The Weak Component
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 Am I my enemy's hero?
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| "The Weak Component" | ||||||
| Production company | Mainframe Entertainment | |||||
| Airdate | October 23, 1999 | |||||
| Written by | Rodney Gibbs | |||||
| Directed by | Andrew Currie | |||||
| Animation studio | Mainframe Entertainment | |||||
| Continuity | Beast Wars continuity | |||||
Frustrated by his inability to transform and ashamed of his uselessness, Rattrap makes a deal with the devil.
- Japanese title: 約束の夜明け (Yakusoku no Yoake, "The Promised Dawn")
Synopsis
Optimus Primal, still exhausted after Nightscream's recent reformatting, awakens from a dream and is informed by Blackarachnia that Rattrap is on a recon mission with Cheetor and Nightscream.
At a manufacturing facility, Rattrap, Nightscream and Cheetor are being attacked by Aero Drones and Tank Drones. Since Rattrap still is unable to transform, Cheetor orders him to go and download the data from the computers. As Megatron observes this, a Diagnostic Drone warns him that the DNA purging process is still in its experimental stage. But Megatron, eager to be rid of his hated beast mode, wishes to proceed before the Maximals can discover any more “mongrel beasts”.
During the fight, Nightscream uses his sonic powers and discovers that if they attack the generals, the drones stop operating. Cheetor and Nightscream plan to ambush Tankor to test the theory.
Unfortunately, Rattrap observes the ensuing entrapment setup from his computer, unaware of the plan. He finally transforms successfully, and being eager to help, swings into action as Nightscream and Cheetor are attempting to disable Tankor and Jetstorm. His interference ends up spoiling the ambush, however, and causes the factory's machinery to start operating and building more Tank Drones at a faster and faster rate. Rattrap realises his robot form is unarmed, so he is unable to help in the battle.
As the new tank drones run wild, Megatron takes control. Rattrap attempts to stop the manufacture of the drones by linking himself into the main computer, only to become a sitting target for Megatron's Aero Drones. The resulting feedback travels along the power cables and causes a system failure, the total destruction of the manufacturing plant, and a power cut for the whole sector.
On their way back to their base, Cheetor and Nightscream harshly reprimand Rattrap for not following orders. Rattrap later complains to a sleeping Optimus Primal about his robot mode, when the others appear. Cheetor knocks Rattrap to the ground, ordering him to transform to beast mode; this jolt to Rattrap's system causes him to realise Megatron is weak as he replays vital stats he downloaded earlier. However, Cheetor brushes off his suggestions of an attack on their weakened enemy.
Rattrap overhears Blackarachnia, Cheetor and Nightscream discussing what to do with him and how he is such a burden with his useless robot mode. Infuriated, he leaves the base alone.
Megatron is being told the extent of the damage caused by the feedback earlier, when Rattrap saunters into his citadel, saying he wants “noisemakers”. After a bit of back and forth, Megatron and Rattrap work out a deal wherein Rattrap will defend Megatron for one night when he is at his weakest. If anything happens to Megatron, Rattrap forfeits his new weaponry.
Unexpectedly, Cheetor, Nightscream and Blackarachnia arrive to rescue Rattrap, forcing Rattrap to honour his word with Megatron—and he does so, firing on his friends as they advance. While this is happening, Megatron returns to full strength and begins rebooting his control of Cybertron. The Maximals and Rattrap are at an impasse when Optimus Primal arrives, still exhausted, and asks Rattrap to look inside himself and re-evaluate what he's doing. Primal tells him that Rattrap is stronger than any of them realize.
Megatron orders Rattrap to attack Optimus Primal, but Rattrap reiterates the terms of the deal: The sun is rising, the solar cycle is over, and Rattrap has kept his end of the bargain. Impressed with Rattrap's handling of the situation, Megatron upholds his word and lets the Maximals walk away. Megatron vows to his Diagnostic Drone that they shall liberate the Maximals' sparks another day.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Maximals | Vehicons |
|---|---|
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Quotes
"Ah, did somebody forget to load this robot mode with weapons?"
- —Rattrap discovers someone forgot to give him a gun.
"Piece of advice: Never trust a rat."
- —Rattrap turns Megatron's own weapons on him.
"Short 'em out now! Sort 'em out later!"
- —Blackarachnia shoots first.
Megatron: "See how quickly your friends turn on you? They promised you great power, but only I delivered it. They abandoned you, Rattrap. They did worse than hate you. They pitied you."
Rattrap: "Ya still think ya gotta cover for me?" [fires on Cheetor, Blackarachnia and Nightscream] "Ya still wanna cut me loose?! You never believed in me ever."
Optimus Primal: [enters] "I believed in you. What do you mean by firing at your friends?"
Megatron: "He's right. Optimus is the one you want. He's the one who lied to you; who kept making promises he never intended to keep. He made you weak; defenseless."
Optimus Primal: "Look inside yourself, Rattrap. You don't need his weapons. You're stronger than you know – stronger than any of you know."
"You have the makings of a fine Vehicon, yes."
"Not from where I'm standing. The monkey's right; I am stronger than you know."
- —Megatron seems keen for Rattrap to join his side.
Notes
Perceived characterization inconsistencies
- This episode was the source of some controversy, as Rattrap was arguably depicted as being a "traitor" to the Maximals, something many fans claimed was completely against the grain of his character (which never happens in Beast Machines).
- Fans also complained about Megatron's behavior at the end. Whereas before, he would have crushed a subordinate for merely mentioning "the h-word," here he makes a huge point of displaying honor when he keeps his word to Rattrap at the end of the episode, with no ulterior motive.
- In fact, either side could have potentially won the war right there, but the two characters with the least scruples suddenly became interested in fair play for no reason (other than to keep the series from ending, obviously).
- Other fans counter the points above by mentioning how Megatron implies Rattrap deserves to win because of his gambling skills, which refers back to Megatron's repeated use of gambling and card-playing idioms throughout the Beast Wars.
- It is suggested in return that "he played a fair hand" doesn't align with how Megatron used gambling lingo before, since he previously emphasized cheating (e.g., "stacking the deck") rather than fair play.
- And in Rattrap's defense, he was never subjected to this kind of situation in Beast Wars. Losing one's memories and Transmetal body, being unable to transform for several episodes because of one's personality, and finding out that once you can transform your body is as useful as a solar-powered flashlight can have an effect on someone -- especially someone as previously tough and trigger-happy as Rattrap.
Technical/animation glitches
- When Rattrap says, "Gangway! Rat crossing!" and the Vehicons turn towards the camera, Jetstorm's mouth angles upwards, over his nose.
Real-world references
- When the weakened Megatron sees Rattrap in his chamber, he remarks: "Ah, so this is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a simpering...rodent." This is a paraphrased quote from the poem "The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot.
