Kingdom episode 3
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 "When valour preys on reason, it eats the sword it fights with." | ||||||
| Episode 3 | ||||||
| Production company | Allspark Animation, Rooster Teeth, Entertainment One | |||||
| Airdate | July 29, 2021 (Netflix) | |||||
| Written by | Mae Catt | |||||
| Director | Takashi Kamei | |||||
| Animation studio | Polygon Pictures | |||||
All sides contend with illusions generated by the Allspark. Dinobot chooses to take the Matrix back from Megatron–no matter the cost.
Synopsis
Some time ago, a space bridge opens in Earth orbit. The Allspark flashes through, slicing across Earth's sky, and crashing with a mighty explosion. Inside the impact crater, the Allspark rises up and crackles with energy...
On Earth, the treasonous trio of Starscream, Blackarachnia and Dinobot search for the Allspark. They use information obtained via eavesdropping on Megatron and his Golden Disk to guide them, Unfortunately, their shuttle malfunctions, causing them to crash. As Dinobot awakens, he finds himself lost in a strange "cyber-forest", full of glitching flora. As his comrades bicker about the crash, Dinobot investigates the bizarre plant life. Blackarachnia pulls him back at the last moment, as the glitching images before them cause the ground to quake, and a great structure slowly emerges. Starscream transforms and scrambles away into the air as Blackarachnia uses her webbing to hitch a ride and carry Dinobot along.
Nearby, a team of Autobots and Maximals–led by Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal–are conducting their own search for the Allspark. Prime contacts Bumblebee for an update on the Ark's repairs. Fearing the worst, he asks his second-in-command to lead the Autobots in the event that they fail to retrieve the Allspark. Primal, noticing Prime's concern, thanks Prime for the Autobot assistance in the Airazor mission. The two leaders talk, Prime wondering why Primal called him "nemesis", and telling Primal about the Golden Age of Cybertron, which had become a mere myth in Primal's time.
Elsewhere, Megatron and Soundwave conduct their own search, but Megatron has a key advantage: with the Golden Disk, he has access to his future self's thoughts, and can pinpoint the Allspark's location directly. Suddenly, the voice of the Golden Disk becomes that of Galvatron, and he is suddenly surrounded by Sparkless bots as Galvatron taunts him–but this turns out to be another vision from the Matrix. Megatron is stunned, but rejects Soundwave's concern about what effect the Matrix has on him and fails to notice the Matrix glowing brighter...an energy that Optimus Prime can sense, giving him a way to follow Megatron's trail.
Starscream is unable to escape the region near the Allspark even in jet mode, though he tries repeatedly and desperately. Witnessing such cowardice angers Dinobot, and he realizes that both Megatrons are self-serving and power-hungry, unlike the noble and honorable Primes of legend.
Suddenly, a misty energy field begins to radiate throughout the forest. All the search parties brace themselves, and Airazor's flight systems malfunction, sending her plummeting to the ground. But the field seems to have passed through them harmlessly–at first. Then, a series of strange events occurs: Prime sees the figure of Alpha Trion, who turns to walk away; Arcee sees Cog; Sideswipe sees Sunstreaker. Starscream finds himself in possession of a crown and purple cape; he has become a king...that is, until Dinobot whacks him in the face, dispelling the illusion. Even Blackarachnia finds herself anxious, seeing wolf-like faces in the mist. Dinobot is unaffected and forces the other two to see through the illusions. As Dinobot mocks Starscream's power fantasy, the Seeker angrily lashes out and pushes him to the edge of a cliff. Receiving no support from Blackarachnia, he is sent over the cliff.
Dinobot recovers and continues his search alone. He comes across the prone body of Airazor. She turns out to be real, not an illusion, and he confirms that she helped to free him from his Predacon past, but ironically has no choice but to stop Megatron from reaching the Allspark if any of them are to survive. He transforms into his Velociraptor form and darts off towards his prey. Airazor follows him, but Dinobot wards her off, saying her injuries would only distract him from his task.
Dinobot soon encounters Ravage and Laserbeak, making quick work of them. But he soon faces Soundwave, who assails the raptor with disruptor waves. As Soundwave approaches the besieged Dinobot, he falters as the cyber-forest glitches at his feet, and Dinobot seizes upon the opportunity, hurling his sword through Soundwave's chest. But Dinobot barely has time to retrieve his sword from the unconscious Soundwave before Megatron sucker-punches him. Dinobot responds in kind, transforming into raptor mode and slamming Megatron into the ground. The shock jostles Megatron's arm compartment, and Dinobot lays optics on the Golden Disk. Seeing that Megatron is so close to collecting the Allspark in addition to the Matrix and Golden Disk, Dinobot transforms back to robot mode and engages the Decepticon gladiator in a mortal duel. Dinobot takes the full measure of Megatron, criticizing his wild, undisciplined attacks. With a single well-timed strike, the enraged Megatron is bested at last, and Dinobot prepares to deliver the killing blow.
But Dinobot is ambushed once again, this time by "Beast" Megatron, who viciously mauls Dinobot and severs his arm. Now critically wounded and facing two Megatrons, Dinobot makes a last-ditch effort, firing at Megatron with his optic beams! The attack worked, and the Matrix is knocked from Megatron's chest. "Beast" Megatron tends his stunned namesake as Dinobot escapes with the Matrix.
Slumping against a tree, Dinobot can no longer withstand his wounds. He speaks to the Matrix, imploring it for help. As if to answer, the Matrix emits a beam into the distance-right into Optimus Prime, dissolving the illusion of Alpha Trion. Prime finds his way to Dinobot and retakes the Matrix. Raising it overhead, the Matrix lights up like a beacon, giving quiet happiness and awe to the nearby Autobots and Maximals. At last, Prime returns the Matrix to his chest and kneels next to the dying Dinobot, offering him comfort and thanks.
The other Maximals and Autobots arrive. Having earned their respect and admiration, Dinobot confesses that he had considered joining the Maximals many times; Primal said he would have been welcomed. With a pleased expression on his face, Dinobot finally succumbs to death.
The Matrix within Prime suddenly glows, emitting a beacon towards a mysterious structure in the misty forest. He recognizes the structure as the Allspark itself!
Quotes
"For many cycles, there were a thousand times I thought of defecting...coming to you. Would you have accepted me?"
"Yes. But you would have made a terrible Maximal."
- —Dinobot earns Optimus Primal's respect, in the end
Featured characters
Characters in italic text appear only in imaginary sequences and flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots / Maximals | Decepticons / Predacons |
|---|---|
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Notes
Continuity notes
- Prime lost the Matrix to Megatron in Earthrise episode 6.
Continuity errors
Transformers references
- Dinobot's actions here contain several references to the Beast Wars cartoon, particularly the classic episode "Code of Hero":
- Dinobot did join the Maximals in Beast Wars.
- Rattrap refers to Dinobot as "choppah-face", a common occurrence in Beast Wars.
- Likewise, Dinobot refers to Rattrap as "vermin".
- Dinobot's moment of self-determination in "Code of Hero" involves a declaration of himself as a "warrior" who realizes he "has no choice at all" when deciding to destroy the Golden Disk.
- Dinobot retrieves an artifact of great importance in dramatic fashion using his optic beams.
- Starscream's crown and cape from his vision first appeared in the the 1986 movie.
