Suspended
| ||||||
 Grimlock attempt to be the next Evel Knievel. | ||||||
| "Suspended" | ||||||
| Production company | Hasbro Studios | |||||
| Airdate | March 12, 2016 | |||||
| Writer | Mairghread Scott | |||||
| Director | Todd Waterman | |||||
| Animation studio | Polygon Pictures | |||||
After a mistake in the field, Strongarm takes herself out of action just when the team needs her most against fire-starting Decepticons Crazybolt and Slicedice.
Synopsis
Bumblebee, Strongarm and Grimlock head to yet another fire, which they believe has been started by a Decepticon. Indeed, no sooner have they arrived than Crazybolt and Slicedice roar up. Strongarm heads off after the two Cons, and Grimlock insists on accompanying her, despite not being as fast, and Bumblebee is left to put out the fire. Strongarm's pursuit comes to a halt when she runs into a sticky trap left by Crazybolt. The two Decepticons explain they're destroying things which prevent them from speeding, before trying to attack her. She manages to avoid Slicedice's claws and free herself, but the pair again flee, forcing her to give chase. They manage to use a smokescreen to send her onto a busy overpass, where she accidentally sends another car into the side of the bridge. Grimlock arrives in time to grab the car and steady it, giving Strongarm time to evacuate the overpass, however the car falls and only the timely arrival of Bumblebee prevents a catastrophe. The three Autobots manage to get the car back onto the bridge and make off without their covers being blown. As they drive, Strongarm blames herself for the accident.
Back at base, Grimlock retells his heroic exploits to Denny, while Bumblebee instructs Fixit to monitor the emergency channels. Strongarm tries to turn in her Decepticon Hunter as, according to the rules, she needs to be placed on administrative leave. While she hands the weapon over, it accidentally goes off and destroys some gnomes, which doesn't help. Denny later observes Strongarm glumly reviewing the footage of her chase.
Crazybolt and Slicedice's drive along a mountain road is halted when they reach a sign banning vehicles from a forest ahead. Naturally they destroy the sign.
Fixit works on attaching Grimlock's trailer hitch to Bumblebee's tail end. Denny informs Bumblebee that he needs to do something to cheer Strongarm up, and they come up with the idea of rigging up a control panel so she can assist Fixit. Fixit reluctantly agrees. They soon have an appropriately sized control panel rigged up and try to get Strongarm to use it to find a pattern to the fires. Unfortunately the buttons are still too small for Strongarm, and she accidentally triggers the scrapyard's defense systems. Though they're quickly shut down again, Strongarm is further demoralized and goes to sit in a corner. Fixit detects a fire in Crown City State Park, and Bumblebee has him pull up information on Crazybolt and Slicedice. Bumblebee tries to hint that they need Strongarm along.
Bumblebee and Grimlock eventually reach the park and locate the two Decepticons. The brief battle that ensues before the two Cons flee results in another fire starting, and Bumblebee realizes they need to stay and help fight the fire. Complicating matters, they find a small group of bird watchers who are trapped by the fire. Fixit and Denny divert tanker planes to help while Grimlock and Bumblebee create a fire break, however as it turns out, the planes are still too far away to arrive in time to save the humans. Bumblebee starts recording a message for Optimus Prime to apologize for his failure, but when Strongarm objects, he points out she needs to forgive herself as she did Bumblebee. With help from Denny and Fixit, Strongarm heads up the mountain with a load of water and is able to create a trail up to the trapped bird watchers. While Bumblebee and Grimlock continue fighting the fire, Strongarm takes the humans to safety.
Back in the scrapyard, the team watches a news broadcast about the fire, and Bumblebee returns Strongarm's Decepticon Hunter, allowing her to immediately threaten Denny's gnomes with it. The team has a good laugh afterwards.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
Quotes
Crazybolt: One Bot's arson is another Con's virtuous demolition of the impediments to forward progress at maximum velocity.
Autobots: Huh?!
Slicedice: Yeah, you said it, Crazybolt. He's a genius! A visionary!
Both Cons: Illumination through acceleration!
- —The Decepticons introduce themselves.
"I wish these Cons would come with a translator"
- —Strongarm
"I can't even type without endangering others. I'm just gonna go sit over here and rust. I can't hurt anyone that way."
- —Strongarm
"I'll get my hat, a bottle of liquid smoke, and a size double-sixteen, extra-hairy mustache!"
- —Denny Clay ponders a fireman disguise.
"Scrud. Uh... halt! This is Fire Marshal, um, Denruss. For your safety, stay in your shelter and cover your eyes and mouth because of the smoke. And stuff."
- —Bumblebee attempts to channel Denny Clay.
Notes
Animation and technical errors
Continuity notes
Prisoner manifest
- In stasis: Hammerstrike, Bisk, Chop Shop, Terrashock, Filch, Minitron, Springload, Ped, Quillfire, "that one with all the eyes", Malodor and the Skunkticons, Nightstrike, Vertebreak, Octopunch, Groundpounder, Headlock, Scowl, Razorpaw, Zizza, Pseudo, Fracture, Airazor, Divebomb, Thunderhoof, Underbite, Clampdown, Overload, Backtrack, Ransack, Polarclaw
- Known at large: Steeljaw, Kickback, Saberhorn, Glowstrike, Scorponok, Glowstrike's crew, Crazybolt, Slicedice
- Released: Grimlock
- Countless others all missing, presumed at large
