COUNTDOWN: 12 classic moments from DARK AWAKENING that still shock!

It having only recently been Halloween, of course there’s been all kinds of spooky Transformers-related content all over the internet. Yet it was a tweet from @TFWiki that randomly reminded me of one part of Transformers lore that certainly never failed to give me nightmares as a kid – the Generation 1 cartoon season 3 episode, Dark Awakening.

I had the VHS of Dark Awakening as a kid. Looking back, it’s incredible this episode was ever made, as the topic & the depiction of it are so bleak. Even now, scenes like this are etched into my brain.

Also note Huffer is confirmed to be dead by a throwaway line of dialogue. https://t.co/MKclPtRsDg

— Sixo (@SixoTF) November 1, 2020

If you’ve never come across this episode before then MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

The episode notoriously details the (sort of) return of Optimus Prime from the dead, following the events of the 1986 big screen movie. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a Quintesson plot to use Optimus’ reanimated body to lure the Autobots into a trap, and sees all kinds of horrific things going on before Optimus finally sacrifices himself again in order to save his comrades.

Needless to say, it’s the kind of thing that makes a big impression on you when viewing it as a kid, but even now it’s hard to believe that such a thing ever made it to screens! So today, we’re counting down 12 of the most shocking moments from that original episode!

 

#12: Sombre opening

As points on this list go, this one is far from the most shocking moment here. However, the general tone and pace of the episode still prove to be a massive surprise from the moment it opens, with a hugely sombre feel to the proceedings and a seriousness in the way the characters conduct themselves all round. Galvatron has rarely proven as menacing as he does in those opening moments, and even the Autobots seem to be aware of how dire their predicament is. There’s even an almost-convincing early fake-out where we’re led to believe that they’ve been destroyed along with their shuttle, though of course that would make for a very early end to the story!

 

#11: Approaching the tomb

That sombre tone only deepens once our heroes stumble across a giant object in space, which turns out to be a gigantic tomb that they themselves built as a final resting place for all their comrades who died during the Great War. The tension is alarmingly palpable as they head towards the entrance, and the way the storyline switches to have you observing events through Daniel’s eyes only adds to the weight of what’s happening. “Like Optimus Prime?” he asks, only to receive a silent and chilling nod from his Autobot friends.

 

#10: Name call

Here things go up as notch, as Dark Awakening spares no time in reminding you that some of your childhood favourite characters are dead and gone. As Daniel searches the tomb, he finds graves for various Autobots and calls their names out as he goes, mentioning Ironhide, Ratchet and Prowl, who we all knew the fate for due to having seen the movie beforehand. However it’s Huffer’s name that proves a bit of a surprise, as he was nowhere to be seen at the time, and so is confirmed to have died off-screen. Poor lad.

 

#9: Ghostly presence

It’s not long before Daniel has run into trouble (as per!) and is spooked to discover the figure of Optimus Prime standing right behind him! Optimus does not speak, but looks heavily damaged and worse-for-wear. It’s enough to cause Daniel to run screaming, before he inadvertently opens another tomb and causes the lifeless corpse of an unnamed Autobot to fall and nearly crush him. Sleep well, kids!

 

#8: Optimus at rest

Wondering about Daniel’s story regarding seeing Optimus, Rodimus Prime says he must inspect his predecessor’s tomb to be sure what’s going on, leading thousands of kids still raw at their hero having been killed off on a trip to visit his grave! Naturally it turns out to be empty, which was pretty spooky stuff all unto itself…

 

#7: He’s back…

Perhaps then it’s little surprise when Optimus finally does come back to help the struggling Autobots in a battle against some invading Decepticons, but the tone of the whole thing is again what really grabs you here. Optimus makes quick work of Galvatron’s troops, shouting, “Decepticons! Leave this place… or die!” One way or another, this is not quite the same robo-dad we knew from seasons 1 and 2!

 

#6: Optimus’ betrayal

Rodimus is so elated to see his mentor return that he quickly looks to hand back the Matrix to him, although alarm bells start ringing when Optimus recoils at the idea of taking the sacred Autobot item. It’s not long before we get the real twist though, as Optimus solemnly asks for forgiveness before turning his blaster on all of the assembled Autobots and incapacitating them one-by-one. It’s a really shocking sight and not something you expect from the iconic Autobot leader!

 

#5: The Autobots’ grief

Having made it off the tomb and returned to Cybertron, Optimus convinces the rest of the Autobot army that Rodimus and his team are dead, and blames it on the Quintessons. Naturally they’re grief-stricken, but it’s Springer’s reaction that hits the hardest, as he resolves to avenge his fallen comrades and then quietly states, “I mean it, Arcee…“, showing us just who was first on his mind.

 

#4: Rest in pieces

Optimus programmes the Autobot tomb to fly into the sun, and despite our heroes scraping away to safety, it means that the resting place for everyone who died during the events of the movie goes up in flames. Even as a kid, I remember being stunned by this moment, as in a franchise where all-too-often characters can come back from the dead, it just seemed so final…

 

#3: Prime problems

Optimus starts to struggle more and more with everything that is going on, as clearly he starts fighting back against whatever programming the Quintessons have done to him. It’s horrific to see our hero battling so much with himself, as he writhes around in pain trying to take control. I’ll also add that there is some *outstanding* voice acting work from Peter Cullen in this episode – you’ve genuinely never heard Optimus shout and cry out in anguish as much as this.

 

#2: Optimus vs Rodimus

Perhaps inevitably, it all leads to the ultimate confrontation, as Rodimus must battle Optimus to try and retrieve the Matrix. That would be shocking enough by itself, but again it’s the uber-grim tone of the whole thing, along with moments such as Optimus losing an arm, that really all add up to make this one you won’t forget any time soon. Again, the vocal work here is incredible, with Optimus’ cries of “Stop me – please, Rodimus!” forever stuck in my brain.

 

#1: Till all are one

Really though, the ending of this episode is the one moment that will be forever etched in the mind above all others, as Optimus hijacks a shuttle and flies it into the Quintesson’s trap in order to save his fellow Autobots. The Quintessons turn all of their considerable firepower on him in the process, meaning that we get to watch as they quite literally blow him to pieces. If you thought Optimus’ end in the 1986 movie was grim, how about him losing half his face before finally being blown up? I guess in many ways what also makes it shocking is the whole notion of bringing this iconic character back only to off him again in such a brutal manner, as though the writers took some delight in torturing their audience. Of course he would return again by the time the cartoon was concluded, but still, this remains an outrageous episode for obvious reasons!

 

So that’s our list. Did we miss any other shocking moments?

TTFN