problems but a bouncing alien screaming at Galvatron finally causes him to snap further, shouting back that "I'll give you something to scream about!!" Galvatron becomes immune to the electromagnetic restraints of the Torkuli; they throw everything they have at him, restraining him for their last resort — the Alya solution.

The chief therapist reveals that Torkulon itself is a living planet, and can manifest itself in the form of insectoid creatures that consume the damaged portions of those who cannot be helped, in effect lobotomizing the planet's victims and leaving them mindless. Cyclonus protests and demands Galvatron's release, but he and Scourge are also restrained by the Torkuli.

[[Image:GalvatronAliaWebworld.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Should've chosen a BUPA home.]]

The Alya begin to feed on Galvatron who continues to resist: "You have no right to change what I am!" The Torkuli doctor informs him "You've already been changed; that's the problem." Cyclonus can barely watch as his leader's mind is invaded by Torkulon — but something goes wrong. The madness of Galvatron proves to be too strong for the living planet, causing it to malfunction. In the chaos, Galvatron, Scourge and Cyclonus are released from the planet's grasp. After taking a few shots at Cyclonus for getting him in this mess, Galvatron fights to the center of the planet, having seen into its mind while it was inside his. The planet fears Galvatron's madness and destructive potential and attempts to restrain him, but Galvatron powers his way through to its living-computer core. Several cannon mode blasts render the entire planet inoperable. Galvatron informs Cyclonus he will now destroy whatever is left, and warns Cyclonus against stopping him.

After the planet is reduced to smoke and rubble, Galvatron gloats over the beauty of "devastation wrought with precision and care," seemingly just a little more sane... until Cyclonus informs Galvatron that it will take the Torkuli centuries to rebuild. Galvatron decides his work isn't done if it's going to take "only centuries", but a weary Cyclonus suggests that the Autobots might be a more pressing concern. Galvatron smiles at the prospect of killing Ultra Magnus; the Decepticons flee the planet, leaving the Torkuli at the mercy of their former insane patients.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (8)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (10)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (11)

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (1)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (2)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (3)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (4)
* [[Sweep]]s (5)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (6)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (15)
* [[Torkuli]] (16)
* [[Alya]] (17)
* [[Torkulon]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:GalvatronCyclonusWebworld.jpg|right|200px|thumb|We never talk anymore.]]

"Mighty Galvatron, please! We must use strategy and—" 
"Strategy is for COWARDS!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron''' debate strategy...or lack thereof.

"Remarkable. Galvatron is doing most of the work for us." 
:—'''Perceptor''' watches Galvatron bash his way through his own troops

"This isn't over, Autobots! Do you hear me?! This isn't over!!" 
"You're starting to sound like Galvatron! ''(Galvatron stares at him)'' Not that that's a bad thing!" 
:-'''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge'''

"I have no head...I have no head...I have no head...!"
:—A three-headed '''patient'''

"Just say whatever comes to mind." 
"Kill...smash...destroy!" 
"Err...yes...go on." 
"Rend...MANGLE...DISTORT!"
:—A '''therapist''' starts '''Galvatron''' on word association

"I'll destroy everything here—everything! And THEN, I'll destroy the Autobots!" 
"Yes...tell me about the Autobots." 
"I ''hate'' Autobots! I hate ''Cyclonus''! And I'm not very fond of ''you'', either!"
:—'''Galvatron''' ends word association, and attempts to end his '''therapist'''

"You wanna scream? I'll give you something to scream about!"
:—'''Galvatron''' playing the abusive parent role.

"You cannot stop me! I am ''Galvatron!'' I am your ''destruction!''" 
"He ''is'' crazy."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Cyclonus'''. It took him long enough to notice it.

"This, Cyclonus, is beauty: devastation wrought with precision and care." 
"It will take the Torkuli centuries to rebuild." 
"....only ''CENTURIES?!?'' Are you certain? Then perhaps my work is not finished!" 
"Haven't we more pressing concerns, mighty one? The Autobots, for instance..." 
"Autobots... Ultra Magnus... yessss, yesssss!"
:—'''Galvatron''' and an exasperated '''Cyclonus''' add ethnic cleansing to your childhood memories.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Soundwave is missing all his yellow stripes as he looms up to eject Ratbat.
* Ratbat is given a high-pitched series of squeaks as he ejects... and another, lower-pitched caw at the same time, layered on top of the squeaks.
* Perhaps the script called for Galvatron's forehead to blaze with energies, as it's been seen to do on occasion. Instead, two random spots on his temples are animated lighting up like a console button.
* As Ratbat flaps over the horizon, his wings are layered behind the planet's limb instead of above it.
*Soundwave's only line in this episode once again lacks the trademark harmonics processed by [[Scott Brownlee]], meaning it once again sounds like [[wikipedia:Dr. Claw|Dr. Claw]]. This [[Roll for It|ain't]] the [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|only]] time either.
* As he speaks that line, he's missing his yellow stripes again.
*The laser blasts' colors in this episode are...odd. When the Decepticons attack the Autobots on the asteroid, their blasts are yellow (usually an Autobot blast color), orange and red. Perceptor fires a blue laser blast at Galvatron, who fires blue lasers back at him! This is a trademark element seen in the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' cartoon, which is animated by the [[Toei|same company]]: The Joes' kid-friendly lasers are red while [[Cobra Commander|Cobra]] has blue kid-friendly lasers.
* After the Sweeps miss colliding with Springer, Sky Lynx is back on the ground, and takes off a second time. He rather oddly leaves his lower half just standing there, rather than converting to lynx form. When he lands at the battle's end, he's once again combined with his lower portion.
* Scourge and his accompanying Sweeps are at least partially animated based on their older, "incorrect" [[character model]]s. Their heads are visible in their vehicle modes:
** When Sky Lynx grabs one of them in his claws
** When they transform to leave Torkulon.
* Just before Galvatron jumps him, Magnus's shoulder superstructure is blue instead of white.
* Magnus has a white missile as he grapples with Galvatron.
* The last time he grapples with Galvatron, the top of Magnus' back is red instead of grey.
* Galvatron's gun mode is mostly purple instead of its usual gray as Sludge bashes him aside.
* As the Autobots flee, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] can be seen among the damaged Sweeps, despite not being seen approaching the asteroid.
* In the wide shot of Cyclonus and company walking, they are sliding across the screen far more rapidly than the speed of their walk.
* Cyclonus's gun is white instead of gray as he points it at Swindle.
*Roger C. Carmel's inconsistency with the voice of Cyclonus starts to affect Motormaster. In this episode and "[[The Ultimate Weapon]]" (Motormaster's last speaking role in the series) his voice for Motormaster sounds weaker than before. The voice lacks most of its usual heavy flanging.
* In the second wide shot of Cyclonus speaking with the Quintesson, he's not quite standing flat on the ground.
* In the closeup of the Quintesson hologram, his mouth isn't animated as he speaks.
* Soundwave is missing his stripes and insignia as he watches Galvatron being repaired.
* Galvatron has a "goatee" in most shots, but is "clean shaven" in others (his chin is sometimes dark grey, sometimes just grey).
* As Galvatron struggles against the inhibitor blast, the Sweeps behind him are set too low on the landscape, making them look like they only come up to Galvatron's knees.
* In the shot before Galvatron is sent to Advanced Treatment, the rectangle on Cyclonus' chest isn't colored orange. In the shot after, the "eyes" on his Decepticon symbol are colored in (purple) instead of blue.
* As he professes to destroy the planet, then the Autobots, Galvatron's shoulder pieces are dark grey. In the next shot, they're back to having light grey tops with red squares. A few shots later (as he shoots the gun he built), the red squares are missing.
* After he's immobilized on the arena floor, a few shots show Galvatron floating in mid-air above the steps.
* During the Torkuli's line, "That's why your friend brought you here," the rectangle on Cyclonus' chest is yellow instead of orange. A few shots later (just before the commercial break), it's not colored in at all.
* An odd edit cuts off the head therapist: "We cannot allow you to interfere. Besides."
* As he yells, "Free me!," a closeup shows outer space behind Galvatron's face instead of the ground (or the purple webbing that surrounds him).
* As he says, "He'll be nothing at all!," Cyclonus' eyebrows are white instead of grey.
* Cyclonus's eyes are black instead of red as he observes that the planet has become infected with Galvatron's madness.
* The Sweep that transforms after the planetary overload is inexplicably given an energy glow as he transforms.
* In a closeup shot, Galvatron has two ragged holes in his forehead, but they're not seen in any other view.
* The white rectangle near Galvatron's elbow flashes between white and purple as he struggles with the web stuff in mid-air.
* Glavatron's emblem is missing just before he leaps into the crevasse.
* When Cyclonus says "He IS crazy", part of the Autobot symbol is on his chest.
* As he picks up the last Torkulon, the red squares on Galvatron's shoulders are missing.

===Continuity errors===
*Despite appearing in the group approaching the asteroid, Soundwave promptly disappears and doesn't play any part in the following battle.
* Galvatron is grappling with Magnus when the Sweep offers to help; when he bashes the Sweep aside in the very next shot, Magnus is nowhere to be seen.
* A wide shot shows Galvatron, Cyclonus, and three Sweeps arriving on Torqulon. The rest of the episode shows only two Sweeps, however.

===Continuity notes===
[[Image:LaserbeakWebworld.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He wants to know why Soundwave doesn't return his calls.]]

*Some allusion is made to Galvatron's former life as Megatron. While the Torkulons attempt to lobotomize the Decepticon leader, he states that they have "no right" to change what he is, to which the Torkulon Doctor replies "You have already been changed, that's the problem." On the other hand, this could also be taken to mean the change away from his saner personality from the movie. Speaking of which...
*The Torkuli diagnose Galvatron's madness as being caused by a plasma accident, presumably his plasma bath in "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]".
*This is the final appearance of [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] in the (US) Generation 1 cartoon continuity, and one of only two appearances in Season 3 (the first was a brief cameo in "The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5"). No, he doesn't perch on Galvatron's shoulder.

===Real-world references===
* That classic Looney Tunes sound effect (used for the Road Runner) shows up as the Decepticons fly across the title screen.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** ''Millenium Falcon'' engine burst: when Sky Lynx launches at the start of the battle; when he launches a second time during the battle; when he launches a third time to leave the battle; when Laserbeak flies off with Motormaster and Swindle; as Galvatron takes off to destroy the planetary core;
** X-Wing diving whine: as Cyclonus follows Galvatron toward the core.

*Large portions of the episode, especially the therapy sessions, seemed to parody real psychological treatment methods such as [[wikipedia:word association|word association]] and [[wikipedia:dramatherapy|dramatherapy]]. The intentions of the Alya to consume Galvatron's mind could also be taken as a reference to a [[wikipedia:lobotomy|lobotomy]], a process that can "cure" certain mental illnesses but removes significant parts of the patient's personality.

===Trivia===
* This is by far the most Decepticon-centric episode of the series; the Autobots are only onscreen for part of the first act.
* Twice in this episode (when Cyclonus takes him to Torkulon to look for the Autobots, and when leaving the planet in search of the Autobots), Galvatron says "Ultra Magnus" as if Magnus is the [[Rodimus Prime_(G1)|leader of the Autobots]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 8: Evil Experiments ([[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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/webworld.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Fight or Flee (episode)

2011-03-23T07:23:06Z

75.2.136.86: /* Other notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=86
|series2=2010
|ep2=15
|prev2=Carnage in C-Minor
|next2=Ghost in the Machine
|series3=''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=24
|prev3=The Ultimate Weapon
|next3=Transport to Oblivion
|image=Fight or Flee Paradrons enslaved.JPG
|caption="Man, I hate menial labor. Don't they have machines that can do this?"
|title="Fight or Flee"
|production code=700-106
|airdate=[[October 15]], 1986
|written by=[[Tony Cinciripini]] [[Larry Leahy]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons conquer Paradron, a world inhabited by pacifistic Autobots.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 戦いか死か!? (''Tatakai ka Shi ka!?'', "Fight or Death!?")
:''German title:'' '''Wenn du nicht kämpfst, wirst du sterben!''' (''If you don't fight, you're going to die!'')
:''German'' Generation 2 ''title:'' '''Eine vollkommene Welt''' (''A perfect World'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Fightorflee Cyclonus Scourge Superion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He looks smaller in person.]]

In space, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] are pursuing [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]. Following him into an asteroid field, the two Decepticons are surprised to see the other [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. In the firefight, Scourge is damaged, so Cyclonus argues that they charge them. However, the Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and do further damage to the Decepticons. Cyclonus spots a vortex and decides to take refuge in it. Once they've passed through, they find a planet that looks similar to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] during the [[Golden Age]]. Further analysis is discontinued, however, as they crash hard.

Nursed back to health by the natives, the Decepticons discover that the planet, called [[Paradron]], is inhabited by Autobots. Native [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] greets the two Decepticons, explaining their pacifistic ways, but Cyclonus and Scourge get a little too much [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]... of which the planet has an unlimited supply. Contacting [[Chaar]], they inform [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] of the discovery. Sandstorm calls an assembly, warning the populace that Cyclonus and Scourge are dangerous, but the others ignore his warnings. Soon enough, the Decepticons arrive and declare the planet a part of the [[Decepticon Empire]]. Naturally, the Paradrons don't agree with that, one claiming outright that the planet is a [[democracy]]. Galvatron shoots the dissenter.

[[Image:Fightorflee Sandstorm spacecraft.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Gotta get to Facebook! My crops aren't going to harvest themselves!"]]

Taken to a prison, Sandstorm manages to escape, but [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] follow him. They knock him off a bridge, but Sandstorm flies away and manages to lose the two Decepticons. Heading for a long-abandoned spaceship, Sandstorm manages to power it up and take off, narrowly avoiding [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]].

Making contact with the Autobots, Sandstorm explains that his ancestors left Cybertron during the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|fourth great war]] to escape the violence. The Autobots, knowing that they can't let the Decepticons have Paradron's energon, head for the planet. By now, the Decepticons have dug in and are using the Paradrons as slave labor. Detecting the Autobot ship, the Decepticons use their [[molecular cannon]] to destroy the Autobots—or so they think, as the Autobots actually used the ship as a decoy. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] takes a team to secure the energon, while [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] takes [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], Sandstorm, and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to rescue the prisoners.

[[Image:Fightorflee Rodimus explosion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dreamwave... The New Wave of Comics]]

Breaking through the prison defenses, the Autobots present the Paradrons with weapons, but the latter are reluctant to fight. Sandstorm claims that their forefathers would fight as well. The Autobot leader gives them a simpler choice: fight or flee. Reluctantly, the Paradrons take up arms.

[[Image:Fightorflee Ultramagnus Sandstorm bomb.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Nice scenery." "Yeah, now let's waste it! I hate nice things!"]]

Unfortunately, the Decepticons' control over the planet is too firm. Unwilling to let them have Paradron, Rodimus orders Ultra Magnus to destroy the energon core, which will destroy the planet. Sandstorm objects at first, but agrees to the plan when he learns that the Paradrons can live on Cybertron. Using escape pods, the Paradrons flee the planet, while Magnus and Sandstorm head for the core. Planting a time bomb, the two Autobots hightail it out of there. Galvatron sneers at their cowardice, then remembers that Magnus is anything but a coward. Realizing that something is wrong, Galvatron orders the Decepticons to abandon the planet.

From space, the Autobots watch the planet explode. Sandstorm remarks that even in death, it's still beautiful. Rodimus callously says that Cybertron is better anyway.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (3)
*[[Slingshot]] (4)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (5)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (9)
*[[Paradron Medic]] (10)
*[[Paradron communicator]] (11)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (22)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (23)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (25)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (27)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (1)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (2)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (14)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (15)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (16)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (17)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (18)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (19)
*[[Headstrong]] (26)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (28)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (29)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (30)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (31)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (32)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (33)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (34)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey! I'm stuck up here!" 
"Everybody's got to be somewhere."
:—A '''Paradronian''' and '''Cyclonus'', after the latter throws the former into a wall.

"Before a society can move forward, everyone must agree on the rules. Now kneel!"
:—Come, sons of Paradron, kneel before '''Galvatron'''.

"I-is there something wrong with his timing program?"
:—'''Sandstorm''', asking the question we're all thinking about Blurr.

"I've never seen anything this beautiful in the entire galaxy.... All right, give me the bomb."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' with one of the greatest lines in the universe.

"Run, you Autobot cowards! Hhh...but he isn't a coward.... Something's wrong here!"
:—'''Galvatron''' mocks Ultra Magnus, then realizes they're in deep [[Slag (slang)|slag]].

"It's as beautiful in death as it was in life." 
"Well, no need to get all mushy. Cybertron's a better place anyway — not so...perfect."
:—A solemn '''Sandstorm''' witnessing the destruction of his home while '''Rodimus Prime''' callously mocks him for it. Jerk.

==Other notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* At the beginning of the episode, Cyclonus' gun sounds like Galvatron's cannon. This occurs throughout the scene, though in some shots it has the typical Decepticon laser sound.
* One shot of Air Raid standing on an asteroid has his top half in all red, with his bottom half in all white.
* [[Surprise Party|Once again]], Cyclonus' face looks different. Here, he has no "beard," and his eyebrows are white (except in certain shots like when he and Scourge spot the vortex, where he has the purple beard again).
* In various shots, the Paradronians are all in an off-white color scheme while in other shots of the same groups, they're more colorful.
* When Scourge delivers his line "The same goes for me..." as Cyclonus finishes drinking from the Energon fountain, Cyclonus has Sandstorm's color scheme. Sandstorm himself is also colored entirely orange during this moment.
* Shortly afterwards, as Cyclonus draws his weapon and notes that the Paradronians are not armed, the Decepticon brand usually seen on his chest is missing.
* When Cyclonus and Scourge contact Chaar, only [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] are shown, yet the voice that speaks is clearly [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]. He even uses Shrapnel's unique repetition of dialogue, dialogue.
* When Cyclonus and Scourge plot against the Paradronians during Sandstorm's assembly, [[Scale|Scourge is drawn way shorter than Cyclonus.]]
* The Paradronians' Autobot logos are drawn/colored inconsistently throughout the episode. Some are missing areas of the symbol, others are colored only halfway, and others are drawn in rather poorly (especially during the assembly). In most group shots, they're missing entirely (only to show up when we get a close-up).
* When the Decepticons land on Paradron, Galvatron and Soundwave have huge heads and Soundwave's chest is white instead of blue.
* Galvatron's chin is darker than the rest of his face in this episode.
* As Razorclaw and Brawl chase Sandstorm, one shot of them shows an outer space sky, but the rest show a blue, Earth-like sky.
* When Razorclaw and Brawl land in the gorge to hunt down Sandstorm, both of their color schemes show areas of white where there should be black.
* When Divebomb is tracking Sandstorm, he is drawn flying in some sort of mid-transformational mode for the duration of the scene. Then again, as he goes back into robot mode, only half the transformation sound is heard.
* Bruticus is shown as being only a few feet taller than Galvatron.
* When Bruticus says "I believe it is an Autobot invasion party.", Galvatron mouths the line simultaneously.
* When the Autobots are meeting on Paradron's moon, [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] are seen among the group looking at Rodimus Prime. How the hell did they get better?
* When Rodimus tells Sandstorm to give the Paradrons the weapons, his spoiler is all-yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
* Oddly enough, when Rodimus gives the ultimatum for the Paradronians to "Fight... or flee!" (after the first slave acquires a gun), the slaves kneel to pick up weapons off of the floor... that aren't even there, making it appear as if they're plucking weapons from thin air. ''What?''
* Also, when Rodimus gives the order, his left shoulder is missing its white detailing.
* When Magnus, Wheelie, and Blurr are ambushed, a shot panning across a group of Decepticons gives us Long Haul in a bizarre blue-and-orange color scheme, previously seen in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", which persists throughout this scene. Also Soundwave with a white cannon and no mouthplate, Scrapper in a Predacon color scheme, and Galvatron with a white cannon.
* The mis-colored Long Haul fires a rocket at a stand labeled, "NEWS PAPEP."
* When Rodimus gets the transmission from Ultra Magnus, his head crest is yellow, then lined incorrectly, then ''missing'' all lines in subsequent shots.
* When Wheelie finds the door in the floor, the lines around Magnus' eyes are too thick (like he's wearing mascara!).
* Sandstorm's size relative to the other Autobots varies drastically—when interrogated, he looks huge; when descending the steps to the core chamber, he's half the size of Ultra Magnus; when handing Magnus the bomb, they're roughly the same size.
* When Sandstorm and Magnus duck from the missile, the top of Magnus' back is red instead of (the now established) grey.
* During his "but he isn't a coward" line, Galvatron's chin is back to being the same color as the rest of his face.
* As Rodimus counts down the final seconds of the bomb, his head crest is missing its lines.
* As the Autobots watch the explosion, Magnus' Autobot logo is missing.

===Continuity errors===
* Although this episode gives Sandstorm's origin, he first appeared in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]". [[Starscream's Brigade|Gee, that's ''never'' happened before.]] [[To sell toys|Wonder why]]? Having said that, the episode features ''none'' of the traditional season 3 stock music used in surrounding episodes, possibly implying that it was actually to have been animated earlier in the season.
* Bruticus is noticeably eloquent compared to past appearances. He also talks like Cyclonus and is acting like Galvatron's right hand man. Maybe he was supposed to be Cyclonus?
* [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|Despite being banished by Galvatron earlier]], [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] can be seen among Galvatron's troops when he orders them to make the slaves work faster.
* Brawl is shown helping [[Headstrong]] man a large gun at the same time as Bruticus is with Galvatron.
* Sandstorm claims his ancestors left during the fourth great war. According to "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", the [[Great War (G1)|current war]] is the ''third''.
* Ultra Magnus gives a five minute countdown after setting the bomb. Not the usual ''astro''-minutes, just minutes.

===Transformers references===
* The [[Paradron Medic]]s sure look [[Arcee_(G1)|familiar]]...
* Paradron would appear in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Micromasters|''Micromasters'' comic]] and be the location of [[Golden Disk (Paradron)|an important plot device]].

===Trivia===
* At one point, this episode went by the preliminary title of "Fight or Die". As originally scripted, the episode featured an additional plot line that involved Galvatron forcing a Paradronian scientist to build huge [[planetary engine]]s ("ion thrusters", per the script) on the planet's surface, in order to transform it into a mobile battle fortress.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/5c6b78d4b5dc1d27/ Notes on "Fight or Flee" script at alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] has the same hidden camera gimmick in his beast mode's forehead as [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]].
* Rodimus Prime destroys an entire planet rather let the Decepticons have it. After it blows up and Sandstorm mourns its loss, Rodimus even has the gall to say that "Cybertron's a better place anyway, not so perfect." And people wonder why everyone else prefers [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — The Action Adventure Collection IV (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / Fight or Flee (Tempo Video)
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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)

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/fight_or_flee.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Carnage in C-Minor

2011-03-22T10:29:23Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=82
|ep2=14
|prev2=Surprise Party
|next2=Fight or Flee
|image=Carnage C-Minor Autobots harmonic attack.JPG
|caption=[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime|Hey, what is that awful noise? Okay, let me straighten him out!]]
|title="Carnage in C-Minor"
|production code=700-102
|airdate=[[October 14]], 1986
|written by=[[Buzz Dixon]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Several Autobots and Decepticons battle over a planet whose civilization revolves around music and whose inhabitants can use sound as a powerful weapon.'''

:''Japanese title:'' "'''音楽惑星の挑戦'''" (''Ongaku Wakusei no Chōsen'', "Challenge of the Music Planet")
:'' German title:'' "'''Das Gemetzel in Cis-Mol'''" ("The Slaughter in Cis-Mol")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Broadsidecrushesdevastator.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Die, Atlas!]]

The [[Decepticon]]s are building engines into the side of a comet in order to alter its course and crash it on top of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. As they fire up the engines, a group of [[Autobot]]s close in, led there by [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. The Autobots attack, much to [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s dismay. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who is promptly flattened when [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] drops on him in ship mode. In the ensuing battle, the engines are destroyed, and the comet is sent hurtling towards a small planet, which Perceptor reports is inhabited.

The Autobots attempt unsuccessfully to stop the comet before Galvatron again orders his men to engage their foe. While Galvatron and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are grappling, waves of [[Harmony|sound energy]] destroy the comet and cause both groups of Transformers to plummet to the planet's surface. In a nearby city, three aliens are having a disagreement. One of them, [[Allegra]], storms out, saying that she's going to her retreat.

The Transformers recover from their crash, wondering what hit them. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] describes it as the most perfect harmony ever, but Galvatron is more interested in its destructive power. Broadside breaks up the discussion by punching Galvatron, and the fight resumes. As the Constructicons form Devastator again, Perceptor blows the giant apart with one shot from his cannon. Galvatron and Soundwave depart in search of the source of the harmony they heard earlier, but Ultra Magnus spots them leaving and takes Broadside and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in pursuit. Perceptor reflects that unless the trio are swift, there might not be much of them left.

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Blaster Magnus Basso.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"I now pronounce you bot and wife. You may kiss the bride."]]

Broadside swiftly passes the two Decepticons and overflies the city, which Blaster realises is laid out like a musical harmony. Magnus and Blaster meet with [[Basso Profundo]], leader of the planet [[Eurythma]], but Basso refuses to help them, believing that the harmony is all his people need to protect themselves. He drops a hint that Allegra might be able to help them, a fact overheard by Galvatron and Soundwave, who are spying outside. As the three Autobots go in search of Allegra, the Decepticons drop a bridge on them. To make sure, Galvatron blasts the wreckage, and the pair fly off to find Allegra.

Basso watches the two Decepticons leave, and fellow [[Eurythman]] [[Zebop Skandana]] uses a harmony to help the Autobots out of the rubble. Blaster realises that Zebop was creating part of the harmony which originally blew the Autobots out of space, and Zebop says he's sympathetic to their cause and will help them find Allegra.

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Galvatron Soundwave Allegra.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Galvatron loved going to the opera. He always showed his appreciation by blowing the theater to kingdom come afterwards.]]

The two Decepticons meet Allegra, offering to help her overthrow Basso in return for the secret of the harmony. She obliges and Soundwave records it, but to Galvatron's rage, it turns out that she is only one part of the harmony; Basso and Zebop make up the other two thirds. Still, when the Autobots arrive with Zebop, Soundwave is testing the part of the harmony he has by destroying a rock. The Autobots set up an ambush, but Zebop is so distressed by the fact that Allegra is working with the Decepticons that he gives away their position. Galvatron starts firing, and Zebop takes refuge in Ultra Magnus's cab. Soundwave begins battering the Autobots with the harmony. When Zebop counters with ''his'' part of the harmony, Soundwave promptly records it and uses the resulting two-thirds of the harmony to devastating effect.

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Allegra Zebop.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Alas, poor Zebop. We knew him we- Wait. No, we don't.]]

With the Autobots apparently gone, Galvatron terminates the alliance with Allegra. She attempts to attack them with her part of the harmony, but Soundwave retaliates, knocking her out. The Autobots climb out of their hole in time to prevent Galvatron from terminating the Eurythman, but during the resulting fight, Blaster and Soundwave struggle and accidentally fall on Zebop. Galvatron grabs his minion and departs, leaving Allegra cradling Zebop in her arms. Though the Autobots believe he's had it, Allegra uses a harmony to revive him. The Autobots leave for the city.

Back at the landing site, the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons are still fighting. Hot Spot voices his hope that Magnus, Blaster and Broadside hurry. The Eurythmans have spotted the battle, and Basso uses an amplifier to direct a destructive harmony at it. [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] is forced to disassemble, but the two factions fight on. Basso is depressed, and his aide points out he needs Allegra and Zebop to complete the harmony. Arriving, Soundwave begins playing two-thirds of the harmony, shaking the city and provoking Basso into using the third part again, which Soundwave promptly records. He is subsequently able to use the complete harmonic weapon to attack the city. Pleased, Galvatron announces their next targets are Metroplex and then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[Image:Carnage CMinor Soundwave harmony.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Soundwave finds himself too big to fly through the rings in the Training Stage.]]

Ultra Magnus's party arrives back at the city to find it devastated and their fellow Autobots badly damaged. The Eurythmans are able to repair Perceptor and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] with a harmony, and the Autobots set off for Earth.

Galvatron and Soundwave attack Metroplex with the harmony, but the Autobots soon arrive with the three Eurythmans, who nullify Soundwave's weapon with anti-sound. Blaster grabs Soundwave and uses his buttons to erase the harmony from Soundwave's tapes. Despite Galvatron raging that he hasn't ordered a retreat, the Decepticons flee anyway. The Autobots return the Eurythmans to their world, where Ultra Magnus tells them they need to learn to live in harmony.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (10)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (11)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (15)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (16)
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (21)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (22)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (23)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (24)
*[[Scamper]] (25)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (26)

|c2=
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (1)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (14)

|c4=
*[[Basso Profundo]] (17)
*[[Allegra]] (18)
*[[Zebop Skandana]] (19)
*[[Basso's consort]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"What was that?!" 
"That was heaven. The purest, most vibrant, most perfect harmony I've ever heard."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Soundwave''' wonder what hit them, to the latter's monotoned enjoyment.

"You! Because of you, I got blasted out of space. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THAT DID TO MY PAINT JOB?!"
:—'''Broadside''', right before he sucker-punches Galvatron

"Broadside! Blaster! Galvatron and Soundwave went to find the weapon that knocked us out of space!" 
"Weapon? That was no weapon. That was harmonic bliss! A musical kiss!" 
"Whatever."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''', who doesn't have any soul, and '''Blaster''', who does.

"Blaster, you picking up anything?" 
"Yeah, yeah! Beauty like you wouldn't believe, Broadside. Sweet soul music. It's their art, their commerce, their philosophy, their whole—uh-oh, bummer. Galvatron and Soundwave are here."
:—'''Broadside''' and '''Blaster''' get their vibes harshed.

"I don't wanna see your ugly face, just the button that says 'ERASE'!" 
"My tapes! You've erased my tapes!"
:—'''Blaster''' destroys '''Soundwave'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s tapes, to the Decepticon's monotoned horror.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
"Carnage in C-Minor" is infamous among the [[fandom]] for the sheer number of, and particularly ''glaring'' nature of, animation errors in this episode. Among the more prominent are the following:

* The Transformation sound effects are frequently cut off.

* Soundwave's head crest is supposed to be the same blue as his body, but its lines and/or triangle randomly turn grey throughout the episode. His back piece is also grey when it should be blue.

* Speaking of Soundwave, his face plate doesn't move when he speaks for most of this episode.

* Throughout the entire episode, Broadside is drawn with a previously [[:Image:BroadsideCarnage.jpg|discarded]] [[character model]].

* Devastator is the exact same size as Soundwave during the start of the first battle.

* Devastator also appears before he forms later in the battle.

* While the Autobots are shooting at the meteor, they are so badly drawn that they appear to have only one leg each, left arms starting from the elbows, and enormous heads...and Superion is tiny.

*When Bonecrusher orders the formation of Devastator, he's wearing an Autobot insignia. See also the continuity error below.

* When the Constructicons form Devastator for the second time, the first shot shows four Constructicons forming the legs and the torso. The second shot shows three robots forming the arms and upper torso. This means that [[Devastator (ROTF)|''seven'' Constructicons formed Devastator.]]

* After watching Galvatron and Soundwave leave, Ultra Magnus dispatches Hook and Scrapper—by picking them up in his hands and bashing them together. Magnus is supposed to be big, but not ''that'' big. (It's ''possible'' that the animators used the [[toy]]s for reference, unaware that the cartoon [[scale]] traditionally doesn't match the toys' scale in this case.)

* Blaster, Ultra Magnus and Zebop are shown hanging onto Broadside while he flies around. Sometimes, the shots make them appear tiny or not to be hanging onto Broadside at all. (One wonders why Zebop doesn't just ride in Broadside's cockpit, as he does for the trip to Earth.)

* As Blaster and Ultra Magnus talk to Basso, Blaster is taller than Magnus in closeup shots but (correctly) shorter than him in the long shots.

* As Galvatron shoots the bridge, his cannon has the usual Decepticon laser sound effect rather than its own sound effect.

* Broadside's eyes are yellow when he gets up from under the rubble on the bridge.

* When Galvatron and Soundwave first talk to Allegra, Soundwave has eyes rather than a visor for most of the shots (something that actually happens in much of the episode). One shot also has his face colored blue instead of grey (again, this happens several times later on). And Soundwave looks very small next to Galvatron (Galvatron even picks him up!), even though most of the other shots show them to be almost the same height.

* Soundwave points out that Zebop is standing in the distance, while Galvatron says that "he ''probably'' is with the Autobots." Yet, Ultra Magnus is standing right next to him.

* Soundwave has a [[Shattered Glass (franchise)|purple Autobot]] [[insignia]]...''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|again]]''. So does Broadside...

* Blaster is drawn delivering Broadside's line about "scorch-marks on top of everything else".

* During part of the battle at Allegra's retreat, Hot Spot is with the Autobots instead of Broadside.

* After Soundwave blasts the Autobots into the ground, he transforms and disappears ''before'' leaving the frame.

* When Blaster explains that the Eurythmans use the harmony even for healing, Ultra Magnus is the one mouthing the words.

* Magnus also has a visor instead of eyes during that shot.

* When the Protectobots are combined as Defensor, Hot Spot (the main body) is fighting alongside his combined self!

* When Galvatron orders Soundwave to play the harmonics on Earth, Soundwave's tape deck door is the same color as his body (it should be light blue).

* When Soundwave plays the harmonics to disrupt Metroplex, the waves are shown emanating from ''Galvatron's head''!

* One shot shows Metroplex transformed, even though Soundwave is still playing the harmonic sounds.

* When Superion tackles Galvatron, they're almost the same size.

* Soundwave doesn't have ''an'' erase button, it's actually ''two'' buttons that have to be pressed (and how would Blaster know which ones to press?).

* In one scene, a cel-layering error causes Blaster to appear very tiny compared to Soundwave.

* As the Decepticons retreat, Blaster is shown flying away (again!) behind two Constructicons (it was probably supposed to be Soundwave).

* And there's even more. Seriously, how much time do you have?

<center><gallery>
Image:Carnage C-minor Magnus Broadside.JPG|[[Wikipedia:Monty Python's Life of Brian|"Hail Caesar!" "Hail Thaethar."]]
Image:Bigmagnus tinyconst.jpg|We'll take revenge by merging into Devastator.
Image:Hotspot defensor.jpg|Hey! Part of me, get back in me!
Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|It's his little shoulder-angel.
</gallery></center>

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:DeceptiBrawn1.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Maybe it's not Bonecrusher, but a rare cameo by Roadhauler?]]
* In one infamous scene, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (who should also be dead) show up alive and well. And it seems [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] has switched sides, as he's helping them shoot at the giant Decepticon rocket engine he just helped build! (Huffer has the wrong paint job, too.)

* To add insult to injury, Devastator is shooting at the Autobots ''before'' the Constructicons form Devastator.

* Soundwave travels with Galvatron to find the source of the harmony. However, when the scene returns to the battle outside the city, Soundwave is with the other Decepticons at the same time.

* Several Autobots fly during this episode, even ones who aren't really supposed to (Ultra Magnus, for instance).

* When the Decpeticons reach Earth, they ''pass'' Autobot City (in the usual lush valley) to reach Metroplex, who seems to be hanging out in a barren desert for no reason.

===Real-world references===
* The Eurythman characters' names are all music-related puns. Allegra is named after either the Italian operetta and opera composer [[Wikipedia:Salvatore Allegra|Salvatore Allegra]] or [[Wikipedia:Tempo#Italian tempo markings|Italian tempo marking "allegro"]], while Basso Profundo is derived from the singing style [[Wikipedia:Bass (voice type)|basso prof'''o'''ndo]]. While these are all related to classical music, Zebop Skandana is named after popular music guitarist [[Wikipedia:Carlos Santana|Carlos Santana]] and his 1981 album [[Wikipedia:Zebop!|Zebop!]]... And the difference shows.

* Eurythma was possibly named after the popular '80s band [[wikipedia:Eurythmics|The Eurythmics]].

===Trivia===
* "Carnage in C-Minor" is widely regarded by fans as the worst episode of all ''Transformers'' series, but this is seemingly due to the sheer volume of animation errors (and poor animation overall), as well as the glaringly obvious nature of many of the individual errors. However, the actual ''plot'' is certainly not the weakest to grace the cartoon series, and its "continuity errors" have little to nothing to do with the script itself...certainly not to the level of, say, "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]".

* That said, there is plenty of inanity to be found in the story too. For instance: Despite the aliens' dialog being in perfectly understandable English (or Galactic Standard or whatever), because they say everything in a sing-song rhythm, apparently none of the Transformers except Blaster and Soundwave can understand them, and the two tape decks spend a large (and annoying) amount of time translating Eurythman to "non-sing-song" for everyone else.

* While not strictly an animation ''error'' per se, the number of Autobots appearing in this episode seems a little inconsistent, with several characters appearing, disappearing or seemingly replacing others with no clear indication of how many there are fighting in what place at any given time.

* Galvatron and Soundwave are briefly seen holding hands whilst flying.

* Apparently, a single blast from [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[lightning cannon]] can cause [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to disassemble! And [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] believes that intellectuals are weak.

* In hindsight, it wasn't the best idea for Soundwave to have his erase button open so it could be pushed by a enemy. Or to have an erase button in the first place. For their sake, we hope [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and the other [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]] had their copy-protection tabs removed.

* Anyone else bothered that this "sonic weapon" was used to destroy a comet IN SPACE?

* This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 1999]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Carnage in C Minor / The Ultimate Weapon ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/carnage_in_c-minor.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808817/ IMDb's page for this episode]

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

Madman's Paradise

2011-03-22T09:23:49Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=78
|ep2=12
|prev2=Chaos (episode)
|next2=Surprise Party
|image=G1 Menonia.JPG
|caption="A black, black castle on a black, black rock, in a black, black world…"
|title="Madman's Paradise"
|production code=700-98
|airdate=[[October 13]], 1986
|written by=[[Craig Rand]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''A quick stroll through Cybertron leads Daniel Witwicky and Grimlock to someplace different.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 不思議の国のダニエル (''Fushigi no Kuni no Daniel'', "Daniel in Wonderland")
:''German title:'' "'''Der rote Zauberer'''" ("The Red Magician")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Madman Paradise Grimlock drinks.JPG|left|200px|thumb|If guest not give good tip, me Grimlock eat them.]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Autobot|Autobots]] are hosting a diplomatic event for a number of species, with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], and [[Carly]] introducing the guests. One ambassador compliments Spike and Carly's "post-embryonic form", but [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] takes it the wrong way. Spike tells Daniel that he can go off and play, but to stay out of trouble (and keep the tuxedo clean and intact). Daniel thinks that there is nobody to play with and complains that there is nobody to get into trouble with anyway. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], hearing that, decides to give some help on that matter and follows Daniel. (It sure beats serving drinks.)

However, Grimlock does not like the [[Planetary Corridor CB311B4|place]] where they are walking around. Daniel idly kicks a stray gear on the ground, and it hits a panel in the wall, revealing a secret passage in the floor. Grimlock leans forward to get a better view, but falls in, knocking Daniel in as well. Sliding down, Grimlock and Daniel are barely able to grab the ledge of a rail on the other side of a crevice. Jumping into the room, they find it covered in ancient symbols. Daniel notices a neat-looking monster, but Grimlock thinks that it's handsome, like him. However, his wagging tail hits the symbol, causing a red circle in the floor to glow, and he and Daniel sink through it. They soon find themselves somewhere other than Cybertron, and someone wearing a red cloak is aware of their arrival.

Back at the party, Carly is having trouble finding Daniel. She asks [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] or [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] if they have seen him, at which point the alien ambassador tells them she saw Daniel walking away with a [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]. The prospect of Grimlock and Daniel together and unsupervised naturally causes everyone to freak out, but Rodimus calls for calm. (The planet is still intact, after all.) The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends Blaster and Ultra Magnus to search for them, with Carly tagging along.

[[Image:Madman's Paradise Grimlock treecentaurs.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Even Grimlock gets cold feet now and then.]]

Elsewhere, Grimlock and Daniel come across some strange tree-centaurs. They demand to know whom the two fight for, and Grimlock says nobody. The tree-centaurs decide to attack. Bad idea, as Grimlock proceeds to toss them around. However, one tree-centaur causes Grimlock's leg to freeze, making him fall down. The tree-centaurs then begin tying Grimlock to the ground. (Think [[Wikipedia:Gulliver's Travels|''Gulliver's Travels'']], but with robots.) The man in red is impressed with Grimlock's power and sends a bolt of energy to attack the tree-centaurs with a wave of his ''tentacle''. He heads out, changing his tentacle into a hand, and welcomes Daniel and Grimlock to [[Menonia]], the realm they have entered. He offers an invitation from the Red Wizard, who is clearly the old man himself. Taking them to the castle, the Red Wizard claims that the world was once ruled by the [[Golden One]], a powerful sorcerer-king, but that the Golden One disappeared and the Red Wizard took his place. However, evil rebels fought against the Red Wizard. He asks for Grimlock's help, while Daniel, who is asleep, is taken to somewhere more comfortable—the dungeon.

On Cybertron, [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] has tracked down Grimlock and Daniel's scent and discovered the room they were in. [[Rewind]] discovers that the writings on the wall are [[Quintesson]] inscriptions. The room was a banishment point for the Quintessons, where they would exile their own to various dimensions for various crimes. Rewind concludes that the wayward duo are in Menonia, where [[Mara-Al-Utha]] was banished for practicing sorcery. Perceptor activates the portal and stays behind to reopen it when they need help.

[[Image:Madman's Paradise Daniel knife.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Hand over the wallet, old man."]]
Meanwhile, Daniel wakes up and sees the old man chained to the dungeon wall. Using a handy-dandy <s>[[lightsaber]]</s> energy blade, Daniel frees the old man, who explains that the Red Wizard was the one who imprisoned the Golden One in a cave. The Golden One loyalists begin an attack on the castle, which frees the two. Grimlock, still duped, begins fighting off the invaders. Daniel and the old man head for the cave in which the Golden One was imprisoned, while the Autobots and Carly, having arrived in Menonia, head to assist Grimlock. However, a piece of Daniel's tuxedo gets cut off, which Carly finds, and Steeljaw sniffs him out. Reaching the young man, Daniel explains to Carly and the cassettes that the Red Wizard is evil, but the Golden One's loyalists are already in retreat. Since they cannot move the stone and free the Golden One, the old man despairs of all hope.

[[Image:Madman's Paradise Golden One Blaster.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Blaster's attempts to establish a regular karaoke hour never caught on.]]
At this point, [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] charges the rock, causing it to shatter. The Golden One, exposed to sunlight, is free and reenergized. The old man explains the situation, and the Golden One attacks the Red Wizard's castle. The Golden One's arrival causes the Red Wizard to reveal his true form—as the Quintesson Mara-Al-Utha! The Red Wizard attacks, and the Golden One is too weak to defend. He knows of counter-spells that will stop Mara-Al-Utha, but he needs them to be heard. Blaster [[Transformation|transforms]] into cassette player mode and gives the Golden One a microphone. The Golden One speaks his counter-spells, and Mara-Al-Utha is banished somewhere else.

When the battle is over, the Golden One sends the Autobots and the humans back to Cybertron. However, when they get back, Spike wants to have a talk with Daniel. The boy insists it was an accident, and Grimlock backs him up, saying that Daniel didn't mean to ruin his tux. Everyone but Grimlock begins laughing.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (7)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (9)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (10)
* [[Eject]] (11)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)
* [[Rewind]] (13)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (14)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Carly]] (5)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (6)

|c4=
* [[Ynara]] (2)
* The Red Wizard ([[Mara-Al-Utha]]) (8)
* [[Golden One's pupil|The Golden One's pupil]] (15)
* [[Golden One|The Golden One]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ohhh, Grimlock ... what did you do now?" 
"Uh ... make mistake?"
:—When '''Grimlock''' accidentally starts sending the two of them to another dimension, after tapping a picture in admiration.

"Where are we?" 
"Not Cybertron. California maybe?"
:—'''Daniel''' and '''Grimlock''' trying to determine their whereabouts.

"Don't panic yet. Stay calm until we know what's going on. Then we'll panic."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' on Daniel's and Grimlock's disappearance.

"I dunno, my mom says never to go off with strangers." 
"Everybody here stranger! Us not go with stranger, us not go!"
:—'''Daniel''' is hesitant but quickly swayed by '''Grimlock''''s advanced use of logic.

"Repidot. Respondot. Rezendot. Zanitar. Zanarre. Zavasar. Allak...arrak... arram!"
:—'''The Golden One''' recites his spell.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
*After Daniel embarrasses the ambassador, the side of Rodimus' head is white, but two shots later, it's purple.
*Also, in the opening shots Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow, but when we switch to the opposite angle, it's orange in the middle.
*Grimlock's mouth isn't moving as he and Daniel fall into the portal and he asks, "Make Mistake?"
*As Grimlock and Daniel watch the "ugly bird" fly off, Grimlock's back is missing all its colorful details.
*When Mara-Al-Utha uses a magic mirror to see Grimlock and Daniel have arrived, the mirror's frame disappears.
*When the tree-centaurs first question Grimlock, the back of his neck is grey instead of gold.
*One of the tree-centaurs disappears for a couple of frames during the fight with Grimlock.
*When Blaster ejects Rewind, there's no cavity behind his tape drawer.
*Perceptor's face is the same dark grey as his helmet instead of light grey (and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white).
*When Magnus' team enters the portal, Blaster's head is all-white.
*Daniel's energy blade changes colour from blue to red between shots.
*Grimlock's mouth isn't moving as he asks for the Red Wizard during the attack.
*After the Red Wizard attacks the rebels, Grimlock transforms, but there are frames missing during the transition, so he sort of "pops" into robot mode.
*As Grimlock swings his sword around, his chest is missing most of its detailing (and its Autobot logo, which reappears later when he notices the other Autobots).
*Daniel doesn't really "hug" his mom, he just holds her arms.
*The Golden One is freed and stands in front of the cave opening, but when he flies up there are only trees behind him.
*The Golden One flies towards a perfectly still castle, but the next shot shows plumes of smoke rising up from it.
*Ultra Magnus' gun sounds like Prime's rifle.
*As the Autobots rush to check on the fallen Golden One, Blaster's chest is yellow with no details (or Autobot logo) on it.
*When Magnus grabs the microphone from Blaster, Blaster has one long switch (instead of three smaller ones) on his front.
*In the last shot of the episode, the back of Grimlock's neck is grey instead of gold.

===Continuity Notes===
*Daniel carries an energy blade around with him. Apparently, he had this on him for the whole episode, including the diplomatic meeting at the beginning! Spike really ''does'' need to have a talk with him.
*Gadgets and powers
** Grimlock actually uses his sword in this episode! He uses it to swat some of the boulders launched at him. Just as with Snarl's, it's silver like the package art.

===Transformers references===
* [[Al-Badur]], one of the Quintesson exiles mentioned, would be featured in [[3H Productions|3H]]'s [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comics]], where he was used to try to retcon the Quintesson creation story with the more popular [[Primus]] creation story — but then 3H lost the license before it was concluded. Bummer. Back to the fanwanking, people!
* Like "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[Only Human]]", this is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons.

===Trivia===
* Grimlock's tray-carrying moments were the inspiration for [[Masterpiece]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]'s posture and accessories. Apparently a key moment for him!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 9: Grimlock the Hero ([[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. 3 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/madman%27s_paradise.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Surprise Party

2011-03-22T08:27:03Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=77
|ep2=13
|prev2=Madman's Paradise
|next2=Carnage in C-Minor
|image=Danielvsshadows.jpg
|caption=
|title="Surprise Party"
|production code=700-97
|airdate=[[October 9]], 1986
|written by=[[Steve Mitchell]] [[Barbara Petty]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Daniel and Wheelie's first team-up! Oh noes!'''

:''Japanese title:'' ビックリパーティー (''Surprise Party'')
:''German title:'' "'''Die Geburtstagsparty"'''" ("The Birthdayparty")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Firstaidfixesmultramagnus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|It's a good thing you called me, they've stolen your cyber-kidney.]]

Spike and the Autobots throw a surprise party for Daniel, but it is interrupted by an attack from the Combaticons. Wheelie gets caught in the crossfire and Ultra Magnus throws himself over the boy Autobot to save him from being shot. After hitting the shuttle bay and destroying several ships, the Combaticons retreat. The attack was a coordinated effort by Galvatron to disrupt a peace conference to be hosted on Cybertron the next day.

[[Image:Nafromlibrarianbot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|That's a karaoke machine. Right now it's playing the end of "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" by Journey.]]

Daniel and Wheelie want to throw Ultra Magnus a surprise party, but no one knows the date of his creation and it isn’t on file in the [[Hall of Records]]. An annoying and clumsy [[Custodiobot]] tells them that the information must be stored on the lost Autobot storage asteroid. Daniel and Wheelie steal a garbage ship and head out to find the asteroid and the info. Unbeknownst to them, their movements are being watched by Cyclonus, who evidently doesn’t have anything better to do than spy on garbage ships. Galvatron orders his troops to follow it.

Stuck in a meteor shower, Daniel and Wheelie crash on an asteroid that—surprise!—happens to be the asteroid they were looking for. While they are exploring they are attacked by scaly flying eels and take refuge in a cave, which turns out to be the opening to the records. Inside, sentry robots attack them for asking for the wrong file name. To make matters worse, the eels have found their way inside and attach themselves to Wheelie. Just as they are about to be shot by the drones and eaten by the eels, both menaces are destroyed by Cyclonus and the Sweeps, who take the pair hostage and interrogate them.

[[Image:Cyclonus%26daniel.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Apparently Deathsaurus isn't the only Decepticon who likes small children.]]

Cyclonus reprograms the asteroid into a collision course for Cybertron and then sends Spike a message that he’s holding Daniel hostage. The Autobots have two choices: destroy the asteroid and kill Daniel, or let the asteroid hit the planet and kill all the peace delegates.

Ultra Magnus takes Sky Lynx to the asteroid. The Sweeps attack, but Magnus makes short work of them, then heads after Cyclonus. They pound on each other as Wheelie sneaks by and presses the convenient self-destruct button. Cyclonus runs off and the Autobots and Daniel escape in Sky Lynx as the asteroid blows up.

Safe on Cybertron, Daniel explains how they got into this mess, looking for Ultra Magnus’ birthday. Spike declares today as Ultra Magnus’ birthday and everyone cheers.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (2)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (3)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (5)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (6)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (17)
* [[Custodiobot]] (18)
* Sentry drones (20)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (22)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (23)
|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (9)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (10)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (11)
* [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (13)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (14)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (15)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (16)
* [[Sweep]]s (21)
|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (1)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
* Old peace delegate (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"I don't know, Wheelie. This seems an awful lot like stealing to me." 
"A ship we'll only borrow! We'll have it back tomorrow."
:—'''Daniel''' is led into a life of crime by '''Wheelie'''.

"Invalid file name! Invalid file name! Invalid file name!"
:—The asteroid '''security drones''' are pissed over Daniel's use of incorrect syntax.

"You are insolent, Earth boy." 
"Heh, thanks."
:—'''Cyclonus''' vs. '''Daniel Witwicky'''

"If my superb physique would pass through the tunnels I would join you." 
"Forget it."
:—'''Sky Lynx''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"Happy birthday, Ultra Magnus! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
:—The Autobots and humans make merry.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Supriseparty 2rodimuses.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"Hi, I'm Rodimus, and this is my twin, Not-Optimus"]]
* The "CONTROL ROOM" door Spike opens at the beginning has circular yellow buttons beside it (in the long shot) that change to square red buttons (when he presses them).
* When Spike opens the door, space is seen behind him, even though he was just in an enclosed hallway.
* Ultra Magnus is missing the white circles on his waist during the surprise party.
* As the Autobots fire on the Decepticons and vice versa, First Aid's chest is colored mostly white.
* In a few Combaticon shots, Swindle is colored green. Since he's in jeep mode, it makes him look just like [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]!
* When the Combaticons retreat, Bruticus is seen running with them instead of Onslaught.
* As Daniel asks if the shuttle can still fly, Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
* As Daniel talks to Wheelie about setting up the party for Magnus, the white circles on Magnus' waist are red.
* As Daniel and Wheelie ask him about Magnus' birthday, Perceptor's chin is white.
* During Daniel and Wheelie's conversation with the librarian bot, Wheelie makes their request but it's Daniel's mouth and hands that are moving.
* Early in the season, Cyclonus' chin and eyebrows were grey (the same color as his face). In [[Starscream's Ghost]], they were both purple. Here, his chin is purple and his eyebrows are grey.
* As Daniel and Wheelie enter the cave, a [[scene transition]] runs, but the background music and sound effects play over it instead of the usual flip-change music.
* As he shoots the sentry-bots, Cyclonus' gun uses the sound effect from Galvatron's cannon.
* As Cyclonus pounds a control panel, his chin ''is'' the same color as his face.
* In one shot of Blaster and Spike talking to Daniel, Blaster's helmet is almost completely white.
* When Ultra Magnus points at Cyclonus through the monitor he has six fingers.
* Just before Ultra Magnus enlists Sky Lynx's help in finding Daniel, two Rodimus Primes can be seen guarding the entrance to the Peace Conference.
* While Ultra Magnus and Sky Lynx are fighting the eels, Sky Lynx has a red Decepticon logo—twice.
* The first shot fired by Ultra Magnus at the Sweeps uses the sound effect from Optimus/Rodimus Prime's rifle. The subsequent shots have the usual Autobot laser sound. Then Magnus fires his shoulder rockets, and they too use Prime's rifle sound (they had their own distinct "fwoosh" earlier in the show).
* As Ultra Magnus fights Cyclonus, his shoulder missiles appear and disappear between shots.
* When Wheelie blasts through the cell door, it's missing the line down its the middle.
*On the asteroid, as Wheelie, Daniel, and Sky Lynx wait for Ultra Magnus, Sky Lynx speaks but it's Wheelie whose mouth is moving.
* The word "welcome" is spelt "wellcome" over the entrance to the peace conference, and later Wheelie activates the asteroid's "auto destrut sequences".
* Right after Wheelie presses the button, Ultra Magnus' head is all-white. As he stoops over, his face morphs into an indistinct shape (Cyclonus is missing his Decepticon symbol during this shot).
* Cyclonus' eyebrows are missing as he comments on Wheelie activating the auto destruct.
* Since Ultra Magnus's mouth is moving at the end of the episode, it looks like he's wishing himself a happy birthday!

===Continuity errors===
* The Combaticons fire at the Autobots from some kind of rocky outcropping next to the shuttle hangar. A Rocky outcropping on a machine planet.
* First Aid, the pacifist, sure loves shooting guns!
* The Hall of Records on Cybertron has stacks of human-looking books inside.
* Wheelie just flies the shuttle right into a meteor shower. Was he not paying attention at the controls?
* Does the asteroid have an oxygen-rich atmosphere? Because Daniel doesn't have a space suit...and neither the vacuum of space, nor a lack of oxygen if there is air, seem to have an effect. Maybe it's part of those superhuman abilities those Witwickys have...
* Sky Lynx flies over to the asteroid, but his top section disappears when he lands, and doesn't reappear until the Autobots escape from the asteroid.
* Cyclonus's hostage-taking plan isn't executed very well. He puts Wheelie and Daniel in a cell that Wheelie can escape from by just ''driving through the door''. Cyclonus is totally unaware of their escape, not having assigned a guard or anything to watch them.
* Not only does Cyclonus spend his time watching garbage ships, but the fact that one of them is off course is apparently reason to alert Galvatron. Okay...
* Apparently no one is sad that the storage asteroid has been destroyed. How many priceless pieces of information have been lost?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Thief in the Night / Surprise Party ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/surprise_party.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)

2011-03-21T09:33:33Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=74
|ep2=9
|prev2=Dark Awakening
|next2=The Killing Jar
|image=Time Portal.jpg
|caption=The biggest [[wikipedia:Interocitor|Interocitor]] in history.
|title="Forever Is a Long Time Coming"
|production code=700-94
|airdate=[[October 8]], 1986
|written by=[[Gerry Conway]] [[Carla Conway]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In an attempt to alter history, the Quintessons open a Time Window to Cybertron's ancient past, but their meddling ultimately causes time itself to begin unraveling.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 時の罠 (''Toki no Wana'', "Time Trap")
:''German title:'' "'''Die Ewigkeit dauert lange'''" ("The Eternity takes a long Time")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ForeverLongTime Sharkticons asteroid.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Belch Blasters]]

[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] investigate chronal pulses coming from an asteroid belt near [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. They are fired upon by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], which launch from an installation on a bowl-shaped asteroid, the source of the pulses. The Autobots make quick work of the Sharkticons as Perceptor tells Blaster to radio [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] for reinforcements. The Autobots land on the asteroid just in time to see a Quintesson scientist open a time portal to eleven million years in the past to retrieve a "target subject", much to Perceptor's horror. The Autobots are fired on by Quintesson ships, which blast Perceptor and herd the other Autobots toward the time portal—much to the chagrin of the scientist. The time window fades out as the Autobots, sans Perceptor, end up eleven million years in the past!

The Quintesson ships continue firing, striking the time portal before being ambushed by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and Rodimus Prime. The Quintessons escape as a damaged Perceptor tells Rodimus Prime to find the Autobots and Silverbolt instructs the other Aerialbots not to follow... as a mysterious figure suddenly materializes, confused from the time travel.

[[Image:Darkguardian.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"You're very tall."]]

Eleven million years ago, automatic defenses fire upon the Autobots, who quickly retreat. [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] charges and runs right into a [[Dark Guardian]] in hot pursuit. The Dark Guardian attempts to step on the Autobots, but is stopped by a shot from an unknown female Transformer called [[Beta (G1)|Beta]], who tells the others to follow her to the [[Warrens]] before the Quintessons send more. She states even though she's taking a risk bringing in Blaster and his cadre, they need all the help they can get for an attack on [[Hive City]]. Beta is disgusted by the "mark of shame" on the Autobots' chests. She explains the Autobot symbol has been a symbol of slavery for over a million years, but that [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]] says it must become a symbol of freedom. She states A3 has a [[Coda Remote]] device to freeze the Dark Guardians, allowing the [[Autobot rebel|slaves]] to rise against the Quintessons. [[Rewind]] finally realizes they are in Cybertron's past, when the Transformers were still slaves for the Quintessons, and if the Quintessons stop this [[Autobot Rebellion|rebellion]], they would rule Cybertron in the present. Beta notes that A3 is missing, but that they must attack at dawn with or without him. The Autobots agree to help the slaves in their attack.

[[Image:ForeverLongTime A3 superion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Frankly, my dear Superion, I don't give a damn."]]

Back in 2006, the time window is leaking energy into space—ripples in the timestream. Rodimus refuses to shut the window down while five Autobots are stuck in the past. The Quintessons fear that if the window isn't closed in the next hour, the ripples will travel through the universe, jeopardizing reality itself—some events will repeat in an endless loop (such as [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] winning a race over and over) while some will reverse (such as water running backward in a lake) and worse, the past and future will collide—evidenced by [[Marissa Faireborn]] reverting to a baby—until the universe ceases to exist. The only solution, according to the Quintessons, is to destroy the time window. The scientist orders a full scale assault on the asteroid.

A3 has finally revived, but refuses to give information to "Quintesson slaves" like the Autobots. A3 and Rodimus take cover from Quintesson starbombs and an incoming Sharkticon offensive as the other Autobots begin defending the time portal. A3 is blasted away from the asteroid and tumbles through space before being saved by Superion, who is cornered by Quintesson ships. Under heavy fire and proclaiming his failure, Superion has a vision, seeing A3 turn into his future self—[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]! Suddenly, the ripples in the time stream cause Superion to briefly warp into two places at once, as space and time begin to warp and mutilate itself. The Quintessons retreat, fearing the results of the distortions. Rodimus orders [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] to repair Perceptor, as he's the only one that can figure out what's going on. [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] attempts to talk to A3, who isn't even sure who he is anymore.

[[Image:ForeverLongTime Beta rebels.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Blue 42...Blue 42...Hike!]]

Back in the past, the Autobots take part in the raid on Hive City, finding themselves and the slaves against several Dark Guardians, as in the present, the Quintesson scientist proposes an alliance—and for the time window be closed. The raid is apparently successful with the help of the Autobots, but a five-faced Quintesson demands surrender, as the Dark Guardians surround the rebellion.

[[Image:A-3 Constellation.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's a couple of light years away from the Optimus Prime hologram.]]

Rodimus is finally convinced by the Quintesson to close the time window, but A3 volunteers to go through the time portal to retrieve the time-displaced Autobots, much to the Quintesson scientist's chagrin. A3 lands at the raid point to Beta's elation, as the Quintesson orders the Guardians to attack. A3 removes the golden Autobot symbol on his chest, which is the Coda Remote in disguise. A3 triggers the Remote, which disables the Dark Guardians, then orders the Autobots to return to the present, thanking them for their help. The Autobots return to 2006 just in time for Rodimus to close the time window, which self-destructs.

As the day is saved, the Autobots finally realize that A3 was Alpha Trion, as a constellation forms with his likeness.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (1)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (2)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (3)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (4)
* [[Rewind]] (5)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (7)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (10)
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (11)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (12)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (14)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (15)
* [[Slingshot]] (16)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3/Alpha Trion]] (17)
* [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] (19)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (20)
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (21)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (22)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (23)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (24)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (25)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (26)

|c3=
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (27)

|c4=
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (6)
* [[Quintesson]]s (9)
** [[Inquirata]] (8)
* [[Dark Guardians]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"So why'd ya-w-why'd ya want us along? This ain't-this ain't our gig-k-kinda gig!"
:—'''Ramhorn''' has a problem with scientific expeditions...and speaking coherently.

"How come they made you Aerialbot leader, Silverbolt? You've got no sense of adventure!" 
"Exactly."
:—'''Air Raid''' gets put in his place by '''Silverbolt'''.

"What in the name of Alpha Trion?!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''', as A3 comes through the time portal. See what they did there?

"Ohhhh! I don't know where we are but wherever it is it's somewhere but somewhere else would definitely be a better place to be!"
:—'''Blurr''' isn't too fond of ancient Cybertron.

'''Superion''': I...have...failed you Rodimus...it is...finished. 
'''A-3''': No...Superion! ''('transforming' into Alpha Trion)'' You must live...so that I may be born! 
'''Superion''': Alpha...Trion? 
'''A-3''': A...3...

'''Wreck-Gar''': Phew. One to five rodents agree exceptional headache number one is a mad dog guardian. 
'''Blaster''': Right on, but we still gotta lure 'em away from the walls so Beta and the rebels can attack. 
'''Blurr''': Yeah, that's what we said we'd do, and I always do what I say I'll do, because I have to, so I'd better do it, because if we say we do and then we don't— 
''[Ramhorn roars and charges the Dark Guardians]'' 
'''Rewind''': Methinks the die has been cast. 
:—The Autobots discuss strategy as Ramhorn gets bored.

"You will now put down your arms and return to work, or the Dark Guardians will incinerate you where you stand. Please decide quickly."
:—An ever-polite '''Quintesson''' gives the Autobots a simple choice.

"Your friends want you home. Go, now." 
"Yeah, but—" 
"No time for talk. We thank you for your help, but you must go at once." 
"Okay. I guess we can trust you to win this one. After all, you already did."
:—'''A-3''' and '''Blaster'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Blaster Sideways Door.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ouch. That's gotta hurt.]]
* The Autobots are shown leaving Cybertron twice in a row.

* The number of switches on Blaster's chest changes throughout the episode. For instance, in the opening shots, he has anywhere from ''ten'' to just ''one''.

* When the asteroid begins firing on the Autobots, Perceptor's Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white.

* During the attack, Blaster ejects Rewind and his chest is plain blue instead of grey or yellow.

* Blurr's chest alternates from plain white to white with blue on the bottom throughout the episode (and his Autobot logo appears, moves around from the center to his abs, and disappears in different shots).

* Although the Autobots are seen flying toward the time window, which begins to fade in and out, they're never actually shown flying INTO the window.

* As Rodimus arrives to help the Autobots, Perceptor is flying with him. He's supposed to be unconscious on the asteroid at this point.

* As the Autobots come under attack from the guardian robot, Rewind points and his faceplate moves as if he's speaking, but he doesn't say anything.

* When Beta rescues the Autobots from the Guardian robot, Blaster's Autobot logo isn't colored in.

* Rewind calls Beta by her name without her actually giving her name. (Then again, given his habit of endless amounts of trivia without any real use for it...)

* When Blaster ejects Rewind on ancient Cybertron, his tape door opens sideways.

* An abnormally huge Wheelie is shown racing Jazz (who's missing the numbers on his doors).

* When the Quintesson bailiff instructs the Sharkticons to attack the Autobots, their background is deep space, but the Sharkticons then are shown exiting the Quintesson ship.

[[Image:ForeverLongTime Ramhorn guardian.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Maybe it's a very small Dark Guardian?]]
* Ramhorn rams a Dark Guardian and is somehow much larger than usual.

* Superion "appears in two places at once," but the first shot of this occurring shows the original Superion disappearing.

* As Superion appears in two places at once, the Quintesson commander is shown mouthing the Quintesson scientist's lines.

* Also, the picture is overlapping the top of the left display monitor on the Quintesson ship.

* Beta's rebels hide in a dirt ditch on Cybertron...a planet made of metal.

* The Autobots in the past stand on top of a building in front of the Quintesson's base, but when they jump down, they're in an alcove somewhere in the middle of the building.

* In this episode, Rodimus' back spoiler is all yellow (it should be orange in the middle).

* As the constellation of the Quintesson talks to the Autobots, Rodimus' chest piece is too big, and there are two generic robots behind him (they should be the Aerialbots, but if so, they're badly misdrawn).

* As Beta fires her arrow at the Dark Guardians during the big battle, her "slave brand" (Autobot logo) is missing.

* The five-faced Quintesson in the past hovers on board a chair, but when a closeup is shown, the chair is not seen. When the view is restored, the chair is visible again.

* Speaking of the chair, it starts off with a blue flame beneath it, but the flame is red a few shots later.

* When A-3 returns to the past, the Autobots are standing in a completely different setting than when we last saw them. They're also no longer surrounded by Dark Guardians.

* The Autobot symbol on A-3's chest is suddenly a solid plate (including surrounding metal) when it is revealed as the Coda Remote, but looks no different from the regular Autobot symbol in previous shots (other than being golden).

* Beta came with four rebels, but two, five and six are shown in various shots.

* A3 came through the gateway to the past and it was shown as just the frame of the portal, but when the Autobots go through it, it includes the control panel underneath (on ''both'' sides).

* As A-3 tells them to go, Wreck-Gar is next to Blaster on the right, but a shot later he's behind him on the left.

* Also, as the Autobots dive into the gateway, Kup is seen for a moment (even though he's still in the "present") and Ramhorn disappears from the shot.

* When the Autobots land and run away from the gateway, Wheelie is running with them (he's supposed to be on ''another planet''!). Also, Rewind is missing from the shot.

* Rodimus is nowhere near the gateway after he presses the button. The shot should show him running too.

* As he tells Rodimus they must close the time portal, Perceptor is drawn huge (if he stood up, he'd be much taller than Rodimus, who is closer to the camera but drawn smaller).

* Air Raid clips through Rewind as he walks up to deliver the last lines of the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* How are the Autobots flying through space at the beginning of the episode? They usually need a ship of some kind.
* Why would the Autobots fly right into the Quintesson's device?
* Supposedly the Quintessons were after Alpha Trion, but the claw at the beginning was grabbing for something sphere-shaped.
* This may not be an error but Rewind is the first to mention Beta by her name, despite her never actually introducing herself by name. She may have done so offscreen, but it's still a bit odd.
* Nobody suspects that A-3 might be Alpha Trion until his "future ghost" talks to Superion.
* Apparently time passes at the same rate inside the gateway as out of it, otherwise...when A-3 goes back to the past, shouldn't he arrive at the same time he left (and shouldn't the Autobots arrive at the same time they entered)?
* So at the end of the episode, did all the damage the gateway caused somehow reverse itself? Did the water on that one planet somehow flow back towards the dam? Did Marissa revert back to being an adult (hopefully not naked as the last time we saw her)? ''NOTE: We find out [[Money Is Everything|later]] that she did, but it must have been incredibly embarrassing for her to find out what happened!''

===Real-world references===
*Wreck-Gar gets a few digs in:
** "Golly, Mr. Wizard" is a reference to the famous children-oriented television science show, ''[[wikipedia:Watch Mr. Wizard|Watch Mr. Wizard]]'' (later ''Mr. Wizard's World'').
** "We've come a long way, baby!" is a take on a [[wikipedia:Virginia Slims|Virginia Slims]] cigarette ad campaign of the 1970s.
** "Exceptional headache #1" is a take on an [[wikipedia:Excedrin|Excedrin]] ad campaign.

===Transformers references===
* This is one of the few episodes to not feature the [[Decepticon]]s.

* So the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] save A3. To whom they would eventually bring Orion Pax, causing him to be rebuilt as Optimus Prime. {{storylink|War Dawn|War Dawn}} Who would eventually call for the Aerialbots to be built, prompting Alpha Trion to sacrifice his life to give life to the Aerialbots. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}} Who had saved his life 11 million years earlier. Or twenty years later. It all makes sense.

===Trivia===
* The Quintesson scientist is named Inquirata in the script, but is unnamed in the episode proper.

* This is the second episode in a row to conclude with a constellation image of a character, as "[[Dark Awakening]]" ends with a star image Optimus Prime right after his apparent destruction.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1993 — The Biggest Ever Saturday Morning Picture Show ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 5: Return to Cybertron ([[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]] 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/tt0808827/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/forever_is_a_long_time_coming.html Dossier on the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Thief in the Night

2011-03-21T07:59:56Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=76
|ep2=6
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
|next2=Starscream's Ghost
|image=ThiefNight Trypticon monuments.JPG
|caption=Looks more like a "Thief in the Day" to us.
|title="Thief in the Night"
|production code=700-96
|airdate=[[October 6]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Davids]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Octane steals Trypticon in an attempt to use him to control the Decepticons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' メトロフレックスVSダイナザウラー (''Metroflex VS Dinosaurer'')
:''German title:'' "'''Wie ein Dieb in der Nacht'''" ("Like a Thief in the Night")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ThiefNight Seaspray Broadside.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Thundersub! Oh wait, wrong universe.]]

[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] are reviewing the footage of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s battle with [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Grimlock declares that he wants to see the "good part", where Metroplex destroyed Trypticon, but [[Teletraan II]] states that Trypticon survived the encounter. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] travel to where Trypticon landed in the ocean, and learn that he walked underwater to avoid being caught.

Meanwhile, the [[Triple Changer]] [[Octane]] is nursing Trypticon back to health, using [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] made from the [[oil]] of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]]. Octane hopes that with Trypticon to back him up, he can overthrow [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and become [[Decepticon leader|leader]] of the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]]. However, [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]], the leader of the desert nation, is unhappy with Trypticon's constant consumption of oil. Fakkadi demands that the two Decepticons leave, or he will call the [[Autobot|Autobots]]. Octane offers to bring Fakkadi [[gold]] in exchange for being able to stay, but Fakkadi declares that it would take all the gold of the [[United States of America|United States]] to allow them to stay. The simple answer? Octane has Trypticon steal [[Fort Knox]].

Pacified, Fakkadi agrees to allow the Decepticons to remain in Carbombya until the next crescent moon, and Trypticon is put under strict ration of one thousand barrels a day. Octane declares that Trypticon will starve, and negotiates a new plan: give Fakkadi a new palace, and he will let them stay and have more oil. To make Fakkadi "more happy", Trypticon steals the [[Taj Mahal]].

[[Image:ThiefNight Autobots investigate.JPG|right|200px|thumb|What we looking at?]]

While the Autobots investigate the disappearance of Fort Knox ('cause that's something that directly involves the Autobots), Grimlock finds [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]] which he says "smell different". As Perceptor begins analyzing the Energon, Grimlock also smells [[Dinosaur transform static]], and fears one of his own [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] may have been involved. Metroplex decides to interrogate all the Dinobots.

At Carbombya, Fakkadi is pleased, declaring that with enough monuments, they will soon have a thriving tourist attraction. However, Galvatron has been tracking down Trypticon. He declares Octane a traitor, saying he stole Trypticon from [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]. Thinking fast, Octane claims that he brought Trypticon to Carbombya to help him get better, with a more powerful form of Energon, and tosses Galvatron a cube. As Trypticon says nothing to contradict the story, Galvatron takes a swig, and finds that it ''is'' stronger.

Meanwhile, [[Six-Gun]] and [[Scamper]] are interrogating the Dinobots, as well as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], under the watchful eye of Metroplex. Sky Lynx angrily objects to being called a Dinobot, and refuses to participate. Perceptor runs in declaring that the Energon Grimlock found was made via a Decepticon formula, with Carbombyan oil. Perceptor believes that Trypticon is responsible for the thefts. Broadside takes the Aerialbots to investigate, and spots the two stolen buildings. However, Trypticon surfaces, carrying the Eiffel Tower. Galvatron and Octane are explaining to Fakkadi that the Decepticons will supply Carbombya with more buildings, such as the [[Kremlin]], while they take over the oil fields. However, Trypticon spots the Aerialbots, and converts to battle mode, forcing the Aerialbots to retreat.

[[Image:ThiefNight Metroplex Kremlin.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to become a tall building in a single bound!]]

Having learned that Trypticon intends to take the Kremlin, the Autobots head to [[Moscow]], but Metroplex is late. In the night fog, Trypticon arrives and steals the Kremlin, but Metroplex interrupts him. Metroplex takes back the Kremlin while Trypticon flees, and the [[Soviet Union|Soviet government]] accuses the Autobots of the theft, as does [[India]]. Grimlock laments the Autobots' sad fate.

[[Image:ThiefNight Metroplex Trypticon.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Trypticon, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could thr—uh, wait..."]]

At Carbombya, Fakkadi is recording a message to send to the Autobots, authorizing them to invade Carbombya and attack the Decepticons. Galvatron, however, simply locks up the dictator. Rodimus, the Dinobots, the Aerialbots, Metroplex, and Broadside arrive to fight off the Decepticons, and Metroplex throws Trypticon into the ocean (again). Without Trypticon to even the odds, Galvatron orders the 'Cons to retreat. Metroplex returns the monuments, clearing the Autobots' name. Rodimus asks Fakkadi to never ally with the Decepticons again. Fakkadi promises the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that he will not, swearing by the livestock of his various family members.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (5)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (8)
* [[Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (10)
* [[Teletraan II]] (11)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (12)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (13)
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (21)
* [[Slammer]] (28)
* [[Six-Gun]] (29)
* [[Scamper]] (30)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (31)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (32)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (33)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (34)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (35)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (40)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (41)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (42)
|c2=
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (1)
* [[Octane]] (16)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (22)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (23)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (25)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (26)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (27)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (39)
* [[Sweep]] (43)
|c3=
* Luxury Cruises captain (14)
* Luxury Cruises passengers (15)
* [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] (17)
* Fakkadi's lackeys (18)
* US Army officer (19)
* Private [[Dixon]] (20)
* Soviet army officer (36)
* Soviet news broadcaster (37)
* Indian news broadcaster (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Trypticon and me wanna turn your country into a paradise!" 
"It already ''is'' a paradise"
:—'''Octane'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s offer elicits an icy response from '''Abdul Fakkadi'''.

'''Galvatron''': You're a traitor, Octane! You had no permission to take Trypticon away from Dinobot Island! I needed Trypticon for my plans of conquering the Earth. Now, thanks to you, he may never recover! 
'''Octane''': But you got it all wrong, Galvatron! Me and Trypticon found this fantastic new type of Energon. It's helping Trypticon get all better real quick! Try some, you'll love it! 
'''Trypticon''': Drink! Drink and CRUSH! 
'''Galvatron''': That's good! Makes me feel stronger, more powerful!
:—Galvatron is soothed by Octane and Trypticon

"Why am I under investigation? I'm not a Dinobot." 
"Ya got Dinosaur electrons in yer circuits, Sky Lynx." 
"Never the less, I am ''definitely'' not a Dinobot! I refuse to participate in this...kangaroo court!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' denounces '''Six-Gun''''s prosecution skills.

"Me Grimlock say this grim. Whole world thinks Autobots are building snatchers."
:—'''Grimlock''' laments the Autobots' sad fate.

==Notes==
* Considering that Fakkadi hired Trypticon and Octane to keep the American "imperialist fanatic" tourists away from Carbombya, it is rather unclear why he would desire his nation to become a tourist mecca via the appropriated world monuments. Did he suddenly realize the economic potential of having foreigners bringing their money to his country?

===Animation or technical glitches===
*In the second shot of the episode (people running away from Trypticon), the woman in orange is missing her eyes.
*In Teletraan II's recap (of "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4"), Metroplex is shown throwing Trypticon over an icy environment (it was actually more like a desert), and Metroplex slides over a flat-topped brown cliffside on his way into the ocean (he actually ''bounced'' over some ''grey'' cliffs).
*When Rodimus Prime, Perceptor, Grimlock, and the Aerialbots are watching the footage on the battle of Metroplex and Trypticon, Grimlock is seen in robot mode from behind. When he starts to talk, he is in dinosaur mode.
* Abdul's throne has five steps in front of it. When he starts talking to his men about Octane and Trypticon, he walks down three of the steps. Two shots later, he takes two steps fowards, and then the shot changes and he's suddenly only on the third step and needs to take three more to reach the main floor.
* Speaking of the steps, they start out as a small platform around his throne but are much larger a few shots later.
* Once again, the commercial bumpers have an extra second or two of music.
* Abdul's medals (especially the one with white and red stripes) change colors and shapes during his chat with Octane after the Fort Knox heist.
* As Grimlock notices the energon cubes around the Fort Knox site, the top of his head disappears a few times.
* As Octane notes their partnership, there are six lines around the top of his Decepticon logo instead of four.
* Trypticon clips through the left side of the Taj Mahal as he steals it.
* In the first shot of Galvatron's troops, Cyclonus is missing half his left leg (and the top half is blue instead of grey) and Dirge is colored as Beachcomber.
* A few shots later, there are two Ramjets behind Galvatron. Note that Ramjet does not appear in the rest of the episode.
* As Perceptor notes that the Dinobots are innocent, his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white.
* When the Autobots jump off Boradside, Grimlock disappears.
* When the Autobots are shown firing after Trypticon is hurled into the ocean, there are three Rodimus Primes, two Perceptors, and two [[Blurr (G1)|Blurrs]].
* Despite the dialogue, the building Trypticon attempts to steal from Moscow is not the [[wikipedia:Moscow_Kremlin|Kremlin]] but nearby [[wikipedia:Saint_Basil's_Cathedral|Saint Basil's Cathedral]].
*When the Decepticons fly into Carbombya to retrieve Trypticon, their ranks include [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] miscolored as [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]].
* After Galvatron shoots Octane's energon cube, in a shot there are two Thrusts walking behind him.

===Continuity errors===
* This episode is actually set before "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" as it explains why Galvatron has it in for Octane.
* The Luxury Cruises captain says that Carbombya is off the ship's starboard bow. The country is actually on the port side of the ship.
* First Trypticon crunches the energon cubes, then they melt in his mouth, then he drinks from them.
* ''Nobody'' noticed Trypticon as he just strolled up to Fort Knox? What about all the guards who are supposed to be around the main building?
* Given their need for the engergon cubes, why did Octane and Trypticon just leave several laying there at Fort Knox?
* Abdul just gets away with helping the Decepticons. Even if he denied responsibility, what is his explanation for all those priceless buildings in his country? You'd think Rodimus would at least want to take him in to prove to the world that the Autobots weren't responsible for the thefts.

===Transformers references===
* Trypticon had been taken to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] in an attempt to help him recover. When the Decepticons last [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|visited the island]], they had been attacked by the [[Dinosaur|natives]].

===Real-world references===
* While the title is a rather literal description of Trypticon's activities, the phrase comes from the [[Wikipedia:Bible|Bible]], regarding the second coming of [[Jesus]]: [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:16-5:2;&version=31; "The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."]

===Trivia===
* It's pretty weird that Teletraan II didn't immediately inform the Autobots that a robot as dangerous as Trypticon was still alive.
* Trypticon is the most energy inefficient robot ever. Seriously.
* Amazing that the various buildings that Trypticon stole weren't damaged while he stole them.
* Amazing that Abdul wasn't held slightly accountable for the deaths of the soldiers crushed by the falling gold in Fort Knox.
* Amazing that after being carried by hand to a separate hemisphere the gold bars are still stacked neatly in Fort Knox.
* Amazing that all the gold of the United States was stacked so neatly when it was last seen falling on soldiers.
* Amazing that all the gold of the United States was not slathered in red, human blood after crushing and smashing American soldiers.
* Okay, seriously... [[dinosaur transform static]]? WTF?
* Although this episode is set in the year 2006, the [[Soviet Union]] still exists. In the real world, the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Thief in the Night / Surprise Party ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/thief_in_the_night.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicles]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Starscream's Ghost

2011-03-21T07:02:39Z

75.2.136.86: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=75
|ep2=7
|prev2=Thief in the Night
|next2=Dark Awakening
|image=G1 StarscreamsGhost AHHHHH.jpg
|caption="Ebenezer Ooooctaaaane! You must pick a mode and stick to it!"
|title="Starscream's Ghost"
|production code=700-95
|airdate=[[October 2]], 1986
|written by=[[Megeen McLaughlin]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''On the run from the Decepticons, Octane seeks asylum on Cybertron, where he encounters the ghost of Starscream, who is still scheming in death.'''

:''Japanese title:'' スタースクリームの幽霊 (''Starscream no Yūrei'', "Starscream's Ghost")
:''German title:'' "'''Der Geist von Starscream'''" ("The Ghost of Starscream")
:''German'' Generation 2 ''title:'' "'''Starscream kehrt zurück'''" ("Starscream Returns")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Prizrak Skandalista'''" (''Призрак Скандалиста'', "Starscream's Ghost")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost SpaceDynamite.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Clearly, Homeland Security is earning its budget.]]

Exiled from the Decepticons, the former Decepticon Octane now makes a living freighting scrap metal from planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for the Autobots. However, his past catches up to him when a vengeful Galvatron hires an alien bounty hunter, the [[Skuxxoid]], to assassinate Octane. Just after he leaves Junk, Octane's cargo ship is destroyed by a bomb planted by his would-be assassin. Fortunately Octane is merely blown away from the explosion and is rescued by a passing transport ship.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost Combaticonstalkers.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Who would have thought [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] could keep quiet?]]

Enraged by this failure, Galvatron dispatches the Combaticons to track and eliminate the exile. Fearing for his life, Octane takes refuge with the Autobots on [[Earth]] and seeks the advice of his friend Sandstorm, who at first doesn't believe him. When they are ambushed and the Combaticons concentrate on Octane while leaving Sandstorm alone, however, the Autobot is convinced and the pair escape Earth in an Autobot shuttle.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost Diningout.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Why'd you take me here, man? This bar has the ugliest hookers in space."]]

The two [[Triple Changer]]s stop and refuel at a neutral alien space station and use the time to discuss the situation at the adjoining diner. The Skuxxoid, having either tracked them there or anticipated their arrival, poses as the host and ushers them into the diner. As they enter, some seated customers get in a fight, knocking their own table over. Octane and Sandstorm nonchalantly right the table and have a seat, and soon a waitress delivers a plate of [[energon (fuel)|energon]] appetizers. As they eat, Octane tells Sandstorm that Galvatron wants him dead because he had stolen [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and tried to become the most powerful Decepticon. Meanwhile, the Skuxxoid tries several times to kill Octane but is thwarted by a farcical series of mishaps. In frustration, he finally charges at his target from behind and jumps onto his shoulders, pounding his head repeatedly to little effect. Octane grabs the alien and demands to know who hired him. When the Skuxxoid says he was hired by Galvatron, Octane decides to go deeper into hiding.

[[Image:StarscreamCryptMarker1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Octane's a leg man.]]

He is followed to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps. When the attacking Decepticons pin him down, he seeks shelter in what appears to be a large drainage pipe, but turns out to be the secret entrance to a [[Decepticon Crypt]]. While there, he encounters the ghost of Starscream, who conspires with Octane to take control of Cyclonus. Successful, Starscream then proceeds to "capture" the runaway Octane. However, they are pursued by the Autobots, intent on protecting Octane. Rodimus confronts "Cyclonus", and when he hears his voice, he recognizes him as Starscream instantly. Starscream promises Rodimus a "bonus" if he lets them go, and Rodimus agrees, to the other Autobots' confusion.

When "Cyclonus" brings the cowering Octane back to [[Chaar]], Galvatron is initially furious that the exile was not destroyed. But "Cyclonus" convinces Galvatron that the traitor should be interrogated for any information he might have learned amongst the Autobots. "Cyclonus" puts on a show of torturing Octane, who eventually relents and volunteers a "secret". The two conspirators take Galvatron to a location where Rodimus Prime appears to be alone and vulnerable. Galvatron attacks him and a short battle ensues, but he pauses when he realizes that several more Autobots have come out of hiding and all have their guns trained on him. Rodimus Prime waves to "Cyclonus" and Octane as they abandon Galvatron and fly away.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost Cyclonuswrecked.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"DAMN YOU, TACO BELL!"]]

"Cyclonus" and Octane return to Chaar and lounge on Galvatron's throne, gloating about their successful ambush. But their mood is quickly spoiled by the appearance of a battered and vengeful Galvatron. Starscream reveals his identity to the Decepticon leader, who fires at him just as he exits Cyclonus's body. The gut-shot Cyclonus mumbles that the last thing he remembers is being in the Decepticon Crypt. Galvatron orders Cyclonus to be repaired, and Scourge acknowledges the command... then giggles with Starscream's voice as an image of the ghost becomes slightly visible over him.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (5)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (15)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (16)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (17)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (18)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (19)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (20)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (21)
* [[Slingshot]] (22)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (23)
|c2=
* [[Octane]] (2)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (3)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (6)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (7)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (8)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (11)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (12)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (14)
|h3=Others|c3=
* [[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] (1)
* [[Skuxxoid]] (4)
* Alien serving wench (9)
* Alien tentacle guy (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ehh, I'd probably be a jerk too if I was made of junk."
:—'''Octane''', apparently having forgotten that he ''is'' a jerk.

[''Taps Octane on the shoulder''.]"It's your old buddy, ''Starscream''!AHAHAHAHAHA!" 
"Just a shadow of my former self. Don't you think?" 
"STAAARRRRRSCCCRRREEEEAAAAAMMMM!"
:—'''Ghost Starscream''' and '''Octane''' have a less than warm reunion.

[''Autobots shoot at Decepticons in air''.] 
"They've spotted us!" 
[''muttering''] "Whatever would we do without a powerful intellectual like ''you'' around?" 
:—'''Octane''' to '''Cyclonus/Starscream''' who is thrilled by the remark.

"Okay, that's it!" 
"I'm still hungry!" 
"Oh, this? I picked it up on Mars." 
"Ahaha, you mean without a paddle?" 
"Well, I ''thought'' the water was safe to drink." 
"Is he with us? We gotta get movin'!" 
:—A group of diner patrons have the most nonsensical conversation ever while unintentionally thwarting one of the Skuxxoid's assassination attempts.

"Take THAT, you overgrown tin can, and that, and THAT, and—I didn't WANT this job, I HAD to take it! I've got a wife and kids! I HAVE to deactivate you! Look, a guy's got to make a living, don't you understand?!"
:—'''Skuxxoid''', easy lizard, we don't want to hear your life story!

"He must be hiding in the crypt." 
"Good. Then we won't have to take him anywhere when we're done."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge'''

'''Scourge''': You! Go down that shaft! 
'''Whining Sweep''': How come I gotta do the dirty work? 
'''Scourge''': You! See if the traitor is hiding down there! 
'''Cowardly Sweep''': No way! If you're so fired up to know what's going on, ''you'' go down there! 
'''Scourge''': YOU LEAD! 
'''Politely Declining Sweep''': I wouldn't want anyone thinking that I question you as a leader, but sorry. 
'''Cyclonus''': ''I'' question your leadership skills, Scourge. The last one in there will face ''me''! 
''[The Sweeps jump into the shaft.]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': You have much to learn. 
'''Scourge''': Yes, that is true. 
'''Cyclonus''': Now, ''DIVE!'' 
:—'''Scourge''', the Sweeps and '''Cyclonus''' debate entering the Crypt.

"Come out and die like a warrior! How dare you disgrace your ancestors by cowering like a pocket computer! He's worse than the Sweeps! Come out and face your fate like the powerful Decepticon you once were, not like the miserable excuse for a Decepticon you have become!"
:—'''Cyclonus''', after spotting Octane hiding behind somebody's marker

"Yes...we will interrogate him. Even if it's not informative, it will be ''fun''!"
:—'''Galvatron'''

"I'll never tell! (Hey, you got pretty close that time.)" 
''[Snicker]'' "You'd better before they discover your bad acting!"
:—'''Octane''' and '''Cyclonus/Starscream''' during their faux interrogation

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* When first seen, [[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] is drawn in [[Scrapheap (G1)|Scrapheap]]'s colors.

* When Galvatron is speaking in the opening sequence of the episode, only his throne is seen; the character is missing.

* The display of the robot girl Octane views in the shuttle doesn't correspond to any of the displays in the long shot.

* While Octane is walking with Sandstorm outside Autobot City, he trips and falls over a rock. The rock actually jumps in front of Octane's foot causing him to fall down. Can't this guy catch a break?

* After Octane gets up and the pair begin to walk again, the background is of deep space, even though they are on Earth.

* None of the Combaticon lasers sound like traditional Decepticon laser weapons—a common occurrence in Season 3, where the Decepticons regularly have old science fiction stock sound effects for their weapons. One particularly notable instance of this practise can be heard when Cyclonus fires upon Sandstorm. The laser sound accompanying this shot is sampled from a scene in ''[[Star Wars (film)|The Empire Strikes Back]],'' in which C-3PO is shot to pieces by a Stormtrooper. The sample, however, fails to cut out 3PO's cry of "No!", and his voice can heard in this episode and each time the sound effect is used again, in "[[Only Human]]" and "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]". <ref>[http://zobovor.tripod.com/starscreams_ghost_bloopers.html Starscream's Ghost bloopers] on Zobovor's site.</ref>

* Autobot City's wall is very, very low—low enough for Octane and Sandstorm merely to jump over when the Combaticons fire upon them.

* Not necessarily an error, but the commercial bumpers have a few extra seconds' worth of music in this episode.

* When the Decepticons attack Octane on Cybertron, some of the laser fire coming towards Octane is coloured gold, like Autobot lasers.

* Cyclonus has purple eyebrows and a purple chin in this episode. In "The Killing Jar," they were the same color as his face.

* The back of Starscream's legs are colored light blue as he creeps up behind Cyclonus in the Crypt.

* The first time we see the Decepticons on the Autobot monitor, the chains holding Octane are missing.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost BackwardsKup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Kup, there's something wrong with your optics!" "They're fine, Magnus; [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] fixed 'em yesterday." "...Ratchet's dead, Kup."]]
* Silverbolt is drawn with four engines when the Aerialbots go after Cyclonus/Starscream's group.

* When the Autobots counter-attack in an attempt to rescue Octane, Kup is shown arriving at the battle driving ''backwards''.

* Practically ''none'' of the lasers in this episode sound like they should, especially during the attempt to rescue Octane from Cyclonus' forces.

* During Octane's "interrogation," Octane mouths Starscream's laugh.

* The center of Rodimus' spoiler is yellow during and after the fight with Galvatron (instead of orange).

* When Octane and the possessed Cyclonus are sitting around Decepticon headquarters discussing Galvatron's fate, Starscream/Cyclonus' dialogue is animated as Octane speaking, and vice-versa.

===Continuity errors===
* Shouldn't Octane have Autobot logos instead of Decepticon logos?

* As Octane rides in the cargo shuttle, it looks like he's tuning in to a transmission of a robot that looks a lot like Arcee, only with "breasts", giant shoulder pads and wings instead of her backpack. What was all ''that'' about?

* For some reason Autobot City appears to be deserted, as nobody comes out to investigate the battle with the Combaticons.

* The "energon" served on board the alien space station/space trucker rest stop is drawn and coloured as small orange wedges, rather than the traditional glowing purple cubes.

* The Skuxxoid's laser pistol has a sight as he arms it, but is sightless when he aims it at Octane. The sight reappears in subsequent shots.

* Octane and Sandstorm don't notice the laser fire (and its subsequent commotion) or a grenade going off as they sit at the diner.

* As Starscream (in Cyclonus's body), Scourge and the Sweeps are carrying the captured Octane back to Chaar, Sandstorm chases them in helicopter mode...through outer space. Despite the obvious lack of an atmosphere, Sandstorm's aerial mode flies unbothered.

===Transformers references===
* The Decepticons have a dark sense of humor. Starscream's marker in the Decepticon crypt consists of nothing but his boots, in apparent "homage" to his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', wherein his legs were the only part of him not seen crumbling to ash. Well, it's either that, or the animator forgot to include the cel with the rest of the statue on it.

* This episode is the first appearance of Starscream's ghost. He'll reappear in the follow-up episode "[[Ghost in the Machine]]" as well as in [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|the 4th issue]] of [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers|the 2010 manga]] and in the ''[[The Stargate Battles|Star Gate War]]'' manga. He'll then be featured in the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Possession]]" and his latest appearances have been in issues of the ''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!]]'' comics and [[Kiss Players (radio drama)|''Kiss Players'' radio drama]].

*The [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] episode "[[Bad Spark]]" would explain Starscream's "ghost": The [[spark]] of Starscream possesses a mutation which has rendered it indestructible.

===Trivia===
[[Image:TVMagazineStarscreamsGhost1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Hey, remember that episode where Blitzwing fought Starscream's ghost? That was awesome.]]

* Several clues indicate that this episode was originally scripted to feature [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in Octane's role, following on from the conclusion of "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]", in which Blitzwing was banished from the Decepticons and offered a place among the Autobots by Rodimus Prime (though he declined):
** When Octane relates the reasons for his banishment, he quotes verbatim Galvatron's words to Blitzwing, that he would "never be welcome in the ranks of the Decepticons again".
** The events of "[[Thief in the Night]]" are used to provide a reason for Octane's own banishment, but when he recounts them in this episode, actor [[Beau Weaver]]'s lines sound noticeably rushed, as if they were being fitted into a pre-existing framework that did not originally contain them. Also, "Thief in the Night" was actually broadcast ''after'' this episode.
** A piece of artwork in Japan's ''[[TV Magazine]]'' shows Blitzwing being accosted by the specter of Starscream.
** When Octane first sees Starscream, he is paralyzed in terror halfway between truck and robot mode. Starscream even remarks that he needs to be "straightened up". This reflects Blitzwing's on-package [[bio]], which states that he "often gets stuck in mid-transformation."<ref>Blitzwing's on-package bio, [http://www.botchthecrab.com/archive/decoder.asp?CharName=Blitzwing&ImgURL=/archive/techspecs/decepticon/1985/ts_blitzwing.jpg scan at botchthecrab.com]</ref>
** Though Blitzwing's toy was still being sold at this point, Octane's was newer, which has always been [[to sell toys|a good enough reason]] for anything that happens in ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' media.

* This episode's [[dialogue script]] ascribes all of Sandstorm's dialogue to [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. While it's tempting to think that, like Octane, his character was consciously switched, this script seems to have been written up using the ''finished episode'', rather than the actual recording script, so it's probably just a transcription error.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/38be154a237a9aa3?pli=1 Alt.toys.transformers post about script errors]</ref>

* This episode has an especially humorous tone, with quippy dialogue and wacky events such as Octane tripping over rocks and the Skuxxoid clumsily failing to kill him multiple times.

* When Octane and Sandstorm transform and go off joyriding, for some reason Sandstorm constantly emits exhaust fumes.

* As Octane stuffs his face with "energon", he makes repeated "gulping" sound effects.

* In the year 2006, the Skuxxoid uses the high-tech explosive dynamite.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost PRON.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Grab your dipstick and double-click...]]
* When Sandstorm asks if Octane is all right after the latter falls down, he doesn't sound very sincere.

* Sandstorm borrows the same helicopter blade sound effect used for Cop-Tur in ''Challenge of the Go-Bots''.

* Sandstorm's cockpit is evidently large enough for Octane to operate him in robot mode.

* Two of the alien patrons of the diner were originally for the episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", though due to script changes, they were not used until "Starscream's Ghost".

* For some reason, the Decepticon Crypt is accessed via a drainage grate.

* The freighter Octane uses at the start of this episode is apparently a common Autobot design, as one is seen entering Cybertron as the Decepticons make their second attempt on Octane's life.

* Kup oversees Cybertron's security in [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s old tower.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / The Nightmare Planet / The Ghost in the Machine ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 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)

==References==
<references />

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

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Starscream's Ghost

2011-03-21T07:00:24Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=75
|ep2=7
|prev2=Thief in the Night
|next2=Dark Awakening
|image=G1 StarscreamsGhost AHHHHH.jpg
|caption="Ebenezer Ooooctaaaane! You must pick a mode and stick to it!"
|title="Starscream's Ghost"
|production code=700-95
|airdate=[[October 2]], 1986
|written by=[[Megeen McLaughlin]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''On the run from the Decepticons, Octane seeks asylum on Cybertron, where he encounters the ghost of Starscream, who is still scheming in death.'''

:''Japanese title:'' スタースクリームの幽霊 (''Starscream no Yūrei'', "Starscream's Ghost")
:''German title:'' "'''Der Geist von Starscream'''" ("The Ghost of Starscream")
:''German'' Generation 2 ''title:'' "'''Starscream kehrt zurück'''" ("Starscream Returns")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Prizrak Skandalista'''" (''Призрак Скандалиста'', "Starscream's Ghost")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost SpaceDynamite.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Clearly, Homeland Security is earning its budget.]]

Exiled from the Decepticons, the former Decepticon Octane now makes a living freighting scrap metal from planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for the Autobots. However, his past catches up to him when a vengeful Galvatron hires an alien bounty hunter, the [[Skuxxoid]], to assassinate Octane. Just after he leaves Junk, Octane's cargo ship is destroyed by a bomb planted by his would-be assassin. Fortunately Octane is merely blown away from the explosion and is rescued by a passing transport ship.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost Combaticonstalkers.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Who would have thought [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] could keep quiet?]]

Enraged by this failure, Galvatron dispatches the Combaticons to track and eliminate the exile. Fearing for his life, Octane takes refuge with the Autobots on [[Earth]] and seeks the advice of his friend Sandstorm, who at first doesn't believe him. When they are ambushed and the Combaticons concentrate on Octane while leaving Sandstorm alone, however, the Autobot is convinced and the pair escape Earth in an Autobot shuttle.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost Diningout.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Why'd you take me here, man? This bar has the ugliest hookers in space."]]

The two [[Triple Changer]]s stop and refuel at a neutral alien space station and use the time to discuss the situation at the adjoining diner. The Skuxxoid, having either tracked them there or anticipated their arrival, poses as the host and ushers them into the diner. As they enter, some seated customers get in a fight, knocking their own table over. Octane and Sandstorm nonchalantly right the table and have a seat, and soon a waitress delivers a plate of [[energon (fuel)|energon]] appetizers. As they eat, Octane tells Sandstorm that Galvatron wants him dead because he had stolen [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and tried to become the most powerful Decepticon. Meanwhile, the Skuxxoid tries several times to kill Octane but is thwarted by a farcical series of mishaps. In frustration, he finally charges at his target from behind and jumps onto his shoulders, pounding his head repeatedly to little effect. Octane grabs the alien and demands to know who hired him. When the Skuxxoid says he was hired by Galvatron, Octane decides to go deeper into hiding.

[[Image:StarscreamCryptMarker1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Octane's a leg man.]]

He is followed to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps. When the attacking Decepticons pin him down, he seeks shelter in what appears to be a large drainage pipe, but turns out to be the secret entrance to a [[Decepticon Crypt]]. While there, he encounters the ghost of Starscream, who conspires with Octane to take control of Cyclonus. Successful, Starscream then proceeds to "capture" the runaway Octane. However, they are pursued by the Autobots, intent on protecting Octane. Rodimus confronts "Cyclonus", and when he hears his voice, he recognizes him as Starscream instantly. Starscream promises Rodimus a "bonus" if he lets them go, and Rodimus agrees, to the other Autobots' confusion.

When "Cyclonus" brings the cowering Octane back to [[Chaar]], Galvatron is initially furious that the exile was not destroyed. But "Cyclonus" convinces Galvatron that the traitor should be interrogated for any information he might have learned amongst the Autobots. "Cyclonus" puts on a show of torturing Octane, who eventually relents and volunteers a "secret". The two conspirators take Galvatron to a location where Rodimus Prime appears to be alone and vulnerable. Galvatron attacks him and a short battle ensues, but he pauses when he realizes that several more Autobots have come out of hiding and all have their guns trained on him. Rodimus Prime waves to "Cyclonus" and Octane as they abandon Galvatron and fly away.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost Cyclonuswrecked.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"DAMN YOU, TACO BELL!"]]

"Cyclonus" and Octane return to Chaar and lounge on Galvatron's throne, gloating about their successful ambush. But their mood is quickly spoiled by the appearance of a battered and vengeful Galvatron. Starscream reveals his identity to the Decepticon leader, who fires at him just as he exits Cyclonus's body. The gut-shot Cyclonus mumbles that the last thing he remembers is being in the Decepticon Crypt. Galvatron orders Cyclonus to be repaired, and Scourge acknowledges the command... then giggles with Starscream's voice as an image of the ghost becomes slightly visible over him.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (5)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (15)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (16)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (17)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (18)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (19)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (20)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (21)
* [[Slingshot]] (22)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (23)
|c2=
* [[Octane]] (2)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (3)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (6)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (7)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (8)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (11)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (12)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (14)
|h3=Others|c3=
* [[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] (1)
* [[Skuxxoid]] (4)
* Alien serving wench (9)
* Alien tentacle guy (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ehh, I'd probably be a jerk too if I was made of junk."
:—'''Octane''', apparently having forgotten that he ''is'' a jerk.

[''Taps Octane on the shoulder''.]"It's your old buddy, ''Starscream''!AHAHAHAHAHA!" 
"Just a shadow of my former self. Don't you think?" 
"STAAARRRRRSCCCRRREEEEAAAAAMMMM!"
:—'''Ghost Starscream''' and '''Octane''' have a less than warm reunion.

[''Autobots shoot at Decepticons in air''.] 
"They've spotted us!" 
[''muttering''] "Whatever would we do without a powerful intellectual like ''you'' around?" 
:—'''Octane''' to '''Cyclonus/Starscream''' who is thrilled by the remark.

"Okay, that's it!" 
"I'm still hungry!" 
"Oh, this? I picked it up on Mars." 
"Ahaha, you mean without a paddle?" 
"Well, I ''thought'' the water was safe to drink." 
"Is he with us? We gotta get movin'!" 
:—A group of diner patrons have the most nonsensical conversation ever while unintentionally thwarting one of the Skuxxoid's assassination attempts.

"Take THAT, you overgrown tin can, and that, and THAT, and—I didn't WANT this job, I HAD to take it! I've got a wife and kids! I HAVE to deactivate you! Look, a guy's got to make a living, don't you understand?!"
:—'''Skuxxoid''', easy lizard, we don't want to hear your life story!

"He must be hiding in the crypt." 
"Good. Then we won't have to take him anywhere when we're done."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge'''

'''Scourge''': You! Go down that shaft! 
'''Whining Sweep''': How come I gotta do the dirty work? 
'''Scourge''': You! See if the traitor is hiding down there! 
'''Cowardly Sweep''': No way! If you're so fired up to know what's going on, ''you'' go down there! 
'''Scourge''': YOU LEAD! 
'''Politely Declining Sweep''': I wouldn't want anyone thinking that I question you as a leader, but sorry. 
'''Cyclonus''': ''I'' question your leadership skills, Scourge. The last one in there will face ''me''! 
''[The Sweeps jump into the shaft.]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': You have much to learn. 
'''Scourge''': Yes, that is true. 
'''Cyclonus''': Now, ''DIVE!'' 
:—'''Scourge''', the Sweeps and '''Cyclonus''' debate entering the Crypt.

"Come out and die like a warrior! How dare you disgrace your ancestors by cowering like a pocket computer! He's worse than the Sweeps! Come out and face your fate like the powerful Decepticon you once were, not like the miserable excuse for a Decepticon you have become!"
:—'''Cyclonus''', after spotting Octane hiding behind somebody's marker

"Yes...we will interrogate him. Even if it's not informative, it will be ''fun''!"
:—'''Galvatron'''

"I'll never tell! (Hey, you got pretty close that time.)" 
''[Snicker]'' "You'd better before they discover your bad acting!"
:—'''Octane''' and '''Cyclonus/Starscream''' during their faux interrogation

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* When first seen, [[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] is drawn in [[Scrapheap (G1)|Scrapheap]]'s colors.

* When Galvatron is speaking in the opening sequence of the episode, only his throne is seen; the character is missing.

* The display of the robot girl Octane views in the shuttle doesn't correspond to any of the displays in the long shot.

* While Octane is walking with Sandstorm outside Autobot City, he trips and falls over a rock. The rock actually jumps in front of Octane's foot causing him to fall down. Can't this guy catch a break?

* After Octane gets up and the pair begin to walk again, the background is of deep space, even though they are on Earth.

* None of the Combaticon lasers sound like traditional Decepticon laser weapons—a common occurrence in Season 3, where the Decepticons regularly have old science fiction stock sound effects for their weapons. One particularly notable instance of this practise can be heard when Cyclonus fires upon Sandstorm. The laser sound accompanying this shot is sampled from a scene in ''[[Star Wars (film)|The Empire Strikes Back]],'' in which C-3PO is shot to pieces by a Stormtrooper. The sample, however, fails to cut out 3PO's cry of "No!", and his voice can heard in this episode and each time the sound effect is used again, in "[[Only Human]]" and "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]". <ref>[http://zobovor.tripod.com/starscreams_ghost_bloopers.html Starscream's Ghost bloopers] on Zobovor's site.</ref>

* Autobot City's wall is very, very low—low enough for Octane and Sandstorm merely to jump over when the Combaticons fire upon them.

* Not necessarily an error, but the commercial bumpers have a few extra seconds' worth of music in this episode.

* When the Decepticons attack Octane on Cybertron, some of the laser fire coming towards Octane is coloured gold, like Autobot lasers.

* Cyclonus has purple eyebrows and a purple chin in this episode. In "The Killing Jar," they were the same color as his face.

* The back of Starscream's legs are colored light blue as he creeps up behind Cyclonus in the Crypt.

* The first time we see the Decepticons on the Autobot monitor, the chains holding Octane are missing.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost BackwardsKup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Kup, there's something wrong with your optics!" "They're fine, Magnus; [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] fixed 'em yesterday." "...Ratchet's dead, Kup."]]
* Silverbolt is drawn with four engines when the Aerialbots go after Cyclonus/Starscream's group.

* When the Autobots counter-attack in an attempt to rescue Octane, Kup is shown arriving at the battle driving ''backwards''.

* Practically ''none'' of the lasers in this episode sound like they should, especially during the attempt to rescue Octane from Cyclonus' forces.

* During Octane's "interrogation," Octane mouths Starscream's laugh.

* When Octane and the possessed Cyclonus are sitting around Decepticon headquarters discussing Galvatron's fate, Starscream/Cyclonus' dialogue is animated as Octane speaking, and vice-versa.

===Continuity errors===
* Shouldn't Octane have Autobot logos instead of Decepticon logos?

* As Octane rides in the cargo shuttle, it looks like he's tuning in to a transmission of a robot that looks a lot like Arcee, only with "breasts", giant shoulder pads and wings instead of her backpack. What was all ''that'' about?

* For some reason Autobot City appears to be deserted, as nobody comes out to investigate the battle with the Combaticons.

* The "energon" served on board the alien space station/space trucker rest stop is drawn and coloured as small orange wedges, rather than the traditional glowing purple cubes.

* The Skuxxoid's laser pistol has a sight as he arms it, but is sightless when he aims it at Octane. The sight reappears in subsequent shots.

* Octane and Sandstorm don't notice the laser fire (and its subsequent commotion) or a grenade going off as they sit at the diner.

* As Starscream (in Cyclonus's body), Scourge and the Sweeps are carrying the captured Octane back to Chaar, Sandstorm chases them in helicopter mode...through outer space. Despite the obvious lack of an atmosphere, Sandstorm's aerial mode flies unbothered.

===Transformers references===
* The Decepticons have a dark sense of humor. Starscream's marker in the Decepticon crypt consists of nothing but his boots, in apparent "homage" to his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', wherein his legs were the only part of him not seen crumbling to ash. Well, it's either that, or the animator forgot to include the cel with the rest of the statue on it.

* This episode is the first appearance of Starscream's ghost. He'll reappear in the follow-up episode "[[Ghost in the Machine]]" as well as in [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|the 4th issue]] of [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers|the 2010 manga]] and in the ''[[The Stargate Battles|Star Gate War]]'' manga. He'll then be featured in the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Possession]]" and his latest appearances have been in issues of the ''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!]]'' comics and [[Kiss Players (radio drama)|''Kiss Players'' radio drama]].

*The [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] episode "[[Bad Spark]]" would explain Starscream's "ghost": The [[spark]] of Starscream possesses a mutation which has rendered it indestructible.

===Trivia===
[[Image:TVMagazineStarscreamsGhost1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Hey, remember that episode where Blitzwing fought Starscream's ghost? That was awesome.]]

* Several clues indicate that this episode was originally scripted to feature [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in Octane's role, following on from the conclusion of "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]", in which Blitzwing was banished from the Decepticons and offered a place among the Autobots by Rodimus Prime (though he declined):
** When Octane relates the reasons for his banishment, he quotes verbatim Galvatron's words to Blitzwing, that he would "never be welcome in the ranks of the Decepticons again".
** The events of "[[Thief in the Night]]" are used to provide a reason for Octane's own banishment, but when he recounts them in this episode, actor [[Beau Weaver]]'s lines sound noticeably rushed, as if they were being fitted into a pre-existing framework that did not originally contain them. Also, "Thief in the Night" was actually broadcast ''after'' this episode.
** A piece of artwork in Japan's ''[[TV Magazine]]'' shows Blitzwing being accosted by the specter of Starscream.
** When Octane first sees Starscream, he is paralyzed in terror halfway between truck and robot mode. Starscream even remarks that he needs to be "straightened up". This reflects Blitzwing's on-package [[bio]], which states that he "often gets stuck in mid-transformation."<ref>Blitzwing's on-package bio, [http://www.botchthecrab.com/archive/decoder.asp?CharName=Blitzwing&ImgURL=/archive/techspecs/decepticon/1985/ts_blitzwing.jpg scan at botchthecrab.com]</ref>
** Though Blitzwing's toy was still being sold at this point, Octane's was newer, which has always been [[to sell toys|a good enough reason]] for anything that happens in ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' media.

* This episode's [[dialogue script]] ascribes all of Sandstorm's dialogue to [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. While it's tempting to think that, like Octane, his character was consciously switched, this script seems to have been written up using the ''finished episode'', rather than the actual recording script, so it's probably just a transcription error.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/38be154a237a9aa3?pli=1 Alt.toys.transformers post about script errors]</ref>

* This episode has an especially humorous tone, with quippy dialogue and wacky events such as Octane tripping over rocks and the Skuxxoid clumsily failing to kill him multiple times.

* When Octane and Sandstorm transform and go off joyriding, for some reason Sandstorm constantly emits exhaust fumes.

* As Octane stuffs his face with "energon", he makes repeated "gulping" sound effects.

* In the year 2006, the Skuxxoid uses the high-tech explosive dynamite.

[[Image:G1 StarscreamsGhost PRON.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Grab your dipstick and double-click...]]
* When Sandstorm asks if Octane is all right after the latter falls down, he doesn't sound very sincere.

* Sandstorm borrows the same helicopter blade sound effect used for Cop-Tur in ''Challenge of the Go-Bots''.

* Sandstorm's cockpit is evidently large enough for Octane to operate him in robot mode.

* Two of the alien patrons of the diner were originally for the episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", though due to script changes, they were not used until "Starscream's Ghost".

* For some reason, the Decepticon Crypt is accessed via a drainage grate.

* The freighter Octane uses at the start of this episode is apparently a common Autobot design, as one is seen entering Cybertron as the Decepticons make their second attempt on Octane's life.

* Kup oversees Cybertron's security in [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s old tower.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / The Nightmare Planet / The Ghost in the Machine ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]])
;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]] 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)

==References==
<references />

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

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Dark Awakening (episode)

2011-03-21T06:05:53Z

75.2.136.86: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{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]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|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===
* One shot of the Decepticon fleet shows two [[Seekers]] colored in Blitzwing's colors.
* As Rodimus delivers the "I'd hoped never to see it again" line, Kup's eyes are gray and the triangles below them blue, rather than the other way around.
* As they approach the Mausoleum in their ship, the Autobots keep changing positions between shots. First Kup is up front on the right, then he's behind Rodimus on the left, then Rodimus is in the back right with Kup in front of him. Arcee moves from the front right to the back left, then back to the front right again.
* Also during the approach, the seats at the front of the ship appear and disappear between shots.
* ''Also'' during the approach, the large door with the Autobot symbol has a grey frame around it (with parts that overlap the right and left sides), but when it opens, the frame is gone.
* 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.
* When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
* The top part of Ultra Magnus' back is sometimes colored grey when it should be red (such as when he shoots at Galvatron).
* When Optimus shoots at the Decepticons, Galvatron's Decepticon logo is missing its "eyes."
* Ultra Magnus yells at the other Autobots to "Hold your fire, we've driven them off!" but they've already stopped shooting!
* After driving the Decepticons off, Spike is not in the shot, even though he was right next to Daniel earlier.
* After driving the Decepticons off, Optimus walks up to the Autobots and the left side of his helmet is grey instead of blue.
* ''And'' after driving the Decepticons off, Optimus is still holding his gun, but when he asks about the Matrix, it's suddenly gone.
* For most of the episode, Optimus Prime's fog lights are colored in reverse (red with grey casings), and his back is colored grey (or baby blue at times) instead of red.
* Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray.
* Hot Rod is occasionally drawn as Rodimus and even addressed as such a couple of times.
* As he notes the collision course with the sun, Magnus' mouth is red.
* As Springer comments on going after the Quintessons, his mouth movements don't sync with what he's saying.
* When boarding Ultra Magnus' "little improvisation," the camera shake isn't synced with the frames of animation, so it looks like there are two Arcees, Kups and Hot Rods.
* When he talks to the Dinobots on Cybertron, Ultra Magnus' mouth is red.
* 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.
* As the Quintessons fire on the Autobots, an interior shot shows an Autobot with a purple symbol on his chest.
* As Hot Rod announces he's going "Optimus hunting," Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
* As Optimus walks up to Hot Rod, his Autobot symbol is grey instead of red.
* Just before Optimus' flashback, his crotch piece and lower legs are dark grey instead of blue.
* When he puts Rodimus in the wrestling hold, Optimus' nose isn't drawn in.
* When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus' face is entirely colored in blue. As he lands, the top of Optimus' helmet is grey.
* When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus clearly hits a display monitor (which doesn't break) in its upper left corner, but when he lands, he's way over on the right side of the console.
* When Optimus gives the Matrix back to Hot Rod, Hot Rod's door is made up of the entire yellow (flame) part of his chest. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door was split in half and opened around the center of his chest.
* Hot Rod doesn't actually turn into Rodimus Prime when he's given the Matrix.
* Kup tells Rodimus the ship is being blown to pieces, but it seems perfectly calm (until the Quintessons notice it's heading for the detonator and fire on it, of course).
* 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 (red).
* As the Autobots watch the explosion, Ultra Magnus' mouth is red, and his eyes are connected together like a visor.

===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 Quintessons set up some prop webs for atmosphere?
* How is Daniel able to reach the controls anyway? Did the Autobots design them to be human-sized?
* 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.
* Optimus returns to Cybertron and speaks with several Autobots about what happened to Hot Rod and the others, but nobody asks how he's still alive, or offers to take him to Junk so Wreck-Gar can repair him fully.
* [[Skyfire_(G1)|Skyfire]] reappears during the shot where Powerglide and several other jets are destroyed. Where's he ''been'' all this time?
* Somehow Hot Rod is able to throw Prime so hard his arm ''breaks off''. Even Megatron couldn't do that, and there's no indication that it was weak before.
* During the flashback to the Quintessons discussing Optimus Prime over his dead body, shouldn't the body still be grey (as it appeared after his death in the movie)? It's the usual colors instead.
* 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.
* The Quintessons reprogrammed Prime to lead the whole Autobot fleet into the trap so they could reclaim Cybertron, but Prime leaves two ''Dinobots'' (of all Transformers) back at the base.

===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)

2011-03-19T18:32:59Z

75.2.136.86: /* 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]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|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===
* One shot of the Decepticon fleet shows two [[Seekers]] colored in Blitzwing's colors.
* As Rodimus delivers the "I'd hoped never to see it again" line, Kup's eyes are gray and the triangles below them blue, rather than the other way around.
* As they approach the Mausoleum in their ship, the Autobots keep changing positions between shots. First Kup is up front on the right, then he's behind Rodimus on the left, then Rodimus is in the back right with Kup in front of him. Arcee moves from the front right to the back left, then back to the front right again.
* Also during the approach, the seats at the front of the ship appear and disappear between shots.
* ''Also'' during the approach, the large door with the Autobot symbol has a grey frame around it (with parts that overlap the right and left sides), but when it opens, the frame is gone.
* 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.
* When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
* The top part of Ultra Magnus' back is sometimes colored grey when it should be red (such as when he shoots at Galvatron).
* Ultra Magnus yells at the other Autobots to "Hold your fire, we've driven them off!" but they've already stopped shooting!
* After driving the Decepticons off, Optimus walks up to the Autobots and the left side of his helmet is grey instead of blue.
* For most of the episode, Optimus Prime's fog lights are colored in reverse (red with grey casings), and his back is colored grey (or baby blue at times) instead of red.
* Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray.
* Hot Rod is occasionally drawn as Rodimus and even addressed as such a couple of times.
* As he notes the collision course with the sun, Magnus' mouth is red.
* As Springer comments on going after the Quintessons, his mouth movements don't sync with what he's saying.
* When boarding Ultra Magnus' "little improvisation," the camera shake isn't synced with the frames of animation, so it looks like there are two Arcees, Kups and Hot Rods.
* When he talks to the Dinobots on Cybertron, Ultra Magnus' mouth is red.
* 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.
* As the Quintessons fire on the Autobots, an interior shot shows an Autobot with a purple symbol on his chest.
* As Hot Rod announces he's going "Optimus hunting," Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
* As Optimus walks up to Hot Rod, his Autobot symbol is grey instead of red.
* Just before Optimus' flashback, his crotch piece and lower legs are dark grey instead of blue.
* When he puts Rodimus in the wrestling hold, Optimus' nose isn't drawn in.
* When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus' face is entirely colored in blue. As he lands, the top of Optimus' helmet is grey.
* When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus clearly hits a display monitor (which doesn't break) in its upper left corner, but when he lands, he's way over on the right side of the console.
* When Optimus gives the Matrix back to Hot Rod, Hot Rod's door is made up of the entire yellow (flame) part of his chest. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door was split in half and opened around the center of his chest.
* Hot Rod doesn't actually turn into Rodimus Prime when he's given the Matrix.
* Kup tells Rodimus the ship is being blown to pieces, but it seems perfectly calm (until the Quintessons notice it's heading for the detonator and fire on it, of course).
* 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 (red).
* As the Autobots watch the explosion, Ultra Magnus' mouth is red, and his eyes are connected together like a visor.

===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 Quintessons set up some prop webs for atmosphere?
* How is Daniel able to reach the controls anyway? Did the Autobots design them to be human-sized?
* 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.
* Optimus returns to Cybertron and speaks with several Autobots about what happened to Hot Rod and the others, but nobody asks how he's still alive, or offers to take him to Junk so Wreck-Gar can repair him fully.
* [[Skyfire_(G1)|Skyfire]] reappears during the shot where Powerglide and several other jets are destroyed. Where's he ''been'' all this time?
* Somehow Hot Rod is able to throw Prime so hard his arm ''breaks off''. Even Megatron couldn't do that, and there's no indication that it was weak before.
* During the flashback to the Quintessons discussing Optimus Prime over his dead body, shouldn't the body still be grey (as it appeared after his death in the movie)? It's the usual colors instead.
* 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.
* The Quintessons reprogrammed Prime to lead the whole Autobot fleet into the trap so they could reclaim Cybertron, but Prime leaves two ''Dinobots'' (of all Transformers) back at the base.

===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)

2011-03-19T06:00:48Z

75.2.136.86: /* 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]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|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===
* One shot of the Decepticon fleet shows two [[Seekers]] colored in Blitzwing's colors.
* As Rodimus delivers the "I'd hoped never to see it again" line, Kup's eyes are gray and the triangles below them blue, rather than the other way around.
* As they approach the Mausoleum in their ship, the Autobots keep changing positions between shots. First Kup is up front on the right, then he's behind Rodimus on the left, then Rodimus is in the back right with Kup in front of him. Arcee moves from the front right to the back left, then back to the front right again.
* Also during the approach, the seats at the front of the ship appear and disappear between shots.
* 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.
* When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
* The top part of Ultra Magnus' back is sometimes colored grey when it should be red (such as when he shoots at Galvatron).
* Ultra Magnus yells at the other Autobots to "Hold your fire, we've driven them off!" but they've already stopped shooting!
* After driving the Decepticons off, Optimus walks up to the Autobots and the left side of his helmet is grey instead of blue.
* For most of the episode, Optimus Prime's fog lights are colored in reverse (red with grey casings), and his back is colored grey (or baby blue at times) instead of red.
* Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray.
* Hot Rod is occasionally drawn as Rodimus and even addressed as such a couple of times.
* When boarding Ultra Magnus' "little improvisation," the camera shake isn't synced with the frames of animation, so it looks like there are two Arcees, Kups and Hot Rods.
* 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.
* As the Quintessons fire on the Autobots, an interior shot shows an Autobot with a purple symbol on his chest.
* As Hot Rod announces he's going "Optimus hunting," Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
* As Optimus walks up to Hot Rod, his Autobot symbol is grey instead of red.
* Just before Optimus' flashback, his crotch piece and lower legs are dark grey instead of blue.
* When he puts Rodimus in the wrestling hold, Optimus' nose isn't drawn in.
* When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus' face is entirely colored in blue. A couple shots later, the top of Optimus' helmet is grey.
* When Optimus gives the Matrix back to Hot Rod, Hot Rod's door is made up of the entire yellow (flame) part of his chest. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door was split in half down the center of his chest.
* Hot Rod doesn't actually turn into Rodimus Prime when he's given the Matrix.
* Kup tells Rodimus the ship is being blown to pieces, but it seems perfectly calm (until the Quintessons notice it's heading for the detonator and fire on it, of course).
* 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 (red).
* As the Autobots watch the explosion, Ultra Magnus' mouth is red.

===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 Quintessons set up some prop webs for atmosphere?
* How is Daniel able to reach the controls anyway? Did the Autobots design them to be human-sized?
* 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.
* [[Skyfire|Skyfire_(G1)]] reappears during the shot where Powerglide and several other jets are destroyed. Where's he ''been'' all this time?
* During the flashback to the Quintessons discussing Optimus Prime over his dead body, shouldn't the body still be grey (as it appeared after his death in the movie? It's the usual red, grey and blue instead.
* 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]]

Chaos (episode)

2011-03-19T04:34:02Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the alien creature featured in the episode|Chaos (alien)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep2=11
|prev2=The Killing Jar
|next2=Madman's Paradise
|image=G1 Chaos.JPG
|caption=Kup discovers a very distant cousin (twice removed) of [[that big green, fire-snortin' lizard]].
|ep=72
|title="Chaos"
|production code=700-92
|airdate=[[September 30]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Davids]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''A discovery on Goo forces Kup to face a demon from his past.'''

:''Japanese title:'' デスクリスタル (''Death Crystal'')
:''German title:'' "'''Tödliche Kristalle'''" ("Deadly Crystals")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Chaos Blastoff Skuxxoid.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Near Goo, a [[Skuxxoid]] is using a bazooka to fire strange crystals at random pieces of junk. However, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] spots him and they start firing at each other. Cornering the Skuxxoid on Goo, Blast Off demands to know with what he was being shot. The Skuxxoid shows him the crystals. He says that they are hard to find, but he knows where the planet is.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] is telling a story about one of his encounters with an [[Ick-Yak]] to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. An Ick-Yak had cornered Kup on [[Dread]], but Kup managed to trick it into walking into the quickmud. Grimlock says he heard that a monster named [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] lived on Dread, and asks Kup if that's true. Kup freaks out and tells Grimlock never to speak of Chaos again. However, [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] contacts Cybertron, telling them of a discovery he made. Using [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], the [[Autobot]]s go to investigate. On [[Goo]], they discover that a destroyed [[Earth Defense Command]] station. Grimlock is shocked, as the station was made of the strongest metal in the galaxy. Kup, however, recognizes what did it: [[Death crystal]]s. The Autobots ask what death crystals are, but Kup is hesitant. At that moment, Blast Off appears with [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] riding on him, firing death crystals. Escaping on Sky Lynx, the two [[Transformer]] shuttles play a game of cat and mouse, until Runamuck destroys a comet, allowing Sky Lynx to escape.

[[Image:Chaos Kup prisoners.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Kup finds all the UK exclusive characters.]]

After escaping, the Autobots demand answers. Kup explains that one hundred-thousand years ago, when he was on Dread, he was captured by [[Orb]]s, a slaver race. He was forced to work in the death crystal mines under extremely hazardous conditions, facing attacks by wrecks of [[shrikebat]]s. Kup managed to sneak away from his work detail, heading into the caves, where he found a group of imprisoned robots. As he was preparing to free them, Chaos appeared. Kup was so frightened that he fled, leaving the robots behind. He's never forgiven himself for leaving those other robots behind, and now the [[Decepticon]]s know about the death crystals. The Autobots resolve to stop the Decepticons before disaster should strike.

[[Image:Chaos Kup Predacons.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Kup's early years as a Lion Tamer weren't going too well]]

On Dread, it turns out that [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is not content to use them merely as ammunition—he's building a [[Death crystal cannon|cannon]] that will fire death crystals at Cybertron, destroying the planet with one shot. Landing away from the Decepticon camp, Kup takes Blurr to do some recon. During their search, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] arrive, with [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] taking on Kup, with the others knocking Blurr into the quickmud (which has the benefit of shutting him up). Grimlock, Wheelie, and Wreck-Gar head to help, while Sky Lynx separates. Heading for the two Autobots, Grimlock mauls Razorclaw as Wheelie and Wreck-Gar fire, while Sky Lynx rescues Blurr from the mud. As the Predacons retreat to inform Galvatron, Sky Lynx follows to further investigate.

[[Image:Chaos Kup enters cave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"What's in there?" "Only what you take with you."]]

Heading for the camp, the other Autobots arrive to attack the Decepticons, and the Predacons form [[Predaking]], managing to get a lucky shot on Sky Lynx. Kup is trapped in the mines of [[Queeg Mountain]] due to a random shot, and immediately goes to find Chaos. Finding imprisoned robots, he frees them, just as Chaos arrives. The beast has death crystals embedded into his skin, but Kup has a plan. Using another opening in the volcano, Kup leads the robots to freedom, and uses Galvatron's death crystal cannon on Chaos, which also causes the volcano to erupt. Sky Lynx manages to rescue the Autobots, who flee into space. Sky Lynx has been injured, but Kup is sure that he'll be okay. It actually reminds him of the time he was riding the shuttle ''[[Jonagar]]'' and was trapped in a [[space whale]]. As the other Autobots bemoan another tale, Grimlock commands them to be quiet, as he loves Kup's war stories.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (3)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (5)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (6)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (7)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (8)

|c2=
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (2)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (9)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (12)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (13)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (14)
* [[Headstrong]] (15)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (16)
* [[Tantrum]] (17)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (18)
* [[Predaking]] (19)

|c4=
*[[Skuxxoid]] (1)
*[[Dread slaves]] (10)
*[[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:Chaos SkyLynx liftoff.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a lynx! It's Sky Lynx!"]]

"This could be the galaxy-busting case I've been waiting to sink my teeth into."
:—'''Kup''', thinking he's [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]].

"Secret-keepers always weepers! Tell a friend or heads will bend!"
:—'''Wheelie''' starts getting violent.

"Sky Lynx! If he's come after the cannon, he's gonna get himself obliterated!" 
"Obliterated? By you grubby Predacons? That'll be the day!"
:—'''Tantrum''' and '''Sky Lynx''' trade barbs.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* As Kup remembers his first encounter with Chaos (over 100,000 years ago), there's a camera pan over the slaves in the mine. Later, when we first see that Galvatron is on the planet, the ''same pan'' is played in reverse.

* As Kup and Blurr exit Sky Lynx on the planet, Kup's Autobot symbol is purple instead of red.

* Blurr sinks entirely into the mud puddle, but he's half out of it and is able to grab Sky Lynx a few shots later.

* As he delivers the "9 out of 10 Autobots" line, Wreck-Gar only has 6 fingers extended.

* As he says, "Commence hunting season!," Galvatron's Decepticon symbol is red instead of purple. This happens again just after Sky Lynx passes by him.

* When Kup frees the imprisoned robots, one of them, round in shape, keeps appearing and disappearing between frames.

* Just before firing the crystals at Chaos, the triangles under Kup's eyes are the same color as his eyes (they should be white like the rest of his face). The same error occurs several shots later, as Wheelie worries about getting Sky Lynx patched up.

===Continuity errors===
*Wasn't [[Goo]] destroyed in a [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|previous episode]]? Of course, this might not have been 8739B.

* Kup and three slaves are saved by Sky Lynx, but what about the rest of the slaves still on the planet? They've still got Galvatron, Astrotrain and the Predacons to deal with, if they weren't burned to a crisp by the lava!

===Real-world references===
*The story of Jonagar and the space whale is a reference to the Biblical story of [[wikipedia:Jonah|Jonah and the Whale]]

===Trivia===
*This episode would be the last time [[Casey Kasem]] would ever voice a character in ''Transformers''. He can briefly be heard as one of the robot slaves in Kup's first flashback to Chaos, screaming, "We have to return to our home planets!"

[[Image:Kup model comparison Chaos.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Note his knees, belt and backpack.]]

*Like most movie characters, Kup had an alternate [[character model]]. In "Chaos", the animators cleverly used the alternate model for Kup's flashbacks.

*This is the second time that Kup would narrate an encounter with an [[Ick-Yak]]. He first mentions them in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]].

*The Ick-Yak was not the only monster Kup mentioned in the movie to make an appearance. The bat creatures that harried Kup and the other slaves were labeled "[[shrikebat]]s" on their [[character model]]s.

*When Kup first mentions Dread, Grimlock asks about the rumors of Chaos living there; Kup tells the Dinobot to forget he ever heard the name. Later, Kup mentions Chaos, and Grimlock asks who that is. Apparently he took Kup's instructions a little ''too'' literally.

*An early title for the episode (as well as the titular antagonist) was "Mayhem".

*The early script also called for organic alien slaves, who even had character models developed. The final, aired version replaced these organic slaves with robots. [[Jim Sorenson]] posted their designs on his [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2008/11/blogging-is-right-of-all-sentient.html blog]. These models did appear in the episode very briefly, as Kup frees the prisoners, and were reused as patrons of the diner that [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and [[Octane]] stop at in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]".

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;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. 1 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/chaos.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Killing Jar (episode)

2011-03-19T03:54:40Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=71
|series2=2010
|ep2=10
|prev2=Forever Is a Long Time Coming
|next2=Chaos (episode)
|title="The Killing Jar"
|image=Captured KillingJar.jpg
|caption=When I hear that whistle blowin' , I hang my head and cry.
|airdate=[[September 15]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]] [[Joey Kurihara Piedra]]
|production code=700-91
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Ultra Magnus, Cyclonus, Marissa Faireborn, and Wreck-Gar are captured by a Quintesson scientist for experiments, but are sucked into a more dangerous problem—a black hole.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 4人の捕虜 (''Yonnin no Horyo'', "Four Captives")
:''German title:'' "'''Der Sog des schwarzen Loches'''" ("The Maelstrom of the Black Hole")
:''Latin American title:'' El Agujero Negro ("The Black Hole")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Killing Jar Fakegalvatron.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

As [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] stargazes, he's being spied on by a [[Quintesson]] scientist and his [[Allicon]] guard. Disguising their ship as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], the pair lure Magnus on board where he's attacked by a fake [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. The scientist correctly predicts Magnus's actions as the [[Autobot]] attempts to restrain his leader without harming him. With Magnus safely imprisoned, the scientist sets course for [[Chaar]]. Once there, the ship is again disguised, this time as [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] lured on board. Again, the scientist predicts that Cyclonus will behave in a similar manner to Magnus when confronted with a hostile illusion of his leader. On [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] , [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] is enjoying [[Lippo the Clown]]'s TV show when the clown himself turns up in a spacecraft and lures Wreck-Gar on board. Naturally it is soon revealed to be the Quintesson ship. The scientist predicts that placing a [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]] in a clean, uncluttered room will cause him to go catatonic. Instead Wreck-Gar proceeds to tear up the walls to make the chamber more like "home sweet home".

Disguised as a shuttle, the Quintesson ship docks with an [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] space station, and [[Marissa Faireborn]] is lured on board by an illusion of her father. Once the ship leaves the space station, Marissa is shocked when her father's face changes into the Quintesson "death" face. She strikes the illusion to the ground and it disappears — the Quintesson scientist observes that violence is always the human way. Finally the bars on Marissa's cell appear and all four captives are able to communicate.

[[Image:Killing Jar Allicon storm.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

The scientist visits the cell area, instructing his guard to activate a [[submission field]], pinning Marissa to the floor. As the pair move in, Wreck-Gar fires his fist, deactivating the field and allowing Marissa to attack the Quintesson and attempt to free Ultra Magnus. Before she can free him, the room begins crackling with electrical energy — the ship has flown into an [[electron storm]].

As the captives are assaulted by the energy, the Quintesson and his guard head for the control room and attempt to steer the ship through the storm. After a wrong move, the guard manages to guide the ship out of the storm. In the cell area, Magnus grabs hold of the electron bars, short-circuiting the bars on all four cells and freeing everyone. When the scientist and guard return to the cell area, they're jumped by Marissa and Wreck-Gar while Magnus and Cyclonus fight over what they're going to do with the ship. Marissa gets the better of the Quintesson and begins to plot a course back to Earth, but discovers that the ship has fallen into the gravity field of a [[black hole]].

[[Image:Killing Jar Black hole viewer.jpg|left|200px|thumb|In, through, ... AND BEYOND!]]

She interrupts the fighting to let everyone know they've got bigger problems, but while the Allicon guard activates a distress signal, the Quintesson slips away to the rear of the ship where the escape pods are located. The others follow him, only to find that most of the pods have been rendered useless by the electron storm and only one remains operational. Magnus yanks the scientist from the escape pod, but the launch sequence has already started. Though Cyclonus intends to use it himself, Wreck-Gar tackles him so that Magnus can help Marissa into the pod. While they're fighting, the pod launches with no one aboard and Magnus is pulled out as the whole room begins to depressurise.

To Magnus's surprise, Cyclonus saves him with a tractor beam. The scientist explodes angrily at them for allowing the escape pod to launch unmanned but during the ensuing discussion, they begin to receive a transmission and spy a ship coming up behind them. Although they believe rescue is imminent, it turns out merely to be a derelict ship, which is dragged into the black hole ahead of them. Finally the Quintesson ship's engines overload, and the ship follows the derelict into the black hole...

[[Image:Newcolors KillingJar.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Get on it, e-Hobby.]]

...only to emerge into a [[negative universe]] where the color spectrum is drastically altered. While the Quintesson works on a plan to return them to their own universe, the others set about repairing the overloaded engines. Once repairs are complete, the Quintesson slingshots the ship through the white hole, re-emerging from the black hole into the middle of a battle. Magnus radios for help from Sky Lynx, who docks with the ship. The group goes their separate ways, Ultra Magnus, Wreck-Gar and Marissa returning to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in Sky Lynx.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (8)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (5)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (13)

|c3=
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (10)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]] Scientist (2)
*[[Quintesson]] Guard (3)
*Fake [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (3)
*Fake [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (4)
*Fake [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (6)
*Fake [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (7)
*Fake [[Lippo the Clown]] (9)
*Fake [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ultra Magnus is a soldier first and foremost." 
"This Decepticon and the Autobot are two of a kind. One is good and one is evil, but to me that is no difference at all." 
"As an Autobot, this Junkion should have reacted as I predicted. Remarkable." 
"Humans are disgusting creatures, but worthy of study, if only to find a better way of destroying them." 
"Violence is always the humans' way of solving problems." 
:—Various observations made by the '''Quintesson scientist''' after capturing his test subjects.

"Galvatron! Why would you attack me, your most loyal soldier?"
:—'''Cyclonus''' asks an almost rhetorical question.

"We wouldn't be in this situation at all…" 
"…If you had not captured us." 
"Cyclonus, I can finish my own thoughts. I don't need you to do it for me." 
"Maybe the thought was not yours to begin with, Ultra Magnus."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"Cyclonus, you saved me? But why?" 
"Warriors such as you and I should meet their end in battle."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"Sky Lynx! Disengage and take a reverse heading!" 
"Ultra Magnus, where are you?" 
"Behind you! What do you think reverse means?!"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Sky Lynx'''

==Notes==
* Although he is not named, Marissa's father has the same voice actor and sounds the same as [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'s [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]], all indicating that Marissa is Flint's daughter. Additionally, the file name presented on the back of Flint's G.I. Joe toy packaging is "Dashiell R. Faireborn." This connection was later confirmed by ''Transformers'' writer and story editor [[Flint Dille]].

*The Japanese version of the episode would appear to have missed the ''G.I. Joe'' reference. In the Japanese dub of the ''G.I. Joe'' cartoon, Flint was voiced by ''Transformers'' regular [[Hōchū Ōtsuka]]. However, in this episode, Marissa's father is voiced by another ''Transformers'' regular, [[Takurō Kitagawa]]. The reference would eventually be embraced by future Japanese ''Transformers'' authors, such as [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] and [[Yūki Ōshima]].

===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Fakebroadside KillingJar.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The Quints have bad intel on Broadside—and so has Cyclonus.]]
* All of the shots of Unicron's head have it entirely in gold other than his mouth, when his face should be gray as well. It was correct the last time we saw it in "The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1."

* The first shot of Unicron's head shows it with black eye holes (in "The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1" it had broken green eyes). A few shots later, it has intact purple eyes.

* When we first see Ultra Magnus on the Quintesson's screen, his left foot flashes from blue to white several times.

* Several times in the episode, the area on top of Ultra Magnus' back is colored grey instead of red.

*In most shots, the [[Knockoff|fake]] Rodimus is missing his yellow wings and his Autobot insignia is in the wrong place, appearing in fact more like his slightly different original character design that is seen in Hot Rod's [[Commercial#1986|commercial]] and [[The Transformers: The Movie promo]]. Also, he's got Hot Rod's color scheme.

* When Cyclonus first transforms to robot mode, he's missing the transformation sound effect.

* The illusion that the Quintessons used to trick Cyclonus is of the [[Triple Changer]] [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], which is really weird, since Broadside is an Autobot. He even speaks in Broadside's correct voice.

* The second time the fake Galvatron rushes Cyclonus, his Decepticon symbol is red rather than purple.

* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] fires his hand like a rocket to free Marissa, but he is incorrectly shown with both hands for two scenes before we see him picking up the lost hand and re-attaching it.

* Marissa is shown hitting the button on Magnus' door while standing straight, but later it's located way above where she could reach it.

* As the ship is buffeted by the electron storm, letters and numbers are visible in the clouds at the bottom of the screen.

* As Magnus and Cyclonus stand off, Magnus' face is colored entirely blue for a moment, and Cyclonus' wings start to flash in and out of the screen.

* During the first shot of the Quintesson preparing to use the escape pod, the escape pod is missing from the launch tube.

* Before entering the black hole, Ultra Magnus is shown to be shorter than Cyclonus. After coming back (during his transmission to Sky Lynx), he's clearly taller than Cyclonus.

* After entering the black hole, one shot shows the Quintesson ship in the usual (non-negative) colors.

* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] is seen mouthing the second half of the Quintesson scientist's line, "You all realize if the ship enters the white hole at the incorrect trajectory, we will all be crushed or torn to pieces," although the Quintesson's voice speaks the entire time.

* After they arrive in the negative universe and Magnus throws the scientist at the Allicon, the Allicon's right forearm goes missing. It reappears after this scene so that Marissa can remove it and use it to repair the engines, but appears and disappears again over the course of the rest of the episode.

* When [[Kid Rhino]] went back to the original film elements of this episode, a couple of shots of the Quintesson talking do not feature mouth movements, including when he announces they're going to test Ultra Magnus's reactions. These shots were originally corrected for broadcast, and the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD includes the corrected shots spliced in from the broadcast master.

===Continuity errors===
* Cyclonus requires an escape pod to escape from the Quintesson ship, even though he turns into a spaceship. If there is a relevant difference between the pod's capabilities and his alt-mode's, it is never mentioned.
* The Quintesson says he knows the Transformers' programming because he helped build them. However, how does he know Cyclonus's programming, since Cyclonus was built by Unicron?

===Transformers references===
* The Quintesson scientist refers to his guard's transformed mode as his [[alternate mode]], the first use of that term in official fiction.

===Real-world references===
* A [[wikipedia:Killing_jar|killing jar]] is an [[wikipedia:Entomology|entomological]] tool for killing insect specimens, usually with gas.
* As usual, most of Wreck-Gar's lines are drawn from television, film and radio:
** When lured into the Quintesson ship, Wreck-Gar says, "No candid camera insta-clicks me!" This refers to the TV series ''[[wikipedia: Candid Camera| Candid Camera]]'', one of the earliest (if not THE earliest) prank/practical joke shows on television.
** When Marissa remarks she's in a zoo or a jail, Wreck-Gar responds with "Book me, Danno, I have the right to remain silent!" "Book 'em, Danno," is a catch phrase of Jack Lord's character from the '70s action-detective series ''[[wikipedia: Hawaii Five-O| Hawaii Five-O]]''.
** As the ship gets struck by the electron storm, Wreck-Gar remarks, "What a revoltin' development!" This catchphrase originated on the 1940s radio show, ''[[Wikipedia:The Life of Riley|The Life of Riley]]''; in geek circles, it's probably better known as one of the trademark lines of the [[Thing]], the powerful member of the superhero team the [[Fantastic Four]].
** Shortly afterward, Wreck-Gar exclaims, "We've gotta get out of this place!", a likely reference to the song of the same name by [[wikipedia: The Animals| The Animals]].
** As Wreck-Gar takes the guard's arm, he mentions "Hugh is in good hands," referring to the slogan for [[wikipedia: Allstate|Allstate Insurance]].
** When Magnus dismisses the potential rescue ship as not being a "Decepticon junk", Wreck-Gar says, "Junk? Wreck-Gar phoned home!" This plays on the famous "E.T. phone home." quote from ''[[Wikipedia: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial| E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial]]''.
** When the Quintesson ship is about to go back through the white hole, Wreck-Gar says that they can "go back, Jack, and do it again," quoting the [[wikipedia: Steely Dan| Steely Dan]] song "Do It Again".

===Trivia===
* While one would expect that the characters' colors while in the white hole would be the "negative" values of their originals, this is not the case. They appear to be pretty much random sets of colors.
* The background music which plays during the "working together" montage in the final act is the first piece of new music composed for season three (besides the opening theme), and would appear to have been created specifically for the scene in question, as it is only briefly used once more in "[[Fight or Flee]]" and "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]".
* At one point, it appears that the Allicon's mouth is located at the bottom of his faceplate instead of the top.
* Ultra Magnus smashes the cockpit of the escape pod to get the Quintesson out. How does he expect Marissa to use it when she doesn't have a space suit?
* Cybertron seems unusually spiky in the epilogue.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 8: Evil Experiments ([[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. 1 (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]] 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://imdb.com/title/tt0733024/ IMDb's page for this episode]
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_killing_jar.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Killing Jar}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

2011-03-18T20:11:09Z

75.2.136.86: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=70
|series2=2010
|ep2=5
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|next2=Thief in the Night
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5"
|image=FFOD5_Galvatron_lever.jpg
|caption=How can he possibly resist the diabolical urge to pull the lever that could erase his very existence?
|airdate=[[September 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|production code=700-90
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''With Earth and Cybertron under joint Decepticon-Quintesson assault, the Autobots raise a last stand against their old enemies...and the race which created them.'''

:''Japanese title:'' クインテッサ星人の陰謀 (''Quintessa Seijin no Inbō'', "Conspiracy of the Quintessons")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 5'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 5")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FFOD5 Decepticons attack.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Galvatron, can he join my armada?]]

The [[Decepticon]]s open a sortie against the [[Autobot]]s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and the initial attack took out the whole defense system. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] tells the others to go, while he holds them off. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] says that Magnus's courage will be remembered. Unsaid is the possibility that there will be no one to remember it. From their ship, the [[Quintesson]]s calculate that it will take less than a day to completely defeat the Autobots. After all, they've given [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] something worth fighting for...

On Earth, the new Decepticon battle station heads for [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]]. [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] lead a counter offensive, but their efforts are stymied when the station [[Transformation|transforms]] into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Warpath orders [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to activate the defense systems, but Trypticon causes [[Mount St. Hilary|the volcano]] to collapse on the ship, destroying it. With his task there complete, Trypticon heads to his next target: [[Autobot City]].

[[Image:FFOD5 Predacons.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Know that there are five Predacons. The other guys are posers!]]

On [[Io]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] hurries to rescue [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], and [[Marissa Faireborn]] from certain death from the natives. However, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] arrive to steal the [[Transformation cog|Transformation Cog]] intended for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Initially, the Predacons turn out to be all bark with no bite. However, they merge into [[Predaking]], and manage to disorient Wheelie, Blurr, and Faireborn. However, Sky Lynx attacks Predaking, and causes him to separate. Sky Lynx orders the others to board him, and Wheelie discovers the cog.

Meanwhile, Galvatron orders [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to give a status report to the Quintessons. However, Blitzwing overhears that the Quintessons don't have the [[Decepticon Matrix]]. What's worse, they want the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] to pull a [[large switch]] which will deactivate the [[Transformer]]s all over the galaxy. Blitzwing tries to tell Galvatron, but the psychotic [[Decepticon leader]] merely beats him. Blitzwing realizes that there is one other option...side with the Autobots to stop the Quintessons.

[[Image:FFOD5 Metroplex Trypticon.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Godzilla vs. Megazord!]]

On Earth, Trypticon has arrived at Autobot City, but Wheelie is able to get the cog to Pipes, who installs it in Metroplex. Coming online, Metroplex and Trypticon throw down. Their battle extends into another city (which everyone manages to evacuate from). Finally, Metroplex manages to overwhelm Trypticon, and throws Trypticon a great distance, where he lands in the ocean and sinks.

On Cybertron, Blitzwing, Rodimus Prime, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] manage to stop the Sharkticons, but Galvatron, thinking the switch is the key to the Decepticon Matrix, pulls it. With the Transformers offline, the Quintessons land on Cybertron. As the Quintessons enjoy how great it is to be home, Spike grabs Rodimus' weapon, and destroys the lever. Reactivating, an incredibly angry Galvatron begins chasing the Quintessons, who manage to escape. Galvatron then prepares to fight Rodimus, but Blitzwing pulls his weapon on Galvatron, telling him that this has to end. Galvatron banishes Blitzwing from the Decepticons, and orders the Decepticons to retreat.

[[Image:FFOD5 Rodimus victory speech.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Optimus would have given a more rousing speech.]]

Rodimus notes that the battle is over for now, but the Autobot leader also notes that the Transformers may well have met their greatest enemies...
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (5)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (9)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (12)
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (13)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (14)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (15)
* [[Tailgate]] (16)
* [[Outback]] (17)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (20)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (21)
* [[Eject]] (22)
* [[Rewind]] (23)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (24)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (26)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (27)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (30)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (32)
* [[Slingshot]] (33)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (48)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (49)

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (3)
* [[Sweep]]s (4)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (11)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (28)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (29)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (34)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (35)
* [[Headstrong]] (36)
* [[Tantrum]] (37)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (38)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (39)
* [[Predaking]] (30)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (31)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (32)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (33)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (34)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (35)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (38)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (36)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (37)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (39)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (40)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (41)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (42)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (43)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (44)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (45)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (46)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (47)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (10)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (35)

}}
==Quotes==
"Olé, sucker!" 
:—'''Wheelie''' the bullfighter!

"Mighty Galvatron, there is no Decepticon Matrix!" 
[''smacks him away''] "Tell it to the Autobots!"
:—'''Blitzwing''' gets some inspiration from '''Galvatron'''

"Faster, Pipes, faster faster faster faster faster! You gotta work faster because if you don't Trypticon's gonna stomp us and that's why we're gonna get..." 
"Blurr...shut up!"
:—'''Pipes''' gives '''Blurr''' an idea.

"This planet's not big enough for the both of us." 
"Me crush Metroplex!"
:—'''Metroplex''', the gung-ho cowboy, meets '''Trypticon''', the ravaging dinosaur.

"We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators...and seen the face of an enemy."
:—'''Rodimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Cyclonus oddity armadaesque.jpg|thumb|right|150px| ]]
* During the recap, Galvatron's "Very well, Junkions" line is not flanged.
* In the opening pan, the entire Decepticon army seems to be made up of randomly recoloured Sweeps and Cyclonuses. Among the more visible examples are Sweeps colored like Breakdown and Wildrider.
* Rodimus's spoiler ridge is colored yellow instead of orange as Kup laments the loss of the defense system.
* Springer changes places between shots, going from Magnus's right to directly behind him (and back again when the first shot is recycled.)
* As Magnus turns to open fire, the foreshortening of his arm is bizarrely misdrawn.
* As Galvatron continues to descend and fire, an extra Cyclonus appears in Dirge's colors, alongside the actual Cyclonus.
** A Dirge-colored Cyclonus strafes Cybertron after the first commercial break.

* The click sound of the button pushed by the Quintesson to activate his monitor doesn't coincide with the actual push of the button.
* The Quintessons' view of Earth initially shows partly cloudy skies... then Trypticon just appears out of nowhere against the same sky. We'll be kind and not count this monitor view under "Improbable Viewpoints".
* Warpath neither moves his faceplate nor flashes his cheek blinkers when he speaks.
[[Image:FFoD5 MiniVehicles.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Swerve disappears after the initial shot of the Autobot ambush, and is replaced by Beachcomber.
* The view of Trypticon smoking and damaged is set against a starry night sky, despite the scene occurring during the daytime.
[[Image:Giantscamper.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* An establishing shot of Metroplex shows him sitting in the desert all by himself, without [[Autobot City]] anywhere in sight. He also has Scamper sitting in his "garage", drawn to toy-based scale... which means he'd be a hundred foot long car.
* Sky Lynx flies behind a smooth, featureless reddish celestial body. If it's supposed to be Io, it's ''waaaaaay'' too small, not more than a couple hundred feet across. In fact it's too small to be a regular round body.
* Io has changed colors; an establishing shot shows it to be red instead of the gray it was last time. Of course, the ''real'' Io actually ''is'' red.
* In the first shot of Blurr, Wheelie, and Marissa fighting the lipoles, none of them is standing on Io's surface.
* Also, Marissa's ship is intact, but it was blown up in the previous episode.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** How does Blaster get an eye-level view of Marissa fighting on Io?
* When Wheelie loses the transforming cog, three of the next four shots are shown against a blue sky with clouds, rather than the night sky of Io.
* Once again, the animation fails to convey that the lipoles are an actual threat.
* In the second shot of Warpath's team of [[Mini-Vehicle]]s outside Autobot Headquarters, Beachcomber is colored like Wildrider.
* Powerglide gets a descending-pitch transformation sound as he changes to his plane mode and takes off. Launching aerial Transformers normally get the rising-pitch version.
* The Constructicons watching Trypticon on the hill are much larger than they should be.
* Scrapper's faceplate changes from grey to red as he listens to Bonecrusher.
* Five Autobots drive toward Trypticon, but the next shot shows only three getting kicked away.
* Pipes and Swerve seem to be firing lasers right out of their windshields.
* As Trypticon approached the Ark, it only has two engines sticking out rather than three.
* As the Autobots watch Trypticon walk off, Warpath's back is grey rather than red.
* The sound effect for the shot that Trypticon fires at the camera lags behind the shot itself.
[[Image:Cycloni ffod5.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Cyclonus and his Armada:
** Four Cyclonuses are shown strafing Cybertron after the first commercial break.
** The next shot shows two Cycloni.
** While retreating from Cybertron, there are five Cyclonuses flying with Galvatron.
* Ultra Magnus punches Ramjet, who spirals out of control. When he hits a wall and explodes, he's colored like Dirge. The error is particular visible since Dirge himself gets the same punch-and-explode treatment a second later.
* When Galvatron transforms to fire on Ultra Magnus, his arm cannon flies off screen, and a new one comes out of his head to take its place in cannon mode. (Again!)
* Magnus and Galvatron's voices are muffled as if they were speaking by radio, even though there's no reason for them to do so. Dirge and Ramjet suffer from a similar though less obvious effect in the same scene.
* Bumblebee and Powerglide are briefly visible fighting alongside Perceptor against the Sweeps on Cybertron, despite being on Earth at the time.
* Streetwise has a red chest (Red Alert's color scheme?) as he stands next to Perceptor and Slingshot, firing.
* As he delivers the "Meet your fate valiantly, Autobots!" line, Perceptor's Autobot logo is all grey rather than just a grey outline.
* Blitzwing's voice isn't properly flanged as he acknowledges Galvatron's command to report to the Quintessons.
* Throughout the episode, the area around Blitzwing's Decepticon symbol changes. Sometimes it has lines above and below it, sometimes only above, sometimes none. Sometimes red, sometimes purple.
* In the establishing shot before Sky Lynx arrives, Marissa and the 'bots aren't even trying to fight off the lipoles! Incidentally, Io's gone back to being gray.
* Sky Lynx's first transformation sequence lacks any transformation sound.
* The squawks that Sky Lynx lets loose after transforming are not by his voice actor! (The whole animal noise shtick for him would be dropped after this episode.)
* The Predacons get some bizarre use of the transformation noise. It plays as they emerge from the balls of fire that carried them to Io (a means of transport that they never used again.)
* Headstrong and Tantrum arrive carrying their guns, but a second later they charge into battle with their swords. They then proceed not to use either weapon.
* Sky Lynx's transporter section transforms to lynx mode, but is back in transporter mode when Blurr and Marissa run away from it.
* Headstrong's beast mode head has a huge swath of black on it in two different shots.
* Blurr lacks a transformation noise as he changes modes to cross the canyon.
* Predaking gets the transformation sound ''every time he moves''.
* Sky Lynx's transporter section lacks the transformation sound as it converts to lynx mode again. Apparently, Predaking sucked up all the transformation noises from the whole scene.
* When Predaking fires his foot weapons, a laser emerges. The weapon's effect, however, is shown as a windstorm.
* Sky Lynx's combining sequence is a little messed up; his lynx legs are shown unfolding, but since his lower half was already in lynx mode, they should be unfolded already.
* Predaking's head is on backwards as Sky Lynx wraps his tail around it.
* As Trypticon approaches Autobot City, the city is shown in a barren desert. It had [[The Transformers: The Movie|previously been shown]] to be located in a lush mountain valley, and is shown that way again at the end of the episode.
* Slingshot is seen running about in Autobot City as it transforms, even though he was last seen on Cybertron with Perceptor.
* As Blaster despairs over Sky Lynx's absence, his helmet is white instead of red.
* Scrapper's mouthplate continues moving even as Mixmaster gives the order to fire. (And why is Mixmaster giving the orders, anyway?)
* As the Autobots exit Sky Lynx, the transforming cog is shown as a large gear wheel, instead of an orb-shaped device. Sky Lynx's windows aren't colored in, either.
* Night sky is shown behind Marissa as she orders Blurr to "stop babbling"...
** And again behind Blurr as he prepares for his "lateral"...
** And again behind the cog as Wheelie throws it to Sky Lynx...
** And again behind Sky Lynx as he flattens the Decepticon lineup...
* As Blurr throws the cog, Thrust flies past in Laserbeak's colors. This was probably intended to be Laserbeak himself, since Thrust just got swatted.
* As the Constructicons try to tackle Wheelie, they're shown on a metal floor, despite the preceeding and following shots being shown in the desert. Motormaster likewise goes from desert to metal floor as he accidentally tackles Bonecrusher.
[[Image:FFOD5_Insecticons.png|right|thumb|200px|Maybe Cyclonus ''was'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Or [[Insecticon clone|a clone.]]]]
* When Wheelie faces off against the big line of Decepticon troops, all three Insecticons are present, including two Shrapnels. Bombshell's eyes aren't colored in. Blast-off and Swindle are also in the lineup, despite appearing on Cybertron at the start of the attack there.
**When Sky Lynx jumps over/through the lined up Decepticons, the second Shrapnel is replaced by Soundwave.
* It's an AKOM episode, so watch for Soundwave's white backpack as Sky Lynx flattens him.
* Sky Lynx clearly throws the cog horizontally, yet it somehow arcs so high that Trypticon can't catch it. As Trypticon lunges for the cog, it's the size of his fist -- the same fist that easily held Outback earlier in the episode.
* When the Autobots are celebrating the safety of the transformation cog after the little game of catch with the Decepticons, two Constructicons and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] are seen "raising the roof" along with them. Slingshot shows up again, too, along with a generic model colored like Dead End.
* Metroplex is back in city mode as Trypticon prepares to stomp him.
* The hand that topples Trypticon does not come from the actual location where Metroplex's arms are stored in city mode.
* When Metroplex transforms, Autobot City is nowhere in sight.
* Metroplex's single line is delivered in a different voice than that of his later appearances.
* Who knew Trypticon was so aerodynamic? After Metroplex throws him, he falls ''up'' in the second shot of him sailing over the landscape.
* The late Ratchet is among the Autobots cheering Metroplex's victory, in Blaster's colors. And is that ''another'' Ratchet in the background?
* The [[large switch]] stops glowing after the Sharkticons arrive.
* For some reason, a view of Cybertron is used as an establishing shot for Earth.
[[Image:FFoD Part5 Frozen Metroplex.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Blitzwing is shown with a purple Autobot insignia while being offered membership in their ranks by Rodimus Prime.
* Spinger and Arcee are shown among the frozen Autobots on Earth, despite being on Cybertron. Sludge is shown in the same shot in Grimlock's colors (and possibly with Grimlock's head.)
* As the Quintessons venture onto Cybertron, a frozen Sweep is shown with red (pink?) wings.
* A second later, the Quintessons walk past a frozen [[Rewind]] (or [[Eject]]), drawn at the size of an ordinary Transformer and colored like [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]].
* The energy beams of the fleeing Quintessons don't line up with their bodies.
* As the Quintessons blast off in the escape pod, we see a group of generic transformers who look a lot like those seen in Rodimus' flashback during the previous episode!
* Mixmaster and Scrapper are seen on Cybertron as the Quintessons escape, despite the Constructicons being on Earth.
* Sky Lynx is far too small as he and the others watch Rodimus on screen.
* Although both the [[Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
* The opening pan over Cybertron shows it with two moons, even though Unicron ostensibly devoured both of Cybertron's moons during ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. One moon appears again as the Quintessons make their battle projection.
* Kup says that "that blast took out the whole defense system". But it wasn't a ''blast''; it was a crashing space ship.
* Spike retains his superhuman capabilities, surviving a blast that trashes the room he's in and sends his Autobot friends flying.
* Powerglide notes that Trypticon has "''another'' transform," but at this point he's only seen it in the battle platform mode.
* So if everyone actually retreated to Level 2, per Rodimus's order, then who are all those Decepticons firing at? How long would it take them to gang up and overpower Magnus, if he's really the only one left?
* The answer comes a moment later, when Perceptor and company are seen to have ignored that order.
[[Image:G1 FFODPart5 UltraMagnus punch Dirge.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Dirge and Ramjet both appear to explode rather fatally after Magnus punches them. Both will nevertheless show up alive and well in later episodes. Considering they were already seen eaten by Unicron in the Movie, this is not so surprising.
* Despite the absence of the transforming cog, both Autobot City ''and'' Metroplex are showing transforming to their respective battle station modes. Apparently, Metroplex only needs the cog to change into robot mode.
* Most of the battle on Cybertron is shown happening on the surface, with no ceilings and blue night skies, despite Rodimus's order to retreat below ground. Yet Blitzwing still flies underground to report to Galvatron.
* Most of the Constructicon's appearances shows that Scrapper leads the team, so why the hell is Mixmaster giving the orders?
* There appears to be a human city quite close to Autobot city, but previously in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|Movie]], there were no signs or suggestions of a human city being nearby. In addition, this poses the question of why the Autobots or humans built their cities so near to each other despite the fact that Autobot City is often under attack by Decepticons.
* Superhuman Spike has amazingly little trouble hoisting Rodimus's gun onto his shoulder.
* Speaking of which, the gun disappears after Spike shoots the switch, but several shots later Rodimus suddenly has it again.

===Continuity notes===
* Pipes cites the late Optimus Prime and quotes his catchphrase, "Transform and [[roll out]]!"
* Gadgets and powers:
** Bumblebee is shown with a rooftop cannon in vehicle mode during the first attack run on Trypticon. The weapon appears to be based on that of Outback.
* Galvatron makes reference to his last meeting with Ultra Magnus, on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].
* This episode is the first and only appearance of Tailgate. Swerve would later appear briefly in "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]".

===Real-world references===
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak and Thrust emerge from Trypticon's chest with the sound of the ''Millenium Falcon'''s engine burst.

===Trivia===

* Just from the episode alone, it's impossible to tell who the line "It'll be passing above us soon" is being spoken by, as it doesn't correspond to any of the known voices of the Autobots present. This just left Swerve and Tailgate as possible candidates for the line (since neither was ever seen to speak any other lines, it could have been either of them). The episode's script would later confirm that the line belonged to Tailgate, and was delivered by the eternally overlooked [[Ted Schwartz]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_5.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

2011-03-18T20:07:46Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=70
|series2=2010
|ep2=5
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|next2=Thief in the Night
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5"
|image=FFOD5_Galvatron_lever.jpg
|caption=How can he possibly resist the diabolical urge to pull the lever that could erase his very existence?
|airdate=[[September 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|production code=700-90
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''With Earth and Cybertron under joint Decepticon-Quintesson assault, the Autobots raise a last stand against their old enemies...and the race which created them.'''

:''Japanese title:'' クインテッサ星人の陰謀 (''Quintessa Seijin no Inbō'', "Conspiracy of the Quintessons")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 5'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 5")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FFOD5 Decepticons attack.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Galvatron, can he join my armada?]]

The [[Decepticon]]s open a sortie against the [[Autobot]]s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and the initial attack took out the whole defense system. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] tells the others to go, while he holds them off. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] says that Magnus's courage will be remembered. Unsaid is the possibility that there will be no one to remember it. From their ship, the [[Quintesson]]s calculate that it will take less than a day to completely defeat the Autobots. After all, they've given [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] something worth fighting for...

On Earth, the new Decepticon battle station heads for [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]]. [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] lead a counter offensive, but their efforts are stymied when the station [[Transformation|transforms]] into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Warpath orders [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to activate the defense systems, but Trypticon causes [[Mount St. Hilary|the volcano]] to collapse on the ship, destroying it. With his task there complete, Trypticon heads to his next target: [[Autobot City]].

[[Image:FFOD5 Predacons.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Know that there are five Predacons. The other guys are posers!]]

On [[Io]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] hurries to rescue [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], and [[Marissa Faireborn]] from certain death from the natives. However, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] arrive to steal the [[Transformation cog|Transformation Cog]] intended for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Initially, the Predacons turn out to be all bark with no bite. However, they merge into [[Predaking]], and manage to disorient Wheelie, Blurr, and Faireborn. However, Sky Lynx attacks Predaking, and causes him to separate. Sky Lynx orders the others to board him, and Wheelie discovers the cog.

Meanwhile, Galvatron orders [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to give a status report to the Quintessons. However, Blitzwing overhears that the Quintessons don't have the [[Decepticon Matrix]]. What's worse, they want the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] to pull a [[large switch]] which will deactivate the [[Transformer]]s all over the galaxy. Blitzwing tries to tell Galvatron, but the psychotic [[Decepticon leader]] merely beats him. Blitzwing realizes that there is one other option...side with the Autobots to stop the Quintessons.

[[Image:FFOD5 Metroplex Trypticon.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Godzilla vs. Megazord!]]

On Earth, Trypticon has arrived at Autobot City, but Wheelie is able to get the cog to Pipes, who installs it in Metroplex. Coming online, Metroplex and Trypticon throw down. Their battle extends into another city (which everyone manages to evacuate from). Finally, Metroplex manages to overwhelm Trypticon, and throws Trypticon a great distance, where he lands in the ocean and sinks.

On Cybertron, Blitzwing, Rodimus Prime, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] manage to stop the Sharkticons, but Galvatron, thinking the switch is the key to the Decepticon Matrix, pulls it. With the Transformers offline, the Quintessons land on Cybertron. As the Quintessons enjoy how great it is to be home, Spike grabs Rodimus' weapon, and destroys the lever. Reactivating, an incredibly angry Galvatron begins chasing the Quintessons, who manage to escape. Galvatron then prepares to fight Rodimus, but Blitzwing pulls his weapon on Galvatron, telling him that this has to end. Galvatron banishes Blitzwing from the Decepticons, and orders the Decepticons to retreat.

[[Image:FFOD5 Rodimus victory speech.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Optimus would have given a more rousing speech.]]

Rodimus notes that the battle is over for now, but the Autobot leader also notes that the Transformers may well have met their greatest enemies...
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (5)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (9)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (12)
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (13)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (14)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (15)
* [[Tailgate]] (16)
* [[Outback]] (17)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (20)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (21)
* [[Eject]] (22)
* [[Rewind]] (23)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (24)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (26)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (27)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (30)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (32)
* [[Slingshot]] (33)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (48)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (49)

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (3)
* [[Sweep]]s (4)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (11)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (28)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (29)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (34)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (35)
* [[Headstrong]] (36)
* [[Tantrum]] (37)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (38)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (39)
* [[Predaking]] (30)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (31)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (32)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (33)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (34)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (35)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (38)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (36)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (37)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (39)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (40)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (41)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (42)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (43)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (44)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (45)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (46)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (47)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (10)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (35)

}}
==Quotes==
"Olé, sucker!" 
:—'''Wheelie''' the bullfighter!

"Mighty Galvatron, there is no Decepticon Matrix!" 
[''smacks him away''] "Tell it to the Autobots!"
:—'''Blitzwing''' gets some inspiration from '''Galvatron'''

"Faster, Pipes, faster faster faster faster faster! You gotta work faster because if you don't Trypticon's gonna stomp us and that's why we're gonna get..." 
"Blurr...shut up!"
:—'''Pipes''' gives '''Blurr''' an idea.

"This planet's not big enough for the both of us." 
"Me crush Metroplex!"
:—'''Metroplex''', the gung-ho cowboy, meets '''Trypticon''', the ravaging dinosaur.

"We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators...and seen the face of an enemy."
:—'''Rodimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Cyclonus oddity armadaesque.jpg|thumb|right|150px| ]]
* During the recap, Galvatron's "Very well, Junkions" line is not flanged.
* In the opening pan, the entire Decepticon army seems to be made up of randomly recoloured Sweeps and Cyclonuses. Among the more visible examples are Sweeps colored like Breakdown and Wildrider.
* Rodimus's spoiler ridge is colored yellow instead of orange as Kup laments the loss of the defense system.
* Springer changes places between shots, going from Magnus's right to directly behind him (and back again when the first shot is recycled.)
* As Magnus turns to open fire, the foreshortening of his arm is bizarrely misdrawn.
* As Galvatron continues to descend and fire, an extra Cyclonus appears in Dirge's colors, alongside the actual Cyclonus.
** A Dirge-colored Cyclonus strafes Cybertron after the first commercial break.

* The click sound of the button pushed by the Quintesson to activate his monitor doesn't coincide with the actual push of the button.
* The Quintessons' view of Earth initially shows partly cloudy skies... then Trypticon just appears out of nowhere against the same sky. We'll be kind and not count this monitor view under "Improbable Viewpoints".
* Warpath neither moves his faceplate nor flashes his cheek blinkers when he speaks.
[[Image:FFoD5 MiniVehicles.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Swerve disappears after the initial shot of the Autobot ambush, and is replaced by Beachcomber.
* The view of Trypticon smoking and damaged is set against a starry night sky, despite the scene occurring during the daytime.
[[Image:Giantscamper.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* An establishing shot of Metroplex shows him sitting in the desert all by himself, without [[Autobot City]] anywhere in sight. He also has Scamper sitting in his "garage", drawn to toy-based scale... which means he'd be a hundred foot long car.
* Sky Lynx flies behind a smooth, featureless reddish celestial body. If it's supposed to be Io, it's ''waaaaaay'' too small, not more than a couple hundred feet across. In fact it's too small to be a regular round body.
* Io has changed colors; an establishing shot shows it to be red instead of the gray it was last time. Of course, the ''real'' Io actually ''is'' red.
* In the first shot of Blurr, Wheelie, and Marissa fighting the lipoles, none of them is standing on Io's surface.
* Also, Marissa's ship is intact, but it was blown up in the previous episode.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** How does Blaster get an eye-level view of Marissa fighting on Io?
* When Wheelie loses the transforming cog, three of the next four shots are shown against a blue sky with clouds, rather than the night sky of Io.
* Once again, the animation fails to convey that the lipoles are an actual threat.
* In the second shot of Warpath's team of [[Mini-Vehicle]]s outside Autobot Headquarters, Beachcomber is colored like Wildrider.
* Powerglide gets a descending-pitch transformation sound as he changes to his plane mode and takes off. Launching aerial Transformers normally get the rising-pitch version.
* The Constructicons watching Trypticon on the hill are much larger than they should be.
* Scrapper's faceplate changes from grey to red as he listens to Bonecrusher.
* Five Autobots drive toward Trypticon, but the next shot shows only three getting kicked away.
* Pipes and Swerve seem to be firing lasers right out of their windshields.
* As Trypticon approached the Ark, it only has two engines sticking out rather than three.
* As the Autobots watch Trypticon walk off, Warpath's back is grey rather than red.
* The sound effect for the shot that Trypticon fires at the camera lags behind the shot itself.
[[Image:Cycloni ffod5.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Cyclonus and his Armada:
** Four Cyclonuses are shown strafing Cybertron after the first commercial break.
** The next shot shows two Cycloni.
** While retreating from Cybertron, there are five Cyclonuses flying with Galvatron.
* Ultra Magnus punches Ramjet, who spirals out of control. When he hits a wall and explodes, he's colored like Dirge. The error is particular visible since Dirge himself gets the same punch-and-explode treatment a second later.
* When Galvatron transforms to fire on Ultra Magnus, his arm cannon flies off screen, and a new one comes out of his head to take its place in cannon mode. (Again!)
* Magnus and Galvatron's voices are muffled as if they were speaking by radio, even though there's no reason for them to do so. Dirge and Ramjet suffer from a similar though less obvious effect in the same scene.
* Bumblebee and Powerglide are briefly visible fighting alongside Perceptor against the Sweeps on Cybertron, despite being on Earth at the time.
* Streetwise has a red chest (Red Alert's color scheme?) as he stands next to Perceptor and Slingshot, firing.
* As he delivers the "Meet your fate valiantly, Autobots!" line, Perceptor's Autobot logo is all grey rather than just a grey outline.
* Blitzwing's voice isn't properly flanged as he acknowledges Galvatron's command to report to the Quintessons.
* Throughout the episode, the area around Blitzwing's Decepticon symbol changes. Sometimes it has lines above and below it, sometimes only above, sometimes none. Sometimes red, sometimes purple.
* In the establishing shot before Sky Lynx arrives, Marissa and the 'bots aren't even trying to fight off the lipoles! Incidentally, Io's gone back to being gray.
* Sky Lynx's first transformation sequence lacks any transformation sound.
* The squawks that Sky Lynx lets loose after transforming are not by his voice actor! (The whole animal noise shtick for him would be dropped after this episode.)
* The Predacons get some bizarre use of the transformation noise. It plays as they emerge from the balls of fire that carried them to Io (a means of transport that they never used again.)
* Headstrong and Tantrum arrive carrying their guns, but a second later they charge into battle with their swords. They then proceed not to use either weapon.
* Sky Lynx's transporter section transforms to lynx mode, but is back in transporter mode when Blurr and Marissa run away from it.
* Headstrong's beast mode head has a huge swath of black on it in two different shots.
* Blurr lacks a transformation noise as he changes modes to cross the canyon.
* Predaking gets the transformation sound ''every time he moves''.
* Sky Lynx's transporter section lacks the transformation sound as it converts to lynx mode again. Apparently, Predaking sucked up all the transformation noises from the whole scene.
* When Predaking fires his foot weapons, a laser emerges. The weapon's effect, however, is shown as a windstorm.
* Sky Lynx's combining sequence is a little messed up; his lynx legs are shown unfolding, but since his lower half was already in lynx mode, they should be unfolded already.
* Predaking's head is on backwards as Sky Lynx wraps his tail around it.
* As Trypticon approaches Autobot City, the city is shown in a barren desert. It had [[The Transformers: The Movie|previously been shown]] to be located in a lush mountain valley, and is shown that way again at the end of the episode.
* Slingshot is seen running about in Autobot City as it transforms, even though he was last seen on Cybertron with Perceptor.
* As Blaster despairs over Sky Lynx's absence, his helmet is white instead of red.
* Scrapper's mouthplate continues moving even as Mixmaster gives the order to fire. (And why is Mixmaster giving the orders, anyway?)
* As the Autobots exit Sky Lynx, the transforming cog is shown as a large gear wheel, instead of an orb-shaped device. Sky Lynx's windows aren't colored in, either.
* Night sky is shown behind Marissa as she orders Blurr to "stop babbling"...
** And again behind Blurr as he prepares for his "lateral"...
** And again behind the cog as Wheelie throws it to Sky Lynx...
** And again behind Sky Lynx as he flattens the Decepticon lineup...
* As Blurr throws the cog, Thrust flies past in Laserbeak's colors. This was probably intended to be Laserbeak himself, since Thrust just got swatted.
* As the Constructicons try to tackle Wheelie, they're shown on a metal floor, despite the preceeding and following shots being shown in the desert. Motormaster likewise goes from desert to metal floor as he accidentally tackles Bonecrusher.
[[Image:FFOD5_Insecticons.png|right|thumb|200px|Maybe Cyclonus ''was'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Or [[Insecticon clone|a clone.]]]]
* When Wheelie faces off against the big line of Decepticon troops, all three Insecticons are present, including two Shrapnels. Bombshell's eyes aren't colored in. Blast-off and Swindle are also in the lineup, despite appearing on Cybertron at the start of the attack there.
**When Sky Lynx jumps over/through the lined up Decepticons, the second Shrapnel is replaced by Soundwave.
* It's an AKOM episode, so watch for Soundwave's white backpack as Sky Lynx flattens him.
* Sky Lynx clearly throws the cog horizontally, yet it somehow arcs so high that Trypticon can't catch it. As Trypticon lunges for the cog, it's the size of his fist -- the same fist that easily held Outback earlier in the episode.
* When the Autobots are celebrating the safety of the transformation cog after the little game of catch with the Decepticons, two Constructicons and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] are seen "raising the roof" along with them. Slingshot shows up again, too, along with a generic model colored like Dead End.
* Metroplex is back in city mode as Trypticon prepares to stomp him.
* The hand that topples Trypticon does not come from the actual location where Metroplex's arms are stored in city mode.
* When Metroplex transforms, Autobot City is nowhere in sight.
* Metroplex's single line is delivered in a different voice than that of his later appearances.
* Who knew Trypticon was so aerodynamic? After Metroplex throws him, he falls ''up'' in the second shot of him sailing over the landscape.
* The late Ratchet is among the Autobots cheering Metroplex's victory, in Blaster's colors. And is that ''another'' Ratchet in the background?
* The [[large switch]] stops glowing after the Sharkticons arrive.
* For some reason, a view of Cybertron is used as an establishing shot for Earth.
[[Image:FFoD Part5 Frozen Metroplex.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Blitzwing is shown with a purple Autobot insignia while being offered membership in their ranks by Rodimus Prime.
* Spinger and Arcee are shown among the frozen Autobots on Earth, despite being on Cybertron. Sludge is shown in the same shot in Grimlock's colors (and possibly with Grimlock's head.)
* As the Quintessons venture onto Cybertron, a frozen Sweep is shown with red (pink?) wings.
* A second later, the Quintessons walk past a frozen [[Rewind]] (or [[Eject]]), drawn at the size of an ordinary Transformer and colored like [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]].
* The energy beams of the fleeing Quintessons don't line up with their bodies.
* As the Quintessons blast off in the escape pod, we see a group of generic transformers who look a lot like those seen in Rodimus' flashback during the previous episode!
* Mixmaster and Scrapper are seen on Cybertron as the Quintessons escape, despite the Constructicons being on Earth.
* Sky Lynx is far too small as he and the others watch Rodimus on screen.
* Although both the [[Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
* The opening pan over Cybertron shows it with two moons, even though Unicron ostensibly devoured both of Cybertron's moons during ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. One moon appears again as the Quintessons make their battle projection.
* Kup says that "that blast took out the whole defense system". But it wasn't a ''blast''; it was a crashing space ship.
* Spike retains his superhuman capabilities, surviving a blast that trashes the room he's in and sends his Autobot friends flying.
* Powerglide notes that Trypticon has "''another'' transform," but at this point he's only seen it in the battle platform mode.
* So if everyone actually retreated to Level 2, per Rodimus's order, then who are all those Decepticons firing at? How long would it take them to gang up and overpower Magnus, if he's really the only one left?
* The answer comes a moment later, when Perceptor and company are seen to have ignored that order.
[[Image:G1 FFODPart5 UltraMagnus punch Dirge.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]
* Dirge and Ramjet both appear to explode rather fatally after Magnus punches them. Both will nevertheless show up alive and well in later episodes. Considering they were already seen eaten by Unicron in the Movie, this is not so surprising.
* Despite the absence of the transforming cog, both Autobot City ''and'' Metroplex are showing transforming to their respective battle station modes. Apparently, Metroplex only needs the cog to change into robot mode.
* Most of the battle on Cybertron is shown happening on the surface, with no ceilings and blue night skies, despite Rodimus's order to retreat below ground. Yet Blitzwing still flies underground to report to Galvatron.
* Most of the Constructicon's appearances shows that Scrapper leads the team, so why the hell is Mixmaster giving the orders?
* There appears to be a human city quite close to Autobot city, but previously in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|Movie]], there were no signs or suggestions of a human city being nearby. In addition, this poses the question of why the Autobots or humans built their cities so near to each other despite the fact that Autobot City is often under attack by Decepticons.
* Superhuman Spike has amazingly little trouble hoisting Rodimus's gun onto his shoulder.

===Continuity notes===
* Pipes cites the late Optimus Prime and quotes his catchphrase, "Transform and [[roll out]]!"
* Gadgets and powers:
** Bumblebee is shown with a rooftop cannon in vehicle mode during the first attack run on Trypticon. The weapon appears to be based on that of Outback.
* Galvatron makes reference to his last meeting with Ultra Magnus, on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].
* This episode is the first and only appearance of Tailgate. Swerve would later appear briefly in "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]".

===Real-world references===
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak and Thrust emerge from Trypticon's chest with the sound of the ''Millenium Falcon'''s engine burst.

===Trivia===

* Just from the episode alone, it's impossible to tell who the line "It'll be passing above us soon" is being spoken by, as it doesn't correspond to any of the known voices of the Autobots present. This just left Swerve and Tailgate as possible candidates for the line (since neither was ever seen to speak any other lines, it could have been either of them). The episode's script would later confirm that the line belonged to Tailgate, and was delivered by the eternally overlooked [[Ted Schwartz]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_5.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4

2011-03-18T19:21:48Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=69
|series2=2010
|ep2=4
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
|image=FFOD4 Rodimus journey.JPG
|caption=What the hell did [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] give me?
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4"
|production code=#700-89
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Seeking answers about their mysterious new foes, Rodimus Prime takes a journey through the Matrix to learn the truth about the Quintessons... and the origins of the Transformers.'''

:''Japanese title:'' マトリクスの秘密 (''Matrix no Himitsu'', "The Secrets of the Matrix")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 4'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 4")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FFOD4 Autobots no hit.JPG|left|200px|thumb|It's like they're being shot at by Decepticon Targetmasters.]]

On [[Goo]], the [[Decepticon]]s open fire on the [[Autobot]]s (and miss spectacularly). [[Judge Deliberata]] cheers them on, until Grimlock slams him into the goo. As they get closer, Galvatron arrives, intending to punish the Decepticons for their "disloyalty". Upon seeing (and being shot by) their long-lost leader, the Decepticons repledge their loyalty to Galvatron and tell him that they were bribed into following the [[Quintesson]]s for [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. Galvatron is not happy and decides to punish the Quintessons for their usurpation.

On Goo, the Autobots find the control center, and Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus find out that the planet is a garbage collection system for the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. Contacting Wreck-Gar, they request assistance after managing to "talk [[Television|Teevee]]".

On [[Io]], Blurr and Wheelie are under attack by the [[lipole]]s, who are ferociously flapping their wings in the two Autobots' faces. Wheelie is overtaken, but tells Blurr to leave him and take Metroplex's [[transformation cog]]. Instead of leaving his comrade to die, Blurr heads right into the thick of the swarm. [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and manages to drive off the lipoles, but a number of them transform into missiles and destroy her ship. The three begin a search through the ship's wreckage, hoping that the communications are still working.

[[Image:FFOD4 Autobots lipoles.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"I'm Batman." "No, I'm Batman." "Hey, I'm Batman!" "I'm Man-bat."]]

Galvatron introduces himself by firing on the Quintesson ship. Realizing that Galvatron must be handled differently, the Quintessons offer an alliance with the Decepticons against the Autobots, but Galvatron says he never asked for their help. They offer Galvatron the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], but Galvatron simply demands it in exchange for letting them live. The Quintessons say that their lives are not enough, and that the Autobots must be destroyed.

Galvatron attacks the Autobots, but the Junkions arrive and melt the goo out from under the Autobots, sucking them right through the planet. Judge Deliberata winds up getting ejected in the process. Galvatron destroys Goo, but by the time he's done, the Junkions and Autobots have fled.

Heading back to the ship, Galvatron rants at the Quintessons, who counter that they would be powerful allies. Galvatron demands to know why the Quintessons haven't destroyed the Autobots themselves. They explain that the Autobots have been made unpredictable by their interactions with the [[human]]s. Sneering at the Quintessons' fear of the flesh creatures, Galvatron agrees to an alliance. The Decepticons cry "Hail Galvatron!" to affirm their support of their leader, and even the Quintessons give out a shout.

[[Image:RodimusBack.jpg|left|200px|thumb|No thanks, I can hold down this pile by myself.]]

On [[Junkion (planet)|the Planet of Junk]], Wreck-Gar restores Springer to life. However, Rodimus is not as cheered up as expected. He has questions about the Quintessons—about their hostility towards the Autobots, how they know so much about them, and about their intentions. Rodimus has become convinced that the answers behind the Quintessons lie in the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], but he still doesn't know how to consult the wisdom of the ages. Springer makes a sarcastic suggestion, saying that he should just come close to death again. Although Arcee says not to do that, Springer assures her that Rodimus is not as stupid as he looks. Wandering off, the [[Supreme Commander|Autobot commander]] short-circuits himself and falls unconscious.

[[Image:Ancientrobot ffod.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]

Rodimus enters the Matrix, where he is greeted by the spirits of the [[Ancient Autobots]], who show him the face of the creators of the Transformers...the Quintessons! Eons ago, the Quintessons used [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as a factory to build two lines of robots: consumer goods and military hardware, who evolved into the Autobots and the Decepticons, respectively. Millennia of torturous abuse led the Autobots to rebel and drive the Quintessons off Cybertron. Afterwards, the Cybertronians warred with each other for control, which was ended when the Autobots developed the art of [[transformation]]. A [[Golden Age]] followed, which was ended when the Decepticons mastered transformation and created a new leader: [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. He killed the [[U-Haul Robot|Matrix-bearer]], who passed the Matrix to [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], one of the oldest among them. However, Alpha Trion did not take the Matrix for himself, but gave it another who would challenge Megatron. This was [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], who became the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] for the [[Great War (G1)|Third Cybertronian War]], which has raged for nine million years and continues to rage even now.

Rodimus reactivates to find Springer and Arcee seriously freaked out. Dismissing their concerns, he tells them that they need to get to Cybertron as soon as possible.

[[Image:FFOD4 Trypticon lives.JPG|left|200px|thumb|When a guy has cannons for a tongue, it's time to panic.]]

Near Cybertron, Galvatron and the Quintessons plot their strategy. They will attack on two fronts: [[Autobot City]] and Cybertron. On [[Earth]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] are making changes to a human city. At dawn, they activate a transformation sequence, and the city begins to change. As the humans flee, the dust settles to the ground. In the place of the city now stands...Trypticon!

On Cybertron, an [[Earth Defense Command]] ship requests emergency landing clearance. Perceptor warns that it might be a trick, but Kup refuses to allow a ship full of innocents to perish, giving them clearance to land. But the ship instead crashes into Cybertron's central power facility, shutting down the planet's defenses. Storming from the Quintesson ships, Galvatron leads the Decepticons in an attack. Aboard the vessels, the Quintessons are pleased, for soon the Autobots will be destroyed, and then they will deal with the Decepticons.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|To be concluded...]]

{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (7)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (8)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (19)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (21)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (22)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (23)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
* [[Hood Transformer]] (26)
* [[Pole vault Transformer]] (27)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (30)
* [[Primon]] (31)
* [[Prima]] (32)
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (33)
* [[Prime Nova]] (34)
* [[Guardian Prime]] (36)
* [[Zeta Prime]] (38)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (47)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (48)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (51)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (52)

|c2=
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (1)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (2)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (3)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (13)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (14)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (15)
* [[Sweep]]s (16)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (17)
* [[Octane]] (28)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (29)
* [[Early Decepticon leader]] (35)
* [[Early Decepticons]] (37)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (39)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (40)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (41)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (42)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (43)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (44)
* Two nameless [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] (45)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (46)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (49)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (50)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (20)

|c4=
* [[Judge Deliberata]] (9)
* Various [[Quintesson]]s (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Last big party of the summer, folks! Let's go out with a bang!" 
"Just once, couldn't your attitude reflect the gravity of the situation?!" 
"Not if I can help it!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' have rather different leadership styles.

"Yes! Yes! Even if it means my life is forfeit, destroy them! Destroy th—ooh!" 
''[Tail smack]'' 
"Me Grimlock say shut your faces!"
:—'''Judge Deliberata''' annoys '''Grimlock'''.

'''Galvatron''': Now, Decepticons, learn the price of your disloyalty! Attack! 
'''Cyclonus''': Attack whom? 
''[Galvatron shoots Cyclonus]'' 
'''Galvatron''': EVERYONE!
:—Galvatron isn't so good with specifics.

'''Wreck-Gar''': Bulletin: You are in danger of being canceled or losing your time slot. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': What's he talking about? 
'''Rodimus Prime''': We're gonna get killed.
:—Rodimus shows the value of knowing a second language.

"He ran right back into the danger! My digital watch is smarter than that!"
:—'''Marissa Faireborn''' isn't impressed with Blurr's tactics

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* [[Victor Caroli]]'s opening recap narration says that Quintessa "was detonated by the deadly Quintesson". Maybe a single Quint really did push the button all by himself, but the use of the singular is a bit odd.
* The first two shots, of the Decepticons pouring out of the Quintesson ship and firing at the Autobots, are loaded with too many screwups to count, as a mixture of made-up characters and off-model characters with the wrong color scheme pads out the background. An off-model Blitzwing colored like Air Raid is just one example.
* In the wide shot of the Autobots, Kup, Magnus, Arcee and Rodimus are in front. Grimlock and Deliberata are in back, and behind them are two guys that don't look like any of the Aerialbots (who remain AWOL throughout the sequence.)
* Just before Magnus starts to chastise Rodimus, Rodimus's torso is orange instead of red, and his waistline has climbed half way up his stomach, kinda like an old man being swallowed by his trousers.
* In the closeup shot of Rodimus and Magnus, yellow lasers are flying past them, despite the Decepticon lasers being pink in all the other scenes.
* How long do the Autobots intend to stand there without shooting back at the Decepticons? Why are they just strolling along without defending themselves?
* When Judge Deliberata is celebrating the impending destruction of the Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] is shown with them, despite not being part of the group that landed on Goo.
* A subsequent shot gives us a better look at the crowd-filler Decepticons. In addition to Air Raid/Blitzwing, we have Ramjet missing most of his wings, with a black head, and one of his lasers on backwards. Every other character in the shot is entirely made up, though two of them appear to be using Octane's wing design.
[[Image:FFOD4 mass mistakes.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Dead End, are we the only ones here NOT colored wrong?" "Who cares, Blast Off? We're doomed either way."]]
* In the next shot, as [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] are discussing how easy it is to destroy the Autobots, [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] is colored like Kup, [[Octane]] is colored like Grimlock, and an off-model [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] shows up colored like Rodimus Prime. Also there is an early version of [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s [[character model]] with Cyclonus' color scheme right behind Kup-colored Motormaster. What's more, standing near the miscoloured Snarl is a Decepticon coloured like Wheelie. Yikes.
* Dead End and Blast Off's conversation is screwed up more ways than one:
** "We owe this grand opportunity entirely to our new allies" is about as obvious a statement as one could make, yet Blast Off has to ask for an explanation.
** The explanation seems to come from Swindle, but he's not in the shot.
** The pointless explanation ("He means that what opportunities--") is suddenly truncated by Galvatron's arrival. Maybe he sensed the scene was going nowhere.
* Galvatron's lower helmet rim is gray instead of purple as he first appears. Man, AKOM sure does that a lot.
* Why is Galvatron ''literally'' jogging through space right after the above shot?
* More Decepticon generics and off-models after Galvatron arrives. A shot of the tail end of the mob includes Soundwave, Scavenger, Swindle and Onslaught all in white, a generic with Octane's wings, a generic with what looks like Rodimus's spoiler, and several totally made-up generic guys.
* When Motormaster is blasted by Galvatron, a white and red Onslaught is in the background.
* Motormaster has the wrong voice as he reacts to Galvatron's return. He has the right voice in his next line ("Spare me and I'm yours to command!")
* When the Swindle and Motormaster fly up to pledge their allegiance to Galvatron, the Autobot [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] is with them for two different consecutive shots.
* During his "Sloppiness. Disorganization." line, Magnus has much smaller eyes than usual.
* Rodimus's spoiler ridge is so often colored yellow instead of orange that it's almost more noteworthy when they get it ''right''.
* After the Decepticons break off their assault, Rodimus and Magnus once again just walk right out of the inescapable goo.
* As Marissa's ship enters the Jovian system, it passes over what looks like a post-Movie Cybertron!
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Marissa's screen shows Blurr and Wheelie from a surface point of view, even though she's still high above the moon's surface. She reacts to this full-screen image of the two by saying "I think I've spotted them", as if there were some doubt.
* The inside of Blurr's mouth is blue as he frets over saving Wheelie.
* As Blurr charges back into the lipole swarm, most of the creatures aren't animated, despite being in the air.
* No wing-flapping in the shot of the lipoles surrounding Wheelie, either. They just magically bob up and down in the air.
* How does Marissa's jet pack support her in mid-air when she's upside-down?
* The jetpack's flames change from non-existent, to blue, to orange when Marissa lands.
* Galvatron is colored with a gray "goatee" after he blasts the Decepticon ship, and again as he climbs aboard. As he scoffs at the Quintessons, the whole area around his mouth is gray; the gray disappears as he turns and fires. The goatee returns as he rants at the Quintessons after destroying Goo. Then the beard returns as well.
* "Tell me? What?" The Quintesson in this shot is missing his energy beam.
* The Quintessons are pretty clearly mechanical, yet one of them makes a squishy noise when Galvatron slams him into the ship's deck.
* Deliberata is missing his energy beam as Kup takes aim at Galvatron.
* As Kup and company open fire on Galvatron, Bonecrusher is firing with them! In the background are two pipe-cleaner-thin generics.
* Galvatron rises back into the frame after destroying Goo, as if he just returned to robot mode, but there's no transformation noise.
* As Galvatron accepts the Quintessons as allies, his left hand goes from purple to gray and back.
[[Image:Generic palette swap.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* We see seven Sweeps aboard the Quintesson ship, the most we've seen so far in the whole mini-series. Some previous shots have indicated that there are as few as three.
* As the wimpy-sounding Decepticons hail Galvatron, two [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwaves]] are shown colored like [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], alongside a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] colored like [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]].
* Seriously. No combination of known Decepticon voices would result in that chorus of "Hail Galvatron."
* And while they hail him, Galvatron's Decepticon logo is just a red square.
* On Junkion, Arcee continues to be without the bridgeline of her nose.
* When Arcee and the repaired Springer speak with Rodimus, the latter is drawn in his [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] form.
* When Rodimus deactivates himself, the Matrix is all-gray rather than silver and gold.
* The sprawled, unconscious Rodimus changes positions between the end of Act 2 and the opening of Act 3; specifically, his arms move from eagle-spread to down by his sides.
* The [[U-Haul Robot]]'s barbed mace phases through the foot of the [[Powerful Robot]] after it hits the ground.
* The "Matrix" Alpha Trion holds looks like a giant gold football rather than the sphere with handles (as it was shown earlier in the flashback...it's always been that way).
* When he wakes up, Rodimus says that "''Ctyber''tron's in deadly danger."
* As Rodimus gets up and walks away, Arcee's Autobot symbol is missing (with only the outline of a square in its place).
* Vehicles based on Hook and Scavenger are used as generic construction vehicles during a shot showing the Transformers' freedom from the Quintessons (prior to inventing transformation). Or maybe all construction vehicles are green and purple on Cybertron.
[[Image:FFODHaul.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* When the Decepticons assemble Trypticon, [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] is colored like Octane and [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] is colored like [[U-Haul Robot]].
* When the Constructicons celebrate Trypticon's awakening, they're drawn as generics and colored like the core Movie Autobots: Magnus, Kup, Wheelie, and Arcee's color schemes are all visible.
* As Kup, Perceptor and Cosmos watch the incoming ship, Perceptor is colored like Grimlock, and Cosmos's arms are on backwards.
* Cosmos's voice lacks its usual reverberated echo.
* The Aerialbots who fly to intercept the ship are all colored the same light gray and medium blue. Only Silverbolt and Skydive are on-model.
* The horde of miscolored generic Decepticons is recycled for the attack on Cybertron.
* Really makes you wonder how [[AKOM]] actually gets work, doesn't it?

===Continuity errors===
* The lipoles have totally changed size since the last episode. Instead of a deep-throated growl, they now give off high-pitched squeaks. They aren't glowing anymore, either.
* The animation does absolutely nothing to tell us what's so bad about being swarmed by lipoles. From what we see in this episode, it would seem to be little more than a mild annoyance.
* Why doesn't Wheelie transform and drive to escape the lipoles?
* The animators and writers alike seem to have forgotten that Blurr's defining physical trait is that he's ''fast''. In this episode, he runs like a grandmother.
* Marissa's space suit has no visor or anything covering her face.
* Speaking of which, how can these creatures fly by flapping their wings when Io has only the thinnest of atmospheres?
* Marissa's demand that the lipoles "eat null rays" doesn't make much since, as an actual [[null-ray]] affects electronic circuits. Marissa's gun instead causes the lipoles to violently explode.
* On the other hand, her assertion that they are "bags of protoplasm" doesn't make much since either, since they can ''transform'' (complete with the transforming noise) into ''rocket-propelled missiles''.
* There appears to be some missing lines in the [[Ancient Robot]]'s monologue: "Now, the machines could manufacture themselves. And before long, they grew too lazy and greedy even for that. There were simpler ways to wring performance out of their slaves." The "they" in the second sentence clearly refers to the Quintessons, not the machines.
* How does one recycle a robot by dumping it into a molten vat?
* Where did those dancing robots get the cloth sheet things they're waving around?
* The ancient Autobot that gets knocked off of the motorcycle is a recycled character model; he was last seen standing alongside Wreck-Gar on the Junkion ship, just a few scenes ago!
[[Image:Megatronffod.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ve must have ze brain on ze table! Chop chop!]]
* One of the most famous continuity gaffs of the entire series comes as the Matrix journey wraps up. A scene showing Megatron's creation millions of years ago is illustrated with him surrounded by Constructions. It's problematic because, according to "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]", the Constructicons weren't actually ''evil'' until ''Megatron himself'' reprogrammed them to be Decepticons. And according to a one-off line in "[[Heavy Metal War]]", Megatron and the other Decepticons built the Constructicons on Earth in 1984!
* On top of that, there's eight Constructions! None of them are really on-model; three appear to be entirely made up.
[[Image:Alphatrionagesbackwards.jpg|thumb|right|150px| ]]
* Somebody forgot that we'd already seen an 11-million-years-younger Alpha Trion, back in "[[War Dawn]]"... and he looked visibly different than the elderly Trion of 1985! He is shown in his "elderly" design when he receives the matrix from the dying Autobot leader; chronologically, the events of "[[War Dawn]]" happen after this, but in that epiosde he's portrayed with a much younger look.
* The Constructicons build (or rebuild, depending on whether you're watching [[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]]) [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] out of a human city overnight. And no one notices.
* The idea of rebuilding a human city into a Transformer only makes any sense if the city was made ''entirely of metal''.
* Trypticon is seemingly brought to life without the use of [[Vector Sigma]], which we were [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|previously assured]] is the only way to grant life and/or sentience and/or "cybernetic personalities" to new Transformers. Of course, it's not as if he is unique in that respect: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were also made without the use of the computer, and Trypticon wound up being as dim as they are.
* Cybertron appears to have gotten a remodel since we saw it in the Movie. Who had time to patch up all those holes?

===Real-world references===
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** The [[Powerful Robot]] attacks the [[U-Haul Robot]] with the sound of Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader's lightsabers clashing aboard the Death Star, and Luke Skywalker's lightsaber deflecting seeker bolts aboard the ''Millennium Falcon''.
** The Powerful Robot launches against his Quintesson overseers with the same Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding sound effect that Galvatron used in Part 2.
* Wreck-Gar's lines are mostly based on generic sales pitches ("Batteries not included", "for a limited time, your money back," "Doors closing at midnight!" hilariously timed to coincide with Galvatron confronting a closing donut hole of goo). A few lines have more specific origins, though:
** "Glad you used the dial, wish everybody would." parodies the "Aren't you glad you used Dial?" soap ad campaign.
** "Why'd you come on down to Goo?" is based on the famous "Come on down, you're the next contestant on..." catch phrase of ''The Price is Right''.
** "Wreck-Gar will put you in good hands" references the "You're in good hands with Allstate" insurance ad campaign.
** "You'll have Springer back faster than Snap Crackle Pop", the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.
** "I believe in me" would reoccur as a Junkion mantra in "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]".

===Trivia===
* This episode features the second and final instance of Rodimus referring to Springer with the nickname "Springo".
[[Image:Pretransformer ffod.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Some looks never go out of style!]]
* Apart from Optimus Prime and Alpha Trion, the ancient (pre-)Autobots that Rodimus meets in the Matrix are identified in the shooting script and later given actual names more than 20 years later in [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The Allspark Almanac II]]:
** [[Primon|Ancient Robot]] (Primon)
** [[Prima|Powerful Robot]] (Prima)
** [[Prime Nova|Brooding Robot]] (Prime Nova)
** [[Guardian Prime|Pre-Transformer]] (Guardian Prime)
** [[Zeta Prime|New Narrator]] (Zeta Prime)
** [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]] (Sentinel Prime)

* The entire Decepticon army fails to hit a single Autobot when they are all grouped together on Goo. My, how energon depletion affects the [[Sensors|optics]].

* The original video cassette release of this episode featured some odd audio edits to the final scene: all of Cosmos's lines were missing, as were the fake pilot's claim that their "engines have just gone critical", and the Quintesson's declaration that their decoy worked and that Cybertron is helpless. The [[Kid Rhino]] DVD of this episode restores all the missing lines, but they are all once again missing on the subsequent [[Shout! Factory]] release.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_4.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3

2011-03-18T08:27:19Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=68
|series2=2010
|ep2=3
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|image=FFOD3 Decepticons Quintesson ship.JPG
|caption=Intimidating, but they can't hit a single 'Bot.
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3"
|production code=#700-88
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 3]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Desperate to destroy the Autobots, the Quintessons make a deal with the Decepticons.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 惑星ゴーの罠 (''Wakusei Goo no Wana'', "The Trap on Planet Goo")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 3'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FFOD3 Autobots vacuum.JPG|left|200px|thumb|"I'm Batman, and I can breathe in space."]]
Detonated by the Quintessons, the planet [[Quintessa]] explodes as the Autobots flee. They escape the planet's destruction, but their ship is smashed by a chunk of debris, sending the group hurtling through space. Eventually, Ultra Magnus calculates that they will soon impact an object, but isn't sure if it's a planet or a ship. Rodimus tells him to relax and enjoy the ride.

[[Image:FFOD3 Autobot shuttle boom.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Remember, Wheelie is on this ship.]]

Meanwhile, Cyclonus briefs Galvatron on the recent developments, including the creation of [[Outpost One|a space platform]] to guard [[Earth]]. Intrigued, Galvatron alters course, deciding to punish the [[human]]s for assuming that they could build something to defend themselves against him. Some of the [[Sweep]]s are unnerved by Galvatron's behavior, but Scourge tells them to shut up.

Blurr and Wheelie, carrying Metroplex's [[transformation cog]], arrive in Earth's [[solar system]], and spot Galvatron. They warn [[Outpost One]], but Galvatron destroys the station with ease, then turns his sights on the [[Autobot]]s. Fleeing to the planet [[Jupiter]], the Autobots are forced to abandon ship with Metroplex's cog and end up falling into the upper atmosphere. Galvatron uses his cannon to electrically charge a nearby storm cell, causing a violent and explosive reaction which disrupts the transformation cogs of both Blurr and Wheelie, and ejects them from the planet. The [[Decepticon]]s then depart for [[Chaar]]. Blaster sends warning to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where [[Marissa Faireborn]] of [[Earth Defense Command]] heads out on a rescue mission.

[[Image:FFOD3 junk collector.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Not Springer's finest hour.]]

Meanwhile, the Quintessons are contemplating how best to celebrate the death of the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], when they learn that Rodimus has survived. They conclude that they have no choice but to make an alliance with the one group who can help them: the Decepticons.

The Autobots crash land on a bizarre planetoid named [[Goo]]. They soon discover that they can walk in the planet's gum-like surface, but cannot get out. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] points out that even though they're stranded, it could be worse. Predictably, a giant machine arrives and begins sucking up various garbage. Springer is caught and sliced up, and Rodimus is next. Despite Arcee and Kup's pleas, Rodimus stands his ground, letting the machine pull him up; he manages to clog the blades with some of the goo, causing it to crash. [[Deliberata]] is surprised, claiming that the Autobots weren't programmed for self-sacrifice.

On Chaar, the Quintessons approach the Decepticons with an offer of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. The battered Decepticons are at first hesitant, but once [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] samples some energon and lives, the others dogpile on it. The Quintessons make their proposal: in return for unlimited energon, the Decepticons will destroy the Autobots for them. The Decepticons are nervous, saying that they can't take [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in their present condition, but the Quintessons tell them that Rodimus Prime is on Goo with only a small number of Autobots to guard him. Although it's an offer the Decepticons are eager to accept, Blitzwing is suspicious of the Quintessons, finding them familiar. Motormaster decides to have a vote. The yays have it, but Blitzwing decides to remain on Chaar. The Quintessons are pleased, saying that the Decepticons will soon be theirs... again?

[[Image:FFOD3 Quintessons attack.JPG|right|200px|thumb|No wonder it can't shoot straight. There isn't a single straight line on it!]]

From her ship, Faireborn detects metal fragments which were blown all the way to Jupiter's moon of [[Io]]. On the surface of the Jovian moon, Wheelie and Blurr wake up, not realizing that [[Lipole|they aren't alone]]...

Arriving at Chaar, Galvatron is incensed when Blitzwing informs him that the Decepticons left following others, though he doesn't much care who. Galvatron vows to reclaim his rightful place as Decepticon leader.

On Goo, the Autobots are searching for a way to shut off whatever equipment is keeping the goo warm and soft, allowing them to smash their way out. Suddenly, the Quintesson ship arrives, and a fleet of Decepticons emerges, firing at the trapped Autobots.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|To be continued...]]

{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (2)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (13)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (15)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (17)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
* [[Slingshot]] (19)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (9)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (10)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (11)
* [[Sweep]]s (12)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (22)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (23)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (24)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (25)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (26)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (28)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (29)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (30)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (31)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (32)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (33)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (34)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (35)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (36)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (37)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (38)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (39)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (40)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (42)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (43)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (6)

|c4=
* [[Deliberata]] (7)
* [[Quintesson]]s (16)
* [[Lipole]] (41)
}}

==Quotes==
"My guidance system is hit! Galvatron, save meeeEEE!" 
"Please meet your end with dignity! I despise whiners!"
:—A '''Sweep''' is left to die by '''Galvatron'''

'''Sweep 1''': This is blowing out my audio sensors. 
'''Sweep 2''': It's torture! 
'''Galvatron''': Hahah, no, no! It's music. The symphony of destruction, and the anthem of agony!
:—Galvatron really needs to see a head doctor.

'''Cyclonus''': Bravo, Galvatron. The Autobots' destruction is assured. 
'''Galvatron''': Assured is not enough. I told you I want their heads, Cyclonus! 
''[moments later]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': Mighty Galvatron... where are the Autobots' heads?! 
'''Galvatron''': ''[whacks him]'' What does it matter? Their destruction is assured!
:—Consistency is not Galvatron's strong suit.

"How pleasant the feeling, to know the Autobots and their Matrix of Leadership have been destroyed." 
"I could watch it over and over again." 
"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it." 
"Perhaps... a quiet chuckle." 
"Very well then. Let us... chuckle."
:—The '''Quintessons''' loved it. It was much better than ''Cats''.

'''Quintesson''': We have not come to kill you. We have come to offer you a proposition. 
'''Dead End''': Uh—Swindle! I think this is your department. 
'''Swindle''': First, see if we can trust 'em. Taste one of the energon cubes.
:—Send the guy named "Swindle" to negotiate. Always a good idea.

"Forget everything I told you about heroism, RUN!"
:—'''Kup''' decides to change his tune when Rodimus Prime nearly faces death by alien garbage truck.

"Well?! Where are they?" 
"You, uh... pose an interesting question, my lord."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Cyclonus''' wonder where the Decepticon army went.

"Mark this moment well. For when the Decepticons eliminate the Autobots, they take the first step to their own destruction as well."
:—A '''Quintesson'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The inside of Magnus's mouth is red as he announces the Autobots' trajectory.
* As Galvatron exits the warp gate, the gate's energy is shown streaming out of it. The previous scene showed the energy precisely confined within the gate's boundaries; later portrayals of warp gates would remain consistent with this. It looks like the animators might have conflated a view of Galvatron's passage within the warp gate with a view of space outside it.
* As Blurr decides to try and lose Galvatron around Jupiter, his lip flap is far slower than his rate of speech. In the same scene, Wheelie's voice starts getting higher. Just wait, it'll get worse.
* The first shot of this sequence has Blurr and Wheelie standing around and staring at a blank wall for no apparent reason; there were probably supposed to be controls and view screens there.
* The establishing shot of [[Autobot City]] shows some waterfalls that aren't moving at all. (That makes up for the frozen waterfall that [[The Core|spontaneously unfroze]] last season.)
* The EDC base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] totally changes shape and size between its two establishing shots.
* When Galvatron transforms to destroy the Autobot shuttle, his arm-mounted cannon flies off of his arm and off-screen... and a new one emerges from his body to replace it in his cannon mode.
* Wheelie takes the transformation cog with him when he ejects the shuttle, but as he and Blurr fall through the tornado, it's not in either of his hands.
* When Wheelie shoots Galvatron, his Autobot symbol is missing (there's only a red square in its place).
* Improbable viewpoints:
** The Quintessons get a tracking pan view of Rodimus and company floating through space. (Four of the five Aerialbots are missing; only Air Raid is shown.)
* The mouth of the Quintesson reporting the Autobots' trajectory turns gray instead of black for several frames.
* All five of the Aerialbots are supposed to be with Rodimus & company, but only Silverbolt and Air Raid are actually shown.
* It's an AKOM episode, so watch for Grimlock's outdated head design.
* When the Autobots land on Goo, only the skull face of Deliberata is shown arriving. A second later, Kup picks up the same skull face before dropping it back into the goo. Did that one face just fall off?
* Rodimus has his early-casting voice when he says "I don't think it's the welcome wagon". In the same scene, the inside of Magnus's mouth is blue.
* Silverbolt doesn't move his mouth when he says "I'll fly over and see."
* The idea is that the erupting storm blasts Wheelie and Blurr out of Jupiter's atmosphere, but the animation makes it look like they just randomly start flying that way.
* Wheelie says he can't control his transformations, but he doesn't actually transform.
* After having a gray gun last episode, Rodimus is back to the red gun he had in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1|Part 1]].
* Rodimus's lower legs are orange instead of red in the second shot of him and the others firing at the garbage scow.
* Springer's mouth isn't moving when he says, "Maybe I can lift us out of here."
* Springer says "No go!" about his failure to escape from the goo before he's even activated his rotor blades.
* Springer returns to robot mode with no transformation noise.
* As Springer is pulled into the garbage scow, Arcee's helmet is pink on the sides when it should be all white.
* Rodimus's spoiler ridge is yellow instead of orange:
** As he leads the others to try and help Springer.
** During the whole sequence of him bringing down the garbage scow.
* When Rodimus reacts to Springer's destruction, his eyes are black instead of blue.
* Not nearly enough Springer parts come out of the machine to make up the complete Springer.
* "They wanna make a deal with us" is spoken in Swindle's voice, but Blitzwing is shown speaking.
* Astrotrain is missing some details on his back as he dives on the energon cube pile.
* Magnus has a red mouth interior again as he reacts to Rodimus stopping the garbage scow; the underside rim of his helmet is also ''huge''. And gray instead of blue.
* During the same shots, Arcee's backpack is shown in front of her arms (and again, the sides of her helmet are pink).
* The Quintesson Deliberata finally pops up again when he's needed to speak a line, after being absent for the entire preceding sequence. His skull face is properly attached, so, we may never know what was up with the skull face that Kup dropped into the goo.
* As Rodimus asks, "How are we gonna get out of this mess?," Magnus' eyes are only half drawn in.
* The establishing shot of Chaar is pretty clearly Goo, which we just left in the previous scene.
* As Swindle denounces the Quintessons' offer, the top of his torso is purple instead of yellow, and Drag Strip's head is yellow instead of brown.
[[Image:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Decepticons are resorting to animation errors to boost their troop numbers.]]
[[Image:Aerilabotindecepticons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ah hah, so THAT'S why he isn't on Goo.]]
* The entire next sequence is an infamous continuity and animation FUBAR, as the Decepticons seem to teleport all over the place between shots:
** When the Decepticons react to "Destroy the Autobots", Motormaster is shown with Swindle and Drag Strip. The previous shot ("That means it probably is.) had Wildrider in that spot.
** Onslaught very clearly ''walks'' up to protest the Quintessons' proposal of attacking Cybertron. The next shot is a reaction shot of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], with Onslaught down on his knees, and reacting in protest to his own statement! Swindle is also on his knees behind him, even though he was shown with some Stunticons just a shot before. AKOM cheats some "expressive" motion from the Combaticons by just sliding static drawings of them around on the background. Best of all, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] - the combined form of the five Combaticons - is standing right behind them! His legs are switched around, and he's the same size as his components.
** In the next shot of the Decepticons, Onslaught is now sitting next to Soundwave and Astrotrain, and Swindle is now behind Dead End.
** [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is the size of [[Octane]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]].
** The first shot of Blitzwing ("They lie!") shows him behind Rumble and Octane, but when we switch to a view from behind him, he's alone.
** In the wide shot as Dead End agrees with the plan, the Autobot [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] is shown sitting with the Decepticons. Same shot: Drag Strip's head is yellow again. Amazingly, this shot actually consistently keeps Blitzwing behind Octane and Rumble. Dead End, Soundwave and Onslaught are also still together, but Astrotrain has vanished from between them, and Rumble is in the space behind Dead End where Swindle should be.
** Yeah. It's bad, even for [[AKOM]].
* When the Quintessons say they must act quickly, one Quintesson is missing the lower half of his face and another is missing altogether, with just a telltale beam of energy where he should be.
* Only three Sweeps arrive on Chaar. The number following Galvatron up to now has been five to six. The Sweep in the rear has gray legs and gray back details, even though his siblings on either side are colored correctly. Subsequent shots show several additional Sweeps.
* Shots of Galvatron and his men flying over Chaar have Sweeps colored quite creatively:
** "We have fallen upon hard times": a Dirge-colored Sweep
** Panning shot: Swindle, Soundwave, and Dirge-colored Sweeps
** "Soon I shall raise the Deceptions": Bombshell, Grimlock, and maybe others.
* The top of Blitzwing's head is purple instead of yellow as he struggles to remember the Quintessons' name.
* Cyclonus's jet windows aren't colored in as Galvatron says "Who cares?"
* Wheelie and Blurr have switched positions from where they crashed; Wheelie was on Blurr's left, but now he's on Blurr's right.
* As he and Blurr awake on Io, Wheelie doesn't have his usual voice. The strained, high-pitched, whiny substitute used instead makes his usual voice sound like sweet music.
* The animation of the [[lipole]]s seems to portray them as giant walking beasts (and ''definitely'' portrays them as glowing and dripping acid from their fangs), with deep-throated snarls and growls. Nothing wrong so far, but next episode they'll be a swarm of tiny, non-glowing, non-acid-dripping, flying, high-pitched-squeaking creatures. Whether the animators misinterpreted the writer's directions in this episode, or the writer himself changed his mind between installments, remains unclear.
* Wheelie's final lines lack its usual processing (which was already not up to snuff in this episode.)
* Right in the middle of the discussion about how to shut off the inescapable goo... Rodimus just walks right out of it!
* Only Air Raid is shown during the final sequence on Goo; the other four Aerialbots are missing (again!)
* Rodimus says "What was that" in reaction to laser fire that hasn't happened yet.
[[Image:Shockwave5Faces.jpg|thumb|right|200px|My coloring scheme is illogical.]]
* Another infamous cluster follows as the Decepticons pour out of the Quintesson ship and fire on the Autobots:
** The first shot features a light gray [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] with a Blurr-like head bobber (maybe someone at AKOM was reading "[[Decepticon Patrol]]"?) and Shockwave colored like Long Haul.
** The second shot features a clearer shot of Shock Haul, as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who was reformatted into a Sweep during the Movie. Behind them, Dirge is missing his wings.
** If that doesn't seem so bad, wait until the same sequence continues next time!
* Although both the [[Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
* The Autobot ship which looks exactly like Broadside is destroyed in the explosion of Quintessa. Broadside himself shows up alive and well later in the series, so... apparently that wasn't Broadside.
* The Aerialbots are clearly capable of at least limited space flight, as seen both in the previous episode, and the later episode "[[Fight or Flee]]". It therefore seems a bit silly for them to be tumbling helplessly through space.
* Spike is in his civilian clothes when he boards the Autobot ship. When it's destroyed a few seconds later, he's got on a space suit. Even if that ''was'' the first thing he did the instant he set foot on the ship, it sure doesn't look like he'd have ''time'' to change into it.
* The animation shows Marissa pushing a button and saying "On my way!" The next shot shows her ship rocketing off of its launching rail. The net effect is that she seems to have just been sitting there in this angled ship, waiting around for a mission.
* Rodimus is shown standing outside the garbage scow after he brings it down. Considering it came down right on top of him, he should really be ''inside'' it. (Or under it.)
* Kup says to Rodimus, "I've seen a lotta brave Autobots do a lotta brave things in my time, but nothing like that." With all Kup's experience, it's a little hard to swallow that that's the ''bravest'' thing he has ever witnessed.

===ERRORS. OF. ''SCIENCE!''===
* Cyclonus's first line is muffled as if he were communicating by radio to Galvatron. ''Technically'', that's actually correct, since they're in the soundless vacuum of space and should be communicating by radio. But it's inconsistent with every other portrayal of Transformers communicating in space, including the rest of this very scene. Anyway, wouldn't super-advanced space robots have hi-fi communicators that wouldn't sound like walkie-talkies?
* [[Trooper Sullivan]] is shown radioing [[Earth Defense Command]] with a hand-held radio as he's floating through space. The "mouth plate" of his helmet even moves as he does so. Unlike the super-advanced space robots, he does not get a "really talking by radio" pass for this.
* Jupiter's ring appears to be composed of scrap metal (instead of ice.) The planet itself is shown as a dusky orange instead of the banded red, white, brown and tan of the actual planet.
* The Autobot shuttle loops around a gray, homogeneous moon of Jupiter. It's not clear that this ''has'' to be [[Io]], but if it is, it's all wrong. The real moon is orange and red, with black and white splotches, and looks like a pizza. Later, when Wheelie and Blurr are ejected from Jupiter's atmosphere, a distant Io (for sure this time!) is shown looking a lot like post-Movie Cybertron, silvery with spikey buildings poking out into space.
* During the establishing zoom-in toward [[Earth]], two planet-like objects are in the foreground, in close proximity to the other. The smaller one is the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], but there's no real-world body that could be the other one. The reddish color may mean it's supposed to be [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] (which comes into play in the following scene), but it's waaaaay too close to the Moon for that.
* Wow. Who knew that storms on Jupiter were so... ''flammable''?
* There probably isn't life on Io.

===Trivia===
* The sequence on Goo is the inspiration for the last portion of the ''Five Faces of Darkness'' custom title sequence, though in a clever spoiler-avoiding twist, Springer actually ''does'' get free from the goo in the title animation.
* Rodimus refers to Springer with the nickname "Springo". It recurs only once, in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|the next episode]].
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] mentions that the gooey substance on Goo reminds him of stuff he put under his chair in high school. Although this is disgusting, it does raise a valid question: when did Spike ever have time to go to school during the first two seasons?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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]] 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://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_3.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2

2011-03-18T07:48:40Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=67
|series2=2010
|ep2=2
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3
|image=FFOD2 Galvatron sparks.JPG
|caption=Only Galvatron can see the Energon Fairies
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2"
|production code=#700-87
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 2]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''As a near death experience on Chaar allows Rodimus Prime to discover who kidnapped the Autobots, Cyclonus and Scourge head to rescue Galvatron...only to find that something is very wrong with their leader.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 蘇る新破壊大帝 (''Yomigaeru Shin Hakai Taitei'', "The Revived New Emperor of Destruction")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 2'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FFOD2 Rodimus Grimlock asteroid ship.jpg|left|200px|thumb|If he dead, me Grimlock eat him.]]

On [[Chaar]], the [[Decepticon]]s have discovered the snooping [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. However, the Decepticons cannot muster enough energy to power their weapons, so they opt to beat the two [[Autobot]]s to death. They overwhelm Rodimus and Grimlock, but scatter at the sight of a meteor...which turns out to be a [[Skuxxoid]] ship commandeered by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. They grab Rodimus and Grimlock, but Rodimus is non-responsive. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] allows them to leave, as he has more pressing matters...such as finding [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].

[[Image:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Who left that camera on?!]]

On [[Quintessa]], the [[Quintesson]]s are interrogating [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], who is Cybertron's [[Chief of Security]]. They seem to know the true answers to their questions, even though he lies. They learn that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is militarily secure, but that Kup is worried about [[Earth]]'s security. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] are surprised that the Quintessons seem to know so much, but the Quintessons end their discussion by trying their hand at interrogating Spike.

Elsewhere, Springer sets the Skuxxoid ship down. A badly injured Rodimus is mumbling Springer's name and that of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and Arcee believes that Rodimus is naming Springer as the new [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. Suddenly, Rodimus's [[Spark|life force]] disappears. Arcee assumes the worst, but Grimlock points out that the Matrix didn't appear, so he is still alive. As for Rodimus Prime's life force, it's going on a very trippy (yet poorly animated) journey through the Matrix, seeing [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[It|a skull-like thing]], a few robots... and the Quintessons. Coming back online, Rodimus realizes that it was the Quintessons who kidnapped the others, not the Decepticons.

On Quintessa, Spike, Magnus, and Kup overpower their guards, taking a Quintesson judge named [[Deliberata]] hostage. When they confront the court, however, the Quintessons merely sentence him to die in the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] tanks as well. The pit opens, plunging Spike and the Autobots into the pit along with Deliberata. The side of the pit opens, allowing the other Quintessons to watch. They like to watch.

[[Image:FFOD2 Scourge rescuing Galvatron.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Everyone out of the pool!]]

Heading to [[Thrull]], Cyclonus sends [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to pull Galvatron from the plasma pool. Cyclonus and the [[Sweep]]s greet their leader, only to discover that he has been driven insane by the plasma baths. Galvatron immediately proceeds to lay the smackdown on his would-be rescuers, but Scourge, who speaks crazy, manages to talk him down. Galvatron declares that they have an empire to regain, and they depart, but not before Galvatron destroys Thrull.

[[Image:FFOD2 Sharkticon pit.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Sharkticon infested custard.]]

On Quintessa, as the Sharkticons begin to swarm in, Spike asks why they're being executed, and the Quintessons say that Spike is guilty of associating with the Autobots, who are guilty of theft. Magnus assumes that they are talking about the Decepticons, but the Quintessons point out that the Autobots inhabit Cybertron. Above, the Skuxxoid ship flies through the sky, only to be destroyed by the Quintessons' defense systems. However, the Autobots were not on board, instead arriving in Springer's [[Alternate mode|copter mode]]. The Quintesson tribunal flees Grimlock's would-be assault, while Springer pulls the others out of the Sharkticon tank. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrive with their [[Autobot Fleet|escape ship]]. However, the Quintessons, obsessed with destroying the Matrix, detonate a [[core bomb]] on Quintessa. Safely in the distance, they watch their homeworld explode.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (2)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (13)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (14)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (18)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (19)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)| Silverbolt]] (24)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (26)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (27)
*[[Slingshot]] (28)

|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (3)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (5)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (6)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (7)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (10)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (15)
*[[Sweep|Sweeps]] (16)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (23)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (20)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (17)
*[[Deliberata]] (21)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (22)
}}

== Quotes ==
"It just don't pack the wallop it used to!" 
"Yeah, because we're out of energy, dummy!"
:—'''Vortex''' and '''Swindle''' exposit for the audience.

'''Cyclonus''': Those miserable Skuxxoids! 
'''Scourge''': They can't be working with the Autobots. 
'''Swindle''': Ehh, they'd sell out to anybody for the right price. 
'''Cyclonus''': If anyone would know, Swindle...
:—It takes one to know one, Swindle.

'''Quintesson 1''': You are the Autobot Kup. You are Cybertron's chief of security. 
'''Kup''': Naw, my name's Teaspoon! And I'm Cybertron's chief dishwasher. 
'''Quintesson 2''': Zero percent probability of truth. Identification positive. 
'''Quintesson 1''': Tell us the status of Cybertron's defenses. 
'''Kup''': Total shambles after the last war. Three kids and a dog could take the planet. 
'''Quintesson 2''': Four percent probability of truth. Defenses at optimum levels. Direct assault not viable.
:—The Quintessons interrogate Kup. They apparently lack a sense of humor.

'''Ultra Magnus''': Where are you taking us? 
'''Quintesson''': To your judgement. 
'''Kup''': Right. We're gonna get a fair trial, and then they're gonna kill us.
:—Kup already knows how the Quintesson's justice system works.

'''Spike:''' Makes you wish for the good old days, doesn't it? Y'know, before the... ''fighting''... broke out? Bears versus the Luna Colony? It was fourth quarter, fourth down, thirty yards to go, you remember that play? 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' Nooo... 
'''Spike:''' How 'bout ''you'', Kup? 
'''Kup:''' Nope. But in a jam like that, all you can do is... ''rush 'em and pray!'' 
:—Magnus rather predictably misses Spike's cue to make a break for it

"Alright, Quintessons, you have a choice. Release us, or I turn your buddy here into bluey juice!"
:—'''Spike'''

"Pay us no mind. We just...like to watch.
:—The '''Quintessons''' creepily enjoy Sharkticons attacking Ultra Magnus, Kup and Spike.

'''Galvatron''': ''Who'' disturbs my plasma bath? 
'''Cyclonus''': Mighty Galvatron, we have come to deliver you from— 
'''Galvatron''': My empire of ash?! 
''[Galvatron hits Cyclonus on the head.]'' 
'''Galvatron''': My bastion of brimstone?! Rih! 
''[Galvatron hits Cyclonus on the head. Again.]'' 
'''Galvatron''': My kingdom of desolation?! Nnah! 
''[Galvatron hits Cyclonus on the head yet again, and then punches him into the plasma pool.]'' 
'''Galvatron''': Did I ask you for deliverance? Nnah! DID I?! 
''[Galvatron kicks Cyclonus, who attempts to get out, back into the plasma pool. Then he proceeds to blow up a rock in the pool.]'' 
'''Galvatron''': Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha! Ah, Cyclonus! How wonderful to see you again!
:—Galvatron shows Cyclonus the true definition of craziness.

"Mighty Galvatron, I have learned your lesson! I now know not only that you are the leader, but also why." 
"Such insight is rare! Watch out for this one, Cyclonus. One day, he might take your place."
:—'''Scourge''' and '''Galvatron''' speak crazy.

'''Ultra Magnus''': An asteroid? 
'''Kup''': Yeah. So? I've seen thousands of 'em. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': About to land on your head? 
'''Kup''': I gotta admit that's new.
:-Whoever thought that '''Ultra Magnus''' would have a great line?

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Bigrumle.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Awww, little Rumble's all grown up!]]
* Apparently, AKOM ''never'' got any model sheet updates. Older character models used in the episode include:
** Grimlock, who has his early, flattened robot head design (not seen since Season 1!)
** Soundwave, who has a white backpack instead of blue (it was just barely visible in one or two shots in "[[The Core]]".)
* Rodimus Prime gets a new voice... or more correctly, an ''old'' one! Actor [[Ted Schwartz]] had been originally cast as Rodimus and recorded several episodes, but was then replaced by [[Dick Gautier]], who dubbed over all his lines for the finished, broadcast episodes. The "previously on" segment in this episode, however, is compiled using the original Schwartz audio! A single Schwartz-spoken line can also be heard in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3|the next episode]].
** Gautier himself continues to voice Rodimus within the actual episode, though he lacks the super-bass modulation he had in Part 1.
* Rodimus also has a new gun! He toted a red gun in Part 1; here his weapon is light gray.
* Grimlock's dino mouth doesn't move for his "Me Grimlock no hurt" line.
* While walking with his fellow Decepticons, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is as tall as [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. He should be barely half as tall. Breakdown should also be a head or so shorter. The mid-section of his left arm mostly disappears for a few frames as Grimlock shoots him.
* The Decepticon advance during Rodimus's "en masse" line contains all sorts of strangeness. "Rumble" has a totally redesigned chest, "Soundwave" has two windows like Optimus Prime as well as a face instead of a [[mouthplate]], and "Breakdown" has a new chest and a Dead End-like head. A mangled Wildrider is also half visible at the screen's edge. That, or AKOM for some reason drew a bunch of [[generic]]s, but colored them like the actual characters. ("Rumble" also briefly has the square panels on his shins flicker from yellow to white and back for a second.)
* Someone forgot that Onslaught was beat to hell at the end of last episode, battered and with a broken backpack gun. He's totally intact here. For that matter, ''none'' of the Deceptions are in the sorry physical state we saw them in last episode; their damage is never seen again.
* The claws that pick up Rodimus and Grimlock are shown emerging from a circular hatch. A few shots later, they're shown to be permanently attached to the outside of the ship.
* Cyclonus's jet windows aren't colored:
** As he turns from firing on the departing Rodimus on Chaar.
** As Galvatron bashes him away for the first time on Thraal.
** As Galvatron advises him to "Watch out for this one".
* The energon cubes are glowing in the whitish-yellowish style seen in very early episodes of Season 1, rather than the pink that was seen throughout Season 2 as well as in the previous episode.
* Kickback is standing with Dragstrip as Cyclonus prepares to leave Chaar. He's supposed to be dead.
* Four Sweeps fly off with Cyclonus, even though seven were in the shot immediately prior.
* The floatation beam of the head Quintesson judge is off-center.
* When Kup sasses the Quintessons by referring to himself as 'Cybertron's chief dishwasher', observe the Quintesson on the throne (the one closest to the screen). One of the faces is mouthing Kup, word for word! This seems to persist for the rest of the scene.
* During the "answer he suppresses" line, the Quintesson's faces all slide around on their bulb together. The animators probably meant this to be expressive, but it's really not clear that they should be able to move around at all.
* Magnus is in prison, but he's still got his shoulder missiles. Shouldn't he be disarmed? Shouldn't he have ''used'' them? ''For once?!?''
* Even ''after'' being savagely beaten by the Decepticons to the point of death, Rodimus' character model shows absolutely no signs of damage. This is even more unusual when you consider the ''extremely'' damaged condition of the Decepticons earlier in the episode.
* Arcee's lower helmet segment is colored the same rose pink as her face as she monitor's Rodimus's life force. It should be the same white as the rest of her helmet.
* Rodimus's spoiler centerpiece is yellow instead of orange as he sits up after his vision.
* Arcee's nose is missing its outlines in several shots on the asteroid. It's visible only by its shading.
* As Grimlock remembers rescuing Rodimus on Quintessa, his head is drawn too small (looking more like a lizard head than a T. Rex head).
* When Rodimus confirms that Grimlock saved his life on Quintessa, his helmet is drawn very...oddly.
* Weird technicality - When Kup is saying his lines ending with the words "Rush 'em and pray", his "ears" are bouncing up and down.
* In the previous episode, when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] first learns of Galvatron's location, the lava pool where Galvatron was submerged appeared in a small crater. When Cyclonus actually does find Galvatron, the location not only seem different, but the crater has gotten larger as well. Finally, when [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] pulls Galvatron out, the lava pool is the size of a small lake.

[[Image:Springerfivefacescopter.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Lucky that Springer has a twenty-foot-high blade shaft.]]
* Is Magnus ''supposed'' to have little eyeballs drawn in the white circles on his waist? 'Cause they make it look like he has a cartoon face on his pelvis.
* Kup is drawn delivering Magnus's line "You're confusing us with Decepticons."
* The line "Carry out the executions" is shown, via cross-fade, to be delivered by two different Quint faces, even though it's spoken by a single voice.
* Judging by how the Autobots (and Sharkticons) are standing, the Sharkticon pool is maybe 3 feet deep.
* As the Sharkticons move in, Kup is shown bashing two of them. The shot changes, and the two Sharkticons are both gone, with a new one now moving in from a distance.
* Arcee's first shot makes its laser sound effect before its fired.
* The spatial physics of Springer carrying the other three Autobots is pretty much physically impossible.
* As Kup says to keep fighting, both he and the Sharkticon facing him are doing some kind of funk hoedown dance, but neither is actually fighting the other.
* Arcee's legs are colored gray throughout the rescue, when they're supposed to be white.
* During the "as they die" line, the Egyptian-looking Quintesson in the center of the shot has a gray forehead, instead of blue.
* Silverbolt is drawn [[scale|so huge]] in jet mode that the Autobots climb aboard him like humans boarding an actual SST. Now ''that'' is [[Size changing|mass shifting]]. Why did they even need a shuttle?

===Continuity errors===
* Grimlock and Rodimus's blasts have absolutely no effect on the Decepticons.
* Rodimus, you may not ''like'' being stomped ''en masse'', but that hardly makes your under-energized, weaponless attackers "cowards".
* Seriously, Grimlock? One of the biggest, baddest Autobots, subdued by a horde of half-dead Decepticons? What the hell? What happened to his fire breath, at least?
* After the Autobots retreat, Cyclonus just throws his gun away!
* Wait a minute. The Quintessons? The ''Quintessons''? You mean those guys who when we last saw them were seconds away from being massacred by their rebellious Sharkticon subjects? How are they not all dead?!
* Before his life force temporarily enters the Matrix, Rodimus says "My time in the light is short..." Arcee claims that's what Optimus Prime said when he was dying, but this never happened in the film. It ''did'' happen, however, in an early draft of the movie's script (dated to April 1985); to be precise, Prime said "My time in the light has ended..."
* Death-by-Sharkticon was pretty much instantaneous in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. Here, the Sharkticons just stand around staring at their quarry while everybody gabs on and on.
* Kup's question "Why do I feel like I've seen this before?" may speak to some faulty memory chips, since he ''has'' seen this ''exact same thing'' before, just a few weeks or months prior. If he's just being rhetorical, it's an odd choice of phrasing.
* The Quintesson that was sentenced along with Spike, Kup and Ultra Magnus vanishes after they take the plunge, at least until Rodimus makes an attempt to rescue them, where he is once again seen with them.
* Galvatron's claim that he is "more powerful than ever" is pretty questionable, considering that he is never again shown atomizing anybody like he did to Starscream. Then again, pretty much ''everything'' he claims is pretty questionable. He is, no kidding, fruitcake flapjacks ''crazy''.
* Broadside makes his bizarre "debut" in this episode, as his jet mode character model is used as the Autobots' rescue ship. It's not ''really'' him, though, as the ship is destroyed in the next episode. He would make an even more screwed up second debut in "[[The Killing Jar]]", serving as a ''Decepticon ship'', complete with a correctly-voiced speaking part.
* Silverbolt orders Slingshot to pull the others out, but it's Silverbolt who lands and carries them away.
* Fireflight was never given explicit orders to leave the ship, but is shown returning to it. Silverbolt, who ''did'' leave the ship, is ''not'' shown returning.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** The Sweeps take off from Chaar, and later from Thrull (to escape Galvatron's onslaught) with the sound of the ''Millenium Falcon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engine burst noise (most likely flying past cam before landing on Yavin IV.)
** As Galvatron takes off from Thrull, a second Star Wars effect plays: this time the sound of the [[Death Star]]'s combined superlaser beam streaking towards Alderaan. The ''Millenium Falcon'' effect is recycled as Cyclonus and company follow their leader.
* The laser sound effect as the Autobot ship opens fire on the Quint gun emplacement is the same one used by the alien death rays in the original ''[[The War of the Worlds]]'' movie.<ref>[http://zobovor.tripod.com/five_faces_of_darkness_part_2_bloopers.html Zobovor's Bloopers list for "Five Faces of Darkness Part 2"]</ref>

===Other notes===
* After all the shadowy mystery surrounding the Quintessons' identity last episode, there's absolutely no drama to the reveal in this episode. We get an establishing shot of Quintessa, and then cut to the Quintessons interrogating Kup as if we were picking up from a commercial break or something.
* Despite "Five Faces of Darkness"'s reputation for horrific art, there are some decent moments here and there: the closeup of Vortex and Swindle; the Sharkticon fleeing from the exploding cannon.
* Galvatron takes a ''long time'' to transform to and from cannon mode when he leaves Thrull. The transformation speed returns to normal afterward. This is never explained.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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]] 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)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1

2011-03-18T06:43:49Z

75.2.136.86: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|prev=The Transformers: The Movie
|ep=66
|series2=2010
|ep2=1
|prev2=The Transformers: The Movie
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2
|image=FHE-FFoD.jpg
|caption=Boy, I sure did love that part in "Five Faces of Darkness" where [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Powermaster Prime]], [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]], [[Cloudburst]] and [[Rev]] fought a giant floating Quintesson head.
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1"
|production code=#700-86
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 1]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In the wake of Unicron's defeat, the battered Decepticons struggle to survive, and the Autobots enjoy a period of peace and celebration. But peace never lasts...'''

:''Japanese title:'' 新たなる戦い (''Arata Naru Tatakai'', "The New War")
:''German title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 1'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1")
:''Russian title:'' "'''Pyatj likov tjmy (Chastj 1)'''" (''Пять ликов тьмы (Часть 1)'', "Five Faces of Darkness (Part 1)")
{{TOCclear}}
==Synopsis==
''The closing scenes of [[The Transformers: The Movie]] show us the destruction of Unicron and the Autobots escape, along with their victory celebration on Cybertron.''

It is the year 2005. Autobots have reclaimed [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] while the Decepticons, now squabbling with each other for [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], retreated to the planet [[Chaar]]. Astrotrain returns to the planet with a pitiful number of energon cubes, resulting in a tussle as the Decepticons fight for their share. Cyclonus realizes that to return the Decepticons to fighting form, they need drastic measures.

[[Image:Blurr watching jazz.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Blurr would have that not-Jazz eat his vapor trails... instead he gets a date with rhyming boy.]]

Somewhere else, the first [[Galactic Olympics]] are being held. Blurr is griping about being stuck in a mission with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] when he wants to join the events. But [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] wants them to go to [[Autobot City]] on Earth, to deliver the new [[transformation cog]] for Metroplex, as his old one was damaged during the [[Battle of Autobot City|battle]] the [[The Transformers: The Movie|year before]].

Meanwhile, the Galactic Olympics are being sabotaged. A [[Skuxxoid]] detonates the Olympic flame, raining smoke down on the area and allowing a group of Sharkticons to land. The Autobots fight back, but in the confusion, Spike, Kup and Ultra Magnus are kidnapped. Rodimus Prime immediately suspects Decepticon shenanigans and orders the planet quarantined, but they are unable to prevent the Skuxxoid's spaceship from taking off. [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] set off to find a spacecraft of their own so they can pursue it.

[[Image:FFOD1 Cyclonus in Unicron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cyclonus is looking for free porn.]]

Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps sneak into [[Unicron]]’s head, still orbiting Cybertron. They're able to access Unicron's memory banks and watch footage of Rodimus's battle with Galvatron, culminating in the Decepticon leader being flung into space. Cyclonus then does some fast calculations and works out that Galvatron would eventually have reached the planet [[Thrull]]. There they see their leader soaking in the hot lava pools.

On Earth, Blaster and Outback go to the [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Federated Republic of Carbombya]] to investigate [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] reports of Decepticons in that country. Despite the country's ruler, Abdul Fakkadi, claiming that they would never harbour such criminals, the Autobots land. Outback, equipped with a “[[Decepticon detector]]”, then flushes out Dirge and Ramjet. The two Autobots get the coordinates of Chaar from them... which they report to Rodimus Prime who wants to go there to investigate.

[[Image:FFOD1 Springer Arcee threaten Skuxxoid.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]

Arcee and Springer, meanwhile, have pursued the Skuxxoid to an asteroid, which he ducks behind. The Autobots follow, only for their ship to be seized by a huge claw. They evacuate the ship, only to find that the "asteroid" is actually a disguised spacecraft. Springer hijacks it from the Skuxxoid, who escapes in his smaller ship and then calls his benefactor to confirm that the Autobots indeed suspect the Decepticons to be behind the disruption. The [[Quintesson|tentacled, egg-shaped benefactor]] listens to the report and then tunes out as he sees their prisoners, Spike, Kup and Ultra Magnus, being led by a [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]].

[[Image:FFOD1 Cyclonus Astrotrain energon.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]

Cyclonus, Scourge and the [[Sweep|Sweeps]] return to Chaar, where the rest of the Decepticons are convinced that the solution to their problems is to have a strong leader again. They cheer when they hear that Galvatron lives, and are desperate enough that they give their remaining scraps of energon for reviving him. Rodimus Prime and Grimlock are spying nearby. Rodimus almost pities them, while Grimlock finds it funny (giving a rather possessed-sounding chuckle). Rodimus realizes that the Decepticons are too down on their luck to be the ones responsible for the kidnappings. Their cover suddenly gets blown and the Decepticons attack.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (2)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (7)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (12)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (13)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (14)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (15)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (24)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (25)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (26)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (29)
* [[Outback]] (30)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (34)

|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (16)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (17)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (17)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (17)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (17)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (17)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (17)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (18)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (19)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (20)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (21)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (22)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (23)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (28)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (32)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (33)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (35)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (36)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (37)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (38)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (39)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (40)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (41)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (42)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (43)
* [[Octane]] (44)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] / [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (45)
* [[Tantrum]] (46)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (47)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (48)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
* [[Carly]] (28)
* [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] (31)

|c4=
* [[Unicron]] (8)
* [[Skuxxoid]] (27)
* [[Quintesson]]s (34)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Cyclonus''': Once Decepticons nearly held the quadrant through terror. Now we scrap like [[slaarg]]s over a few energon cubes. Is this how you honour the memory of Galvatron?! Is this the fate of the mighty Decepticon Empire?! 
'''Astrotrain''': In the days of Megatron, it was not like this. 
'''Cyclonus''': You mean Galvatron. 
'''Cyclonus and the Sweeps''': Hail Galvatron! Hail Galvatron! Hail Galvatron! 
'''Astrotrain''': ''[Muttering to Menasor]'' Well, they were the same guy.
:—The Decepticons remember the good old days.

"Let's do it!" 
"Didn’t you want to say something about concord and tranquility in the galaxy?" 
"Aww, give me a break. ''Start the games!''"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' open the Galactic Olympics

"Ah, Rodimus is missing a few chips." 
"Nah, I was the same way until I got blown apart a few times."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Kup'''

[[Image:Grimlock happy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Perceptor and Rodimus watch as Grimlock does a jaunty jig on the enemies' heads.]]
'''Rodimus Prime''': This planet is quarantined. Nobody comes, nobody goes until we find Kup, Spike and Magnus. 
'''Arcee''': And what if we don't? 
'''Rodimus Prime''': Then we'll trash every Decepticon in the galaxy! 
''[A spaceship escapes]'' 
'''Springer''': So much for quarantine. I need a ship! 
'''Arcee''': And you’ll need a gunner! 
''[They both rush off, leaving Rodimus]'' 
'''Rodimus Prime''': Why’d I have to be the chosen one?
:—Rodimus is stuck with cleanup, while his former girlfriend runs off with his buddy.

'''Cyclonus''': There’s nothing to fear; Unicron is dead. 
''[They hear a groan]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': Must be the wind. 
'''Scourge''': There ''is'' no wind in space. 
'''Cyclonus''': Quiet!
:—Cyclonus and Scourge learn that [[Unicron|daddy]]'s still home.

"Our charts don’t show any planets in that sector—no, wait. Here it is. I thought it was a smudge on the screen. 
"Yeah, that fits the description of Chaar."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Outback'''

"I say we pulverowderize the Autobots! I say we powderulverize 'em!"
:—'''Rumble'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s inspirational rally.

'''Wildrider''': These guys better have some energon for us. 
'''Dead End''': Or what? 
'''Wildrider''': Or ... Well, I'll think of somethin'.
:-The Stunticons see the newer Decepticons return to Chaar.

'''Dead End''': If we surrender our energon, we're doomed. 
'''Breakdown''': If we don't, we're doomed, too. 
'''Dead End''': Face it. We're doomed.
:-'''Dead End''' is being as optimistic as ever.

"These guys are hurtin'. I never thought I’d feel sorry for the Decepticons." 
"Me Grimlock, not feel sorry. Me Grimlock laugh!" ''[snickers]''
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' pities the Decepticons, while '''Grimlock''' mocks them with a disturbing chuckle.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
"Five Faces of Darkness" is one (five) of the most notoriously error-plagued episodes in the entire series. Brace yourself...
* Quite a few Transformer voices appear to be processed with a very heavy bass end in this episode, including Rodimus, Arcee, Outback, and Springer.
* Chaar's moon and sun are bizarre. If the opening animation is to be believed, the moon takes about 20 seconds to orbit the planet, yet when we see it again later, it's just sitting there. The moon also appears to set with the red dusk sky ''behind'' it. The red dusk sky is a red dusk sky despite the sun having passed overhead in the opposite direction. The red dusk sky is also visible along the horizon in all directions. Maybe Chaar sits in a nebula?
* Long Haul is missing when the Constructicons combine.
* After he knocks Astrotrain away from the energon cube, Devastator's mouth does some lip-flapping, but there's no dialog to go with it.
* Menasor's "hi-yah!" sword grunts aren't in his voice. He sounds more like an unprocessed Astrotrain or Bonecrusher. When he finally speaks a non-grunt line, he suddenly goes to his own voice, right after a generic-voice grunt.
* Devastator goes from his usual eyeband, to two large separate eyes as he grabs the energon cube, to two small separate eyes as Menasor whacks him apart.
* Menasor's first sword strike clearly knocks Devastator into his components (well, ''some'' components, anyway; none of them look like actual pieces of Devastator.) Devastator then re-forms with no transformation noise.
* When Menasor smashes Devastator apart the second time, only Bonecrusher, Scavenger, Hook and Long Haul are shown. Bonecrusher shouldn't be there (he didn't "have the energy to hang on"), and Scrapper and Mixmaster are totally unaccounted for.
* As a shot hits the energon cube next to him, Kickback grunts with the same generic voice that Menasor had earlier.
* Kickback is drawn with the more toy-centric version of his insect mode, wherein his robot face is clearly visible on the bottom of his insect head; he even visibly emotes and looks around with it. Most episodes portray him with his robot face concealed in his insect mode.
* The vehicle-mode Sweeps first show up in their incorrect "early" models, with their robot-mode heads sticking out of the top. This model would appear again and again and again through the series.
* As Cyclonus and company approach, Astrotrain finally completes his transformation to robot mode, but with no transformation noise.
* The first Sweep to transform and land is also missing his transformation sound.
* As Jazz races towards the finish line, the Autobot symbol on his hood is colored in reverse (it's white with red inlays).
* Jazz is shown winning the first race in the Galactic Olympics, but a few seconds later an announcer declares that "the winner is [[Munka Spanka]]." It's possible a generic character was intended for use in the scene and Jazz was mistakenly picked at random; however, given Jazz's prominent survival of the movie, it seems more likely that an editing mistake failed to portray the passage of time (and other races) after Jazz's win. Fans also have speculated that this was an intentional name change, prompted by the fact that [[Scatman Crothers]], Jazz's voice actor, had recently passed away, though why this would be necessary for a non-speaking part is unclear.
* The Quintesson monitor shows Magnus and company against a blue sky, when they'd been standing against an orange wall a second earlier.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** How did the Quintessons get that footage of the Autobots, anyway?
** Okay, ''maybe'' Unicron can monitor and record events within his own body. But does he really have a camera ''outside'' himself to show things like Galvatron flying out of him and off into the distance?
* In addition to lighting up, the button that the Quintesson pushes changes shape when pushed.
* One of the scrambling Olympians walks right through a column during the torch attack.
* Arcee and Springer's "cooking my sensors" lines carry an echo that shouldn't be there, as if they were in a soundproof room.
* When Rodimus starts shooting, he gets the second half of Optimus Prime's laser rifle sound effect. A second later, he gets the whole sound effect. Later, his rifle has the generic laser sound.
* How are the Sharkticons so consistently in shadow when ''everyone'' else is not?
* Rodimus is missing the "age lines" on his face as he threatens to trash the Decepticons, which basically makes him Hot Rod.
* The center piece of Rodimus's spoiler is yellow instead of orange as he watches Springer and Arcee leave the stadium.
* Cybertron's appearance has changed a LOT since the movie. The first shot shows it looking like one of its own moons, with almost no detailing. The second shows it with much more detailing, but still very different than its previous appearance.
* Cyclonus is far too large as he stands on Unicron's face, taller than Unicron's eyes. He should be a speck at that distance.
* One of Scourge's helmet rims is white instead of blue as he says the "no wind in space" line.
* Unicron's snoozing groan is recycled as Scourge spots Galvatron's hand on Thrull. Is Scourge supposed to be hearing Galvatron snore from across millions of miles of space?
* The first time we see Blaster, his left eye has a line through it.
* The helmet rim around Outback's eyes is consistently colored blue instead of light gray. This could be an alternate model sheet, given its consistency. Later episodes would show him with his eyes the same color as the rest of his face.
* Rodimus's "smudge on the screen" is a sharp, glowing, blinking dot. He's also shown wiping it, but is too far away from it in the subsequent shot to have been able to reach it.
* As Preceptor tells Rodimus to take Grimlock with him to Chaar, his Autobot symbol is all-gray (it's usually red with a slim gray outline).
* The Skuxxoid's ship is white when it leaves the Olympics planetoid, but light orange as Arcee and Springer pursue it through space.
* In an odd moment of [[Humanization|humanizing]], Springer and Arcee clench their eyes shut when their ship is grabbed by the claw.
* Springer and Arcee's ship is clearly shown facing to the left of the claw before the commercial break, but afterward it's facing to the right.
* A repeat of the establishing shot of Chaar includes its moon (which, by the by, is a recycled Cybertron moon design.) This time, instead of warping around the planet, the moon is hanging in the sky, stationary.
* Two different pans across the assembled Decepticons show quite a few robots that don't correspond to any actual character. The characters are distant enough that the animators probably figured we wouldn't notice.
* Dirge is with the Decepticons on Chaar as they debate leadership. How'd he get back there from Earth? In the same shot, Soundwave's shoulder button is blue instead of white.
* Cyclonus has consistently had three Sweeps up to this point, but as they return to Chaar there's suddenly half a dozen of them.
* Drag Strip has a gray optic visor during the "I'll think of something" line. It should be red.
* The subsequent shots of cheering Decepticons are infamously screwed up. The first one features:
** Tantrum well before the Predacons have actually been introduced to the series. To be fair, the Predacons' later introduction is so ambiguous that it might not be a genuine screwup to have one of them present.
** An off-model non-conehead Seeker in Ramjet's colors
** Octane also makes his inauspicious debut here, without any sort of explanation or introduction, though it doesn't actually contradict anything to have him there.
* The second cheering shot has Soundwave with a malformed, half-colored visor.
* When Motormaster throws down his energon, Hook and Long Haul are standing nearby. When he falls over in the subsequent shot, they've both been replaced by generics in the same pose. Also, after the Energon is thrown, Motormaster's mouth moves without us hearing any dialog.
[[Image:Decepticons w galvatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yeah! We're going to save that guy on the left from the deadly lava pools of Thrull!]]
* The third cheering shot ("Giiiiive till it hurrrrts!") features two more made-up Seeker models, a random blue guy, and ''Galvatron himself'' cheering for his own imminent rescue.
* As the Decepticons rally to attack Rodimus and Grimlock, two Motormasters run past the camera.
* When Cyclonus fires on the rock outcrop, some guy in Fireflight's colors is behind him. The subsequent shot of charging Decepticons includes several made-up guys.
* The line of charging Decepticons at the end includes a Seeker in Silverbolt's colors.
* The final shot has Soundwave colored mostly in purple instead of blue. Also, his chest door disappears for a moment.

===Continuity errors===
* Most of the character screwups on Chaar are probably just cheap/lazy/screwed up animation; in fact, all the off-model and made-up designs could really be excused as generic Decepticons we've never met before, if one is so inclined (and one is prepared to accept that for some reason, we never see them again, either.) However, Kickback and Shrapnel have a whole sequence dedicated to them landing, trying to munch an energon cube, and then fleeing, which is far too long and explicit not to be a scripted appearance. Both characters were supposedly reformatted into Sweeps during ''Transformers: The Movie''.
* Why does Astrotrain wait until he's landed to gobble some of the energon he's struggling to reach?
* So why didn't Menasor grab and eat the energon cube he just fought so hard for?
* Perceptor's description of the transforming cog is rather confusing. He introduces it as ''Autobot City's'' transformation cog, but then says "it controls ''Metroplex'''s ability to transform". This begins an ongoing trend of the cartoon dialog treating the two as if they were one and the same, despite the animation showing them as two distinct (though [[:Image:G1 Autobot City.JPG|sometimes related]]) entities.
* "How we gonna find the Decepticons? It's like looking for a needle in a haystack!" It would be, Blaster, except that they conveniently left their Decepticon insignias in place for you to see.
* How do Arcee and Springer hear the Skuxxoid's voice? He's inside a ''space ship'', and they're on the outside. Does the ship have its own external atmosphere?
* Voice consistency for the show's more obscure characters took a nosedive after the movie, starting with this episode:
** Ramjet has nearly the right voice, but it lacks the clipped mannerism that characterized his speech throughout the second season. Instead of sounding like an enforcer, he sounds... cheerful. In fairness, he occasionally lost that mannerism during Season 2.
** Onslaught's lines, beginning with "I admire your passion, my friend...", are provided by [[Terry McGovern]] in this episode, as opposed to his regular actor, [[S. Marc Jordan]]. Jordan would later be replaced again by [[Steve Bulen]] for Onslaught's final line of the series in "[[The Rebirth, Part 3]]".
** Terry McGovern tries on a brand new voice for Wildrider's two lines. He'll also develop a hick accent that he didn't have before in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]".
* We never do find out why Cyclonus is carrying around a big black box. It's not present in the next episode.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode picks up an unspecified amount of time after ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' (which had played in theaters during the summer preceding this episode's debut), and draws directly on many of its events. References include the [[Battle of Autobot City]], Unicron's head orbiting Cybertron, the loss of Optimus Prime, the rise of Galvatron, and more.
* The episode even opens with some of the closing scenes from the movie. The scenes were re-soundtracked with the cartoon's standard background music for television airing. A second movie excerpt, also resoundtracked, is used to show the end of Rodimus's battle with Galvatron.
* First appearances: Outback, Octane, Tantrum (who probably shouldn't be here yet) and Abdul Fakkadi.
* Dirge's "Death comes to he who crosses me," line is a slight paraphrase of a line cut from the original [[The Transformers: The Movie|Transformers The Movie]] script, "[http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/tf/tidbits/tftm_script.txt Death comes to anyone who crosses me.]" It was to be delivered aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)| Astrotrain]] as the Decepticons squabbled over leadership. Another iteration comes in the later episode "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" ("I know, I know - 'Death comes to anyone who hides behind my marker!'"), though Dirge is not mentioned by name.

===Real-world references===
* The [[Galactic Olympics]] are, obviously, based on the modern Olympic Games, including the opening parade of "nations" and the Olympic torch presiding over the events.
* Middle East tensions in the 1980s resulted in the poorly made (depending on [[Casey Kasem|whom you ask]]) spoof called [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]].
* In one scene, Blurr asks why Metroplex's new [[transformation cog]] wasn't shipped via [[Galactic Express]], an allusion to the fact that [[John Moschitta]] had previously appeared in a series of Federal Express commercials.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Kickback and Shrapnel fly in with ''Millennium Falcon'' engine whine, and take off with the ship's engine burst noise.
** Ramjet and Dirge get the TIE Fighter engine sound as they lose control amid Outback's explosive. Some ''Millennium Falcon'' engine whine can be heard as well.

===Trivia===
* In an interview with Flint Dille, he said that the Quintesson origin story came from "[[The Secret of Cybertron]]," an aborted script for the movie by him and his fellow writer, [[Jay Bacal]].<ref>[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/60-astrominutes/flint-dille/flint_dille_2.html Flint Dille interview on the Cybertron Chronicle]</ref>
* When originally aired, this and the other four parts of the story all had a unique set of opening credits. Unfortunately, the DVD release of the mini-series only includes this opening on parts 3 and 5.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 (Sony Wonder) 
[[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. 1 (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]] 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)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482022/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/five_faces_of_darkness_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]