TF Beast Hunters Episode 9 - Evolution

[doublespy]

Like others said, best action scene on the show so far. Over four minutes of non-stop, fast-paced action. Very entertaining. If they stuffed actions like this in every episode TF:Prime would indeed be "a movie every week" they claimed it to be.

Now I need that BH Voyager Magnus...


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-Not a big fan of Predaking's voice. I remember this actor from the Spartacus TV series. He makes a very menacing gladiator there but his voice is too..mellow to me. But it is kind of suitable in that Predaking is basically this "innocent" lab experiment who dosen't know better not to serve the Decepticon cause, and got maniuplated into holding grudge against the Autobots. I have a feeling that this plan would eventually backfire on the Cons though.

-While most Prime Transformers grow in size when transform to bot mode, Predaking actually shrinks. In beast mode he's as big as Magnus' starship. Now he's only a head taller than Megatron.

-I like how Team Prime is now divided into the Stealth Team and the Wreckers.

-All of a sudden Magnus' started to notice his by-the-book style annoys everyone.

-When the Wreckers say they don't call for back-up, they really mean it. But it even didn't occur to Bulkhead and Smokescreen to check in with the other two after they split up, they just walked out of the mine.

-Wheejack's electric whip thingy doesn't slice things in half anymore.

-I like how the camera movements emphasize on Predaking's strength and speed in the fight scene against Magnus and Wheeljack. He nearly scraps two fully-armed wreckers, bare-handed.

[Spiritprime]

It was a really great episode! Everything about it was pure awesomeness. <3

[GoktimusPrime]

Quite enjoyed this episode. As others have said, the fight scenes were quite well done. It was good to see Ultra Magnus having an epiphany; it didn't feel too forced to me. He felt a concern for unit moral and sought sage advice from Optimus Prime about it. I'm not sure what to make of Wheeljack's development in this story though. Previously he's always been portrayed as a lone wolf and somewhat social misfit who refuses to fall in line... yet in this episode he selflessly goes and fixes Ultra Magnus' ship. Wheeljack's decided to bond with Ultra Magnus because he fought well against Predaking in the cave... but it's not the first time he's fought alongside Magnus, only that this time they fought more cooperatively. If anything, Wheeljack saw greater change in the battle in terms of becoming a better team player.

The idea of Predaking "evolving" to transform into a robot was interesting. Reminds me of the way I initially played with my Beast Wars toys (this was before the cartoon came out so I was just making up my own continuity ). I also like how the Predacons have yellow eyes, making them distinct from either Decepticon and Autobots (though it further cements the whole "racial distinction" between the factions which is something I don't like; I prefer the G1 comics and Beast Wars where eye colour just varied between individuals and bore no relation to morality/factions). Predaking also seems more morally ambiguous... he's not really an evil character. He was vicious before because he was like a mindless beast, his sentience and sapience has evolved since then. He serves Megatron and the Decepticons out of filial piety for having created him and attempting to revive his brethren rather than any personal animosity against the Autobots -- at least until the Autobots were set up to destroy the clones (a clever plan by Starscream to 'divide and conquer' their enemies). Whether Predaking destroys the Autobots or if the Autobots destroy Predaking, the Decepticons stand to benefit either way.

-When the Wreckers say they don't call for back-up, they really mean it. But it even didn't occur to Bulkhead and Smokescreen to check in with the other two after they split up, they just walked out of the mine.

Bulkhead and Smokescreen only just exited the mine and had no reason to fear for Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack's safety. It was a simple split up and scout operation. They were most likely waiting for Magnus and Wheeljack to also exit and rendezvous with them and only seconds had passed before the explosion went off. Though I admit it was odd that only Optimus Prime arrived to rescue them... unless he got their faster because he flew in with his jetpack.

As I predicted, Predaking has significantly "powered down" since his previous appearances. Before he was portrayed as being an unstoppable and nigh-invulnerable juggernaut. Now, while still being extremely powerful, he isn't nearly as massively powerful as he was before. Unless one reasons that his robot mode isn't as strong as his creature mode - in which case, why didn't he just transform into creature mode?

[ITZTRU]

As I predicted, Predaking has significantly "powered down" since his previous appearances. Before he was portrayed as being an unstoppable and nigh-invulnerable juggernaut. Now, while still being extremely powerful, he isn't nearly as massively powerful as he was before. Unless one reasons that his robot mode isn't as strong as his creature mode - in which case, why didn't he just transform into creature mode?

Yeh I thought the same thing in regard to being weaker in robot mode (like the G1 Dinobots.) Too big for creature mode inside the cave maybe?

[liegeprime]

Aaaw. What will Magnus use now? The Solus Forge is gone, even though it doesn't have it's MAgical repair/build properties, it was still a damn good weapon capable of giving Predaking the hurt!! ;(....

I really wonder how the Japanese are gonna roll all this in their version coz they've got in their figures minicons... which obviously hasn't appeared at all in any of the animation. and now they have different mold for Magnus altogether, would they sell the different mold there as well? I wonder if they're making their own CGI anime story czo it's going to frustrate a lot of them Jap fans when they see the episodes and look at their toys... hmmm where does all this little dudes fit into the story? Not that I mind minicons at all, as the little dudes are great!! Jus t hate assembling them though, painful at times due to the size and points of the figures.

[GoktimusPrime]

Too big for creature mode inside the cave maybe?

Not with the wings retracted. Last time Magnus and Wheeljack fought Predaking they were in a little cave too that actually had less floor space than the one in this episode.

Aaaw. What will Magnus use now? The Solus Forge is gone, even though it doesn't have it's MAgical repair/build properties, it was still a damn good weapon capable of giving Predaking the hurt!! ;(....

Predaking destroyed the handle -- one would think that the Autobots would be capable of repairing/replacing a handle. The head itself remained in tact (and that appeared to be the "business end" of the hammer).

Otherwise he has this thing called a gun.


Also I noticed this neat little G1 nod... Ultra Magnus leads the Wreckers on a mission into a mountain, but he's not a member of the Wreckers. In G1 Ultra Magnus was supposed to lead the Wreckers in Operation: Volcano, but he had to be dispatched to Earth when more urgent stuff arose (so the Autobot Triple Changers were added to the Wreckers to compensate).

[BigTransformerTrev]

ARGH!! Why did they have to make this series finally rock just before they are ending it! I'd watch another few seasons easy after this episode - kick arse fight scene!

[liegeprime]

Predaking destroyed the handle -- one would think that the Autobots would be capable of repairing/replacing a handle. The head itself remained in tact (and that appeared to be the "business end" of the hammer).

Otherwise he has this thing called a gun.

Baaah his guns are useless!!UNles it's like a fusion cannon type like Megatron's it's pathetic firepower level. Did you not see how predaking just brushes his blasts off like it was a just lightshow, With the hammer, he aint brushing off that!! He gets brushed off by it!

With the limited resources in the current base of operations Ratchet has, I doubt they can amalgamate an earth based metal to a cybertronian metal head part of the hammer. Not sure if they recovered the hammer actually what with all the throwing around, punches and flying that's happening fast paced.... if they did well Im hoping they can fix it.... even if the handle isn't going to be as sturdy as before.

[Gasaraki]

I'm a bit on a downer with episode actually!

Pros:
- Graphics are better than ever... e.g. Megs and Starscream in the rain at the start. The missus was reading on the iPad next to me, and one of the times she looked up was the scene with the Autobots on the cliff, sun streaming in from behind... she said 'Whoa that's pretty damn good!'. Needless to say, I agreed.
- I liked the character moment for Magnus.
- The fight scene had some very enjoyable sequences, very nice moves showcased, etc... BUT...

Cons:
- It just got too Dragonball Z for me! Predaking looked like he has unlimited hit points, yet can be taken down by hits from the two bots. I mean, it doesn't seem consistent you can be whacked around by Magnus, but then get up after having a mountain dropped on you.
- So looks like we probably won't be getting any show models for the ton of other Predacons we've been seeing in the toys... disappointing yet predictable.
- Predaking's voice feels wrong...
- I'm not liking the overall direction the show seems to be taking, with many of the potential new things being neutralised very quickly. I'm not holding my breath for anything spectacular in the last 4 episodes, but I really hope I will be surprised.