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The Revenge of Bruticus

2017-04-27T00:26:04Z

Treybunn:

{{episode
|image=Revenge of bruticus 2 threratenShockwave.jpg
|caption=I asked you a question, buddy—what's the square root of 5,248?
|series=G1toon
|ep=63
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=54
|prev2=Starscream's Brigade
|next2=War Without End (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=20
|prev3=Starscream's Brigade
|next3=Masquerade
|title="The Revenge of Bruticus"
|written by=[[Larry Strauss]]
|production code=700-62
|airdate=[[January 8]], 1986
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Even though Starscream and the Combaticons are banished to space, they are still a threat—a threat returning to destroy both the Decepticons and the Autobots...'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Revenge of bruticus 4 changing course.jpg|left|upright=0.95|thumb|Okay, boys...we get those scrambled channels now.]]

Stuck in a cosmic "time out" with the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] decides to book it, declaring the Combaticons incompetent. Unfazed, [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] has developed a plan of revenge; [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] is towing their asteroid to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The Combaticons' arrival on Cybertron interrupts a little target practice [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] is holding for the [[Sentinel (G1)|Sentinel drones]]. The Combaticons merge into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], decimate the Sentinels, and launch gun-mode Shockwave into deep space. Onslaught declares that Operation: Revenge has begun.

On [[Earth]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is overseeing the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] army, as they devour a city one building at a time. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s arrive, but the Insecticons are moving into a nearby neighborhood that is still inhabited. Prime is unwilling to risk civilian casualties, so the Autobot leader sends in the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to evacuate the civilians.

At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] is giving [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] a little astronomy lesson about shooting stars, noting that the odds of an ''actual'' star colliding with the Earth are slim...

[[File:RevengeOfBruticus TracksSideswipeProwl.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|<del>Huey, Dewey and Louie</del> Tracks, Sideswipe and Prowl to the rescue.]]

Meanwhile, out in space, Starscream literally runs into Shockwave. Apparently unaware that Starscream has been exiled, Shockwave enlists his help to rescue Cybertron.

At Shockwave's base, [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] is itching for a fight, Blast Off advises calm, as Onslaught is sure to have a plan. That plan involves the [[Space bridge]]. Though it is far ahead of any Decepticon technology Onslaught has previously seen, he manages to rig the space bridge to move Earth into its [[sun]], which will destroy the Decepticons and the Autobots at the same time!

On Earth, the humans have been successfully evacuated from the city, and the Autobots begin blasting the Insecticons to bits. However, Spike and Perceptor arrive, [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] dropping them off, having learned of Earth's altered orbit, and inform Prime of the peril. The Autobots head for the space bridge, and Megatron orders [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] to remove the space bridge's control console and evacuate.

[[File:RevengeofBruticus Primefiringguns.jpg|left|upright=0.95|thumb|Alright, who wants a taste of sheer firepower?]]

On Cybertron, Starscream and Shockwave use a [[holographic projector]] to make the Combaticons believe that they are under attack. Shockwave discovers Onslaught's space bridge modifications, but Starscream shoots him, then sends Megatron an ultimatum: Surrender leadership of the Decepticons, or everything on Earth, including Megatron and the Decepticons, will fry. However, the Combaticons eventually figure out the ruse, and they imprison Starscream and Shockwave.

Megatron sends [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] to locate the Insecticons, but they discover that the bug-bots have chewed up the console. The Autobots, who have also tracked down the Decepticons, offered to assist Megatron and the Decepticons. Perceptor repairs the console with parts from Prime and Megatron. Prime insists that the Autobots be included in the trip to Cybertron, which Megatron relents to, and the united teams head to Cybertron, leaving the Protectobots to struggle with rising temperatures and find a way to keep the human race from being wiped out.

[[File:Revege of Bruticus Prime Bruticus.JPG|upright=0.85|thumb|The only way to keep that chestplate on.]]

The two teams free Starscream and Shockwave, the former loudly protesting that he was forced to threaten Megatron by the Combaticons, and the latter immediately denouncing the story as lies. Before anyone can do anything else, the Combaticons attack, merging into Bruticus when the fight turns against them. Starscream reveals that Bruticus has one weak point on his back that, if blasted, will shut him down. Prime manages to shoot the weak point, and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] reverses the space bridge, returning Earth to its proper orbit.

Prime and Megatron agree to destroy Bruticus, and Megatron allows the Autobots to leave unharmed. However, the Decepticons have faked Bruticus' destruction, and reprogrammed the real Bruticus to serve Megatron. Megatron pardons Starscream and restores him to the Decepticon ranks.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (17)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (18)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (19)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (21)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (22)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (23)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (24)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (25)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (26)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (27)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (29)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (30)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (32)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (33)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (2)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (3)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (5)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (6)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (7)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (8)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (9)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (10)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (11)
* [[Insecticon clone]]s (12)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (13)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (14)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (15)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (21)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (34)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (28)
|c4=
* [[Sentinel (G1)|Sentinel drone]] (8)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:G1toon starscream asteroid.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"I can't stand it! I can't stand it! This is a cosmic prison!" 
"Shaddup!" [''blasts him'']
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s mewling is too much for '''Brawl''' to take.

"Look, Perceptor, a shooting star!" 
"Of course that's not really a shooting star. It's really a meteorite entering Earth's atmosphere." 
"I know. I'd hate to imagine a real star shooting into the Earth." 
"Well, the chances of this planet colliding with a real star are remote." 
"I'd hope so. It would mean the end of everything!" 
:—'''Spike''' being taught about shooting stars by '''Perceptor''', only for...

"I can direct the movement of planet Earth and send it on a direct course into the Sun."
:—... '''Onslaught''' to take the idea.

'''Brawl:''' "Hey! We annihilated 'em." 
'''Swindle:''' "Looks more to me like they vanished! ...Wait. Look! More invaders!" 
'''Vortex:''' "Where did they come from?!" 
'''Brawl:''' "Who cares! Let's annihilate 'em!" 
:— Life is simple when you're a bot named Brawl.

'''Optimus:''' "I will donate some of the needed parts from my own components, Perceptor, ''if'' Megatron agrees to do the same." 
'''Megatron:''' "Never! I am autonomic perfection!" 
'''Spike:''' "You'll be ''evaporated'' perfection if we don't get to Cybertron and stop Starscream!" 
:—Megatron gets schooled by a human.

"Ramjet, if this Autobot quack does anything suspicious, shatter his lenses... from the ''inside''."
:—'''Megatron''' delivers an indirect warning to Perceptor as the latter takes components from him and Optimus Prime to repair the Space Bridge.

"Not until you relinquish control over the Decepticons." 
"Don't be a fool." 
"Then let the Earth ''burn''!"
:— '''Starscream''' tries to blackmail '''Megatron'''.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The sound effect for Brawl's pot shot at Starscream lags behind the shot itself.
*As he says, "I can't stand it!," Starscream is missing the Decepticon insignia on his wings.
*Brawl, Onslaught and Swindle's relative positions change multiple times between shots as they argue with Starscream.
* Coloring errors:
** As Starscream flees the asteroid, we get a ''very'' long time to look at the underside of his jet mode, wherein his folded-up feet, which are blue in robot mode, are colored gray. His underside wing insignia are also missing.
** Before Bruticus uses Vortex's blades to slice some Sentinels, the blades are gray instead of black.
** Brawl is mostly gray instead of mostly olive green as the Combaticons carry off the defeated Sentinels.
**When [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] take [[energon cube]]s to the [[space bridge]], Thundercracker is colored with Starscream's colors. Megatron's gun barrel is missing in the same shot.
** Prime has gray tires as he rolls toward the Insecticon horde.
**As he says, "I'm that close to Cybertron?," one of Starscream's Decepticon insignia is white instead of purple.
** In the first closeup of Blast Off and Brawl sitting atop [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], Blast Off's optic is brown instead of gray.
** As Onslaught reports to the other Combaticons, Blast Off's head is all gray instead of brown, and Brawl's optic visor is gray instead of yellow. However, we must give due credit: the animators not only remembered that Onslaught doesn't have his backpack, they actually included the three magic spots on Onslaught's exposed back!
** In a closeup shot of Onslaught, only the center of his mouthplate is gray; the sides are blue.[[File:Ratchet weirdhead.PNG|upright=1.1|thumb|Look familiar?]]
**Ratchet's helmet is colored black shortly after Prowl finds the space bridge control panel. The groans that are supposed to be Powerglide, Ratchet and Prime don't actually sound like them.
** Ramjet's cockpit isn't colored as he reacts to Starscream's cry for help.
**As Megatron agrees to destroy Bruticus, Starscream's cockpit is colored all yellow when it should have white stripes.
** Bruticus's visor is white instead of red as the jets scoop him up. Starscream's air intakes and wing stripes are also white instead of red in the same shot.
* Ventriloquist bots:
** Throughout his encounter with the Combaticons, Shockwave's voice lacks its robotic flanging.
** Bruticus's mouthplate doesn't move as he introduces himself.
** Some strange audio editing as Inferno, Red Alert and Blades fight the fires. A radio voice says "A fire's broken out at the" then cuts off. Another voice says "We got a blaze that's -" and then continues, but submerged under Inferno's line. The effect was probably supposed to be a sort of montage of numerous reports, but it... doesn't really work, especially since the reports all sound like variants of Inferno's own voice.
*** Red Alert is then drawn mouthing the second part of Inferno's line.
** Starscream's missing his air intakes as Megatron tells him he is redeemed.
** As is common for group ad libs, the heat groans from the assembled Autobots and Decepticons don't resemble their actual voices.
**Vortex is animated giving Onslaught's command for the Combaticons to merge into Bruticus.
**When the Autobots are preparing to leave Cybertron at the end, Sideswipe is drawn speaking Sunstreaker's line.
** Megatron is still shown laughing and shaking after his short chuckle has ended.
***When this episode originally aired, the animation simply stopped after Megatron's laugh ended, resulting in an odd freeze-frame/fade-to-black effect before the commercial bumper began.
* The shot of Blast Off transforming to robot mode is cut off before he finishes, jumping to a shot of the other four Combaticons walking toward Shockwave.
* As he and the others begin to merge, Swindle somersaults backwards into the air (and Vortex reacts - making it look like Swindle is about to turn into a gun for Vortex to use!) The shot then cuts to Swindle in jeep mode, flying ''forwards'' as he turns into Bruticus's leg.
*When Bruticus is holding Shockwave, and Shockwave transforms to gun mode, his arms transform directly into the barrel, rather than the arms folding up and the barrel attaching out of nowhere. His barrel is colored the same purple as the rest of him, rather than its correct gray.
* Onslaught's missing his backpack cannons after Bruticus separates. Not yet, guys!
* Megatron's barrel is missing again as he takes his first shot at Optimus.
[[File:Blitzsnel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Several Insecticons aren't fully colored as Prime observes them spreading to a new neighborhood.
*When [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] drives out of the [[Protectobots' headquarters]], he has the word "POLISE" written on his side.
* Spike's "shooting star" looks more like a comet. And it has a rocket engine, according to the sound effect.
* During the fight with the Insecticons, Powerglide arrives and lands with no sound effect.
* Perceptor disembarks from Powerglide off-camera. Was he in microscope mode, or did Powerglide suddenly grow a much bigger interior?
* Then as Prime drives toward three retreating Insecticons, a quick transformation sound is heard, but nobody on-screen is transforming.
* In the pan across the space bridge site, the crackling energy over the energon transfer tubes isn't animated or lit to glow.
*Shockwave changes the projector to show gargoyles, but as he and Starscream walk away, the Combaticons are still fighting the giant squid things.
* As Starscream first contacts Megatron, Megatron's chest symbol and gun barrel are missing.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Kicking back in Decepticon HQ, Starscream gets a full torso view of Megatron, who is hanging out in the desert. Where's the camera?
** Dirge and Ramjet get the same view of Megatron in Decepticon HQ on Earth.
* It took a while, but the animators finally forgot that Onslaught's not supposed to have his backpack. It shows up in a brief shot right before he says "We can't stop them!", and again as Blast Off lands.
* Blast Off is a couple of heads taller than everyone else as the Combaticons react to Swindle's revelation.
* Swindle is shown with the team as Blast Off lands, but in the next shot he's shown to have been elsewhere, checking out the holo projector.
* As the Combaticons walk in on Shockwave and Starscream, Blast Off is again much taller than the others. And Onslaught's got his backpack cannons yet again.
* Huge Blast Off ''again'' as he and Brawl shove the prisoners into their cell.
* *Ramjet is missing the transformation sound effect as he finds the Insecticons in the parking garage.
* "You'll be evaporated perfection" - Perceptor is ''much'' shorter than Megatron. He should be a couple of heads shorter.
*The building the meat freezer is located in is labelled "Metro Meat '''Pacing'''"
*When the space bridge ring closes to send the allied Autobots and Decepticons to Cybertron, there's ''no one inside''.
*Skywarp and Ramjet enter the space bridge, but Thundercracker appears on Cybertron as well. All three basically disappear after the rescue of Starscream and Shockwave.
*When Starscream and Shockwave are rescued from prison, a second Megatron steps out from inside the first one.
*Brawl comes through a hole in the wall and blasts Starscream and Megatron, but the next shot shows Swindle in his place.
*When Blast Off is on his bombing run at the beginning of the final battle, the bombs are shown falling in ''front'' of him, instead of directly below.
* Prowl and Sideswipe get part of the Decepticon laser effect as they fire on Blast Off.
* Onslaught, Brawl & Swindle get no transformation sound effect as they drive up to Megatron. When Megatron blasts them, the sound of the blast hits is coming from the right channel instead of the left. It's also modulated with the same effect that would later be used for [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s cannon.
*Bruticus rips away the doors of the teleportation chamber to throw at the sentinel guards, but the doors are still there. The big gaping hole does show up in the next shot, allowing Prime to see that the space bridge has been altered.
* The push-Earth-into-the-sun beams should be visible behind Bruticus, but they're not.
* The animation of Bruticus flexing and then bending down is used a second time, however there's nothing where his hands are reaching.
*As Optimus discovers the altered space bridge on Cybertron, the crest on his helmet is drawn much larger than usual.
*A shot later, we see Prime standing rather prominently alone, with Sideswipe, Prowl and Sunstreaker running toward him. The next shot shows only Sideswipe standing next to Prime, but Megatron and Starscream have appeared behind him.
* The animation would have us believe that 1) Earth was about two seconds from falling into the sun, and that 2) the sun is only 4-5 times bigger than the Earth. 1) would mean everything on Earth was already long dead; 2) is just flat out wrong.
** Furthermore, in no shot of the moving Earth do we see the move-the-Earth beams.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:RevengeOfBruticus Shockwave on Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Oh well. Worth it just to get this image.]]
* The asteroid Starscream was banished to is a ''lot'' larger in this episode than shown at the end of "[[Starscream's Brigade]]".
* Likewise, Blast Off is supposed to be towing the asteroid toward Cybertron the whole time, but he's not shown in the establishing shot of the asteroid.
* The towed asteroid just sets down light as a feather on Cybertron's surface. Shouldn't it have come plummeting in at terminal velocity, since the Combaticons have no way to slow it down?
* Why even tow the asteroid and not just board Blast-Off and leave?
* Bruticus's description of the guard robots as "giant Sentinels" is a bit odd, considering they're not even as tall as the individual Combaticons.
* Using a microscope to enlarge an image on a computer screen does not work that way. Spike would be looking at individual pixels.
* How improbable is it that in the infinite vastness of space, underlined by Perceptor just seconds before, with Starscream only heading in the general direction of Cybertron and Shockwave being randomly tossed off its surface and out of its orbit, that the two randomly crash into each other?
[[File:RevengeBruticus BlastOff Brawl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Like a what?" "Y'know. Like one of those guys we've never met and don't know about." "Oh, them! Yes, yes, of course."]]
* While waiting for Onslaught to implement his plan, Brawl mentions to Blast Off how he'd like to "attack the Earth now and crush Megatron like an Insecticon". The Insecticons were actually the only Decepticons that the Combaticons never encountered on Earth.
* Shockwave appears completely unaware that Starscream was an exile. Has Megatron never heard of memos?
* If the sun is so close that it makes crops spontaneously combust, how has humanity not burned alive?
[[File:G1 RevengeofBruticus Blades savinghumans.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Blades flies over at least 20 people stranded in the burning village, yet leaves after 7 people get in his rescue "basket". Even if the basket was packed (which it clearly wasn't), couldn't he have rescued more by letting them ride in his cabin? Even more disturbing, we see several '''children''' in the fly-over, but the adults just abandon them in their rush to save themselves!
* Why don't the Autobots just fly Omega Supreme over to Cybertron?
* The Combaticons lock up Starscream and Shockwave by closing a door and activating a force field. When Megatron frees them, there's only a force field (the door is nowhere to be seen).
* Optimus suddenly has a second gun (for about two seconds) in the battle against the Combaticons.
* The Decepticons and Autobots travel to Cybertron by way of the Space Bridge, arriving in the normal teleportation chamber. However, nobody notices the alterations to the Space Bridge until Bruticus rips a hole in the wall while they're all outside fighting.
* Boy, it sure was convenient of Onslaught to remove his backpack, exposing those three spots just when they needed to be visible, huh?
* Megatron comes up with the idea of reprogramming Bruticus for loyalty. Why didn't he just do this last time, when Bruticus was defeated by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]? Or even back on Cybertron, instead of reducing the team to their personality components?
** And seriously, why not do this to ''Starscream''?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 RevengeofBruticus HotSpotfightfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Just a miscolored Inferno, right?]]
[[File:G1 RevengeofBruticus FirstAid Streetwise help.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Just a miscolored Prowl and Ratchet, right?]]
[[File:G1 RevengeofBruticus Groove Streetwise freezer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Oh hey, look! New guys!]]
[[File:TRoB-Sentinels.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* This is the Protectobots' first appearance in the series, yet there is absolutely no mention of where they came from. While this does put them in the company of most of the rest of the new season-two cast, it's the first time a combiner team wasn't given a special origin episode. The reason for this, as noted in the show's [[production bible]], was that the information on the team was not delivered to the cartoon's production staff before the episode plots for the rest of the series had been finalized. Consequently, there were no open slots left to give the Protectobots an episode dedicated to their origin, but they were inserted into some of the predetermined stories (namely, this episode and "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]") to appease Hasbro.
**That said, it's not the greatest advertisement. Only First Aid is identified by name; and Blades, First Aid and Hot Spot aren't even shown in robot mode.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Prowl, Tracks and Optimus all display hood-mounted laser cannons. Tracks also launches a couple of missiles from his hood. No more repeats of "[[The Autobot Run]]" for these guys!
** Megatron has a fold-out chest-mounted communicator that rather resembles the wrist communicators some characters use.
** Starscream and Ramjet deploy grappling hooks and cables to scoop up Bruticus. Starscream had a similar device in "[[Enter the Nightbird]]".
* '''[[Starscream's Brigade|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Nothing, but that doesn't stop him from trying to extort Megatron into giving up his leadership position in return for saving the Earth. '''[[The Transformers: The Movie|> >]]'''
*This episode marks the second and last appearance of the Sentinel robots, and the last appearance of [[Autobot]] [[Security Director]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. (It was a conspiracy. A CONSPIRACY I TELL YOU! HE KNEW TOO MUCH!)

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Starscream takes off from the asteroid
** [[X-wing Fighter]] whine and [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Starscream and Shockwave head for Cybertron.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Blast Off lands at the end of the hologram battle.

===Trivia===
===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Vingança de Bruticus'''" ("The Vengeance of Bruticus")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Bruticus Rache'''" ("Bruticus's Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 10]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Battaglia nel deserto'''" ("Battle in the Desert")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La vendetta di Bruticus'''" ("The Revenge of Bruticus")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bruticus no Kōgeki'''" (ブルーティカスの攻撃, "The Attack of Bruticus")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 25]], [[1986]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mestj Grubikusa'''" (Месть Грубикуса, "The Revenge of Bruticus")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==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]])
;[[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]] 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. 8 (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]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[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'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-62.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Revenge of Bruticus}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Plus One (Prime)

2015-08-28T00:36:48Z

Treybunn: /* Cultural references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 59
|prev=Chain of Command (Prime)
|next=Thirst
|image=PlusOne-notdating.jpg
|caption=So, you come here often? ''I'm getting so damn tired of that joke''!
|title="Plus One"
|airdate=[[May 31]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Greg Weisman]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While on a mission to gather a Predacon bone, Agent Fowler finds himself in a tight squeeze with June.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:PlusOne-surrounded.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You must be new here if you thought those guys would actually pose a threat.]]
[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] picks up a signal from [[Scotland]] and [[GroundBridge]]s [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] back to the [[Hangar E|Autobot base]]. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] asks why he's returned alone, and Wheeljack disdainfully notes that the mission was a failure, and that the rest of his team will be returning via [[Ultra Magnus's ship]]. [[William Fowler|Fowler]] emerges from his office with reports of [[Decepticon]] activity in [[New Mexico]]. With [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime's]] team still in [[Texas]] and the rest of the [[Wrecker]]s still en route, that leaves Arcee and Wheeljack to continue the hunt for [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. They bridge to Fowler's coordinates and end up right in the middle of a squadron of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s. The two Autobots take them out quickly, impressing one another with their skills.

[[June Darby|June]] arrives at the [[Hangar E|Autobot base]] to pick up medical supplies being donated by Fowler, who asks her to call him "William". Raf announces that he's discovered a Predacon talon in a museum, kept in storage because scientists didn't know how to classify it. Fowler volunteers to retrieve the fossil, and invites June to accompany him. She's reluctant at first, but is angered by the hypocrisy in [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] forbidding her from endangering herself, and agrees to go.

On the outer hull of the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] praises his [[Predaking (Prime)|new pet]] for successfully retrieving the fossil from Scotland. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] reports the discovery of another Predacon energy signature, and Megatron orders him to acquire it. [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] arrives to mock Knock Out, but Megatron halts their bickering by telling Starscream to take Knock Out's place on monitor duty. As Megatron and Knock Out return inside the ship, a frustrated Starscream kicks the Predacon's tail. The beast responds with a vicious tail swipe that narrowly misses Starscream and wrecks the ship's communications array.

In a cave in New Mexico, Arcee inquires as to Wheeljack's foul mood. Wheeljack tries to brush off her questions, but Arcee persists, claiming that she knows Wheeljack only pretends to prefer working solo.

Fowler and June emerge from the museum with the Predacon talon in tow, joking about the experience and comparing past relationships. Their bonding is interrupted by the arrival of Knock Out, who renders them unconscious with a beam of light. They awake in the [[Decepticon]]'s trunk moments before he speeds off into the desert, leaving June's cell phone crushed on the ground. Knock Out attempts to request a GroundBridge, but is unable to make contact with the base.

On the ''Nemesis'', Starscream rants about the Predacon disabling their communications network while a couple of Vehicons attempt to repair it. Starscream enters an override code into a nearby computer console to reboot the system, but this only produces a shower of sparks.

Jack is worrying about how long his mother is taking when he receives a call from [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]]. She says that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is worried about Wheeljack, and Jack explains that he's on a mission with Arcee. Miko is annoyed that Wheeljack would replace Bulkhead so quickly, but also admits that she expected the two lone wolves to hook up.

June and Fowler bicker within Knock Out's trunk until the Decepticon tells them to stifle themselves. He continues to attempt communication with the ''Nemesis'', and June and Fowler begin devising an escape plan.

While digging in the cave walls, Wheeljack reveals to Arcee that Bulkhead, not [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]], is the source of his current frustration. He feels his onetime partner has gone soft. Arcee tells him that people change and he has to either adapt or rust. She knows [[Tailgate (Prime)|from]] [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|experience]] the pain of losing a partner.

[[File:PlusOne-snatched.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now kiss!]]

Fowler emerges from Knock Out's trunk and into his vehicle interior, forcing the startled Decepticon to stop at a railroad yard by twisting his steering wheel and slamming on the break. June races from the car with the Predacon talon and Fowler flees in the opposite direction. Knock Out transforms and quickly finds Fowler hiding amongst the freight cars. He grabs Fowler and threatens to kill him if June doesn't reveal herself and the talon.

Jack tries calling his mother and Fowler, but both of their phones go straight to voicemail. Raf innocently suggests they went to a movie.

As he lugs a Predacon spine out of the cave, Wheeljack admits that he was wrong to abandon Bulkhead like he did. Arcee receives a distress call from Jack, who is now in the museum parking lot holding his mother's crushed phone and watching a set of tire tracks lead into the desert.

At the train yard, Knock Out notices a railcar pull away, revealing a defiant June. She tells Knock Out that she hid the fossil in one of the cars, and will only tell him which after he's let Fowler go. Knock Out realizes the fossil is most likely on the departing train car, grabs June, and heads after it.

On the ''Nemesis'', a furious Megatron discovers that communications have been down for hours. No sooner does [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] get the network back online than Knock Out calls again, reporting that he has the Predacon bone in his sights and Wheeljack and Arcee on his tail.

A squad of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] are GroundBridged to Knock Out's location and open fire on the pursuing Autobots. Wheeljack and Arcee fight back but continue to move forward. Knock Out reaches the freight car where the bone is hidden and launches himself into the air, transforming to robot mode as he does and letting June and Fowler drop. Below, Wheeljack transforms into robot mode, catches them, and transforms back into vehicle mode with the humans inside. Knock Out snatches the fossil and makes it through the Decepticon GroundBridge before Arcee can catch him.

At the Autobot base, Jack is relieved to see his mother, but less excited that she's taken to calling Fowler "Bill". Miko teases that Jack has also lost his Autobot partner to Wheeljack. But Wheeljack and Bulkhead quickly make up, much to Miko and Jack's delight.

Back at the ''Nemesis'', Megatron congratulates Knock Out and chastises Starscream. While Starscream again blames the Predacon's bestial stupidity, the so-called beast is busy entering Starscream's access code into the computer console from earlier, calling up the ship's information on Predacons.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (14)
*[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] (15)

|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (7)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] (10)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (11)
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (16)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (17)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (2)
*[[William Fowler]] (6)
*[[June Darby]] (8)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==
"I wondered what was taking so long with those sodas."
:—'''Raf''' has gotten used to Miko's disappearances.

"I didn't choose 'emergency' as my vehicle mode for laughs."
:—'''Ratchet''', the Autobots' secret weapon.

'''Wheeljack''': Know what I love most about Vehicon troopers? 
'''Arcee''': They're easily distracted.
:—'''Wrecker Fact''' #[Insert Number Here] on henchbots.

"I'll have you know, Nurse Darby, I was an [[United States Army|Army Ranger]] and federal agent for [[Unit:E]] three decades before I ever heard the ''name'' 'Optimus Prime'."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' gives June his credentials.

'''Megatron''': Knock Out, do not return empty-handed. 
'''Knock Out''': Moi? Don't know the meaning of the word. 
'''Starscream''': Isn't 'empty-handed' two words? 
'''Knock Out''': You would know. Or did your [[Apex Armor (Prime)|missing armor]] turn up?
:—'''Knock Out''' and '''Starscream''' try to impress the boss with a game of "so there"s.

"I wondered how long it would take for our two lone wolves to hook up."
:-'''Miko''', playing cupid with Arcee and Wheeljack.

"Knock Out to Lord Megatron. I have secured one vintage Predacon talon. Plus, two of the Autobots' pets, for you to employ as hostages, lab experiments...well, any way you see fit. So go on, Big M, tell me you love me more than Starscream." 
''[Comm static]'' 
"My liege? Hello?" 
''[More static]'' 
"Too familiar?"
:—'''Knock Out''' gets the wrong idea from the communications blackout.

"Frankly, I find it ''repulsive''. The whole ''idea'' of you fleshies...''[[Reproduction|interfacing]]''." ''[Shudders]''
:—'''Knock Out''' does not approve of humans [[Powerlinx]]ing.

"*sigh* Ok, running from Bulk, shutting down like that, pretty spineless of me." 
"On the bright side, you have plenty of backbone now."
:—Guess what kind of fossil '''Wheeljack''' and '''Arcee''' found.

"Bromance trumps romance."
:— '''Jack''' has it figured out.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Wheeljack's mouthplate silently opens and retracts when he fights the Vehicons.
* June Darby's car has one lit headlight when she arrives at the base.

===Continuity errors===
* The communication dish on the flight deck of the ''Nemesis'' didn't exist prior to this episode. In addition, it is initially shown to be on the port side of the vessel, but is on the starboard side (and facing the opposite direction) when Soundwave is working on it.
* Predaking copies Starscream's override code to access the communication array, but he was on the wrong side of the dish to see it when Starscream first used it.

===Continuity notes===
* Optimus Prime's unit went to '[[Texas|oil country]]' in "[[Project Predacon]]".
* Wheeljack ditched his unit, the Decepticons recovered the Predacon fossil, and Starscream lost the Apex Armor in "[[Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command]]".
* Jack traveled to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], much to his mother's discomfort, in "[[Orion Pax, Part 2]]".
* The complex equation Ratchet refers to is more than likely the [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] formula, which he's been trying to recreate since "Project Predacon".
* Arcee still has the laser weapon she took from Ultra Magnus's arsenal in "[[Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion]]".
* The files accessed by Predaking are the same primitive renditions of Predacons that Ratchet showed to the others in "Project Predacon".
* While bickering, Starscream calls Knock Out a "wheel-bound" something (before Megatron cuts him off). He showed disdain for Knock Out's choice of alt-mode back in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
* The museum in which Fowler and June find the Predacon talon appears to be the same one in which the Autobots found the Energon Harvester in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".

===Transformers references===
* Megatron refers to his upcoming Predacon army as [[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machine]] super-soldiers.

===Cultural references===
* [[Unit:E]] is a reference to an organization in a 2011 comic book titled "Unit:E" published by Hasbro, uniting characters from series such as ''[[Jem]]'', ''[[Micronauts]]'' and so on.
* Fowler refers to Warren Gamaliel Harding, who was [[President of the United States]] when the Predacon talon was excavated in 1922.
* The video game Jack is playing appears to be a knock-off of ''[[wikipedia:Galaga|Galaga]]''. Certainly a step-up from the [[generic racing game]] the kids played before.
**The game also features sounds from the original arcade game, though somewhat confusingly, mostly consists of sounds from [[wikipedia:Pac-Man_(Atari_2600)|the Atari 2600 port of ''Pac-Man]]''.

===Trivia===
* Vehicons are named for the first time within the series.
* Pepper spray apparently works on [[Sensors#Optical sensors|optic sensors]], just not nearly as long as it does on humans.
* Wheeljack's and Arcee's claim that the Vehicons are easily distracted is more obvious than it first appears, since they have Arcee and Wheeljack trapped yet just stand there while the former slowly tosses the latter into the air. Even after this they seem to pay no attention to the fight, and appear to barely wish to engage in combat, with extremely sluggish attacks and little, if any, return fire.
* Knock Out seems to be extremely adept with human catchphrases and terms, even with those he finds 'repulsive'. He's also picked up some French.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Plus Eins'''" ("Plus One")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 8|8 October]] [[2013]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Három már tömeg'''" ("Three's a Crowd")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 10|10 September]] [[2013]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais Um'''" ("Plus One")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 15|15 November]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

New Recruit

2015-08-15T20:32:48Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=[[Superman]] meets [[Nolan North|Superboy]] for the first time.
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (10)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (12)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.

"All these Cons came out of one pod?" 
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.

"A trillion gigabytes of data, ''none'' of it useful! Though some... oddly engrossing."
:—'''Starscream''' manages to sum up the internet in the best way possible.

'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing? 
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this? 
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—Smokescreen meets Miko.

"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> entrance is deflated.

"Any last words, Smokescreen?" 
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Shortly after Bumblebee first exits the GroundBridge portal, a part sticks out that disappears when he transforms
*Arm weapons silently transform twice in this episode; Optimus' when he's running from the exploding pod, and Bumblebee's when he's about to climb the crane.
*The Apex Armor doesn't allow room for Starscream's wings—as Smokescreen kicks him out of the armor, his wings just suddenly appear into his back.
*Even Optimus Prime can't pronounce the name of his former profession, referring to Alpha Trion as an [[Orion Pax, Part 1|"ar-KIVE-ist]]."

===Continuity errors===
* The Insecticons seem to die ''very'' easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
* As Optimus' report didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know to take the phase shifter to defeat it?

===Continuity notes===
* Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
* Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
* Bulkhead is still recovering from the injuries he suffered in "[[Toxicity]]". By now, he can walk unaided (albeit at a slow limp), and a conversation with Ratchet implies that he can transform and drive around to some extent.
* The [[spark extractor]] ("[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]"), [[immobilizer]] ("[[Partners]]"), [[phase shifter]] ("[[Tunnel Vision]]"), and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] ("[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]") are part of Jack's tour.
* Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (WFC)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* As in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Alpha Trion is the master archivist of Iacon's Hall of Records.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the tradition]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|of Smokescreens wearing]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|the number "38"]].
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), the "Fast" [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals]] of the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]] are bright salmon.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]''.
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was like a [[Autoboot Camp|boot camp]] for him.
* The recovery of an empty [[Decepticon]] escape pod, complete with a red, dirt-covered [[insignia]], could be a callback to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1]] episode: "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]", which had a similar scene, and the appearance of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]].

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
* Starscream searches for information on the internet, or as many refer to it, "The Information Superhighway."

===Trivia===
* Starscream finds Earth humor funny, [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|even though he previously said he didn't]]. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
* As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this ''is'' the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode; Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos are exchanged for his number "38" and checker racer decal.
* A new kind of Energon has been introduced alongside the regular, [[Dark Energon|Dark]], [[Synthetic Energon|Synthetic]], and [[Tox-En|Toxic]] forms. Time will tell if using Red Energon has any negative effects...
* Smokescreen refers to Starscream as having "[http://www.theshoedictionary.com/stiletto-heels.html stiletto]" heels, despite Starscream's feet more closely resembling [http://www.theshoedictionary.com/french-heels.html french/spool] heels. Clearly, Smokescreen knows very little about the finer details of women's footwear.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der neue Rekrut'''" ("The new Recuit")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 9|9 February]] [[2013]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shinsei Henkei! Smokescreen Sanjō!'''" (新星変形!スモークスクリーン参上!, "New Star Transformation! Enter Smokescreen!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 2|2 February]] [[2013]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Novo Recruta'''" ("New Recruit")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 26|26 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

New Recruit

2015-08-15T00:20:45Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=[[Superman]] meets [[Nolan North|Superboy]] for the first time.
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (10)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (12)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.

"All these Cons came out of one pod?" 
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.

"A trillion gigabytes of data, ''none'' of it useful! Though some... oddly engrossing."
:—'''Starscream''' manages to sum up the internet in the best way possible.

'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing? 
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this? 
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—Smokescreen meets Miko.

"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> entrance is deflated.

"Any last words, Smokescreen?" 
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Shortly after Bumblebee first exits the GroundBridge portal, a part sticks out that disappears when he transforms
*Arm weapons silently transform twice in this episode; Optimus' when he's running from the exploding pod, and Bumblebee's when he's about to climb the crane.
*The Apex Armor doesn't allow room for Starscream's wings—as Smokescreen kicks him out of the armor, his wings just suddenly appear into his back.
*Even Optimus Prime can't pronounce the name of his former profession, referring to himself as an [[Orion Pax, Part 1|ar-KIVE-ist]].

===Continuity errors===
* The Insecticons seem to die ''very'' easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
* As Optimus' report didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know to take the phase shifter to defeat it?

===Continuity notes===
* Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
* Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
* Bulkhead is still recovering from the injuries he suffered in "[[Toxicity]]". By now, he can walk unaided (albeit at a slow limp), and a conversation with Ratchet implies that he can transform and drive around to some extent.
* The [[spark extractor]] ("[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]"), [[immobilizer]] ("[[Partners]]"), [[phase shifter]] ("[[Tunnel Vision]]"), and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] ("[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]") are part of Jack's tour.
* Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (WFC)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* As in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Alpha Trion is the master archivist of Iacon's Hall of Records.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the tradition]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|of Smokescreens wearing]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|the number "38"]].
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), the "Fast" [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals]] of the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]] are bright salmon.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]''.
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was like a [[Autoboot Camp|boot camp]] for him.
* The recovery of an empty [[Decepticon]] escape pod, complete with a red, dirt-covered [[insignia]], could be a callback to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1]] episode: "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]", which had a similar scene, and the appearance of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]].

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
* Starscream searches for information on the internet, or as many refer to it, "The Information Superhighway."

===Trivia===
* Starscream finds Earth humor funny, [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|even though he previously said he didn't]]. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
* As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this ''is'' the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode; Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos are exchanged for his number "38" and checker racer decal.
* A new kind of Energon has been introduced alongside the regular, [[Dark Energon|Dark]], [[Synthetic Energon|Synthetic]], and [[Tox-En|Toxic]] forms. Time will tell if using Red Energon has any negative effects...
* Smokescreen refers to Starscream as having "[http://www.theshoedictionary.com/stiletto-heels.html stiletto]" heels, despite Starscream's feet more closely resembling [http://www.theshoedictionary.com/french-heels.html french/spool] heels. Clearly, Smokescreen knows very little about the finer details of women's footwear.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der neue Rekrut'''" ("The new Recuit")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 9|9 February]] [[2013]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shinsei Henkei! Smokescreen Sanjō!'''" (新星変形!スモークスクリーン参上!, "New Star Transformation! Enter Smokescreen!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 2|2 February]] [[2013]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Novo Recruta'''" ("New Recruit")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 26|26 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Operation Bumblebee, Part 1

2015-08-15T00:18:48Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 30
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 3
|next=Operation Bumblebee, Part 2
|image=OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's new ride.jpg
|caption="Listen, this isn't what it looks like..."
|title="Operation Bumblebee, Part 1"
|airdate=[[March 10]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bumblebee questions his worthiness to his team after he is compromised.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 extractor yoink.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yoink!]]
[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] stake out a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] mining operation overseen by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. Optimus isn't about to let Megatron have whatever gave off the signal that led him and Ratchet here, and he confronts Megatron just as the Vehicons break earth and hand the package to him. Megatron advises Optimus to stow his weapons; the device they've unearthed is a deadly [[spark extractor]], capable of sapping the spark from the body of every Cybertronian in its radius. He takes the opportunity to gloat about how Optimus—ahem, ''Orion''—led him to it before stepping through the [[GroundBridge]], and ordering the Vehicons to hold Ratchet and Optimus off. Close by, [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] speeds over a cliff and through the attacking Vehicons, before driving into the GroundBridge. He transforms and grabs the package from Megatron's hand, before turning around and bolting. Megatron runs after him, but upon arriving outside the vortex, finds his troops destroyed and all three Autobots gone.

Back at base, Bumblebee brags about his vehicular acrobatics. Ratchet informs Optimus of the reason for the Autobot homing beacon on the device—it was sealed away in Iacon during the war, but was jettisoned offworld when the Decepticons raided the city. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] asks if Optimus remembers if he transcribed any other coordinates, but Optimus regrets that he does not. Ratchet posits that Megatron said he decrypted multiple targets to play havoc with Optimus' psyche.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron laments over the loss of the spark extractor, and regrets that he did no more than destroy Bumblebee's [[voice box]] back on Cybertron. [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] reminds Megatron that there are still two contacts on Earth to investigate.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's operation.jpg|thumb|right|250px|'''Doctor''': So what are we transplanting today? '''Silas''': A T-cog--er, I mean liver. '''Doctor''': A liver? In a robot? '''Silas''': And?]]
On the road, Bumblebee sounds off to [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to rendezvous with him at the coordinates of the new distress beacon. Upon arriving, however, the only device present is an upright beacon. Suddenly, Bumblebee is stunned by a large electrical blast, and he falls unconscious. [[Silas]] and a [[MECH]] team emerge from the shadows, including a [[MECH Surgeon]] who starts work on Bumblebee. Unseen by the troops below, Starscream arrives and transforms on an overlooking cliff. As MECH spots Bulkhead incoming, the surgeon finishes his work, and the team departs in a helicopter. Bulkhead arrives and asks Bumblebee who did it, but Bumblebee doesn't recall. Bulkhead advises pursuit, and transforms to roll—but Bumblebee doesn't. Antsy at the hold-up, Bulkhead asks Bumblebee why he's not transforming, and Bumblebee replies that he can't.

Back at base, Ratchet scans Bumblebee and discovers that his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] is missing. The Autobots quickly work out MECH is behind it, and Optimus tells Bumblebee he's going to have to rely on his friends for a while. Bumblebee is very depressed. Optimus is worried about what Megatron might unearth next.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Silas meets Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"So, which of us should be called Scarface?"]]
MECH install Bumblebee's T-cog into the robot they've built, but when they power it up and have it scan a helicopter, the robot is unable to transform. Starscream, who has been spying on them, reveals himself and proposes an alliance. He explains the T-cog requires [[energon]] to work. He intends to supply MECH with information on energon so they can work out a way to find energon deposits.

Bumblebee is making a pain of himself bugging Ratchet, who asks [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] to keep him busy. Unfortunately all of their entertainment reminds Bumblebee of his missing vehicle mode. Raf makes another attempt to make Bumblebee feel better, but is undermined by Arcee and [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] racing into the base at high speed. Ratchet has to stop Bumblebee from going out for a walk, but feels guilty at his inability to fix his fellow Autobot. Some time later, Ratchet picks Raf up outside [[Memorial High School|school]], much to the boy's discomfort.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee runs after Knock Out.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Robots in mirror are closer than they appear.]]
On monitoring duty, Bulkhead detects a signal, and Bumblebee insists on going with him to investigate.

Raf asks how Bumblebee's voice box was damaged, and Ratchet tells how Bumblebee was captured at [[Tyger Pax]] and given a working over by the Decepticons. Though a [[Ratchet (WFC)|field medic]] saved the scout, it wasn't enough to save his voice box.

Bulkhead and Bumblebee track the signal to a cave. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] soon comes barreling out, closely followed by [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]]. While Bulkhead tackles the latter, Bumblebee attempts to chase Knock Out on foot. He soon finds he can't even transform his arms to deploy his guns, and is forced to continue the pursuit by using an old truck as an impromptu go-kart. Unfortunately it loses a wheel, and as Knock Out speeds off with the pilfered device, Bumblebee is sent flying off a cliff.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (18)
*[[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] (19)
|c3=
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (6)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (12)
*[[Sierra]] (14)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (15)
*[[Starter Guy]] (16)
*[[Vince]] (17)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:UrbanaOffendsBumblebee01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Whoa! Check it out they're showing Transformers Prime on television."]]
"The new Urbana 500. It won't just rock your world. It will transform it."
:—The '''commercial narrator''' hates Bumblebee.

"Taking the "auto" out of an Autobot is ''so'' not a good thing."
:-'''Miko''' makes a valid point for once.

"...You want to ride with the siren on?" 
"No, thank you."
:—'''Ratchet''' attempts to cheer up '''Raf'''.

"Still don't know how you talked me into this. You're worse than Miko."
:—'''Bulkhead''' on Bumblebee's persuasiveness.

"Bumblebee, where's your famous horsepower? Show me some ''speed''!"
:—'''Knock Out''', unintentionally striking a nerve.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Though Ratchet has standard vehicle instrumentation, the needles don't move, at least while they're in shot. His speedometer is showing a higher reading as they slowly move away from the school than later when they're driving down the street.
* When Optimus draws his weapon at the start of the episode, he draws his left cannon. When he charges Megatron he's then wielding his right cannon.
*When Jack drives Arcee into the Autobot Base and puts his foot down, it disappears through the floor.
*[[Orion Pax, Part 1|Again]], Optimus Prime/Orion Pax is referred to as an "ar-KIVE-ist," this time by Bulkhead.

===Continuity errors===
*In "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]", [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] refers to Bumblebee as a custom muscle car, but in this episode he is revealed to be an apparently-uncustomized [[Urbana 500]].

===Continuity notes===
*This marks the first mention of Megatron being responsible for destroying Bumblebee's capacity to speak at [[Tyger Pax]], having been established in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'' for the Aligned continuity.
*Megatron calls Optimus by his pre-Prime name "Orion Pax" from the previous episodes. The three sets of coordinates the Decepticons are investigating here are likewise the fruits of [[Project Iacon]].
*We first heard about [[Project Chimera]] in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]", the events of which Starscream makes mention of. Here we finally see what the project is—an attempt to create a MECH-designed Transformer.
*The old pickup truck Bumblebee uses to chase Knock Out was first seen in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", and again in "[[Metal Attraction]]" and "[[New Recruit]]".
*MECH's attacks on Breakdown and Arcee are brought up, which happened in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and "[[Crisscross]]", respectively. Starscream also brings up MECH's attack on Breakdown when he meets them face to face.
*Starscream compares facial scars with Silas, having gotten his from Arcee in "[[Partners]]".

===Transformers references===
[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 spark extractor.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Behold, the latest handheld gaming system: THE SEGA MATRIX, with the ability to transform into any gaming system in the world, even those NOT made by [[Sega|SEGA]]!]]
*The ''device du jour'' today is the spark extractor, courtesy of ancient Decepticons. However, unlike the [[spark extractor|original]], this one seems to be more of a bomb-like device, sapping the sparks of everyone in its radius. It might not be a coincidence that the device showed up in an episode written by [[Marty Isenberg]], given that he was one of the two showrunners of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|series]] it originated from.
*The T-cog is a reference to the [[transformation cog]] of G1 lore. It was first referred to in the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]", in which the lack of a transformation cog meant that [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] was stuck in city mode.
*Ratchet also has to explain to Bumblebee that the Autobots are "[[Robots in Disguise (disambiguation)|Robots In Disguise]]", which is why he can't leave the base while his T-Cog is missing.
* The reason behind the loss of Bumblebee's voice is near identical to the explanation given for [[Bumblebee (Movie)|another Bumblebee]]. In fact, several of the visuals for the flashback scene are lifted almost directly from [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' [[Movie Prequel issue 1|issue 1]].

===Real-world references===
*Megatron uses the term "mutually assured destruction", a longtime slogan for the effect of nuclear war.
*Knock Out references Rent-A-Car, a real-world car rental service, though given what a generic name it has, this may be a coincidence.

===Trivia===
*In a first for the series, Bumblebee's car mode is revealed as the [[Urbana 500]].
*This is the first time a fight has happened ''inside'' the GroundBridge. Seeing as it's quite long, this may explain how in other episodes, characters sometimes exit the GroundBridge in a different order than they entered it.
*Bumblebee, Ratchet and Starscream's Cybertronian modes, again, have Earth vehicle kibble.
*The title is a nod to a Season 1 episode "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*It was revealed that several artifacts were jettisoned into space during the war, explaining why [[Energon Harvester|earlier]] [[polarity gauntlet|devices]] were found on Earth.
*Bumblebee's door wings move with his emotions just like with Starscream. They act like animal ears.
*Optimus has finally been repaired from the damage he got in his battle with Megatron in "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* [[Project Chimera]]'s fingers and right shoulder armor look ''very'' similar to Optimus's. We see why [[Nemesis Prime (episode)|episodes later]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Operation Bumblebee, Teil 1'''" ("Operation Bumblebee, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25|25 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henkei Funō!? Bumblebee SOS'''" (変形不能!?バンブルビーSOS, "Unable to Transform!? SOS Bumblebee")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 27|27 October]] [[2012]]
*This is the first episode to mix up the theme of the titles by putting "Henkei" first.

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Operação Bumblebee, Parte 1'''" ("Operation Bumblebee, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 6|6 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 1

2015-08-15T00:18:04Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 27
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 3
|next=Orion Pax, Part 2
|image=Orion-Pax-Part-1-OP-Megatron.jpg
|caption="Grr." "That's not how you do a proper growl, Pax. Widen your mouth, like so: ''GRRR.''" "...Grrr?" "''GRRR!"
|title="Orion Pax, Part 1"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron manipulates the impaired Optimus into joining the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
With the [[Autobot]]s back at base after [[Unicron]]'s defeat, [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] grimly outlines the situation and speculates that [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] has reverted to Orion Pax, his pre-Prime self.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] makes a ship-wide announcement that Orion Pax is to be treated as a guest. [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] doesn't think it's wise to let an Autobot on board, but Megatron isn't concerned and has his own plans for Orion. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] affixes a new [[Decepticon]] [[insignia]] to Orion's shoulder.

[[William Fowler|Fowler]] wonders why they can't just track down Optimus's signal, but Ratchet says it hasn't been on their sensors since they left the [[Earth's core]]. They must find some way to track down Optimus regardless, so they can somehow restore his memory. The best bet seems to be to use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], but the problem is, [[Vector Sigma]]'s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[File:Orion pax part 1 optimus face.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"You're saying my whole life is a ''television show''!?"]]
Megatron begins to fill Orion Pax in on what's been happening, spinning a yarn about how Orion has been a captive of the Autobots, who are led by the Warlord Ratchet. Orion is shocked at the images Megatron shows him of a war-ravaged Cybertron.

[[June Darby|June]] announces that there's no way [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] is going to Cybertron, but Ratchet says only Jack can use the key to access Vector Sigma. The point's moot anyway, as they don't have any way to get to Cybertron. As [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] points out, the [[GroundBridge]] barely made orbit, though [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] wonders why Ratchet can't just "turbo-charge" it.

With Megatron finished "informing" Orion, the latter vows to help the Decepticons overcome Ratchet and the Autobots. Megatron has [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] remove any incriminating evidence from the ship's data core so Orion can be put to work furthering the Decepticon cause without any risk of him finding anything embarrassing.

[[Sierra]] turns up at [[KO Burger]] to visit Jack as he works at the drive through, confused that she never sees him outside school. Their discussion is interrupted by [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] picking him up as his shift ends. Sierra jumps to the obvious conclusion after hearing the female voice, and seems unconvinced by Jack's claim that it's his mother. Arcee reports that they haven't detected Optimus yet.

Megatron discusses their new comrade with Knock Out, specifically his task to decrypt records stolen from the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] archives near the end of the War. Knock Out wonders if they shouldn't beef up the security, but Megatron feels that Orion will work better if he feels he is not under threat. In any case, Orion's workstation has been located close to the [[energon]] storage, which is under heavy guard.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Ratchet is "tinkering" with the GroundBridge.

Orion has managed to decode some of the data from the Iacon archives, giving coordinates on Earth of stashed Cybertronian technology, possibly weapons. He is puzzled by the absence from the ''Nemesis'' of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] who is mentioned in the documents as being Megatron's second-in-command, but Megatron claims Starscream is dead. Megatron returns to the bridge, where he tells Soundwave he's concerned that Orion will soon learn the truth.

Fowler contacts the Autobots to let them know that the Decepticons are attacking one of the military bases they hit two months before. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee respond, finding Knock Out and Breakdown in the process of stealing a power source. As the pair GroundBridge out, Arcee races through after them and begins speeding through the ''Nemesis'', bashing Vehicons and hunting for Optimus. Soundwave soon relays her presence to Megatron, and though Airachnid offers to deal with it, Megatron sends Soundwave to ensure the Autobot is escorted off the ship. Alerted by the fighting, Orion emerges from his quarters, but Soundwave manages to GroundBridge Arcee off the ship just before Orion can see her.

[[File:TFP Orion Pax Part 1-Soundwave and Arcee.jpg|Right|thumb|upright=1.4| Soundwave feels like playing chicken today.]]
Deposited somewhere Arctic, Arcee is soon back at base admitting she didn't succeed in determining the location of the ship or whether Optimus was even aboard. Fowler makes a brief call to yell at them for the human casualties at the base, and tensions among the Autobots soon spill over into arguing. Jack, however, believes they can commandeer the Decepticon [[space bridge]] once it's complete, and use it to reach Cybertron. The Autobots are doubtful, but determined to try and find the space bridge.

Meanwhile, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] sneaks back on board the ''Nemesis'' to steal a stack of [[energon cube]]s. Though he deals with the Vehicons guarding the energon storage, more are on their way, and he's forced to duck into a nearby room. His relief is momentary, as he finds himself face to face with Optimus Prime.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (4)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|"Orion Pax"]] (13)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] (17)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (5)
*[[June Darby]] (6)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Sierra]] (16)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (18)

}}

==Quotes==
"Welcome back to the winning team".
:—'''Knock Out''' channels Jack Welch

"—and the first to address him as Optimus Prime will have their voice box torn out."
:—'''Megatron''' makes plain the penalty for failure.

"Your mom looks good in leather, on your bike..."
:—'''Sierra''' is unconvinced that [[Arcee (WFC)|the girl on the motorcycle]] is really Jack's mom.

"One question, Megatron, why are we called 'Decepticons'?" 
"Another craven Autobot scare tactic. The name was meant to demonize us. Instead, we wear it as a badge of honor, for if speaking the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' is (ironically) deceived by '''Megatron'''.

"Bulkhead—" 
"What? ''You needed that?!''"
:—'''Ratchet''' is eternally frustrated, and '''Bulkhead''' should invest in a punching bag.

"Who knows?! Maybe they'll ship us all to some [[Diego Garcia|island]]! Or [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|fire us into space]], wouldn't that be a welcome relief..."
:—'''Ratchet''' discussing future travel plans, after Fowler threatens to shut down the Autobot base.

"Whoa, that's a pretty good idea!" 
"Oh, well, if ''Miko'' thinks it's a good idea..."
:—'''Miko''' gets no respect from '''Arcee'''.

"No... Optimus Prime!!!"
:— And '''Starscream''' just lost his voice box.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*During his first appearance, the scar on Starscream's right cheek is missing. In the next scene however, it's suddenly there. It also disappears when the lights are flickering after he killed two Vehicons.
*The Vehicons fail to notice that Starscream is flying in formation behind them, and don't hear him land with them inside the ship, even though on both occasions Starscream is no more than a dozen or so meters behind them.
*When Starscream encounters Optimus and prepares to attack him, the sound of laser blasters charging up can be heard, even though he doesn't use them. In the next episode, the sound is gone.
*Throughout the episode, multiple characters refer to Orion Pax as an archivist, but each one of them mispronounces the word as "ar-KIVE-ist." The correct pronunciation is [[Wikipedia:Archivist|AR-kiv-ist]], even though the adjective ''archival'', the verb ''archive'', and the noun ''archives'' all use the long ''I'' sound. This is a common mistake among people not in the library/archives field (and a huge pet peeve among those of us who are). The error will be repeated in [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|later]] [[New Recruit|episodes]].

===Continuity notes===
* Fowler refers to the "microchip in his butt" that allows the government to track him, which was previously used for that purpose by the Autobots in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*Starscream's absence is finally acknowledged by Megatron after his supposed capture in "[[Partners]]". He evidently realized that Starscream may have betrayed him again and ordered him to be detained if he returned.
*Megatron refers to Ratchet as the "Doctor of Doom", as the Autobot medic called himself in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
*The Decepticons previously attempted to seize the same power source in "[[One Shall Fall]]", which according to Agent Fowler, was two months before this episode.
*Starscream still has the scar on his right cheek inflicted by Arcee in "[[Partners]]".

===Continuity errors===
*Ratchet says that Optimus' signal never reappeared at the end of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]", even though it did.
*Ratchet also says Optimus has lost all memories of being a Prime, which means he should remember up until he received the Matrix of Leadership. By that time, Megatron had already started the war, started the Decepticons, corrupted Cybertron, and proved his true nature to Orion. Yet, Orion displays no knowledge of Megatron's fall to evil, the Decepticons, Cybertron's shutdown, and still regards him as a friend and teacher. Arcee comes close to bringing this up, but ultimately, the issue is glaringly ignored.

===Transformers references===
*In summarizing his version of history for Orion, Megatron uses the rather specific terminology of "exodus" and "war for Cybertron", pretty blatantly alluding to the [[Transformers: Exodus|novel]] and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|video game]]. In particular, the first name-drop is kinda forced, as the word isn't even used correctly: Megatron says they are "in exodus on another world", but he means [[Transformers: Exiles|"exile"]].
*Fowler calls Orion a "librarian" in disbelief that he has lost his memories: this was Megatron's favored insult for Optimus in ''Exodus''.
*Megatron refers to the storming of the Hall of Records in the final days of the war for Cybertron; ''Exodus'' climaxed with the Decepticons storming Iacon, and, in ''[[Transformers: Exiles|Exiles]]'', the building is occupied.
*Ratchet remarks that if the government shuts down [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], then maybe they'll "fire them into space", a fate that befell the Autobots when they fell out of favour with humanity in both the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Megatron's Master Plan]]" and the ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' film. His other suggestion, that they be shipped off to "some island", feels like a reference to ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'', the cast of which operates on an isolated island (this episode's writer, Nicole Dubuc, is also the head writer for ''Rescue Bots'', strengthening the potential allusion).
*Arcee remarks that perhaps Optimus gave Jack the Key to Vector Sigma because he thought there was "more to Jack than meets the eye".

===Trivia===
*A 12-minute sneak preview of this episode was made available On Demand on [[February 10]], 2012.
*Polygon resolved the issue of the seemingly empty [[Jasper]] with roving cars!
*Arcee nearly blew her cover while balancing in the drive-thru without her [[Sadie|holographic driver]] touching the ground. Earth bikes can't do that, Arcee.
* One has to wonder why Megatron would have told Optimus that Starscream was dead, if he was also prepared for Starscream to return alive.
* The Decepticon GroundBridge seems to be able to open anywhere inside the ship, since Arcee enters in the middle of one hallway, only to be sent back out at the end of a completely different one.
*Despite [[Out of His Head|previously]] beating Starscream to a pulp for his attempted betrayal, Megatron still allows Airachnid to serve as his subordinate - though his brief scolding of her implies he's well aware of her treachery. This would indeed [[Crossfire|eventually]] catch up to Airachnid.
*Megatron's explanation for Decepticons' name origin is not as unlikely as it may seem. It was not unheard of soldiers adopting seemingly demonizing names as "a badge of honor", for example "Rats of Tobruk" (Allied soldiers defending Tobruk from Germans), "Night Witches" (Soviet all-female night bombers unit) or "Tunnel Rats" (American soldiers penetrating Vietcong's tunnels during Vietnam War).
* Adaptations of this episode include a screen-capture-style comic version as part of ''[[Transformers Prime: The Orion Pax Saga|The Orion Pax Saga]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Teil 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 19|19 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bōkyaku Henkei! Decepticon ni Natta Optimus'''" (忘却変形!ディセプティコンになったオプティマス, "Forgotten Transformation! Optimus Has Become a Decepticon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Oraion Paekseu 1(il)'''" (오라이온 팩스 1, "Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 31|31 August]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Parte 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 3|3 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 1

2015-08-07T02:05:19Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 27
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 3
|next=Orion Pax, Part 2
|image=Orion-Pax-Part-1-OP-Megatron.jpg
|caption="Grr." "That's not how you do a proper growl, Pax. Widen your mouth, like so: ''GRRR.''" "...Grrr?" "''GRRR!"
|title="Orion Pax, Part 1"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron manipulates the impaired Optimus into joining the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
With the [[Autobot]]s back at base after [[Unicron]]'s defeat, [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] grimly outlines the situation and speculates that [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] has reverted to Orion Pax, his pre-Prime self.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] makes a ship-wide announcement that Orion Pax is to be treated as a guest. [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] doesn't think it's wise to let an Autobot on board, but Megatron isn't concerned and has his own plans for Orion. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] affixes a new [[Decepticon]] [[insignia]] to Orion's shoulder.

[[William Fowler|Fowler]] wonders why they can't just track down Optimus's signal, but Ratchet says it hasn't been on their sensors since they left the [[Earth's core]]. They must find some way to track down Optimus regardless, so they can somehow restore his memory. The best bet seems to be to use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], but the problem is, [[Vector Sigma]]'s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[File:Orion pax part 1 optimus face.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"You're saying my whole life is a ''television show''!?"]]
Megatron begins to fill Orion Pax in on what's been happening, spinning a yarn about how Orion has been a captive of the Autobots, who are led by the Warlord Ratchet. Orion is shocked at the images Megatron shows him of a war-ravaged Cybertron.

[[June Darby|June]] announces that there's no way [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] is going to Cybertron, but Ratchet says only Jack can use the key to access Vector Sigma. The point's moot anyway, as they don't have any way to get to Cybertron. As [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] points out, the [[GroundBridge]] barely made orbit, though [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] wonders why Ratchet can't just "turbo-charge" it.

With Megatron finished "informing" Orion, the latter vows to help the Decepticons overcome Ratchet and the Autobots. Megatron has [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] remove any incriminating evidence from the ship's data core so Orion can be put to work furthering the Decepticon cause without any risk of him finding anything embarrassing.

[[Sierra]] turns up at [[KO Burger]] to visit Jack as he works at the drive through, confused that she never sees him outside school. Their discussion is interrupted by [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] picking him up as his shift ends. Sierra jumps to the obvious conclusion after hearing the female voice, and seems unconvinced by Jack's claim that it's his mother. Arcee reports that they haven't detected Optimus yet.

Megatron discusses their new comrade with Knock Out, specifically his task to decrypt records stolen from the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] archives near the end of the War. Knock Out wonders if they shouldn't beef up the security, but Megatron feels that Orion will work better if he feels he is not under threat. In any case, Orion's workstation has been located close to the [[energon]] storage, which is under heavy guard.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Ratchet is "tinkering" with the GroundBridge.

Orion has managed to decode some of the data from the Iacon archives, giving coordinates on Earth of stashed Cybertronian technology, possibly weapons. He is puzzled by the absence from the ''Nemesis'' of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] who is mentioned in the documents as being Megatron's second-in-command, but Megatron claims Starscream is dead. Megatron returns to the bridge, where he tells Soundwave he's concerned that Orion will soon learn the truth.

Fowler contacts the Autobots to let them know that the Decepticons are attacking one of the military bases they hit two months before. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee respond, finding Knock Out and Breakdown in the process of stealing a power source. As the pair GroundBridge out, Arcee races through after them and begins speeding through the ''Nemesis'', bashing Vehicons and hunting for Optimus. Soundwave soon relays her presence to Megatron, and though Airachnid offers to deal with it, Megatron sends Soundwave to ensure the Autobot is escorted off the ship. Alerted by the fighting, Orion emerges from his quarters, but Soundwave manages to GroundBridge Arcee off the ship just before Orion can see her.

[[File:TFP Orion Pax Part 1-Soundwave and Arcee.jpg|Right|thumb|upright=1.4| Soundwave feels like playing chicken today.]]
Deposited somewhere Arctic, Arcee is soon back at base admitting she didn't succeed in determining the location of the ship or whether Optimus was even aboard. Fowler makes a brief call to yell at them for the human casualties at the base, and tensions among the Autobots soon spill over into arguing. Jack, however, believes they can commandeer the Decepticon [[space bridge]] once it's complete, and use it to reach Cybertron. The Autobots are doubtful, but determined to try and find the space bridge.

Meanwhile, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] sneaks back on board the ''Nemesis'' to steal a stack of [[energon cube]]s. Though he deals with the Vehicons guarding the energon storage, more are on their way, and he's forced to duck into a nearby room. His relief is momentary, as he finds himself face to face with Optimus Prime.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (4)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|"Orion Pax"]] (13)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] (17)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (5)
*[[June Darby]] (6)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Sierra]] (16)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (18)

}}

==Quotes==
"Welcome back to the winning team".
:—'''Knock Out''' channels Jack Welch

"—and the first to address him as Optimus Prime will have their voice box torn out."
:—'''Megatron''' makes plain the penalty for failure.

"Your mom looks good in leather, on your bike..."
:—'''Sierra''' is unconvinced that [[Arcee (WFC)|the girl on the motorcycle]] is really Jack's mom.

"One question, Megatron, why are we called 'Decepticons'?" 
"Another craven Autobot scare tactic. The name was meant to demonize us. Instead, we wear it as a badge of honor, for if speaking the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' is (ironically) deceived by '''Megatron'''.

"Bulkhead—" 
"What? ''You needed that?!''"
:—'''Ratchet''' is eternally frustrated, and '''Bulkhead''' should invest in a punching bag.

"Who knows?! Maybe they'll ship us all to some [[Diego Garcia|island]]! Or [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|fire us into space]], wouldn't that be a welcome relief..."
:—'''Ratchet''' discussing future travel plans, after Fowler threatens to shut down the Autobot base.

"Whoa, that's a pretty good idea!" 
"Oh, well, if ''Miko'' thinks it's a good idea..."
:—'''Miko''' gets no respect from '''Arcee'''.

"No... Optimus Prime!!!"
:— And '''Starscream''' just lost his voice box.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*During his first appearance, the scar on Starscream's right cheek is missing. In the next scene however, it's suddenly there. It also disappears when the lights are flickering after he killed two Vehicons.
*The Vehicons fail to notice that Starscream is flying in formation behind them, and don't hear him land with them inside the ship, even though on both occasions Starscream is no more than a dozen or so meters behind them.
*When Starscream encounters Optimus and prepares to attack him, the sound of laser blasters charging up can be heard, even though he doesn't use them. In the next episode, the sound is gone.
*Throughout the episode, multiple characters refer to Orion Pax as an archivist, but each one of them mispronounces the word as "ar-KIVE-ist." The correct pronunciation is [[Wikipedia:Archivist|AR-kiv-ist]], even though the adjective ''archival'', the verb ''archive'', and the noun ''archives'' all use the long ''I'' sound. This is a common mistake among people not in the library/archives field (and a huge pet peeve among those of us who are). The error will be repeated by Bulkhead [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|later]].

===Continuity notes===
* Fowler refers to the "microchip in his butt" that allows the government to track him, which was previously used for that purpose by the Autobots in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*Starscream's absence is finally acknowledged by Megatron after his supposed capture in "[[Partners]]". He evidently realized that Starscream may have betrayed him again and ordered him to be detained if he returned.
*Megatron refers to Ratchet as the "Doctor of Doom", as the Autobot medic called himself in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
*The Decepticons previously attempted to seize the same power source in "[[One Shall Fall]]", which according to Agent Fowler, was two months before this episode.
*Starscream still has the scar on his right cheek inflicted by Arcee in "[[Partners]]".

===Continuity errors===
*Ratchet says that Optimus' signal never reappeared at the end of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]", even though it did.
*Ratchet also says Optimus has lost all memories of being a Prime, which means he should remember up until he received the Matrix of Leadership. By that time, Megatron had already started the war, started the Decepticons, corrupted Cybertron, and proved his true nature to Orion. Yet, Orion displays no knowledge of Megatron's fall to evil, the Decepticons, Cybertron's shutdown, and still regards him as a friend and teacher. Arcee comes close to bringing this up, but ultimately, the issue is glaringly ignored.

===Transformers references===
*In summarizing his version of history for Orion, Megatron uses the rather specific terminology of "exodus" and "war for Cybertron", pretty blatantly alluding to the [[Transformers: Exodus|novel]] and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|video game]]. In particular, the first name-drop is kinda forced, as the word isn't even used correctly: Megatron says they are "in exodus on another world", but he means [[Transformers: Exiles|"exile"]].
*Fowler calls Orion a "librarian" in disbelief that he has lost his memories: this was Megatron's favored insult for Optimus in ''Exodus''.
*Megatron refers to the storming of the Hall of Records in the final days of the war for Cybertron; ''Exodus'' climaxed with the Decepticons storming Iacon, and, in ''[[Transformers: Exiles|Exiles]]'', the building is occupied.
*Ratchet remarks that if the government shuts down [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], then maybe they'll "fire them into space", a fate that befell the Autobots when they fell out of favour with humanity in both the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Megatron's Master Plan]]" and the ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' film. His other suggestion, that they be shipped off to "some island", feels like a reference to ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'', the cast of which operates on an isolated island (this episode's writer, Nicole Dubuc, is also the head writer for ''Rescue Bots'', strengthening the potential allusion).
*Arcee remarks that perhaps Optimus gave Jack the Key to Vector Sigma because he thought there was "more to Jack than meets the eye".

===Trivia===
*A 12-minute sneak preview of this episode was made available On Demand on [[February 10]], 2012.
*Polygon resolved the issue of the seemingly empty [[Jasper]] with roving cars!
*Arcee nearly blew her cover while balancing in the drive-thru without her [[Sadie|holographic driver]] touching the ground. Earth bikes can't do that, Arcee.
* One has to wonder why Megatron would have told Optimus that Starscream was dead, if he was also prepared for Starscream to return alive.
* The Decepticon GroundBridge seems to be able to open anywhere inside the ship, since Arcee enters in the middle of one hallway, only to be sent back out at the end of a completely different one.
*Despite [[Out of His Head|previously]] beating Starscream to a pulp for his attempted betrayal, Megatron still allows Airachnid to serve as his subordinate - though his brief scolding of her implies he's well aware of her treachery. This would indeed [[Crossfire|eventually]] catch up to Airachnid.
*Megatron's explanation for Decepticons' name origin is not as unlikely as it may seem. It was not unheard of soldiers adopting seemingly demonizing names as "a badge of honor", for example "Rats of Tobruk" (Allied soldiers defending Tobruk from Germans), "Night Witches" (Soviet all-female night bombers unit) or "Tunnel Rats" (American soldiers penetrating Vietcong's tunnels during Vietnam War).
* Adaptations of this episode include a screen-capture-style comic version as part of ''[[Transformers Prime: The Orion Pax Saga|The Orion Pax Saga]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Teil 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 19|19 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bōkyaku Henkei! Decepticon ni Natta Optimus'''" (忘却変形!ディセプティコンになったオプティマス, "Forgotten Transformation! Optimus Has Become a Decepticon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Oraion Paekseu 1(il)'''" (오라이온 팩스 1, "Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 31|31 August]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Parte 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 3|3 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Operation Bumblebee, Part 1

2015-08-07T02:03:57Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 30
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 3
|next=Operation Bumblebee, Part 2
|image=OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's new ride.jpg
|caption="Listen, this isn't what it looks like..."
|title="Operation Bumblebee, Part 1"
|airdate=[[March 10]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bumblebee questions his worthiness to his team after he is compromised.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 extractor yoink.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yoink!]]
[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] stake out a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] mining operation overseen by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. Optimus isn't about to let Megatron have whatever gave off the signal that led him and Ratchet here, and he confronts Megatron just as the Vehicons break earth and hand the package to him. Megatron advises Optimus to stow his weapons; the device they've unearthed is a deadly [[spark extractor]], capable of sapping the spark from the body of every Cybertronian in its radius. He takes the opportunity to gloat about how Optimus—ahem, ''Orion''—led him to it before stepping through the [[GroundBridge]], and ordering the Vehicons to hold Ratchet and Optimus off. Close by, [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] speeds over a cliff and through the attacking Vehicons, before driving into the GroundBridge. He transforms and grabs the package from Megatron's hand, before turning around and bolting. Megatron runs after him, but upon arriving outside the vortex, finds his troops destroyed and all three Autobots gone.

Back at base, Bumblebee brags about his vehicular acrobatics. Ratchet informs Optimus of the reason for the Autobot homing beacon on the device—it was sealed away in Iacon during the war, but was jettisoned offworld when the Decepticons raided the city. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] asks if Optimus remembers if he transcribed any other coordinates, but Optimus regrets that he does not. Ratchet posits that Megatron said he decrypted multiple targets to play havoc with Optimus' psyche.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron laments over the loss of the spark extractor, and regrets that he did no more than destroy Bumblebee's [[voice box]] back on Cybertron. [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] reminds Megatron that there are still two contacts on Earth to investigate.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's operation.jpg|thumb|right|250px|'''Doctor''': So what are we transplanting today? '''Silas''': A T-cog--er, I mean liver. '''Doctor''': A liver? In a robot? '''Silas''': And?]]
On the road, Bumblebee sounds off to [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to rendezvous with him at the coordinates of the new distress beacon. Upon arriving, however, the only device present is an upright beacon. Suddenly, Bumblebee is stunned by a large electrical blast, and he falls unconscious. [[Silas]] and a [[MECH]] team emerge from the shadows, including a [[MECH Surgeon]] who starts work on Bumblebee. Unseen by the troops below, Starscream arrives and transforms on an overlooking cliff. As MECH spots Bulkhead incoming, the surgeon finishes his work, and the team departs in a helicopter. Bulkhead arrives and asks Bumblebee who did it, but Bumblebee doesn't recall. Bulkhead advises pursuit, and transforms to roll—but Bumblebee doesn't. Antsy at the hold-up, Bulkhead asks Bumblebee why he's not transforming, and Bumblebee replies that he can't.

Back at base, Ratchet scans Bumblebee and discovers that his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] is missing. The Autobots quickly work out MECH is behind it, and Optimus tells Bumblebee he's going to have to rely on his friends for a while. Bumblebee is very depressed. Optimus is worried about what Megatron might unearth next.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Silas meets Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"So, which of us should be called Scarface?"]]
MECH install Bumblebee's T-cog into the robot they've built, but when they power it up and have it scan a helicopter, the robot is unable to transform. Starscream, who has been spying on them, reveals himself and proposes an alliance. He explains the T-cog requires [[energon]] to work. He intends to supply MECH with information on energon so they can work out a way to find energon deposits.

Bumblebee is making a pain of himself bugging Ratchet, who asks [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] to keep him busy. Unfortunately all of their entertainment reminds Bumblebee of his missing vehicle mode. Raf makes another attempt to make Bumblebee feel better, but is undermined by Arcee and [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] racing into the base at high speed. Ratchet has to stop Bumblebee from going out for a walk, but feels guilty at his inability to fix his fellow Autobot. Some time later, Ratchet picks Raf up outside [[Memorial High School|school]], much to the boy's discomfort.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee runs after Knock Out.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Robots in mirror are closer than they appear.]]
On monitoring duty, Bulkhead detects a signal, and Bumblebee insists on going with him to investigate.

Raf asks how Bumblebee's voice box was damaged, and Ratchet tells how Bumblebee was captured at [[Tyger Pax]] and given a working over by the Decepticons. Though a [[Ratchet (WFC)|field medic]] saved the scout, it wasn't enough to save his voice box.

Bulkhead and Bumblebee track the signal to a cave. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] soon comes barreling out, closely followed by [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]]. While Bulkhead tackles the latter, Bumblebee attempts to chase Knock Out on foot. He soon finds he can't even transform his arms to deploy his guns, and is forced to continue the pursuit by using an old truck as an impromptu go-kart. Unfortunately it loses a wheel, and as Knock Out speeds off with the pilfered device, Bumblebee is sent flying off a cliff.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (18)
*[[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] (19)
|c3=
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (6)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (12)
*[[Sierra]] (14)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (15)
*[[Starter Guy]] (16)
*[[Vince]] (17)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:UrbanaOffendsBumblebee01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Whoa! Check it out they're showing Transformers Prime on television."]]
"The new Urbana 500. It won't just rock your world. It will transform it."
:—The '''commercial narrator''' hates Bumblebee.

"Taking the "auto" out of an Autobot is ''so'' not a good thing."
:-'''Miko''' makes a valid point for once.

"...You want to ride with the siren on?" 
"No, thank you."
:—'''Ratchet''' attempts to cheer up '''Raf'''.

"Still don't know how you talked me into this. You're worse than Miko."
:—'''Bulkhead''' on Bumblebee's persuasiveness.

"Bumblebee, where's your famous horsepower? Show me some ''speed''!"
:—'''Knock Out''', unintentionally striking a nerve.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Though Ratchet has standard vehicle instrumentation, the needles don't move, at least while they're in shot. His speedometer is showing a higher reading as they slowly move away from the school than later when they're driving down the street.
* When Optimus draws his weapon at the start of the episode, he draws his left cannon. When he charges Megatron he's then wielding his right cannon.
*When Jack drives Arcee into the Autobot Base and puts his foot down, it disappears through the floor.
*[[Orion Pax, Part 1|Once again]], Optimus Prime/Orion Pax is referred to as an "ar-KIVE-ist," this time by Bulkhead.

===Continuity errors===
*In "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]", [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] refers to Bumblebee as a custom muscle car, but in this episode he is revealed to be an apparently-uncustomized [[Urbana 500]].

===Continuity notes===
*This marks the first mention of Megatron being responsible for destroying Bumblebee's capacity to speak at [[Tyger Pax]], having been established in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'' for the Aligned continuity.
*Megatron calls Optimus by his pre-Prime name "Orion Pax" from the previous episodes. The three sets of coordinates the Decepticons are investigating here are likewise the fruits of [[Project Iacon]].
*We first heard about [[Project Chimera]] in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]", the events of which Starscream makes mention of. Here we finally see what the project is—an attempt to create a MECH-designed Transformer.
*The old pickup truck Bumblebee uses to chase Knock Out was first seen in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", and again in "[[Metal Attraction]]" and "[[New Recruit]]".
*MECH's attacks on Breakdown and Arcee are brought up, which happened in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and "[[Crisscross]]", respectively. Starscream also brings up MECH's attack on Breakdown when he meets them face to face.
*Starscream compares facial scars with Silas, having gotten his from Arcee in "[[Partners]]".

===Transformers references===
[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 spark extractor.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Behold, the latest handheld gaming system: THE SEGA MATRIX, with the ability to transform into any gaming system in the world, even those NOT made by [[Sega|SEGA]]!]]
*The ''device du jour'' today is the spark extractor, courtesy of ancient Decepticons. However, unlike the [[spark extractor|original]], this one seems to be more of a bomb-like device, sapping the sparks of everyone in its radius. It might not be a coincidence that the device showed up in an episode written by [[Marty Isenberg]], given that he was one of the two showrunners of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|series]] it originated from.
*The T-cog is a reference to the [[transformation cog]] of G1 lore. It was first referred to in the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]", in which the lack of a transformation cog meant that [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] was stuck in city mode.
*Ratchet also has to explain to Bumblebee that the Autobots are "[[Robots in Disguise (disambiguation)|Robots In Disguise]]", which is why he can't leave the base while his T-Cog is missing.
* The reason behind the loss of Bumblebee's voice is near identical to the explanation given for [[Bumblebee (Movie)|another Bumblebee]]. In fact, several of the visuals for the flashback scene are lifted almost directly from [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' [[Movie Prequel issue 1|issue 1]].

===Real-world references===
*Megatron uses the term "mutually assured destruction", a longtime slogan for the effect of nuclear war.
*Knock Out references Rent-A-Car, a real-world car rental service, though given what a generic name it has, this may be a coincidence.

===Trivia===
*In a first for the series, Bumblebee's car mode is revealed as the [[Urbana 500]].
*This is the first time a fight has happened ''inside'' the GroundBridge. Seeing as it's quite long, this may explain how in other episodes, characters sometimes exit the GroundBridge in a different order than they entered it.
*Bumblebee, Ratchet and Starscream's Cybertronian modes, again, have Earth vehicle kibble.
*The title is a nod to a Season 1 episode "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*It was revealed that several artifacts were jettisoned into space during the war, explaining why [[Energon Harvester|earlier]] [[polarity gauntlet|devices]] were found on Earth.
*Bumblebee's door wings move with his emotions just like with Starscream. They act like animal ears.
*Optimus has finally been repaired from the damage he got in his battle with Megatron in "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* [[Project Chimera]]'s fingers and right shoulder armor look ''very'' similar to Optimus's. We see why [[Nemesis Prime (episode)|episodes later]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Operation Bumblebee, Teil 1'''" ("Operation Bumblebee, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 25|25 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henkei Funō!? Bumblebee SOS'''" (変形不能!?バンブルビーSOS, "Unable to Transform!? SOS Bumblebee")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 27|27 October]] [[2012]]
*This is the first episode to mix up the theme of the titles by putting "Henkei" first.

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Operação Bumblebee, Parte 1'''" ("Operation Bumblebee, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 6|6 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 1

2015-08-05T00:39:26Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 27
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 3
|next=Orion Pax, Part 2
|image=Orion-Pax-Part-1-OP-Megatron.jpg
|caption="Grr." "That's not how you do a proper growl, Pax. Widen your mouth, like so: ''GRRR.''" "...Grrr?" "''GRRR!"
|title="Orion Pax, Part 1"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron manipulates the impaired Optimus into joining the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
With the [[Autobot]]s back at base after [[Unicron]]'s defeat, [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] grimly outlines the situation and speculates that [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] has reverted to Orion Pax, his pre-Prime self.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] makes a ship-wide announcement that Orion Pax is to be treated as a guest. [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] doesn't think it's wise to let an Autobot on board, but Megatron isn't concerned and has his own plans for Orion. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] affixes a new [[Decepticon]] [[insignia]] to Orion's shoulder.

[[William Fowler|Fowler]] wonders why they can't just track down Optimus's signal, but Ratchet says it hasn't been on their sensors since they left the [[Earth's core]]. They must find some way to track down Optimus regardless, so they can somehow restore his memory. The best bet seems to be to use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], but the problem is, [[Vector Sigma]]'s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[File:Orion pax part 1 optimus face.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"You're saying my whole life is a ''television show''!?"]]
Megatron begins to fill Orion Pax in on what's been happening, spinning a yarn about how Orion has been a captive of the Autobots, who are led by the Warlord Ratchet. Orion is shocked at the images Megatron shows him of a war-ravaged Cybertron.

[[June Darby|June]] announces that there's no way [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] is going to Cybertron, but Ratchet says only Jack can use the key to access Vector Sigma. The point's moot anyway, as they don't have any way to get to Cybertron. As [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] points out, the [[GroundBridge]] barely made orbit, though [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] wonders why Ratchet can't just "turbo-charge" it.

With Megatron finished "informing" Orion, the latter vows to help the Decepticons overcome Ratchet and the Autobots. Megatron has [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] remove any incriminating evidence from the ship's data core so Orion can be put to work furthering the Decepticon cause without any risk of him finding anything embarrassing.

[[Sierra]] turns up at [[KO Burger]] to visit Jack as he works at the drive through, confused that she never sees him outside school. Their discussion is interrupted by [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] picking him up as his shift ends. Sierra jumps to the obvious conclusion after hearing the female voice, and seems unconvinced by Jack's claim that it's his mother. Arcee reports that they haven't detected Optimus yet.

Megatron discusses their new comrade with Knock Out, specifically his task to decrypt records stolen from the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] archives near the end of the War. Knock Out wonders if they shouldn't beef up the security, but Megatron feels that Orion will work better if he feels he is not under threat. In any case, Orion's workstation has been located close to the [[energon]] storage, which is under heavy guard.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Ratchet is "tinkering" with the GroundBridge.

Orion has managed to decode some of the data from the Iacon archives, giving coordinates on Earth of stashed Cybertronian technology, possibly weapons. He is puzzled by the absence from the ''Nemesis'' of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] who is mentioned in the documents as being Megatron's second-in-command, but Megatron claims Starscream is dead. Megatron returns to the bridge, where he tells Soundwave he's concerned that Orion will soon learn the truth.

Fowler contacts the Autobots to let them know that the Decepticons are attacking one of the military bases they hit two months before. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee respond, finding Knock Out and Breakdown in the process of stealing a power source. As the pair GroundBridge out, Arcee races through after them and begins speeding through the ''Nemesis'', bashing Vehicons and hunting for Optimus. Soundwave soon relays her presence to Megatron, and though Airachnid offers to deal with it, Megatron sends Soundwave to ensure the Autobot is escorted off the ship. Alerted by the fighting, Orion emerges from his quarters, but Soundwave manages to GroundBridge Arcee off the ship just before Orion can see her.

[[File:TFP Orion Pax Part 1-Soundwave and Arcee.jpg|Right|thumb|upright=1.4| Soundwave feels like playing chicken today.]]
Deposited somewhere Arctic, Arcee is soon back at base admitting she didn't succeed in determining the location of the ship or whether Optimus was even aboard. Fowler makes a brief call to yell at them for the human casualties at the base, and tensions among the Autobots soon spill over into arguing. Jack, however, believes they can commandeer the Decepticon [[space bridge]] once it's complete, and use it to reach Cybertron. The Autobots are doubtful, but determined to try and find the space bridge.

Meanwhile, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] sneaks back on board the ''Nemesis'' to steal a stack of [[energon cube]]s. Though he deals with the Vehicons guarding the energon storage, more are on their way, and he's forced to duck into a nearby room. His relief is momentary, as he finds himself face to face with Optimus Prime.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (4)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|"Orion Pax"]] (13)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] (17)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (5)
*[[June Darby]] (6)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Sierra]] (16)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (18)

}}

==Quotes==
"Welcome back to the winning team".
:—'''Knock Out''' channels Jack Welch

"—and the first to address him as Optimus Prime will have their voice box torn out."
:—'''Megatron''' makes plain the penalty for failure.

"Your mom looks good in leather, on your bike..."
:—'''Sierra''' is unconvinced that [[Arcee (WFC)|the girl on the motorcycle]] is really Jack's mom.

"One question, Megatron, why are we called 'Decepticons'?" 
"Another craven Autobot scare tactic. The name was meant to demonize us. Instead, we wear it as a badge of honor, for if speaking the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' is (ironically) deceived by '''Megatron'''.

"Bulkhead—" 
"What? ''You needed that?!''"
:—'''Ratchet''' is eternally frustrated, and '''Bulkhead''' should invest in a punching bag.

"Who knows?! Maybe they'll ship us all to some [[Diego Garcia|island]]! Or [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|fire us into space]], wouldn't that be a welcome relief..."
:—'''Ratchet''' discussing future travel plans, after Fowler threatens to shut down the Autobot base.

"Whoa, that's a pretty good idea!" 
"Oh, well, if ''Miko'' thinks it's a good idea..."
:—'''Miko''' gets no respect from '''Arcee'''.

"No... Optimus Prime!!!"
:— And '''Starscream''' just lost his voice box.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*During his first appearance, the scar on Starscream's right cheek is missing. In the next scene however, it's suddenly there. It also disappears when the lights are flickering after he killed two Vehicons.
*The Vehicons fail to notice that Starscream is flying in formation behind them, and don't hear him land with them inside the ship, even though on both occasions Starscream is no more than a dozen or so meters behind them.
*When Starscream encounters Optimus and prepares to attack him, the sound of laser blasters charging up can be heard, even though he doesn't use them. In the next episode, the sound is gone.
*Throughout the episode, multiple characters refer to Orion Pax as an archivist, but each one of them mispronounces the word as "ar-KIVE-ist." The correct pronunciation is [[Wikipedia:Archivist|AR-kiv-ist]], even though the adjective ''archival'', the verb ''archive'', and the noun ''archives'' all use the long ''I'' sound. This is a common mistake among those not in the library/archives field (and a huge pet peeve among those of us who are). The error will be repeated by Bulkhead [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|later]].

===Continuity notes===
* Fowler refers to the "microchip in his butt" that allows the government to track him, which was previously used for that purpose by the Autobots in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*Starscream's absence is finally acknowledged by Megatron after his supposed capture in "[[Partners]]". He evidently realized that Starscream may have betrayed him again and ordered him to be detained if he returned.
*Megatron refers to Ratchet as the "Doctor of Doom", as the Autobot medic called himself in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
*The Decepticons previously attempted to seize the same power source in "[[One Shall Fall]]", which according to Agent Fowler, was two months before this episode.
*Starscream still has the scar on his right cheek inflicted by Arcee in "[[Partners]]".

===Continuity errors===
*Ratchet says that Optimus' signal never reappeared at the end of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]", even though it did.
*Ratchet also says Optimus has lost all memories of being a Prime, which means he should remember up until he received the Matrix of Leadership. By that time, Megatron had already started the war, started the Decepticons, corrupted Cybertron, and proved his true nature to Orion. Yet, Orion displays no knowledge of Megatron's fall to evil, the Decepticons, Cybertron's shutdown, and still regards him as a friend and teacher. Arcee comes close to bringing this up, but ultimately, the issue is glaringly ignored.

===Transformers references===
*In summarizing his version of history for Orion, Megatron uses the rather specific terminology of "exodus" and "war for Cybertron", pretty blatantly alluding to the [[Transformers: Exodus|novel]] and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|video game]]. In particular, the first name-drop is kinda forced, as the word isn't even used correctly: Megatron says they are "in exodus on another world", but he means [[Transformers: Exiles|"exile"]].
*Fowler calls Orion a "librarian" in disbelief that he has lost his memories: this was Megatron's favored insult for Optimus in ''Exodus''.
*Megatron refers to the storming of the Hall of Records in the final days of the war for Cybertron; ''Exodus'' climaxed with the Decepticons storming Iacon, and, in ''[[Transformers: Exiles|Exiles]]'', the building is occupied.
*Ratchet remarks that if the government shuts down [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], then maybe they'll "fire them into space", a fate that befell the Autobots when they fell out of favour with humanity in both the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Megatron's Master Plan]]" and the ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' film. His other suggestion, that they be shipped off to "some island", feels like a reference to ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'', the cast of which operates on an isolated island (this episode's writer, Nicole Dubuc, is also the head writer for ''Rescue Bots'', strengthening the potential allusion).
*Arcee remarks that perhaps Optimus gave Jack the Key to Vector Sigma because he thought there was "more to Jack than meets the eye".

===Trivia===
*A 12-minute sneak preview of this episode was made available On Demand on [[February 10]], 2012.
*Polygon resolved the issue of the seemingly empty [[Jasper]] with roving cars!
*Arcee nearly blew her cover while balancing in the drive-thru without her [[Sadie|holographic driver]] touching the ground. Earth bikes can't do that, Arcee.
* One has to wonder why Megatron would have told Optimus that Starscream was dead, if he was also prepared for Starscream to return alive.
* The Decepticon GroundBridge seems to be able to open anywhere inside the ship, since Arcee enters in the middle of one hallway, only to be sent back out at the end of a completely different one.
*Despite [[Out of His Head|previously]] beating Starscream to a pulp for his attempted betrayal, Megatron still allows Airachnid to serve as his subordinate - though his brief scolding of her implies he's well aware of her treachery. This would indeed [[Crossfire|eventually]] catch up to Airachnid.
*Megatron's explanation for Decepticons' name origin is not as unlikely as it may seem. It was not unheard of soldiers adopting seemingly demonizing names as "a badge of honor", for example "Rats of Tobruk" (Allied soldiers defending Tobruk from Germans), "Night Witches" (Soviet all-female night bombers unit) or "Tunnel Rats" (American soldiers penetrating Vietcong's tunnels during Vietnam War).
* Adaptations of this episode include a screen-capture-style comic version as part of ''[[Transformers Prime: The Orion Pax Saga|The Orion Pax Saga]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Teil 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 19|19 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bōkyaku Henkei! Decepticon ni Natta Optimus'''" (忘却変形!ディセプティコンになったオプティマス, "Forgotten Transformation! Optimus Has Become a Decepticon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Oraion Paekseu 1(il)'''" (오라이온 팩스 1, "Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 31|31 August]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Parte 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 3|3 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 1

2015-08-05T00:34:24Z

Treybunn: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 27
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 3
|next=Orion Pax, Part 2
|image=Orion-Pax-Part-1-OP-Megatron.jpg
|caption="Grr." "That's not how you do a proper growl, Pax. Widen your mouth, like so: ''GRRR.''" "...Grrr?" "''GRRR!"
|title="Orion Pax, Part 1"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron manipulates the impaired Optimus into joining the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
With the [[Autobot]]s back at base after [[Unicron]]'s defeat, [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] grimly outlines the situation and speculates that [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] has reverted to Orion Pax, his pre-Prime self.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] makes a ship-wide announcement that Orion Pax is to be treated as a guest. [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] doesn't think it's wise to let an Autobot on board, but Megatron isn't concerned and has his own plans for Orion. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] affixes a new [[Decepticon]] [[insignia]] to Orion's shoulder.

[[William Fowler|Fowler]] wonders why they can't just track down Optimus's signal, but Ratchet says it hasn't been on their sensors since they left the [[Earth's core]]. They must find some way to track down Optimus regardless, so they can somehow restore his memory. The best bet seems to be to use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], but the problem is, [[Vector Sigma]]'s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[File:Orion pax part 1 optimus face.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"You're saying my whole life is a ''television show''!?"]]
Megatron begins to fill Orion Pax in on what's been happening, spinning a yarn about how Orion has been a captive of the Autobots, who are led by the Warlord Ratchet. Orion is shocked at the images Megatron shows him of a war-ravaged Cybertron.

[[June Darby|June]] announces that there's no way [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] is going to Cybertron, but Ratchet says only Jack can use the key to access Vector Sigma. The point's moot anyway, as they don't have any way to get to Cybertron. As [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] points out, the [[GroundBridge]] barely made orbit, though [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] wonders why Ratchet can't just "turbo-charge" it.

With Megatron finished "informing" Orion, the latter vows to help the Decepticons overcome Ratchet and the Autobots. Megatron has [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] remove any incriminating evidence from the ship's data core so Orion can be put to work furthering the Decepticon cause without any risk of him finding anything embarrassing.

[[Sierra]] turns up at [[KO Burger]] to visit Jack as he works at the drive through, confused that she never sees him outside school. Their discussion is interrupted by [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] picking him up as his shift ends. Sierra jumps to the obvious conclusion after hearing the female voice, and seems unconvinced by Jack's claim that it's his mother. Arcee reports that they haven't detected Optimus yet.

Megatron discusses their new comrade with Knock Out, specifically his task to decrypt records stolen from the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] archives near the end of the War. Knock Out wonders if they shouldn't beef up the security, but Megatron feels that Orion will work better if he feels he is not under threat. In any case, Orion's workstation has been located close to the [[energon]] storage, which is under heavy guard.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Ratchet is "tinkering" with the GroundBridge.

Orion has managed to decode some of the data from the Iacon archives, giving coordinates on Earth of stashed Cybertronian technology, possibly weapons. He is puzzled by the absence from the ''Nemesis'' of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] who is mentioned in the documents as being Megatron's second-in-command, but Megatron claims Starscream is dead. Megatron returns to the bridge, where he tells Soundwave he's concerned that Orion will soon learn the truth.

Fowler contacts the Autobots to let them know that the Decepticons are attacking one of the military bases they hit two months before. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee respond, finding Knock Out and Breakdown in the process of stealing a power source. As the pair GroundBridge out, Arcee races through after them and begins speeding through the ''Nemesis'', bashing Vehicons and hunting for Optimus. Soundwave soon relays her presence to Megatron, and though Airachnid offers to deal with it, Megatron sends Soundwave to ensure the Autobot is escorted off the ship. Alerted by the fighting, Orion emerges from his quarters, but Soundwave manages to GroundBridge Arcee off the ship just before Orion can see her.

[[File:TFP Orion Pax Part 1-Soundwave and Arcee.jpg|Right|thumb|upright=1.4| Soundwave feels like playing chicken today.]]
Deposited somewhere Arctic, Arcee is soon back at base admitting she didn't succeed in determining the location of the ship or whether Optimus was even aboard. Fowler makes a brief call to yell at them for the human casualties at the base, and tensions among the Autobots soon spill over into arguing. Jack, however, believes they can commandeer the Decepticon [[space bridge]] once it's complete, and use it to reach Cybertron. The Autobots are doubtful, but determined to try and find the space bridge.

Meanwhile, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] sneaks back on board the ''Nemesis'' to steal a stack of [[energon cube]]s. Though he deals with the Vehicons guarding the energon storage, more are on their way, and he's forced to duck into a nearby room. His relief is momentary, as he finds himself face to face with Optimus Prime.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (4)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|"Orion Pax"]] (13)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] (17)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (5)
*[[June Darby]] (6)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Sierra]] (16)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (18)

}}

==Quotes==
"Welcome back to the winning team".
:—'''Knock Out''' channels Jack Welch

"—and the first to address him as Optimus Prime will have their voice box torn out."
:—'''Megatron''' makes plain the penalty for failure.

"Your mom looks good in leather, on your bike..."
:—'''Sierra''' is unconvinced that [[Arcee (WFC)|the girl on the motorcycle]] is really Jack's mom.

"One question, Megatron, why are we called 'Decepticons'?" 
"Another craven Autobot scare tactic. The name was meant to demonize us. Instead, we wear it as a badge of honor, for if speaking the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' is (ironically) deceived by '''Megatron'''.

"Bulkhead—" 
"What? ''You needed that?!''"
:—'''Ratchet''' is eternally frustrated, and '''Bulkhead''' should invest in a punching bag.

"Who knows?! Maybe they'll ship us all to some [[Diego Garcia|island]]! Or [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|fire us into space]], wouldn't that be a welcome relief..."
:—'''Ratchet''' discussing future travel plans, after Fowler threatens to shut down the Autobot base.

"Whoa, that's a pretty good idea!" 
"Oh, well, if ''Miko'' thinks it's a good idea..."
:—'''Miko''' gets no respect from '''Arcee'''.

"No... Optimus Prime!!!"
:— And '''Starscream''' just lost his voice box.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*During his first appearance, the scar on Starscream's right cheek is missing. In the next scene however, it's suddenly there. It also disappears when the lights are flickering after he killed two Vehicons.
*The Vehicons fail to notice that Starscream is flying in formation behind them, and don't hear him land with them inside the ship, even though on both occasions Starscream is no more than a dozen or so meters behind them.
*When Starscream encounters Optimus and prepares to attack him, the sound of laser blasters charging up can be heard, even though he doesn't use them. In the next episode, the sound is gone.
*Throughout the episode, multiple characters refer to Orion Pax as an archivist, but each one of them mispronounces the word as "ar-KIVE-ist." The correct pronunciation is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivist AR-kiv-ist], even though the adjective ''archival'', the verb ''archive'', and the noun ''archives'' all use the long ''I'' sound. This is a common mistake among those not in the library/archives field (and a huge pet peeve among those of us who are). The error will be repeated by Bulkhead [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|later]].

===Continuity notes===
* Fowler refers to the "microchip in his butt" that allows the government to track him, which was previously used for that purpose by the Autobots in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*Starscream's absence is finally acknowledged by Megatron after his supposed capture in "[[Partners]]". He evidently realized that Starscream may have betrayed him again and ordered him to be detained if he returned.
*Megatron refers to Ratchet as the "Doctor of Doom", as the Autobot medic called himself in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
*The Decepticons previously attempted to seize the same power source in "[[One Shall Fall]]", which according to Agent Fowler, was two months before this episode.
*Starscream still has the scar on his right cheek inflicted by Arcee in "[[Partners]]".

===Continuity errors===
*Ratchet says that Optimus' signal never reappeared at the end of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]", even though it did.
*Ratchet also says Optimus has lost all memories of being a Prime, which means he should remember up until he received the Matrix of Leadership. By that time, Megatron had already started the war, started the Decepticons, corrupted Cybertron, and proved his true nature to Orion. Yet, Orion displays no knowledge of Megatron's fall to evil, the Decepticons, Cybertron's shutdown, and still regards him as a friend and teacher. Arcee comes close to bringing this up, but ultimately, the issue is glaringly ignored.

===Transformers references===
*In summarizing his version of history for Orion, Megatron uses the rather specific terminology of "exodus" and "war for Cybertron", pretty blatantly alluding to the [[Transformers: Exodus|novel]] and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|video game]]. In particular, the first name-drop is kinda forced, as the word isn't even used correctly: Megatron says they are "in exodus on another world", but he means [[Transformers: Exiles|"exile"]].
*Fowler calls Orion a "librarian" in disbelief that he has lost his memories: this was Megatron's favored insult for Optimus in ''Exodus''.
*Megatron refers to the storming of the Hall of Records in the final days of the war for Cybertron; ''Exodus'' climaxed with the Decepticons storming Iacon, and, in ''[[Transformers: Exiles|Exiles]]'', the building is occupied.
*Ratchet remarks that if the government shuts down [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], then maybe they'll "fire them into space", a fate that befell the Autobots when they fell out of favour with humanity in both the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Megatron's Master Plan]]" and the ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' film. His other suggestion, that they be shipped off to "some island", feels like a reference to ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'', the cast of which operates on an isolated island (this episode's writer, Nicole Dubuc, is also the head writer for ''Rescue Bots'', strengthening the potential allusion).
*Arcee remarks that perhaps Optimus gave Jack the Key to Vector Sigma because he thought there was "more to Jack than meets the eye".

===Trivia===
*A 12-minute sneak preview of this episode was made available On Demand on [[February 10]], 2012.
*Polygon resolved the issue of the seemingly empty [[Jasper]] with roving cars!
*Arcee nearly blew her cover while balancing in the drive-thru without her [[Sadie|holographic driver]] touching the ground. Earth bikes can't do that, Arcee.
* One has to wonder why Megatron would have told Optimus that Starscream was dead, if he was also prepared for Starscream to return alive.
* The Decepticon GroundBridge seems to be able to open anywhere inside the ship, since Arcee enters in the middle of one hallway, only to be sent back out at the end of a completely different one.
*Despite [[Out of His Head|previously]] beating Starscream to a pulp for his attempted betrayal, Megatron still allows Airachnid to serve as his subordinate - though his brief scolding of her implies he's well aware of her treachery. This would indeed [[Crossfire|eventually]] catch up to Airachnid.
*Megatron's explanation for Decepticons' name origin is not as unlikely as it may seem. It was not unheard of soldiers adopting seemingly demonizing names as "a badge of honor", for example "Rats of Tobruk" (Allied soldiers defending Tobruk from Germans), "Night Witches" (Soviet all-female night bombers unit) or "Tunnel Rats" (American soldiers penetrating Vietcong's tunnels during Vietnam War).
* Adaptations of this episode include a screen-capture-style comic version as part of ''[[Transformers Prime: The Orion Pax Saga|The Orion Pax Saga]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Teil 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 19|19 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bōkyaku Henkei! Decepticon ni Natta Optimus'''" (忘却変形!ディセプティコンになったオプティマス, "Forgotten Transformation! Optimus Has Become a Decepticon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Oraion Paekseu 1(il)'''" (오라이온 팩스 1, "Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 31|31 August]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Parte 1'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 3|3 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]