Remorse
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 Megatron takes his nemesis not becoming a Masterpiece toy poorly. | ||||||
| "Remorse" (Aseri) "Regret: Impatience" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-40 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | August 20, 2003 (English, Canada) October 3, 2003 (Japanese) October 17, 2003 (English, United States) | |||||
| Writer | Akira Okeya | |||||
| Director | Yukio Okazaki | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
The Autobots mourn the loss of Optimus Prime, and Hot Shot is hit particularly hard.
Synopsis
The Decepticons celebrate the destruction of Autobot leader Optimus Prime. While Cyclonus laughs, Megatron and Starscream stay calm, regretting the victory (for different reasons). Acting glad, Megatron orders his crew to return to Cybertron.
In the Autobot base, the kids have trouble coming to terms with the death of Optimus Prime, Fred openly crying. Rad understands that Optimus knew he would die, and he mourns that nobody on Earth would know that Optimus died to save all humans.
A week later, the Autobots are still sad, but repressing their sadness to get work done has increased tensions. Hot Shot gets frustrated with how passively the other Autobots have been handling Optimus Prime's death, and goes to the teleporter room to meet with Jetfire. He recalls the time he accused Optimus of letting the Decepticons getting the upper hand by letting Starscream join the Autobots. Jetfire returns from his mission to the Decepticons' now-abandoned moon-base, and Hot Shot promptly demands Jetfire take him to space to vengefully hunt down the Decepticons.
The other Autobots arrive and try to stress how important it is that the spaceship be finished. But Hot Shot just tells his friends to shut up. Scavenger, insulted, throws Hot Shot to the ground. He commands Hot Shot to be silent as he drags the younger Autobot away. The two teleport away, and Jolt follows. The rest of the kids and Autobots are left to wonder what Scavenger intends to do.
Alexis determines Scavenger and Hot Shot to be on an abandoned highway. There, Scavenger brutalizes Hot Shot, and demands he fights back. Hot Shot avoids most of Scavenger's punches, but doesn't retaliate. The kids and Autobots watch as Hot Shot is thrown around. Hot Shot finally fights back when Scavenger mentions Optimus. When the two Transformers press their weight against each other, Scavenger mentions that it was Hot Shot that made him switch to the Autobots. Between punches, Scavenger explains that Optimus had integrity, and that's why Starscream was allowed to join the Autobots. Alexis, watching the fight with the Autobots (who refuse to help Hot Shot) figures out that Hot Shot blames himself for Optimus Prime's death.
Hot Shot retreats away from Scavenger, still convinced that Optimus needs to be avenged. Blurr encounters Hot Shot on the freeway, but Hot Shot escapes again. The kids try to reason with the Autobots that abusing Hot Shot won't help Hot Shot overcome his own anxieties—but Red Alert is adamant that aggressive therapy is needed.
Side Swipe blocks Hot Shot's path and prepares to open fire against his brother. The Mini-Cons join in on forming the barricade, bringing Hot Shot to an advanced stop. Even Jolt abandons Hot Shot to join the other Mini-Cons. Hot Shot remembers Optimus Prime's word about trusting the Mini-Cons. Thanks to the Mini-Cons, Hot Shot has a moment of clarity and recalls what the war with the Decepticons is about.
Hot Shot apologizes to the assembled Mini-Cons and Autobots. He wants to re-join and help in the fight against the Decepticons as part of the team again. With the Autobots' morale revitalized, Jetfire announces that he's making Hot Shot the new Autobot commander. Scavenger arrives and starts to take a swing at the new commander, but Hot Shot doesn't move an inch. Scavenger cuts his punch before hitting, and gives Hot Shot his approval.
Later that evening, Jetfire tries to give Hot Shot the Matrix, but Hot Shot declines to accept it. Instead, he announces that he'll only lead the Autobots until the team gets back to Cybertron. Working together, the team gets back to work and gets ready to stop the Decepticons.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
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Quotes
"Do you have any idea why I left the Decepticons and came over to the Autobots?"
"Better money?"
"I joined because of you."
- —Scavenger and Hot Shot
"That complete lack of fear has served you well, Hot Shot."
- —Scavenger hasn't been paying attention.
"Wow, either I'm overheating or I just heard Optimus speak to me directly from the other side."
"Hey, that doesn't surprise me. In fact, I bet Optimus woulda chosen you to become the next commander of the Autobots."
- —Hot Shot and Jetfire in a WTF moment
"Yo, Autobots! Saddle up! We're going back to Cybertron!"
- —Hot Shot gets down with the kids.
Notes
Differences with Legends of the Microns
- The opening flashback of the previous episode has Rad narrating over how he thought it was all over for Earth, but Optimus sacrificed himself to save it in Armada. Legends of the Microns has Rad not narrating until Optimus' close up art is shown, and expresses how he couldn't believe what happened. Additionally, the Japanese dub contains SFX throughout the whole flashback while the English dub only features the characters' voices.
- Rad's narration about what happened after Optimus' death is shorter compared to the English dub, and doesn't mention the humans going back to there daily lives. Additionally, his comment about the Autobots being on edge comes later(After Hoist drops an equipment) than in Armada.
- When the Autobots are arguing whie building the Axalon, Hoist's insult to Red Alert is a lot more insensitive in Legends of the Microns, directly saying why he couldn't fix Optimus. The following lines from Scavenger and Side Swipe tell Hoist that it was uncalled for before Blurr steps in and tells everyone to knock it off.
- Hot Shot tells the other Autobots that they should avenge Optimus instead of building the Axalon in Legends of the Microns, but Armada has him simply ask why they are building it since the Decepticons are already gone. Additionally, Hoist fully agrees with Hot Shot in Armada but stops himself before saying anything in Legends of the Microns.
- During Hot Shot and Scavenger's fight on the bridge, Alexis asks to stop it, and instead of saying this is the last chance for Hot Shot to prove himself to everyone, Jetfire says Hot Shot has been provoking everyone, which is why they can't stop it.
- Hot Shot and Scavenger's argument when they are fighting on the bridge is heavily different between dubs:
- Legends of the Microns has Scavenger asks if the reason they are fighting is to take revenge for Optimus, which Hot Shot replies with yes otherwise he is never satisfied, but everyone is so heartless for not thinking the same thing. Scavenger calls Hot Shot a fool when throwing him into the wall, and then says he brought this upon himself. Armada warps this this all into having Scavenger say what would Optimus do in this situation, with Hot Shot says he wouldn't be pushed around and would fight. Hot Shot then says he would show what he's got before Scaveneger gives him a head's up for his upcoming attack.
- Right before the commerical break, Scavenger asks Hot Shot if he really wants to start pointless fights, the latter points out in response that's what he's doing. Scavenger then asks if Hot Shot's ideals are eye to eye before saying to charge at him. Except for Hot Shot's scream, the rest of the scene is silent. Armada changes this to have Hot Shot make the cluesless question on what he has done, and Scavenger tells him to think about it. The last few seconds of this scene also has Scavenger say that if Hot Shot doesn't know his place in the Autobots, then he can't help him.
- After the commerical breaks, Scavenger tells Hot Shot he joined the Autobots because of his sake, and the latter responds with not understanding. Scavenger then mentions when Hot Shot believed in Sideways and recklessly attacked the Lunar Base, and despite Hot Shot claiming he was an idiot back then, it was his spirit that made Scavenger changed sides. Scavenger also mentions similarities to when Optimus trusted Starscream and brcause of this, he saw the future in Hot Shot. Hot Shot responds that he doesn't get, but what he does know is that Optimus was killed while he's still here alive, and says that it's frustrating. Scavenger then brings up that everyone is still alive because of it, and tells Hot Shot that the war isn't for revenge but to press towards for the future. Armada makes the whole conversation more focused on Hot Shot calling out Optimus for trusting Starscream, with Scavenger claiming it was "way out of line" and Optimus stuck to his decision, which makes him an integral leader.
- When Hot Shot is shaking, he says he doesn't get the feelings inside of him in Armada, but says he doesn't know any other way to do this in Legends of the Microns.
- Before leaving, Hot Shot says he can't forgive himself, so the only choice he has is revenge in Legends of the Microns. Then Scavenger responds that if that's all he can think about, he should remove himself from the Autobots. Armada changes Hot Shot's line to him saying he just wants to get even with the Decepticons, and makes Scavenger less hostile.
- When the kids figure out why Hot Shot has been feeling terribly lately, Legends of the Microns makes it more clear that he thinks he's responsible for Optimus' death compared to the Amrada version. Alexis also asks Jetfire why he can't understand that instead of asking him to stop, and Jetfire has no lines in his shot where Armada has him say Scavenger knows what he's doing.
- Instead of wishing Scavenger went easier on Hot Shot, Side Swipe says that's not the person he knows in Legends of the Microns.
- Before Blurr jumps in, Hot Shot asks Optimus what he should in the Japanese dub, whereas Armada has him wish he was here and mentions that he doesn't even know where he's going.
- When Blurr rams into Hot Shot, he sarcastically asks if he's the one that started this fight in Legends of the Microns, but says he's going to end it in Armada. Additionally when Hot Shot gets away from Blurr, the latter doesn't ask the former to come back.
- When the Autobots prepare to space bridge their away into where Hot Shot is, Red Alert tells Alexis this is how warriros do things in Legends of the Microns, and when Alexis repeats what he said, he tells her to sit back and watch. Meanwhile in Armada, Red Alert just says it has to be done this way now and instrcuts the kids to trust them.
- When Hot Shot encounters Side Swipe, Armada makes the latter say that as usual he went off on his own without considering how everyone else feels. Legends of the Microns has Side Swipe less aggressive, saying that everyone is thinking about taking revenge for Optimus, but they can't figure out why Hot Shot is acting so strange lately. Hot Shot then responds that he's not like anyone else, then abruptly ending his sentence before charging at Side Swipe. Armada changes this to have Hot Shot say he doesn't need permission from Side Swipe to do anything. Once more, Hot Shot yells out of my way in Armada but gives a big shut up in Legends of the Microns.
- When the Autobot's Mini-Cons appear, Hot Shot's reaction is more of a shock in Legends of the Microns, whereas Armada makes him tell the Mini-Cons to stay away from him.
- When the Optimus illusion appears, Hot Shot simply says Optimus' name in the Japanese dub, but the English dub has him say he has to help him. Optimus then tells Hot Shot to not forget about his friends in Armada, but says that's enough in Legends of the Microns.
- When Hot Shot apologizes to everyone for how he acted, he mentions how he even made the Mini-Cons his enemies and thanks everyone for saving him in Legends of the Microns. Armada changes this slightly to him saying that he needs everyone's help and he can't do it on his own.
Second English dub
Two separate English dubs of this episode are known to exist. When the series originally aired, eight episodes passed after Smokescreen's reformatting (in "Regeneration") before the show started addressing him by the new name under which his upgraded toy was sold, "Hoist" (in "Miracle"). At some point, however, the dub of this episode was updated to modify dialogue from Fred and Red Alert to introduce Smokescreen's new name a little earlier.
- Where Fred originally merely asked "Is there any way we can fix Optimus?", in the modified dub, he adds "the way we fixed up Smokescreen? I mean Hoist?"
- Red Alert's response went from: "I'm sorry. It can't be done. Optimus's body released its spark when it blocked the Hydra Cannon's blast, and without it, there's no way we can bring him back. I wish there was some way we could, but we're just going to have to pull ourselves together and carry on without him." ...to: "No. I'm sorry, we can't. Optimus's body released its spark when it blocked the Hydra Cannon. We saved Smokescreen's spark and were able to reformat him into Hoist. I wish there was some way that we could, but we're just going to have to carry on without him."
- In the next scene, where Red originally addressed Smokescreen by his original name, he now calls him Hoist.
Additionally, this version added "The Unicron Battles" opening to the episode, replacing the original; that opening was not added to the original broadcast of the series until the next episode. Presumably, this redub would have been carried out sometime during 2003–2005, when Voicebox Productions was working on the Unicron Trilogy, but it was absent from Rhino Entertainment's 2006 DVD release of the series, and is not known to have been broadcast or released in any form until Shout! Factory's 2014 DVD release. However, nobody actually noticed the change until 2020, when TFWiki user Bag of Magic Food spotted it while watching the series on Tubi!
Animation and technical glitches
- During his first line in the episode, Hot Shot has enormous hips.
- When Scavenger tells Hot Shot they're not friends, he's wearing a (red) Decepticon symbol.
- There's some awkward silence after Hot Shot tells Side Swipe they are on the same side. Legends of the Microns adds an additional line right before the shot cuts to a new one.
- When Hot Shot asks Optimus for help in his vision, you can see the corner of a Decepticon symbol instead of an Autobot one.
- When the other Autobots came to see Hot Shot after he realized what happened, Blurr was taller than the other Autobots.
- After Hot Shot has his vision, Smokescreen's eyes are too close together and too big.
Continuity notes
- Optimus and Megatron had been fighting for roughly 10 million years.[1] To have Optimus suddenly no longer be around, Megatron appears to miss his foe.
- Legends of the Microns Year Book 2003 explains that Red Alert saying that Optimus' spark being extinguished and unable to be revived in the same way as Smokescreen reveals the lives of the Transformers.
- Some flashback footage in this episode is taken from "Vow", specifically the scene where Optimus is walking towards Megatron and the Mini-Cons.
Continuity errors
- The flashback of Hot Shot blaming Optimus for accepting Starscream isn't exactly what he said in "Crisis". Legends of the Microns doesn't have this error.
- Interstingly, it seems more of a direct translation to what Hot Shot said in the Japanese version of Crisis.
- Contrary to what Scavenger says this episode, he was only an Autobot spy, not a real Decepticon. Legends of the Microns suggests throughout the series that Scavenger was genuinely working for the Decepticons before switching to the Autobots, so this is a non-issue.
- He was a Decepticon a very long time ago, but that was long before he met Hot Shot.[2]
- Scavenger also says that there was no way Hot Shot could've known that "Sideways was working still working with the Decepticons". The moment he talks about is from the episode "Credulous", but Sideways wasn't working with the Decepticons until the end of that episode. Legends of the Microns instead has Scavenger tell Hot Shot he believed in a comrade who didn't deserve it.
Trivia
- This episode's Japanese dub debuts the commercial bumper of Jet Optimus and Overload powerlinxing.
- Additionally, the opening rift from the first Japanese opening songis now used instead of the exclusive Autobot and Decepticon strings.
- In Germany this episode followed "Carnival". RTL II—the channel that aired the show—stated that Hasbro Germany insisted on having the entire series aired in just two months to better promote the toyline.
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Reue" ("Remorse")
- Original airdate: 10 December 2003
Hungarian
- Title: "Gyász" ("Mourning")
Portuguese
- Title: "Remorso" ("Remorse")
Home video releases
- DVD
2004 — Transformers: Legends of the Microns — Volume 10 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Best Of The Decepticons (Rhino Entertainment)
2006 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two (Rhino Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers: Armada — Volume Two (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
