The (rebirth, death, and) rebirth of Optimus Prime (The things an Autobot has to do to generate toy sales!)
[All images are owned by Hasbro, Marvel, and Sunbow Productions. Please don’t sue me]
When Hasbro wanted to release a new line of Transformer toys and remove ones that weren’t selling as well, they came up with a reason for the change in the lineup for their advertising the animated series.
There was just one problem: the kids didn’t want to see Optimus Prime die (this is why, when G.I.Joe: the Movie was later released, Duke was merely critically wounded and not killed)
For those who have been long-time fans of Transformers in its many media representations, you will no doubt notice that Optimus Prime dies...a lot. Now, I’m not being cynical or anything, but his deaths (and later resurrections) seem to coincide with a new version of Optimus in the toy line.
In fact, Optimus died not once, but twice in the 80s animated series. So let’s turn the clocks back to the 1980s (or, in the series continuity, to the far-flung future of 2006) and cover 2 episodes (one in two parts)
If you would like to watch the first episode, it’s available on Pluto TV.
We open on a space battle, and the Autobots are losing. Meanwhile the Decepticons (led by Galvatron) have launched missiles that destroy the ship!
Fortunately, the Autobots launch a shuttle before the missiles connect. On the ship is the Usual Cast (Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Arcee, and Kup) along with Spike and Daniel Witwicky. With no communications and little air for the humans, Rodimus makes the executive decision to investigate an anomaly on their scanners, which appears to be some sort of space station.
Unfortunately, the Decepticons find it as well.
Kup identifies the station as a tomb for the Autobots who fell in the Cybertron War.
Daniel reads off the names of the toys that are not being restocked Autobots who have died (mostly in the movie) when suddenly…
(Optimus has looked better)
Daniel immediately runs screaming back to the others. Rodimus takes Daniel to investigate Optimus’s resting place…
…only it’s empty!
Rodimus then hears the Decepticons approach and rush to defend the dead. Unfortunately, the Autobots are outnumbered and they fall back into the tomb.
Fortunately…?
So now we’re dealing with zombie robots?
Having seen a ghost, Galvatron orders the Decepticons to retreat. So maybe the Autobots should move their base there?
With the Decepticons driven off, Optimus asks about the Matrix of Leadership, which Rodimus happily hands over (despite Ultra Magnus’s protests)
Only Optimus doesn’t seem to want it. Instead, he’s working on building a ship to leave the Tomb. However, Rodimus won’t take no for an answer.
So Rodimus just wanted to go back to slacking off, eh? However…
Optimus attacks the Autobots! He then sets the self-destruct and flies off, putting the tomb on a course for a sun!
Meanwhile, Optumus has flown to Cybertron, giving a bullshit story about what happened to the others, blaming the Quintessons. The Autobots immediately mobilize to attack.
Uh-oh. It turns out that Optimus coming back from the dead was part of a Quintesson plot to destroy the Autobots!
Meanwhile at the tomb…
The Autobots quickly build their own ship and escape before the tomb is destroyed, setting off to Cybertron. Unfortunately, their jury-rigged ship has issues trying to land when they get there.
After crashing landing on Cybertron, the Autobots are informed by the Dinobots the Optimus has taken everyone to attack the Quintessons (and yet they left Snarl and Sludge?)
As the Autobot fleet approaches the Quintessons’ base, they receive a message that Hot Rod and the others are en route and to stop the attack, but Optimus pushes onward.
As the Autobots approach, the Quintessons begin phase one of their trap.
About that time, Rodimus Hot Rod and the others arrive and try to halt the attack.
Unfortunately, whatever the Quintessons did to Optimus causes him to disbelieve and orders Hot Rod’s ship to be destroyed.
Fortunately, everyone abandons ship before it blows up. Even better…
...Perceptor gets visual proof that Hot Rod’s message was genuine!
As the rescue teams retrieve their wayward Autobots, the Quintessons discuss phase two: forcing the Autobot fleet toward a massive bomb that will destroy it!
Inside the Autobot flagship, Hot Rod tells the Autobots to halt the attack, then goes to take command from Optimus.
It’s almost like Optimus didn’t want leadership foisted on him by some punk kid who didn’t wanna grow up.
Unfortunately, despite not wanting command, Optimus fights back.
Never heard that complaint before.
Somehow, Hot Rod manages to subdue Optimus and takes back the Matrix, upgrading to Rodimus Prime once again.
The others manage to find Rodimus and informs him they’re abandoning ship and the rest of the fleet is retreating. However…
Optimus takes command of the flagship and flies it straight for the bomb, detonating it so it can’t be used against the Autobots again.
And so we got a tease as to the return of the best-selling greatest Autobot of the era.
This in and of itself would be a cruel joke on the part of the writers, but when this episode re-aired later, a voice-over was added…
(Thanks to inthepark002)
Oh, now THIS is too much! How many times are they gonna break our hearts?!
Let’s find out as we move to the final two episodes of season 3, which is a two-part episode. If you would like to see the first part, it’s available on Roku.
We open with a test flight of a spacecraft capable of withstanding high temperatures (you remember CNN covering this back in 2006, right?) when they see…
…another spaceship about to collide with an asteroid. They scan for life and discover…
Not again!
The pilot (Gregory) has a flashback to a fight between Optimus and Megatron that disfigured him.
Gregory’s co-pilot (Jessica) tries talking sense into him as she suits up to attempt to save Optimus (how? It’s not like you can carry him to safety!) Despite his better judgement, Gregory follows.
I guess they’re doing to drag him to safety. They tie a cable abound Optimus and somehow (I know he’s weightless, but his mass is still a few thousand times that of the pilots combined!) drag him out of the ship before it collides (wouldn’t it be easier to put booster rockets on the ship to redirect its course?)
After the collision…
The humans’ ship is covered in some sort of red dust. Oh well, time to head back to Earth.
Back on Earth, it’s discovered that the “dust” is actually some sort of spore. They test the spores on some lab rats (seriously? I mean, I know that’s what lab rats are for, but you don’t even try running any sort of tests on them before introducing test subjects?) and discover…
The mice become aggressive when exposed. What’s more, the spores are passed from one to another by touch! They need to destroy that shit right away!
Unfortunately Jessica is the only one who realizes that, but before she can talk sense into the others…
Their lab falls under attack from the Terrorcons (each sold separately)!
Fortunately, the Technobots (also sold separately) arrive to defend the lab. Both sets of Transformers combine making the battle Abonimous vs. Computron (in case you were wondering why you needed to buy them all)
Unfortunately, the Terrorcons get what they came for, destroying the lab in the process (despite the Technobots’ best efforts)
And Jessica is injured! Jessica’s father (Mark) blames the Technobots (technically all Transformers, but the Technobots are the handy scapegoats)
Then Gregory (who, if you recall, also has an irrational hatred for All Things Transformer) comes up with an idea Jessica would not condone…
Gregory intends on somehow using Optimus’s body to spread the spores to the Transformers so they destroy one another (he does realize the Transformers are already trying to destroy one another, right?)
Eventually, Mark receives work that Jessica is awake. However…
…he’s not too happy that his daughter is now a cyborg.
When Mark and Jessica return to the lab, Gregory announces he’s been unable to revive Optimus (there they go again, getting our hopes up!)
THE MONSTERS!
Jessica manages to talk them out of melting Optimus down, but only so they can tell the Autobots where he is so they can be infected. They somehow get Jessica to go find an Autobot, despite her protests.
Jessica finds Ultra Magnus, who take her to Rodimus Prime.
Once Rodimus hears “Optimus”, he’s deaf to everything else (including Jessica warning that it’s a trap). He mobilizes the Protectobots (say it with me…”Each sold separately”), who merge into Defensor, as well as the Arielbots (you know the drill) who merge into Superion, and every other Autobot (including those who don’t combine…collect them all!)
Wow, Rodimus is going a bit overkill for two humans, isn’t he?
Unfortunately…
…Rodimus’s mobilization does not go unnoticed.
Ratbat returns to Soundwave, who plays back everything that happened in the last scene.
Looks like we may see the lab trashed again, only this time it will be the humans’ fault.
Later, the Autobots arrive at the lab as Rodimus lays out his plan to retrieve Optimus’s body.
You should’ve thought of that before you let Ratbat snoop.
Rodimus and Jessica enter the main lab while the rest of the Autobots sneak around back (they’re three stories tall and you expect them to be stealthy?) However…
…is in the front lab, meaning…
(Thanks to chatguy)
Infected with the spores, the Autobots turn the back lab into a demolition derby! Eventually, they break free of the lab, forcing the uninfected Autobots to escape.
Fortunately, Rodimus got Optimus’s body first (how the hell did he get Optimus up there? He has no arms in vehicle mode!)
Jessica leads Rodimus to the loading dock, however…
…Galvatron has other plans. Unfortunately for him…
…the infected Autobots have still other plans! With his troops infected by the spores, Galvatron retreats after Rodimus warns him what’s happening.
Meanwhile, the cops have arrived to try to stop the infected Superion (GOOD LUCK!) Fortunately, the Autobots are doing their best to help…
…but Superion infects Defensor! Jesus, this is turning into a zombie movie in a hurry!
Rodimus returns with Optimus to see if Wreck-Gar can do anything.
Then Optimus remembers that the Quintessons revived Optimus before, so he contacts Sky Lynx.
So Sky Lynx is off to the far reaches of the galaxy (his words, not mine) to retrieve a Quintesson (exactly how fast are those engines that he’ll get there and back before the zombie virus spores infect the planet?)
Rodimus then realizes that Autobot City is also a Transformer: Metroplex, so he shuts Metroplex down as the infected Autobots arrive!
Rodimus flees as Ultra Magnus tries to infect him.
Fortunately, Rodimus isn’t alone as Wreck-Gar lassos Ultra Magnus before he can infect Rodimus. However…
…and with a touch, Wreck-Gar is infected! Then…
Well, that’s all she wrote, I guess.
And if you think the spores would be happy with rats and Transformers…
…you’d be wrong. I hope Mark and Gregory (remember them?) are proud of themselves.
What’s worse…
…it’s spread to deep space as well! Fortunately for that Quintesson, Sky Lynx has arrived and offers a ride in exchange for Optimus’s life.
Later, the Quintesson is making sure Optimus is fully functional before restoring power, then asks how they’ll deal with the spores.
You guys put a lot of faith in an Autobot who has a major martyr complex.
Finally, all is ready.
Well, that’s not ominous at all! But there’s still the spores to deal with, so let’s get to the conclusion, also available on Roku.
Sky Lynx gives Optimus a rundown on what happened in the previous episode.
Fortunately, not all of the Autobots were infected by the zombie virus spores, but unfortunately most are injured.
Not much of a force, especially since they can’t touch anyone infected. Optimus drafts the Quintesson for repair duty.
Eventually, repairs are made, but Bumblebee needed a complete overhaul.
Optimus re-christens Bumblebee “Goldbug” (available now!)
Unfortunately, Optimus needs the Matrix of Leadership to come up with a way to beat the spores, and that’s currently in Rodimus’s possession (and given the last time he handed it over, Rodimus wouldn’t be too happy to do so again even if he wasn’t infected with murder spores)
Jessica offers a possible solution: coat Optimus with the alloy Mark and Gregory (remember them?) developed (remember that?). Since it’s heat and radiation resistant, it might protect Optimus from the spores (hey, I’ve heard worse BS Hail Mary plays). However, the Decepticons have the alloy following their raid in part 1. Guess it’s road trip time! However, Jessica wants to come along. After a bit of debate, Optimus reluctantly agrees.
Meanwhile on the planet Charr…
…Galvatron is having issues controlling his infected followers.
Then the Autobots arrive to offer a truce with Galvatron. Together they drive the infected Decepticons back. Optimus explains they’re here for the alloy the Decepticons stole.
Galvatron leads the Autobots across a giant web. As Galvatron flies across…
…a giant spider attacks (wait, isn’t Sky Lynx with them? Can’t he fly everyone across?) However, the Autobots make short work of it.
Later, giant leeches drop from the ceiling!
After some coercing, Galvatron makes short work of the leeches (and this is why Optimus won’t tell him why they need the alloy; otherwise Galvatron might’ve left them to rust)
Unfortunately, the infected Decepticons have caught up…
… and infected the others! Only Jessica, Optimus, Galvatron, Sky Lynx, and Steeljaw are left!
They reach the alloy, but Jessica accidentally reveals the plan to Galvatron!
Guess the truce is over, but Galvatron is still outnumbered.
Y’know, for someone who was once voiced by Mr. Spock, Galvatron doesn’t think very logically.
Unfortunately…
…the infected Transformers have arrived and infect Jessica!
…who infects Galvatron (serves him right!)
Sky Lynx and Optimus escape with the alloy.
Once coated, Optimus sends Sky Lynx out to find Rodimus (y’know, there are flying Transformers. Isn’t Optimus worried one of them will infect Sky Lynx?), eventually finding him.
(silver-plated Optimus Prime sold separately)
Optimus tries to talk sense to Rodimus, but…
After shooting at Optimus, Rodimus TRANSFORMS AND ROLLS OUT! Optimus gives chase, cornering Rodimus in a junkyard. However…
So much for Sky Lynx!
Optimus finally subdues Rodimus and takes back the Matrix as Rodimus returns to being Hot Rod (collect them all!)
Now that Optimus has the Matrix, he sends his consciousness into it to find an answer.
Meanwhile, the infected have arrived, looking for Optimus.
Inside the Matrix, Optimus has found his answer.
Unfortunately, the ancient Autobots realized no one being had enough wisdom, especially as spread as it is now. Optimus realizes he’ll need the entirety of the Matrix to defeat the spores.
Outside…
(Thanks to sleeperagent)
Once everyone is back to normal, Mark and Gregory apologize for what they did (so they committed bio-terrorism and nearly destroyed the galaxy and they get off with an “I’m sorry”? He’s got a career in politics!)
And while the war isn’t over, Galvatron is willing to thank Optimus for what he did to save the Decepticons. (Wait, what happened to Optimus’s silver plating? Did he have to give the alloy back?)
Furthermore, the Matrix was drained from saving the galaxy, so it’s up to the Autobots to fill it again going forward.
This would’ve been a great series finale, but there was a miniseries that was technically season 4 so Hasbro could sell their new Head Masters line to the kids.
