Mars (episode)
| This article is about the Armada episode. For the planet, see Mars (planet). |
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| "Mars" (Shoutotsu) "Mars: Conflict" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-36 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | May 3, 2003 (English) 12 September 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Akira Okeya | |||||
| Director | Mihiro Yamaguchi | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
Jetfire and Starscream get their ass to Mars to rescue a Mini-Con, but walk into a trap.
Synopsis
Starscream rages, frustrated that the Autobots do not share his priority of destroying Megatron. His Mini-Con partners, Swindle and the Air Defense Mini-Con Team, try to console him, followed by Alexis, but he is too wrapped up in his own self-doubts to listen to them.
While Megatron rages about his own recent setback, Thrust receives some news that might calm him down: Sideways claims that while Megatron's Mini-Con Requiem Blaster is limited in its power, it would be unstoppable in combination with Starscream's Star Saber and the Autobots' Skyboom shield.
The Autobots on Earth detect a new Mini-Con signal, but as it is on Mars, only Jetfire and Starscream would be capable of flying there to retrieve it. The kids are upset that they can't go, but ask Jetfire for a souvenir, like maybe a moon rock. Jetfire isn't happy to be bringing Starscream at all, but they head out, with Jetfire wielding the Skyboom shield and Starscream wielding the Star Saber.
Megatron, having been briefed by Thrust on the Mini-Con and the potential of the three weapons, recognizes that the Autobots' mission to Mars is the perfect opportunity to unite the Mini-Con weapons.
On Mars, Starscream is itching for a fight with Megatron, and he seems to get his wish, as an ominous shape appears in the stormy skies above. Starscream leaps to attack and is annoyed to find that it's only Tidal Wave, who demands the Star Saber and knocks Starscream to the planet's surface. Jetfire, having noticed the Decepticon intruder as well, decides to investigate.
Starscream pulls himself together and finds the Air Defense Team trying to cheer him on. He drives them away, screaming that he doesn't need their sympathy, only to lament immediately that now even the Mini-Cons have abandoned him. He declares that here, on this planet, he will crush Megatron. He notices that while he has been talking to himself, he has been absentmindedly crushing a Martian rock, which he then looks at with interest. Soon, the Air Defense Team leads Comettor and Jetfire to Starscream's aid. The two bulks argue over Starscream's responsibilities, which culminates in Jetfire arresting Starscream for insubordination. Optimus Prime agrees, and Jetfire heads home with Starscream in tow and the Mini-Con still helpless.
On the journey home, Starscream fortuitously spots the Mini-Con they have been searching for on a nearby asteroid. Jetfire entrusts Starscream with retrieving the Mini-Con, who has been revealed as Firebot, but a new assault by Tidal Wave interrupts them. With the Autobots pinned down, Megatron and Thrust teleport to the battle. Starscream cries out for Jetfire to release his cuffs and let him help, but Jetfire is helpless to do so. With no other recourse, Starscream pleads with Firebot to open fire on the Decepticons. He explains that while the Autobots will protect the Mini-Con, the Decepticons will only use him as a tool for war. Firebot seems to understand, as he holds off Tidal Wave long enough for Starscream to get him to safety. Starscream and Jetfire face off against Megatron, but as they do, their Mini-Con weapons emit a strange, golden glow which grows to envelop all three of them. The power of the three weapons knocks Tidal Wave and Thrust away, and apparently knocks Megatron unconscious, allowing Starscream and Jetfire to escape.
Back at the Autobot base, Optimus Prime and Jetfire agree that the mysterious power the Mini-Con weapons have displayed should be kept secret. While the kids chat with Jetfire, who disappoints them when he admits he hasn't brought them a souvenir, Alexis explains to Starscream how proud she is of him for convincing Firebot to join the Autobots. She knows he cares for the Mini-Cons, and that's why she feels he belongs on the Autobot side. Starscream counters that his only mission is to destroy Megatron and stomps off, but leaves behind the chunk of rock he had found on Mars. Alexis is very excited to see it and calls the other kids over to look at it. Alexis notes that Starscream has shown that he truly cares, and she hopes that soon he will join the Autobots for good.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons | Misc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Megatron looks a little testy today, huh?"
- —Cyclonus
"Any of you ladies going to do any work today or are you just going to stand around chatting with one another?"
- —Thrust, interrupting water cooler chatter
"Let me tell you my personal motto: VICTORY IS MINE!"
- —Jetfire
"He's so difficult sometimes."
- —Thrust on Megatron
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
- At the start of the episode, Starscream is seen furiously slicing up some rocks and then stopping to stare at a valley of flowers with his mouth agape. At this point, the US dub inserts a monologue in which he laments wasting time on Earth, instead of going after Megatron (even going so far as to say he will, for some reason, perish unless he gets to Megatron soon). In Micron Legend, the scene is silent, the implication being that Starscream is simply awestruck by the beauty of the flowers. Oh, and Carlos's remark about puking up lunches is also absent.
- In Micron Legend, Starscream's thoughts throughout the episode are mostly concerned not with Megatron, but with the Mini-Cons and his budding respect for them. Most notably, in the scene that has him alone and brooding on Mars, he doesn't mention Megatron at all.
Animation and technical errors
- A shot with Thrust jump cuts to a shot with the same background then jump cuts back to Thrust.
- The diagram Alexis shows looks nothing like the solar system.
Continuity errors
- When Jetfire and Starscream come under attack, Jetfire claims that he would separate them from the handcuffs if he could, but surely the Star Saber is more than capable of cutting them apart?
Trivia
- The kanji 火星 would be as "kasei", while "shoutotsu" is used for 衝突.
- The ghostly head of Sideways's rider appears momentarily before completely manifesting into Sideways himself.
- As is generally the case, Firebot is never named.
- The rock Starscream gives to the children is eventually fashioned into a pendant by Alexis. Mysteriously, this pendant has a deep connection with Starscream's own spark.
- Jetfire has a storage compartment on his back large enough for a Mini-Con.
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Starscreams Fehde" ("Starscream's Vendetta")
- 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: "Mentőakció, 2. rész" ("Rescue Mission, Part 2")
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 9 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Battle for the Mini-Cons (Rhino Entertainment)
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)
