The Scientist
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| "The Scientist" | ||||||
| Production company | Allspark Animation | |||||
| Airdate | February 19, 2020 (UK) | |||||
| Animation studio | Boulder Media Studio | |||||
Hot Rod and Soundwave team up against the Quintesson Scientist.
Synopsis
A group of bird-bots fly through Cybertron's skies, and once they flew close enough Soundwave imitates their call to attract one of them before snagging it with a snare, and though it struggles, he soon tames it, naming the beast "Laserbeak".
In the here and now, Cybertronians in the Loop start dropping dead, their Sparks utterly drained by the Quintesson machines. The resistance can only watch as they slice through part of the floor, hoping to reach the Scientist. They soon reach a door which is locked shut. Before Hot Rod can finish asking Perceptor how they can get in, Soundwave marches past, and uses his abilities to mimic a Quintesson Prosecutor, which opens it. Hot Rod hurries in after him, and the door locks behind them again. On the other side of the door, the two find a sinisterly lit laboratory, the dwelling place of the Scientist, who welcomes them. Unimpressed, Hot Rod tries to threaten "Mr. Squiggles" into turning off the Loop and letting the other Cybertronians go, but he's ignored, as the Scientist instead gushes over Soundwave. Specifically, having another Soundwave to add to his extensive collection. The Scientist explains that when the Quintessons judge a universe, he likes to keep a souvenir, and each universe's Soundwave is that souvenir.
At the lab's door, the others try busting the door open, but it's impervious to everything they can throw at it. Inside, the Scientist continues on about his collection, unimpressed by Soundwave's threats, having heard them from all the other Soundwaves. Soundwave breaks free, and tries to attack, but his degrading condition means he freezes up again. Alarmed, the Scientist effortlessly fixes Soundwave, recognizing the damage being from improperly leaving his parade simulation. Hot Rod questions the decision to make the simulation all about the parade. The Scientist responds that it doesn't matter what universe you're from, everyone loves a parade.
Soundwave is fixed, and thanks his saviour and would-be collector by shooting him dead. With the Scientist down, the two Cybertronians try to access the Loop's programming and shut it down, but Soundwave finds the control node isn't there, it's above them. As Hot Rod states they'll just go find it and shut it off, another Scientist descends from the ceiling. Without missing a beat, Hot Rod shoots him dead again. Another Scientist appears, unfazed, and they shoot him too. However, more and more bodies keep emerging, the Scientist's monologue not stopping as they kill each body in turn, until an alarm goes off. His "game" over, the Scientist grabs Hot Rod and Soundwave, and tells them it's feeding time. He proceeds to the center of the room, and a large pod. As the Scientist gushes over his project, Soundwave announces "do it now", much to Hot Rod's confusion. Only the Decepticon isn't speaking to him, but to Laserbeak, who flies off.
At the door to the lab, the others prepare to blast it open, only for Laserbeak to open it for them, and present the Loop's source code to Perceptor. Whirl urges them to hurry, since the 'bots trapped in the Loop are now starting to drop like flies. Clobber wonders about Hot Rod and Soundwave, but Dead End figures they can handle themselves.
In the lab, Hot Rod asks just what's in the pod. The Scientist explains that proper judgement of a universe can only be done by a being born of that universe. Soundwave realizes this means they're growing a new Judge. Every Judge the Scientist grows is unique, but he assures them they're in for a real treat with the one he's growing. Hot Rod asks if this is why he's been draining everyone's Sparks, but the Scientist reveals it's not just their Sparks. He's draining the Allspark as well.
Upstairs, the others reach the Loop's control node, and Perceptor and Clobber plug themselves in. In the Autobot simulation, Perceptor uses the source code to halt the parade, but his efforts meet only confusion from his fellow Autobots. Frustrated, he summons a prey of Air Hammers, the flying beasties managing to startle everyone into transforming, freeing them from the Loop. Meanwhile, in the Decepticon simulation, Clobber's efforts don't work as well, so Perceptor repeats his Air Hammer attack, and the Decepticons break out as well.
In his lab, the Scientist reacts with outrage to the breakout, vowing to disassemble his captives. Hot Rod and Soundwave shoot at the pod, damaging it, and escape while the Quintesson is distracted. Getting outside to see Autobots and Decepticons alike getting to freedom, Hot Rod notes they made a good team. The mood is soured when the tendrils surrounding the tower merge with those of the Quintesson ship, and as a horrified Hot Rod looks on, a forcefield covers the entire structure.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
Quotes
Notes
Continuity notes
- The Scientist repeats Hot Rod's statement from "The Dead End" that "everyone loves a parade". Only then, Hot Rod was being bitterly sarcastic, while "Mr. Squiggles" is sincere.
- The Judge Hot Rod met said it wasn't the judge of the universe. This episode clarifies what they meant by that.
Transformers references
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Real-world references
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Other trivia
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Animation and technical errors
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Foreign localization
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Home video releases
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