Siege episode 2
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| Episode 2 | ||||||
| Production company | Allspark Animation, Rooster Teeth | |||||
| Airdate | July 30, 2020 (Netflix) | |||||
| Written by | F.J. DeSanto and Gavin Hignight | |||||
| Director | Takashi Kamei | |||||
| Animation studio | Polygon Pictures | |||||
Ultra Magnus attempts to warn the Autobots of Megatron's ultimate plan, one which could end the war once and for all.
Synopsis
As Megatron addresses his troops to hunt down the Autobots, Skywarp reports they have a visitor, who marches forwards towards the command chair. Megatron orders his troops to hold their fire until he gives the word, but the ever attention seeking Starscream demands that Megatron be shown the proper respect. Starscream's grandstanding begins another argument between he and Jetfire, but Megatron has no patience for their bickering. Ultra Magnus The mysterious visitor continues to approach Megatron, intent on speaking peaceably with the Decepticon leader, but the Cons cannot tolerate this arrogance and, eventually, Barricade fires a warning shot, much to Megatron's chagrin.
The visitor with the huge shoulders then reveals himself as Ultra Magnus, who willingly surrenders to the Cons in good faith. Magnus attempts to negotiate a peace summit between he, Megatron, and Optimus. Megatron, however, will not trust Magnus' intentions unless he uses his authority as Autobot military commander to order his men to stand down. When Magnus makes it clear that he will not surrender on the Autobots' behalf he is imprisoned.
News of Magnus' surrender reaches Autobot headquarters, where it soon causes tension within the ranks. Many are concerned about Magnus' loyalty or what will happen if the Decepticons can torture or hack their location out of him, but Prime is steadfast that Ultra Magnus will not allow them to be compromised. After establishing a tenuous calm, Optimus appoints a reluctant Elita-1 to Magnus's old post.
Meanwhile, Shockwave reveals that his studies have uncovered evidence that the legendary AllSpark really exists. He asks Megatron to give the order to search for it, promising that it can be used to reprogram his opposition into line. Megatron is unwilling to commit to the plan at this time, but promises to consider it. Shockwave is apparently illogically loud, as his plan is overheard by the captive Ultra Magnus, who is able to transmit a warning to the Autobots.
Inside the Ark, the Autobots prove skeptical of both the Allspark and Magnus, but Prime once again insists that Magnus can be trusted. Wheeljack offers that the Ark's sensors can be used to try to locate the Allspark, but warns that it may drain their Energon reserves. Nevertheless Prime okays the search.
But the transmission has not only been picked up by the Autobots and Soundwave reveals Magnus' duplicity to Megatron. The king Con is understandably displeased with this, but, he consoles himself with the thought that this can be used to his advantage.
As Elita tries to talk to Optimus, about the Autobots' situation and the pair's history, they are interrupted by another transmission from Magnus. It seems that Megatron has already found the Allspark and Magnus is relaying the coordinates. Optimus orders all available teams to prep for the search, never realizing it to be a false message fabricated by Soundwave as bait.
Lured to Iacon, the Autobots spread out, unaware that Decepticons lurk all around them. Cog and Chromia detect what they think is the Allspark, but only find a cube of concentrated energon. Optimus realizes that they have been set up, but it is too late and Impactor fires a blast straight through Cog. The fight only ends when a downed Seeker careens into a building, bringing it down upon most of the Decepticons. The Autobots retreat, taking Cog to the repair bay to hopefully recover. As morale dwindles even further, Optimus doubles down and orders that Energon used to cloak their presence be used to power the search for the Allspark.
Barricade takes command of the Decepticon unit after Impactor's arm is discovered and the tankbot is presumed dead, however he comes to regret his promotion when he realizes that the Energon is missing. Barricade's intuition proves right and Megatron is furious, but, before he can do something rash, Shockwave reveals that the Autobots cannot have the Energon, as it disappeared before they retreated. Far away he is proved correct, as Bumblebee inspects his prize.
His ambush foiled, Megatron returns to Magnus' cell to demand the location of the Autobots. Magnus begs his former brother in arms again to end the war peacefully and honorably, but Megatron is interested in ending the conflict and honor will not do that, genocide will.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Others |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
Notes
Transformers references
- Megatron's bait, a cache of concentrated Energon, is stored in a metal cube. Whether this is a nod, a coincidence, or just how this continuity interprets the concept of an Energon cube we'll have to watch and find out.
Animation and technical errors
Real-world references
- The "Tarnhauser Gate" that Ultra Magnus mentions in this episode is assuredly a reference to the "Tannhauser Gate", mentioned in Roy Batty's famous death monologue from the film Blade Runner.
- Shockwave's plan for the Allspark will "de-rez" the Autobots, a euphemism for death used in the Tron films. Shockwave's original voice was based on the character Sark from that film.
Trivia
- Both Jetfire and Ultra Magnus question the honor of Megatron and Shockwave's plan. This is hardly the first time that a Megatron's second in command has balked at his lack of honor, Beast Wars practically made a bit out of it!
- Though Ultra Magnus being able to overhear Shockwave's plan from his cell can be excused as a convenient possibility, the Decepticons seem baffled that Magnus is able to contact his comrades from his cell. Unfortunately this is never followed up in this episode. Does Magnus have a trick up his sleeve or did the writer's just forget? You'd better binge the next episode to find out!
