A Better Mousetrap

2012-04-11T18:47:17Z

111.68.59.100:

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=9
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=11
|prev2=Gorilla Warfare
|next2=The Spark
|title="A Better Mousetrap"
|image=Better Mousetrap Rattrap button.jpg
|caption=Push the button, Frank.
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|written by=[[Chris Weber]] & [[Karen Willson]]
|directed by=[[J. Falconer]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 8]], 1996
|packaged with=[[Rattrap#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Rattrap]], [[Cohrada#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Cohrada]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''After the new Sentinel security program malfunctions, Rattrap is trapped alone inside the Maximal base, and must disarm it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Better Mousetrap Waspinator.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Guess who?]]
In the caverns beneath the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Waspinator]], and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] dig a hole to deliver a [[sonic emitter]] that will allow the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] to access the [[Maximal]] base unhindered. When Waspinator leaves, Terrorsaur is stuck doing the labor.

On board the ''Axalon'', [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] shows a holographic simulation of the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s new defenses to [[Rattrap]] and [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]. [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] detects a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] in a [[Sector 19|sector]] of Maximal territory. Primal and [[Tigatron]] go to see why Waspinator has been buzzing around the area a lot recently.

[[Image:Better Mousetrap Dinobot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Curse you Windows 95!]]
[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] is unimpressed by how non-lethal the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s new defenses are. Rattrap activates the defense against Dinobot to display how effective they can be. The enraged Dinobot breaks free from the restraints fastened around him and attacks the rat—but misses and impales the controls for the entire base's defense grid. The console registers the Maximals as intruders, forcing the occupants of the base to vacate. Rattrap stays behind and hides inside of a ventilation shaft so he can figure out how to disable the defenses.

Tigatron and Optimus Primal find Waspinator high on sugar and flying around aimlessly. When Primal gets Waspinator's attention, he runs away. Primal chases after, and has a surprisingly hard time keeping up with the hyperactive hornet. Primal returns home to see what irregularities are going on with [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]]. Hunting alone, Tigatron follows Waspinator's scent through a tunnel—the entrance hidden by a holographic projector.

[[Image:Better Mousetrap Rattrap duct.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rattrap has been playing Sonic the Hedgehog games too many times.]]
Inside the ''Axalon'', Rattrap works his away around a pool of [[zero friction fluid]] by surfing over it. He scampers and dances to avoid other defensive systems. His marksman and demolitions expert skills come in useful as he works his way towards the ship's core.

Optimus Primal arrives at the ''Axalon'' and meets with the others locked outside. They explain what the situation is and where Rattrap is.

Tigatron finds the three Predacons underground in their excavation operation. He grabs their device and runs away with it. Blackarachnia demands he return it, explaining that the device is an explosive. Tigatron complies and tosses it at the Predacons, who all run away from the machine before it detonates. Tigatron also races away, and when the device explodes, it collapses a huge portion of the land outside of the ''Axalon'', but not harming the ''Axalon'' itself. One battle over, Tigatron meets with the rest of the Maximals.

Rattrap enters the room where Sentinel's core is stored. The internal defenses continue to try to purge him. But before he's terminated, he hits the big red button to deactivate Sentinel.

[[Image:Better Mousetrap Rattrap.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I nominate myself as the new leader.]]
Outside, the shield deactivates. Rhinox determines that this is because Rattrap must have been killed by the haywire defenses. The Maximals sadly say a few words to remember their annoying stinky friend who sacrificed himself trying to save them.

...until the ''Axalon'' hatch opens, and out comes Rattrap, alive and well, his mission a success.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Rattrap]] (5)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (6)
* [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (7)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (8)
* [[Tigatron]] (9)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (10)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Waspinator]] (1)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (2)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm soiled enough already just being around you two."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' doesn't appreciate Waspinator and Terrorsaur for company.

"Waspinator sick of taking orders. Waspinator is greatest of Predacons. Waspinator RULES! Heh heh heh."
:—'''Waspinator''' muttering to himself while flying in circles.

"Looks like Waspinator's been on a sugar binge."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' observing the former.

"Oh, man, I'm startin' to sound like Optimus Pinhead."
:—'''Rattrap''' has nothing but respect for his leader.

"Giga-bummer."
:—'''Cheetor's''' pissed that he and the others are locked out.

"This ain't a security grid, it's a gym just for spy-guys like me!"
:—'''Rattrap''' enjoying himself just a little too much.

"Resistance persists. Upgrading program." 
"Oh man, there won't be enough left of me to fill a teaspoon."
:—'''Sentinel''' telling '''Rattrap''' he's slagged.

'''Cheetor:''' Rattrap... gone? No way. I don't believe it. 
'''Optimus Primal:''' He was a difficult Maximal to deal with. At times, impossible. But I'll remember him with honor. 
'''Dinobot:''' I won't disgrace his memory with lies! He was a stinking, omnivorous pestilence! But still, in some perverse way... I shall miss him. 
'''Rhinox:''' Sure, he smelled bad—he was a rat—but he was my best friend.
:—The Maximals memorialize Rattrap with honesty.

==Notes==
* Tigatron's voice actor [[Blu Mankuma]] has his name misspelled as "Blu Mankma" in this episode's credits.
* An Optimus Primal POV shot features the [[Cybertronix]] text "pud loser".
* For the first time both [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] are completely absent (although Megatron does make an appearance in Rhinox's Sentinel simulation).
* After going missing at the end of the previous episode, Blackarachnia is now back with the Predacons. Maybe she came back off-camera?
* On home video, the running order of this episode and "[[The Probe]]" are consistently switched.
* It's strange how Rattrap, who was much more beloved and trusted among the Maximals than Dinobot, got a fairly backhanded eulogy (no one said a positive thing without first making clear he was also an asshole) while everyone was a total wreck when Dinobot died. Obviously the difference in tone is due to Rattrap actually not being dead but still, ''they'' didn't know that. The difference in the tone of the two eulogies may also stem from the gravity of their acts, Dinobot's act of heroism obviously far greater in relevance in the grand scheme of things.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Attrape Souris'''" (Canada, "Mousetrap")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Trappola per topi'''" ("Mousetrap")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sayonara Rattle!?'''" (さよならラットル!?, "Goodbye, Rattle!?")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 10|10 December]] [[1997]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Uma Ratoeira Maior'''" ("A Better Mousetrap")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Una Mejor Ratonera'''" (America, "A Better Mousetrap")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 ([[Universal]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 3 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Mousetrap}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

A Better Mousetrap