Mother’s Day in the Malto household takes a turn as Nightshade’s gift makes Dot more than meets the eye and Twitch’s gift leads the family deep into the woods.

I did not know I needed Jawbreaker bonding with a bear cub in my life but I’m so glad I have it. The tone shift this episode, not to mention the fact no one talks about Bumblebee going on the run, plays a little oddly for a couple of minutes and then you get swept up in everything else. Once again, especially for a show with a short running time, there’s a lot going on here.

The toxic bugs plot, with mysterious alien insects being left out in the woods by someone we find out is a GHOST agent working for Croft, is the other element that feels a little odd at first. Dot’s ‘This is a problem for another time’ when she finds them is the only beat that doesn’t quite ring true but Galupo’s script cleverly folds that problem into the bear problem. So we have the arc being progressed, a major development for GHOST, a new threat, some bears, some family time and a discussion of Dot’s life with an amputation.

Benni Latham gets the spotlight this episode as the Malto matriarch and she’s great. Dot is gentle, authoritative, badass and a superb parent because she embraces the untidy elements of the job. Her conversation with Nightshade, who gifts her a new prosthesis with all manner of new modes, is a highlight of the season for me. Dot isn’t mad and she isn’t defined by her injury but she is in control of it. Meeting Nightshade’s deeply kind gesture halfway is one of those heart-felt moments the show does very well and I suspect the leg Dot and Nightshade design together is going to have some serious tricks built in.

The Maltos are really starting to gel as a family unit now and this episode has a lot of fun with that. Dot, Robby and Twitch out searching for the cub while everyone else runs from the Mama Bear is the sort of high end physical comedy the show has always been good at and it gives both Hashtag and Jawbreaker especially some lovely moments. I particularly liked JB squeaking ‘Why must EVERYTHING LOVE ME?!’ when he’s playing dead and his perfectly valid complaint about being the only one with no alt mode and having to be the bait. Hang in there, big guy. Plus this plot folds in Twitch’s ongoing anxiety issues rather than the search for Bee which keeps things focused and tight. Also the bears are adorable and the triple jeopardy fight that closes the episode which involves the bears, a waterfall and a very surprising use of the toxic worms is really very good. It gives Dot a moment to shine and it gives the show a moment that’s really very unsettling as the mama bear, having eaten some of the bugs, generates an alien version of herself that has more eyes than it has manners. GHOST’s plan seems to be developing an anti-transformer weapon based on wildlife and it’s horrific in a way the show hasn’t done before. It also closes the circuit on everything, bringing the worms, mother’s day and the family together for an ending with a couple of truly great jokes, some great action beats and a sweet and earned wrap up.

Verdict: A change of pace from the previous episodes for sure, but a welcome and ultimately very successful one. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart