Come to think of it, did Tankor, err... Octane ever get an origin story like Sandstorm or did he just kinda show up like the Protectobots, the Predacons, the Terrorcons and Broadside?

And yes, keep in mind that for all future episodes, Octane = Blitzwing.

Also, is it just me or is Ultra Magnus really acting as Autobot leader and Rodimus just being slightly older and more whiny Hot Rod?

 

Starscream's Ghost

Plot Summary: We begin on Junk, where the Decepticon traitor Octane is gathering scrap metal from the Junkions. Galvatron though is not too happy with his continued existance, and hires a Skuxxoid bounty hunter to plant a bomb on his ship. His ship asplodes, but he kicks logic and the Law of Mediocrity right in the face as he just so happens to be blown right into a passing ship.

He heads back to Autobot City on Earth, tailed all the while by the Combaticons. Octane consults with his old Autobot friend Sandstorm, only to be ambushed by the Combaticons. The two manage to escape Earth in an Autobot shuttle.

They stop off at the Mos Eisley Cantina to refuel and get a bite to eat. Too bad the Skuxxoid has caught up with them again, and tries to shoot Octane at point blank range but phails harder than special edition Greedo as he misses. He next tries to blow Octane up with a grenade, but fails even to grasp the concept of "pull pin and throw" (um, why did Galvatron hire this guy again?) He finally just leaps onto Octane's head and tries to beat him to death, but Octane just yanks him off and demands to know who hired him. The Skuxxoid tells him Galvatron hired him (no, really?) and Octane decides to go into even deeper hiding.

He heads back to Cybertron, only to be followed by Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps. They swoop down to attack, but Octane escapes by diving into a drainage shaft that leads deep into the bowels of Cybertron. He runs into a supercomputer that reformats him into a Jehova's Witness...I mean he falls into the ancient Decepticon Crypt. He begins to poke around only to run into a ghost! THE GHOST OF STARSCREAM! Starscream though offers to work with Octane to possess Cyclonus, and manages to lure Cyclonus down into the crypt before leaping inside him. The Decepticons head back to the surface only to be attacked by the Autobots. During the chaos Rodimus Prime corners Cycloscream and Octane, but Cycloscream somehow manages to convince Rodimus to let them go.

Cycloscream brings Octane back to Chaar, where Cycloscream convinces Galvatron to interrogate Octane rather than kill him. Cycloscream pretends to knock Octane around, until Octane pretends to divulge an Autobot secret. Galvatron sets off to the location that Octane gave him, and discovers it to be an Autobot trap! Galvatron returns to Chaar to find Cycloscream and Octane gloating about his demise, and Galvatron by blasting the everloving crap out of Cycloscream...but not before Starscream leaps out of Cyclonus...and into Scourge!

Comments:

-Um...was Octane watching porn?

-I know that Octane was supposed to be Blitzwing, following off of his actions in Five Faces of Darkness, so I'm going to go ahead and pretend Octane is Blitzwing in a new body.

-Why is Octane constantly tripping?

Score: I remember watching the DVD commentary for Revenge of the Fallen and Michael Bay mentioning an old saying he had heard. "You write a movie three times, once when you write the script, once when you film it, and once when you edit it." The thing is, this episode might have had a great script, but the technical execution killed it for me. It just seemed to jump from one scene to the next, with little or no exposition as to how or why they got there. Not to mention the sound kept cutting out at random times, though that might have been because I was watching it on youtube. Still, seeing Starscream come back was enough to elevate this to a 6/10.

 

I agree, this episode was everywhere and nowhere at once (kind of like Bay's editing zing!). It really seemed like they took two episodes and smushed them together as Starscream doesn't appear until like halfway into the episode. It's sequel is much more coherent.

 

You need to watch Ghost in the Machine next as it's a continuation of Starscreams Ghost. Then go back to the following episode.
These two episodes were my favorite of the season.

 

Yes. Yes he was.  

Um...too many 'shrooms?  

 

Wait... did you watch Fight or Flee first? Cause that was Sandstorm's origin episode. Since he is in this one too, it should have followed Fight or Flee.

 

yeah there seems to be a numbering issue here too just like with Starscream's brigade.

 

The other thing about having 'Fight or Flee' right after 'Forever is a Long Time Coming' is that you can imply that the Vortex was caused by the temporal disturbances.

I also like to put 'Ghost in the Machine' right after 'Starscreams Ghost', but that's more personel preference then anything else.

 

Yeah, he really should have watched Thief in the night before this also. Someone told him a few pages ago. Oh well, to late now.

 

Ghost in the Machine

Plot Summary: We kind of begin where the last episode left off, with Starscream possessing Scourge. I say sort of since it happens in a completely different setting than the end of Starscream's Ghost. So anyways, Scourge is now possessed by Starscream. Starscream forces Scourge to fire upon Galvatron and the other Decepticons. Scourgescream breaks off and flies out of Chaar's orbit, pursued by Galvatron all the way, at least, until Scourgescream approaches Cybertron, at which point Galvatron breaks off. Scourgescream though, heads to Unicron's head and reactivates him. Starscream asks Unicron to grant him a new body, and Unicron agrees, as long as Starscream can perform three tasks for him. His first task; go get Metroplex's eyes. Without anywhere else to go, Scourge agrees to tag along.

Back on Earth, Starscream and Scourge break into Metroplex and plant a bomb in his head before beginning to steal his eyes. They both turn out to be massive klutzes though, as they drop one of the eyes and break it. Metroplex transforms and begins firing his weapons randomly as he reels around in pain. Scourge and Starscream though, manage to escape. Lacking one eye they head to Chaar to steal another eye from Trypticon. They nab the eye, and Starscream possesses Astrotrain in order to carry them back to Unicron.

With his new eyes now in place, Unicron gives them their next task: go get Trypticon. Back on Cybertron meanwhile, Rodimus interrogates the bewildered Astrotrain, who reveals he knows nothing. Blurr though, points out that Unicron has his eyes back! And the Autobots set out to investigate. The Autobot arrive within the shambling corpse of The Abberation, only for Scourge to drive them off. On Chaar meanwhile, Starscream possesses Trypticon and flies off to Unicron.

The Decepticons pursue Trypticon, only for Trypticscream to fire back, and blow the everloving crap out of the Decepticons, disabling their weapons. Unicron orders Scourge and Starscream to remove Trypticon's transformation cog and plant it in him. He then gives them the third task, to fly his noggin down to Cybertron and hook him up to it, thus giving him a new body. Trypticscream flies his head down to Cybertron, but some of the Decepticons infiltrate Trypticon and smash up his control systems, rendering Starscream unable to control him. Starscream points out that if Unicron wants a new body he better give him his new body right now, and Unicron does so. Starscream then heads right back to his old self when he flies off and tells Unicron to connect himself. The Autobots meanwhile plant some Energon cubes on Unicron's head and blow it back into orbit, and the blast also sends Starscream tumbling off into space...

...and out of the series... 



Comments:

-So at the end of Starscream's ghost, Starscream possesses Scourge. Here, Scourge starts unpossessed, and Starscream possesses him again! Even though I was informed that this episode is a direct follow up to the previous one, despite being aired and produced out of order-you know what, I'm not going to even try and wrap my head around this loopy continuity.

-Why do Metroplex's eyes look like watermelons?

-I have only one reaction to Metroplex's head exploding. OUCH.

-Why does Galvatron have a Swiss flag on his abdomen?

-Personally I would just strap a rocket to Unicron's noggin and shoot it into the nearest sun. Having a giant head for a moon would creep the hell out of me.

Score: Much better than the previous Starscream's ghost episode, especially with the return of Unicron. I must admit, for such a badass villain, I really with Unicron had gotten some more screentime in the movie, and here he does. Still, the weird editing problems from Starscream's Ghost are still present, but not drastic enough to drag the score any further down than 8/10.

 

one of my favorite season 3 episodes, a solid combo of old (starscream, spike/'bee teamup) and new.

freakiest parts of the ep were starscream's "too late to stop now!" in the beginning and unicron's madness (did he really think he could transform cybertron with a single wire hooked to his head)?

On the other hand, Rodimus Prime's joke at the end was a horrible joke. Not funny... not even a little bit. =P

 

Thief in the Night

Plot Summary: We begin in Autobot HQ where the Autobots are watching a home movie of Metroplex beating the everloving crap out of Trypticon. Grimlock is bored though, and asks them to fastforward to the part where Metroplex kills Trypticon. Teletraan 2 (oh by the way it's Teletraan 2 now) says that Trypticon is not dead, and just to be on the safe side Broadside and Seaspray set out to investigate the point where Trypticon was hurled into the ocean...only to find Trypticon has vanished (presumably the constructicons went down to resurrect him and killed Hook while down there for spare parts.)

Trypticon meanwhile, is chilling with Octane in the hideously racist middle eastern country of Carbombya, chugging down Energon cubes made from Carbombyan oil as Octane nurses Trypticon back to help. The ruler of Carbombya, Abdul Fakkadi, does not take to kindly to Trypticon's massive appetite, and orders them to leave before he calls the Autobots. Octane asks if there is anything that can convince him to let them stay, and Abdul sarcastically (at least I hope he was being sarcastic) asks for all the gold in the US. So Trypticon runs off to Kentucky and steals Fort Knox.

No really.

Abdul Fakkadi is still wary of the Decepticons though, and limits Trypticon's oil consumption to 1000 barrels of oil a day. Octane though negotiates for more oil by having Trypticon go and steal the Taj Mahal.

The Autobots, apparently having nothing better to do, check out Fort Knox, and Grimlock says he senses "dinosaur transformer static". Why he couldn't just say he smelled him, I don't know. Metroplex decides to interrogate all the Dinobots, since obviously the giant evil t-rex transformer couldn't have been responsible.

Back in Racistan, Galvatron hunts down Octane, and demands he give Trypticon back. Octane though says he only brought Trypticon here to help him get better, since apparently Energon from some middle eastern butthole isn't just normal Energon, it's SUPER ENERGON. Back in wherever the hell Autobot HQ is, Metroplex interrogates the Dinobots as well as the unfathomable abyss that is the mind of The Abberation. Perceptor runs in and declares that the Energon found on site was made from a Decepticon formula, meaning the Dinobots couldn't have possibly stolen Fort Knox. They head to Carbombya only to find Trypticon making off with the Eiffel Tower. Apparently the Decepticons set up a scheme to deliver famous monuments in exchange for Carbombyan oil.

They learn that Trypticon is planning to steal the Kremlin and head to Moscow to head him off. But in the ensuing fracas Metroplex ends up blamed for the theft of the Kremlin as Trypticon hustles back to Carbombya. The Autobots follow him back to put this whole thing to rest, and beat the everloving crap out of the Decepticons as Metroplex chucks Trypticon into the ocean (again). Abdul Fakkadi apologizes for being such an offensive stereotype, and the Autobots punch the writer of this stupid episode right in the face.

At least, thats how it happens in my mind.

Comments:

-You mean there already is a Teletraan 2? Damnit! And I thought I was being really clever when I named my WiFi network that!

-Yes. The below is in fact real. Not a photoshop like I hoped.



-Why does Trypticon have a Russian accent now?

-I really, REALLY hoped they wouldn't take that "all the gold in the United States" comment literally. Goddamnit 80's cartoon writers, kids aren't THAT stupid.

-Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that Trypticon just grabs Fort Knox, the Taj Mahal, and The Eiffel Tower, and nobody tries TO FREAKIN STOP OR EVEN FOLLOW HIM?!?!?!?

-Is it just me or does everyone on Earth have the Autobots on speed dial?

-Did he really just say "I swear to you on the grave of my mother's camel?" PLEASE TELL ME HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT.

Score: If this episode just stayed incredibly stupid it might get a 4/10. But no, it has to go and be COMPLETELY RACIST TOO. Good god, I mean I might let one or two little comments slide, but this episode just had to keep rubbing its offensive ethnic stereotypes in my face! 1/10.

 

But the racism makes it funny! xD

Unless of course you're an uptight fat soccer mom, in which case you should be beaten to death for not having a sense of humor  

 

I can't help but laugh at the episode for the racism

 

Oh well that's a nice comment.  

It's amazing what they were able to get away with back in the day. Still, I thought it was a funny episode worthy of the occasional chuckle. I couldn't stand Octane constantly saying "Trypticon baby" though.

Re: Teletraan 2-- a new supercomputer was created since Trypticon smashed the original Teletran at the end of Five Faces of Darkness.

 

Carbombyan? Really? You know, back when I was a kid watching this, I would've never gotten it.
But now, I see it car-bomb-you? Is that what it's trying to read? Damn.....................
Definitely could not get away with it these day's that's for sure.
Except for those few tid-bits, it was a good episode.

 

If it's any help, I think you're past most of the 'utterly terrible' of S3.

 

*cough* carnage in *cough* C minor  

 

The stereotypical and racist element of this episode is its saving grace for me.
I think it's absoloutly hilarious.
CARBOMBYA FOREVER!!!

Besides Carbombya and Fakkadi I also dig that it is setup (on Octanes part) for Starscreams Ghost. Besides that, it is pretty crap.

 

And Westerners wonder while people from the Middle East don't like them.  

Incidentally, the racism you mentioned also drove Casey Kasem to quit the show.