Season 1, Part 2, Disc 4, Episodes 48-52.
48 - Cramp
As Optimus tries to subdue Galvatron into joining forces with the Autobots against Unicron, Starscream intervenes and sacrifices his life to force the alliance. During the confusion, Sideways grabs the Star Saber, to take back to Unicron.
Intro - More of Unicron's bits.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Starscream says he'd never cross Galvatron. Huh? Is he technically being truthful, in that he would only ever cross 'Megatron', but not 'Galvatron'? Otherwise, that sounds like a scripting error.
-What is the meaning of this title? The theme of mostly single word titles is an interesting concept, but some are a stretch in terms of relevance, and others like this one don't really jump out as being obvious or related to the primary theme of the episode.
-Translation error, as Galvatron tells Tidalwave to attack, but the animation suggests he told him to back off, as it was his fight.
-A real Megatron/Galvatron would just shrug off a loss, and wouldn't put any thought or concern into 'such heroic nonsense'. Starscream's sacrifice shouldn't have affected Galvatron at all, as an emotional feeling of loss is not a Decepticon trait, much less a trait of a Decepticon leader, who only sees his troops as mere tools to obtain his objective of being ultimate ruler of the universe. An ambition that wouldn't be shared with fellow Decepticons if ever obtained, or detered if one of his soldiers was lost along the way. It makes for an interesting sub-plot in Armada, but realistically, this Megatron/Galvatron reacts like an Autobot to the loss, and is a significant flaw to this series if certain characters aren't consistent or behave in a plausible manner.
-Additionally, as inconsistant characterisation, Starscream is saying as he dies, that he was always trying to prove himself to Megatron, like some sort of role model, but throughout the series he had contempt for Megatron and wanted to replace or destroy him. That sort of conflicting behaviour wouldn't happen if they had a 'character bible' from the beginning, like Gen1 did. That way the writers could stick to a certain character type, and not jump between conflicting character types.
49 - Alliance
Awakened by the power of the three Minicon weapons, Unicron is finally fully revealed. A small group attempts a pre-emptive strike, but have to retreat as Unicron transforms.
Intro - Unicron in both modes, Bug/Dead End Drones.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Galvatron is going on about how noble Starscream's sacrifice was, and respecting him like a father to a son. Oh please... This is Galvatron/Megatron, not Optimus. This is just out of character for this type of character, and for the existing behaviour of him in this series.
-Unicron is finally fully revealed, 4th-last episode of the 52 episode series.
-Animation error, the Decepticons return to their base and are surrounded by giant-sized Minicons.
-Unicron appears to be impervious, or indestructible.
-Quite a few background extras look like Gen1 Transformers, like in a couple of earlier episodes.
-The Bug/Dead End 'Minicon' is only introduced as a non-transformable pack of drones within Unicron.
-The transformation sequence for Unicron was as good as the Gen1 Movie transformation.
-Cyclonus is hanging over a ledge, and is at risk of falling... the writers do realis he can fly in both modes, or at the very least, transform into a helicopter to fly to safety???
-Jet Convoy is now called Jet Optimus.
50 - Union
The united armada of Transformers attacks Unicron inside and out.
Intro - (none)
Errors/confusion/notes:
-The word 'armada' is used for the only time in this series, and there hasn't been any real point in the storyline that it could be used in a meaningful way.
-Script error(?), with someone saying that Cybertron is his 'new target', in a way to suggest that he was targetting something else at this time. It's been his only target for the last few million years.
-Demolishor has Hoist's voice and talks about the current status of Unicron in a much too intelligent manner for his character.
-The neck of Unicron is designated the weakspot, without any reasoning mentioned.
-Overload is called Ultra Magnus.
-Thrust is suddenly shown to be incompetent, for someone who is a brilliant strategist, and gets caught up in parts of Unicron that is 'transforming'. Thrust can teleport, so the writers had to 'forget' it, because Thrust was too intelligent to not get out before he was crushed to death.
-The Star Saber is called Perceptor by Highwire.
-The underground portal to Unicron still exists, as Red Alert knows, so why didn't Optimus and Megatron use it, instead of flying to Unicron and fighting their way in?
-The Minicons form a giant green energy field in the shape of Unicron, which was the inspiration for a limited edition JP Unicron recolour toy.
51 - Origin
While Unicron is within the body of Sideways, Optimus and Megatron fight and destroy him, leaving his giant body adrift in space.
Intro - (none)
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Sideways is revealed to be a part of Unicron, and Unicron actualy takes over his body. He also reveals that the war and hatred between Autobots and Decepticons actually feeds him, making him stronger. He also confirms that the Minicons are a part of him, and as such, is able to regain control over them, like the puppets the kids saw when they went back in time. The 'green Unicron' formed by the Minicons dissipates, and all the battle damage on Unicron is repaired, leaving the Transformers thinking that they have lost.
-The kids call on their Minicons 'partners' to wake up and break free from Unicron's control. In doing so, Unicron is destracted, and Optimus and Megatron are able to destroy Sideways while Unicron is within him.
-So is Unicron really dead, or just temporarily disabled...
-Optimus is suddenly recoloured into the blue Powerlinx version, without any explination (in the english version at least).
-Sureshock is called Grindor by Alexis.
52 - Mortal Combat
Everyone thinks Unicron is defeated, but the hatred and conflict between Optimus and Galvatron start to bring him to life. Galvatron sacrifices himself to save Cybertron, and Unicron and Optimus disappear.
Intro - Rhinox (for half a second).
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Everyone is quick to assume Unicron is dead, but with Galvatron wanting to renew his fight with Optimus, their hatred begins to refuel Unicron.
-Talk, talk, talk.... there's a lot of it in this episode, making this series a lot more drawn out than it needed. But Energon is much worse, so I guess it makes a good lead in to what to expect in the next series.
-Once again the character of Galvatron doesn't make sense, with him being happy to have a truce, and then wanting to fight with blind rage, but then later wanting to sacrifice himself for all Cybertronians.
-Galvatron is called Megatron by Optimus. (naming errors all the way to the end...)
-Unicron vanishes somehow to another part of the universe, but exists as a cliffhanger to the series. His form is intact in planet mode, but I don't think that is reflected in Energon.
-Optimus disappears as well, floating through space with the Matrix.
-The kids are returned to Earth, and were gone for ages... But this is fiction, so unless you see their parents, they don't even exist, to be concerned about where their kids have been.
-A number of loose ends now exist (hundreds of Minicons, Unicron at large and intact, Optimus missing, Megatron is still Galvatron), which I don't recall being covered in Energon. But I'll find out soon enough, as I'll be watching that series next. Before that though, there will be a brief look at the Armada toys and comics as well, to wrap up this reloading of Armada.
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Originally Posted by griffin
