A severely damaged stasis pod is found and both sides are uncertain how to deal with the protoform inside.
Tropes:
- Actor Allusion: After Transmutate emerges from the stasis pod in explosive fashion, Rattrap asks, "What in the name of my Great Aunt Arcee is goin' on here?!" Susan Blu voiced Arcee on the original cartoon and voices Transmutate here.
- Admiring the Abomination: Upon seeing Transmutate emerge, Rampage approvingly proclaims "magnificent."
- Ambiguous Gender: Transmutate's gender is ambiguous but while the script doesn't commit, it does mention that Transmutate's face is at least vaguely female.
- Bad Boss: This is among Megatron's worst moments. When Rampage argues against killing Transmutate, Megatron tortures him for his disobedience.
- Berserk Button: Transmutate identifies both Silverbolt and Rampage as friends, so trying to harm either of them earns a very angry response. Inferno gets sent flying, as a result, and Optimus is only spared this by Silverbolt's intervention.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Transmutate unleashes a devastating sonic scream when angered.
- Big Damn Heroes: After Transmutate gets rid of Inferno, Optimus arrives before Rampage can finish off Silverbolt.
- Big "NO!":
- Rampage after Optimus leaves with Transmutate.
- Transmutate when getting in-between the weapons fire. This in turn leads to one from Silverbolt.
- Big "WHAT?!": Inferno's reaction to Rampage saying they're going to let the Maximals find them.
- Creator Cameo: Voice director Susan Blu voices Transmutate.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Rampage demolishes Silverbolt at the end of the episode and likely would have killed him if not for Transmutate's interference.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Rhinox suggests putting Transmutate in "stasis lock." Silverbolt objects, saying that destroying anyone who doesn't fit a narrow idea of perfection makes them no better than Predacons. This mirrors real-life controversies around euthanasia, eugenics, and ableism.
- The Dog Bites Back: Inferno beating Transmutate causes her to blast him.
- Downer Ending: Easily the biggest one in the series. Transmutate dies trying to stop the fighting, leaving Silverbolt and Rampage to mourn.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Rampage, of all people, feels a kindred spirit with the malformed and stunted Transmutate.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Transmutate, having befriended both Rampage and Silverbolt, ends up throwing herself in the middle of their crossfire in an attempt to prevent them from killing each other. She dies from it, but the two of them decide to stop their fight for now out of respect for her.
- I Am a Humanitarian: "Have I told you how much I like ants, huh? Especially fried in a subtle blend of mech-fluid and grated gears?"
- Insult Backfire: When Rampage claims to Inferno he was just talking Transmutate about the group.Rampage: I was explaining what it means to be a Predacon: deceit, treachery, mindless loyalty.
Inferno: Loyalty comes first! - "It" Is Dehumanizing: Averted. All the characters refer to Transmutate as "it", including Rampage and Silverbolt, the two who respect it the most.
- Kick the Dog: A rather dark example; upon learning Transmutate is unable to transform, Megatron immediately declares her useless, orders Inferno to destroy her, and proceeds to torture Rampage when he tries to oppose. The scene is presented as dead serious and cold, in contrast with Megatron's usual Faux Affably Evil attitude.
- Lampshade Hanging: Rattrap commenting on how weirder and weirder beings keep coming out of the stasis pods.
- Mexican Standoff: Inferno and Rampage over bringing Transmutate back to base. It proves brief, though, as Megatron calls in and orders them to stand down.
- Morality Pet: Transmutate becomes the only character in the entire franchise to recieve genuine kindness from Rampage.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Transmutate appears to have this reaction after Silverbolt is ambushed, looking at him all apprehensively.
- Nerves of Steel: As insane as Inferno is, when Rampage threatens to actually eat him, he simply pulls out his gun and stands his ground.
- No-Sell: Rampage is barely affected by Transmutate's sonic screams, which damages and knocks back everyone else subjected to them.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Silverbolt calls out the Maximals for saying Transmutate is too dangerous and proposing putting her in stasis lock, accusing them of behaving exactly like the Predacons.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- How disturbed is Inferno over what's happening with Transmutate's stasis pod? He refers to Megatron by name.
- The normally idealistic and upbeat Silverbolt is livid at his fellow Maximals for suggesting they put Transmutate into stasis lock, denouncing them as little better than the Predacons.
- All of Rampage's interactions with Transmutate fall under this, as the normally violent and sadistic Predacon shows a surprisingly gentle side when it comes to the being he considers a kindred spirit.
- Pet the Dog: Rampage is nothing but kind to Transmutate the entire episode. Even when tortured by Megatron, he doesn't give up trying to keep her alive. Even being hurt by her screams doesn't discourage him.
- Properly Paranoid: Inferno knows full well that Rampage is plotting behind Megatron's back and says he won't stand for it.
- Say My Name: In contrast to Silverbolt's Big "NO!" when Transmutate throws itself between his and Rampage's attacks, Rampage cries out its name before the resulting explosion consumes and destroys it.
- A Shared Suffering: This is why Rampage feels such a strong connection to Transmutate. After Transmutate's destruction, Silverbolt softly tells Optimus and Cheetor to leave Rampage alone, stating that, at least for now, he and Rampage are "brothers" as they each mourn the loss of Transmutate.
- Skyward Scream: Rampage after Transmutate dies.
- Super-Scream: Transmutate has a very powerful sonic scream.
- Tempting Fate: After Inferno is dispatched, Rampage intends to finish off Silverbolt.Rampage: Allow me.
Optimus: [arriving] No! Allow me! [WHAM!] - Very Special Episode: The episode is essentially about living with the handicapped, particularly the mentally handicapped.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Transmutate dies in its debut episode.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Silverbolt harshly rips into the rest of the Maximals for suggesting that they put Transmutate into stasis lock.Silverbolt: Are we Predacons now?! Do we destroy whatever does not fit our definition of perfection?!(Later, when Transmutate is detected leaving the Maximal base)Rattrap: Whoo-oh! Looks like the nutty erector set took a walk!Silverbolt: (to Rattrap) Fool! (to the other Maximals) You're ALL fools! (storms off)
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Rampage's plan to capture a Maximal is to have Transmutate collapsed out in the open, correctly anticipating that one (in this case Silverbolt) will move in to attend to any possible injuries. The second Silverbolt lands, he gets bombarded with blasts from Inferno and Rampage.
