Beast Machines

Episode 7: Revelations Part 1: Discovery

SPOILERS AHEAD

SYNOPSIS:

Two basic points of this episode:
1) Thrust was Silverbolt
2) Cheetor assumes leadership of the Maximals

Thrust and his gang of drones (each equal in size this time) chase
the Maximals in a sewer.  The Autobots evaded the Decepticon seekers
by going underground -- where the Decepticon air superiority was
useless.  This being the case, the Thrust design is currently the 
best Vehicon form to pursue the Maximals.  That is, until that drill
tank becomes the next Vehicon clan.

Primal releases a torrent of coolant flooding the bikes down the sewer.
They almost loose Rattrap.  Primal can't use his jetpacks in such
confined quarters.  BlackArachnia's webbing freezes.  Finally,
Nightscream comes to Rattrap's rescue.  Sheesh, was that guy sleeping?

Quotable:
Rattrap: "This bod' is useless!"
BlackArachnia: "Don't underestimate it; it's ugly too."

The climb up the sewers and revert to beast forms.  They happen
upon a huge extraction facility.  Rattrap learns the sparks weren't
extinguished but extracted.

Soon, all three Vehicon Generals show up with Airraid drones.
Thrust saves BlackArachnia from a blast.  A tower falls on them
driving them into a building.  We learn Jetstorm, though he may have
the voice of a game-show host, is actually an auctioneer!

Thrust saves BA from a rail car.  Thrust has a flashback of Black
Arachnia in her original and Transmetal form.
BA and Thrust are captured by the/an extraction robot. Thrust 
fires his weapon and frees BA.  She quickly overloads the robot but
not before it extract's Thrust's spark.  In a moment, BA sees the
image of Silverbolt around Thrust and realizes the truth.

Nightscream dodges Tankorr but finally turns to attack.
It turns out his taser weapon latches on with his dentures.
It also drains energy, transferring that energy to heal himself.
This guy is a vampire.

Quotable:
"All I need is a spider and I'd have a whole set. Gotta catch 'em all!"
Almost from Beast Wars Megatron, but the Pokemon reference
was priceless.  Jetstorm is disposed of by another well timed
exhaust blast.

Thrust is coming around when Rattrap and the others show up to
"save" her, spoiling the whole moment.  Thrust races off.

Cheetor orders the retreat and assumes command.  Primal comments
but doesn't protest.  The Maximals are closer to blowing the
lid of the mystery of the vanishing Cybertronian populace.


DESIGN NOTES:

The voice over saying "Beast Machines" is back.  Maybe it's on
odd numbered episodes.

Not to much here really.  Liquid looked a bit fake.  I liked
how Rattrap's transformation light played in the water.  Nice touch.


IMPRESSIONS:

With so many episodes released at once, maybe the quality is
dropping -- a sign of a rush job.  However, it is only the first
part of a multi-arc episode.  Another new episode next week.

I'm getting a bit irked at Jetstorm's jet mode anthropomorphisms.
Sure, he cranes his neck.  Now he has mouth movement on his canopy?
Ick.  Stick to the cockpit lighting up.


ANSWERS:

Cheetor is leader now (until Primal get's over his guilt).

Thrust is actually Silverbolt -- and kinda remembers.

The Transformers on Cybertron are still alive even tho their
bodies are being broken down into Vehicon forms.

Nightscream may not be a necromancer or anything but he seems
to drain energy and convert it to heal his injuries.


QUESTIONS:

How can all these facilities be built singlehandedly by Megatron?
We've seen a Tankorr facility, virus laboratory, extraction plant...
Is he leveraging some legacy equipment?  I wonder if we'll see
Straxus's smelting pool (from the G1 comic)?


FINAL NOTE:

Avengers was disappointing.  We'll I didn't know what to expect
but I know I'd rather have "Big Guy and Rusty the boy robot" back!

Catch the Dinozaurs commercial?

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