Beast Machines

Episode 1: The Reformatting

SPOILERS AHEAD

INTRO NOTE:

Same footage as in our BotCon '99 sneak-peak.  The only difference
is the beginning theme and end credits.  Well, and that annoying FOX Kids Logo!


SYNOPSIS:

The Maximals re-group with the aid of the Oracle guiding Primal to the other 3
Maximal's locations.  Curiously enough, all the Maximals have lost most of their
memory, are in their original (non-transmetal) modes, are infected with a
virus that disables their transformation and will shut them down in time.
Cybertron looks deserted except for a horde of tanks and bikes bent on
destroying the Maximals with not so much as a "Welcome home".

They escape from the tanks to the depts of Cybertron.  They pass eons worth
of history as they descend to their destiny.

Primal finds the Oracle (or actually the Oracle brings them to it) and they
are "reformatted" into robotic animals.  However, they cannot activate their
robot modes.  They fight off the horde of attacking cycles with "what they've
got" -- animal modes and abilities only.  Primal figures out the meaning of
the Oracle's cryptic clue to transforming.

We are treated to a cameo of the true leader of the attacking armies -- Megatron!
Megatron looks totally different as well, but not in his original BW body.
And instead of going after energon, he's on some bigotted quest to destroy animals!


DESIGN NOTE:

If you're a comic fan who has read WildStorm's DefCon 4 mini-series
(drawn by and brainchild of Mat Broome), you will find strikingly
similar styles in Mat's mechanics and that which you see in Beast Machines.
As far as I know, Mat had no involvement in the BM designs nor did Hasbro
"rip off" Mat's style.  Both Beast Machines and DefCon 4 mimic a more anime
style mixed with cyberpunk.  Think BubbleGum Crisis, anime fans.
The design style applies to both characters (Maximals and Vehicons) as well
as Cybertron.


IMPRESSIONS:

It's a wonderful dive into a brand new world.  We are left with a new mystery to
solve and a new purpose to their new bodies.  In the Beast Wars premier, we were
left asking "Where are they?", "When are they?".  The purpose of BW transformations
were to shield themselves from their hostile environment.
Now, in BM, we ask, "What happened?", "How could things go so wrong?".  They
transform because 1) to resist the virus and 2) as a means to the future... Hmmm...

We are also treated to the next jump in CG animation!  Anime type explosions,
smoke trails, shadows, better character models.
I was very impressed with Cheetors speed ability where he's bounding off the walls!
I also was shocked that Primal could catch the enemies beams, collect them, and
form a blast from it -- invulnerability if the enemies only use energy weapons.


QUESTIONS:

Who are the legions of attackers?  What happened between this episode and
the finale of Beast Wars?  Where are the other Maximals?  Where are the other
Predacons?  What is the meaning of the Reformatting?  "The seeds of the future
lie buried in the past".
We thot Transformers came from Primus or the Quints, now they could have origins
preceding Cybertronians.


ANSWERS:

The Oracle clues Primal to how they can transform.  They are thrown back to
a state/ a time where Transforming was from the will not from mechanics.
Prime figures this out right before the end of the show and is able to transform.
The Predacon computer is still with Megatron.  No doubt he was able to download
it from his old self and install it into his new facilities.
Megatron is working on a new body under that robe.
The new hordes are controlled by Megatron.
We see no other Cybertronians at all.

We are assured that the writers have done one of two things:
1) They have intentionally put forth mysteries/discontinuities in the show
for the express intent of answering the questions thru the story of Beast Machines.
2) They aren't aware of continuity of G1 (et al) or BW and are messing up 
the mythos unintentionally.

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