The Cool Channel - Transformers Season Two, Part One DVD Review
Posted by J.D. Dunn on 06.30.2005
Because that's how they roll.
The phenomenon continued into a second season. At this point, Sunbow was mass-producing episodes for "Transformers", "G.I. Joe" and "My Little Pony", so it's not exactly like they're putting a lot of effort into the teleplays.
Transformers Season Two, Part One
Episode 2.01 — "Autobot Spike" W:Donald F. Glut
Synopsis: Sparkplug creates a giant Autobot shell out of spare parts. It comes in handy when Spike is injured during a Decepticon raid on a nearby Air Force base. They transfer Spike's mind into "Autobot X" while the doctors work on his brain. However, not everything goes according to plan. Spike is depressed about being a mechanical monster and goes on a rampage. Megatron convinces him to join the Decepticons. However, when Sparkplug is danger, Spike realizes that the Decepticons are the baddies here. He turns on them and chases them away. The restoration is a success, and Spike lives happily ever after.
Interesting Note: The episode ends with Bumblebee pondering what would happen if an Autobot became human. That very plot device would be used in the Season Three classic "Only Human".
Analysis: Lackluster opening to the second season with some horribly lazy writing. For example, Wheeljack says, "I'd like to find a way to transfer an Autobot's mind into Autobot X so his mind would function while we worked on him." The doctor treating Spike ponders, "If only there were some way to transfer his mind while we operate." How convenient! So hackneyed that Stan Lee is blushing somewhere. D+
Episode 2.07 — "Changing Gears"
W:Larry Parr
Synopsis: The Decepticons attack some human miners, baiting the Autobots into a fight so they can capture Gears and take out his grumpy button. Seriously. Well, actually it's a chip that serves the function of harnessing the sun's energy when put into Megatron's "solar needle", but it also changes his personality so that he can't say no to anyone. The Autobots attack the solar needle and defeat the Decepticons. Gears get his chip back and returns to his grumpy old self.
Analysis: This goofy episode is better than "Autobot Spike", but not by much. Most of the fun is derived from Gears being so accommodating and not knowing why. The first few episodes of the season have really started to spin their wheels. And if you think that's a bad pun, you have to hear some of the ones in this episode. C
Episode 2.?? — "City of Steel"
W: Douglas Booth
Synopsis: The Decepticons rebuild New York City into New Cybertron. During a battle for the city, Megatron captures Prime and disassembles him! The Constructicons reconstruct Prime's body into a giant alligaticon and release it into the New York City sewer system (get it?!) to destroy the Autobots. Prime's still functioning head helps him to stop the gator so they can disassemble it and reassemble Prime. Unfortunately, there's still one piece left -- Prime's right arm and blaster. It's been attached to the Decepticon tower as a defense mechanism. Prime scales the side of the building, racing Devastator to the top in a replay of King Kong. Prime regains control of his arm and knocks Devastator off the skyscraper to the ground -- just like the big ape. Prime gets his arm back and NYC gets another rebuild.
Analysis: Obviously, watching famous NYC buildings collapse has a different context in 2005. It's an episode filled with interesting "big" moments though - like Prime getting disassembled, or watching the Empire State Building collapse into the ground. Watching Devastator scale the building like King Kong and Spike as Frankenstein, you wonder if the writers just didn't have a big ol' 1930's movie party before they started writing episodes for the season. A good way to break the bad ep streak. B+
Episode 2.10 — "Attack of the Autobots"
W:David Wise
Synopsis: Megatron sneaks into the Autobot headquarters and plants a personality destabilizer in their recharger turning them into Decepticon minions. Only Jazz, Wheeljack and Bumblebee - who were out at the time - escape unscathed. The Autobots attack an Air Force base and try to steal the plans for a solar satellite from its creator -- Dr. Harding. Meanwhile, Sparkplug invents a doohickey that will drain the bad and replace the good. Hound and crew re-un-descramble the Autobots just in time for them to keep the Decepticons from escaping with the solar satellite.
Interesting note #1: Mixmaster, who was last seen falling into the molten lava, reappears here acting quite insane. The same thing would happen with Galvatron in the third season.
Interesting note #2: Writer David Wise also did some work on the animated version of "Star Trek" as well as "Wonder Woman". He would go on to do numerous "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" episodes as well as The Mighty Ducks First Face-Off movie.
Analysis: It's a little disappointing that they're already recycling ideas from previous episodes. In this case, you have the Autobots being enslaved instead of Sparkplug. In fact, counting "Autobot Spike", this is the third episode this season where an Autobot has been turned against the others against his will. On top of that, Megatron's plan to steal some satellite and head to Cybertron was awfully generic. C
Episode 2.05 — "Traitor"
W:George Hampton, Mike Moore
Synopsis: The Decepticons steal some electro-cells from a research lab. In Autobot land, Cliffjumper thinks perhaps Mirage isn't giving it his all. During a battle to retrieve the cells, the energy collection device becomes damaged. Optimus decides to retreat rather than risk battling near the electro-cells. Mirage goes rogue to prove his innocence and steals some energon from the Insecticons. Cliffjumper sees Mirage with the energon, confirming in his mind that Mirage is a traitor. The Insecticons assume the Decepticons are stealing from them, triggering a big battle between the Decepticons and Insecticons, which was Mirage's idea in the first place. Bombshell plants a device on Mirage to control his mind (again?!). Prime refuses to believe it, though. Mirage lures them into a trap, but the Autobots realize what's going on and take off his mind control chip. They destroy the electro-cells and vanquish the Decepticons once again.
Analysis: Yet another mind control device episode. These guys watch too much "Manchurian Candidate." That said, this is like a Mamet play compared to the others. The fact that Cliffjumper is suspicious of Mirage even before the mind control is interesting. Unfortunately, that kind inter-squad friction was only used as a plot device here. C+
Episode 2.02 — "The Immobilizer"
W:Earl Kress
Synopsis: Wheeljack invents a device called the immobilizer that well, immobilizes Transformers. While in town, Bumblebee and Spike meet Carly who joins the cast as an Autobot sympathizer. While the Autobots are testing the immobilizer, the Decepticons attack and grab the device for themselves. Carly blames herself for the Decepticon attack and goes to retrieve the immobilizer by herself. During a battle with the Decepticons, nearly all the Autobots get "immobilized." Carly formulates a plan to reprogram the immobilizer, thus reanimating the Autobots. After that, it's all academic.
Introduces: Carly, Spike's love interest and eventual wife.
Analysis: Better-than-average episode, mainly due to the writing of Kress whose previous work includes the 1981 animated classic "The Fox and the Hound". He takes things much deeper than the other writers; introducing a love interest for Spike, giving Ironhide some emotional depth as a veteran questioning whether he's over-the-hill or not. That's the kind of characterization they could have done more of. B
Episode 2.?? — "The Autobot Run"
W:Donald F. Glut
Synopsis: The Autobots hold a Cannonball Run-style race for charity. Bad timing, as Megatron has invented a device called the "transfixitron" that freezes a Transformer in his vehicle mode. The race winds up as a draw (boo!), but then the Decepticons attack while they're helpless. Megatron tries to feed them to another invention -- some sort of Autobot devouring machine -- but Wheeljack has invented a transfixation-reversing grenade that allows them to Transform just in time to face off against the massive Devastator. Cliffjumper hits Devastator with the transfixitron, forcing him to break apart. The Autobots vanquish the Decepticons and destroy the transfixitron.
Analysis: Pretty much "The Immobilizer" without a brain or anything interesting happening. The only difference here is that Megatron invented the device himself instead of stealing it. The presence of Devastator helps, but not much. C
Episode 2.09 — "Arise, Atlantis"
W:Douglas Booth
Synopsis: The Decepticons uncover the lost city of Atlantis and make nice with their leader, Nergill. The plan is to raise Atlantis and use it to conquer the world. Of course, he wouldn't be Megatron unless he was plotting to doublecross his newfound ally. What he doesn't know is that Nergill is plotting against the Decepticons too. The city floats on Washington D.C. with Nergill freezing the Autobots with his stun ray (or "Immobilizer" :)). The Dinobots make the save. Nergill tries to blow up the whole city, but the Autobots escape in time as the city sinks back into the sea.
Interesting Note: Although he was one of the original members of the toyline, Buzzsaw didn't appear until this episode. In fact, like fellow cassette Frenzy, he was rarely even used in the cartoon series.
Analysis: This felt almost like a spin-off for the Atlantians, as Megatron kind of took a backseat while Nergill played the big bad. Unfortunately, Nergill makes a woeful baddy. Still, this episode made good by having the Dinobots make the save in the end. About time they had some spotlight. C+
Episode 2.14 — "Day of the Machines"
W:David Wise
Synopsis: Megatron reprograms TORQ-III, a sort of quasi-sentient supercomputer able to control any machine on Earth, so long as it has a little hypnochip attached to it. Think HAL-9000. While the other Autobots try to contain the machines, Optimus Prime attempts to enter TORQ-III and deactivate him. Unfortunately, TORQ-III manages to put a little hypnochip device on Prime. Yep, that again. This time, though, Prime used some slight-of-hand to trick TORQ-III into thinking he was in control of him. When Prime gets close enough, he destroys the computer, sparing the rest of the Autobots. The TORQ scientists promise that they will not reactivate TORQ-III until they can control it.
Analysis: None-too-original concept of a machine going crazy and turning the rest of the machines against us, but at least it rips off some great films of the past. The episode also has something to say about human arrogance and the use of machines as our servants (which was exactly how the Autobots and Decepticons were formed we will learn later). This concept would also appear in the next episode. B-
Episode 2.06 —"Enter the Nightbird"
W:Sylvia Wilson, Richard Milton
Synopsis: Earth scientist Dr. Fujiyama creates a female ninja robot called Nightbird. Of course, the Decepticons steal Nightbird and reprogram her. Her first assignment is to sneak into Autobot headquarters and steals a computer chip that catalogues the Earth's energy sources along with Prime's blaster canon (a ninja custom). Prime binds the Autobots' hands by telling them not to harm her. Nightbird uses all of her ninja powers to avoid capture until Prime takes off the kid gloves. Starscream, meanwhile, is jealous of Nightbird and sabotages her with his null ray, ruining Megatron's scheme. The Autobots recover the chip and return Nightbird to Dr. Fujiyama.
Interesting note: The Nightbird's lightsabre uses the audio directly from the Star Wars series. Fans should have no problem recognizing it. In fact, this series (as well as G.I. Joe) would continue to use sound effects from the original Star Wars trilogy.
Analysis: An interesting attempt at capitalizing on the mid-80's ninja craze. One of my favorite episodes from the early series just because the Autobots have such a formidable foe. Also, Optimus Prime's moral compass is stretched as he doesn't want to harm her because she's Fujiyama's invention (and he's partly responsible for the Decepticons having her in the first place). Starscream's emasculation is pretty fun to see as well, especially since he provides the out for the Autobots at the end. A-
Episode 2.08 — "A Prime Problem"
W:Bryce Malek, Dick Robins
Synopsis: Megatron discovers some energy crystals in a nearby crevice. To exploit them, he moves to plan B -- clone Optimus Prime! Optimus Clone returns to the base with the rest of the Autobots. When the real Optimus returns, no one can tell them apart so the Autobots hold a series of contests to determine the real Prime. Meanwhile, Megatron feeds the Autobots false information about the crystal's stability and lures them to the crevice. To convince the Autobots that his Prime is the right one, Megatron employs an old Nazi trick -- destroy one of you own. In this case, Megatron clones Starscream and has the Optimus Clone destroy the Starscream clone in front of everyone. The Optimus Clone tells the Autobots to follow him into the crevice. The only thing that stops them is that Windcharger crawls out of the crevice and reveals that the crystals are dangerous. It helps that the Optimus Clone tells them not to bother rescuing Spike because he's unimportant. Dead giveaway. Speaking of dead, so is Megatron's plan. The Autobot's force the fake Prime into the crevice and destroy him.
Analysis: The animation and direction in this episode take a turn for the better with a few shots that challenge perspective and create greater excitement. It's not something that's noticeable unless you're looking for it. The concept itself is one that seemingly every sci-fi show from Star Trek, to Knight Rider, to the X-Files has to do at least once -- the evil doppelganger. This plot device is always so popular because the thing that separates the evil from good is never physical or even mental, but moral. As a result, you deepen the character. A-
Episode 2.21 — "The Core"
W:Dennis Marks
Synopsis: The Decepticons are attempting to drill to the Earth's core and tap its energy. When the Autobot's discover this, it triggers a giant brawl with Devastator. Chip and Wheeljack create a small hypno-chip (**takes shot of Tequila**) that will allow the Autobots to destroy Devastator. Megatron is one step ahead, though. When the Autobots attack, Devastator helps them and returns to their base. Megatron lures them back out and overrides the hypno-chips in Devastator, turning him on the Autobots at the worst possible time. When Chip tries to override that, it sends Devastator on a wild rampage, attacking both Autobot and Decepticon. When Devastator destroys the Decepticon's emergency space bridge to Cybertron, they must team with the Autobots to stop the drill heading to the Earth's core. Chip and Wheeljack reprogram the Constructicons as Decepticons and allow them to destroy the drill just in time.
Analysis: Yeah, more with chips that turn people good/bad, but at least Megatron wasn't a complete idiot about this one and actually outsmarted Prime. Lots of Devastator is a plus too, and the idea of an Autobot Devastator eventually led to gestalt Autobots like Superion, Computron, and Defensor. B-
Episode 2.13 — "The Insecticon Syndrome"
W:Doug Booth
Synopsis: Megatron approaches the rogue Insecticons and has them attack the nearby Nova power plant. When the Insecticons feed, they actually start to grow larger in size. They plant a hypno-chip (**hypnochip! Take another drink**) on Soundwave to doublecross Megatron. Unfortunately for the Insecticons, the energy they devoured is incompatible turning them to living time bombs. Why should you care? Because the Insecticons are on their way to the Iron Mountain defense base. When Megatron tries to doublecross them, he learns that he is too late, the Insecticons have hypnotized the other Decepticons as well. Megatron and Prime are forced to team up (for the second straight episode) in order to fire the antidote into the Insecticons before they blow.
Analysis: This episode derives most of its fun from the inter-Decepticon politics between Megatron and the Insecticons. The plot of the episode itself is disappointing routine, though. More hypnochips. More time bombs. Another average episode. C
Episode 2.03 — "Dinobot Island, Part 1"
W:Donald F. Glut
Synopsis: While investigating a strange energy source, Bumblebee and Powerglide discover an island untouched by time where Dinosaurs still exist. It seems the ideal place for the Dinobots to learn how not to be clumsy oafs. The native life winds up being just as dangerous, though, as Spike soon learns. When Megatron learns of the island, he takes the Decepticons there to exploit its energy. It turns out that bizarre energy surge that the Autobots were tracking was a time portal, as evidenced by the caveman and woolly mammoth that appear in the middle of the city. Megatron causes a stampede that sends the Dinobots spilling over the edge of a cliff as we close.
Analysis: Pretty bland use of time travel so far. The idea of dinosaurs vs. Dinobots seems like a good idea on paper, but isn't so great in practice. It works better as a setup to part 2, but isn't very interesting on its own. C
Episode 2.04 — "Dinobot Island, Part 2"
W:Donald F. Glut
Synopsis: With Megatron exploiting more and more energy from the island, the time portal start to close. The Autobots are busy trying to coral the barbarians and mammoths back into the portal, which is quickly closing. They are successful, but just as one closes, several more open. We got cowboys and pirates everywhere! Meanwhile, the Dinobots escape from the tar pits and are ready for some righteous revenge. They convince their dinosaur ancestors to fight alongside them against the Decepticons. The Decepticons are forced to retreat from the island. Optimus theories that if they destroy the energon cubes, the time fissures will be repaired.
Analysis: A little better than the opener, but still pretty disappointing. Time portals can always be a source of great entertainment, but bringing generic cowboys and barbarians to the present is not a great use of that device. C+
Episode 2.12 — "The Master Builder"
W:Herb Englehardt, David N. Gottlieb
Synopsis: Grapple, who is a temperamental artist, designs a solar powered tower. Prime refuses to okay it, fearing it would fall into Decepticon hands. Grapple is still intent on building it, so when the Constructicons claim they've defected and want to help, he jumps at the chance of building it behind Prime's back. When the Autobots race to stop them, they run right into Devastator. The Autobots trick Devastator into destroying the solar tower, defeating the Decepticon plan. Grapple and Hoist say, "Hey, sorry about the treason." Prime forgives them and they all have orange wedges.
Interesting Note: At one point, Teletran-1 sounds a "Magenta" warning. Perhaps he later went to work for the Department of Homeland Defense?
Analysis: I like the idea of an Autobot so obsessed with his own vanity that he puts himself above Prime's orders, but the basic plot is generic. Also, Autobots are being introduced with little or no explanation - Perceptor, Beachcomber, Powerglide, Hoist and Grapple all just appeared suddenly. I don't expect a backstory for everyone, but it's kind of like when a soap opera changes actors and you're just supposed to accept the new person. C+
Episode 2.17 — "Auto Berserk"
W:Antoni Zalewski
Synopsis: Autobot Security Director Red Alert is damaged in an attack by the Decepticons. He becomes paranoid about the other Autobots wanting him out of the way. Meanwhile, Megatron is intent on capturing the Megavator - a new Autobot weapon. He is nearly successful thanks to Red Alert's failure to spot the Decepticons above. Still paranoid, Red Alert hides in a nearby city where he meets up with an abandoned Starscream. The two outcasts form a bond and decide to steal the Megavator for themselves. Once inside the compound, Red Alert and Starscream are joined by the Decepticons. During a fight with the Autobots Starscream hits Red Alert with his null ray, stabilizing him. Red Alert detonates the Megavator and drives the Decepticons away.
Analysis: The second consecutive episode where an Autobot has turned against the others, and he didn't even have a hypno-chip implanted in his cortex! I liked this one a little more because of the interplay between Optimus, Inferno and Red Alert. The action was better too. I question whether having someone with a paranoia complex as your security director is the best idea, though. B-
Episode 2.11 — "Microbots"
W:David Wise
Synopsis: Archeologists unearth an ancient spaceship in the side of a mountain. Megatron recognizes it as a Decepticon ship, and he must have its contents -- the Heart of Cybertron, a cog that maximizes the power of energy. When Megatron places it inside his chest, he is becomes super-powerful. With no way to defeat or defend against Megatron, Perceptor comes up with the idea to shrink him, Bumblebee and Brawn down so they can get inside Megatron. Once inside, they have to deal with the usual immune defense mechanisms you see in films like "Innerspace" and "Osmosis Jones". Of course, they're working within the constraints of a time limit at which point they'll return to normal size inside of Megatron's body. They manage to disconnect the Heart of Cybertron, rendering Megatron normal once again (and saving his life).
Analysis: This is an episode filled with a number of great moments, not the least of which is the Decepticons literally getting drunk with power. The friction between Brawn (military) and Perceptor (science) is a really good touch, especially when Brawn has to be pulled back from ripping Megatron's brain part. The action was even better. B+
Episode 2.15 — "Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1"
W:Donald F. Glut
Synopsis: Megatron convinces corrupt law-and-order politician Berger that the Autobots are actually the bad guys. Using the media, Megatron defames the Autobots, and is of course successful in turning the humans against them. The Mayor, who up until this point was an Autobot supporter, has them arrested. The trial takes place in a large stadium. When Spike reviews the tape of the Autobot's assault on an oil field, he discovers something interesting -- the Decepticons didn't erase the last part of the tape where they take their disguises off. Oops. The judge (no jury because the system doesn't apply to them, I guess) decides to banish the Autobots into space. Megatron sneaks into Teletran-1 and reprograms the Autobot spacecraft to fly into the sun!
Analysis: If this were made today, it would be obvious that Berger was heavily influenced by Rupert Murdoch. This is 20 years ago, though, so it just winds up as an eerie precursor to today's corrupt media and -- let's face it -- ignorant viewers. The most damning moment comes when the judge refuses to hold up the trial to wait for exculpatory evidence. The plot itself is just okay, but viewed with today's political undercurrent makes it that much more fun. B+
Episode 2.16 — "Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2"
W:Donald F. Glut
Synopsis: The Decepticons party down with their newfound human friends while planning a takeover. Meanwhile, the Autobots are at each other's throats. Prime second guesses himself and decides to go back to Earth, but the Autobots can't turn the shuttle around. Megatron gleefully watches the Autobots' apparent destruction. Spike eventually gets the evidence to the mayor, but it's too late. Megatron holds a press conference where he promises to conquer the Earth and suck its energy dry. That's pretty much current Bush Administration policy, isn't it? MEGATRON IN '08! Berger finally develops a conscience and saves Spike from Ravage, but all humans are forced into slavery. Fortunately, Cosmos was able to get the Autobots out of their shuttle and tow them through space with his tractor beam. The Autobots return to Earth and free the city from Megatron's viselike grip.
Analysis: Despite some horrible lapses in continuity/logic (Spike goes to get evidence in the middle of the trial, but doesn't get out of the evidence room until after the Autobots are well on their way to the sun), this episode manages to keep the momentum of the opener by making things pretty dire for the good guys. It's also pretty interesting that the humans not only turn against the Autobots, they worship Megatron. B+
Episode 2.?? — "Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1"
W:Earl Kress
Synopsis: Transformers begin to randomly malfunction. It seems that exposure to our atmosphere has caused a decrease in Cybertonium, an element that helps the Transformers function. The Decepticons have a shipment coming over the space bridge. Since the Dinobots were created in our atmosphere, they don't need Cybertonium so they get the assignment of collecting the Cyebertonium and keeping it away from the Decepticons. Things go awry when Grimlock and the others get sent to Cybertron and decide its so cozy that they're not coming back.
Analysis: An okay-ish setup episode. It's a little hackneyed that they would all malfunction at the same time and that no one would have thought of this earlier, but whatever moves the episode along. The real entertainment comes from the fact that the Dinobots are essential to the Autobots but don't really want to help, putting the Autobots in a pickle. B-
Episode 2.?? — "Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2"
W:Earl Kress
Synopsis: We open with a little bit of a cheat as the last episode ended with Shockwave blowing up the space bridge with Carly and Spike still on it. However, in this version, he just dissolves her car. Once they escape, Sparkplug guides Carly and Spike through Decepticon headquarters to Wheeljack's lab where they find Swoop. Swoop tells them that the other Dinobots were captured by Shockwave. The three venture into the mazelike bowels of Cybertron to recover the Dinobots and Cypertonium. They stumble across a computer where they learn the history of the war between the Decepticons and Autobots. Fortunately, they get captured as well. Why fortunately? Spike and Carly are placed in a work camp with the Dinobots where Carly reprograms them so they can escape with the Cybertonium.
Analysis: One of the best episodes of the series so far. Not only is it action-packed, with Carly, Spike and Swoop being assaulted by Cybertron's defense mechanism, but we get our first real glimpse into the epic backstory of the Cybertronian civil war. This is the first time we learn that the Decepticons were built for war while the Autobots were built for construction/domestic purposes. When the Decepticons revolted, many Autobots fled Cybertron (explaining Lithone and Junkion among others). The Autobots eventually learned how to defend themselves leading to a series of wars in which each side dominates for a period of time. A
Episode 2.19 — "Blaster Blues"
W:Larry Strauss
Synopsis: The Decepticons steal the Voltranic Glaxor, a device that allows them to control radio transmissions. Cosmos and Blaster get captured while spying. Megatron uses their circuits to help scramble all of Earth's radio communications, causing all sorts of disasters. Megatron offers to return the airwaves if he gets all of Earth's energy. Seems like a one-sided deal. How are we supposed to power our radios? Blaster is able to send a signal to the Autobots that is traced back to the moon. Omega Supreme flies to the moon where he and Prime out duel Megatron, save Blaster and Cosmos, and destroy the Voltranic Glaxor.
Introduces: Omega Supreme, an Autobot fortress capable of interstellar flight. (He was originally supposed to be called Fortress Maximus, but that name eventually wound going to another design).
Analysis: A generic episode, especially when compared with the last handful. We were introduced to Omega Supreme, though, who, at this point was the most powerful of the Transformers. Blaster learns a valuable lesson about responsibility…or maybe he doesn't. C+
Episode 2.?? — "A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court"
W:Douglas Booth
Synopsis: During a battle with the Autobots, Starscream and a handful of Decepticons discover a timewarp inside a Stonehenge-style monument called "the Dragon Mound." Starscream kidnaps a princess and demands her father hand over the kingdom. The Autobot B-Team travels through the timewarp to stop him. Unfortunately, they're very low on energy while Starscream has created gunpowder and a device to recharge himself. However, the kingdom's equivalent of Merlin channels lightning into the Autobot's circuits so they can rescue the princess and return to the present.
Analysis: Lame attempt at giving the also-rans some spotlight time. Mostly, the episode is played for laughs, especially the silly romance between the princess and the rogue prince. It does have a few good moments, though, especially when it turns out that Starscream's gunpowder and the sorcerer's "dragon's bane" have exactly the same recipe as well as Starscream hugging Megatron when they return. C
The 411: More up-and-down than the first season (and we're only halfway through). The early episodes were overly reliant on a few contrivances (hypnochip!), but once we hit the last half things picked up considerably. We finally get to see a bit of the backstory late in the season that turns the series from just empty violence to an actual epic struggle for survival. Imagine if "Lord of the Rings" had no ring. It would just be a bunch of trolls and faeries killing each other. The backstory gives them a touch of, dare I say…humanity. All things considered, while this has a number of low points, it has enough high points to recommend it over the first season.
