[8.2/10] I think this is the first Beast Wars episode where I really liked both halves of the presentation. There’s a clear goal with genuine stakes, and some nicely progressing action on top of it, which is what I ask for from a show like this one.
The main story, featuring Rhinox trying to save a protoform whose stasis pod was damaged in a crash, is particularly compelling. Rhinox has always seemed a little more empathetic than some of his comrades, so watching him move heaven and earth to preserve this lifeform is something almost moving. The lengths he goes to in order to preserve the titular spark, risking his own circuits to save another being that’s just barely holding on, makes this mission feel more important than a lot of the usual invasions and combat that take place.
At the same time, I really like the dream sequence exploration of a robotic soul. The animators do a nice job of designing the spark to look cool and ethereal, and Rhinox’s narration providing a bit of transformers mythos and spiritualism to the whole thing is welcome.
I also enjoy the fight progression in the other half of the episode. I like how this one goes from Scoprinok getting toppled by Tigatron, to Tigatron getting poisoned by Black Arachnia, to Cheetor winning a duel with Black Arachnia, to Waspinator and Terrorsaur going after him, to Cheetor neutralizing Waspinator, to him being bested by Terrorsaur, to Airazor making her debut to take out Terrorsaur. There’s a solid line, with creative attacks and particularly good duels between Cheetor and Black Arachnia on the one hand and Terrorsaur and Airazor on the other.
It’s also a nice way to bring the two parts of the episode together. Airazor’s birth both gives Rhinox the win in his grand mission, and proves the ultimate capper to the conga line of combat started by Scorpinok. From a big picture perspective, it’s nice to get a female transformer on the Maximals’ side and to give the good guys another flyer in addition to Optimus to help even the odds a bit. Her winged combat is very cool, and she takes on some extra significance given the sacrifices and close calls it took to bring her here.
Overall, this is definitely the best Beast Wars episode so far, and it’s nice to see the show producing a quality and nigh-mythic episode like this one.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-06-06T19:55:10Z
[8.2/10] I think this is the first Beast Wars episode where I really liked both halves of the presentation. There’s a clear goal with genuine stakes, and some nicely progressing action on top of it, which is what I ask for from a show like this one.
The main story, featuring Rhinox trying to save a protoform whose stasis pod was damaged in a crash, is particularly compelling. Rhinox has always seemed a little more empathetic than some of his comrades, so watching him move heaven and earth to preserve this lifeform is something almost moving. The lengths he goes to in order to preserve the titular spark, risking his own circuits to save another being that’s just barely holding on, makes this mission feel more important than a lot of the usual invasions and combat that take place.
At the same time, I really like the dream sequence exploration of a robotic soul. The animators do a nice job of designing the spark to look cool and ethereal, and Rhinox’s narration providing a bit of transformers mythos and spiritualism to the whole thing is welcome.
I also enjoy the fight progression in the other half of the episode. I like how this one goes from Scoprinok getting toppled by Tigatron, to Tigatron getting poisoned by Black Arachnia, to Cheetor winning a duel with Black Arachnia, to Waspinator and Terrorsaur going after him, to Cheetor neutralizing Waspinator, to him being bested by Terrorsaur, to Airazor making her debut to take out Terrorsaur. There’s a solid line, with creative attacks and particularly good duels between Cheetor and Black Arachnia on the one hand and Terrorsaur and Airazor on the other.
It’s also a nice way to bring the two parts of the episode together. Airazor’s birth both gives Rhinox the win in his grand mission, and proves the ultimate capper to the conga line of combat started by Scorpinok. From a big picture perspective, it’s nice to get a female transformer on the Maximals’ side and to give the good guys another flyer in addition to Optimus to help even the odds a bit. Her winged combat is very cool, and she takes on some extra significance given the sacrifices and close calls it took to bring her here.
Overall, this is definitely the best Beast Wars episode so far, and it’s nice to see the show producing a quality and nigh-mythic episode like this one.