Only Human
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 -I'm flesh and blood, a man! | |||||||||
| "Only Human" | |||||||||
| Production code | 700-108 | ||||||||
| Production company | Sunbow Productions | ||||||||
| Airdate | November 13, 1986 | ||||||||
| Written by | Susan K. Williams | ||||||||
| Continuity | Generation 1 cartoon continuity | ||||||||
When several Autobots interfere with his "business", a powerful crime lord has their minds placed into synthoid bodies, with the help of the strangely familiar "Old Snake".
- Japanese title: 人間トランスフォーマー (Ningen Transformer, "Human Transformers")
- German title: Nur ein Mensch (Only Human)
Synopsis
As buildings explode, Springer attempts to save as many people as he can. At the docks, crime lord Victor Drath's men, led by Dutch, attempt to steal a canister of newtronium. Rodimus and Ultra Magnus stop them; however, Dutch shoots the canister which explodes in Rodimus's hands, allowing the criminals to escape in their flying car.
Tired of the Autobots interfering with his operations, Drath contacts the mysterious Old Snake who apparently ran some kind of terrorist organization in the past. Drath purchases Old Snake's assistance and technology, setting up a laboratory at his home. Lured to the laboratory, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, Arcee and Springer are trapped and their minds transferred into newly created synthoid human bodies. While the human Autobots are taken away to be disposed at the junk yard, Snake suggests that Drath can make use of the Autobots' former robot bodies.
"What? Huh?"
"Nevermind."
The four Autobots manage to escape from the crusher in the junk yard before they're pulverised. They find clothing in a nearby building and swiftly realise what has happened. They split up—Magnus and Arcee decide to attempt to contact Autobot City while Rodimus and Springer go after Drath. Once the pair reaches Drath's house, Rodimus attempts to draw the guards away, but is wounded. He is given refuge by Drath's girlfriend Michelle. Springer spots Drath's men taking the Autobots' robot bodies for a test drive, taking the opportunity to rob a jewellery store. He is offers to help operate his old body, claiming that he has experience with heavy machinery, and gains the thugs' confidence.
Meanwhile Arcee and Ultra Magnus are having no luck contacting the police chief they'd worked with after the earlier bombings. They notice a nearby warehouse is owned by Drath and break in, discovering it's full of weapons. Unfortunately Arcee trips a silent alarm, and they're interrupted by thugs driving their old bodies. Magnus threatens them with a grenade, giving Arcee time to escape on a stolen motorcycle, but he is captured by Dutch a short time later.
Rodimus shares breakfast with Michelle, who confides that she knows who he is, but will help him get into Drath's house. Arcee makes it to Autobot City, but the human security guards don't believe her story and instead place her in detention. Rodimus and Michelle enter Drath's home... only for Drath's men to spring the trap which Michelle has lured him into. Drath tells Rodimus that Snake has come up with a new plan — load the Autobots' robot bodies with explosives and use them to blow up Autobot City. Springer discovers the plan as well, when he drives his robot body to pick up the explosives. He and Ultra Magnus liberate both his old body, though it is damaged in the escape. The three remaining Autobot forms are dispatched for Autobot City.
Rodimus manages to get free of the goons and take down Drath himself. Drath gloats that Autobot City is still doomed. Indeed, Drath's thugs are nearing the city in the three purloined Autobot forms. Springer and Ultra Magnus fly Springer's robot form to catch up with the other three Autobots en route to Metroplex. Knowing that the Autobots in the city won't realize three Trojan horses are coming until it's too late, Ultra Magnus tells Springer to attack the city himself. Their firing on Metroplex alerts the inhabitants, and Blaster has time to activate the city’s defenses and waylay the oncoming Autobots.
Later, after the Autobots have put together the pieces, Perceptor rigs the equipment at Drath's former hideout and transfers Rodimus Prime and the other's minds back to their rightful place. When asked about their adventure, Rodimus gives extra consideration to Michelle as she's led away along with Drath's other men. Meanwhile, safely away, Old Snake muses to himself how they just don't make terrorists like they used to. He also tries to yell out the rallying cry of his former organization but breaks down into coughing, so it's absolutely impossible to tell what group he used to run.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Humans |
|---|---|
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Quotes
"Yer 'trash' got up an' took a hike before I could squash 'em!"
- —Junkyard goon
Victor Drath: "Does that technology still exist, Snake? Is it for sale?"
"Old Snake": "This is the world, Mr. Drath. Everything is for sale."
- —Often from toy companies!
"The Path to True Humanity! Only $4.95, tax deductible!"
[Springer shoves him aside]
"Sorry, pal, I'm a robot at heart. ...Terrific. I already need a shave."
- —Street proselytizer and humanized Springer
Springer: "Need a hand? I, uh...operate heavy equipment.
Goon #1: Uh...yeah.
Goon #2: But dere's only room for two in here!
[#1 boots #2 out the hatch]
Goon #1: Yeah! Yer right!
- —Springer gets a lift from his own body.
"Don't think for a moment that I haven't the nerve to use this—I have!"
- —Even humanized, Ultra Magnus is a badass.
"What's this?"
"It's called breakfast, dummy."
"Mph. Smells better than it tastes."
- —Humanized Rodimus discovers coffee, courtesy of Michelle
"Snake pointed out to me a problem with eliminating only the four of you...namely, an entire city of Autobots who might be tempted to vengeance. I believe in solutions, not problems. You can watch the destruction of Metroplex before you die."
- —Victor Drath rubs Rodimus's nose in it.
"Well, did you enjoy your sojourn, Rodimus?"
"Maybe a little too much, Perceptor."
- —Perceptor innocently asks a very loaded question of Rodimus, as the camera pointedly zooms in on Michelle.
"Poor Mr. Drath. Not quite smart enough, were you? They simply don't make terrorists like they used to! COOOOOBRA-ha-*hackcoughcoughcough*"
- —"Old Snake" gets away scot-free.
Notes
In general, this episode is really rushed, storywise. Scenes are raced through at a pretty breakneck pace, and on the whole, there's a tremendous sense of the episode having to hold back from actually doing anything with the potential-laden concept of the Autobots becoming human. Many of the ideas in the episode only seem half-developed, and what few subtleties do manage to break through the constant hurtle towards the final scene are often blunted by the complete lack of even just a reflective second or two to let them sink in. The episode really cries out to be a two-parter, which is a real shame, since the annotations for the episode included amongst the original documentation featured on Metrodome's DVDs suggest that the production staff were really excited and enthusiastic about it.
- While not an error, since the reason for it is clear enough, it is a fun coincidence that once human, our four heroes find overalls to wear that perfectly match their former bodies' color schemes. It was also convenient for the new synthoid bodies to form complete with tee shirts and pants. This is a children’s show, you know.
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- The humanized Autobots' synthoid bodies are much stronger than humans are. For example, during their escape from the junkyard, synthoid Rodimus is able to break through padlocked metal doors, an impossible feat for a human. In another example, humanized Ultra Magnus and Arcee push a container which is taller and heavier than they are and jump on it to penetrate into Drath's warehouse.
- Michelle’s motivation is a little murky. She seems genuinely upset when the Autobots are supposedly killed by Drath, and later she saves Rodimus from his pursuers—yet later, she happily turns him over to Drath. Was she actually attracted to Rodimus and changed her mind, or was she just luring him into a trap all along? If she was working for Drath from the get-go, why didn’t she just let his men capture him when they asked for him earlier? It couldn’t have been because she wanted to snuggle with Rodimus that night, could it? This is a children’s show, you know.
- Also, the Autobots adapt to being human REALLY easily. Other than Springer needing a shave, there’s very little attention paid to the new problems with suddenly being biological. Shouldn’t the Autobots have problems understanding such concepts as going to the bathroom or breathing? Then again, that stuff veers into uncomfortable territory. This is a children’s show after all.
- In hindsight, just what was Victor Drath’s plan with the Autobots? He obviously has no trouble capturing the Autobots on his own, but purchased the synthoid equipment and went through all the trouble to set it up anyway to transfer the Autobots' minds into human bodies which he would simply dispose of. He also is going to take their former robot bodies and also simply dispose of them. It’s Ol’ Snake that gives him the idea actually to use the robot bodies. Why couldn’t he just capture the Autobots and simply dispose of them intact? Then again, maybe that’s overthinking it. This is a...well, you know.
Animation or technical glitches
- Outdated animation models end up being used frequently in this episode. Most notable is Arcee's, especially since her shoulder-thingies change orientation and her head changes shape several times. (The sub-par animation makes her look even worse.)
- During the rescue at the start, Springer, in helicopter mode, somehow catches a falling human on his nose, despite the fact the human would have to pass through his spinning rotors.
- As the humanized Autobots plan their first move, Magnus's voice comes out of Rodimus's mouth.
- There are a few instances when the backgrounds switch from day to night to day again.
- Despite being human, there are occasions when the Autobots' voices are still synthesized to sound robotic.
- As Springer and Magnus escape, Springer's body converts from car to helicopter without the transforming sound, or even any visible transformation sequence.
- When Blaster sees the first three Autobots approaching Autobot City, Springer is shown instead of Arcee.
- As Blaster observes Springer opening fire on Autobot City, the laser beams are coming right out of the screen.
- As the city transforms, the sky randomly switches from day to night and back.
- Perceptor vanishes from the scene as the Autobots leave Drath's house, replaced by Magnus and Springer.
- One scene has Ultra Magus and Rodimus Prime next to each other transforming into robot mode. They both leave their trailers sitting behind them. With Rodimus, this is unusual for the cartoon but toy accurate. However, this was a missed opportunity for an appearance by Ultra Magnus's inner robot since he transformed wearing his trailer armor anyway.
Continuity errors
- As the vehicle modes of Springer and Rodimus pull up to Drath's warehouse, Rodimus's alt-mode changes from his post-Matrix form in one scene to his pre-Matrix form as it parks, but then is back to post-Matrix form when he attacks Springer. Speaking of which, where is the Matrix during all this body-switching anyway?
- Not an error per se, but it seems perhaps too convenient that the Autobot bodies have controls to allow a human pilot to control them fully, even being able to trigger the transformation and control the robot form.
Transformers references
- This episode, along with "Forever Is a Long Time Coming" and "Madman's Paradise", is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons. In fact, this episode marks the only time in the G1 cartoon where all of the antagonists are human (or humanoid).
- This episode might answer a question Bumblebee asked at the end of the Season 2 episode "Autobot Spike" about what would happen if an Autobot's mind were placed in a human's body.
Japanese version
- Cut: The scene where the informant tells Victor Drath that Old Snake is down the street pacing back and forth, then gets punched in the face as payment, was cut for time.
Trivia
- Rodimus totally gets some in this episode. Wow.
- This episode uses a number of common cartoon sound effects for helicopter rotors and laser beams that had not been heard on Transformers before...but which were very common on its contemporary competitor, Challenge of the GoBots.
- In Japan, this episode was very heavily promoted in the pages of TV Magazine, featuring two pieces of unique promotional art by Ban Magami across two separate issues (a rarity for episode promos). Oddly, neither promo seemed to describe the contents of the episode accurately. The May 1987 issue boasted a "special news" emblem, indicating its importance over other episodes promoted that issue. The blurb describing the episode, then tantalized children with the reveal that Cobra Commander, the archenemy of Duke and G.I. Joe, would be leading his Cobra army in a fight against the Autobots. The June 1987 issue continued this misinformation campaign, even going so far as to feature a full-page promo of the episode with artwork depicting "Snake" ominously leading a number of Cobra Rattlers and F.A.N.G.s. Whoever wrote the promotional summaries and told Magami what to draw either hadn't actually watched the episode or was just flat-out lying about its contents in order to snooker a larger audience with false claims of massive Autobot vs. Cobra action. Of course, it's also possible that the promos were penned with only an outdated story summary to work with, a la their promo artwork for "Starscream's Ghost" mistakenly featuring Blitzwing instead of Octane.
- This episode was lampooned at BotCon 2005's MSTF presentation, as part of a "theme show" where all of the Transformers episodes featured had (sometimes really tenuous) ties to G.I. Joe. Because this was the first year of Fun Publications' take on BotCon, and they run the Joe convention, you see.
- The "NYPD" markings on the police car suggest that the newtronium theft takes place in a futuristic New York.
- For some reason, human Arcee doesn't look like Princess Leia. Even her hair is different.
Home video releases
- VHS
1992 — Transformers — Only Human (Tempo Kids Club)
- Laserdisc
1999 — The Transformers: 2010 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
- DVD
2001 — The Transformers: 2010 — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — The Original Transformers — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers — Season 3 and Season 4 (Metrodome)
2004 — Transformers — Collection 5: Series 3.2 (Madman Entertainment)
2006 — Transformers — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome)
2007 — The Transformers — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers — Season's Three & Four [sic] (Metrodome)
2009 — The Transformers — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — The Transformers — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)
2010 — The Transformers — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)
