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Battle of the Asteroid Belt

2011-11-19T13:15:21Z

98.222.188.34: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|series=Energon
|ep=9
|prev=Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary
|next=Energon Tower
|title="Battle of the Asteroid Belt"
|japanese=アステロイドベルトの死闘
|romaji=Asteroid Belt no Shitō
|translation=The Asteroid Belt's Battle to the Death
|image=E9_titlecard.jpg
|caption=First [[The New Cybertron City|Earth]], then [[Scorpinok|Mars]], now the asteroids. Will Jupiter be next?
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Kei'ichirō Kawaguchi]]
|animation studio=[[Actas Inc.|Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[March 5|5 March]] [[2004]] (Japanese) [[April 9]], 2004 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''The Decepticons manage to hit Asteroid City and Lunar City at the same time.'''

==Synopsis==
From [[Midway Gate Station 0-8]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] reports an unknown ship approaching [[Asteroid City]]. [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] suspects it's the unknown assassin. Communications with Asteroid City are being jammed, and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] suspects the enemy has set up a base nearby.

[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] reports [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]'s approach to [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], and warns him not to mess things up again. Scorponok is pleased to learn that the [[Autobot]]s and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] may be headed there too.

In Asteroid City, Megatron demands more [[energon (fuel)|energon]] from his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]]s. He gives [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] a drubbing for not finding more, wondering if his time among the Autobots affected his work habits. Demolishor notes that they should have stayed at [[Lunar City]], but that it's fortified now. Scorponok arrives and reports that Optimus Prime and company are headed for Lunar City. Megatron harshly asks Scorponok where he got the information; despite not sounding very convinced, Megatron leads some troops off to attack Prime there, while leaving Scorponok to carry out the Asteroid City ambush as a test of loyalty.

[[Image:Energon-Megatron-Torments-Demolishor.jpg|230px|thumb|left|The head crushings will continue until morale improves.]]

Alpha Q is pleased by this turn of events, and orders Scorponok to ensure Megatron's safety so Alpha Q can continue to use him.

The Autobots arrive in the asteroid belt. [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] directs the search effort; he and [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] note that Optimus Prime's been very much on his guard since the assassination incident on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]].

The [[Decepticon]]s arrive at Lunar City and attack. The [[Omnicon]]s evacuate the mines in a panic.

Kicker identifies a particular asteroid. Hot Shot suddenly says something about Unicron and opens fire. After a moment, the others join in.

Starscream meets with Scorponok, wondering why everyone keeps calling him "Starscream". Scorponok tells him that he's a warrior under his command, and that's the end of it.

[[Image:Energon-Alpha-Q-Watches-Starscream-Vs-Optimus.jpg‎|230px|thumb|right|I can seee youou!]]

The Autobots aren't having much luck shooting the asteroid, which returns fire when Hot Shot goes to investigate. Alpha Q's ship emerges, but when the Autobots start to pursue, Starscream attacks. Optimus Prime holds him off, demanding answers. Starscream tells him he's under the command of Alpha Q, "supreme ruler of the [[universe (universe)|universe]]".

The others run into Scorponok, who makes short work of Jetfire and is ready to take on the rest. When the Autobots [[Powerlinx|Powerlink]] to engage, the ship departs, warping away, leaving Kicker adrift in space and freaking out, flashing back to his childhood.

Optimus Prime learns that Alpha Q's mission is to revive [[Unicron]], but Alpha Q contacts Starscream and has him retreat before he reveals anything further. The [[Decepticon]]s arrive and watch how Scorponok handles himself against the Autobots.

Prime retrieves Kicker, while Hot Shot, Inferno and Ironhide move in to rescue Jetfire. Hot Shot distracts Scorponok, while Prime and Ironhide get in close, and manage to capture Scorponok. They ask him who he's working for. Megatron arrives, and the teams trade words. The Autobots realize there's an energon seam nearby, which the Decepticons gleefully detonate, setting the whole asteroid off. Both teams retreat. Kicker freaks out, then passes out, as the fragments explode around him. The Autobot rescue him.

[[Image:Energon-Scorponok-Stings-Jetfire.jpg|230px|thumb|left|Say uncle!]]

The Autobots return to [[Earth]], regretting that they couldn't save Lunar City. Prime reports to [[Primus]] that they've "destroyed the fortress that once was home to Unicron". "[[Misha Miramond|Meeka]]" finds Kicker, who vents about his own freak-outs and failures on the mission. Meeka reassures him and offers advice. They watch as the city's population starts returning, and a ship emerges from the [[space bridge]]. [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] welcomes [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Jones]] to [[Ocean City]], who responds in his own unique fashion.

Meeting with the Autobots and the city's population, Dr. Jones proposes the creation of [[energon tower]]s to protect [[Blizzard City]], [[Desert City]], [[Jungle City]], and Ocean City, creating an impenetrable global [[energon grid]].

{{--}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (6)
* [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] (7)
* [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (8)
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (18)
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (19)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (9)
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (11)
* [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] (14)
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (16)

|c3=
* [[Carlos Lopez]] (1)
* [[Kicker Jones]] (2)
* [[Misha Miramond]] (21)
* [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]] (22)
* [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] (23)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] (10)
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb drones]] (12)
* [[Battle Ravage|Battle Ravage drones]] (17)
* [[Primus]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"I gave you a very simple task, Demolishor, and that's to find me my energon. But it seems while you were on the Autobots' side their worthless work habits rubbed off on you!" 
"But sir, I'm trying my best! Maybe we should go back to Lunar City, remember? There was plenty left there—uuuuahhhhg!" 
"To Lunar City?!" 
"Yes! But the only problem is, since we were there last, Optimus fortified the place and it might be too dangerous!" 
"Are you implying I can't defeat a few mindless Autobots?!" 
"No, of course not! I just thought I'd point it out, that's all!"
:—'''Megatron''' makes us wonder why '''Demolishor''' is so keen to work for him.

"Prove to me your loyalty. And if you succeed, maybe I'll have some new-found respect for you! But to be honest, I rather ''doubt'' it."
:—'''Megatron''' isn't a Scorponok fan

'''Kicker:''' "There!" 
'''Optimus:''' "Is that it?" 
'''Kicker:''' "A hundred percent, Optimus." 
'''Jetfire:''' "But that asteroid looks almost alive!" 
'''Hot Shot:''' "Unicron?! But that's impossible, isn't it, sir?" 
[''opens fire''] 
'''Optimus:''' "Hot Shot! What do you think you're doing?" 
'''Kicker:''' ''Man, that's weird. As soon as Hot Shot mentioned the name Unicron, it's like everyone got all uptight. And I know that name from somewhere. Some kind of legendary gigantic Transformer who's the most powerful force in the universe I think he's the one who attacked Cybertron.'' 
'''Hot Shot:''' "NO, Optimus! We've gotta destroy him! Now's our chance." 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "Open fire!" 
[''everyone opens fire''] 
'''Everyone:''' "YUUUAAAAAAHHH!!"
:—WHAT

'''Scorponok:''' "Not even close! ...Fire two!" 
'''Hot Shot''' and '''Ironhide:''' "Whoah!" 
'''Ironhide:''' "But that was!" 
'''Hot Shot:''' "Cause his shots are spiked with ''energon!'' 
'''Ironhide:''' "Are you ''serious?!''"
:—Seriously. WHAT

"If you're trying to make me angry, you're doing a good job! But trust me, Junior... you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
:—'''Megatron''' channels Bruce Banner

"Aw no. The power from my energon star's almost dry. Another blast like that and we're done for!"
:—'''Jetfire''' uses the royal we, or else thinks he's the only thing keeping the team alive.

"Planning?! How do you strategize against an enemy like Unicron?! ...If anybody can figure it out, Optimus can!"
:—'''Kicker''' argues with himself

"I ''guess'' it's safe for everyone to come home. I ''suppose'' that's good news. And look! They're coming through the ''space bridge'' right now."
:—'''Misha''' doesn't seem to understand why anyone would come back to Ocean City

"Some of you may find my ideas to be quite radical. However, after researching our strengths, I feel very confident in my proposal. My plan is for the creation of energon towers." 
"TOWERS?!"
:—'''Dr. Jones''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Something just isn't right..."
:—Amen, '''Optimus Prime'''.

==Note==
===Lost in translation===
A ''heck'' of a lot.

[[Image:Battlefortheasteroidbelt comparisons.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Aw, come on.]]
*The ''Energon'' version of this episode utilizes a lot of unfinished animation which was properly completed for the ''Super Link'' broadcast. These half-formed scenes have in turn influenced the script, leading to something that doesn't make a lot of sense. Primarily, the Decepticons are ''not'' based on an asteroid—they have brought a mobile base, spawned from Unicron, into the Asteroid Belt, and are operating out of that. ''This'' is what is destroyed at the conclusion of the episode. However, the mobile base is almost ''completely missing'' from the unfinished animation used for the ''Energon'' version of the episode (see screenshots at right), and the rough footage used puts either an asteroid or ''absolutely nothing'' in its place. References to the base are basically removed from the episode, except now a lot of things ''don't make sense'', such as Hot Shot's claim that "the asteroid" is like Unicron (since the base shares several features with him), Ironhide and Prime pushing asteroids into the ship's path to block its movement, and the final scene of Prime reporting to Primus about its destruction (which is further warped into it "being home to Unicron", instead of being created from him).
*Many of the background paintings from the unfinished animation in ''Energon'' are different from the finished ''Super Link'' version. They are not especially ''wrong''—just different, and not as detailed. They are most noticeable in the closing scenes at Ocean City (for example, in the instance that puts the ''sky'' behind Kicker and Misha, instead of the rest of the building) and the Decepticons' visit to Lunar City, but they even extend to the layout of the clouds in the sky and the asteroids in space.
*In another case of background paintings gone awry, the energon towers are missing from the unfinished ''Energon'' animation (see right again), but the beams they generate are still present. As you can see, even the painting of Earth is different.
*Additionally, a whole scene is cut out of the ''Energon'' version when Kicker is caught in the explosion of the mobile base. After passing out, he has a hallucination of his protective suit being stripped from him, and an image of his father appearing before him. As he calls out to his father for help (which is something he would never do in real life—see, it's ''insightful''), more images of Doctor Jones appear, and then fade into the Autobots as Kicker wakes up and realizes who is really surrounding him. It's not clear if this is a product of the unfinished episode, or if it was something actively cut for the dub.
*The ''Energon'' dub sees Demolishor claim that there's plenty of Energon at Asteroid City, but that they just haven't found it yet, when in ''Super Link'', he states that there's none left. That's why the Decepticons go to Lunar City.
*The Decepticons are not planning any "ambush" at Asteroid City, they're just there for the Energon.
*Kicker claims that Optimus Prime has been wary and looking over his shoulder, when in ''Super Link'', he says Optimus has been ''eager'' for a fight.

===Pain count===
* "Uh?": 13
* Stock footage: 3
* We need/they want energon: 5
* It's time to: 4

===Animation and technical errors===
* Hot Shot and Inferno both react and turn in response to Kicker ''thinking to himself''.
* Both Optimus and Cyclonus say "regroup" when they mean "retreat".

===Continuity errors===
* Why is the unknown ship between "Mars and Lunar City", instead of "Mars and the Moon"?
* [[Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary|Last episode]] Starscream obliterated Optimus Prime's [[Prime Force]] drones. (He shot them and they exploded, leaving nothing left.) They are back in this episode with no explanation.
* Optimus Prime orders his team to ''Asteroid City''. Scorponok reports that the Autobots are on their way to ''Lunar City'' and suggests an ambush there. Megatron leaves Scorponok at their current location, ''Asteroid City'', to set up the ambush ''there'' as a test of loyalty. Somehow, they are actually going to manage to ambush the Autobots at their destination, but... wow.
* This time, she's "Meeka".

===Real-world references===
*After Ironhide says to Megatron that he won't follow his orders Megatron says that "If you're trying to make me angry, you're doing a good job. But I warn you: you won't like me when I'm angry." This is clearly a reference to the Hulk.

===Trivia===
*Dr. Jones comes across as rather unhinged, touting the virtues of his energon tower grid against anyone "who ''dares'' attack us!!" and laughing hysterically after greeting Alexis (and leaving her with her arms crossed over her chest, looking ''very'' uncomfortable). This is pretty much how Doctor Jones is ''all the time'' in ''Super Link'', constantly giggling and making strange remarks, and it was (thankfully) downplayed for the ''Energon'' dub (though whether through deliberate action or inept dubbing, it's hard to say). In the case of Alexis in this episode, ''Super Link'' saw Jones comment on how "mature and sexy" she'd grown up to be, and it's not hard to see why ''that'' got cut.
*The crowd reactions to Dr. Jones' proposal ("Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.") are ''hilarious''.
*Paramount's home video releases list the title of the episode as "'''The''' Battle of the Asteroid Belt."
*This episode features a flashback to the [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]] episode [[Origin]]. The exact same flashback is used again in the beginning of the episode [[Battle Stations]].
*Optimus Prime and Hot Shot's statements about "disposing" of Scorponok when Ironhide holds him at swordpoint implies that the Autobots are planning on excecuting Scorponok on the spot once he answers their questions! That's pretty ruthless, not to mention unusually dark subject matter for a kid show.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 2: The Return of Megatron ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 2: The Return of Megatron (Paramount)
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2004 — ''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 003 ([[Interchannel]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 2: The Return of Megatron (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 2: The Return of Megatron (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — Volume 2: The Return of Megatron (Paramount) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Ultimate Collection (Paramount)

[[Category:Energon episodes]]

The Immobilizer

2011-07-21T03:36:48Z

98.222.188.34: /* Continuity errors */

{{disambig2|the episode of ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''|the titular invention|Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=22
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=15
|prev2=Birth of the Transformers!
|next2=Atlantis, Arise!
|image=Immobilizerep6.jpg
|caption="See? We can shoot him right in the nads!" "Television doesn't work that way, you doofus."
|title="The Immobilizer"
|production code=#700-21
|airdate=[[September 24]], 1985
|written by=[[Earl Kress]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

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

:''Japanese title:'' イモビライザー (''Immobilizer'')
:''Brazilian title:'' '''O Imobilizador'''
:''Italian title:'' '''L'immobilizzatore''' ("The immobilizer")

==Synopsis==
At [[Autobot]] headquarters, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] gathers everyone around for a demonstration of his newest invention, the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer]]. Walking in late, [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] sees [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]’s hologram of [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and, thinking it’s real, fires wildly at it, scattering the Autobots and nearly bringing down the roof. As Ironhide apologizes, Wheeljack reveals that the Immobilizer was damaged and needs a replacement [[polarizer]]. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] volunteer to go into town to retrieve it.

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

While on their mission, 'Bee and Spike stop for a few rounds of ''Robot Resource'' at the [[Robots Video Arcade|local arcade]]. A young woman named [[Carly]] introduces herself to the pair and admits her fondness for the "cute Autobot". A somewhat jealous and awkward Spike reminds Bumblebee that they need to leave, and the pair take off, only to be stopped a few moments later by a sarcastic policeman. As they are being busted for speeding, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] attacks Bumblebee and secretly plants a [[Micro-bug|miniature video camera]] on the Autobot. Spike electrocutes Ravage with jumper cables, and the [[Decepticon]] retreats. The officer lets the pair go with a warning.

With the Immobilizer repaired, Wheeljack starts the demonstration again, unaware his every word is being caught by the microbug camera on Bumblebee and relayed to [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. The Decepticons aren’t too keen on the idea of being permanently immobilized by the invention, and Megatron promises to steal it.

[[Image:Ladybreakeandfatjazzr.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Trailbreaker has a great ass. Who knew?]]

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] decides to move the test outdoors for safety. As the Autobots approach the location, Prime directs Ironhide to guard the perimeter. The rest proceed toward a fast-moving river, which Wheeljack immobilizes with the device. In the commotion caused by the success of the test, Spike messes with the Immobilizer and is almost zapped, but Wheeljack throws him out of the way, takes the blast himself, and winds up stiff as a board.

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

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

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

While undergoing repairs back at headquarters, Ironhide criticizes his performance in the field. Concluding that he’s too old to be of use, he resigns from active service, and nothing [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] or Prime says dissuades him. Carly blames herself for Ironhide's attitude and tries to convince him not to quit. Ironhide gives her a tour of the base, and she pockets a grenade when they visit the armory.

Some time later, Wheeljack unfreezes, and Spike notices that Carly is missing. Suspecting she’s emotional and going to do something rash ('cuz she ''is'' a girl), Spike and Bumblebee set out to look for her. Turns out he’s right. Carly has driven a boat out into the ocean and, using SCUBA gear, swims down to Decepticon headquarters to plant the stolen grenade on their outer wall. However, she’s detected by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], kidnapped by Laserbeak, and brought into the base to face Megatron’s judgment.

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

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

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

After thanking Ironhide for the rescue, Carly rides off with Spike and Bumblebee, but when Ironhide doesn’t follow, they realize that he’s been immobilized. The Decepticons and Autobots square off, with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in control of the Immobilizer and freezing most of the Autobot forces. Following a plan of Carly’s design, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] tunnels under the ground with her and Spike so they come up near the Immobilizer's position. As [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] distracts the Decepticons with a [[sound and light show]], Carly crosses some wires in the device and the trio escapes. When Rumble tries to immobilize Optimus Prime, the device starts to re-mobilize the frozen Autobots instead. Ironhide grabs the Immobilizer from Laserbeak, and when all the Autobots are unfrozen, he smashes the device. With his toy in pieces, Megatron swears to return, and the Decepticons retreat.

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

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (3)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (4)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (6)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (8)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (9)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (10)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (12)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (21)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (25)

|c2=
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (11)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (16)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (23)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (24)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Carly]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"We should vaporize those Autobot fools and fuse their carcasses into slag!"
:—So, '''Starscream''', you're planning to, uh, fuse their vaporized carcasses? It'd be worth paying to see you attempt it.

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

'''Optimus Prime''': "You’re losing your warriors, Megatron." 
'''Megatron''': "Warriors are expendable! The most important thing is I get what I deserve! And I always do." 
''[The river unfreezes; the Decepticons fall in and are swept away]'' 
'''Trailbreaker''': "You deserved ''that'', all right, Mega-jerk. Rust in peace!"
:—Megatron makes the mistake of tempting fate.

"This is where we store our ammo. Course, uh, we'd rather not have any of this stuff around. But until the Decepticons change, or we pacify 'em once and for all..." 
"Someone ''should'' pacify those Decepticons...''and'' their underwater headquarters."
:—'''Ironhide''' finds that '''Carly''' is a girl after his own heart

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

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Gears's shoulders/torso is all blue as the Autobots gather around Wheeljack. Only his truck roof should be blue; the rest should be red.
* Wheeljack is missing the lines on his "ears" when they stop flashing during "a clever little creation I call..."
* Cliffjumper has a completely wrong voice as he asks what the Immobilizer does. It sounds like a professorial type or something. Same thing happened to him in "[[Changing Gears]]", too.
* Brawn is suddenly with the gathered Autobots as they duck from Ironhide's random firing, despite not being in any of the establishing shots of the group.
* Ironhide's arm is layered in front of Spike as Spike dusts himself off, making them appear the same size.
* Ironhide's helmet rim is partly light gray instead of red as Wheeljack speaks to him. The same error will recur throughout the episode.
* Bumblebee's arm is layered behind one of the onlookers in [[Robots Video Arcade|the arcade]] as he bows. Said onlooker and his buddies continue their huge-mouthed gaping long after the cheering has stopped.
* The background behind Bumblebee changes between shots; when he bows, there's just the Robot Resource game, but in the next shot, two consoles have appeared, neither of them Robot Resource.
[[Image:Arcade Front.jpg|thumb|right|250px|So the car and the characters are drawn at one scale, and the hydrant and the buildings are drawn at a completely different scale.]]
* Carly's car is just sitting there half on the sidewalk. It's next to a fire hydrant that's almost as big as the car. And Robots Video Arcade apparently has a ''huge'' front door.
* Bumblebee has two random black rectangles on the back of his VW Bug mode as he transforms outside the arcade.
* Ravage's eye is randomly glowing white before he attacks Bumblebee. It could be an intentional effect to show emotion or recognition or something, but it's an odd choice.
* Some have claimed that Trailbreaker and Jazz are off-model as they help clean up the mess in Autobot Headquarters (too thin and too fat, respectively). Others find this claim to be rather dubious.
* When Wheeljack screws the polarizer on his new doohickey, his hand and lower arm pass through the polarizer. He also has random orange on his shoulders where there should only be white.
* Megatron appears to have an extra right forearm segment as he speaks his first line.
* Ravage's rear paws are light grey instead of black as he leaps to transform.
* Bits of Brawn's helmet are yellow instead of gray during the bizarre sequence of partial transformations.
* Jazz is off-model during his sequence a second later, with no fenders, no stripes, and an extra window.
* As Prime orders Ironhide to take the first watch, his headlights aren't colored in. In the background, a whole line of misshapen Autobot cars is driving past, including what looks like an off-model Cliffjumper colored entirely blue.
* Prime has a huge crotch as the camera pans down to Bumblebee.
* Missing Seeker insignias:
** In the first pan of the Decepticons surrounding the Autobots, Starscream's missing his wing insignia, and Soundwave's visor is white instead of red (and again when the shot is recycled after the first commercial break.)
** Starscream is missing his wing emblems as he falls over from Ironhide's goop.
** As he wanders into the trees, Starscream only has one of his wing insignia.
** Thundercracker only has one insignia as he climbs out of the river.
* Starscream has an all-yellow nosecone as he transforms to fly over the force field.
* As he dives at the Autobots, Starscream's air intakes are the same light gray as the rest of him, instead of red.
* Megatron has no transformation sound effect as he transforms to destroy the [[bouncer bomb]].
* Prime's left exhaust stack disappears into thin air as he turns toward the falling tree. He also has a random white segment above his grille.
* Prime's thighs are red instead of silver as Trailbreaker makes his "rust in peace" gag.
* Trailbreaker's force field projector is missing as the Autobots prepare to return to base.
* Ironhide clips through the corner of the wall as he walks off to "retire".
* Bumblebee leaves base to look for Carly... then is shown in the very next shot with the Autobots gathered around Prime in the base.
* Prowl is shown rolling out, even though he hasn't been in a single shot so far.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Sparkplug shows Ironhide a visual that's supposedly from the [[Sky Spy]]. Somehow, the ''orbital satellite'' shows a tracking pan view of Laserbeak that's ''right beside him'' — below him, in fact. If the entire sequence is taken as Sky Spy's footage, Laserbeak flies within ''inches'' of Sky Spy's camera, as Carly's face fills the screen at one point.
* Ironhide's observation that Laserbeak has taken Carly is muffled as if it were coming over a radio transmission.
* Skywarp's arm laser, and Soundwave's head vents, are both white after Starscream gives the order to attack.

===Continuity errors===
* For his initial Immobilizer demonstration, Wheeljack asked Hound to project a hologram. Was he actually going to immobilize the hologram? How's that even possible?
* Spike suddenly has a wristwatch when he needs to check the time in the arcade. The watch is never seen before or after.
* Carly apparently knows where the Decepticon base is located. How she knows is anyone's guess.
* In addition to the Immobilizer, she also has a great understanding of technology she's seen for the first time in her life. In the armoury, Ironhide only refers to storing ammunition yet Carly seems to recognize a bomb, or had the knowledge to convert alien ammunition into a timed explosive. MIT obviously gave that scholarship to the right candidate!
* Would Ironhide really have prevented the Decepticon sneak attack if he hadn't moved the hundred feet or so from his station? Couldn't the 'cons have just come from the other direction?
* Carly's another pressure-proof super human, [[Atlantis, Arise!|just like Spike]]. She swims at least a few hundred feet underwater to Decepticon Headquarters with no pressurized diving equipment at all. At least the animators were kind enough to give her a wet suit!
* In addition, since Ironhide isn't shown to have any SCUBA gear for Carly, he had to have made an extremely rapid ascent to the surface so she wouldn't drown. However, an ascent that fast would have given her decompression sickness, or worse.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode is Carly's introduction to the series.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Brawn uses the same tunneling drill he had in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]".
** Ironhide has a jet pack that pretty much fills the back of his torso. That same space contained a missile launcher in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]".
** Ironhide fires one of his liquids out of his totally-retracted wrist. It's a brownish-red stuff which appears to act like glue — very different than the whitish glue stuff he fired from tri-barreled wrist weapons back in "[[Divide and Conquer]]".
* This episode marks the '''second time''' that Ratchet has threatened to shut Ironhide up by ''physically removing his ability to speak'' (the first was in [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]). Yeesh, someone needs to work on their bedside manner.
*If this episode's dialogue is taken seriously, it would mean that Spike is at least 13-15 years old (depending on the particular state). This raises disturbing questions about why Sparkplug allows his son to date a woman who's old enough to at least be starting college. Then again, Sparkplug had Spike working on a remote oil platform in the middle of the ocean, so family dynamics within the Witwickys are certainly... unconventional, Carly also could be clever enough to have graduated high school early.
* '''[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron got shot and fell down! '''[[Dinobot Island, Part 2|> >]]'''

===Real-world references===
* It was the 80s. [[Robots Video Arcade|Video arcades]] were ''the'' hot thing.
** ''[[Robot Resource]]'' uses sounds from ''Galaga''.
* Carly is or will be a student at [[MIT]].
* Spike describes a chocolate soda as "an emulsified CO2 with lactic acid".

===Trivia===
* Stores on the street: [[Vincenzo's Pizza]], [[Rose Beauty Saloon]], Meat, and [[Robots Video Arcade]].
* Video games in the arcade: Pan!!, Oh!!, Chu, Ha Ha Ha, SFX, Hot, and [[Robot Resource]].
* No wonder the cops pull Bumblebee over. His entrance into traffic is ''terrible''; he swerves between lanes, and totally cuts off some poor driver.
*The Japanese dubbing of the episode had been edited to remove Skyfire (due to the fact that Takara were unsure about using Skyfire/Jetfire at the time because he was based off a Bandai toy), which is pretty obvious as there are jumps in the background music. Skyfire did eventually appear in the Japanese dub near the end of its run.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[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/the_immobilizer.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Immobilizer}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]