Transformers (G1) Episode 73- Dark Awakening

I got Transformers Season 2 Part 2 and Season 3/4 for Christmas and I've been slowly trudging thru season 2 part 2 since.

Transformers is a show I love. In part it gives me warm fuzzy memories of my childhood. Other times episodes tend to be fun and on very rare occasions it is actually good.

The show was mostly carried by some strong characters like Optimus Prime, Megatron and Starscream. Like any good show the character dynamics are clearly established and the main characters react to each other in unique ways. This dynamic carries the show through some bad episodes.

Well I get to season 3 finally and it is like a brand new show. The show is dealing with fall out from the movie.

Now I don't think I need to go into detail about Transformers The Movie. Its a classic from our childhood. Optimus Prime died and upset us all. Why my nephew Dylan was sobbing after Prime died.

Well honestly I did not see the movie as a kid. It would of took an act of Congress to get my parents to take me to a movie and hell I'm not sure the movie existed.

When I finally did see it, I was more put off by how casually the rest of the cast was butchered. Like Prowl, Ratchet and Huffer. At least Iron Hide went out like a pro.

This brings me to the Season 3 episode Dark Awakening. This is an episode I remember vividly as it scared the hell out of me when I was six.

So the Autobots are on the run from the Decepticons. Eventually they end up at the tomb where they put all the dead Autobots including Optimus Prime. Daniel (the son of Spike) ends up wandering around and sees Prime. But not as we remember, now he is all broken and damaged.

The vision haunted me for days in 1987. I did not even know Prime was dead. Imagine a beloved relative died and you find out when you see their decayed zombie lumbering around. That is what I was dealing with.

So the Rodimus and Ultra Magnus open Prime's tomb and its empty. Prime is back and saves them from a Decepticon ambush. Galvatron is all "A Ggggggghhhooost!!!" and leaves.

One thing about Rodimus Prime is, he does not want to be in charge. He got the Matrix of Leadership in a Kyle Rayner esque fluke and hates it. But he has begrudgingly did his best to lead the Autobots. Even if Ultra Magnus should be leader.

So Rodimus is thrilled Prime is back and against all objections (including from Prime) gives the Matrix back. Now he is plain old Hot Rod and can get back to his life of racing and pounding circuits.

But Prime is not right. He attacks the Autobots take their ship and sets the tomb on a collision course with the sun.

Turns out Prime was revived by the Quintessons. The creators of the Transformers, and new bad guys for this season. You have a bit of a rock, paper scissor dynamic on the show now.

Anyway they revived Prime and put in programming for him to lead the Autobots into an ambush. The programming is so sinister, even Prime does not know.

So Hot Rod and the others escape the tomb before it hits the sun. The tomb is destroyed and now Iron Hide and the others are dead DEAD.

Prime is leading the Autobots and looking at Blur and Wheelie wondering what happened to this once proud organization.

Hot Rod and Prime have a one on one battle and despite falling apart Prime wins. But he finally knows this is wrong, the Matrix told him or something.

He shoves the Matrix back into Hot Rod and sends the Autobot fleet away and dies in an explosion.

This is a really good episode and I totally get why six year old me was upset by it. Watching zombie Prime struggle as he sacrificed what little life he had left. Most likely worried what the Autobots would do with that fuck up Rodimus at the helm.