Dark Awakening | Transformers: Generation 1 | Season 3 | E08 | Hasbro Pulse

[@kalb157]

Hasbro in 1986: “You wanna see us crush the spirits of an entire generation of kids?” Also Hasbro in 1986: “You wanna see us do it again?”

[@blueraccoon1088]

I know a guy who can do that

[@danieljeyn9847]

I remember being slightly disappointed at the movie. But this episode was upsetting.

[@blueraccoon1088]

@@danieljeyn9847 this was one of my first g1 episodes before season 1 and 2

[@tyranusfan]

Yeah, bad enough to kill Optimus, but then they bring him back...as a zombie! And then they slowly destroy that zombie as his ship blows apart around him. Freakin psychos.

[@_V.Va_]

@@tyranusfan Cry about it.

[@wickedblackheart26]

“Monsters, they made me a weapon to destroy the ones I loved!” That gives me chills.

[@tellywilliams4221]

"...the VERY ones I loved IN LIFE. But you will save them...Rodimus Prime!"

[@uezac.5754]

literally how we felt after the movie

[@rhotramirez822]

"back to Cybertron is my final order". excellent leadership in moment of sorrow

[@cybertroniccustomz998]

Till all are one

[@matthewskudzienski888]

Mausoleum is a place for the Fallen Autobot Heros who had died during the Great War against the Decepticons

[@usedtissuepaper42]

I love Sludge’s little existential crisis at 13:10

[@J.Valentine1031]

Quintesson: "No Autobot could survive that." He's not just any Autobot. He's Optimus Prime. He's the bot that values the life of all living beings above his own. He stared down Omega Supreme just to talk some sense to him, earned Grimlock's respect, wrecked Motormaster in a game of chicken, and single-handedly plowed through an army of Decepticons just to duel Megatron. Plus he has some mad skills on the basketball court.

[@santaboy4818]

As I'm reading this my mind flashes back to each scene mentioned here and I smiled. 🥲

[@donmccullen1973]

Until All Are One.

[@vorpal120]

For sure, not to mention he stared down Megatron as Orion Pax before his upgrade to Optimus Prime by Alphatrion.

[@mattmc9812]

And was brought back to life permanently

[@xiayabennett6982]

Not to mention lifted a giant tanker with his bare hands, beat the Seekers in their own game chicken three times, plus hit a bull’s eye

[@Noaher256]

The half blown up look Prime had at the end terrified me when I was little

[@DREDAY717]

Transformers the movie last when Optimus was alive he gave the matrix to Ultra Magnus. Now he alive and goes straight to Rodimus 🤔

[@RemyJackson]

Parents in 1986 "Optimus Prime dying in the movie upset my child" Hasbro "Don't worry, he comes back in this episode" maniacal laugh

[@alphatrion100]

@@DREDAY717 the matrix chose rodimus The matrix also gave optimus some common sense back at the end.

[@ralphg2771]

Yeah, I remembering watching it when it first aired and afterwards I couldn't get his messed up body and face out of my mind. They really didn't think about the fragile feelings or mental state of kids back then!

[@alphatrion100]

@@ralphg2771 yeah the old days were great 😉

[@XTRABIG]

"How convenient Rodimus. We can lay your remains besides those of your mentor." - Galvatron That was savage writing.

[@blueraccoon1088]

If I had enemies like that and said those words next to my mentor's tomb I'll be happy she'd save my tail roater

[@blueraccoon1088]

But atleast she's resting until I hope to see her

[@chrisedwards3214]

Evidence galvatron still remembered optimus

[@chrishosie1]

It’s real savage. And I love how ominous and brilliant it is as a line. You can tell how the tone of the show is so much more post 86 movie. It’s just so well done in my mind.

[@joesplace2960]

I’d probably say something like, “Let’s bury you first!”, or something equally sassy.

[@leah_calamari]

as shown in many parts of the episode like 18:08 it shows that even as a zombie optimus still cares and i love that😭

[@Optimus-Prime-Rib]

Optimus dying again didn’t upset me as much as the mausoleum with my 1984 bots being destroyed. 😢

[@aaronhines9810]

Yeah I felt that too

[@DisgruntledPigumon]

It was all a mistake!

[@citizenkill7435]

They are all dead though but yeah I feel ya. I wonder if spark plug is dead because I don’t remember seeing him in the movie or in season 3

[@WestValleyTransparency]

@@citizenkill7435 According to Fandom, he was killed when Ark II exploded in 1999

[@wickedblackheart26]

That hurt,

[@orionslaver432]

This was such a dark episode and one of my favourites, but I can see why it was controversial at the time. Kids were upset at the death of Optimus in the movie but were excited at the promise of his return, only for him to come back as a dangerous robo-zombie. I'm glad we got the big truck back eventually, even if it doesn't make sense that his body survived. I still love the Dark Awakening - Optimus' noble self wins through over the Quintesson's programming, and even though he was brought back as a weapon to destroy what he loved, his spirit proves indomitable and he saves the day one last time.

[@chrisedwards3214]

And ironic. Quint brought him back to life

[@sethstrattan7380]

“But is this really the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow’s episode: The Return of Optimus Prime”

[@Armageist]

Would've honestly been better if he had truly sacrificed himself and wiped out the Quints in the process. A final resolution to Alpha Trions original uprising and putting to rest the 86 crew that were lost.

[@laz7354]

@@sethstrattan7380 so you're saying there's a chance he might return? 🤣

[@oftheone1856]

"Me Sludge not glad to see you" That line had me laughing back then and still makes me laugh.

[@Random-ft3jc]

I couldn't help but notice how fast the Dinobots caught on to the fact that something was up with Prime. But Rodimus had to get shot twice before he got a clue.

[@SeraphimRoad]

Dinobots never really liked Optimus and only grudgingly respected him at the beginning. They only get along after fighting alongside with him for several decades. Unlike Rodimus, they never idolized him. It makes sense they notice something is off

[@joshuareyes988]

probably some kind of primal instinct, and i think rodimus was just so desperate to lose the mantle of leadership

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@SeraphimRoad two decades the dinobots was created in 1984 prime died 21 years later Optimus treated them as just goons to sick in the cons or save them from the cons Hot rod treated them more kindly and they love hearing kups stories

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@SeraphimRoad now comics grimlock didn't like Optimus at all

[@nicholasmorsovillo2752]

One thing I found really weird with this episode was Snarl he sounded different then he did when he was first introduced in the season 1 episode 'War of the Dinobots' if I had to guess he was voiced by a different actor in this episode.

[@Jerry74]

"I don't know if I'll ever be the leader that you were... but for sure, I'm going to try" That line made me like Rodimus even more.

[@mattstevenson1670]

It’s ironic that Optimus fired at Hot Rod without holding back. Afterall, Prime owed him for getting in the way with Megatron that led to his demise.

[@brandonvortex995]

Transformers headmasters later on however he quits

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@mattstevenson1670 Megatron used hot rod hostage because he knew prime wouldn't shoot anyone to get at him Megatron used primes code of honor against him which was his own weakness Prime was gonna stop Megatron he said no matter the cost and he meant it even with his last bit of strength he made sure Megatron fell before he collapsed Prime learned nothing from that time Megatron used his troops powrchips to beat him in a fight or from Megatron's master plan

[@christophercameron2141]

I am Sorry but Optimus prime is overrated? The Autobots were regulated to Cybertron moons? Means Optimus Prime once again lost Cybertron, than lost the cybertronian war by allowing Megatron to out smart him and ambush the Autobots in the shuttle and Autobot City? Than have Megatron in his sight and spend 30 seconds to have a self-righteous speech? He is always letting Megatron go to live another day? Some will say it's HOTROD fault, but this is how Optimus operates he had it coming for two seasons? Under Rodimus the Autobots were no more being put at Outpost on moons and on earth. They regain Cybertron, as well as learned of there creators and defeated them as well as the Decepticons from regaining Cybertron, as well as galactic peace conferences on Cybertron. Rodimus also helped Melissa Morgan on Earth space command, as well as protecting earth, all being done simultaneously as being his first year on the job. Optimus Prime had one battle front on earth and he allowed Megatron to build a space bridge? But did win battles on earth but never the war? So when People think Optimus Prime was a better leader I take unbiased look at Rodimus vs Optimus campaigns, and Hotrod/Rodimus is the 🏆and for the return of the Golden age it was Spike who saved Cybertron not Optimus Prime, and in the Rebirth episodes once again Optimus left Ultra Magnus to be slaughtered with the Autobots, so that Galvatron could regain Cybertron once again?

[@christophercameron2141]

@@chrisedwards3214 No Optimus got out smarted by Megatron the Autobots ambushed on the shuttle and Autobot City it shouldn't have came down to that?! Prime had 30 seconds to kill Megatron, plus season 1, 2 instead he wants to show you how self-righteous is?, we are not going to let Optimus Prime out just because we are bias? He lost Cybertron 3 times the last time he flat out lost it after Rodimus got it back? He is overrated.

[@lsm1716]

Hearing Kup say "Goodbye old friend" took me straight back to my childhood and I started to tear up all over again.

[@chrissmart21]

I know Hot Rod is no Optimus Prime, but I admired his courage when he stood up to him and said "I'm taking command!"

[@redips]

i just wished everyone give hot rod/Rodimus Prime some credit.

[@leah_calamari]

AGREED

[@adamryamizard5560]

​@@redips well... Everyone still feel sad because he was the one that caused optimus to die...

[@alexmckeel9128]

It wasn't him was the writers.​@adamryamizard5560

[@iankelly4008]

My issue is if they established during the hate plague saga that Optimus was coming back, why could he not take on an ultra Magnus type role ? The permanence of the shift is what ruined rodimus. Hasbro should have stood by their decision while addressing backlash. The final episodes pretty much undo the movie.

[@HelloMisterJAMWAH]

"Suffocate or smother" is the kind of dialogue that made me love Rodimus. So callous!

[@trence5]

Same here, loved his sarcasm. Optimus would NEVER have said something like that.

[@CM-wv8ns]

Rodimus Prime in retropect was under-rated, but there is still a part of me that preferred Hotrod (mostly because of the sleek futuristic sports car alt-mode).

[@CM-wv8ns]

@@trence5 Well there was the one time he said: ...a boobytrap that actually captures boobies...

[@windsweeper8002]

Rodimus Prime has always been my favourite Autobot.

[@guardian08527]

Rodimus gets too much crap. His leadership qualities are exactly what they push in ALOT of cartoons and Anime these days. The insecure, and unsure reluctant leader who is prone to depression? It's weird because characters like Optimus Prime get dumped on as being unrealistic these days, and people want cynical assholes. Transformers G1 is still like the exception to the rule. I love both characters and I thought Rodimus was one of the few attempts in season 3 to actually write character development.

[@myriadmediamusings]

Honestly if you take aside the completely horrible timing and implications of this episode and divorced from the release of the movie, this is a very strong episode that was great for Rodimus needing to come to grips with his new burden and stepping up to the plate.

[@TF80s]

It's my favourite episode of all.

[@CM-wv8ns]

@@TF80s i remember this being a crazy episode as a kid... the discussions on the playground about it were probably the first step in many towards philosophy & burden of responsibility [when zombie Optimus rips open his chest to give you the Matrix, it has to a sign from the universe].

[@TF80s]

@@CM-wv8ns that fight scene between Hotrod and Optimus was fantastic stuff.

[@CM-wv8ns]

I suppose i was lucky enough NOT to see the movie in theaters--season three's short recap on tv is all i got which told me Optimus was dead. I met Rodimus before I met Hotrod while enjoying season three as morning cartoon before school. In retrospect, the movie was a prequel (or lost story) of how Hotrod earned the Matrix (via video cassette rental..before Blockbuster).

[@TF80s]

@@CM-wv8ns yeah I'd gotten the Ladybird book and audio cassette of the Movie before seeing season three so l knew what went down..l think l only saw the Movie itself on VHS after I'd seen the whole of season three.

[@alunjones6823]

Seeing Optimus being turned into a robotic zombie was horrifying and watching him die again was upsetting.

[@ranhaines2012]

At 7:20 that’s such an iconic line for this specific episode. When a zombie Prime tells you to leave this place or die, you better take his word and leave. I remember this episode and how disturbing the ending was.

[@chrismc410]

Even Galvatron got the stepping

[@Hollyjollytroll]

​@chrismc410 Not only that. Galvatron got so spooked that he sounded like Megatron again when he muttered Optimus Prime's name. Makes me wonder how far into season 3's production the voicework was. Clearly, it was a force of habit on Welkers' part.

[@subtlewhatssubtle]

@@Hollyjollytroll It's obviously an error, but I like to imagine that some sliver of his original Megatron personality resurfaced when he saw Optimus Prime and, ever so briefly, Galvatron reverted to who he once was. Well, before Optimus shot the bejesus out of him.

[@RhetoricalGamer]

They kill Prime twice, damn Hasbro was straight up savage.

[@ServantRules]

They were pushing for the new and old fans to like the newer characters and cement that Rodimus was the new hotness (because TOYS). This episode was intended to solidify that after the movie, but instead, just made the fans hate the push even more, thus Optimus returns at the end, too little, too late.

[@Trunksmad]

Prime had bigger death count in comics.

[@joesoul2472]

@Steve Wolcott 4 times if you count his death in Headmasters

[@houseofno]

Kup: "All the heroes we lost in the great war.." Translation: all the toys that got the ax when they sold too slowly to suit Hasbro...unless your name is Jazz, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee or part of the '85 lineup.

[@chrisedwards3214]

@Steve Wolcott God Ginrai wasn't prime I know its confusing

[@EveryDooDarnDiddlyDay]

Fun fact: As others have elucidated here the "But is Optimus really gone?...." narration was added upon the second airing of this episode which was in February 1987 before "The Return Of Optimus Prime" aired. This episode re-aired at the END of the second run(the first re-run) of Season 3 episodes, whereas it had aired early in S3 during its initial showng.

[@JoseBronxRican]

Thanks; I knew my memory was correct on this. That little ADR kinda killed the impact of what Rodimus said at the end. I need this in my collection WITHOUT it, so I may have to do some editing.

[@mrdrip1216]

Armada

[@mrdrip1216]

Armada 2002 2003

[@thataliencon]

Damn , when Daniel was reading the names of the Autobots , it hurted more than I imagined it would .

[@chrisedwards3214]

Wish he would have read more

[@michaelweech6432]

​@@chrisedwards3214 at least none of the names Daniel was reading were Grapple, Hoist, Inferno, Red Alert, Skids, Smokescreen, Sunstreaker, Tracks or Trailbreaker (though it’s a wonder he only said *four* Autobots’ names, rather than all seven - those whose names he said, and in this order, were Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl and whose death we didn’t know about, until this episode - Huffer, who was killed offscreen, back in the movie; Daniel didn’t say the names of the remaining three Autobots who were killed, back in the movie - Brawn, Wheeljack and Windcharger)

[@yohanloud2435]

It definitely laid the ground work that most of the first series Autobots were killed off.

[@stainshield]

What is sad is that in Transformers: The Movie Spike wanted Ironhide to tell Daniel that he misses him and that he would return once they kick Megatron's butt across the universe, Rachet and Prowl in Season 2 took Daniel's father Spike to the hospital in Autobot Spike, and also Rachet used to work together with Daniel's Grandfather Sparkplug in Seasons 1 and 2. I will say that The Characters in The Movie and Season 3 were one that nobody even wanted or even asked for because people couldn't connect with them like The Ones from Seasons 1 and 2.

[@XenoJehuty84]

Here's some fridge horror, Daniel probably grew up knowing those very Autobots given his parents. I can only imagine that's another reason Spike felt ill-at-ease once they got inside. Sure he's an adult now but a lot of his best pals are buried in that place. Robots he knew since he was a teen. I imagine being in the tomb was no picnic for the entire crew.

[@WickedAndWhacked]

The cruelest episode of the entire franchise! It compounded the already immense trauma of the movie 🥺

[@Kur0Gaming]

After this. I grew a strong hatred towards the quintessons. We were forced to watch our hero turn on his comrades and die again.

[@fareedhlebbai5560]

​@@Kur0Gamingஒ😅இ😊😊ஃகூகூஉ

[@RedRanger9305]

​@@Kur0GamingYeah. Those Quintessons are a menace.

[@jonathanleon5053]

​​​@@RedRanger9305 Deceivers! Betrayers! Five faced slime of the nebula! I WILL RIP OUT YOUR TENTACLES AND FEED THEM TO THE DINOBOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hectorcollazo8845]

​@@Kur0GamingI find the Quintessons much worse than the Decepticons and that's saying a lot.

[@gutz1981]

I always have an image of a missing scene from the movie, where the Autobots load up the tomb before sending it into outer space. I imagine the Dinobots carrying Ratchet and Wheeljack and leading their two fathers into their resting place and paying one last respect to them with the sad Season 1-2 two music playing in the background.

[@RhetoricalGamer]

IDW need to make a mini series of this.

[@Jason_Maier]

That would have been a great scene. Even such badasses as the Dinobots would break down emotionally as they carried their creators to their graves.

[@Rockabillyman26]

That would be cool, I also picture a scene from the movie where Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod are loading Optimus Prime's corpse into the coffin, the very same coffin that you see in Dark Awakening, and bringing the coffin aboard the autobot grave shuttle before sending it into outer space, and you see hot rod and Ultra Magnus, Kup, Arcee, Springer, Jazz, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, Daniel and Spike paying their last respects and bidding farewell to great Optimus Prime, you can see tears coming down Daniel's face.

[@Rockabillyman26]

@@RhetoricalGamer I agree they should a make a mini series of the Autobots making a autobot grave shuttle, that way we could get more insight on which autobots actually died in the movie off screen.

[@tempviam]

Jazz is playing "Amazing Grace" on his speakers.

[@MrNetWraith]

This episode always stuck with me as a child. Looking back, it legitimately makes a lot of sense, at least on a conceptual level. The Quintessons created the Cybertronians in the first place; what other race could possibly hope to salvage the corpses of destroyed Cybertronians and successfully reanimate them?

[@OrlandoCaba]

Lmao.. I was thinking the samething😍

[@vorpal120]

For sure. I always thought they were just gonna fix his body at the end movie, then take him to Vector Sigma and give him a new spark but with no memory like when he lost his memory from Orion Pax to Optimus Prime in the first place.

[@allenfowler1886]

Why stop at Optimus? Why not bring a zombie bot army with the others that died?

[@acewilliams7917]

Very true.

[@great159]

@@allenfowler1886 Because the Autobots would follow Optimus into a trap and not Prowl or Ironhide.

[@kinglord7707]

When Daniel cried over Optimus Prime death in the 86 movie and the end of this episode is really sad and powerful scene. The bond these human characters have with autobots is very close

[@detmstr341]

This had to be the darkest episode. Seeing Prime as a zombie, and getting blown up again was hard to watch.

[@andrewdeharo7844]

How was Optimus prime becoming a zombie autobot? I closely imagine if Optimus prime looking like that in Bayverse transformers it would've been wrong.

[@andrewdeharo7844]

If Optimus Prime becoming A zombie, if he met bumblebee again they'd start a fight brutality in front of cade.

[@detmstr341]

@@andrewdeharo7844 Well, Optimus wasn't in his right mind. He wasn't functioning right, wasn't in the right working condition. It was scary to watch.

[@StormFive]

7:18 - I wept and squealed and cheered wildly when i saw it as a child.

[@nnthayer]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the hideousness of the Autobots' tomb being destroyed? They don't even get a final resting place; zombie-Optimus, via Quintesson control, sends it into a star. So reviled are the Autobots by every malevolent force in the galaxy that they're denied even a gravesite. I mean, goddamn.

[@syokusanagi]

yeah when i was a kid seeing the tomb being destroyed hurt me a lot. and even rewatching it still hurts.

[@XiaoFury]

I hated this, too. The Decepticons who became Unicron's minions were treated far better. Megatron and the others get upgrades, but WOW, the dead Autobots get their bodies destroyed, and we get a zombie Optimus! Then Hasbro wondered why many of us hated Rodimus.

[@karunot4879]

I don't know which was worse, seeing Optimus die during the movie, or seeing him becoma a zombie here and basically committing kamikazee showing a more gruesome death.

[@blueraccoon1088]

Neither in my opinion he goes a hero

[@jonathanleon5053]

To be honest with you, Optimus coming back as a zombie is worse.

[@X_Tsukasa_X]

@@jonathanleon5053 And Optimus coming back in Kiss Players is as bad as this

[@ntinosaggelopoulos6718]

Quintessons are vile

[@Soundwave32791]

This is definitely one of the best episodes of Season 3.

[@TF80s]

100% 👍👍...although this version is spoiled by the narration at the end.

[@tomaszperfikowski7647]

With bad animation... :(

[@FakeJake5843]

@@tomaszperfikowski7647 the animation isn't terrible but isnt the top quality like some episodes

[@alphatrion100]

​@@tomaszperfikowski7647 doesn't matter

[@hitmanpr]

I know there was a version of Dark Awakening without the spoilers, but I remember this episode aired the day before the airing of The Return of Optimus Prime.

[@champbaka]

This episode is inscribed in my memory from childhood. Grim reminder that the characters I loved are truly dead with Daniel reading out their grave markers…. then that corpse falling out of his crypt.

[@rosalindshays5679]

I'd guess that the "corpse" was just a random Autobot, but I always thought it looked a bit like Windcharger.

[@universalflamethrower6342]

For all it's campyness G1 packs a mean punch

[@JackFirlowIsR374rd3d]

@@rosalindshays5679 that's because it was

[@Izbrannyi1]

Что мешало их починить как это сделал Телетран 1 в первой же серии?

[@fuqjuetube882]

@@Izbrannyi1 failed plot armor.

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

Dark Awakening was perhaps the darkest and most emotional episode of the entire third season, i found the story to be very powerful especially with bringing Optimus Prime back as an out of control robotic zombie, i think this could have easily been made into a sequel to the movie, that's how good it really was. As far as acting performances go, this was one of Peter Cullen's absolute best ever and he really brought so much emotional pain in Optimus Prime's voice.

[@swordkingx4874]

Aside from Hasbro killing Optimus twice as a way of shutting up people who wanted him back. this episode is tragic, Optimus was revived but made to obay the Quintasons, and all throughout the episode you can see him trying to fight their conrol, they can control the body, but not the heart, in the end the Matrix freed him and allowed to give it back to Rodimus, before sacrificing himself for everyone. Till All are one.

[@XiaoFury]

I just hate how he was brought back just to suffer. Hasbro were a bunch of sadists, weren't they?

[@nickp2271]

Daniel: Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl, Huffer. Me: Don’t forget Brawn, Wheeljack, Windcharger and especially Optimus Prime.

[@Davethe3rd]

I'm like, "When'd they kill Huffer?!"

[@RhetoricalGamer]

@@Davethe3rd Oh I am sure he got blasted during the attack on Autobot City offscreen.

[@Davethe3rd]

@@RhetoricalGamer Oh, I'm sure every Season 1 & 2 Autobot except Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Jazz, the Dinobots, the Combiners, Blaster, Preceptor, and the Season 2 Minibots all died.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

@@Davethe3rd Inferno also survived the battle of Autobot city, a storyboarded but never animated scene showed him wishing Ultra Magnus good luck as he departed with Hot Rod, Arcee, Kup and The Dinobots in the shuttle.

[@nickp2271]

And I’m sure that every Decepticon in season 1 and 2 except Soundwave, his cassettes, Blitzwing, Astrotrsin, and the combiners has died as well.

[@thesupershinymegagengar2034]

To this day, this episode still makes me cry! When Daniel read the names of the autobots who were killed in the movie, my heart broke. 21:02 But when Optimus was getting more and more destroyed as he sacrifices himself to save everyone, after saying the phrase "Til all are one", my heart completely shattered! This episode made hate the Quintessons more than ever!

[@citizenkill7435]

He was dead just his body and some of his mind was reanimated from quintesson technology

[@thesupershinymegagengar2034]

@@citizenkill7435 Exactly.

[@jeromeashley9972]

The quintessons are some dirtbags

[@jonathanleon5053]

I just want to rip out the Quintessons tentacles for what they done to Optimus! I want to teach them a lesson to never mess with Optimus Prime!

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@jonathanleon5053 a quint brought him back

[@liljatupsu]

Since when have any characters in this show had this much depth? Seriously, this is the most developement Rodimus has had in the movie and the show so far combined! Definitely one of the best episodes in the entire show. Sure, it's dark, but it's so good! Feels like these are actual characters and not just hollow shells walking around.

[@alphatrion100]

Season 3 is deeper than season 1 and 2. But people only look at the animation quality

[@alphatrion100]

@Wally Webbs thats season 3. People say its bad but its actually more grown up than 1 and 2

[@sneedfloyd]

@@alphatrion100 I just wish galv was taken more seriously

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@alphatrion100 good storylines after the movie it was like the good old days are gone

[@alphatrion100]

@@chrisedwards3214 Times were simpeler in the first season with megatons ploy of the week to create or steal energon. Season 3 stories had a bit more depth to them.

[@dirtmcgirt7125]

Poor Spike. How much heartbreak can a kid take?

[@andywu1198]

I really love this episode, it's a cartoon but full of darkness in it.

[@Paul_the_Bookworm]

a dark awakening you could say

[@MatthewTheWolf2029]

Without a doubt, this is one of the darkest episodes in the show. It really left an impression on me. One that haunts me even to this day.

[@SWOTHDRA]

Same

[@nicholasmorsovillo2752]

When I saw this scene as a kid I started crying because I was still traumatized at seeing his death in the movie only too see it again on the show and all because of the damn Quintessons who brought Optimus back to life to use him to destroy the Autobots but I was also happy to see Optimus revert to himself and fight the Quintesson programming and save the day one more time and die a heroes death one last time sacrificing himself to save Rodimus Prime and the others.

[@XiaoFury]

This episode just tossed so much salt into our wounds.

[@ghostoferlock]

It's quite amazing how a cartoon can be such an influence. Watching as the matrix overpowers Optimus and floods him with the being of himself. Allowing him to return to the figure he is, and remove himself from command, is an awe inspiring moment, even more when it's one of our heroes. Ending this episode in this way, really helps make the strength of good things seem all possible.

[@nicholasmorsovillo2752]

And even after all these years just watching this scene again it still gets to me.

[@jeromeashley9972]

I say we all come together and go find the quintesons and make the most pay

[@mattmc9812]

I can't watch Optimus death in the movie or hear

[@kaiju1281]

In my childhood I was scared to watch this episode again, but I always loved that he died as Optimus Prime, sacrificing himself, and not being killed by other autobots as a mindless weapon. He never stops fighting for what is right even after his death, until all are one

[@slacknhash]

Springer: Those five-faced tentacled slime are gonna pay for this but good! ... I mean it, Arcee... (promptly makes no further appearance in the episode)

[@delorean36]

Springer was needed some where else

[@slacknhash]

@@delorean36 "Is it me or is the Quintesson fleet... about a tenth of the size that it used to be?" "I'm pretty sure this system didn't have a huge debris field either. Looks like a hundred giant corkscrews exploded." "He's hailing us. Wants to know if we have any more torpedoes as he's 'all out again'." "Get Arcee, put Arcee on the vox unit, put Arcee on the vox right now!"

[@gregorysorce1898]

I cried 1986 when I was 12 when Optimus Prime died. I cried a year later when Prime died again in this episode. I'm 48 now and watched this episode again and again I cried when Prime died. Optimus Prime can die 1000 times and I'll still cry each time.

[@Nobleshield]

This episode was a kick in the teeth. It was bad enough as a kid in this era that they killed Optimus Prime (like many children I cried during the movie), but they BROUGHT HIM BACK AS A ZOMBIE. Some other thoughts: - I never did figure out who the dead Autobot that falls on Daniel was. There are way more tombs than Autobots who died so maybe it's just someone who we don't know. RIP him. - Daniel: "Maybe he was in.. you know, a coma". Kid, you SAW HIM TURN GRAY, and the light in his eyes dim.

[@calebhebert2733]

not only did hasbro kill off one of the most beloved heroes of all time, they resurrected him and killed him again. and desiccated the memories of all his comrades that died in the war too.

[@theultimatememelord5494]

4:19: Huffer in his final moments: But we aren't fighters like they are priiiiiimme-*Explodes*

[@alienrefugee51]

Rodimus couldn’t get rid of that Matrix fast enough. Lol

[@athlonen]

yet got it back 4 episodes later after the Return of OP.

[@StarFighters76]

@@athlonen Well, that depends on production order. I remember when I watched this episode as a kid, it was around the Episode 10 mark. Plus, Rodimus never got the Matrix back at the end of Return Of Optimus Prime. He held it for a moment, but Optimus Prime fully reclaimed it, as Rodimus stayed as Hot Rod for the remainder of the US series.

[@athlonen]

@@StarFighters76 that's correct of the US series. Dark Awakening was Episode 8 in the US and Japan. The way the lapse of time could be explained between episode 8 and the Return of OP series is that it took time to Morgan and Swolford to get back to Earth with OP from saving him from the exploding star. But The Return of OP is where the arc begins. While we got The Rebirth: parts 1-3 in the US, they immediately went into the Headmasters series in Japan. HR was still HR, and not a Targetmaster. Daniel never got paralyzed. in episode 2 or 3 of the Headmasters series, OP needed RP's help, so he transferred the power of the matrix back to HR, making him RP again. OP suicided to save Galvatron and an exploding cybertron from an overloaded Vector Sigma (with Alpha Trion inside it still). RP continued on as leader of the Autobots.

[@Ozymondias99]

Rodimus was the reluctant leader.

[@ryanfarrelly4647]

12:11 The stuff Kup says feels like Hasbro telling us that Ironhide, Ratchet and the rest aren't coming back (in BW I think Ironhide and Prowl who were among the first to die, are Maximal elders)

[@theultimatememelord5494]

The real reason Optimus committed die again was because his restored free will also caused him to regain his memories of Kiss Players.

[@SudrianTales]

That's a legitimate reason to commit die

[@chrisedwards3214]

The most shameful death was crying over cartoon aliens in a video game that's shameful If I was grimlock I would call prime weak too

[@shadowspidey7327]

Rodimus was ready to follow Optimus orders and saying he's been keeping the Matrix warm for Optimus was nice like even though he's trying Optimus is the true leader and always will be of the Autobots. But Rodimus did great I mean look at what Optimus has done over the years a lot to live up to.

[@cesarvictorino8624]

If only Elita One was there I would have liked to see her react to this especially if she was in the movie.

[@gandalflotr2898]

I agree imagine in the end of this episode she will die with him in the sweet note

[@chrisedwards3214]

She was presumed dead by now maybe Megatron and shockwave had her killed when they banished the autobots from Cybertron some time after 1985

[@MrFox619]

Elita One would’ve made a great addition to the 86 film.

[@tompearce5418]

If Alita One died before the movie it would have been when the Decepticons finally purged all Autobots off Cybertron. If she was alive during the movie then she would have been stationed at Autobot City which was largely destroyed by the Decepticons, at the Ark, or one of the two moonbases that Unicron ingested. Remember that by the end of the movie the Autobots are an endangered species. Her chances aren't that great.

[@Wing-Zero-si1eu]

@@gandalflotr2898if that did happen. She too would be revive in The Return of Optimus Prime. Which was really easy for her to comeback online.

[@aurafireheart]

I feel bad for Optimus. Brought back from his final rest only to be used as a weapon, forced to fight against his will against his fellow Autobots and friends, destroying the last memorial to his fallen comrades, along with being used to nearly take out the entire Autobot fleet. Essentially having no clue what was truly going on but unable to fully stop his body from carrying out the Quintesson's programming until the last minute, the fact he did override their programming only further proves how much of a badass he is.

[@breadhenge]

But is this really the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow's exciting episode, "The Return of Optimus Prime".

[@athlonen]

I'm glad I have both times they aired this on tape. The original run didn't have the narration at all.

[@DisgruntledPigumon]

@@athlonen right, because it wasn’t the next episode, it was long after.

[@b8702131]

Haha. Finally Hasbro learned their lesson not to traumatize kids (and adults) by killing Optimus permanently.

[@kaijudirector5336]

@@athlonen I had a bootleg that had this first broadcast.

[@jeremyriley1238]

@@DisgruntledPigumon That is true. I read this was a re-edit done in February 1987 (the version without the narration aired in October 1986), as the narration was added to promote The Return Of Optimus Prime, which Part 1 debut in February 24, 1987.

[@davidcollier1680]

G1 continuity got a LOT better after the movie, as well as the series really maturing. Despite the unintentional trauma it caused us 80's kids we needed those life lessons.

[@Spotty2Wily]

I'd finally watched the series in the late 2010s after purchasing the seasons on DVD, being a hard-core fan of transformers during the Beast Wars Era. this hits me really hard after seeing this episode. The tombs of the previous heroes who died in the war...gone.

[@tyranusfan]

Hasbro (1986): Not only will we kill off your toys from last year...we'll then melt their corpses in the sun to make sure you don't see them ever again!

[@zhmihlo]

1:46 I love how on almost every wrecker mission there is Spike with them. Man's been so much with autobots, that he became a worthy member of their elite squad

[@yuljohnson6838]

I remember how glad i was to see Optimus back in this episode and how crushed i was to see him die again!! Great and dramatic episode that also showed the tomb of the autobots that were lost in the movie!! Always send chills down my spine when Spike sees the dead body of Hound discolored and fall over!

[@gutz1981]

The most F%$ked up episode ever. I mean the idea was "Hey kids were unhappy how Optimus died in the movie. Lets fix it." And they gave us this. WOW.

[@Leondrius]

The Return of Optimus Prime fixed all that, but yeah, what was this?

[@matthewmartin1595]

@@Leondrius I believe it was put into production before the movie's release and it was too late to change it after the fallout from Prime's death. The bit about "The Return of Optimus Prime" was added for second airings.

[@athlonen]

@@matthewmartin1595 This was put in after the movie's release, and released before the backlash really hit. They aired the original episode of this only once, with RP saying at the end, "So Long.. Prime." It took 8 months later to rerun this with the narration to put together the Return of Optimus Prime.

[@Leondrius]

@@athlonen Yeah, it never made sense how Prime's ship blew up, then in the next episode he's in a shuttle, totally unfazed, at least his body was. They knew they messed up and had to make Return of Optimus Prime to please the fans.

[@2fabdad]

Just think. Had they not been forced to bring back Optimus so quickly we would have gotten a proper power master Optimus in season 4. Instead we got rushed poorly animated return of and the rebirth end cap. The End.

[@marclewis5505]

Them bringing back Optimus Prime just to kill him again in this episode really upset me back then. At least they had enough sense to bring them back for good in a later episode.

[@colremy]

One of the best episodes ever! Watched this as a kid and loved it

[@TF80s]

Deffo.

[@n1c704]

2:05. Galvatron learned his lesson 😂

[@drjohnsmith5282]

Arcee: Just an exo-structure wound So, just a flesh wound but for an autobot? Lol

[@MrPsarn]

Actually, I see that she threw herself in the way to stop Galvatron shooting Spike and Daniel. Very brave lass! --> Daniel tries to return the favor in The Rebirth part 1, but pays very heavily for his actions.

[@nightwalker1607]

I have to admit this was a well written episode. However it also shows a major flaw in the Autobot command structure. The flaw is this: when the Prime Autobot is giving orders that do not make sense or is acting irrationally As Optimus was at times in his, like when he said to Perceptor "I AM IN COMMAND HERE, PERCEPTOR!" there should be a regulation where the next in line of command can invoke a regulation that relieves the Prime of command pending a thorough diagnostic. All the Autobots could plainly see how damaged and blasted and corroded Prime's chassis was, yet only Magnus and Kup had the insight to realize that Rodimus shouldn't give him the Matrix. Rodimus was clearly too hung up on not wanting to be leader and his guilt over inadvertently causing Prime's demise in the movie. The Quintessons clearly counted on this. However all the Autobots on Cybertron had to see his battle damage and should have insisted he spend time in the repair bay, however they were all too much in awe of the legendary Optimus in general plus that he was miraculously back from the grave. Perceptor is not stupid, he had to see the scope of Prime's damage and should have insisted on a security detail if necessary to get Optimus into the repair bay. Optimus however would have refused and blasted any Autobot necessary to continue his mission for the Quintessons since at this time he was just a reanimated, undead Optimus. He didn't fully revive until he nearly kills Rodimus, and that was thanks to the Matrix restoring his spark. His body was still undead thanks to Quintesson modifications and sabotage so he could handle the laser barrage at the end. Hasbro clearly intended this to be the end of him, but never underestimate the power of "traumatized" kids and irate parent groups.

[@buster_wolfhopkins6801]

I loved to post-movie seasons. They were a lot darker and more violent. Yep. I was a weird kid lol😂

[@GeneraloftheChannel]

Optimus in the thumbnail: "IM SUREOUNDED BY IDIOTS"

[@MLK-KAEFENTERPRISES]

Kind of neat how when Optimus shows up the Autobots battle spirits are renewed and they counter attack. 7:38

[@frankmitchell5128]

From the looks of this comment section our trauma never ended! Optimus meant that much to us!

[@DannySulatycky]

On one hand I was glad to see Optimus returning, but only to be used to destroyed the Autobots, but it still hurts watching Optimus dying, it’s not Transformers without Optimus prime

[@LeonardMosca]

We are assembled here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. And yet it should be noted that in the midst of our sorrow, this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new beginning; that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human He's not really dead. As long as we remember him. It's a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done before. A far better resting place that I go to than I have ever known.

[@PhoenixPrime]

This, along with "The Search for Alpha Trion", was my introduction to G1 when I was 10 years old....

[@angelomendoza1174]

Optimus Prime's tomb is similar to Merlin's tomb in Transformers: The Last Knight, it also has zombie Guardian Knights guarding the tomb just as zombie Prime gunned down Galvatron in G1! At the beginning of the episode, Galvatron's ship the Revenge chasing the Autobot ship was actually the same chase scene from The Transformers: The Movie. I believe that the Decepticon ship has been rebuilt after Unicron crushed with his bare hands during the defense of Cybertron. And finally, the inscibed names of fallen Autobots in the tomb are Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl and Huffer but among the few aren't shown are Wheeljack, Windcharger and Brawn.

[@johnstorm9314]

@10:01 As someone who hated Hot Rod after TFTM, this moment was the ultimate in fan service.

[@mikedski9698]

Rodimus Prime: I Don't Know If I'll Ever Be The Leader That You Were. But For Sure, I'm Gonna Try. So Long, Prime.

[@Rlotpir1972]

Then the narrator clues in tomorrow's two-part season finale.

[@mikedski9698]

​@@Rlotpir1972 Right.

[@NatashaHeffernan-k7h]

I'll be there with you big guy, I know you can do it, I believe in you, I always have

[@JosephEGlaser]

Also makes you realize how much things have changed...imagine putting Optimus' intro line into a kids show today "...leave this place or die!" Or Galvatron's constant death threats. I mean they are robots, but still

[@alecaquino4306]

This episode scared the crap out of me when I was a kid!

[@dank_smirk2ndchannel200]

Spike: "Great. What'll Daniel and I do when the air runs out?" Rodimus: "Basically you'll have two choices: suffocate, or smother."

[@mr.j3455]

That overhead throw. Rodimus beat Optimus using the same move he beat Galvatron with in the movie. Almost ironic.

[@ContraryASMR]

"2 choice: Suffocate or Smother" Damn Rodimus, you won't even spare them a mercy killing?

[@BomberMonkAssassin32]

My problem with this is i understand the business practices that the 1984 & some of the 1985 toy line were discontinued hasbro could have integrated the 1984 toy line with the 1986 lineup of G1 toys to spark even more interest in the toyline instead of killing off most of the characters in the movie

[@Isaac-gh5ku]

That would have been a great idea. Just give the 1984 and 1985 toy line a makeover and integrate them into the 1986 toy lines so that there will be more interests in the old toy lines. In the movie, instead of all of the Autobots killed, they would be gravely injured and dying. Then I had this idea where Hot Rod use the Matrix of Leadership and gave it to Vector Sigma so that it can not only revived the dying Autobots, but give them more upgraded and stronger forms.

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

Well said BomberMonkAssassin35.

[@mikehenry8840]

They should redo G1. So many good stories to tell. Would love to see a longer battle and Deceptions being reformatted. I’d make the Seekers Cyclonus & Scourge and Insections would be Sweeps due to Cloning technology

[@jackytran7818]

Peter Cullen/Optimus/nemesis/Orion pax: "forgive me." "I've been waiting." "What have I done?!" "What did they do to me?!" "Please, rodimus!" 18:08 "No, no!" 18:24-18:28 18:42-18:49 18:56-19:01 "you should have finished me!" 19:16 "until all are one!" "But you will save them, rodimus Prime." 20:13 "until all are one...." 21:01

[@johnnycruz7794]

We were blessed to get episodes like this when we were young.

[@foxfireinferno197]

"The blast doors to the command center are locked!" "Fortunately, I have a delicate lockpicking technique." *PUNCH*

[@wtvideos3205]

As a kid I didn't like the third season post-movie - I guess obviously as it was so much different than the first two seasons which were always in my mind the "true" transformers. But rewatching the third season now I'm growing to really like it... much more mature themes, real-world consequences of decisions and actions. I'm wondering if this was a conscious move by Hasbro.. the Transformer fan base would have matured 2 or 3 years from season 1 (a big difference when you're 7 or 8) and perhaps Hasbro were anticipating that those more cartoonish first and second seasons wouldn't appeal to these kids as much anymore as they grew.

[@jeremyriley1238]

It was a move by Hasbro done to sell toys of the new characters, hence why Transformers: The Movie had most of the characters from the first two seasons killed off.

[@MrPsarn]

At the time I thought that the only good thing about season 3 was the sci-fi element where they visit many different worlds, it was otherwise quite a departure from the Transformers we knew up until the movie. Perhaps at the time Transformers was having stiff competition from other sci-fi shows, so needed to reinvent themselves to keep up with the market. I thought that by the time The Rebirth happened, they sort-of nailed it, but then the series ended.

[@steakdriven]

Damn. Hits hard even as someone who didn't start watching it until it was already in syndication (early 90s)

[@AstroTrain100]

21:39 LOL "But is this really the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow's exciting episode "The Return of Optimus Prime" Obviously not!

[@hypersonic6424]

Yea they really spoil what would happen

[@jgvillan01]

6:39 Cyclonus took a shot at the humans. Such a badass as to pick targets that can't fire back. Or was it brilliant forethought to get an Autobot to sacrifice herself.

[@LuisVillalobosYT]

Boffum 😂

[@chrisedwards3214]

They decided to hang around giant robots in their civil war

[@usedtissuepaper42]

0:42 “the Decepticons are creaming us”

[@rockys201]

The narrator really liked to give us hope that Optimus Prime was always going to return!

[@great159]

In the Original airing he doesn't say Optimus was coming back to life.

[@rockys201]

@@great159 what did the original say?

[@rjhunter1873]

@@rockys201 There was no narration at the end.. it was Rodimus saying very mournfully (after his previous "for sure I'm gonna try" line) "So long...Prime." End of story. Roll credits. At the time it was truly..devastating.

[@rockys201]

@@rjhunter1873 it must've gotten a really bad reception when they had to retcon everything and bring Prime back to life.

[@Sigma.974]

9:54 just a bit glitchy

[@nicholasmorsovillo2752]

I remember hearing the narrator say that about the next episode being about the Return of Optimus Prime which is kinda stupid as that was the last 2 episodes of season 3 and on the d.v.d. version as you watch the Autobot survivors leaving the area after Optimus' death for a second time you can hear Rodimus say 'So Long Prime' now that was real heart wrenching and made a lot of kids hate those 5 faced space freaks a lot more.

[@alazmatfilms]

1:58 nice call back to the Movie when Galvatron destroyed the autobot ship before finding out from Unicron that they escaped on a smaller ship

[@acewilliams7917]

I love e that spike grows into manhood and has a son of his own.

[@SailorMoonFriends]

It would be more funnier if Starscream possessed Optimus Prime's corpse to get revenge on Galvatron since the fact that Megatron killed Optimus Prime while Galvatron killed Starscream in the movie

[@jsttv]

I remember seeing this episode and being surprised hearing the narrator announce his return on tomorrow’s episode.

[@DavidKoelle]

They added that later. The very first time this aired, there was no Return of Optimus Prime.

[@jsttv]

@@DavidKoelle I know, I was pleasantly surprised w/the added announcement.

[@recrdholdr]

But is this really the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in our next episode " The Return of Optimus Prime" LOL

[@veekleek7535]

Yeah, they kept the suspense for all of half a second 🤣

[@RhetoricalGamer]

That is one way to keep kids from crying all over again.

[@jeremyriley1238]

@A.A. V It was, as the line was added in a February 1987 rerun of the episode to promote the upcoming The Return of Optimus Prime, which came after this episode's rerun.

[@wiiliamhamilton147]

I'd like to know how The Quints knew where Prime was...much less revive him? Did the Autobots even anticipate that grave robbers would try to steal Optimus Prime's corpse?

[@wiiliamhamilton147]

Obviously not. I'm surprised that The Decepticons didn't think of it first.

[@jamescoyne5592]

one thing i have always had a problem with these episodes is that there seems to be oxygen in there for Spike and Daniel to breathe. The same with Cybertron. What use would there be for oxygen on Cybertron and this tomb, etc.