Recap / Transformers Prime S 2 E 14 Triage

Tropes:

• A Day in the Limelight: For Ratchet, Wheeljack and to a slightly lesser extent Soundwave. We get to see how Ratchet copes outside of his element with a 'Bot who has zero respect for him, Wheeljack come to respect a stuffy old grump like Ratchet, and Soundwave proving he really does care for his Deployer.
• Batman Gambit: The virus plan relies on Soundwave eventually going looking for Laserbeak and getting back to work decoding the Iacon Database, both of which he does. To ensure the virus remains hidden, Ratchet implants one of Wheeljack's grenades in Laserbeak in a very obvious spot, fully anticipating that the Decepticons won't realize it's just a distraction.
• Bittersweet Ending: Soundwave manages to add an Iacon relic to the Deceticon's armory, but the Autobots have one themselves in "Tunnel Vision", and neither side has the third one thanks to Starscream in "Tringulation". On the plus side, the Autobots now have access to the entire Iacon database, but their celebration is shortlived when they see Bulkhead return from his own mission, empty-handed and injured. What happened is revealed next episode.
• Close-Call Haircut: A variant, since Cybertronians don't have hair. While the two are fighting, Wheeljack's sword grazes Soundwave's screen, shaving off some metal flakes.
• Combat Pragmatist: Though Soundwave is tougher than he expected, Wheeljack is still able to fight him on even terms and ultimately come out on top. Soundwave has to resort to using the Resonance Blaster to save his own skidplate.
• Dramatic Irony: After Ratchet hits upon the decoy part of the plan, Wheeljack admits he considers this a waste of a good grenade. However, unbeknownst to Wheeljack, the grenade actually does get to go off, due to Knock Out panicking while disposing of it.
• "Eureka!" Moment:
  • Wheeljack's suggestion about planting a live grenade in Laserbeak gives Ratchet the idea for the virus that will transmit the Iacon Database to the Autobot base.
  • While Raf is confident he can prepare the virus, he says they need a decoy to ensure it isn't discovered prematurely. Raf was thinking of preparing a second, more obvious virus to that effect, but Ratchet thinks to make use of Wheeljack's earlier grenade suggestion.
• Friendship Moment: Ratchet thanking Wheeljack for his help, and Wheeljack using Ratchet's real name for a change.
• Gale-Force Sound: The Resonance Blaster.
• Little "No": Ratchet, after seeing what's happened to Bulkhead.
• Major Injury Underreaction: After his visor gets cracked, Soundwave stumbles back a couple steps, but he remains quite stoic, despite this being the equivalent of his face.
• Oh, Crap!: Knock Out when told to dispose of the grenade and especially while in the process of doing so.
• Old-School Dogfight: Even though the Jackhammer is technically a spaceship, it's somehow able to pull this off.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
  Wheeljack: Doc...
  Ratchet: Wheeljack, I told you not to call me that!
  Wheeljack: I'm sorry...
  Ratchet: What's wrong?
• Pun: After Soundwave's visor gets cracked.
  Wheeljack: There I go again shattering expectations.
• Rapid-Fire Typing: Raf is able to whip up the virus in a matter of minutes.
• Skewed Priorities: Averted. After thinking up his virus plan, Ratchet says they can afford to lose one relic, if it means increasing the chances of getting the remaining ones.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: At first, Ratchet and Wheeljack do not get along.
  • Could also apply to Knock Out towards Soundwave at the end of the episode.
• Underestimating Badassery: Wheeljack refers to Soundwave, somewhat dismissively, as "Megatron's communications chief," and clearly isn't expecting the Decepticon to put up as good of a fight as he does.
• Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Megatron is slightly bemused that the Autobots slipped a grenade inside Laserbeak, while Knock Out hits the dirt. When the poor medic has to get rid of the bomb, Megatron politely speaks to Soundwave, pauses when he hears an explosion, and continues without batting an optic.
• Use Your Head: Wheeljack breaking Soundwave's visor.
• Villain Respect: Megatron describes the Autobots planting a grenade inside Laserbeak as "clever."
• Villainous Demotivator:
  • By now, Megatron's patience with Knock Out is running out.
    Then I suggest you convince me of your continued usefulness by examining Laserbeak, doctor.
  • Megatron also berates Dreadwing for his failure in "Triangulation."
    "Soundwave, you have performed admirably—unlike Dreadwing here, who somehow managed to lose the Apex Armor to Starscream!"
• Villainous Friendship: Megatron and Soundwave's is on full display in the episode's closing scenes.
• We Need a Distraction: Wheeljack offers to use himself to distract Soundwave long enough for Ratchet and Raf to install a surveillance virus into Laserbeak.
• When He Laughs: At the end, when he sees the Iacon database downloading into their computer, Ratchet laughs in joy.