List of Challenge of the GoBots episodes/story order

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Detecting a proper continuity for this series is beyond even Scooter's sensors.

Aside from the original five-episode mini-series, Challenge of the GoBots was neither broadcast, nor even produced in a chronological story order. There are many ways to restructure the series into a suggested viewing order; defunct GoBots fansite Counter-X offers one option, while Transformers facebook column "Ask Vector Prime" proposes another. In addition to correcting continuity errors, both of these lists are structured to promote a better "viewing experience"—for instance, by spacing out similarly-themed plots and two-part stories, or by exploiting circumstantial elements in plot or dialogue to create a "meta-narrative" out of certain episodes.

As the editors of GoBots Wiki require by necessity a consistent chronological order for the episodes to adhere to while writing up the events of the cartoon for our articles, we have created our own list. Our version adheres to broadcast order for the most part, only moving the episodes that absolutely have to be moved to correct any major continuity errors, preserving airdate order relative to one another where not impossible, and is not particularly intended to serve as any kind of recommended viewing guide for the series in anything more than the coldest terms. Notes below explain why each episode is where it is.

No reorganization of the series can eliminate all continuity errors, as there are some that are totally impossible to reconcile. Notes regarding such errors, as well as more detailed annotations on individual episode's continuity points can, of course, be found in each episode's article.

Mini-series (1984)

# Title Writer Original airdate Production code
1 Battle for GoBotron Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger October 29, 1984 0142-8401
2 Target Earth Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger October 30, 1984 0142-8402
3 Conquest of Earth Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger October 31, 1984 0142-8403
4 Earthbound Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger November 1, 1984 0142-8404
5 The Final Conflict Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal, and Tom Ruegger November 2, 1984 0142-8405

Series (1985)

# Title Writer Original airdate Production code
41 Cy-Kill's Escape Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg
Teleplay by Peter Anderegg
November 11, 1985 0142-8524
42 Quest for the Creator Story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by John Loy
November 12, 1985 0142-8534
43 The Fall of GoBotron Story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by John Loy
November 13, 1985 0142-8541
44 Flight to Earth Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg
Teleplay by Peter Anderegg
November 14, 1985 0142-8546
45 Return to GoBotron Story by Peter Anderegg, John Loy, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Peter Anderegg and John Loy
November 15, 1985 0142-8552
Consistent with the standards of children's weekday syndicated television of the time, this five-episode mini-series can logically be expected to represent the beginning of the series. The story picks up after the original mini-series with the Renegades in captivity, details the history of the GoBot race, and provides proper introductions for the Roguestar and the Modifier, and origins for the Monster GoBots and the Power Suits, both of which appear from the very earliest broadcast episodes of the series. 
6 Time Wars Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Doug Booth
September 23, 1985 0142-8501
10 Cy-Kill's Cataclysmic Trap Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Peter Anderegg
Teleplay by Peter Anderegg
September 27, 1985 0142-8504
This episode centers on the introduction of Snoop, operating undercover as a Guardian, so must be moved to take place before "It's The Thought That Counts," which features her openly serving as a Renegade. 
14 Nova Beam Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Daniel Will-Harris
October 3, 1985 0142-8514
"Nova Beam" reintroduces Doctor Braxis when Cy-Kill has him broken out of jail, so must be moved to occur prior to "Genius and Son", in which he appears. Additionally, not having encountered him in "Return to GoBotron," Nick does not recognize Pincher, meaning this episode must fall before Pincher's next appearance in "It's the Thought that Counts." 
12 Genius and Son John Loy and Eric Lewald October 1, 1985 0142-8506
This episode is stated to be Scratch's first duty, meaning it must fall before "It's The Thought That Counts," in which he is active on Earth. 
7 It's the Thought that Counts Mark Zaslove September 24, 1985 0142-8513
8 Trident's Triple Threat Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by David Schwartz
September 25, 1985 0142-8511
9 Renegade Alliance Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Don Goodman
September 26, 1985 0142-8508
13 Dawn World Don Glut October 2, 1985 0142-8509
15 Forced Alliance Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Doug Booth
October 4, 1985 0142-8502
16 Invasion from the 21st Level, Part I Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Laine Raichert
October 7, 1985 0142-8503
17 Invasion from the 21st Level, Part II Laine Raichert October 8, 1985 0142-8507
11 Speed Is of the Essence Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Jina Bacarr
September 30, 1985 0142-8510
"Invasion from the 21st Level" features a dramatic debut for Scales, so "Speed Is of the Essence," in which he appears, is moved to occur after it. 
18 Lost on GoBotron Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Eric Lewald
Teleplay by Eric Lewald
October 9, 1985 0142-8526
19 Cy-Kill's Shrinking Ray Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Dale Kirby
October 10, 1985 0142-8517
20 Doppelganger Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Antoni Zalewski
October 11, 1985 0142-8518
21 The Quest for Roguestar Story by John Loy, Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by John Loy
October 14, 1985 0142-8516
22 Renegade Rampage, Part I Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon
October 15, 1985 0142-8512
23 The Renegades' Rampage, Part II Story by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon, Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon
October 16, 1985 0142-8525
24 Ultra Zod Jim Bertges October 17, 1985 0142-8528
25 Sentinel Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Don Glut
October 18, 1985 0142-8505
26 Cold Spell Alan Burnett October 21, 1985 0142-8515
27 Crime Wave Francis Moss October 22, 1985 0142-8520
28 Auto Madic Mark Zaslove October 23, 1985 0142-8533
29 Scooter Enhanced Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Mark Young
Teleplay by Mark Young
October 24, 1985 0142-8521
30 Tarnished Image Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and David Schwartz
Teleplay by David Schwartz
October 25, 1985 0142-8538
31 In Search of Ancient GoBonauts Story by Mark Young, Phil Harnage, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Mark Young
October 28, 1985 0142-8530
32 Gameworld Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Michael Hill
October 29, 1985 0142-8519
33 Wolf in the Fold Story by Michael Reaves, Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Michael Reaves
October 30, 1985 0142-8522
34 Depth Charge John Bates October 31, 1985 0142-8532
35 Transfer Point Story by Patrick Barry, Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Patrick Barry
November 1, 1985 0142-8537
36 Steamer's Defection Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and Drew Lawrence
Teleplay by Drew Lawrence
November 4, 1985 0142-8527
37 The GoBot Who Cried Renegade Story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Eric Lewald
November 5, 1985 0142-8523
38 The Seer Eric Lewald and Mark Edens November 6, 1985 0142-8535
39 Whiz Kid Al Pegal November 7, 1985 0142-8529
40 Ring of Fire Story by Michael Humm, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Michael Humm
November 8, 1985 0142-8539
46 Pacific Overtures Story by Jeff Segal and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Jina Bacarr
November 18, 1985 0142-8536
47 Destroy All Guardians Story by Don Glut November 19, 1985 0142-8550
48 Escape from Elba Story by Lee Yuro and Linda Yuro November 20, 1985 0142-8545
49 Fitor to the Finish Story by Don Glut, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Don Glut
November 21, 1985 0142-8531
50 Clutch of Doom Story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Eric Lewald
November 22, 1985 0142-8543
51 The Third Column Story by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens November 25, 1985 0142-8540
52 A New Suit for Leader-1 Story by Reed Robbins and Peter Salas November 26, 1985 0142-8544
53 Renegade Carnival Story by Carla Conway November 27, 1985 0142-8542
54 The Gift Story by Karen Wilson and Chris Webber November 28, 1985 0142-8547
56 The Last Magic Man Story by Mark Young December 2, 1985 0142-8548
57 Braxis Gone Bonkers Story by Steve DeKorte, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Mark Zaslove
December 3, 1985 0142-8551
58 Inside Job Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and J. Larry Carroll
Teleplay by J. Larry Carroll
December 4, 1985 0142-8557
59 Element of Danger Gordon Bressack December 5, 1985 0142-8549
62 The GoBots That Time Forgot John Loy December 10, 1985 0142-8555
64 Guardian Academy Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, Mark Young, and Laine Raichert
Teleplay by Mark Young and Laine Raichert
December 12, 1985 0142-8560
Tri-Trak, Tork, and Twister graduate from Guardian Academy, placing this episode ahead of the final five. 
65 Quest for New Earth Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, and John Loy
Teleplay by John Loy
December 13, 1985 0142-8559
This episode features Tri-Trak and Twister from "Guardian Academy" on active Guardian duty. Cop-Tur does not recognize them, highlighting their "new" status. 
55 Terror in Atlantis Story by Kelly Ward, Jeff Segal, and Francis Moss
Teleplay by Francis Moss
November 29, 1985 0142-8556
61 "Et Tu, Cy-Kill" Story by Jeff Segal, Kelly Ward, Eric Lewald, and Mark Edens
Teleplay by Eric Lewald and Mark Edens
December 9, 1985 0142-8554
63 The Secret of Halley's Comet Laine Raichert December 11, 1985 0142-8553
"Terror in Atlantis," "Et Tu, Cy-Kill," and "The Secret of Halley's Comet" feature several of the new Guardians from "Guardian Academy" on active duty. 
60 Mission: GoBotron Story by Eric Lewald, Jeff Segal, and Kelly Ward
Teleplay by Eric Lewald
December 6, 1985 0142-8558
In addition to featuring the new Guardians from "The GoBots That Time Forgot," this episode appears intended to function as a season finale, featuring a massive battle between the entire Guardian and Renegade fleets that is painted as near-total defeat for the Renegades. It also establishes that the Guardians are working on the rebuilding of GoBotron, which leads directly into the opening scenes of Battle of the Rock Lords

See also