The
Insecticon
Syndrome

The Transformers episode 29
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For a detailed overview of this episode, click here.

The Insecticons are in danger of exploding after eating the Nova power core.
Original USA broadcast date: October 9th, 1985

Contents
1) Synopsis
2) Notes
3) Errors


Synopsis

Spike, Bumblebee, Beachcomber and Hound investigate some destroyed trees, and know it's the work of the Insecticons. The Insecticons then attack them and seemingly make them fall down a waterfall, but they don't realize they've been deceived by one of Hound's holograms. The Decepticons then show up, with Megatron offering the Insecticons a deal: they can feast on energy at the Nova power plant, then he wants them to do a small task for him. The Insecticons agree, so the two groups attack the Nova power plant. The Insecticons find and eat the power core, which results in them becoming much larger. They think they can show Megatron who's really in control.

Soundwave hears this, but before he can report it, he gets captured by the Insecticons and hit with one of Bombshell's cerebro shells. The Autobots arrive and start fighting, but eventually have to retreat. The Decepticons and Insecticons head to Iron Mountain, with Megatron wanting to take the data from the defense computer inside it. Meanwhile, Spike finds out from Teletraan I that the power core the Insecticons ate is incompatible with the Insecticon's trilithium stomachs -they are in danger of exploding! Ratchet and Wheeljack get to work on an antidote. At Iron Mountain, the Decepticons begin their attack.

Megatron and Soundwave get inside the complex and Soundwave starts downloading the data. Megatron tells the Decepticons that the Insecticons are of no further use to them, only to find his forces have been turned into Bombshell's slaves. The Autobots then arrive and Optimus explains to Megatron what's going on. Working together, Optimus fires two of the antidote vials, restoring Bombshell and Kickback back to normal.

Shrapnel attempts to use his lightning powers, but then falls in agony. Spike takes the remaining vial and throws it into Shrapnel, and whilst he explodes, the other two Insecticons bring him back to life. During the chaos, Soundwave's data has been erased, and Bombshell's hold over the other Decepticons has been broken. The Insecticons retreat, as the Decepticons chase after them. As the Autobots watch them leave, Spike says the Insecticons gave them a lot of trouble... but they seemed to bug Megatron even more!

Notes

-SCRIPT DIFFERENCES: Click here for details.

-Two new Autobots are introduced in this episode: Beachcomber and Inferno. As with the two new Autobots introduced in A Prime Problem, no explanation is given to where they came from, and everyone seems to know who they are already. The new character situation is about to get a whole lot worse in the next couple of episodes. Inferno disappears after his scene with Hound and the boulders, but Beachcomber at least gets to stick around to the end.

Errors

-Two Skywarps are seen during this shot.
-Prime's lower legs are colored red instead of blue during this shot.
-Soundwave's chest Decepticon insignia is missing during this shot.