Much, much too much time has passed since I did my last installment of those zany old Transformers.  Hell, for a while there I was almost starting to think I had a life.  Luckily such thoughts were immediately put to rest as the second season of the world's greatest show, as voted by the United Nations, recently came out on DVD, allowing me to actually see and hear what's going on, as opposed to my incredibly crappy versions I have on video which would actually be better had I drawn them myself and had my dog do the voices.  And I don't even have a dog.  But let's see what's a-happening in the world of big ass robots kicking the crap out of each other.

Sparkplug tinkers around with some used Autobot parts.  This is very disturbing to everyone, especially since he conducts all these experiments in his bedroom.  As it turns out, he is creating a new warrior, Autobot X.  Mere seconds after activation, he becomes violent and needs to be shut off.  Wheeljack decides he could be used to transfer the consciousness of a wounded Autobot during repair.  And none too soon!  During an attack on a nearby rocket base, Megatron critically injures Spike and his consciousness is transferred to Autobot X.  Spike goes crazy and Megatron tries to turn him evil.  In the end though, Spike remembers that he's one of the good yellow helmet wearing guys and tells Megatron to stick his head up his ass.  Then his essence is transferred back into his human body and he and Sparkplug hug like sissies.

There's a really well animated shot when Megatron transforms to fire at Spike.  As he's transforming, Soundwave floats into the screen and catches him.  It looks quite nice.

"Hey, it's not supposed to do that!" - Sparkplug after Autobot X goes berserk and starts destroying everything, as if anyone thought that is what he's supposed to do.

• So how exactly does Sparkplug, a worker on an oil rig, know how to build an Autobot all of a sudden?  And just where exactly did he get all these "spare parts?"  Autobot X has complete arms, legs, and a head.  Which Autobot lost a head?!
• When activating Autobot X, Ratchet says that even if it works, why would they need another Autobot?  Oh I don't know, how about to keep from getting your sorry asses kicked like in every other episode!
• Trailbreaker's got a pretty cool force field.  It deflects all of Autobot X's beams but allows Prowl's and Ironhide's to go right through.
• Teletran I has an alarm solely to warn of an intrusion at the rocket base.  Yeah, that's good utilization of resources there.
• Sure was a lucky thing Wheeljack invented that mind transfer device exactly when Spike needed it.
• And speaking of which, when exactly did he invent it?  He said he'd like to, then the Autobots go to the rocket base, then Spike gets injured, and suddenly Wheeljack's got it?
• Once again, a Decepticon who was standing right in front of the Autobots manages to then sneak up behind them.
• And also once again, the Autobots destroy the base they are trying so hard to protect and even have one alarm solely dedicated to warning them of an attack.  To their credit, at least this time they offer to help fix it.
• And boy do they!  The thing is totally demolished but back up and running within a matter of hours.
• The shot that severely and critically wounds both Spike and Bumblebee hits the ground, not Bumblebee or Spike.
• Autobot X can fly?  Too bad Sparkplug didn't install that ability in the other Autobots, it would certainly have given them an advantage.
• I realize that the ridiculous bolts on the side of Autobot X's head are there to remind us of the Frankenstein theme that they mention roughly seven billion times, but really, where would Sparkplug get anything that size?  And how would he ever be able to tighten it?
• This my be a kind of silly point, but how did Spike and Sparkplug pay for this extensive surgery Spike received?  For that matter, how do they pay for food?  We know they certainly don't pay for clothing since they always wear the same outfit, but how do they support themselves?  Neither of them works.

CHANGED PREMISES

• Trailbreaker emits his force field straight out of his head.  Before it came out of that funky doodad on his shoulder.

ANIMATION FLUBS

• When Sparkplug is unveiling Autobot X, Ratchet keeps switching positions around the room.
• After emitting from his head for most of the scene, Trailbreaker's force field then moves to his chest.
• When the Autobots roll for the rocket base, Optimus Prime calls out who should go.  The next shot shows Bumblebee, who was not called, rolling with them.  When they arrive at the base, no Bumblebee.  Then suddenly he's there to get shot by Megatron.
• Ratchet mouths Ironhide's groan as he struggles to lift Spike for some reason.
• When Spike is first transferred into Autobot X, his eyes glow red even though they are blue for the whole rest of the episode.
• As Spike goes bonkers, he continually has two overlapping voices screaming.
• Spike mouths Megatron's line, "will you join us?"
• During the scene where the rocket lifts off successfully, the Autobots continually disappear in the close up of the Head Rocket Firing Dude (his official title).
• At the end, when Megatron calls for retreat, Skywarp and Starscream are firing off to the left.  Throughout the entire fight, the Autobots were off to the right.
• The voices of Prowl and Sideswipe switch halfway through the episode.
• And of course, seven thousand Autobots keep appearing and disappearing throughout the final fight scene.

DVD DIFFERENCES

• To be honest, I'm not sure if this is legit or not, since as I said my VHS copies are in such crappy condition.  However, it appears that as Autobot X attacks the Decepticons, what was a tiny Reflector robot in the left corner is recolored to look like Starscream.

- Danimal