Comrade
| ||||||
 Commie bastards! | ||||||
| "Comrade" (Shinka) "Union: Evolution" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-04 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | September 20, 2002[1] (English) 31 January 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Akira Okeya | |||||
| Director | Shigeki Hatayama | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
The Autobots race to the Big Canyon to find a new Mini-Con, but struggle with the superior numbers of the Decepticons.
Synopsis
At the Autobot base, sirens alert the Autobots and their lovable human pals that a new Mini-Con panel has been activated. Hot Shot is eager to head directly to the area, but first, Alexis plugs her personal computer into the Autobot mainframe, and Sureshock manages to pinpoint the Mini-Con's location, which Carlos recognizes as Big Canyon. The Autobots, humans, and Mini-Cons head out to claim the new panel, but first, Carlos and Alexis receive new Autobot suits that are easy for passing traffic to see at night. Rad is almost left behind, but eventually gets his own suit and catches up.
Rad worries about how the Autobots intend to get to Big Canyon quickly despite it being MILES away. Alexis suggests Rad just relax when Optimus startles the kids by informing them that the Autobots plan to warp to their destination. After the group arrives, Carlos decides to travel with his amigo Red Alert. Alexis hops into Hot Shot, and Optimus carries the Mini-Cons. This leaves Rad all on his own, and friendless.
On the moon, Megatron reasserts the Decepticon's objective of obtaining all the Mini-Cons. Starscream claims that Megatron's great leadership will be key to the Decepticon's success. After breaking up a squabble between Cyclonus and Starscream over who has dibs on the next discovered Mini-Con, Megatron has a hearty and evil laugh.
Back on Earth, Rad laments his lack of company. Eventually Alexis and Hot Shot return to pick him up. Alexis apologizes for forgetting Rad, she just became immersed in riding in Hot Shot, who really impressed her with his speed. Once Rad's inside, Hot Shot accelerates over rough terrain, causing severe discomfort to his human occupants who find him too rough. Rather than take care to be more gentle, Hot Shot torments the kids by going even faster.
Carlos meanwhile enjoys off-roading with Red Alert, but eventually Red Alert decides to stop having fun. Red Alert and Carlos continue on foot.
Hot Shot deploys his car mode's claws and stops suddenly, inches away from driving directly into a massive crevice. Hot Shot requests the Mini-Con's coordinates, but as Rad is ignorant of them, Laserbeak is deployed to relay visual data. Hot Shot apologizes for his aggressive driving, and Alexis mocks Rad's total lack of manliness. The three follow Laserbeak together. On the way, Alexis advises Rad that even if he has a low threat tolerance, he shouldn't let the Decepticons see his utter fear. Soon they discover an irregular rock formation that must signify the Mini-Con's location.
Red Alert and Carlos, lost, continue to bicker.
On the moon, Megatron detects the Mini-Con panel, and sends Demolishor and Cyclonus to retrieve it. Starscream notices that despite his earlier praise of Megatron, he is forgotten. He is ordered to stay behind at the base.
Cyclonus arrives on Earth and attacks Hot Shot. Demolishor attacks Red Alert. Optimus rushes to retrieve the inactive Mini-Con on his own and releases the Street Action Team to aid Red Alert and Hot Shot.
With a battle plan formed, Red Alert dramatically turns around and balances to pass Demolishor, who rotates his turret and opens fire. Red Alert turns around again and tries using his grappling line to pass Demolishor once more, but Demolishor's versatile aiming knocks the car off the rock face. Red Alert lands upside-down upon Demolishor and manages to continue on his course.
Cyclonus fires at the surrounding terrain to box Hot Shot in with rubble. Alexis and Rad abandon their friend. They see the three Mini-Cons Prime sent to support the Autobots and use them to ride to safety.
Prime finds the rock face with the Mini-Con panel embedded in it, when Megatron enters the battle and quickly opens fire while gloating about how inevitable the Decepticon's conquest is, but Optimus rebukes with "That's what you think!" Megatron unveils his own Mini-Con, and, thanks to his aid, he succeedes in gaining the upper hand and wounding Prime. But just as he is about to finish the Autobot leader, Starscream suddenly arrives. He declares himself to be mighty enough to destroy Prime on his own. Rad's yell of concern inspires the Street Action Team to combine into Perceptor, who manages to briefly disable both Starscream and Megatron.
With the Decepticons distracted, Prime activates the Mini-Con panel, which, to his disbelief, happens to be his old partner Sparkplug. Prime transforms into his Supermode and uses Sparkplug's power to knock the Decepticons away with his Maximum Blast. The four Decepticons promptly teleport back to their base.
With the Decepticon threat gone, the four kids and their Mini-Cons help free Hot Shot and Rad gives a voice over about the power of Optimus and Sparkplug's teamwork.
At the Decepticons' base on the Moon, Demolishor reports that, as per Megatron's instructions, he disciplined Starscream. But he is surprised that the chastisement is so severe. Megatron explains to his lackey that he is using a harsh punishment against Starscream to set an example to the other Decepticons to stay in line. He then laments the Autobots' victory.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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Quotes
"Uh, hey! Hold on, you guys!"
"So, uh, what's the problem?"
"My suit itches too, but you'll get used to it."
- —Rad, Carlos, and Alexis.
"Uh... guys? ... Guys?!? ... ANYBODY?"
- —Rad, after being ditched by everybody.
"Hot Rod is an amazing vehicle. And once I was inside, the speed! The power! *sigh* I guess I got carried away..."
- —Alexis, who perhaps needs to tell us something.
"Does it hurt when you do that?"
"Don't worry Carlos. I am mechanical, so I do not feel the sensation of pain as you know it."
"You still feel pain though, right?"
"Sorry, your question is not relevant to our mission."
- —Carlos and Red Alert, on transformation
"You humans sure are a fearless species!"
- —Red Alert
Alexis: "Ahhh!"
Rad: "Uggghhh! Are you sure this is the right car for the job?"
Alexis: "This road is a little bumpy!"
Rad: "My teeth are rattling so much they're gonna bounce right out of my head!"
Alexis: "Stop talking or else you'll bite your tongue!"
Rad: "OW! I just did!"
Hot Shot: "What's the problem? I haven't even taken out of first gear yet."
Alexis: "You mean you can go faster?!?"
Rad: "I feel a whole lot safer on my BMX!"
Alexis: "I can't find the brake pedals!"
Rad: "You mean there's no way to stop?!?"
Hot Shot: "I'm really gonna open up now! Hold on!"
Alexis: "How can we go any faster than this?"
Rad: "Why did I ever come along to this crazy ride?!?"
- —Alexis, Rad and, Hot Shot.
"This is all YOUR fault, Starscream."
- —Megatron, after his defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime's Maximum Blast attack. Well, it seems that he had found a proper scapegoat at last…
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
- In Armada, Red Alert believes that his difficulty locking onto the Mini-Con signal is because someone is interfering with it, scrambling it. In Micron Legend, it's merely a case of the signal being too weak to hone in on accurately.
- Further complicating Red's attempts to locate the Mini-Con in Micron Legend is that the systems of the Autobots' newly-constructed base are currently out of date with Earth's geographical information. Alexis solves the problem by bringing up a world map on her phone. Sureshock then transmits it to the base computers, providing a clear visual of the Autobots' destination. Armada warps this into Alexis "tapping into the system" and loading the vague location data Red has managed to obtain into her "locator," and Sureshock "boosting" the device's power to accomplish somehow what the base computers can't. Micron Legend has Alexis thank Sureshock for her help, while Armada just has her voice her desire to head out on the mission.
- In Armada, Carlos cautions Hot Shot against rushing into action without a plan. In Micron Legend, his specific concern is that humans will see the Transformers if they do so.
- After the kids get their suits, Armada has Alexis address Optimus Prime. In Micron Legend, she speaks instead to Red Alert, who has an additional line absent from Armada that explains the suits are protective gear that will guard the kids against injury.
- Alexis' line to Rad about her suit being a bit itchy is changed to her asking Rad what he's complaining about in Micron Legend.
- There's a whole subplot with Rad removed Armada, in which he's skittish and unsure about the whole idea of the kids going on missions with the Autobots at all. Alexis and Carlos argue that the Autobots will be protecting them and that they need the kids there to help teach them about Earth. Rad isn't convinced but doesn't have any more points to argue on, reduced to throwing out the length of time it'll take to reach Big Canyon as a final attempt to convince them not to go. In Armada, the travel time is all he's actively concerned about, and Alexis and Carlos's counter-arguments turn into the two pointing out that if it's going to take a long time, they need to hurry up and leave.
- As the kids enter Optimus' cab, he tells them to buckle up in Armada, but in Micron Legend, he asks if they're done talking.
- In Micron Legend, as Rad talks to Alexis and Carlos in Prime's cab just before launching, the Autobots have lines of dialogue that overlap with Rad's.
- Following the team's arrival at Big Canyon, Armada launches into an extended speech from Optimus Prime about splitting up and searching full of time-filling dialogue. In Micron Legend, additional lines are given to Red Alert as he tries to scan further for the Mini-Con, and his failure to do so is what prompts Optimus' decision to have the group split up.
- Optimus instructs Rad to ride with Hot Shot in Armada, but in Micron Legend, Prime asks him to wait at their present location while he surveys ahead. This detail explains why Hot Shot drives off without Rad, which looks like a dick move in Armada when it's not intended to be. Micron Legend also removes Rad calling out to the heavens as he does in Armada after the others leave without him.
- In the Japanese version of the Decepticons' first scene, the villains are tracking the Autobots' movements, with Starscream advocating a quick strike (targeting Optimus because he lacks a Mini-Con), and Megatron calmly informing his men that they can take their time. Cyclonus laughs at Starscream's impetuousness, telling him that it's why he hasn't acquired a personal Mini-Con yet, prompting an angry response that Megatron quickly shuts down, putting Starscream in his place by assigning him the role of backup in the coming battle. However, in the English dub, Megatron urges the Decepticons to move as he talks about how time is "running out." At the same time, the other characters just spout generic dialogue about the power of the Mini-Cons and what they'll accomplish with them. Starscream's anger towards Cyclonus is reimagined as him preemptively claiming ownership of the next Mini-Con they find, and Megatron's following dialogue is just more generic "power of the Mini-Cons/crush the Autobots" filler.
- As Rad sits all by his lonesome, Micron Legend carries on its subplot by giving him a moment of self-reflection, as he accepts that maybe he was being a bit overcautious earlier. Armada just has him huff about being abandoned.
- After Alexis and Hot Shot return, Alexis's whole attitude is different between the two versions of the episode. In Armada, she says she got a little carried away by the speed and power of Hot Shot's vehicle mode. In Micron Legend, on the other hand, Hot Shot turns out to not be very good at off-roading, and the experience was not fun for her at all. The following scene of the two kids panicking as Hot Shot roars across the landscape with them inside him has Hot Shot laughing and joking in Armada, but grumbling about the terrain in Micron Legend, and trying to get the humans to quiet down. Keeping with how the episode is presenting Rad, the Japanese version has him keep stammering and repeating, "Wait a second!" and Alexis telling him to knock it off.
- Micron Legend has Carlos compare riding off-road with Red Alert to riding a bucking bronco, and Red asks him to explain what that is. Armada replaces this exchange with Red expressing concern for Carlos's safety, and Carlos assuring him he can handle a few bumps. Subsequently, when Red transforms into robot mode, Carlos questions why they have to stop, and Red explains that the only way he can progress is on foot—a conversation that Armada strangely distorts into Carlos asking Red if transforming hurts. And Red tells him that Transformers do not "feel" pain as humans know it.
- In the Japanese dub, Optimus says he doesn't detect the Mini-Con's signal and must find it before the Decepticons show up.
- The Armada dub makes changes to Hot Shot's off-roading capability. They somewhat muddle the fact that when he pops his claws and screeches to a halt in front of the crevice, he has almost uncontrollably driven into it and has only managed to save himself by using his claws as emergency breaks. Right after this, Micron Legend has Rad chastize Hot Shot for not listening to him and driving more carefully, following which he deploys Laserbeak to map the area so they can identify a smoother path. Armada changes this to have Rad instruct Hot Shot to "turn on his locator" to search for the Mini-Con, and sends Laserbeak to scan for it from the air.
- While Armada has Alexis chuckle at the prospect of telling Carlos about how Rad was panicking during Hot Shot's wild ride, Micron Legend has her amused at how Rad has proved his usefulness and finally got beyond saying "Wait just a second!" over and over. Rad is unsure whether to take it as a compliment or not.
- Continuing from the earlier change about Laserbeak's purpose, Armada plays Hot Shot and the kids as following Laserbeak, who has detected the Mini-Con's location, instead of just using him to ascertain where the most comfortable places to drive are. As such, the conversation that follows during the drive differs between versions. Micron Legend has Rad continue urging Hot Shot to be careful, while the group talks about how they need to figure out a way to get to the bottom of the canyon and search there. Armada has them worrying about the Decepticons beating them to the Mini-Con, and Hot Shot running out of fuel before they get there.
- When the scene cuts to Optimus following Hot Shot, Rad, and Alexis's discovery, Armada has Optimus tell the Mini-Cons that a transmission from Hot Shot is coming through. In Micron Legend, he just asks the small 'bots to continue searching, unaware of Hot Shot's impending message until it arrives. Further, Micron Legend has Optimus get ready to head to Hot Shot's location, while in Armada, he instead chooses to standby and wait for updates.
- In Armada, Carlos complains to Red Alert about getting lost, Red tells Carlos off for not learning that disrespecting his superiors is wrong, and Carlos says they're supposed to be a team and, for some reason, Red Alert doesn't seem to know what a team is. In Micron Legend, Carlos is griping about "losing" to Hot Shot in the Mini-Con hunt, and Red tells him that he's not concerned about such petty things since they're all trying to do what's right. Then Carlos calls Red Alert a weirdo, and the Autobot asks curiously if that's true.
- As Hot Shot and the kids head to the Mini-Con panel, Micron Legend has Hot Shot continue to complain about the rough terrain, while Rad notes that they can't avoid them now. Conversely, in Armada, Rad tells him it is okay to open up and drive roughly as if the terrain is smooth.
- In Armada, when Cyclonus appears and attacks, Alexis becomes scared, and Rad calls her out for going against her advice to him earlier about not showing fear to the enemy. In Micron Legend, Alexis asks why the Decepticons are attacking now after all this time, Rad says they were waiting for the Autobots to find the Mini-Con first, and Alexis shouts about how unfair that is.
- Armada makes it appear as if Carlos somehow knows that Hot Shot, Rad, and Alexis are in trouble. In Micron Legend, he is giving Red Alert a heads up about the Decepticons. Also instead of Red Alert saying the 'Cons are doing the classic "divide and conquer" routine, he tells Carlos they're being followed just before Demolishor appears beside them.
- Demolishor doesn't say "Transform!" when he appears in Armada but Micron Legend corrects this.
- Just before Optimus heads into action, he has the Mini-Cons disembark. Micron Legend has him tell them to get to safety before he goes to help the others, while Armada has him suggest they support Red Alert and Hot Shot while he tries to beat Megatron to the panel's location.
- As the Decepticons attack, Armada cuts out a whole plot element from the Micron Legend version. When Rad notices that Cyclonus is toying with them rather than finishing them off directly, he gives Hot Shot the idea to lure the Decepticon away. Then they radio Red Alert and Carlos and get them to do the same with Demolishor, keeping both 'Cons distracted so Optimus can run up the middle and get to the panel. But when Optimus arrives at the panel's location, Megatron appears, not having been fooled by the Autobots' diversionary tactics. Armada just ignores this entire idea, with the Autobots talking through the scene as if Optimus is on the way to back up the others, and Optimus being confused when he arrives at the panel site and they're not there.
- In Armada, Optimus tells Megatron that he's not getting the Mini-Con. Then the Decepticon leader says Prime is in no position to give him orders as he's powerless to stop the Decepticons from possessing all the Mini-Cons. Micron Legend changes this to have Megatron sound more callous as Optimus warns him that he might damage the nearby panel. Still, Megatron couldn't care less about it because losing out on one Mini-Con over the chance to destroy Optimus is not a bad deal to him.
- Before launching his grapple line, Armada has Red Alert tell Carlos to "open his door," setting up the visual of the door opening and the line launching from it. But because Red is, of course, perfectly capable of opening his door without Carlos doing it for him, Micron Legend naturally has him telling Carlos to hold onto something.
- In Armada, after Hot Shot gets trapped, Rad says he is going to get help and Alexis thinks they can't leave Hot Shot since he's an easy target. In Micron Legend, Rad says he and Alexis have to go to Prime's location, and though Alexis says she thinks it won't do any good, she asks Hot Shot to cover their escape, explaining why he fires at Cyclonus.
- Armada has Megatron claim that Optimus didn't know about his Mini-Con, Leader-1, which is nonsense because he used him in the previous episode for Optimus to see. In Micron Legend, Megatron is merely talking about how it is time to end the fight.
- In Armada, Megatron says he never permitted Starscream to warp down to the planet. Micron Legend changes it to Megatron saying that he'll bring back the Mini-Con and ordering Starscream to obey him and stay back.
- When the kids call out just before the Mini-Cons combine, they cry Optimus's name in Micron Legend, but each says something different in Armada.
- Micron Legend has Megatron ask who Perceptor is instead of him cursing Starscream. Megatron also has an extra line that he says when Perceptor dodges him.
- It's Alexis who notices the panel activating behind Optimus in Armada, but in Micron Legend, it's Rad who does so; in the Japanese version, Alexis expresses her surprise at the Mini-Cons combining. After Rad calls out to Optimus in Armada, how is the Autobot supposed to know Rad is talking about the panel since there's that moment of awkward silence? Micron Legend fixes it by also having Rad tell Optimus to look behind him.
- As with Megatron and Leader-1 in "Metamorphosis," the Armada dub inserts the idea that Optimus Prime and Sparkplug were partners in the past. The later episode, "Prehistory," will confirm that this is also true for Micron Legend.
- When Optimus activates the panel, Megatron curses in Micron Legend.
- As Optimus transforms into his Super Mode and powerlinxes with Sparkplug, the Transformers theme from the commercial bumper plays in Armada, but different music plays in Micron Legend.
- Instead of blaming Starscream for the mission's failure, Megatron orders a hasty retreat in Micron Legend.
- In Micron Legend, Hot Shot radios for help to get the others to come and haul him out from the rocks, but in Armada, Rad radios on his behalf.
- Rad's closing narration is different between the two versions. In Micron Legend, it's a thematic tie-up to his subplot. Rad reflects on his earlier hesitancy and how he realizes that in times of great need—as exemplified by the Mini-Cons' spontaneous combination—one's body will act and move when necessary, especially in defense of one's comrades. In Armada, he delivers some generic gush about how the fight was scary, but they won, and that teamwork is great.
- In the final scene, Armada adds the idea that Megatron places Starscream in detention as punishment for disobeying orders. This act causes Demolishor to ask Megatron why he chose such a harsh penalty. Megatron responds with some trite villainous dialogue about anyone who defies him getting the same treatment, before segueing into blaming the Autobots for the day's loss. In Micron Legend, nothing happens to Starscream, and the final scene involves Demolishor asking Megatron what he thought it was that cost them their victory. Megatron initially blames Starscream before quietly remarking, no, it's the "small things," i.e., the Mini-Cons, that will be his downfall if he continues to underestimate them.
Animation and technical errors
- According to Rad, High Wire says Big Canyon is at least 100 miles from the base. How would High Wire even know that?
- The Decepticons insignia on Megatron's chest vanishes in some shots.
- When describing how amazing Hot Shot's abilities are, she calls him Hot Rod. Hot Rod is Hot Shot's Japanese name, and also a prominent Generation 1 character with whom Hot Shot shares several traits.
- As Starscream suddenly arrives insisting on finishing off Prime, Megatron's cannon is much larger than normal.
- In the shots of Starscream and Optimus, the raised spots on the Decepticons arms are miscolored purple.
- In some shots near the end of the episode, the Decepticon insignia on Starscream's wings just look like purple pentagons.
- Optimus Prime refers to his Mini-Con as Leader-1, which is the name of Megatron's Mini-Con. Rad's closing narration repeats this mistake. Get used to it.
Continuity errors
- Megatron tells Optimus that he didn't know about his Mini-Con, even though Megatron showed it to him an episode earlier.
Transformers references
- The sequence where Laserbeak flies over Hot Shot as the Autobot is driving along the Big Canyon's cliff edge is reminiscent of the scene in "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1", where Generation 1 Laserbeak chases after Hound and Cliffjumper.
Real-world references
- Optimus Prime's line "Engage the warp drive!" is a reference to Star Trek.
Trivia
- The kanji 合体 would be pronounced as "gattai," a familiar enough word heard, while "shinka" is used for the kanji 進化.
- This episode marks the first time the Autobots use the warp gate facility to travel from their base to a distant location quickly.
- Though it's easy to imagine that "Big Canyon" is an Engrish-mistranslation of "Grand Canyon," as that's the kind of language mangling the Armada dub excelled in, nope, it's called "Big Canyon" in both Japanese and English.
- When the kids get inside Optimus' cabin, Carlos appears to sit on an armrest and doesn't put on a seatbelt.
- When Red Alert transforms into robot mode, it's the same stock animation seen in the second episode's climax.
- Hot Shot reveals in this episode that he does not run on gasoline but fuel cells. He also notes that he has a backup cell in his trunk.
- This episode marks the first in the relatively few times we see Optimus Prime and Megatron's flashy stock transformation sequences.
- Megatron's line "You have no way to stop us" was used in the Toonami commercial for the Armada series, which aired before the series premiere. Generation 1 Optimus Prime voice actor, Peter Cullen, also narrated this commercial.
- Why doesn't Hot Shot simply transform and climb over the rocks blocking him in?
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Kameraden" ("Comrades")
- Original airdate: 4 December 2003
Hungarian
- Title: "Fegyvertárs" ("Brother in Arms")
Polish
- Title: "Towarzysze" ("Comrade")
French
- Title: "Camarades" ("Comrades")
Korean
- Title: "합체! 마이크론" ("Combine! Micron")
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 1 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:02 (Universal)
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:02 (Warner Music Video)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2005 — Transformers: Armada — Triple Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Bumper Double DVD Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
