The Fight Begins

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"Put me down for 20 shanix on the big one."
"The Fight Begins"
Production company	Hasbro Studios, Machinima
Airdate	November 21, 2017
Written by	Eric S. Calderon F.J. DeSanto Adam Beechen
Director	Yuzo Sato
Animation studio	Tatsunoko Production

Trypticon and Metroplex finally face off as everyone else braces for impact.

Synopsis

Windblade continues to fire on Trypticon, but her shots prove completely ineffective. Once again, she pleads with Metroplex not to battle Trypticon, but he is resolute in his decision. The two Titans approach and have a brief staredown before lunging at each other, the impact of which creates a shockwave that decimates the surrounding buildings. Even at the Primal Basilica, the Mistress of Flame is nearly knocked from the tower by its force before being saved by Perceptor. Metroplex continues to fight despite Windblade's protests, but both are caught off guard as the strained voice of Starscream emerges from Trypticon. They don't have time to ponder this, though, as Trypticon resumes his relentless assault.

En route to the battlefield, Hot Rod checks in with the Mistress of Flame about the evacuation progress and assures her he will be there shortly. Elsewhere, Optimus Prime continues on his journey, but intercepts a signal from the Matrix of Leadership, which grants him a grim vision of future events and prompts him to turn around and head back towards the city. The Mistress of Flame attempts to contact the Combiners for an update on their progress, but receives no response. She orders Perceptor to activate the Primal Basilica's defense systems as she returns to the Prayer Chamber, believing only a miracle can save them now.

He's trying, guys. We swear.

As Metroplex struggles to defend himself against Trypticon, Optimus watches the battle from the ground below. He is not alone, however, as Megatron emerges from the shadows to join him. While Megatron believes everything will work out like it always does, Optimus is instead convinced that this is a sign of the end times for their species. Megatron is skeptical, but Optimus insists that the gods will soon return to destroy them all, having seen it in the Matrix along with visions of itself, the Requiem Blaster and the Enigma of Combination. Convinced Optimus has gone mad, Megatron turns to leave as Optimus bids his old enemy goodbye and rushes towards the battle.

While Perceptor reboots the Basilica's defenses, the Combiners finally locate the inert Fortress Maximus covered by ice in a frozen wasteland and begin to look around. Menasor notices a glowing green button on a panel and presses it, causing the fortress to launch a single missile towards an unknown heading.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

*Voice-only appearance

Quotes

"It appears our faith has been rewarded."
"Your faith at least. [sigh] I wasn't forged for this..."

—The Mistress of Flame is optimistic; Perceptor...less so.

"You know, I've always wanted to ask you... Are you still mad at me for killing you?"

—Megatron to Optimus, though he should really be more specific.

"Anyway, you're always so dramatic. I'm sure someone will do something and this will all work itself out somehow."

—Megatron echoes the viewers' sentiments.

"This is the beginning of the end. We have never known this level of chaos. First, the Combiners were out of control. Now, the Titans have awoken, and will level cities with their combat. Perhaps our species has run its course. If we do not utterly destroy ourselves, the Gods will one day end it for us."

—Optimus Prime recaps the past, and warns of the future.

Notes

Transformers references

• Megatron refers to the Matrix, Requiem Blaster, and Enigma of Combination as tools meant to bring down Unicron.
• Victorion worries that the missile launched at the end might lead to their ultimate doom.

Animation and technical errors

• As he returns to the Primal Basilica, Hot Rod asks Mistress how the evacuation is proceeding, and she responds that it is "nearly complete." However, aside from random lights on in random buildings, there has thus far been little to no evidence of anyone but the main players even present in the city, let alone evacuating it.

Trivia

• Optimus's statement that "we have never known this level of chaos" is, unfortunately, punctuated by a sequence of Metroplex throwing several punches at Trypticon, all of which fail to connect, as can be seen above. In all, the fight between the two Titans is confined to only a certain area of the city, and ultimately doesn't serve to damage anything much, aside from the show's narrative quality.