Agent Smartlit (episode)

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This article is about the cartoon episode. For the title character, see Agent Smartlit (BotBots).
Transformers: BotBots ep 9a

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, and you have no other choice in the matter...
"Agent Smartlit"
Production company Entertainment One
Airdate March 25, 2022
Writers Jacquie Menville
Directors Paul O'Flanagan
Animation studio Boulder Media Studio
 Watch this episode on Netflix

When only the best will do.*

*And no-one else is available.

Synopsis

An exhausted Dave continues to try to make his mother understand the struggles of working the night shift, none too pleased that she's been rubbing garlic on his clothes out of fear that he's a vampire. Between the pale skin, the crippling loneliness, and the stale leftover bagels he subsists on, it's clear Dave's starting to become disillusioned with the night shift, but fortune smiles upon him when he sees an opening for the day shift posted on the bulletin board. Dave sees this as his big chance, only for his own internal monologue to remind him that his boss won't take him seriously due to his ravings about the "little robots that live in the mall". Dave agrees with himself that continuing to believe in the little robots won't help in the long run...which is why he's going to catch one to prove he's not crazy! Inspired, he begins sketching up a "flawless" plan, unaware that a tiny someone is watching him from the shadows...

In the Lost and Found, Kikmee is leading the other Lost Bots, including the visiting Frostferatu, in practicing a cheer routine to hopefully impress the other BotBots. As the routine reaches its climax, Kikmee orders them all to form a pyramid, guiding Dimlit to the top, but he fails to keep his balance and topples over, bringing the rest down with him. Frostferatu, who is only here because he loves pyramids, decides this isn't working out and leaves, as Dimlit bemoans that he should never be relied on for anything important, despite his friends' attempts at reassurances. His pity party is interrupted, however, by a new arrival—Agent Smartlit, a member of a top-secret squad dedicated to covertly protecting the mall and the BotBots from dangerous threats. Smartlit explains that "Flesh-Being-1" is working on a new plan to trap the BotBots, and despite the Lost Bots being unconvinced of Dave posing any danger, Smartlit is convinced it puts them at risk and plans to go undercover to access the secret store room where Dave has been seen hoarding rocket parts. To do so, Smartlit has hidden Dave's flashlight and will be placing herself in the Lost and Found to bait Dave into taking her as a replacement. Burgertron suggests she turn her light on to make herself more noticeable, and while she's not certain it's necessary, Dave's approach forces them into action, taking their places. Dave arrives and finds Smartlit, but seeing her already turned on, he assumes the batteries are likely almost drained and decides to grab Dimlit instead!

The Lost Bots quickly follow Dave back to his office, finding him napping at his desk. Dimlit emerges, expecting to switch places with Smartlit, but she tells him that there's no way Dave won't notice, so she instead decides Dimlit will take her place on the mission and will begin training him immediately. Dimlit protests, certain he can't be trusted with such an important job, but Smartlit doesn't give him a choice in the matter. Things go poorly at first with the physical combat training, mental training goes even worse when he falls asleep while trying to memorize some important documents, and instinct training goes disastrously when he cuts the wrong wire on a simulation bomb and gets slimed. While he's obviously not ready, Smartlit makes it clear that they're out of time and that the mission will have to proceed anyway. Dimlit returns to Dave's office just as Dave wakes, and he takes the flashlight to the storeroom, placing him on a shelf as he gets to work on construction. Dimlit notices Dave's notebook with his plans sketched out and begins studying it, fighting off the urge to fall asleep, until he discovers the shocking truth.

Apparently the mall's sensitivity training needs to expand its scope to include robots.

Dimlit rushes back to tell the others, but they're already aware: "Dave-O-Matic 5000", decked out in cardboard covered in childish scribbles, is rolling around the mall on roller skates with rockets attached in an attempt to lure the other robots out. Dimlit is disappointed his work was ultimately for nothing, while Smartlit is now certain her agency vastly overestimated the threat. When Dave's rocket skates begin malfunctioning for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with his wiring work, the BotBots can't help but laugh at his misfortune as he careens every which way, but decide to stop him before he can hurt himself or anything in the mall. Smartlit points out they would need a copy of the plans for the skates...which Dimlit has now fully memorized, telling Smartlit he can walk her through disarming the controls on Dave's belt! Unfortunately, with time short, Dimlit will have to do it himself, and though he continues to doubt his ability, the others assure him that he's done well until now and that they have faith in him to finish the job.

Thinking quickly, Dimlit has the others board the Racer-Roni and form a pyramid as it speeds towards the out-of-control Dave. As they approach, Dimlit is forced to trust his instincts and cuts a wire on Dave's belt...and the rockets successfully dislodge from the skates, shooting forward and destroying the main fountain (and much of the surrounding area) in a massive explosion. As Dave slows to a stop, he stares as the destruction and considers his plan may not have been as flawless as he anticipated. Back at the Lost and Found, the others congratulate Dimlit on his work, including Agent Smartlit, who is so impressed that she notes she may call Dimlit if she ever needs a partner for another mission, prompting Dimlit to pass out at the very thought. Unfortunately, things are not going as well for Dave, who has just received a call from his boss that he's been...FIRED?!

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

BotBots Humans

Quotes

"This is it, Dave! Your big break! Sunlight! Other people! Bagels that don't lead to replacing tooth crowns!"

Dave smells an opportunity


"L. O. S. T. / We've got spirit, you will see! / B. O. T. S. / Lost Bots, Lost Bots are the best! GOOOOO LOST BOTS!"

—The Lost Bots cheer their hearts out


"What happened to knowing Dave like the top of your own bun?"
"To be fair, I rarely see the top of my own bun."

Agent Smartlit and Burgertron


"Congratulations, Dimlit. That concludes your training."
"You mean, I'm ready for the mission?"
"Not even close. But we're out of time, sooooo...good luck! Stay alive!"

Agent Smartlit gives Dimlit a harsh dose of reality.


"Come, fellow robots! Let us program software updates and...dot-com!"

Dave's robot impression needs some work.

Notes

Continuity notes

  • Frostferatu has been on fairly good terms with the Lost Bots ever since they rescued him back in "Escape from Snackatraz".

Transformers references

(Wow, we haven't had to pull this section out for a while, have we?)

Real-world references

  • Kikmee tells the others as they approach Dave to "stay on target", a reference to the original Star Wars. Dimlit closing his eyes and following his instincts when cutting the wire may also be a reference to Luke turning off his targeting computer and using the force in the film's climax.

Animation and technical errors

Trivia

  • While not a Lost Bot in the show, Frosteratu is listed as part of the squad on his toy and in other BotBots material, so the idea of him teaming up with them at the start of the episode isn't so far-fetched.

Foreign localization

French

  • Title: "Agent secret" ("Secret agent")

Brazilian Portuguese

  • Title: "Agente Smartlit" ("Agent Smartlit")

European Portuguese

  • Title: "O agente luminoso" ("The bright agent")

Arabic

  • Title: "العميلة سمارليت" ("Agent Smarlit")