War of the Dinobots
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Snarl and Swoop are added to the Dinobot roster... and just in time!
Japanese title: "The Mysterious Giant Meteorite"
Detailed synopsis
An unidentified meteor impacts with the Earth, and the Autobots go to investigate. Fearing that its energy potential could be used by the Decepticons, Optimus Prime has the Dinobots guard it. Impressed that they are following orders, Prime decides to make two more Dinobots. However, Megatron learns of the Meteor as well. Sending Soundwave to investigate the meteor and the Dinobots, Megatron learns that Grimlock is arrogant, Slag is violent, and Sludge is stupid.
Megatron's forces arrive at the meteorite's location, and after the Dinobots trash the Seekers, Megatron arrives and feigns humility. He wonders aloud why the Dinobots, as powerful as they are, follow a weaker leader such as Prime. Because of Megatron's powerful logic, Grimlock and the Dinobots are convinced to rebel against Prime, and the Decepticons take the Meteorite.
At the Autobot base, Prime and Ratchet oversee construction of two new Dinobots: Snarl and Swoop. However, Wheeljack and Trailbreaker discover the meteorite's energy is highly unstable. Going to warn the Dinobots, Prime arrives and is attacked. Though Optimus puts up a fight, the Autobot leader is unable to defeat the Dinobots. However, Grimlock doesn't kill Prime, a restraint that Prime attributes to his Autobot training. The Dinobots instead take Prime to the Decepticons.
At the base, Wheeljack has Snarl and Swoop do a test run of their powers. When the Autobots learn that the meteorite has been moved, they send the two Dinobots there. While the Decepticons form Energon cubes, Starscream grows concerned by the meteorite's unstable nature. When Grimlock, Slag and Sludge arrive, Megatron is angered that they didn't kill Prime, but is soon distracted as the Energon cubes detonate and Swoop and Snarl arrive. The two new Dinobots fight the old Dinobots in a vicious battle. As the meteor explodes, Prime pushes Grimlock to safety.
Realizing that Prime is both strong and has concern for his troops, Grimlock orders the Dinobots to attack the Decepticons. The Decepticons retreat, and Grimlock asks for Prime's forgiveness. The Dinobots are welcomed back, and Swoop and Snarl are added to the team.
Stats
Original airdate: 11/27/1984
Production number:
Written by: Earl Kress
Featured Characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulars
Guests |
Notable quotes
"Well, meteor or no meteor, Optimus Prime, it sure is nice not to have to worry about the Decepticons for a change."
"I always worry about the Decepticons, Spike."
- -- Spike Witwicky learns that Optimus Prime really needs a vacation.
"I do not want to fight you, but you leave me no choice."
- -- Optimus Prime's warning to the Dinobots
"Optimus Prime, can you forgive? Me, Grimlock was jealous of you."
- -- Grimlock, actually showing humility for once
Other notes
Animation and/or technical glitches
- Optimus blasts a fragment off of the meteor at night, transforms during the day, leaves the scene around dawn, and drives off into the dead of night.
- When Soundwave goes back to the Decepticon base after scanning the Dinobots, the Decepticon insignia on his chest is not shown.
- When the Decepticons attack the Dinobots guarding the meteorite, Slag's Autobot insignia is not shown in one shot.
- In the same scene, when Grimlock asks Slag if he likes to fight, Sludge answers with Slag's voice.
- When the Dinobots are attacking Optimus Prime, in one shot Grimlock's torso is colored gray instead of yellow.
- When the Dinobots take Optimus to Megatron, Starscream is colored in Thundercracker's colors. A little later, when they are escaping the meteorite explosion, Starscream is colored as Thundercracker again.
- When asking for forgiveness from Optimus, Grimlock's eyes are not colored.
Continuity errors
Real-world references
- TBA
Transformers references
- The Autobots' occasional ability to fly, seen in a couple episodes before, is shown again in this episode, when Sideswipe is fighting the Dinobots.
- Apparently the Decepticons are still pretty steamed about the Dinobots utterly slagging them two episodes ago ("S.O.S. Dinobots"). Seriously guys, let it go.
Miscellaneous trivia
- In an earlier draft of this episode's script, it was not Chip who discovered the meteorite, but an original character named Doctor Lynn Hyashi.
- Grimlock's head has been redesigned. However, the old design remained in the comics all the way until Grimlock took a bath in nucleon. Still Life! The second head design would be used in all incarnations from then on.
