The End of Starscream

« Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers ep 31 »
To hell with BB.
"The End of Starscream" スタースクリームの最期 () (Starscream no Saigo)
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS, Ashi Productions
Airdate	28 October 1998
Writer	Junki Takegami
Director	Shigeki Hatakeyama, Munetaka Abe (Animation dir.)
Animation studio	Ashi Productions
Continuity	Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Gigastorm attempts to take out Starscream and BB, who are threats to his plans, only to have them be reborn as Hellscream and Max-B!

Synopsis

Galvatron is too cheap to pay to unscramble the cable.

Nemesis continues its approach towards Gaia. Its master, Galvatron observes it in the Galvaburg II and explains its purpose to the other Predacons, also noting they must destroy the Maximals before it arrives. He threatens to "fire" anybody not pulling their weight, Gigastorm included. Later and elsewhere in the ship, Starscream and BB discuss Galvatron's threat, doubting he'll follow through on it, but are thankful he took leadership back from Gigastorm, who they declare to be too stupid to even see their betrayal in dropping him into Angolmois Energy a while ago. Unfortunately for the duo, this is caught on camera by the hiding Dirge and Thrust, and they show the resulting video to an enraged Gigastorm.

Ooh, what does this button do?

At the Yukikaze, Lio Convoy leads a discussion on Nemesis. Acknowledging that it's impossible to halt at the current moment, Lio Convoy sends Scuba to investigate whether they can influence the Angolmois Energy on Gaia to stop Nemesis, an order overheard by the eavesdropping Lio Junior. In the Niagara Base, Tasmania Kid and Diver play around with the Tako Tank, setting off its "run away and self-destruct" mode and forcing most of the Maximals to chase after the wayward tank. Meanwhile, Lio Junior runs off to power himself up with Angolmois Energy like Galvatron, with Skywarp and Santon giving chase and warning the youngster not to corrupt himself with evil energy.

Once his rage simmers down, Gigastorm sends out Starscream and BB on a sortie, intending to punish the unknowing duo for their betrayal. The observing Artemis, still pining for Starscream, tries to get Moon to go down to Gaia and warn the doomed Predacon, but the rabbit can't. Gigastorm plants the bomb for his plan, but is soon alerted to the approach of the rampaging Tako Tank, the pursuing Maximals, and the Magnaboss trio; the Predacon decides discretion is the better part of valour and leaves them to take care of Starscream and BB.

Nice to see there's a branch of Acme on Gaia.

Scuba manages to stop the Tako Tank's self-destruct sequence and save Tasmania Kid's life. The Maximals soon spot Lio Junior struggling with Skywarp and Santon to expose himself to Angolmois Energy, and they are all quickly beset by Starscream and BB. To annihilate the Maximals, the duo unleash their powerful Formation Scream attack and expend all of their energy in the process. It's for naught, as the Maximals were able to protect themselves by hiding under rocks. Seeing no other choice, the Predacon duo use their last resort—a white flag of surrender and sycophantic approval of the Maximals. The irritated Gigastorm pushes the bomb's switch, destroying Starscream and BB's footing and sending them into the stream of Angolmois Energy underneath.

But this isn't the end for the two, as the Angolmois Energy resonates with their evil being, evolving them into the deadly Hellscream and Max-B! Both focus their attacks on Lio Convoy, and Magnaboss is formed to save their leader. The combined giant doesn't proved to be any more adept at fighting off the Predacons, but the duo soon find themselves entangled in the tentacles of the Tako Tank. Using the Tako Tank's firepower, Scuba manages to bury Hellscream and Max-B in an avalanche of rocks that force them back into the Angolmois Energy.

It's a good thing Artemis loves Starscream for his personality.

Gigastorm, thinking the two are at rest for good, bids them off, but the duo prove to be more resilient, emerging from the Angolmois Energy and threatening to destroy their would-be murderer. The confrontation is put to a quick end by the arriving Galvatron, who berates his subordinates for fighting amongst themselves and not the Maximals.

Artemis & Moon II Report

Artemis weeps over the loss of Starscream's beautiful chassis. Unmoved by Artemis's tears, Moon analyzes the capabilities of the newly evolved duo. Hellscream uses an engine that has an Angolmois fusion reactor as an energy source to fly in any environment and his sharp Gale Dagger can cut anything into half. Artemis is strangely pleased by the power and wildness of Hellscream.

Max-B is noted as having the Back Slap, which can be used for offense and defense. Artemis cuts things short with the lack of time left, which upsets Moon, since his partner was using up too much of their allotted time talking about Hellscream.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Maximals	Predacons	Others
Lio Convoy (7) Apache (8) Bighorn (9) Skywarp (10) Santon (11) Scuba (12) Lio Junior (13) Tasmania Kid (14) Diver (15) Magnaboss (18)	Gigastorm (1) Galvatron (2) BB/Max-B (3) Starscream/Hellscream (4) Dirge (5) Thrust (6)	Artemis (16) Moon (17) Assistant Ball (19)

Quotes

"Our do or die gamble appears to have backfired."
"Starscream..."
"BB, it seems the time has come to really use our last resort."
"Roger..."
[BB pulls a white flag and starts waving it around]
"To tell you the truth, we’re actually fans of the Maximals! We wanted to fight together with Lio Convoy rather than be slaves to a guy like Gigastorm!"
"ROGER!!!"

—Starscream's and BB's last resort/surrender

Notes

Continuity notes

• Just as with Gigastorm previously, BB and Starscream are transformed after being dropping in a ravine of Angolmois Energy and are then promptly thrown back into it after losing their first battle.
• Starscream (unwisely) talks with BB about how they definitely meant to kill Megastorm back in "Megastorm Reborn".
• Gadgets and powers:
  • While combined, Starscream and BB shoot missiles at the Maximals.
  • BB fires his BB Launcher at the Maximals.
  • Starscream and BB sync up to unleash the power of Formation Scream.
  • Lio Convoy uses his thrusters to attack Hellscream.
  • Lio Convoy attacks Hellscream with his Lion Claw.
  • Hellscream attacks Lio Convoy with his Gale Dagger.
  • Magnaboss wields his Magna Blade against Hellscream and Max-B.

Real world references

• While cleaning the Tako Tank, Scuba sings Chū Chū Tako Kaina (ちゅうちゅうタコかいな "Chū Chū Octopus Arms"). This is a children's song to help count in pairs up to ten. The etymological roots of chū as part of this song is the subject of discussion. Scuba also utters this line when overwhelming Hellscream and Max-B with the Tako Tank.
• BB pulls out a white flag, the universal sign of surrender.

Animation and technical errors

• Either Bighorn is huge or he stands on a box while the Maximals are watching footage of Nemesis.
• Diver is very big when the Maximals get up after surviving the Formation Scream.

Trivia

• The music used this episode in order is: an unnamed song, "Lio Convoy no Suiri", "Gag Mode 3", "Chase Running", "Jungle Panic", "Destron Hakai no Theme", an unnamed song, "Mōshin Bighorn", "Galactica Action", "Sakuretsu! Lion Typhoon", "Beast Comic Mode", and an unnamed song.
• Dirge and Thrust professionally tape and record Starscream's confession. This love of theirs for making TV also occurs in the comic "Realize the Forbidden Love!".
• The animation of Artemis blushing over Scuba is reused from "The New Weapon, Tako Tank". Unlike in this episode, there the animation is incomplete as Artemis's pigtails disappear at the end.
• Starscream and BB star in the commercial bumpers.

Home video releases

All releases listed are in Japanese audio unless otherwise noted.

VHS

1999 — Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers — ACT. 11 (Pioneer LDC)

DVD

2011 — Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers — DVD-BOX (Video Maker)