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Partners (Prime)

2011-11-17T22:57:47Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 20
|prev=Rock Bottom
|next=T.M.I.
|image=Partners-ScreamPrisoner.jpg
|caption="What do you mean, Frenzy isn't red?!"
|title="Partners"
|airdate=[[July 23]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Mike Johnson]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The team is surprised to learn that Starscream wants to become an Autobot.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Partners1_Airachnid_Megs.jpg|250px|thumb|left|"Airachnid, fetch me my [[Rubber Ducky|rubber ducky!]]"]]
Aboard the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] confesses his sins before [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] and claims to have made peace with his position as second-in-command. He goes to the bridge where [[Airachnid]] is telling [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] about one of his indiscretions, a failure to disclose the location of the crash site of the ''[[Harbinger]]'', a Decepticon transport ship that crashed on Earth while containing an experimental weapon. Megatron orders him to lead Airachnid to the crash site to retrieve the weapon.

[[Image:Partners2_Arcee_talk_to_rock.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|It's like talking to Soundwave.]]
[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] stands at [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'s graveside and talks to her old partner, promising to find the Decepticon responsible for his death.

Starscream and Airachnid reach the ''Harbinger'' crash site, but Airachnid is deliberately cagey about what the weapon is they're looking for. She's impressed by the fact that Starscream was the one who terminated Cliffjumper, but reveals she knows about the fact that Megatron was planning to terminate him at the [[Stripped energon mine|energon mine]]. They burrow their way down to the buried wreck, and Airachnid accesses the ship computer to find the location of the cargo. Starscream warns that the signal might alert the Autobots.

Indeed, at that moment [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] alerts [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] that the base sensors have detected an ancient Decepticon signal.

Airachnid finds that corridor to the weapon ends in a stone wall. The ship broke in half before crashing, and the weapon is in the other half of the ship. Starscream won't tell her where the other half is, so she binds him in a web, and threatens him until he blabs. She leaves him there with the suggestion that she ''might'' come back, but runs into the Autobots in a corridor. Forced to double back, she drills her way through the ground, and is followed by Arcee, much to Optimus's concern. On the surface, Airachnid swiftly gets the better of Arcee, but Prime's arrival forces Airachnid to retreat in 'copter mode. Optimus reminds Arcee that trying to seek revenge for [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death isn't a good idea. [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] resurface with Starscream as a captive, and they're all surprised when the Decepticon says he wants to switch sides. Optimus, Arcee, and Bulkhead have a brief discussion and decide to take Starscream along, for now.
[[Image:Partners3_Starscream_Airachnid.jpg‎‎|250px|thumb|left|And the fangirls go wild.]]

Airachnid finds the other half of the ''Harbinger'' and pulls the experimental weapon, a staff, from its container.

The Autobots arrive at the stone arch. Optimus believes they should seriously consider letting Starscream join the team because allowing the Decepticons redemption will be important to establishing peace. He leaves Arcee guarding Starscream, and takes Bumblebee and Bulkhead to find the ship. As Prime's team approaches the ''Harbinger'', Airachnid begins opening fire with the staff, a weapon named the [[Immobilizer]], and freezes Bulkhead in place.

Starscream tries to convince Arcee that he's safe to let go, but inadvertently lets Arcee know that he was the one who killed Cliffjumper. He frantically attempts to convince her that is was a mercy killing, but Arcee doesn't buy it. She throws down the key to the cuffs so he can free himself and make it a fair fight, but he tricks her into getting close enough that he can wound her with his claws.

Optimus and Bumblebee take cover behind a rock, but Airachnid burrows underground, coming up behind them and zapping Prime. Bumblebee starts exchanging fire with the Decepticon.

As Arcee and Starscream fight, Starscream taunts her by asking if Tailgate was weak like Cliffjumper.

Airachnid gloats over her new trophies, but the dust kicked up by Airachnid's weapon strikes on a nearby rock gives Bumblebee an idea. He blasts the rock face some more, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Airachnid sweeps the cloud with the Immobilizer, and when the cloud clears, Bumblebee stands motionless. While Airachnid goes back to talking to Prime, Bumblebee sneaks up behind her and sucker punches her. As the Immobilizer is thrown into the air, Bumblebee shoots it and it shatters. Airachnid flees under fire from Bumblebee.

Starscream gets the upper hand in his fight against Arcee, kicking her around brutally. As he moves in to finish her off, she reveals she's been playing possum, and delivers a series of blows that brings him down. Arcee has her blades at Starscream's throat, ready to kill him, when she realizes that they're being watched by Bumblebee. She lets Starscream limp away and collapses.
[[Image:Partners4_Arcee_Starscream_fight.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|"You can trust this face, can't you?"]]

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron is not happy at all with Airachnid, not because she failed to retrieve the Immobilizer, but because she left Starscream in the hands of the Autobots.

At the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], Ratchet has repaired the Immobilizer and used it to unfreeze Optimus and Bulkhead. Arcee has also been repaired, but blames herself for chasing away Starscream.

Elsewhere, Starscream bashes his clamp bonds against a rock wall, shattering them. He realizes that he is now an independent, beholden to no one and flies off to consider his next move.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]] (11, flashback)
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] (12, flashback)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Airachnid]] (5)

|c3=

|c4=

}}

==Quotes==
"I have been a fool. Made mistakes. Monumental ones. I now realize I was never destined to be leader, or even an equal partner. And, I am at peace with that. I have gained a clear understanding of my place in the universe. Of who I am. Of who I was always meant to be. Starscream: second in command, humble servant to Lord Megatron. Thank you for listening, Soundwave."
:—'''Starscream''' speaks before Soundwave. Like talking to a brick wall.

"Hey partner, heck of a view you got up here. If there's even a small chance your spark is out there listening, well, we could really use you, Cliff. Seems like everyday another Decepticon arrives on the scene. We're outnumbered and outgunned. Yeah, I know what you'd say: 'Sounds like a fair fight.' And if that's the world we live in, so be it. I just want you to know I haven't given up. I'm going to find the Con who took you from us."
:—'''Arcee''' visiting Cliffjumper's grave and foreshadowing all at the same time. Multi-tasking.

"Oh you would do well to respect me, Airachnid. Before I joined Megatron, I was Air Commander of a squadron of Energon Seekers." 
"On Cybertron, and how many eons ago was that?"
:—'''Starscream''' tries to be hot, and gets burned by '''Airachnid'''

"Freeze!"
:—'''Airachnid''', a bug with a pun.

"Airachnid...what I wouldn't do to get my hands around her wretched throat." 
"So we can agree on one thing." 
"Oh, you have no idea. She showed up one day, and the next thing you know, she's acting like she runs the place. She whispered lies into Megatron's ear, maneuvered to remove me of my rightful place." 
"Well...she terminated my partner." 
"What?! She's taking credit for scrapping him now too?! That was my doing!" 
"What? You weren't there." 
"Uh, of course I wasn't. I don't know what I was thinking." 
"Who are you talking about?" 
"No one. Who are you talking about?" 
"Tailgate." 
"Who's Tailgate?"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Arcee''' compare stories on Airachnid, only for Starscream to let slip about Cliffjumper.

"You left Starscream with the Autobots?! Do you have any notion of the consequences of your blunder?!" 
"But, my lordship! It was Starscream's incompetence that cost us the Immobilizer!" 
"I don't care about some trinket! My second-in-command is a prisoner of the enemy! Which means all Decepticon intelligence could be at the fingertips of the Autobots!"
:—'''Megatron''' rages while '''Airachnid''' watches her chances of being his new BFF vanish.

"It is the external wounds which heal the quickest." 
"I thought settling scores would allow me to move on.... Instead, I chased away our hope of winning this war anytime soon." 
"Wisdom cannot be granted, Arcee. It must be earned, sometimes at a cost."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Arcee''' on being the better 'bot.

"I have been a fool. Made mistakes. Monumental ones. But I have gained a clear understanding of my place in the universe. Of who I am. Starscream: aligned with no side, servant to no one."
:—'''Starscream''' goes rogue on us. [[Starscream (G1)|What]] [[Starscream_(Armada)|a]] [[Starscream (Animated)|shock]].

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Airachnid freezes Prime, his battle mask is drawn back. Next scene, he has it out again.
* When begging for mercy as Arcee pins him to the ground, Starscream's eyes (save for the pupils) are completely red (well, actually, just a bit pinkish, even). It does make him look even more scared, though. Until his next scene, when they're still like that.
* When Starscream and Airachnid are arguing in the crashed ship a piece of Starscreams shoulder goes through his chest.

===Continuity notes===
*Airachnid rejoined the Decepticons after the events of "[[Metal Attraction]]". Good thing that magnetism wore off.
*Starscream recalls how he did away with Cliffjumper in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]". And gloats about it too.
*Arcee confirms Megatron's attempt to kill Starscream from "[[Rock Bottom]]".
*Tailgate's death is brought up. His death was originally shown via flashback in "[[Predatory]]".
*Optimus has replaced the [[trailer]] blown up by [[MECH]] in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]" with an identical looking one.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream claims his previous rank used to be the "[[Air Commander]]" of [[energon (fuel)|Energon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. "Energon Seeker" is the [[Scientist (WFC)|Scientist]] chassis used by Starscream in the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' game.
*The [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]] is a weapon previously used by Decepticons, as well as the name for the [[The Immobilizer|episode]] it is featured in. Sadly, unlike the original Immobilizer, it was not invented by [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]].
*Bulkhead sarcastically refers to "lobbing with [[The Fallen]]". Lobbing was the game he played with Wheeljack during the latter's brief visit to Earth.

===Real-world references===
*In another example of Starscream using human expressions, after listing his grievances with the Decepticons, he offers to "rat them out".
*"Be still, my beating [[Spark]]" is a variation of the human phrase "Be still, my beating heart", which is most often recited after seeing one's romantic interest.

===Foreign localization===
'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Alssi ui Boksu'''" (알씨의 복수, "Arcee's Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 1|1 November]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*This episode was dedicated to Captain H. L. "Larry" Cullen, [[Peter Cullen]]'s older brother, who served as a United States Marine in Vietnam and was the primary inspiration for Optimus Prime's voice. He died aged 70 on [[March 25]], 2011, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on July 21, two days before the episode's broadcast.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/can-montreal/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=152438186 ''Montreal Gazette'' obituary for H. L. "Larry" Cullen.]</ref>
*This is the first episode to not feature, or even include, humans.
*Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on his aim if he can't hit Airachnid even when she's only a few feeet from him.
*This is the first time in this series—and one of very few instances in the entire history of the franchise—when a character's thoughts are heard out-loud.
*This episode also deals with something that is often not addressed throughout the franchise: Starscream, for all his weaknesses and flaws throughout his various incarnations, is a very important part of the Decepticon war machine. Megatron is more furious at Starscream's (believed) capture than he is at the loss of a powerful weapon like the Immobilizer (which he dismisses as 'some trinket').
*Ratchet gains yet another Decepticon weapon to study in this episode. Maybe he'll bring one into battle sometime soon?

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Speed Metal

2011-11-08T03:06:46Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"'Bee, do not engage. Your first priority is to keep Jack safe. [''murmurs''] Until I get my hands on him."
:—'''Arcee''' is a scary guardian.

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

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

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

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

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Sierra and her friend hold their books back-to-front. This is not [[The Jasper Daily|uncommon]].
*When Jack and Arcee stop at the second traffic light, Arcee's front wheel is shown not moving at all, as if it were sliding on the asphalt instead of spinning.
*When Arcee and Jack drive along the street (while debating Jack's decision to accept Vince's second challenge), all the traffic lights are shown as if they were upside down; red lights are in the place of green lights and vice versa.
* Like in the [[Deus ex Machina|previous episode]], the clear parts of Arcee's chest are pink.
*While Knock Out drives away (after kidnapping Vince), and Jack turns to talk to Bumblebee, the former's rear-lights are white instead of red.

===Continuity errors===
*Despite school just getting out, when Jack, Vince, and Sierra are talking, the roads are empty.
*Vince challenges Jack to a race on a "dirt road", but the road they race on is sealed and marked.

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

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nur dieses eine Mal!'''" ("Only once this Time!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 2|2 December]] [[2011]]
'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jilju Bonneung'''" (질주 본능, "Instinct for Speed")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 3|3 October]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode to premiere on a Saturday.
* This is the first episode not to include [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]].
* Several of the other street racing cars in this episode are simply recolored variations of Bumblebee and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'s alternate modes (sans horns in the case of the latter). Hello, easy [[redeco]]es!
* At least two of said cars never actually leave the starting line once the race begins.
* Bulkhead once again decides to forgo saving someone out of simple dislike. What a jerk!
* Sierra's friend continues to remain nameless, despite having appeared in more episodes than Sierra herself at this point. This girl really needs to introduce herself!
* Bumblebee's [[license plate]] is 936 SOH.
*How Many Rule 'No. #1's can the Autobots ''have''?
*In point-of-fact, it may have been better for [[Knockout (Prime)|Knockout]] to stay with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] rather than leave, seeing as he lost a door in addition to a nasty scratch.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Speed Metal

2011-11-08T02:50:46Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Continuity errors */

One Shall Rise, Part 2

2011-11-06T02:55:37Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 25
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 1
|next=One Shall Rise, Part 3
|image=OneShallRise2-shake.jpg
|caption=One shall stand, one shall...also stand.
|title="One Shall Rise, Part 2"
|airdate=[[October 8]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''The Autobots team up with a surprising ally to save the Earth.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OneShallRise2-bigdude.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Sure, he doesn't look quite planet-size here, but he's really [[:Image:UnicronEatsGalvyMmmm.jpg|not all that much smaller]] than he was in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]].]]
[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is battling a small army of [[Unicron|Unicrons]] made from mountain rocks. Team Prime wishes to back him up, but Optimus belays the order, for as Prime, he is the one Unicron is after. Team Prime, against his orders, decide to reinforce him anyway, and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] arrive to the area by [[GroundBridge]]. Optimus is angry that they disobeyed him, but Arcee reminds him that since he is Unicron's target, he should retreat back to base. Optimus tells them that Unicron can find him anywhere, so even if he hid at the base, it would only be a matter of time before the Chaos Bringer located him. Bulkhead then asks him to let them take the lead, which he allows after Ratchet's insistence. They fight the stone simulacra until a giant Unicron rises from the ground and comes close to killing Optimus, only to be felled when several blasts knock its head off. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] reveals himself to have fired those shots.

After Optimus and Megatron engage in their usual archnemesis banter, Megatron reveals the reason he's there: He wants to team up with the Autobots to destroy Unicron. The Autobots question this truce, but Megatron assures them that he is the only one who can lead them to Unicron and that Optimus, the last Prime, is the only one who can defeat him. Optimus deduces that since Unicron is at the center of the planet, they will have to GroundBridge to the Earth's core, much to Ratchet's dismay. This also means that they will need to GroundBridge Megatron to the base.

Back on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Airachnid]] tells [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] that it Megatron's protracted absence indicates he has abandoned them, and that they should begin looking at a future without him.

[[Image:OneShallRise2-Ratchethumans.jpg|right|thumb|300px|This is as close to the action as any of them are going to get.]]

Listening back at base, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] wonders if they can't just transport Unicron out of the core, but [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] tell him that he '''is''' the Earth's core, so any such act could bring the destruction they're trying to avoid. Optimus agrees and believes that the only way to destroy Unicron is for him to unleash the full power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] onto Unicron's spark. Ratchet explains to Fowler and Jack that the Matrix is the combined power of all the Primes and that it exists within Optimus Prime himself.

Before they can discuss any further, another giant Unicron rises from the ground. Optimus calls for a GroundBridge, and Megatron stays behind to distract Unicron while the Autobots go back to their headquarters. They argue about the details of Megatron coming to base and finally decide to bridge him there. Jack wonders what will happen to Optimus when he unleashes the power of the Matrix; Optimus does not give him a direct answer, but tells them that he is willing to do what is needed and that the rest of the Autobots will carry on. Optimus then calls in Megatron, and the Decepticon finishes off Unicron's rock giant and transports to the Autobot base. After Megatron banters with the Autobots and the humans, everything is set for them to leave. But before they go, Optimus meets privately with Jack to express how impressed he is with how much Jack has grown since they first met. Optimus entrusts him with the [[Key to Vector Sigma|key]] that he claims controls the GroundBridge operations until he returns.

[[Image:OneShallRise2-inside.jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Unicron]]'s Inside Story.]]Team Prime and Megatron leave for the core, arriving in a cavernous interior with crisscrossing constructs. Arcee wonders how long it will be before Unicron discovers them. Megatron tells her that he already knows. Unbeknownst to them, a giant optic watches overhead.

[[One Shall Rise, Part 3|To Be Concluded...]]
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Airachnid]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (14)
|c3=
*[[June Darby]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Unicron]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus! Have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?" 
'''"Unicron is power incarnate, and you, the last of the Primes, shall perish!"''' 
"I take that as a yes."
:—'''Ratchet''' finds out that '''Unicron''' has awakened

"It is rather ironic, considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark." 
"That option remains very much in play." 
"I would expect nothing less!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus''' talk about the good times.

''(GroundBridge opens up next to Bulkhead, Arcee, and Bumblebee)'' 
"Wait. We're opening up a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?!" 
"And seriously, he's gonna risk his own spark to save us?" 
"(Laughter) Hardly my nature!"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Bulkhead''' doubt '''Megatron'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s motives, which he finds amusing.

"It appears our leader has abandoned us while this world erupts in chaos. I believe we must consider the possibility of a future without Megatron."
:—'''Airachnid''' fills the quota for scheming in Starscream's absence.

"So this is where the magic happens. Quaint."
:—'''Megatron''' enters the Autobot base.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Raf runs out to confront Megatron in the Autobot base, Arcee puts herself between the humans and the Decepticon leader to keep the humans from harm. However, when Jack and the rest are walking back a few screen cuts later, we see Megatron behind Jack, but no Arcee standing between them.
*The Autobots exit the GroundBridge into Unicron in the opposite order that they enter it in.
*When Unicron's head is suddenly destroyed, Ratchet asks what happened. Megatron then answers "I happened," as if he could hear Ratchet through Arcee's comm link frequency, even though it's an isolated signal that only she (or the Autobots in general) should be able to hear.

===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet comments that making a GroundBridge happen in space and a moving train is hard enough, recalling "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" and "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]".
*Megatron still remembers Jack's face from "[[Rock Bottom]]", though he has yet to "share the details of [their] little conversation" with Optimus, as he claimed he would.
*Raf hasn't forgotten what Megatron did to him in "[[One Shall Fall]]".
*Miko comments on how she is the only one out of the three kids to have not seen Megatron before this episode. And once again, she displays her complete and utter lack of fear and rational thought by threatening Megatron to his face.
*Optimus being impressed with Jack's growth is similar to what Ratchet said about Jack back in "One Shall Fall".

===Transformers references===
*The [[Matrix of Leadership]] can harm Unicron, echoing ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. (This time around, however, they actually bother to explain the "how" and "why" of the issue.)
*Arcee mentions how Megatron's actions in the war destroyed Cybertron. Whilst this may be true across other continuities to varying degrees, in the [[Aligned continuity family]], Megatron ''is'' specifically the one who corrupted the [[Core]] with Dark Energon, causing the planet to shut down and become uninhabitable.

===Real-world references===
*Miko calls Megatron "[[King Kong|King 'Con]]".

===Trivia===
*This episode aired in Singapore on [[October 3]], 2011, ahead of its American showing.
*As in previous episodes, Megatron makes no effort to ascertain [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]'s fate despite believing that the Autobots captured him back in "[[Partners]]". Considering he is in the Autobot base in this episode, one would think he'd at least be curious where they're keeping him...unless he's changed his mind off-screen or realized that Starscream jumped ship.
*When Raf runs out to Megatron, Jack brings him back and says that he isn't worth it. What did Raf expect to do to him, anyway?
*Unicron just opened an eye which looks ''inside of him''. That's creepy...
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Stronger, Faster

2011-11-06T01:52:01Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 22
|prev=T.M.I.
|next=One Shall Fall
|image=StrongerFaster-peekaboo.jpg
|caption=More alive.
|title="Stronger, Faster"
|airdate=[[August 14]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Ratchet 'finalizes' the synthetic energon formula and uses himself as a test subject, but it ends up having some negative side effects.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] checks out a sample of [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he's created, watched by [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]. Approving the stability of the energon, Ratchet tries it on a test engine, and it works fine. Raf's keen to try it on [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], but Ratchet says it'll require more testing first. Meanwhile, the base sensors pick up [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] movement, but before [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] gives the order to roll out, Ratchet warns him about the depleted state of their energon reserves. Once Prime's team departs, Ratchet has the idea to try the synthetic energon on himself. The injection causes him to lose consciousness, and Raf rouses him from lying on the floor shortly afterward. The synthetic energon appears to be a success, giving him more fuel efficiency and better motor functions.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-surrounded.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I need you to hurry up now, 'cause I can't wait much longer.]]

Meanwhile Prime's team chases [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] through an icy canyon. The Decepticons aren't in any hurry to bridge out, as they're trying to "help" the [[Autobot]]s run out of energon. Some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s flying overhead blast the sheer sides of canyon, causing a rock fall that blocks off the Autobots' path. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] manages to drive over it in her motorcycle mode, despite Prime's warnings, and races after the two Decepticons, only to be hit by missiles from the Vehicons. She is swiftly surrounded by Decepticons, and things look grim until Ratchet comes flying through the GroundBridge and begins laying into them with gusto. Knock Out and Breakdown assume that the Ratchet's a new Autobot, but are forced to retreat as Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and Bumblebee come into view, firing at them. Ratchet finishes off the last of the Vehicons, to stunned looks from his teammates.

Back at base, Ratchet reveals his secret to the other Autobots, but Optimus doesn't think it's a good idea to test the synthetic energon on Autobots, and he underlines the importance of Ratchet's job as medic. Some time later, Ratchet's retelling his fight to Bulkhead, and in demonstrating a move, manages to throw his fellow Autobot through a nearby wall. The other Autobots are startled at his new personality. Ratchet goes and injects more of the synthetic energon into himself. When the sensors light up once more, Prime prepares to roll out again, but Ratchet volunteers to go along.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-crouchbehindrock.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Work it make it do it makes us.]]

As they head through a mountainous area, Ratchet moves ninja-style at the front of the team. They soon find some Vehicons and a [[Decepticon Miner|miner]] drilling into a rock face, and Ratchet immediately moves in. When the miner makes a run for it, Ratchet gives chase and knocks him down with a well-thrown rock. The other Autobots find Ratchet forcibly interrogating the miner with his blowtorch. Optimus stops him from finishing off the prisoner and begins to lecture him on doing harm where none is necessary, but Ratchet is agitated, believing they should be more proactive. As the argument heats up, Ratchet even manages to antagonize Arcee by bringing up [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]], and Prime decides to confine Ratchet to base. Though Ratchet appears to go calmly through the GroundBridge, moments later, he charges back out, flattening Bulkhead and racing off. Prime's team returns to base, but is unable to get a fix on Ratchet's signal.

In a Decepticon energon mine, Breakdown is chatting with a miner when Ratchet walks into the cavern. Elsewhere, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] shouts at Knock Out for not finding a new energon source, but they're interrupted by Ratchet dropping Breakdown on the floor. Megatron scoffs at the newcomer, until a punch from Ratchet sends him flying. However, Megatron is made of sterner stuff, and he gives Ratchet a savage injury, telling Knock Out to take a sample of the resultant leaking fluids so they can find out how Ratchet got so amped up.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-KnockOutMegatronRatchet.jpg|left|thumb|300px|That that that that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger.]]

On the bright side, as the synthetic energon drains out, Ratchet is rendered visible to the sensors in the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], and Optimus, Arcee and Bulkhead use the GroundBridge to attack the mine.

Knock Out completes taking his sample and moves in to finish Ratchet off with his circular saw. When the sound of approaching fighting distracts the Decepticon, Ratchet takes the opportunity to fight back, resulting in Knock Out's saw getting stuck in the wall. Ratchet promptly grabs the synthetic energon sample and smashes it. Knock Out is outraged, but once more has to retreat as the other Autobots arrive.

Ratchet is hooked up to a drip back at base, and he apologizes for his behavior. Optimus points out the new supply of energon they got from the mine, and Ratchet promises to do more testing on the synthetic stuff before using it on Autobots again. Optimus is just thankful they destroyed Knock Out's sample, unaware of the fact that back at the mine, Knock Out has found a single drop of synthetic energon.

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] (8) (flashback)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (7)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (9)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Decepticon Miner]] (11)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"HOOAAH!"
:—'''Ratchet''' gets a new catchphrase. He needed that.

'''Ratchet:''' (''clicks as he walks by'') How's it hummin'? 
'''Arcee:''' ... Did he just? 
'''Bulkhead:''' Stronger, faster, studlier.
:—Yeah, he did.

"It's all right! I'm an emergency vehicle!"
:—'''Ratchet''', engaging the Decepticons.

'''Optimus Prime:''' "A direct assault on the Decepticons would only provoke retaliation...and lead to incalculable losses. I will not endanger innocent human lives." 
'''Ratchet:''' "Yet you seem to have no problem endangering ours! Just ask Cliffjumper! Oh, I forgot! He couldn't be here today!" 
'''Arcee:''' "That's it!" (''Runs toward Ratchet, but Bulkhead holds her back.'') 
'''Ratchet:''' "You know your problem, Optimus? For such a big, strong 'Bot...you're soft. You didn't pound Megatron into scrap when you had the chance! Many chances, in fact!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Arcee''' quickly become victims of Ratchet's new personality.

'''Megatron:''' (''speaking to Knock Out'') That is your fearsome new adversary? (''Chuckles'') He's Optimus Prime's medic! 
'''Ratchet:''' (''speaking to Megatron'') Oh no, '''Megatron''', I am your doctor of doom! 
:—'''Ratchet''' capitalizes on his newly found badass-ness

"Yeah, she's kinda domineering and the extra arms are weird, but... I find myself intrigued by her."
:—'''Breakdown''' chats to a Vehicon about his crush on [[Airachnid]].

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*After Arcee continues to chase down Knock Out and Breakdown, air-support arrives. However, when they shoot Arcee, Knock Out and Breakdown have vanished from in front of her. Furthermore, when the other Autobots finally climb over the rock pile to help Arcee, she is only a few yards from the pile, whereas she should be several miles away.
*Bumblebee is shown returning with the other Autobots despite staying at base to operate the GroundBridge.
*The sample of synthetic energon Knock Out was holding was only about half full, but when Ratchet picked it up, it was completely full.
*Just before destroying the cylinder of synthetic energon, Ratchet's wound is not shown to be leaking. Mere moments after he's hit the ground, another puddle of energon has formed beneath him.
*Breakdown is knocked out by Ratchet just before he engages Megatron. When the Autobots show up at the end, however, Breakdown has vanished and he isn't shown fleeing with Knock Out.

===Other errors===
*Ratchet jumps onto and leaps off of a tree branch which seems totally capable of supporting all the weight of an SUV landing on top of it with all that force, then leaping off. Not so much as a wood chip or crack to be seen - though it does creak audibly.
*When Ratchet first injects himself, he drops the glass cylinder and it shatters on the ground. Later, when Knockout collects a sample of the synthetic energon in a nearly identical cylinder, and Ratchet kicks it out of his hands, the cylinder flies ''across the entire room'' and lands without breaking. Then Ratchet throws it against a rock wall in the same room and it breaks instantly.
*When Arcee is hurt, she obviously couldn't move her leg, but when she walks through the GroundBridge she is magically healed.

===Continuity notes===
* The synthetic energon created in the episode is derived from the formula transcribed by Bulkhead in [[T.M.I.|the previous episode]].
* Ratchet's description of the Autobots having fought numerous battles recently is accompanied by flashbacks to various battles from the "[[Darkness Rising]]" five-part pilot among others, including "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and "[[Partners]]".
* The engine Ratchet uses to test the synthetic energon is a larger version of the device Ratchet built for [[Jack Darby|Jack's]] science project in "[[Masters & Students]]".
* Knock Out confuses Ratchet for a "new" Autobot. Which makes sense, since he hasn't encountered him before. Ratchet was with the other Autobots when they charged in to rescue Bulkhead from Starscream and Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]", but it's entirely possible that Breakdown simply didn't see him, since he was focused on escaping and missing an eye at the time.

===Real-world references===
* Given that the plot centres on the idea of artificial enhancement, this episode's title is almost certainly a reference to the opening of the 1974 ''[[wikipedia:The Six Million Dollar Man|Six Million Dollar Man]]'' series, which promised a cybernetic secret agent who was "Better, stronger, faster."
** That said, there's also the possibility it could be a reference to the original [[Action Master]]s [[commercial/Generation 1#1990|commercial]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] described the new breed of Transformer as "Stronger, faster, more alive!"
** And we guess we wouldn't ''totally'' rule out the notion that it refers to ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' director/producer [[Wikipedia:George Lucas|George Lucas]]'s desire for his actors to be "Stronger, faster— more intense!", or Daft Punk's 2009 [[Wikipedia:Grammy|Grammy]] winning song ''Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger''.
* It's also the same plot as about a billion after-school specials on the dangers of drugs.
* Ratchet referred to himself as Megatron's "[[Doctor Doom|Doctor of Doom]]." This goes without saying.
* Ratchet dabbling with a green liquid 'enhancement' is reminiscent of Jeffery Combs in ''Re-Animator''.

===Trivia===
*The episode was first broadcast on Canada's Teletoon channel. It later first aired in the United States on [[September 17]], [[2011]].
*I firmly believe that it is everyone's wildest fantasy to punch Megatron in his shark-like face. Ratchet lived the dream.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

One Shall Rise, Part 3

2011-11-05T01:03:07Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 26
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 2
|next=
|image=OneShallRise3-together.jpg
|caption=Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends?
|title="One Shall Rise, Part 3"
|airdate=[[October 15]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack learns more about Optimus Prime's history on Cybertron while the Autobots continue their battle at the Earth's core.'''

==Synopsis==

As he leads the [[Autobot]]s further toward [[Earth]]'s core, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is again seized by a vision of the planet exploding. He notes how [[Unicron]]'s strength grows ever greater and continues on. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] both voice their mistrust of the [[Decepticon]] leader, though they have no choice but to follow him. Unbeknownst to them, several strange, mechanical creatures observe the intruders into their dark domain.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and the [[human]]s watch a report that outlines how the planet's chaotic weather continues to spiral out of control. Despite [[June Darby|June]]'s efforts to lighten the mood, [[William Fowler|Fowler]] insists that something must be done—even if it means contacting his associates at the [[Pentagon]]. Fowler makes known his uneasiness about teaming up with Megatron, but Ratchet surprises the humans by explaining how such a situation has happened before. Ratchet relates how Optimus Prime and Megatron were once close friends, in the twilight hours of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Golden Age]].

[[Image:OneShallRise3-corresponding.jpg|left|thumb|250px|''Once, I called you "Brother".'' 
''Once, I thought the chance to make you laugh'' 
''Was all I ever wanted...'' 
''And even now,'' 
''I wish that [[Primus|God]] had chose another.'' 
''Serving as your foe on His behalf'' 
''Is the last thing that I wanted...!'']]
''The great Autobot leader was once named Orion Pax, a simple clerk in the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] Hall of Records. Learning of Cybertron's past, Orion grew concerned about the corruption affecting high places and the [[Caste system|state of inequity]] in society. He became inspired by the revolutionary words of Megatronus, a gladiator who took his name from [[The Fallen|one]] of the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Primes]]. Megatronus gained a loyal following through his radical and innovative actions, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] chief among their number. Over time, Megatronus became a mentor figure to Orion Pax and chose to shorten his name as he left the gladiatorial arena for the political one. Megatron appeared before the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]], voicing his ideas for shaping a new Cybertron by violent means, and demanded to be named the next [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. Orion protested against Megatron's suggestions before the Council, moving their [[spark]]s and minds as he unknowingly revealed himself to be the one worthy of the title. Megatron severed his ties to Orion and the Council, taking his "Decepticon" followers to begin the [[Great War (Prime)|war]] that consumed Cybertron and vowing to claim the legendary [[Matrix of Leadership]] for himself. Hoping to reverse the damage that had poisoned the planet, Orion journeyed to Cybertron's [[Core]], where he found himself before the spark of [[Primus]], the creator of all [[Cybertronians]]. Primus sensed the purity of Orion's own spark and bestowed upon him the legendary Matrix, transforming him into Optimus Prime.''

In the present, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] question Optimus's plan to give the Matrix to the Earth's core, asking what could possibly stop Megatron from attempting to claim it for himself now. Ratchet darkly replies that Megatron only intends to save the Earth so that he may conquer it at a later date.

As they near Unicron's spark, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] begins to feel the draining effects of the [[Dark Energon]]. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and Arcee help him a short way across the catwalks, but Megatron soon comes to a halt ahead with the realization that Unicron is preparing to expel them. A huge number of Unicron's drones suddenly swarm into view, surrounding Megatron and the Autobots. They engage the drones in fierce battle, blasting and slashing through their attackers. Arcee is knocked to a lower level, not long before the Dark Energon clouds Bulkhead's vision. He stumbles from the catwalk but manages to grab hold of the edge, and is seized by Bumblebee before he can tumble to his death. Optimus and Megatron fight back-to-back, managing to hold their own against the drones in a spectacular display of effective—if uneasy—teamwork. Bumblebee struggles to hold onto Bulkhead, who insists that the scout lets him go. Optimus seizes Bulkhead just as Bumblebee loses his grip, and hauls him up to safety. As the group quickly becomes overwhelmed, Arcee hitches a ride on one of the drones to catch up with the others and beat a swift retreat with them.

[[Image:OneShallRise3-SoundwaveAirachnid.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Maybe Megatron should stop having seconds-in-command and just skip straight to thirds-in-command.]]
Aboard the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]], [[Airachnid]] outlines the questionable nature of their leader's recent behavior. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] asks whether she is suggesting that they abandon Lord Megatron. Airachnid explains how Megatron's undetectable signal implies that he is either offline or at the mercy of Unicron—neither scenario being in the best interests of the Decepticons. She suggests an exodus from Earth, and receives no protests from the surrounding [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]. However, her order to retreat to [[Regulon Four]] is denied by Soundwave, who silently challenges her authority. When he refuses her demand to step aside, she leaps to attack him. Soundwave easily blocks every one of her blows, before lifting her clean into the air. He hurls her back, deploying [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] to stun Airachnid in a sudden sneak attack. Pinned under Soundwave's foot, much to Knock Out's amusement, Airachnid relinquishes command to the intelligence officer.

Back in the Autobot base, Ratchet notes he has lost the others' communication links and life signals, most likely caused by interference from the electromagnetic anomalies. Miko asks how they are supposed to know when the others are ready for pickup if contact is impossible, but Ratchet is prevented from responding by the sound of Jack tapping the [[GroundBridge]] key against a railing. Ratchet reveals that the object is actually the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]—one of Cybertron's most precious relics. Ratchet then realizes that Optimus entrusted the key to Jack because he did not plan on returning from the planet's core.

Megatron is gripped by yet another painful vision of Unicron whilst he and the Autobots are backed into an enclosed chamber by the attacking drones. Unicron orders him to destroy Optimus. Instead, Megatron saves the Autobot leader by blasting an oncoming drone. He then indicates a closed doorway nearby, stating that Unicron's spark lies just beyond. He explains that, to pass through, they must fool Unicron into believing that they pose no danger, and moves his Dark Energon-infused chest up to the door. It opens in response, and Optimus orders the others to remain outside and provide cover fire while he and Megatron advance.

The passageway beyond leads directly into Unicron's spark chamber, where Optimus prepares to expose the Matrix within his chest. Unicron's spark reacts, striking both invaders with its energy. Unicron again orders Megatron to kill Optimus, forcing him to unsheathe his blade and approach the weakened Prime. Megatron struggles against him, declaring himself to be under the command of no-one. His resistance provokes only an onslaught of pain and a furious reaction from the Chaos Bringer.

The volcano outside erupts violently, and the ground enclosing the Autobot base begins to quake. Ratchet tells the humans to take cover, and he moves to shield them from falling debris.

[[Image:OneShallRise3-unleash.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Care Bear Stare!]]
Unicron's spark adopts the appearance of a face as Megatron is seemingly freed from his control. Optimus calls upon the power of the Matrix of Leadership, but hesitates as Unicron possesses Megatron's body in a veil of purple flame and declares his own invincibility. Optimus cuts short Unicron's desire to pull the Earth into chaos, and he rises to his feet as he becomes surrounded by a brilliant blue light. Optimus fires the power of the Matrix from his chest directly into Unicron's spark, the resulting wave of energy knocking Megatron back off his feet. His energy drained, Optimus falls to his knees, and Unicron's spark emits a final wail of pain before vanishing into oblivion.

The drones outside suddenly fall from the air, lifeless. The volcano, along with all of the Earth's other natural phenomena, subside back to normality. Ratchet and the humans watch as the monitors flicker online, rejoicing as their team's life signals are all safely re-established. Aboard the Nemesis, however, Soundwave also detects the signature of the Decepticon leader.

[[Image:OneShallRise3-hug.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"You smell like my mom." "I smell like ''his'' mom!"]]
Megatron rights himself in Unicron's now-empty spark chamber, inspecting Optimus's steaming body for a moment before unsheathing his blade. Optimus gazes blearily up at the approaching Decepticon, then addresses him as "Megatronus" and asks where they are. Surprised, Megatron retracts his weapon and helps the Autobot to his feet. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee soon burst through the wall to assist, but Optimus does not recognise them. A GroundBridge suddenly opens nearby; Megatron claims that the Autobots are their sworn enemies and provides cover fire as Optimus heads for the vortex. Optimus blankly meets Bumblebee's devastated gaze for a split second before disappearing through the Bridge. Megatron follows, leaving the shocked Autobots alone in the empty chamber.

Ratchet GroundBridges the team back to base, but is anxious to see that Optimus is not with them. They explain that Optimus is still alive, but did not even know his own name. Ratchet realizes that surrendering the Matrix of Leadership caused their leader to lose not only the wisdom of the Primes, but his own memories as well.

Knock Out and the other Decepticons, minus Airachnid, welcome Megatron back aboard the Nemesis. Megatron steps aside to allow Optimus through, and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] automatically moves to attack. Megatron halts him, insisting that this is no way to treat a "long-lost comrade", and declares that Orion Pax is one of them.

To be continued…

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (9)
*[[Autobot High Council|High Council]] (14–16)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Airachnid]] (18)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (19)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (20)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (21)
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] (22)

|c3=
*[[June Darby]] (7)
*[[William Fowler]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (12)

|c4=
*[[Unicron]] (4)
*[[Core]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Raf:''' Megatron was an Autobot? 
'''Miko:''' Optimus was a 'Con!? 
'''Rachet:''' No, on either count.
:—The kids get confused while Ratchet gets ready to tell a tale.

"Watch out for the quiet ones…"
:—'''Knock Out''' after witnessing Soundwave "veto" Airachnid's motion to leave Earth.

"'''''Megatron! Destroy the Prime! I command you!'''''" 
"Megatron is commanded by NO ONE!"
:—'''Unicron''' and '''Megatron''' who's not wrong [[The Transformers: The Movie|this time.]]

"Where are we Megatronus?" 
"Don't you remember, old friend?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' with an unexpected twist.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*All of the natural disasters around the world abruptly stop when Unicron is beaten. While it might make sense for the earthquakes to stop, tidal waves wouldn't just suddenly fall apart. Forward momentum doesn't just vanish. Similar problems occur with the tornadoes dissipating and the sky clearing.
*At the Earth's core, the Autobots should experience very little gravity, as the total mass of Earth would be reasonably equally distributed around them and therefore the pull of gravity would be cancelled out.
*Despite entering the tunnel to Unicron's spark chamber only a few seconds before Optimus, Megatron still manages a very hefty lead. By the time Optimus navigates the tunnel that leads into the spark chamber, Megatron is already inside, standing in front of Unicron's spark.
* After defeating Unicron, both Megatron and Optimus are knocked unconscious: Megatron on his back and Optimus on the ground facing away from the other. However, when we see them wake up later, Megatron is on his stomach and Optimus is facing him now.

===Continuity errors===
*Ratchet's statement that Megatron started the war after not being made Prime contradicts the history given in [[Darkness Rising, Part 1]], where Megatron is said to have split from Optimus ''during'' the war.
*Bulkhead is the only Autobot visibly affected by the Dark Energon.

===Continuity notes===
*The entire backstory given by Ratchet is an adaptation of the first half of ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''. Plot elements were changed, such as Orion Pax becoming Optimus when he found the Matrix of Leadership, as opposed to when he was assigned the position by the Cybertron High Council.
* Optimus's blade is still broken after the episode "[[One Shall Fall]]".

===Transformers references===
*Optimus Prime was originally known as Orion Pax, much like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|his namesake]] in the episode "[[War Dawn]]."
*The [[Key to Vector Sigma]] first appeared in ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]" and later featured prominently in the first season of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
*Optimus calls upon the Matrix to "[[Darkest hour|light our darkest hour]]."
*This is not [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|the first incidence]] in a ''Transformers'' cartoon of a tidal wave stopping all of a sudden.
*For once, Optimus is the one who gets to say he "still functions", rather than Megatron.
* When Unicron possesses Megatron, he is engulfed in flames similar to [[The Fallen|another well known herald]].

===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
*This episode aired in Singapore on [[October 4]], 2011, again preceding its American showing.
*Jack is clearly taking very good care of that Key Optimus gave him...by idly tapping it against a railing.
*This is the first time we've seen Soundwave "get his hands dirty". With how easily he trounces Airachnid, that's probably a good thing for the Autobots.
*According to the flashbacks, Megatron's optics are blue, fingers, eyebrows, and shoulders less pointy, his feet also being rather flat, until he was rejected by the Council and storms out angrily, obtaining the sharp teeth and red eyes.
*Fowler hugs June. Make of that what you will.
*Once more, the Thirteen Original Primes make an appearance, this time as statue busts in the walls of the High Council's chamber.
*Optimus has a Cybertronian form, with different kibble, in the flashbacks. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]], [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] and [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] must be special.
*At the begining of the episode, Megatron's eyes are purple. But at the end, they are back to red. I guess all of that screaming drained the dark energy from his body.
*When Ratchet's screen is scanning for the Autobots and Megatron the computer image is of Mount St. Hillary, which is the same mountain the Ark crashed into in the original G1 series.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Con Job

2011-11-05T00:40:27Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 8
|prev=Scrapheap (episode)
|next=Convoy (episode)
|image=ConJob-getthispartystarted.jpg
|caption=Quick! They must [[A Prime Problem|have a race!]] Or [[Where Is Thy Sting?|play video games!]]
|title="Con Job"
|airdate=[[February 25]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Bulkhead awaits the arrival of his friend Wheeljack—what could go wrong?'''

==Synopsis==
With their chores done, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is looking forward to "dune bashing" with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but he'd rather check out the monster truck rally in [[Jasper|town]]. Their plans are interrupted when [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] receives a signal from a starship headed for [[Earth]]. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] wonders if it might be a [[Decepticon]] trap, but Bulkhead identifies the incoming [[Autobot]] as his old friend and [[Wrecker]] pal, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] sends landing coordinates for Wheeljack's landing the next day, and Bulkhead is excited to see his old friend.

On the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Decepticon ship]], [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has monitored the conversation and it gives [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] the chance he needs. He orders [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] to prepare for a mission.

[[Image:Tfprime_winged_vehicon_pose(2).jpg‎ |thumb|left|250px|Your wallet. They want it.]]The kids are excited to be getting to meet a new Autobot. Ratchet has problems getting the [[ground bridge]] working, due to the damage sustained during the [[Scraplet]] infestation. Their instruments pick up Decepticon signals closing on [[Star Hammer|Wheeljack's ship]]. Indeed, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] manage to shoot down the ship, but Wheeljack emerges from the wreckage and starts smashing the tar out of them. Ratchet finally gets the ground bridge operational, and Bulkhead, Arcee and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] storm through to find Wheeljack finishing off the last of the 'cons. Bulkhead greets his old friend with a massive bear hug, and the four Autobots return to base. Wheeljack hits it off with Miko right away, and checks in with Optimus. Ratchet's not as enthusiastic as the others with Bulkhead's friend, as he senses impending destruction.

Starscream discusses their success in getting a spy into the Autobot base as he and Soundwave pay a visit to their prisoner — the real Wheeljack. Now he's inside the Autobot base, Makeshift will be able to activate the ground bridge and reveal the base's location so Starscream can send the troops in. Wheeljack mocks Starscream, who's prevented from killing the prisoner by Soundwave since Wheeljack may yet be of use.

The Autobots and kids celebrate Wheeljack's arrival, Miko by breaking out her electric guitar and Bulkhead and "Wheeljack" by engaging in some [[Cybertronian_sport#Lobbing| Lobbing]]. After some encouragement by Miko, [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] busts some dance moves by doing The Robot, and Bumblebee joins in. Makeshift takes some time to fish for info on the ground bridge from Ratchet, who says it's in the middle of defragging and can't be used for a few hours.

Starscream wonders why Makeshift is taking so long to get the ground bridge activated, since he won't be able to keep the Autobots fooled for long.

Bulkhead tells the kids about a battle he and Wheeljack took part in, and Makeshift barely covers for his lack of knowledge. Bulkhead observes that his old friend seems different, but Makeshift writes this off as jet lag, and asks Miko to show him around the base. However Bulkhead's suspicions have been raised, and Arcee's suggestions don't allay them.

On the Decepticon ship, Wheeljack manages to kill his guard and get free from his bonds.

[[Image:ConJob-Makeshifthostage.jpg|right|thumb|300px|They're not dolls, they're action figures!]]

Miko wanders the base with Makeshift, and the 'con manages to get the location of the Autobot base out of her. Miko promises to show him the way out, and they return to the control center, where Bulkhead asks his "friend" to tell the story of the [[Battle of Darkmount Pass]]. Makeshift tells the story, but manages to get one crucial detail wrong — Bulkhead wasn't part of the battle. Realizing that his cover's blown, Makeshift takes Miko hostage.

Starscream and Soundwave hang out on top of the Decepticon ship with a bunch of Vehicons, waiting for Makeshift to open the ground bridge. They're confronted by Wheeljack, who fights his way through a bunch of Vehicons and pounces on Starscream. As more 'cons rush towards Wheeljack, the ground bridge activates, courtesy of Makeshift. Makeshift's ready to enter the ground bridge at the Autobot end, when Wheeljack comes flying through it and lands on him. Ratchet shuts down the ground bridge before any Decepticons come through. The two Wheeljacks draw their swords and fight at length while the Autobots fail to keep track of who's who. Wheeljack, of course, triumphs.

Starscream is pleased when the ground bridge opens again and orders the Vehicons through, however it's only been reopened so Bulkhead can throw Makeshift through. The 'con lands on Starscream, who asks if Makeshift has obtained the location of the Autobot base. Makeshift's in the process of telling him when Starscream realizes that the grenade Makeshift is wearing has been primed and is about to explode, and he and Soundwave retreat, leaving Makeshift and a number of Vehicons to die in the ensuing explosion.

The Autobots have another party, to Ratchet's pain. Bulkhead suggests they pick out a vehicle mode for Wheeljack, but Wheeljack says he's not staying now that his ship's fixed. The next morning, he offers to take Bulkhead with him, but Bulkhead's too attached to Earth and Miko to leave. Miko snaps a picture of the two Autobots with [[Miko's phone|her cell phone]] before Wheeljack leaves.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (9)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (11)
* [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] (12)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (2)
* [[Jack Darby]] (6)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (7)

}}

==Quotes==
"Do you not see that you are vastly outnumbered?" 
"I see fellas who might vastly enjoy watching me pound some dents into you."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Wheeljack'''

"I'm still picking shrapnel out of my backside!"
 "I'm not surprised, given the size of your backside."
:—'''Bulkhead''' reminisces, '''Arcee''' zings.

"If anything happens to my favourite Wrecker, I'm coming after you!"
:—'''Wheeljack''' tells Miko to take good care of his best bud for him.

"It's like a recurring nightmare!"
:-Will '''Ratchet''' ever get a break?

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the camera angle moves to show Optimus saying that he knows Wheeljack by reputation only, the shadow of Miko's heel looks lightly separated from it, as if her leg were hovering over Bulkhead's armour plate.
* Apparently, huge, alien robots can leave their tracks in the snow (see Bumblebee and Bulkhead at the beginning of the [[Scrapheap (episode)|previous episode]]), but it looks like they cannot leave any in the sand.

===Continuity errors===
* When the alarm goes off, the monitor shows five bogies (Vehicons) approaching Wheeljack's ship. But in the next scene, when Wheeljack's ship is being attacked, there are six Vehicons.

===Continuity notes===
* The Autobots refer to their base as "[[Autobot Outpost Omega One]]."
* Ratchet mentions that the equipment's been kind of buggy since "[[Scrapheap (episode)|the infestation]]."

===Transformers references===
* Wheeljack and Bulkhead are former members of the [[Wrecker]]s. This is the team's first mention in a TV series.
* Wheeljack had fought in [[Darkmount]] near the [[smelting pool|smelting pit]]s.

===Real-world references===
* Wheeljack's ship crashlands near a [[Egypt|trio of pyramids]].
* Raf and Bumblebee perform a dance called "The Robot", a street dance style popularized by the Jackson Five.
* Bumblebee can briefly be seen dancing like John Travolta in ''Saturday Night Fever''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Maulwurf'''" ("The Mole")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 11|11 November]] [[2011]]
'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seupai'''" (스파이, "The Spy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 20|20 September]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Just like with [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], Wheeljack's robot mode clearly has Earth vehicle kibble, even though it's stated that he doesn't yet have a local [[alternate mode|altmode]].
*This is the third time [[Makeshift (Prime)|a character]] has been introduced only to be [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|killed]] [[Skyquake (Prime)|off]] before the episode's over. Wheeljack's the first Cybertronian (and currently the only Autobot) who is not part of the main cast to survive his own debut episode.
* During the fight with the Vehicons, Wheeljack jumps behind one, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|rips off its arm]] and then proceeds to [[Starscream (Movie)|beat another with it]].
* Starscream once again attempts to kill a prisoner (Wheeljack) the moment they insinuate he isn't in charge. Only this time, he is stopped by Soundwave.
* This is the first episode where Starscream uses one of the missiles attached to his forearms.
* Bulkhead mentions that Wheeljack has a public service record. Presumably, this is true for all Autobots in the military.
* While [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] was the first character shown with a hand-held gun, Wheeljack is the first one shown with a pair of hand-held melee weapons (in this case, two swords).
* Wheeljack beats up Starscream to the point where he [[humanization|coughs up Energon]]. ''Hard core!''
** When Makeshift, still disguised as Wheeljack, gets ready to fight the real Wheeljack, he puts his mask on, but if you look quickly before that, you can see that he's coughed up Energon as well.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Con Job

2011-11-05T00:40:04Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Quotes */

Operation: Breakdown

2011-11-04T23:32:34Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 16
|prev=Shadowzone (episode)
|next=Crisscross
|image=OperationBreakdown-Consdontbreak.jpg
|caption=Now all he needs is [[Metal Attraction|<strike>an eye patch and</strike>]] a bottle of scrumpy.
|title="Operation: Breakdown"
|airdate=[[June 18]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Breakdown is captured by MECH, and the only ones who can save him are... Team Prime.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is fighting [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in a ghost town on the [[Kamchatka Peninsula]] in Eastern [[Russia]] after the two have a run-in while tracking an energon signature. Though Bulkhead fights valiantly, Breakdown lays him flat with a hammer blow. As Breakdown prepares to finish the unconscious Bulkhead off, he's zapped by a blast of energy from a helicopter, which lands and disgorges [[Silas]] and a pack of [[MECH]] troops. Silas instructs them to take Breakdown. Bulkhead comes around to find Breakdown missing and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] calling out to him on the comm. After he bridges back to base for repairs, everyone's confused about what happened to Breakdown. [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] has an idea who might be behind it.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] relays news of Breakdown's capture to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. Starscream is keen to hunt down the [[human]]s responsible, but Megatron intends to leave Breakdown to his fate for being captured by those weaker.

[[Image:OperationBreakdown-WeAreMECH.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"No, Mister Bot, I expect you to die."]]

Breakdown recovers to find himself firmly attached to a metal slab. Silas introduces himself to the captive, who announces that Megatron will never pay a ransom, but Silas reveals they're not after money, just the technology in Breakdown's body.

Fowler fills the Autobots in — his intel has reported MECH activity in the Kamchatka Peninsula. While the other Autobots are happy for MECH to have Breakdown, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] decides to mount a rescue mission. The others are surprised, and Bulkhead wonders if Optimus believes Breakdown will switch sides if the Autobots rescue him, but Optimus says while that's unlikely, they can't let MECH get Cybertronian technology.

Meanwhile, MECH have disengaged Breakdown's pain receptors in preparation for the operation. Silas thanks their captive in advance for the service he is about to do them, and the heavy machinery moves in to take the Decepticon apart.

Miko tries to talk Bulkhead into going on the mission, but he's not keen, and Optimus agrees he would not be an asset on the mission. Optimus departs with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]. Miko looks disappointed, and Bulkhead suggests they watch a movie instead. [[Image:TFPep16DoubleCreatureFeature.jpeg|right|thumb|300px|"I know what'll make you feel better - watching a rip-off of an old Japanese movie!"]]

Prime's team arrives in the ghost town, to find it deserted. Though Bumblebee spots some vehicle tracks, Ratchet reports he's got an [[energon (fuel)|energon]] trace, and they go to look for the source.

Fowler has already fallen asleep in front of ''[[Dinolizard vs. Five-Headed Ape]]''. Miko isn't watching the movie though, as she's disappointed that Bulkhead isn't getting to face down his own arch-enemy. Bulkhead still doesn't want to rescue the 'Con, but Miko points out that if he doesn't, he won't get to have a rematch. Bulkhead takes the [[GroundBridge]] to [[Russia]].

Prime's team finds the energon reading — it's Breakdown's eye, sitting in the open.

Bulkhead follows a MECH car to a railway tunnel and, weapons primed, ventures inside.

Ratchet hooks Breakdown's eye up to his scanner so they can retrieve the last images it saw, but it turns out that Silas has turned the eye into a two-way video feed. Silas is surprised to see the Autobots, but shows off the work they're doing on Breakdown and points out the bomb the Autobots are standing virtually on top of. Prime's team just manages to get clear before the bomb explodes.

Silas passes on the news to Breakdown that his would-be rescuers are Autobots, much to the captive's confusion. At this point, Bulkhead breaks through an outer door and fights his way through the MECH goons to find Breakdown. Freeing the startled Decepticon, Bulkhead leads the way to the exit, but once outside, they're confronted by the bulk of the MECH forces. Bulkhead calls for backup, and the pair start fighting in earnest. Silas's 'copter begins firing bursts of energy, and Breakdown, in an uncharacteristic act of altruism, knocks Bulkhead out of harm's way. The fight continues, but [[MECH Navigator|Silas's copilot]] reports incoming signals, resulting in Silas ordering a general retreat. Arriving, however, is not Optimus's team, but Starscream and a bunch of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s. Starscream orders Breakdown to destroy Bulkhead, and though Breakdown is initially reluctant, Starscream sways him, and he attacks his Autobot rescuer. Bulkhead soundly pummels Breakdown before smashing Starscream and taking out the Vehicons with Breakdown's body. The Decepticons are forced to retreat as Optimus's team finally shows up. Optimus is impressed that Bulkhead has risen above his petty rivalries to rescue Breakdown, but the moment is spoiled by Bulkhead asking if they all saw how he bashed the Decepticons.

Breakdown pauses short of the ''Nemesis'', where Starscream informs him that he will repay his debt one day... when he must choose between Megatron's leadership and Starscream's.

Silas records that the information they gained from Breakdown was enough for them to start [[Project Chimera]]...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (2)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (16)
|c3=
*[[Silas]] (3)
*[[MECH Commando]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] (10)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (14)
*[[MECH Navigator]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"As much as I'll miss our little reunions...''hammer time''."
:—'''Breakdown''', before being captured by MECH

"Full disclosure: We intend to pull you apart. Break you down, if you will."
:—'''Silas''' tells Breakdown what's in store, while making a pun at the same time.

"You're making a very big mistake, little man. When I'm finished with you, they'll have to scrape you off the floor!"
:—'''Breakdown''' promises to make JaAm out of Silas

"It's a trap!" 
"Would this be a 'roll out' kind of trap?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' ackbars and '''Arcee''' continues to be genre savvy.

"'Marco!' You're supposed to say 'Polo!'"
:—'''Bulkhead''' plays with MECH.

"Never run when you can fight."
:—'''Breakdown'''

"One day, you will repay your debt to me, Breakdown... the day it comes time to choose sides." 
"Huh... between 'Bots and 'Cons?" 
"Between myself – and Megatron."
:—'''Starscream''' informs a confused '''Breakdown''' of his plans for the future.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Breakdown is seen being held down in MECH's base by metal bars welded around his hands. However, in all shots of his lower body, nothing is shown to be holding it down. Did MECH use another method to restrain his legs?

===Continuity errors===
* Moments after calling Optimus Prime by name and stating that he was expecting Megatron, Silas tells Breakdown about his "would-be rescuers" without moving from the same location from which he had just been talking to them - yet Breakdown seems to have no idea that they were Autobots. How did he not hear the conversation?
* Silas has Breakdown's pain receptors shut off so he doesn't make a lot of noise while being operated on. If this is the first Cybertronian they've managed to capture, much less dissect, how would his scientists know how to do such a thing?

===Real-world references===
*Miko plays the game "Marco Polo" with Bulkhead. Bulkhead later plays the game with MECH.
*''Dinolizard vs Five-Headed Ape'' is a parody of ''[[Wikipedia:King Kong vs. Godzilla|King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''.
*Breakdown says "[[wikipedia:M.C. Hammer|Hammer Time]]". Yeah.

===Foreign localization===
'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Saengche Lobot Haebu'''" (생체 로봇 해부, "Dissection of Living Robot")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 18|18 October]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* MECH can carve up Breakdown with ease with their surgical lasers, but the guns they give their foot soldiers are not particularly effective on Transformers without pouring on massive amounts of firepower. Clearly, MECH's soldiers should be equipped with surgical lasers instead.
*The episode was screened at [[BotCon 2011]] before its first airing on television.
*This is the first episode of the series that [[Jack Darby|Jack]] hasn't appeared in, leaving Arcee and Bumblebee the only characters at this point in the series to have appeared in every episode. Arcee, however, is the only one who appears ''in person'' in all episodes. (Bumblebee was only in a flashback sequence in "[[Predatory]]".)
*Starscream got a new arm. It's still not an upgrade.
*Miko seems to have [[Shadowzone (episode)|learned her lesson]]: She didn't follow Bulkhead this time.
*Human death ''must'' have occurred during Bulkhead and Breakdown's outdoor battle with MECH. Case in point: Breakdown throwing a car at a helicopter, causing a midair explosion.
*Despite being Breakdown's partner, Knock Out makes no appearance in this episode, leaving the audience to wonder if he didn't know about Breakdown's capture, or didn't care enough to bother rescuing him.
*The [[Wikipedia:Kamchatka Peninsula|Kamchatka Peninsula]] is an actual place, with heavy volcanic activity. But if the show is placed in 2011, there are no recorded evacuations in 1991 due to volcanic activity.
*In the close-up shots of Breakdown before MECH drills into his right eye, you can see it twitching along with the right corner of his mouth. Who knew Cybertronians had tics?
*This is one of the only episodes where Miko hasn't followed Bulkhead. Either she finally learned her lesson, or was too afraid of the toxic air to go.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Out of His Head

2011-11-02T02:52:54Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 14
|prev=Sick Mind
|next=Shadowzone (episode)
|image=OutOfHisHead-evileye.jpg
|caption=If looks could kill.
|title="Out of His Head"
|airdate=[[May 7]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Megatron attempts to resurrect himself using Dark Energon by controlling Bumblebee's mind.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OutOfHisHead-basketball.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I really enjoyed playing with you guys. Let's play some basketball. I really enjoyed playing with you guys. Let's play some basketball. I really enjoyed playing with you guys. Let's play some basketball. ]]
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] concludes his tests on [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] and gives their leader a clean bill of health. Optimus thanks Ratchet and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], while [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] is unsure whether she managed to successfully end [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s life during their mission on the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Decepticon ship]]. In truth and unknown to any of the others, Megatron's psyche still dwells in Bumblebee's processor, and he's determined to reclaim his own body.

[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] referees a basketball game between Bumblebee and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. Bulkhead easily sinks the first basket, but as Bumblebee goes to shoot, he suddenly flashes back to the [[space bridge]] explosion. When Bulkhead interrupts the vision, he gets the ball thrown at his head. Bumblebee apologizes and they play on. Later on, Bumblebee freezes as Megatron takes control. Megatron wonders how he escaped the destruction of the space bridge, and he recalls [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] pulling the sliver of [[Dark Energon]] from his chest. Now knowing what he needs to restore his body, Megatron vows to take revenge upon his subordinate.

On the Decepticon warship, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] taunts Megatron's body with the Dark Energon sliver, announcing that he has come up with a new, epic plan that will convince the other Decepticons that he's worthy of leadership. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] arrives in time to hear the tail end of the speech.

Waiting outside his house, [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] calls [[Jack Darby|Jack]], who is already in class, to complain that Bumblebee hasn't picked him up for school. Bumblebee is at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], being puppeted by Megatron to crush a piece of equipment. Ratchet is irritated by the destruction, and Bumblebee explains his visions of Megatron. Ratchet induces a power-down to allow Bumblebee's mind time to rest. While he's explaining this to Optimus and Raf, they get a call from [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]], who says that [[Decepticon]]s have broken into the [[Kauai Naval Observatory]] in [[Hawaii]] and stolen the [[Heuck Nigoghossian telescope]]'s primary lens. Fortunately, the lens has a tracking device, and the Autobots trace it to the [[Arctic]], where there's a massive, unmineable [[energon (fuel)|energon]] deposit—unmineable unless the glacier it's in is melted, something that would devastate coastal cities.

Indeed, the Decepticons have already created a heat ray with the lens, and Starscream begins melting the glacier in question.

[[Image:OutOfHisHead-vigil.jpg|right|thumb|300px|''While You Were Beeping'', starring Sandra Bullock.]]

Raf chats with the shut-down Bumblebee, despite Ratchet pointing out that Bumblebee can't hear him. Raf asserts that Bumblebee is family and shows off a photo of his parents and siblings.

Optimus, Arcee and Bulkhead walk through the Arctic and locate the Decepticon warship, which is warming things up with its heat ray.

Ratchet leaves Raf and Bumblebee to find parts to repair the equipment Bumblebee damaged. While he's gone, Bumblebee suddenly powers up and heads to the main control room, where he activates the [[GroundBridge]]. Ratchet and Raf are surprised to find him departing through the GroundBridge and wonder where the diminutive [[Autobot]] is going. Bumblebee arrives at the battlefield where Optimus and Ratchet once fought Megatron's army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]], in search of the Dark Energon shard Megatron used to raise the dead. Ratchet attempts to use the GroundBridge to follow Bumblebee, but once he activates it, Bumblebee promptly steps back through, carrying the Dark Energon, and decks the medic. Having placed Raf out of the way, Bumblebee runs back through the GroundBridge. Ratchet realizes that Megatron's mind has taken over Bumblebee, and he tracks the scout to coordinates in the Arctic. Raf insists on going too.

Atop the Decepticon warship, Starscream spots Bulkhead and Arcee. Knock Out orders [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] to deal with the two Autobots, and the big 'Con starts laying into them. Meanwhile, the unseen Optimus scales a nearby cliff.

Ratchet and Raf arrive in the Decepticon ship to find disabled [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s everywhere. They reach the lab, where Bumblebee has hooked himself up to Megatron's body, but when Ratchet attacks Bumblebee, he's knocked across the room. Raf manages to encourage Bumblebee to retake control, but it's only a brief respite. Ratchet yanks the life support cable from Megatron, only to again be tossed across the room. Despite a last-ditch attempt by Raf to stop Bumblebee, the scout plunges the Dark Energon shard into Megatron's body, and Megatron awakens. A group of Vehicons arrives to find Megatron has risen from the dead, and he orders them to terminate the Autobots, as he has his own "extermination to perform". Under fire from the Vehicons, Ratchet, Bumblebee and Raf retreat.

[[Image:OutOfHisHead-grabby.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Exit, stage lef—GURRK!"]]

Optimus reaches the top of his cliff and takes a flying leap onto the Decepticon ship. On the ground, Arcee and Bulkhead continue to battle Breakdown. Starscream and Knock Out spot Optimus coming towards them across the hull of the ship, and Starscream turns the heat ray on the Autobot leader. Undeterred, Optimus drives all the way up to the heat ray and slices it with his sword, causing the whole thing to explode. Optimus is thrown to the ground, only to face the rage of Starscream, who begins diving towards him, missiles at the ready. Starscream is intercepted halfway through the dive by Megatron, who takes his disloyal lieutenant back to the Decepticon warship. Faced with his old leader, Starscream attempts to flee in his vehicle mode, only for Megatron to grab him by the tail and toss him against the ship. Even the promise of nearby Autobots to destroy isn't enough to distract Megatron, who begins dragging Starscream away by the head.

Watching the still-blazing ship depart, Optimus radios Ratchet for a bridge, but Ratchet, Bumblebee and Raf appear nearby.

Later at base, Ratchet finishes checking over Bumblebee, who thanks Raf for helping to rescue him.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (7)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
*[[Jack Darby]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (12)
*[[William Fowler]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==


"Lucky for us Megatron was still alive. 
''<Bumblebee says something>'' 
"Yeah, I actually said that."
:—'''Arcee''' surprising us all.

"Prime! You spot any Decepticons wearing hula skirts lately?!" 
"No, Special Agent Fowler, ''why''?
:—'''Agent Fowler''' says something that makes sense in context that '''Optimus Prime''' hasn't received yet.

"Hm, hm. Yes, very nice."
:—'''Ratchet''' is unimpressed with Raf's picture of his family.

"Yes! I love when a plan comes together!"
:—'''Starscream''', fan of the A-Team.

"Decepticons! Your rightful lord and master has returned!"
:—'''Megatron''' reawakens.

"Megatron's greatest mistake was ever allowing you to live, Prime!"
:—'''Starscream''', a few seconds before Megatron shows up.

"Lord Megatron? You are...you're healed! Praise the Allspark! It is a miracle!" 
"Oh, it will be a miracle alright, Starscream...if you survive what I have planned for you!
:—'''Starscream''' discovers that '''Megatron''' [[Megatron Rising - Part 2|doesn't]] [[Mission Accomplished|tolerate]] [[A Fistful of Energon|traitors]] [[Endgame, Part I|anymore.]]

"But the Autobots! Optimus! Right there, waiting for you!" 
"My greatest mistake? I've made a few. But there is one I do not intend to make again!"
:—A desperate '''Starscream''' and a surprisingly self-aware '''Megatron'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Starscream's eye is misaligned when he spots Arcee and Bulkhead approaching.
*Starscream's thruster is not producing any flames or exhaust when Megatron grabs him as he tries to fly away.
*When Ratchet rips away the life support tube from Megatron's chest, we see the buckled hole left from his wounds during the space bridge accident. However, after the Dark Energon shard restores Megatron to life, we see his chest armor completely fixed and sporting a snazzy fresh Decepticon [[insignia|sigil]]. Looks like Dark Energon can be used not only to power evil Decepticon tyrants, but as a super polish as well.

===Continuity errors===
*One has to wonder how Raf and the Autobots make it back to their base, seeing as how no-one was there and Jack and Miko are unable to get to the base by themselves. Maybe they called Agent Fowler for a favor?
**In "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]", during the battle against Megatron's Terrorcons, Optimus Prime initially orders Ratchet to "bridge himself" back to base. It's more than likely Ratchet has remote access to his own ground bridge, no matter where he is.

===Continuity notes===
* Arcee hasn't forgotten her trip to the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
* It seems that Megatron was conscious (and able to perfectly remember) when Starscream extracted the fragment of Dark Energon from his chest in "[[Masters & Students]]".
* The fight with the Dark Energon zombies took place in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
* Bulkhead and Bumblebee play with a hollowed-out version of the ball he used for lobbing with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] in "[[Con Job]]".
* Raf doesn't know how he understands Bumblebee, as stated in his [[Raf's Notes|notebook]].

===Transformers references===
* Optimus Prime recalls their "end run on [[Polyhex]]."
* An enraged Megatron carrying away Starscream to inflict horrible punishment? Just like old [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|times]]!
* Starscream announces the beginning of "[[The Reign of Starscream|the reign of Lord Starscream]]".

===Real-world references===
*The Heuck Nigoghossian telescope is named for ''Prime'' directors Vinton Heuck and [[Shaunt Nigoghossian]].
*Starscream [[Wikipedia:The A-Team|loves it when a plan comes together.]]

===Foreign localization===
'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Du Eolgul ui Beombeulbi'''" (두 얼굴의 범블비, "Bumblebee with Two Faces")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 11|11 October]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* In the real world, large telescopes use mirrors, not lenses.
* Raf apparently has seven people in his family, including himself. He also has at least two sisters.
* Sierra's friend sits in front of Jack in at least one class (or perhaps homeroom). And yet she is still unnamed.
* Even Raf doesn't know how he understands Bumblebee. [[Sari Sumdac|He's a robot]], isn't he?
* Jack's ringtone is the same as in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]".
* Raf is the first of the humans to see Megatron face to face.
* Raf finally gets to see snow. But does Optimus remember the snowball [[Scrapheap (episode)|he promised to give him]]?
* In the final scene, while Ratchet is talking, Optimus has his battle mask on, despite normally only wearing it when going out on a mission.
* Starscream states that his Dark Energon shard is the only chunk of Dark Energon on Earth. [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|This would be proven wrong later]].
*It's pretty impressive that Starscream kept landing on the spires of the ships. You would think that since Megatron just aimlessly threw him aside, he wouldn't be necessarily aiming for another spire?

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Stronger, Faster

2011-10-24T03:05:38Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Animation and technical errors */

Rock Bottom

2011-10-24T02:54:56Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 19
|prev=Metal Attraction
|next=Partners
|image=RockBottom-energonmine.jpg‎
|caption=That's Rock Bottom.
|title="Rock Bottom"
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Tim Jones]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Jack and Miko find themselves trapped inside a cave with Megatron and Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
Waiting outside [[Stripped energon mine|a mine]] opening, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] complains loudly to [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that she'd rather be at the [[Slash Monkey]] metal concert she's been looking forward to. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] emerge from the entrance, confused that the mine seems to be stripped, yet there's an [[energon (fuel)|energon]] signal coming from inside. While they're still discussing the conundrum, Miko runs into the mine to take a look, resulting in Bulkhead chasing her in and Jack persuading Arcee to let him go in as well. Moments after they step inside, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] land at the mine entrance. Starscream is confused as to why have they come to an exhausted mine, but Megatron leads the way inside.

Bulkhead finds Miko testing the acoustics in a cavern. While she's whooping and yelling, Bulkhead's detector bleeps, and he attempts to contact Arcee. The comms, however, are useless due to interference from the rock surrounding them. Bulkhead decides to get a sample for [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and begins breaking pieces off the rock he's found.

[[Image:RockBottom-Starscreamprays.jpg‎|250px|thumb|left|When this life makes you mad enough to kill.]]

Megatron and Starscream find [[Decepticon]] mining equipment. Starscream tries to blame its presence on an error by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], but Megatron plucks a chunk of energon from the wall and explains that he's been keeping up with Starscream's many plottings, thanks to Soundwave's spying. He's let Starscream continue until now for his own amusement, but enough's enough. Starscream pleads for his life...and it's this scene that Jack and Arcee stumble on. Megatron begins firing on the two newcomers and Starscream sees his chance to try to escape. Enraged, Megatron fires after him. Arcee takes advantage of Megatron's distraction and fires, causing him to discharge his [[fusion cannon]] into the ceiling, which gives way. Massive rocks fall on Megatron, causing the floor to start caving in as well, and both Arcee and Jack fall into a swiftly widening hole.

[[Image:RockBottom-Bulkheadpassion.jpg‎|250px|thumb|When you want something bad enough to steal.]]

In the cavern, Bulkhead protects Miko from the falling rocks.

Starscream, speeding through the mine in his jet mode, is hit by rocks and can only cry out as the tunnel to the mine entrance collapses.

In the aftermath, Jack struggles up to find himself alone in the cave and goes searching for the others.

Miko likewise picks herself up to find Bulkhead holding up a huge chunk of the ceiling from caving in on them. They have no idea as to what caused the cave-in, but Miko starts trying to clear the rocks away so they can get out.

Starscream pulls himself free of the mine and into the open air. He experiences a brief moment of triumph before realizing that Megatron has survived worse and if he doesn't make some attempt to rescue his leader, the other Decepticons surely will, which will mean problems for Starscream in the long run. Besides, he can take the credit if he succeeds.

Still searching, Jack stumbles upon one of the Decepticon mining drills.

As night falls outside, Miko is tiring from her work. Bulkhead points out there's limited oxygen, and she's using it faster by exerting herself. Despite Miko saying she has to get Bulkhead out, he says he's fine, though his creaking servos tell a different story.

Jack gets the mining drill working and begins guiding it to find the others.

Bulkhead and Miko hear drilling. Miko yells out weakly, and Bulkhead tells her to hit his foot with a rock to make a noise.

[[Image:RockBottom-Megstrapped.jpg|thumb|250px|left|When you feel like you have had it up to here.]]

Elsewhere, Jack uses the drill to clear a path only to uncover Megatron's face, the rest of him still pinned by fallen rock. Megatron suggests that Jack use the drill to finish him, but Jack doesn't believe [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] would want Megatron finished that way and drills off in another direction.

[[Image:RockBottom-Mikocries.jpg‎|250px|thumb|'Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.]]

Miko continues banging Bulkhead's foot, but a noise stops her and Bulkhead has to admit that his arms are starting to fail. She hits him a couple more times before someone starts to break through the wall. Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived as it turns out to be Starscream. Bulkhead asks him to let Miko go, but Miko refuses to leave Bulkhead. Starscream menaces her until Bulkhead gives him a solid kick. Starscream recovers from that, only to be knocked down by Jack's drill as it comes through the wall. Miko is quickly persuaded to hop aboard the drill, which she does tearfully, and the two humans back out, leaving Bulkhead and Starscream alone. Jack and Miko start trying to dig their way out, but Jack suddenly stops the drill dead as a large foot comes down in front of them.

Starscream is pleased. Now not only will he be able to rescue Megatron, but he'll have Bulkhead as a gift. Unfortunately for him, Arcee appears with a gun pointed at his head and tells him to raise his hands.

The Autobots exit the mine with the kids and briefly discuss finishing off the Decepticons. When they decide that Optimus wouldn't do it, they go home instead.

Starscream strains to hold up the rock that Bulkhead had been supporting when he spots Megatron leaning through the nearby opening. Starscream is reduced to begging for mercy once more and the Decepticon leader responds with a menacing look.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (6)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?" 
"Uhh—" 
"''Forever!'' And it's their only U.S. date!" 
"Well, there's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure Bulgarian shriek metal?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Jack''' discuss rock concerts.

"She went in. Unbelievable." 
"Really? Have you...met her?"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' watch Miko run into the cave.

"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream! I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced." 
"You know about that?!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' discuss the latter's endeavors.

"Roll out."
:—'''Jack''' being genre savvy as he activates some Decepticon mining equipment.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory—seize the day! Optimus would." 
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this." 
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus—the day I rip out his spark!"
:—A pinned '''Megatron''' is discovered by '''Jack''', who refuses to take advantage of the situation and kill him.

"Run Miko!" 
"Yes, run Miko! I would love to see you try! Really, I would!"
:-'''Starscream''' mocks '''Bulkhead''' before getting knocked down by a drill. Karma, baby.

"If you think I'm going to beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it!" 
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' unintentionally insults '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the cave-in begins, Bulkhead gets down on his hands and knees to shield Miko from the collapsing ceiling. In the next scene, however, he's standing upright and holding up a far larger piece of rock than he had been previously covered with.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead has Miko hit him with a rock to signal Jack. Either he's devoting ''all'' his energon to holding up the rock, or he's forgotten about his sound system.
* Not so much an error as a curiosity, but based on the day/night cycle shown outside the cave, at least 12 hours passed during the episode. In all that time, the other Autobots made no apparent effort to look for their lost comrades. Considering Miko's concert was supposed to happen two hours after the start of the episode, they should have noticed something was amiss when no one came back.
* Even though the sounds of robots stomping around and yelling should echo throughout the cave, Megatron and Starscream go completely unnoticed until Arcee and Jack stumble upon them by accident. Furthermore, Megatron and Starscream enter the cave mere minutes after Arcee and Jack, yet somehow manage to get ahead of them in the tunnels undetected.
*How does Jack know how to start a Cybertonian drill?
*Bulkhead says that Autobot's don't need to breath. But when Starscream when he gets out of the cave, he coughs and gasps for air.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references the events of "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" while discussing Starscream's previous failed attempts at treachery.
* Starscream also refers to the events of "Masters & Students" when he remembers that Megatron has survived far worse than a simple cave-in.
* Miko loosely references the spacebridge battle from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" when Bulkhead reminds her that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Transformers references===
*As Jack starts up the mining drill, he quietly says, "[[Roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's "Did I do that?" line is almost certainly a reference to Steve Urkel's catchphrase from ''Family Matters''.
*Starscream says "Rust in peace!" as in "Rest in peace". It is [[Sick Mind|not the first time]] Starscream uses a common human phrase. He is also not the only [[Terrorsaur (BW)|bad guy]] [[Double Dinobot|to use this line.]] [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] also quotes this in a cut scene during ''War for Cybertron'', as well as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] in "[[The Immobilizer]]".
*Bulkhead having to hold up the ceiling is reminiscent of the Greek titan Atlas being forced to hold up the sky.

===Trivia===
* Megatron seems awfully surprised that Starscream would run at the first opportunity. Did he think Starscream wouldn't care about his earlier death threat?
* Ratchet probably never got that rock sample. Too bad.
* This is the first episode where Jack meets Megatron face-to-face, though Raf beat him to being the first human to meet the Decepticon leader back in "[[Out of His Head]]".
* Starscream's wings folded up with alarm when he was overcome with fear.
* Miko exercises her right to charge into [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|situations]] that almost get her killed... [[Shadowzone|again]].

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Rock Bottom

2011-10-24T02:54:03Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 19
|prev=Metal Attraction
|next=Partners
|image=RockBottom-energonmine.jpg‎
|caption=That's Rock Bottom.
|title="Rock Bottom"
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Tim Jones]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Jack and Miko find themselves trapped inside a cave with Megatron and Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
Waiting outside [[Stripped energon mine|a mine]] opening, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] complains loudly to [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that she'd rather be at the [[Slash Monkey]] metal concert she's been looking forward to. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] emerge from the entrance, confused that the mine seems to be stripped, yet there's an [[energon (fuel)|energon]] signal coming from inside. While they're still discussing the conundrum, Miko runs into the mine to take a look, resulting in Bulkhead chasing her in and Jack persuading Arcee to let him go in as well. Moments after they step inside, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] land at the mine entrance. Starscream is confused as to why have they come to an exhausted mine, but Megatron leads the way inside.

Bulkhead finds Miko testing the acoustics in a cavern. While she's whooping and yelling, Bulkhead's detector bleeps, and he attempts to contact Arcee. The comms, however, are useless due to interference from the rock surrounding them. Bulkhead decides to get a sample for [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and begins breaking pieces off the rock he's found.

[[Image:RockBottom-Starscreamprays.jpg‎|250px|thumb|left|When this life makes you mad enough to kill.]]

Megatron and Starscream find [[Decepticon]] mining equipment. Starscream tries to blame its presence on an error by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], but Megatron plucks a chunk of energon from the wall and explains that he's been keeping up with Starscream's many plottings, thanks to Soundwave's spying. He's let Starscream continue until now for his own amusement, but enough's enough. Starscream pleads for his life...and it's this scene that Jack and Arcee stumble on. Megatron begins firing on the two newcomers and Starscream sees his chance to try to escape. Enraged, Megatron fires after him. Arcee takes advantage of Megatron's distraction and fires, causing him to discharge his [[fusion cannon]] into the ceiling, which gives way. Massive rocks fall on Megatron, causing the floor to start caving in as well, and both Arcee and Jack fall into a swiftly widening hole.

[[Image:RockBottom-Bulkheadpassion.jpg‎|250px|thumb|When you want something bad enough to steal.]]

In the cavern, Bulkhead protects Miko from the falling rocks.

Starscream, speeding through the mine in his jet mode, is hit by rocks and can only cry out as the tunnel to the mine entrance collapses.

In the aftermath, Jack struggles up to find himself alone in the cave and goes searching for the others.

Miko likewise picks herself up to find Bulkhead holding up a huge chunk of the ceiling from caving in on them. They have no idea as to what caused the cave-in, but Miko starts trying to clear the rocks away so they can get out.

Starscream pulls himself free of the mine and into the open air. He experiences a brief moment of triumph before realizing that Megatron has survived worse and if he doesn't make some attempt to rescue his leader, the other Decepticons surely will, which will mean problems for Starscream in the long run. Besides, he can take the credit if he succeeds.

Still searching, Jack stumbles upon one of the Decepticon mining drills.

As night falls outside, Miko is tiring from her work. Bulkhead points out there's limited oxygen, and she's using it faster by exerting herself. Despite Miko saying she has to get Bulkhead out, he says he's fine, though his creaking servos tell a different story.

Jack gets the mining drill working and begins guiding it to find the others.

Bulkhead and Miko hear drilling. Miko yells out weakly, and Bulkhead tells her to hit his foot with a rock to make a noise.

[[Image:RockBottom-Megstrapped.jpg|thumb|250px|left|When you feel like you have had it up to here.]]

Elsewhere, Jack uses the drill to clear a path only to uncover Megatron's face, the rest of him still pinned by fallen rock. Megatron suggests that Jack use the drill to finish him, but Jack doesn't believe [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] would want Megatron finished that way and drills off in another direction.

[[Image:RockBottom-Mikocries.jpg‎|250px|thumb|'Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.]]

Miko continues banging Bulkhead's foot, but a noise stops her and Bulkhead has to admit that his arms are starting to fail. She hits him a couple more times before someone starts to break through the wall. Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived as it turns out to be Starscream. Bulkhead asks him to let Miko go, but Miko refuses to leave Bulkhead. Starscream menaces her until Bulkhead gives him a solid kick. Starscream recovers from that, only to be knocked down by Jack's drill as it comes through the wall. Miko is quickly persuaded to hop aboard the drill, which she does tearfully, and the two humans back out, leaving Bulkhead and Starscream alone. Jack and Miko start trying to dig their way out, but Jack suddenly stops the drill dead as a large foot comes down in front of them.

Starscream is pleased. Now not only will he be able to rescue Megatron, but he'll have Bulkhead as a gift. Unfortunately for him, Arcee appears with a gun pointed at his head and tells him to raise his hands.

The Autobots exit the mine with the kids and briefly discuss finishing off the Decepticons. When they decide that Optimus wouldn't do it, they go home instead.

Starscream strains to hold up the rock that Bulkhead had been supporting when he spots Megatron leaning through the nearby opening. Starscream is reduced to begging for mercy once more and the Decepticon leader responds with a menacing look.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (6)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?" 
"Uhh—" 
"''Forever!'' And it's their only U.S. date!" 
"Well, there's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure Bulgarian shriek metal?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Jack''' discuss rock concerts.

"She went in. Unbelievable." 
"Really? Have you...met her?"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' watch Miko run into the cave.

"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream! I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced." 
"You know about that?!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' discuss the latter's endeavors.

"Roll out."
:—'''Jack''' being genre savvy as he activates some Decepticon mining equipment.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory—seize the day! Optimus would." 
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this." 
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus—the day I rip out his spark!"
:—A pinned '''Megatron''' is discovered by '''Jack''', who refuses to take advantage of the situation and kill him.

"Run Miko!"
"Yes, run Miko! I would love to see you try! Really, I would!"
:-'''Starscream''' mocks '''Bulkhead''' before getting knocked down by a drill. Karma, baby.

"If you think I'm going to beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it!" 
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' unintentionally insults '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the cave-in begins, Bulkhead gets down on his hands and knees to shield Miko from the collapsing ceiling. In the next scene, however, he's standing upright and holding up a far larger piece of rock than he had been previously covered with.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead has Miko hit him with a rock to signal Jack. Either he's devoting ''all'' his energon to holding up the rock, or he's forgotten about his sound system.
* Not so much an error as a curiosity, but based on the day/night cycle shown outside the cave, at least 12 hours passed during the episode. In all that time, the other Autobots made no apparent effort to look for their lost comrades. Considering Miko's concert was supposed to happen two hours after the start of the episode, they should have noticed something was amiss when no one came back.
* Even though the sounds of robots stomping around and yelling should echo throughout the cave, Megatron and Starscream go completely unnoticed until Arcee and Jack stumble upon them by accident. Furthermore, Megatron and Starscream enter the cave mere minutes after Arcee and Jack, yet somehow manage to get ahead of them in the tunnels undetected.
*How does Jack know how to start a Cybertonian drill?
*Bulkhead says that Autobot's don't need to breath. But when Starscream when he gets out of the cave, he coughs and gasps for air.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references the events of "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" while discussing Starscream's previous failed attempts at treachery.
* Starscream also refers to the events of "Masters & Students" when he remembers that Megatron has survived far worse than a simple cave-in.
* Miko loosely references the spacebridge battle from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" when Bulkhead reminds her that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Transformers references===
*As Jack starts up the mining drill, he quietly says, "[[Roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's "Did I do that?" line is almost certainly a reference to Steve Urkel's catchphrase from ''Family Matters''.
*Starscream says "Rust in peace!" as in "Rest in peace". It is [[Sick Mind|not the first time]] Starscream uses a common human phrase. He is also not the only [[Terrorsaur (BW)|bad guy]] [[Double Dinobot|to use this line.]] [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] also quotes this in a cut scene during ''War for Cybertron'', as well as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] in "[[The Immobilizer]]".
*Bulkhead having to hold up the ceiling is reminiscent of the Greek titan Atlas being forced to hold up the sky.

===Trivia===
* Megatron seems awfully surprised that Starscream would run at the first opportunity. Did he think Starscream wouldn't care about his earlier death threat?
* Ratchet probably never got that rock sample. Too bad.
* This is the first episode where Jack meets Megatron face-to-face, though Raf beat him to being the first human to meet the Decepticon leader back in "[[Out of His Head]]".
* Starscream's wings folded up with alarm when he was overcome with fear.
* Miko exercises her right to charge into [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|situations]] that almost get her killed... [[Shadowzone|again]].

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Rock Bottom

2011-10-24T02:46:15Z

Lordstarscream28: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 19
|prev=Metal Attraction
|next=Partners
|image=RockBottom-energonmine.jpg‎
|caption=That's Rock Bottom.
|title="Rock Bottom"
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Tim Jones]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Jack and Miko find themselves trapped inside a cave with Megatron and Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
Waiting outside [[Stripped energon mine|a mine]] opening, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] complains loudly to [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that she'd rather be at the [[Slash Monkey]] metal concert she's been looking forward to. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] emerge from the entrance, confused that the mine seems to be stripped, yet there's an [[energon (fuel)|energon]] signal coming from inside. While they're still discussing the conundrum, Miko runs into the mine to take a look, resulting in Bulkhead chasing her in and Jack persuading Arcee to let him go in as well. Moments after they step inside, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] land at the mine entrance. Starscream is confused as to why have they come to an exhausted mine, but Megatron leads the way inside.

Bulkhead finds Miko testing the acoustics in a cavern. While she's whooping and yelling, Bulkhead's detector bleeps, and he attempts to contact Arcee. The comms, however, are useless due to interference from the rock surrounding them. Bulkhead decides to get a sample for [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and begins breaking pieces off the rock he's found.

[[Image:RockBottom-Starscreamprays.jpg‎|250px|thumb|left|When this life makes you mad enough to kill.]]

Megatron and Starscream find [[Decepticon]] mining equipment. Starscream tries to blame its presence on an error by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], but Megatron plucks a chunk of energon from the wall and explains that he's been keeping up with Starscream's many plottings, thanks to Soundwave's spying. He's let Starscream continue until now for his own amusement, but enough's enough. Starscream pleads for his life...and it's this scene that Jack and Arcee stumble on. Megatron begins firing on the two newcomers and Starscream sees his chance to try to escape. Enraged, Megatron fires after him. Arcee takes advantage of Megatron's distraction and fires, causing him to discharge his [[fusion cannon]] into the ceiling, which gives way. Massive rocks fall on Megatron, causing the floor to start caving in as well, and both Arcee and Jack fall into a swiftly widening hole.

[[Image:RockBottom-Bulkheadpassion.jpg‎|250px|thumb|When you want something bad enough to steal.]]

In the cavern, Bulkhead protects Miko from the falling rocks.

Starscream, speeding through the mine in his jet mode, is hit by rocks and can only cry out as the tunnel to the mine entrance collapses.

In the aftermath, Jack struggles up to find himself alone in the cave and goes searching for the others.

Miko likewise picks herself up to find Bulkhead holding up a huge chunk of the ceiling from caving in on them. They have no idea as to what caused the cave-in, but Miko starts trying to clear the rocks away so they can get out.

Starscream pulls himself free of the mine and into the open air. He experiences a brief moment of triumph before realizing that Megatron has survived worse and if he doesn't make some attempt to rescue his leader, the other Decepticons surely will, which will mean problems for Starscream in the long run. Besides, he can take the credit if he succeeds.

Still searching, Jack stumbles upon one of the Decepticon mining drills.

As night falls outside, Miko is tiring from her work. Bulkhead points out there's limited oxygen, and she's using it faster by exerting herself. Despite Miko saying she has to get Bulkhead out, he says he's fine, though his creaking servos tell a different story.

Jack gets the mining drill working and begins guiding it to find the others.

Bulkhead and Miko hear drilling. Miko yells out weakly, and Bulkhead tells her to hit his foot with a rock to make a noise.

[[Image:RockBottom-Megstrapped.jpg|thumb|250px|left|When you feel like you have had it up to here.]]

Elsewhere, Jack uses the drill to clear a path only to uncover Megatron's face, the rest of him still pinned by fallen rock. Megatron suggests that Jack use the drill to finish him, but Jack doesn't believe [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] would want Megatron finished that way and drills off in another direction.

[[Image:RockBottom-Mikocries.jpg‎|250px|thumb|'Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.]]

Miko continues banging Bulkhead's foot, but a noise stops her and Bulkhead has to admit that his arms are starting to fail. She hits him a couple more times before someone starts to break through the wall. Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived as it turns out to be Starscream. Bulkhead asks him to let Miko go, but Miko refuses to leave Bulkhead. Starscream menaces her until Bulkhead gives him a solid kick. Starscream recovers from that, only to be knocked down by Jack's drill as it comes through the wall. Miko is quickly persuaded to hop aboard the drill, which she does tearfully, and the two humans back out, leaving Bulkhead and Starscream alone. Jack and Miko start trying to dig their way out, but Jack suddenly stops the drill dead as a large foot comes down in front of them.

Starscream is pleased. Now not only will he be able to rescue Megatron, but he'll have Bulkhead as a gift. Unfortunately for him, Arcee appears with a gun pointed at his head and tells him to raise his hands.

The Autobots exit the mine with the kids and briefly discuss finishing off the Decepticons. When they decide that Optimus wouldn't do it, they go home instead.

Starscream strains to hold up the rock that Bulkhead had been supporting when he spots Megatron leaning through the nearby opening. Starscream is reduced to begging for mercy once more and the Decepticon leader responds with a menacing look.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (6)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?" 
"Uhh—" 
"''Forever!'' And it's their only U.S. date!" 
"Well, there's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure Bulgarian shriek metal?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Jack''' discuss rock concerts.

"She went in. Unbelievable." 
"Really? Have you...met her?"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' watch Miko run into the cave.

"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream! I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced." 
"You know about that?!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' discuss the latter's endeavors.

"Roll out."
:—'''Jack''' being genre savvy as he activates some Decepticon mining equipment.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory—seize the day! Optimus would." 
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this." 
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus—the day I rip out his spark!"
:—A pinned '''Megatron''' is discovered by '''Jack''', who refuses to take advantage of the situation and kill him.

"If you think I'm going to beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it!" 
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' unintentionally insults '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the cave-in begins, Bulkhead gets down on his hands and knees to shield Miko from the collapsing ceiling. In the next scene, however, he's standing upright and holding up a far larger piece of rock than he had been previously covered with.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead has Miko hit him with a rock to signal Jack. Either he's devoting ''all'' his energon to holding up the rock, or he's forgotten about his sound system.
* Not so much an error as a curiosity, but based on the day/night cycle shown outside the cave, at least 12 hours passed during the episode. In all that time, the other Autobots made no apparent effort to look for their lost comrades. Considering Miko's concert was supposed to happen two hours after the start of the episode, they should have noticed something was amiss when no one came back.
* Even though the sounds of robots stomping around and yelling should echo throughout the cave, Megatron and Starscream go completely unnoticed until Arcee and Jack stumble upon them by accident. Furthermore, Megatron and Starscream enter the cave mere minutes after Arcee and Jack, yet somehow manage to get ahead of them in the tunnels undetected.
*How does Jack know how to start a Cybertonian drill?
*Bulkhead says that Autobot's don't need to breath. But when Starscream when he gets out of the cave, he coughs and gasps for air.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references the events of "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" while discussing Starscream's previous failed attempts at treachery.
* Starscream also refers to the events of "Masters & Students" when he remembers that Megatron has survived far worse than a simple cave-in.
* Miko loosely references the spacebridge battle from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" when Bulkhead reminds her that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Transformers references===
*As Jack starts up the mining drill, he quietly says, "[[Roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's "Did I do that?" line is almost certainly a reference to Steve Urkel's catchphrase from ''Family Matters''.
*Starscream says "Rust in peace!" as in "Rest in peace". It is [[Sick Mind|not the first time]] Starscream uses a common human phrase. He is also not the only [[Terrorsaur (BW)|bad guy]] [[Double Dinobot|to use this line.]] [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] also quotes this in a cut scene during ''War for Cybertron'', as well as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] in "[[The Immobilizer]]".
*Bulkhead having to hold up the ceiling is reminiscent of the Greek titan Atlas being forced to hold up the sky.

===Trivia===
* Megatron seems awfully surprised that Starscream would run at the first opportunity. Did he think Starscream wouldn't care about his earlier death threat?
* Ratchet probably never got that rock sample. Too bad.
* This is the first episode where Jack meets Megatron face-to-face, though Raf beat him to being the first human to meet the Decepticon leader back in "[[Out of His Head]]".
* Starscream's wings folded up with alarm when he was overcome with fear.
* Miko exercises her right to charge into [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|situations]] that almost get her killed... [[Shadowzone|again]].

[[Category:Prime episodes]]