Regeneration (Armada)
| This article is about the episode from Armada. For the episode from Prime, see Regeneration (Prime). |
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| "Regeneration" (Spark) "Life: Spark" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-34 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | April 19, 2003 (English) 29 August 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Isao Shizuya | |||||
| Director | Osamu Kamijō, Mitsuru Kawasaki (asst. dir.) | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
Smokescreen fights for his life while Starscream defects to the Autobots.
Synopsis
While Red Alert carefully disassembles Smokescreen in hopes of saving his comrade, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots explain to the kids the mechanics of Transformers' sparks. Red Alert reports that Smokescreen has a very strong chance of survival and then his own face distorts nonsensically. Hot Shot swears revenge against the Decepticons for the damage they did to Smokescreen.
In the Decepticons' base, Megatron enjoys having the power of the Requiem Blaster under his control. A grumpy Starscream then enters, resentful of his abandonment in the jungle. Thrust feigns concern, and Starscream punches Thrust into a wall. While Cyclonus and Demolishor are glad to see Thrust get what's coming to him, Megatron dismisses all his forces.
Starscream and the Air Defense Mini-Con Team enjoy a repairing energy bath (hot!). Demolishor comes to retrieve the Mini-Cons. Starscream and Demolishor almost get into a confrontation, but Demolishor relinquishes his duty to Starscream.
In private, Thrust and Megatron plot to get Starscream destroyed—although Megatron is too busy enjoying Thrust's compliments to figure out how clearly he's being manipulated. Starscream overhears the conspiracy and combines the Star Saber to take Thrust and Megatron down. The other Decepticons rush in to stop Starscream, so Starscream rushes to the teleport chamber. On his way out, Starscream proves that he can use the Star Saber to block the Requiem Blaster. Starscream flies to Earth.
The Autobot sensors detect Starscream's presence in Earth's atmosphere. Hot Shot and Side Swipe rush out to fight Starscream. Tidal Wave, in pursuit of Starscream, switches his target to Hot Shot. Optimus Prime and Jetfire arrive to fight off Tidal Wave in their combined form, but they're unable to do any damage; luckily for them the simple minded giant is focused on attacking Starscream. Starscream then tosses the Star Saber to Jet Optimus, who uses it to slice off one of Tidal Wave's gun emplacements, and Tidal Wave retreats.
Inside, Starscream explains his story to the Autobots. Hot Shot enthusiastically argues that it's wrong for them to offer refuge to Starscream—especially after Smokescreen was so severely injured. Hot Shot mentions that the Autobots have already been betrayed once by Sideways, so Scavenger points out that he too technically falls into the "betrayer" category. Alexis is the first person there to actually suggest he should stay, to the bewilderment of Carlos, but Rad agrees with her. With votes of confidence from the kids and Mini-Cons, Optimus declares that Starscream will be allowed to stay.
Outside, Hot Shot and Starscream formally have a showdown. Inside, the other Autobots debate who should be the one to tell the two mechs to stop their pointless grudge match, when Red Alert comes in to report that the operation was successful but a new body was needed.
Hot Shot and Starscream continue to pound into each other. A new challenger interrupts the two by throwing some boulders. The new Transformer quickly takes down both Starscream and Hot Shot. When the new Autobot speaks, Hot Shot figures it out: it's Smokescreen in a new body. Smokescreen explains to both of the younger soldiers that being on the Autobots means just getting along.
With data from Starscream, the Autobots are ready to lead an attack on the Decepticons. They gather in the warp gate. Next stop: the Moon.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"You mean my heart looks like that?"
- —Fred has no concept of biology.
"Well, Starscream, you're still alive. I suppose congratulations are in order."
- —Megatron, showing the usual faith in his men.
Carlos: "Yeah, go get 'em!"
Billy: "Yeah, it's payback time for Smokescreen!"
Fred: "AND FREEDOM!"
- —The kids watch Hot Shot and Side Swipe rush out to confront Starscream.
"Hey, would ya back off? I'm trying to avenge my friend here! I won't be long!"
- —Hot Shot
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
Animation and technical errors
- Starscream appears to knock Thrust into a pre-existing crater, though the way Thrust later looks at it when discussing Starscream seems to suggest it was supposed to be made by the impact.
- After being shot down by Tidal Wave, Starscream is missing his left wing. Seconds later, it's attached again.
- Prime says, "The Star Saber," in Tidal Wave's voice. It could be possible Tidal Wave happened to say, "The Star Saber," at the same time Prime was looking at it and moving his head, but it's not especially likely.
- When Smokescreen pushes Starscream back after catching his sword, the sword is attached to him in wing form despite Smokescreen clearly tearing the sword away from him an instant prior.
Continuity errors
- Thrust refers to putting the Requiem Blaster "back" in Megatron's hands. He hadn't previously possessed it prior to "Sacrifice".
- In the previous episode the Autobots saluted Smokescreen implying he had died, with Optimus even saying that they will never forget him. In this episode he is shown to be [barely] alive, and Optimus isn't surprised.
Trivia
- The kanji 生命 would be as "seimei", while "supaaku" would've been written in katakana スパーク.
- So, Starscream's story arc is forced forward by Megatron betraying Starscream? That's like... bizarro-G1.
- For the first time in Armada, a naked Spark is shown.
- Also for the first time, we see Starscream taking an energy bath, which seems to have similar properties to a CR chamber, although previously Transformers were shown to repair themselves with tools.
- When the Decepticon base is first shown, Tidal Wave can be seen floating above it.
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Ein neuer Anfang" ("A New Beginning")
- Original airdate: This episode was never shown on TV, but was dubbed in 2003. The dub premiered in 2009 with the German DVD release of the show.
Hungarian
- Title: "Átállás" ("Desertion")
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 9 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2006 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two (Rhino Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers: Armada — Volume Two (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
