The Immobilizer

File:Ladybreakeandfatjazzr.jpg

Fat Jazz, Ladybreaker, and two guys enjoy the big breads.

The Decepticons steal Wheeljack's latest invention, which immobilizes stuff, and Ironhide attempts to retrieve it.

Detailed synopsis

At Autobot headquarters, Wheeljack gathers everyone around for a demonstration of his newest invention, the Immobilizer. Walking in late, Ironhide sees Hound’s hologram of Laserbeak and, thinking it’s real, fires wildly at it, scattering the Autobots and nearly bringing down the roof. As Ironhide apologizes, Wheeljack reveals that the Immobilizer was damaged and needs a replacement polarizer. Bumblebee and Spike volunteer to go into town to retrieve it.

While on their mission, ‘Bee and Spike stop for a few rounds of “Robot Resources” at the local arcade. A young woman named Carly introduces herself to the pair and admits her fondness for the “cute Autobot.” A somewhat jealous and awkward Spike reminds Bumblebee that they need to leave, and the pair take off, only to be stopped a few moments later by a sarcastic policeman. As they are being busted for speeding, Ravage attacks Bumblebee and secretly plants a miniature video camera on the Autobot. Spike electrocutes Ravage with jumper cables, and the Decepticon retreats. The officer lets the pair go with a warning.

With the Immobilizer repaired, Wheeljack starts the demonstration again, unaware his every word is being caught by the microbug camera on Bumblebee and relayed to Starscream and Megatron. The Decepticons aren’t too keen on the idea of being permanently immobilized by the invention, and Megatron promises to steal it.

Optimus Prime decides to move the test outdoors for safety. As the Autobots approach the location, Prime directs Ironhide to guard the perimeter. The rest proceed toward a fast-moving river, which Wheeljack immobilizes with the device. In the commotion caused by the success of the test, Spike messes with the Immobilizer and is almost zapped, but Wheeljack throws him out of the way, takes the blast himself, and winds up stiff as a board.

Still patrolling the perimeter, Ironhide catches a glimpse of a shadowy figure and fires his weapon. He discovers that the figure was Carly, whom he scolds for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The distant sound of gunfire cuts their conversation short, and Ironhide rushes off. He reaches the clearing to find the Decepticons have the Autobots at gunpoint, and blames the ambush on himself.

Megatron demands that Prime hand over the Immobilizer, and a battle ensues. The device gets knocked about and winds up in Megatron’s hands, but just as he starts issuing another threat, the river, on which he and the Decepticons are now standing, re-mobilizes and sweeps them downstream.

While undergoing repairs back at headquarters, Ironhide criticizes his performance in the field. Concluding that he’s too old to be of use, he resigns from active service, and nothing Ratchet or Prime says dissuades him. Carly blames herself for Ironhide’s attitude and tries to convince him not to quit. Ironhide gives her a tour of the base, and she pockets a grenade when they visit the armory.

Some time later, Wheeljack unfreezes, and Spike notices that Carly is missing. Suspecting she’s emotional and going to do something rash (‘cuz she is a girl), Spike and Bumblebee set out to look for her. Turns out he’s right. Carly has driven a boat out into the ocean and, using SCUBA gear, swims down to Decepticon headquarters to plant the stolen grenade on their outer wall. However, she’s detected by Soundwave, kidnapped by Laserbeak, and brought into the base to face Megatron’s judgment.

Luckily for Carly, her abduction was caught by the Sky Spy. Ironhide rushes off to find Spike and Bumblebee and start a rescue mission.

Back under the ocean, the grenade Carly planted earlier goes off, and seawater starts rushing into Decepticon headquarters. They manage to fix the damage and contain the water, except in the cell where Carly is being held. With disturbing glee, Megatron and the others watch Carly struggle as water fills the cell to the ceiling. Assuming she’s dead, they leave the cell unguarded. This lets Ironhide swim through the hole in the wall, grab the girl and bring her back to the surface.

…more to come…

Stats

Original airdate: September 24, 1985

Written by: Earl Kress

Featured Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Others
Wheeljack Ironhide Bumblebee		Regulars Carly Spike Guests

Notable quotes

"Give me the device now, Optimus Prime."
"Try and take it, Mega-turkey!"

—Megatron and the oh-so-witty Trailbreaker

"My telemeter has—ugh!—been damaged. Aah! I can’t steer!"

—Starscream bumps into trees as he tries to gain control of himself

"You’re losing your warriors, Megatron.” "Warriors are expendable. The most important thing is I get what I deserve, and I always do."

—Optimus Prime gets Megatron to set up the ironic line for this episode.

"You deserve that, all right, Mega-jerk. Rust in peace!"

—More wit from Trailbreaker as the Decepticons are swept downriver

"Someone should pacify those Decepticons...and their underwater headquarters."

—Carly, a girl after Ironhide’s own heart

"The show’s over. Back to work."

—A leering Megatron takes glee in Carly’s apparent drowning.

Other notes

Animation and/or technical glitches

• Seriously, WHAT IN THE NAME OF PRIMUS!?

Transformers references

• This episode is Carly's introduction to the series.

Real-world references

• References

Miscellaneous trivia

• Trivia

Keywords

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

External links

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.