Recap / Transformers Prime S 2 E 3 Orion Pax Part 3

You had a heck of a day, Optimus.

I must know: Who am I?!?

- Orion Pax

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Tropes:

• Barehanded Blade Block: Optimus blocks Megatron, effectively bookending the last six episodes.
• Big Damn Heroes: Arcee tackles Megatron just as he is about to kill Optimus.
• Big "NO!": Megatron utters a magnificent one when Jack restores Optimus's memories.
• Bittersweet Ending: Thanks to Jack and Arcee, they provide the Vector Sigma data needed to restore Optimus Prime's Matrix of Leadership and, with it, his memories, allowing him to beat Megatron and return to the Autobots where he belongs. Unfortunately, while incomplete, the Decepticons still have data locating the Iacon relics thanks to Optimus' old persona, Orion Pax, and a race to retrieve them begins in the next episode.
• Blatant Lies: Even after Orion has decoded Soundwave's barriers on finding out he's really Optimus Prime and the highest-ranking commander of the Autobots, Megatron spits out, "You are my clerk!"
• Book Ends:
  • Optimus blocks Megatron's strike, which had happened with their positions reversed in "One Shall Fall", effectively ending the storyline that spanned six episodes.
  • Optimus lost his memories as he entered Unicron's spark chamber and released the energies of the Matrix of Leadership into Unicron's spark. Jack entered Primus' spark chamber, downloaded the collective wisdom of the Primes from Primus' spark, and recharged the Matrix in Optimus' chest with them.
• Continuity Nod: As the Autobots escape with Optimus:
  Bulkhead: (to Megatron) This time, he's comin' with us!
• Curb-Stomp Battle: Megatron against the Autobots. Later against Orion. Then finally restored Optimus Prime against Megatron.
• The Determinator: You have to give Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee credit for refusing to stay down even after getting the floor wiped with them by Megatron.
• Evil vs. Evil: Jack pits the Scraplets against the Insecticon so that both threats cancel each other out.
• He's Back!: Optimus regains his memories and returns just in time to give Megatron a good beatdown.
• Incorruptible Pure Pureness: Orion/Optimus.
  Ratchet: Optimus, it has truly been our Darkest Hour, but know this: from every indication, your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot.
• Internal Reveal: June and Fowler learn about the Scraplets.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain:
  • The beatdown that the two Vehicon guards delivered to Optimus/Orion caused his arm cannons to appear and allowed him to defeat the Vehicons while firing blindly.
    Orion Pax: I'm... armed?
  • The Insecticon coming to attack Jack allows him to toss one of the Scraplets at it, causing the rest of them to lose interest in eating Vector Sigma and eat the Insecticon instead.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Two Vehicons decided to have some fun kicking and beating Optimus/Orion when he protests against Megatron's orders.
• Oh, Crap!:
  • The expression of the Vehicons when Optimus's arm cannons appeared.
  • Megatron has two moments in rapid succession:
    • When he demands the Matrix from Arcee, then sees Jack using the Key to Vector Sigma to upload the Matrix.
    • When Optimus catches Megatron's blade and realizes that he has regained his memories.
• Only the Chosen May Wield: The Matrix of Leadership Jack brings back from Cybertron. Orion questions if he deserves to bear it.
  Orion Pax: Are you certain... that I am worthy?
  Jack: You have NO idea...
• Pre-Asskicking One-Liner:
  Optimus Prime: Megatron... begone! *punches Megatron away*
• Properly Paranoid:
  • The moment Megatron hears about Starscream encountering Orion, he suspects the clerk will start asking even more questions. Once Orion starts rebelling and attempts to delete what he found so far, Megs reveals that they had already saved a copy and have begun searching for the items based on the Iacon Files' coordinates.
  • When Arcee and Jack don't hear from the other Autobots, they stop before they decide to cross the portal home. They suspect something wrong on the other side, unaware that Megatron is waiting for them.
• Shut Up, Hannibal!:
  Megatron: Come, Arcee, so that I might end the lineage of the Primes for all time.
  Orion: I cannot allow that to happen, Megatron!
  Megatron: And why should you care, Orion Pax? You are no Prime.
  Orion: That may be true or yet another deception, but this much I do know: my sympathies lie with the Autobots and you are not one of us.
• Skyward Scream: Megatron after the Autobots escape.
• Status Quo Is God: After three episodes, Orion is restored to his Optimus Prime persona.
• Summon Bigger Fish: Technically, they're smaller, but the Scraplet swarm certainly winds up a Bigger Fish than the Insecticon.
• Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Jack is excited to find Vector Sigma and the hope of restoring Optimus' memories... only to learn that it is taking longer than usual to download into the key. Even with state-of-the-art computers, it takes time to download terrabytes' worth of data. As Ratchet states, all of the knowledge relating to the Primes is within Vectir Sigma.
• Underestimating Badassery: Megatron admits to this.
  "You Autobots have gone to impressive lengths to recover your leader. Rest assured, I will not underestimate you again."
• Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: After Jack inserts the Matrix keycard into Vector Sigma, it catches the attention of the Scraplet horde, letting the Autobots know once Ratchet noticed his agitation.
  Bulkhead: Why did it have to be scraplets!?
• The Worf Effect:
  • The giant Insecticon introduced at the start of episode easily beats down Arcee.
  • While they tangled with Megatron before, none of the other Autobots stand a chance against the Decepticon leader compared to Optimus.
• Worf Had the Flu: Orion has the resolve to finally stand up to Megatron's deception, but is easily trounced since he lacks the fighting spark his former self wields. Luckily, Jack arrives to finally restore Orion back to Optimus Prime and turn the tables on his enemy at last.
• You Shall Not Pass!: Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee pulls this to keep Megatron from getting through the space bridge to get to Arcee and Jack.

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