The Rebirth, Part 3
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 "Uh, I know this was Megatron's usual line, but...RETREAT!" | ||||||
| "The Rebirth, Part 3" | ||||||
| Production code | 6701-3 | |||||
| Production company | Sunbow Productions | |||||
| Airdate | November 11, 1987 | |||||
| Written by | David Wise | |||||
| Animation studio | AKOM | |||||
| Continuity | Generation 1 cartoon continuity | |||||
The battle for the Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber comes to an end.
- Japanese title: 銀河最大の危機 (Ginga saidai no kiki, "The Biggest Crisis of the Galaxy")
- German title: "Die Wiedergeburt, Teil 3" ("The Rebirth, Part 3")
Synopsis
With the arrival of Scorponok, the Autobots scatter, but Arcee and Daniel are captured. As the Decepticons depart in Scorponok, Optimus Prime orders the Autobots to move out. However, Spike insists on letting him and Cerebros remain behind. Though Optimus believes that Spike is their only hope if Galvatron should activate the Plasma Energy Chamber, he relents.
On Cybertron, Ultra Magnus's forces are fighting off the Decepticons, but the tide is turned when the Headmasters and Targetmasters arrive, allowing Galvatron to claim victory. Scourge and Cyclonus explain what happened on Nebulos, but Galvatron is so disgusted that he's on the verge of reducing all of them to scrap. However, Zarak explains that he has the Key, and has control over Scorponok. Though still disgusted, Galvatron agrees to at least talk, while ordering a new planetary engine he installed on Cybertron to be activated. They prepare to torture Daniel, but Arcee gives them the Key.
Heading for Cybertron, Optimus receives a vision from the spirit of Alpha Trion, telling the Autobot leader to preserve the key at all costs. However, Hot Rod and Kup inform Prime that Cybertron has disappeared. Realizing Galvatron's intentions, Optimus orders the shuttle to head for Earth. On Cybertron, which has entered the Sol system, Galvatron reveals that he intends to activate the Plasma Energy Chamber, and let the energy spread out and cause the sun to nova, destroying Earth and Cybertron. On Nebulos, Spike and Cerebros locate the Hive's city, and begin using long-abandoned controls to begin modifying the city.
Landing on Cybertron, the Autobots discover that their comrades have had their power packs removed, and their lives will end if they do not get immediate energon. The Nebulans think that they should just destroy the Key, lest the released energy reach Nebulos. However, Prime remains adamant, explaining that Vector Sigma has a plan. Unwilling to take the risk, the Nebulans simply abandon the Autobots and head to destroy the key, pursued by the weaponless and headless Autobots. However, they are attacked by the Decepticons, who are preparing to leave. Just then, Spike and Cerebros arrive in the Hive's converted city, which transforms into Fortress Maximus, with Spike and Cerebros as its components. Fort Max engages Scorponok, causing the Decepticons and the Hive to flee. Spike and the Nebulans deactivate the Plasma Energy Chamber, but not before it sends a wave of energy into the sun.
Working quickly, Spike and the Nebulans begin preparing Vector Sigma to absorb the excess solar energy. Pumping it straight into the supercomputer, it directs the energy into Cybertron's storage capacitors, resulting in the complete revitalization of Cybertron. As Cerebros reactivates, he begs Spike to deactivate him, no longer wishing to endure the Great War. However, Spike tells him that Cybertron has been revitalized. Optimus declares that the Headmasters and Targetmasters are to become the guardians of Nebulos, and to destroy the Hive's machines. When this is done, Cerebros will become the guardian of Nebulos, and live in peace.
However, Scorponok survived the destruction, and it is obvious that Galvatron and Zarak do not see eye to eye. Galvatron plans to raid hundreds of worlds and destroy Cybertron, then conquer the universe, but Zarak doubts that Galvatron will be the ruler of the galaxy. As the would-be tyrants bicker, Nebulos stands free, while Cybertron begins a second Golden Age under the rule of Optimus Prime and the Autobots.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
Quotes
"Decepticons... prepare to face... Fortress Maximus!"
- —Fortress Maximus speaking for the first and only time in Generation 1—with a voice reminiscent of Patrick Allen.
"And we've got to get this oversized shopping center in the air. Now!"
- —Galvatron, in reference to Scorponok's city mode.
"The Golden Age of Cybertron has come again, Cerebros. Thanks to you and Spike. You don't have to fight anymore."
- —Optimus Prime
"It's a miracle we finally got this flying junkpile of yours stablized."
"You were the idiot who opened the Plasma Energy Chamber, Galvatron."
"SILENCE! There's much to do. We will attack other planets, we will suck them dry, we will rebuild a planet a hundred times more powerful than Cybertron! And I will rule the galaxy!"
"Who will rule the galaxy?"
"MEE! It is my destiny!"
"We shall see, Galvatron. We shall see..."
- —Galvatron and Zarak close the series.
Notes
Animation or technical glitches
- In numerous surface shots, Cybertron is incredibly small, with the curve of the planet's surface visible in the same shot as the characters.
- When Optimus Prime sees Alpha Trion holding the key to the plasma energy chamber, the key changes shape while he is holding it; it's edged when he's holding it normally and changes into a triangle when he's holding it up.
- When Prime's shuttle lands on Cybertron, Earth looms in the background. However, the animation cell of the planet has been laid over a series of background buildings instead of behind them, giving the impression that Earth and Cybertron have collided.
- When Cyclonus captures Optimus and the others, Vortex is miscolored as Blades.
- As Galvatron observes the Autobots' escape from Scorponok, Optimus' boots are completely white.
- When Spike turns to tell the Nebulons to remove their exo-suits, Highbrow and Brainstorm in their (human sized) robot modes can be seen right behind him. According to Spike, it's supposed to be Gort and Arcana, who correctly appear in the next scene.
- As the Autobots celebrate their victory, Bumblebee shows up. Right next to Goldbug.
- When Daniel transforms into Arcee's head at the end of the episode, he's still wearing his exosuit in the shot where he's inside her head.
- In the final scene on Nebulos, the Headmasters are Optimus's size.
Continuity errors
- Why did Galvatron get the Combaticons to construct the rocket engine when he has the Constructicons?
- Spike is able to construct a complex, super powerful Transformer single-handedly out of an entire city using alien technology in what may be no more than mere hours. This may be normal for Transformers to do, but Spike...?
- When Galvatron thinks he's won, Ultra Magnus and the Protectobots attack... including First Aid, who is wielding a gun and firing away with the rest of them. It's one of many times that First Aid has been shown to fight, despite stating in "The Ultimate Weapon" that he doesn't believe in fighting and literally won't raise a weapon to save his life.
- Chromedome claims that the Autobot Headmasters are "stuck being vehicles without their heads", yet Hardhead was seen moving around and firing his Shatterblasters in dual wield fashion(!) in the previous episode for some time after Duros disconnected. Perhaps the automatic transformation into vehicle mode following a Headmaster pilot's disconnection can be delayed somewhat?
- Shouldn't Cybertron's close proximity to Earth cause the planet to tear itself apart, as it did in "The Ultimate Doom"? Prime seems blissfully unconcerned about it.
- Galvatron acts like the 10-minute delay he sets on the plasma energy chamber will give him and the Decepticons time to escape from the destruction of the entire solar system. They even try to get into Scorponok so they can fly away. Scorponok was never said to have any kind of warp-factor flight, and the nearest known warp gate was around Pluto.
Continuity notes
- Apparently, Cerebros can't see in his alternate mode, given his dialogue exchange with Spike at the end of the episode. His alternate mode, by the by, is basically a tiny version of Fort Max's city mode.
Real-world references
- The Nebulans reverse the polarity of Galvatron's rocket thruster, a reference to the "reverse the polarity of the neutron flow" catchphrase from Doctor Who.[1]
- Its not the only time someone decided to turn Cybertron into a mobile starship.
Trivia
- This is the final episode of the original cartoon.
- Had The Rebirth been the five-parter that was originally intended, the show would have ended with 100 episodes.
Home video releases
- VHS
1987 — Transformers — Die Wiedergeburt (Dritter Teil) (Polyband) — German audio only.
1988 — Transformers — Headmasters: The Rebirth (Parts, 1, 2 & 3) (Tempo Video)
1989 — Transformers — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video)
1991 — Transformers — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video)
1998 — The Transformers: Generation 2 — Rebirth: The Movie (Behaviour Entertainment)
2001 — The Original Transformers — Heroes: The Rebirth (Rhino Entertainment)
- Laserdisc
1996 — Transformers: The Headmasters Set (Takara) — Japanese audio only.
1999 — The Transformers: 2010 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio.
- DVD
2001 — The Transformers: 2010 — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio.
2001 — The Original Transformers — Heroes: The Rebirth (Rhino Entertainment)
2002 — Transformers — The Rebirth: Parts 1-3 (Sony Wonder)
2004 — The Original Transformers — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers — Season 3 and Season 4 (Metrodome)
2005 — Transformers — Collection 6: Series 4 (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)
