In "Darkness Rising" Episode 2, we see June Darby, Jack's mom, park her white car in the driveway. However, when they show Jack's house and driveway the next morning, the car is gone. Obviously, June Darby didn't drive it away because she was in the house sleeping as Jack mentions when he tells Arcee that she'll wake up his mom. So who drove the car away? Could it be Jack's dad or a sibling? Or was is just an animation goof?

Also, another interesting thing I noticed. June Darby is wearing what looks like nurse's or doctor's clothing. And her car looks like a 2008 Ford Taurus: the same vehicle that Dana Scully (who's a doctor) drove in the latest X-Files movie, "I Want To Believe". I wonder if the animators are X-Files fans and modeled June Darby a little bit on Dana Scully given her hospital clothing and similar car.

 

It hasn't been covered yet.

so my current guess would have to be an animation error.

 

I found it interesting that when Arcee says 'what do you know about loss', Jack brings up his problems, but before he could finish Arcee interrupted him and he snapped at her.
I'm kinda thinking Jack's dad had died.

 

Or maybe Dr. Dana Scully came by early morning to pick up her car she loaned to her nurse, June Darby. Ok, joking there! I'm thinking it was an animation goof. What's funny though is that the animators forgot to put June Darby's car in her driveway but put other parked cars along the street.

 

Her car could be another autobot...

 

To me I see this thread title as 2 things about the TF prime cartoon.

1. I think it was an animation error as someone said.
2. Its just a cartoon so don't read anymore into it then what needs to be told cause its JUST a cartoon so ENJOY it for what it is and not try to ask about a dad or what not.

 

Some people move their cars at night to anotehr location, maybe they have a communal garage as well as their one at home, and since Jack had Arcee in his home one, June just took heres to the other one? I dunno lol

 

That was what I had thought. And his Mom being the over-worrier and the stuff about the helmet makes me believe it might have been a automotive related death. Car accident?

 

Why would June Darby have a communal garage if she just has one car that she can easily fit in her garage? That garage had a lot of space in it. It was almost empty. She's got a big driveway and a big empty garage. And her car was not in her garage in the morning when Arcee woke Jack up. I don't know. Maybe it was just an animation error. If it is, it's the second one I noticed. The other occurs shortly after Miko, Jack, and Raf groundbridge. They all look like they are just walking in place as there is no movement of the background. Oh well. This series still has better animation than Beast Wars.

 

The feeling I've got from the show so far is that Jack doesn't have a dad. Not sure if he is dead or if his parents just broke up but it seems a bit odd that mom would show up early in the show but dad would not.

 

Ditto

Speaking of animation errors, in the first episode when Soundwave walks up to Starscream you can see part of his shoulder pad move thew his wing as he turns to Soundwave.

QFT

 

that's what I'm thinking as well

Or maybe it WAS a Decepticon after all.

 

Jack's Dad is clearly Arcee.

 

Maybe Jack's a pretender transformer in disguise like Sari?

I'm kidding, Either Jack's dad left becuase Jack grew up to became boring maybe he died or he's off fighting in Iraq. I won't rule out the animation error either.

 

Arcee's a guy? Sure had me fooled. Jack's in for a big surprise if he tries to fall in love with "her".

 

Maybe his father was a womanizer/drug addict?

 

I bet his father wears a Yellow Hard Hat!

 

Arcee:I am your father Jack.

Jack: NOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

I think this may give Jack a more interesting backstory. Maybe he comes from a broken family or his father died at one point or the other. I guess that's why he takes responsibility and his obligations to his family so seriously.

I also think he really cares for his mother. Being able to open up like that to one's parent is not that easy. I also remember him wanting to call so that his mother wouldn't worry. That simple gesture takes a lot of forethought especially in the presence of alien robots in war with other alien robots all covered up in a government conspiracy. His concern for those younger than him even though he is a kid himself was also interesting. Maybe, if his father really is gone, he might be taking it upon himself to take over a father's responsibility to a family, adopted or otherwise.

Now that I think about it, Jack could end up a very interesting character.

 

I leaning towards no. That would be interesting.