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The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2

2024-06-04T13:51:04Z

TVsMrNeil: Optimus and Sky Lynx escaping Charr. This always bugged me. Fixed a few grammatical and spelling errors while I was at it.

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=95
|ep2=32
|prev2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
|next2=Four Warriors Come out of the Sky
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG
|caption=Hmm, this looks familiar...
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"
|season=3
|season ep=30
|production code=700-116
|airdate=[[February 25]], 1987
|teleplay by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|story by=[[Cherie Wilkerson]] and [[Marv Wolfman]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Studio Look]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEr_OK8xD1c
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Optimus and a handful of Autobots make a desperate bid to recover the Matrix, in the hopes that a cure for the Hate Plague can be found.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Primeandjessicamorgan.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Chip Chase, is that you?]]
Within [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] has been fully restored to life by [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and [[Klementia|a Quintesson survivor]] of the rampant [[Hate Plague]] that's infecting the universe. Prime demands to know what has happened during his time on the [[Transformer afterlife|other side]]. Sky Lynx recaps the events that had conspired to bring him back, including [[Jessica Morgan]]'s valiant play to save him from total destruction, the discovery of the Hate Plague spores, and the trap laid out by [[Mark Morgan|Jessica's father]] and her partner [[Gregory Swofford]] to infect the [[Autobot]]s with the spores in revenge, which ultimately spiraled out of control. It was thought by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]], before his infection, that Prime would know what it would take to stop the plague. Prime asks who is available, and learns of the Autobots injured battling [[Superion (G1)|Superion]].

The survivors are brought back to Autobot City, where the [[Quintesson]] manages to reactivate them, completely rebuilding [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] into Goldbug. When Goldbug asks what the plan is, Prime admits that he doesn't have a plan. Without the accumulated wisdom within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] (which now resides in Rodimus), he doesn't have a clue as to where to start. That is, until Jessica comes forward with the experimental alloy that she, her father, and Gregory had worked on, which proved strong enough to block the spores. Theoretically, coating Optimus with this alloy would protect himself from the spores' infection and allow him to get close enough to Rodimus to extract the Matrix from him. However, all remaining alloy samples were stolen by the Decepticons. The Autobots decide to retrieve the metal.

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 crazycons.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|Cyclonus and Scourge each spent 2,000 XP to create the Level 7 Flame Barrier spell. Unfortunately, Galvatron has Protection from Fire with Permanency effect.]]
Meanwhile, on [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is pinned down by his own mutinously diseased soldiers, unable to fight back against their maddening ferocity... until Optimus and his team arrive to save the day, convincing Galvatron that it would be in his best interest to join in an alliance with them. As is his way, however, the Decepticon leader is suspicious of Optimus's motives, especially when he learns they need the alloy he stole, but cannot get a reason for it out of them. He agrees to join in and leads Optimus and his gang down a series of boobytrapped tunnels, their numbers dwindling from the tunnel's natural hazards and the infected Decepticon mob behind them, until only Optimus, Galvatron, Sky Lynx, and Jessica arrive at the alloy's hiding place. Unfortunately, Jessie accidentally lets slip their plan to coat Optimus with the metal after confirming there would be enough of it to do the job, prompting Galvatron to turn on Optimus in hopes of using the process on himself, but he is soon subdued by Sky Lynx. Under coercion, Galvatron loads the alloy onto Prime's trailer but doesn't notice that an infected [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] has managed to sneak in, infecting Jessica in the process. Jessica, in turn, infects Galvatron, forcing Sky Lynx and Optimus to flee back to Earth.

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Primes duel.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|So I guess Rodimus is a bottom... to Ultra Magnus?]]
Once on Earth, Optimus is coated with the alloy, and sets out to find Rodimus. He finds him taking down infected Transformers with reckless glee, and attempts to reason with him, which fails. Unwilling to hurt his successor, Prime lures Rodimus to a nearby auto shop, attempting to peacefully subdue and talk Rodimus into helping him, but the Hate Plague is overriding any effort to do so, forcing Optimus to knock Rodimus out and take the Matrix back by force.

Back at Autobot City, Optimus dives into the Matrix to question the elders of the past in reverse chronological order (of their history) to try and find out any information on the spores. The spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] warns him that if he travels too far, he risks becoming lost within the Matrix itself. During Prime's journey, the Quintesson that revived him notices a troop of infected Transformers attempting to get in, and manages to temporarily shut them out, giving Optimus the time he needs to finally find his answer. He learns that, in a period of pre-Cybertronian history, the Plague ''has'' visited the planet before, but was contained and sealed inside the star Jessica and Gregory found it in using sheer wisdom, though even back then, no one had the wisdom to destroy the spores, and now that it has spread so much throughout the galaxy, it's doubtful that anyone has the wisdom to even contain them again. Optimus then realizes that a source of raw wisdom may be available to destroy the infection once and for all: the accumulated wisdom within the Matrix of Leadership.

The infected Transformers finally break into the base, and corner the Quintesson, who begs them to stop. Galvatron grabs a metal pole, intending to impale Prime. However, Prime's chest opens to reveal a glowing Matrix, surprising the Transformers. Asking it to "light our [[darkest hour]]", Optimus Prime releases the energy of the Matrix of Leadership, which spreads across the world and across the universe, and totally eradicates the Plague.

Some while later, in Autobot City, a remorseful Gregory and Jessica's father offer deep apologies to the Autobots, while Galvatron, in a rare moment of calm, shakes his old enemy's hand, proclaiming that Prime has earned his respect and that "there will be no war today." Rodimus (now once more Hot Rod, without the Matrix within him) notes that the Matrix is now empty, its wisdom supposedly lost in order to stop the plague. Optimus, however, disagrees; they have all become a little wiser, now, and although the Matrix is indeed empty of wisdom, it is up to them from then on to fill it again with their knowledge and experience. Optimus, once again the Autobot leader, orders his troops to "Transform and [[roll out]]".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (2)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (6)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (7)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (26)
*[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (27)
*[[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (28)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (29)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (31)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (32)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (33)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (16)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (18)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (19)
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (20)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (21)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (22)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (23)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (24)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (25)
|c3=
*[[Jessica Morgan]] (4)
*[[Gregory Swofford]] (5)
*[[Mark Morgan]] (34)
|c4=
*[[Klementia|Quintesson judge]] (3)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] (9)
*[[It]] (30)
}}

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

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

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

"Have I no friends left?!" 
"Well, well, what have we here?" 
"Looks like something the cat dragged in."
:—'''Galvatron''' is no longer so impressive to '''Cyclonus''' and '''Predaking'''

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Prime Galvatron.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Come on, Optimus, why can't we be friends?"
 "When we first met, you shot me and my girlfriend. You make a bad first impression."]]

[[File:Roop2 prime vs prime.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"NO ONE is innocent!" ...especially not after this series of screencaps.]]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}
[[File:GetThatMicrophoneOuttaMyFace.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] meets with [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] ("The greatest fighter in the galaxy") in the barren wasteland to continue their interview for the [[Autobot City News]]. Optimus takes exception to being called a "fighter", as he doesn't agree that fighting is always the solution. In fact, in order to cure the galaxy of the [[Hate Plague]], he had to find a solution ''other'' than fighting...

With the tale concluded, Optimus asks Tommy if he'd like to help him refuel [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]]. Tommy is psyched to participate in such a "privilege" and signs off his report. He then clings to Prime's head as they blast off into space.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Final script: 24th November 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:It wireframe.gif|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Excuse me sir! Do you have Prince Albert in a can? You do?? Well, you better let the poor guy out! WUHAH! WUHAH!
WUHAH!"]]
*Prime says of Galvatron: "That's because I know you too well..." As this is the first time Optimus has really met Galvatron (apart from a brief firefight while being a half-alive quasi-zombie in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]"), it seems that he's able to recognize his [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|old foe]], despite the change in name and appearance. Optimus likely learned of Galvatron's identity while Galvatron briefly possessed the Matrix in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]".
*Furthering the sense that the Throttlebots were thrown into this two-parter at the last minute, the only dialogue they receive comes in this episode: a collection of generic barely-on-screen shouts delivered by [[Frank Welker]] ("Smash Rodimus!") and [[Jack Angel]] ("After him!") that aren't attributed to any individual members of the group. Dedicated performers would later be cast to play the individual Throttlebots in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]".
*Optimus's journey through the Matrix gives us a look at some of its early bearers. It almost goes without saying that these robots don't resemble any of the ones we saw back in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]". Moving backward in time, they include:
**A broad-faced 'bot with prominent cheek guards
**A slimmer, decrepit-looking 'bot in similar colors - the ancient rhyming Autobot from "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]".
**A heavily-bearded 'bot - the original "military hardware" (pre-'''Decepticon'''!) design from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]".
**A wireframe-style entity referred to in the script as "[[It]]", bearing a strong resemblance to a Quintesson Judge's Death head. A version of this design appeared previously in Rodimus Prime's dream sequence in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]".
*Upon entering the Matrix of Leadership, the first Autobot that Optimus Prime encounters is Rodimus Prime; then he converses with Alpha Trion. The latter's appearance there is somewhat puzzling, as it was [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2|previously established]] (and [[The Rebirth, Part 2|later reiterated]]) that he had merged with Vector Sigma. Alpha Trion's presence makes even ''less'' sense considering that it was clearly stated in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" that he had never taken the Matrix for himself, thus eliminating the possibility that a "backup copy" of himself had somehow been "uploaded" into it. A variety of later fiction would, indirectly, offer explanations centering around the connection between the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]], the Matrix, Vector Sigma and Primus. In Alpha Trion's case he's in the afterlife, which one can communicate with through both the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Rodimus's presence is more murky, but can be accounted for by the notion of the Matrix as a gateway to the Allspark.
*Optimus using the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague bears more than a passing resemblance to when Rodimus Prime used the Matrix to destroy [[Unicron]] in [[The Transformers: The Movie|''The Movie'']]. They've even got "[[The Touch]]" playing in the background.
*In Japanese continuity, the events of [[The Great Transformer War issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[The Great Transformer War]]'' take place shortly after this episode, helping to bridge the gap between it and "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", the first episode of ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''.

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**A mix of [[TIE Fighter]] and [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] engines as Sky Lynx rescues the Quintesson during the recap.
**The sound of the darting [[Wikia:Starwars:Marksman-H training remote|Marksman-H training remote]] can briefly be heard as Prime's chest pops open to unleash the Matrix's power.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Goldbugtroop1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85|Goldbug Prime.]]
*The chair Optimus was sitting on is missing at the beginning of the episode.
*Optimus's fog lights are entirely red, even at the bulbs, which should be yellow or white.
*The recap animation shows Prime's body being pulled out of his ship with several cables. While this idea makes perfect sense, no cables were used during the actual event last episode.
*As Sky Lynx recaps last episode's events, the animation shows the exploding detonator/asteroid/planet/whatever-else-the-script-has-retconned-it-into-being... while he describes the ''star'' going nova. Granted, it's repeating the same goof as the previous ep.
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Steeljaw's paws are over the side of the table in one shot and beside him in the next shot.
*In his first full body shot, Goldbug's head is drawn off-model, with pointier horns, smaller eyes and a much simpler mouthplate that looks more like Optimus Prime's than Goldbug's zigzag-shaped plate.
*As he speaks with the group, the closeups of Optimus's face from the side have the panel on the left side of his head in gray instead of blue. The long shots don't show his mouth plate moving as he speaks.
*During Blurr's "let's go!" rambling, the Quintesson wobbles around a bit.
*After Kup suggests the Autobots steal the metal back, Steeljaw (who's very close to the camera) is Rampage colored like Steeljaw.
*When Optimus Prime kneels down to talk to Jessica Morgan, Goldbug's feet (in the background) are colored gray instead of gold, even though his shins are still gold.
[[File:Roop kup and prime.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Optimus suddenly has his rifle back, though he wasn't holding it in the previous shots.
*As the group "rolls out," Kup is shown driving backward (unless he turns around after the scene transition...).
*The red squares are missing from the tops of Galvatron's shoulders in several shots. His chin is gray in some and dark gray in others as well.
*The Autobots on Charr transform to robot mode with the descending-pitch transformation noise, rather than the ascending-pitch version that usually goes with car-to-robot transformations.
*Optimus's rifle has the basic Autobot gun sound effect rather than its usual sound effect.

*As Optimus drives through the cave, his trailer is missing its Autobot symbol.
*Just before he transforms inside the cave, Optimus' bumper and grille are red instead of gray.

*In the distant shot of the Autobots, just before the [[Chaarantula|spider]] approaches them, Blaster appears to have Blast Off's colors.
*Some shots show the crest on Optimus's helmet framed in gray, while others (such as during his "know you too well" line) have it framed in blue.
*A close-up of Jessica reacting to the spider's approach shows her without her exo-suit, which she is shown wearing immediately before and after.
*Blaster's forehead is red instead of white in the following shot.
*As the energy leeches drop on Optimus, his fog lights are long cylinders rather than short triangles.
*Just before getting infected, Blaster has no lines on his switch plate.
*"We have to get out of here!" - Optimus's faceplate is misaligned with his helmet.
*When Galvatron shoots the top of the cave the second time, some of the rocks stay in mid-air.
*When they enter the Decepticon lab, Galvatron is taller than Optimus. In most other shots, he's shorter than Optimus.
*As Jessica discovers the alloy in the lab, Optimus is missing the Autobot symbol on his shoulder.
*After she makes the discovery, a shot shows the sides of Optimus' midsection in white instead of red.
*When Galvatron is threatening Optimus after they find the heat-resistant metal, Galvatron's cannon has a trigger on it.
*When escaping after Galvatron is infected, Optimus and his cab are colored entirely white (as if already coated in the resistant metal!)
*The establishing shot of Autobot City shows it more off-model than ever: It's colored entirely white or gray instead of the usual gold or maroon color, all the tall towers seem unusually short, the turret is either facing inward or missing its barrel, and all the ramps as well as the river that should be right in front of it are missing.
*Searchlight and Chase fire their first few laser shots at Rodimus without any sound effects. Their first shots are purple, but in the next shot they're firing orange lasers.
*During the subsequent fighting, nobody gets the right sound effect; the Throttlebots and Rodimus all use a non-standard laser sound.
*When he first meets Optimus, Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol.
*The subsequent shots show Rodimus as semi-transparent.
*As Rodimus drives out of the junkyard a few moments later, he floats above the ground.
[[File:Hate Plague Rodimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|]]
*Rodimus's gun fires yellow shots at times and purple shots in others. And what happened to his rifle?
*As Optimus grapples with Rodimus, Rodimus's Autobot logo disappears in a few frames.
*The inside of Rodimus' mouth is gray as he delivers the "no one is innocent!" line.
[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Alpha Trion miscolored.jpg‎|thumb|upright=1.4|Trust the Gorton's fisherbot!]]
*The close-up of Optimus aboard the newly infected Sky Lynx shows a standard non-infected coloration behind him.
*The ceiling of the junkyard plant has beams framing the glass, yet the beams disappear when Sky Lynx crashes through them.
*Sky Lynx ''also'' disappears after crashing through the glass.
*As Optimus struggles with Rodimus the second time, Optimus's Autobot logo is framed in white in some shots, black in others.
*When Optimus takes the Matrix from Rodimus, the "glow" from the Matrix lags behind the Matrix itself when he raises it up. Rodimus's chest cavity is also a huge chasm, rather than the usual Matrix-sized compartment.
*In the next shot, Rodimus is laying there with his chest suddenly closed again.
*When Optimus is talking to Alpha Trion, Alpha Trion is miscolored. He's grey, slate blue and orange when shown from the front, and entirely orange when shown from the side. He should be grey, dark red and dark blue. It seems the colorists confused him with the Custodiobot from "[[Surprise Party]]".
*When Headstrong and Tantrum get smushed by the doors, they cry out in generic, distinctly non-Predacon voices.
*When Optimus activates the Matrix, its handles disappear. They're back again in the next shot.
*Jessica's facial appearance in this episode is different than it was in Part 1.
*"The wisdom of the ages... lost." - Hot Rod has a Decepticon symbol on his chest.
*In the same shot, Optimus Prime's thigh is miscolored.
*"But the Matrix is empty!" - Hot Rod has the extra lines on his face that accompany his incarnation as Rodimus.
*As Optimus is explaining that the Matrix must be refilled with the future wisdom, he is colored as if he still has the heat-resistant metal on him.
*In the same shot, Hot Rod looks bigger than Optimus even though he should be much smaller (especially now that he's not Rodimus anymore).
*In the last shot of the episode, Optimus is missing his smoke stacks, the front of his cab has the gray stripes but the sides do not, and his trailer is again missing its Autobot logo; meanwhile, Blurr clips into Kup and his front end disappears from the frame.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus's last line in Part 1 was "This time, no force in the universe can stop me." His first line here is "''Now'', no force in the universe ''will'' stop me."
*Sky Lynx is in two parts at the beginning. He was the full walking bird at the end of the last episode.
*After Sky Lynx's recap, Optimus is seen getting up from a table and walking over to where he was a minute earlier. There was no table behind him in previous shots, and no reason for him to lay down for a moment.
*So....how ''exactly'' does Sky Lynx know every single detail of what happened in the previous episode? He wasn't even there when half of those recapped events took place!
*Given that the Autobots are in a rush to save the galaxy, why did the Quintessons take the time to retool Bumblebee into Goldbug?
*How did Kup know that Rodimus had been contaminated? He was deactivated by Superion before that happened, and wasn't around for Sky Lynx's recap.
* Wouldn’t the Autobots and Decepticons have to worry about Trypticon getting infected?
*The alloy is heat-resistant to the point of surviving a supernova in the [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|previous episode]]. Yet it now can be melted down to coat Optimus Prime with it.
*A machine is used to coat Optimus Prime with this superheated alloy. What was ''it'' made out of, and why wasn't that material used?
*And did anyone manage to explain how heat resistance works against spores? What exactly do the writers think {{w|spore}}s are?
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**The Transformers wounded by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (and listed by Sky Lynx) included Steeljaw and Wheelie. At the Autobot lab, Wheelie is replaced by Blaster.
**Steeljaw is revived at the Autobot City lab, but not seen afterwards.
*Continuing the confusion started by the combiners last episode, the infected Decepticons work ''together'' to fight Galvatron and the others, instead of attacking each other.
*Worse, when outnumbered by the Autobots, Cyclonus orders the other Decepticons to retreat, and they follow his command.
*Sky Lynx doesn't help during the spider attack, even though he ''can'' fly.
*Where's the trailer go?
**Optimus is coated in the alloy in robot mode. How does his trailer get coated?
**For that matter, where's the trailer been hanging out for the past couple of years since Optimus died, and how did he get back together with it? It just kinda rolls in as usual when he first transforms.
*Goldbug, Kup and Blaster get infected without being touched; in fact they don't even try to avoid it. Sky Lynx was right next to them but doesn't get infected. Huh?
[[File:Rodimus Matrix Chamber FFOD DA TROOP.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|One toy, four variants.]]
*Sky Lynx suddenly grows a pair of hands to pick up Galvatron's [[particle cannon]] with. Even if they're supposed to be his bird-mode legs (which they appear to be based on), what is he standing on?
*Shouldn't Jessica's full-body exo-suit protect her from direct contact and infection?
*After firing at Cyclonus, Galvatron starts blasting around the room, but there's nobody there.
*After Jessica Morgan and Galvatron are infected, Optimus and Sky Lynx speed off. Jessica makes a jump for Sky Lynx and briefly clings onto his tail before losing her grip, yet Sky Lynx ''still'' doesn't get infected.
*Come to think of it, how do Optimus and Sky Lynx escape Charr? They're in a cave with only one way out. Aren't there partial cave-ins in their path? Wouldn't the other infected Autobots and Decepticons be directly in their path?
*How do the support beams in the junkyard plant hold Optimus and Rodimus' weight?
*Rodimus's Matrix chamber opens via a pair of rectangular swing-out doors much like Optimus' chamber. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door opened in the middle of the flame on his chest. In "Dark Awakening", it hinged across the left side of the flame, and the whole design opened to reveal the chamber.
*When Optimus puts the Matrix into his chest, he puts it in ''lengthwise''. Surely his months of deactivation haven't made him forget how the thing sat in his chest for ''millions of years''?
*The infected transformers work ''together'' to find Optimus Prime, instead of attacking each other.
*"It" tells Prime that "a wise man was able to contain the spores, but...no one had the wisdom to [destroy them]." The implication seems to be that a smart dude figured out a way to control the spores. Yet Prime - and the plot - proceed to interpret this as meaning that "wisdom" is like some kind of laser beam spore-cleaning agent - just point it at the spores and pull the trigger!
*In the movie, the Matrix took up the top half of Optimus' chest compartment and was behind a flip-up panel. Here, it fills in the whole (now hollow) cavity with no panel or other electronics to be seen.
*How exactly did Jessica get off [[Chaar]]?
[[File:Swafford&morganG1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Take our hands! Please!" "Make it your faces and we'll talk."]]
*And what are she and Gregory Swofford doing in [[Moscow]] by the time they're cured of the Hate Plague? It's not just a case of an accidentally recycled background from the previous shot (which did depict actual Russians being cured of the Hate Plague)—even though both shots feature onion domes reminiscent of Saint Basil's Cathedral, they're definitely different background paintings. So... what gives?
*How did they get the alloy ''off'' Optimus Prime? And why would they want to, if it's so resilient? (Unless... they just painted over the alloy?)
*The timing of the last scene is odd. It's long enough after the cure is unleashed for Optimus to have the metal removed or painted over, and for Kup, Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, and the three humans to arrive at Autobot City. Yet Galvatron is still hanging around, and both he and Hot Rod speak as though the previous scene's events just happened.
**Interestingly, Galvatron is consistently portrayed without his cannon in this scene.
*Does anyone else think that Dr. Swofford and Morgan get off waaaaay too easy at the end of the episode? They ''willingly'' unleash the hate plague that causes widespread devastation (and probably death) across not just the world but the entire galaxy, just to spite the Autobots, and they get off by just saying "sorry"? (Then again, we don't actually ''see'' Optimus shaking their hands. Burn!)

===Trivia===
[[File:DialogueScriptTROOPOrionPax.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|So this is odd.]]
*Following the average-for-[[Toei Animation]] Part 1, this episode's artwork quality is among the series' best, with loads of detailed shading, the same pink-glowing-smoke-explosions seen in ''Transformers: The Movie'', and characters generally on-model and well-drawn.
*The portion of "The Touch" that plays includes the line about "Hell breaking loose," an unusually strong word for an American '80s TV cartoon. Guess the censors were looking elsewhere that day. (Amusing timing as a bamboozled Galvatron says "What is this?", seemingly in reaction to the song replacing the show's usual background music!)
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for this episode lists Orion Pax as appearing. A flashback to Optimus Prime's early days that was removed for time constraints, you might think? No. According to the [[dialogue script]] for the episode, Orion Pax was originally going to be the one to ask Prime why he had returned to the Matrix! Presumably, someone on staff caught the error early enough, as Pax's line in the final cut went to Alpha Trion. (The dialogue script also misspells "Trion" as "Tion", for that matter.)
*[[Jack Angel]] takes over as the voice for Cyclonus following the death of [[Roger C. Carmel]].
*This is the final episode of the original American G1 cartoon to be animated by Toei; the remaining episodes would be animated by [[AKOM]]. Toei would later return to animate all the Japanese-exclusive G1 sequel series.
*Prime's appearance in the alloy coat gives him a strong resemblance to Ultra Magnus's unused unarmored form.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast and DVD release):'' "'''Le retour d'Optimus Prime, partie 2'''" ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''Le retour d'Optimus, partie 2'''" ("The Return of Optimus, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 2''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Il ritorno di Commander, Parte 2'''" ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Optimus's line: «I must travel into the Matrix» is not dubbed, so you can see him moving his mouthplate without saying anything.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Il ritorno di Optimus Prime, Parte 2'''" ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' コンボイの復活パート2 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 2'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 25]], [[1987]]
::*The Japanese version of this episode has an alternate ending. After Optimus Prime and the Autobots ride off into the sunset and "The Touch" ends, the music changes to "[[Transformer 2010|TRANSFORMER 2010]]" by [[Shō Hirose]] and the scene shifts to a montage of all the major characters from the series.
::*This montage replaces the "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment focusing on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] used in the US broadcast. The Ultra Magnus "Secret Files" segment was never used in the Japanese broadcast of the series.
::*Following this episode, Japanese cartoon continuity diverges from the Western continuity. Rather than lead into "[[The Rebirth]]" three-parter, Japanese continuity instead continues in their domestically produced series, ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|Transformers: The Headmasters]]''.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Qíngtiānzhù Fùhuó (Xià)'''" (擎天柱复活(下),"Optimus Prime Resurrects, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Zweiter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 23 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Le Retour d'Optimus Prime ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gwsuGqt1c_-0NWqiEB4ufvzbVZHatnrK Episode script, finalised 24th November 1986, missing pages 12-18]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2

2023-07-19T20:35:23Z

TVsMrNeil: Found a few animation glitches that I don't believe have ever been noticed before. Fixed a few typos while I was at it.

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=95
|ep2=32
|prev2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
|next2=Four Warriors Come out of the Sky
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG
|caption=Hmm, this looks familiar...
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"
|season=3
|season ep=30
|production code=700-116
|airdate=[[February 25]], 1987
|teleplay by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|story by=[[Cherie Wilkerson]] and [[Marv Wolfman]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Studio Look]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEr_OK8xD1c
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Optimus and a handful of Autobots make a desperate bid to recover the Matrix, in the hopes that a cure for the Hate Plague can be found.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Primeandjessicamorgan.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Chip Chase, is that you?]]
Within [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] has been fully restored to life by [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and [[Klementia|a Quintesson survivor]] of the rampant [[Hate Plague]] that's infecting the universe. Prime demands to know what has happened during his time on the [[Transformer afterlife|other side]]. Sky Lynx recaps the events that had conspired to bring him back, including [[Jessica Morgan]]'s valiant play to save him from total destruction, the discovery of the Hate Plague spores, and the trap laid out by [[Mark Morgan|Jessica's father]] and her partner [[Gregory Swofford]] to infect the [[Autobot]]s with the spores in revenge, which ultimately spiraled out of control. It was thought by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]], before his infection, that Prime would know what it would take to stop the plague. Prime asks who is available, and learns of the Autobots injured battling [[Superion (G1)|Superion]].

The survivors are brought back to Autobot City, where the [[Quintesson]] manages to reactivate them, completely rebuilding [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] into Goldbug. When Goldbug asks what the plan is, Prime admits that he doesn't have a plan. Without the accumulated wisdom within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] (which now resides in Rodimus), he doesn't have a clue as to where to start. That is, until Jessica comes forward with the experimental alloy that she, her father, and Gregory had worked on, which proved strong enough to block the spores. Theoretically, coating Optimus with this alloy would protect himself from the spores' infection and allow him to get close enough to Rodimus to extract the Matrix from him. However, all remaining alloy samples were stolen by the Decepticons. The Autobots decide to retrieve the metal.

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 crazycons.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|Cyclonus and Scourge each spent 2,000 XP to create the Level 7 Flame Barrier spell. Unfortunately, Galvatron has Protection from Fire with Permanency effect.]]
Meanwhile, on [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is pinned down by his own mutinously diseased soldiers, unable to fight back against their maddening ferocity... until Optimus and his team arrive to save the day, convincing Galvatron that it would be in his best interest to join in an alliance with them. As is his way, however, the Decepticon leader is suspicious of Optimus's motives, especially when he learns they need the alloy he stole, but cannot get a reason for it out of them. He agrees to join in and leads Optimus and his gang down a series of boobytrapped tunnels, their numbers dwindling from the tunnel's natural hazards and the infected Decepticon mob behind them, until only Optimus, Galvatron, Sky Lynx, and Jessica arrive at the alloy's hiding place. Unfortunately, Jessie accidentally lets slip their plan to coat Optimus with the metal after confirming there would be enough of it to do the job, prompting Galvatron to turn on Optimus in hopes of using the process on himself, but he is soon subdued by Sky Lynx. Under coercion, Galvatron loads the alloy onto Prime's trailer but doesn't notice that an infected [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] has managed to sneak in, infecting Jessica in the process. Jessica, in turn, infects Galvatron, forcing Sky Lynx and Optimus to flee back to Earth.

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Primes duel.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|So I guess Rodimus is a bottom... to Ultra Magnus?]]
Once on Earth, Optimus is coated with the alloy, and sets out to find Rodimus. He finds him taking down infected Transformers with reckless glee, and attempts to reason with him, which fails. Unwilling to hurt his successor, Prime lures Rodimus to a nearby auto shop, attempting to peacefully subdue and talk Rodimus into helping him, but the Hate Plague is overriding any effort to do so, forcing Optimus to knock Rodimus out and take the Matrix back by force.

Back at Autobot City, Optimus dives into the Matrix to question the elders of the past in reverse chronological order (of their history) to try and find out any information on the spores. The spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] warns him that if he travels too far, he risks becoming lost within the Matrix itself. During Prime's journey, the Quintesson that revived him notices a troop of infected Transformers attempting to get in, and manages to temporarily shut them out, giving Optimus the time he needs to finally find his answer. He learns that, in a period of pre-Cybertronian history, the Plague ''has'' visited the planet before, but was contained and sealed inside the star Jessica and Gregory found it in using sheer wisdom, though even back then, no one had the wisdom to destroy the spores, and now that it has spread so much throughout the galaxy, it's doubtful that anyone has the wisdom to even contain them again. Optimus then realizes that a source of raw wisdom may be available to destroy the infection once and for all: the accumulated wisdom within the Matrix of Leadership.

The infected Transformers finally break into the base, and corner the Quintesson, who begs them to stop. Galvatron grabs a metal pole, intending to impale Prime. However, Prime's chest opens to reveal a glowing Matrix, surprising the Transformers. Asking it to "light our [[darkest hour]]", Optimus Prime releases the energy of the Matrix of Leadership, which spreads across the world and across the universe, and totally eradicates the Plague.

Some while later, in Autobot City, a remorseful Gregory and Jessica's father offer deep apologies to the Autobots, while Galvatron, in a rare moment of calm, shakes his old enemy's hand, proclaiming that Prime has earned his respect and that "there will be no war today." Rodimus (now once more Hot Rod, without the Matrix within him) notes that the Matrix is now empty, its wisdom supposedly lost in order to stop the plague. Optimus, however, disagrees; they have all become a little wiser, now, and although the Matrix is indeed empty of wisdom, it is up to them from then on to fill it again with their knowledge and experience. Optimus, once again the Autobot leader, orders his troops to "Transform and [[roll out]]".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (2)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (6)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (7)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (26)
*[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (27)
*[[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (28)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (29)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (31)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (32)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (33)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (16)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (18)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (19)
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (20)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (21)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (22)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (23)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (24)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (25)
|c3=
*[[Jessica Morgan]] (4)
*[[Gregory Swofford]] (5)
*[[Mark Morgan]] (34)
|c4=
*[[Klementia|Quintesson judge]] (3)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] (9)
*[[It]] (30)
}}

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

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

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

"Have I no friends left?!" 
"Well, well, what have we here?" 
"Looks like something the cat dragged in."
:—'''Galvatron''' is no longer so impressive to '''Cyclonus''' and '''Predaking'''

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Prime Galvatron.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Come on, Optimus, why can't we be friends?"
 "When we first met, you shot me and my girlfriend. You make a bad first impression."]]

[[File:Roop2 prime vs prime.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"NO ONE is innocent!" ...especially not after this series of screencaps.]]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}
[[File:GetThatMicrophoneOuttaMyFace.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] meets with [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] ("The greatest fighter in the galaxy") in the barren wasteland to continue their interview for the [[Autobot City News]]. Optimus takes exception to being called a "fighter", as he doesn't agree that fighting is always the solution. In fact, in order to cure the galaxy of the [[Hate Plague]], he had to find a solution ''other'' than fighting...

With the tale concluded, Optimus asks Tommy if he'd like to help him refuel [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]]. Tommy is psyched to participate in such a "privilege" and signs off his report. He then clings to Prime's head as they blast off into space.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Final script: 24th November 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:It wireframe.gif|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Excuse me sir! Do you have Prince Albert in a can? You do?? Well, you better let the poor guy out! WUHAH! WUHAH!
WUHAH!"]]
*Prime says of Galvatron: "That's because I know you too well..." As this is the first time Optimus has really met Galvatron (apart from a brief firefight while being a half-alive quasi-zombie in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]"), it seems that he's able to recognize his [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|old foe]], despite the change in name and appearance. Optimus likely learned of Galvatron's identity while Galvatron briefly possessed the Matrix in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]".
*Furthering the sense that the Throttlebots were thrown into this two-parter at the last minute, the only dialogue they receive comes in this episode: a collection of generic barely-on-screen shouts delivered by [[Frank Welker]] ("Smash Rodimus!") and [[Jack Angel]] ("After him!") that aren't attributed to any individual members of the group. Dedicated performers would later be cast to play the individual Throttlebots in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]".
*Optimus's journey through the Matrix gives us a look at some of its early bearers. It almost goes without saying that these robots don't resemble any of the ones we saw back in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]". Moving backwards in time, they include:
**A broad-faced 'bot with prominent cheekguards
**A slimmer, decrepit-looking 'bot in similar colors.
**A heavily-bearded 'bot
**A wireframe-style entity referred to in the script as "[[It]]", bearing a strong resemblance to a Quintesson Judge's Death head. A version of this design appeared previously in Rodimus Prime's dream sequence in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]".
*Upon entering the Matrix of Leadership, the first Autobot that Optimus Prime encounters is Rodimus Prime; then he converses with Alpha Trion. The latter's appearance there is somewhat puzzling, as it was [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2|previously established]] (and [[The Rebirth, Part 2|later reiterated]]) that he had merged with Vector Sigma. Alpha Trion's presence makes even ''less'' sense considering that it was clearly stated in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" that he had never taken the Matrix for himself, thus eliminating the possibility that a "backup copy" of himself had somehow been "uploaded" into it. A variety of later fiction would, indirectly, offer explanations centering around the connection between the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]], the Matrix, Vector Sigma and Primus. In Alpha Trion's case he's in the afterlife, which one can communicate with through both the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Rodimus's presence is more murky, but can be accounted for by the notion of the Matrix as a gateway to the Allspark.
*Optimus using the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague bears more than a passing resemblance to when Rodimus Prime used the Matrix to destroy [[Unicron]] in [[The Transformers: The Movie|''The Movie'']]. They've even got "[[The Touch]]" playing in the background.
*In Japanese continuity, the events of [[The Great Transformer War issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[The Great Transformer War]]'' take place shortly after this episode, helping to bridge the gap between it and "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", the first episode of ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''.

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**A mix of [[TIE Fighter]] and [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] engines as Sky Lynx rescues the Quintesson during the recap.
**The sound of the darting Seeker ball can briefly be heard as Prime's chest pops open to unleash the Matrix's power.
===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Goldbugtroop1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85|Goldbug Prime.]]
*The chair Optimus was sitting on is missing at the beginning of the episode.
*Optimus's fog lights are entirely red, even at the bulbs, which should be yellow or white.
*The recap animation shows Prime's body being pulled out of his ship with several cables. While this idea makes perfect sense, no cables were used during the actual event last episode.
*As Sky Lynx recaps last episode's events, the animation shows the exploding detonator/asteroid/planet/whatever-else-the-script-has-retconned-it-into-being... while he describes the ''star'' going nova. Granted, it's repeating the same goof as the previous ep.
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Steeljaw's paws are over the side of the table in one shot and beside him in the next shot.
*In his first full body shot, Goldbug's head is drawn off-model, with pointier horns, smaller eyes and a much simpler mouthplate that looks more like Optimus Prime's than Goldbug's zigzag-shaped plate.
*As he speaks with the group, the closeups of Optimus's face from the side have the panel on the left side of his head in gray instead of blue. The long shots don't show his mouth plate moving as he speaks.
*During Blurr's "let's go!" rambling, the Quintesson wobbles around a bit.
*After Kup suggests the Autobots steal the metal back, Steeljaw (who's very close to the camera) is Rampage colored like Steeljaw.
*When Optimus Prime kneels down to talk to Jessica Morgan, Goldbug's feet (in the background) are colored gray instead of gold, even though his shins are still gold.
[[File:Roop kup and prime.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Optimus suddenly has his rifle back, though he wasn't holding it in the previous shots.
*As the group "rolls out," Kup is shown driving backward (unless he turns around after the scene transition...).
*The red squares are missing from the tops of Galvatron's shoulders in several shots. His chin is gray in some and dark gray in others as well.
*The Autobots on Charr transform to robot mode with the descending-pitch transformation noise, rather than the ascending-pitch version that usually goes with car-to-robot transformations.
*Optimus's rifle has the basic Autobot gun sound effect rather than its usual sound effect.

*As Optimus drives through the cave, his trailer is missing its Autobot symbol.
*Just before he transforms inside the cave, Optimus' bumper and grille are red instead of gray.

*In the distant shot of the Autobots, just before the spider approaches them, Blaster appears to have Blast Off's colors.
*Some shots show the crest on Optimus's helmet framed in gray, while others (such as during his "know you too well" line) have it framed in blue.
*A close-up of Jessica reacting to the spider's approach shows her without her exo-suit, which she is shown wearing immediately before and after.
*Blaster's forehead is red instead of white in the following shot.
*As the energy leeches drop on Optimus, his fog lights are long cylinders rather than short triangles.
*Just before getting infected, Blaster has no lines on his switch plate.
*"We have to get out of here!" - Optimus's faceplate is misaligned with his helmet.
*When Galvatron shoots the top of the cave the second time, some of the rocks stay in mid-air.
*When they enter the Decepticon lab, Galvatron is taller than Optimus. In most other shots, he's shorter than Optimus.
*As Jessica discovers the alloy in the lab, Optimus is missing the Autobot symbol on his shoulder.
*After she makes the discovery, a shot shows the sides of Optimus' midsection in white instead of red.
*When Galvatron is threatening Optimus after they find the heat-resistant metal, Galvatron's cannon has a trigger on it.
*When escaping after Galvatron is infected, Optimus and his cab are colored entirely white (as if already coated in the resistant metal!)
*Searchlight and Chase fire their first few laser shots at Rodimus without any sound effects. Their first shots are purple, but in the next shot they're firing orange lasers.
*During the subsequent fighting, nobody gets the right sound effect; the Throttlebots and Rodimus all use a non-standard laser sound.
*When he first meets Optimus, Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol.
*The subsequent shots show Rodimus as semi-transparent.
*As Rodimus drives out of the junkyard a few moments later, he floats above the ground.
[[File:Hate Plague Rodimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|]]
*Rodimus's gun fires yellow shots at times and purple shots in others. And what happened to his rifle?
*As Optimus grapples with Rodimus, Rodimus's Autobot logo disappears in a few frames.
*The inside of Rodimus' mouth is gray as he delivers the "no one is innocent!" line.
[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Alpha Trion miscolored.jpg‎|thumb|upright=1.4|Trust the Gorton's fisherbot!]]
*The close-up of Optimus aboard the newly-infected Sky Lynx shows a standard non-infected coloration behind him.
*The ceiling of the junkyard plant has beams framing the glass, yet the beams disappear when Sky Lynx crashes through them.
*Sky Lynx ''also'' disappears after crashing through the glass.
*As Optimus struggles with Rodimus the second time, Optimus's Autobot logo is framed in white in some shots, black in others.
*When Optimus takes the Matrix from Rodimus, the "glow" from the Matrix lags behind the Matrix itself when he raises it up. Rodimus's chest cavity is also a huge chasm, rather than the usual Matrix-sized compartment.
*In the next shot, Rodimus is laying there with his chest suddenly closed again.
*When Optimus is talking to Alpha Trion, Alpha Trion is miscolored. He's grey, slate blue and orange when shown from the front, and entirely orange when shown from the side. He should be grey, dark red and dark blue. It seems the colorists confused him with the Custodiobot from "[[Surprise Party]]".
*When Headstrong and Tantrum get smushed by the doors, they cry out in generic, distinctly non-Predacon voices.
*When Optimus activates the Matrix, its handles disappear. They're back again in the next shot.
*Jessica's facial appearance in this episode is different than it was in Part 1.
*"The wisdom of the ages... lost." - Hot Rod has a Decepticon symbol on his chest.
*In the same shot, Optimus Prime's thigh is miscolored.
*"But the Matrix is empty!" - Hot Rod has the extra lines on his face that accompany his incarnation as Rodimus.
*As Optimus is explaining that the Matrix must be refilled with the future wisdom, he is colored as if he still has the heat-resistant metal on him.
*In the same shot, Hot Rod looks bigger than Optimus even though he should be much smaller (especially now that he's not Rodimus anymore).
*In the last shot of the episode, Optimus is missing his smoke stacks, the front of his cab has the gray stripes but the sides do not, and his trailer is again missing its Autobot logo; meanwhile, Blurr clips into Kup and his front end disappears from the frame.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus's last line in Part 1 was "This time, no force in the universe can stop me." His first line here is "''Now'', no force in the universe ''will'' stop me."
*Sky Lynx is in two parts at the beginning. He was the full walking bird at the end of the last episode.
*After Sky Lynx's recap, Optimus is seen getting up from a table and walking over to where he was a minute earlier. There was no table behind him in previous shots, and no reason for him to lay down for a moment.
*So....how ''exactly'' does Sky Lynx know every single detail of what happened in the previous episode? He wasn't even there when half of those recapped events took place!
*Given that the Autobots are in a rush to save the galaxy, why did the Quintessons take the time to retool Bumblebee into Goldbug?
*How did Kup know that Rodimus had been contaminated? He was deactivated by Superion before that happened, and wasn't around for Sky Lynx's recap.
* Wouldn’t the Autobots and Decepticons have to worry about Trypticon getting infected?
*The alloy is heat-resistant to the point of surviving a supernova in the [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|previous episode]]. Yet it now can be melted down to coat Optimus Prime with it.
*A machine is used to coat Optimus Prime with this superheated alloy. What was ''it'' made out of, and why wasn't that material used?
*And did anyone manage to explain how heat resistance works against spores? What exactly do the writers think {{w|spore}}s are?
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**The Transformers wounded by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (and listed by Sky Lynx) included Steeljaw and Wheelie. At the Autobot lab, Wheelie is replaced by Blaster.
**Steeljaw is revived at the Autobot City lab, but not seen afterwards.
*Continuing the confusion started by the combiners last episode, the infected Decepticons work ''together'' to fight Galvatron and the others, instead of attacking each other.
*Worse, when outnumbered by the Autobots, Cyclonus orders the other Decepticons to retreat, and they follow his command.
*Sky Lynx doesn't help during the spider attack, even though he ''can'' fly.
*Where's the trailer go?
**Optimus is coated in the alloy in robot mode. How does his trailer get coated?
**For that matter, where's the trailer been hanging out for the past couple of years since Optimus died, and how did he get back together with it? It just kinda rolls in as usual when he first transforms.
*Goldbug, Kup and Blaster get infected without being touched; in fact they don't even try to avoid it. Sky Lynx was right next to them but doesn't get infected. Huh?
[[File:Rodimus Matrix Chamber FFOD DA TROOP.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|One toy, four variants.]]
*Sky Lynx suddenly grows a pair of hands to pick up Galvatron's [[particle cannon]] with. Even if they're supposed to be his bird mode legs (which they appear to be based on), what is he standing on?
*Shouldn't Jessica's full-body exo-suit protect her from direct contact and infection?
*After Jessica Morgan and Galvatron got infected, Optimus and Sky Lynx speed off. Jessica makes a jump for Sky Lynx and briefly clings onto his tail before losing her grip, yet Sky Lynx ''still'' doesn't get infected.
*How do the support beams in the junkyard plant hold Optimus and Rodimus' weight?
*Rodimus's Matrix chamber opens via a pair of rectangular swing-out doors much like Optimus' chamber. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door opened in the middle of the flame on his chest. In "Dark Awakening", it hinged across the left side of the flame, and the whole design opened to reveal the chamber.
*When Optimus puts the Matrix into his chest, he puts it in ''lengthwise''. Surely his months of deactivation haven't made him forget how the thing sat in his chest for ''millions of years''?
*The infected transformers work ''together'' to find Optimus Prime, instead of attacking each other.
*"It" tells Prime that "a wise man was able to contain the spores, but...no one had the wisdom to [destroy them]." The implication seems to be that a smart dude figured out a way to control the spores. Yet Prime - and the plot - proceed to interpret this as meaning that "wisdom" is like some kind of laser beam spore-cleaning agent - just point it at the spores and pull the trigger!
*In the movie, the Matrix took up the top half of Optimus' chest compartment and was behind a flip-up panel. Here, it fills in the whole (now hollow) cavity with no panel or other electronics to be seen.
*How exactly did Jessica get off [[Chaar]]?
[[File:Swafford&morganG1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Take our hands! Please!" "Make it your faces and we'll talk."]]
*And what are she and Gregory Swofford doing in [[Moscow]] by the time they're cured of the Hate Plague? It's not just a case of an accidentally recycled background from the previous shot (which did depict actual Russians being cured of the Hate Plague)—even though both shots feature onion domes reminiscent of Saint Basil's Cathedral, they're definitely different background paintings. So... what gives?
*How did they get the alloy ''off'' Optimus Prime? And why would they want to, if it's so resilient? (Unless... they just painted over the alloy?)
*The timing of the last scene is odd. It's long enough after the cure is unleashed for Optimus to have the metal removed or painted over, and for Kup, Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, and the three humans to arrive at Autobot City. Yet Galvatron is still hanging around, and both he and Hot Rod speak as though the previous scene's events just happened.
**Interestingly, Galvatron is consistently portrayed without his cannon in this scene.
*Does anyone else think that Dr. Swofford and Morgan get off waaaaay too easy at the end of the episode? They ''willingly'' unleash the hate plague that causes widespread devastation (and probably death) across not just the world but the entire galaxy, just to spite the Autobots, and they get off by just saying "sorry"? (Then again, we don't actually ''see'' Optimus shaking their hands. Burn!)

===Trivia===
[[File:DialogueScriptTROOPOrionPax.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|So this is odd.]]
*Following the average-for-[[Toei Animation]] Part 1, this episode's artwork quality is among the series' best, with loads of detailed shading, the same pink-glowing-smoke-explosions seen in ''Transformers: The Movie'', and characters generally on-model and well-drawn.
*The portion of "The Touch" that plays includes the line about "Hell breaking loose," an unusually strong word for an American '80s TV cartoon. Guess the censors were looking elsewhere that day. (Amusing timing as a bamboozled Galvatron says "What is this?", seemingly in reaction to the song replacing the show's usual background music!)
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for this episode lists Orion Pax as appearing. A flashback to Optimus Prime's early days that was removed for time constraints, you might think? No. According to the [[dialogue script]] for the episode, Orion Pax was originally going to be the one to ask Prime why he had returned to the Matrix! Presumably someone on staff caught the error early enough, as Pax's line in the final cut went to Alpha Trion. (The dialogue script also misspells "Trion" as "Tion", for that matter.)
*[[Jack Angel]] takes over as the voice for Cyclonus following the death of [[Roger C. Carmel]].
*This is the final episode of the original American G1 cartoon to be animated by Toei; the remaining episodes would be animated by [[AKOM]]. Toei would later return to animate all the Japanese-exclusive G1 sequel series.
*Prime's appearance in the alloy coat gives him a strong resemblance to Ultra Magnus's unused unarmored form.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast and DVD release):'' "'''Le retour d'Optimus Prime, partie 2'''" ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''Le retour d'Optimus, partie 2'''" ("The Return of Optimus, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 2''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il ritorno di Commander, Parte 2'''" (First dub, "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"), "'''Il ritorno di Optimus Prime, Parte 2'''" (Second dub, "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' コンボイの復活パート2 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 2'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 25]], [[1987]]
::*The Japanese version of this episode has an alternate ending. After Optimus Prime and the Autobots ride off into the sunset and "The Touch" ends, the music changes to "[[Transformer 2010|TRANSFORMER 2010]]" by [[Shō Hirose]] and the scene shifts to a montage of all the major characters from the series.
::*This montage replaces the "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment focusing on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] used in the US broadcast. The Ultra Magnus "Secret Files" segment was never used in the Japanese broadcast of the series.
::*Following this episode, Japanese cartoon continuity diverges from the Western continuity. Rather than lead into "[[The Rebirth]]" three-parter, Japanese continuity instead continues in their domestically produced series, ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|Transformers: The Headmasters]]''.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Qíngtiānzhù Fùhuó (Xià)'''" (擎天柱复活(下),"Optimus Prime Resurrects, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Zweiter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 23 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Le Retour d'Optimus Prime ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gwsuGqt1c_-0NWqiEB4ufvzbVZHatnrK Episode script, finalised 24th November 1986, missing pages 12-18]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]