Desperate

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« Transformers: Armada ep 29 »
"Desperate" 共鳴 (うたごえ) (Utagoe) "Resonance: Singing Voice"
Production code	TF: A-29
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS
Airdate	March 15, 2003 (English) 25 July 2003 (Japanese)
Writer	Akira Okeya
Director	Yukio Okazaki
Animation studio	Actas Inc.
Continuity	Unicron Trilogy

With the Autobots losing badly, the kids search for the Mini-Cons needed for the Requiem Blaster.

Synopsis

As Tidal Wave towers over Optimus Prime on the beach, the other Autobots fire on the Decepticon, giving their leader time to escape but causing the giant Decepticon to turn his weapons on them.

In the caves around the Autobot base, the newly discovered Mini-Con Sky Blast takes a shot at the kids. High Wire attempts tackling the rogue Mini-Con, who hides behind Rad, making him realize that Sky Blast is merely frightened and tries to calm him. The three Street Action Mini-Cons combine into Perceptor, but Rad stops Perceptor's incoming attack and proves Sky Blast's fear to the others.

Tidal Wave destroys Optimus's cover on the beach, and the Autobots again combine their firepower to distract the giant. He walks towards them, shrugging off the weapons fire and laughing. Although Optimus calls for a retreat, Hot Shot calls for the Skyboom Shield and uses it to block Tidal Wave's punch. Blurr tries to come to Hot Shot's aid but is slapped away by the Decepticon. Optimus kicks Tidal Wave in the head, finally felling the titan, and Megatron orders Demolishor and a group of Mini-Cons into the battle. The Autobots begin to fall back, and Optimus takes to the air once more with Tidal Wave in pursuit and runs straight into Thrust.

Alexis worries about the Autobots, but she and Red Alert are relieved when the other kids turn up with Sky Blast. Though the boys joke around, she tells them the Autobots are in trouble, and they need to send Sky Blast to the battlefield quickly.

As the Decepticons bombard Optimus with gunfire, Thrust informs his leader that they've reserved the final blow for him. Tidal Wave swoops down, breaking into several pieces that Powerlinx with Megatron, granting him a more powerful form. The Autobots fire on the Decepticon leader as he lifts off, and Megatron and Optimus trade laser fire.

Alarmed, Red Alert starts towards the launch room, but Alexis stops him, reminding him that the only way to help Optimus is to assemble the Requiem Blaster. Sky Blast is too afraid to help until Rad promises that he and Red Alert will be there to protect him. The trio, along with Carlos, warps to the beach and begins looking for the second Space Mini-Con while Alexis alerts the other Autobots. Hot Shot is dispatched from the battle to help, but Cyclonus pursues him. Meanwhile, Thrust spots Red Alert, but Blurr intercepts him. Red Alert lends Blurr a hand, and Rad takes a moment to reassure Sky Blast.

In the sky above, Megatron announces it's time to finish it and wields the Star Saber. At Alexis's instruction, Smokescreen fires the Skyboom Shield into the air, where Optimus can catch it.

Sky Blast is still frightened by the raging battle, which Rad explains is because the Mini-Cons were made to be laborers, not fighters. Red Alert shields the trio from an incoming laser and gets knocked to the ground. Hot Shot arrives in time to save them from a second shell. The Autobot stresses the importance of finding the other two Mini-Cons, but Rad asks what they'll do if the other Mini-Cons don't want to fight either. Sky Blast walks away and then begins playing a musical sequence so loud that the Autobots and Decepticons stop battling in surprise. High above, the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield resonate, drawing together and releasing two beams of energy. As the power fades, Megatron knocks the shield from Optimus's hands and closes in for the kill.

A wall of surf reveals a new Mini-Con, Payload, and Blurr has to restrain Thrust from grabbing it. Megatron slices Optimus in half, separating the Autobot leader from Jetfire, who transforms and immediately comes under fire from Megatron. Optimus himself plummets towards the ground. Sky Blast runs forward, playing his musical sequence once again, and on the Moon, Astroscope awakens. The three Space Mini-Cons combine into the Requiem Blaster, and both Optimus and Thrust reach for it. While they struggle, the weapon goes off, almost hitting Megatron. Finally, Optimus takes control of the blaster and kicks Thrust away. Aiming the blaster downwards, Optimus uses it as a retro-rocket to slow his descent, landing safely. Rad realizes that the Mini-Cons weren't afraid of fighting, just of the power they possess falling into the wrong hands.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Oh boy, here we go again."

—Thrust, spotting an incoming Optimus

"Ha ha ha! The power is mine!"

—Megatron has a Captain Planet moment.

"Shoulda stayed in bed."

—Hot Shot after being attacked by Starscream

"Fee fi fo fum, I smell wimpy Autobot scum!"

—Cyclonus, massacring the classics again

"I ran into some trouble with Cyclonus back there. Boy, that is one disturbed Decepticon."

—Hot Shot speaks the truth.

Notes

Differences with Legends of the Microns

• Alexis delivers the opening narration, recounting Sideways' warning about the Requiem Blaster and asking what will happen if they let its Mini-Cons reawaken. Jim Conrad gives it in Armada instead, saying the Requiem Blaster could turn the tide in the war.
• Armada adds Rad saying that Sky Blast isn't responding; he only asks "What's wrong?" in Legends of the Microns. Then Armada has Jim Conrad continue narrating, asking if the Autobots can locate the other two Requiem Blaster Mini-Cons before the Decepticons after finding one. In Legends of the Microns, Alexis closes out her narration by saying they are still unsure of what will happen.
• Instead of saying Sky Blast is creeping him out, Carlos says, "Somehow... something isn't quite right here." After Sky Blast shoots at them, Carlos says, "Look out!"
• Carlos tells Rad to run after Sky Blast goes behind him. Rad's brief internal line about Sky Blast being scared is now during Rad's close-up in the Japanese dub.
• In the Japanese dub, Carlos and Billy tell Rad to watch out, and that Sky Blast will shoot him, respectively. Armada downplays the potential danger by having Carlos ask Rad if he's crazy and Billy telling him to run.
• After Rad assures Sky Blast that they're not enemies, Armada adds a random buzzing sound to the shot of Sky Blast.
• In Armada, Carlos says Sky Blast is as scared as the kids. He puzzledly asks if the Mini-Con is scared of them in the Japanese dub.
• In Armada, Thrust says everything is going according to plan before Megatron brags that the Decepticons should prepare for their victory party. In Legends of the Microns, Thrust finds the Autobots struggling amusing, but his line abruptly ends as he seems to become doubtful. Then Megatron says, "Even if you can block him, the elephant will always be able to squash an ant."
• In Armada, when Jet Optimus appears and saves Hot Shot, he has a line before kicking Tidal Wave in the face, and the Transformers theme song plays. In Legends of the Microns, the music doesn't change and, instead of speaking before kicking Tidal Wave, Optimus tells Hot Shot to dodge him as he falls over.
• Megatron is fed up after Tidal Wave topples over in Armada, but he merely warns the Autobots not to underestimate the Decepticons in the Japanese dub.
• Instead of ordering the Autobots to retreat and return fire, Optimus tells them to try their offensive formation again, after which he'll attack from above.
• In Armada, Alexis moans about feeling helpless before Red Alert says finding the Requiem Blaster first is their only hope, which Alexis agrees with as long as the weapon exists. In Legends of the Microns, Alexis is annoyed about the Autobots repeating their hit and run tactics, and the dub reverses her and Red Alert's lines about the Requiem Blaster. Then Carlos addresses Sky Blast to follow instead of calling Alexis.
• Rad doesn't tell Alexis about finding Sky Blast until a second after the scene cuts to him and the others rather than immediately. Then Alexis says Rad's name frantically, and after speaking to him, she talks to Sky Blast; she asks if he knows where his comrades are and tells him they might show themselves if he calls out to them. Armada has a second of awkward silence after Alexis finishes talking. Then Rad asks if it's that simple, and Alexis says it's their best hope. In Armada, Rad asks if anyone found the other two Mini-Cons, and Alexis says not yet.
• In Armada, Carlos jokes about the guys protecting Alexis, and she says it's not the time for jokes. In the Japanese dub, he says catching Sky Blast took a lot of effort, and Alexis says they can discuss that another time.
• Optimus asks if Megatron's forces are still coming, and he doesn't speak until just before the scene cuts. Then Thrust boasts that Optimus is "trapped like a rat," so the battle will soon be over. Armada extends Prime's line to remove the Japanese dub's silence.
• Megatron questions what's going on after Powerlinxing with Tidal Wave and expresses delight upon learning he can now fly. He generically revels in his power boost and declares it's time to finish things in Armada (his "Captain Planet" moment).
• Megatron is silent as he flies toward Optimus, and so is Prime as the Air Military Team attacks him. Unlike Armada, Optimus is shocked by Megatron's appearance in the clouds. Then Megatron dares Optimus to come at him, and Prime doesn't answer back before shooting him.
• After stopping Red Alert, Alexis says they need a new kind of power for this situation. Unlike Armada, where she sounds composed, Alexis desperately begs Sky Blast to help them, rightly stressing the dilemma's direness.
• Alexis doesn't speak until after the shot of Red Alert leaving and says he is going, so they should hurry. Later, before leaving the base with Sky Blast, Red Alert, and Rad, Carlos tells Sky Blast not to worry since he's going with them too. The Transformers theme plays again when they warp to the battlefield in Armada; the music doesn't change in Legends of the Microns.
• In Armada, Red Alert tells Rad and Carlos to check the monitor for the other Mini-Cons' signal. In Legends of the Microns, he asks Sky Blast where his comrades are, and Rad asks Sky Blast if he wants to find them.
• When Alexis informs the Autobots about Red Alert bringing Sky Blast, she asks if anyone can hear her, and Hot Shot says he's busy. In Armada, Hot Shot grumbles about Red Alert's "great timing." The English dub adds Hot Shot's line about staying in bed as the scene is silent in the Japanese dub.
• Cyclonus calls Hot Shot a "stray sheep" when following him from above.
• Blurr is silent when he appears to block Thrust before challenging him.
• The Transformers theme returns after the mid-episode commercial bumper in Armada. In Legends of the Microns, Sky Blast talks after Rad assures him they will be fine as the Autobots protect them. The Mini-Con is silent after Rad speaks in Armada. Then Megatron threatens to slice Optimus in half, and Armada adds his maniacal laughter to the wide shot of him and Optimus since the Japanese version is silent. Alexis doesn't tell Smokescreen to pass the Skyboom Shield to Optimus until Smokescreen appears onscreen.
• Armada has Megatron quip about the Skyboom Shield needing batteries and demanding Sky Blast. In Legends of the Microns, he asks if the firepower is too much for the shield and mocks Prime's refusal to attack the Air Military Team.
• In Legends of the Microns, Carlos asks Sky Blast if he still hasn't detected his two comrades; Carlos tries appealing to him by saying they're fighting to win his freedom, and that's why the Autobots fight so desperately. Armada changes Carlos's dialogue to him complaining to Rad that the Autobots will get wiped out if they keep standing around doing nothing and don't act fast. After the explosion goes off near them, Carlos says, "That's it." in Armada but shouts, "Come on!" in the Japanese dub, and he sounds more frustrated. Carlos thinks Rad's belief that the Mini-Cons hate fighting is nonsense in Armada but asks Rad what he's saying in Legends of the Microns.
• The following discussion between Rad and Carlos differs between the dubs:
  • In Armada, Rad says the Mini-Cons were laborers that the Decepticons forced to fight, which is why the Autobots sent them off into space. He says they can only win the war with the Mini-Cons' help, which Carlos says is his point. Then Rad says Carlos shouldn't rush into things, and all they can do is wait until the Mini-Cons are ready.
  • In Legends of the Microns, Rad says the Mini-Cons fled Cybertron out of fear of the war. The flashback to the Mini-Con ship leaving Cybertron and the following shot of Sky Blast are silent. Then Rad says they can't force reluctant Mini-Cons back onto the battlefield. Carlos brings up Optimus and the others, so Rad tells him the Autobots don't want to force anyone to fight. They tried by bringing Sky Blast, but if the Mini-Cons truly hate fighting, nothing will happen to Optimus.
• Then Red Alert says they're under attack in Armada. He says the laser is a stray blast in the Japanese dub. After Red gets hit, Rad states the obvious in Armada but shouts Red Alert's name in Legends of the Microns.
• In Armada, Hot Shot calls Cyclonus disturbed before noticing Sky Blast. Rad says Sky Blast is still scared to fight. Hot Shot tells him Optimus can't last long, so they need to find the other two Mini-Cons fast. Then Rad asks what they will do if the other Mini-Cons don't want to fight either. In Legends of the Microns, Hot Shot tells Rad and Carlos not to worry as he'll keep the stray shots away from them. Rad implores Hot Shot not to risk himself for them before the latter tells Rad and Carlos to hurry and do whatever they're planning. Optimus is taking a beating, and the Autobots need Sky Blast's power, but Rad shouts that Hot Shot can't use the Mini-Con.
• Rad only refers to Sky Blast instead of immediately guessing that he's calling the other Mini-Cons. Later, when the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield come together, Optimus again asks what's happening.
• While looking at Sky Blast, Rad passively agrees with Carlos about the remarkable sight in Armada, but wonders if it's alright in Legends of the Microns.
• As he attacks Jetfire, Megatron says it was foolish of him and Optimus to split up to avoid the Star Saber and that he won't let Jetfire save Prime; he will reduce Jetfire to scrap while the latter falls to the bottom of the sea.
• Armada plays the Transformers theme again when Astroscope appears.
• Everyone's shocked reactions are silent in the Japanese dub, while Armada has them audibly gasping in awe. The viewer only hears the ocean water in the background in Legends of the Microns.
• In Legends of the Microns, Alexis gives an ominous ending narration as she says the Mini-Cons were scared of their terrifying power rather than being too scared to fight. In Armada, Rad gives a lengthened and somewhat upbeat version that doesn't suit the ending's tone. He says the Mini-Cons were more afraid of their power and others using that strength for evil than participating in battle as he thought, repeatedly saying that he was glad to be proven wrong.

Animation and technical errors

• Scavenger's body is miscolored dark like his chest in the opening scene after Tidal Wave fires at the Autobots.
• When Sky Blast shoots at the boys and other Mini-Cons the second time, his laser changes from seafoam green to lime green between shots.
• Rad calls Perceptor "Leader-1". This mistake never happens in the Japanese dub.
• After Rad stops Perceptor, Billy says, "Holy cow!" but his mouth doesn't move. He is silent in Legends of the Microns.
• Rad's chuckling after the others realize Sky Blast's fear of them is unusually deep, more like an adult's. This error doesn't happen in Legends of the Microns.
• Tidal Wave's size seems to vary between shots.
• During the scene where Jet Optimus meets Thrust face to face above the clouds, there are nine Mini-Cons present. It's clear that three of them are the Air Military Mini-Con Team and another three are the Air Defense Mini-Con Team, but who are the other three? C'mon, Ask Vector Prime and Transformers Collectors' Club, you had the perfect chance to retcon in some more Mini-Cons!
• The Skyboom Shield's glow effect is colored light green in some scenes rather than yellow.
• As Rad tells Alexis that Sky Blast is scared, Rad is suddenly wearing his jumpsuit.
• Smokescreen is missing his antenna/horn after he fires the Requiem Blaster for the second time. Maybe that strange edge on the side of his head is his antenna/horn, but if so, it's on the wrong side.
• Despite not being in Full Blast Mode before combining with Tidal Wave, Megatron is already configured into it when the combination starts (as that is how the stock footage is animated.) Moreover, Leader 1 appears on Megatron's turret and remains there, even after the stock footage, though he's on the beach firing at the Autobots with Blackout.
  • Some scenes fix this inconsistency by not having Leader-1 present in the combined form.
• After Carlos shushes himself, the scene of him, Rad, and Sky Blast in Red Alert's cab has two sudden jump cuts like a second of animation is missing both times.
• When Megatron starts flying after combining with Tidal Wave, his mouth is open, but he's silent. In Legends of the Microns, Megatron starts laughing as he revels in his new ability to fly.
• When Rad tells Sky Blast there's no need to worry after Blurr and Red Alert fend off Thrust, Rad's mouth still moves after saying his line. In Legends of the Microns, Rad briefly pauses as he speaks, so this error doesn't happen.
• Megatron doesn't have a mouth when asking if Optimus forgot to put batteries in the Skyboom Shield.
• Optimus holds the Skyboom Shield upside down before it clashes with the Star Saber. The Japanese dub corrects this mistake.
• When the sword and shield come together in the Japanese dub, Megatron says, "What?" but his mouth doesn't move. Armada has Megatron grunt instead.
• In Armada, everyone keeps stating that "the Mini-Cons are alive" whenever they do something. What? In the Japanese dub, Alexis says, "The Mini-Cons' cries!" while Carlos later says, "Incredible!" instead.
• Sometimes the Autobots fire purple lasers.

Continuity notes

• The last time any of the kids joined the Autobots on the battlefield was in "Gale."
• A brief flashback to the Mini-Cons' ship during the Cybertronian war from "Prehistory" reappears in this episode.
• Optimus says, "Incredible!" when the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield clash and release the energy surge. He previously did this when it happened the first time near the end of "Decisive Battle." In Legends of the Microns, he asks what is happening, just as he did in that episode.
• Gadgets and powers:
  • Leader-1, Inferno, Blackout, and Crumplezone all fire lasers in their vehicle modes.
  • Tidal Wave and Megatron Powerlinx for the first time.
  • Megatron's Powerlinxed form allows him to fly. He also fires lasers from the Tidal Wave component on his right arm.
  • Shortly after Red Alert's arrival, Starscream attacks Hot Shot in a half-transformed configuration, with this legs still back and nosecone up. Whether intentional or not, the toy can easily reproduce it.
  • Jet Optimus Powerlinx with the Skyboom Shield.
  • Sky Blast sings the Mini-Con tune, causing the Skyboom Shield and Star Saber to combine their powers to activate Astroscope and Payload.
  • Optimus Prime Powerlinx with the Requiem Blaster for the first time.

Continuity errors

• Why does Rad chuckle after Fred's line about Sky Blast defending himself by scaring them? In Legends of the Microns, Fred says Sky Blast is cute despite his big size.
• After Optimus's failed attack against the Powerlinxed Megatron, Alexis says Optimus is hurt, except Megatron hasn't attacked him yet. In Legends of the Microns, Alexis rightly says Prime is in danger.
• Thrust somehow knows about the warning Sideways gave about the Requiem Blaster, even though Sideways sent it specifically to the Autobot base. It's not an error in Legends of the Microns since Thrust probably remembers how Sideways cryptically let on about the weapon to the Decepticons near the end of "Detection."
• Optimus explained in "Prehistory" that the Mini-Cons decided to leave Cybertron; therefore, Rad telling Carlos the Autobots sent the Mini-Cons off contradicts Prime's account. The Japanese version correctly has Rad say the Mini-Cons fled Cybertron.
• How does Red Alert know to tell Rad and Carlos to take cover before the laser blast appears? He doesn't do so until after seeing the blast in the Japanese dub.
• Megatron already knows the Mini-Cons can communicate with each other, so why does it surprise him here? In Legends of the Microns, instead of being surprised, he believes the Mini-Cons' cry was a sign of Optimus's impending doom, so he should be the one to end Prime's life.
• For some reason, Alexis gives the opening and ending monologues in the Japanese dub. Though Armada has Jim Conrad and Rad take turns, it would've made sense for Rad to be the narrator both times since he's the one who spends the episode advocating the point of not forcing Mini-Cons to fight when they don't want to until learning otherwise at the end.

Real-world references

• Cyclonus's "Fee-fi-fo-fum" line refers to the giant from "Jack and the Beanstalk".

Trivia

• The kanji 共鳴 would be pronounced as kyōmei, while utagoe is used for 歌声.
• This episode is one of the few where Jim Conrad gives the opening narration, like "Decisive Battle."

Foreign localization

German

• Title: "Aller guten Dinge sind Drei" ("All good things come in threes")
• Original airdate: This episode was never shown on TV but was dubbed in 2003. The dub premiered in 2009 with the German DVD release of the show.

Hungarian

• Title: "Közel a vég" ("The End is Near")

Italian

• Title: "Resistenza estrema" ("Extreme Resistance")

• After Carlos says: "Aw, dude! This is totally awesome!" Rad says "Yeah!" immediately. In fact, when he's actully supposed to say it, he moves his mouth without talking.
• Alexis's line: "Oh, Optimus!" is heard too late, after she started moving her mouth.

Korean

• Title: "아스트로빔의 탄생" ("Astrobeam's Birth")

Polish

• Title: "Desperacja" ("Desperation")

Portuguese

• Title: "Desesperado" ("Desperate")

Home video releases

DVD

2003 — Transformers: Legends of the Microns — Volume 8 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:10 (Warner Music Video)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Power of the Mini-Cons (Rhino Entertainment)
2006 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two (Rhino Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers: Armada — Volume Two (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)