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Autoboot Camp

2008-06-05T01:47:36Z

Thomsedavi: /* Continuity and other errors */

{{episodenav|animated|25|season=2|prev=SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy|next=Black Friday (episode)}}
[[Image:Autobot Cadets.jpg|thumb|300px|Class of 2008. The ENTIRE Class of 2008.]]
'''On the trail of an escaped Autobot traitor, Bumblebee flashes back to a previous encounter with the traitor when he first met Bulkhead in Autobot Boot Camp.'''

==Summary==

{{spoiler|Autoboot Camp}}
[[Image:TFA Autoboot Camp Wasp Salute.jpg|thumb|left|"Sayonara, suckerzzz."]]
Somewhere in space, an Autobot shuttle streaks through the solar night and crash-lands on an asteroid, where its lone occupant races off across the barren ground in vehicle mode. Hot on his trail is [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], who chases him to a [[space bridge]] node on the asteroid. The green-armoured escapee triggers the space bridge with a blast from a familiar pair of stingers, and Sentinel loses his quarry as the portal explodes with light.

On Earth, [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] reports the news of the escapee to the [[Autobot]]s. [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] immediately recognizes the criminal in question as [[Wasp]], a 'bot sharing his bodyform whom he met when during his [[Elite Guard]] training days.

In the [[Decepticon]]s' underground lair, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] contacts his double-agent on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and congratulates him on orchestrating Wasp's breakout. The double-agent is concerned that they are speaking so freely on the subject, but Megatron assures him that nobody will be able to listen in on the broadcast. [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] has other plans, though, as he secretly taps into the communication frequency and bounces it to the Autobots' base. Bumblebee and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] are on monitor duty at the time, and the message comes through exceedingly scrambled, but they are at least able to comprehend the existence of a double-agent. Naturally, Bumblebee immediately assumes it to be Wasp, and he decides to settle his old score, with Bulkhead tagging along. Bumblebee remembers how it all went down...

[[Image:TFA Autoboot Camp Bee Sentinel.jpg|thumb|right|Minor in all but chin.]]
''Stellar cycles ago, on Cybertron, Bumblebee meets Bulkhead for the first time when they both attend boot camp to train under Sentinel Minor, alongside Wasp, super-durable [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] and telescopic-limbed [[Longarm Prime|Longarm]]. The two B's immediately earn Sentinel's ire{{m-}}Bumblebee for his impetuous bungling, and Bulkhead for his desire to be nothing more than a space bridge technician{{m-}}and the pair gets saddled with oil cleanup. Of course, Bumblebee begins goofing off, which results in a stack of oil drums collapsing on Sentinel, which results in Bumblebee being made to stand in the middle of the courtyard in the dead of night, holding up oil drums and repeatedly declaring himself a “worthless oil stain.” After a while, though, Bumblebee calls it quits, but as he is walking by a warehouse, he spots a shadowy figure speaking into a communicator, with the voice of Megatron responding! After a moment's hesitation, Bumblebee pops his stingers and commands the spy-bot to show himself...but the figure has vanished. When Bumblebee turns to leave, however, he spots Wasp walking out of the warehouse.''

[[Image:TFA Autoboot Camp Oh Slag.jpg|thumb|left|Optimus must be kicking himself for missing this.]]
''Unsure of how to proceed, Bumblebee confides in Longarm, who encourages him to gather some evidence and present it to Sentinel. Bumblebee tries setting up a trap, planting a box with the Elite Guard symbol on it in the open, hoping Wasp will grab it...except Sentinel is the first to come upon it, and it explodes, covering him in paint. Next, Bumblebee tries a listening device, but accidentally winds up broadcasting Sentinel over the camp's loudspeakers as he jokes about Ultra Magnus being too old to hack the commander role. In traditional boot camp manner, Sentinel makes the whole team suffer for Bumblebee's mistakes, and Wasp and Ironhide take it out on the little 'bot by disconnecting his legs and stuffing him in a locker. Longarm comes to Bumblebee's rescue, but the bullying doesn't stop, as Wasp hits Bumblebee with a burst of “friendly fire” in a simulated combat training exercise. Of course, it's just a paint grenade, but when Bulkhead offers to help Bumblebee up, Bumblebee snaps and insults Bulkhead's lack of ambition before storming off. Turning a corner, Bumblebee yelps as he finds several auto-cannons pointed in his face, but then laughs as he remembers that they're only loaded with paint rounds for the simulated combat. Or rather, they ''were'', as the shadowy figure from the warehouse slinks by the cannons and switches them to active ammunition. As the cannons open fire on Bumblebee, Bulkhead speeds to his rescue and takes out the cannons by dropping a building on them with his wrecking ball...only for Sentinel to get squashed under it as well. Bumblebee encourages Bulkhead to scarper, rather than risk his career by owning up.''

Tracking the message Sumdac broadcast to them, Bumblebee and Bulkhead wander through the wilderness, reminiscing about the old days. When Bumblebee stumbles into a patch of quicksand, Bulkhead plucks him out, but the conflict between the pair from their boot camp days starts bubbling back to the surface, and Bulkhead leaves Bumblebee to the mission himself. Angrily stomping up a mountain, Bumblebee loses his footing and falls off a cliff, becoming buried in an avalanche.

[[Image:TFA Autoboot Camp Wasp Captured.jpg|thumb|right|Will go on to star in ''The Count of Monte Cristo''.]]

''Longarm informs Bumblebee that Sentinel is about to conduct a surprise locker examination, meaning that it's his last chance to find evidence on Wasp before Sentinel can take credit for it himself. Using his extensible limbs to trip up Wasp, Longarm allows Bumblebee to "help him up" and finger his locker key in the process. As Bumblebee quickly opens Wasp's locker, Sentinel appears behind him, demanding to know what he's doing, only to be quickly silenced when Bumblebee presents him with a Decepticon communicator. Impressed with Bumblebee's work, Sentinel plans to recommend him for an Elite Guard position. After Wasp is carted off, screaming his innocence all the way, Sentinel brings up the matter of the building being dropped on him. Since nobody has owned up, he decides to kick out whoever he feels like—and he feels like Bulkhead. Before he can give Bulkster the boot, however, Bumblebee steps forward and claims responsibility, sheepishly asking if it will affect his Elite Guard position.''

''Some time later, Bumblebee and Bulkhead are on an asteroid, working on a space bridge node, as Bulkhead cheerfully announces "I have arrived!"''

Buried under the rockslide, Bumblebee reflects on his friendship with Bulkhead out loud, and about how he saved Bulkhead's career, even ''if'' the his friend never dreamed big. But Bulkhead ''did'' dream big; as the bulky bot appears above Bumblebee and hauls him out from beneath the boulders, he announces that he dreamed of being Bumblebee's friend. Bumblebee thanks his big buddy, and the pair drive off...having only been mere feet from the secret entrance to the Decepticon base.

Out in space, it turns out that Wasp didn't escape to Earth at all, and that he is still on the asteroid, huddled up in a ball. His mind clearly broken, the insectoid 'bot buzzes and twitters to himself about how he will find Bumblebee and make him pay for ruining his life.

Back the Autobot base, our heroes contact Cybertron to alert the Autobots there about Megatron's double-agent. As it turns out, Bumblebee's old boot camp buddy Longarm is now Longarm ''Prime'', head of Cybertronian Intelligence, and he promises to root out the traitor no matter what.

In the Decepticon base, Megatron communicates once again with his double-agent... Longarm Prime! But the deception is a dual-layered one, for Longarm is, in fact, the shape-shifting [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]]!

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Michael Ryan]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Ben Jones]], [[Christopher Berkeley]], & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' 3rd June 2008 (UK)

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s

! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s

! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s

|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Wasp]] (1)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (8)
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (11)
*[[Longarm Prime|Longarm Prime]] (12)
*Little red wheeling bot (14)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Lugnut]] (voice only) (13)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] (15)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (10)

|}

==Quotes==
'''Sentinel Minor''': Wipe that smile off your face, dullspark! 
'''Bulkhead''': Uh, I'm not smiling, sir! My jaw is, uh, tempered that way, sir! 
'''Bumblebee''': Forget Mudflap's jaw, check out the asteroid-sized chin on Sarge! 
'''Sentinel Minor''': YOU GOT A COMMENT, FUNNY-BOT?! 
'''Bumblebee''': Uh, no, sir! 
:{{m-}}The future Sentinel Prime is a little sensitive about his chin. Maybe it's why he's such a jerk.

'''Sentinel Minor''': Now here's a bot who knows his place. You should try to be more like your friend here. 
'''Bumblebee''': He's not my friend, sir! 
'''Sentinel Minor''': WE'RE ALL FRIENDS HERE!
:{{m-}} Mr. Personality does it again.

"You are nothing but a BUMBLER! From now on, your name is...BUMBLEBEE!"
:{{m-}}And lo, a legend was born, thanks to '''Sentinel Minor'''

''[stands in the middle of an empty yard, holding up oil drums, reciting...]'' 
"I am a worthless oil stain. I am a worthless oil stain. I am a worthless oil stain...why am I even doing this?"
:{{m-}}Sentinel Minor's punishment of '''Bumblebee''' could be considered "cruel and unusual".

"You would not '''believe''' the glitches the Commander's saddled me with this time. I'm starting to think Ultra Magnus is a few circuits shy of a full processor, know what I mean? Oh, sure, he was The Bot back in the day, but now? Ultra Magnus is just a rusted-out, obsolete model sorely in need of an upgrade."
:{{m-}}'''Sentinel Minor''' is a suck-up only to the boss's face. ''Quelle surprise''.

"Oh, slag."
:{{m-}}'''Sentinel Minor''' forgoes his usual "eloquence" on seeing a ton of building heading for his head.

"But I'm innocent, I tell you! You're making a big mistake, all of you!" 
"Mute it, traitor!" 
''[Sentinel strips Wasp of his Autobot insignia]'' 
"I'll get you, Bumblebee, '''if it's the last thing I do'''!
:{{m-}}'''Wasp''' proclaims his innocence as he's wheeled away in restraints, while '''Sentinel Minor''' acts much as ever.

"Bumblebot not hide from Wasp. Wasp swears he find Bumblebot. Wasp make Bumblebot pay for RUINING WASP'S LIFE!"
:{{m-}}There lies a broken '''Wasp'''...

==Other notes==
===Continuity and other errors===
* Bumblebee's stingers are shown to be powerful enough to knock down a building; yet in prior episodes they were only useful for zapping debris and bouncing uselessly off Decepticon armor. Either Bumblebee's power level has changed a lot throughout his life, or the Autobots were building their towers out of sawdust.
* Bumblee addresses Wasp by his name before Wasp is even called Wasp. Oops...
{{-}}

===Transformers references===
* Sentinel's speech about his troops being "cogs in a machine" is very similar to Optimus's comment at the beginning of "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]"(although Optimus gets the message across without the attitude); it may be a standard message from the Autobot Academy.
* Clearly, when Bumblebee and Bulkhead noted that Sentinel Prime didn't remember them back in "[[The Elite Guard]]", they were referring to their boot camp days.
* It was explained back in "The Elite Guard" that "Prime" was a rank, and this episode reveals that before attaining the rank, Sentinel was known as "Sentinel Minor". [[Optimus Minor|Sounds a little familiar]].
[[Image:TFA Cliffjumber Maybe.jpg|thumb|right|Wait for the Bumblebee retool...]]
* In two scenes this episode, an unnamed robot who is essentially a red Bumblebee appears, a clear reference to [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and his physical similarity to [[Bumblebee (G1)|his era's Bumblebee]].
* It would seem that through being falsely accused of being a Decepticon spy and subsequently imprisoned, Wasp is fulfilling the legacy of his [[Waspinator|alternate universe counterpart]] in that ten different types of slag always seem to happen to him.
* In the final moments of the episode, the addled Wasp (who has spoken perfectly normally throughout the flashbacks) begins speaking in the buzzing, third-person style of ''[[Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator]].
* This isn't [[Transformers (2007)|the first time]] Bumblebee has lost his legs.

===Real-world references===
* Bumblebee's nickname of Yellowjacket comes from another term for hornet.
* Sentinel Minor's mannerisms are similar to those of real military drill-sergeants. The themes of collective punishment against the entire unit, and other unit members "hazing" the screw-up responsible for their discomfort, were made most famous in [[Wikipedia:Full Metal Jacket|Stanley Kubrick's ''Full Metal Jacket'']].

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Since departing Earth, the Elite Guard (or Sentinel Prime, at least) have switched back to their Cybertronian vehicle modes. Also, as of this episode, we've seen all the Cybertronian modes for the main Bots, bar Prowl.
* Apparently, Autobots take new names when they get enrolled.
* This episode certainly explains a lot about Bumblebee's independent streak. His very first "team" effort was basically people being colossal jerks to him for no reason (well, except for Sentinel, really... drill sergeants are ''supposed'' to be like that) except for the big goofy country-bot... and standing up for said bot basically led to his dreams being crushed.
* Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Prowl appear in this episode, and are even spoken to, but don't say a word. This is the first episode where Prime does not speak in any way.
* Usually, it's the [[Cliffjumper (G1)|red one]] who sees spies everywhere.
* Sentinel Prime, the biggest jerk in Transformer history, and Longarm Prime, a double-agent, are both high-ranking members of the Elite Guard, while Optimus Prime, a true hero, is a washout and space bridge repairer. Either Optimus Prime did one major screw-up, or Ultra Magnus is the single worst judge of character ''ever''.
* On the other hand, if names get assigned by drill sergeants, you have to wonder exactly to what levels Optimus and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] stooped in order to get those names...
* Lugnut is not shown, but is briefly heard saying, "Megatron will speak to you now," when Megatron is contacted by Shockwave in the flashback, ten minutes into the episode.
* Shockwave's power is referred to as size altering. This might be the reason why his Longarm alias has his power, although it has yet to reveal whether or not he is able to control where the size is changed, or whether it is merely a power integrated into his Longarm robot mode, akin to [[Punch/Counterpunch]].
* In this episode, when Sentinel gives Bumblebee his name, Bumblebee reacts as if he doesn't like it. However, in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", when Bumblebee tells Sari his name and she responds, "I'm Sari," Bumblebee then says, "Oh, don't be. I like my name." Maybe he got over it?
{{epstub}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

The Rebirth, Part 2

2008-05-28T11:19:07Z

Thomsedavi: /* Real-world references */

[[Image:Rebirth 2 title shot.JPG|thumb|350px|The first sight the kiddies see is their heroes' severed heads littered around the ground. Comforting, isn't it?]]
{{episodenav|g1|season=4|2|prev=The Rebirth, Part 1|next=The Rebirth, Part 3}}

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

'''Japanese title:''' "Destron Strikes Back"

==Detailed synopsis==
[[Image:Rebirth 2 Hardhead Hive machine.JPG|thumb|150px|left|Hardhead was the first Cannon head master, and the last.]]
On [[Nebulos]], the modifications to the [[Autobot]]s' heads are nearly complete. All that is left is to select their partners. [[Duros]], the combat veteran, takes [[Hardhead]]; [[Arcana]], the oldest and wisest among them, takes [[Brainstorm]]; [[Stylor]] takes [[Chromedome]]; [[Gort]] takes [[Highbrow]]; and [[Daniel Witwicky|Daniel]] is placed in [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Upon activating, the Autobots feel different and decide to make a test run. The [[Headmaster]] process is thus proven as good an idea as Brainstorm believed, as with the rebels' guidance, the Autobots trash the [[Hive]]'s machines. Satisfied with their trial run, the Autobots and rebels decide that it's time to get the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber|Key]] to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. But the Hive is watching and recognizes Gort and Arcana within the robots. Some of them decide it's time to bring the pain, but their leader decides to watch...

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

[[Image:Rebirth 2 Decepticon offerings.JPG|thumb|150px|All right, does anyone have more scrap those guys could turn into?]]
Back on Nebulos, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] is torturing the captive Autobots for the key, to the amusement of [[Apeface]]. However, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] realizes that these Autobots don't have the Key, or the others would be all over them. Bad choice of words, as the Autobot Headmasters appear. They quickly overwhelm the Decepticons and free the captives, taking the Decepticon ship in the process. Some of the Hive members believe that the Decepticons should be destroyed as well, but their leader has other plans. Capturing the Decepticons, [[Zarak|Lord Zarak]] offers them a deal: Submit to the Headmaster process and allow the Hive to be their partners, giving them the strength to destroy the Autobots. Scourge tells them to get bent, but Zarak reveals that the offer was only a formality. Grabbing the Decepticons, Cyclonus and Scourge agree to deal, but only with the heads of the animals. Apeface objects, but Cyclonus shows him who is boss. The "vehicle" Decepticons offer their [[weapon]]s. Zarak agrees, and the modifications begin.

[[Image:Rebirth 2 Optimus Alpha.JPG|thumb|150px|left|Come closer little boy...]]
Back on Cybertron, Optimus and Magnus have reached the source of the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]'s quest: the [[Vector Sigma chamber|chamber]] of [[Vector Sigma]]. Using the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] as an interface, Prime activates the supercomputer to communicate with the [[spark|spirit]] of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. Alpha explains that the Key is on Nebulos, and that Vector Sigma arranged for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to learn of it. All of this is being done to bring about a second [[Golden Age]], which depends on the merging of a [[human]] with an Autobot. Before the discussion is ended, Alpha Trion tells Prime to preserve the key at all costs. Prime is confused, but it's kinda hard to argue with [[Primus|God]]'s will, after all. Optimus departs for Nebulos, leaving Ultra Magnus in command of the Autobots until his return.

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

[[Image:Rebirth 2 Scorponok rising.JPG|thumb|150px|Upon seeing Scorponok, the other Decepticons had to reassure [[Trypticon]] that [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] still loved him more.]]
Elsewhere, the Decepticons are getting grumpy, having to wait for Zarak and with nothing to shoot. Their boredom is relieved when Prime leads the Autobots in an attack. Arcee and Daniel manage to take the Key and get it to Prime. The Autobots circle Prime and Arcee, vowing to let nothing get through. However, from beneath them, Zarak raises the Hive's city. Suddenly, it begins to [[Transformation|transform]] into something else. The city lands on the ground, and from the dust rises...[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]!

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

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' ???

'''Written by:''' [[David Wise]]

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Arcee]] (2)
*[[Highbrow]] (3)
*[[Chromedome]] (4)
*[[Hardhead]] (5)
*[[Skydive]] (16)
*[[Slingshot]] (17)
*[[Fireflight]] (18)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
*[[Punch]] (23)
*[[Fastlane]] (24)
*[[Cloudraker]] (25)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (36)
*[[Hot Rod]] (37)
*[[Kup]] (38)
*[[Crosshairs]] (39)
*[[Vector Sigma]] (40)
*[[Pointblank]] (41)
*[[Sureshot]] (42)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (43)
*[[Cerebros]] (54)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Abominus]] (20)
*[[Skullcruncher]] (26)
*[[Apeface]] (27)
*[[Snapdragon]] (28)
*[[Weirdwolf]] (29)
*[[Mindwipe]] (30)
*[[Triggerhappy]] (31)
*[[Misfire]] (32)
*[[Slugslinger]] (33)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (34)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (35)
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (58)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Spike Witwicky]] (6)
*[[Daniel Witwicky]] (14)

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*[[Gort]] (7)
*[[Stylor]] (8)
*[[Duros]] (9)
*[[Spoilsport]] (10)
*[[Pinpointer]] (11)
*[[Arcana]] (12)
*[[Peacemaker]] (13)
*[[Lord Zarak]] (15)
*[[Nightstick]] (44)
*[[Aimless]] (45)
*[[Caliburst]] (46)
*[[Blowpipe]] (47)
*[[Fracas]] (48)
*[[Spasma]] (49)
*[[Krunk]] (50)
*[[Vorath]] (51)
*[[Monzo]] (52)
*[[Grax]] (53)
*[[Recoil]] (55)
*[[Haywire]] (56)
*[[Firebolt]] (57)

|}

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

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

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* While not necessarily an error, several Hive members resemble [[Kranix]] and other [[Lithone]] inhabitants.
* When Cyclonus captures Optimus and the others, Vortex is miscolored as Blades.
* There are various times when the Headmasters and Targetmasters are almost as big as the Transformers themselves.

===Continuity errors===
* Right after the Decepticons steal the key from the Autobots, Spike says that "they can fly and you guys can't". Granted none of the Autobots can fly in robot mode, but Brainstorm can transform into a jet and Highbrow can transform into a helicopter, so obviously they can.
* When the Decepticons are abducted by the Hive, one of the machines seen near the conveyor belt has a Decepticon symbol on it, despite no alliance between the two factions until a few moments later. Foreshadowing, perhaps?
* When [[Krunk]] is removing the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber from Brainstorm's body and declares, "The key, I have it!", Brainstorm's Headmaster partner replies, "Ah ha, but I have you, Nightstick!" before Krunk leaves with the Key. Why not just, you know, grab Krunk?
* In the Autobots' counterattack after Prime's arrival, how does Arcee know Scourge has the key? Cyclonus is the highest-ranking Decepticon in the bunch.
* This isn't an error per se, but Optimus seems rather dazed and confused throughout this entire episode. It's as if coming back from the dead left him as more of a old man than the hero from earlier episodes.

===Transformers references===
* Vector Sigma first appeared in [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]].

===Real-world references===
* The Hive line "exterminate, exterminate" is the catch-phrase of the Daleks, which is appropriate because the Daleks were also alien beings who lived in mechanical bodies to compensate for the severe atrophy of their real bodies.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Optimus correctly guessed that the Matrix could activate Vector Sigma. Yet that idea doesn't strike him when Alpha Trion sacrifices his life to activate it in [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]].
* Gort claims that "the Hive's bodies are withered and useless" due to their extreme hibernation and dependency of technology as a means of survival. Yet Lord Zarak is freaking jacked and ripped like [[Franco Columbo]] when we finally see him. Intel must not be too good on Nebulos.

===Keywords===
(''separate by commas and link each one so a page can be created for it if it does not already exist'')

==External links==
*

{{epstub}}

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes|Rebirth, Part 2]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Garbage In, Garbage Out

2008-05-08T01:46:18Z

Thomsedavi: /* Real-world references */

[[Image:Wreck-Gar-Ani.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Good luck understanding that which baffled [[Servo]]...]]

{{episodenav|animated|20|season=2|prev=Mission Accomplished|next=Velocity}}

'''AllSpark energy turns a junk pile into a sentient robot who tries to help the Autobots, but ends up doing more harm than good.'''

==Summary==
Garbage is piling up all over [[Detroit]], as the trash-bots are malfunctioning and [[Sumdac Systems]] CEO Porter C. Powell refuses to repair them until the city and he can come to an agreement on payment. In Powell's office, a technician demonstrates a new form of the nanobots that [[Transform and Roll Out|caused big problems a while back]], designed this time to break down garbage into its component molecules, quickly and cheaply solving the garbage problem (while allowing Powell to charge the city a hefty fee).

Elsewhere, the [[Autobot]]s are trying to patch up their still-damaged reputation by helping pile garbage into scows. Ratchet ends up getting into a shouting match with an old man whose car ended up under a garbage mound, resulting in the car being dumped in the river and the two old grouches almost coming to blows. Captain Fanzone arrives to break up the scene and remarks that Ratchet needs to work on his "people skills". Prime agrees and assigns Bumblebee and Sari to try and help out Ratchet while they work more on the garbage problem. Ratchet is not happy with this.

Just before the Autobots depart, though, [[Sari Sumdac's key|Sari's key]] glows, but she quickly disregards this, and so she misses the emergence of a junk-robot from the scow, brought to life by an [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] shard. The confused machine tries to figure out his identity using the scraps around him, but is unsatisfied with the results. Spying a passing blimp with a sign for the Detroit police department with the slogan "We're Here to Help", the robot happily goes about trying to find some police for some help with his identity.

At the Decepticon base, Lugnut detects a surge in AllSpark energy, and Megatron concludes that another fragment must have turned up. Megatron orders Lugnut to retrieve it, and Lugnut continues his glory-spouting as he leaves. Megatron's optical sensor begins to twitch noticeably.

Stuck in a traffic jam, Ratchet is about to display some serious road rage when Bumblebee puts on his siren and clears a path for them. Heading through, they a find [[Witwicky|a familiar couple]] who are expecting a child, but their car has broken down on the way to the hospital. Ratchet agrees to take them to the hospital, then jets off at high speed, despite Sari's warning to keep the mother calm.

Meanwhile, the new robot is walking through downtown Detroit, nearly causing several accidents. The police, pursuing the Angry Archer, crash into the robot, who subsequently asks them for help. Archer tells the robot to throw them aside so that they can escape, and the robot agrees. When Archer inquires as to his identity, the robot responds that he is "worthless-wreck-walking-pile-of-garbage," (all things he had been called by citizens who nearly slammed into him) so the Archer dubs him Wreck-Gar for short. He tries to explain the that they steal from the rich and give to the poor (themselves), but Wreck-Gar gets the Archer's words confused. Seeing a passing armored car, Archer tells Wreck-Gar that they must "knock it over", so Wreck-Gar proceeds to chase the armored car and do just that.

[[Image:New Spike and Carly.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Oh ''shit'', what are we gonna do now?!]]

Meanwhile, expecting mother Carly asks her husband, Spike, to ask the driver to slow down, only for Spike to learn that there is only a little girl in the car{{m-}}and no driver! Ratchet tells them to keep quiet as he tries to find a hospital, only for the armored car knocked over by Wreck-Gar to land in his way. Jettisoning the humans, Ratchet and Bumblebee try to stop Wreck-Gar, but before they can do anything, the Angry Archer snags and flees with a canister that was in the armored car. Sari points out that Autobots are supposed to catch the bad guys, and Wreck-Gar assumes that he is an Autobot, slaps on an [[Insignia|Autobrand]], and goes after the Archer. Bumblebee and Sari go after him, while Ratchet offers to drive Spike and Carly to the hospital. They say they'll take a cab, leaving Ratchet miffed at their rudeness.

Outrunning the swinging Archer, Wreck-Gar hurls him into the air so he can "catch" him, allowing the Angry Archer to escape, but the canister falls into Wreck-Gar's backpack. As the Autobots and Sari show up, her key starts to glow, and they realize that Wreck-Gar was created by an AllSpark fragment. Ratchet rudely tells Wreck-Gar that he is not an Autobot and is only good for one thing: GARBAGE! Wreck-Gar therefore [[Transformation|transforms]] into his garbage truck vehicle mode and leaves to deliver garbage to the people of Detroit{{m-}}starting by covering Sari and the Autobots in a pile of it.
[[Image:Wreckgarbutton.jpg|thumb|right|100px|High-five!]]
Meanwhile, Lugnut has reached the city, and he confronts Wreck-Gar at the military base he and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] previously visited. Lugnut demands the AllSpark fragment from the vehicle's driver, but Wreck-Gar transforms, revealing his robotic nature. When Wreck-Gar repeats Ratchet's statement that he's no Autobot, Lugnut concludes that Wreck-Gar is a loyal Decepticon, so Wreck-Gar slaps on a Decepticon symbol.

Back at the crime scene, Ratchet is removing the driver of the armored car when Powell and Fanzone show up. Powell reveals that the car was carrying the garbage-devouring microbots to a demonstration for Mayor Edsel. However, the canister carrying them is gone. Sari is more than willing to let Powell suffer, but Ratchet is concerned about what the microbots might do if infused with AllSpark energy. Tracking Wreck-Gar to the base, Ratchet demands the Microbots, only for Lugnut to transform and activate his bomb punch. Wreck-Gar interprets this as the [[universal greeting]], and gives Lugnut a high five. Sari and the Autobots barely manage to avoid ground zero. As Lugnut transforms to attack, Wreck-Gar takes out the canister, which has cracked, allowing some of the microbots to touch Lugnut. Crying out in pain, Lugnut commands Wreck-Gar to get them off, so Wreck-Gar dissects Lugnut, causing his tail end, still carrying Wreck-Gar, to crash onto a garbage scow. Bumblebee declares their problems over, but Ratchet is worried. If those microbots could eat through Decepticon [[armor-plating]], there's no telling what they'll do to downtown Detroit.

On the river bank, Powell arrives to cancel the presentation with the mayor, only for the group see the microbots eat the garbage on the scow. Powell quickly takes advantage of the situation to start wheeling and dealing. As the scow gets closer, Ratchet jumps from a nearby bridge to stop it. He tries to reason with Wreck-Gar, but everything fails, forcing Ratchet to make the ultimate sacrifice...and apologize. He tells Wreck-Gar he can be whatever he wants, and Wreck-Gar decides to save the city, vacuuming up the microbots. However, the microbots overload Wreck-Gar's backpack, causing him to fall into the river. Ratchet tries to pull him out with his magnets, but only finds junk. As Bumblebee and Sari declare Ratchet a hero, Powell cries foul, saying that Ratchet destroyed his product. Thus there is no deal with the city, and the garbage dispute will continue. Ratchet picks up Powell, the Mayor, and the Mayor's aide, and tells them to make peace or be thrown into the river. Powell and Edsel agree to a small increase to re-service the garbage bots, ending the dispute. Ratchet decides the cheering bystanders are lauding him, leading him to conclude that he does have people skills. Sari and Bumblebee know differently, however.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the river, Wreck-Gar, buried shoulder-deep in sediment, assures the sea life that he is a hero and is there to help. First, however, he needs a hand. Or a fin. [[Lost and Found (Animated episode)#Quotes|Maybe a pelvis?]]

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Marty Isenberg]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Ben Jones]] & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' May 3, 2008

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] (9)
| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Lugnut]] (10)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (11)
| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Porter C. Powell]] (1)
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (6)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (8)
*[[Spike (Animated)|Spike]] (12)
*[[Carly (Animated)|Carly]] (13)
*[[Angry Archer]] (14)
*[[Mayor Edsel]] (15)
|}

==Quotes==

"You, quit harassing the Autobot. You, put down the citizen".
:{{m-}}'''Fanzone''' keeps the peace.

"Ahh, I'm picking up a new AllSpark energy signal, my liege..." 
"No doubt another fragment has surfaced. Retrieve it, Lugnut, before the Autobots get their filthy servos on it." 
"Stasis lock itself could not deter me from your grand and glorious plan, oh wise and noble Megatron!" 
''[left optic twitches]'' "Just...go..." 
"Yes, my liege!" 
:{{m-}}'''Lugnut's''' blind worship of his <s>queen</s> commander can get too much even for '''Megatron''' sometimes.

"I don't suppose you can tell me what I am, funny green man?" 
"You are...my partner-in-crime. They call me Angry Archer!" 
"They call me 'worthless-wreck-walking-pile-of-garbage'!" 
"Oh, really? Bit of a mouthful. Perhaps we should just call you 'Wreck-Gar' for short." 
:{{m-}}'''Angry Archer''', Renaissance Man, does some on-the-spot dubbing.

"I am Wreck-Gar!"
:{{m-}}The opening to pretty much everything '''Wreck-Gar''' says from the moment he gets his name.

''[Sari, Spike, and a very pregnant Carly are almost crushed by an axle carelessly discarded by Ratchet]'' 
"Uh, I don't know much about these things, lady, but I think you're s'posed to breathe or somethin'?"
:{{m-}}'''Sari''' the midwife.

'''Bumblebee''': ''[at Wreck-Gar]'' "What are you?" ''[To Sari]'' "What is he?" 
'''Sari''': "I don't know, but he's givin' off a ton of AllSpark energy." 
'''Wreck-Gar:''' "I am Wreck-Gar! I give off a ton of AllSpark energy!" 
'''Bumblebee''': "So, what, an AllSpark fragment just brought a junk pile to life and made some new kind of Autobot?!" 
'''Wreck-Gar''': "I am Wreck-Gar! I am some new kind of Autobot?!" 
'''Ratchet''': "Listen up, scrapheap. You're not an Autobot, and you never will be an Autobot. You're only good for one thing: GARBAGE!" 
'''Wreck-Gar''': "I am Wreck-Gar! I am only good for one thing: GARBAGE! I must deliver garbage to all!" ''[transforms and rolls out]''
:{{m-}} Ratchet's lack of people skills backfires again.

'''Lugnut''': Human! The AllSpark fragment{{m-}}now! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': No human here. I am Wreck-Gar! I am only good for one thing: ''GARBAGE''! 
'''Lugnut''': Are you an Autobot? 
'''Wreck-Gar''': I am Wreck-Gar! I am not an Autobot and will never be an Autobot! 
'''Lugnut''': Ah! Then you must be a Decepticon! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': I am Wreck-Gar! I...must be a Decepticon! 
''[Wreck-Gar places a Decepticon badge on his chest]'' 
'''Lugnut''': Aah, ALL HAIL MEGATRON! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': All hail Megatron! Uh...w-what's a 'Megatron'? 
:{{m-}} Wreck-Gar makes a new friend.

'''Lugnut''': Those accursed Autobots will pay for their insolence! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': Right! ''[Wreck-Gar pulls a burnt-out cash register]'' Cash, check or charbroil? 
'''Lugnut''': ''[Knocking the register out of Wreck-Gar's hands]'' ATTACK! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': Right! What kind of tack would you like? Thumb tack? Carpet tack? Income tack? 
'''Lugnut''': Rhaaah, nevermind. 
:{{m-}} Wreck-Gar can certainly teach Crazy Blitzwing a thing or two about being bonkers.

"You glitch-head! You're gonna destroy the whole city! You wouldn't dare do something THAT stupid!" 
"I am Wreck-Gar! I ''dare'' to be stupid! I will destroy the whole city!"
:{{m-}} '''Ratchet''' and '''Wreck-Gar'''. Yes, but does he count his chickens before they hatch?

"Fear not, fellow creatures of the deep, I am Wreck-Gar! I am a hero! Um...e-excuse me, c-could someone give me a hand...or-...or a fin...anyone?""
:{{m-}}'''Wreck-Gar''' begins a new life under the sea.

==Other notes==
* This episode was first shown on Friday, April 25th, at [[BotCon 2008]]. The version aired still had the time-code running in the top-left corner.

* This episode is the first to feature Ratchet's full robot-to-vehicle transformation animation sequence.

===Continuity errors===
* When removing trash into a boat, Optimus transforms, and suddenly his trailer evaporates, together with all the trash on it.

* Why don't Sari or Ratchet react to the key when it starts to glow, indicating the presence of AllSpark energy?

* Sari uses her key to help track down Wreck-Gar... Seems rather unnecessary, considering the noticeable trail of garbage he left behind.

*Wreck-Gar appears to have access to Hammerspace.

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Beemeatcycle.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Most fanwanky episode ever?]]
* Wreck-Gar interprets Lugnut's incoming rocket punch as an invitation to a high-five, and he happily delivers the [[universal greeting]].
* Wreck-Gar's shifting allegiance and red optics as he faces down Ratchet on the garbage scow appear to be callbacks to the [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|original Wreck-Gar]], who at first appeared to be an enemy to the Autobots in his movie appearance, complete with red optics, and was even marketed as such in television [[commercial]]s.

* The ''Animated'' incarnations of Spike and Carly, who made a cameo in [[Transform and Roll Out!|the pilot episode]], re-appear with speaking lines and even get their names called out. Corey Burton even reprises his post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|Movie]] voice for the adult [[Spike Witwicky]].

* Generation 1 Wreck-Gar's motorcycle alt mode can be spotted amongst the garbage that Wreck-Gar throws at Bumblebee.

===Real-world references===
* Wreck-Gar's "I ''dare'' to be stupid!" is, of course, a reference to one of [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s most well-known songs, "Dare to be Stupid", a Devo "style parody" that appeared on the soundtrack to [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original animated movie]] in the scene with the original Wreck-Gar.

* While driving Spike and Carly to the hospital, Ratchet drives past the Wyatt Toys toy store, a reference to Art Director [[Derrick Wyatt]] previously seen in "[[Sound and Fury]]".

* The line "You like me, you really like me!" refers to Sally Field's Oscar acceptance speech in 1985.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Even Megatron gets annoyed by Lugnut's constant worshiping. [[Inferno (BW)|Sound familiar]]?

* The mayor still doesn't talk, letting his aide speak for him instead.

* Aside from Wreck-Gar, Weird Al also voiced the Sumdac Systems technician who explains the new version of the nanobots to Porter C. Powell.

* This is the first time we see Lugnut use his mace/axe weapon. It is awesome. It gets eaten by microbots.

* Given that Carly is about to give birth when she seemed to have a wafer-thin profile in [[Transform and Roll Out!|the pilot]], the Autobots seem to have spent at least six months or so in Detroit.

* This episode sees the return of the human newscaster.

* Bulkhead appears, but has no lines.

* One of the two policemen Wreck-Gar picks up resembles Officer Dibble from [[wikipedia:Top Cat|''Top Cat'']].
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Garbage In, Garbage Out

2008-05-05T08:35:03Z

Thomsedavi: /* Real-world references */

[[Image:Wreck-Gar-Ani.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The [[Wikipedia:Raging Bender|Gender Bender]]!]]

{{episodenav|animated|20|season=2|prev=Mission Accomplished|next=Velocity}}

'''AllSpark energy turns a junk pile into a sentient robot who tries to help the Autobots, but ends up doing more harm than good.'''

==Summary==
Garbage is piling up all over [[Detroit]], as the trash-bots are malfunctioning and [[Sumdac Systems]] CEO Porter C. Powell refuses to repair them until the city and he can come to an agreement on payment. In Powell's office, a technician demonstrates a new form of the nanobots that [[Transform and Roll Out|caused big problems a while back]], designed this time to break down garbage into its component molecules, quickly and cheaply solving the garbage problem (while allowing Powell to charge the city a hefty fee).

Elsewhere, the [[Autobot]]s are trying to patch up their still-damaged reputation by helping pile garbage into scows. Ratchet ends up getting into a shouting match with an old man whose car ended up under a garbage mound, resulting in the car being dumped in the river and the two old grouches almost coming to blows. Captain Fanzone arrives to break up the scene and remarks that Ratchet needs to work on his "people skills". Prime agrees and assigns Bumblebee and Sari to try and help out Ratchet while they work more on the garbage problem. Ratchet is not happy with this.

Just before the Autobots depart, though, [[Sari Sumdac's key|Sari's key]] glows, but she quickly disregards this, and so she misses the emergence of a junk-robot from the scow, brought to life by an [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] shard. The confused machine tries to figure out his identity using the scraps around him, but is unsatisfied with the results. Spying a passing blimp with a sign for the Detroit police department with the slogan "We're Here to Help", the robot happily goes about trying to find some police for some help with his identity.

At the Decepticon base, Lugnut detects a surge in AllSpark energy, and Megatron concludes that another fragment must have turned up. Megatron orders Lugnut to retrieve it, and Lugnut continues his glory-spouting as he leaves. Megatron's optical sensor begins to twitch noticeably.

Stuck in a traffic jam, Ratchet is about to display some serious road rage when Bumblebee puts on his siren and clears a path for them. Heading through, they a find [[Witwicky|a familiar couple]] who are expecting a child, but their car has broken down on the way to the hospital. Ratchet agrees to take them to the hospital, then jets off at high speed, despite Sari's warning to keep the mother calm.

Meanwhile, the new robot is walking through downtown Detroit, nearly causing several accidents. The police, pursuing the Angry Archer, crash into the robot, who subsequently asks them for help. Archer tells the robot to throw them aside so that they can escape, and the robot agrees. When Archer inquires as to his identity, the robot responds that he is "worthless-wreck-walking-pile-of-garbage," (all things he had been called by citizens who nearly slammed into him) so the Archer dubs him Wreck-Gar for short. He tries to explain the that they steal from the rich and give to the poor (themselves), but Wreck-Gar gets the Archer's words confused. Seeing a passing armored car, Archer tells Wreck-Gar that they must "knock it over", so Wreck-Gar proceeds to chase the armored car and do just that.

[[Image:New Spike and Carly.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Oh ''shit'', what are we gonna do now?!]]

Meanwhile, expecting mother Carly asks her husband, Spike, to ask the driver to slow down, only for Spike to learn that there is only a little girl in the car{{m-}}and no driver! Ratchet tells them to keep quiet as he tries to find a hospital, only for the armored car knocked over by Wreck-Gar to land in his way. Jettisoning the humans, Ratchet and Bumblebee try to stop Wreck-Gar, but before they can do anything, the Angry Archer snags and flees with a canister that was in the armored car. Sari points out that Autobots are supposed to catch the bad guys, and Wreck-Gar assumes that he is an Autobot, slaps on an [[Insignia|Autobrand]], and goes after the Archer. Bumblebee and Sari go after him, while Ratchet offers to drive Spike and Carly to the hospital. They say they'll take a cab, leaving Ratchet miffed at their rudeness.

Outrunning the swinging Archer, Wreck-Gar hurls him into the air so he can "catch" him, allowing the Angry Archer to escape, but the canister falls into Wreck-Gar's backpack. As the Autobots and Sari show up, her key starts to glow, and they realize that Wreck-Gar was created by an AllSpark fragment. Ratchet rudely tells Wreck-Gar that he is not an Autobot and is only good for one thing: GARBAGE! Wreck-Gar therefore [[Transformation|transforms]] into his garbage truck vehicle mode and leaves to deliver garbage to the people of Detroit{{m-}}starting by covering Sari and the Autobots in a pile of it.
[[Image:Wreckgarbutton.jpg|thumb|right|100px|High-five!]]
Meanwhile, Lugnut has reached the city, and he confronts Wreck-Gar at the military base he and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] previously visited. Lugnut demands the AllSpark fragment from the vehicle's driver, but Wreck-Gar transforms, revealing his robotic nature. When Wreck-Gar repeats Ratchet's statement that he's no Autobot, Lugnut concludes that Wreck-Gar is a loyal Decepticon, so Wreck-Gar slaps on a Decepticon symbol.

Back at the crime scene, Ratchet is removing the driver of the armored car when Powell and Fanzone show up. Powell reveals that the car was carrying the garbage-devouring microbots to a demonstration for Mayor Edsel. However, the canister carrying them is gone. Sari is more than willing to let Powell suffer, but Ratchet is concerned about what the microbots might do if infused with AllSpark energy. Tracking Wreck-Gar to the base, Ratchet demands the Microbots, only for Lugnut to transform and activate his bomb punch. Wreck-Gar interprets this as the [[universal greeting]], and gives Lugnut a high five. Sari and the Autobots barely manage to avoid ground zero. As Lugnut transforms to attack, Wreck-Gar takes out the canister, which has cracked, allowing some of the microbots to touch Lugnut. Crying out in pain, Lugnut commands Wreck-Gar to get them off, so Wreck-Gar dissects Lugnut, causing his tail end, still carrying Wreck-Gar, to crash onto a garbage scow. Bumblebee declares their problems over, but Ratchet is worried. If those microbots could eat through Decepticon [[armor-plating]], there's no telling what they'll do to downtown Detroit.

On the river bank, Powell arrives to cancel the presentation with the mayor, only for the group see the microbots eat the garbage on the scow. Powell quickly takes advantage of the situation to start wheeling and dealing. As the scow gets closer, Ratchet jumps from a nearby bridge to stop it. He tries to reason with Wreck-Gar, but everything fails, forcing Ratchet to make the ultimate sacrifice...and apologize. He tells Wreck-Gar he can be whatever he wants, and Wreck-Gar decides to save the city, vacuuming up the microbots. However, the microbots overload Wreck-Gar's backpack, causing him to fall into the river. Ratchet tries to pull him out with his magnets, but only finds junk. As Bumblebee and Sari declare Ratchet a hero, Powell cries foul, saying that Ratchet destroyed his product. Thus there is no deal with the city, and the garbage dispute will continue. Ratchet picks up Powell, the Mayor, and the Mayor's aide, and tells them to make peace or be thrown into the river. Powell and Edsel agree to a small increase to re-service the garbage bots, ending the dispute. Ratchet decides the cheering bystanders are lauding him, leading him to conclude that he does have people skills. Sari and Bumblebee know differently, however.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the river, Wreck-Gar, buried shoulder-deep in sediment, assures the sea life that he is a hero and is there to help. First, however, he needs a hand. Or a fin. [[Lost and Found (Animated episode)#Quotes|Maybe a pelvis?]]

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Marty Isenberg]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Ben Jones]] & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' May 3, 2008

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] (9)
| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Lugnut]] (10)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (11)
| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Porter C. Powell]] (1)
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (6)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (8)
*[[Spike (Animated)|Spike]] (12)
*[[Carly (Animated)|Carly]] (13)
*[[Angry Archer]] (14)
*[[Mayor Edsel]] (15)
|}

==Quotes==

"You, quit harassing the Autobot. You, put down the citizen".
:{{m-}}'''Fanzone''' keeps the peace.

"Ahh, I'm picking up a new AllSpark energy signal, my liege..." 
"No doubt another fragment has surfaced. Retrieve it, Lugnut, before the Autobots get their filthy servos on it." 
"Stasis lock itself could not deter me from your grand and glorious plan, oh wise and noble Megatron!" 
''[left optic twitches]'' "Just...go..." 
"Yes, my liege!" 
:{{m-}}'''Lugnut's''' blind worship of his <s>queen</s> commander can get too much even for '''Megatron''' sometimes.

"I don't suppose you can tell me what I am, funny green man?" 
"You are...my partner-in-crime. They call me Angry Archer!" 
"They call me 'worthless-wreck-walking-pile-of-garbage'!" 
"Oh, really? Bit of a mouthful. Perhaps we should just call you 'Wreck-Gar' for short." 
:{{m-}}'''Angry Archer''', Renaissance Man, does some on-the-spot dubbing.

"I am Wreck-Gar!"
:{{m-}}The opening to pretty much everything '''Wreck-Gar''' says from the moment he gets his name.

''[Sari, Spike, and a very pregnant Carly are almost crushed by an axle carelessly discarded by Ratchet]'' 
"Uh, I don't know much about these things, lady, but I think you're s'posed to breathe or somethin'?"
:{{m-}}'''Sari''' the midwife

'''Bumblebee''': ''[at Wreck-Gar]'' "What are you?" ''[To Sari]'' "What is he?" 
'''Sari''': "I don't know, but he's givin' off a ton of AllSpark energy." 
'''Wreck-Gar:''' "I am Wreck-Gar! I give off a ton of AllSpark energy!" 
'''Bumblebee''': "So, what, an AllSpark fragment just brought a junk pile to life and made some new kind of Autobot?!" 
'''Wreck-Gar''': "I am Wreck-Gar! I am some new kind of Autobot?!" 
'''Ratchet''': "Listen up, scrapheap. You're not an Autobot, and you never will be an Autobot. You're only good for one thing: GARBAGE!" 
'''Wreck-Gar''': "I am Wreck-Gar! I am only good for one thing: GARBAGE! I must deliver garbage to all!" ''[transforms and rolls out]''
:{{m-}} Ratchet's lack of people skills backfires again.

'''Lugnut''': Human! The AllSpark fragment{{m-}}now! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': No human here. I am Wreck-Gar! I am only good for one thing: ''GARBAGE''! 
'''Lugnut''': Are you an Autobot? 
'''Wreck-Gar''': I am Wreck-Gar! I am not an Autobot and will never be an Autobot! 
'''Lugnut''': Ah! Then you must be a Decepticon! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': I am Wreck-Gar! I...must be a Decepticon! 
''[Wreck-Gar places a Decepticon badge on his chest]'' 
'''Lugnut''': Aah, ALL HAIL MEGATRON! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': All hail Megatron! Uh...w-what's a 'Megatron'? 
:{{m-}} Wreck-Gar makes a new friend.

'''Lugnut''': Those accursed Autobots will pay for their insolence! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': Right! ''[Wreck-Gar pulls a burnt-out cash register]'' Cash, check or charbroil? 
'''Lugnut''': ''[Knocking the register out of Wreck-Gar's hands]'' ATTACK! 
'''Wreck-Gar''': Right! What kind of tack would you like? Thumb tack? Carpet tack? Income tack? 
'''Lugnut''': Rhaaah, nevermind. 
:{{m-}} Wreck-Gar can certainly teach Crazy Blitzwing a thing or two about being bonkers.

"You glitch-head! You're gonna destroy the whole city! You wouldn't dare do something THAT stupid!" 
"I am Wreck-Gar! I ''dare'' to be stupid! I will destroy the whole city!"
:{{m-}} '''Ratchet''' and '''Wreck-Gar'''. Yes, but does he count his chickens before they hatch?

"Fear not, fellow creatures of the deep, I am Wreck-Gar! I am a hero! Um...e-excuse me, c-could someone give me a hand...or-...or a fin...anyone?""
:{{m-}}'''Wreck-Gar''' begins a new life under the sea.

==Other notes==
* This episode was first shown on Friday, April 25th, at [[BotCon 2008]]. The version aired still had the time-code running in the top-left corner.

* This episode is the first to feature Ratchet's full robot-to-vehicle transformation animation sequence.

===Continuity errors===
* When removing trash into a boat, Optimus transforms, and suddenly his trailer evaporates, together with all the trash on it.

* Why don't Sari or Ratchet react to the key when it starts to glow, indicating the presence of AllSpark energy?

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Beemeatcycle.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Most fanwanky episode ever?]]
* Wreck-Gar interprets Lugnut's incoming rocket punch as an invitation to a high-five, and he happily delivers the [[universal greeting]].
* Wreck-Gar's shifting allegiance and red optics as he faces down Ratchet on the garbage scow appear to be callbacks to the [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|original Wreck-Gar]], who at first appeared to be an enemy to the Autobots in his movie appearance, complete with red optics, and was even marketed as such in television [[commercial]]s.

* The ''Animated'' incarnations of Spike and Carly, who made a cameo in [[Transform and Roll Out!|the pilot episode]], re-appear with speaking lines and even get their names called out. Corey Burton even reprises his post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|Movie]] voice for the adult [[Spike Witwicky]].

* Generation 1 Wreck-Gar's motorcycle alt mode can be spotted amongst the garbage that Wreck-Gar throws at Bumblebee.

===Real-world references===
* Wreck-Gar's "I ''dare'' to be stupid!" is, of course, a reference to one of [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s most well-known songs, "Dare to be Stupid", a Devo "style parody" that appeared on the soundtrack to [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original animated movie]] in the scene with the original Wreck-Gar.

* While driving Spike and Carly to the hospital, Ratchet drives past the Wyatt Toys toy store, a reference to Art Director [[Derrick Wyatt]] previously seen in "[[Sound and Fury]]".

* The line "You like me, you really like me!" refers to Sally Field's Oscar acceptance speech in 1985. Does this mean we can refer to the unnamed mayor Ratchet is holding as "Oscar"?

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Even Megatron gets annoyed by Lugnut's constant worshiping. [[Inferno (BW)|Sound familiar]]?

* The mayor still doesn't talk, letting his aide speak for him instead.

* Aside from Wreck-Gar, Weird Al also voiced the Sumdac Systems technician who explains the new version of the nanobots to Porter C. Powell.

* This is the first time we see Lugnut use his mace/axe weapon. It is awesome. It gets eaten by microbots.

* Given that Carly is about to give birth when she seemed to have a wafer-thin profile in [[Transform and Roll Out!|the pilot]], the Autobots seem to have spent at least six months or so in Detroit.

*This episode sees the return of the human newscaster.

*Bulkhead appears, but has no lines.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>