The Gambler

The Transformers episode 47
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For a detailed overview of this episode, click here.

Smokescreen is the only one who can save the Autobots -via gambling!
Original USA broadcast date: November 11th, 1985

Contents
1) Synopsis
2) Notes
3) Errors


Synopsis

Aron's toy rocket breaks down, leaving the Autobots stranded in space. But they are soon "saved" by an alien called Bosch, who intends to sell them off as slaves so he can afford to keep his ship running. The Autobots are put into stasis, but Smokescreen's chamber is faulty and doesn't work. Bosch has him paralyzed and then starts playing on his slot machine, but is annoyed when he doesn't win -he had it rigged! But Smokescreen says he can win, and does so by using a device from his wrist on the slot machine. He and Bosch make a deal: they'll go to Monacus, the biggest gambling asteroid in the planet. There, they'll make enough energon chips to power Bosch's ship, and also free the rest of the Autobots. The two head to Monacus, where they meet Lord Gyconi. Bosch makes a deal with him, giving him the Autobots in exchange for a stack of energon chips. He gives them an hour to pay him back, otherwise the Autobots are his.

Smokescreen quickly racks up more than enough energon chips, but gets greedy and decides to bet everything. However an alien sees his cheating and disconnects his wrist device as he makes his final play, leading to him losing all of the energon chips. Gyconi keeps the Autobots, but gives Smokescreen and Bosch tickets for a special event he's holding: the Autobots versus the Animaliens, a vicious group of large aliens. Smokescreen and Bosch head to a bar, where they meet a bounty hunter Autobot called Devcon. Devcon says he left Cybertron millions of years ago, and now hunts down Decepticons. He happens to save Slizardo, Gyconi's underling who'd been sent to spy on Smokescreen and Bosch. Meanwhile, three Decepticons arrive on Monacus. Dirge and Ramjet have been sent to check on Gyconi, as Megatron believes he'd been holding out on energon meant for the Decepticons. Gyconi claims he's innocent, but the Decepticons then find out about the event and decide to go and watch it.

Optimus Prime and the other Autobots are given temporary energon boosts to let them fight the Animaliens. Smokescreen realizes his friends are going to get torn apart, so he deploys smoke into the arena. Everyone inside it flees in panic, but Gyconi manages to take the Autobots back to where Astrotrain is waiting. Dirge and Ramjet chase after Smokescreen, but they're eventually shot down by Devcon. Smokescreen, Bosch and Devcon are then found by Slizardo, who explains where the other Autobots are.

They head to where the Decepticons are and begin fighting them. Bosch and Slizardo stop Gyconi from loading the Autobots into Astrotrain, as Smokescreen deploys smoke everywhere. The Decepticons and Gyconi board Astrotrain, who then takes off and leaves. Devcon invites Slizardo to join him as his partner, as the two chase after the Decepticons. The other Autobots are restored to normal, as Smokescreen explains what happened and that Bosch has agreed to take them back to Earth. Bosch says he has, but they used nearly all the energon chips to restore the ship and the Autobots. And seeing how casino row is right over there... Smokescreen asks if they can have a little R&R, to which Prime says why not. The Autobots transform and head towards the casino, as Bosch gets in Smokescreen and tells his partner to go. But this time, leave the gambling to him!

Notes

-This episode follows up on the events of the episode Child's Play.

-This is Devcon's only appearance. Slizardo will make another appearance in the third season, but is no longer with Devcon. Devcon didn't have a toy, the character was created specifically for the cartoon.

Errors

-The energon chips are missing the pink glow effect during this shot.
-Smokescreen's hood is colored blue instead of red during this shot.
-A few seconds after the above, Bumblebee's chest Autobot insignia is missing.
-The two robots harassing Slizardo are initially colored red and white, but their colors later change to mostly purple.
-The energon cubes the Autobots are seen picking up are also missing the pink glow effect.
-There's an error during this shot where Bosch walks forward, but Slizardo remains in place, leading to Bosch towering over Slizardo.