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
- In Armada, while repairing himself in the energy bath, Starscream tells the Air Defense Mini-Con Team they shouldn't worry about him; however, this doesn't line up with the Mini-Cons nodding in the following scene. It makes sense in Micron Legend as it has Starscream asking the Mini-Cons if they're worried about him. Micron Legend also has an extra line for Starscream when he invites the Mini-Cons into the energy bath and tells them not to fight.
- The conversation between Thrust and Megatron is mostly the same but a few different points are made:
- In Armada, Megatron says Starscream has every right to be angry due to going through a lot and Thrust says that Starscream brought it upon himself; in Micron Legend, Megatron says he doesn't blame Starscream for being mad after being left behind as a sacrifice and Thrust tells Megatron he shouldn't be so blunt in saying that.
- Megatron doesn't berate Thrust for not handling himself when Starscream attacked him, and Thrust says it was worth it since they acquired the Requiem Blaster.
- Instead of Megatron claiming that Starscream proving to be more valuable than originally thought due to bringing back the Star Saber, he states his fear of losing the sword and that having it back is a good outcome from the miscalculation in the plan.
- Rather than suggesting sending in Starscream first during the next battle with the Autobots and agreeing with Megatron about keeping him around longer, Thrust plays fortuneteller and predicts things getting harder for Starscream even though his "reading" might be premature.
- In Armada, Megatron boasts about Starscream being unaware of what he's gotten himself into. In Micron Legend, Megatron just calls Starscream unlucky.
- In Micron Legend, Thrust doesn't say anything about learning from Megatron but instead asserts that Megatron's cold willingness to sacrifice his own men is what led to their victory.
- Starscream alerts Megatron and Thrust to his presence after cursing them under his breath. He grunts to himself in Armada instead.
- After Starscream steps out from behind the corner, Megatron asks if it's him in Armada even though it's obvious; this doesn't happen in Micron Legend, as Megatron only says Stascream's name.
- Thrust doesn't label Starscream as a traitor to Demolisher and instead tells the latter to grab Starscream.
- When Megatron and Starscream face each other in Armada, Megatron says he has always been suspicious of Starscream and that the latter could never handle the responsibility of leading the Decepticons as he's now been taken over by his emotions; then Starscream tells Megatron that he can think whatever he wants since he no longer cares. In Micron Legend, Megatron tells Starscream that he's not thinking things through and is suffering from "momentary impulses". Starscream replies that it is only wishful thinking on Megatron's part.
- Tidal Wave calls after Starscream before making him crash in Micron Legend; this happens earlier in Armada when they enter Earth's atmosphere.
- In Armada, Jetfire questions why Hot Shot and Side Swipe would head out on their own but in Micron Legend, he says they left to intercept the Decepticons but also notes how the situation looks different.
- Blurr believes that Tidal Wave chasing Starscream might be another diversion in Micron Legend.
- In Micron Legend, as Carlos, Billy, and Fred cheer for Hot Shot and Side Swipe trying to avenge Smokescreen, Fred says "We're cheering you on!".
- The scene of Starscream being shot down by Tidal Wave before eventually handing himself over to the Autobots has several differences from Armada, mainly lines of dialogue being either removed or added:
- Instead of telling the Star Saber Mini-Cons to stay with him, Starscream asks them if they're alright.
- Starscream tells Hot Shot and Side Swipe to forget about him since Tidal Wave is still after him, and Hot Shot asks him what he's talking about. In Armada, Starscream tells them they don't want to be caught in his situation, and Hot Shot calls Starscream the one who's caught.
- The scenes of Tidal Wave firing at Hot Shot and Starscream, Optimus taking the Star Saber, and of him thanking Starscream are all silent in Micron Legend.
- In Micron Legend, Jetfire brings up the point that Starscream was abandoned by Megatron and wasn't around during what happened to Smokescreen.
- Rad notes the Air Defense Mini-Con Team's concern for Starscream and says the Mini-Cons wouldn't feel that way towards a true Decepticon. In Armada, he singles out Runway for being upset.
- Optimus addresses the Autobots when he says Starscream is now a part of their team; in Micron Legend, he talks directly to Starscream and tells him to consider himself a member of the Autobots.
- Starscream tells the Autobots to analyze his data for a way to sneak into the Decepticon base in Armada. He's more specific in Micron Legend as he reveals that he downloaded the locking coordinates for the Decepticons' warp gate before escaping.
- In Micron Legend, while analyzing Starscream's data, Side Swipe claims the type of warp gate the Decepticons use is similar to the Autobots' launch gate.
- While charging at Smokescreen with his sword, Starscream asks if he's an enemy.
- In Armada, the panning shot of the Autobots at the end goes from right to left; in Micron Legend, it goes from left to right.
Animation and technical errors
- Starscream appears to knock Thrust into a pre-existing crater in a wall, though the way Thrust later looks at it when discussing Starscream seems to suggest it was supposed to be made by the impact.
- During Megatron and Starscream's confrontation, their mouths don't move.
- After Side Swipe and Hot Shot end their training session, Side Swipe's mouth opens a second before he starts talking in Armada.
- After Hot Shot and Side Swipe leave the base, it looks as if Starscream and Tidal Wave have swapped places on the monitor before switching back.
- After being shot down by Tidal Wave, Starscream is missing his left wing. Seconds later, it's attached again.
- When Starscream finishes crashing, he disappears.
- In Armada, Starscream says "Here they come!" to Side Swipe and Hot Shot before Tidal Wave fires at them instead of "Here he comes!".
- As Jetstorm and Jolt arrive to alert the Autobots of Hot Shot and Starscream's fight, Optimus incorrectly refers to Jetstorm as Runway in Armada. After Jetstorm and Jolt land, they're suddenly replaced with Runway and Sonar. For the next couple of cuts, the Mini-Cons switch back and forth: Runway and Sonar appear whenever seen from the front, and Jetstorm and Jolt return when seen from behind. By the end of the scene, Jetstorm is back but Jolt has disappeared.
- When Smokescreen pushes Starscream back after catching his sword, the sword is attached to him in wing form despite Smokescreen tearing the sword away from him an instant prior.
- In Armada, after he's knocked down by Smokescreen, Starscream's mouth moves but nothing comes out.
Continuity errors
- Thrust refers to putting the Requiem Blaster "back" in Megatron's hands. He hadn't previously possessed it before "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")
Korean
- Title: "다시 태어난 스모키" ("Reborn Smoky")
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)
