MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Cheetor (BW)/toys

2009-06-26T23:39:30Z

99.141.242.106: /* Beast Wars Telemocha Series */

Being the yellow kid-appeal character of the Beast Era, '''[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]''' gets a lot of toys!

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
{{anchor|Dx1}}

[[Image:BeastWars Cheetor Original.jpg|right|250px|thumb|From robot... to brick.]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-3'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

: Cheetor transforms into an organic, big cat-like creature somewhat resembling a cheetah. As such, he is yellow and covered in spots. In robot mode, he is armed with a rifle made out of his hindquarters and tail, along with a second "gut gun" formed out of his stomach. As with most early ''Beast Wars'' toys, he features a "[[mutant head]]" that replaces his face.

: There are several variations of this toy. The initial "rocky bubble" version of the toy features blue cheetah eyes and was incredibly hard to find [[Cheetor (BW)|due to delayed shipping]]. The "smooth bubble" release later in the year gave him red cheetah eyes. He was released again in 1997 (what with being a popular show character) in ''Beast Wars'''s second year, this time with bright green cheetah eyes, and the gold robot eyes of the previous two versions were changed to green.

:[[Takara]] released two different Cheetor toys; one that was the same as the original, red-eyed version, and a [[running change]] version that not only has various color tweaks to make him slightly more show-colored (including dark green cheetah eyes, a gold head crest instead of blue, and red robot eyes), but also has a slight [[Retool|mold tweak]] to keep the beast head pointed forward in robot mode, which has been retained on all versions thereafter, excepting [[Hasbro]]'s initial release of [[Tigatron]].

: This mold was later [[Redeco|redecoed]] for a "[[#DxFK|Fox Kids]]" version, as well as [[#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|both the Hasbro and Takara 10th anniversary versions]] of the character.

: This mold was also used to make [[Shadow Panther]]/[[Ravage (G1) toys|Tripredacus Agent]] and [[Tigatron]]. It was slated to be used for ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Nightprowler]], but that toy set was canceled.

{{-}}{{anchor|DxJVs}}

[[Image:VS3-CheetorWaspinator.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Is it possible to win a battle of the losers?]]
*'''Showdown of the Quickest: Cheetus VS Waspeeter''' (VS pack, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-3'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

: In Japan, Cheetor was available both separately and in a VS pack with [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]. Both toys are identical to their original releases.

:Currently, it is unknown if the latter "show-like" version of the two toys were ever released in the VS set.

{{-}}{{anchor|Gold}}
*'''Cheetus''' golden version (Deluxe, 1997)
**''Accessories:'' Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

: A one-of-a-kind, all-gold version of Cheetor was awarded in Japan for a ''[[TV Magazine]]'' contest.
{{-}}
{{anchor|TM1}}
[[Image:BeastWars TransmetalCheetor.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I taste things with my hands!]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Transmetal Deluxe, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-42'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip

: [[Transmetal]] Cheetor is the first mostly robotic Cheetor toy. As with most first-wave Transmetal toys, his beast mode is entirely robotic, but his robot mode has organic elements in its design. In beast mode, two rocket boosters can be flipped out of the sides of the cat torso to create a "flight mode", plus his tail rotates 180 to provide a "stabilizer" fin. In robot mode, his removable tail becomes a spiked whip, but he has no ranged weaponry, though you can put his hideous hands together to simulate the "gun" he used on the show. The toy suffers from a design flaw in that the breast plate's hinges that holds both arms up in beast-mode gets a lot of stress on it, and over time, can't hold the cheetah head up properly anymore.

: This toy might have the most grumpy face on a transformers toy ''ever''.

: The Takara ''[[Beast Wars Metals (franchise)|Beast Wars Metals]]'' release of the Transmetal Cheetor toy features five changes from the Hasbro version. The more immediately noticeable is that the "CHEETOR" [[tampograph]] on his beast mode was changed to "CYBERTRON" and the Maximal [[faction symbol]]. The other changes make Takara's version closer to Cheetor's show appearance than the Hasbro version. The Takara Cheetor has green robot-mode eyes (Hasbro's version has light blue), the robot mode chest has a full coat of yellow paint (Hasbro's version fades to the gray plastic at the outer edges), the cheetah teeth are painted (Hasbro's are unpainted), and the gray plastic is less brown than Hasbro's.

: This mold was retooled into [[Ravage (G1) toys|Metals Jaguar]] and [[BotCon 2001]]'s [[Tigatron]], and slightly retooled to make ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]]. It was also used as the model for the non-toy character [[Cataclysm]].

{{anchor|BWMVs}}
*'''Hurricane Showdown: Metals Cheetus VS Metals Waspeeter''' (VS pack, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-42'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip

: Once again Cheetor was packaged in a VS pack with [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], this time in their "Metals" forms. Again, both toys are identical to the individual releases.
{{-}}
{{anchor|TM2}}
[[Image:BeastWars Transmetal2 Cheetor.jpg|right|250px|thumb|A body only Primal could love.]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Transmetal 2 Deluxe, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-49'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, tail-flail

: Transmetal 2 Cheetor is the first major departure from the usual Cheetor styling, but maintains the standard "stand up cat"-style transformation, for which the robot mode is essentially the beast mode standing on its hind legs. Transmetal 2 Cheetor transforms into a saber-toothed tiger-type big cat with a large rocket engine grafted into his back. In robot mode, this rocket engine becomes a spring-loaded missile launcher.

: As with all Transmetal 2 toys, he features a [[spark]] crystal, a small, clear-colored ball with a vacuum-metalized faction logo inside. Cheetor's spark is placed on his left hind leg.

: This mold was later redecoed into [[Ravage (G1) toys|Tripredacus Agent]]. (Notice the pattern yet?)
{{-}}
{{anchor|DxFK}}
*'''Cheetor''' (Fox Kids Deluxe, 1999)
**''Accessories:'' Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

: In 1999, a redeco of the [[#Dx1|original Cheetor toy]] was released, with "[[Fox Kids]]" branding on the packaging to advertise the show's move from syndication to a network. Aside from changing the black spots on his fur to a strange maroon color, at first glance, FK Cheetor seems identical to his original counterpart. However, a closer look shows that both the blue and the gold robot parts were all replaced with a metallic blue trim.

: Product listings gave this toy the name "Jungle Strike Cheetor", but that name never made it to packaging.
{{-}}
{{anchor|TMFK}}
*'''Cheetor''' (Fox Kids Transmetal Deluxe, 1999)
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip

: Shortly afterwards, [[#TM1|Transmetal Cheetor]] received a "Fox Kids" redeco, released along with a redeco of [[Tarantulas|Transmetal Tarantulas]]. This red-and-dark-green version of Cheetor proved to be hard to come by, as this assortment did not ship for very long at all. Shipping lists listed the toy as "Mech-Tech Cheetor", but that name never made it to the packaging.

: In Japan, this toy was released as a [[JafCon]] convention [[exclusive]], along with the "Fox Kids" versions of [[Airazor (BW)|Transmetal Airazor]] and [[Rattrap|Transmetal Rattrap]].
{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
{{anchor|BMMega}}
[[Image:BM Mega Cheetor toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Once again, a body only Primal could love.]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Mega, 2000/2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip

: Part of the first assortment of ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' Megas, Cheetor transforms into a super-lean [[technorganic]] cheetah. In keeping with the early ''Beast Machines'' design trend of "articulated features", turning the beast-mode head causes its jaw to open and close. His left foreleg has a gear-spring horizontal "swiping" action activated by pushing a section of the above shoulder-armor towards his body.

: In robot mode, his head has the same feature; turning it left or right opens and closes his Muppet-like jaw. The "swiping"-action arm—now on his right side—is still available in this mode and can be used to swing his tail-whip around. Because of cheetor's unusual body proportions and very small feet, he has issues standing up properly in this mode, especially with his legs positioned in the proper cat-like digitigrade style.

: In 2005, the Mega Cheetor toy was re-released as part of the Japanese Toys "R" Us [[exclusive]] ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' line. It does not appear that any significant changes were made to it. Reportedly, this item had a run of only 4000 pieces.
{{-}}{{anchor|BMMcD}}
*'''Cheetor''' (McDonald's Happy Meal, 2000)
**''McNumber:''

: This tiny, softer-plastic representation of Cheetor is great for the yung'uns. As one of ''ten'' toys in the [[List of Transformers restaurant promotions|McDonald's]] ''Beast Machines'' Happy Meal promotion, it features an incredibly simplistic transformation with no removable parts.

{{-}}{{anchor|BMSupreme}}
[[Image:BM Supreme Cheetor.jpg|right|250px|thumb|So near, yet so far!]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Supreme, 2000)
**''Accessories:'' Tail-sword, 2 missiles

: One of the largest ''Transformers'' toys, nearly as tall as [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] in robot mode, Supreme Cheetor was heavily hyped as an "ultimate" toy. Aside from having the most [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] sculpting of any ''Beast Machines'' Cheetor toy, he features electronic lights and sounds in both modes, articulated jaws on both his beast and robot-mode heads, and raising "hackles" on his beast mode back. Each arm contains a [[gimmick]] as well. His left arm has a geared up-and-down "slashing" movement, with extending fingers (yes, fingers) that can spring out of his hand. His right arm contains a spring-loaded twin missile launcher that fires two missiles out of his palm when the arm is pulled back at the elbow. Even with his wide and rubber-padded feet, like [[#BMMega|Mega Cheetor]] he has balance issues in robot mode thanks to his top-heavy construction and oddly jointed legs. His teeth-clenched grin in robot mode is also somewhat off-putting.

: This toy was an ultimately inauspicious start for the Supreme price point. It [[Shelfwarmer|shelfwarmed]] pretty badly and ended up in blowout sales at online retailers for upwards 75% off its original price tag.

{{-}}{{anchor|BMNSC}}
[[Image:BM NightSlashCheetor toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|This is totally backwards. The black repaint is supposed to come AFTER the yellow one.]]
*'''Night Slash Cheetor''' (Deluxe, 2001)

: Part of the first wave of the [[Subline imprint|rebranded]] "Battle for the Spark" ''Beast Machines'' Deluxes, "Night Slash" Cheetor is a much more angular and mechanical-looking version of the character, with a more show-like face sculpt. Each bicep holds a spring-loaded sword attached by a brace that flips into his waiting hands when released. He has a Spark Crystal mounted on his upper back between his shoulders, and just behind that, a pair of thrusters on his back as well. His interior chest has a red and silver column that spins within a reflective silver dish when his Spark Crystal is pressed, meant to show the power of his Spark. However, this does not work terribly well given the opacity of the transparent plastic that normally covers it.

: This mold was used to make [[CatSCAN]].

{{-}}{{anchor|BMJBlack}}

[[Image:PfCCheetas.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Optimus, I don't wanna be mint in sealed box!"]]
*'''Perfect Choice Cheetus''' (Mega, 2005)

: The [[#BMMega|original Mega Cheetor toy]] was [[Redeco|redecoed]] in black and silver as a special ''Beast Wars Returns'' promotional contest prize. By ordering the cartoon series through the digital cable provider, you were automatically entered in a drawing for the toy, along with several other smaller merchandise prizes. All of the gimmicks from the first version are retained in this one.<ref>http://megatronofcybertron.homestead.com/japanesebeastwarsreturns.html</ref>

:It is currently unknown how many "Perfect Choice Cheetus" prizes were awarded.
{{-}}
*'''Cheetor''' (Jollibee Kids Meal, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Container in Disguise

: Cheetor was available as one of three figures in a Jollibee promotion. The toy is a greatly simplified version of his ''Beast Machines'' Mega toy.

===Transtech===
[[Image:TTCheetorToy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's an evolution revolution!]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Deluxe?)

:A new (seemingly Deluxe scale) version of Cheetor was designed for ''[[Transtech]]'', the proposed follow-up to ''Beast Machines'', which would have turned into a Cybertronic F-1 race car with a cheetah motif. It made it at least as far as a resin hardcopy, seemingly with near-final engineering. Aside from featuring a launching, spring-loaded front bumper, it is uncertain what gimmicks it may have had. The toy was ultimately scrapped alongside the rest of the ''Transtech'' line.

:An earlier version of the ''Transtech'' Cheetor design was the basis for the [[TransTech|Transcendent Technomorph]] version of [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Cheetor]].

{{canceledtoy}}
===Universe===
[[Image:Tscheetoruniverse.jpg|right|150px|thumb|My love for primal is like the sun and the moon, knowing they can never touch...]]
{{anchor|UNSC}}

*'''Night Slash Cheetor''' (Deluxe, 2005)

: A redeco of the [[#BMNSC|''Beast Machines'' Night Slash Cheetor toy]], the ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Autobot]] version gives Cheets a predominantly orangey-yellow coloration again, but this time with a lot of red and some super-dark blue accents. All of his gimmicks from the previous version are retained.

: This toy was one of the last toys in the original ''Universe'' toyline sold at normal wide-release retail.
{{-}}
===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary===
[[Image:BW10Cheetor toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Not completely show-accurate.]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Beast Wars 10th Anniversary, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

: In 2006, Hasbro redecoed the [[#Dx1|original Cheetor toy]] for their ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' reissue line. He was cast in a different shade of yellow, and unlike most of the other toys in the line, he was actually ''further'' off-model than his original toy, the biggest difference being that the newer toy lacks the gold paint on its forearms and feet found on the show model. His right beast mode shoulder was [[Tampograph|tampographed]] with a Maximal sigil. He came packed with build-a-figure [[Transmutate]]'s torso and a DVD disc containing the episode "[[Equal Measures]]".

:At this point the mold for the gut gun had degraded somewhat, and a new mold had to be made.
{{-}}
===Timelines===
{{anchor|BC06}}
*'''Dawn of Future's Past''' (Multi-pack, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Engine-blaster, left & right side-pipes, Maximal "Golden Disk Key"

: "Axalon Cheetor" is a redeco of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]], transforming into a low-ridin' Cybertronian race car with a large Maximal sigil on his hood and a cheetah-pattern deco for his upholstery. Stylin'! Inserting a "[[Cyber Planet Key|Golden Disk Key]]" into the slot on his back pops up a pair of gun barrels, which can be held in robot mode as his pre-beast Quasar gun. His head is also [[Retool|retooled]] from the original body to represent his ''Beast Wars'' head more closely, making his face even more show-accurate then the original toy's.

: He was available only as part of the [[BotCon 2006]] "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]" box-set, with "Axalon" versions of [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], [[Rattrap]], and "[[Darksyde]]" [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

: This toy—with the retooled head—was used to make "[[Tigatron|Unit 2]]". The original version was also used to make ''Cybertron'' [[Swerve (Cybertron)|Swerve]] and [[Movie (toyline)|movie-verse]] [[Clocker (Movie)|Clocker]]. It was also the basis for many many non-toy [[Maximal Command Security Force]] members.
{{-}}
{{anchor|BW10J}}
===Beast Wars Telemocha Series===
[[Image:BWTelemocha Cheetor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Now THAT'S gorgeous!]]
* '''Cheetus''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-03'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-gun, water-shooting gun

: In 2007, Takara did the 10th Anniversary thing for the ''[[Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]'' line, except much more show-accurate than Hasbro, with a high number of [[Paint application|paint applications]] in order to be show-accurate.

: This release came with a DVD of "Convoy Disappeared", the Japanese dub of "[[Chain of Command]]" which was an episode that didn't feature Cheetor in any sort of meaningful way, despite episodes that do being easy to come by.
{{-}}

===Titanium Series===
*'''Cheetor''' (Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' 2 scimitars

[[Image:Titanium Cheetor.jpg|right|150px|thumb|ooh...shiny]]
: ''[[Titanium Series]]'' Cheetor is based heavily on the [[#TSTrivia|design of Cheetor seen in the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon]], albeit with some differences, notably much thicker limbs, making him far more stable in robot mode. His twin scimitars can peg onto his hips for storage and are made of softer, rubbery plastic. His [[die-cast]] metal is limited to his shoulders, torso, and thighs.

: Care must be taken when transforming Cheetor into beast mode. His robot head ''must'' be pushed back into his beast mode's neck until it ''clicks''. Failure to do so will cause his robot mode head to get stuck inside the chest after the cheetah mode's neck is pushed into it, and may require disassembling the torso to get it out again.
{{-}}
===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Cheetoruniverse.jpg|right|250px|thumb|He went through five bodies... and then back to this.]]
*'''Cheetor''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip, throwing blades

: First available in the fourth wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Deluxes, this version of Cheetor is based on the original ''Beast Wars'' Cheetor, transforming into an organic cheetah that's much closer in proportions to the real animal than any previous attempt, with a robot face sculpt based much more on the CGI show model. Alas, the compromise is that he has a far ''less'' [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] robot mode due to a markedly different [[Transformation (toys)|transformation scheme]] that sadly involves his entire beast-chest ending up as a huge hunchback in robot mode. His cheetah-mode eyes can change colors, a bizarre [[homage]] to the differing eye-colors the [[#Beast_Wars|original Cheetor toy]] went through in its many releases, as well as the show. His tail becomes a whip-weapon, plus he comes with a pair of triple-bladed throwing stars.
{{-}}
===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Cheetorhenkeitoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Chromed, but not Transmetal.]]
*'''Cybertron Cheetus''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-12'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip, throwing blades

: ''Henkei! Henkei!'' Cheetor replaces some of his yellow plastic including his arms, and stomach among other parts, for gold plastic. He has more elaborate and varied paint applications, including painting the insides of his beast mode kibble for a greater contrast. As with all ''Henkei'' toys, he has vacuum-metalised plastic parts, specifically his entire head and the bodies of his throwing blades.
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
{{anchor|CandyToy1}}

*'''Cheetus''' (candy toy kit, 1997)

: Part of a set of four [[Kabaya]] [[Candy toy|candy toys]], this version of Cheetor, based on [[#Dx1|the original toy]], is an unpainted and unassembled plastic kit that transforms (and partially re-assembles) from cheetah to robot mode, though much smaller (and cheaper) than the original toy. It is cast entirely in pale yellow and grayish-tan plastics, as are the other three toys in the set: [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Rattrap]], and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]].

{{anchor|SDmagnet}}

* '''Beast Wars magnet set''' (1997)

: The original cast of ten from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon was rendered in adorable [[super-deformed]] style for a set of magnets. Awwwww.

{{anchor|3DBC}}

*'''Cheetor''' (3D Battle-Card, 2007)

: A 31-point character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, Cheetor "transforms" into a Transmetal 2 cheetah. He uses the same parts layout as [[Ravage (G1) toys|Ravage]] and [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]].

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroescheetorblackarachnia.jpg|right|250px|thumb|...Nimbus?]]
* '''Cheetor''' / '''Blackarachnia''' (2-pack, 2008)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]''-branded [[Robot Heroes]], Cheetor is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. He is depicted in a running pose and is articulated at the shoulders and neck. He has a Maximal [[faction symbol]] on his butt.

: He was only available in a two-pack with [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]].
{{-}}
* '''Cheetor''' / '''Tankor'''

[[Image:RobotHeroes Cheetor VS Tankor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Proudly wearing his faction symbol on his knee.]]
: Cheetor is part of the fourth wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]] [[Robot Heroes]]'' and is designated as from the "Beast Machines Series," along with his packmate [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. His sculpt and color scheme is derived solely from his television show appearance. Cheetor has articulation at the neck and shoulders, though his left arm's large sword inhibits movement.

:Rather than using the ''Beast Machines'' Maximal and Vehicon symbols, the embossed faction logos on the top of the Cheetor/Tankor packaging are the pre-existing ''Beast Wars'' Maximal and Predacon symbols found on ''Beast Wars''-themed ''Universe'' Robot Heroes packs.
{{-}}

==Trivia==
{{anchor|GunTrivia}}
[[Image:Cheetor-preliminarytoy.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The original guns, featuring realistically painted cheetah guts. Hooray!]]
[[Image:BWRConcept01.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Cheetor's control art. Yes, that IS Cheetor, not Shadow Panther. Yes, it's not a cheetah.]]
* The first Cheetor toy was originally intended to be part of the first wave of ''Beast Wars'' Deluxes released, but experienced a delayed initial release, coming several weeks afterward. This was likely due to a change made to his "tail gun", which on the toy is much different from the version glimpsed in catalogues, commercials, and toy packaging cross-sells. The prototype gun is held via a handle on the top side of the tail rather than underneath the haunches and has a small blue gun barrel that flips out. Why this change was made and whether it was the actual cause of the delay are currently unknown.

* Cheetor's design art seems to indicate he wasn't originally designed to be a cheetah...or was at least designed to be generically big-cat-like enough to be other types of feline.

{{anchor|TSTrivia}}

* According to ''Titanium Series'' concept designer [[Don Figueroa]], making ''Titanium'' Cheetor use his ''Beast Machines'' body was his idea. It seems he was told simply to make "Cheetor", but his [[Hasbro]] supervisors never specified ''which'' Cheetor to make. [[Aaron Archer]] corroborated this, saying Hasbro had not meant to produce a Beast Machines figure: they had simply put Cheetor's name on a list, and the toy ended up being, as Archer put it, "the wrong one."

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/Cheetor/cheetor.htm Cheetor at TFU.info]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Contest prizes]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category: Henkei! Henkei! characters]]
[[Category:Maximal leaders]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Toys with sound]]

This Is Why I Hate Machines

2009-06-26T22:53:40Z

99.141.242.106: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|image=TFAni ThisisWhyIHateMachines Fanzone Crowd.jpg
|caption=
|ep=40
|title="This Is Why I Hate Machines"
|airdate=[[May 9]], 2009
|written by=[[Rob Hoegee]]
|directed by=[[Kalvin Lee]] [[Yutaka Hirata]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
}}
'''A space bridge accident sends Ratchet and Captain Fanzone to Cybertron, right as the Decepticon controlled Omega Supreme arrives.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:TFA ThisIsWhyIHateMachines Fanzone SpaceBridge.jpg|thumb|200px|left|That's it! I'm firing my travel agent.]]
[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] is trying to calibrate the newly constructed [[space bridge]] properly to begin the hunt for [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]. Unfortunately, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]'s advanced notation system of adhesive note papers leaves something to be desired. [[Captain Fanzone]] chooses that moment to step off [[Sumdac Tower]]'s elevator, engaged in a spirited discussion with [[Sumdac Systems]] technical support over some malfunctioning police drones. Fanzone has come to take up the matter with [[Isaac Sumdac]] himself, but before he can start looking for the scientist, a pair of police drones catch up to him and open fire with lethal force. Now dodging gunfire while the oblivious Ratchet continues to sort through Bulkhead's notes, Fanzone grows progressively more irate until the space bridge suddenly activates, having located Omega Supreme's transwarp signature. Ratchet looks up just in time to see the hapless Fanzone being sucked into the space bridge portal, and, deciding that this probably isn't a good thing, opts to follow.

[[Image:ThisIsWhyIHateMachines-Glyphandothers.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Just robot asses as far as the eye can see.]]

Fanzone finds himself unceremoniously dumped in the middle of a large city on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a situation he's less than thrilled about. A crowd of Autobots freaks out at the presence of the horrifying organic lifeform. Nearly stepped on by the immense [[Grandus (Animated)|Grandus]] at the urging of a [[Flareup (Animated)|friend]], Fanzone is rescued by the timely arrival of Ratchet. Fanzone wants to return home immediately, but Ratchet insists that while they're on Cybertron, they may as well hit up [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. To his dismay, his favorite watering hole has been shut down, along with other "subversive" gathering places, by order of [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]. After watching one of Sentinel Prime's propaganda videos, the pair are soon approached by the Elite Guard, and Sentinel Prime demands to know how they have been able to get to Cybertron with space bridge travel locked down. Ratchet angrily explains that they didn't use the space bridge network, but rather piggybacked on Omega Supreme's transwarp signature. Sentinel, well-informed as always, laughs off Ratchet, thinking that Omega Supreme had been decommissioned centuries ago. He is immediately proven wrong as the looming shape of Omega Supreme's robot form appears in the Cybertronian skies.

Above the city, aboard Omega's inert body, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] muses on this (glorious!) moment for the [[Decepticon]]s: With the [[plasmadynamic thruster]] that was causing them to warp through space and time randomly now disabled, those who were once driven away from Cybertron in exile are now poised over it in one of its greatest weapons. As [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] points out that they have no means actually to ''use'' said weapon, Megatron rebuffs him with the revelation that he still has a spy on Cybertron who can fetch him the access codes to Omega Supreme. Starscream comments that this will only work if the Cybertronian defense cannons don't shoot them out of the sky, but Megatron doubts that they would fire on one of the greatest symbols of Autobot military strength.

Meanwhile, Sentinel is giving the order to divert all [[energon (fuel)|energon]] reserves to fire the Cybertronian defense cannons on one of the greatest symbols of Autobot military strength. This understandably does not go over well with several prominent members of the [[Autobot High Council]], to say nothing of Omega Supreme's former mentor, Ratchet, who warns that destroying Omega with the amount of transwarp energy currently stored within him could cause a blast that would wipe out Cybertron itself. [[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] rebuff Sentinel and inform him to wait for the council's decision. Sentinel prepares to lock up Ratchet and Fanzone, but they make a break for it in order to try to make contact with Omega. The pair take refuge in the forgotten network of maintenance tunnels beneath the city, which have been sealed for quite some time, but soon realize that someone ''else'' has been hiding in the tunnels quite recently. The occupant of that hideout is revealed to be none other than the double-agent [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], who nearly gets the jump on the duo, still armed with the stolen [[Magnus Hammer]]. Ratchet fights back, surmising that Shockwave wishes to hack his processor to get the access codes to Omega Supreme, but Shockwave scoffs at this, revealing that he plans to go right to the original source: [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]! Horrified, Ratchet loses his concentration, allowing Shockwave to hurl him aside and escape.

As the council continues to deliberate a course of action, Sentinel Prime orders [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] to arm the weapons of the Elite Guard's base, [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]], and aim at Omega Supreme. Starscream and [[Lugnut]] advocate leaving Omega's body and retaliating, but Megatron silences them, claiming he has a reason for exposing their position. Shockwave then contacts Megatron to inform him that he has acquired clearance codes to enter the facility holding Arcee.

[[Image:TFA-ThisIsWhyIHateMachines-UltraMagnusSparkSupport.jpg|thumb|200px|left|"Is it water on the knee?" "A whole bucket, see?" "A Charley Horse, it's true!" "I'm the doctor for YOU!"]]
Fanzone puts his cop instincts to work and quickly tracks down the local stoolie, [[Rattletrap]], the bot who gave Shockwave the clearance codes. With a little organic coercion, the pair are able to force an access card from Rattletrap, but when they attempt to use it, they discover that the codes are bogus. Just as they make this discovery, [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] steps from the shadows to offer them his aid. He has finally had it with Sentinel Prime's attitude, and he gives Fanzone and Ratchet a functioning access card. The duo quickly locate Arcee, only to find that they have inadvertently led Shockwave right to her. A running firefight ensues as Ratchet tries to get Arcee to safety while Shockwave pursues them, and the battle carries them to the medical bay in which [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] is convalescing. Thinking that Ratchet is out of commission after a blow from the Magnus Hammer, Shockwave decides to finish the job on Ultra Magnus and turns his back on his fallen foe. Ratchet is still very much alive and kicking, however, and he downs Shockwave with a blast from his [[electromagnetic pulse]] generator, allowing him to reclaim the Magnus Hammer from the Decepticon's clutches. Of course, Sentinel Prime chooses that moment to enter the room, and he promptly leaps to the conclusion that Ratchet is trying to do away with Ultra Magnus. This distraction offers Shockwave the time he needs to escape with Arcee, which prompts Sentinel to issue the command to fire on Omega Supreme. Fortress Maximus opens fire, but Omega transwarps out of the path of the blast, which shoots off harmlessly through the sky.

A short while later, the council and Elite Guard see Ratchet and Fanzone to the [[space bridge nexus]] so that they can return to [[Earth]]. Alpha Trion chastises Sentinel for his actions, making it clear that if it was up to him alone, Sentinel wouldn't be Magnus for a second longer. Trion extends his thanks to Ratchet and Fanzone, but Ratchet sees little reason to celebrate, as the Decepticons now have Arcee. Perceptor tries to assure Ratchet that the damage done to Arcee's processor is irreversible, but Ratchet is not cheered up at the prospect. Just before they enter the space bridge, Sentinel orders Ratchet to hand over the Magnus Hammer, but Ratchet refuses, telling him they will give it back to its rightful owner, Ultra Magnus, when he is repaired. Before Sentinel can object, Ratchet and Fanzone dart off through the space bridge. Sentinel is about to pursue them, but Jazz blocks his path and offers to go in his stead. Ratchet and Fanzone are not happy to see Jazz when he appears in front of them, but Jazz explains that he is unable to condone Sentinel's actions any more and is deserting to join the Autobots on Earth.

[[Image:TFAni ThisisWhyIHateMachines Arcee Earth.jpg‎|thumb|200px|right| "Insert ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' instrumental here"]]
Out in space, Omega Supreme rematerializes close to Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]]. Aboard the dormant Autobot, Shockwave bows before Megatron and abandons his [[electronic paint job]] so that he can finally serve his leader under his true colors. Megatron bids his "most loyal servant" to rise, sending Lugnut into fits of silent, quivering rage—much to Starscream's amusement. On the other side of the bridge, the ''conscious'' Arcee lies upon a table and looks out at the Earth below, quietly whispering Ratchet's name...
 

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Freeway (Animated)|Freeway]] (3)
*[[Carerra (Animated)|Carerra]] (4)
*[[Huffer (Animated)|Huffer]] (5)
*[[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]] (6)
*[[Glyph (Animated)|Glyph]] (7)
*[[Bumper (Animated)|Bumper]] (8)
*[[Tap-Out (Animated)|Tap-Out]] (9)
*[[Powerglide (Animated)|Powerglide]] (10)
*[[Grandus (Animated)|Grandus]] (11)
*[[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]] (12)
*[[Steeljaw (Animated)|Steeljaw]] (13)
*[[Zaur]] (14)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (15)
*[[Autotrooper]] (20)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (21)
*[[Tracks (Animated)|Tracks]] (22)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (23)
*[[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] (24)
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] (25)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (26)
*[[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] (27)
*[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (28)
*[[Rattletrap]] (29)
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] (30)

|c2=
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] (16)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Lugnut]] (18)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (19)
*[[Lockdown]] (31, flashback)

|c3=
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
''"Halt. You are in violation of Criminal Code 30114. Lethal force has been authorised."'' 
"Hey! Ow! Hey!" 
"Think you have it bad? I got to decipher ''Bulkhead''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> handwriting! And those claws of his aren't exactly designed for penbotship."
:—As the '''Security Bots''' try to kill '''Captain Fanzone''', '''Ratchet''' shows the depth to which he does not care.

"I'd be a happy man if I never see another—''[Fanzone takes in his surroundings]''...''robot''?
:—'''Captain Fanzone''' enters his own personal hell, and its name is Cybertron.

"I can't believe we're on Cybertron! Of all the places we transwarped, this is great!"
:—'''Ratchet''', happy for the first time since...well, since we've seen him.

"Citizens of Cybertron, Decepticons are in our midst! Neighbours, friends, even ''your own model'' can be a spy! Do your duty and report any suspicious activity to the Elite Guard immediately." 
"...what is this scrap?!" 
"For your protection, all potentially subversive gathering places remain closed. Curfew remains in effect. Remember, Decepticons will stop at nothing to destroy our way of life! Don't let THIS ''[picture of Ultra Magnus on [[spark support]]]'' happen to you. As your Magnus, I will continue to defeat the Decepticon scourge and bring peace and security to Cybertron! I'm Sentinel Prime, and I approve of this message." 
"No-good glory-hog's got a lot of steel. It was [[Lockdown]] who caught those 'Cons!"
:—'''Sentinel Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s propaganda film, with commentary by '''Ratchet'''

"Cybertron. At last, our ultimate goal is at our feet. And here we stand, aboard its ultimate weapon." 
"Now, wouldn't it be nice if we could figure out how to use it!" 
:—'''Megatron''' has a moment, which '''Starscream''' ruins.

"How'd you know about this bot?" ''[indicating Rattletrap]'' 
"Ehh. There's one in every town." 
:—'''Ratchet''' learns a little more about how '''Captain Fanzone''' works.

==Notes==

===Animation or technical errors===
* A few of the laser blasts that the drone fires at Captain Fanzone (before he gets sucked up by the Space Bridge) are out of sync with the animation of the strafing drone.
* Shockwave's head model changes randomly throughout the episode in shape, size and in the positioning of his optic.
* When Shockwave holds up the Magnus Hammer and starts generating lightning, its handle is only half as long as usual.

===Transformers references===
* Captain Fanzone's arrival on Cybertron treats us to another crowd scene full of cameos, some of which we haven't seen before. Notable newbies in this crowd include [[Glyph (Animated)|Glyph]], [[Bumper (Animated)|Bumper]] and his white recolor [[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]], [[Steeljaw (Animated)|Steeljaw]], [[Zaur]] and robot-mode [[Grandus (Animated)|Grandus]]. We also get a closer look at [[Carerra]], but only from behind, as he talks to an unnamed blue-and-tan female robot.

* Ratchet's favorite hangout is [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]].

* Parade footage from "[[Decepticon Air]]" is used in Sentinel's little propaganda video. (See said episode for the list of cameos within.)

* Ratchet remarks that [[Lockdown]] was the one to capture the Decepticon prisoners, as seen in "[[Five Servos of Doom]]".

* The Autobot Council's headquarters is known as "the [[Metroplex (Animated)|Metroplex]]", and the Elite Guard's battle station is "[[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]]".

* Ratchet's flashback uses footage from "[[The Thrill of the Hunt]]", giving Lockdown a brief "appearance" in this episode.

* At the end of the episode, Shockwave utilizes an [[electronic paint job]] to reveal his "true colors", represented by a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] [[redeco]] reminiscent of his [[Shockwave (G1)|Generation 1 namesake]]'s color scheme.

* Rattletrap is quite obviously based on [[Rattrap]] from ''[[Beast Wars]]'', one of many ''Beast Wars'' references towards the end of the series.

===Real-world references===
*Sentinel Prime's broadcast was based on [[wikipedia:The Red Scare|The Red Scare]] during the Cold War. The broadcast concludes with him saying "I'm Sentinel Prime, and I approve of this message."—in the style of contemporary [[President of the United States|political campaign ads]].
*Sentinel's insistence that he is the one who "makes the tough decisions" and insistence that any questioning of his orders is tantamount to treason is probably some kind of statement about [[Mission Accomplished|some''one'' or some''thing'']], but we'll leave it at that.
*Shockwave's slow, deadpan delivery of "I'm afraid I can't let you do that" is a reference to the menacing supercomputer HAL from Stanley Kubrick's ''[[wikipedia:2001 (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'', who also featured an unblinking single red eye.
* When Ratchet and Fanzone are headed to Maccadam's, they stop in front of a building which appears to have Target's trademark "bull's-eye" logo.
* Ratchet's line to Shockwave about taking the activation codes from his "cold, offline processor", similar to one of Charlton Heston's most famous quotes in support of the NRA. He'd previously used a similar line in [[Megatron Rising - Part 1]].

===Trivia===
* This is the first, and only, episode in which [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] does not appear at all.

* There is oxygen on Cybertron. Probably to allow combustion to happen.

* This episode marks the last appearances of Jetfire, Jetstorm and Captain Fanzone in the series.

* Arcee wasn't actually offline at the end of the flashbacks in "The Thrill of the Hunt"—although she was amnesiac, she could stand, talk and take in her surroundings. This implies that it was the vivisection of her head in the "[[TransWarped]]" flashbacks in an attempt to retrieve the activation codes for Omega Supreme which caused the "damage to her circuitry" that Perceptor called "completely irreversable", and meant she was left, comatose, in a hospital bed for millions of stellar cycles.

==External links==
* [http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/video/dlink/index.html?episodeID=8a25c39221152c35012117d5d4380030 "This Is Why I Hate Machines" streaming video at Cartoon Network] (link viable until 5/25/09)

[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Spark of Darkness

2009-06-26T15:36:59Z

99.141.242.106: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=BMtoon
|ep=23
|title=Spark of Darkness
|image=SparkDarkness.jpg
|caption=Beauty is in the optic of the beholder
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 12]], 2000
|writer=[[Nick Dubois]]
|director=[[Greg Donis]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron has been defeated, but strange creatures keep attacking the Maximals all over Cybertropolis.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 恐怖の赤い玉 (''Kyōfu no Akai Tama'', "The Terrifying Red Sphere")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:SparkDarkness Celebrating maximals.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The [[Maximal]]s celebrate the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] inside the now-dormant [[Grand Mal]]. But while most of the group high-five each other, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] mourns the loss of his pet, [[Noble|Savage/Noble]]. [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] wonders if Megatron is truly defeated, but [[Optimus Primal|Primal]] assures his team that he knows Megatron is dead, thanks to their mutual connection to the [[Oracle]]. When [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] mentions there's still business to be taken care of, [[Botanica]] responds she feels there's another evil on Cybertron.

Cheetor and Nightscream are sent to find the [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]]. Silverbolt and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] are sent to assess the dormant Transformer bodies to start the process of getting the sparks Megatron kidnapped to function again. Rattrap and Botanica are assigned to attend the techno-organic orchard. [[Rattrap]], of course, whines about this. Optimus stays in the Grand Mal.

[[Image:SparkDarkness Blackarachnia zombie.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Blackarachnia tries to put the moves on Silverbolt, but without confirmation that Megatron is truly really dead, he's extremely hesitant to respond to her advances. She's so focused on trying to force open Silverbolt's heart, only he notices the large, lumbering monster emerge behind her. The two Maximals run away (cowardly) from the giant, but when the monster hits Silverbolt with gunfire, Blackarachnia fights back with her electric sting. The monster knocks her over, but Silverbolt has had time to recover and attacks the monster with his throwing blades. Eventually, Blackarachnia has the idea to attack the monster using an explosive component from one of the nearby Transformer bodies. The behemoth steps out of the explosion, and the two Transformers watch a strange red spark emerge from the monster as it falls over in defeat. The red glow races away.

In the orchard, while Botanica works, Rattrap scavenges parts of a [[Motorcycle Drone]] to see if anything can be made into a useful tool. As he does this, he moans that he feels his talents are being wasted and he'll be stuck with embarrassing stories to tell his grandkids. Botanica argues that tending the garden is important. The debate between the two heats up, and in their rage, the two Maximals accidentally touch lips. The two quickly agree to completely disregard, forget, and ignore their contact and get to work. But suddenly, the deactivated Cycle Drone comes to life and begins to blast the orchard. Botanica, upset about the carnage, transforms and uses her bolts to bring heavy wreckage crashing down upon the possessed drone. The drone flails its body one last time before falling over, no longer inhabited by the glowing red spark.

Cheetor and Nightscream meet with [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and invite the two generals to join the Maximals. As the two generals debate, [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] stops by to make it clear that he has no interest in joining with the Maximals and that he believes that Megatron, "The Big M," will soon return. After Thrust leaves, the remaining four are attacked by a damaged but resilient [[Aero Drone]]. Nightscream sucks the energy from the drone, but the monster still tries to pull Cheetor over the edge of a nearby cliff. Cheetor is saved by Nightscream and the drone falls, but before it makes impact with the water below, the glowing red spark leaves the body.

[[Image:SparkDarkness Rattrap repolarising.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The group returns to meet with the other Maximals (sans Botanica) inside the Grand Mal, and Optimus welcomes Strika and Obsidian to the team. The two new recruits leave to fortify the base—just in time for Rattrap to detect the haunting red spark heading right towards them all. Inside, the spark passes by the two generals and briefly encounters Cheetor and Blackarachnia. Next, the spark uses a [[Tank Drone]] body to attack Optimus and Botanica. While Rattrap tracks the movement of the Spark, he deduces a way to neutralize its rampage.

Rattrap uses a Spark Extractor on the Tank Drone to draw out the spark. Once the red spark is contained, he "re-polarizes" his captive, but the Spark Extractor flies alive, trying to break free of Rattrap's grip. After escaping the spark extractor, the spark flies into a [[Diagnostic Drone]] and, finally coherent, exclaims "I live!" But Rattrap has the next laugh: The spark, who is clearly Megatron, is now trapped inside of the diminutive body.

[[Image:SparkDarkness Megadrone Optimus.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
The Maximals meet Megatron, but he laughs at them. Even in his tiny form, he's able to reactivate the Grand Mal's internal defenses to evict the Maximals. As the Maximals struggle against the tentacles that have begun to bind them, Primal has an Oracle moment, but the Maximals are all captured anyway. Megatron starts to reformat Primal's spark, but Rattrap gets Botanica to destroy the control panel, freeing the team from Megatron's grip.

Obsidian arrives at the fight scene and is forced to choose: Be loyal to Primal's or Megatron's side. The two generals grab Megatron and fall out of sight. Out of immediate danger, Optimus explains that Nightscream didn't kill Megatron, but only turned Megatron into the monster that he was but no longer is.

Away from the battle, Strika, Obsidian and Megatron meet up with Thrust. No longer in control of the Sparks, Megatron declares, "The time for action is now."

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (3)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (4)
*[[Botanica]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (6)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (7)
|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Evil Red Spark]] (8)
*[[Copter Drone|Copter Drones]] (9)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] (10)
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (11)
*[[Heavy Artillery Drone|Heavy Artillery Drones]] (12)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"So, eh, whatcha got for me and Miss Twiggy? A 'eek and destroy mission? Or maybe some 'oak and dagger work?"
:—'''Rattrap''' comes up with some evil puns.

Little girl voice: And what'd you do in the war, Daddy? 
Rattrap voice: Well, honey, I built ''gardening equipment'' to help the troops plant petunias! 
Little girl voice: ''Really'', Daddy?! 
:—'''Rattrap''' expresses how much he hates his job and Scott McNeil gets to talk to himself. Uh... [[Dinobot (BW)|Some]] [[Silverbolt (BW)|more]].

"What would you rather be doing, sticking your tail into a computer circuit?" 
"Heh, beats the heck outta plowing ''your'' little field of dreams."
:—"Innuendo 101" with '''Botanica''' and '''Rattrap'''

"You shall not pass!" 
[''Red spark passes without pause'']
:—'''Strika''' makes a very poor Gandalf.

"Aw man, I can't believe I'm stuck here while a really honked-off ball of electrons is making mince-meat outta my buddies."
:—'''Rattrap''' complaining again.

"I live! I live! I—what kind of puny body is this?!" 
:—'''Megatron''' discovers he's in a diagnostic drone. Now that's karma.

==Notes==
===Transformers references===
*The short story "Singularity Ablyss" by [[Bob Skir]], published in the [[Transformers Legends]] anthology, is set between-the-scenes of this episode. It doesn't change the events of the episode, but it does illuminate what Megatron may have been thinking in the midst of all that body-jumping; also, he kills [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]].
*The shell that attacks Silverbolt and Blackarachnia is composed of parts from [[Beast Wars]] combatants. The feet, torso, and right arm belong to the transmetalized [[Tarantulas]] and the head bears a strong resemblance to [[Tigerhawk]]. What were Tarantulas and Tigerhawk ''doing'' on Cybertron anyway?
*Precisely 5 minutes and 3 seconds into the episode, immediately after Blackarachnia says, "Whoever you are, THAT was a big mistake!", one can see the severed head of [[Depth Charge]] lying right by her feet.
*Even later on in the episode, when Silverbolt trips over battling the mutant, Blackarachnia proceeds to rip out the power core from what appears to be [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'s body.
*Rattrap and Botanica arguing with each other continues the trend of Rattrap and [[Dinobot (BW)|another]] [[Depth Charge|Maximal]] duking it out verbally. This would probably be the first instance where it blossoms into romance, though. As Megatron [[Bad Spark|would say]]....''yuck''.
*Botanica is also the first frequent sparring partner of Rattrap's that doesn't end up dead. Don't piss off Rattrap.

===Real-world references===
*This episode's title is a play on Joseph Conrad's novella ''[[wikipedia:Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]''.
*When Cheetor asks Thrust what he's rebelling against now that Megatron is gone, Thrust replies "What've you got?", the reply given by James Dean's character in ''[[wikipedia:Rebel without a cause|Rebel Without a Cause]]''. Fitting.
*The sequence where Optimus Primal and Botanica are first ambushed is also a visual quote from the original ''[[wikipedia:Alien (film)|Alien]]''.
*When Obsidian and Strika attempt to intercept the red spark, Strika exclaims "You shall not pass!", a possible reference to Gandalf's words in ''[[wikipedia:Lord of the Rings|Lord of the Rings]]''.

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Spark of Darkness

2009-06-26T15:35:25Z

99.141.242.106: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=BMtoon
|ep=23
|title=Spark of Darkness
|image=SparkDarkness.jpg
|caption=Beauty is in the optic of the beholder
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 12]], 2000
|writer=[[Nick Dubois]]
|director=[[Greg Donis]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron has been defeated, but strange creatures keep attacking the Maximals all over Cybertropolis.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 恐怖の赤い玉 (''Kyōfu no Akai Tama'', "The Terrifying Red Sphere")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:SparkDarkness Celebrating maximals.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The [[Maximal]]s celebrate the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] inside the now-dormant [[Grand Mal]]. But while most of the group high-five each other, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] mourns the loss of his pet, [[Noble|Savage/Noble]]. [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] wonders if Megatron is truly defeated, but [[Optimus Primal|Primal]] assures his team that he knows Megatron is dead, thanks to their mutual connection to the [[Oracle]]. When [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] mentions there's still business to be taken care of, [[Botanica]] responds she feels there's another evil on Cybertron.

Cheetor and Nightscream are sent to find the [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]]. Silverbolt and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] are sent to assess the dormant Transformer bodies to start the process of getting the sparks Megatron kidnapped to function again. Rattrap and Botanica are assigned to attend the techno-organic orchard. [[Rattrap]], of course, whines about this. Optimus stays in the Grand Mal.

[[Image:SparkDarkness Blackarachnia zombie.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Blackarachnia tries to put the moves on Silverbolt, but without confirmation that Megatron is truly really dead, he's extremely hesitant to respond to her advances. She's so focused on trying to force open Silverbolt's heart, only he notices the large, lumbering monster emerge behind her. The two Maximals run away (cowardly) from the giant, but when the monster hits Silverbolt with gunfire, Blackarachnia fights back with her electric sting. The monster knocks her over, but Silverbolt has had time to recover and attacks the monster with his throwing blades. Eventually, Blackarachnia has the idea to attack the monster using an explosive component from one of the nearby Transformer bodies. The behemoth steps out of the explosion, and the two Transformers watch a strange red spark emerge from the monster as it falls over in defeat. The red glow races away.

In the orchard, while Botanica works, Rattrap scavenges parts of a [[Motorcycle Drone]] to see if anything can be made into a useful tool. As he does this, he moans that he feels his talents are being wasted and he'll be stuck with embarrassing stories to tell his grandkids. Botanica argues that tending the garden is important. The debate between the two heats up, and in their rage, the two Maximals accidentally touch lips. The two quickly agree to completely disregard, forget, and ignore their contact and get to work. But suddenly, the deactivated Cycle Drone comes to life and begins to blast the orchard. Botanica, upset about the carnage, transforms and uses her bolts to bring heavy wreckage crashing down upon the possessed drone. The drone flails its body one last time before falling over, no longer inhabited by the glowing red spark.

Cheetor and Nightscream meet with [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and invite the two generals to join the Maximals. As the two generals debate, [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] stops by to make it clear that he has no interest in joining with the Maximals and that he believes that Megatron, "The Big M," will soon return. After Thrust leaves, the remaining four are attacked by a damaged but resilient [[Aero Drone]]. Nightscream sucks the energy from the drone, but the monster still tries to pull Cheetor over the edge of a nearby cliff. Cheetor is saved by Nightscream and the drone falls, but before it makes impact with the water below, the glowing red spark leaves the body.

[[Image:SparkDarkness Rattrap repolarising.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The group returns to meet with the other Maximals (sans Botanica) inside the Grand Mal, and Optimus welcomes Strika and Obsidian to the team. The two new recruits leave to fortify the base—just in time for Rattrap to detect the haunting red spark heading right towards them all. Inside, the spark passes by the two generals and briefly encounters Cheetor and Blackarachnia. Next, the spark uses a [[Tank Drone]] body to attack Optimus and Botanica. While Rattrap tracks the movement of the Spark, he deduces a way to neutralize its rampage.

Rattrap uses a Spark Extractor on the Tank Drone to draw out the spark. Once the red spark is contained, he "re-polarizes" his captive, but the Spark Extractor flies alive, trying to break free of Rattrap's grip. After escaping the spark extractor, the spark flies into a [[Diagnostic Drone]] and, finally coherent, exclaims "I live!" But Rattrap has the next laugh: The spark, who is clearly Megatron, is now trapped inside of the diminutive body.

[[Image:SparkDarkness Megadrone Optimus.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
The Maximals meet Megatron, but he laughs at them. Even in his tiny form, he's able to reactivate the Grand Mal's internal defenses to evict the Maximals. As the Maximals struggle against the tentacles that have begun to bind them, Primal has an Oracle moment, but the Maximals are all captured anyway. Megatron starts to reformat Primal's spark, but Rattrap gets Botanica to destroy the control panel, freeing the team from Megatron's grip.

Obsidian arrives at the fight scene and is forced to choose: Be loyal to Primal's or Megatron's side. The two generals grab Megatron and fall out of sight. Out of immediate danger, Optimus explains that Nightscream didn't kill Megatron, but only turned Megatron into the monster that he was but no longer is.

Away from the battle, Strika, Obsidian and Megatron meet up with Thrust. No longer in control of the Sparks, Megatron declares, "The time for action is now."

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (3)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (4)
*[[Botanica]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (6)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (7)
|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Evil Red Spark]] (8)
*[[Copter Drone|Copter Drones]] (9)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] (10)
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (11)
*[[Heavy Artillery Drone|Heavy Artillery Drones]] (12)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"So, eh, whatcha got for me and Miss Twiggy? A 'eek and destroy mission? Or maybe some 'oak and dagger work?"
:—'''Rattrap''' comes up with some evil puns.

Little girl voice: And what'd you do in the war, Daddy? 
Rattrap voice: Well, honey, I built ''gardening equipment'' to help the troops plant petunias! 
Little girl voice: ''Really'', Daddy?! 
:—'''Rattrap''' expresses how much he hates his job and Scott McNeil gets to talk to himself. Uh... [[Dinobot (BW)|Some]] [[Silverbolt (BW)|more]].

"What would you rather be doing, sticking your tail into a computer circuit?" 
"Heh, beats the heck outta plowing ''your'' little field of dreams."
:—"Innuendo 101" with '''Botanica''' and '''Rattrap'''

"You shall not pass!" 
[''Red spark passes without pause'']
:—'''Strika''' makes a very poor Gandalf.

"Aw man, I can't believe I'm stuck here while a really honked-off ball of electrons is making mince-meat outta my buddies."
:—'''Rattrap''' complaining again.

"I live! I live! I—what kind of puny body is this?!" 
:—'''Megatron''' discovers he's in a diagnostic drone. Now that's karma.

==Notes==
===Transformers references===
*The short story "Singularity Ablyss" by [[Bob Skir]], published in the [[Transformers Legends]] anthology, is set between-the-scenes of this episode. It doesn't change the events of the episode, but it does illuminate what Megatron may have been thinking in the midst of all that body-jumping; also, he kills [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]].
*The shell that attacks Silverbolt and Blackarachnia is composed of parts from [[Beast Wars]] combatants. The feet, torso, and right arm belong to the transmetalized [[Tarantulas]] and the head bears a strong resemblance to [[Tigerhawk]]. What were Tarantulas and Tigerhawk ''doing'' on Cybertron anyway?
*Precisely 5 minutes and 3 seconds into the episode, immediately after Blackarachnia says, "Whoever you are, THAT was a big mistake!", one can see the severed head of [[Depth Charge]] lying right by her feet.
*Even later on in the episode, when Silverbolt trips over battling the mutant, Blackarachnia proceeds to rip out the power core from what appears to be [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'s body.
*Rattrap and Botanica arguing with each other continues the trend of Rattrap and [[Dinobot (BW)|another]] [[Depth Charge|Maximal]] duking it out verbally. This would probably be the first instance where it blossoms into romance, though. As Megatron [[Bad Spark|would say]]....''yuck''.

===Real-world references===
*This episode's title is a play on Joseph Conrad's novella ''[[wikipedia:Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]''.
*When Cheetor asks Thrust what he's rebelling against now that Megatron is gone, Thrust replies "What've you got?", the reply given by James Dean's character in ''[[wikipedia:Rebel without a cause|Rebel Without a Cause]]''. Fitting.
*The sequence where Optimus Primal and Botanica are first ambushed is also a visual quote from the original ''[[wikipedia:Alien (film)|Alien]]''.
*When Obsidian and Strika attempt to intercept the red spark, Strika exclaims "You shall not pass!", a possible reference to Gandalf's words in ''[[wikipedia:Lord of the Rings|Lord of the Rings]]''.

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search

2009-06-26T15:31:51Z

99.141.242.106: /* Other Notes */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=21
|image=Sparkwar2 Optimus hologram primal.jpg
|caption=
|title="Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search"
|airdate=[[March 29]], 2000
|written by=[[Michael Reaves]]
|directed by=[[Gino Nichele]]
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuty=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The Maximals continue their search for the missing sparks.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 虚像の導き (''Kyozou no Michibiki'', "The Illusion's Guidance")

==Synopsis==
[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s facist planet is being patrolled by legions of the new drones as the [[Maximal]]s, in beast mode, make their way along the lower levels of the surface. They observe that Megatron is fortifying his position. [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] has a jolting vision of the drifting [[Spark]]s, apparently the [[Vector Sigma|Oracle]] contacting him about the Sparks, which have been moved.

Within the [[Grand Mal|big floating head]], Megatron speaks to his three generals, directing them to locations where the Maximals will be, and instructing them to capture Optimus alive.

[[Image:Sparkwar2 Rattrap generators.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"I nicked this out of Tony Stark's chest."]]
[[Rattrap]] introduces the team to his [[scrambled field generator]] devices, small disks intended to befuddle the Vehicons' sensors. Rattrap's not ''quite'' sure they'll work, but the team figures it's better than nothing. The group tries them out, changing to robot modes... then dives for cover as [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] passes by overhead. But the general doesn't notice them, instead moving to carry out his orders along with [[Strika (BM)|Strika]].

Optimus tells the group that his flashes were of familiar places, and splits them up into three teams to go investigate. Rattrap and [[Botanica]] aren't too happy at being paired up, but the group deploys as ordered.

At the Maximal shell yard just outside processing plant #57, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] move in. Silverbolt is not interested in taking orders from Cheetor, despite Blackarachnia's assurance that a ''lot'' has changed since they were parted. Obsidian, watching from concealment, prepares his strike force.

As Optimus and [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] walk below the surface, Nightscream finds a familiar claw slash in the wall. Nightscream wants to find [[Noble]], but Primal gently persuades him to take one job at a time. They run into a cave-in around the corner; Op's eyes flash with white light, and, glancing at a floor hatch, he says they're heading down...

Rattrap and Botanica arrive outside the Citadel, still squabbling. Rattrap detects a massive positronic residual charge, but inside they find piles and piles of Spark canisters... empty. They've arrived here too late. They depart, only to be ambushed by Strika. Botanica is chagrined that Rattrap's scramblers didn't work very long; they fall back.

Obsidian observes from high above as the Maximals explore the shell complex. Silverbolt and Cheetor argue over the latter's leadership capabilities, till Obsidian attacks. Surrounded, Silverbolt decides a berserker head-on attack is the only option.

[[Image:Sparkwar2 Maximals over iacon.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Optimus and Nightscream, meanwhile, have found a stunning ruin below the surface, a great city that was replaced after the great war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, during the Great Upgrade: Iacon. The two apparently trigger a ghostly spector, a holographic tribute to the original Optimus Prime.

Rattrap and Botanica get out of robot mode to escape detection, and duck into a convenient building; Strika drives by without finding them. Rattrap taps his scrambler disk uncertainly, only to get snapped at by Botanica. But Rattrap's attention is suddenly distracted by the contents of the building they're in: holographic pleasure chips. He loads several of said chips into his backpack, then spots some sort of player for the chips just then. He plugs into it, becoming enthralled with a vision of a peaceful metallic world. Just then Strika enters and attacks.

At the shell plant, Silverbolt finally gets blasted back to the ground, and rebuked by Cheetor for his recklessness.

Optimus and Nightscream are about to move on, when the virtual Prime reaches down and scoops Optimus up, bringing him up to face level. From Nightscream's point of view, the hologram disappears, though Optimus continues to float in mid-air. Thrust arrives just then and attacks, but Optimus is seemingly in a trance.

[[Image:Sparkwar2 Rattrap holoenviron.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
Rattrap is still lost in his fantasy world, till Botanica pulls the machine's plug. A blast scatters the Maximals as well as Rattrap's precious chips, which he scrambles to scoop up. He tells Botanica to keep Strika occupied.

As leader, Cheetor decides on a strategic advance to the rear.

Nightscream is dodging cycle drone shots, while Optimus talks with Optimus on some other plane. The Prime hologram tells him that the Oracle lies within him, and he has but to summon it. Primal does so, and is surrounded by a white, Oracle-style hoola-hoop. The hologram of Optimus Prime chuckles... then laughs... a laugh which quickly deepens into that of Megatron, whose face suddenly replaces the figure of Prime.

Strika is posed to deliver a killing blow to Botanica, when Rattrap notices that one of her feet is on the activation pad of the holo-player he was using earlier. He leaps, landing on her shoulders and plugging one of the chips into her head, ensnaring her with the same vision that he was having before. He's pretty pleased with himself; Botanica drags him off.

In the shell yard, Cheetor has a bit of inspiration. The Maximals use a discarded power core to defeat their tormentors, blowing it up in their faces.

Megatron gloats to Optimus; he used the Spark vision to have the Maximals sent off on fools' errands, so Optimus would access the Oracle for his benefit. Megatron has studied and mastered most of the Oracle's secrets, but there's still some pieces missing... till now. And a fast, forceful download commences.

[[Image:Sparkwar2 Megatron primal.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Megatron gloats again; all the pieces are in place, and now he can complete his ultimate plan for the Sparks. The hologram fades away, and Optimus finds himself in the middle of Nightscream's cycle drone battle.

Nightscream, meanwhile, has been brought down by weight of numbers, when a bolt out of the blue hits his attackers. It's Savage, lumbering onto the scene and prompting the cycle drones into a frantic retreat. Savage morphs to Noble and jogs after them, out of sight. A second later the drones go flying through the air. Optimus recovers, and immediately orders Nightscream to follow him to a rendezvous with the others.

The Maximals are shocked that Megatron has the full power of the Oracle, but Primal tells him that he gave Megatron access to the Oracle on purpose. While Megatron was downloading it, Primal accessed information from ''him'' as well, and learned the location of the Sparks. They have but a short window of opportunity to act, to free the Sparks from the location where they're being held: within the big floating head.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
*[[Botanica]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (7)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (8)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (9)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (10)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Copter Drone|Copter Drones]] (1)
*[[Heavy Artillery Drone|Heavy Artillery Drones]] (2)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (11)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] (12)
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (13)
*[[Motorcycle Drone|Motorcycle Drones]] (14)

|c4=
*[[Noble]] (15)

}}
==Quotes==
"No offense, kitten, but I don't take orders from children." 
"Silverbolt, a lot's happened since you've been gone." 
"Not that much."
:—'''Silverbolt''' isn't impressed with Cheetor, despite '''Blackarachnia''' sticking up for him.

"This calls for a strategic advance to the rear." 
"Meaning?" 
"RUN AWAY!"
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Botanica''' encounter Strika.

"Ugh, everyone else gets a partner, I get a flea-ridden travel agent."
:—'''Botanica'''

==Notes==
===Technical or animation errors===
*Glitch

===Continuity Errors===
*Error

===Transformers References===
*While traveling through the sublevels of Cybertron, Optimus Primal and Nightscream stumble upon the ruins of [[Iacon]].
*After that, they encounter a hologram of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. It needed more Peter Cullen.
*The hologram claimed to be Optimus Prime's "essence, stored here these many years after [[The Final Battle (disambiguation)|The Final Battle]]". Sure, it was a ruse by Megatron, but there had to be enough truth in it to attempt to fool Optimus Primal. It seems likely there was some sort of Final Battle, or a legend of a Final Battle in Beast Era lore where it would be believable that Prime's essence would get stored away afterwards. What was it?
*The Maximals stumble on the remains of more Transformers, reusing [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s character models again.

===Real-World References===
* As the [[Grand Mal|Big Floating Head]] hovers into view, Rattrap mutters "Talk about yer bad moon risin'," in tribute to the classic Credence Clearwater Revival song.

===Other Notes===
* Isn't it odd that Silverbolt ''still'' calls Cheetor "kid" though he's still technically younger? Granted, absolutely everybody in the Beast Era save Nightscream treats Cheetor as a kid (and rightfully so), so perhaps Maximal aging is... complicated?

==External Links==
*Link

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Strika (Animated)

2009-06-26T15:27:51Z

99.141.242.106:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Strika}}
:''Strika is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:Strikaanimated.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The kind you bring home to Mama.]]
'''Strika''' is [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]'s personally chosen "General of Destruction", and for good reason. She lives for war, for the glory of war. She is the ideal mix of brains and brawn, as her immense strength and brilliant military tactical mind make her a worthy adversary and a dangerous foe to the Autobots. To add to her power, her multi-wheeled heavily armored battle tank mode is equipped with weaponry that produce an enormous amount of fire power. On top of all this, she brought many victories to the Decepticons during the [[great War (Animated)|Great War]] on Cybertron.

She is also [[Lugnut]]'s "consort", whatever that means.

The character is quite plainly a reference to the [[Strika_(BM)|character of the same name]] from ''[[Beast Machines]]''.

And yes, she ''is'' a girl. Seriously.

{{quote|Ooh! The Autobot Elite Guard. This should be fun.|Strika, hoping to kick some aft|"[[TransWarped]]"}}

== Fiction ==
=== ''Animated'' cartoon ===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Tara Strong]] (English)
As the leader of [[Team Chaar]], Strika and her team attempted to capture [[space bridge 687-030]]. After disabling [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]], and being damaged by [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]], she was back on her feet in time to criticize [[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]] for disabling the Space Bridge and had him reactivate it. After ordering [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] and [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] to help free [[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]] and secure the area, she jumped to the Space Bridge controls and contacted [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], asking him for the coordinates for Cybertron. He refused and then told her the he was under strict orders from [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] to wait for his arrival. Strika, incensed, responded that Megatron was supposed to be there Mega-Cycles ago! Later, still guarding the Space Bridge, she and her team prepared to face off against the [[Elite Guard]], something she was looking forward to. However, before they could, Megatron insisted on a full Decepticon retreat. Strika refused at first, only giving in when faced with the consequences of disobeying Megatron's orders. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

Later, Strika was apparently part of a Decepticon attack force which descended upon Detroit as the planet Cybertron was brought into Earth orbit. This was eventually revealed to be a virtual reality ruse on [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave's]] part, but it is uncertain how Soundwave came to the decision to integrate a simulation of her into the program, as he had never physically encountered her. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

==Notes==
* [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] said this about Strika: "another personal Transformers life goal for yours truly".

[[Category: Animated characters]]
[[Category: Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Female Transformers]]

Robot-fleshling romance

2009-06-26T14:00:19Z

99.141.242.106:

{{cleanup|April 2009|Needed: Storylinks, more elaboration on the examples, elimination of word-linking (right now it looks like Tidal Wave was involved with Airazor), elimination of header-linking, serious reconsideration of Starscream-Alexis -- I don't recall a romantic angle there at all.}}

{{bigquote|We don't have to be the same outside to share the same feeling inside.|Alana speaks words every Autobot Commander dreads|"[[Sea Change]]"}}

Sapient alien robots and humans can be friends, once they are able to communicate with each other. There is no reason this should not be, if we are to assume the existence of sapient alien robots; beings with the ability to reflect on "life, the universe, and everything" would have a lot in common.

[[Image:Pgalove.jpg|right|180px|thumb|PGA PDA]]
One definite lack of commonality, however, is the ability to [[Reproduction|reproduce]] together. Metal robots and flesh creatures just can't have babies, no matter how hard they try. The physiology is simply not compatible. (Several authoritative works have been written on relevant aspects of human biology. Readers are advised to seek them out for further reference.) Since the urge to engage in sex is often a major contributor to romantic interest, it may seem unusual for this attraction to exist between a robot and a fleshling — and yet, throughout Transformers fiction, such examples do exist.

To write them off as silly plot contrivances is easy. It is, however, also easy to write off large sections of the fiction as silly contrivances, which leads us down a dangerous path. Therefore we must assume that, impractical and absurd as it may be, these incompatible species must be similar enough mentally to make romantic attraction, even in the absence of sexual compatibility, possible.

A list of notable Transformer-fleshling pairs where an inter-species romance was either hinted at or outright stated, is given below.

'''''[[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|Marvel G1]] continuity'''''
*[[Cloudburst]]'s [[Pretender]] shell identity and the [[First One]] of [[Femax]]
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and [[Charlene (cowgirl)|Charlene]]
*[[Skullgrin]] and [[Carissa Carr]] in [[Monstercon from Mars!]]
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and [[Joy Meadows]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Cindy Newell]]

'''''[[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Cartoon G1]] continuity'''''
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]]
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Alana]]
*[[Lander]] is in the middle of a date but unceremoniously ditches his partner and rushes off to save the day after he gets a call from [[Metalhawk]].

'''''[[Generation 1 (Dreamwave comic)|Dreamwave G1]] continuity'''''

*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Marissa Faireborn]]

'''''Dreamwave [[Transformers/G.I. Joe]] continuity'''''

*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Scarlett]]

'''''[[Beast Wars]] continuity'''''

*[[Tigatron]] and [[Snowstalker]]

'''''[[Armada (cartoon)|Cartoon Armada]] continuity'''''

*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Alexis]].

'''''Unconfirmed G1 continuity'''''

*[[Glide]] is known to pick up cute human girls and give them rides on his motorcycle mode.

The 2006 [[Takara]]'s ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' introduced a whole line of Transformer/human pairings (that were somehow even ''more'' disturbing).

*[[Autrooper]] and [[Atari Hitotonari]].
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Shaoshao Li]].
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Marissa Faireborn]].

The fact that all of these pairings are between nominally-male robots and apparently-female fleshlings can in part be blamed on the scarcity of [[female Transformers]]. (The default assumption of heterosexuality is also part of it; the day when we have a canonical gay robot-fleshling romance in ''Transformers'' is probably still a long way off, though the same cannot be said for [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|robot]]-[[Airazor (BW)|robot]] or [[Cain|human]]-[[Akira Serikawa|human]] pairings.)
{{-}}

[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Robot-fleshling romance

2009-06-26T13:59:52Z

99.141.242.106:

{{cleanup|April 2009|Needed: Storylinks, more elaboration on the examples, elimination of word-linking (right now it looks like Tidal Wave was involved with Airazor), elimination of header-linking, serious reconsideration of Starscream-Alexis -- I don't recall a romantic angle there at all.}}

{{bigquote|We don't have to be the same outside to share the same feeling inside.|Alana speaks words every Autobot Commander dreads|"[[Sea Change]]"}}

Sapient alien robots and humans can be friends, once they are able to communicate with each other. There is no reason this should not be, if we are to assume the existence of sapient alien robots; beings with the ability to reflect on "life, the universe, and everything" would have a lot in common.

[[Image:Pgalove.jpg|right|180px|thumb|PGA PDA]]
One definite lack of commonality, however, is the ability to [[Reproduction|reproduce]] together. Metal robots and flesh creatures just can't have babies, no matter how hard they try. The physiology is simply not compatible. (Several authoritative works have been written on relevant aspects of human biology. Readers are advised to seek them out for further reference.) Since the urge to engage in sex is often a major contributor to romantic interest, it may seem unusual for this attraction to exist between a robot and a fleshling — and yet, throughout Transformers fiction, such examples do exist.

To write them off as silly plot contrivances is easy. It is, however, also easy to write off large sections of the fiction as silly contrivances, which leads us down a dangerous path. Therefore we must assume that, impractical and absurd as it may be, these incompatible species must be similar enough mentally to make romantic attraction, even in the absence of sexual compatibility, possible.

A list of notable Transformer-fleshling pairs where an inter-species romance was either hinted at or outright stated, is given below.

'''''[[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|Marvel G1]] continuity'''''
*[[Cloudburst]]'s [[Pretender]] shell identity and the [[First One]] of [[Femax]]
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and [[Charlene (cowgirl)|Charlene]]
*[[Skullgrin]] and [[Carissa Carr]] in [[Monstercon from Mars!]]
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and [[Joy Meadows]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Cindy Newell]]

'''''[[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Cartoon G1]] continuity'''''
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]]
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Alana]]
*[[Lander]] is in the middle of a date but unceremoniously ditches his partner and rushes off to save the day after he gets a call from [[Metalhawk]].

'''''[[Generation 1 (Dreamwave comic)|Dreamwave G1]] continuity'''''

*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Marissa Faireborn]]

'''''Dreamwave [[Transformers/G.I. Joe]] continuity'''''

*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Scarlett]]

'''''[[Beast Wars] continuity'''''

*[[Tigatron]] and [[Snowstalker]]

'''''[[Armada (cartoon)|Cartoon Armada]] continuity'''''

*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Alexis]].

'''''Unconfirmed G1 continuity'''''

*[[Glide]] is known to pick up cute human girls and give them rides on his motorcycle mode.

The 2006 [[Takara]]'s ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' introduced a whole line of Transformer/human pairings (that were somehow even ''more'' disturbing).

*[[Autrooper]] and [[Atari Hitotonari]].
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Shaoshao Li]].
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Marissa Faireborn]].

The fact that all of these pairings are between nominally-male robots and apparently-female fleshlings can in part be blamed on the scarcity of [[female Transformers]]. (The default assumption of heterosexuality is also part of it; the day when we have a canonical gay robot-fleshling romance in ''Transformers'' is probably still a long way off, though the same cannot be said for [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|robot]]-[[Airazor (BW)|robot]] or [[Cain|human]]-[[Akira Serikawa|human]] pairings.)
{{-}}

[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Survivor

2009-06-26T13:51:39Z

99.141.242.106: /* Transformers references */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=10
|image=Survivor Nightscream chamber.jpg
|caption=We're sorry, Nightscream, but the tribe has spoken.
|title="Survivor"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 27]], 1999
|written by=[[Brynne Chandler Reaves]]
|directed by=[[Dennis Heaton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Megatron targets Nightscream for capture, so he can learn more about how the Maximal was able to survive the virus.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 機械のはらわた (''Kikai no Harawa ta'', "The Innards of the Machine")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Survivor Megatron breath.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Megatron enjoys a good curry]]
In the [[Council Citadel]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] rages at yet another setback in purging his organic form. He changes to dragon mode and unleashes a fireball at the [[Diagnostic Drone]], who suggests an easier method would be to simply transplant Megatron's spark to a new body. Megatron is not keen on leaving his spark unprotected, so the Drone suggests another course of action: the [[Maximal]] [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] seems to have scanned an organic body, so if they could capture him, study the process and reverse it... Megatron orders his [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]] to take the Diagnostic Drone to the catacombs and capture Nightscream.

[[Optimus Primal]] and [[Rattrap]] are trying to help Nightscream unlock his memories. To their surprise, they find that the young Maximal has a built in [[DNA scanner]], to which he responds that everyone junked the [[Stasis pod|stasis pods]] in favour of inbuilt scanners in the [[Quantum Cycle Upgrade]]. After Rattrap mentions they'd been off-planet fighting the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]], he resoundingly mocks them for losing said wars and is reminded that the Maximals lost friends during it. As Optimus stresses the importance of finding out where Nightscream scanned organic DNA on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Rattrap drops a seed from the tree they found earlier into his hand. [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] reminds Primal of what happened last time they ate fruit from that tree, but Optimus merely says that the seed is what the Oracle was referring to when it mentioned "the seeds of the future".

[[Image:Survivor Nightscream sonic.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Do re MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]]
The Maximals return to the chamber where they originally found the tree, only to discover it's been sealed off. Nightscream begins to use his sonic attack to break through. Unfortunately the soundwaves gain the attention of the Diagnostic Drone, and the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] interrupt Nightscream before the barrier is breached. [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] buries Optimus beneath some rubble, while [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] immobilises [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] in a web and then confronts Thrust. The pair freeze, waiting to see who will make the first move, until a recovered Jetstorm fires on Blackarachnia. The other three Maximals are reluctantly fighting [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] with the knowledge he contains [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s spark, until he blasts them all. The Maximals recover to find that Nightscream is gone.

Elsewhere in the catacombs, their friend is being spirited away by the Vehicons. The Diagnostic Drone observes that the [[CR chamber|regeneration chamber]] they've put Nightscream in doesn't seem to be doing anything for him. The chamber is opened, and the young Maximal transforms, much to the fascination of the Drone who says that his [[technorganic]] body is repairing itself and they will be able to use the same process to purge Megatron's beast form. The Drone closes itself in the regeneration chamber with Nightscream, who promises to tell the secret of his ability—and then unleashes a sonic attack at point blank range. Thrust and Jetstorm pursue the boy while Tankor digs out the Diagnostic Drone. Nightscream manages to lose the two Vehicons with some fancy flying.

[[Image:Survivor Diagnostic Drone junk.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He always wanted to get into video games, but Tetris may have been a bad idea.]]
Tankor digs out the Drone, but hides it under some rubble as the other four Maximals pass, searching for their friend. He again pulls out the Diagnostic Drone, who is surprised at Tankor's change of personality. Tankor explains that his time as both a Maximal and Vehicon has given him a greater perspective and though Megatron's plan has merit, it has one problem—Megatron himself. Tankor intends to personally become ruler of Cybertron. The Diagnostic Drone says it's programmed to serve only Megatron, and so Tankor begins the reprogramming.

Meanwhile, Nightscream has reached a dead end with Jetstorm and Thrust once again closing in behind him. He uses his sonic attack to escape through a tunnel, and the two Vehicons are cut off by the other four Maximals. Optimus pursues Nightscream while Rattrap, Cheetor and Blackarachnia fight the Vehicons, swiftly defeating them. Blackarachnia hesitates in slagging Thrust, which give the Vehicons ample recovery time to take off after Optimus and Nightscream.

Tankor completes his reprogramming job and gives his new loyal servant the task of tracking down a particular energy signature.

[[Image:Survivor Nightscream batskeleton.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"My parents are DEEEEAAAAD!"]]
Elsewhere, Nightscream finds himself in a cave staring at the skeleton of a bat. Optimus arrives as the young Maximal realises that the fossil was picked up by his DNA scanners, allowing him to reformat into his bat mode and survive Megatron's purge. While he's still wrought over why he survived and no one else, Jetstorm and Thrust pop up in time to be blasted by his sonic cry. The blast reveals more bones, and Optimus realises that Cybertron once had organic life. Nightscream angsts that if he hadn't been so self-absorbed, perhaps he could have saved other Transformers. Optimus commiserates and they plant the seed Rattrap found.

Back at the Citadel, the Diagnostic Drone can give no excuse for yet another failed purge and suggests the problem is Megatron himself. After the Drone is dismissed, it contacts Tankor to report. Tankor thanks the Drone for the accurate information on the energy signature—he has found the Oracle.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (7)
*[[Rattrap]] (8)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (9)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (10)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] (1)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (3)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (4)
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]/[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (5)

|c4=
*[[Vector Sigma|Oracle]] (11)

}}
==Quotes==
"You tend to be a little out of the loop when you're on a distant planet fightin' the Beast Wars." 
"And you did a fine job winning it. Oh, I forgot, you fumbled the ball at the very last nano-click."
:—'''Rattrap''' name-checks the previous show and '''Nightscream''' demonstrates why he has few fans.

"Fascinating. His robot mode is implementing biologically-enhanced nanosurgical capabilities. It seems to accelerate the beast mode's natural healing abilities."
:—'''Diagnostic Drone''' makes with the technobabble.

"Tankor, protect me! That's an order." 
"I think it's time we come to an understanding about who gives the orders." 
"You?!" 
"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you happier when my vocabulary was limited to TANKOR SMASH!? Poetic, perhaps, yet somehow it isn't me anymore."
:—'''Diagnostic Drone''' is surprised at the latest revelation that '''Tankor''' is Rhinox.

"Step into my parlour said the spider to the flyboy." 
"Missed me! Missed me! Now you gotta kiss me!"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Jetstorm''' have somewhat unique fight banter.

"They deserved to live as much as me, more even! Why did ''I'' get to live? WHY?" 
"Beats me, kid, but I'll be happy to put you out of your misery!"
:—'''Nightscream''' asks the question many of us wonder about him while '''Jetstorm''' offers a practical solution.

"According to my data, failure to purge your DNA contamination may actually stem from your own subconscious desire to maintain your beast mode."
:—'''Diagnostic Drone''' to Megatron.

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
*How ''do'' you get [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|DNA from a fossil]] anyway?

===Continuity errors===
*When chasing after the escaped Nightscream, [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] uses the transformation code "accelerate", instead of his usual "overdrive".
*Cheetor's telling Blackarachnia to take Thrust out is odd considering they've already established the Vehicons contain Maximal sparks (though considering how well it went last time they freed one...)

===Transformers references===
*When Nightscream chastises the [[Maximals]] for losing the Beast Wars, [[Rattrap]] angrily replies "You watch your mouth junior, I lost friends in that war." This is most likely a reference to [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], and to lesser degrees [[Tigatron]], [[Airazor]] and [[Depth Charge]].

===Real-world references===
*When [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] ambushes the Maximals, he taunts them by sneering "Honey, I'm home!" This is a repeating line from the '50s sitcom ''I Love Lucy''.
*When Nightscream escapes he remarks about how he can't return to the others because he'll lead the Vehicons right to them. He then laments about how he'll be "alone again, naturally," a line from the song of the same name by Gilbert O'Sullivan.
*The images when Rhinox describes Megatron's scheme are very Nazi-esque.

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2009-06-26T05:42:23Z

99.141.242.106: /* Predacons */

{{Nav-bw}}

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many Transfans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, the wholly-[[CGI]] '''''Beast Wars''''' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of Transformers storytelling.

:''Canadian name:'' '''Beasties'''
:''Japanese name:'' '''Beast Wars Metals''' (season 2-3)
:''French name:'' '''Animutants'''

==Overview==
The series opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the Beast Wars...

[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.

===[[Maximal]]s===
[[Image:BW Maximals.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
*[[Optimus Primal]]
*[[Rattrap]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon)
*[[Tigatron]]
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Depth Charge]]
*[[Tigerhawk]]

===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]===
[[Image:BW Predacons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]
*[[Tarantulas]]
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (became a Maximal towards the end of the series)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]
*[[Tripredacus Council]] (very briefly)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
*[[Dinobot II]]

===Others===
*[[Snowstalker]]
*[[Transmutate]]
*[[Protohumans]]
*Assorted [[Vok]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan the show was split into 2 separate 26 episode series, ''Beast Wars'' which aired in 1997 (consisting of US season 1) and ''Beast Wars Metals'' which aired in 1999 (consisting of US seasons 2 and 3). The ''Beast Wars Metals'' series featured two additional clip shows:

*Episode 14: "[[Remix: Where is the Banana?]]"
*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

Japan crafted two separate theatrical releases, the first being "[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]" (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]" as well as two other segments) and a triple feature of short animated films based on [[Takara]] toylines (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]"). Since these episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by the pair of aforementioned clip shows.

Additionally, for whatever reason, the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Wars Metals'' notoriously chose to turn the series into a goofy comedy show with lots of fourth-wall humor and a relentless string of over-the-top and in-your-face jokes, even at the most ''inappropriate'' of moments.

Some examples include:

*The beginning of every episode would start with one of the characters asking a ridiculous question and receiving equally ridiculous answers (Optimus Primal asking "Where is my banana", for instance) before segueing into the opening rap theme by [[Banana Ice]].
*Rattrap would constantly break the fourth wall by "smelling" what the audience was eating and make gluttonous comments.
*Many characters received completely new personalities that were polar opposites to their Western interpretation (Depth Charge enjoyed singing folk songs while Megatron became a flamboyant madman that shrieked like a little girl at the sight of danger). Other characters had their ''genders'' altered (poor, poor Airazor).
*Clipshows would feature the characters interacting in silly situations such as gameshows and contests (in one instance, Megatron acted as judge in a celebrity impersonation contest).
While many long-time ''Transformers'' fans in Japan reviled this dub (including [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]]) it remained a hit with its target audience: young children. At any rate, this version of ''Beast Wars'' was popular enough to spawn two equally goofy-natured spin-offs, [[Beast Wars II]] and [[Beast Wars Neo]], and two Japanese-exclusive theatrical releases.

However, [[Pioneer|Pioneer's]] Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then cable-only channel ITV 2. The UK's Channel 5 later showed the series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully.

==Trivia==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* According to [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine], Beast Wars is the first fully CGI TV-show in the world. Too bad they don't know [[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]] is much earlier.
* In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.
* In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (aka Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, the show aired only the first two seasons like it was in French. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.
* In Germany, the show was called, like in the US, Beast Wars. The Show started very successful on the TVStation RTL2 and was released on VHS. But only the first Season was shown and dubbed. Also in the TV Version many fighting scenes were cut down, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was canceled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?

==See also==
*[[Dark Glass]] was an unproduced script intended for season 3.

[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2009-06-26T05:41:55Z

99.141.242.106: /* Maximals */

{{Nav-bw}}

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many Transfans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, the wholly-[[CGI]] '''''Beast Wars''''' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of Transformers storytelling.

:''Canadian name:'' '''Beasties'''
:''Japanese name:'' '''Beast Wars Metals''' (season 2-3)
:''French name:'' '''Animutants'''

==Overview==
The series opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the Beast Wars...

[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.

===[[Maximal]]s===
[[Image:BW Maximals.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
*[[Optimus Primal]]
*[[Rattrap]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon)
*[[Tigatron]]
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Depth Charge]]
*[[Tigerhawk]]

===[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]===
[[Image:BW Predacons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]
*[[Tarantulas]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (became a Maximal towards the end of the series)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]
*[[Tripredacus Council]] (very briefly)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
*[[Dinobot II]]

===Others===
*[[Snowstalker]]
*[[Transmutate]]
*[[Protohumans]]
*Assorted [[Vok]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan the show was split into 2 separate 26 episode series, ''Beast Wars'' which aired in 1997 (consisting of US season 1) and ''Beast Wars Metals'' which aired in 1999 (consisting of US seasons 2 and 3). The ''Beast Wars Metals'' series featured two additional clip shows:

*Episode 14: "[[Remix: Where is the Banana?]]"
*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

Japan crafted two separate theatrical releases, the first being "[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]" (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]" as well as two other segments) and a triple feature of short animated films based on [[Takara]] toylines (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]"). Since these episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by the pair of aforementioned clip shows.

Additionally, for whatever reason, the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Wars Metals'' notoriously chose to turn the series into a goofy comedy show with lots of fourth-wall humor and a relentless string of over-the-top and in-your-face jokes, even at the most ''inappropriate'' of moments.

Some examples include:

*The beginning of every episode would start with one of the characters asking a ridiculous question and receiving equally ridiculous answers (Optimus Primal asking "Where is my banana", for instance) before segueing into the opening rap theme by [[Banana Ice]].
*Rattrap would constantly break the fourth wall by "smelling" what the audience was eating and make gluttonous comments.
*Many characters received completely new personalities that were polar opposites to their Western interpretation (Depth Charge enjoyed singing folk songs while Megatron became a flamboyant madman that shrieked like a little girl at the sight of danger). Other characters had their ''genders'' altered (poor, poor Airazor).
*Clipshows would feature the characters interacting in silly situations such as gameshows and contests (in one instance, Megatron acted as judge in a celebrity impersonation contest).
While many long-time ''Transformers'' fans in Japan reviled this dub (including [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]]) it remained a hit with its target audience: young children. At any rate, this version of ''Beast Wars'' was popular enough to spawn two equally goofy-natured spin-offs, [[Beast Wars II]] and [[Beast Wars Neo]], and two Japanese-exclusive theatrical releases.

However, [[Pioneer|Pioneer's]] Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then cable-only channel ITV 2. The UK's Channel 5 later showed the series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully.

==Trivia==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* According to [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine], Beast Wars is the first fully CGI TV-show in the world. Too bad they don't know [[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]] is much earlier.
* In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.
* In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (aka Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, the show aired only the first two seasons like it was in French. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.
* In Germany, the show was called, like in the US, Beast Wars. The Show started very successful on the TVStation RTL2 and was released on VHS. But only the first Season was shown and dubbed. Also in the TV Version many fighting scenes were cut down, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was canceled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?

==See also==
*[[Dark Glass]] was an unproduced script intended for season 3.

[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)

2009-06-26T05:39:19Z

99.141.242.106: /* Franchise elements */

{{disambig2|the real-world franchise|the historical event within the fiction|Beast Wars (event)}}
{{Nav-bw}}

'''''Beast Wars''''' is a [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'']] [[franchise]] that began in 1996, following the end of ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''. It was a massive reinvention of the brand, featuring robots that changed into realistic, organically-styled animals instead of the traditional vehicles or mechanical beasts. The accompanying cartoon was another visual break, being the first fully-[[Wikipedia:Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] ''Transformers'' series. It also did the seemingly unthinkable and replaced the original two factions, the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s, with the [[Maximal]]s and the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. Though originally [[Ruined FOREVER|decried by fans]], ''Beast Wars'' dramatically reinvigorated the brand, whose sales had been flagging under the ''Generation 2'' franchise.

"Beast Wars" is also frequently used as a catchall term for the [[Beast Era]] in which ''Beast Wars'' and other series occur.

{{bigquote|In the beginning came the beasts, and all that creeps, crawls and flies - but nature lies, they're robots in disguise!|[[Commercial]] narrator [[Victor Caroli]] ushers in the new era}}

==Franchise elements==
The ''Beast Wars'' franchise features the following primary components:

* [[Beast Wars (toyline)|A toyline]] — (1996-2000)
* [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|A cartoon series]] — (1996-1999) called ''Beasties'' in many overseas markets to appear less violent.
* [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|A video game]] for PC and PS based on ''Beast Wars''.
* [[Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals|A video game]] for PS and N64 based on ''Beast Wars''.

==Japanese release==
In Japan, the first season of the North American cartoon was aired with a markedly "kiddified" dub, accompanied by releases of the concurrent toys. Then two cel-animated series unique to Japan were aired, with their own toylines and manga. After those finished, the remaining two North American CGI seasons were aired and toys released under the name "Beast Wars Metals".

* [[Beast Wars (Japanese franchise)|Beast Wars]]
* 1998 - [[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]
* 1999 - [[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]
* [[Beast Wars Metals (franchise)|Beast Wars Metals]]

==Continuations and addenda==
There are several 'expanded' ''Beast Wars'' storylines featuring events taking place 'just offscreen' of the cartoon series. Though the ''events'' of cartoon series are understood to occur just as had been portrayed, the ''context'' may be different, taking place in different time periods, etc. These contradictory stories all co-exist within the vast Transformers [[Continuity#Multiverse|Multiverse]].

Most of these exist mainly through [[Beast Wars (comic)|Beast Wars comics]].

Highlights include:

* From 1997-2004, [[3H Productions|3H]] featured a series of comics, toy-exclusives and text stories set in the same continuity as the ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'' cartoon series, continuing into the ''[[Universe (2003 franchise)|Transformers: Universe]]'' series.
* IDW Publishing has produced 2 series and a profile sourcebook This continuity is notable for including toys and events from several Japanese Beast Wars series. (See [[Beast Wars timeline (IDW)]])
* [[Fun Publications]] [[Timelines]] imprint (2005 — ?) has published several ''Beast Wars'' comics and text stories.

==Prehistoric Earth==
The Beast Wars' time period (like its exact location,<ref>Visual evidence suggests Northern Africa, but that would of course be impossible given some of the distances shown being covered on foot. (The main reason their location was left vague, thus, was a narrative one.)</ref>) was never established during the cartoon's original run. In the years ''after'' the cartoon ended several official dates have been given:

* 3,000,000 years ago — [[Micromaster Collection|Reissue Sixtrain Booklet]]<ref>The Japanese dating of the events of Beast Wars as "3 Million Years Ago" appears to stem from mis-reading Optimus Primal's statement in the episode "[[Optimal Situation]]" that they would have four million years to "scrape Megatron off the walls" as a literal rather than figurative timeframe. Regardless, 3 million years is unquestionably 'correct' ''for'' ''[[Micromaster Collection]]'' continuity... it was the age of wreckage discovered from that era.</ref> — (August, 2003)
* 180,000 [[wikipedia:Anno Domino|BC]] — [[Primeval Dawn Part 2]] — (July, 2004)
* 70,000 [[wikipedia:Anno Domino|BC]] — [[The Gathering issue 2|Beast Wars: Gathering #2]] — (March , 2006)

Each of these dates applies to a different [[continuity]] or "alternate dimension" within the Transformers Multiverse, so they do not ''conflict'' with one another. The Maximals and Predacons in those dimensions simply crashed at different times, but had otherwise identical adventures. (Generally with different events taking place 'offscreen' unique to each [[expanded continuity]].)

Though Earth's geology and biology seen in the cartoon does not fit any single era, the loose "window" of 70,000-180,000 B.C. seems to represent two extremes that are "about right."

=="Other" ''Beast Wars''==
* The initial toys and the [[Optimus Primal vs Megatron!|mini-comic]] packed with the basic Optimus Primal VS Megatron two-pack toy strongly implied that ''Beast Wars'' was a continuation of the previous [[Autobot]]/[[Decepticon]] conflict on present day Earth, with Primal and Megatron simply new forms of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Megatron (G1)|original Megatron]]. This setting was abandoned when the 1996 cartoon established its futuristic setting. This remains an intriguing [[micro-continuity]].
* A version of the ''Beast Wars'' occurred in the past of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]]. One text story ("[[Fire in the Dark]]") in the 2004 [[Transformers Legends]] anthology is set in this version of ''Beast Wars''.

{{see|Beast Wars (Armada)}}

* The [[Movie (franchise)|2007 live-action movie franchise]] has a version of the ''Beast Wars'' in its past.<ref>[[Sector Seven]] had the shattered [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|golden disk]] (and possibly the [[Covenant of Primus]]) in its archives 1898, some 80 years before the disk's creation.</ref><ref>The [[Sector Seven (game)|Sector Seven Alternate Reality Game]] indicates Sector Seven is at least partially aware of the events of the ''Beast Wars'' as early as 1983, as they are mentioned in the [[Hungry Dragon|Takara Agreement]].</ref>

==A Dramatic Change==
The major change in direction for Transformers followed organizational changes within [[Hasbro]]. Hasbro had acquired rival toy manufacturer [[Kenner]] as part of their 1991 [[Tonka]] acquisition<ref>http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=ci_history_hasbro</ref>, and in 1995 they transferred their boys' toy lines from the Hasbro headquarters in Rhode Island to Kenner's Cincinnati, Ohio offices. Kenner was asked to revitalize the brand with new ideas, and that is exactly what they did.

''Beast Wars'' was the first complete reinvention of the [[Transformers brand]], discarding the previous setting/characters/factions to create a new story, set several hundred years in the future. Transformers in the Beast Era are much smaller (often human-sized) and transform into 'fleshy' non-robotic animals. Initially met with [[Trukk not munky|outrage]] by many fans (for a variety of reasons) ''Beast Wars'' would eventually become highly regarded, largely due to the exceptional quality of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|cartoon series]]. It is now not unusual for even longtime ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' fans to consider ''Beast Wars'' to be their favorite Transformers franchise.

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Beast Era]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Franchises]]

Fires of the Past

2009-06-26T04:12:25Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=3
|image=Vehicons Fires of The Past.JPG
|title="Fires of the Past"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=October 2, 1999
|written by=[[Marv Wolfman]]
|directed by=[[John Pozer]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Stymied time and again by his Maximal foes, Megatron brings three new Generals online.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 愛の古傷(しるし) (''Ai no Furukizu (Shirushi)'', "Wounds of Love")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Fires of the Past Maximals archives.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I'm telling you, Optimus, they were all out of bananas.]]
A fleet of [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] [[Tank Drone|Tank Drones]] roll towards the Cybertronian Archives. A hiding [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] watches in horror as the tanks open fire, seemingly without provocation, on a statue of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] holding a pair of [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disks]]. The tanks continue their barrage on the Archive center itself as Blackarachnia runs back to the rest of the hiding [[Maximal|Maximals]], who are there searching for clues to what happened to the missing Cybertronian population. [[Rattrap]] makes it out of the Archives, revealing that he's found... absolutely nothing. The Archives have been deleted in their entirety.

[[Image:Fires of the Past Blackarachnia dream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|In the jungle, the mighty jungle...]]
[[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] howls in rage, while a spying [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] chuckles to himself that he's starting history over; everything prior to his reign is now simply a rumor. Inside Megatron's control chamber, a [[Diagnostic Drone]] assures him that he has been "purged" of whatever organic traces remained in him that caused his outbreak into beast mode in the previous episode. More Tank Drones appear to attack the Maximals, and Optimus orders yet another retreat. During the battle, Blackarachnia is knocked out by a blast and has a vision of a beautiful sunset-lit Amazon forest, falling into a pit, and being saved by a shadowy silhouette of [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]].

In the waking world, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] is carrying the woozy Blackarachnia away from the battle while Optimus draws the majority of the tank fire. Rather than simply taking cover behind a building, he climbs straight ''up'' one while dodging more shots, and the accumulated damage causes the building to topple on the Tank Drone fleet, destroying almost all of them while Optimus leaps to safety. (Optimus planned it that way. Seriously.)

[[Image:Fires of the Past Megatron sparks.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Nope. Totally won't come back around to bite him in the ass.]]
Megatron is so enraged at this turn of events that he loses all control and again reverts to his dragon form, disconnecting from the control armor. He becomes further enraged when he realizes he still hasn't been cured of his beastial tendencies and takes it out on the Diagnostic Drone with some fire breath. Collecting himself and returning to robot form, he ponders why his elite army of drones is still unable to capture four rogue Maximals. The only reasonable answer is simply "free will," so, Megatron pulls out three [[Spark|sparks]] from an enormous bank of stored sparks...

Back at the Maximal hideout, Optimus chews out the rest of the Maximals for their extremely sloppy battle performance. Blackarachnia has another vision of Silverbolt while pretending to listen to Optimus' angry lecture. Afterwards she decides to sneak off to the Central Space Port, and Rattrap has decided to tag along with her. Before Rattrap can get her to explain why she's out there in the first place, they are attacked by three Vehicons. Unfortunately, these three are no Drones—each Vehicon has a spark of their own! They are [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]], a wisecracking Aerodrone General, [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], a smoldering Cycle Drone General, and [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], a Tank Drone General, whose only distinguishable personality traits are being very angry and stupid.

[[Image:Fires of the Past Blackarachnia Rattrap records.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"See, I told you the Omega-Delta shuttle toy came with six figures."]]
The three Vehicons pretty much blow up everything around Rattrap and Blackarachnia, completely outclassing them (as newly-introduced Transformers typically do). Blackarachnia reverts to Beast Mode and she and Rattrap scurry off. Neither of them yet realize it, but doing so saves them—the Vehicons are unable to detect them on radar while in Beast Mode. Getting inside the Space Port control building, Blackarachnia accesses the aerospace records, finding the records of the Autobot shuttle they came to Cybertron on. She discovers that the ship was shot down by Cybertron's own automated defense systems and that there were six of them on the ship, though their memories of the missing two Maximals are hazy. Blackarachnia then plans to get to the ship itself to find its own backed-up data files.

[[Image:Fires of the Past Blackarachnia ship computer.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Come on, Neo, get off the other line!"]]
The Vehicons again attack, having locked onto Blackarachnia's Maximal signature, and she and Rattrap are again forced to flee, with Blackarachnia heading for the Autobot Shuttle and Rattrap simply heading home (he's had enough of being shot at for one day). Rattrap finds out (by happy accident) that the Vehicons are unable to track him while he is in Beast Mode. He scuttles off to warn Blackarachnia. Megatron decides to call off the Vehicon attack once he realizes where Blackarachnia is headed, so he can tap into her mind when she accesses the Autobot ship's computer and find the Maximal base through her.

Rattrap warns her of this as well, and the two are forced to destroy the shuttle computer to prevent Megatron from finding out the location of their hideout. The Vehicons resume their attack, and Optimus Primal and Cheetor save the day, Batman-style, by crashing through a skylight and fending off the Vehicons long enough to get out of there before the rest of the Autobot Shuttle blows up. Optimus is, in a word, steamed that his teammates endangered themselves needlessly and got their only chance at easy answers destroyed, but nothing can be done about it now, and they all run back to their hideout.

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

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Tank Drone|Tank Drones]] (1)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] (7)
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] (8)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (9)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (10)

}}
==Quotes==
"How is this possible? My battle drones are models of technological perfection. They possess superior firepower and manoeuvrability, and yet they are continually defeated by a small pack of lowly beasts. Why?" 
"Free will?" 
"Hmm, interesting notion."
:—'''Megatron''' and the '''Diagnotic Drone''' debate the recent losses.

"I failed my people once. I will not fail them again."
:—'''Optimus'''.

"Three mindless drones, shouldn't be a problem." 
"Only three things wrong with that little theory: One, we're not drones, two, we're not mindless, and three, problem's my middle name."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' is introduced to '''Jetstorm''' and the new Vehicons.

"This is Captain Jetstorm speaking. Please feel free to move about the tarmac, and flee for your ''miserable little life!''"
:—'''Jetstorm''' enjoying himself way too much.

"They blew us out of the sky?" 
"Yes, stranding all six of us." 
"Why, those lousy— six?! Get real, Webs—if there were six of us then why don't we remember the other two?"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Rattrap''' learn that their memories have been tampered with more than they realise.

"Well, well, well. Your situation exactly matches your location: TERMINAL!"
:—'''Jetstorm''' finding Rattrap and Blackarachnia.

"Now just stick to beast mode and those Vehicon goons will never find us! ...Unless they happen to be standing right here in front of us."
:—'''Rattrap''''s plan has one minor flaw.

==Notes==
*It's interesting that Tankor, Jetstorm and Thrust's personality traits are the exact opposites of the characters whose sparks they possess. Instead of being kind of dense and chivalrous like Silverbolt, Jetstorm is sarcastic and sociopathic. Instead of being a gentle genius, Tankor's a violent idiot. And Thrust is slick and cool, instead of being... well... Waspinator.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity errors===
* Optimus Primal seems very insistent on Blackarachnia reverting back to beast mode despite not knowing the reason why she ''should'' until much later in the episode.
* Why would a Diagnostic Drone be so grossly inaccurate when he told Megatron that his organic purging was complete? He even chalks up the mistake to "random residual biological—", right before being blasted by Megatron's ''extremely'' biological beast mode.
* "Four million years of Cybertron history?" Is [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] for ''real''? [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] spent that long just sitting around waiting for the original Megatron to call while the latter was in stasis lock aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]! Obviously, given that fact, Cybertron is a lot older than Megatron makes it out to be.

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Statue rockandrollhalloffame.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He won the spelling bee by correctly spelling "Hun-Gurrr" and "Rartorata".]]
*A giant statue of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] holding two [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disks]] stands in front of the [[Hall of Archives]].
{{note|Writer [[Bob Skir]] claims that neither the statue nor the golden disks in its hands were mentioned the script. However, he suggested that they were either the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|disks]] from the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, or that Optimus won them in the 2,395,989th Annual Cybertronian spelling bee.<ref>[http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Q&A from Bigbot's "bobskir.com"]</ref> We're betting on the latter.}}
*When Blackarachnia logs into the ship's computer, the animation models for [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s head are briefly seen.

===Real-world references===
*Jetstorm refers to Rattrap and Blackarachnia as "Beasties", a reference to the Canadian name for Beast Wars.

===Trivia===
* While Megatron is looking at computer screens, text in the Predacon version of the Cybertronix [[Cybertronian languages|language]] appears. Among the messages are such gems as "these flowers taste funny," "we are the mcanimators from mcmainframe," "smoke some ganja," and "if you can read this seek help."
* Though he says it much less frequently than in [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]], this episode marks the first time Megatron utters "Yesssss," though in a much less hammy, more sinister manner than before.
* The animators avoid directly showing Megatron's unveiled Robot Mode out of its control harness—in the previous episode, we don't even see him transform, in this episode, any clear shot of it is obscured either by fast action or backlighting. We do, however, see that his "cloak" is made up of his wings that would ordinarily arch out of his back in robot mode.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Other Victories

2009-06-26T03:49:40Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=50
|image=OVic opening.JPG
|caption=Sure is nice in the lifeless void.
|title="Other Victories"
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[May 5]], 1999
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[William Lau]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The aliens send their powerful new emissary Tigerhawk to Earth to stop the continued disruption of the time stream.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ただいまでござる (''Tadaima de Gozaru'', "I Hath Returned")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OtherVictories BirthofTigerhawk.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh yeah, we still have these two guys.]]
Somewhere in the vast universe, two entities are discussing the experiment on [[Earth|"Nexus Earth"]]. Though the project was "sterilized", there remains a threat. The entities then reveal [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], then merge their bodies together, creating a new [[Transformer]]. The aliens inhabit the body and depart in a ball of energy, while two [[Spark|sparks]] follow.

[[Image:Judge Megatron.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Believe it or not, you may have better luck on [[Quintessa]].]]
At the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] are holding a "trial" for [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] is the "defense", [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] and [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] are the jury, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] is taking the minutes, and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is the judge, not to mention the fact that he's all dressed up for the occasion. Quickstrike begs for mercy, saying he doesn't know what [[Tarantulas]]'s intentions for destroying the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] were, but offers to hunt him down for Megatron. Suddenly, the sensors detect an energy surge on a ballistic approach for the base. Tarantulas and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] both detect the surge as well and recognize that it can only be one thing.

The aliens are back.

[[Image:OtherVictories clash.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Flying Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]
The Predacons' automated defenses are ineffective against the anomaly, and Megatron orders them to abandon the base. Making contact, the energy ball destroys the Predacon ship instantly. [[Optimus Primal]] heads for the base, fearing that the spark of [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]] may have been destroyed, and sends [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] to assist.

From the ashes of the Predacon base, the alien Transformer appears and introduces himself as Tigerhawk, emissary of the [[Vok]]. He dispatches the other Predacons with ease, then sentences Megatron to death for his interference with the timestream. The two battle, but Tigerhawk is victorious. During the fight, Cheetor is incapacitated. As Tigerhawk prepares the killing blow, Optimus arrives. Tigerhawk greets him in a friendly manner, but asks him not to interfere. Optimus tries to explain Megatron's situation, but is entombed in the earth for his efforts. However, Tigerhawk is attacked by Tarantulas's spider drones, which allows Tarantulas to drag him to his lair. Meanwhile, an unconscious Cheetor dreams that he is visited by the sparks of Tigatron and Airazor, who fuse together before he is attacked by the two Vok seen in the beginning of the episode. He wakes up to see the fused spark, which guides him to the lair and the emissary.

[[Image:Tarantulas death.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The most hardcore death of ''Beast Wars''.]]
At the lair, Tigerhawk revives and claims to know Tarantulas. The mad scientist states that he intends to use Tigerhawk to destroy the [[Maximal|Maximals]] while he detonates the ''Ark''. He also reveals why he wants to destroy it: Tarantulas and the [[Tripredacus Council]] are not descendants of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], but have "other origins". This would allow them to control [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and conquer the universe. Cheetor jumps in around this time and looks on amazed at the scene. As Tarantulas activates the deprogramming device, the two Vok entities emerge from Tigerhawk's mouth and enter him. The device then shoots a bolt of energy at Tarantulas, which throws him into a nearby [[Energon crystal]]. The crystal detonates, destroying Tarantulas and the two aliens in a freakish yet totally hardcore manner. Cheetor manages to drag Tigerhawk out, but is knocked unconscious when the lair explodes.

Optimus locates Cheetor and Tigerhawk as the merged sparks of Tigatron and Airazor enter the emissary. Welcoming their old friends and new friend back, the Maximals depart for home…as Megatron watches on.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (3)
*[[Tigatron]] (4)
*[[Tigerhawk]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (15)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (16)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (17)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (6)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Dinobot II]] (8)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (9)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (10)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
*[[Tarantulas]] (12)

|c4=*Magenta-eyed [[Vok]] (1)
*Yellow-eyed Vok (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ooooo, Waspinator ''like'' defense! A little ''more'' defense, and maybe Waspinator not get blown up all the time!"
:—'''Waspinator'''

''gulp'' "Looks like this is my last round-up."
:—'''Quickstrike''' commenting on Predacon "justice".

"Aheh-ahem! Two-Head throw Megatron in lava pit. Megatron angry, think Two-Head traitor. Want to slag Two-Head. Waspinator down with that!"
:—'''Waspinator''''s "defense".

"Predacons, your verdict?" 
[''Rampage and Dinobot II point their guns at Quickstrike.'']
:—'''Megatron'''

"I applaud your good intentions. But we are ''through'' being lenient with traitors!"
:—'''Megatron''', apparently no longer [[Master Blaster|tolerant of treachery.]]

"Well, i-i-if it's not a comet, what is it?" 
"Somethin' I thought we'd never see again."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Rhinox''', monitoring Tigerhawk's approach toward prehistoric Earth

"Looks like the Beast Wars are over... FOR THE PREDS! Eheheh! Eheheh!" ''[looks for high-five]''
:—'''Rattrap''' after the Predacon base is destroyed.

"They're back – just like Tarantulas always said they'd be."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"I am Tigerhawk, emissary of the Vok. Your form's changed, but I know you, Megatron. The Vok charge you with the willful disruption of time and space. Surrender to me immediately. Violence will not be tolerated." 
[''chuckles''] "Megatrons do not surrender." [''transforms to robot mode''] "We conquer! Predacons, attack!"
:—'''Tigerhawk''' and '''Megatron'''

"This is my world now. YOU have no place in it!"
:—'''Megatron''' has a low opinion of squatters.

"Just when things were finally looking up. Eheheh, we're all gonna die."
:—'''Rattrap''' after the situation has been explained to him.

"At least this time, Waspinator has company!"
:—'''Waspinator''', as he, Inferno and Quickstrike are taken away by a Tigerhawk-created tornado

"Hmmm, a curious species."
:—'''Tigerhawk''' on Transformers in general

"You're insane!" 
"So they say. Brrrrar!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' proves '''Tigerhawk''''s assertion

==Notes==
* Silverbolt and Depth Charge do not appear in this episode.
* This may be the only episode of the entire series where Megatron actually pays Waspinator a genuine compliment, congratulating him on his "Brilliant" defense of Quickstrike.
* Cheetor has his last of four strange dreams in this episode, wherein Airazor and Tigatron appear to him and fuse together before his eyes. When he wakes up, he sees and follows the new joint spark over the landscape. He also sees the Vok in this dream before he sees them in real life, perhaps because Tigerhawk shows him or perhaps precognitive.
* After the subsequent demise of Tarantulas and Tigerhawk soon after, Cheetor becomes the only living Cybertronian to have seen the Vok.
* In the comics continuity, Tarantulas survives this encounter and really used it as a means to absorb the Vok. That makes the fact that this super genius character idiotically killed himself by repeatedly blasting his death ray machine thing until it turned around and killed him... a little easier to swallow.
* This episode [[To sell toys|really wants you to buy a Tigerhawk toy]]. Can you tell?

===Continuity errors===
*Despite being described as having "different origins" than being Decepticon descendants, in "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", the Tripredacus Council specifically refer to the Decepticons as being their ancestors while talking ''in private to themselves''. Bit of a glaring [[Retcon|retcon]] there. (We could be charitable and assume they meant the Decepticon-born [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]].)
*Considering at least some time has passed since the last episode, there's no logical explanation for why no one had bothered to explain to Rattrap that Megatron now had the original Megatron's spark and thus why he needed it explained to him in this episode. Nor has Rattrap been portrayed as anything but intelligent up until this point so that he'd need this explained to him a second time if we're to assume they did tell him and he just... forgot. This was likely only done to serve as exposition for the audience.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*During one shot as the Predacons are scrambling to battle stations before Tigerhawk arrives, Megatron's eyes are green instead of red.

===Transformers references===
*The ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' is seen on Tarantulas's computer. It would have significance in the [[Nemesis Part 1|series]] [[Nemesis Part 2|finale]].

===Real-world references===
[[Image:TarantulasVok SignOfTheCross.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"The power of [[Christmas]] compels you!"]]
* As the Vok approach Tarantulas, he attempts to ward them off by forming a [[Jesus|crucifix]] with his fingers, a sacred item often used to ward off [[Energy vampire|vampires]] in folklore.
* During Quickstrike's court-martial, Megatron wears a barrister's wig like those worn by British attorneys and judges. Inferno acts as stenographer (complete with typewriter).

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Victories

2009-06-26T03:45:33Z

99.141.242.106: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=50
|image=OVic opening.JPG
|caption=Sure is nice in the lifeless void.
|title="Other Victories"
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[May 5]], 1999
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[William Lau]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The aliens send their powerful new emissary Tigerhawk to Earth to stop the continued disruption of the time stream.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ただいまでござる (''Tadaima de Gozaru'', "I Hath Returned")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OtherVictories BirthofTigerhawk.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh yeah, we still have these two guys.]]
Somewhere in the vast universe, two entities are discussing the experiment on [[Earth|"Nexus Earth"]]. Though the project was "sterilized", there remains a threat. The entities then reveal [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], then merge their bodies together, creating a new [[Transformer]]. The aliens inhabit the body and depart in a ball of energy, while two [[Spark|sparks]] follow.

[[Image:Judge Megatron.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Believe it or not, you may have better luck on [[Quintessa]].]]
At the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] are holding a "trial" for [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] is the "defense", [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] and [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] are the jury, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] is taking the minutes, and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is the judge, not to mention the fact that he's all dressed up for the occasion. Quickstrike begs for mercy, saying he doesn't know what [[Tarantulas]]'s intentions for destroying the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] were, but offers to hunt him down for Megatron. Suddenly, the sensors detect an energy surge on a ballistic approach for the base. Tarantulas and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] both detect the surge as well and recognize that it can only be one thing.

The aliens are back.

[[Image:OtherVictories clash.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Flying Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]
The Predacons' automated defenses are ineffective against the anomaly, and Megatron orders them to abandon the base. Making contact, the energy ball destroys the Predacon ship instantly. [[Optimus Primal]] heads for the base, fearing that the spark of [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]] may have been destroyed, and sends [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] to assist.

From the ashes of the Predacon base, the alien Transformer appears and introduces himself as Tigerhawk, emissary of the [[Vok]]. He dispatches the other Predacons with ease, then sentences Megatron to death for his interference with the timestream. The two battle, but Tigerhawk is victorious. During the fight, Cheetor is incapacitated. As Tigerhawk prepares the killing blow, Optimus arrives. Tigerhawk greets him in a friendly manner, but asks him not to interfere. Optimus tries to explain Megatron's situation, but is entombed in the earth for his efforts. However, Tigerhawk is attacked by Tarantulas's spider drones, which allows Tarantulas to drag him to his lair. Meanwhile, an unconscious Cheetor dreams that he is visited by the sparks of Tigatron and Airazor, who fuse together before he is attacked by the two Vok seen in the beginning of the episode. He wakes up to see the fused spark, which guides him to the lair and the emissary.

[[Image:Tarantulas death.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The most hardcore death of ''Beast Wars''.]]
At the lair, Tigerhawk revives and claims to know Tarantulas. The mad scientist states that he intends to use Tigerhawk to destroy the [[Maximal|Maximals]] while he detonates the ''Ark''. He also reveals why he wants to destroy it: Tarantulas and the [[Tripredacus Council]] are not descendants of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], but have "other origins". This would allow them to control [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and conquer the universe. Cheetor jumps in around this time and looks on amazed at the scene. As Tarantulas activates the deprogramming device, the two Vok entities emerge from Tigerhawk's mouth and enter him. The device then shoots a bolt of energy at Tarantulas, which throws him into a nearby [[Energon crystal]]. The crystal detonates, destroying Tarantulas and the two aliens in a freakish yet totally hardcore manner. Cheetor manages to drag Tigerhawk out, but is knocked unconscious when the lair explodes.

Optimus locates Cheetor and Tigerhawk as the merged sparks of Tigatron and Airazor enter the emissary. Welcoming their old friends and new friend back, the Maximals depart for home…as Megatron watches on.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (3)
*[[Tigatron]] (4)
*[[Tigerhawk]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (15)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (16)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (17)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (6)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Dinobot II]] (8)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (9)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (10)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
*[[Tarantulas]] (12)

|c4=*Magenta-eyed [[Vok]] (1)
*Yellow-eyed Vok (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ooooo, Waspinator ''like'' defense! A little ''more'' defense, and maybe Waspinator not get blown up all the time!"
:—'''Waspinator'''

''gulp'' "Looks like this is my last round-up."
:—'''Quickstrike''' commenting on Predacon "justice".

"Aheh-ahem! Two-Head throw Megatron in lava pit. Megatron angry, think Two-Head traitor. Want to slag Two-Head. Waspinator down with that!"
:—'''Waspinator''''s "defense".

"Predacons, your verdict?" 
[''Rampage and Dinobot II point their guns at Quickstrike.'']
:—'''Megatron'''

"I applaud your good intentions. But we are ''through'' being lenient with traitors!"
:—'''Megatron''', apparently no longer [[Master Blaster|tolerant of treachery.]]

"Well, i-i-if it's not a comet, what is it?" 
"Somethin' I thought we'd never see again."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Rhinox''', monitoring Tigerhawk's approach toward prehistoric Earth

"Looks like the Beast Wars are over... FOR THE PREDS! Eheheh! Eheheh!" ''[looks for high-five]''
:—'''Rattrap''' after the Predacon base is destroyed.

"They're back – just like Tarantulas always said they'd be."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"I am Tigerhawk, emissary of the Vok. Your form's changed, but I know you, Megatron. The Vok charge you with the willful disruption of time and space. Surrender to me immediately. Violence will not be tolerated." 
[''chuckles''] "Megatrons do not surrender." [''transforms to robot mode''] "We conquer! Predacons, attack!"
:—'''Tigerhawk''' and '''Megatron'''

"This is my world now. YOU have no place in it!"
:—'''Megatron''' has a low opinion of squatters.

"Just when things were finally looking up. Eheheh, we're all gonna die."
:—'''Rattrap''' after the situation has been explained to him.

"At least this time, Waspinator has company!"
:—'''Waspinator''', as he, Inferno and Quickstrike are taken away by a Tigerhawk-created tornado

"Hmmm, a curious species."
:—'''Tigerhawk''' on Transformers in general

"You're insane!" 
"So they say. Brrrrar!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' proves '''Tigerhawk''''s assertion

==Notes==
* Silverbolt and Depth Charge do not appear in this episode.
* This may be the only episode of the entire series where Megatron actually pays Waspinator a genuine compliment, congratulating him on his "Brilliant" defense of Quickstrike.
* Cheetor has his last of four strange dreams in this episode, wherein Airazor and Tigatron appear to him and fuse together before his eyes. When he wakes up, he sees and follows the new joint spark over the landscape. He also sees the Vok in this dream before he sees them in real life, perhaps because Tigerhawk shows him or perhaps precognitive.
* After the subsequent demise of Tarantulas and Tigerhawk soon after, Cheetor becomes the only living Cybertronian to have seen the Vok.
* This episode [[To sell toys|really wants you to buy a Tigerhawk toy]]. Can you tell?

===Continuity errors===
*Despite being described as having "different origins" than being Decepticon descendants, in "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", the Tripredacus Council specifically refer to the Decepticons as being their ancestors while talking ''in private to themselves''. Bit of a glaring [[Retcon|retcon]] there. (We could be charitable and assume they meant the Decepticon-born [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]].)
*Considering at least some time has passed since the last episode, there's no logical explanation for why no one had bothered to explain to Rattrap that Megatron now had the original Megatron's spark and thus why he needed it explained to him in this episode. Nor has Rattrap been portrayed as anything but intelligent up until this point so that he'd need this explained to him a second time if we're to assume they did tell him and he just... forgot. This was likely only done to serve as exposition for the audience.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*During one shot as the Predacons are scrambling to battle stations before Tigerhawk arrives, Megatron's eyes are green instead of red.

===Transformers references===
*The ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' is seen on Tarantulas's computer. It would have significance in the [[Nemesis Part 1|series]] [[Nemesis Part 2|finale]].

===Real-world references===
[[Image:TarantulasVok SignOfTheCross.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"The power of [[Christmas]] compels you!"]]
* As the Vok approach Tarantulas, he attempts to ward them off by forming a [[Jesus|crucifix]] with his fingers, a sacred item often used to ward off [[Energy vampire|vampires]] in folklore.
* During Quickstrike's court-martial, Megatron wears a barrister's wig like those worn by British attorneys and judges. Inferno acts as stenographer (complete with typewriter).

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Victories

2009-06-26T03:44:10Z

99.141.242.106: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=50
|image=OVic opening.JPG
|caption=Sure is nice in the lifeless void.
|title="Other Victories"
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[May 5]], 1999
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[William Lau]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The aliens send their powerful new emissary Tigerhawk to Earth to stop the continued disruption of the time stream.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ただいまでござる (''Tadaima de Gozaru'', "I Hath Returned")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OtherVictories BirthofTigerhawk.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh yeah, we still have these two guys.]]
Somewhere in the vast universe, two entities are discussing the experiment on [[Earth|"Nexus Earth"]]. Though the project was "sterilized", there remains a threat. The entities then reveal [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], then merge their bodies together, creating a new [[Transformer]]. The aliens inhabit the body and depart in a ball of energy, while two [[Spark|sparks]] follow.

[[Image:Judge Megatron.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Believe it or not, you may have better luck on [[Quintessa]].]]
At the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] are holding a "trial" for [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] is the "defense", [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] and [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] are the jury, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] is taking the minutes, and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is the judge, not to mention the fact that he's all dressed up for the occasion. Quickstrike begs for mercy, saying he doesn't know what [[Tarantulas]]'s intentions for destroying the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] were, but offers to hunt him down for Megatron. Suddenly, the sensors detect an energy surge on a ballistic approach for the base. Tarantulas and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] both detect the surge as well and recognize that it can only be one thing.

The aliens are back.

[[Image:OtherVictories clash.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Flying Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]
The Predacons' automated defenses are ineffective against the anomaly, and Megatron orders them to abandon the base. Making contact, the energy ball destroys the Predacon ship instantly. [[Optimus Primal]] heads for the base, fearing that the spark of [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]] may have been destroyed, and sends [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] to assist.

From the ashes of the Predacon base, the alien Transformer appears and introduces himself as Tigerhawk, emissary of the [[Vok]]. He dispatches the other Predacons with ease, then sentences Megatron to death for his interference with the timestream. The two battle, but Tigerhawk is victorious. During the fight, Cheetor is incapacitated. As Tigerhawk prepares the killing blow, Optimus arrives. Tigerhawk greets him in a friendly manner, but asks him not to interfere. Optimus tries to explain Megatron's situation, but is entombed in the earth for his efforts. However, Tigerhawk is attacked by Tarantulas's spider drones, which allows Tarantulas to drag him to his lair. Meanwhile, an unconscious Cheetor dreams that he is visited by the sparks of Tigatron and Airazor, who fuse together before he is attacked by the two Vok seen in the beginning of the episode. He wakes up to see the fused spark, which guides him to the lair and the emissary.

[[Image:Tarantulas death.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The most hardcore death of ''Beast Wars''.]]
At the lair, Tigerhawk revives and claims to know Tarantulas. The mad scientist states that he intends to use Tigerhawk to destroy the [[Maximal|Maximals]] while he detonates the ''Ark''. He also reveals why he wants to destroy it: Tarantulas and the [[Tripredacus Council]] are not descendants of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], but have "other origins". This would allow them to control [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and conquer the universe. Cheetor jumps in around this time and looks on amazed at the scene. As Tarantulas activates the deprogramming device, the two Vok entities emerge from Tigerhawk's mouth and enter him. The device then shoots a bolt of energy at Tarantulas, which throws him into a nearby [[Energon crystal]]. The crystal detonates, destroying Tarantulas and the two aliens in a freakish yet totally hardcore manner. Cheetor manages to drag Tigerhawk out, but is knocked unconscious when the lair explodes.

Optimus locates Cheetor and Tigerhawk as the merged sparks of Tigatron and Airazor enter the emissary. Welcoming their old friends and new friend back, the Maximals depart for home…as Megatron watches on.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (3)
*[[Tigatron]] (4)
*[[Tigerhawk]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (15)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (16)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (17)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (6)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Dinobot II]] (8)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (9)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (10)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
*[[Tarantulas]] (12)

|c4=*Magenta-eyed [[Vok]] (1)
*Yellow-eyed Vok (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ooooo, Waspinator ''like'' defense! A little ''more'' defense, and maybe Waspinator not get blown up all the time!"
:—'''Waspinator'''

''gulp'' "Looks like this is my last round-up."
:—'''Quickstrike''' commenting on Predacon "justice".

"Aheh-ahem! Two-Head throw Megatron in lava pit. Megatron angry, think Two-Head traitor. Want to slag Two-Head. Waspinator down with that!"
:—'''Waspinator''''s "defense".

"Predacons, your verdict?" 
[''Rampage and Dinobot II point their guns at Quickstrike.'']
:—'''Megatron'''

"I applaud your good intentions. But we are ''through'' being lenient with traitors!"
:—'''Megatron''', apparently no longer [[Master Blaster|tolerant of treachery.]]

"Well, i-i-if it's not a comet, what is it?" 
"Somethin' I thought we'd never see again."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Rhinox''', monitoring Tigerhawk's approach toward prehistoric Earth

"Looks like the Beast Wars are over... FOR THE PREDS! Eheheh! Eheheh!" ''[looks for high-five]''
:—'''Rattrap''' after the Predacon base is destroyed.

"They're back – just like Tarantulas always said they'd be."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"I am Tigerhawk, emissary of the Vok. Your form's changed, but I know you, Megatron. The Vok charge you with the willful disruption of time and space. Surrender to me immediately. Violence will not be tolerated." 
[''chuckles''] "Megatrons do not surrender." [''transforms to robot mode''] "We conquer! Predacons, attack!"
:—'''Tigerhawk''' and '''Megatron'''

"This is my world now. YOU have no place in it!"
:—'''Megatron''' has a low opinion of squatters.

"Just when things were finally looking up. Eheheh, we're all gonna die."
:—'''Rattrap''' after the situation has been explained to him.

"At least this time, Waspinator has company!"
:—'''Waspinator''', as he, Inferno and Quickstrike are taken away by a Tigerhawk-created tornado

"Hmmm, a curious species."
:—'''Tigerhawk''' on Transformers in general

"You're insane!" 
"So they say. Brrrrar!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' proves '''Tigerhawk''''s assertion

==Notes==
* Silverbolt and Depth Charge do not appear in this episode.
* This may be the only episode of the entire series where Megatron actually pays Waspinator a genuine compliment, congratulating him on his "Brilliant" defense of Quickstrike.
* Cheetor has his last of four strange dreams in this episode, wherein Airazor and Tigatron appear to him and fuse together before his eyes. When he wakes up, he sees and follows the new joint spark over the landscape. He also sees the Vok in this dream before he sees them in real life, perhaps because Tigerhawk shows him or perhaps precognitive.
* After the subsequent demise of Tarantulas and Tigerhawk soon after, Cheetor becomes the only living Cybertronian to have seen the Vok.
* This episode [[To sell toys|really wants you to buy a Tigerhawk toy]]. Can you tell?

===Continuity errors===
*Despite being described as having "different origins" than being Decepticon descendants, in "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", the Tripredacus Council specifically refer to the Decepticons as being their ancestors while talking ''in private to themselves''. Bit of a glaring [[Retcon|retcon]] there. (We could be charitable and assume they meant the Decepticon-born [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]].)
*Considering at least some time has passed since the last episode, there's no logical explanation for why no one had bothered to explain to Rattrap that Megatron now had the original Megatron's spark and why he needed it explained to him in this episode. Nor has Rattrap been portrayed as anything but intelligent up until this point so that he'd need this explained to him a second time. This was likely only done to serve as exposition for the audience.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*During one shot as the Predacons are scrambling to battle stations before Tigerhawk arrives, Megatron's eyes are green instead of red.

===Transformers references===
*The ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' is seen on Tarantulas's computer. It would have significance in the [[Nemesis Part 1|series]] [[Nemesis Part 2|finale]].

===Real-world references===
[[Image:TarantulasVok SignOfTheCross.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"The power of [[Christmas]] compels you!"]]
* As the Vok approach Tarantulas, he attempts to ward them off by forming a [[Jesus|crucifix]] with his fingers, a sacred item often used to ward off [[Energy vampire|vampires]] in folklore.
* During Quickstrike's court-martial, Megatron wears a barrister's wig like those worn by British attorneys and judges. Inferno acts as stenographer (complete with typewriter).

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Victories

2009-06-26T03:42:55Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=50
|image=OVic opening.JPG
|caption=Sure is nice in the lifeless void.
|title="Other Victories"
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[May 5]], 1999
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[William Lau]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The aliens send their powerful new emissary Tigerhawk to Earth to stop the continued disruption of the time stream.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ただいまでござる (''Tadaima de Gozaru'', "I Hath Returned")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OtherVictories BirthofTigerhawk.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Oh yeah, we still have these two guys.]]
Somewhere in the vast universe, two entities are discussing the experiment on [[Earth|"Nexus Earth"]]. Though the project was "sterilized", there remains a threat. The entities then reveal [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], then merge their bodies together, creating a new [[Transformer]]. The aliens inhabit the body and depart in a ball of energy, while two [[Spark|sparks]] follow.

[[Image:Judge Megatron.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Believe it or not, you may have better luck on [[Quintessa]].]]
At the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] are holding a "trial" for [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] is the "defense", [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]] and [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] are the jury, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] is taking the minutes, and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is the judge, not to mention the fact that he's all dressed up for the occasion. Quickstrike begs for mercy, saying he doesn't know what [[Tarantulas]]'s intentions for destroying the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] were, but offers to hunt him down for Megatron. Suddenly, the sensors detect an energy surge on a ballistic approach for the base. Tarantulas and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] both detect the surge as well and recognize that it can only be one thing.

The aliens are back.

[[Image:OtherVictories clash.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Flying Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]
The Predacons' automated defenses are ineffective against the anomaly, and Megatron orders them to abandon the base. Making contact, the energy ball destroys the Predacon ship instantly. [[Optimus Primal]] heads for the base, fearing that the spark of [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]] may have been destroyed, and sends [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] to assist.

From the ashes of the Predacon base, the alien Transformer appears and introduces himself as Tigerhawk, emissary of the [[Vok]]. He dispatches the other Predacons with ease, then sentences Megatron to death for his interference with the timestream. The two battle, but Tigerhawk is victorious. During the fight, Cheetor is incapacitated. As Tigerhawk prepares the killing blow, Optimus arrives. Tigerhawk greets him in a friendly manner, but asks him not to interfere. Optimus tries to explain Megatron's situation, but is entombed in the earth for his efforts. However, Tigerhawk is attacked by Tarantulas's spider drones, which allows Tarantulas to drag him to his lair. Meanwhile, an unconscious Cheetor dreams that he is visited by the sparks of Tigatron and Airazor, who fuse together before he is attacked by the two Vok seen in the beginning of the episode. He wakes up to see the fused spark, which guides him to the lair and the emissary.

[[Image:Tarantulas death.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The most hardcore death of ''Beast Wars''.]]
At the lair, Tigerhawk revives and claims to know Tarantulas. The mad scientist states that he intends to use Tigerhawk to destroy the [[Maximal|Maximals]] while he detonates the ''Ark''. He also reveals why he wants to destroy it: Tarantulas and the [[Tripredacus Council]] are not descendants of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], but have "other origins". This would allow them to control [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and conquer the universe. Cheetor jumps in around this time and looks on amazed at the scene. As Tarantulas activates the deprogramming device, the two Vok entities emerge from Tigerhawk's mouth and enter him. The device then shoots a bolt of energy at Tarantulas, which throws him into a nearby [[Energon crystal]]. The crystal detonates, destroying Tarantulas and the two aliens in a freakish yet totally hardcore manner. Cheetor manages to drag Tigerhawk out, but is knocked unconscious when the lair explodes.

Optimus locates Cheetor and Tigerhawk as the merged sparks of Tigatron and Airazor enter the emissary. Welcoming their old friends and new friend back, the Maximals depart for home…as Megatron watches on.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (3)
*[[Tigatron]] (4)
*[[Tigerhawk]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (15)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (16)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (17)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (6)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Dinobot II]] (8)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (9)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (10)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
*[[Tarantulas]] (12)

|c4=*Magenta-eyed [[Vok]] (1)
*Yellow-eyed Vok (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ooooo, Waspinator ''like'' defense! A little ''more'' defense, and maybe Waspinator not get blown up all the time!"
:—'''Waspinator'''

''gulp'' "Looks like this is my last round-up."
:—'''Quickstrike''' commenting on Predacon "justice".

"Aheh-ahem! Two-Head throw Megatron in lava pit. Megatron angry, think Two-Head traitor. Want to slag Two-Head. Waspinator down with that!"
:—'''Waspinator''''s "defense".

"Predacons, your verdict?" 
[''Rampage and Dinobot II point their guns at Quickstrike.'']
:—'''Megatron'''

"I applaud your good intentions. But we are ''through'' being lenient with traitors!"
:—'''Megatron''', apparently no longer [[Master Blaster|tolerant of treachery.]]

"Well, i-i-if it's not a comet, what is it?" 
"Somethin' I thought we'd never see again."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Rhinox''', monitoring Tigerhawk's approach toward prehistoric Earth

"Looks like the Beast Wars are over... FOR THE PREDS! Eheheh! Eheheh!" ''[looks for high-five]''
:—'''Rattrap''' after the Predacon base is destroyed.

"They're back – just like Tarantulas always said they'd be."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"I am Tigerhawk, emissary of the Vok. Your form's changed, but I know you, Megatron. The Vok charge you with the willful disruption of time and space. Surrender to me immediately. Violence will not be tolerated." 
[''chuckles''] "Megatrons do not surrender." [''transforms to robot mode''] "We conquer! Predacons, attack!"
:—'''Tigerhawk''' and '''Megatron'''

"This is my world now. YOU have no place in it!"
:—'''Megatron''' has a low opinion of squatters.

"Just when things were finally looking up. Eheheh, we're all gonna die."
:—'''Rattrap''' after the situation has been explained to him.

"At least this time, Waspinator has company!"
:—'''Waspinator''', as he, Inferno and Quickstrike are taken away by a Tigerhawk-created tornado

"Hmmm, a curious species."
:—'''Tigerhawk''' on Transformers in general

"You're insane!" 
"So they say. Brrrrar!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' proves '''Tigerhawk''''s assertion

==Notes==
* Silverbolt and Depth Charge do not appear in this episode.
* This may be the only episode of the entire series where Megatron actually pays Waspinator a genuine compliment, congratulating him on his "Brilliant" defense of Quickstrike.
* Cheetor has his last of four strange dreams in this episode, wherein Airazor and Tigatron appear to him and fuse together before his eyes. When he wakes up, he sees and follows the new joint spark over the landscape. He also sees the Vok in this dream before he sees them in real life, perhaps because Tigerhawk shows him or perhaps precognitive.
* After the subsequent demise of Tarantulas and Tigerhawk soon after, Cheetor becomes the only living Cybertronian to have seen the Vok.
* This episode [[To sell toys|really wants you to buy a Tigerhawk toy]]. Can you tell?

===Continuity errors===
*Despite being described as having "different origins" than being Decepticon descendants, in "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", the Tripredacus Council specifically refer to the Decepticons as being their ancestors while talking ''in private to themselves''. Bit of a glaring [[Retcon|retcon]] there. (We could be charitable and assume they meant the Decepticon-born [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]].)
*Considering at least some time has passed since the last episode, there's no logical explanation for why no one had bothered to explain to Rattrap that Megatron now had Megatron's spark and why he needed it explained to him in this episode. Nor has Rattrap been portrayed as anything but intelligent up until this point so that he'd need this explained to him a second time. This was likely only done to serve as exposition for the audience.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*During one shot as the Predacons are scrambling to battle stations before Tigerhawk arrives, Megatron's eyes are green instead of red.

===Transformers references===
*The ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' is seen on Tarantulas's computer. It would have significance in the [[Nemesis Part 1|series]] [[Nemesis Part 2|finale]].

===Real-world references===
[[Image:TarantulasVok SignOfTheCross.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"The power of [[Christmas]] compels you!"]]
* As the Vok approach Tarantulas, he attempts to ward them off by forming a [[Jesus|crucifix]] with his fingers, a sacred item often used to ward off [[Energy vampire|vampires]] in folklore.
* During Quickstrike's court-martial, Megatron wears a barrister's wig like those worn by British attorneys and judges. Inferno acts as stenographer (complete with typewriter).

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Go with the Flow

2009-06-26T02:54:20Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=47
|image=Go With the Flow title shot.JPG
|caption=You just ''know'' this won't end well.
|title="Go with the Flow"
|production company= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[February 18]], 1999
|written by= [[Bob Forward]]
|directed by= [[Cal Shumiatcher]]
|animation studio= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The Predacons build a cannon that could destroy the Maximals, but require an organic life-form to finish the construction.'''

:''Japanese title:'' びりびりー!しびればびれぶー (''Biribirii! Shibire Babire Bū'', "Zzzap! Tingly Tongly Too!")<ref>The title puns on ''shibireru'' (to be numb/tingly, as from an electric shock) and the nonsense spell "Bibbity bobbity boo" from Disney's ''Cinderella''.</ref>

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Go with the Flow Cheetor kids.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Phineas J. Whoopee, you're a genius!]]
Quietly, Cheetor sneaks through the forest. He whispers his activation code to switch into his robot mode, and is ambushed by Chak, the protohuman. Cheetor laughs at his company, and the two are joined by Una, putting Cheetor in a hammer-lock. Rattrap arrives and makes fun of Cheetor's attempts to teach the primitives self-defense. Cheetor moves on to trying to instruct the kids in basic engineering principles, language, and comedy through self-abuse. On a mountaintop, Megatron's army works to assemble a new, powerful weapon capable of destroying the Maximals, but because the "bi-polar energon source" to the device is installed before the shielding, the Predacons can't get near the machine they have erected. In order to complete the weapon, Tarantulas suggests recruiting the two educated protohumans on whom who he happens to have been spying.

[[Image:Go with the Flow Waspinator Una.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This is one of two operations Una had to do.]]
Waspinator and Inferno attack the two Maximals. Waspinator captures Una and brings her back to Megatron. Depth Charge arrives to aid his two allies against Inferno, but with one of the humans captured already, Inferno retreats. The danger gone, Cheetor radios back to the Maximal base to report on the attack. Optimus calls Cheetor home and sends Depth Charge and Rattrap on a mission to retrieve the abducted child.

En route to the Predacon development, Una recalls Cheetor's self-defense lesson, and with her primitive spear, she removes several of Waspinator's wasp-mode limbs. Megatron is entirely unconcerned with the well-being of his underling, but hopes the girl is still in functional condition when she arrives. Once she is dropped off, Megatron orders the disruptor ray fired on just low enough a setting to knock Rattrap and Depth Charge out of the sky. But even at a low setting, the unfinished weapon causes harm to the Predacons, forcing Megatron to order it shut down.

Depth Charge and Rattrap crash-land in a forest, lucky to be alive, but Depth Charge is no longer flight-capable. Rattrap leaves the Manta and races off on his own to finish rescuing the damsel. Megatron begins his plot and instructs Una on how to install the shielding that the energy weapon needs in order to function. Una experiments in using the shielding plates as both fashion accessories and cuisine, but doesn't entirely comprehend the meaning of each of his precise instructions. After a fancy screen transition to show the passing of time, Una has completed the shielding installation in an adorably haphazard manner. As a final step, she installs the stabilizer crystal.

[[Image:Go with the Flow Rattrap Una.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is the second one.]]
Rattrap arrives to save the girl and stop Megatron, but Dinobot prepares to devour the intruder. Tarantulas approaches Una to kill her, too. She squashes the spider by knocking over a huge piece of machinery, but then falls off her platform. Rattrap drives through Dinobot's legs and transforms in time to catch the girl. Together, the two drive out of the Predacons' territory.

At the site where Depth Charge crashed, Una helps Rattrap unearth Depth Charge by recommending that he use a lever. With
teamwork, they slide Depth Charge into a lake and then use the giant Maximal as a raft to ride away from the attacking Predacons. They escape from their pursuers by falling down a waterfall, tossing mud in Waspinator's face so he flies blindly into Inferno. The combined airborne mess of Predacons then lands on the Dinobot clone.

[[Image:GowiththeFlow Sunset.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Megatron prepares to fire the disruptor cannon and destroy his enemies. As the massive gun charges, the Maximals prepare for the worst. But the machine malfunctions, and instead of destroying the Maximals, it explodes in place—because Una stole the stabilizer crystal. With the Predacons slagged, Una and the two Maximals float into the sunset.

{{-}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Depth Charge]] (11)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (12)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (13)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (5)
*[[Tarantulas]] (6)
*[[Dinobot II]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (9)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (10)

|c3=
*[[Chak and Una|Chak]] (2)
*[[Chak and Una|Una]] (3)

}}
==Quotes==
"Sit down and keep quiet." 
"Yeah, yeah, story of my life."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Rattrap'''

"Peh, educational stuff. I'd rather watching things explode."
:—'''Rattrap''' speaks for the intended audience.

"My disruptor ray shall destroy them."
:—'''Megatron''', proving that he really ''is'' using every trick in the book.

"Waspinator to Megatron. Waspinator has female fleshy-bot, but there is problem." 
"She'd better not be injured." 
"No, she injuring Waspinator." 
"Ah, situation normal, then. Yes."
:—'''Waspinator''' to '''Megatron''', and Megatron has picked up the running gag.

"Waspinator want to re-negotiate contract!"
:—'''Waspinator''', getting hacked to bits by a fleshling

[''chuckles''] "I ain't dead." 
"This day's just full of disappointments."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Depth Charge''' after the crash

"What are you lookin' at?"
:—'''Depth Charge''' to a butterfly that lands on him

'''Megatron:''' "Finish installing that shielding plate." 
[''Una picks up the plate.''] 
'''Megatron:''' "There. Put it on those bolts." 
[''Una balances the plate on her head.''] 
'''Megatron:''' [''chuckling''] "Yes." ''(laughing)'' "Yes, there. Oh for the love..." 
[''Una tries to eat the plate.''] 
'''Megatron:''' "No, no, no." ''(Annoyed)'' "Right there! Do you understand?!" 
[''Una puts plate in its place''] 
[[Image:Go with the Flow Megatron faceplant.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This might be the reason he became [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|intolerant of organics.]]]]
'''Megatron:''' "Now, use the wrench to fasten it down." 
'''Una:''' [''holding a bone''] "Wr-wr-wreh-wruh-wr-wrench?" 
'''Megatron:''' "Oh, the WRENCH, you imbecilic anthropoid!" 
'''Una:''' "Wrench?" 
'''Megatron:''' "YES! That-THAT THING! USE IT!" 
[''Una uses the wrench as a hammer.''] 
'''Megatron:''' "Oh, whatever."
:—Megatron learning [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|why]] [[Koji Onishi|kids]] [[Rad White|just]] [[Kicker Jones|aren't]] [[Bud Hansen|popular.]]

"Triumph is before me!" 
"And da rat is behind ya!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rattrap'''

"The disruptor cannon is now operational. And as it happens, our
targets are right in line with the Maximal base. We shall destroy both
in a single, glorious onslaught of energon devastation!"
:—'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
*This episode was used in place of the planned episode "[[Dark Glass]]".
*The moral of the episode is, effectively, "It's good to steal."
*When Rattrap rescues Una from falling, Silverbolt's 'rescue' theme plays.
*Rampage does not appear in this episode.
*After Megatron realizes that the energon powering his weapon affects all Cybertronians, his computer screen displays the words "screamin rocks" and then "fire a big gun in a mountain" in [[Cybertronix]].
* Later, his screen says "hot stuff", as well as the names "Derek", "Nikki" and "Dawn" while showing the simulated effects of a blast.
* Brilliant that Waspinator collapsed into a pile of rubbish right after arriving at the site, and got zapped while he was still a pile of rubbish. Combine that with a prior zapping due to Inferno's blunder (See Trivia, below), getting beaten up by a little girl, and finally defeated by mere MUD (!), and you have a bad day for old Waspinator for the umpteenth and - oh who's keeping count any more. It's hard to tell which day was the worst for Waspinator: today, or the fiasco in "[[Feral Scream Part 1]]".
* Richard Newman is not credited for playing Rhinox in this episode. Presumably because his one line of a calm and earnest "Oh no." is something Rhinox has said before and is quite probably just lifted from that earlier episode.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*When Rattrap says, "...and die horrible, agonising deaths!" before they crash into the forest, Depth Charge is also mouthing the words!
*When Depth Charge hits the rocks at the base of the waterfall (immediately before Dinobot says 'Target immobilized!'), his right flipper very briefly clips through another nearby rock.
*Rhinox is looking through the parascope at the the mountain, while the image is displayed on almost all of the screens at the Maximal's base.

===Continuity errors===
*Dinobot slices Rattrap's tail, but later it seems to be full-length as Rattrap uses it to paddle Depth Charge.

===Transformers references===
*Rattrap's interaction with Depth Charge is somewhat reminiscent of his ongoing rivalry with the deceased [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

===Real-world references===
*"This Bot tries for positive programming." "Time to change channels, frisky!" These lines are references to human television.

===Trivia===
*Why didn't Inferno just ''wait'' until Waspinator had finished installing the shielding plate ''before'' plugging in the main power source?
*When Depth Charge leaves the CR chamber, there is some blinking green Cybertronix text which then switches to solid red. Translated to english, it reads "f**k" (green) "you" (red.) Oddly, the text is upside down.
*Shortly after Depth Charge crashes, a puff of smoke appears to emit from Rattrap's, er, tailpipe.

== Footnotes ==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Proving Grounds (BW)

2009-06-26T02:50:35Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=46
|image=Proving Grounds title shot.JPG
|caption=Quick, before Silverbolt comes!
|title= "Proving Grounds"
|production company= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[February 14]], 1999
|written by= [[Arthur Sellers]]
|directed by= [[William Lau]]
|animation studio= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''Blackarachnia leaves the Maximals, and is drawn into a dangerous hunt with Dinobot.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ラブタイフーン (''Love Typhoon'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Proving Grounds Blackarachnia scan.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Nice curves.]]
The Maximals examine Blackarachnia, using a machine to display her insides. Rattrap is unimpressed with the Predacon, but Cheetor finds the lady's structure to be fascinating. Rhinox finds the location of the [[shell program]] that Tarantulas installed in Blackarachnia's protoform to make her into a Predacon. When the test is over, Blackarachnia responds aggressively to Rattrap's suspicion and Cheetor's infatuation, but Primal orders her to stand down. Frustrated with not yet being accepted, she leaves the Maximal base using a secret tunnel, but Dinobot, spying on the Maximals, watches her exit and follows.

In the outdoors, Blackarachnia reflects on her situation to a stray butterfly. Before she can execute the butterfly, she notices Dinobot hunting her. She leaps through trees and starts to hunt the predator. Soon, she ensnares and suspends Dinobot by her webbing. Dinobot cuts himself free and transforms to his robot mode. He accuses her of being a coward and walks away.

In the Maximal base, Rattrap enjoys a video game, but Silverbolt deactivates the game to use the computers to find Blackarachnia. Rattrap cries over his lost game, while the Fuzor determines Blackarachnia to be in Predacon territory. Silverbolt convinces Rattrap to not report Blackarachnia's irregular whereabouts to Primal by mentioning [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

[[Image:Proving Grounds Dinobot trees.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What is it with Dinobot and logs?]]
In darker woods, Blackarachnia and Dinobot find each other again. But the spider realizes she has been fooled by a hologram, while the real Dinobot attacks her from behind using a strong tail swipe. The two fire at each other, and Dinobot dodges a falling tree. Blackarachnia runs, but Dinobot blasts down two trees, pinning the widow's legs under two massive pieces of lumber. Before he can carve into her, Blackarachnia is able to grab her gun and fire a shot into Dinobot at close range. With her enemy down, Blackarachnia tries to radio for help, but doesn't notice Dinobot being repaired by his Transmetal 2 energies. Luckily, Silverbolt is already searching for his lady friend, tracing her scent.

The other Maximals figure out that Blackarachnia and Silverbolt are in Megatron's jamming zone.

[[Image:Proving Grounds Silverbolt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Silverbolt was strapped the wrong way around on Goldfinger's table.]]
Blackarachnia keeps her guard up, aware that Dinobot is still hunting her. Silverbolt arrives, and is promptly shot directly in the chest. The two males battle, with Dinobot getting an upper hand. As Dinobot uses his heat vision to slowly burn Silverbolt's face, Blackarachnia fires her machine guns at her lover, announcing the fight is between Predacons.

Blackarachnia tries to convince Dinobot to form a private alliance. Dinobot rejects the idea and stuns her with a beam from his eyes. But Blackarachnia's conversation gives Silverbolt the time to stand up again. Dinobot's attacks, but discovers too late that Silverbolt had created a hologram of himself using the vaguely sexual looking holo-projector. He blasts the Transmetal 2 over the edge of one of those surprisingly common steep cliffs—but Dinobot climbs back up to level. However Blackarachnia fires a missile directly into his face, making sure he won't be able to climb up again.

[[Image:Proving Grounds Silverbolt Blackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Shoulder massages always help.]]
As the sun rises, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt discuss the conversation about her betrayal that he overheard. She explains it was an attempt to fool Dinobot—a stalling tactic. Blackarachnia decides to leaves the Maximals—no longer desiring to let them distrust her as they do. Blackarachnia tries to leave, but her headbutt harms both Silverbolt and herself. Primal lands and explains that it's up to Blackarachnia if she wants to have the shell program removed. Blackarachnia is surprised to find out Optimus is pro-choice. Blackarachnia agrees to stay with the Maximals, but keeps herself the way she is.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
*[[Rattrap]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (7)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (1)
*[[Dinobot II]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"What's the matter? Don't you trust me?" 
"Huh, about as far as an anvil can jump." [''forcibly grabbed by the neck''] "Of course, I mean that in the best possible way."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Rattrap'''

"I'm beginning to like you, Skullface. Let's play."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"Now we play...for real!"
:—'''Dinobot''', holding a vaguely sexual apparatus

"Hands off the metal, Sir Drools-a-lot."
:—'''Rattrap''' to Silverbolt

"Mood, setting...all I need now is my dance partner."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' on her "hunt"

"Now hold still, this ''will'' hurt."
:—'''Dinobot''' with Blackarachnia at his mercy

'''Silverbolt:''' You're going to hear the truth if it... 
[''Blackarachnia turns around and headbutts Silverbolt, knocking him down.''] 
'''Blackarachnia:''' Warned ya...ohh, not such a great idea. 
[''Blackarachnia falls to the ground; she and Silverbolt groan.'']
:—'''Blackarachnia''' learns not to do something stupid the hard way.

==Notes==
* Though kind of bad-ass, this is episode was just a colossal waste of time and indicative of Season 3's Blackarachxploitation.

===Animation/technical errors===
* When Blackarachnia jumps out of the X-ray machine, she's missing her beast mode legs.
* The way the trees fall on Blackarachnia, her head and torso would have been trapped, with her legs sticking out.

===Real-world references===
* The video game Rattrap plays has some aspects modelled after Street Fighter. Primal tosses a projectile similar to Ryu's "Hadoken" and performs a spinning kick similar to Ryu's "Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku". The two characters in the game are a miscolored Megatron (Transmetal body) and Optimus Primal (using the body of pre-beast mode Megatron from [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|"Beast Wars" (Part 1)]]).
*The next game Rattrap plays is of the "First Person Shooter" kind, ala Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. It consists of blasting many [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]s.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Proving Grounds (BW)

2009-06-26T02:50:11Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=46
|image=Proving Grounds title shot.JPG
|caption=Quick, before Silverbolt comes!
|title= "Proving Grounds"
|production company= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[February 14]], 1999
|written by= [[Arthur Sellers]]
|directed by= [[William Lau]]
|animation studio= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''Blackarachnia leaves the Maximals, and is drawn into a dangerous hunt with Dinobot.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ラブタイフーン (''Love Typhoon'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Proving Grounds Blackarachnia scan.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Nice curves.]]
The Maximals examine Blackarachnia, using a machine to display her insides. Rattrap is unimpressed with the Predacon, but Cheetor finds the lady's structure to be fascinating. Rhinox finds the location of the [[shell program]] that Tarantulas installed in Blackarachnia's protoform to make her into a Predacon. When the test is over, Blackarachnia responds aggressively to Rattrap's suspicion and Cheetor's infatuation, but Primal orders her to stand down. Frustrated with not yet being accepted, she leaves the Maximal base using a secret tunnel, but Dinobot, spying on the Maximals, watches her exit and follows.

In the outdoors, Blackarachnia reflects on her situation to a stray butterfly. Before she can execute the butterfly, she notices Dinobot hunting her. She leaps through trees and starts to hunt the predator. Soon, she ensnares and suspends Dinobot by her webbing. Dinobot cuts himself free and transforms to his robot mode. He accuses her of being a coward and walks away.

In the Maximal base, Rattrap enjoys a video game, but Silverbolt deactivates the game to use the computers to find Blackarachnia. Rattrap cries over his lost game, while the Fuzor determines Blackarachnia to be in Predacon territory. Silverbolt convinces Rattrap to not report Blackarachnia's irregular whereabouts to Primal by mentioning [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

[[Image:Proving Grounds Dinobot trees.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What is it with Dinobot and logs?]]
In darker woods, Blackarachnia and Dinobot find each other again. But the spider realizes she has been fooled by a hologram, while the real Dinobot attacks her from behind using a strong tail swipe. The two fire at each other, and Dinobot dodges a falling tree. Blackarachnia runs, but Dinobot blasts down two trees, pinning the widow's legs under two massive pieces of lumber. Before he can carve into her, Blackarachnia is able to grab her gun and fire a shot into Dinobot at close range. With her enemy down, Blackarachnia tries to radio for help, but doesn't notice Dinobot being repaired by his Transmetal 2 energies. Luckily, Silverbolt is already searching for his lady friend, tracing her scent.

The other Maximals figure out that Blackarachnia and Silverbolt are in Megatron's jamming zone.

[[Image:Proving Grounds Silverbolt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Silverbolt was strapped the wrong way around on Goldfinger's table.]]
Blackarachnia keeps her guard up, aware that Dinobot is still hunting her. Silverbolt arrives, and is promptly shot directly in the chest. The two males battle, with Dinobot getting an upper hand. As Dinobot uses his heat vision to slowly burn Silverbolt's face, Blackarachnia fires her machine guns at her lover, announcing the fight is between Predacons.

Blackarachnia tries to convince Dinobot to form a private alliance. Dinobot rejects the idea and stuns her with a beam from his eyes. But Blackarachnia's conversation gives Silverbolt the time to stand up again. Dinobot's attacks, but discovers too late that Silverbolt had created a hologram of himself using the vaguely sexual looking holo-projector. He blasts the Transmetal 2 over the edge of one of those surprisingly common steep cliffs—but Dinobot climbs back up to level. However Blackarachnia fires a missile directly into his face, making sure he won't be able to climb up again.

[[Image:Proving Grounds Silverbolt Blackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Shoulder massages always help.]]
As the sun rises, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt discuss the conversation about her betrayal that he overheard. She explains it was an attempt to fool Dinobot—a stalling tactic. Blackarachnia decides to leaves the Maximals—no longer desiring to let them distrust her as they do. Blackarachnia tries to leave, but her headbutt harms both Silverbolt and herself. Primal lands and explains that it's up to Blackarachnia if she wants to have the shell program removed. Blackarachnia is surprised to find out Optimus is pro-choice. Blackarachnia agrees to stay with the Maximals, but keeps herself the way she is.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
*[[Rattrap]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (7)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (1)
*[[Dinobot II]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"What's the matter? Don't you trust me?" 
"Huh, about as far as an anvil can jump." [''forcibly grabbed by the neck''] "Of course, I mean that in the best possible way."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Rattrap'''

"I'm beginning to like you, Skullface. Let's play."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"Now we play...for real!"
:—'''Dinobot''', holding a vaguely sexual apparatus

"Hands off the metal, Sir Drools-a-lot."
:—'''Rattrap''' to Silverbolt

"Mood, setting...all I need now is my dance partner."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' on her "hunt"

"Now hold still, this ''will'' hurt."
:—'''Dinobot''' with Blackarachnia at his mercy

'''Silverbolt:''' You're going to hear the truth if it... 
[''Blackarachnia turns around and headbutts Silverbolt, knocking him down.''] 
'''Blackarachnia:''' Warned ya...ohh, not such a great idea. 
[''Blackarachnia falls to the ground; she and Silverbolt groan.'']
:—'''Blackarachnia''' learns not to do something stupid the hard way.

==Notes==
* Though kind of bad-ass, this is episode was just a colossal waste of time and indicative of Season 3's Blackarachnia overexposure.

===Animation/technical errors===
* When Blackarachnia jumps out of the X-ray machine, she's missing her beast mode legs.
* The way the trees fall on Blackarachnia, her head and torso would have been trapped, with her legs sticking out.

===Real-world references===
* The video game Rattrap plays has some aspects modelled after Street Fighter. Primal tosses a projectile similar to Ryu's "Hadoken" and performs a spinning kick similar to Ryu's "Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku". The two characters in the game are a miscolored Megatron (Transmetal body) and Optimus Primal (using the body of pre-beast mode Megatron from [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|"Beast Wars" (Part 1)]]).
*The next game Rattrap plays is of the "First Person Shooter" kind, ala Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. It consists of blasting many [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]s.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Proving Grounds (BW)

2009-06-26T02:49:15Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=46
|image=Proving Grounds title shot.JPG
|caption=Quick, before Silverbolt comes!
|title= "Proving Grounds"
|production company= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[February 14]], 1999
|written by= [[Arthur Sellers]]
|directed by= [[William Lau]]
|animation studio= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''Blackarachnia leaves the Maximals, and is drawn into a dangerous hunt with Dinobot.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ラブタイフーン (''Love Typhoon'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Proving Grounds Blackarachnia scan.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Nice curves.]]
The Maximals examine Blackarachnia, using a machine to display her insides. Rattrap is unimpressed with the Predacon, but Cheetor finds the lady's structure to be fascinating. Rhinox finds the location of the [[shell program]] that Tarantulas installed in Blackarachnia's protoform to make her into a Predacon. When the test is over, Blackarachnia responds aggressively to Rattrap's suspicion and Cheetor's infatuation, but Primal orders her to stand down. Frustrated with not yet being accepted, she leaves the Maximal base using a secret tunnel, but Dinobot, spying on the Maximals, watches her exit and follows.

In the outdoors, Blackarachnia reflects on her situation to a stray butterfly. Before she can execute the butterfly, she notices Dinobot hunting her. She leaps through trees and starts to hunt the predator. Soon, she ensnares and suspends Dinobot by her webbing. Dinobot cuts himself free and transforms to his robot mode. He accuses her of being a coward and walks away.

In the Maximal base, Rattrap enjoys a video game, but Silverbolt deactivates the game to use the computers to find Blackarachnia. Rattrap cries over his lost game, while the Fuzor determines Blackarachnia to be in Predacon territory. Silverbolt convinces Rattrap to not report Blackarachnia's irregular whereabouts to Primal by mentioning [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

[[Image:Proving Grounds Dinobot trees.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What is it with Dinobot and logs?]]
In darker woods, Blackarachnia and Dinobot find each other again. But the spider realizes she has been fooled by a hologram, while the real Dinobot attacks her from behind using a strong tail swipe. The two fire at each other, and Dinobot dodges a falling tree. Blackarachnia runs, but Dinobot blasts down two trees, pinning the widow's legs under two massive pieces of lumber. Before he can carve into her, Blackarachnia is able to grab her gun and fire a shot into Dinobot at close range. With her enemy down, Blackarachnia tries to radio for help, but doesn't notice Dinobot being repaired by his Transmetal 2 energies. Luckily, Silverbolt is already searching for his lady friend, tracing her scent.

The other Maximals figure out that Blackarachnia and Silverbolt are in Megatron's jamming zone.

[[Image:Proving Grounds Silverbolt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Silverbolt was strapped the wrong way around on Goldfinger's table.]]
Blackarachnia keeps her guard up, aware that Dinobot is still hunting her. Silverbolt arrives, and is promptly shot directly in the chest. The two males battle, with Dinobot getting an upper hand. As Dinobot uses his heat vision to slowly burn Silverbolt's face, Blackarachnia fires her machine guns at her lover, announcing the fight is between Predacons.

Blackarachnia tries to convince Dinobot to form a private alliance. Dinobot rejects the idea and stuns her with a beam from his eyes. But Blackarachnia's conversation gives Silverbolt the time to stand up again. Dinobot's attacks, but discovers too late that Silverbolt had created a hologram of himself using the vaguely sexual looking holo-projector. He blasts the Transmetal 2 over the edge of one of those surprisingly common steep cliffs—but Dinobot climbs back up to level. However Blackarachnia fires a missile directly into his face, making sure he won't be able to climb up again.

[[Image:Proving Grounds Silverbolt Blackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Shoulder massages always help.]]
As the sun rises, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt discuss the conversation about her betrayal that he overheard. She explains it was an attempt to fool Dinobot—a stalling tactic. Blackarachnia decides to leaves the Maximals—no longer desiring to let them distrust her as they do. Blackarachnia tries to leave, but her headbutt harms both Silverbolt and herself. Primal lands and explains that it's up to Blackarachnia if she wants to have the shell program removed. Blackarachnia is surprised to find out Optimus is pro-choice. Blackarachnia agrees to stay with the Maximals, but keeps herself the way she is.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
*[[Rattrap]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (7)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (1)
*[[Dinobot II]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"What's the matter? Don't you trust me?" 
"Huh, about as far as an anvil can jump." [''forcibly grabbed by the neck''] "Of course, I mean that in the best possible way."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Rattrap'''

"I'm beginning to like you, Skullface. Let's play."
:—'''Blackarachnia'''

"Now we play...for real!"
:—'''Dinobot''', holding a vaguely sexual apparatus

"Hands off the metal, Sir Drools-a-lot."
:—'''Rattrap''' to Silverbolt

"Mood, setting...all I need now is my dance partner."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' on her "hunt"

"Now hold still, this ''will'' hurt."
:—'''Dinobot''' with Blackarachnia at his mercy

'''Silverbolt:''' You're going to hear the truth if it... 
[''Blackarachnia turns around and headbutts Silverbolt, knocking him down.''] 
'''Blackarachnia:''' Warned ya...ohh, not such a great idea. 
[''Blackarachnia falls to the ground; she and Silverbolt groan.'']
:—'''Blackarachnia''' learns not to do something stupid the hard way.

==Notes==
* Though kind of bad-ass, this is episode was just a colossal waste of time.

===Animation/technical errors===
* When Blackarachnia jumps out of the X-ray machine, she's missing her beast mode legs.
* The way the trees fall on Blackarachnia, her head and torso would have been trapped, with her legs sticking out.

===Real-world references===
* The video game Rattrap plays has some aspects modelled after Street Fighter. Primal tosses a projectile similar to Ryu's "Hadoken" and performs a spinning kick similar to Ryu's "Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku". The two characters in the game are a miscolored Megatron (Transmetal body) and Optimus Primal (using the body of pre-beast mode Megatron from [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|"Beast Wars" (Part 1)]]).
*The next game Rattrap plays is of the "First Person Shooter" kind, ala Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. It consists of blasting many [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]s.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Chain of Command (BW)

2009-06-25T22:28:28Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=5
|image=Coc getshorty.jpg
|caption=An armed society is a polite society.
|title="Chain of Command"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 24]], 1996
|written by=[[Jesse Winfield]]
|directed by=[[Andrew Doucette]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''After Optimus Primal is abducted by an alien probe, the remaining Maximals must decide on a new leader.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 消えたコンボイ (''Kieta Convoy'', "Convoy Disappeared")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Chain of Command Standing stones glow.jpg|left|200px|thumb|No wonder Stonehenge is popular.]]
The [[Maximal]]s detect an [[energon crystal]] under the [[wikipedia:cairn|cairn]] in the [[Standing Stones]]. [[Rattrap]] thinks it reeks of 'bait' and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] notes that the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] on [[Energoa|this planet]] isn't natural, as it does not conform to the planet's geology. The [[Predacons (BW)|Predacons]] attack, putting an end to the discussion. During the battle, [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] purposely fires directly on the buried energon crystal, causing it to destabilize. His prize now useless, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] orders a retreat while the Maximals head for cover as it builds to overload. But instead of a debilitating [[energon wave]], it sends a signal to the stars, depleting the crystal's energy. With the Predacons gone and the energon reduced to dust, the bewildered Maximals return to base.

[[Image:Chain of Command Dinobot probe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You are getting sleepy...]]
Later, an [[Vok Probe|alien probe]] emerges from [[Transwarp|transwarp space]] and enters the atmosphere. The Predacons initially mistake it for a [[stasis pod]], but Rhinox immediately recognizes it as something else. Both sides head to intercept it at the Standing Stones. Optimus and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] confront Megatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], but when they transform and begin to battle, the Probe puts out an energy burst that renders them unconscious and causes Primal to vanish into thin air.

A disoriented Dinobot awakens in the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'''s [[CR Chamber]] and, seeing three pissed-off Maximals standing over him, momentarily mistakes it for a [[Maximal Torture Chamber]]. The Probe, as it turned out, somehow dumped Dinobot, Megatron and Waspinator outside of their respective bases. Believing Primal to be destroyed, Dinobot attempts to take command of the Maximals. Rhinox heads off a fight between Dinobot and Rattrap by insisting on a secret ballot, the traditional Maximal method for resolving such problems.

After the vote results in stalemate, with two votes for each contender, Dinobot giddily rebukes the shortcomings of their peaceful solution. He declares that he will break the tie by force and prepares to attack Rattrap. Before the fight can begin, they are contacted by Optimus Primal, who is ''not'' dead. Primal's body has been digitally stored, but his consciousness remains active within the Probe. Optimus puts Rattrap in charge. Dinobot glares at him.

[[Image:Chain of Command Rhinox device.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rhinox builds his flux capacitor.]]
Megatron, also believing Primal dead, sends [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and Waspinator to the Standing Stones while the other Predacons attack the Axalon. Dinobot fights Megatron one-on-one, ignoring Rattrap's order to disengage and reset the Axalon's failing [[shield circuitry]]. Rattrap scrambles and is able to restore the shields at the last moment. The Predacons retreat when Dinobot beats Megatron back, and Dinobot apologizes to Rattrap for not following his orders, affirming himself "dishonored". Dinobot's uncharacteristic deference and respect makes Rattrap uncomfortable, and he brushes it off.

[[Image:Chain of Command Maximals probe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Maximals prepare to fight G1 fanatics.]]
The Maximals head to the Standing Stones with a device Rhinox has built to attempt to extract Optimus from the Probe. The Predacons attack them at the Stones, Rhinox unloading his frustrations on Waspinator when his device malfunctions, blasting him to bits with his chaingun. Waspinator shorts out and comes in contact with one of the stones which activates, revealing the entire Standing Stones site is a single device. The Probe opens in response, and Primal materializes. The Predacons retreat before his considerable firepower, but the Probe dematerializes before the Maximals can decide what to do with it.

Optimus commends Rattrap on his performance as commander, though Rattrap is more than happy to hand the title back. The Maximals are left wondering what the Probe's purpose was, and Rhinox ominously observes the aliens have learned they have the ability to reason... and of their destructive capabilities.

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

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (7)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (8)
* [[Tarantulas]] (9)
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (10)

|c4=
* [[Vok Probe]] (11)

}}
==Quotes==
"Hey power down! You're on our side now, remember?" 
"And Maximals don't have torture chambers! Though, you know... I could get behind that idea."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Rattrap''' to Dinobot

"Wait, stand by here! Who died and made you Prime, scaleface?"
:—'''Rattrap'''

"Megatron back! Megatron back! Scorponok alone with Tarantulas and Terrorsaur. Very ''bad!''"
:—'''Scorponok''' loses coherence under pressure.

"I know just how the weakling Maximals will response to Optimus's death. Confusion! Bickering! Recriminations! The perfect opportunity for a surprise attack."
:—'''Megatron''' deals with loss like a true villain.

"Ha ha, great system, your 'democracy.' No mechanism to break a tie!"
:—'''Dinobot'''

"Make a device to extract physical molecular structure from an alien probe? Man, I've gotta be a miracle worker!"
:—'''Rhinox''', channeling Scottie

"You were selfless in putting that shield back online. I ought to have followed your command I... am dishonored." 
"Ehh.... next time."
:—'''Dinobot''' and an uncomfortable '''Rattrap'''

"But why would they want to know? And more importantly, who are they? Friends, enemies, or... something ''more''?"
:—'''Dinobot''', on the mysterious aliens

==Notes==
* The initial fight by the [[Standing Stones]] features shadow, a rare luxury in early Beast Wars episodes.
* Optimus Primal is reading late at night below the ''Axalon'' when the Probe comes down, a rare quiet character moment.
* The Maximals are not entirely convinced Dinobot didn't off Primal himself for the job, as he attempted to 3 episodes prior.
* During the battle at the Maximal base, Megatron tries to gain the upper hand by ramming his face into Dinobot's airborne foot. Megatron clearly fails at this attempt and takes note to dodge easily evadable flying kicks in the future.
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] exhibits his "babbling" personality this episode as, apparently, being left alone with the scheming Terrorsaur and Tarantulas while Megatron is undergoing major repairs makes him ''extremely'' nervous. Given Tarantulas's dietary habits, that might be understandable...
* This episode features the debut of Rhinox's "Chaingun of Doom" (occasionally called the "Chaingun of Command" after this episode). And possibly the start of the trend of Waspinator getting utterly butchered in almost every episode.
* It is fairly certain that Rhinox is the one who voted for Rattrap and Cheetor is the one who voted for Dinobot. Rhinox was clearly unpleasantly surprised by the second vote for Dinobot, and when Optimus tells them that Rattrap is in charge, Cheetor is seen visibly annoyed in the background while Rhinox pats him happily on the back.

===Technical/animation glitches===
* If that's a solar eclipse in the opening shot, how come there's light coming from below the horizon?
* During the initial fight, as Waspinator and Terrorsaur swoop up towards Optimus, Terrorsaur's upper body distorts for a fraction of a second before the shot changes.
* Towards the end of the episode, Scorponok remembers that he's a Predacon and adjusts the symbol on his chest accordingly. ''Finally.''
* When Dinobot executes his flying kick, his foot actually passes through Megatron's head.

===Transformers references===
* The episode opens with the [[Planet Buster|second moon]] eclipsing the sun. The moon's unnatural nature will again be mentioned in "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]", and it plays a critical role in the season finale.
* The ongoing [[Vok]] storyline put in its first appearance since "[[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]", it will feature again in "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]". The Vok will not be named until the series is almost over.

===Real-world references===
* Rattrap makes a mention to "B movies," a uniquely [[human]] concept.
* The "Standing Stones" resemble many European stone circles, of which [[wikipedia:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]] is the most famous. Most evidence points to Beast Wars not being set in Europe, however.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Voices, Part 1

2009-06-25T19:57:36Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */ Cheetor misses three episodes, not just this one.

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=25
|image=VokUnicronHead.jpg
|caption=''[[it|Another]]'' [[Grand Mal|floating head!?]]
|title="Other Voices" Part 1
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[March 31]], 1997
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]][[Bob Forward]]
|directed by=[[Colin Davies]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The plans of both Megatron and the mysterious aliens are coming to a head as one of the two moons transforms.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 恐怖の大王現る! (''Kyōfu no Daiō Arawareru!'', "The King of Terror Arrives!")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Voices 1 Blackarachnia Tarantulas.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Some women can't be trusted, especially spiders.]]
In a flash of light, a power anomaly emerges from a wormhole above the planet and descends to the surface. The aliens have arrived.

Rhinox detects the arrival and alerts Optimus, who hopes the truce is still holding. He flies off to meet Airazor and Rattrap at the landing site located in [[Grid Trion]].

Tarantulas is programming his stolen Transwarp cell, when Blackarachnia pays him another visit. She tells him she can get them inside the Maximal base to steal a stasis pod. Megatron monitors the entire discussion between the two spiders and sends Waspinator to the location the aliens are anticipated to arrive at.

Rattrap and Airazor reach the site, which is a large circular plaza of stone, pulsing with energy and containing a stable energon crystal. When Airazor tries to scan it, it zaps her, blasts Rattrap away, and engulfs the entire site inside an organic dome-like structure with Airazor inside

[[Image:Other Voices 1 Airazor bungalow.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The aliens don't like mimes in an invisible box.]]
Airazor awakens inside the "nutty alien bungalow", where a garbled alien voice speaks to her. She assures the aliens she means them no harm, but they have no such compunctions and painfully scan her until she converts to beast mode. After the scan ends, they are left with one word of information: ''"Cybertron"''.

Outside, Waspinator arrives to "secure the area", but Rattrap drives him off with a vigorous bout of fisticuffs.

Primal arrives and surveys the situation. Rattrap's efforts to use a laser to cut through the dome structure are ineffective. Megatron then arrives with Terrorsaur and Scorponok. He mocks Optimus for thinking that simple laser could get through the structure, commenting that the aliens can "create energon itself." He then has Scorponok fire a "toxic sting" that eats through the structure. Primal and Rattrap venture inside; Rattrap drags the semi-conscious Airazor out, while Primal stays to confront the aliens. A series of whip-like metal tentacles ensnare him and lift him up into an agonizing scanning grid.

Tarantulas and Blackarachnia have made their way to the Maximal base, where Blackarachnia activates a device that creates a small opening in the shields. The spiders move in, unaware that they are being followed by Inferno, who notes that they're up to no good and develops his own entry by digging a tunnel below ground.

Rattrap pulls Airazor out through Scorponok's opening just before it self-seals, to find himself facing Predacon guns. The truce is over.

[[Image:Other Voices 1 Primal bondage.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Primal usually has to pay for this treatment.]]
Primal's scan ends, and to address him, the aliens take the form of a "figure of authority"—the head of Unicron. The aliens tell him that the Transformers have contaminated their experiment, which will be "sterilized". Primal pleads for a chance to fix the damage, and for the lives of the planet's native creatures, but the aliens are dismissive, citing greater dangers unknown to Primal. The conversation ends with the aliens activating a "termination sequence".

[[Image:Other Voices 1 Moon opening.jpg|right|200px|thumb|That can't be good...]]
The alien construct begins to pulse with building energy. The distraction proves enough for Rattrap and Airazor to overpower the Predacons. With renewed urgency, Primal breaks his bonds and flies right through the dome; the Maximals beat a hasty retreat—as the dome bursts open, spewing a directed geyser of energy into the sky. The energy activates hidden systems on the second moon, burning away its earthen surface to reveal an endless grid of weapon-like emplacements that being powering up. The moon itself begins to change its shape, and the alien energies cause the orbiting stasis pods to tumble out of orbit.

Rhinox observes all this at the Maximal base, taking measures to track what's happening even as the sensors begin to fritz out. Thus engaged, he doesn't see the spiders coming up behind him till it's too late. Dinobot is likewise gunned down in short order. Staring at Rhinox's displays, Blackarachnia wonders what they're looking at, to which Tarantulas replies: "The beginning...of the end."

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]
|c1=
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (1)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (2)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (7)
*[[Rattrap]] (8)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (12)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Tarantulas]] (3)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (4)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (6)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (9)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (10)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Not fair! Waspinator always gets slag assignments." 
"May I remind Waspinator that the current ceasefire applies only in reference to Maximals." 
"gulp, Waspinator go."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Waspinator'''.

[''Rattrap has just brutalized Waspinator''] 
"I swear, I can't take you anywhere!" 
"Hey, e-heh, just keeping the peace."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Rattrap'''

"We can't leave Optimus in there!" 
"Hey, ours is not to reason why, but to blow dis joint before we die!"
:—'''Airazor''' and '''Rattrap'''

"Aah, would I could have that sound to lull me to sleep each night."
:—'''Megatron''' enjoying the soothing lullaby of Optimus Primal's agonized screams

"It is too late. You and your enemies have already contaminated the project. The harm has been done. That which does not become part of the one—shall become void." 
"No—wait! We can fix whatever damage was done." 
"We are not interested. The experiment will be sterilized." 
"You can't do that! There are living creatures here. You, with all you power—even you have no right!"
:—The '''Vok''' refuse to bargain with '''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
* This is the first of several episodes centered on the aliens, all with "Other V*"-styled titles: "Other Voices", "[[Other Visits (Part 1)|Other Visits]]", "[[Other Victories]]".
*Bob Forward has said this was originally meant to be a 4-parter but the plans were changed at the last minute—"Apparently anything more than a two-parter is too hard to schedule".<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&&q=%22anything%20more%20than%20a%20two-parter%20is%20too%20hard%20to%20schedule%22 Interview with Bob Forward on alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
*After Waspinator is defeated by Rattrap, he has exactly the voice you'd expect from someone who's been [[Humanization|kicked in the nards]].
*"Scan complete, this is the specimen we analyzed before."—The Vok previously analyzed Optimus in "[[Chain of Command]]".
*The Vok's Unicron hologram is solely a visual reference, and is not meant to suggest any connection between the aliens and [[Unicron]].
*The Unicron hologram's statement "That which does not become part of the one—shall become void" may be a reference to Unicron's quote from [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]: "That which does not become a part of me shall become one with the great void." It might also be a twisted reference to [['Til all are one|a certain Autobot mantra]], which wouldn't be the first or last of such references.
*At the beginning of the episode, Tarantulas has a series of purple bars and a series of red bars on a computer screen. In [[Cybertronix]], they are labeled "bass" and "treble."
* This is the last multi-parter to feature a "Next time on ''Beast Wars''" segment.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* The start of the audio commentary for this episode with fan consultant [[Ben Yee]] and story editor [[Larry DiTillio]] on the [[Madman Entertainment]] ''Beast Wars Season 1'' DVD is almost inaudible. As Larry DiTillio is trying to explain something, something happens that is very difficult to make out, with Ben Yee suggesting they start over.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Visits (Part 2)

2009-06-25T19:39:14Z

99.141.242.106: /* Transformers references */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=33
|image=Other_Visits_2_Hunter_Predacons.jpg
|caption=All that trouble, just for a giant vacuum cleaner.
|title="Other Visits" (Part 2)
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[February 15]], 1998
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Colin Davies]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''With the alien craft in his possession, Megatron intends to use it to conquer Cybertron!'''

:''Japanese title:'' え? かおが? (''E? Kao ga?'', "Huh? The Face?")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Visits 2 Hunter Maximals.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Maximals aren't too thrilled with the radiation tent put around their house.]]
The Beast Warriors lay inert after the [[Metal Hunter]]'s energy surge… but the [[Transmetal|Transmetalized]] ones soon recover. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] begins investigating the alien base, finding it does not react to their presence. [[Tarantulas]] says that the surge has used most of their energy, and they must act quickly. Tarantulas activates the devices that the Predacons had previously planted around the alien site, creating a force field which repels a [[Maximal]] attack. Safe inside the web, Megatron casually uses the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|alien disk]] to enter the base, shrugging off [[Optimus Primal]]'s warnings.

Primal sends [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] to take [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] back to base for repairs, while he and [[Rattrap]] prepare to take down Tarantulas' shield.

Megatron boots [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] into the main chamber of the alien base, but nothing happens. Tarantulas observes that their beast modes shield them from detection. Tired of hiding, Megatron transforms, but still nothing happens; he realizes that the [[Quantum surge|quantum surge]] has rendered them invisible to the aliens.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Megatron power.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I hope that isn't [[JaAm]].]]
Tarantulas hacks into the base's systems, but finds no trace of the aliens. A control interface appears, which Megatron activates with the alien disk. Energy surges down into him.

Rattrap produces a couple of bombs, which he and Primal use to take down the [[Refractive web|refractive web]]. Tarantulas realizes what's happened, and takes Quickstrike to defend the base, determined that it remain in Predacon hands. After they leave, the energy surge ends, a control chair descends, and Megatron laughs in triumph.

Primal and Rattrap puzzle over how to enter the base, only to have Tarantulas and Quickstrike pop out from a door and open fire. Primal charges and nearly makes it to the entrance, but the base rumbles to life just then, lifting off the ground. A single shot knocks out Primal and sends Rattrap flying away. A green energy beam scoops up all the Transformers and levitates them into the air. Only Rattrap avoids it, by diving into cover amid some boulders.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Megatron chair.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I am the navigator.]]
A giant version of Megatron's face emerges from the base, speaking to his troops. He tells Tarantulas that the aliens no longer matter, and that with his victory, their alliance is terminated—and thus drops Tarantulas back to the ground. The rest of his troops are repaired and, along with Primal, are brought inside the base. Just as Rattrap is wondering what else can go wrong, the base teleports away, and he finds himself held at gunpoint by a battered Tarantulas.

The alien base rematerializes over the mountaintop where [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] found the alien disk. Megatron needs time to achieve his next goal; he sends [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and Inferno on a special task.

At the Maximal base, Dinobot and Rhinox are back online. Silverbolt is unable to find the Metal Hunter; however, he does detect Rattrap incoming... along with Tarantulas! The spider wants access to the Maximals' computer system, which—after some initial distrust—he quickly uses to locate the base. He also scans Inferno and Waspinator, who are carrying [[Transwarp]] cells back to the base. Tarantulas urges an immediate attack.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Optimus bound.jpg|right|200px|thumb|How many more dodgy situations are in this show?!]]
At the Metal Hunter, Primal awakens to find that Megatron intends to take the base back to Cybertron. Again, he brushes off Primal's concerns about the aliens discovering Cybertron; he plans to destroy them, along with the Maximals and the Autobots. He reasons that the trophies of the base and Primal will convince the [[Predacon Alliance]] that conquest is the right path.

The Maximals attack, drawing out the Predacon troops and providing a distraction while Rattrap and Tarantulas infiltrate the base. With the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] drawn out, the Maximals fall back. Tarantulas sends Rattrap toward the control room, and vanishes.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Megatron Optimus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|King Kong vs Godzilla!]]
Megatron engages a teleportation sequence, but Rattrap bursts into the control room and frees Optimus Primal. Megatron and Primal battle, while Rattrap attempts to stop the teleport sequence. Destroying the control chair doesn't do the trick, but just as Rattrap seems to have run out of ideas, Tarantulas arrives. He sends a download into the alien systems and hightails it out of the base. The combatants soon realize what's happened, and flee the alien base shortly before it teleports into space. A transwarp portal opens to receive it, but the base explodes before it can leave Earth.

Primal resolves to the gathered Maximals that, if [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]'s [[Spark|sparks]] are still online, they will recover them.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
* [[Rattrap]] (7)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (8)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (9)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (10)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (11)
* [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (11)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Tarantulas]] (1)
* [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (1)
* [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (1)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (1)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Megatron, don't! [[Vok|Their]] power is beyond what you can imagine. You can't control it!" 
"I am power."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Megatron''', just before the Predacons enter the Metal Hunter

"Oh, man! Looks like we lost this one big time." 
"We lose when we quit, and I'm not ready to quit." 
"I hate it when he talks like that."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus Primal'''

"You do realize the web's the only think keepin' that alien locker quiet." 
"Blow it."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus Primal''', with the line that launched a thousand childish innuendos.

"''Your'' turn to think of something."
:—'''Rattrap''' has done his bit.

"Yeah! Now this is the party I expected!" 
"Let's mingle."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus''' under fire

"Oh man, what else can go wrong?"
:—'''Rattrap''', just before the Metal Hunter teleports away and Tarantulas holds him at gunpoint.

"I'm getting sick of waking up in the slagging R Chamber."
:—'''Rhinox''' after getting knocked offline for the umpteenth time.

"Waspinator not think this job so important." 
"Every job for the Royalty is a gift!" 
"Ant-bot is major suck-up!"
:—'''Waspinator''' and '''Inferno''', while flying the transwarp cells to the Metal Hunter

"Hhh! Your scanning system is ''pitiful''. Did you learn ''nothing'' from the alien disk?"
:—'''Tarantulas''' isn't impressed by Rhinox's skills.

"This time, you ''lose'', Megatron!"
:—'''Optimus Primal''' to Megatron after the Predacon's plans for glory are ruined.

"What about Airazor and Tigatron?" 
"If their Sparks are still online, we'll get them back."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
* Before Megatron places the alien disk into the control column, he gives it a kiss for luck. Truly.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity errors===
*Last time, [[Vok|the aliens]] were prepared to blow up the entire planet to stop the Transformers. This time, they just send this plant base thing which makes a single attack on the Beast Warriors and then just sits there, waiting for Megatron to stroll right in.

===Transformers references===
* The idea of a giant floating Megatron head would go one step further with the debut of the [[Grand Mal]] in ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Transmutate (episode)

2009-06-25T05:59:03Z

99.141.242.106: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the Beast Wars cartoon episode|the spotlight character of this episode|Transmutate}}
{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=36
|image=Transmutate base.jpg
|caption=You cried. Don't lie!
|title="Transmutate"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[March 10]], 1998
|written by=[[Christy Marx]]
|directed by=[[J. Falconer]] [[Sean Osborne]] [[George Samilski]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''A strange creature emerges from a damaged stasis pod, and both Rampage and Silverbolt find a strange type of kinship with it.'''

:''Japanese title:'' カニじゃい! (''Kani Jai!'', "I'm a Crab!")

==Synopsis==
Within the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], Megatron dozes in his quarters, an opportunity which Rampage uses to make a grab for his Spark. His efforts earn him nothing but painful punishment and a sharp rebuke from the suddenly-awake Predacon leader.

[[Image:Transmutate Pod.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's a fancy looking pod.]]
Elsewhere, Rattrap, Silverbolt and Cheetor are searching for another Pred jamming tower in a mountainous, seismically unstable region; Megatron monitors them, and sends Inferno and Rampage to deal with them. Worried about the growing earthquakes, Primal heads out to back up his teammates. A huge earth tremor emits strange energon discharges, knocking out Rattrap and Cheetor and burying them under a rock slide. The quake also uncovers a buried stasis pod; Megatron immediately sends Inferno after it; Rampage follows.

Inferno arrives at the pod, which is badly malfunctioning. Silverbolt arrives and takes him out of the picture. Rampage arrives, intrigued by the pod's contents. As its computer warns that "deconstruction" is "imminent", he urges the powerful spark within to fight its way free. With a mighty shriek, the pod explodes, releasing its passenger.

[[Image:Transmutate Rampage.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'm a creep. I'm a weirdo.]]
Rattrap and Cheetor free themselves, and behold the new arrival: a strangely misshapen, almost skeletal creature. Rampage is impressed. He urges the newcomer to destroy the Maximals; Silverbolt counters that they offer friendship. The new robot doesn't seem to know what to make of either side, until Inferno returns, opening fire on the Maximals but hitting the new arrival instead. In response, it unleashes a sonic shriek that shorts out the Maximals and drives Inferno off. As the last one standing, Rampage leads "Transmutate" away, telling it that he is its only friend.

Away from the others, Rampage examines Transmutate. Inferno catches up and demands to return the creature to Megatron. Rampage is prepared to fight it out, till Megatron sends a holo-communicator to speak with the new creature. When it can't even transform, he deems it worthless and orders it destroyed; Rampage pleads to give it a chance to destroy the Maximal to prove its worth. Megatron agrees.

[[Image:Transmutate Silverbolt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Silverbolt attempts to communicate via sign language.]]
Primal and Silverbolt split up to hunt for Transmutate, sending the others' back. Rampage uses Transmutate to lure Silverbolt into an ambush; he and Inferno blast the Maximal unconscious. When Transmutate hesitates to finish off Silverbolt, Inferno bashes it aside and prepares to finish the job himself. Transmutate responds by blasting him over the horizon. Primal arrives and buries Rampage; Silverbolt's intervention keeps Transmutate from blasting Primal in defense of its friend. Primal and Transmutate take Silverbolt away, Transmutate revealing that it can fly. Rampage breaks free and promises that Primal will not have the creature.

At the Maximal base, Rhinox scans the creature and finds that its malformed structure and datatrax make it a danger to itself and everyone else. He recommends putting it into stasis, a suggestion that angers Silverbolt. As the team argues, Transmutate wanders off, then bursts out of the base in response to a call from Rampage. A still-fuming Silverbolt stalks off. Primal orders the team to find Transmutate.

[[Image:BWTransmutate Rampage mourning.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Alas, poor Transmutate, we knew her for one episode.]]
Rampage welcomes Transmutate, but Silverbolt arrives, and a fight ensues, with Transmutate watching unhappily. As the two struggle, they eventually launch weapons. Transmutate lands between the opposing missiles of its two friends with a cry of "Stop!"; its energies destroy the missiles but overloads the creature, destroying it.

Rampage cradles the creature's head in his hands as its spark fades out. As Primal arrives, Silverbolt urges him to leave Rampage be; they are "brothers" for the moment, both mourning the loss.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (4)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (6)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (7)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (2)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (8)

|c4=
*[[Transmutate]] (9)

}}
==Quotes==
"Man, I am tellin' ya, the things coming out of these pods is just getting weirder and weirder."
:—'''Rattrap''' on spotting the title character.

"Do not speak. None shall hurt you now. Come with me, come. I will protect you... I am your friend. Your only friend."
:—'''Rampage''' shows his compassionate side to Transmutate.

'''Inferno''': "Speak up! I won't have you freaks plotting behind [[Megatron (BW)|the Royalty]]'s back!" 
'''Rampage''': "I was explaining what it means to be a Predacon. Deceit, treachery, ''mindless'' loyalty." 
'''Inferno''': "Loyalty comes first!" *nod*
:—Inferno has his priorities straight.

"Have I told you how much I like ants, huh? Especially fried in a subtle blend of mech-fluid and grated gears?"
:—'''Rampage''' being creepy again

"NOOO! You will not have him, Optimus! The darkness of its Spark echoes my own! It belongs with me!"
:—'''Rampage'''

"Are we all Predacons now?! Do we destroy that what does not fit our view of perfection?!"
:—'''Silverbolt''', who is very pissed off that the rest of the Maximals want to put Transmutate into stasis-lock.

''[to Transmutate]'' "I knew you wouldn't fail me. We are two of a kind. We belong together." 
"Stop! This one is not for you." 
"It is only for me!"
:—'''Rampage''' and '''Silverbolt'''

"No hurt."
:—'''Transmutate''', during Silverbolt and Rampage's fight

"Time to go back to the Matrix, hero!"
:—'''Rampage''', before firing on Silverbolt

"[[Silverbolt (BW)|Friend…good]]. [[Rampage (BW)|Friend…dark]]. I…am…hurt."
:—'''Transmutate''''s last words

"It's over. It's gone. We extinguished its Spark before we ever saw its true light."
:—'''Silverbolt''', mourning Transmutate

'''Optimus Primal:''' Cheetor and I will take care of Rampage. 
'''Silverbolt:''' No. Let him be. For the moment, we are brothers.
:—Silverbolt showing mercy towards Rampage after Transmutate's death.

==Notes==
* When new, this episode was at the center of an April Fool's joke gone horribly, horribly wrong. A copy of the script was altered by persons unknown at [[Mainframe Entertainment]] to include some rather lurid scenes, such as [[Rattrap]] mounting Transmutate. Regardless of whomever the victim of the joke was intended to be, the altered script found its way onto [[alt.toys.transformers]], to the horrified chagrin of the fandom.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/a0692716a917082/2e1b7bbc8c17d4bb?hl=en&lnk=st&q=#2e1b7bbc8c17d4bb It's like a wreck on the freeway.]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/d437ac801e991775?hl=en&&q=transmutate+script You don't want to look, but you know you will.]</ref>
* As if that weren't bad enough, the script was leaked ''before'' the episode actually aired in the United States, leaving the fandom debating whether the entire story, and the naughty bits in particular, were actually legitimate.
* This episode features one of the rare instances of Inferno referring to Megatron by name rather than as "Royalty" or "my queen."
* This is the first episode of the series in which Waspinator does not appear.

===Technical/Animation glitches===
* When Transmutate unleashes a burst of energy upon exiting its pod, knocking Silverbolt and Rampage for a loop, Rampage is missing his robot mode "[[kibble]]". He is also missing it while he is trying to step on Silverbolt during the last battle.
* When Silverbolt declares to Rampage "This one is not for you!", he's missing his wing assembly.
* Rampage has lots of problems with his backpack this episode. His right-shoulder kibble (the wheeled joint) is out of alignment in multiple scenes and he is missing his entire backpack assembly when Transmutate knocks everyone out the first time. Poor Rampage.
* How the hell is Cheetor holding Rattrap in mid-air by the tail? His paws lack opposable thumbs!
* When Rampage drives up to the cliff where Transmutate's stasis pod in tank mode, just before he transforms to robot mode, his crawler treads just disappear. They don't retract, just vanish.

===Continuity errors===
* Rampage calls the protoform Transmutate before he actually asks it for a name and goes through his "Part transmetal," description and decides upon the name, Transmutate.

===Transformers references===
*[[Rattrap]] claims that [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is his great-aunt.
*Also, [[Susan Blu]], Arcee's voice actor, provided the voice of Transmutate.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Other Visits (Part 2)

2009-06-25T05:54:15Z

99.141.242.106: /* Featured characters */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=33
|image=Other_Visits_2_Hunter_Predacons.jpg
|caption=All that trouble, just for a giant vacuum cleaner.
|title="Other Visits" (Part 2)
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[February 15]], 1998
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Colin Davies]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''With the alien craft in his possession, Megatron intends to use it to conquer Cybertron!'''

:''Japanese title:'' え? かおが? (''E? Kao ga?'', "Huh? The Face?")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Visits 2 Hunter Maximals.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Maximals aren't too thrilled with the radiation tent put around their house.]]
The Beast Warriors lay inert after the [[Metal Hunter]]'s energy surge… but the [[Transmetal|Transmetalized]] ones soon recover. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] begins investigating the alien base, finding it does not react to their presence. [[Tarantulas]] says that the surge has used most of their energy, and they must act quickly. Tarantulas activates the devices that the Predacons had previously planted around the alien site, creating a force field which repels a [[Maximal]] attack. Safe inside the web, Megatron casually uses the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|alien disk]] to enter the base, shrugging off [[Optimus Primal]]'s warnings.

Primal sends [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] to take [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] back to base for repairs, while he and [[Rattrap]] prepare to take down Tarantulas' shield.

Megatron boots [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] into the main chamber of the alien base, but nothing happens. Tarantulas observes that their beast modes shield them from detection. Tired of hiding, Megatron transforms, but still nothing happens; he realizes that the [[Quantum surge|quantum surge]] has rendered them invisible to the aliens.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Megatron power.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I hope that isn't [[JaAm]].]]
Tarantulas hacks into the base's systems, but finds no trace of the aliens. A control interface appears, which Megatron activates with the alien disk. Energy surges down into him.

Rattrap produces a couple of bombs, which he and Primal use to take down the [[Refractive web|refractive web]]. Tarantulas realizes what's happened, and takes Quickstrike to defend the base, determined that it remain in Predacon hands. After they leave, the energy surge ends, a control chair descends, and Megatron laughs in triumph.

Primal and Rattrap puzzle over how to enter the base, only to have Tarantulas and Quickstrike pop out from a door and open fire. Primal charges and nearly makes it to the entrance, but the base rumbles to life just then, lifting off the ground. A single shot knocks out Primal and sends Rattrap flying away. A green energy beam scoops up all the Transformers and levitates them into the air. Only Rattrap avoids it, by diving into cover amid some boulders.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Megatron chair.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I am the navigator.]]
A giant version of Megatron's face emerges from the base, speaking to his troops. He tells Tarantulas that the aliens no longer matter, and that with his victory, their alliance is terminated—and thus drops Tarantulas back to the ground. The rest of his troops are repaired and, along with Primal, are brought inside the base. Just as Rattrap is wondering what else can go wrong, the base teleports away, and he finds himself held at gunpoint by a battered Tarantulas.

The alien base rematerializes over the mountaintop where [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] found the alien disk. Megatron needs time to achieve his next goal; he sends [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and Inferno on a special task.

At the Maximal base, Dinobot and Rhinox are back online. Silverbolt is unable to find the Metal Hunter; however, he does detect Rattrap incoming... along with Tarantulas! The spider wants access to the Maximals' computer system, which—after some initial distrust—he quickly uses to locate the base. He also scans Inferno and Waspinator, who are carrying [[Transwarp]] cells back to the base. Tarantulas urges an immediate attack.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Optimus bound.jpg|right|200px|thumb|How many more dodgy situations are in this show?!]]
At the Metal Hunter, Primal awakens to find that Megatron intends to take the base back to Cybertron. Again, he brushes off Primal's concerns about the aliens discovering Cybertron; he plans to destroy them, along with the Maximals and the Autobots. He reasons that the trophies of the base and Primal will convince the [[Predacon Alliance]] that conquest is the right path.

The Maximals attack, drawing out the Predacon troops and providing a distraction while Rattrap and Tarantulas infiltrate the base. With the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] drawn out, the Maximals fall back. Tarantulas sends Rattrap toward the control room, and vanishes.

[[Image:Other Visits 2 Megatron Optimus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|King Kong vs Godzilla!]]
Megatron engages a teleportation sequence, but Rattrap bursts into the control room and frees Optimus Primal. Megatron and Primal battle, while Rattrap attempts to stop the teleport sequence. Destroying the control chair doesn't do the trick, but just as Rattrap seems to have run out of ideas, Tarantulas arrives. He sends a download into the alien systems and hightails it out of the base. The combatants soon realize what's happened, and flee the alien base shortly before it teleports into space. A transwarp portal opens to receive it, but the base explodes before it can leave Earth.

Primal resolves to the gathered Maximals that, if [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]'s [[Spark|sparks]] are still online, they will recover them.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
* [[Rattrap]] (7)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (8)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (9)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (10)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (11)
* [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (11)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Tarantulas]] (1)
* [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (1)
* [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (1)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (1)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Megatron, don't! [[Vok|Their]] power is beyond what you can imagine. You can't control it!" 
"I am power."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Megatron''', just before the Predacons enter the Metal Hunter

"Oh, man! Looks like we lost this one big time." 
"We lose when we quit, and I'm not ready to quit." 
"I hate it when he talks like that."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus Primal'''

"You do realize the web's the only think keepin' that alien locker quiet." 
"Blow it."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus Primal''', with the line that launched a thousand childish innuendos.

"''Your'' turn to think of something."
:—'''Rattrap''' has done his bit.

"Yeah! Now this is the party I expected!" 
"Let's mingle."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Optimus''' under fire

"Oh man, what else can go wrong?"
:—'''Rattrap''', just before the Metal Hunter teleports away and Tarantulas holds him at gunpoint.

"I'm getting sick of waking up in the slagging R Chamber."
:—'''Rhinox''' after getting knocked offline for the umpteenth time.

"Waspinator not think this job so important." 
"Every job for the Royalty is a gift!" 
"Ant-bot is major suck-up!"
:—'''Waspinator''' and '''Inferno''', while flying the transwarp cells to the Metal Hunter

"Hhh! Your scanning system is ''pitiful''. Did you learn ''nothing'' from the alien disk?"
:—'''Tarantulas''' isn't impressed by Rhinox's skills.

"This time, you ''lose'', Megatron!"
:—'''Optimus Primal''' to Megatron after the Predacon's plans for glory are ruined.

"What about Airazor and Tigatron?" 
"If their Sparks are still online, we'll get them back."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Optimus Primal'''

==Notes==
* Before Megatron places the alien disk into the control column, he gives it a kiss for luck. Truly.

===Technical/animation glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity errors===
*Last time, [[Vok|the aliens]] were prepared to blow up the entire planet to stop the Transformers. This time, they just send this plant base thing which makes a single attack on the Beast Warriors and then just sits there, waiting for Megatron to stroll right in.

===Transformers references===
* Megatron explicitly states his plan to destroy the Autobots, the first indication that the Maximals' ancestors are still an active faction in the [[Beast Era]].
* The idea of a giant floating Megatron head would go one step further with the debut of the [[Grand Mal]] in ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]