Just recently I got a fan letter for this particular running feature which said something along the lines of "are you ever going to stop doing that stupid shit?"  The answer is no, so bite me.  We've still got somewhere around 70 episodes to go, and I know that the public is dying to find out all about our latest installment, "Traitor."

The Decepticons steal some sort of energy collecting device called Electrocells and begin to use it to make an amazing amount of energon cubes (total cubes made: two).  Mirage somehow doesn't detect their new device so the Autobots immediately believe him to be a Decepticon spy.  While trying to redeem himself, the Insecticons capture Mirage and implant a mind controlling bug on him.  They then use him to lure the Autobots into a devious trap which really isn't that devious.  Luckily, Ratchet discovers the bug and the Autobots escape unharmed.

This is a surprisingly well animated episode.  There was a lot of attention paid to shading the characters to make sure they actually looked reflective, as though made of metal.  That said, the very last scene of Cliffjumper and Mirage rolling around with their legs wrapped around each other could probably have stayed out as far as I'm concerned.

• Megatron robs the Experimental Energy Research Laboratory (recent nominee for "lamest name of a research facility yet") and takes one tiny little Electrocell which is green.  Suddenly that Electrocell turns the regular, generic purple all metal is on this show and is a gigantic device which towers over everyone.  If we're to believe that Megatron constructed this whole device, why couldn't he just construct the Electrocell as well?
• Megatron steals this Electrocell and puts it in yet another generic canyon.  This canyon was within Mirage's scout patrol, but he missed it.  Because he did, all the Autobots immediately jump to the conclusion that he's a Decepticon double agent, rather than just thinking him incompetent like everyone else would, and as it turns out is accurate.
• Mirage and Skywarp fistfight at one point.  I can't for the life of me figure out how this would be effective for either of them, especially considering how each of them is armed to the gills with weapons that could kill one another.
• During this ridiculous fight, Mirage rips off a cloth Decepticon symbol from Skywarp.
• Throughout the entire episode, just about every character mentions that if even one of the Electrocells explodes, it'll cause a chain reaction which will destroy the Earth.  Needless to say, at the end of the episode, they all explode and absolutely nothing happens.
• Speaking of the Electrocells, it's never mentioned even once exactly what the hell they are or how they can "solve the Earth's energy problems."
• Somehow the Autobots don't notice the gigantic chip on Mirage's head until the very end of the episode.

CHANGED PREMISES

• The Autobot ship is now down to only two thrusters, except for one scene when it has three.
• Shrapnel seems to have lost his "repeating" speech impediment, except for two lines when it's suddenly a completely different voice.

ANIMATION FLUBS

• When the Autobots first roll for the Electrocell canyon, there are three different shots of them leaving the base.  The order in which they're driving completely changes in each one.
• Prowl, Sunstreaker, Bluestreak, and Ironhide all transform with the Autobots to attack the Decepticons, but vanish throughout the entire attack.  Jazz, however, mysteriously appears.
• Here's a shock:  Optimus Prime's transformations all come from that same first season episode that no one even cares about anymore.
• Cliffjumper and Mirage switch sides between the close up and the long shot of them attacking the Decepticons' newest doomed energy device.
• At one point, Starscream tries (but fails) to kill Cliffjumper.  Then we see the three Insecticons land next to Starscream, and as they land Megatron delivers a line.  Then suddenly in the next shot he's standing with the Insecticons.
• In said scene where Starscream lets Cliffjumper go, he raises his gun to fire then suddenly stops and looks at the sky.  I'm guessing there was supposed to be some sound effect which distracted Starscream, but it sure ain't there.
• When the Electrocells are about to explode for the first time, Megatron runs over to put out the fire (even though there was no fire).  As he does he knocks Starscream out of the way and over his shoulder is Skywarp... painted like Starscream.
• Skywarp also gets painted like Thundercracker when Mirage shoots him at the end.

- Danimal