In 1984, a franchise was born that has not only spanned every decade since its first episode launched, but continues to thrive, evolve, and entertain generations to this day. The cartoon that started the franchise, titled The Transformers, also affectionately known as “Generation 1” to fans of the series, aired from 1984 to 1987, with the theatrical release, Transformers: The Movie hitting cinemas in 1986, and was set between the events in Season 2 and 3.
The Transformers franchise has now firmly set its iconic place in popular culture, with the original series spawning a very successful toy line from Hasbro, as well as videos, cartoons, and movies. The Michael Bay films are arguably the most familiar to modern audiences, but standalone movies like Bumblebee, plus Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which Paramount have called the beginning of a new trilogy for the franchise. Looking back on the original series, it may have some inconsistent animation, but among the 98 episodes, there are many which have left a lasting mark on the franchise.
10 Fire In The Sky
Season 1, Episode 13
One of the most surprising highlights in “Fire in the Sky” is that the writers gave the previously devilish and loathsome Starscream more of a human side. Much of the episode focuses on his relationship with Skyfire, who gets his first real introduction to the franchise in the episode. The Decepticons travel to the Arctic Circle to drain Earth of its heat, and stumble across Starscream’s old friend, Skyfire, who’s frozen in the ice.
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The episode raises a moral question for Starscream about whether he should save and resuscitate his old friend from the polar ice cap, or leave him to his demise. Ultimately, Starscream is determined to save his old scientist pal, but when Skyfire decides that the Decepticon life is not for him, Starscream blasts him before he can become one of the Autobots. The episode has some great characterization and action, and is a great example of how the franchise is layered with origin stories and lasting relationships.
9 Starscream’s Brigade
Season 2, Episode 47
This episode again focuses heavily on the confrontational and headstrong Starscream, who seems to boast about being a better leader than Megatron in most of the episodes, without ever really doing anything to back those claims up. That is until this episode aired, and fans got to see him make a serious play for Megatron’s title as leader of the Decepticons, by building his own mini-army to take him on.
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After Starscream is exiled from the Decepticons and banished to a Pacific Island, he builds his army from the remains of discarded World War II vehicles. He gives them the personalities of renegade Decepticons who are being held hostage on Cybertron, and in the process, the Transformers franchise is introduced to the Combaticons, a key part of the series who combine to form the supremely powerful Bruticus. This episode not only introduces fearsome new characters, who will possibly feature in upcoming movies, it features great action sequences, making it one of the most entertaining of the series.
8 A Prime Promblem
Season 2, Episode 8
One of the greatest aspects of the Transformers series, is the wonderfully inventive forms the ‘Robots in Disguise’ take throughout the franchise. It also often gives the limelight to slightly less prominent characters from time to time, and “A Prime Problem” makes full use of the series’ roster of fighting robots to full effect.
Witnessing Megatron attempt to impersonate the real Optimus Prime as his clone is intriguing.
The devious Megaton creates a clone of Optimus Prime to lure the unsuspecting Autobots into a chasm of Korlonium Crystals, that is set to explode upon impact. Witnessing Megatron attempt to impersonate the real Optimus Prime as his clone is intriguing. He doesn’t know the troops nearly well enough, but he has some invaluable help from the unlikely source of Laserbeak, who takes out Starscream in one key battle, proving that the series’ lesser characters truly do get their moment to shine.
7 Call Of The Primatives
Season 3, Episode 26
By Season 3, the Transformers series was continuing to evolve, and in doing so was introducing more characters that would have a greater meaning for the franchise going forward. “Call of the Primitives” is a superb example of this, and expanding the lore behind the creation of Unicron, who makes a magnificent appearance in Transformers: The Movie, was a bold move.
The episode reveals that Unicron’s creator was a small, almost ape-like scientist called Primacron, who had built one of the most powerful characters, the destructive, almost unstoppable energy force called Tornedron as a successor to Unicron. Its purpose was to consume the universes’ energy and leave it a blank canvas for Primacron to do with as he pleased. After battling each other relentlessly, it’s great to see the Autobots and Decepticons team up in an episode that boasts some of the series’ best animation.
6 The Key To Vector Sigma: Part I
Season 2, Episode 39
The first part in the two-part episodes, “The Key to Vector Sigma”, is generally heralded as one of the finest moments in Transformers lore, as it not only sets up two key teams in the series, but it also enhances the arsenal of both Autobots and Decepticons. Introducing the Stunticons and Aerialbots was a genius move for the series, as it was the first time fans saw the proper creation of new Transformers.
Megatron wants the ability to challenge the Autobots on the road, but he needs the titular Vector Sigma, the main computer on Cybertron, in order to create his Stunticons.
However, before he can get his new crew on the road, he must locate the key to re-activate Vector Sigma. This episode proves to be incredibly important to the franchise, as both warring factions get a serious upgrade, and the series is given new characters to add to the roster of killer Transformers.
5 S.O.S. Dinobots
Season 1, Episode 7
Series 1 of The Transformers may, understandably, have some of the poorest animation in the episodes overall, but it is integral in introducing characters who have become fan favorites who are now synonymous with the franchise. Not only does the introduction of the Dinobots add some much-needed firepower to the Autobots, it more than likely added some series sales power to Hasbro’s toy range.
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The episode begins with the Autobots finding the bones of what they believe to be large animals in a cave near their base. With the fight against the Decepticons showing no sign of getting any easier, they decide to create three mechanical dinosaurs; Grimlock, Slag and Sludge. The introduction of the Dinobots is monumental for the series, and there’s a lot of fun to be had seeing them initially turn against the Autobots, but the moment they’re re-programmed, and kick chunks out of the Decepticons is a rousing moment for fans.
4 Dark Awakening
Season 3, Episode 8
When Transformers: The Movie was released in 1986, it left fans scarred by the death of their hero, Optimus Prime. In series three, there’s a new leader of the Autobots, Rodimus Prime, and when Optimus finally returns in “Dark Awakening”, it’s not exactly the triumphant resurrection fans may have wanted.
However, the great part of “Dark Awakening” is that it stays true to its ominous title.
Television programming in the eighties was generally spoiler-free, but the return of Optimus Prime was rumored to happen. However, the great part of “Dark Awakening” is that it stays true to its ominous title. Prime returns, but is a reprogrammed apparition of his former self, and is hell-bent on destroying the Autobots. The series gets an awesome new leader in Rodimus Prime and kudos must be given to the series’ showrunners for breaking the hearts of fans all over again, with Optimus Prime’s heroic demise.
3 The Golden Lagoon
Season 2, Episode 27
This episode is perhaps a surprise to some fans of the series for ranking so high, but it features important lessons about the fight between good and evil, while also highlighting the futility of war as a whole. In the 1980s, most mainstream TV shows and movies had the good guys pretty much always on the side of victory, apart from the bleak ending in The Empire Strikes Back, for example.
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In “The Golden Lagoon”, the Decepticons discover a lagoon from which they coat their armor in an electrum that makes them impervious to laser fire. Ultimately, both Autobots and Decepticons cover themselves in the electrum and, despite realizing they cannot hurt one another, decide to continue fighting. They destroy the surrounding nature, and the lagoon in the process. It’s a hugely important episode in the series, and delivers a strong message alongside the carnage.
2 War Dawn
Season 2, Episode 44
This episode not only serves as one of the best entries in the series, it’s also key to the concept of the theatrical release, Transformers One, with the introduction of Orion Pax on Cybertron. It proves that the series back catalog is key for the development of upcoming Transformers movies, and also brings back the Aerialbots for another showdown with Megatron.
When Megatron attempts to destroy the Aerialbots by throwing them back in time, they wind up stuck in Cybertron’s Golden Age. Once there, they end up meeting a dockworker called Orion Pax, and his girlfriend, Ariel. The subsequent action sees the inception of Optimus Prime, and features some seriously good action beats, including an excellent, and pivotal, first battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron. This is the series at its iconic best, and shows that Season 2 was arguably the strongest overall.
1 The Return Of Optimus Prime: Part 1 & Part 2
Season 3, Episode 29
If there’s one thing we can learn from popular culture, it’s that our heroes don’t stay dead for long, and they are sometimes given new origin stories. So, following the outcry, and real crying by kids the world over, Optimus Prime was once again resurrected following his death in the feature film, and earlier in Season 3.
This two-part episode places the legendary Autobot leader back among his troops, and also explains how he was resurrected. Prime is brought back to deal with the plague, a virus created by Megaton to wipe out millions, and he does so again with the help of the Matrix of Leadership. Everything was restored in the universe, for the time being at least, and this two-part episode showcases everything good about the series; action, spectacle and a compelling narrative.
