Vow
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 You burned me out but I'm back at your door / Like Joan of Arc coming back for more | ||||||
| "Vow" (Fureai) "Legendary Spirit: Connectedness" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-22 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | January 25, 2003 (UK, English premiere) January 27, 2003 (USA) 6 June 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Akira Okeya | |||||
| Director | Osamu Kamijō | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
Megatron tries to lead Optimus into a trap while the kids believe the Decepticon-aligned Mini-Cons want to defect.
Synopsis
Rad wonders where the Star Saber and the Skyboom Shield came from and why the Autobots won't provide the kids with any answers. Blurr and Hot Shot won't even let them into the base. Optimus Prime steps out to tell them it's too dangerous.
Megatron attempts to run a battle simulation on the Moon, powerlinking with four Mini-Cons and instructing the Land Military Mini-Con Team to run interference while he attacks a hologram of Prime. Sideways looses off a shot at his leader, just to remind him there'll be other Autobots on the battlefield too. After shooting at Prime for a bit, Megatron snarls at the Land Military team for not obeying his orders.
Optimus briefs his men on the planned setup for their mission, which will include Smokescreen staying back with the Skyboom Shield ready to launch off his long arm launcher. The briefing is interrupted by the Street Action Mini-Con Team who want to know why they're not coming on the mission too, but Optimus says it's because it's too risky.
The kids wander away from the Autobot base, complaining about not being allowed in. The three Street Action Mini-Cons soon catch up with them and let the kids know they've received a transmission from the Decepticon-held Mini-Cons. Fred's theory that the Mini-Cons on the Moon are lonely and want to join up with their friends on Earth gains traction. While Rad and Fred go to tell Optimus, the rest of the kids run with their Mini-Cons towards the warp gate.
On the Moon, Megatron confirms with the Land Military team that they've made contact with the Mini-Cons on Earth. Teleporting them and four other Mini-Cons to Earth, he tells his men that he'll split up the Autobots and then contact them with further instructions.
Fred and Rad are unable to get into the Autobot base until Rad uses Laserbeak to let Optimus know what's up. Optimus and Hot Shot pop out to let the pair know they're going to take care of it and to stay put.
The rest of the kids reach the area of the warp gate in time to see the Land Military team teleport in and then promptly teleport out again. When Carlos steps forward, Optimus appears to tell them to go back, and Megatron teleports in. The Decepticon invites Optimus to come in his direction before disappearing again. Although Optimus again warns the kids, Fred doesn't think there's anything to be afraid of. Walking over to where Megatron was, Fred is teleported out as well, followed by Rad. The other Autobots follow suit, much to the annoyance of Alexis who feels left out.
The Decepticons find that one of the Mini-Cons seems to be messing with their teleport signal. Although Demolishor is concerned for his leader, Sideways and Starscream are unenthusiastic.
In the Autobot base, Alexis tells Scavenger and Red Alert that she can't raise a signal from Laserbeak.
The four missing Autobots arrive with Rad and Fred in a heavily forested area and immediately come under fire from Megatron, who teleports out. Optimus and the boys teleport out, closely followed by Hot Shot, leaving Blurr and Smokescreen wondering how the plan is going to work now. Hot Shot arrives alone in an icy wasteland. Rad and Fred arrive in a mountainous area and are saved from falling by Optimus. He explains that the Mini-Cons may be difficult to lure away from Megatron as they regard him as a father figure. The trio are soon teleported again, this time to a ghost town. Megatron tells them to follow him, then teleports out with his Mini-Con forces. A couple of Mini-Cons stay behind long enough to beep at the kids.
Arriving in a desert, the Mini-Cons seem to be on the verge of deserting Megatron until he threatens to slice them in half. Once Optimus and the boys arrive, he forces the Mini-Cons to attack. Rad and Fred manage to persuade Optimus to stop firing back and, once the boys are out of harm's way, he lowers his weapons, walking towards the Mini-Cons. As Megatron gloats, the Mini-Cons pause in their attack, and he has to prompt them to resume firing. Optimus falters but continues on until finally the Mini-Cons stop firing. Megatron interprets this as an invitation for him to finish Prime off himself.
Alexis and Demolishor are both able to finally contact the battle field, as the Mini-Cons hear Optimus' empassioned plea and turn their weapons on Megatron. Optimus opens fire on Megatron as well, though the latter is protected by the Star Saber. The rest of the Autobots warp in with the Skyboom Shield which Hot Shot uses to block Megatron's attack. The Decepticon leader retreats.
Back at base, Optimus undergoes repairs and says that the energy released when the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield clashed was the cries of the enslaved Mini-Cons. The Autobots must work as a team to free the remaining enslaved Mini-Cons.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"But we should do something. I really don't like sitting on the sidelines like this. After all, I am a man of action, you know."
- —Carlos, man of action.
"I say this calls for a sandwich!"
- —Fred, man of food.
"No, wait, Fred's right!"
- —Rad says the unthinkable.
"Ah! They're shooting at us!"
"I know that! Promise you won't leave me!"
- —Rad being hugged in panic by Fred.
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
- Rad's opening narration for Armada has him saying the Mini-Con weapons doing serious damage in the wrong hands, the new mystery of their origins, and why the Autobots are secretive about it. Micron Legend removes the mention of the Autobots. It's changed to Rad wondering if the weapons' power once destroyed a civilization, and bringing up the mystery of why their power was created.
- In Armada, when Optimus exits the base, he has lines that extend into the next scene. In Micron Legend, he has just one line in which he confirms to the kids that Blurr and Hot Shot are following his orders. He also doesn't single out Carlos.
- Before starting the training simulation, Megatron says the Mini-Cons will now fight by his side in Armada; Micron Legend changes the line to Megatron demanding the Mini-Cons to powerlinx with him.
- Micron Legend changes Megatron's line of stating the Mini-Cons' job of disrupting the Autobots' communications to him berating the Mini-Cons for not disturbing the enemy's formation and calling them useless.
- In Micron Legend, the Autobots' lines near the end of their strategy meeting are slightly changed. Hot Shot tells Smokescreen they can't let the Decepticons reclaim the Skyboom Shield. Then Scavenger says the shield has an important role. Optimus finishes the conversation by saying they must remember not to let the Skyboom Shield and Star Saber hit each other since their mystery is still unsolved.
- In Armada, Hot Shot guesses that High Wire, Sureshock, and Grindor ask why they aren't joining the team on their mission, and Optimus tells them it's too risky. Micron Legend changes it to Hot Shot guessing the Mini-Cons are asking about the kids, and Optimus tells them about barring the kids from the base.
- The children's lines as they walk through the forest are slightly different:
- Armada has Rad mention the power of the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield. In Micron Legend, he specifically talks about the energy wave released by the weapons colliding.
- Alexis believes the Autobots are worried about another battle breaking out at Mount Astrogate. Armada has her dismissively saying that it would be scary to watch another fight at "the Astrogate" anyway.
- In Armada, Carlos says Alexis is probably right, and they should do something since he, "a man of action," hates sitting on the sidelines. His response is more mature in Micron Legend, in which Carlos says they're already aware that another big fight could occur. Then he talks about how the kids want to help the Autobots, but the Transformers push them away as if the kids aren't their friends.
- In Armada, Fred suggests getting something to eat to take their mind off things, and Billy tells him off for thinking about food with the world's fate at stake. In Micron Legend, Fred says the Autobots shouldn't treat them like they are children, and Billy agrees, before telling Fred that he is the only child among them.
- Instead of asking for a sandwich, Fred says the Mini-Cons are cute in Micron Legend.
- In Armada, Fred thinks the Decepticon Mini-Cons want to talk, Carlos chastises him, and Rad says Fred is right. Micron Legend has Fred saying that he's probably figured out the answer, Carlos tells Fred not to keep the answer to himself, and then Rad asks Fred for his response. Fred says the Decepticons' Mini-Cons want to join them on Earth. He agrees with Rad and Alexis about the Mini-Cons wanting peace in Micron Legend instead of asking them if they agree as he does in Armada.
- In Micron Legend, Rad recalls the Skyboom Shield moving to protect Sparkplug in "Decisive Battle." When the scene cuts back to the moon, it's silent, but Armada gives Rad an extra line about the Mini-Cons there wanting no part in the Decepticons' war despite being under Megatron's control.
- Armada has Megatron the Mini-Con confirm making contact with the Street Action Mini-Con Team and says the Mini-Cons on Earth will be useful if all goes according to plan. In Micron Legend, he states that his plan should divide the Autobots and weaken them and that his "useless" Mini-Cons may still be useful.
- Micron Legend changes Rad and Billy's lines as the kids run towards the warp gate location. Instead, Rad says they will gain more friends and Billy answers in agreement.
- When running back to the base with Rad to get Optimus, Fred doesn't complain about being hungry in Micron Legend.
- After Megatron leaves the Decepticon base, Cyclonus laughs that Megatron is finally going to do some work for once in Armada but says that Megatron has come up with an interesting operation in Micron Legend.
- In Micron Legend, the first half of the scene of the kids waiting for the warp gate is mostly silent.
- After Megatron appears and disappears, Fred asks if it was the warp gate and walks closer to try and find it before disappearing himself. In Armada, Fred says there's nothing to be afraid of now that Megatron's gone.
- After the others go through the warp gate, Alexis's line of selfishly telling them not to leave her, Billy, Carlos, and the Mini-Cons behind is changed to her wondering what happened.
- In Armada, Demolisher tells Sideways and Starscream to get to work to ensure that Megatron returns to the base, and they say they're going to drag their feet. In Micron Legend, Demolisher asks them if they care about Megatron returns, and they say Megatron can handle himself.
- Instead of Fred begging Rad not to leave him, he asks Rad to tell him what's happening. Before going through the next warp gate, Fred says they're going to disappear again instead of crying for his mom. In Micron Legend, Optimus doesn't say Megatron's name during the scene in the woods.
- Armada adds an echo effect to Hot Shot calling out for Optimus, and it crossfades into the next scene despite it cutting to an entirely different location. Micron Legend removes this.
- After saving Rad and Fred in the mountainous area, the scene between them and Optimus differs between the two versions:
- Armada has Optimus tell them off for going along with him and says it's now too late to turn back. Then Rad tells him their intention to get the Decepticons' Mini-Cons to change sides. In Micron Legend, Optimus tells them everything that's happening is a trap set by Megatron, and the boys refuse to believe that. Then Rad says to him the other Mini-Cons also hate fighting despite being on the Decepticons' side.
- In Armada, Optimus says Megatron has a firm grasp over the Mini-Cons, making it challenging to help them, as they sort of look up to Megatron as a father figure. Micron Legend slightly changes this to bring up a plot element ignored by Armada. It has Optimus mention the Mini-Cons' servility program, explaining it's hard to make Mini-Cons awakened by Decepticons turn against them since they form a sort of "parent-child" relationship with the enemy, and that control is hard to break.
- In Micron Legend, Fred accuses Optimus of not understanding the Decepticon-aligned Mini-Cons wanting peace. Optimus says that they are fighting a war, and while he does feel sorry for the other Mini-Cons, they're the enemy and can't underestimate them. Then Fred says that fighting is all Optimus knows, and he doesn't understand how much the Mini-Cons hate it. Fred's line of fighting being the only thing Optimus knows is a vital plot point that other characters will bring up later in the series, a point Armada doesn't bring up until much later.
- After arriving in the desert, Megatron doesn't threaten the Mini-Cons with the Star Saber. Instead, he asks them if they think they can defy him, and he takes the Mini-Cons' silence as them understanding their place. After Optimus, Fred, and Rad arrive, Rad is silent as Optimus explains that Megatron has completed his plan to separate the Autobots, happening before the pan-up shot showing Megatron and his Mini-Cons ready and waiting. Armada extends Optimus' dialogue before cutting back to Rad and Fred.
- Before Megatron forces the Mini-Cons to attack, Fred says it has to be a lie, but Optimus says the enemy lured them into a trap. Then Fred frantically says that it can't be right. In Armada, Fred is the one who says it was a trap before whining about not having lunch.
- As the Mini-Cons fire at them in Armada, Fred tells Optimus they wouldn't attack them on their own, and then Rad tells Optimus to trust him about the Mini-Cons wanting peace. It's as if Optimus fails to notice Megatron forcing the Mini-Cons to attack. In Micron Legend, this is not an issue since Fred says this to Optimus. Rad's line is also changed to him telling Optimus about the Mini-Cons talking to him just before going through the last warp gate.
- As Optimus walks towards Megatron and the Mini-Cons, Rad says Optimus won't stop in Armada but wonders if Optimus has an unknown intention in Micron Legend.
- Armada has Optimus saying that despite not knowing if Fred and Rad are right about the Mini-Cons, putting himself at risk is the only way to find out for sure. In Micron Legend, his line is changed to show him putting his faith in the boys' claim, as he says, "Jim, Rad...If this is what you believe...then I'll believe you."
- Instead of Megatron calling Optimus soft, he orders the Mini-Cons to keep shooting the Autobot leader and "reduce him to slag!"
- Instead of saying that it's not over, Rad asserts to Fred that they weren't wrong about the Mini-Cons.
- In Armada, Megatron assumes the Mini-Cons stop attacking so that he can finish off Optimus personally and says the Mini-Cons learned a lot from him. Micron Legend changes this to Megatron saying he didn't tell the Mini-Cons that they can rest. He calls them stubborn and asks them, "Are you going to let me have the rest of the fun?"
- Instead of telling the Mini-Cons to stop listening to Megatron, Optimus says that the children believe in them.
- In Micron Legend, Megatron questions what "nonsense" Optimus is saying before deciding to kill him quickly so that he'll die without suffering. Armada has Megatron more ruthless as he mocks Optimus for having nothing better to say for his last words and desires to finish him off so he won't hear any more of Prime's "pathetic speeches."
- Instead of Rad stating the obvious about Megatron having the Star Saber as he does in Armada, he says that Optimus is no match for the weapon.
- Micron Legend changes Smokescreen's senseless line of him telling Hot Shot to use the Skyboom Shield to him hoping that the shield and Star Saber don't trigger another burst of energy by colliding like the last time.
- Some of the dialogue in the ending scene is changed or omitted in Micron Legend:
- Fred and Rad thank Optimus for believing them instead of Rad asking Optimus if he believed what they said.
- Optimus is silent and doesn't say, "Thanks to you."
- Instead of asking if they are a team again, Carlos asks if the kids are now welcome to come back anytime.
- Rather than Smokescreen saying the Autobots needing everyone's help, including the kids, to help free all the Mini-Cons, he says it's not enough to save only a few Mini-Cons and today's fight showed that.
- Red Alert says the Autobots understand the kids wanting them to rescue all the Mini-Cons and that Optimus wants that to happen more than anyone. In Armada, Red Alert says the Autobots worry about the children's safety and don't mean to leave them out of anything before saying the Autobots will need their help if they are still willing.
- In Armada, Rad says the Autobots can still count on him and the other kids to help out while Micron Legend has Rad acknowledge Optimus' wish for the Mini-Cons.
- Micron Legend has Rad's ending narration bringing up how the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield didn't react when they collided as they did in the last battle, probably because the Mini-Cons sensed how Optimus was willing to risk his life to save them. In Armada, Rad says the Mini-Cons' silent strength is what gives the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield their power, but in the hands of someone like Megatron, they're forced to do evil. Rad determinedly says that, with the Autobots' help, he and his friends will ensure that the Mini-Cons live in peace. Even though Armada's version answers the question presented in the opening about the mystery behind the Mini-Con weapons and their power, Micron Legend adds to it and ties at all together by recalling the previous clash between the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield.
Animation and technical errors
- Optimus' character model changes between the scene of his first appearance and the close-up shot immediately after it.
- In the scenes where Optimus talks plans, Smokescreen is missing his antenna/horn. He's missing it again the next time he shows up (at the trap), and another time when he returns to the base at the end of the episode.
- During the first part of the scene with the kids talking in the forest, their mouths don't seem to move at all.
- When Rad speaks to Optimus through Laserbeak, Optimus's chest grill is colored red instead of gray.
- Between the close-ups of Optimus talking to Rad and Fred outside the base, Optimus' eyes go from their neutral position to giving him a slightly angry expression.
- When Megatron first teleports to Earth, his Decepticon symbols on his shoulders are missing, and Blurr's Autobot symbol is as well.
- Before and while Fred approaches the warp gate, he looks drawn in low-quality animation compared to the other characters in the scene and almost seems superimposed.
- After Demolishor orders Starscream and Sideways to get back to work, Sideways' head is his Autobot head colored like his Decepticon one.
- Also, Demolishor's Decepticon emblem is gone.
- After going through the first part of the trap, the Autobots appear to be squashed with almost chibi proportions.
- During the first part of the trap, Megatron's Decepticon insignias on his chest and left shoulder have vanished. All 3 of them are there in the next shot. Then, two of them are gone in the next shot because of stock footage when he teleports away. Finally, when only Optimus and the kids remain in the ghost town, Megatron has all three insignias again.
- When they arrive in the mountainous region, Rad is on Fred's left when they're on the outcrop, but when they fall, Rad is suddenly on Fred's right side.
- At the start of the desert scene, all 3 of Megatron's Decepticon symbols are gone. In the next shot, only his chest insignia vanishes because his shoulder ones are back. In the next shot that he's visible in, all three of Megatron's emblems have returned. In the following shots, he appears in after that because of stock footage once more, and only his chest emblem is gone. Finally, as Megatron advances towards Optimus, all three have disappeared once more. Make up your mind, man.
- Later still, Megatron's Decepticon insignia on his right shoulder is oddly misshaped.
- Oh, and after that, where Megatron's Decepticon symbols on his shoulders should be, there are just purple squares and his chest one is gone once more. In the next shot, the purple squares are white squares, and his chest symbol is back.
- On the moon when Demolishor has finally locked onto Megatron's signal, HIS Decepticon symbol is missing.
- And then Megatron's Decepticon emblem on his chest is gone again, but his shoulder ones are back to normal. The chest one varies back and forth between shots from being there to being absent. Later, it's just a purple space.
- When the Autobots return to save the day, so has Megatron's Decepticon emblem on his chest. But Scavenger's Autobot symbol is gone. And then Megatron's chest insignia disappears yet again. Then Blurr's Autobot insignia is a blue square, and Megatron's Decepticon logo on his chest is back. Before he teleports back to the moon, Megatron's Decepticon emblem on his chest is a purple space again. Soon in the Autobot base, Blurr and Scavenger have their Autobot symbols back, but Megatron's complicated case remains mysterious.
- In the desert, despite Fred saying the Decepticons' Mini-Cons are giving up (or running away in Micron Legend), the previous shot has the Mini-Cons animated as coming closer. However, they look like they're walking in place.
Trivia
- There's no exact translation to 伝心—伝 itself can mean 1) "tradition", "legend", 2) "biography", "life", and 3) "method", "way", courtesy of Jim Breen's J-E online Dictionary. Although it could be just a short way of saying 以心伝心 (ishindenshin), meaning "tacit understanding" for this episode. "Fureai" uses 触れ合い.
- "Vow" first aired in the United States on January 27, 2003.
- Wreckage and Knock Out of the Land Military Mini-Con Team aren't seen before this episode.
- Optimus can't understand Mini-Con speech.
Foreign localization
Hungarian
- Title: "Kelepce" ("Ambush")
Polish
- Title: "Zasadzka" ("Ambush")
French
- Title: "L'embuscade" ("The Ambush")
Korean
- Title: "메가트론의 함정" ("Megatron's Trap")
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 6 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
- VideoNow
2003 Transformers: Armada (Tiger Electronics)
