Enter the Nightbird
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 "All right, now hit Starscream in the groin-plate" | |||||||||
| "Enter the Nightbird" | |||||||||
| Production code | #700-25 | ||||||||
| Production company | Sunbow Productions | ||||||||
| Airdate | September 30, 1985 | ||||||||
| Written by | Sylvia Wilson Richard Milton | ||||||||
| Continuity | Generation 1 cartoon continuity | ||||||||
The Decepticons capture Nightbird, a deadly ninja-bot, and turn her loose on the Autobots.
- Japanese title: ナイトバードの影 (Nightbird no Kage, "The Shadow of Nightbird")
Synopsis
The Autobots are busily constructing detection plates, a new invention of Wheeljack's which will make the base more secure by detecting intruders. They're interrupted in their work by a call from Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist, requesting their help in guarding his latest invention during its unveiling to the world. Optimus agrees when the doctor informs him that the invention is a sophisticated new robot. The Autobots attend the event, though Wheeljack and Ratchet are more interested in mocking the invention. Finally Dr. Fujiyama unveils Nightbird, a "female ninja robot". Predictably, the Decepticons attack and immediately have the upper hand because the Autobots won’t fight in a hall crowded with humans. As soon as the humans are cleared out, Optimus orders a counter-attack, personally grappling with Megatron. The Autobots are soon fully occupied, allowing Thundercracker and Skywarp to tear the roof off the building, so that Starscream can lassoo Nightbird and carry the robot away. Their prize obtained, the rest of the Decepticons retreat.
They retire to Megatron's temporary base, a masterfully disguised fortress, where Bombshell sets to work reprogramming Nightbird and tripling her power. Her first action on being reactivated is to immediately attack Starscream, which gains Megatron's approval. Soundwave gives her her new orders — infiltrate Autobot headquarters and steal the World Energy Chip from Teletraan I.
Meanwhile, Optimus is apologetic for their abject failure to protect the robot, and promises to return it back to Dr. Fujiyama quickly and unharmed. The Autobots return to base, Ratchet carrying the injured Brawn. Nightbird soon arrives at Autobot HQ as well, avoiding a security camera by accessing the base through the top of the volcano, eavesdropping on Spike and Prowl's puzzled conversation over the Decepticons' latest plan. She neatly avoids Wheeljack's detection plates by magnetizing her feet and walking along the roof. Reaching Teletraan I, she removes the World Energy Chip, plunging the base into darkness and alerting the Autobots to the intruder.
In her attempt to escape, she first encounters Mirage and bashes her way past the startled Autobot. A group of Autobots corners her, but are hampered by the promise they made not to harm her, and she is able to use her ninja abilities to blind them and effect a proper escape. The Autobots pursue her outside, where Optimus spots her on a clifftop and drops her with a stun ray. As Bluestreak approaches her, she suddenly jumps up and decks him before throwing more spinning blades at his comrades. Optimus stops Cliffjumper from firing on her, reminding him again of their promise to Dr. Fujiyama, then attempts to reason with Nightbird. The robot responds by attacking him with her energy sword and stealing his rifle, though she leaves her sword behind.
Watching remotely, Megatron and Bombshell are impressed with Nightbird's work. Starscream less so when Megatron suggests she would make a good replacement for the air commander.
Ratchet and Ironhide discover the absence of the World Energy Chip and notify Prime. Using Hound's sensors, the Autobots quickly relocate Nightbird, and Optimus attempts to lure her closer with her sword. She merely takes the weapon and knocks him down. The Autobots continue their attempts, unsuccessfully, to try to bring the ninja 'bot down.
Meanwhile, Starscream has had enough of Megatron's insinuations about replacing him, and decks his leader. He's swiftly restrained by the other Decepticons and trapped in a cage. Megatron turns back to his spying and, seeing that Nightbird has finally been caught by the Autobots in an energy web, orders the Decepticons out on a mission to rescue her and the World Energy Chip. Optimus is able to retrieve the Chip from Nightbird, but it's dropped in the subsequent Decepticon ambush. After a brief spell in Bombshell's possession, Optimus regains the chip, but Megatron responds by freeing Nightbird from her cage and unleashing her on the Autobots.
Starscream uses a small missile to free himself from the cage in the Decepticon base, and swiftly reaches the battle in time to watch Nightbird overwhelming Optimus with her combat skills. Seeking revenge, the Decepticon uses his null-ray on Nightbird, disabling her. Megatron is enraged and calls off the attack so everyone can pursue Starscream.
The Autobots make good on their promise by returning Nightbird unharmed to Fujiyama, who decides to put her in storage. Despite being neutralized, Nightbird casts a final, angered glare out at the cold, cold, world.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Imagine, Autobots playing nursemaid to an earth robot. It's probably just a glorified wind-up toy."
- —Look who's talking, Wheeljack.
Wheeljack: If it walks it probably needs a long extension cord.
Ratchet: Heh heh heh. I wonder if batteries are included. Heh, heh, heh.
Wheeljack: When they turn it on it'll probably blow the lights.
Optimus: We're here to guard the robot, not make jokes at its expense.
- —Wheeljack and Ratchet, masters of diplomacy
"Ah, why build a robot ninja, doctor? Isn't that rather dangerous?"
- —The guy with the white mustache asks what we're all thinking.
"I bring you greetings, Optimus Prime...lethal greetings!"
- —Megatron. His writers don't get paid enough.
"I love warping minds for you, Megatron, love it."
- —Bombshell, the spokesman for Grand Theft Auto.
"I'm open to suggestions... and you don't need to raise your hands before you speak."
- —Shouldn't Optimus Prime have said something like "raise your finger components" instead?
"She's not so hot!"
"She's hot enough to replace you whenever I choose!"
- —Starscream and Megatron utter the words that launch a thousand fanfics.
"Yes, you're definitely on my replacement list, Starscream... Hahaha, she's everything I've always wanted!"
- —Megatron. Aw, all he wanted was some love.
"Nightbird! NOOOOOO!"
- —Megatron, heartbroken.
Notes
Animation or technical glitches
- When Rumble and Frenzy break into the show room, Rumble's pile drivers are rectangular prisms instead of cylinders.
- When Nightbird's lightsaber is shot and deactivated, you can still hear the sound effects for about two more seconds before they stop.
- Optimus Prime gets shot in the back by Megatron, but his voice sounds like Mirage as he falls over.
Continuity errors
- Wheeljack makes fun of humanity's attempt at robotics, when his security system being fitted at the beginning of the episode is just a glorified metal detector, that reacts to metal, the very thing that the Autobots and the base are made of. It even reacts to his hand, which means that the whole system is pointless.
- At the end of the second act, Nightbird gets the drop on Prime and raises her sword as if to slice him in half. At the opening of the third act, however, she's just standing there in front of him, idly spinning the sword around.
Transformers references
- In 3H's Universe comics, Nightbird returned as a savage horde, which forced Daniel Witwicky to kill himself and Wheelie to destroy them...which goes to show that they are good for something.
Real-world references
- The title could be a reference to the film Enter the Dragon. This would not be the last time the film is referenced in a Transformers series.
Trivia
- When the Autobots are chasing Nightbird up a cliff, Cliffjumper can't jump the cliff. He might need a new name.
- Wheeljack and Ratchet are very mean this episode, considering Wheeljack's normal success rate. (Granted, there are exceptions, but those were collaborative efforts with Ratchet.) Oy vey.
- Doctor Fujiyama's response to the Decepticons stealing Nightbird is that no one could have predicted it happening. Except he did, that's why he called the Autobots in the first place.
