OH BOY. Okay so during March oneself discovered that a bunch of Hasbro cartoons had come to TubiTV, including the stuff that had always been too expensive to get on DVD (Transformers, GI Joe) and a bingewatch (or as much as one can) began.
So here’s a bunch of them, quick reactions!
A Plague of Insecticons
The Autobots and Decepticons investigate reports of a new group of Giant Robots in the form of Insects.
The powers of the Insecticons are many, varied, and poorly explained. I do wonder at the moral of the episode ‘they may be enemies now, but their programming as Decepticons means that won’t last for long’ or something to that effect which probably meant something other than ‘the power of friendship always wins for Decepticons’ but I refuse to hear any other explanation.
Autobot Spike
After a vicious battle with the Decepticons, Spike is seriously injured. The Autobots use Sparkplug’s new invention, Autobot X, as a body for Spikes mind until his human body can recover. But the side effects could be disastrous.
In the IDW comics I read like, one on earth (that wasn’t the Thundercracker’s Santa script issue) and for some reason Spike was killing Transformers? And I was like ‘that’s weird’ and then I saw this episode and was like ‘oh he should have killed more’
The Immobilizer
Wheeljack’s new invention, the immobilizer, freezes anything that it’s pointed at. Now Megatron wants it for his own.
Hey, Wheeljack’s invention worked! On him.
Dinobot Island: Part 1
The Dinobots are destroying the Autobot base because there is no room for them to train. Bumblebee and Powerglide find a mysterious prehistoric island and believe it will be the perfect home for the Dinobots.
“Amazing! Dinosaurs! Let’s let the Dinobots just wreck ass on this island”
Also a LOT of Autobots we’ve never seen before get introduced in this episode and in the second one too. They are introduced via the classic ‘this is my name, this is my deal, even though we’ve known eachother before this, presumably’ but none more awkward than Perceptor’s and possibly Blaster’s. I’m not sure if Blaster is just like that.
Dinobot Island: Part 2
When the Decepticons begin to steal the energy from Dinobot Island, time warps begin to appear all over the world releasing more prehistoric civilizations into modern times.
All dinosaurs speak a common tongue of comradery which is how Grimlock got them to charge as one. It’s just science. It’s clearly explained in Land Before Time.
Traitor
The Decepticons steal the Electro Cells from the research center and plan to use them to create energon cubes. When Mirage tries to stop them on his own, Cliffjumper begins to think that Mirage is a Decepticon spy.
Summary:
Cliffjumper: This episode is called traitor and I choose Mirage. I’LL KILL YOU, MIRAGE, I’LL KILL YOU
Mirage: Wh-what?
Optimus Prime: Now now, we can’t kill Mirage without PROOF
Mirage: WHAT IS GOING ON
Later: Cliffjumper attempts to shoot Mirage in the head because he saw Mirage walking somewhere. Cliffjumper claims they’re friends at the end of the episode but I think Mirage should probably keep his door locked at night.
Enter the Nightbird
Dr. Fujiyama has created a ninja robot called Nightbird. When the Decepticons steal her, the Autobots must try to rescue Nightbird without harming her.
I was pretty excited to see this episode because there’s a lot of old gee wun fanfic where this is Megatron’s love interest (who uh, conversely is often killed off quickly as part Starscream proving… he’s better?) and I was always like ‘who is she? What is her deal?’
And her deal is she is a ninja robot who has no actual mind and goes into cold stage at the end of the episode, the end. Fandom can be weird when it wants a woman character to add to a group or, in some cases, be null rayed to death for some damn reason.
Changing Gears
The Decepticons set up a trap for the Autobots and kidnap Gears. Now, with Gears as his slave, Megatron creates a solar needle in order to steal the sun’s energy. But the consequences could be disastrous.
“What did you do to Gears, you monster!? You turned him nice!”
Alternately: I find out who Gears is.
A Prime Problem
Megatron creates an Optimus Prime clone to lure the Autobots into a crevasse of Korlonium Crystals set to explode on contact.
The stupidness of the tests that they came up with to prove who the real Optimus was (trick shooting, racing) is soothed by the fact that even in universe they were completely useless tests. Optimus probably needed a drink after this episode.
Atlantis, Arise!
The Decepticons discover an underwater city in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and make friends with it’s people. Now they’re out to destroy the surface world.
I would have spent more time wondering about there being another species + civilization on Earth if I was a human during this episode, but their city got blown up anyway.
Attack of the Autobots
While distracting the Autobots with a surprise attack, Megatron secretly sets a trap inside their base that will force the Autobots to do his bidding.
I’m just going to admit it now: I have no idea who most of these robots are.
Microbots
Megatron recovers the Heart of Cybertron from an ancient spaceship and uses its power on the Autobots. Perceptor suggests using his shrink ray to enter Megatron’s body and steal the Heart.
Megatron just flying off in disgust without even dignifying Optimus with a response after realizing Autobots had been running around in his body was relatable.
Perceptor: *trying to fix a microchip*
Brawn: YOU COWARD! HIDING BEHIND YOUR MACHINES!
Perceptor: kind of busy!
Brawn: WEAK! MACHINE WEAKLING!
Perceptor: this is delicate work!
Brawn: I’LL KICK YOUR ASS! I’LL KICK ANYONE’S ASS
Ironhide: *lying there wondering if he’s going to get his chip fixed*
The Master Builders
Grapple has dreamed of building a solar tower to collect energy from the sun. To achieve this dream, he rashly allies himself with the Constructicons.
Grapple and Hoist are hilarious.
The Insecticon Syndrome
The Insecticons return and attack the nova power plant in order to get enough energy to seize the defense computer at Iron Mountain.
More weird insecticon powers. Triple crosses. Confused Autobots. Spike was there…? It’s all a blur.
Day of the Machines
Megatron reprograms the human built supercomputer TORQ III with his own personality and has it controlling machines of all types by using Remote Control Circuit Linker cards.
Scientist 1: Surely it’s a bad idea to create a computer capable of murdering us all
Scientist 2: Haha that is the only way humanity will evolve, through murderous machines.
Scientist 1: I am not sure about this
Scientist 2: Stop worrying your pretty head. You’ll feel better in the mornin–
Scientist 1: What’s wrong???
Scientist 2: In a twist, the machine is murdering us. Ah well!