Recap / Transformers: Animated, S2E1: The Elite Guard

The Cybertron Elite Guard arrives on Earth to retrieve the Allspark and relieve Prime and his crew of their post, but they prove less than adept at blending in with the human world.

Tropes:

• Alien Arts Are Appreciated: Jazz is the only Elite Guard member willing to learn about and enjoy parts of Earth, with Sentinel disliking organic life in general and Ultra Magnus simply being too focused on the mission.
• Bittersweet Ending: The ending has an exceptional dose of both "bitter" and "sweet". On the sweet side, Optimus has proven himself to Ultra Magnus that he's worthy of remaining on Earth with his team. On the bitter side, Powell has taken over Sumdac Industries and kicked out Sari from her only home, all the while revealing there's no record of her.
• Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Megatron pointedly reminds Sumdac that his technological skill is the only thing keeping him alive.
• Continuity Nod: Lugnut’s arm keeps falling off, likely as a result of how Bulkhead defeated him by prematurely activating his explosive punch in the previous episode.
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Megatron notes how the Autobots have not attempted to rescue Sumdac. Megatron thinks it's out of pettiness for Sumdac's role in his return, but it's really because the Autobots don't even know what exactly happened to him or if he's even still alive.
• Foreshadowing: While getting spray-cleaned in the hull of the Steelhaven, Bumblebee is relieved that Sentinel doesn't seem to remember him and Bulkhead. It's not until "Autoboot Camp" that we find out that particular bit of history.
• He Will Come for Me: Sumdac balks at Megatron's initial demand on the grounds that the Autobots will eventually rescue him. Megatron is unfazed, pointing out he's been a Decepticon prisoner for some time now and no rescue has even been attempted yet.
• Hero with Bad Publicity: The Autobots' public standing has taken a hit since the destructive fight with the Decepticons. Optimus says they just have to keep doing good deeds to remind the civilians that they can be trusted.
• Humiliation Conga: Sentinel suffers crashing through roadworks and getting thrown about by Grimlock. And at the end of the episode, Ultra Magnus says that he could learn a thing or two from Optimus.
• Irony: In the previous season, Megatron was essentially a prisoner (even though Sumdac treated him with respect) kept in Sumdac's lab, and was kept a secret from everyone. Now, Sumdac is Megatron's prisoner (working for him to simply stay alive) and is being held captive in the Decepticons' lair, with both the Autobots and his daughter having no idea if he's even alive. Megatron likely sees this, and is using it to get revenge on Sumdac for basically keeping him prisoner for decades.
• Is It Always Like This?: While getting shot at by the police drones:
  Jazz: Is it always like this on this crazy planet?
  Prowl: Pretty much.
• Kidnapped Scientist: Sumdac is now a prisoner of the Decepticons, and will remain so for the rest of the season.
• Loophole Abuse: How Bumblebee convinces Jazz to let the rest of the team off the ship.
  Jazz: I got orders from Ultra Magnus to stick with you.
  Bumblebee: Yeah, but he didn't say where.
• Nice Mean And In Between: The Autobot Elite Guard: Jazz is “Nice”, being the one to treat Optimus’ team with respect, breaking up spats between him and Sentinel, and standing up to the latter when he acts too much like a jerk; Sentinel Prime is “Mean”, being an aggressive, condescending, Know-Nothing Know-It-All jerk to Optimus and his team, in spite of their heroic acts and Optimus being the same rank as him; Ultra Magus is the “In-Between”, being gruff and authoritative, but giving praise to Optimus when he proves himself.
• Oh, Crap!: Sumdac when Megatron tells him he'd better keep being useful to him or else.
• Pride Before a Fall: Happens in the most literal sense to Sentinel. And it is glorious.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The sheer power of Ultra Magnus's hammer prompts the Dinobots to break off their attack and quietly back away.
• Shout-Out: Fanzone faces the approaching alien ship with steely resolve, but then he finds out there are more Autobots inside it.
  Fanzone: Robots. Why did it have to be robots?
• So Proud of You: Ultra Magnus concedes that Optimus is rough around the edges, but he also praises him for displaying the true qualities of a leader when it mattered most.
• That's an Order!: Sentinel tries doing this, but Optimus isn't having it.
  Sentinel: That wasn't a request. That's a direct order, Optimus!
  Optimus: It's Optimus Prime. I may be an Elite Guard washout and a glitch-detail flunky, but the last time I checked, you and I still had equal rank. So, Sentinel Prime, take your order and your condescending attitude, and stick it in your hard drive! You're on my turf now!
• Wham Line: With Sari's dad missing, Powell makes his move in taking over Sumdac Systems, going as far as to evict her, a child, out of what is practically her home. When Sari tries to counter that she is in charge of the company because she is Issac's daughter, Power reveals that there is no will for her to inherit it, nor any record of Sari herself. It ends with this bombshell:
  Sari: Are you saying I can't prove I'm Isaac Sumdac's daughter?
  Powell: I'm saying you can't even prove you exist.