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A Prime Problem

2010-04-25T06:00:14Z

202.152.243.92: /* Quotes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=27
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=22
|prev2=The Insecticon Syndrome
|next2=City of Steel
|image=Primedeux.jpg
|caption=Double your pleasure...
|title="A Prime Problem"
|production code=#700-26
|airdate=[[October 2]], 1985
|written by=[[Dick Robbins]] [[Bryce Malek]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron creates a clone of Optimus Prime to lure the Autobots to their doom.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 二人のコンボイ (''Ninin no Convoy'', "Two Convoys")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:PrimeProblem Decepticons at crevasse.jpg|left|200px|thumb|All right, who wants to dive first?]]

The Decepticons discover a crevasse in the [[Earth]] from which is emanating strange energy readings. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] stops [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] from diving straight in, and orders [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] to send in an [[autoscout]]. They quickly determine that the crevasse is full of dangerous [[korlonium crystal]]s, which destroy anything with electronic [[circuits|circuitry]] on contact, and decide to try to trick the [[Autobot]]s into entering the crevasse. To that end they retire to their nearby [[Incredibly tall rocket|temporary operations base]].

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots show up at the scene shortly, but before they can learn more about the lights, they are attacked by a Decepticon squad led by Starscream. Megatron dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who knocks Prime over a cliff with a few well-aimed shots and puts him out of commission. The Decepticon then beams holographic pictures of the Autobot leader back to Megatron, who uses them to create a [[Optimus Prime clone|remote-controlled clone]].

[[Image:PrimeProblem Megatron prime splitscreen.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Speed, I will not let you race in this race!]]

While the real Optimus is still clambering out of the pit he fell into, the clone leads the Autobots back to base. There are some awkward moments when the clone addresses [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] as "[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]", fails to work [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], and doesn't even remember giving Teletraan I a check up earlier that day, but the Autobots are distracted by the perimeter alarm sounding — the real Optimus Prime has arrived back at base. Under the clone's leadership, the Autobots prepare to shoot the real Prime as an impostor, but [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] stops them, announcing that no one's shooting anyone until they determine who's really Optimus Prime.

[[Image:PrimeProblem Twin primes rev up.jpg|left|200px|thumb|THIS is how you REALLY blow off steam!]]

Teletraan I scans both Primes, but is unable to determine which of them is fake. The clone excels at sharp-shooting, and when it's the real Prime's turn, the rocky outcrop they're using as a target falls on him. Fortunately Optimus shrugs the rubble off. A race to the end of the flats and back is even less conclusive. Any further tests are interrupted by Teletraan I reporting an increase in activity from the crevasse — in reality the work of Megatron's [[energy amplifier]]s. Ironhide announces he's taking command while Optimus Prime's identity is uncertain and the Autobots set out for the crevasse.

Naturally, they soon run into a Decepticon ambush. From the Decepticon base, Megatron and Starscream watch the fight. Megatron has decided that to win the Autobots' trust completely, the false Prime will have to destroy a Decepticon. Furthermore he's picked Starscream to take the fall. Starscream isn't too enthusiastic about this plan, and makes a run for it. He's seen leaving the base by [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], who then watch Laserbeak drag the protesting Decepticon back to base, enabling the pair to slip in unnoticed. Megatron explains the part of his plan that he neglected to mention earlier: that the Prime clone will only be destroying a clone of Starscream. Windcharger and Spike watch the production of Starscream's clone, and start back to warn the Autobots, but are spotted — Spike is captured by Laserbeak while Windcharger falls into the crevasse.

[[Image:PrimeProblem Windcharger scrap.jpg|right|200px|thumb|No bacon on the salad!]]
Out on the battlefield, both Autobots and Decepticons alike are surprised when the [[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream clone]] joins in and immediately challenges one of the Optimus Primes to a duel to the death. The Decepticon at first gets the upper hand, but is blown apart when he stops to gloat. The rest of the Decepticons flee. Now convinced that the clone is the real thing after the battle, the Autobots follow the clone to the crevasse, ignoring the warnings from the real Optimus. But before they are led to their doom, Windcharger pulls up from the crevasse and reveals the truth, letting them know that the Decepticons have Spike captive.

[[Image:PrimeProblem Prime pats Spike.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Prime rubs Spike's head for good luck.]]

The clone says to disregard Windcharger's report and Spike's plight, and orders the Autobots forward into the crevasse. Ironhide declares the clone to be the fake, because the real Prime would save Spike. The Autobots shoot the fake Optimus into oblivion and follow Prime on a rescue mission. The Decepticon rocket base quickly launches, dropping Spike in mid-air, but fortunately [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is able to execute a mid-air rescue. Optimus assures Spike that he's the real thing, and pets the boy like a puppy.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (9)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (10)
*[[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Bluestreak]] (20)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (21)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (22)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (23)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (25)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (26)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (27)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (28)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (30)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (31)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (32)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (33)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
*[[Autoscout]] (4)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (12)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (13)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (14)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (16)
*[[Optimus Prime clone]] (17)
*[[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream clone]] (29)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's just such ignorance which forever relegates you to the ranks of underlings, Starscream!"
:—'''Megatron'''

"All the danger you can handle is already here, Floptimus Prime!"
:—'''Starscream''' comes up with a "clever" insult.

"I'm sorry there are only three of you. Clobbering less than four Decepticons at a time is boring."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

''"Laserbeak... you tin-foil turkey!"''
:—'''Optimus Prime''' dishes out the trash talk like a pro.

'''Optimus Prime clone''': Bumblebee, come over here. The computer's not responding to my input.... Bumblebee, I'm speaking to you. 
'''Ironhide''': You talking to me? 
'''Optimus Prime clone''': Of course. 
'''Ironhide''': But I'm not Bumblebee, I'm Ironhide, Prime. 
'''Optimus Prime clone''': I meant Ironhide, naturally.
:—The fake Optimus Prime totally flubs Ironhide's name, even though Ironhide's the only other one there, and the Southern-fried lug still doesn't get it...

"I don't mind hitting the dirt, but I don't enjoy eating it!"
:—'''Gears'''

"No, DO NOT! ARGH, my magnificent creation, vaporized! With Prime's replica destroyed, we must escape, now!"
:—'''Megatron''', not being at all melodramatic.

"Is it really you, Optimus Prime? I mean ''really?''" 
"Yes, Spike. This time I am definitely me. Or I. Myself. Oh, whoever I am. Put 'er there, partner."
:—A cautious but hopeful '''Spike''' questions '''Optimus Prime''', who doesn't do the best job of keeping a sentence together.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* The entire episode has strangely desaturated colors, even the indoor scenes. The outdoor scenes are mostly washed with a dusk-like yellow and blue, even away from the strange light of the crystals.

* Soundwave's optics turn white a couple of times, first when ejecting the autoscout, and then when ejecting Laserbeak for the first time.

* A strange animation shortcut has Optimus pick up Thundercracker to throw him. The camera angle changes, and suddenly it's Starscream that he's throwing. The next shot shows all three Seekers lying defeated, so it may or may not be an actual error. (The same color/character changing trick is used in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]".)

* When Megatron orders him to eject Laserbeak, Soundwave's chest is blue instead of light gray. (The subsequent animation of Soundwave turning and ejecting the cassettebot is recycled from the episode's opening scene, and recycled again when Soundwave sends Laserbeak to retrieve Starscream.)

* Improbable viewpoints:
** Does Megatron have a camera that flies alongside Laserbeak to take a video of him? How else to account for the third-person camera angle that he gets on his screen as he talks to Laserbeak? Considering how often Laserbeak himself is dispatched for the purpose of obtaining video footage, this would be ludicrous.
** Megatron seems to have filled the whole valley with [[The Master Builders|cameras in rocks]]. He's able to keep constant tabs on the battle from a variety of viewpoints, including one head-on shot of the Autobots that travels with them as they run! There's no indication that these are the viewpoints of his troops (one comes right from just a foot or two above ground level.)

* When the Prime clone is first shown, it is several heads taller than Megatron. They should be the same height.

* Megatron has blue eyes as he tests out his voice control of the clone.

* The clone's eyes are white instead of blue when Ironhide stops the Autobots from destroying Prime.

* Teletraan I's initial statement ("Detail comparison forthcoming") is strangely muffled, as if coming over an AM radio broadcast.

* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he says "take your positions".

* After the clone announces that they'll spring any traps that need to be sprung, the real Prime's mouthplate disappears.

* Starscream's arm lasers disappear and reappear as he agrees with Megatron's plan to have the clone destroy a Decepticon.

* Starscream sports a red Decepticon [[insignia]] when he objects to Megatron's plan.

[[Image:Starscream clone G1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|So often, in fact, you'd be hard-pressed to get a screencap that didn't show it that way.]]
* Starscream's chest-cockpit is repeatedly colored entirely yellow, missing the bit of gray that it's supposed to have near the bottom. In fact, through the course of the episode, it's colored wrong more frequently than right.

* As he and Spike climb the mountain and spot Laserbeak, Windcharger is sporting [[Shattered Glass|a red Decepticon insignia]].

* Windcharger's head is a darker gray than his body when he ducks to avoid Laserbeak outside the mountain, and again when Ratchet identifies the fake Prime.

* Laserbeak makes no transformation sound as he returns to Soundwave's chest compartment.

* The animators seem to have forgotten that the [[incredibly tall rocket]] is a ship / base. Soundwave is seen entering the control room through a rocky tunnel.

* The clone Prime, after ordering Jazz to "hit the deck", just stands there for a remarkably long time doing nothing.

* Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray as he orders Starscream to say his line.

* After the fake Starscream is destroyed by the fake Optimus, Starscream is seen standing next to the other Decepticons (it's not even a coloring error as Thundercracker and Skywarp are both standing next to him).

* In a hilariously placed dialogue flub, Optimus calls Trailbreaker "Trailblazer", just as he's trying to convince the Autobots that he's the real Prime.

* A moment later, as Megatron tosses Spike out of the ship, Peter Cullen's delivery of Prime's line makes it sound like Prime is calling Spike "Splick."

* Powerglide catches Spike by swooping beneath him a second before Spike hits the rocks. But slamming into a metal airplane really wouldn't be much better for a human than slamming into the rocky ground.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Primeproblem prime and clone.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"I'm the real Optimus Prime, Stick." "It's ''Spike'', Prime. Now if only we could devise a way to figure out who's the real you!"]]
[[Image:IncrediblyTallRocket1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Decepticons already blew through all their camouflage budget.]]
[[Image:PrimeProblem Corlonium crystals.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Even more powerful than the Earth's molten core? The ruby crystals of Burma? Oil? Explosive meteorites? Volcanoes?]]
* The basic premise of the episode—that nobody can tell which Optimus Prime is real—requires all the Autobots (and Spike) to be ''incredibly'' stupid. Nobody thought to take the two Primes into separate rooms and grill them about things only the real Prime would know? Not even ''Prime himself'' thinks to suggest this? Even after Windcharger and Spike observe that something's very wrong with Prime, nobody puts two and two together when the real Prime shows up? The fake Prime's bloodthirsty response doesn't make it flagrantly obvious who's the fake? Nobody thinks to mark one of the Primes to tell them apart? Races and sharpshooting contests are supposed to prove who's who? Nobody gets suspicious at how easily Starscream is utterly annihilated?
** On the other hand, the ''real'' Optimus Prime calls Trailbreaker "Trailblazer" and Spike "Splick," so maybe we should cut the Autobots a little slack.

* Megatron makes it even easier for the Autobots; he calls Ironhide "Bumblebee", despite being able to identify Ironhide by name in "[[The Autobot Run]]", and flagrantly sets himself for discovery by mucking around with Teletraan I, asking ridiculously leading questions of the Autobots, and responding to the real Prime's appearance with an uncharacteristic "KILL IT NOW" reaction.

* Furthermore, why didn't Megatron just have Laserbeak kill, capture or disable Optimus Prime while he was down, thus avoiding all the "two Optimus Primes" trouble in the first place??

* Heck, if it's so easy to make perfect reproductions of the strongest Autobot, why not just make a ton of them and overwhelm the Autobots? Why not just make a ton of ''Megatron'' clones and overwhelm the Autobots?

* Megatron describes the crystals as "the most rare and dangerous form of raw energy in this [[solar system]]". More dangerous and rare than [[electro-cell]]s, [[Crystal of Power|Crystals of Power]], the [[Energy crystal|crystals]] on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], the [[Sun]], etc.? Really?

*It doesn't make much sense that Megatron knows about the korlonium crystals and Starscream doesn't, considering it's established that Starscream is a ''scientist'' and has visited the [[Solar System]] before.

* Though the [[incredibly tall rocket|temporary base]] is mostly camouflaged as a mountain peak, there are some mechanical bits at its base that remain undisguised. Luckily for Megatron, nobody seems to notice.

* "It is Optimus Prime!" declares a shocked Soundwave as the clone is revealed. Was he just not paying attention to what Megatron was doing for the last few minutes, up to and including his saying "Now to begin the '''''cloning''''' process!"?

* As Megatron feeds lines to the newly-created clone, the clone's vocal inflections don't really match those of Megatron.

* Megatron should be saying everything that the clone says on-screen, but is silent as the clone first meets up with Jazz and Trailbreaker.

* The cloning machine also somehow manages to clone Prime's trailer even though Prime was scanned in his robot mode.

* After the Decepticons retreat, why does the Prime clone lead the Autobots back to [[Ark (G1)|headquarters]], instead of investigating the energy source that drew them there in the first place?

[[Image:PrimeProblem Jazz is in the way.jpg|200px|thumb|right|"Y'know, I'd trust you more if you'd stop pointing your gun at me for no reason."]]
* Only Jazz and Trailbreaker are seen withdrawing alongside the Prime clone, even though half a dozen Autobots are present at the battle.

* It's only an error retroactively, but when both Primes get X-rayed, neither one possesses the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in his chest cavity. In fact their chest interior design is completely different than the design from [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]].

* If the clone is completely remote controlled, then what is clone Optimus Prime doing while Megatron is not wearing his control helmet? (seen several times, such as the beginning of the second battle and when Megatron gloats to Spike.)

* The clone's order for Jazz to "hit the deck" is completely useless; Jazz wasn't even remotely in Prime's way. (After this moment of tactical idiocy, Megatron takes a moment to gloat about his "brilliant scenario of Autobot destruction". We dare say this is ''ironic!'')

* Powerglide and Warpath both just show up out of nowhere during the final battle.

===Other notes===
[[Image:Autoscout2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Totally toy-makable. Hasbro, we're waiting!]]
[[Image:G1 APrimeProblem Warpath shot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Hound, do we know that guy?" "Huh? There was a guy?"]]
* This episode features the only appearance of the [[Autoscout]], a cassette drone launched by Soundwave.

* The episode goes an unusually long time before featuring its first [[scene transition]], which finally comes around the six minute mark.

* This episode has the first appearances of [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]. However, no explanation of their origins is made, which is made all the more irksome by the fact that this episode was written by the show's own dang story editors. Warpath gets no lines at all.

* Man, Starscream sure is eager to throw away the life of one of his fellow Decepticons, huh? He suggests it be "a trusted officer", which pretty much narrows the selection down to Soundwave. Make of that what you will!

* Laserbeak is pretty hardcore. Optimus is easily able to overpower Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp with his bare hands, yet a few blasts from Laserbeak take him down. Laserbeak also manages to open a pretty nice can of whoop-ass on Starscream when Starscream tries to run away; then he captures Spike and causes Windcharger to fall to his near-death.

* Based on the absurdity of this episode, "WE MUST HAVE A RACE" has become a popular fandom meme any time two things might be remotely confused with one another.

==Home video releases==
{{note|All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.}}
;VHS
*1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 1: Prime Threat ([[The Original Transformers|Kid Rhino]])
;Laserdisc
*1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
*1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
*2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
*2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Kid Rhino]])
*2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Kid Rhino)
*2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]])
*2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]])
*2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome)
*2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
*2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio.
*2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome)
*2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment)
*2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]])
*2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/a_prime_problem.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Problem}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Power Surge (episode)

2010-04-08T12:39:08Z

202.152.243.92: /* Quotes */

{{episode
|series=BW
|ep=6
|image=Power Surge Terrorsaur pointing.jpg
|caption=Uncle Terror wants '''YOU'''.
|title="Power Surge"
|airdate= [[September 25]], 1996
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Nicholas Kendall]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Waspinator (BW)#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Waspeeter]]
}}

'''Terrorsaur discovers a cache of energon on a floating mountain that gives him enough power to overthrow Megatron.'''

:''French title:'' '''L'Énergie d'Énergon''' ("The Energy of Energon")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Surcharge''' ("Overcharge")
:''Japanese title:'' 空中山脈大爆破 (''Kūchū Sanmyaku Dai Bakuha'', "The Aerial Mountain Explodes")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Descarga de Energía'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Sete di potere per i Biocombat''' ("Thirst for power for the Biocombats")

==Synopsis==
A wild and free bird majestically soars through the air, experiencing the wonders of aviation as it feels the wind flow around its proud wings. The bird explores its domain with a grace and sincerity and deliciousness. The lattermost attribute is of interest to a hungry Terrorsaur, who quickly swallows the bird as a snack.

[[Image:Power Surge Floating mountain.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Maybe it's made of very light rock?]]
Terrorsaur discovers a [[flying mountain|massive mountain elevated into the sky]]—defying gravity. Flying closer, he discovers the mountain houses an incredible cache of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]. To check the energon's stability, he transforms into his robot mode, at the risk of having raw energon radiation harm his circuits. When he tries to take a sample for study, bolts of pure energy surge though him, greatly enhancing his abilities. Naturally, the first thing the overcharged [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] does is fly back to his base to overthrow Megatron. Luckily, Cheetor also finds the airborne crag, and watches Terrorsaur leaving at top speeds.

[[Image:Power Surge Megatron down.jpg|right|200px|thumb|They just don't make Megatrons like they used to.]]
Outside of the [[Darksyde|Predacons' crashed ship]], Megatron shows his troops some newly installed territorial defenses. Terrorsaur arrives, and flowing with power, immediately announces that he's taking over the Predacons. Megatron obviously disagrees, and the two fight, but the pumped-up Terrorsaur easily blasts Megatron over the edge of a cliff, where he lands in pieces. With the remaining Predacons under his control, Terrorsaur announces the [[Maximals]] are his next target. Cheetor, having followed Terrorsaur from the floating mountain, perceives the new developments as bad news.

Before he can lead the final battle against the Maximals, Terrorsaur finds his new charge has a short life and he must return to the floating mountain to reinvigorate himself. Tarantulas follows in secret, eager to steal the source of Terrorsaur's new capabilities. Scorponok is left alone with Waspinator, so the two begin to re-assemble and repair Megatron.

Cheetor rushes back to the Maximal base and scrambles onto the bridge, where he spits out an incoherent sequence of words vaguely relating to the current crisis. Giving explanations a second try, Cheetor explains the story thus far to his fellow Maximals. Rhinox concludes that the floating mountain isn't totally scientifically impossible, given enough energon. Primal and Rattrap prepare to destroy the entire island.

[[Image:Power Surge Terrorsaur Primal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Gutbuster Workout doesn't prove to be quite what Primal thought.]]
A weakened Terrorsaur flaps back to the island; on the ground, Tarantulas climbs a webline up to the suspended formation. Optimus and his cargo, Rattrap, arrive moments later. The two watch Terrorsaur re-charge his systems. To give Rattrap time to plant the explosives, Primal engages Terrorsaur in an airborne chase. Primal swiftly dodges most of what Terrorsaur fires, but eventually is hit by his [[Optic weaponry|optic blasts]]. He lands to deliver the finishing blast to Primal, who is now trapped in his beast mode thanks to energon buildup. But before a final shot can be fired, Terrorsaur's energon enhancements run out again, and he is forced to go for another recharge, promising to return to finish Optimus.

[[Image:Power Surge Optimus Rattrap jump.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Fly my pretties!]]
Rattrap meanwhile, has been tussling with Tarantulas, the two of them staying in their Beast Modes as they wrestle. With a toss of mud, Rattrap blinds Tarantulas and the spider blindly runs off the side of the mountain to the ground far, far below. Rattrap is passed by the flapping Terrorsaur, and concludes that Primal must have lost their bout. Terrorsaur, meanwhile, discovers the timed charges Rattrap left, and flees in panic without recharging.

The explosives detonate, causing the energon crystals to collapse and explode. Before the ground loses form, Optimus arrives to carry Rattrap away from annihilation. With his ratty companion, Primal swan dives off the exploding alp and somehow the two survive thanks to Primal grabbing onto a tree.

Terrorsaur, no longer having the island's resources to rely on, returns home to meet a very, very angry Megatron.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (2)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (7)
*[[Rattrap]] (8)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (9)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (1)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Tarantulas]] (4)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (5)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"Terrorsaur, you treacherous worm. I'll finish you forever!"
:—'''Megatron''''s famous last words.

"aahh it,s good to be a predacon!"
:-'''Terrorsaur''' Stating The good Life

"Well?" 
"Well what?" 
"If you're second in command, what is your command?" 
"..."
:—'''Waspinator''' and '''Scorponok'''. Be patient, Waspinator.

"You do know... that was crazy." 
"Eh, sometimes crazy works." 
:—'''Rattrap''' witnesses '''Optimus Primal''' coin his motto.

'''Terrorsaur''': "Blast those Maximals! They destroyed my power source! But at least I got rid of Megatron." 
''[Megatron emerges from the Predacon base, fully repaired]'' 
'''Megatron''': "Well, well. Look who's ''back''." 
'''Terrorsaur''': "Help."
:—'''Megatron''' greets a depowered—and very scared—'''Terrorsaur'''.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Tarantulas shoots a line up to the floating mountain and begins scurrying up it—yet the mountain is revolving. What is his line anchored to?
===Transformers references===
* Terrorsaur eating the bird in the beginning of the episode may be alluding to his on-package [[bio]], where it is said that he "ingests entire flocks of birds by flying opened mouthed through their flight pattern." He apparently didn't have much of an appetite in this case.
* When Optimus Primal and Rattrap are flying to the mountain, Rattrap complains that if he wanted to fly, he'd have chosen a [[Optimus Primal/toys| bat]] as an altmode.

===Trivia===
* Megatron's line "I thought you already learned your lesson about challenging me, Terrorsaur." suggests there's been a previous example of Terrorsaur battling against Megatron for leadership in a failed coup. This could imply that this episode was meant to be set after 'Double Jepardy'. The absense of the Predacon Autoguns in that episode would seem to reinforce that.
* The Predacon auto guns are introduced in this episode.
* Rattrap plays holographic cards. According to the [[Cybertronix]] text, he's playing old maid.
* Dinobot is mentioned but does not appear.
* Tarantulas's interest in the floating mountain's energon is the first glimpse at his treacherous nature.
* After Terrorsaur informs the rest of the Predacons that "Megatron is scrap" he adds Megatron's practically patented "Yeess".
* When charging on the unstable energon, Terrorsaur appears to flicker in and out of existence. That can't be good.
* When indicating where he saw the floating mountain, Cheetor points to a location in North America.
* A 'Con that want to overthrow his leader? Where have we seen [[Starscream (G1)|this]] before?

==Home video releases==
{{note|All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.}}
;VHS
*1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
*2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]])
;Laserdisc
*1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
*2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio.
*2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Kid Rhino]])
*2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Kid Rhino)
*2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio.
*2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio.
*2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]])
*2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]