Darkest Hour (episode)

The name or term "Darkest Hour" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Darkest Hour (disambiguation).

« Transformers: Prime ep 52
"Darkest Hour"
Production company	Hasbro Studios
Airdate	November 2, 2012
Written by	Steven Melching
Directed by	Vinton Heuck
Animation studio	Polygon Pictures

Megatron's plans force Optimus to make a risky decision that could have inescapable consequences for the entire Autobot team.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Bulkhead (1) Smokescreen (2) Bumblebee (3) Arcee (4) Optimus Prime (5) Ratchet (14) Wheeljack (18)	Starscream (6) Soundwave (9) Knock Out (10) Megatron (12) Vehicons (13) Insecticons (17)	Jack Darby (7) Raf Esquivel (8) Miko Nakadai (11) June Darby (15) William Fowler (16)

Notes

Animation and technical errors

• As in previous episodes, Megatron's jet mode retains the fusion cannon even though he no longer has it. Taking it a step further, his transformation appears unaffected by the absence of his right arm.

Continuity notes

• Megatron remembers that Jack was entrusted with the Matrix of Leadership back in "Orion Pax, Part 3".
• Ratchet vaguely references the events of "Hurt" when expressing surprise at Wheeljack's arrival. This also seems to be the reason why no one enlisted his aid for the events of the previous episode.

Transformers references

• "Darkest hour", yet again.
• Megatron commands his troops to "Transform and rise up!", a phrase coined by the Animated Megatron.
• The red panel Megatron activates on the Omega Lock resembles an energon star.

Real-world references

• The laser used by the Nemesis to destroy the Autobot base is a reference to the city-destroying weapons used by the alien saucers in Independence Day.