Nemesis Prime (episode)
| The name or term "Nemesis Prime" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Nemesis Prime (disambiguation). |
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 The first person to suggest a race gets banned. | ||||||
| "Nemesis Prime" | ||||||
| Production company | Hasbro Studios | |||||
| Airdate | April 7, 2012 | |||||
| Written by | David McDermott | |||||
| Directed by | Todd Waterman | |||||
| Animation studio | Polygon Pictures | |||||
When Optimus Prime appears to attack Agent Fowler, the Autobots discover MECH's ultimate plan.
Synopsis
Agent Fowler drives out of a military base, listening to a few tunes, when a semi truck begins to tailgate him too close for comfort. He realizes that it's more than a case of road rage when the truck rams him. Fowler notices a familiar symbol on his attacker's grille-the Autobot symbol. He contacts the Autobot base, where Optimus Prime is not present. The apparent Optimus Prime continues to attack, and as Fowler comes upon a bridge, he pushes his car through the divider, where it hangs precariously. The Autobots receive his message and bridge in, causing Prime to flee and Arcee to give chase. Bumblebee catches Fowler's car as it falls, but the bumper detaches, and Bulkhead catches it before it hits the ground. Arcee comes upon Optimus, but is knocked out when he runs her over.
The next thing she knows, she's back at base, being checked up on. Ratchet doubts Arcee's assertion that Optimus ran her down, and the big 'bot arrives at base. The team goes on guard, but as Optimus offers proof that he's been at an underground energon site, the team stands down.
The other "Optimus" drives full speed into Alden Military Base, wrecking helicopters and prompting chase until he stops. As soldiers surround him and open the door to find no driver, he transforms, and aims a weapon at them. Speaking in Prime's own voice, the double clearly announces himself as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, before laying waste to the base around him. The other Prime tears through lines of soldiers, prompting Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead to bridge to his position. The fake retreats, and arriving military helicopters fire on the Autobots. They retreat to base.
Fowler fields a call asking about the attack, and receives the news that all Transformers, regardless of allegiance, are to be shot on sight. The team realizes that MECH has finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians, inside and out, using human-made parts after studying Transformer anatomy so carefully.
Meanwhile, the false Prime arrives at a MECH bunker, where it is revealed that the robot is a remotely operated drone unit, with Silas in the control seat, expressing extreme satisfaction at the test run.
In attempting to locate the MECH base, Optimus notes that, unlike them, the duplicate (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" by Miko) must rely on its vehicle mode to travel, having no access to a GroundBridge. This places its lair within driving distance of both incidents, giving a range for them to search. The 'bots fan out, and Bumblebee comes upon a large complex. Optimus and the rest plan to rendezvous at his position. He enters, while Silas watches him. He powers up Nemesis Prime, and sends it out. Bumblebee is briefly fooled by the fake, until Silas slips and reveals he cannot understand Bumblebee's speech. The scout attacks but is quickly overpowered by the more imposing robot.
The rest of the Autobots enter the compound, cautious of any lookalikes. Bulkhead and Arcee are both taken out individually, leaving Optimus for the final showdown with his doppelganger.
At base, Ratchet attempts to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. He does, and Fowler insists on bridging in, citing that he is the one best equipped to deal with the "human element".
Nemesis squares off against Optimus, showing equal strength and agility. Fowler bridges in, and makes for the control bunker as the two Primes continue to spar. Nemesis catches Optimus, and shoves its blade into the Autobot leader. Silas gloats, commenting that he cannot feel pain through the robot, unlike his opponent, and revealing his intentions to build an army of these soldiers, when Fowler enters. They spar as well, and Fowler falls to Silas' superior hand-to-hand combat skills, only to reveal that he was just buying time for Optimus to beat the now-directionless copy. The real Prime dominates Nemesis, and their fight collapses the ceiling of the bunker, sending Silas's creation and a ton of rubble crashing down on top of him, putting Nemesis Prime out of commission in the process.
Optimus meditates on MECH's seemingly impaired functionality, now that it lacks a leader. However, Fowler brings him troubling news — in the pile of wreckage, no body was found.
Elsewhere, a group of MECH scientists monitor Silas' condition, noting that his injuries are terminal by normal standards — but MECH is anything but, as they have the body of Breakdown all wired up for unknown yet ominous purposes.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Yes, that's it. Follow the light."
"Wait, what? Not the best choice of words, Ratchet."
- —Ratchet and Arcee
"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and I bring you this message."
- —Nemesis Prime steals one of Optimus's catchphrases.
"And say "hello" to Nemesis Prime."
- -Miko is the only first person ever name and mention Nemesis Prime in the episode
"Be on your guard. My double could be anywhere."
*Bumblebee beeps a reply*
"I'm sorry. What?"
- —Nemesis Prime tries and fails to fool Bumblebee.
"The internal damage to his organs is massive, and beyond the scope of conventional medicine. Fortunately for our leader, MECH is anything but conventional."
- —MECH Surgeon on Silas's future.
Notes
Animation and technical errors
- When the soldiers confront Nemesis Prime at the military base, right when one says "This is a restricted area!", one of the soldiers is running but not moving in any direction; running in place.
- As Nemesis Prime begins to climb the tower, his battle-mask appears to retract to reveal a face.
- Before Optimus Prime climbs the tower, you can't hear his blaster turn back into his hand.
- Despite being ordered by Optimus to go covert, Arcee does not have her holographic driver on when in her motorcycle form.
- Due to model reuse, Fowler's car has the same license plate number as June Darby's.
- Once again - and like in most TV shows and movies - Fowler's car spins out of control with the slightest touch to his bumper.
- After calling the Autobots to ask about Optimus, Fowler is seen approaching a bridge at least a half mile away. But, when the camera shifts, it shows him already on the bridge.
Physics errors
- Bulkhead is somehow able to fall faster than Fowler's car, despite dropping from the bridge later than it.
Continuity notes
- MECH has Breakdown's reassembled remains, which they collected after Airachnid killed him in "Crossfire".
- Ratchet recalls MECH's study of Breakdown in "Operation: Breakdown".
- Optimus recalls the theft of Starscream's T-Cog, which they learned about in "Crossfire" after it happened in "Operation Bumblebee, Part 2".
- Silas took a scan of Optimus at the end of "Convoy", which is evidently how he was able to produce a nearly-identical copy of him in this episode.
- Optimus's right blade is repaired at last since the events in "One Shall Fall".
Transformers references
- Fowler listens to an instrumental version of "The Touch" on his car radio.
- Miko and Ratchet refer to the false Optimus Prime as "Nemesis Prime", a name first established in Armada as indicating an evil version of Optimus Prime and used a number of times since.
Real-world references
- The opening scene with Fowler references Steven Spielberg's 1971 film Duel, starring an evil truck.
Trivia
- Silas is a former member of the Special Tactics branch of the military, while Fowler is an ex-Army Ranger.
- Nemesis Prime's transformation uses a modified version of the regular transformation sound effect, which makes it sound as if the transformation is not as smooth as that of an actual Cybertronian.
- Yeah, a mid-sized car can totally break through a concrete barrier.
