Among the finest Transformers episodes parodied a traditional zombie film

Zombie robots? It may occur, and it typically does in “Transformers: Prime.”

Since “Transformers” has been remade quite a few occasions over the previous 40 years, new cartoons will typically use a central gimmick to face out from the gang. ‘Beast Wars’ had robots that turned into animals as a substitute of autos. The 2003 animated collection “Transformers: Armada” capitalized on the “Pokémon” craze and had the Autobots and Decepticons preventing over “Mini-Cons,” human-sized Transformers who may unlock nice powers within the biggest. “Transformers: Earthspark,” presently airing, launched a brand new group of characters referred to as “Terrans,” who’re Transformers created on Earth as a substitute of the metallic planet Cybertron.

For the “Transformers: Prime” cartoon from 2010 to 2013, the gadget was Darkish Energon. “Energon” is the first gasoline supply of the Transformers and the lifeblood of their creator, Primus. Darkish Energon (which glows a sickly purple as a substitute of a crystal blue) is the blood of Primus’ shadow, Unicron. Since Unicron can not create life, solely pervert it, Darkish Energon can reanimate useless Transformers into savage monsters referred to as “Terrorcons” – once more, zombie robots.

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“Transformers: Prime” started with the five-part miniseries “Darkness Rising,” by which Megatron makes an attempt to make use of Darkish Energon to create a Terrorcon military. To regulate them, Megatron infuses himself with a burst of the substance, making him additional highly effective but in addition (much more) erratic. This storyline culminates within the season 1 finale, “One Shall Rise”, the place the Autobots and Decepticons should staff as much as cease Unicron from resurrecting himself.

Darkish Energon continues to seem all through the next two seasons of “Transformers: Prime.” In “Flying Thoughts”, he brings the Decepticon warship to life. In “Alpha/Omega”, Megatron forges an excellent highly effective sword (the “Darkish Star Saber”) from Darkish Energon. Then in “Thirst”, Starscream and Decepticon Knock Out’s physician by chance begins a Terrorcon outbreak.

“Thirst” Terrorcons are nearer to vampires, even having interlocking mouths like the Reaper vampires from “Blade II”. The fundamental setting, nevertheless, lies within the 1985 zombie horror comedy “Return of the Dwelling Lifeless.”

With “Transformers: Prime” already counting on zombies, a direct homage episode was inevitable. Since “Darkness Rising” already performed the undead for horror, this homage as a substitute selected to extract from a famous zombie comedy.

In “Return of the Dwelling Lifeless”, the occasions of “Night time of the Dwelling Lifeless” really occurred, type of. A military-designed chemical referred to as Trioxin unfold and created zombies, however the plague was contained. George Romero later took the thought of ​​the useless being resurrected and made it into a success movie (altering particulars to keep away from a lawsuit), whereas Trioxin was by chance shipped to a medical provide warehouse. Someday, warehouse foreman Frank (James Karen) exhibits Trioxin to new man Freddy (Thom Mathews), just for him to launch it and begin a zombie outbreak.

Their makes an attempt to include the epidemic fail every time. Stabbing a zombie within the mind, what the films inform us ought to kill the undead? It would not work. (“You imply the film lied?!”) Throwing a zombie right into a crematorium? He contaminates the acid rainstorm outdoors with Trioxin, inflicting the outbreak to unfold to a close-by cemetery.

A number of sources, together with the “Transformers” wikihave already famous how “Thirst” pays homage to “Return of the Dwelling Lifeless.” The telltale signal is that Terrorcons additionally cannot be killed with typical zombie headshots. Knock Out, after apparently watching horror motion pictures at drive-ins, learns the identical lesson as Freddy: typically motion pictures lie. As in “Return”, Starscream and Knock Out chorus from alerting the right authorities (on this case, Megatron) till the state of affairs is already uncontrolled. In spite of everything, if your The boss was a ten-meter-tall shark-headed robotic with an enormous gun in its proper hand. You would you like him to know that you simply fucked up like that?

Though a enjoyable recreation, “Thirst” can not and shouldn’t be seen in isolation. This is without doubt one of the final episodes of “Transformers: Prime” (episode 60 of 65), and THE final comparatively self-contained one earlier than the ultimate story arc kicks off. Even a couple of repeated strains of exposition (i.e. Knock Out to convey new viewers in control on Darkish Energon) cannot have the complete affect.

Many subplots additionally converge in “Thirst.” For instance, within the season 1 episode “Stronger, Sooner”, the Autobot medic Ratchet refined an artificial type of green-colored Energon that functioned like a steroid. (Ratchet, voiced by Jeffrey Combs of “Re-Animator”, playing with green liquid? A member of the “Transformers: Prime” writing staff was a horror fan.)

Knock Out received his fingers on the Artificial Energon on the finish of “Stronger, Sooner” and it lastly pays off right here; the mix of “Synth-En” and Darkish Energon is what creates the outbreak. Nevertheless, “Thirst” additionally exhibits the results of long-running tv, past simply an more and more excessive barrier to entry. At this level, the writers knew Starscream and Knock Out had been the MVPs of the collection, particularly when paired collectively, so “Thirst” takes full benefit of that. Steve Blum’s vary as Starscream was simple, taking him from scary to mad very quickly and dropping or elevating his voice an octave alongside the best way. Daran Norris’ candy and clever efficiency because the self-obsessed Knock Out can be what made the Decepticon physician the most well-liked character on the present. (Knock Out? Extra like Breakout.)

Each Cons are cowardly, egocentric and hilarious, so watching them (fail) take care of a catastrophe of their very own making makes “Thirst” one of many must-see episodes of “Transformers.”