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Nightbird (G1)

2021-04-21T19:27:42Z

Trecathlus: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon|mercenary}}
{{disambig3|Nightbird}}
:''Nightbird is a [[Decepticon]]-allied [[human]]-built robot from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Nightbird g1.jpg|thumb|"Dude? A giant robot ninja?" "No dude, a giant robot ninja chick!" "Duuuude!"]]
'''Nightbird''' is a giant female ninja robot built to "benefit [[human|mankind]]".

Yeah, those nunchucks are really gonna be ''benefiting'' their way through society.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
Nightbird was a robotic ninja warrior created by [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]], ostensibly to show how advanced [[Human]] technology had become. The [[Decepticon]]s stole Nightbird, and [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] implanted her with an enhanced brain chip which turned the drone-like Nightbird into a true butt-kicking machine. Nightbird broke into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and stole the [[Autobot]]s' [[World Energy Chip]], which contained the locations of a variety of energy sources, energy sources that the Decepticons would most assuredly use for conquest!

The Autobots were, at first, hampered by their promise to Doctor Fujiyama not to damage or destroy the ninja robot, and found themselves flustered in botched attempts to capture her. Eventually, however, they used an [[electro mesh prison]] which drained Nightbird's power reserves and allowed the Autobots to capture her without serious damage.

Doctor Fujiyama placed Nightbird into cold storage, but apparently did not see fit to fully deactivate her, as she seemed aware of her plight and gave an angry glare as she was stored away. Not that we've ever seen her again. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

====''Legends'' comic====
Nightbird, having somehow escaped storage, went to the [[Six Clan]]'s planet to learn the art of transformation, picking up a "swan mode". She would later acquire a car mode elsewhere. She later found two disciples, [[Road Pig (G2)|Road Pig]] and [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], both who would eventually develop a rivalry with a dispute over their master. {{Storylink|LG-15 Nightbird Shadow Sequel}}

[[File:LegendsBusinessTrip11-villainladies.jpg|thumb|left]]
In one of the [[Legends World]]'s [[Tigatron]]'s dreams, Nightbird was among the evil female Transformers (and related robots, evidently) who sought to kidnap him and fought the heroic female Transformers guarding him. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] was in Nightbird's line of sight shortly before the dream ended due to Tigatron waking up. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 11|Bonus Edition Vol. 11}} [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] later saw Nightbird, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], and [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] in a vision of things to come. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 14|Bonus Edition Vol. 14}}

[[File:Transformers Legends LG15 Nightbirds rampage.jpg|thumb|]]

Having gotten his mitts on Nightbird again, Megatron brought her with him to the Legends World, where he presented her to the public as a [[Tera-Kura Co.]] ninja maid robot under the name Nightbird Shadow. To prevent her from causing any problems, he equipped her a clumsiness function that customers found adorable, leading to Tera-Kura mass-producing and selling Nightbird clones for profit. The clones then immediately went out of control and started rampaging through Tokyo, something Megatron credited to their inherently evil Decepticon souls, but were stopped in their tracks by their own clumsiness. The [[Megatron (BW)|local Megatron]] prepared for a mass recall, but the customers of the Nightbirds protested that the clones' little "mischievous streak" was just charming, and they remained on the market. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 15|Bonus Edition Vol. 15}}

[[File:TFLegendVol17DecepticonHalloweenCostumes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left]]
During [[Halloween]], Megatron had Nightbird Shadow go trick-or-treating for energy alongside Blackarachnia and Slipstream. Dressed up as a ghost, she and the others knocked on Tigatron's door before getting accosted by [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], who were defeated by Blackarachnia. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 17|Bonus Edition Vol. 17}} Later, when quizzed by [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] about her backstory, Nightbird explained her history with the Six Clan and her students, which Rattrap found hard to believe.

At Tera-Kura, employees became enchanted with Nightbird's cuteness when she took off her mask, prompting the company to begin producing the absurdly popular "Nightbird Maskless Version". {{Storylink|LG-15 Nightbird Shadow Sequel}} Nightbird later swooned over the foreign [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] with the other female Tera-Kura employees, {{Storylink|LG19 Sprung Prologue}} driving Tigatron to envy. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 19|Bonus Edition Vol. 19}} The three later came with Megatron on a hot springs trip, and were thus absent when Tera-Kura Co. was briefly taken over by [[Waspinator (BW)#Cartoon continuity|Waspinator]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Waspinator)|Bonus Edition Waspinator}} Nightbird Shadow and Slipstream were targeted by [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] in his quest to send all the Legends World's interdimensional visitors back to their own universes, prompting Megatron to intervene and seemingly lose his life saving his soldiers. As they crowded around his body, however, they found that Megatron persisted in a tiny new body that Nightbird found cute. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 20|Bonus Edition Vol. 20}}

[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], leader of Tera-Kura Co.'s science department and the one in charge of the Nightbird clone production, allied with the Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] near one of the production lines. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}} On a chart showing the employees of the newly formed Decepticon Tera-Kura Co. and their titles, Nightbird Shadow was included as one of the "three office ladies". {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 22|Bonus Edition Vol. 22}} When Megatron turned into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] and went on a rampage in the city, Nightbird Shadow and the other two tried to talk (well, sign language) him out of it, but their calling him "Megatron" only angered Galvatron further and he opened fire on them. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 23|Bonus Edition Vol. 23}} Nightbird was later present for [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]]'s failed attempt at usurping Megatron. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 26|Bonus Edition Vol. 26}}

Nightbird's continued time at the office involved getting hypnotized into fawning over [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 34|Bonus Edition Vol. 34}} getting her dress ripped off by [[Apeface]]'s telekinesis, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 38|Bonus Edition Vol. 38}} and standing around while Megatron argued with [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 40|Bonus Edition Vol. 40}} When the Headmasters turned against Tera-Kura Co. and came to steal [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[transformation cog]] from them, Nightbird led her clones into battle against the traitorous [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|LG43 Trypticon Mobilization Chapter: Decepticon Civil War|Decepticon Civil War}} As an agent of the Six Clan, Nightbird had orders to eliminate [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and saw her chance when the rogue ninja appeared in the Legends World. When Sixshot was distracted by his victory over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], she snuck up behind him and impaled him, told him he had broken the Six Clan's laws, and left him to die. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 50|Bonus Edition Vol. 50}}

[[File:CybertronAllianceReborn.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]Nightbird remained at Tera-Kura Co. after Megatron left to become mayor, but remained loyal to him and helped take back the company after it was conquered by the [[Concurrence]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 63|Bonus Edition Vol. 63}} With the destruction of the Legends World, Nightbird returned with Megatron to their own dimension. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2}} She honored the terms of the [[Cybertron Alliance]], the peace treaty between Autobots and Decepticons negotiated by Optimus and Megatron. She was seen at the ceremony trying to bring about personal peace between her former proteges, Road Rocket and Road Pig. {{storylink|Transformers Legends Final Chapter "Epiloge"|Epiloge}}
{{--}}

====''Generations Selects Special Comic''====
Nightbird was present when [[Rung (G1)|a Selector]] made his plea to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to assist the [[Selector]]s in revolution against their creators, the [[human]]s. {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 1}}
{{--}}

===3H comics===
[[File:Departure Nightbird army.jpg|upright=2.5|left|thumb|Bombshell would be [[Insecticon clone|so proud]].]]
In 2025 or so, Fujiyama, apparently having learned ''nothing'', built an entire army of Nightbird drones. When they went on a rampage, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]], and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] came to the doctor's aid. Though they were rather outnumbered, the group held off the drones long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to arrive with help and an evacuation shuttle. This was only just too late for Wheelie, who found his back slashed open by a Nightbird drone, disabling him from getting to the shuttle. Loyal to his friend, Daniel stayed with him as the others fled. When he could no longer fight off the drones, he detonated an explosive to destroy them, killing himself and Wheelie in the process. {{storylink|Departure}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Infestation Aztec Theatres inside.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Then, would those be ''male'' ninja robots?]]
A science fiction movie, ''[[Enter the Nightbird (film)|Enter the Nightbird]]'', featured Nightbird kicking shiny metal robo-ass. {{storylink|Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' comic===
Nightbird was wanted as one of Earth's five most wanted criminals. Little did the Autobots know that their list was out of date, leading to their shock when [[Metroplex (Kre-O)|Metroplex]] came under attack from [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Autobot Spike]], [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot Master]], [[Doctor Arkeville|Dr. Arkeville]], [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]]... and a whole lotta Nightbirds! The villains nearly managed to steal Metroplex's brain, but were thwarted at the last possible moment by [[Carzap (BT)|Carzap]] and [[G.B. Blackrock]]. In the battle's aftermath, several Nightbirds found themselves strewn about in pieces. {{storylink|The Brick List: Earth's Most Wanted}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
Nightbird was identified as a [[Cityspeaker]] by a [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] newscaster. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 1}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
At her unveiling by Doctor Fujiyama, Nightbird was stolen by the Decepticons and reprogrammed by Hardshell to serve them. She was sent on a mission to Autobot HQ, where she stole the World Energy Chip and successfully escaped into the desert, however Jazz and Brawn gave chase, and despite the best efforts of the Decepticons, she was recovered along with the chip. The Autobots returned her to Doctor Fujiyama, who put her in stasis. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird (Legends)|Enter the Nightbird}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Zeta#As Nightbird}}
Nightbird appears as a character unlockable in Challenge Events. She is portrayed by Zeta. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:NightbirdEarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=2| So about that upgrade....]]
Programmed with the skills of a mighty ninja, the non-sentient Nightbird developed a full meta-processor brain after being implanted with one of Bombshell's cerebro shells, which merged with her own simulated intelligence.

Nightbird became one of the greatest threats to the Autobots, even more so when—as Bombshell was reformatted—she gained true sentience and freedom of thought. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Nightbird character bio}}

When Arcee, the Autobots' recon and decoy specialist, was sent to Earth, Nightbird was sent in response. Nightbird had some showdowns with Arcee before settling in with the rest of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Crystal City}}

*'''Class:''' Warrior
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 star
*'''Weapons:'''Nightbird uses her gun on a target, then closes in and kicks and punches it.
*'''Ability:''' '''Holo Decoy''' - Place a decoy that soaks up damage and stuns a defense. Only one decoy can be active at a time.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:nightbird Nightbird at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Kre-O''===
*'''Earth's Most Wanted'''
{{charstubtoys}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LegendsNightbirdShadow.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|She's everything [[Raksha|someone]] always wanted.]]
*'''Nightbird Shadow''' ([[October 24]], [[2015]])
**''ID number:'' '''LG15'''
**''Accessories:'' Pistol, rifle, two swords, two sais

:Part of the eighth wave of ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Transformers Legends]]'' toys (an assortment of entirely ''Legends''-exclusive female villains), "Nightbird Shadow" is a [[retool]]ing of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#T30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Deluxe Class [[Arcee (G1)/toys#Generations|Arcee]] featuring a new head and chest, transforming into a Cybertronian open-top sports car. She also gains an extra to a pair of sais to her arsenal; all six of her weapons each feature several universally-sized rectangular pegs that allows them to be tabbed into multiple matching ports in her fists, forearms, hips, shoulders, and the sides and rear of her car mode. Additionally, her two guns can store beneath her car mode. Nightbird Shadow uses the modified hand sculpts from the later releases of this mold, with "open" hands and a rim at the bottom of the fist to prevent weapon handles from sliding too far in and potentially getting stuck.

:Her name is a reference to the Japanese title of her debut cartoon episode: "The Shadow of Nightbird".
{{GenerationsArceeMold}}
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:TF-Generations-WFC-S-Deluxe-Nightbird.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Are wa Nan-nan ja? Nan ja? Nan ja? Nin-ninja, ninja ninja Kakuranger, ninja ninja Ninja Sentai Kakuranger!'']]
*'''Nightbird''' (Deluxe Class, [[2019]])
**''Hasbro ID number:'' '''WFC-GS07'''
**''TakaraTomy release date:'' '''[[September 7]], 2019'''
**''Accessories:'' "Venomizer Blaster", "Nightshock Baton", 2 "Flash Grenades"

: A ''[[Generations Selects (toyline)|Generations Selects]]'' add-on to ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege (toyline)|Siege]]'', Nightbird is a redeco and new head retool of [[Chromia (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Chromia]], transforming into a Cybertronian car. Like Chromia, Nightbird includes a gun compatible with the [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]]. Two grenades can connect to the barrel, and the scope can be detached and can extend the barrel as well, allowing you to change the length of the barrel and/or scope. The grenades can also attach to the back of the vehicle, as if they are big exhaust pipes. Hasbro stock photography also suggests plugging one grenade into the pegged end of the silencer and the other into the underside of Nightbird's hand, creating the appearance of some sort of small staff to make up for her otherwise notable lack of melee weaponry. The instructions instead suggest connecting the two grenades together, then pegging the silencer on top to make a rather bottom-heavy baton. The arrangement can be reversed to make a mace. Unlike most ''Siege'' figures, Nightbird is basically spotless, with no battle damage paint applications anywhere on her body. She also features multiple hardpoints all over herself and her weapon to accommodate "Fire Blasts" from the [[Battle Master]]s assortment, which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions.

: Despite ''looking'' similar to the [[Moonracer (G1)#Toys|Moonracer]]/[[Firestar (G1)#Toys|Novastar]] toy from ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'', Chromia/Nightbird transforms differently and cannot transform into a limb for a ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]''-style combiner. However, they are arguably an extensive retool, reusing the wheels, hands, and upper legs (still having the notches necessary for Moonracer's/Firestar's leg mode) while otherwise being made of new parts.

: Some copies of Nightbird seem to suffer from either mold degradation or poor quality control, with exceptionally tight peg holes, loose joints, and excess plastic. Sometimes the extra plastic is simply extra flash near molding lines from the [[sprue]] which hasn't been removed, while other times it's in more problematic spots like the opening around the peg holes on the grenades. Others have reported figures arriving broken or breaking after transforming it for the first time.

: The [[Stock photography|stock photos]] on the Hasbro Pulse website show the vehicle mode mistransformed. One has the robot mode feet exposed in vehicle mode, neglecting to fold out the front panel to cover them. The other shows the grenades/tail pipes at a very high angle, meaning the head is not rotated completely backward. This one also shows the silencer piece attached to the ''side'' of the blaster, which is possible but not intentional as the hole that allows this is a different shape and much longer than the notch.

:This toy was released exclusively through [[Hasbro Pulse]] and other online retailers in North America, and [[TakaraTomy Mall]] in Japan. It was also available at general retail in Singapore.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Trading Card Game''===
[[File:W4PNightbird.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Nightbird, Enigmatic Agent''' (2019)
**'''Wave 4P: War for Cybertron: Siege II'''
**''Rarity: '''''RT'''
**''Card Number: '''''P7/2019'''
**''Stars: ''7
:'''Nightbird, Enigmatic Agent''' was released as an in-store play promo for the Transformers Trading Card Game's Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II release.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Nightbird's gadgets to benefit humanity include: {{w|nunchaku}} (unused), a pair of {{w|Sai (weapon)|''sai'' daggers}} (also unused), a wrist-mounted grappling hook, magnetic feet (they also work on rocks!), fist-replacing sawblades, {{w|Metsubushi|some kind of spin/make bright light/disappear gimmick}}, an endless supply of hip-stored energized [[shuriken]], a beam saber, another unused weapon the hilt of which is visible on her "backpack", a glowing magnetic [[tractor beam]], and stereo speaker-nullifying metal donuts. Additionally, she vanishes after jumping over a cliff edge, leading Mirage to wonder if she has the power of invisibility.
*The Nightbirds in ''The Wreckers'' comic have four different accent colors, the same colors as the bandanas of the {{w|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles}}.
*Nightbird was featured among the Decepticon forces on the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] [[20th Anniversary Lithograph]].
*A screencap of Nightbird was used to represent the [[Nightracer (G1)|Nightracer]] in the comic story "[[A Flash Forward, Part 2]]" since her head was a close fit and the art style matched the images of other Decepticons next to her. According to [[Pete Sinclair]] and [[Jesse Wittenrich]], the image wasn't supposed to be recognizable as Nightbird once it was obscured by [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], but either Sky-Byte didn't cover her up in a way that would obscure her enough, or maybe we're just that good. She's not intended to be the same character as Nightbird.
*Nightbird as an outright Decepticon is an idea used by the odd fanficcer in the old, old days of [[fandom]], but wouldn't be [[Canonizing|canonised]] until ''Earth Wars'' in 2016.
*According to [[Travis Knight]], the movieverse character [[Shatter]] was based on Nightbird.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Nightbird''' (ナイトバード ''Naitobādo'')
*''Italian:'' '''Ninja'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Yèyīng''' (China, 夜莺, "Nightingale"), '''Yèniǎo''' (Taiwan, 夜鳥, "Nightbird")
*''Russian:'' '''Golubka''' (Голубка, "Dove")
*''Spanish:'' '''Ave Nocturna''' (Latin America, "Nightbird")
*''French:'' '''Oiseau de nuit''' (Europe, "Nightbird")

[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Caminus]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations Selects]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformers]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Man-made Transformers]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Mercenaries]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Robots]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Decepticons]]

Call of the Primitives

2019-05-24T14:05:37Z

Trecathlus:

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Legends]]'' event|Call of the Primitives (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=91
|series2=2010
|ep2=26
|prev2=Grimlock's New Brain
|next2=The Face of the Nijika
|image=PrimitiveCall.jpg
|caption=Prim and Proper
|title="Call of the Primitives"
|production code=700-112
|airdate=[[November 18]], 1986
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|directed by=[[Eiji Suganuma]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Unknown Generation 1 animation studios|Unknown]] (See [[Call of the Primitives#Trivia|''Notes'']])
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''All Transformers with animal modes are summoned to battle a being called Tornedron, the little brother of Unicron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AutobotsCall.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|They're not dead! Dead is gray. This is white.]]
In an ancient-looking laboratory, a sinister voice describes the process of creation as he brings an energy creature into being: first feeding off flame, then an [[energon cube]], growing in size and power. "[[Tornedron]]" is more than his creator could have hoped; he flies forth into the universe, as his creator gloats that he will succeed where "the other" failed. Touching a comet, Tornedron leaves it dark and bereft of energy. Soon, it attacks [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The [[Autobot]]s attack it, but it simply drains their energy from them. The creature's creator is pleased with him, saying he's done better than his predecessor, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]].

[[File:Ejectcall.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Ravage, why are you running away?]]
On [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] is leading a rather badly outnumbered group of Autobots against the [[Decepticon]]s. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], and the animal-form [[Mini-Cassette]]s are all summoned by a mysterious voice. They stop fighting and board Trypticon, who—with Sky Lynx alongside him—rockets off into space, leaving behind a puzzled Rodimus and an infuriated [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. As the Decepticons take off in pursuit, Tornedron arrives and drains the energy from the Moon - and the remaining Autobots along with it. Galvatron's Decepticons in space are next, followed by the entire planet Earth.

Aboard Trypticon, it doesn't take long for tempers to flare after [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] picks a fight with the Dinobots by insulting [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] suggests they stomp him. The Preds stick with their teammate and fight the Dinobots, and the Terrorcons decide to fight everyone. At Sky Lynx's suggestion, Trypticon shakes his passengers up a bit to put an end to the squabbling. The group arrives on [[Methuselah|an ancient planet]] near the center of the galaxy. After touching down, Sky Lynx assumes command of the group, despite the objections of [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]]. Finding a cave, they encounter [[Oracle (G1)|a strange entity]]. He explains that he summoned the [[Primitive]]s, all animal-based Transformers, to come to fight [[Tornedron]], the energy being who was created by [[Primacron]]. The entity, who was once Primacron's assistant, explains how Primacron created Unicron but was nearly destroyed by his creation. After Unicron's defeat, Primacron created Tornedron as a replacement. Primacron's assistant hopes that the Primitives' simple instincts will allow them to defeat Primacron's complex plans.

[[File:Terrorconcall.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How bright are all these guys? Well, the freaking ''Terrorcons'' were the first and only ones to figure out that shooting the energy creature doesn't work and try something else. So, not real bright.]]
Suddenly, Tornedron arrives and drains Trypticon of his energy. Trypticon crashes, and Grimlock is believed destroyed. Sky Lynx attacks, only to have his energy drained as well. [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] leads the Dinobots in retreat, while the other Primitives split up, believing that Tornedron can't catch up to all of them if they go separate ways. Unfortunately, they prove to be wrong, as Tornedron separates into four parts to track them all down. He easily dispatches the Mini-Cassettes, chewing on [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in the process. Headstrong declares that it would be better to [[Furmanism|fight and die]], and the Predacons form [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], only to have their energy sucked away as well. The Terrorcons try to fight back, but are also drained. The Dinobots ambush Tornedron, but they too are dispatched. Declaring victory against the Primitives, Primacron orders Tornedron to return [[Protos|home back to his lab]]. Unknown to Tornedron and Primacron, however, Grimlock has survived his impact from Trypticon, and he secretly follows them.

[[File:Tornedroncall.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Two scoops of raisins]]
At his base, Primacron is having trouble controlling Tornedron, ordering him to stop. Tornedron refuses to take any more orders and declares that he intends to feed on Primacron, and that all of Primacron's failsafes have failed, realizing that Tornedron is rebelling against him. Grimlock breaks into Primacron's lab to find that Primacron is a tiny little monkey-like alien...thing. Grimlock grabs Primacron and orders him to reverse his damage, but Primacron declares that he's tried everything. Grimlock fixes things easily: He throws the reverse switch, which reverses Tornedron's energy polarity, destroying Tornedron and restoring the life energy to the drained Transformers and planets of the galaxy. In celebration, Grimlock destroys Primacron's lab, declaring it the "smartest" thing he's ever done.
{{--}}

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

==Quotes==
[[File:CotP-BlasterEject.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Whoops, my barn door's open.]]
"What's with the Dinobots?" 
"I'd say they're losing their minds... ''if'' they had any to lose!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Springer'''

"Save your ammunition, Autobots! Superior forces are taking over." 
"Well, well, Commander Modesty's here!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' and '''Springer''', as Sky Lynx arrives to save the day.

'''Sky Lynx:''' "I'm tracking the waves to the center of the galaxy. Even my advanced technology can't pinpoint the exact destination." 
'''Grimlock:''' "Me Grimlock not know where ''I'' go!" 
'''Headstrong:''' "That's not surprisin'. Grimlock don't know nothin'!"
:— With this crew, it doesn't take much to get a brawl going.

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

[[File:CallofthePrimitives SkyLynx ruetheday.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|So how's that whole 'rue the day' thing workin' out for ya there, Sky Lynx?]]
"Suffer my rage, monster! I will show you no mercy! You will rue the day you crossed Sky—aaahhh!"
:—'''Sky Lynx'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s righteous fury at the deaths of Trypticon and Grimlock.

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

[[File:Predaking primatives.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|He is power. He is fear. He is awe-inspiring might. He is... dead in about 5 seconds.]]
'''Headstrong''': I detest fleeing! I would rather die fighting! 
'''Razorclaw''': He is right! Predacons, unite! 
''[The Predacons combine.]'' 
'''Predaking''': Tornedron... face Predaking! ''To the end!''
:—The Predacons decide that [[Furmanism|it is better to fight and die than live with the knowledge that they ran]].

"Grimlock here to save universe!"
:—'''Grimlock''' has an elegantly simple mission statement

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

[[File:CallofthePrimitives Grimlock Primacron.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Give me Grimlock your lunch money.]]
'''Grimlock''': Grimlock saved universe! Oh, Grimlock hero!! [Grimlock stomps in victory, causing the place to begin to collapse] 
'''Primacron''': Stop it! You stupid—! 
'''Grimlock''': Why you call Grimlock stupid? 
'''Primacron''': You've ruined my lab! 
'''Grimlock''': Me Grimlock think that is smartest thing I ever done!
:—You know, that probably ''is'' the smartest thing he's ever done.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Primacron.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Grimlock laugh at little wimp who cause big trouble! Unfortunately, so did the audience.]]
[[File:Firecall.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Me Grimlock like 'cons Cajun style!]]
*We get our first official origin story for Unicron, painting him as the creation of an obsessive scientist guy. It's... a bit lackluster, especially considering the demi-god nature of the character depicted in the contemporaneous Marvel UK comics. That god-style origin would carry over into the Marvel US comics in 1989, and later media would use it almost exclusively, quietly ignoring poor Primacron.
*[[Oracle (G1)|Primacron's assistant]] is an enigma. What is supposed to be his essence leaving his body is rather inexplicably portrayed looking just like the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. (This ''might'' be explained as the artist recognizing and replicating the object that killed Unicron at the end of the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]], but not knowing it had any deeper connection to the Autobots.)
*"Sweeps 6 and 7" identify themselves at the start of the moon battle, the only time any Sweeps had any sort of individual designation. Fun Publications would later produce toys of these characters.
*The rollcall of known Primitives isn't quite complete, omitting [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. Instead, Soundwave unleashes two new cassette Decepticons: [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]...who are then never seen again. Gee.
*When Grimlock uses his [[fire-breath|flame breath]] on the Predacons and Terrorcons, they start to ''[[Humanization#Coughing|cough]]''...cause that's what you do when you're being hit with fire reaching several hundred degrees.
*This is the first and only time in the cartoon Swoop fires his wing blasters.
*This episode seems to resolidify the Dinobots' position as freakishly powerful (which took a beating in Season 3), as Grimlock alone seems to be a match for three Terrorcons and two Predacons, and the only Autobot sent flying is Swoop, who takes a blast to the chest early on.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Grimlock can fly in ''T. rex'' mode! All his past flying has been done in robot mode, apart from some falling-with-style back in ''Transformers: The Movie''.
**Trypticon fires a laser from his head-mounted gun at Tornedron that takes the form of a series of energy rings. This MIGHT be a visual reference to the "hypno-beam" his [[bio]] traditionally claims he wields, however if it is meant to hypnotize Tornedron, it fails miserably.
*This episode marks the last appearance of the Dinobots, Trypticon, Ravage, [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (he is seen running by in the background during the red alert on Cybertron), and [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] in the western cartoon...bummer.
*Neither the Moon nor Earth are mentioned by name. Nor do we see anything to suggest what happens when the entire planet - and every human being on it - is drained of energy; we may surmise that it's non-fatal.

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Trypticon launches into the moon battle, then again as Sky Lynx takes off to answer the call.
**[[Death Star]] superlaser as Galvatron & co. take off after Trypticon.
**[[Lightsaber]] ignition as Tornedron takes off from Earth.
**Seeker ball bolts as Tornedron starts his attack on Trypticon.
**[[TIE Fighter]] roar from Swoop as the Dinobots flee.
**Lightsabers slashing equipment and sparking as Tornedron takes down the cassette crew, and as he approaches the Terrorcons and Dinobots.

===Animation and technical errors===
"Call of the Primitives" is renowned for its highly stylized and often very detailed artwork. Many fans regard it as head and shoulders above every other episode in the series (admittedly not a terribly high bar). More objectively, it is one of the least error-prone episodes of the entire show:
*Rodimus's gun doesn't have the usual Prime rifle sound effect.
*In the second overhead shot of the Autobots during the opening battle, Rodimus is missing his (freakin' huge) spoiler.
*When we first see him, Wheelie is missing his Autobot logo.
*When Blades, Slingshot and Wheelie open fire on Tornedron, the first shots are fired before they even raise their weapons.
*As Tornedron, in the form of a giant bug, steps over the bodies of Blades, Slingshot and Wheelie, its glowing aura is on a lower cel than their bodies, making it appear to pass under them, despite the fact they're lying on the ground.
[[File:Windcharger-COTP01.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Look alive, people! Uh, no offense, Windcharger."]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] is seen running around on Cybertron, despite having been killed in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. But hey, that [[Carnage in C-Minor|happens]] [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|all]] [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|the]] [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|time]].
*When the Dinobots are being summoned, [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] is referred to as [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]. In the script, Sweep #6 is given dialogue indicating he hears the call, too: Sweep #6: Someone from -- "up there"! It is unknown whether Donald F. Glut assumed that Sweep(s) would hear the call because they're "Primitives" due to being mostly recycled Insecticons, or because they're creations of Unicron (and thus by extension, creations of Primacron). The animation paired with this line focuses on Swoop and when Galvatron later pursues the "deserters" only Cyclonus and Soundwave are with him. No word on why the Oracle (as it's called in the script), or the writer for that matter, forgot to mention Sludge specifically.
*Galvatron's sporting a red Decepticon [[insignia]] when he calls in Trypticon.
*When Ravage and the other animal Mini-Cassettes eject from Soundwave, Cyclonus is shown several heads taller than Galvatron and Soundwave. While some scale guides ''do'' show him as larger than the average Transformer (reflecting his original role as Galvatron's transport), the cartoon generally shows him about the same height as Galvatron.
*Grimlock's whole neck is supposed to be gold, but the back of it is gray in several shots.
*As Sky Lynx tracks the signal, we see waves of energy expanding out towards him. In the next shot, they're flowing out'' from'' him.
*As the Predacons start firing on the Dinobots while inside Trypticon, one of the glowing effects doesn't quite match up with Headstrong's horn as it should (he moves his horn to the right position a moment later).
[[File:Calloftheprimitives trypticon vs tornedron.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Pictured: wrong sound effect.]]
*Some of the Decepticon Primitives' lasers have the sound effect of Galvatron's cannon. So does Trypticon's laser later on.
*When the Primitives rush to peer over the cliff that Grimlock falls off of, they slide statically into the frame.
*When Sky Lynx tells the Dinobots to find the "alien" a star can be seen on his leg.
*When Tornedron drains Predaking's power and fall over, the Predacons transform back to [[robot mode]]... but the image of Predaking is still there, layered beneath them.
*When Grimlock gets out from under Trypticon, his forearms are huge and his chest looks more boxy than usual.
*Restoring the energy to the Moon also appears to rearrange all the craters.
*When Rodimus' team is restored, Rodimus is lying face up (he was face down), Ultra Magnus' shins are blue instead of white, and Blaster's chest is missing its detailing, switches and Autobot logo.

===Continuity errors===
*Sky Lynx asks Grimlock if he's all right ''as he's falling down a cliff.''

===Trivia===
[[File:Unicroncall.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Where am I from?]]
*The art style in this episode is very different from all others in the Generation 1 series, with highly stylized "anime-like" [[character model]]s and proportions. Although popularly claimed to be, the models are most assuredly ''not'' those designed by [[Studio OX]]; they're simply more stylized versions of the standard animation models, lacking the additional toyetic touches and copious mecha-greeblies found in the OX designs.

:Since the 1990s, it has widely been believed that this lone episode was animated by [[Tokyo Movie Shinsha]], though no evidence has ever been found to actually confirm this. [[Masami Ōbari]] was popularly cited as the animation director.<ref>{{w|lang=ja|大張正己|Masami Ōbari's Japanese Wikipedia article}}</ref> However, Ōbari was asked on Twitter regarding the episode and he himself did not know! This led to animator [[Eiji Suganuma]] chiming in<ref>https://twitter.com/LandSoda/status/487278887332638721</ref> to say that in fact he was the animation director for the episode and to explain that the money shot of the combined Predaking was animated by [[Shin Matsuo]], who ''was'' a member of Studio OX, and brought much of their artistic aesthetic to the standard animation models, accounting for the widespread assumption that the actual Studio OX character models were used in this episode. Given the timeframe and the personnel overlap, the real animation studio culprit is very likely {{w|Production Reed|Ashi Productions}}, hot off animating the similarly styled {{w|Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God|Dancouga}} for 1985, and a known [[Toei Animation]] subcontractor at the time.

===Foreign localization===
[[File:TVMagazineOverkill.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|"Eject—operation: Understudy."]]

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das geheimnisvolle Orakel'''" ("The Mysterious Oracle")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tornedron'''" (First dub), "'''La chiamata dei primitivi'''" (Second dub, "Call of the Primitives")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 原始の呼び声 (''Genshi no Yobigoe'', "Primeval Call")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 5]], [[1987]]
:*Episode preview art published in [[TV Magazine]] inexplicably displays [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]] as if they were the stars of the episode.
:*In Japanese continuity, the scene where the Primitives encounter the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] is set in the past; apparently, the Primitives arrived there via time travel. This is done to accommodate the idea that the Oracle later evolved into [[Vector Sigma]] and later [[Primus]].
:*A "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment unique to Japan was attached to the end of this episode. The segment focuses on the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. It replaces the original "Secret Files" segment focusing on the [[Mini-Cassette]]s used in the Western broadcast. That segment was never used in the Japanese broadcast of the series.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zhìzūn Tàijūn'''" (至尊太君, "Supreme Great Lord")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — Call of the Primitives / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video (Tempo Video)
;{{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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (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==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-112.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Only Human

2019-05-22T22:30:32Z

Trecathlus: /* Trivia */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the ''Legends'' event|Only Human (Legends)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=88
|series2=2010
|ep2=22
|prev2=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)
|next2=Money Is Everything (episode)
|image=Autobot synthoids.jpg
|caption=
|title="Only Human"
|production code=700-108
|airdate=[[November 13]], 1986
|written by=[[Susan K. Williams]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Unknown Generation 1 animation studios|Unknown]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

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

==Synopsis==
[[File:CC-OldSnake01.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Doing a crossover... in style!]]

As buildings explode across the futuristic cityscape of [[New York City]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] attempts to save as many people as he can. At the docks, crime lord [[Victor Drath]]'s men, led by [[Dutch (G1)|Dutch]], attempt to steal a canister of [[newtronium]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] stop them; however, Dutch shoots the canister which explodes in Rodimus's hands, allowing the criminals to escape in their flying car.

Tired of the [[Autobot]]s interfering with his operations, Drath contacts the mysterious [[Cobra Commander|Old Snake]] who apparently ran some kind of terrorist organization in the past. Drath purchases Old Snake's assistance and technology, setting up a laboratory at his home. Lured to the laboratory, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] are trapped and their minds transferred into newly created [[synthoid]] human bodies. While the human [[Autobot]]s are taken away to be disposed at the junk yard, Snake suggests that Drath can make use of the Autobots' former robot bodies.

[[File:ArceeSpringerHuman.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hey Arcee, biologically we can...you know." "What? Huh?" "Nevermind."]]

The four Autobots manage to escape from the crusher in the junk yard before they're pulverised. They find clothing in a nearby building and swiftly realize what has happened. They split up—Magnus and Arcee decide to attempt to contact [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] while Rodimus and Springer go after Drath. Once the pair reaches Drath's house, Rodimus attempts to draw the guards away, but is wounded. He is given refuge by Drath's girlfriend [[Michelle]]. Springer spots Drath's men taking the Autobots' robot bodies for a test drive, taking the opportunity to rob a jewellery store. He is offers to help operate his old body, claiming that he has experience with heavy machinery, and gains the thugs' confidence.

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

[[File:OnlyHuman Rodimus Michelle breakfast.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|- Coffee in bed, sir? - Yeah, caffeine is ''very'' bad, honey!]]

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

[[File:OnlyHuman Thugs in Rodimus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb]]

Rodimus manages to get free of the goons and take down Drath himself. Drath gloats that Autobot City is still doomed. Indeed, Drath's thugs are nearing the city in the three purloined Autobot forms. Springer and Ultra Magnus fly Springer's robot form to catch up with the other three Autobots en route to Metroplex. Knowing that the Autobots in the city won't realize three Trojan horses are coming until it's too late, Ultra Magnus tells Springer to attack the city himself. Their firing on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] alerts the inhabitants, and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] has time to activate the city’s defenses and waylay the oncoming Autobots.

Later, after the Autobots have put together the pieces, [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] rigs the equipment at Drath's former hideout and transfers Rodimus Prime and the other's minds back to their rightful place. When asked about their adventure, Rodimus gives extra consideration to Michelle as she's led away along with Drath's other men. Meanwhile, safely away, Old Snake muses to himself how they just don't make terrorists like they used to. He also tries to yell out the rallying cry of his former organization but breaks down into coughing, so it's absolutely impossible to tell what group he used to run.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (2)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (11)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (12)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (13)

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

==Quotes==
"We will deal with the Autobots as we would any other impediment to business." 
"Yer gonna ICE them robots?!"
:—'''Victor Drath''' and '''Dutch''' talk business

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[[File:CC-OldSnake02.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Well, did you enjoy your sojourn, Rodimus?" 
"Maybe a little ''too'' much, Perceptor."
:—'''Perceptor''' innocently asks a very loaded question of '''Rodimus''', as the camera pointedly zooms in on Michelle.

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

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:OldSnakeYellowFingers1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Or maybe Old Snake was eating Cheet-os and the animators miscolored his fingers.]]
*[[Synthoid]]s originally appeared in the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' episodes "The Synthoid Conspiracy" and "There's No Place Like Springfield".
*Throughout the episode, Old Snake's fingers, visible through his torn-up gloves, are colored yellow and occasionally detailed with scales. This fits in with the timeline of the ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' animated series, as in ''G.I. Joe: The Movie'', Cobra Commander was mutated into a yellow-scaled snake-man and then an actual cobra. He was eventually restored to his yellow-scaled snake-man form in the ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' episode "Operation: Dragonfire, Day 2", though that episode aired three years ''after'' this one. Regardless, hey, with this episode taking place in "the future", that means the continuity works out!
*This episode, along with "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[Madman's Paradise]]", is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons. In fact, this episode marks the only time in the G1 cartoon where all of the antagonists are human (or [[Cobra Commander|humanoid]]). Of course, they still get the Decepticon logo during the scene transitions.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Springer can deploy his arms while still in helicopter mode.
*More than most, this episode plays up the "futuristic" aspect of the show's 2006 setting, with flying cars, crazy looking non-flying cars with sci-fi engine sounds, humans with laser guns, and New York's crazy huge Jetsons buildings.
*It also paints a picture of a close alliance between the humans and the Autobots. The Autobots are working directly with the NYPD, and have a load of humans helping to staff Autobot City (something not seen in any other episode.)
*This episode might answer a question [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] asked at the end of the Season 2 episode "[[Autobot Spike]]" about what would happen if an Autobot's mind were placed in a human's body.

===Real world references===
[[File:OnlyHuman New York opening cityscape.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|[[New Cybertron]] redux? ]]
*Though never called out by name, the episode is set in and around a futuristic [[New York City]]. Badly drawn versions of the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center towers can be glimpsed in the opening shot - absolutely ''dwarfed'' by the crazy future buildings behind them - and "NYPD" markings on the first police hovercar can also be glimpsed.
*This episode uses a number of common cartoon sound effects for helicopter rotors and laser beams that had not been heard on ''Transformers'' before... but which were very common on its contemporary competitor, ''[[GoBots#Cartoon|Challenge of the GoBots]]''.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**The C-3PO "NO!" laser effect is used as the Rodimus-mecha blasts Springer, and again for all the shots coming from Autobot City.

===Animation and technical errors===
*Rodimus, Kup, Arcee, and Springer all appear with their outdated character models for the duration of the episode. Rodimus has done this before in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]," but Kup's, Springer's and Arcee's early designs have only been briefly glimpsed in some [[AKOM]] episodes before now.
*Like in a lot of AKOM episodes, the inside of Ultra Magnus's mouth is often blue.
*Throughout their time as piloted mecha, the Autobots' bodies are ''huge''.
*The glow effect from the fire engine's flashing light isn't aligned with the light itself.
*During the rescue at the start, Springer, in helicopter mode, somehow catches a falling human on his nose, despite the fact the human would have to pass through his spinning rotors. A few shots later, his arms separate from his helicopter body without the transformation sound effect.
**He extends his arms to rescue two trapped humans, but folds them away again before the explosion that knocks him down has even started.
*As the trapped couple watches Springer crash, they're floating slightly above the ledge they're supposed to be sitting on.
*At the docks, Magnus transforms to his full robot mode from just his cab, leaving his trailer sitting behind him!
**Rodimus does the same thing, though the cartoon was less consistent on whether or not his trailer is a separate component.
*As he runs up to the waterfront, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle. This error occurs throughout the episode.
*Old Snake wasn't "pacing," as his subordinate said. When Drath finds him, he appears to be sitting on a curb.
*Old Snake's yellow fingers are inconsistently detailed; sometimes having a scaly texture and sometimes simply being smooth.
*"Still amused, Springer?" - Ultra Magnus's mouth doesn't move. Neither does Rodimus for his subsequent "This way!" line.
*Magnus ''physically shrinks'' as the mind-transfer helmet thing comes down onto his head. He's also got a lot of miscolored bits - gray cheekguards that should be blue, red torso-top that should be blue, and missile-launcher fronts that are red instead of white.
*The commercial bumpers have a couple extra seconds' worth of music.
*"As the humanized Autobots plan their first move, Rodimus is drawn mouthing Magnus's lines.
*Despite being human, there are occasions when the Autobots' voices are still synthesized to sound robotic.
*"And risk our both getting caught?" - Rodimus' mouth isn't moving.
*When Old Snake first has the Autobots transform, Hot Rod is drawn in place of Rodimus, transforming into his trailer-less sports car mode. He's still colored like his older self, though.
*When human Springer offers to pilot his robot form, the guy saying there's only room for two is on the right, then the shot changes and he's on the left.
*When human Springer climbs into his robot form, his crotch clips over a control rod.
*Drath throws open a window shade, dazzling Rodimus with the sunlight - but it's shown as though some sort of laser rays are striking him. They even get a sound effect. Haven't the animators ever seen sunlight before?
*As Drath views a video of Arcee and Ultra Magnus, in vehicle mode, outside his warehouse, Magnus is missing his missile launchers.
*As the vehicle modes of Springer and Rodimus pull up to Drath's warehouse, Rodimus is drawn with Hot Rod's vehicle mode again.
*When Springer grabs the map of Autobot City (which isn't much of a map), his glove is brown, but the next shot shows it (correctly) in white.
*As Springer and Magnus escape, Springer's body converts from car to helicopter without the transforming sound, or even any visible transformation sequence.
*Drath sees a video of Springer escaping and crashing... but doesn't react to anything till the video randomly changes to the other Autobots still sitting outside the warehouse.
*After Rodimus kicks Drath and prepares to slug him:
**Rodimus mouths Drath's "Go ahead" line.
**The display shows Magnus' cab with blue on top instead of all-white, and Rodimus's vehicle form without his trailer.
**And in today's episode of Improbable Viewpoints, how ''does'' Drath get that traveling head-on view of the three Autobots driving down the road?
*When Blaster sees the first three Autobots approaching Autobot City, Springer is shown instead of Arcee.
*Blaster's voice is way over synthesized.
*Arcee mouths part of Blaster's dialogue in her cell.
*Blaster has one big switch instead of three individual ones in a few shots.
*Perceptor is shown cheering for the returning Autobots. His chest is red instead of white, and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white (throughout the episode). Next to him, Grimlock's chest is white instead of gold.
**The next shot shows Kup, Perceptor and Grimlock in a much smaller opening than they were in previously.
*When Magnus presses the firing button, the button's glow effect is layered in front of his finger.
*As Blaster observes Springer opening fire on Autobot City, the laser beams are coming right out of the screen.
*Sudden starry night:
**Springer encounters the street proselytizer by daylight... but once he encounters Drath's goons just a moment later, the rest of the scene happens in the nighttime.
**Night sky behind a shot of some guns and turrets as Autobot City finishes transforming.
**And again as Springer draws the Autobots' fire toward the other non-Autobots.
*Blaster and another Autobot are shown standing on the transformed city; Blaster was at his control station like two seconds ago.
**Also, what happened to all those big servos and switches that had to be activated last time? Here, Blaster just pushes one button and the whole city transforms.
*Springer is briefly layered in front of Rodimus Prime's vehicle mode as he draws the Autobots' fire.
*Springer crashes on a concrete road, then is shown on a dirt path leading to Autobot City.
*Magnus is inexplicably in truck mode when the Autobots are about to be restored.
*Perceptor vanishes from the scene as the Autobots leave Drath's house, replaced by Magnus and Springer.
*As the Autobots leave Drath's house, a doorway (with outer space behind it) is seen ''behind'' them. They were in an enclosed room.

===Continuity errors===
*Michelle’s motivation is a little murky. She seems genuinely upset when the Autobots are supposedly killed by Drath, and later she saves Rodimus from his pursuers—yet later, she happily turns him over to Drath. Was she actually attracted to Rodimus and changed her mind, or was she just luring him into a trap all along? If she was working for Drath from the get-go, why didn’t she just let his men capture him when they asked for him earlier? It couldn’t have been because she wanted to snuggle with Rodimus that night, could it? This is a children’s show, you know.
*The Autobots adapt to being human REALLY easily. Other than Springer needing a shave, there’s very little attention paid to the new problems with suddenly being biological. Shouldn’t the Autobots have problems understanding such concepts as going to the bathroom or breathing? Then again, that stuff veers into uncomfortable territory. This is a children’s show after all.
*In hindsight, just what was Victor Drath’s plan with the Autobots? He obviously has no trouble capturing the Autobots on his own, but purchased the synthoid equipment and went through all the trouble to set it up anyway to transfer the Autobots' minds into human bodies which he would simply dispose of. He also is going to take their former robot bodies and also simply dispose of them. It’s Ol’ Snake that gives him the idea actually to use the robot bodies. Why couldn’t he just capture the Autobots and simply dispose of them intact? Then again, maybe that’s overthinking it. This is a...well, you know.
*Where is the Matrix during all this body-switching anyway?
*It's a bit of a stretch that Michelle was able to recognize Rodimus "by the look in his eyes" - not only has he gone from being a robot to being a human, she only saw him operational for a few seconds! (Things like him saying "Circuits shorted" and not recognizing coffee might be bigger hints.)

===Trivia===
[[File:OnlyHumanlineup.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Ultra Magnus didn't want to admit he wanted the pink overalls.]]
[[File:Only Human Rodimus (synthoid) breaks door.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rodimus the Terminator.]]
[[File:Michelle.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.]]
*In general, this episode is ''really'' rushed, storywise. Scenes are raced through at a pretty breakneck pace, and on the whole, there's a tremendous sense of the episode having to hold back from actually ''doing'' anything with the potential-laden concept of the Autobots becoming human. Many of the ideas in the episode only seem half-developed, and what few subtleties do manage to break through the constant hurtle towards the final scene are often blunted by the complete lack of even just a reflective second or two to let them sink in; the final few minutes of the episode in particular are a collection of brief, perfunctory, checklist-ticking scenes surrounded by noisy [[scene transition]]s that don't even last 30 seconds each. The episode really cries out to be a two-parter, which is a real shame, since the annotations for the episode included amongst the original documentation featured on [[Metrodome]]'s DVDs suggest that the production staff were ''really'' excited and enthusiastic about it.
*While not an error, since the reason for it is clear enough, it is a fun coincidence that once human, our four heroes find overalls to wear that perfectly match their former bodies' color schemes. It was also convenient for the new synthoid bodies to form complete with tee shirts and pants. This is a children’s show, you know.
*The humanized Autobots' synthoid bodies are much stronger than humans are. For example, during their escape from the junkyard, synthoid Rodimus is able to break through padlocked metal doors, an impossible feat for a human. In another example, humanized Ultra Magnus and Arcee push a container which is taller and heavier than they are and jump on it to penetrate into Drath's warehouse.
*For some reason, human Arcee doesn't look like Princess Leia. Even her hair is different.
*Human Rodimus and Human Springer look a lot like their respective voice actors, [[Dick Gautier]] and [[Neil Ross]]. Seriously, go look at the actors' pictures and compare.
*Human Arcee rides a motorcycle in this episode. She turns ''into'' one in [[Arcee (Energon)|several]] [[Arcee (Movie)|other]] [[Arcee (SG)|continuity]] [[Arcee (WFC)|families]].
*After Dutch and company escape, there's no background music for them, or for Magnus and Rodimus as they climb out of the water - one of the ''very'' few moments of silence in the show. A second, shorter gap happens as Dutch proposes robbing the jewelry store.
*Although new background music tracks were introduced to the series beginning with "[[Nightmare Planet]]", in a similar situation to "[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]", this episode uses none of the new music tracks heard in Season 3 and in the [[The Dweller in the Depths|two]] [[Grimlock's New Brain|episodes]] that immediately surround it. Since this episode was one of the few non-AKOM and non-[[Toei Animation|Toei]] animated episodes of Season 3, the ''possibility'' exists of this episode having suffered a production delay and subsequently being assigned a different production number (not unprecedented in television production). As yet, however, no production documentation has surfaced to confirm this.
*This episode was lampooned at [[BotCon 2005]]'s [[MSTF]] presentation, as part of a "theme show" where all of the ''Transformers'' episodes featured had (sometimes really tenuous) ties to ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]''. Because this was the first year of [[Fun Publications]]' take on BotCon, and they run the Joe convention, you see.
*The ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]'' episode "[[Human Error, Part I|Human Error]]" would revisit the idea of Transformers becoming humans, as would approximately eight billion different works of [[fan fiction]].
*Rodimus totally gets some in this episode. Wow.

===Foreign localization===
[[File:OnlyHumanJap1.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Someone put a hat on that football.]]

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nur ein Mensch'''" (''Only Human'')
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Solo umano'''" (First dub, "Only Human"), "'''Soltanto un essere umano'''" (Second dub, "Just a Human Being")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zhǐbuguò shì Fánrén '''" (只不过是凡人, "Just Human Beings")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 人間トランスフォーマー (''Ningen Transformer'', "Human Transformers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 7]], [[1987]]
::*[[Ryōichi Tanaka]], voice of Cobra Commander in the Japanese dub of ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'', reprises the role for Old Snake.
::*In the Japanese dub of ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'', the [[Cobra]] battlecry is "Co-Co-Cobraaa!" rather than just plain ole "Cobraaa!" As such, Old Snake's battlecry in the closing scene is appropriately localized (though he still bursts into a coughing fit).
::*'''Cut:''' The scene where the informant tells Victor Drath that Old Snake is down the street pacing back and forth, then gets punched in the face as payment, was cut for time.
::*This episode was very heavily promoted in the pages of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', featuring two pieces of unique promotional art by [[Ban Magami]] across two separate issues (a rarity for episode promos). Oddly, neither promo seemed to accurately describe the contents of the episode. The May 1987 issue boasted a "special news" emblem, indicating its importance over other episodes promoted that issue. The blurb described the episode, then tantalized children with the reveal that Cobra Commander, "the archenemy of [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Grant]] and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]", would be leading his [[Cobra]] army in a fight against the Autobots. The June 1987 issue continued this misinformation campaign, even going so far as to feature a full-page promo of the episode with artwork depicting "Old Snake" ominously leading a number of Cobra [[Rattler]]s and [[F.A.N.G.]]s. The campaign was either deliberately misinformative, or Magami was working from outdated story summaries (a similar screw-up appeared in his promo artwork for "[[Starscream's Ghost]]").

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:GIJ-TF-Club-Crossover-Only-Human-Rodimus-Prime.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|right|Only a toy.]]
*'''''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (toyline)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' [[Cobra Commander#G.I. Joe and the Transformers 2|Old Snake]] with [[Battle Android Trooper#G.I. Joe and the Transformers|Advanced Stealth B.A.T. Duo]] ([[Fun Publications]], 2015)'''
:A figure composed mostly of reused and redecoed parts from other ''G.I. Joe'' figures (although the hat is new) that represents "Old Snake" as he appears in "Only Human", available exclusively through Fun Publications' ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' Collectors Club online stores, as part of a three-pack with two B.A.T.s (which are unrelated to this episode).

*'''''Transformers Collectors' Club'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/merchandise#Transformers Collectors Club|Autobot Leader Code Name: Rodimus Prime]] (Fun Publications, 2016)'''
:A figure composed mostly of reused and redecoed parts from other ''G.I. Joe'' figures that represents Rodimus Prime's synthoid human body seen in this episode, available exclusively through Fun Publications' ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' Collectors Club online stores.

*'''''Transformers Collectors' Club'' [[Arcee (G1)/toys#Transformers Collectors Club|Autobot Warrior Code Name: Arcee]] (Fun Publications, 2016)'''
:A figure composed mostly of reused and redecoed parts from other ''G.I. Joe'' figures (although the head is new) that represents Arcee's synthoid human body seen in this episode, available exclusively through Fun Publications' ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' Collectors Club online stores.

{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Only Human ([[Tempo Video|Tempo Kids Club]])
;{{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 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==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-108.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Fight or Flee (episode)

2019-05-22T17:54:26Z

Trecathlus:

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 episode|the ''Punishment'' issue|Fight or Flee (issue)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=86
|series2=2010
|ep2=15
|prev2=Carnage in C-Minor
|next2=Ghost in the Machine (G1)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=24
|prev3=The Ultimate Weapon
|next3=Transport to Oblivion
|image=Fight or Flee Paradrons enslaved.JPG
|caption="Man, I hate menial labor. Don't they have machines that can do this?"
|title="Fight or Flee"
|production code=700-106
|airdate=[[October 15]], 1986
|written by=[[Tony Cinciripini]] [[Larry Leahy]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Decepticons conquer Paradron, a world inhabited by pacifistic Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Fightorflee Cyclonus Scourge Superion.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|He looks smaller in person.]]
In space, [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] are pursuing [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]. Following him into an asteroid field, the two Decepticons are surprised to see the other [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. In the firefight, Scourge is damaged, so Cyclonus argues that they charge them. However, the Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and do further damage to the Decepticons. Cyclonus spots a vortex and decides to take refuge in it. Once they've passed through, they find a planet that looks similar to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] during the [[Golden Age]]. Further analysis is discontinued, however, as they crash hard.

Nursed back to health by the natives, the Decepticons discover that the planet, called [[Paradron]], is inhabited by Autobots. Native [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] greets the two Decepticons, explaining their pacifistic ways, but Cyclonus and Scourge get a little too much [[energon]]... of which the planet has an unlimited supply. Contacting [[Chaar]], they inform [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] of the discovery. Sandstorm calls an assembly, warning the populace that Cyclonus and Scourge are dangerous, but the others ignore his warnings. Soon enough, the Decepticons arrive and declare the planet a part of the [[Decepticon Empire]]. Naturally, the Paradrons don't agree with that, one claiming outright that the planet is a [[democracy]]. Galvatron shoots the dissenter.

[[File:Fightorflee Sandstorm spacecraft.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Gotta get to Facebook! My crops aren't going to harvest themselves!"]]
Taken to a prison, Sandstorm manages to escape, but [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] follow him. They knock him off a bridge, but Sandstorm flies away and manages to lose the two Decepticons. Heading for a long-abandoned spaceship, Sandstorm manages to power it up and take off, narrowly avoiding [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]].

Making contact with the Autobots, Sandstorm explains that his ancestors left Cybertron during the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|fourth great war]] to escape the violence. The Autobots, knowing that they can't let the Decepticons have Paradron's energon, head for the planet. By now, the Decepticons have dug in and are using the Paradrons as slave labor. Detecting an incoming Autobot ship, the Decepticons use their [[molecular cannon]] to fire right through one of Paradron's moons, utterly obliterating the ship and the moon. Believing the Autobots destroyed, they carry on with business - but the ship is a decoy, and the Autobots launch their actual invasion from the other moon. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes a team to secure the energon, while [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] takes [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], Sandstorm, and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to rescue the prisoners.

[[File:Fightorflee Rodimus explosion.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Dreamwave... The New Wave of Comics]]
Breaking through the prison defenses, the Autobots present the Paradrons with weapons, but the latter are reluctant to fight. Sandstorm claims that their forefathers would fight as well. The Autobot leader gives them a simpler choice: fight or flee. Reluctantly, the Paradrons take up arms.

[[File:Fightorflee Ultramagnus Sandstorm bomb.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Nice scenery." "Yeah, let's waste it! I hate nice things!"]]
Unfortunately, the Decepticons' control over the planet is too firm. Unwilling to let them have Paradron, Rodimus orders Ultra Magnus to destroy the energon core, which will destroy the planet. Sandstorm objects at first, but agrees to the plan when he learns that the Paradrons can live on Cybertron. Using escape pods, the Paradrons flee the planet, while Magnus and Sandstorm head for the core. Planting a time bomb, the two Autobots hightail it out of there. Galvatron sneers at their cowardice, then remembers that Magnus is anything but a coward. Realizing that something is wrong, Galvatron orders the Decepticons to abandon the planet.

From space, the Autobots watch the planet explode. Sandstorm remarks that even in death, it's still beautiful. Rodimus callously says that Cybertron is better anyway.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (3)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (4)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (5)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (9)
*[[Paradron Medic]] (10)
*[[Playback|Communication Autobot]] (11)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (22)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (23)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (25)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (27)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (1)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (2)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (14)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (15)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (16)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (17)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (18)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (19)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (26)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (28)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (29)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (30)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (31)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (32)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (33)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (34)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Scourge:''' "Are they gonna attack us, or blow us away?" 
'''Sandstorm:''' "Welcome to Paradron, friends!" 
'''Scourge:''' "You don't think this is what happens when you get deactivated, do you?" 
'''Cyclonus:''' "Who knows, Scourge, who knows..." 
:- '''Scourge''' and '''Cyclonus''' are very confused.

"Hey! I'm stuck up here!" 
"Everybody's got to be somewhere."
:—A '''Paradronian''' and '''Cyclonus''', after Scourge kicks the former into a wall.

[[File:FightOrFlee Galvatron orders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Before a society can move forward, everyone must agree on the rules. Now kneel!"
:—Come, sons of Paradron, kneel before '''Galvatron'''!

[[File:FightorFlee future autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"I-is there something wrong with his timing program?"
:—'''Sandstorm''', asking the question we're all thinking about Blurr.

"What do we have here?" 
"I believe it is an Autobot invasion party." 
"I KNOW what it is." 
"Didn't you just ask me what we had here?!" 
"It was just a figure of speech! TURN THE MOLECULAR CANNON ON THEM!!"
:—'''Galvatron''''s high-falutin' fancy talk is just too much for '''Bruticus''' to grasp.

"I've never seen anything this beautiful in the entire galaxy.... All right, give me the bomb."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' with one of the greatest lines in the multiverse.

"Run, you Autobot cowards! Hhh...but he isn't a coward.... Something's wrong here!"
:—'''Galvatron''' mocks Ultra Magnus, then realizes they're in deep [[Slag (slang)|slag]].

"It's as beautiful in death as it was in life." 
"Well, no need to get all mushy. Cybertron's a better place anyway — not so...perfect!"
:—A solemn '''Sandstorm''' witnessing the destruction of his home while '''Rodimus Prime''' callously mocks him for it. Jerk.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:ParadronMedicCartoon1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Helloooooo, Nurse!]]
*The [[Paradron Medic]]s are basically a recycled version of [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]]'s character model.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Sandstorm unveils a hidden wrist cutter.
**[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] has the same hidden camera gimmick in his [[beast mode]]'s forehead as [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]].
*Paradron would appear in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Micromasters|''Micromasters'' comic]] and be the location of [[Golden Disk (Paradron)|an important plot device]].

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects - all from Divebomb's one scene:
**[[TIE Fighter]] roar as he first appears, closing in on Sandstorm...
**[[Death Star]] superlaser as he climbs to attack...
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as he loops around...
**[[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] whine as he dives toward the ship...
**and [[Darth Vader]] TIE Fighter roar as he closes in.

===Animation and technical errors===
*At the beginning of the episode, Cyclonus's gun sounds like Galvatron's cannon. This occurs throughout the scene, though in some shots it has the typical Decepticon laser sound.
*One shot of Air Raid standing on an asteroid shows him coloured as Superion.
*The other four Aerialbots get a transformation sound as they emerge from behind the asteroid, but they aren't actually transforming.
*[[Surprise Party|Once again]], Cyclonus's face looks different. Here, he has no "beard" and his eyebrows are white (except in certain shots, such as when he and Scourge spot the vortex, where he has the purple beard again).
*Coloring errors:
**Silverbolt has Superion's color scheme (red arms, dark gray head) just before he transforms into Superion's torso.
**When Scourge delivers his line "The same goes for me..." as Cyclonus finishes drinking from the energon fountain, Cyclonus has Sandstorm's color scheme. Sandstorm himself is also colored entirely orange during this moment.
**The optic visor of one of the muttering Paradronians flashes from cream to blue and back as he steps forward.
**"Too bad we didn't get to bump him around more" - Brawl's mouthplate changes from the correct deep orange to the same yellow as his eyeband. Razorclaw's visor is colored the darker yellow of his helmet instead of the correct lighter yellow.
**When Razorclaw and Brawl dive into the gorge, Razorclaw's black bits (arms, legs) are light gray.
**When they land a few shots later, Razorclaw still has light gray arms and legs; Brawl has white hands and lots of light gray in places it shouldn't be.
**Sandstorm's helmet is light gray instead of black as he gets his escape ship operational.
***And again as he starts to tell Paradron's history.
**"Make the slaves work faster!" - Blitzwing's helmet is purple instead of yellow.
**Rodimus's gun is light gray instead of black as he takes out the security camera.
**When Rodimus opens the door to the prison, Sky Lynx's upper portion is colored like this lower portion.
**When Rodimus tells Sandstorm to give the Paradrons the weapons, his spoiler is all-yellow. (It should be orange in the middle.)
**Scrapper and Long Haul are colored in Sweep-esque shades of blue as Galvatron gives the order to charge.
**When Magnus, Wheelie, and Blurr are ambushed, a shot panning across a group of Decepticons gives us Long Haul in [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|a bizarre blue-and-orange color scheme]], previously seen in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", which persists throughout this scene. Also present are Soundwave with a white cannon, no mouthplate and two fuzzy dots for eyes, Scrapper in a Predacon color scheme, and Galvatron with a white cannon.
[[File:ParadronGenerics.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:FightorFlee Paradron communicator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*The Paradronians are a peculiar lot. Often they're portrayed as extremely generic robots across the board, with optic visors, mouthplates, and utterly generic bodies. And then once in a while, a highly detailed guy like the [[Playback|communication Autobot]] will turn up in their midst.
**Likewise, their colors change around a lot. In some shots they're all in an off-white color scheme, while in other shots of the same groups, they're more colorful - most notable as an all-cream group aboard an escape ship changes to multiple colors in the following shot.
**The Paradronians' Autobot logos are drawn/colored inconsistently throughout the episode. Some are missing areas of the symbol, others are colored only halfway, and others are drawn in rather poorly (especially during the assembly). In most group shots, they're missing entirely (only to show up when we get a close-up).
*As Cyclonus draws his weapon and notes that the Paradronians are not armed, the Decepticon brand usually seen on his chest is missing; meanwhile, Scourge's head seems to have sunk into his shoulders.
*When Cyclonus and Scourge contact Chaar, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] turns around and speaks - in [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]'s voice! He even uses Shrapnel's unique repetition of dialogue, dialogue.
*When Cyclonus and Scourge plot against the Paradronians during Sandstorm's assembly, [[Scale|Scourge is drawn way shorter than Cyclonus.]]
*Scourge is drawn in the head-sticking-up version of his hovercraft mode as he transforms in the auditorium.
*Scourge returns to [[robot mode]] without any transformation sound.
*The Decepticons shown landing on the stage with Galvatron all appear to be generic. (Their color schemes bear some resemblance to [[Krok (G1)|Krok]], [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]], [[Horri-Bull]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]], [[Roadgrabber]], and [[Cloudburst]], though almost none of those characters had yet been created!)
*When the Decepticons land on Paradron, Soundwave is missing all his cassette player buttons.
*Galvatron's chin is darker than the rest of his face in this episode.
*A generic asks "What about Sandstorm?" His faceplate is woobering both before and after he speaks.
*Sandstorm is shown to have escaped through a barred window that's much, much smaller than he is.
[[File:FightorFlee RazorclawBrawl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As Razorclaw and Brawl chase Sandstorm, one shot of Brawl shows a starry night sky, but the rest show a blue, Earth-like sky.
*Divebomb never actually fires on Sandstorm; his eyes flash once, and then in the next shot we see some missiles flying at the launch site. No visual of him firing; no firing sound effects.
*Divebomb's eagle mode is consistently drawn with his robot legs not folded up correctly, leaving them trailing behind him. As he goes back into robot mode, the transformation sound is cut off at the end.
*When Bruticus says, "I believe it is an Autobot invasion party," Galvatron mouths the line simultaneously. Bruticus's mouthplate is off-center, revealing the same red as his optics beneath it, and it flashes out a couple of times as he speaks.
*As Rodimus addresses the Autobots on Paradron's moon, a whole host of goofs can be spotted:
**The late [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] are in the crowd. Ratchet's headcrest is white instead of gray.
**Hot Spot is two shades of gray with a helmet in two shades of blue. He should be almost entirely light blue.
**Streetwise(?) is colored like Red Alert.
**Groove's head is light blue instead of black, and his body appears to be orange.
**Sunstreaker's shoulders and back are in the crowd, but not his head; he's got some light blue that shouldn't be there.
**Springer, or something like him, is colored orange instead of green.
*When Rodimus gives the ultimatum for the Paradronians to "Fight...or flee!", and the slaves kneel to pick up weapons off of the floor... the weapons aren't there! They appear in the slaves' hands as they take them up - making it appear as if they're plucking weapons from thin air.
*Also, when Rodimus gives the order, his left shoulder is missing its white detailing.
*The mis-colored Long Haul fires a rocket at a stand labeled, "NEWS PAPEP."
*When Rodimus gets the transmission from Ultra Magnus, his head crest is yellow, then lined incorrectly, then ''missing'' all lines in subsequent shots.
*When Wheelie finds the door in the floor, the lines around Magnus's eyes are too thick (like he's wearing mascara!).
*Sandstorm's size relative to the other Autobots varies drastically: When interrogated, he looks huge; when descending the steps to the core chamber, he's half the size of Ultra Magnus; when handing Magnus the bomb, they're roughly the same size.
*When Sandstorm and Magnus duck from the missile, the top of Magnus's back is red instead of (the now-established) grey.
*Galvatron fires on Magnus and Sandstorm with no sound effect. The Kid Rhino version fixes this by not having him fire at all, but in return, the shot pans down in a way that looks like the camera was simply moved down a stationary animation cel.
*During his "but he isn't a coward" line, Galvatron's chin is back to being the same color as the rest of his face.
*While Rodimus counts down to Paradron's destruction, Sandstorm and Ultra Magnus get transformation sound effects as they leap down into the shot. Did they drive all the way to the moon?
*As Rodimus counts down the final seconds of the bomb, his head crest is missing its lines.
*Galvatron has a Predacon color scheme as he takes off from the collapsing tower.
*Paradron starts to explode - then the shot changes, and the planet is gone! The explosion is still there, but there's no trace of the planet's globe.
*As the Autobots watch the explosion, Magnus's Autobot logo is colored solid blue.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:FightOrFlee Molecular Cannon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"I will not be deprived of this fun! Even if it means being in two places at once!"]]
*Although this episode gives Sandstorm's origin, he first appeared in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]". [[Starscream's Brigade|Gee, that's ''never'' happened before.]] [[To sell toys|Wonder why]]?
*Bruticus's role in this episode is utterly bizarre; it is tempting to assume that Cyclonus was supposed to be scripted in his place:
**He's shown hanging out with Galvatron in a control center, acting as Galvatron's right hand man.
**He's depicted as only slightly taller than Galvatron.
**He is noticeably eloquent, speaking in full, normal sentences, in his otherwise normal voice.
**His components are seen separately from him throughout - most notably, we see him in the control room, then see Brawl (Bruticus's leg) firing the molecular cannon, then immediately cut back to Bruticus in the control room.
*[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|Despite being banished by Galvatron earlier]], [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] can be seen among Galvatron's troops when he orders them to make the slaves work faster.
*Flying Autobots:
**The Autobots burst out of the moon and fly down to Paradron's surface, each trailing rocket exhaust.
*Sandstorm claims his ancestors left during the fourth great war. According to "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", the [[Great War (G1)|current war]] is the ''Third'' Cybertronian War. The terminology does leave some leeway, though.
*Ultra Magnus gives a five-minute countdown after setting the bomb. Not the usual ''astro''-minutes, just minutes.

===Trivia===
[[File:Fight-or-flee-springer-magnus-rodimus-sandstorm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Well, no need to get all GEEWUNny. Rodimus Prime's a better leader, anyway. Not so... perfect!]]
*At one point, this episode went by the preliminary title of "Fight or Die". As originally scripted, the episode featured an additional plot line that involved Galvatron forcing a Paradronian scientist to build huge [[planetary engine]]s ("ion thrusters", per the script) on the planet's surface, in order to transform it into a mobile battle fortress.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/5c6b78d4b5dc1d27/ Notes on "Fight or Flee" script at alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
*Some interesting generics appear for a split second during Sandstorm's story: Blitzwing colored like Fireflight, Ramjet colored as Air Raid, and an all-black Dirge.
*Unlike the [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|two]] [[The Dweller in the Depths|episodes]] that surround it, this episode uses none of the new background music tracks that were introduced to the series beginning with "[[Nightmare Planet]]". As this episode also depicts the formal introduction of Sandstorm, who is otherwise first seen in "Starscream's Ghost", ostensibly produced 11 episodes prior, it is ''possible'' that this episode suffered production delays and was subsequently assigned a different production number (a not unheard of occurrence in television production). As yet, however, no production documentation has surfaced to confirm this.
*Rodimus Prime destroys an entire planet rather than let the Decepticons have it, and isn't too kind to Sandstorm as he mourns its loss. And people wonder why so many prefer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]!

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wenn du nicht kämpfst, wirst du sterben!'''" (''If you don't fight, you're going to die!'')
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' '''Eine vollkommene Welt''' (''A perfect World'')
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il paradiso perduto'''" (First dub, "Paradise Lost"), "'''Combattere o fuggire'''" (Second dub, "Fight or Flee")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 戦いか死か!? (''Tatakai ka Shi ka!?'', "Fight or Death!?")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 6]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title: ''Jué Sǐ Yī Zhàn'' (决死一战, "Fight or Death")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — The Action Adventure Collection IV (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / Fight or Flee (Tempo Video)
;{{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 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)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-106.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Transformers: Deviations

2016-03-16T22:06:44Z

Trecathlus:

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''Transformers: Deviations''
|prev=
|next=
|image=TFDev_subcvr.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 16]], 2016
|coverdate=March, 2016
|written by=[[Brandon M. Easton]]
|art by=[[Priscilla Tramontano]]
|colors by=Priscilla Tramontano and [[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]] (alternate)
}}

'''What If... Optimus Prime did not die?'''

==Synopsis==

In [[The Transformers: The Movie|the world we know]], the [[Decepticon]]s launched a devastating attack on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] in the year [[2005]], during which the young [[Autobot]] [[Hot Rod/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]], against the advice of [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], interfered in a battle between [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] when he spotted the Decepticon leader reaching for a fallen weapon. Megatron seized the young Autobot and used him as a shield to prevent Prime from firing, then blasted Prime, inflicting injuries that claimed his life soon after. But in this world, things take a different turn...

Rather than just call after Hot Rod, Kup actually tackles the young 'bot to the ground, preventing him from becoming involved in Prime and Megatron's fight. Megatron grabs the gun, but Optimus is able to react, dodging the blast, and—with no options remaining—regretfully pulls the trigger on his own weapon, slaying Megatron. With the loss of their leader, the Decepticons fall into disarray and flee aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]; [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] recovers Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] as proof of his death, and nominates himself as the new leader. Soon after, partway into their journey back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the wounded Decepticons are tossed into the void of space, where they are found by [[Unicron]]—but as Megatron is not among them in this universe, the planet-eater simply consumes them. Unicron then continues on his way to Cybertron, arriving in the middle of Starscream's coronation ceremony. At [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]'s urging, Starscream flies out to make first contact with the living planet, and, ever the self-preservationist, is quick to accept when Unicron demands that he serve him. In return for destroying the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Starscream requests upgrades to himself and his inner circle, and Unicron agrees.

On [[Earth]], Optimus Prime decides to press the Autobots' current advantage, pursing the Decepticons back to Cybertron and defeating them once and for all. Hot Rod is unsure, believing that they do not have to rush as the Decepticons will be demoralized and disorganized, but [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] silences him, sure that the villains will have reorganized under a new leader before long. Prime steps in before Magnus and Hot Rod's argument can escalate and gets things moving forward: he will lead a group on one shuttle to [[Moonbase One]], while Magnus will take a second group to [[Moonbase Two]]. Hot Rod is not happy about being assigned to Magnus's crew; Optimus charges him with looking after [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] until they can reunite him with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|his father]]. The shuttles soon depart Earth, and Hot Rod spends the journey telling Daniel that he has begun to see images in his mind of Optimus dying, like a human "dream." He believes they are the work of the Matrix, but when Ultra Magnus overhears, he is ready to accuse Hot Rod of plotting treachery! Just then, the shuttles suddenly come under attack from the Decepticons, led by the upgraded Starscream, now calling himself "Megascream"! Hot Rod proposes that they buy themselves some time by throwing their engines into a hard reverse, causing the Decepticons to overshoot them, but Magnus and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] refuse, believing such a tactic will burn the engines out. However, when a blast hits the ship and injures Magnus, Hot Rod seizes his chances and does it anyway... and the engines do indeed burn out. Fortunately, just then, Megascream receives a transmission from Soundwave on Cybertron, alerting him to the fact that Unicron is consuming Moonbase One. Outraged, Megascream calls off the attack and has the Decepticons return to their homeworld.

While Magnus's crippled shuttle drifts off in the direction of the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]], Optimus's crew set down on the planet [[Quintesson]] to repair their own ship's damage before collecting their stranded teammates. No sooner have they landed than they are approached by a shoal of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]; Kup tries the [[universal greeting]], but the creatures do not take kindly to it and a battle breaks out. The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] soon overpower the Sharkticons, and the Autobots trace them back to their point of origin, the [[Quintesson]]s' citadel. The resident five-faced aliens promptly flee, and the Autobots liberate their prisoners, including [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]], last survivor of the planet [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]], who tells them of Unicron.

Meanwhile, as Ultra Magnus's shuttle hurtles toward Junkion, the wounded Magnus urges Hot Rod to get Daniel into the only escape pod that remains functional. The young 'bot complies, and he and Daniel escape down to the planet's surface but must watch as all their friends perish when the shuttle crashes and explodes. Hot Rod apologizes for everything, but Daniel tells him that it must all be part of the Matrix's plan, and that the other Autobots' sacrifice must mean something. Presently, Optimus's group arrives to rescue them, and they all head for Cybertron together.

Concurrently, Megascream confronts Unicron over his consumption of the Moonbase, but Unicron tires of his pawn's whining and transforms to robot mode to begin attacking Cybertron itself. As his assault begins, the Autobots gather on [[Moonbase Two]], where Optimus Prime announces his intent to take a small ship on a solo mission to Unicron's surface, believing that the Matrix has the power to destroy the monster planet. When he arrives, he is met by Megascream, who demands the Autobot hand over the Matrix so he can use it to destroy Unicron himself. Megascream unveils the "enhancements" he had Unicron make to his warriors, merging with Soundwave, Astrotrain, [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] to form a giant [[combiner]], and promptly crushes Prime beneath his colossal fist. He picks up the shattered Autobot, but Hot Rod—who stowed away on Prime's ship—appears to wrest his leader free. Following the call of the Matrix, Hot Rod removes the talisman from Optimus's chest, then slips a teleport disc from [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s lab onto the injured Autobot leader, sending him back to Moonbase Two. Megascream blasts Hot Rod, but even damaged, he crawls to the Matrix and manages to pull it open. The resulting burst of brilliant blue energy can be seen from space, causing an explosion that destroys Unicron... but both Megascream and Hot Rod are also lost in the blast.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime declares the Cybertronian Wars at an end, and speaks of a future of peace and prosperity. In the skies above, he sees the image of his mentor, [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], and that of the newest shining light to join the ranks of great Autobots within the Matrix: Rodimus Prime.

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (7)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (8)
*[[Hot Rod/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (21)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (22)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (23)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]'s body (24)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s body (25)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s body (26)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s body (27)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (28)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (29)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (30)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (33)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (41)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (42)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (43)

|c2=
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (3)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (4)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (6, see Errors)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream/Megascream]] (10)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (13)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (14)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (15)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (16)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (17)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (18)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (32)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (34)
*[[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] (35)
*[[Acid Storm]] (36)

|c3=
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (31)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (40)

|c4=
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (20)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (37)
*[[Quintesson]]s (38)
*[[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] (39)

}}

==Notes==
''Deviations'' is IDW's multi-franchise crossover event for 2016, following in the footsteps of the ''[[The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers|The X-Files: Conspiracy]]'', ''[[Mars Attacks: The Transformers|Mars Attacks]]'' and ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'' [[Infestation 2|events]] of previous years. The concept is a take on [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s "What If?" comic book, with each comic telling a story about a world in which a key event in the franchise's history happened differently; in this issue's case, it asks what would have happened if [[Hot Rod]] had not interfered with Optimus Prime's battle against Megatron, and thereby been the indirect cause of his death, in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Other franchises involved in the ''Deviations'' event include ''Ghostbusters'', ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,'' and ''The X-Files.''

===Continuity notes===
*The "What Really Happened" introductory page uses artwork from IDW's ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' adaptation. Remember that?
*True to form, there's no sign of [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] anywhere in the issue, reflecting his mysterious absence from the film.
*Hot Rod remarks that Ultra Magnus was nowhere to be seen during the battle of Autobot City, which is an accurate summary of his role in that part of the film. He was supposed to battle [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] alongside a team of Autobots, but the scene got deleted from the movie.
*So, uh, Ultra Magnus is kind of a massive asshole to Hot Rod in this, isn't he? They didn't have this kind of relationship in the film, though the original ''script'' for the movie did show Magnus butting heads with the young 'bot as he took him to task for breaking Kup's security cordon.
*In a cute touch, Shrapnel and Kickback can still be seen at Starscream's coronation despite being thrown out of Astrotrain, in a faithful replication of one of the movie's more famous animation/continuity errors. Continuing this theme in a new direction, Thundercracker appears among Megascream's troops (though it's worth mentioning that the comic ''doesn't'' show him being tossed into space in the earlier scene).
*The statues in the Decepticon [[Hall of Heroes]] are faithfully represented here, meaning we get a look at the figures of [[Gladiaron]], [[Floron]], [[Dery]], and [[Ghoulon]]. Gladiaron's missing his mohawk-crest, though.
*Hot Rod's tactic of reversing the engines comes from the original script to the movie (and the [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics adaptation]] based on it), in which Kup used it to shake off the [[moleculon missile]]s that were pursuing their shuttle. Even in the script, however, the move was described with the sci-fi nonsense phrase "inverting polarities," and for the finished film, it was changed to the shuttle actually blasting the missiles with some kind of scrambler beam that screwed up their trajectories.
*The reference to Ultra Magnus's ship covering "a much larger distance than expected" thanks to "plasma burnout" sounds like a reference to "[[The Rebirth]]," in which an Autobot ship was catapulted across the galaxy when struck by [[plasma energy]].
*Grimlock wants to "bash Decepticons in their turbo chargers," recalling [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'s desire to "boot some Decepticon right in his turbo charger" from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
*The Quintessons recognize the Autobots, and Prime deems their planet "familiar," alluding to the alien's status as the creators of the Transformers, which the Autobots would not discover until shortly ''after'' the film, in the five-part "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" mini-series.
*Thanks to Starscream pushing Unicron's patience harder and faster than Galvatron ever did, the planet-eater foregoes noshing on Moonbase Two, and just goes straight for Cybertron, meaning Bumblebee and Spike don't get eaten in this version of events.

===Transformers references===
*In the first panel of the story, an [[Autotrooper (Animated)|''Animated'' Autotrooper]] can be seen amongst the wreckage.
*A [[generic]] on page 20 is colored like [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]].
*On page 24, [[Dug Base|''Animated'' Dug Base]] is visible in the crowd.

===Errors===
*In the first panel, there's an all-grey Seeker with no visible wings. Given the scene from the film this panel represents, and the fact that the other 'Cons being mowed down by Prime in this panel (Blitzwing and Shrapnel) were shown receiving the same treatment in animated form, this was presumably supposed to be [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], who was prominently clobbered by Prime in the movie scene. Thrust is in the comic either way, showing up in later scenes.
*Also in the first panel, the fallen Swoop's body is colored red instead of blue.
*On page 4, Rumble is colored in Insecticon black-and-purple, rather than his cartoon two-tone purple color scheme.
*On page 5, Ramjet has black forearms—an easy mistake to make, since it's standard protocol for Seekers to have forearms the same color as their fists, but Ramjet's the prominent exception; he has white arms from wrist to shoulder in the animated series.
*On page 7, the deceased Prowl's helmet is white in panel 1, but black in panel 4.
*He's only tiny, but Mixmaster is off-color on page 8, with one black arm and one green, a black headpiece, and a green mixing barrel.
*Maybe an error, maybe not; one the fleeing Quintesson "executioners" on page 16 is colored white and green, instead of their usual purple and sea-green.
*Bumblebee's got yellow shoulders instead of black on page 20.

===Other notes===
*This issue's story is 24 pages in length, as opposed to the current standard of 20. The story is followed by eight pages of back-matter, including a letter from Easton introducing himself to the audience, a "story so far" cross-sell summarizing the current goings-on over in ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'', and a "process" segment showing how the first page of the comic went from script to finished form. The end result is a book that retails at $4.99, instead of IDW's usual $3.99.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Standard cover:''' Optimus Prime stands over Megatron's fallen body, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Hot Rod spots Optimus Prime and Megatron fighting and plans to help, but Kup has other ideas, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
<gallery>
File:TFDev_regcvr.jpg|
File:TFDev_subcvr.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*IDW ''Transformers'' reading guide
*[[The Transformers issue 50|''The Transformers'' #50]] and [[More than Meets the Eye issue 50|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50]]
*''Deviations''

[[Category:IDW titles]]

User talk:Trecathlus

2016-02-22T21:50:36Z

Trecathlus:

{{welcome}}

Welcome to wiki! Do you have a source for the [http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=The_Return_of_Optimus_Prime,_Part_1&curid=6388&diff=1046958&oldid=1013740 claims you made] On the page for [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]? Information about unanimated scenes and the like is stuff that should have a source that backs it up. -[[User:Foffy the Sheep|Foffy the Sheep]] ([[User talk:Foffy the Sheep|talk]]) 12:29, 21 January 2016 (EST)
:I do. I have copies of the original scripts for both parts of the episode. Production coordinator and writer Paul Davids gave them to me when I met him and Flint Dille (who said he is likely to have story-edited the scripts) many years ago. I can scan the pertinent portions in support of my addition.

::Thanks, Foffy! And not at all -- you're only being a proper editor by asking me to verify. I'm sure there is plenty of less than perfectly substantial stuff added here. I have the script copies on hand, but it'll be Monday before I can get to a scanner. If that's too long and you prefer discarding my additions for the time being, I don't mind re-entering them later. And thanks for the tip on signing -- I think my Wiki newness is already showing! [[User:Trecathlus|Trecathlus]] ([[User talk:Trecathlus|talk]]) 14:03, 21 January 2016 (EST)

:::I don't think we need to revert your edits. It's wonderful that you have those scripts and are able to share, a huge contribution and I think we're all excited when someone can share knowledge like that. I'm still learning how to be a good editor but I want to say welcome aboard. --[[User:Giggidy|Giggidy]] ([[User talk:Giggidy|talk]]) 14:08, 21 January 2016 (EST)
::::Thank you very much, Giggidy! I'm quite the cartoonophile and it'll be fun seeing what I can add to the G1 episodes. [[User:Trecathlus|Trecathlus]] ([[User talk:Trecathlus|talk]]) 14:18, 21 January 2016 (EST)

::Please do! If you have the time or inclination, scans of the full scripts would be a thing of beauty the internet would forever grateful for... - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] ([[User talk:Chris McFeely|talk]]) 13:55, 21 January 2016 (EST)
:::Hi, Chris! Sure, I can do the full scripts. I seem to recall on ATT that you'd gotten hold of all the original scripts and regaled us with stuff from them that we never knew. I have forever been meaning to ask you if I might have copies (a huge job! which is why I never did ask), but maybe those were mainly dialogue scripts? :-) Not sure if you know me by Trecathlus, by the way, but Rik Bakke hopefully still rings a bell. :-) [[User:Trecathlus|Trecathlus]] ([[User talk:Trecathlus|talk]]) 14:06, 21 January 2016 (EST)
::::OH! Rik!! I didn't know it was you! Yeah, those were all dialogue scripts, with the exception of "Fight or Flee" - they were ROM content on the UK DVDs of the series. Shoot me an e-mail, chris.mcfeely82@gmail.com, we'll sort something out. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] ([[User talk:Chris McFeely|talk]])
:::::Ah, then I actually have those already, because I bought the U.K. set a number of years back. It was a great thing to see -- a wonderful bonus! While I'm at it, I've also got a copy of the script for "Transport to Oblivion" lying around. Is that of interest, too? [[User:Trecathlus|Trecathlus]] ([[User talk:Trecathlus|talk]]) 14:23, 21 January 2016 (EST)
::::::I've got that one! Following the Ron Friedman auctions from a couple of years ago, I've got copies of full scripts for about one-third of the series. Always on the look out for more, though! - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] ([[User talk:Chris McFeely|talk]]) 14:27, 21 January 2016 (EST)
:::::::A whole third? Be still, my pulsating processor! Now THOSE I'll have to e-mail you about -- if the offer (which I very much appreciate!) is good for those as well. :-D [[User:Trecathlus|Trecathlus]] ([[User talk:Trecathlus|talk]]) 14:34, 21 January 2016 (EST)
:::::::Oh, sure! We'll have to compare and see if you have anything I don't. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] ([[User talk:Chris McFeely|talk]]) 17:30, 21 January 2016 (EST)

Hey, odd little question... are there any dates on the script? If so, you could help me out on a little project I'm working on by letting me know what they are. --[[User:Jimsorenson|Jimsorenson]] ([[User talk:Jimsorenson|talk]]) 08:33, 3 February 2016 (EST)
:Hello, Jim! Sorry for taking a while to respond. Life is life. :-) There are indeed dates on the scripts. The first part is dated November 10, 1986. I have two versions of the second part. Both are denoted in handwriting as "Final" and both are dated November 24, 1986 in the same manner. However, the second version contains a number of small hand-written revisions (dialogue punch-up, action and scene changes, error corrections), sometimes with a December 2, 1986 date scribbled next to the revision. By the way, great work on THE ARK. :-) [[User:Trecathlus|Trecathlus]] ([[User talk:Trecathlus|talk]]) 16:50, 22 February 2016 (EST)

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

2016-01-31T00:05:39Z

Trecathlus: /* Continuity errors */

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

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

==Synopsis==
[[File:ReturnofOptimus1 Prime rescue.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"You're right, it is athlete's foot."]]

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

[[File:ReturnofOptimus1 Scattershot rescues Jessica.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't worry, I'll help you rescue your daug-OOH LOOK, A BUNNY!]]

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

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

[[File:ReturnofOptimus1 Magnus sneaks up.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Rodimus has [[Energy vampire|no reflection]]?]]

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

[[File:ReturnofOptimus1 Quintesson fixing Prime.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|You put your right arm in. You put your right arm out.]]

TV station [[KSUN]] reports that the Hate Plague, as it's now called, has spread like wildfire across the planet. Scenes of chaos and destruction unfold in [[Washington, D.C.]] and elsewhere. The plague has even made its way off-world, sending the Quintessons into hiding at the ends of the galaxy. Sky Lynx finds [[Klementia|an uninfected Quintesson]] who he saves from infected Sharkticons in exchange for reviving Optimus. The Quintesson warns that—should anything go too awry during the process — there's a good chance that Optimus will never live again. It's touch-and-go for a while, but eventually, the Quintesson manages to pull through and Optimus is restored to full life, declaring that "no force in the Universe can stop me."

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (11)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (12)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (13)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (14)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (15)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (17)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (18)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (19)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (20)
* [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] (21)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (22)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (23)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (24)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (26)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (27)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (28)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (29)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (30)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (31)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (32)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (33)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (34)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (35)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (36)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (37)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (38)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (39)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (40)
* [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (51)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (52)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (53)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (54)
|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (5; flashback)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (6)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (7)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (8)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (9)
* [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]] (10)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (16)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (25)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (41)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (42)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (43)
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (44)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (45)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (46)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (47)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (48)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (49)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (50)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (56)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (57)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (58)
|c3=
* [[Gregory Swofford]] (1)
* [[Jessica Morgan]] (2)
* [[Mark Morgan]] (3)
* [[Bonnie Carlson]] (55)
|c4=
* [[Klementia]] (59)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (60)
}}

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

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

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime1 hate-plague Magnus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Where's that punk Rodimus Prime?! I want him!" 
"There you are, you puny wimp!" 
"You can't escape, Rodimus! I can track your gas fumes anywhere!"
:—Several lines from infected '''Ultra Magnus''' as he tracks down Rodimus Prime. ''In virus veritas,'' indeed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==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:PrimeTommyInterviewAgain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right]]

[[Tommy Kennedy (G1)|Tommy]] meets with [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] in the barren wasteland to continue his interview inquiring as to how Optimus came back from the dead. Tommy recaps the time Prime came back as a zombie and was blown to smithereens and is curious how Optimus escaped ''that'' one. Optimus proceeds to relate the adventures of his inanimate corpse...

Tommy wants to know the rest of the tale, but Optimus only teases the conclusion. Apparently, he promised [[Cloudburst]] that he would help him redesign his retro-rockets and the appointment can't wait. Prime sets Tommy down, but promises to return soon to transform his day into an adventure.

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[File:Swindle TROOP.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|"So we bought your daughter's exosuit from a Decepticon...what's so bad about that?"]]
* The first shot of Prime's ship shows it colored in orange. In all other shots, it's white with orange landing gear. And it looks totally different from its [[Dark Awakening (episode)|last appearance]].
*The first shot of Optimus Prime on Gregory's display shows him sitting in a red chair. It's yellow in other shots.
* As the duo first come upon Prime's body, he's missing the vertical line on his abs/grille.
* The animation and editing seem to conflate Prime's ship hitting the asteroid (shown using rather incongruently recycled animation from "Dark Awakening") with the star going nova at the same instant, conveying them as though they were the same event.
* If the star is going nova - shouldn't its light be visible outside the windows behind Jessica?
* In the first interior shot of Morgan's lab, the two test rats are already red before they've been infected. One is layered behind the glass box that's containing him, too.
* The screen separating the infected rats rises up out of solid table. In the same shot, the three humans' colors all change shade several times; meanwhile, the infected rats aren't glowing anymore.
* As Computron falls through the lab's ceiling, the hand that breaks through the building is colored purple like Abominus's.
* Abominus's visor is white instead of red as he stomps on the building; his helmet has some gray parts that should be purple as well.
* There's no transition between the Terrorcons being merged as they stomp on the building, and them showing up separated just a shot or two later.
* The Terrorcons grab the alloy in their beast modes, yet in the next shot they're running out with it in robot mode.
* As Jessica is being loaded into First Aid, Gregory and Mark are wearing smocks, not the suits and ties they wear in other shots.
* When Gregory and Jessica's father rush at the hospital and find the Autobots, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] is amongst them. This does at least explain why Hot Spot is standing around in a ''hospital'' with a gun in his hand. Hot Spot's chestplate is also blue, instead of its proper red.
* Jessica grabs tops of Optimus' arm to try and save him from the incinerator (though one of her hands fails to actually connect with Prime's arm, instead floating just above it.) The next shot shows it towering over her.
* As he drives Jessica into Autobot City, Ultra Magnus is shown driving into a tunnel in one shot, but in the next he's in open air.
*Optimus' statue is missing the smoke stacks on its arms.
*The depressions on Rodimus' shoulders are white again in this episode. They were burgundy in the previous one.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Rodimus is done talking to Optimus' statue, his head slides backwards. Twice.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Defensor is shown after the Protectobots combine, his left arm is missing, and his forehead is colored blue instead of his eyes.
* After transforming to jet mode during Magnus's rollcall, Silverbolt sort of floats along at an angle.
*Steeljaw just pops into the frame during the Autobot rollcall.
* When Ratbat returns:
** A layering error has him in front of Soundwave's chest compartment door, instead of disappearing behind it.
** His cassette form is white instead of purple.
** Soundwave looks down after his chest closes up, but his faceplate stays in its previous position of looking upwards.
** Soundwave's vocoded voice processing (provided by [[Scott Brownlee]]) sounds higher pitched than usual.
*When Galvatron says, "So Optimus Prime may yet live." For a second his chin turns black.
*When the Jessica exits Rodimus, she's wearing her space suit and not wearing her exoskeleton.
*When Jessica points at the lab, her neckline is layered over her hand.
*When Rodimus dispatches some of the Autobots to watch the area around the lab, Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
*Before entering the lab to retrieve Prime's body, Rodimus gives orders to Defensor...though Defensor is shown as the one mouthing all of those orders. In the same shot, Chase is colored as Goldbug (who hasn't even been built yet!)
*The red glow around infected characters seemed to create all kinds of problems for the animators:
** The glow aura is frequently out of step with the animation or visible through objects in front of them
** Infected characters often become briefly transparent, allowing background objects to be seen through them.
** Often characters are just red, without the glowing aura effect, as when Superion breaks through the lab roof.
*When the Autobots get infected, several are shown clipping through each other.
* Slingshot is shown mouthing Magnus's lines about "that punk Rodimus Prime".
*Jessica's bracelet disappears from and re-appears on her right wrist throughout the episode - including during the shot when she turns to run back to the lab (when Rodimus says "We've got to get Optimus outta here!")
[[File:ROOP1 superion hateplague.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Superion shoots a gun with the sound effect of Megatron's cannon. Defensor fires back with Optimus Prime's usual sound effect.
** Superion's still using the same sound effect later, along with a whining after-effect, when he takes out Kup and company.
** Then Ultra Magnus gets in on the act as he blasts his way into the Autobot lab with the same sound effects.
* Superion is not nearly as huge as he should be when he takes on the police officers.
* As Rodimus first makes his escape from Magnus, he drives past two [[Throttlebot]]s... with the Decepticon Wildrider standing between them. (at this point, the Decepticons have yet to arrive on the scene, let alone become infected.)
* Mark's thrown jar doesn't leave behind any pieces after it shatters.
*Galvatron's chin is gray in some shots, dark gray in others.
*As the Decepticons walk into the loading area, Bruticus is the same size as all the regular Decepticons.
* Rodimus's windshield is colored solid as he makes his escape from the lab.
* First Aid is shown brawling with the Decepticons at the lab; at this point he is out with the Protectobots, not yet infected.
* Kup's vehicle mode is drawn like a van instead of a truck as he pulls up behind Superion.
* Flying Autobots:
** Blurr sort of floats along sideways as he shoots at Superion.
* Superion manages to hit all the Autobots attacking him... without lifting his gun arm to shoot!
* Defensor's chest plates are blue instead of black as he tries to clear the bridge.
* Rodimus's mouth doesn't move as he starts talking about Quintessons.
*Sky Lynx is shown flying out of the solar system past Saturn, but it's colored white instead of yellow.
*When Rodimus notices Magnus behind him, his eyes are lined thicker than usual. He sees Magnus's reflection in the viewscreen, but not his own.
*When Wreck-Gar is about to infect Rodimus, Rodimus is all red before he's been infected.
*During Brawl's rampage, he somehow manages to infect an inanimate truck.
*As an unconscious man leans against this truck, a pair of infected people fight over both him and the truck, overlapping them as if it they weren't there.
* Headstrong bumps into Razorclaw; as Razorclaw gains the infected glow effect, a layering error causes him to jump from behind Headstrong to in front of him, and back again.
[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime1 InfectedVortex.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Vortex, meanwhile, flies into a commercial jetliner through its passenger door! In the same shot, he's visible through the arm of a passing human. He also gets the Autobot laser sound effect when he opens fire.
* The rioting humans at the Lincoln Memorial are wielding bats which also glow infection-red.
*When Defensor picks up a stone monument to throw, the monument gains a red aura around it, but does not become red. The red aura disappears when the monument is thrown.
*Before being picked up by Sky Lynx, one of the Quintesson's faces flashes red for a moment.
* The Quintesson's death face is missing its left-side cresting as he prepares to reactivate Prime.
*The Quintesson's Egyptian-styled head is facing Optimus at the end, but one shot shows it facing backwards.
*During his famous line at the end of the episode, Optimus Prime's mouthplate isn't moving.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Retcon.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Someone fixed Prime's body, but no one can fix the story.]]
*More or less this entire episode is a massive continuity error, as it purports to pick up at the end of Optimus Prime's last prior appearance in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]", yet actually presents entirely different conditions. In the prior episode, Optimus Prime lost an arm and half of his face (on top of his longstanding physical damage still left from the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]]), but was still alive as he managed to steer his ship at high speed through the heavy fire of a massed Quintesson spacefleet, deliberately ramming a detonator that caused a binary supernova and obliterated the ship and the entire solar system around it. Yet in this new episode, Optimus Prime is shown completely intact and pristine, albeit dead, as his (completely different) ship drifts, slowly and alone, through the system.
**Some of these inconsistencies can be attributed to the fact that "Dark Awakening" was animated by AKOM, and this episode by Toei.
**The original script addressed the events of "Dark Awakening," right down to his severely damaged state. It included sequences in which he was repaired by Dr. Morgan and Dr. Swofford in order to weaponize him with the spores. Interestingly enough, there were also scenes showing Rodimus Prime experiencing nightmares playing out in the celestial Autobot tomb, where he encountered his zombified predecessor. For some reason, most likely running time, these scenes didn't make it into the final episode.
*Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford detect life-signs aboard Optimus Prime's ship, but the Autobot is dead.
* Gregory says Prime's ship is about to collide with a planet, while the animation shows the ship approaching a small, irregular asteroid.
* Unlikely viewpoints:
** Gregory and Jessica get a shot of Prime sitting inside his ship.
* Superhuman <s>Spike</s> humans:
** Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford are able to lift, push and pull Optimus Prime's massive body out of his chair and onto their ship without any mechanical assistance or devices except a rope. There's no gravity in space, but objects still have mass and therefore inertia.
*Why didn't any of the Autobots notice Optimus Prime's body when they were loading Jessica into the ambulance? Sure he was half buried under rubble, but a truck-sized leader of your own faction shouldn't be ''that'' hard to notice?
*Why is Steeljaw part of the Autobot roll call when Blaster is not?
*Even though Ratbat's reconnaissance recording consists of nothing more than an ambiguous, one-line statement by Jessica Morgan - "My father has his body in the lab." - Galvatron immediately knows that she's referring to Optimus Prime.
* Why have the Protectobots merge before traveling to the lab? Did Defensor have to [[:File:Loveandsteel-runfortmaxrun.jpg|run the whole way?]]
*Doctor Morgan throws spores at Rodimus, apparently not noticing that ''his own daughter'' is inside him, even though we see her clearly through his windows in several other shots.
* When Jessica Morgan asks who built Optimus Prime in the first place, Rodimus Prime responds by saying the Quintessons did so - but it was [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] who rebuilt Orion Pax into Optimus. While the Quintessons are credited with creating the Transformer race, the timeline shown by "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" and "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" would have to be seriously stretched out of shape for Orion Pax to have been directly created by them - Orion's clearly meant to be a youngish 'bot in "War Dawn", long after the Quints have been driven off Cybertron.
*Why is Rodimus so desperate to bring Optimus back from the dead even after he's aware of the much more pressing concern of the Hate Plague?
*Improbable viewpoints:
**Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and gets an exterior visual of him somehow.
*Rodimus decides to deactivate Metroplex to stop him from catching the plague, but Magnus is infected and already walking around on him well before Rodimus pushes the last switch.
*If the Quintessons really are "in hiding in the far reaches of the galaxy" as Sky Lynx claims, then how did any of the at-the-time-still-Earthbound Hate Plague carriers manage to find them, much less get all the way out there to infect them in the first place?
*For that matter, how the hell did these theoretical Hate Plague carriers manage to ''beat Sky Lynx to the Quintessons''?
*How are Sky Lynx and the Quintesson able to take the time to revive Optimus Prime without being attacked? Did all the other Autobots and humans leave Autobot City?
*And how does Sky Lynx know the Quintesson is repairing Prime back to the way he was before he died, rather than the brainwashed version from "Dark Awakening"? It's possible he stood and watched as they worked to ensure they didn't do just that.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime1 Chase infected.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Here begins an almost criminal legacy of scriptwriters abusing the Throttlebots.]]
* Seemingly thrown in at the last moment, the [[Throttlebot]]s make their debut. They're only visible in a handful of shots, Rollbar is missing, and none of them are identified by name.
* Swofford and Morgan must've spent ''one hell of a long time'' repairing Optimus Prime if they managed to retrieve him from the Quintessons' detonator all the way back to [[Dark Awakening (episode)|"Dark Awakening"]]. Either that, or Optimus died before his ship hit the detonator and his ship drifted precariously off course for the last several months.
* It's not clear what Rodimus means by "disconnecting" Metroplex; he apologizes as though it's a terrible thing, leading some fans to speculate that he was shutting him down for good - but later he says that Metroplex is "safe", implying that he's just... separated somehow.
* The Hate Plague can apparently infect any creature, both purely mechanical and biological.
* The Autobots are implied to have created the exosuit for Jessica so she can walk again. Hmm, one wonders if this technology could have been [[Chip Chase|useful before now]]…
* Even though it occurs in a flashback, this is ''technically'' the last appearance of Megatron in the original American series.

===Real-world references===
* Jessica mentions World War II.
*Courtesy of Wreck-Gar:
**"Lucy, Lucy, what have you done now?" Is a reference to ''[[wikipedia:I Love Lucy|I Love Lucy]]''.
**"I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" and "He's dead, Jim," reference popular quotes from ''[[Star Trek]]'' medic [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Leonard_H._McCoy Dr. Leonard H. McCoy].
**Similarly, "His engines, they cannae take the strain!" comes from another ''Star Trek'' character, namely [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Montgomery_Scott Montgomery Scott] (AKA Scotty), though this is often claimed to not be attributed to the character except for its use in parodies.
**"I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?" is a reference to an old [[wikipedia:Dr Pepper|Dr Pepper]] ad campaign in the late '70s to early '80s.
* A couple of the infection rioting scenes seem to portray [[Washington, D.C.]]. Humans are shown rioting at a badly-drawn Lincoln Memorial; the monument that Defensor throws ''may'' be intended to be the [[Washington Monument]], though it's awfully stumpy and shouldn't have a projecting cap on top. He throws it into a Classically styled building, another common DC element.

===Trivia===
* The resurrection of Optimus Prime in the show was a direct result of children's reactions to his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and subsequent letters, as acknowledged by a Hasbro exec in a 1986 newspaper article. He didn't even have a toy on the shelves (which changed in 1988 with the release of Powermaster Optimus Prime).
* Jessica Morgan is named after co-writer Marv Wolfman's daughter.<ref>http://www.marvwolfman.com/marv/Speaking_With_Larry_Ditillio.html</ref>
* When Rodimus wants to put together a team to pick up a dead body from a couple of humans, he doesn't mess around, does he?

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 1''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' コンボイの復活パート1 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 1'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 18]], [[1987]]
:* A "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment unique to Japan was attached to the end of this episode. It focuses on the many battles between the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s and the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s. It replaces the original "Secret Files" segment which focused on the Autobots.

==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 (Erster 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]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|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 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)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-115.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

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

Thief in the Night

2016-01-24T21:23:06Z

Trecathlus: /* Animation or technical errors */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=76
|ep2=6
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
|next2=Starscream's Ghost
|image=ThiefNight Trypticon monuments.JPG
|caption=Looks more like a "Thief in the Day" to us.
|title="Thief in the Night"
|production code=700-96
|airdate=[[October 6]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Davids]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Octane steals Trypticon in an attempt to use him to control the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:ThiefNight Seaspray Broadside.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Thundersub! Oh wait, wrong universe.]]

[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] are reviewing the footage of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|battle with]] [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Grimlock declares that he wants to see the "good part", where Metroplex destroyed Trypticon, but [[Teletraan II]] states that Trypticon survived the encounter. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] travel to where Trypticon landed in the ocean, and learn that he walked underwater to avoid being caught.

Meanwhile, the [[Triple Changer]] [[Octane (G1)|Octane]] is nursing Trypticon back to health, using [[energon]] made from the [[oil]] of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]]. Octane hopes that with Trypticon to back him up, he can overthrow [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] and become [[Decepticon leader|leader]] of the [[Decepticon]]s. However, [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]], the leader of the desert nation, is unhappy with Trypticon's constant consumption of oil. Fakkadi demands that the two Decepticons leave, or he will call the [[Autobot]]s. Octane offers to bring Fakkadi [[gold]] in exchange for being able to stay, but Fakkadi declares that it would take all the gold of the [[United States of America|United States]] to allow them to stay. The simple answer? Octane has Trypticon steal [[Fort Knox]].

Pacified, Fakkadi agrees to allow the Decepticons to remain in Carbombya until the next crescent moon, and Trypticon is put under strict ration of one thousand barrels a day. Octane declares that Trypticon will starve, and negotiates a new plan: give Fakkadi a new palace, and he will let them stay and have more oil. To make Fakkadi "more happy", Trypticon steals the [[Taj Mahal]].

[[File:ThiefNight Autobots investigate.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Meanwhile, in the barren deserts of Kentucky...]]

While the Autobots investigate the disappearance of Fort Knox ('cause that's something that directly involves the Autobots), Grimlock finds [[energon cube]]s which he says "smell different". As Perceptor begins analyzing the energon, Grimlock also smells [[dinosaur transform static]], and fears one of his own [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] may have been involved. Metroplex decides to interrogate all the Dinobots.

At Carbombya, Fakkadi is pleased, declaring that with enough monuments, they will soon have a thriving tourist attraction. However, Galvatron has been tracking down Trypticon. He declares Octane a traitor, saying he stole Trypticon from [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]. Thinking fast, Octane claims that he brought Trypticon to Carbombya to help him get better, with a more powerful form of energon, and tosses Galvatron a cube. As Trypticon says nothing to contradict the story, Galvatron takes a swig, and finds that it ''is'' stronger.

Meanwhile, [[Six-Gun (G1)|Six-Gun]] and [[Scamper (G1)|Scamper]] are interrogating the Dinobots, as well as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], under the watchful eye of Metroplex. Sky Lynx angrily objects to being called a Dinobot, and refuses to participate. Perceptor runs in declaring that the energon Grimlock found was made via a Decepticon formula, with Carbombyan oil. Perceptor believes that Trypticon is responsible for the thefts. Broadside takes the Aerialbots to investigate, and spots the two stolen buildings. However, Trypticon surfaces, carrying the [[Eiffel Tower]]. Galvatron and Octane are explaining to Fakkadi that the Decepticons will supply Carbombya with more buildings, such as the [[Kremlin]], while they take over the oil fields. However, Trypticon spots the Aerialbots, and converts to battle mode, forcing the Aerialbots to retreat.

[[File:ThiefNight Metroplex Kremlin.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to become a tall building in a single bound!]]

Having learned that Trypticon intends to take the Kremlin, the Autobots head to [[Moscow]], but Metroplex is late. In the night fog, Trypticon arrives and steals the Kremlin, but Metroplex interrupts him. Metroplex takes back the Kremlin while Trypticon flees, and the [[Soviet Union|Soviet government]] accuses the Autobots of the theft, as does [[India]]. Grimlock laments the Autobots' sad fate.

[[File:ThiefNight Metroplex Trypticon.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Trypticon, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could thr—uh, wait..."]]

At Carbombya, Fakkadi is recording a message to send to the Autobots, authorizing them to invade Carbombya and attack the Decepticons. Galvatron, however, simply locks up the dictator. Rodimus, the Dinobots, the Aerialbots, Metroplex, and Broadside arrive to fight off the Decepticons, and Metroplex throws Trypticon into the ocean (again). Without Trypticon to even the odds, Galvatron orders the 'Cons to retreat. Metroplex returns the monuments, clearing the Autobots' name. Rodimus asks Fakkadi to never ally with the Decepticons again. Fakkadi promises the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that he will not, swearing by the livestock of his various family members.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (5)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (8)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (10)
* [[Teletraan II]] (11)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (12)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (13)
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (21)
* [[Slammer]] (28)
* [[Six-Gun (G1)|Six-Gun]] (29)
* [[Scamper (G1)|Scamper]] (30)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (31)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (32)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (33)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (34)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (35)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (40)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (41)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (42)
|c2=
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (1)
* [[Octane (G1)|Octane]] (16)
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (22)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (23)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (25)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (26)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (27)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (39)
* [[Sweep]] (43)
|c3=
* Luxury Cruises captain (14)
* Luxury Cruises passengers (15)
* [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] (17)
* Fakkadi's lackeys (18)
* US Army officer (19)
* Private [[Dixson]] (20)
* Soviet army officer (36)
* Soviet news broadcaster (37)
* Indian news broadcaster (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Don't go overexertin' yourself so much! You're just beginning to recover! I don't want you wearin' yourself out, Trypti-babes!" 
"Am big hero now. Attack enemy boat!" 
"Yeah? You're wastin' all your energy shootin' at vacation cruise ships!" 
"No waste! Destroy dangerous enemy!"
:—'''Octane''' has all the style of a big-shot ad exec. '''Trypticon''' has all the brains of a rock.

"Trypticon and me wanna turn your country into a paradise!" 
"It already ''is'' a paradise." 
"Just a minute, just a minute - I mean a ''rich'' paradise! Uh, do you like gold?" 
"Gold? Yes! This is something that interests Abdul Fakkadi. But it would take all the gold of the United States to persuade me to let you stay here another day." 
"Hmm. You sure ain't easy to please, your Excellency!"
:—'''Octane'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s offer elicits an icy response from '''Abdul Fakkadi'''.

"Hold on there, Supreme Whatever!" 
"But in the meantime, we gotta keep his Worthiness, the imperial master of slaves, happy!"
:—Tell us how you really feel about Abdul Fakkadi, '''Octane'''.

'''Galvatron''': You're a traitor, Octane! You had no permission to take Trypticon away from Dinobot Island! I needed Trypticon for my plans of conquering the Earth. Now, thanks to you, he may never recover! 
'''Octane''': But you got it all wrong, Galvatron! Me and Trypticon found this fantastic new type of energon. It's helping Trypticon get all better real quick! Try some, you'll love it! 
'''Trypticon''': Drink! Drink and CRUSH! 
'''Galvatron''': That's good! Makes me feel stronger, more powerful!
:—Galvatron is soothed by Octane and Trypticon

"Why am I under investigation? I'm not a Dinobot." 
"Ya got Dinosaur electrons in yer circuits, Sky Lynx." 
"Never the less, I am ''definitely'' not a Dinobot! I refuse to participate in this...kangaroo court!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' denounces '''Six-Gun''''s prosecution skills.

"Me Grimlock say this grim. Whole world thinks Autobots are building snatchers."
:—'''Grimlock''' laments the Autobots' sad fate.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
[[File:ThiefNight Fakkadi holding gold.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|I said, when I woke up this morning, I heard a disturbing sound! What I heard was the jingle-jangle of a thousand lost souls!]]
[[File:G1 Six-Gun.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Don't be lost when the time comes!]]
* Per the AKOM standard, the following characters have non-standard color or design models:
** Rodimus's shoulders are red instead of white, and his gun is red instead of black.
** The inside of Galvatron's mouth is dark purple.
* As usual for large-scale characters, Trypticon's size fluctuates all over the place. Sometimes Octane comes up to his ankle, sometimes to his toe, sometimes to his knee.
*In the second shot of the episode (people running away from Trypticon), the woman in orange is missing her eyes.
*When we first see the Autobots watching the city-bot battle footage, Grimlock is seen in [[robot mode]] from behind (and his head is light gray instead of black). When he starts to talk, he is in dinosaur mode.
* Rodimus is missing his spoiler as he clarifies Grimlock's request.
* The Luxury Cruises captain says that Carbombya is off the ship's starboard bow. The country is actually on the port side of the ship (and the ship is shown a few hundred yards from shore at most - definitely not the "three mile limit" the tour guide describes.)
* In the closeup shot of him reporting to Broadside, Seaspray is missing the crossbar between his propellers.
* Abdul's throne has five steps in front of it. When he starts talking to his men about Octane and Trypticon, he walks down three of the steps. Two shots later, he takes two steps forwards, and then the shot changes and he's suddenly only on the third step and needs to take three more to reach the main floor.
* Speaking of the steps, they start out as a small platform around his throne but are much larger a few shots later.
* Once again, the commercial bumpers have an extra second or two of music at the start.
* Abdul's medals (especially the one with white and red stripes) change colors and shapes during his chat with Octane after the Fort Knox heist.
* Fort Knox is orange as Trypticon approaches it (a painted matte background), but gray as he picks it up (a cel animated drawing.) It also is a much simpler shape as he picks it up.
* The American flag doesn't flutter or move at all throughout the entire scene.
* "Pitful." "Outrageous." - Silverbolt and Skydive's voices are both off.
* As Grimlock notices the energon cubes around the Fort Knox site, the top of his head disappears a few times.
* As Octane notes their partnership, there are six lines around the top of his Decepticon logo instead of four.
* The Taj Mahal is initially shown at night; then it's daytime as Trypticon approaches it. The minarets surrounding it are also missing in the same shot.
* Trypticon clips through the left side of the Taj Mahal as he steals it.
* Coloring errors:
** The first shot of the Decepticons flying into Carbombya  includes an upside-down [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], miscolored as [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]].
** As Galvatron first challenges Octane, Ramjet is miscolored as Thrust, who is right in front of him.
** As Perceptor notes that the Dinobots are innocent, his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white.
** Two mis-drawn, mis-colored Aerialbots are shown taking off from the water after Air Raid's brief ditching maneuver. One seems to be a pointy-nosed Fireflight colored as Skydive, and the other is the same model colored as Air Raid.
** The Moscow establishing shot shows a Springer-like green robot, but closeups show Grimlock in his place.
* As Octane explains himself, there are a couple of hairs in the top of the frame.
* When we pan down from Metroplex (in robot mode) to see Six-Gun for his first (and only) animated appearance, Metroplex is still wearing the shoulder cannons that supposedly form Six-Gun's arms.
* As Scamper drives along the row of Dinobots, Swoop is laying belly-down on the ground rather than standing on his [[beast mode]] feet; his torso is also huge and fat. Beside him, Sky Lynx's lander section is white instead of blue, and Grimlock is missing his lower jaw.
* Trypticon steals the Taj Mahal without its minarets, and is shown without them when we first see it in Carbombya - but it suddenly has them when Galvatron arrives at the palace.
[[File:Thiefinthenight trypticon steals kremlin.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Well let us all, all go back Back to the old, old landmark!'']]
* Only the Taj Mahal is in Abdul's compound when Air Raid flies over it - no Fort Knox, no original palace.
* When Octane smashes out of the Taj Mahal's dome, we see night sky through the hole - even though there's daylight coming in through the windows in the same shot!
* Trypticon and all the Decepticons get a non-standard laser sound effect as they attack the Aerialbots.
* Metroplex's mouth doesn't move for his "Hold your fire!" line.
* After blowing up Abdul's TV camera, Galvatron, Ramjet and Dirge are shown standing between a pair of ''huge'' but otherwise normal looking glass doors. The three Decepticons don't even come up to the door handles!
* Despite the dialogue, the building Trypticon attempts to steal from Moscow is not the [[wikipedia:Moscow Kremlin|Kremlin]] but nearby [[wikipedia:Saint Basil's Cathedral|Saint Basil's Cathedral]].
* Wheelie's canopy is open as he rides on Broadside, and again as he jumps off.
* When the Autobots jump off Broadside, Grimlock disappears from the shot.
* When the Autobots are shown firing after Trypticon is hurled into the ocean, there are various colouration errors: Grimlock coloured as Rodimus Prime (and one other featuring his colours that cannot be identified), Springer coloured as Perceptor, and an unidentifiable Autobot coloured as [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]].
* On the Metrodome and Shout! Factory DVD releases, a series of vertical lines appears in the center of the screen in several shots - including the jeep approaching Fort Knox, at the end of the Dinobot interrogation, and the Aerialbots launching off of Broadside.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:MetroplexvsTrypticonFFODvsThiefintheNight.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|You thought Rhino's DVD release of G1 screwed things up? Check out the version that the Autobots wound up with!]]
* This episode is actually set before "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" as it explains why Galvatron has it in for Octane. Except it doesn't actually explain that - Galvatron is no longer on bad terms with Octane at the end of the episode. Put it down to Galvatron's insanity. In real-life production terms, Octane's role in "Starscream's Ghost" was originally meant for Blitzwing, accounting for the somewhat wonky continuity with this episode.
* The Autobots watch a version of Trypticon and Metroplex's battle that is very different from what happened in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"; though the general outline is correct, the details are totally off:
** Both city-bots have different dialogue than they did in the original.
** Metroplex first challenges Trypticon as he's randomly stomping his way through an Earth city; in the original, Trypticon was about to stomp the disabled Metroplex when the fight began.
** Metroplex is shown throwing Trypticon over an icy environment (it was actually more like a desert), and Trypticon slides over a flat-topped brown cliffside on his way into the ocean (he actually ''bounced'' over some ''grey'' cliffs).
* It's pretty weird that Teletraan II didn't immediately inform the Autobots that a robot as dangerous as Trypticon was still alive.
* First Trypticon crunches the energon cubes, then they melt in his mouth, then he drinks from them.
* In this episode, energon cubes take on a rusted brownish color when emptied. Previously, they became clear when drained of energy, such as when the Decepticons got "over-energized" during the episode "[[Microbots]]".
[[File:ThiefNight Fort Knox.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Normally we're all in favor of sound effect consistency, but the ''gong gong gong'' sound that plays every single time Metroplex or Trypticon takes a step gets ''really annoying'' by the end of the episode.]]
* Given their need for the energon cubes, why did Octane and Trypticon just leave several laying there at Fort Knox?
* Trypticon lifts the Fort Knox building straight up; the next two shots show the inside tilting and gold spilling everywhere.
* The episode's central premise, of Trypticon stealing famous buildings and carrying them back to north Africa, strains credibility. More accurately, it takes credibility and drags it outside, gives it a thorough beating, and launches it into the sun:
** ''Nobody'' noticed Trypticon as he just strolled up to Fort Knox (after making his way to the interior of the USA)? None of the guards bothered to call the Autobots?
** Buildings can apparently just be picked up and carried around. Masonry buildings do not crumble into rubble or implode into dust when grasped by their walls and ripped from their foundations. The cast iron Eiffel Tower does not shatter or snap when manhandled like a toy. None of them are harmed by being carried through the bottom of the ocean or being deluged by salt water.
** Amazing that after being carried by hand to a separate hemisphere (through the ocean!!) the gold bars are still stacked neatly in Fort Knox.
** Amazing that the gold bars are still stacked neatly when it was last seen falling on the guards.
** Amazing that the gold bars are not slathered in human blood after crushing and smashing the guards.
** Amazing that St. Basil's Cathedral can be ''thrown'' - and ''caught'' - without suffering catastrophic damage.
* Considering that Fakkadi hired Trypticon and Octane to keep the American "imperialist fanatic" tourists away from Carbombya, it is rather unclear why he would desire his nation to become a tourist mecca via the appropriated world monuments. Did he suddenly realize the economic potential of having foreigners bringing their money to his country?
[[File:SixGunCartoon1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Well, Slag is well known as a connoisseur of fine art, and Sludge moonlights in architecture and design. They have to have done it!"]]
* Trypticon apparently didn't leave a single footprint? No trail of destruction? No snapped trees, no crushed buildings, no shell-shocked witnesses, no flattened victims, no... ''anything'' that would tip the Autobots off?
** No, the only clue left behind is... [[dinosaur transform static]]!
*** Who finds it? That Sherlock of Sherlocks, the ever-observant Grimlock!
**** What dinosaur-bots do the Autobots immediately suspect of carrying off a giant building? Why, the Dinobots, naturally!
* Air Raid's "I'm a goner! Goodbye cruel world!" is more than a little hyperbolic, considering he just touches the water for half a second then flies off normally.
* Likewise, Galvatron's reason for retreating is absurd - he's got Trypticon and a whole squad besides, up against five Aerialbots.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Sandstorm ThiefInTheNight.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
[[File:Slammer sixgun scamper.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Metroplex mostly uses Scamper, Six-Gun, and Slammer to scout and defend his periphery, although occasionally he'll send one or more to put random Autobots on trial for flimsy pretexts.]]
* The battle shown at the episode's beginning ostensibly happened in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" - however, see Continuity Errors, above.
* Trypticon had been taken to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] in an attempt to help him recover. When the Decepticons last [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|visited the island]], they had been attacked by the [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|natives]].
* As related by Abdul Fakkadi, 1,000 barrels of oil is required to make ''one'' energon cube - and Trypticon consumes ''fifty cubes an hour''! This is, of course, vastly out of line with what we saw in previous seasons of the show - in "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2", for example, just a few barrels of oil seemed to be enough to make a cube.
** That totals up to 1.2 million barrels a day to keep Trypticon running. For comparison, the daily crude output of Libya in 1990 was 1.4 million barrels a day. [http://wiki.openoil.net/index.php?title=Sanctions_Against_Libya]
*** And that's just with him sitting around shooting at cruise ships. How much does he burn when he flies to other planets?!
* There are apparently different formulas for energon, some used by Decepticons and others by the Autobots.
* Something called [[dinosaur transform static]] exists. We didn't make it up; we're just documenting.
* Octane actually fulfills his tech spec function of "fueler", carrying along some energon cubes for Trypticon as they approach Fort Knox.
* Sandstorm puts in an appearance, which would chronologically place this episode after his debut in "[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]"; that episode had yet to air, however, and came later in the show's production order.
* This is the only appearance of Six-Gun.
* Galvatron claims that he's "stronger than ever" thanks to Carbombyian oil. The claim was more impressive when he made it having bathed in the plasma baths of Thrull. If you are inclined to account for his ''Transformers Universe'' profile, he could once call on the power of Unicron himself, too, definitely a better power source than crude oil.
* If we want to trust the animation, the shot of Metroplex setting down the Eiffel Tower pegs his height at around 1,100 feet, give or take. He's only a fraction of that when holding the (much shorter) St. Basil's.

===Real-world references===
[[File:Fakkadi.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|This feckless dictator steals monuments, cooperates with the bad guys, rides around on a camel and swears "on the grave of my mother's camel, and my uncle's goat, and even my sister's donkeys". Your wiki editors can't especially blame Mr. Kasem for walking off.]]
[[File:ThiefintheNight Taj Mahal.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|In India, the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] is unusually huge.]]
* While the title is a rather literal description of Trypticon's activities, the phrase comes from the [[Wikipedia:Bible|Bible]], regarding the second coming of [[Jesus]]: [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:16-5:2;&version=31; "The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."]
* The nation of Carbombya (and its mercurial military ruler) is a thin pastiche of the north African nation of Libya, whose ruler Ghadafi was supporting any number of terrorist activities around the world at the time - hence the car bomb pun. The US bombed Libya in early 1986, bringing the country and its military dictator to popular attention right around the time frame when this episode was likely being written.
** Said pastiche drove [[Casey Kasem]] to leave the show, as he declined to work on an episode that contained what he felt were offensive stereotypes of Arabs - thus the appearance of Teletraan II with a new and different voice from its predecessor.
* Monuments stolen by Trypticon include:
** The U.S. Gold Bullion Depository building from Fort Knox, Kentucky. The actual building is a similar shape to that shown in episode, though the details and proportions are different. Also, it has a full military base around it, not just empty desert. And it doesn't actually contain all the United States' gold.
** The Taj Mahal
** The Eiffel Tower
** A failed attempt on the Kremlin, rendered as the more visually famous Saint Basil's Cathedral.
* A whole scene is set in [[Moscow]]; [[Siberia]] gets a mention; and the [[Soviet Union]] and its ruling Politburo get a newsfeed story, complete with the USSR's flag in the background. We also see some Red Army troops in action and something that's supposed to be Russian folk dancing. Although this episode is set in the year 2006, the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 out here in the real world.
[[File:ThiefNight Metroplex returns Eiffel Tower.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Metroplex does Paris in a day.]]
* [[Paris]] also puts in a one-shot appearance as Metroplex returns the Eiffel Tower.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** AT-AT lasers as the Decepticons fire on the Aerialbots.
** C-3PO "NO!" laser as the Deceptions fire at Air Raid.

===Trivia===
*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].
* Trypticon is the most energy inefficient robot ever. Seriously.

===Foreign localization===

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wie ein Dieb in der Nacht'''" ("Like a Thief in the Night")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' メトロフレックスVSダイナザウラー (''Metroflex VS Dinosaurer'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 19]], [[1986]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Thief in the Night / Surprise Party ([[Tempo Video]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|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]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 2 (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 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-96.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

2016-01-21T22:26:56Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=1
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|image=MTMtE Part1 Prime repair.jpg
|caption=
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"
|production code=4023
|airdate=[[September 17]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}

'''In search of energy, the Autobots leave Cybertron and are pursued by the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE1 Wheeljack and Bumblebee collect energy.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"That's not that impressive. I can transform too, y'know."]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], many [[MYA|millions of years ago]], the [[Autobot]]s are on the verge of extinction. Eons of war with the [[Decepticon]]s, their bitter enemies, have drained the planet's once plentiful resources. Autobots [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] have managed to find a scant few [[Conductor|energy conductors]] and muse that what they've found won't last very long. Bumblebee loads the conductors into Wheeljack and they head back towards [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], however as they reach the bridge to home base, they run into a Decepticon patrol. Wheeljack's attempt to drive through is cut short by enemy fire, and they're soon literally surrounded by a ring of fire, thanks to the Decepticons' flame throwers. The pair manage to escape the flames and ram their way through the Decepticons, two of whom give chase. The pursuing Decepticons manage to hit Bumblebee with their lasers, and the smaller Autobot is forced to drive aboard Wheeljack. Wheeljack manages to evade the two Decepticons by heading underground and arrives at Iacon. As they enter the fortress, a nearby light fixture reveals itself to be [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], who dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to do some spying. Also returning to Iacon is [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], who reports to [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] that he was unable to find any energy in Cybertron's lower regions. Optimus confers with Jazz and his other lieutenants [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] on the plan to leave Cybertron on a mission to search for energy elsewhere. Having heard all they need, Laserbeak and Soundwave depart.

[[File:MTMtE1 Ark and Nemesis over Earth.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Starting a long, long tradition of Transformer ships crashing on Earth.]]

Inside [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|their base]], [[Decepticon leader]] [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] plots to intercept the Autobots, and leaves his [[second-in-command|first lieutenant]] [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in charge of Cybertron. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] asserts the war would have been won if the Decepticons were under his leadership.

The Autobots blast off aboard an [[Ark (G1)|their spaceship]], and the Decepticons give chase in their [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]]. The Autobots immediately run into trouble when two large asteroids collide in front of them, resulting in a storm of rock that pelts both ships, until [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] uses the ship's weapons to clear a path. The Autobots next detect the pursuing ship, but are unable to outrun the Decepticon cruiser, which locks onto them with tractor beams. The Autobot ship's lasers are out of power, so the Autobots are forced to instead engage the Decepticons in combat once they board. With no one at the respective helms, both ships drift into [[Earth]]'s gravity well, and despite Prime's best efforts to right the Autobot ship, both vessels spin out of control and crash. The Autobot ship embeds itself in the side of a volcano.

Four million years pass. It is the year 1984, and volcanic activity stirs the half-buried ship, awakening the computer systems aboard. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] sends out a [[Sky Spy]] satellite to reconnoiter this new world, and scans examples of terrestrial machinery in order to reformat the Transformers into new [[Alternate mode|alt modes]]. The Decepticon [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] happens to be the one who is in the path of the repair beam, and thus is awakened first. He revives Megatron, and the other Decepticons follow. Leaving the Autobot ship, Megatron observes that much time has passed since the crash but declares their mission to find energy is unchanged. An impudent Starscream leaves a parting shot, blasting the rocks over the ship in an attempt to bury it further, however he unwittingly knocks Optimus Prime into the repair beam and the Autobot leader is revived.

[[File:Cliffgun.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|left|"You see the size of that gun he fired at us? It was bigger than him!"]]
The Decepticons locate a clear area and Megatron puts Starscream in charge of converting the area for the construction of a [[Victory (G1)|new star cruiser]]. Soundwave, Starscream and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] head for a nearby power station to find the needed raw materials. Meanwhile, the Autobots have all been repaired. Optimus Prime announces that they need to find out what the Decepticons are doing, and dispatches [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to scout the area. Starscream and his team arrive at the power station, where Starscream again grouses about wanting to lead the Decepticons, and has Rumble use his pile drivers to level the plant. Some time later, Hound and Cliffjumper find the Decepticons in the middle of work on their ship. Though Cliffjumper's keen to wade in, Hound listens in as the Decepticons plan to take [[energon cube]]s back to Cybertron. Cliffjumper brashly takes a shot at Megatron, but misses, and Soundwave unleashes Laserbeak in pursuit. Though the pair split up, Laserbeak detaches a laser cannon so he can pursue both Autobots. While Cliffjumper manages to deal with the cannon, Laserbeak blasts Hound, sending him off a cliff.

[[File:MTMtE Part1 OilRig battle.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Do yourself a favor, don't smoke at a Cybertronian waterpark.]]
Autobot medic [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Hauler]] come to fetch Hound. Cliffjumper apologizes for giving away their position as Hound is winched to safety. Meanwhile, Decepticons [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] spot an Earth vehicle approaching. The two human workers find the demolished power station, but while they're puzzling over what happened to it, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] attacks and frightens them away.

Hound is repaired, and reports what he overheard: that the Decepticons are on the hunt for energy. Prime has Jazz assemble a battle group to go after them and the Autobots roll out. Elsewhere Laserbeak returns to the Decepticon construction site with the news that he's found a new source of energy. The Decepticons attack an off-shore [[oil rig]], where [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and his son [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] work. The humans attempt to resist, but it's futile and they end up jumping or falling overboard. The Decepticons begin filling energon cubes from the [[oil]] pipeline, but as Megatron is telling Starscream that they will need a lot more energy, the Autobots arrive to spoil their party. A battle erupts on the drilling platform until the Decepticons simply grab what they can and take off. Megatron blasts the rig's supports, tipping it into the ocean and taking the Autobots with it. Another shot ignites the oil, turning the surface of the sea into an inferno. Realizing the humans are in danger, Optimus Prime tries to save Spike and Sparkplug while the Decepticons retreat with their energon plunder.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|To be continued...]]'''

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (14)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (15)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (19)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
* [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (21)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (24)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (25)
* [[Hauler]] (26)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (31)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (32)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (33)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (34)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (36)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (37)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (4)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
* [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] (6)
*[[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] (7)
*[[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] (8)
*[[Nacelle (G1)|Nacelle]] (9)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (11)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (17)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (22)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (23)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (27)
|c3=
* [[Joe (MTMTE)|Joe]] and his coworker (28)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (29)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (30)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:MTMTE1-JazzProwlPrimeTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
"Prime told me there'd be days like this." 
"And you didn't believe him?" 
"I do now!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Wheeljack''' under fire.

"When do we start the search mission?" 
"Soon as you're ready to launch."
:—'''Prowl''' is told to hurry up by '''Optimus Prime'''.

"Fear not, Megatron. Cybertron shall remain as you leave it."
:—'''Shockwave''', more accurate than he realizes.

"Leakin' lubricant!"
:—'''Ironhide'''

"What about materials?" 
"Use your imagination!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"Here's something to keep you warm."
:—'''Megatron''' as he ignites the oil spill.

==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:PrimeTakesTommyIntoSpace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"There's no ''air'' in space!" "But there's an Air in Space Museum!"]]

The young human [[Tommy Kennedy (G1)|Tommy Kennedy]], a resident of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], needs help from [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. He runs out into the middle of a barren wasteland, calling Prime's name. Prime arrives via rocket-boots and, after lifting Tommy up to his head, asks him what's the trouble. As it turns out, Tommy has a "special project" for school that's due soon and only Prime can help him. Optimus inquires what the project is about, but Tommy dodges the question, simply saying that he needs to know how the Autobots arrived on Earth. Prime concedes, "Okay Tommy, I've handled enough emergencies to know that ''some things'' just can't wait." Prime then launches into the tale of how the Autobots and the Decepticons left Cybertron, crash-landed on Earth and began their war for energy anew...

Prime continues into the next part of his story, about their first encounter with humans and whatnot, but Tommy stops him. Tommy says he's out of time and he ''really'' has to get back to Autobot City. Prime offers to give him the ride on the condition that next time they hang out, he tells him the juicy details of this "special project". Prime then blasts off into space with Tommy clinging to his shoulder (and somehow not dying horribly).

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* In the very first shot, stars are shown passing in front of Cybertron.
* Soundwave's mouthplate doesn't move during his "Autobots are set to launch" line.
[[File:Sunstorm Cartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Then again, Thundercracker has ''two'' wings.]]
* The Decepticon "welcoming committee" is often stated to contain a constantly-changing roster, but close examination reveals that it's ''almost'' consistent:
** The initial shot shows [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]].
** The second shot shows a vaguely Thundercracker-colored Seeker (the blue is deeper than Thundercracker's color, and there's extra bits of white and gray) alongside two completely different Seekers (a purple one with a flamethrower, and an orange one).
** The third shot, as Wheeljack barrels through them, shows a total of five Seekers, too small to be identified. If that darker blue guy from the second shot was supposed to be Thundercracker, and you're willing to believe that several of the Decepticons managed to be off-camera in all the other shots, then the numbers actually add up. (Your wiki editors acknowledge that this probably ''was'' a goof.)
** The final shot of the group shows Starscream ordering Skywarp and Thundercracker to pursue the Autobots; both have lines in their normal voice, so they were clearly supposed to be there.
* Starscream's two lines during this scene are performed by two different actors in two different voices, neither resembling the high rasp he'll shortly establish as his normal voice. The second voice is clearly Frank Welker, sounding close to his Megatron voice.
* Bumblebee steps out of Wheeljack and immediately fires a shot in the completely opposite direction from their attackers. Was he testing his gun??
* Bumblebee is repeatedly shown to be a hovercar... yet somehow he's got wheels and an axle when the Seekers manage to hit him.
* Bumblebee is repeatedly shown to be ''wider'' than Wheeljack in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], yet he has no trouble driving right into Wheeljack's cargo compartment. He ''keeps'' driving in until he's completely out of sight, even though we can see at least half of the compartment.
* Coloring errors:
** As Megatron gives Shockwave his orders, Starscream is missing his canopy lines, and Soundwave's eject button is blue, while his backpack is white.[[File:MTMTEProwlstreak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|TakaraTomy later used this shot as a justification for giving ''Masterpiece'' Prowl his shoulder cannons.]]
** Bluestreak is colored like Prowl as the Autobots stumble around in the wake of the asteroid collision; Trailbreaker, meanwhile, has one white and one gray hand.
** Starscream has a red "collar" around his neck as he prepares the tractor beam.
**When the Autobots and Decepticons fight aboard the ''Ark'', there are two Starscreams - one fighting Prowl, the other fighting Ironhide.
** As Starscream fires on the Autobot ship, the top segment of his canopy is red instead of gray in some frames.
** As the gathered Decepticons gaze at the desert from atop the volcano, Skywarp's arm cannon is colored teal.
** Part of Megatron's fusion cannon is white as he says "we'll set up here".
** Soundwave's eject button is blue instead of white as Megatron orders him to plan the new space cruiser.
** After landing at the power plant, Soundwave's eject button is blue, instead of... y'know what? Let's just say the colorists screwed up this little detail ''all the freaking time'', and leave it at that.
** As Starscream talks about his plans with Soundwave and Rumble standing behind him, the tip of Soundwave's shoulder cannon is colored entirely black.
** When Optimus Prime assigns Hound his mission, the establishing shot has Cliffjumper with Bumblebee's yellow colors.
** In the long shot of the Decepticons building their base, Soundwave appears in Sideswipe's colors.
** Cliffjumper's mirror housings are white instead of red as he delivers his "moonbeam" line.
** Ratchet's Autobot symbol is gray before he jumps off the cliff.
** Prime's running light housings are white instead of red as he orders Jazz to organize a battle unit.
** In the pan across the battle unit, Sideswipe's helm is red instead of black, and the top of Trailbreaker's chest is white instead of black.
** The center segment of Megatron's fusion cannon is white as the wrenches & etc. bounce off of him.
** Soundwave's cheekguards are blue instead of white as he starts making energon cubes.
* The retracting segments of Iacon's dome appear to come out of solid, unbroken metal. The interior shot of the bridge also shows the segments retracting incorrectly. Since the ship is upright at a 90-degree angle, the retracting segments should go from camera-right to camera-left, down the length of the ship.
* Sideswipe's missing his shoulder launcher as he mans an Ark console.
[[File:ArkCartoon1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|If it's supposed to be transparent, then it probably shouldn't be blocking out the scenery behind it.]]
* The Ark's exhaust comes from ''behind'' the thruster ports.
* The Decepticon insignia on the Nemesis is missing its "eyes" as the Ark blasts off.
* Presumably, an impact is supposed to be knocking Jazz out of the pilot's seat; what the animation actually shows, however, is Prime saying "Jazz!", to which Jazz responds by spontaneously flying out of his seat.
* Immediately after a shot of Optimus Prime rallying his troops to prepare to repulse Decepticon boarders ("Prepare for battle!"), the same animation is re-used, but this time with Megatron's voice urging his troops to "Attack! Attack!" When the episode was re-done for the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' series, this scene was amended by placing a shot of Megatron sitting on this throne from earlier in the episode over the image, shouting the command. (In the same shot, Prowl's eye is missing.)
* A shot of Soundwave being kicked out of frame by Ironhide is immediately followed by Soundwave sparring with Ratchet.
* After Ratchet is thrown into the console, Optimus Prime and Megatron enter the frame, struggling with each other. Megatron is missing his fusion cannon in this shot, but it reappears when the angle changes to show them grappling as Prime asks for a status report.
* Ratchet is shown being thrown by Soundwave, but after Optimus Prime asks for a status report, Ratchet is seen fighting with Thundercracker on the other side of the room.
* When Soundwave tosses Ratchet into a console aboard the Ark, the Autobot Medic is sporting a Decepticon symbol in the center of his chest windshield, most likely the result of the animator carrying over Soundwave's design.
* As the above shot pans across the bridge to the right, we see Soundwave has teleported from one side of the bridge to the other, slumped against a console.
* In the pan shot on the Ark when the Transformers find out they're going to crash, there are TWO Soundwaves and TWO Starscreams.
* As the Ark rocks and sends the combatants tumbling, the left arm of the second Soundwave turns into an extended smear of gray paint for a couple of frames.
* The voice that reports about g-forces is Prowl's, but he's struggling with Starscream and doesn't seem to have time to read a console or make a report or anything. Although it's hard to tell due to the ship shaking, Jazz's mouth seems to be moving, and he ''does'' seem to be looking at machinery.
* Quite a few generic robots are mixed in among the identifiable inert Transformers in the crashed ship, including [[Hauler]] and a yellow version of Jazz.
* The land around the volcano changes frequently between shots. Sometimes it's rocky desert; other times it's got forests and a river, sometimes both at once. This trend would continue throughout the whole series.
* Megatron is missing his barrel as he speaks to his newly revived troops. In a close-up, he has a "five o'clock shadow", as the central segment of his face is a darker shade than the rest of it.
[[File:Mtmte1 prepare the energon cubes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Starscream has no transformation sound as he lands at the power plant.
* Hound's voice carries a soundproof-room echo as he comments on how different Earth is.
* Megatron's mouth doesn't move when he asks who is firing after Cliffjumper attempts to assassinate him.
* Hound says that he got shot in the drive train, but Laserbeak shot him topside. Did the shot go straight through him??
* Reflector's three component robots are standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they turn to look at the truck, but are standing in a line in the next shot.
* After Thundercracker informs Soundwave about the approaching vehicle, there's a [[scene transition]]. The final frame of the scene transition is faded into an image of Sparkplug and Wheeljack working on Optimus Prime from "Divide and Conquer".
* In that scene, when Jazz calls out the Autobots' names, Prowl and Cliffjumper both respond to Hound. Mirage is shown, but when his and Ironhide's names are called, they transform off-screen. Also, Ratchet is already transformed. Finally, near the end, Optimus Prime's headlights are red instead of white, but in the next scene this is corrected.
* Rumble isn't a big guy, but he should at ''least'' be a few feet taller than a human. He's shown the same height as Sparkplug.
* Starscream is missing his wing insignia as Megatron returns to his robot form.
* Ironhide and Starscream are shown sparring with poles, while Prowl and Thundercracker have a shootout from cover. In the very next shot, Ironhide is taking on Skywarp and Thundercracker, while Starscream is now busy with Huffer and Gears, and Prowl is grappling with a Reflector. In the shot after that, Prowl is suddenly free from Reflector and charging toward Skywarp.
* A red robot of indeterminate character model is shown retreating with the Decepticons. It looks a bit like an upside-down Sideswipe.
* When Rumble knocks Spike into the water, his father yells "Pike!" instead of "Spike". Perhaps he was meant to be warning his son about carnivorous fish, but ''of course'' pike live in fresh water, not salt.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:MTMtE Part1 Cybertron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Later episodes will go to some length to establish that Cybertron is outside of our galaxy. There's even some implication that it's not inside ''any'' galaxy, but that unlikely notion is put to the lie by the very first shots of this episode, which show its surface illuminated by an unseen sun, and the space around it filled with stars.
* Whether for reasons of cost (unlikely considering how much effort was expended on this episode's artwork) or to avoid confusing the kiddies, hardly any of the Transformers were designed to have Cybertronian [[robot mode]]s (Laserbeak is the sole exception). Thus we get the strange phenomena of, for example, Jazz having a Porsche 911 bumper on his chest, four million years before Porsches were invented. This also leads to some strange transformations, with guys like Bumblebee and Wheeljack not having a single part from their vehicle forms visible in their robot modes.
* Soundwave is in robot mode outside of Iacon, not transforming back to lamppost mode until Jazz is practically on top of him. How could Jazz have failed to notice the big blue Decepticon right in front of him?
[[File:Shockwave Hands.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''My honey my baby Don't put Shockwave upon no shelf She said don't gimme no lines And keep your hands... hand... whatever... to yourself!'']]
* During the scene in [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], Shockwave is consistently drawn with two hands. This may not be an error ''per se'', as he shows up a couple of other times with two hands, and plenty of characters can retract their hands and replace them with various gadgets and weapons, but it goes against his toy design and his established character model.
* Two asteroids in deep space just show up out of nowhere and collide? Right by the passing ship? The cosmic improbability beggars the imagination.
* Oddly enough, nobody opens fire during the scuffle when the Decepticons board the Ark... not even Megatron.
* The Transformers' interplanetary cruise is ''incredibly'' short. At no point do they engage any kind of faster-than-light drive, yet somehow they go from Cybertron to Earth in what seems to be a matter of minutes. The only possible gap that might account for this is the scene cut between the Decepticon launch and the asteroid collision.
* The animation would have us believe that the Autobot spacecraft has just been sticking out of the side of this active volcano for ages, without anybody noticing. The intended gist might have been that the eruption uncovered it, but the animation doesn't show it.
* Cliffjumper somehow stores on his person a cannon that's as big as he is.
* Okay, maybe it's not an actual error. But considering how many ordinary Transformers are shown to have enhanced visual abilities (Hot Rod, Rumble, Arcee, etc.) it seems a tad ridiculous that Thundercracker needs to use Reflector's camera mode to zoom in a little bit on the approaching truck. It's ''insanely'' ridiculous that Reflector produces Polaroid prints. He's not even that kind of camera! (More to the point, he should just be able to see what's visible through his own viewfinder.)
* While he is getting repaired by Ratchet, Hound refers to an Energon cube as "some kind of cube", implying that the Autobots don't know what Energon cubes are. The inference that energon cubes are a Decepticon invention holds true for almost the entirety of the pre-movie cartoon, during which time they are never used by the Autobots (something that is even made a plot point in "[[Traitor]]"). We say "almost" because of a contradictory flashback in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" that shows what appear to be energon cubes being used by Autobots nine million years in the past. By the time of the movie, the Autobots are shown to have begun using the cubes, and continue to do so throughout the third season. It's possible that Hound is a younger Autobot and was not created until after Autobots stopped using Energon cubes. Optimus would know what they are, since he was there back then in "War Dawn".
* How do the Autobots know where the Decepticons are planning to attack? They organize their battle unit before the Decepticons even learn about the [[oil rig|oil platform]]!
* During Jazz's roll-call of the Autobots, he neglects to call out Cliffjumper's name. The little red guy transforms anyway.
* The large cast frequently gave the animators trouble in remembering which secondary characters should or should not be present, especially concerning the Autobots. Thus, we frequently must catalog appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Jazz's battle group consists of Prowl, Cliffjumper, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, Mirage, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Ironhide. Even before they've left headquarters, the problems start, as Ironhide disappears and Ratchet takes his place. Ratchet is still with the group when they arrive.
** Bluestreak joins the group as they fly toward the oil rig.
** Huffer and Brawn are with them as they land on the platform.
** Gears is visible in a wide shot of the battle.
* In what ''universe'' is it legal for a fourteen-year-old American kid to be working on an oil rig, even ''with'' his father?
[[File:MTMtE1 spare seeker.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Until the oil platform attack, the episode has consistently portrayed the Decepticon forces as Megatron, Soundwave, 3 tapes, 3 jets, and 3 Reflectors. Things start to fall apart here, as a dark blue jet is shown diving alongside Thundercracker. It gets ''much'' worse in the following episodes.
* ''The Transformers'' had a tendency to frequently exaggerate the capabilities of humans to survive being dropped, punched, swatted, hit, etc. As a main protagonist, Spike Witwicky was especially susceptible to this treatment; thus we catalog the adventures of ''Superhuman Spike!'':
** Spike punches Rumble in the back without breaking or even seeming to hurt his fist.
** Spike survives being bashed aside by Rumble's metal fist without even bruising a rib.
* When Starscream fires his [[null-ray]], ice appears on the machinery that the ray hits. However, a null ray only stops the flow of electricity; it doesn't cause freezing. (Megatron prompts him with the strange command to "activate the null ray", as if it's some external piece of equipment.)
* Flying Autobots:
** In this and the following two episodes, the Autobots are all shown flying just as easily as the Decepticons. Once the show went into full production, this ability mostly disappeared, with occasional exceptions due to special abilities (Wheeljack, Sideswipe, the Dinobots), and some [[Roll for It|scripting]], [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|animation]] and [[The Master Builders (episode)|sound]] [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|effect]] screw-ups. The change was, in part, to help distinguish the two forces (and perhaps because it doesn't make sense for the Autobots to drive places if they can just fly there instead).

===Continuity notes===
* As the first pilot episode, this episode establishes several iconic aspects of the cartoon and the entire [[Transformers brand]]. The planet Cybertron and its city Iacon both appear in many other media and continuities. The crash of the Ark and the four-million-year slumber of its inhabitants likewise recur in several other versions of the Generation 1 story.
* The orange Seeker from the "welcoming committee", visible for all of about two seconds, was [[Retcon|retroactively established]] to be the neo-G1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. Other characters in the same shot were later named [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] (the purple Seeker with the flamethrower) and [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] (the blue Seeker behind him).
[[File:Cybertronlaserbeak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* We get a look at Cybertronian vehicle forms for Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Skywarp and Thundercracker, Jazz, Soundwave and Laserbeak. Soundwave's toy can totally be configured into that lamp-post mode.
* Trailbreaker's presence alongside Jazz and Prowl on Cybertron is just about the ''only'' indication of his "defense strategist" [[function]] in the cartoon.
* Three episodes from now, we will see that Shockwave was true to his word, and Cybertron has not changed one iota in four million years.
* The Decepticon vessel is last seen spiraling out of control, unpiloted, toward Earth. It will be rediscovered in the Season 2 episode "[[Microbots]]". The unnamed ship would finally be given a title almost 15 years later, when it was referred to as the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' in the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'']] episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
* The events of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon take place during the 4 million years in which the Autobots and Decepticons lie dormant in the wreckage of the Ark... a time frame covered by about 5 seconds of footage in this episode.
[[File:Sky Spy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* As the satellite-like probe (later dubbed a [[Sky Spy]]) leaves the Ark, we see a city skyline in the distance. While the cartoon's animation could never make up its mind about what was around the crashed ship (oceanside cliffs? desert? forests and rivers?), one might take this city to be [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], later established to have jurisdiction over the land where the Autobot ship rests.
[[File:MTME1 Reflector camera.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Yep, pretty clearly an SLR.]]
[[File:Ratchetg1cartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Repair bay optional.]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Wheeljack deploys a pair of tiny spinning blades from his front bumper, which lets him... drive through fire?
** Laserbeak spies with a pair of cylindrical doodads that come out of the side of his head.
** Rumble demonstrates his earth-quake-making power, which consists of banging the ground with a couple of big pile drivers that replace his arms. This will become one of the cartoon's most frequently-seen special powers, to the point that it eventually would carry over to the Marvel comics as well. (This power also seems to exclude Rumble himself from its effects, as the ground under him never cracks open.)
** Hound pops out a little wrist radar dish that lets him hear what the Decepticons are saying from some distance away.
** Soundwave can display graphics — the space cruiser, in this case — on his chest door.
** Cliffjumper somehow stores on his person a gun that's as big as he is. We don't want to know how he does this. Although it does look like it's collapsible.
** He also has a little cannon that pops out of his vehicle mode's backside. In the original script, this was his [[glass gas]] gun, but in the completed episode, it's merely a laser. His line "it's a gas!" hints at this earlier version, but is rendered out-of-place by the new visuals.
** Laserbeak's cannons are shown to be able to disconnect from him, fly on their own and target Autobots independently. Although an ability actively described in his ''[[The Transformers Universe|Universe]]'' profile, this would be the only time Laserbeak would employ his weapons this way.
** Ratchet is shown splitting into his robot form and his repair bay; however, the repair bay is never seen again.
** Reflector, being a super-advanced space robot, can take a photograph and instantly spit out a paper print of the resulting image. Instant photographs?! It must be THE FUTURE!
** Starscream "activates the <s>noal</s> null ray", which freezes the device it's aimed at.
[[File:Hauler01-sm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Frank Lloyd ''Wrong''.]]
* A [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]-like crane named [[Hauler]] is seen with Cliffjumper, recovering Hound; he's never seen again, however. Fans have speculated that this was to be an earlier release of Grapple's toy, aborted for reasons unknown.
* [[Energon cube]]s make their first appearance here. They have to be compressed before they convert the fuel they have been filled with into energon, at which point they glow a sort of yellowish-white iridescent-y rainbow-y sort of color. The "compressing a stack" aspect of the cubes was quickly done away with after the pilot mini-series, but the rainbow-glow would stick around for a little while before being phased out in favor of a pink-purple coloration that became the standard representation of energon cubes down through ''Transformers'' history.

===Real-world references===
* ''The Transformers'' made heavy use of the sound effects library that sprung out of the movie ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. Fans have a tendency to make tiresome shocked exclamations that Laserbeak sounds like a [[TIE Fighter]]; it is therefore instructive to catalog these sound effects, which are used ''far'' more extensively than just a couple of TIE engine roars. About half a dozen sound effects tend to appear in nearly every episode, and at least a dozen total are known to have been used on ''The Transformers''. In this episode:
** The sound of the [[Death Star]] firing to destroy Alderaan, and Alderaan's subsequent explosion, is used as Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe Bumblebee and Wheeljack, and again as they abandon their pursuit.
** The sound of the Seeker training sphere aboard the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'', along with [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]]'s [[lightsaber]] humming and igniting, is used as Soundwave begins making energon cubes.
* We also get the lesser-used ''[[Star Trek]]'' sliding door sound effect as Soundwave sends Laserbeak after Hound and Cliffjumper.

===Trivia===
*Scenes deleted from the original script to this episode include Ratchet working to repair Bumblebee's damage after he and Wheeljack return to Iacon; Rumble destroying a railroad trestle for more construction materials in addition to the power plant; Skywarp and Thundercracker grumbling about being stuck with grunt work as the Decepticons construct their temporary headquarters; Skywarp finding a frisbee and tossing it back and forth to Starscream before Megatron blasts it to bits; and a scene of Brawn, Huffer and Windcharger trying to fight the oil rig fire, only for the rig to collapse out from under them, setting up the opening scene of the next episode in which Huffer is caught in the wreckage. Other differences include Soundwave being the first Decepticon to be restored by Teletraan I, rather than Skywarp, and Teletraan I bouncing its beams off of human satellites, rather than using a [[Sky Spy]].
* Shockwave's appearance hints that Hasbro was already planning for expansion of the toyline. His toy was not among the initial 28 characters advertised by the 1984 Transformers catalog, yet there he is, making a short appearance that obviously sets up the possibility of future appearances. His toy would be one of the very first 1985 toys to see release, and his character would return in the very first post-pilot episode.
[[File:Cartoon Cybertron Marvel Iacon case 1.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
* The episode ends with a preview of "Part 2". While other multi-part Transformers episodes generally refer to the episode by its title ("Next time, on ''The Transformers'': 'The Ultimate Doom'"), this preview uses the series title, ''The Transformers'', as "More Than Meets the Eye" is a retroactive name for the three-part episode, which began as a mini-series before becoming a regular program.
* Many later episodes would mine this one for recycled footage, particularly the line up of transforming Autobots near the end. Transformation sequences (with and without new backgrounds) from this episode appear in "[[Heavy Metal War]]", "[[Blaster Blues]]", and others. Optimus Prime's transformation sequence from this episode is used in ''dozens'' of episodes.
*Imagery of Cybertron from this episode was used to depict Iacon in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel story]] "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]". Several buildings are clearly taken from the cartoon, and the most precious comparison has to be the tunnel entrance used by Wheeljack and Bumblebee to get energy conductors to the cartoon's dome-shaped Autobot headquarters, which is exactly the same as the one [[Fusion]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] used to get shatter bombs to the [[Great Dome]]. The only difference is that the next piece of road for Fusion and Bluestreak is the same road Wheeljack and Bumblebee drove over before entering the tunnel.
[[File:G2DoubleTargetmasters.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|The new RCA Colortrak, with Commercial-in-Commercial feature!]]
* The mid-80s [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS release of "More Than Meets the Eye" was granted the [[wikipedia:Film Advisory Board|Film Advisory Board]] Award of Excellence, proudly displayed on the video box cover above. However, this particular "award" does not reflect the ''quality'' of any work submitted, but rather that the work is "family-friendly". Cheeky, that.
* The three parter was released on video in the United Kingdom in 1986 under the title "Arrival from Cybertron".
* Footage from the [[commercial]] featuring the Autobot [[Targetmaster|Double Targetmaster]] trio was spliced into the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' version of this episode by way of the [[Cybernet Space Cube]]. Outside of this, they never actually appeared in the cartoon.
* Footage from this episode was used to represent a historical video in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", the opening movie for ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''.
{{--}}
===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im Weltraum verschollen'''" (''Generation 2'', "Lost in Space")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 30]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Fuga da Cybertron'''" ("Escape from Cybertron")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - I'''" ("More than Meets the Eye - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::* The 2008 dub renamed Hauler "Grapple" in order to retcon them as the same character.
::* In the 2008 dub, when Rumble is ejected for the first time, Soundwave [[RIRFIB|calls him Frenzy]].

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chikyū e no Michi'''" (地球への道, "The Road to Earth")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 6]], [[1985]]
::*When [[Hotlink (G1)|the Seeker]] fires the ring of flame around [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] from his flame-thrower, he shouts out the name of his "special attack" in traditional anime-style. It was called the "Fire Attack", by the way.
::*'''Cut:''' Immediately after [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] says, "Megatron, my leader, we are alive again", a few seconds of the close-up of him and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] staring at each other and the fade away into the next scene is cut. Megatron's line, "Quickly, we must revive the other Decepticons", followed by him carrying and dropping [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], was also cut. The sequence resumes right after Megatron sets Reflector down next to [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]].
::*"[[Hauler]]" is not referred to by name in this version and most Japanese fans just presumed him to have been [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]. Most Japanese fans, [[Hirofumi Ichikawa|but not all]].

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dìyī Tiān'''" (第一天, "The First Day")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem Parte 1'''" (Brazil, "More than Meets the Eye part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 1)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 1), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 1)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi prvi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види први део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 1"), "'''Sile zla prvi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла први део, "Forces of Evil Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/4023.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 2

2016-01-21T22:25:44Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=2
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=2
|prev2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=2
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|image=More Than Meets Part 2.jpg
|caption=[[Oil]] is a burnin' thing, and it makes a fiery ring.
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"
|production code=4024
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}

'''The Decepticons continue raiding Earth's energy sources, including Sherman Dam and the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE Part2 Greetings.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Are you Samuel James Witwicky, descendant of Archibald Witwicky?" "No." "Oops, sorry, my bad." [Throws him back in the water]]]

The fire at the off-shore [[oil rig]] continues to grow. Poor [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] is caught in some girders, but is freed by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Not so easy to extricate are the humans [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. As [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] grapples with the debris trapping the workers, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] put out the fire. Rescued by Prime, Spike and Sparkplug introduce themselves to the [[Autobot]]s, offering their terrestrial knowledge to help them.

[[File:Mtmte2 spike finds soundwave.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|A legacy of Stupid Human Tricks begins here.]]

Their newfound human friends return with the Autobots to their headquarters. As Spike explores the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he finds a small cassette player and brings it in with him, setting it aside. Little does he realize he has brought [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] into Autobot Headquarters. Soundwave and his minion [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] begin using [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to locate [[Earth]]'s most plentiful energy resources. Meanwhile Spike enjoys a tour of the headquarters and some sunset joyriding with [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. Returning to the base, Spike spots Soundwave's intrusion and sounds the alarm. Soundwave escapes, but the Autobots catch Ravage, thanks to [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]' infrared light.

Soundwave briefs [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] on his findings. Megatron decides to attack [[Sherman Dam]], causing a tidal wave to increase the dam's output. The next day, the [[Decepticon]]s arrive at the dam. [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] dives into the river and activates his piledrivers to whip the river into dangerous rapids. The energy output is detected by Teletraan I, and the Autobots rush there to stop the Decepticons.

[[File:MTMte Part2 Autobotsrally.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Raise your hand, raise your haaaand—if you're sure!]]

With the river at its peak, the Decepticons begin producing [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots arrive, and a battle ensues. Hound dives into the river to stop Rumble's quaking, and the two scuffle in the depths, with the Autobot coming off worse. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] help divert the course of the river to save a nearby neighborhood from being flooded. Megatron and Optimus Prime duel with energy [[Energon-axe|melee]] [[Energon mace|weapons]] atop Sherman Dam while exchanging insults. Megatron knocks Prime into the rapids (the latter was distracted by Spike's shouts for help) and he and his Decepticons escape with their spoils.

[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] helps pull Prime from the river. The Autobots regroup and vow to stop the Decepticons as they continue their activities across the land... but apparently don't do a very good job of it at ''all''. The space cruiser they are developing is almost complete, and they are one more energy raid away from having enough fuel to return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Unfortunately, the impudent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] feels the need to test some of the energon cubes. His wasteful experimenting forces the Decepticons to now make two trips. Their first destination, the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]]. These plans are overheard by Trailbreaker, Spike and Sparkplug, who are eavesdropping on the Decepticons.

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Trailbreaker deploys his combat bird bath.]]

As Trailbreaker returns to Autobot headquarters to relay the news, the trio are attacked by a pair of generic [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Sparkplug radios for help, which comes in the form of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. Sunstreaker uses a [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] cannon to give one of the Seekers a small scratch on its wing, prompting the two jets to retreat.

The Decepticons are soon in Burma, pulling [[Ruby crystal|energetic rubies]] from the Earth's crust. The Autobots wait for them outside the mine. Wheeljack has developed a powerful and compact explosive. Bumblebee and Sparkplug volunteer to plant the charge in the mine. They do so, but are caught by [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] as they make their escape.

Concerned that Sparkplug and Bumblebee haven't returned, Optimus Prime drives up the mine's entrance and dispatches [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] into the mine. The explosive detonates, and the blast knocks Prime off his wheels, sending him tumbling down the mountainside.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|To be continued...]]'''

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (1)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (2)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (6)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (10)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (11)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (12)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (13)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (14)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (16)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (17)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (18)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (19)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (20)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (27)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (28)
* [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (29)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (21)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (22)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (23)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (24)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (25)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"For someone who doesn't like to fight, heh, you're not bad, Mirage!"
:—'''Cliffjumper''' complimenting Mirage after he helped fight off Skywarp and Thundercracker

"You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!" 
"Because everything I touch is food for my hunger, my hunger for power!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' banter while fighting on top of Sherman Dam

"You're old, Megatron. Yesterday's model—ready for the scrap heap!" 
"We'll see who's ready for the scrap heap!" 
"Junk! That's what you are, ''junk''!" 
"''Silence''!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' insults '''Megatron''' during their battle

"Don't push me, Megatron, my desire for power is as great as yours!" 
"Power flows to the one who knows ''how''. Desire alone is not enough." 
"Time makes all things possible. I can wait."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''', foreshadowing several repetitive scenes in the future

"Let's give Megatron a little present." 
"Heh. Maybe we oughtta wrap him up and put a little bow on him."
:—'''Skywarp''' and '''Thundercracker''' on capturing Bumblebee. Not seen: Bumblebee's humiliated weeping.

==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:PrimeLandsInTheBarrenWasteland.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

[[Tommy Kennedy (G1)|Tommy Kennedy]] once again runs out into the middle of the barren wastelands and summons help from [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime arrives via rocket-boots and lifts him up to his face, inquiring if he's still working on his "special project" for school. Tommy says that it's a time-consuming effort, so Prime continues his story of how the Transformers first came to Earth without delay...

After concluding the story, Tommy remarks that the "tumble" Prime took sure was something. Prime starts to tell him about the tumble he took when he pursued Megatron into outer space, but Tommy laughs, telling Optimus, "Next time, take a spaceship". Prime passive aggressively replies, "What would I do without you, Tommy?" Prime's eyes then narrow as he demands to know what Tommy's "special project" is. Tommy once again withholds the information, but vows to bare all next time, when he "transforms" Prime's day "into an adventure". Prime then blasts off into space, giving Tommy a ride back to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]].

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Non-final premises===
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobots fly.JPG|thumb]]
As part of the series pilot, this episode features some conventions and details which would be changed for the series proper:
* The Autobots can all fly in [[robot mode]].
* [[Corey Burton]] employs a different voice for Brawn, one that is higher and more hoarse-sounding than the "correct" version that will appear in later episodes. The same voice pops up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" (after Skyfire catches a falling Brawn).
* Mirage gets a different sound effect for his disappearing abilities (which would actually be used again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]").
* Wheeljack acquires a bit of southern accent in the third act of this episode. Oddly, he already had his finalized voice in the previous episode, and indeed, shows no real signs of the accent in his sparing lines during this episode's first two acts. Consequently, fans have speculated that voice actor [[Chris Latta]] was trying to differentiate the voice from his Sparkplug voice, as they ''are'' pretty identical, and he only begins to affect the accent when Wheeljack and Sparkplug share a scene.
* The "next time" preview refers to the three episodes collectively as "The Transformers". They would later be rechristened "More than Meets the Eye" (obviously!)

===Animation and technical errors===
* In the recap of "Part 1" at the beginning of the episode, a scene is shown in which Optimus Prime is trying to lift a grate trapping Spike and Sparkplug. However, in "Part 1", the grate was orange, while in the recap that same grate is shown as gray.
* Huffer's trapped arm does not appear to actually connect to his torso.
* As Huffer and Brawn converse, Brawn's lips move for Huffer's line, "Let's take off."
* Prime's running lights are drawn as rectangular instead of round as he explains the Decepticons to Spike and Sparkplug.
* After picking up Soundwave, Spike runs into the Ark carrying his rucksack slung over his shoulder. In the next shot, the rucksack has vanished.
[[File:Reflector in red.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hey! That's my color scheme!]]
[[File:Weirdstreak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ratchet and Bluestreak just came back from the helmet salon.]]
* Coloring errors:
** Soundwave's eject button is one of the most common coloring errors of the whole series. Based on his toy, it's supposed to be white in the cartoon, but almost as often as not, the colorists simply colored it the same blue as the rest of him:
*** Soundwave's eject button and cheek guards are both blue instead of white as he returns to robot mode.
*** Blue button as he swipes at Spike.
*** And after he plays back the Sherman Dam info.
*** And as Megatron pontificates about the [[ruby crystal]]s. (Cheek guards too.)
** Brawn's helmet is a bit too light as he watches Soundwave retreat.
** When Gears transforms, his blue parts change to red, leaving him as an all-red truck.
** Soundwave is missing all his yellow stripes as he plays back Teletraan I's info on Sherman Dam.
** When Optimus orders his troops to head to the power plant, he has a gray eyeband instead of two blue optics.
** As the Autobots blast into the power plant, they shoot down both Starscream and a Reflector colored like Starscream.
** Soundwave's visor switches from white to red and back as he and Megatron ride the elevator.
** Starscream's collar is yellow as he asks "What's the difference?"
** Half of Starscream's collar is yellow again during "I can wait".
** In the establishing shot of the Autobots outside the Burma ruby mines, Ratchet's head is black and gray. When the shot is repeated, Bluestreak's head is yellow, making his head resemble Bumblebee's.
** As Thundercracker faces Sparkplug, his wing insignia are rendered as purple rectangles. As he joins Skywarp to double-team Bumblebee, they're missing completely.
** Sideswipe's helmet is red instead of black as Bumblebee transforms in front of him.
** Starscream's face is white instead of gray as Bumblebee and Spike spy on the 'cons.
** Jazz's helmet and hand are mostly white instead of black as he worries about Bumblebee.
* As the Autobots try to capture Ravage, their miscellaneous shouts were scripted simply as being collectively delivered by the group and were not attributed to any individual 'bots. As such, they were performed by a random collection of actors, not using any of their standard Transformers character voices, but the animation would then depict mismatched Autobots speaking the lines in voices that are not their own. We hear "There he is!" (voiced by Chris Latta, but delivered by Sideswipe), "Get him!" (Ken Sansom, Jazz), "Fire!" (Frank Welker, Sideswipe again), "It's too dark!" (Latta again, from offscreen) and "Can't see him!" (Welker again, also from offscreen). Another example of this problematic practise would crop up next episode; it would avoided in the series proper, but another instance can be heard in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
* Gears and Hound are extremely tiny in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s in the next shot, as a titanic Optimus Prime walks up behind them.
* When arriving at the dam, Optimus Prime speaks the line "We've got to work fast", but Prowl is shown talking.
* One of the neighbors that Ironhide and Bumblebee rescue appears to be a woman in a pink dress...who is waving and moving as a ''man''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s voice says, "Thanks, neighbors!"
* When the Autobots are first confronting the Decepticons at the power plant, Sideswipe and Optimus appear to have Decepticon logos on them. (See the flying picture above.)
* As Starscream prepares his strange slingshot thing, one of his wing stripes becomes transparent. His wings are also mounted much higher on his back than normal.
* As Soundwave and the Reflectors fill energon cubes in a grassy meadow, there is a registration error that causes Soundwave's lower half to vanish several frames before the foreground content is meant to block it.
* The second purple jet to leave the Black Diamond mine does so alone, but when he drifts back into the shot, he's got a Rumble and a Reflector with him.
* Both he and Megatron are missing their insignia as they elevator reaches the bottom.
* While the Reflectors are stacking energon cubes, the energon cubes are translucent enough to see the background (and to see that the Reflectors' legs weren't animated).
[[File:G1toon starscream laser turret.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They were only counting on having to fight three Autobots back home.]]
* Starscream's leg is disconnected from his body as he fires his cannon.

* The microphone that Sparkplug uses to radio the Autobots changes appearance between shots; it looks like a microphone in closeup, but more like a [[:wikipedia:Simon (game)|Simon]] toy when Sparkplug is holding it.
* One gun, many lasers:
** The two generics who attack Trailbreaker shower him with a dozen or more lasers, despite having only two guns apiece.
* After Sunstreaker shoots one of the generics and Spike's comment, Sideswipe's shown to have a weapon in the same place as Sunstreaker's, with smoke pouring from the end.
* The ends of the ruby collection tubes are closed like test tubes, leaving the falling crystals nowhere to go.
* Prime's right antenna disappears as he points at the mine entrance.
* Only the front of Wheeljack's "ears" flash as he shows off his new explosive.

===Continuity errors===
* Brawn uses a blow torch to free Huffer's oil-soaked arm, and somehow, it doesn't catch fire.
* For some reason, Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper are just sitting around in the repair bay in automotive form.
[[File:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|We don't know where we came from, either.]]
[[File:GenericDecepticons MTMTE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, eject. Operation: crowd filler."]]
* This episode totally shatters the previous episode's consistent cast of Decepticons, which was clearly shown to be Megatron, Soundwave, 3 jets, 3 Reflectors, and 3 tapes. To pad out the Decepticon ranks, a horde of generic Decepticons just starts appearing out of nowhere:
** A light purple-gray jet is standing behind Thundercracker after the Decepticons land at the dam.
** As Reflector compresses the energon cubes, there are ''four'' Reflector robots, as well as three Rumbles. The real Rumble is, at this point, still underwater, fighting with Hound. Rumble shows up in two more subsequent shots as well, including one where he's the only guy in the shot!
** And then it all goes to hell after the Sherman Dam sequence. Two purplish jets are with Thundercracker in the snow. Then a subsequent pan shot shows ''four'' light blue jets, ''three'' light purple jets, and ''two Thundercrackers''.
** At the Black Diamond mine: three purple jets, and a slate blue Rumble.
** The assembled strike force: one Skywarp, two Thundercrackers, another lavender jet, four Rumbles in yellow, orange, bright blue and slate blue, and ''seven'' Reflectors.
** Two lavender and one slate blue jet answer Megatron's order to "Scramble!"
** A shot of the Decepticons in flight shows a total of ''twenty-seven'' robots.
** Two generics even get their own scripted appearance, attacking Trailbreaker, complete with speaking parts!
** After all that, there's not much point in noting 2 blues and 2 lavenders loading ruby crystals, is there?
** 6 generic jets plus Starscream as Bumblebee and Spike observe the 'cons mining the crystals.
* Megatron's definition of "tidal wave" is a bit wonky, considering that Rumble doesn't really make one huge wave. Of course, we wouldn't expect ''aliens'' to have a perfect grasp of the English language.
[[File:G1 cartoon Autobot letters.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Okay, Spike, here's your next Cybertronian lesson!" "Uh...for a...good...time...call..." "Whoops! Wrong screen!"]]
* When Spike tells Jazz that there's trouble at Sherman Dam, the screen shows what is presumably Cybertronian text. Spike shouldn't be able to read this.
* Likewise, the dam worker says "she's gonna blow" (twice!) in reference to the crumbling dam. The dam might crack, fail, or give way, but neither the dam nor the generators are likely to ''explode''.
* Superhuman Spike:
** A shot of Sherman Dam shows us that the water behind it (where Rumble is making his earthquake) is clearly hundreds of feet deep. Somehow, Spike just leaps right into it to rescue Hound. The water is also ''ragingly'' turbulent in the previous shot, yet perfectly still once Spike is actually in it.
** He then has no trouble at all moving a big boulder that's pinning Hound in place.
** It must be hereditary. Sparkplug survives being punched directly in the ribcage and into a stone wall by Thundercracker. He should be wall-pizza after that. Spike also is no worse for wear after Rumble whacks him across the face. A blow like the one Rumble gives Spike should have shattered Spike's skull.
[[File:Rubycrystalminesofburma.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Thus explaining why Burma was the dominant world superpower in 1984.]]
* Why does Megatron yell to his troops to "Follow me!" when he's getting bashed around by Prime?
* One of the shots of filling energon cubes appears to take place in a forest, with no machinery of any type in sight. Are they stealing energy from trees?
* A few shots from Starscream's little cannon drain a whole gigantic stack of energon cubes. Are the cubes really ''that'' paltry?
* The likelihood of rubies being a viable power source, let alone "the richest source of energy on the face of the Earth", is questionable. Apparently Megatron is not yet familiar with the bizarre physics of cartoon Earth, where all kinds of super-powered crystals are just sitting around waiting for someone to sap energy out of them.
* Sparkplug claims to have previously worked in the ruby mine, which, while not thoroughly implausible, seems unlikely for an American [[oil]] rig worker/mechanic.
* Wheeljack tells Sparkplug that the bomb timer is 60 seconds. All the views of the countdown timer show it decreasing at approximately two units per second, meaning that the bomb would go off in about 30 seconds.

===Rhino DVD release===
* Hound is part of the group that leaps into the air. However, in the next shot, Hound is on the ground by the river with Spike.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Mtmte2 ironhide diverting river.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Brawn uses a retractable welding tip to cut Huffer free. This same hooked welding tip seems to be fairly standard Autobot equipment, showing up in many future episodes, attached to many different 'bots.
** Trailbreaker's "force shield" is fired from a three-pronged wrist-gun.
** Wheeljack can shoot a fire extinguishing chemical of some sort from his retracted wrist.
** Jazz uses a retractable grappling hook that slides out of his wrist (with a little pulse-glow of energy, no less.) This gadget will show up a couple more times in this and the next episode.
** Soundwave gives us the most overt instance of size-changing we've yet seen.
** A couple of stock powers make their debut, as Hound demonstrates his holograms and Mirage turns invisible.
** Gears displays his infrared. Well, actually, it's just a red light. Don't tell anyone.
** Jazz and Prowl can both fire energy-net things out of their wrists. Prowl will repeat this ability in "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]".
** "The <s>noal</s> null ray" actually does what it's supposed to this time, shutting down some generators when Starscream shoots them with it.
** When Hound submerges to pursue Rumble, he drops a face shield into place, implying he may be susceptible to water.
** Ironhide has a mounted cannon in the back of his van. It's heavily based on the similar cannon that his toy's repair bay has.
** Starscream owns a [[Slingshot (weapon)|slingshot]] and uses some unidentified crystal as ammunition.
** In one of the series' most inexplicably well-remembered scenes, Megatron and Optimus both deploy glowing, semi-solid energy weapons from their wrists: a morning star and an axe, respectively.
** Trailbreaker can deploy a roof-mounted radar dish to listen in remotely on the 'cons.
[[File:Roller deploy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Early in the episode, the scene is shown changing from the Ark to a similar-looking shack nearby. This shack appears to have the same construction as the Ark itself, but is not a part of the ship. It is almost never seen again, except in the episodes "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
* As he returns to tape mode to enter Teletraan I, Ravage's missiles disappear in a glowing flash.
* According to Starscream, 1,750,000 KiloWatts is not enough electrical power to make energon cubes!
* The script that Teletraan I displays differs significantly from the Ancient Autobot language the Decepticons find in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]". It's also rather different from the Ancient Cybertronian that [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] finds on the control panel of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]". One might reasonably fanwank it by saying that Jazz is reading the modern version of these languages.
* Optimus deploys Roller for the first time. He's gray, based on an earlier iteration of the toy, rather than the blue of the US release.
* While Soundwave and Ravage are using Teletraan I, a shot of the oil rig from Part 1 was briefly shown.

===Real-world references===
* [[Burma]] is a country in southeast Asia, currently known to the United Nations as Myanmar. It is, indeed, particularly rich in rubies, and is the source of 90% of the world's supply of the gems.

===Trivia===
* Deleted scenes from the original script to this episode include Spike and Jazz tapping Teletraan I into "the Emergency Alert System", leading to it detecting the trouble at Sherman Dam; Trailbreaker covering Ironhide as the older 'bot uses his adhesives to seal the cracks in the dam; the two nameless Decepticon jets appearing in robot mode, standing guard at the Decepticon base, where they spot Trailbreaker and the Witwickys driving by and decide to pursue them; and Bumblebee and Sparkplug facing two Decepticon guards at the mine entrance, who Bumblebee paralyzes with a stun ray from his headlights. Other differences include Bumblebee teaming up with ''Wheeljack'', rather than Ironhide, to carve the trenches that break up the raging river; in accordance, Wheeljack's alternate mode is described as a "van", which, coupled with several other awkward or incorrect alternate mode descriptions in the "More than Meets the Eye" scripts, suggests that complete finalized details on the Transformers' alternate modes hadn't been provided to the writer yet.
* The dam sequence was adapted for the UK comic story "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" in issues #29-30, and also released as a set of [[View-Master]] reels. The weapons used by Prime and Megatron would be immortalized in toy form several times, and even get a bit of an [[homage]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action movies]], where Prime thrice wields orange-glowing bladed [[Dual Energon Swords|energy]] [[Energon Hooks|weapons]] in all three films, including an [[Energon-axe|axe]], while Megatron uses a [[Mace|flail]] in the first film.
* Much of the character animation in this episode is pleasingly fluid, with some rather dynamic transformations. Decepticons in particular do lots of flips as they transform.
* Bumblebee's mission is hilarious. He transforms to car mode, drives about twenty feet, returns to robot mode, stands outside the mine and says "Come on, let's go inside." Well, what ''else'' were you planning there, 'Bee?
*Storyboard artist [[Wendell Washer]] has [http://www.wendellwasher.com/samples/storyboards/transda2/sbdtrd2-005.htm sample storyboards] from the opening scene of this episode up on his web site.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Rückkehr'''" (''Generation 2'', "The Return")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 7]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La miniera di rubini'''" ("The Ruby Mine")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - II'''" ("More than Meets the Eye - II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ruby Crystal no Himitsu'''" (ルビークリスタルの秘密, "Secret of the Ruby Crystals")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 13]], [[1985]]
::*'''Cut:''' After Spike picks up Soundwave outside and runs off, a few seconds are shaved off of him disappearing off screen. The long shot of him running through the entrace of the Ark is cut, as are the first few seconds of him running down the hall of the Ark with Soundwave clutched in his right hand.

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem Parte 2'''" (Brazil, "More than Meets the Eye part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 2)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 2), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 2)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види други део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 2"), "'''Sile zla drugi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла други део, "Forces of Evil Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/4024.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[http://zobovor.tripod.com/more_than_meets_the_eye_part_2_bloopers.html Zobovor's Bloopers list]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 3

2016-01-21T22:24:15Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=3
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=3
|prev2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=3
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|next3=S.O.S. Dinobots
|next2=Transport to Oblivion
|image=More Than Meets Part 3.jpg
|caption= NOW ENTERING AREA 51 - ACCESS RESTRICTED! NO TRESPASSING, NO PHOTOGRAPHY PERMITTED
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 3"
|production code=4025
|airdate=[[September 19]], 1984
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}

'''When an Autobot attempt to lure the Decepticons into a holographic trap fails, the villains succeed in gathering the energy they need, leaving the Autobots with only one chance to stop them returning to Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE Part3 PushingPrimeupright.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|After a bad fall, it's important that you move every part of the victim. Forcibly if needed.]]

Caught in the blast of [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack's]] explosive, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] tumbles down the mountainside. Shaken but not defeated, he musters the energy to transform into [[robot mode]]. The [[Autobot]]s begin digging through the rubble and [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] finds [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] alive and unharmed. Before the Autobots can begin celebrating what they presume to be the end of their enemies, there's a blast from the rubble. The [[Decepticon]]s have survived their burial and have blasted their way out. With their [[energon]] haul unscathed, the Decepticons take to the air.

[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] is tired of this string of defeats, and he soon takes to the air to follow. [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] takes off to try to rein him in. Ironhide takes a few pot-shots at the fleeing Decepticons, and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] breaks formation to teleport behind their pursuers. He lands a rocket square in Ironhide's back, knocking the old Autobot out of the chase. Ironhide crashes into a lake, and the Autobots catch up with him to pull him out of the water and into [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet's]] waiting repair bay. The Autobots return to base.

Back at the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] taunts the captive [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and discusses the Decepticon spy's apparent abandonment by his comrades. In using a hologram of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to goad Ravage, Hound and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] brainstorm an idea: to use an enormous hologram to trick the Decepticons into a trap. He pitches the idea to Optimus Prime, and the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] agrees.

Soon after, Hound talks to Mirage about a report from [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] of a secret supply of rocket fuel. He says all this quite within earshot of Ravage, explaining how there's enough fuel there to make "four trips back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]." As Mirage and Hound walk away, Hound "accidentally" drops the key to Ravage's cage. The Decepticon retrieves it and escapes captivity.

[[File:MTMtE Part3 Starscreambegs.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|The genesis of a whole lot of slashfic.]]

Back at the Decepticon camp, Ravage reports in to Megatron about the rocket base. Megatron is delighted; it's the last energy source they'll need before they can return to Cybertron. As Megatron gloats, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] grouses about the need for a change in leadership. In a foolish move, Starscream tries to blast Megatron in the back. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] warns his leader, who deflects the blast with a built-in energy shield. Starscream has spent all his ammunition in this single shot, and he is left defenseless. Megatron returns the sentiment by blasting Starscream in the arm, knocking his disloyal lieutenant to the ground. Groveling, Starscream huddles to Megatron's feet, who answers his pleas only by issuing the command: "We attack the rocket base at sunrise!"

In a flat stretch of desert, Hound creates the rocket base hologram. The Decepticons move into position, and Megatron orders them to attack.

[[File:MTMtE Part3 Jazz ScrapDecepticon.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Jazz soon regrets buying from eBay.]]

The Autobots spring their trap, running out from hiding to ambush the attacking Decepticons. However, when they engage in hand-to-hand combat, the Decepticons break apart like poorly made machines. Optimus Prime realizes they've been had. These aren't the Decepticons, but are instead decoys. Megatron, the only real Decepticon present, laughs at Prime's misstep. He saw through the phony release of Ravage. Megatron reveals to his defeated enemy that the real Decepticon army has been attacking the real rocket base.

Cut to [[Cape Carlson]], the real rocket base, where the Decepticon jets arrive. They transform and neutralize the human army's attempt to stop them. In short time, Megatron rejoins them, and they soon return to their launch base with all the fuel they need. Soundwave reports the space cruiser's readiness, and Megatron orders the Decepticons to prepare to blast off.

[[File:MTMtE Part3 Optimus overacting.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|KHAAAAAAAAAN!]]

Back at the Autobot ship, Optimus Prime briefs his soldiers on the grim situation. He tells them that Megatron is on the verge of returning to Cybertron, where he could become unstoppable with the energon he has tapped from [[Earth]]. The Autobots have no choice but to directly attack the Decepticons. Prime asks for volunteers, and all the Autobots—and their human allies [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and Sparkplug—step forward. The Autobots transform into [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and roll out.

As the Decepticons begin to board the [[Victory (G1)|cruiser]], the Autobots encircle the base. Prime's forces transform into robot form and begin the attack. The Autobots grapple with the Decepticons, but the battle is brief. Megatron and his forces get aboard their ship and blast off into the sky.

[[File:MTMtE Part3 ExtinctiontoallTraitors.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Naturally, Megatron is a firm advocate of the Second Amendment.]]

Optimus Prime refuses to concede defeat. He orders [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to hand over his [[Jet pack|rocket pack]]. Donning the pack, Prime takes off to personally pursue the Decepticon cruiser. Starscream spots Prime in pursuit. The cruiser opens fire, blasting Prime who falls out of the sky and hits the ground hard.

The Autobots gather to see if Prime is okay, and the tough Autobot shrugs off their help. It's then that he notices that Mirage is missing from their ranks.

Aboard the cruiser, Starscream makes his move to usurp Megatron. Waiting for the Decepticon leader to lower his guard and remove his arm-cannon, Starscream raises his weapon to Megatron. Just then, Mirage drops his invisibility power to fire a few shots in the cruiser's controls. Starscream turns to blast Mirage, and Megatron takes advantage of the distraction to retrieve his cannon and fire on Starscream. Chaos erupts aboard the cruiser as Mirage's sabotage begins spreading and Soundwave loses control of the ship.

[[File:MTMtE Part3 Mirage HALOjump.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|WHEEEEEE!]]

Mirage scrambles to his feet and jumps from the doomed ship as it crashes into the ocean. The Autobots on the ground stare incredulously as the Decepticons are suddenly and mysteriously defeated. They then spot Mirage, the unlikely hero, floating to the ground in a parachute rig. The Autobots celebrate their victory.

Spike writes in [[Spike's diary|his journal]] that because the Autobots stopped the Decepticons from stealing Earth's resources, the governments of the world have decided to give Optimus Prime the energy he needs to revitalize Cybertron. The Autobot ship is being refurbished, and Spike and Sparkplug eagerly await their trip to the Transformers' home world.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the ocean, the Decepticon space cruiser rests. Bubbles emerge from a hatch that is pulled free from the inside by massive metal hands. Megatron lives.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (4)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (5)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (6)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (7)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (10)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (11)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (12)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (23)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (24)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (25)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (26)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (28)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (27)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (29)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (30)

|c3=
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (15)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"You gave us all a pretty good scare." 
"It's been worse. I remember the time on Cybertron—" 
"Save the war stories, hot shot. Just remember, there's a thin line between being a hero, and being a memory."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ironhide'''

"The rocket base is one hundred and forty kilometers due west of the Autobot camp."
:—'''Ravage'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sole line of dialog in the entire series.

"I am the leader of the future!" 
"You couldn't lead [[ant-droid]]s to a picnic. How can you pretend to lead the Decepticons?"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' arguing over Starscream's competence... again.

"Beware, Starscream...if you dispose of me, there will always be someone waiting to dispose of ''you''" 
"Let them try! I've waited for this moment a long time, Megatron....and my time is ''now!''
:—'''Megatron''' channeling his inner Nostradamus to '''Starscream'''

"We knew you were anxious to get back to Cybertron, but at least you could have waited for us." 
"Sorry, Prime. The ship was... full."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Mirage''' uttering a classic line.

==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:PrimeKennedySpecialProject.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"That's... That's just ''wonderful'', Tommy. I'm so... ''proud'' of you. It's going ''right'' on the fridge! Yep! The fridge."]]

[[Tommy Kennedy (G1)|Tommy Kennedy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] convene in the barren wasteland. Tommy has something hidden under a tarp and says it's a sneak preview of the "special project" he's been working on for school. Optimus sighs, "''Finally!''" but Tommy once again denies him, saying that Prime must first finish the story about how the Autobots first came to Earth. Prime whines that he's ''already'' told him the whole story, but Tommy reminds him that he never got past the explosion at the ruby crystal mine. Prime says he'll finish the story, but ''only'' on the condition that Tommy finally shows him the "special project". Tommy crosses his heart and so Prime continues...

With the story finished, Prime '''demands''' to see what's under Tommy's wonderful tarp of mystery. Tommy pulls aside the cloth and reveals a masterfully crafted bust of Prime's head. Prime is floored, saying that his own programmer couldn't tell the difference. Tommy says that the "special project" was a celebration of the anniversary for when the Autobots came to Earth. The statue will be presented to all the Autobots to commemorate "The greatest Autobot of all: Powermaster Optimus Prime!"

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Non-final premises===
* As with the two preceding episodes, the Autobots can all fly in [[robot mode]].

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Autobot Soundwave.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Autobots superior, Decepticons inferior.]]
[[File:Hufferg1animated.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Okay, you can't really see it here. But a second later, Cliffy leans back, and boom, no insignia.]]
* Coloring errors:
** As the Autobots gather around Optimus Prime's fallen form and Mirage and Cliffjumper fly in, Cliffjumper is colored yellow like Bumblebee, who is currently buried under tons of rubble. He's also missing his horns.
** As the Autobots gather around the rescued Bumblebee and Sparkplug, Wheeljack's launcher is tan instead of light gray.
** Bluestreak has Prowl's color scheme as Ironhide protests letting the Decepticons escape.
** "I've made my contribution!" The center of Starscream's chest is red instead of gray during his line.
** "It's empty!" Starscream's nose is the dark gray of his helmet instead of medium gray.
** "You failed to dispose of me..." The red parts of Megatron's waist are gray.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is light gray as Starscream grovels.
** Starscream's nosecone and the center of his chest are once again red instead of gray as he lands at the rocket base.
** Prowl's chest-sides and neck are black instead of white as Prime does his William Shatner imitation.
** Ratchet's lightbars are white as he drives toward Prime's crash site. All three Autobots in the shot kind of slide sideways instead of driving forward.
* As he wonders about Roller, Prime is shown with round headlights instead of square.
* Cliffjumper is missing his insignia as he encourages Prime.
* Inside the mines, Soundwave is shown with a [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|purple Autobot insignia]].
* Generic Decepticons:
** Two Skywarps as the Decepticons prepare to fly out of the mine.
** Two generic light purple jets as the Decepticons fly off.
** Two (fake) Starscreams as the "Decepticons" prepare to attack the "rocket base" (with their "lasers".)
** Eight jets fly toward the rocket base: the core three, 2 lavenders, 3 dark blues.
** 15 Decepticons are visible from the Cape Carleson control tower.
** 5 jets are seen landing at the base.
** A wingless lavender jet and the legs/feet of four other generics as the Decepticons cheer.
** A purple and two lavenders (one of whom changes to dark blue mid-shot) head toward the cruiser.
** An all-lavender jet leaps off the platform (infamously dubbed the Lady In Purple by a few fans), following Thundercracker and Skywarp, already shown to be on the ground.
** One lavender jet retreats from the final battle.
** One lavender jet backs away from Megatron as Starscream challenges him.
* After the Decepticons fly out of the mines, Skywarp and two generic purple Decepticon jets are drawn with the silhouettes of pilots sitting inside their cockpits.
* As Bluestreak catches up to Ironhide, Ironhide's back-mounted rocket launcher is shown in firing position (and Ironhide's shoulders are red instead of gray.) In the next shot, the launcher is missing, then is shown emerging from Ironhide's back.
* The energon cubes that Megatron holds when giving Skywarp permission to teleport are uncolored. To answer Skywarp's request, Megatron turns ''away'' from him.
* Skywarp's destroyed tailfin is back to normal after he teleports.
* Bluestreak and Ironhide continue to stare at each other for a ''very'' long time after Bluestreak says his line.
* Ironhide says he can't move... then immediately raises his arm.
* As Bluestreak carries Ironhide into Ratchet, he has one of Prowl's Highway Patrol symbols on his door.
* In the cavalcade of Autobots heading home, Jazz's blue stripes are colored red, and Wheejack is missing his orange and green roof colors.
* A mislayering of animation cells when Hound creates a hologram of Megatron to taunt Ravage causes it to appear as if Hound is standing in the prison cage with Ravage.
* Jazz's visor is massively oversized during his "It might just work" line, and is missing its center crease line.
* After Ravage escapes, Hound is shown lip-flapping during Mirage's line.
* In the reaction shot of the Autobots when Optimus Prime is pleased at Ravage's escape, the tips of Prowl's doors are colored as parts of Jazz and Mirage's heads, and Mirage's shoulders are red.
* "You're in the driver's seat" - Prime only has 4 of his running light housings. Two of them extend all the way to his back.
* The flight controller's line is cut off by an editorial gaffe; he says "There's nothing we can - ".
* In the pan across the Autobots (during which the Autobots have conveniently divided themselves by toy size):
** The Autobots have completely changed positions from where they were in the previous shot. Most obviously, Bumblebee was between Bluestreak and Hound; but now he's with the other mini-bots. To make it worse, the scene recycles the two shots several times in succession.
** Ratchet's hands are white.
** Jazz's waist is colored windshield blue.
** Prowl is missing his insignia.
** Jazz is shown in the line-up, while at the same time he's standing next to Prime, giving instructions.
* As Jazz says "Autobots, transform", Optimus Prime is shown saying it.
* Ironhide and Hound have strange black dots on them as they step forward. These were presumably supposed to be "battle scars", as the script for the episode suggests that these two could show signs of damage, but the effect is not well-accomplished.
* All the transforming Autobots get the wrong transformation sound (ascending pitch instead of descending pitch) as they change to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
* As the Autobots approach the Decepticon base, they're shown driving at a snail's pace.
* Soundwave is missing his insignia as the Decepticons cheer.
* Soundwave's eject button lights up each time he hits it. While cool (and intentional), it's a conceit not used in any future episode.
* Laserbeak is huge as Skywarp and Thundercracker fall into formation with him. The animation of the trio turning to dive is remarkably clunky.
[[File:OptimusCDeckMTMTE3.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Look away from the animation errors!"]]
* Prime orders [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] to fire during a series of identically-framed shots. The first shot shows buttes in the background behind him. The second shot shows a solid mountainside. The third shot shows clear sky.
* Megatron's gun barrel is missing as he prepares to face Prime. So is his insignia.
* How long's it take for the animators to forget that Megatron lost his cannon? About 1 scene. It's back in place as Prime judo-throws him, then gone again as he regains his feet a shot or two later.
* How long's it take for the animators to forget that Starscream lost an arm-cannon? No time at all. It's back in place as the Decepticons retreat, despite being smushed by Prowl.
* Mirage is clearly visible (prominent, in fact) during the Autobots' final, desperate assault on the space cruiser, despite later being shown to have snuck aboard it. This is either a major continuity error or the one time that Mirage's electro-disruptor works in the cartoon in the way his [[bio]] says it does.
* The establishing shot at the start of the third act uses a flubbed take: A major piece of artwork—the Decepticon starship blasting off into the sky—is missing, meaning the Autobots on the ground are reacting to nothing. (The completed shot does appear in the teaser for the episode at the end of Part 2, however.)
[[File:Sideswipejetpack.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Sideswipe's rocket pack seriously just appears out of nowhere when it's called for by the plot. It's not part of his animation model and is never seen before or after, even when Sideswipe needs to fly.
* "You got him!" Starscream is missing his wing insignia.
* As the Autobots help their battered leader to his feet, the animation is ''really'' wobbly; Prime's head grows bigger, the detail patterns on his legs change completely, and the line-art is just very crude and "shakes" a lot in general.
* Similar to the scene of the Autobots attempting to capture Ravage in the previous episode, the various congratulations given to Mirage after he brings down the Decepticon ship were not attributed to individual characters in the script, and were simply listed as being delivered by the Autobots as a group. As such, they are delivered by random actors who are not using any of their normal Transformers character voices. We hear "Mirage!" from Frank Welker, "You did it!" from Ken Sansom, and "You stopped the Decepticons!" from Welker again, his delivery on that last one making it sound an awful lot like Mirage is congratulating himself.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:MTMtE Part3 Dullsurprise.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|[[Dull surprise|DULL SURPRISE!]]]]
* Mirage, Hound, Jazz and Prowl all react with shock at Optimus's statement that Ravage's escape was a good thing. Yet they were all in on the plan to let Ravage get away to tell the Decepticons about the secret hologram rocket base that is most certainly not a trap. Did they just forget?
* For that matter, how ''did'' Megatron figure out the Autobot trick? Ravage reports the same rocket base location that he heard from Hound. Was Hound dumb enough to accidentally blurt the ''real'' rocket base location in front of Ravage? Or did Megatron somehow figure out the ruse ''after'' Ravage made his report? Why would he do that? When we last see him, he's all excited to attack the same rocket base that Ravage just told him about.
* What ''is'' the point of rigging up the dummy Decepticons? Did Megatron go through all that trouble just to rub Prime's nose in it? Wouldn't it be smarter to leave the Autobots waiting and wondering?
[[File:MTMTE3 Bumblebee labcoat.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The [[Mini Vehicle]] Autobots are shown disguised as lab-coat-wearing scientists to complete the holographic illusion of a rocket base, though it's a pretty poor disguise when you realize these scientists are big enough to turn into trucks and cars. Also, where'd they get the lab coats? (For that matter, why not just make holographic scientists?)
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike can throw a rock with enough force to knock Starscream's Null Ray off his arm.
* Prime is nearly knocked out of commission by the explosion that collapses [[Ruby crystal mines of Burma|a Burmese ruby mine]], yet he simply seems to shrug off the effects of getting hit by a cruiser cannon and falling to Earth from the very edge of the atmosphere.
* Mirage only shoots the ship's control panel. How does this set the entire ship on fire?
* Despite the heights the space cruiser certainly reached before the sabotage, Mirage parachutes down to exactly the spot where the Autobots were assembled.
* The space cruiser is shown crashing into the ocean near the coast. However, later episodes show the cruiser is well far away from any coast line.
* Spike's narration is a bit confused; the Autobots ''didn't'' stop the Decepticons from stealing Earth's energy. They just up and left on their own!
* In the biggest continuity goof of the entire series, the next episode will completely ignore the premise of the Autobots preparing to return to Cybertron, which is the entire point of this episode's closing scenes.

===Rhino DVD release===
* The establishing shot at the start of the third act uses a flubbed take: A major piece of artwork—the Decepticon starship blasting off into the sky—is missing, meaning the Autobots on the ground are reacting to nothing. (The completed shot does appear in the teaser for the episode at the end of Part 2, however.) Oddly enough, the bonus disc on the Rhino DVD set calls out the error in a collection of bloopers and oddities.

===Other releases===
* All three parts of "More Than Meets the Eye" were spliced together into a single continuous episode for the ''More than Meets the Eye 25th Anniversary Special Edition'' disc, included as a pack-in with Transformers Universe 25th Anniversary Optimus Prime toy. During Part 3, the sound effects for the [[Cybernet Space Cube]], added for the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]] broadcast of the episode, can be heard over the scene transitions, despite the original broadcast version of the visuals being used; the result is a lot of strange mechanical noises being inserted with no clear on-screen source.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Mtmte3 ironhide flies.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Ironhide and Bluestreak cannot fly. WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!?!?]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Ironhide, perhaps the most gadget-laden of all Autobots, brings out a forearm-mounted drill from inside his wrist.
** Later, he deploys a missile launcher out of his back. Like the van mode gun he had last episode, this one appears based on the launcher on his toy's combat platform.
** Jazz's ubiquitous grappling line makes its third appearance.
** Ravage deploys a little grappler waldo from his forepaw.
** Megatron generates a little deflector shield out of his fusion cannon.
** Hound can make a seriously HUGE hologram.
** Megatron can rotate his gun barrel around to his waist to fire it.
** We get our first and last look at Sideswipe's [[Jet pack|rocket pack]].
** Skywarp can shoot a white fire-extinguishing substance from a wrist nozzle.
* This is the only time in the original series that Ravage speaks, relaying the information on the rocket base with his own voice instead of merely replaying Hound and Mirage's conversation about it. When he reappeared in ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]],'' he was similarly growly, but he had gained an [[Accent|Eastern European accent]].
* In a continuing trend during the Generation 1 cartoon, Prime's Combat Deck looks nothing like its toy counterpart or like it will appear in any future episodes. Not really an error since it's blown up here and could've been rebuilt differently.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Death Star]] superlaser as Skywarp rematerializes behind Ironhide.
** [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar as Skywarp pursues Ironhide and Bluestreak.
** [[Lightsaber]]-slicing-equipment sound as Skywarp blasts Ironhide.
** Lightsaber-slicing-equipment as Megatron deflects Starscream's blast.
** Roller's sounds are all taken directly from [[R2-D2]]. Then again, the Transformers really ARE from long ago, in a galaxy far away...
* Rocket base Cape Carlson may be a reference to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

===Trivia===
[[File:MTMtE Part3 ExaggeratedPrime.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Apparently Pat Lee had this as a poster in his office.]]

* There is a nice touch by the animators during the scene where the Autobots assist Optimus Prime after he rolls down the hill at the start of this episode. After Mirage, Prowl and Ratchet have pushed Optimus Prime's truck mode upright, he bounces as his suspension compensates for the weight of the truck landing on its wheels.
* After Ironhide assures that he'll be right back in action, Optimus Prime is depicted with rather exaggerated 'puffy' proportions for a brief sequence before he transforms into vehicle mode, which is similarly exaggerated with large wheels in comparison to the rest of the truck, followed by an exaggerated Ratchet in vehicle mode. Part of this animation is later reused near the end of the episode after the Decepticon space cruiser crashes, with the rest of the Autobots having similar proportions in both robot and vehicle mode. [[Masami Ōbari]] is credited as the animator for Prime's "transformation sequence", and this bizarrely proportioned Prime certainly fits with Ōbari's design aesthetic.
* During the showdown between Optimus Prime and Megatron, an animation oddity results in what a few fans have taken as evidence of an obscure, little-used ability of Optimus: the ''Finger of Doom!'' Optimus deploys Combat Deck to shoot Megatron's cannon off of his arm. Simultaneously, Megatron fires his arm cannon and destroys Combat Deck. However, during the shot of Combat Deck exploding, the animation of Prime pointing at Megatron is ''re-used''. The next shot is Megatron being disarmed by an energy blast, which would seem to have come not from Combat Deck, whose blast should have already arrived, but from Prime's immediately prior pointing finger... his ''Finger of Doom!''
* Spike writing in [[Spike's diary|his journal]] looks ''disturbingly'' like Beavis of ''Beavis and Butt-Head''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die letzte Schlacht'''" (''Generation 2'', "The Last Battle")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 14]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Megatron'''"
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - III'''" ("More than Meets the Eye - III")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chikyū Dasshutsu!'''" (地球脱出!, "Escape from Earth!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 20]], [[1985]]
::*In the scene where Ironhide chases after Megatron and Skywarp, it is ''Thundercracker'' who is heard requesting permission to teleport.
::*'''Cut:''' When Ironhide is loaded into the back of Ratchet, after he says, "No way", his lines about being back in action, Prime's "Let's get out of here!" (with the aforementioned "puffy proportions" shot) and the footage of all the Autobots transforming and rolling out have been cut. The following scene of Spike sitting by the Ark, writing that Prime would make a neat President, has been cut entirely.
::*'''Cut:''' After Ravage escapes and jumps off the cliffside, a few seconds of the Autobots gathered there reacting have been shaved off. The fade-in to the next scene and Prime and Gears standing together have also been cut. The sequence resumes at the shot of Hound, Mirage and the others walking together.

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem Parte 3'''" (Brazil, "More than Meets the Eye Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi treći deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види трећи део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 3"), "'''Sile zla treći deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла трећи део, "Forces of Evil Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/4025.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Transport to Oblivion (episode)

2016-01-21T22:23:41Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambigr|Transport to Oblivion|the Rising event|Transport to Oblivion (Rising)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=4
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=4
|prev2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|next2=Roll for It
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=25
|prev3=Fight or Flee (episode)
|next3=Roll for It
|image=TransporttoOblivion Spacebridge theory.jpg
|caption=The rebel base will be in firing range in 4 minutes...
|title="Transport to Oblivion"
|production code=#700-01
|airdate=[[October 6]], 1984
|written by=[[Bryce Malek]] [[Dick Robbins]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After months in hiding, the Decepticons return and have a new method for moving energon cubes to Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:TransporttoOblivion Decepticon-shaped rock.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|The Shadow knows....]]

The [[Decepticon]]s have not been seen in months and are presumed dead by the [[Autobot]]s. That doesn't stop a twitchy [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] from blasting a rock that vaguely resembles a Decepticon. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] is also not completely convinced of the Decepticons' demise. Unknown to the Autobots, the Decepticons are in fact still alive and have constructed a [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|undersea fortress]] out of their [[Victory (G1)|crashed ship]] under the ocean.

Meanwhile, on Cybertron, an energy-depleted [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] attempts to make contact with [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Shockwave succeeds in his attempt and informs Megatron that the [[energon]] reserves on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] are almost depleted. He also tells him of the newly constructed [[space bridge|Space Bridge]].

The Decepticons head out again to collect more energy. Their first target is a solar power plant. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] scare off the workers and secure the generators for energon creation.

[[File:TransporttoOblivion Cliffjumper attacks Megatron.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|If Megatron were human, that'd be really painful.]]

While cruising the city, [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] encounter a traffic jam—the cause of which is a city-wide blackout. Both decide they need to head back to base to check in. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] shows that the blackout has spread across the city. Optimus has Teletraan survey the surrounding power stations. At the solar plant, Optimus sees Megatron.

Optimus puts together a small strike team consisting of [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], Cliffjumper, [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] to take care of the Decepticon raid (the rest of the force are out on patrol). The Autobots arrive and drive off the Decepticons, but not before they manage to steal a large amount of energy. During the battle, Ironhide is injured while saving Optimus from an attack.

Back at base, Ironhide is worked on by Ratchet and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], but his pride is more wounded then his chassis. Wanting to know how they plan to get the energon to Cybertron, Optimus sends Bumblebee out on recon to search for signs of the Decepticons in the surrounding area; Spike offers to go with him.

The two stumble upon the location of the Space Bridge and witness the Decepticons' first failed attempt to transport a small vehicle across space. Bumblebee and Spike attempt to leave, but are captured before they can report back. Megatron decides to use his two captives as pilots for the shuttle to help keep it on its course to Cybertron.

[[File:TransporttoOblivion Bumblebee escapes.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|That's what happens when you drive your car too close to Area 51.]]

Bumblebee and Spike are placed in the second test vehicle and sent toward the Space Bridge portal, but the Decepticons run out of time and the alignment between Cybertron and [[Earth]] passes. The Bridge can't be reactivated for 3,000 astro-seconds. While the Decepticons grouse about the delay, Bumblebee transforms into his car mode and smashes free of the transport vehicle. Spike is recaptured immediately. Bumblebee manages to evade them for a short time but is also recaptured. Megatron alters Bumblebee's memory chips so he can lead the Autobots into a trap.

Bumblebee returns to [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]] and tells the gathered Autobots that Spike has been captured. They head for the Space Bridge, but Bumblebee has given them an incorrect location. The false location leads them to a cave where the Decepticons, tipped off by Laserbeak, have been waiting in ambush.

[[File:TransporttoOblivion Bumblebee rescues Spike.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Spike performed his own stunts.]]

The battle is cut short as the dimensional alignment between Cybertron and Earth recurs, allowing for Space Bridge transport. The Decepticons leave, but not before Megatron blasts the cave, sealing the Autobots within. During the battle, Bumblebee is injured and Ratchet discovers that a bank of Bumblebee's memory chips have been altered. The Autobots soon learn the true location of the Space Bridge and once free of the cave, roll out.

The Autobots engage the Decepticons once more at the true location of the Space Bridge, managing to rescue Spike and destroy the shipment of energon. As the battle nears its conclusion, Megatron is knocked into the active Space Bridge and is presumed destroyed. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] assumes command and orders a retreat. But within [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|the Decepticon base]] on Cybertron, Megatron emerges intact from the Space Bridge, and swears vengeance on his enemies.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (2)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (3)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (13)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (14)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (20)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (22)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (23)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (24)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (5)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (6)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (10)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (17)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (19)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (21)

|c3=
*[[Ed (worker)|Ed]] (7)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (12)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Cliffjumper:''' "Don't worry, Megatron. I'll get them after I've taken care of YOU!" 
(Cliffjumper punches Megatron downstairs. This has no effect, and he is brushed aside like a rag doll.) 
'''Megatron:''' "WHO will take care of me?" 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "I will, Megatron."
:—Megatron gets put in his place for picking on the short one.

'''Skywarp:''' "Starscream! Behind you!" 
(Starscream turns to see Cliffjumper and Gears running towards him) 
'''Cliffjumper:''' "Too late, Starscream!" 
'''Starscream:''' "It's never too late, Autobot." 
[''calmly raises his left arm and fires'']

[[File:G1 Transport RatchetSparkplug fixingIronhide.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Ok Ironhide, turn your head and cough."]]
"No more backtalk, or I'll short your mouth circuit."
:—'''Ratchet'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bedside manner toward Ironhide.

"How're we gonna get out of this?" 
"By the skin of our teeth!" 
"I didn't know human teeth had skin!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Spike'''

"The Autobots robbed me of my victory, but they have not seen the last of Megatron. I shall be avenged!"
:—'''Megatron''', for the first time, but not the last.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Maybe not an error, but definitely odd: The establishing shots of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]] are two completely different matte paintings that show exactly the same thing.
* A strange establishing shot meant to convey the transition of an Earth-bound scene to one set on Cybertron shows a whole bunch of gray planets near each other, then suddenly cuts to the stock shot of Cybertron. It's possible this was meant to be a pan across our solar system, showing the Moon and then Saturn, but what it actually portrays is more like three moons orbiting a distant ringed planet unlike any in our [[Solar System]].

[[File:TransporttoOblivion colourchanging Ed.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Black-White-Black]]

* The animated glow behind Shockwave when he is communicating to Megatron is mis-aligned with his body.
* Coloring errors:
** Ed, a solar power plant worker, has his skin change color from one shot to the next. He's first seen as an African-American when his coworker tells him to turn the radio down. When he turns to face the radio in the next shot, he's white. As he backs away from Soundwave's transformation, he's black again, possibly suffering from a rapid (but intermittent) form of [[wikipedia:Vitiligo|Vitiligo]].
** When the Autobots crash through the skylight, Cliffjumper is colored like Bumblebee.
** After Ironhide is shot protecting Optimus Prime, Prowl's gun is black.
** The sides of Starscream's air intakes are gray instead of red when Megatron restrains him from attacking Bumblebee.
** Starscream's thighs are dark gray instead of light gray as he and Megatron fire on the fleeing Bumblebee.
** As the Autobots are waiting for Bumblebee and Spike's return home, Cliffjumper is colored as Bumblebee. Hey, it's the yellow Cliffjumper toy [[variant]]!
** Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of black as he threatens to finish Ironhide and Prime.
** After Megatron blasts the cave shut (again) and returns to [[robot mode]], blue sky can be seen between Starscream's arms and torso, in the space where his wings should be. Possibly the artists thought his wings were attached to his arms instead of his back.
** Ironhide's cheek guards are gray instead of red as he patches himself up after the cave battle.
** Megatron's face is black as he listens to Shockwave's instructions about the space bridge.
** Megatron's eyes are blue instead of red as he punches buttons on the space bridge console during the final battle.
** After Megatron falls into the [[space bridge]], two successive shots feature Skywarp in Starscream's color scheme, resulting in two Starscreams appearing on screen at once.
[[File:Soundwave jesus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|So Soundwave and Laserbeak [[Warrior School!|use their alternate forms to sneak into an industrial facility and take it over]]...]]
* A glow effect surrounds Soundwave as he enlarges out of his tape player form. While it is clearly a deliberate artistic choice, this effect is never again seen for Soundwave's transformations.
* Cliffjumper and Gears' voices can clearly be heard among the panicked power plant workers.
[[File:TransporttoOblivion fillingcubes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|...and the Decepticons [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|re-establish contact with Cybertron]], and [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|build a space bridge]], and [[Rock and Roll-Out!|start making energon cubes]]...]]
[[File:Trans to ob megs spacebridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|...and the whole thing ends with [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|Megatron getting tossed into his own space bridge and unceremoniously launched to Cybertron]]. Did [[Bob Budiansky]] watch this episode or what?]]
* As the Decepticons start filling energon cubes, the background cubes filled by Skywarp are layered in front of the foreground cubes filled by Starscream.
* When Jazz slams on his brakes during the traffic jam, the car in front of him is green. When he backs up to leave, the car is blue and a different model.
* On-screen [[Engrish]]:
** The signage in the city includes some rather odd phrases: Par, Bolo Bulue, Spu Rashu, Bolve, Fee, Mascot, IOU, April, AGF, Bell.
** When Optimus Prime is using Teletraan I to survey nearby power stations, the map on the screen is labeled "EVE ISLAND".
** Teletraan's readout screen has a number of lost-in-translation typographical errors. It reads: SOLOR POWE STATION #001; CAPACITY: 80 %; PURRENT PRODUCTION: 0%.
* During Optimus' close-up when he says "Megatron lives.", the background is of a cloudy sky instead of [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters']] interior.
* Skywarp has the wrong voice as he says his "Hurry it up!" and "Starscream! Behind you!" lines.
* As Megatron gloats over Optimus Prime's defeat and prepares to transform into gun mode, he says "Soundwave—Prime is target, Soundwave! FIRE!", an awkward-sounding line that appears to have been hastily edited to remove some dialog. Additionally, Megatron orders Soundwave to fire him before he even finishes transforming.
* When the Decepticons are leaving the power station, Skywarp is seen flying away twice.
* Laserbeak's caws and cries are not electronically modulated and are much more bird-like than the synthetic trill that would become his standard vocalization later in the series.
* The Autobots storming into the power plant at the battle's end do not have the standard Autobot laser fire sound effects.
* As the space bridge powers up for its first test, the light effects at the back of the ring pass in front of the test vehicle, which is inside the ring.
* Amid the rocks and debris sucked up into the space bridge, the test vehicle can be seen rising...then falling back down again!
* Bumblebee and Spike clearly withdraw from the edge of the river canyon, yet Bumblebee is standing right at the edge again when he transforms (a convenient conceit, so he can fall down and be captured).
* As Megatron says that Bumblebee and Spike have "volunteered", a glint of light plays across his optics. The sound guys mistook this for a powered light-up effect and inserted a sound effect accordingly.
* The animation of test run #2 is recycled from the first test run...which means that the test vehicle is shown inside the ring, even though it shouldn't be there.
* When Shockwave says, "Test run number two aborted," the animation is of Megatron speaking.
* Skywarp and Starscream get the same not-standard-issue laser sound effect that the Autobots at the power plant had.
* Upon arriving, Bumblebee says that "''Pike'' was taken by the Decepticons!" Maybe it's [[The Insecticon Syndrome|a nickname]]?
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Four red(dish) cars are among the group leaving Autobot Headquarters. Ironhide and Cliffjumper should be red; the third could be Gears. The fourth is either a miscolored Prowl or Jazz, leaving the group one man short.
** Best guess is that it's Jazz who is missing from that last shot, because he's also missing from the lineup of Autobot cars outside the cave. His voice shows up once the group enters the cave...but he's not actually ''seen'' until after the first commercial break.
** Brawn, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Trailbreaker all appear at various points during the battle in the cave and its aftermath, despite not being part of the group that arrives and leaves the cave.
* As often happens, Soundwave's chest is suddenly see-through transparent when he's playing back a tape report.
* Prowl's car form is horrifically off-model when Ironhide asserts that Bumblebee is never wrong. Gears isn't much better and is missing some of his red coloration as well. When off-model Prowl transforms, his missing headlights and bumper appear out of nowhere.
* Megatron's wrist blaster disappears instantly after he fires it.
* Starscream is holding one of his arm-mounted weapons in his hand as Megatron orders him to blast the cave entrance open.
* Ratchet announces that Bumblebee's memory banks have been altered, despite not doing any work near or inspection of his head. All he does is weld 'Bee's chest for a brief second.
* As Ravage guards Spike, the energy cage is layered over Ravage's neck, even though he is closer to the camera's point of view.
* Spike makes a very strange gesture as the energy cage disappears, seemingly rubbing a rock in the background as if he were wiping it off. Not only is it strange, it's also spatially impossible, as the "rock" is actually the ground below him, meaning he's just making a random wiping motion in the air.
* Soundwave's shadow over Spike disappears a second before the shot ends.
* As Megatron coaches Spike, Soundwave is missing his Decepticon insignia. Megatron's own insignia is missing its central crest.
* When the space bridge opens for the third time (with Spike as the driver), the inside of the ring is bizarrely misdrawn; the outlines and edges of the bridge ring do not line up correctly, resulting in [http://www.blifaloo.com/illusions/impossible.php impossible shapes].
* Ironhide is suddenly toting a HUGE green bazooka cannon laser gun thing when the Autobots attack the space bridge. He's never had this weapon before or since.
* Starscream is missing his back wing insignia as he takes off.
* As the space bridge beam arrives on Cybertron, the beam is layered in front of the bridge receiver tower that it's supposed to be entering.

===Continuity errors===
* At the end of the previous episode, the Autobot ship was being refueled and repaired in preparation for the imminent return of the Autobots to Cybertron. At the beginning of this episode, their journey home seems to have been all but forgotten.
** In the original script, just before Cliffjumper blasts the rock formation, Optimus and Ironhide are talking about their ship being ready to launch the next day.
* This is the only time Autobot Headquarters is ever depicted as being near a cliffside overlooking the ocean.
* In the opening scenes, Optimus seems pretty certain that the Decepticons have survived... yet he still seems shocked when Megatron reappears.
* Speaking of which, could the Decepticons really have built this whole huge underwater fortress without anybody noticing their activities?
* If Shockwave is "losing power", then he really shouldn't be up on the roof of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] shooting at nothing. The animation fails to convey that he had any sort of target or that a battle was occurring.
* Shockwave is clearly the most loyal soldier in all of creation. He's still trying to communicate with Megatron ''four million years after he disappeared'' and clearly expects an answer. What would it take to convince Shockwave that Megatron is actually dead??
* There doesn't appear to be any purpose to Soundwave sneaking into the power station in tape player mode. Megatron just marches right in about five seconds after Soundwave launches his attack.
* A ''solar'' power station would not need generators.
* Again, if Prime is shocked to find that Megatron is alive, it doesn't make a lot of sense for over half the Autobots to be on patrol.
* Ratchet and Sparkplug are working on Ironhide outside, in the desert sand, even though Ratchet has a (presumably) sanitary medical center for such things.
* Given that Starscream is a highly sophisticated living machine, it seems unlikely that he would have to look at his (notably unadorned) wrist to count down five seconds accurately. That said, he also does count an unusually long second.
* Would it really have killed Bumblebee to stop for half a second to let Spike get inside, instead of making him run alongside?
* Jazz is somehow able to use a stalagmite as a bat to knock back a null ray blast at Starscream.
* Optimus Prime's foot gets caught in a boulder for no apparent reason. In one shot, he's just standing around after helping Ironhide; in the next, he's suddenly stuck.
* It's a totally [[The Agenda (Part III)|stock cartoon trope]], but really, how many times can one cave be blasted open and shut? (Two times each in this episode.)
* Megatron can't possibly be dumb enough to think that Prime and company couldn't just blast their own way out of the cave, yet he declares that sealing the cave means "the end of Prime and the Autobots".

===Continuity notes===
* This episode does a fair bit to establish the status quo for the rest of Season 1 and all of Season 2:
** The Decepticons are shown to have converted their crashed space cruiser into the vast [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]] complex.
** The Decepticons re-establish contact with Cybertron.
** The 'Cons make their first use of the [[space bridge]], a device that will feature in many future episodes. The space bridge's erratic performance and seemingly random opening times and locations would feature in a few more episodes, but would largely be downplayed.
* The generic hard rock/big band song makes its debut in this episode; the guitar section is featured as source music played by both Jazz and Soundwave.
* Prime's casual reference to "the entire city losing power" might be construed by continuity hounds as meaning that the traffic jam that Spike and Bumblebee run into is in [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], a city later demonstrated to be close to, and have some legal jurisdiction over, the land where Autobot Headquarters is located. That might be giving the continuity editors too much credit, however.
* This episode continues the trend of Cybertron being located outside the [[Milky Way]] galaxy, as Shockwave refers to the space bridge as an "intergalactic transport system".
* Gadgets and powers:
** When Cliffjumper opens fire on the rock formation, he is carrying Jazz's gun.
** Ratchet describes Starscream's fire as "a concussion blast" (it's supposed to be a null ray.)
** Ratchet has a [[laser scalpel]] (or something similar) that emerges from his forearm. Later, he uses a less focused device that slides out of his wrist.
** Megatron has a chest-mounted hose-like memory scrambler... and a gauntlet-launched saw blade... and a wrist laser.
**Starscream apparently wears a wristwatch. Who knew?
** Watching Bumblebee make his scrambled report, Laserbeak uses a head-mounted retractable microphone. Later episodes (and the Movie) would have a video camera in the same spot instead.
** Ratchet has a wrist-based net launcher, that fires a Pac-Man shaped net (which for some reason brings down Laserbeak.)
** Optimus Prime's laser rifle has a variable focus barrel that allows him to shoot a needle-beam blast.
** The blue button on Megatron's tummy blinks to show him communicating with Shockwave. [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Later]], it would be the two trapezoids on his pecs that blinked.
* What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron fell into the space bridge! '''[[S.O.S. Dinobots|'''> >]]'''

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak is a one-bot ''Star Wars'' effects gallery. He launches from his spy mission with the sound of the [[Death Star]]'s superlaser obliterating the planet Alderaan.
** He then arrives at the Decepticon Headquarters docking tower with the sound of the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' arriving at the Rebel Base on Yavin IV, followed by a repeat of the Death Star/Alderaan effects.
** He then flies into Soundwave's chest with another burst of ''Millennium Falcon'' engines.

===Trivia===
[[File:TransporttoOblivion Cliffjumper attacks Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Right in the gonads!]]
*In an unusual directorial choice, the second and third acts of this episode lack most of the usual flip-symbol [[scene transition]]s, instead using a series of ''Star Wars''-like transition effects (iris out, triangular wipes, radar screen wipe, etc.)
*The third act also features a one-time-only bit of background music as the Decepticons retreat from the cave.
*Seriously, Cliffjumper charges Megatron and punches him in the junk! That takes bearings of chrome steel.
*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Weltraumbrücke'''" ("The Spacebridge"), "Reise nach Cybertron" (''Generation 2'', "Journey to Cybertron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 19]], [[1989]]

'''Hebrew'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shigoor El Avadon'''" (שיגור אל אבדון, "Transport to Oblivion")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il ponte spaziale'''" ("The Space Bridge")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Passaggio verso l'oblio'''" ("Passage to the Oblivion")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*In the first dub, Optimus Prime briefly calls Teletraan I "Supervista", which is [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s name.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Space Bridge Sakusen'''" (スペースブリッジ作戦, "Operation: Space Bridge")
:*Original airdate: [[July 27]], [[1985]]
:**'''Cut:''' After Prime discovers that Megatron still lives and orders the Autobots to assemble, following the symbol transition, the role call of Ironhide through Gears is cut. The sequence resumes at his lines about half the force being out on patrol.
:**'''Cut:''' After Megatron gets his "power boost" and punches Prime in the face, the following scene of Starscream lifting Energon cubes, getting shot at, shooting Ratchet and Prowl, Cliffjumper and Gears attacking him, and his line "It's never too late, Autobot" before firing on them have all been cut. The sequence resumes at his transforming to [[alternate mode|jet mode]] and flying off with Skywarp.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Doroga v nikooda'''" (Дорога в никуда, "Road to Nowhere")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Putovanje u zaborav'''" (Путовање у заборав, "Voyage into Oblivion")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Resa in i det okända'''" (Generation 2, "Journey into the Unknown")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 7: "Transport to Oblivion" ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (2DVDs) (Flex Media) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-01.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Roll for It

2016-01-21T22:23:14Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=5
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=5
|prev2=Transport to Oblivion (episode)
|next2=Divide and Conquer
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=26
|prev3=Transport to Oblivion (episode)
|next3=Changing Gears
|image=RollForIt SoundwavescansChip.jpg
|caption=
|title="Roll for It"
|production code=#700-02
|airdate=[[October 13]], 1984
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons seek a powerful antimatter formula, and the Autobots with their new human ally Chip Chase try to stop them.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:RollForIt Bluestreak cannonfire.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Bluestreak, we need energon stars, quick!]]

[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], still in command of the [[Decepticon]]s after [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s disappearance in the [[Space Bridge]], leads [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] in attacking a hydroelectric power generator. The Autobots respond quickly, as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] arrives with an assault team. The battle is short, as a thrown piece of equipment destroys the Decepticon store of [[energon cube]]s. With little to show for their efforts, the Decepticons retreat. Optimus Prime sends [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] to follow them.

[[File:RollForIt Spacebridge recieves.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|A storm approaches.]]

Meanwhile, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron resumes contact with Earth. Despite his absence, Megatron commands that their scheduled attack on an antimatter laboratory will continue as planned in five billion astroseconds. The battle-damaged [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] set out to find repair parts in the interim, to be ready for the attack, while Megatron boards the Space Bridge for transit back to Earth.

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] drives [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Chip Chase]] to the isolated antimatter laboratory where Chip works. As the security guard punches the access code to let them in, his actions are carefully spied on by [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], who is perched outside in camera mode snapping shots. Inside the massive lab, Chip and Spike are greeted by [[Alcazar|Doctor Alcazar]], who gives Chase a 5.25-inch [[floppy disk]] that will enable Chip’s home computer to interface with the one at the lab.

[[File:RollForIt Bumblebeeattacked.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes and no, it's Laserbeak!]]

As Bumblebee drives away, he is attacked by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. Spike directs Bumblebee to take cover in the underground parking garage. With Bumblebee having escaped, Megatron realizes Optimus Prime might be tipped off to their laboratory attack. Rather than wait for Starscream and his team, Megatron orders an immediate strike.

Bumblebee drives Chip home, where the young scientist hopes to warn the lab of the impending attack. Bumblebee tries to call in Prowl and Bluestreak as backup, but they're tied up attacking Starscream’s group, who are raiding the Ace Aircraft Factory for parts.

Megatron's attack group arrives at the antimatter laboratory. Reflector punches in the access code, and the Decepticons march inside. Doctor Alcazar receives Chip's online warning at the last possible moment, and succeeds in erasing the antimatter formula from his computer. Megatron detects that Alcazar has uploaded the formula to someone else. He lets Alcazar go.

[[File:RollForIt ProwlshootsRavage.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|BAD KITTY!]]

In the aircraft factory, Prowl is injured by Soundwave's blasts, and his [[battle computer]] goes offline. Desperate, Prowl scans for another online computer to hook up to. Traversing the phone lines, his signals find Chip's computer, which has also received Doctor Alcazar's antimatter formula. Chip assumes control of Prowl, using his desktop terminal to guide Prowl through combat maneuvers. With Chip in command, Prowl takes control of one of the surplus jets, and fires its rockets at the Decepticons. Starscream and his cohorts flee the battle.

Megatron determines where Alcazar sent the formula, and communicates the location to Starscream and his team. Soundwave dispatches [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to retrieve Chip. Chip memorizes the antimatter formula and destroys all evidence of it just as Ravage breaks in to his house and fetches him. The Decepticons take Chip to the antimatter laboratory, where the Autobots are just arriving. Prime sees that the Decepticons have a human hostage, and begins formulating a plan involving [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. These deceptive Autobots are able to outsmart perimeter guard Rumble with their holographic ruses, allowing them and Bumblebee to sneak past.

Inside, Soundwave uses his scanning abilities to extract the formula from Chip's brain. Megatron orders Chip disposed of, and begins creating antimatter with the equipment in his lab. Just as Thundercracker moves in to terminate Chip, the infiltrating Autobots attack. Bumblebee and Spike rescue Chip, and the Autobots race away, taking Chip to safety.

Next, Optimus strikes, driving through the lab walls and unleashing his warriors. But it may be too late, as Megatron throws an antimatter-powered energon cube at the Autobots, creating a tremendous explosion.

[[File:RollForIt Sunstreak JetJudo.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|And you thought surfing the roof of a boxcar was cool.]]

Injured Autobots emerge from the devastated laboratory. Prime orders a retreat to headquarters, so that his soldiers can tend to badly needed repairs. The Autobots limp back to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], where [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] immediately get to work. Chip laments his inability to keep the antimatter formula from falling into Megatron’s hands, but [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] tries to console him. He’s got a plan for the formula, and could use Chip and Spike's help.

[[File:RollForIt Megatron chestycubes.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|[[Breastforce]] Megatron.]]

The next day, the Decepticons, powered by antimatter energon cubes, attack Autobot headquarters. Megatron turns into pistol mode, and Starscream fires his antimatter-bolstered bolts into the Autobot ranks. Prime manages to knock the pistol from Starscream's grip, and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] recovers the weapon. Just then, Chip affixes a control device onto Skywarp's ankle, a transmitter that enables [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to take control of the Decepticon warrior.

Under Autobot control, Skywarp begins shooting randomly into the countryside, and Megatron's antimatter ignition temperature reaches near critical. He transforms into [[robot mode]] and expels the remaining antimatter energon from his body. It detonates, devastating the Decepticon forces. Megatron orders a retreat, but swears vengeance. Meanwhile, the Autobots congratulate Chip for his heroics.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (8)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (20)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (21)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (22)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (23)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (24)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (25)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (26)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (27)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (28)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (30)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (17)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (19)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (15)
*[[Chip Chase]] (16)
*[[Alcazar]] (18)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (29)
}}

==Quotes==
"Can the chat and start kickin' pig-iron!"
:—'''Brawn''', heading into battle.

"Starscream! Thundercracker! You two look like Optimus Prime ran you through a laser-powered trash compactor!"
:—'''Megatron''', observing the damaged condition of his men

"Now ''this'' is a human after my own central processor!"
:—'''Prowl''', commenting on Chip's computer-control.

"There's no one here! I must have static in my rectifiers." 
"Now that's the smartest thing you've said all day!" 
(flattered) "R-really? ...Hey, what's going on!"
:—'''Rumble''', hoodwinked by '''Mirage''' and Hound

"Gosh! You guys look like the guests of honor at a 50-car pile-up!"
:—'''Sparkplug Witwicky''', upon seeing the battle-damaged Autobots return to base.

"You may not be an Autobot, but when you rolled for broke back there you sure could've fooled me."
:—'''Bumblebee''' congratulating Chip.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Coloring errors:
** Thundercracker is repeatedly depicted with Skywarp’s colors in the opening scene, or in some cases, with Starscream’s hue.
** Starscream's head is light gray instead of dark gray as he transforms and lands in the power plant.
** In the next shot, as Soundwave lands, Starscream's face is white instead of medium gray.
** Brawn's head is almost entirely yellow instead of gray as Cliffjumper bounces off of him.
** As Starscream raises the generator over his head, the whole side of Brawn's vehicle body is colored windshield-blue—metal panels and all.
** The tip and cockpit area of Starscream's nosecone is red as he flies away from the power plant.
** Starscream's air intakes are gray instead of red as Thundercracker scorns him.
** Shockwave's "ears" are purple instead of gray as Megatron lectures Starscream and Thundercracker. Megatron's symbol is a maroon red instead of purple.
** As they do barrel rolls, Thundercracker is a much deeper shade of blue than normal, and Starscream's air intakes are light gray instead of red.
** When he lauds Megatron's leadership, Thundercracker's left air intake is blue instead of gray.
** After he lands on the lab compound's wall, the tops of Reflector's torsos are light gray instead of purple. The error repeats in the last shot of him flying away.
** Thundercracker is colored as Skywarp when he delivers his "You don't have Prime and Brawn" line.
** When Bluestreak delivers his "not so fast" line, his crest (red) and gauntlets (dark gray) are all light gray. He also gets Megatron's fusion cannon sound effect for his laser blast.
** Prowl has white tires as he says his "my own central processor" line.
** When the Decepticons are fleeing the jets' base, Skywarp (who hasn't been shown before, except as a miscolored Thundercracker) appears besides Thundercracker and Starscream. Soundwave's tape door lacks its yellow outline as he retrieves Ravage.
** As Megatron orders Starscream to retrieve the formula, Thundercracker is the same toy-based dark blue as before. In the next shot, the front and back of Starscream's nosecone is red again. Alternate color models, perhaps?
** When he lands in the street outside Chip's house, the top of Starscream's air intake is gray instead of red.
** When Spike is shown in Bumblebee while the Autobots are on the highway, Spike's hair is blond instead of brown. Did he have a five-second dye job or something?
** Prime has whitewall tires as he orders the Autobots to "transform for action".
** When Megatron throws the antimatter energon cube, it is first colored black (meaning someone forgot to apply the glowing backlight effect), and then it's portrayed as empty (meaning someone forgot to color it in at all).
** When the Decepticons are loading the antimatter-powered energon cubes, two Starscreams are shown (one as a jet being loaded with energon cubes, and one as a robot listening to Megatron).
** As he watches the Autobots gab and natter, Ratchet's head crest is white instead of gray. In the same pan, Sideswipe's shoulder is white instead of red.
** In the shot of Prime giving his big speech, the blue of Prime's eyes was apparently drawn on the same layer as his faceplate, because when his mouthplate moves, his eyes flash from blue to white and back in perfect synch with it!
** Sunstreaker's windshield is yellow instead of white-blue as he delivers his "jet judo" line.
** Wheeljack's launcher is beige instead of light gray as he flees from the Seekers' fire.
** Megatron's face is mostly black as he transforms out of gun mode.
* As the plant worker calls for help, Starscream has gone from Soundwave's right side to his left, and Thundercracker has become Skywarp.
* As Soundwave prepares energon cubes, the interior of his chest-compartment is not illustrated, instead showing a solid wall of blue.
* Starscream's air intakes are missing as Prime wrestles the generator away from him.
* When Soundwave runs through what appears to be a chainlink volleyball net, the net is animated as if the background art is sliding, but the background is sitting still; the result is that the net seems to move ''toward'' Soundwave.
*As Soundwave escapes, Prowl transforms and gives chase, followed by Bluestreak. However, in the next shot, it's Bluestreak who knocks Soundwave over, even though Prowl was in the lead.
* After Starscream catches Soundwave, he pulls alongside Thundercracker... who has Starscream's colors.
* Bluestreak transforms to [[robot mode]] and shoots the jets. When Prime walks up to him and Prowl, however, ''Prowl'' is the one in robot mode, standing next to car mode Bluestreak. The next shot shows a closeup of Bluestreak in robot mode again... then back to the previous shot with Prowl in robot mode.
* Bluestreak doesn't move his mouth as he chuckles at Prime's order to not bite off more than he can chew.
*When Prowl (who was Bluestreak a second ago) transforms and drives off after the retreating Decepticons, he runs over Optimus Prime's foot. What a dick.
* Behind him, an "engine vibration" effect for Bluestreak has him strangely jiggling.
* Casey Kasem seems to have misparsed Bluestreak's "Come on, Prowl" as a statement of incredulity, which would make sense if he was reacting a statement by Prowl—but it's ''Optimus'' who just warned him not to take on too much.
[[File:RollForIt securityguardconsole.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Please enter the square root of 685."]]
* Improbable viewpoints:
** While in [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] on Cybertron, Megatron gets a traveling view of Starscream and Thundercracker flying in jet mode on Earth.
* Shockwave's eye doesn't flash as he wishes Megatron a safe journey.
* The security guard's mouth doesn't move as he says "Welcome back".
* The security guard’s access panel has digits 1-9 and a variety of mathematical commands (?!), yet lacks a zero.
* Bumblebee is abnormally small as he walks behind Chip and Spike, not more than eight feet tall.
* There's an audio editing error after they enter the laboratory. When Chip responds to Spike's "V.I.P." line, he calls him "Spy" - the "k" sound can then be heard at the start of Alcazar's next line.
*Bumblebee is drawn all sorts of ''wrong'' when the professor talks about Chip at the laboratory. For one scene, his roof chest becomes humongous, the Autobot symbol on it becomes mutilated, and his head looks squatter than usual. In the next scene, when he says "...and I thought you were just another pretty face", his forehead, nose and eyes are drawn rather oddly; his nose has no indentation at the top.
[[File:Diskette.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The most powerful storage media ever created by mankind.]]
* The lab's computer is weird. It loads floppy disks backwards...unless the good doctor is befuddled and inserted the disk the wrong way.
* When Laserbeak attacks, Bumblebee is in the desert. An instant later, he's in a city (complete with underground parking.)
* The damage that Laserbeak inflicts on the parking garage just appears out of nowhere, with no lasers or explosions.
*When Megatron orders the attack on the laboratory, the Decepticon insignia on his chest is missing.
* As Megatron leads his crew to attack the lab, they are all shown using foot thrusters, in contradiction to the Decepticons' normally unexplained means of flight.
* When Bumblebee radios Prowl and Bluestreak, his voice is modulated as if coming over the radio... even though the scene is the inside of his own cabin.
*When they enter the jets' base, Prowl's and Bluestreak's Autobot insignias are not shown. When Bluestreak delivers his 'manifold-mouth' line, Prowl's mouth is also moving.
* As Starscream raises his arm to fire, his weapon is mounted on the front of his shoulder, rather than the side. (Either that or he twisted his arm at an impossible angle.)
* As the Decepticons land at the lab, Rumble's voice is heard laughing; however, it isn't electronically modulated, making him sound like a creepy old man.
*The security access door code is 2-9-5 when the security guard punches it and 4-7-2 when Reflector punches it in.
* When the jet Prowl takes a ride on fires missiles at the Decepticons, everything (inclusive of scaffolding, barrels and other jets) behind them is utterly vaporised, despite all logic dictating that there should be at least some debris. The walls of the hangar, however, remain unblemished.
* Prowl clearly fires all three missiles of the jet's right wing in sequence, yet after Starscream shouts "Let's get out of here!", the same footage of all three missiles being fired from the right wing in sequence is shown again.
*The shot of Soundwave ejecting Ravage to retrieve Chip is supposed to take place outdoors, but the background art is that of the hangar interior seen earlier.
[[File:RollForIt Chip Chase banners.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|He's graduated how many times now?]]
* When we see Chip's room through the window, he has a college pennant that reads USC, an odd choice for Chip. Later, his room has two different college pennants, one with the letters [[wikipedia:California State University, Northridge|CSUN]] and another with YAL (likely Yale, with the 'e' obscured by the SUN pennant). There's also a pennant with P-ERCE, meaning either [[wikipedia:Pierce College|Pierce College]] in Washington state or [[wikipedia:Los Angeles Pierce College|Los Angeles Pierce College]].
*Ravage breaks through Chip's front door, taking most of a side window with him. After he opens Chip's bedroom door and absconds with the human, he leaps through the now-repaired side window, and the front door is undamaged as well.
* Ravage's leap over Soundwave is physically impossible as drawn; it only works due to some layer fudging—specifically, if Ravage were high enough to pass over Soundwave's shoulder, he would not then immediately land 20 feet directly below Soundwave's shoulder, on Starscream's fuselage. In the same shot, Soundwave's eject button is blue instead of white.
*Soundwave’s line of dialogue, "Excellent, Ravage" is heard without [[Scott Brownlee]]'s sound processing, so that voice actor [[Frank Welker]]’s "Dr. Claw" voice is audible.
* Chip's street must be the width of an interstate, as both jets can easily fit in a single lane. In fact, Thundercracker only takes up ''half'' of the lane!
* Soundwave's insignia is missing after he extracts the formula from Chip's mind.
* Mirage's verbal jabs at Rumble come as though he were right next to him, despite being some distance away and in a constantly-changing location.
* Soundwave's mask is overdrawn as he kneels to activate the computer, giving him the appearance of having two large eyes.
* Megatron is missing the two polygons on either side of his chest in the thrice-recycled shot of him giving orders to the Decepticons.
* For some reason, Mirage's voice is radio-muffled as he say "Hold it right there!"
* Starscream is once again holding one of his arm-weapons in his hand as he threatens Bumblebee and the humans.
* The window that the escaping Autobots smash through is still intact after they crash through it.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** The group that bursts into the lab includes Sunstreaker, Jazz, Ratchet, Prowl and/or Bluestreak, and Hound. The group shown emerging from the lab is Prime, Trailbreaker, Ironhide, Bluestreak, and Wheeljack.
** Ratchet is shown as both a member of Prime’s attack group, and also waiting for them to return at Autobot Headquarters.
* As Trailbreaker and Prowl transform, they show no damage until they reach [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], at which point various cracks appear out of nowhere.

* Wheeljack's "ears" flash orange in this episode, instead of their usual blue. The same inconsistency is found in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]", an episode with a similar style of animation - suggesting this was an alternate color model.
* The sky background behind Starscream is missing as he catches gun mode Megatron; it appears half-way through the shot, replacing a generic blue background.
* Starscream is missing his wing insignia as he fires Megatron and rants about how invincible he is.
* During his "now or never" lines, only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash.
* When Rumble calls for help when being fired on by Skywarp, Skywarp's mouth moves.
* Sunstreaker's mouth doesn't move as he congratulates Chip.

===Continuity errors===
* The "anti-matter" that the Decepticons create... can't really be anything of the sort. If it was, the entire laboratory, not to mention Megatron himself, would have been obliterated instantly. And anti-matter doesn't really have an "ignition temperature". Certainly the shots that Megatron fires can't be anti-matter, as it would completely annihilate anything it hit including his fusion cannon the second it was fired.
* When the security guard initially greets Chip, he is voiced by [[Chris Latta]]. A second later, when he welcomes Chip back to the lab, he is now voiced by [[Dan Gilvezan]], who performs all the character's remaining lines.
* Reflector is shown watching for the password to enter the lab. Considering how often the Decepticons are seen to just blast their way into whatever facility they want, the stealthy approach is unusual.
* Laserbeak's attack makes no sense. At this point, Spike, Bumblebee and Chip have nothing of value to the Decepticons, and attacking them (as Megatron points out!) merely serves to tip off the Autobots to the Decepticons' interest in the lab.
[[File:RollForIt TheInternets.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|64K of memory, but it can control an alien space robot.]]
* Chip's keyboard-based control of Prowl's elaborate movements seems highly improbable.
* Dropping their disguises ''before'' they enter the lab doesn't seem very clever on Mirage and Hound's part.
* [[Corey Burton]] uses a slightly different voice for Sunstreaker this episode, lacking the character's usual sharp, nasal tone. At least one line ("When we're done with 'em") sounds like it was read by Michael Bell.

* The USC pennant, possibly standing for the [[wikipedia:University of Southern California|University of Southern California]], which as an institution with a reputation as a 'party school' is an odd choice for somebody as academically accomplished as Chip; it might be the [[wikipedia:University of South Carolina|University of South Carolina]], although this is unlikely, as largely only people in the Carolinas call that university "USC." However, the apparent [[wikipedia:Yale University|Yale]] pennant that appears later seems like a good fit for somebody of Chip's talent.
*While Chip tries desperately to contact Doctor Alcazar via his computer, he never tries with the piece of equipment right next to his computer: his telephone. (Note: prior to the spread of the internet in the 1990s, an average American home would only have ONE phone line, and it can be presumed that if his computer is connected to Dr. Alcazar's computer, then the phone line would be in use by the computer to communicate with it. And no phone was seen in Doctor Alcazar's lab at that...)
*As noted above, the college pennants in Chip's room change between scenes. But why does he have pennants from three different universities?
* Flying Autobots:
** This early in the series, the "Autobots can't fly" convention hadn't quite been settled upon. Prowl makes an improbably huge leap at the jet plant.
** Bumblebee flies into the lab behind a distracted Rumble.
** Sunstreaker and Sideswipe fly out to defend Autobot Headquarters. At least Sideswipe has a [[jet pack|rocket pack]]!
* Superhuman Chip:
**When the Decepticons visit Chip's house to steal the antimatter formula, Chip memorizes the code...AND RIPS A FLOPPY DISK APART WITH HIS BARE HANDS. If that doesn't seem like a tremendous feat of strength, try doing so yourself (...if you can find one...) Chip must have absolutely tremendous upper body strength.
** Ravage uses Chip as a battering ram to bash out an entire window of his house. Chip survives the experience without so much as a scratch.
* If Mirage leaves footprints as he walks toward the lab... shouldn't Hound also be leaving footprints? (Mirage, of course, is the only Transformer who ''ever'' leaves footprints, and ''only'' when he's invisible.)
* How can Megatron hear Sunstreaker ("We've gotta get those energon cubes before it's too late") when there's a whole solid wall between them?
* Spike's attack on Skywarp... doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Was he supposed to be making a hole to provide access for Wheeljack's device?
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike is still in Skywarp's grasp when gun mode Megatron flies out of his hand. A second later, Skywarp is visible among the Decepticons laid low by the exploding antimatter cubes. So... how did Spike get free and survive that massive explosion?

===Continuity notes===
* The Space Bridge, which first appeared in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]", reappears in this episode. It's much more stable now; Megatron just strolls in and takes a trip home.
* Gadgets and powers:
**Bumblebee can reconfigure his interior to accommodate Chip’s wheelchair and turn his door into an entry ramp.
** Bumblebee also demonstrates the ability to actually transform into vehicle mode ''around'' humans, taking them in as passengers.
** Prowl uses a pair of head-antenna to contact Chip's computer.
** Soundwave demonstrates his mind-reading abilities, extracting the anti-matter formula from Chip's brain by placing his fingers on his head.
** Megatron can detect specific computer activity by placing his hand over the machine.
** Soundwave bizarrely activates the lab computer by zapping it with an energy beam from his fingertip... which lights up his ''entire arm''.
** Thundercracker, who was loaded with energon cubes, transforms and materializes two of the cubes in his hands, one of many instances lending credit to the fandom theories of [[subspace]] and the like.
**The para-sail like parachute used by Mirage in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]" is shown again, this time used by Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.
** And of course, Hound uses his hologram abilities (to disguise himself as a boulder rolling across the desert), and Mirage becomes invisible (doing so without the usual glowing cuboid surrounding him.)
* Megatron orders the jets to meet him in "five billion astroseconds"—time enough for them to replace some parts and have a short battle. Last episode, a mere "6,000 astroseconds" was an intolerably long wait for the space bridge to re-open, and time enough for a whole series of side adventures. Next episode, the space bridge will materialize "within 72 billion astroseconds", seeming to imply that this is not too long a time.
* Megatron's use of the anti-matter cubes would seem to be a sidelong callback to one of his tech spec abilities, wherein he can use the anti-matter of an inter-dimensionally linked black hole to create a highly destructive attack.
[[File:Prim Cola Sign.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Signage in the city includes an ad for [[Prim Cola]].
* Chip’s phone number is 94-7244. Strangely, he doesn't answer when you call him.
* The Decepticons are never shown losing the antimatter formula, yet they seem to have abandoned its use in future episodes.

===Real-world references===
* Cliffjumper uses the phrase "your friendly neighborhood Decepticon wreckers," a paraphrase of [[Spider-Man]]'s self-given nickname.
* The antimatter formula includes handwritten screens with the following written on them:

AH ONNAG HOSHII

DOKOKANI ee ONN

AGA ORANKNAA

KYOUMO HAYO KA

EETE NEYO

….. El HABARA

….. MOU DOUTEI

….. SUTETAKAI

….. SONOUTHI

….. TORUKO IKO

….. UZE

This appears to be a Japanese staff joke, as in English the text roughly translates:
"Gah, I need a woman. Ain't there any hot babes around? Let's call it a day, get home quick and hit the sack. Hey, Habara (a common Japanese name, certainly a staff member), did you pop your cherry yet? Let's go hit a [[wikipedia:Soapland|Turkish bath]] (a kind of brothel) some time."

===Trivia===
[[File:RollForIt droopyDecepticonjets.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Maybe if we're lucky, Dad won't notice why we're gone!"]]
*In several scenes in this episode, all of the Transformers are drawn using different, more stylised animation models. In particular, the Decepticon jets seen near the beginning are sleeker, more detailed and have a drooping nosecone similar to ''Cybertron'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]'s SU-35 fighter mode. Other scenes have stylized shading, angles, and poses, such as the strange poses used by the flying Decepticons at the episode's end.
*Soundwave's screaming sound is most amusing. And rare—this is the only time in the cartoon it's heard.
*In one part, Starscream calls Megatron "The Anti-Matter Gun" instead of his name. Why?
*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].

===Foreign localization===

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die geheime Anti-Materie Formel'''" ("The Secret Anti-Matter Formula"), "'''Ein Held namens Chip'''" (Generation 2, "A Hero Called Chip")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 2]], [[1989]]

'''Hebrew'''
:*''Title:'' "'''LeHatsil Et Optimus Prime'''" (להציל את אופטימוס פריים, "To Save Optimus Prime")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Un nuovo amico'''" ("A New Friend")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''In marcia per la vittoria'''" ("March Off for the Victory")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:* In the first dub, Optimus Prime calls Cliffjumper with Bluestreak's name.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron no Kikan'''" (メガトロンの帰還, "The Return of Megatron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 3]], [[1985]]
::*'''Cut:''' When Spike and Chip pull up to the laboratory in Bumblebee, the scene following the guard saying "Welcome back", typing the 7 into his number pad and everything up through his line, "Well, I never met an Aw-toh-bawt before", have been cut. The sequence resumes at the group approaching the green door and the line, "Let me get you through our security doors".

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Poyekhali!'''" (Поехали!, "Let's Go!")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Veliki preokret'''" (Велики преокрет, "Great Vicissitude")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''En hjälte på hjul'''" (''Generation 2'', "A Hero on Wheels")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 6: "Roll for It" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''The Transformers'' — The Autobots vs. The Decepticons ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''Transformers'' — Autobots vs. Decepticons (Malofilm) — French audio only.

;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.

;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (2DVDs) (Flex Media) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-02.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Divide and Conquer

2016-01-21T22:22:44Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the Marvel UK comic|Divide and Conquer!}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=6
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=6
|prev2=Roll for It
|next2=S.O.S. Dinobots
|image=DivideandConquer MegatronENEMY poster.jpg
|caption=
|title="Divide and Conquer"
|production code=#700-03
|airdate=[[October 20]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Autobots must journey to Cybertron to retrieve a vital piece of technology to save the life of the critically wounded Optimus Prime.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Earth]] factories are busily preparing weaponry for use against the [[Decepticon]] menace. [[Chip Chase]] is inspecting one such facility, where the administrators hope he can develop new methods to improve the efficiency of weapons production. The Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] suddenly attack the factory, breaching its walls and landing inside. They begin draining the factory of its energy, but have not noticed Chip, who sends out a distress signal to the [[Autobot]]s.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] are on a search mission, fruitlessly looking for any trace of the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. Prime intercepts Chip's call for help, and orders the Autobots at the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to meet him at the munitions plant. Prime arrives at the scene first, and is outnumbered three-to-one. A stray shot hits one of the massive computer banks, which begins a critical meltdown and overload. Prime attempts to shield the humans from the inevitable explosion with his own body. The blast tears through Prime, and the Decepticons take advantage of his weakened state to nail him. Prime collapses under fire.

[[File:Divide and conquer.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Ohhh, that's REALLY gonna leave a mark on the Matrix.]]

The Seekers hear the approach of the other Autobots, and following [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s orders, retreat with the [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots find Prime's badly damaged form and take it back to base. Prime’s power relays are fused. His mobility limited. His speech… slow… and labored. Part replacement… essential….

Wanting to confirm Prime's condition, Megatron dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to the Ark to spy on [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s efforts to repair Prime. Optimus's [[electropulse]] is fading. At Megatron’s command, Laserbeak attacks the incredibly vulnerable Prime, tearing into his exposed chest cavity and causing a tremendous explosion.

[[File:DivideandConquer shutupHuffer.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Shut up, Rattrap.]]

It's more smoke and sparks than fiery blast, and Prime survives the explosion, though his energy is fading fast. His very [[laser core]] is at risk of snuffing out, and Ratchet needs a [[cosmitron]] to keep his Prime's energy levels from draining. Wheeljack only knows of one in existence, but it’s in his shop back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], which the Decepticons had placed under a computerized lock. The Autobots need to get back to their homeworld and pick this lock. Naturally, Chip Chase is the only one of them familiar enough with Cybertronian computers to make this possible.

[[File:DivideandConquer Farewellwarrior.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|If I tell you go, then you GO!]]

Chip uses [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to do what Optimus could not: triangulate the likely coordinates for the Space Bridge’s next appearance. Following Chip’s detective work, the Autobots drive into the woods and discover the Space Bridge site. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] oversee the transport of a shuttle module filled with Energon cubes, with a hapless [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]-type soldier sent to pilot it across the gulf of interstellar space. With the Autobots' arrival, a fray breaks out–and so does a sudden thunderstorm.

Surprisingly, Megatron (who has been monitoring the battle) orders the Decepticons to let the Autobots win. The thunderstorm has given him an idea, but he does not elaborate. The Autobots—[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]—drive into the Space Bridge and are teleported to [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Shockwave’s base]]. They blast their way past a shocked Shockwave and into Cybertron’s streets. Megatron orders the [[Rainmaker]]s to destroy the Autobot infiltrators with [[acid rain]].

At [[Wheeljack's workshop]], Chip works his way past the locking mechanism, and Ironhide instantly finds the cosmitron. Outside, a trio of Seekers somehow seed the clouds over the workshop so they produce incredibly debilitating acid rain.

[[File:DivideandConquer Starscreampowerfist.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|"THIS HAND OF MINE GLOWS WITH AN AWESOME POWER!"]]

The acid rain shorts the circuitry of the Autobots, who collapse at the touch of the deadly downpour. Chip is immune to the rain’s effects, and implores the Autobots to continue. Trailbreaker musters up the energy to project his force-field, sheltering the Autobots from the rain, giving their automatic repair systems time to kick in. Bluestreak fires some blasts into the clouds overhead, dispersing the rainmaking seekers and the toxic clouds. Rejuvenated, the Autobots return to Shockwave’s tower and ride the Space Bridge back to Earth.

On Earth, Megatron recognizes that without Prime, the conquest of the Autobots is a foregone conclusion. He leads an attack on the Ark. The Autobots recognize the hopeless battle up ahead, but Spike musters up his courage, grabs [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s rifle, and rallies the troops. He even manages to inspire perpetual downer [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] to take charge.

An enormous battle breaks out in front of the Ark, just as the Autobot mission returns from Cybertron. Chip and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] race the cosmitron to Prime. Optimus emerges in time to personally challenge Megatron and soundly beats him, forcing the Decepticon leader to yield. With Megatron down, a self-satisfied Starscream orders the Decepticons to retreat.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (9)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (14)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (20)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (22)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (24)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (32)

|c2=
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (6)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (15)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (17)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (25)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
* "Warrior" (27)
* [[Rainmaker]]s (28-30)
** [[Acid Storm]] (28)
** [[Ion Storm]] (29)
** [[Nova Storm]] (30)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)

|c3=
* [[Chip Chase]] (1)
* Weapons factory manager (2)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (13)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Heh, I wonder if I'll ever get used to that."
:—'''Sparkplug''' witnessing the Autobots transform

"He's doomed. I know it. I can feel it in my [[databank]]."
:—'''Huffer''', hoping the best for a dying Prime.

"They sure don't build 'em like that anymore."
:—'''Sparkplug''', commenting on the fact Optimus Prime is still alive after ''his chest explodes''.

"Just like [[Sherlock Holmes]] with [[floppy disk]]s!"
:—'''Spike''', hopelessly over his head when it comes to computer talk.

"No one's ever really disabled as long as he has courage."
:—'''Chip Chase''', and that’s one to grow on.

"My talents are wasted on this project. I should be in sole command of everything!"
:—'''Starscream''', not giving up on his dreams.

"I'm sorry, Spike. Sometimes nothing you do makes any difference."
:—'''Sparkplug''' to Spike, which, if you don't read as the general you, is actually kind of mean and funny.

"We can't go down without ''trying!'' Prime would want us to go for it, no matter what the odds! Well, are you with me, or do I fight this battle alone?"
:—'''Spike''' gives an inspirational battle rally to the Autobots after taking Jazz's gun.

"Is there anyone in the universe who will challenge the might of Megatron?" 
"There is one, Megatron! I, Optimus Prime, challenge you!"
:—'''Megatron''' is scared to death by a now healthy '''Optimus Prime'''.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:Ironhideinblack.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|So ''that's'' why [[Ironhide (Movie)|Movie Ironhide]] is black.]]
* Coloring errors:
** Starscream's air intakes are gray instead of red as he and the other two jets dive at the factory.
** A teleporting Skywarp is mistakenly colored with Starscream's colors, and then Thundercracker's colors.
** As Ironhide repeats his order to transform, Wheeljack's missing all his orange and much of his green; Trailbreaker's upper cheeks are colored as his eyes (it's his reading glasses look!)
** Starscream's cheeks are dark gray instead of light gray as he calls in to Megatron.
** Laserbeak's beak is the same dark gray as the rest of his head as he refuses Megatron's order. It should be light gray.
** In the shot of him still holding the tree after Megatron tells him to let the Autobots win, Starscream is colored like Thundercracker.
** Rumble's face is purple instead of light gray as he waves goodbye to "warrior".
** As Shockwave and a Reflector soldier unload the Space Bridge's shipment of Energon cubes, the Energon is not filled with an illumination effect, and appears as solid black bars.
** When the Autobot away team races back to Shockwave’s tower, Ironhide is painted with Trailbreaker's colors, making him resemble a Diaclone incarnation of his toy.
** As he scans for the Decepticons, Hound's left cheekguard is white instead of green.
** After returning to Earth, Bluestreak emerges from the Space Bridge painted as Prowl.
** In a pan across the defeated Autobots, a prone form of Ironhide is colored with Ratchet's white and red hue (Ratchet's inside Autobot Headquarters at this point) and Sideswipe has Shockwave's colors.
[[File:DivideandConquer Factoryguardworkers.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|Note the standard issue army hardhats]]
* Due to a mix-up in animation models, the green-uniformed human soldiers protecting the weapons factory in one shot turn into [[hard hat]]-wearing factory workers in another shot.
* Between the first and second shots of their [[robot mode]]s inside the factory, Skywarp and Thundercracker have switched places.
* Skywarp's voice is off throughout the episode. In the factory, it's more nasal than usual. When he accuses Laserbeak of being "chicken", it sounds like he's channeling Thundercracker (he also has an unusually fat head.)
* Starscream and Soundwave are both missing their insignias as Soundwave transforms.
* Optimus is supposed to be in the same dry canyon where the space bridge first showed up in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]"... but the canyon is now about ten feet deep, rather than the 50 or so it was before.
* Wrong transformation noise:
** Prime gets the ascending pitch noise as he transforms to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
** Trailbreaker, Wheeljack & co. get the descending pitch version as they convert to robot mode at the factory.
[[File:DivideandConquer slopedPrime.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Prime in his seldom-used "aerodynamic" alternate mode.]]
* Improbable viewpoints:
** The Autobots get a full-torso view of Optimus as he stands in the middle of empty desert.
** Megatron likewise gets a full-torso view of Starscream, even though Starscream isn't talking into any kind of communicator.
** Megatron then gets a tracking shot of Prime running through the factory!
** Megatron manages to have a camera, with audio, right next to where the Cybertron team happens to fall as the acid rain disables them.
[[File:DivideandConquer LaserbeakonBrawns shoulder.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Laserbeak disguised as Brawn's dandruff]]
* A peculiar design has Optimus Prime's cab face sport a 45-degree slope as he drives into the factory.
* Starscream's voice is not electronically enhanced when he reacts to Optimus Prime barreling into the factory.
* Prime's trailer recedes into a cloud of dust as he transforms inside the factory. As he flies up into the air, the dust cloud flies up with him, and so does the shrinking trailer!
* After Megatron tells Starscream and the others to "gang up" on Optimus Prime, Starscream turns to fire on Optimus Prime running down a room with no doors or other entry points.
* Skywarp mouths Thundercracker's "I'm with you!" line.
* Just for this one scene, Brawn has conveniently gigantic shoulders for Laserbeak to land on.
* Before Brawn enters the room where Optimus Prime is being worked on, he is shown standing inside.
* Wheeljack's missing some of his dark gray as he asks Ratchet for a diagnosis.
* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he asks how long until Prime's energy drains completely, nor as he examines the cosmitron.
* As Wheejack pontificates about the Cosmitron, his right "ear" phases through his missile.
* There's a big nasty S-shaped hair in the center of the screen as Wheeljack describes the lock on his workshop on Cybertron.
* The part of Huffers' shoulders that are inside his hood are colored orange instead of purple as he moans about how hopeless it is.
[[File:Divideandconquer wheeljack cosmotron.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Prime's damage constantly changes as he lays on the repair table:
** First shot: his window glass is missing.
** Second shot: his window frames and grille are neatly removed.
** Third shot: his grille is missing, and one window is broken.
** As Laserbeak attacks: the left window has no glass.
** As Laserbeak fires: the left window is intact, and the right window broken.
** Prior to exploding: both windows have no glass.
** After the attack, both cab window frames have been neatly removed.
** As Ironhide proposes heading to Cybertron, he's back to a broken right window and intact left window, with a damaged grille.
* GAH! Chip has no pupils as he accepts the mission to pick the lock on Wheeljack's lab.
* No insignia on Soundwave as Megatron lectures his troops about the loss of Prime. The same shot has two Starscreams.
* The layering of Rumble's cubes is all messed up as he walks up behind Starscream; part of the cube stack phases through Starscream, and part of it loses its glow.
* Starscream reacts to Rumble dropping his cubes before he's actually dropped them.
* Recycled animation repeats the strange animation error of the space bridge transport vehicle rising, then falling and disappearing.
* As the Autobots come to a halt at the Space Bridge site, the camera pans across the scenery, but a painted foreground tree travels with the move, making it look like the tree is mobile.


[[File:Bluestreakpotatovehicle.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|When he transforms to drive into the space bridge, Bluestreak turns into this.]]
* The ramp leading to the space bridge has turned a light blue as the Autobots drive into the receiver ring.
* The nitrogen pack that Ironhide uses in Shockwave's control center is labeled "NITRGEN". In English, sorta. Or [[Engrish]]. And Ironhide shouldn't have to use a pack anyway, since he has a built in liquid nitrogen projector.
* When the Decepticons exit their base to attack the Autobots, a fourth Decepticon jet is shown.
* Shockwave's eye-glow doesn't move with his eye as he sets "warrior" free.
* Wheeljack's ears don't start flashing until half-way through his reaction to the security alarm.
* Teletraan's screen shows ''twenty-six'' Decepticons. There should be about a dozen at most. About fifteen are shown retreating at the end of the episode.
* Reflector's mouths don't move for his "earth germ" line.
* As Bluestreak drives over the horizon to join the battle, his car form floats above the ground.
* Starscream steals Megatron's fusion cannon sound effect as he attacks Ironhide's team.
* Optimus Prime's mouthplate moves when Megatron concedes defeat.
* Starscream's missing his wing stripes as he order a retreat... but for once, they remembered his wing insignia, which have been repeatedly omitted through the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* Soundwave kind of transforms out of nowhere in the factory.
* It is unclear how Chip knows Skywarp's missile is of the heat-seeking variety before it does anything to suggest such.
* Optimus Prime somehow deflects the heat-seeking missile by hitting its ''warhead'' with his arm.
* Thundercracker and Skywarp don't seem to know what "gang up" means. In spite of Thundercracker claiming to comply with Megatron's directions instead of his own preference for "one-on-one", both he and Skywarp launch individual one-on-one attacks on Optimus Prime.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Sunstreaker is shown transforming to leave for the factory; however, when the team arrives, Bumblebee has taken his place.
* It sure woulda made a lot more sense for Prime to cover the two humans, rather than throwing himself right in front of the explosive computer.
* Are computers really that explosive?
* Soundwave is shown flying off with the jets, but he's nowhere to be seen during the battle.
* Megatron orders Starscream to throw the fight, to allow the Autobots to travel to Cybertron so he can destroy them with acid rain. It sure seems like he didn't let Shockwave in on the plan though, since the cyclops seems surprised at their arrival and determined to stop them.
[[File:Divandconq liquid nitrogen.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Good thing there just happens to be a random thing in Decepticon HQ which does exactly what I can do all on my own!]]
* Ironhide grabs some sort of tank off the wall and uses it to spray some liquid, facilitating their escape. This probably was meant to be from his own internal "[[water gun]]".
* Ironhide pointedly comments that they can't let the acid rain hit their circuits... so why not just duck back into the shelter of Wheeljack's workshop, which is still right behind them?
[[File:Divideandconquer spike grabs gun.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike rather effortlessly hefts Jazz's six-foot-long metal gun around.
** Spike survives being tackled by Ravage, the first of his [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|many]] [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|clashes]] [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|with]] him.
* Superhuman <s>Spike</s> Chip:
** Chip somehow knows how to find the Space Bridge better than Optimus can, since Chip thinks to use Teletraan I, a tactic that somehow escaped Prime.
** Chase can crack a Cybertronian lock (apparently by just punching in every possible four-digit code combination until he stumbles on the right one.)
** Chip is immune to Cybertronian acid rain. And so is his wheelchair.
* Megatron's order to let the Autobots win really makes no logical sense. If his soldiers had beaten them, they'd have been just as out of the way, and if they didn't he could still try his acid rain plan.

===Rhino DVD release===
* The chapter stops on the Rhino DVD version of this episode are Opening / Weapon Factories / Off to Cybertron / New Age of Decepticons / Fight For Optimus / Optimus Saved!

===Continuity notes===
* The episode opens with a short narration by [[Victor Caroli]], describing the humans' efforts to build anti-Decepticon weapons.
[[File:ReflectorCartoon1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:DivideandConquer Ratchet at work.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Jet mode Starscream fires lasers right out of his air intakes!
** Laserbeak deploys yet another video camera. This one's a huge telescoping camera that comes out of one of his air vents.
** Ratchet once again uses his welding tip arm while fixing Optimus Prime.
** Reflector can emit a light that shorts out optic sensors.
** Reflector displays an odd ability in this episode: he can absorb his fellow units into his body.
** Shockwave is once again shown with two hands in this episode. In one scene, he reaches off-screen with a hand, and when his arm returns to the shot, his blaster-arm has taken its place.
** Ironhide's wrists can emit liquid glop launchers that trap the Decepticons to the surface with a thick adhesive.
** Trailbreaker's force field is fired like a stream from his shoulder cannon the first time he uses it; the second time, it just drifts out from behind his back.
** Autobots have built-in repair systems.
** Sideswipe is capable of emitting a smokescreen from his chest ... for little effect.
** Optimus Prime displays the unusual ability to fire energy beams out of his optics... right into Megatron's face.
* This is the third consecutive episode to feature the Space Bridge.
* There's quite a bit of fuss over Optimus Prime's [[laser core]], apparently a critical component of Transformer life.
* Cybertron has an atmosphere breathable by humans. And this is ''before'' it [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|steals a chunk of Earth's atmosphere]].
* The tetrahedral seeker jets return; they first appeared in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1]]."
* The Transformers have a personal battle code where customs dictate personal challenges be settled in personal combat.
* This is the only episode where Laserbeak displays any cowardice, a trait described in his original tech spec bio and usually associated with the character.
* The Autobot Matrix of Leadership is nowhere to be found in Prime's chest when Wheeljack and Ratchet are repairing him.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine: as the jets land and transform inside the factory.
** A waving [[lightsaber]] provides the necessary noise for Bumblebee's headlights.

===Trivia===
[[File:DivideandConquer SympatheticDecepticon.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Poor guy.]]
* Brawn really is a dumbass to not notice Laserbeak sitting on his shoulder.
* The Reflector-type Decepticon warrior that Starscream forces to pilot the Space Bridge transport has an oddly sympathetic and very human-sounding voice.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Un ricambio per Commander'''" ("A Spare Piece for Optimus Prime")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Dividi e conquista'''" ("Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Hebrew'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Anti Hómmer'''" (אנטי חומר, "Antimatter")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''SOS! Cybertron'''" (SOS! サイバトロン)
:*Original airdate: [[August 10]], [[1985]]
:**In the scene where Skywarp teleports and is mistakenly colored as Starscream, he is dubbed in Japanese with ''Starscream's'' voice, meaning that ''he'' is the one teleporting in this version, not Skywarp. Considering ''Thundercracker'' was mistakenly dubbed teleporting in the Japanese version of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]" as well, it would seem that teleportation is a natural trait of the Seekers in the Japanese version of the show. Either that, or they just did a real shoddy job on the dub.
:**'''Cut:''' After Chip orders the Autobots to "Transform and roll for his life", the scene is cut short with the removal of the transitional wipe across the screen. The following scene of Shockwave freeing Reflector, the Autobots barging in, his firing at them and their escaping over the Space Bridge have also been cut. The sequence resumes at the pan across space followed by the shot of the Earth Space Bridge receiving the Autobots.
:**In true anime fashion, when Reflector fights the Autobots at the Space Bridge, he yells out the name of his special attack: "Flash Beam!"

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rasdelyai i vlastvuy'''" (Разделяй и властвуй, "Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zavadi i vladaj'''" (Завади и владај, "Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
[[File:DivideAndConquerBetamax.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|More or less antiquated than the TF storybooks that came with records? You decide!]]
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 5: "Divide and Conquer" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''The Transformers'' — The Autobots vs. The Decepticons ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''Transformers'' — Autobots vs. Decepticons (Malofilm) — French audio only.

;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.

;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-03.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Fire in the Sky

2016-01-21T22:22:16Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=7
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=62
|prev2=Masquerade
|next2=Fire on the Mountain (episode)
|image=FireintheSky DecepticonsrepairingSkyfire.jpg
|caption=
|title="Fire in the Sky"
|production code=#700-04
|airdate=[[December 8]], 1984
|written by=[[Dick Robbins]], [[Bryce Malek]] and [[Alfred A. Pegal]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''While siphoning the Earth of its energy, the Decepticons uncover a long-lost colleague of Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FireintheSky snowball.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|This snow isn't as fun as Spike said it was!]]

What’s this? A blanket of snow over the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s volcano? The Autobots and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] engaged in a snowball fight? In July? In the middle of the desert? Something is amiss with the world’s weather. According to [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]'s scans, temperatures are 40 degrees below normal and falling rapidly.

[[File:FireintheSky Reflector draincrystal.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|Im in ur ice cave, steamcleanin ur crystal]]

Somewhere in the [[Arctic Circle]], the Decepticons have tapped a crystal shaft leading directly to the [[Earth's core]] to siphon the planet's heat energy into [[energon cube]]s. While excavating the icy caverns surrounding the crystal, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] uncovers a Transformer frozen in the ice. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] recognizes it as his old colleague [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]].

The Autobots finally pinpoint the source of the Earth’s energy drain, and Teletraan I confirms Decepticon activity surrounding a crystal outgrowth in the Arctic Circle. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] hastily assembles an assault team, and they [[roll out]], with Spike and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] accompanying.

The Decepticons have hauled the frozen titan out of the ice and proceed to repair it. Starscream explains his past: [[MYA|millions of years ago]], before the final falling out between the Autobots and Decepticons, Starscream and Skyfire were both explorers. They were charting an unknown planet, Earth, when a storm separated the two and Skyfire was lost.

Skyfire awakens and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] welcomes him to the Decepticon cause. Though Skyfire is grateful for having been thawed out, he shows doubts about being a warrior rather than a scientist. He commits to the cause out of loyalty to Starscream. When the Autobots arrive in the Arctic, Skyfire targets them for destruction.

[[File:FireintheSky Skyfires magicAutobotsymbol.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|A changing faction symbol? It's Sideways! Get him!]]

Skyfire opens fire, scattering the Autobots. Spike tumbles through the ice into the arctic waters. Sparkplug pulls him out, but they are trapped on an ice floe. They cry out for help. Skyfire is intrigued by the new lifeforms and tries to befriend them, not realizing that they are terrified by Decepticons. Spike and Sparkplug try to explain that it’s the Decepticons that are the true monsters. The naïve Skyfire takes the humans to Megatron to prove the Decepticons' good intentions. Megatron and Starscream promptly imprison Spike and Sparkplug behind bars of ice, and plan their execution, leaving Skyfire troubled.

Optimus leads his Autobot team into the icy caverns, but a cave-in splits the team in two. Prime's group finds the humans and frees them, while the other team—including [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]—find the crystal shaft tap. Megatron discovers this second group and has his soldiers capture them. To test Skyfire's loyalty, Starscream orders Skyfire to execute the captives. Skyfire refuses, and in a fit of rage, Starscream blasts his old friend. Starscream then blasts the prisoners to pieces.

Well, not really. Once again, one of Hound's holograms has saved the day, creating the illusion of blasted Autobot parts. When Starscream departs, Hound drops the illusion. An ailing Skyfire awakens and is pleased to see the Autobots functioning. The disparate Autobot teams unite as Ratchet repairs the fallen titan. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] spies Ratchet's work and reports to Megatron. The Decepticon leader chews out Starscream for failing to kill the prisoners. Megatron orders his soldiers to attack.

[[File:FireintheSky Memorial.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Rest in peace, Skyfire." "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|I'm not dead!]]" "I can still hear his voice on the wind... *sniff*"]]

As the battle progresses, Prime and Megatron each grab shards of crystals and engage in a duel. Skyfire appears on the battlefield, and Megatron orders him to attack Prime. Skyfire refuses, and proudly declares himself an Autobot, attacking Megatron and his Decepticons instead.

The battle takes to the air as Starscream and Skyfire engage in an aerial dogfight. A midair collision sends Skyfire out of control. In a last ditch effort, his blasts bury the crystal, but Skyfire crashes into the ice. The Autobots mourn Skyfire’s heroic sacrifice.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (4)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (15)

|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (9)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (10)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (19)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (20)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"Not snowman, Spike. Snowbot! There's a flurry in a hurry!"
:—A snow-covered '''Jazz''', surprising Spike

"Okay, Spike. You rat on me, I'll splat on you!"
:—'''Bumblebee''', after Spike warns Ratchet about Bumblebee's incoming snowball

[[File:FireintheSky Gears crashes through ice.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Ironically, Gears is the one with the junk in his trunk. Well, truck bed, anyway.]]
"Ironhide's carrying too much lead in his caboose!"
:—'''Ratchet''', predating the "junk in the trunk" standard after they all fall through an ice sheet

"Lucky for you my laser has a defrost cycle."
:—'''Cliffjumper''' breaks Spike and Sparkplug out of an ice prison.

"Well, I'll be reprogrammed with a rivet roller."
:—'''Ironhide''' reveals yet another unusual piece of Cybertronian technology.

"I'm a scientist, not an executioner!"
:—'''Skyfire''' objecting to Starscream's demand that he execute the captives.

"You shall pay for your treachery!"
:—'''Starscream''' to Skyfire. You know what, Starscream-- never mind.

"He won't be forgotten, Spike. He will live forever... so long as freedom exists. We shall remember you, Skyfire."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s eulogy for Skyfire

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:FireintheSky Gears AninconvienientTruth.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|ManBearPig - I'm serial!]]
* Jazz laughs at Spike's "I get the drift" line in Cliffjumper's voice.
* His voice apparently stolen by Jazz, Cliffjumper oophs and grunts in a Don Messick voice as he bangs into a tree. It's similar to the "What does it instantly immobilize?" flub from the later episode "[[The Immobilizer]]".
* As Optimus Prime muses about how the heat from the [[Earth's core]] is being drained away, Gears can be seen in the background sitting in front of a console with a very small screen. But during the closeup of Gears, the screen is ''much'' larger. The screen also makes a mechanical whirring noise as the view pans across a native village, as if the screen itself were moving.
* While Megatron and Starscream are talking at the energon cube-filler machine, Reflector places an already-filled energon cube at the machine, seemingly to have it filled. In the same shot, another Reflector bot's chest is all gray.
* Rumble's mouth moves after Skywarp taunts him, but rather uncharacteristically, he doesn't actually say anything.
* Coloring errors:
** As Starscream berates Skywarp and Rumble for standing around, Skywarp's cockpit fringe is gray instead of black, and Rumble's eyeband is gray.
** "Give him 50,000 volts" - Starscream's "collar" is red instead of gray.
** As Soundwave deploys the electrical device, his face is misdrawn with a strangely pointy faceplate, and his eyeband is colored gray instead of red.
** "I knew him once" - the tip of Starscream's gun turns the same blue as his glove as he gestures.
** "Hail Cybertron!" - Skyfire's face is white instead of gray.

[[File:Fire in the sky.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"If I talk to you for two minutes, I consider you my friend."]]

** Skyfire's Decepticon symbol alternates between red and purple throughout the episode, but it is mostly red.
** As the Autobots roll toward Skyfire in profile, Jazz's fenders are colored windshield blue.
** "I'll take you to Megatron, my leader" - red Decepticon symbol on Skyfire again.
** Spike and Sparkplug's fur hats are beige instead of brown as they look at each other in fear.
** "We'd better find Optimus and the others before..." Ironhide's backside is entirely dark gray; there should be some red and light gray.
** "With pleasure, Megatron!" The bridge of Starscream's nose is light gray; it should be dark gray.
** In the wide shot of Ratchet repairing Skyfire, Skyfire's got a red Decepticon symbol yet again.
** Skywarp's nosecone is all orange as he transforms and takes off.
** Prime's bumper is yellow as he spins around to transform his trailer.
** Skyfire's thruster nozzles are white as he approaches the crystal.
** As the Autobots cheer for Skyfire's apparent victory, Optimus Prime's whole torso is colored blue.
* The first bit of Skyfire that's sticking out of the ice doesn't correspond to any actual part on his body.
* After Starscream melts away more of the ice, that first part of Skyfire is no longer sticking out.
* While watching the Sky Spy's footage, Spike describes a "weird light", but the screen shows nothing of the sort. The big, green, not-a-light crystal is plain as day, though.
* When the Autobots roll out, the background is moving far too quickly, making them appear to be sliding across frame while transforming. It doesn't help that they aren't drawn very well, either.
* Appearing / disappearing Autobots:
** Only Prime, Jazz, Ironhide and Hound are shown rolling out. Gears shows up in the convoy on the way to the north pole. Cliffjumper, Ratchet and Bumblebee finally show up when the group transforms in front of Skyfire.
* In Skyfire's memory monitor, a distant shot shows Starscream looking like a short, dumpy version of [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]].
* When Skyfire first wakes up and asks where he is, Starscream's mouth appears to be moving, but he isn't actually saying anything. In the same shot, the back of Thundercracker's head is white instead of black.
* The base of Megatron's fusion cannon is the same silver as his arm, as he introduces himself to Skyfire.
* When the Autobots stop in front of Skyfire, they're ''tiny'' - maybe as tall as his feet.
* When Spike yells for help, one of Hound's laser blasts comes out of mid-air instead of his gun.
[[File:Skyfire-Valkyrie-Arm-FitS.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Gotta admit it...that boy has really gotten a lot better.]]
* When Skyfire picks up Spike and Sparkplug, his entire right arm, including his gun, is drawn as the Macross Valkyrie-styled arm from his [[Jetfire (G1)#Notes|original animation model]].
* In a rather odd shot set up, Skyfire is too big to fit into a cave that Megatron and Starscream stand in. He’s forced to peer through the cave’s opening.
* After Starscream shoots his hand, Skyfire has an extra line on his face that makes him look like an old man (the same trick later used to distinguish [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] from his Rodimus Prime persona.) His arm jointing seems oddly drawn, as well.
* When Bumblebee tells Optimus that he can't find Ironhide and the others, the animation makes him look like he's floating a foot or two above the ground.
* Prime clearly drives into the caves without his trailer. When Bumblebee reports in, Prime does have his trailer. In the next shot, he lacks the trailer again. His smokestacks are rendered as thin red lines, too.

** Later, during the big fight at the end, Prime's trailer appears again so he can use its weapons.
* Gears is missing his forearm as he and the others peer at the green crystal.
* As Hound gets to his feet, he leaves a copy of his missile launcher behind, briefly giving him ''two'' launchers. In the same shot, Ratchet's mouth goes missing.
* Megatron's missing his back gun barrel as he spins 180 at the waist.
* Optimus is shown mouthing Megatron’s order to Skyfire (to destroy Optimus Prime!)
* Starscream fires strange cross-hatch lasers at Skyfire. As he swoops in, a purple Autobot symbol is briefly visible on his wing.
* Spike and Sparkplug are both shown mouthing Spike's "Belt him in the burners" line.

===Continuity errors===

* This episode's basic premise is one of the most bizarre and scientifically ludicrous conceits ever created by the cartoon - namely, the idea that draining the energy of the Earth's core would somehow severely and instantly affect its climate, causing plummeting temperatures world wide. If internal heat generates the planet's climate, why would there be big frozen zones at the poles? Doesn't Earth actually have a big [[Sun|external heat source]] that would offset the devastating loss of this (infinitesimal) heat source?

* Teletraan I says the global average temperature has dropped by 40 degrees. To put that in context, the average temperature was about 8 degrees less than the present day ''during the last ice age.''
* What exactly do green crystals have to do with the Earth's core?
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike not only survives (without bruising, or bleeding) a watermelon-sized snowball headshot (to the face) powerful enough to knock him off a cliff, but also rolling down said cliff with enough velocity to knock over several full-sized Autobots without so much as breaking a bone. In fact, he just gets up and is *smiling*!
**Spike falls and nearly drowns in Arctic water, and somehow is not overcome by hypothermia. It probably helps that both he and his clothes dry out about five seconds after being pulled out.
** Both Spike and Sparkplug seem none the worse for wear after being casually tossed onto solid ice by Starscream.
* Someone forgot that the Seekers have a pre-Earth design; in a flashback to millions of years ago, Starscream is shown transforming into his F-15 jet mode (millions of years before his arrival on Earth, or the invention of jets.) The script for the episode ''did'' call for a Cybertronian [[alternate mode]], but evidently the animators didn't get the message.
*The Autobots can apparently drive from the United States to the Arctic in a fairly short amount of time.
* Just where did Skyfire get this whole "evil Autobots" notion, anyway? Did he miss that whole "conquer the universe" bit in Megatron's speech?
* The ad hoc icicle 'prison' created for Spike and Sparkplug first contains gaps clearly large enough for them to be able to escape through.
* Gears says that his group had better go find Optimus before they're discovered by the Decepticons. The group then stands around doing nothing until, sure enough, they're discovered by the Decepticons.
[[File:FireintheSky Reflector formation.jpg|upright=1.1|right|thumb|And then there's this. Did the script call for this? What the hell?]]
* Couldn't four Autobot prisoners overpower their captors (Starscream and Skyfire) with relative ease? Heck, Hound's still got his missile sitting there, ready to go!
* Starscream is apparently dumb enough to think that 2 piddly little null ray blasts are enough to reduce four Autobots to scrap.
* It's never adequately explained where Skyfire got an Autobot badge from. And he tears the old one off like it's made of paper.
* Why was Skyfire's whole sacrifice even necessary? Couldn't the Autobots have buried the crystal from the ground?

===Rhino DVD release===
[[File:G1toon starscream and skyfire.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Are you happier having a [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|red symbol]] [[Starscream (WFC)|than a purple one]], Starscream?" "Yes! It is far more exciting! And it goes so well with my red highlights!"]]

* At the beginning of the episode, the snow falls upwards and many snow effects are missing.
* In many instances Skyfire's symbol is miscolored.
* Right after he wakes up, Skyfire has a red Decepticon insignia in his chest in one shot, before they actually imprint the symbol on him.
* When Starscream blasts Skyfire, the laser blast is missing.
* The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD are Opening / Snowbot / At the Arctic Circle / "Destruction to Autobots" / An Illusion / Skyfire is Gone

===Continuity notes===
* Aside from astroseconds, Transformers also use astrominutes as units of time.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Soundwave can transform his right forearm into a cylindrical electricity firing module capable of generating a million volts.
** Ratchet uses the same forearm-mounted laser scalpel that he had in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
** Laserbeak uses his forehead-mounted microphone... to broadcast a signal.
** Megatron receives that signal with a flashing of his pectoral rectangle things, a trope that will show up again in "Countdown to Extinction".
** Megatron can rotate his lower torso 180 degrees, which makes for some cool hand-to-hand combat maneuvers.
[[File:Combat deck.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Prime’s [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] cannons make a rare appearance in this episode, emerging from a non-transformed trailer.
* The first appearance of Skyfire, obviously.
* "We shall remember you, Skyfire!" Optimus solemnly vows. Yeah, especially [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|next time we need a ride somewhere]].

===Real-world references===
* "It's educational, kids!" - we get an appearance of the Aurora Borealis.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as the Seekers transform and take off.
** [[Death Star]] super laser as they launch their attack a second later.
** Exploding [[X-wing Fighter]] (or an explosion aboard the Death Star) as the Autobots flee from Decepticon bombs.
** Clashing [[lightsaber]]s as Ratchet gets blasted away from Skyfire.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Skywarp and Thundercracker crash.
** Clashing lightsabers again as Prime knocks Megatron's cannon away.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Skyfire takes off.
** X-wings and TIE Fighter as Skyfire aims for the crystal.

===Trivia===
* This episode was produced as the seventh in the season, though it aired after the eighth-produced episode, "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
* This episode contains the first time that Prime gives the famous "Transform and roll out" order.
*Strangely, the official [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for "Fire in the Sky" names "Decepticon Workers" who "resemble Skywarp" as silent characters ("no dialogue") appearing in the episode. No such legion of Skywarps actually appears.
* Spike and Sparkplug have fashionable fur-lined cold-weather hardhats with ear flaps.
* Skyfire gets what may be the only internal monologue in the entire series, as he reflects unhappily on the Decepticons ethos.
* If you don't get a laugh out of Megatron nonchalantly beaning Starscream with an energon cube, there's no hope for you.
* If energon is capable of getting cybertronians drunk or "overcharged", and the cubes are what the energon's stored in, then Megatron basically pulled the Transformer equivalent of throwing a beer bottle at someone. Which if you think about it makes him beaning Starscream with one even funnier.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fogo no Céu'''" ("Fire in the Sky")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Sfida tra i ghiacci'''" ("Challenge in the Ice")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Fiamme nei cieli'''" ("Flames in the Skies")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skyfire no Saisei'''" (スカイファイヤーの再生, "Skyfire's Resurrection")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 26]], [[1986]]
:*The Japanese ordering of this episode places it toward the end of the series. This was done as it featured Skyfire prominently and with his toy being of [[Bandai]] design (and not sold in Japan as a Transformer), that caused some legal concerns amongst Takara (many of Skyfire's smaller scenes in other episodes were cut entirely). Though the episodes featuring him as a main character were eventually shown, the scripts were not reworked to adjust to the new chronological placement, simply being more or less direct translations of the original English versions.
:*'''Cut:''' After Jazz makes his "snow fair" joke, the pan across to Bumblebee has been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' After Cliffjumper crashes ino the snow-covered tree, the scene of him shaking his head, Hound sliding by and crashing into a cactus have been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' The scene of Gears pointing to his monitor and blaming the snow on the Decepticons and Prime walking up and bending forward have been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' After Megatron makes his speech about gathering enough Energon cubes to conquer the universe, the pan across the ice cave toward Rumble has been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' Following Teletraan-1's line, "Abnormally large energy expenditure in the Artic Circle", the scene of the monitor panning across the frozen tundra toward the large green crystal cone has been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' After the Autobots all transform and leave the Ark, the scene of Prime driving next to the cliffside and Spike's line, "Arctic Circle, here we come" have been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' After Starscream tosses Spike and Sparkplug to the ground, the following scene of him pointing his arm gun toward them and the humans reacting in horror have been cut. The sequence resumes as his firing on the roof of the ice cave to create the ice bars.
:*'''Cut:''' Once Soundwave ejects Ravage at Megatron's command, the scene of Megatron pointing Ravage in a certain direction and Ravage charging down the cave have been cut. The sequence resumes at the inward pan of the empty cave and Jazz's line about "searching these tunnels for astro-minutes".
:*'''Cut:''' Immediately following ''that'' scene, the scene of Megatron sitting down and spinning an Energon cube in his hand has been cut. The sequence resumes at his blinking chest.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ogonj v nebe'''" (Огонь в небе, "Fire in the Sky")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vatra na nebu'''" (Ватра на небу, "Fire in the Sky")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 4: "Fire in the Sky" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''The Transformers'' — The Autobots vs. The Decepticons ([[Malofilm]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-04.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

S.O.S. Dinobots

2016-01-21T22:21:47Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|S.O.S. Dinobots (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=8
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=7
|prev2=Divide and Conquer
|next2=War of the Dinobots
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=4
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|next3=Heavy Metal War
|image=SOSDinobots fossilcavern.jpg
|caption=
|title="S.O.S. Dinobots"
|production code=#700-05
|airdate=[[October 27]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Autobots create the Dinobots, but can barely control these new powerful warriors.'''

==Synopsis==
As the Autobots discuss whether or not the Decepticons are behind the tremors they've been experiencing recently, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] notices the tremors are stronger near one of the rock walls of the Autobot base. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]'s sensors detect something odd behind the wall, so the Autobots break through, finding a cavern. Spike explains to the surprised Autobots that the bones scattered around the cave are [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaur]] fossils, which pique the curiosity of Optimus Prime and Wheeljack.

Elsewhere, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] stake out the [[Great Falls]] hydroelectric power facility, and return to the Decepticon base once they have enough information.

Spike takes Hound on a tour of a natural history museum to further illustrate his paleontological crash-course. Hound snaps a few holograms of dinosaur bone displays, which he played back for the other Autobots. Wheeljack and Ratchet are inspired, believing that they could construct robot versions to use against the Decepticons, and Optimus gives them permission. A laborious construction ensues, based on designs drawn up on [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], with all of the Autobots taking part.

[[File:SOSDinobots Grimlockwrecks Teletraan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|When the [[television|TV]] no work, Me know how to fix it!]]

Meanwhile Megatron announces that the Great Falls constitute a perpetual power source that will let them take over the [[Universe (universe)|Universe]] forever. On his order, the Decepticon forces fly out to take the dam.

Wheeljack unveils the three new additions to their ranks: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]. Impressed by the giant Dinobots and their ability to transform into dinosaurs, Optimus asks for a demonstration of their other abilities, and Wheeljack has them disintegrate the rubble from the earlier excavation. As Wheeljack explains that he's looking to upgrade the Dinobots' limited intelligence, the trio suddenly start attacking the Autobots. Grimlock heads for the control room, pursued by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and Spike, but the pair are unable to prevent the Dinobot from trashing Teletraan I. Bumblebee does manage to lure Grimlock away from the room so Ratchet can start the long repair job. As the fight continues, Optimus orders the Dinobots destroyed, but Wheeljack manages to disable them with his [[magnetic inducer]]. Despite Wheeljack's pleas, Optimus orders them decommissioned, and the three Dinobots are sealed in the rock cavern, never to be activated again.

[[File:SOSDinobots Ravage window.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Holy Hell!]]
The Decepticons arrive at the Great Falls, and the humans try to reach the Autobots via Teletraan I. Their distress signal goes unheard, as Teletraan I is currently offline thanks to the Dinobot rampage. [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] trashes the humans' communication equipment, and the facility falls under Decepticon control.

With Teletraan I out of commission, it's up to individual Autobot scouts like Hound to be on the lookout for Decepticon activity. Hound's sensors detect the ransacking of the Great Falls plant, and he alerts Optimus. Optimus leaves with a strike force, ordering Bumblebee to stay behind to guard the base.

The Decepticons are gathering energy from the dam as [[energon cube]]s, and Megatron assures Starscream that he has a plan for when the Autobots arrive. When the Autobots do arrive on a cliff overlooking the falls, they're unable to detect any Decepticons, but the foe soon pops out of their hiding places and attack. As his warriors keep the Autobots occupied, Megatron connects his [[fusion cannon]] directly into the Great Falls' power output. He blasts the cliff-face where the Autobots stand while [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] bashes at the ground, causing the cliff to crumble and sending the Autobots falling into the raging waters below.

Disobeying orders, Bumblebee arrives at the Great Falls and picks up Spike, as Megatron orders the Autobots retrieved and prepared for destruction. Bumblebee and Spike return to the Ark, informing Wheeljack and Ratchet of the Autobots' failure at the Great Falls. Wheeljack decides to reactivate the Dinobots. He has secretly developed a series of memory components that would upgrade the Dinobots' brains. Despite Bumblebee's protests that it goes against Optimus's orders, they install the new components, and the Dinobots awaken. Still relatively simple-minded, they are now much more intelligent than the mindless monsters that first appeared. Sludge, Slag and Grimlock agree to follow Wheeljack's orders, and blast their way out of the side of the volcano.

[[File:SOSDinobots Megatron falls.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I've warned you about that, mighty Megatron.]]

The Decepticons have the Autobots trussed up with [[Energon chains]]. Just as the Decepticons are about to execute the captives, the Dinobots arrive with Wheeljack. Wheeljack takes out Megatron with a [[gyro-inhibitor shell]], resulting in Starscream declaring himself leader on the grounds that Megatron has literally just fallen. The Decepticons take to the air, but even with air superiority, they find themselves being tossed around and battered by the Dinobots. As Megatron transforms and latches onto Starscream's jet mode, Wheeljack spots his fellow Autobots' weapons, and uses them to free his friends. The Dinobots blast Megatron, who finds himself faced with both the Dinobots and the freed Autobots. He quickly calls a retreat, and the Decepticons turn tail. Wheeljack and Bumblebee brace themselves for reprimands for disobeying Prime's direct orders, but Prime concedes he was wrong. He accepts the Dinobots as the newest members of the Autobot forces. The Autobots cheer the decision, and the Dinobots growl their approval.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (4)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (11)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (22)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (23)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (25)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (27)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (28)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (29)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (16)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (30)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (31)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well I'll be a Cybertronic [[bolt-bat]]!"
:—'''Sideswipe'''

[[File:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Heck, robot satanic hellspawn nuclear explosive suicide troops might be useful too. Whip us up some of those while you're at it."]]
"Robot dinosaurs might be useful. You have my authorization."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives the okay to make the Dinobots, because sure, why not?

"Maybe Hound's got [[Glitch mouse|glitch mice]] in his databanks again!"
:—'''Bluestreak''', mocking Hound's radar accuracy, to the amusement of no one

"Nice shootin', if you were aimin' for the sky!"
:—'''Rumble''' goading Bluestreak

[[File:SOSDinobots-Sludge Insignia.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Which ones... friends?" 
"Ones with... face like this...uh, I think." 
"That... good enough for Slag."
:—'''Slag''' and '''Sludge''' determine friend from foe by using faction symbols.

"If on Decepticon turf you happen to tumble, look out robot, 'cause here comes Rumble!"
:—'''Rumble'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s clever combat banter

"Heat seeking missiles seek heat!"
:-'''Skywarp'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s slightly less clever combat banter

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:SOSDinobots-Miscolors.jpg|thumb|center|600px|[[Nelson Yomtov|Yomtov]]-licious!]]
[[File:SOSDinobots bluePrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't even think about [[redeco|it]], [[e-HOBBY]]!]]
[[File:SOSDinobots Soundwave shoots Gears.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Coloring errors:
** Wheeljack's ears flash orange in this episode, rather than the usual blue. It's a convention that also appeared in "[[Roll for It]]" (an episode which has a similar art style to this one.)
** Ironhide's cheekguards are gray instead of red as he explains his sonadar sensor.
** The exposition-spouting tourist visiting the Great Falls hydroelectric power plant has hair that turns from red to black from one shot to the next.
** In his introductory shot, Slag's head is miscolored, mostly gray instead of all-red. This is the first of many, many, many times that his head and face will get the wrong colors.
** Another frequent coloring error has Sludge with gray on the sides of his dino head, which should be all-gold. It pops up numerous times in this episode.
** When the Decepticons arrive at the Great Falls plant, Rumble is colored like Brawn.
** As Skywarp and another Decepticon land, a foreground Decepticon Seeker's leg is colored a deep yellow (an error, but as close as [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] ever came to appearing on Earth in a Generation 1 cartoon.)
** As Megatron claims control of the dam and the Decepticons strike silly poses, two background Seekers appear to have Bluestreak's colors.
** As Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe the Autobots, ''every single Autobot is miscolored'', including Sideswipe painted as Sunstreaker, Bluestreak as Trailbreaker, Brawn as Hound, Optimus Prime as Sideswipe, Hound as Ironhide, Trailbreaker as Gears, and Mirage as Bluestreak.
** Rumble's pile driver tips are the same blue-purple as the rest of him when he lands, but are red in a close-up shot a second later.
** Sunstreaker's hands are yellow in the shot of him, Jazz, etc. reacting to Rumble's earthquake.
** As Prime rolls toward the falls, his smokestacks are red.
** "Nice shootin'!" Rumble's eyeband is gray instead of red.
** When Gears flies up to Soundwave, his truck roof (on his back) is red instead of blue.
** Optimus's chest is the same blue as his head as he struggles in the water. As the Autobots move past camera, he morphs into his usual red.
** Ratchet's head crest is white instead of gray as he works on Teletraan-1.
** While the Autobots are trapped in Energon Chains, Optimus is colored entirely blue and Trailbreaker is a light grey rather than black.
** Starscream's entire cockpit cowling is yellow after the transforms, rather than just the canopy.
** Rumble's shin is all-yellow as he and the rest of the Decepticon group take off.
** When Skywarp drops bombs on Grimlock, Grimlock's an overly-dark shade of gray.
** Rumble's colors are reversed as Sludge's crevasse knocks him over.
** After they transform to retreat, all three Seekers have entirely gold nosecones. A pan across the three jets shows Starscream, Thundercracker, and a second Starscream in place of Skywarp.
** Sludge's face is black after he returns to [[robot mode]].
* Brawn's lines don't quite time up with the animation; he says "let's clean up this mess" while in the middle of tossing rocks everywhere; and he says "Hey, there's a cavern in there!" while gaping at a huge opening that must have been revealed much earlier in their dig.
* Wheeljack likewise says "Feels like stone" before he's even picked up one of the dinosaur bones. His ears don't flash for the first part of his line. And the top of his chest is colored windshield blue when it should be metal armor white.
* Jazz clearly isn't with the group that enters the cave; yet he abruptly pops up out of nowhere to say his line.
* Only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash for his "I'd sure like to know more about 'em" line.
* Spike identifies a ''Brontosaurus'' during his tour of the museum's dinosaur exhibit, though there does not appear to be a ''Brontosaurus'' on display. Though, to be fair, it may just be Spike's error, or the ''Brontosaurus'' skeleton might be out of the camera's view. (Also, at the time this episode took place, [[Wikipedia:Brontosaurus|''Brontosaurus'' was a deprecated genus]], but that's just picking nits, especially since the genus has now been reinstated.)
* Wheeljack's ears are drawn as mishapen white blobs as he and Prime first call up the image of the dinosaurs on Teletraan 1.
* Wheeljack is missing his wings as he works on the helmet-brain units.
* The Decepticon Headquarters docking tower is rather clumsily animated against the background matte, shaking a bit as it lowers. When the tower lowers, the source of the streaming bubbles lowers with it!
* "I suppose you've devised a brilliant plan..." Starscream's intakes are shown behind his shoulders, rather than on top of them.
* The top of the docking tower is missing as the Decepticons fly out it.
* Wheeljack's line of dialogue, "Autobots, meet Dinobots" is delivered by Ratchet.
* As Wheeljack introduces the Dinobots, the foreground characters slide magically against the background scenery due to an error in animation.
* As the Autobots react with shock upon seeing the Dinobots, all three audible lines in the scene—"Look at the size of those things", "Great Cybertron", and "Holy heterodyne"—are animated as being spoken by Bluestreak. The lines were evidently not scripted as belonging to any specific characters, as they are provided respectively by [[Peter Cullen]] (using neither Prime nor Ironhide's voice), [[Dan Gilvezan]] (sounding like himself) and [[Gregg Berger]] (who shouldn't be voicing ''any'' of the assembled Autobots!).
* Wheeljack's is missing his wings as he's introducing the Dinobots.
*As Huffer mocks the Dinobots, he says: "Dinobots, huh? I thought you were supposed to make ''dino''saurs!" The emphasis, of course, should be on the "saurs".
* Optimus Prime's line, "Interesting, but what else can they do?" is delivered by Cliffjumper.
* As he opens his mouth to clear the rubble, Grimlock's dinosaur head has whole bunch of extra joint lines, based on his toy's detail. This detail never appears again.
* Bluestreak gets Optimus Prime's laser rifle sound effect for his shoulder launcher blasts.
* As Slag shoots him, Sideswipe cries out in Bluestreak's voice.
* As Grimlock heads into the control room, he just slides across the frame, rather than being animated with leg motion, etc.
* Grimlock clearly destroys the big main screen with the lolipop next to it. Yet as Bumblebee tries to get away, he passes this same screen, totally intact, while the explosion comes from somewhere else (unless there's ''two'' big screens with lolipops?)
* Ratchet rights a tipped-over Bumblebee in the thick of the Dinobot rampage. After Bumblebee drives away, the section of Ratchet obscured by a foreground Bumblebee is still missing .
* As often happens, Prowl has Sideswipe's voice as he asks "Doesn't anything get to this guy?"
* Prime's missing his grille lines as he declares that the Dinobots must be destroyed.
[[File:SOSDinobots magnetic inducer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* As he fires to deactivate the Dinobots, Wheeljack's missile launcher swings around and clicks into place, pointing forward. Only... it was already pointing forward just a second earlier. In fact, it's never shown pointing in any other direction.
* After standing in front of the cave lamenting the loss of his creations (aw, poor Wheeljack!), Wheeljack moves out of the way as the Autobots open fire to seal the cavern. Yet as the rocks come down, he's back in front of the cave.
* After Optimus signs off from Hound's transmission, his head does a strange little back-and-forth bob. As the view pans out from him, we see Bluestreak, whose headcrest is gray instead of red.
* As the Autobots roll out, they kind of slide sideways across the floor of Autobot Headquarters.
[[File:SOSDinobots Autobots in chains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They just left Gears and the others at the bottom of the river.]]
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Wheeljack is shown in the lineup of Autobots leaving HQ; yet a moment later, it's shown that he stayed behind to continue working on stuff.
** Not nearly enough Autobots are shown in the energon chain lineup.
* "Endless energy, Starscream!" Megatron is missing his waist details.
* When Optimus tells the Autobots to fight, his line is clipped off at the end, telling the Autobots to "fight ba-".
* Just before Gears tumbles into him, Bluestreak is standing there waving a fist in the air. It looks like he was supposed to be shooting, but the laser fire wasn't animated.
* Bluestreak is knocked over by Gears, and but is standing and firing in the next shot.
* Megatron is shown laughing, but there's no vocalization to go with it.
* Megatron's missing his insignia as he and Starscream look down from the cliff.
* "We shall retrieve their short-circuited carcasses..." Megatron's slow-moving lip-flap doesn't keep pace with his speech.
* "I've been working on a little research project." Once again, only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash.
* As the Autobots struggle against the chains, Megatron suffers another severe lip-flap malfunction. The energon chains to bounce and move like a single solid object; this is apparently supposed to show the Autobots struggling against their bonds, but it doesn't really work very well.
* Yet another vocal malfunction for Megatron after Wheeljack shoots him; he makes a falling-over "Whauurrrrrr!" sound long after he's already fallen over.
* "And whatever punishment you have in mind..." Bumblebee is missing his insignia, has yellow "cheeks" instead of white, and appears to have borrowed [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]]'s rectangular chest.
* The closing scene features Optimus announcing that the Dinobots... will stay! And everyone is happy, and everybody cheers! Everybody except the background music, which is a tense, frantic piece normally reserved for cliffhanging crises and catastrophes.

===Continuity errors===
* Though the holographic dinosaurs illustrated in the episodes matched some of the concepts of the early ‘80s, their depiction is outdated by today's standards. The dinosaurs in the show are the sluggish, tail-dragging cold-blooded variety not in keeping with more modern theories of warm-blooded, bird-like animals.
* When the holographic dinosaurs are shown, a brontosaurus is seen living alongside a ''Triceratops'' and a ''Tyrannosaurus''. In reality, the brontosaurus (well, ''Apatosaurus''...oh, you know what we mean) lived in the Jurassic Period, while the ''Triceratops'' and the ''Tyrannosaurus'' lived during the Cretacious Period. So basically, they were separated by millions of years, [[Wikipedia:Fantasia (film)|but apparently]], [[Wikipedia:The Flintstones|in a cartoon,]] [[Wikipedia:The Land Before Time|that doesn't matter]].
* So, why didn't Wheeljack just give the Dinobots their cognitive upgrades ''before'' he activated them and showed them off?
* The data gathered by Reflector and Soundwave leads Megatron to conclude with relish that the Great Falls contain enough energy to vanquish the Autobots and control the universe...but that's really nothing new. The Decepticons have targeted hydroelectric power sources before.
*What is it about falling into the river that is so devastating to the Autobots? We've seen that Autobots can deal with being in the water (Hound in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]", various Autobots in "[[The Ultimate Doom]]", Springer, Kup, and Arcee in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', etc.). It's possible that the fall itself damaged them, but the Autobots are clearly shown struggling around in the water. Then again, Optimus Prime needed Jazz's help to escape the rushing river in "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2".
* It's possible the editorial pace of the show plays with time and space, but taken at face value, the Autobots build three Dinobots in the span of time it takes the Decepticons to decide to attack the Great Falls.

===Rhino DVD release===
[[File:dvd broadcast.jpg|thumb|Pretty colors are more important than things making sense!]]

* The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD are: Opening / Old Bones / "Dinobots Must Die" / Fusion Power / Permanent Dysfunction / Dinobots Will Stay.
* Though all G1 episodes released on DVD by Rhino were altered in some way, both with additional sound effects and unintentional changes induced by not using the finalized broadcast masters, this one is particularly screwed up:
** The Rhino version uses a faulty take for the shot where the Dinobots demonstrate their power by clearing rubble. In the DVD, the blasts from the Dinobots' mouths are missing, and the rubble does not vanish. The broadcast version, though, has both effects, which were reinstated on the Shout! Factory release. (See illustration).
** As the Autobots walk around the unnamed museum, they pass a pair of street punks looking at a display. While divided into grey and blue parts in the broadcast version, the display was [[:File:SOSDinobotsPunksDisplay.jpg|rendered entirely blue]] in the Kid Rhino version of the episode, making it look a bit like a computer terminal. This random color change was ''not'' undone in the Shout! Factory version.
** When Hound contacts Autobot Headquarters with a recon report, the glowing light on his chest and forehead are blue in the broadcast version, but red in the DVD version. This was changed back in the Shout! Factory release.
** …When Spike says the line "Is it much farther, Hound" the broadcast version has his mouth move with his speech but the Rhino version has his mouth stop at the word "much" with his mouth hanging open in the rest of the sentence and this error is uncorrected in Shout! Factory's version.
** When the Autobots arrive at the Great Falls and they transform from [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] to [[robot mode]], the shot of Bluestreak is reversed, and he is shown transforming from robot to car. The broadcast version used the correct take, as does the Shout! Factory release.
** Not so much a goof, but the Rhino DVD version of this episode has a rainbow visible at the Great Falls when Megatron lands. This is not in the broadcast version and was removed when Shout Factory corrected the scene.
** When Megatron transforms into a gun to attack the Dinobots, the background matte is misaligned, showing only the sky and not the ground.
** And before the shot mentioned in the previous error, the camera pan from the Dinobots to Megatron is jumpy.

===Continuity notes===
* The natural history museum that Spike and Hound visit might be assumed to be in [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], later shown in "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]" to be located near Autobot Headquarters.
* After being almost totally ignored (or completely absent) for the first seven episodes, Windcharger finally gets his first speaking line.
* Wheeljack is shown working on the memory upgrades for the Dinobots before they're even built!
* Flying Autobots:
** Gears takes to the air to attack the Decepticons at the power plant, and Wheeljack flies alongside the Dinobots. These abilities are never explained within the cartoon itself. However, according to the [[Tech Spec]]s, these two (along with Sideswipe) are the original Autobots who are SUPPOSED to be flight-capable; Gears is equipped with compressed air boosters and Wheeljack has solid-fuel rockets in his arms. Gears would never be shown to use his flight capabilities again; Wheeljack, however, will fly again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" and actually use his arm-rockets in "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
**The Dinobots are also shown to be able to fly in robot mode under their own power; they will consistently retain this ability all the way through Season 2 and the Movie.
* "We do... as told... for now." Grimlock's first lines already foretell the trouble that the Autobots will have keeping the Dinobots in line.
* The Dinobots are shown to be incredibly tough and resistant to damage. Nothing the Decepticons do leaves so much as a scratch or scorch mark, not even shots from gun mode Megatron. This too is consistent through Season 2 and the Movie.
** Slag's triceratops frill can reflect Optimus Prime's laser rifle blast back at him.
[[File:Sosdinos sonadar sensors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:SOSDinobot Hound radios in.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|As noted above, Hound's glowy bits were bright blue in the original broadcast version.]]
* Powers and gadgets:
** Ironhide is equipped with a [[sonodar]] sensor array that extends from his forearm, capable of penetrating solid rock. The findings of the sensor are displayed in the windshield in his chest.
** Sideswipe is equipped with piston arms, that allow him to punch through stone walls. Here, they are simply heavy protrusions that he slams into the rock to break it up, but when they show up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" they actually operate like pneumatic jackhammers. His pistons are also misinterpreted as a ''hand-held'' jackhammer in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
** Trailbreaker's force field is rendered as a glowing yellow sphere that comes from the space between his upraised hands. (Well, hand, since the other one is a gun.)
** Wheeljack fires a "magnetic inducer" from his shoulder cannon to stop the rampaging Dinobots, and later nails Megatron with a "[[gyro-inhibitor shell]]", launched from same. Both these are weapons Wheeljack's tech spec says he has and fires from his shoulder cannons.
** Hound uses a cheekguard-mounted communicator to contact Autobot Headquarters, along with a button on his stomach that lights up parts of his helmet while he's transmitting.
** Optimus has a similar cheekguard communicator, along with little antennae which slide out of the larger antennae on his head.
** Thundercracker attempts to torch the Dinobots with a flamethrower, which shows up again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]". This weapon is probably based on his tech spec's mention of incendiary guns.
** Skywarp still packs heat-seeking missiles, per his tech spec bio.
** Starscream drops small bomb-missiles on the Dinobots. These may or may not be the from the launchers concealed in his air ducts, which are used in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
[[File:Sosdinos rumble broken piledrivers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Megatron actually refers to his [[fusion cannon]] by that name.
* Laserbeak does not appear but is mentioned in this episode, as Megatron credits him for gathering intelligence at the Great Falls.
* Per his tech spec bio, Sludge proves adept in the water. He also uses his seismic stomp to retaliate against Rumble's earthquake power.
* Rumble getting hit by Sludge's quake while using his piledrivers causes them to break off.
* '''[[Transport to Oblivion|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's lost his equilibrium! '''[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|> >]]'''

===Real-world references===
* Dinosaurs, obviously. And a natural history museum, and a lame joke about "heavy metal" in reference to Hound.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Death Star]] turbolasers are used as the sound of Bluestreak firing at Rumble.
** [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] repelling Seeker bolts with his [[lightsaber]] is used as the sound of the Decepticons lifting off under Starscream's command.
** Clashing lightsabers are used as the sound of Slag's horns powering up.
** More lightsabers as the Dinobots fire on Megatron and Starscream.

===Trivia===
[[File:SOSDinobots Great Falls.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The rules of Decepticon fashion dictate that no two members of a flying group can use the same arm pose.]]
* This episode shares the slightly stylized artistic style of "[[Roll for It]]". Note the strange poses that the Decepticons strike while flying, Optimus's unusually rounded head, Bumblebee's somewhat flattened head, and the little bits of shading seen on characters's faces in closeup.
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' console game.

===Foreign localization===

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Dinobots'''" ("The Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 21]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La nascita dei Dinorobot'''" ("Birth of the Dinobots")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''S.O.S. Dinobots'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinobot Tanjō!'''" (ダイノボット誕生!, "The Dinobots Are Born!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 17]], [[1985]]
:*In the Japanese version of this episode, the Dinobots' roars were replaced with classic kaiju roars (mostly an altered version of Baragon's roar).
:*'''Cut:''' Following Spike's line, "There goes an Autobot with guts" and Ratchet charging, the close-up of Spike's head and Ratchet repairing Teletraan-1 have been cut. The sequence resumes at Sludge firing his laser eyes.
:*'''Cut:''' After Prime yells "Roll out!" and transforms, the following footage of the Autobots driving out of the Ark behind him, the pan across the base interior and the footage of Wheeljack working on the Dinobot brain upgrades have all been cut.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Na pomoshch, Dinoboty!'''" (На помощь, Диноботы!, "Help us, Dinobots!")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''S.O.S Dinoboti'''" (С.О.С Диноботи, "S.O.S Dinobot")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 3: "S.O.S. Dinobots" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1997 — ''The Transformers'' — War of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[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]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Roar of the Dinobots (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-05.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sos Dinobots}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Fire on the Mountain (episode)

2016-01-21T22:21:19Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the Legends event|Fire on the Mountain (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=9
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=63
|prev2=Fire in the Sky
|next2=A Plague of Insecticons
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=49
|prev3=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
|next3=Countdown to Extinction (episode)
|image=Fire on the mountain.jpg
|caption="I don't understand it, baby. This has never happened to me before, honest."
|title="Fire on the Mountain"
|production code=#700-06
|airdate=[[December 22]], 1984
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons uncover the Crystal of Power in Peru, and the Autobots resurrect Skyfire to stop them.'''

==Synopsis==
While patrolling a refinery, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] spot [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] stealing steel. The [[Decepticon]]s get away with the loot by collapsing the refinery behind them. The Autobots report back to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], who is puzzled about the Decepticons' motives. The [[Autobot]]s launch a [[Sky Spy]] to home in on any Decepticon activity, and the satellite picks up strange energy readings in the [[Peru]]vian [[Andes Mountains|Andes]].

[[File:Crystalofpower.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

There, the Decepticons have followed an [[Inca]]n legend to an ancient temple that rests on a shaft leading deep into the [[Earth's core]], capped by the [[Crystal of Power]]. With the metal acquired by Starscream, the Decepticons have fashioned a weapon frame to accommodate the crystal. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] spots the Sky Spy, and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] tests the weapon by blowing the satellite out of the sky. The metal, however, proves inadequate and melts with exposure to the raw energy unleashed from the Earth’s core. Starscream tries to shift blame to Thundercracker for the faulty metal, but Megatron blames them both and has them stay behind at the temple while he soars to a nearby mining town to find replacement metal.

The nearby Peruvian mining town is abuzz with the sudden show of power from the ancient temple. A reactionary elder proclaims that long-forgotten gods have come back to punish them, but her more level-headed granddaughter, [[Luisa]], realizes that someone must have uncovered the fabled Crystal of Power.

[[File:G1 FireontheMountain Sideswipe piledriving.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Freud would have had a field day with this.]]

In the [[Arctic]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] are jackhammering through the ice to resurrect the fallen warrior [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]. The massive jet emerges from the ice and transforms into [[robot mode]]. Wheeljack immediately assigns him to fly back to Autobot headquarters to pick up Brawn and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] before heading down to the Andes Mountains.

In short order, Skyfire is in the Andes, closing in on the Decepticons. Windcharger and Brawn skydive from the jet, tangling with [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] while Skyfire goes to investigate the strange energy readings from the Incan temple. While the smaller Autobots are able to hold their own against Megatron’s lieutenants, the Decepticon leader proves too powerful for them and they scatter. Windcharger desperately calls for Skyfire to return while Brawn bites off more than he can chew in the form of an angered Megatron.

[[File:FireontheMountain SoundwaveMegsgun.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Freud would have had...oh wait, I just said that.]]

Skyfire zooms in to the rescue and gracefully airlifts Brawn and Windcharger from the thick of Decepticon danger. Skyfire quickly returns to the Ark to pick up some reinforcements and streaks back to Peru. He deposits the Autobots near the mining town to take care of Megatron while he goes to investigate the Incan temple.

The Autobots stop Megatron, Reflector and Soundwave mid-raid, with Brawn having the ball-bearings enough to swipe Megatron's [[Fusion cannon|arm cannon]] and blast the Decepticon leader with his own weapon! Laserbeak steals back the weapon and Megatron swears vengeance. He has gathered a metal strong enough for the Crystal, and requests that [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] come to retrieve it, adding further insult to Thundercracker and Starscream who are left guarding the temple.

[[File:Brawnfusioncannon.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Good grief, it's a running gag.]]

A stray blast during the battle nearly drops an electrical tower on top of Luisa, but she is saved by Spike and Bumblebee. Luisa quickly explains that these "evil creatures" have stolen the Crystal of Power. She leads Bumblebee and Spike to a secret entrance in the temple. Soundwave detects their presence, and dispatches Ravage to follow them.

Meanwhile, Thundercracker spots Skyfire skulking about the temple. The Decepticon warrior is torn; if he blasts Skyfire, Starscream is likely to take all the credit. Conversely, if he lets Skyfire destroy the Crystal-based weapon, perhaps Starscream can take the blame. Starscream overhears Thundercracker plotting, and blasts Skyfire. He then blackmails Thundercracker to do his bidding, lest Starscream reveal to their leader just how uncertain Thundercracker's loyalties can be.

The Decepticons load up their stolen steel with Skywarp's help and depart. To cover their exit, Megatron blasts a nearby mountain, creating a deadly rockfall that threatens the mining town.

The Autobots use their firepower to reduce the falling boulders to pebbles, saving the village. Meanwhile, Megatron returns to the temple, where he successfully tests a new weapon frame that can handle the power of the crystal. Bumblebee, Spike and Luisa surreptitiously arrive in the temple, spotting the inert form of Skyfire. Spike starts repairing the fallen warrior, just as Ravage pounces. Bumblebee tries holding off the Decepticon jaguar while Spike works as fast as he can.

[[File:G1 FireontheMountain Spike Luisa BB.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|There are [[Bumblebee (Movie)|some]] out there who understand what Bumblebee's about to go through.]]

The rest of the Autobots arrive at the temple, but Megatron pins them down with devastating firepower from his weapon frame cannon. The Autobots are able to outflank Megatron, and the tide of battle is turned by Skyfire, freshly repaired by Spike. Skyfire strafes the weapons frame, destroying it and unleashing the power of the mountain. The Decepticons retreat, and Thundercracker takes fleeting pleasure in seeing Megatron and Starscream fail.

That night, Wheeljack caps the fire stream with a new invention that can contain the power that the crystal formerly held in check. The Autobots celebrate their victory while Bumblebee and Spike drive Luisa back to the mining town, where she promises to introduce Bumblebee to her brother’s convertible, Juanita.
{{-}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (3)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (7)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (12)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (15)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (16)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (17)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (19)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (20)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (21)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (22)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (25)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (27)

|c2=
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (1)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (9)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (23)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
*[[Luisa]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Looks more like stealing to me… and I'm talking steel!"
:—'''Brawn''' confronts the Decepticons with fists and horrible puns.

"Awww, hexagonal nuts!"
:—'''Trailbreaker''', after he and Brawn totally fail to stop the Decepticons.

"It's cold enough to freeze the ailerons off a [[titanium moosebot]]!"
:—'''Sideswipe'''

'''Soundwave:''' "The Autobot jet is afraid to fight!" 
'''Brawn:''' "Wrong again, you dipstick tapedeck!" 
'''Windcharger:''' "We just didn't want him to spoil ''our'' fun!"

"Have fun playing crystal nurse, Screamer! Byyyye!"
:—'''Skywarp''', being a jerk.

"Fate, schmate. It isn’t over yet, Megabum!"
:—'''Trailbreaker''', after Megatron prematurely gloats of imminent victory.

"Optimus ol' buddy, this is what separates the Autobots from the robot chickens!" 
"Ain’t no one calling me a robot chicken!"
:—'''Ironhide''' and '''Brawn''' don't know what Adult Swim has planned for their kind in 20 years.

"What’s the matter, fearless leader? You and Starscream look real geeky!"
:—'''Thundercracker''', being a jerk.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
* Coloring errors:
** Only one of Starscream's "boobs" is colored its proper gray as he reminds Thundercracker of who is in charge.
** The back of Brawn's backpack is yellow after he transforms to [[robot mode]].
** The blue color of Trailbreaker's eyeband kind of drips down onto his face while the steel plant is collapsing around him.
** Brawn's helmet is light gray as he watches Teletraan's screen.
** Soundwave has a white leg as he follows Megatron down the pyramid's staircase.
** Starscream's eyes are blue as he drags the weapon frame over to Megatron.
** Starscream has extra yellow bits above and below his canopy as Megatron helps him to his feet.
** The lower "cheeks" of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in just before he transforms to fire on Brawn.
** Megatron's gun mode is entirely white as Soundwave grasps him two-handed, right before the first commercial break.
** Ironhide is colored gray in the aerial shot of the Autobots approaching the <s>steel mill</s> mining town.
** As Starscream rebukes Thundercracker, his air intake is the same dark gray as his helmet, instead of red.
** Rumble's eyeband isn't colored in as the Decepticons fly out of the <s>steel mill</s> mining town.
** Bumblebee's nose is yellow as he tells Spike he can't hold Ravage off much longer.
** In the shot where Megatron's cannon shots are going wild, Starscream's leg is colored Brawn-green.
** In the wide shot of the temple top, Ironhide's head is gray instead of red; the colorists might have gotten him mixed up with Windcharger.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is light gray instead of black as Prime hoists and throws him.
* As Brawn confronts Starscream and Thundercracker, the Decepticons switch places between shots.
* After the Sky Spy explodes, we can still see a picture of the pyramid on Teletraan I’s screen.
* As Wheeljack encourages Sideswipe, the glow of his right ear isn't quite aligned with the ear itself.
* As he first bursts to the surface encased in ice, Skyfire's (vaguely drawn) profile looks a lot more like his toy than his animation model, with separate booster jets and a rounded cockpit.
* When Sideswipe says "It's Skyfire", he speaks in a raspy voice that is vaguely similar to Scrapper's voice, even though Scrapper won't appear for another seven episodes.
* The parts of Skyfire's tail end that light up as he activates his jets don't actually correspond to his jet thrusters.

[[File:FireOnTheMountain Windcharger vehiclemode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The legs on the animator's Windcharger toy would never stay folded up. Your wiki editors can sympathize.]]
* Someone must have been drawing Windcharger's car mode straight off his toy. As he flees from Laserbeak, his rear section, which is his folded-up feet, is not aligned with the rest of his car body... a problem very commonly found on his toy.
* Soundwave fires on Brawn with his own gun, but with Megatron's cannon sound effect.
* Skyfire's engines don't glow throughout the whole sequence of him rescuing Brawn and Windcharger.
* Ironhide and Ratchet have crazy huge side windows as they drive alongside Prime. The same error (and animation?) pops up again in "[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction]]".
* When Optimus Prime rams Megatron through the wall, the inside of the wall momentarily becomes bright white for some reason, while the view through the newly created hole shows apparent nighttime outside.
* Flying Autobots:
** Bluestreak and Windcharger get an engine-burst noise as they leap out from beneath the collapsing transmission tower.
** Brawn gets a flight sound as he leaps the final distance between him and Starscream.
** Ironhide gets the same treatment as he leaps to attack Megatron.
** And then Prime also gets the same sound effect as he tackles Megatron.
* Bluestreak's mouth isn't moving as he delivers his "watch the birdie" line.
* Soundwave's eject button is on the wrong side (his right shoulder) as he ejects Ravage.
* Thundercracker's weapon barrel has almost no interior as he threatens Skyfire.
* When Megatron follows Starscream and Thundercracker out of the pyramid, his Decepticon emblem disappears for a moment.
* As Trailbreaker says his "isn't over yet" line, his leg is red instead of black. Then Wheeljack pops out of the rubble from the spot where Sunstreaker was buried a moment ago.
* One gun, many lasers:
** No fewer than five laser beams are shown flying at Windcharger when Laserbeak isn't on-screen. Even if you count his eye beams, Laserbeak only has four guns.
** As the battle gets fully underway, four laser beams are shown coming from Megatron's crystal weapon.
** Starscream only has two guns to fire at Brawn, but three lasers are shown streaking past him as he runs up the stairs.
* After Skyfire revives, he doesn't have the exterior damage to his chest. Spike was barely able to get Skyfire's interior damage fixed before Ravage batted Bumblebee away and tried to attack the humans. As he transforms to [[alternate mode|jet mode]], Skyfire also has an odd blue panel on his undercarriage which is not normally present.
* When Starscream lands on the temple and starts firing at Brawn and Windcharger, his lasers are Autobot orange instead of Decepticon pink. The next shot shows the usual pink lasers hitting Windcharger.
* As Reflector and Soundwave fire from the cover of the ruins, Reflector is using a tiny gun mode Shockwave as his weapon!
* In the wide shot a second later, ''all'' the lasers are colored Decepticon pink, even though some are supposed to be Autobot shots.
*When Skyfire swoops over Soundwave and Reflector and destroys their stone bunkers, both the lasers hitting their targets and the explosions are missing, so it appears the walls just fall apart.
* The crystal cannon's barrel isn't hollow as Megatron aims it at Prime and Ironhide.
* Starscream's dialogue as he whines about Thundercracker making that "awful thunder noise" as the Decepticons retreat indicates that Thundercracker was supposed to be using his sonic boom powers in the scene (see "continuity notes", below). In practise, only the standard Decepticon jet engine sound effect is heard, no louder than normal.
* The Autobots get a ridiculously loud sound effect for the act of turning on their headlights.
* Bumblebee has no interior when he opens his door to offer Spike and Luisa a lift.

===Continuity errors===
* The Incans apparently built temples with steps large enough for Transformers to use, staircases that lead to blank walls, passages long enough to drive down, and stone doors that automatically open when someone approaches.
* Megatron can pick off the Sky Spy (in low Earth orbit) but can't shoot Optimus Prime when he's 30 feet in front of him. The scope of the Sky Spy's explosion indicates a level of power that the crystal weapon never shows again.
* Skyfire's resurrection is one of the cartoon's most infamously problematic bits of continutity:
** Skyfire was left for dead and mourned as such in his previous, debut appearance in "[[Fire in the Sky]]". Now, suddenly, it just takes Sideswipe's pistons to dig him up out of the ice, and Wheeljack isn't the slightest bit surprised to find him alive and well. Why didn't they just dig him up right after he crashed? They only dug him up when they needed a ride?
** As no mention is made of how they get to the North Pole, on the face of it, the episode makes it appear that Wheeljack and Sideswipe have ''driven'' there, calling into question why, if they can make such a large journey this way, the Autobots can't simply drive to South America instead of requiring Skyfire to fly them. Notably, however, per their [[bio]]s, both Wheeljack and Sideswipe are two of the very small number of Autobots capable of independent flight (Sideswipe via his [[jet pack|rocket pack]], Wheeljack via jets in his arms), so it seems logical that the scriptwriter selected them for this scene as they could have flown themselves to the Arctic. Of course, nothing explicitly indicates this in the episode itself.
** Presumably as a result of some kind of miscommunication in production, Sideswipe is seen using an actual hand-held jackhammer to unearth Skyfire, rather than his customary built-in arm-mounted jackhammers.
** How does Skyfire know Wheeljack's name? Wheeljack wasn't part of the Autobot group that went to the Arctic Circle in "[[Fire in the Sky]]". It's possible they knew each other on Cybertron millions of years ago, but this, of course, isn't indicated. For that matter, Wheeljack tells him to pick up Brawn and Windcharger who were also not present in the earlier episode
* The Decepticons leave the temple to attack the mining town. En route, they're attacked by Brawn and Windcharger and drive them off. Skyfire then flies all the way back to Autobot Headquarters, picks up the rest of the Autobots, flies all the way back to Peru... and the Decepticons have apparently just reached the mining town like five minutes earlier.
* Soundwave was last seen at the <s>steel mill</s> mining town battle, but suddenly pops up outside the temple to send Ravage after Bumblebee and the humans.
* "It's not that we had any doubts, Wheeljack, but..." "You don't suppose we could..." "Get a fast ride back into town?" If no lines were cut from between the first and second sentence, then it's just some bizarrely awkward dialog.
* Bumblebee gets a bizarre but clearly intentional bit of humanizing in the episode's final shot, with his whole body frame bending like rubber to show embarrassment.


===Rhino DVD release===
[[File:Fitm dvd broadcast.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You call this restoration?]]
The Rhino DVD version of this episode uses a number of erroneous takes as the basis of its remastered animation. As a result, the DVD introduces several coloring errors that were not present in the broadcast version:
* Trailbreaker, Brawn, and Starscream are colored red, brown, and purple (respectively) in their introductory shots.
* When Skywarp mocks Starscream for having to guard the Crystal, he is colored like Thundercracker.
* When Starscream and Thundercracker carry Skyfire's inert form, Skyfire has Skywarp’s colors.
* "Skyfire is an excellent catch!" In the first shot, Megatron steps up to stand next to Thundercracker (who has a white-instead-of-blue wingtip); in the second shot, Thundercracker has been replaced by Starscream. This is one of a handful of Rhino errors not corrected by the later [[Shout! Factory]] DVD release.
* When Skyfire is about to destroy the cannon, it already appears to be melted to slag.
* When Skyfire strafes the crystal-powered weapon, he momentarily has Skywarp's colors.

The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD include: Opening / Stolen Steel / It's Skyfire / To The Mining Town / Visiting Decepticon / Invention Works

===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 FireontheMountain SS chestmissiles.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Starscream's dreaded boob bombs.]]
* This episode references "[[Fire in the Sky]]", the previous (and first) episode that Skyfire appeared in.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Starscream has a dozen rockets in hidden chest compartments. This ability will appear again in "[[Full Throttle Scramble Power!]]". The feature was later immortalized in toy form for Starscream's ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' incarnation through clip-on accessories, and again as part of his ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figure, this time actually incorporated into the figure.
** Soundwave conceals a tricorder-like scanning device in his left wrist, which was later incorporated into ''his'' Masterpiece toy as a clip-on part. Presumably the Masterpiece toy-designers really like this episode.
** The latest device to come out of Laserbeak's head is the microphone-like thing. It's not clear what purpose it serves, as Laserbeak then broadcasts his findings to Megatron via pulsewaves that come out of his ''eyes'', of all things.
** Brawn has a retractable claw that can extend in his car mode.

[[File:Megatron&crystalofpower.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Seriously, in the cartoon world, crystals are the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|most]] [[The God Gambit|powerful]] [[A Prime Problem|things]] [[Fire in the Sky|ever]].]]
* While the concept makes no sense in real-world terms, this is the second time in almost as many episodes that a greenish crystal has been linked to the Earth's core.

* Skywarp refers to Starscream by the nickname "Screamer" in this episode, a nickname used again by Streetwise in the late Season 2 episode "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]".

* Fans have long cited this episode when discussing the improbability of Brawn's death in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', observing that Brawn had previously survived direct hits from Megatron's gun mode in this episode... but it simply ain't so. Brawn ''dodges'' every shot that comes from Megatron. It's actually ''Soundwave'', using his own standard weapon, who shoots Brawn in the head to no effect. Not that we're questioning the indestructibility of the all-powerful Brawn, of course.

* This is the only episode to play on Thundercracker's uncertain loyalties, a trait called out in his original [[bio]]. However, the official [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] synopsis for the episode indicates that it was originally going to take the idea even further:

::"The Autobots arrive to stop [the Decepticons], and Jetfire tries to convince a beleaguered Thundercracker to switch loyalties and join the Autobots. He is caught and wounded by Starscream. Spike, with the help of a local native girl, goes to his rescue, and Jetfire--with a little assist from Thundercracker--turns away the Decepticons and destroys the "Crystal of Power."<ref>http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#069</ref>

[[File:Fireonthemountain soundwave vs brawn round1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Better get use to this, Soundwave.]]

*Had the above-mentioned audio gaffe not taken place, this episode would mark the only instance of Thundercracker using his sonic boom powers in the entire cartoon, as the Decepticons retreat at the end of the episode. The power will ''actually'' be used by Megatron in "[[Heavy Metal War]]".

* This episode begins a mini-tradition of Bluestreak [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2|shooting]] [[Brainstorm!|down]] Laserbeak.

* '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''', Round 1: Brawn flies Soundwave into a mountainside! Brawn 1, Soundwave 0 [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|>>]]

===Real-world references===
* The title of this episode may be a reference to the Grateful Dead song of the same name.
* The Transformers visit Peru, an ancient Incan temple, and a <s>steel manufacturing</s> mining village where everyone speaks heavily accented English.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak pursues Windcharger with a [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar, and fires on him with the sound of the [[Death Star]] super laser firing. After the commercial break, he gets more TIE sounds along with some ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engines, during several different shots.
** Megatron launches to attack Brawn with another ''Falcon'' engine burst. The roar continues into the next shot as the sound of Skyfire's jets.
** ''Falcon'' engine whine as Laserbeak dives to retrieve Megatron's fusion cannon from Brawn, and again as Bluestreak and Windcharger jump out of the way, and again as Laserbeak starts chasing Bumblebee.
** More TIE engine as Laserbeak continues harassing Bumblebee, along with Death Star superlaser/Alderaan exploding.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Skywarp leaves the temple, and ''Falcon'' engine whine as he arrives at the battle site.
** ''Falcon'' whine as Laserbeak perches on Megatron's shoulder.

===Trivia===
* Luisa's name is never spoken in the episode.
* A hissing sound effect (like the sound of air escaping from a canister) is heavily used in this episode, especially when a character is jumping or taking off into the air. It's never used in such a manner again. {{fact}}
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' console game.
*When the Hub re-aired season 1 and 2 this was left out the first time
* After Skyfire flies the Autobots to Peru, Optimus Prime pats him on the nosecone affectionately. It seems he doesn't recall that section is Skyfire's robot mode crotch.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fogo na Montanha'''" ("Fire on the Mountain")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il segreto degli Incas'''" ("Secret of the Incas")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Fuoco sulla montagna'''" ("Fire on the mountain")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Inca no Hihō'''" (インカの秘宝, "Incaic Jewel")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 3]], [[1986]]
:*The Japanese ordering of this episode places it toward the end of the series. This was done as it featured Skyfire prominently and with his toy being of [[Bandai]] design (and not sold in Japan as a Transformer), that caused some legal concerns amongst Takara (many of Skyfire's smaller scenes in other episodes were cut entirely). Though the episodes featuring him as a main characters were eventually shown, the scripts were not reworked to adjust to the new chronological placement, simply being more or less direct translations of the original English versions.
:*'''Cut:''' After Brawn declares, "It's fightin' time", the following overhead shot of Starscream and Skywarp fleeing the room is cut. The sequence resumes at the close-up of Starscream saying "Correction, Autobot...".
:*'''Cut:''' After Starscream and Thundercracker take-off with the materials, the following scene of Brawn and Trailbreaker crawling out of the rubble, lamenting that they lost the steel and rolling out for headquarters have been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Spike's head and his line, "Uh oh, it's picking up a weird energy reading from those ruins", and the monitor shot displaying the ruins, have been cut. The sequence picks up at Laserbeak flying through the air.
:*'''Cut:''' When Megatron and the Decepticons take off for the mining town in Peru, the following scene of them flying through the air and Megatron's line, "Any who stand in our way will be demolished", have been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' After Skyfire tells everyone to buckle-up and blasts off for Peru, the following scene of him flying over the Peruvian mountains has been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' The scene panning over the mountain road leading to the metal forging facility has been cut.
:*'''Cut:''' During the attack on the Decepticons at the metal forging facility, the scene of Megatron slowly marching forward as laser beams bounce off him has been cut. The sequence resumes at his lines, "Skywarp, I have created a steel alloy...".
:*'''Cut:''' The scene of Starscream and Thundercracker carrying Skyfire's unconscious body has been cut. The sequence resumes at the close-up of Skyfire's head as he's being dropped.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skhvatka na vershine'''" (Схватка на вершине, "The Engagement at the Very Top")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vatrena planeta'''" (Ватрена планета, "Fiery Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 8: "Fire on the Mountain" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1997 — ''The Transformers'' — War of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume One ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-06.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

War of the Dinobots

2016-01-21T22:20:38Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=10
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=8
|prev2=S.O.S. Dinobots
|next2=Countdown to Extinction (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=14
|prev3=Prime Target (episode)
|next3=Atlantis, Arise!
|image=Wotd wheeljack meteorite.jpg
|caption=
|title="War of the Dinobots"
|production code=#700-07
|airdate=[[November 24]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Snarl and Swoop are added to the Dinobot roster... and just in time!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:WaroftheDinos Meteorite.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Meteorini Chipper—ah, forget it.]]
At an observatory, [[Chip Chase]] and his colleague [[Jeff (astronomer)|Jeff]] spot an [[Meteorini Chipperoni|unidentified meteor]] through the telescope. Its strange readings cause Chip to call in the [[Autobot]]s, who soon arrive. Chip's already calculated when and where the meteor will land, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] decides that the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] will be useful backup when it does.

At Decepticon headquarters, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is watching video footage of the Dinobots and raging about how the dim-witted robots have defeated his warriors. Though [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] protests that the Dinobots are brilliant as warriors, Megatron insists they must have weaknesses and orders [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] to find them.

Soundwave finds the Autobots in a derelict area waiting for the meteor to arrive. The Autobots take cover as the meteor crashes down. Once it has crash-landed, Optimus announces that they must analyze it, and blasts a clunk off for [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] to take back to [[Ark (G1)|headquarters]]. Leaving the Dinobots to guard the meteorite, the Autobots roll out for home. As they drive, Optimus announces that he's decided to get [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and Wheeljack to build two more Dinobots, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and Chip offer to help. Back at base, Chip selects a ''Stegosaurus'' and a ''Pteranodon'' for the [[alternate mode]]s of the new Dinobots.

[[File:War of the dinos 1.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Me Grimlock say "Pull!"]]
At the meteor site, Soundwave scans the Dinobots' brains while in hiding and reports back to Megatron. The Decepticon leader declares [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] is arrogant, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] is hostile, and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] is stupid. He vows to use those weaknesses against the Dinobots.

Megatron's forces arrive at the meteorite's location, and after the Dinobots trash the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], Megatron comes forth and feigns humility. He wonders aloud why the Dinobots, as powerful as they are, follow a weaker leader such as Optimus Prime. The Dinobots debate Megatron's logic and conclude that Grimlock should be leader and they need to destroy Optimus Prime. The three seekers spirit away the meteorite, and Megatron suggests a plan to the Dinobots which will help them eliminate Optimus.

[[File:WaroftheDinos construction.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Dinobots—built to rule!]]
At the Autobot base, Prime and Ratchet oversee construction of two new Dinobots: [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]. During this, Wheeljack discovers the meteorite's energy is highly unstable. [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] manages to encase the fragment in a force field just before it detonates. Fearing a huge explosion, Optimus Prime rushes out alone to warn the Dinobots.

At the base, Ratchet and Wheeljack have Snarl and Swoop do a test run of their powers. [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] attempt to stop the new Dinobots, but get their cans soundly kicked, though Bluestreak claims the Autobots would have won if the fight was for real.

Prime arrives at the crash site to find the meteorite gone. As he attempts to contact headquarters, the Dinobots attack him and he reluctantly fights back. Though he puts up a good fight, Optimus is unable to defeat the Dinobots by himself. Despite his pleas that they're friends, the Dinobots blast him unconscious, however, Grimlock stops Slag from finishing their former leader off, a restraint that Prime attributes to their Autobot training. The Dinobots instead take Prime to the Decepticons. In a nearby canyon, the Decepticons are draining energy from the meteorite, though Starscream's warning that the energy appears unstable is dismissed by Megatron. The Decepticon leader is outraged when the Dinobots turn up with Optimus. When Starscream asserts that Grimlock won't destroy Optimus because he's soft, the Dinobot leader shoots Starscream. Optimus attempts to warn Megatron about the unstable nature of the meteorite, but Megatron believes he's lying.

[[File:Grimlockapologize.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Um... please let go. That hurts." "yOu MiNe NoW..."]]
At Autobot headquarters, [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and Chip are concerned because Optimus hasn't reported in. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] alerts Wheeljack that the meteorite has been moved and is about ready to blow. Snarl and Swoop are sent to stop it.

Megatron finally notices that the energon cubes they've been filling are unstable, moments before the pile of cubes explodes, throwing the nearby Decepticons aside. Starscream is in mid "I told you so" when Swoop and Snarl arrive. A vicious battle ensues, during which the two new Dinobots appear to be equal to the three original Dinobots and the evenly-match fight shows no sign of abating. A blow from Snarl sends Grimlock dangerously near the destabilized meteorite, and as the Decepticons flee, Prime pushes Grimlock to safety, shielding his body as the meteorite explodes.

Realizing that Prime is both strong and has concern for his troops, Grimlock orders the Dinobots to attack Megatron. The Decepticons retreat, and Grimlock asks for Prime's forgiveness as the other Autobots arrive. However, Optimus Prime merely declares that the meteorite menace is over and they should go home.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (4)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (5)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (14)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (15)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (16)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (19)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (20)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (21)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (22)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (23)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (24)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (25)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (26)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (27)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (8)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (10)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (11)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (12)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (13)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (18)

|c3=
* [[Chip Chase]] (1)
* [[Jeff (astronomer)|Jeff]] (2)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well, meteor or no meteor, Optimus Prime, it's great not worrying about the Decepticons for a change." 
"I always worry about the Decepticons, Spike."
:—'''Spike Witwicky''' learns that '''Optimus Prime''' ''really'' needs a vacation.

"I’ve seen enough! My finest warriors defeated by those primitive, pea-brained beasts. Revolting!"
:—'''Megatron''' on the Decepticons' failure to defeat the Dinobots.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's always outrageous."
:—'''Chip Chase''', wondering if they are [[Jem|truly truly outrageous]].

'''Grimlock''': "We destroy Optimus Prime!" 
'''Slag''': "And him, Grimlock, be new leader!" 
'''Sludge''': "Hail him, Grimlock!"
:—The Dinobots plan their coup.

"Great! I'm finally gonna get in a fight!"
:—'''Sideswipe''', finally seeing some action after being largely ignored for several episodes.

"In a ''real'' fight, we'd've creamed 'em! ...mmm, maybe."
:—'''Bluestreak''', after getting pummeled by the new Dinobots

"I do not want to fight you, but you leave me no choice."
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s warning to the Dinobots.

"You, Megatron, tricked us! Make us fight good leader, Optimus Prime. Prime risk own life to save us. Bad Megatron!" 
"Decepticons, retreat now, quick, at once!"
:—'''Grimlock''' switches allegiances again and puts the fear of God into '''Megatron'''.

"Optimus Prime, can you forgive? Me Grimlock was jealous of you."
:—'''Grimlock''', actually showing humility for once.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* During the scene in Decepticon headquarters when Megatron is watching footage of the Dinobots, there's a short line above and below his fist as if to make it appear to be shaking in anger. Perhaps a shortcut note for the animators that never got carried out?
* Coloring errors:
** Reflector's center bot is missing his green coloration as he turns toward the deactivated viewscreen.
** Soundwave is missing his yellow stripes as he lands in the city.
** Soundwave's cheek guards are blue instead of white as he edges toward the Autobots.
** In our first shot of the Dinobots, Slag's chest plate is red instead of white.
** In the first shot of the Autobots awaiting the meteorite, Hound is colored as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]].[[File:GrimSlagSludge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Okay, sure, Slag's cheekguards are the wrong color, but it's still a totally sweet shot.]]
** Slag's head is miscolored (as it so frequently is):
*** As Optimus prepares to blast off a fragment of the meteorite (gray).
*** As he transforms to listen to Megatron, and again as he points out that Prime will resist Grimlock (white sides).
*** As the Dinobots turn around after the first commercial break (starts red, turns gray).
*** As Megatron humbly offers a strategy (red helmet, white face).
*** As the three Dinobots form up to confront Optimus Prime (gray with red forehead).
*** When the Dinobots investigate Prime's body after blasting him (gray with a red dot - he's a Hindu!).
*** As Slag proposes melting down Optimus (white sides, red face, a combo that happens so frequently it might be an alternate color model.)
*** As the Dinobots land at the new meteorite site (gray).
*** In the shot after Grimlock shoots Starscream.
*** At the beginning of the battle between old and new Dinobots, as Slag and Sludge transform to their dino mode (and again when this clip is replayed in reverse, minus Grimlock, after the meteorite exploded).
** Grimlock and Sludge's heads are light gray instead of black after Prime blasts the meteorite fragment.
** After the Seekers' second pass over the Dinobots, two Thundercrackers fly over the Dinobots, both with wrongly-colored air intakes.
** Thundercracker still has blue air intakes in the diving shot after the Dinobots transform.
** "You are stronger than ''all'' the Autobots!" Megatron's waist-sides are gray instead of red, and one of his buttons is blue instead of red.
** "Optimus Prime is leader now. He will ''fight'' if Grimlock lead!" - in addition to his miscolored helmet, Slag has somehow acquired Sludge's already inexplicable glowing orange mouth interior.
** Grimlock's hands are yellow as the Dinobots watch the Decepticons haul the meteorite off.
** The Ark is silver-gray instead of orange in the first establishing shot of Autobot Headquarters.
** As the Autobots are finalizing construction of Snarl and Swoop, Brawn (who is working on Swoop) is colored with a yellow back, a light blue side, and gray limbs.
** Bluestreak's center head crest is red instead of gray at two points during his fight with the Dinobots.
** As the Dinobots prepare to unleash their final attack on Optimus Prime, Grimlock's torso is colored gray instead of yellow.
** Sludge's helmet-sides are once again light gray as the Dinobots carry Optimus toward Megatron.
** As Grimlock tells Megatron that he'll terminate Optimus at his discretion, only the center of Grimlock's visor eyes was colored.
** Soundwave's visor is blue, and his forehead is visor-red, as he recoils from the about-to-explode energon cubes.
** As Grimlock transforms to start the battle, the end of Prime's rifle is colored gold, as if it were one of Grimlock's claws.
** Slag's horns are yellow instead of red as Swoop drops his tail.
** Optimus has a blue square around his neck as he runs to save Grimlock.
** Thundercracker is shown crashing alongside Megatron as the meteorite explodes. As Thundercracker hasn't been shown in this scene at all, and Starscream was last seen taking off alongside Megatron, it probably should have been Starscream.
* As he acknowledges Megatron's order, Soundwave's visor splits into two separate eyes, then reforms. Throughout the shot, he's missing his eject button and waist belt control buttons.
* When Spike "sees" the meteoroid, it's streaking across the sky as if heading somewhere else entirely, yet somehow it lands almost right on top of them.
*Optimus blasts a fragment off of the meteor at night, transforms during the day (courtesy of a shot recycled, unaltered, from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"), leaves the scene around dawn, and drives off into the dead of night.
* In the first shot of the Dinobots guarding the meteorite, Slag's eyes are the same red as the rest of his face, and Sludge's helmet is largely white instead of black.
[[File:WaroftheDinobots Sparkplug with plans.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|" 'Down the breast by the arrow direction' ?"]]
[[File:WarDinobots Chip warning Autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|He ''does'' have some buttons on the arm rest, but nothing for them to control.]]
* As Megatron rants about the Dinobots' weakenesses, Soundwave is missing his insignia.
* As usual, the stock animation of the docking tower of Decepticon Headquarters emerging from the water makes it look like it's tilted about 30 degrees from vertical.
* As the Dinobots prepare to fend off the Decepticon attack, Slag's Autobot insignia is missing as he exults about getting to fight.
* As Megatron starts to talk down the Dinobots from fighting, Grimlock and Sludge's flame breath is layered behind Megatron, despite their being in the background.
* An oddly edited shot has Sludge's face filling the frame, just as Slag answers Grimlock's question about liking to fight.
* "Hail him Grimlock!" - the Dinobot cel layers shift back and forth making them appear to be shaking. Or perhaps highly caffeinated. Just prior to this, Grimlock's back/dino mode head is black. As Slag starts to speak, his face turns white.
* No wonder Sparkplug is puzzled by the blueprints. They're labeled with a rather [[Engrish]]y title of "Out Line Plan Desge".
* After his bizarre force field use, Trailbreaker is nowhere to be seen in Wheeljack's workshop.
* When Snarl first introduces himself, his chest is missing the Autobot insignia. When Swoop lands next to Snarl to make his introduction, Snarl's insignia is present.
* When Grimlock fires Prime's rifle at Starscream, it gets the normal Autobot sound effect, instead of its own unique sound.
* Chip doesn't appear to be doing anything to roll his wheelchair as he and Sparkplug run through Autobot Headquarters.
* Only one of Wheeljack's "ears" flashes as he reports the meteorite's location.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** The meteorite is on-screen ''before'' Chip has asked Wheeljack to "get a fix on it".
** Teletraan then provides a ground shot of the valley (minus the Decepticons, Dinobots, energon cubes, etc.)
* Megatron's gun barrel is bigger than his head as he gets to his feet after the explosion.

===Rhino DVD release===
* When Wheeljack says "I can't wait to get to work on this", his side light things do not flash.
* When the Dinobots talk of rebelling against Prime, Slag's face is miscolored, Sludge's mouth moves to Slag's line, and after Grimlock raises his arm there is a zoom take on Slag.
* As Snarl is introduced, Swoop is entirely too dark.
* The energon cubes are miscolored in one scene.
* When the Dinobots carry Optimus, Slag is miscolored again.
* When Starscream says Grimlock will never betray Prime, he is colored as Thundercracker.
* At two points, Starscream's fingers are colored grey instead of blue.
* As Swoop carries Snarl, Snarl's torso is colored like Swoop's body.
* When Megatron and Starscream land, Starscream is miscolored again.
* When Slag and Sludge transform back to [[robot mode]], their transformations are reversed. They start in robot mode but transform into dinosaur mode.
* As Grimlock confronts Megatron and Starscream, Starscream is once again colored as Thundercracker.
* When the Dinobots take Optimus to Megatron, Starscream is in Thundercracker's colors.
* When asking for forgiveness from Optimus, Grimlock's eyes are not colored.

===Continuity errors===
* Chip calls the Autobots, because "they're the only ones who can save the Earth". Despite being charged with this awesome responsibility, the Autobots don't actually ''do'' anything to ward off or contain the meteorite. It's okay, though, because its actual explosion isn't even enough to damage Optimus and Grimlock, who are maybe fifty feet away when it goes up.
* Optimus Prime is amazingly cavalier about blasting the supposedly dangerous, glowing, energy-laden meteorite with his laser rifle.
* In the long shot of the Autobots standing on the mountain about to test the new Dinobots, Optimus can be seen in the distance driving away from Autobot HQ, despite the implication that some time has passed since he left.
* Slag can be clearly seen wearing a [[jet pack]] on his back when the Dinobots leave to deliver Optimus Prime to Megatron, despite it being previously established that the Dinobots can fly without such equipment. The jet pack appears to be based on Skyfire, complete with a blue "cockpit", white body and red thruster modules!

===Astronomical errors===
[[File:WaroftheDinos Meteorite.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|It's Pizza the Hut's home planet!]]

* A ''meteor'' is a chunk of rock that's in the process of burning up in Earth's atmosphere, a process that rarely takes more than a few seconds. As Chip has plenty of time to observe the incoming projectile, it's clearly still a ''meteoroid'', a chunk of rock that's just floating around in space.
* Despite this, the meteor(oid) is trailing a flaming tail, as if it were already entering Earth's atmosphere. To the writers' credit, Prime refers to it as a ''meteorite'' once it's landed.
* Assuming our first view of the meteor/oid is meant to represent what Chip sees (there is a barely-visible telescopic outline around it), the object would have to be ''huge'' to be so highly detailed in a distant view from Earth. Such a huge object would be catastrophic for humankind if it hit Earth.
* We later learn that the thing is only about 30 feet across, though, which makes it way too small to be such a regular round body.
* Chip's telescope is apparently so sophisticated it can pick up the ''sound'' of the meteorite from across the vacuum of space, including its jet engines.
* A celestial impactor on Earth typically leaves a crater about 10 times its own diameter and annihilates both itself and pretty much everything in a much larger radius around it. Our meteorite here smacks into the middle of an urban downtown area, remains completely intact, and leaves no damage more substantial than a flattened Quonset hut and a largeish pothole.

===Continuity notes===
* The footage of the Dinobots that the Decepticons watch doesn't match up with any scene from their previous appearance ("[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]"), implying that the Decepticons have had at least one more run-in with the Dinobots since then.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Prime can... make his fist crackle with energy??
** Soundwave can snake out a long tentacle-like listening bud, to cover whatever distances between him and his subject he can't cover.
** He can also (in accord with his [[bio]]) remotely mind-read other Transformers, this time by means of a little widget that pops out of his head with a doofy-sounding ''DOING!'' noise.
** The Seekers can deploy grappling claws at the end of long cables.
** Ironhide creates metal by spraying it out of his fingertips onto the floor.
** Prowl uses a laser fired from his retracted wrist to slice the metal into smaller pieces.
** This may be the most bizarre implementation of Trailbreaker's force field ever. To contain the meteorite fragment's explosion, he starts ''spinning'', disappearing into a black blur. One might presume that this is done to invert the force field, keeping the damaging forces inside instead of outside. (Using this ability causes him to vanish from the animation!)
** When he first appears Snarl is seen holding his sword, the first of the very rare times ''any'' of the Dinobots' swords appear.
** Swoop can extend his robot arms in dino mode if he needs to give somebody a good shove.
*The derelict area where the meteor lands is shown to be across the river from a somewhat largish city which goes unidentified during the course of the episode.
* Huffer has evidently changed his tune about the Dinobots, as he helps build Snarl and Swoop in this episode.
[[File:WarOfDinobots SnarlDebut.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
* Snarl, in a rare move for a Dinobot, actually uses the word "I". All the others always say "me", with the exceptions of Sludge from "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]", and that time Grimlock [[Grimlock's New Brain|was a genius]].
* The energon cube that Soundwave fills is a bit odd; after he creates it, it just floats in mid-air. He then fires his gun into the meteorite, which obligingly sends a stream of energy into the cube. How the heck does that work, exactly?

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] deflecting seeker ball bolts is repurposed as Slag powering up his horn lasers to fire on Optimus. A [[lightsaber]] ignition is used in the same sequence as Prime loses his laser rifle, followed by [[Darth Vader]] and [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] cutting into some machinery during their duel on the Death Star.
** [[Death Star]] firing/Alderaan exploding, + [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wings]] diving, as the Dinobots take off to return to Megatron.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Snarl and Swoop take off from Autobot HQ.

===Trivia===
[[File:Grimhead.JPG|thumb|"Me Grimlock before, me Grimlock after. Head no matter, always sexpot."]]
*Grimlock's head has been redesigned, though the old version still crops up in a few future episodes. However, the old design remained predominant in the comics all the way until Grimlock evolved into an [[Action Master]] in "[[Still Life!]]". The second head design would be used in all incarnations from then on.
* In an earlier draft of this episode's script, it was not Chip who discovered the meteorite, but an original character named Doctor Lynn Hyashi. In a deleted subplot, Sparkplug's jealousy of her technical expertise would have paralleled Grimlock's jealousy of Prime's leadership.
*When Megatron orders the footage of the Decepticons' defeat by the Dinobots turned off, there's a lingering shot of Reflector looking a little alarmed; this is an artifact of the original script for the episode, in which the footage was supposed to be showing a rather detailed, gruesome battering the three-in-one Decepticon received from the Dinobots.
*This episode marks the only occasion in the entire series that a normally functioning Autobot willingly battles a normally functioning Optimus Prime ("[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]" and "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]" don't count, as Prime was a zombie in the former and Rodimus was infected with the Hate Plague in the latter). The Dinobots have quite a bit of success, too...I know [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|somebody]] who could have used some lessons from them.
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' console game. However, it was erroneously named "War '''on''' the Dinobots". It was also, unfortunately, the Kid Rhino remaster.
* Seriously, Optimus Prime does not forgive Grimlock at all.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Guerra dos Dinobots'''" ("War of the Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Krieg der Dinobots'''" ("War of the Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 30]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il meteorite'''" ("The Meteor")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La guerra dei Dinobots'''" ("War of the Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nazo no Kyodai Inseki'''" (謎の巨大隕石, "The Mysterious Giant Meteorite")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 24]], [[1985]]

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rat Dinobota'''" (Рат Динобота, "War of the Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 9: "War of the Dinobots" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1997 — ''The Transformers'' — War of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume One ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[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]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Roar of the Dinobots (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-07.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Ultimate Doom, Part 1

2016-01-21T22:20:08Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=11
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=66
|prev2=The Autobot Run
|next2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=41
|prev3=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2
|next3=The Ultimate Doom, Part 2
|image=Tud1 megatron cybertron.jpg
|caption="A ticker-tape parade using streams of volcanic ash. How ironic!"
|title="The Ultimate Doom, Part 1"
|production code=#700-08
|airdate=[[November 3]], 1984
|story by=[[Dick Robbins]], [[Bryce Malek]], [[Douglas Booth]] and [[Larry Strauss]]
|teleplay by=[[Larry Strauss]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron brings Cybertron into Earth orbit to harvest the energy from the destruction caused by Cybertron's gravity.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Sparkplugkidnapped.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Kidnapping humans will be simplicity itself, thanks to my new, Transformers-sized crane game."]]

[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] attack a solar power station off [[India]]'s [[Malabar Coast]]. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] arrive in time to intercept them. Watching this battle remotely are [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the evil human scientist [[Doctor Arkeville]]. Megatron orders [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] to begin phase two of Operation Guinea Pig, which involves setting [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] loose inside [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]]. With the [[Autobot]]s distracted by Rumble's rumbling, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] flies in, nabs [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and flies out.

Back in India, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] suddenly take flight and retreat. Prime smells a rat, then Sunstreaker tells him of the attack on their headquarters.

[[File:TFG1TUD1.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"I love the Power Glove. It's so bad."]]

After bringing Sparkplug to [[Decepticon]] headquarters, Doctor Arkeville fits him with a mind-control device called a [[hypno-chip]] which brings him into the Decepticons' control. As a means of demonstrating the new technology, Sparkplug is made to attack a full-sized replica of Optimus Prime. Megatron intends to use this technology to create an army of human slaves. With the successful completion of the first part of his plan, Megatron communicates with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] to confirm that the new [[space bridge]] is ready.

The Autobots attack the Decepticon undersea base to rescue Sparkplug. Optimus Prime leads a direct attack from above while [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] tunnel under the ocean floor. The mission is successful, and the Autobots return him to their base. After undergoing repairs, the Autobots and Spike notice that Sparkplug is acting oddly, but before they can learn why, the Decepticons launch a surprise attack. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] realizes that Sparkplug has sabotaged the Autobots' weapons and [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], which let the Decepticons in undetected.

When Spike confronts his father, Sparkplug appeals to Spike to join the Decepticons. Spike refuses, and Sparkplug tells his son that when they next meet, they will be enemies. In a desperate effort to salvage the situation, Spike sets off the [[fire-retardant foam]]. This clogs the Decepticons' weapons, and Megatron orders a retreat. Sparkplug willingly goes with them.

[[File:Spikesparkandark.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Snow Miser tunes in to his favorite show, ''The Witwickys''.]]

At the space bridge site, Megatron reveals that he intends to bring [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into Earth orbit using the bridge. The gravity of Cybertron will cause natural disasters, and the Decepticons plan to harvest the vaguely-defined "energy" this will somehow create, and transport it to Cybertron. Arkeville isn't too keen on this idea, but Megatron says it's a new problem for the evil scientist to solve using his genius intellect.

Using the [[Sky Spy]], the Autobots see the giant space bridge and [[roll out]] to investigate. When they attack the bridge site, Megatron releases a group of human slaves to act as shields. The ploy works, and things get even more complicated when the humans attack the Autobots with sticks and stones.

Spike stops Sparkplug from attacking Bumblebee, and for a moment it appears that Sparkplug is back to normal. But Arkeville recomputes his signal, and Sparkplug is again under Decepticon control. He rushes to the first space bridge pylon and activates it. Thundercracker activates the second.

Optimus Prime chases Megatron up to the third pylon and wrestles him away from the button. Megatron orders Prime to turn on the pylon himself, or else he will be responsible for catapulting Cybertron into oblivion. Unwilling to sacrifice his home planet, Optimus Prime activates the space bridge, bringing Cybertron into Earth's orbit, but wonders if he is dooming Earth in the process.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (6)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (7)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (23)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (24)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (25)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (26)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (27)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (28)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (29)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (18)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (19)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Indian maharaja]] (1)
*[[Doctor Arkeville]] (10)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (16)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Skywarp''': I say Megatron's plan was brilliant. 
'''Starscream''': And I say the diversionary attack on the solar plant was a waste of energy. 
'''Skywarp''': You waste more energy with your mouth!
:—More heart-warming Decepticon camaraderie.

"I've got the plan, if all of you've got the cast-iron [[manifold]]s for it!" 
"We have!"
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Into the ocean, let's be daring. The last one in is a rusty herring."
:—'''Jazz''', turning into [[Wheelie (G1)|a poet]]

'''Megatron''': [[Fire-retardant foam]]! Our circuitry's been shorted out. 
'''Thundercracker''': My weapon! 
'''Skywarp''': Can't we just bash 'em to pieces? 
'''Megatron''': If we stay, this foam will permanently damage our circuitry. The Autobots are through anyway. RETREAT!
:—The Decepticons become ever more farcical and ridiculous.

"As the Earthlings say: Fat chance, fat-head!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' has been spending too much time with Spike.

"Have I saved Cybertron...only to destroy the Earth?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' angsts over his decision to bring Cybertron into Earth's orbit.

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
* The Maharaja says that his solar panels are collecting three hundred energy units per second. Typical government inflation! The screen says it's ''thirty'' units per second.
[[File:UltimateDoom1 Indian maharaja.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* For an Indian, that Maharaja ''sure'' does look like a Caucasian.
* Coloring errors:
** Skywarp has Thundercracker's colors as he blasts his way into the palace.
** As the Autobots enter the water, Sunstreaker is colored red instead of yellow.
** As Rumble transforms, Soundwave's open chest cavity is colored light blue, as if it were closed. His open chest panel is colored dark blue, as if it weren't there!
** Starscream's face is light gray instead of medium gray as he and the other Seekers ride the elevator into Decepticon HQ.
** Starscream's air intake is light gray instead of red as he and the other jets wait for Megatron.
** As he dives back out of Decepticon HQ, Cliffjumper is colored as Bumblebee.
** When Dr. Arkeville mentions having to improve his hypno-chips, the background is Autobot orange instead of Decepticon purple.
* Prime has a sloped windscreen as he and the other Autobots drive through the jungle (repeating an error from "[[Divide and Conquer]]".)
* Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] is drawn pretty badly repeatedly throughout this episode. The front barrel is often drawn at less than half the size it should be. (See the picture further up this page for an example). Apparently size isn't important after all.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Megatron gets a stationary view of the Autobots charging into the Maharaja's palace. Did Starscream and company spend their time there setting up a camera for him?
** He also gets a view of Soundwave hanging around outside Autobot Headquarters. (Clearly, the Autobots have [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|no security]] at this point.)
** As Sparkplug works to sabotage the Autobots, Dr. Arkeville gets footage from ''inside'' Autobot Headquarters! We can ''maybe'' let this one slide and say that Sparkplug set up a video feed or something.
** Then Arkeville gets a view that's clearly coming from Teletraan I itself! (Actually, that would explain both viewpoints.)
** The [[Sky Spy]] gets what is essentially a ground-level view of the Decepticon energy pylons.
** Megatron doesn't seem to be leaning over a console or anything as the Autobots arrive at the space bridge, but Arkeville still gets a full view of him from Decepticon Headquarters.
** Arkeville then gets a view from right next to Sparkplug as he talks with Spike during the battle.
* As Soundwave salutes, most of his body shifts around a bit, but his chestplate remains completely still.
* Soundwave has a purple Autobot symbol as he ejects Laserbeak. Once his cassette door is open, its inside face is colored solid dark blue, instead of the light blue that it should be.
* Most of Laserbeak's caws and cries are not electronically modulated, though his usual electronic trill does show up a few times.
* Sideswipe's leg clips through Spike as he joins them in watching Rumble.
* Sideswipe's gun vanishes as he bashes Ravage aside.
* Laserbeak grabs Sparkplug from a metal-paneled interior space, yet immediately flies right out of the volcano's cone. As Spike looks up after Laserbeak, he's suddenly standing against a rock background.
* After the Autobots in India realize they have been duped, Sunstreaker says "We were set up!", but in Prowl's voice. A similar goof happened in "[[Roll for It]]".
* Either a line was cut, or [[Frank Welker]] misparsed one of Megatron's lines; he says "It had ''better'' function" in regards to the hypno-chip.... when nobody had previously been discussing the chips at all.
* The outer edges of Bumblebee's face are supposed to be white, but they're colored yellow as he consoles Spike.
* The animation of Shockwave talking to Megatron is recycled from "[[Transport to Oblivion]]", complete with its strange brightly-lit background and awkward shadow, and Shockwave's incomplete arms. The establishing shot of this conversation has Megatron appearing to "hover" in front of the screen and gently descend as Shockwave speaks. This is weird.
* Prowl drives into the air at the cliff edge before transforming.
* Brawn's front grill just phases right through his giant [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] drill as it folds back up.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Prime's strike team includes Prowl, Hound, Jazz, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack, and Bumblebee. During the underwater battle, Gears appears for a single shot.
** As Bumblebee says his "biggest space bridge ever" line, the shot changes, and he's been replaced by a misshapen Hound.
* As Optimus Prime flies to the Decepticon Space bridge, just after Megatron points his arm cannon at him, Optimus ducks to the side, and his face guard vanishes for a split second.
* Whatever damage Cliffjumper did to the inside of Decepticon Headquarters has disappeared by the time Autobots take their exit.
*After Starscream, soaking wet with seawater, emerges from the hole made by Cliffjumper's glass gas, there is a moment where his animation freezes...including the dripping water, which is suspended in mid-air.
* In a pan across the interior of Autobot Headquarters, there are two Prowls.
* One of them is drawn working on Jazz. Since when is Prowl a mechanic?
* In the same shot, Ratchet's mouth is missing as he works on Sunstreaker.
* A layering goof (or cheap shortcut) has Sparkplug's arms not actually reaching into the open panel on Wheeljack's back where he's supposed to be working.
* As Ratchet protests Sparkplug's attempt to work on Optimus, it's suddenly Prowl who he is repairing, rather than Sunstreaker (and despite Prowl being up and about a few shots ago).
* After Prime falls, suddenly it's Jazz laying on the table by Ratchet, with Bluestreak standing over him.
*Sparkplug's wrench looks different between shots, losing its round bolt wrench end in some shots.
*When the Decepticons are showered with foam at the Ark, the shot cuts from Thundercracker to Skywarp by simply changing the colors on the character.
*When Starscream flies to the space bridge, his alt mode is noticeably misshapen. His transformation is amazingly off, as well.
*As Optimus takes aim at Megatron for the second time ("It's not over yet, Megatron!"), his faceplate disappears for a second or two.
* After Sparkplug has his moment of hesitation, Spike's mouth moves, but no words come out.
* When Sparkplug climbs up onto the first energy pylon, the sound of his footsteps is that of a clanking, giant robot, not a human wearing boots.
* The third pylon's energy beam isn't quite aligned with the pylon itself.

===Continuity errors===
* Megatron's "diversion" only draws four Autobots away from their headquarters, with at least that many still present, yet he seems to regard it as a smashing success.
* Rumble, Ravage and Laserbeak are just able to saunter into Autobot Headquarters with no alarms or security systems going off; that's the by-product of a deleted scene from the episode's script, in which it is explained that Teletraan I is offline while Ratchet performs some standard repair work on it.
* In order to test the effectiveness of the hypno-chip, Megatron produces a model of Optimus Prime. Because Starscream is bone-headed enough to think Megatron just randomly let Prime into the base, Megatron directly says it's a model... right in front of Sparkplug. No one considers that Sparkplug might have more common sense than Starscream, or even that he could ''fake'' being mind-controlled because of what he's just been allowed to overhear.
* That must be one light Optimus Prime model; Sparkplug is able to grab it by the ankle and toss it across the room.
* The entire process of rescuing Sparkplug is fraught with improbabilities:
** Brawn's team should have been swept away by cascading torrents of water as soon as a big enough hole was opened in their tunnel.
** Decepticon Headquarters should also have been inundated as soon as the floor dropped out beneath Starscream. To hold the water at bay, the atmospheric pressure in the base would have to be equal to the water pressure at the bottom of the ocean — a pressure that Sparkplug and Arkeville most assuredly could not survive.
** Whatever force keeps water from gushing up through the big hole in the floor doesn't stop water from gushing in when Brawn punches a big hole in the ''wall''.
** "Hold your breath, Sparkplug!" says Windcharger, as they prepare to swim out of Decepticon HQ. Yes, that will save you from the freezing temperatures and crushing pressures at the bottom of the ocean!
** The water gushing into the base is nowhere to be seen as Starscream re-enters the base.
[[File:UltimateDoom1 Foamy Megatron.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Mr. Bubbles' Happy Time Fun Bath Soap?! RETREAT!!!"]]
* The Decepticons enter Autobot Headquarters through a huge hole in the wall, yet there has been no explosion or anything.
* The Decepticons can be apparently easily damaged by fire-retardant foam (Cybertronian fire-retardant foam at that!), yet the Autobots are fine.
* Spike trips over nothing as he flees the battle. The next shot make it seem like he was supposed to have tripped over his dad's wrench... but in order to have tripped Spike, the wrench must be either monumentally heavy or bolted to the floor; nonetheless, in the next frame Spike picks the wrench up with no sign of strain—just as you would expect anyone could.
* Every action has an equal and opposite ''re''action; the surface of Cybertron should have been just as devastated by ''Earth''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gravity as the Earth's surface was by ''Cybertron''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gravity.

===Rhino DVD release===
* When Starscream says "Optimus Prime? Prepare to attack!", he and Skywarp have traded colors in Rhino DVD Release, while in the broadcast, Starscream and Skywarp didn't.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:UltimateDoom1 Optimus on hydrofoils.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* This episode is one of several that gets a narrative opening from [[Victor Caroli]].
[[File:TUD1 Brawn drilling.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:TUD1 Cliffjumper depth gauge.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|And now, on with the countdown.]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Autobots make their first use of [[hydrofoil]]s in this episode, newly installed by Wheeljack. More than most, these gadgets would show up in [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|many]] [[Atlantis, Arise!|future]] [[City of Steel (episode)|episodes]].
** Ironhide retracts his hand and out comes... a toilet plunger lookin' thing. He uses it to locate the center of Rumble's seismic disturbance, with the results displaying on his chest windows (not unlike his sonadar sensors.)
** Sideswipe was getting ready to fire a flare from his hand weapon. He was interrupted by Ravage. Flares are mentioned in Sideswipe's [[bio]].
** Optimus Prime's chest windows light up, indicating an attack on Autobot Headquarters.
** Brawn has a vehicle mode tunneling drill. It'll show up again in "[[The Immobilizer]]".
** Cliffjumper has a depth gauge that emerges from his vehicle-mode hood.
** Cliffjumper fires his [[glass gas]] like a regular laser beam from his hand gun.
** Ratchet uses the same retractable wrist-welder he had in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]".
** This time, it's the blue button on Megatron's stomach that acts as his radio transmitter.
* Once again, evidence that Cybertron is actually outside the Milky Way galaxy: Optimus describes the apex of the space bridge as being "beyond this galaxy".
* For those who wonder how humans can breathe on Cybertron, this episode offers some relief: the final scenes clearly show Cybertron sucking up a chunk of Earth's atmosphere. Of course, this doesn't cover Chip Chase's earlier visit to the planet in "[[Divide and Conquer]]".
* Also, it may just be perspective, but when we see Earth and Cybertron in the same shot, Cybertron looks almost comedically tiny - arguably a justification for it having buildings which are visible from orbit. That just raises questions about how it manages to siphon a visible chunk of the atmosphere, though.

===Real-world references===
* The Seekers attack a solar power plant off [[Wikipedia:Malabar Coast|Malabar Coast]], which is located in southern [[Wikipedia:India|India]].
* As [[The Transformers: The Movie|always]], when there's a [[wikipedia:American Top 40|countdown]] of any kind, it's given to Cliffjumper, thanks to being voiced by [[Casey Kasem]].
* Is Windcharger's line "This must be the place!" a reference to [[wikipedia: This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)|the Talking Heads song]] that came out just two years prior? Or would you have to be naive to think that?
* Brawn plays a reverse lifeguard: "Everybody into the pool!"
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** The sound of an igniting [[lightsaber]] is repurposed for Cliffjumper's glass gas beam.
** As Spike flees the battle in Autobot Headquarters, the background laser effects include the sound of the [[Death Star]]'s turbolasers firing at the [[Rebel Alliance|Rebel]] fighters.
** The fritzed-out Autobots get the sound of [[Darth Vader]] and [[Obi-Wan Kenobi|Ben Kenobi]]'s lightsabers locking and sparking in their fight aboard the Death Star. The sound is recycled when Spike shorts out Teletraan I a second later.

===Trivia===
*This episode is subtitled "Brainwash" in scripts and other official materials.
*Like "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More than Meets the Eye]]", the mid-80s [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS release of "The Ultimate Doom" was granted the [[wikipedia:Film Advisory Board|Film Advisory Board]] Award of Excellence, proudly displayed on the video box cover. However, this particular "award" does not reflect the ''quality'' of any work submitted, but rather that the work is "family-friendly". Cheeky, once again!
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' console game.
*The idea of bringing Cybertron to Earth via space bridge and enslaving humans was used as part of the plot for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'' (which was, despite being a [[Michael Bay]] movie, oddly devoid of ''any'' sort of environmental damage that would be caused by such an event).

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' '''Lo scienziato pazzo''' ("The Mad Scientist")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' '''Destino finale - I''' ("Final Destiny - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hametsu no Hi PART I'''" (破滅の日 PART I, "Day of Destruction PART I")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7]], [[1986]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter was delayed until the end of the series when the legal issues were cleared up (as were most episodes featuring Skyfire). All three "Ultimate Doom" episodes were aired on the same day in Japan as a special extra length series finale.

'''Latin American'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La Destrucción Máxima, Parte I'''" ("The Maximum Destruction, Part I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sudnji dan, prvi deo - Ispiranje mozga'''" (Судњи дан, први део - Испирање мозга, "Judgment Day, Part One - Brainwash")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
[[File:TransformersVillainsUltimateDoomParts1-3(1984).jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|"I'm such a villain, I even stole this DVD cover."]]
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 2: "The Ultimate Doom" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''The Transformers'' — The Ultimate Doom ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Transformers'' — L'Ultime Piège (Malofilm) — French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Villains: The Ultimate Doom ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Villains: The Ultimate Doom ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume One ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-08.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimate Doom, Part 1}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Ultimate Doom, Part 2

2016-01-21T22:19:34Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=12
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=67
|prev2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 1
|next2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 3
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=42
|prev3=The Ultimate Doom, Part 1
|next3=The Ultimate Doom, Part 3
|image=UltimateDoom2 Cybertron Earth.JPG
|caption=Blue moon, you saw me standing alone...
|title="The Ultimate Doom, Part 2"
|production code=#700-09
|airdate=[[November 10]], 1984
|story by=[[Dick Robbins]], [[Bryce Malek]], [[Douglas Booth]] and [[Earl Kress]]
|teleplay by=[[Earl Kress]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Cybertron's arrival causes disasters on Earth, leaving the Autobots to battle both the Decepticons and Nature.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Tud2megatronthreatens.jpg|left|thumb|Fear me, Starscream, as I put the fear of God into you!]]

As [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] arrives into Earth orbit, storms and earthquakes begin in earnest. [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] celebrates, despite [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]'s attempts to make him see reason. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] rallies the [[Decepticon]]s to attack the [[Autobot]]s, but the sudden violence of the elements has both the Autobots and the 'Cons disoriented.

[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] to broadcast [[audio disrupter wave]]s, which cause much pain to the Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] orders a retreat. As they head out, Spike sadly watches his father board [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]].

[[File:Tud2bee&spikeembrace.jpg|thumb|Hold onto the Cube!]]

Starscream berates Megatron for allowing the Autobots to escape, but Megatron brushes off the criticism...with a mere choke of Starscream's throat. The human slaves rush away in terror as [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] notes they look like they've just woken up from a bad dream.

[[Doctor Arkeville]] realizes that the disrupter wave interferes with the [[hypno-chip]]s' control signal and works to correct it, but he will need more "[[Human|materials]]" to modify the chips. Megatron contacts Arkeville, who is informed of the situation. After a little experiment on Sparkplug, Arkeville is convinced that he has solved the problem, and Megatron promises that he will have all the slaves they need to gather the energy for Cybertron.

[[File:Tud2sparkplugontable.jpg|left|thumb|No, Mister Bond... I expect you to turn your head and cough.]]

Heading back to base under severe weather conditions, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] get separated from the group. Spike is still in a bit of a funk over his dad working with the Decepticons. An earthquake causes a fissure in the ground, which Bumblebee falls into while Laserbeak arrives and takes Spike. [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] arrive, rescuing Bumblebee and Spike.

At the [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon base]], Megatron begins sending Seekers to transport [[energon cube]]s to Cybertron. Doctor Arkeville is displeased, as they are using his slaves as shields against Autobot aggression. Arkeville warns Megatron to remember their deal: He gets Earth after Megatron is done repowering Cybertron. Megatron promises to keep his word... but does not specify how much of Earth will be left. But even Megatron has his troubles with the violent storms. At Decepticon headquarters underwater, violent tsunamis destroy the base's entry tower and cause flooding.

[[File:Tud2wheeljacksvolcano.jpg|thumb|Quick, change the channel!]]

Returning to the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], the Autobots debate how best to handle the situation and decide to send the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to prevent as much destruction as possible. At first, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] could give a [[frag]] about the Earth's destruction, until he's reminded that he'd be on the planet at the time.

[[File:Tud2snarlchewstree.jpg|left|thumb|Me Snarl want play fetch, but nobody want play with Snarl.]]

At the Autobot base, Spike and Optimus discuss why Sparkplug would work with the Decepticons. Just then, [[Mount St. Hilary|the volcano]] becomes active. Several Autobots are ejected into the air, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] manages to catch them. Heading back into the volcano, [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] manages to cover the lava with an avalanche. Elsewhere, the Dinobots are hurrying to prevent a tidal wave from reaching the shore.

Meanwhile, Prime learns that Sparkplug was taken to Cybertron during energon shipments. Spike overhears and asks to go to Cybertron in order to save his dad and learn how the Decepticons are controlling their slaves. Optimus agrees. Skyfire, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], and Bumblebee head to Cybertron with Spike. As usual, Spike falls into a trap and needs rescuing by Brawn and Bumblebee. After they sneak into [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s fortress, they discover information about the hypno-chips, but Sparkplug arrives and sounds an alarm.

[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|To be concluded]]...

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (1)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (2)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (13)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (15)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (18)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (19)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (20)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (21)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (23)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (24)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (25)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (26)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (27)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (28)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (29)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (30)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (31)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (9)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (12)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (16)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (22)

|c3=
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (5)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
* [[Doctor Arkeville]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"The Decepticons will triumph. Ha ha ha ha! Join me, Spike. Join the conquerors!" 
"Dad..." 
"Look, I told you. Don't call me that!"
:—'''Sparkplug''' adds to '''Spike'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s psychological wounds.

"Decepticon rule FOREVER!" 
"Forever's shorter than you think!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Spike''' argue philosophy with big weapons.

"That'll teach you to play with fire, Blundercracker!"
:—'''Jazz''', clever as ever.

[[File:UltimateDoom2 Strangling Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Is Megatron gonna have to choke a 'bot?]]

"Cross me again, Starscream, and I'll reduce you to titanium fragments." 
"But we had the Autobots disoriented. We could have eliminated them." 
"We'll do that at our leisure when our more important work is done. You have had the only warning I intend to give."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' bicker again.

"Creating a mindless slave is simplicity itself, thanks to the brilliant complexity of my hypno-chip."
:—'''Doctor Arkeville''' to Rumble. The real irony is that Rumble is probably more advanced than anything Arkeville could ever create (and Rumble isn't even that smart).

"Let me go, you beryllium buzzard!"
:—'''Spike''' disses Laserbeak.

"That ought to cook that tin-foil turkey."
:—'''Bluestreak''' also disses Laserbeak.

"Look at the monitors! You must help stop these disasters." 
"Uh, me Grimlock not care whole planet fall apart. Make no difference to me Grimlock." 
"With you on it?" 
"Hmm, hadn't thought of that."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', '''Grimlock''' and '''Wheeljack''' review ''[[Wikipedia:An Inconvenient Truth|An Inconvenient Truth]]''.

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
* In his opening recap narration, [[Victor Caroli]] mispronounces Dr. Arkeville's name as "Ark-vill".
* The "last time" recap of Part 1 includes a scene that hasn't happened yet, from Part 3! (specifically, the human slaves carrying energon cubes into Megatron's ship.)
[[File:UltimateDoom2 Cybertron Earth.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|Korean animation studio! He big mean man, whip us! We are slaves.]]
* The opening shot of Cybertron rising above the horizon is several flavors of mixed up:
** If Cybertron was eclipsing the sun, its own surface wouldn't be nearly so well-lit.
** If the sun was that low to the horizon, it would be orange or red, not bright white. Haven't the animators ever seen a sunset?
** The clouds in the sky are behind both the sun and Cybertron. Cybertron's orbit can't be ''that'' low! Haven't the animators ever seen the sky?
* In the next shot, Cybertron's shadow is moving across Ironhide and company, but stops moving half-way through the shot.
* Thundercracker is shown shielding himself from the explosion of one of the energy pylons, but in the next shot it's Starscream who is coming out of the same pose.
* Coloring errors:
** The side of Starscream's air intake is gray instead of red as he insists that Thundercracker fire.
** Soundwave's eject button is slate blue instead of white as he activates the audio disrupter waves.
** Bumblebee's face is yellow instead of white as he starts to fall.
** As the three Autobots cluster at the edge of the crevasse, Windcharger is colored like Brawn.
** As we pan in on Autobot Headquarters, the Ark is colored gray instead of orange. It's also rounded top and bottom, like one of the Rebel transports from ''Empire Strikes Back''.
** Swoop's head crest and bird feet are white after he transforms, instead of red and yellow, respectively. His wing is clipping through the closet's door frame. In the same shot, Grimlock's dino belly is yellow instead of gray, and Slag's horns are white instead of red.
** As Starscream and Megatron watch Thundercracker being loaded up in Decepticon Headquarters, Starscream is colored as Skywarp. The error becomes doubly obvious a moment later, when Skywarp is shown on his way back to HQ from Cybertron.
** The Ark continues to be colored gray instead of orange in the establishing shots before the volcano erupts.[[File:SludgeUltimateDoom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
** As Sludge looms over the forest trees, the sides of his face are gray instead of yellow.
** The frames around Optimus's windshields are colored glass-blue instead of red as he talks to Spike.
** Bumblebee's nose is yellow as he looks out Skyfire's window at Cybertron.
** Brawn's helmet is yellow instead of gray as he prepares to leap after Spike and Bumblebee.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Dr. Arkeville continues to watch the proceedings from Decepticon Headquarters... though this time, his monitor just shows some empty desert.
* When Rumble first reaches through the energy beams to grab the security guard, the energy strands around his wrist aren't backlit to glow.
* Soundwave seems to be missing some consonants as he reports on Cybertron's emergency bulletin; he reports that "energy levels: anticle!"
* As he switches his windshield polarity, Prime's exhaust stacks are drawn as pencil-thin lines.
* The crevasse changes width with every successive shot. In the second shot, it becomes so wide that Bumblebee can't straddle it, but in the third shot, it's suddenly narrow enough that Spike can straddle it. After the rocks under Spike's foot give way, it's suddenly so big that there's no way he could have been straddling it.
* Spike isn't wearing a helmet when he tries to help Bumblebee climb up the fissure. However, he's suddenly wearing one just before he's captured by Laserbeak.
* Bluestreak's left leg is mirrored as he lowers his gun; the windshield segment should be on the inside rather than the outside.
* As we pan from the Autobots down into the crevasse, Windcharger's head is the wrong color, the wrong shape, and the wrong design.
* Skywarp's cockpit is ''huge'' as he prepares to leave for Cybertron. A human passenger takes up just the first segment of it, with the rest occupied by quite a few energon cubes.
* The clouds are behind Cybertron again as Skywarp flies toward it.
* The tidal wave that hits the city is of truly ''Day After Tomorrow'' proportions; if that was, say, the east coast of North America, it would probably wash all the way to the Appalachian Mountains, killing millions.
* As he points at the Dinobots, only the front of Wheeljack's "ears" flash.
[[File:Grimlockhead ud2.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Me Grimlock no lose head. Me find new one!]]
* In the shot of the Dinobots lined up in their closet, Swoop's mouth is missing, and Slag's head is white instead of red. Also, Grimlock has his old head design, but it changes to [[:File:Grimhead.JPG|the new design]] when he's talking to Optimus Prime and Wheeljack in the next shot.
* As Grimlock says he doesn't care, a random shot shows Cybertron rising over a wooded terrain... and a satellite drifts past! Is it orbiting at half a mile above the ground??
* An undersea avalanche hits Decepticon Headquarters. But rather than the kind of violent shaking one would expect, the floor just gently tilts for no clear reason.
* As he berates Megatron, the top of Starscream's chest/cockpit is dark gray instead of light gray.
* Soundwave is missing his Decepticon emblem as he walks toward the blasted door; it appears after a few frames.
* Two Bluestreaks are in the pan shot of the control room as the volcano erupts. Guess that makes up for the [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|two Prowls]], huh? (A subsequent shot replaces one Bluestreak with Prowl.)
* Prime's missing the line down the middle of his tummy grill as he orders the Autobots to evacuate headquarters.
* Sideswipe's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] is colored white as he flees Autobot Headquarters.
* Windcharger's arms are dark gray instead of red as Skyfire catches him.
* Bumblebee is missing his Autobot symbol as he stands alongside Prime and Ironhide.
* Peter Cullen seems to have mixed up a line; "But somebody's gotta turn off that volcano" should probably be Ironhide's line, but it is delivered in Prime's voice.
* During his "Now if only the Dinobots" line, only one segment of Wheeljack's ears lights up. He's also missing that pesky line near the end edge of his windshield.
* Slag wades into the water to try and slow a tidal wave. The subsequent shot shows another cresting wave moving against the tidal wave, rather than anything you'd expect from having a robot dinosaur in the water.
* Cybertron's skies have clouds, but there's no sign of them in the space-based views of the planet.
* Bumblebee's "You really think so?" line is almost totally obscured by sliding metal sound effects.
* On Cybertron, the font in which the words "Hypno Chip Control" are written changes between shots.

===Continuity errors===
* The audio disrupter waves seem to affect everyone, including the Decepticons... except for Megatron, who is standing right next to the source!
* The waves also immediately free all the hypno-chip slaves... except for Sparkplug, who is unaffected for no clear reason.
* Wheeljack and Brawn are shown transforming and driving off with the other Autobots, yet a moment later they're both standing in [[robot mode]], watching the freed humans flee.
* Landing on Hound's falling seats probably wouldn't be much better for Spike than landing on the rocky ground. Also, it sure was nice of Laserbeak to drop Spike right in front of that cliff face!
* Despite Bluestreak's statement, and despite falling who knows how far into the crevasse, Bumblebee doesn't have a mark on him.
* It's a minor plot point that Bumblebee is out of energy, and so he rides in Hound instead of driving. Yet Windcharger ''also'' said he was out of energy, but he still transforms and drives home.
* So... rather than fighting the disasters one by one, why aren't the Autobots trying to fight the problem at the source—namely, by figuring out a way to get Cybertron out of Earth's orbit? Did this little looming strategic problem not occur to any of them? Spike of all people finally thinks of it at the end of next episode.
[[File:UltimateDoom2 Autobot volcano.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You know what burns my butt? Flame about that high.]]
* Wheeljack says it's "amazing" that the volcano is becoming active again. Considering it erupted [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|less than a year ago]], it's hardly amazing at all. More like... ''expected''.
* Skyfire announces his intention to outrun the Decepticon missiles, which makes no sense as the missiles are flying toward him head-on. Instead, he flies ''between'' them.
* Geological improbabilities:
** Bringing a planet with Earth-like gravity into such incredibly close proximity to Earth would tear ''both'' worlds apart. Immediately.
** Ironhide somehow shuts down a whole volcanic eruption by shooting a few rocks off the rim of the volcano cone. The whole reason volcanoes erupt is that there's so much pressure from below that no amount of rock can contain it any longer.
** Furthermore, Ironhide just walks right into a cave which has a few exploding rocks and a lava pool, but nothing like the massive belching of lava and ash seen from the outside of the volcano in the previous shots.
* "For the moment, I feel we must not let the boy find out." 'The moment' apparently lasts all of two seconds, as Prime ''immediately'' divulges the information to Spike.
* Ironhide is consistently shown with the group traveling to Cybertron, but disappears after they land and disembark. The next episode makes clear that he stayed on Earth.
* Why was Spike carrying around his dad's wrench on Cybertron? And how does Sparkplug have a "favorite wrench"? Does he just love screwing in 22mm bolts more than any other size? Maybe it was a gift and has sentimental value.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Optimus tud subspace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Clear proof of extraterrestrial inte- wait...]]
* Despite the scientifically questionable premise, there are some nice bits of continuity with the effects of Cybertron's arrival, as the winds can be seen tugging trees in the direction of the planet as it continues to suck up Earth's atmosphere. Your wiki editors fully acknowledge that this may have been pure coincidence, and that the writers and animators probably weren't thinking about it at all, but hey.
* Where's the trailer go?
** When Optimus Prime transforms into vehicle mode during the rainstorm early in the episode, his trailer rolls in from off screen, outlined by a strange glowing light effect.
[[File:Tud2 audio disruptor waves.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Audio Disruptor Waves, Eject. Operation: Cramped Hand.]]
[[File:UltimateDoom2 Windcharger tractorbeam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|There was a hole here. It's gone now.]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Soundwave can produce "audio disruptor waves" which wreak all kinds of mechanical havoc.
** Jazz uses magnet beams to hitch a ride from Ironhide. It's an odd thing to show; he has never had this power before or since. Furthermore, magnetism is supposed to be Windcharger's schtick, and it comes into play in the very next act.
** Thundercracker uses his flamethrower from "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]"
** Prime can apparently reverse the polarity of his windshield to repel rain and hail. Neat trick.
** Bumblebee can almost change his own tire: he can jack himself up, eject his own spare tire, and unscrew the bolts holding the flat tire on, all without outside help.
** Windcharger has a "tractor beam" that he uses to pull Bumblebee out of the crevasse, a big hose-like thing that slides out of his wrist. It would seem to just be a focused version of his magnetic powers, since it only pulls up Bumblebee and not a bunch of rocks and debris with him.
** To find Bumblebee, Hound uses a big scanner thing that he has to carry in both hands. (Shouldn't he have that stuff built in?)
** Trailbreaker announces his intention to activate a jamming ray to disrupt the Decepticons' scanners, but never gets around to doing so.
* So apparently, when they're not in use, the Dinobots stay in a closet!
* The little repair bay building outside of Autobot Headquarters shows up again. It hasn't been seen since "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
* The "[[Armor-plating|skin]]" of the Transformers seems to be able to endure the heat of magma for at least brief periods. Or [[Heavy Metal War|longer periods]].

===Real-world references===
* This is one of the most ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effect-laden episodes:
** The end of Starscream and Thundercracker's attack dive is soundtracked with [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar and some ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine whine, possibly from the ''Falcon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s dive at the Death Star trench.
** More TIE Fighter roar as Starscream and Thundercracker veer out of control.
** Laserbeak arrives to kidnap the guards with the sound of the ''Falcon'' flying over Yavin IV. As he dives, he gets the whole sequence of TIE Fighter ambient cockpit noise, including the fighter's target system locking onto an [[X-wing Fighter]], and one spell of [[Darth Vader]]'s breathing. The ''Falcon'' on Yavin sound is used again at the end of the scene.
** Laserbeak gets more ''Falcon'' engine rumble as he returns to Decepticon Headquarters.
** When Laserbeak arrives at the crevasse, he gets TIE fighter engine noise with some Falcon rumble mixed in, possibly from the two ships approaching the Death Star. As he returns and dives, he gets more TIE Fighter noise, including the sound of its lasers firing. The ''Falcon''-over-Yavin sound is heard as Laserbeak grabs Spike, and then another ''Falcon'' engine burst as he flies off.
** And more TIE sounds as Laserbeak gets shot by Bluestreak, and again as he flies off, smoking and damaged.

===Trivia===
* This episode is subtitled "Search" in scripts and other official materials.
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' console game.

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La Terra in crisi'''" ("Crisis on Earth")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Destino finale - II'''" ("Final Destiny - II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*In the first dub, Skyfire misnames Brawn as Wheeljack.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hametsu no Hi PART II'''" (破滅の日 PART II, "Day of Destruction PART II")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7]], [[1986]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter was delayed until the end of the series, when the legal matters were resolved (as were nearly all Skyfire episodes). All three episodes of "The Ultimate Doom" aired on the same day as an extra length series finale.

'''Latin American'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La Destrucción Máxima, Parte II'''" ("The Maximum Destruction, Part II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sudnji dan, drugi deo - Potraga'''" (Судњи дан, други део - Потрага, "Judgment Day, Part Two - Search")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 2: "The Ultimate Doom" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''The Transformers'' — The Ultimate Doom ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''Transformers'' — L'Ultime Piège (Malofilm) — French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Villains: The Ultimate Doom ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Villains: The Ultimate Doom ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume One ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-09.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimate Doom, Part 2}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Ultimate Doom, Part 3

2016-01-21T22:19:01Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=13
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=68
|prev2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 2
|next2=Earth's Greatest Crisis
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=43
|prev3=The Ultimate Doom, Part 2
|next3=B.O.T. (episode)
|image=Ultimate Doom 3 Autobots fire.JPG
|caption=Autobots, transform and kick some diodes!
|title="The Ultimate Doom, Part 3"
|production code=#700-10
|airdate=[[November 17]], 1984
|story by=[[Dick Robbins]], [[Bryce Malek]], [[Douglas Booth]] and [[Leo D. Paur]]
|teleplay by=[[Leo D. Paur]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''As Cybertron's orbit ravages Earth, the Autobots take the fight to the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Ultimate Doom 3 Autobots Cybertron.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Not the friendliest homecoming.]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a brainwashed [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] sounds an alarm on [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]]. As [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] attempt to destroy them, [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] rescue them. Heading to Wheeljack's lab, they review the [[hypno-chip]] data they've gained.

[[File:SurfsUp.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This sort of embarrassment is why they finally just recruited Seaspray.]]

On Earth, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is overseeing the construction of a large hydroelectric generator that will allow the Decepticons to harvest more energy. [[Doctor Arkeville]] is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Megatron's disregard of his interests, and feels that [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] may be more sympathetic. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] leads [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (on surfboards) to the generator, where their wipeout prevents them from being able to stop the Decepticons from leaving in a [[Decepticon shuttle|shuttle]] carrying [[energon cube]]s. Arkeville is left to die, but Starscream saves him, having his own plans for the scientist.

On Cybertron, Wheeljack develops a device that should disrupt the hypno-chips' control over the humans. Spike attempts another rescue of his father, but is discovered by Shockwave. However, Wheeljack's device works as planned, and the Autobots flee back to Earth with Sparkplug, who is now freed from Decepticon control.

[[File:Ultimate Doom 3 Bumblebee Tarzan.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Jungle Love Bug]]

On an island, Megatron is overseeing the loading of a shuttle with energon cubes while [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] goes to see if he can direct the humans away from the ship. Nearby, Starscream's own experiments in draining neural energy from Arkeville have failed to fill a single energon cube. Megatron discovers them and prepares to execute Starscream for treason (again). However, Mirage manages to direct the humans away from the shuttle, and Prime orders an attack. The Decepticons outnumber the Autobots, but Skyfire and company soon arrive to even the odds as well as to free the slaves from the Decepticons' control. However, Cybertron comes into view of the island, causing a tidal wave, and Megatron flees in the shuttle for Cybertron.

[[File:Ultimate Doom 3 Cybertron leave.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|Im in ur orbit, killin ur planet.]]

Spike declares that they just need to knock Cybertron out of Earth's orbit, but Prowl says that they'd need the equivalent of ten billion astroliters of energy to do that. Suddenly, Prime realizes that the [[energon]] on board the shuttle could theoretically be enough to move Cybertron. Prime orders the Autobots to shoot Megatron's shuttle. The plan works, with the energon on board moving Cybertron away from Earth.

Back on the island, Spike remarks to Optimus that Megatron appears to be gone for good, but the Autobot leader, knowing his mortal enemy's survival rate, is not so sure. In space, Megatron comes back online and flies away from the wreckage of the shuttle, vowing revenge.

{{--}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (2)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (9)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (10)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (14)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (16)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (17)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (26)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (28)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (29)

|c2=
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (5)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (6)
*Dark Blue [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] (7)
*Light Blue Seeker (8)
*[[Watchdog (G1)|Watchdogs]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (19)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (20)
*[[Viewfinder]] (by himself) (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (24)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (25)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (25)
*Green Seeker (27)
*Thundercracker-colored seekers
*Skywarp-colored seekers
*Starscream-colored seekers

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (3)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Doctor Arkeville]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"Take them!" 
"I don't 'take' so easy."
:—'''Soundwave''' and '''Brawn'''

"Prepare for termination!" 
"Prepare for a very large ''headache!''"
:—'''Shockwave''' vs. '''Brawn'''

"You cannot get out!" 
''[Shockwave unleashes a massive blast, but blows a hole in the wall instead of Skyfire]'' 
"I can now!"
:—'''Shockwave''' and '''Skyfire'''

"All the comforts of home...if you like living in an auto-robotic factory."
:—'''Wheeljack''', on [[Wheeljack's workshop|his workshop]]

"My slaves will be caught in the tidal wave!" 
"I thought humans ''liked'' to play in the ocean!"
:—'''Dr. Arkeville''' teaches '''Megatron''' an important fact about human anatomy.

"Surf's up! And I'm talkin' UP!" 
:—'''Bluestreak''' spots an approaching tsunami

"Thanks, guys, for not giving up on me. Especially you, Spike." 
"Dad, it's like you taught me: You never quit on the people you love." 
"Mushy, but true."
:—'''Sparkplug''' and '''Spike''' have a touching father-son moment, with an addendum by '''Brawn'''.

"You're not pushing slaves around this time."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', preparing to open a [[Kremzeek]] brand can of whup-ass.

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
* In his opening recap narration, [[Victor Caroli]] mispronounces Dr. Arkeville's name as "Ark-vill".
* Both Spike and Sparkplug were wearing their signature hard hats at the end of last episode, but are missing them now.
* Coloring errors:
** Bumblebee's nose is yellow as Brawn tells Spike they need to roll out.
** Wheeljack is missing the orange on his chest as Spike takes shelter behind his leg.
** The two Seekers guarding the entrance of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] are shown with Starscream and Thundercracker's color schemes.
** Wheeljack's roof is plain white as the tetrajets appear above him.
** The two tetrajets that chase the Autobots first have the same color schemes as Thundercracker and Skywarp; however, when Skyfire is shooting at them, they're both colored like Skywarp. In the same shot, Skyfire's red has become blue, and his whites have become red.
** When Skyfire blasts one of the tetrajets, both of them are colored like Thundercracker.
** Wheeljack's chest (i.e., his roof) is again missing its colors in the overhead shot of his lab.
** As Wheeljack studies the mind control program, the side of Trailbreaker's chest is colored as though it were a windshield, and only the front side of Wheeljack's "ears" flash.
** Ironhide's helmet rim is gray instead of red as he turns to look at the oncoming tidal wave.
** The inside of Prime's cheek guards are gray instead of blue as he announces that they're almost there.
** The area around Starscream's cockpit is colored the same orange as the cockpit itself as he rises from the ocean to collect Dr. Arkeville.
** Skyfire's cockpit canopy is colored white instead of blue as he appears over the Autobots on Cybertron.
** As Prime announces his intention to attack, Prowl is colored like Skywarp. Prime's waist is also unusually huge.
** Skywarp's cockpit is black instead of orange as Megatron says "A fool's ploy".
** Gray helmet rims on Ironhide again as he advises Cliffjumper to save his ammo.
** Prowl's doors are all-black instead of half-black as he says they're outnumbered.
** Bumblebee's side is colored like glass as he observes the approaching crevasse.
** When Thundercracker launches to follow Megatron, he's a much darker blue than usual.
** Wheeljack is missing his orange chest colors as the Autobots brush themselves off after the explosion of Megatron's ship.
* As Shockwave melts Brawn's girder, Brawn's mouth moves, but there's no dialog. (It sure looks like he's mouthing a shocked obscenity, though!)
* Wheeljack's transformation sound doesn't play till after he's transformed.
[[File:SoundwaveButtonUD3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| GAH! Don't do that on camera!]]
* As the Autobots escape from Decepticon HQ, Soundwave's Decepticon insignia is missing in two successive shots.
* Shockwave's eye isn't flashing as he says "You cannot get out!"
* When Skyfire says "I can now", his mouth does not move with the dialogue.
* When Spike says, "More Watchdogs on our tail, Wheeljack!", Wheeljack follows up by replying, "We've gotta lose them!" Spike smiles in reply to this sentence, not the next one, which is "My workshop's just ahead". Perhaps Wheeljack was supposed to say: "We're ''gonna'' lose them!".
* Prime's faceplate doesn't move as he reports his sensor readings to Ironhide.
* During his "Surf's up" lines, Bluestreak has only one door and one missile launcher.
* The generator Megatron throws at Starscream changes its relative size mid-air. It is initially almost as big as Megatron himself, but becomes only about as big and as wide as Starscream's chest.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** The establishing shot of the surfing Autobots shows only five 'bots (Prime, Ironhide & Ratchet, Jazz, and either Prowl or Bluestreak.) Prowl ''and'' Bluestreak are shown in the same shot a moment later, making six total. Most successive shots show only 3 or 4 surfing bots. We finally see all six as the tidal wave pursues them down the [[sea funnel]].
** There's plenty of time for Mirage and Cliffjumper to join the group as they travel to the island, but the addition of ''just'' those two seems a bit odd. Where are Sunstreaker, Gears, Sideswipe, etc. during all this?
* As Prowl grouses about Megatron's energon supply, Jazz has some weird extra lines on his optic visor.
* Reflector's voice comes in its usual triplicate form... even though there's only one of him present.
* Wheeljack is missing his Autobot insignia as he reports to Optimus.
* Wheeljack's ears are waaaay too small as he proposes field testing the anti-hypnochip device.
* Spike slightly phases through a wall just before Shockwave lights him up.
* The two Seekers that accompany Shockwave just can't make up their minds who they want to be:
** As Shockwave reaches to pick up Spike, the two generic Seekers behind him have been replaced by two Skywarps.
** As the Autobots show up, the two Skywarps have become a Thundercracker and a pine-green generic.
** As the Autobots escape, the two Seekers are colored as Thundercracker and Starscream.
** And then one of them is Skywarp again as he fires after the escaping Autobots.
* Spike has no pupils as he reacts to his father pulling a gun on him.
[[File:Tud3 wheeljack little present.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Well, we don't need Aquaman any more."]]
* As Wheeljack activates the hypno-chip-un-hypnotizer, Bumblebee is represented by a yellow-colored Cliffjumper.
* Shockwave's eye doesn't flash as he orders "After them!"
* Only the front side of Wheeljack's "ears" flash as he radios Skyfire.
* The background music overlaps the scene transition as the Autobots prepare to leave Cybertron.
* Mirage's invisibility power is strangely portrayed in this episode; he merely turns ''transparent'', and also lacks the usual glowing prism and energy sound effect as he activates his power. They get both the sound and the effect correct when he reappears in Act 3.
* Megatron is missing his Decepticon symbol as he appears behind Starscream.
* The last of the slaves to be turned around by Mirage just kind of stops, then slides off-screen rather than walking off.
* In what is otherwise a beautiful depiction of his [[robot mode]], Rumble is missing his mouth after he blasts Mirage.
* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he announces the coming of "independence day".
* The energon cubes dropped by the slaves are a strange translucent yellow-white-purple, rather than the usual solid glowing pink-purple. In the same shot, we cannot see the torso of the fat mustached slave through the energon cube that he's carrying... but we ''can'' see his feet through the cube after he drops it.
* The chunks of earth falling into Rumble's [[earthquake (event)|earthquake]] crevasse have grass that disappears and reappears between frames.
* The exploding energon cubes are shown against a completely black background. Even if they're in an unlit cargo compartment, the cubes themselves should illuminate the space.
* A series of "natural disaster" shots is recycled from Part 1 as Megatron's ship explodes... including one of Prime talking to himself, this time without any dialog to go with his moving mouthplate.
* The last shot of orbital Cybertron once again includes clouds ''behind'' the orbiting planet.
* Optimus is missing the horizontal lines on his tummy grille as Spike takes stock of the day's work.

===Continuity errors===
* As seen last episode, Ironhide is part of the Autobot rescue party that boards Skyfire and arrives on Cybertron, only to disappear immediately after. In this episode, we see that he actually stayed behind on Earth.
* Soundwave's presence on Cybertron is not inexplicable — there's no reason he couldn't just fly there, and later have flown back to Earth before Cybertron was knocked out of its orbit. But it's a bit odd for him to have made the trip for no obvious reason or explanation.
* When we last saw [[Wheeljack's workshop]] in "[[Divide and Conquer]]", it was sealed by a computerized Decepticon lock. This time, the Autobots just drive right into it, no problem.
* When the Autobots and Spike arrive in the workshop, Wheeljack is wondering how the Decepticons are controlling Sparkplug, Bumblebee says that it is mind control, to which Wheeljack replies, "Mind control! Of course!" ...Seriously, what else could it have been? And how did Wheeljack, master inventor, not realize this when Bumblebee did?
[[File:SpikeshockwaveUD3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Shockwave investigates the [[Aerialbots over America!|pivotal question]] of how well humans bounce.]]
* Superhuman Spike:
** Survives being dropped from shoulder height by Shockwave.
** Can lift Optimus's giant metal rifle.
* Holy crap, how freaking stupid ''is'' Starscream? With a whole planet going crazy with energy sources all around him—storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves—he makes the bizarre decision to try and suck energon out of a human's brain. He further decides to do this ''right under Megatron's nose''. His attempts to convert Doctor Arkeville's neural energy into energon fail, of course; what this says about the intelligence of both scientists is debatable.
* As [[Carnage in C-Minor|often]] [[The Transformers: The Movie|happens]], the Autobots' claim to be outnumbered is a bit dubious. There are 8 Autobots (Prime's surfer six, plus Mirage & Cliffjumper) against only Megatron, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Rumble, and a couple of Reflectors.
* Prime's comment to Prowl ("If we lose now, Cybertron's next orbit will tear the earth apart!") doesn't make much sense, and calls out the same total lack of strategy that the Autobots had in the last episode - namely, they aren't doing or planning ''anything'' to actually make Cybertron go away.
* Prime really does just kind of sit there and let Megatron run off into his spaceship.
* Did Spike and Prowl both hit on the idea of blowing up Megatron's ship, and just not actually ''say'' so? Or were they both hoping to ''shoot'' Cybertron out of its orbit?
* Wouldn't blowing up Megatron's ship be a good idea anyway? Why were they just letting him go?
* Megatron is able to survive an explosion which had enough energy to shift the orbit of Cybertron. Considering previous evidence of his durability, how he could survive a planet-moving blast is a mystery.
* Wouldn't a giant explosion just wreck both planets, rather than neatly pushing one of them away?
*And for that matter, if the explosion pushed Cybertron away, why wasn't Earth moved in the opposite direction?

===Rhino DVD errors===
[[File:Tud3 mirage rhino fix.jpg|thumb|315px]]

* In several of Shockwave's speaking scenes, the glow from his eye is missing while some are managed by overlays added.
* Only one segment of Wheeljack's "ears" flash as he delivers his "We figured you might be getting lonesome" line.
* As Skyfire is shooting at the Decepticons while saying his house cleaning line, the laser fire out of his gun is missing but the sound can still be heard.
* When Mirage reappears inside the Decepticon ship, a piece of missing footage in the production master Rhino were using meant he actually ''didn't'' reappear. Rhino actually took a crack at fixing this, though, but the "fix" constituted taking a ghastly, high-contrast, low-res, single-frame figure from another version of the episode and primitively copy-pasting it into the scene.
* As he observes Skyfire's approach, [[:File:Wheresmyface.jpg|Prowl's face disappears]], leaving only his helmet.
* Skywarp is colored as a second Thundercracker as the pair follows their retreating leader from the island.
{{-}}

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Watchdog tud3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Shockwavelightdoom3.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|''Hello'', my face is up here?]]
* Wheeljack's place on Cybertron, previously seen in "[[Divide and Conquer]]", is shown again.
* A couple of [[Watchdog (G1)|Decepticon cars]] are shown in this episode, but it's not clear if they are Transformers. They have a Reflector-like color scheme.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Rather than the hydrofoils they were using just two episodes ago, the Autobots are now traveling the oceans on motor-powered surfboards.
** Both Prime and Ironhide have "early warning scanners" which can detect mountain-sized tidal waves just slightly over the horizon. Man, those aren't very effective scanners.
** Rumble can extend his optic visor to make it function like binoculars.
** Shockwave can light up his chest like a searchlight. It's not clear if this is meant to be some kind of force field holding Spike in place, or if Spike just stops due to some deer-in-the-headlights psychological effect.
** Megatron transforms and fires at Skyfire unassisted... which kinda puts the lie to all those sarcastic fan claims that his gun mode is oh-so-totally-useless without someone to fire him. Of course, he also does this ''in the show's title sequence'', so it really shouldn't be such a surprise. (Granted, title sequences also give us things like flying Autobots and Insecticons swimming around in lava, so their relevance is debatable.)
* [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''', Round 2: Brawn dispatches Soundwave with a single mighty blast to the chest! Brawn 2, Soundwave 0 [[Autobot Spike|>>]]

===Real-world references===
* Prowl's line "Ask, and you shall receive!" is from the Gospel of John in the New Testament.
* Starscream's dramatic proclamation "I shall return!" is a popular TV trope referring to the famous speech of [[wikipedia:Douglas MacArthur#Escape to Australia and Medal of Honor|U.S. General Douglas MacArthur upon his retreat from the Philippines in World War II]].
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Starscream grabs Dr. Arkeville and escapes from the island.
** [[TIE Fighter]] engine and some ''Falcon'' engine whine as Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe the Autobots.
** An igniting [[lightsaber]] serves as the sound of an energon cube being dropped by the freed slaves.
** ''Falcon'' engine whine as the Seekers depart the island.

===Trivia===
*This episode is subtitled "Revival" in scripts and other official materials.
*This episode, along with five others, can be unlocked in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|PS3/Xbox 360]] versions of the [[Revenge of the Fallen (video games)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' video game]]. For some unknown reason, this version of the episode makes use of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' broadcast's audio, as the [[Cybernet Space Cube]] can be heard throughout without the Cube's visuals.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La resa dei conti'''" ("The Last Stand")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Destino finale - III'''" ("Final Destiny - III")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hametsu no Hi PART III'''" (破滅の日 PART III, "Day of Destruction PART III")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7]], [[1986]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter was delayed to the end of the series, when the legal issues were resolved (as were most Skyfire episodes). All three episodes of "The Ultimate Doom" aired on the same day in Japan as an extra length series finale.

'''Latin American'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La Destrucción Máxima, Parte III'''" ("The Maximum Destruction, Part III")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sudnji dan, treći deo'''" (Судњи дан, трећи део, "Judgment Day, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 2: "The Ultimate Doom" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1996 — ''The Transformers'' — The Ultimate Doom ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Villains: The Ultimate Doom ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Villains: The Ultimate Doom ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume One ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-10.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimate Doom, Part 3}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Countdown to Extinction (episode)

2016-01-21T22:17:30Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig3|Countdown to Extinction}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=14
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=9
|prev2=War of the Dinobots
|next2=Heavy Metal War
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=50
|prev3=Fire on the Mountain (episode)
|next3=Trans-Europe Express
|image=CountdownToExtinction.jpg
|caption=Prime helps Megatron to shoot his load.
|title="Countdown to Extinction"
|production code=#700-11
|airdate=[[December 1]], 1984
|written by=[[Reed Robbins]] and [[Peter Salas]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In the aftermath of Cybertron's catastrophic orbit of Earth, both sides regroup, while Starscream puts into motion a plan to destroy the planet.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Countdown Extinction Autobots repair.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I think my toy had something like this.]]

The previous threat of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s orbits over [[Earth]] have passed. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s work to help repair cities and do other generous/benevolent type things. After all, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is MIA, believed killed in the explosion that moved Cybertron from Earth's orbit. But they are not the only ones to notice Megatron's absence.

[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], believing Megatron destroyed, forces [[Doctor Arkeville]] to take him to his secret laboratory. Once there he discovers another of the Doctor's inventions, the [[Exponential Generator]], a power source that, if it overcharges, will detonate with enough energy to destroy the Earth.

[[File:Countdown Extinction Decepticon badge.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Freeze, this is the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD!]]]]

Seeking to gain power for himself, Starscream links the generator to a timer and then takes Doctor Arkeville with him to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], which is still nearby. He plans to collect the energy unleashed by Earth's destruction to revitalize Cybertron. He coerces [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] into serving him, and to help in the restoration of Cybertron.

Meanwhile on Earth, Megatron has returned to the squabbling Decepticons, having survived the explosion of his starship. When he learns that Starscream and Doctor Arkeville are apparently working together he sets off in pursuit with the other Decepticons.

The Autobots detect the Decepticon activity and set off after them. After a short battle the Autobots are trapped in quicksand. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] freezes the quicksand with his liquid nitrogen allowing them to escape. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who was standing guard over them, is captured and [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] forces him to play his findings. The Autobots learn that the Decepticons are heading for the Doctor's secret laboratory and they set off to follow them.

[[File:CountdownDrArkeville.jpg|left|thumb|Stephen Hawking in a rare Transformers cameo.]]

The Doctor, unwilling to let Starscream benefit from the Earth's destruction, attempts to sabotage the energy collectors but the Decepticon security system stuns him with a blast of electricity. Starscream has the badly-injured Doctor 'repaired' by the [[medicroid]]s, leaving him more machine now than man. Of course, he was twisted and evil to start with, so.

The Autobots and Decepticons arrive at the laboratory and battle each other again. Unaware of the danger it represents, Megatron covets the exponential generator and fights Optimus Prime for its possession. During the fight Megatron receives a communication from Shockwave on Cybertron.

Shockwave, unwilling to serve Starscream, warns Megatron about the timer and Starscream's plan. Megatron rips the timer from the wall just in time. On Cybertron, Starscream is baffled that the Earth has not exploded and sets off back to check the timer.

The exponential generator has become volatile and begins to go critical, ready to explode. Prime rips it away from Megatron, but the [[Decepticon leader]] says he needs the Autobot leader's help. [[Transformation|Transforming]], Megatron tells Prime to load the generator into his gun barrel, and then fires it into space. It explodes quite near Starscream who is flying up to Earth, and the blast sends him crashing… just in front of none-too-pleased Megatron. Stunned, Starscream tries to babble something to excuse himself, but Megatron gathers the hapless Starscream up and drags him away.

With the threat ended, the Autobots let the Decepticons go. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] wonders what will happen to Starscream, and the other Autobots are amused at the thought of what Megatron plans to do.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (2)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (9)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (10)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (18)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (22)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (23)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (24)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (25)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (26)
|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (14)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (15)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (20)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (27)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (28)
|c3=
*[[Doctor Arkeville]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Can't you do ''anything'' right, Skywarp?" 
"Watch it, you metallic mini-meatball, or I'll step on you!"
:—'''Rumble''' and '''Skywarp''' shortly before the former gets owned.

"Hey, I didn't volunteer for this geeky assignment. I want Skywarp's job." 
"Butt out, Frenzy. Geek work's made for a geek! Like you!"
:— '''Frenzy''' and '''Skywarp''' bickering before resorting to violence.

"I, Doctor Arkeville, genius of science, say... OPEN SESAME!" 
"How original."
:—'''Dr. Arkeville''' shows '''Starscream''' the entrance to his secret lab.

"Hey Optimus, how'd you like to hear the number one on the Decepticon hot cassette charts?" 
"As I believe the Earthlings say...lay it on me, man."
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Your destiny is to serve me, my potent beauty."
:—'''Megatron''''s interest in the exponential generator gets a little creepy.

'''Rumble''': Megatron, it's...it's the Autobots! 
'''Megatron''': Impossible! They were doomed! 
'''Skywarp''': Don't worry. We'll make them regret undooming themselves.
:—The Decepticons prepare to kick some exhaust port.

'''Megatron''': Here! Have a ton of fun! 
''[Megatron throws a boulder at Optimus, misses and hits Rumble.]'' 
'''Optimus''': Hahaha! Your aim's improving, Megatron!
:—'''Optimus Prime''' is having a blast.

"Welcome home, noble voyager."
:—'''Megatron''' missed Janeway too.

'''Bumblebee''': Hey Prime, what do you think Megatron's gonna do to Starscream?" 
'''Optimus''': Nothing gentle, I would say. 
''[general laughter]'' 
'''Jazz''': I think we seen the last of ol' Starcreep alright! And that's the first thing that's gone right all day.
:—The Autobots muse on Starscream's fate after Megatron is last seen carrying him off screen.

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
* As the Dinobots push the building back into place, Grimlock has his old head design, and Sludge has that strange yellow mouth interior again.
* As Wheeljack raises his hand to indicate where the Dinobots should stop, the flashing glow of his "ears" is layered on top of his hand.
* Two Brawns are seen repairing the damaged dam, one handing the other a concrete block. In the next shot, one of them has turned into Gears, in time for Huffer to hassle him.
* When Shockwave contacts Megatron about the generator's imminent destruction, the eyes on his Decepticon insignia are missing.
* Coloring errors:
** When Skywarp's hand and arm reach into the frame to slap Rumble, they're in Thundercracker's colors.
** Soundwave is missing the yellow lines around his tape door as he mocks Thundercracker.
** As Megatron asks about Arkeville, Skywarp's chest intakes are colored black. Both he and Thundercracker have the bottom segments of their canopies colored orange instead of black/blue respectively.
** The Laserbeak tape is blue in the first shot, but during the close-up, its coloring changes to Laserbeak's normal red-and-white.
** As Megatron orders his troops to move out, Soundwave's hand is white, then changes to blue.[[File:G1toon starscream and arkeville.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
** Starscream's wing stripe is gray instead of red, and his wings are mounted too low, as he orders the Doctor to open his lab door.
** Starscream's foot is light gray instead of blue as he comments on the Doctor's originality.
** Bumblebee is tan instead of yellow as the jets fire on the Autobot convoy.
** The area in front of Starscream's neck is dark gray instead of light gray as Dr. Arkeville says he must work under his supervision.'
** As Starscream prepares to flip the switch, his wings are missing most of their paint details.
** As Starscream congratulates the Doctor for understanding his intent, the stripes on his wings are white instead of red.
** In the next shot, the bridge of Starscream's nose is dark gray instead of medium gray. In fact, Starscream's nose changes color a lot throughout this episode, too much to mention.
** Starscream's elbow segment is red instead of gray after he threatens Shockwave.
** Optimus's antenna is white instead of blue as he looks up at Megatron perched on the rock peak, and again as he watches the Decepticons fly off.
** As he stands over the generator, the square red button on Megatron's waist is colored blue.
** Starscream's tailfins are miscolored as he falls to Earth and impacts.
** The chest segment above Starscream's canopy is colored yellow instead of gray as Megatron looms over him.
* Missing Seeker insignia:
** Skywarp and Thundercracker are both missing the insignia on the back of their wings as Thundercracker steps in to tell them to shape up.
* As the sliding doors start to open to admit Megatron, he disappears for a frame or two.
* Skywarp is drawn delivering Thundercracker's "He's gone!" lines.
* As usual when he's playing back a tape report, Soundwave's tape door suddenly becomes transparent as Laserbeak plays back. Behind him, Thundercracker's canopy is still over-oranged, and his wings aren't symmetrical.
* Wheeljack is missing his ears as he watches Megatron & co. on screen.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** How DID Teletraan I get that image of the Decepticons flying along?
* "Puny flesh creature!" The insignia on Starscream's wing-back is badly out of place.
* Starscream's air intakes are light gray instead of red as Dr. Arkeville boards his [[alternate mode|jet mode]].
* As Starscream talks to Dr. Arkeville in space, his voice is muffled as though coming over a radio. Since Arkeville is ''inside'' him, shouldn't Starscream's voice be normal?
* Brawn's helmet is yellow instead of gray in the big lineup of firing Autobots. Jazz is missing his insignia. Wheeljack's ears flash for a single frame even though he's not speaking, and they're orange; he's missing his missile launcher.
* Thundercracker has no stripes or insignia on his wings as he, Soundwave and Rumble half-heartedly dodge Autobot fire (instead of landing like Megatron just ordered.)
* Thundercracker is drawn delivering Skywarp's "undooming themselves" line.
* The end of Megatron's fusion cannon is ''much'' too thin as he aims at Prime in front of the generator.
* As Prime warns Megatron to be careful, his faceplate drops almost all the way to his chin as he speaks.
* The damage caused to Megatron's chest by the exponential generator disappears after he leaves the lab.
* As the Autobots drive past cam, Ironhide and Ratchet's passenger side windows are HUGE.
* Prime's strange half-sloped windscreen design appears in the next shot, an error found in several other episodes including "[[Divide and Conquer]]".

===Shout! Factory DVD release===
* The volume of the sound effects in the Shout! release of this episode are noticeably reduced from the original; the beeping of the timer after the first commercial break, for example, is barely audible.

===Continuity errors===
* Narrator [[Victor Caroli]] claims that Cybertron's orbit of Earth has "left the world in ruins". Yet somehow, after the opening scenes of this episode, we never see any signs of this catastrophic damage—in this episode or any future one. The Autobots are shown repairing things, but things return to normal too quickly even for Autobots.
* Megatron was beat to hell at the end of last episode. When he returns to Decepticon Headquarters, he's brand-spankin' new. Where did he get the resources to repair himself so thoroughly?
* Optimus says that "we can't let [Megatron] and the Decepticons regroup"... but it should be obvious from the screen that they already ''have'' regrouped.
*The timer that Starscream connects to the exponential generator, which starts at 8:00:00, leads to some dubious situations:
**When the timer says 7:58:20 (1:40 minutes), only about 20 seconds have passed.
**It takes Starscream less than 30 seconds to reach outer space (and have a good bit of distance between him and Earth). He then reaches Cybertron in about 4 hours. For what it's worth, Starscream's toy [[bio]] states that he can reach Mach 2.8.
**There's a time lapse of around 15 minutes between the moment Megatron finds the exponential generator and when he opens it up. That, of course, could be overlooked seeing how it may take Megatron, who's unfamiliar with the lab, that much time to figure out the controls.
**The battle outside Doctor Arkeville's lab goes on for 2 hours. Maybe not so dubious, but it's not the norm for the television series.
*How is it that everyone seems to know where Doctor Arkeville's '''secret''' laboratory is? (The very prominent ''front staircase'' might be a clue.)
[[File:CountdownExtinction Jazz plays Laserbeak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* When we last see Laserbeak, he's held prisoner in Jazz's tape deck. We never do learn how he gets free.
* If the generator can melt Megatron's chest, why doesn't it melt his hands?
*The explosion from the exponential generator is supposed to be powerful enough to destroy the Earth, and yet the actual explosion is so small, all it does is knock Starscream out of the air. (See also [[War of the Dinobots]] for another example of an "Earth-destroying" explosion). In fairness, Megatron by this point has spent some time de-wiring and perhaps de-powering the device.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode follows on from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]" and includes a narrative recap of that episode's crucial events.
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] first appears in this episode...and [[FIRRIB|he's red]].
[[File:CountdowntoExtinction Mirage firing missile.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Holy cow, so that's what that thing is for!]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** A relatively rare instance of Wheeljack firing his missile launcher.
** An even more rare instance of Mirage firing his.
** Ironhide unleashes his old favorite, supercooled nitrogen. It's a whitish-clear gas this time, coming from his retracted wrist. (And since nitrogen boils at well below room temperature, this may be the one time in ''Transformers'' where the substance is actually shown correctly.)
** Megatron's communication with Shockwave on Cybertron is indicated by his upper-chest rectangles blinking.
*As proof of his leadership, Starscream shows a badge with the Decepticon [[Insignia|symbol]]. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Every]] [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|other]] [[Shockwave (G1)|leader]] just had Laserbeak perch on his shoulder or arm.
* We never see Arkeville again; Starscream leaves him on Cybertron as an immobilized, half-man, half-machine freak.
* The episode is ''amazingly'' consistent about showing the same 13 Autobots in Prime's strike force.
* '''[[S.O.S. Dinobots|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's ship blew up! '''[[The Immobilizer|> >]]'''

===Real-World references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Starscream approaches the secret lab.
** [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar and ''Falcon'' whine as Skywarp and Thundercracker open fire on the Autobot convoy.
** More ''Falcon'' rumble as Skywarp is hit by Wheeljack's missile.
** More TIE engine as the Decepticons move to land a second later.
** [[Death Star]] firing noise as the Decepticons launch to retreat.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wings]] as the Decepticons leave the quicksand pit.
** TIE/''Falcon'' as Laserbeak launches to stop Ironhide.
* A sound effect more commonly used for the Road Runner is repurposed as Skywarp and Thundercracker diving to attack the Autobots.

===Trivia===
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list for this episode lists "Tyrex" and "Bronton" as [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s appearing with non-speaking roles. Evidence points to these being early names for Grimlock and Sludge coined by writer [[Donald F. Glut]]; in an interview with Glut,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070217131842/http://members.aol.com/tfencyc/interview_glut.html Interview with Donald F. Glut]</ref> he revealed that, prior to the Dinobots receiving their final names, he had submitted more "dinosaurian" names for them. Why Glut's proposed names were used on a cast list page for an episode he did not write—particularly when Grimlock and Sludge had been referred to in prior cast list pages under their proper names—is unknown.
* In the [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS promotional blurb for this episode, the narrator claims the exponential generator's explosion is powerful enough to destroy ''the entire universe.'' So, uhhh, maybe every bit of TF fiction produced after this actually represents a different [[universal stream]]!
*One of ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'s'' multiplayer modes is named after this very episode.
*Yes, the Heroic Autobots are laughing over how Megatron is going to torture Starscream.

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Astrum, il traditore'''" ("Starscream, the Traitor")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Conto alla rovescia per l'estinzione'''" ("Countdown to Extinction")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chikyū Shōmetsu Keikaku'''" (地球消滅計画, "The Earth Obliteration Plan")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 31]], [[1985]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter had to be delayed until the end of the series, when the legal matters could be resolved. As a result, with this episode being an epilogue to "The Ultimate Doom", its chronology rubs off as rather confusing in the broadcast order of the series. A guide written by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] for the [[Pioneer]] DVD box set featured a "proper viewing order" feature so that Japanese fans could watch the episodes in a more logical continuity.
:*For some reason, this episode was commemorated by an exclusive [[Super Collection Figure#Exclusives|Super Collection Figure]] giftset sold at the Wonder Festival 2002 convention in Japan. The set included both a metallic-painted PVC of Optimus Prime holding Megatron in gun mode and a metallic-painted PVC of Prime in truck mode.

'''Latin American'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cuenta atrás hacia la extinción'''" ("Countdown to Extinction")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Otschyot gibeli'''" (Отсчёт гибели, "Death Countdown")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Odbrojavanje pred uništenje'''" (Одбројавање пред уништење, "Countdown to Destruction")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 11: "Countdown to Extinction" ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-11.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Countdown to Extinction (episode)

2016-01-21T22:17:08Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig3|Countdown to Extinction}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=14
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=9
|prev2=War of the Dinobots
|next2=Heavy Metal War
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=50
|prev3=Fire on the Mountain (episode)
|next3=Trans-Europe Express
|image=CountdownToExtinction.jpg
|caption=Prime helps Megatron to shoot his load.
|title="Countdown to Extinction"
|production code=#700-11
|airdate=[[December 1]], 1984
|written by=[[Reed Robbins]] and [[Peter Salas]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In the aftermath of Cybertron's catastrophic orbit of Earth, both sides regroup, while Starscream puts into motion a plan to destroy the planet.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Countdown Extinction Autobots repair.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I think my toy had something like this.]]

The previous threat of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s orbits over [[Earth]] have passed. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s work to help repair cities and do other generous/benevolent type things. After all, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is MIA, believed killed in the explosion that moved Cybertron from Earth's orbit. But they are not the only ones to notice Megatron's absence.

[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], believing Megatron destroyed, forces [[Doctor Arkeville]] to take him to his secret laboratory. Once there he discovers another of the Doctor's inventions, the [[Exponential Generator]], a power source that, if it overcharges, will detonate with enough energy to destroy the Earth.

[[File:Countdown Extinction Decepticon badge.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Freeze, this is the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD!]]]]

Seeking to gain power for himself, Starscream links the generator to a timer and then takes Doctor Arkeville with him to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], which is still nearby. He plans to collect the energy unleashed by Earth's destruction to revitalize Cybertron. He coerces [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] into serving him, and to help in the restoration of Cybertron.

Meanwhile on Earth, Megatron has returned to the squabbling Decepticons, having survived the explosion of his starship. When he learns that Starscream and Doctor Arkeville are apparently working together he sets off in pursuit with the other Decepticons.

The Autobots detect the Decepticon activity and set off after them. After a short battle the Autobots are trapped in quicksand. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] freezes the quicksand with his liquid nitrogen allowing them to escape. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who was standing guard over them, is captured and [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] forces him to play his findings. The Autobots learn that the Decepticons are heading for the Doctor's secret laboratory and they set off to follow them.

[[File:CountdownDrArkeville.jpg|left|thumb|Stephen Hawking in a rare Transformers cameo.]]

The Doctor, unwilling to let Starscream benefit from the Earth's destruction, attempts to sabotage the energy collectors but the Decepticon security system stuns him with a blast of electricity. Starscream has the badly-injured Doctor 'repaired' by the [[medicroid]]s, leaving him more machine now than man. Of course, he was twisted and evil to start with, so.

The Autobots and Decepticons arrive at the laboratory and battle each other again. Unaware of the danger it represents, Megatron covets the exponential generator and fights Optimus Prime for its possession. During the fight Megatron receives a communication from Shockwave on Cybertron.

Shockwave, unwilling to serve Starscream, warns Megatron about the timer and Starscream's plan. Megatron rips the timer from the wall just in time. On Cybertron, Starscream is baffled that the Earth has not exploded and sets off back to check the timer.

The exponential generator has become volatile and begins to go critical, ready to explode. Prime rips it away from Megatron, but the [[Decepticon leader]] says he needs the Autobot leader's help. [[Transformation|Transforming]], Megatron tells Prime to load the generator into his gun barrel, and then fires it into space. It explodes quite near Starscream who is flying up to Earth, and the blast sends him crashing… just in front of none-too-pleased Megatron. Stunned, Starscream tries to babble something to excuse himself, but Megatron gathers the hapless Starscream up and drags him away.

With the threat ended, the Autobots let the Decepticons go. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] wonders what will happen to Starscream, and the other Autobots are amused at the thought of what Megatron plans to do.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (2)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (9)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (10)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (18)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (22)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (23)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (24)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (25)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (26)
|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (14)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (15)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (20)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (27)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (28)
|c3=
*[[Doctor Arkeville]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Can't you do ''anything'' right, Skywarp?" 
"Watch it, you metallic mini-meatball, or I'll step on you!"
:—'''Rumble''' and '''Skywarp''' shortly before the former gets owned.

"Hey, I didn't volunteer for this geeky assignment. I want Skywarp's job." 
"Butt out, Frenzy. Geek work's made for a geek! Like you!"
:— '''Frenzy''' and '''Skywarp''' bickering before resorting to violence.

"I, Doctor Arkeville, genius of science, say... OPEN SESAME!" 
"How original."
:—'''Dr. Arkeville''' shows '''Starscream''' the entrance to his secret lab.

"Hey Optimus, how'd you like to hear the number one on the Decepticon hot cassette charts?" 
"As I believe the Earthlings say...lay it on me, man."
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Your destiny is to serve me, my potent beauty."
:—'''Megatron''''s interest in the exponential generator gets a little creepy.

'''Rumble''': Megatron, it's...it's the Autobots! 
'''Megatron''': Impossible! They were doomed! 
'''Skywarp''': Don't worry. We'll make them regret undooming themselves.
:—The Decepticons prepare to kick some exhaust port.

'''Megatron''': Here! Have a ton of fun! 
''[Megatron throws a boulder at Optimus, misses and hits Rumble.]'' 
'''Optimus''': Hahaha! Your aim's improving, Megatron!
:—'''Optimus Prime''' is having a blast.

"Welcome home, noble voyager."
:—'''Megatron''' missed Janeway too.

'''Bumblebee''': Hey Prime, what do you think Megatron's gonna do to Starscream?" 
'''Optimus''': Nothing gentle, I would say. 
''[general laughter]'' 
'''Jazz''': I think we seen the last of ol' Starcreep alright! And that's the first thing that's gone right all day.
:—The Autobots muse on Starscream's fate after Megatron is last seen carrying him off screen.

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
* As the Dinobots push the building back into place, Grimlock has his old head design, and Sludge has that strange yellow mouth interior again.
* As Wheeljack raises his hand to indicate where the Dinobots should stop, the flashing glow of his "ears" is layered on top of his hand.
* Two Brawns are seen repairing the damaged dam, one handing the other a concrete block. In the next shot, one of them has turned into Gears, in time for Huffer to hassle him.
* When Shockwave contacts Megatron about the generator's imminent destruction, the eyes on his Decepticon insignia are missing.
* Coloring errors:
** When Skywarp's hand and arm reach into the frame to slap Rumble, they're in Thundercracker's colors.
** Soundwave is missing the yellow lines around his tape door as he mocks Thundercracker.
** As Megatron asks about Arkeville, Skywarp's chest intakes are colored black. Both he and Thundercracker have the bottom segments of their canopies colored orange instead of black/blue respectively.
** The Laserbeak tape is blue in the first shot, but during the close-up, its coloring changes to Laserbeak's normal red-and-white.
** As Megatron orders his troops to move out, Soundwave's hand is white, then changes to blue.[[File:G1toon starscream and arkeville.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
** Starscream's wing stripe is gray instead of red, and his wings are mounted too low, as he orders the Doctor to open his lab door.
** Starscream's foot is light gray instead of blue as he comments on the Doctor's originality.
** Bumblebee is tan instead of yellow as the jets fire on the Autobot convoy.
** The area in front of Starscream's neck is dark gray instead of light gray as Dr. Arkeville says he must work under his supervision.'
** As Starscream prepares to flip the switch, his wings are missing most of their paint details.
** As Starscream congratulates the Doctor for understanding his intent, the stripes on his wings are white instead of red.
** In the next shot, the bridge of Starscream's nose is dark gray instead of medium gray. In fact, Starscream's nose changes color a lot throughout this episode, too much to mention.
** Starscream's elbow segment is red instead of gray after he threatens Shockwave.
** Optimus's antenna is white instead of blue as he looks up at Megatron perched on the rock peak, and again as he watches the Decepticons fly off.
** As he stands over the generator, the square red button on Megatron's waist is colored blue.
** Starscream's tailfins are miscolored as he falls to Earth and impacts.
** The chest segment above Starscream's canopy is colored yellow instead of gray as Megatron looms over him.
* Missing Seeker insignia:
** Skywarp and Thundercracker are both missing the insignia on the back of their wings as Thundercracker steps in to tell them to shape up.
* As the sliding doors start to open to admit Megatron, he disappears for a frame or two.
* Skywarp is drawn delivering Thundercracker's "He's gone!" lines.
* As usual when he's playing back a tape report, Soundwave's tape door suddenly becomes transparent as Laserbeak plays back. Behind him, Thundercracker's canopy is still over-oranged, and his wings aren't symmetrical.
* Wheeljack is missing his ears as he watches Megatron & co. on screen.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** How DID Teletraan I get that image of the Decepticons flying along?
* "Puny flesh creature!" The insignia on Starscream's wing-back is badly out of place.
* Starscream's air intakes are light gray instead of red as Dr. Arkeville boards his [[alternate mode|jet mode]].
* As Starscream talks to Dr. Arkeville in space, his voice is muffled as though coming over a radio. Since Arkeville is ''inside'' him, shouldn't Starscream's voice be normal?
* Brawn's helmet is yellow instead of gray in the big lineup of firing Autobots. Jazz is missing his insignia. Wheeljack's ears flash for a single frame even though he's not speaking, and they're orange; he's missing his missile launcher.
* Thundercracker has no stripes or insignia on his wings as he, Soundwave and Rumble half-heartedly dodge Autobot fire (instead of landing like Megatron just ordered.)
* Thundercracker is drawn delivering Skywarp's "undooming themselves" line.
* The end of Megatron's fusion cannon is ''much'' too thin as he aims at Prime in front of the generator.
* As Prime warns Megatron to be careful, his faceplate drops almost all the way to his chin as he speaks.
* The damage caused to Megatron's chest by the exponential generator disappears after he leaves the lab.
* As the Autobots drive past cam, Ironhide and Ratchet's passenger side windows are HUGE.
* Prime's strange half-sloped windscreen design appears in the next shot, an error found in several other episodes including "[[Divide and Conquer]]".

===Shout! Factory DVD release===
* The volume of the sound effects in the Shout! release of this episode are noticeably reduced from the original; the beeping of the timer after the first commercial break, for example, is barely audible.

===Continuity errors===
* Narrator [[Victor Caroli]] claims that Cybertron's orbit of Earth has "left the world in ruins". Yet somehow, after the opening scenes of this episode, we never see any signs of this catastrophic damage—in this episode or any future one. The Autobots are shown repairing things, but things return to normal too quickly even for Autobots.
* Megatron was beat to hell at the end of last episode. When he returns to Decepticon Headquarters, he's brand-spankin' new. Where did he get the resources to repair himself so thoroughly?
* Optimus says that "we can't let [Megatron] and the Decepticons regroup"... but it should be obvious from the screen that they already ''have'' regrouped.
*The timer that Starscream connects to the exponential generator, which starts at 8:00:00, leads to some dubious situations:
**When the timer says 7:58:20 (1:40 minutes), only about 20 seconds have passed.
**It takes Starscream less than 30 seconds to reach outer space (and have a good bit of distance between him and Earth). He then reaches Cybertron in about 4 hours. For what it's worth, Starscream's toy [[bio]] states that he can reach Mach 2.8.
**There's a time lapse of around 15 minutes between the moment Megatron finds the exponential generator and when he opens it up. That, of course, could be overlooked seeing how it may take Megatron, who's unfamiliar with the lab, that much time to figure out the controls.
**The battle outside Doctor Arkeville's lab goes on for 2 hours. Maybe not so dubious, but it's not the norm for the television series.
*How is it that everyone seems to know where Doctor Arkeville's '''secret''' laboratory is? (The very prominent ''front staircase'' might be a clue.)
[[File:CountdownExtinction Jazz plays Laserbeak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* When we last see Laserbeak, he's held prisoner in Jazz's tape deck. We never do learn how he gets free.
* If the generator can melt Megatron's chest, why doesn't it melt his hands?
*The explosion from the exponential generator is supposed to be powerful enough to destroy the Earth, and yet the actual explosion is so small, all it does is knock Starscream out of the air. (See also [[War of the Dinobots]] for another example of an "Earth-destroying" explosion). In fairness, Megatron by this point has spent some time de-wiring and perhaps de-powering the device.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode follows on from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]" and includes a narrative recap of that episode's crucial events.
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] first appears in this episode...and [[FIRRIB|he's red]].
[[File:CountdowntoExtinction Mirage firing missile.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Holy cow, so that's what that thing is for!]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** A relatively rare instance of Wheeljack firing his missile launcher.
** An even more rare instance of Mirage firing his.
** Ironhide unleashes his old favorite, supercooled nitrogen. It's a whitish-clear gas this time, coming from his retracted wrist. (And since nitrogen boils at well below room temperature, this may be the one time in ''Transformers'' where the substance is actually shown correctly.)
** Megatron's communication with Shockwave on Cybertron is indicated by his upper-chest rectangles blinking.
*As proof of his leadership, Starscream shows a badge with the Decepticon [[Insignia|symbol]]. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Every]] [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|other]] [[Shockwave (G1)|leader]] just had Laserbeak perch on his shoulder or arm.
* We never see Arkeville again; Starscream leaves him on Cybertron as an immobilized, half-man, half-machine freak.
* The episode is ''amazingly'' consistent about showing the same 13 Autobots in Prime's strike force.
* '''[[S.O.S. Dinobots|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's ship blew up! '''[[The Immobilizer|> >]]'''

===Real-World references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Starscream approaches the secret lab.
** [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar and ''Falcon'' whine as Skywarp and Thundercracker open fire on the Autobot convoy.
** More ''Falcon'' rumble as Skywarp is hit by Wheeljack's missile.
** More TIE engine as the Decepticons move to land a second later.
** [[Death Star]] firing noise as the Decepticons launch to retreat.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wings]] as the Decepticons leave the quicksand pit.
** TIE/''Falcon'' as Laserbeak launches to stop Ironhide.
* A sound effect more commonly used for the Road Runner is repurposed as Skywarp and Thundercracker diving to attack the Autobots.

===Trivia===
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list for this episode lists "Tyrex" and "Bronton" as [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s appearing with non-speaking roles. Evidence points to these being early names for Grimlock and Sludge coined by writer [[Donald F. Glut]]; in an interview with Glut,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070217131842/http://members.aol.com/tfencyc/interview_glut.html Interview with Donald F. Glut]</ref> he revealed that, prior to the Dinobots receiving their final names, he had submitted more "dinosaurian" names for them. Why Glut's proposed names were used on a cast list page for an episode he did not write—particularly when Grimlock and Sludge had been referred to in prior cast list pages under their proper names—is unknown.
* In the [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS promotional blurb for this episode, the narrator claims the exponential generator's explosion is powerful enough to destroy ''the entire universe.'' So, uhhh, maybe every bit of TF fiction produced after this actually represents a different [[universal stream]]!
*One of ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'s'' multiplayer modes is named after this very episode.
*Yes, the Heroic Autobots are laughing over how Megatron is going to torture Starscream.

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Astrum, il traditore'''" ("Starscream, the Traitor")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Conto alla rovescia per l'estinzione'''" ("Countdown to Extinction")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chikyū Shōmetsu Keikaku'''" (地球消滅計画, "The Earth Obliteration Plan")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 31]], [[1985]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of "The Ultimate Doom" three-parter had to be delayed until the end of the series, when the legal matters could be resolved. As a result, with this episode being an epilogue to "The Ultimate Doom", its chronology rubs off as rather confusing in the broadcast order of the series. A guide written by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] for the [[Pioneer]] DVD box set featured a "proper viewing order" feature so that Japanese fans could watch the episodes in a more logical continuity.
:*For some reason, this episode was commemorated by an exclusive [[Super Collection Figure#Exclusives|Super Collection Figure]] giftset sold at the Wonder Festival 2002 convention in Japan. The set included both a metallic-painted PVC of Optimus Prime holding Megatron in gun mode and a metallic-painted PVC of Prime in truck mode.

'''Latin American'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cuenta atrás hacia la extinción'''" ("Countdown to Extinction")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Otschyot gibeli'''" (Отсчёт гибели, "Death Countdown")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Odbrojavanje pred uništenje'''" (Одбројавање пред уништење, "Countdown to Destruction")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 11: "Countdown to Extinction" ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-11.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

A Plague of Insecticons

2016-01-21T22:16:39Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the similarly-named Marvel UK Annual story|Plague of the Insecticons!}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=15
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=64
|prev2=Fire on the Mountain (episode)
|next2=The Autobot Run
|image=Plague Insecticons robot mode.JPG
|caption=We're gonna need a big [[Rustbug hoop|swatter]]! A really big swatter!
|title="A Plague of Insecticons"
|production code=#700-12
|airdate=[[December 29]], 1984
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Reports of giant insects terrorizing Bali lead the Decepticons to discover their long-lost comrades, the Insecticons.'''

==Synopsis==
On the island of [[Bali]], there is a swamp through which people rarely travel. It is the [[Demon Swamp]], and in that swamp lie monsters who appear to be enormous insects. But they are not insects, they are [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], and they are [[Transformer|robots in disguise]]. They are driven by a single, unrelenting desire: food. Attacking a trio of boats, the insects feed on the grain, but quickly become interested in the reports of a farm. At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] overhears the reports of "robot insects", and a team is taken aboard [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] to investigate while [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] remains to alert [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the rest of the [[Autobot]]s.

[[File:Inseticon Base.jpg|left|thumb|"Ravage, get back here! They're just bugs, how big could they be?"]]

However, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] comes across the transmissions, and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is intrigued. He takes a group of [[Decepticon]]s to Demon Swamp, where [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] dispatches [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to locate the robots' lair. The Decepticons discover that the lair is not a hollowed-out rock, as it appears, but an escape pod ejected from the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]] that brought them to [[Earth]]. [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] realizes what Megatron has already figured out: The robot insects are Decepticons who have been modified to assume [[Alternate mode|insect modes]] —[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], if you will.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime is leading the rest of the Autobots to the farm, but they are blocked by a local festival. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] leads the Autobots down a shortcut...which turns out to be a dead end. Refusing to admit defeat, Sideswipe decides to drill his way through the solid rock. Arriving at the farm the Insecticons are attacking, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] attack, only to discover that the Insecticons possess some impressive [[weapons systems]]. Worse, they can make clones of themselves by using shells and scrap metal. Overwhelmed, the Autobots take cover amid the crops, but Shrapnel releases a fragmentation grenade which cuts the crops down to size. Finally, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. The Autobots realize they're in over their heads, but Skyfire has been damaged and cannot [[Transformation|transform]]. Shrapnel finds something familiar about the Decepticons, and when Megatron explains that they came from Decepticon science, Shrapnel extends his hand in friendship...an alliance which will be solidified by destroying the Autobots at the farm.

[[File:Optimus ram.jpg|thumb|Where we're going, we don't need roads!]]

Elsewhere, Sideswipe is getting nowhere slowly with his drilling, so Optimus Prime decides on a simpler tactic and drives right through the rock wall. Coming up on the farm just in time, Sideswipe and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] tackle the Decepticons, who withdraw to a nearby [[oil]] refinery to recharge before they destroy the Autobots. During the respite, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] repairs Skyfire, who follows them in the air while the Autobots follow from the ground. The Insecticons attack Skyfire, and Wheeljack goes to help but is knocked out of the air by Kickback. Shrapnel takes control of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, causing them to drive toward the Autobots, but [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] disrupts Shrapnel's control with his [[force field]]. Optimus throws Brawn at Shrapnel, but Kickback knocks him off. Fortunately, Skyfire is able to catch Brawn.

[[File:Skeet surfin.jpg|left|thumb|"First wave, don't get tired. Second wave, aim higher. Third wave, pull and fire. Skeet Surfin'..."]]

At the refinery, the Decepticons are busy making some [[energon cube]]s. Megatron offers the Insecticons a tanker filled to the brim, and the trio gorge themselves. Unfortunately, it also causes the oil to leak into the ocean. As the Autobots arrive, the Decepticons force them to take some cover. Shrapnel uses a shrapnel grenade to knock Optimus, Brawn, and Wheeljack into the ocean, where the Autobot leader warns that the oil could ignite. On cue, Thundercracker lights the oil on fire, only for the Autobots to knock him into the flaming water. Before the ship goes kaboom, [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] is able to douse the flames. However, storm clouds appear overhead, and Shrapnel uses them as a means to fire electricity at the Autobots. Spike realizes that the rubber in their tires will serve as insulation. Some Autobots go to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], while others stand on them, neutralizing Shrapnel's abilities. In addition, Trailbreaker uses his force field to neutralize Shrapnel's control over the clones, causing them to go to pieces.

[[File:Tanker throw.jpg|thumb|Optimus shows why he's a three time World's strongest Bot champion.]]

Megatron realizes that he's losing, so the Decepticon leader employs a time-honored strategy: "If I can't have it, no one can." Megatron sets the tanker on fire and pushes it toward the refinery. However, Optimus pushes the tanker underwater, and Megatron with it. Rising to the surface, Megatron prepares to blast Bumblebee and Spike, only for Optimus Prime to throw the tanker ''through the air'' at Megatron.

The Insecticons observe the deteriorating situation and decide to cut their losses. They begin to feed off the [[energon]], but Megatron, his rage overwhelming his common sense, orders the Decepticons to attack the Insecticons. As the Insecticons flee with the Decepticons in pursuit, the Autobots claim victory. Optimus Prime still worries that the Insecticons will inevitably be drawn back towards the Decepticons, but when and if that happens, the Autobots will be ready.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (9)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (10)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (11)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (24)
|c2=
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (4)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (5)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (6)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (16)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (17)
*[[Insecticon clone]]s (25)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (27)
|c3=
*Fisherman 1 (1)
*Fisherman 2 (2)
*Fisherman 3 (3)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
*Villagers (18)
*Oil Refinery Worker 1
*Oil Refinery Worker 2
}}

==Quotes==
"Boy! Talk about hot lips!"
:—'''Windcharger''' is hit by an Insecticon blast.

[[File:PlagueofInsecticons Skyfire sitting in puddle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Still think they're optical illusions, Brawn?"
:—'''Skyfire''', after getting his ass handed to him by an army of Insecticon clones.

"Well, let's look at the bright side—at least they didn't bring that sawed-off nerd Rumble along."
:—'''Brawn''', showing he is an optimist, even in the worst situations.

"Uh-oh! What I wouldn't give for a laser-powered flyswatter."
:—'''Skyfire''' comes up with something else for Wheeljack to invent.

"Now, taste the lightning, Autobot fool!" 
"It tastes terrible."
:—'''Shrapnel''' zaps '''Wheeljack'''.

"Megatron, CATCH!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' plays catch...with a 10,000-ton oil tanker.

"Maybe we've picked the wrong allies, Shrapnel."
:—'''Bombshell''', showing a rare moment of insight.

"The traitors! We befriended them, and now they steal our power source. Forget the Autobots, DESTROY THE INSECTICONS!"
:—'''Megatron'''. He really does have a hard time keeping his troops loyal.

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
[[File:G1 PlagueofInsecticons Bombshell blast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Shrapnel's back should be black, not yellow. His bug legs should probably be white, but the show changes their color so much that it's kinda hard to tell for sure.]]
* Coloring errors:
** Bombshell loses all his yellow and purple coloration as he throws the first boat in the swamp.
** Shrapnel's bug head is purple instead of black as he notes that Kickback's meal is escaping.[[File:Ark silver.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|.995 percent pure silver leaf]]
** In the establishing shot of [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the ship is colored silver instead of orange.[[File:Plague Insecticons robot mode.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Seriously, a human comes up to the Insecticons' knees. How big ''is'' this tree??]]
** As the Insecticons stand on the (unfathomably huge) tree branch, both Shrapnel and Kickback's faces are dark gray instead of silver.
** As Skyfire arrives at the farm, his booster pack is white instead of red.
** In the next shot, Kickback's face is still dark gray.
** After the Autobots transform at the end of Sideswipe's "shortcut", Sunstreaker's engine intake is yellow instead of silver.
** As Ironhide and Sunstreaker watch Sideswipe work on the tunnel, Sunstreaker's entire helmet is yellow, rather than just his ear-wings.
** Skyfire's face is white instead of gray as he tries to transform, and his antennae are blue instead of white.
** Bombshell's eyes are a creepy, empty, yet toy-like white (instead of red) as Shrapnel first addresses Megatron.
** Soundwave's missing his cassette door stripes again as the Decepticons take aim.
** When Sideswipe and Sunstreaker get ahead of Optimus Prime after breaking out of the tunnel, both are coloured in Sunstreaker's yellow color scheme for a brief moment.
** Thundercracker is a dark, toy-like blue as he fills the energon cubes, rather than his usual medium blue.
** Prime's tires are white instead of black as Shrapnel takes control of the twins.
** In the following overhead shot, Sideswipe is colored black instead of red.
** The blue vehicle next to out-of-focus Prime doesn't correspond to any Autobot present, and there wasn't anyone in that location in the previous shot anyway.
** Shrapnel's [[beast mode|bug mode]] front half is white as he sends the twins on a second attack run.
** Skyfire's cockpit, boosters and thruster nozzles are white as he fires on the refinery, rather than blue, red and black, respectively.
** Sunstreaker is [[Diaclone#Car Robots|red instead of yellow]] as the Autobots arrive at the refinery and transform.
** Wheeljack is in Bombshell's color as the Autobots start to run for cover.
** Brawn's helmet is yellow instead of gray as he and the others dive into the water.
** Wheeljack is missing his orange chest details as he stands in the water.
** Brawn is in Skyfire's colors as Thundercracker prepares to ignite the spilled oil.
** Prime's hand is red instead of blue as he orders Bumblebee to stay back.
** Bombshell is missing his purple color as he speculates on whether they picked the right allies.
** In the final shot of the assembled Autobots, Sunstreaker's head is yellow again. Trailbreaker's cheeks are colored blue instead of his eye visor (it looks like he's wearing reading glasses!) Sideswipe's eyes are red instead of blue. Brawn's green is very washed out.
* Bombshell's animation model totally cheats. His [[robot mode]] colour scheme is completely lacking in purple, yet the same parts that are coloured black instead become purple when he transforms.
* The show was ''never'' able to make up its mind about Kickback's insect mode head. Sometimes it's drawn with his robot mode face underneath it, just like the toy, even having him talk and emote with it. Other times it's just plain black, with his robot face replaced by a mechanical bug mouth, more like you'd expect from a giant super-advanced space robot trying to pass himself off as an ordinary giant metal robot grasshopper. This episode shows ''both'' versions at various times, even changing it between successive shots (such as the "there's more food to devour on a farm!" sequence.) At least once it splits the difference, showing abstract details colored like his face and eyeband.
* The "Wait for me!" rower makes a pretty spectacular and improbable leap onto the last boat.
* Kickback has no transformation noise as he swims up to his buddies and transforms.
* As Megatron orders his troops to move out, his faction emblem is all blurry.
* As Thundercracker exposits that the Insecticons are Decepticons, Soundwave is missing the yellow lines around his tape door.
* Bombshell is missing his head cannon as the Insecticons raise their guns to fire.
* Brawn and company fall over into the pond before the Insecticons' fire actually hits them.
* In the first shot after the first commercial break, all of the Insecticon clones have disappeared from the field.
* As the Insecticons charge, Bombshell's head launcher is missing its little side laser dealies, and Bombshell's Decepticon insignia is blinking.
* Windcharger is drawn delivering Bumblebee's "I sure hope Prime" line.
* As he stands aside to let Optimus through, Sideswipe's pile drivers have turned into drills.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Ratchet is shown transforming with the rest of Prime's team, despite not being part of it.
* When the Decepticons and Insecticons flee from the field, Thundercracker in jet mode is colored in Skyfire's white-and-red palette. The clones finally reappear in the same shot, after going missing for several scenes.
* At the line "bite down, it's our only chance to hang on!" the voice is Bombshell's, but Shrapnel is shown. Since they're in bug mode and Bombshell was shown in the preceding shot, this may not be an animation error exactly, but at the very least it's poor framing.
* Kickback's robot head shows up beneath his bug head as he turns to kick Brawn off of Shrapnel.
* Thundercracker's arm laser is mounted on the wrong side and in the wrong spot as he aims at Skyfire.
* Soundwave's chest compartment isn't drawn in as Ravage ejects.
* Megatron is missing his insignia as he wonders what Kickback is talking about.
* Shrapnel is missing his insignia as he wonders what went wrong.
* Someone got their signals crossed; after the Autobots prove able to defeat Shrapnel's lightning blasts by rolling on their tires, Optimus is also totally immune to ''normal'' Insecticon firepower.
* Reflector shows up out of nowhere as Megatron rails about the Insecticons stealing their energon, despite not having been seen in the entire episode.

====Rhino DVD release====
The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] release of this episode had errors not present in the original broadcast version, due to their use of incomplete film masters:

* A cel layering error causes Skyfire's door to appear behind Spike and the Autobots as he boards them. As a result, the door closes ''behind'' Bumblebee and Spike as they wave to Optimus, only for them to disappear when it closes fully.
* When Shrapnel shoots his ball shaped bomb, the flame and bomb are missing thus leaving him to fire absolutely nothing but the ball is shown a second later.
* As Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are being controlled by Shrapnel's control beams, Shrapnel is missing from the shot and is nowhere to be seen.
* As the two of them are forcefully driven toward the other Autobots, Sunstreaker is colored black and the frame of animation is not arranged properly.
* Just before Brawn asks Optimus to throw him, Prime is in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], then he transforms from robot to vehicle mode, and is then standing in robot mode.
* When Shrapnel says the line "Has brought it to us us now now" his dialogue lags behind the scene where he speaks.
* Some instances of Wheeljack's flashing "ears", like when he says "Thanks Prime, keep on truckin'", are missing the flashing effect.
* When Bumblebee says "There's gotta be something we can do before we all get fried", his mouth and head do not move until he says the word "fried".

===Continuity errors===
* The Insecticons' origin is fraught with problems. The story seems to be that they were aboard [[Nemesis (G1)|the Decepticon ship]], and ejected in an escape pod before it crashed, four million years ago. What happened after that is not clear, but no version of the story completely jibes with the known facts:
** Megatron says that the Insecticons' escape pod was launched "before [[Nemesis (G1)|our own ship]] crashed here millions of years ago". One might reasonably take this to mean that the Insecticons were aboard the ''Nemesis''; however, upon meeting Megatron a few scenes later, Shrapnel says to him "I don't know you", implying that they ''weren't'' aboard the ''Nemesis''. The summary of the episode in the [[production bible]] clarifies this, saying the pod "... was originally part of the Decepticon spacecraft that jettisoned away just before the Autobots and Decepticons crash landed on Earth".<ref>http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#072</ref> Guess Shrapnel was just feeling conveniently forgetful that day day.
** The narration ("a strange new form of robot") makes it sound like the Insecticons just recently awoke, as does the sudden distress call from the residents of Bali. But if that's the case, it's a ''huge'' coincidence that, after four million years, they were revived just a few months after their kin aboard the Ark.
** The alternative - that the Insecticons have been up and running around for millions of years - doesn't make sense either. How could neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons have ever learned of their existence until this episode?
[[File:Plagueofinsecticons Sideswipe drilling.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* ''Digging a tunnel'' is seriously faster than just backtracking a mile or two to find another way around? Seriously?
* How does Skyfire manage to hide in the bushes with the other, shorter Autobots? He's about four Bumblebees tall! In fact the entire notion of corn that's tall enough to hide an Autobot is a bit far fetched. The absurdity is further called out a few shots later when the Autobots (and Spike!) are shown ''towering'' over the corn.
* How does Skyfire know Kickback's name? None of the Insecticons have introduced themselves.
* As per the cartoon physics norm, if ''anything'' besides the ground breaks your fall, you're just fine. Thus, Wheeljack smacking into Prime's trailer does absolutely no damage to him.
* Brawn gets the same treatment a second later, as Skyfire "catches" him.
* Megatron gives the very strange order to "activate the Ravage cassette".
* Kickback claims there is no spray capable of stopping the Insecticons. Guess he's never heard of [[robotic insecticide]]!
* When Megatron and company arrive at the Balinese oil refinery, a human shouts "the monsters are back!" Neither the Insecticons nor Decepticons have been shown attacking an oil refinery in this episode. Unless one of the refinery workers just happens to moonlight as a swamp boater.

===Continuity notes===
* It may or may not be an intentional bit of continuity, but Starscream, [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|last seen]] being hauled off by Megatron for unspecified punishment, is absent from this episode. Then again, Skywarp and Frenzy are missing too, which tells us absolutely nothing.
[[File:Plagueofinsecticons fire fighting.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|It can't be [[fire-retardant foam]]; if it was, the Autobots would've won the war eons ago.]]
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Windcharger repulsorfield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Funny part is, there isn't actually any button there.]]
[[File:ShrapnelG1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:PlagueInsecticons Kickback harvester.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Rideeeer Kick!]]

* Gadgets and powers:
** Laserbeak slides yet another gadget out of his head, this one a micro radar dish that he uses to contact Megatron.
** Megatron has the flashing pectoral rectangles to acknowledge Laserbeak's signal, as seen [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|last episode]].
** The Insecticons, presumably like all Transformers, have [[idento-computer]]s that somehow "adapted them for life on Earth by turning them into Insecticons". Depending on your interpretation of this statement, it might be considered the first instance of a Transformer gaining a new [[alternate mode]] through internal reconfiguration, rather than through external reconstruction, a premise that would not gain traction until the ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' franchise in 2002.
** Not for the last time, Skyfire extends his legs in a sort of mid-transformation pause. (Sorry, ''Macross'' dorks, it's not a GERWALK/Guardian. Those have arms.)
** Rather than use his rather well documented pile driver abilities to dig his tunnel, Sideswipe just retracts his hands and ''smashes his way through with his arms''. Looks like some animator misunderstood a script direction. They ''finally'' got it right in the final tunnel digging scene...and then they show him with drills on his hands.
** Windcharger activates a magnetic "repulsor field" by pressing a button on his chest.
** Wheeljack uses his documented ability to fly. He even (mostly) keeps his arms at his side like he's supposed to, considering it's supposed to be wrist rockets that let him do it. He also uses his missile launcher... sorta. Actually the missiles just kind of fly out from behind his back.
** It's a showcase for Trailbreaker's forcefield, as he uses it first to cut off Shrapnel's override waves and then his control beams, the latter destroying the Insecticon clones. It's also a rare instance of it actually being projected from the right place, namely the silver box gadget thing behind his head.
** Thundercracker uses his flamethrower again, previously seen in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]". As noted before, this was likely an interpretation of the "incendiary guns" his bio described him as being armed with.
** Ironhide puts out a fire with [[Fire-retardant foam|foamy gassy white stuff]] that he fires from both retracted wrists.
** Kickback materializes a gun out of thin air in a flash of light, one of those occasional shots leading to fandom "subspace" theories about weapons and parts storage.
** As the stars of the episode, the Insecticons get a whole host of special powers:
*** They quickly demonstrate one of their most characteristic powers, the ability to create clones of themselves, a power was ''never'' mentioned in any of their Tech Spec writeups and was created solely for the cartoon. Shrapnel claims ownership of the cloning beams, but Kickback is also shown generating them. Bombshell is also involved, but the animation does not convey the full intent of the script when it comes to his role: the visuals imply that all he does is blow up a derelict tractor with his "Insecta-shells" to create debris to form the clones, but the script explains that the Insecta-shell was supposed to release streams of filament and micro-circuitry to connect the debris together, through which Shrapnel's beams are then channelled to form and animate the clones.
*** Shrapnel uses his grenade launcher, firing a steel ball from his wrist which then explodes into a bazillion razor-sharp fragments. His Tech Spec has the launcher as his hand-held weapon, but otherwise the ability is correct as shown. Later he identifies it as "a shrapnel grenade" (or perhaps a Shrapnel Grenade?)
*** Shrapnel uses his "special override wave" to control Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.
*** Shrapnel uses his famous ability to capture and fire lightning. He seems to need Bombshell's help to do it, though. The Autobots are able to counter the effects of the lightning by transforming and electrically insulating themselves from the ground with their rubber tires.
* Optimus demonstrates ''highly improbable'' amounts of strength, lifting an entire sunken [[oil tanker]] out of the water and throwing it at Megatron.
* The episode's closing dialog provides us with the interesting factoid that Spike is not yet old enough to drive, capping his likely age in 1984 at 15.

===Real-world references===
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Bali establishing shot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Come for the farms. Stay for the Insecticons!]]
* The Insecticons inhabit the real world island of [[Bali]], which is part of the nation of [[Indonesia]].
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Kickback launches to pursue the last boat.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst ''and'' Death Star superlaser as the Insecticons fly out of the swamp.
** X-Wing diving whine as Laserbeak reports his findings.
** Death Star superlaser again as the Insecticons launch to attack the farm.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as the Insecticons fly to attack Skyfire.
** Death Star superlaser as Shrapnel and Bombshell cling to Skyfire's wings.
** X-wing diving whine in the same sequence.
** Luke deflecting seeker ball bolts as Thundercracker compresses the energon cubes.
** X-Wing diving whine as the Insecticons attach to the tanker.
** Death Star superlaser as Megatron launches to re-ignite the tanker.
** Death Star superlaser as the Insecticons flee from the refinery.

===Trivia===
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Trailbreaker projecting forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* The Shout! Factory release (incorrectly?) credits this episode as being written by [[Donald F. Glut]].
* Wheeljack refers to the idea of a motorcycle alternate form as "[[Groove (G1)|something new]]". Ah, Transformers was so young and new back then!
* Some episodes provide plot, character development, and storytelling. Others are a big parade of battles and special buy-my-toy powers. The reader may draw their own conclusions as to which category this episode falls under.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Praga de Insecticons'''" ("The Plague of Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Gli Insekticons'''" ("The Insecticons")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La piaga degli Insecticons'''" ("The Plague of the Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Insectron no Nazo'''" (インセクトロンの謎, "The Mystery of the Insectrons")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 24]], [[1986]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of this episode had to be delayed until near the end of the series, when the legal matters could be resolved.
:*Being a Japanese dub and all, Shrapnel dramatically announces the name of his lightning blast as though it were a special move: "Thunder Attack!" ...Yes, ''thunder''. Not lightning.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nashestviye Insecticonov'''" ("The Invasion of Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nајezdа Insektikonа'''" (Најезда Инсектикона, "Insecticon Invasion")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 12: "The Secret of Omega Supreme", "War Dawn", "A Plague of Insecticons" ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-12.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plague of Insecticons}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Heavy Metal War

2016-01-21T22:16:07Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' episode|Heavy Metal War - Part 1}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=16
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=10
|prev2=Countdown to Extinction (episode)
|next2=Autobot Spike
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=5
|prev3=S.O.S. Dinobots
|next3=The Autobot Run
|image=HeavyMetalWar Primedefeated.jpg
|caption=The agony of defeat.
|title="Heavy Metal War"
|production code=#700-13
|airdate=[[December 15]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron challenges Optimus Prime to a one on one battle to end the war.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:HeavyMetalWar Megatron invitation.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Silly Megs, tricks are for kids!]]
A busy construction site is attacked by driver-less construction equipment, and several components are stolen. The construction vehicles return to Decepticon headquarters and are revealed to be the newly built [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. The components they stole are parts to a machine that will allow [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to absorb the [[power chip rectifier]]s from his [[Decepticon]] warriors.

While the final preparations are completed on the machine, Megatron flies to [[Autobot]] headquarters and makes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] an offer he cannot refuse. Megatron offers the Autobot leader a one on one battle with the winner staying on [[Earth]] to do as he pleases, and the loser taking his army and exiling themselves to deep space. Confident in his own abilities, Prime accepts the challenge and sets the match.

[[File:HeavyMetalWar Megatron powerup.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Fear me, for I have the power of... poo gas!!]]

Knowing that Prime would be unable to resist a chance to honorably end their conflict, Megatron returns to the Decepticon base and uses the newly completed machine to gain all of the special powers of his warriors. [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'s teleportation, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'s sonic boom, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s seismic attack, etc. Knowing that Megatron would now be unbeatable, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] voices concerns that the Autobot computer [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] would be able to detect what Megatron had done. Anticipating this problem, Megatron dispatches the Constructicons to take care of the computer.

The two armies arrive at the battle site, and the contest begins. Megatron unleashes a barrage of powers (while Starscream gives a running commentary), and Prime is outclassed at every step. Not knowing that he has been deceived, Prime concedes the fight and comments that he underestimated Megatron. The shocked Autobots begin the trek back to base, and the Decepticons follow to make sure they leave.

[[File:Heavy Metal War Devastator.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Not Brawl.]]

Meanwhile, the Constructicons have nearly tunneled their way into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and Teletraan I. Sensing the imminent danger, Teletraan I activates the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. The Dinobots respond and start pounding on the Constructicons, opening up a lava channel in the process. The battle not going in their favor, the Constructicons pull out one last trick and combine into the super warrior, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The returning Autobots see the battle, but are unable to help. Inside the Ark, Teletraan I is able to show that Megatron cheated, and the Autobots rush outside to help the Dinobots.

[[File:Heavy Metal War Decepticons beat.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|You'd think Starscream would be used to this, but no...]]

Despite the arrival of the rest of the Autobots to the fight, Devastator is still too powerful to be defeated, so [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] distracts the monstrous Decepticon with a [[hologram]] of [[Halonix Maximus|a colossal Autobot]]. Stunned at the sudden appearance of a robot even bigger than he is, Devastator is shot by Optimus Prime and falls apart. The Constructicons try to drive away, but the Dinobots blast them into the lava. The other Decepticons are routed by the Autobots and also pushed or knocked back by gunfire into the lava. There is much rejoicing.

...Until Megatron rises from the lava, vowing that the Decepticons will rise again.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (24)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (25)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (26)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (27)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (28)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (29)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (30)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (31)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (32)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (36)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (37)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (38)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (39)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (40)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (41)
*[[Halonix Maximus]] hologram (43)
|c2=
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (2)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (3)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (4)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (5)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (6)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (7)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (11)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (22)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (23)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (34)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (35)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (42)

|c3=
*Construction Workers (1)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (17)
*[[Chip Chase]] (18)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Forgive me, but I believe your boast sounds vaguely familiar."
:—'''Starscream''', after hearing another of Megatron's promises to destroy the Autobots.

[[File:Shockblastcannon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I'm alright! I'm alright. That was supposed to happen.]]
"Let's see how he likes my new [[Shock blast cannon|shockblast cannon]]! ''[The cannon explodes in his hands]'' Uhh... hnh... that's a shock, all right."
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"But I need my power chip rectifier. Besides, the Cybertron Code of Combat requires each warrior to fight as he is, without additional reinforcement. You wouldn't want to cheat, would you, Megatron?" 
"I will win by any means! At any cost! Even if it means terminating ''you'', Starscream!" 
"I was only raising a legal point..."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"Doesn't this remind you of the gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome?" 
"Maybe it would if I knew what you were talkin' about."
:—'''Chip''' and '''Ironhide''' on the duel between Optimus and Megatron.

"Sludge not see these Decepticons before." 
"Not see again either. Because we dino-mite them to pieces!" 
:—'''Sludge''' and '''Snarl''' vs. the Constructicons.

"It is ended." 
"Is it really over, Optimus? I mean, have we seen the end of this war? Forever?" 
"Who can say, Spike? In this vast universe, is anything truly forever?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Spike''', with a question that is quickly answered, at least for the audience

==Notes==
===Technical or animation glitches===
* It seems the artists might have had only script directions to go by when drawing the Constructicons' vehicular attack modes, and not actual character models. Both Long Haul and Mixmaster deploy weapons that are of similar description to their toys' attack forms (cab-mounted cannon, twin missile launchers), but look nothing like them.
* Coloring errors:
** As Long Haul deploys his missiles, his Decepticon symbol is red, and missing its "cheeks".
** The top of Hook's head is green as Scrapper bows to Megatron... and again in the very next shot.
** Scavenger's face is colored all-green as he welds. If it was a stylistic decision to show the light from his welding, then it should flicker along with the welding lights.
** As Scrapper directs the others working on the infuser, his head is green instead of black, and Mixmaster's drum and torso are purple instead of green.
** The top of Wheeljack's chest is colored glass-blue instead of white after the shock cannon blows up.
** During the pan across the Decepticons before the strength transfer, Soundwave is missing the line in the middle of his mask, and his yellow stripes are mostly colored blue.
** Megatron's waist is red instead of silver after the transfer.
** When Megatron talks to Starscream after that, Starscream's air vent "boobs" are colored white instead of black.
** The front of Scrapper's head is red instead of black as Megatron orders him to move out.
** As Scrapper transforms, his whole helmet is green.
** As Optimus explains the code to Spike, Ironhide's forehead isn't fully drawn in.
** "Defeat, Megatron?" Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of black during this line.
** At the end of the across the Decepticons seating themselves, Soundwave's optic visor is blue instead of red.
** Laserbeak's head is light gray as he ejects from Soundwave.
** Megatron's faction emblem is missing before he teleports.
** And it's missing again as he says the Autobots must exile themselves.
** Starscream's right arm is colored dark gray for a moment, while he talks to Skywarp about the rectifiers.
** Wheeljack's missing one of the lines on his "ears" as he and the others listen to Optimus say he was not prepared.
** Prime's tires are light gray as he transforms to truck mode, and his headlights aren't colored in.[[File:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Oh, and Scavenger's chest shouldn't be purple, either.]]
** Scrapper's helmet is green in two shots as he and the others run into Autobot Headquarters.
** Scavenger's back is purple as he and the others back away from the Dinobots.
** Snarl's helmet is the same medium gray as his body as he joins Sludge.
** As Devastator walks toward the Dinobots, Swoop's head is white, while Sludge and Slag are block-colored gray.
** Devastator's hand is green instead of purple as he throws Grimlock.
** The top of Starscream's chest is red instead of gray as Megatron rants about the hologram.
* "Besides, the Cybertron code of combat requires..." Starscream's hand phases behind the transfer machine's light during his monologue.
* There's a discontinuity between shots as Megatron is infused; in one shot he's moving and reacting in visible pain to the power transfer; in the next, he's just standing there like a statue.
* Also in the above scene, when Megatron says "I now possess all your powers in addition to my own" his "helmet" is significantly wider than his usual onscreen character model's, and in the NEXT shot ("Optimus Prime and the Autobots... are FINISHED!! Huhuhwarhahahahaha!!") his helmet suddenly shrinks back to its usual narrow width. It would therefore be reasonable to surmise the animators were using Megatron's G1 Toy as a drawing reference for the former shot, as his helmet IS significantly wider than the "normal" Megatron's onscreen model.
* After Megatron talks of the Constructicons destroying Teletraan I, he's suddenly no longer attached to the machine.
* When Megatron laughs maniacally after being infused with the power of the other Decepticons, his head is disproportionately small, and his Decepticon insignia moves independently of his body.
*When the Autobots transform into their alternate modes right before leaving to the duel, Trailbreaker transforms outside the Ark somehow.
*When the Autobots transform back into robot mode when they arrive at the duel, Ironhide, already in robot mode, transforms into his alternate mode. The next scene shows him in robot mode again.
* When Starscream lands behind Megatron before the latter's duel with Optimus Prime, the animators forgot to animate the dust Starscream's feet stir up, so we can see that his legs are not fully drawn, and instead of feet, they end in paint blotches.
* Chip is drawn speaking Spike's line "It's Earth history, Ironhide!"
* During the duel, what are the Autobots supposed to be sitting on? Air?
* After the boulder Prime threw at Meagtron splits in two, it completely disappears before the shot ends.
[[File:HeavyMetalWar Huffer towing Prime's trailer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Huffer is drawn with six wheels instead of four as he takes Prime's trailer.
* How long's it take for the animators to forget that Prime isn't towing his own trailer? All of one shot! Huffer is nowhere to be seen as the 'bots leave the battlefield.
* Mixmaster's cab-weapon changes color and form between scenes (it's a gray sphere when the Constructicons start tunneling; it's a green gun when they reach Autobot Headquarters.)
* Mixmaster's acid-laser changes from pink to orange between shots. The weapon that fires it has gone back to gray in the second shot.
* The animation doesn't really show a hole ''melting'' in the floor; a section of the floor just vanishes and is replaced with a melted hole.
* Grimlock has his original head design in this episode, rather than the later, toy-based one he normally is drawn with.
* Grimlock's Galaxial Rocket Launcher is drawn as one of the barrels of his laser rifle shooting off.
* The Dinobots' voices are ''heavily'' processed in his episode, far beyond the norm, giving them a crunchy, gravely sound.
* The inside of Sludge's [[robot mode]] mouth is glowing orange ''again''. Clearly this is part of his character model, but why and how did such a bizarre choice come about in the first place?
* As Scrapper clutches his wounded shoulder, he has two small eyes instead of a visor. (It makes him look a lot like [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]].)
[[File:G1DevastatorHeads.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|But let's face it - he looks much, much cooler with the visor.]]
* Much like [[A Plague of Insecticons|Kickback's insect head]], the cartoon could never quite make up its mind whether Devastator was supposed to have two small eyes or one big visor. This episode shows him with eyes as he monologues, then the visor shows up just a shot or two later.
* When the Autobots cheer inside their headquarters, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]]'s insignia is missing, Wheeljack's ears aren't flashing, and Jazz's mouth is blinking on and off.
* As the hologram fades out, Hound isn't shown in the nearby cave from which he's supposed to be projecting it.
* When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] finds out the "Giant [[Autobot]]" is a hologram, his cannon [[kibble]] is gone for a brief second.
* In the final closeup of Megatron's face, several of the lava streams are flowing ''behind'' his eyes and back out. OUCH!
* When we first see the Autobots in the Ark after the duel, Ironhide punches empty air, the whole screen shakes, and he says, “Uh, sorry about that” to no-one.

===Rhino DVD release===
More than most episodes, the [[Kid Rhino]] DVD version of this episode is full of animation errors that do not appear in the original broadcast version or prior home video releases (as a result of incomplete film masters being used for the DVD), as well as crude attempts made by Rhino to fix some of these errors.

Some are merely aesthetic complaints:
* In one shot, the camera pans sideways to follow the Constructicons, however they aren't moving, so they actually lag behind the screen. Then, as they round a corner, they are animated above the animation cel of the building they drive around, and you can see they are not fully drawn. Their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s end in unfinished lines and paint blotches until they come fully into view.
* As the Constructions make their big introductory transformations, the camera doesn't pan up with Bonecrusher, Long Haul, and Mixmaster, leaving them cut out of the shot from the thighs upward. Bonecrusher is also visibly floating above the ground.
* After Long Haul transforms, the equipment he's supposedly carrying simply pops into view. As the outlines tell us, it has been retroactively shopped into the image.
* The Rhino DVD portrays the power-chip smelter as a featureless rectangular smear, lacking all the light effects and animation that should be present.
* When Megatron says "Scrapper, you have your orders...", the Constructicons' eyes / eye visors no longer glow red in response.
* As he drives up to start digging, [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] is constantly jumping a bit back and forth while driving, as if the animation frames are not ordered properly.
* When the Autobots transform to leave base for the battlefield, Optimus Prime's left headlight blinks in and out a couple of times.
* Then, as they all drive out of the Ark, the screen freezes for a moment. The Autobots seem to have teleported after the animation finally continues.
* The sky behind Ironhide, when he is informing us of his ignorance of Earth's history, jumps noticeably at the beginning of the shot, and the shadowy outlines around him vibrate wildly.
* The audience isn't actually sitting on the edge of the pit, rather they are all somehow seated on the slopes.
* At two points during the duel with Optimus Prime (one of them recycled as him landing at Autobot Headquarters), Megatron is colored dark gray.
* When the miscolored Megatron blasts Prime away, the background isn't moving to simulate the camera pan, whereas Prime's animation is.
* The humans in one shot are drawn horribly off-model, with terrible looking teeth, may we add. Spike shows his pre-final print uppers again in a later shot.
* When Skywarp boasts that Megatron acquired the power of teleportation from him, he is colored like Starscream, who is seen sitting right next to him.
* During the Dinobots' fight scene with the Constructicons, some of the laser-firing animation is missing, leaving the characters with huge "holes" and gaps on their bodies where said laser shots should have been animated. This also renders the shot of Sludge firing his eye-beams completely pointless.
* And as Swoop fires his missiles, the background art isn't moving, making it look like he is floating.
* Also in one shot, the rock covering the Constructicons is missing from the foreground, and again, we see incomplete drawings instead of fully-drawn robots.
** However a later shot has a cave mouth drawn over the screen's outer rim, which shouldn't be there, as the scene takes place outside.

However, some of the screwups actually confuse the plot:
* Power chip rectifier only appear in the finished animation as little more than small glowing pink dots. When Starscream removes his, this glowing effect is missing, meaning he's holding nothing, and that none of the rectifiers ever actually appear on-screen in the Rhino version.
* When Rhino DVD Optimus Prime hurls a boulder at Megatron, Megatron still lights up to use Skywarp's teleportation ability to get out of the way... but after the teleporation glow effect fades, Megatron is ''still standing there''. The boulder ''flies straight through him'' with nobody seeming to care, including Megatron himself.
* When Megatron is talking to Starscream while the Constructicons are building the infuser machine, Starscream is colored like Skywarp.
** Speaking about the Constructicons being hard at work, this sequence is completely missing. We are instead treated to a shot of Megatron and Starscream standing silently for seconds.
* When [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] runs up and uses his [[glass gas]], he is coloured like [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]].
[[File:HeavyMetalWar Mixmaster spray.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|That sure isn't a cave you're in there, Mixmaster.]]
* The animation sequence of Megatron landing at the Autobot base ''is missing entirely'', and is replaced by looped animation from later in the episode of Megatron landing after a jump, along with a recycled snippet of Cliffjumper looking elated after encasing Megatron in ice from just a few seconds earlier.
* When Megatron lands, there are two Optimus Primes and Ironhides there to greet him.
* As the Autobots help Prime make his decision, the camera pans are missing, and the scene is instead shown as multiple, separate shots. Secondly, Wheeljack's light effects are mis-aligned. Finally, the added lens-effects in Prime's optics makes him look like he's about to cry.
* When the Constructicons move out to dig the passage to the Autobot headquarters, they're all shown outdoors instead of inside the base.
* A transformation sequence for Trailbreaker, recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", still retains its exterior background even though it's supposed to happen inside Autobot Headquarters.
* When the Autobots arrive at the pit in vehicle mode, Ironhide is seen transforming from robot mode to vehicle mode. Then, he is back in his robot form.
* Instead of using the finished shot, we see recycled animation of a standing Prime being hit when Megatron delivers his final blow. He should be lying on the ground.
* The animation of the lava is absent in a couple of shots.

But, uhhh, hey, that silver DVD case sure is shiny and pretty!

===Shout! Factory DVD release===
* Like "[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction]]" before it, the sound effects of this episode are cranked down to near-inaudibility, compared to the music and vocal tracks.
* This episode is also one of several affected by Shout!'s inability to obtain complete master reels to restore the incomplete animation used in the Kid Rhino releases, resulting in 1-inch tape versions being used instead. Picture quality is thus all over the map. The scenes of Megatron approaching Autobot Headquarters are noticeably under-lit. Several scenes are in visibly softer focus compared to shots before and after, such as the pan of Autobots as Cliffjumper says "I don't trust 'im!"

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Lineup.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|"Where'd you get the Constructicons?" "We found them." "Found them? On Earth? Constructicons are Cybertronian!" "The Cosmos may fly into the sun or the Omega Supreme or the Astrotrain may seek warmer climes in winter, yet these are not strangers to our land." "Are you suggesting that Constructicons migrate?"]]
* This episode gives the first of [[Constructicon (G1)|three contradictory origins]] for the Constructicons.

* The building site that the Constructicons raid is a power plant. One of the construction workers states that it will be able to provide the whole planet with limitless energy, raising the question of why the Decepticons didn't raid such a powerful energy source for energon.

* So this head worker guy sees driverless, talking construction vehicles, that turn into giant malevolent thieving robots with the Decepticon symbol on 'em... but somehow he only figures out that they're Decepticons when Scrapper says they work for Megatron. Is Megatron's name more famous than all the defining aspects of his faction?

* Ironhide is apparently able to detect the Decepticons by himself, without relying on Teletraan I. However, in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]", the Autobots were unable to detect the approaching Decepticons with Teletraan I sabotaged.

* Optimus Prime takes out Devastator with a single shot from his laser rifle, something rather at odds with the later portrayal of combiners as nigh-invulnerable. Maybe they were upgraded?

* It's a bit strange that Starscream of all mechs should be concerned with legalities and suggest that Megatron try to fight honorably... but there ''is'' a touch of sarcasm when he says "You wouldn't want to ''cheat'', would you, Megatron?"

* There is a rather ''huge'' hole in Megatron's "Destroy Teletraan I" plot: When the Autobots come back from Optimus Prime's defeat, wouldn't a burning-and-smoking Teletraan I ''immediately'' scream "Megatron DID cheat" rather than cover that fact up?

[[File:DinobotsG1.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
* The Autobots return to headquarters as the Dinobots have begun their battle with Devastator. They have time enough to repair Optimus Prime and detect the Decepticon deception, and meanwhile, the Dinobots are ''still'' fighting Devastator.
** On that note the Autobots don't even try to tell the Dinobots that they were leaving and the fight was over. Were the Autobots going to leave the Dinobots behind and strand them on Earth!?

* Speaking of which, didn't anybody notice the big flaming hole in the floor of Autobot Headquarters?

* So the Decepticons couldn't '''FLY''' out of the lava when they fell in?

* Doesn't anybody notice Megatron down there floating in the lava?

===Continuity notes===
* This episode introduces the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]].
[[File:Heavymeatlwar megatron powers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|This fist of mine glows with an awesome power chip rectifier!]]
[[File:HeavyMetalWar Scavenger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|This shovel of mine glows with an awesome sensor reading!]]
[[File:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|This computer of mine glows with an awesome lollipop!]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Constructicons show off a variety of armaments and abilities, such as Mixmaster melting a whole steam roller into goop and later firing a stream of rock-melting liquid, Long Haul having dump truck mode missile launchers (perhaps a nod to his toy's "attack mode"), and Scavenger's shovel-based sensors.
** Long Haul has the rather ''amazing'' ability to fill up his cargo bed with a payload, transform to robot mode, then convert back to dump truck mode... and still have the cargo be there!
** Ironhide detects Megatron's approach using a sensor that displays on his chest, not unlike abilities he displayed in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]".
** Cliffjumper's [[glass gas]], if that's what it's supposed to be, acts a lot more like Ironhide's liquid nitrogen. He shoots a huge stream of it from his retracted wrists, and it encases Megatron in ice.
** Speaking of which, being encased in ice does not affect Megatron's ability to fly.
** Ironhide doesn't even bother retracting his fists; he just shoots lasers right out of them. It's an unusual conceit for ''Transformers'', though [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|not]] [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|unheard of]].
** As explained in this episode, [[power chip rectifier]]s are what give Transformers their unique special abilities.
** The episode gives us a showcase of the Decepticons' most notable abilities, as Megatron uses Starscream's [[cluster bomb]]s and null rays, Reflector's light-generating abilities, Rumble's earthquakes, Skywarp's teleportation, and Thundercracker's sonic abilities.
*** Incidentally, this is the first time said sonic abilities have been used explicitly. And it's not even by the guy they belong to.
** Optimus shows the strange ability to fire lasers out of his palm. He's blocking Megatron's shot with the other arm at the same time, almost like he's [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity#Beast Machines cartoon|absorbing the energy and shooting it back]].
** Teletraan-1 can make up its own mind to wake up the Dinobots when a threat is detected.
** Grimlock actually uses his rocket launcher, though it's drawn as one of the barrels of his laser rifle shooting off like a rocket (similar to the future fate of Haywire's gun mode).
** Snarl's sword can fire energy blasts from its tip. The Dinobots actually using their swords is something that doesn't happen often, but this is the second time Snarl has been shown with his. Instead of being red, as per the toy and comics, it uses the gray coloring it has in Snarl's package art.
** Hound projects one of his holograms out of both fists.
** Hey, turns out the Constructicons can turn themselves all into one big robot! Wonder if the toys can do that??
* When the Constructicons are tunneling, Scrapper refers to [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] as "[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]". In their [[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More than Meets the Eye'']] bio, Dreamwave would paint this as a deliberate derogatory term other Decepticons sometimes refer to him as.
* Soundwave totally pets Ravage on the head like a kittycat. Adorable!
* This episode is also the "source" of the aborted "Lava Bath Safety" deco for the original Megatron toy.
* The ''Law of Cybertron'' will be invoked again many years later, to resolve the Generation 2 War. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}}

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst/whine as the Constructions take off from the construction site.
** Same effect as Megatron leaves Autobot Headquarters.
** [[Lightsaber]] ignition sound when Megatron activates Reflector's light powers.
* Chip provides the episode's requisite dose of "Oh, it's ''educational''" by likening the leaders' combat to the gladiatorial matches of ancient Rome.
* Mixmaster gets in on the act by naming a couple of acids by formula: H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and HCl (hydrochloric acid).
* Oh, and the construction site will make energy from the earth's magnetic field. "Magnetic field" sounds like science, right??

===Trivia===
[[File:SnarlG1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|And we don't just mean the "horrible rape-related imagery" aspect, either.]]
* The art style of this episode has a distinctively Japanese flavor to it (in a handful of scenes), similar to that of "[[Roll for It]]". [[Masami Ōbari]]'s believed to be involved with this episode.<ref>http://mimizun.com/log/2ch/ranime/1118994758/</ref>
* The animation pretty much gets Devastator's transformation spot-on. Enjoy it while you can; it [[The Core|won't]] [[The Autobot Run|last]].
* Storyboards for this episode indicate that at one point in the scripting process, power chip rectifiers were also tied into the ability to transform. Upon giving up their rectifiers, the Decepticons lose their ability to transform, and during the fight, Megatron transforms into a jet! <ref>[http://cartoonpaperwork.com/network/dt/003.shtml "Heavy Metal War" storyboards at CartoonPaperwork.com]</ref>
* Scenes and dialogue deleted from this episode include Wheeljack showing off the latest improvements he has made to the Dinobots outside Autobot Headquarters (during which Megatron arrives), Scavenger referring to Scrapper with the misnomer of "[[Gravedigger (G1)|Gravedigger]]", and Megatron using Soundwave's mind-reading powers on Optimus Prime during their fight.
** An extended portion of dialogue is also cut from Megatron's address to Optimus Prime, resulting in the rather clumsy line in the finished episode, "Our war has gone on for millions of years — Decepticons fighting Autobots — in which opposing leaders — you and I, Optimus Prime — may do battle." In the episode's dialogue script, following "Decepticons fighting Autobots," Megatron finishes his first sentence by lamenting the endless nature of the war. Prime shares in his regret, but deems it necessary as long as Megatron continues his pursuit of conquest. Megatron then speaks again, raising the topic of the "age-old law of combat," then picking up the finished line from "in which opposing leaders..."
[[File:RumbleisRed.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The "red robot" is clearly blue.]]
* During Teletraan I's montage of the sources of Megatron's acquired powers, the descriptions for the individual Decepticons are verbatim quotes from the [http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/ Transformers Series Bible's "Decepticon Rollcall" page], albeit including several lost-in-translation typographical errors ("Decepticon Lider", "Decepticon Commicator", "Sky Warp"). The most notable of those is [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (misspelled as "Runble") being identified as a [[FIRRIB|"red robot"]]. Furthermore, the seemingly random numbers listed on those screens are actually Hasbro's product codes for the respective toys. Interestingly enough, [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] is given a product number, even though he was never released at mass retail. However, the renditions of the Decepticons are ''not'' the official [[character model]] poses for those characters, but rather all-new drawings.
* The head construction worker's cry as Scavenger drops him is recycled from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]" (from when Laserbeak kidnaps two security guards.)
* The episode's ending sure seems intended as a potential conclusion to the series, just in case it wasn't renewed for a second season. Turns out that ''Transformers'' was a bit of a hit, so that whole falling-into-lava thing was ignored (though it was alluded to in the [[title sequence]] animation for season two, as the Insecticons traverse in lava).
* The hologram image Hound projected went anonymous for 26 years until it received an identity at [[BotCon 2010]] as the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard member]] [[Halonix Maximus]].
[[File:RavagePet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Who's a good widdle killy-kitty? YOU IS!]]
* When the Autobots and Decepticons are getting ready to watch the fight, Soundwave lets Ravage out and Ravage then sits beside Soundwave and auidbly ''purrs'' while Soundwave pets him. This is both very cute and very creepy.
* When aired on [[Hub Network]]'s video-on-demand, the Kid Rhino version is used for some reason, even though Hub Network always airs the original pre-Kid Rhino versions

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Guerra dos Metaleiros'''" ("War of Metalheads")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Der Zweikampf'''" ("The Duel")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 28]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (both dubs):'' "'''Il duello'''" ("The Duel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertron-sei no Okite'''" (せイバートロン星の掟, "The Laws of Planet Cybertron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 7]], [[1985]]
:* In Japanese anime fashion, Megatron yells the names of several of the special attacks he's purloined from his minions; namely, Reflector's "Flash Beam" and Thundercracker's "Sonic Beam".

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Voyna tyazhelogo metalla'''" (Война тяжёлого металла, "Heavy Metal War")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sukob metalnih ratnika'''" (Сукоб металних ратника, "Battle of the Metal Warriors")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Spanish title'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fuerte Guerra de Metal'''" ("Heavy Metal War")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 10: "Heavy Metal War" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — A Ghost in the Machine / Heavy Metal Wars (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Heavy Metal Wars / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 6: Evolution Revolution ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (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 First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[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]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Roar of the Dinobots (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-13.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Autobot Spike

2016-01-21T22:14:29Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=17
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=11
|prev2=Heavy Metal War
|next2=Changing Gears
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=37
|prev3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|next3=The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
|image=AutobotSpike Autobotx concealed weapon.jpg
|caption=''I'm a teenage Frankenstein! The local freak with the twisted mind!''
|title="Autobot Spike"
|production code=#700-16
|airdate=[[September 23]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''A wounded Spike is turned into an Autobot Frankenstein's monster to save his life.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AutobotSpike-AutobotXTabled.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|In the future, Autobot X will be revived to systematically battle groups of eight [[Predacon (G1)|animal-themed robots]].]]

The Autobots gather around [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s worktable in [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]] for a demonstration. Using spare parts and human ingenuity, Sparkplug has cobbled together a large robot he has dubbed [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]], and with a flip of a switch sets him loose. He immediately runs amok—groaning, growling and smashing everything in sight. It takes [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] to bring him down. Sparkplug apologizes to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] for the mess and recommends Autobot X be put in storage.

Before this can be done, the party is interrupted by an alarm. Decepticons are attacking the new Air Force rocket base. The Autobots roll out to the base and engage the Decepticons. During the battle, the rockets and their fuel are inadvertently destroyed, and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders a retreat.

To cover their escape, Megatron creates a diversion for the Autobots; he blasts [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] while [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] is riding in him. The attack leaves Bumblebee damaged and Spike comatose. Spike is taken to Metro Hospital, where the doctors suggest that if Spike's mind could be transferred somewhere else, they would be able to operate on his fragile body.

[[File:BotX.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Stand back, for the love of God! He's got a rotten brain!!]]

[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Sparkplug transfer Spike's mind into Autobot X's body. However, as a side effect of the transferral process, Spike's mind is in an extremely unstable state. Angry and confused about his new body, Autobot Spike rampages, destroying several computers and machines in Wheeljack's shop.

Optimus Prime is able to subdue Autobot Spike without damaging his mind. To keep Spike calm, Wheeljack tunes [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to a television station, where cruel Fate just happens to have scheduled an airing of a movie featuring [[Frankenstein|Doctor Frankenstein]]'s unholy attempt to create life. Spike is roused to anger, convinced that he, like [[Frankenstein's monster|the Doctor's creation]], is a "monster." He again rampages throughout the Ark, then escapes.

[[File:AutobotSpike-Moping.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Hello, handsome. You're a good looking fellow, do you know that? People laugh at you, people hate you, but why do they hate you? Because... they are jealous.]]

Alone in the wilderness, Spike suffers from the conflict between his own mind and what there is of Autobot X. Will he use his new body and powers to help the world like Optimus Prime, or conquer all Humanity?

[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] informs Megatron of Spike's new Autobot body and unstable mind, and Megatron forms a plan to trick Autobot Spike into destroying the Autobots. Megatron soon finds Spike with [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]'s help. Autobot Spike attacks, but Megatron has other plans. Spike's unstable mind makes it hard for him to think, and he is easily twisted by Megatron to side with him against the Autobots.

Bumblebee brings the Autobots to Spike's location, but they are unable to fight against the vengeful being for fear of destroying Spike's mind. Only after Autobot Spike shoots his father off the edge of a cliff does he realize what he has done. At once, he saves his father and turns on the [[Decepticon]]s.

Finally, Spike's mind is returned to his [[human]] body after the surgical operation is successfully completed.

Spike will never be placed in a robot's body again. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Never?]]

{{--}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]] (8)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (9)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (10)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (11)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (12)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (21)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (25)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (26)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (27)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (28)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (15)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (22)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (23)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)

|c3=
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (2)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*Air Force General (13)
*Spike's doctor (19)

|c4=
'''On TV'''
*[[Frankenstein]]
*[[Frankenstein's assistant]]
*[[Frankenstein's monster]]
}}

==Quotes==
"Another Autobot? Even if it works, who needs it?"
:—'''Ratchet''' is a [[GEEWUN|1984 purist]].

"It's not supposed to do that!"
:—'''Sparkplug''' referring to Autobot X destroying Autobot headquarters

"So you Decepticreeps like to fly, eh? Well, take off!"
:—'''Brawn''' after kicking Soundwave

"Hmmm...if only there were a way of separating Spike's mind from his body while we work..."
:—'''Spike's doctor''' clumsily moves the narrative along within earshot of Autobot X's creator.

"He wants a battle—let's give him one!"
:—'''Starscream''', referring to the now-mechanized Spike

"I must say, you've improved your appearance since our last encounter, Spike!"
:—'''Megatron''', upon meeting Spike in Autobot form

[[File:Autobotspike spike and bee.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
'''General''': Aren't they a gorgeous sight? 
'''Optimus Prime''': Impressive. ''[To Ironhide]'' For primitive rocket technology.
:—Only Optimus Prime could both praise and diss humanity at the same time.

[''Crazed laughter'']"Man, I've got powers I haven't even discovered yet!"
:—A mentally-deteriorated '''Spike''' as he fires on the Autobots.

"Hmmm, I wonder—I wonder what it would be like for a robot mind to be transferred to a human?"
:—'''Bumblebee''', being [[Only Human|eerily prophetic]]

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
All in all, remarkably few errors:
* The beginning of Sparkplug's line "It's not working" is cut off, as if the sound dropped out for a split second.
* ''Technically'' it's not an error, but Ratchet maintains his "who needs it?" arm gesture for a ''very'' long time after he finishes speaking.
* Coloring errors:
** After Autobot X fires on Ironhide, Trailbreaker and Prowl, Ironhide's face is colored red.
** Skywarp has an all-yellow chest as the Decepticons prepare to retreat from the rocket base. Only his cockpit canopy should be yellow.
** When Autobot X says, "The way I see it, I've become a monster... like you!", the white portion of his upper body changes to black as he turns to his side.
** As he flies out of Spike's hand, [[Throwback Blaster|Megatron's gun-mode]] handle is colored gray instead of black.
** Just before Megatron orders a retreat, Soundwave has Skywarp's colors, and Skywarp is firing a laser beam that somehow passes in front of Starscream's air intake, even though Starscream is in the foreground.
* Spike's hospital room is hilarious. Not only is it completely devoid of any medical equipment whatsoever (not even so much as an IV drip), but Spike's ancient-looking dormitory-style bed is placed ''directly in the middle of the room''. Despite this, the ticking of a heart monitor can be heard.
* Sideswipe's voice is off as he and Sunstreaker rush to contain Autobot X. The delivery's a bit off, too: he sounds like he's discussing the weather, not rushing into battle.
* The docking tower for [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]] is right off of a rocky coast. Usually it's in open water.
* Spike's second round of fire on the Decepticons hits ''[[generic|three]]'' Thundercrackers.
* Okay, it's a cartoon and all, but... when Spike blasts him off the cliff, Sparkplug falls for an ''incredibly'' long time.

===Continuity errors===
* Throughout the episode, Spike struggles with unpredictable destructive urges and freaks out at the slightest provocation. Sparkplug and the rest repeatedly assume that this is a side-effect of the mental transfer process, rather than the fault of the body they put it in. Did they forget that the body itself goes on similar rampages even ''without'' Spike's mind in it? Spike even says himself that it feels like "something" is telling him to do "bad things."
*A body's dead if a body's dead, right? How does it help the medical process if he isn't in his body?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:AutobotSpike Prime firing from shoulder height.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm shooting him gently!]]
* The three Reflector components, while speaking in unison, refer to themselves as "I".
* It's also the last time Reflector has a speaking part in an episode. The rest of his appearances are silent cameos.
* Autobot X/Spike demonstrates a few abilities that his component parts have never shown. None of the 1984 Autobots shoot lasers from their fingertips; Trailbreaker's gun arm has never been shown to be an extendable grappling hook; Bluestreak has never fired lasers from the headlights on his chest.
* When Optimus Prime tries to subdue Autobot X/Spike, he fires his ion blaster from his shoulder, like an RPG launcher.
* [[Furmanism]] alert: The phrase "What's that?" is said not once ... not twice ... but ''three times'' in this episode alone - First by the rocket general, then by Bumblebee hanging from cliff, and then by Ironhide at the rocket base.
* It's not the [[The Human Factor|last time]] a human mind is placed in a robot's body.
[[File:AutobotSpike Brawn's almighty foot.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''', Round 3: Brawn gives Soundwave a good proper kick to the tail! Brawn 3, Soundwave 0 [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|>>]]

===Real-world references===
[[File:Autobot spike - dr frankenstein.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Abby Someone. Abby who?" "Abby Normal."]]
* So obviously, this episode has the whole Frankenstein thing goin' on. That this script came from the pen of Don Glut is no coincidence, as he has written many novels, articles, short stories and non-fiction books about Frankenstein.
**Given Glut's knowledge, it's no surprise then that when talking about Autobot X, Spike correctly makes the reference to "Frankenstein's monster", instead of making the common mistake that usually sees the monster referred to simply as "Frankenstein".
**Glut refrains from directly copying the dialogue of any existing film version of the Frankenstein story, scripting his own scene from whole cloth.
* The 1967 Hammer Film ''Frankenstein Created Woman'' has a plot element that asserts the human soul can be transferred from one body to another. Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) even states that the transfer of souls from one body to another would be of great use to "medical science". Could be just a coincidence, but if Don Glut is a Frankenstein fan, he was probably familiar with the Hammer series while scripting this episode.

===Trivia===
* The episode begins with a narrative voice-over from [[Victor Caroli]]. Most such narratives recap events from previous episodes; however, this one is solely to introduce the episode's opening events. After a couple more tries ("[[Day of the Machines]]", "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"), this convention would be dropped entirely.
* Ratchet is standing behind Wheeljack when Wheeljack "volunteers" him to help improve Autobot X. Ratchet has a comical surprised reaction to the news. Wheeljack later looks visibly depressed that his mind transfer device has burned itself out.
* This episode features a curiously large amount of extreme close ups with the camera constantly going straight into characters' faces for no reason.
* The episode finally addresses that it's incredibly unsafe to bring a teenager to a battle between two factions of giant robot killing machines. Except that Spike continues to tag along in the future...
* Thirty years later, the device which accomplished the consciousness transfer was given a name in the pages of [[Ask Vector Prime]]... the [[Cortexitron]].

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il mostro Frankenstein'''" ("The Frankenstein Monster")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''L'Autobot Spike'''" ("The Autobot Spike")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*In the first dub, Prowl is misnamed as Ratchet at the beginning.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Frankenstein Spike'''" (フランケンシュタイン・スパイク)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 14]], [[1985]]
:**This episode was actually broadcast in Japan ''before'' it aired in the United States; one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' to do so.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-16.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Changing Gears

2016-01-21T22:14:03Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the 1985 cartoon episode|the movie-era book|Transformers Classified: Switching Gears|Switching Gears}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=18
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=12
|prev2=Autobot Spike
|next2=Traitor
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=27
|prev3=Roll for It
|next3=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|image=ChangingGears Happy Gears.jpg
|caption=OMG! You guys! This is so awesome! Yay!
|title="Changing Gears"
|production code=#700-17
|airdate=[[October 1]], 1985
|written by=[[Larry Parr]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In a plot to drain the Sun for power, the Decepticons capture and alter the grumpy Autobot Gears.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Changegearsskywarp.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Photograph taken immediately post-stair-pushing.]]
The [[Decepticon]]s attack [[human]]s working in a gold mine and take them prisoner. Just as [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] is about to blast a human calling for help on a radio, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] backhands him, saying that he wants the human to bring the [[Autobot]]s.

At the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] orders the Autobots to assemble at once, which they do with lots of hustle. The only exception is [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] who complains the whole way. Prime orders his troops to head out to the mine to engage their enemies.

When they arrive a battle ensues, but Megatron lets the miners get in the way. Unwilling to endanger humans, Prime orders the Autobots to hold their fire. Megatron uses this chance to get the drop on the Autobots, then takes Gears captive for purposes unknown and retreats.

[[File:Changegearsinahole.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Team Rocket traps Gears in a hole in order to steal his Pikachu.]]

In [[Africa]], Megatron has Starscream zap Gears with the [[null-ray]], then takes out a special circuit from Gears's body. The Decepticon leader explains that this circuit is the final component he needs for his energy absorbing [[Solar Needle]], a solar collector which his Decepticons have constructed to harness energy from the heart of the [[Sun]]. With the circuit in place in the needle, the device activates and causes world-wide earthquakes. Unbeknownst to Megatron, the Solar Needle is flawed, causing a dangerous instability within the core of the Sun.

[[File:Changegearstakeitout.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|KALI MA! KALI MA!]]

The effect on Gears is profound as well. The removal of this component from Gears corrupts his personality, turning him from a surly grump into a happy-go-lucky, ultra-polite guy who'll do absolutely anything for anyone. This allows Megatron to manipulate and control him. Mentally, Gears still knows the Decepticons are evil and doesn't want to help them, but he's been rendered so "nice" that he can't refuse any request.

The Autobots blast through the jungle and start firing at the Solar Needle, but it's protected by a [[force field]]. Prime concocts a dangerous plan to circumvent the field by jumping through the hole at the top where the Sun's energy is coming through. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] say it’s too dangerous, but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] drives past them, makes the attempt and shatters the force field.

[[File:Changegearsmegatrontriumphs.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Let there be light!"]]

The 'Bots battle. Megatron gets the drop on Prime and orders the Autobots to surrender or he'll shoot their leader. Prime orders them to fight on, but the Autobots capitulate. Prime asks for one last request, which Megatron allows. The chief Autobot turns and asks Gears to do him a favor now. Gears obliges and shoots a component of the needle. Inspired by his change of heart, the Autobots fight back against the 'Cons, who retreat.

[[File:Changinggearsautogroup.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"You heard Jeff Probst, now get off the island."]]

Prime orders Wheeljack and Ratchet to deactivate the device, but they argue over the correct solution. Out of time and with the Sun about to explode, Optimus just grabs at a wire inside the device and pulls. The needle shuts down and the Sun returns to normal.

Prime removes Gears's circuit card from the needle and hands it back to him, but [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] interrupts, saying that the rest of the Autobots like the new Gears over the old. Gears isn’t too happy about that, so Optimus returns the card and the surly, cranky hypochondriac is back. The Autobots roll on back to headquarters, leaving Gears to complain to himself.
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (10)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (11)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (12)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (13)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (14)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (15)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (16)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (22)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (23)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (3)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (4)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (6)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (7)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (8)

|c3=
*Miners (1)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:ChangingGears Gears Bee acrobatics.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|This act is illegal in 23 states and the District of Columbia.]]

'''Ironhide:''' "Action first, Gears; maintenance later." 
'''Gears:''' "Easy for you to say. Your pulleys don't squeak!" 
'''Bumblebee:''' "Your ''squeaking''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s not the problem—[''does a forward flip over Gears'']—it's your ''squawking!''"

"Go ding your diodes and get defunct Megatron. I’m not helping you do zilch."
:—Cranky, gutsy '''Gears'''

"Megatron is behind this. I’d bet my titanium torsion bars on it."
:—That's probably a safe bet, '''Optimus Prime'''

"I should be very angry at you, Megatron. You ''are'' an evil son of a [[retrorat]], but for some reason, I just can't get too upset."
:—Cheery, nice '''Gears'''

"I should have destroyed you when I had the chance, but Megatron can't save you now!" 
"Heheheh, I really hate to disappoint you, Starscream, but you better look behind you!" 
"Do you seriously expect me to fall for such a stupid trick?"
:—'''Starscream''' refuses to be distracted by '''Gears''' warning of an impending charge from Bumblebee.

[[File:ChangingGears got a bang out of that.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
"How can I help you, Megatron, heh heh, you rotten hunk of scrap?"
:—'''Gears''', piling on the flattery.

"What did you do to Gears, you monster? You turned him...''nice!''"
:—'''Ironhide''', at Gears's sudden change in personality.

"All right, now let's blast that Solar Needle and roll out." 
"I suppose you want me to do that." 
"Be my guest."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Gears''', grumpy once again.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Missing Seeker insignia:
** Skywarp and Thundercracker are both missing their wing emblems as they dive to fire on the miners.
* The gold car ''explodes'' when it gets shot by a laser beam. Maybe what the miners really struck was TNT.
* Ravage is ''tiny'' when he tackles the trapped miner, not more than 4 feet long.
* Coloring errors:
** Megatron's Decepticon symbol is a medium gray instead of purple when he bashes Starscream aside.
** The shot of Prime transforming to roll out for the gold mine is recycled as the Autobots leave for Africa. This is not an error in and of itself; however, Cliffjumper being colored yellow is!
** Ratchet's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] is missing some red detailing as he rolls out behind Hound.
** The running light housings on Prime's chest are white instead of red as he order the Autobots to "look sharp". The same error repeats later, as he reacts to the falling boulders outside Autobot Headquarters.
** Starscream's shoulder intakes are light gray instead of red when Megatron says that time is running out for Prime.
** Megatron's elbow is gray instead of red as he threatens to destroy the universe.
** Trailbreaker has a light gray fist as he and the others listen to Gears complain. It should either be a light gray gun-arm or a black fist.
* Sunstreaker and Trailbreaker run past Gears twice in successive shots.
* The size and shape of the corridor that Gears is walking through changes radically between shots; it's much smaller when Ironhide chastises him. In the same shot, the corridor floor is sliding underneath both Autobots much faster than the pace of their walk.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots: Lots of Autobots come and go throughout the episode. The core Autobot cast is pretty consistent (Prime, Hound, Cliffjumper, Gears, Ratchet, Jazz, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, Bumblebee, Ironhide and Trailbreaker; this is, for example, the group that gathers to look down on the Solar Needle, and again after the Decepticons retreat.) But several Autobots just show up for one or two shots, infrequently enough that it's not clear if they should have been shown or not:
** Mirage is seen driving away from Autobot Headquarters (twice due to recycled animation), dodging rocks the second time, and again jumping over the crevasse. He's never seen in [[robot mode]].
** Bluestreak and Brawn show up for a single shot at the mine. Later, Bluestreak is seen at Autobot HQ dodging boulders.
** Huffer's distinctive profile can be seen at the end of the Autobot convoy as they roll out first time.
** Sideswipe can be seen in the Autobot convoy just before they start blasting the jungle, and very briefly as the Autobots charge toward the Solar Needle.
* Despite Prime's warnings about not endangering the humans, the three miners are almost completely out of the Autobots' line of fire. Additionally, the Autobots make no attempt to move ''themselves'' out of the way.
* Megatron's transformation sequence is about half over by the time the corresponding transformation noise begins.
* Megatron reaches behind him to pull out his secondary gun. Given the angle of the shot, he pretty much has to have pulled it out of his...ahem...exhaust port.

* The animation doesn't really do such a great job of demonstrating that ''all'' the Autobots have been taken out of the fight, but that's about the only conclusion, since ''nobody'' makes any effort to combat the Decepticons after the "energized boulders" incident.
* The electrified cage holding Gears just vanishes after Starscream gives him the [[null ray]] treatment.
* After Bumblebee says "Solar flares!", a quick shot shows the sun with the Solar Needle beam streaking into it, along with a locust-like energy sound effect. If the noise is audible when we're looking at the beam, shouldn't it be heard pretty much all the time everywhere on Earth?
* In the frequently-recycled shot of the destabilizing sun, some of the solar flares are flying past the camera. Given that they have blue sky behind them, that would mean Earth just got vaporized! In the same shot, the Solar Needle's energy beam is nowhere in sight.
* The shot of Starscream, Megatron, and Gears gaping at the newly activated Solar Needle is recycled after the first commercial break. The next shot has them all in different places and poses.
* Jazz and Sunstreaker's weapons can ''vaporize'' trees? Whoa.
* The gray portion of Gears's chest is abnormally large as he says "I love being a slave!"
* The chunk of earth that breaks loose, endangering Bumblebee, is nowhere in sight in the previous shot.
* Wheeljack gets the "wrong" transformation noise as he returns to car mode after saving Bumblebee from falling into the crevasse.
* Cliffjumper has the wrong voice as he says "Let's stop gabbin' and start blasting!" It sounds like Don Messick.
* Multiple Autobots fire on the Solar Needle, but only one laser beam is shown hitting or getting reflected.
* Ironhide's mouth isn't moving as he declares that "It's a reflective energy shield!" Prime is waving his arm like he should be the one speaking.
[[File:ChangingGears Cliffjumper hits forcefield.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|This is like the Cliffjumper equivalent of a drinking dare.]]
* Cliffjumper is shown flying toward the center of the Solar Needle, where he's supposed to be going, but the next shot has him hitting one of the peripheral energy beams instead. (As Cliffjumper flies off after the impact, Megatron appears to be standing there waiting to catch him!)
* The Autobots leap downwards into the Solar Needle's periphery, but it's not really clear where they're leaping ''from''.
* When Starscream says the line "Oh, no, you don't. Your circuit stays right here," the voice saying the line is Skywarp's. The subsequent lines make it clear that this was supposed to be Starscream.
* Starscream's gun barrel has no interior as he aims it at Gears; it's just solid, uniform gray.
* As Soundwave ejects Ravage to attack Bumblebee, Laserbeak's cassette mode is shown (due to the scene being recycled from the previous shot of Laserbeak ejecting.)
* Starscream's laser beams aren't quite properly animated to glow as he shoots at Gears repeatedly.
* The boulder that smashes the jungle floor after Megatron retreats appears to have just fallen out of the sky; there's no hill or cliff visible at all.
* Wheeljack's "ears" aren't flashing as he celebrates with the other Autobots, nor as he laughs with them at Gears's threat.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:ChangingGears Prime Sun being zapped.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Prime's standing outside Autobot Headquarters, and the bottom of that beam of energy is in Africa. Totally buying that.]]

* Would the miners really find an entire truckload of gold on their ''first strike''?
* "Energized those boulders"? Uh...really?
* The energy beam that the Solar Needle fires into the sun makes contact with its target in seconds, and takes seconds to return to Earth. It should take a minimum of about 8 minutes to reach the sun, and a minimum of about 8 minutes to return.
* How can the sun be up in North America and Africa at the same time?
* The Autobots somehow '''drove''' from their base in the Western United States to the '''"geographic center of Africa"''' in '''"slightly less than 2 Earth hours"'''. After traveling through at least eight time zones, it appears to be roughly the '''same time of day''' as when the Autobots left their base.

[[File:ChangingGears jungleclearing.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Seriously. No roots, stumps, stray rocks, or ''anything''.]]
* "Jazz! Sunstreaker! Laser us a road!" Prime apparently changes his mind on the flagrant destruction of flora some time between this episode and "[[Microbots]]", where he prevents Brawn from blasting a path through a South American jungle.
* Despite Ratchet's assertion that "no one could survive up there", Cliffjumper disrupts the energy shield with little more than a slight hangover to show for it.
** Also none of the Autobots shows much reaction to Cliffjumper's sacrifice. None of them even go to check on him. Of course Ratchet's false assertion likely convinced the Autobots that Cliffjumper was dead but still.
* Even with Prime disarmed, is Megatron pointing his cannon at Prime such a huge threat that the Autobots really have to surrender? He points that thing at Prime all the time!
* Gears produces two completely different guns from his arm: the one he pulls out when Prime is about to hit the pylon is round, while the one he pulls out to shoot the Solar Needle is square and has fins. In both cases, his fist slides out of his wrist ''holding the gun''. How does that even work??
* Does Gears ''really'' tip the odds that heavily in the Autobots' favor?
* What are these "battle stations" Megatron keeps ordering everyone to man? None of his troops do anything of the sort, probably because there are no "stations" anywhere in sight.
* Throughout the latter half of the episode, Optimus Prime and Megatron argue that the Solar Needle may/may not destroy the universe. While the Sun's exploding would obliterate our solar system, it couldn't destroy the universe in its entirety, unless the Solar Needle is some of the most advanced technology ever wielded by the Decepticons.

===Continuity notes===
* Gears's parts list: unlubed cable relays, squeaky pulleys (twice!), a cramped chronometer, a vibrating sequential camshaft, a trembling gyroscope, and besides that—
* Gears's special circuit board looks like an audio cassette tape. Whether it can [[Mini-Cassette|transform]] is not yet known.
* It may seem bizarre that Gears's personality is "modulated" by a circuit in his chest when Transformers generally keep their brains in their heads, but "[[Transport to Oblivion]]", "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]" and "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]" all feature Transformers with memory circuits in their chests.
* Gears uses the same hook-shaped welding tip that Brawn used to free Huffer, way back in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
* Where does the trailer go?
** At the end of the episode, Optimus Prime's trailer just randomly drives itself out of the jungle and connects to his truck mode. Seriously, where does that thing go when he's in robot mode?
* Yes, yes, we know, [[Solar Needle]], [[Star Harvester]] in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', blah blah, we ''promise'' you that ''IT IS NOT AN ACTUAL REFERENCE.''

===Trivia===
* This episode features a ''ton'' of recycled shots: Megatron slapping Starscream; the Autobots leaving HQ; Megatron aiming his cannon at Prime (complete with a pan over to the Autobots); the unstable sun; Megatron & co. gaping at the Solar Needle. Soundwave ejecting Laserbeak/Ravage is used at least four times, and the shot is copied almost line-for-line from "[[Transport to Oblivion]]". And of course, there's the ol' stock Optimus Prime transformation sequence.
[[File:G1 ChangingGears Ratchet karate.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."]]
* Cameo locations: Pisa, [[Italy]]; Paris, [[France]]; [[New York City]] (or rather, Liberty Island, home of the [[Statue of Liberty]]).
* As the Autobots descend the cliffside to fight the Decepticons, Gears slides down on his butt, arms up in the air.
* When Megatron throws Optimus into the energy beam, Prime's [[ion blaster]] disintegrates (in a blink-and-you-miss-it bit of animation) and he remains weaponless for the rest of the episode. Wow, chalk one up for continuity.
* In another nice bit of continuity, the Solar Needle sphere that nearly crushes Wheeljack is still laying there broken when the Autobots prepare to blow up the Needle.
* Ratchet has the moves in this episode. First he Bruce-Lee-kicks Thundercracker. Then he kicks a boulder to knock a falling pylon in order to make it miss Wheeljack. While awesome, the latter move totally breaks the laws of physics.
* Man, the Decepticons really get their tails whipped in this episode, huh? First the Autobots capture nearly all of them, then they get beaten so bad that they just up and flee without even getting the order from Megatron.
* Trailbreaker ''is'' joking about not giving Gears back his circuit card, right? There's definitely not enough time for the Autobots actually to take that vote!

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (both dubs):'' "'''Energia solare'''" ("Solar Energy")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Solar Energy o Nusume!'''" (ソーラーエネルギーを盗め!, "Steal the Solar Energy!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 21]], [[1985]]
:**Despite having this spotlight episode, the [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] toy was never sold in Japan during the show's original run. He was not made available in Japan until [[2004]].
:**This episode was actually broadcast in Japan ''before'' it aired in the United States; one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' to do so.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Privoda podmenili'''" (Привода подменили, "Gears Is Quietly Substituted")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-17.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

City of Steel (episode)

2016-01-21T22:13:37Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 episode]]|the ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' issue|City of Steel (issue)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=19
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=23
|prev2=A Prime Problem
|next2=Auto Berserk
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=52
|prev3=Trans-Europe Express
|image=AutobotsNYC.jpg
|caption=Start spreading the news...
|title="City of Steel"
|production code=#700-18
|airdate=[[October 17]], 1985
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons invade New York City.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:CityofSteel ESB sinking.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Where will you be... the Day after Tomorrow.]]

Over New York City, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] flies into the [[Decepticon]]s' underground base. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] are digging a hole in the ceiling and the Autobots don't have a clue. After hours of digging, the Constructicons manage to sink the [[Empire State Building]] underground.

The [[Autobot]]s finally get wind of this and head to the city. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] plan to meet the rest of the Autobots at [[Central Park]]. However, Laserbeak spots them and reports back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. He plans to give the Autobots a surprising welcome.

At Central Park, the Autobots are ambushed by Soundwave and his crew, whilst underground the Constructicons inform Megatron that they're directly underneath Optimus Prime. Megatron orders them to dig while Optimus Prime is fighting [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]. Taken by surprise, Prime falls into the Decepticons' underground base where Megatron severs his [[motor relay]]s, making him powerless. Megatron then threatens the remaining Autobots that unless they leave he will melt the Autobot leader down to scrap. He also shows them his master plan, which is to rebuild New York into [[New Cybertron]]. The Constructicons raise the Empire State building back up, but now it looks like a Cybertronian fortress. Forced to leave the city, the Autobots are gloomy until [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] comes up with a plan to get into the city undetected.

[[File:CityofSteel Prime head.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Aquaman calling all sea creatures!"]]

Seemingly victorious, Megatron gloats over Prime's still body. However, Megatron is still worried that Optimus Prime might try something and orders [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] to disassemble him, which he does with a handy energy blade. After Optimus is turned into a pile of parts, Megatron picks up his head and reactivates Optimus so he can gloat. Prime responds that even though he's in pieces he will still fight. Prime then activates his arms and trips up Megatron. Megatron orders the Constructicons to dispose of Prime's remaining parts how they choose, but he gets to keep the head.

Spike, Bumblebee, Ratchet, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] enter the City through the sewers in the hope of rescuing Prime undetected. Elsewhere, the Constructicons are very pleased with themselves for what they did with Prime's left over body parts. They have special plans for his right arm and weapon.

[[File:Alligatorprime.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"What is it, Aquaman?"]]

While scanning for Prime, Hound is confused because his scans show Prime was behind them when before he was ahead. Mirage then spots a giant robot alligator seeming to be made of Prime's body parts (dubbed the [[Alligaticon (G1)|Alligaticon]]) and the Autobots run away. They trap it in a train and send it and the train packing. When they reach the underground base they find Prime's head and reattach his circuits so he can speak. Prime then activates his legs remotely to come to him and the rest of the Autobots figure out that the Alligaticon was made up of Prime's parts. After capturing it, Ratchet reassembles Prime, minus the right arm. Now that Optimus is safe, the Autobots attack. The Decepticons have turned half of New York City into New Cybertron, complete with killer [[Battle taxi|taxis]], and they're using Prime's arm as a weapon on top of their fortress. The taxis go for Bumblebee, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], but Prime runs them down.

[[File:BumblebeelovesNY.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Of course you do...]]

After breaking through the Decepticon defenses, Optimus Prime, Ironhide and Ratchet plan to scale the fortress to reclaim Prime's arm. Bumblebee and Spike plan to help by distracting Megatron and Soundwave, even going so far as to insult Megatron. Megatron orders an air strike, but when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] is downed, the Constructicons become [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and he follows Prime's team up the building. Meanwhile, Spike and Bumblebee manage to sneak in and annoy Megatron, by calling him Megaklutz, and tricking him into destroying the device that controlled Prime's arm. Outside Devastator captures Prime and knocks Ironhide and Ratchet into the fortress. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] then comments that the whole thing reminds him of ''[[King Kong]]'' as he tries to assist with his remote controlled helicopters. Spike then informs Prime that his arm is no longer controlled by Megatron, and Prime takes the opportunity to use it against Devastator. After Devastator gets hit Prime falls but is saved by Ironhide and Ratchet and as usual the Decepticons retreat.

Now the city is saved, Prime is back together and Bumblebee got a souvenir (an '[[wikipedia:I Love New York|I (heart) NY]]' bumper sticker). The Autobots [[roll out]] and return home.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (23)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (30)

|c2=
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (7)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (10)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (26)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (27)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (29)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (31)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (32)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (15)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"I didn't join this outfit to be a dump truck!"
:—'''Long Haul,''' commenting on his [[alternate mode]].

"I feel like I'm in some messy swamp, not under the biggest city in North America."
:—'''Ratchet''', trudging through the sewers of New York.

"It sickens me to say it, Reflector, but this one time I have to hand it to Megatron. The place is finally starting to feel like home."
:—'''Starscream''' agrees with one of Megatron's plans, which heralds the coming of the apocalypse.

"I may not have a weapon, but I can still transform and roll!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', preparing to crush the battle taxis.

"O-hoo-hoo-hoo, here they come! Auto-Auto-Autobots!"
:—'''Mix-Mix-Mixmaster!'''

"Say 'uncle' or I'll shove your nose in your afterburner!" 
"Uncle, UNCLE!" 
"Gee, I didn't know Decepticons ''had'' uncles!"
:—'''Sideswipe''' lovingly deals with '''Starscream'''. He's obviously been practicing his [[jet judo]].

"You'll never catch us, Megaklutz!" 
"Megaklutz! You dare to insult me in my own command post?!"
:—'''Spike Witwicky''' daring to insult '''Megatron''' in his own command post.

"It will take more than your puny arm to stop Devastator!" 
"Right. Which is why it's lucky the hand at the end of that arm... is holding a gun!"
:—'''Devastator''' reels as '''Optimus Prime''' points out the single flaw in the gestalt's otherwise brilliant tower-climbing plan.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
As a Season 2 AKOM episode, "City of Steel" features the standard character model oddities:
* Soundwave's backpack is gray instead of blue.
* Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray instead of light gray.
* Prime's backpack is white.
* The "disk" on Bumblebee's back is dark gray instead of yellow.

As an AKOM episode in general, "City of Steel" features an absurd number of straight-ahead animation mistakes:
* Coloring errors:
** Laserbeak's beak is the same dark gray as his head as he flies through the sewers.
** Laserbeak's beak is dark gray (again) as he reports the Autobot sighting. He also has a little bird tongue!
** Scavenger's cab window is green instead of white as he rides the scissor lift.
** Bumblebee's fists are light gray instead of dark gray as Prime orders the Autobots to transform.
** The back of Soundwave's legs are white instead of blue as Prime picks him up during the Central Park fight.
** Ironhide is dark gray instead of red as the Autobots cross the Brooklyn Bridge.
** When Optimus activates his dismembered legs, his head crest is colored entirely in dark gray instead of light gray and blue.
** As Megatron gloats over Prime's dismembered bits, Mixmaster is colored like Bumblebee.
** The first shot of Frenzy driving the train shows him [[FIRRIB|colored like Rumble]].
** As he rams the Constructicons' position, one of Prime's headlights isn't colored white. Of course, it shouldn't be there at all, being part of the arm he's missing at this point.
** Two Laserbeak cassettes (red details) leave Soundwave's chest during the battle at the end. One should be Buzzsaw, with gold details. The condors don't get a transformation sound effect as they convert to robot form.
* It's not without precedent, but Soundwave usually has to push his shoulder button to open his chest compartment. As Laserbeak returns, it opens of its own accord. In the same shot, Soundwave's shoulder button is dark blue instead of light gray.
* As Scavenger rolls past Soundwave, he starts growing larger before he even begins to climb the ramp that's supposed to be bringing him closer to the camera's point of view. At the end of the same pan shot, Hook's head is green instead of black.
* There is ''no way in Hell's Kitchen'' that dinky little scissor lift is strong enough to support the weight of the Empire State Building.
* Wheeljack's team is ''vastly'' oversized as they cruise past the Statue of Liberty.
* For some reason, Prime's voice is muffled as if it's a radio transmission as the Autobots drive along the highway.
[[File:Tinybluestreak.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Baby Bluestreak watches in horror as Giganticus Prime commences his rampage.]]
* There appears to be a total of ten Constructicons working on the Empire State Building.
* Soundwave's shoulder cannon is red and Megatron's face is a darker gray than usual as Megatron laughs about his "terminal welcome" joke.
* Frenzy's mouth isn't moving as he says "Can be hazardous".
* As the Autobots transform, a layering error results in a tiny Bluestreak standing in front of a normal-sized Ratchet and Ironhide, next to a Devastator-sized Optimus.
* Ironhide doesn't so much get knocked down by Frenzy and Rumble's earthquake attack as he does just walk along and randomly fall over. His back is colored light gray instead of dark gray in the sequence.
[[File:CityofSteel Scavengerwreckstheceiling.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* When Scavenger is beating the bucket of his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] against the ceiling below Central Park, a misplaced cel means the cracks that are supposed to be forming in the ceiling appear ''in front'' of his arm instead.
* As usual in the cartoon universe, metal cracks, splits and crumbles just like rock.
* In a long shot of the Autobot/Decepticon battle in Central Park, Bumblebee is inexplicably grappling with Bluestreak while Ratchet fights Reflector.
* In the Central Park sequence, Scavenger's vehicle mode is ''huge'', towering over Megatron and with a bucket significantly larger than Optimus.
* Prime falls a long way into the Decepticon base, but in the previous shot, he was standing on Scavenger's shovel. When Prime finally lands on the base's floor, Scavenger is there waiting for him.
* Prime's "motor relays" are right there in his stomach-grille? Wha? (AKOM shows Jazz having critical circuits in his car mode grille in "The Core", as well.)
* Soundwave's shoulder button is blue again as he presses it to communicate with Megatron. The sound effect that plays is usually reserved for an opening hatch or door. And Soundwave doesn't usually have to push that particular button to radio someone.
* The shot of the submerged Empire State Building is recycled from the earlier scene (ten Constructicons, remember?) Two of the tiny figures shown are supposed to be Megatron and Soundwave, but they're both shown to be on the surface by that point.
* The scene freezes for several seconds as the rebuilt Empire State Building is about to be raised above ground, complete with non-moving clouds of dust and smoke. After the building is raised, the same shot is recycled, showing it back down in the ground.
* Spike says "take a left", but the Autobots take a ramp that goes right.
* A layering error has Megatron's hand passing in front of Prime's smokestack, which is much closer to the camera. Result: a visually microscopic Megatron.
* Prime's eye-flashes don't quite line up with his optics.
* Scrapper's mouthplate isn't moving as he carries Optimus Prime's arm.
* For all their reaction to the Alligaticon, the Autobots sure aren't in any hurry to get away from it. They stroll away at a very leisurely pace.
* Scrapper has Sideswipe's voice as he says the "riding down their own grave" line.
[[File:CityOfSteel Starscream New Cybertron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Starscream has only one wing insignia as he admires the cityscape.
* What the heck were Prime's legs supposed to be, anyway? Part of [[Starscream's Ghost|a crypt]] or something? They're just standing there in a tunnel when Prime summons them.
* Ratchet's voice is more like Gears' as he says the "don't let go" line.
[[File:CityOfSteel Mirage carrying alligatorcon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"This episode is dumb and stupid!" "From the looks of the animation, I'd say a little of both."]]
* One of the series' most infamous dialog screwups happens as the Autobots wrestle with the [[Alligaticon (G1)|Alligaticon]]. Mirage and Ratchet say, in perfect sync, "This alligator is big and heavy!" Prime then responds with the sage observation: "From the looks of it, I'd say a little of both." The scene appears to be the result of an editing and directorial snafu. Prime should be responding to the Autobots' previous lines: "Now we've got him!" "Or should I say, we've got ''you''?" "I'd say a little of both!" And the combined Ratchet and Mirage line was likely intended to be a series of ad libs as the Autobots struggle with the Alligaticon, rather than a straight line delivered before Prime's line.
* Prime's telekinetic waves change from wide circles, to a narrow band. The narrow band finds its way to.... nothing. It then snaps off with a really loud sound effect.
* Ratchet's mouth disappears for a split second as he finishes repairing Prime.
* One of Prime's chest windows, and one of his exhaust stacks, are among the leftover parts as he stands up.
* Wheeljack's ears aren't flashing as he says "This sure isn't little old New York anymore".
* As Megatron and Soundwave zero in on the Autobots on their monitor, Prime has both his arms.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Jazz suddenly shows up for a single shot as the Autobots scatter from Prime's rifle fire.
* Hound and Bluestreak get two sequential transformation effects as they change to car mode, with a slight pause between them, instead of one continuous sound.
* Don't Hound and Bluestreak look where they're going when they drive? There's this huge hole in the street and they just drive right into it.
* Scrapper's voice comes out of nowhere to say the "A train" line to Hound and Bluestreak.
* The car mode Autobots just kind of float over the battle taxis. How'd they do that?
* How long's it take for the animators to forget that truck mode Prime is missing an arm? Only one shot! He's intact for his entire ramming sequence against the taxis and the Constructicons. Only when he rolls up to Ironhide and transforms is his bumper/arm missing again.
* Lots of missing Seeker insignias as the Decepticon jets launch their attack.
* Is Megatron supposed to be touching the blue button on his belly to radio Scrapper? 'Cause he totally misses it.
* Scrapper's voice is a bit off as he gives the order to combine. It's not quite as bad as before, but still not the correct hoarse rasp.
[[File:CityofSteel devastator kong.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[The Core|And now]] he's ''broken'' his 20th Anniversary Prime toy.]]
* Devastator's scale is always an issue, but he's ''really'' oversized here, smashing an entire multi-story building aside with a single blow. Man, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] must've [[Prime Directive issue 4|really loved]] this dorky episode, huh?
* Devastator has two eyes instead of an eyeband as he holds Optimus, and again as he fends off the helicopters.
* Why is Wheeljack upset? Devastator didn't manage to touch his helicopters!
* Does Prime really have to telekinetically control his ''rifle''? Wouldn't pulling the trigger suffice?
* As is normal when a good guy's life is at stake, Devastator (holding Optimus) falls for an absurdly long time. He's moving incredibly slowly as he passes Ironhide and Ratchet.

===Continuity errors===
* Laserbeak's shoot-to-enter door system seems rather improbable, or at least pointlessly complicated. In particular, how does the manhole cover know to land right back on top of the entrance?

* Let's not even get into the plausibility of lowering a thousand-foot building into the ground, rebuilding it for beings several times the size of a human, and then rebuilding it ''again'' into its original form. Ditto for the rest of Manhattan, actually.

* With all the freaking huge cannons that the Decepticons installed, it's Prime's firearm that's the big cause for panic?

* Megatron, ensconced in his headquarters, responds to a comment of Spike's while Spike is riding down the street inside Bumblebee. How could he possibly hear what he said?

* After Prime dispatches the battle-taxis, there's a scene transition, followed by a shot of Ironhide standing still and not doing anything. Prime rolls up to him and declares "That's the way to cool it, Ironhide!", which strongly indicates that Ironhide was supposed to have been doing something with his liquid nitrogen that got cut out, even though Prime's response didn't.

* Why on earth do the Decepticon jets just fly right through their own building? If the idea is that the Autobots shot them and made them lose control, the animation completely fails to show it.
[[File:Cos prime disassembled.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"I would have waited an eternity for this. It's over, Prime!.... I should probably kill you right now, shouldn't I?"]]
* Spike's "Now, Bumblebee!" line is ridiculous filler. The elevator door opens, they step into Megatron's headquarters, Megatron and Soundwave are right there in front of them... when ''else'' were they going to enact their brilliant plan? And how come Megatron's HQ has no security system to keep them out to begin with?

* Where did Wheeljack find two missile-equipped helicopters?

* Megatron retreats, saying "The Autobots may have destroyed our city of New Cybertron"... but the Autobots really have done nothing of the sort.

* Why didn't the Constructicons find the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] when they took apart Prime?

* Even more curious, how is it that Optimus can survive being reduced to a talking head, when the much lesser damage he took in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' was enough to kill him? Is this because he was supposedly "disassembled", for the most part, rather than damaged?

===I Love New York errors===
[[File:CityofSteel Hound tracking.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Cityofsteel ironhide grapple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* The opening pan from the Hudson River shows the Chrysler Building ''south'' of the Empire State Building. It should be north. Both buildings are ''way'' too far south relative to the Twin Towers.
* "Meet us in Central Park" is an incredibly vague order, considering the size of the place.
* The Autobots don't really stop ''in'' Central Park; there's buildings on two sides of them. No traffic or pedestrians, though. Or sidewalks.
* As the Decepticons prepare to raise it back into position, the Empire State Building is drawn as if it borders a park.
* The Brooklyn Bridge is more than just three lanes wide. It also does not have an exit ramp at mid-span.
* Oh, man. Spike went swimming in the East River in 1985? He ''is'' a super-human.
* It could just be chalked up to Hound's optimism, but most subway tracks don't end at a river.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron mentions the Constructions nagging each other like "hyper-driven [[Chatteroid]]s". Mirage references "sitting [[duckatron]]s". Sideswipe calls Laserbeak a "nosey nogoodnikon". Megatron threatens to melt Optimus Prime into paperclips if the Autobots interfere "one minicon". Hound's sensors say that Optimus Prime is ten "mechano-meters" in front of them. Optimus Prime refers to the Alligaticon as a "Reptilicon".<ref>Spellings and parsings from the "City of Steel" dialogue script.</ref>
* Powers and gadgets:
** Wheeljack and company all use their hydrofoils to cross New York Harbor.
** Hook uses a <s>lightsaber</s> laser sword to disassemble Prime.
** Hound displays his tracking sensors.
** Then of course, there's Prime's bizarre telekinetic limb control, something he evidently shares with a far less fortunate [[Waspinator (BW)|bot]].
** Ironhide deploys a grappling hook from his arm, with rappelling lines attached to it.
{{-}}

===Real-world references===
[[File:CityofSteel-Hook'slightsaber.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Let the hate flow through you.]]
[[File:Devastatorkingkong.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Giant: check. Empire State Building: check. But no beauty.]]

* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak uses a whole series of ''Star Wars'' effects as he rockets over Manhattan, including a ''Millennium Falcon'' engine noise, the [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar (several times), the TIE Fighter ambient cockpit noise, and the sound of an X-Wing diving to attack the Death Star.
** Hook's <s>lightsaber</s> ''laser sword'' ignites with the sound of Luke deflecting the seeker ball's bolts aboard the ''Millennium Falcon''.
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] climbs the Decepticons' "improved" version of the [[Wikipedia:Empire State Building|Empire State Building]], very similarly to [[King Kong]], as Wheeljack rather heavy-handedly points out.
* The Alligaticon is likely an allusion to the persistent rumors of alligators living in New York City's sewers.
* Various New York landmarks are seen and/or mentioned: the Twin Towers, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Woolworth Building (visible as the first Autobots leave Manhattan), the Brooklyn Bridge. Hound mentions Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Lexington Avenue.
* Scrapper invites the Autobots to "[[wikipedia:Take the A Train|Take the A Train]]".
* The final shot in this episode shows Bumblebee with an "[[wikipedia:I Love New York|I &hearts; NY]]" bumper sticker, part of a famous promotional campaign.

===Trivia===
* Along with "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]", this episode is one of a trio animated by [[AKOM]], showcasing the Constructicons and featuring distinctively bright and "cartoonish" art and animation, lots of use of stock poses, a somewhat more juvenile plot and script than normal, and a common set of animation model oddities (listed above).
* Though it is widely regarded in the [[fandom]] as his normal way of speaking, this is in fact the only time Mixmaster's speech oddity ("Right right right. Mega Mega Megatron!") ever shows up.
* When Megatron warns the Autobots against interfering with his plans, he refers to a "minicon" as a unit of measurement. This term would be later used as the name for the [[Mini-Con]]s, a race of small Transformers (primarily) from the [[Unicron Trilogy]].
* AKOM avoids [[The Core|screwing up]] Devastator's combination sequence by ''not actually showing it''. The pieces of Devastator just fly in from off-screen, already formed.
* Prime's vehicle mode gains toy-accurate cab stripes and his trailer has the additional blue stripes from the toy.
* This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 2000]].

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cidade de Aço'''" ("City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Battaglia per New York'''" ("Battle for New York")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La città d'acciaio'''" ("City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Steel City'''" (スチールシティ)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13]], [[1985]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 1: Prime Threat ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-18.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[[User:repowers]] [http://builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/s-cityofsteel.html rips this episode to tiny pieces in a September 2000 review]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Attack of the Autobots (episode)

2016-01-21T22:13:05Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' event|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=20
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=73
|prev2=Mutiny of the Combaticons
|next2=Day of the Machines
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=28
|prev3=Changing Gears
|next3=Day of the Machines
|image=AttackOTAutobot Evil Optimus Hound and Ratchet.jpg
|caption="This photo of us is terrible, Hound! You forgot the red-eye function again!"
|title="Attack of the Autobots"
|production code=#700-19
|airdate=[[October 4]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

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

==Synopsis==
[[File:AttackOTAutobot Megatron destabilizer.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|We're replacing the Autobots' personalities with Folger's Crystals! Let's see if they notice.]]

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

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] find a spot in the middle of nowhere for Jazz to try out his new sound system. Bumblebee leaves them to it, heading back to Headquarters. Bumblebee makes it back first, and finds Teletraan disabled and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] behaving oddly. Bluestreak forces him into the recharging chamber, but Jazz arrives in time to discover something's wrong. Jazz manages to disable Bluestreak. Sparkplug repairs Teletraan I, who tells them that the rest of the Autobots are now evil!

[[File:Attackoftheautobots2.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|HASSAN CHOP!]]

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

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

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

[[File:Primebumblebeehug.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Bumblebee, from now on, you will be a Hugmaster!]]

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

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

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

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (6)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (7)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (9)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (24)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (17)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Harding]] (21)
* Missile Launch Technician (22)
}}

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

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

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

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

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

[[File:AttackOfTheAutobots Attitude Exchanger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| ]]
"First, drain evil. Second, recharge good." 
"Let's hope it don't finish up with 'Third, bury Jazz'!"
:—'''Sparkplug''' and '''Jazz'''

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

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Optimus is missing his fog lights in many shots.
* As Starscream and Megatron prepare to use the invisibility spray, Starscream's shoulder vents are ''behind'' his shoulders instead of on top of them.
* Bluestreak is missing his Autobot symbol as he opens fire on Jazz.
* As Teletraan I reports Optimus's attack on the Air Force base, its voice is modulated differently than in the scene immediately beforehand.
* When Spike jumps into Bumblebee, there's no interior opening shown behind Bumblebee's door.
* Spike continues saying "Hold on, I'm coming!" even after he's already inside Bumblebee.
* Megatron orders Soundwave to "reprogram the main computer." Thanks to some recycled animation, Soundwave does this by strolling up to the same bank of computers that Megatron just blew up.
* Skywarp's missing his wing insignia as Megatron exits the computer bunker.
* Thundercracker's wing is sitting above his shoulder instead of behind it as he and Starscream listen to Megatron.
* Prime's trailer is missing its wheels as he pulls away from it.
[[File:AttackOTAutobots Jazz on Skyfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|And in this shot, his cockpit is too far forward, and too small. Not to mention the obvious scale issues, considering Jazz was comfortably riding inside him a second ago.]]
* Skyfire seems to gain more landing gear every time he touches the ground. As he departs from the Air Force base, his nose gear is ridiculously long.
* Skywarp is missing his wing insignia as the Decepticons fly up to the rocket.
* After Bumblebee saves Optimus Prime, a group shot shows Jazz missing his grille.
* Soundwave is missing his insignia as Megatron rants about the fuel tanks.
* Skywarp's missing his wing stripes as the Decepticons fly off. In the same shot, Sunstreaker, colored like Frenzy (!), flies off with them.
* Ratchet's "potato chip" line doesn't quite flow into his next line, which starts with an abrupt "Hey, look!" as if he was replying to a line of Sparkplug's that got cut.

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

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

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

* Superhuman Spike:
** Sparkplug and Spike's eardrums are somehow not shattered by Jazz's speakers, which are loud enough to start an avalanche.
[[File:DrhardingG1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| ]]
* Superhuman Dr. Harding:
** Judging by the exterior shot of the lab, as well as the size of the parasols visible from Dr. Harding's window, she is, at absolute minimum, four stories up (probably much higher), yet she manages to survive the fall onto the parasols without so much as whiplash.
** She also survives being thrown by Hound while trapped in a dumpster; a throw with enough force to not only destroy the dumpster but also seriously damage the wall behind it. Even if the dumpster was filled with pillows every bone in Harding's body should've be smashed to pieces by the sheer impact.

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

* Speaking of which, why didn't Teletraan I report Megatron's "evil presence" when he and Starscream were sabotaging the recharging chambers?
[[File:G1toon screamer megs invisible.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| ]]
* After all the fuss with the invisibility spray, it turns out that the shimmering outlines aren't just for the viewer's benefit; the "invisible" Decepticons are caught on film by Teletraan I. Whoops! And why didn't Teletraan I think to report this BEFORE the Autobots recharged?

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

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

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

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

* Tearing a door off the rocket ''can't'' be good for it. Why not have Soundwave just open the door?
[[File:AttackoftheAutobots Prime and Ratchet on rocket.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| ]]
* Optimus throws the satellite into orbit and it's presumed to be in working order. Even assuming that Dr. Harding was able to convey the precise details of the necessary orbit, Optimus either has an extremely powerful physics calculator or that had to be one heck of a lucky shot.

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

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

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

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

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Bluestreakg1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| ]]
[[File:OptimusCDeckAttackoftheAutobots.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Autobots' optics switch from blue to red when they're evilified, and back to blue when they're recharged with good.
** We get to see all three of Optimus Prime's components in action, which is rare. This is the third appearance of the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]]'s interior cannon in the series, but the ''only'' time it was drawn to be toy-accurate.
** Prowl fires a Laserbeak-ensnaring net from his retracted hand. He fired a similar net at Ravage in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]".
** Jazz deploys his (newly upgraded) speakers. They're loud enough to bring down a mountainside.
** Soundwave, in a rare moment, fires his shoulder mounted cannon at Optimus Prime and Ratchet whilst they are on top of the rocket.
* Prime's tech spec bio states that damage to his other two components can be felt by him. Conversely, this could be interpreted that the energy exchanger's effect on the other two components actually weakened Prime's evil state, which is why he started fighting it right after. That is, if you want to apply his bio to the G1 cartoon.
* This episode may hold the record for the largest number of "evil invention/alien device"s in a single episode: invisibility spray, the personality destabilizer, the recharging chambers, the solar satellite, AND the attitude adjusters are all contenders.
* [[Autobot Spike|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''' Round 4: Soundwave flees without a fight before the onslaught of the mighty Brawn, forfeiting the round. Tally: Brawn 4, Soundwave 0. [[Enter the Nightbird|>>]]

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

===Trivia===
*David Wise reused elements of this story for the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (1987) episode "Slash - The Evil Turtle from Dimension X", especially the climax of the story and its rocket chase sequence. This was not an entirely unique incident, as Wise was known for [[Kremzeek!|recycling]] [[Auto-Bop|his]] [[Microbots|storylines.]]

===Foreign localization===

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Ataque dos Autobots'''" ("The Attack of the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La pazzia degli Autorobot'''" ("Madness of the Autobots")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La pazzia degli Autobots'''" ("Madness of the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertron no Gyakushū'''" (サイバトロンの逆襲, "Cybertrons' Counterattack")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[1990]] (released straight to video)
::*This is one of two episodes (the other being "[[Day of the Machines]]") not initially aired in Japan during the run of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''. The episode was eventually dubbed in 1990 and released on [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]]'s [[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]] set of the series. As such, it was retroactively added to the series' official episode list as episode 73, a numbering reflected in ''[[Transformers Generations]]''.
::*Since the episode was dubbed several years after ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' had ended, not all the original cast members were able to return. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (originally voiced by [[Ken Shiroyama]]) and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (originally voiced by [[Kōki Kataoka]]) were replaced by [[Katsumi Suzuki]].
::*Due to having been released straight-to-video, this is one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' not to have been edited for time in Japan. As such, Japanese DVD and laserdisc releases include an optional English audio track for the episode.

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

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-19.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Traitor (episode)

2016-01-21T22:11:58Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the Renegade from ''GoBots''|Traitor (GoBots)}}

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=21
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=13
|prev2=Changing Gears
|next2=Birth of the Transformers!
|image=Traitorcjaccusesmirage.jpg
|caption=J'accuse!
|title="Traitor"
|production code=#700-20
|airdate=[[September 27]], 1985
|written by=[[George Hampton]] [[Mike Moore]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Could Mirage have betrayed the Autobots?'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Traitormegsgrabs.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Megatron got The Touch.]]

At the [[Experimental Energy Research Laboratory]], two scientists are working on the new [[electro-cell]]s that will hopefully solve [[Earth]]'s energy problems. Unfortunately, the cells won't be viable until they've been stabilized, which could result in a massive explosion. At that moment, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] break through the roof and take the cells. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] arrives to remove the cells carefully, as an explosion could be quite destructive, and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] are not known for being gentle. Having taken the cells, Megatron [[Transformation|transforms]] and has Starscream fire away, destroying the lab to prevent any more from being created.

Meanwhile, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] is tearing toward the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]]. Heading into the control room, he informs [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] that he's found where the [[Decepticon]]s have placed the electro-cells—in the same place [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] patrolled yesterday. Mirage is shocked that he didn't get a reading on them, and Cliffjumper says that maybe Mirage ''did''. Before any formal accusations are made, Optimus Prime politely tells Cliffjumper to shut up. The Autobot leader then leads a team to recover the cells.

[[File:Traitorcjsmacksmirage.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Seriously, who wouldn't this guy beat up?]]
At a canyon, the Decepticons have hooked up a buffer device to the cells. Starscream uses it as a chance to call Megatron a coward for not turning on the cells and filling [[energon cube]]s, then he activates it. The cells fill the cubes rather quickly, but just as quickly drain the cubes and explode. Megatron walks over to show Starscream the business end of his [[fusion cannon]].

As he does so, the Autobots arrive, but are spotted by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who tells [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]. Megatron orders Soundwave to call in the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], with the promise of a special reward. A battle ensues, during which Mirage is injured by Skywarp, though he manages to tear off the Decepticon's [[insignia]]. The Insecticons then arrive, turning the tide of battle, but a stray shot by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] hits the buffer, risking an explosion. The Autobots take the Decepticons' distraction as a chance to retreat.

[[File:Traitormiragepunches.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Mirage's attempts to mimick ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s promotional material were less than successful.]]
At the base, Mirage is repaired, while Cliffjumper continues his accusations of treason. Mirage defends himself, and Optimus orders Cliffjumper on recon, with instructions to inform them if Megatron tries to move the cells. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] tells Mirage to rest, but Mirage doesn't need rest. Leaving the base, he heads to the Insecticons' hideout, where they are discussing their "special reward"—two energon cubes. Going invisible and sneaking into the base, Mirage swipes the cubes while the Insecticons aren't looking, leaving the Decepticon insignia in their place, then drives to the valley. However, Cliffjumper spots him.

[[File:G1 Traitor Bombshell captures Mirage.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Do we really need to make a joke here?]]
Naturally assuming that Mirage is a Decepticon, Cliffjumper prepares to fire, only for the Insecticons to arrive. As Mirage slips away, Starscream discovers Cliffjumper, but the little guy is able to escape. Megatron comes to investigate, and they spot Mirage. They fire at him, but their lasers hit the ground near the Insecticons, who assume the Decepticons are firing at them. The Bugs and the Cons throw down, but Mirage is caught in the crossfire. [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] implants a [[cerebro-shell]] into Mirage and has him fire on the Decepticons as well. Megatron sees Mirage, puts two and two together, and convinces the Insecticons to stop fighting the Decepticons. Megatron also plans to use Mirage for a little trap of his own.

Heading back to the base, Cliffjumper tells Prime what he saw. Optimus, Ratchet, and Cliffjumper head to the valley, where Mirage greets them and explains his original plan, saying that the Insecticons fled from the battle and the Decepticons chased after them. Despite Cliffjumper's warnings, the Autobots head to retrieve the cells, only for the Decepticons to ambush them, with Mirage joining in on the fire. Cliffjumper attacks Mirage, throwing him some distance, which apparently deactivates him.

[[File:Traitormegatronfails.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Should have done those shoelaces up, Megatron.]]
Bombshell commands Mirage to continue, but gives up. Ratchet then investigates and notices the cerebro-shell. Removing it allows Mirage to regain control, and he rejoins the fight—on the side of the Autobots. Prime makes a run for the cells, but Megatron concludes that if he can't have them, no one can. Firing randomly, he explodes the buffer device, sending the Decepticons everywhere possible as the Insecticons and Autobots retreat. Emerging from the wreckage, Megatron laments his hasty action.

[[File:Traitormirageholddscj.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|O dark poison of my spark...]]
As Prime informs the scientists of what happened, Ratchet works to repair Mirage, while Cliffjumper laughingly admits that he may need some repairs as well—for having doubted his friend. Awwww.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (7)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (8)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (10)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (14)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (16)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (15)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (18)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (19)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (20)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (21)

|c3=
* Scientists (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"I just ''love'' opening presents."
:—'''Skywarp''' as he breaks through the roof of a human research institute

"You fool! You'll destroy us all!" 
"Destroy us all, oh brave Megatron? Perhaps it's time the Decepticons looked elsewhere for direction, to someone prepared to make command decisions!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' argue over who is a better leader. Again.

"This time, you have dared too much, Starscream. You must pay the price for your insolence!"
:—'''Megatron''' threatens to terminate Starscream. Again.

"Try and remember which side you're on, Mirage." 
"Keep your mind on the Decepticons, Cliffjumper." 
"That's just what I'm doing!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' reprimands '''Cliffjumper''' for his suspicions.

"An electrocell! Come to papa..." 
"Not so fast, papa!"
:—'''Cliffjumper''' and '''Starscream''' have a moment.

"Release the electro-cells, Megatron. They don't belong to you." 
"I possess them. Therefore I ''own'' them!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' discuss the finer points of legal ownership

"Uh-oh. Sounds like I'm not alone." 
"You're not! And this is one of those times when you really need a friend."
:—'''Cliffjumper''' and '''Starscream''' have another moment.

"You wouldn't cheat us. You need us to get rid of the Autobots. Maybe after that, you'd rob us blind. But not now!"
:—'''Bombshell''' after hearing Megatron's explanation of Mirage's trickery

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
* Shrapnel's characteristic speech quirk of repeating the last word in each sentence is absent from several of his early lines.
[[File:Traitorlotsostarscreams.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...]]
* Coloring errors:
** Starscream and Skywarp both have their entire canopy cowlings colored yellow as Megatron hands off the electrocells to Skywarp. Both should have a metal-colored bit near the bottom. The same error occurs as Starscream steps away from his test of the electrocells.
**When Megatron is rushing to put out the fire on the electro-cells, there are two Starscreams beside him. One is probably supposed to be Skywarp, who was shown standing there in the preceding shot.
** Kickback's eyeband is black instead of red as he observes the fallen Skywarp.
** Ratchet's face is white instead of light gray as he laughs in the closing shot.
* Is that glowing pink stuff behind Megatron (after he blows up the energy institute) supposed to be fire? 'Cause fire don't look like that.
* The animators could never really decide what the back end of the Ark looks like, but it almost always has at least three engines. The first shot of Autobot Headquarters shows it with only two. It has three a few moments later.
* As Megatron turns toward the about-to-explode electro-cells, Starscream is behind him, despite being nowhere in evidence a second earlier.
* Ironhide is not shown retreating with the other Autobots.
* As Prime orders Cliffjumper to maintain surveillance of the electro-cells, a closeup shot shows the two of them at the same head height. Prime should be ''much'' taller than Cliffjumper.
* The Decepticon insignia that plays such a vital role in the plot appears to be printed on a piece of cloth, despite coming from a metal robot. It unfurls and rustles when released, and gently floats to the ground when dropped. There's also no visual evidence that Skywarp is missing an insignia at any point (pretty amazing, considering how often the animators tended to [[The Core|forget the Seekers' wing insignia]]).
* The Insecticons are standing right by their energon cubes when Mirage first arrives. When Mirage steals the cubes a second later, the room is unoccupied.
* Starscream's stray shot as he gets rammed by Cliffjumper has no sound effect.
* [[Wally Burr]] stands in for Hal Rayle as Shrapnel when he observes that the Decepticons are firing on them. His voice is missing its electronic processing, but he does have his last-word echo! echo.
* As Skywarp's arm reaches into the frame to aim at Kickback, the screen-side edge of it is missing!
* When Thundercracker gets hit by Mirage's missile, the cry of pain sounds more like Skywarp. Considering that the episode so far has very explicitly featured only Starscream and Skywarp, Thundercracker's appearance would almost seem to be a coloring mistake, but all three jets finally appear together near the episode's end. (Even without this hit, Skywarp suffers a huge amount of abuse in this episode.)
*While driving away from the electro-cell explosion, Optimus Prime's cab appears ridiculously small compared to his trailer.

===Continuity errors===
* As usual, cartoon humans are pretty much made of rubber. The two scientists fall at ''least'' fifty feet from the electrocell module, but recover almost instantly.
* Despite [[Fire in the Sky|being a scientist]], Starscream doesn't believe that any experimentation is needed with the cells. He apparently [[Kremzeek!|used up all his patience with tests]] back in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]".
* Cliffjumper is very quick to accuse Mirage of treachery, despite never showing any signs of mistrusting him before—e.g., "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
* Megatron's awfully quick to declare that Optimus Prime has lost. They haven't even fired shots at each other yet! Prime repays the favor at episode's end, rather randomly declaring that Megatron has lost.
* While observing the Decepticon installation, Cliffjumper loses track of Mirage when the latter turns invisible, despite looking straight at a clear trail of Mirage's footprints.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Ratchet isn't among the Autobots leaving Autobot Headquarters, but he arrives at the electrocell site with Prime and company. Jazz shows up a moment later. Bluestreak and Prowl, meanwhile, have disappeared.
** After the second commercial break, the only Autobots shown are Prime, Ratchet, Cliffjumper and Mirage. This strangely small casting choice becomes especially noticeable during the semi-final battle, when all four are gathered together, talking and not firing, yet the sounds of a raging firefight can still be heard in the background! Prime orders the trio to "join the others", perhaps implying that more Autobots should have been shown, but again, no other Autobots are anywhere in sight. At the final battle's end, the three Autobots somehow leave the battle to surround Megatron, leaving nobody to fight the rest of the Decepticons!
* The scientists' voices are inconsistent when comparing their scene at the end to the one at the start. Most noticeable is the fact that the fat one has a British accent at first, which has become American by the end.

===Real world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** The two energon cubes land in Mirage's driver seat to the sound of a [[lightsaber]] cutting through the air.
** The sound of lightsabers dueling can be heard in the first few seconds of the scene immediately after the one where Mirage is freed from the cerebro-shell.
* Megatron seems to understand human law well enough to reference the legal concept that "Possession is nine-tenths of the law"

===Continuity notes===
* Gadgets and powers:
** Shrapnel makes use of his grenade launcher that fires spikes all around the target. It's nasty, as Mirage can attest. The animators got a little confused, though, and had him fire it as a spike-studded stream of liquid from his retracted hand socket, rather than from his hand held gun (as more correctly seen in "[[The Insecticon Syndrome]]".)
** Shoulder missiles: Mirage fires his shoulder launcher twice in this episode, each time blowing away one of the Seekers. It's only [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|the second]] but not [[Masquerade|the last]] time he uses this prominent weapon.
* Where's the trailer go?
** When Prime transforms to retreat, his trailer is already behind him, waiting for him, despite being nowhere in evidence in the preceding shots.

===Trivia===
[[File:Traitor CliffjumperlovesMirage.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|WTF?]]
* Poor [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]. He (they?) doesn't (don't?) appear until the end of the battle, just long enough to be blown away by the explosion of the electro-cells.
* This episode ends with Cliffjumper jumping in Mirage's lap, and the two of them hugging and rolling over, while Ratchet laughs. This is the epitome of weird.
* This is not the only time that [[Mirage (RID)|a Mirage]] has been suspected of [[Mirage's Betrayal|treachery]]. In fact, this episode's Cliffjumper-Mirage dynamic is among the series' best-remembered aspects, coloring fans' perceptions of both characters and being obliquely referenced time and again in contemporary Generation 1 stories.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Traidor'''" ("The Traitor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Mistero è un traditore'''" ("Mirage Is a Traitor")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il traditore'''" ("The Traitor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ligier no Uragiri'''" (リジェの裏切り, "Ligier's Betrayal")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 28]], [[1985]]

{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-20.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

The Immobilizer

2016-01-21T22:11:26Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig3|Immobilizer}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=22
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=15
|prev2=Birth of the Transformers!
|next2=Atlantis, Arise!
|image=Immobilizerep6.jpg
|caption="See? We can shoot him right in the nads!" "Television doesn't work that way, you doofus."
|title="The Immobilizer"
|production code=#700-21
|airdate=[[September 24]], 1985
|written by=[[Earl Kress]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

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

==Synopsis==
At [[Autobot]] headquarters, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] gathers everyone around for a demonstration of his newest invention, the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer]]. Walking in late, [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] sees [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]’s hologram of [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and, thinking it’s real, fires wildly at it, scattering the Autobots and nearly bringing down the roof. As Ironhide apologizes, Wheeljack reveals that the Immobilizer was damaged and needs a replacement [[polarizer]]. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] volunteer to go into town to retrieve it.

[[File:Immbolizerep4.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Before ''Dance Dance Revolution'', there was...''Robot Resource''.]]

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

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

[[File:Ladybreakeandfatjazzr.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Trailbreaker has a great ass. Who knew?]]

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

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

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

[[File:Immobilizerep7.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Ratchet puts the finishing touches on his resin-cast Wheeljack model.]]

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

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

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

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

[[File:Immobilizerep8.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You hit me! Kong never hit me!]]

After thanking Ironhide for the rescue, Carly rides off with Spike and Bumblebee, but when Ironhide doesn’t follow, they realize that he’s been immobilized. The Decepticons and Autobots square off, with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in control of the Immobilizer and freezing most of the Autobot forces. Following a plan of Carly’s design, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] tunnels under the ground with her and Spike so they come up near the Immobilizer's position. As [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] distracts the Decepticons with a [[sound and light show]], Carly crosses some wires in the device and the trio escapes. When Rumble tries to immobilize Optimus Prime, the device starts to re-mobilize the frozen Autobots instead. Ironhide grabs the Immobilizer from Laserbeak, and when all the Autobots are unfrozen, he smashes the device. With his toy in pieces, Megatron swears to return, and the Decepticons retreat.

[[File:Immobilizerep1.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|This early version of ''Thelma and Louise'' never took off.]]

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (3)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (4)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (6)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (8)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (9)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (10)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (11)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (12)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (20)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (21)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (22)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (27)

|c2=
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (17)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (23)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (24)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)

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

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

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

"Starscream, retreat!" 
"A Decepticon ''never'' retreats!"
:—'''Megatron''' finds that '''Starscream''' is more of a prideful fool than he thought.

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

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

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

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:TheImmobilizer Ironhide firingwildly.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|If only they all looked like this, instead of "The Core" or "Carnage in C Minor" or...]]
The general art quality in this episode is noticeably good, but not without its flubs:
* Coloring errors:
** Gears's shoulders/torso is all blue as the Autobots gather around Wheeljack. Only his truck roof should be blue; the rest should be red.
** Ironhide's helmet rim is partly light gray instead of red as Wheeljack speaks to him. The same error will recur throughout the episode.
** Bumblebee has two random black rectangles on the back of his VW Bug mode as he transforms outside the arcade.
** When Wheeljack screws the polarizer on his new doohickey, his hand and lower arm pass through the polarizer. He also has random orange on his shoulders where there should only be white.
** Bits of Brawn's helmet are yellow instead of gray during the bizarre sequence of partial transformations at Autobot Headquarters.
** As Prime orders Ironhide to take the first watch, his headlights aren't colored in. In the background, a whole line of misshapen Autobot cars is driving past, including what looks like an off-model Cliffjumper colored entirely blue.
** Starscream has an all-yellow nosecone as he transforms to fly over the force field.
** As he dives at the Autobots, Starscream's air intakes are the same light gray as the rest of him, instead of red.
** Prime's thighs are red instead of silver as Trailbreaker makes his "rust in peace" gag.
** Ravage's rear paws are light grey instead of black as he leaps to transform.
** Skywarp's arm laser, and Soundwave's head vents, are both white after Starscream gives the order to attack.
* Wheeljack is missing the lines on his "ears" when they stop flashing during "a clever little creation I call..."
* Gears is the one who asks what the Immobilizer does, but Cliffjumper is animated speaking the line.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Brawn is suddenly with the gathered Autobots as they duck from Ironhide's random firing, despite not being in any of the establishing shots of the group.
** Bumblebee leaves base to look for Carly... then is shown in the very next shot with the Autobots gathered around Prime in the base.
** Prowl is shown rolling out, even though he hasn't been in a single shot so far. Ironhide is also shown rolling out even though he "retired", and more problematically, is still at the base when Sparkplug detects Carly's kidnapping.
* Ironhide's arm is layered in front of Spike as Spike dusts himself off, making them appear the same size.
* Bumblebee's arm is layered behind one of the onlookers in [[Robots Video Arcade|the arcade]] as he bows. Said onlooker and his buddies continue their huge-mouthed gaping long after the cheering has stopped.
* The background behind Bumblebee changes between shots; when he bows, there's just the Robot Resource game, but in the next shot, two consoles have appeared, neither of them Robot Resource.
[[File:Arcade Front.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|So the car and the characters are drawn at one scale, and the hydrant and the buildings are drawn at a completely different scale.]]
* Carly's car is just sitting there half on the sidewalk. It's next to a fire hydrant that's almost as big as the car. And Robots Video Arcade apparently has a ''huge'' front door.
* Ravage's eye is randomly glowing white before he attacks Bumblebee. It could be an intentional effect to show emotion or recognition or something, but it's an odd choice.
* Some have claimed that Trailbreaker and Jazz are off-model as they help clean up the mess in Autobot Headquarters (too thin and too fat, respectively). Others find this claim to be rather dubious.
* Megatron appears to have an extra right forearm segment as he speaks his first line.
* Jazz is off-model during his sequence a second later, with no fenders, no stripes, and an extra window.
* Prime has a huge crotch as the camera pans down to Bumblebee.
[[File:TheImmobilizer-Thundercracker River.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Missing Seeker insignias:
** In the first pan of the Decepticons surrounding the Autobots, Starscream's missing his wing insignia, and Soundwave's visor is white instead of red (and again when the shot is recycled after the first commercial break.)
** Starscream is missing his wing emblems as he falls over from Ironhide's goop.
** As he wanders into the trees, Starscream only has one of his wing insignia.
** Thundercracker only has one insignia as he climbs out of the river.
[[File:TheImmobilizer Trailbreaker force field.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Ratchet's mouth is missing as he stands behind the force field.
* Megatron has no transformation sound effect as he transforms to destroy the [[bouncer bomb]].
* Prime's left exhaust stack disappears into thin air as he turns toward the falling tree. He also has a random white segment above his grille.
* Trailbreaker's force field projector is missing as the Autobots prepare to return to base.
* Ironhide clips through the corner of the wall as he walks off to "retire".
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Sparkplug shows Ironhide a visual that's supposedly from the [[Sky Spy]]. Somehow, the ''orbital satellite'' shows a tracking pan view of Laserbeak that's ''right beside him'' — below him, in fact. If the entire sequence is taken as Sky Spy's footage, Laserbeak flies within ''inches'' of Sky Spy's camera, as Carly's face fills the screen at one point.
* Ironhide's observation that Laserbeak has taken Carly is muffled as if it were coming over a radio transmission.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Arcade ChuSFXHo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* For his initial Immobilizer demonstration, Wheeljack asked Hound to project a hologram. Was he actually going to immobilize the hologram? How's that even possible?
* Spike suddenly has a wristwatch when he needs to check the time in the arcade. The watch is never seen before or after.
* Megatron knows which one is Bumblebee. [[A Prime Problem|Later]], he doesn't.
* When Carly disappears, Spike and Bumblebee go after her. In the next shot, Bumblebee is back inside with the rest of the Autobots.
* Carly apparently knows where the Decepticon base is located. How she knows is anyone's guess.
* In addition to the Immobilizer, she also has a great understanding of technology she's seen for the first time in her life. In the armoury, Ironhide only refers to storing ammunition yet Carly seems to recognize a bomb, or had the knowledge to convert alien ammunition into a timed explosive. MIT obviously gave that scholarship to the right candidate!
* The remote changes sizes throughout the episode. Beginning, it's the perfect size for Wheeljack's hand, which is about the size of half of Spike's body when he steps on it. But in the next shot showing the remote, it's small enough to fit in Spike's hands. Then when Rumble uses it, it's sized for his hands.
* Would Ironhide really have prevented the Decepticon sneak attack if he hadn't moved the hundred feet or so from his station? Couldn't the 'cons have just come from the other direction?
* Carly's another pressure-proof super human, [[Atlantis, Arise!|just like Spike]]. She swims at least a few hundred feet underwater to Decepticon Headquarters with no pressurized diving equipment at all. At least the animators were kind enough to give her a wet suit!
* In addition, since Ironhide isn't shown to have any SCUBA gear for Carly, he had to have made an extremely rapid ascent to the surface so she wouldn't drown. However, an ascent that fast would have given her decompression sickness, or worse.
* "It's a theory I've had ever since I accepted my science scholarship at MIT," says Carly about Wheeljack's immobilizer, which she just encountered for the first time like, earlier that same day. Did she accept the scholarship while imprisoned in Decepticon Headquarters?

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

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

===Trivia===
[[File:Arcade OhPan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Stores on the street: [[Vincenzo's Pizza]], [[Rose Beauty Saloon]], Meat, and [[Robots Video Arcade]].
* Video games in the arcade: Pan!!, Oh!!, Chu, Ha Ha Ha, SFX, Hot, and [[Robot Resource]].
* No wonder the cops pull Bumblebee over. His entrance into traffic is ''terrible''; he swerves between lanes, and totally cuts off some poor driver.
* Why do the Autobots even start letting Carly be around them. The only reason she even wanted to meet them is because she thought they were awesome, but surely everyone feels that way about them. I mean if you let one fan into your base then you might as well invite everyone else, but I guess the power of Spike's boner is strong enough to get what it wants.
* C'mon! Starscream walking into trees is hilarious!

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Imobilizador'''" ("The Immobilizer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (both dubs):'' '''L'immobilizzatore''' ("The Immobilizer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*In the 2008 dub, the policeman's remark about Spike calling his car Bumblebee is changed to "You named your car Bumblebee? Is not like I call my car Panther or stuff". That references the fact that "Pantera" was Prowl's name in the old dub.
:*In the first dub, at the beginning, Cliffjumper and Hound are misnamed as Gears and Wheeljack.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Immobilizer'''" (イモビライザー)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 18]], [[1985]]
:*'''Cut:''' All scenes featuring [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] have been removed (due to the fact that Takara were unsure about using Skyfire at the time because he was based on a [[Bandai]] toy). The cuts aren't made very well, either, as there are jumps in the background music. Skyfire-centric episodes were eventually aired near the end of the show's run when the legal matters had been resolved.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-21.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Immobilizer}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

The Autobot Run

2016-01-21T22:08:37Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=23
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=65
|prev2=A Plague of Insecticons
|next2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 1
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=6
|prev3=Heavy Metal War
|next3=The Core
|image=Autobotruncanttransform.jpg
|caption=Hey, look! ''Diaclone'' Sunstreaker!
|title="The Autobot Run"
|production code=#700-22
|airdate=[[October 31]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''When the Autobots perform a race for charity, the Decepticons take the opportunity to trap them in their vehicle modes.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Transfixatron.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|A collection of character models gathers around the Decepticons' new weapon.]]

While watching a car race, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Chip Chase|Chip]] comment on how cool it would be to see the Autobots perform in a race as well.

Meanwhile, in an old west ghost town, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] have completed the [[Transfixatron]], a new device that will lock a [[Transformer]] in the mode they currently occupy (usually [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]). [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] arrives, informing the Decepticons about the Autobot race.

[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] complains that [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is wasting time with the device instead of leading an attack. In response, Megatron tests the device on his whiny subordinate, and it's a success. Starscream is stuck in jet mode and begs to be released, saying he'll do whatever Megatron wants and he's too valuable to the Decepticon cause. Megatron gets bored of Starscream's pleas and frees him. Satisfied with the test, Megatron orders the Constructicons to start working on a second device whose purpose will be revealed later.

[[File:Autobotrunfinishline.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy at the finish line wonders where the Hell his car went.]]

Chip and Spike suggest their race idea to the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] agrees, as long as it's for charity. [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] complains that it's a waste of time and a bad idea (as usual), but the Autobots decide to do it. Huffer, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] remain to guard the [[Ark (G1)|base]].

The Autobots arrive at the track and wait at the starting line in [[robot mode]] before they compete "in the greatest automobile race in history." Some numbskull in the audience wonders aloud where their cars are. The Autobots transform, and the race is on with a whole lot of trash talk. [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] rush ahead of the slower vehicles like [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]].

During the race, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleports to a position over the track and uses the Transfixatron on the Autobots, who don't notice. The Autobots near the finish line, but they're kicking up so much dust it's impossible to tell who won. "The real winners are us, folks!" says the announcer.

Next up, the Autobots line up to do some stunts and make "Evel Knievel look like a kiddie car driver", according to Spike. But Sunstreaker's attempt to jump the other Autobots falls short and he has to be saved by [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s magnetic powers.

Before they can do anything else, the Decepticons arrive. The Autobots attempt to [[Transformation|transform]], only to find that they are all stuck in vehicle mode. Optimus orders the Autobots to ram the Decepticons, but they simply shoot out the Autobots' tires, fire rays to make their engines overheat and disable their radios. Helpless, the Autobots are herded away by the 'Cons.

[[File:Autobotrunbyeironhide.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb]]

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] takes Spike and Chip back to the base, hoping Ratchet and Wheeljack can figure a fix for the Transfixatron ray. As usual, Huffer complains, but a massive bearhug from Brawn gets him to shut up, while Ratchet and Wheeljack get to work.

At the ghost town, Megatron forces Optimus Prime to watch his soldiers die one by one in the Constructicons' second device, a horrific crushing machine, starting with Ironhide. The Autobot leader dispatches [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] to distract Megatron, allowing Prime to ram the crusher, which frees Ironhide. [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] manages to send a signal to [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], just as Ratchet and Wheeljack finish working on a device which will allow the Autobots to transform...a [[Anti-transfixation grenade|grenade]]. (Real good thinking there, guys.)

[[File:Autobotrunravageattackschip.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Dude, what are you doing? I wanted to push over the cripple.]]

Spike and the other Autobots arrive to save their comrades, but [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] dispatches [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to deal with them. After a game of keep-away with the grenade, Chip manages to get it close enough to release its energy, allowing the Autobots to transform to robot mode.

The Constructicons form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and Wheeljack fire the Transfixatron at the giant Decepticon, causing the [[Combiner]] to separate. The Decepticons retreat, and the Autobots destroy the Transfixatron.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (16)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (21)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (22)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (23)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (24)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (25)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (26)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (27)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (28)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (29)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (30)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (32)
*[[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (6)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (8)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (9)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (10)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (11)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (12)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (13)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (14)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (15)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (31)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (34)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (35)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Chip Chase]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Transform." 
"No, Megatron. You can't mean to—" 
"What's a test without a [[guinea pigatron]]? Transform, I say!"
:—'''Megatron''' selects '''Starscream''' as the test subject for his latest device.

"Uh, probably just energy evaporation from all the speed, maybe... I hope..."
:—'''Bumblebee''' fails physics forever.

"If you're going to do what I think, Sunstreaker, you've got boom glitches in your brain garage."
:—'''Mirage'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s colorful terms for Transformer anatomy.

"I knew the racing bit was bad news, but would anyone listen to me? Oh, noooo!" 
"Stifle it, Huffer, or I'll put my footio in your audio!!"
:—'''Huffer''' being an ass and '''Brawn''' looking to kick some.

"Ironic, isn't it, Autobots, that after so many valiant battles, you will meet your end in the crushing jaws of this device so lovingly fashioned by my Constructicons."
:—'''Megatron'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s concept of irony is off.

"Hey! Where are their cars?!"
:—Someone who somehow hasn't heard of the Autobots, yet turned up to a race for them.

[[File:Autobotrun ironhide carcrusher.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
"Later, guys. It's been really great knowin' ya."
:—Headed for the crushing device, '''Ironhide''' accepts his fate.

"Hey, what's that?" 
"I'd call it a TARGET!"
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Starscream''' spotting Roller.

"I'm transforming! I see my true beauty emerging!"
:—'''Sunstreaker''', vain as always.

"We're outnumbered!" "Let me guess: we retreat?"
:—'''Starscream''' knows '''Megatron''' all too well.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:AutobotRun Brawn picks up Huffer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Being one of the Season 2 [[AKOM]] episodes, "The Autobot Run" features several unusual animation models:
** Optimus Prime's "backpack" is white instead of red.
** Huffer has a white outline around his eyes.
** Gears' truck mode is mostly red instead of mostly blue.
** Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray instead of light gray.
** Laserbeak's beak is (sometimes) the same dark gray as the rest of his head.
** The "disk" on Bumblebee's back is dark gray instead of yellow. Bumblebee also has two random dark gray squares on the back of his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
** Prowl is a medium gray instead of white.

Of course, AKOM found lots of less-excusable things to mess up, too:
* This episode's [[transformation]] sound effects are oddly applied, stopping and starting halfway through and even playing over the wrong transformation type (i.e., vehicle-to-robot vs. robot-to-vehicle) at times.
* Ignoring the big, paved driveway right next to him, Bumblebee arrives at the race track by ''driving across the grass''.
* That's okay, though, because as the race finishes, Chip nonchalantly turns his wheelchair and ''rolls across the grass''.
* Chip then rolls into Bumblebee, and sits in the driver seat, while still in his wheelchair. Huh?
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** After a dialogue section where Huffer complains about the race idea and Optimus orders him to stay and guard the base, he is seen transforming and rolling out to the race. He is not at the race and is later back at the base. However, a number of other characters who do not roll out and are not shown at the base during the discussion turn up at the race.
* For the duration of this episode, actor [[Michael Bell]] performs Scrapper with a very different voice than normal, sounding...well, frankly, quite ''normal'', compared to Scrapper's usual hoarse rasp.
* Scrapper's faceplate doesn't move as he reports the Transfixatron's completion. In fact it doesn't move at all the whole episode.
* Coloring errors:
** Thundercracker's feet are blue instead of black, and Soundwave's eject button is blue instead of white, as they watch the completion of the Transfixatron.
** As Laserbeak enters Soundwave's chest to report, Soundwave's eyeband is colored white like his faceplate, while his forehead is colored red like his eyeband should be.
** A moment later, in jet mode, Starscream's right air intake is colored as if it extends way back into his fuselage, and has some black details that shouldn't be there; the left intake isn't colored to match. He also has extra stripes on his tail fins. In a wider-angle shot, both intakes are colored with the long length and the extra black parts.
** In the first shot of the Autobots, Ironhide's entire torso is red. In the next shot, the top of his chest is red instead of red/gray.
** The entirety of Trailbreaker's lower legs are white as he listens to Prime, instead of just the stripe down the middle. The error repeats as the Autobots stand at the race track.
** Prowl has no black detailing on his car mode as Jazz passes him. He's also his correct white color instead of the light gray that AKOM usually colors him.
** As Wheeljack flees, he fires at Starscream and Thundercracker. In the next shot, his target is a pair of Thundercrackers. One of them teleports away (indicating that it was supposed to be Skywarp.) When he re-materializes, he's colored like Starscream, but still speaks in Skywarp's voice.
** A second later, Skywarp has a yellow stripe down his back where there should be black.
** Thundercracker's "gloves" are white instead of black as he transforms above Ironhide.[[File:Autobotrungreenteletraan.jpg|thumb|Chip Chase always did have the luck of the Irish.]]
** When Chip is trying to locate the Autobots, Teletraan I is colored green instead of orange.
** Soundwave's head changes colors between shots as he destroys Hound's turret gun. (Hound manages to stay off-screen until he's in [[robot mode]] later in the episode, sidestepping the need for the animators to remember his gun is destroyed.)
** When Soundwave ejects Ravage, the inside of his chest is grey.
** When the Autobots are un-transfixed and transform into robot modes, Brawn is shown transforming with them.
** Long Haul's eyeband isn't colored red as we pan across the Constructicons prior to them combining.
** Windcharger's face is the same dark gray as his head as Ironhide threatens the Decepticons, and his mid-torso is red instead of gray. The same error repeats during the repair lineup at the end.
* In the first pan over it, the Old West "town" has no streets! Subsequent shots show it with many more buildings than the handful shown in this shot.
* Missing Seeker insigina:
** Starscream has no insignia as he watches Laserbeak report back to Megatron.
** One of Starscream's insignia disappears as he backs away from the Transfixatron. The other disappears as he transforms a second later.
** When Thundercracker turns from blasting Optimus to fire on Ironhide, he has no back wing insignias.
** He still has none as he walks off with the captive Autobots.
** Starscream's missing an insignia as he fires on Roller.
* Starscream is missing one of his wings prior to the Transfixatron test. The other wing is abnormally large. The same overlarge wing shape shows up on Thundercracker later in the episode.
* Even if Shockwave ''was'' supposed to be standing behind Megatron (see Continuity Errors below), he and Scavenger were not standing anywhere near Megatron just a shot or two earlier.
* AKOM reuses the same scrolling cloud background at least four times behind Starscream. To be fair, it would actually make sense for him to be flying in circles at this point.
* Instead of being provided by [[Neil Ross]] as usual, Bonecrusher's single line in this episode is supplied by Michael Bell, using the same nondescript "normal" voice as he uses for Scrapper. The temptation, of course, is to peg this on an animation error that mistakenly depicted Bonecrusher instead of Scrapper, but the script for the episode actually called for Bonecrusher to speak the line.
* As Skywarp transforms to robot mode over the raceway, he pulls the Transfixatron out of [[Subspace|nowhere]], despite it being as large as he is.
* When Skywarp uses it on the Autobots, the Transfixatron beam effect is not properly animated to glow.
* Transfixed Sideswipe essentially becomes a red Sunstreaker (which would be ''[[Diaclone]]''-accurate) as he tries to transform - the transformation scheme is Sunstreaker's, as are the details of his vehicle mode once he's in mid-transformation. He then morphs back to Sideswipe when he reverts fully back to vehicle mode.
* After the Autobots discover they're locked in vehicle mode, when Megatron laughs the other Decepticons just sort of... vibrate.
* Megatron's eye lasers are the slowest-moving lasers in the universe.
* The Seekers transform and start rolling across the race track. In the next shot, they're suddenly in the air.
* Wheeljack's ears do not flash in time with his speaking at first.
* The crusher's lights flash multiple colors as it first activates, but later they only flash white. While the lights ''could'' change colors, it really raises the question of why it needs bizarre flashing lights in the first place.
* Wheeljack and Ratchet gather around Chip at the computer two times in a row.
* As we pan across the captive Autobots at the ghost town, Wheeljack and Bumblebee are among the crowd, despite both being back at Autobot Headquarters at this point. In the same pan, two Starscreams are guarding them. Also, the ghost town has gained a couple of streets and several extra buildings.
* Maybe not an error, but definitely bizarre: Hound gets Optimus Prime's rifle sound effect as he "fires" his hologram.
* As Wheeljack explains the grenade, his ears flash, but aren't properly backlit to glow.
* As Spike and company arrive at the ghost town, Ironhide is shown arriving and transforming instead of Ratchet.
* Ironhide's tires aren't flat anymore when he falls out of the crusher's claw.
* Bumblebee has no headlights as the newly arrived Autobots transform.
* A series of shots shows the grenade's radiation as concentric circles radiating out. The center point stays in four successive shots, despite only one of them being the point where the grenade exploded.
* As the grenade does its work, a series of vehicle-mode Autobots flash into existence out of nowhere.
* Devastator's combining sequence is screwy. First Scrapper and Mixmaster are shown forming Long Haul's portion of the combiner robot in addition to their own. Long Haul then forms Devastator's upper torso, instead of the lower torso (the chest plate is green at first, then turns its correct purple.) Hook then forms a tiny part of the upper torso, including the head, and... Bonecrusher's bulldozer kibble.
* Devastator has two small eyes instead of an eyeband as he fires lasers from his hand.
* He has two large eyes as he looms over Wheeljack and Cliffjumper.
* As Cliffjumper zaps Devastator with the Transfixatron, the shot suddenly jumps to a slight close-up of Devastator from exactly the same angle as before. In the closer angle, the glowing animation effect is missing from the Transfixatron beam.
* Thundercracker is drawn with his cockpit on the bottom of his jet mode as he and the other Seekers retreat.
* The [[commercial bumper]]s for the second act break feature the [[theme song|theme music]] for ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'', not ''The Transformers''.

===Continuity errors===
* Why the heck are Spike and Chip watching the race from next to the grand stands, instead of, y'know, ''inside'' them?
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] appears twice in this episode: first when Megatron is gloating about the Transfixatron, then when the Decepticons arrive at the race. Of course, it's ''possible'' that Shockwave came to [[Earth]] during this episode, but the idea of him just popping up and hanging around in the background seriously goes against the established notion that he always stays on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as its full-time guardian.
* Why does Megatron pick up the Transfixatron to aim it at Starscream, when a moment later he can just pivot it on its base?
* The race gets started VERY quickly. Chip and Spike come up with the idea, go back to the base, tell Prime, and apparently the Autobots just show up and demand to race for charity. Granted, some time could have elapsed in between, but ''still''. The Decepticons, meanwhile, are just hanging around in this Old West ghost town.
* How does the dust at the finish line get ''ahead'' of the Autobots?
* When Chip gets Teletraan I to analyse the data on the transforming process, among the images which flash up is a picture of Megatron's crusher. What has that got to do with transforming?
* Hound can ''shoot'' a hologram? For miles? And have it land ''inside a volcano''? What the hell?
* Flying Autobots:
** Cliffjumper gets a rocket sound effect as he comes flying out of the debris.
** Wheeljack uses his wrist rockets to fly, which is one of the few times it's shown correctly.
* Is the elaborate claw/tentacle mechanism on the crusher really necessary?
* At the end of Act 2, Ironhide is a few feet away from the crusher's jaws, presumably mere seconds from being crushed. A minute or more elapses in Act 3 before Prime comes to his rescue.
* Wheeljack states that the [[Transfixatron]] will "cancel Devastator's robot mode", though one would really expect it to just transfix Devastator ''as'' Devastator. If the intention was that the Transfixatron traps Transformers in their vehicle mode rather than in their current mode, then that wasn't made clear.
* So... did the Decepticons just leave the transfixed Constructicons sitting there in a pile? They aren't shown retreating.

===Continuity notes===
* This is Roller's third and final appearance.
* This is the first episode where the Transformers formally refer to themselves as ''Transformers''.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Jazz's speaker levels jump from seven to <s>eleven</s> ''eight hundred''. Or maybe he was just tuned in to an AM station.
** Megatron can shoot laser beams from his eyes, especially when he wants to scare away earth germs.
** The fact that Thundercracker's blasts are the ones to overheat the Autobots' engines indicates this was supposed to be a function of his incendiary guns. The simplified description of Thundercracker's weapons included in the series [[bible]] didn't explain exactly what these guns were supposed to do (per his bio, they shoot bullets containing highly-flammable material) which has resulted in them being depicted as flamethrowers in previous episodes.
** Devastator's eye beams can magnetically lift a robot into the air. He can also fire lasers from his fingertips.
** Wheeljack surveys the battlefield by using the rocket jets in his forearms, an ability mentioned in his [[bio]] appearing here for the first time in the cartoon; he previously flew ''without'' visibly using these jets in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]".
* Where does the trailer go?
** When Optimus Prime transforms after the Autobots are fixed by Wheeljack's grenade, his trailer shrinks into his back rather than rolling away as usual.
[[File:AutobotRun madeup Transformer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Pre-[[Prime (rank)|Prime]] [[Wikipedia: St George's Cross|version]] pictured. The Prime version features [[Wikipedia: Union Jack|Union Jack]] wings.]]
* A bizarre robot of made-up design appears on the screen as Chip begins researching the Transfixatron's effects. It's loosely based on Prime, but with smaller chest windows, a yellow body, and white wings on his back.
* When instructing Starscream to transform out of vehicle mode, Megatron tells him to return to his "root mode". This was almost certainly the result of a typo in the script that was ''supposed'' to say "ro'''b'''ot mode", but it makes a charming amount of sense as a term.
* The idea of a [[Transfixatron|device to keep a Transformer frozen in one mode]] would be revisited over the years in other fictions, with [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s [[Transformation Lock Lens]], [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Transformation virus|transformation lock virus]], the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]' [[mode lock]] used on [[Blaster (G1)#Marvel Comics continuity|Blaster]], the various incarnations of the [[inhibitor claw]] and [[Spotlight: Soundwave|an experimental weapon]] created by Shockwave.
* The Autobots seem to learn from this experience; many future episodes such as "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" and "[[The Revenge of Bruticus]]" show them to be armed and dangerous in their automotive forms.

[[File:TheAutobotRun-Spideyshirt.jpg|thumb|right]]

===Real-world references===
* Spider-Man had a cameo on a kid's T-shirt.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** As Megatron orders the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] to attack the Autobots, they emit the [[TIE Fighter]] engine noise when they fly over a wooded area.

===Trivia===
[[File:Chipchase.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].
* To catch the grenade, Chip just ''stands up'' from his wheelchair. It should be noted that Chip's precise medical condition is never explained, so we have no way of knowing why he uses a wheelchair or how much use of his legs he actually has. A close inspection of the animation shows him apparently ''pushing'' himself up with his arms, but it's really not conveyed very well.
* This is one of three episodes from Season Two which were animated by [[AKOM]] (the others being "[[The Core]]" and "[[City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel]]"). They share similar art and animation styles (lots of one-point perspective action shots, scrolling backgrounds, and random zoom-ins), prominent use of the Constructicons, slightly more juvenile plots than usual, and a set of character model oddities such as Megatron's dark gray gun barrel, Optimus Prime's white backpack, and Chip Chase's blue jacket.
* AKOM also has a strange habit of showing vehicle-mode close-ups with painted artwork instead of typical flat colored cel art. Witness Gears getting shot by Soundwave, and Sideswipe and Jazz's dashboards. The same thing can be seen in "The Core", as Chip leans out of a painted Wheeljack.
* A one-time-only bit of Westernish background music, presumably culled from [[Robert J. Walsh]]'s enormous archives, plays across the opening scene in the Decepticons' ghost town.
* Stores in the ghost town: Liquor Saloon, Harrys Bakes, Sonata 3, Cows(?), Hotel, Saloon, Grain Feed, Livery, Glass (which in a visual gag is the only building in its row of three to survive the battle), and RC P&W(?).
* Signs at the race track: Grand Prix, Irel(and?), XAM, HO KY, New Year Tires, Dav-Mac, A&E O(il?), (Go?)od Year Tires, and Fenzoil Lubes. The "XAM" is very likely a reference to the animation company XAM! ("Ex-Ahern-Marshall"), who included their company initials in the background art of various 1980s animated series.<ref>[http://www.povonline.com/2003/News030103.htm#030503a] "NEWS from me: March 5, 2003"</ref>
* Megatron sure does have a sexy swagger as he walks toward the transfixatroned Autobots.
* The synopsis for "The Autobot Run" included in the series [[production bible]] reveals that the Transfixatron was originally named the "Stasitron". On its model sheet, it was misspelled "Satsitron".
* In an unfortunate foreshadowing, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] remarks that when they made him, they 'broke the [[mold]]'.
* Seriously, ''guinea pigatron''?!

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wer ist der schnellste Autobots?'''" ("Who Is the Fastest Autobot?")
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Geheimwaffe'''" ("The Secret Weapon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 9]], [[1989]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' '''Corsa automobilistica''' ("Car Race")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' '''La corsa degli Autobots''' ("The Autobots Run")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Transform o Tomero!'''" (トランスフォームをとめろ!, "Stop the Transforming!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 31]], [[1986]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gran'pree "Avtobot"'''" (Гран-при "Автобот", "Grand-prix "Autobot"")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan Carly sucks, right?]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-22.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Autobot Run}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Atlantis, Arise!

2016-01-21T22:08:03Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=24
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=16
|prev2=The Immobilizer
|next2=Enter the Nightbird
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=15
|prev3=War of the Dinobots
|next3=Auto Berserk
|image=SubAtlantica Undersea.jpg
|caption=There's fire burning... underwater. Don't ask.
|title="Atlantis, Arise!"
|production code=#700-23
|airdate=[[October 3]], 1985
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons ally with the undersea realm of Sub-Atlantica. But they may be more treacherous than Megatron expected.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Atlantis Arise Sub-Atlanticans Decepticons.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|And when you see Aquaman, tell him his superpower sucks.]]

[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] summons [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to the control room, saying that [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] have detected massive energy readings underwater. The Decepticons investigate and encounter the [[Sub-Atlantica]]ns, a race who hope to conquer the surface world one day. Megatron negotiates a deal with [[Nergill]], King of Sub-Atlantica, offering Decepticon military technology in exchange for access to their [[geothermal]] storehouses. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] distrusts the Sub-Atlanticans, who communicate with each other telepathically.

[[File:Atlantis Arise Autobots football.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|R U READY 4 SUM FOOTBALL?]]

Near the [[Autobot]] [[Ark (G1)|base]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are playing a game of [[football]] with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] arrives before the Dinobots accidentally kill anyone, telling them there is a massive energy reading emanating from near the [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon base]]. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] dispatches Bumblebee, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], Hound, and Wheeljack to investigate, with Spike tagging along. The Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans attack and take Wheeljack prisoner. After raising the city from the bottom of the ocean, the Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans prepare to attack [[Washington, D.C.]] as a sign of their new alliance. Nergill communicates with his soldiers, telling Megatron that they will imprison Wheeljack in his dungeons. However, at Starscream's orders, Soundwave unscrambles the message and learns that Wheeljack is to be taken to their laboratory to develop weapons against the Autobots and Decepticons alike.

The Autobots head for Washington, hoping to stop the Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans. Prime has Spike and Bumblebee head for Sub-Atlantica, hoping to rescue Wheeljack, while the Autobot leader takes the others to Washington. The Sub-Atlanticans raise a [[force field]] known as the [[Dome of Invulnerability]] over Washington, trapping the Autobots inside. In Sub-Atlantica, Nergill has developed a [[magnetic dysfunction ray]] which will shut down [[Transformer]]s; he's tested it on Wheeljack, leaving him immobile. Starscream discovers this and is shot by Nergill, who learns that it is less effective on Decepticons. As Nergill leaves, Starscream attempts to drain power from Wheeljack, but Bumblebee and Spike stop arrive just in time to stop the Decepticon and restore Wheeljack.

[[File:Atlantis Arise Megs Lincoln memorial.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Four score and seven million years ago, I founded a [[Decepticon Empire|new nation]]...]]

Nergill strolls into Washington, with Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Spike sneaking in behind him. Nergill uses the disruptor to defeat Prime's team of Autobots, bringing the battle to an end. As the Sub-Atlanticans secure the Capitol building, his soldiers ask when to move against the Decepticons, but Nergill decides to wait a little while longer. Meanwhile, Megatron (sitting at the [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln Memorial]]) tells [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] that they will deal with the Sub-Atlanticans soon enough.

Wheeljack calls in the Dinobots, who manage to penetrate the force field and come to blows with the Decepticons. As Megatron and [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] grapple, Nergill is on the verge of shooting them both until Starscream arrives and bashes Nergill aside, declaring that he is now an enemy. Grimlock grabs the disruptor and destroys it, causing the Autobots to revive. The Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans retreat back to their own city, with the Autobots in pursuit.

[[File:SubAtlantica Asplode.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|But the others chose to stay, sitting in their porches with their shotguns, and eventually evolved into mermaids. And they would sing and dance, and ring in the new...]]

Back at Sub-Atlantica, Megatron demands an answer to Starscream's treason charge against Nergill, but Nergill informs him that the Autobots are coming. They invade the city, and the Dinobots begin smashing everything in sight.

Nergill decides to destroy the city, hoping to destroy the Transformers as well. Spike, Wheeljack, and Bumblebee follow, hoping to stop Nergill, with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in pursuit. The two [[Mini-Cassette]]s realize Nergill's intentions, and Rumble tries to bury him in rubble, but it's not enough. Wheeljack likewise tries to stop the sub-aquatic king, but it's too late. Nergill throws a device into his energy containers, which starts a chain reaction that begins to destroy the city. The Decepticons retreat; Prime orders the Autobots to clear out, then rescues Wheeljack's team (and strangely finds Grimlock there as well). Prime and the others escape, watching from the nearby sea as the Sub-Atlanticans and their home disappear under the waves. Prime says they probably won't see Nergill again for a long time.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (10)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (11)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (12)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (13)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (14)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (15)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (16)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (17)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (18)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (19)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (20)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (21)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (22)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (23)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (25)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (26)

|c2=
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (1)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (4)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (6)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (7)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (27)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (28)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)

|c4=
*[[Nergill]] (8)
*Sub-Atlantican General (24)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Houndfootball.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Are you sure humans do this for fun?"
:—'''Hound''', after playing a game of football with the Dinobots

"Did I do that?"
:—'''Bumblebee''', being suitably amazed after knocking down Starscream. Float like a butterfly- sting like a Bumblebee.

"No! That could ruin Wheeljack's function circuits!" 
"So... what? Ruining Autobots is my life!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Starscream'''

"Autobots bite off more than they can chew, then send for Dinobots! Come, Snarl, Sludge. We go!"
:—'''Grimlock''', responding to the SOS call by Wheeljack. Apparently he does not want Slag or Swoop.

"Mmm, we are ''here''."
:—'''Grimlock''' is a master of subtle and astute observation

"Me Grimlock here again, Optimus Prime, to pull your diodes out of laser fire."
:—'''Grimlock''' is getting a little tired of rescuing Optimus Prime

"Okay, Grimlock. Time for you and the Dinobots to ''act'' prehistoric!"
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

"You don't frighten me, you mechanical throwbacks!" 
"Good, Megatron! We love stupid enemies!"
:—'''Grimlock''' has no grasp of irony.

"Starscream, see what you've done you dribbling dirtbucket!"
:—'''Megatron''', once again insulting Starscream -ironically enough after the latter saved him from being shot in the back by Nergill. And he wonders why Starscream is so disloyal.

"Starscream's right! Nergill is crazy!"
:—'''Rumble''' admits Starscream was right about something. And then the universe implodes.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Someone mistook the strange glint of sunlight reflecting off of Buzzsaw for a laser beam, and inserted a Decepticon laser sound effect accordingly.
* Coloring errors:
** Soundwave has some extra black shading around his eyeband as he reports to Megatron inside Decepticon HQ.
**When the Decepticons leave their base, Starscream's [[alternate mode|jet mode]] has a yellow underbelly. For an animation error, it's unusually appropriate!
** As he orders Soundwave to unscramble Nergill's message, Starscream's left pectoral is colored gray instead of red, and isn't really drawn in correctly, almost as if the animators intended his arm to be covering it during the scene.
** Soundwave is drawn with a totally transparent tape door as Starscream has him unscramble Nergill's second message. It is obviously a deliberate choice to show the cassette mechanism within, but it conflicts with the usual white coloration of his chest panel.
** As Megatron makes his dramatic proclamation of Sub-Atlantica's destination, the bottom of Starscream's cockpit cowling is colored yellow instead of gray.
** When Megatron removes the President Abraham Lincoln statue from the chair, his Decepticon insignia is grey.
** The inside of Sludge's [[robot mode]] mouth is white when he says "Alright!"
** Slag's face is white instead of red as he exits Prime's trailer in Sub-Atlantica. In the next shot, his whole head is gray.
* As Megatron pontificates about "an underwater city of such size", a strangely-timed edit has the scene cut to an exterior shot of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]], as if ''that'' were supposed to be the underwater city in question. If it's meant to be an establishing shot, why isn't it at the beginning of the scene?
* The Decepticon Headquarters docking tower appears to be listing about 15 degrees or so as it emerges from the water, as if a stock view from one point-of-view angle was copied onto a new background drawn at a different point-of-view angle.
[[File:SubAtlantica Undersea.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Considering how bright and well-lit everything is, Sub-Atlantica must be in about 25 feet of water.
* As Hound's camper roof unfolds, his turret gun clips right through it.
* Bumblebee appears to be using one of the Sub-Atlanticans' weapons as he fires at Starscream and company.
* During Wheeljack's "But nobody else is gonna follow you either" line, only the front side of his "ears" flash.
* Starscream is shown among the Decepticons leaving Sub-Atlantica to conquer D.C. The very next shot shows him lurking within the city as Nergill exposits to himself.
* As the Autobots drive toward Washington, Optimus mispronounces their foes' names as "Sub-[[Atlanta]]-cans".
* The "highway" that the Autobots use to drive to D.C. has an "exit" for the Chesapeake Bay that's more like a T-shaped intersection. Bumblebee somehow manages to negotiate it at full speed without flying out of control.
* The sign that the Autobots past says 'New York' (Right Arrow) 'Baltimore' (Forward Arrow) and Washington DC (Left Arrow), which would only really make sense if they were driving in from the Atlantic Ocean. It is also backwards.
* The animation is very inconsistent as to whether the little red bulb on the Sub-Atlanticans' headwear is supposed to flash when they talk.
* The [[Dome of Invulnerability]] guy is missing his telepathic waves as he refuses Megatron's order.
* Laser bolts bounce right off the Washington Monument without leaving so much as a burn mark. With weapons that ineffectual, it's no wonder nobody ever dies in this show!
* Laserbeak's attack on Hound is strangely truncated; Laserbeak fires non-glowing lasers, and then suddenly vanishes out of the shot.
* The shot that Hound fires at Laserbeak doesn't line up with his gun barrel.
* The electrical bolts enveloping Starscream right after Nergil blasts him are not animated to jigger for the first few seconds.
* While calling to warn Optimus about Nergil's weapon, the Autobot insignia on Wheeljack's roof/chest is upside-down.
* When the Dinobots break through the force field, Starscream is among the group fighting them off, even though he is still lying inert within Sub-Atlantica at this point.
[[File:Optimus prime doppelgaenger.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Prime uses [[budding]] to hold up the Washington Monument.]]
* Before Megatron bashes the Washington Monument, Prime and Prowl are standing there watching. After Megatron bashes the Monument, the shot returns to the same Prowl-and-Prime angle. But Prowl is gone, and the earlier artwork of Prime is still there watching as ''another'' Prime runs to catch the monument!
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** The Autobots shown entering the city and attacking Megatron include Prime, Hound, Brawn, Prowl, Ironhide, and Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker and Ironhide disappear after the battle begins; only Hound, Brawn, Prowl and Prime are shown being disabled by Nergill and being revived later on. Ironhide finally shows up again after the battle is over; courtesy of some recycled transformation animation, Ratchet and Trailbreaker appear out of nowhere as the Autobots roll out of D.C. During the Sub-Atlantica battle, Sideswipe appears (also out of nowhere), and Sunstreaker finally reappears.
* A strangely angled shot, looking up from below the water, is supposed to show Prime, Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Grimlock swimming out of Sub-Atlantica. It's ''very'' easy to mistake it for a shot showing them flying through the air. They don't move any of their limbs, they move across the screen very rapidly, and the water itself is backlit by the sunset colored sky.
* Spike's declaration that "Nergill's gone!" doesn't mean much, since the animation never actually makes it clear that Wheeljack carried him out of Sub-Atlantica.
* What are Prime and the others standing on after they evacuate Sub-Atlantica? Even Spike is above water almost to his waist!

===Continuity errors===
* If Nergill "communicates telepathically", as Soundwave claims, why is his mouth moving all the time?
* The deflated football that Hound holds is astoundingly large, practically as large as Spike.
[[File:Spike SemiNude.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85|Then again, look at how ripped his pecs are. Maybe he really ''is'' a superhuman!]]
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike can survive in the "deepest part of the Atlantic ocean" wearing only a bathing suit and using a simple oxygen tank and goggles. Amazing that he isn't crushed under the weight of the ocean or frozen to death.
** Spike can somehow speak clearly to the Autobots without removing the mouthpiece for his breathing apparatus from his mouth; hell, he can even perform this trick ''underwater''.
* How can Bumblebee calculate Sub-Atlantica's destination from watching it sail along the coast for like two seconds? It could be going anywhere!
* The "conquest" of Washington is incredibly half-hearted. The Decepticons and the squiddy guys run around in the street for a bit, scare some tourists, blow up a couple of cars, and put up a force field. About the only conquery thing they do is set up a giant vacuum tube computer in the capital building.

[[File:SubAtlantican SurfaceGear.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The Sub-Atlanticans have to wear aquatic masks over their faces when they're on dry land. Yet they don't wear them inside their city, which appears to be just as water-free as the surface.
* The water-based Sub-Atlanticans don't think to create a force field that extends under the water?
* More an omission than an error, but it's never explained just what Starscream was trying to do to Wheeljack.
* Wheeljack says that they'd better warn Prime about the dysfunction ray... then proceeds to say something totally vague and uninformative ("There is great danger! Nergill must be stopped!")
* [[Microbots|How]] [[The Agenda (Part III)|many]] times do cartoons have to be told that it's not a ''force field'' if it ''shatters like glass''? (Does this mean that the streets of D.C. are now covered with piles of shattered force field bits?)
* Some "[[Dome of Invulnerability|dome of ''invulnerability'']]". The Dinobots get through it in about five seconds flat.
* Starscream's third appearance in DC isn't an animation error; he's central to the plot! How did he get free of the dysfunction ray?!
* How did Grimlock get to the Washington Monument before Prime?
* Who knew that destroying a gun could un-shoot the gun's prior victims? That's exactly what happens — Grimlock destroys the dysfunction gun, and suddenly the Autobots are un-dysfunctionalized!
* How ''did'' Grimlock get into the energy supply room with Wheeljack, Bumblebee, and Spike? The last time we saw him, he was up in Sub-Atlantica fighting.
* Fire under water? ''Really?
''

===District of Columbia errors===
[[File:Megatron hates lincoln.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It also survives being carelessly tossed aside without a scratch.]]
* Despite the Autobots being near the Chesapeake Bay, the backgrounds show huge rocks and expanses of sand, as if they were in the desert.
* As Hound fights near the reflecting pool, there's lots of tall buildings behind him. D.C. doesn't really have many tall buildings, certainly not near the Mall.
* Both the plot and the animation seem to imply that DC sits on a major body of water. Or did Sub-Atlantica just sail right up the Potomac?
* The Lincoln Memorial is strangely [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]-[[Scale|sized]]. Also, the statue part apparently just comes right off. Who knew?
* Somehow, the rotational forces involved in the Washington Monument's partial fall do not cause the masonry structure to snap like a dry twig.
* Apparently, damaged masonry structures like the Washington Monument can be ''melted'' back together. Who knew?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Atlantis Arise Hound roof.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Whoops! Can't get my fancy cushions wet!]]
[[File:AtlantisArise Bumblebee spygear.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Bumblebee had GPS before it existed!]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Two groups of Autobots drive on the water, using the water ski-like [[hydrofoil]]s that showed up in several other episodes. (At most points, the hydrofoils are not shown, but Bumblebee's can be glimpsed after the first commercial break.)
** [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] has a folding sunroof. That is awesome. His toy did not. That is not awesome.
** Bumblebee has a bizarre direction calculator thing that comes out of his back.
** Shoulder artillery: Wheeljack uses a missile from his shoulder launcher to seal the cave shut behind the other Autobots. The only other time he actually fires missiles (instead of laser beams from the tip of the missile) is in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]".
* Grimlock also grumbled about having to save the Autobots in "[[Day of the Machines]]". It'll finally come to a head in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1]]".
* Hey, that shot of Soundwave ejecting Laserbeak during the DC battle sure looks familiar... why, it's copied from "[[Transport to Oblivion]]"! [[Changing Gears|Again!]]
* In the Decepticon campaign of ''[[Transformers The Game]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] also takes the Lincoln Memorial throne as his own.

===Real world references===
* As the obligatory "conquer Washington" episode (''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' had one too), "Atlantis, Arise!" features several D.C. landmarks, including the Washington Monument, the White House (where the Decepticons first land), the US Capitol Building, and the Lincoln Memorial and its Reflecting Pool, as well as a mention of the Chesapeake Bay.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** The gouts of fire that burst from the sea as Sub-Atlantica sinks are soundtracked with various explosions from the [[Death Star]] battle, possibly exploding [[X-wing Fighter]]s.

===Trivia===
[[File:Nergill & Troops.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* This episode is one of a handful that begins with a (rather pointless) narrative voiceover from [[Victor Caroli]].
*When played back at a slower speed, Nergill says telepathically to his people:
** "Never mind. Put your weapons away. We don't want to put them on guard."
** "Take no aggressive action. They suspect."
* While not as annoying as [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction]] and [[Heavy Metal War]], the Shout! Factory release of this episode has most of the sound effects noticeably softer than the music and spoken lines.
* They have in fact seen the last of Nergill.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Unterwasserstadt'''" ("The Underwater City")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 6]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il segreto di Atlantide'''" ("The Secret of Atlantis")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Atlantide risorge'''" ("Atlantis Arises")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Atlantis Fujō!'''" (アトランティス浮上!, "Atlantis, Arise!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25]], [[1985]]
:*Nearly all Japanese language episode guides, including those published in ''[[Transformers Generations]]'' and the fact booklet included with [[Pioneer]]'s DVD sets, [[Engrish|mistakenly]] list this episode's English language title as "At''r''antis, Arise!".
:*For the Japanese dub, Sub-Atlantica is renamed [[Atlantis]], intending it to actually be the sunken city of legend. This change would create some discontinuity later, when the more classical interpretation of Atlantis would appear in ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]''.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Voskresshaya Atlantida'''" (Воскресшая Атлантида, "Atlantis Is Resurrected")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-23.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Day of the Machines

2016-01-21T22:05:45Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=25
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=74
|prev2=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|next2=Scramble City: Mobilization
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=29
|prev3=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|next3=Enter the Nightbird
|image=Dayofmachinesprimeandtorq.jpg
|caption=Big Brother is watching you!
|title="Day of the Machines"
|production code=#700-24
|airdate=[[October 10]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron's latest scheme involves using the most powerful computer on Earth to control machinery remotely.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Dayofmachinesmegsinacase.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"Megatron! What are you doing in my [[Laserbeak (Animated)|cousin's]] house?!"]]

[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (the former disguised in a guitar case!) not-so-silently infiltrate [[Quantum Laboratories]], a top-secret facility where the world’s most powerful computer, [[TORQ III]], is housed. Megatron reprograms the computer with his own personality and gives it the power to control, from remote distances, dangerous machines of all types through the use of "[[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] cards."

At the same time, scientist Dr. [[Paul Gates]] of Quantum Labs muses with a colleague about the dangers of machine sentience and that, in the wrong hands, TORQ III might be too powerful. Since Fate is both cruel and timely, the very scenario they were discussing comes true when TORQ III locks them in their office and announces that he’s taking over.

Megatron is using TORQ and the circuit linker cards to remotely control fleets of [[oil tanker]]s. This alerts [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], who notifies [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime then receives Dr. Gates’ distress signal; Gates fills him in on TORQ III’s rebellion and asks to be rescued.

[[File:Dayofmachinesautossurround.jpg|225px|thumb|The Autobots play "Monkey in the Middle" with a bunch of Brawls.]]

[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] are assigned to investigate the tankers, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] tags along. Prime leads a group to Quantum Labs, where they immediately come under attack by machines controlled by TORQ. Overwhelmed, Prime orders in the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] (minus [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]) to come help, and they smash, chomp and melt down all of the machines. [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] makes his usual pompous comment about having to save Prime’s bacon when things get rough. Afterward, Prime rescues Dr. Gates and they advance toward the buildings, meeting lots of resistance from TORQ’s machines.

Meanwhile, Hound, Spike and Skyfire sneak aboard an oil tanker and infiltrate the [[Decepticon]]s' [[oil rig|oil platform]]. Their attack falls short when Spike is captured and they are forced to surrender.

After smashing more remote-controlled machines at Quantum, Prime decides to explore inside TORQ’s maze-like complex alone. As Optimus moves in closer, one of the machines places a circuit linker card on him, making him Torq’s slave, and he is brought into the computer’s domain. But—surprise, surprise—Prime rips the card off his body, saying it was a dead circuit linker he placed in the robot’s claw, and he disables TORQ with a well-placed punch to the control panel. At the [[oil rig|oil platform]], Soundwave senses TORQ's demise; Megatron takes over control of the tankers with a gargantuan remote control device.

[[File:DayOfMachines Megatron remote control.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"So this is what a human Cell Phone looks like."]]

Dr. Gates lends the Autobots a high-speed hydrofoil to reach the Decepticons. Back at the [[oil]] platform, Spike has hatched an idea to use an electromagnet (which happened to be in their cell) to immobilize [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. Skyfire easily smashes through the cell door and Hound disables the force dome that was protecting the platform. The rest of the Autobots arrive and a battle ensues. Prime faces down Megatron and manages to wrest a remote control device from his hands, then tosses it back to him. Megatron lands on it, crushing it, and comes back up spitting mad. He retaliates by activating the self-destruct mechanism on the platform.

The [[Autobot]]s escape, but Prime stays behind to find Hound, Skyfire and Spike. He rips apart the platform deck, revealing the missing team members, and Skyfire flies them out of danger.

Finally, Prime says goodbye to Dr. Gates, who makes a parting comment about machines being unreliable, and then quickly retracts the statement when he realizes his gaffe. The Autobots laugh at the ungrateful human's hubris.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (12)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (13)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (15)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (16)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (17)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (18)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (19)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (22)

|c2=
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (8)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (9)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (25)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]?

|c3=
*Security guard (1)
* Dr. [[Andrews]] (6)
* Dr. [[Paul Gates]] (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (23)
* Oil tanker captain (24)

|c4=
* [[TORQ III]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"Illegal access! Illegal access!" 
"It certainly is."
:—'''TORQ III''' is reprogrammed by '''Megatron'''

"Good grief. More bad news. This isn’t one of our shining days."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' as TORQ's machines surround his troops.

"We help! ...Hmm. Always get Autobots out of messes they get into."
:—'''Grimlock''' laments at yet another Autobot bungle he is called upon to resolve. Forcefully.

"It's a safe bet those doors are locked." 
"Fortunately, I have a delicate lock-picking technique."
:—'''Dr. Gates''' and '''Optimus Prime''', right before Prime "delicately" blasts his way into TORQ's building.

[[File:DayoftheMachines frenzy with gun.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Come and get me you metal-headed dumb-dumb." 
"That's one stupid Decepticon!"
:—'''Skyfire''' and '''Hound''' accurately assess Frenzy's level of intelligence.

"What do you say, guys? Can you bash it down?" 
"With a smile on our lip components!"
:—'''Spike''' and '''Hound''' discuss the finer points of Cybertronian facial structure.

[[File:DayofMachines PaulGates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"I'll take that transmitter, please." 
"The transmitter is mine!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' is always polite. '''Megatron''', not so much.

"You took the word right out of my mouth. It was in there with my foot."
:—'''Dr. Paul Gates''' after he tells the ''Autobots'' that all machines are unreliable.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* As the security guard closes the Lost and Found cage's gate, his hand phases through the cage door.
* Coloring errors:
** Soundwave's cassette door is blue instead of white before he releases Laserbeak.
** Prowl's face changes from gray to white as he turns to look at Wheeljack after the first commercial break.
** Snarl's tail is white instead of gold as he smashes the tank.
** Is that supposed to be Hook lowering the cargo pipe onto the tanker? 'Cause he's colored yellow instead of green, and has an inexplicably radioed-in voice, and isn't quite on-model, and he never actually transforms, and... maybe it's not supposed to be Hook. Hound does however refer to him by name.
** Skyfire's chest cockpit is white instead of blue as he drops his gun.
** Sideswipe's head is colored red instead of black as he flees from a Torq-controlled machine.
** Soundwave's optics are white when he notifies Megatron that the force field is down.
* The access hatch in Megatron's head simply appears out of nowhere on his forehead, and likewise vanishes after closing.
* There's no evidence of the bizarre war machines in the Hall of TORQ when Megatron and Soundwave arrive. They suddenly appear once they're needed for the plot.
* After Megatron attaches the first Circuit Linker card, TORQ appears with his original neutral face rather than his reprogrammed "evil" face.
* The sign on the front of Dr. Gates' building reads "Research and Develop'''e'''ment".
* Teletraan I has the radio-transmission muffle on its voice as it reports the [[oil tanker]] movements to Optimus Prime.
* Prime comments that the tankers are converging near [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]], but the graphics show them in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Decepticon HQ is somewhere near the Pacific coast.
* After he transforms, Prime's cab wheels are somehow in ''front'' of his trailer. (Sure is a pretty sequence otherwise, though!)
* Peter Cullen gives Optimus Prime his Ironhide accent when he orders the Autobots to shoot out the vehicles' tires.
* Slag sure does spend a long time staring at the machines, growling and very pointedly moving his mouth. Was he supposed to have some dialog? Sludge does nearly the same thing before Prime uses him as a ladder.
* Prime's whole face is the same blue color as his helmet as he offers the humans a lift down from their window.
* "Personnel" is spelled with only one "n" on the TORQ Project's building sign.
* Laserbeak's feet aren't fully drawn as he carries Spike past the camera.
* Laserbeak is shown outside the force field as he flies over Hound. He should be inside.
* The claws holding Sideswipe's wrists just kind of randomly let him go for no reason.
* Prime's eyes are red instead of blue as the tentacle machine drags him toward its spinny things.
* Soundwave reports that "ORQ" {{sic}} is no longer functional.
* The Decepticons sure take their time getting yanked back by the electromagnet, whose effect should be instantaneous. It also doesn't seem to bother the Autobots, who run right through the spot where the Decepticons were standing when the magnet grabbed them.
* Hound's missile, supposedly removed by the Decepticons, is suddenly back in place as they run out of the cell. (In a nice bit of continuity, his launcher does remain empty after he destroys the force field generator.)
* Sparkplug is suddenly standing, unsheltered, in the middle of the Autobots, who were in a raging firefight just seconds before.
* Skyfire's chest is missing his Autobot symbol as he and Hound react to the platform's explosions. The same error repeats in the episode's closing scene.
* The bottom of Prime's waist is about twice its normal size as he and the other Autobots react to Dr. Gates' "unreliable" comment.

===Continuity errors===
* Dr. Gates' friend walks around with a remote that can open a single filing cabinet. In Dr. Gates' office, no less!
* Considering how easily they move around the complex, blowing holes in stuff, it's not at all clear why the Decepticons needed to go through the trouble of sneaking into the place in their [[alternate mode]]s.
* How do the remote linker cards grant control of machines just by being hooked to random parts of them, not their computer circuits?
* Since when do oil tankers travel in enormous fleets? Is this World War II?
* The Dinobots disappear from the story after their one battle, despite the fact that the Autobots meet more resistance before they reach TORQ III. Also curious is Swoop's total absence.
* Hound and Skyfire's cell has a bunch of scrap metal and a usable magnet in it...for some reason.
* Hound and Skyfire suddenly have their weapons back after busting out of the "cell."
* Prime claims that he inserted a dead circuit linker into the claw of TORQ's "friend". However, the animation basically allows no opportunity for this to happen. Furthermore, the circuit linker that he took from Sparkplug earlier sure didn't appear to be "dead"!
* Superhuman Spike: Spike picks up a metal electro-magnet which is nearly as big as he is.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Skyfire Gerwalk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|You did this on purpose Hasbro!]]
[[File:Dotm ironhide pull my finger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Hey, pull my finger......Okay you can let go now.]]
* Grimlock starts to show some annoyance about having to save the Autobots all the time, a sentiment also noted in "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" It'll finally come to a head in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Megatron's gun mode actually shrinks to a human adequate scale, the only time we see him do this.
** He never gets a chance to fire it, but during the first act of the episode, Ironhide wields a hand-held gun based on his toy's missile launcher.
** Skyfire [[A Plague of Insecticons|once again]] uses his jet-with-legs half-transformation.
*** Hound and Spike are forced to exit out of his ''crotch'' in this mode however.
** Ironhide destroys one of TORQ's machines by ''walking right through the blast'' it's emitting and sticking his finger in its hose. He is old because he is '''hard'''!
** Hound fires his shoulder missile for the first and only time ever.
* This is one of Optimus Prime's shining episodes. He defeats TORQ III almost singlehandedly; he destroys Megatron's remote control device and foils the tanker stealing plan; and he saves Spike, Skyfire and Hound from sinking with the [[oil]] platform. No wonder he's in charge!

===Real-world references===
[[File:G1 TORQ III.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Pay no attention to that 'bot behind the curtain!]]
* Pre-Megatron TORQ III bears some passing resemblance to Oz, the Great and Powerful!
* Paul Gates, the scientist of Quantum Labs, could be a nod to the co-founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen and Bill Gates.

===Trivia===
* The original name for this episode was "The Machine Rebellion". {{fact}}
* Like a handful of other Season 2 episodes ("[[Autobot Spike]]", "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"), this one begins with a short narrative voiceover from [[Victor Caroli]]. Unlike the others, this one actually conveys some information that isn't immediately conveyed by the animation (namely, what Quantum Laboratories does.)
* Script writer David Wise had previously used the concept of a computer able to remote-control machinery being taken over by a villain in a ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' episode also named "Day of the Machines". The same episode also featured a small energy-based creature and Man-At-Arms shrinking himself to fix the computer.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dia das Máquinas'''" ("Day of the Machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il giorno delle macchine'''" ("Day of the machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:* Skyfire is misnamed as Trailbreaker in the first dub.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Computer no Hanran'''" (コンピュータの反乱, "The Rebellion of the Computer")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[1990]] (released straight to video)
::*This is one of two episodes (the other being "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]") not initially aired in Japan during the run of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''. The episode was eventually dubbed in 1990 and released on [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]]'s [[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]] set of the series. As such, it was retroactively added to the series official episode list as episode 74, a numbering reflected in ''[[Transformers Generations]]''.
::*Having been dubbed several years after ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' had ended, not all the original cast members were able to return. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (originally voiced by [[Ken Shiroyama]]), [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (originally voiced by [[Kōki Kataoka]]) and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (originally voiced by [[Osamu Saka]]) were replaced by [[Katsumi Suzuki]].
::*Due to having been released straight-to-video, this is one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' not to have been edited for time in Japan. As such, Japanese DVD and laserdisc releases include an optional English audio track for the episode.

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

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-24.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Enter the Nightbird

2016-01-21T22:05:00Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig3|Enter the Nightbird}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=26
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=17
|prev2=Atlantis, Arise!
|next2=Dinobot Island, Part 1
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=30
|prev3=Day of the Machines
|next3=A Prime Problem
|image=EnterTheNightbird Nightbird starscream.jpg
|caption="All right, now hit Starscream in the groin-plate."
|title="Enter the Nightbird"
|production code=#700-25
|airdate=[[September 30]], 1985
|written by=[[Sylvia Wilson]] [[Richard Milton]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons capture Nightbird, a deadly ninja-bot, and turn her loose on the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Nightbirdandfujiyama.jpg|left|thumb|"No threat... not a threat at all."]]
The [[Autobot]]s are busily constructing [[detection plate]]s, a new invention of [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s which will make the [[Ark (G1)|base]] more secure by detecting intruders. They're interrupted in their work by a call from [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]], requesting their help in guarding his latest invention during its unveiling to the world. His curiosity aroused, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] agrees when the doctor informs him that the invention is a sophisticated new robot. The Autobots attend the event, though Wheeljack and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] are more interested in mocking the invention. Finally Dr. Fujiyama unveils [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], a "female ninja robot". Predictably, the [[Decepticon]]s attack and immediately have the upper hand because the Autobots won’t fight in a hall crowded with humans. As soon as the humans are cleared out, Optimus orders a counter-attack, personally grappling with [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. The Autobots are soon fully occupied, allowing [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] to tear the roof off the building, so that [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] can lasso Nightbird and carry the robot away. Their prize obtained, the rest of the Decepticons retreat.

They retire to Megatron's temporary base, a [[Temporary Decepticon base|masterfully disguised fortress]], where [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] sets to work reprogramming Nightbird and tripling her power. Her first action on being reactivated is to immediately attack Starscream, which gains Megatron's approval. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] gives her her new orders — infiltrate Autobot headquarters and steal the [[World Energy Chip]] from [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]].

Meanwhile, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] is apologetic for their abject failure to protect the robot, and promises to return it back to Dr. Fujiyama quickly and unharmed. The Autobots return to base, Ratchet carrying the injured [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Nightbird soon arrives at Autobot HQ as well, avoiding a security camera by accessing the base through the top of the [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]], eavesdropping on [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s puzzled conversation over the Decepticons' latest plan. She neatly avoids Wheeljack's detection plates by magnetizing her feet and walking along the roof. Reaching Teletraan I, she removes the World Energy Chip, plunging the base into darkness and alerting the Autobots to the intruder.

[[File:Nightbirdspotlight.jpg|right|thumb|Nightbird wants her own [[The Transformers: Spotlight|spotlight comic]].]]
In her attempt to escape, she first encounters [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and bashes her way past the startled Autobot. A group of Autobots corners her, but are hampered by the promise they made not to harm her, and she is able to use her ninja abilities to blind them and effect a proper escape. The Autobots pursue her outside, where Optimus spots her on a clifftop and drops her with a stun ray. As [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] approaches her, she suddenly jumps up and decks him before throwing more spinning blades at his comrades. Optimus stops [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] from firing on her, reminding him again of their promise to Dr. Fujiyama, then attempts to reason with Nightbird. The robot responds by attacking him with her energy sword and stealing his rifle, though she leaves her sword behind.

Watching remotely, Megatron and Bombshell are impressed with Nightbird's work. Starscream less so when Megatron suggests she would make a good replacement for the air commander.

Ratchet and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] discover the absence of the World Energy Chip and notify Prime. Using [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s sensors, the Autobots quickly relocate Nightbird, and Optimus attempts to lure her closer with her sword. She merely takes the weapon and knocks him down. The Autobots continue their attempts, unsuccessfully, to try to bring the ninja 'bot down.

[[File:Nightbirdprime.jpg|left|thumb|Prime, taking advantage of the fact [[Elita One|Elita]]'s on [[Cybertron (planet)|another planet]].]]
Meanwhile, Starscream has had enough of Megatron's insinuations about replacing him, and decks his leader. He's swiftly restrained by the other Decepticons and trapped in a cage. Megatron turns back to his spying and, seeing that Nightbird has finally been caught by the Autobots in an [[electro mesh prison]], orders the Decepticons out on a mission to rescue her and the World Energy Chip. Optimus is able to retrieve the Chip from Nightbird, but it's dropped in the subsequent Decepticon ambush. After a brief spell in Bombshell's possession, Optimus regains the chip, but Megatron responds by freeing Nightbird from her cage and unleashing her on the Autobots.

[[File:Nightbirdangry.jpg|right|thumb|Hell hath no fury like a Nightbird scorned.]]
Starscream uses a small missile to activate a button, freeing himself from the cage in the Decepticon base, and swiftly reaches the battle in time to watch Nightbird overwhelming Optimus with her combat skills. Seeking revenge, the Decepticon uses his [[null-ray]] on Nightbird, disabling her. Megatron is enraged and calls off the attack so everyone can pursue Starscream.

The Autobots make good on their promise by returning Nightbird unharmed to Fujiyama, who decides to put her in storage. Despite being neutralized, Nightbird casts a final, angered glare out at the cold, cold, world.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (1)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (2)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (3)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (4)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (5)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (6)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (7)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (8)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (9)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (10)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (11)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (12)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (13)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (14)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (16)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (17)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (18)

|c2=
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (22)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (23)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (24)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (25)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (26)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (27)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (28)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (29)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (30)

|c3=
* [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] (15)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (20)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (21)

|c4=
*[[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Imagine, Autobots playing nursemaid to an Earth robot. It's probably just a glorified wind-up toy."
:—Look who's talking, '''Wheeljack'''.

'''Ratchet''': Dr. Fujiyama's doohickey's under that drape! 
'''Wheeljack''': If it walks, it probably needs a long extension cord. 
'''Ratchet''': Heh heh heh. I wonder if batteries are included? Heh heh heh. 
'''Wheeljack''': When they turn it on, it'll probably blow the lights! 
'''Optimus''': We're here to guard the robot, not make jokes at its expense.
:—Wheeljack and Ratchet, masters of diplomacy

[[File:Nightbird g1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85]]
"Ah, why build a robot ninja, doctor? Isn't that rather dangerous?"
:—The '''guy with the white mustache''' asks what we're all thinking.

"I bring you greetings, Optimus Prime...lethal greetings!"
:—'''Megatron'''. His writers don't get paid enough.

"I love warping minds for you, Megatron...love it!"
:—'''Bombshell''', the spokesman for ''Grand Theft Auto''.

"I'm open to suggestions...and you don't need to raise your hands before you speak."
:—Shouldn't '''Optimus Prime''' have said something like "raise your finger components" instead?

"She's not so hot!" 
"She's hot enough to replace you whenever I choose!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' utter the words that launch a thousand [[Fan fiction|fanfic]]s.

"Yes, you're definitely on my replacement list, Starscream.... Hahaha, she's everything I've always wanted!"
:—'''Megatron'''. Aw, all he wanted was some love.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Throughout the entire episode, the volume of the background music is a notch or two lower than normal, making it sound rather unemphatic.
* Coloring errors:
** The top of Ironhide's torso is colored red instead of gray as Wheeljack says his "nursemaid" line. In the same scene, the bottom of Wheeljack's "ears" aren't flashing along with the rest of them.
** As he and Ratchet crack jokes about the robot, the top segment of the side of Wheeljack's chest is colored windshield blue instead of metal armor white.
** One of the fleeing humans falls down with debris falling from the ceiling. When someone helps him up, his clothes change from gray to brown as he begins to run again.
** When Skywarp pulls the roof off the building, he's colored like Thundercracker.
** Ratchet has no red detailing in ambulance mode as he offers a lift to Brawn.
** Mirage's missile changes from gray to black when he loads Brawn into Ratchet.
** Cliffjumper's brow is missing its details and color as he aims at Nightbird.
* The ''round'' auditorium building somehow contains a ''rectangular'' auditorium. Later shots show the auditorium as having a domed ceiling, which is consistent with the exterior shot but doesn't make a lick of sense spatially. As Optimus apologizes to Dr. Fujiyama later in the episode, the ruined auditorium is suddenly round. Also, the opening pan across the auditorium also shows it to be of ''incredibly '' huge scale.
* For the most part, the episode is ''amazingly'' consistent about where the Autobots are during the unveiling of Nightbird, but as the robot is revealed, Prowl and Mirage are shown right next to each other, when they were a hundred feet apart a second before.
* When Rumble and Frenzy break into the show room, Rumble's pile drivers are rectangular prisms instead of the usual cylinders.
* One gun, many lasers:
** Frenzy's lasers pass right through the fleeing humans without affecting them. He's also somehow firing like 5 or 6 lasers at once from his two guns.
* How did Skywarp flip the roof upside down?
* Laserbeak cuts a portion of the ceiling with a laser, which falls from the other side of the building onto Ironhide.
* Megatron is shown firing at Optimus Prime at close range, but when Bluestreak rushes between them Megatron fires the same shot again.
* When Optimus Prime gets shot in the back by Megatron, he grunts and oophs in Mirage's voice.
* The "triple power booster" that Bombshell places in Nightbird's torso couldn't possibly fit in the space that's shown.
* Ratchet has a side hatch instead of his usual rear hatch as Mirage loads Brawn into him. Brawn is loaded in sideways, meaning Ratchet is wider than Brawn is tall.
* Mirage shines a light on Nightbird from an area of his chest that clearly is not a light of any kind.
* The first commercial break totally cuts off the background music in mid-phrase.
* When Nightbird's lightsaber is shot and deactivated, the sound effects continue for about two more seconds before they stop.
* Jazz's mouth disappears for a second as he goes to help Prime to his feet.
* Missing Seeker emblems:
** Skywarp has no wing insignia as he watches the video screen in the [[Temporary Decepticon base|Decepticon base]].
** Starscream has only one insignia as he punches Megatron. Skywarp has none a second later as he holds Starscream, and again as he backs away from the energy cage.
** Starscream has no insignia as he lands at the battle site.
** Thundercracker and Skywarp have no insignia as the Decepticons fly off after Starscream. In fact, Skywarp doesn't seem to have his insignia at any point during the episode. Seriously, is there a single episode where they didn't screw this up?
* Miscolored Seeker nosecones:
** Starscream's top and bottom cockpit segments are yellow instead of gray as Bombshell challenges him.
** Skywarp and Thundercracker both have all-yellow nosecones as they transform to leave the base.
** Skywarp's nosecone is gray as he and everybody else transforms and launches during the start of the battle.
** Starscream's nosecone goes from all-yellow to all-gray as he leaves the base and transforms.
** Starscream's bottom nosecone segment is yellow instead of gray as he laughs at Megatron. As he transforms and flies off, his nosecone is entirely yellow. Seriously, is there a single episode where they didn't screw ''this'' up?
* Why does Hound's infrared ''beep''? Is it a radar?
* As usual, Mirage only leaves footprints when he's invisible.
* "She jammed it!" Cliffjumper says, when Nightbird throws Bluestreak's missile into his glass gas nozzle. Couldn't he just... pull the missile out?
* The animators missed a note about what Starscream was supposed to do inside the energy cage. He's all like "You can't keep me in here, Megatron! AHHHHHHH!", as if he rushed the cage and got zapped by it or something, but the animation shows him just standing there, which makes it seem like he expects to shout the system down. Sure enough, the original script contains the following direction:
:ANGLE ON MEGATRON as he moves closer to the cage.
:MEGATRON: Well, I don't see why not...!
:Starscream tries to punch at Megatron, but when his fist hits the power grid, it creates ELECTRICAL SPARKS. Starscream draws his hand back, holding it in pain.
:STARSCREAM: (SCREAMS!)<ref name="boltax">[http://www.mediafire.com/view/?rpcpsy5rorb2728 "Enter The Nightbird" original script, posted by Boltax]</ref>
* Hound is missing all his chest detail as Optimus reacts to Megatron's arrival. It suddenly appears as the Autobots attack.
* What on earth is that weird energy ripple sound effect as Starscream drops out of the sky? As Starscream lands, his eyes are blue instead of red.
[[File:Nullray-normal.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|The null ray is not putting up with any more of this ninjabot's guff.]]
* As Starscream knocks out Nightbird, the [[null-ray]] gets a truncated Autobot laser sound effect instead of the Decepticon sound.
* A dialog or script editing flub results in Starscream bizarrely gloating "Say good night to your ''Megatron''!" after blasting Nightbird. Per the original script, the line was meant to go "Say good night to your <something>, Megatron!" The logical play-on-words candidate would be "Say good night to your Nightbird", but fan reports indicate otherwise. Whatever the original noun was, it was crossed out in black and the word "Robotessa" was hand-written in its place.<ref name="serpentslair">[http://www.theplumedserpent.com/SerpentsEye/ETN.html "Enter The Nightbird" episode review at The Serpent's Lair]</ref> The baffling question of what the heck a "Robotessa" is aside, this hand-written re-write was apparently overlooked when the dialogue script for the recording of the episode was written up, as the spoken line shows no signs of being edited or cut-and-pasted back together, indicating that Chris Latta genuinely spoke it aloud in recording as it appears in the show. It ''would'' make sense if Starscream was addressing it towards Nightbird, but he's not.
* The glow of Nightbird's eyes starts a second before the accompanying sound effect.
[[File:Megatron and nightbird.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|I'm certain this will never [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity#A new approach|come back to haunt me]].]]
* As Megatron oversees Nightbird's upgrades he is briefly seen with a purple Autobot emblem.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:EnterTheNightbird Detection panels.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|They react to ''anything'', therefore making us safe from ''everything''!]]
* Wheeljack's detection panels don't make any sense. They're just glorified metal detectors, that react to metal, the very thing that the Autobots and Autobot Headquarters are made of. The Autobots put them all over the ''floor'', to detect their flight-capable enemies. So does that mean the Autobots can no longer use that particular corridor?
* The scientists' reactions to Nightbird seem a bit overwrought considering that the robot has yet to do anything besides stand there.
* Dr. Fujiyama assures us that Nightbird is "not meant for battles or assassinations" as we pan over the robot. So... just what ''are'' those short knives and nunchucks and throwing stars meant for? Is Nightbird supposed to ''stab'' her way into "the horizons of robotic research"?
* The Autobots didn't think to post anybody ''outside'' the building? Since that's, y'know, where the Decepticons would come from?
[[File:Giant Decepticon Symbol.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Welcome to our new secrett base!" "Our what base?"]]
* Why do the Decepticons need a whole new base just for the Nightbird project? What possible advantage does it serve?
* When Prime apologizes for losing Nightbird to the Decepticons, Doctor Fujiyama's response is that no one could have predicted it happening. Except... that's why he called the Autobots in the first place! Being a rather stereotypical Japanese guy, maybe he's just too polite to tell Prime that he botched it.
* This is the only time that Autobot Headquarters is shown to have an elevator going up into the volcano's cone. [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2|Earlier]] and [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|later]] episodes contradict this notion. And just what are Prowl and Spike doing up there, anyway?
* How come the detection panels don't go off when Nightbird waves her hand next to them?
* Why is Prime helping repair Brawn? Repairs aren't usually his gig.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Why/how does Ratchet get a third-person view of Optimus and the others when he calls them up via Teletraan I?
** How is Megatron watching the whole battle from his base? Is Laserbeak there keeping tabs or something? Or is this another instance of him putting [[The Master Builders (episode)|cameras inside every random rock]]?
* At the end of the second act, Nightbird gets the drop on Prime and raises her sword as if to slice him in half. At the opening of the third act, however, she's just standing there in front of him, idly spinning the sword around, then turns and runs away for no real reason.
* Nightbird's "magnetic feet" reappear later in the episode, when she's climbing... a rock face.
* "Watch how my anti-matter blaster eats up energy!" Megatron says. We feel this amazing breach of science needs no further elaboration. (The intended idea ''may'' have been that the blaster is highly energy-consumptive and could absorb the energy net as a power supply or something; however, what's shown instead is that ''firing'' the gun ''at'' the energy net somehow dissipates it.)
* "I'm so glad you have returned Nightbird... and not a scratch on her chassis!" What about that big hole in her back from just the previous scene?
* "Safely locked up... ''forever''!" Why not just take her to pieces, then?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:EntertheNightbird Jazz sound and light show.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:EntertheNightbird Cliffjumper glass gas.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Nightbird's gadgets: [[Wikipedia:Nunchaku|nunchaku]] (unused), a pair of [[Wikipedia:Sai (weapon)|''sai'' daggers]] (also unused), a wrist-mounted grappling hook, magnetic feet (they also work on rocks!), fist-replacing sawblades, [[Wikipedia:Metsubushi|some kind of spin/make bright light/disappear gimmick]], an endless supply of hip-stored energized [[shuriken]], a lightsaber, another unused weapon the hilt of which is visible on her "backpack", a glowing magnetic tractor beam, and stereo speaker-nullifying metal donuts. Additionally, she vanishes after jumping over a cliff edge, leading Mirage to wonder if she has the power of invisibility.
** Cliffjumper's [[glass gas]] is a fiery glue-like substance in this episode, which he fires from a retractable wrist nozzle.
** Jazz deploys his sound and light show.
** Mirage uses his invisibility trick.
** Megatron whips an anti-matter blaster out of nowhere; the script for the episode doesn't describe it, and merely talks about Megatron aiming "his weapon" so this was probably supposed to be a reference to his [[black hole]] link-up ability that got warped into being a separate weapon due to a misunderstanding by the animators.
** Starscream can fire a tiny little missile from an elevating launcher on his wrist.
* In [[3H Productions|3H]]'s [[Transformers: Universe (comic)|''Universe'' comics]], Nightbird returned as a savage horde, which forced [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] to kill himself and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] to destroy them.
* [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''', Round 5: As punishment for missing several short range shots, Soundwave blasts the floor out from under Brawn. Score: Brawn 4, Soundwave 1 [[Child's Play (episode)|>>]]

===Real-world references===
* The title could be a reference to the film ''[[wikipedia:Enter the Dragon|Enter the Dragon]]''. This would not be the last time the film is referenced in a Transformers series.
* Although it's subtle, Optimus understands Japanese culture enough to bow when ending the conversation. Quite impressive when you consider no obvious character would have taught him Japanese culture, shown by the fact that he doesn't know what a "ninja" is.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** When [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] blasts his way into the stadium, he emits the [[TIE Fighter]] engine noise.
** Nightbird's lightsaber ignites with the standard ''Star Wars'' [[lightsaber]] effect, and gets the usual lightsaber-waving sound effects repeatedly when it's used.
** The seeker ball that [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] trains with aboard the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' can be heard darting about as Nightbird waves her sword at the approaching Optimus Prime.
*Megatron's [[antimatter]] blaster uses the same sound effect as the heat rays from the 1953 ''War of the Worlds'' film, a noise that crops up in the show [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2|on occasion]].

===Trivia===
* The first ''female'' ninja robot? So are there already a lot of ''male'' ninja robots running around out there?
* Dr. Fujiyama's assertion that "the technical components are irreplaceable, and are needed for research" is... curious. If he built the thing himself, why would it be so impossible to manufacture new parts?
* When the Autobots are chasing Nightbird up a cliff, Cliffjumper can't jump the cliff. This has been the source of much fandom snickering over the years. Congratulations, fandom; you get the joke. Good job.
* Back in the late 1990s, this episode was at the center of a huge and long-running [[fandom]] flap on [[alt.toys.transformers]], initiated by [[Raksha|certain Decepticon fans]] who interpreted Nightbird's scowl as a clear sign that she was a sapient life form, rather than a mindless automaton. In conjunction with certain lines of dialog from Megatron, some fans further concluded that Nightbird could be seen as a romantic foil for Megatron. These arguments and the opposing viewpoints led to much agony for everyone involved.
* The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave comic]] "[[Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation]]" featured Nightbird in her own movie, aptly named ''[[Aztec Theatres|Enter the Nightbird]]''.
* Doctor Fujiyama the ''Famous'' Scientist!

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Ninja'''" ("The Ninja")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''L'arrivo di Ninja'''" ("The Arrival of Ninja")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Progetto Nightbird'''" ("Project Nightbird")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nightbird no Kage'''" (ナイトバードの影, "The Shadow of Nightbird")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 1]], [[1985]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Poyavlenie Goloobki'''" (Появление Голубки, "The Appearance of Darling")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-25.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

A Prime Problem

2016-01-21T22:04:28Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=27
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=22
|prev2=The Insecticon Syndrome
|next2=City of Steel (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=31
|prev3=Enter the Nightbird
|next3=The Insecticon Syndrome
|image=Primedeux.jpg
|caption=Double your pleasure...
|title="A Prime Problem"
|production code=#700-26
|airdate=[[October 2]], 1985
|written by=[[Dick Robbins]] [[Bryce Malek]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron creates a clone of Optimus Prime to lure the Autobots to their doom.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:PrimeProblem Decepticons at crevasse.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|All right, who wants to dive first?]]

The Decepticons discover a crevasse in the [[Earth]] from which is emanating strange energy readings. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] stops [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] from diving straight in, and orders [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] to send in an [[autoscout]]. They quickly determine that the crevasse is full of dangerous [[korlonium crystal]]s, which destroy anything with electronic [[circuits|circuitry]] on contact, and decide to try to trick the [[Autobot]]s into entering the crevasse. To that end they retire to their nearby [[Incredibly tall rocket|temporary operations base]].

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots show up at the scene shortly, but before they can learn more about the lights, they are attacked by a Decepticon squad led by Starscream. Megatron dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who knocks Prime over a cliff with a few well-aimed shots and puts him out of commission. The Decepticon then beams holographic pictures of the Autobot leader back to Megatron, who uses them to create a [[Optimus Prime clone|remote-controlled clone]] out of a [[clone synthesizer]].

[[File:PrimeProblem Megatron prime splitscreen.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Speed, I will not let you race in this race!]]

While the real Optimus is still clambering out of the pit he fell into, the clone leads the Autobots back to base. There are some awkward moments when the clone addresses [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] as "[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]]", fails to work [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], and doesn't even remember giving Teletraan I a check up earlier that day, but the Autobots are distracted by the perimeter alarm sounding — the real Optimus Prime has arrived back at base. Under the clone's leadership, the Autobots prepare to shoot the real Prime as an impostor, but Ironhide stops them, announcing that no one's shooting anyone until they determine who's really Optimus Prime.

[[File:PrimeProblem Twin primes rev up.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|THIS is how you REALLY blow off steam!]]

Teletraan I scans both Primes, but is unable to determine which of them is fake. The clone excels at sharp-shooting, and when it's the real Prime's turn, the rocky outcrop they're using as a target falls on him. Fortunately Optimus shrugs the rubble off. A race to the end of the flats and back is even less conclusive. Any further tests are interrupted by Teletraan I reporting an increase in activity from the crevasse — in reality the work of Megatron's [[energy amplifier]]s. Ironhide announces he's taking command while Optimus Prime's identity is uncertain and the Autobots set out for the crevasse.

Naturally, they soon run into a Decepticon ambush. From the Decepticon base, Megatron and Starscream watch the fight. Megatron has decided that to win the Autobots' trust completely, the false Prime will have to destroy a Decepticon. Furthermore he's picked Starscream to take the fall. Starscream isn't too enthusiastic about this plan, and makes a run for it. He's seen leaving the base by [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], who then watch Laserbeak drag the protesting Decepticon back to base, enabling the pair to slip in unnoticed. Megatron explains the part of his plan that he neglected to mention earlier: that the Prime clone will only be destroying a clone of Starscream. Windcharger and Spike watch the production of Starscream's clone, and start back to warn the Autobots, but are spotted — Spike is captured by Laserbeak while Windcharger falls into the crevasse.

[[File:PrimeProblem Windcharger scrap.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|No bacon on the salad!]]
Out on the battlefield, both Autobots and Decepticons alike are surprised when the [[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream clone]] joins in and immediately challenges one of the Optimus Primes to a duel to the death. The Decepticon at first gets the upper hand, but is blown apart when he stops to gloat. The rest of the Decepticons flee. Now convinced that the clone is the real thing after the battle, the Autobots follow the clone to the crevasse, ignoring the warnings from the real Optimus. But before they are led to their doom, Windcharger pulls up from the crevasse and reveals the truth, letting them know that the Decepticons have Spike captive.

[[File:PrimeProblem Prime pats Spike.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Prime rubs Spike's head for good luck.]]

The clone says to disregard Windcharger's report and Spike's plight, and orders the Autobots forward into the crevasse. Ironhide declares the clone to be the fake, because the real Prime would save Spike. The Autobots shoot the fake Optimus into oblivion and follow Prime on a rescue mission. The Decepticon rocket base quickly launches, dropping Spike in mid-air, but fortunately [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is able to execute a mid-air rescue. Optimus assures Spike that he's the real thing, and pets the boy like a puppy.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (9)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (10)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (20)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (21)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (22)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (23)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (25)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (26)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (27)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (28)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (30)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (31)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (32)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (33)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
*[[Autoscout]] (4)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (12)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (13)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (14)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (16)
*[[Optimus Prime clone]] (17)
*[[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream clone]] (29)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's just such ignorance which forever relegates you to the ranks of underlings, Starscream!"
:—'''Megatron'''

"All the danger you can handle is already here, Floptimus Prime!"
:—'''Starscream''' comes up with a clever insult.

"I'm sorry there are only three of you. Clobbering less than four Decepticons at a time is boring."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

''"Laserbeak... you tin-foil turkey!"''
:—'''Optimus Prime''' dishes out the trash talk like a pro.

'''Optimus Prime clone''': Bumblebee, come over here. The computer's not responding to my input.... Bumblebee, I'm speaking to you. 
'''Ironhide''': You talking to me? 
'''Optimus Prime clone''': Of course. 
'''Ironhide''': But I'm not Bumblebee, I'm Ironhide, Prime. 
'''Optimus Prime clone''': I meant Ironhide, naturally.
:—The fake Optimus Prime totally flubs Ironhide's name, even though Ironhide's the only other one there, and the Southern-fried lug still doesn't get it...

"I don't mind hitting the dirt, but I don't enjoy eating it!"
:—'''Gears'''

"Heh-heh! These energy amplifiers are giving Teletraan I exactly the ''wrong'' readings, which are just the '''right''' readings to lure the Autobots back to the crevice, and ''their doom!'' Hruhruhruhruhruhahaha!!"
:—Good-old '''Megatron''' is nothing if not precise.

"No, DO NOT! ARGH, my magnificent creation, vaporized! With Prime's replica destroyed, we must escape, now!"
:—'''Megatron''', not being at all melodramatic.

"Is it really you, Optimus Prime? I mean ''really?''" 
"Yes, Spike. This time I am definitely me. Or I. Myself. Oh, whoever I am. Put 'er there, partner."
:—A cautious but hopeful '''Spike''' questions '''Optimus Prime''', who doesn't do the best job of keeping a sentence together.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The entire episode has strangely desaturated colors, even the indoor scenes. The outdoor scenes are mostly washed with a dusk-like yellow and blue, even away from the strange light of the crystals.
* Coloring errors:
** When Megatron grabs Starscream, his insignia is gray, he's missing the black "eye liner" above his optics and his dark gray helmet details are colored light gray.
** Soundwave's optics turn white a couple of times, first when ejecting the Autoscout, and then when ejecting Laserbeak for the first time.
** When Megatron orders him to eject Laserbeak, Soundwave's chest is blue instead of light gray. (The subsequent animation of Soundwave turning and ejecting the cassettebot is recycled from the episode's opening scene, and recycled again when Soundwave sends Laserbeak to retrieve Starscream.)
** When the Prime clone is first shown, it is several heads taller than Megatron. They should be the same height.
** Megatron has blue eyes as he tests out his voice control of the clone.
** The clone's eyes are white instead of blue when Ironhide stops the Autobots from destroying Prime.
**Bumblebee's arm briefly changes to gray when he asks Teletraan I who the real Optimus Prime is.
** Starscream sports a red Decepticon [[insignia]] when he objects to Megatron's plan.[[File:Starscream clone G1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|So often, in fact, you'd be hard-pressed to get a screencap that didn't show it that way.]]
** Starscream's chest-cockpit is repeatedly colored entirely yellow, missing the bit of gray that it's supposed to have near the bottom. In fact, through the course of the episode, it's colored wrong more frequently than right.
** As he and Spike climb the mountain and spot Laserbeak, Windcharger is sporting a red Decepticon insignia.
** Starscream's eyes turn blue when he dodges Laserbeak's first attack.
** Windcharger's head is a darker gray than his body when he ducks to avoid Laserbeak outside the mountain, and again when Ratchet identifies the fake Prime.
* A strange animation shortcut has Optimus pick up Thundercracker to throw him. The camera angle changes, and suddenly it's Starscream that he's throwing. The next shot shows all three Seekers lying defeated, so it may or may not be an actual error. (The same color/character changing trick is used in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]".)
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Does Megatron have a camera that flies alongside Laserbeak to take a video of him? How else to account for the third-person camera angle that he gets on his screen as he talks to Laserbeak? Considering how often Laserbeak himself is dispatched for the purpose of obtaining video footage, this would be ludicrous.
** Megatron seems to have filled the whole valley with [[The Master Builders (episode)|cameras in rocks]]. He's able to keep constant tabs on the battle from a variety of viewpoints, including one head-on shot of the Autobots that travels with them as they run! There's no indication that these are the viewpoints of his troops (one comes right from just a foot or two above ground level.)
* Teletraan I's initial statement ("Detail comparison forthcoming") is strangely muffled, as if coming over an AM radio broadcast.
* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he says "take your positions".
* After the clone announces that they'll spring any traps that need to be sprung, the real Prime's mouthplate disappears.
* Starscream's arm lasers disappear and reappear as he agrees with Megatron's plan to have the clone destroy a Decepticon.
* Laserbeak makes no transformation sound as he returns to Soundwave's chest compartment.
* When Starscream's clone takes a few steps out of the clone synthesizer, his headgear is colored blatantly white.
* Laserbeak is magically ejected from Soundwave's chest when he starts to chase Windcharger and Spike.
* The animators seem to have forgotten that the [[incredibly tall rocket]] is a ship / base. Soundwave is seen entering the control room through a rocky tunnel.
* The clone Prime, after ordering Jazz to "hit the deck", just stands there for a remarkably long time doing nothing.
* Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray as he orders Starscream to say his line.
* After the fake Starscream is destroyed by the fake Optimus, Starscream is seen standing next to the other Decepticons (it's not even a coloring error as Thundercracker and Skywarp are both standing next to him).
* In a hilariously placed dialogue flub, Optimus calls Trailbreaker "Trailblazer", just as he's trying to convince the Autobots that he's the real Prime.
* A moment later, as Megatron tosses Spike out of the ship, Peter Cullen's delivery of Prime's line makes it sound like Prime is calling Spike "Splick."
* Powerglide catches Spike by swooping beneath him a second before Spike hits the rocks. But slamming into a metal airplane really wouldn't be much better for a human than slamming into the rocky ground.
* Prime's not the only one having personal pronoun troubles in this episode, as Starscream repeatedly says "I" when, to make sense, let alone be grammatically correct, he should be saying "me".

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Primeproblem prime and clone.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"I'm the real Optimus Prime, Stick." "It's ''Spike'', Prime. Now if only we could devise a way to figure out who's the real you!"]]
[[File:IncrediblyTallRocket1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|The Decepticons already blew through all their camouflage budget.]]
[[File:PrimeProblem Corlonium crystals.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Even more powerful than the [[Earth's core|Earth's molten core]]? The [[ruby crystal]]s of Burma? [[Oil]]? Explosive meteorites? Volcanoes? Dr. Arkeville's brain?]]
* The basic premise of the episode—that nobody can tell which Optimus Prime is real—requires all the Autobots (and Spike) to be ''incredibly'' stupid. Nobody thought to take the two Primes into separate rooms and grill them about things only the real Prime would know? Not even ''Prime himself'' thinks to suggest this? Even after Windcharger and Spike observe that something's very wrong with Prime, nobody puts two and two together when the real Prime shows up? The fake Prime's bloodthirsty response doesn't make it flagrantly obvious who's the fake? Nobody thinks to mark one of the Primes to tell them apart? Races and sharpshooting contests are supposed to prove who's who? Nobody gets suspicious at how easily Starscream is utterly annihilated?
** On the other hand, the ''real'' Optimus Prime calls Trailbreaker "Trailblazer" and Spike "Splick," so maybe we should cut the Autobots a little slack.
* Megatron makes it even easier for the Autobots; he calls Ironhide "Bumblebee", despite being able to identify Ironhide by name in "[[The Autobot Run]]", and flagrantly sets himself for discovery by mucking around with Teletraan I, asking ridiculously leading questions of the Autobots, and responding to the real Prime's appearance with an uncharacteristic "KILL IT NOW" reaction.
* Furthermore, why didn't Megatron just have Laserbeak kill, capture or disable Optimus Prime while he was down, thus avoiding all the "two Optimus Primes" trouble in the first place??
* Heck, if it's so easy to make perfect reproductions of the strongest Autobot, why not just make a ton of them and overwhelm the Autobots? Why not just make a ton of [[Megatron Corps|''Megatron'' clones]] and overwhelm the Autobots?
* Megatron describes the crystals as "the most rare and dangerous form of raw energy in this [[solar system]]". More dangerous and rare than [[electro-cell]]s, [[Crystal of Power|Crystals of Power]], the [[Energy crystal|crystals]] on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], the [[Sun]], etc.? Really?
*It doesn't make much sense that Megatron knows about the korlonium crystals and Starscream doesn't, considering it's established that Starscream is a ''scientist'' and has visited the [[Solar System]] before.
* Though the [[incredibly tall rocket|temporary base]] is mostly camouflaged as a mountain peak, there are some mechanical bits at its base that remain undisguised. Luckily for Megatron, nobody seems to notice.
* "It is Optimus Prime!" declares a shocked Soundwave as the clone is revealed. Was he just not paying attention to what Megatron was doing for the last few minutes, up to and including his saying "Now to begin the '''''cloning''''' process!"?
* As Megatron feeds lines to the newly created clone, the clone's vocal inflections don't really match those of Megatron.
* Megatron should be saying everything that the clone says on-screen, but is silent as the clone first meets up with Jazz and Trailbreaker.
* The cloning machine also somehow manages to clone Prime's trailer even though Prime was scanned in his [[robot mode]].
* After the Decepticons retreat, why does the Prime clone lead the Autobots back to [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], instead of investigating the energy source that drew them there in the first place?
[[File:G1 APrimeProblem Warpath shot.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Hound, do we know that guy?" "Huh? There was a guy?"]]
* Only Jazz and Trailbreaker are seen withdrawing alongside the Prime clone, even though half a dozen Autobots are present at the battle.
* It's only an error retroactively, but when both Primes get X-rayed, neither one possesses the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in his chest cavity. In fact their chest interior design is completely different than the design from [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]].
* If the clone is completely remote controlled, then what is clone Optimus Prime doing while Megatron is not wearing his control helmet? (seen several times, such as the beginning of the second battle and when Megatron gloats to Spike.) We never see him passing the helmet to any other Decepticon. The clone's physical motions never seem to correspond to what Megatron is doing, though, so perhaps it just loses the ability to speak.
* The clone's order for Jazz to "hit the deck" is completely useless; Jazz wasn't even remotely in Prime's way. (After this moment of tactical idiocy, Megatron takes a moment to gloat about his "brilliant scenario of Autobot destruction". We dare say this is ''ironic!'')
* Powerglide and Warpath both just show up out of nowhere during the final battle.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:PrimeProblem laserbeak scan.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Yeah, that fancy scanning beam and complex mechanical stuff on the camera? Half the episode's art budget, right there.]]
* This episode features the only appearance of the [[Autoscout]], a cassette drone launched by Soundwave.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Laserbeak uses his head-camera once again when he scans Optimus Prime. It sees action in a number of other episodes, as well as the Movie.
* This episode has the first appearances of [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]. However, no explanation of their origins is made, which is made all the more irksome by the fact that this episode was written by the show's own dang story editors. Warpath gets no lines at all.

===Trivia===
[[File:Autoscout2.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Totally toy-makable. Hasbro, we're waiting!]]
* The episode goes an unusually long time before featuring its first [[scene transition]], which finally comes around the six minute mark.
* Man, Starscream sure is eager to throw away the life of one of his fellow Decepticons, huh? He suggests it be "a trusted officer", which pretty much narrows the selection down to Soundwave (or mayyyybe Reflector). Make of that what you will!
* Laserbeak is pretty hardcore. Optimus is easily able to overpower Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp with his bare hands, yet a few blasts from Laserbeak take him down. Laserbeak also manages to open a pretty nice can of whoop-ass on Starscream when Starscream tries to run away; then he captures Spike and causes Windcharger to fall to his near-death.
* Based on the absurdity of this episode, "WE MUST HAVE A RACE" has become a popular fandom meme any time two things might be remotely confused with one another.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Un problema per Commander'''" ("A Problem for Optimus Prime")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Un problema per Optimus Prime'''" ("A Problem for Optimus Prime")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Futari no Convoy'''" (二人のコンボイ, "The Two Convoys")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 6]], [[1985]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 1: Prime Threat ([[The Original Transformers|Kid Rhino]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-26.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Problem}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

The Core

2016-01-21T22:03:21Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig3|Core}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=28
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=49
|prev2=Cosmic Rust (episode)
|next2=Blaster Blues
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=7
|prev3=The Autobot Run
|next3=Dinobot Island, Part 1
|image=TheCore Devastator zapped.jpg
|caption=
|title="The Core"
|production code=#700-27
|airdate=[[October 29]], 1985
|written by=[[Dennis Marks]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron tries to drill his way to the center to the Earth, while the Autobots take control of Devastator with mind-controlling Dominator Discs.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Coredevastatorattacks.jpg|left|thumb|Bowling for Autobots]]

At an underground cavern near a waterfall, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] are digging with a massive drill. However, the rock they're drilling through breaks, and only some quick work on [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]'s part plugs it up. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders Mixmaster to look over [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]'s sensory equipment, while [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] does his daily whine-about-Megatron's-nefarious-plan bit. Megatron counters that if they manage to tap into the [[Earth's core|Earth's molten core]], it will give the [[Decepticon]]s geothermal energy, a limitless power source. Starscream counters that if they breach the core, the Earth runs the risk of exploding. However, Megatron doesn't care: he's placed a [[space bridge]] near the drilling site, which will take the Decepticons to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] if the Earth's stability should be threatened.

[[File:Coreautobotsinnet.jpg|right|thumb|This is the worst tent ever!]]

Meanwhile, [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] are driving around in that general area, when Sunstreaker realizes that there should be a river where they're driving through. The Autobots head to investigate, and see Mixmaster and Scavenger. The Autobots [[Transformation|transform]] to attack, only to see that the Constructicons have disappeared, and to fail to notice [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] above them. Informed by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], Megatron orders the Constructicons to destroy the Autobots and form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The Decepticon [[combiner]] knocks the Autobots off the cliff, but Mirage goes invisible on them. He remains undetected as Devastator attacks the others, and finds the drill. As Mirage rejoins the group, Jazz does a [[sound and light show]] which distracts Devastator while Mirage and Sunstreaker lasso his legs with a rope, allowing the Autobots to escape.

[[File:Coredevastator&prime.jpg|left|thumb|Devastator has no idea how to start transforming 20th Anniversary Prime.]]

At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], the Autobots use [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to calculate what will happen if the drill hits the Earth's core. The result will be total annihilation, but the Autobots have little hope of defeating the Decepticons with Devastator. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Chip Chase]] present [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] with their new [[dominator disc]]s, which will be placed on the individual Constructicons and take control of them when they form Devastator. Convinced, Optimus Prime orders a commando team to plant the discs on the Constructicons. Heading for the drilling site, [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] freezes the falls, causing the drill to heat up. [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] orders the Constructicons to the surface, during which the Autobots plant a disc on each Constructicon. As the commandos are pulled out, Starscream has them dead to rights, but Megatron orders him to let them go, saying that he knows of their plan to control Devastator. As Megatron positions the Decepticons, he orders the Decepticons to attack. The Decepticons fire on the still moving Autobots, who break formation, as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] transform to [[bring the rain]] on the Autobots. Megatron orders the Constructicons to form Devastator, who grabs Prime. Wheeljack activates the discs and Optimus orders Devastator to release him and attack the Decepticons. Devastator follows the Autobot leader's orders. Megatron orders the Decepticons to retreat to the cave and Devastator seals them in. Optimus orders the Autobots to break off, as they can now finish the Decepticons at their leisure.

[[File:Corediagramscene.jpg|right|thumb|The Earth consists of a crust, the mantle, the outer core, the inner core, the inner inner core, the inner inner inner core, the...]]

Within the caverns, Starscream whines about being trapped, not having enough water to keep drilling, and so on. However, Megatron reveals that this was all part of his plan: he has a device that will override the dominator discs and stored enough water to continue drilling for some time. He just didn't tell Starscream because he's a terrible actor. At the Autobot base, the Constructicons are helping with repairs, when an earthquake hits. Realizing that the Decepticons are still drilling, the Autobots head to put them out of commission. However, Megatron is aware of their coming, watching them through the Constructicons' eyes. The Autobots and Devastator head for the cave, and Devastator is set to destroy it, at which point Megatron uses his control switch to deactivate the discs. Devastator begins attacking the Autobots, so Wheeljack tries to boost power to the discs. Unfortunately, this fries Devastator's [[Circuits|logic circuits]] and sends him into a killing frenzy, attacking both Autobot and Decepticon alike.

[[File:Coremegs&wheeljack.jpg|left|thumb|Take off your clothes and come on in!]]

Finally, the drill hits the core and the cave—and the earth itself—begin to come apart. Unfortunately, Devastator's rampage has damaged the drill's controls. Megatron orders the Decepticons to the space bridge, but Devastator damages it too. Optimus convinces Megatron to give his control switch to Wheeljack, who uses it to deactivate the discs and bring Devastator back to normal. Devastator then heads to destroy the drill, while the Decepticons flee for their [[Spark|lives]]. Devastator succeeds, but is surprised by Megatron's absence. Chip tells Devastator that he ran, but Devastator believes that "Noble Megatron" merely left to plan their next attack and leaves (he really is as dumb as a post). Chip is somewhat saddened, as he was hoping that Devastator would join the Autobots. Optimus tells him that the future is built on dreams and not to let go of his.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (9)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (10)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (11)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (17)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (19)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (20)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (24)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (25)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (26)
|c2=
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (1)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (2)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (5)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (7)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (14)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (16)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (21)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Chip Chase]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"Autobots, move out!"
:—'''Sunstreaker''', thinking he outranks Jazz and Prowl.

"It's like shooting [[dynametal duck]]s in a beryllium barrel."
:—'''Starscream''' wonders if they store [[beryllium baloney]] in beryllium barrels.

"Traitor!"
:—'''Starscream''' to Megatron. No, you read that right.

"I do this only for the benefit of my Decepticons. It grieves me that you may also profit."
:—'''Megatron''', agreeing to ally with the Autobots and lying through his teeth (he's doing it to save his own chassis).

"What's the matter, Chip?" 
"I guess I was hoping Devastator might join the Autobots for good, but that's probably just a dumb old dream." 
"Hang on your dreams, Chip. The future is built on dreams. Hang on."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives '''Chip Chase''' valuable words to live by.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
This being one of the Season 2 AKOM episodes, many characters have unusual color schemes which persist through the entire episode. This includes:
[[File:TheCore Chip in Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:TheCore ConstructiconsMegatronPoint.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Find the artists responsible for this color change, and DESTROY THEM!]]
* Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray.
* Gears' truck mode is red with blue fenders instead of blue with a red camper top. His white robot bits are colored light gray.
* Prowl is a light gray instead of white.
* Optimus Prime's backpack is white instead of red.
* Chip has a blue jacket instead of brown. This is ''good'', though. It means that, unlike a lot of cartoon humans, he actually changes clothes.
* The circle on Bumblebee's back is dark gray instead of yellow.

Errors not attributable to model sheets include:
* It seems unlikely that the metal ring surrounding the drill would fracture in exactly the same way as the rock surrounding it.
* Hook's first transformation is bizarre. His crane mode cab just kind of disappears into his stomach... only to reappear as his foot a second later.
* Scavenger's voice gives the "emergency!" lines that follow, but Scrapper is shown. It's not clear from the animation who's actually speaking, though.
* When the Constructicons are all shown zapping the fissure shut, all the other cracks are gone.
* Subsequent shots of the drill show no trace of the Constructicons' ad hoc ground repairs. Did they pave them over??
* Missing Seeker insignia:
** When he's first seen sitting at the console, Starscream is missing the Decepticon emblems on his wings.
** Starscream has only one wing emblem as he watches Megatron walk through the holographic rock wall.
** The Seekers are all missing their wing emblems as the Decepticons launch their counterattack on the approaching Autobots in the canyon.
** Starscream's missing his wing emblems yet again as he turns and says "You thought of everything".
** Starscream's got only one emblem as he runs crying to Devastator for help. Seriously, how hard is it to keep track of two emblems?
* It's not indisputably an error, but Starscream's hand makes none of the typical whirring/sliding noises as he retracts it and replaces it with the drill (which, holy cow, where does he ''keep'' that thing?)
* The animation of the Autobots driving up the slope out of the riverbed is crude and mistimed—Mirage drives all the way into the slope before he tilts to start climbing it. The other Autobots all tilt up as a group, even though they're in a line.
* Laserbeak's missing his transformation sound as he returns to Soundwave's chest compartment after sighting the Autobots.
* As Laserbeak plays back the Autobots' words, a second voice seems to be echoing Jazz's "Constructicons!"
* As the Constructions all transform to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], both Hook and Mixmaster suffer from their feet failing to become the corresponding part of their vehicle modes. All of the Constructicons have completely changed positions from where they were standing in the preceding shot.
* The boulder that Devastator uses against the Autobots is never seen to hit bottom.
* As usual, Devastator's combination sequence is screwed up. In addition to lacking any transformation noise, Long Haul only forms about half of his actual contribution, with Hook getting the rest. At least they got the other four guys correct!
* Three of the Constructicons are shown monitoring the drill, while at the same time Devastator is outside fighting the rest of the Autobots. ([[:File:Megatronffod.jpg|More than six]] [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]? [[Personal canon|Madness!]]) In the same scene, Starscream's missing one of his wing emblems yet again.
* As Devastator falls from Sunstreaker and Mirage's snare, he has two eyes instead of his usual visor.
* Coloring errors:
** Wheeljack has some strange white areas on his head when he's first seen inside Autobot Headquarters.
** Wheeljack's roof is orange instead of white as Chip leans out his window.
** Skywarp and Starscream both have yellow nosecones as they transform back into [[robot mode]] en route to the space bridge.
** Once the Autobots subjugate Devastator, he's seen swatting Skywarp, but the next shot is of Thundercracker spinning out of control. Then Thundercracker immediately flies back in ''again'' and is swatted off, screaming in Starscream's voice. The shot following that has Skywarp standing with the other Decepticons.
** Megatron has a red Decepticon symbol when he orders the Constructicons to stop the drill.
* The center line on Scrapper's face mask disappears as he orders the Constructicons to the surface.
* The Constructicons' elevator isn't animated, making them appear to just levitate into the air in vehicle mode. A whirring effects noise, and a lack of glow effects, makes it seem that this was ''not'' supposed to be the levitation beam used earlier by Starscream and Megatron. A second later, however, they ''do'' drive off the levitation beam, complete with glow effect.
* There is ''no way'' Ironhide has room for that much of the water-freezing liquid inside him.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Ironhide is shown retreating into the cage at the bottom of the cliff, even though he was never shown to have left the top of the cliff. He seems to have taken Sunstreaker's place. As the cage begins to rise, Sunstreaker reappears (with a strangely miscolored or off-model head), but Jazz is missing.
** The roster of Autobots on the return mission to the cave fluctuates all over the place. Prowl, Jazz, Ironhide and Sideswipe are shown leaving Autobot HQ (and Devastator apparently just sits there while the Autobots move out!) When they arrive at the cave, Hound and Wheeljack have replaced Prowl and Ironhide. After Chip is trapped in the cave, Ratchet shows up among Devastator's victims. After the commercial break, Ironhide is back with the group. As the earthquakes begin, Sunstreaker shows up out of nowhere to rescue Chip.
* Five Autobots fit inside Prime's pyramid cage, which then fits inside his trailer. Huge trailer, or tiny Autobots?
* As he ejects Ravage, the inside of Soundwave's chest compartment is bright yellow.
* Devastator's second combination sequence contains the same visual errors as the first one; plus, Hook's mass includes Bonecrusher's scoop.
* As Devastator blasts the Decepticons' cave shut, the frozen falls spontaneously unfreeze for no apparent reason.
* Bumblebee is with the cheering Autobots as Devastator flies out of the canyon, despite not being seen anywhere else in the episode.
* Again, the metal in Autobot Headquarters splits as though it were rock.
* After Hook repairs Jazz, he drives over to Devastator and transforms into ''nothing but his head''.
* When Devastator blasts the cave entrance open again, the falls are once again frozen!
* When the combined doohickeys zap Devastator back under control causing the Constructicons to disengage, the left arm transforms into Scrapper, while the right leg transforms into Bonecrusher.
* Third Devastator sequence: worst one yet! Scrapper's not really visible at all. ''Scavenger'' and Mixmaster form not only the legs but also half of Long Haul's bits (the same incomplete half that Long Haul himself formed the first time around!) Long Haul then ''splits in two'' to become the rest of Devastator's torso, including everything formed by Hook, ''and'' Bonecrusher and Scavenger's vehicle treads. Bonecrusher and ''Hook'' then form the arms. When he's finished forming, Devastator's torso plate is green instead of purple.
* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he and Prime snicker at Chip's "Mr. Nobility" line.
* Though maintaining a consistent scale has [[Scale|never been a particularly important issue]] in Transformers fiction, this episode is a particularly notable offender, with Devastator's relative size fluctuating wildly: in some scenes Megatron appears to be almost half his height, whilst at other times the Autobots barely come up to the top of his ''foot''. In one scene, vehicle mode Bonecrusher seems to be almost as high as robot mode Megatron. Chip's scaling is also wildly variable: when Sunstreaker rescues him from the cave, he appears knee-high to the Autobots, but in the very next scene he has suddenly become as large as Wheeljack.

===Continuity errors===
* Megatron's assertion that the [[Earth's core]] is the richest source of energy in [[Milky Way|the galaxy]] is not even remotely true, even within the bizarre realm of the cartoon's physics. Heck, just within our own little [[solar system]], the [[Sun]] is immeasurably more potent.
* Why the heck is Sunstreaker giving orders to a group that includes Prowl and Jazz?
* What kind of tree branch (growing out of a cliff, no less) is strong enough to support a falling Transformer?
* Jazz and Sunstreaker both use wrist-rockets to lower themselves into the canyon. According to the tech specs, that's really supposed to be Wheeljack's schtick.
* How does freezing the waterfall stop the whole river? Wouldn't it make more sense to break the dam that's diverting the river upstream?
* How did the Constructions not notice the Autobots as they were placing the Dominator Disks on them?
* How ''did'' Megatron figure out the Autobots' strategy?
* Is Devastator ''really'' the only one who can stop the drill? Can't anybody just shoot the thing at its source?
* Why do the Constructicons all feel the need to simultaneously transform to robot mode (then have a little out-of-character heroic chat) when ordered to transform to Devastator? This is one of the episodes where they are assumed to need to be in vehicle mode—which they are already in—to combine.
* The whole countdown to the Earth's core, down to the ''second'', is patently ridiculous. The boundary of the Earth's core is not nearly so neatly defined. And penetrating it with such a comparatively tiny drill would be unlikely to shatter the planet.
* While counting down the time before the drill hits the Earth's core, Prime says 10 seconds, then Megatron says 1 second immediately thereafter. Somehow, 9 seconds disappear without any editing or time lapse. A lot more than 1 second elapses before Devastator destroys the drill.
* How did Devastator get all the way from near the earth's surface to near its core so quickly? How did he slow himself at the end to avoid crashing? And how did he withstand the heat down there, when his component parts [[Heavy Metal War|are not even very keen on ordinary lava]]?
* Where did the fleeing Decepticons think they were ''going'', anyway?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:TheCore HookfixesJazz.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Sound and light show.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Megatron takes a jab at Starscream's acting abilities, which we witnessed just [[A Prime Problem|one episode ago]]. He's no [[Shia LaBeouf|Beef]], but hey, he's [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|just starting]] [[Starscream's Ghost|his career]] at this point.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Everyone's arms are completely hollow in this episode. One character after the next retracts their hands into their wrists:
*** Starscream reveals an improbably large drill in place of his retracted hand.
*** Mirage has a tow cable in his wrist.
*** Ironhide retracts his hands to fire an improbably huge torrent of blue liquid that freezes the waterfall.
*** Sunstreaker, Jazz, and Wheeljack all retract their hands and replace them with wrist-rockets. Wheeljack is ''supposed'' to be able to do this according to his tech spec; the ability appeared very briefly in "[[The Autobot Run]]", and he also flew ''without'' retracting his hands in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" and "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".)
*** Jazz also has a grappling hook/tow line. Of all these gimmicks, this is the only one that's actually appeared before, way back in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]" and [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]].
** Jazz also uses his standard sound & light show. It's... not as impressive [[The Immobilizer|as it could be]].
** Hook uses his crane mode hook as a welding tip.
** Starscream has a hand-held rifle which he attempts to use on the retreating Autobots after they place Dominator Disks on Devastator.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** As often happens, Laserbeak gets the [[TIE Fighter]] engine sound just after he flies over the Autobots.

===Trivia===
[[File:TheCore Jazz dominator disc.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Look close. He's totally got the same black-eyes-beneath-the-visor thing that he had in "[[DIS-Integrated Circuits!]]"]]
* Prime sure goes along with the notion of enslaving one of his enemies pretty readily, huh? What happened to his ol' "Freedom is the Right of All Sentient Beings" schtick?
* The Earth's core is believed to be around 3959 miles below the surface. So like, is the Decepticon's drill four thousand miles long? That means that before they started drilling, if the tip was touching the Earth's surface, the top would be ''in outer space''. How did no one ''notice'' that?
* After all the fuss the others go through while getting into the canyon (wrist rockets, grappling hook slides), Prowl just ''jumps'' down.
* Jazz skips his dominator disk onto Scavenger, like skipping a rock on water. Stylish!
* When Megatron orders a retreat, cat mode Ravage flies off into the air alongside his comrades.
* Megatron stops Starscream from sniping the Autobots as Optimus Prime reels them up the cliff, arguing that killing six Autobots would be pointless since he plans on having Devastator destroy all the Autobots at the right moment. When that moment comes, there are still only (give or take) six Autobots to be had. Should have gone with your gut, Starscream.
* This episode is one of a trio, including "[[City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]", that was animated by the Korean studio [[AKOM]]. They are distinguished by simplistic art, prominent use of the Constructicons, surprisingly high frame rates, some Hanna-Barbara-style animation shortcuts, and various character model oddities, such as Optimus Prime's white backpack (which would show up again in "[[The Rebirth, Part 1|The Rebirth]]") and Chip Chase's blue jacket... not to mention a ''crapload'' of animation errors. Sheesh, AKOM.
* Optimus Prime's last lines in this episode - "The future is built on dreams" - is notable as [[Peter Cullen]]'s words of encouragement to a young fan of Optimus Prime in real life, dying of a terminal illness. To this day, when interviewed about this line, Cullen will invariably be moved to tears by its memory, such was his love for the child. A true man amongst men, if there ever was one.<ref>[http://m.ign.com/articles/2011/09/30/transformers-peter-cullen-life-as-optimus-prime IGN interview with Peter Cullen]</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Núcleo'''" ("The Core")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Erde in Gefahr'''" ("Earth in Danger")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 11]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Al centro della Terra'''" ("To the Center of Earth")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il nucleo'''" ("The Core")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Devastor o Taose!'''" (デバスターを倒せ!, "Defeat Devastor!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 20]], [[1986]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yadro'''" (Ядро, "The Core" )
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

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

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-27.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Core}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Insecticon Syndrome

2016-01-21T22:01:14Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=29
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=21
|prev2=The Master Builders (episode)
|next2=A Prime Problem
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=32
|prev3=A Prime Problem
|next3=Microbots
|image=Insectsyndromefeeding.jpg
|caption=I think they have a special shampoo for that.
|title="The Insecticon Syndrome"
|production code=#700-28
|airdate=[[October 9]], 1985
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Insecticons feed on a source of power which causes them to grow... and will cause them to explode if not cured.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Beachcomber branch.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|J'ACCUSE!]]

At a National Park, [[Jeff (ranger)|Jeff]], a park ranger has called for help. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] respond, driving along a rocky road (and Bumblebee is especially having trouble). The ranger shows the Autobots some trees that appeared to have been chewed on by something. Beachcomber quickly realizes that something ''did'' chew on the trees, but not by an animal—it was the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Meanwhile, the Insecticons are hiding in their current lair/hive/base thingy. They complain that the Pines just aren't filling and they're still hungry, so they decide to go chow down on some Redwoods. Meanwhile, Jeff is having trouble accepting the possibility of giant robotic insects (even though he's talking to a trio of [[Transformer|giant robotic cars]]). Suddenly, another ranger, Mike, calls him, saying he's seeing giant robotic insects. The [[Autobot]]s proceed to [[roll out]].

Meanwhile, the [[Decepticon]]s are searching for their Insecticon "allies". [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] has come up with a plan that will require their unique abilities. As [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] spots the Autobots, Megatron takes it as a chance to observe them in action. As the other ranger barely dodges a falling tree, the Autobots arrive. The Autobots and Insecticons throw down, until the Insecticons push a log down a hill that nearly crushes the Autobots. Our heroes jump into a river to avoid death, but they then fall over a waterfall... at least, that's what the Insecticons believe, for Hound used his [[hologram]]s to make it appear that the Autobots and humans fell over. After that, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. He explains that he intends to attack [[Iron Mountain]], a human military base, but offers the Insecticons to gorge themselves at the [[Nova Power Plant]] if they help them. Overhearing this, the Autobots contact the [[Ark (G1)|base]].

[[File:G1 InsecticonSyndrome Bombshell Soundwave.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Here's your problem, ma'am. See that? Termites.]]

Receiving their signal, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] leads a strike force to the Nova Power Plant. Unfortunately, the Decepticons are already there. The [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] quickly down the helicopters the humans have to defend the base, while Megatron, Soundwave, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] go to stop the Autobots. The Insecticons reach the [[Nova Power Core]], which they proceed to drain. However, the [[proton]]s within the core cause them to [[Size changing|grow in size]], making them as [[Scale|large]] as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Soundwave overhears what is happening, but [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] implants him with a [[cerebro-shell]] and makes him their slave. The Insecticons proceed to kick the [[Slag (slang)|slag]] out of [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and the Autobots are forced to retreat with their fallen comrades. Megatron is pleased with the Insecticons' new power, unaware that the Insecticons plan to off him.

At the base, the [[Autobot]]s use [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to calculate what will happen to the Insecticons. It says that the energy from the Power Core will cause the Insecticons to explode unless something is done. However, the Autobots receive a distress signal from Iron Mountain, where the Decepticons are attacking. If the Insecticons explode there, they'll kill everyone there. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and Wheeljack quickly work on an antidote.

[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Nova Power Plant.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

At Iron Mountain, the Decepticons attack. However, the human defenses are surprisingly advanced for simple flesh creatures. Finally, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] takes control of the human weapons, causing them to attack the base. The Autobots arrive, but are quickly buried in rubble by the Insecticons. Entering the base, Soundwave manages to access the computer. Megatron declares that it's time to eliminate the Insecticons, only to discover that his army has been taken over by the Insecticons. Bombshell fires a cerebro-shell into [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], but Megatron manages to grab the shell fired at him and destroy it. Before Megatron can fire his fusion cannon at the insecticons, Optimus Prime prevents him from doing so and they instruct the Deceptiocns to attack while they retrieve Soundwave. Prime explains the explosive situation to Megatron as Ratchet and Wheeljack arrive with an antidote.

[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Shrapnel explode.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Ahhh, my head asplode. Asplode.]]

Heading into Iron Mountain, Megatron fires at the Insecticons. although he misses his targets, the Insecticons begin to reach critical mass, and will explode at any minute. Bombshell incapacitates Megatron and Optimus Prime manually [[Transformation|transforms]] him into [[Alternate mode|gun mode]] to fire the antidotes into Bombshell and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]. However, Shrapnel manages to avoid his cure and uses lightning in the sky against Optimus Prime before he can load Megatron with the antidote made for him, so Spike bravely manages to get the cure into Shrapnel... but it doesn't work because Shrapnel explodes. The cures cause the cerebro-shells to deactivate, but also erases the information Soundwave downloaded. Bombshell uses a special shell to cause Shrapnel to reassemble, and the Insecticons run away, with the angry Decepticons in pursuit. With the Decepticons defeated, the day is saved.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (1)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (15)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (6)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (7)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (12)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (13)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (14)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (21)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Jeff (ranger)|Jeff]] (4)
*[[Mike]] (9)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"Gigantic robot insects that eat trees? YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING!"
:—'''Jeff the Park Ranger's''' suspension of disbelief is ruined.

"The Insecticons have done well." 
"Yes...perhaps they should lead us." 
"You test my patience, Starscream."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' after the Insecticons defeat some Autobots.

"Why, if it isn't Megatron, and his merry mechanical men!" 
"Why you rust encrusted cockroach!"
:—'''Bombshell''' and '''Starscream''' trade insults.

[[File:TIS laserbeak and buzzsaw.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Oh boy, a robotoid turkey shoot!"
:—'''Inferno''' takes aim at Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.

"Power has made the Insecticons obnoxious." 
"''And'' invincible."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"What's the matter, Megatron? Weakling humans too tough for you, for you?"
:—'''Shrapnel''' to Megatron, after the latter has been shot by a human weapon.

"Ohhhh....that Nova Power Core is giving me heartburn...that is, if I have a heart." 
"If you have a ''brain'', you'll realize that we've got a battle to fight!"
:—'''Bombshell''' and '''Megatron'''

[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Inferno on hound.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Hound's a bottom? Who'da thunk it?]]
"Guys, you all right?" 
"Just great...if you don't mind two tons of Inferno sitting on your head plates." 
"Look, you get ten tons of boulders off my shoulder struts, and I'll get off your noggin."
:—'''Spike''', '''Hound''' and '''Inferno'''

"No one gets into my [[cranial chamber]]!" 
"Auugh, my cerebro-shell! My precious shell!" 
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Bombshell'''

"We're not that easy to squash, Megatron! We Insecticons, know how to get... it... together!!"
:—'''Bombshell''' gets serious but then delivers a cheesy line after reassembling Shrapnel.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Jeff's pointing hand is layered behind Beachcomber when saying his "What kind of animals can devour trees this size?" line.
[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Seekers cerebroshells.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Coloring errors:
** In the second binocular view of the Insecticons, Shrapnel's "cockpit" isn't colored yellow.
** Two Skywarps are shown flying against the human helicopters; one should presumably be Starscream or Thundercracker.
** Megatron's upper gun body is black instead of light gray after he transforms in Prime's arms.
** Thundercracker's cockpit cowlings are yellow instead of blue as he and the other eject their cerebro shells.
** Bumblebee's nose is yellow instead of white as Spike makes his awful, horrible joke.
* Shrapnel's transformation to [[robot mode]] gets only half a transformation noise, and it's not timed to line up with the animation.
* Kickback is supposed to be in insect mode when he lands to kick the log after the Autobots, but he's drawn in robot mode, lying on his back!
* Starscream's Decepticon insignias are incorrectly the right way up when the Decepticons first approach the Insecticons.
* Megatron is missing his chest insignia during the line "At the Nova Power Plant".
* Buzzsaw and Laserbeak both leave Soundwave's chest with no chest-opening sound effect and no transformation noise.
* Bombshell is shown during Kickback's "making me grow" line, though given the lack of lip flap for the insect mode Insecticons, it's not an incontrovertible mistake.
[[File:Insecticonsyndrome soundwave cerebroshelled.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The animation is not especially consistent about how much the Insecticons have grown. Inside the power core, they're gargantuan; when they enslave Soundwave, they're only a few heads taller than him. During the attack on Iron Mountain they're the same size as the other Decepticons.
* As Shrapnel gets Soundwave into a full nelson, Soundwave has a purple Autobot insignia.
* A trace of Ironhide's accent slips into Peter Cullen's delivery as Optimus Prime orders Bumblebee, Inferno, Beachcomber, and Jazz to help him.
* Jazz has a Decepticon insignia during a shot in Autobot Headquarters after they discover the Insecticons are time bombs, just before the second commercial break.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Teletraan I supplies a 3/4 view of the Decepticons attacking Iron Mountain. The view travels with them as they fly.
* Starscream's wings are mounted much too high on his shoulders as he watches Soundwave absorb the computer info.
* When Bombshell turns to order his slaves to fire, he gets a whirring sound effect as if he were sitting on a moving platform.
* Shrapnel loses his last-word-repeating gimmick as he summons the lightning.
* As he watches Spike run up to Shrapnel, Optimus calls him "Pike". Or maybe "Bike". [[A Prime Problem|For real]].
* When Beachcomber is in the foreground watching Spike get back up, his head inexplicably twists to the other side in a clip.

===Continuity errors===
* Soundwave eavesdrops on the Insecticons ''with a Transformer-sized stethoscope''. As if this weren't implausible enough, he's wearing and using it in proper human fashion ''even though he doesn't have ears''.
* Wheeljack and Ironhide climbing the transmission towers does not appear to serve any rational purpose.
* Spike [[The Immobilizer|once again]] gets a wrist watch that shows up only in the shots where he needs to tell the time.
* From the time Spike looks at his watch and issues the 30-second warning to the point where Shrapnel explodes, about 1 minute and 46 seconds pass. As well, when he gives Shrapnel his 10-second warning, it takes about 47 seconds until he detonates. (On a minor note, it takes Spike 6 out of the available 10 seconds to ''say'' that Shrapnel is going to explode.) Either their estimates on when the Insecticons would explode were off, or seconds are longer in this episode than they are elsewhere.
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] disappears from the episode after a quick appearance inside of Iron Mountain, just before Shrapnel's big explosion. He doesn't even get to laugh with the other Autobots at the end.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Inferno fires.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:IronhideG1 InternalLabel.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|So basically he's a live-action movie Transformer, wearing a bunch of boxes.]]
* This episode features the first appearances of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. However, no explanation of their origins is given.
* Where's the trailer go?
** At the start of the Nova Power Plant attack, in a head-on shot, Prime's trailer just rolls off behind him and disappears over the horizon. This shot is recycled for the Autobots' arrival at Iron Mountain.
* Bombshell sure gets upset when one of his (presumably limitless) cerebro-shells is destroyed. This is the closest the cartoon ever got to showing his tech spec weakness, which notes that the shells can be used against him.
* This is not [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|the first time]] that Optimus Prime has fired Megatron in gun mode, nor [[The Core|the first time]] that they've teamed up to save their skins. Nor would it be [[The Revenge of Bruticus|the last time]].
* It's also not the first time that the Decepticons have [[A Plague of Insecticons|chased the Insecticons off into the sunset]].
* According to Spike, the Insecticons have "[[trilithium stomach]]s".
* After he climbs up the electrical tower and gets electrocuted, Ironhide's forearm panel pops open and the word "Ironhide" is written on the circuits inside.
*Bombshell's rather baffling ability to rebuild Shrapnel with a shell was, per the episode's script, supposed to be another use of his "Insecta-shells," previously featured "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]". That episode failed to communicate the full extent of the shell's power—it produces the connecting wires and micro-circuitry needed to assemble the Insecticons' clones—and the script's direction to refer back to that episode for details results in this episode also failing to visually convey that these wires and circuits are what bind Shrapnel's shattered parts back together.

===Real-world references===
* The episode's title is likely to be a reference to the movie ''[[wikipedia:The China Syndrome|The China Syndrome]]'', which also deals with a pending meltdown and potential catastrophic explosion.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** During the battle in the park, Bombshell and Kickback both launch and fly with ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine noises.
** The sound of a [[lightsaber]] igniting is used as Prime blasts away the rocks pinning down the other Autobots.

===Trivia===
[[File:Insectsyndromespikeshoot.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Remember kids, guns are awesome!]]
* Spike totally gets his own laser gun in this ep.
* Amongst the text that comes up on the Iron Mountain computer is a mess of BASIC programming commands and repeated "Syntax error"s.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' '''La sindrome degli Insecticons''' ("The Syndrome of Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:* Misnaming from the old dub: Hound is called [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] and Skywarp is now Scrapper.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Insectron Syndrome'''" (インセクトロン・シンドローム)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 29]], [[1985]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers — Volume 6: Evolution Revolution ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-28.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Insecticon Syndrome}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Dinobot Island, Part 1

2016-01-21T22:00:40Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=30
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=18
|prev2=Enter the Nightbird
|next2=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=8
|prev3=The Core
|next3=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|image=DinobotIsland1 Spikevsdinosaur.jpg
|caption=Think they'll have that on the tour?
|title="Dinobot Island, Part 1"
|production code=#700-29
|airdate=[[September 25]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Dinobots are sent to a mysterious, prehistoric island for training. But the Decepticons intend to plunder its energy resources.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:DinobotIsland1 Landing on Dinobot Island.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Powerglide, I've a feeling we're not in the Ark any more.]]

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] are dispatched to investigate mysterious energy readings emanating from the sea. What they discover is an island filled with lifeforms thought to be long extinct, including [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaurs]]. Further investigation is cut short, however, when the Autobots are attacked by the natives, and they decide to retreat.

[[File:Dinobotislandgrimlockslipup.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"And now," cried Grimlock, "Let the wild rumpus start!"]]

Returning to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], they inform [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s of their findings. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] is fascinated, but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] dismisses it, what with the problems the Dinobots cause them. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] defends the Dinobots, and brings [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] out to show them.

Grimlock displays his "finesse" by using his fire breath to turn on [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], impressing Prime and causing [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to grimace in pain. Hearing the commotion, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] investigate, and cause Grimlock to mess up, sending his fire breath all over the place.

[[File:Dinobotislandratch&spark.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"I can't get Jurassic Park back online without Dennis Nedry."]]

Grimlock angrily orders his subordinates to go away, but Sludge steps on Slag's tail, causing him to breathe fire. [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] also come to investigate, and the Dinobots collide with each other, resulting in a brawl. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] is nearly destroyed, but Trailbreaker's force field manages to protect the computer, while [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] put out the fires.

The Autobots are prepared to fight the Dinobots to a standstill, but Optimus orders Grimlock to bring the other Dinobots under control. Grimlock succeeds, and apologizes to Prime. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] accepts, but also realizes that the base is too small for the Dinobots to train in, and decides to have Powerglide lead them to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], as Spike has called the island. However, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] overhears this, and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] sends [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to follow them.

[[File:Dinobotislandspikeinnest2.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hurry boys! The eggs are hatching!"]]

Arriving at the island, the Dinobots are impressed with the wide open spaces. However, Spike gets into trouble with the local fauna, nearly getting eaten twice. Spike decides to go home with Powerglide, while the Dinobots work on their skills, such as Slag's "fire stuff", Snarl's "tail stuff" and Swoop's "flying stuff". However, Laserbeak reports his findings back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who decides to plunder the island's multiple energy sources.

[[File:Dinobotislandmammoth.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Conan the Barbarian was really confused when he came to modern day Earth.]]

Spike, having had enough of real dinosaurs, decides to check out [[Ere Cenozoique Periode Tertiaire|some books]] with Bumblebee. However, while at the library, they see a temporal distortion, out of which comes barbarians riding woolly [[mammoth]]s. They begin randomly attacking things, destroying the library and burying Spike and Bumblebee under a ton of rubble. At Dinobot Island, the Dinobots discover the Decepticon presence, and attack. However, Megatron causes the native dinosaurs to stampede toward the Dinobots, causing them to fall into a tar pit, which they sink into.

[[Dinobot Island, Part 2|To be continued...]]
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (4)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (5)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (6)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (7)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (10)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (11)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (12)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (16)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (17)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (18)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (19)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (22)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (23)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (24)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (25)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (28)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (29)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (30)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (31)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (34)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (35)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (36)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (37)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (38)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (39)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (40)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (41)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (43)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (13)
*Barbarian (42)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hang in there, Bumblebee. Prepare for a daring rescue maneuver!" 
"Can't he just save a guy without doing a commercial?"
:—'''Powerglide''' narrates his rescue of '''Bumblebee'''. He must want [[Victor Caroli]]'s job.

[[File:DinobotIsland1 Huffer taunts Dinobots.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Beryllium baloney, Wheeljack. Once a dino-klutz, always a dino-klutz."
:—'''Huffer''' being both hungry and skeptical at the same time.

"What that is, Sludge?" 
"Uh, Sludge not know. Maybe time to do our thing?"
:—'''Slag''' and '''Sludge'''.

"Very impressive, Wheeljack. But what about the other Dinobots?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', about to regret what he said.

"Slag, Sludge, go away! Me Grimlock demonstrating finesse. Whatever that mean."
:—'''Grimlock''' really needs a thesaurus. Get it? Thesaurus?

"It's a jet, it's a rocket, no! It's Powergliiiiiide!"
:—'''Powerglide''' being Powerglide.

"Oh wow! I think I'll call it... Dinobot Island."
:—'''Spike''', showing an incredible lack of creativity.

"What is this bird planning on hatching out of these eggs... battleships?"
:—Yes, '''Spike'''. The pterosaur is planning on hatching tiny, human-sized battleships.

"Bye, Grimlock! Bye, guys! I'd write, but you can't read." 
:—'''Spike Witwicky'''. He should be thankful that the Dinobots didn't take offense.

[[File:DinobotIsland-Snarl.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
"Swoop! Do flying stuff!" 
"...Slag! Do fire stuff!" 
"...Snarl! Do tail stuff!" 
"...Getting better... but still not more better enough."
:—'''Grimlock''' shows his mastery of both military tactics and grammar.

"Heh-heh, ha, ha, ha! Farewell, Dinobots! FAREWELL!"
:—'''Megatron''', as the Dinobots sink into a tar pit to their doom.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:DinobotIsland1 jetpack Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
Perhaps owing to its role in introducing most of the new Season 2 characters, the artwork of this episode is outstandingly crisp and well drawn. It's in the same style as "[[Autobot Spike]]" and "[[The Immobilizer]]" before it (and [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|Part 2]] after it). Characters are almost always on-model, well proportioned and correctly colored - especially when compared to many episodes later in Season 2.
* Coloring errors:
** Bumblebee's nose is yellow instead of white as he reacts to his first sighting of the island.
** Grimlock's robot head is white instead of black when he transforms to "end this chaos".
** Wheeljack's launcher is orange instead of light gray during the pan of him and Ratchet repairing equipment.
** Look! There's one of those [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|red Decepticon faction symbols]] again (Megatron's [[insignia]] when the Decepticons review Laserbeak's recordings).
** Sludge's dino mode back is red when he gets hit by Snarl's tail-stuff debris.
* Bumblebee's vocal reaction to the T. Rex doesn't line up with the animation; he doesn't go "yee-ah!" until after it's been menacing him for several seconds.
* There's no crunch sound effect when the ''Rex'' crushes Bumblebee's jetpack.
* Blaster's voice lacks the reverb effect that it would have in nearly all his later appearances.
* Swoop gets a Decepticon laser effect when he scares off the Pterosaur that's trying to eat Spike.
* The Dinobots get the ascending-pitch transformation noise when they convert to dino mode for Grimlock's "harder tests", rather than the normal descending-pitch version. The same miscue happens as they move out to "get rid of Decepticons".
* The reptile that growls at Slag for burning away its cover has the same synthetic electronic growl as the Dinobots themselves. So does one of the dinosaurs in Megatron's stampeding herd.
*When Megatron unleashes the dinosaur stampede, the Dinobots are facing the Decepticons, who are perched on the edge of a cliff. Grimlock looks back at the dinosaurs, and in the immediate next frame the Dinobots are suddenly standing on the edge of the cliff themselves. After the Dinobots sink into the tar pit, the Decepticons and their energon cubes are back on the edge of the cliff.

===Continuity errors===
* Prime uses his wrist radio to communicate with Bumblebee. It would really make more sense to use Teletraan I, since he's inside Autobot Headquarters. Megatron does the same thing with Soundwave, using his wrist communicator instead of the resources of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]].
* Powerglide has a proper single-seater cockpit in this episode, like a real A-10. Later episodes like "[[Blaster Blues]]" show him with a much larger side-by-side two-seater cockpit (technically, ''those'' episodes are the ones with the error.)
* Superhuman Spike:
** Shouldn't the pterosaur's claws leave some kind of mark on Spike?
** After getting picked up, tossed, thrown, jerked around, and held in the toothy mouth of the plesiosaur, Spike should really be a sack of broken bones and bloody pulp; instead, he's totally fine.
* The energon cube that Thundercracker fills shows a bizarre ability, sending out a pink energy beam into the lava stream even though it's ''empty'', before being filled with energy ''from'' the lava.
* There's pretty much no reason for Swoop to have fallen into the tar pit with the other Dinobots; he's not even near them in the last shot before they fall.

===Jurassic errors===
Though written by amateur palaeontologist and regular series scripter Don Glut, this episode is hardly accurate in its depiction of prehistoric life. Most of the errors are ones related to the way the animation depicts the creatures, rather than anything in Glut's script:
* An unnamed pterosaur (with an appearance that fits the description of a ''Dimorphodon'', only much, much larger) somehow manages to catch Spike and fly with him to her nest, even though pterosaur feet weren't suitable for grasping, and the added weight would make this feat impossible anyway. There, Spike founds himself among three giant eggs... that are bigger than the animal that laid them. The mother actually looks like a newly hatched chick next to them. Further, we now know that pterosaurs were quadrupeds on the ground and their wing membranes weren't loose and flappy when folded up, due to the muscles and stiffening rods running through them. This particular scene wasn't in Don Glut's original script for the episode, perhaps explaining ''some'' of the errors.
* A plesiosaur (identified as an Elasmosaurus in Glut's script) grabs Spike, but it seems pretty unlikely that it would actually seek such large prey. It is also highly unlikely a plesiosaur would occur in an inland lake, as the animals have only been found in marine environments. The above-water gymnastics that the plesiosaur performs with its neck are debatable, as while the neck possessed a huge number of vertebrae, they didn't allow for much flexibility at all (directly in contrast to what earlier scientific literature claimed), thus to assume the vertical posture seen here, the animal would have to break its neck several times.
* The dinosaurs in general seem to be oversized. This is so much more noticeable in part II.
* A sauropod is shown wading in a lake while feeding on aquatic plants. Sauropods were almost certainly terrestrial animals that acted as grazers or browsers. The neck posture would also have been considered wrong, but recent studies support the notion that at least some could have held their necks vertically.
* A theropod (presumably ''Ceratosaurus'', only over-sized) is shown in an upright pose. In order to achieve this pose in museums, curators frequently broke the backs of their specimens. They can't even claim the true posture wasn't known at the time either, as books showing horizontal bipedal dinosaurs had begun appearing in the late '70s. A similar situation is seen with the hadrosaurs, who are now believed to be facultative quadrupeds (primarily four-legged, with a two-legged option).
* Limb positions and the number of claws on quadrupedal dinosaurs is wrong. Theropods always had their palms facing inward due to their inability to rotate their wrists, and some quadrupeds also had this issue. Sauropods generally only had one large claw on the inside of their front feet, with the rest of the digits ending in clawless stumps. Other dinos like ceratopsians and stegosaurs had five visible fingers, not four, but only the inner three sported claws.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:DinobotIsland1 Trailbreaker projects force field.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Powerglide's attack on the flying reptile-creature shows off both of his tech spec based armaments: small concussion bombs, and a thermal cannon in his nosecone.
** Bumblebee and Optimus Prime communicate by small pop-up radios that emerge from their wrists. Soundwave and Megatron use similar devices.
** Powerglide can shoot a light beam from his forehead that fixes things. Convenient.
** Blaster transforms into boom box mode without shrinking at all.
** Trailbreaker "fires" his force field from his gun arm, and uses it to protect Teletraan I without actually being near it.
** Ratchet replaces his right pointer finger with a large welding tip.
** Laserbeak uses one of the series' few recurring gadgets, a video camera that emerges from the top of his head (most famously used in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''). He also demonstrates the ability to fire lasers from his eyes, nonchalantly scaring off an inquisitive reptile.
** Swoop also fires lasers from his [[beast mode]] eyes.
* Flying Autobots:
** In this episode, Bumblebee pretty explicitly requires a jetpack to fly; the convention of "Autobots can't fly" was pretty well solidified by this point in the series.
** Despite this, Powerglide appears to fly a short distance in [[robot mode]] when he hears Spike calling for help, complete with jet sound effects.
** The Dinobots fly in robot mode, an ability they consistently retain throughout the show.
* Bumblebee makes mention of the images of prehistoric Earth that he and the other Autobots viewed back in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]", prior to the construction of the Dinobots.
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] uses the term "[[beryllium baloney]]" in this episode, which would later be used again by Slag in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]], in much the same way.
* This is the ''second'' episode in which the Dinobots nearly destroy [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], the first being "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak flies into Megatron's hand with the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engine burst noise.
** Swoop takes off for his "flying stuff" with the [[Death Star]] firing/Alderaan exploding sounds, then flies through a grove of trees with the sound of the ''Millennium Falcon'' flying past.
** As he spots the Decepticons, Swoop gets some combined [[X-wing Fighter]] and [[TIE Fighter]] engine noises from the battle over the Death Star.
* The title of one of Spike's books is ''[[Ere Cenozoique Periode Tertiaire]]'', derived from an actual paleontology text.

===Trivia===
* This episode and [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|its conclusion]] introduce a large number of new characters from the 1985 toy assortment, and seem to have been written [[To sell toys|specifically to do so]]. Many of them have short but fairly explicit [[Introdump|introductory lines/scenes, seemingly intended to sum up their personalities or abilities]], and thus help sell their toys. Given this, it's a bit odd that several random members of the 1985 cast started showing up in earlier episodes (in terms of production order) which otherwise featured the Season One cast (Beachcomber and Inferno in "[[The Insecticon Syndrome]]"; Powerglide and Warpath in "[[A Prime Problem]]"), particularly since those same characters each get their own scenes in this episode.
* So the Autobots discover a unique island, with undisturbed natural beauty and filled with species that have been extinct for millions of years... and they unleash the Dinobots on it? Considering how choked up [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] got over a [[The Golden Lagoon (episode)|couple of trees]], you'd think they'd be a little more environmentally conscientious...

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Insel der Dinobots, Teil 1'''" ("The Island of the Dinobots, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 18]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''L'isola dei Dinorobot-Prima parte'''" ("The Island of Dinobots-First Part")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''L'isola dei Dinobots - I'''" ("The Island of Dinobots - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Taiketsu!! Dinobot PART I'''" (対決!! ダイノボット PART I, "Showdown!! Dinobots PART I"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8]], [[1985]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Dinobot Island, also includes The Revenge of Bruticus ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — 1: The Revenge of Bruticus / 2: Dinobot Island (Parts 1 and 2) ([[Entertainment UK|Starvision]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Revenge of Bruticus and Dinobot Island Parts 1 & 2 ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — 1: The Revenge of Bruticus / 2: Dinobot Island (Parts 1 and 2) ([[Entertainment UK|The Fun House]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Dinobot Island ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-29.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Dinobot Island, Part 2

2016-01-21T22:00:02Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=31
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=19
|prev2=Dinobot Island, Part 1
|next2=The Master Builders (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=9
|prev3=Dinobot Island, Part 1
|next3=The Master Builders (episode)
|image=DinobotIsland2 Megatronvsdinosaur.jpg
|caption= Why Megatron and [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] never [[Reproduction|had children]].
|title="Dinobot Island, Part 2"
|production code=#700-30
|airdate=[[September 26]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons' plundering of Dinobot Island's resources causes instabilities in the timestream.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Disland2mammoths.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"I told you we should have taken the left turn. Now we have to ask for directions."]]
After forcing the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] into a pool of tar, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is convinced he's won. He orders the [[Decepticon]]s to resume the collection of [[energon]]. However, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] fears that Megatron's plundering may have disastrous consequences for the island... and the Decepticons.

Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s finish repairing the control room. However, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] alerts them to a temporal anomaly near the library where [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] are. While going to investigate, the Autobots find barbarians making a mess of things. [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] locates Spike and Bumblebee under the rubble of the library, where [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] drills them out. Bumblebee is able to cover Spike and prevent any harm, while the Autobots round up the time displaced Viking barbarians and woolly [[mammoth]]s.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] orders the Autobots not to use lethal force, as they are living creatures here by accident. [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], and Sideswipe manage to round up the mammoths. Ironhide wrangles the barbarians by squirting them with glue and sticking them to the ground. Optimus knows just where to put them, and the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] has them store the mammoths in his trailer (poor [[Roller (G1)|Roller]]), while [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] immobilizes the barbarians. However, the portal is closing fast. The Autobots send the barbarians and mammoths back through the anomaly, which closes just in time.

[[File:DinobotIsland Pt2 InfernospraysCowboys.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Maybe I'll put out their fire for good!"]]

Returning to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], [[Chip Chase]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] begin research into what is causing all this. Before they do, however, two more anomalies are discovered: one at sea, one out in the country. [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] go intercept the sea-based anomaly, which is a pirate ship attacking a man and two women on a yacht. The Autobots free the yacht and push the pirate ship back through the anomaly.

In the country side, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] find that a group of old west outlaws have encountered a biker gang. After a brief rustle between the two gangs, the Autobots force the outlaws back through the wormhole. Resuming their analysis at Autobot headquarters, Chip learns that the disturbances can be traced to Dinobot Island. Optimus Prime orders his team to fly there using [[jet pack]]s.

[[File:DinobotIsland2 dinosaurs galore.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]

Meanwhile, the Dinobots have managed to free themselves from the tar pit, thanks to [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] setting it on fire, only to see that Dinobot Island is in danger. Concluding that the Decepticons have done "bad stuff" to the Island, the Dinobots decide it's time to do "more badder stuff" to the Decepticons. The Autobots arrive, and attack the Decepticons. Prime and Megatron trade shots while Warpath takes on Blitzwing in a tank-on-tank duel. Just as the Decepticons get the upper hand, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspires the island's [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaur]] population to attack the Decepticons, forcing them to retreat.

With the Decepticons gone, the Autobots destroy the [[energon cube]]s, causing the energy inside to return to the places it was taken from, stabilizing Dinobot Island. Optimus declares that the Dinobots have proven that they can control their powers and that they have demonstrated loyalty to the Autobot cause. With that, the Autobots and Dinobots return home.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (6)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (9)
* [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (13)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (14)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (15)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (17)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (19)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (20)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (27)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (28)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (29)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (30)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (31)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (32)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (33)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (34)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (35)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (36)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (38)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (39)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (40)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (41)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (42)
|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (4)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (5)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (37)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (43)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (44)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (45)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (8)
* Barbarians (16)
* [[Chip Chase]] (21)
* Yacht captain (22)
* Bikini girls (23)
* Pirates (24)
* Motorcycle gang members (25)
* Wild West outlaws (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"But draining those energies might upset the chronological balance of this island! It already drifts precariously in the sea of time." 
"Scientific gobbledegook, Starscream! Do as I say."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' discuss technobabble.

"OORUBBA REEYO! RUMBUBUH RULLY!" ''[More unintelligible babbling and grunts]''
:— '''The Barbarian''' on his mammoth, making a thought out and well articulated point.

"Remember those creatures are flesh and blood, not unfeeling machines like the Decepticons."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' placing a higher value on woolly mammoths than Decepticons.

"Why, you unwashed primitives! You could have fissured my finish!"
:—'''Sunstreaker''' blasts the barbarians for pounding on him with their weapons.

"We be wantin' your treasure, and the wenches too. Hahahahaha!" 
"Aww, cool off, Long John!"
:—'''Pirate captain''' and '''Cliffjumper'''

"I don't care if the entire ''Earth'' explodes! We can always relocate."
:—'''Megatron''' isn't big on the neighborhood.

"If that stolen energy is taken from this area, this entire galaxy could crumble!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' wonders where Megatron would relocate to ''then''.

[[File:G1 DinobotIslandPt2 Warpath tank.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Hey, Blitzwing! ''Tank'' you!"
:—'''Warpath''' attacks Blitzwing in a tank-versus-tank duel

"No! It is impossible! I saw you buried beneath the tar pits!" 
"You wrong. And you ''ugly'', too."
:—'''Megatron''' gets some comeuppance from '''Grimlock''', of all mechs

"The Dinobots have not only proved they can control their powers, they have also demonstrated that they have great value to our cause. They will remain at Autobot Headquarters from now on".
:-- '''Optimus Prime''' honoring the Dinobots and welcoming them back into the Autobot ranks before they leave Dinobot Island together.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Huffer is drawn mouthing Hound's "New Earth life forms?" line.
* The jewelry store that one of the barbarians smashes into is labeled "Nickel and Dime".
[[File:DinobotIsland2 Sunstreaker carrying mammoth.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Sunstreaker has Sideswipe's voice for his "I hope you packed your trunk!" line.
* Sunstreaker and Hound get a very strange non-standard sound effect for their lasers as they try to hold the time warp open.
* Chip's "I can use lots of help" line is slightly cut off, leaving him saying that he can use lots of "hel-".
*When Optimus Prime reacts in surprise to Teletraan I's discovery of two additional time warps, Wheeljack's "ears" flash as Prime speaks, as if he was supposed to speak in unison with Prime, but only Prime's voice is heard.
*When Wheeljack speaks a moment before that, his ears do not light up in unison when he says the "Not another time warp" line. Instead they remain lit up.
* Rather than actually coming ''through'' the time warp, the pirate ship just kind of appears out of thin air in front of the warp.
* The cowboys suffer the same problem; additionally, when they first appear, they're kind of floating above the ground.
*When the lead cowboy fires his pistol, it makes a truncated version of the Decepticon laser sound effect. This being the one and only time in the show when a human gun is unarguably a conventional projectile firearm, it should really make a traditional gunshot noise. The sound crew ''did'' use an actual gunshot sound for a random criminal in the later episode "[[Make Tracks]]", but the show's general ethos resulted in all other human weapons on the show looking and sounding like laser guns.
* Coloring errors:
** Tracks' eyes are yellow when he first transforms.
** Slag's cheek guards are white instead of red as he proposes melting down the Decepticons. His whole face is light gray instead of red as Grimlock agrees.
** In the pan across the Autobots launching their attack, Beachcomber's whole face is white instead of blue, and Smokescreen is missing all of his reds and yellows.
** Snarl's sword is gray instead of red as Grimlock fires to get the dinosaurs' attention.
* Tracks fires his [[black beam gun]] energy from his missile launchers, rather than his hand-held weapon.
* Grimlock roars his approval of being de-tarred in Sludge's voice.
* Despite using back-mounted jet packs, the Autobots are shown landing on Dinobot Island with foot thrusters.
* When Blitzwing transforms into his tank mode, his head and face are still clearly visible as he drives off-screen. In the next shot, however, his head is concealed.
*When Starscream is shooting Warpath with his null ray, he's colored as Thundercracker.
* Blitzwing is missing his tank barrel as he fires alongside Soundwave and Starscream.
* Skywarp has no wing insignia as he gets trampled by the dinosaurs.
[[File:Dinobotisland jetpacks.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Megatron's Fusion Cannon is knocked off his wrist by the triceratops (see the image at the top of the page) but it magically reappears on his wrist when he is shown again.
* Blitzwing, Soundwave, and Starscream all seem to suddenly turn around when they are attacked by the stegosaurus, as they are facing the beast in one shot, but when they are knocked down they are facing the other direction.
* Megatron looks human-sized, or even smaller, compared to those dinosaurs rioting above him.
* Somebody forgot that the Dinobots can fly; they're shown flying away from Dinobot Island with jet packs like the rest of the Autobots.

===Jurassic errors===
* The size issues are more noticeable than before with animals which topped 16 feet in real life towering over Megatron.

===Continuity errors===
* Grimlock's means of summoning the dinosaurs to fight... strains credibility.
* The Decepticons' firepower somehow fails to reduce the dinosaurs to puddles of charred flesh.
* Does it really take all the Autobots and Dinobots firing at the highly volatile and explosive energon cubes to destroy them?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:DinobotIsland Sideswipe digging friends out.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:DinobotIsland2 Cliffjumper firing.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:DinobotIslandPt2-Dirge.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"We clocked the T. rex at 32 miles per hour."]]
* The empty energon cubes in this episode have little round tubes at the bottom to draw in energy.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Ratchet uses a welding apparatus that slides in/out of his wrist, similar to the ones used by [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|Brawn]] and [[Changing Gears|Gears]], but without the hooked tip.
** Sideswipe uses his pistons to dig out Bumblebee. They slide out from his wrists, similar to how they worked in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]".
** Ironhide fires a white-yellow glue from a tri-barreled wrist attachment, similar to the one he used in "[[Divide and Conquer]]".
** Sideswipe fires lasers... from the tip of his missile.
** Sunstreaker discharges electricity from his fingertips to scare off the barbarians.
** A frequently-recurring gadget appears as Cliffjumper uses his [[hydrofoil]]s to travel out to the pirate ship time warp.
** Seaspray has a bow-mounted radar dish.
** Cliffjumper uses his [[glass gas]], reducing the pirates' swords to shards. He fires it from a gun that emerges from his car mode front hood.
** Tracks' black-beam gun works on humans!
** Beachcomber fires lasers from his hands.
** Skywarp half-transforms during the battle, extending his legs out from [[alternate mode|jet mode]] to get some extra vertical thrust.
** Snarl again fires energy blasts from his sword's tip, as in "[[Heavy Metal War]]"
* Where's the trailer go?
** Optimus Prime's trailer just rolls in from off-screen when he needs it to store the mammoths.
* There is now a retractable metal door on the cone of the Autobot Headquarters volcano.
* Flying Autobots:
** Prime's crew of Autobots explicitly requires jetpacks to fly to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]].
** The Dinobots display their usual ability to fly as robots.
* Blitzwing and Warpath face off for the first time, but [[The Golden Lagoon (episode)|not the last]].
* First appearances:
** Autobots [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]
** Decepticon [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
* '''[[The Immobilizer|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron has... uh... ''maybe'' made a mistake in draining the island's energy! Maybe! '''[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|> >]]'''

===Real-world references===
[[File:Disland2pirates.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Ar, excuse me fair mateys, have you seen Captain Jack Sparrow anywhere here? He owes me money! And my, what fine, large booty I see on ye poop deck!"]]
* Barbarians, mammoths, dinosaurs, pirates, motorcycle gangs, cowboys, scantily clad bikini chicks—this episode's got it all!
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Swoop frees himself from the tar pit with a ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine sound effect.
** Prime's crew arrives at Dinobot Island with the sound of the ''Millennium Falcon'' flying toward Yavin.
** A ''Star Wars'' laser effect plays as Grimlock fires to get the dinosaurs' attention, possibly [[Han Solo]] blowing the prison block communications console to scrap. 

===Trivia===
* The initial dialogue of the "Barbarian Chieftain" was written out in the [[dialogue script]] as ''"Ura manamabirno! Ramballalala uramala! Ya gagga nagonda! Gagga nagonda! Hai, yamaral! Ira, lura lura! Haya, luramala!"'', and he was supposed to exclaim "''Bunga Dorg!"'' when he confronted Sunstreaker. The actor playing the Barbarian Chieftain does not seem to have stuck to this very closely—but, hey, gibberish is gibberish.
*The dialogue script states elsewhere that the barbarian who robs the jewelry store is supposed to be saying ''"Gunda nah? Naga gunda?"'' (CONTENTED GIBBERISH) ''"Wunga ga dindy! Dindy wah!"'', which also doesn't quite seem to be what's said in the finished episode. Besides these examples, no other barbarian dialogue in the episode is scripted.
[[File:DinobotIsland2-Perceptor.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.95|And if you need a $14.99 toy, don't hesitate to purchase me - Perceptor!]]
* The explicit character introductions continue in this episode, with Perceptor and Beachcomber both giving self-explanatory spiels, and Tracks spouting some lines based heavily on his bio, while showing off his special gun.
* The original script for this episode called for Trailbreaker to protect Dinobot Island from any further external threats by shielding it with one of his [[force field]]s. Although Optimus Prime's line explaining this was deleted during production, the visuals of the episode itself feature something of a vestigial reference to this, with the Autobots all flying off in large groups and Trailbreaker being the last to depart, taking to the air solo. In addition, in the background of the final shot of the episode as the Autobots fly away, Dinobot Island can be seen with a violet sphere surrounding it, which was presumably intended to be the force field. Ultimately, though, it's probably for the better; Trailbreaker's force fields were never shown to be self-sustaining, which this one would have to have been.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Insel der Dinobots, Teil 2'''" ("The Island of the Dinobots, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 25]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''L'isola dei Dinorobot-Seconda parte'''" ("The Island of Dinobots-Second Part")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''L'isola dei Dinobots - II'''" ("The Island of Dinobots - II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Taiketsu!! Dinobot PART II'''" (対決!! ダイノボット PART II, "Showdown!! Dinobots PART II")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 15]], [[1985]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Dinobot Island, also includes The Revenge of Bruticus ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — 1: The Revenge of Bruticus / 2: Dinobot Island (Parts 1 and 2) ([[Entertainment UK|Starvision]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Revenge of Bruticus and Dinobot Island Parts 1 & 2 ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — 1: The Revenge of Bruticus / 2: Dinobot Island (Parts 1 and 2) ([[Entertainment UK|The Fun House]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Dinobot Island ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-30.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Master Builders (episode)

2016-01-21T21:59:34Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Legends]]'' event|The Master Builders (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=32
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=20
|prev2=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|next2=The Insecticon Syndrome
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=10
|prev3=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|next3=A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)
|image=MasterBuilders Scrapper Grapple plans.jpg
|caption="Nigel gave me a drawing that said 18 inches. Now, whether or not he knows the difference between feet and inches is not my problem. I do what I'm told." "But you're not as confused as him, are you. I mean, it's not your job to be as confused as Nigel."
|title="The Master Builders" "The Master Builder"
|production code=#700-31
|airdate=[[October 8]], 1985
|written by=[[David N. Gottlieb]] [[Herb Engelhardt]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Grapple and Hoist ally themselves with the Constructicons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Master builders2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I think you'll need to join Weight Watchers.]]

[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] shows [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] a working model of a [[Solar Power Tower]] he wants to build and the two of them take it to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus is occupied at the moment because [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] is teaching him how to play [[basketball]]. Optimus likes Grapple's concept, but rejects the plan because it would be difficult to defend the tower against an attack.

The conversation is cut short when [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] alerts them that [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] has been shot down by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Hoist and Grapple leave to repair the [[Autobot]] plane. After repairs are finished, they start back, with Grapple attempting to convince Hoist to build the tower with him, regardless of Prime's orders, but Hoist points out they can't do it alone

Their conversation is cut short when they are trapped by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] says they've left the [[Decepticon]]s and proposes a joint project. Grapple, enamored with his solar tower idea, agrees, but wants proof of their partnership. They promise to bring proof back and fly off.

[[File:Master builders prime basketball.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin', all cool/and shootin' some b-ball outside of the school...]]

On their return to Decepticon headquarters, the Constructions are confronted with several weapons pointed at them, as well as an enraged [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who confronts them with video tape of their conversation with Grapple. They all swear loyalty to Megatron, and insist they plan to betray the Autobots. Satisfied with their explanation, Megatron lets them go with a present. They return to Grapple and Hoist with "proof", an entire truckload of [[energon]], they claim they have stolen from Megatron. Convinced that they are working in good faith, Grapple and Hoist agree to the partnership. The Constructicons are soon stealing construction materials from the humans for the project.

Meantime, Optimus is playing basketball with [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. After he shuts Tracks down during a drive to the net, Prime notices that Tracks needs maintenance, but no one knows where Hoist is. The Autobot leader sends Powerglide out to find the missing Autobots. Powerglide finds the solar tower and reports back.

[[File:MasterBuilders Devastator finishing touch.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Look, up in the sky! 
Is it a bird? 
Is it a plane? 
No, it's a sun-focusing sphere. 
Well, that's disappointing...]]

Grapple is in his element, directing the Constructicons as the tower is built, and blissfully unaware of their deception. The Constructicons merge to form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] in order to place the sun-focusing sphere at the top of the tower. With the last piece in place, the tables turn. Megatron attacks Grapple and Hoist and claims the tower as his own. The Decepticons get to work collecting the energy.

[[File:MasterBuilders Grapple sunset.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Dammit, I've ruined another garage kit.]]

The Autobots arrive and attack, quickly overwhelming the Decepticons, who retreat behind the tower. The Autobots follow, to find that the Constructicons have formed Devastator and he's not so easy to defeat. Prime tricks Devastator into trying to kick Smokescreen but he kicks the tower instead. A few more rounds of laser fire send Devastator crashing into the tower, demolishing it. Megatron and the Constructicons retreat.

The Autobots dig in the debris to try and find Grapple and Hoist. [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] discovers them encased in a sheet of metal and punches it apart. Grapple and Hoist apologize for the trouble they've caused. Prime is in a forgiving mood, but says they have to clean up the mess themselves. As the others drive off, Grapple and Hoist fondly remember the tower.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (1)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (4)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (9)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (20)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (21)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (22)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (24)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (25)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (26)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (27)

|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (2)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (10)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (11)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (12)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (13)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (14)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (17)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (18)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (23)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
*[[Construction Foreman]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Move over, blue skies. Here comes old Powerglide, king of the cloud chasers, sultan of the stratosphere, ace of the air."
:—'''Powerglide''', king of self-esteem.

"Well, if he's not impressed, I'll... be ''de''pressed."
:—'''Grapple''' worries about whether Optimus Prime will agree on his proposal for a Solar Tower.

"Am I 'drooling' correctly?" 
"The word is 'dribbling', Optimus!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Spike''' play basketball.

'''Megatron''': "Ahhh, my loyal Constructicons. You are loyal, aren't you? No! You're traitors! And you can't deny it." 
'''Scrapper''': "Megatron, y-y-you got it all wrong!" 
'''Hook''': "We're still working for you, and for the glory of the Decepticons." 
'''Bonecrusher''': "You see we eavesdropped on their plans." 
'''Long Haul''': "Plans to build a whopper solar tower!" 
'''Scavenger''': "That'd produce megawatts of energy." 
'''Mixmaster''': "Energy we can use to destroy the Autobots. Get it, Get it, heh-huh?"
:— The Constructicons try to explain themselves to a furious Megatron.

'''Bonecrusher''': We'll just help ourselves if you don't mind. 
'''Long Haul''': Or even if you do! 
'''Construction foreman:''' Who me? M-mind? Why should I! hehe... he. [''tears up his blueprints'']
:—The Constructicons rob a hapless building site.

"As soon as my Power Tower is finished, I must find a place to sign my name... in very large letters."
:—'''Grapple''' as the Solar Power Tower is approaching completion.

"Watch out Spike! I'm driving for a layoff!" 
"It's called a layup, Prime! And watch out for Tracks!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gets basketball lessons from '''Spike'''.

"'Get this.' 'Bring that.' I thought I was finally gonna ''build'' somethin'!"
:—'''Long Haul''' after being told to bring another solar panel.

"Man, look at that! That's so tall, the top is in a different time zone than the bottom!"
:—Observing the Solar Power Tower, '''Spike''' demonstrates that you don't need to understand geography if your best friends are giant robots.

"There'll be other towers to design and build, Grapple." 
"It ''was'' magnificent... for a little while, wasn't it, Hoist?" 
"Incredible. Absolutely incredible."
:—'''Hoist''' and '''Grapple''', amid the ruins of the Solar Power Tower.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* One gun, many lasers:
** Skywarp only has two weapons to fire, yet about a dozen different laser beams are shown streaking past Powerglide.
* Skywarp's under-wing insignia are missing throughout the opening sequence.
* As Wheeljack gives Grapple his thumbs-up, the glow effect of his flashing "ears" is misaligned from the ears themselves at the start and end of the shot.
* Teletraan I gets the radio-muffle on its voice as it announces that Powerglide has been shot down.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** As Scrapper treaties with the Autobots, a random rock opens up, and out pops a video camera. While this does explain how Megatron and Starscream can watch the conversation from Decepticon Headquarters, it begs the question of just how many random rocks the Decepticons had to load up with cameras to ensure that they'd actually catch something.
** The camera's angle changes during Scrapper's speech, even though it's clearly fixed in place.
** The camera's angle has changed ''again'' when Megatron shows it to the Constructicons.
** The view of Grapple and Hoist that Powerglide relays back to Autobot Headquarters is clearly not taken from a moving airplane.
* Scrapper's eyeband turns gray as he points toward Long Haul approaching with the energon cubes.
* Coloring errors:
** As he welds alongside Hoist, Grapple's butt changes from gray to orange.
** Scavenger's face is almost entirely dark gray as he discusses his welding troubles with Grapple.
** Devastator's back, i.e. Long Haul's cargo bed, is purple throughout the episode. It should be green.
** After Brawn finds the ruined model of the [[Solar Power Tower]], Cliffjumper steps into the frame, colored yellow like Bumblebee.
** When Grapple picks up the ruined model, one of its solar panels is gray instead of gold.
* Flying Autobots:
** Prime leaps toward the basket with a flight sound effect.
* Tracks is supposed to be emitting some kind of malfunctioning-type of noise as Prime helps him to his feet, but it's barely audible as such.
* Tracks is missing one of his missile launchers as Spike runs up to join the group on the basketball court.
* In a bizarre stylistic decision, the Constructicons' second combination sequence does not feature the transforming sound. Instead, as they convert to their combined forms, they get a sound effect normally reserved for energy effects. Each one glows blue after transforming, accompanied by an even more bizarre tinkling noise.
* As usual, the apportionment of Devastator's components is off; Long Haul forms about 90% of the torso, with Hook forming the remainder (it should be split almost evenly between them.) Everyone else is correct, which puts this episode ahead of most of its contemporaries.
[[File:MasterBuilders devastator under attack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Then later, he's this size.]]
* Not that Devastator isn't [[Scale|out of whack]] in every episode, but when the Autobots first approach them, Scrapper's shovel alone is several times taller than the Autobots. When Devastator is about to kick Smokescreen, one of [[Scrapper (G1)|Devastator's legs]] is roughly three times the size of the Autobot.
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] appears for a single shot during the battle, standing alongside Optimus as they rock in the breeze from Devastator's hand-swipe. Though he was playing basketball earlier in the episode, he's completely absent from the battle group before and after this single shot. Best guess is that it should have been Ironhide.
* As he and the others fire on Devastator, one of Powerglide's laser blasts doesn't quite line up with the corresponding sound effect.
* Prime is missing the horizontal lines on his tummy grille as the Autobots cheer.
* As Hoist and Grapple first face Prime, Grapple's front bumper is bent in the middle. This may be meant to signify damage from his captivity... but the damage disappears after this one shot.
* As Prime accepts the pair's apologies, Hoist's right arm is missing, as is the top of Grapple's left arm.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:MasterBuilders Solarpowertower.jpg|thumb|100px|It's to get them closer to the sun, obviously!]]
* The solar panels seem to be the only essential component of the tower. Why do they need to be up on this huge cumbersome tower?
* In [[robot mode]], Grapple and Hoist could ''easily'' have leaped over the boulder that first blocks their path. We'll give them a pass and say they were just panicked.
* Scrapper leaps ''down'' onto the boulder after the first commercial break... but he already leapt downward off the boulder when dodging the Autobots' fire.
* A giant paper blueprint? Really? The super-advanced space robots haven't switched over to a paperless office yet?
* Optimus's "Battle formation! Roll!" order is kind of strange, since the Autobots already appear to have both items covered.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:MasterBuilders Cliffjumper glass gas gun.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:MasterBuilders Megatron chest compartment.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Two can play at this game, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]..."]]
* Scrapper claims that the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] admired Grapple's work back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. This contradicts the earlier statement in "[[Heavy Metal War]]" that the Constructicons were built recently on Earth, but fits with the later accounts of their history given in "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]" and "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Powerglide has a video camera that extends from his nosecone, right in front of his canopy.
** The Autobots can shoot lasers out of their headlights when they drive into battle. The idea never crossed their minds in "[[The Autobot Run]]". One is tempted to fanwank the error away by saying that the events of that episode inspired them to install these extra armaments.
** Tracks has twin missile launchers in his [[Alternate mode|car mode]] hood.
** Devastator uses his [[optic weaponry|eye beams]] yet again. He [[The Autobot Run|loves]] [[The Core|those]] things!
** Cliffjumper's [[glass gas]] resembles a snowball or comet, and can be repelled by a strong wind (possibly a call-back to his bio weakness, which says that he must remain upwind of it or fall victim to its effects.)
** Megatron has a compartment in his chest that holds a pair of binoculars. We get a look inside the same location of his chest during "[[The Revenge of Bruticus]]", and needless to say there ain't no binoculars there.

===Real-world references===
* "Here Comes the Sun!" Grapple says, completing his Solar Power Tower model and quoting the title of a [[Fab Four|Beatles]] [[Wikipedia:Here Comes the Sun|tune]].
* The Autobots make their [[Atlantis, Arise!|second foray into the sports world]], as Spike teaches Optimus Prime about basketball. Prime learns to <s>drool</s> dribble the ball, spins the ball on one finger, and orders Spike to "Compute, quickly!" as he passes the ball to him. Later, Prime quotes the stereotypical sportscaster ("He shoots, he scores!") while driving for a <s>layoff</s> lay up. Later still, he rolls the basketball across his arms and shoulders.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** When Prime leaps toward the basketball goal, he gets the [[Death Star]] firing/Alderaan exploding sound effect sequence.
** Megatron takes off from the ruined power tower with the same sound effect. The Constructicons follow him with the rest of that sound effect, along with some [[X-wing Fighter]] diving sounds.

===Trivia===
[[File:Masterbuilder.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The Master Bait—uh, Builders]]
* When remastered for DVD by [[Rhino Entertainment]], the re-created title card for the episode was incorrectly rendered as "The Master Builder". This title appeared on all associated material included with the DVD set, and can be seen in the screen shot at right. Oddly enough, while the same incorrect title card appears in the 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" edition by Shout! Factory, the correct title appears on the DVD menu and the box set's episode guide.
*This episode introduces a slightly modified color model for Devastator. In his previous appearances, that, erm, ''protrusion'' on the front of his pelvis was green with purple sides, but is changed to solid purple, while the portion of his torso underneath his chest plate is changed from purple to green. However, the new model mistakenly colors the "jet port" on the top of his chest plate green instead of purple. This new color model would be used for all future appearance by Devastator that were animated by [[Toei]]; unsurprisingly, [[AKOM]] never got the memo.
* The Autobots have a color-coded alert system. When Teletraan I discovered that Powerglide was shot down he called for "condition magenta". When Optimus Prime discovered Grapple and Hoist were working with the Constructions, he called for "disaster code blue" and ordered a strike force to assemble.
* Seriously, can you imagine the [[Scale|size]] of the ball that the Autobots need to play basketball?

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Der Energieturm'''" ("The Energy Tower")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 2]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il grande progetto'''" ("The Great Project")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''I costruttori'''" ("The Builders")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Master Builder'''" (マスタービルダー, "The Master Builders")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 22]], [[1985]]
:*After Megatron looks through his binoculars, the dub has him ordering ''Blitzwing'' to intercept, not ''Ramjet'' (even though Ramjet is clearly the one who takes off at Megatron's command). Ramjet is even dubbed with Blitzwing's voice.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gore-stroyiteli'''" (Горе-строители, "The Sorry Builders")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-31.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[http://imdb.com/title/tt0808858/ IMDb's page for this episode]
*[http://teletran93.deepspace93.com/tf2/ep32/ Teletran93's page for this episode]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Master Builders}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Auto Berserk

2016-01-21T21:58:39Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=33
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=24
|prev2=City of Steel (episode)
|next2=Microbots
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=16
|prev3=Atlantis, Arise!
|next3=Kremzeek!
|image=AutoBerserk Red Alert glowing circuits.jpg
|caption=The voices in my head just told me to kill you!
|title="Auto Berserk"
|production code=#700-32
|airdate=[[October 16]], 1985
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After having his logic circuits damaged in battle, Red Alert feels rejected by the Autobots and allies himself with Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AutoBerserk controlroom battle.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Sure is nice to have the G1 series on DVD, huh, Red?]]

After the [[Autobot]]s successfully test a new super-weapon called the [[Negavator]], they are attacked by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and the [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]], who attempt to steal it for the [[Decepticon]]s. While most of the Autobots exit the bunker to fight, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] stays behind to guard the facility and operate the Negavator. At first, [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] stays to protect Red Alert, but he is eventually lured away by the call of battle, despite Red's protestations. Defeated, the Decepticons retreat, but not before [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] fires a rocket into the control room, which causes the console Red Alert was operating to explode. The Autobots return to assist him, but the odder-than-normal Red Alert brushes off their help, accusing Inferno of betraying him. However, Red Alert's injuries go deeper than the surface. His logic chips have been affected, and he begins to feel as though everyone is against him.

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert consoleexplode.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|IT'S OVER 9000!]]

As the Autobots escort the Negavator back to [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the Decepticons launch a sneak attack in a ravine that Red Alert does not detect due to his insecurities and his damaged state of mind. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] are buried under the rubble caused by Rumble's landslide while the Decepticon jets attempt to take on the remaining Autobots, only to be thwarted when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] sprays a dark cloud of exhaust over them, obscuring their sensors and causing them to crash. With the Decepticons defeated a second time, Megatron retreats, leaving [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] behind. When Optimus Prime questions Red Alert about his lack of a warning on the attack, Red instead accuses the Autobots of wanting to do away with him and runs off at the suggestion that they repair his logic circuits. Starscream, observing this turn of events, follows Red into the city.

[[File:AutoBerserk Ironhide Not RedAlert.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|For me? Aw, you shouldn't have.]]

As the other Autobots try to find Red in the city, Starscream successfully gains the trust of the paranoid Autobot by sharing his similar situation, and together they form a partnership to steal the Negavator and bring both Optimus Prime and Megatron to account for their respective betrayals. Meanwhile, the Autobots have brought the Negavator back to the bunker and secured it in the lowest level while they recharge. [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and Inferno are concerned that Red Alert's logic circuits will explode if they do not find him soon. Red leads Starscream to a secret entrance into the bunker, but they are unaware they are being observed by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and, in turn, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who seems to be content to let the pair of traitors do the dirty work for him.

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert on Starscream.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|SURPRISE PIGGYBACK RIDE!]]

Inside the bunker, Red Alert and Starscream narrowly avoid death at the hands of the [[tunnel drone]], but manage to set off the alarms in the process, alerting the Autobots. Commandeering the Negavator, they blast their way out of the holding chamber and use the elevator to arrive on the top level. Awaiting them are the other Autobots, who mistakenly believe Red Alert is some kind of hostage to Starscream until he tells them their intentions. At this point, Megatron and Decepticons enter, causing a sputtering Starscream to agree with Megatron that he was merely delivering the weapon to his leader. When Red Alert realizes Starscream's duplicity, he attempts to fire the Negavator, only to be pulled out of the cockpit and blasted with the Decepticon's [[null-ray]]. The null-ray blast serves to stabilize Red's [[Circuits#Logic circuits|logic circuits]], unbeknownst to the Decepticons, who attempt to force him to use the Negavator on the Autobots. Unfortunately for Megatron, Red Alert instead sets the self-destruct mechanism on the superweapon, causing the Decepticons to flee.

[[File:AutoBerserk Infernosaves RedAlert.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't bother trying to crucify yourself, Inferno. You'll never get that last nail driven in.]]

The Autobots run as the Negavator explodes. Discovering that Red Alert is still inside, Ironhide, then Optimus Prime attempt to enter the blaze to save their friend, but Inferno insists on doing it himself, perhaps as penance for his earlier desertion of Red. Inferno saves Red Alert from being crushed even as the remorseful Red tells the gun-slinging fire truck to leave him behind. Outside, the other Autobots cheer as Inferno carries the injured Red Alert out of the flames. Red attempts to apologize for all the trouble he has caused them, but Optimus Prime is the one who accepts the blame, for it was his insistence on testing the Negavator that started their problems. Prime declares they are glad to have Red Alert back, and commends both him and Inferno for their bravery. Red replies that with friends like the Autobots, it's easy to be brave.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (2)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (4)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (8)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (9)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (10)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (11)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (13)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] / [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] † (16)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (18)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (19)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (20)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (21)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (23)

†-''Soundwave'' calls for ''Buzzsaw'', but ''Laserbeak'' ejects

|c3=
*Army Officer #1 (5)
*Army Officer #2 (6)
*Fire Chief (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Someday I want to build something that doesn't get trashed!"
:—'''Grapple''', digging out the ruins of his bunker.

"I'm fine! It's just an electroglitch that comes and goes. Comes and goes."
:—'''Red Alert''' demonstrates that he's definitely ''not'' fine.

"Why can't anyone see it?! '''Inferno wants my job!'''"
:—'''Red Alert''' spirals down into paranoia...

'''Inferno''': You need immediate repairs! 
'''Red Alert''': Don't give me any of that. You just want to disassemble me for spare parts! Never! I won't let you!
:— ...and hits bottom...

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert accusation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Red Alert's Goth phase. He spent all his time listening to Ministry and dreaming of becoming a black repaint.]]
'''Hoist''': Let me fix you! 
'''Red Alert''': Get back. I know ''just'' how you want to fix me!
:— ...and then grabs a shovel.

"I've got ''morons'' on my team!"
:—'''Megatron''' having a life-changing realization.

'''Ramjet''': Hey! My circuits electric blew just out! 
'''Skywarp''': Too mine! I'm blind flying! 
'''Starscream''': Away move, before collide we!
:—Seekers the, by Smokescreen scrambled.

'''Fire chief''': Hey! That's my car! Put it back where ya found it! 
'''Ironhide''': Aw, sorry, chief; it looked like a friend of mine! 
[''Transforms and drives off''] 
'''Fire chief''': No two ways about it—I gotta take that vacation!
:—Ironhide mistakes a real car for Red Alert

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Coloring errors:
** After Soundwave transforms in front of the Army general, his cheek guards are blue instead of gray.
** When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes:
*** His eject button is blue instead of gray. (And again as he prepares to take the Negavator.)
*** A Frenzy-colored Ravage tape is the first one out.
*** Frenzy sort of comes out twice, but the second Frenzy's colors are replaced with Ravage's half-way out.
** As he flees from the Negavator's shots, Soundwave's eyeband is white, then blue (instead of its proper red.)
** Frenzy's Decepticon sigil is yellow as he fires alongside Ravage.
** Rumble's eyeband is white as he climbs onto the Negavator.
** Hoist's feet are white instead of green as he climbs aboard the Negavator.
** As Megatron berates him, Soundwave has some bits of white on his upper helmet that shouldn't be there. Also, the ceiling is brown in that shot alone, while all other shots show it as the usual Decepticon purple.
** Starscream's air intakes are light gray instead of red as the smoke starts to wear off.
** The back of Ramjet's head is all dark gray as Megatron calls him a moron. The lower half should be white.
** As the Decepticons fly away from the canyon, Skywarp and Dirge fly past... followed by Thundercracker, who is in Dirge's colors for a split second, then changes to Skywarp's colors.
** Starscream's eyes are blue as he grapples with Red Alert.
** As the Autobots fire on the Decepticons, the white parts of Thrust's thighs are colored red.
** White feet on Hoist again as the Autobots prepare to evacuate the bunker.
** White tires on Hoist again as the Autobots look at the smoke coming from the bunker.
[[File:AutoBerserk-Grapple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Grapple's helmet colors change in this episode, from the orange seen in his previous appearances, to a more toy-based dark gray (with non-toy-based orange "horns"). It's consistently portrayed, indicating a different color model rather than an error.
* Grapple's mouth doesn't move for the first half of his "This'll teach you" line.
[[File:AutoBerzerk Frenzy warning.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Frenzy is about twice his usual size as he tackles Optimus.
* For some reason, Optimus's rifle gets only half of its usual sound effect as Optimus defends the Negavator, making it sound a bit like Megatron's fusion cannon.
* While Red Alert is talking to Prime after being damaged, the background switches from the grey of the bunker to orange like the Ark and back again.
* As the seekers walk into the Decepticon control room, Starscream's helm is white.
* The voice that says "The smoke is sticking to us" doesn't belong to any of the Transformers present. The closest match is an "off-model" Ramjet, though it sounds more like Smokescreen himself.
* Smokescreen gets the wrong (descending pitch) transformation noise as he returns to [[robot mode]].
* As the Decepticons retreat for the second time in the show, Ramjet mispronounces Starscream's name as "Starscweam".
* Starscream gets no transformation sound as he finishes returning to robot mode, nor as he takes off from his cliff.
* Ironhide also gets the ascending pitch transformation noise as he returns to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
* After the second commercial break, Starscream has gone from Red Alert's right to his left.
* Optimus presses the triangle on his wrist to determine his energy level, but in the next shots his finger moves up to the rectangles on his forearm and finally near his elbow.
* A few seconds later, Optimus and the others transform and Optimus' trailer rolls in ''through'' the building behind them!
* Thrust's robot mode colors are off consistently for the whole episode. His air intakes and shoulders are colored red instead of dark grey, and his face is a darker gray than normal.
* As Prime calls for the Autobots to return to headquarters, Hoist's feet, then his tires, are white (instead of green / black, respectively.)
* Thrust's line, "Just give the order, Megatron and I'll weld that traitor to the wall" is voiced as though he is offering that Megatron and Thrust will punish Starscream together, whereas it is quite obvious that he is rather addressing Megatron and offering to do the welding alone.
[[File:AutoBerserk Inferno RedAlert friendship.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* When the tunnel drone passes over the hole Starscream and Red Alert jumped down, its tentacles are missing.
* As the elevator doors open, a flash of blue light that should presumably be over Red Alert's horns appears next to the Negavator.
* No transformation noise as Starscream retreats.
* Megatron and 5 jets are seen flying away; there should be six jets.
* When Ironhide walks past Optimus Prime with the intention of rescuing Red Alert from the fire of the Negavator's destruction, his right arm clips right through Prime's left arm.
* After having spoken the final line of the episode, Red Alert's mouth keeps moving during the fadeout.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Autoberserk rumble in negavator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Behold!My new power!Egg Beetle go!]]
[[File:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|My eyes! The goggles do nothing!]]
* Rumble, Hoist and Megatron all use the Negavator's cockpit at various points in the episode, and somehow every time it's the right size for whomever's controlling it.
* When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes and calling their names, he calls for Buzzsaw, but Laserbeak is ejected instead and seen throughout the episode.
* Prime orders Red Alert to "analyze that noise"... in reference to a rock that just landed right in front of him.
* Judging by the dialog, the script seems to call for the Autobots to lose sight of Red as they chase him through the city. The animation to convey this, however, simply isn't there. The Autobots are ''right behind'' Red, then in the very next shot, they're pulling up to the burning building. With the not-Red Alert fire chief's car in plain sight the whole time, Hoist says "Oh no!" as if they've lost sight of Red, only for Ironhide to chime in "I see 'im!" a second later.
* Even as a "fly car" to respond to emergencies where a full-size rescue vehicle may not be required, It's pretty unlikely that a fire chief's car would be a Lamborghini Countach, but we can really lay that one at the feet of Hasbro/Takara, who developed the toy that became Red Alert.
* In Act 3, the Negavator's effect suddenly changes from "cleanly vaporize" to "cause big explosion".
* It's always bizarre when the Autobots cough in reaction to smoke; it happens here as they leave the bunker. Optimus even squeezes his eyes shut.
* Megatron became fairly acquainted with Grapple in "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]"; how does he not recognize him hiding amongst his troops in the final battle for the Negavator?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:AutoBerserk Hoist and Grapple digging.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Soundwave heaves out four of his current five cassettes in one go, the most we've seen thus far in the series. (Although apparently he doesn't know [[FIRRIB|the difference between Laserbeak and Buzzsaw]]...)
* Gadgets and powers:
** The "horns" on Red Alert's head light up when his sensors detect Decepticon activity nearby... at least, that's how they work when he's not going loony.
** Optimus Prime's gun apparently has a "machine gun" setting.
** Hoist extends a pair of tentacle-like grapplers from his tow truck form to clear out the rubble of the bunker.
** Later, he extends a multi-segment crane arm with a huge grappling claw on the end. Grapple has the same claw attached to his crane arm.
** Smokescreen's smoke emerges from nozzles hidden behind his rear lights, rather than the usual tailpipe. It gets to show off its "magnetic" properties, adhering to the Seekers after they fly through it.
** Smokescreen uses his other ability as well, blowing out the Seekers' electrical circuits with blasts that he fires from his fists.
* Frenzy actually tackles Optimus Prime. Strong little guy. Or nuts.
* This is one of the few times, possibly the only time, when Megatron criticizes Soundwave.

===Real-world references===
*Red Alert cops the tagline of Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry: "Go ahead, Soundwave... make my day."
*Megatron's line about "morons" is a verbatim quote from the 1969 classic ''Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid''.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine can be faintly heard as Buzzsaw strafes the bunker.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst and X-Wing diving as Soundwave's crew retreats.
** ''Falcon'' engine roar for Rumble's missile.

** ''Falcon'' engine burst and Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding, as Megatron launches to take the Negavator.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Ramjet descends toward the Negavator.
** [[Death Star]] turbolaser as the Autobots drive off the Decepticons in the canyon.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Starscream takes off from his cliffside perch.

===Trivia===
[[File:AutoBerserk Negavator in bunker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*And just why were the peaceful Autobots working on a highly destructive super weapon anyways? No wonder Red Alert was paranoid.
* This is Red Alert's biggest role in Transformers fiction, and has shaped many fans' perception of him... despite the fact that he was off his rocker for most of it.
* Due to abnormal amount of rapid flashing, this episode is an epileptics nightmare.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Wahre Freunde'''" ("True Friends")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 13]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Tradimento inesistente'''" ("Inexistent Betrayal")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La furia di Red Alert'''" ("The Fury of Red Alert")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Negavator o Ubae!'''" (ネガベイターを奪え!, "Capture the Negavator!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20]], [[1985]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Elektronnoye besoumiye'''" (Электронное безумие, "The Electronic Madness")
:*''Original airdate:''

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 3: Programmed for Evil ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0808814/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://teletran93.deepspace93.com/tf2/ep33/ Teletran93's page for this episode]
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-32.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Microbots

2016-01-21T21:58:09Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=34
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=25
|prev2=Auto Berserk
|next2=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=33
|prev3=The Insecticon Syndrome
|next3=Blaster Blues
|image=Microbots shrink.JPG
|caption=In the '80s, every cartoon had to have a shrinking episode.
|title="Microbots"
|production code=#700-33
|airdate=[[October 7]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Perceptor, Brawn, and Bumblebee must shrink themselves to go inside Megatron and retrieve an artifact, the Heart of Cybertron, that gives him enormous power.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:NemesisMicrobots1.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"We've passed here for the past 20 years! How could we never have spotted this before?!" "Every time we passed here, you pointed to that rock with the funny shape on the other side of the road, Mike."]]


While digging for [[Mayan]] artifacts in [[South America]], a group of archaeologists stumble upon an ancient spacecraft. As news of the discovery is broadcast on the news, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] recognize it as the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon ship]] they traveled to Earth in four million years ago. Megatron states that there is something on that ship which he wants, and sets out to get it.

Meanwhile, at the [[Autobot]]s' [[Ark (G1)|headquarters]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] is using a [[transmat reduction beam|shrinking-enlarging device]] to repair one of [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide's]] memory chips while being insulted by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] for not being a soldier. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] walks in and tries to make him stop, when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] orders Brawn and Bumblebee to follow him to South America along with [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], to stop Megatron from obtaining what he wants.

[[File:Microbots Megatron energy blasts.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Now you will experience the full power of the dark side.]]

As Megatron's troops blast their way through a rainforest in order to avoid satellite detection, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] manages to first miss blasting a tree and then get attacked by a giant snake, to the amusement of [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. Meanwhile, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] has met his match in the form of a real jaguar, which attacks him but Ravage slaps it and it flees. The Autobots arrive and decide not to burn the forest down, because Optimus says "that's not our style".

Megatron gets through the forest first, and reaches the ship. Blasting it open, he retrieves the ship's energy core, the [[Heart of Cybertron]]. [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] implants it into Megatron's torso, vastly increasing his power level. Optimus Prime then arrives and orders the Autobots to attack, but they are all defeated by Megatron's new ability to continuously fire energy from his fingertips. The Autobots only manage to escape when Optimus orders [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] to generate a smokescreen, allowing them to bring a hill down on the Decepticons.

[[File:Microbots Decepticons drunk.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave superior. Lightweights inferior.]]

After limping back to base, Wheeljack creates a force-field to keep Megatron at bay. Perceptor hatches a plan to shrink himself, Brawn and Bumblebee to microscopic sizes in order to infiltrate Megatron's body and disconnect the Heart of Cybertron.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons sit around and get <s>plastered</s> overcharged on [[energon]]. After Megatron rambles on about the "good ol' days" and passes out, [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] delivers the tiny Autobots into his body. This wakes up Megatron, who fires a few parting shots at Powerglide. Finding that none of his warriors can even stand up (or in [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak's]] case, ''fly straight''), Megatron departs to destroy the Autobots himself.

[[File:Microbots Brawn and heroic Perceptor.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you." "I think I would just cut the wire."]]

Perceptor, Brawn and Bumblebee make their way through Megatron's body, avoiding his [[electro-sanitizer]]s, until they reach the Decepticon's [[brain module|brain]]. The others have to restrain Brawn from destroying the brain, since the fall would likely cause the Heart of Cybertron to explode. Megatron reaches Autobot headquarters and begins firing on the force field protecting Optimus Prime. The miniaturized trio ride one of Megatron's [[evil brain impulse]]s to the Heart of Cybertron, which Perceptor disconnects while dodging more brain impulses. Taking the heart, they make a dash for safety as the shrink-ray's effects begin to wear off. Megatron, deprived of his weapon and knocked flat by Optimus, is shocked by the sight of three rapidly-growing Autobots jumping out of his shoulder joint, and flies off.

Observing that the Heart of Cybertron has become unstable, Brawn tosses it two thousand miles into the sky, at which point Perceptor detonates it with a blast from his cannon. After this, Brawn shows much more respect for Perceptor.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (6)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (7)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (10)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (19)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (20)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (22)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (23)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (24)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (26)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (27)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (28)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (31)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (12)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (13)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (14)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (16)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (17)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (18)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (29)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (30)

|c3=
*[[Merrick]] (1)
*[[Jose (cartoon)|Jose]] (2)
*[[Joan]] (3)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (25)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Microbots RumbleScavenger.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
"Nice scenery." 
"Yeah, let's waste it! I hate nice things."
:—'''Rumble''' and '''Scavenger'''

[[File:G1toon snakes on a plane.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.85]]
''[Starscream shoots at a tree and misses]'' 
"Good shot, Starscream!" 
"Shut up or I'll blast ''you'', punk!" 
"Hey, hold that pose! I wanna remember you that way!" 
''[A snake wraps itself around Starscream's neck]'' 
"Help! Get this thing off me!" 
"I think it looks stunning on ya!"
:—'''Rumble''' and the Constructicons laugh at '''Starscream'''.

"He'll blow us away if we attack." 
"He'll blow us away if we just stand here! ''Charge!''"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Cliffjumper''' debate whether or not to attack the powered-up Megatron.

'''Brawn''': Are you ''defective?'' ''How''<nowiki>'</nowiki>re we gonna do ''that?!'' 
'''Perceptor''': Simple! We use my transmat reduction beam to shrink down to microscopic size. Then, we crawl into Megatron, and rip the blasted heart out! 
'''Optimus''': What do you think of his intelligence now, Brawn? 
'''Brawn''': Ahhh, I reserve judgment.
:—Brawn is just being pissy at this point.

[[File:Microbots-DrunkThundercracker.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
'''Megatron''': Decepticons: a toast. To the imminent destruction of the accursed Autobots! 
''[The Decepticons begin drinking Energon]'' 
'''Starscream''': Energy! We won't need to conserve it after tomorrow. We can bleed this planet dry! 
'''Rumble''': ''[hiccups]'' Boy, these are good. ''[hiccups]'' I needed to refuel. Energy! 
'''Megatron''': Energy! Energy! 
'''Thundercracker''': Hey! This stuff's the greatest! ''[passes out]'' 
'''Megatron''': Ah, those were the good ol' days, back on Cybertron...Didn' hafta...sneak around in these...ugly Earth disguises, heh... 
''[Powerglide arrives]'' 
'''Powerglide''': Time to cut the jets and glide! ...What in the world? 
'''Megatron''': Good ol' Cybertron! Land... of the metal moon!
:—The Decepticons give us what is quite possibly the funniest scene in the series.

"How come it's so quiet?" 
"Because he isn't engaging any of his main brain functions." 
"Then I got a honey of an idea. Let's bash brain!"
:—'''Brawn''' and '''Perceptor''' in Megatron's cranial chamber

[[File:Microbots brain impulse.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
"What are they?" 
"Brain impulses... ''evil'' brain impulses!"
:—'''Brawn''' and '''Perceptor''' discuss Decepticon neuroscience.

"It's all over, Prime!" 
"Not until every last Autobot program is erased, Megatron."
:—'''Megatron''' anticipates the destruction of the Autobots, as if it was a new thing.

"You filthy [[retrorat]]s!! Rrrarrgh!!" 
:—'''Megatron,''' realizing that three Autobots have been messing with his insides.

==Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* The excavation site changes radically between shots. When the archeologists first strike the Decepticon ship, they're digging downward into flat ground. In the next shot, they've removed an entire hillside, while still standing on flat ground. In the third shot ("this thing's been here longer than the hill!") the hill has become much bigger.
* Coloring errors:
** As Soundwave is looking at the giant computer in Decepticon Headquarters, the white parts of his face guard are blue for a split second just as he turns to call for Megatron.
** As Perceptor unshrinks Ironhide's microchip, Perceptor has a red Decepticon symbol.
** Scavenger's head is colored light gray instead of dark gray as Rumble mocks him for missing.
** After Megatron hands the Heart of Cybertron to Hook, Hook's head is white instead of black.
** Perceptor's eyes are white instead of blue when he reacts to the damaged Autobots.
** While Perceptor is giving his monologue about shrinking down and going into Megatron, Optimus Prime's waist is red instead of white.
* When the Constructicons laugh at Starscream, they use Rumble's laughter while Rumble is talking. This laughter is reused a second later by Rumble himself when he is done talking.
* Megatron gives the order to "'''''cut''''' the ship open". Hook proceeds to blast a huge explosive hole in the vessel.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** In three different scenes, only Ratchet, Prime, Bumblebee and Brawn are shown making the journey to South America. After the first commercial break, however, lots more Autobots just show up in the middle of the battle (Cliffjumper, Bluestreak, Ironhide, Huffer, Smokescreen, Windcharger, Hoist...)
* The doofy shot of Megatron firing upwards at the Autobots on the hill keeps getting re-used, even after the Autobots are no longer attacking from the hill.
* Optimus falls forwards down the hillside, but ends up on his back in the very next shot.
* One gun, many lasers:
** In the same sequence of shots, multiple beams of energy are streaking in towards the Autobots from multiple directions, despite Megatron only having two hands to fire the beams from. (There's no on-screen evidence that the other Decepticons have joined in the firing at all.)
* When Smokescreen finds Prime, he's lying in a completely different spot than where he fell after getting knocked out.
* The damaged Autobots include Ratchet and Hoist, who didn't have a mark on them when the battle concluded. They also include Wheeljack and Gears, who weren't seen at the battle at all.
* When the Decepticons get drunk, Soundwave is seen drinking amongst the crowd, despite having a faceplate. Maybe it can drop down like that of [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (as seen in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3]]").
* Flying Autobots:
** As Brawn leaps up to attack the electro-sanitizers, he has a flight sound effect.
* After he leaps back down, the top of his backpack is yellow instead of olive green.
* The animation of Megatron stepping aside to avoid Warpath's shells is played twice in a row, which means the first shell's explosion is missing in the second shot.
* In typical cartoon fashion, the energy shield shatters like glass, complete with breaking glass sound effects. The [[Dome of Invulnerability]] went down the same way in "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"
* When Prime opens fire on Megatron, his shots don't quite reach the whole, oh, maybe 50 feet of distance between him and Megatron.
* After Megatron falls, a closeup shot shows the joint in Megatron's shoulder. The next shot is a tighter closeup; the joint has suddenly gone from solid to hollow (allowing us to see the Autobots running past.)
* As the three Autobots flee Megatron's interior and start to return to their normal size, the Heart of Cybertron grows right along with Brawn during the first growing spell.
* The line "But it's destabilizing. It could explode at any second!" is voiced by Brawn, but Perceptor's mouth moves. The line sure sounds like it was written for Percy.
* When the Heart of Cybertron is supposedly 1,500 miles above the ground, it's still in front of the night sky clouds.
* As he shoots at the Heart of Cybertron, Perceptor's laser blast is given a rocket sound effect.

===Continuity errors===
* The archaeologists at the beginning of the episode are digging for Mayan artifacts in South America, though in the real world the Maya civilization never reached further south than modern-day Honduras.
* Megatron rather strangely identifies the vessel as "''a'' Decepticon ship", as if he's never seen it before, despite later verifying that it is "our ship".
* Optimus is hesitant to cut down a path so his forces can drive through. Yet he does EXACTLY that in "Changing Gears". Did he have a change of heart or does he have something against African Jungles? To be fair in this episode the Autobots had plenty of time to reach the Decepticons while in "Changing Gears" the ENTIRE SOLAR SYSTEM was about to be vaporized by its own exploding sun.
* Do the Decepticons ''really'' need to carve a path the size of an interstate highway? Wouldn't a single-file pathway be a lot quicker?
* The Decepticons' ship was depicted as being the same size as the ship used by the Autobots in the opening episode, but here it's considerably smaller.
* Would the ship's vital, fragile power source really be that close to its exterior hull? (said hull being quite vulnerable to a small hand-held weapon?)
* Was there ''nothing'' else in the ship that would be of value to the Decepticons?
* Why on Earth are the Decepticons sitting around in the middle of the desert somewhere? And how does Powerglide know to find them there?
* Prime has "all available Autobots" move out to attack Megatron. Responding to the call are... Cliffjumper, Windcharger and Warpath. What happened to everybody else?!
[[File:Microbots Heart throw.JPG|right|upright=1.4|thumb|"Why don't we install it in Optimus, Perceptor?" "Because you're an idiot, Brawn."]]
* At one point, Brawn proposes killing Megatron from the inside (by PUNCHING HIS BRAIN TO PIECES). Perceptor stops him, saying that if he fell while flying, the impact could detonate the Heart of Cybertron. But while they're having this debate, Megatron lands, so it wouldn't seem to be a concern anymore. Perhaps even a short fall would have been enough? Maybe not, since Megatron falls right over when Prime shoots him a moment later! Also, with Megatron's change in orientation, the room that Perceptor and company are in should really undergo a 90 degree gravity shift, but nothing changes.
* Why is it so hard for Perceptor to reach the wire that's right in front of him? He's not damaged or anything!
* For that matter, why did he have to cut all three himself, when Brawn was ready and willing to help? It didn't seem like a particularly complex procedure.
* We're not doubting the strength of the almighty, indestructible Brawn or anything, but... can something as tiny and light as the Heart of Cybertron really be ''thrown'' 2,000 miles into space?
* For that matter, Perceptor's tracking report means the Heart is moving at about 250 miles ''per second''. Wouldn't it have incinerated in the lower atmosphere at such speeds?

===Continuity notes===
* [[Nemesis (G1)|The Decepticon ship]] is the same one last seen in the series pilot episode, "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". A decade later, it would be given a name and a central role in the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'']] cartoon episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
[[File:Microbots impulse ride.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Maybe this is how Teletraan I is able to detect "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|evil presences]]".]]
* We learn quite a bit about Megatron's physiology in this episode:
** He can fly at least 600 miles per hour (100 miles in ten minutes, per Prime's reading of [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]].)
** He has an open spot amid his chest circuitry for the Heart of Cybertron, much like Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod have reserved spots (holes) for the Matrix.
** He has a wristwatch on his left wrist, which he looks at while flying around (causing concern for the Autobots within his shoulder joints). Oddly enough, this has [[Transport to Oblivion|precedent]].
** While drunk, Megatron rants about disliking his "ugly Earth disguise", yet in 2005, he still has the same alt-mode. Surely he could have found time to change his gun mode if he really hated it that much! Maybe he doesn't like his ''troops<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' [[alternate mode]]s.
** [[Evil brain impulse]]s!
* Warpath actually fires shells from his cannon, rather than the usual lasers.
* Warpath's [[Tech Spec]] weakness comes into play: he is "helpless if upended".

===Real-world references===
* The pulsating sound heard when Perceptor and company approach the Heart of Cybertron within Megatron is the same one used for the [[Dalek]] control rooms in all episodes of ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'' since its debut in 1963.

===Trivia===
[[File:Microbots Huffer charges.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Huffer charging at Megatron...]]
* "Microbots" features some of the most beautifully animated sequences in the entire series: Ratchet tumbling into the camera as he's shot, Soundwave trying to outrun the avalanche, Brawn ripping apart the electro-sanitizers, Cliffjumper getting hit by rocks, Warpath's shells closing on Megatron...
* Brawn's assertion that "five of us are functional" actually accords with the animation; Prime calls on Ratchet, Grapple and Hoist, and Bumblebee and Brawn are shown still standing in the preceding shot. Amusingly, Grapple is never seen in the animation at all.
* Decepticons make funny, happy drunks.
* Writer David Wise reused scenes from "Microbots", almost word-for-word, in the parts of the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (1987) episode "Shredder and Splintered" involving the Turtles inside Krang's giant robot body. This would not be the [[Kremzeek!|only]] [[Auto-Bop|''Transformers'' episode]] Wise recycled concepts of for ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''.

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Nel corpo di Megatron'''" ("In Megatron's Body")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Microbots'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Micro no Kesshi Tai'''" (ミクロの決死隊, "The Micro Suicide Squad")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27]], [[1985]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 12: Size Matters ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-33.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1

2016-01-21T21:57:37Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=35
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=26
|prev2=Microbots
|next2=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=47
|prev3=Cosmic Rust (episode)
|next3=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
|image=MMP1 Gavel bang.jpg
|caption=We're voting you off the planet.
|title="Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1"
|production code=#700-34
|airdate=[[October 14]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons manage to turn the humans against the Autobots, and the Autobots are ordered to leave the planet.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FakeSolarplant.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|The least efficient solar plant ever.]]
The [[Mayor of Central City|mayor]] of [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] is officially opening a new [[Central City (Earth)#Fake Solar Power Plant|solar tower]] when his speech is interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. After the [[Decepticon]]s realize there is no energy in the tower yet, guards come out with tanks and attempt to shoo them away. The tanks are destroyed and the guards escape with their lives, while the mayor calls for the [[Autobot]]s.

An Autobot attack force, consisting of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], arrives at the scene. Everyone transforms to [[robot mode]] except Tracks, who transforms to his flight mode and takes off after the Coneheads, who are making a quick exit. Tracks uses a radiator-mounted [[black beam gun]] to blind Dirge. Ramjet seeks revenge for this and knocks Tracks clean out the air. On the ground, Starscream is being hammered by laser blasts from Ironhide, Smokescreen, Prime and Warpath. Thrust saves him with a missile barrage. Smokescreen retaliates and fires his shoulder-mounted lasers, which damage Thrust's guidance systems. Beaten and battered, the Decepticons retreat.

The mayor thanks the Autobots and decides to honor them at City Hall. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] comments that it's about time the Autobots got some recognition for their actions.

In his office, [[Shawn Berger]] watches the events and is infuriated, since he wants to be mayor so badly. He sends his guards out, claiming he needs to think. He picks up an odd-looking cassette on his desk, which transforms into [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. The Decepticon grabs Shawn and flies out of the office and then out of the city, towards a mountain ridge.

[[File:MMP part 1 Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Ehhh-vry thing you know is wrong...]]]]

There, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and Dirge await Shawn's arrival. Megatron tells Shawn that he can help get the power that he so desperately desires, even two cities if he wants. In return, Shawn must use his wealth, power and influence to help the Decepticons. Megatron tells Berger that, like many others, he's been blinded by Autobot propaganda. He persuades Berger into thinking the Decepticons are good and the Autobots are evil and that all he needs is evidence. Berger agrees to help, and Dirge takes him back to his office. After Berger's departure, Megatron tells Soundwave that Berger "thinks he will be king, but he will be nothing more than a pawn!"

At a deserted [[oil]] field, Optimus Prime shows up with a group of Autobots: [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and Ironhide. Berger flies in a news helicopter overhead and records the Autobots stealing energy. Ironhide notices the helicopter and warns Prime, who begins to fire on it. Megatron, Starscream, Thrust, Dirge and Ramjet save Berger and drive off the Autobots. Wheeljack fires as he escapes and knocks off the camera beneath the copter. Dirge finds it and gives it to Megatron, who must return it to Berger, since it "contains valuable evidence".

[[File:MMP1 Autobot day banner.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Isn't Yad Tobotua a ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' character?]]
At Central City's City Hall, the public is gathered and cheering the Autobots, who are rolling parade-style through town. The Autobots all transform and head towards the Hall. Inside, Optimus Prime is joined by Hound, Ironhide, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee. After a brief moment of reading out the wrong speech, the mayor finally gets it right and proceeds to request the airing of a video of the work the Autobots did at the Solar Plant yesterday. However, Berger has had the tapes switched, and the audience sees the tape the Decepticons made. It shows additional scenes of Prime and Wheeljack turning the coneheads evil with a ray gun and Prime claiming that the Autobots will claim the Earth for their own once fully trusted.

Now hated by the public, the Autobots return to [[Ark (G1)|base]]. After a brief rest period, they end up being arrested by the mayor and Berger's private army. They and the Decepticons are taken to court. During the trial, Spike escapes and sets out to clear the Autobots' names, but Soundwave launches [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to slow Spike down. After slamming Ravage in a revolving door, Spike escapes. He later finds the tape room and watches one of the tapes...which reveals that the Autobots at the oil field were Decepticons in disguise. He starts to head back to the trial with the tape, only to find his path blocked by Ravage.

[[File:MMP1 Get in the ship.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Bye! Have fun on your trip back to a planet we still control!]]
Back at the trial, without evidence, the Autobots are found guilty and are banished from Earth forever. Later that night, the Autobots are taken to a shuttle and forced to board by Megatron. They blast off, heading towards [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

Inside the Autobot base, Megatron and Shawn Berger are at [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]]. As Berger watches, Megatron uses [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to reprogram the rocket's guidance systems for a one-way trip into the sun.

[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (9)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (10)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (14)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (20)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (21)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (22)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (23)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (24)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (25)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (26)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (27)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (28)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (29)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (33)
* [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (35)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (40)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (41)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (42)
* [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (43)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (44)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (4)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (5)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (6)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (15)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (36)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (37)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (39)

|c3=
* [[Mayor of Central City|Mayor]] (1)
* [[Shawn Berger]] (2)
* Tank driver (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (12)
* [[Chip Chase]] (17)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
* Helicopter pilot (18)
* Video room engineer (30)
* [[Produce thrower|Angry spectator #1, aka the Produce thrower]] (31)
* Angry spectator #2 (32)
* Roving reporter (33)
* Industrial worker (34)
* Trial judge (36)
}}

==Quotes==

"Ah, the power of public relations."
:—'''Megatron''', possibly the most honest politician in the world.

"Hold the last order, Prime...I wanna throw some...''dark'' on the subject."
:—'''Tracks''' demonstrates his black beam gun.

"Another raid to blame on the Decepticons...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
:—'''Starscream''' as '''Optimus Prime''' with the creepiest laugh ever...(an early Nemesis Prime?)

"They're puttin' words in yer mouth. C'mon Prime! Let's get to the bottom of this!"
:—'''Ironhide''' has apparently never noticed that '''Optimus Prime''' has no mouth.

"SAVE THE HUMANS!"
:—'''Megatron'''. No, this isn't miscited.

"Hey, guys, look. Berger dropped one of his video cameras. Let's make some home movies!"
:—'''Dirge''' thinks about a career as a camera man. Follow your dreams, Dirge!

"I knew the humans would turn on us someday. They're such undependable creatures. Inferior lifeforms." 
"Ahh, I'm not so sure, Sunstreaker. Some of my best friends are humans."
:—'''Sunstreaker''' and '''Bumblebee''' discuss the worthiness of humans while Spike, Sparkplug, and Chip are right there.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Solar panels aren't made of glass, but they're shown shattering as if they were.
* When the first tank driver opens his cockpit to bail out, the 'whirr' sound effect doesn't play until the canopy is already open.
* As Optimus runs toward the retreating Decepticons, he gets a multi-gun array of laser sound effects instead of his own normal gun noise.
* Spike's voice says "Your Mayorship", but Spike is nowhere in the shot; instead, Optimus is shown kneeling and extending a hand to the mayor.
* The window of Berger's office keeps changing size; in some shots, it's six panes wide (plus the curtains), while in others, it has 8 visible panes.
[[File:BergerInc Building.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They've merged into Laserberger.]]
* Berger's office has a window that makes up only part of the wall; however, the outside shot of his building shows it to be made entirely of glass.
* Due to the limits of the show's stock music library, the marching band drummers are banging their drums but not making any sound.
* The Autobots walk up the steps of City Hall into a shadowy entryway. The shadowy entryway disguises the fact that there would probably only be human-sized doors there, rather than the Autobot-sized ones that would be required for the Autobots to actually enter the building. Nevertheless, in the next shot, the 'bots are hanging out in the mayor's office.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** If Megatron really wants to convince the public that his footage was "secured at great risk", he probably shouldn't have edited in five different points of view, including a tracking close-up of Thrust.
** Likewise for the interior shots of Autobot Headquarters. A close-up of Prime is taken from the point of view of someone standing right in front of him.
** Teletraan I gets a view of Berger's tanks that travels along with them.
* The animators missed the gist of a script line: Spike yells "We're coming with you!" to Optimus, but the animation has him turning toward Chip, who's right next to him.
* The shot of Berger's tanks shows a much more rugged terrain outside Autobot Headquarters than normal.
[[File:CentralCityStadium.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Comfortably seats 30,000 hamsters.]]
[[File:G1toon starscream prime cosplay.jpg|thumb|125px|Woulda been a lot easier to just make [[A Prime Problem|another Optimus Prime clone]].]]
* Before the second commercial break, the Autobots are standing in the entryway to Autobot Headquarters, facing a large line of tanks. After the commercial break, they're in the open, with a handful of tanks surrounding them.
* As the Autobots drive off with Berger's army, the blades of the mayor's helicopter are layered in front of the copter's body, when they should be behind it.
* In its establishing shot, the stadium is wildly out of scale with the city streets surrounding it... unless the streetlights of Central City are 10 stories tall.
* Where do the Seekers' wings go when they're inside their Autobot costumes? (Maybe [[Show-accuracy|they're removable]]...)
* The crashing sound effects of Ravage bashing down the film studio door is barely audible.
* The top of Dirge's head is white instead of gray as the Decepticons march up to the Autobots.
* The Decepticons continue aiming their guns at the same spot long after the Autobots have left that spot.

===Continuity errors===
* Much like the events of "[[A Prime Problem]]", the basic premise of this episode requires ''incredible'' stupidity on the part of the players. In this case, however, those players are ''the entire human race!'' Thirty seconds of video footage and the crowd outside City Hall is throwing fruit at the Autobots. Why are the public so quickly swayed after the number of times the Autobots have saved them in the past year or so? What kind of kangaroo court would convict on such incredibly flimsy evidence? What kind of absurdly inept trial lawyers would fail to examine every bit of footage available? How could Berger fail to notice Megatron cackling with mad glee as he sends his foes rocketing into the sun?
* There's really no reason for the Decepticons to hang around and fight once they realize the solar plant has no energy.
* Laserbeak kidnaps Berger in mid-day. When they arrive at the cliff, just outside the city, it's [[Transformers (film)|suddenly sunset]].
* Starscream is part of the Decepticon group that repels the "Autobots" from their oil field raid... yet he's later shown to be playing the role of Optimus Prime in the same attack.
* The plot treats the lost video camera from Berger's helicopter as though it contains its own recording medium. It's far more likely that the medium would be inside the helicopter.
* The amount of time that Dirge spends filming is not nearly enough to account for the damning footage that Spike watches later on.
* Even if Autobot Headquarters ''is'' inside the city limits of Central City, a mayor isn't really a duly constituted law enforcement officer.
* Three little video tapes, and the mayor and a private army are knocking on the Autobots' door. So how come nobody ever tried to arrest the Decepticons?
* Spike could have just left the stadium through the normal exits, instead of leaping into the field and drawing the Decepticons' attention.
* Spike apparently marches into one of Berger's film studios like he owns the joint. ''And'' it's apparently deserted.
* What the hell kind of court can just order someone ''off-planet''? Isn't there like an appellate court above them or something?
* Despite the fact that the events are clearly meant to affect ''all'' of the Autobots, only a fraction of them are seen onscreen in any one scene. Only ten of them bother to turn up to the trial, and around about twenty of them are seen being forced to board the rocket. As is clear from the next episode, there should be at least thirty of them.
*Oh and by the way, the "trial" the Autobots are given is pretty screwed up. Once the Autobots arrive the judge tells them what they're accused of and then immediately sentences them. Shouldn't the Autobots get a chance to defend themselves?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Nullray-jet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]

* Gadgets and powers:
**Turns out the Decepticons don't need Soundwave to make [[energon cube]]s. The [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] can do it themselves.
** Laserbeak uses his eye beams [[Dinobot Island, Part 1|again]].
** In the oil field fight, Starscream is able to use his [[null-ray]]s from his nose in [[alternate mode|jet mode]], the first time he ever does this. (Of course, the fight was faked, so these null-rays presumably were as well.)
** Megatron can rotate a lens into the end of his fusion cannon. He uses it to reprogram the Autobot ship's flight path via Teletraan I.
[[File:MegatronsMasterPlan generic autobot pistol.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Because some Transformers' toys didn't come with hand-held weapons, they didn't have any armament included as part of their [[character model]]s. As such, when episodes have called for these characters to wield a weapon, the animators have had to get creative, either giving them made-up gun designed on the spot, a duplicate of another Transformer's weapon, or just having them shoot energy out of their hands. Starting with this episode, however, a new model sheet is introduced for a generic Autobot laser pistol that is usually subbed as a sidearm for any weaponless characters in future episodes; in this episode, it is wielded by Ironhide and Sunstreaker. Ratchet would memorably dual-wield a pair of these guns in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', and they've been rendered in toy form for his and Ironhide's ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' toys.
* Autobot Headquarters has a retractable front door. Most of the time, the passageway is just left wide open.
* Wheeljack says that their external security has been breached, indicating that the Autobots actually do have some kind of security system outside their base.
* If Autobot Headquarters really is close enough to [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] to fall under its jurisdiction, then it almost certainly is the same city whose skyline is seen in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", and likely is the same city that Spike and the Autobots visit in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]", "[[Auto Berserk]]", "[[The Immobilizer]]" and "[[Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target]]" - all involving quick trips from Autobot Headquarters into "the city". Could "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]" have been set there too? The big battles of "[[Starscream's Brigade]]" and "[[The Revenge of Bruticus]]" as well, maybe?

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak leaves the Berger, Inc. building with the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst noise.
** He continues his flight to the cliff overlooking the city with the TIE fighter engine noise, culled from one of the Death Star trench attack runs. Bizarrely, the fighter's target scope can be heard locking onto an X-Wing... as can [[Darth Vader]]'s breathing!
** More ''Falcon'' engine noise can be heard as the Decepticons leave their headquarters.
** The sound of a hatchway opening/closing aboard the Death Star is recycled as the sound of the Autobot ship venting steam.
* Megatron makes a modestly clever reference to chess: "He thinks he will be king... but he will never be more than a pawn!"

===Trivia===
* Rather than a "next time" preview, the end of this episode got a special "To Be Continued" title card with a short voiceover from [[Victor Caroli]].
* When released on video in the UK, both parts of this story were edited together as a 45-minute "movie" instead of a two-part episode.
* The idea of an influential and powerful human joining forces with the Decepticons, resulting in the Autobots being exiled from Earth by the government via a spacecraft was used as part of the plot for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Plano Mestre de Megatron Parte 1'''" ("The Master Plan of Megatron Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:''

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Autorobots in esilio-Parte 1'''" ("Autobots in Exile-Part 1")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il grande piano di Megatron - I'''" ("The Grand Plan of Megatron - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron Chikyū Seifuku Sakusen PART I'''" (メガトロン地球征服作戦 PART I, "Megatron's Earth Conquest Plan PART I")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 10]], [[1986]]
:*'''Cut:''' The scene where Spike, Sparkplug and Chip cheer for the Autobots during the Autobot Day parade was cut for time. These scenes featured signs that said "Autobot Day", which likely contributed toward their selection for being cut.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Glavnoye zlodeystvo Megatrona (Chast' 1)'''" (Главное злодейство Мегатрона (Часть 1), "Megatron's Most Evil Deed (Part 1)")
:*''Original airdate:''

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Megatron's Master Plan ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Megatron's Master Plan ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Megatron's Master Plan ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 10: Megatron's Master Plan ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-34.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2

2016-01-21T21:57:10Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=36
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=27
|prev2=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1
|next2=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=48
|prev3=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1
|next3=Fire on the Mountain (episode)
|image=MMP2 Megatron press conference.jpg
|caption=Somewhere, a [[Cobra Commander|terrorist]] is crying himself to sleep.
|title="Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2"
|production code=#700-35
|airdate=[[October 15]], 1985
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Having had the Autobots exiled from Earth, Megatron reveals the Decepticons' true intentions.'''

==Synopsis==
''[[Victor Caroli]] provides a "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Last time, on ''The Transformers'']]" recap.''

[[File:MegatronsMasterPlan2 Decepticon Day.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Wait, something's WRONG here...]]

As a marching band parades through the streets of [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], Berger announces that today is [[Decepticon Day]]. Sparkplug and Chip immensely dislike the event, but Chip says that it's too late now for Spike to be searching for evidence to prove the Autobots are innocent.

Back in a video viewing room, Spike finishes watching another tape showing the Decepticons as the real culprits. He's about to leave when he meets Ravage. During a brief fight, in which Ravage slams into a TV screen, gets fried, smacked with an office chair, and then finally gets buried under a shelf of video tapes (poor kitty), Spike makes his escape.

At a nearby high school disco, Soundwave and his cassettes make an appearance. Rumble dances with the ladies, Ravage gets petted by some schoolgirls, and Laserbeak gives a real evil glare to a kid who's offering him a cracker (probably considering eating the kid instead).

In deep space, Cosmos is leading the rocket ship carrying the Autobots. Inside, Ironhide and Cliffjumper persuade Prime to turn around and head back to Earth. After the ship doesn't respond to Cliffjumper's control input, Hound uses his shoulder scanner to pinpoint their destination...the [[Sun|SUN]]! Cosmos finds he is unable to link up with Teletraan I as the rocket starts to overheat...along with the Autobots inside. Cosmos then comes aboard and starts working on the computer, but to no avail.

[[File:MegatronsMasterPlan2 Autobots sizzle.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Optimus...getting...hot..." "Not now, Ironhide."]]
Inside the [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon base]], Megatron looks on with glee as he watches the Autobots and their ship collide with the sun and explode. The Decepticons then leave for a press conference.

In the [[Mayor of Central City|mayor]]'s office in Central City, Spike shows the mayor the tapes he's found. The mayor can't bring back the Autobots, but now armed with the right evidence, he and Spike start a campaign to clear the Autobots' names.

At the press conference, Megatron reveals that he plans to conquer the planet and suck it dry of energy. He is now the marshal of Central City, newly christened as Megatronia 1, and everyone will be made slaves to obtain energy for the Decepticons. A nearby screen shows the [[Conehead]]s running amok through Central City. Spike learns of the Autobots' destruction and escapes, but the tape of evidence is destroyed. Berger saves Spike from getting killed by Laserbeak, but their escape is short-lived, as they're all captured by Megatron.

Back in space, the Autobots have been saved by Trailbreaker's [[force field]]. They're attached to Cosmos, who is still heading towards the Sun, since his actions are controlled by Teletraan I.

[[File:Berger Sad Enslaved.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|It's hard being an opportunistic jerk!]]
Back on Earth, things are grim. All the humans have been enslaved by the Decepticons, and they're being forced to mine energy from every available source. Berger's received his reward: He too is cuffed and made to work in a power plant. One night, Chip breaks out of the power plant and sneaks on board a nearby truck. He heads for the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], where he sets to work at Teletraan I. He finds out that the Autobot rocket was destroyed and is about to learn more when Thrust breaks into the base, destroys Teletraan I and takes Chip back to the plant.

[[File:MegsMasterPlan Autobots roll out.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Nothing has changed between us, right Prime?" "I said 'not now', Ironhide."]]
Meanwhile, Cosmos realizes he's got control back and turns around. Back on Earth, an Air Force rescue attempt is easily thwarted by the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and Blitzwing. Megatron has the humans cornered when the Autobots arrive. Optimus Prime assembles [[To sell toys|<s>the entire '84 and '85 line</s>]] his entire forces to combat the Decepticons, and they win, heavily damaging many of their foes, including the Insecticons and Constructicons. Having thoroughly lost their advantage, the Decepticons retreat.

The mayor acquits the Autobots, while Berger is taken by the authorities to face justice. With the Decepticons defeated, the Autobots transform and roll for home.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (22)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (23)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (25)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (26)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (27)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (28)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (29)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (30)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (31)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (32)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (33)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (35)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (36)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (37)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (38)
* [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (55)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (56)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (57)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (58)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (59)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (61)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (62)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (63)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (64)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (65)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (66)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (67)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (68)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (69)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (70)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (4)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (5)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (6)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (7)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (8)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (9)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (10)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (11)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (12)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (18)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (19)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (20)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (34)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (39)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (40)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (41)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]](42)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (43)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (53)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (71)

|c3=
* Berger's army (1)
* [[Shawn Berger]] (2)
* Kid in Megatron costume (13)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (15)
* [[Chip Chase]] (16)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (17)
* Teenager at Decepticon-hosted discotheque (21)
* [[Mayor of Central City|Mayor]] (44)
* [[Justin]] (45)
* Justin's mother (46)
* Justin's father (47)
* Reporter (48)
* Angry audience member No. 1 (49)
* Angry audience member No. 2 (50)
* Private guard No. 3 (51)
* Private guard No. 4 (52)
* Truck driver (54)
* Jet fighter pilots (60)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, get down Soundwave!"
:—'''Rumble''' as he dances with the ladies.

"Uh, Laserbeak wanna cracker?"
:—'''Male human teen''' who suspects Laserbeak wants to eat him

'''Ironhide''': Are we going anywhere, Cosmos, or is this a tour of the stars? 
'''Hound''': Lay off him, Ironhide. He didn't cause our problems. 
'''Ironhide''': You're right! Maybe we oughta take it out on the one who got us into this mess! 
'''Optimus Prime''': I did what was necessary.
:—Only Ironhide could get away with taking a shot at Prime like that.

"Is anyone brave, or ''stupid'' enough, to oppose us? This city is under martial law...and ''I'' am the marshal!"
:—'''Megatron''' spells doom for the people of Central City...and makes a funny.

"Let us teach them a lesson in ''sorrow''!"
:—'''Dirge''' as he and the Coneheads terrorize Central City during the Decepticon-imposed martial law

"It is over. I saw the Autobot ship, like a silver bullet, streaking toward the Sun, and it collided—collided with destiny! I saw the end. They died in a cosmic funeral pyre!"
:—'''Shawn Berger''', destroying all hope

"You...pile of reject parts, I'll—" 
"Reject parts? BWAHAHAHAHHAHA!"
:—'''Chip Chase''' as '''Thrust''' destroys Teletraan I and, perhaps, mocks the handicapped

"You are going to face justice, and may it be kinder to you than it was to us. Autobots, transform and roll for home!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', deciding not to have Berger sent on a collision course with the Sun

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Some of the show's stock background music is briefly repurposed as source music (music that's actually heard by the characters in the show), coming from a marching band. Unfortunately, the marching band's drumming doesn't actually match up with the musical drum beats. In the next shot, a trumpet is shown as the flutes cut in.
* The way the cymbal player is playing the cymbals is wrong. Playing them in this manner produces poor control of the sound and risks damage to fine cymbals, which are not designed for such usage.
* Thundercracker is shown alongside Megatron in the first shot of the marching Decepticons. Subsequent dialog and animation makes it clear that this should have been Starscream.
* As he watches the Decepticon parade, the temple of Chip's glasses is missing.
* A short scene meant to catch us up with what Spike has been doing shows Spike viewing footage and Ravage arriving in the video room. But the footage Spike views is different from what he saw last episode, and Ravage now arrives through an open doorway instead of bashing down the door and wall.
* Barely disguised versions of Carly and Spike's character models are seen at the Teen Dance. Not-Spike is even wearing Spike's stock tan shirt and blue jeans.
* This being his first appearance, Cosmos's voice lacks the self-echo that would characterize it in his subsequent appearances.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Megatron gets a view from right alongside the Autobot ship as it approaches the Sun.
* Soundwave is missing his Decepticon symbol as Megatron turns away from watching the Autobot ship explode. It suddenly appears as he steps forward.
* The footage that Spike shows to the mayor is a ''third'' version of Starscream removing his Optimus Prime mask, despite Dirge only filming the scene once.
* Justin complains that he doesn't have any "metal-colored crayons" to finish coloring Megatron, even as he continues coloring him. Despite coloring Megatron perfectly thus far, his first stroke goes way outside the lines.
* Coloring errors:
** In the opening shot of the press conference (seen up top), Starscream's helmet is light gray instead of dark gray.
** Starscream's optics are mis-colored blue as he fires his [[null-ray]] finger.
** Soundwave's ejection button is blue instead of white as he dispatches Ravage and Laserbeak to capture Spike.
** Blitzwing's head is purple instead of yellow as he and Astrotrain guard the workers.
** As the worker pushes a cart of energon cubes into the green truck, they do not possess their glowing effect
** Optimus's headlights aren't colored in as he lectures Megatron.
** One of the panning shots of shooting Autobots features Smokescreen with a blue head crest, which should be yellow.
* As Dirge fires on a woman's car, there is a truck to its left. Just as the car explodes, the truck disappears.
* Spike's mouth doesn't move as he says "Oh no" in response to Berger's rant.
* Megatron's eyes light up, then dim, then light up again. An energy sound effect plays, but not till well after the second lighting-up is finished.
* Soundwave's mouth plate disappears after threatening "increase efficiency or be terminated" and firing on the slaves.
* When Megatron instructs Thrust to re-capture Chip Chase, his voice is not electronically enhanced.
* Teletraan I's screen displays Cosmos's name as "COSMS" {{sic}}.
* The launching sound effect for Thundercracker and Skywarp plays before they've actually lifted off.
* Thundercracker transforms without the transforming sound effect.
* The Decepticons get the Autobot laser sound effect for their opening volley as they fire on the human jets.
* As the Autobots arrive at the battle site, Ironhide is drawn with Ratchet's ambulance lights on his roof. Ratchet is right next to him, with no lights visible.
* Starscream's "Yeeiiii!" begins before he's actually shot.
* The three panning shots of the various Autobots firing on the Decepticons are all repeated twice.

===Continuity errors===
* When Spike found the fishy video footage and was cornered by Ravage last episode, the trial was nearing its conclusion. Since then, the trial has concluded, the Autobots have launched into space, Megatron has paid a visit to Autobot Headquarters, and a [[Decepticon Day]] parade has been organized...and meanwhile, Spike is ''still'' facing off with Ravage.
* Ravage is seen at the Teen Dance...just one shot after his face-off with Spike. Did he really give up that quickly? (Both this and the previous snafu combine to make it clear that Spike's encounter happened much earlier than the subsequent events, and his escape from Ravage is only shown in this episode because it made a better [[cliffhanger]] that way.)
* Did Cosmos just ''not notice'' that they were heading toward the Sun?
* Okay, we can buy that Megatron shorted out the ship's guidance system by remote control and locked in its course. But how the heck can Teletraan I control Cosmos against his will? And if that's the case, why not just have Blaster jam the signal?
* Heck, maybe there's just something wrong with Cosmos, period. In spite of the fact that his method of propulsion involves thrusters, there are several shots in this episode he's seen flying through space ''while spinning on his own axis'' like a hubcap-shaped flying saucer from a bad 1950s science-fiction movie.
* Chip rolls out of the truck trailer at will, but trailer doors are generally designed to open only from the outside.
* Though most of the Autobot roster is shown, four of the five Dinobots are missing. ([[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] can be glimpsed in the force field.)
* Chip and Optimus Prime behave as if Cosmos is the only interstellar-capable Autobot at this time, which is only ''sort of'' true; there's [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], but he had been written out of the show by this point, while [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would not appear for another three episodes.
* Superhuman Spike:
** Delivers several shoulder blocks in this episode that would destroy the largest linebacker. The first knocks over a massive standing shelf full of videos, allowing him to escape Ravage. The second, during Chip's escape, sends a cart full of energon cubes careening down the hall with enough force that it knocks Rumble into the wall several hundred feet later.
* The energy cuffs that the workers wear don't seem to restrain anything at all. Not only do all of the workers have full use of their arms, but Chip is completely unhindered by them during his escape.
* For that matter, pumping switches back and forth is not how a power plant works. [[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)|Not any more]], anyway.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Nullray-finger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Objection!"]]
* First onscreen appearances of Cosmos and Astrotrain.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Hound uses his missile launcher as a sort of radar-path-finder thing.
** Starscream fires the [[null-ray]] from his finger.
** Laserbeak fires his eye beams yet again to destroy the videotape.
** Trailbreaker extends his force field to enclose the entire Autobot army, and seemingly radiates it from his entire body.
** Ratchet can fire laser blasts [[GoBots (franchise)|from his hands]]. Sunstreaker, meanwhile, shoots blasts from the tips of his shoulders.
** Following on from its introduction in the previous episode, multiple Autobot characters wield the new generic Autobot laser pistol design during the blow-out battle at the end. The pistol comes in a variety of off-white/grey/black colors, but notably, Bumblebee wields a blueish one. Someone must have made a note about this, because he'll use it again in this color in several future episodes, and it would be turned into an accessory for his ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' toy.
** Ironhide zaps Chip's energy bonds out of existence with a beam from his fingertip.
* Spike makes use of Ravage's tech spec weakness, blinding him with a studio spotlight.
* This episode goes to some lengths to show the full extent of both armies. Lots of characters such as Red Alert, Perceptor, Seaspray and Astrotrain show up for just a shot or two. Even the Insecticons can be glimpsed for a few frames in the Decepticon Day parade (only from the thighs down), and Grimlock is visible among the Autobots floating in space. It's almost shocking that Buzzsaw and Frenzy don't appear.

===Real world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** The ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst is combined with the [[Death Star]] superlaser firing noise as the Decepticons leave Decepticon Headquarters.
** Thrust and Dirge both bear down on the city with some more ''Falcon'' engine noise.

===Trivia===
[[File:MegatronsMasterPlan2 Trailbreaker force field.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Good work, Trailbreaker." "Prime...kill me...so tired..."]]
* Ramjet causes a building at least eight stories tall to collapse with zero warning. Some cracks on the building may be meant to indicate that it's abandoned, but otherwise, a lot of humans just died.
* Though he single-handedly saves the Autobots on his own initiative, Trailbreaker gets no lines in the episode and barely even appears except as a [[Jesus]]-like silhouette at the center of his force field.
* Judging by the girls surrounding him at the club, Soundwave is popular with the ladies.
[[File:MegsMasterPlan2 ShinyThundercracker.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Quoth the raven, 'What a shine!'"]]
* When the Decepticon jets fly off to face the human resistance fighters, as Thundercracker passes the camera, his silver-coloured parts have an almost heroic, shiny gleam to them, which is unusual, given he is a villain in this story.
* The kid cheering for Megatron and company uses the same voice as [[Aron (G1)|Aron]] from the later episode "[[Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play]]".
* As is made evident by the shooting script for this episode, a large portion of this episode was actually added in at a later stage to bring it up to the required length—namely, Cosmos's inability to alter his flight path, Chip's escape and Thrust's blasting of Teletraan I.
* Chip rolls up a ramp to use Teletraan I, which is unique to this episode.
* The two sequences of Autobots transforming for battle are recycled sequences from "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" played in reverse. They're played again, forwards this time, as the Autobots transform to roll for home.
* When released as a video in the UK, both episodes were compiled as a 45-minute "movie" instead of being treated as a two-part episode.

===Foreign localization===

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Plano Mestre de Megatron Parte 2'''" ("The Master Plan of Megatron Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Autorobots in esilio-Parte 2'''" ("Autobots in Exile-Part 2")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il grande piano di Megatron - II'''" ("The Grand Plan of Megatron - II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Latin American'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El Plan Maestro De Megatron Parte II'''" ("The Master Plan of Megatron - Part II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron Chikyū Seifuku Sakusen PART II'''" (メガトロン地球征服作戦 PART II, "Megatron's Earth Conquest Plan PART II")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 17]], [[1986]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Megatron's Master Plan ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Megatron's Master Plan ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Megatron's Master Plan ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 10: Megatron's Master Plan ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-35.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1

2016-01-21T21:56:08Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=37
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=28
|prev2=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
|next2=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=39
|prev3=The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
|next3=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2
|image=DesertionDinobots1 resignation.JPG
|caption=Like nobody saw this coming miles away.
|title="Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1"
|production code=#700-36
|airdate=[[October 21]], 1985
|written by=[[Earl Kress]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Dinobots abandon the Autobots as both the Autobots and Decepticons begin to suffer malfunctions.'''

==Synopsis==
At a laboratory, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s are being shown [[Ultra Plane|a new drone fighter]] by a human professor. However, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is out to steal the fighter's blueprints from the laboratory. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who are inside [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], provide a distraction, while [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] destroys the drone. Prime orders the Autobots to inspect the wreckage for any clues. Shortly after this, the [[Decepticon]]s attack the lab, but the Autobots arrive and are able to send them packing.

[[File:G1 Grimlock Megs bite.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Me Grimlock want to munch Megatron!]]

After some fun at the [[Fun A Rama Park]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], [[Carly]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] go to pick [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] up at the airport. While there, they discover a Decepticon base in an [[Hangar|airplane hangar]]. Bumblebee calls Prime for reinforcements, but the Autobots with Prime are too far away. Contacting the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] sends the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to assist. The Dinobots quickly trash the Decepticons. In retaliation, Megatron orders the Decepticons to blast the planes, causing a massive explosion that damages the Dinobots and allows the Decepticons to retreat. [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] arrive to put out the fires and take the Dinobots back to base. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and Wheeljack begin repairs on the Dinobots, while the other Autobots rebuild the airport.

[[File:DesertionDinobots1 Rumble Megs.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|What is it, little buddy? Are you lost? Timmy fell down the well?]]

Meanwhile, the Decepticons are flying through the air back to [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|their base]]. All of a sudden, Ravage ejects from Soundwave, transforms and lands on the ground below. Megatron demands an explanation, but Soundwave says that Ravage initiated the ejection without a reason. Soon, however, the Decepticons fall from the sky, and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] begins attacking Megatron, though he doesn't know why and he can't stop himself. Megatron flicks him away and concludes that they are suffering from bad [[energon]]. The group heads off to get some new [[Energon cube|cubes]] from a powerplant to refuel themselves.

At the Autobot base, the Dinobots are repaired, and Prime, still rebuilding the airport, tries to send them to stop the Decepticons. [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] angrily refuses, saying he's tired of taking the Autobot leader's orders and saving the Autobots whenever they need help. The Dinobots leave the base, intending to fight whenever they want to. At the power plant, the Autobots arrive to stop the Decepticons, but both factions begin to suffer from debilitating malfunctions. After an indecisive battle, Megatron orders the Decepticons to retreat.

[[File:DesertionDinobots1 Autobots tired.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Cybertonium chairs seemed like a good idea at the time, but now...]]

Back at the base, the Autobots are suffering power failures now, as well as other problems (Wheeljack can't move, [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s legs are stuck in [[alternate mode]], and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is holding his own severed head!). [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] concludes that they are suffering from [[Cybertonium]] depletion. However, Cybertonium only exists on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Fortunately, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] is sending a shipment over the [[space bridge]], but the Autobots are in no condition to retrieve it themselves. Sparkplug, Spike, and Carly decide to track down the Dinobots.

As the three look for the Dinobots, they find that they have been discovered by the Dinobots. Grimlock is less than pleased to have been followed by the humans, and decides to crush them. Sparkplug lays it on thick when he says they need the Dinobots' "brilliant help." [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], however, saves the humans from getting smushed because he wants to hear about the "brilliant" part. Sparkplug explains the situation, but Grimlock doesn't care. However, when Spike mentions Cybertonium, Grimlock realizes the Cybertron connection, and decides to help (despite [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s refusal and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'s confusion). The Dinobots attack the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who are retrieving the Cybertonium, but the Dinobots simply get into the space bridge and head for Cybertron. Shockwave attempts to stop them. Guess what happens.

[[File:DesertionDinobots1 car fly.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|WHEEEEE!]]

At the Autobot base, Sparkplug contacts Grimlock, who refuses to return and help the "bossy Autobots". Carly resolves that she and Spike must head for Cybertron themselves. Prime attempts to stop them, but finally succumbs to the effects of Cybertonium depletion. Sparkplug stays to man [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to help the kids. Spike and Carly manage to drive past [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] using Carly's car, but Shockwave is waiting for the two humans on the other side.

[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2|To be continued...]]
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (1)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (2)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (13)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (19)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (22)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (23)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (27)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (28)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (29)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (30)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (31)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (32)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (16)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (17)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (26)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (34)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (35)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (36)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (37)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (38)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (39)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (40)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (41)

|c3=
*[[Greene]] (5)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (12)
*[[Carly]] (14)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'll be through in no time!" 
"You're through NOW, Megatron!"
:-'''Megatron''', surprised by '''Optimus''' while piercing through a vault.

'''Wheeljack''': Dinobots, we got a job for you. 
'''Grimlock''': Me Grimlock no like orders. 
'''Slag''': Me Slag no like ''anything''. 
'''Wheeljack''': We really need your help. Why won't you give us a hand? 
'''Grimlock''': Me don't know why not. So we help. This time. 
'''Wheeljack''': I've ''got'' to work on their personality circuits. 
:—Wheeljack learns that even the Dinobots don't know why they have a bad attitude.

"So much for your secret hideout, Megatron; even the moronic Dinobots found it!"
:—'''Starscream''' as the Dinobots attack the Decepticons' airbase.

"I warned you guys there was trouble!" 
"You always say there's trouble, Red."
:—'''Red Alert''' and '''Hoist'''

"It's the Aurobrroughs... THE AURRROOBBRRURURRUGHRRR!!!!" 
"Too bad! He's blown his vocal components. I guess that makes me the new leader!"
:— with '''Megatron''' suffering the effects of Cybertonium depletion, '''Starscream''' makes his most ridiculous bid for leadership to date

"Hey, I'm stuck! I can't transform! [''Ironhide kicks him; Jazz transforms''] OW! Thanks...I think."
:—'''Jazz'''

'''Sparkplug''': The Autobots are dying, and only you can save them. 
'''Grimlock''': No care about Autobots! Me Grimlock Dinobot! 
'''Spike''': If you don't help, the Decepticons will get all the Cybertonium they need. 
'''Grimlock''': Cybertonium? Cybertron! Okay, us do it! 
'''Slag''': No! Us no want to. 
'''Sludge''': What he say? 
'''Grimlock''': Me Grimlock. Me leader! Me say us do it!
:—Grimlock's unassailable logic convinces the Dinobots.

[[File:DesertionDinobots1 Shockwave Dinobots.JPG|right|upright=0.85|thumb|You Shockwave not so tough without black sticky stuff.]]
"Stowaways?! Stand back!" 
"WE NO STAND BACK!"
:—'''Shockwave''' and '''Grimlock''', right before the Dinobots kick Shockwave's [[diode]]s.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
* Despite the variety of engine sound effects, the experimental plane is just flying in a straight line in the first shot.
* Coloring errors:
** Blaster's forehead is red (like the rest of his helmet) instead of white as Optimus gives the order to [[roll out]].
** Starscream's face is white instead of medium gray as he enters the lab facility.
** Slag's face and head are gray instead of red as he says his "no like anything" line.
** The top of Starscream's cockpit cowling is yellow instead of gray as he scolds Megatron for retreating.
** Blitzwing's head is purple instead of yellow just before he transforms to attack Bumblebee.
*** And again after he falls out of the sky.
**** And again as Soundwave ejects Ravage at the power plant.
***** And ''again'' as the Decepticons try to retreat from the power plant. Was this an alternate color scheme or something?
** Thundercracker is miscolored as Starscream when Swoop attacks him.
** Slag's head guards are white instead of red as he agrees with Grimlock's refusal of orders. (Should they be white? Yes, yes, no!)
** The energon cubes at the power plant are semi-glowing in a strange purple color, rather than the usual bright pink.
** Jazz is colored as Red Alert when the other Autobots transform at the power station.
** Megatron's gun mode is entirely white when Starscream is about to shoot Optimus.
** Red Alert has white tires on his shoulders in the first pan of the disabled Autobots at Autobot Headquarters.
** As Wheeljack says that Cybertonium is only found on Cybertron, his whole helmet is light gray instead of dark gray, rather than just his three "fins".
* Mirage's transformation is somewhat "cheated", as he simply melds into car mode instead of turning around at the waist like he is supposed to.
* Superhuman humans:
** The scientist that Starscream tosses aside gets up and runs away, despite having been ''thrown'' a good 15 or 20 feet to the floor.
* Blaster's arm phases through Mirage's box-of-turning-invisible. While not physically impossible, he appears to be standing far enough in front of Mirage that the box should be behind him.
* After grabbing Megatron's cannon, Mirage reappears without his customary energy sound effect.
* The merry-go-round at the fair features horses that are suspended from the roof, rather than attached to floor-to-ceiling posts like a real carousel.
* The outside of the airport, where Bumblebee discharges his passengers and transforms, is ''completely deserted''. They seem to have wandered into the loading docks or something.
* Snarl appears to tear the entire hangar door apart, but after he moves past the "camera", we see that half the door is still intact.
* As Slag tears though the hangar door, by rights his hind end should be visible through the hole Snarl just made, but it only magically becomes visible as he walks through the hole he made.
* Megatron's audio appears to drop out for a second or two as he tosses Rumble aside; he says "Get... ...fool!" with timing that would be just right for the more explicable "Get off me, fool!"
* Spike and Sparkplug have teeny tiny pupils throughout this episode.
* Spike, Carly and Sparkplug are inside the terminal when Megatron gets thrown into it. A second later, they're back on the flightline with the Dinobots.
* The sound crew missed the part where Hoist is ''towing'' the derelict airliner carrying the Dinobots; they applied what sounds like an idling jet engine noise over the scene.
* The building that Powerglide and Ironhide construct changes shape between shots, and doesn't appear to have any doors or windows. There's also a parked airplane practically on top of the foundation before they start laying bricks. Ironhide's method of brick-laying fails to put any mortar into the vertical brick joints. The bricks also go from regular bricks to concrete blocks between shots.
* Megatron's Decepticon symbol is missing after he bashes Rumble aside in the desert.
* Prime clips through the concrete fence at the power plant as the Autobots arrive to stop the Decepticons.
[[File:Dotd1 sparkplug repairs wheeljack.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Just one little vertical line. Supposed to be over there on the right.]]
* Wheeljack is missing the little windshield line on the top/side of his chest as Prime answers Ironhide's question about what is happening to them. It's missing again as Sparkplug repairs him in the next scene.
* Scrapper's vehicle mode ''bends'' like rubber as he backs away from the Dinobots.
* Scrapper has two eyes instead of his usual single visor as he turns to track Swoop.
* Long Haul's portion of Devastator is shown plopping into place... long after both he and Hook (who forms the part that comes ''after'' Long Haul) have already driven up and transformed.
*When the Dinobots first appear on Cybertron, Shockwave has both his hands. In the next scene, however, his left hand blaster is there. He was last seen with two hands back in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Teletraan I kindly provides Sparkplug with a view of Grimlock ''inside [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] on Cybertron''!
* So... the sound guys have never seen a car before? They don't know what a car does? 'Cause they put in a flight sound effect as Carly's car vaults over Devastator's foot and into the space bridge ring.
* The animation of Shockwave reacting to and turning toward the space bridge elevator is recycled when Spike and Carly arrive. Not an explicit error by itself, but it creates a continuity disjoint with the next shot, as Shockwave abruptly goes from empty-handed to holding a blaster.
* There's nothing in the space bridge elevator when Shockwave blasts it.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Dotd1 sneakiest soundwave.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Seriously, Blaster doesn't recognize this guy by now?]]
[[File:DesertionDinos1 BlastergrabsRavage.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|And yet he doesn't seem surprised at all when this happens.]]
* The opening scene is bizarre. Soundwave is sitting in Ironhide's cargo compartment. Ironhide somehow failed to notice Soundwave climbing into him, and continues to fail to notice him sitting there. Blaster somehow fails to notice Soundwave sitting ''right in front of him''. Of particular note, in "[[Heavy Metal War]]" Ironhide is apparently able to detect the Decepticons by himself, without relying on Teletraan I.
* Considering the ultra plane was in full view of the Autobots and Dr. Green the whole time, how did none of them see Starscream flying over the fighter and dropping a bomb on top of it?
* We never do find out where Sparkplug is coming home from or what he was doing there in his snazzy blue suit.
* Bumblebee and Spike apparently just wander onto the airport's flightline, unquestioned, to investigate the Decepticon hangar.
* Superhumans Spike, Carly, and Sparkplug:
**Neither Spike nor Carly and Sparkplug are harmed by Megatron flying through a huge plate glass window right in front of them. (As noted above, they shouldn't even be there.)
* On a related note, though Bumblebee and the three humans are standing right next to the Dinobots, none of them are harmed by the planes exploding, while the Dinobots get blown to kingdom come.
* The Autobots lament having to repair the Dinobots using only tools available to them on Earth, despite having easily built them on Earth with those same tools.
* For some reason, Blitzwing blasting Jazz in the side causes a huge crevasse to open up beneath Jazz.
* The space bridge must have been seriously fine-tuned since its first appearance. The Dinobots make the trip just fine, despite appearing to flail about randomly as they make the trip. Even an Earthly automobile makes it through (and its human passengers survive, which means the space bridge portal has a pressurized atmosphere.) Previously, an unpiloted test vehicle vanished into the ether because it lacked guidance.
* Shockwave blasts the elevator door as Spike and Carly arrive on Cybertron, creating a huge explosion. They are only saved by power of retcon, as the next episode decides that the immediate firing and huge explosion simply didn't happen.
* Why exactly was Devastator just standing guard at the Space Bridge which was still clearly full of rocks instead of the Constructicons trying to clear it?

===Kid Rhino release===
*On the [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] DVDs, the visuals drop out completely for a second or so, replaced by a black screen, after Blaster's fight with Ravage. This error is also on the Madman Region 4 DVD.

===Continuity notes===
*This episode throws some confusion on the origin of the newer second-season characters such as Perceptor, Blaster, Blitzwing, etc. Previously it could be assumed they had simply arrived from Cybertron or some other planet. But the fact that their Cybertonium deteriorates in exact sync with the earlier characters suggests that they were also aboard the Ark and went through the same four million year slumber as the 1984 characters. Why we didn't see any of them for the first year is therefore a bit of a mystery within the context of the stories.
* The Dinobots' discontent was previously hinted at in "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" and "[[Day of the Machines]]". They seemed much happier in the later two-parter "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]".
* Apparently the Dinobots just stand around in their own little cubby hole in the Ark, waiting patiently for someone to open the door and talk to them. This is strangely placid of them, but well-established by the time of this episode.
[[File:Dotd1 malfunctioning ironhide.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|You've got the touch!]]
[[File:DesertionDinobots1 Powerglide no head.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Some parts are made to detach if excessive force is applied.]]
[[File:G1Cartoon37 Generic.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|A [[generic]] Transformer from Mirage's flashback. Perhaps one of his [[Mirage's friends|friends]]?]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** To prepare the viewer for the forthcoming mechanical failures of the Autobots, several of them use their stock powers, such as Jazz's [[sound and light show]] and Mirage's invisibility.
** To inspect the vault door, Soundwave retracts his hand and brings forth a three-pronged wirey sensor thing. It's only [[Soundwave (ROTF)|slightly creepy]].
** Carly switches off Bumblebee's equilibrium circuits by pressing a button inside his chest armor (which sure pops open easily. Bee had better hope the Decepticons don't find out about that feature.)
** Bumblebee uses a wrist communicator to radio Optimus. Though a common device for both sides, this one looks different than the more rectangular ones Bumblebee has used in the past—spheroid and with a little antenna on top.
** Inferno fires [[fire-retardant foam]] (or something like it) from a nozzle that emerges from a hatch on his cab (even though Inferno already sports several ''visible'' nozzles designed to serve the same purpose.)
** The deterioration of the Transformers' [[cybertonium]] leads to a series of mechanical failures:
*** Grapple loses his fine motor control.
*** Soundwave spontaneously ejects Ravage.
*** The Decepticons lose their flight abilities.
*** Rumble can't stop himself from attacking Megatron with his piledrivers.
*** Jazz can't transform, requiring a kick from Ironhide to do so.
*** Megatron's vocal components malfunction.
*** Starscream cannot stay airborne in plane mode.
*** Ironhide's hand won't retract to fire his liquid nitrogen.
*** Mirage only becomes black and white instead of invisible.
*** Ravage unwillingly transforms back into cassette mode mid-battle.
*** Jazz's sound and light show is reduced to a quiet static white noise.
*** Blitzwing can't stop his own forward motion in tank mode.
*** Wheeljack's joints are non-functional, rendering him immobile.
*** Optimus Prime is very weak, barely able to stand.
*** Perceptor is trapped in his microscope mode, with his arms being the only moving limbs.
*** Jazz winds up with his legs stuck in car mode.
*** Powerglide's head... falls off??
*The Constructicons appear to be functioning perfectly well in this episode. What this says about their origin controversy is unknown.
* The effect used for the vortex of [[transwarp|interdimensional space]] as the Dinobots travel to Cybertron is nigh-identical to the time warps from [[Dinobot Island, Part 1|"Dinobot Island" Parts 1]] [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|and 2]]—a glowing green central light surrounding by swirling blue and purple energy punctuated with flashes of white light.
* We get treated to the one-time appearance of a uniquely designed Transformer on Cybertron. He's medium brown and appears to have Snarl's dinosaur tail halves on his back; he transforms to a purple flying saucer-like thing.
[[File:ShockwaveDesertionOfTheDinobots1.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|It is not logical to not have a blaster when you turn into that model of blaster.]]
*In the final scene, Shockwave fires a gun that looks exactly like his own [[alternate mode]]. This may be a distorted reference to his bio from the show's [[production bible]], which states that he can create duplicates of himself. More likely, it's just something stupid the animators did. He's also shown with two hands at one point, so you know.
*This episode establishes that the Dinobots are better-armored in their [[beast mode]]s.
* '''[[Dinobot Island, Part 2|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's blown his vocal components! '''[[Triple Takeover|> >]]'''

===Real world references===
* EJK, the facility where all the information on the Ultraplane is stored, is named for episode writer Earl J. Kress.
* This episode contains enough ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects to make you think you're watching events in a galaxy far, far away:
** The opening shots of the experimental jet are soundtracked with diving [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wings]] and the [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar.
** After exiting Ironhide's cargo compartment, Soundwave launches with the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst.
** Some ''Falcon'' ambient engine noise (flying over the surface of Yavin IV) is heard as Starscream flies toward the ultra plane.
** The ultra plane explosion is soundtracked with the [[Death Star]] firing sequence noise.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron retreats from the lab.
** Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding again, as Thundercracker and Thrust take off to attack the Dinobots, followed by more X-Wings diving.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst again as the Transformer on Cybertron that Mirage watches on a monitor takes off.
** ''Falcon'' engine roar as Swoop dives to snatch Carly's car out from under Grimlock's foot.

===Trivia===
* The hangar that the Decepticons are hiding in is labeled "hangar" in huge white letters. This is so you know that it is, indeed, a hangar and not a [[Temporary Decepticon base|well hidden Decepticon base]].
* Mirage totally goes toe-to-toe with Megatron and manages to hold his own for a bit. Impressive!
* Slag sounds strangely ''upbeat'' when he says "Me Slag no like anything." It seems more that he's trying to one-up the other Dinbots than that he actually means it.
* When the Dinobots leave the Autobot base, Sludge and Snarl appear much shorter than the others. If the Dinobots were at all consistent with the dinosaurs they are based on, Sludge should be much larger than the others (foreshortening perhaps?).

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''I Dinorobots disertano-Parte 1'''" ("The Deserting Dinobots-Part 1")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La diserzione dei Dinobots - I'''" ("The Desertion of the Dinobots - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinobot no Tōbō PART I'''" (ダイノボットの逃亡 PART I, "Desertion of the Dinobots PART I")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 24]], [[1986]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Deserção dos Dinobots Parte 1'''" ("The Desertion of the Dinobots Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:''

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Channel 5]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots 3-D (Channel 5) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[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]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Roar of the Dinobots (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-36.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2

2016-01-21T21:55:36Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=38
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=29
|prev2=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1
|next2=A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=40
|prev3=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1
|next3=The Ultimate Doom, Part 1
|image=DesertionDinobots2 Shockwave humans.JPG
|caption=''Dessert of the Dinobots'', tonight on Food Network.
|title="Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2"
|production code=#700-37
|airdate=[[October 22]], 1985
|written by=[[Earl Kress]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''With the Dinobots having deserted the dying Autobots, Spike and Carly must find them and save the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[space bridge]] doors open, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]] find themselves facing the business end of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s gun arm! He fires a ray that vaporizes Carly's car right out from under them. Fleeing through [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], the two humans manage to take refuge inside a small hole in a computer, a space where Shockwave won't fire after them for fear of damaging the equipment. Carly attempts to work the machine, but is hit by a surge of electricity and falls into a nearby pit, damaging the computer, but also twisting her ankle in the process. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] contacts Shockwave and orders him to send [[Cybertonium]] before the [[Decepticon]]s die, but Carly's tinkering has left the Space Bridge non-functional.

[[File:DesertionDinobots2 Swoop humans.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Humans collect Transformers. Me Swoop collects humans!]]

Using Wheeljack's thumb radio, Spike makes contact with [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]], who is pretty much the only person standing at Autobot Headquarters, as the Autobots are all shut down. Sparkplug uses [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to guide them out of the computer and toward [[Wheeljack's workshop|Wheeljack's old lab]]. Carly gets them through the door, but before they can start looking for Wheeljack's stash of Cybertonium, someone or something starts pounding on the roof. Spike finds a rifle and blasts the intruder, who is revealed to be... [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]!

The errant Dinobot explains that the Dinobots were captured by the Decepticons after a fight in Decepticon Headquarters, and taken to the [[Cybertonium Pit]]. The three are guided by Sparkplug to the [[Mass Transit System]]. Unfortunately, the tube carrying their car is damaged, and they can no longer communicate with Sparkplug. Deep underground, the three are nearly killed when they activate old defense systems. Swoop saves the day, but his wings are damaged.

Reaching the surface, they find an abandoned city, which has clearly seen better days. Carly discovers a records room, with a datatrack which explains the history of the [[Great War (G1)|terrible war between the Autobots and Decepticons]]. Swoop says that he never knew the war had gone on for so long, but they are soon captured by a [[Sentinel (G1)|Sentinel]].

[[File:DesertionDinobots2 Grimlock kill drones.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Taste like chicken.]]

Taken to the Cybertonium Pit, they discover that Shockwave altered the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]' [[memory circuit]]s, making them think they're loyal to the Decepticons. Carly is able to repair their memory circuits, and the Dinobots thank Carly and Spike for rescuing them (except [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], of course). Now that the Dinobots are themselves, Spike comes up with an escape plan. He and [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] start arguing, so the Sentinel decides to remove the humans. When the force field surrounding them comes down, the Dinobots destroy the drones. The Dinobots take the kids to an access tube, and Grimlock carries them up.

[[File:DesertionDinobots2 Dinobots Cybertonium.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Me Grimlock always have room for Jell-o!"]]

Meanwhile, Sparkplug sends a message to Cybertron, saying that he has managed to direct the space bridge to land outside the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]]. Shockwave contacts Megatron, saying that he has sufficient Cybertonium, and the Space Bridge is repaired, but that he has lost control of the destination site. Having overheard this, the Dinobots overwhelm Shockwave, and although Shockwave is able to hit Swoop, the Dinobots and humans manage to escape back to Earth with a shipment of Cybertonium.

At the Autobot base, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] awards Spike and Carly with medals, making them "[[Honorary Autobot]]s". Grimlock decides to follow the Autobot leader's orders, and the Dinobots rejoin the [[Autobot]]s... until Grimlock no longer feels like following Prime's orders.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (6)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (7)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (8)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (9)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)

|c2=
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (5)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)
*[[Carly]] (3)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (4)

|c4=
*[[Early war history records Transformers|History records Transformers]] (11)
*[[Sentinel (G1)|Sentinel robots]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"That was my car, not an Autobot. Decepticreep!" 
"I don't think he cares, Carly."
:—'''Carly''' and '''Spike''' after Shockwave destroys Carly's car

"The more I see of this planet, the more I like it." 
"The more I see of it, the more tired I get."
:—'''Carly''' as she marvels at Cybertron while '''Spike''' despairs over the huge stairs

[[File:DesertionDinobots2 Mass transit junction.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
'''Spike'''/'''Carly''': WHOA! 
'''Swoop''': Why you make ''that'' noise? 
'''Spike''': Because we just left our stomachs back up there. Hoh-oh! 
'''Swoop''': Me glad me not have stomach to leave. 
:—Spike and Carly get a tiny bit of motion sickness sympathy from Swoop.

"Metal of good old days not so good!"
:—'''Swoop''' doesn't think much of the traps in the tunnels. He's going to think even less of the [[Quintesson|guys who built them]].

"Almost forgot — me Swoop can transform!"
:—In standard Dinobot fashion, '''Swoop''' hits on a solution for getting around with a damaged ''Pterodactyl'' wing.

"Millions of years ago, Cybertron was a planet of peace...until the Decepticons, lusting for power, began a terrible war. Not designed for combat, the Autobots were overwhelmed and subjugated by their evil opponents. While many Autobots fled Cybertron, a few valiant survivors devised new tactics and launched a counter-offensive on their arch-foes. And thus began a terrible series of wars. Many times, both sides have claimed victory, but this has been short-lived, for the Autobots have overthrown Decepticon tyrants, and, likewise, Decepticon treachery has toppled many a peaceful Autobot ruler. And to this day, the war rages on."
:— A '''computer''' telling the history of the Autobot-Decepticon conflict

[[File:Grimlock01.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Me Grimlock say YOU PREGNANT.]]
"No! Me hate you!" 
"Well, I'm not nuts about you, either!" 
"Me not do what you say!" 
"You lunky bag of bolts, you can't do anything!"
:—'''Grimlock''' and '''Spike''' fake a fight within the Cybertonium Pit.

'''Slag''': Even though Dinobots not like it... 
'''Snarl''': ...We take orders from you now... 
'''Grimlock''': ...Until ''next time'' me Grimlock no '''''feel''''' like it. 
:—A warm fuzzy moment, Dinobot style.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* An establishing shot shows us a pile of nonfunctional Autobots. Among them is Jazz, now back in his complete robot mode after being stuck as a half-car, half-robot last episode.
* Coloring errors:
** In the pile-of-Autobots shot, Prowl's head crest is white instead of red, Jazz's tires are white, Bumblebee's groin is gray instead of yellow, and Brawn's gauntlets are yellow instead of gray.
** Would anybody recognize Slag if they colored his face ''right''?
*** The front of Slag's checkguard is white instead of red as Carly fixes him.
*** His whole face is white as the energy fence deactivates, and again as he returns to robot mode and escapes from the pit.
*** The "side panels" of his head are white as Optimus Prime starts to address the Dinobots (his eyes are also colored red, and next to him, Sludge has empty white voids instead of eyes.)
*** White cheekguard-fronts again as Slag speaks his final line. His chest plate is also gray instead of white.
** After their escape, the Dinobots stop to figure out which way to go; in this shot, Grimlock's head is light gray, and Slag's dino head is light gray instead of yellow.
** During the final scene, Swoop can be seen being repaired (presumably having his blown-up wing replaced, since he only has one), but his intact wing is the same color as the bed he's lying on, and his beak is red. And Ratchet, standing at the foot of the bed, is red and gray.
* One of Teletraan I's displays labels Spike and Carly's location as "DECEPTKON COMPUTER BRAIN".
* Where's Spike been carrying that rather largish [[photon light]] he pulls out? It's way too big to fit in a pocket.
* Carly's "oop!" happens before she actually stumbles. She's calmly saying "Let me lean on your shoulder" while nearly pitching face-first into the ground.
*Predictably, the entrance to Wheeljack's lab looks completely different than when we saw it in "Divide and Conquer". So does the access panel for the door. Neither of those looked like the entrance seen in "The Ultimate Doom, Part 3", but that seems to have been a back door.
* As is common in the cartoon universe, the metal ceiling of Wheeljack's lab cracks and crumbles like rock.
* As Swoop explains what happened to the Dinobots, he's speaking his narration IN the flashback. Not necessarily a mistake, but a very odd stylistic choice if not.
* Swoop's wing damage is missing in the very next shot of him after it happens ("Must've triggered switch!"). And then it's back when he tries to avoid some heat-seeking missiles. ("Wing won't work!").
* After he's shot by the Decepticon guard, Swoop falls over with a very organic-sounding thump.
* The Dinobots are all busily loading, loading, loading while they declare that they don't want to leave the Cybertonium pits. But when Carly decides to check Snarl's circuits, he's just standing there doing nothing.
* During the "history of Cybertron" segment, there is a [[Early war history records Transformers|pink and a grey generic]] who is among the Decepticons that round up a group of Autobots. It is seen again shortly afterwards... among a group of (if the narration is something to go by) ''Autobots'' who show off their newly acquired transformation abilities.
* When Shockwave appears on the guard's communication screen his gun hand has been replaced by a normal hand.

===Continuity errors===
* Victor Caroli's voiceover recap incorrectly describes the Autobots as "energy depleted"; in actuality, they're suffering mechanical breakdowns.
*At the end of Part 1, Shockwave fires (with two guns!) into the opening Space Bridge elevator door, triggering a huge explosion (which the "in our last episode" recap is kind enough to replay for us at the episode's start.) At the opening of this episode, however, he's just standing there when the elevator doors open, aiming his gun arm; his hand-held pistol is gone. After a second, he fires a ray that vaporizes Carly's car out from under its two human passengers, but doesn't cause any human-eviscerating explosions. It's not the first time that ''The Transformers'' has solved an unsolvable problem by just ignoring it, but it's one of the most flagrant.
*Incidentally, the ability to vaporize an entire automobile's worth of mass would seem to be a pretty useful power for an evil robot, but it's never seen outside of this episode's opening sequence.
*Also incidentally, Shockwave sure does stand there for an awfully long time, letting the clearly-still-alive humans run off into his headquarters.
[[File:Dotdinos2 teletraan simulation.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Most of the monitor imagery in this episode is simulated pictures constructed by Teletraan I to keep Sparkplug abreast of Spike and Carly's progress. All well and good, but it does seem to rule out any possibility that all those other unlikely camera views in all those other episodes were super-realistic computer simulations.
** Is Megatron collapsed against the video monitor console... or do the Decepticons have a camera on the floor?
*Spike and Carly happen upon a stack of energon cubes, and the script makes a point of having Spike wonder aloud where they came from, since Cybertron is supposed to be out of energy. Oddly, the episode does nothing to address this mystery—presumably they were sent up by the Decepticons Earth, though they haven't actually been shown to do that since "[[The Ultimate Doom]]", this two-parter being the first use of the space bridge since season one.
* Superhuman Spike and Carly:
** Spike and Carly manage to avoid all injury despite being in Carly's car when Shockwave disintegrated it.
** Spike manages to hold back an approximately 20+ foot tall metal door weighing several tons from crushing him and Carly.
** He also lifts a metal gun that's bigger than he is!
** Both he and Carly manage to hang on to Swoop's giant metal claws through a gut-wrenching series of aerial maneuvers. They're both fine when he drops them before crashing.
*When Carly and Spike reach Wheeljack's lab, Carly opens the door without ever knowing the pass code. It's not impossible that she got the code from [[Chip Chase]], who systematically guessed the code in "[[Divide and Conquer]]", but it does seem a bit on the unlikely side. Wheeljack also has a Decepticon symbol on his doorway, presumably put there by the Decepticons who sealed the entrance... but it wasn't there either of the last two times we saw the lab.
*Carly's ankle somehow repairs itself. Or was she faking just to get Spike to carry her everywhere? Maybe she found something in Wheeljack's lab that could heal her ankle or function as a brace.
* It's a cartoon convention that a missile can't harm you unless it physically hits you, no matter how close it gets, so we can cut ''The Transformers'' a little slack in this regard. However, the absurdity of it is a bit flagrant as Swoop dodges missiles in the extremely tight confines of a hallway, where the missiles have several chances to explode basically right next to him.
* The Decepticon drones don't keep watch over the pit as Carly reprograms the (stationary) Dinobots.
*Sparkplug says he's altered the space bridge destination by tapping into the Decepticons' computers. He never mentions how he managed to build an entire space bridge receiver ring right outside Autobot Headquarters. There has also been some previous indication that the space bridge appears at random, uncontrolled locations, although given that that stopped being mentioned early on in the series it's possible that the Decepticons solved the problem between episodes. Perhaps the receiver ring is part of the deal?

===Continuity notes===
*When Swoop escapes the Decepticon guards, he is shown flying over [[Great Dome|Iacon]] as the Autobots left it in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** As mentioned above, Shockwave can ''vaporize'' things with a ray from his gun arm. What things? Cars, robots, machinery, just about anything, it would seem. How have the Decepticons not won the war with this guy on their side??
** Swoop can launch a couple of stubby little missiles out of his upper chest.
** The Dinobots' memory circuits can be bypassed via something or other in their chests. It sounds bizarre, but Bumblebee apparently had memory chips in his chest in "Transport to Oblivion", and Brainstorm later declares that he and his compatriots all have "auxiliary memory circuits" in their chests.
* Swoop and the humans wander into what appears to be an abandoned underground city on Cybertron. The notion of Cybertron cities being built one atop the next would be revisited in the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon, many years later.
* This episode gives us a rare glimpse into Cybertron's past via a sort of mini-documentary:
** The footage features a ''ton'' of totally made-up robot and vehicle designs.
** The ships used by fleeing Autobots in the datatracks are the [[Vanguard-class Deep Space Interceptor|same type]] as the Ark.
** The documentary suggests that the Autobots created the art of transforming, something that "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" corroborates.
** This was the first episode where a Transformer that isn't a hologram or a clone is shown to be destroyed.
* For the most part, this is the last time the Dinobots would be shown as rebellious, intimidating warriors in the original animated continuity, as by their next appearance in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' they are happy to work with other Autobots, and by [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Season 3]], are generally used as comedic foils.
* Since Cybertron clearly sucked up a bunch of Earth's atmosphere in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]", we can forgive Carly and Spike's ability to breathe there. (Of course, Cybertron was human-inhabitable even before that incident, as demonstrated by Chip's visit in "[[Divide and Conquer]]".) Awful handy of it to have human-compatible gravity (which it would need anyway to actually hold on to that atmosphere.)

===Real-world references===
[[File:DisertionDinobots2 humans medals.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"I got shot through space, my car was disintegrated, I got lost and injured on an alien planet, captured by giant evil robots and made to act as slave mining labor, all to save your lives, and all I get is this lousy medal? That's it, I want a new car. And it better not be one of the Autobots acting like a car."]]

* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Spike's laser shot hits Swoop with the sound of [[Obi-Wan Kenobi|Ben Kenobi]] and [[Darth Vader]] cutting through some machinery on the [[Death Star]].
** The same sound is used as part of the heat-seeking missiles' engines.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine rumble as Swoop starts his "fancy flying", then ''Falcon'' engine burst, then Death Star superlaser, then [[TIE Fighter]] engine as he finally crashes.

===Trivia===
*Carly doesn't appear entirely thrilled with the whole "honorary Autobots" thing. Not surprising, considering everything that happened to her in this episode.
*"Photon Light" sounds redundant.
*This episode has a smaller number of Decepticons in it than any other in the Generation 1 series. Maybe Megatron wanted more screen time?

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''I Dinorobots disertano-Parte 2'''" ("The Deserting Dinobots-Part 2")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La diserzione dei Dinobots - II'''" ("The Desertion of the Dinobots - II")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*The old dub has Grimlock briefly misnamed as Swoop.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinobot no Tōbō PART II'''" (ダイノボットの逃亡 PART II, "Desertion of the Dinobots PART II")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 31]], [[1986]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Deserção dos Dinobots Parte 2'''" ("The Desertion of the Dinobots Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Channel 5]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Desertion of the Dinobots 3-D (Channel 5) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — Desertion of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm|Behaviour]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-37.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Blaster Blues

2016-01-21T21:51:01Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=39
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=50
|prev2=The Core
|next2=Prime Target (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=34
|prev3=Microbots
|next3=Sea Change
|image=BlasterBlues Megatron threatens Blaster.jpg
|caption="No, Megatron! My girlfriend will break me up!"
|title="Blaster Blues"
|production code=#700-38
|airdate=[[October 23]], 1985
|written by=[[Larry Strauss]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons hijack Earth's airwaves. Yet somehow, you are still able to watch this episode.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Blasterbluesconcertcrowd.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Did Spike and Carly take an Autobot on all of their dates?]]

[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]] are at a rock concert, having taken [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] along for the music. Enjoying the concert, Spike wishes that the rest of the [[Autobot]]s could hear the music, so Blaster begins transmitting to all of them. Off in space, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] gets a real kick out of the music.

At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] are observing [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s target practice on [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], when Blaster's music from the concert begins playing on their channel. Sparkplug and most of the Autobots are not enjoying the overwhelming volume, but [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] gets the chance to show off his dancing skills.

At the [[Haley Observatory]], [[Haley|Professor Haley]] introduces his new creation, the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], to his fellow scientists. The device is intended to translate Earth's recordings into other languages and broadcast them into space, in search of intelligent life. Seemingly, the Transformers don't count. During his first test of the device, the scientist is quite surprised when he gets a response... which turns to horror when he sees it's the Decepticons. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], as he is oft wont to do, begins firing randomly, but [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders him to stop, saying that they need the Voltronic Galaxer.

At the Autobot base, Optimus Prime is so annoyed by the music that he outright tells Blaster to "shut up", but to no avail. Only a distress call from the scientist finally gets Blaster to stop. After the Autobots arrive at the observatory, they find that the Decepticons have already fled with their prize. Optimus Prime vows to find it and bring the Voltronic Galaxer back.

[[File:Blasterbluesprimedirectstraffic.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Prime's day job]]

Splitting up into groups, the Autobots begin the search. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], Spike and Carly have already searched half the hemisphere, while Cosmos and Blaster are searching outer space. They locate the Decepticons in a [[Decepticon lunar dome base|base]] on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], where Megatron is plotting to take control of Earth's radio airwaves. Blaster and Cosmos are caught, however, before they can contact the Autobots. Blaster is forced into use as a transcrambler, while Cosmos powers the device. Megatron orders the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] to return to Earth as the radio blackout commences.

On Earth, the communications blackout is scrambling even the Autobots' radio channels. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] barely manage to stop a forest fire, while [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] free motorists trapped on a frozen highway, where [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] attack.

[[File:Blasterbluespgcarriesprime.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm not paid enough to carry this around.]]

At an airport, Powerglide is attempting to land, when Starscream and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] attack, damaging both Powerglide and Optimus Prime. Spike manages to strap a [[jet pack]] onto Powerglide, giving him some extra boost. As Megatron begins broadcasting his demands to Earth, Blaster plays music from the concert on the same channel. Carly recognizes the tunes and manages to track the transmission back to the Moon. They head for the Autobot base. Carly does some quick repairs on Optimus then the two teens and Powerglide load Prime onto Omega, who takes them to space.

Once Omega lands on the Moon, Megatron and Astrotrain attack him. Omega manages to get his hand on Megatron, but Astrotrain rams Omega in train mode, causing him to release Megatron. Astrotrain then flees and Omega transforms into rocket mode and follows. Seeing Optimus Prime defenseless, Megatron decides to hit him while he's down, only for the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] to reactivate just in time to defend himself.

[[File:Blasterbluesop&mdance.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|One shall stand; one shall get tossed around a little bit and run away crying "Retreat!!"]]

With no one to guard them, Blaster and Cosmos cause the voltronic galaxer to receive feedback and explode. Seeing his latest technology ruined, Megatron retreats. After freeing them, Blaster mentions that he could rebuild the Decepticon moonbase into a new Autobot base. Cosmos likes the idea, as it would give him some company. Optimus agrees, but orders him to keep an eye on his volume.

Soon, however, Blaster is back to transmitting loud rock music over the air waves again. Some stereos never learn.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (3)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (6)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (9)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (14)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (16)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (21)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (22)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (24)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (25)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (26)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (30)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (31)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (13)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (23)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (35)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (36)

|c3=
*[[Carly]] (1)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
*[[Haley|Professor Haley]] (10)
*Air Traffic Controllers (27)
*Pilot (28)
*Railroad workers (29)
*Meteorologist (31)
*Motorists (34)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:BlasterBlues Professor Haley.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Hey, everyone, it's tuuuuuuesday, and you're listening to the Giant Botcast...]]
"Where are you? In another galaxy?" 
"''Much'' closer than ''that!!'' Huhu~hwa~ha~hahaha~haha~hahaha!!"
:—'''Professor Haley''' contacts '''Megatron''', the master of dry wit.

'''Optimus''': My audio receptors! What is that noise?! 
'''Hoist''': Humans call it 'music'. 
'''Sparkplug''': Not ''this'' human! 
'''Jazz''': Sounds all right to me!
:—Sparkplug and the Autobots share their opinions on Blaster's choice in music.

"The Earth is but a speck on the arm of the universe."
:—'''Human scientist''' bolstering his race's importance in the cosmos.

"Blaster! Decrease volume! ... Blaster! '''SHUT UP!'''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' in another fine example of subordinate management.

'''Ironhide''': Where did the call originate? 
'''Optimus''': I don't know! All I can hear is that blasted Blaster!
:—[[Peter Cullen]]'s annoyance at Blaster's loud music.

[[File:BlasterBlues blaster altmode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Today on Capitol Hill, the fish was delish, and according to U.N. secretary council members, it made quite a dish. You are listening to member-supported public radio.]]
"Hey, talk about no place. I can't even get a bottom 40 station out here."
:—'''Blaster''' doesn't enjoy outer space duty inside Cosmos.

"It's Blaster!" 
"Why that son of an 8-track."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Trailbreaker'''

"Release Autobots, Megatron!" 
"Never!" 
"Reeeelease them!"
:—'''Omega Supreme''' adds some "hands on" pressure to dealing with '''Megatron'''

"Looks like the big boy needs a little training!"
:—'''Astrotrain''', proving the pun is indeed mightier than the sword. Unfortunately, it's not as mighty as Omega Supreme.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The rock band at the concert is playing ''two songs at once'', both "[[Cold Slither (song)|Cold Slither]]" and the generic big band/hard rock song. "Cold Slither" is missing a moment later when Blaster sends the music to the Autobots.
*The guitarist is seen 'playing' his guitar with only his right arm, as his left (which should be doing the fretwork) is up in the air.
* The arena's seats have more than a seat's width between them. The owners must've been expecting some ''seriously'' fat patrons.
* Cosmos's voice in his first couple of lines lacks his usual self-echo.
* As Megatron gloats on top of the observatory, his laugh plays over itself (i.e., the same laugh twice).
* Improbable viewpoints:
** So Blaster sends the music from the concert to the Autobots. How does he manage to send a 3rd-person view of ''himself'' at the same time?
** Do Tracks and Huffer have a video camera with them to report in to Prime?
** Does Prime have a camera stationed at the city docks to show Powerglide flying in aimless circles?
* The reporter at the observatory has already written down Professor Haley's words before he's finished saying them.
* Recycled footage:
** Prime's trailer rolling in from offscreen seems to be recycled from "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]".
** The shot of Ironhide, Trailbreaker and Hound converting to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] is lifted from "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"
** The pan of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe transforming comes right out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".
** The same "MTMTE1" scene is mined again to show Trailbreaker transforming as the Autobots deploy to deal with the loss of radio communications.
* Astrotrain has no transformation sound effect as he leaves the tunnel and converts from train to shuttle.
[[File:Blasterbluesprowlcarries.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Coloring error not included.]]
* Coloring errors:
** Trailbreaker's eyeband is black instead of blue as Optimus quizzes the professor about the Voltronic Galaxer. The points of his cheeks are colored blue instead.
** Cosmos's "cap" is green instead of red as he lands on the Moon.
** Prowl's head crest is white instead of red as he closes Ratchet's passenger compartment (and can't Ratchet do that himself?)
** Blaster's forehead is red instead of white as Megatron threatens him.
** Cosmos's helmet is green instead of red as Prime frees Blaster (which, by the way, seems to consist of just helping him to his feet, rather than freeing him from any "welding" done by Astrotrain.)
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots: Prime's initial squad fluctuates all over the place.
** The initial group receiving the transmission is Prime, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist & Cliffjumper.
** Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Hound show up to transform prior to rolling out, and are not seen again. Trailbreaker shows up at the same time.
** Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Prowl (or maybe Bluestreak) show up as the Autobots depart.
** The group that finally arrives at the observatory is Prime, Jazz, Ratchet, Ironhide, Hoist, Bumblebee & Trailbreaker, which means we've lost seven guys.
* When the Autobots drive away from the observatory, a shot of the Autobots from the front shows them driving over bare rock rather than the asphalt road.
* Powerglide's cockpit has changed from a fighter-plane-like single-seater (seen in "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]"), to a side-by-side like a passenger jet.
* "This your idea of a joke?" Blaster's line lacks the usual processing.
* Red Alert's "horns" flash orange. Last time, they flashed blue.
* Despite knowing about the pending aerial attack, Red Alert keeps shooting at the trees. It seems likely that the animators recycled previous footage, perhaps not realizing he should be aiming skyward.
* Whatever damage Powerglide sustained from Ramjet pretty much disappears after Spike puts the jetpack on him.
* Blaster first pushes his left-most button. Later, it's the middle two that are deployed. After Megatron kicks him, all but one are engaged.
[[File:Omegasupreme astrotrain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Pretty damn big, that's how much.]]
* The whole sequence of Megatron discovering Blaster's subterfuge is a bit wonky. Blaster sniggers loudly, Megatron suddenly says "What was that?", then there's a beep and the rock music is heard. The animators/sound guys seem to have not quite gotten the sequence of events down correctly.
* When Spike cheers on Omega Supreme, both his lips ''and'' Carly's are moving.
* When Astrotrain rams Omega Supreme's leg, Omega holds still for two seconds, then drops Megatron.
* If Astrotrain is big enough to hold all the Decepticons, then how big does that make Omega Supreme in the picture to the right here?
* One gun, many lasers:
** When Optimus fires at the fleeing Megatron, he only has one gun, yet four or five lasers streak past Megatron.
* Blaster has four small switches on his chest for most of the episode (clearly seen as when Megatron kicks him towards the end), but is drawn with three large ones after Prime frees him.
* At the end of the episode, Blaster seemingly is supposed to be playing his rock tune yet again, complete with Prime yelling at him for it and the other Autobots chasing Blaster off into the sunset... but the music is missing. Oops!

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Blasterbluesonthemoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"No no, it is totally worth risking the complete failure of the plan to have gloating rights over a couple of guys whose names I probably can't remember!"]]
[[File:BlasterBlues Carly Spike in spacesuits.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* You have to wonder if Megatron thought out all the parts to this plan, given that it would be a lot easier for human society to adapt to life without radio, than life without electricity, petroleum and fossil fuels, and so on... Actually, how would we ''use'' said radio waves, without the power resources the 'Cons would strip out of the planet in exchange for ceasing their jamming?
* Furthermore, one might question the wisdom of leaving two conscious Autobots right across from the critical device... with one of them ''fully armed''. The episode's teleplay explains this a bit better: in it, Cosmos is not treated so dismissively by Megatron, who needs his "magnificent super-sonic engines" to power the transmitter, and at the episode's climax, Cosmos was not supposed to ''shoot'' the transmitter, but rather, exploit his function as a power source to help Blaster overload the machine.
* In a world full of Transformers running around on the evening news (and showing up in arcades, research labs, dams, power plants, and basically everywhere), why would a scientist still speak of alien life as though it were some unproved hypothesis?
[[File:BlasterBlues Megatron voltronic galaxer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit!]]
* In a rare instance of a falling human seeming to incur some actual injury, Professor Haley is apparently knocked unconscious by falling off the Voltronic Galaxer. Of course, he's up and (literally) running by the time the Autobots arrive (and still hanging out inside the burning building, apparently).
* The joy of size changing: Blaster rides inside Cosmos to the Moon, and in the next scene Cosmos and Blaster are side by side and Blaster is almost twice as tall as Cosmos. Cosmos's improbably large interior has just enough for Blaster to sit inside of. "[[Sea Change]]" and "[[Quest for Survival]]" will portray it as even larger, with room for multiple passengers to walk around.
* The passenger jets at the airport are shown swerving and maneuvering as though they were small-scaled fighters.
* Maybe Astrotrain's alternate mode ''does'' make sense in the bizarre world of cartoon Earth... because the railroad workers are trying to clear the track for a ''steam locomotive''.
* One of the railroad men says he will "radio [the train] to the auxiliary track", but no other track is actually shown.
* Only one guy leaps clear of the steam engine. Where's the fireman?
* Okay, so it's great that Optimus is directing traffic at this one airport, but... what about the hundreds of other airports out there? Much like "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]", the Autobots seem to lack a plan to deal with the actual ''cause'' of the problems.
* If Powerglide's [[jet pack]] is ''out of fuel'', then ''how does he keep flying??''
* Ratchet's team was mostly in [[robot mode]] when they were buried. They emerge from the snow in vehicle mode. Also, all the buried and exploded cars have vanished.
* Does Omega Supreme just keep some human-sized space suits handy? 'Cause Spike and Carly suddenly pop up in space suits when it's time to go to the Moon.

===A loony lunar lineup of astronomical errors===
* As with every other outer space episode in the series, Cosmos, Astrotrain, and all the rest get full sound effects in outer space and on the Moon's surface. Of course, media of far higher caliber than ''The Transformers'' have made the same error, generally because it'd be pretty boring to watch a bunch of silent ships fly around, so we'll let this one slide.
* The depicted activities of any Transformer on the Moon do not bear any resemblance to the movements of creatures under gravity one-sixth that of Earth's own.
* Cosmos really shouldn't have to switch off his engines once he reaches the Moon; he should have just switched them off as soon as he escaped Earth's gravity well.
* Blaster somehow manages to ''listen'' in on the Decepticons across the airless surface of the Moon.
* The burning [[Decepticon lunar dome base]] continues burning and trailing smoke as if it were in an atmosphere.
* Carly: "I've never been to the Moon before!" NO. REALLY??

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Blasterbluestrailerchase.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Last one out of the parking lot gets stuck with the check.]]
[[File:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[http://www.shortpacked.com/index.php?id=914 '''''I... AM... TRAILBREAKER!!!''''']]]
* Jazz has righteous moves, but they are limited by his bulky body.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Blaster's boom box mode in the opening scenes is as tall as a human.
** Red Alert's "horns" flash to indicate Decepticon activity, just like in "[[Auto Berserk]]". This time they're orange, though.
** Ratchet and the rest can deploy tire studs to deal with snow-covered roads.
** Hoist deploys a long snakey tentacle with a claw at the end to catch a falling motorist. How many devices can he [[Auto Berserk|carry]], anyway??
** This time, Trailbreaker's forcefield just kind of radiates out of thin air in front of his head. He's able to form it into a dome, which he can then place where he wants it... but, to his later misfortune, he remains outside the dome himself.
** Powerglide can deploy a suction cup line capable of carrying wounded Autobots around like limp ragdolls, leaving them flapping in the breeze.... say, aren't you supposed to ''not move'' the injured?
** Omega Supreme clearly leaves most of himself behind when he launches for the Moon. When he arrives there, he lands in rocket mode amid a cloud of smoke... and when the smoke clears, the left-behind bits have appeared. Later, he transforms out of just the rocket (conveniently off-screen) while in mid-flight.
* Where's the trailer go?:
** During the scene at the observatory, Optimus transforms and drives away, and there is an extended moment where his trailer drives off after him to catch up.
* Omega Supreme actually uses whole sentences in this episode. That's just crazy.

===Real-world references===
[[File:BlasterBlues Haley Observatory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* The names of Professor Haley and his eponymous observatory are likely inspired by [[wikipedia:Halley's Comet|Halley's Comet]], which was beginning its once-every-76-years trip through the inner solar system when the episode aired in late [[1985]].
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst is strangely repurposed as the burning fires at the observatory as the Decepticons close in.
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wings]] diving, ''Falcon'' engine burst, and [[Death Star]] superlaser all in a row as the Decepticons launch from the observatory.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron takes off from Astrotrain
** X-Wings diving as the 'cons fly aboard Astrotrain
** Death Star superlaser as Astrotrain pursues Cosmos.
** [[TIE Fighter]] engine as Cosmos evades.
** The Death Star door slide is used as a steam engine sound effect.
** A [[Stormtrooper (SW)|Stormtrooper]]'s laser gun is used to soundtrack Ramjet and Thundercracker's attack on Inferno and Red Alert, possibly taken from when [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] & [[Han Solo|Han]] ambush the stormtroopers aboard the ''Falcon''.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Megatron launches from the Moon.
* Trailbreaker mentions 8-tracks. Did kids in 1985 even know what an 8-track is?
* "Bang, zoom, to the Moon!" - Powerglide's line is a play on a signature line of Ralph Kramden from ''[[The Honeymooners]]''...whose actor Jackie Gleason was also the inspiration for Powerglide's voice.
* "Parting is such sweet sorrow!" - Megatron prepares to kill Prime while quoting one of Shakespeare's most famous lines.

===Trivia===
* Throughout the script, '''Trailbreaker''' is referred to as '''Trailblazer''', a name which popped up during "[[A Prime Problem]]".
* Seriously. "I've never been to the Moon before!"

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La città delle stelle'''" ("The City of the Stars")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il Blues di Blaster'''" ("The Blues of Blaster")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Broadcast Blues'''" (ブロードキャスト・ブルース)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 27]], [[1986]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-38.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)

2016-01-21T21:50:29Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]] event|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (Legends)}}
{{episode
|image=G1toon starscream king of the castle.jpg
|caption="It's only a model." "Shhh."
|series=G1toon
|ep=40
|prev2=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2
|next2=The Golden Lagoon (episode)
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=30
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=11
|prev3=The Master Builders (episode)
|next3=The Golden Lagoon (episode)
|title="A Deceptacon Raider in King Arthur's Court" "A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court"
|airdate=[[October 24]], 1985
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=#700-39
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Transformers go to the sixth century but avoid Camelot, as it is a silly place.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Ramjetinpast.gif|left|thumb|You yellow bastard! Come back here, and get what's coming to you! I'll bite yer legs off!]]

[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] are battling it out with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. When the [[Decepticon]]s retreat out of exhaustion, Rumble detects energy in a nearby cave. After they wander inside they are transported to 543 A.D., where they are greeted by Sir [[Wigend of Blackthorne]] and his knights, who believe the [[Transformer]]s are knights of an enemy realm. Their arrival is also observed by an owl, who flies off to inform his master, the wizard [[Beorht]], of this strange new development.

[[File:Raiderrumblejoust.jpg|thumb|Look. In order to maintain airspeed velocity, a Ramjet has to spin its turbines 43 times every second, right?]]

Nearby, [[Nimue]], princess of that enemy kingdom, is spying on their conversation and runs to warn her father, [[Aetheling the Red|Sir Aetheling the Red]], but she bumps into Spike (literally). The Decepticons agree to help Blackthorne's knights win their conflict with Aetheling, but Starscream obviously wants to rule and have a land of his own. Spike enters the jousting tournament between the two kingdoms (which has been rigged by the Decepticons, of course), but quickly fails.

Ramjet and Rumble enter the tournament together (Rumble riding Ramjet in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]), but are defeated by Warpath and Sir Aetheling. An enraged Starscream is sick of chivalry, kidnaps Nimue and threatens her life unless Sir Aetheling agrees to give up his realm. The Autobots give chase but cannot keep up due to lack of energy and collapse out of exhaustion.

[[File:Raiderstarscreamcooks.jpg|left|thumb|What manner of man are you, that can summon up fire without flint or tinder?]]

Starscream holds Nimue prisoner in Blackthorne's castle, which he has commandeered, and forces its residents to construct and power a primitive electrical generator to keep the Decepticons energized. Starscream then sends Rumble to get [[wikipedia:potassium nitrate|potassium nitrate]] (in other words, LOTS of bird crap) to make gunpowder.

[[File:Raiderrollinthehay.jpg|thumb|Yes! Yes! You must give us ALL a good spanking!]]

Spike attempts to save Nimue from Blackthorne's keep, only to find she and Sir Blackthorne are now a happy couple. Despite feeling rejected, Spike still agrees to help fight the war against the Decepticons.

Meanwhile, the Autobots and Sir Aetheling's knights charge towards the castle to battle it out with the Decepticons. The Autobots help the knights cross the moat and scale the walls, but they can't put up much of a fight due to their dangerously low energy levels. Starscream's gunpowder projectiles make short work of the invading forces.

[[File:Raiderdragonvsautobots.jpg|left|thumb|When suddenly... the ANIMATOR suffered a fatal heart attack! And the cartoon peril was no more.]]

Beorht the wizard appears and summons lightning that fills Warpath and Hoist back up to full strength. They take back the battle with Starscream and are victorious. Beorht concludes the robots are time travelers and leads them all back to the cave in which they arrived, only to find it guarded by a [[dragon]]. Starscream refuses to go any closer, but Beorht pulls out a pouch of "[[Dragon's Bane]]", noting that a little bit of it works every time. He throws the concoction at the dragon, and it explodes, frightening away the beast.

Spike and the Transformers go back into the cave and return to the present using the [[Dragon Mound]]. When they arrive back in their own time, they are greeted by multiple cannon blasts by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Starscream tackles his leader in a burst of enthusiasm at being back safely. Megatron, on the other hand, isn't nearly as happy to see Starscream, who has just ruined his shot...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (5)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (6)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (2)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (3)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (15)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (16)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (17)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (18)

|c3=
*[[Nimue]] (7)
*[[Wigend of Blackthorne]] (8)
*[[Wulf]] (9)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (10)
*[[Aetheling the Red]] (11)
*[[Beorht]] (12)

|c4=
*[[Solomon]] the owl
* A [[dragon]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Oohh! I just changed heads last week!"
:—A ground-bound '''Ramjet''' learns that even a tough jet is no match for [[Warpath (G1)|a tank]]

"Out of the way, Rumble! It could be dangerous. As your leader, I must take the risk. Anyway, I'm lower on energy than you!"
:—'''Starscream''' acting true to form.

"Huh! Inferior construction, even for an Autobot. One good whack, it breaks right in two!"
:—'''Ramjet''' examining the "wreckage" of Sir Wulf and his horse.
[[File:Beorht01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Look! It's the old man from Scene 24!]]

"What's more important is that we have 1,451 years to go before we have to worry about the Autobots and that bungler Megatron!"
:—Even trapped in the past, '''Starscream''' looks on the bright side, unaware his math is failing.

"Whatcha waiting for, Red Knight? Don't you wanna rumble with Rumble?"
:—"Sir" '''Rumble''' prepares to joust.

[[File:Raiderrumblepoo.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Who's that there?" "I dunno. Must be a king." "Why?"]]

"Make some idiot twenty feet tall, and he thinks he rules the Earth."
:— '''Beorht''' isn't too impressed by Starscream.

"Starscream! Lower the drawbridge! ''Ugh!'' I got your stupid potassium nitrate!"
:—'''Rumble''', carrying a pot of bird droppings while also covered in same.

"What's the matter? Aren't you glad to see us?" 
"RRRRAGGGH!!"
:—'''Starscream''' asks a rather loaded question of '''Megatron'''.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*Warpath's chest cannon's length changes frequently during the episode.
* The first shot of Warpath has him rolling along in tank mode, drawn at about a 1/4-angle viewpoint, but the ground beneath him is scrolling parallel to the camera.
* A bizarre flash of energy envelopes Ramjet as he returns to [[robot mode]] after colliding with Warpath.
* When Starscream raises his right arm to point, the Decepticon emblem on his wing is no longer there.
* Again showing a wanton disregard for the background matte, Warpath slides sideways as he drives down the hill.
[[File:DecepticonRaider Nimue.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Oh, wicked, bad, evil, ''naughty'' Zoot!]]

* Princess Nimue has cleavage that appears and disappears from shot to shot and sometimes frame to frame. And no, you are not a pervert if you watched the episode six times to chronicle this error.
* The script seems to have called for a trumpet fanfare to summon Spike to the jousting field (thus Hoist's "That's your call!" line.) The sound editors complied by timing a fanfare in the background music to coincide with the moment, but the resulting effect is that Warpath seems to be listening to the background music.
* A glint of light from Sir Aetheling's sword gets a ''very'' loud sound effect. Since sunlight is so loud, y'know.
* When Ramjet rams into Warpath in the jousting duel, his canopy is smashed and nose cone crushed in, yet less than a minute later, he's back to normal when the remaining Decepticons attempt to flee with Starscream.
* As Starscream walks up to kidnap Nimue, the background scrolls behind him much faster than the speed of his walk.
* Starscream is missing his wing emblems as he drives off with Nimue.
* Warpath's tank mode is rather consistently portrayed as bigger and taller than Hoist's truck mode. While that would be accurate in the real world, Hoist is taller than Warpath in robot mode.
* Starscream's mouth doesn't move during most of his "No, Rumble, not I..." line.
* After he throws the gunpowder and puts his hands on his hips, one of Starscream's arm guns isn't quite attached to his arm.
* The tires on Hoist's feet are white instead of black as he stands up after the lightning recharge.
* Hoist tackles Starscream even though one frame later he's seen in vehicle mode.
* A bit of clumsy sound editing towards the end of this episode results in a small but noticeable error. As Hoist says, "That is, if there's a way—" his voice is very abruptly cut off. Then Beohrt announces: "Hoist said 'time'!" when Hoist has actually said nothing of the sort. The line as recorded was "That is, if there's a way back to our own time!" and it was followed by a short scene of Starscream feebly requesting a little energy and being threatened by Warpath, before Beorht makes his proclamation. The removal of the Warpath/Starscream scene appears to have inadvertently clipped the relevant few words off the end of Hoist's line.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Spike gets kissed.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Look, let me go back in there and face the peril." "No, it's too perilous." "...Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?"]]
* If Warpath crushes Ramjet's nosecone in their second collision...why didn't he crush it in their ''first'' encounter?
* The historical accuracy of some aspects of this episode is somewhat lacking. (No! Really?)
** While the recipe for gunpowder expressed in this episode is roughly correct, gunpowder would not make its way to medieval Europe for another eight hundred years or so, and then only from the Far East. Of course, the whole ''point'' of its appearance is that it's a rare, mysterious, wizardly type of thing, so hey.
** Plate armour of the kind worn by the various knights in this episode was not introduced into medieval Europe until around the year 1400—almost a thousand years from the stated ''anno domini'' 543. Even so, one should be fair to the writers and cartoonists, given that major motion pictures like ''Excalibur'' also made this sort of error (or used it for dramatic effect because audiences would easily recognise a stereotypical "knight" as opposed to a historically accurate version). We can let slide the armor that Hoist creates for Spike.
**Also, everyone seems to be speaking [[Wikipedia:Early Modern English|Early Modern English]] instead of [[Wikipedia:Old English|Old English]]. Way to go!
* Starscream's math is out by a decade: 543 + 1451 = 1994, rather than the correct date of the Transformers' awakening, 1984.
* Warpath's cannon changes from shooting lasers to shells again
* As usual many humans are pretty much invincible. Wulf survives getting headbutted off his horse by Ramjet with barely a scratch. Even with his armor on half of Wulf's bones should have been shattered to bits by a blow like that.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 DecepRaiderinKingArthurs WarpathramsRamjet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''In war we're tough and able Quite in-de-fa-ti-gable Although at times, we're given rhymes That are quite un-sing-able!'']]

* Ramjet apparently changes his head on a regular basis. Hah!
* Fans have made much of the fact that Warpath defeats Ramjet in a collision, but really, Ramjet's specialty is hitting ''other planes''. Even a tough jet doesn't compare to a ''tank''.
* Warpath makes a strange observation, noting that he's so low on energy that he "can't even stay transformed". Apparently, remaining in vehicle mode consumes energy.
* Warpath speaks with a moving mouthplate in this episode, rather than the cheek blinkers he sometimes has.
* Even if he can't fire lasers, Warpath can still fire shells (and does so, trying to hit Ramjet in the castle).

===Real-world references===
[[File:Exteriordragonmound.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"SO, brave knights, if you do DOUBT your courage or your strength, come no further! For ''[[Death|DEATH]]'' awaits you ALL...with nasty, big, pointy teeth!"]]

* The title of this episode is an homage to the novel ''[[wikipedia:A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court|A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court]]'' written by [[Mark Twain]] and published in 1889.
* The Dragon Mound is surrounded by a [[wikipedia:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]]-like structure.
* The instrument panel on the time-travel device is written in [[wikipedia:Runic alphabet|Runic alphabet]]. [[:File:Runes1.jpg|[1]]] [[:File:Runes2.jpg|[2]]] [[File:Runes1.jpg|1px]][[File:Runes2.jpg|1px]]
* Surprisingly, there is a slight bit of Arthurian legend present in the episode. Nimue (better known as the Lady of the Lake) is an Arthurian character who fell in love with Merlin. Unsurprisingly, that Nimue is nothing like this episode's Nimue.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Luke Skywalker]]'s [[lightsaber]] deflecting the seeker ball bolts can be faintly heard as Beorht recharges Warpath and Hoist.
** The sound of a lightsaber igniting is used as Beorht drops his electrically charged staff.
* Despite the title, King [[Arthur]] doesn't make an appearance in this tale, thus making him Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Film.

===Trivia===
[[File:Deceptacon.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Nu!" "No no no no, it's not that, it's 'ni'." "Nu!" "No no, 'ni'. You're not doing it properly."]]

* The original broadcast version of this episode featured the misspelled title, "A Decept'''a'''con Raider..." The error was corrected for the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' version of the episode. Likewise, when [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] recreated the title cards for their DVD release of the series, it was also amended. This flub seemed minor then, [[Scorpinok|but]] [[A Tale of Two Heros|years]] [[Imprisoned Inferno|later...]]
* Spike actually gets a kiss from a girl. What will [[Carly]] think?
* This episode is one of four pre-movie episodes in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] does not appear.
[[File:DecepticonRaider-NotHank.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Fear not, Ranger! Or is that "Fear not-Ranger"?]]
* Among the audience members watching the joust is a dark-skinned man whose outfit greatly resembles the one worn by Hank the Ranger in the [[wikipedia:Dungeons and Dragons (TV series)|''Dungeons and Dragons'' animated series]]—not entirely surprising, as that program was produced by [[Marvel Productions]], who partnered with [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] on ''Transformers'', and both shows were animated by [[Toei]]. Next to "Hank" are a man with a shield and a woman in a cloak, but they do not otherwise strongly resemble Eric the Cavalier or Sheila the Thief, characters who were associated with magical versions of those items in the ''Dungeons and Dragons'' cartoon.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Um Cavaleiro Decepticon na Corte do Rei Arthur'''" ("A Decepticon Knight in King Arthur's Court")
:*''Original airdate:''

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Sprung in die Vergangenheit'''" ("Jump into the Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 9]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Un Decepticon alla corte di re Artù'''" ("A Decepticon in King Arthur's Court")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:* This episode was never broadcast in Italy in the '80s and, as such, it only got dubbed in Italian with the 2008 full G1 redubbing.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Time Traveller'''" (タイムトラベラー, "Time Travellers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 7]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''霸天虎入侵亚瑟王朝'''" ("Decepticons Invade King Arthur's Period")
:*''Original airdate:''

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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 Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-39.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Golden Lagoon (episode)

2016-01-21T21:49:57Z

Trecathlus: /* External links */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Legends]]'' event|The Golden Lagoon (Legends)}}
{{episode
|image=GoldenLagoon Beachcomber in lagoon.jpg
|caption=Beachcomber is into watersports.
|series=G1toon
|ep=41
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=31
|prev2=A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)
|next2=The God Gambit
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=12
|prev3=A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)
|next3=Prime Target (episode)
|title="The Golden Lagoon"
|airdate=[[November 4]], 1985
|written by=[[Dennis Marks]]
|production code=#700-40
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]] (maybe)
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Beachcomber finds a pool of golden liquid that renders his hand invulnerable. Unfortunately, the Decepticons do too, and decide to take a dip.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Goldenlagoonbeachcomber1.jpg|left|thumb|Friend of all God's creatures.]]

[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] are taking a walk along the beach when they are attacked by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. In the middle of the battle, pacifist Beachcomber takes cover and finds a secluded glen full of flora and fauna right out of a Disney cartoon. In the middle of enjoying this impromptu petting zoo, the glint of gold catches his eye. In the middle of the glen is a pool of golden liquid he dips his hand into and identifies as "[[electrum]]". A rockslide sends him back to where he came from, just as Thrust flies over the glen and makes the same discovery. Thrust jumps into the pool and comes out completely covered in the gold liquid.

Beachcomber arrives back at the battle as the tide is turning against the Decepticons. Just then, Thrust appears and survives a powerful Autobot barrage without sustaining a scratch, thanks to his electrum coating. Warpath shoots an opening into the cliff face that he, Powerglide and Beachcomber hide in, while Thrust kidnaps Perceptor and Seaspray.

At Decepticon headquarters, the Autobots are imprisoned while Thrust notifies [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] of the electrum pool. They hurry off to the glen and Megatron orders [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] to jump in. When he emerges, Megatron shoots him, but the blast bounces off. The rest of the Decepticons jump into the pool and emerge, then have fun shooting each other. Megatron declares the Autobots are finished as the glen around them burns and the animals cower.

[[File:Goldenlagoonstarscreamjump.jpg|right|thumb|Normally, Skywarp would be the one to kick Starscream into the giant pool of urine.]]

Powerglide, Beachcomber, Warpath, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] regroup and prepare to go after the Decepticons again. Beachcomber hasn’t told anyone about his discovery yet. The group rushes off and meets up with the electrum-plated Decepticons, and are quickly dispatched because their weapons have no effect. More Autobots join the battle, but their weapons are useless. Beachcomber realizes that they’ve found the electrum and drives off.

The Decepticons return to headquarters and Starscream forces Seaspray and Perceptor to fight each other. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] rushes off to tell Megatron as Starscream gives the Autobots weapons.

Smokescreen, damaged from the battle, asks [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] to help and the giant Autobot declares (a bit prematurely) that failure is impossible.

[[File:GoldenlagoonOSdown.jpg|left|215px|thumb|Gulliver's Travels on acid.]]

Meanwhile, Beachcomber arrives back at the glen and finds the Decepticons have burnt it nearly to the ground. He is captured by Blitzwing while Soundwave tattles on Starscream. Megatron orders everyone to fight Omega Supreme. When they attack Omega fires, but even his weapons have no effect and he falls under enemy fire. Megatron sets his sights on [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]] next.

At Autobot headquarters, Mirage reports on Omega’s defeat and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] can hardly believe it. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] reports a single word to them—electrum. Prime recognizes its significance and sends out teams to try to find it.

Powerglide discreetly follows the Decepticons and sees them swimming in the electrum. He flies off to report the discovery to Optimus.

Megatron gives the task of dispatching Beachcomber, Perceptor and Seaspray to Starscream. When [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] come to take the prisoners to Starscream, Beachcomber forgoes his pacifist ways and overcomes both of them. He frees Perceptor and Seaspray and they swim back to the surface and head toward the golden lagoon. With Dirge left alone as guard while all of the others head to the fight, the trio takes him out, just as Prime and the rest of the Autobots arrive. Beachcomber invites them to jump into the electrum with him.

[[File:Goldenlagoonautobotline.jpg|right|215px|thumb|Lucky Draw Roll Call!]]

Back at Autobot headquarters, Megatron and company attack but they discover the base is empty. Megatron orders everyone back to the lagoon, where the electrum-coated Autobots are waiting for them, including Omega Supreme. The two sides fight, but since their weapons are useless the blasts bounce off and destroy the countryside around them. As the battle continues, the electrum on the Decepticons wears off. His advantage lost and seriously out-gunned, Megatron destroys the lagoon and orders a retreat. The Autobots cheer their victory, but Beachcomber laments the destruction of the glen.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (1)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (2)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (3)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (4)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (5)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (8)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (9)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (10)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (15)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (16)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (17)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (18)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (19)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (20)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (22)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (23)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (25)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (26)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (27)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (28)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (29)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (30)
|c2=
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (1)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (2)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (3)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (5)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (7)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (12)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (13)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (21)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Thrust, my man, you are about to become number-one Decepticon."
:—'''Thrust''', anticipating a promotion

"Personally, I need proof!" 
"''Personally'', I don't care ''what'' you need!"
:—'''Megatron''' puts '''Starscream''' in his place, again.

[[File:Laserrave.gif|right|324px|thumb|You're right, Megatron, this ''is'' enjoyable.]]

"Just shoot up the whole cloud! He's in there somewhere!"
:—'''Megatron''' uses a rather sound tactic to foil Smokescreen's camouflage.

"Sunstreaker, our weapons don't seem to have any effect on them." 
"I'll blast a few big D's for ya, and you’ll see what a difference a pro makes."
:—'''Mirage''' and '''Sunstreaker'''

"Show no mercy!" 
"Did we ever?"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream'''

"Results: disappointing."
:—'''Omega Supreme''' after three rounds of fire have no effect on the Decepticons.

'''Megatron''': Victory over the Autobots is here. 
'''Starscream''': Cut the oration, Megatron. We already heard it. 
'''Skywarp''': Yeah, let’s talk about victory after we’ve got it.
:—the troops sass back to Megatron now that they're invulnerable.

"We won..."
:—'''Beachcomber'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bitter statement as he surveys the wreckage of the lagoon.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Wrong weapon sounds:
** As he trades shots with Ramjet, Seaspray's cannon steals Optimus Prime's laser sound effect. A moment later, it changes to the standard Autobot laser sound.
** The Decepticons' guns use the sound effects of Cobra's guns (from G.I.Joe) during the attack on Sunstreaker's team. Powerglide and the other Autobots likewise get a GI Joe laser noise as they fire.
* Coloring errors:
** Blitzwing's helmet is purple instead of yellow as he stands to join the attack on the beach.
** Perceptor's chest rim is dark gray instead of silver as he turns to fire on the newly electrum-coated Thrust.
** The sides of Skywarp's helmet are colored white when he and Thundercracker present Perceptor and Seaspray to Megatron. It makes him look like he has chubby cheeks!
** Smokescreen's forehead crest is blue instead of yellow as he ponders what Beachcomber is thinking.
** Bluestreak is colored like Prowl as the Decepticons dive to attack.
** Brawn's helmet is olive green instead of gray-silver as he transforms to fire on the Decepticons with Sunstreaker's squad.
* Warpath seems to have lost most of a line; as he's trading shots with him, he says "Blitzwing." for no clear reason.
* One gun, many lasers:
** Thrust's lasers split in two on leaving his guns, giving him 4 lasers. But as he strafes the cliff from off-screen, nearly a dozen lasers are shown streaking in.
** Thrust throws one piece of ice at Powerglide and Warpath, who are hit by dozens of pieces of ice.
* Starscream's missing one of his wing insignia after he lands at the electrum pool.
* Thundercracker likewise has only one wing insignia as Starscream dives into the pool.
* As he drives toward the Decepticons, Smokescreen's smoke camouflage has somehow gotten in front of him.
[[File:GoldenLagoon Mirage reports to Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* When Mirage reports, Bluestreak's head crest is drawn as a pair of squared boxes on his head.
* Sunstreaker's squad gets the wrong transforming sound (ascending pitch) as they transform and roll out.
* Skywarp and Thundercracker are shown listening to Starscream pontificate... yet a second later they walk in from another room with the Autobot prisoners.
* The first syllable of Soundwave's report to Megatron is cut off, leaving him saying "Port on Starscream's activity completed."
* In the big lineup of golden Autobots, Windcharger is a bit deformed and off-model.
* All of this said? We think this episode probably deserves some kind of award for never once accidentally colouring Beachcomber's golden hand its normal blue.

===Continuity errors===
* It's never made clear if the Autobots in the opening scene were looking for rare minerals, or if Perceptor just ''happened'' to get lucky on patrol near a ''beach''.
* Seaspray is somehow able to ''fly'' in hovercraft mode. While it's consistent with his other appearances, hovercrafts do '''NOT''' work that way!
* Thrust dives into the electrum and says he's about to become "number one Decepticon," implying he's planning a coup or something, but later simply reports the find to Megatron. Did he just change his mind on the way back or did he expect Megatron to reward him?
* When Starscream dives into the pool of electrum, he holds his nose, despite the fact that robots normally don't need to breathe. One may chalk it up to a cute little joke inserted by the animators.
* So...why ''was'' Mirage hanging around (invisible) for 10 minutes?
* Later in the show, Mirage turns invisible in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]. Smokescreen is kicking up dust behind him (before he engages his smoke trail), so wouldn't Mirage's dust trail be noticeable as well?
* For some reason, no one seems to notice that the Decepticons are gold and invincible - nor do any of the Autobots seem to notice Beachcomber's golden hand. Yet when they discover the pond full of electrum, the Autobots know exactly what the chemical is and what it does.
[[File:G1toon starscream electrum.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"I told you. Your weapons have no effect on me!" "It is my considered advice that you discontinue your use of said weapon!"]]
* Despite knowing that lasers are useless against electrum-coated opponents, both sides keep vainly shooting at each other in the big fight at the end, rather than coming to fisticuffs.
* Megatron and the Decepticons are all rather surprised when the electrum coating wears off, but if they didn't know it was temporary, why were they bothering to stockpile it?
* Long Haul says he's going off to join the main force, but neither he nor the rest of the Constructicons are seen later.
* It's a bit absurd that the electrum, a substance that makes Transformers invulnerable to laser fire, was detonated by a barrage of laser fire.
* Though the ending is supposed to be sad, the usual "heroic Autobot victory music" is used for the scene.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Beachcomber with bird.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Gee Beachcomber, I didn't know you spoke bird." "No, that's Italian."]]
*Gadgets and powers:
** Beachcomber is shown to have a [[universal translator|translator that lets him understand animals]]. Assuming all Transformers have this, it would explain how they manage to communicate with every species they come across.
** A glowing sensor in Beachcomber's chest reacts to the presence of the electrum.
** Seaspray has a large top-mounted cannon and two smaller cannons that can deploy from his superstructure.
** [[Furmanism|Like some vast, predatory bird]] Thrust deploys talons to capture Perceptor and Seaspray.
** Perceptor can retract his wrist and fire a missile from it.
** Warpath can likewise fire cryogenic shells from his retracted wrist. At the same time, Powerglide is shown using his forehead-mounted thermal ray.
** Smokescreen can deploy his shoulder missile launchers from the hood of his car mode.
** Smokescreen deploys his smoke from pipes that emerge from his trunk, rather than the usual tailpipe location.
** Sunstreaker uses a rooftop cannon in car mode.
** Blitzwing's laser gun can act as a magnetic tractor beam.
[[File:GoldenLagoon-PowerglideSmokescreenWarpath.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Beachcomber reacts to the electrum with a cry of "[[Great Maximus]]!"
* Warpath speaks with glowing cheek blinkers in this episode.
* In a nice touch of continuity, Perceptor's shoulder cannon is not present when he's held captive. Somehow he's got it back after the escape, however.

===Real-world references===
* At the beginning of the episode, Perceptor stops to examine a rock on the beach with "traces of gold and silver". It's not just a random aside, but foreshadowing: in the real world, electrum is an alloy of gold and silver.
* When Warpath voices his excitement about KAZOWYing Decepticons, Powerglide reminds him that it's a rescue mission and not "the [[Wikipedia:Charge of the Light Brigade|Charge of the Light Brigade]]", a catastrophic cavalry charge during the Crimean War.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader slashing some equipment with their lightsabers is used as the sound of Seaspray's laser fruitlessly hitting a Decepticon in the undersea base.
** TIE Fighter engine as the Decepticons fly through Omega's initial blasts.
** Lightsaber ignition as Megatron's blast hits Omega Supreme.
** ''Falcon'' engine noise and Death Star super laser as the Decepticons take off after defeating Omega.
** X-Wing whine as Powerglide takes off to follow the Decepticons, and again as the 'cons take off inside their headquarters.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode since the premiere to have new [[commercial bumper]]s. They're all new and feature: Omega Supreme, Thrust, Devastator, Astrotrain and Cosmos.
* This is a rare human-free episode (though there are plenty of Disney-esque animals).
* Man, Skywarp sure didn't mention letting the prisoners get away, huh?

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Lagoa Dourada'''" ("The Golden Lagoon")
:*''Original airdate:''

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die goldene Lagune'''" ("The Golden Lagoon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 16]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il lago dorato'''" ("The Golden Lake")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:* This episode was never broadcast in Italy in the '80s and, as such, it only got dubbed in Italian with the 2008 full G1 redubbing.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Golden Lagoon no Himitsu'''" (ゴールデンラグーンの秘密, "Secret of the Golden Lagoon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 21]], [[1986]] (''see note below'')
:*In Japan, this episode only aired in the Kansai region (on March 21) and was never given a proper nationwide broadcast. Due to this, official episode guides, including those printed in ''[[Transformers Generations]]'', offer no proper airdate for the episode. Oddly, its official Japanese episode number is 31, which places it between [[February 7]] and [[February 14]], [[1986]] rather than among the March-broadcast episodes. Incidentally, "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]" aired in all other regions on March 21.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jīn Jiāohú'''" (金礁湖, "The Golden Lagoon")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zolotaya lagoona'''" (Золотая лагуна, "The Golden Lagoon")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 5 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-40.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden Lagoon}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]