Rebellion (Armada)

This article is about the Armada episode. For the Prime episode, see Rebellion (Prime).

« Transformers: Armada ep 23 »
One small step for schemers, one giant leap to overthrow a guy called Megatron.
"Rebellion" 謀反 (かくご) (Kakugo) "Rebellion: Resolution"
Production code	TF: A-23
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS
Airdate	January 26, 2003 (UK, English premiere) January 28, 2003 (USA) 13 June 2003 (Japanese)
Writer	Akira Okeya
Director	Takashi Sano
Animation studio	Actas Inc.
Continuity	Unicron Trilogy

One fine day on the moon. Sideways manipulates, Starscream evaluates. Cyclonus snores, Megatron roars. You'll always have Demolishor!

Synopsis

And the fangirls go WILD.

Alone on the Moon, Sideways notes that Megatron's poor leadership is the key to the Decepticons' recent string of losses—something that must be done if Sideways is to keep the conflict going. As he records, he gazes up to the sky, to a dark region of deep space devoid of stars.

Soon afterward, Megatron and the other Decepticons return from battle, called back by Sideways, who claims to be suffering from damages in his leg. Megatron is unimpressed and annoyed, and even more annoyed when practically in mid-sentence, Cyclonus takes a nap.

Man, the Cartoon Network reception up here is terrible.

When Starscream arrives, Megatron brutalizes and belittles Starscream as punishment for failing during battle (even though he was only obediently operating under direct orders from Megatron). Demolishor blasts into the room and intervenes, possibly saving Starscream's life. Megatron leaves, and Starscream goes on his own soon after. After briefly questioning Demolishor about his blind loyalty to Megatron, Sideways heads after Starscream. When even Cyclonus doesn't wake up, and even Megatron is taking a nap on his throne, Demolishor concedes that the Decepticons' morale is embarrassing.

Starscream, who accidentally fell down a hill, cries out in an expression of anguish. Sideways, nearby, sympathizes with Starscream about how Megatron is operating without rationalization. Before leaving again, Sideways alludes to a familiar concept: Starscream taking command of the Decepticons.

Megatron, hearing from Sideways a different perspective on his disciplinary actions, is manipulated. Sideways escalates the tension between Starscream and Megatron by suggesting Megatron's position is dependent on the possession of the Star Saber.

Starscream, questioning his position, projects his doubt onto Demolishor and uses that as a reassurance that they're both soldiers, even if he was born into a war and doesn't know its ideology and purpose. Demolishor is confused by Starscream's rationalization and feels that the still-napping Cyclonus is the only Decepticon without self-purpose issues.

Well, he still treats his troops better than G1 Galvatron.

In a hallway, Starscream has come to disregard his misgivings and continue to obey Megatron. But Sideways pushes Starscream over the edge with a falsified order he claims to be relaying directly from Megatron. As Starscream storms out to find Megatron, Demolishor wakes Cyclonus so they can prevent the confrontation, but Cyclonus is more interested in being an audience to the bout.

Megatron wagers the Star Saber on his victory. By the time Cyclonus arrives to watch, Starscream has lost his sword and is getting a beat-down from Megatron. Megatron picks Starscream off the ground and re-states what's at stake: Everything. After Megatron's speech, Starscream delivers an uppercut and follows up with several sound blows, getting cheers from Cyclonus. But a blow from Megatron sends Starscream through the air.

Kiss me, you fool.

Megatron holds the Star Saber in Starscream's face, and despite his earlier promise, lets Starscream live, flaunting that he knows Starscream's psychological weakness. Sideways muses that Megatron had victory in his hands but walked away from it. He saw weakness in Megatron through Starscream; he prophesies that one day the Decepticon leader will regret what happened here, and it will be his ruin.

The next time the Decepticons enter battle, they fight with a recharged vigor; somehow, the conflict coming to a climax on the moon re-established Megatron as a leader, which was beneficial for the rest of the team.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Mini-Cons
Optimus Prime (7) Blurr (8)	Sideways (1) Megatron (2) Cyclonus (3) Demolishor (4) Starscream (5)	Mirror (6)

Quotes

"There's gotta be a reason we fight. Because there's no point in continuing unless there is. This war is over ten million years old. In fact, I've been a warrior ever since my spark left the Iacon chamber, and I was merged into the army of Megatron. The only difference between me and an Autobot is the way we do battle and the code of the Decepticons. I guess I'm starting to get a little... confused. But you shouldn't be. We are soldiers sworn to obey Megatron; capture the Mini-Cons and return to Cybertron triumphant."

—Starscream, in Dinobot rambling speech mode.

Demolishor: What is going on with everyone here? Ever since we lost that battle, everyone's gone loopy.
(glances at Cyclonus, who's still sleeping and snoring)
Well, at least some things never change around here. But Cyclonus is starting to look like the only sane one.

—You know the Decepticons are in deep doo-doo when the nutty guy's considered the 'only sane one.'

"This time, it's a fight to the finish, and I won't accept any of your lame excuses. Do you understand me, you worthless grunt? I hope to realize what is at stake here. The Star Saber and supreme command of the Decepticons go to the winner. Why, you could rule the universe if you were victorious. There is no greater prize, and this is your one chance to attain it, so don't blow it, dolt. But just remember this, Starscream, I won't show you mercy. You will be an example to my men, to prevent any further insubordination."

—Megatron, simultaneously insulting Starscream's pride and giving him the incentive to fight harder.

"Ha, you had the upper hand, Megatron, and then you walked away before it was over. A true leader would never leave a fight half-fought. I see weakness and one day, it will come back to haunt you. And it will be your ruin."

—Sideways, observing Megatron's refusal to finish off Starscream (with superb delivery by Paul Dobson)

Notes

Differences with Legends of the Microns

• Sideways doesn't begin his report until the bird's-eye view shot of him. He says the Autobots are now the dominant faction rather than gaining the advantage, and the Star Saber, Skyboom Shield, and Requiem Blaster will soon fall into their hands, making the Autobots overpowered in battle. Hence, he needs to act immediately to deal with this development. In Armada, Sideways points out the Decepticons' recent losing streak due to them being unorganized and how it's about to change.
• Megatron starts speaking to Sideways during the former's close-up shot. He asks why Sideways retreated, and Sideways answers that his leg was damaged. Armada makes it seem as though Sideways called Megatron back to base before Megatron asks if he's pulling a joke.
• Cyclonus teases Sideways after returning from battle in Armada, while Legends of the Microns has him rambling about the Decepticons' losing streak, with this one being their third in a row.
• Starscream's first line is changed to reflect the dark mood in the base better. Megatron is also calm and collected when telling Starscream to follow him.
• In Armada, Starscream stammers as he asks Megatron if something is wrong, and Megatron tells Starscream that he's terminated. Then Sideways says Megatron is going to exterminate Starscream and blames the latter for his own failure. In Legends of the Microns, Starscream is silent as Megatron approaches, and the latter sternly asks Starscream what he just said. Then Demolishor asks what the sound heard was, and Sideways calls Megatron a hypocrite who abuses his men for his losses.
• Rather than saying Starscream also fails at following orders, Megatron asks if Starscream realizes that he only acts as he pleases and if he's even capable of using his "fat head."
• In Armada, Megatron says what he did to Starscream was a fitting punishment for insubordination. Legends of the Microns makes him crueler as he says it was a bore and that his men are all pitifully boring. Starscream later tells Demolishor that he has unfinished business in Armada but tells him to be quiet in Legends of the Microns.
• Starscream doesn't say anything before he flies off. Sideways quips on how the former's departure is a fine example of teamwork among comrades. Then after Sideways leaves, Demolishor asks what he means about why the latter is loyal to Megatron.
• Legends of the Microns gives Sideways an extra line about it being time for him to make a gamble since the Decepticons will be done for if things remain in their current state. He doesn't mention Megatron maiming the others.
• The camera now zooms closer to the Decepticon base as Cyclonus continues snoring, and Demolishor calls him a lazy jerk.
• As Starscream repeatedly stabs his wing blade into the ground, Armada has him rant about Megatron humiliating him while he swears in Legends of the Microns. Then, in Armada, Sideways asks Starscream if he's willing to make a bet. In Legends of the Microns, he tells Starscream that he can beat Megatron with just his sword.
• In Armada, Sideways says Megatron has gone off the deep end, and Starscream agrees. When talking about who is better suited to be the leader, Sideways says Starscream knows who he is referring to but won't admit it. In Legends of the Microns, Sideways is more cryptic as he asks Starscream if he shares the belief of there being someone else more suitable to lead the Decepticons. Then he says sometimes it's best to welcome change per a situation's atmosphere.
• When Sideways manipulates Megatron, Legends of the Microns goes right to the point with a calm Megatron not liking what Sideways says yet remaining confident Starscream could never rebel against him as the latter knows he would lose. Sideways says Megatron must do something; otherwise, Starscream's rebellious spirit will grow. However, Megatron then calls Starscream one of his most important subordinates, so Sideways doesn't know whether Megatron is smarter than he looks or a total idiot. Sideways says Megatron risks giving Starscream the upper hand unless he deals with him now, but Megatron says he'll use the Star Saber to crush Starscream. Then Sideways goads Megatron with how he believes the latter feels stronger while wielding the Star Saber as Starscream can't compete with the weapon. This claim makes Megatron snap at him as he declares he doesn't need the Star Saber to beat Starscream and can quickly kill him with his bare hands. With Megatron's response, Sideways determines him to be an idiot after all.
• Compared to how bitter he is in Armada (as quoted above), Starscream is more reflective and sensitive during his talk with Demolishor in Legends of the Microns; Starscream also periodically pauses while speaking in the Japanese version, whereas he talks almost nonstop in the English dub. He goes through the ship's historical records on the Mini-Cons for clues on why the Transformers keep fighting. He tells Demolishor that despite only knowing to fight since birth, they're just like the Autobots, who also fight without thinking twice. Then Starscream says he and Demolishor wouldn't hesitate to battle Megatron if they were born as Autobots instead. Demolishor asks what Starscream is trying to say, and Starscream says Demolishor is probably right, but nothing can be done about it now.
• The Star Saber is redrawn in the scene of Megatron asleep outside with it. In the next scene with Starscream and Demolishor, the latter says Megatron crossed the line by attacking Starscream in Armada, but in Legends of the Microns, he says the Decepticons' losing streak is getter the better of Megatron since he's now more irritable than ever.
• After Sideways gives Starscream the order from Megatron, Sideways says that Megatron said guarding the warp gate is the task suited for those who can't follow simple orders. It's the opposite in Armada since Sideways claims Starscream is the only one Megatron trusts with the job. Immediately after this exchange, Armada has Starscream think to himself how the order is absurd. In Legends of the Microns, Starscream has no internal dialogue, and he's redrawn. After he throws Demolishor aside, Armada has Starscream say he's fed up with how he is being treated, while Legends of the Microns has him angered by the assignment being for those who can't follow orders.
• In the scene with Sideways in the throne room, Starscream surmises that Megatron is "waiting" for him outside. He doesn't come to that conclusion in Armada; instead, he says, "He's mine!"
• In Armada, Demolishor tells Cyclonus if they don't stop Starscream, the Decepticons can kiss their morale goodbye. In Legends of the Microns, Demolishor instead says the group's unity is at stake.
• Sideways tells Cyclonus that he told Starscream he wasn't ready to face Megatron, but Starscream wouldn't listen in Armada, but says he pities Starscream but doubts he will survive the fight in Legends of the Microns.
• After decking Starscream with several blows, Megatron tells him to stand up since they're only getting started. Then after Megatron says the winner gets the Star Saber and command of the Decepticons, he says Starscream shouldn't blow his only chance to get such a grand prize in Armada. In Legends of the Microns, Megatron asks whether it's what Starscream always wanted or if he's already given up.
• Immediately afterward, in Armada (as quoted above), Megatron says he won't hold back and will make an example of Starscream to quell any ideas of future rebellions. In Legends of the Microns, Megatron tells Starscream he wouldn't believe him if he said he never considered being the leader, asks if Starscream's ambition has ended, and demands him not to delude himself with "pitiful self-righteousness."
• Instead of saying everything will be ruined due to Megatron never planning to use the Star Saber against Starscream, Sideways says there must be another explanation since "Megatron's not the type to do that."
• Megatron says Starscream will never beat him as long as the latter's pride holds back his ambition. In Armada, Megatron says he is the winner since he understands Starscream's weaknesses of having a conscience and playing by the rules.
• Sideways says he now knows Megatron's weakness, but it was his naivety that stopped him from killing Starscream. The following shots of Starscream lying defeated are silent.
• In Armada, Sideways's closing narration ties into the subplot of the Decepticons' low morale and lack of unity. He notes the Decepticons' boosted resolve despite his failed plan to take down Megatron, enjoying how the team fights as one again; however, between the two factions, there's still no clear winner in sight. In Legends of the Microns, it connects to Sideways's subplot to balance the power between the factions; it also ends on a more ominous note and feels less like a cliffhanger. Sideways says the strength between the Autobots and Decepticons suddenly became more balanced, and they're now one step closer to the day where their fight will lead to their destruction.

Animation and technical errors

• The animation in this episode shifts from high quality (particularly for close-ups and specific sequences) to average, especially evident as Megatron defeats Starscream, going from a high-quality shot of Starscream slowly falling to the ground to a lower-quality shot of him landing. Different lower-quality shots at the end of Megatron and Starscream's duel are redrawn to provide more consistent animation quality in the Japanese dub.
• As Megatron turns away after this scene, his Decepticon symbols are missing from his shoulders, and he seriously lacks in-drawn detail. Legends of the Microns replaces Megatron's low-quality model with a redrawn one, complete with the symbols on his shoulders.
• After the other Decepticons warp back to base, the background doesn't match that of the previous shot during the close-up of Sideways.
• When Demolishor tells Megatron that Cyclonus has fallen asleep, Cyclonus doesn't have a face, but he's still heard snoring.
• As Megatron walks toward Starscream before brutalizing him, Megatron's walking animation stops after the first step, but the walking sound effect is still heard. Legends of the Microns reanimates Megatron as walking, but his arms are now stationary.
• When Starscream tries reasoning with Megatron that he followed his orders, parts of his body like between his arms and the top of his chest are heavily shadowed. The Japanese dub either removes the unnecessary shadows or lessens them; however, for some reason, Legends of the Microns removes the shadow above Starscream's eyes though it's present in Armada.
• After trying to open the doors, Demolishor says Megatron "locked us in here" (referring to himself and Sideways) when really, Megatron locked himself and Starscream in the room. Legends of the Microns changes this to Demolishor saying a key is needed to open the doors.
• After Starscream passes Demolishor and leaves the room, Demolishor's Decepticon insignia is a plain purple shape.
• In the next shot of Starscream from behind, he is a bit off-model, and some of the lightning on him is wrong. Legends of the Microns corrects this.
• After Starscream flies off, the right side of Demolishor's face is colored yellow like his head.
• After the shot of Starscream raising his wing blade, the background looks like inside the base although he's outside.
• In the wide shot of Sideways and Starscream talking, Sideways's sides are blue rather than yellow.
• When Sideways tells Starscream that Megatron is afraid of him, Starscream doesn't move, and he has a shocked look on his face throughout the shot.
• Starscream lacks the shadow above his eyes in some shots.
• In another shot during the same scene, the Decepticons insignias on Starscream's wings have circles around them.
• When Starscream responds to Sideways in the corridor after Sideways says Megatron only depends on Starscream to carry out his order, Starscream's body moves but the thrusters on his shoulders don't.
• In the scene of Starscream and Demolishor fighting in the corridor, they are both off-model, and Sideways has vanished. Legends of the Microns adds Sideways back into the scene while Starscream and Demolishor are fully redrawn.
• In two shots where Demolishor and Cyclonus watch Megatron and Starscream fight in the distance, the top of Megatron's body just below his neck is miscolored red.
• In the close-ups of Demolishor after Cyclonus drops him, his left eye's lighting effect is miscolored black.
• During the last scene, there's an awkward silence after Megatron speaks to Demolishor. The Japanese dub removes it as Megatron doesn't immediately says his line after the scene cuts. Also, Megatron commands Demolishor to look after the Mini-Cons. In Legends of the Microns, his command is changed to him telling Demolishor to find the Mini-Con panel.

Continuity errors

• In his opening log entry, Sideways says the Autobots possess the Star Saber, Skyboom Shield, and Astro Blaster (the Requiem Blaster's Japanese name). However, the Decepticons still have the sword, the Autobots have the shield, while the Requiem Blaster won't be introduced until "Desperate." He also says the Decepticons don't have the necessary organization to keep the weapons in their possession, but the Decepticons never had all the weapons in the first place. Legends of the Microns fixes these glaring errors by having Sideways say that the Autobots will soon possess all three weapons and therefore become too strong, with the mention of the Decepticons ever having the weapons beforehand removed.
• Sideways somehow knows that Megatron is planning to exterminate Starscream, but how could've he possibly heard Megatron say that? The Japanese dub changes his line to him calling Megatron a hypocrite who takes out his losses on his men.
• The background changes between the scenes of Starscream flying off and Sideways talking to Demolishor. Legends of the Microns fixes this.
• Starscream claims Demolishor has a beef with Megatron and that he should get over it, but it's more like he's talking about himself. The Japanese dub doesn't have this issue since the point of their conversation is entirely different.
• Right after this, Demolishor gripes about everyone going "loopy" after losing the previous battle, although the Decepticons were already noted as suffering their third loss in a row at the beginning of the episode. Legends of the Microns corrects this as Demolishor mentions the recent string of losses making everyone go crazy...at least, everyone except Cyclonus.

Real-world references

• Sideways's log entry sequence is based upon the logs that characters in Star Trek make to provide exposition for the ongoing plot.
• Megatron saying he's surrounded by incompetent morons is a variation of Scar's "I'm surrounded by idiots" line from The Lion King.
• Before he starts wailing on Starscream, Megatron says, "You're terminated." An apparent reference to The Terminator; even the music that plays during Starscream's second vision of Megatron sounds like a dead ringer for the Terminator theme.

Trivia

• The kanji 謀反 would be pronounced as "muhon" or "bouhan," while "kakugo" uses 覚悟.
• "Rebellion" first aired in the United States on January 28, 2003.
• Sideways' log also reveals that the Cybertronian date for this episode was "Astrodate Nimbus 3391" and that his Decepticon ID code is "002348".
• The opening scene where Sideways gazes up at a dark, starless region of space is a clue to his true allegiance, which is revealed in the following episode.
• Cyclonus is briefly shown drooling after he falls asleep.
• Few other Transformers episodes focus exclusively on the Decepticons, with a couple of Autobots only having brief appearances at the end.
• Cyclonus is seen carrying Demolishor in vehicle mode, a practice he repeats in Energon. However, they never engage in this behavior in battle.
• This episode has the first mention of the Requiem Blaster (though by its Japanese name as explained above).
• According to Starscream in the English dub, the Transformers' war has been going for over 10 million years.
• This episode marks the first time in the series that a Transformers gives the opening and ending narrations instead of one of the kids, a given since no humans appear in this episode.

Foreign localization

Hungarian

• Title: "Lázadás" ("Rebellion")

Polish

• Title: "Rebelia" ("Rebellion")

French

• Title: "Rébellion" ("Rebellion")

Korean

• Title: "스크림의 반란" ("Scream's Rebellion")

Portuguese

• Title: "Rebelião" ("Rebellion")

Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

DVD

2003 — Transformers: Legends of the Microns — 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)