Since this episode also premieres within the next day or so - I thought I'd make a group discussion thread for this episode too - Here's the Synopsis for the Ep - "Slipstream and Jetstorm try to prove that they can work effectively without Drift, but accidentally endanger their teacher."

 

please download the episode for us who cannot watch it

 

You think it'll be better than seeing Windblade constantly pushing Optimus down. (seriously, I was kinda expecting him to say 'Bitch, did you just push me?'  )

I can't wait to see what triggers their motives for this.


jD001

 

I feel like Scattorspike is gonna be introduced in this episode. It's just a pure guess but the fact he's getting a toy seems like a safe bet.

 

No Scatterspike. Just another good episode.

Peter Cullen delivers his best performance as Optimus Prime in the Aligned continuity so far IMO, one line in particular he sounds more at ease in the role than he has in a long time.

Spoiler

Optimus Prime and the away team are at an abandoned military base, where Windblade has one of her equipment caches. They traveled there as Windblade got an alert that someone was trying to break into the supply cache. On arrival, they are observed by the Decepticon of the week.

Things quickly escalate when the Decepticon, Stockade, launches a full assault on the team with an army of Mini-Cons, and these guys are properly military trained Mini-Cons, with machine guns and mortars. They presented a different kind of threat in their sheer numbers and firepower, as opposed to another Decepticon with special abilities.

Stockade's assault ends up with the Autobots split up. Optimus and Windblade retreat to a fallout shelter and get locked in. Drift is wounded and seals himself in the weapons cache. Sideswipe, Jetstorm, and Slipstream retreat to an armory. Jetstorm and Slipstream had been pushing Drift to let them make their own decisions in battle, and are now beating themselves up for disrespecting their master and pretending not to hear his commands.

Optimus Prime tries to call in Team Bumblebee for backup, but they're on another mission and out of contact. He then comes up with a plan, and has Drift bluff about having a doomsday device that would obliterate the planet "which he'd sooner do than concede defeat to a Decepticon". Meanwhile, Sideswipe uses a strategy of his own and links up with Jetstorm and Slipstream - yes, Sideswipe is their Deployer for this episode! He offers to give himself up to Stockade in exchange for intel. Stockade's Mini-Con troops let their guard down until they realise that Sideswipe is alone, and didn't he have two other 'bots with him? At which point, Sideswipe attacks and with the help of Slipstream and Jetstorm takes down that portion of Stockade's battalion.

Sideswipe and the Mini-Cons then split up, with Sideswipe rescuing Windblade and Optimus, while Slipstream and Jetstorm back up Drift as the Decepticons breach the weapons cache where the injured Drift is holed up. Even injured, though, Drift puts up an amazingly strong fight, blasting and throwing grenades from where he lays prone.

Regrouped, the Autobots subdue Stockade's force, giving the Decepticon general a sound defeat.

The episode ends with Drift acknowledging that Slipstream and Jetstorm have now learned all he can teach them, but in a massive show of status quo, the two ask to remain as Drift's students to learn even more advanced techniques now that they are able to deploy from other Autobots. Grimlock arrives via groundbride to back up the away team, but only gets to humiliate Drift by carrying him slung over his back rather than punching some Decepticons.

The away team are returning home, just in time for the season finale!

I'm bothered that the plot about Drift and his Mini-Cons is a retread of the same story that's been told with them already at least once or twice before. However, the Decepticon of the week is cool, and it's easily one of the better episodes in the series, on a par with yesterday's, which bodes well for the finale.

 

Thanks Sol for the summary! I didn't expect an epic episode like yesterday, but I love Drift's Mini-cons.

The Away Team - Where everybody is wounded from the beginning to the end. Gj  

 

Awesome can't wait to watch the episode itself

 

^^ that's true ^^

thanks Sol for the update

 

Does anyone know when the episode will be available to view, just because yesterdays episode was up much earlier than todays. Also really looking for ward to this ep, and thanks Sol for the discription!!

 

Did Sideswipe get injured? (y'know, aside from the limping from the cold)


jD001

 

What's

Spoiler

Stockade's

theme?

 

Spoiler

He's basically a military general. He directs and commands his battalions of Minicons. He was an interesting opponent.

Not the best ep this season, but definitely higher than a lot of them. Optimus' strength is more-or-less back. He was pretty kickass, especially when he took down Stockade and the rocket launcher at the end.

The Minicons wanting to get more independence, and then regretting it when Drift was injured, was good conflict. I loved how Sideswipe stood up for them and acted as their deployer. Drift got to still be badass, even if he was injured.

And now the two teams are re-united! Roll on Deception Island!

 

is it up?

 

I meant alt-mode and animal motif

 

This livestream from zap is a master in trolling....

Nah, in S02E02 he was limping. I counted that as "injured".

 

I know right? livestream is a jerk!

Okay then. So the limping does count.  


jD001

 

I want to see the episode

 

^^ me too ^^

 

Same. I'll have to catch it after work.

 

Spoiler

I can't remember; I don't think we saw him transform. He was a bear/dog, rather similar to Polarclaw imo.