Bot to the Future

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"Bot to the Future"
Season	1
No. in season	26
Production company	Hasbro Studios
Airdate	August 18, 2012
Writer	Greg Johnson
Director	Nathan Chew
Animation studio	Atomic Cartoons
Watch this episode on YouTube

When the Bots return home they find that Doctor Morocco is in command of Griffin Rock.

Synopsis

Optimus forgot to tell Heatwave he left his guns at home.

As the returned time travelers are confronted by MorBots, Optimus Prime orders the Rescue Bots to find out what has happened to Griffin Rock while he and Bumblebee fend off Doctor Morocco's creations. The Rescue Bots drive through the streets of "Moropolis" and are boxed in at the town square, but use the stage to hide. Cody and Frankie try unsuccessfully to contact their families, and get the idea to check the Hall of Inspiration. There, they activate the hologram of President Arthur and ask him to tell them about the town's history.

Up in the lab, Morocco uses his chamber to rejuvenate himself and is notified by one of the MorBots of the arrival of the Rescue Bots and the kids. He orders the MorBots to capture them so he can get the time machine working again.

President Arthur reaches the 1939 era, wherein it's revealed that Morocco used Dither to build his empire. Cody realizes they have to rescue Dither from 1939, but at that moment Charlie Burns arrives. Except he's the janitor, doesn't know Cody at all, and immediately alerts the MorBots. When the MorBots are about to shoot, Burns protests and is knocked aside, but it gives the Rescue Bots the chance to kick the MorBots out of the hall. Realizing his mistake, Burns sends the MorBots a false lead.

The Hawaiian apron is a multiversal constant.

The MorBots lock down the city, terrifying the citizens. Meanwhile, the Rescue Bots head to the fire station, which is now "Burns Auto Repair" as the other Burns siblings are mechanics. They're spotted going in by a MorBot, which alerts Morocco. The other Burnses are disbelieving of tales of alien robots and so on, but Burns takes them upstairs for dinner. During the meal, Frankie and Cody relate stories of their adventures in the other timelines. Morocco arrives with MorBots to attack the fire station, and everyone heads for shelter downstairs. The Rescue Bots offer to turn themselves in to save the Burns family, but Dad says it's time they fight back. Kade agrees and unveils the Mobile Headquarters.

The Master Ball is Heatwave's; no one else's.

Morocco has lost patience and orders the MorBots to open fire. As they do so, the Mobile Headquarters crashes through the door. The huge truck is soon pursued by MorBots, but Optimus and Bumblebee join in, trashing Morocco's creations with a series of combat moves involving pipes. The team splits up to make themselves harder to follow. Eventually they're down to just Morocco and his command MorBot, which they send spinning, and everyone heads for the time machine. The Burns family give the time travelers the Mobile HQ, and Optimus powers up the time machine once again. Morocco arrives, but too late to stop the team from escaping through the portal and the MorBot crashes into the time machine.

The team lands up back in 1939, where Heatwave grabs Dither from Morocco's clutches and in a flash of light, they're gone once again. This time they arrive back in the proper present, and Cody and Frankie get hugs from their dads. When Chief Burns thanks the bots, Frankie wonders why they're back to talking like robots, until she realizes her dad doesn't know yet. Doc Greene, however, reveals that Chief Burns told him everything. Everyone is happily reunited and starts sharing stories about alternate timelines.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"It is often said, 'all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for Rescue Bots to trample the time space continuum.' I paraphrase, of course."

—Chase

"We talk about standing up to that tyrant Morocco, but we never do. Maybe a little push is just the thing we need to bring heroes back to this town."

—Chief Burns

"I'm not used to being a passenger."
"It's kind of relaxing."

—Heatwave and Boulder ride in the mobile headquarters.

"Rescue Bots, roll out!"
"Hey, I like the sound of that."

—Optimus Prime invokes his traditional catchphrase. We like it too, Heatwave.

"Bumblebee is correct. We simply assisted the Rescue Bots. Thanks to you they have become an outstanding team, one it has been an honour to serve with."

—Optimus Prime reflects on the Rescue Bots' progress and is very pleased with the results.

Notes

Continuity notes

• The stage the Bots hide under was previously seen in "Family of Heroes" where it was used for their unveiling.
• Cody and Frankie tell the alternate Burns family about the events of "Flobsters on Parade".

Transformers references

• The Decepticons are mentioned by name in this episode. Bumblebee mistakes the MorBots as Decepticons, presumably Vehicons troopers.
• Doc Greene invokes the Generation 1 slogan when he jokingly wonders if "...there's more to these Rescue Bots than meets the eye".

Real-world references

• The episode's title refers to the 1985 Sci-Fi comedy film, Back to the Future.
• Chase paraphrases a famous quote of disputed origin, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Trivia

• So after the time travelers take possession of the Mobile Headquarters, who's driving? Cody?
• Being a "kid's show" Optimus and Bumblebee don't use their weapons fighting the Morbots, just hand-to-hand combat. Optimus also manages to carry pipes in vehicle mode without a trailer. Awesome.
• When Dani flies in Blades, the helmet she wears is color-coordinated with her blue mechanic overalls, much like regular Dani's helmet is green to match her flight suit.

Foreign localization

French

• Title: "Menace dans le futur, 2ème partie" ("Threat in the Future, 2nd part")
• Original airdate: ?

Hungarian

• Title: "Botok ideje, 2. rész – A jövő Botjai" ("Time of the Bots, Part 2 – Bots of the Future")
• Original airdate: 4 March 2013

Italian

• Title: "Un Viaggio nel Passato - Parte 2" ("A Trip in the Past - Part 2")
• Original airdate: 15 June 2017

Portuguese

• Title: "Bots no Futuro" ("Bots on the Future")
• Original airdate: ?

Home video releases

2014 — Rescue Bots — "Bot to the Future" (Beyond Home Entertainment)
2015 — Rescue Bots — "Complete Season 1" (Beyond Home Entertainment)
2015 — Rescue Bots — "Return of the Heroes" (Shout! Factory)