Episode Review - BH Ep56 (S3E5) - Project Predacon

[griffin]

Ep 5 - Project Predacon (17th May) The Decepticons launch a new scheme to clone an army of beasts.

[griffin]

Another very basic episode, with a simple purpose (Decepticons looking for Predacon fossils on Earth), leading to an extended fight scene (Shockwave Vs Optimus, Bumblebee and Smokescreen)... and a bit of retconned backstory in the process.

The retconned backstory bugs me though, as once again, Earth is like the "conjoined twin" of Cybertron. In that we are now being informed by Megatron that Predacons were not only already cloned by him millions of years ago, but he already sent them to Earth because there were already Autobots here.
I know the series started with Autobots and Decepticons already on Earth, but the implication was that it was a relatively recent arrival - Decepticons looking for Energon and the Autobots followed them there to try to stop them.
I also don't see the need for chasing up new Predacon "DNA", when they already have Predaking's "DNA" that they could clone... especially if he's supposed to be the most powerful Predacon, or at least shown to be virtually unstoppable.
But then, somehow all the Predacons on Earth disappeared and became bone-like fossils.

The episode introduces Smokescreen's new colours, to sell the Vehicle Set version.
And they unnecessarily put in a scene to give Optimus his truck mode. He could have easily had inherited the new mode from his new robot mode, as no one would have questioned him having a new alt-mode. Especially since his new robot mode had kibble that implied that new alt-mode. It then didn't make sense to have him scan a new alt-mode AFTER he already had all the kibble. (and really, would the military have something looking so Cybertronian)

We also get a new credits/intro, to include Predaking and Bumblebee's new colours, but still only includes the first season regulars.

Shockwave is certainly bad-ass, and a shame that he's being told by Megatron to stay out of combat, as it might mean we won't see much more of him.

For those hoping to see Ravage introduced after assuming Lazerbeak was destroyed in Episode 3 or 4, will be disappointed to see the winged partner of Soundwave back this episode.

I liked this episode for Shockwave's scenes, but the first half is still continuing the "epilogue" of Second Season's Finale... and since we are almost halfway through this final season, that's valuable (limited) time wasted.

[GoktimusPrime]

I liked the backstory. :) It explains why the Predacons look like mythological creatures rather than actual animals, and is also reminiscent of the backstory for the Decepticon Pretenders in Masterforce.


The retconned backstory bugs me though, as once again, Earth is like the "conjoined twin" of Cybertron. In that we are now being informed by Megatron that Predacons were not only already cloned by him millions of years ago, but he already sent them to Earth because there were already Autobots here.
I know the series started with Autobots and Decepticons already on Earth, but the implication was that it was a relatively recent arrival - Decepticons looking for Energon and the Autobots followed them there to try to stop them.
IIRC, Earth was already established as an ancient battleground for the Cybertronian wars, hence:
+ All the buried remains of fallen Cybertronians which Megatron tried to resurrect as zombies with Dark Energon
+ Skyquake
+ Cybertronian relics having been hidden there

...I do agree that the "conjoined twin" thing is kinda dodgy. It seems to be a way of trying to explain why so much stuff just conveniently happens to be on Earth.
"Where'd all these dead Cybertronians come from?" "They were always here."
"Skyquake's been lying in stasis here?" "Yeah, he was here the whole time."
"Amazing how all of these relics have been hidden on the same planet!" "Yeah, they've always been here."
"And Earth is Unicron, right?" "Yeah, he was actually here first, then Earth grew out of his butt."
"Wow... what a massive coincidence." "Not if these two planets are somehow linked!"

At least Animated used the AllSpark as an excuse for all sorts of weird things happening on Earth and basically everything happened after the Ark/Omega Supreme arrived.


I also don't see the need for chasing up new Predacon "DNA", when they already have Predaking's "DNA" that they could clone... especially if he's supposed to be the most powerful Predacon, or at least shown to be virtually unstoppable.
Perhaps the other Predacons possess different traits/abilities that Predaking doesn't have (like say, resistance to cold? :p :p)


But then, somehow all the Predacons on Earth disappeared and became bone-like fossils.
Yeah, I didn't like that whole thing about the Predacons having succumbed to the "ravages of time" explanation. These are robots... (-_-) It might've made more sense for them to find scrap parts from the Preds.


The episode introduces Smokescreen's new colours, to sell the Vehicle Set version.
I hope they repaint the Deluxe. Not keen on getting the Vehicle Set.


We also get a new credits/intro, to include Predaking and Bumblebee's new colours, but still only includes the first season regulars.
Yeah... that was disappointing. It would've been nice to see more original animation and music. :/

Optimus Prime's power level seems to have dipped since the last episode too. Previously he flew in and handed Megatron's butt back to him, then destroyed Darkmount. In this episode he gets taken out by little Laserbeak. And every time I was watching Bumblebee and Smokescreen trying to pull the fossil from Shockwave's hand... why not just break his hand??

Ultra Magnus kinda bugs me too - again seeming like a shadow of his IDW counterpart (whom this character appears to be modelled after). He tells Wheeljack off for his reckless actions and how important discipline is... and then that's it?? No disciplinary action? No rendering assistance to Agent Fowler? :confused: Ultra Magnus considers Wheeljack to be a loose cannon, and he's been given authority over him by Optimus Prime... why not assert that authority to pull Wheeljack in line? Is he not a military officer in the theatre of war??? This Ultra Magnus sure is freaking inconsistent...

[Shirokaze]

I have really mixed feelings about this episode.

I liked the whole 'origin of earth's mythological creatures' explanation, I loved Bumblebee and Smokescreen's well thought out fight scene. I loved some of the dialogue; any mention of Beast Wars gets me excited :p

But the issues that really stood out without reading the comments above were:

-Predacons dying of natural causes? I felt there should've been some sort of explanation here.
-Tug of war with Shockwave.... REALLY?! Lame ending to an action-packed fight scene.
-Why can't they use Predaking's DNA to make more Predakings instead of finding more fossils?
-I hope this season doesn't turn into another "bots must split up and prevent the cons from finding something that's scattered all over the earth" scenario.

[Tallestblue]

Was it just me or did Fowler say that the new Alt mode for Prime to scan was from their M.A.S.K. division?

[liegeprime]

What I don't understand is, why couldn't they just retrieve Predaking from the ice. Surely it'll take them no time to just fly the whole spaceship where he is and thaw him out. That way not only would they have the most powerful Predacon within the ranks while their project predacons are under development. '

Prime being underpowered in this episode is as usual a result of decepticons (lazerbeak's) sneaky attack. I treat it like it's an itch on your back you can't reach no mater how hard you try. Prime for all his power and bulk if he can't get to where Lazerbeak is, on him, can't destroy him, but Lazerbeak can surely do a lot of damage to cuircuitry and wotnot.

Earth and Cybertron's link being established in these episodes are a lot of who hah IMO but meh what do I know. I mean of all the planets in all the cosmos what is so significant in this tiny blue planet with backwater technology:p:p:p

[GoktimusPrime]

-Why can't they use Predaking's DNA to make more Predakings instead of finding more fossils?
Predaking has a whole lot of brute strength, but perhaps the other Predacons have skills/abilities/powers that Predaking doesn't have. Maybe Predaking is like Superman and the other Preds are like the Justice League... and Lazerback can be Aquaman (re: the pitiful 'spare tyre' of the team). :p


What I don't understand is, why couldn't they just retrieve Predaking from the ice. Surely it'll take them no time to just fly the whole spaceship where he is and thaw him out. That way not only would they have the most powerful Predacon within the ranks while their project predacons are under development. '
The Decepticons don't even know where the Autobots Ground Bridged him to. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. It's not like Shockwave microchi--, oh wait... he did. :p :p :p


Earth and Cybertron's link being established in these episodes are a lot of who hah IMO but meh what do I know. I mean of all the planets in all the cosmos what is so significant in this tiny blue planet with backwater technology:p:p:p
Not just Earth, but seemingly always in the United States! At least Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers buggered off to Scotland.

"Once again, a UFO has landed in America. The only country UFOs ever seem to land in."
(Monsters Vs. Aliens)

I liked the moment where Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime didn't get Fowler's kilt reference, and Optimus taught Ultra Magnus to just nod politely in order to get along with their human comrades when they make cultural references that fly over their head. ;) I really like moments like these that remind us of how other-worldly the Autobots are. All too often I find the Transformers just act too human for my liking.

Anyone else just get annoyed by Smokescreen's whinging about "almost was a Prime"? He offered you, you declined and chose to use the Forge to rebuild Optimus. Get over yourself now.
<Cobra.Commander.voice> "I wasss almossst a Prime! A Prrriiimmme!"

[lancalot]

i felt watching this episode was like commercial for selling their toys ...look... alt mode of Optimus and then Ultra magnus alt mode , then smokescreen new paint job .... And why does optimus bother having an alt mode at all if he just going to fly around....well then again if i sudden have wings ill fly everywhere as well then having to drive :D

[Kazza]

i felt watching this episode was like commercial for selling their toys ...look... alt mode of Optimus and then Ultra magnus alt mode , then smokescreen new paint job .... And why does optimus bother having an alt mode at all if he just going to fly around....well then again if i sudden have wings ill fly everywhere as well then having to drive :D

+1 Exactly as you said, this episode was designed to promote toys (current and future releases)

[GoktimusPrime]

i felt watching this episode was like commercial for selling their toys ...look... alt mode of Optimus and then Ultra magnus alt mode , then smokescreen new paint job ....


+1 Exactly as you said, this episode was designed to promote toys (current and future releases)
Sort of. Unlike most other TF series, TF Prime was conceived as a TV series first, then developed as toys later. At best, the later figures may have been developed in tandem with the animators (similar to say Animated), but it's not like the traditional method where the toys were definitely made first, then screen characters developed later (as a means of promoting the toys).

As we all know, the big problem with developing Transformers as screen characters either in tandem with or preceding toy designers is that it significantly impedes on toy engineering because the two processes are completely counter-intuitive to each other. IMHO it's always better to develop the Transformers as toys first, then let artists/animators adapt the toy designs as screen characters later. I can totally understand why they decided to go screen-character first with the live action movies, but I don't see the need for it in non live-action settings like a cartoon series.

If Hasbro wants the toys and screen models to look more similar to each other, then just get the animators to do 3D scans of the action figures and develop CGI models off those. That's what they did for Beast Wars and it worked pretty well. :)


And why does optimus bother having an alt mode at all if he just going to fly around....well then again if i sudden have wings ill fly everywhere as well then having to drive :D
There would be times when driving may be more useful, like when he had to go inside that cavern where the entrance was too small for his robot mode to enter. Oh, and if he wants to be a robot in disguise. Cos that alt mode would totally not draw any undue attention to himself! :p :p

[BigTransformerTrev]

Gee, they chucked out a few references in this episode!

"Dinobots"

"Beast Wars"

"Unleash the Beasts" (TF Legends game/Terrorcons)


Think there were a few more but can't remember.

And slag it, I KNEW UM would get Prime's old alt-mode, lazy-arsed animators and Hasbro trying to sell the new toy. I wanted to see him as a flatbed truck at least!

[liegeprime]

I really wish theyd make Dinobots, even if just flashbacks. Also as toys, even if just by Cyberverse toys

[GoktimusPrime]

And slag it, I KNEW UM would get Prime's old alt-mode, lazy-arsed animators and Hasbro trying to sell the new toy. I wanted to see him as a flatbed truck at least!
I was unhappy with that too. Having the BH robot transform into the TFPRiD truck would've been better, because then the 1 screen character would actually be promoting two toys! But it may not be the animators' fault; more likely Hasbro didn't want to pay for a whole new CGI model to be constructed for TFPRiD Ultra Magnus, so they might've told the animators to simply retool the old Optimus Prime model instead.

That's why Beast Wars had a lot of 'redecoed' characters appear, such as Tigatron/Cheetor and Tarantulas/Blackarachnia. Even Ravage was an extensive 'retool' of Transmetal Cheetor (hence later Takara followed suit with the toy). And we saw Michael Bay recycling CG models of characters, even after they supposedly died! (e.g. Bonecrusher, Constructicons etc.); and everyone's just assuming that they're the same "type" of Transformer, but not the same individual. :/

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I liked the moment where Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime didn't get Fowler's kilt reference, and Optimus taught Ultra Magnus to just nod politely in order to get along with their human comrades when they make cultural references that fly over their head. ;) I really like moments like these that remind us of how other-worldly the Autobots are. All too often I find the Transformers just act too human for my liking.

I enjoyed that whole segment actually. The Dinobots, beast wars lines were all pretty good and I was excited. then the rest of the episode happened...

+1 Exactly as you said, this episode was designed to promote toys (current and future releases)
Well, now the whole show is designed to sell toys so no surprises there.

This was a pretty drab episode IMO. How many episodes do we have left? 8? they sure are moving slowly. Next ep will be BH, WJ and UM in Scotland doing much the same thing as BB and SS, hopefully with less tug of warring, leaving us with (I suspect) a sudden rush of all the cool stuff happening in the last 3 episodes.

I though BH would get along at a cracking pace, but nope. It's just moseying along without a care in the world.

[lancalot]

Im just waiting to see how all of them change and get spikes every where like the toys ...or are they? already 5 epi and nothing ....where all the beast they should be hunting? Not hunting fossil again!!

[griffin]

Spikes are like redeco toys... they are there for the retailers to buy something "new", but can still be similar enough to the cartoon characters to still sell.
Retailers just want new/different product on their shelves as often as possible, so if a cartoon goes for more than a year, the character toys have to have something changed on them (colours, a new gimmick, moulding, new toy, etc)... and it is up to the cartoon to reflect those changes if they can afford it (CGI) or can make sense of it (standard animation) - like Transmetals, or Energon Powerlinx upgrades, or Movie mechtech weapons.
Maybe before the end we might see one or two have an upgrade, but being a CGI cartoon, the chances are slim, especially getting close to the end of the series (they won't want to waste time and money redesigning/resculpting CGI models if it won't be used much). They'd much rather spend the money creating a new character model, than reworking an existing one.

[SMHFConvoy]

And slag it, I KNEW UM would get Prime's old alt-mode, lazy-arsed animators and Hasbro trying to sell the new toy. I wanted to see him as a flatbed truck at least!

Wow, way to belittle animators. It probably had more to do with the limitations of TV production e.g. time. Much easier to retool an existing animation model than build a new one. You might also want to consider budgetary constraints too.

At least you got the part about Hasbro wanting to sell toys right.

[Bidoofdude]

Actually quite liked this episode. Smokescreen was good in this episode and I hope we get that beautiful redeco. (never thought I'd say that :p)

Honestly, BH IMO is making me like the characters a lot more than the first 2 seasons did. Loving Wheeljack, Smokescreen and Shockwave. Pity I missed the first couple PRid waves. ;)

Ultra Magnus looks really cool to me and his toy is pretty much spot on, even for a retool. :cool: