Rescue is on the horizon.
Last time on Beast Wars, we
saw the short life of Transmutate. The unfortunate Transformer’s stasis pod was
badly damaged upon landing on Earth and was buried under a ton of rock until it
was unearthed by earthquakes. Rampage senses a kindred spirit in the malformed
transformer and does his best to defend them even after Megatron and Inferno
deem them to be defective and order him to destroy them. Silverbolt also senses
a connection to the not-quite-right Transformer and tries to befriend them. The
Maximals bring Transmutate back to base and scan them. The results are the
Transmutate is incapable of transforming, has a mind only slightly more
advanced than a drone, and immense power that they can barely control. Optimus
suggests that it might be best for everyone to put Transmutate into Stasis
Lock. Rampage comes near the base and calls out to Transmutate, who goes to
meet them. Silverbolt follows and the two face off for the fate of the
unfortunate Transformer. Distraught at seeing their friends fight, Transmutate
gets in the way of their shots, using their power to absorb most of the
destruction of the explosives. Transmutate is destroyed. Rampage recovers
Transmutate’s head, the tragic Transformers last words being to tell their
“Friend, good,” and “Friend, dark,” that they were hurt and powers down.
Rampage screams in agony at losing Transmutate. Optimus and Cheetor arrive and
suggest taking care of Rampage, but Silverbolt says to leave him be, as for the
moment, they’re brothers in grief. Enough recapping. Lets get to it, shall we?
We open on the Transwarp wave that
was created when Optimus destroyed the planet busting alien weapon at the start
of the season. On the Axalon, Rhinox is doing some scans and
calculations. He reminds us that as it’s a Transwarp anomaly, the wave is
traveling not only through space but time as well at an accelerated rate. According
to his calculations, the wave should reach Cybertron at any moment. He tells
his friends that they’ll be going home soon. The Maximals celebrate at the
news, Rhinox even pulling out a noise maker to that he blows as everyone else
dances around. The only one that isn’t ecstatic is Silverbolt, who admits that it’s
due to him not really knowing Cybertron. Keep in mind, Protoforms are the
infant or larval forms of Cybertronians, so all the pod Transformers were
effectively ‘born’ on Earth. Some of the comics dispute that with retcons for
Tigertron and Airazor I believe, but I’m not touching that right now. Rattrap
suggests that once they get back that he and Silverbolt… there’s really no two
ways about it, he suggests they hit up a Transformer strip club. Silverbolt is…
less than enthused by the idea. Cheetor suggests that he and Rattrap can hit up
Six Lasers over Cybertron and ride the coasters there, which Rattrap
immediately vetoes. I honestly think Silverbolt would be down for that.
Megatron also detects the wave and
realizes that his plans are now on a very short timetable. He calls up Inferno
and asks about the status of the early humans. Inferno informs him that their
failed first attack caused several tribes of our early ancestors to scatter
across the continent, so tracking them down is basically impossible with the
forces they have on hand. Megatron says that he only has one other high-risk
option remaining. He pulls up a monitor that is following Blackarachnia.
Inferno asks what that option is, and Megatron tells him that he’s going to
make a gamble and hope that the dice land in his favor.
Silverbolt takes a flight across
the landscape and lands at a mountain side lake. He transforms and looks at
mournfully at his reflection for a moment. Blackarachnia pops up and holds her
blaster to his head, and says that he’s carrying a graviton generator that he
will handover to her, now. Silverbolt sighs, stands up and brushes her weapon
aside and asks if that was really necessary. She admits that she thought that
pretending to hold him up might make this easier on him. Silverbolt says
nothing about this is easy. He opens his chest compartment and gives her the
generator. She gleefully takes it, but he grabs her hand and asks her to stop
whatever she’s doing for the Predacons. He tells her that they’ll be going to
Cybertron soon, and when they do, she can be reprogrammed back into the Maximal
she was supposed to be. Blackarachnia scoffs at that, saying she likes being a
bad girl. She runs her claw against his chest and says that she thinks
underneath his squeaky-clean exterior he likes it to. The two drop the weapon
and generator as they share an off-screen kiss. The white knight and the witch,
tale as old as time.
The wave approaches Cybertron and
activates a deep space satellite. The wave disrupts the outpost, throwing
generic looking transformers about. The disruption causes the Tripredacus
Council to convene. The Council is one of the ruling bodies of the fractured
Predacon forces on Cybertron. The Councilors confirm that the transwarp
signature matches the stolen Darksyde. The councilors had hope they’d
seen the last of him when the Darksyde and Axalon disappeared a
mega cycle ago. They’ve never had a standardized Cybertronian timescales, a
mega cycle could be anything from an hour to a month to a year. Anyway, The
councilors let us know that after Megatron’s disappearance they were able to
smooth things over with the Maximals but lost some diplomatic repercussions. We
never hear what those repercussions were, but it was enough to make all three
members angry. We learn that since the Great War and the Decepticons loss, the
Predacons have worked covertly to placate the ruling Maximals while they
prepare for their inevitable coup and a restart to the Great War. They
complement Megatron’s tactical brilliance but dub him a renegade, too dangerous
to let running around loose. The Councilors cause one of their satellites to
‘accidentally’ explode to break up the Transwarp wave and keep the Maximals
from detecting it. They also sent out one of their operatives to handle the
situation. The operative uses an experimental transwarp ship to trace the
signal back. The operative is ordered to terminate Megatron with extreme prejudice
should he be found operational.
Silverbolt returns to base and
Optimus tells him Sentinel is on high alert. Silverbolt asks if there is
trouble, and Optimus says that there isn’t any at the moment, but he and
Megatron both know that Megs is running out of time and that if he wants to pull
something he’ll have to do it quickly. Cheetor asks if that means hostages and
Optimus says that he’s praying that’s all Megs will try. Outside the base, we
see Inferno and Waspinator setting up a computer terminal. Silverbolt gets to
his workstation and starts typing, but Rattrap comes over and asks where he’d
been. Silverbolt nervously says that he was on scout patrol. Rattrap chuckles
at that and rather suggestively asked if he and the ‘enemy’ found any ‘new
positions.’ Silverbolt punches Rattrap, knocking him to the ground and starts
pressing down on his head before Optimus breaks them up. Silverbolt says that
he overreacted, Optimus says that he knows Rattrap has that effect on people
but now is not the time. They get back to work, Rattrap muttering that he
thinks he touched a nerve.
Outside, the Predacons continue to
set up a machine of some kind, just barely dodging a scan. They prepare to
activate it, Optimus saying that an attack is coming. It might be
subtle, but it will be coming. Before Inferno can do anything, Rampage comes
trundling forward in tank mode, crushing the computer and firing on the ship.
His attack drops the shields to forty percent and the Maximals activate their autoguns.
Inferno, Waspinator and Rampage make short work of the guns, destroying them in
a hail of plasma fire. Rattrap asks what they should do now, and Silverbolt
says that, “Given our proximity, I breathe through my mouth.” I applaud him
trying to make a joke to relieve the tension.
In space, the operative ship comes
out of Transwarp space and heads for Earth.
Megatron joins his soldiers and
they drop the shields to less than 20%. Their weapons are also failing. Optimus
asks if there is any sign from Cybertron. Rattrap says there’s nothing. Optimus
tries to rally his troops, but gets knocked aside by the assault. The ship
starts firing on the Predacons. They’re all confused as the ship is cloaked.
Megatron orders his men back, muttering that it’s now time to increase his
wager.
Rattrap asks what just happened.
Optimus says they ‘had help.’ They see the ship land as it decloaks, Optimus
orders the shields lowered. Rattrap asks if that new brain of his is under
warranty, as that’s clearly a Predacon ship. Optimus says that if they wanted
to attack us they would, and to lower the shields. They do and wait several
minutes. They don’t get any sort of greeting, but a hatch opens in the roof.
Silverbolt’s nose detects something, just as they all spy laser sights on them.
Cheetor asks what that could be. Optimus says “not what, who.” He reveals that
after the Great War, a few Decepticons were granted amnesty. Nearly all had
retired after that, but one was reprogrammed and rebuilt in a new Predacon
body. The operative shoots all their weapons from their hands, finally
revealing himself when everyone is disarmed. He is Covert Agent Ravage,
sporting a Tigertron like head.
Ravage speaks, which is odd when
you remember all he could do was snarl in the G1 era, and apologizes for
shooting their weapons. He claims that he just wanted to avoid any… accidents.
Rattrap says that the only thing worse than a Stinking Predacon is a stinking
Decepticon. Optimus tells him to shut up and apologizes to Ravage, saying
they’ve been fighting Megatron for a while. Ravage apologizes on behalf of the
Predacon alliance and admits he’s here to handle the situation. Rhinox asks
where the Maximal delegation is. Ravage tells a bit of a fib, saying that the
signal was weak and only the Predacons detected it. He insist that they want to
handle this situation quickly and quietly. He notes that many of them look…
different than what he’d been briefed on, and Optimus says they’ve been through
some stuff.
Back at the Darksyde,
Blackarachnia takes the gravitation generator and plugs it into an escape pod.
It powers up and starts to float. She hears Megatron bellow for her and goes to
see him, after hiding her new pod. Megatron orders Rampage to a position before
Blackarachnia arrives. Megatron tells her that they missed her at the battle
earlier, Blackarachnia lies and says that she was ‘occupied.’ He orders her to
her battle station. He then calls Waspinator over and orders him to the
following coordinates. Blackarachnia overhears and whispers ‘this is it.’
The Maximals take off in Ravage’s
ship. The plan is to hit the Darksyde hard and fast, to keep Megatron
from escaping. Ravage says that the ship is there advantage. He plugs his hands
into the controls which activates the cloaking device. Rattrap says that he
hopes this’ll be enough and Ravage mutters they have one more advantage. We see
Tarantulas exit his lab, transforming into vehicle mode and driving off just
before the Maximals start their raid. They freefall in, Optimus and Silverbolt
transforming mid drop to fly around. Cheetor also tries to do it but mistimes
the drop and hits the ground. Rampage opens fire on Ravage’s ship. The blast
rocks him, causing the special agent to admit that it was impressive before
returning fire. He obliterates Rampage. Rhinox faces of against and defeats
Inferno. Cheetor sees Waspinator and tries to shoot him but gets knocked aside
by an autogun. Silverbolt sees Blackarachnia rise on a floating platform.
Optimus orders him to shoot her down, but he can’t do it. Optimus is shot down
by the auto guns. Ravage unleashes an assault on the Darksyde. Megatron
tries to keep his defense up and running, but he’s captured in some kind of
stasis bands. Ravage reveals himself and tells Megatron that he’s under arrest.
This episode premiered March 11th, 1998, when I was seven years old. A seven-year-old obviously doesn’t know much about geopolitics, but thirty-five-year-old me is embarrassed that he didn’t pick up on the Cold War vibes that this show has. Like, I suppose it could be forgiven early on given how little we’re told about Cybertron, the Maximals and Predicons, but when Ravage shows up with a Russian accent as thick as Drogo’s and a Predicon logo on his shoulder Winter Soldier style, it feels glaringly obvious. I like Ravage’s design for this, even though he’s basically a stripped down, black Tigertron. It works for the guy since he was always a panther of some kind, and I can’t fault the animators for using the assets they have on hand. The reveal of Silverbolt and Blackarachnia having a Romeo and Juliet style romance was a bit surprising. I like it in theory, and their relationship is an important plot point going forward, but I feel like it wasn’t executed the best. That is mostly due to the reduced episode count I think. We went from having 26 episodes in season one to 13 for season 2 and for 3. Losing that many episodes really cuts down on the amount of time that you can play around with the characters and their relationships. Thus leading to this thing where Blackarachnia and Silverbolt had one episode together hinting at an attraction, to this one where Silverbolt is literally committing treason in order to help her. It feels a bit rushed is all. The basic set up of a good-evil relationship is one I’ve seen before, but it’s usually with a villainous man and a virtuous woman. I obviously know what Megatron’s big gamble is going forward, but I promise you that it’s a doozy if you haven’t seen Beast Wars before. But more on that tomorrow. Have a goodnight and stay safe.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/viewer-log-beast-149214526
Bluesky: @basicssuperhero.bsky.social
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