Showdown (Cybertron)
| The name or term "Showdown" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Showdown (disambiguation). |
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 The great-grandmother of all brofists. | |||||||||
| "Showdown" (Ōi naru Yabō no Hate) "The Extremities of a Great Ambition" | |||||||||
| Production company | TV Aichi, We've, Tōkyū Agency | ||||||||
| Airdate | November 26, 2005 (Japanese) September 22, 2006 | ||||||||
| Writer | Gyō Yamatoya | ||||||||
| Director | Naotaka Hayashi | ||||||||
| Animation studio | GONZO | ||||||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity | ||||||||
Galvatron and Starscream clash for control of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys, and the Autobots are caught in the middle.
Synopsis
On the lowest level of Gigantion, Starscream hauls his battered body out of the lake into which Landmine hurled him. His power levels low, Starscream focuses on the images of Optimus Prime, Galvatron and Primus within his mind, and his determination galvanizes him.
Within the Lemuria starship, the assembled Autobots prepare to add the fourth and final Cyber Planet Key to the Omega Lock. The heroes are on their toes, as they are by now well aware that adding a Key to the Lock is bound to have an unusual effect...and indeed, this time is no different, as the Omega Lock shoots out a beam of energy that powers up the starship they are standing in. Its systems reboot, deactivating the security systems on Gigantion that prevent warping and causing the planet's multiple layers to split open, revealing a clear passage to the world's surface. A space bridge opens in the sky over the planet, allowing a communication from Colonel Franklin to reach the team. Alas, he does not have good news: the black hole's influence is spreading throughout the galaxy despite Primus's efforts, with the Jungle Planet in particular danger. Scourge chooses this moment to appear before the Autobots, wishing to offer his thanks to Optimus Prime for all that he has taught him. Having seen the images of Jungle Planet, Scourge realizes he can neglect his homeworld no longer, and with Snarl by his side once again, the two old friends return there to do what they can.
The Autobots are preparing to follow their beastly comrades to the surface when Galvatron makes a sudden appearance. Bringing all his deadly powers to bear, he swiftly blasts his way through the Autobots and purloins the Omega Lock. However, as he makes a break for the opening in the sky, Starscream appears in his path, and demands that he hand over the Lock and Keys. The two Decepticons lecture each other on the nature of power, and a ferocious battle breaks out between the two, which the Autobots are prevented from interfering in by the appearance by Sideways and Soundwave. The other Decepticons soon arrive to watch (and about what to do and who to cheer for), while the Gigantions down below shield the humans from falling debris.
The battle between Megatron and Starscream takes another strange turn when Starscream reveals that his absorption of the power of Primus has given him the ability to increase the mass of his body at will. Eventually, the fight carries the two combatants to the surface of the planet, where they each unleash the fullest extent of their power. Pulsating with inconceivable amounts of energon, the two Decepticons face off, the interaction of their energon auras threatening an explosion powerful enough to destroy a planet. The Autobots cut their losses and scramble for cover, while Sideways and Soundwave resolve to snatch the Omega Lock from the two battling 'bots before it too is destroyed by the impending blast. Unfortunately, they move too slowly: Megatron and Starscream unleash their final attacks, and the collision of forces yields an explosion visible from space, ripping a giant hole in the planet, and consuming them and the two Planet X agents.
As the Autobots emerge from their cover, Starscream, Sideways and Soundwave are nowhere to be seen...but Galvatron has survived, and with the Omega Lock, he escapes through the space bridge! Unable to do anything, the Autobots watch as the other Decepticons follow him, and Vector Prime speculates that Starscream and the Planet Xers were not destroyed, but rather, blasted into another dimension. As everyone looks up at the sky, however, the space bridge starts to disintegrate, leaving the Autobots and their human allies with no means to return to their home universe...
And, high above the planet, floating on the solar winds... Starscream's crown drifts in the cosmic night...
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Spare me your lectures! You know nothing of power!"
"Oh?"
"Do you know what real power is?"
"Get to the point."
"True power...is simple determination! Making the impossible possible through sheer FORCE OF WILL! *releases a wave of force that makes Galvatron flinch and knocks the Autobots out of the sky* I have risked everything in pursuit of this power! I have given myself over to it, body and spark! Now witness...the power of one who has SACRIFICED EVERYTHING!"
"Ha! If you believe that... then you're a bigger fool than I thought! Witness the power of one who risks NOTHING!"
"SO BE IT!"
- —Starscream and Galvatron, with the former revealing himself as a supporter of BURNING JUSTICE.
"Enough magic tricks! Time for some hardware!"
- -Galvatron, displaying his hatred of BURNING JUSTICE (or Starscream).
"From what I hear, they're pretty lame as fighters! Maybe they want to challenge us to a dance competition, or a poetry slam!"
"And maybe you ought to leave the comedy to the professionals!"
- —Jetfire's humor escapes Sideways.
"Thus endeth the reign of Galvatron!"
"How can this be... am I... to be defeated... by Starscream?!"
- —Starscream forces Galvatron to contemplate the unthinkable.
"You see, Starscream, when you risk everything in the pursuit of power, you could wind up with nothing. That's why I never risk anything."
- -Galvatron on Starscream's idea of power.
Notes
Differences with Galaxy Force
- Galaxy Force includes a "previously on" segment summarizing the events of "Optimus".
- As ever, Cybertron adds the Omega Frequency when relevant.
- Galaxy Force doesn't bother to explain why Gigantion has a defense field that stops warping. Cybertron notes that it was a security measure added after the war with Planet X.
- For the first time in a while, Galvatron and Starscream break out "energy aura" as they fight, which Galaxy Force treats as perfectly normal. Cybertron has previously offered the explanation that the characters are surging with energon, and while it doesn't repeat it here, it does take another sharp dig at the ridiculousness of the whole affair by having Galvatron angrily announce "Enough magic tricks!"
- On that note, Starscream seems to be a walking spokesbot for BURNING JUSTICE, as he describes true power as being a matter of determination and force of will. He also goes from beaten and blackened to mint-condition and fighting fit at the beginning of the episode with a similar (unexplained) "aura".
- Also in Galaxy Force, rather than berating Starcream's opinion about the nature of power, Galvatron simply notes that he is victorious. He does, however, offer Starscream some respect by noting Starscream put up a magnificent fight. His choice of words also imply he suspects they were so similar in power he simply got lucky (his exact words being 'Doyara watashi no kachi da, Starscream'/ 'Somehow it is my victory, Starscream).
- In Cybertron, Ransack and Crumplezone argue with Thunderblast about her flighty loyalties; in Galaxy Force, she says they should help Galvatron in the battle, and they retort that she's not helping either. Her worrying who to cheer for right afterward, though, is the same in both.
- Cybertron sees Soundwave suggest fleeing, only for Sideways to insist they get the Omega Lock. Seconds later, Sideways tells Soundwave to save himself, but Soundwave refuses to abandon him. In Galaxy Force, there's none of this disagreement or camaraderie; they both want to get the Lock, and neither says a word against the other.
Transformers references
- As Starscream clambers from the lake, he groans "I...still...function...", a quote from Generation 1 Megatron in The Transformers: The Movie.
- Vector Prime discovered that warping was not possible on Gigantion back in "Giant". This plot point seems to have served absolutely no story purpose other than to prolong the Transformers' time on the Giant Planet.
- Several characters note that the energy being released by Starscream and Galvatron is enough to level a small planet. Similar observations were made the last time the supercharged Decepticons went at it, but this time, we get to see the effects of the blast (thankfully, Gigantion does not qualify as "a small planet").
Real-world references
- Soundwave calls Optimus Prime a "space cowboy", after the song of the same name by the Steve Miller Band.
Trivia
- Sam Vincent stands in for Louis Chirillo as the voice of Ransack in this episode.
- When the Decepticons all do a wild take at the sight of Megatron and Starscream battling, we get to see what's under Crumplezone's mouthplate!
- Technically, neither Starscream or Galvatron won or lost this fight, as it ended in a draw. Starscream was (somehow) sucked into another dimension and was unable to continue the fight. Had Starscream been able to continue the fight, it probably could've gone either way—although it DID look like Galvatron was on the ropes for a while...
Home video releases
- DVD
2006 — Transformers: Galaxy Force — Vol. 12 (Victor Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2008 — Transformers: Cybertron — The Ultimate Collection (Paramount)
