Episode Two: "The Darkness Rising Pt. 2" By Scott Barker
PREVIOUSLY ON TRANSFORMERS PRIME REVIEWS...
Megatrons really awesome lookin' even for him!
The original voice actors! Oh boy!
Why are the henchmen so nails?!
Miiko, why are you so obnoxious?
Autobot debuts: n/a
Decepticon debuts: n/a
Synopsis: We are recapped on the events of episode one, culminating with the close of Megatron and his chilling proclamation: "I have returned". The episode proper begins with the Decepticon warship lowering onto a mountain range. Starscream is showing Megatron an energon mine the Decepticons have established deep within the mountain itself. Megatron re-assumes command of the Decepticons. Starscream offers to open the spacegate to unleash Megatrons army but Megatron refuses, stating he has discovered something more interesting during his three year absence. He holds a purple shard and declares it to be the solidified form of what the elders referred to as the blood of Unicron. Starscream is wary of the shard which Megatron. It is reputed to hold the power to bring back the dead. When Megatron asks if Starscream is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, Starscream instead orders the Vehicons to bring forth the lifeless body of Cliffjumper.
The episode cuts to Autobot HQ where Optimus is still speaking to the children, reinforcing the need for them to remain at HQ until they can be sure the Decepticons intentions. Jack is reluctant but Miiko is thrilled. An alarm distracts from Ratchets protests that if the children are caught underfoot, they will go squish. The alarm is a proximity alarm, a human named Special Agent Fowler has landed atop the base. He is the autobot liaison officer. He chastises the Autobots for the destruction caused by the battles with the Decepticons. Optimus defends the Autobots actions and speaks against human military intervention. Bulkhead chimes in, breaking an arm off a nearby machine and crushing it to demonstrate the autobots power but also thier control of it (This annoys Ratchet as he 'needed that!'). Fowler leaves, telling Optimus to handle the problem or he will.
Back at the energon mine, Megatron drives the dark energon into Cliffjumpers corpse. He is revived but is a frenzied mindless beast, leaping onto two nearby Vehicons, crushing the skull of one and pummeling the second, ignoring the injuries it receives. It turns to Megatron and charges at him but Megatron, unflinchingly, slices him in half. His upper half, still snarling, tries to attack Megatron but is kicked down the shaft. Megatron declares that he will learn to control this new power.
At Autobot HQ, Cliffjumpers vital signs reappear, spurring the Autobots into action, opening the ground bridge and rolling out. Ratchet explains the ground bridge technology and states that they do not have the required tech nor the energon required for interplanetary space bridge travel, meaning they are stuck on the earth.
The autobots appear in the energon mine, taking cover while the Vehicons mine all around them. They boldly step forward and engage the Vehicons, making short work of them.
Back at HQ, Miiko is irritating Ratchet when Rafael asks why the Autobots are using human technology. Ratchet states they inherited it from the previous tenants but is not pleased at having to use it. An error message appears and Rafael offers to fix it, much to Ratchets disbelief. Using his laptop, Rafael fixes the issue.
Back in the mine, the Autobots advance, facing more waves of miner Vehicons. Optimus orders them to engage maximum overdrive and the team transforms, ploughing through the defensive line. They take up positions in the main drilling shaft but are immediately fired upon.
Megatron stands examining a large chunk of dark energon, pondering how to wield its awesome power. Starscream informs Megatron of the intruders and Megatron orders him to prep the ship to leave. When Starscream protests, concerned for the energon stockpile, Megatron responds simply: blow the mine.
Back in the mine once more, Arcee spots Cliffjumper and makes a break for him, the others covering her. She reaches him but the section of mineshaft he is lying on is shot. As the section collapses, she grabs him but Cliffjumper, still maddened by the dark energon, lashes out and causes Arcee to drop him as he falls several stories down. Before they can act, Starscream appears and drops a bomb into the energon before transforming and escaping. The Autobots transform and make a break for the ground bridge. They make it in time and the ground bridge closes, cutting off the explosion.
Optimus asks what Arcee saw and she explains Cliffjumpers mangled state. She falls to one knee, stating she feels dizzy, to the surprise of Miiko and the others. Arcees hand has some of the purple liquid that'd been leaking from Clliffjumper and Ratchet orders her to take a decontamination bath. The children tell Optimus they have to leave as thier parents will be concerned and Optimus agrees, but assigns each an Autobot to escort them home, Miiko and Bulkhead, Bumble bee and Raf and Jack and Arcee respectively.
As Jack and Arcee pull in, Jack tries to console Arcee about the loss of Cliffjumper. They are interrupted by Jacks mother returning who is concerned by Jacks new 'purchase'. He is able to convince her to let him keep the bike and the next morning Arcee wakes him and they move out.
Back aboard the warship, in the chamber with the dark energon, Starscream informs Megatron of the Autobots supposed demise but Megatron is not convinced. Starscream voices his concern that too much exposure to the dark may be affecting Megatron who counters saying maybe he has not had enough. Reaching into the container, he pulls a shard free and, despite Starscreams protest, injects it into his spark chamber.
Back at HQ Ratchet is examining the liquid taken from Arcee. As he removes the sample, a tiny drop touches the machine arm that Bulkhead destroyed previously and it mutates into a small robot with spindly legs and a glowing purple eye which scuttles away.
Personal opinion:
Well, that was pretty intense. The episode took what I said about the Vehicons bieng quite tough and threw it back in my face once the whole team (combat team anyway as Ratchet was on babysitting duty) was in the fray, with Arcee twisting off heads and Optimus picking up drill carts with one hand and shooting them away.
The 'Maxiiiiimmuuum OVERDRIVE' thing was evidently going to be the gimmick of the show but just seemed to be cybertronian for "GUYS! VEHICLE MODE! RUN 'EM OVER!".
Zombie Cliffjumper was quite frankly awesome and pretty damn scary, especially when he was sat on that poor Vehicon, pummelling him, not to mention biting the gun arm of the previous Vehicon off before crushing his head. Rookie mistake thinking he could take Megatron though...seriously Zomjumper, the guy is like twenty feet tall with blades for arms. The effects of the dark energon was quite interesting as well, bieng able to revive dead transformers, albiet as berserker drones.
The big issue of the episode was the questions raised at the very end when Megatron willfully infected himself. The effects of this will have to be seen but its unlikely to be anything negative.
Ratchet on babysitting duty proves to be amusing, proving the straighman to Miikos incessant bothering. We also got to see Starscreams alt mode in an impressive midair spinning transformation before he blasted out of view. And Arcee showed a bit more character with her grief at losing Cliffjumper and her shortness with Jack as he tried to console her. Thier relationship dynamic is improving and deepening rather than "Im a boy, you're a robot motorbike girl, lets just make do til the credits roll". Next episode should prove to be great.
Best Line:
Miiko: "Ooh whats this?"
Ratchet: "Broken...don't touch"
"Dark Energon...none of the sugar, ALL of the EEEEEVIL"
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