Writers: Len Wein and Diane Duane
In an attempt to cure Galvatron's madness, Cyclonus takes him to the medical planet Torkulon.
Major Characters (in order of appearance): Galvatron, Cyclonus, Quintessons, Scourge
Minor Characters (in order of appearance): Torkulon Patients (3), Torkulon Doctors, the "Alia,"
Original Air Date: 20th October 1986
Summary
Following yet another defeat at the hands of the Autobots, mostly due to Galvatron opening fire on his fellow Decepticons, the beaten and abused Decepticon forces issue Cyclonus an ultimatum: "Do something about Galvatron or we'll do something about the both of you!" A holographic image of a Quintesson appears and suggests that there are ways to cure Galvatron of his madness, and planets which specialize in repairing damaged minds, such as Torkulon. Cyclonus lies to Galvatron, informing him that the Autobots are resting after their most recent skirmish on Torkulon. Meanwhile the Quintessons gloat behind the scenes that shortly they will have several less Transformers to deal with including the Decepticon leader they view as the "most unpredictable of them all."
Upon landing, Galvatron threatens several alien flesh creatures, demanding them to hand over Ultra Magnus - the Torkulons arrive and restrain Galvatron, who then realizes Cyclonus lied to him about the presence of the Autobots, and Galvatron is carried away to begin his therapy, which Cyclonus believes will cure him. Scourge, however, is reluctant and feels this therapy is stupid, wishing only to get off the therapy planet.
The Torkulons are unsuccessful in getting Galvatron to talk about his problems, and even less successful when they have him put together external objects to repair his damaged psyche, resulting in Galvatron creating a blaster and trying to escape. Finally they attempt "exo-drama" where patients act out their problems but a bouncing alien screaming at Galvatron finally causes him to snap further, to which he says he will give them something to "scream about." Galvatron becomes immune to the electromagnetic restraints of the Torkulons, who throw everything they have at Galvatron, restraining him for their last resort - the Alia solution, in which it's revealed Torkulon itself is a living planet that feeds off of the madness of those who cannot be helped, in effect lobotomizing the planet's victims and leaving them mindless. Cyclonus and Scourge are also restrained by the Torkulons.
The Alia begin to feed on Galvatron who continues to resist, with an allusion to his past life as Megatron when he yells "You have no right to change what I am!," to which the Torkulon doctor informs him "You've already been changed; that's the problem." Crying by Cyclonus ensues as he watches his leader's mind become consumed by Torkulon, however something goes wrong. The madness of Galvatron proves to be too strong for the living planet, causing it to malfunction. In the chaos, Galvatron, Scourge and Cyclonus are released from the planet's grasp. After taking a few shots at Cyclonus for getting him in this mess, Galvatron journeys to the center of the planet, having seen into it's mind while it was inside his. The planet fears Galvatron's madness and destructive potential but ultimately is unable to stop Galvatron from reaching it's living-computer core and firing at it in his laser cannon mode, rendering the entire planet inoperable. Galvatron informs Cyclonus he will now destroy whatever is left, and warns Cyclonus against stopping him. As the planet is reduced to smoke and rubble, Galvatron gloats over the beauty of "devastation wraught with precision and care," seemingly just a little more sane... until Cyclonus informs Galvatron the Torkulons will spend centuries rebuilding. Galvatron decides his work isn't done if it's going to take "only centuries" to rebuild, but upon Cyclonus mentioning the Autobots smiles at the prospect of killing Ultra Magnus and the Decepticons flee the planet, leaving the Torkulons at the mercy of their former insane patients.
Notes
Quotes
Galvatron: "Crush the Earth and its puny humanity! CRUSH ANYONE ANYTHING THAT DARES TO OPPOSE US!!!"
Cyclonus: "Mighty Galvatron, please! We must use strategy-"
Galvatron: "Strategy is for COWARDS!!!"
Galvatron: "Kill...smash...destroy!"
Galvatron: "Wrend...MANGLE...DISTORT!!!"
Galvatron: "I HATE the Autobots! I hate Cyclonus! And I'm not very fond of you either!"
Galvatron: "You fear me, don't you planet? You know I know your secret!"
Galvatron: "You wanna scream? I'll give you something to scream about!!!"
Galvatron: "You cannot stop me!! I am Galvatron!! I am your destruction!!"
Cyclonus: "He *is* crazy"
Cyclonus: (sadly) "Galvatron..."
Galvatron: "Cyclonus, they'll destroy me!! Help me!! Heellpp meee!!!"
Cyclonus: "Surely, it will take them hundreds of years to rebuild..."
Galvatron: "Only Hundreds? Perhaps my work here is not yet finished..."
Cyclonus: (wearily) "Mighty Galvatron, don't we have other more important matters to attend to? The Autobots for example..."
Galvatron: "Yeeeeeeeeeees, the Autobots... Ultra Magnus, yeeeessss!"
Technical/Animation Glitches
- Soundwave's only line in this episode once again lacks his trademark harmonics, meaning it once again sounds like Dr. Claw!
Continuity Errors
- Perhaps not a continuity error or an animation flaw, as much as a quirk, is that this is the last G1 appearance of Lazerbeak (curiously without Soundwave) who appears in the party of angry Decepticons threatening to eliminate Cyclonus if something isn't done about Galvatron's madness.
Transformers References
- Some allusion is made to Galvatron's former life as Megatron. While the Torkulons attempt to lobotomize the Decepticon leader, he states that they have "no right" to change what he is, to which the Torkulon Doctor replies "You have already been changed, that's the problem." On the other hand, this could also be taken to mean the plasma damage that changed him from his saner personality as seen in the movie.
Other Fiction References
- While the episode overall appears to parody the modern field of psychology (see below), Torkulon itself bears a striking resemblance to Vortis, a planet from the Doctor Who universe. Both planets feature insect-like inhabitants and a world-spanning web with mind control abilities. This similarity appears to be more than just coincidence, as Vortis appears in the similarly named Doctor Who serial, The Web Planet.
Real-World References
- Large portions of the episode, especially the therapy sessions, seemed to parody real psychological treatment methods such as word association and dramatherapy. The intentions of the Alia to consume Galvatron's mind could also be taken as a reference to a lobotomy, a process that can "cure" certain mental illnesses but removes significant parts of the patient's personality.
External Links
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