New Hub Network Promo Featuring the Transformers: Rescue Bots

El Duque wrote:Be sure to tune in this Saturday at 1:30 PM for the all new episode In Search of the Griffin's Nest.

That's not this Saturday's episode. That episode airs on June 7th. This Saturday's episode the one before it called "Buddy System".

Thanks to an official programming highlight press release from the Hub Network we have more detailed information on the June episodes of Transformers: Rescue Bots. The episode descriptions mirrored below do contain some spoilers, the June 28th episode in particular, so continue at your own risk.

“Transformers Rescue Bots” (Saturdays, 1:30–2 p.m. ET)

June 7 – “In Search of the Griffin’s Nest”: Cody takes the Bots on an adventure
hike; when strange events start happening, they begin to wonder if they’re near
the mythical Griffin’s Nest.

June 14 – “Bots and Robbers”: Chase goes rogue on an undercover mission as
the Bots and Burns family do their best to save the island without using any
modern technology.

June 21 – “Rescue Dog”: Cody and the Bots find a stray dog who ends up
joining the rescue team, but Priscilla Pynch has other plans for the pet.

June 28 – “Changes”: Doctor Morocco learns a devastating secret that threatens
the Rescue Bots’ mission, but Optimus Prime guides Heatwave to acquire a
surprising new ability.

Episode 41 -

Blades has officially joined the Lad Pioneers.

Mr. Alper is among the invited family/friends on the nature hike.

Someone named Timmy is dangling from a branch off the side of a cliff.

A joint effort between Heatwave and Blades saved him.

As the title suggests, the buddy system is the focus of this episode. And with this being Griffin Rock, there's some new tech to try out: Buddy Bracelets. Once the bracelets are locked on, they magnetically sync with each other. If the partners get too far away from each other, the bracelets pull them back together.

Cody and Blades are the first new pair.

In the Lad Pioneers spirit of making new friends, partners will be randomly selected, much to Kade's chagrin.

Graham and... Mrs. Neederlander (poor guy).

Mrs. Neederlander speaks for the first time since way back in episode 6 (which, if we'll recall, was aired out of order as the eighth episode).

Graham's allergic to cats.

George and Timmy, Kyle and Corey

Hayley's paired with Frankie, much to the latter's chagrin, thinking Hayley's never opened a science book in her life.

Dani's with Kade, much to the former's chagrin (there's a lot of this going on).

Chief is paired with Carin, who is Timmy's aunt. She worked police dispatch on the mainland and says that Chief is considered a legend on the force. And he's flattered. And blushing.

Mr. Alper still needs a partner. Carin's brother Jerry is on his way, being always late but usually with a great story why.

A ha! So her brother Jerry is the same Jerry we've seen previously. Nice to see more of this island's world being built upon. As for why he's late, he appears to still be at work making his final delivery.

His last delivery is for a female "Doc" at the zoo, with a shipment for the reptile department.

And there was a mix up in the shipment, as the zoo was supposed to get snakes but instead received bins of scientific stuff. The snakes wound up being delivered to the electronics store instead.

Jerry accidentally ran over and destroyed the Buddy Bracelet keys. The bracelets still work, though, so everyone's stuck magnetically locked to one another until they find a way to electronically override the lock.

Cody suggests they head for the EMP zone over at Griffin Crest (from back in episode 16), so the hike has been rerouted to the end of Old Canyon Road.

Hayley's blank smiling stare as she doesn't answer Frankie's conversation starter is pretty creepy looking.

In fact, a lot of the characters' blank smiling expressions are pretty off putting.

Carin just recently moved to Griffin Rock.

Chief mentions a time where it once rained macaroni and cheese on the island. We never saw that before.

Chief got a call. He needs Kade downtown for a ladder rescue. A window washer fell off his rig. A delighted Kade turns sore when Dani points out that she's gotta go with him.

There's a large snake (maybe a boa constrictor?) on the window washer's rig. And a rattlesnake in the street.

And a snake in Mr. Sharma's bike. Snakes everywhere.

Heatwave's not afraid of snakes, but really really uncomfortable with them.

Blades and Cody are being sent to backup the others.

Blades is disappointed that he'll be missing out on his first Lad Pioneer nature hike, but Cody reassures him that dealing with the snakes will count towards Blades' Reptile Care patch.

There are twelve snakes totally. All large and possibly venomous.

Chief and Chase (plus Carin) are needed to help in rounding up the snakes. As are Graham and Boulder (and Mrs. Neederlander). Hayley's put in charge of the hike, which she's fine with since she teaches Kindergarten.

Hayley has a degree in Botany. She also learned the names of plants by their scientific names. Now, Frankie's interested.

There's a king cobra in the park, while a boa have constricted Chase, who cannot transform.

Blades got the boa off of Chase, but now it's on Blades' winch line. He gets it off by sticking it in a tree... at the end of Old Canyon Road, which is where the Lad Pioneers are heading.

Mrs. Neederlander just charmed the cobra with a flute!

Hayley and the Lad Pioneers repel the boa with wild garlic.

Blades' Buddy Bracelet got knocked off of his finger and... swallowed by the boa! Cody's being pulled towards it!

Heatwave put Cody in the tank, which pulled the snake towards the tank, making it easier for it to be grabbed and put into the tank itself (but not before Cody is pulled out of the tank first).

Everyone enters Griffin Crest's EMP Zone to get their bracelets off.

Kade and Dani seem a little uncomfortable with their dad and Carin going off on their own hike together.


Billie Hayes reprised her role of Mrs Neederlander, and also voiced the zookeeper
Jason Marsden voiced Timmy
Shannon McKain voiced Jerry
Steve Blum voiced Mr. Alper
Mr. Sharma is not credited


This was an interesting episode not for its plot or its action, but for its contributions to more world-building. We learn a bit more about the civilians who tend to be unimportant extras. Jerry's family is explored and Hayley's character is fleshed out a bit. the Lad Pioneers had more of a presence in this episode than in any other and we get all of their names in one go. And things from previous episodes, such as Griffin Crest and the zoo, return to be of viable usefulness for this episode's plot. Though this episode in and of itself added very little to the ongoing storyline of the series, it did add more substance to the world of the series, bit by bit. And those little bits do add up over time, so every little bit helps, including this episode.

Episode 42 -

Cody's reading about a local legend that states griffins once roamed the islands off the coast of Maine. A male griffin once made its home atop the rocky peak of the largest island, where it turned to stone for a long hibernation. This legend is from which the island of Griffin Rock was named.

Another Lad Pioneers episode. The Lads are trying to earn their Folklore Patch while hiking on Mount Griffin.

An Earthquake in Maine? Again?

And flying cars?

The car lost its airborne status when it came near to Mount Griffin's peak.

The car belongs to the Rubios, and had no one driving it.

Four bicycles, a couple of satellite dishes, and a toy rocket all seemed to have been stolen.

The Rubios were picnicking at the park when their car just "took off into the air. Like something had snatched it."

The earthquake was a volcanic disturbance originating from Wayward Island, but thankfully with no threat of an eruption.

Cody was reading before that, according to the legend, female griffins used one of the nearby islands as a nesting ground, which he suspects could be Wayward Island.

The team has split up for their missions. Graham, Cody, Heatwave, Blades, and Boulder have taken the Darby Ava to Wayward Island (Graham wants to replace a damaged sensor on the island, Cody and Blades want to investigate the griffin myth, and Heatwave and Boulder are along for the ride). The rest of the team stayed behind since Chief and Chase need to look into the recent theft reports while the others just simply didn't want to go to Wayward Island.

Cody and Blades believe in a connection between the recent thefts and the griffin legend, while the others, naturally, do not. We'll see who turns out to be right.

The broken sensor is located near the island's center.

The stolen items aren't all just metal, but were all taken from Griffin Rock's higher elevations, as though something did indeed snatch them from the air.

A strange-looking rock with a high level of iron is interfering with Graham's compass. It might be a lodestone.

There are griffin carvings on the stone.

Graham suspects the carvings to have been left by vikings from back when Norse explorers first traveled to the New World. And some vikings, as Heatwave points out, did believe in mythical greatures like griffins (which he learned from a history of war anthology).

Some unseen force is pulling the Bots, the Darby Ava's anchor, and the boat's engine all skyward.

Along with Edger Prewett's tow truck and toolbox, and the Rubios' car again, from back on Griffin Rock.

And now all of them suddenly drop down in their tracks.

Cody can't reach his dad since the signal's being jammed.

Blades claims to have seen a griffin nearby.

The rest of the team who stayed behind has borrowed Doc Greene's floating lab (from way back in episode 10 of season 1) to get to Wayward Island. Though, it's really slow.

The griffin Blades found is a statue. It's also the entrance marker to some ruins of an ancient temple.

Cody's book states that the griffins' nesting grounds were considered sacred and well protected.

Something's got the Bots and the boat engine again! It got Boulder!

And now Chase, the tow truck, the Rubios' car, and the float lab anchor are all caught in the pull as well.

And then... they're all let go again. What is going on!

Boulder's activated an Indiana Jones-styled booby trap.

These traps seem to be what protect the ruins.

Heatwave and Chase drive to outrun the boulder projectiles, while Blades (lacking a wheeled vehicle mode) makes a run for it across instead.

Since Boulder's more heavily built, he can take a few hits from the boulders.

Atop an elevated stone formation surrounded by lava is what does indeed look to be a large nest of some kind, made from metal objects even.

Boulder points out that the nest, and its eggs, are carved out of stone. Heatwave figures it's just another viking sculpture. But there's still random present day metal objects lodged into it.

There's something beeping in the nest.

It's the damaged quake sensor.

The cliff above them is the one they originally installed the sensor into. The tremors must have knocked the sensor down into the nest sculpture.

The damaged sensor us undergoing a power surge.

The lodestone all around the nest, combined with the malfunctioning sensor charging energy into the lodestone, is what has been causing all the metal objects to rise up, acting like a super magnet, which it's doing one more time.

They could wait for the power surge to pass, but if they do, they'll fall into the lava once loosened from the position they're currently stuck in.

Towards the beginning of the episode, Cody was demonstrating a new ricochet technique with his slingshot. He does so once more here to strike the sensor with a stone to shut it off. The Bots make a jump for it to miss the lava.

And Cody used the experience to finish his report on Maine island folklore.


Jason Marsden voiced Timmy.


A nice episode. A lot happened that wasn't expected, such as the discovery of the griffin temple and other relics on Wayward Island. Though the legend didn't turn out to be the force behind all the metal abductions, the malfunctioning sensor being the cause was a fair revelation appropriate for this show's adherence to fantastic realism. More world-building also came about with the folklore of the griffins, and who knows, maybe the myth could have some support behind it with the Predaclones that were sent to Earth in ancient times being the source of the myth. I also like how Cody was thinking clearly enough to be ready to accept the possibility of it not being a griffin behind everything, as well as everyone not just shooting down Cody's theory for being the stuff of his childlike imagination (well, all except for Kade, that is). For once, we got a situation in which the dreamer was of a sound mind and everyone else was respectful enough toward his seemingly-unrealistic ideas. It felt much more mature to sit through, and fitting with how grown up this show really feels compared to many others of its demographic.

If you're bummed that you've missed any or all of season 2 of Rescue Bots, fret no more. Hub will be showing a season 2 marathon Monday, June 9, 2014--that's tomorrow! The marathon will start at 12:00 PM EST and run through 4:00 PM EST, with all eight episodes of the current season.

Whether you're a current Rescue Bots fan, or interested in seeing what it's all about, tomorrow is the perfect time to catch a few episode or the whole season. Are you a Rescue Bots fan? Head on over the Energon Pub and discuss with other fans.

ScoutBumblebee wrote:If you're bummed that you've missed any or all of season 2 of Rescue Bots, fret no more. Hub will be showing a season 2 marathon Monday, June 9, 2014--that's tomorrow! The marathon will start at 12:00 PM EST and run through 4:00 PM EST, with all eight episodes of the current season.

Whether you're a current Rescue Bots fan, or interested in seeing what it's all about, tomorrow is the perfect time to catch a few episode or the whole season. Are you a Rescue Bots fan? Head on over the Energon Pub and discuss with other fans.

There have been more than 8 episodes of this season that have aired thus far.

16, to be precise.

The eight episodes airing tomorrow are episodes 30 and 36-42 (A.K.A. episodes 4 and 10-16 of season 2).

Episode 43 -

It's Crawfish Week on Griffin Rock's local newscasting.

Cody's landed the villain role in his school's play, which confuses Chase since he doesn't like the idea of "falsifying one's identity" (ironic considering he's had to do exactly that ever since he and his teammates arrived on the island).

Break-in at the museum. It's Myles and Evan again (those guys sure have a knack for getting away from the law after each time they're arrested).

The two are after some red rock on display and--Oh snap! They got hoverboards that fly them up and away from the team.

It's nice to see petty crooks actually being clever. Graham activates Doc's new anti-theft system, which involves four massive claw extending from the floor to grab at the two. But Myles is like "Been there, hacked that," and turns the claws back onto the team with the push of a button.

Short version of the theme song.

Dani notes that only one of them speaks, but IIRC, both of them had at least some lines in their last appearance.

The red rock that was stolen was a chunk of a substance called Mechanite. It's not rare or worth anything, which is curious considering Evan and Myles' more expensive tastes.

Evan and Myles have a hideout hidden in some remote area of the island. I guess this is where they go to either lay low or get away from the law when they need to.

They've put the Mechanite into some sort of device.

They call the device a "Tech Wrecker". Activating it emits a wave of red colored energy from the rock that instantly damages any piece of electronic equipment that contains a circuit.

Chase is trying to understand the concept of "going undercover" by watching the classic detective films that Cody lent him.

The thieves are back and have hijacked Huxley's television satellite dish, meaning that they'd literally ripped off the roof of Huxley's TV van.

Chase is narrating to himself in the style of a hard boiled detective.

Oh dear. Now that Evan and Myles need a new ride, what with their car's tires having been blown by a tripwire, they trying to steal Chase as a getaway car. Like they actually could. This should be good.

...

...

...They're stealing Chase. He's not resisting. Guess he's going undercover.

Blades: "Chief, do something! Chase is the victim of Grand Theft Autobot!" -- HOW HAS THIS NOT BEEN A THING YET?!!!

Chase's comm is being blocked, and he has to pretend to be completely dependent on human commands to keep from blowing his cover.

Their next target is some Floatium from Doc's lab. The last time we saw Floatium was way back in episode 4.

Trex is guarding the lab. Luckily, he listens to Chase like a good boy.

Chase had no choice but to steal the Floatium to hold his cover, but was still able to trip a silent alarm to alert the others.

Chase has to "Power Up and Energize!" his non-toy riot shield to get past the others so he doesn't blow his cover.

Heatwave and Kade think Chase has turn traitor, but Cody points out clues that peg Chase as not acting genuine in his criminal behavior.

Evan and Myles turned on their Mechanite-powered Tech Wrecker, used Huxley's dish to widen its energy range, and used the Floatium to make the whole device rise up into the air so the wave could reach a greater distance in all directions. "Griffin Rock is going back to the Stone Age, and we're going shopping!" Though, the two were able to shield their own gear from being shorted out, thanks to another device shielding their hideout from the Tech Wrecker's effects.

"Exclamational frustration!" -- Well, that is one way to get around cursing in a kids show.

Kade suggests that, if Chase doesn't come back to the team, they could get Bumblebee to replace him.

Chase attached the force field device to himself to protect himself from the tech wrecking "red zone".

Now that the team knows of Evan and Myles' plan, the Burnses will have to handle the situation without tech, including the Bots since they have to stay shielded under Chase's force field.

They're gonna be riding old fashioned scooters. I would have thought bicycles would be the the more obvious choice.

LOL! The Bots have to "Walk to the Rescue" in close synchronization.

The Burns nab the thieves old school style!

Heatwave: "Well, that was humiliating."
Boulder: "I thought it showed teamwork."
Chase: "The real challenge will be accessing the Tech Wrecker."
Blades: "I'll just fly up there and--Oh, right. The shield."
Chase: "Evan and Myles put that device in the sky. Perhaps if we imagined we were villains like them, we could think of a solution."
Heatwave: "That's the dumbest thing I've--"
Boulder: "Hello. I'm Myles. I love to steal."
Blades: "MmMmmMmHmm. I'm like Evan because I'm not saying anything."
Heatwave: "Oh, come on. Pretending doesn't help. If I was a villain, I'd think of a million better things to do with Floatium than--"
All: "The Floatium!"
Heatwave: "And I just unproved my point, huh?"


Using the Floatium, the Bots got to the device, grabbed the Mechanite chunk, and the Tech Wrecker itself, which shut off after the Mechanite was removed.

The thieves are back in jail.

And Chase has decided to help Cody prepare for his play, with Chase playing the good guy to Cody's villain. But, we won't get to see this since they got credits to roll. End of episode.


Maurice LaMarche voiced the detective in the old movie.


This episode was surprisingly more entertaining than I was expecting (as is common among this show's episodes). But what makes this one special is how it took a character we know pretty thoroughly well and put him in a situation that forced him to act uncharacteristically for the greater good. Chase is a creature of order and habit, so for him to go against his very nature of predictability to further his development was a good move. And even though this particular situation kind of made him a bit hypocritical (since "pretending to be something he isn't" is something he has been doing ever since the first episode), and despite it retreading some old ground (since "falsifying the truth for the sake of others" already came into play back in "Little White Lies"), Detective Chase was a joyous endearment to watch. His constant outlandish similes were hilarious and made for some fantastic dialogue bits. And aside from Chase, this was Evan and Myles' most impress episode exploit yet. These two started off in this show as mere small-time crooks (or at least as small-time as one could get in this show without going flat out old fashioned), but every time they appear, their schemes become more and more ambitious, all for the sake of greed and wealth. Another gem of an episode.

Sabrblade wrote:Heatwave: "Well, that was humiliating."
Boulder: "I thought it showed teamwork."
Chase: "The real challenge will be accessing the Tech Wrecker."
Blades: "I'll just fly up there and--Oh, right. The shield."
Chase: "Evan and Myles put that device in the sky. Perhaps if we imagined we were villains like them, we could think of a solution."
Heatwave: "That's the dumbest thing I've--"
Boulder: "Hello. I'm Myles. I love to steal."
Blades: "MmMmmMmHmm. I'm like Evan because I'm not saying anything."
Heatwave: "Oh, come on. Pretending doesn't help. If I was a villain, I'd think of a million better things to do with Floatium than--"
All: "The Floatium!"
Heatwave: "And I just unproved my point, huh?"

A nice way to allude to Steve Blum's other role in the recent Transformers series (and perhaps his past others).

Since last time we saw the programming schedule for Transformers: Rescue Bots, two more episodes have been added to the roster, airing in July. Check out the full list below, courtesy of the official Rescue Bots Facebook page, and beware of some spoilers in the descriptions!

Hey guys, here's an episode listing update! Careful, they're a bit spoilerish!

June 21 - “Rescue Dog”
Cody and the Bots find a stray dog who ends up joining the rescue team, but Priscilla Pynch has other plans for the pet.

June 28 - “Changes”
Doctor Morocco learns a devastating secret that threatens the Rescue Bots’ mission, but Optimus Prime guides Heatwave to acquire a surprising new ability.

July 5 - "Movers and Shakers"
The Rescue Team has to take action when rogue technology goes underground.

July 12 - "Odd Bot Out"
When Bumblebee partners up with Dani on a mission, Blades feels left out.

Oooo interesting! Can't wait for that Changes ep personally!
~Heatwave

Va'al wrote:

June 28 - “Changes”
Doctor Morocco learns a devastating secret that threatens the Rescue Bots’ mission, but Optimus Prime guides Heatwave to acquire a surprising new ability.

Wonder if this "new ability" has something to do with the "Rescue Dinobots" I saw at Target yesterday...

Archanubis wrote:

Va'al wrote:

June 28 - “Changes”
Doctor Morocco learns a devastating secret that threatens the Rescue Bots’ mission, but Optimus Prime guides Heatwave to acquire a surprising new ability.

Wonder if this "new ability" has something to do with the "Rescue Dinobots" I saw at Target yesterday...

Or the Rescan figures that have new altmodes (monster truck, fire boat, motorcycle, etc.) since the dino modes aren't supposed to come until season 3 (and season 2 was done long before we learned of the dino versions).

Courtesy of Zap2it we have the titles and descriptions for the July 19th and 26th episodes of Transformers: Rescue Bots, The Griffin Rock Express and Double Villainy. Check out he brief episode descriptions below:

The Griffin Rock Express
A mysterious superhero keeps a close eye on Griffin Rock while the team rebuilds a train tunnel.

Double Villainy
A plan is hatched by Griffin Rock's most evil villains to destroy the island and kidnap the Bots.

Episode 44 -

With all the stuff going on at BotCon, I'm gonna make this one briefer.

Short theme song.

Cody dubs the dog "Noble".

This episode gives an official name to the firehouse: The Griffin Rock Firehouse.

Mrs. Luskey's dog is named Poopsie, and Priscilla's robot dog is Wi-Fido.

Hey, it's a generic bank robber who looks like the Crook that comes with the Bots & Robbers Police Headquarters playset.

"Power Up and Energize!" Heatwave's using a Collision Foam Cannon.

Mr. Hunter runs the local newsstand.

A mainland newspaper reveal Noble's real name to be Buster, and that he belongs to Captain Duncan of the Coast City fire department. He was lost at sea while making a water rescue.

"Power Up and Energize!" Boulder's using a non-toy-based hammer weapon.


Maurice LaMarche voiced Mr. Hunter (credited here as just "Vendor")
Dee Bradley Baker (AWESOME!!!) voices Noble/Buster, Wi-Fido, and Poopsie
Nicole Dubuc voiced Mrs. Luskey


An okay episode. Not particularly important nor did it have that big of a threat, but it was still nice and heartwarming. Just a warm, friendly episode.

Thanks to MSN Entertainment program guide for Transformers: Rescue Bots we have the tile and description for the August 8th episode, plus some additional plot details for several other upcoming episodes. The August 8th episode is titled Rise of the Heroes, the description, as well as the descriptions for the other upcoming episodes, can be found below:

Rise of the Heroes
The Bots are made to believe the Burnses are their enemies after they're wiped of their memories. 08-02-2014

Double Villainy
A plan is hatched by Griffin Rock's most evil villains to destroy the island and kidnap the Bots. 07-26-2014

The Griffin Rock Express
A mysterious superhero keeps a close eye on Griffin Rock while the Rescue Team rebuilds a train tunnel. 07-19-2014

Odd Bot Out
When Bumblebee partners up with Dani on a mission, Blades feels left out. 07-12-2014

Movers and Shakers
The Rescue Team has to take action when rogue technology goes underground. 07-05-2014

El Duque wrote:Thanks to MSN Entertainment program guide for Transformers: Rescue Bots we have the tile and description for the August 8th episode, plus some additional plot details for several other upcoming episodes. The August 8th episode is titled Rise of the Heroes, the description, as well as the descriptions for the other upcoming episodes, can be found below:

Might wanna take another look at those episode dates you've quoted. All of those episodes are in reverse order, with "Rise of the Heroes" being the newest one and all the others airing the weekends preceding it.

Thanks to a tip from resident Seibertron.com voice actor jON3.0, we get a look at the Transformers Rescue Bots Wrap Party! The video was uploaded by DC Douglas, the voice of Chase on the show, and features cast and crew from the season, including Cody, Blades, the Twins, and more - check it out embedded below.

HOLY SNAP! This is huge news! MICHAEL BELL IS BACK IN TRANSFORMERS!!!

Not that I question Saberblade.....
BUT PROWL?
REALLY? REALLY REALLY?
Links PLZ!

Foxbear wrote:Not that I question Saberblade.....
BUT PROWL?
REALLY? REALLY REALLY?
Links PLZ!

Didn't you watch the video?

Sabrblade wrote:

Foxbear wrote:Not that I question Saberblade.....
BUT PROWL?
REALLY? REALLY REALLY?
Links PLZ!

Didn't you watch the video?

Heh, whoops. Missed that. Okay. Now I can squeal happily away.

Episode 45 is now online.

Episode 45 -

Optimus has personally contacted the Bots to give Heatwave a special mission involving a new responsibility, as Optimus tells him it is time for Heatwave to grow into the leader he was meant to be. Heatwave is to meet Optimus at a secret location on the mainland while the others remain on Griffin Rock.

The Burnses still haven't put up the portrait of Zachary Burns? After all this time?

I knew it! There's a secret hidden camera within the portrait for Morocco to spy on the Burnses!

Short version of the theme song.

Morocco' finally learning of the Bots having true personalities, emotions, and a sense of duty. He believes it to be some sort of advanced artificial intelligence programming.

Morocco sounds like he's still voiced by Greg Ellis instead of Tim Curry. Alas.

Heatwave puts Chase in charge in his absence, and puts Boulder in the responsibility of taking care of Cody. Blades just gets told to not stay up late watching monster movies.

Heatwave can't help but feel like he's forgetting something.

Chief: "What's up, Doc?"
Doc: "Not 'wascally wabbits,' I'm afraid."

Doc's called to inform chief about a strange storm front moving toward the island at an alarming rate. It appears to be a tornado.

Griffin Rock's not prepared for that kind of whether, but Doc has an invention that might be able to untwist the twister, with the help of Dani and Blades. Heatwave's gonna stick around to help out with this emergency first, before heading to the mainland to see Optimus.

The school's basement is being used as a safe location from the storm.

The storm's got Heatwave, who's carrying passengers.

"Power Up and Energize!" Boulder's using a non-toy grappling electromagnet to pull Heatwave back to the ground.

Doc's invention is a canister called the "Tornadote". Once inside the tornado, it should explode and change the charge of the tornado's particles, stopping it cold... in theory. Doc hasn't tested it yet.

Luckily, it worked.

They note how it's odd how the tornado just appeared without warning. Doc wants to take a closer look at the weather data.

Kade's invited himself to come along with Heatwave on his mission, much to Heatwave's chagrin. Heatwave tried to tell him no, but Kade convinced him to reconsider.

According to Doc's data, the storm manifested out of a clear blue sky. But the was a blue beam that appeared during its creation, not unlike that of the weather machine, which is currently still sitting on the Best Left Forgotten shelf where it belongs. Doc suspects that a prototype may have been created first. According the records, an early version of the weather machine should have been delivered to the lab in 1966, but never arrived.

1966 was when the S.S. Isole went missing, and Cody and Chief suspect Morocco to be up to something since he was the last person to have access to that ship.

Morocco was trying to cause an islandwide evacuation with the tornado, but now must take even more drastic measures. Like, creating a massive lighting storm.

Captain Shaw has ferried Heatwave and Kade to the mainland. The secure location Heatwave is meet Optimus at looks to be the same hangar his team first met Optimus at back in episode 1.

Kade: "H-Hey, OP! What is shakin', bacon!"
Heatwave: "Sir, my partner insisted insisted on accomapnying me to--"
Optimus: "Nothing much, Double Dutch. ...I too have learned from humans."

Optimus is to give Heatwave to the next step in Rescue Bots leadership: A third form.

A LOVE Heatwave's sarcastic remark about a space shuttle!

It seems Heatwave is gonna have to undergo some kind of spiritual training to prepare himself for his rescan of a new mode.

The storm has hit the island. Thankfully, Boulder and Graham had previously reinforced the Sanctuary caverns, and Doc has sent Dani to the caves with supplies and board games.

Hey, a view of the firehouse we haven't seen before.

Heatwave has successfully focused his energy for a rescan through meditation. While he was under, Kade expressed genuine concern for his buddy, and Optimus revealed to him that Heatwave does cherish his and Kade's partnership (though, not in as many words).

While the Team evacuates everyone in town to the Sanctuary caves under Mount Griffin, Morocco takes the opportunity to infiltrate the firehouse, making his way into the bunker beneath it.

He has uncovered the Autobot command center adjacent to the bunker. And he's playing back datafiles on Rescue Force Sigma-17."

Chase's file recording: "Sigma-17 ship log, Rescue Bots reporting. We are departing Cybertron on a routine patrol to the Quintessa Quadrant."

The Team has located the weather machine out in the ocean thanks to Doc's coordinates. They're going after it in the Darby Ava.

Morocco has switched the machine from creating a lightning storm to producing a giant pillar of fire. Has a sort o Old Testament feel to it, doesn't it?

Make that a TON of fire pillars!

Good thing Heatwave and Kade are on their way back, but they can't hail the island since communications are still down.

The ferry can't go any faster in this part of the ocean. A boneyard of shipwrecks lies below them. Any faster and the ferry could join them.

Heatwave's diving down to scan one of the sunken vessels: A swamp fireboat.

And now he's got his Rescan fireboat toy body! Well, the altmode of it, at least.

Chief Burns has brought out Kade's old rig to help douse the flames.

Heatwave's fully back and now heading out to sea to take out that weather machine, dodging fire pillar left and right!

No need to disable it or turn it off. Heatwave just RAMS the thing!

Blades is interested in Rescanning, but Heatwave explains how tough and difficult it was even for him.

The framing company found Morocco's hidden camera while they were restoring the portrait. And Chase found Morocco's infiltration device in the secret bunker.

Morocco will no longer be focusing on upgrading his MorBots, as he now has access to the most advanced technology the world has ever seen. And offering to sell it to Madeline Pynch.


Yep, Greg Ellis still voices Doctor Morocco.


Oh man, this episode! This was GOOD! A definite game changer episode to the extreme! Arguably the most climactic (and climatic) one of the season, if not of the whole series (barring the season 1 two-part finale's alternate reality). Morocco was more crafty and dangerous than ever and got a hold of top secret Cybertronian intell and technology. Speaking of said intell, it gave us some insight on the Rescue Bots' original mission before their coming to Earth, in which their "routine patrol" (as stated in the theme song) was set in the Quintessa Quadrant. The alone opens up a whole new set of questions and curiosities related to the greater continuity. And let's not forget Heatwave's Rescan into a fireboat. I'm not expecting us to get the other ones for Optimus, Bumblebee, and Blades, but that we got Heatwave's was pretty cool in and of itself. Now we have so much more to look forward to with this episode, here's to a grand finale to come in seven more episodes.

So Heatwave's a Triple Changer now (has to be, his bot mode still has fire truck kibble), Morocco has access to Cybertronian tech (remains to be seen whether or not he considers the Rescue Bots as aliens or just machines with alien origins), and he's going to sell in to Pynch. Be interesting to see where all this goes.

As for the Quintessa Quadrant, I think that was just a nod to the general Transformers mythology (especially in light of the new film). We'll see if it gets mentioned again.

This one is episode 47 rather than 46 due to 46 being held back to air later.

Episode 47 -

Boulder's planting Leafy, his plant that he got way back in episode 6 (the Earth Day episode that aired out of order as episode .

It's Griffin Rock's "Plant A Tree" Day. Mayor Luskey is unveiling a new machine called the Power Planter, which is supposed to plant trees by ltself without having any person to dirty his or her hands to plant them themselves. It drills underground and pulls the unplanted trees into the soil from underneath.

Boulder is skeptical about the device since he feels the trees won't get any love or TLC not being touched or talked to.

The Power Planter is programmed to avoid all heat sources, including humans.

Storm's brewing, and the Power Planter just got struck by lightning. In this town, that's never good.

Now it's going after all heat sources (including humans) and running amok.

Short theme song.

The Power Planter is a tough bugger to catch.

Looks like it might have gotten away.

Since the lightning struck the device's upper body, its CPU was compromised and its programming scrambled. There's a high probability it'll just stay underground, but no guarantee.

Badgers, skunks, squirrels, groundhogs, porcupines, etc. are overrunning various locations.

Ha! Noah's Ark reference!

And a Whack-a-Mole reference.

Did... Did Boulder just inadvertently make an adult-rated joke about the porcupine "liking" him?

Kade: "We don't need no stinkin' badgers."

Roaches swarming the firehouse. While Blades is naturally scared, Dani isn't at all. For once, children's television gives us a girl who isn't afraid of roaches.

The zookeeper's name is Virginia.

It's finally theorized by the Burnses that the Power Planter must be behind the erratic animal behavior. Took them long enough.

Speaking of which, the device is attack Mayor Luskey.

"Power Up and Energize!" Blades is using his toy's hook gadget.

The Team only now realizes that the Power Planter is doing the exact opposite of everything it's supposed to do (ripping out plants instead of planting them, going after heat sources instead of avoiding them), when such was obvious from the first fight against it after if got struck by lightning, reversing its programming.

They're going to track it down using seismographs to measure ground vibrations in the hottest locations on the island.

Heh, Heatwave is disgusted by Kade calling himself the "hottest thing on the island".

Why is Nancy Morrison on a Lad Pioneers campout? Is she related to one of them? In fact, why is Cody not on this campout? Unless it's just an unofficial one, but then why are they in uniform? Ugh, too many questions!

Wait, is that thing alive now or something? It's hoarding all the heat sources it's going after like how an animal hoards its personal findings.

A new heat source in the form of a barbecue has popped up at the school. Cody's the only one left to go warn everyone there, so he's gotta take Rolling Thunder to get there.

And now the Planter's after Rolling Thunder and Cody.

Drive, Cody, drive!

Boulder got Cody to safety, but Rolling Thunder's totaled.

Chief's had enough and is ready to "bring the heat to the Planter".

The Bots are being loaded with "Boil Coils" designed to superheat water. All other heat sources in town have been shut off.

Of course it would target Blades first.

Heatwave's the one who's going to take it on alone.

He lured it to a cliff side and let it fall to smash at the bottom.

The remains of the Power Planter are being used as a fence to protect Leafy, and Rolling Thunder is repaired.

Chief is gonna have his "team of experts" check to see if the Mayor's hot tub is safe to use befoWHAAAAAAA Fanservice! Shirtless Burns men and bathing suit Dani.



This episode had some moments, but was mostly just dull. The threat was too underwhelming and was a severe step down from last week's episode. The problem really could have been solved in the first few minutes, but it's one of those episodes that avoids doing the obvious for the sake of keeping things going to fill up a half hour. The Team got hit with a dose of dumbness in their inability to comprehend the situation when it was plainly evident to the average well-thinking viewer. Just a really lackluster episode, which is really sad for a show that is typically so intelligent and well written.

Episode 49 -

Blades considers Bumblebee his "BFF" ("Bot Friend Forever").

The calendar has 30 days in its current month, with its first beginning on a Thursday and its last falling on a Friday. September 2011 and November 2012 are the most recent months with that format.

Doc's latest invention: Ski-neakers, water ski shoes. The soles take in surface water, then blast it out behind from the heel to create propulsion.

Um, based on what Doc said about how the shoes work, I don't think Frankie should be able to "sea skate" backwards or stay on one place in the water without sinking. Same goes for Cody.

The tidal wave that damaged Doc's sea lab strikes Doc as being some sort of anomaly.

Bee's here, sent by Optimus on a mission.

There's a Cybertronian relic "on or near Griffin Rock"!!! Continuity!!!!

And only the power of a Prime can turn off the relic's technology! An Artifact of the Primes!!!!

Bee's equipped with a sensor that'll beep when the artifact is nearby.

Thanks to Cody forgetting to mail Dani's envelope earlier in the episode, Dani's helicopter license has expired, so she can't be Blades' pilot for now. But since she can still drive, she'll ride with Bee instead.

So, wait, with Dani riding with Bee, and Blades still flying on the mission, is there no one sitting in his cockpit? If they were concerned about people seeing Dani flying Blades, shouldn't they also be concerned about Blades being a pilot-less helicopter?

Captain Shaw has sent out a call of distress. A right whale has swum too close to the ferry and is causing the craft to sink.

Okay, now Chief has gotten into Blades to avoid suspicion. Good call.

Heatwave's rescued the ferry's overboard passengers and Blades has recovered the ferry.

First the wave, now the whale; both have Doc stumped.

Last week, Madeline Pynch had asked the mayor for a permit to do some underwater drilling, which was denied.

Whoa! Crazy race course outside the firehouse! With a loop-de-loop and jumps and everything!

Blades is jealous about Bee and Dani having fun together without him.

PRIME!!!

Optimus needs Blades for a special mission.

Optimus seems to want to keep as few people in the know about this mission. Strange.

Sudden bottomless sinkhole has appeared on the race track.

Chase lets Chief out of his chest without transforming by simply opening his windshield, not unlike Heatwave did to let Cody enter his cockpit back in "Space Bots".

Optimus explains that a form of Earth tech has activated the relic, which turns everything in its path into liquid. If it's not turned off, the whole island and everyone on it will be liquefied.

I just noticed that Optimus's mouthplate moves with his dialogue a la G1 Optimus' mouthplate.

Geysers, flooding, and sinkholes. Life's never dull in Griffin Rock.

Optimus: "I am grateful that you were willing to temporarily leave your team to assist me."
Blades: "Optimus! Helping you is--! I mean, you're bigger than ELVIS!"
Optimus: "I have not met this 'Elvis.' And am not aware of his size."

Madeline Pynch's drilling platform is responsible. What a surprise.

Dani's caught in quicksand.

Behold the power of the Matrix of Leadership!

The damage is being undone.

"Power Up and Energize!" Optimus of all bots gets to do it this time, and he's using Blades's hook line, rather than his toys' circular saw.

With the liquefying artifact no longer operational, the island should regain its former solidity by tomorrow.

Bee saves Dani with a nearby clothesline.


This was an improvement over last week's. Though, to be fair, a lot of its high points did admittedly come from all the TF: Prime fanwank. Optimus and Bee coming to find another relic would typically be another fan criticism against the Prime cartoon, but here it's something out of the ordinary and helps to further connect this show with its big brother. Though, I can see some asking questions about why the liquefying artifact doesn't seem to be in the bases' vaults back in the Prime cartoon, aside from the real world reasons of this episode not existing at the time. Bee was once again reliable and resourceful, and it was neat to see Blades get some development without having to play off a human character (in this case, it was Optimus himself whom Blades played off of). And now we have three episodes to go before the season ends, aside from the two skipped episodes that'll air after the finale.

Episode 50 (FINALLY put online by the Hub, since the YouTube guy took his down on the same day it went up ) -

Some Kamen Rider wannabe just drove their three-wheeled motorcycle up the side of a building straight to the roof!

Looks like Mr. Prewett and Mr. Whitaker are assisting in some underground tunnel project.

And now this masked rider just saved Graham from a boulder dropped from one of the trucks, by use of some sort of trans-phase device.

The rider's disappeared by driving/phasing through a building.

And now Cody's the red herring to this rider's identity, with the others all thinking it was him, what with the rider bearing some resemblance to Cody's "Rescue Boy" costume from season 1.

On the mainland, Doc's new hover train is being tested before it heads to Griffin Rock via the half-a-century-old tunnel, which had its digging halt just 200 feet from where the Griffin Rock Station was to be built, since the town voted to stop funding it. I wonder if the reason for that vote will become a plot point later in the episode.

Hey, it's Deputy Barney and his lousy Don Knotts impression. He caught Evan and Myles trapped inside the bank's locked vault, after the mysterious vigilante phased them into it to trap them (they were trying to break into it).

Boulder's using an Energize jackhammer (I think).

Looks like the reason the town voted to stop funding the tunnel's construction was because no one wanted a commuter train. That explanation sure came quick.

Heatwave has a stare that can shut up folks in a good mood.

The Burnses, sans Cody, are heading to the mainland since the mayor wants them all aboard the hover train for its first ride to the island. Cody, meanwhile, is searching for the Rescue Bot impostor.

The masked hero saved both Don from a texting & driving accident, and Jimmy from being trapped in the junkyard.

Even without the rider's trans-phase tech, Cody should be able to catch up with the guy since Rolling Thunder isn't that fast.

The rider is.. FRANKIE?!! What the what?!

Heatwave: "'Rescue... Girl' 'What got into you, Frankie?"
Boulder: "Riding around on an experimental Turbo Cycle?"
Chase: "Eavesdropping on emergency dispatch calls!"
Blades: "Placing yourself in harms way? Which make no sense to me."

She figured that she could help out a little what with the guys being so busy working on the tunnel.

The trans-phase tech is called a "Phase Bit." It was meant for installing pipes underground without drilling.

Each of the Bots see some good use in the Phase Bit tech for rescue missions.

Mr. Alper, the Luskeys, Huxley Prescott, and Doc are also aboard the hover train.

One of the photographers looks kinda like Mr. Bunty.

Mayor Luskey is ecstatic about the new hover train. He's wanted a train ever since he was a boy, and this fulfills both his childhood dream and his affinity for tourism. Huxley, however, is less enthused.

The train is going to be late to its first arrival since the mayor's deadline prevented the high-velocity booster from being calibrated, necessitating the train's current slow speed. The mayor doesn't care, though, and orders full speed ahead.

System error. The controls have shorted out and the train is now a runaway.

The others gotta divert the train into another tunnel to help it stop. Frankie offered to help phase the wall for the train to pass through, but Heatwave won't put her at risk and says they'll handle this the old-fashioned way.

"Power Up and Energize!" x4 jackhammers!

Seeing all four of them "Energize" at once was so cool!!!

The train's armor plated. They can't break into it. Frankie's stepping up to the plate.

"Phase On!"

She got everyone.

KABOOOOOOOM!!!!

Sheesh, everyone seriously could have died on the train.

Mayor Luskey is most curious as to how and when the robots became so advanced that they could be operated without human drivers.

"Rescue Girl" admits to needing more training before she'd ever join the Team.

The Phase Bit, according to Doc, is commissioned by a drilling company who owns all the rights to it, and is not supposed to be discussed about.

Said drilling company is owned by... Madeline Pynch.


Maurice LaMarche voiced the Automated Conductor
Jason Marsden voiced Jimmy
D.C. Douglas voiced "Townsfolk #1"


Okay, this episode definitely scratched an itch for me by making it a train-centric episode crossed with a superhero episode, so I might be a little biased here, but I liked it. We got some more history of the island with the half-a-century-old train tunnel, and we got some more use of older concepts with Frankie's "Rescue Girl" get-up. The runaway train plot was cliche, but still fun, and the mystery surrounding Rescue Girl's identity was genuinely unexpected for me since her body build did not look like that of a child. I honestly thought she looked more like an adult or at least a teenager. And it looks like things are really gearing up for the season finale what with the foreshadowing to Madeline Pynch teaming up with Dr. Morocco. Let us see what these two masterminds come up with for our heroes next week.

Hasbro Studios has released a teaser for Transformers: Rescue Bots Season 3. Check out the cast in their Dino modes in the clip embedded below.

So are they now triple changers or just ones with three modes? And I am not trying to sound stupid.

Autobot tap out wrote:So are they now triple changers or just ones with three modes? And I am not trying to sound stupid.

Well, we see Boulder and Prime go from Dinos to their regular robot modes, vehicle kibble included, that kind of suggests that they´ll have 3 full modes, so they would be triple changers.

Janus Prime wrote:

Autobot tap out wrote:So are they now triple changers or just ones with three modes? And I am not trying to sound stupid.

Not at all man, we see Boulder and Prime go from Dinos to their regular robot modes, vehicle kibble included, that kind of suggests that they´ll have 3 modes.

What exactly is the difference between being a Triple Changer and having three modes? Aren't both essentially the same thing?

Sabrblade wrote:

Janus Prime wrote:

Autobot tap out wrote:So are they now triple changers or just ones with three modes? And I am not trying to sound stupid.

Not at all man, we see Boulder and Prime go from Dinos to their regular robot modes, vehicle kibble included, that kind of suggests that they´ll have 3 modes.

What exactly is the difference between being a Triple Changer and having three modes? Aren't both essentially the same thing?

Yeah, I edited my comment because I thought he was asking if they were triple changers or not. I think that 3 full altmodes makes them triple changers, made up altmodes (like Generations Straxus) don´t.

Sabrblade wrote:

Janus Prime wrote:

Autobot tap out wrote:So are they now triple changers or just ones with three modes? And I am not trying to sound stupid.

Not at all man, we see Boulder and Prime go from Dinos to their regular robot modes, vehicle kibble included, that kind of suggests that they´ll have 3 modes.

What exactly is the difference between being a Triple Changer and having three modes? Aren't both essentially the same thing?

I don't know anymore ! But both you(sabreblade ) and Janus might be right to an extent

Finally, Rescue Bot's gets awesome. I'm looking forward.

Superwheeljack wrote:Finally, Rescue Bot's gets awesome. I'm looking forward.

What do you mean "finally"? It's been awesome.

I give up on Rescue Bots.

PrymeStriker wrote:

I give up on Rescue Bots.

I sense a lack of clarity from this post.

Is this one part of the project of Beast Wars revival?

MagnusLabel wrote:Is this one part of the project of Beast Wars revival?

What? There is no "Beast Wars revival".

Sabrblade wrote:

MagnusLabel wrote:Is this one part of the project of Beast Wars revival?

What? There is no "Beast Wars revival".

So many beasts in these years:
TF IDW: includes BW characters directly, also released as toys
TFP: late addition of beasts in the production of Season 3, TFP comics of Dinobots (FOC)
AOE: Dinobots
FOC: Dinobots in games and comics
Japan TF Legend: BW characters' toys
Now we have beasts in RB. Hasbros announced that their will be a new toy line about beasts (not RB) on 2015 in a con around Q1 or Q2 this year, and BW becomes 20 on 2016.

MagnusLabel wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

MagnusLabel wrote:Is this one part of the project of Beast Wars revival?

What? There is no "Beast Wars revival".

So many beasts in these years:
TF IDW: includes BW characters directly, also released as toys
TFP: late addition of beasts in the production of Season 3, TFP comics of Dinobots (FOC)
AOE: Dinobots
FOC: Dinobots in games and comics
Japan TF Legend: BW characters' toys
Now we have beasts in RB. Hasbros announced that their will be a new toy line about beasts (not RB) on 2015 in a con around Q1 or Q2 this year, and BW becomes 20 on 2016.

2013 was themed around the Beast Hunters Predacons, and 2014 is themed around Dinobots and the 30th Anniversary. Simple as that.

The Generations toys of Rhinox, Rattrap, and Waspinator were part of the 30th Anniversary celebration. IDW put the BW dudes into their comic as part of the toys' promotion, and it was only a matter of time before Japan got Rattrap. Legends is also gonna have Tankor, Roadbuster, and Whirl in it as well.

Sabrblade wrote:

MagnusLabel wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

MagnusLabel wrote:Is this one part of the project of Beast Wars revival?

What? There is no "Beast Wars revival".

So many beasts in these years:
TF IDW: includes BW characters directly, also released as toys
TFP: late addition of beasts in the production of Season 3, TFP comics of Dinobots (FOC)
AOE: Dinobots
FOC: Dinobots in games and comics
Japan TF Legend: BW characters' toys
Now we have beasts in RB. Hasbros announced that their will be a new toy line about beasts (not RB) on 2015 in a con around Q1 or Q2 this year, and BW becomes 20 on 2016.

2013 was themed around the Beast Hunters Predacons, and 2014 is themed around Dinobots and the 30th Anniversary. Simple as that.

The Generations toys of Rhinox, Rattrap, and Waspinator were part of the 30th Anniversary celebration. IDW put the BW dudes into their comic as part of the toys' promotion, and it was only a matter of time before Japan got Rattrap. Legends is also gonna have Tankor, Roadbuster, and Whirl in it as well.

To me, the Predacons and Dinobots are a kind of warm-up for reminding people about BW (the Predacons, Dinobot and Grimlock(BW)). The BW toys in Generations line is a "more directly version" of that. The times of introductions of them also help me to believe that there will be an epic event of BW on 2016.

MagnusLabel wrote:The times of introductions of them also help me to believe that there will be an epic event of BW on 2016.

If they were building up to some big event, then why would they be dropping the beast theme in 2015 for the new Combiner Wars theme in Generations and the non-beast-based Robots in Disguise cartoon?

Sabrblade wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:

I give up on Rescue Bots.

I sense a lack of clarity from this post.

In other words, it's no use sitting around here and waiting for Rescue Bots to pull off something interesting in their storytelling for a change. They've been using boring writing techniques to convey the standard of a "good story" since episode one, and now they're going to make matters even worse by pulling off more stupid and overdone crap to sell toys. Ergo, I give up on Rescue Bots.

PrymeStriker wrote:and now they're going to make matters even worse by pulling off more stupid and overdone crap to sell toys.

1. How in the world are dinosaurs as a concept "stupid"?

2. Why in the world wouldn't they seize the opportunity to put the dino toys into the show? It'd be stupid for them not to.

Sabrblade wrote:

MagnusLabel wrote:The times of introductions of them also help me to believe that there will be an epic event of BW on 2016.

If they were building up to some big event, then why would they be dropping the beast theme in 2015 for the new Combiner Wars theme in Generations and the non-beast-based Robots in Disguise cartoon?

I'm not sure if they drop the beast theme completely. TFP and RB were also started non-beast-based but ended up adding beasts in the series. Predaking (the combiner) is also famous. Therefore there are still a lot of chances and ways to bring back the beasties on 2015, and we should better wait and see.

Sabrblade wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:and now they're going to make matters even worse by pulling off more stupid and overdone crap to sell toys.

1. How in the world are dinosaurs as a concept "stupid"?

Because they are a tasteless and overused way to attract attention or give an element of excitement to a story. This entire concept only exists because of the Age of Extinction film, and even in that the Dinobots were useless and forgettable.

2. Why in the world wouldn't they seize the opportunity to put the dino toys into the show? It'd be stupid for them not to.

You bet it's stupid for Hasbro not to sell their latest marketing gimmicks. Yet, I can guarantee you that they'll come up with some contrived explanation as to why the Rescue Bots need to obtain beast modes in the cartoon. Why worry about writing an interesting story when you can sell some bricks?

PrymeStriker wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:

I give up on Rescue Bots.

I sense a lack of clarity from this post.

In other words, it's no use sitting around here and waiting for Rescue Bots to pull off something interesting in their storytelling for a change. They've been using boring writing techniques to convey the standard of a "good story" since episode one, and now they're going to make matters even worse by pulling off more stupid and overdone crap to sell toys. Ergo, I give up on Rescue Bots.

I'll give you that it;s not hard to figure out "Gee, Rescue Bots is introducing a character for This reason." and figure out what's going on, but remember, the target audience for this show is not people who have watched cartoons for 30 years, its for those tiny little anklebiters WHO ONLY COME UP TO YOUR KNEE. And they love it. I've seen kids toting in Recue Bots figures at the restaurant I work in several times.

And granted, I'm really hioping there's a truly good reason as to why they all turn into Dinosaurs now. I am forseeing a time-travel disaster, but I hope it makes some kind of sense, because otherwise PS concerns will be confirmed: It's a gimick for a cartoon. But I have faith in the writers, and I like where they've gone so far.

Why did they skip a bunch of eps?

PrymeStriker wrote:Because they are a tasteless and overused way to attract attention or give an element of excitement to a story. This entire concept only exists because of the Age of Extinction film, and even in that the Dinobots were useless and forgettable.

A similar argument could be made for every instance of dinosaur altmode TFs ever, since dinosaurs as a concept of coolness and fun has been in effect since long before the days of this brand's beginning.

PrymeStriker wrote:You bet it's stupid for Hasbro not to sell their latest marketing gimmicks. Yet, I can guarantee you that they'll come up with some contrived explanation as to why the Rescue Bots need to obtain beast modes in the cartoon. Why worry about writing an interesting story when you can sell some bricks?

Would it really be any more contrived than any other in-story reason for characters to have taken new forms or gotten new bodies? I mean, look at TF: Prime, for instance. Why in the world did Optimus need to be given a new body by the Forge? Would it not have been simpler for it to just fix his current body during his revitalization? Or, did Unicron really need to give Megatron a makeover in "Predacons Rising" when he could have just fixed Megatron's body and use it as it already was? Both cases went above and beyond what was necessary, and in the former's case, it was to sell a new toy.

Same goes for when new concepts are introduced. You can't tell me that the way they introduced Predaking and the whole Predacon species wasn't overwrought and contrived, requiring a rewrite to a whole chapter of history just to work them into the backstory and present day events. All for the sake of selling new toys.

Virtually every new idea that goes into a series a good deal after its initial development is going to have to be worked into the established events in some fashion, and that's all part of the developmental process. New ideas come along to add to what has come before all the time, even if it's because of new toys to be sold. This is nothing new.

And in this case of the dino forms, they already foreshadowed to it with the subterranean dinosaur lair that was discovered back in the two-parter with Mark Hamill. That was an obvious planting of the seeds to be grown into something much bigger for the third season, what with the Pterodactyl from that lair seemingly making a return in the third season's premiere episode (not saying that is the same Pterodactyl, just that it's very likely to be the same one at this point).

Sabrblade wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:You bet it's stupid for Hasbro not to sell their latest marketing gimmicks. Yet, I can guarantee you that they'll come up with some contrived explanation as to why the Rescue Bots need to obtain beast modes in the cartoon. Why worry about writing an interesting story when you can sell some bricks?

Would it really be any more contrived than any other in-story reason for characters to have taken new forms or gotten new bodies? I mean, look at TF: Prime, for instance. Why in the world did Optimus need to be given a new body by the Forge? Would it not have been simpler for it to just fix his current body during his revitalization?

So that he'd have to break into Darkmount and risk getting caught as opposed to being able to fly to the top and use his new abilities to surprise and outmatch the Decepticons?

Or, did Unicron really need to give Megatron a makeover in "Predacons Rising" when he could have just fixed Megatron's body and use it as it already was?

Yes, it was necessary. He needed to upgrade Megatron's simplistic body so that it was a more powerful vessel to carry out his schemes. I'm also sure it had something to do with travelling faster through space.

Both cases went above and beyond what was necessary, and in the former's case, it was to sell a new toy.

The Beast Hunters model changes aren't really that unnecessary or unrealistic. Circumstances from the plotline being followed at the time have been put forward as obstacles that the upgrades could overcome. There weren't any kind of overly-convenient roadblocks that were shoved into the story for the new models, even though they were last-minute additions.

It's not a prejudice against Rescue Bots, but usually these kinds of marketing schemes translated into fiction result in a strained story. For example, Hasbro wanted to sell Princess Twilight Sparkle dolls for the MLP: FiM toyline. So they shoved it into the season three finale, and while I did enjoy the advancement of the character, I cannot deny that there was something far too convenient and forced about the whole idea.

Same goes for when new concepts are introduced. You can't tell me that the way they introduced Predaking and the whole Predacon species wasn't overwrought and contrived, requiring a rewrite to a whole chapter of history just to work them into the backstory and present day events. All for the sake of selling new toys.

While it was great seeing Shockwave return and watching Predaking develop, Shockwave surviving the space bridge explosion form "Out of the Past" was indeed a contrived way to work the Predacons into the show.

New ideas come along to add to what has come before all the time, even if it's because of new toys to be sold. This is nothing new.

And in the case of Dinosaurs, this is really nothing new. Dino Transformers are becoming a worn out concept right now, and it's ridiculously annoying to see that Rescue Bots is following suit. Especially considering that I've been waiting for something interesting to happen with the series.

PrymeStriker wrote:So that he'd have to break into Darkmount and risk getting caught as opposed to being able to fly to the top and use his new abilities to surprise and outmatch the Decepticons?

I meant for the character himself, rather than for the events he'd wake up to take part in.

PrymeStriker wrote:Yes, it was necessary. He needed to upgrade Megatron's simplistic body so that it was a more powerful vessel to carry out his schemes.

Couldn't Unicron's power alone have been enough to augment Megatron's body to suit Unicron's purposes sufficiently enough without the addition of the cosmetic alterations he gave to it? After all, the most changes he made to the body that fulfilled any real sort of function to Unicron were the energy-based weaponry that he generated from Megatron's hands, which weren't components of the host body but rather products of Unicron's own emanation.

PrymeStriker wrote:I'm also sure it had something to do with travelling faster through space.

Megs was travelling through space in his pre-Unicron body seemingly under his own power looking for Dark Energon at the beginning of the series.

PrymeStriker wrote:The Beast Hunters model changes aren't really that unnecessary or unrealistic.

"Unrealistic" or not really wasn't a factor I was trying to bring into this.

PrymeStriker wrote:Circumstances from the plotline being followed at the time have been put forward as obstacles that the upgrades could overcome. There weren't any kind of overly-convenient roadblocks that were shoved into the story for the new models, even though they were last-minute additions.

Right, the changes occurred because the story's events demanded it, regardless of any logic or necessity for it to happen to these characters as persons rather than as instruments of the plot. Who's to say that won't also happen here for these dinosaur upgrades?

PrymeStriker wrote:It's not a prejudice against Rescue Bots, but usually these kinds of marketing schemes translated into fiction result in a strained story. For example, Hasbro wanted to sell Princess Twilight Sparkle dolls for the MLP: FiM toyline. So they shoved it into the season three finale, and while I did enjoy the advancement of the character, I cannot deny that there was something far too convenient and forced about the whole idea.

I agree that that felt forced in at first, but the fact that season 4 was able to build upon the concept and put it to good use through exploration and fleshing it out further (and being a vital component to the epic of all epics season 4 finale) shows that it did not go to waste and led to execution that range from adequate to excellent.

So again, who's to say that they won't make good, wise use of these new dino forms to enhance the story and characters?

PrymeStriker wrote:And in the case of Dinosaurs, this is really nothing new. Dino Transformers are becoming a worn out concept right now, and it's ridiculously annoying to see that Rescue Bots is following suit. Especially considering that I've been waiting for something interesting to happen with the series.

Well, the way I see it, it's Hasbro trying to be consistent across their various 2014 lines like they were in 2013. 2014's theme is Dinosaurs, so they put them in AOE, Construct-Bots, Kre-O, and now Rescue Bots. In 2013, the theme was Predacons/Beast Hunters, which they integrated into Prime, Construct-Bots, and Kre-O.

Though there were still Dinobots in other pre-2014 media, their heavy focus seemed to be a product of the fandom's longtime starvation for all five of the original Dinobots to return in some fashion, which began with FOC bringing them back fully into the fold, but in media appearances only since we only got Grimlock as a toy. People have been begging for new toys of all five for years, and now 2014 finally gives us some and then some, making this a really big deal for many.

Yes, the Dinobots are a big thing now, maybe even too big, but we just have to grin and bear it as the celebration of the Terrible Lizards plays out for the rest of the year, until we switch over to a new theme of Combiners for 2015 (along with one lingering Dinobot in the new RiD cartoon, but it's just one--and he'll be green!--so that should be enough to bear).