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transformers-nerd-13 · 1 month ago

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Hi everyone! This is my analysis of Fire in the Sky. Sorry this took so long; my life has been kind of hectic for the last few days, but I finally found the time to sit down and analyze this episode, so without further ado, let's get into it!

We open on a shot of the Ark and the surrounding desert covered in snow--like, a LOT of snow. And pine trees. Aren't they in a desert--where did the pine trees come from?? Also why is the snow going up??

The snow gets fixed in the next shot where Spike—who has winter clothes for some reason—finds a giant snowman and comments that it's the biggest snowman he's ever seen. The snowman is actually just Jazz covered in snow. (How long was he standing out there??)

There are snow many (couldn't resist) snow puns in the first few minutes of this episode and I love it so much.

The bots have a snowball fight and Spike warns Ratchet about Bee, who's about to throw a snowball at the medic, but instead throws the snowball at Spike for ratting on him. Spike falls and tumbles down a hill (where did that hill come from--) and the snow builds up around him as he rolls down making him a giant snowball--big enough to somehow swallow Ratchet, Hound, and Cliffjumper and take them with him (how did that much snow build up around him in 2 seconds--) but the snowball falls apart soon after. Spike laughs and says he can't believe he's in a snowball fight in July in the middle of the desert.

Optimus (who's inside the Ark) is worried about this snow and asks Teletraan for a worldwide weather report. Teletraan reports that the temperatures worldwide are 40 degrees below normal and dropping rapidly; the planet is freezing. I'm not sure if that's how that works Teletraan but, okay. For the sake of this episode working I will suspend my disbelief.

Optimus says that the heat energy from Earth's core is somehow being drained away, and Gears says that it must be the cons.

Cut to what is presumably the arctic where we see an explosion followed by a green crystal pushing its way out of the ground. Pan over to Skywarp who tells someone to add a new part to...something.

Reflector puts this...thing (I genuinely have no idea what this is; I'm gonna chalk it up to Cybertronian tech) into the side of the green crystal, which they're apparently using to siphon energy from the earth’s core to make energon cubes. Starscream tells Megatron that all is proceeding on schedule; locating the crystal shaft that led to the earth's core was the hard part, but pumping the heat energy out is simplicity itself.

It is getting harder to suspend my disbelief here.

Megatron says that soon Earth will freeze and the Decepticons will return to Cybertron with enough energon to conquer the universe.

Cut to Rumble who is currently using his pile drivers on a wall of ice (for some reason; legitimately no idea why he's doing this) but the ice isn't breaking. Skywarp (who's appeared from the void) shows up and mocks Rumble for not being able to break the ice. Rumble hits the ice wall again and this time it breaks, but it causes a small avalanche that sends Rumble running (an extremely goofy run I must add) and lands Skywarp flat on his aft. Rumble spots something in the newly uncovered ice. Starscream shows up and asks them why they're just sitting around, and Skywarp tells him they found something in the ice. Megatron (appearing from the void) says he wants a clearer look of what's in the ice, and Starscream promises him that he'll have it. After some more digging, they discover that it's a "Robot of unknown classification" (the word Cybertronian didn't exist yet) and that with his size and probable strength, he'd make an excellent Decepticon.

Cut to the Ark where Teletraan reports of an abnormally large energy expenditure in the arctic circle. On the video feed provided by the sky spy, Spike notices the green crystal sticking up out of the ground. Jazz suggests that maybe it's some kind of natural phenomenon, but Teletraan tells them that Decepticon activity has been sighted. Optimus says "If we don't stop Megatron and his bunch, earth is doomed. Autobots, transform and roll out!" I'm sorry, Megatron and his bunch??? What is that phrasing lol?? Also, how are y'all gonna drive to the arctic???

Cut to the cons who've gotten the unknown bot out of the ice and are currently trying to fix it. Thundercracker comments that "Whatever it is, being on ice kept it fresh." Sir. This is a Cybertronian?? And y'all were dead for 4 million years just sitting in a ship and I don't see you decaying.

Soundwave (who's also there) hits the bot with 50,000 volts to try to reactivate his impulse center and memory monitor (whatever those are) but it doesn't work. Megatron asks Starscream "Why are you so concerned about this creature?"

I've said it before but I'll say it again, this is a Cybertronian!! Why are they talking like they've discovered a woolly mammoth or a mermaid or something?? Like Thundercracker could've said "Whoever this is, being on ice kept them fresh." It still wouldn't have made sense but it'd be more polite at least. And I understand that the word Cybertronian didn’t exist yet but Megatron could've asked Starscream "Why are you so concerned for this bot?" It would've made more sense.

Starscream says he's concerned because he knew this bot once a long time ago, back on Cybertron. Soundwave gives Skyfire one million volts to reactivate his impulse center and memory monitor and it works. Megatron seems surprised that Starscream had friends before the war--or just friends, period.

Starscream explains that the bot's name is Skyfire. He and Skyfire were both explorers, and they left Cybertron together just before the con's final falling out with the Autobots (whatever that means) and went to explore what was an uncharted planet at the time; Earth. Despite the fact that they detected no intelligent life on the planet, Skyfire insisted that they look closer. A polar windstorm kicked up and the two were separated. "I circled half the globe looking for him, but he was gone." Starscream says.

For everyone who's confused about why a good amount of people in the fandom ship these two, this is why. But I do have to question a few things here; just half the globe? Also how did you know what a polar windstorm was; you don't have snow or polar winds on Cybertron?? And you two flew to earth in your alt modes; earth CAN'T be that far from Cybetron; why don't the cons just use their built-in flight capabilities to go back to Cybertron??

Skyfire wakes up and asks what happened. He sees Starscream and figures that Starscream must've rescued him and he asks where they are. Starscream explains that they're on Earth, the planet where Skyfire crashed. Megatron introduces himself and tells Skyfire that they're on this planet to collect the energy needed to revive Cybertron and conquer the universe, and the Autobots are their enemies.

Cut to the bots who have somehow driven to the arctic circle (my ability to suspend my disbelief is seriously dwindling) where Spike points out the Aurora Borealis to Optimus who says that it's very pleasing to his optic sensors (sir you're a truck how can you see anything right now; or are you just pretending you can see this—).

Cut to the cons where Skyfire has been given a Decepticon insignia. This is also the one time we see the Decepticons have a salute (seen above). Megatron instructs Starscream to put Skyfire on guard patrol and leaves. Skyfire asks Starscream if he's happier being a warrior than a scientist, and Starscream tells him yes, he does; it's much more exciting. He tells him that one day he'll be the leader of the Decepticons, and when that day comes, Skyfire will be his second in command. Skyfire tells him that he's grateful to him for freeing him, so he'll try to bring him credit.

Not going to lie, this scene kind of breaks my heart. Skyfire’s just woken up after who knows how many millions of years on a world that isn't his own, and the one shred of familiarity he has is Starscream, who's no longer the same bot he once knew in the slightest, but despite that, Skyfire still wants to hang on to the one piece of his old life that he has left and is willing to go pretty far to hang onto it.

Cut to a little later with Skyfire on guard duty. He sees the Autobots in their alt modes approaching, and says "It seems the time has come for me to make the change from science to war." This line hit me so much harder than I expected it to. Skyfire is changing everything about himself for the sake of staying close to Starscream. Don't mind me I'm just gonna go scream into a pillow for a sec.

The bots near Skyfire and Spike says "Prime, what is that?" as he sees the giant bot.

Again. Cybertronian.

The bots transform and Skyfire (having heard Optimus call the bots Autobots) declares that they must be destroyed. Skyfire fires at the bots a couple of times and misses, but it's enough to send Ironhide face-planting into the snow.

Spike and Sparkplug (who's also here) try to run but trip on...something (snow I guess) and Spike ends up slipping into a patch of ocean that's there for some reason and calls to his dad for help (he's completely fine five seconds later so we won't talk about it). Sparkplug pulls Spike back up onto the ice as Skyfire fires again, this time separating the humans from land. Spike yells to the bots for help to get back to land. Skyfire hears them and goes to investigate and try to communicate with them (showing he's still a scientist at heart, er, spark) despite the fact that the other Autobots are still shooting at him but since they have the aim of Stormtroopers, he'll be fine.

Skyfire picks up the two humans who struggle in his grasp and call for help. He asks them why they're so frightened; he won't harm them. Spike asks why he's wearing the Decepticon logo (to be with Starscream) and Skyfire answers that only the evil Autobots need fear him, which isn't really an answer. It just sounds like the continuation of his previous line that was spaced out weird. Spike tells him that the Autobots are good; that they're fighting to protect earth and all the humans on it; that the Decepticons are the real monsters. Skyfire says that that can't be right, and he'll prove they're not evil; he'll take them to Megatron.

Yeah there's no way that could go wrong.

The autobots just kinda watch Skyfire walk away since they can't fire on him because they might hit the humans.

Cut to a little later with the cons with Skyfire peering into the ice cave looking very polite as Megatron commends him for a job well done and says that the two Autobot sympathizers may prove useful. He tells Starscream (who's holding the humans now) to deal with the two. Starscream sort of tosses Spike and Sparkplug and the two tumble a few times before hitting the wall. Starscream uses his blaster to melt the ice above the humans to make a sort of makeshift cage that the two could easily get out of if they wanted but nope. Skyfire says that he promised the humans that no harm would come to them; that this is wrong; Megatron tells him he overstepped his authority. Starscream asks Skyfire who he is to promise safety to their enemies. Skyfire says that they're not his enemies; they're his friends. He tries to reach into the ice cave to grab them, but Starscream tells him not to interfere as he shoots Skyfire's hand. He tells Skyfire that the humans are insignificant, and that once they cease to be useful, they'll be terminated.

Cut over to the bots who've found the con's ice cave. They drive into the cave in their alt modes, but Gears stops just before entering, causing Hound, Ratchet and Ironhide to have to stop behind him. Hound tells Gears to move it, but Gears tells him he's got a feeling they're about to fall right into a trap. Right after he says that, the ice breaks below them and they fall into the caves below. Hound leads the way to find Spike and Sparkplug.

There is no trap by the way so I guess your sensors are off Gears.

Meanwhile, Bee tells Optimus that there's no sign of the four who fell through the ice and suggests that they could be lost. CliffJumper hears Spike calling for help (he seems to do that a lot) and goes to find him.

He finds the humans remarkably quickly and uses the defrost cycle on his blaster (apparently it has that) to free them from their icy prison cell. Jazz, Bee, and Optimus show up and now all they have to do is find the other four.

Cut to said other four finding Reflector who's still got that thing plugged into the crystal (has he just been standing here the whole time??) and figure out what the con's plan was. Gears says that they should get out of there and find Optimus before the cons find them. Megatron and Starscream appear from the void to restate their plan of getting energon, leaving the dead world of earth behind them, yada yada yada, and Megatron spots the four Autobots and gives the order to seize them. Skywarp and Thundercracker trap (sort of--they could easily get out of this) the bots and Megatron tells them to dispose of them immediately, which Starscream eagerly says he'll do with pleasure. Megatron tells Soundwave (who's also there) to check the tunnels for any other autobots, but Soundwave sends Ravage to go check the tunnels instead.

Cut to the humans, Optimus, Bee, Cliff and Jazz walking through the tunnels. "We've been searching these tunnels for astro-minutes, and still no Ironhide! Maybe we oughta split up." Jazz says. How long is an astro-minute?? And it's not just Ironhide missing dude, Ratchet, Hound and Gears are too. It would've been better if he'd said "...and still no sign of the others!..." instead.

Bee suggests that they double back but Optimus tells them to stick to the pre-arranged search pattern. Cliffjumper tells Optimus that that'll take too long and runs ahead a few feet, only to be tackled by Ravage. Optimus shoots Ravage and they all transform and roll out with Ravage tailing them. When the bots get some distance between them and Ravage, Bee stops and transforms, shooting at the roof of the cave, causing a blockade of ice to come down in front of Ravage and block his path.

Cut to Ratchet, Hound, Gears and Ironhide aboveground near the green crystal with Skyfire and Starscream standing in front of them. Starscream comments that Skyfire's years in the ice diminished his loyalty, but because of their old friendship, he would give Skyfire the pleasure of melting down these Autobots. "But I'm a scientist--not an executioner!" Skyfire protests. "I am your superior! I order you to terminate them!" Starscream shouts at him. "No. I will not. They have done no wrong." Skyfire says firmly. "But you have! Traitor!" Starscream screeches before he shoots Skyfire.

...I have never wanted to kick Starscream's aft more. I cannot properly express how much I would like to hit him with a chair. This moment right here is where Skyfire realizes that the Starscream he knew is gone, and he's never coming back. Starscream is going too far and Skyfire is finally drawing the line because he isn't going to sacrifice his morals for the monster his friend has become, when this monster has sacrificed nothing for him. Even the Autobots are in shock when Starscream shoots Skyfire. ...I'm gonna go scream into a pillow again real quick.

Starscream shoots the green crystal behind the autobots that causes an explosion that breaks the bots into a million pieces and somehow doesn't affect the crystal even a little bit. Starscream laughs victoriously before he turns his attention to Skyfire. "As for you Skyfire, consider yourself fortunate that you did not end up like your friends." Starscream sneers before he steps Skyfire in the most awkward fashion I have ever witnessed.

Also the Autobots are completely fine; them being broken into a million pieces was one of Hound's holograms. Skyfire asks how they're okay, and Ratchet explains it to him. Skyfire is relieved that they're okay, but Hound is a bit worried about Skyfire. They get Skyfire behind some cover (aka a giant snow drift) and Ratchet begins patching him up.

Optimus and that group of bots/humans have appeared from the void and Optimus asks how Skyfire is. Ratchet reports that Skyfire was badly damaged and isn't looking too good. Cliffjumper doesn't understand why they're fixing a Decepticon; Hound tells him that Skyfire tried to save them; "And Starscream blasted him for it!" Ratchet adds, sounding furious.

The fact that the Autobots, who have no backstory on Starscream and Skyfire, are angry with Starscream for shooting someone they perceived to be a friend of his speaks volumes to me. Maybe the Autobots have been betrayed like that, and know how it feels to be in Skyfire's position.

Ratchet announces that he's done all that he can for Skyfire, and that now it was a matter of time and luck.

Cut to Laserbeak who's apparently been watching all this go down and sends a message to Megatron in what I can only assume to be Cybertronian morse code. Cut to Megatron who's admiring an energon cube when he gets Laserbeak's message. He gets angry and throws the cube at Starscream, the cube hitting Starscream in the head. He tells Starscream that he failed to get rid of the autobots, and Starscream realizes that Hound's holograms tricked him. Megatron says that they won’t be tricked a second time and orders the Decepticons to attack but only the seekers go to attack.

The seekers go aboveground and start raining bombs down on the Autobots.

Ratchet tries to wake up Skyfire, telling him that he won't leave him here. (...God I love Ratchet.)

The Seekers and the Autobots exchange fire, Skywarp and Thundercracker crash into the ocean, and Megatron shows up. Optimus and Megatron both break a chunk off of the giant green crystal and use them as weapons as they duke it out. Optimus beats Megatron, but when Skyfire shows up, Megatron believes that he has the upper hand, ordering Skyfire to destroy Optimus. This implies that he didn't know about Starscream shooting Skyfire and leaving him for dead. Maybe Starscream dodged a bullet there.

Skyfire tells Megatron that he takes no orders from him as he removes his Decepticon logo and replaces it with an Autobot one that he pulled from the void as he declares that he's an autobot. He yeets Megatron into the nearest ice dune and the Reflector triplets attack him in pyramid formation (what did they think that was gonna do??) and Skyfire just kinda shoves them to the side. Starscream shoots at Skyfire telling him that he's through. Skyfire transforms and goes after Starscream, talking about evening the score as the humans cheer for him from the ground.

Starscream demands that Skyfire show himself even though Skyfire is literally right above him (again I must ask where the fuck their eyes are when they're in their alt modes-) before Skyfire reveals himself. Starscream promises Skyfire that he will pay for his treachery. The two crash into each other; Starscream lands unceremoniously in a snow drift and the Autobots cheer for Skyfire until Ratchet points out that Skyfire is losing altitude fast.

Skyfire shoots...something and re-buries the green crystal the cons were using to siphon energy from the earth's core, but Skyfire is buried with it. The Autobots think that Skyfire is dead; he risked everything to save earth--the energy drain has stopped, the earth will warm up again, and the cons have been defeated. Optimus tells Spike that "He won't be forgotten Spike, he will live forever, so long as freedom exists. We will remember you, Skyfire." "We will remember." The other Autobots echo solemnly.

....my heart hurts. This scene packs such an emotional punch I can't put it into words. This whole episode does. It's one that resonates with me because I've been in a similar, albeit much less dramatic, situation to Skyfire. It's one I think could resonate with a lot of people. Through the entire last half of this episode, I just wanted to punch Starscream and I have never wanted to punch him more than when I was watching this--I really hated him in this episode which is something the episode did really well. And it gives you room to wonder what Starscream was like before the war; before Skyfire went missing. Honestly I think this just made it to my top three favorite G1 episodes.

Anyways, I'll be putting up a poll soon after I post this so you guys can vote on if you want me to analyze more of season one or move on to season two. I hope this was enjoyable! :)

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