When I started doing these silly reviews of old Transformers episodes, I was afraid that people would start to think that I was a slightly deranged lunatic.  As it turns out, I was exactly right.  Fortunately, most people already thought that about me, so it didn't hurt too much.  In any event, let's take a look at the latest installment, "Fire on the Mountain."

Megatron has discovered a legendary ancient Incan temple with a super powered energy crystal which can somehow harness the energy of the Earth's core.  He uses it to build a super powered weapon which is really only good if people ever attack Peru.  At the same time, the Autobots have found and resurrected Skyfire (see "Fire in the Sky").  With his help, the Autobots are able to drive the Decepticons away and put the energy crystal back where it belongs.

At one point, Megatron tells Skywarp to stay behind and watch over the bungling oafs Starscream and Thundercracker.  Skywarp responds by cackling out this hilarious laugh.  It's pretty funny.

• At the beginning of the episode, Starscream and Thundercracker attack a steel plant to get materials.  Even though they both agree that the steel is substandard, they take it anyway rather than find a stronger substance.
• At the Incan temple, Megatron blasts open one of the walls to go inside.  Luckily for him and the others, there's a staircase right next to the hole he created.  I can't help but wonder what that staircase was doing there in the first place.
• Why did the Autobots wait so long to rescue Skyfire?  And for that matter, what made them think they could rescue him at all?  The last time we saw him, he sacrificed himself by crashing headlong into a mountain.  The episode sure seemed to indicate that he was dead.  Now suddenly he just needed to be rescued.
• And speaking of rescuing him, last time he was found frozen, it took something like 80 billion volts of electricity to get him started again.  This time, just one quick blast from Wheeljack's cannon not only melts his icy prison, but brings him back to life.
• In typical Autobot fashion, when they try to stop Megatron from taking steel from the second steel plant, the Autobots have no problems rolling in and wrecking it without abandon.
• Why are the steel bars the Decepticons take the second time glowing yellow?  Is it some kind of super special mega steel?  I find it hard to believe they took it while it was still molten hot.
• In typical Decepticon fashion, less than one minute after taking the steel, they already used it to construct the weapon frame.  Those guys are some fast builders!
• And what's with the weapon anyway?  Somehow no one but Megatron has ever tried to harness this miraculous power source before?  And what good's a weapon that can only be used in the Andes mountains?  Megatron really needs to rethink these plans.
• Why all the ribbing to Wheeljack at the end of the episode?  They're talking about the guy like he's a bumbling clod.  If I'm not mistaken, his inventions have saved them in just about every episode so far.

CHANGED PREMISES

• Laserbeak suddenly has the ability to telepathically report to Megatron.  In the past, he always needed to return to Soundwave who would interpret his findings.
• Skyfire crashed into the top of a mountain when he died, but didn't really die.  When he's brought back to life, he's at ground level, buried under ice in a lake.
• Wheeljack's ears are back to glowing blue instead of orange when he talks.  I guess he just can't make up his mind.

ANIMATION FLUBS

• When Starscream goes to shoot Brawn early on in the episode, his gun goes from being mounted on the side of his arm in one shot to the top in the next.
• Starscream suddenly puts in an appearance at the Incan temple.  More accurately, he's not there during most of the scene when he should be.
• Thundercracker, trying to be like Starscream, is also not there for most of the scene until he's spoken to.  Then he suddenly appears.
• When Megatron takes off with Reflector and Soundwave, there's suddenly a fourth Decepticon flying away with him who looks nothing like any of the Decepticons.  I have no idea who it's even supposed to be.
• When Sideswipe finally digs up Skyfire, he says "it's Skyfire" (never at a loss for words I guess).  His voice is suddenly very raspy.  It sounds a lot more like Scrapper or Bombshell.  Of course, they're not in the show yet.
• Ironhide mouths Optimus Prime's line "let 'em have it!"
• As Brawn slides down the side of the temple, he casts a shadow on the sky.  Pretty neat trick.
• Trailbreaker can't decide whether he wants to have two hands or one hand and one mounted gun like he should.  He switches configurations throughout the episode.
• Again in typical Autobot fashion, all kinds of Autobots magically show up and disappear at the final battle.
• There's a funny shot during the battle where we see a group of Decepticons furiously firing their guns.  Then the camera pans over and we see that they're shooting...nothing!  Seriously, there's nothing but a rock there.  No wonder these guys always lose.
• Optimus throws Megatron down the temple feet first, but in the very next shot he's falling head first.
• Bumblebee opens his door at the end of the episode to let in Spike and his newfound chick.  The door opens like it should (hinges toward the front of the car).  Then when the shot changes and the door closes, it closes like an old fashioned car (with the hinges toward the back).

- Danimal