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Victory (episode)

2011-04-09T23:07:32Z

98.213.61.80: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Victory}}
{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=12
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=15
|prev2=The Trigger, Part 2
|next2=Dark Designs (episode)
|image=Victory Dinobot.jpg
|caption="I never noticed what great legs Tarantulas had."
|title="Victory"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 1]], 1996
|written by=[[Wendy Reardon]]
|directed by=[[Steve Ball]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|DX Convoy]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''A rebellion (and explosion) at the Predacon base seemingly leads to a Maximal victory.'''

:''French title:'' '''Victoire''' ("Victory")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Victoire'''
:''Japanese title:'' メーク・ドラマだデストロン (''Make Drama da Destron'', "Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Victoria'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Vittoria'''
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Vitória'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Victory Predacon rebellion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The Predacons are revolting!" "We know!"]]
Through a secret spy cam installed in the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], the Maximals watch as the Predacons attempt to use a device to increase the size and power of energon crystals. But when the experiment fails and Megatron demands another crystal specimen for a retest, his troops refuse; apparently, the continuous testing has wasted most of their energon supplies, and this latest failure has convinced the other Predacons to turn on their leader. A firefight soon breaks out, which ends up detonating the remaining energon in a huge explosion that seems to destroy the Predacon base. As the video feed goes dead, the Maximals are shocked; they have just won the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].

[[Image:Victory Optimus rhinox.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yep, it's Megatron's light bulb collection all right.]]
Heading to the Pred base to investigate, the Maximals find it in ruins, with little more than charred debris and a few scant Pred parts to confirm the group's demise. Rattrap, sensitive guy that he is, is rather pleased at the development, while Dinobot is more somber, enough to completely ignore Rattrap's attempts to pick an argument with him; despite defecting, he still feels some kinship with the Predacons, and laments their destruction. However, Dinobot's loss is the other Maximals' gain, as they decide to ransack the Predacon base for its star drive components in order to repair the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' for the trip home.

[[Image:Victory Predacons spot dinobot.jpg|left|200px|thumb|OFCOM got a lot of complaints when this was aired on television.]]
As the repairs are completed, Dinobot comes clean with Optimus about his mood as of late; he's convinced that he'll be executed as a Predacon criminal if he returns to Cybertron, and would rather try and tame the wild world they've found themselves on. Optimus, being an Optimus, tries to convince him that they'll stand up for him, but his mind is set, and he is eventually let go to wander the wilderness. Just as the Maximals are ready to take off, though, the wandering Dinobot stumbles upon the very alive and functional Predacon crew hiding in a crevasse; they had found the spy camera before the incident, and used it to trick the Maximals into thinking them dead, planning on stealing the repaired ''Axalon'' and leaving the Maximals stranded. Dinobot makes a mad dash back to the Maximal ship to warn them of the Preds' duplicity, but gives himself away to the Preds, who give chase in an attempt to stop him.

[[Image:Victory Optimus dinobot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Quick, man! Cling tenaciously to my buttocks!]]
Fortunately, Dinobot is able to get within the Maximals' visual range before he's gunned down, and Optimus and Cheetor head down to help him; the launch cannot be aborted, though, so he insists they take off without him or Dinobot if they're not able to get back on in time. Cheetor's able to get Dinobot to safety in the ensuing firefight, but Optimus is tagged by an errant missile from Scorponok, sending him plummeting. Soon afterwards, Megatron himself manages to get on board, and briefly takes out most of the other Maximals, before being subdued and ejected from the ship by Rhinox. The scuffle, though, has the unforeseen consequence of jamming Megatron's tail weapon into the control console, cutting the ''Axalon'''s engines and sending it on a one-way trip back to terra firma.

All seems lost, when Optimus—now fully recovered—comes in to save the day, pulling a Superman and exhausting his jetpack to slow the ship's descent enough to ease it back in its original place. Although no one is critically injured, the collateral damage has been done; the ''Axalon'' will never fly again. And just to ensure that everything is back to normal, Rattrap and Dinobot are right back to verbally tearing into each other, to the other Maximals' amusement.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (5)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (6)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (7)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (8)
*[[Rattrap]] (9)
*[[Tigatron]] (12)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (2)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (3)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (4)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Cool. Now, aren't you glad we got cable?"
:—'''Cheetor''' upon seeing the fake uprising.

"Alas, poor Tarantulas. I knew him, Cheetor. This is the leg that stalked so many victims. That it should come to this..." 
"Aww, do you need a hug?"
:—'''Dinobot''' and '''Cheetor''', sharing a moment.

"I understand. Nonetheless, let the record show that I advise against this action. It will eventually lead to your destruction." 
"Eventually... Eventually can be a long time, Optimus Primal."
:—'''Optimus''' is about to leave '''Dinobot''' in charge of prehistoric Earth. Eesh.

"Give Waspinator more room! Tarantulas fat enough already!" 
"If Waspinator does not stop cuddling me like a '''stuffed toy''' when he sleeps, I'll eat him as well!!"
:—'''Tarantulas,''' shedding light on '''Waspinator''' and his soft side.

"You all make me sick! Ah, I can't stand this any longer, Megatron! I-I've gotta get out!" ''[laughs manically]''
:—'''Terrorsaur''' cracks under the pressure of close quarters with his teammates

"We have only to wait until they repair their ship and then attack while their guard is down. With the Maximal ship in our possession, we will be able to recover the orbiting stasis pods containing Maximals eager, heh-heh-heh, to become Predacons." ''[to Terrorsaur]'' "SO NO ONE LEAVES!" 
"Leaving? Who said anything about leaving?"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Terrorsaur'''

"This is strategically unsound."
:—'''Dinobot''' on his imminent rescue.

"Now only you stand in the way of my ultimate conquest!" 
"Rattrap, maxi—!" 
''[grabs Rattrap]'' "None of that, vermin. Noooo. For now, I shall crush you like a rat in a trap!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rattrap'''

"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIIIIE!!" 
"Wait! Look! Down in the sky! Is it a bird?" 
"Maybe a plane!" 
"Nah! IT'S OPTIMUS!!" 
:-'''Rattrap''', '''Dinobot''', and '''Rhinox''' looking at "Super Primal" saving them.

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
*When Dinobot is shot by Megatron's forces, he falls. After the cutaway to Primal, it pans out to show Dinobot "floating" on the ground for a few seconds.
*As the Axalon is falling from the sky, the ship itself is flipped. The antennas and such are normally on the port side of the ship, however during the fall they are on the starboard side.

===Continuity errors===
*When Dinobot is shot, Optimus Primal is in his robot mode. However, when we come back from the break and Dinobot's retaliation against the Predacons, Optimus is in his beast mode, which he changes out of less than a minute later. Weird.

[[Image:AxalonComp.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The back of the ship is mangled...]]
[[Image:AxalonFalling.jpg|right|180px|thumb|...and now it's fixed!]]
*It's pretty clear that the rear section of the Axalon was damaged in the original crash. Not only were the fins bent out of position, the rear is missing much of its armor, and is bent. This is quite clearly shown in the computer targeting system Tigatron uses to lock to the Predacons. From the moment the ship takes off to the end of the episode, the entire rear section, fins included, are "reconstructed" and in their proper places. However every episode that follows shows the ship as it was before. Screwy.

===Transformers references===
* Dinobot's aversion to being rescued was explained in the [[The Probe|previous episode]].
* Right after the white rat falls into the crevice, you can FAINTLY hear a wolf cry that is later used by [[Noble]].

===Real-world references===
*Dinobot paraphrases Hamlet for the first (and not the last) time upon finding several of Tarantulas's legs.
*The exchange between Dinobot, Rhinox, and Rattrap as Optimus saves the ''Axalon'' ("Look! Down in the sky! Is it a bird"? "Maybe a plane?" "No, it's Optimus!") riffs on a cliché line from [[wikipedia:Superman|Superman]], as does the John Williams-esque music that plays immediately afterwards.
*When Optimus Primal falls from the ''Axalon'' after Scorponok shoots him down, it is eerily familiar to the famous death scene in the movie ''[[King Kong (movie)|''King Kong'']]''.

==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'' — The Destrons Make Drama ([[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 4 ([[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)

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

Victory (episode)

2011-04-09T23:06:15Z

98.213.61.80: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Victory}}
{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=12
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=15
|prev2=The Trigger, Part 2
|next2=Dark Designs (episode)
|image=Victory Dinobot.jpg
|caption="I never noticed what great legs Tarantulas had."
|title="Victory"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 1]], 1996
|written by=[[Wendy Reardon]]
|directed by=[[Steve Ball]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|DX Convoy]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''A rebellion (and explosion) at the Predacon base seemingly leads to a Maximal victory.'''

:''French title:'' '''Victoire''' ("Victory")
:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Victoire'''
:''Japanese title:'' メーク・ドラマだデストロン (''Make Drama da Destron'', "Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Victoria'''
:''Italian title:'' '''Vittoria'''
:''Brazilian title:'' '''Vitória'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Victory Predacon rebellion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The Predacons are revolting!" "We know!"]]
Through a secret spy cam installed in the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], the Maximals watch as the Predacons attempt to use a device to increase the size and power of energon crystals. But when the experiment fails and Megatron demands another crystal specimen for a retest, his troops refuse; apparently, the continuous testing has wasted most of their energon supplies, and this latest failure has convinced the other Predacons to turn on their leader. A firefight soon breaks out, which ends up detonating the remaining energon in a huge explosion that seems to destroy the Predacon base. As the video feed goes dead, the Maximals are shocked; they have just won the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].

[[Image:Victory Optimus rhinox.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yep, it's Megatron's light bulb collection all right.]]
Heading to the Pred base to investigate, the Maximals find it in ruins, with little more than charred debris and a few scant Pred parts to confirm the group's demise. Rattrap, sensitive guy that he is, is rather pleased at the development, while Dinobot is more somber, enough to completely ignore Rattrap's attempts to pick an argument with him; despite defecting, he still feels some kinship with the Predacons, and laments their destruction. However, Dinobot's loss is the other Maximals' gain, as they decide to ransack the Predacon base for its star drive components in order to repair the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' for the trip home.

[[Image:Victory Predacons spot dinobot.jpg|left|200px|thumb|OFCOM got a lot of complaints when this was aired on television.]]
As the repairs are completed, Dinobot comes clean with Optimus about his mood as of late; he's convinced that he'll be executed as a Predacon criminal if he returns to Cybertron, and would rather try and tame the wild world they've found themselves on. Optimus, being an Optimus, tries to convince him that they'll stand up for him, but his mind is set, and he is eventually let go to wander the wilderness. Just as the Maximals are ready to take off, though, the wandering Dinobot stumbles upon the very alive and functional Predacon crew hiding in a crevasse; they had found the spy camera before the incident, and used it to trick the Maximals into thinking them dead, planning on stealing the repaired ''Axalon'' and leaving the Maximals stranded. Dinobot makes a mad dash back to the Maximal ship to warn them of the Preds' duplicity, but gives himself away to the Preds, who give chase in an attempt to stop him.

[[Image:Victory Optimus dinobot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Quick, man! Cling tenaciously to my buttocks!]]
Fortunately, Dinobot is able to get within the Maximals' visual range before he's gunned down, and Optimus and Cheetor head down to help him; the launch cannot be aborted, though, so he insists they take off without him or Dinobot if they're not able to get back on in time. Cheetor's able to get Dinobot to safety in the ensuing firefight, but Optimus is tagged by an errant missile from Scorponok, sending him plummeting. Soon afterwards, Megatron himself manages to get on board, and briefly takes out most of the other Maximals, before being subdued and ejected from the ship by Rhinox. The scuffle, though, has the unforeseen consequence of jamming Megatron's tail weapon into the control console, cutting the ''Axalon'''s engines and sending it on a one-way trip back to terra firma.

All seems lost, when Optimus—now fully recovered—comes in to save the day, pulling a Superman and exhausting his jetpack to slow the ship's descent enough to ease it back in its original place. Although no one is critically injured, the collateral damage has been done; the ''Axalon'' will never fly again. And just to ensure that everything is back to normal, Rattrap and Dinobot are right back to verbally tearing into each other, to the other Maximals' amusement.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (5)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (6)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (7)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (8)
*[[Rattrap]] (9)
*[[Tigatron]] (12)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (2)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (3)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (4)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Cool. Now, aren't you glad we got cable?"
:—'''Cheetor''' upon seeing the fake uprising.

"Alas, poor Tarantulas. I knew him, Cheetor. This is the leg that stalked so many victims. That it should come to this..." 
"Aww, do you need a hug?"
:—'''Dinobot''' and '''Cheetor''', sharing a moment.

"I understand. Nonetheless, let the record show that I advise against this action. It will eventually lead to your destruction." 
"Eventually... Eventually can be a long time, Optimus Primal."
:—'''Optimus''' is about to leave '''Dinobot''' in charge of prehistoric Earth. Eesh.

"Give Waspinator more room! Tarantulas fat enough already!" 
"If Waspinator does not stop cuddling me like a '''stuffed toy''' when he sleeps, I'll eat him as well!!"
:—'''Tarantulas,''' shedding light on '''Waspinator''' and his soft side.

"You all make me sick! Ah, I can't stand this any longer, Megatron! I-I've gotta get out!" ''[laughs manically]''
:—'''Terrorsaur''' cracks under the pressure of close quarters with his teammates

"We have only to wait until they repair their ship and then attack while their guard is down. With the Maximal ship in our possession, we will be able to recover the orbiting stasis pods containing Maximals eager, heh-heh-heh, to become Predacons." ''[to Terrorsaur]'' "SO NO ONE LEAVES!" 
"Leaving? Who said anything about leaving?"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Terrorsaur'''

"This is strategically unsound."
:—'''Dinobot''' on his imminent rescue.

"Now only you stand in the way of my ultimate conquest!" 
"Rattrap, maxi—!" 
''[grabs Rattrap]'' "None of that, vermin. Noooo. For now, I shall crush you like a rat in a trap!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rattrap'''

"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIIIIE!!"
"Wait! Look! Down in the sky! Is it a bird?"
"Maybe a plane!"
"Nah! IT'S OPTIMUS!!"
:-'''Rattrap''', '''Dinobot''', and '''Rhinox''' looking at "Super Primal" saving them.

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
*When Dinobot is shot by Megatron's forces, he falls. After the cutaway to Primal, it pans out to show Dinobot "floating" on the ground for a few seconds.
*As the Axalon is falling from the sky, the ship itself is flipped. The antennas and such are normally on the port side of the ship, however during the fall they are on the starboard side.

===Continuity errors===
*When Dinobot is shot, Optimus Primal is in his robot mode. However, when we come back from the break and Dinobot's retaliation against the Predacons, Optimus is in his beast mode, which he changes out of less than a minute later. Weird.

[[Image:AxalonComp.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The back of the ship is mangled...]]
[[Image:AxalonFalling.jpg|right|180px|thumb|...and now it's fixed!]]
*It's pretty clear that the rear section of the Axalon was damaged in the original crash. Not only were the fins bent out of position, the rear is missing much of its armor, and is bent. This is quite clearly shown in the computer targeting system Tigatron uses to lock to the Predacons. From the moment the ship takes off to the end of the episode, the entire rear section, fins included, are "reconstructed" and in their proper places. However every episode that follows shows the ship as it was before. Screwy.

===Transformers references===
* Dinobot's aversion to being rescued was explained in the [[The Probe|previous episode]].
* Right after the white rat falls into the crevice, you can FAINTLY hear a wolf cry that is later used by [[Noble]].

===Real-world references===
*Dinobot paraphrases Hamlet for the first (and not the last) time upon finding several of Tarantulas's legs.
*The exchange between Dinobot, Rhinox, and Rattrap as Optimus saves the ''Axalon'' ("Look! Down in the sky! Is it a bird"? "Maybe a plane?" "No, it's Optimus!") riffs on a cliché line from [[wikipedia:Superman|Superman]], as does the John Williams-esque music that plays immediately afterwards.
*When Optimus Primal falls from the ''Axalon'' after Scorponok shoots him down, it is eerily familiar to the famous death scene in the movie ''[[King Kong (movie)|''King Kong'']]''.

==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'' — The Destrons Make Drama ([[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 4 ([[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)

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

Crossing the Rubicon

2011-04-07T05:58:04Z

98.213.61.80: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=48
|image=Crossing the Rubicon title shot.JPG
|caption=Man, female characters just can't catch a break.
|title="Crossing the Rubicon"
|production company= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[February 22]], 1999
|written by= [[D.C. Fontana]]
|directed by= [[Trenton Carlson]]
|animation studio= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''After she experiments with the Transmetal Driver, Blackarachnia's core consciousness begins to crash.'''

:''French-Canadian title:'' '''Le Passage''' ("The Passage")
:''Japanese title:'' ぴかぴかーしゃ! (''Pikapikā Sha!'', "Sssshiny!")
:''Latin-American title:'' '''Cambiando de Bando'''
:''Brazilian name:'' '''Atravessando o Rubicon'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Crossing the Rubicon Blackarachnia driver.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Seriously, they never do get a break.]]
Some distance from [[Mount St. Hilary]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] is setting up some equipment that will convert her into a [[Transmetal 2]]. However, [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] detects Blackarachnia's [[energy signature]], and, not understanding, pulls her from the machine. As Blackarachnia berates Silverbolt, she short circuits. Heading to the [[Maximal]] base, Rhinox concludes that the [[shell program]] is starting to degrade, and will erase her [[core consciousness]] if not treated soon. He can remove the shell, but it's never been done before.

Wandering off to think, Blackarachnia is followed by Silverbolt. She maintains that she's still a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]], and that becoming a Maximal scares her. Silverbolt points out that she's only a Predacon due to [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], and deep down, she is one of the good guys. The touching moment is ruined when Blackarachnia short circuits again.

[[Image:Shell program.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Nice-looking arcade game.]]
In the lab, Blackarachnia has decided to go through with the procedure. Before she does, there is one last thing to do: transfer the access codes to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to [[Optimus Primal]], thinking that he'd have the best chance to keep them from [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. They begin the shell removal, but it has safe guards that will destroy Blackarachnia's core consciousness. Rhinox is able to destroy the first one. At his [[Tarantulas's lair|lair]], Tarantulas discovers the removal process. He contacts Megatron, informing him of the situation. Megatron notes that such an act risks destroying [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletron 1]]'s access codes, and conclude that she gave them to Primal. Tarantulas informs Megatron of his safeguards, but the Predacon leader decides to cause a little more trouble.

[[Image:Crossing the Rubicon Blackarachnia dead.jpg|left|200px|thumb|By Grabthar's hammer, you shall be avenged!]]
[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] are sent under Tarantulas to attack the Maximals. Optimus leads [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Rattrap]] in the defense of the base. Rhinox is almost finished, but two more power surges head for her core consciousness. Rhinox blasts one, but Tarantulas fires a rocket which causes Rhinox to miss the other surge, which hits Blackarachnia's core consciousness and extinguishes her [[spark]]. Rhinox leaves to inform Optimus and allow Silverbolt to be alone. Upon leaving, Silverbolt snarls out "Tarantulas…" as his eyes flash red momentarily.

[[Image:Crossing the Rubicon Blackarachnia TM beast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|She's back and she's... uh, she's back!]]
Detecting that his creation is dead, Tarantulas orders the Predacons to break off, as Rhinox tells the others. Gathering around Blackarachnia, they express their regrets over not giving her their full trust, if only for Silverbolt's sake. As Rattrap notices that the Fuzor is absent, Primal realizes what he's planning to do, and the Maximals head to stop him. Unseen, the Transmetal Driver begins to glow. Tracking down Tarantulas, Silverbolt easily defeats him and, with the villain unconscious, prepares to execute him. However, Rampage has been watching this and defeats Silverbolt. Preparing to strike the killing blow, Rampage is stopped—by Blackarachnia, now a Transmetal 2. Blackarachnia quickly defeats Rampage, and takes Silverbolt back to base.

In the control room, Blackarachnia explains to the Maximals that she saw only [[Dark Awakening|darkness, then a light]], and thought Silverbolt was in danger. Primal points out that her actions weren't very Maximal, but Silverbolt express their gratitude at her return. Blackarachnia warns Silverbolt to stop rushing after her, but to show no hard feelings, [[kiss]]es him, sending a power surge through him and disorienting him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (1)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (4)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (9)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (10)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Oh, yeah. Sure. Like you were gonna help the Pred get more power." 
"Maximal or Predacon, you're one of us! You should know that by now."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Optimus Primal'''

'''Rhinox''': How do you feel? 
'''Blackarachnia''': Like someone's been playing 'squash the spider' with an Energon bomb.
:—'''Blackarachnia''' gives a cheery view of her symptoms.

"See you soon, boys...if you're lucky."
:—'''Blackarachina''' says what she thinks may be her final words.

"Your power is useless against the royalty, fool!" 
"Target acquired." 
"Huh?"
:—'''Inferno''' and an '''autogun'''.

"Tarantulas! She's… gone, and it's all because of you! Silverbolt, maximize!"
:—'''Silverbolt''' intends to make Tarantulas pay

"Ahh, the avenging hero!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' on Silverbolt's attack

"Ah, such pain. I must help ''deepen'' it."
:—'''Rampage''', spying on Silverbolt

"Not a very Maximal approach." 
"Even when I'm good, I'm still bad."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Blackarachnia'''

==Notes==
*The Predacons' plan involved the whole Predacon army in a coordinated effort with the sole purpose to kill an incapacitated Blackarachnia so she stays dead. When you think about it, that's one of the more openly diabolical schemes in a cartoon that usually involves battles where the losers limp home to [[CR chamber]]s.
*Blackarachnia's spark produces a sound that's very similar to an electronic heartbeat. It even quickens and slows down at different points.
*Silverbolt isn't just trying to kill Tarantulas, he's trying to kill Tarantulas after the guy is already unconscious and utterly helpless. This is a rather dark take on the character, though one that inadvertently sets up [[Jetstorm (BM)|a plot arc in ''Beast Machines'']].
*Megatron refers to Tarantulas as "lieutenant". A reference to his rank in the Predacon secret police.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*Just as in "[[Proving Grounds]]", when Blackarachnia sits up in the scanning machine, the spider legs on her arms are missing.
*When the Predacons are attacking the Maximal base, Primal first has his blast shields on his shoulders while talking to Rattrap. Then, when the camera goes back to Optimus his blast shields are on his forearms where they are in his Beast Mode (and every other mode for that matter).

===Continuity errors===
*Not only in this episode, but apparently throughout season 3, Blackarachnia (pre-Transmetal) appears to have battle damage (grey areas) which disappears when she's in the base. It also seems that the damage is inconsistent, but in the same areas. Did she get into a fight between getting checked into the base and talking with Silverbolt outside? Or does the bright light of the base conceal her damaged body?
*Optimus Primal says "Maximize" despite already being in battle mode. Instead he changes to flight mode. In past episodes he has said "Optimus Primal - Flight Mode" to do this.
*Optimus Primal says that going off on your own isn't a very Maximal thing to do. Clearly he has not watched even a single episode of [[Beast_Wars_(cartoon)|Beast Wars]], since [[The_Web|Cheetor, Rattrap]], [[The_Agenda_(Part_2)|Silverbolt]], [[Deep_Metal|Depth Charge]], and [[Fallen_Comrades|Tigatron]] have all done so at one point or another.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron's "bath time [[Rubber Ducky|rubber duckie]]" is seen again in this episode, but it has undergone a slight makeover. It now has metallic rings around it and an antenna on its head, probably a reference to the Transformers' Transmetal changes.
*After Tarantulas deduces that Blackarachnia transmitted the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s access codes to Optimus, Megatron notes that "fits in nicely with our little plan for him." That foreshadows [[Master Blaster|the next episode]].

===Real-world references===
*The Rubicon is a river in Italy. During the Roman Empire era, it was illegal for a Roman general to have his army cross it, thus protecting Rome from a military threat. Julius Caesar crossed it and started a civil war which would eventually lead to Rome switching from a republic to an empire. During this, he uttered, "Alea iacta est", latin for "the die is cast". Today, "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom meaning to go past the point of no return.
*When Blackarachnia goes offline, a flatline, as one from hospital monitoring equipment, can be heard in the background.
*The Maximals seem to treat Blackarachnia's Shell Program as a cancerous brain tumor. Rhinox's description of it, and the risky surgery to remove it, seems to reference that fact.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 3 ([[Universal]])
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]