Another failure to topple Megatron and a prompt island exile hardly deters Starscream. Abandoned World War II-era vehicles and stolen personality components provide the 'tools' that he needs. In no time, the five Combaticons are online and serving Starscream. These five quickly prove formidable when they are apart and also when they are united in their giant robot mode which is named Bruticus. Can Megatron possibly overcome Starscream and Bruticus?
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Bruticus devastates Devastator and Menasor obliterates Bruticus with a single punch. Although the last part is due to Bruticus being distracted.
- Deus ex Machina: The Stunticons happen to arrive to save the day (so to speak) just as Starscream has claimed victory over Megatron. Granted, they only do so because as they put it, Starscream isn't just going to stop at just Megatron.
- Evil vs. Evil: Starscream wants revenge on Megatron for the constant abuse and Megatron wants to get back at Starscream for his attempts on overthrowing him.
- Kick the Dog: After rescuing the personality components of the would-be-Combaticons from the detention center, Starscream destroys the remaining ones, seemingly just For the Evulz.
- Lazy Artist: This episode has some of the worst looking art and animation goofs outside of an AKOM or Mihahn-produced episode of the season*; with the characters, and Starscream in particular, looking almost unfinished or incredibly lanky at points. Along with a fair amount of camera, audio, and coloring gaffes.
- The first few shots in Decepticon HQ has a particularly menacing-looking Soundwave drawn with eyes instead of a visor, while Thrust is drawn extremely malformed and Astrotrain is missing many of his details. They're drawn much more on-model when they're shown again as Starscream begs them to attack Megatron.
- Shockwave is present on Earth near the end of the episode when Megatron rallies the troops against Starscream and the Combaticons.
- Not Me This Time: Twofold; Megatron confronts the Autobots thinking they liberated the personality components of the renegade Decepticons and Optimus retorts by demanding the return of Jazz and Cliffjumper. Both sides end up confused by what the other is asking, since Starscream is actually the one behind both of these.
- Oh, Crap!: Starscream is left shocked over Bruticus' defeat, and that's before Megatron goes after his steel hide again.Starscream: Bruticus?
Megatron: No Starscream. Not Bruticus. It's Megatron, your leader!
Starscream: Megatron, Don't! Please!!! - Smart Ball: After being exiled, Starscream starts to think ahead for once. He made sure to not fully restore the Combaticons so that they will be blackmailed and be forced into his services and doesn't play favorites so that there won't be infighting within his army. He also Lampshades Megatron's use of the Villain Ball more than once, even yelling into deep space how he should have been terminated instead of exiled again at the end.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Dead End complains he doesn't see why he should save Megatron from Bruticus. Motormaster reminds him that Starscream's thirst for power would mean bad news for them as well. Dead End gives in.Dead End: Good point. He never knows when to quit.
- Villain Episode: The Autobots and humans get little focus in this episode, which mostly centers on Starscream forcing the Combaticons to help him gain domination of all Decepticons. The Autobots only get involved when Jazz and Cliffjumper are captured.Optimus Prime: So that's what this is all about. It's a power struggle between Megatron and Starscream. Well, their little domestic squabble is none of our concern.
