Transformers Rewatch Original Season 2K

Starscream's Brigade

The story starts with a WWII flashback! That Transformers/ G.I. Joe Comic Book crossover set during that war was pretty cool. There was a quick moment of that in a “live action” film too. Shame it is only used to explain why broken vehicles are there on the island.
Starscream’s jealousy of Shockwave reaches the point where he shoots Megatron in the back.

Yeah… that’ll work.
It’s hilarious how the other Decepticons don’t take sides, or even react beyond a, “Here we go again” eye roll.   

Megatron blasts Starscream and tosses him out, but could have easily vaporized him. I think Starscream drives Megatron crazy but, he still values the scientist’s mind. It’s the only explanation why Starscream is allowed to live as long as he is.
At the Space Bridge, the REAL (Season One) Seekers defer to Starscream with only a minor threat… ‘cause they’re buddies.

A mere five episodes ago (including out of order stories) we learned the only way to give life to a Cybertronian is with Vector Sigma, which no longer has a key. Therefore, Starscream steals extra personality chips from Decepticon jail. 

I have questions. Specifically:
1) Shouldn’t residents of Decepticon Jail be Autobots?
2) Shouldn’t this be where they exiled Starscream? (See? Megatron values his mind.)
3) Why does putting Cybertronian chips in vehicles from the Forties turn them into modern vehicles?
4) Wouldn’t it have been way cooler looking to keep them all vintage?
Finally, the proper Combatacon introduction. I mean, we really don’t need any more combiners, but it’s nice to have them introduced.
Hey! It’s Jazz and Cliffjumper! Haven’t seen them in a while. With Cliffjumper there, it’s a good thing Optimus sticks with his, “We don’t get involved when Decepticons fight,” theory.
I think power has gone to Starscream’s head… again. Usually, he’s smarter than blowing his chance at surprise by attacking a statue first. Earth makes you stupid. 
The Combatacons have had new bodies for only a couple or hours and are already fighting each other. Perhaps grabbing prisoners' minds wasn’t such a hot idea. 
Casey Kasem is still Teletran-One, but for how much longer?
Megatron comes to attack the Ark and gets into a wildly clueless argument with Optimus Prime. Wasn’t there like a zillion witnesses and media coverage to Starscreams attack?
Wow, somehow Teletran-One knows the personality chips were stolen from a Decepticon prison on Decepticon controlled Cybertron. We need Chip to explain that one. Too bad he died. RIP, my man.

Fine Starscream, excellent plan. You’re taking over with the Decepticons with a grand army of FIVE? I’m pretty sure Soundwave and his boys could take them out.
But, sadly for our favorite radio, the new Seekers are there… and useless, forcing a Decepticon retreat.
There are too many combiners, but these late episodes have a much better blend of Season One and Two Autobots.
Oh, shut up Powerglide.
I think Starscream really pushed it too far. Megatron has assembled EVERYONE! 

Holy crap. Reflector is in the crowd scene. Megatron really did bring everyone. We haven’t  seen him (them?) since the start of the season. Sucks to not have a toy, I guess.
All right! The Constructicons are back as Devastator for the fight. Show these new upstarts how to merge!

OK, the Combaticons merging into Bruticus is better than Menasor and Superion but still kinda weak. Dang, he’s Powerful though. 

Menasor, somehow able to sneak attack with all the noise of a dual Stunticon transformation, gets ‘em though. 
Whoah, Megatron left Starscream and his “brigade” on a tiny desert asteroid. 
He still didn’t kill his intelligent, if uppity, lieutenant yet though.
 
 

The Revenge of Bruticus

Wow, this is a more direct continuation than any two-parter, and they don’t acknowledge it at all.
Looks like Megatron forgot one of the Combaticons he exiled was a space shuttle… and that the desert asteroid is next door to Cybertron. Either he really does value Starscream, or Earth really does makes you stupid. 
Bruticus forms on Cybertron and Shockwave shoots him in the face. Knocks him down too.
They do keep up the implied power of Bruticus however, picking up Shockwave and using him to shoot others before connecting him to Bruticus’s - um, backpack I guess - and launching him into space was a power move.
For the first time, the Decepticons go back to a plan that almost worked and try again: the “Massive Insecticon Swarm” idea. In a city this time, causing apocalyptic amounts of damage.

Luckily the Protectobots (a group of five rescue vehicles, gee i wonder if they'll combine?) are there for damage control. Given that they’ve been very clear that all methods of creating new Transformers have been exhausted, we will never have any idea where these guys came from. Maybe Omega Supreme blew up again and they used all his varied parts?

Perceptor shows Spike he can also function as a telescope, which we knew, but it’s how they stumble onto what is going on in space.
Shockwave tumbles helplessly through the void and slams into Starscream, who left the Combaticons behind and took off on his own. I guess space is less big than we thought. 

They threaten to crush Megatron like an Insecticon. Given the Decepticon bugs are currently laying waste to a large metropolitan area, I’m not sure that analogy works. 

Watching Shockwave hitch a ride home on Starscream is... interesting.

Speaking of that highly dangerous urban environment, Perceptor brought Spike there… Perhaps in case he couldn’t remember what was seen THROUGH HIM.
Combaticons decide to bring the Earth near the sun. ‘Cause there’s a machine for that on Cybertron… y’know, just in case.
There is also a hologram machine, which always works. Don’t these robots have scanners, or smell circuits or something? 
I feel like if Starscream and Shockwave ever teamed up permanently they’d conquer the galaxy...
Oh, never mind, Starscream just shot someone else in the back.

Hey, they do have regular jail cells on Cybertron. What was the deal with the Combaticons brains being turned into Energon Jell-O?
Meanwhile on Earth, wells are evaporating, and crops are spontaneously combusting. I’m sure everyone is fine.
Now Insecticons can eat metal too, they used to only chew through to get to energy.
Once again, rogue Decepticons are destroying the Earth and Optimus and Megatron team up. They each donate parts to fix the Space Bridge. Stories like this make the One "used to be friends" back story fit better than anything else we’ve seen.
Whoah, look at all the drones. There are an astonishing variety of mindless machines on this planet of sentient robots. It must be confusing. It would be like if mannequins could walk around and talk and stuff.
The Combaticons are tough, but they are no match for the Autobot/ Decepticon team up.
Therefore, they form Bruticus.  Hey, nice merge!

Starscream built in a three-spot deactivation location in the back of the monstrously large, powerful and unstable individual he created. No one else thought of that with all the Transformers they created that ended up attacking them. Starscream is a wise scientist.
Earth stopped about a foot and a half from the sun. I’m still sure everyone is fine.
Whoah, Megatron straight up blew up Bruticus.
Oh, wait. It was a fake. He used Starscream’s mind for this plan. Told you.

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