Editing Patch (episode)

{{disambig2|the episode from ''Prime''|the dog from Generation 1|Patch (dog)}}

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 50
|prev=Inside Job
|next=Regeneration (Prime)
|image=PatchMegatronStarscream.JPG
|caption=Because we've never seen this before.
|title="Patch"
|airdate=[[October 19]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Starscream proposes a truce with Megatron, but Dreadwing threatens to stand in the way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] tells [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] that he wishes to once more become a [[Decepticon]]. While Megatron points out that [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] is now his second-in-command, Starscream insists he will keep to his place. Skeptical, Megatron has [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] extracted from the wall so that he can connect Megatron and Starscream with a [[cortical psychic patch]]. By rummaging through Starscream's memories, Megatron intends to find what really drives him, and first reviews the events surrounding the [[space bridge]] explosion. Knock Out monitors the mental images with interest. Megatron watches various instances of Starscream insisting on his leadership, the time he made a bunch of clones to assassinate Megatron, and when he tried to make a deal with Airachnid to terminate Megatron. Starscream claims he was half-crazed with energon deficiency at the time, but Megatron is unconvinced. Starscream insists he's always had Megatron's best interests at heart. Replaying Starscream's monologue during the time when Megatron was trapped underground, Megatron suggests Starscream refrain from thinking out loud in the future. He also drops the hint that if Starscream fails to be convincing, it'll likely end in Starscream's termination.

Starscream claims being beaten is enough to bring him back into line and tries to play up his own generosity by recalling the time when he provided Megatron with [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'s corpse for experimentation, and his use of his wits in dealing with the Autobots. Megatron points out his wits are usually insufficient to compensate for his arrogance, like when he faced [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] while charged up on [[Dark Energon]], or when he tried to use the [[Energon Harvester]] on [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. The revelation that [[MECH]] took Starscream's [[transformation cog|T-Cog]] greatly amuses Megatron, though Starscream is hoping that that might be restored to him in exchange for the [[Omega Key]]s—after all, he usually transforms with such style. He points out that at the time he deserted the Decepticon cause, he wasn't being made to feel particularly welcome there, despite apparently learning his place. Megatron doesn't believe Starscream's change of heart at the time would have lasted, and replays a discussion between Starscream and Knock Out while Megatron was lying in a coma in the sick bay. In the real world, Knock Out starts to realize that Starscream's memories are going to be equally incriminating to himself. Panicking, he comes up with a plan to disconnect the patch, trapping Megatron in Starscream's mind.

[[Image:PatchKnockOutDreadwing.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Awkward...]]
As Knock Out goes to unplug Megatron, Dreadwing stops him and he's forced to make up an excuse. Megatron's psychic interrogation of Starscream continues, and while Starscream claims that no one is perfect, not even Dreadwing, Megatron points out at least Dreadwing and his departed brother [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] were loyal. Starscream's memories of Skyquake's death and revival through Dark Energon are replayed, and he recalls how Skyquake was left in an undead state in some dimensional nether-realm. This revelation comes as a shock to Dreadwing, still watching in the lab. Megatron announces that Starscream will be allowed to rejoin the Decepticon forces proper, as they ''must'' be working as one unit if Cybertron is to be properly restored, a fact also addressed to the watching Knock Out. Knock Out realizes that Dreadwing is no longer standing behind him. Dreadwing stands on the outer hull of the ''Nemesis'' and aims a scream of rage at the sky.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* ''[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'' (6)
* ''[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'' (12)
* ''[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]'' (13)
* ''[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'' (14)
* ''[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'' (15)
* ''[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]]''
|c2=
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
* [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (3)
* [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (4)
* ''[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]'' (5)
* ''[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]'' (7)
* ''[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'' (8)
* ''[[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clone]]s'' (9)
* ''[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]'' (10)
* ''[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]'' (11)
* ''[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]'' (17)
|c3=
* ''[[Silas]]'' (16)

}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Only appeared in flashback.''

==Quotes==
"Few things of value come without a price."
:—'''Megatron''', who apparently hasn't heard of the enormous amount of free games on the internet.


"Ah, I do transform with an exceptional sense of style. ...I said that out loud, didn't I?"
:—'''Starscream'''


"Awkward."
:—'''Knock Out''' aptly summarizes the general atmosphere of the episode.

==Notes==

===Animation and technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
* Starscream was not present when Skyquake was trapped in an alternate dimension in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]", nor was that fact ever made clear to him. While it is obvious that Skyquake lost his arm (since it attacked Starscream), Starscream should have no knowledge of his fate beyond that.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the first truly Decepticon focused episode, with no Autobots appearing outside of flashbacks.
* This is also a clip show focusing on Starscream, so virtually every Starscream-relevant episode is revisited.
* This episode firmly establishes that Starscream never installed the T-cog he scavenged from the clone he murdered.
* Dreadwing learns of Starscream's attempt to revive Skyquake as a zombie minion, as well as his imprisonment in an alternate dimension.
* Megatron tells Dreadwing to free Knock Out from the wall of the ''Nemesis'' which occurred in the [[Shadowzone (episode)|previous episode]].

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===
*When Starscream's memory of the attempt to unplug Megatron replays, Knock Out frantically looks for a fastfoward or erase button on the viewer. These are common features on DVR.

===Trivia===
* This is the second [[clip show|clip episode]], the first being "[[Grill]]".
* This is the first episode to feature humans after three episodes which didn't, albeit only in flashbacks.
* This is also the first episode to not feature any Autobots outside of flashbacks.
* Like in the previous episode, Megatron's mental projection has his original arm, not the Prime arm.
* For being clever enough to engineer a plan to successfully steal all four Omega Keys, Starscream didn't really think through his plan to regain Megatron's favor. He went in with no insurance policy to make sure Megatron didn't just simply scrap him and take the keys instead.
* This may in fact be the first time we see Dreadwing smile, even if its only to look smug to Knock Out.
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[[Category:Prime episodes]]
[[Category:Clip shows]]