Roll For It

After taking a short hiatus, here is another entry for the ol' blog. This entry is for the fifth episode of the original Transformers animated series entitled Roll For It. This episode definitely ranks as one of my favorite episodes of the original cartoon. After Megatron's apparent destruction after being pulled into the Space Bridge, Starscream has taken control of the Decepticons. He leads an attack on a power plant, but he is thwarted by Optimus Prime and the Autobots. After their defeat, Prowl and Bluestreak follow the Decepticons as they go to make repairs on themselves. Meanwhile, back on Cybertron, it is revealed that Megatron is in fact alive. He tells Shockwave that he must get back to Earth as he fears what damage Starscream is doing in his absence. He contacts his Earth bound forces, and tells Starscream and Thundercracker that their plan to steal the anti-matter formula will take place when he returns. Megatron then takes the Space Bridge back to Earth.

Rumble meets Megatron, and reports that Reflector is getting the access codes to the laboratory where the formula is housed. Bumblebee and Spike arrive at the same lab with their new ally Chip Chase. The professor gives Chip a disk which will allow his home computer to connect to the lab. After they leave, they are attacked by Laserbeak. After Bumblebee escapes, Megatron decides to attack the lab at once rather than wait for Starscream, Thundercracker, and Soundwave. Prowl and Bluestreak follow Starscream to a jet hanger where they are getting parts to repair themselves. The two are outnumbered, and Soundwave damages Prowl. Prowl then links up with another computer (Chip's) as his battle computer is off line. Chip them "pilots" Prowl, and he and Bluestreak defeat Starscream, Thundercracker, and Soundwave. Meanwhile, Megatron learns that the professor has transfered the anti-matter to Chip's computer. He orders Starscream's squad to find the computer and steal the formula. Chip hears the Decepticons arrive, so he decides to rip up the disc that now contains the formula. Soundwave sends Ravage to capture Chip.

Starscream and company bring Chip to the lab as Optimus Prime and the Autobots arrive. Soundwave scans Chip's brain, and extracts the anti-matter formula. Megatron then orders for Chip's termination. Meanwhile, Prime then enacts a plan to rescue Chip and hopefully stop the Decepticons. Hound and Mirage distract Rumble, and infiltrate the lab with Spike and Bumblebee. The Autobots rescue Chip, and Optimus Prime smashes through the main wall to bring in the other Autobots. However, Megatron detonates a newly created anti-matter Energon Cube and nearly destroys the lab. The Autobots are all heavily damaged, and they retreat to the Ark for repairs. The Decepticons then try to attack the Ark with Megatron absorbing several anti-matter Energon Cubes to become a powerful weapon in gun mode. Wheeljack creates a new device to take over a Decepticon's motor systems, and after Chip attached it to Skywarp (who was using Megatron in gun mode), he fires on the Decepticons. At the same time, the anti-matter is becoming unstable forcing Megatron to abandon it before it explodes within his body. The Decepticons retreat, and the Autobots welcome Chip officially as their new friend and ally.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, this episode is one of my favorites. It had a good story, introduced a mainstay character, and the animation was excellent. The episode had a more anime feel than the first four episodes. Unfortunately, after this episode, the animation for season one took a bit of a dive until The Ultimate Doom and Heavy Metal War. This is one of the best episodes of season one to check out.