A Prime Problem



Megatron creates a clone of Optimus Prime to lure the Autobots to their doom.


 * Japanese title: "Two Optimus Primes"

Summary
The Decepticons discover a new power source in a crevasse in the Earth. They determine the fissure is filled with corlonium crystals, which make anything electronic that they touch go ka-boom unless insulated. They locate a temporary operations base nearby, and Megatron hatches a plan that he hopes will lead the Autobots into the crevasse and certain death.

Optimus Prime and the Autobots show up at the scene shortly, but before they can learn more about the lights, they are attacked by a Decepticon squad led by Starscream. With some well-aimed shots, Laserbeak knocks Prime over a cliff and puts him out of commission, then takes holographic pictures of him that Megatron uses to create a remote-controlled clone.

The clone leads the Autobots back to base and causes some awkward moments when he doesn’t know the names of his troops nor how to use Teletraan 1. The situation is complicated further when the real Prime shows up. The Autobots are ready to shoot him as an impostor, but Ironhide stops them.

Both Primes are put through tests—sharpshooting and a race—to determine which is the real one. The results are rather inconclusive. That’s what you get for letting Spike be in charge.

Tricked by false energy readings, the Autobots give up on finding out who is their real leader and instead head back to the crystal crevasse in order to stop what they think will be an imminent explosion. They are assaulted (again) by a Decepticon attack. Starscream stops everyone in the midst of battle and challenges the Optimus Prime clone to a one-on-one battle. They fight, and in the middle of declaring that he’s won, Starscream gets blown apart by one shot from clone Prime’s gun.

Now convinced that the clone is the real thing after the battle, the Autobots follow the clone to the crevasse, ignoring the warnings from the real Optimus. But before they are led to their doom, Windcharger pulls up from the crevasse and reveals the truth.

Earlier, he and Spike infiltrated the Decepticon base and overheard Megatron’s plan regarding the Prime clone, the mock battle with a fake Starscream, and the dangerous nature of the crystals. And now Megatron is holding Spike captive.

The clone says to disregard Windcharger’s report and Spike’s plight, and orders the Autobots forward into the crevasse. Ironhide declares the clone to be the fake, because the real Prime would save Spike. The Autobots shoot the fake Optimus into oblivion and follow Prime on a rescue mission. The Decepticons make a run for it in a rocket and drop Spike in mid-air, but he’s rescued by Powerglide and reunited with Optimus Prime, who then pets Spike like a puppy. The end.

Stats
Original airdate: October 2, 1985

Production number: 700-26

Written by: Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek

Featured Characters
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notable quotes
"All the danger you can handle is already here, Floptimus Prime!"
 * —Starscream comes up with a clever insult.

"It's just such ignorance which forever relegates you to the ranks of underlings, Starscream!"
 * —Megatron

"I'm sorry there are only three of you. Clobbering less then four Decepticons at a time is boring."
 * —Optimus Prime

"Laserbeak... you tin-foil turkey!"
 * —Optimus Prime dishes out the trash talk like a pro

Fake Prime: “Bumblebee, come over here. The computer is not responding to my input.... Bumblebee, I'm speaking to you.” Ironhide: “You talking to me?” Fake Prime: “Of course.” Ironhide: "But I'm Ironhide, Prime.” Fake Prime: "I meant Ironhide, naturally."
 * —The fake Optimus Prime totally flubs Ironhide's name, even though Ironhide's the only other one there, and the Southern-fried lug still doesn't get it...

"I don't mind hitting the dirt, but I don't enjoy eating it!"
 * —Gears

"Is it really you, Optimus Prime? I mean really?" "Yes, Spike. This time I am definitely me.  Or I.  Myself.  Oh, whoever I am.  Put it there, partner."
 * —A cautious but hopeful Spike questions Optimus Prime, who doesn't do the best job of keeping a sentence together.

Animation and/or technical glitches

 * In a dialogue flub, Optimus calls Trailbreaker "Trailblazer". Later he calls Spike "Splik". Makes you wonder if the Autobots destroyed the right one.
 * As he and Spike climb the mountain and spot Laserbeak, Windcharger is sporting a red Decepticon symbol.
 * After the fake Starscream is destroyed by the fake Optimus, Starscream is seen standing next to the other Decepticons.
 * Starscream sports a red symbol in some scenes.

Continuity errors

 * Anyone else notice that Powerglide isn't seen until the very end? Shows up right after the fake Prime kills the fake Starscream.

Transformers references

 * This episode has the first appearances of Powerglide and Warpath. However, no explanation of their origins is made.

Real-world references

 * References

Miscellaneous trivia

 * This episode marks the first and last appearance of the Auto-Scout, a cassette drone launched by Soundwave.


 * Notice that when both Primes get X-rayed, neither one possesses an Autobot Matrix of Leadership in his chest cavity. Mind you, this was before the Matrix was introduced in the cartoon.


 * Testing to see which Prime is fake by road races and sharpshooting contests (instead of, say, quizzing them on the names and histories of the Autobots) is fairly dumb.


 * Apparently, Megatron doesn't know the names of the Autobots beyond Prime. After a few million years, that's just embarrassing...


 * Laserbeak is pretty hardcore. Optimus is easily able to overpower Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp with his bare hands, yet a few blasts from Laserbeak take him down. Laserbeak also manages to open a pretty nice can of whoop-ass on Starscream when Starscream tries to run away.

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