‘BAD SPARK’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

The first time I saw this ‘Beast Wars’ episode was after seeing ‘Other Visits – Part 2’ on Bank Holiday Monday in August 1999. It was part of a double bill of ‘Beast Wars’ episodes on GMTV. It’s a pretty enjoyable episode to watch as it features a dark and gritty atmosphere.

In the episode, we’re told what the dark secret of the original space mission for the Axalon, the Maximals’ spaceship, was. The Maximals were to dump Protoform X, a Transformer with an indestructible spark, similar to the one that Starscream once had. 😐

From what I’ve read, the attempt was to replicate the mutation in Starscream’s spark and make it indestructible. This is something I find baffling from watching the TV series overall, since I’m quite surprised Optimus Primal didn’t bring up this detail in ‘Possession’. 😐

It transpires that Protoform X was treacherous and insane. Hence why the Axalon had to dump the subject ‘somewhere far, someplace barren’. We’re soon introduced to Protoform X, who gets renamed ‘Rampage’ by Megatron and is voiced by Campbell Lane.

Rampage can transform into three modes. He’s a giant Transmetal crab that can go into vehicle mode as well as into robot mode. Even though this is Rampage’s debut in ‘Beast Wars’, he can be very terrifying when on screen, even when the Maximals fight against him.

Also, in this episode, a romance starts to blossom between Silverbolt and Blackarachnia. It was established that there was a connection between them in ‘Tangled Web’. Blackarachnia even seemed to be quite interested in Silverbolt in ‘Other Visits – Part 1’. 🙂

The relationship between Silverbolt and Blackarachnia isn’t straightforward, as whilst Silverbolt is noble and clearly into her, Blackarachnia can be rather treacherous. Fortunately, Blackarachnia does save Silverbolt’s life when he’s plummeting to his death.

Silverbolt also rescues Blackarachnia after a battle with Rampage. His wings were damaged during an energon storm, but thankfully, they work in time for him to save her. The episode concludes with Rampage ending up becoming the unwilling servant of Megatron.

‘Bad Spark’ rating – 8/10