Editing Changing of the Guard

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=42
|series2=Metals
|ep2=16
|next2=Feral Scream Part 1
|image=Changing of the Guard title shot.JPG
|caption=Some days you just wish you hadn't gotten out of bed.
|title="Changing of the Guard"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 8]], 1998
|written by=[[Evan Somers]]
|directed by=[[Steve Sacks]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''While trying to salvage the Sentinel module from the ruins of the Axalon, Rattrap finds himself caught between Depth Charge and Rampage.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is in the process of engineering a way to use [[Teletraan I]]'s forcefield to protect the base. But mixing [[Autobot]] and [[Maximal]] tech is difficult, and the machinery fails. With that trick failed, [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] puts together a plan to salvage the Maximals' old force field module, [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]], from the wreckage of the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] refuses to respond to any contacts. So instead the Maximals will use a [[subaquatic stealth vessel]]—a single-occupant submarine developed by [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is assigned to pilot the submersible, over his usual handful of whines and complaints.

[[Image:Rattrap-subaquatic2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rattrap makes a cameo in ''{{w|Atlantis: The Lost Empire}}''.]]
[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] delivers the submarine to the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s resting site. Under the lake, Rattrap is surprised to find himself having a good time exploring the water and passing by schools of fish to the sound of a jolly tune. The tune changes as Rattrap finds the fallen corpse of what used to be the Maximals' home. He slowly enters, looking through the darkened hallways. He finds Sentinel, and carefully begins to extract it—and is suddenly frightened by an eel who was hiding in the machinery. As he calms down, his radar detects something else approaching, and he realizes it's time to panic for real. Rattrap frantically tries to escape the ''Axalon'', but a massive claw emerges from the darkness and seizes the submarine—[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] has found him.

Rampage squeezes the entire ship, threatening to crush it completely. Luckily, Depth Charge, still hunting Protoform X, shows up and blasts him away, freeing Rattrap. Depth Charge agrees to keep Rampage busy while Rattrap continues his mission. He escapes the ''Axalon'' just as shockwaves from the battle cause the ship to fall over a ledge and plunge deeper into the lake. Rattrap surfaces and finds a worried Silverbolt, who starts to carry the submarine home. But [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] arrives, causing Doggybot to drop his passenger and cargo.

[[Image:Changing Guard Rampage Depthcharge.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's crab rutting season again.]]
While Rampage and Depth Charge continue their match underwater, on the beach, [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] sends Waspinator to take Sentinel back to the [[Darksyde (BW)|Predacon base]] while the [[Fuzor]] takes care of the two Maximals. But Quickstrike ends up crushed by Rampage, tossed out of the water by Depth Charge. Silverbolt tries to convince Depth Charge to help recover Sentinel, but as usual, Depth Charge has no interest, wanting only to execute Protoform X, who has snuck away during the few seconds of conversation.

[[Image:Changing Guard Rattrap fleeing.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Burn rubber!]]
Together, using some incredible aerial acrobatics, Rattrap and Silverbolt steal back Sentinel from Waspinator... just when things were looking up for the poor Predacon. But [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] pushes a tree into Silverbolt's path. Silverbolt passes Sentinel to Rattrap, who races away with it. Depth Charge hears explosions in the distance and decides to go help.

Unrelenting, Inferno blows up a bridge in Rattrap's path, causing the rat to plunge—back into Silverbolt's arms. But the two Maximals crash into the incoming Depth Charge, and drop Sentinel into Inferno's hands. Thanks to Depth Charge's ill-timed arrival, the Maximals have lost.

[[Image:Changing Guard Megatron Sentinel.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Why won't the red button work?]]
At the Maximal base, Rattrap and Optimus Primal chew out Depth Charge for getting in their way and handing another major strategic advantage to the Predacons—but he did save Rattrap's life (which Rattrap initially left out, and was ''very'' begrudging to admit). Primal offers Depth Charge a place with the Maximals so mistakes like this can be avoided in the future, and Depth Charge agrees to consider it.

Meanwhile, in the Predacon base, [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] activates Sentinel, encasing his base in a protective force field.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (1)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (4)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (5)
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (8)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (11)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (12)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==

"What are you grinnin' about, litter-butt?"<br />
"I was just thinking; with you inside, this'd make a swell cat toy."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Cheetor''', who will always remain a <s>cat</s> kid at heart.


"We're approaching the target area. How you faring in there, Rattrap?"<br />
"I'm hot, I'm cramped, I'm airsick. Eh, the next time that big ape asks me to do something for him, man I am gonna shove my blaster so far up his—"<br />
"Target dead ahead! Prepare for drop."
:—'''Silverbolt''' and '''Rattrap'''


"Looks like that Pred friend of yours finally did something right!"<br />
"Yes, my beloved has... many skills." 
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Silverbolt''', who isn't about to let us know what those "other" skills might be.


"How droll. Rat in a can."<br />
:—'''Rampage''' finds himself a new toy.


"Waspinator having good day! Not get shot once."<br />
''*BLAM!*''
:—'''Waspinator''', not having such a good day after all


'''Depth Charge:''' I knew saving your hide was a mistake.<br />
'''Optimus Primal:''' Rattrap?<br />
'''Rattrap:''' Oh, well, yeah, technically, he did ''kinda'' do that... um eh, thanks.
:—Rattrap gives credit where credit is due, but only because he has to.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*The writer is mistakenly credited as "Evan Sommers".
*When Rampage falls backward after yanking Depth Charge's tail out from under the wreckage, he inexplicably has Depth Charge's legs.
*When Silverbolt circles in on Rattrap, who has just surfaced, we can see Rattrap's water-reflection inside the vessel, as if it was halfway filled with water.
*Watch Waspinator getting shot in slow-motion. It reveals his insect head isn't connected to his neck. There is a small gap between the two.
*In the scene where Inferno pushes a tree in Silverbolt and Rattrap's way, Rattrap's comm system is on the wrong side of his chest, possibly due to an overall "flopped" shot.
*While Inferno tries to grab Sentinel, just before Rattrap snatches it away from him with his tail, the insect leg on his right lower leg is tilted backwards, clipping through the rest of his leg, and through his thorax-propeller too.

===Continuity errors===
*Once again, Depth Charge uses "Maximize" to transform into his vehicle mode instead of his robot mode.

===Continuity notes===
[[Image:Changing Guard Cheetor cattoy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He's a pinball wizard...]]
*The ''Axalon'' was destroyed back in "[[Optimal Situation]]", with the Maximals salvaging what they could.
*Cheetor imagines himself in his organic beast mode from Season 1, complete with a cartoony "thought bubble".
*Since its last appearance in "[[A Better Mousetrap]]", Sentinel has gained a handle, presumably to make it easier for the characters to grab and hang onto it in this episode. 
*Rattrap's successful attempt to shut down Sentinel in "A Better Mousetrap" is the reason he was chosen to retrieve it and not Blackarachnia, as Rattrap knew what to look for.
*This is the only episode in which Rampage uses his [[activation code]]. ("Rampage, terrorize!")
*Gadgets and powers:
**Depth Charge carries around an energon knife, much like the one that Megatron used on Rampage in "[[Bad Spark]]".
**Rattrap's beast mode tail can telescope, like a grappling hook.

===Real-world references===
*When Megatron contacts his henchmen, Inferno can be seen spending his free time playing cards with Waspinator and Quickstrike.
*The jaunty sea shanty heard in this episode has a very similar tempo and chordal arrangement to the popular [[Fab Four|Beatles]] song ''{{w|Yellow Submarine (song)|Yellow Submarine}}.'' Also, while clearly played for the audience, the puzzled look on Silverbolt's face suggests that he can [http://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htm hear it as well with no explanation as to its origin]. 
*The "Changing of the Guard" traditionally refers to a formal ceremony in the [[United Kingdom]] wherein the sentries providing ceremonial guard duties at important institutions are relieved by a new batch of sentries. The ceremonies are often elaborate and precisely choreographed.
**Its meaning here is somewhat more literal, with Sentinel being appropriated by the Predacons for their vessel.
*Rattrap's submarine bounces like a pinball after being dropped by Silverbolt (complete with pinball sound effects); after it comes to a halt, the word "TILT" flashes in each of Rattrap's eyes.
*Rattrap calls Depth Charge "Captain Minnow", referencing the boat of the same name from ''{{w|Gilligan's Island}}''.

===Trivia===
*Jolly music begins to play when Rattrap gets the hang of the submarine. At first, the audience is led to believe that this is just the score for the scene, until Silverbolt is seen hearing the music over his walkie talkie (with a raised eyebrow, to boot), demonstrating that the sound is actually diegetic.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Protection'''" (Canada)


'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Uniti si vince'''" ("United We Win")


'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bukubuku!'''" (ぶくぶくっ!, "Loose-Fitting!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 19]] [[2000]]


'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Troca da Guarda'''" ("Changing of the Guard")


'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cambio de Guardia'''" ("Changing of the Guard")


:*''Title:'' "'''Cambio de Guardia'''" (America, "Changing of the Guard")


'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Huàngǎng Fēngbō'''" (换岗风波, "Disturbance of Changing of the Guard")

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

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]