MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Crossing the Rubicon

2017-06-14T14:21:24Z

ZanderArch: /* Trivia */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Just as in "[[Proving Grounds]]", when Blackarachnia sits up in the scanning machine, the spider legs on her arms are missing.
*Each of the "wires" connecting the Predacon shell program to Blackarachnia's core consciousness has only one base point where they connect to the shell program. However, when Rhinox destroys the first link, the barely-visible link in the background also turns blue-only the near one should do so.
*When the Predacons are attacking the Maximal base, Primal first has his blast shields on his shoulders while talking to Rattrap. Then, when the camera goes back to Optimus, his blast shields are on his forearms, where they are in every one of his modes ''except'' robot mode.
*Rattrap's forearm compartments are rendered differently here, and are notably wonky-looking.

===Continuity errors===
*Throughout season 3 (not just in this episode), pre-Transmetal Blackarachnia appears to have battle damage (grey areas) which disappear when she's in the base. The damage extent also seems inconsistent, but in the same areas. Did she get into a fight between getting checked into the base and talking with Silverbolt outside? Or does the bright light of the base conceal her damaged body?
*Optimus Primal says "Maximize" despite already being in battle mode. Instead, he changes to flight mode. Previously, he has said "Optimus Primal—Flight Mode" to do this.
*Optimus Primal says that going off on your own isn't a very Maximal thing to do. Clearly, he hasn't been paying attention, since [[The Web|Cheetor, Rattrap]], [[The Agenda (Part 2)|Silverbolt]], [[Deep Metal|Depth Charge]], and [[Fallen Comrades|Tigatron]] have all done so at one point or another.

===Continuity notes===
*Blackarachnia's invention at the start of the episodes appears to be a replica of the cloning device Megatron built in "[[Feral Scream Part 1]]".
*This episode sees the culmination of Blackarachnia's plan to acquire a Transmetal upgrade, a character arc that was first foreshadowed in "[[Cutting Edge]]" and touched on with varying degrees of subtlety over the next few episodes.
*Megatron's "bath time [[Rubber Ducky|rubber duckie]]" is seen again in this episode, but it has undergone a slight makeover. It now has metallic rings around it and an antenna on its head, probably a reference to the Transformers' Transmetal changes.
*Megatron refers to Tarantulas as "lieutenant", a reference to his rank in the Predacon secret police.
*After Tarantulas deduces that Blackarachnia transmitted the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s access codes to Optimus, Megatron notes that "fits in nicely with our little plan for him." That foreshadows [[Master Blaster|the next episode]].
*Silverbolt isn't just trying to kill Tarantulas, he's trying to kill Tarantulas after the guy is already unconscious and utterly helpless. This is a jarringly ruthless move, and although it seemingly clashes with his chivalrously goofy personality, it foreshadows a [[In Darkest Knight|later development]] in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Rampage carries a telescope.

===Transformers references===
*Blackarachnia describes her near-death experience as first seeing darkness, followed by a light. While this might just be a reference to real-world individuals who have undergone such an experience, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] described a very similar experience in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".

===Real-world references===
*The Rubicon is a river in Italy. During the Roman Republic era, it was illegal for a Roman general to have his army cross it, thus protecting Rome from a military threat. Julius Caesar crossed it and started a civil war which would eventually lead to Rome switching from a republic to an empire. During this, he uttered, "Alea iacta est", Latin for "the die is cast". Today, "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom meaning to go past the point of no return.
*When Blackarachnia goes offline, a flatline, as one from hospital monitoring equipment, can be heard in the background.
*The Maximals seem to treat Blackarachnia's shell program as a cancerous brain tumor, as evidenced by Rhinox's description of it and the risky surgery to remove it.
*Rattrap sings a fragment of "[[w:Pop Goes the Weasel|Pop Goes the Weasel]]" as he takes out Rampage.
*Blackarachnia's spark produces a sound that's very similar to an electronic heartbeat. It even quickens and slows down at different points.

===Trivia===
*"Proving Grounds" had Blackarachnia concluding that she's "fine with the way she is." Oh, really?
*The Predacons' plan involved the whole Predacon army in a coordinated effort with the sole purpose to kill an incapacitated Blackarachnia so she stays dead. When you think about it, that's one of the more openly diabolical schemes in a cartoon that usually involves battles where the losers limp home to [[CR chamber]]s.
*The missile Tarantulas fires to finally disrupt Blackarachnia's surgery bears a "[[w:No_symbol|No]] Maxmimals" symbol on its nose cone.
*Once again, the mysterious Transmetal Driver gives us a ''[[w:deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]'' at its finest- once Blackarachnia's Transmetallization plan goes wrong, Rhinox's antivirus program fails, and she's left for dead, the Driver activates, brings her back to life, and gives her a Transmetal 2 body... because...?
*Don't ever piss off Silverbolt.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Passage'''" (Canada, "The Passage")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Addio Arachnia''' ("Goodbye Arachnia")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pikapikā Sha!'''" (ぴかぴかーしゃ!, "Sssshiny!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 23]] [[2000]]
::*The hissing noise "ssha" was Blackarachnia's verbal tic in the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', indicating she is the one speaking the title.

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Atravessando o Rubicon'''" ("Crossing the Rubicon")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cambiando de Bando'''" (America, "Switching Sides")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 3 ([[Universal]])
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Seasons 2 & 3 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Crossing the Rubicon

2017-06-14T14:19:42Z

ZanderArch: /* Trivia */ Little decal on Tarantulas' missile

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Just as in "[[Proving Grounds]]", when Blackarachnia sits up in the scanning machine, the spider legs on her arms are missing.
*Each of the "wires" connecting the Predacon shell program to Blackarachnia's core consciousness has only one base point where they connect to the shell program. However, when Rhinox destroys the first link, the barely-visible link in the background also turns blue-only the near one should do so.
*When the Predacons are attacking the Maximal base, Primal first has his blast shields on his shoulders while talking to Rattrap. Then, when the camera goes back to Optimus, his blast shields are on his forearms, where they are in every one of his modes ''except'' robot mode.
*Rattrap's forearm compartments are rendered differently here, and are notably wonky-looking.

===Continuity errors===
*Throughout season 3 (not just in this episode), pre-Transmetal Blackarachnia appears to have battle damage (grey areas) which disappear when she's in the base. The damage extent also seems inconsistent, but in the same areas. Did she get into a fight between getting checked into the base and talking with Silverbolt outside? Or does the bright light of the base conceal her damaged body?
*Optimus Primal says "Maximize" despite already being in battle mode. Instead, he changes to flight mode. Previously, he has said "Optimus Primal—Flight Mode" to do this.
*Optimus Primal says that going off on your own isn't a very Maximal thing to do. Clearly, he hasn't been paying attention, since [[The Web|Cheetor, Rattrap]], [[The Agenda (Part 2)|Silverbolt]], [[Deep Metal|Depth Charge]], and [[Fallen Comrades|Tigatron]] have all done so at one point or another.

===Continuity notes===
*Blackarachnia's invention at the start of the episodes appears to be a replica of the cloning device Megatron built in "[[Feral Scream Part 1]]".
*This episode sees the culmination of Blackarachnia's plan to acquire a Transmetal upgrade, a character arc that was first foreshadowed in "[[Cutting Edge]]" and touched on with varying degrees of subtlety over the next few episodes.
*Megatron's "bath time [[Rubber Ducky|rubber duckie]]" is seen again in this episode, but it has undergone a slight makeover. It now has metallic rings around it and an antenna on its head, probably a reference to the Transformers' Transmetal changes.
*Megatron refers to Tarantulas as "lieutenant", a reference to his rank in the Predacon secret police.
*After Tarantulas deduces that Blackarachnia transmitted the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s access codes to Optimus, Megatron notes that "fits in nicely with our little plan for him." That foreshadows [[Master Blaster|the next episode]].
*Silverbolt isn't just trying to kill Tarantulas, he's trying to kill Tarantulas after the guy is already unconscious and utterly helpless. This is a jarringly ruthless move, and although it seemingly clashes with his chivalrously goofy personality, it foreshadows a [[In Darkest Knight|later development]] in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Rampage carries a telescope.

===Transformers references===
*Blackarachnia describes her near-death experience as first seeing darkness, followed by a light. While this might just be a reference to real-world individuals who have undergone such an experience, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] described a very similar experience in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".

===Real-world references===
*The Rubicon is a river in Italy. During the Roman Republic era, it was illegal for a Roman general to have his army cross it, thus protecting Rome from a military threat. Julius Caesar crossed it and started a civil war which would eventually lead to Rome switching from a republic to an empire. During this, he uttered, "Alea iacta est", Latin for "the die is cast". Today, "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom meaning to go past the point of no return.
*When Blackarachnia goes offline, a flatline, as one from hospital monitoring equipment, can be heard in the background.
*The Maximals seem to treat Blackarachnia's shell program as a cancerous brain tumor, as evidenced by Rhinox's description of it and the risky surgery to remove it.
*Rattrap sings a fragment of "[[w:Pop Goes the Weasel|Pop Goes the Weasel]]" as he takes out Rampage.
*Blackarachnia's spark produces a sound that's very similar to an electronic heartbeat. It even quickens and slows down at different points.

===Trivia===
*"Proving Grounds" had Blackarachnia concluding that she's "fine with the way she is." Oh, really?
*The Predacons' plan involved the whole Predacon army in a coordinated effort with the sole purpose to kill an incapacitated Blackarachnia so she stays dead. When you think about it, that's one of the more openly diabolical schemes in a cartoon that usually involves battles where the losers limp home to [[CR chamber]]s.
*The missile Tarantulas fires to finally disrupt Blackarachnia's surgery bears a "No Maxmimals" symbol on its nose cone.
*Once again, the mysterious Transmetal Driver gives us a ''[[w:deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]'' at its finest- once Blackarachnia's Transmetallization plan goes wrong, Rhinox's antivirus program fails, and she's left for dead, the Driver activates, brings her back to life, and gives her a Transmetal 2 body... because...?
*Don't ever piss off Silverbolt.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Passage'''" (Canada, "The Passage")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Addio Arachnia''' ("Goodbye Arachnia")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pikapikā Sha!'''" (ぴかぴかーしゃ!, "Sssshiny!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 23]] [[2000]]
::*The hissing noise "ssha" was Blackarachnia's verbal tic in the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', indicating she is the one speaking the title.

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Atravessando o Rubicon'''" ("Crossing the Rubicon")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cambiando de Bando'''" (America, "Switching Sides")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 3 ([[Universal]])
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Seasons 2 & 3 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Optimal Situation

2017-06-14T03:13:20Z

ZanderArch: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=40
|series2=Metals
|ep2=13
|next2=Where Is the Banana?
|title="Optimal Situation"
|image=Optimal Optimus.JPG
|caption=[[Trukk not munky|Trukk ''and'' munky]].
|production code=
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|writer=[[Bob Forward]]
|director=[[Steve Sacks]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 24]], 1998
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''With Optimus Prime in critical condition after Megatron's attack, Optimus Primal takes on his spark to save the timestream.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Smelt Prime.JPG|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Smelts in your mouth, not in your hand.]]
As a time storm ravages reality, [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] gloats to the fading [[Maximal]]s, since his attack on [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] ensures that the [[Autobot]]s lose to the [[Decepticon]]s, resulting in the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] having control of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], having been a Maximal protoform, is also affected by the time storm. She uses the information from the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] to activate [[Teletraan I]]'s security system, forcing Megatron out of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

[[File:OptimusPrimal OpSit Matrixspark.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|It's not the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. We swear.]]
Blackarachnia and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] activate the Ark's repair systems to help stabilize Optimus Prime's condition, but the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] is still dying, and "reality is still in flux". The other Maximals arrive, and upon seeing Prime, realize that they must save him. However, his spark is fading. Believing there is no other choice, [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] merges his spark with Prime's to save it. He succeeds, and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] summons an [[Autobot repair device]] to begin restoring Prime's body. Holding Prime's spark causes Primal to expand into a new, larger body.

Megatron and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] arrive and attack, though Primal manages to save the Maximals and convince the Predacons to leave, while Blackarachnia uses the commotion to escape. Outside, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] provides cover fire by shooting the rocks above the Ark. The Predacons destroy the cave entrance and flee, but Megatron notices a trapped Blackarachnia. Enraged by her betrayal, Megatron shoots her as the Maximals break free. Knowing that they are heading for the unprotected ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Primal and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] race off.

[[File:BWSilverbolt Blackarachnia OptimalSituation.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Ug, gag unto me with a spoon.]]
As Silverbolt cradles the damaged Blackarachnia, he begs her to fight on and praises her defiance of Megatron. She maintains that what she did was self-preservation, but Silverbolt points out that she also saved him and the universe. He openly admits to Blackarachnia that he loves her, shocking her. While there's still time, Silverbolt asks her one last time to join the Maximals. Although she maintains that she's still a Predacon, Blackarachnia joins the Maximals for him, then goes off-line. However, Rhinox reveals that she's merely in [[stasis lock]].

Primal and Cheetor manage to down Megatron, Inferno, and Waspinator, but Primal discovers that [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] and the [[Arachnoid]]s are literally trying to drag the base away. Optimus manages to sever the lines and dispatch Rampage, but not before Rampage fires a missile which deflects off Primal and hits the ''Axalon''. The ''Axalon'' plummets off the cliff and crashes into the river. Knowing that he must return Prime's spark, Optimus withdraws with Cheetor to rejoin the Maximals.

[[File:Optimusx2.JPG|right|upright=0.85|thumb|And in four million years, he'll tell [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] he had the strangest [[Humanization#Sleep|dream]].]]
Back in the Ark, the repairs are finished. Returning the spark causes Optimus Prime to reactivate briefly, but he almost immediately returns to stasis lock. [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is less than happy, as they now have the difficult task of protecting the Ark from the Predacons. With the time stream safe—for the moment—Optimus orders the Maximals, including Blackarachnia (who still maintains she's a Predacon), to begin rounding up every piece of salvage and make fortifications.

They're moving into [[Mount St. Hilary]].
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (1)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (7)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (9)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (10)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (11)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (12)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (13)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)

|h3=[[Autobot]]s|c3=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well, that's just prime." 
"Or what's left of him, anyway."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Rattrap''' on seeing the damage Megatron dealt to Optimus Prime.

"You wouldn't dare fire in here! It might upset history." 
"We'd have four million years to clean you off the walls, Megatron. I ''might'' risk it."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Primal''' are badasses.

'''Megatron:''' This is not the end of it, Optimal Optimus. Nooo. The universe cowered once at the name of Megatron, and it shall do so again! 
'''Optimus:''' Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Megatron. 
'''Megatron:''' Then they'd better stay out of my way! 
'''Rattrap:''' Oh, fer bootin' up cold! Will you just shoot him? 
'''Optimus:''' I'm trying not to resort to that.
:—The 'bots talk smack.

"Stay close, Maximals; it's time to [[Roll out|transform and ROLL OUT!]]"
:—'''Optimus Primal''' saying Optimus Prime's iconic phrase...maybe Prime's speaking through him?

"Jumping gyros, Optimus sure learns a new body fast!" 
"Well wha'd ya expect? He ''changes'' 'em often enough!"
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Rattrap''', who gets a rim shot.

"Blackarachnia, dark poison of my heart, abide with me yet a while." 
"You got a way with words there, Rover. You almost make me wish I was a better girl."
:—'''Silverbolt''' and '''Blackarachnia''' have a touching moment. Rattrap is probably on the verge of puking or shooting them.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Rhinox slaps Rattrap for cracking wise over Optimus Prime's ruined state, his green understructure clips through the gold surface of the lower rhinoceros jaw that covers his chest.
*When the camera pans around Prime to show the repairs starting to be made, the Autobot insignia inside his chest is upside-down.
*When Primal first gets up in his new body, his left fist goes through the floor.
*When Megatron and Inferno fire at the Maximals inside the ''Ark'', their projectiles move at an extremely slow speed - enough to let Primal throw his arm shields in the air, transform, catch them, leap in front of his comrades and provide cover for them.
*When Primal first transforms into his [[alternate mode|jet mode]], the cockpit is empty, but it ''should'' house Optimus Prime's spark.
*Prime's spark is missing its nucleus in some scenes.
*After the Predacons leave the ''Ark'', Inferno, who looked like a zombie in the scene before (and after being apparently vaporized two episodes prior), is now in far better condition. Not technically an error, as Inferno gradually does restore his body throughout the course of the episode, and it can be insinuated as such; his body is slowly initiating repairs.
*During Primal and Cheetor's aerial attack on the fleeing Predacons, the cat's flight mode jets are not deployed as he swoops closer to "camera" in the medium shot following his initial approach, but well before he transforms.
*As the ''Axalon'' is being dragged off of the cliff, the bottom of it can be seen. However it is completely flat at the rear; the engines are not there at all.
*In the Brazilian dub, Rampage is called "Destruição", but his name is "Violência". "Destruição" is Ravage's name.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|Geekery.]]
*The Maximals are fading out but Megatron isn't effected in any way, even though changing the Great War should surely have an impact on him too!
*The "spark container" which held Optimus Prime's spark was hauntingly similar to the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. According to [[Ben Yee]]'s [http://www.bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonthree/os/ site], the Mainframe animators used Optimus Prime's death sequence from "[[The Transformers: The Movie]]" as a visual reference and used the Matrix's design as a spark container because they didn't know its significance. This, of course, leads us to ask the question: How do you get involved with ''Transformers'' and not know the most important McGuffin in the entire continuity?
**Though the designs are similar, the "spark container" is much smaller, small enough that Primal's hands can grip both handles comfortably. The actual Matrix is large enough for an Autobot the size of Prime to do that. It's also missing the handy finger holes.
**"[[Primeval Dawn]]" later explained the Matrix-shaped spark container as being a [[decoy]] Matrix constructed to sit in front of the real Matrix.
**Look, just watch the episode, okay?
*Optimus was briefly knocked out after deflecting the missile and falling to the ground. However he is awake to watch the ''Axalon'' teeter back and forth and eventually fall off the cliff. One wonders why he couldn't have stopped it. After all, in his original form, he was able to slow the ship's descent to keep it from crashing in the episode "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]". One would think that his much larger and more powerful form would be enough actually to lift the ship up.
*Although the kinds of relative damage that can cause [[Death|fatal]] injury is [[Waspinator (BW)|notoriously]] [[Dinobot (BW)|inconsistent]] in ''Beast Wars'' (and the wider franchise in general), it is particularly strange that Ravage is killed outright by the explosion that traveled the length of the ship before consuming him, whereas Tarantulas was literally at the epicenter of the blast and yet was easily cobbled back together by his [[Arachnoid]]s. To be fair, perhaps Ravage could have been just as readily reassembled had anyone bothered to do so, although if so this raises the question of why no-one did... (or, at least, not until [[Ravage (G1)#3H Universe comics|the]] [[Ravage (G1)#IDW Beast Wars comics|comics]]).

===Continuity notes===
[[File:OptimalSituation Tarantulas insignia.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Spider-brand, spider-brand. Marks whatever Tarantulas can...'']]
*The [[Arachnoid]]s seen in this episode sport a special Tarantulas [[insignia]], which they possess in all of their appearances from now on.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Optimus's wings can morph into shields for his fists, which he uses to defend the Maximals against Megatron's missile.
**Quickstrike's snake arm can move around under its own power.

===Transformers references===
*Rhinox mentions that Optimus's spark "has the [[Matrix]] with it," which might be a reference to the physical [[Matrix of Leadership]] that Optimus carries. Whether or not the actual Matrix seen in the episode was the Matrix is debatable. Consider that in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Prime didn't give the Matrix to Ultra Magnus until after he had died.
*When confronting Megatron on the ''Ark'''s bridge, Optimus Primal tells Megatron, "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings," the motto of Optimus Prime. When informed by [[Ben Yee]] about this fact during the [[Madman Entertainment]] ''Beast Wars'' Season 3 DVD commentary for this episode, writer Bob Forward confessed that up to this point he had no idea, and the phrase was simply something he'd picked up from the alt.toys.transformers newsgroup.
*Later, Optimus Primal tells the Maximals to "transform and [[roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*The [[Autobot repair device]] used that fits over Prime's head unfurls in a distinctively layered fashion reminiscent of the exploding mask worn by [[Arnie|Arnold Schwarzenegger]] in the original 1990 ''[[wikipedia:Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]'' film.

===Trivia===
*Primal's voice becomes noticeably deeper when he takes on his new form, as well as gaining an additional flanging effect. One might think the change is related to having old John Wayne-voice Optimus Prime within him, but both changes remain after Prime's spark is restored, so apparently it's just from being bigger and more metally. The deeper voice would vanish in future episodes, however.
*Optimus [[To sell toys|runs through all four of his new body's modes]] within a few minutes of its debut. (His [[beast mode]] is easy to miss, but he uses it when he shields the other Maximals from the Predacons' weapons fire.)
*Rattrap breaks the fourth wall after Cheetor mentions Optimus's new body, his quip is accompanied by a rimshot.
*There is a real-life reason why the ''Axalon'' was destroyed; Optimus' new "Optimal" form simply would not ''fit'' in it. When the salvaged remains of the base have been set up, Optimus is easily twice as tall as the bridge.
*The missile that Rampage fires and Optimus inadvertently deflects into the Axalon bears a peace symbol on its nose cone.
*Blackarachnia opposes Megatron's plan to wipe the Autobots from history because she was a Maximal protoform. Quickstrike, Inferno, and Rampage all count as Maximal protoforms too, but they don't oppose Megatron's plan because Quickstrike's ignorant, Inferno's crazy, and Rampage doesn't have a say in the matter (and is also crazy).
*After Optimus Prime's spark is returned to him, he reactivates, but almost immediately returns to [[stasis lock]]. The [[Binaltech#Binaltech 2|''Binaltech'' story]] chapter supplied with BT-22 Convoy establishes that Optimus Prime was at least partly aware of both the spark transfer and Optimus Primal.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Situation Optimal'''" (Canada, "Optimal Situation")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'alba di una nuova era'''" ("The Dawn of a New Age")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ōkiku Na~re'''" (大きくな～れ, "Gro~w Bigger")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 29]] [[1999]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Situação Optimal'''" ("Optimal Situation")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Situación Óptima'''" ("Optimal Situation")

:*''Title:'' "'''Situación Optima'''" (America, "Optimal Situation")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Groooww Bigger ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video ([[Universal]])
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (Universal) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Seasons 2 & 3 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''[[The Transformers: The Movie|Transformers: The Movie]] — Special Edition'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]