Should you watch this, Wiki this, or wait for the next episode’s recap? Wiki this.
Jetstorm returns to Earth – alone, prompting the Autobots to get into the middle of an student-teacher argument between him and Drift. Meanwhile, Quillfire and Springload have escaped in the confusion, and feuding Autobots must join forces if these two insane Decepticons are to be stopped!
“One of Our Mini-Cons Is Missing” is the seventeenth episode of the first season of Transformers: Robots in Disguise. It’s the sequel series to Transformers: Prime, and revolves around Bumblebee and his group of cadets on Earth, with a subplot involving Optimus Prime pursuing a mystical mission in the afterlife. This episode sees the return of Drift, Jetstorm and Slipstream, as well as Decepticons Quillfire and Springload.
“One of Our Mini-Cons Is Missing” is actually an interesting episode to watch if there were more Decepticons in the mix. It features the return of the Mini-Cons (and we all know the Mini-Cons are going to play a big part in the future of Transformers: Robots in Disguise) and a powerful addition to the Autobot ranks – a bona fide swordsman! Although really, Strongarm does fill the department in terms of the lawful good team member, so Drift isn’t really necessary… but then again, they do need a pompous jerk to make things fun, and that’s what Drift does well.
Highlights
Theme of standing up for yourself
Not that I like the human story all that much (does anyone ever like the human stories?), but at least they make an effort to link it to the Transformers’ lesson of the day by tying Russell’s conflict back to Drift and Jetstorm’s conflict. In the end, everyone learns to stand up for themselves and they’re all better for it. On the other hand, who exactly is Jetstorm going to pay this forward to? If he does find someone who’s being bullied and doesn’t stand up for himself, then that just means it’s a sad, sad world they live in.
Return of Drift and the Mini-Cons
As much as I diss Drift for being arrogant and haughty, you can’t deny that the concept of a Transformer swordsman is pretty cool. Victory Saber is my favourite Transformer after all, so I’m giving that to Drift. Plus, Jetstorm and Slipstream are mini samurais, and that’s uber cute! And cute but skilled Transformers (since they are samurais, they have some level of swordsmanship) are da bomb.
Decepticon team up
Although it didn’t last too long, it’s nice to see the Decepticons ganging up for once instead of always going solo (and losing). Sadly they’re still vastly outnumbered by the Autobots (and have to steal a tank to deal with our heroes) so the 2 vs 7 odds are almost as bad as the 1 vs 4 odds that we normally see.
Drift joins the team!
Oh come on. You were excited too, right? Nobody expected him to stay, so that’s a bonus bit of character development right there.
Letdowns
Why does a tank pose difficulty for the Autobots?
I don’t get it when human technology stymies the Autobots. I mean, isn’t it established that Cybertronian technology is far superior to human technology in every possible way? Why is it even threatening to have human vehicles as the danger that must be overcome? Does anyone believe the Autobots will lose for a second?
“One of Our Mini-Cons Is Missing” is a fun episode to watch, just that it doesn’t quite make sense at times and lacks a bit of that oomph that some of the previous episodes delivered. Still, there’s some story there that makes it worth looking up, but not if you’re pressed for time.
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