‘CHAIN OF COMMAND’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

I first saw this ‘Beast Wars’ episode on GMTV when it was shown on Spring Bank Holiday Monday towards the end of May in 1998. In the episode, the Maximals investigate the mysterious formation of Standing Stones, which they spotted in ‘Part 2’ of ‘Beast Wars’. 😐

During their investigation, they get into a battle with the Predacons, who attempt to acquire some Energon buried underneath a pile of rocks in the centre of the Standing Stones. The Standing Stones formation does look like a key when looking it at from above.

Terrorsaur shoots the piles of rocks, causing the Energon to release its energy, which angers Megatron. The Predacons retreat and the Maximals get undercover. Thankfully, there’s no explosion, but a beam of energy fires up into outer space and acts like a signal.

‘Chain of Command’ is the first episode in a story arc involving the Vok, an alien race that uses the planet Earth as one of their experiments. Although not named in the episode, they send an alien probe to Earth to study the newcomer Maximals and the Predacons. 😐

Just as Optimus Primal and Dinobot investigate the alien probe, they’re attacked by Megatron and Waspinator, who try to claim the probe. The probe is activated, and it sends out an energy burst, which does render Megatron, Waspinator and Dinobot unconscious.

Optimus is struck by an energy beam and vanishes into thin air. Dinobot assumes Optimus has been terminated and attempts to take command of the Maximals. Rattrap challenges him on that, and very soon a secret ballot is made on who should be the leader.

Thankfully, Optimus manages to get in touch with the Maximals when he’s inside the alien probe, and Rattrap is put in charge of the team. The Predacons launch an attack upon the Axalon – the Maximals’ base – and Rattrap, Cheetor and Dinobot go out and fight them. 🙂

Rhinox tries to build a device to extract Optimus from the probe, which doesn’t work. Thankfully, when firing at Waspinator coming up behind him, Rhinox discovers the key to open the probe and Optimus is back with the Maximals. Very soon, the probe vanishes. 😐

‘Chain of Command’ rating – 10/10