Optimal Situation - Revision history

Nu-Priest: /* Trivia */ He did it before in Code of Hero

2026-05-01T16:44:36Z

Trivia: He did it before in Code of Hero

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:44, 1 May 2026
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	*The original title was "The Agenda (Part 4)".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070607003159/http://www.electric-escape.net/tf/conventions/BotCon-98/Jon-Wilkie episode list] from [[BotCon 1998]]</ref>		*The original title was "The Agenda (Part 4)".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070607003159/http://www.electric-escape.net/tf/conventions/BotCon-98/Jon-Wilkie episode list] from [[BotCon 1998]]</ref>
	*The show's title sequence has received yet another update for season 3. Similar to the previous update, it spoils the events of its debut episode, as well as introducing [[Depth Charge (BW)\|Depth Charge]] an episode earlier than his premier similar to the Fuzors from last season. Cheetor is notably absent from the new sequence save a for a tiny cameo towards the end, likely done to avoid spoiling his upcoming [[Feral Scream Part 2\|Transmetal 2 design]].		*The show's title sequence has received yet another update for season 3. Similar to the previous update, it spoils the events of its debut episode, as well as introducing [[Depth Charge (BW)\|Depth Charge]] an episode earlier than his premier similar to the Fuzors from last season. Cheetor is notably absent from the new sequence save a for a tiny cameo towards the end, likely done to avoid spoiling his upcoming [[Feral Scream Part 2\|Transmetal 2 design]].
	*When lifting himself towards Optimus Prime to take on his spark, Optimus Primal shows his Transmetal body is capable of flying in his Robot mode using thrusters underneath his feet. Previously he was shown only capable of flight while in his Transmetal Gorilla alternate mode via hoverboard.
	*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.		*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.)		*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.)

Ookalf: /* Continuity errors */

2025-07-26T23:20:26Z

Continuity errors

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:20, 26 July 2025
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	*The "spark container" which held Optimus Prime's spark was hauntingly similar to the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. According to [[Ben Yee]], 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.<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=In the original draft of the "Optimal Situation" script (then titled "The Agenda Part 4"), Optimus Prime's chest was to open only revealing his spark. As a visual reference, the animators at Mainframe Entertainment viewed the sequence of the "death of Optimus Prime" in Transformers: The Movie. Not knowing the significance of the Matrix, they used it as a visual guide for a "container" to hold Optimus Prime's spark. ...Writer Larry DiTillio insists that Optimus Prime was not meant to have the Matrix in this sequence, but the final result almost shows otherwise.\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20030703015642/http://bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonthree/os/\|name=Ben Yee\|site=BWTF.com\|title="Optimal Situation" Questions & Comments}}</ref>		*The "spark container" which held Optimus Prime's spark was hauntingly similar to the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. According to [[Ben Yee]], 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.<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=In the original draft of the "Optimal Situation" script (then titled "The Agenda Part 4"), Optimus Prime's chest was to open only revealing his spark. As a visual reference, the animators at Mainframe Entertainment viewed the sequence of the "death of Optimus Prime" in Transformers: The Movie. Not knowing the significance of the Matrix, they used it as a visual guide for a "container" to hold Optimus Prime's spark. ...Writer Larry DiTillio insists that Optimus Prime was not meant to have the Matrix in this sequence, but the final result almost shows otherwise.\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20030703015642/http://bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonthree/os/\|name=Ben Yee\|site=BWTF.com\|title="Optimal Situation" Questions & Comments}}</ref>
	**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.		**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.		**"[[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?		**Look, just watch the episode, okay?
	*While not exactly an error persay, Optimus Prime is the only Generation 1 Cybertronian seen in the episode, whereas in the previous episode, other inert Autobots and Decepticons could also be seen nearby on Megatron's path towards Optimus.		*While not exactly an error persay, Optimus Prime is the only Generation 1 Cybertronian seen in the episode, whereas in the previous episode, other inert Autobots and Decepticons could also be seen nearby on Megatron's path towards Optimus.

Sabrblade: /* Home video releases */

2025-05-21T15:09:37Z

Home video releases

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:09, 21 May 2025
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	{{homevidnote}}		{{homevidnote}}
	;VHS		;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.<br>		[[File:Flag of Japan.png\|20px\|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Gro〜w Bigger ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment\|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.<br>
	[[File:Flag of UK.png\|20px\|United Kingdom]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video ([[Universal]])		[[File:Flag of UK.png\|20px\|United Kingdom]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video ([[Universal]])
	;DVD		;DVD

Sabrblade: /* Foreign localization */

2025-05-21T15:08:13Z

Foreign localization

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:08, 21 May 2025
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	'''Japanese'''		'''Japanese'''
	:*''Title:'' "'''Ōkiku ~~Na~re~~'''" (大きくな～れ, "~~Gro~w~~ Bigger")		:*''Title:'' "'''Ōkiku Na〜re'''" (大きくな～れ, "Gro〜w Bigger")
	:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 29]] [[1999]]		:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 29]] [[1999]]

Sabrblade at 17:19, 7 December 2024

2024-12-07T17:19:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:19, 7 December 2024
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	[[File:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg\|right\|upright=1.4\|thumb\|Geekery.]]		[[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 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?~~		*The "spark container" which held Optimus Prime's spark was hauntingly similar to the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. According to [[Ben Yee]], 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.<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=In the original draft of the "Optimal Situation" script (then titled "The Agenda Part 4"), Optimus Prime's chest was to open only revealing his spark. As a visual reference, the animators at Mainframe Entertainment viewed the sequence of the "death of Optimus Prime" in Transformers: The Movie. Not knowing the significance of the Matrix, they used it as a visual guide for a "container" to hold Optimus Prime's spark. ...Writer Larry DiTillio insists that Optimus Prime was not meant to have the Matrix in this sequence, but the final result almost shows otherwise.\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20030703015642/http://bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonthree/os/\|name=Ben Yee\|site=BWTF.com\|title="Optimal Situation" Questions & Comments}}</ref>
	**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.		**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.		**"[[Primeval Dawn]]" later explained the Matrix-shaped spark container as being a [[decoy]] Matrix constructed to sit in front of the real Matrix.
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	===Transformers references===		===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. Given~~ the ~~specific phrasing and the fact~~ that ~~''Beast Wars'' tends to blend elements from both the 1984 cartoon and~~ [[~~The Transformers (Marvel comic)\|Marvel comics~~]] ~~for it's~~ "~~mythic~~" ~~backstory , it's quite entirely possible~~ the ~~writers were drawing from [[Bob Budiansky]]~~'s ~~original portrayal of~~ the Matrix ~~as a life-giving [[Primal Program]] encoded into Autobot leaders rather than a physical magic talisman as~~ it ~~became from~~ the ~~movie onwards~~, which ~~would go some way~~ to ~~explaining~~ the ~~"spark container" thing mentioned above and~~ the ~~whole idea of Primal being mutated by carrying~~ Optimus' spark.		*Rhinox mentions that Optimus Prime's spark "has the Matrix with it". According to Ben Yee, this was part of some added exposition in an attempt to reconcile the spark holder that contained Prime's spark with its resemblance to the [[Matrix of Leadership]].<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=Writer Bob Forward and I worked on some exposition lines for Rhinox that would try to "explain away" the appearance of the Matrix. The result was the line Rhinox says about Optimus Prime's "spark joining the Matrix".\|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20030703015642/http://bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonthree/os/\|name=Ben Yee\|site=BWTF.com\|title="Optimal Situation" Questions & Comments}}</ref> However, this only raised more questions than answers. Eventually, Yee explained further that "This spark has the Matrix with it," was meant to evoke a more spiritual/ethereal meaning, similar to the belief in Christianity (Yee specified Catholicism) that "[[God]] is with us."<ref>{{citesocial\|quote=Think a bit more of the etherial sense. My family believes in Catholism{{sic}} and they often believe that god is "with them". The context the sentence implied was that Optimus Prime's spark was dying and beginning to merge with the Matrix, therefore it had the Matrix "with it", which to the Maximals would be a fairly spiritual context.\|link=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.transformers/c/hIm55FDmA1Y/m/7tffkOsT0HwJ\|name=Ben Yee (Wonko the Sane)\|site=alt.toys.transformers\|title=(SPOILERS) Other Victories\|year=1999\|month=04\|day=16}}</ref> Optimus's spark was "joining the Matrix", so it had "the Matrix with it."
	*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.		*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]]."		*Later, Optimus Primal tells the Maximals to "transform and [[roll out]]."
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	==References==		==References==
	~~<references/>~~		{{reflist}}



	[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]		[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Astrum: /* Foreign localization */

2024-01-20T21:26:37Z

Foreign localization

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:26, 20 January 2024
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	'''Italian'''		'''Italian'''
	:*''Title:'' "'''L'alba di una nuova era'''" ("The Dawn of a New Age")		:*''Title:'' "'''L'alba di una nuova era'''" ("The Dawn of a New Age")
			::*"Cybertronians" is translated as "cybertronici" instead of "cybertroniani" as usual.

Cyberlink420 at 17:29, 6 January 2024

2024-01-06T17:29:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:29, 6 January 2024
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	\|airdate=[[October 24]], 1998		\|airdate=[[October 24]], 1998
	\|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]		\|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
			\|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meiHKTs8600
			\|videosite=YouTube
	}}		}}
	'''With Optimus Prime in critical condition after Megatron's attack, Optimus Primal takes on his spark to save the timestream.'''		'''With Optimus Prime in critical condition after Megatron's attack, Optimus Primal takes on his spark to save the timestream.'''

Cyberlink420 at 21:59, 15 December 2023

2023-12-15T21:59:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:59, 15 December 2023
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	*When the camera pans around Prime to show the repairs starting to be made, the Autobot insignia inside his chest is upside-down.		*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 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 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.		*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.		*Prime's spark is missing its nucleus in some scenes.
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	*Blackarachnia refers to Optimus Prime as "Big Mack", after the {{w\|Mack Trucks\|manufacturer}} of semi-trucks.		*Blackarachnia refers to Optimus Prime as "Big Mack", after the {{w\|Mack Trucks\|manufacturer}} of semi-trucks.
	*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 ''{{w\|Total Recall (1990 film)\|Total Recall}}'' film.		*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 ''{{w\|Total Recall (1990 film)\|Total Recall}}'' film.
	*Optimus's slow, painful transformation into his new form - particularly when he watches his hand stretch - is a visual reference to the werewolf transformation scene in ''{{w\|An American Werewolf in London}}''.		*Optimus's slow, painful transformation into his new form — particularly when he watches his hand stretch — is a visual reference to the werewolf transformation scene in ''{{w\|An American Werewolf in London}}''.

	===Trivia===		===Trivia===

Ectojazzmage: /* Transformers references */

2023-09-29T19:39:47Z

Transformers references

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:39, 29 September 2023
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	===Transformers references===		===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.		*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. Given the specific phrasing and the fact that ''Beast Wars'' tends to blend elements from both the 1984 cartoon and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)\|Marvel comics]] for it's "mythic" backstory , it's quite entirely possible the writers were drawing from [[Bob Budiansky]]'s original portrayal of the Matrix as a life-giving [[Primal Program]] encoded into Autobot leaders rather than a physical magic talisman as it became from the movie onwards, which would go some way to explaining the "spark container" thing mentioned above and the whole idea of Primal being mutated by carrying Optimus' spark.
	*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.		*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]]."		*Later, Optimus Primal tells the Maximals to "transform and [[roll out]]."

Hyoumaru: /* Continuity errors */

2022-12-08T15:15:24Z

Continuity errors

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 8 December 2022
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	**"[[Primeval Dawn]]" later explained the Matrix-shaped spark container as being a [[decoy]] Matrix constructed to sit in front of the real Matrix.		**"[[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?		**Look, just watch the episode, okay?
			*While not exactly an error persay, Optimus Prime is the only Generation 1 Cybertronian seen in the episode, whereas in the previous episode, other inert Autobots and Decepticons could also be seen nearby on Megatron's path towards Optimus.
	*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.		*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.