Another great episode! Not much in the plot-twist department, but a very enjoyable episode nontheless. Especially since the Dinobots are finally kicking some ass again.


Is it just me or does anyone else expect Meltdown to become Oil Slick in the near future? It's totally against his character, and against all information given so far. But with every episode that includes Meltdown I just half expect his experiments to turn on him and change him into a Transformer.

You mean another one is already up?

Yep. Apparently Nick UK is airing the rest of Season 2 daily.

I keep wondering if his experiments might lead to a Savage/Noble type character. I think that would pretty cool.

Me Grimlock go with you. Alone

I enjoyed the ep. I'm not big on stupid Dinobots, but I don't let it bother me. I figure I get my smart-Grimlock through the comics, which has pretty much always been the case.

I do like Blackarachnia a lot, and this is probably the first episode that I enjoyed Meltdown, too. He really came off as a worthy villain here. Were his monsters homages to Pretender shells? I'll have to look those up.

More Powell being Powell, too. Granted, he didn't have the upperhand as much as usual, but that's good to see, too.

another great eposode I liked it

ah dinobots in love.

Omg. Grimlock was great. I even liked Meltdown this time. He needs to be there only human enemy.....if u can call him human. BA hasn't been with the Decepticons once yet. I wonder how Megs is gonna use that against her in the future.

Meltdown is the best human-villain in this series. And I like it how Grimlock threatens Powell.

I'm rather liking fanzone now.

his little bits at the end made him awesome.

*sigh* Just when I thought that the Animated Dinobots couldn't get any dumber... (-_-) Anyway, I'm gonna try and avoid yet-another b!tch-fest about why I hate the Animated Dinobots for being morons...

I actually did feel sorry for the Dinobots. While I really dislike how the show continues to bring them along this downward retard spiral, I also thought it was cool how Blackarachnia was portrayed as being a real villain for exploiting characters who are obviously so mentally and emotionally vulnerable. It also shows the Autobots as being good guys who have never abused their relationship with the Dinobots where they would ever try to influence or exploit them. If they really wanted to, they could convince the Dinobots to fight for them, but instead they choose to let them live independently on Dinobot Island. It's a very interesting moral point that this story brings up - re: with great power (re: over those who are too easily influenced) comes great responsibility.

...there are certain political and religious organisations who could learn a thing or two from this... (-_-)

But despite Blackarachnia's villainy, I also liked how the episode ended demonstrated her goodness and showing that there is some moral conflict within her - and thus, chance for potential redemption. This of course is echoing what happened with Beast Wars Blackarachnia where Silverbolt always believed that she had a chance of redemption as a Predacon being forged from a Maximal Protoform (and the fact that he himself was a reformed Predacon). Seeing Optimus Prime clinging onto hope for Elita-One reminds me of the hope that Silverbolt clung onto for BW Blackarachnia - only without the sappiness.

It'll be interesting to see if Powell carries out his threat of reporting Fanzone to the Mayor and whether there'll be any consequences for Fanzone.

Now, this is probably going to spark some argument - but I didn't like how the Autobots got away with breaking and entering Powell's establishment and stealing the genetic thingie (as Grimmie calls it). Now of course we all know that Powell is a villainous scum-bag, but the fact is that he had a freakin' point - the Autobots did break and enter into his private business estate, and damaged and stole property belonging to Powell. When Powell reported this to Fanzone, Fanzone was duty-bound to do something about it, but instead he just flatly rejected Powell's grievance - essentially telling him to stfu and go home.

Okay, Powell is scum - sure - but to simply ignore his grievance based on the fact that he doesn't like him is quite unprofessional of Fanzone. It'll be interesting to see if Powell follows through with his threat of reporting Fanzone to the Mayor and what repercussions will arise for Fanzone and the Autobots as a result.

Oh yeah, Prowl jumping and swinging about the woods was a nice nod to animé ninjutsu. ;p It'd be neat if he could do Bunshin.


Bunshin!

Or maybe the autobots just don't want any new members to join their private superhero club?

Whatever floats your boat.

Does TFans have the proper icon to denote sarcasm?

The Dinobots made for great comedy relief on this one. If only the other 2 could talk...

Rather dull episode.

I like Black Arachnia as the villain but I have no use for Meltdown.

The Dinobots portrayal as complete idiots that just get dumber and dumber is also getting tiresome.

Still some good moments and really like the way Fanzone has progressed as a character. Sides with the Autobots opposed to those higher up in authority.

..yeah but he doesn't seem to be siding with them in a clever way... by flagrantly ignoring Powell's rather legitimate grievances, he could get in trouble for dereliction of duty - hence why Powell has threatened to have words with the Mayor. It'd be better if he were more like say Walter Barnett in G1 after he discovered that the Autobots were good guys and didn't openly defy the system to aide the Autobots. Sure, he was secretly harbouring the Throttlebots' brains, but he did it secretly, and chose the right moment to reveal it to the U.S. military - timed in a way where it was logical for Forsyth to concede with Barnett rather than forcing him to carry out his orders with destroying the Throttlebots.

To have Powell stand there demanding legal action and having Fanzone blatantly ignore his grievances is legally quite dangerous. Fanzone could've been dismissive in a more clever way, like maybe saying, "don't worry Mr. Powell, I'll look into it," - in a rather flat tone of voice (as in "yeah wateva") - then maybe turning to wink/smile at the Autobots; indicating that he really doesn't give a rat's arse, but is at least willing to pay lip service to Powell to defuse him (and thus prevent him from causing any further trouble for him and the Autobots).

What clever like:

"I'll just check with the boys down at the Crime Lab. They've assigned four more detectives to the case, got us working in shifts."

Nobody likes Powell, the guy's a serious a**hole. Especially in that ep where he fast talks Headmaster out of an arrest. This almost felt like retribution for that incident.

I agree Legally Fanzone would probably have to do something or follow it up but why bother it's not realistically based anyway.

exactly how do the dinobots get dumber just curious(i mean isn't it in there nature

dumb, but powerful, and all destructive... long live Grimlock... KING lol...

It had been previously established that the Animated Dinobots were at least able to discriminate between friend and foe... after establishing that the Autobots were their allies, the only time they'd previously turned on the Autobots was when they were forced to do so against their will by Meltdown. But it seems that they've taken a leap backwards with willingly turning against the Autobots by allowing themselves to be so easily manipulated by Blackarachnia. And in an incredibly lame way ("Me Grimlock so horny" = ghey).

The Animated Dinobots have indeed always been raging retards - which I've never liked - and it seems that writers are refusing to develop them beyond being just that. (-_-)

Just because they have extremely limited intelligences - at the level of wild animals - doesn't mean that they cannot evolve and be developed as meaningful characters. Noble/Savage is a really good example of a Transformer whose cognitive and intellectual capacity is of the level of a wild beast, yet he was well developed as a meaningful character. Although his intelligence could never be improved and he was never really tamed, he did learn to discriminate between friend and foe (esp. in his bonding with Nightscream) and also learnt to be a hero, ultimately becoming a martyr.

The Animated Dinobots seem to be incapable of even that... so it would seem that they're operating at a level far beneath that of savage beasts... maybe at the level of cockroaches. (-_-)

You know you're stupid when you're infinitely outsmarted by this guy...

To be fair, the writers are refusing to develope most of the characters beyond being just two-dimensional archetypes. That's the way it is with most american cartoons.

BTW, why am I having difficulty getting my posts to show up? This is a very serious problem. I've been trying to post all day and this is the only post that showed up.

Re: Fanzone not pursuing charges against Powell:

In "Return of the Headmaster" one of Powell's arguments against Masterson being arrested for decapitating Sentinel Prime is that the Transformers, as robots, have no legal rights. Well if they have no protection under the law then neither can they be prosecuted under it. So Fanzone should've told Powell that there was no one to press charges against and the best he could do would be to file a claim with his insurance company.

You mean one-dimensional. (-_-)


Having no rights doesn't mean that you cannot be arrested and potentially executed. The police have already seized custody of Swindle (and presumably had him scrapped). Having rights means that there are several procedures that law-enforcement agencies have to follow in order to arrest, charge and prosecute you. If you have no rights, then you can be arrested, charged, prosecuted and even executed without due process (e.g.: legal representation).

For instance, animals which are legally classified as pests don't have rights. Look at the cane toad - the government actually encourages people to kill them because they're pests whose population are at plague proportion. People in Queensland run over cane toads all the time (not always on purpose - they're just everywhere it's sometimes difficult to drive a few kilometres without running over one). If you did that to someone's livestock, pet or a person - who have rights (animal rights, human rights) then you could be arrested and prosecuted by the state.

Slaves don't have rights, especially an escaped slave. In times and places where slavery occurs (and it still does in some parts of the world) there are bounties placed on escaped slaves - sometimes wanted dead or alive.

The Transformers, as alien robots, indeed do not have any legal rights as far as we know. That's why the police were able to capture and possibly scrap Swindle without due process. It's not like Fanzone read Swindle his rights when he got towed away - cos he has none!

Having no rights works in Powell's favour and against the Autobots. As aliens without rights, the Transformers can be hunted down, seized and/or exterminated like pests. Look at G1's RAAT, III and even the Neo Knights - they were able to act directly against Transformers under the assumption that they had no rights. Even G.I. Joe regarded the Transformers the same way during their initial encounter (e.g.: killing Bumblebee - although G.I. Joe's Mainframe and Ratchet did help rebuild him as Goldbug; but then all the Throttlebots were captured by Circuit Breaker who handed them over to III who in turn had them executed). Sector Seven worked the same way (e.g.: capturing and possibly dissecting Bumblebee)

maybe its just setting up another meeting with the mayor since we already know he doesn't like powell.

woo! I was right about the Pretender shell homages! The monsters were Bomb-Burst and Submarauder!

Thanks, David Willis. I wasn't willing to look through each one at TFU and figure it out.

Understood, but my point was that if the Transformers have no legal rights then they are not considered people, since all people citizen or otherwise have at least some legal rights in the US. If they are not people then they are merely things. And if you simply consider them things, like all the other non-sentient robots in Detroit, you can't file charges against them. You could potentially press charges against the owner of a rogue robot but the Transformers have no owner. Since they came from another world and were never claimed by a person or entity it would be like trying to press charges against a meteorite that fell out of the sky and damaged your house. It simply makes no sense legally IF the Transformers are not considered people.

Does he post here?

Meteorites aren't living or free-acting though, whereas the Transformers are. If an animal, especially one that is unowned (e.g. wild, feral) were to injure or kill a human, then agencies could capture and/or destroy it.

A similar thing would apply with Transformers, as has been demonstrated in other TF canon - e.g.: III/RAAT, Sector Seven, G.I. Joe (initial contact), Neo Knights etc.

Powell wouldn't want to have the Autobots arrested, press charges or sue them - it's not like they even have money - but he might be able to convince the government to have the Autobots captured, detained and possibly terminated.


Lacking any recognised rights, Sector Seven captures, tortures and detains like a wild animal

I see this as true.

That's true, the Police could and probably should do exactly that. But since there's officially no charges being pressed, Fanzone doesn't have to do anything. He could just determine that the Autobots are not a public nuisance nor a danger. Of course, Powell would probably sue the DPD at that point and throw all the high-priced lawyers he has at them, which could get interesting.

I think you and I are in agreement now, we're just seeing the same situation different ways. I think my point is that Fanzone is not legally obligated to do anything other than go to bed if he doesn't want to.

It does make sense. Maybe he is found by lockdown, because Oilslick has Lockdown's face painted on his chest. I have, however found something contraadictory to this thoery:

"In addition to his vehicular combat abilities, Oil Slick is skilled in Circuit-Su, having trained with Prowl.

As with the episode, it was okay. I like how Powell had his ass handed to him by Grimlock, then later by Fanzone. the wicked witch of the west thing was kinda funny, too. What also funny is that David Kaye plays both Optimus and Grimlock, so he has to argue with himself alot. I also liked the bet made by Prowl, remind me a bet I once had (only I had to be quiet for an hour, and we bet 30$ and a can of soda)

Oil Slick was announced as being a non-cartoon toy. So, all this discussion about who he might turn into is therefore rather a moot point.

I see your David Kaye and I raise you a Scott McNeil (Rattrap & Dinobot (and Waspinator and Silverbolt)).

*awaits someone to pwn me w/ Frank Welker*

I believe we don't really give a dam. We can speculate all we want and you can mind your dam business.

And "moon point"? wtf?

Hey, you can make your point without being uppity about it...

IIRC the Animated folks at BotCon said that they might work Oil Slick into the story at some point, but we'll see.

Moot point.

So, next time, before you lash out, make sure you know what the other person is talking about. Now the only one who looks stupid is you.

HAY PLEASE DON'T KEEP RATCHETING UP THE DOUCHERY KTHX

I liked this episode. Alot. I watched it like 3 times now.

WOW, this is a lot of quoting.

Here's my thought's on the situation...here i go doing that THINKING stuff again...


Anyway, yes, i think Fanzone SHOULD have had to leagally do something about the break in by Optimus and Grimlock, however, he may have figured "What am I supposed to do? Slap cuffs on them? Take them down town?" especially with Grimlock, so he didn't bother. I don't think the rights of the Autobots question entered into it in his mind. After all, if these bots had no rights at all, why would the mayor have had a big thing where he thanked them and gave them the key to the city or whatever earlier? Remember? Sentinal was there.

Which brings me to my second point, the mayor is more friendly to the Autobots since at least THEY were helping with the garbage problem earlier where as Powell was holding out for more money. True, Ratchet practically yelled at the man to end the strike, but the Autobots are concidered heros to the people in the city after all the times they've protected it and kept people safe....ok, Bulkhead is an exception with all the damage he caused to buildings and personal property...i know one thing, i certainly wouldn't want to own a car in that city, or Metropolis, or Gotham City for that matter...anyway, I wouldn't think he'd want to call the US government to try and arrest the citiy's heros, it might look bad at the next election. On top of that, becaue of said garbage related events, I don't think the mayor is too fond of Powell, so i don't think he'll really listen.

However, IF the US government does become involved and the Autobots are forced to "Go underground" as it were, it may be quite an interesting plot twist for the show.

He could've at least written down a statement or reminded Powell that he was welcome to go to the police station and file a formal complaint - i.e.: he could remind Powell of his legal rights and options rather than just blindly fobbing him off. He should've fobbed him off more professionally (i.e.: a way that won't legally implicate him).

Or Powell's a douche and he got what he deserved. It's a kids show and they only have so much air time to fill.

Exactly. Morality tends to be very black and white in a kids' cartoon. If your a douche, you must be punished.

I thought it was to show Fanzones old skool attitude like commish Gordon who should arrest batman everytime he see's him but he knows the good outweighs the bad.

My guess is that it was the end of the episode and they didn't want to waste screen time with a procedural matter that wouldn't have affected the outcome of the story.

That's what I got too. "STFU Powell I don't care about you, these guys actually do good things"

It's like if the Joker complained that Batman was harrassing him.