Editing Masters & Students

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Masters&Students-SkyquakePrimefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one—" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Skyquake battles Optimus Prime, Starscream recovers the nearly dead Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Masters&Students-Nemesisbridgescreen.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Behold the functionality of our newest member: Jumbotron!"]]
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This is what happens when you give a giant alien robot sugar.]]
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. When he realizes that Soundwave means it's Megatron, Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

[[Image:Masters&Students-BeeQuake.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Well, look's like it's time to eject!"<br> "Wait, what about me?!"<br>"...bye!"<br> *Skyquake crashes*]]

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bendy straws slowly sucking the life out of him. Or bendy straws feeding him life. It's confusing.]]

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)
*[[Science fair judge]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?"<br>
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!"<br>
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.


''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..."<br>
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?"<br>
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle


"Well I'll be a bald eagle..."
:— '''Agent Fowler''', ever the patriot.


"Air superiority achieved!"
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].


"And this time...STAY DEAD!"
:— '''Starscream''' pulls off his most hardcore takeover attempt ever!

==Notes==
===Astronomical errors===
*The image displayed on Soundwave's monitor is presumably meant to be the [[Asteroid belt]], as the wreckage is too large to be that of the [[space bridge]]. However, the Asteroid belt lies outside [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], not Earth.

===Animation and technical errors===
* The copies of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]'' that Raf uses to make his paper mache volcano from are printed back-to-front, with the Sports section on the front and the masthead on the back.  Since this happened again in "[[Deus ex Machina]]", maybe Jasper just really loves their sports?
[[Image:MastersandStudents-Skyquakeunderjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fowler's jet has this stuff too, but in gray.]]
*Weirder still, Fowler's jet already has Skyquake's arms and legs attached as undercarriage.  No wonder Skyquake wanted to scan it.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space because he hears Megatron gasping in pain. However, sound cannot travel in a vacuum. It could be excused as Megatron broadcasting via a radio transmission, but a short time later, Starscream is alerted to the presence of Soundwave's drone by the sound of it flying through space.  Even more strange is that when Starscream talks in the explosion site, echoes can be heard.
*In the first shot when a Vehicon gets Starscream's attention during the latter's speech about the loss of Megatron, Starscream's image on the screen is seen turning in the opposite direction, as if giving his back to a camera. In the next sequence, the image on the screen is seen as if the camera were now at the same angle of the viewer.
* The close-up on Agent Fowler before Bumblebee jumps off his jet is the same used in the sequence where he says "I still got it", only mirrored.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claims Skyquake can't transform because he hasn't scanned a vehicle mode yet, but why doesn't he still have a Cybertronian mode?
*Soundwave is on the ground when Skyquake awakens, but is suddenly on top of the canyon behind them when Starscream retreats.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].
*This is not the [[Transport to Oblivion|first]] [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|time]] an incarnation of Megatron has survived a space bridge disaster.
*[[Furmanism|"If Megatron could not conquer Earth, what chance do we have?"]]

===Foreign localization===
'''German''' 
:*''Title:'' "'''Meister und Schüler'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 28|28 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mesterek és tanítványok'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 16|16 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestri e allievi'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 8|8 October]] [[2011]]

'''Korean''' 
:*''Title:'' "'''Seuseung gwa Jeja'''" (스승과 제자, "Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 13|13 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish''' 
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 12|12 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese''' 
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|December 13]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish''' 
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestros y Estudiantes'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]
::*This episode was unexpectedly first aired as part of a ''Transformers: Prime'' marathon instead of the usual time slot.

===Trivia===
[[Image:Masters&Students upcloseandpersonal.jpg|thumb|250px|Seriously, it's not like fans need encouragement at this point.]]
*Starscream is ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* This is the first episode in the series to use the full [[title sequence]].
*An Energon Cube appears in this episode
*Fowler flies a jet without wearing a jumpsuit, helmet, or oxygen mask. This was later explained in "[[Grill]]" as a modification Ratchet had made to Fowler's jet.

==Home video releases==
A DVD of "Masters & Students" comes with the entertainment pack containing figures of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]. This DVD is also included in the first-wave Prime Cyberverse Commander figures.
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[[Category:Prime episodes]]