Dark
Awakening

The Transformers episode 74
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For a detailed overview of this episode, click here.

The Quintessons plot to alter history to erase the Autobots.
Original USA broadcast date: October 8th, 1986

Contents
1) Synopsis
2) Notes
3) Errors


Synopsis

Perceptor leads a group of Autobots to an asteroid, where is emitting energy pulses. They find out it has a Quintesson base on it, and are attacked by Sharkticons. They Sharkticons are destroyed and the Autobots approach the asteroid, but Perceptor is injured in an explosion caused by some Quintesson ships. The ship chase after the others Autobots are start firing, unaware or not caring that Quintesson scientist Inquirata has opened a time window, and used it to bring a robot from 11 millions years ago back through. The Autobots end up going through the time window. Rodimus Prime, Kup, Pipes and the Aerialbots then arrive, and make the Quintessons retreat. They see the robot and wonder who he is. Meanwhile, Blaster's group are 11 million years in the past, at a time when the Quintessons were in control of Cybertron. They come under attack by the dark guardians.

They are saved by Beta, a robot who is part of a resistance movement against the Quintessons. Believing them to be slaves like her because of the slave mark they have -which is the Autobot symbol -she wants them to help in their final attack on the Quintesson's hive city. Back in the present, Inquirata realizes that time itself is unraveling due to the time window still being open, and says they must destroy it before it's too late. They launch an attack on the asteroid, but the Autobots defend themselves. Superion saves the robot from the past, but then something strange happens -the time rings emitting from the time window cause him to go slightly back in time.

Inquirata sees that Superion is now in two places at once, and the Quintessons have to retreat again. Superion returns to normal, and returns to the asteroid. Inquirata contacts the Autobots and explains the situation, convincing Rodimus to close the time window. Back in the past, the Autobots help the slaves begin their attack on the city, taking down several dark guardians.

Rodimus is about to shut down the time window, but the robot jumps through it, saying he'll bring Rodimus' friends back. The robot arrives back in his own time, where Beta recognizes him immediately: A-3, the leader of the resistance. A-3 takes the slave mark off his chest, revealing it to be some sort of device which he uses to cause the dark guardians to collapse. A-3 tells the Autobots to go back, so they head back through the time window. Rodimus then makes the time window explode, destroying it and returning everything to normal. Rewind tells Blurr it just hit him: A-3... A for Alpha, 3 for Trion. Air Raid realizes A-3 was the one who created Optimus Prime, and was also the father of the Autobots.

Notes

-The Sharkticons at the start of the episode aren't merely defeated by the Autobots, some of them are totally obliterated! A rare occurrence of actual death on the show that wasn't an animation error or a generic, unnamed character.

-Inquirata is never named in the episode itself, but is in the script.

-This is the first episode in the series to not feature any Decepticons at all.

-This is also the first episode to feature a Secret Files of Teletraan II segment, showcasing the Predacons. These segments will be seen in certain future episodes, and were put in to take up some time if an episode was running short.

Errors

-When Rodimus Prime first appears, Perceptor is flying next to him. Perceptor is meant to be injured at this point, it seems the animators used him instead of Superion in error.
-The bottom of Superion's left leg is missing during this shot.
-Superion's laser blasts are colored green instead of yellow when they're shown hitting the time window.
-When the search light finds the Autobots, Rewind's mouthplate starts moving, but he's not heard saying anything.
-After the first commercial break, the Guardian's leg disappears, leaving just a giant foot.
-As the Guardian's foot comes down, it overlaps the Autobots.
-When the Sharkticons start their attack, this shot gets used, which uses the wrong characters -Blurr, Rewind and Wreck-Gar are seen.
-After Superion saves Alpha Trion, there is a shot where the Quintessons fire pink lasers at him, they're supposed to be colored green.
-Blaster's dome is colored red instead of white during this shot.
-There are two unknown, generic robots present during this shot.
-Wreck-Gar and Blurr are firing green lasers during this shot.
-Blaster's dome is colored red instead of white again during this shot.
-During this shot, there is an Autobot to the left who is colored orange and black like Sandstorm.
-When the Autobots head back to the time window, Wheelie is colored like Kup.