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In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Discuss anything about the Transformers cartoons and comics! You can discuss anything from G1 to Cybertron as well as the comics from Marvel, Dreamwave, IDW and more!

Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby shamone » Sun May 15, 2011 2:16 pm

loving your work here man.

Really brings back memories, please keep it coming
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Sun May 15, 2011 2:48 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
shamone wrote:loving your work here man.

Really brings back memories, please keep it coming


Thank you. :) I'm glad to be getting some response to this.

Anyway...



Today's episode is basically taking two cool things, combining them and through synergy getting something over 9,000 times up to eleven.

SOS Dinobots
We open on the Ark. There's quakes going on. Ironhide thinks it's Decepticons. Natch, actually. Spike locates where they're strongest-is he related to Chip by chance?- and Ironhide uses an arm-mounted radar dish to find out what's there. "My sonadar sensors will sniff it out." His eyes glow yellow... for some reason and his chest screen shows images of dinosaur bones. Heh, taking a page from Soundwave there.

We cut to Sideswipe demonstrating a tech spec ability with a jackhammer in place of his hand and Brawn helping out, too. They find a cavern with lots of bones. "Fells like stone, but they look like the bones of some giant creature?" We get a bit of a paleontology lesson from Spike. And the Autobots are intrigued. I love them learning about Earth.

We cut to a hydroelectric power plant and Soundwave and Reflector spying. Some dad talks about the falls to his son-I hope-and they fly off to the underwater base. Little setup for later. Move along!

We cut to a natural history museum. Spike's taking Hound on a tour. Think he paid for a ticket? "I've never been to a museum." Well, you predate almost all of human history. He passes some punks checking out some exhibit. "That's what I call heavy metal!"

Hound takes holograms of brontosaurus, triceratops and tyrannosaurus rex. And yes, let me get this out of the way. How they're depicted is not in line with modern paleontology. We know. Back at the Ark, Hound shows some holograms of how the 80's saw dinosaurs. "Not very intelligent because of their tiny brains, but extremely powerful." And Wheeljack wishes he had some working for them. Odd tangent... and Ratchet agrees.

"We could build robot versions of those oversize igaunas. If it was okay with Optimus Prime." Prime authorizes it and Huffer complains. All in character. :D We get an actual montage of the building. It's rather cool seeing their building.

At the Decepticon's base, we learn their plan. "A perpetual power source exists which can provide us with enough energy to vanquish the Autobots and control the universe forever." Megs, you knew one oil rig wasn't enough to power Cybertron. You also know Sherman Dam needed a tidal wave's worth of water to fuel energon cubes... Come on, dude. You're losing it.

Starscream mocks him a bit, but is brushed off as Megatron leads his troops into battle. if this was a simple energy raid, then okay. But... he's talking about as if they were seizing a ZPM from Stargate!

Back at the Ark, coolness is revealed as Wheeljack and Ratchet shows off their latest inventions. Wheeljack shows off his ventriloquism as Ratchet speaks with his voice. "Autobots, meet Dinobots." And we see... them. "Grimlock, Slag and Sludge. Huffer mouths off, as is rather consistent with how he's been. "Dinobots, eh? I thought you were supposed to make dinosaurs!" Oh, Huffer. Yours is the one death I won't mourn.

So they transform. They are now robot dinosaurs. This is beyond cool. Prime wonders what they can do, so they shoot out fire-breath and destroy the rubble around the hole. Rather nice effect, too. Then the trouble starts... and the Dinobots go on a rampage. And lemme tell you, the Autobots get their skid plates handed to them. Grimlock takes out Teletraan-One, even. Ho, boy. Bumblebee gets caught in the explosion-with Spike inside. He's good, though. Bumblebee is tiny in Ratchet's hands, too. He taunts Grimlock to lure him away from the remains of Bumblebee as Ratchet gets to work. Trailbreaker uses his force field... and deflects the flame onto Sunstreaker. Smooth.

Prime finally has enough and goes for the kill, but Wheeljack uses his magnetic inducer to stop them. Wheeljack begs for them not to be destroyed, but no go. They're sealed up in the cavern again. We'll get to them... later.

Back at the power plant, the Decepticons attack. The guards are quickly taken out. "You wanna fight us, you germs?" Skywarp is sinisterly backlit, by the way. The guards flee and the Decepticons take over. A scientist contacts the Ark, but no response. It is SOP to contact Autobots now? Interesting. Soundwave releases Ravage and...

Image
There's some nightmare fuel for yah! He uses eye beams to blow the equipment up. And it's over, like that.

We cut to Hound driving along. He's monitoring for SOS's from Decepticon raids. So it is SOP!. "I enjoy it, Spike. It gives me an excuse to do a little Earth-style sightseeing." He then picks up the Decepticon signals and somehow uses it to produce a holo of them at the power plant. He contacts Prime by pressing a button on his stomach.

Prime has a rather cute mike extending from the side of his helmet and entennae from his... antennae. They'll be there in 8,000 astroseconds. The Autobots roll out-except for Bumblebee, who's on guard duty. Ouch! Wheeljack is also left behind, working on... something.

At the power plant, energon cubes are filled and stacked. Megatron is... still thinking of it as endless energy. Megatron is also thinking ahead to the inevitable Autobot attack. Hound and Spike arrive separate from the main group. Prime doesn't detect any activity.

Bluestreak tries a joke. "Maybe Hound's got glitch mice in his databanks again." Oh, the look on Sideswipe, Trailbreaker, Brawn and Sunstreaker is priceless. Then the Decepticons attack from hidden positions! "Autobots, fight back!"

"You're too slow, rusty pants!" Right, Starscream... Bluestreak misses Rumble by a mile. "Nice shooting, if you were aiming for the sky!" Oh, the Autobots get their butts kicked again. Twice in one episode! Megatron hooks his fusion cannon up to the main generators and fires, and in conjunction with Rumble's piledrivers blows apart the cliff the Autobots were standing on. They fall a long distance to the water below.

Bumblebee shows up-and it's addressed he was supposed to stay behind. They drive for the Ark. Megatron says they'll retrieve the Autobots and prepare them for 'permanent dysfunction."

Bumblebee and Spike reach the Ark. Bumblebee's down, but Spike won't give up! Unfortunetely there's not enough Autobots to rescue the others. But... Wheeljack has new memory enhancers for the Dinobots. He 'hopes' that'll make them easier to control. They put them in. "Cross your transistors... or something." The line's saved by the 'or something' at the end.

The Dinobots awaken. "Go, save Autobots friends." And they speak! Slow, halting caveman speak. Grimlocks' head is oddly round. "We do as told... for now." Ho, boy. If that's not foreshadowing I don't know what is!

Back at the plant, the Autobots are chained up with energon chains. There's some miscoloring... but they can be dismissed by the weird light show. And holy slag, Megatron's getting ready to simply shoot the Autobots! He's a genius!!!

Unfortunately, this bit of genre savvy is stopped when who should fly up but the Dinobots.

"Which ones friends?"
"Ones with face like this... I think."
"That good enough for Slag!"

Starscream mocks Megatron. "What are those?" "Scrap metal-once we finish with them!"

And Wheeljack fires a gyro-inhibiter shell... which cripples Megatron. Seriously, orange smoke's belching from his midsection. And of course, you know what Starscreams' gonna do! "Megatron has fallen! I Starscream am now your leader. Decepticons, follow me!" Dude, he's not dead yet and will get better!

What's even worse is the Decepticons do follow him. They attack the Dinobots and get their butts handed to them. Slag fights Thundercracker's fire with fire. Sludge takes down Rumble at his own game. Skywarp's heat-seekers do nothing and Grimlock takes a bite out of him, flinging him into Soundwave. And Megatron's gun mode... attaches to Starscream. Do we have a headdesk icon?!

Wheeljack finds the Autobot's weapons and uses Sideswipe's flare gun to dry them off and Bluestreak's gun to give them an 'instant recharge'. Megatron calls for a retreat.

Bumblebee admits they disobeyed orders, and Wheeljack is ready to accept any punishment, but Spike points out without the DInobots they'd be dead. Prime... sees wisdom.

"Indeed. Sometimes even the wisest of men and machine can be in error." He declares the Dinobots shall remain among them!

Thoughts

What can I say? They're pretty much the coolest thing to a kid right here-dinosaurs and robots mixed into one glorious fusion of awesometastic, as Linkara would put it.

But... what are the Dinobots? We'll see the Transformers have simple, non-sapient or even sentient machines. This naturally makes sense. Not everything can have a Spark chamber laser core. Were the Dinobots simply Earth-built battle droids? It's compounded by the fact this is pretty much the only continuity the Dinobots are built on Earth-the rest, they're fully sapient Autobots from the past. Very interesting...

Of course, I tend to live on the idealistic side of the sliding scale of idealism and cynicism, so I see this in the best possible light. ;) Mileage varies, natch.

So... little question for discussion. Now that the Autobots and Decepticons are public knowledge, what's humanity's reaction?
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby TulioDude » Sun May 15, 2011 6:49 pm

Motto: "Never doubt the awesomess."
Weapon: Energo-Sword
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:What can I say? They're pretty much the coolest thing to a kid right here-dinosaurs and robots mixed into one glorious fusion of awesometastic, as Linkara would put it.



No,you said it wrong!The say:Image
Silverwing wrote:Also, I feel compelled to give the obligatory: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay: :michaelbay:
One for each year of the Movieverse's decade strong tenure. Here's to a few more explosive years!


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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Mon May 16, 2011 3:25 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
TulioDude wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:What can I say? They're pretty much the coolest thing to a kid right here-dinosaurs and robots mixed into one glorious fusion of awesometastic, as Linkara would put it.



No,you said it wrong!The say:Image


Meh, same thing. ;-)

Well, here's the episode where they screwed the pooch on Skyfire.

Fire on the Mountain
We open on some factory as the Decepticons fly overhead. Trailbreaker and Brawn, in a stroke of luck, are on the scene. Starscream and Thundercracker transform and land and we get some cryptic words from 'Cracker. "No Earthmade steel is gonna be strong enough." Starscream brushes him off and they go in. Thundercracker bends a steel girder like a toothpick. "Great working with you, STarscream!"

Brawn and Trailbreaker pull in and we get some bad steel puns. Starscream fires some macross missiles from hatches on his chest and they get away with girders. "The steel stealers are long gone." "Ah, hexagonal nuts!"

Back at the Ark, no one has any real idea why they stole Earth steel. Bumblebee has Spike launch a Sky Spy. Interesting chain of command, there. We cut to an Incan temple. Yes, a literal Incan temple. It's apparently on a shaft leading to the core. Wait... Fire on the Mountain. Fire in the Sky? Coincidence? I don't think so!

Megatron blasts a hole through the wall which leads to a large crystal. Almost identical to the one at the North Pole. He pulls it off and a large jet of flame juts forth. On the roof, Megatron mocks Starscream as he gets his weapon ready. It... seems to work.

The Sky Spy flies over Peru and the Andes. Laserbeak spies the Sky Spy and Megatron uses the weapon the destroy the satellite. Villagers... who may or may not be stereotypes see the explosion. One old woman fears the gods, but a younger woman-who is named Luisa in the script and a sticker book-exposits that she knows about the Crystal of Power that sealed away the... power. How?

And while I'm at it, two green crystals linked to Earth's core. This is not coincidence. readers, speculate and roll out!

Back at the temple, the weapon is destroyed. Starscream passes the blame to Thundercracker and Megatron knocks 'Cracker off the temple. Those two remain behind with Skywarp while Megatron raids for steel. "Any who stand in our way... will be demolished!"

Up at the North Pole... they're digging out Skyfire. This is not good. We see Sideswipe with a manual jackhammer rather than his arm-mounted one. And if Skyfire wasn't dead, why act like it? :confused::mad: They get him out and he transforms. "I just about had it with the deep freeze treatment. They need him to go to the Ark-where he's never been to-and then fly to the Andes-again, where he's never been to! Not to mention if they can drive to the North Pole, they can't drive to Peru??!! ARGH!!!!!!!!

We see Skyfire flying around with Brawn and Windcharger. They jump out while SOundwave taunts Skyfire. "The Autobot jet is afraid to fight." it's weird hearing him do that. "Wrong again you dipstick tapedeck." Dipstick? Nothing wrong there... Megatron shoots Brawn into Soundwave and they're chased off. Windcharger contacts Skyfire, who circles back and he's way too enthusiastic about it.

Windcharger jumps the cliff, letting Brawn leap on and into Skyfire's cargo bay. And then... they fly back to the Ark to pick everyone else up. Ow... They transform and roll out while Skyfire goes to the temple. "I'm too darned big to sneak around like this."

At a plant, Megatron is stealing girders when the Autobots roll up. Prime barrels Magetron through a wall before Brawn... steals Megatron's fusion cannon. He fires and is knocked back, providing a rare example of equal and opposite reaction. "Now that... was a kick." Laserbeak gets it back and Megatron is... pissed. "No one does that to me and continues to function!" There's a fight and... Luisa is there? Spike and Bumblebee save her. She tells them they stole the Crystal of Power and she takes the pair there.

Megatron calls Skywarp for help. Starscream is... not pleased. "I am Starscream the Mighty!" Any relation to Joxer? Skywarp needles him. "Have fun playing crystal nurse, Screamer. Bye-e!" As he takes off, Bumblebee, Spike and Luisa drive into the hole Megatron made, but Soundwave sends Ravage after them.

Meanwhile, Skyfire advances. Thundercracker catches him, but he shows one of the few times his 'doubt about the Decepticon cause' from his tech specs.

"I can fry your circuits extra-crispy! Megatron would love it... but that geeky Starscream would take all the credit. On the other hand, if I let you rack our new weapon, Megatorn might blame Starscream, which would make me very happy." Starscream catches him, though, and shoots Thundercracker. He ducks and Skyfire takes the hit. Ooh, yeah. This is prime blackmail material, no pun intended. "From now on, you will do exactly what this 'geeky Decepticon will tell you!"

Skywarp shows up and strafes the Autobots, also taking a load of steel. Megatron shoots a mountain, causing a rockslide right into the village. The Autobots manage to lay down a barrage of fire that pulverizes the rock into pebbles. And there was much rejoicing. yay.

Back at the temple, Luisa leads our intrepid duo down some tunnels while Starscream and Thundercracker drag Skyfire around. Megatron praises them and says to rewire his logic circuits. "He may even become one of us!" he was one of you. Spike and Bumblebee come across him and the temple interior. Above, the new weapon frame works. Bumblebee admires the power flow while we get more from Luisa. "The Ancient Ones knew many things." Like how to build a globe-spanning empire? Is this the work of the Vok?

Spike attempts repairs on Skyfire, but Ravage attacks. Bumblebee... tries to hold him off while Spike continues repairs. At the temple, Megatron readies his weapon and fires. He... misses badly. "Such is the fate of all who oppose me!" The other Decepticons make a better show of it. Inside, Ravage uses Bumblebee as a chew toy as Spike demonstrates why he's one of the best human characters, finishing Skyfire's repairs. Ravage is tossed aside and Skyfire flies out to fight.

Prime and Ironhide charge the temple, but Ironhide is hit! Not dead... yet. And they... tumble down comedically. Seriously, it was a pratfall! Windcharcger and Brawn charge, Windcharger getting hit but Brawn making it. Ironhide gets up and tackles Megatron, but Ironhide's tossed off into Prime's arms. Skyfire does a strafing run, destroying the weapon frame.

Megatron's tossed off the temple and calls for a retreat. Thundercracker gets his best bit of characterization yet. "What's the matter, fearless leader? You and STarscream look real geeky. Maybe the Autobots aren't such wimps after all!" Screamer complains of a headache.

One thing I just noticed-the sky darkens and turns orange as time passes. That's a good touch there.

At night, WHeeljack gets a device ready to seal up the power flow, lest it blow up the mountain. Spike is... doubtful. "With Wheeljack's inventions, you never can tell." Wheeljack and Skyfire put a literal cap on the power, with a nice touch. The Autobots at the base turn on their headlights for a rather nice effect. Wheeljack's glad one of his inventions work. Spike and Luisa-who leanrs quickly-are still doubtful, so Bumblebee drives them back to Luisa's village. "And when we get back home, I want Bumblebee to meet my brother's convertible. We call her Juanita! And I think the two of them will get along just fine." Bumblebee... goes super-deformed for a moment and creeps the everloving hell out of me.

Thoughts
I've seen worse. The main problems here are with Skyfire's complete 180 on his personality and dropping of most of the Fire in the Sky interactions. It just doesn't flow well.

But oh wow, those crystals! That's not a coincidence. It can't be! Who made them? When and how? Vok? Quintesson? Some ancient Transformer colony?!
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Tue May 17, 2011 3:09 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And next up...


War of the Dinobots
Unless it's Grimlock's size-changing gizmo getting stuck on 'kaiju', I might be disappointed. ;)

We open on an observatory and Chip. He's observing a rather odd meteor heading for Earth. 'Jeff' can't get a reading on it so Chip radios for the Autobots. We cut to Prime leading a detachment and Spike along for the ride.

"It's great not worrying about the Decepticons for a change."

"I always worry about the Decepticons, Spike." Heavy lies the head, there. They transform and according to Chip, it'll hit tonight. Prime grips his fist and... electricity crackles around it. He decides they'll need backup... the Dinobots.

At a Decepticon base, Megatron's watching footage of the DInobots-nothing from their debut-and ranting about how badly he got his kiester kicked by them. "My finest warriors defeated by those primitive peabrained beasts. Revolting!" Starscream points out sheer brute force was on their side, And Megatron wants their weak points found out. Smart, there. Find the chink in their armor. He sends Soundwave after them.

Soundwave flies out to an old town and finds the Autobots and Dinobots. He transforms and sends out a tentacle quite similar to the one Megatron used on Bumblebee in 'Transport to Oblivion'.

Among the Autobots, Chip is there and is glad to have been invited. Spike tries for a joke. "Maybe they'll even name it after you. Meteorini Chiporoni or something." Hound detects the meteor and they take cover. It crashes... destroying a hangar and not much else. Well, kinda big fireball. Ironhide covers Spike and Chip.

Prime stands rather awkwardly next to the meteor as he speaks. "Stay back! This metoerite may contain energies unknown even to Autobot science." he then shoots off a chunk of the unstable hunk of rock. And it... lands in Wheeljack's hands. Good shooting, there. The Dinobots stay to guard. And when Prime transforms, it's day for a second. Whoops. Chip channels the new singing idol Jem. "No matter how many times I see it, it's always outrageous!"

As Prime rolls out, he says he's pleased with the Dinobots and decides to have Wheeljack and Ratchet build two more. And SPike wants to help. The implications of this are... troubling. Back at the Ark, they decide on a stegosaurus and pteranodon. For some need airpower. Which makes sense... even though all the Dinobots can fly, regardless of alt mode. ;) Sparkplug is... confused by the names. "Is there anything you don't know, Chip?"

Back at the crash site, the Dinobots get restless as Soundwave does a brain scan. It's a series of rings around their head. Fortunately not around their tub. Slag wants to fight enemies while Grimlock thinks he's stronger than Prime. Sludge just goes along and obeys strongest leader. Back at their underwater base, Megatron lays out their weaknesses. "Slag is hostile, Grimlock arrogant and Sludge stupid. I will use those weaknesses to turn them against Optimus Prime." Good plan, actually. And the tower extends and they take off.

The next morning-I love the passage of time-they arrive. Sludge mistakes them for planes and Slag can now fight! They shoot... and miss. Then they transform and Megatron asks why they fight. He rushes them and is bathed in their fire-breath. His fusion cannon is knocked off. And he makes a good 'might makes right' case. "Whoever is strongest should lead!" The Dinobots get it in their craniums to rebel. It's easy... but Megatron did appeal to their baser instincts of fighting.

Megatron gloats as the Dinobots prepare to fight. The seekers release tow cables to tow away the meteorite. In a nice bit, Megatron retrieves his cannon and 'kowtows' to the Dinobots, 'suggesting' courses of action. Slick. Back at the Ark, we get a rather neat building montage of the two new Dinobots. Prime's called to Wheeljack's lab, along with Trailbreaker and Chip. The meteorite is rather unstable. "it's liable to explode at any second!" Trailbreaker... spins around in an incredibly goofy fashion to project his force field over the detonating chunk of rock. The rock floats and blows up. Prime decides to... blow up the meteorite before it explodes.

Outside, the new toys new Dinobots emerge. "I am Snarl.." "Call me Swoop." Damn, they sound more intelligent already. They fight Bluestreak, Sideswipe, Ironhide and Prowl. "Stop the Dinobots-if you can!" Sideswipe flies... and gets blasted out of the sky by Snarl. The Autobots get their butts kicked in relatively short order. "In a real fight, we'd have creamed them... maybe."

Prime arrives at the crash site and notes both meteorites and DInobots gone. Slag shoots at him and Prime is confused as the Dinobots rebel. Prime puts up a good fight, but is taken out by numbers and his own reluctance to really cut loose. He tries to reason with them. "This is senseless. We're friends!" "Goodbye, friend." Ouch... They fire once more, taking Prime out. He tumbles into a chasm created by Sludge earlier during the fight.

Prime's arm twitches and Grimlock notes he's still alive. Slag wants to melt him, but Grimlock decides not to. He doesn't know why, though. "Traces of Autobot training... remain in your circuits." Grimlock has Prime's rifle and contacts Megatron. They take off with Prime in tow and arrive at a canyon where the meteorite is being harvested. It's rather... weird. The cube floats in midair. Spundwave shoots the rock and energy flows out. Starscream's worried about the energies... as a scientist would. Megatron taunts him, as he would.

The Dinobots show up with Prime and Megatron's angry. I love it when he shows genre savvy. Grimlock says when the time is right. Starscream warns against Grimlock, and Grimlock shoots him. Prime tries to warn Megatron and the Decepticon leader doesn't believe him. Shocking! Back at the Ark, they've found the meteorite's been moved. They can't get there in time, but the new Dinobots can!

Back at the site, Megatron finally notices the energon cubes are unstable. There's a rather odd sound coming from them. And they blow up. "I knew something like that would happen, Megatron." Starscream's bitching is interrupted by Swoop and Snarl showing up. And now the Dinobots war! It's a rough stalemate, but the new guys are outnumbered so that's a good showing for them. Grimlock bites off a piece of Snarl's back spine!

The meteorite goes critical. The Decepticons beat feet, while Prime saves Grimlock, knocking him out of the way of the exploding rock. The Decepticons are tossed around and there's some good damage. It might've been bigger if the Decepticons hadn't siphoned off so much energy. "The danger has passed." The Dinobots transform to robot mode and Grimlock is pissed. "You Megatron tricked us. Make us fight good leader, Optimus Prime. Prime rick own life to save us. Bad Megatron!"

Megatron is oiling himself. "Decepticons, retreat! Now, quick at once!" They fly out while Grimlock returns Prime's laser rifle. The Autobots roll up, a bit late but at least they got there.

"Optimus Prime, can you forgive? Me Grimlock was jealous of you." That took bearings of chrome steel, right there. And they shake. Prime declares the menace gone. "Let's roll for home!" The final shot is of Grimlock and Prime looking at the sunset, which is kinda cool.

Thoughts
Interesting episode, in a very good way. Nice to see tension amongst the good guy ranks. Grimlock apologizing at the end was great, too. Somewhat standalone, but still with continuity. They got some of the astronomical terms wrong, though.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Wed May 18, 2011 3:49 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now... the game-changer. Where for Earth and humanity, nothing is the same again. Here we are wrenched from our cradle and shown the darkness of the universe-and its light. I give you:

The Ultimate Doom Part One

A very appropriate title, too. We open off the Malabar Coast of India-yes an actual location-where we learn a maharajah has turned his palace into a solar collector for his people. Interesting... They should produce 300 units of energy per second, but the numbers suddenly fall. Starscream and the Seekers attack. "I hear the maharajah's holding an open house." They blast through, and we cut to the Autobots activating hydrofoils and I'm guessing driving to the palace. Sunstreaker wishes they were painted to match his base coat.

Inside, Skywarp wants to play catch with the human. He throws him and Prime catches him. We cut to the Decepticon base and Megatron observing the proceedings... with a human there? he's wearing a lab coat, has a metal skull cap over wildly-styled white hair and has a Power Glove-like gauntlet on his right hand. "You promised me a guinea pig, Megatron. I need one for my experiments." His name's Doctor Arkeville and I guessed right. Ah, and this is a diversion. he contacts Soundwave who is standing right outside the Ark. He releases Rumble, who simply runs in. *Headdesk*

inside, Sparkplug is working on Ironhide. Rumble uses his piledrivers to cause tremors while Ravage is also released. Ironhide uses a sensor from his right arm to locate the source. His chest also displays a graphic, like before. Ah, continuity. Even in little forms it;s cool. Bumblebee and Sideswipe find him while Laserbeak is ejected and flies to the top of the volcano. Inside, Ravage attacks Sideswipe but is knocked away. The two humans do a bit of cheering on the Autobots. "Clobber that Decepti-kitty! But Laserbeak swoops down and kidnaps Sparklug!

At the palace, the Decepticons are called back. Jazz realizes they didn't get any energon and Prime's chest flashes... which apparently lets them know the Ark's been attacked. O-kay... Sunstreaker realizes they were set up and they roll for base.

At the Decepticon base, Laserbeak delivers Sparkplug. He's strapped in while SKywarp and Starscream bicker. "I say Megatron's plan was brilliant." "And I say the diversionary attack on the solar plant was a waste of energy." "You waste more energy with your mouth!" Skywarp scores! They come to blows just as they arrive. Sparkplug tries to make a break for it, but Arkeville pulls something out of his gauntlet.

Image
It's so bad.

He places it behind Sparkplug's ear. "You are to be the first of a new breed-a breed of slaves!"

Outside the Ark, Bumblebee comforts Spike. He asks Wheeljack if he's got any inventions that might help. Like what, a transporter? he does, but he needs a plan. Hound is projecting a diagram onto the rock face while Prime and Prowl look on. "I've got the plan, if all of you've got the cast-iron manifolds for it." That was prowl, by the way.

Shockwave contacts Megatron and tells his leader everything's in place. Megatron asks if the space bridge will be large enough for its special... cargo. It will, "But delivering the cargo will use up all our remaining energon cubes." I like the transmission breaks up at points. Megatron says to worry later and spies Arkeville eavesdropping. He asks about the cargo, but is brushed off and told he'll have Earth when Megatron's finished. Yeah, right.

They go to Sparkplug for a demonstration. Arkeville pulls a lever and Sparkplug becomes a slave. Megatron opens a door and an obvious facsimile of Prime appears. Starscream... thinks it's the real one. Wow, that's dumb.

Sparkplug tackles the dummy and knocks it down. He's got a real doozy of a doped-up expression. At the Atlantic coast, the Autobots get ready to rescue Sparkplug. Jazz... rhymes. "Into the ocean, let's be daring. Last one in is a rusty herring!" Still less annoying than Wheelie. He dives in, followed by a lot of the other Autobots. Brawn leads a contingent down a path and into a cave near the shore. He extends a drill from his engine grille and carves a path while Cliffjumper reads depth.

A sensor on the base detects the Autobots, but Prime blasts it. Megatron ambushes him, though. Sunstreaker ambushes him while Cliffjumper reports they're now below the ocean floor. Brawn straightens out. The fight continues underwater. Rather good one, too. Windcharger hops over Cliffjumper and his magnetic powers are activated. Brawn breaks through the rock. "Everybody into the pool!"

Inside the Decepticon base, Starscream and Arkeville argue while Cliffjumper uses his glass gas to open up the floor. Brawn grabs Sparkplug and then punches a hole through the ship hull. Windcharger tells Sparkplug to 'hold his breath'. Ah, the crushing pressure, the intense cold? Transform him first and let him inside!

Back at the Ark, the Autobots are undergoing repairs. Spike's glad Sparkplug's back, but he's a bit... distant. He's also working on the Autobots. Even the ones not needing repairs. Arkeville, with his magic screen, has to tell him to fix only the injured ones. He goes to Prime and does work on him, but he's also fine. Suddenly the Decepticons attack! And the Autobot's weapons suddenly malfunction, shooting out wicked sparks. "What's going on?" "The destruction of your breed, Autobot!"

Spike goes to Teletraan-One and trips on Sparkplug's wrench. Turns out he sabotaged the computer. *Looks back at earlier* like it would've helped? SPike confronts his father. He seems to be breaking free... he tries to tell Spike, but Arkeville cranks up the juice. Sparkplug bats his son away. Harsh.

The Autobots are defeated, but Spike... activates fire retardant foam. And this stops the Decepticons. Bull. ****! So they retreat. Sparkplug wants Spike to join them, but he won't. "Then you will fight against your own father. Boo! :mad: "When next we meet we are enemies!" And SPike looks so forlorn. His expression, body posture... everything!

In another location, energy pylons as they are called are being worked on. Arkeville flies in on Starscream and it turns out these are space bridge devices. And we learn... "The cargo will be nothing less than our home planet of Cybertron!" And now we see madness. Arkeville knows Cybertron's proximity will cause earthquakes, tidal waves and will devastate the planet. It will also create a lot of energy, which will be collected and shipped to Cybertron. Arkeville is... not pleased. "But I will be ruler of a dead world!" Megatron... doesn't care. "A small problem for your amazing genius."

Back at the Ark, the Sky Spy finds the pylons. They get a readout and the space bridge forms a pyramid, "With the apex beyond the galaxy." They roll for it.

On Cybertron, there's a pyramid on the planet. Shockwave contacts Megatron again and tells him he's ready. The Autobots roll up, but human slaves are released from a building. The Autobots can't fire. "You disappoint me, Prime. I never thought you'd let a few worthless fleash creatures stand in the way of attacking me!" The slaves rush the Autobots, picking up sticks and rocks. There's no real damage, but the Autobots can't fight back.

Spike tries to restrain Sparkplug, and again he almost snaps out of it. Arkeville turns up the juice again... :( On Cybertron, Shockwave says if the pylons aren't operational, "Cybertron will be catapulted into oblivion."

Sparkplug activates the first pylon. Rather impressive. Thundercracker activates the next one. Prime tries to stop Megatron, but is kicked away. Megatron goes for it, but Prime continues on. At the top, they grapple.

"That's the last one you're activating, Megatron!"

"Correct! You will activate the last pylon and bring Cybertron here."

"As the earthlings say, fat chance fathead!"

"If you don,t, then you will responsible for Cybertron's destruction!"

"... Destruction?! But there are still many inhabitants-friends on Cybertron!"

"Then make your choice, Optimus Prime!"

There's real anguish on Prime's face-even through the mouthplate-as he pushes the button. The pylons activate and a tear forms in space, unholy and not meant to be. Cybertron appears through it and instantly the atmopshere goes haywire.

We see massive destruction already as the Autobots and Decepticons stop fighting.

Image

Prime looks up in horror. "Have I saved Cybertron... only to destroy the Earth?!" As he says it, lightning from hell crackles from Earth to Cybertron.

Thoughts
I am near 100 percent sure words to the effect of, "At least everyone got to the shelters!" are never uttered during the next two episodes. Therefore, considering the damage we see in the closing seconds and throughout the next two...

The death toll must've been cataclysmic. I mean, seriously. This is some heavy **** here, folks. The Decepticons just went hardcore evil.

This is one of the landmarks of G1. It ramps up the stakes considerably and probably lands humanity firmly in the Autobot's camp. It's also probably the start of the expansion of Delta Six into the Earth Defense Command as it goes international.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Thu May 19, 2011 5:25 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Next up...



The Ultimate Doom Part Two

We see a sick shot of Cybertron eclipsing the sun.

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Yeah, that's some good nightmare fuel for yah! Ironhide is rather melancholic. "I never thought I'd be sad to see Cybertron." Sparkplug tries to get Spike to join them, but no go. "Dad..." "I told you-don't call me that!"

Prime is full of remorse, natch, but Ironhide tells him he did what he had to do. "What any of us would've done." Megatron gloats as the wind picks up, but Spike fiddles with one of the energy pylons and fires it at Megatron. Sparkplug... wanrs him away. Starscream gloats that they're invincible. Okay... don't quite see how that's true. But we'll go with it for a bit! The Decepticons attack, but the weather seriously messes with them. Ravage is electrocuted by falling power lines. Thundercracker's flames are blown back. Jazz and Trailbreaker mock him. Rumble gets knocked into a chasm.

Megatron has Soundwave generate audio disruptor waves, which mess with Autobots, Decepticons and messes with the hyponchips controlling the humans. They flee. Prime transforms-and his trailer appears outlined by a funky energy pattern. The Autobots roll out. Spike sees Sparkplug taking off in Skywarp before taking off with Bumblebee. Back at the Decepticon base-I presume-Arkeville notes he'll simply have to create more slaves.He figures this out by seeing a scene of an empty desert.

Megatron begins giving out orders before Starscrem bitches him out. he responds in the logical manner of knocking 'Screamer on his skidplate and choking him. Starscream brings up the good point that they could've destroyed the Autobots there. In the Decepticons base, we cut to Akreville expounding upon his brilliant hypnochips to Rumble, who's probably more advanced to any piece of Earth equipment. Megatron contacts him and tells him he'll get more 'raw materials' for hypnochips.

We have a rather scary scene of Laserbeak capturing workers and delivering them to the underwater base. Energy ring surrounds them and Rumble drags one THROUGH the rings, shocking him with obvious pain. Damn! "You humans sure can't take it!" Megatron gets a message from Cybertron that power levels are critical, but he's not worried.

We cut to the Autobots driving through the maelstrom. Ironhide's right behind him, but can't see him. Jazz has a magnet locked onto Ironhide's bumper while Prime reverses the polarity on his windshield, repelling the rain. Farther back, Spike is really out of it while Bumblebee runs low on gas. And then his tire blows. He rocks himself to get Spike to help. There's some rather cool bits-the spare tire pops out automatically, he's got a built-in jack and the rim and screws undo themselves. :D

Back at the Decepticon base, Megatron sees his slaves gathering energon with lightning collectors. Back at Bumblebee and Spike, the tire's changed but a sudden chasm opens up. Beumblebee transforms, but falls in. Spike tries to help him but it widens and Laserbeak attacks, capturing Spike! And Bumblebee falls in. Man, this isn't his day! Bluestreak shoots Laserbeak out of the sky and Hound catches Spike, doing a rather impressive jump. They go to rescue Bumblebee with Windcharger. Hound uses some handheld scanner while Windcharger uses his magnetic powers. It's an extension from his wrist. He runs out of energy, but not before pulling the 'Bee up. He rides in Hound's back to the Ark.

Underwater, the first shipment of cubes is ready inside Skywarp. Arkeville asks why he's sending a slave, for some reason grabbing at his shoulder. Megatron introduces the concept of the human shield to young kids-the Autobots won't attack Cybertron with humans there. Diabolical! Arekville protests he can't control the slaves from such a long distance, but it turns out his computer's been duplicated on Cybertron.

"Remember our agreement, Megatron. the Earth is to be mine when you are through with it."

"It will be... what's left of it." Creepy closeup of Megatron!"

Skywarp takes off with the energon and Sparkplug. And then...

A tidal wave, tsunami, killer wave... a town is engulfed. Wiped out. Fissures in the ground, crumbling mountains. People are dying. Back at the Ark, Prime readies the Autobots. We can't stand by and watch the destruction of this beautiful planet!" Ratchet's got no clue what to do, so Wheeljack presses a button and the Dinobots walk out.

Prime tells them they must act. Grimlock is... doubtful. "Me Grimlock not care. Whole planet fall apart! Make no difference to me, Grimlock!"

"With you on it?"

"Hmm... hadn't thought of that." It's rather cute when he rubs his chin in thought. So he leads the Dinobots out.

Back at the Decepticon base, Thundercracker is readied for a shipment to Cybertron. But a rather large wave hits and sends the base rocking. Energon cubes go flying and go BOOM! Starscream snarks. "Your plan was brilliant, Megatron. We collect millions of energon cubes, but they're all worthless because we can't get them to Cybertron!" Skywarp flies back, but a wave rips the docking tower right off, flooding the base.

At the Ark, Spike is sitting forlornly, holding onto Sparkplug's favorite wrench. He asks Prime why humans are helping Megatron. "They're supposed to be on our side!" Oh? Whose side? All humans? Interesting insight, there. Suddenly, Mount Saint Hillary begins erupting! They evacuate, but some of them are tossed up through the top. Skyfire transforms and catches them. "Have no fear. Skyfire's here!" Oh, how I miss Fire in the Sky...

Ironhide drives into the inferno. He shoots some rocks into the magma. This complete contradiction of volcanoes somehow stops the eruption. Wheeljack namedrops the Dinobots and we cut to them doing some landscaping, building a barrier to a rather large tidal wave. It works, but the water keeps pouring in...

Back at the Ark, Prime tells Wheeljack and Ironhide that, "I feel we must not let the boy find out." Spike overhears, asks and Prime immediately spills the beans. Sparkplug's on Cybertron. I wonder how he got the info and who told him. Can't be Elita One-he thinks she's dead. Alpha Trion? Perhaps Ultra Magnus and his cell? Spike asks to take Skyfire there. Prime says no, but Spike says if they can free Sparkplug, they can figure out how Megatron's controlling them.

Prime relents. Fortunately it's a large contingent of Autobots. Skyfire flies up there. Missiles are shot at them. Skyfire tries to outrun the missiles... fired right at him. He dodges and lands. Spike's in utter awe. And we get a rather nice reminder that the Autobots, although similar and loving Earth for the most part, are still alien.

"Wow, it sure is different."

"That's funny. To me it's just home." Skyfire projects a map of the planet and Wheeljack begins making plans. Spike wanders away and activates a pitfall trap. Bumblebee jumps in after them, followed by Brawn. Brawn spots a vent cover and opens it. They go through some rather nice tunnels, eventually finding themselves not only at Decepticon Headquarters but the hypnochip information they need! He contacts Wheeljack and lets him know, but Sparkplug walks in. Spike places his father's favorite wrench down, which was rather neat. He then confronts him. But the hypnochip kicks in and the alarm is sounded. Harsh. :(

Thoughts
Ramped up to eleven here, folks. This is heavy. And my guess is Megatron gets a lot more than just one shipment of energon to Cybertron, considering what we see in future episodes.

So, widespread destruction and death, the Decepticons on the attack and with the advantage. And it's not over yet!
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby Tekka » Thu May 19, 2011 5:27 pm

Motto: "I'm grade-A, 100% prime-cut final boss! I'm going to take over the world any day now!"
Weapon: Multi-Function Sword
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:and probably lands humanity firmly in the Autobot's camp


At least until Megatron's Master Plan anyway. Oh, those adorably forgetful cartoon humans!
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Fri May 20, 2011 3:58 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Tekka wrote:
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:and probably lands humanity firmly in the Autobot's camp


At least until Megatron's Master Plan anyway. Oh, those adorably forgetful cartoon humans!


Well, it's just one town... with a ridiculous amount of power. ;)

And now the end! Will Earth survive? Will the Autobots prevail?



The Ultimate Doom Part Three
Alarms sound in Decepticon Headquarters as Sparkplug had hit the alarm. Spike is heartbroken. "Forgive me..." Great voice work by Spike's VA, too. The Autobots go to leave, but the Decepticons arrive. Brawn is... cheery. "I don't suppose I could interest any of you in a magazine subscription?!" He takes out some seekers and blasts Soundwave. "Goodbye, tall dark and gruesome!" Sparkplug goes to block Spike and Shockwave shoots at them. "Prepare for termination."

Brawn blocks the shot and a beam falls out of nowhere. He grabs it and rushes Shockwave. "Prepare for a very large headache!" Shockwave... melts it, deflating the badass quotient by .65%. Skyfire blows a hole in the wall and the Autobots make an escape, with Skyfire holding off the Decepticons. Soundwave calls for an alert, pressing one of his... and... oh, see for yourself!

Image

Shockwave blasts at Skyfire, acidentally blasting the door so Skyfire can fit out. Dumbass! The Autobots blow open a door, taking out a pair of seekers colored like Starscream and Thundercracker. And it seems Shockwave's been using the energon to good use! Defensive turrets, tetrajets are active. Skyfire blows up the tetrajets. "Butt out, Decepti-bum!" Ah, I miss you Fire in the Sky. Wheeljack and the others take a detour, losing their pursuers and making their way to Wheeljack's lab. Ah, continuity! Wheeljack shows them in. "All the comforts of home-if you like living in an auto-robotics factory."

Bumblebee hands over the disk containing the hypnochip info. "A conductor chip with hypnotic properties. Diabolical!"

Back on Earth, we see quite possibly the coolest scene in TF history.

Image
Words. There are none.

They surf along when a rather large tidal wave approaches. Prime tells them to stay ahead of the wave and use it to ride where they need to go. "Maintain speed and sail on!" We cut to a rather large hydroelectric plant the Decepticons are building. Rumble, for slag and giggles, trips a worker. "Clumsy! No lying down on the job." He points his laser pistol and we cut away immediately before the slave's execution. Seriously, that was the implication.

It's a rather large construct, too. Megatron observes the funnel's not completed. He goes to Starscream and orders him to install the generator. Starscream refuses, so Megs picks the damned thing up and chucks it at him. Arkeville's concerned about his slaves. "My slaves will be caught in the tidal wave!" "I thought humans liked to play in the ocean!" Man, that's harsh. He tells Arkeville to stay away from Starscream, so of course the mad scientist decides to work with Starscream. Of Course!

the wave hits, turning turbines and generating energon. All flowing into a shuttle. The Autobots arrive at the plant, but Megatron's not concerned. The wave carries them right down the pipeline and they wipe out. Some rather good animation here. They're all ready to fight, but Megatron's already taken off with a shuttle full of cubes.

My fanon interpretation, btw, is he dropped them off onto Cybertron first. And the rest of the Decepticons have been doing similar runs. ;)

Jazz notices the surviving slaves and they go to rescue them. Or at least make them comfortable before the expire from such horrific injuries. Yes, I'm feeling dark here with this one. Can you tell?!

Arkeville is hanging onto a bit of wreckage when Starscream emerges, taking him. He transforms, tossing him into the cockpit as he does so. We cut to the shuttle and we learn that Arkeville's of no further use to Megatron.

Back on Cybertron, Wheeljack's waldoes are hard at work. He's got a prototype ready. Spike infiltrates Decepticon Headquarters... which kinda makes sense. Think they got sensors for humans yet? Shockwave catches him in what looks like a force field from his chest. He picks up Spike and Sparkplug shows up. Spike's dropped to the floor and Sparkplug's commanded to kill Spike. The Autobots show up and Sparkplug's freed from the mind control. Yes! :D

"Spike, son." And they hug. Aww... The Autobots hold off the Decepticons while the humans run. Brawn runs up to a hatch. "I'll get the door."And he simply barrels though. I love this guy. A seeker fires... and accidentally seals the hatch shut. Skyfire flies in, blows up a weapons turret and picks up everyone. On board, Sparkplug's happy to be back and grateful. "Thanks, guys, for not giving up on me. Especially you, Spike."

"Dad, it's like you taught me. You never quit on the people you love." Brawn puts it best. "Mushy, but true." Back on Earth, the shuttle's getting loaded up again. "This should be our final shipment to Cybertron." How many has he made? How deep is his hold now?

Cliffjumper wants to attack, but nope. It'd endanger the humans. "We must get Megatron away from his starship before we can attack!" Mirage goes out to try something. Meanwhile, Megatron spies Starscream using Arkeville... as a power source. And thus any hope anyone ever had of him being taken seriously is forevermore destroyed.

Megatron discovers him and prepares to kill him. "The penalty for mutiny is termination!" Unfortunately, he doesn't pull the trigger this time as Skywarp reports the slaves... being caught in an animation loop. It was Mirage. He turns off his cloak. "An Autobot, here?!" And Prime shows up. "Correction, Megatron. Autobots." And they attack. The seekers take off for strafing runs. Prime shoots Thundercracker out of the air with one shot. And it's a big firefight. Ironhide shows some bloodlust. "Save your ammo! The battle's just begun."

Prowl suggests a regrouping, but no go. "If we lose now, Cybertron's next orbit will tear the Earth apart!" They need reinforcements... and Skyfire shows up right then. Wheeljack turns on his device. "It's independence day!" No, nothing more there! The humans run off. Megatron transforms... and fires himself! He hits Skyfire. Rumble tries to knock Bumblebee into another chasm, but he jumps up and does a Tarzan, knocking the punk into the chasm.

Prime goes to confront Megatron, but Megatron points out Cyberton's next orbit will destroy Earth. Prime points out it's his problem too. Then Megatron simply takes off. The seekers notice Megatron abandoning them and the huge tidal wave. Prime is... worried. "That tidal wave will destroy human life across the face of the globe!" I.... think the first major landmass would break it up, but the people there will be wiped out.

Irnohide's rather... nonchalant. "It won't do us any good either." Spike suddenly has the idea to knock Cybertron out of its orbit. And they both suddenly start shooting... at Megatron's shuttle! They track it and there's an awesome explosion.

We see some stock footage from episode one of destruction and Prime looking up... which actually kinda fits. Cybertron moves out of orbit and the tidal wave dissipates.

Later on, Spike talks to Prime. He's pretty upbeat, even mentioning Megatron being finished. "I only wish that were true, Spike." Prime looks up... almost to space as we fade to the wreckage of the shuttle... and Megatron's chassis. His eyes light up. "I will be... avenged!" And he flies off.

Thoughts
If you think about it... the Decepticons won a major strategic victory here. They got massive amounts of energy to Cybertron. Earth is wrecked. It's bad. Cybertron out of Earth's orbit saved the Earth from destruction, but didn't magically siphon away the energy collected.


And now...
And now a special ABC news report!

The ABC logo cuts to a harried woman sitting at a news desk with a monitor behind her. She's plain. No makeup, her hair has a simple bun in it. She looks to the camera and clears her throat

"Hello and welcome. We've just received word that Cybertron-the home planet of the Transformers-has been moved out of Earth's orbit and weather and seismic conditions have returned to normal. The President has declared the initial state of emergency over. But he also cautions the long road ahead."

"Coastal cities all across the globe have been wiped out. The death toll is... staggering, some early estimates close to fifty million. It will probably only rise. Much of the planet is in ruins. President Reagan has called on world leaders for a summit in Geneva to begin working on a recovery plan. Autobot Leader Optimus Prime has already pledged the full support of the Autobots in helping humanity to recover."

"In other news, the terrorist organization Cobra, believed wiped out during a Decepticon attack, has emerged on a new island in the Caribbean, formed during the upheaval. The Department of Defense and anti-terrorist unit Delta Six have pledged to keep an eye on them, while also working with the Autobots and Soviet counterpart the Oktober Guard. Meanwhile..."

And Earth will never be the same.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby Name_Violation » Sat May 21, 2011 1:59 am

Motto: "It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."
Weapon: Multi-Function Sword
*slow clap*

good stuff.

Hearing about the Dinobots pre-season 3 always makes me nostalgic.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Sat May 21, 2011 4:07 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Name_Violation wrote:*slow clap*

good stuff.

Hearing about the Dinobots pre-season 3 always makes me nostalgic.


Thanks! And yeah, the Dinobots were pretty badass and cool before season three...



And now... the followup to the three-part Ultimate Doom.

Countdown to Extinction
Gee, there's a cheerful title. We open with scenes of devastation. Smoke rising from a plain, a wrecked city. Victor Caroli narrates. "By bringing Cybertron into Earth's orbit, and harvesting the unleashed energy, Megatron leaves the world in ruins." More destroyed cities and volcanic eruptions. "But Optimus Prime and the Autobots fight back and destroy Megatron's starship, releasing enough energy to knock Cybertron out of Earth's orbit. And now the Autobots begin the repair of the shattered planet."

Wheeljack's leading the Dinobots in construction. Prime's acting as a support for Ratchet as he repairs a bridge. Ironhide's filling in holes and others are helping with a dam. It's excellent to see this! Consequences of what happened.

At the Decepticon base, it's not much better. There's major damage that has to be fixed. *Looks at crew* Not gonna happen any time soon. Skywarp and Rumble fight, the latter being tossed into a console. Thundercracker tries to mediate... or argue. Then Soundwave joins in for the pit of it. "Look who's talking, Thundercracker!" We also get our first onscreen appearance of Frenzy! "I didn't volunteer for this geeky assignment! I want Skywarp's job!" Is 'geek' the highest form of insult on Cybertron? He emerges from a pit and Skywarp tries to step on him, but Frenzy tosses him aside and Rumble... jumps on Skywarp's face in a totally wrong manner.

Megatron walks in, looking a lot better than last time we saw him. "Silence!" They all fall into line, Skywarp thinking he was dead. "I've only lost a starship, not the War!" He's looking for Arkeville, but he and Starscream are gone. Laserbeak flies in, transforms and slides into Soundwave's chest. It's Starscream's voice. "Now that Megatron has been destroyed, I am leader of the Decepticons. Understand, Doctor?" He wants Arkeville to take him to a secret lab. Megatron rallies the troops... leaving behind months or repair work. We cut to the Atlantic... and them just flying above.

Back at the Ark, Teletraan-One is back online. Just in time, as it or a Sky Spy spots Megatron. Prime rallies his own soldiers-probably on a short break from repair work. Or just rotating shifts so no one gets worn out. We then cut to Arkeville and guiding Starscream to his lab. Nice bit where Starscream transforms, ejects Arkeville and grabs him with his arm. It's a large, obvious-looking boulder with actual steps craved in the front. Real hidden. "My lab is an impenetrable fortress until I activate the front portal with a voice command."

"Then activate your mouth!"

"I Doctor Arkeville, genius of science, say open sesame!"

"How original..." Okay, a thousand points for them pointing out how dumb the password is. The boulder moves aside slightly, but Starscream grabs it and chucks it down the side of a cliff. So much for impenetrable... "A small example of when anyone tries my patience. Especially you!" Inside, the lab is huge. One wonders how long Arkeville's been operating. Starscream finds an exponential generator.

Image
It's apparently the ultimate power source. Arkeville's scared stiff. If the generator goes, so goes Earth. Starscream... doesn't care.

Back a ways, the Decepticons are flying overhead and Rumble just spots the Autobots rolling out below. Skywarp and Thundercracker attack. How long were the two groups not noticing each other?!

Back at the lab, Starscream's rigged the generator with a timer. It'll explode and blow up Earth. In seven hours, fifty-eight minutes and twenty seconds it'll blow up. Arkeville's horrified, but Starscream doesn't care. He'll be on Cybertron, ready to collect the resulting energy. Arkeville volunteers to... stay behind to make sure nothing goes wrong. Screamer's not a fool-this time-and takes Arkeville with him. Arkeville boards and Starscream takes off for interplanetary flight. He tries to talk him out of it, but Starscream brushes him off. "Compassion, from you? Spare me your concern!" it's kinda true, actually.

Starscream then goes on a major rant. "Once we're on Cybertron, nothing will interfere with my plans! Before long, I shall be Lord Starscream, tyrant of the firmament!" And he flies up to Cybertron, still close enough to Earth and possibly settling into an orbit around the sun.

Holy **** we've gained a tenth planet here!

Back on Earth, Bumblebee's buried. Brawn digs him out as the Autobots take cover. Wheeljack is.... itching for a fight. "I wanna fight in the clear!" He fires off a missile and takes out Skywarp. The Decepticons land... Megatron sneaking up on Prime from nowhere. One toss and Megatron... calls it quits. "These Autobots are too hero-programmed to know when to quit." The Autobots follow.

Back on Cybertron, Starscream talks to Shockwave. Arkeville's banned from Headquarters, per Megatron's orders. Starscream informs him Megatron's dead and flashes a badge... and that's enough to get him leadership?

Image
Okay, it is a nice badge. Shockwave's incredulous, and can't get through to Earth. Starscream orders him to not contact Earth, then shoots at him. He wants energy collectors set up. In less than three hours Earth will blow up. Hey, passage of time. Good to see. He gloats over Arkeville. "You will be the only member of your species to survive the end of your world!" Arkeville has a moment of redemption for his crimes and tries to stop Starscream's energy collection, but the controls electrocute him. Harsh. Some Reflectors take him to 'repair bay'.

Back on Earth, Megatron is leading the Decepticons to the 'valley of no return'. I'm guessing that's not the real name. They lead the Autobots into an area of instability. Quicksand. Obviously formed by the geological and meteorological catastrophes that happened. They transform, but can't pull themselves out. Megatron, in a moment of genre savvy, has Laserbeak stay behind to make sure they sink. He mentions they've wasted time on them.

Ironhide tries to get an arm free to fire some nitrogen into the quicksand. Laserbeak attacks, but Mairage nails him with a missile and he transforms into cassette mode. Jazz catches him while Ironhide's arm gets free and his hand retracts. He fires super-cool nitrogen at the quicksand... freezing it, I guess.So they can climb out of the holes. I have no idea if that would work.

Jazz holds up Laserbeak. "Hey, Optimus. How'd you like to hear number one on the Decepticon hot cassette chart?" Ah, Scatman. I miss you. :( Prime is... groovy. "As the Earthlings say, lay it on me man." He transforms and plays back the message Laserbeak played for Megatron. Prime has them roll for Arkeville's lab... How do they know where it is?

Megatron arrives and finds the generator. "Your destiny is to serve me, my potent beauty." Creepy as all hell closeup of his eyes as they're lit by the generator, too. Rumble comes in to inform Megatron that the Autobots arrived... and the Decepticons show up out of nowhere. They exit the lab as-the hell?!

Prime's fist comes out of the bottom of the screen and pops Megatron in the chin, knocking him into the cliff. Megatron grabs a rock up there and chucks it at Prime. "Here! Have a ton of fun!" Oh, that hurt. Prime dodges and it nearly kills Rumble. Prime laughs, which is disturbing in its own right. "Your aim's improving, Megatron!"

back at Cybertron, we see the horror as Arkeville's been worked on in the repair bay. He's been Borged, basically. "You've turned me into a mechanical freak!"

Image
Yeah, sleep tight folks.

"Be grateful you exist at all!" "But I can't move!" Ooh, that is just wrong.

On Earth, Prime's found the generator. Megatron tries to stop him, but Prime stands near the generator and taunts Megatron. He also informs him that the generator's unstable. Megatron has the others leave, but Shockwave finally gets through. "Call back later. I'm busy!" Shockwave tells him about the generator, Prime overhearing. Megatron finds the timer and crushes it. "Everything is under control, Shockwave." He asks where Starscream is and learns the plot. Speaking of which, Starscream realizes there was no earth-shattering kaboom. He thinks it's a malfunction in the timer. "You will go back to Earth to check it, Doctor." "And how do you propose I get there, on my roller skates?!" He plies Starscream with some flattery, getting him to go to Earth.

Megatron's disconnected the exponential generator... and acting kinda weird. It turns out the generator's melted his armor plating! He orders Prime out of the way, but Prime grabs the generator. They fight over it. And it bounces a bit. Megatron grabs it and runs out, followed by Prime. And we get the first-but not the last-bit of cooperation between them.

Megatron hands the generator to Prime and transforms into gun mode, letting Prime fire it into... space. Wow. It explodes... just as Starscream crosses paths with it. He crashes and Megatron looms over him, backlit and looking scary as all hell. "Welcome home, noble voyager." Starscream oils himself.

The Autobots drive away and contemplate what's gonna happen, laughing at the imminent pain. Ah, the good guys!

Thoughts
It was great seeing that first bit, the destruction. Well, good in the whole 'continuity' sense. We do get the sense of massive loss of life and damage. :(

So, Arkeville. Methinks his fate on Cybertron is not a happy one. I... wish I could feel sorry for him, but I can't.

And now...

We see the ABC news logo once more. The same anchorwoman is sitting there, still no makeup but her hair is done up a bit fancier. She clears her throat and looks to the camera

"Good evening. We've just received word that President Reagan has announced a massive rebuilding and recruiting program for the United States. Soviet Premier Konstantin Chernenko has issued a similar call.

"Across the world, anti-Transformer protests have sprung up, mostly around city ruins and devastated areas. However, in areas not heavily damaged, counter-protests have begun. Authorities urge calm, but it's not known if either side will listen.

"In other news, Delta-Six leader General Clay Abernathy and Oktober Guard leader Colonel Ivan Brekhov have pledged to work together and merge their respective teams under a new international command, unnamed so far. They held a press conference in Geneva to announce their goals."
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Sun May 22, 2011 5:25 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Time to get a bit biblical as we experience...

A Plague of Insecticons
And sell some new toys, too!

We open on the island of Bali. Victor tells us of 'Demon Swamp, where a new form of robot now stalks. Boatmen are sailing by when new Decepticons attack, each in the form of giant insects. The stag beetle repeats the last word of every sentence, which is nice. The boatmen escape while the robots feast. The grasshopper is named 'Kickback' while the boatmen go to radio for help. The others are named Bombshell and Shrapnel.

Back at the Ark... they receive the SOS. Hopefully wired to them through proper channels. Spike and Sparkplug take the message while Skyfire takes some Autobots and Spike along. We cut to Laserbeak flying above the Decepticon base and sending the info to Megatron. He, Soundwave and Thundercracker go to Bali as well. In the swamps, they quickly land. Ravage is ejected and tracks down a large hut.

Megatron peels away the outer layer and reveals metal and the Deceptibrand. Said brand is red, but we'll assume it faded. Turns out this was an escape pod from their own ship back in MTMTE! Holy cow, that is so cool. Thundercracker puts it together rather quickly, actually. And we pull back to the Insecticons observing a settlement. They transform and attack the farm!

We cut to Prime and some other Autobots driving along what appears to be an empty riverbed. How'd they get to Bali, the waterskis or surfing? I say surfing! Unfortunately, they come across a local festival. Sideswipe finds an alternate route around. Sunstreaker needles him. "Since when did you know anything about this countryside?!"

"Listen, I've got search instincts like a proton-powered pathfinder." Sideswipe, you are a geek! Wheeljack ribs him, and Sideswipe decides they can go under the villagers! We cut back to the farm where the Insecticons are wreaking havoc. "I knew we should've sprayed!" says one farmer. Skyfire shows up, doing a brief gerwalk as he lets everyone out.

the Insecticons fire, but Brawn takes it like nothing. The Autobots are rather overconfident. Bombshell blows up the farm equipment while Shrapnel somehow animates them with electricity into Insecticlones. O-kay...

Brawn's still confident. "Ah, they're probably just optical illusion. I hope." And they fire. Skyfire gets snarky. "Still think they're optical illusions, Brawn?" The real Insecticons charge, forcing the Autobots back. They're hoping Prime and the others got the message. "They should be here by now!" And... we cut to Sideswipe pounding out a tunnel. "You and your shortcuts!"

Back to the farm, the Insecticons launch a shrapnel bomb, destroying the wheat. Windcharger uses his magnetic powers to repel them, and Skyfire can't transform. Kickback's... kick jammed his transform circuits. And to top it off, Megatron's flying in!

Megatron approaches them. They don't remember Megatron, but he feels... familiar. Some people think this means they weren't aboard the Nemesis, but come on! It's been four million years. And memory loss isn't unknown amongst the species. I rather like it.

Shrapnel asks for help with taking out the Autobots. Megatron's response? "With pleasure!" And they aim... and back to the tunnel, Prime has basically had it. "Stand back, Sideswipe. It's my turn!" "I'm not really tired, but if you insist." And Prime blows through, and they arrive at the battle.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker tackles Megatron... and are disposed of in literally two seconds. Prime transforms as Sideswipe is tossed back, being caught by Skyfire. The Autobots attack and the Decepticons leave for an oil refinery.

Wheeljack repairs Skyfire and he transforms, taking off for scouting missions. Prime tells him to be careful as they roll out. In the air, Soundwave reports that Skyfire's following them. The Insecticons double back to take him on. Shrapnel and Bombshell clamp onto his wings, forcing him down. Spike spots his crash. Wheeljack-one of the few Autobots who can fly-takes off and helps him out, but Kickback... yeah. Kicks him out of the sky. Prime catches him on his trailer. "Thanks, Prime. Keep on trucking!"

'Cause we got a great big convoy, rolling through the night. We got a great big convoy, ain't she a beautiful sight?

Back at a rather impressive refinery, the Decepticons attack. Soundwave begins cube production while Thundercracker begins pouring. We cut to the Autobots and Insecticons. Shrapnel using some sort of 'override waves' on SUnstreaker and Sideswipe, forcing them to play chicken with the Autobots. Trailbreaker activates his force field and saves them. Brawn... is fastball specialed up to the Insecticons by Prime. I have actually done a screen capture of this:

Image

"Go get 'em, Brawn!" he grapples with Shrapnel, but Kickback... yeah. "That's what I call going down to defeat... from 'de feet." *Groan* Skyfire saves him. "Thanks, Skyfire. I don't mind the takeoffs but the landings are murder!"

The Insecticons go to the refinery. There, the refinery's being drained dry. Megatron is simply leaning against the wall, fusion cannon off. :D He directs the Insecticons to an oil tanker and to drink their fill. There's some good animation of them 'eager'. They leap up and drink. Megatron notices Skyfire coming and they shoot at him. He returns the favor by knocking the Insecticons off the tanker. Megatron... says something odd as the Autobots roll up. "Soundwave, activate the Ravage cassette!" The what? Never heard it uttered like that before.

The two sides fight, Kick back sneaking up on the Autobots and firing shrapnel. They're blown into the oil-slicked water... and Thundercracker ignites it. They dive, come up under the dock where he is and burst through. Ah, strategy!

Ironhide is ordered to douse the tanker flames. I had forgotten he was there. Storm clouds roll in and Kickback declares the day is won! Shrapnel fires a missile into the clouds and begins generating lightning, directed down... and this is gonna hurt. He blows them back. Bumblebee and Spike hide, but Spike realizes how to defeat the lightning! He has Bumblebee transform and drive at them. Shrapnel fires... and nothing.

Rubber tires. I... am no expert. I'm not an expert on many things. But I don't think rubber tires would be enough to shield them from that amount of lightning. So they transform and roll out! And we get another awesome Prime moment.

Image

How much win is this guy smelted from?!

There's some great animation of him shooting the Insecticons. Megatron flies over, shoots the tanker and pushes it to the refinery. Prime sees it, dives in and wrestles with it.

Back on land, Trailbreaker's force field disrupts the Insecticlone control and they vaporize.

Megatron suddenly emerges from the water and readies his fusion cannon, but suddenly...
Image
"Megatron... CATCH!"

...

SO! Moving on, here. The Insecticons decide to distance themselves from the Decepticons. They eat some energon cubes while Megatron waddles to the shore, angry at them. "We befriended them and now they steal our power source!" And we have a brief civil war as the Insecticons flee and the Decepticons chase after them. Bumblebee sums it up best. "For once I wish megatron the best of luck!"

Prime notes they'll probably be back together, due to similar engineering. Wheeljack has a rather interesting observation. "And with the same engineering, they won't stay enemies for long."

... So is that why Megatron's never killed Starscream?

The Insecticons will be back, but the Autobots will be ready for them. And Prime... hugs Spike and Bumblebee. Kinda creepily, too. "Spoken like a true Autobot, Spike!" And Wheeljack ponders designing a "vehicle transform" for him. Maybe a motorcycle. Spike has the perfect comeback.

"Maybe we'd better wait until I'm old enough to drive?" "You've got yourself a deal!"

Thoughts
Not the worst. Pretty much a 'buy my toys!' episode, but the Insecticons are a rogue element here. Skyfire got his butt kicked... literally by Kickback.

So, one more episode until season two!

The ABC news logo flashes on the screen. The same anchorwoman, still no makeup and hair in a semi-plain bun, looks up to the screen

Good evening. Repair work on the interstate highway system continues unabated as Route 66 is reopened. A small ceremony was held before workers resumed their work. It is unknown how long before full repairs are made, but progress is astonishing.

"Over in Europe, tensions cooled between Warsaw Pact and NATO as their first joint-allied wargame scenario was held. Although details are scarce, it appears some rather... interesting new technology is being used by the soldiers. Our correspondent has more..."
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Mon May 23, 2011 3:51 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now we end the first successful season of Transformers! Appropriately, with more toys! some new characters!

Heavy Metal War
So... Metallica fights Black Sabbath?

We open on a long shot of a city in a background, then panning over to a construction site. Industry! The driving heart of America! This is undoubtedly part of the ongoing reconstruction process. A foreman drops that 'energy discs' are being installed that'll allow power to be tapped directly from Earth's magnetic field. Suddenly, green and purple-colored construction vehicles pull up. They have no drivers... and Decepticon brands on them. "Right! No one drives us, stupid human.We are the Constructicons! We drive ourselves!"

The foreman shouts out to stop them and the humans... show some savvy by using their vehicles. Unfortunately the Constructicons, being more than just vehicles, are also packing heavy weapons. The power convertors and energy discs are stolen. The workers approach. "Foolish man of flesh! If you interfere with us, you will be terminated!" The foreman's picked up and simply tossed into the throng of workers. And they fly off.

We cut to a temporary Decepticon base and we get part of the Constructicon's origins. "They were worth the time we spent building them in these caverns." We'll get back to that... later. We get a roll call and pan across for maximum toy-buying advertising!

Image

"Scavenger! Mixmaster! Long Haul! Bonecrusher! Hook, and myself." The last is Scrapper, the apparent leader. There's no 'real' leader with this group. Megatron asks if they have the energy components. Long Haul transforms and they appear in his bed. Ah, I love this series. They're unloaded and hooked up to equipment. Megatron boasts it'll give him the power to vanquish the Autobots. Starscream snarks.

"Forgive me, but I believe your boast sounds vaguely familiar." Not through any fault of mine!" Now that I ponder it... most of the time it wasn't Megatron's fault! "This device will enable me to strike at the Autobots through Optimus Prime's only weakness-his overdeveloped sense of honor!" And we get a badly-drawn shot of his profile as he laughs.

At the Ark, Ironhide's chest is showing a graphic. Spike points out it's one... but one too many as it's Megatron! Cliffjumper fires a freezing substance from his wrist sockets, but Megatron blows through the resulting snowball. Wheeljack tries out his 'shockblast cannon'... which blows up in his hands. ""Ugh, that's a shock all right."

Ironhide fires energy blasts from his fists, kinda like the Gobots. Megatron dances around them. Prime taunts him and Megatron responds. Oh, he doesn't even have his fusion cannon! He lands and explains himself. "I have come about a matter of Cybertron law, Optimus Prime." He challenges Prime to single combat, the loser's faction exiling themselves to deep space for eternity. Cliffjumper doesn't trust him, but it'd end the war and he can take him! Prime decides.

"Also, it is the law of our native planet. Very well, I accept."

"Somehow I felt you would, Optimus Prime. You have such a strong sense of honor!" Megatron takes off once again for the base. There he stands inside a large chamber. He orders an 'energy transfer' to begin. Scrapper pulls some levers and a slot opens. The Decepticons put in their power chip rectifiers-apparently these chips are what allow them to manifest their special powers. We also learn that challenge is supposed to be between among unmodified champions.

There's some electrical flashing and glowing. "I now possess all your powers, in addition to my own." Starscream tells him Teletraan-One could detect the powers, so Megatron in a fit of genre savvy sends the Constructicons a digging beneath the Ark to destroy Teletraan-One. Damn, he's got it together!

We cut to the Ark. Spike's worried and points out the obvious. "I mean they don't call those creeps 'Decepticons' for nothing!" Prime reassures him that the code specifies a fair battle, and points out Teletraan-One. The Autobots roll out to a large hole in the ground-a literal large hole in the ground. The Decepticons fly in. "Hail Optimus Prime, and welcome to defeat!" Confidence, eh?

Everyone slides down to sit. Chip is being supported by Ironhide. "Doesn't this remind you of the gladiatorial combats in Ancient Rome?" Ironhide is... rather on par for a giant robot probably not interested much in ancient history. "Maybe it would, if I knew what you were talking about." "It's Earth history, Ironhide. Skip it!"

Soundwave ejects Ravage and Laserbeak... and stroke's Ravage's head. He's an adowable widdle kitty of doom!

Prime and Megatron approach each other. They shake hands, Megatron applying electricity and tossing Prime. He uses Starscream's cluster bombs, null rays, Rumble's earthquake generators, Skywarp's teleporting... it's not good.

We cut to the Constructicons digging and reaching the underside of Mount Saint Hillary. Scavenger's shovel extends and he's picking up Teletraan-One... who is picking them up too.

Back to the fight, Prime fights back. But Megatron's chest emits bright flashes from Reflector. He also emits high-frequency sonics from Thundercracker. "You were good, Optimus Prime. But not good enough to fight Megatron! And so the battle ends!" And he shoots Prime. Ouch. He declares victory...

Okay, an aside. I'm sorry, but no. There's no way the Autobots wouldn't be able to tell Megatron's been enhanced up the wazoo here. No. Way.

Spike, Sparkplug and Chip go to him, Prime blaming himself... for not seeing the obvious there. *Sigh* The Autobots are ready for a fight, but Prime stops them. He lost... the irony is, of course, if they had attacked they might've destroyed most of the 'Cons right then and there.

Prime and the rest transform, Huffer volunteering to take the trailer. Aww. :) They roll for the Ark. And we get a rather sad line, too. "Autobots, roll out... perhaps for the last time." Good use of music, too.

At the Ark, the Constructicons break through the floor. Teletraan-One summons the Dinobots to defend.

The Constructicons aim their weapons. "There's Teletraan-One! For Megatron, destroy it!" "No destroy Teletraan-One! Dinobots destroy you!" And there's a fight that blows a hole in the side of the mountain! "Sludge not see these Decepticons before!" "Not see again either, because we dynamite them to pieces!"

The Dinobots transform and proceed to whoop the Constructicons. "It's bad news, Scrapper. They've brought out the heavy artillery!" Scrapper decides on something... "Then it's time we did the same, only heavier!"

The Constructicons transform, not quite vehicle and not quite robot. It is a strange conglomeration, their bodies merging together along with their minds. It is large, terrifying... it is Devastaor!

Image

The first-but not last-combiner in the show, and if you think about it, terrifying to behold. The Autobots pass the battle... and keep right on rolling. Even though the Dinobots are getting their butts handed to them. Ironhide wants to help... but Prime says no. "Remember the law!" You have got to be kidding me!

In the Ark, Prime's repaired. Wheeljack wonders about Megatron and Chip Chase is the one to figure it out. Teletraan displays the graphics of the Decepticons. "Then Megatron cheated, and we can ignore the agreement with them!" NO FRIGGIN' DUH!!!!!!!!

Outside, Devastator is gloating when a huge Autobot appears, taunting him. It's a hologram from Hound. The Autobots shoot through it, causing Devastator to disassemble. The Dinobots counterattack and the Constructicons go into lava.

The Autobots drive the Decepticons back. Ironhide is once more bloodthirsty. "Nail 'em, guys! Turn 'em to scrap!" And there's a rather good shot of him aiming. The Decepticons are also driven into the lava.

All that's left is Megatron. "No, Megatron! You will not have to fight all Autobot powers at once-just me!" And he's sent into the lava below. "It is ended." Spike wonders if the Great War is finally over. "Have we seen the end of this War, forever?"

"Who can say, Spike? In this vast universe, is anything truly forever?" And Megatron emerges from the lava. Closeup of his face. "We shall rise... again!"

Thoughts
There are some big flaws here. Two stand out-the Autobots not being able to tell Megatron was enhanced and not helping the Dinobots out against Devastator. Sorry, but no. It's just too stupid. Suspension of Disbelief, broken!

Overall thoughts on season one
This... holds up surprisingly well. Some great continuity, good fights, rather deep characterization. And the Decepticons were hardcore bastards! No wonder GI Joe never tangled with them-they'd be wiped out!

The Transformers as a species are quite tragic. Torn by millions of years of war, driven almost to extinction. I see the Autobots indulging in Earth culture simply because having fun is almost nonexistent back home. Cybertron, as I pointed out, is empty...

For us humans, this is a shock and puts to shame the Masquerade bullshit I almost always hate. "We're not ready"? When the hell are we gonna be ready, when the doors being kicked in and we can't defend ourselves?! Not for Optimus Prime and the Autobots! They're working with us so we're not wiped out. And dammit I love them for it!

So tomorrow begins season two. Transform and roll out!
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Tue May 24, 2011 6:38 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now begins season two with...


Autobot Spike
New title sequence! New version of the theme! logos sweep from behind a planet to Cybertron! Mount Saint Hillary erupts with orange and then violet energy... for some reason. The titles are clenched by steel jaws-and we pan out to Grimlock chomping on Thrust as the Dinobots transform and fire on Blitzwing, who triple-changes and fires on Omega Supreme... who transforms and steps on Blitzwing. Scrapper scoops him up as Astrotrain transforms from robot to steam engine to space shuttle! The Insecticons swim through lava! The lava changes to a grid-not that Grid-and Prime leads some season-two Autobots against Megatron as the grid spirals down, sucking them in!

We open on a shot of the Ark. Victor Caroli informs us of a strange experiment inside. We cut to the interior as Sprakplug is tinkering, with wires hooked up from Teletraan-One to a bed. Wheeljack and other Autobots wander over. The bed rotates over, revealing a mish-mash of Autobot parts built into some Frankenstein's Monster of a giant robot. He wanted to see what would happen if he applied a little human ingenuity to the spare parts.
Image
That's great, Sparkplug. Now put it away...

Spike thankfully refers to it as Frankenstein monster and not erroneously as Frankenstein itself. Bumblebee's confused. Ah, the days before the internet as we know it! "Ah, it'd take too long to explain, Bumblebee." The Autobot powers up and Ratchet... says something rather dumb. "Another Autobot? Even if it works, who needs it?" Ah, gee. Maybe to replace your dying population and/or more soldiers to fight the Great War?!

It begins moving and the eyes light up. "You see, Wheeljack. You're not the only mad scientist around here!" Has Perceptor shown up yet? It steps off, growls and... begins trashing equipment. And I mean trashing. Sparkplug can't control him and Prime calls for it to be stopped. It takes out Ironhide and Prowl, but Trailbreaker's force field reflects its blasts back at it. They fire and it drops, shorting out. They decide to put it in storage, Wheeljack deciding pretty much out of the blue he'd like to try to figure out how to "direct mental impulses to Autobot X." Well, at least there's a good excuse for it-transfer an Autobot mind to it while their body's being repaired. Only question is... when have we ever seen a need for that?

They get a call that Decepticons are in the vicinity of a new Air Force rocket base. Apparently Teletraan-One has an alarm for just that occasion. The Autobots transform and roll out-even with roll call! At the base, an Air Force officer is giving a speech to the press when the Decepticons fly in. "It takes much energy to launch these rockets, General. That energy now belongs to us!" Megatron fires and shoots in front of the grandstand... I think I saw some soldiers disappear in the fire! I'm counting those as deaths.

The Autobots arrive and transform, the two sides fighting. Irnohide, Ratchet and Windcharger are taken down, but Soundwave is kicked by Brawn... into one of the rockets. There's mass destruction everywhere as the rockets and fuel blow up. And then we see Bumblebee and Spike driving along the rocket debris. Spike... was not the one to get Bumblebee to bring him along. "You sure we did the right thing by coming here, Bumblebee?" "No, but we could hardly stay behind either!"

Okay, maybe you could've gone along Bumblebee... but leave the wise human behind!!!

Soundwave reports to Megatron. "Energy supply, inadvertently destroyed. "There is nothing left to take!" Just as Megatron says that, one of the rockets blow up. That's one of the most unintentionally poignant lines in Transformers, methinks. The Decepticons retreat, but he transforms into gun mode and shoots Bumblebee, making sure the Autobots don't follow. Pretty smart. Spike's pretty banged up. Ratchet transforms into ambulance mode while Prowl escorts him there.

Spike is operated on and the doctor... makes an obvious remark that gets Sparkplug thinking about Autobot X. Bumblebee's repaired while Spike's readied to... have his mind transferred into Autobot X. The transfer is performed... and Autobot Spike begins to move. Sparkplug is beside himself with worry, being held back by Prime. "Spike, do you know me? It's your Dad!" "Dad? I'm Spike?! Me, no!" And he begins rampaging. "Spike, son. WHat have we done to you?!"

Spike rampages some and Sideswipe and Sunstreaker try to stop him. Prime orders low power shots only and Spike's taken down. Spike says it's hard to think. "Like something's telling me to do bad things!" They think it's a side effect of the mind transfer... but I don't think so. Autobot X rampaged before. Maybe that's it, not Spike himself.

Prime tells them they've got to go back to the Air Force base to help with repairs. "Every comfort will be provided to you here." And... we see Laserbeak spying on them, flying back to report to Megatron. He makes plans to try to twist Spike to his side. Starscream reminds him he's tried this before-and he has! With the Dinobots. "What surpeme irony! Turning their friend into their foe!"

Back at the Ark, Bumblebee is still being worked on. Spike's watching a movie on Teletraan-One... and it's a version of Frankenstein. Gee, this isn't a recipe for disaster, nosiree! Spike, predictably, goes nuts and begins trashing things again. Wheeljack, Sparkplug Ratchet try to stop him but he blasts off with rocket boots! Bumblebee rolls out to track him down, his radio still not fixed.

We cut to the Reflectors with their last lines in the series-no, seriously. This is the last time he/they speak. "Reflector to Megatron. I have him in my sights and will maintain watch until your arrival." He's watching Spike as he sits on a cliffside. He ponders helping the world like Prime... then says screw it. "I'm not like Prime! I'm a monster!" "With enough power to conquer mankind!"

Bumblebee arrives and tries talking him down, but nope. He's knocked off the cliff and hangs on for dear life, seeing the Decepticons fly in. Spike starts attacking, doing some damage. The seekers dive in, hitting Spike and taking him down. They land and Spike tries to act tough, but Megatron lands and begins bargaining, talking him down a bit. "Together we will punish those who did this to you." That'd be you.

""I-I don't know! It's getting harder and harder to think!" "Then let Megatron think for you, Autobot Spike!" Gee, that's always gone well! Spike joins him and shakes his hand. "Pay reall bad!"

At the rocket base, the Air Force manages to launch some rockets. The general's naturally excited. "Look at 'em go! Aren't they a gorgeous sight?" Prime is... subdued. "Very impressive... for primivite rocket technology." Ouch! Bumblebee pulls up, blowing through a guard post. He tells Prime what's going on and the Autobots follow. They arrive at the cliff and try talking him down.

Turns out Spike's got Megatron in gun mode behind his back. He starts ranting and fires at Prime, blowing him into a rock and the rock crumbles. Prime tries again to talk him down and Spike uses Megatron, the Decepticons coming in from behind. A firefight breaks out, but the Autobots are trapped in the middle. Prime dodges Spike's blasts, still trying to talk him down. Wheeljack rolls up with Sparkplug, who tries to help his son.

Sparkplug asks what's going on-but is blasted off the cliff. Spike snaps out of it for a brief moment and launches a grappling hook, saving his father. Megatron implores him to use his power. And Spike... uses him against the Decepticons. Yay! Megatron gets free, transforms and leads a retreat. Spike's contrite and makes up with Sparkplug.

Back at the Ark, Spike's mind is transferred back. The transfer device sparks and shorts... but Spike's back! Spike and Bumblebee share a high-five.
Image
"Hmm, I wonder-I wonder what'd it be like for a robot mind to be transferred... to a human?"

Wait a few years, 'Bee.

Thoughts
A fairly good episode, here. Kinda meta with the mind transfer. I loved them getting Fraknenstein and the Monster right.

And from the TF Wiki, here is a list of the parts used for Autobot X.

Image

* Prowl's forehead crest and right chest/front bumper
* Bluestreak's left door
* Sunstreaker's left shoulder
* Hound's shoulder-mounted missile launcher and right fender/shoulder
* Trailbreaker's arm cannon, left chest, and left thigh
* Optimus Prime's left wrist and parts of the right leg
* Jazz's photon rifle, mounted on his right arm
* the back of Jazz's left leg
* Jazz's crotch

And that line about nothing left to take... wonder how many times that happened during the Great War.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Wed May 25, 2011 4:08 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now time for an episode that focuses on a character not many think about...

Changing Gears
We open on some miners pushing out a cart laden with gold. Another runs up and... the Decepticons attack. Ooh, the tunnel is collapsed and buries one of the miners! Soundwave pumps his arms when he ejects Ravage... Laserbeak's ejected and grabs one of the minders while Ravage digs out the other one, apparently not buried but simply blocked. The remaining miner's radioing for help, mentioning the Decepticons by name. I always love that. Starscream goes to blast him... but Megatron stops him. He wants them to call for help.

At the Ark, Prime answers the call! "Autobots, assemble at once!" Related to Steve Rogers, perhaps? The Autobots run along, all save Gears who ambles at best. "Aww, wouldn't you know it? Every time I get set to lube my cable relays something happens." Bumblebee mounts and does a flip over him in a rather cool bit.

ImageIt's not your squeaking that.s the problem-it's your squawking!" Prime leads them to the mining camp and they quickly pull up to the edge of a cliff. He... shushes them. With his finger to his mouthplate. It is adorable.

Image

Ironhide does the 'okay' sign back and they get down on their bellies. They see the Decepticons and human prisoners and Prime directs everyone around. Prime fires and there's a fight. Megatron transforms and blasts the prisoner cage open and the humans... wander right into the Autobot's midst. "Autobots, don't fire!"

Megatron shoots some boulders and we get some more wonky TF physics. "Megatron energized those boulders!" They fall down and begin bowling over the Autobots-quite literally. Gears is shot into a hole formed by Megatron's blasts. Kinda cool, there. Starscream goes to kill him, but Megatron prevents it. "Fool! That Autobot is the key to my plan-the plan that will bring us final victory!" Skywarp takes off with him as Prime wakes up.

We cut to Africa and a Decepticon installation-a solar needle. Gears will somehow help Megatron draw power from the sun. Gears snarks off and STarscream stuns him with his null ray. Megatron opens up his chest. "A secret sensor scan of all the Autobots reveal that you alone have the special circuit I need." Gears is suddenly... nice?! "I feel so good-natured!" Oh, dear Primus... The circuit modulated his personality.

The solar needle activates and shoots a green beam at the sun, energizing towers all around and causing lightning. We cut to Pisa, Paris and New York City as tremors start up. At the Ark, the ground's shaking too. They were about to formulate a rescue plan, but Bumblebee spots solar flares. Rocks tumble from Mount Saint Hillary. "Megatron is behind this. I'd bet my titanium torsion bars on it." Safe bet, Prime.

Back at the solar needle, Megatron boasts. "Nothing in the universe can stop me!" Dude, don't take lessons from Cobra Commander! Starscream bosses around Gears, who takes it rather well. Megatron notes it won't be long for Prime to find him. We pan up to the sun and it's not looking healthy. Back at the Ark... "Teletraan-One has confirmed my fears. Someone has tapped into the heart of the sun, creating a dangerous instability. Unless this process can be stopped, the sun will explode in slightly less than two hours." Da-yum! The beam is coming from the geographic center of Africa... how they gonna get there, Skyfire?

Although when the beam launched, the origin point was Africa, so kudos there.

Back at the solar needle, the ground quakes. Starscream's concerned, but Megatron brushes him off. Makes sense he'd notice that, being the scientist. We cut to a stampede of zebras at the Autobots... have made it to Africa.

Skyfire, Skyfire, Skyfire....

Jazz and Sunstreaker cut a swath through the jungle on Prime's flanks. Back at the needle, Gears is... Gears. "I should be very angry with you, Megatron. You are an evil son of a retrorat. But for some reason I just can't get too upset." Starscream shoots at him, but Megatron deflects it. It slings Gears into Soundwave, causing a cube to hit an energy arc which almost vaporizes Starscream. Gears glances back at his circuit as we cut back to the Autobots. They jump a canyon, Bumblebee almost not making it. Wheeljack goes back and hauls him up.

They reach the needle. Bumblebee doesn't wanna risk Gears getting hurt, but Prime knows they have to take the risk. They fire, but there's a reflective energy shield up! Clever, Megatron. Prime notes the only hole in the shield is... where the sun's energy enters. He gets ready to block it, but Ironhide stops him. Cliffjumper suddenly transforms and jumps into the way of one of the beams, disrupting the force field! Megatron calls the Decepticons to battle while the Autobots advance.

Cliffjumper's still alive, a little dizzy. They come upon the solar needle and advance. Gears tries to get his circuit back, but Starscream stops him... sounding like Skywarp. Bumblebee rams Starscream from behind, saving Gears. Laserbeak and Ravage are ejected and gang up on Bumblebee. Gears is... chipper. "Isn't this a fun fight?" I miss the old Gears...

At the control station, Megatron and Prime fight. Prime tries to reason with Megatron, but no go. We cut to the sun destabilizing. Megatron gets the upper hand and tosses Prime at one of the energy arcs! Gears retracts his hand and a gun appears. He shoots at one of the pylons. Prime's gun is destroyed-and doesn't reappear for the rest of the episode!

Energy arcs all over. Megatron transforms and blasts Gears. The Decrpticons advance and Megatron calls for the Autobots to surrender. "Don't listen to him! Destroy the solar needle!" Alas... they drop their weapons. The ground shakes as Prime pleads with him again. Megatron orders Gears to repair the solar needle. Prime tries to order him not to, but Megatron knows psychology! "Gears, I asked you for a favor!" Dude, not like you're asking him to go to a seven-eleven and get you an energon shake!

Irnohide's irate. "What did you do to Gears, you monster? You-yah turned him nice!" Gears uses that hooked welder seen before. Megatron orders the Decepticons to prepare to kill Prime. "Megatron, would you give a condemned mechanism one last request?" "Yes, but be quick about it!" "Gears, I wonder if you'd do me a favor now?" So Gears shoots the pylon. Prime rushes Prime and the rest of the Autobots rush the Decepticons.

Megatron calls for battle stations... but they simply scatter. Ratchet channels his Marvel Comics version...

Image
Everybody was kung-fu fighting...

Wheeljack pummels Skywarp. Starscream shoots at Gears but Gears grabs him, spins him around and tosses him into a jimk pile. Soundwave gets Ravage and Laserbeak back and the Decepticons retreat without even being ordered to!

At the control station, Prime kicks Megatron's butt. And then kicks him into the air! Ironhide calls for them to go after them, but no go. Wheeljack and Ratchet-the latter kicking a boulder so it deflects a falling pylon away from Wheeljack-are called in to stop the solar needle. Ratchet goes to unscrew a panel, but Prime just rips it away. They've got the standard 'which wire is it?', the caveat this time is both wires look the same. Prime pulls out the left wire... and the solar needle is shut down. And it also restored the sun's equilibrium.

Gears reminds them to get his circuit. Trailbreaker announces, "We took a vote and, well, we decided we like Gears the way he is now." Ooh, that is subversive! Gears threatens them and they give him back his circuit. They blow up the solar needle and Gears is back to normal.

Thoughts
Interesting focus on a character we see very little of. Also rather subversive in that they preferred the nice Gears! Also, Ratchet kicketh much ass.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Thu May 26, 2011 4:58 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now for one of.... those episodes. The ones where you just kinda go... huh?

City of Steel
We open on New York. We see the Twin Towers, the Statue of Liberty-and Laserbeak buzzing by said Statue. He flies around and shoots a manhole cover with eye beams. Said cover... levitates up, allowing him egress into the sewers. Maybe it was a transmission beam? He flies up to some doors, shoots again and they open too. At least it's consistent?

Scavenger of the Constructions is being raised up on a platform while Hook acts snooty. And sounds snooty, too. Scrapper snaps back that the plans were the hard part and that the others botched them up. Megatron takes it in stride. "SILENCE! I want you working, not nagging at each other like hyper-driven chatteroids!" Soundwave reports no Autobots in the vicinity, so Scavenger whacks at the roof of their underground base. Long Haul bitches that he's hauling debris. "I didn't join this outfit to be a dump truck!" Where's that shot of Pinkie Pie with the trombone again?

Mixmaster rolls up and does his syllable repetition. "Right-right-right, Mega-mega-megatron!" He squirts acid at the base... and a large block of rock falls on the platform. We cut to aboveground... and it's the Empire State Building?!

We cut to the Ark as they see a news report of the Empire State Building's sinking. Prime surmises it's Megatron, natch. "If we don't get to New York City soon, there won't be a city left to get to!" Bumblebee takes off, forgetting Spike. Prime radios Sparkplug to tell Wheeljack to meet them in Central Park. And we cut to Wheeljack and his group using hydrofoils to asss by the Statue of Liberty. Laserbeak passes by, too.

Back to Prime and his group, and then to the Decepticon base. L:aserbeak reports them heading to Central Park. How did Laserbeak know that was where they were headed? Megatron orders Scavenger and Long Haul there. At the park, the Autobots roll up when Rumble, Frenzy and Soundwave show up and do this rather neat little pre-battle taunt.

Rumble. "Don't you tourists know hanging out in Central Park-"
Frenzy. "-can be hazardous-"
Soundawve. "-to your health?"

Bumblebee's blasted in the rear and blown off his tires. Rumble and Frenzy utilize piledrivers while underground, Scavenger uses his sensors to track Prime. He bashes the ceiling so hard, cracks form on the screen. :p Okay, a layering problem with the cells. On the ground, Prime tosses Soundwave before the ground gives way. He lands in Long Haul's bed and Megatron does something... clever. "I've severed your motor relays, Prime. Welcome to the wonderful world of suspended animation!" He flies up out of the hole, orders the Autobots out of New York City and declares it to be his!

We cut to... some time later, when Megatron shows off his new headquarters. I... guess it's the Empire State Building. Oh, and the Autobots are still there. A bit... odd.

How flippin' quickly did it take for the COnstructicons to rebuild the building?! I know they can move fast, but da-yum!

We cut to the Brooklyn Bridge as humanity begins a mass exodus. The Autobots are stuck in a traffic jam, but Spike has an idea. They take an offramp. Back underground, Megatron boasts that North America will soon fall. He also goes slightly paranoid over Prime's chassis. Understandable since Prime's eyes are flashing. He has Hook disassemble him. "With finesse, and pleasure!" He transforms and uses a lightsaber, so obvious I'm not gonna even use striked script.

We cut to after and Long Haul dumps out the remains of Prime. Cre-epy! Megatron pulls some wires trailing from Prime's skull and Prime... talks. Well, no 'throat', just a speaker behind the mask-possibly. He sends out telepathic radio waves and his arms... float over and grab onto Megatron's shins.

Image

They... somehow knock Megatron over. He orders the COnstructions to dispose of the parts, "But the head is mine!" He's got a trophy room back on Cybertron with Sentinel Prime's head, methinks.

We cut to... Spike swimming in the East River. He is superhuman. No, he's on Bumblebee's shoulders. They wade to a storm drain. The Autobots enter it and... it's really spacious. Mirage scouts ahead, invisible. Fortunately Hound can track him. In another part of the sewers, Scrapper, Long Haul and Hook gloat about what they've done with Prime's chassis. All except for his right arm and laser rifle. Scrapper gropes for words and Hook helps him out. Scrapper tosses the arm into Long Haul's bed as they transform and go topside.

Back with the Autobots, Ratchet grouses. "I feel like I'm in some messy swamp, not under the biggest city in North America!" I'm fairly certain that's Mexico City, but I can't vouch for 1985. Hound's sensors suddenly indicate Prime's behind them... and a large alligator-like robot appears. With Prime's colors, and chest windows. They can't fight him without risk of alerting the Decepticons, so they trap him on an abandoned subway car. Ratchet hotwires it and it rolls on the tracks. "Train leaving for Madison Avenue, Park Avenue Lexington Avenue... and the River!"

Topside, the city's being converted into a neo-Cybertron. Skywarp just shoves a car into Mixmaster's feeder and out pop a lot more girders than what's put in. Subspace? Mass shifting? Something? Starscream even... agrees with Megatron's plan! "The place is finally starting to feel like home!"

That's actually kind of a sad line if you think about it... which I will.

Underground, Hound locates Prime's head... sitting on a shelf. They're horrified. Ratchet pulls his wires and he can sense his legs. He sends out waves and they... float over. And they realize the alligator was part of Prime! They track it down and Ratchet, Mirage and Hound wrestle him over. Prime sends out telepathic waves and it stops. Okay, that made sense. We get an awkward, "This Allagiatacon is big and heavy!" No, really?!

One scene change later and Prime is almost himself again. "Thanks for helping me... pull myself together." He tracks his arm aboveground and has Mirage radio the others. We cut to Ironhide's group as they're walking down the street. Bluestreak spots Prime's arm, hooked up to the top of one of the towers. It turns...

We cut to Megatron at the Empire State, seeing Prime's together again. He orders Soundwave to fire and the arm... well, it fires! Soundwave presses the same button over and over, which somehow aims the arm and fires it. It does quite a bit of damage, but then again it is Prime's gun.

The Autobots retreat, transforming and rolling out. But Bluestreak and Hound fall down a hole. Rumble's driving a train at them. A closeup and... it's Frenzy. And it's Frenzy throughout the rest of the scene. They blast at it, eventually blowing the car up. Did I mention there was no visible weaponry on the train?

We cut to Bumblebee and some more Autobots as 'battle taxis' approach, this time deploying weaponry. Okay... this is kinda cool and makes sense. Megatron could also overhear what Spike says... from the screen. And inside Bumblebee. "Not anymore. More Constructicon handiwork coming up!"

"Right you are, human!" Bumblebee, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker drive right over the taxis while Prime transforms. The Autobots roll right to some gun emplacements manned by the Constructicons, but they miss. Prime rolls around a corner and crushes the battle taxis, then swipes the gun emplacements, taking them out. He rolls up to Ironhide and where his arm is. The two run up to the tower and Ironhide deploys a grappling hook and pulley. Hey, that's Jazz's ability! ;) Ratchet goes up, too.

Spike thinks they need help. No they don't, kid. Soundwave notes they're out of cannon range. i think he means they're out of the firing zone. Megatron calls in the seekers for an air strike. They transform and buzz the tower. Ratchet and Ironhide are glass half-empty and fell, respectively. "They can't miss!" "Neither can we!" And... yeah. Ironhide and Ratchet are hit, but so are the seekers, who crash through the tower. Skywarp calls to land but Starscream calls him a coward. Pot, this is kettle. You're black.

Sideswipe flies up and lands on Starscream's back. "Say uncle or I'll shove your nose in your afterburner!" "Uncle!" And Sideswipe manages to wrestle Starscream into the river. "Gee, I didn't know Decepticons had uncles!"

Megatron calls for Devastator. The Constructcons transform into vehicle mode and then combine. There's pretty neat shot of Wheeljack rounding a corner, seeing them and then freezing in terror. Devastator knocks over some buildings and climbs the tower. At the same time, Bumblebee and Spike... somehow have entered the control room? Well, if Laserbeak and Ravage can do it to the Ark...

Soundwave... spazzes. "Intruders, INTRUDERS!!!" Megatron shoots at them, chases them... and manages to shoot the control console. The arm's now inoperative. Soundwave launches Laserbeak and Buzzsaw to chase after them.

Outside, Devastator has Prime. And he simply uses Prime to knock Ratchet and Ironhide through the outer wall. Awesome! :D "Devastator says your end is near!" On ground level, Wheeljack is operating some helicopters. "I saw this once when I linked my databank to an old Earth televison transmission. I think it was celled... King Kong." Okay, points lost for the last bit, but still cool that Autobots are watching the classics. The choppers fire missiles at Devastator, but they do no damage and knock the helicopters out of the sky. Hound comforts Wheeljack. "Don't let it get to you, Wheeljack. Maybe Devastator saw the same picture!" A thousand points and an energon cookie for that. :D

Inside the tower, Ratchet and Ironhide wake up... and hear Megatron above them, shouting orders. They fire at the ceiling and Megatron and Soundwave go tumbling. "Nice shooting, sport."

Bumblebee and Spike reach the top of the tower and shout out that the arm's not under Decepticon control anymore. Laserbeak and Buzzsaw fly out of nowhere and fire, sending them scrambling. Prime sends some radio waves to the arm and it blasts Devastator, sending him tumbling down-with Prime. Ratchet hangs Ironhide out a window and Prime's saved. Devastator... crashes and reverts back to the COnstructicons. Rather battered, too. Megatron swears vengeance as he flies off.

We cut to Prime, trying out his arm. It sounds like squeaky hinges on an old gate! We see New York, restored to its former 'glory'. How long did that take?! The Autobots transform and roll out, the last shot being Bumblebee's bumper and an 'I love NY' bumper sticker.

Image

Thoughts
Meh, not the best episode. Not the worst, but not the best. And either there's some massive time jumps or Transformers can build stuff like 'that'. *Snaps fingers*.

Good to see the rebuilding of New York going well, too. Must've been spared the damage inflicted on the Mid-Atlantic States. ;)
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Sun May 29, 2011 6:07 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Attack of the Autobots
Gee, there's a promising title... We open on the Ark's exterior, then inside. Prime, Ratchet and Prowl are working on some... gear when Teletraan-One reports Decepticons approaching from the southwest. Three blips. Prime calls for the Autobots to transform and roll out! The seekers attack from the air while Soundwave, Laserbeak and Rumble attack from the ground. Thundercracker sends some debris falling down. Prowl hits it, jumps into the air, transforms, keeps going up and up... and Laserbeak sends him crashing down. "I'll be ready for you next time, bird brain!" He readies a bolo whip which snags the Cassetticon.

Prime's... warning diode is pulsating. Just then, Thundercracker and Starscream go in for a strafing run. He knocks Ratchet out of the way, but right into Rumble's path as his piledrivers open a fissure. We cut to Starscream and Megatron. "This is the moment I've been waiting for! Now, Starscream." Starscreeam sprays him with some gas and... he's invisible. Or rather we see outlines. He sprays down Starscream and they enter the Ark. Inside, they acces the Autobot's recharging chambers-basically pods that rotate out of the floor. Starscream gives Megatron a personality destabilizer-and there's a neat bit where he opens his chest and the interior is visible. And Megatron places it in the control console.

Image

Outside, Rumble's wondering why Prime and Ratchet didn't hit bottom.... when they 'float' out of the chasm. Megatron flies overhead and calls for the Decepticons to retreat. Rumble transforms into tape mode, getting out of Ratchet's grip, then transforms back to robot mode and flies out. And people say he's dumb. ;)

The Autobots are confused, and Prime is wary. The next day, the Autobots are recharging. Prime orders everyone to the chambers. We've got a big day ahead!" Teletraan-One reports about a rocket launch at Harding Space Center. It's a satellite that'll beam solar energy to Earth. And Prime knows the Decepticons will want it. "We've got to get to the launch site and protect... guard... defend..." His voice deepens and his eyes change color to red!

Brawn complains of feeling very strange. Teletraan-One reports of an evil presence infiltrating Headquarters. Megatron's voice comes from... nowhere. Or some comm link installed in the personality destabilizer. Oh, this thing is gonna come up! Megatron gloats.

"Very good, Teletraan-One! The personality destabilizer I placed inside YOUR recharging chamber has converted your Autobot friends from sentimental fools to MY kind of mechanisms."

We pan across the Autobots as their eyes are all glowing red. Which in TF terms means EVIL! Teletraan-One argues back... which is kinda advanced for the computer. "Autobots are noble. Your plan can never succeed."

"Oh, it can't, eh? Autobots, obey my first command. Silence that annoying computer." Prime slams his fist through the console as Teletraan shows... fear? "Optimus Prime, no!" And Teletraan-One shorts out. Megatron gives them orders.

We cut to the desert and Spike, Sparkplug, Bumblebee and Jazz. Jazz is tooling around, ready to test out his new sound system. He stops, almost causing Bumblebee to rear end him. Jazz's speakers extend-and they are monsters. Bumblebee drives off while the speakers rumble. Headquarters is empty as Bumblebee pulls in-except for Bluestreak. "You look tired. Perhaps you'd like to recharge!" But the 'Bee notices the hole punched through Teletraan-One. Bluestreak manhandles him. Oh, no!

Back at the desert, Spike and Sparkplug have had about enough. The mountain begins crumbling! "Rock and roll with real rocks!" "It's called an avalanche!" The humans get in as Jazz turns off the music and drives off to Headquarters. there, they see Bluestreak forcing Bumblebee into the recharge chamber. Bluestreak shoots at him. "be careful with that thing! Somebody could get messed up!" Bluestreak fires more, sending Jazz scurrying for cover. Jazz tosses what looks like a barbell at him, knocking him out. Sparkplug notes with a visual inspection his reset realy was hit. Wow, he's good. Spike gets Bumblebee out of the chamber.

Sprakplug gets Teletraan-One repaired and we see Megatron doing the deed... outlined. Did the camera capture the outlines?! They also learn all of the Autobots were changed from good to evil. We cut to the Autobots barreling through a checkpoint at a base and transforming. Prime starts tearing through Air Force jets. Back at the base, Teletraan-One reports of the attack. Bumblebee and Spike tear off after them. To do what, exactly? Ratchet and Hound pull up to a building to steal the plans for the satellite mentioned earlier. A few floors up, the designer, Doctor Harding, receives a call informing her the satellite will be launched. She gets the plans, but alarms go off. "A party of enemy Autobots is attacking this building." That's... an odd turn of phrase. How'd they know they were 'enemies'? Harding quickly deduces they want the plans. Hound and Ratchet waddle through the hall in a hilarious and rare concession to scale.

[img][IMG]http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/RK_Striker_JK_5/Waddle.jpg[/img][/IMG]

Harding breaks a window as they break through and jumps out, fortunately landing on a canopy below. We cut to Prime channeling Megatron at the Air Force base. "Let none stand against us!" And back to Bumblebee and Spike as they approach the checkpoint. Bumblebee's aghast at the destruction. He tries to stop Prime, but is knocked aside and it's kinda traumatic to see them like this.

We cut to ground control as they're about to abort the launch. Megatron rips through the wall. "This operation is now under my control!" He shoots up the computers and has Soundwave reprogram the main computer. He uses a jack extending from his finger, like a mini-Robocop. He's gonna use the rocket to fly to Cybertron with the satellite!

Back at the Ark, Sparkplug has built an attitude exchanger. It will drain the destabilizing energy and recharge him with purifying ions. Bluestreak wakes up and begins firing. Ah, a volunteer!

Sparkplug lays it out. "First, drain evil. Second, recharge good." Jazz has one more addition. "Let's hope it don't finish up with third, bury Jazz." He distracts Bluestreak with a light show as Sparkplug uses the attitude exchanger. And of course, it works! He tells them Megatron's orders about wrecking the jets and capturing the plans. Speaking of which, we cut to Doctor Harding as she continues to evade Hound and Ratchet. She jumps into a dumpster. Hound... merely crushes the first one. Pragmatic, there. He goes for the second one, but Jazz distracts him.

Hound grabs the dumpster Harding's in... and tosses it. It breaks apart and she si somehow not crippled. Sparkplug uses the attitude exhanger on Hound, then on Ratchet. He looks... stoned as it's used. ;)

At the base, the military's trying to blockade Prime, but he simply rips through their equipment. It's rather sobering seeing his raw power. He simply kicks through a truck while Prowl and Brawn flank him. Bumblebee tries again. He leaps onto a jet. "Listen to me, Prime! If you're gonna destroy these aircraft, you'll have to destroy me with them!" Prime's answer is succinct. "As you wish, Autobot! Prepare for termination!" He close in on his chest windows and Bumblebee's reflection, rather nice shot.

We cut to an aircraft as Skyfire shoots it down. Interesting they knew him by name. The Autobots catch up to him, but he's a mile high according to Sparkplug. Hound notes it's magnetic, so he uses his particle beam gun and has Bluestreak get his attention. Hound's aim is true and Skyfire's free! The Autobots board and fly for the air force base.

Back at said base, Prime catches Bumblebee and holds him up, about ready to rip him in two. Spike runs forward, but Skyfire and the other Autobots arrive. Hound shoots the attitude exchangers, catching all but Prime. Prime transforms and his trailer opens up into Combat Deck! Roller rolls off, too. Combat Deck fires!
Image

It also resembles the toy, here.

Hound hits Combat Deck and it stops firing, then shoots Roller. There's only one attitude exchanger left. Bumblebee grabs it and runs for Prime, who's crying out. He breaks a jet in two. Bumblebee tries talking him down again. "I know you're not evil! I believe in you!" As all children did in the 80's. Prime begins fighting it, probably aided by his two other components being restored. Bumblebee places the exchanger on his leg and he's restored. Yay!

Prime learns of Megatron's plan. Harding reminds him the satellite needs to go into orbit.
Image

Prime leads the Autobots onto Skyfire as he blasts off for the launch pad. There, the Decepticons board the rocket. Megatron rips a panel off-not smart-and the board it. Skyfire arrives and Prime and Ratchet jump out, landing on the nosecone. Ratchet goes to disconnect the satellite, but Megatron tries stopping them with more dakka! Sparkplug says they've gotta disable the rocket so they can't use it to escape to Cybertron... ah, space bridge? Most of them can reach it under their own power at the moment!

Well, Jazz climbs onto Skyfire's wing and crawls to the nosecone. He transforms and uses his light and sound show, disrupting the rocket. and rupturing the fuel tanks! The Decepticons abandon the rocket as Prime gets the satellite off. Skyfire catches them and Prime orders him to take them up, "Way up!" And he tosses the satellite into orbit. Because he's Optimus Prime, dammit!

Back at the Ark, Ratchet shows off the destabilizer. Prime thanks Bumblebee and Ratchet grouses, since he was the one to save the satellite! Sparkplug joins in because he made the attitude exchanger. Jazz interrupts by reminding them of the 47 jets destroyed. Prime reminds them they'll be repaing those aircraft as Bumblebee and Spike hand them tools. "Lift that wrench, tote that retro-charger!"

Thoughts
This raises some... interesting questions. Was this simple brainwashing, reprogramming? How much of the Autobots were 'changed' here? Are they mere machines or more than meets the eye? How much of it was hardware and how much software?

I do wish Harding was used more. She had spunk! And the satellite... obviously this is the beginning of the movement to Earth we'll see in season three. ;)
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby Name_Violation » Mon May 30, 2011 2:51 am

Motto: "It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."
Weapon: Multi-Function Sword
2 more of my favorite episodes. I cant wait til you get to a few more.

I'm warning you, if you dont finish I'm gonna hold an interwebz grudge...

...INTERWEBZ GRUDGE......

Just sayin...

Good stuff so far. keep it it.

srsly interwebz grudge...

jst sayin
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby shamone » Mon May 30, 2011 11:10 am

best thread going

loving the stuff
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Mon May 30, 2011 5:55 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Name_Violation wrote:2 more of my favorite episodes. I cant wait til you get to a few more.

I'm warning you, if you dont finish I'm gonna hold an interwebz grudge...

...INTERWEBZ GRUDGE......

Just sayin...

Good stuff so far. keep it it.

srsly interwebz grudge...

jst sayin


Aww, I'm shaking in my transistors. ;) Thanks for posting. What episodes? And it's just a bit... discouraging to not see anyone else posting.


shamone wrote:best thread going

loving the stuff

I wouldn't say that... but thanks.




And now an episode that casts light on the Autobots... in perhaps not the most flattering light.

Traitor
No, not the NJO novel that had me frothing at the mouth. ;)

We open on a laboratory and two scientists working on devices known as electro-cells. One boasts they'll solve all of Earth's energy problems. At least until Doctor Harding's satellite is fully transmitting power. But they still need to be stabilized. Skywarp blows a hole in the roof. "I just love opening presents!" The hole's widened and Starscream grabs the cells, brushing the scientists aside. Megatron arrives. "Those electro-cells are too ticklish to withstand your heavy-handed mauling!" He grabs the cells and lifts, but the scientists hang on. They warn him, but are brushed off, fall fifty feet... and don't die. The bald one says if they explode, they could take Earth with them.

Megatron says to... exercise extreme caution. He also blows up the lab to prevent more cells being made. The scientists flee, but other workers probably perished in the explosion. At the Ark, Cliffjumper pulls up and reports he's located the cells. Prime asks where. "In the same area Mirage patrolled yesterday." mirage is aghast that the Decepticons were there. Cliffjumper jumps to a massive conclusion, because apparently the Decepticons not being there yesterday means they'll never be there again. Prime chastises him and calls for them to transform and roll out!

At a Decepticon base, Starscream is bitching that the cells aren't being used. Megatron is... making sure they don't explode. Hmm, that's rather intelligent of him. Starscream powers them up and the two verbally spar. STarscream thinks the energon cubes are stable, but nope. The energy drains and the cell... shorts out? I don't think it exploded. And he's a scientist? Megatron threatens to kill him... but the Autobots pull up to a cliff edge overlooking their equipment. Cliffjumper flings more baseless accusations around. They jump down and Laserbeak spots them, flying to Soundwave and reporting. Apparently the Insecticons are nearby and he has Soundwave contact them.

The Autobots move in for attack. "Try and remember which side you're on, Mirage!" Prime chews him out. "Keep your mind on the Decepticons, Cliffjumper!" "That's just what I'm doing!" Ouch! He runs up and tries to grab a cell, but STarscream shoots him. Cliffjumper... actually does the, "Jump him, Prime!" bit and Screamer falls for it! "Poor Starscream, the oldest tricks only work on the biggest jerks!"

Mirage tussles with Skywarp. I saw a fanart of the two fighting. Teleportation against cloaking. He tries to punch Skywarp, but misses and gets caught in a full-nelson. Mirage flips him and tackles Skywarp to the ground, but the Insecticons fly by and shoot Mirage. He rips off Skywarp's Decepticon brand, though. And we get a closeup.

Image
Foreshadowing!

Prime and Megatron fight, arguing about legal technicalities of ownership when Kickback attacks from behind, surprisingly not kicking him! Megatron kicks at him and taunts him while the Insecticons shoot at Cliffjumper, also damaging the equipment and sending feedback through the cells. Megatron rushes over, bowling over one STarscream while another looks on.

Image

He shoots nitrogen from his fusion cannon... somehow. And smothers the flames, although it was more electricity shooting off. Prime calls for a retreat. At the Ark, Mirage is fixed up by Ratchet. Cliffjumper is a giant ass, accusing Mirage of not reporting the Decepticons being there. Prime calls for proof and orders him to the ridge for surveillance. "You can depend on me, Prime!" Ratchet tells Mirage to get rest, but he doesn't need rest!

We cut to him driving up to an Insecticon base. They're pissed that the 'reward' megatron promised was only two energon cubes. He turns invisible and walks in, grabbing the cubes and dropping Skywarp's brand. He leaves and drives off... to the Decepticon base with the cells. Ooh, clever! Unfortunately, Cliffjumper spots him and aims his pistol at him. "I could never fire on a fellow Autobot, but Mirage is no longer one of us." And the shot of him is gorgeous, btw.

Image

He aims, but the Insecticons fly over, thinking the Decepticons took their cubes. Ooh, this is a perfect plan! He played the Decepticons against each other. Cliffjumper aims at him, but Starscream ambushes him. He's distracted by the Insecticons and Cliffjumper runs him over. Megatron chews him out and aims for Mirage, hits the Insecticons and it's on. Mirage cloaks himself and runs off.

There's a brief civil war between the factions, but Mirage is caught in the crossfire. Bombshell implants him with a cerebro-shell and turns him into a mind-controlled slave. He has him fire a missile at Skywarp and there's some creepy closeups of his and Bombshell's faces.

Back at the Ark, Cliffjumper pulls up and accuses Mirage of treason, pointing out the cubes. Ratchet asks where he got the cubes and Cliffjumper... brushes him off. Prime chews him out and reminds him of Mirage's side of the story before ordering them to roll for it. Back at the base, the Insecticons are still fighting the Decepticons. Megatron and Bombshell meet during the firefight and they beginc omparing notes. "I know this will be difficult for you, Bombshell, but think! Put two and two together and it will equal an Autobot trick!"

Bombshell comes to the same conclusion. "You wouldn't cheat us. You need us to get rid of the Autobots. Maybe after that you'd rob us blind, but not now!" They call for a ceasefire and everyone realizes it was Mirage. Bombshell goes to kill Mirage, but Megatron realizes he'd be useful... in other ways.

The Autobots pull up and Cliffjumper gets a taste of his own medicine as Prime asks him where everyone was! Mirage shows up and reports he got rid of them. By now Cliffjumper's about ready to get a Red Lantern ring as he points his pistol at Mirage while Prime is there! Prime wants to hear him out and Mirage tells him of their plan. The original plan at least and intended conclusion. Prime decides to try for the cells and Mirage leads them down to the base. The Decepticons and Insecticons attack and Mirage joins in the fight!

Cliffjumper punches him and throws him around. Bombshell orders him to stand up, but he's out. Ratchet chases him off and is aghast at Mirage's behavior, but also finds the shell. Cliffjumper overhears and realizes he's been a colossal jerk. We cut to the Autobots about ready to make a final assault on the cells. The Autobots provide cover fire while Prime goes for the cells. Megatron cuts him off inside the base and... decides to start firing for NO reason, blowing up the base. Seriously, he just goes nuts and shoots up the place. The Insecticons fly off and the Autobots roll out, Prime ridiculously tiny compared to his trailer.

Megatron's left in the ruins of his base, babbling incoherently.

Image
"The electro-cells, they were meant for me! BRGGHGHGHHHH!!!" Dude, blame yourself!

Back at the Ark, Prime apologizes to the scientists for the cell's destruction. They're rather... forgiving, glad the cells didn't destroy Earth and that the Decepticons can't use them.

Ratchet fixes up Mirage and Cliffjumper apologizes in his own... unique way. "Move over!" "Hey, what's up?" "I... think I have a hole in my head that needs repairing, too!" And they laugh at Cliffjumper's unreasoning accusations.

Thoughts
I am of two minds of this episode.

1. It was refreshing to see tension in the Autobot ranks. It adds flavor to them and makes them a bit more three-dimensional. Also nice to see the Decepticons using reason to stick together. Mirage's plan was also incredibly clever and simple. It made sense.

2. Cliffjumper's accusations came out of nowhere. Although he can be hotheaded. Still... a bit much.

It's a good episode, very good and bordering on great. Just... the whole accusations coming out of nowhere bit.

The ABC news logo fades and we cut to our anchorwoman. Still no makeup and only slightly fancy hairstyle.

Good evening. Last month a solar power satellite was launched from Harding Space Center. Today, power from the satellite was transmitted to receiving stations for the first time. It marks the dawn of a new age of energy production.

"Meanwhile, the newly-named Earth Defense Command acted in their first anti-Decepticon mission today, fighting off Rumble and Ravage..."
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby Name_Violation » Mon May 30, 2011 8:12 pm

Motto: "It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."
Weapon: Multi-Function Sword
My fave episodes are "day of the machines", "call of the primitives", and the horrible "b.o.t." episodes
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Tue May 31, 2011 8:45 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
Name_Violation wrote:My fave episodes are "day of the machines", "call of the primitives", and the horrible "b.o.t." episodes


The first two are good ones. The third... makes me wish I drank alcohol. ;)


Now we introduce one of my favorite characters... the anti-Mikaela to some-not me...

The Immobilizer
We open on Wheeljack showing off a new invention, the 'Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer'. Ego, much? Cliffjumper asks what it immobilizes and Hound projects a hologram of Laserbeak. Ironhide walks in, sees it and goes postal, literally bringing down the house! Why don't they have this sort of security when the real Laserbeak shows up? He apologizes and digs Wheeljack out. The immobilizer needs a new polarizer and Ironhide angsts about his age. He is the oldest one there, methinks.

Bumblebee and Spike go into town to pick up a new part. What, the local Radio Shack sells Autobot-compatible technology now? In town, the pair have stopped off at a local arcade to goof off a bit. I... rather like it, actually. It's good to see the Autobots having a bit of fun and being out among humanity. Suddenly, a willowy blond lady walks up and wants to talk to Bumblebee.

Image
Admit it, you crushed on her. ;)

Spike is rather taken aback as Carly introduces herself to Bumblebee and reminds him about the polarizer. "We should've been back with it hours ago." And no one radioed them about it?! Bumblebee runs out, transforms in the middle of the road, Spike leaps in and he drives off. Carly jumps into a nearby car-hers-and chases after.

Bumblebee makes a left turn without signaling, cuts off some cars and swerves. Early Stunticon work, here? Fortunately a police officer pulls him over. He gets introduced to Bumblebee, being slightly startled. Ravage suddenly appears from an alley and attacks! Why he was there... will soon become apparent. But in the meantime, he tackles Spike and plants a device on Bumblebee's flank. Spike grabs some jumper cables from the police car and shocks Ravage, driving him off. The officer admonishes Bumblebee...

Autobots taking traffic school lessons. Either this fic exists or it must be written.

Back at the Ark, Bumblebee and Spike pull up and get chewed out about being late. We learn the immobilizer basically does what it says-it stops things. Wheeljack wants to get a larger version so they can stop the Decepticons once and for all! And we get a closeup of the device Ravage implanted. It's a camera, transmitting to Decepticon Headquarters. Starscream's not pleased about the immobilizer. "Deactivate us, eh? We should vaporize those Autobot fools and fuse their carcasses into slag!" Megatron... agrees with him. Wow, hell just froze over.

Megatron notes the camera will allow them to track the immobilizer. We pan back to the transmission and rather cleverly cut back to the Ark. Prime decides to test the immobilizer under 'safety conditions'. The Autobots transform and roll out! We cut to outside the Ark in a secluded spot in the forest. Ironhide takes the first watch. As he transforms, we see an ominous shadow appear over the foliage...

Near a waterfall, Wheeljack sets up the immobilizer.

Image

It fires a beam into the water and it freezes the molecules in place! Jazz jumps onto it and lands with a thud... or crash. "Right now that water is harder than any substance we know!" Brawn punches it, but nothing. Spike runs up but accidentally steps on the control. The immobilizer swivels to shoot at him, but Wheeljack shields him and gets frozen! Oh, no! And he was the only one who knew how to reverse the effect!

Prime says they must make sure the weapon never falls into Decepticon hands... as we zoom in on the micro-bug. We cut to Ironhide as he sees the shadow. he shoots at it, destroying a tree. He runs over and finds it's Carly! "This area is off-limits to civilians!" Any warnings, posted? She just wanted to watch. We suddenly hear weapons fire and Ironhide puts her down, running to the source of the noise. It turns out the Autobots have been captured! Ironhide blames himself. Poor guy. :(

Megatron demands the immobilizer, but nope. The Decepticons fire but it's blocked by Trailbreaker's force field. Starscream bitches him out about how they simply could've killed the Autobots then and there and transforms into jet mode, taking off for a strafing run. Sideswipe flies up and knocks his aim off, making him strafe the Decepticons. Prime rallies his soldiers and they send the Decepticons into the forest. Skywarp fires a 'bouncer bomb'.

Spike runs up to Ironhide and Carly... who is suddenly there after being left behind. The bouncer bomb bounces over and nearly kills them, then bounces and almost destroys the Decepticons. Megatron transforms and fires, knocking over a tree that buries Prime and knocks the immobilizer out of his hands. Ironhide runs for it, but is blasted. Carly blames herself as Starscream grabs the immobilizer. Ironhide's fist retracts and he shoots some... goo at Starscream. I think it's adhesive! The immobilizer rolls over into Megatron's waiting hands while Starscream... walks into trees. "My telemeter has-ugh-been damaged! Argh, I can't steer!"

Prime approaches Megatron. "You're losing your warriors, Megatron." His response? "Warriors are expendable! The most important thing is I get what I deserve, and I always do." At that moment, the river unfreezes and he takes a dip. Trailbreaker gets the perfect comeback. "You deserve that, Mega-jerk! Rust in peace!" The Decepticons wade across, Thundercracker wanting revenge. But Megatron's still got the immobilizer. Prime decides to get Wheeljack back to the Ark. Makes sense. Carly wants to come and follows them in her car. Wheeljack;s loaded into Ratchet and they roll out.

Back at the Ark, Ironhide is being repaired and hard on himself. Ratchet is... less than sympathetic. "Aww, knock that off or I'll disconnect your synthesizer! You're a brave warrior." Ironhide decides he's too old for this dross and decides to resign from active service. Prime accepts it, reluctantly. "Very well, if you feel that strongly about it. But we shall miss you Ironhide, old friend!"

"I miss you already."

In another part of the Ark, Carly's similarly beating herself up. Spike's trying to comfort her, but she runs off as Ironhide walks by. She apologizes and asks for a tour of the Ark. He agrees and takes her on a tour, including the armory. The hell?! She says someone should pacify the Decrpticons, "And their underwater headquarters!" Ironhide smiles at her while she... pilfers some explosive.

Wheeljack goes back to normal and asks about Spike. Ironhide tells him the Decepticons have the immobilizer. Spike notices Carly's gone and runs for the entrance, seeing the car's gone. He and Bumblebee go to track her down while Prime rallies the Autobots to get the immobilizer back!

Out to sea... possibly the Atlantic Ocean, Carly's in a wetsuit in a small boat and dives for the underwater base. She drove from possibly Oregon to the Atlantic coast, dove into the frigid water in a simple wetsuit... and put the explosive onto the hull. The sensors detect her swimming off. Laserbeak is sent and captures her, dragging her back into the water. This time without her mask.

Back at the Ark, the Sky Spy shows Carly being abducted. Sparkplug cajoles Ironhide into going and rescuing her. Back at the base, Carly's flown in front of Megatron. Skywarp reports he saw here in the forest and Megatron decides she's their friend. We cut to Bumblebee tooling down a highway as Skyfire passes overhead. Ironhide's aboard and is dropped off, using a rocket pack to break his fall. So Autobots... no. That way lies madness.

Ironhide tells them what happened and leads them off. Back at the underwater base, the explosive detonates, tearing a rather large hole in the hull. Watertight doors are sealed and sections evacuated. Turns out the only area still leaking is where Carly is being held.

Image

Megatron leers as the water fills the compartment. "The show is over. Back to work." He misses Ironhide blowing a hole in the hull and rescuing her. Yay! "And you said you're too old to make a difference?" He deserved that. :) Carly hops into Bumblebee with Spike and they begin driving off, but turn back to see Ironhide immobilized! They see the Decepticons on a cliff and it turns out the immobilizer is permanent. Prime and the other Autobots show up. Megatron's shot and Starscream declares himself leader.

Rumble fires the immobilizer. Bluestreak and Gears are hit. Not Bluestreak! Gears is frozen in mid-transformation! Carly has an idea while Sideswipe is frozen. Carly has Brawn deploy his drill and tunnel underground to the immobilizer. She has Bumblebee signaled, which somehow lets him know Jazz has to transform and deploy his light and sound show. When did she work this all out and more importantly, inform them all??!

The lights and sound disorient the Decepticons. Rumble drops the control and the immobilizer goes into what appears to be standby mode. Carly hops up out of the hole beside it and opens it up, swapping two cables. Jazz retreats and Rumble uses the immobilizer, but it goes haywire! Laserbeak is deployed to try and recover the immobilizer, but Ironhide stops him and the immobilizer unfreezes everyone else!

Megatron... has a temper tantrum. The immobilizer is mine! MINE!!!!" Ironhide smashes it and the Decepticons retreat. Back at the Ark, Ironhide goes back on duty again. He and Prime shake. Wheeljack asks Carly how she figured out how to reverse the immobilizer's effects. She spouts some technobabble, revealing she's accepted a scholarship at MIT. Da-yum! Bumblebee whispers to Spike, who asks Carly a question. "Carly, how would you like to go out for an emulsified CO2 with lactic acid?" "What's that?" "A chocolate soda."

And so Spike discovers girls as he and Carly drive off! And Sparkplug watches as his boy begins growing up.

Image

Thoughts
This was a very good episode, here. I like Carly! I like her and Spike, too. Good focus on Ironhide, here. Rather gimmicky plot device in the immobilizer, but that's par for the course in season two. ;)

Also cool seeing Bumblebee at the arcade. I love seeing Autobots having fun like that.
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:57 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now for an episode I... don't remember much of.

The Autobot Run
We open on a racetrack. Spike and Chip are standing beside the stands, not in them for some reason. Chip wonders how the race would be if the Autobots raced. For charity. Bumblebee picks them up. "One limo-bot coming up!"

Laserbeak flies by and we cut to an Old West ghost town. It's an AKOM episode. Just go with it. We also get a rather twangy theme to go with the scenery. Megatron asks when the 'transfixatron' is finished. Scrapper reports it's finished. His voice also isn't raspy. Laserbeak flies up onto Megatron's arm and then goes into Soundwave's chest, playing back Chip and Spike's conversation. Megatron decides to use the info as soon as he tests the device. Starscream bitches about it and Megatron orders him to transform.

So important is this test, even Shockwave shows up!

Image

Starscream balks and we get this... line. "What's a test without a guinea pig-o-tron?" He transforms and Megatron fires it. Starscream feels nothing. "Then transform back to your root mode, Starscream!" Root mode... kinda makes a bit of sense, there. He can't transform. He's also freaking out. He begs to be released, and Megatron ponders leaving him like this. After some rather pathetic whining, he's blasted again and transforms. Megatron decides to use it against the Autobots while the COnstructicons build something else.

Back at the Ark, Spike explains the race for charity. Prime and the Autobots are rather enthusiastic for it-except Huffer. Ratchet, Wheeljack and Huffer stay behind to guard the Ark. "Autobots, transform and roll for the show!" At the racetrack, hopefully sometime later, they line up. Some idiot in the audience snarks. "Hey, where are their cars?" Dude... you can't be this willingly stupid.

The Autobots transform and the green flag is dropped! The Autobots race, Mirage and Sunstreaker showing off a bit while Jazz rocks out.

Back at the ghost town, Long Haul grouses about not being able to fight as they build... something. At the track, Skywarp teleports in and transforms, the transfixatron simply appearing in his hands. He shoots the Autobots and they glow purple. Spike and Ship are worried, but Bumblebee dismisses it. "Probably just energy evaporation from all the speed... maybe. I hope..." Skywarp teleports back and reports to Megatron. "Treachery is your forte, my dear Skywarp. Now the Autobots can no longer call themselves Transformers!"

And that was the first time any of them had been referred to as 'Transformers' IU, too.

The Autobots feel a bit weird, but dismiss it too. There's so much dust kicked up no one can tell who won! How dust got ahead of them is probably due to... wind?

Image

I feel the same way sometimes, pal.

Honestly, a race by the Autobots would be a worldwide event for some international speedway or something, not some racetrack like this.

Well, the Autobots line up for Sunstreaker to jump them. "What are they doing, Spike?" "Making Eveil Knievel look like a kiddie car driver!" Prime warns him not to do it. "Don't worry, Prime! When they made me, they broke the mold!" Considering his G1 mold is beyond recovery... ouch.

Sunstreaker tries it... almost crashes, but Windcharger uses his magnetic powers. Sunstreaker... is vain about it. Jazz wonders what's next, but Mirage picks up Decepticons. Prime orders them to transform, but they can't! "I can't change back to my normal, handsome self!" Twenty energon cubes to whoever can guess who said that line.

Megatron gloats over them and coerces the humans to leave, blasting at them. A few times offscreen so I can surmise some humans died. ;) The Autobots roll for the Decepticons, trying to so something. The seekers take off and fire, making mincemeat of the Autobots. Bumblebee transforms and gets Spike and Chip out of there and back to the Ark. Ironhide tries to rally the Autobots, but no go. Thundercracker hits Prime and the other with incendiary blasts. "I'm getting sunburn on the inside!"

Soundwave takes out their comms somehow shooting through their windows. And the Autobots are led away. How humiliating! Back at the Ark, Huffaer acts like an asshole but Brawn picks him up. Go, Brawn! Chip accesses Teletraan-One for info on transforming. We get several images and according to the data only some sort of 'transfixation ray' could stop transforming. I can think of several other ways to stop it... but we'll go with that for now.

Spike wonders if they came up with it and Wheeljack ponders a high-frequency ray to counteract the effects. Back at the old west town, Megatron fails irony. "Ironic, isn't it, Autobots, that after so many valiant battles, you will meet your end in the crushing jaws of this device so lovingly fashioned by my Constructicons." Ironhide tells him to get on with it and Megatron obliges. "Bring out the Decepticon body shell!" The what? Do they have spare chassis lying around? Well, the car crusher extends a claw, picks it up and feeds it, Sarlacc-like.

Hound shoots a hologram... which somehow ends up in the Ark. I'll be charitable and say he simply tapped into projectors already there. Teletraan-One fixes on the location, but Soundwave detects it and blows up Hound's hologram. Meanwhile, Megatron picks up the remnants of the body shell-a cube. Ironhide is next. The Autobots surround him, but the COnstrcticons pick them up and toss them aside. Ironhide's put in the claw. "Later, guys! It's been really great knowing yah!"

Back at the Ark, they've got a grenade that'll reverse the effects. Huffer grouses, but brings up a good point-if it doesn't work, more harm will be done. But they've got no choice. It's now or never. Back at the town, Ironhide's positioned over the maw. Prime releases Roller, who drives up and distracts the Decepticons. "What's that?" "I'd call that a target!" Starscream fires, but misses. They all miss as Brawn, Huffer, Ratchet, Wheeljack and Bumblebee drive up. Prime smashes the side of the crusher and Irnohide's let go. Megatron shoots at them... and hits the crusher. The Autobots pull up, but the Decepticons spot them. Thundercracker is... belligerent. "Your termination is overdue, earth crawlers!"

Wheeljack runs off with the grenade and shoots at the seekers. A heat-seeking missile hits him and knocks the grenade out of his hands. Spike catches it, but Soundwave shoots at him. "Give the grenade to me, human microbe!" He tosses it and Chip manages to push himself OUT of his wheelchair to grab it!

Image

He rolls down a hillside... somehow. Ravage is ejected and attacks, knocking him over. The grenade rolls... and detonates. It works! Sunstreaker is elated. "I see my true beauty emerging!" The Autobots transform, Prime's trailer simply disappearing. The Constructicons merge into Devastator, though. ZCliffjumper fires at him, but Devastator uses... eye beam tractor beams to fling him into a building. The Autobots are doing little, being bowled over and tossed into buildings. "Extinguish their laser cores forever, Devastator! Finish them!"

Wheeljack, using the boosters in his arms-like in his tech specs-spots the transfixatron. He and Cliffjumper grab it and fire it at Devastator. It... makes him disassemble into the individual Constructicons and their vehicle mode. Hmm, well he is a combiner.

Megatron calls for a retreat, but not without some Starscream snark. "Let me guess, we retreat!" The Autobots destroy the transfixatron and I am glad I don't have to type that again. Prime announces they'll head back to the Ark. "For rest, recovery and-"

Ratchet interrupts. "Repairs, repairs repairs! Sometimes being an automotive genius isn't all it's cracked up to be!"

Thoughts
Hmm, not too bad. Device of the week, here. Although being stuck in vehicle mode should be the ultimate in nightmare fuel for any Transformer. Think about it-they're built nowadays to change, to adapt. And to be stuck not only in one mode, but the less generally useful one?

Also, the Decepticons loved throwing around insults to humans this episode. ;)
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby RK_Striker_JK_5 » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:00 pm

Motto: "'Til All are One!"
Weapon: Electron Gun
And now we see a bit of some of Earth's other residents-and I'm not talking humans!

Atlantis, Arise!
We open on Laserbeak and Buzzsaw flying over the Atlantic, looking rather nice. We cut to the underwater base and Soundwave. Megatron is there, too. "How dare you me to watch a travelogue, Soundwave!" Turns out there was a good reason. On the screen, we see a graph of some structure and what I presume to be power readings.

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"Are you interested now?" Snarky for Soundwave! Megatron is impressed and decides to go there to steal the energy. The docking tower raises and the Decepticons fly off, meeting with laserbeak and Buzzsaw. They dive into the water and find a rather large city with thermal vents all around.

Image

Starscream and the seekers-in jet mode-fly off to attack. Megatron urges caution, and is proven right when they slam into a force field. The natives approach, led by King Nergill of Sub-Atlantica. Hmm, so not 'exactly' Altantis. He communicates telepathically and according to Soundwave, "His mental power is great!"

Starscream proves what a dumbass he is. "But not as great as my firepower!" He aims, but one of Nergill's soldiers shoots him. Nergill's disappointed and orders the Decepticons to surrender. Megatron blows apart the mountain and buries Nergill and his soldiers. And thus the pecking order is established. He uncovers Nergill and admires his warlike spirit, proposing an alliance. The soldiers ready their weapons, but Nergill speaks in what is presumably native Sub-Atlantican. The slowed down words, from the TF wiki, are:

"Never mind. Put your weapons away. We don't want to put them on guard."

That's... rather good! Starscream has Soundwave unscramble the message. Nergill invites the Decepticons inside and we see the inner workings. We even see drills tapping the geothermal energy. It's limitless... so long as the city remains where they are. Megatron decides to remain there... "Long enough to take it from you!" He says this out loud within earshot of Nergill, too. Dumbass!

We cut to later on. Energon cubes are being filled in their usual wacky way, passing through clouds of smoke and fire and somehow being filled. It has allowed Sub-Atlantica to move, though. We see Thundercracker and Skywarp placing what appear to be engines along the perimeter!

At the Ark, the Autobots are learning about football, American style! Spike takes the pass as the Dinobots rush the quarterback! Spike passes to Hound, with Swoop trying to intercept. He's tackled by Slag! No score! Wheeljack shows up and tells them Prime needs them.

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"Are you sure humans do this for fun?!"

Inside, Prime reports about an energy flare, "In the deepest part of the Atlantic." He asks for volunteers and Hound and Bumblebee volunteer. "it's gotta be safer than playing football with Dinobots!" Wheeljack and Brawn go along. Makes sense with Brawn. How many times has he gone underwater? Spike tags along. At the edge of the Atlantic, they drive in. Hound even puts the top up. :D Wheeljack's voice burbles as they dive. They float down, Spike exiting in a pair of shorts, bare-chested and wearing a SCUBA tank.

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Really, guys? Really? Carly at least had a wetsuit on!

Bumblebee asks what this is and Spike theorizes this city is Atlantis. Close, but no cy-gar. The Sub-Atlanticans ambush them! "Enjoy our hospitality-permanently!" Soundave sounds the alert and the Seekers attack. "Look out, we got underwater air pollution!" Spike calls for a retreat and Wheeljack decides to hold them off while the others get away. Brawn calls for him, but Buzzsaw and Laserbeak intercept. Wheeljack collapses the cave they were in and Megatron gets ready to kill him.

Nergill asks for him to be his prisoner and Megatron agrees. Nergill sends out more scrambled communications, but this time Soundwave unscrambles them. Turns out Nergill wants Wheeljack so he can develop anti-Transformer weapons.

We cut to the city rising out of the depths and the Autobots trying to outrun the Sub-Atlantican weaponry. They get to land, almost being washed ashore, but transform and run for it. Bumblebee's even out of breath! A scanner pops out of his shoulder and it looks like SUb-Atlantica is heading for Washington DC!

According to the wiki, again, Chesapeake Bay looks like desert. This is obviously damage from 'The Ultimate Doom'. The Decepticons fly off while Nergill goes to his lab, with Starscream watching him.

The Autobots are rolling along to the nation's capitol. Spike reminds him about Wheeljack and Prime wants him and Bumblebee to rescue him. Spike?! *Sigh* We cut to Decepticons and Sub-Atlantican soldiers storming Washington. It's a basic rout. A force field generator is set up in the center of the city. There's a bit of a standoff between a soldier and Megatron, but the force field is lowered. The Autobots make it through, though!

Megatron gloats. "Washington DC is MINE!" As the sky turns pink. Prime rolls through and the Autobots attack! There's a fight, with Hound cautious. "Watch your aim, guys! We don't wanna blow away any history!" Laserbeak is ejected and Hound gets snarky. "And now Laserbeak is history, too!" And he hits Laserbeak but good!

We cut to Bumblebee and Spike. Turns out the dome doesn't extend underwater, which is rather... glaring. They dive and enter through one of those pools we always see in underwater bases.

Wheeljack is... encased in energy chains as Nergill gloats. Nergill's dysfunction ray works! Starscream demands he hands it over, but is... shot by it. He so deserves it, too. Turns out the ray's not quite as effective against Decepticons, but they're still incapacitated. Starscream crawls over and hooks his systems up to Wheeljack's... for some reason. Bumblebee and Spike burst in and interrupt him, Bumblebee tackling him into a wall. "Did I do that?!" Score one for the 'Bee!

Spike congratulates him and has him help reset Wheeljack's control interfaces. Wheeljack is brought back online. Nergill enters Washington DC as the Autobots and Decepticons fight. Brawn literally lassos Thundercacker and ties him to the Washington Monument, Prime shooting him down. Nergill walks up and fires his weapon, taking down Prime with one shot! He also shoots Prowl, Brawn and Hound. Megatron is... congratulatory. "Pompuus Sub-Atlantican may be good for something after all!" For him, that's high praise.

Wheeljack and Bumblebee are driving down the streets, Wheeljack sending a very vaguely-worded message to Prime about the dysfunction ray. Too late, though. We cut to WHeeljack radioing the Dinobots for help at the Ark. Grimlock is... Grimlock. "Autobots bite off more than they can chew. Then send for Dinobots." He decides to help out.

Back at Washington, a soldier questions Nergill about why they're working with the Decepticons and Nergill replies they'll be dealt with. We cut to Megatron removing the Lincoln Statue and sitting there.
Image
I am near 100% certain this is impossible, but it makes a spiffy throne! "There, this throne was made for me!" And in some cool shadowing, Thundercarcker asks the same question and Megatron reveals he'll do the same thing Nergill is planning to do.

The Dinobots arrive at the force field. "Dinobots, transform and destroy!" Sludge is enthusiastic. "All right!" The force field is smashed through in NO time at all and the DInobots wreak havoc. Grimlock even snarks it up over Prime's chassis. "Me Grimlock here again, Optimus Prime, to pull your diodes out of laser fire."

translation: Remember when you left me and my buddies to fight Devastator by ourselves and we almost died? Yeah, I lost a bit of respect for you there.

Megatron confronts him but is overpowered. Nergill gets his weapon ready. He doesn't have a clear shot, so he goes to shoot them both. And of all Decepticons, Starscream saves Megatron! "You treacherous hydro-weasel! Megatron, Nergill is now our enemy!"

There are no words, so moving on!

We cut to Spike, Bumblebee and Wheeljack. The two Autobots transform and tackle Starscream, knocking Nergill's weapon out of his hands and into Grimlock's. "Heh, not bad for Autobots!" He destroys the weapon and the energy chains around the Autobots disintegrate. Megatron chastises Starscream... for saving his life. *Sigh*

The Autobots get up and Nergill calls for a retreat, but Megatron punches the Washington Monument. Prime is so disturbed he clones himself before rushng over to prevent it from toppling over! And apparently the entire structure doesn't crumble to dust. Grimlock teases him some more. "Good catch for an Autobot!" But he helps it back up. Slag... melts it back together while Prime is rather nice. "You Dinobots did pretty well yourselves." The Lincoln Statue is put back in place as the Autobots roll for the shore.

At SUb-Atlantica, Megatron demands to know what was going on, but no time. The Autobots are en route. The defenses are readied as the Autobots storm the shore. Prime rolls up and the Dinobots emerge from his trailer. Bad. Ass. "Okay, grimlock. Time for you and the Dinobots to act prehistoric!" And they do. The Sub-Atlanticans retreat, but Megatron stands his ground. "You don't frighten me, you mechanical throwback!"

"Good, Megatron! We love stupid enemies!" Nergill watches the destruction and decides to blow up the entire city! Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Spike try to stop him, with Soundwave, Rumble and Ravage following. Nergill stands over some cauldron and threatens to throw some sort of scepter into it, which will somehow blow up the energy stockpiles. Rumble overhears it and realizes Starscream was right!

Rumble activates his piledrivers, blocking Nergill, but he simply goes to another cualdron. Wheeljack grabs him, but the scepter goes in. Bumblebee radios Prime and both the Autobots and Decepticons evacuate. Grimlock and Prime rescue Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Spike as SUb-Atlantica explodes. Nergill is gone... almost certainly dead.

Thoughts
Rather good episode, although one wonders if the Sub-Atlantican race was wiped out here. I don't know if Nergill's city was their only one or what. All we saw were soldiers and him. Young, females? Were they off somewhere else?

I am near 100% certain any non-Transformer or Spike died there, though. And plenty of Washington DC residents, too. We even saw evidence of destruction from Cybertron's orbit. :D
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Re: In Which I watch Transformers Generation One

Postby Tekka » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:16 pm

Motto: "I'm grade-A, 100% prime-cut final boss! I'm going to take over the world any day now!"
Weapon: Multi-Function Sword
The annoying thing about any potential death and destruction caused, especially that portrayed in the Ultimate Doom, is despite it apparently wrecking the planet, we never see any evidence of it ever again except in the following episode. After that, all evidence of it is bizarrely missing from any and all cityscapes, and nobody in the Transformers world seems to remember it ever happening.

New York, DC, "Central City" etc, all seem to be completely fine.

Magic? Faeries? Did Season 2 take place in an alternate dimension?
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