History Recap / TransformersPrimeS3E8Thirst

** This episode is a homage to the zombie film ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead'', where 2 idiots accidentally kickstart a zombie apocalypse by tampering with some chemicals that turn both the living and dead into zombies, blame each other for it and try to control the apocalypse on their own with horrible results. Starscream is Frank, Knock Out is Freddy, Megatron is Bert, Airachnid is Trash.

* VillainBall: Megatron has a ''dragon'' at his command and he's fretting over the loss of Insecticons and Vehicon soldiers? Remember what Arcee said back in season one: "Quality, not quantity!"
** Of course, this may be a downplayed instance; [[DumbassHasAPoint Starscream DID have a good point]] when informing Knock Out that sending in Predaking to deal with the threat would likely get the Predacon infected, effectively rendering it a NoSell against the Decepticon forces.
** Knock Out for deciding to go along with Starscream's plan in the first place. While he does raise reasonable objections, he fails to realize that the two energons could cancel each other out, which they do, resulting in a ZombieApocalypse Transformers style that costs the Decepticons dearly.

* YouHaveFailedMe: Megatron to Starscream; considering that Starscream's plan cost the Decepticons over HALF of their standing army ([[AdaptationalDumbass not even G1 Starscream screwed up to that extent]]!), only getting a severe beating borders on KarmaHoudini territory.

* BottleEpisode: With only 5 characters who aren't part of larger identical collectives, and 99% of all scenes set aboard the ''Nemesis'', this is the first since Airachnid's introductory episode ''Predatory''.

* FromBadToWorse: In true zombie horror fashion.

* VillainEpisode: There aren't any new characters in this episode, all featuring only antagonists who have fought the Autobots before.

** This episode is a homage to the zombie film ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead'', where 2 idiots accidentally kickstart a zombie apocalypse by tampering with some chemicals that turn both the living and dead into zombies, blame each other for it and try to control the apocalypse on their own with horrible results. Starscream and Knock Out are Freddy and Frank, Megatron is Bert, Airachnid is Trash.

* AbsenteeActor: Shockwave. Megatron is shown conversing with him twice, but it's one-sided and Shockwave isn't even heard.

* DumbassHasAPoint: Starscream rules out sending in the Predacon after zombie Breakdown stating it is too risky given that even though the Predacon can easily snap Breakdown in half with its jaws, it would also get infected and make the contagion exponentially worse. Even before that, Starscream retorted that Megatron should reconsider making more than one unruly, primitive beast machine like the Predaking claiming it's dangerous to create an entire legion of beasts far more powerful than their own masters.

* VillainEpisode

* DirtyCoward: Starscream refuses to sound the alarm for the entire ''Nemesis'' because he doesn't want Megatron to know anything about zombie Breakdown, knowing that Megatron will [[RunningGag beat him up]] for the seven-millionth time. This sort of cowardice just makes the ZombieApocalypse get worse.

** Predaking, fortunately for Starscream. Knockout complains he's not in the episode and protests Predaking should go take down Breakdown. Starscream asks [[AndThenWhat what will they do if Predaking gets infected]].

* {{Callback}}: The FriendshipMoment Starscream and Knockout have echoes Arcee's and Optimus Prime's moment back in[[Recap/TransformersPrimeS1E7Scrapheap "Scrapheap"]]. Knock Out's "you know the worst part?" moment even reflects what Arcee said way back in that same episode - not that he'd know it.

--> '''Knockout:''' I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?

--> '''Knockout:''' You're no Breakdown, though I must confess I've always admired your lustrous finish.

* [[SawItInAMovieOnce Knockout Saw It in a Movie Before]]: At drive-in theaters!

* PetTheDog: The relationship between Knockout and Starscream is sorta humanizing. Knockout is willing to save Starscream from Breakdown!Silas. On the other hand, Starscream also shows concern for Knockout at the beginning of the episode, where he asks if he is alright with dissecting Breakdown. There is also his ItHasBeenAnHonor speech (despite it is ruined by Starscream putting blame to Knockout when they have to deal with an angry Megatron). It is clear that Starscream genuinely likes Knock Out to the extent of a Decepticon.

* RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain: Knockout suggests this to take out infected Terrorcons, saying he's seen it work in human horror films. But it doesn't work, leaving them panicked.

** This episode is a homage to the zombie film ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead'', where 2 idiots accidentally kickstart a zombie apocalypse by tampering with some chemicals that turn both the living and dead into zombies, blame each other for it and try to control the apocalypse on their own with horrible results. Starscream and Knockout are Freddy and Frank, Megatron is Bert, Airachnid is Trash.
*** Starscream and Knockout even complain at one point that shooting a Terrorcon in the head doesn't kill it, when Knockout had seen it happen in the drive-thru movie he seen. The same "movies aren't correct" statement sprang up in above stated film.

** Of course, this may be a downplayed instance; [[DumbassHasAPoint Starscream DID have a good point]] when informing Knockout that sending in Predaking to deal with the threat would likely get the Predacon infected, effectively rendering it a NoSell against the Decepticon forces.

* YoureInsane: How Knockout views Starscream's idea to mix Dark Energon with the already unstable synthetic energon. He calls Starscream being out of his mind to suggest such a thing considering what both energon types are capable of on their own, but gets ignored. They soon learn the hard way it was a ''really'' stupid idea.
* ZombieApocalypse: One part synthetic energon and one p(art dark energon equals one zombie vampire plague.

--> '''Starscream:''' Allow me to handle this... IT'S KNOCKOUT'S FAULT!
--> '''Knockout:''' [[DelayedReaction Yes, precisely my-]] [[BigWhat WHAT!?]]

* BackForTheDead: Silas/Cylas, though lasts much of the episode.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Megatron asks Shockwave to [[Recap/TransformersPrimeS3E9Evolution speed up Project: Predacon.]]

** PutOnABusToHell: Airachnid becomes an energon-vampire and has to feed on her Insecticon troops to survive. The Insecticons are under her control, [[AndIMustScream with no chance of escape.]]

In this ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead1985'' send-up, Knock Out and Starscream's experiments with synthetic energon lead to a Zombified Cylas threatening to take over the Decepticon ship and unleashes another old enemy.

Knock Out and Starscream's experiments with synthetic energon lead to a Zombified Cylas threatening to take over the Decepticon ship and unleashes another old enemy.

** Predaking, fortunately for Starscream. Knockout complains he's not in the episode and protests Predaking can easily eliminate zombie Breakdown.

* BigWhat: Knock Out says this twice. First when he and Starscream are running away from Terrorcon!Cylas and Starscream tells him to hold him off. And again when he and Starscream run into Megatron and Starscream promptly tells Megatron it was Knock Out's fault and Knock Out agrees, until he realizes what Starscream said.

* OffWithHisHead: Knockout suggests this to take out infected Terrorcons. But it doesn't work, leaving them panicked.

* OffWithHisHead: Knockout suggested this to take out infected Terrorcons. But it didn't work, so now what?

** In a literal sense, Shockwave (off-screen) provided the protocol for containing the Dark-Synthetic Energon zombie outbreak.

* EasilyForgiven: While Starscream gets another beating, Megatron lets Knock Out off pretty easily but gets demoted from director of scientific research to simply Shockwave's assistant.

** Knock Out references [[Recap/TransformersPrimeS2E11FlyingMind "Flying Mind"]] when talking about how Dark Energon once affected the ''Nemesis''.

* DumbassHasAPoint: The only smart thing Starscream does in this episode is rule out sending in the Predacon after zombie Breakdown is too risky given that even if the Predacon can easily snap Breakdown in half with its jaws, it would also get infected and make the contagion exponentially worse.

* EasilyForgiven: While Starscream gets another beating, Megatron lets Knock Out off pretty easily but demoting him to delegate all of his research to Shockwave.

** Of course, this may be a downplayed instance; Starscream DID have a good point when informing Knockout that sending in Predaking to deal with the threat would likely get the Predacon infected, effectively rendering it a NoSell against the Decepticon forces.

* DumbassHasAPoint: The only smart thing Starscream does in this episode is state that sending in the Predacon after zombie Breakdown is too risky given that even if the Predacon can easily snap Breakdown in half, it would also get infected and make the contagion exponentially worse.

** This episode is a homage to the zombie film ''Film/TheReturnOfTheLivingDead'', where 2 idiots accidentally kickstart a zombie apocalypse by tampering with some chemicals that turn both the living and dead into zombies, blame each other for it and try to control the apocalypse on their own with horrible results. Starscream and Knockout are Freddy and Frank, Megatron is Bert.