Siege episode 5
From Transformers Wiki
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 Go on and write me up for one-twenty-five, Post my face wanted dead or alive- | ||||||
| Episode 5 | ||||||
| Production company | Allspark Animation,Rooster Teeth | |||||
| Airdate | July 30,2020(Netflix) | |||||
| Written by | Brandon M. EastonandGavin Hignight | |||||
| Director | Takashi Kamei | |||||
| Animation studio | Polygon Pictures | |||||
 Watch this episode on Netflix
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With time quickly running out, the Autobots must divide and conquer to prepare their escape plan.
Contents |
Synopsis
AtDecepticonheadquarters,Soundwavehas completed his analysis of the signal emitted duringUltra Magnus'sdeath. He reports toMegatronthat the signal transmitted aprotocolcontaining a hidden code that is designed to traverse overCybertron'sinfrastructure. Megatron is interested less inhowit moves but what it can do, and to whom it was sent. He is frustrated thatShockwavefailed to detect it and that Soundwave cannot decipher it. Shockwave proposes using a secret virus (whose secret development irks Megatron) in order to eliminate the code by destroying all processors that have ever received it, wherever they may be. He proposes the ironic solution of using Magnus's own body to transmit the payload, even as Soundwave warns that the virus will cripple planetary infrastructure. Despite this, Megatron orders Shockwave to proceed.
At theArk,theAutobotsquestion the imprisonedJetfire.He claims that he has realized that Megatron has gone too far in his war and that he won't be a party to genocide of the Autobots.Optimus Primeis stunned as Jetfire recalls Magnus's fate, how he was murdered while shackled and defenseless. Jetfire promises that Megatron will do the same to all Autobots and pleads to join their team.
Nearby,CogandWheeljackare in awe ofBumblebee'snewfound knowledge from the Alpha Trion protocols. The scavenger tells the two Autobots that in Cybertron'sGolden Age,theAllsparkmoved across the planet, following a map that Bumblebee now possesses in his mind. As Wheeljack prepares to modernize Bumblebee's map for present-day Cybertron, Prime,Elita-1andProwljoin them and voice their skepticism over Jetfire's intentions. At that moment, Wheeljack has located the Allspark; unfortunately, it resides in the treacherousSea of Rust,from which escape is extremely rare.
Elita suggests waiting until the Allspark reappears somewhere safer, but Prime disagrees: retrieving the Allspark, launching theArk,and activating thespacebridgemust happen at the same time so that theDecepticonshave no opportunity to stop their mission. Elita is exasperated; she loses more faith in the mission and feels bitterly that Prime needlessly endangers himself. Bumblebee points out that even though Autobots rarely return from the Sea of Rust,Decepticonshave done so, having mapped out the area in the past. Prime realizes that Jetfire could be put to good use here, and orders Prowl to retrieve him.
At the spacebridge,ImpactorandRatchetput the final touches on its repair.Miragecongratulates their efforts as Ratchet powers it up, but immediately, a patrol ofSeekersapproach. In a desperate move, Mirage casts an illusion so large that it hides the entire spacebridge from view. The ruse is successful, and the rest of the team members feel a rare moment of relief.
Meanwhile, Magnus's corpse is strung up and run through with electrical cables as Shockwave's virus is unleashed across Cybertron.
Jetfire is eager to prove his usefulness to the Autobots even as Elita believes he can't be trusted. To earn their trust, Jetfire suggests that acore overridebe applied to his brain module, detonating him at the first sign of deception. The Autobots shamefully remember the dark times in which they applied the core overrides, but accept Jetfire's proposal that he submit to the procedure. Wheeljack reminds the team that theArkneeds moreenergonto fly, but Bumblebee says he knows how they can get it if they're willing to steal it from amercenarynamedSoundblaster.Prime approves the plan, sendingArceeand Cog to accompany Bumblebee. Prime plans to journey to the Sea of Rust withHound,Moonracer,Prowl, and Jetfire. Elita, growing weary of the morally grey areas of dealing with Decepticons and stealing energon, remains to prepare theArk.
At Soundblaster's dome, Bumblebee is prepared to make a show of bartering the Autobots' last store of energon to get inside. He, Cog, and Arcee make it inside and try not to look suspicious. They approach Soundblaster at last, who is protected byDome Guards.Careful not to offend him by calling him a failed Soundwave clone, Bumblebee offers him energon, and they are allowed to go to the receiving area. There, they see more than enough energon to power theArk.Cog transforms and combines with Arcee and they hold up the Dome Guards at gunpoint. But before they can escape, Soundblaster arrives with more Dome Guards, and it is nowBumblebee'steam being held up.Buzzsawhad been spying on them, and Soundblaster is amused knowing that captive Autobots are worth more than a fewcubes of energon.
Elita watches Prime's team remotely from theArkasIronhidegives her more bad news: Autobot outposts across the planet are suffering total system failures. What shedoesn'tknow is that the failures are being caused by Shockwave's virus, which has nearly disabled the entire planet's infrastructure. Before all communication breaks down, Elita orders all other outpost teams to report to theArk.She tries to reach Prime, but his signal is lost. The virus finally reaches theArk,damaging its repair bays, power supplies, and ultimately its cloaking device!
Prime's team arrives at the inhospitable Sea of Rust, and immediately are forced to dodge lightning. Jetfire launches flares that provide relatively-safe passage for the Autobots, but they must contend with metallic vortexes. The former Seeker is confident they can make it past the vortexes, but Prowl is unexpectedly pulled into air around the dangerous storm. Jetfire transforms and risks his life to rescue him, and barely succeeds. Back on the ground, Prowl believes the Decepticon has demonstrated valor, but Jetfire believes the Autobot will value pragmatism over appreciation. After the Autobots pass through the vortexes, they detect the Allspark in a valley below. Inside the crystal-strewn valley, Prime feels an uneasy feeling, as if theMatrixitself had issued a warning. As if on cue, the valley begins to rumble, and the undeadSparklesserupt from the ground itself. Though they are shambling, they are strong; one quickly rips off Moonracer's arm. Jetfire and the Autobots are surrounded by the horde!
Meanwhile, Megatron is on the verge of triumph: Shockwave reports the detection of the defenseless Autobot Command at last, and Starscream has discovered increased Autobot activity near a spacebridge. He orders his lieutenants to assemble all Decepticons and will personally lead an assault to crush the Autobot resistance once and for all!
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Mercenaries | Others |
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Quotes
"(groans)Another one of your secret experiments that we don't know about?(grumbles)Tell me more. "
- -Megatronis annoyed at Shockwave being Shockwave, but not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"A Decepticon saving an Autobot? It doesn't feel right...holding onto this thing after you saved me."
"But for the sake of the mission...you will."
- —Prowlis ready to disableJetfire'score override detonator and begin trusting him
Notes
Transformers references
- Bumblebee mentions a former Seeker named Dreadwing. Whether this refers to thecombined Powermaster jet,the alternate name foroneof those said Powermasters, theGeneration 2stealth bomber,or a "Generation 1" version ofthePrimecaptain of the Seekersis unknown. For simplicity's sake, we register this as theGeneration 2Dreadwing.
- TheSea of Rusthas appeared in other media, notably being the place of origin for theRust Renegadesin theCombiner Warstoyline.
- Soundblasterhaving a partner inBuzzsawis a reference toThe Headmasterstoyline inJapan.Similar parallels were also made withLogos PrimeandHell BuzzsawfromGalaxy Forceand more recently,SoundblasterandBuzzsawfrom theFall of Cybertrontoyline.
Animation and technical errors
- Like his red clone in episode 2, Cog's torso piece disappears when he combines with Arcee.
- When Cog combines with Arcee, her backpack disappears.
Trivia
- Arcee appears to be a similar case to Bumblebee (see:Siege episode 1#Trivia), as hercharacter modelshares a lot of herEarthrisedetails (evident in her forearm panels and tech detailing). Though, much like Bumblebee, a lot of the details also appear to have been made up using existing Generation 1 Arcee designs to fill in the blanks.
- Cliffjumper is a straight reskin of Bumblebee's character model using the same head design and all. This would later be a similar case forExhaustin theEarthriseportion of the cartoon, who ends up being slightly less accurate to his toy due to his model using the existing Wheeljack head instead of the new one the toy came with. Both of these are likely down to budget constraints.
- Like Cliffjumper, Moonracer's model is reskinned from Chromia. Unfortunately, the similar-looking colors and model reuse means the two look very alike.
- Soundblaster's model sports a few differences from hisSiegetoy, namely additional black parts, a flatter chest owing to being reskinned from Soundwave, and a Mercenary symbol instead of a Decepticon badge. Another thing to note in both Soundwave and Soundblaster's on-screen appearance is they are both missing one of the vehicle engine parts on the right side of both their backs, likely to make room for their shoulder cannons as the hollow side of those parts has been completely covered over.
- TakaraTomywould eventually release their own Soundblaster with a deco that greatly resembles his on-screenWar for Cybertron Trilogyappearance and would replace hisDecepticonInsigniawith theMercenaryone. This release was an exclusive toTakaraTomy Malland later TakaraTomy'sGenerations Selectsline.
- Prowl's detonator to Jetfire's core override uses the same model for the Cybertronian scanner used inTransformers: Prime,likely a case of asset reuse on the part ofPolygon Pictures,which also did the animation forPrime.
