‘BEFORE THE STORM’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

Here we are on the penultimate story in Season 1 of the ‘Beast Wars’ TV series. This is actually a prelude to the two-part finale in Season 1. As a kid growing up in the 1990s, I never saw this ‘Beast Wars’ episode when it was shown on GMTV, which I find rather peculiar. 😐

I mean, when watching ‘Beast Wars’ as a kid, I went straight from ‘Spider’s Game’ in December 1998 to the two-part finale ‘Other Voices’ in April 1999 via GMTV. Therefore, I missed out on things in ‘Other Voices’ that were previously established in ‘Before the Storm’.

This includes the discovery of an alien golden disc, Megatron setting up a truce between the Maximals and the Predacons, and the aliens established in the episodes ‘Chain of Command’ and ‘The Trigger’ were on their way to the ‘Beast Wars’ planet. Quite essential.

I don’t know why GMTV didn’t show this episode before ‘Other Voices’ when I saw it for the Easter holidays in 1999. Maybe they didn’t think it was necessarily to show it at the time. But anyway, I’ve seen it now and I’ve gained a bit more clarity about what’s going on.

Like I said, when a new alien golden disc is discovered, Megatron meets up with Optimus Primal to establish a truce. Optimus and the Maximals are puzzled by this behaviour. They decide to find out what’s happening ‘peacefully’ whilst they infiltrate the Predacons’ base.

It starts off with Airazor and Rattrap attempting to break in before Megatron anticipates that ever happening. But it turns out to be a ruse, as Airazor and Rattrap distracting Megatron was a way for Tigatron to get into the Predacons’ base and uncover the answer.

Once Tigatron gains access to the alien golden disc in the Predacons’ base, he makes his escape with Terrorsaur and Scorponok crashing into each other. In fact, a lot of the peaceful antics made by the Maximals to help Tigatron in escaping are done comedically.

When the Maximals’ regroup back at their base, Tigatron shares what he’s found out in that the aliens are on their way to the mysterious planet they’ve been fighting on. It turns out the aliens aren’t very happy. 😦 This sets the stage for the two-part finale to take place.

‘Before the Storm’ rating – 8/10