During a mission to Dinobot Island, Prowl and Bulkhead catch wind of Starscream's return. With the ninja now equipped with Ratchet's EMP generator, he decides to try and take down the treacherous second-in-command of the Decepticons by himself. But when Starscream proves to be a more difficult customer than expected, Prowl finds himself teaming up with Lockdown to bring him in. Unfortunately, Prowl seems to be enjoying his new upgrades a little too much.
Tropes:
- Actually Pretty Funny: While he's not amused, Ratchet does admit that Prowl pulling off the fake static joke makes Bumblebee's attempts at it to be a lot more realistic.
- Androcles' Lion: While visiting Dinobot Island, Prowl spots Grimlock rampaging through the forest. After using the EMP generator to stop him, he notices a large spike had become wedged in the Dinobot's foot, and is able to remove it thanks to Ratchet's medical advice. Grimlock calms down after this, and even lets Bulkhead pet him.
- Batman Grabs a Gun: Prowl has been demonstrated throughout the series to cherish anything involved with nature, including a nest of baby birds on Dinobot Island. So when his use of mods leads to him accidentally destroying a nest of unhatched bird eggs, it clearly breaks his spark and leads to him steadily breaking the habit of relying on mods.
- Bland-Name Product: "Five Banners Roller Coaster Kingdom" is a reference to the real-world amusement park Six Flags.
- The Bus Came Back:
- Starscream returns after being apprehended by the Elite Guard in "Mission Accomplished".
- Lockdown returns from his last appearance in "Thrill of the Hunt".
- Drunk On Power: Ratchet is convinced Prowl has undergone this with his new upgrades.
- Call-Back: Ultra Magnus mentions that he tried to contact Optimus Prime earlier, but his ship's tachyon transmitter was missing. The Decepticons stole it only a few episodes ago, and are using it for their own communications.
- Fake Static: Prowl ends up pulling this. Ratchet is not amused.Ratchet: Personally, I've always found Bumblebee's fake static to be a lot more convincing.
- Foreshadowing:
- Prowl temporarily upgrades to a new set of samurai armor. While he ditches it in this episode, he ultimately takes it back when he learns that it was his old master's armor, taken from him when Lockdown killed him.
- Reflecting on the loss of his two clones, Starscream demonstrates he has the resources to keep trying.
- Hourglass Plot: Prowl's first use of mods began with Ratchet's EMP, teamed up with Lockdown, and suited up with lots of mods. Towards the end, he undoes the process in reverse order: he sacrifices his mods to launch the starscream clones, breaks off his alliance with Lockdown, and returns the EMP to Ratchet.
- Irony: Prowl only allowed himself to use mods (staring with Ratchet's EMP) because he wanted to protect a nest of birds eggs on Dinobot Island. Later, what leads to Prowl losing his new-found reliance on mods is when he accidentally destroys a birds' nest back in Detroit.
- My God, What Have I Done?: A wordless variation. At seeing his capture of the sycophantic Starscream clone has caused some bird's eggs to be broken, the clone's monologue of how decepticon-like Prowl's fighting-style was is treated to a shot of Prowl looking devastated as he quietly realizes his ruthlessness has lead him to destroy that which he holds dear (nature).
- "Not So Different" Remark: Coupled with the sight of the bird's eggs he unwittingly destroyed, Starscream's sycophantic clone compliments Prowl on how his attacks were just like those of a Decepticon, acting as the wake-up call Prowl needs to realize his reliance on mods have changed him more than he admits.
- Price on Their Head: When Starscream escapes from Elite Guard custody, Megatron places a bounty on his head, in order to ensure other Decepticons don't try to follow in his footsteps. When he evades capture thanks to his clones, Megatron doubles it.
- Shout-Out: The title is named after A Fistful of Dollars.
- Villain Respect: Lockdown commends Prowl for subduing Starscream so soon after the bounty went out.
- Virtue Is Weakness: The sycophantic Starscream clone tells Prowl that the ruthless, violent methods he used to catch him were so much better than that fighting-with-honor nonsense.
- We Can Rule Together: Lockdown's Villain Respect from Prowl and the good time they have hunting Starscream('s clones) together culminates in Lockdown offering Prowl the chance to ditch the Autobots and "go into business with [Lockdown]" as a bounty hunter. Prowl, however, rightly turns the offer down.
- What the Hell, Hero?: After Prowl uses his mods to capture the second Starscream clone instead of using Ratchet's EMP Generator as the latter suggested, Ratchet points out the collateral damage he caused, and Prowl is horrified to realize that he ended up destroying a bird's nest and eggs. This sight, as well as the Starscream clone's approval of his ruthless methods, is what leads Prowl to start growing out of his reliance on mods.
- Wham Shot:
- Prowl has Starscream on the ropes...and then Lockdown shows up.
- The Autobots are attempting to pursue Lockdown with the seemingly bested Starscream, only for a harrier jet to fly overhead that looks like the Decepticon. Prowl dismisses it as just another harrier jet, only for it to transformer to reveal another Starscream.
- Starscream reveals he has an entire army of clones at his disposal.
- A rather emotional one. After Prowl has gotten the drop on one of the Starscream clones, he argues with Ratchet that his mods have granted him efficiency. It's Ratchet who has to point out his "efficiency" has destroyed a nest of bird eggs.
- Wham Line:Starscream "Did you really think I would offer so little a challenge? I allowed you to capture these clones to fulfill my plan to eliminate you all! Especially you, MegaFOOL! Mwa-hah-ha-ha-ha! In moments you will be blown to bits, and I will become the Supreme Leader of ALL DECEPTICONS!"
- Written-In Absence: Bumblebee and Sari are on a "fact-finding mission" at a theme park, leaving them absent from the episode.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: The butt-kissing Starscream clone lauds Prowl for how he captured him just like a Decepticon would. Between this and learning he unwittingly killed a nest of bird eggs, Prowl is far from proud to hear this.
