A Prime
Problem

The Transformers episode 27
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For a detailed overview of this episode, click here.

Creating a clone of Optimus Prime, Megatron intends to lead the Autobots to their doom.
Original USA broadcast date: October 2nd, 1985

Contents
1) Synopsis
2) Notes
3) Errors


Synopsis

The Decepticons discover some korlonium crystals, which are extremely dangerous -able to destroy an Autoscout cassette machine when it attempts to grab one. The Autobots soon pick up the energy readings and investigate, where they are attacked by the Decepticons. During the battle, Laserbeak shoots Optimus Prime down. Megatron has Laserbeak scan Prime, then return to the Decepticon's hidden rocket base. Inside it, Megatron uses Laserbeak's scans to create a perfect clone of Prime, which Megatron can control. Megatron uses his clone Prime to lead the Autobots back to their base.

The Autobots return to base, and whilst Prime is acting weird, the Autobots are then surprised to see another Prime enter. Prime 1 wants to destroy it, believing it to be an imposter, but Ironhide convinces everyone to hold their fire. Teletraan I scans the two Primes, but its scans state they are identical. The Autobots try doing some tests to figure out who the real Prime is, but get nowhere. The Autobots then head back to where the crystals are, and again come under Decepticon attack. Windcharger and Spike manage to sneak inside the Decepticon's rocket base, where they find out what's really happened with the two Primes. They then see that a clone of Starscream has also been created, for the next stage of Megatron's plan.

As the Starscream clone is sent out, Windcharger and Spike attempt to leave, but Spike gets captured, whilst Windcharger is sent falling towards the crystals. Back at the battle, the Starscream clone tells both sides to stop fighting, so he can challenge Prime to a one on one battle. He picks one of the Primes (the one Megatron is controlling) and starts fighting, but gets destroyed. The Autobots believe that the real Prime must be the one who destroyed Starscream. They're about to follow him into the crevice where the crystals are, only for Windcharger to appear out of it. Windcharger warns them about the danger of the crystals, and explains that he transformed when he fell in, with his rubber tires providing insulation to protect him. The Prime clone tells everyone Windcharger has been reprogrammed by Megatron, but Windcharger mentions Spike. The Prime clone says he's unimportant, at which point the Autobots know who the imposter Prime really is.

They shoot him off the cliff, where he falls into the crystals and explodes. Megatron's plan has failed, so the rocket base takes off and Spike is dropped out of it. Spike falls, but is saved by Powerglide. As the Autobots regroup, Spike asks if Prime really is Prime. Prime says this time he is definitely him... or himself... or whoever he is... and tells Spike to put it there.

Notes

-SCRIPT DIFFERENCES -Click here for details.

-This episode is the first not to animated by Toei or AKOM. It's one of several episodes fans haven't been able to pin down as to who animated it (they're trying, though!). This episode actually has quite a lot of nice animation, and it's thought whoever animated it also animated Auto Berserk.

-This episode also marks the last appearance of Reflector for a while. He does show up again a few times later on in the season, but the writers had been instructed not to use him due to his toy being discontinued. Reflector's toy was never on store shelves, but was eventually made available via a mail-order offer... in 1986. Which was a bit too late.

-Suddenly, out of nowhere there are two brand new Autobots: Warpath and Powerglide. Warpath's debut is pretty bad, since he gets nothing to say and he's shown getting hit, then he disappears for the rest of the episode. Powerglide does a bit better, getting a few words in and also saving Spike. But there is no explanation to where these guys came from. The original script had Inferno and Ramjet make an appearance, but their scene was cut. It seems the writers had to awkwardly start putting in the characters who had new toys for the 1985 line, but more on that later.

Errors

-Soundwave's eyes change color from red to gray when he sends out the Autoscout.
-Megatron's eyes are colored blue instead of red when he says "and at Megatron's command".
-When Skywarp retreats, Starscream overlaps him.
-When Bumblebee uses Teletraan I, part of his arm is colored dark gray instead of yellow.
-Windcharger has a Decepticon insignia on his chest during this shot.
-Starscream's hand is colored gray instead of blue during this shot.
-Right after the Starscream clone is destroyed, another Starscream can be seen looking at his remains.
-The above error happens again when the shot changes.
-When the real Optimus Prime orders the Autobots not to follow the other Prime, he calls Trailbreaker "Trailblazer".
-When Optimus says "he's dropped Spike!", he pronounces Spike as "Splick".
-When Powerglide transforms, no transformation sound effect is heard.