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). |
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 WISE FWOM YOUR GWAVE | ||||||
| "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.
Synopsis
Miko: We're so fragged.
Raf: Can I go to the bathroom?
The two groups stand on Cybertron, locked in a face-off. While the Autobots have the Omega Keys, the Decepticons have Jack, Raf and Miko. Megatron orders Starscream to get ready to expose Jack to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere. Though the kids are ready to sacrifice themselves to save the planet, Optimus Prime isn't, and the Autobots throw down their weapons. Bulkhead hands over his key in exchange for Miko, Bumblebee hands over his for Raf, and Megatron insists that as someone who was entrusted with the Matrix of Leadership, Jack is surely worth two keys, so Arcee and Smokescreen are compelled to hand over theirs. The exchange done, a space bridge opens and the Autobots are quickly surrounded by Vehicons.
On Earth, Ratchet gets a call from June Darby, worried as she can't get in touch with Jack. Ratchet, unable to get in touch with Optimus and unaware that the kids are on Cybertron, is more concerned with keeping the comm lines clear, and quickly ends the call.
Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave and Knock out each hold a key, and activate the Omega Lock. At a touch from Megatron, the lock sends out a beam of energy that recreates a nearby ruin, turning it into a pristine building. Though Optimus requests he be allowed to take the humans back to Earth, Megatron announces they'll be safer where they are. He has Starscream open up a space bridge portal over the Omega Lock site, and unleashes a mechaforming beam through it... to Earth, just outside of Jasper, Nevada. A horrified June drops her phone, and the Autobot base's systems go haywire from the energy overload.
Miko wonders aloud if the beam will simply restore Earth, but Optimus says that this won't be the case; the beam will instead cyberform the planet, tuning it into another metallic world, and in the process destroy all indigenous life. Unable to let Earth die, Optimus leaps into action, slicing his way through the guards with his blade and lunging for the Star Saber. Though Megatron tries to respond with the Dark Star Saber, Optimus neatly cleaves the purloined Prime arm off of the Decepticon leader and sends the Dark blade flying, charging the Lock. Starscream gets his face stamped on as he tries to stop Optimus, and the other two Decepticons dive for cover as the Star Saber finds its mark, resulting in a massive explosion.
The cyberforming beam dissipates, and Ratchet's equipment clears up in time to get a transmission from Optimus requesting a space bridge. As the Decepticons pick themselves out of the rubble, the Autobots retreat through back to Earth. Knock Out quips, earning a quick backhand from Starscream, snarling that he needs to attend to their wounded leader. Starscream's ranting at Optimus's actions is cut of by a burst of maniacal laughter from Megatron... "They can run, but they can never again run home!"
Ratchet is aghast as the Autobots return carrying the children, and even more so when they tell him Optimus has destroyed the Omega Lock. He staggers, lamenting that the sheer depth of loss the war has brought has all come to naught, with Cybertron now doomed to forever be a lifeless husk. Smokescreen snaps at Ratchet, claiming it's not his place to question Optimus's battlefield decisions, and Ratchet does not exactly react well to that. The discussion is cut short by a call from an absolutely furious Agent Fowler, suggesting they take a look outside. As the Autobots reach the mountaintop via elevator, they find a huge Cybertronian fortress now stands right on their doorstep. Fowler, landing his helicopter next to them, wonders why they picked Jasper. As the Nemesis arrives, the answer becomes painfully clear: the Decepticons have found the Autobot base.
Megatron, still missing his arm, rallies his air troops with a speech damning Optimus for his actions, and Starscream launches his armada of silver-toned Jet Vehicons, followed by the Insecticon horde. The Autobots retreat into the base, but Fowler jumps back into his helicopter and flies directly through the oncoming Decepticon formations. While he's soon outgunned and being chased by Vehicons, the Jackhammer streaks into view—Wheeljack has come to lend a hand, much to the surprise of the Autobots, since their last parting was not exactly on friendly terms.
Optimus orders the Autobots to abandon base via GroundBridge, each departing to different locations in the USA in the hopes that it will allow them to evade capture easier and regroup. Bumblebee and Raf head out first, then Bulkhead and Miko, then Arcee and Jack. Outside, Fowler avoids more Decepticons only to see the Nemesis moving into position over the Autobot base. At the same time, June is approaching the base by car in search of her son, but is stopped by a low-flying Vehicon. Fowler moves fast, gunning the Decepticon down and pulling June to safety. though Wheeljack has bought the Autobtos time, the numbers are against him, and a pair of seeking missiles from Starscream soon send the Jackhammer plummeting to Earth in a trail of smoke.
Smokescreen having departed on his own, Ratchet and Optimus are the last ones left in the base. Optimus tells Ratchet to go on, while he will make sure the Decepticons can't follow. Realizing the implications, Ratchet sadly takes his leave. Optimus moves to use the Star Saber to destroy the space bridge controls, but at that moment his task is rendered moot as the Nemesis fires a colossal cannon, destroying the Autobot base in a huge explosion.
Megatron and Starscream fly down to the remains, landing on the Autobot insignia. The two gloat over their victory... and not far, all that can be seen of Optimus is his hand sticking out from the burning rubble...
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"I guess we should cancel the welcome home party."
- —Knock Out makes an ill-timed quip.
"Optimus... we needed that."
- —Ratchet expresses his dismay over Optimus's actions.
"Our opportunity to revive Cybertron has been lost, due to the treachery of Optimus Prime. But from our fortress of New Kaon, we will instead seize control of THIS world! Decepticons! Transform and rise up!"
- —Megatron gives his army a motivational speech as the onslaught begins.
"And that's how you wreck a Wrecker!"
- —Starscream bragging as he shoots down Wheeljack's ship.
"I... never imagined it would end like this."
[Heads through the GroundBridge]
"Neither did I, old friend."
- —Ratchet and Optimus Prime on the breaking of Team Prime.
"United we stand, divided they fall."
- —Starscream continues to gloat at what is left of the Autobot base.
Notes
Animation and technical errors
- As in previous episodes, Megatron's jet mode retains the fusion cannon even though he no longer has it.
Continuity errors
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.
- Megatron plans to cyberform Earth.
- Starscream refers to the silver Decepticon flyers in this episode as his armada.
- This isn't the first time an Optimus slices off a Megatron's arm.
Trivia
- A new type of Decepticon flyer debuts, sporting a silver and grey paint job.
- June Darby makes an appearance after a 23-episode absence.
- This is the first time we see a space bridge portal open facing downward and the second time we see a portal open North-South.
- June bought a new car, after her old one was destroyed in "One Shall Rise, Part 1".
- Airachnid was still being held in that stasis pod when the Autobot Base blew up, leaving open the question of her fate.
- Soundwave's tentacle appendages can fire lasers.
- Optimus makes use of his integrated sword for the first time since the arrival of the Star Saber.
