The Master Builder
Title card via TFWiki, fan-archive fair use
Grapple's dream solar-power tower is hijacked by the Constructicons, who turn the architect's masterpiece into a weapon.
Grapple shows Hoist a working model of a Solar Power Tower he wants to build and the two of them take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus is occupied at the moment because Spike is teaching him how to play basketball. Optimus likes Grapple's concept, but rejects the plan because it would be difficult to defend the tower against an attack.
The Autobots are interrupted by Teletraan I, alerting them that Powerglide has been shot down by Starscream and Skywarp. Hoist and Grapple take up the task and depart to repair the Autobot plane. During their return trip to the Ark, Grapple attempts to convince Hoist to build the tower with him, regardless of Prime's orders. Hoist protests, pointing out they can't do it alone, let alone disobey Optimus.
Their conversation is cut short when they are trapped by the Constructicons. Scrapper says they've left the Decepticons and proposes a joint project. Grapple, enamored with his solar tower idea, agrees, but wants proof of their partnership. They promise to bring proof back and fly off.
On their return to Decepticon headquarters, the Constructicons are confronted with several weapons pointed at them, as well as an enraged Megatron, who confronts them with video tape of their conversation with Grapple. They all swear loyalty to Megatron, and insist they plan to betray the Autobots. Satisfied with their explanation, Megatron lets them go with a present. They return to Grapple and Hoist with "proof", an entire truckload of energon, they claim they have stolen from Megatron. Convinced that they are working in good faith, Grapple and Hoist agree to the partnership. The Constructicons are soon stealing construction materials from the humans for the project.
Meantime, Optimus is playing basketball with Tracks, Inferno and Smokescreen. After he shuts Tracks down during a drive to the net, Prime notices that Tracks needs maintenance, but no one knows where Hoist is. The Autobot leader sends Powerglide out to find the missing Autobots. Powerglide finds the solar tower and reports back.
Grapple is in his element, directing the Constructicons as the tower is built, and blissfully unaware of their deception. The Constructicons merge to form Devastator in order to place the sun-focusing sphere at the top of the tower. With the last piece in place, the tables turn. Megatron attacks Grapple and Hoist and claims the tower as his own. The Decepticons get to work collecting the energy.
The Autobots arrive and attack, quickly overwhelming the Decepticons, who retreat behind the tower. The Autobots follow, to find that the Constructicons have formed Devastator and he's not so easy to defeat. Prime tricks Devastator into trying to kick Smokescreen but he kicks the tower instead. A few more rounds of laser fire send Devastator crashing into the tower, demolishing it. Megatron and the Constructicons retreat.
The Autobots dig in the debris to try and find Grapple and Hoist. Brawn discovers them encased in a sheet of metal and punches it apart. Grapple and Hoist apologize for the trouble they've caused. Prime is in a forgiving mood, but says they have to clean up the mess themselves. As the others drive off, Grapple and Hoist fondly remember the tower.
—Powerglide, king of self-esteem.
—Grapple worries about whether Optimus Prime will agree on his proposal for a Solar Tower.
—Optimus Prime and Spike play basketball.
— The Constructicons try to explain themselves to a furious Megatron.
—The Constructicons rob a hapless building site.
- This episode introduces a slightly modified color model for Devastator. In his previous appearances, that, erm, protrusion on the front of his pelvis was green with purple sides, but is changed to solid purple, while the portion of his torso underneath his chest plate is changed from purple to green. However, the new model mistakenly colors the "jet port" on the top of his chest plate green instead of purple. This new color model would be used for all future appearance by Devastator that were animated by Toei; unsurprisingly, AKOM never got the memo.
- The Autobots have a color-coded alert system. When Teletraan I discovered that Powerglide was shot down he called for "condition magenta". When Optimus Prime discovered Grapple and Hoist were working with the Constructicons, he called for "disaster code blue" and ordered a strike force to assemble.
- Unlike Tracks, Grapple and Hoist appear to have been unconcerned with where and how the Constructicons procured their building supplies.
- Seriously, can you imagine the size of the ball that the Autobots need to play basketball?
- Due to the initial script running short of required runtime, the scenes of Powerglide being shot down and the Constructicons' raid for building materials were added in revisions. Evidently, adding these new scenes was still not sufficient, as Devastator's second combination sequence was staggered for an inordinate amount of time on the storyboards.
- Scrapper claims that the Constructicons admired Grapple's work back on Cybertron. This contradicts the earlier statement in "Heavy Metal War" that the Constructicons were built recently on Earth, but fits with the later accounts of their history given in "The Secret of Omega Supreme" and "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4".
Screencaps via TFWiki (Teletraan I), used under fan-archive fair use.