The End Of The Universe IV

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"The thing none of you will ever understand is that there are no sides."
"The End Of The Universe IV"
Season	3
No. in season	17
Production company	Allspark Animation
Airdate	February 21, 2020 (UK) April 26, 2020 (USA)
Writer	Zac Atkinson Mae Catt Gavin Hignight Dan Salgarolo
Director	Ehud Landsberg
Animation studio	Boulder Media Studio
Watch this episode on YouTube

With no way left to fight against Croaton, the Cybertronians are suddenly saved by an unexpected arrival.

Synopsis

Resting in the remains of Iaconus, an unconscious Windblade is awoken by Laserbeak. Picking up a message from Optimus Prime proclaiming the fight is not over, Windblade spies the Quintesson-controlled Croaton on the march. Vowing that he must be stopped, Windblade transforms and flies off.

Without a Titan of their own, the Autobots and Decepticons can do nothing against Croaton, who at Judge Starscream's orders begins obliterating them and whatever is left of Iacon City (much to Judge Starscream's amusement). A detachment of fliers try shooting the Titan but their attacks are ineffectual. On the streets below, Autobots and Decepticons battle the Quintesson forces. Hot Rod and Soundwave come face to face with a squadron of alternate Soundwaves from across the multiverse, who attack them.

Windblade lands on Croaton and tries using her Cityspeaker powers to talk to him, but the Titan is unresponsive. At Laserbeak's indication, she heads inside the Titan's superstructure. On the streets below, Optimus, Bumblebee and Wheeljack evade some Prosecutors, only to find several defeated Autobots and Decepticons being rounded up and penned in by the Quintessons. Their momentary shock allows Judge Starscream to get the drop on Optimus, blasting him. Once again, the former Decepticon proclaims Optimus guilty of crimes against him, for which the penalty is doom! Before he can pass sentence, a portal opens up in the sky, and a purple shuttle emerges, from which leaps none other than Megatron.

Kup tells his audience that while he wasn't particularly happy to see Megatron again, sometimes the most despicable piece of scrap is exactly what you need.

Judge Starscream tells Megatron that he is too late to save the Decepticons, but he is just in time to be judged. As he fires a laser, Megatron declares "Decepticons, attack!" and begins to glow with a strange energy, summoning a barrier that protects him from Judge Starscream's attack. Megatron explains to the stunned Cybertronians that he has travelled the multiverse and gained new powers, asking if they would like some as well. Shadow Striker whole-heartedly agrees. As Judge Starscream announces no power can stop him, Megatron shares the energy between Optimus, Bumblebee, Soundwave, and Shadow Striker. At the sight of this, Judge Starscream orders the Quintesson forces to destroy them all.

With their new power, the Cybertronians effortlessly defeat the Sharkticons and Prosecutors. Declaring his doppelgangers inferior, Soundwave uses his power boost to blow the alternate Soundwaves away. Watching from Croaton's shoulder, a frustrated Judge Starscream declares the fight over and deems everyone guilty, sentencing them to total annihilation. Globs of unspace substance begin raining down on the battlefield from a portal opened by Judge Starscream, disappearing Autobots and Decepticons alike. Seeing this, Megatron orders the shuttle, known as Astrotrain, to seal the portal. As Astrotrain approaches, he is caught by Croaton and a gloating Judge Starscream proclaims that no-one can stop him.

Inside Croaton, Windblade uses her powers to get into the Titan's mind, finding it overrun with the same Quintesson tendrils that cover his body. Croaton explains he is under their control. Vowing to free him, Windblade summons up her strength and splits into multiple copies of herself. Attacking the Quintesson controls, she succeeds in freeing Croaton. However, this causes her to collapse, portions of energy shooting out of her in every direction. The restored Croaton tries talking to Windblade but gets no response. Breaking free of the Quintesson restraints, he begins marching away from the battle, promising to give Windblade somewhere she can rest.

"We're free!"

Seeing the Titan leave, Judge Starscream declares he doesn't need him anyway and tries stopping Astrotrain on his own. Down below, Megatron notes his mistreatment of Starscream and how he must now destroy him. Calling to Optimus, he says they must join powers to defeat his treacherous lieutenant and reveals that he has has obtained his own Matrix of Leadership during his multiversal trip. Though Optimus insist this cannot be, Megatron responds that it is and they must now save the universe. Together, the two use their Matrixes to blast Judge Starscream. With a great burst of light, the former Seeker vanishes, allowing Astrotrain to seal the portal to unspace.

Finishing his tale, Kup tells his audience that sometimes there's a price to existence, and sometimes that price is getting along with someone you don't like. Do that, and maybe the universe will not end.

With the war against the Quintessons over, Optimus and Megatron stare down while Dead End, Shrapnel, Kickback, and Bombshell disembark from Astrotrain. Optimus notes that because they have saved the universe, they are all in Megatron's debt. When asked what his price is, Megatron responds that he may call in that debt, one day, but for the moment he has one demand: half of Cybertron. The Decepticons will stay on their half, and the Autobots on theirs, or there will be consequences. Reluctantly, Optimus agrees.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"To all who can hear me, this is Optimus Prime. Autobots. Decepticons. Our fight is not over. Roll out."

—Optimus Prime

"Megatron. The last bot I ever wanted to see again. But you know what, sometimes the most despicable piece of scrap turns out to be exactly what you need."

—Kup

"Look at you, fighting your little fights, never winning, never losing! This ends now! Hear my final judgement: I pronounce you all guilty! Your sentence: TOTAL ANNIHILATION!"

—Judge Starscream's done playing around.

"Starscream... I mistreated you all this time. And now, I must destroy you."

—Megatron feels bad for his punching bag for once.

"Existence always comes at a high price. Sometimes, you gotta get along with somebody you don't like. When you do that, then the universe probably won't end."

—Kup

"Megatron. You have saved Cybertron and our entire universe. We are all in your debt... How will you make us pay for it?"
"There may come a time when I call in this debt, but for now, these are the rules. Half of Cybertron is mine. You and your Autobots stay on your half, or there will be consequences."
"...So be it."

—Optimus strikes a deal with Megatron.

Notes

Continuity notes

• They're back, baby! Megatron (and Dead End) took off into the multiverse in "The Judge". Looks like he has been a lot busier than Optimus was, sporting several scars, altered parts, an extra barrel on his fusion cannon, some magic superpowers, and a Matrix of his own.
• It totally looks like Starscream's been destroyed this time; his death will be confirmed later on.

Transformers references

• Yeah, yeah, another "Soundwave Superior". Get some original lines, Soundwave.
• Astrotrain is a new version of the locomotive/space shuttle Triple Changer from Generation 1 but with a design that makes his shuttle and train modes look more Cybertronian in nature.
• Briefly seen disembarking from Astrotrain alongside Dead End are the Insecticons, who are modeled after Shrapnel's Thrilling 30 toy. Shrapnel shares the same purple and yellow color scheme as Generation 1 Shrapnel, but it's never specified which one is Kickback and which one is Bombshell.

Real-world references

• TBA

Other trivia

• When last seen, the alternate Soundwaves are blasted away by Soundwave and are incapacitated, though their unconscious bodies just sort of disappear.
• Mae Catt wanted Starscream to emerge from the remains of his Quintesson Judge body, though they are okay that the idea got scrapped.^[1]

Animation and technical errors

• TBA

Foreign localization

German

• Title: "Das Ende des Universums Teil 4"
• Original airdate: January 16, 2021

Portuguese

• Title: "O Fim do Universo, Parte 4" ("The End of the Universe, Part 4")
• Original airdate: October 4, 2021

Home video releases

• TBA

References